FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D, 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 Y v v 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://archive.org/details/posthumousworkso02watt 
 
 
THE 
 
 POSTHUMOUS WORKS 
 
 OF THE LATE LEARNED AND REVEREND 
 
 ISAAC WATTS, D.D. 
 
 VOL II. 
 
THE 
 
 0^i OF PR/%^ 
 
 OCT 29 1931 ' 
 At S 
 
 POSTHUMOUS WORKS 
 
 OF THE LATE LEARNED AND REVEREND 
 
 ISAAC WATTS, D.D 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 COMPILED FROM PAPERS IN POSSESSION 
 OF HIS IMMEDIATE SUCCESSORS: 
 
 ADJUSTED AND PUBLISHED 
 
 BY A GENTLEMAN 
 
 OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE. 
 VOL. II. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR T. BECKET, ADELPHI, STRAND; 
 AND J. BEW, PATER-NO ST ER ROW. 
 
 M DCC LXXIX. 
 
CON TENTS. 
 
 VOLUME the SECOND. 
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 From the Bifhop of London to Dr. Watts 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From Mr. Benjamin Col man to Dr. Watts 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From Dr. Doddridge to Dr. Watts 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to. the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From Lord Barrington to Dr. Watts 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame 
 
 From the fame to the fame ? 
 
 Page 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 ii 
 
 20 
 
 - 28 
 
 D 
 
 - 35 
 
 - 44 
 
 - 48 
 
 - S3 
 
 - 56 
 
 - 5S 
 I 62 
 
 From 
 
( vi ) 
 
 Page 
 From Sir Gilbert Eliott to Dr. Watts - 66 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 67 
 
 From Mr. Daniel Mayo to Dr. Watts - 70 
 
 From Governor Belcher to Dr. Watts - 73 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 76 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 80 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 84 
 
 From Mr. Benjamin Colman to Dr. Watts 87 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 94 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 104 
 
 From Lady Hartford to Dr. Watts - 112 
 
 From the fame to the fame - -114 
 
 From Mr. James Pettit to Dr. Watts - 119 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 123 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 128 
 
 From Mr. Edward Cave to Dr. Watts - 131 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 132 
 
 From the Bifhop of York to Dr. Watts - 134 
 
 From G. A. Franckius, S. P. D. to Dr. Watts 136 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 138 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 141 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 141 
 
 From the fame to the fame - - 145 
 
 From Jo. Hen. Callenbern to Dr. Watts 147 
 
 From Mr. Ifaac Watts to Mr. Enoch Watts 149 
 
 From Mr. Enoch Watts to the Reverend 
 
 Doctor his Brother, importuning him to 
 
 publifh his Hymns, &c. - 163 
 
 From 
 
( vii ) 
 
 Page 
 
 From Dr. Watts to Mr. Bradbury - 16S 
 
 From Dr. Watts to the Reverend Mr. Thomas 
 
 Bradbury - - 177 
 
 From the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bradbury 
 
 tt Dr. Watts - - 185 
 
 From Dr. Watts to the Reverend Mr. Thomas 
 
 Bradbury - - - 191 
 
 From the Rev. Mr. Bradbury to Dr. Watts 196 
 From Dr. Watts to the Reverend Mr. Thomas 
 
 Bradbury - 209 
 
 From the Rev. Mr. Thomas Bradbury to Dr. 
 
 Watts - - 214 
 
 From Dr. Watts to the Rev. Mr. Bradbury 219 
 From the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bradbury 
 
 to Dr. Watts - - - 221 
 
 From Dr. Watts to the Rev. Mr. Bradbury 229 
 From the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bradbury to 
 
 Dr. Watts = 233 
 
 S E R M O N S. 
 
 SERMON L 
 
 Isaiah Ivii. iy> 18. 
 
 For the Iniquity of his covetoufnefs zvas I wroth, 
 vnd fmote him : I hid me> and was wroth, and 
 
 h 
 
( viii ) 
 
 Page 
 he went on frozvardly in the way of his heart, 
 
 I have feen his ways, and will heal him : I 
 
 zvill lead him alfo, and rejlore comforts unto 
 
 him, and to his mourners - 243 
 
 SERMON II. 
 
 Isaiah lvii. 17, 18. 
 For the iniquity of his covetoufnefs was 1 wroth, 
 iSc. - - 258 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 Isaiah lvii. 18. 
 I have feen his ways, and will heal him - 270 
 
 SERMON IV. 
 
 Isaiah lvii. 18. 
 
 I have feen his way s s and I zvill heal him, &c. 279 
 
 SERMON V. 
 
 ■ 2 Corinthians vi. 9. 
 
 As dying, and behold, we live - - '293 
 
 LET- 
 
LETTERS. 
 
 From the Bifhop of London to Dr. Watts, 
 LETTER I. 
 
 GOOD SIR, Whitehall, April 30, 1 73 1. 
 
 X WAS folicitous to know the writer of a book 
 
 which came to me with an anonymous letter, be- 
 caufel was very much pleafed with the performance. 
 The reafonings are clear and flrong; and the man- 
 ner of writing, ferious and truly chriftian. You 
 judge very right of what I mean by the iniufficiency 
 of reafon to be a guide in religion ; and it is ftrange, 
 how the perfonwho has written againft my Second 
 Letter, mould underftand me in any other fenfe, 
 when he knew I was writing againft thofe who 
 afkrtfucb a fuffieicncy of reafon as renders reve- 
 lation ncedlefs -, and when I had guarded againft all 
 mifconftru&ions, by diitinguiihing between reafon 
 in a ftate of innocence and in a ftate of corruption; 
 and took the eftimate of what it can do, from what 
 in fact it has done. 
 
 Since you are refolved that the author of the 
 Strength and JVeaknefs of Hitman Reafon (hail con- 
 tinue unknown, I will punctually comply with 
 
 Vol. II. B your 
 
C * ] 
 
 your direction in that particular, till you fhall 
 think fit to difcharge me from the obligation you 
 have laid me under. • But, in my own private judg- 
 ment, I cannot think the reafons you mention for 
 your continuing unknown, of weight enough to 
 hinder the doing juftice to yourfelf. I am, Sir, 
 your affured friend and fervant, 
 
 EDM. LONDON. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 GOOD SIR, Fulham, July 14, 1754. 
 
 JL Return you my hearty thanks for your late 
 valuable prefent, which has given me both plea- 
 fure and profit ; and I am fatisfied it will give the 
 fame to every honed mind that attends to it. 
 Only, I am fomewhat afraid, that the fir ft part to 
 Sect. 14. though laid out with great exaclnefs, 
 yet, being alfo abftracled and philofophical, may 
 difcourage perfons, who arc not accuftomed to clofe 
 thinking, from going on to that part which more 
 immediately relates to practice, and which 
 throughout is very plain and edifying. 
 
 You will pardon the freedom I take, and be- 
 lieve me to be, with great truth and refpect, Sir, 
 your very faithful friend and fervant, 
 
 EDM. LONDON. 
 
 LET- 
 
[ 3 ] 
 LETTER III. 
 
 GOOD SIR, Fulham, Aug. 21, 1739. 
 
 JL Received the favour of your letter, and am glad 
 to find that you think the cautions which I have 
 given againfl lukewarmnefs, may, by the blefling 
 of God, be of fome fervice to religion. There is, 
 without doubt, great need to awaken people out 
 of that unhappy date ; and the labouring to do it, is 
 what may truly be called the chief part of the 
 minifterial office. But though we may hope that 
 there are few who wholly neglect the work, we 
 muft never expect that it will be done by all with 
 equal zeal and life. When you fpeak of the way 
 of preaching among the DifTenters, you will not 
 expect: it from me to believe, that all the preachers 
 do it with the fame force and energy that Dr. 
 Watts has done, and ftill does, and I pray God 
 he may long continue to do. 
 
 After I had given directions to my clergy, and 
 put them into the hands of every particular incum- 
 bent, 1 think I could fay no lefs, than that I hoped 
 they were not unmindful of them, unlefs I knew 
 the contrary. 
 
 It is a great misfortune to the Church of Eng- 
 land, that in market towns, where there is the 
 greatefl need of able minifters, there is ufually the 
 
 B 2 meaneil 
 
[ 4 ] 
 
 meaneft provifion for them •, which gives great 
 advantage to the preachers of other denominations, 
 and may, in fome places, be the occafion of par- 
 ticular people chufing to refort to them, rather than 
 to the church. This may fometim.es happen either 
 through the want of vigour and earneftnefs in the 
 delivery, or through an unhappinefs of voice, and 
 fometimes by not preaching fo frequently upon 
 points purely chriflian as the perfon could wifh ; 
 cafes to be much lamented when they do hap- 
 pen, but not to be prevented or wholly remedied 
 by the utmoft care and endeavour that a biftnp 
 can ufe, unlefs he had the appointment of them. 
 
 It had been happy for Mr. Whitfield, if he 
 had taken the wife advice and cautions you gave 
 him. But, from the time that men imagine ihem- 
 felves to be fingled out by God for extraordinary 
 purpofes, and in confequence of that to be guided 
 by extraordinary impuifes and operations, all 
 human advice is loft upon them. However, as 
 God knows how to bring good out of evil, I will 
 hope that thefe extravagancies of theirs may be the 
 occafion of fome good in the event, if they do not 
 get too much head. I am, with great affection 
 and efteem, Sir, your very faithful fcrvant, 
 
 EDM. LONDON, 
 
 L E T- 
 
[S3 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 GOOD SIR, Whitehall, Nov. 29, 1745. 
 
 1AM obliged to you for your favourable accept- 
 ance of my Paftoral Letter. The two things that 
 may be fairly pleaded in its favour are, that it was 
 feafonable and well meant. 
 
 If it pleafe God to deliver us once more from 
 the terrible judgment of popery, there will be a 
 necefiity of reviewing the laws againft it, and re- 
 moving all appearances of rigour, beyond what is 
 apparently neceffary to our own future prefervation. 
 And when that is done, I think it may be very 
 right to enjoin the publication of them in the way 
 you mention. At the fame time, it will be highly 
 fit to oblige papifts to renounce all fuch prin- 
 ciples as are deftruclive of civil fociety, and of 
 the government under which they live. 
 
 I heartily wim you a better ftate of health ; and, 
 confidering the great good you are doing out of 
 the pulpit, you may very well excufe yourfelf 
 from going into ir, under a decay of ftrength, and 
 with evident prejudice to your health. I am, with 
 great truth. Sir, your faithful friend and fervant, 
 
 EDM. LONDON. 
 
 B 3. From 
 
C 6 ] 
 
 From Mr. Benjamin Colman to Dr. Watts. 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, Bolton, Feb. 12, 1735-6. 
 
 IN one of your la ft to me, you exprefs your- 
 felf as greatly pleated with the account I gave you 
 of the great and good difpofuion found in a tribe 
 of Indians on our fouth-weitern borders, at Han- 
 ftatonock, to receive the gofpel. I fend you by 
 this fhip, and to Dr. Harris, Dr. Guife, Mr. 
 Ne- 1 !, and others, the fermon preached at Mr. 
 Sargent's ordination, to which is fome account of 
 this work of God prefixed, and therein two letters 
 to me, to which I refer you. Since which I have a 
 third letter, in which Mr. Sargent exprefies him- 
 felf thus to me : 
 
 M SI R, I doubt not but God in his infinite mercy 
 hears the prayers of good men, daily put up to 
 him for fuccefs in the caufe of Chrift, in which I 
 have the honour to be engaged. In their favour, 
 next to the blefling of God on my endeavour, I 
 feem to enjoy the pleafures of fociety in the deepen: 
 folitude. 
 
 €t I wiih I were worthy the love of fo excellent 
 a man as the Rev. Dr. Watts, whom all the world 
 
 admire 
 
C 7 ] 
 
 admire and love. And if I may be thought to de- 
 ferve in any meafure the good opinion of the world* 
 it is not a little owing to the Doctor's ingenious 
 writings •, which have the force to charm minds 
 to the love of piety and virtue, and infufe fome- 
 thing of his own fpiritinto his readers. 
 
 <c I have always endeavoured to lead our Indians, 
 by the eafieft fteps, into knowledge. I had no 
 thoughts of my firfl difcourfe to them, that it 
 would be ever read by any but myfelf ; but had 
 I tried to mend it, it may be I mould have made it 
 
 worfe. 
 
 " God pleafes to crown our endeavours with un- 
 expected and furprifing fuccefs. I have baptized 
 almoft forty perfons, infants and adults. I hope 
 the adult have a pretty good understanding of the 
 main and fundamental doctrines of the holy reli- 
 gion into which they have been baptized. I 
 always endeavour to poffefs their minds with a 
 moil ferious fenfe of what they are about, when 
 they enter themfelves the difciples of Chrift. 
 Their whole hearts feem to be engaged in the mat- 
 ter ; and I have reafon to think, that the imper- 
 fection of their knowledge is made up by the 
 zeal and integrity of their intentions. Thofe that 
 have been baptized, have behaved themfelves very 
 well, though they have feveral times been tempted 
 to exceed the rules of temperance with the offers of 
 
 B 4 ft^ong 
 
[ § ] 
 
 firong drink, which ufed to be their beloved de- 
 JlruBion. They feem to be furprifed zvith the change 
 they find in themfelves ; and, after their manner, 
 cxprefs the difference between their former and 
 prefent ilate, by infancy and manhood, dreaming and 
 being awake, darknefs and light, and the like meta- 
 phors. 1 pray God that the day-ftar, that feems 
 riftn in their hearts, may fhine more and more 
 to the perfect day. I have two Indian lads live 
 with me, and have 3 /. in money, which I de- 
 fign to fpend on them, (i. e. by fubfifting them) 
 and by their affiftance to get the language. Pray 
 for me, and for our new profelytes, and the whole 
 tribe, and may the bleffing of the charitable de- 
 scend on you, &c, 
 
 December 26, i 735 . JOHN SARGENT." 
 
 Mr. Sargent had not been ordained four months 
 when he wrote this letter. I have lent him fome 
 of Mr. Holden's money for his fubfifting the In- 
 dian lads, ten pounds ; and he (hall have more 
 if he needs. His work and prayers are a good 
 return. You fee, Sir, how you are loved up in 
 our woods, and what excellent men live there, 
 and what good things are doing there. As it re- 
 joiced Mr. Sargent there to hear of your joy in 
 them, fo it will refrefti you, Sir, in the midft of 
 London, to hear from him. 
 
 My 
 
C 9 ] 
 
 My packet now comes to Mr. Coram at the 
 Navy Office ; he will fafely, and without charge, 
 convey it to you. He is one of the trullees for 
 Georgia, and has brought me into fome corref- 
 pondence with the Earl of Egmont, and the Rev. 
 Mr. Smith of Aldgate -, and now alfo with the 
 Rev. Mr. Winder of Liverpool, who by his let- 
 ter appears to me to be a very fuperior perfon. Mr. 
 Coram has a vafl zeal for our mifiionaries in the 
 Eafl, on Dr. Williams's foundation. But the 
 profpecl is poor there. If it continue fo unprofit- 
 able, and the door opens above Honftatonock, as 
 feems likely, I tell our Governour we muft needs 
 remove thofe mifiionaries thither. 
 
 And now I have named his Excellency, I will add, 
 that he never has faid any thing of your leaving 
 your poem to him out of your Mifcellaneous 
 Thoughts. I am forry you thought there was rea- 
 fon to do it. If I am able to judge, he is an up- 
 right and fervent man to do good. He is the 
 father of the Honfcatonocks, and tender of Mr Sar- 
 gent as of his eye. His heart is much with God 
 and for him. I will take leave to communicate 
 to you fome lines he has lately wrote to me, that 
 I may reftore him in your thoughts if need be. 
 
 January, 1735-6. 
 
 C6 GREAT are my defires to ferve my Crea- 
 tor and Redeemer in my public and private life. 
 
 Dear 
 
[ io ] 
 
 Dear Sir, I entreat, I charge and require you to 
 wreftle with God, that I may be always faithful 
 and upright before him." 
 
 February 7, , 
 
 "AS the recefs of the General AfTembly 
 and the winter feaibn gives me fome little eafe, 
 I cannot employ myfelf better to my fatisfaction 
 than to enquire into the duty I owe to my God and 
 Saviour. Thefe are admirably fet before me in 
 your letters, &c. But, O Sir, in what a glaring 
 light has God fet me ! How has he encompaffed 
 me with innumerable bleffings, health, affluence, 
 honour, &c. ! And now to be taken from the 
 fheepfolds, &c. How grateful, vigilant, and 
 proftrate ought I to lie at his feet, on whofe 
 moulders the government is laid -, that in the whole 4 
 of my adminiftration I may advance his glory ! 
 wherein I am lure I mail belt, of all honour the 
 king and fervethis people, &c. &c." 
 
 I thought, Sir, there could be no like effectual 
 w ay, to fhew you the true worth and fpirit of our 
 excellent Governour, than by fuch a tranfcript, 
 which I fend you in a confidence of fecrecy, that 
 can only excufe, if it may at all juftify, what I do. 
 And after all, my heart fmites me, as David's did 
 him, when he cut off the fkirt and faved his fa- 
 ther's life. 
 
 The 
 
[ » ] 
 
 The fpring is now coming, and the mips from 
 fea appear then as the birds out of the woods. 
 Then we look out to fee and read you again, to 
 receive new bounties and bleflings. But good and 
 bad is mixed in this life, and we feldom hear from 
 our living friends, but we hear of fome dead. 
 May you ftill live, by the will of God, and love 
 and pray for your affectionate, 
 
 BENJ. COLMAN. 
 
 P. S. We have had a ftrange fever that feizes 
 the throats of our children, in New Hampfhire 
 this winter, and carries them off fuddenly ; 
 fweeps houfes 5 fo that from week to week we 
 hear of three buried together by one, and three by 
 another ; fome have buried their all, and fome 
 their five or fix. It is new, and no means 
 fafe as yet ; our eyes are up to God, and 
 have kept a day of prayer through the province 
 to make interceffion. " Spare thy people, O 
 Lord !" 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 REV. AND DEAR SIR, Bofton, Decern. . 7 , i 73 g. 
 
 Y OUR favours of September laft, found me 
 confined to my chamber, under the aithmatic op- 
 preffions of a very great cold and cough, which 
 
 has 
 
[ « ] 
 
 has been very heavy upon me by night, but by 
 day I have had more eafe. I have not been out 
 of my doors thele thirty days, but only to preach, 
 and am much enfeebled and wafted ; but, I thank 
 God, this laft week I am fomething amended. My 
 tender constitution from my youth, feels the ad- 
 vances of age fooner and flronger than many 
 others -, yet I have iccn others, feemingly flronger, 
 breaking fooner in all their powers -, and what am 
 I that I mould be fpared ? The Lord quicken 
 me in my work, and prepare me for my change. 
 
 Your picture for the college, and the books for 
 Mr. Sargent, came fafe to me, and I have given 
 the good captain a receipt for them, in acknow- 
 ledgment of his care. I have wrote to Mr. Pre- 
 sident and Mr. Sargent, and given them an ac- 
 count of your kindnefs, and the words you have 
 written refpecling both. But there is fuch a wil- 
 dernefs between us and Mr. Sargent, that I fear 
 whether the books will get to him till the fpring ; 
 and Mr. Prefidcnt has not yet got a fafe hand to 
 fend for your picture, which will be very welcome 
 to the college, as I am fure your foul in its various 
 forms have been. 
 
 I fomething wonder that my packets lad year 
 were fo long in their way to you \ but Mr. Coram 
 lets me know from Eriftol, that he had been long 
 from home, which accounts in part to me for the 
 reafon. Although 
 
C *3 3 
 
 Although the difference that has been at Spring- 
 field and Bofton, has wounded and weakened the 
 hearts of feme of us there and here, yet, thanks be to 
 God, the good fruits of the fpirit there abide ; and I 
 fend you an extract of a long letter, and another to 
 Dr.Guife from the Rev. Mr. Edwards of Northamp- 
 ton, relating to that work, which will gratify both 
 you and him in the general account given ; and you 
 may make what ufe of it you pleafe for the good of 
 others. The whole of his letter to me is eic;ht 
 meets in writing, and whether it will be befl to 
 print it all, I am in doubt, considering the tafte of 
 the prefent day ; yet I find Mr. Edwards is not 
 altogether pleafed with the liberty we have taken 
 of fo general an extract. If it be not printed here 
 in the whole, as a propofal is made by the book- 
 feller, I think to fend over to Dr. Guife and you 
 the manufiript, with Mr. Edwards's leave, and I 
 think nothing lefs was his meaning in his labour 
 of writing it •, and then it will be yours, to ufe in 
 as you may judge bed for the fervice of fouls. 
 
 I fuppofe you have my fermon on the R.ev. Mr. 
 Stoddard's deceafe, who was an eminent father 
 in our churches ; and it will pleafe you to fee the 
 piety, labours, and fuccefs of his grandfon and 
 fucceffor, who is rifen up as Elifha in the fpirit 
 of Elias, to do greater things, through the fpecial 
 grace of God in him and with him. 
 
