7, 1820, MY DEAR BROTHER, Thy affectionate letter of the 24th I have received, and need not tell thee how sensibly I am concerned for thy present situation.
I do hope thou wilt not lose sight of the object thou hast now in view, to get relieved in some way from the excessive load of business which presses upon thee, for we can none of us carry fire in our bosoms too long without being burnt.

We shall not be justified in the sight of Him with whom we have to do, if we do not endeavor to place ourselves in such a situation as will best answer the end for which he has designed us.

It would convict us of a very weak and erroneous idea of a Supreme Being, to suppose that he could not or would not prosper our endeavors with equal success in a more restricted way of trade, when our motives are purely to serve him faithfully.

Surely, He who cares for the sparrows will not suffer _us_ to fall to the ground without his notice.
Thou wilt be ready to say it is an easy matter to speak of these things on paper; but believe me, my dear brother, I know a little of what I say.
There was a time when I was as extensively engaged in business, _according to my means_, as you are now.

I have had large sums of acceptances to provide for, with nothing towards them but what was in the uncertainty of the drapers' hands.