The requirements of preaching twice every Sunday, to visit the vast number of families directly connected with this church, attending funeral services, conferring with committees about Christian work of various kinds, and numberless other duties--all these requirements are prodigious.

Thus far, by the Divine help, I have carried that load.

My health to-day is as firm as usual; and I thank God that such forces of heart and brain as He has given me are unabated.

The chronic catarrh that long ago muffled my ears to many a strain of sweet music, has never made me too deaf to hear the sweet accents of your love.

But I understand my constitution well enough to know that I could not carry the undivided load of this great church a great while longer without the risk of breaking down; and there must be no risk run with you or with myself.