 The 
 
C H ] 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Williams, to whofe pious and 
 plain fermons the letter aforefaid is an appendix, 
 is now feventy years old, and has been the father 
 of that country fince Mr. Stoddard's deceafe; a 
 man eminent for meeknefs of wifdom, apoftolic 
 love and charity, devotion, public and private, 
 admirable in the flow of his prayers, and the hum- 
 bled faint in the whole province. God has blefled 
 him with four fons ; one prefident of Yale College, 
 two fnperior in the miniftry among us, the young- 
 ed one of our court. Our viiit lad year to Spring- 
 field was a great wound to his foul. 
 
 I heard lately from Mr. Sargent, that his Indians 
 grow uneafy about townfhips laid out about them, 
 to his great difcouragement. Not able to wait on 
 the Governour, I wrote to him, and he laid my 
 letter before the court ; and he fatisfies mc, in a 
 line, that the court will take effectual care to make 
 the tribe cafy. The Dutch traders do all they 
 can to infufe jealoufies into the Indians of our 
 defign to make a property of them, but as yet 
 in vain. 
 
 The date of our province is greatly embarrafTed 
 about the paper currency. The court called us to a 
 day of prayer with them in the council chamber; 
 we kept it with much appearance of the prcfencc 
 of God with my brethren in their prayers. I 
 preached from Zech. vii. 8, 9. and the court 
 
 ordered 
 
[ <S 3 
 
 ordered the printing it. The Governourfent me, 
 for my fubjecr, Hcfea x. 12. fo I made it my 
 application. We are at our wit's end, and yet 
 had we honour and honefty, and humility enough ; 
 with, indeed, righteoufnefs and companion to our 
 felves mutually, our way is plain -, to cafhier our 
 finery, pride and vanity, and live within our- 
 felves ; and one Bfty years good and juft manage- 
 ment would bring back the filver which the laft 
 fifty years extravagance has fent away to you ; to 
 whom we ought to pay our debts, and live on the 
 red. 
 
 Captain Coram's letter is not yet come to me ; 
 I am glad you anfwered him as you did. The 
 Commifiioners have feen good (JDr. Sewal and I 
 dilTenting) to difmifs MefTrs. Succomb and Parker 
 from their ftations, in March next, without any 
 certainty of another door opening for them. This 
 troubles me; but the Governour and all the gentle- 
 men voted it after a long debate ; fo unprofitable 
 has their prefent ftation and labours proved. I 
 doubt whether it will not appear fudden to the ho- 
 nourable fociety at Edinburgh. 
 
 As to Mr. Mafon and his Indian, who I hear 
 is dead ; his vifit to London did not at ail pleafe 
 the Governour and Commifiioners here, and 
 fo we told him by a vote before he went. I 
 am forry I did not give you an account of his 
 2 voyage. 
 
C 16 ] 
 
 voyage. When he told the Commiflioners of it* 
 who had employed him feven years before as 
 fchool-mafter to the Mohrags, near New London, 
 I faid to him at the board, that the firft thought 
 occurring to me upon his motion was, that it 
 might affect the civil liberties of the colony of 
 Connecticut. I hinted this to the Rev. Mr. 
 Adams, pallor of the church in New London, and 
 he fent my hint to the government there j which 
 immediately alarmed them, brought me their 
 thanks, and their application to the Commiflioners, 
 with papers and deeds j whereby it plainly appeared 
 to us, that under the pretence of the government 
 injuring the Indians in their lands, Mr. Mafon 
 was invading them for himfelf, by an old deed 
 given in times of difirefs, by their anceftor Uncas, 
 to Mr. Mafon's grandfather, to fecure them at 
 that threatening juncture ; which obligation the 
 Indians thought, from their father's account to 
 them, had at the time been cancelled and burnt. 
 However, the government have no doubt in- 
 ftrutted their agent on this point, and as Mr. 
 Mafon had only afked of me a letter to Mr Hol- 
 den, I let him know I fhould write in his disfavour, 
 and (o I did ; and Mr. Holden in his laft told me 
 he had heard nothing of him. The Commiflioners 
 here, I fuppofe, will not employ him again if he 
 returns •, and I fee nothing but diffraction and 
 
 confufioa 
 
C 17 ] 
 
 confufion to himfelf and family, in his prefenC 
 voyage ; and I could not wifh him God-fpeed.. 
 
 You are pleafed to fay, Sir, " Alas ! that the 
 Hollis's are all dead/' and then name two yet 
 alive, with your prayers " that the good fpirit of 
 their anceftors might reft upon them." I am 
 glad I can now inform you that your prayer is an- 
 fwered in Mr. Ifaac Hollis, on whom I have drawn, 
 in the laft fhips, by his order, for fixty pounds 
 fterling, for the inftrucYion, clothing, and lodg- 
 ing of twelve Indian boys at Honftatonock, and 
 from year to year he promifes the continuance of 
 that fupport ; for which God lengthen out his 
 life, heart, and ability : may it be his bleffed will. 
 The merchants here have his name and bills now, 
 fo that it can no longer be a fecret. Five or fix 
 years ago I refufed, to his difpleafure, a fet de- 
 ment of twenty pounds fterling per annum for a 
 fourth miflionary to the Eaft •, but I told him I 
 muft be equally for him, if he held me wife and 
 faithful, and pointed him to other fervices which he 
 regarded not ; but now I think all his pious in- 
 tention anfwered under Mr. Sargent, and he has 
 proceeded as you now hear. 
 
 I had your Redeemer and SanEtifier before, and 
 have given what you now lent to my colleague 
 Mr. Cooper -, but there are two things you have 
 printed I have not, but have read, and made an 
 
 Vol. II. C abftraft 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 abftract of one becaufe I owned it not, which is 
 the Human Will. 
 
 My refpe&s to Mr. Raffey. Entreat Dr. Guife, 
 who has not wrote to me, to accept of what I here 
 write as to himfelf. 
 
 Our Governour has lately buried the wife of his 
 youth with great magnificence; her funeral fermon 
 will be out this week, by Mr. Prince, and no doubt 
 will come to you : he has behaved on the occafion,in 
 privacy and openly, with a mofl chriftian temper, 
 and been openly infulted for it by fome hidden, but 
 I hope impotent malice. He has always immedi- 
 ately been acquainted with all you fend to him for 
 others, and takes great pleafure in any office from 
 Dr. Guife : his nephew here is married, tell him, 
 and fet up his trade in Bofton, and I hope does well, 
 and two clays ago I called to fee if he had any letter 
 from his uncle. I am glad to hear that the Com- 
 pajjionate Addrefs to the Chrijllan World is Mr. J. Rey- 
 nold's, an admirable man, and foon ripe for heaven % 
 we reprinted it here, and knew not whence it was. 
 
 The glafs of your picture is not broken, and 
 juft now Mr. Appleton came in and has taken it 
 with him to Cambridge ; he thanks you for the 
 rcfpcdtful mention you make of his fermon. Wc 
 have a new church building in Bofton, many of 
 my hearers go ofT to it : one Mr. Hooper from 
 Edinburgh, an admirable preacher, is like to be 
 
 fettled 
 
C 19 ] 
 
 fettled there, but he has brought no certificates 5 
 lie came over to be a tutor to a young gentleman. 
 
 This comes by Mr. J. Roylfton, eldeft Ton of 
 Dr. Roylfton, who tells me he has heretofore wait* 
 ed on you ; I pray God to profper and blefs him. 
 
 God has pleafed to put me again into mourn- 
 ing ; my dear grandfon, the only branch of my 
 beloved Rural, is in the grave with his mother. 
 A dark and pleafant tomb, where my midnight 
 thoughts too often are. It has helped to bring 
 me downward -, God give me the confolation to fee 
 them in heaven. Pray for my only furviving 
 daughter ; fhe has a poetical turn too, I wifh only 
 it were as magnetically turned on heaven, as her 
 filter's was, I am in hopes of it, for fhe is truly 
 virtuous. Forgive a father to a friend if on a fudden 
 he doze a little. Your loving brother, 
 
 BENJ. COLMAN. 
 
 C 2 Frora 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 From Dr. Doddridge to Dr. Watts# 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REV. SIR, Harborough, Nov. 8, 1729. 
 
 1 HE great regard I have for your judgment, 
 and my confidence in your generous and moll 
 obliging friendfliip, engages me to beg the favour 
 of your advice in a very important affair with which 
 I am exceedingly embarrafied. 
 
 I have now before me an unanimous and moft 
 preffing invitation to Northampton, accompanied 
 with all the circumflances of ferioufnefs, zeal, and 
 affection, which is pofllble for a plain honeft peo- 
 ple to exprefs. You know, Sir, that it is a very 
 large congregation, and though their fentiments 
 be much narrower than I could wifh, which alarms 
 fome of my wifeft friends in thefe parts, yet I am 
 ready to hope I might have a comfortable fettle- 
 ment amongft them, and a fair profpect of con- 
 fiderable ufefulnefs, with the blefling of God, 
 attending my labours. They are, indeed, a peo- 
 ple of a very low tafte, as any I ever met w r ith, 
 which is a circumftance I own difagreeable to me, 
 but which, if it were the only objection, might 
 well give way to the folemn arguments on the con- 
 trary fide. 
 
 But the greatefl difficulty of all is, that which 
 relates to my fcheme for academical education. 
 
 I have 
 
[ « ] 
 
 I have been preparing for the bufinefs of a tutor 
 feveral years, I am now entered upon it, and find 
 it a delight rather than a fatigue. On the whole 
 I have reafon to believe, and it is the judgment of 
 Mr. Some, Mr. Saunders, and feveral of my other 
 friends in thefe parts, that my deflgns for education 
 are as likely to fucceed as any others which I can 
 form for the fervice of the church, fince my intimate 
 acquaintance with Mr. Jennings's method may 
 give me advantages above others who are vaftly 
 my fuperiours in genius and learning. Befides 
 that, I am under fuch obligations to my pupils and 
 their friends, as would make it highly indecent for 
 me to lay afide the bufmefs till their courfe be dif- 
 patched. 
 
 The people at Northampton do indeed freely 
 offer to admit of my going on with this employment 
 amongft them. But, allowing it were pofllble to 
 do fomething that way, it is apparent that many 
 great advantages mull be refigned which I am very 
 loth to quit. The prudence of Mrs. Jennings and 
 her generous friend fhip, which makes this family 
 far more agreeable to my pupils than any other 
 which I could offer them in exchange. The temper 
 of the dilTenters in thefe parts, which chearfully al- 
 lows innocent freedoms, which fuch young ftudents 
 mould not be denied. The great leifure I have 
 for ftudy, while all the care of the people lies on 
 Mr, Some, and the countenance which his name 
 
 C 3 . gives 
 
C « ] 
 
 gives to my fcheme, befides the much greater 
 and more important advantage I receive from his 
 mod intimate fricndfhip and daily converfation. 
 While I am here I confider myfelf as (till in a 
 courfe of education, and hope, if God fpare my 
 life to the end of thefe four years, to have made 
 fome confiderable improvements in my academi- 
 cal fcheme, and to be in many other refpects abun- 
 dantly fitter for public fervice than I now am. 
 If I go to Northampton, I may indeed fpare a 
 few hours every day to read and explain Mr, 
 Jennings's Lectures to one clafs at a time-, but I 
 fliall have very little opportunity of increaiing my 
 own flock, which is yet but very fmall. I can 
 never expect: a flouriming Academy for provifions 
 are very dear there, and many other cicumftances 
 make it an inconvenient fituation for young ftu- 
 dents ; and at prefent my engaging in fuch a 
 variety of bufinefs might, perhaps, mock my con- 
 flitution, and much more probably expofe me to 
 the cenfure of the world, as guilty of inexcufable 
 raihnefs and arrogancy. Mr. Some and Mr. Saun- 
 ders do not think it prudent to oppofe my going, 
 but I am confident they would neither of them be 
 thoroughly plcafcd with it. I was very unwilling 
 to determine the affair abfolutely, till I had con- 
 fultcd with yon. I beg your fpeedy anfwer, and 
 defire that you would pleafe to communicate this 
 to Pr. Hunt, Mr. Neal, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Jolly, 
 
 Mr, 
 
[ 23 J 
 
 Mr. Auther, and any other friend whom you 
 may think proper. I have juft been writing to 
 Dr. Wright about it, and mould be glad if you 
 had an opportunity of talking over the bufinefs 
 with him. I beg a particular remembrance in 
 your prayers, and humbly hope that God will 
 diredt me to what will be moil for his glory, and 
 the good of his church, to the fervice of which 
 I have devoted my life, and all my little capacities 
 and opportunities of ufefulnefs. I cannot conclude 
 without returning my hearty acknowledgments to 
 good Dr. Watts for his many favours. I aflure 
 you, Sir, that I have the moft tender and refpedt- 
 ful fenfe of them, and (hall rejoice in every oppor- 
 tunity of cultivating a farther friendfhip with you, 
 as one of the greateft honours and pleafures of my 
 life. I am, reverend Sir, your moft obliged 
 humble fervant, P. DODDRIDGE. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 REV. SIR, Harbcrough, Nov. 22, 1729. 
 
 1HOPE you will pardon the liberty I take of re- 
 minding you of a letter I wrote to you a fortnight 
 ago, to beg the favour of your advice in the prefent 
 circumftance of my affairs. I would by no means 
 urge you to any thing which would be an incon- 
 
 C 4 venience 
 
[ *4 ] 
 
 veniencc to you, but as it is high time the bufinefs 
 mould be determined, and many ill confequences 
 may follow on keeping it longer in fufpence, I 
 expect your anfvver with fome impatience. I fear, 
 lead in this fickly feafon, fome illnefs mould have 
 prevented your writing. I heartily pray for the 
 continuance of that life and health which is fo im- 
 portant to the church and the world ; and am, 
 with much greater refpect than I can exprefs, reve- 
 rend Sir, your molt obliged and affectionate fervant, 
 
 P. DODDRIDGE, 
 
 P. S. Mr. Jofeph Saunders (brother to Mr. J, 
 Saunders of Kettering) and one of my pupils, is a 
 man of fo good a genius and fo excellent a cha- 
 racter, that I conceive very delightful hopes with 
 regard to him. His xircumftances are narrow, 
 and thofe of his excellent brother are at prefent 
 much perplexed. His coming to me has prevent- 
 ed his having an exhibition from either of the 
 funds, which makes me the more folicitous to do 
 him what fcrvice I can, by recommending him to 
 my friends. If it lies in your way, Sir, to give 
 any affiftance towards his education I fhould take 
 it as a particular favour, and I hope you would 
 have a great deal of reafon to be thoroughly fatis- 
 fied in having chofen a very worthy object: of 
 regard. 
 
 LETTER 
 
C *5 ] 
 LETTER III. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, . May, i 73 ,. 
 
 1 VERY willingly comply with the requeft of 
 my good friend, Mr. Hawtyn, in writing to you by 
 him, as it gives me an opportunity of introducing 
 to your knowledge a perfon very much efteemed 
 by us in thefe parts, on account of his genius, 
 learning, piety, and conduct, and at the fame 
 time of paying my refpects to Dr. Watts. With 
 what fincere reverence and affection I do it, I hope, 
 Sir, I need not tell you at large. I cannot but 
 think that whenever I have been fo happy as to 
 fee and converfe with you, my countenance muft 
 have difcovered the inward pleafure that was dif- 
 fufing itfelf over my mind on fuch an occasion. I 
 am deeply fenfible of the favour which you have 
 done me, in joining with fome other friends in 
 recommending me as a tutor at your board. If 
 I do not impofe upon myfelf, my conference wit* 
 nefTes for me in the fight of God, that the hopes 
 of ufefulnefs, rather than the profpects of any 
 worldly advantages, have engaged me to under~ 
 take the work. And I perfuade myfelf that your 
 prayers are fometimes concurring with mine, that 
 the great Author of knowledge and of grace may 
 impart to me all that furniture of both kinds 
 
 which 
 
C a6 ] 
 
 which fuch a (tation requires, and may fucceed 
 my attempts for the edification of his church and 
 the glory of our common Lord. Till heaven is 
 enriched by your removal thither, I hope, Sir, 
 to find in you a councellor and a friend, if God 
 mould continue my life ; and I cannot but admire 
 the goodnefs of Providence in honouring me with 
 the friendship of fuch a perfon. 1 can truly fay, 
 your name was in the number of thole which were 
 deareft to me, long before I ever faw you. Yet 
 fince I have known you, I cannot but find fome- 
 thing of a more tender pleafure in the thought of 
 your fucoefsful various fervices in the advancement 
 of the bed of caufes, that of real, vital, practical 
 chriftianity. What happened under my obferva- 
 tion a few days ago, gave me joy with regard to 
 you, which is yet fo warm in my mind that I 
 hope, Sir, you will pardon my relating the occa- 
 fion of it. On Wednefday laft, I was preaching in 
 a barn, to a pretty large affembly of plain country 
 people, at a village a few miles off. After a fer- 
 mon from Heb. vi. 12. we lung one of your 
 Hymns, (which, if I remember right, was the 
 cxl. of the 2d Book) and in that part of the 
 worfhip I had the fatisfadion to obferve tears in 
 the eyes of faveral of the auditory, and after the 
 fervice was over, fome of them told me, that they 
 were not able to fing, fj deeply were their minds 
 2 affected 
 
[ *7 ] 
 
 affefted with it"; and the clerk, in particular, told 
 me he could hardly utter the words of it. Thefe 
 were moft of them poor people who work for their 
 living. On the mention of your name, I found 
 they had read feveral of your books with great 
 delight, and that your Hymns and Pfalms were 
 almoft their daily entertainment. And when one 
 of the company faid, " What if Dr. Watts mould 
 come down to Northampton ?" another replied 
 with a remarkarble v/armth, c; The very fight of 
 him would be like an ordinance to me." I men- 
 tion the thing juft as it was, and am perfuaded it 
 is but a familiar natural fpecimen of what often 
 occurs amongft a multitude of chriftians, who 
 never faw your face. Nor do I, by any means, 
 intend it as a compliment to a genius capable of 
 entertaining by the fame compositions, the greatest 
 and the meaneft of mankind, but to remind you, 
 dear Sir, (with all the deference and humility due 
 to a fuperior character) how much you owe to 
 him who has honoured you as the instrument of 
 fuch extenfive fervice. Kad Providence cafl my 
 lot near you, I mould joyfully have embraced the 
 molt frequent opportunities of improving my 
 understanding and warming my heart by conven- 
 ing with you, which would furely have been 
 greatly for my advantage as a tutor, a minister, 
 and a christian. As it is, I will omit none which 
 
 may 
 
[ zS ] 
 
 may fall in my way - y and when I regret it that I can 
 enjoy no more of you here, will comfort myfelf 
 with the thoughts of that bleiled Hate where I 
 hope for ever to dwell with you, and to join with 
 you in fweeter and fublimer fongs than you have 
 taught the church below. It is my defire and my 
 expectation, that thefe and your other writings may 
 be transmitted to the remoteft generations, and 
 that thoufands yet unborn may have eternal reafon 
 to be thankful for them. And it is, I hope, a 
 defire animated by a higher principle than that 
 fincere affection, gratitude, and refpect with 
 which I am, dear and honoured Sir, your moil 
 obliged humble fervant, 
 
 P. DODDRIDGE- 
 
 P. S, My mod humble fervice attends Lady 
 Abney, and her moft agreeable family, with Mr. 
 Price, Mr. Neal, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Auther, &c. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 REV. SIR, Olney, Feb. 23, 1732-3. 
 
 x\S you have already been informed of lbme 
 circumftances relating to the dificnting intereft here 
 it Olney, and were fo good as to appear ready 
 to efpoufe the caufe of your friends here, we think 
 it proper to addrefs ourfelves to you, with this ac- 
 count 
 
[ *9 ] 
 
 coufit of the prefent (late of things amongft them, 
 which we defire you would pleafe to communicate 
 to the board, with our molt humble fervice to the 
 gentlemen there, 
 
 We fuppofe it is not unknown to many of them 
 that molt of thediflenters in this town, have for fome 
 time been extremely fond of lay preachers in the 
 Antimonian ftrain, and have entertained very ftrong 
 prejudices againft all the regular minifters in thefe 
 parts : neverthelefs, there are a few amongft them, 
 who are perlbns of great candour and good fenfe, 
 as well as eminent piety, thefe have invited us 
 over to preach a lecture here once a month, and we 
 have each of us taken our turns according to the 
 advice of Dr. Watts and fome other friends in 
 town. We have found a very numerous auditory, 
 and apprehend, by the molt moderate calculation, 
 it mult amount to near five hundred people. A great 
 many of thefe are church men, who exprefs very 
 high fatisfacYion in what they hear -, and, indeed, 
 confidering the character of the clergyman of the 
 town on the one hand, and that of many of his 
 people on the other, it feems probable that feveral 
 of them would come over to the di (Tenters if a re- 
 gular minifter were fixed here, and fome of them 
 have not fcrupled exprefsly to declare it. The 
 diffenters feem all fatisfied, many of them very 
 much pleafed ; and we hope a farther acquaintance 
 
 with 
 
C 30 ] 
 
 with our brethren and their labours, may remove 
 remaining prejudices, and bring many to a better 
 temper : on all thefe accounts we think it a de- 
 firable thing that the lecture mould ftill be fup- 
 ported, but the number of our particular friends 
 here is fo very fmall, that it would be too burthen-* 
 fome, were it to lie on them alone to uphold it« 
 "We therefore fubmit it to the confideration of the 
 board, whether it may not deferve fome encourage- 
 ment from them. We can truly fay, we know 
 not any lecture to which an exhibition is granted, 
 where the auditory is fo numerous and the prof- 
 peels of ufefulnefs feem more encouraging. Nor are 
 we without our hopes that the continuance of this 
 lecture, may be a means of fixing a regular mini- 
 Iter here at length, which would be a great fatis- 
 factton to us, as we hope it might greatly conduce 
 to the advancement of the truth as it is in Jefus, 
 and the glory of God in the falvation of fouls* 
 One thing more we take leave to add, that though 
 our preaching here has been evidently in the cal- 
 viniftical drain, and we judged it prudent at our 
 firft appearance here to declare our fentiments 
 very freely and exprefsly in that refpedr, yet we 
 do not find it has given any difguft to thofe of our 
 hearers who ftatediy attend at church. 
 
