MEMOIR OF DRURY. Q 



wealthier man ; I had now enjoyed the fortune i 

 formerly possessed ; but alas ! who can tell what is 

 reserved in store for him? The very misfortune 

 that I now so heavily deplore, may turn out to be 

 the happiest period of my life, and what I consider 

 as the greatest evil, may, in the hand of Providence, 

 be the greatest blessing. Shall I then distrust His 

 goodness ? Shall I consider that Being whose works 

 I have ever viewed with wonder and delight, whose 

 infinite wisdom, goodness, and power have been so 

 plainly manifested ; shall I consider Him, I say, in 

 such a light as to suppose He will not extend that 

 goodness and power towards me which in thousands 

 of instances I have experienced in my life ? Cer- 

 tainly not. Believe me, my dear friend, when I 

 tell you that He is my only support, my strongest 

 prop and stay, and the only ground on which I 

 build my future hopes. Do not think I rant when 

 I tell you, in the full bitterness of soul, that these 

 thoughts are my only comfort, and it is from the 

 interposition of His Providence that I hope to be 

 extricated from all my present troubles. I do not 

 think I am wrong in my judgment, if I get rein- 

 stated in my business, to say it is owing to His 

 interference that I obtain that happiness ; and al- 

 though the goodness of my own character, the 

 kindness of my friends, and the clemency of man- 

 kind, may be the medium by which that end is 

 accomplished, yet the other is the primary and un- 

 seen Cause to whom all my thanks will be due, 