 We cannot, dear Sir, conclude this addrefs to 
 you, without alluring you that it is matter of 
 
 abundant 
 
[ 3* ] 
 
 abundant joy to us that the great Lord of the 
 church is pleafed to continue your life, health, 
 and extenfive ufefulnefs. We cannot exprefs our 
 gratitude to you for your many important fervices 
 to the public, or our thankful fenfe of that friend- 
 Ihip with which you are pleafed to honour us. 
 We have no end in the propofal we now make, 
 but the promoting that caufe of truth and holi- 
 nefs, peace and love, in which you have been fo 
 faithfully, fo warmly, and, through grace, fo fuo 
 cefsfully engaged. We promife ourfelf a mare in 
 your remembrance at the throne of grace ; and 
 are, with fincereft refpedt, reverend and dear Sir, 
 your mod obliged humble fcrvants, 
 
 W.HUNT, 
 J.DRAKE, 
 P. DODDRIDGE. 
 
 L E T T ' E R V. 
 
 I 
 
 REV. AND DEAF* SIR, Northampton, Oct. S, 1737. 
 
 A M deeply fenfible of all my obligations to 
 your goodnefs ; obligations which your la ft letter 
 greatly increafed. I thankfully accept Dr. Guife's 
 propofals, and acknowledge your kind care in 
 fending them, 
 
 I am well convinced that he had no unkind 
 purpofes towards me, and am determined that what 
 
 hath 
 
C 3* 3 
 
 hath happened fhall not, on my fide at leaft, break 
 any friendfhip between us. May God command 
 a blefling on his endeavours, as well as mine, to 
 illuftrate his word and promote his kingdom : I 
 hope he that fees my heart, knows it is my defire 
 that this attempt of mine may be buried in filence, 
 if the intereft of truth and piety may not on the 
 whole be promoted by the execution and publi- 
 cation of it. I cannot but look upon it as a dark 
 providence; may I be enabled to know the will 
 of God in it. Infinite wifdom hath of late feen 
 fit to exercife me with many difappointments in 
 my worldly affairs, I muft not therefore venture 
 to begin printing till fuch a number be fubfcribed 
 for as will render me fecure, at leaft that I lhall 
 not be at much expence, which, indeed, I can- 
 not at prefent afford : for the very charge of my 
 removal hath been fo great, that it will be fome 
 years before I can expect to be reimburfed. I 
 would leave myfelf and all my concerns with God. 
 I often enjoy a fweet ferenity of foul in the perfua- 
 fion of his paternal care and love, but find it dif- 
 ficult at fome particular feafons to prevent an 
 anxiety of mind, which when I feel, it wearies me 
 more than all my labours, and even more thin thole, 
 forrows too, (deep as they often are) which are 
 tempered with friendfhip and devotion. 
 
 That 
 
[ 23 3 
 
 That dear young friend, whom I mentioned la 
 my lafl as in fuch extreme danger, is, by a mo ft 
 amazing and molt endearing interpofition of Divine 
 Providence, recovered to fome degree of flrength 
 andchearfulnefsjand will, I hope, be given back to 
 our importunate prayers. She was fo dear to my wife 
 and me, being indeed like a filler in the family, 
 that we are both very fenfibly affected with the 
 goodnefs of God herein, and defire you, dear Sir, 
 would join with us in acknowledging it. 
 
 Sir, I am well convinced that good Dr. Guife 
 will have the advantage of me in many particulars ; 
 I heartily thank you that you enter fo particularly 
 into them. One, indeed, will in part be remedied, 
 as we have a good printing-houfe at Northamp- 
 ton ; but there is another circumftance which is more 
 than a balance, in that I mall be forced to tran- 
 fcribe moft of my work, efpecially my notes, anew j 
 which, joined to the bufinefs of correcting the 
 prefs, will I fear be too much to difpatch at once 
 fpeedily and accurately ; which added to all 
 the work of a tutor and a paftor, &c. the care 
 of neighbouring churches, which are conftantly 
 fupplied (at leaft four) by my direction. Will 
 not my dear friend pray for me, that I may not 
 fink under the burthen ? I fometimes think, Sir, 
 I am going to leave you, and that therefore God 
 may force upon me this feemingly unfeafonable 
 
 D neceflity 
 
£ 34 ] 
 
 neceffity of difpatching this chief work of my life 
 as an author, lead that long delay, which I might 
 elfe have found excufes for, might have occafion- 
 ed the lofs or great imperfection of it. 
 
 My hearty thanks attend Lady Abney, the 
 young ladies, Mrs. Cooke, and all other friends 
 who have the goodnefs to encourage my work. 
 
 The receipts which you afk fhall be fent to Mr. 
 Hett for you, figned by my hand, by the firft 
 opportunity. 
 
 I (hall be fure to obferve the hint your good- 
 nefs and prudence gives me, as to noting in 
 the reflections the verfe on which each is grounded; 
 though in the hurry in which I was obliged to 
 fend away my fpecimen, I unhappily omitted it. 
 I fhall alfo add a very complete Index, but cannot 
 alter the fcheme of a Harmony, having both pro 
 mifed it in the Propofals, and plainly finding that 
 it will be acceptable to moil of the friends I 
 have confulted, though perhaps to the lower rank, 
 as you inflnuaie, not lb completely agreeable. 
 
 I have all the notes, and more than half the work 
 to tranfcribe into long hand ; a labour jyhich I 
 dread. I have alfo commentators and tranflators 
 to compare, for I have hitherto writ (frequently 
 on journies) with only my Greek Teflament before 
 me. Neverthelcfs I hope, by the Divine a Alli- 
 ance, to get out my fir A volume in pretty good 
 
 time* 
 
[ 35 ] 
 
 time. Your influence over my worthy fellow 
 labourer, may probably induce him to give me all 
 the breathing time he can -, it is with great plea- 
 fure, I can faithfully allure you, that I feel an 
 undiminilhed love for him, and am really difpofed 
 to put the kind eft conftruclion on this difagreeable 
 concurrence. But what are thefe little things, 
 that they mould alienate the affections of brethren 
 in Chrift and joint-heirs of glory. Let me once 
 more intreat, moll honoured Sir, a conftant re- 
 membrance in your prayers. I am a poor weak 
 creature, but I hope I can fay, I feel a firm and 
 chearful dependance on God, to illuminate and in- 
 vigorate my mind, and he will give me fuch a 
 relifli of his blelTed word in this review of it, as 
 will nourifri and refrefh me more than thefe aflidu- 
 ous labours may fatigue animal nature. I am, 
 reverend and dear Sir, your moll refpectful and 
 affectionate humble fervant, 
 
 P. DODDRIDGE. 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 REV : AND DEAR SIR, Maidwell, April 23, 174$, 
 
 iVl Pv. Gill returns to yon, and the other gentle- 
 men concerned with you in Mr. Coward's trufT, 
 his humble fervices and thanks for the permifllon 
 you have given him to fettle for a while with Mr. 
 
 D 2 Flower, 
 
C 36 3 
 
 Flower, who, if our information be right, is a 
 very ferious and hopeful young gentleman, who 
 fincerely aims at the fupport of religion in his 
 heart and family by the propofal he has made to 
 our young friend. I have acquainted our friends 
 at Buckingham with the refult, and renewed the 
 affurances of my fincere defire to ferve them on 
 any future occafion, though I confefs I am much 
 at a lofs for the means to do it at prefent. 
 
 I fhail recommend Mr. French to Meflfrs. Jen- 
 nings and Bradbury, and hope their interefl con- 
 curring with yours at the board, will procure him 
 an exhibition. His exemplary piety is what I 
 chiefly regard. Unfanclified genius and learning 
 have almoft undone us. I blefs God many ferious 
 young men are now intending for the miniftry ; 
 and I am, at my own charges, bringing up fome 
 at fchool with a view to it. I hope to be able to 
 recommend fome to the fund and to Mr. Coward's 
 lift, in whofe characters you will have great fatis- 
 faction ; and I mall beg leave to lodge in your 
 hand, about Michaelmas next, a memorial of fe- 
 veral fuch, for though I know they are more than 
 you can immediately admit, it may be ufeful in 
 directing you hereafter. I know, Sir, you will 
 pardon my freedom in doing it. I claim nothing 
 at all but only to be credited in the account I give^ 
 in which I will be careful, and, I hope, you will 
 
 not 
 
C 37 ] 
 
 not doubt my integrity. If you, Sir, and the 
 other gentlemen of the board, or of Mr. Coward's 
 truft, find other more deferving and neceflitous 
 perfons, I fhall rejoice to fee their cafes preferred 
 even to thofe I have molt warmly recommended. 
 
 As for Mr. C. B.'s D'ijlortion of Mind, as you, 
 dear Sir, with your ufual felicity of language, ex- 
 prefs it, I apprehend it firft arofe from ungoverned 
 love, Necejjity was a fine excufe for that. Love 
 produced indolence, neglect of ftudy, and the fuc- 
 ceeding genealogy, I fear, was chat, difputation, 
 indevotion, pride, and error. I write this with 
 grief of heart. God mews me by fuch inftances, 
 how little fuccefs my beft endeavours can produce; 
 for, it is certain, I have always had a peculiar tender- 
 nefs for this unhappy lad, and yet, after all, fee 
 him in a great meafure fpoiled and ruined under 
 my moft afTe&ionate care. Yet I am not altoge- 
 ther without hopes as to his recovery. I entirely 
 agree with you, Sir, that argument in fuch cafes 
 too eagerly purfued, often irritates the fpirits, and 
 makes young imaginations more quick and vigour- 
 ous in defending their errors. I hope I have 
 done my duty, for I have ftated what appears to 
 me the truth with the utmoft evidence I could 
 give ; and have referred him to the beft writers I 
 know in defence of it. I have, efpecially in de- 
 votional lectures and in our daily expofition of 
 
 D 3 fcripture, 
 
[ 3S ] 
 
 fcripture, mod affectionately, and often with man/ 
 tears, reprefented the importance of adhering to the 
 fimplicity of the gofpel with fleadincfs and zeal, 
 and of maintaining that holy and watchful courfe 
 of walking with God which was the glory of our 
 -pious forefathers, and is, I am fure, the greateft fafety 
 of their dcfcendants. To all this I have added, 
 as foon as I heard of his defection, perfonal admo- 
 nition, earneft prayer to God for him, and fome- 
 times with him and a friend or two more, in which, 
 fo far as I could do it without infinuating any 
 fufpicions of him, I have recommended him to 
 God even with paternal affection. If, after all 
 this, he turns out, with all his excellent and po- 
 pular talents, an Arian, a Socinian, or a Pelagian, 
 I hope I may fay, I have delivered my own foul ; 
 and I hope neither you, dear Sir, nor your worthy 
 affociates, nor God, to whom I am to give up a 
 much more awful account, will on this head con- 
 demn me as having betrayed my truth Yet I am 
 not utterly hopelefs as to him. He exprefled a 
 very pious turn of mind in his laft prayer which I 
 heard, and I have feen fome recovered who have 
 fallen lower than he. I wifh that when he returns 
 he may ftrengthen his brethren, and fo much the 
 rather, as he has beentoofuccefsfulin his endeavours 
 to corrupt fome of them. I have wrote the larger on 
 this head, both to engage your prayers, and that it 
 
 may 
 
[ 39 3 
 
 may remain as a kind of apology for me in 
 other cafes of this kind, which to be fure will 
 occur where freedom of inquiry is allowed. I blefs 
 God that on the other hand I have the pleafure to 
 fee one of the greater! enemies to the gofpel that 
 ever came under my care, furprifingly tranf- 
 formed by Divine Grace into a fteady patron and 
 bright ornament of it. A happy turn of which, 
 if I have the honour of your company in July, I 
 will, if God permit, more particularly inform 
 you of. 
 
 Our humble fervices attend good Lady Abney, 
 Mifs, and Dr. Watts. 
 
 It will be a fad difappointment to me to mifs you 
 this vacation, on which account, I likewife beg 
 you would pleafe to inform me fome time before 
 you fet out, and indeed, if poffible, before the 19th 
 of May, how your journey is projected, that I 
 may order my affairs fo as to have more than a 
 transient fight of you •, this is with me a very feri- 
 ous affair. My fervices, fuch as they are, will be 
 at your command one Lord's day morning if you 
 pleafe to accept them. I know nobody who has 
 more right to command them. 
 
 I mull conclude this letter with amextracl: from 
 one which, by Lift poll, I received from my worthy 
 friend and quondam pupil Mr. Simon, reader of 
 Wareham. " I entreat your intereft to obtain the 
 
 D 4 afMance 
 
C 40 ] 
 
 alliftance of the independant fund for Mr. Jacob 
 Chapman of Beve Regis, near Wareham •, they 
 cannot maintain a minifter without this aflifbnee, 
 and have been accuftomed to receive it till Can- 
 dlemas 1 738-9, when, upon Mr. Coade's remo- 
 val, Mr. Chapman came thither. Application has 
 been made in Mr. Chapman's favour particularly to 
 Dr. Guife, but it feems the Dr. has received fome 
 prejudice againfthim, for he has intimated that a 
 confeflion of his faith would be expected previous 
 to any affiflance, which is thought to be an unufual 
 fe verity. I am (continues Mr. Simon) intimately 
 acquainted with Mr. Chapman, and am fatisfied 
 that he is a very ferious gentleman, and which I 
 think deferves peculiar regard, God has crowned 
 his miniftry with fuccefs, particularly with refpect 
 to two perfons in my congregation, whom I have 
 reafon to believe favingly converted by means of 
 his occafional difcourfes ; one of them has been 
 very ufeful in advancing religion among the 
 young people here. This is, I think, of greater 
 importance than an exact conformity to any fet of 
 notions how juft foever. And there is little foun- 
 dation for the prejudices that have been entertained 
 againft Mr. Chapman, for he is by no means in 
 thofe unhappy fentiments which have prevailed 
 in fome parts of the Weft. I have with great 
 pieafure heard him preach on fubjects which are the 
 
 peculiar 
 
[ 41 ] 
 
 peculiar glory of the gofpel : and I am very well af- 
 furedthat with regard to his fentimcnts,he is better 
 qualified to receive the amfrance of the funds than 
 fome to whom it is given. Upon thefe accounts, 
 Sir, I hope you will ufe your endeavours to obtain 
 it for him, and I hope it will be granted, if not 
 he muft be obliged to remove, and in fuch cafe, 
 as the circumftances of the congregation now are, 
 there is very great danger of its ruin." 
 
 Thus far my friend Simon •, I have nothing 
 farther to add on this fubjecl:, being entirely a 
 ftranger to the gentleman in queftion. How far 
 it may be proper co infifl on the confefTion requir- 
 ed I pretend not to judge. I hope all wife and 
 chriftian methods will be taken to prevent the 
 growth of error, without laying a fnare for the 
 confciences of men, or depriving the church of 
 the fervices it fo much needs, merely on account 
 of a different idea affixed to fome human phrafes. 
 I leave you and my worthy fathers and brethren 
 to act as God mail direct you, and conclude with 
 telling you that Newport and Welford are juft now 
 agreed in giving Mr. Webb, a very plain fpiritual 
 preacher, whom I am now fending, on a unani- 
 mous invitation, to both their places ; I fuppofe 
 he will prefer the latter, and what will then be done 
 for Newport I know not. 1 fear thefe repeated 
 difappointments will fhock the intereft there. 
 
 However, 
 
[ 4* ] 
 
 However, to prevent its ruin I have ventured, in 
 a very critical conjuncture of affairs, to buy the place, 
 and hope to be able when I fee you to give you 
 fuch an account of the reafon of doing it, as fhall 
 not only engage your approbation but alfo your 
 afiiftance in making up the deficiency of what they 
 can do towards paying for it. Excufe the length of 
 my letter, I have taken fome fcrap of time in a 
 vifit to Mrs. Scavven, from whofe houfe I write to 
 difpatch it, and add her very affectionate fervices 
 (as me is, indeed, an excellent woman,) with 
 thofc of Col. Gardiner (whofe indifpofition pre- 
 vented his meeting me here according to appoint- 
 ment,) and of, reverend and dear Sir, your 
 greatly obliged and molt refpedtful brother and 
 fervant, P. DODDRIDGE. 
 
 P. S. We rejoice abundantly in your health and 
 earneftly pray it may long continue. 
 . Hearing that Dr. Watts, your brother, (to whom 
 my humble fervice) had thoughts of quitting 
 bufinefs and retiring from London to a greater 
 diitance, 1 have fent to tempt him into North- 
 amptonfhire. If you have not yet read Count 
 Zenzendorf 's fcrmons I beg you would do it, and 
 give me your thoughts upon them, there are many 
 chrifYian notions in them, and a multitude of ex- 
 premons which aftonifli rather than edify me, I 
 
 hope 
 
C 43 3 
 
 hope it may in part be owing to the unfkilfulnefs 
 of the translator \ my great veneration for the au- 
 thor makes this very grievous to me. 
 
 Could you, dear Sir, tell me how and where I 
 might procure charity for a worthy family in great 
 diftrefs ? I beg if you have accefs to any fuch 
 you would direct me where to lodge a memorial 
 in their favour, it will fecure many prayers in fa* 
 vour of all concerned in obtaining it. 
 
 The report of Carter is too true. He has re-* 
 fided in town a year, feldom coming near me. He 
 is a pupil ofMerTis. Emly, Taylor, Fofter, &c. and 
 has been their profeiTor here for fome time. Hinc 
 ilia lachryma I How fad a lofs of one of the belt 
 furnifhed lads I ever bred. But love and melan- 
 choly did the bufinefs, and gave him up bound 
 into the Philiftines hands. I am thankful how- 
 ever that, though he be fomething blinded, he 
 has not yet attempted to pull down any temple. 
 He is really a valuable, upright, devout man, 
 prays incomparably, writes finely, has a charm- 
 ing voice, an admirable method, and wants nothing 
 but orthodoxy and wifdom. 
 
 LETTER 
 
C 44 ] 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR, Northampton, Oa. i 9 , 1:41. 
 
 X O pray for you is fo great a duty to the church 
 in our parts of the world, that I hope multitudes 
 praclife it more than you will ever know while you 
 live. I humbly hope, difabled as this fine inftru* 
 ment of fervice at prcfent is, he that made it will 
 repair it again* and ufe it for much honourable 
 work in his temple on earth ; at lead, what lies 
 beyond the grave is certain and joyful. I con- 
 tinue to recommend fo great and fo good a friend 
 to the prayers of thofe I value moft, and cannot be 
 unmindful of you in my own moft joyful moments. 
 Your are, however, dear Sir, doing more good 
 every day, than moft men living in weeks and 
 months. It was but laft week that a moft pious 
 and valuable friend of mine died almoft with thefe 
 words in her mouth, " Jefus can make a dying 
 bed feel foft as downy pillows are." u Yes, fays 
 fhe, blelTed be God, fo I find it." And I have 
 fince received a written experience from one pro- 
 pofed to her communion, in which fhe afcribes 
 her converfion to that hymn, " Long have I fat 
 beneath the found." And, for my own part, I 
 generally read fome of your pfalms or hymns every 
 morning at leaft, as a part of private devotion, 
 
 and 
 
C +5 ] 
 
 and they are always new to me, and generally lm- 
 prefs me more than any. other uninfpired book 
 without any exception, fo far as I can now recollect. 
 For this, Sir, blefs God with me j it is, perhaps, 
 with too much pleafure that at fuch time I think 
 the author is as yet on this fide heaven, 
 
 Never did I fee fo much of the triumphs of 
 religion in dying chriftians as this year has fhewed 
 me. Two excellent chriftians died within ten days 
 of each other a little while ago. One (her I men- 
 tioned before) who told me me found her heart fo 
 full of the prefence of God and love of Chriir. that 
 it grieved her to be forced to deep. She would 
 have had a dying bed all wakeful with praife and 
 love. And another expired with thefe words, 
 " BlefTed Jefus, I am thine, and thou art all in all 
 to me, and to thee I come " and, having fo faid, 
 fhe fell afleep. One writes flowly while relating 
 fuch fafls, becaufe many tears and paufes will 
 interrupt. But I could fill my paper with circum- 
 itances of this kind that have occurred, molt of 
 them fince I had the pleafure of feeing you. 
 
 I would fain tell you more particularly how 
 things go on in the congregation and academy, 
 and in feveral places where my dear pupils are 
 fettled, but I mud only fay, in one word, I ne- 
 ver had more joy or more hope. Mr. Brabant is 
 a very ferious, humble, worthy man, found in 
 
 his 
 
[ 46 3 
 
 his principles, fpiritual in his manner of preach* 
 ing, an excellent claflical fcholar, and, on the whole, 
 fitter to fucceed my dear friend Mr. Orton (who 
 left us about a fortnight ago) than any other man 
 I knew within reach ; I therefore beg he may be 
 admitted to the favour granted Mr. Orton, and 
 I defire your intereft for that purpofe at the board 
 of the fund and with Mr. Coward's other truftees, 
 to whom my hearty fervice. Mr. Brabant and I 
 between us, will take care of catechifing the chil- 
 dren according to your propofals. I have been 
 viliting the villages, and find a great defire in parents 
 and children to have catechifms, the one promifing 
 to teach and the other to learn them. I fuppofe in 
 and about the town of Northampton there will be 
 at leaft two hundred and fifty. But I expecl fome 
 afiiftance from others in buying books, and am 
 willing myfelf to beftow fome pounds yearly in it. 
 If you will provide for forty it will be a noble help. 
 I will put on your lift fuch as fecm to need it 
 mod. I preach every week in the villages round 
 about, to large auditors, in the plainer!: man- 
 ner I poflibly can, and many fouls are ftti- 
 prefTed, and the great wafte death has made in 
 our church is in a great meafure repaired. Oh! 
 dear Sir, continue your prayers for me, and engage 
 all vou can to affift. 
 
 Col. 
 
C 47 ] 
 
 Col. Gardiner is removed to Abingdon. Mr. 
 Dickfon, on an urgent affair, returned to Scotland 
 till February. I fhall deliver your kind mefTage 
 to both. I am very forry to hear of Mr. Neal's 
 indifpoluion, and heartily pray for his recovery. 
 You will fend my letter to Mr. Gardiner and keep 
 his for me. Count Zenzendorf 's converfe warmed 
 my heart more than his fermons inflruclied my 
 mind. The mod refpectful fervices from us both 
 to yourfelf, Lady Abney, Mifs Abney, Mr. Picard, 
 Mrs. Richeire, Mifs Amurft, Mr. Hort, and your 
 good neighbours at the next door, mull conclude 
 hafty and interrupted letter from, reverend and 
 greatly efleemed, and beloved Sir, your molt 
 affectionate and obliged humble fervant, 
 
 P. DODDRIDGE, 
 
 P. S. If good Mr. Orton, from Salop, becomes 
 your petitioner for catechifms without a falary, you 
 will, I hope, remember he is one of the bell and 
 moil: ufeful of men. My humble fervices attend 
 the good Doctor your brother, with his lady and 
 family. His advices have made a hero of poor 
 Mr. Davracott. I blefs God I am in full health, 
 and am quite eafy and chearful after having fpent 
 the whole fabbath, from fix in the morning till 
 pall ten in preaching, repeating, ftudy, vifiting 
 tie fick, inftructing my fervants, &c. but how 
 z long 
 
C 43 ] 
 
 long it will lad God only knows ; as yet I find 
 my work, my refreshment, but vifiting, baptizing, 
 burying, preaching, with the care of my academy 
 all the morning, leave me little time for ftudy. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 REV. AND DEAR SIR, Northampton, Oft. 17, 174?. 
 
 YOU may believe it has been a great hurry of 
 bufinefs that has prevented my writing to fo good 
 a friend, whom I number among the belt that 
 earth can afford. I intended that a letter mould 
 have met you quickly after your return from Hed- 
 dingham, butjull about that time the fcheme of 
 an armament in thefe parts opened, and as Lord 
 Halifax did me the honour of repeated calls to 
 Horton on that occafion, and I was under a necef- 
 fity of writing a multitude of letters juft about that 
 time to him and others, both in concerting and exe- 
 cuting the fcheme, it was as much as I could do to 
 go on with my daily academic and minifterial la- 
 bours. In the midft of thefe cares fuch a ftroke has 
 defcended upon me, on a fwidden, as has almoll {tun- 
 ned me. Never was my heart more painfully wound- 
 ed, than by the death of dear Col. Gardiner, with 
 whom I had the mod tender and endearing friend- 
 ship •, which, in concurrence with all his excellent 
 qualities, and 1 think almoft unequalled attain- 
 ments 
 
[ 49 ] 
 
 ments in vital and evangelical religion had wound 
 him about my very foul in fuch a manner as I was 
 not mvfelf aware, and has, indeed, made his death, 
 though attended with fuch glorious circumftances, 
 the bittereft cup that ever Providence put into my 
 hands. Not that my grief has been unallayed, or 
 my faith altogether una&ive -, but the flow of vari- 
 ous affections has agitated me ftrangely, and pofTef- 
 fed my mind night and day to fuch a degree as 
 poor frail nature could hardly bear. All the time 
 I could get from neceffary bufinefs has, fince the 
 tidings of his death, been fpent in meditation or 
 writing long letters to his dear lady ; then, on the 
 rumour of his death, to his daughter, a lovely 
 young creature, who, with her parents, made for 
 a little while one fummer a part of my family. 
 To thefe tender cares, happily fucceeded calcula- 
 tions relating to the expence of patients in our hof- 
 pital, which being at firft made on a deficient ftiffl, 
 given me by our fecretary, I was obliged to go over 
 a fecond time, as weli as to bellow great pains on 
 flating accounts, which, by jumbling thofe of two 
 years together, had been made a heap of confufion 
 and inconfiitency. Thefe, with much ado, I end- 
 ed on Tuefday morning, and on Friday evening 
 received a meifage to inform me that my good 
 friend Captain Ekins died that afternoon, and had 
 left me guardian to his daughter, a young lady of 
 '^-- 3 twelve 
 
[ so 3 
 
 twelve years old, with a fortune which will, when 
 flie comes to age, be at lead 13000/. This, after 
 lecture yefterday, forced me over to his feat near 
 Wellingborough, and will occafion me much care 
 and trouble if I undertake it, or much cenfure if I 
 decline it, as he was folicitous me mould be educat- 
 ed among us, and for that reafon, her mother 
 being dead, committed her to my care, with a 
 claule, which prudently provided, that I fhould if 
 I chofe it (as I certainly ihall) be excufed from 
 any accounts relating either to real or perfonal 
 eftate. Good Lady Abney's generous heart will 
 fuggeft it to her, that fome handfome legacy comes 
 with this truft, and will eafily enter into my mean- 
 ing when I add, that I am the more inclined to 
 accept it; as my good friend forgot himfelf fo far 
 as to guard me from all poffibility of receiving 
 more than ten pounds, (as from him) whatever 
 may become of my ward. Should I with this cir- 
 cumftance decline acting, it might by thofe who 
 do not know me be imputed to that, and mould 
 the child be ruined for want of due and fuitable 
 care, of which if I decline the charge, I think 
 ftie will be in great danger, it will be imputed to 
 me, and my own heart will not wholly acquit me. 
 But, alas ! whither am I running, and where is 
 the letter to be of which this is the preface. Re- 
 ! member 
 
[ 5* 3 
 
 member I owed an excufe both to you and Lady 
 Abney. Dear Doctor accept it, and prefent it to 
 her ladyfhip, and Mifs Abney, with, all poffible 
 affurances of my fin cere gratitude and affection 
 to both. Rejoice, that you were honoured as the 
 inftrument of fo much good to the great and pious 
 man, whom God has fuffered to fall among the 
 firft facrifices to this vile rebellion, and go on to 
 do that by your prayers which this truly chriftian 
 hero was not able to effect with his fword. One 
 thing only I mn'ft add, which is, that Mr. Tinon, 
 the bookfeller at Amfterdam, defires you to write 
 a ftiort preface, to be tranflated into Dutch, and 
 prefixed to my works, vouching for their orthodoxy, 
 without which, he tells me, people will be afraid 
 to read them. Rejoice, dear Doctor, in your own 
 high reputation in this refpect, and (while you 
 have it) ufe it in favour of your poor afflicted 
 friend, and much obliged humble fervant, 
 
 P. DODDRIDGE. 
 
 P. S. Pleafe to fend the Teftament fpeedily to 
 Mr. Lengueville, who thinks it will be better 
 than an abffract from the letter in which you fpoke 
 fo kindly of me. 
 
 My wife and many friends here prefent their 
 belt fervices. We long to hear how you do, 
 
 E 2 and 
 
t 5* 3 
 
 and what you think of thefe times. I am not 
 without hopes that thefe general armaments 
 may fave our country, and therefore have judged 
 it my duty to promote them to the utmoft of my 
 little ability and intereft. I hope God is awaken- 
 ing our nation in mercy, we had almoft flept our- 
 felves to death. 
 
 From 
 
[ 53 ] 
 
 From Lord Barrington to Dr. Watts. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REV. SIR, . Gerard-ftreet, July 8, 1721. 
 
 A AM obliged to you, that you would take 
 the trouble to acquaint me with Mrs. Oakes's dif- 
 trefs ; and the rather, becaufe you have been the 
 firft from whom I have learned the deplorable 
 ftate of her affairs : {he has never acquainted me 
 with them herfelf, nor by any other frierjd than 
 by you. She fent to me, indeed, to defire me 
 to lend her two guineas to buy fome tea in order 
 for fale, fhe having been difappointed in fome 
 monies (he expected to receive, which I refufed 
 her. But inftead of acquainting me or any of our 
 family with her neceflities, (he and her daughter 
 feemed rather to conceal them. I know not what fhe 
 has faid to you to induce you to ufe fome expreffions 
 in your letter. But you fee by this, how little my 
 honour, as you exprefs yourfelf, can be really 
 touched by her difficulties, whatever they be : fince 
 fhe has not thought fit to acquaint me with them, 
 till I received the favour of yours. And, though 
 I do not doubt but Sir Thomas Abney, on his 
 notifying of her. extreme want to you, took care 
 
 E 3 to 
 
[ 54 ] 
 
 to relieve her, yet, fince I received yours, I have 
 fent her fomething for immediate relief. 
 
 I have been always defirous to relieve her fince 
 her hufband's death in the moft effectual manner. 
 I thought that would not be by my allowing her a 
 penfion, or ufing any intereft I could, or fhe could 
 with other friends to do the like, imagining they 
 would be foon weary of it; but rather to raife a 
 fum of money to put her in a way to maintain her- 
 felf. She told me Sir Thomas Abney was of the 
 fame opinion, and thought that her felling tea, 
 coffee, &c. would be a proper way for her to en- 
 gage in, and would concur with me in helping her 
 to a fum of money to fet her up. I defired her to 
 tell Sir Thomas I would give my proportion, and 
 defired him to name. She told me he faid I muft 
 name firft. After that I named twenty pounds ; 
 flie then told me Sir Thomas faid I muft pay it 
 before he would give any thing. I told her I was 
 willing to give my money, but thought it would 
 be of no ufe unlefs Sir Thomas would give in pro- 
 portion, becaufe I knew if I did, it would be 
 money flung away : for twenty pounds would not 
 be fufficient to lay in a ftock to fupport a trade, 
 but fifty pounds would. However, (lie afterwards 
 told me that Sir Thomas would not do any thing, 
 nor fay what he would do, till I had paid the 
 money. In confidence that a proportionable al- 
 lowance 
 
C 55 ] 
 
 lowance would have been made by that family, 
 I gave her my money *, twenty pounds fhe had 
 from me. She had a great deal before. She had 
 alfo five pounds, I think, from my brother Ben- 
 dyfh, and five pounds they procured her from 
 another friend. And I mud fay, that I take the 
 lofs of all this money, befides credit that I have 
 given her for fix pounds of tea, and five pounds 
 lince my brother Bendyfh has advanced her, to be 
 all owing to her not having that proportionable 
 fupport that induced us all to give her what we 
 have. 
 
 She is my relation, but neither (he nor any of 
 her family have pretended much friendfhip or 
 good-will to me or mine. Her and their friend- 
 mips have been much more elfewhere than with us. 
 I do not think this a reafon for me to abandon her 
 in her diftrefs : but, lure, this is a very ftrong 
 reafon for others not related to her in blood, to 
 co-operate with me in fupporting her and my 
 uncle Grey. I am fure my^ family have fufTered 
 a great deal more by that family than Sir Thomas 
 Abney's has done ; and I neither have been, 
 nor am wanting to my uncle Grey nor to Mrs. 
 Oakes. 
 
 I like the fcheme you propofe in relation to 
 Mrs. Oakes's family very well, and {hall be very 
 ready to contribute my fhare and proportion to it 
 
 E 4 with 
 
[ 56 ] 
 
 with Sir Thomas Abney ; though I have expences 
 of the fame kind with him in refpect of three 
 families that I reprefent, and expences of a very 
 public nature too. I mail be very glad that thofe 
 who are more capable of executing that fcheme 
 will fee it performed, and will be pleafed to let 
 me know my quota, which fhall be chearfully and 
 thankfully complied with by, reverend Sir, your 
 moft humble faithful fervant, 
 
 BARRINGTON. 
 
 P. S. The reafon why I would not lend her two 
 guineas, for the better carrying on her trade, was, 
 that I thought if me had fuch a fund of credit lhe 
 would never keep within any bounds. 
 
 My humble fervice and my lady's attend Sir 
 Thomas, my Lady Abney, and Mrs. Gunftone. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 REV. SIR, Bcckett-houfe, Aug. 18, 1724. 
 
 X AM very much obliged to you for the trouble 
 you have had in the affair of Mr. Tindall, and to 
 Mr. Guniione for the trouble he has given himfelf 
 to recommend Mr. Tindall to Mr. Blood worth. 
 I beg you will accept of my acknowledgments, 
 and render .them acceptable to Mr. Gunftone. 
 
 I have 
 
I 57 ] 
 
 I have fometlmes had great hopes of being fome- 
 ways ufeful in the world. That profpedfc has been a 
 darling pleafure to me. I think I fee it clofed, 
 and I hope I fubmit as I ought. I am not worthy of 
 fuch an honour. Perhaps the world is not fit to 
 be ferved. I allure you fince I fee my way barred 
 by Providence, and not by myielf, I am not only 
 contented, but happier than I ever have been in 
 my life. I could bear a buftle in the hopes of 
 doing good, but I never loved it. I always loved 
 retirement ; and, fince I fee fo little an opening 
 to ufefulnefs, 1 truly tafle and enjoy my retreat. 
 I take fome care of my health, which a fatiguing 
 life had very much impaired. I take fome fmali care 
 of my. affairs ; I enjoy my family and my friends ; 
 and I have a good deal of time to look into my 
 bible i and, I hope I do not only find infinitely 
 more benefit, but more entertainment from con- 
 verfing with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, 
 Paul and Peter, James and Judges, than ever I 
 did with miniflers of date or courtiers, or any 
 of the men of the world : and I read pro- 
 fane authors purely in fubfervience to the facred 
 ones. I have in the neighbourhood three or four 
 friends with whom I can talk with great fatisfadtion 
 of thefe matters. I only with you near me, and 
 in the ftate of health I enjoy. If you have not 
 jread Dr. Cheyne's Effay of Health and Long Life, 
 
 I hope 
 
[ 5* ] 
 
 I hope you will. I have a great opinion of his 
 
 rules, in nervous cafes efpecially. I heartily wifh 
 
 you a degree of health equal to the inclinations 
 
 you have to make ufe of it. 
 
 My wife is to Lady Abney and yourfelf as I am, 
 
 a moft faithful humble fervant, 
 
 BARRINGTON. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, Tofts, June, 1725. 
 
 Y ESTERDAY I received the favour of yours 
 of the 2d and 10th inftant ; I had before received 
 your Second Part, which happened thus, I had 
 bought your Firft Part before I received the fa- 
 vour of your order for it ; I gave it away the 
 other day to a friend, and fo fent that order for 
 the Firft Part to your Bookfeller, before I had 
 happened to hear your Second Part was come out : 
 he fent me your Second Part by virtue of your 
 order for the Firft. 1 fat down yefterday and to- 
 day to read it, but, before I was got far, have 
 been prevented from the inftrudion and the plea- 
 fure I propofe to myfelf in getting through it. 
 
 However I may happen to differ from the fenti- 
 ments, yet I fee, by reading as far as I am 
 got, that it has and will greatly add to the high 
 efteem and regard I have had for you ever fince 
 
 our 
 
[ 59 ] 
 
 our acquaintance •, and, indeed, I muft think 
 very i)l of myfelf if it did not. For what is there 
 more valuable among mankind, than the moft 
 ardent love of truth ; the mod diligent and impar- 
 tial enquiry after it ; the greater!: franknefs in 
 profeffing our opinions about it for the good of 
 the world, and our -becoming an example, as well 
 as an advocate for the bearing with the different 
 fentiments that are the neceffary refults of free 
 enquiry? All thefe, the nobleft difpofitions of the 
 mind, you mull convince every one you poITcfs in 
 the higheil degree ; and are, at the fame time, 
 an inftance of paying a fuperior homage to 
 truth, as not only to facrifice the eafe and efteem 
 that follows thinking with the herd, but your own 
 late and avowed fentiments to her fovereign au- 
 thority. It is without the leaffc mixture of a com- 
 pliment, that I affure you, I value a drachm of 
 this heavenly temper beyond all the orthodoxy or 
 truth in the world. The curfed fpirits know more 
 truth than all of us put together ; but their want 
 of the love of it, renders them odious to God and 
 dangerous to us : and the love of it in us, is the 
 iove of God, who is Truth, and hateth none but 
 him that loveth and maketh a lie. And th§ fove- 
 reign love of truth mud include in it the fupreme 
 love of virtue and piety, which are founded in 
 truth, and in truth alone. And what then, befides 
 
 this. 
 
[ 60 ] 
 
 this, can poffibly render us amiable to our Maker, 
 or to thofe amongft us, who propofe the judg- 
 ments he makes of things, as the ftandard of ours ? 
 This, however, I am fenfible, may be faid of him 
 that writes on any fubjedt with that happy temper 
 and difpofition that appears in what I read on that 
 important fubject of your DhTertations. But I will 
 add therefore, what can be fo worthy of a chriftian 
 and a divine, as to borrow your own thought and 
 exprefiion, (for, I think, there cannot be a more 
 beautiful one) " as to endeavour that the object 
 of our worfhip may not anfwer the infcription on 
 the Athenian altar ?" I fhall be heartily forry 
 to hear that any of your friends fhould difcourage 
 a temper that can beft fit us either for the duties 
 and enjoyments of this life or a better. If we 
 were all in a right cue, we fhould all of us propofe 
 you- as a pattern in our fearch after truth, and our 
 profeffions of it -, but this is not to be expected ; 
 cenfures will come from all who do not pay alike 
 ready and chearful obedience to truth with your- 
 felf: arm your mind then again ft them. Thofe 
 that cenfure you- here, muft acquire the tem- 
 per they cannot bear in you, before they can 
 relifh heaven itfelf, as you will. Whilft they cen- 
 fure you then, pity them ! If you have any 
 miftakes, your opennefs to conviction will foon fet 
 them right, when your heart fhall be irradiated 
 
 with 
 
[ 6i ] 
 
 Vith the morning ftar. But their eyes are to be 
 opened and fortified, before they will be able to 
 receive the full pleafure and benefit of the land of 
 light and vifion. Forgive thefe overflowings of my 
 heart, which I fee, on looking back on them, have 
 run into too great length, whilft I am talking to 
 one who, I am fatisfied, can fuffer for the truth 
 as well as write and act for it. May the God of 
 Truth blefs, accept, and fupport you, and all you 
 do and bear for its fake. 
 
 I have only juft room to return my mod hearty 
 thanks to yourfelf and Mr. Price, for the refpedt 
 you have fhewn to my recommendation of the cafe 
 of Berwick, unlefs I would make you pay more 
 than as much again as they deferve. I am to him 
 and you, therefore, without adding a word more, 
 reverend Sir, a mod faithful and moft humble fer- 
 vant, 
 
 BARRINGTON. 
 
 From 
 
[ 62 ] 
 
 From Dr. Watts to Lord Barrington. 
 
 MY LORD, Tunbridge- Wells, Aug. 15, 173 9- 
 
 1 HE very kind and condefcending reception 
 you were pleafed to give to the lad book which I 
 publifhed, demands my firft acknowledgment * 
 and it perfuades me that your lordfhip much ap- 
 proves of our plain and warm manner of preach- 
 ing, and our endeavours to make the great doctrines 
 of the gofpel to reach the hearts and confciences 
 of thofe that hear us. 
 
 And I am called again to be thankful to your 
 lordlhip for the honour you did me in ordering 
 your late Paltoral Letter into my hands. Your 
 lordlhip has fo feafonably and fo happily cautioned 
 your flock againft that lukewarmnefs, which in 
 times of peace is ready to overfpread all the pro- 
 feflfors of chriftianity, as, I hope, under the con. 
 curring influences of Divine Grace, will have a 
 bleiTed erica upon the people under your care. 
 I hope, alfo, the clergy under your infpeftion will 
 not think themfelves neglected in your lordfhip's 
 difcourfe, but will not only apply themfelves with 
 all holy zeal and fervency to warn their hearers 
 of this danger^ but fet themfelves to root it out 
 
 from 
 
C 6 3 ] 
 
 from the tribe of Levi as well as the reft of the 
 tribes of our Ifrael, and that every one among 
 the priefthood may be burning and mining lights, 
 and powerful examples among the people. 
 
 Your lordfhip's diftindtion of the extraordinary 
 and the ordinary influences of the Holy Spirit is 
 fo very neceffary, that I think the New Te (lament 
 cannot be underftood without it, and I wifh Mr. 
 Whitfield would not have rifen above any pre- 
 tences to the ordinary influences, unlefs he could 
 have given fome better evidences of it. He has 
 acknowledged to me in converfation, that it is fuch 
 an imprefiion upon his own mind that he knows to 
 be divine, though he cannot give me any convinc- 
 ing proof of it. I faid many things to warn him 
 of the danger of delufion, and to guard him againft 
 the irregularities and imprudences which youth 
 and zeal might lead him into, and told him plain- 
 ly, that though I believed him very fincere and 
 defirous to do good to fouls, yet I was not con- 
 vinced of any extraordinary call he had to fome 
 parts of his conduct. And he feemed to take 
 this free difcourfe in a very candid and modeft 
 manner. 
 
 I own with your lordfhip, that fo large and 
 general a charge as he lays upon the clergy of the 
 eftablifhed church, it is impojwle for him to know 
 certainly whether it is true or not 9 and therefore thefe 
 
 cenfures 
 
[ H ] 
 
 cenfures are by no means juftifiable. But if your 
 lordfhip will permit me to fay, that your lordfhip's 
 excellent citation of fome pages of your Charge to 
 thofe of your Diocefe is no fufficient refutation of 
 the cenfure. That very Charge was put into my 
 hands, at lead twelve years ago, in EfTex, and it 
 was the firft thing that wrought in my heart a 
 reverence and veneration for your lordfhip. I 
 think no man could give better advice •, and I per- 
 fuade myfelf, all the bed of the Diffenters, and I 
 think far the greated part of them, mud have ap- 
 proved it with honour. But I cannot but fuppofe 
 your lordfhip is ib well acquainted with the lower 
 clergy of England, as to know that not a great 
 many of them preach according to thofe admirable 
 directions. If they did, I eafily imagine there 
 would be no Diffenters in many parifbes in England 
 where now they abound. It is not the differences 
 cf ordination and ceremony, no, nor the impofition 
 of them without warrant, that are fo well under- 
 dood as to create a large feparation on thofe ac- 
 counts merely. But it is the want of fuch preach- 
 ing as your lordfhip recommends that makes many 
 perfons, of ferious religion, uneafy that they find 
 not fuch edification for their fouls under the paro- 
 chial clergy in many towns and villages. Nor do 
 I think your lordfhip, and the red of your brethren 
 the bifliops, can do any thing fo effectual to leden 
 
 the 
 
C 65 ] 
 
 the reparation, and to make all the Whitfields 
 lefs regarded and lefs dangerous to the church, 
 as to induce the miniflers under your care to 
 preach and converfe among their people with that 
 evangelical fpirit, that zeal for the honour of God 
 and fuccefs of the gofpel, and with that compaf- 
 fion for the fouls of men that your lordfhip fo 
 much approves and advifes in your pious and ex- 
 cellent charge. 
 
 Forgive me, my Lord, I entreat you to forgive 
 me, if my zeal for fuch preaching as your lord- 
 fhip prefcribes, has carried me out fo far as to forget 
 myfelf and the perfon to whom I write, as to fay 
 any thing unbecoming the lower ftation of, my 
 Lord, your Lord (hip's mod: obliged and faithful 
 humble fervant, 
 
 ISAAC WATTS. 
 
 Vol. II. F From 
 
[ 66 ] 
 
 From Sir Gilbert Eliott to Dr. Watts. 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, London, Jan. 21ft, 1726. 
 
 JVjLY wife was favoured with your's of the 14th 
 inftant. I return a thoufancl thanks for the oblig- 
 ing exprefiions of your concern for us, and parti- 
 cularly for your chriftian fympathy, in comforting 
 my wife upon the melancholy occafion of my ter- 
 rible misfortune and greater! unhappinefs. I took 
 . the firft opportunity I could to kifs your hands, 
 gratitude and inclination equally engaging me to 
 it. I propofe to wait upon you when you come to 
 town. In the mean time, give me leave to put 
 you in mind of the requeit I made you fome time 
 fince, about a catechifm of natural religion, which 
 is a fubject untouched, and would be, I am per- 
 fuaded, of lingular ufe. I muft tell you what 
 brought this to my memory : I was reading the 
 other day in the fourth volume of Monfieur 
 Saurin's Sermons, Sur les tr avers de Vefprit Humain, 
 page 338 ; thefe are his words : Combien peu y ena-t-il 
 qui alent Vart & meme temps V intention de proportionner 
 la joi des enfans a leur age rfcxigeant qu'ils ne croijent a 
 
 age 
 
[ *7 ] 
 
 Wige dedlx ans que ce qu'ils peuvent concevoir cicet dge-lh 
 & quails ne croient a Vage de quinze ce qu'ils peuvent 
 concevoir a I* age de quinze, & ainfi du refte f Combien 
 peu de Catechifmes, cu cette gradation d'annees & de 
 capacite foit obfer r jcs 9 & ou Von ne propofe d'abord les 
 Terites les plus abfirufcs du Chrifiianifine f I hope this 
 was a happy providence, directing rhe to addrefs 
 yon, as the gentleman in the world, that I be- 
 lieve, without flattery, to be the moil capable of 
 fo neceflary and ufcful a work. I hope for a fa- 
 vourable anfwer, and fhould be glad to know 
 when you come to town. 
 
 My mod humble fervice attends my lady 
 Abney, Mrs. Gunftone and the young ladies. I am, 
 with mo ft fincere efteem, reverend Sir, your moil 
 affe&ionate humble iervant, 
 
 GILB. ELIOTT. 
 
 LETTER II, 
 
 Ih 
 
 REVEREND SIR, fcpfbm, March 4 , 1727. %. 
 
 AVE your favour of the ill inftant, to which 
 I had made an immediate return, but bufinefs pre- 
 vented. Mr. Mayo has written to me, which I told 
 
 F 2 you 
 
C 68 ] 
 
 you I could not accept, as a reparation for the 
 injury •, but fuch a letter, fo void of manners, fo 
 full of jcfuitical evafions, I fhould have believed 
 
 it dated from the Sorbonne, if it had been polite 
 enough. Since he will not make the acknowledg- 
 ment before the company where he uttered the 
 flander, there is no more to be faid ; forgive me, 
 dear Sir, to appeal to you, for the healing propo- 
 fal I made in j unification of my conduct, if 
 neceflity require it. A miflive apology, is pro- 
 perly an expedient or palliative cure, in no manner 
 equal to the prefent cafe •, and, I do aflure you, I 
 demand nothing of him but what confcience and 
 honour would both oblige me to, was I in his 
 Situation : I cannot but give you one paflage in the 
 words of his letter : " I freely afk your pardon, 
 which I think, by the law of Chrift, I have as 
 much reafon to expect to receive as give, where it 
 is needful for me, or where I am obliged to afk it." 
 I muft obferve, to take the co-herence and ftructure 
 of his letter, it is afking pardon for ..nothing, a 
 mere evafion. But, if I underftand the law of our 
 blefled Lord, no man can expect pardon for in- 
 jury to his neighbour, if he be capable to make 
 full reftitution in a proper manner, and refufe to 
 do it. I am fure I have great reafon to afk 
 pardon of you, for the trouble and interruption I 
 have given on this melancholy occafion, and to 
 
 return 
 
C 69 ] 
 
 return you a thoufand thanks for all your civili- 
 ties and favours. 
 
 My moft refpectful fervices ever attend my 
 Lady Abney, the young ladies, and Mrs. Gunftone. 
 I am, reverend and dear Sir, your moft affectionate 
 humble fervant, 
 
 GILB. ELIOTT. 
 
 F 3 From 
 
I 
 
 C 70 ] 
 
 From Mr, Daniel Mayo to Dr. Watts, 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REV. AND DEAR SIR, Kingfton, Feb. 19, 1717. 
 
 FIND in your lad a frefh fpecimen of your 
 humblenefs and goodnefs, and fubfcribe to your 
 prudent advice, and the rather, becaufe as I pro- 
 rnifed you, I am willing vou mould judge what is 
 fit for me to do in the troublefome affair; as a 
 kind friend to both parties you are engaged with. 
 
 I have herewith fent you a copy of a letter I 
 have by this poft fent to Sir G. E. in which I 
 have endeavoured to fupprefs fuch thoughts as will 
 arife, when I think of the ftrange temper and 
 carriage of fome perfons in this whole affair ; 
 but, perhaps, you may think a word or two might 
 yet have been fpared. Whether I mould have 
 omitted any words I will not be pofitive, but the 
 things intended thereby I am fure mould be 
 thought on by him, and they will be thought on 
 with a becoming temper if he be what I gladly hope 
 he is. I am, Sir, your mofl obliged friend and 
 humble fervant, 
 
 DANIEL MAYO. 
 
 P. S. I defign to wait on you in Lime-ftrect 
 
 on Saturday at about five o'clock. 
 
 To 
 
[ 7' ] 
 To Sir G. E, 
 
 SIR, Kingfton, Feb. 29, 1727. 
 
 I F you had written to me yourfelf,?I mould not 
 have delayed an anfwer fo long as fince the time I 
 received a letter from your Ton Charles : by what I 
 read therein, and hear from other hands, it ap- 
 pears how highly you refent fome unguarded 
 expreflions of mine, in private converfation, which 
 I am perfuaded have been mifreprefented to you. 
 What the words were, as I cannot exactly remem- 
 ber, fo I am confident no one that heard them 
 can take upon himfelf to repeat upon oath ; but 
 this I am fure of, they did not proceed from malice 
 in my heart, nor were fpoken with defign to ca- 
 lumniate, falfly, any perfon living or dead : nor 
 do I believe any one of the hearers (not he in 
 particular that related them) did in the leaft fuf- 
 pect or imagine any fuch thing. For this I appeal 
 to every one then prefer, t. 
 
 If I had an opportunity of giving you a true 
 and full information of the whole matter, in the 
 prefence of the Reverend Mr. Watts, or the whole 
 company in which I then was, I believe yourfelf 
 would not think my offence deferves fo many and 
 fuch fevere accufations and menaces as are in your 
 fon*s letter. God and my own confcience acquit 
 
 F 4 me. 
 
C r- J 
 
 me of the guilt of malice and enmity, Sec, which 
 I am there charged with ; and upon consultation 
 with the learned in the law, I fear no ill confe- 
 quence, as to myfelf, by any legal profecution ; 
 which, however, for many reafons, very obvious 
 to every body, I think ought not to be commenced 
 nor threatened. 
 
 Though I cannot remember exactly the words 
 fpoken, and never mall make any confeffion of 
 particular words faid to be fpoken by me, nor 
 own fuch guilt as I know myfelf to be (I had al- 
 moft faid perfectly) free from ; yet, as I have at 
 all times, when this matter hath been mentioned, 
 readily acknowledged, fo I now in this manner 
 own to you, I was in the wrong to fay what I faid, 
 becaufe I impertinently talked about what did not 
 concern me ; and I am truly forry for what was 
 faid, efpecially confidering how it hath been repre- 
 fented and refented ; and fo far as you are, or can 
 be juftly offended thereby, I very freely afk your 
 pardon. I do mod fincerely wifh you and all yours 
 profperity in this world, and eternal happinefs in 
 the next, and remain, Sir, your's in all good 
 offices you will pleafe to accept of, D. M. 
 
 From 
 
[ 73 ] 
 
 From Governor Belcher to Dr. Watts. 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, Whitehall, Jan. 8, 1729-30. 
 
 BELIEVE you will find among your laft 
 
 I 
 
 year's New England letters, one that came by 
 me. from my efteemed friend the Reverend Mr. 
 Col man ; and I think fometime in April laft, I 
 had the pleafure of waiting on you at my Lady 
 Abney's, and afterwards of feeing you at Tun- 
 bridge, fince which I had promifed myfelf the 
 fatisfaction of a more particular perfonal acquaint- 
 ance with Dr. Watts ; but the fovereign God (in 
 whofe hands our times are) having lately confined 
 you at Theobalds, and called me to an affair of 
 life that ingrofTes much of my time to be in readi- 
 nefs to look homeward early in the fpring \ I fay, 
 thefe things have debarred me of that fatisfaction 
 and happinefs I have fo much defired. In New 
 England I have often regaled myfelf with your 
 ingenious pieces, and I can allure you (without a 
 compliment) all Dr. Watts's works are had in 
 great efleem and honour amongfl us. It was with 
 uncommon concern I obferved your weak, tender 
 ftate of health the laft Lord's-day, and although, 
 as you very excellently fet forth to us, " That the 
 3 God 
 
[ 74 ] N 
 
 God of Nature can make new veflels, and the God 
 of Grace can fill them with treafure : and, al- 
 though the apoftle tells us we have this treaiure in 
 earthen veflels, that the excellency of the power 
 may be of God, yet Chrift's minifters are the fait 
 of the earth, and how beautiful are the feet of 
 them that preach the gofpel of peace, and bring 
 glad tidings of good things. And when Chrift: 
 fills his veflels with precious treafure, and makes 
 his minifters burning and mining lights, God's 
 people will forrow mod of all to hear the minifters 
 tell them, they fear they fhall fee their faces no 
 more." But, I hope, it may (land with the holy 
 will of God to reftore and confirm your health, 
 that his church may have Dr. Watts long in (lore, 
 Hill to go on, by the grace and afliftance of your 
 afcended Lord, in multiplying the fouls of your 
 miniftry to his honour and glory, and the eternal 
 happinefs of thofe whom you mall turn from the 
 error of their ways, and then thofe fons and daugh- 
 ters you have here begotten in Chrift, will ferve 
 as fparkling jems to give luftre to that crown of 
 righteoufnefs which God, the righteous judge, 
 will fix on your head in the great day of his ap- 
 pearance. Amen. God grant it may be {o. 
 
 And now, Sir, fince it has pleafed the all-wife 
 God (in his providence) to remove me from one 
 ordination of life to another, and to a ftation 
 
 where 
 
[ Vo ] 
 
 where I mud (land in a glaring light, expofed to 
 the view of the whole world, and every one will 
 think himfelf intitled to be my cenfor morum ; to 
 fubjedt my words and adtions to his ill-natured 
 cavils and criticifms : and, I am fenfible, great 
 is the burthen and duty of the place with which 
 the King has honoured me. I therefore defire 
 you to join with me, while I bow my knees to 
 the God of all grace and wifdom, that he would 
 give me a wife and underftanding heart, to difcern 
 between good and bad, and to know how to go 
 out and in before his people. Every day fills my 
 foul with care and folicitude, that I may difcharge 
 my truft to the honour of God, the good of 
 his people, and my own comfort and credit. 
 When I confider how ungratefully and unpro- 
 fitably I have lived to God and man, it is with 
 fhame that I tell you, I am this day entered into 
 the forty-ninth year of my age. My days are 
 fwifter than a poft, and fhort (perhaps very fhort) 
 the race I have to run - } may I then double my 
 diligence for the honour and fervice of God and 
 man, and fo as may mon of all promote my own 
 eternal happinefs. 
 
 You will pardon me for the freedom I have taken 
 with a gentleman, more a ftranger than I could 
 wifh, and believe me to be, with great efteem 
 
 and 
 
C 76 ] 
 
 and refpedt, reverend Sir, your moil obedient 
 
 humble fervant, 
 
 JONA. BELCHER. 
 
 P. S. My fervice to the Rev. Mr. Price. 
 LETTER II. 
 
 DEAR SIR, Bolton, Nov. 29, 1736. 
 
 IN June lad came to my hand your favour 
 of the 28th of February, when I was forry to find 
 Mr. Belcher difappointed of the pleafure of your 
 converfation in the city by your confinement at 
 Newington, where I hope he foon waited on you, 
 1 defire to own it, with the humbled and highefl 
 fenfe of gratitude to my gracious God and Father, 
 that I have continued accounts of my fon's fobriety 
 and diligence, and I am the more pleafed with 
 what I formerly wrote him on the fcore of his 
 Handing a candidate, fmce you fully agree with 
 me in thofe fentiments ; yet, as 1 then hinted, if 
 God fpares his life, and opens a fair door, I mould 
 be pleafed he might find a feat in St. Stephen's 
 Chapel at the next election, but that is at a great 
 tliftance, and it is not worth while to be anxious 
 about it. 
 
 From 
 
. [ 77 ] 
 
 From the arrival of one fhip after another, I find 
 Governor Shute gradually decaying; may his laft 
 days be his beft, and when numbered and finifhed, 
 may he receive a crown of life. 
 
 Governor Holden gives me the account of the 
 mifcarriage of the repeal of the teft : confidering 
 how cold the miniftry were in the matter, it is a 
 pity the attempt was made yet ; when it will be a 
 convenient feafon is hard to fay. 
 
 My beft refpects always wait on the good Lady 
 Abney. 
 
 I thank your kind condolence on the death of 
 my late dear filler Oliver, who did worthily in her 
 generation, and I doubt not but, through the 
 mercy of God in Chrift, fhe is become a member 
 of the " general affembly and church of the 
 firft-born, and now lives with the fpirits of the 
 juft men made perfect." 
 
 i am much pleafed with your ingenious little 
 book, the Redeemer, Sanclifier, &c. and forry 
 there fhould be occafion for it in this part of the 
 world. " God planted this land with a noble 
 vine, wholly a right feed •," and juftly now com- 
 plains, " How art thou turned into the degene- 
 rate plant of a flrange vine ! And how is the 
 gold become dim ! How is the mofl fine gold 
 changed ! Yet I will not defpond, for the refidue 
 of the fpirit is with God, and he can revive his 
 
 work 
 
C 73 ] 
 
 work in the midft of the years." This we muft 
 always pray for in the name of his well-beloved 
 fonj our exalted Redeemer, and powerful in- 
 terceflbr. 
 
 I thank you very kindly for your good wifnes 
 to my government, to myfelf, and to my family. 
 
 I am now, Sir, with a faint voice, and with a 
 trembling hand, to acquaint you of^the death of my 
 late dear wife, on the 6th ult.God has removed the 
 defire of my eyes with a ftroke •, fhe, who had been 
 the faithful divider of all my cares, and the doubler 
 of all my joys. I defire now to remember, that 
 " Affliction does not fpring out of the duft, nor 
 does God willingly affile!:, or grieve the children 
 of men ; I would therefore bow down and adore, 
 and fay, I have finned, what (hail I do unto 
 thee, O thou preferver of men ? And, where- 
 fore doth a living man complain ? A man for the 
 punilhment of his fins ?" Efpecially fince, in this 
 judgment, God gives me great reafon to fing of 
 mercy ; for me had the full ufe of her reafon till 
 the lafl moment, and died in great peace and fe- 
 renity ; and while I tell you feme of her laft ex- 
 preflions you will charitably hope fo. She died 
 on the Wedncfday, and on the Monday before, as 
 I was fitting with her on the bed, I laid to her, 
 " My dear, you draw nigh to the grave." She 
 replied, I know it, my dear. I then faid, " It is a 
 
 great 
 
C 79 ] 
 
 g'eat work to die." She anfwered, So it is, hut 
 Chrifi J ejus died for the chief of J inner s, or I Jhould 
 die without hope. She then went on ; He is an al- 
 mighty Saviour, and faves to the uttermoft thofe that 
 come unto him , therefore, my dear, I am not afraid to 
 die. And again, with a loud voice, ihe faid, He 
 is a lovely Saviour, and I love him with my whole 
 foul ; and could not love him, if he had not loved me 
 firfi. She has trod the dark valley, whither I muft 
 foon follow her -, and the voice of God to me in 
 this providence is, " Be you therefore ready alfo." 
 Let me then, fir, a(k you to join your prayers to 
 mine, that by the affiftance of the holy fpirit of 
 God I may c; fland with my loins girt, and my 
 light burning, that whenever the fon of man 
 comes I may enter into the joy of my Lord." 
 May you and I meet and dwell for ever there, 
 through infinite riches of grace and mercy, in Jefus 
 Chrift. Amen. Reverend Sir, your allured friend, 
 and moft obedient fervant, 
 
 j. BELCHER. 
 
 P. S. Your Packets under my cover were all 
 carefully delivered. 
 
 LETTER 
 
C So ] 
 LETTER III. 
 
 MY MUCH ESTEEMED FRIEND, 
 
 SIR, Bofton, Aug. i, 1737. 
 
 YOUR religious kind letters of the 3d of 
 March, and 2d of April, I have read once, and 
 again with much pleafure, and they are now open 
 before me for an anfwer, which I return with the 
 mod fenfible gratitude, for the great refpect and 
 honour you do to the memory of my late dear 
 Mrs. Belcher, as well as for the ingenious, pious 
 hints you fuggeft for my profitable reflection and 
 meditation -, fhe was, Sir, much my crown and 
 glory, and I have great reafon to believe from the 
 courfe of her life, as well as from her ferenity at 
 death, that my irreparable lofs is her eternal gain. 
 I may and ought to mourn my own lofs, even to 
 the lateft period of life, and the voice of God to 
 me in this melancholy providence is, that I be 
 cx working out my falvation with fear and trem- 
 bling :" and then I (hall not mourn for myfelf, " as 
 one without hope •," God has done his pleafure, at 
 which I dare not murmur, but would lie proflrate 
 in the duft before him, for my fins have exceeded. 
 How dreadful mud the cafe of that man be, who 
 has not a God to repair to, when fuch fcenes are 
 drawn for his entertainment ? Dear Sir, the prayer 
 
 you 
 
[ Si ] 
 
 you have offered for the watchful eye of providence 
 and grace to guard me in my feparated fiate of fo- 
 litude, is the higheft inftance of your love and 
 friendfhip •, and I doubt not but that (through the 
 powerful interceffiori of the great Mediator) " your 
 prayer will come before God as incenfe, and the 
 lifting up of your hands as the evening facrifke." 
 
 I was glad to find my fon had (though late) 
 done his duty, in paying his juft regards to his 
 father's friend at Newington j and I thank you 
 from the bottom of my heart, for your kind con- 
 cern towards him. I know he lives in an age and 
 place, and in an employment, that continually 
 environ him with a numerous variety of fnares 
 and temptations, and that nothing lefs than the 
 matchlefs powerful influences of the grace of God 
 are able to keep him, and to the grace of God I 
 defire to commend him, and thereto leave him, 
 nor am I without encouragement fo to do, and to 
 give praife to God for ever and ever, while I hear 
 he yet faves him from any open flagrant vices. 
 
 It is my duty, and has been my pleafure (during 
 his diftance from me) to be his monitor or. 
 birth-day, by telling him, he was born to die ; and 
 I take the freedom to enclofe you what I now write 
 to him on that head, which you will read, feal, 
 and let it find the way to his chambers, not taking 
 notice to him, at any time, that you have read it; 
 
 Vol. II. G 
 
C 8* ] 
 
 but what I defign in it is, that (in your ccnverfa- 
 tion and letters, when you will pleafe fo to honour 
 him) you would now and then harp upon the 
 fame firing, and you will, doctor, forgive this 
 trouble, when you confider the ineradicable Eto^ta, 
 implanted by the God of nature in us fathers. 
 
 Omnis in Afcanio chari flat cur a parentis. 
 
 I pray you to make my mod refpectful compli- 
 ments to the excellent lady Abncy, to whom I 
 am highly obliged for her condolence and kind 
 willies. 
 
 I thank you for your two books: that on Hu- 
 mility I have twice run over, and am muck 
 pleafed. Methinks a man that loves this world, 
 or a better, fliould rejoice to fhine in that virtue. 
 What fays Solomon ? c< Before honour is humi- 
 lity." And what fays St. Peter ? cc God refifteth 
 the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. " I 
 have not quite got through your Strength and 
 Weaknefs of Human Reafcn, but am greatly grati- 
 fied, fo far as I am gone •, and when you are 
 pleafed to oblige the world with any thing new, I 
 fhall be glad to have it as a ftrength and ornament 
 to my fmall collection. And I am alfo to beg 
 your picture, one of which graces our college 
 library. 
 
 The 
 
C s 3 ] 
 
 The feveral packets committed to my care, 
 found the way to their owners. I aik your ac- 
 ceptance of our laft election fermon, preached by 
 the reverend and pious Mr. Lorlny ; and of a 
 grammar lately put out by one of the fons of our 
 college. 
 
 Mr. Belcher fent me a copy of your letter to 
 him, of the 19th of Jan. laft, from Newington, 
 refpecting the epitaph he had prepared for the 
 tomb of his late dear mother. Your franknefs 
 and freedom with him is fuch a ted of your fin- 
 cere regard to his honour, as I cannot enough 
 thank you for, and with fuch a grateful fenfe does 
 he reprefent it to me. I approve your corrections in 
 general, and like your lad thought of faving the 
 whole, the firft part to be on the top ftone of the 
 tomb, the two other parts to be on the two fides. 
 I by no means like the word barrd; for the duft 
 of the faints is not imprifoned, but only refts from 
 its labour. Poets, they fay, muft be born fo, 
 which I am fure I was not, therefore you muft 
 pardon the blunder, if I think the two firft lines 
 might run thus : 
 
 Peaceful within this filent fhrine's preferv'd, 
 A while that facred duft which angels guard. 
 
 When with your kind help he has made the matter 
 perfect, I fhall be expecting it for inicription. 
 
 G 2 Reverend 
 
[ 8 4 ] 
 
 Reverend and dear Sir, I wifli above ail things 
 that " thou mayeft profper and be in health, even 
 as thy foul profper!!/* Thus, I am, your friend 
 and fervant, J. BELCHER. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 REV. AND DEAR SIR, Bofton, May 20, 1741. 
 
 1 AM afhamed to look over the date of your 
 kind letter of the 4th of May laft, which came to 
 my hands the ift of November following, yet I can 
 rely on your goodnefs for pardon in owning it fo 
 late •, while you confider how much I am ingrofTed 
 in the care of two of the king's provinces, fome- 
 times, I fear, too much to the neglect of the great 
 bufinefs of the King of kings ; and yet I would 
 humbly hopel have an eye to his glory, in the whole 
 of my adminiflration : " Man is born to trouble, as 
 the fparks fly upwards /' and even this determina- 
 of the great Governor of the world, is defigned 
 in mercy to mankind. What fays the wife 
 preacher, " In the day of adverfity confider •," and 
 his pious father, a Before I was afflicted I went 
 aftray." If the fruit of our troubles be cc that 
 our ways pleafe the Lord, he will make even our 
 enemies to be at peace with us." May the holy 
 and eternal fpirit of God take the full poffeflion of 
 my heart, that this may become my cafe, through 
 
 riches 
 
C 85 ] 
 
 riches of mercy in Jefus Chrift. He that faid to 
 the foaming billows, u Peace, be ftill," and it 
 
 was fo, can difconcert all faction and oppofition, 
 can fcatter every cloud, and bid the fhades of night 
 fly before the fpringing day and rifmg fun ! A 
 governor mull endeavour to mail himfelf with 
 patience, Sccvis ejfe tranqiiillum in undis. I defire 
 " to be in fubje&ion to the Father of fpirits," and 
 to have faith in him, and this conftant conclufion 
 in myfelf, that all the carvings of his providence 
 towards me are bell for me. 
 
 I again greatly rejoice in the favour of God, in 
 fo well reftoring you after fuch a threatening ftroke ; 
 but I rejoice flill more in your humble and pious 
 fubmiffion, while you can fay, " you are waiting 
 his will to be employed here, or to be called away 
 hence at what hour he pleafes." Oh ! Sir, how 
 thankful mull the chriftian be that has thus got 
 upon the lad round of the ladder. My greater!: 
 gratitude flies into your bofom, in return for all 
 your prayers and good wilhes to me and to my 
 family : as to myfelf, I am juft at the heels of 
 fixty ; my few remaining moments are crowded 
 into a narrow compafs, u my days are fwifter than 
 a poll or a weaver's Ihuttle, they will foon be ex- 
 tinct, and the grave be ready for me." Oh ! then 
 may I, by the fovereign powerful grace of God, 
 double my diligence, that I may be ready when 
 
 G 3 my 
 
[ 86 ] 
 
 my Lord mall call. I intreat, and (as the duty of 
 your function requires) I charge you, when you 
 kneel before the throne of God and the Lamb, 
 (in fecret) not to forget me ; for an alluring world 
 and a tempting devil are never weary of their at- 
 tacks. I am greatly obliged to the excellent Lady 
 Abney, to whom you will prefent my humble 
 refpects. Happy fhe ! who has turned her widow- 
 ed (late into an everlafting match with the glorious 
 bridegroom of the church of God. By the laft 
 iliip I covered, to my fon, a letter for you, from 
 our dear friend Dr. Colman, wherein, I doubt 
 not, he has given you an account of the outpour- 
 ings of the fpirit of God in a wonderful meafure, 
 of late, in this and the neighbouring provinces ; 
 to his name alone be the glory. I am, Sir, with 
 the moft perfect efteem and friendmip, yours, &c. 
 
 J. BELCHER. 
 
 P. 8. When you favour the world with any new 
 production let m,c partake. 
 
 Fronq 
 
C »7 ] 
 
 From Mr. Benjamin Colman to Dr. Watts. 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REV. AND DEAR SIR, Bofton, Jan. 16, 1739-40. 
 
 x\ WEEK is pad fince your letter and packet 
 of September 17th, and another of October 12th, 
 arrived together in Captain Forbes. I thank you 
 for the books bought, and the account given of 
 them j I find it exact and judicious. I could no c 
 bear to read Thompfon through now I have him ; 
 I thank you for not buying the fecond volume ; 
 he ftudies obfcurity and labours intricacy, while 
 Sommerville's chain is fmooth as an eagle's foaring. 
 All of Young's pleafes, edifies, and furprifes. Mr. 
 Lowe on Perfection is not equal I think to his 
 Serious Call, which I had feen before. I prefent 
 you now with our Bofton edition of your Hymns 
 and Guide to Prayer, done well for us. My 
 Withered Hand, that little Sermon, is like to be 
 of fome ufe here, and is in the prefs again, toge- 
 ther with a little book of four fermons on the In- 
 comprehenfiblenefs of God. 
 
 Mr. Whitfield arrived fome months part at 
 Philadelphia, where, and through the Jerfeys and 
 at New- York, he preached daily to incredible 
 multitudes with great eloquence and zeal, as a 
 good judge tkere writes me. 
 
 G4 He 
 
C 88 ] 
 
 He was pleafed to fend me a letter and afk a 
 correfpondence with me. He was fhewn at New- 
 York a letter of mine which named him with 
 refpecl, but wherein I happened to fay " he is but 
 a young divine -" his fermon of Juftification led 
 me to fay fo. " You faid right, Sir, fays he to 
 me, I am but a novice in the things of God ; I 
 can only fay I defire to know the whole will of 
 God, that I may communicate it to others. Chrift 
 is fo good a mailer that I would have all men 
 drawn after him. He is pleafed to let me experi- 
 ence daily the teachings of his bleiTed fpirit, and 
 to mew me the riches, freenefs, and eternal duration 
 of his love. Pray that I may be able to fee all 
 things clearly." 
 
 America is like to do him much honour, as you 
 will fee by the prints from New- York and Phila- 
 delphia here inclofed. And it is a moll happy 
 profpedt to me, in favour of many a poor foul, 
 through the colonies of Maryland, Virginia, and 
 North Carolina, that he is gone preaching the 
 gofpel through them, and praying, in his way to 
 Georgia. He propofes to fee Bofton in his return 
 to Europe about June next, by God's will •, and 
 our town and country (land ready to receive him 
 as an angel of God. Indeed, minifters and people, 
 all but his own church, fpeak of him with great 
 efteem and love : he feems fpirited from on high 
 in an extraordinary manner, affifted and profpered. 
 3 Mr. 
 
[ §9 ] 
 
 Mr. Holder* fent me over his Journals and An* 
 fwer to the Bifhop of London, I read there of his 
 calling in to fee you as he paffed through Newing- 
 ton, but you nor Dr. Guife have laid a word to 
 me of him j nor do I find how the diffenting mini- 
 iters ftand affecled to him ; it may be prudent 
 in them to be filent : but, in what of mercy or 
 judgment, God may mean this rife of the metho- 
 difls to the glory of the church or the nation in 
 general, time muft fhow. I fhall be glad of your 
 thoughts on this matter. 
 
 As to the account I fent you of the ftcry from 
 Mrs. R/nve's own mouth, I leave it to Mr. Rowe 
 to make what ufe of it he pleafes, and am far, I 
 affure you, from affecting to have it inferred at 
 large in my words, or as from me. The more I 
 confider her beauteous life and works the more I 
 admire the grace of God which preferved, animated, 
 and honoured her fo. But it is a pleafure to me 
 that you have named me to the Hon. the Lady 
 Hartford • on the occafion, whom I love in the 
 truth for her love to Mrs. Rowe, and her moft en- 
 dearing returns of high affection. Such beauteous 
 fouls are formed and fhewn for the love and efteern 
 of all the ends of the earth. Mrs. Rowe's hiding 
 that fecret from Lady Hartford, feems almoft a 
 prohibition from her of telling it to the world ; or, 
 if the world now hears of it, the filence of her 
 
 after- 
 
C 9° ] 
 
 after-years about it may give it a double force 
 and edge upon the ingenious and pious part of 
 mankind. 
 
 Mr. Sargeant goes on with great pleafure in his 
 work, and Providence has fent up a worthy gen- 
 tleman with his family to him, whofe difcreet and 
 very amiable daughter he has married. 
 
 I am forry to hear of your continued low ftate 
 of health, and that you think it proceed s from a fhock 
 of the paralytic kind ; but the Lord, whofe you are, 
 when on earth healed the lick even of the palfy ! 
 may he receive, fupport, refrefh the foul, and 
 prolong the life and fervice of my beloved friend. 
 Let not my correfpondence with you be a burthen 
 and oppreffion. I hope God will yet give you 
 health to add to your laft fongs on death, " the 
 world to come." 
 
 I have had fome revival the fu miner paft, and 
 the winter has not hitherto broken it; indeed, it 
 has begun in a manner but this week, and earth and 
 iky are alike dazzling bright ; a ferenity which you 
 (our revered mother ifle) are altogether a ftranger 
 to ; it braces up alfo our nerves, and makes the 
 old, whom it does not kill, think themfelves hail 
 
 again for afeafon. 
 
 I have wrote to the minifters of Connecticut 
 of the packet for them, which you have commit- 
 ted to Mr. Cox's care, that they may write to his 
 
 indolent 
 
[ 9' ] 
 
 indolent fliopkeeper here, whom I call fo as I find 
 him, on his going off to London, and now on 
 his return ; for by him I fent for fome books, and 
 at the end of two months after his arrival here 
 heard nothing of his bringing any, though his 
 money lay ready •, and now two months more 
 are gone and not a word from him, fo I fuppofe 
 he bought none, or has fold them to another. I 
 have fent my friends the Rules of the Salifbury 
 library. 
 
 I thank you, Sir, for your free and kind advice 
 to Mr. Hilhoufe, by his mcfTenger Mr. Mafon, 
 and have informed the gentlemen of Connecticut 
 of it, to whom (with us) it is very agreeable. 
 
 And as to your queftion, cc Why we give rings 
 at funerals, and have plate in our houies, when 
 we have no filver and gold currency amonp- us, as 
 a medium of trade r" I mult fir ft own, that 
 Bofton has always been too expenfive in funerals, 
 and alio in veffels of plate in the houfe. A-la-mode 
 and luteftring fcarfs were our mourning twenty 
 years ago, and we reformed to rings, which were 
 about half the exptnee. Our people expect a 
 great deal of labour from their minifters when 
 their families are fick, and have it •, and the richer 
 in return gives us a ring, which till death returns 
 again is, it may be, all the vail fom them ; three 
 or four in a congregation excepted. The gold 
 
 the 
 
[ 9* ] 
 
 the meanwhile is only matter of trade and merchan- 
 dife in the goldfmith's mop among us, like other 
 goods ; and as to the filver, it is bought up by the 
 merchants to make returns to you to pay debts or 
 buy more goods from you ; . and if one or two 
 hundred thoufand pounds in filver or gold were 
 brought in among us to-morrow we owe it to you, 
 and ought to remit it prefently, or to make gain of 
 it, or purchafe what we need from you, we fend 
 it to you. It is true, Sir, as you fay, " A public 
 felf-denial in thefe inftances would foon mend the 
 matter with us," that is, in half a century it would 
 do it, for fo long the want of it has been bringing 
 us into thefe circumftances, and as long there have 
 not been wanting public and private warnings of 
 the wrong and injurious Hep ; but, befide the pri- 
 vate fpirit of traffic, wherein every one is apt to 
 look to himfelf firft, we have abundance of ftran- 
 gers from you and other places, who look only to 
 themfelves and employers, and what will make the 
 eafieft and beft returns ; and buy up the filver and 
 gold, and wanting often to return prefently them- 
 felves, will give fix-pence in an ounce more for one, 
 and fo in proportion for the other ; and our mer- 
 chants are hereby forced to do the fame, or give 
 up the ftaple metal into their hands. How to 
 extricate ourfelves is difficult, and to preach the 
 felf-denial to the merchant is, alas! too much 
 in vain. War 
 
[ 93 ] 
 
 War is proclaimed, and our Americans are much 
 fpirited for it, but our poor province leail defence- 
 lefs and naked by fea and land, the induction from 
 the king to our governor, tying up his hands, and 
 our reprefentatives tying up therefore theirs. If 
 France goes into the war, down will come the 
 Indians, we may fear, on our wide extended bor- 
 ders •, there is not a fort in any good repair or fur- 
 niture, nor a foldier or officer to be paid, and the 
 fame on our coafts. God can protect us, but fure- 
 ly experts we ufe the means of common prudence, 
 but we have not felf-denial enough to ftoop one to 
 another in an exigence, or to the kino; for felf- 
 prefervation. We need the more of the pity and 
 prayers of our friends ; but how can we pray in 
 faith, fave in the pity that is infinite to pardon and 
 heal us, and fave us ? When neareft at the throne 
 of grace, bear us on your heart, and him in parti- 
 cular who is under the ftri&eft bands of friendlhip 
 and gratitude. Sir, your affectionate brother and 
 fervant, BENJ. COLMAN. 
 
 P. S. If we hear not from one another as we 
 expect, we muft look that vefTels and letters will 
 fometimes fall into the hands of enemies. 
 
 LETTER 
 
t 94 J 
 LETTER II. 
 
 REV. AND DEAR SIR, Bofton, May 7 , i 739 . 
 
 YOUR favour of April 4, is before me, and 
 the box, containing Dr. Dodderidge and Dr. 
 Guyfe's Paraphrafes, for me and Mr. Cooper, to- 
 gether with the two fets of Mrs. Rowe's works. 
 We like well the binding, and are greatly obliged 
 to you for the care and trouble you have been at 
 to oblige us as you have done. I thank you for 
 the two feparate pictures of Mrs. Rowe. Her 
 foul and face were both pleafant to me. I had in 
 a manner loft the features, which I now perfectly 
 remember. The account of her divine life, and 
 walk with God, rifes beyond my before raifed ideas 
 of her : her fercnity, recirements, diligence and 
 abundant charities, are all wonderful. The father's 
 character is bright as the offspring's, and very juft 
 according to all I faw in the two years of my ac- 
 quaintance with him. He told me once, that 
 Philomela was not to be compared with her mo- 
 ther. It pleafed me beyond exprefiion to hear 
 him talk of his deceafed. And fo now docs the 
 account of the manner and way whereby Provi- 
 dence began their acquaintance. He told me one 
 forenoon, as I rode out with him, that he had bu- 
 ried a younger filter of Philomela's, who was 
 
 brighter 
 
C 95 ] 
 
 brighter and lovelier than fhe, and wrote 23 well, 
 in profe and poetry; but both of them together 
 were not equal to their perfect mother. After 
 dinner, being alone with Mrs. Singer, (it was in 
 1698) I told her what her father had faid to me of 
 her excelling fitter. She was perfectly pleafed at 
 it, and anfwered, "That as fhe was the youngett,fo 
 fhe was much the moil gay and cheerful, and 
 pleafing to her father ; fhe always faw that he mod 
 delighted in her, and that fhe was indeed a lovely 
 daughter and filler." The whole convention that 
 afternoon was upon her. Philomela told me, that 
 this fitter loved her to a great excefs ; it was often 
 troublefome to her; fhe would be ever with her, 
 and broke in often upon her retirements for ttudy ; 
 and when they retired by confent for compofing, 
 fhe would bring generally more lines written, but 
 as flie thought too nattily. The younger daughter 
 was wont to invent ways to try the affection of her 
 fitter, and to win it more and more, and would 
 often complain that fhe returned not an equal 
 love. She gave me feveral inflances of thofe 
 childifli ways of endearment, which I well re- 
 member ; and then fhe proceeded to give me the 
 account of her death. 
 
 " It was (faid fhe, and if I give the words, I 
 will keep exactly to the things fhe faid ; and alio 
 up to the life and fpirit with which fhe gave me the 
 endearing ttory ; which I foon after wrote down, 
 
 and 
 
[ 96 ] 
 
 and now keep to the record I then made of it; for 
 it (truck me too much to be willing ever to for- 
 get it.) 
 
 " It was, faid me, in my filler's death that my 
 father was to be tried ; but it was I that was taken 
 fick, and my ficknefs prevailed to a very dangerous 
 degree ; and when the phyficians let them know 
 my great danger, and the little hope they had of 
 my recovery ; this dear filler came to me with a 
 vifible concern, and earneftly befought me to tell 
 her, whether I was ready and willing to die, if God 
 ihould call for me from them by this fick- 
 nefs, for Ihe was afraid I mould die ; and 
 fhe could not comfortably part with me but only to 
 go to Chrift ; ihe hoped therefore that my interell: 
 in him was comfortable and clear to me." I ear- 
 neftly turned to her and faid, " Why, filter, do 
 they think me in fuch hazard ? I mud confefs to 
 you that my diltrefs would be great, on the account 
 of my foul, if I thought my death were now com- 
 ing on, for I have not that full afiurance of my 
 intereft in Chrift, which I have always begged of 
 God I may have before he pleafes to call me hence." 
 No fooner had fhe heard me fay this, but fhe fell 
 as in an agony on her knees by my bedfide, and in 
 a manner inexpreflible, for fervour and humility, 
 fhe begged of God, ■• That if her vather muft 
 have the grief of burying one of his children, it 
 might be her ! for through his free grace, and to 
 
 the 
 
[ 97 ] 
 
 the glory of it, fhe could joyfully profefs before 
 him, her allured hope of her intereft in his ever- 
 lafting mercy, through Jefus Chrift ! wherefore fhe 
 could willingly furrender herfelf to die, if it might 
 pleafe God to grant her filter a further fpace for 
 the making her calling and election fure." Having 
 prayed thus, in a tranfport the mod furprifing and 
 aftonifhing to me (faid Philomela) fhe earneftly 
 killed me and left the room, without giving me 
 time or power to anfwer her a word ; and what is 
 almoft incredible to relate, from that hour or two I 
 grew better and recovered, but fhe took to her bed 
 and died in a few days. Conceive, if you can, Mr. 
 Colman, (faid fhe) how I was aftonifhed at this 
 event of Providence, and overwhelmed with for- 
 row ! Yet I recovered health, but the load of grief 
 upon me, and wonder at the ftrange occurrence, 
 confined me to my chamber for five or fix weeks. 
 My chief work was to confider the mind of God 
 in this his mercy to me, that I might make it evi- 
 dent, by his grace with me, that in love to my 
 foul he had wrought this. I fet myfelf to comfort 
 my father what I could, and this was alfo his care 
 toward me -, nor durft we be inconfolable under a 
 bereavement, fo circumftanced ; yet my mourning 
 is always returning to this day, with the remem- 
 brance of a love ftrong as death, 
 
 ij 
 
 Vol. II. H Such 
 
[ 93 ] 
 
 Such was the exalted converfation of that after- 
 ternoon. I told her I was more in love with the 
 dead than with the living ! that me mud yield her 
 fifter the victory, and confefs (what flie had before 
 defired) that her filler excelled her in the firength of 
 love as well as in the fondnefs and fervour of it. 
 Any body now may well think that I could never 
 forget the fubftance of fuch a refolution, or the 
 manner wherein it came from thofe charming lips, 
 which fpoke it (I thought) with a flow and force I 
 can little give the ftory in my relating it. But how can 
 it be thought that this lovely and fuperior perfon 
 mould (o freely reveal this fecret and wonder to me, a 
 ftranger and unknown in the land, and hide it from 
 many other of her friends, fuperior far in merit 
 and in her jufl efteem ! This is altogether unac- 
 countable to me as it may well be to others : but 
 this I mull own, that from the firfl hour 1 faw 
 her, Mr. Singer entered into fuch a love and free- 
 dom with me, that he even obliged me to write to 
 his daughter, and made me promife to come and 
 fee them often $ both which I did, and was re- 
 ceived (and fpoken of when abfent) in fuch man- 
 ner by them (as Mr. Handon told me) thac a jufl 
 modefly will never fuffer me to repeat. I more 
 than twice fpent days together at the houfe when I 
 vifited, conftrained by their apparent pleafure, as 
 well as expreffed defires of my flay. And if ma- 
 dam 
 
C 99 ] 
 
 dam was more on the referve at other times to her 
 friends, refpecting this wondrous event, yet the 
 father's morning talk with me, about this younger 
 daughter, may be feen to be evidently the leading 
 occafion into a fudden betraying the fecret to me, 
 if I might prefume to fpeak to him of it. And, 
 dear Sir, I doubt not, but my ferious affirmation 
 to you of the truth of the foregoing conference 
 with Mr. Singer and his daughter, will gain it a 
 credit with you, fo I intreat you to mew what I 
 have written to Mr. Rowe, with my hearty thanks 
 to him for the difcharge of the truft committed to 
 him in fo polite a manner ; and if I knew how to 
 obtain credit with him by adding more,, I would 
 not fail to do it, for you may well think page 13 
 gave me a great Ihock, to read there of " offering 
 the world that it is a fiory without foundation \ It 
 cannot be fuppofed that the fiory, confidently re- 
 ported by fome among you at London, or elfewhere, and 
 credited by a great many others" fhould take its rife 
 here at Bofion, and tranfport and fcatter itfelf, as I 
 perceive it has, with credit among many ; and as 
 for the malevolent turn, which fear feems to give 
 the afpect of the fiory, as an argument againft 
 Mrs. Rowe's early piety, it feems to me alto- 
 gether unkind and unjuft, and enough is faid to 
 fhew it ro be fo in that 13th page. The (lory, if 
 true, like a Jhechinah of light, cafts a brightnefs 
 H 2 both 
 
[ ico ] 
 
 both on the living and the dead, in my way of 
 thinking.' Had Philomela then died, I fee no 
 reafon to imagine but it had been infinite gain to 
 her, and all the bright fcenes of her after life and 
 ufefulnefs, were vanity and emptinefs in her own 
 eyes, in comparifon of any moment's enjoyment 
 that her ft fur was pafled into : her letters and 
 poems are full of this. The marvel was, (and yet 
 why fo marvellous ?) a love ttrong as death to the 
 dear foul of a filler, on the fuppofed brink of eter- 
 nity, and a willingnefs to take her place, under a full 
 fenfe of her own eternal fafety ! I have a fitter now 
 alive, who, I am fure, on a like bletted advantage 
 on her fide, would readily do the like. And I re- 
 member the words of a minifter here to his fitters, 
 as his wife lay a dying, with great humility and 
 earnettnefsj " Ah, how gladly could I lie down 
 in her place and die, might fhe be fpared !" It is 
 true, there feems on every hand fomething extra- 
 ordinary in the ftory ; and fo there is in the whole 
 ftory of that happy, pious, humble family ; huf- 
 hand, and wife, and daughters. It was needful 
 for the world that Philomela fhould continue in 
 the fiefth, to fhine as fhe has done in a dark age of 
 fenfuality and infidelity, and give it an example of 
 a converfation in heaven, living up to the raptures 
 of her admired pen •, and the more let it be as a 
 vificn from the dead, to work or allure -, if indeed 
 
 llie 
 
[ HK ] 
 
 (he was fpared from apprehended death in fuch a 
 wondrous manner, as has been related. The diffi- 
 culty mcthinks may be thus folved -, " that it feems 
 to have been her judgment and will, in her advanced 
 years, that this lingular providence in her favour 
 and honour mould be kept fecret ; and this might 
 well become her native humility and prudence, or 
 the ripenefs of it rather in her advance in life, 
 avoiding what might feem vainglorious to divulge, 
 or indeed what fuch an age as ours might probably 
 treat with ridicule and derifion. But nothing of this 
 nature can make me afhamed to own the perfect 
 credit I give to the relation from fuch a mouth as 
 Mrs. Singer's. I doubted there might be an error, 
 p. 9, in the date of this young gentlewoman's age, 
 making it her twentieth year : Mrs. Singer was but in 
 her twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth years when I was 
 at Bath ; and if I mi (lake not her filler's death had 
 been more than fix years part; but in this I might 
 be miftaken ; and the rather, becaufe I knew not 
 her age, but judged her to be five or fix years 
 younger than myfelf, and now find me was but 
 one. The laft letter I had from Mr. Singer was in 
 the year 1709, part of which, if I durfl commu- 
 nicate to you, would fhew the high intereft I had 
 in his heart, and the vaft freedom with which he 
 let me into it. I have placed my beloved friend 
 (my acquaintance with her being the great honour 
 H 3 of 
 
[ .02 ] 
 
 of my youth) in our library at Cambridge, for 
 the admira ; ion, veneration and inftru&ion of our 
 youth, in all that is pious and polite. I thank 
 you again for the feparate pictures, which fliall 
 adorn my be ft rooms. If I can find a fafe hand I 
 will fend you fome gold to difcharge your generous 
 advance for me, with this letter. I pray God to 
 refiore your health, and continue your ufeful life 
 to more glory to his name, and good to fouls. To 
 hear of your illnefs flrikes me ; but God who has 
 fo often reftored, and fo long ufed you, will I 
 hope {till prclerveyou in favour to his church, and to 
 youi rrjanjf rends, and among them to him who 
 ean eftly ?fks your continued love and prayers. Sir, 
 your affectionate brother and humble fervant, 
 
 BENJ. COLMAN. 
 
 P. S. The work of God goes on at Honftato- 
 nock, and as you will fee by the enclofed, another 
 door feems to be open above them ; may God 
 make it a wide and effectual one. I enclofe to 
 you my fmall late prints ; and give you the trou- 
 ble of others to my friends* 
 
 An uncafy fpirit revives here among us, about 
 our currency, and want of more paper money, the 
 emiflion of which is forbid by the king's inftruc- 
 tions to the government, above the rifing charges 
 of every year. Great changes have been made in 
 
 the 
 
C I0 3 ] 
 
 the election of rcprefentatives, but when met tliey 
 have chofen juft the fame counfcllors ; and as within 
 doors they feem quiet, we grow ftiller without. 
 We hear of, and read the uneafinefles of the na- 
 tion, about the convention with Spain ; it is much 
 the fame in the plantations here. We mull crofs 
 near their fliores to our own iflands, but nearer or 
 further our vefTels are fearchedj which who can 
 fubmit to ? 
 
 Your fongs for children, being out of print 
 here, and much wanted to fcatter among them, I 
 engaged two of our young bookfellers to reprint 
 them ; which the reft hearing of, fome of them 
 fell in, and about three or four thoufand of them 
 are printed •, and as foon as my little birds learn 
 two or three of them they come to me, fome to 
 my home, others as I vifit their parents, iinging 
 and making melody with their Hammering lips, and 
 thanking me for their book. 
 
 You will fee by the enclofed, the liberty that 
 Mr. Smith of Carolina has taken to borrow fome of 
 your tender lines for the embalming the name of 
 his brother Baflfet. Mr. Baflet was born and edu- 
 cated in N. E. Mr. Smith came from Bermudas 
 for his education, was a mod diligent ftudenr, 
 made great proficiency, and came out a bright 
 preacher. Both of them were ordained in our 
 houfe, and were about the fame age, (thirty-five). 
 H 4 I had, 
 
[ i°4 ] 
 
 I had, however, no hand in publifliing this fcr- 
 mon. The congregation chofe Mr. Smith to be 
 their paftor, but he declines the cure for want of 
 health, and I hear they have fent to London. 
 
 Your book of hymns is reprinted here, in a 
 handfome manner for us; not one yet bound. 
 Your guide to prayer is going into the prefs. En- 
 clofed is half an ounce of gold. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 REV. AND DEAR SIR, Bolton, Aug. 20, 1739. 
 
 X HAVE your new and great favour of June 
 6th, with your packets for Harward and Gale col- 
 lege., which I have forwarded. My lafl to you was 
 a packet by capt. Marrier, which he promifed to 
 fee delivered at your friend's houfe, near the Ex- 
 change ; in it was half an ounce of gold, in rings, 
 to pay for your kind advance of Mrs. Rowe's fird 
 volume, and her pidtures, to me, with which you 
 greatly obliged me. Pleafe to referve enough of the 
 faid money to pay for the whole fubfeription to Dr. 
 Dodderidge's volumes, if you have not done it 
 before; and as I have left it to you to buy me 
 what pleafes you bell with what is left of my 
 money, fo I readily fuppofe you will fend me the 
 difcourfes of preaching Chrift, which the prints 
 
 tell 
 
C io 5 ] 
 
 tell me you defire always to have at your right 
 hand. 
 
 Mr. Prefident Williams has been followed this 
 year with a dreadful head-ach, which has greatly 
 endangered the lefs of his fight, but through the 
 favour of God he is much reftored, yet often 
 thinks he mud leave New Haven, and live farther 
 from the fea air, to which he imputes the pains of 
 his head, finding them return with the bleak fea 
 winds. He is a mod valuable man, and his fick- 
 nefs or retirement would be a £reat lofs to us. 
 
 Our dear Mr. Mather has alfo fufiered much this 
 year and 1 1 ; w: h great conftancy he 
 
 wen .i! incifion on his face, and is 
 
 now recovering from a flow burning fever, very 
 diftreffing, I preached for him laft week, and 
 found the world to come on his table, but his eyes 
 not able then to look into it. 
 
 How much do I rejoice, my dear brother, in 
 your recovery, fo far as to write again at large 
 to your friends, and to fend us new fruits of your 
 labour. We are a great expence to you from year 
 to year, and I am ready to blufn at the great 
 charge you are put to by your correfpondence here 
 with fo. many of us ; but you gladly fpend, and 
 are fpent, for the benefit of many, at home and 
 abroad. The Lord render yon a full reward in the 
 comfort of your foul, for its travel for us, in the way 
 to your crown. How 
 
C «o6 3 
 
 How pleafant is it to fee you finifhing your 
 eourfe with the prefent fubjedt, The World to 
 come ! The End of Time ! The Watchful Chrif- 
 tian, &:c. and how pleafant alfo is it to receive your 
 promife, by the will of God, of more on the fame 
 head : a harveft to you, I truft, living and dying. 
 You do well to wear and work out, and come to, 
 your grave as a ihock of corn in its feafon. And 
 I thank God, who {trengthens your hands, and 
 encourages your heart, by the very great accep- 
 tance he gives to your works, which I read with 
 pleafure, in the account of the multiplied editions 
 of them. This laft year, at my motion, two of 
 our bookfellers reprinted your fongs for children, 
 an edition of two or three thoufand, I think ; and 
 your hymns are juft now out of the prefs, and 
 your treatife of prayer in it. I know not whe- 
 ther you reckon our editions here any thing, but 
 we do. 
 
 There is a motion lately come to us at Bofton, 
 from the prefbitery from Penfylvania and New 
 York, for a new college to be built in thofe parts, 
 the churches there multiplying, and the people 
 finding it fo far from home, to fend their children 
 to Yale, which is next to them : but the rumours 
 of war will be like to retard this great affair ; for 
 as we here have promifed them our affiftance, fo 
 
 they 
 
[ io 7 ] 
 
 they propofe to fend over one of their number to 
 London or Edinburgh. 
 
 The EfTay on Civil Power, in Things facred, I 
 take to be your own, by the preface and two fir ft 
 feclions. I think what is faid, fedt. iii. to be ab- 
 folutely necefTary to the being of a chriflian ftate, 
 and that the laws of a land mould enjoin ftrictly 
 and peremptorily the worfhip, and fwearing by the 
 one and only Lord God ; and that they that deny 
 him, and would fwear by any idol god, fhouid not 
 be acknowledged as fubjecls of the (late. I can- 
 not think there may be heathens, ferving feveral 
 gods, and yet ufeful members of a (late : they 
 mull be dreadful fnares and pefts to the places 
 where they dwell, and fatal to them, as God 
 warned his Ifrael of old. I fear alfo the appoint- 
 ment and fupport of preachers of natural religion, 
 and the laws of the land, with a command to 
 people to attend them, and on the Lord's day in 
 particular, would foon turn out the requiiite fanclifi- 
 cation of it in private and public : if one day rather, 
 the fir ft of each term, from county to county, were 
 the times afligned for people's information, me* 
 thinks it would better ferve the end propofcd ; 
 yet not fo fully I acknowledge ; neither is this in- 
 formation fo necefTary as preaching the word of life 
 to their fouls. The honour of the Lord's day, and 
 means of grace, forbids the intrufion of other 
 
 authorifedj 
 
C io8 ] 
 
 authorifed, civil and moral public teachers. Our 
 government have lately recommended to mini- 
 fters to read a very pious proclamation for 
 the better obfervation of the Lord's day, which I 
 gladly did ; but fome of our churches here would 
 not come into it : the brethren in one of them 
 fpoke openly againft it, and prevented it, with the 
 liking I fear of the paftor, when he however pro- 
 pofed it. There would prefently be an end of re- 
 ligion, if the facrcdnefs of the fabbath be not kept 
 up and maintained. 
 
 Seel. vi. &c. feem to leave things too bafe, and 
 give room to unfettle what God has fettled. The 
 rights of government itfelf, and fo the liberties of 
 the people, muft be judged of by the word of 
 God, and fubmitted to it. There is no light in us 
 but by this law ; we do well to take heed to it as a 
 light that mines in a dark place ; the rights of 
 confeience are bed judged of by it -, the magiflrate 
 is to govern, and the fubject to obey by fcripture 
 light, which is for confeience fake toward God. 
 We are as much the people of God, by our pro- 
 feffion of the goipel, rulers and ruled, as the Jews 
 were. We are a holy nation, a royal priefthood, 
 a peculiar people, to thefe, &c. believers are fo 
 truly, the profefibr declares it of himfelf. The 
 Romifh apoftacy is only a defection from, and re- 
 bellion againft this royal and perfect law of li- 
 berty, the glorious liberty of the fons of God ; 
 
 3 bound 
 
 : 
 
[ io 9 ] 
 
 bound up by the divine will, juft as all heaven and 
 angels are. 
 
 I thank you, Sir, for the other effay, Self-love 
 and Virtue reconciled only by Religion, which the 
 catalogue gives leave to afcribe to you. The ar- 
 gument in the whole of it appears to me ftrong and 
 right, and of great importance. 
 
 I return to your End of Time, &c. I think 
 you never wrote, nor did I ever read difcourfes 
 more adapted to young and old, high and low. 
 In fuch flame one would wifh to expire : I am 
 ready to fay on it, " It is finiflied ! Yet may you 
 live to add more." 
 
 Our fhips of war are fitting out for the Spanifh. 
 coaft. War will break our correfpondence by the 
 caption of letters and packets : it may be my lad 
 to you may not have arrived, with the gold in it, I 
 pray you to advife me that I may not lie in debt. 
 
 My weak heart mifgives me, when I think of 
 our own divifions, and the united powers of Spain 
 and France. If our God and Saviour were not fo 
 dreadfully neglected and defied, more were with 
 us than with them. I fear a fvvarm of privateers 
 upon our merchandife, and the tranfport of popery 
 acrofs the channel, or round about, in- the perfon 
 
 of : but God has not forfaken us in times 
 
 pad though we always him. 
 
 I fent you the vote of our court, in form of a 
 brief. We have had our collections in part, and 
 
 find 
 
[ no ] 
 
 find we (hall have monies. Our congregation con- 
 tributed eighty pounds. Connecticut gave fome 
 hundreds. A great many live and fix pounds will 
 make a fum. We are propofing the furplus 
 for a foundation of a fund, for the fupport of the 
 gofpel in poor places in all times to come. Pleafe 
 to inform Mr. Holden that I hope we ihall not 
 again lie in debt to him. 
 
 I entreat you, Sir, to inform me by the firft op- 
 portunity, of the foundation of your London 
 fund, and how it is fupported and endowed, by 
 whom, and to whom, and what account is rendered 
 of it to the contributors. We would form our- 
 felves by you. I depend on Drs. Harris, Guyfe 
 and you, to give me the information and direc- 
 tion that may be neceffary. I have promifed our 
 churches to afk it of you. 
 
 We were obliged to drop our motion by an 
 adjournment, fine die^ about ufing a new verfion of 
 the pfalms, finding our peace endangered. Mr. 
 Cooper has not effected this verfion in above 
 twenty pfalms, I think. 
 
 The heat of fummer has revived me ; the cool 
 of autumn I now feel, Sept. 22. I miffed one 
 fhip after 1 had wrote the other pages, which has 
 brought me to this date. 
 
 Mercy and peace be with you. Salute my dear 
 friends. Their and your prayers I afk. We have 
 a long coaft on the fea ; abundance of great and 
 
 fmall 
 
C i" 3 
 
 fmall craft with merchandife and provifions, and a 
 vaft border of new feeble towns along our inland 
 woods ; a natural fortification for the Indians, Eaft 
 and Weft, all frenchified and popifh : may the 
 Lord God of our fathers be a wall of fire round 
 about us. 
 
 We can never fortify ourfelves without breaking 
 in upon the king's in ft ructions and prohibition to 
 our government about emiffion of bills ; we muft 
 fortify immediately or we betray the king's pro- 
 vince into the hands of his enemies. I have 
 dared, for once, to fay to the Governor, iC As 
 God difpenfed with his firft and perpetual law, 
 in cafes of neceflity and mercy, verily our good 
 king will with his inftruclions and order on fo 
 apparent, inftant, and urgent a neceflity." The go- 
 vernment has, v ~ from year to year, told the court 
 of our wretched condition ; but neither would they 
 petition the king to remit, as to his inftrutYion, 
 for a limited fum of thirty thoufand pounds 
 •per annum, nor could the governor dare to raife 
 more than jufl to defray the annual charges 
 of the government ; nor could he alone bear 
 the charge of obtaining the king's leave, not a 
 letter b^ing able to get to Whitehall without 
 too many guineas for a private purfe. But 1 I 
 muft break oft and fubfcribe, dear Sir, your 
 brother and fervant ; 
 
 BENJ. COLMAN. 
 From 
 
[ 112 ] 
 
 From Lady Hartford to Dr. Watts. 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, March 4, 1744-5. 
 
 i3 I N C E the heavy calamity with which it has 
 pleafed God to vifit me, 1 have not felt a more 
 fenfible gleam of pleafure than on Saturday laft, 
 when I received your letter accompanied with your 
 excellent book ; I have read two of the fermons 
 which (like all your other writings) have a pecu- 
 liar fpirit of piety in them, which muft awaken 
 fomething of a fympathetic warmth in the mod 
 lethargic foul. Mine is much deprefTed by the 
 lofs of a fon, who, while he lived, was the balm of 
 every difappointment and vexation that a (Tailed me; 
 and, as I believe, no fon of mere human parents 
 was ever more truly virtuous and deferving, fo I 
 think none was ever more tenderly beloved. I am 
 afraid he was too much the pride and joy of my heart; 
 yet, if an excefs in this kind could ever be excufa- 
 ble, his uncommon duty and conitant affection 
 might have pleaded for it. When he found himfelf 
 dying, he declared he fubmitted with cheerfulnefs 
 to the will of God, as his confcience did not re- 
 proach him, and he trufted his errors would be 
 forgiven ; and added, that his only forrow in leav- 
 ing 
 
[ "3 ] 
 
 ing this world was to think of the pangs which he 
 knew would rend the hearts of his unhappy parents 
 when they mould receive the news. 
 
 But, I hope, I do not repine at this difpenfa- 
 tion, though my rlefh trembles beneath the rod, 
 fince, if I know the fecrets of my own foul, I 
 durft not afk to have this darling child alive again 
 though I were fure to have my requeft immediate- 
 ly granted. He is removed from the numerous 
 temptations to vice which his rank in life, joined 
 to the advantages of his fortune and perfon, might 
 have expofed him to, and can never know nor 
 need fuch an affliction as conftrains me to (hed 
 almoft incefTant tears notwithstanding the fenfe I 
 have of the mercy, as well as juftkc of this decree 
 of unerring Wifdom. This often adds to the bur- 
 then I labour under, as it (hows me too clearly 
 the imperfection both of my refignation and faith. 
 It is true the tendered band which held me to 
 the earth is diffolved, but I have ftill many duties 
 to practife, though, I am afraid, the weight which 
 hangs upon my heart hinders me from performing 
 them with the chearfulnefs I ought, though I think 
 I exert myfelf to the utmoit I am able. In this 
 diftrefled condition let me beg your earneft prayers, 
 that the God of peace and comfort may let his 
 light mine upon my foul, and, according to his 
 promife, give reft to me who am weary and heavy 
 Vol. II, I . laden 
 
C "4 ] 
 
 laden with fin and forrow, and who am entirely 
 convinced of the vanity and impotence of all 
 worldly affiftance. My lord, I bkfs God, enjoys 
 a tolerable degree of health, and my daughter 
 (with both her children) is well; (he joins with 
 her father in aflurances of their regard for you. 
 
 I am very glad to hear that you are recovering 
 fuch a fhare of health as I hope will make the re- 
 mainder of your days comfortable, and enable you 
 to go on doing good by your writings and example. 
 I am at prefent difordered with a flow fever which 
 prays upon my ftrcngth and fpirits, but I imagine 
 that the air and quiet of the country, where I hope 
 to be in about three weeks, will remove this com- 
 plaint. I am, with real efteem, Sir, your moll: faith- 
 ful and obliged fervant, 
 
 HARTFORD. 
 
 P. S. I take the liberty to fend you a Poem, 
 which if you have not feen, may perhaps afford 
 you an hour's amufement. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 "REV. SIR, r Percy-Lodge, Nov. 15, 1747. 
 
 J. HE lad: time I troubled you with a letter, was 
 to return you thanks on the Glory of Chrift, a fub- 
 jccl which can never be exhaufted, or ever thought 
 
 of 
 
C "5 ] 
 
 of without calling for all the praifc which our heart 3 
 are capable of in our prcfent imperfect ftate. My 
 gratitude to you is again awakened by the obliga- 
 tion I am under (and, indeed, the whole chriftian 
 church) to you for giving Dr. Doddridge the 
 plan, and engaging him to write his excellent 
 book of the Rife and Progrefs of Religion in the 
 Soul ; I have read it with the utmoft attention and 
 pleafure, and, I would hope with fome advantage 
 to myfelf, unlefs I fhould be fo unhappy as to 
 find the imprefTion it has made on my heart v/ear 
 off like the morning dew which paffeth away, 
 which God in his mercy avert. 
 
 If I have a correfpondence with him, I could 
 wim you would convey my thanks to him, and the 
 aiTurance that I mall frequently remember him in 
 my humble (though weak) addreffes to the throne 
 of Almighty Grace, (and which I know myfelf 
 unworthy to look up to any otherwife than through 
 the merits and fufferings of our everblefTed Saviour) 
 that he may go on to fpread the knowledge and 
 practice of his doctrine, and that he may add 
 numbers to the church, and finally hear thofe 
 blefTed words, " Well done thou good and faith- 
 ful fervant, enter thou into thy Matter's joy." 
 
 I cannot help mentioning to you the manner of 
 this book falling into my hands, as I think there was 
 fomething providential in it. About four months 
 
 I 2 ago 
 
[ u6 ] 
 
 ago my poor lord had fo totally loft his appetite, 
 that his phyficians thought itneceflary for him to go 
 to the Bath, I was not a moment in doubt whether 
 I mould attend him there, becaufe I knew it was 
 my duty, and befides I could not have been eafy 
 to be abfent when I hoped my care might be of 
 fome ufe : yet I undertook the journey with a 
 weight upon my fpirits, and a reluctance which is 
 not to be defcribcd, though I concealed it from 
 him. Since the great affliction with which it 
 pleafed Almighty God to vifit me by the death of 
 a molt valuable and only fon, I found myfelf 
 happieft in almoft an entire retreat from the world ; 
 and being of a fudden called into a place where I 
 remembered to have feen the utmoft of its hurry 
 and vanity exerted, terrified my imagination to the 
 laft degree, and I fhed tears every time I was alone, 
 at the thoughts of what I expected to encounter ; 
 yet this dreaded change has by the goodnefs of 
 God proved one of the happiefl: periods in my 
 life, and I can look back upon no part of it with 
 greater thankfulnefs and fatisfa&ion. I had the 
 comfort to fee my lord Hartford recovering his 
 health by the ufe of thofe waters, as fafl as I could 
 hope for, I found it was no longer neceflary (as 
 formerly, to avoid giving offence) to be always 
 or frequently in company ; I enjoyed the con- 
 vention of two worthy old friends whom I did 
 
 not 
 
C "7 3 
 
 not expect to meet there -, and had an opportunity 
 of renewing my acquaintance with Lady Hunting- 
 don, and admiring that truly chriftian fpirit which 
 feems to animate the whole courfe of her life -, 
 and as I feldom went out, I read a great deal, 
 and Frederick the bookfeller ufed to fend me the 
 new books which he received on the waggon nights, 
 of which I kept what 1 chofe, and fent back the 
 the reft. One night he fent me the account of 
 fome remarkable paffages relating to the Life of 
 Colonel Gardiner •, as I had known this gentle- 
 man in his unconverted ft ate, and often heard 
 with admiration the fudden and thorough change 
 of his conduct, for many years, it gave me a 
 curiofity to rend a book which feemed to promife 
 me fome information upon that fubjecl:. I was 
 fo touched with the account given of it, that I 
 could not help fpeaking of it to almoft every body 
 I faw; among others, the dowager lady Hynd- 
 ford came to make me a viftt in the morning, and 
 as I knew fhe was of his country and had lived 
 much in it, I begun to talk to her of the book, 
 and happened to name the author. Upon which 
 fhe faid (he would believe whatever he wrote, for 
 he was a truly good man, and had wrote upon the 
 Rife and Progrefs of Religion in the Soul, in a 
 manner which fhe was fure would pleafe me. She 
 gave me the title in writing, and I bought the 
 
 I 3 bock 
 
C "8 ] 
 
 book the day before I left Bath. I have now 
 been at home three weeks, and have already 
 had the pleafure to engage feveral others to read 
 it, who I hope will think of it as I do. I would 
 wifh to trouble you to write to me yourfelf, but 
 a letter from your amanuenfis to let me know 
 how you enjoy your health, and whether you are (till 
 carrying on fome work of your pen, to the glory 
 of our great Mailer, would be a very fincere 
 pleafure to me. Let me beg to be remembered 
 in your prayers, for I am every day more fenfible 
 of the imperfection of my own, and yet I hope my 
 heart is fincere in its defire that it may be brought 
 to a perfect conformity and fubmiflion to the will 
 of my heavenly Father. 
 
 My lord Hartford always mentions you with 
 regard, and will be glad of your acceptance of 
 the affurance of his friendihip. I am, with an af- 
 fectionate cfteem 3 Sir, your molt faithful and 
 obliged humble fervant, 
 
 HARTFORD. 
 
 From 
 
[ ii 9 ] 
 
 From Mr. James Pettit to Dr. Watts. 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, December, 1728- 
 
 X HE bookfeller has Dromifed me another let 
 of Poems, fo that if you think them worth a place in 
 your library be pleafed to accept them >, I never 
 could relifh French poetry -, fo many words, and 
 fo very few thoughts ; fometimes one flat conceit 
 fpun into fix or feven tedious lines, which is in- 
 tolerable : I love juft the contrary, a great deal of 
 good, deep, nervous fenfe, crowded into a few cm- 
 phatical words i this is brightly exemplified in thefe 
 Poems, where almoft every line furprizes with a 
 new beautiful thought, and inimitably devout, 
 and have fome relafon to believe them more than 
 human com portions. 
 
 I iTiewed your letter to my fitters, they liked it 
 extremely well, are of your opinion, and faid it 
 was their own fentiments expreffed. 
 
 I differ a little from you upon the heads of 
 idolatry, enthufiafm, fabbath-days, facraments, 
 chriftian perfection, millenium, eternity of hell 
 torments, and original fin ! which, as taught by 
 the church, is Adam's tranfgreflion, derived from 
 
 I 4 him, 
 
[ HO ] 
 
 him, and coming down to every particular man, 
 as imputed guilt. 
 
 Now, this is a doctrine fo mocking to all my 
 rational powers, reflecting fo much difhonour upon 
 the attributes of God, that was it in every page of 
 the Bible, as I am fure it is in one; was an angel 
 from heaven to preach it I could not believe it : 
 if I that am evil, would not impute one fervant's 
 fault to another, much lefs will an infinitely wife 
 and good God. Our proteflant divines have 
 built fo much upon this falfe foundation, that I 
 fincerely believe they have given great occafion 
 to the deifm of the prefent age, at leaft they have 
 given them a handle of invincible triumph. 
 
 As I take it, it is the univerfal confent of the 
 orthodox, that Adam's imputed guilt, and Chrifl's 
 imputed righteoufnefs, muft Hand and fall toge- 
 ther. Now, were I vicioufly inclined (as I believe 
 vice is the foundation of all deifm) I would throw 
 off my. religion, and glory that I could prove 
 that maxim of imputed, guilt demonftrably falfe, 
 and confequemly the other muft fall ; but I fee no 
 manner of connection between them, Chrifl's im- 
 puted righteoufnefs is a noble, glorious doctrine, 
 which I believe, and upon which I entirely depend, 
 well knowing there is no other robe wherein God's 
 children can appear lovely in his eyes but imputed 
 guilt. 
 
 An 
 
C «M ] 
 
 An enlightened man that knows what guilt is, 
 has no words to exprefs the horror of the thought, 
 I have lived a life comparatively innocent, but 
 I have too much of omiffion and commiffion to 
 be pardoned, not to bring in Adam's (and you 
 may truly put in Herod's and Nero's) to inflame 
 the account. 
 
 I am very well aware that there are two or three 
 texts in the fifth of Romans which feem to look that 
 way, and upon which, I fuppofe, the whole 
 doctrine is built •, and I really believe St. Peter 
 had that chapter in his thoughts when he faid, 
 " Our dearly beloved brother Paul writes fome 
 few things hard to be underflood. ,> But I do not 
 content myfelf with fuch a notion, I have a very 
 good fenfe of the words, which is perfectly fatis- 
 factory to me, though I do not expect it mould 
 be fo to any one elfe. I will tell you how I under- 
 fland thefe texts, (not in a dictating way) but 
 only to fhew you that I entertain no fentiment that 
 I think inconfiftent with any part of the New 
 Te (lament. 
 
 Romans v. 12, 18 and 19, thefe I take to 
 be parallel texts, and the meaning of them, in a 
 few words, to be, that as every individual man, in 
 his pre-exifting ftate, by his own voluntary act and 
 deed loft his original innocence, fo God fet up 
 Adam as a common head by whom fin mould be 
 
 introduced 
 
[ 122 ] 
 
 introduced to this world. This (I repeat it) is 
 not faid to teach you, who I have reafon to believe 
 are very well verfed in the fpiritual, hidden, myfti- 
 cal fenfe of the Bible, and I am fully perfuaded 
 that there are innumerable texts that have vail 
 depths of divine fenfe yet unfathomed, which the 
 vulture's eye hath not yet feen, nor are the wifeft 
 and bed men yet able fully to explain them ; and 
 it is a very great joy to my foul when lean difcern 
 any new ray of that fort of light. I fuppofe that a 
 minifter, whofe life has been employed in theological 
 fludies, and who has been fo long converfant with 
 fathers and bodies of divinity as you have been, 
 mud: have his mind unavoidably tinctured with 
 their articles of creed, and the better a man is, the 
 more apt he is to contract a reverential refignation 
 for things he too cafily efteems facred. But 
 whereinfoever you and I differ, I am fure we both 
 agree in referring all to Jefus the judge-, I 
 firmly trull that we both hold the head, even an 
 incarnate God, the Lamb that was flain, who is 
 worthy of eve-rlafting adoration, worfhip and love, to 
 whom I pray that he may be your almighty friend, 
 your infallible guide, the conftant companion ofyour 
 life, and when this fhort life is ended, your ever- 
 laiting portion and exceeding great reward. lam, 
 with great refpeel:, your molt humble fervant, 
 
 J. PETTIT. 
 
 LETTER 
 
' 2 3 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, January, 1729. 
 
 1 MUST write to you once more, though I am 
 fenfible your hands (or rather your head and your 
 heart) are always full of important bufinefs, fo 
 that you have fomething elfe to do befides anfwer- 
 ing letters ; therefore if you will favour me with 
 cne more, I promtfe you this mall be my lad ; 
 wherein, di {"miffing all controverfies (of which 
 religion are the woifr.) I will tell you my fentiments 
 of prayer and devotion : in your writings you have 
 liberally difiributed of that treafure wherewith 
 God has inwardly enriched you, and though I 
 can fay nothing but what is faint in comparifon > 
 yet if I can excite you to write fomething that may 
 advance me in the ways of God, I fhall gam 
 my end. 
 
 I think the mod natural divifion of prayer is, 
 into central and fenfible, the central nothing can 
 deftroy but a deliberate act of known fin, which 
 one that is born of God cannot (not phyfically, as a 
 man may thruft his hand into the fire if he will, 
 but morally) commit-, but the fenfible, what wide 
 breaches ; days fpent in bufinefs, nights in fleep : 
 I have been long fully convinced that every 
 minute void of devotion is a loft minute j and, I 
 
 am 
 
[ 124 ] 
 
 am fure, there is not a moment of a chriftian's 
 life (expept fleep) inconfiftent with a fixed view of 
 God and Jefus Chrift; this is certainly (I fpeak it 
 with modefly) a fine fpeculation. But, how ardu- 
 ous the attempt, how defirable the progrefs, how 
 unfpeakably noble and happy the attainment - 3 but, 
 how difficult the enemy without, and the more 
 dangerous enemy within, and efpecially the prin- 
 cipalities and powers above level all their fiery 
 darts againft a praying foul, fo that every chriftian's 
 fituation is hazardous and melancholy, and they 
 fadly feel the truth of what you have wifely find, 
 " that it is all winter here - 9 " perpetual prayer is 
 flrongly urged in many places of the Pfalms and 
 New Teftament even literally, but miftically in 
 texts without number. 
 
 This is what Solomon exhorts us to purfue, when 
 he difplays the beauties of wifdom ; this is the 
 fire on the altar that never goes out ; the kingdom 
 of God within us ; the pearl of great price ; and 
 the treafure hid in the field of folitude. This is 
 the river of living water flowing out of him that 
 believes, the well fpringing to eternal life ; the 
 white flone ; the new name , the hidden manna ; 
 the feal on the forehead -, and (to name no more, 
 fuppofing you know them much better than I) the 
 path which the vulture's eye hath not feen nor the 
 lion's foot trod s and it is moft certainly true, that 
 
 3 the 
 
C «*5 ] 
 
 the fineft orator at the bar cannot pray to God 
 with fuch apt exprefiions as a devout, though 
 an illiterate old man or woman, which fhews it to 
 be a fcience of divine infpiration ; and, indeed, a 
 man can have nothing of this nature but what is 
 given him from above. 
 
 Lord teach us to pray ; happy the man to whom 
 God grants this heavenly requefl, and makes him 
 joyful in the inward houfe of prayer ; this is fab- 
 bath, facraments and all. It was for the love of 
 prayer (not fear of perfecution) that holy men of 
 old (who wanted to be alone with God) retired to 
 caves and dens of the earth, of whom the world 
 was not worthy. I admire the unfearchable depths 
 of the wifdom and love of God, when I read one 
 of the mod finifhed characters in the Bible, given 
 to a man as yet a heathen. Cornelius, a devout 
 man, fearing God, giving much alms, praying 
 always. I am apt to think that God calls every 
 particular man in a path peculiar to himfelf, which 
 would not fait any other perfon, and that he in- 
 fpires his faithful fervants with fecret impnlfes by 
 which he enlightens, enlivens, enflames their fouls, 
 and inftructs by the unction of his holy fpirit, fo 
 that they have no need of any outward teacher ; 
 he calls fome to a courfe of mortification and felf- 
 denial ; others fpend their whole lives under a 
 continual fenfe of God's immediate prefencc, 
 
 and 
 
C «« 3 
 
 and thereby have all their graces and pious affec- 
 tions maintained in a lively exercife ; others live 
 in conftant holy raptures, (fuch as Bonne Armelle) 
 tranfported with divine love, receiving hourly new 
 and frefh evidence of God's love to them, and 
 returning back to God vows of eternal fidelity ; 
 fome he calls to the fervice of the church, and 
 crowns the labours of others with a fabbath of 
 reft and contemplation in this life : happy the man 
 that is faithful to the divine attraction, and that 
 abides with God in his inward calling, our Lord 
 JefusChrift, "that great pattern of the faints, (as 
 you ftiled him when I heard you laft) was a man 
 of uninterrupted prayer and praife day and night, 
 fleepingand waking-," and when it is faid, 6i He went 
 into a mountain and continued all night in the 
 prayer of God," (as I take it) it was not fpoke only 
 of that night but of every night and every hour, for 
 every action of his life was done in the moment of 
 eternity, and he was always upon the mountain of 
 divine prayer. 
 
 A man that loves and prays may do what he 
 will, for he can will nothing amifs ; fuch a man 
 will make it his whole ftudy how he mall walk 
 before God in all the ftrictnefs of an innocent life, 
 how he fhall exercife himfelf in all the duties of 
 his holy religion, how he may render himfelf amia- 
 ble in the eyes of God, and may avoid every thing 
 
 that 
 
t *»7 3 
 
 that may in the lead offend him ; fuch a man 
 thinks it a joyful (rather than an awful) thought 
 that God fearches the heart and fees our mod fe- 
 cret imaginations, and he is never fo happy as 
 when remote from every human eye and ear, 
 he can freely pour out his foul in rapid prayer to 
 that God whole eyes are upon the righteous, and 
 his ears always open to their cry, and who under- 
 ftands the language which words cannot utter; 
 may this be your and my hourly delightful prac- 
 tice till our imperfect prayers be changed into 
 triumphant praifes, and we never ceafe faying, 
 <s Holy ! Holy ! Holy ! unto him that loved us and 
 warned us from fin in his own blood be eteraal 
 glory !" 
 
 I wifh you unwearied conftancy and increafing 
 advances in that path of perfection you have made 
 fo great progrefs in, and ail poffible happinds, 
 temporal, fpiritual, and eternal ; and am, your 
 moft obedient humble fervant, 
 
 J. PETTIT. 
 
 Ifaiah xxxiii. 7. I believe this is fpoken of the 
 angels weeping bitterly while our Lord hung upon 
 the crofs, as the context in ver. 5. plainly (hews, 
 and I think it a noble teftimony to the folema 
 pomp of the paffion. 
 
 LETTER 
 
[ "8 ] 
 LETTER III 
 
 REV. SIR, 
 
 XX S I have told you that I admire your book 
 (which I firicerely do) fo I cannot forbear hinting 
 fomething wherein I do not fo exactly agree with 
 you, I think you are too fevere upon the poor igno- 
 rant Roman catholics, who kifs a crucifix in 
 teftimony of devotion ; which (when done with a 
 temper of mind correfponding to the outward 
 action) I think worthy the higheft commendation, 
 confidering that the love of the facred humanity 
 of Jefus, is the mod natural guide to the practice 
 of all virtue, and perfectly level to the capacity 
 of the vulgar ; your own thoughts will fuggeft 
 more upon this head, to illuftrate my fentiments, 
 than I can fay myfelf. And then you are dill 
 harder upon the head of Romifh enthufiafts, who 
 you reprefent as appearing more like furies than 
 chriftians : this is fo unlike good Mr. Watts, who, 
 I am fure, is full of that charity that thinks no 
 evil, and believeth all things, that I account for 
 it by fuppofing it to be an obliging deference to 
 the opinion of an auditory, averie to popery, and 
 which upon fecond thoughts you yourlelf may 
 judge a little too harm. As to the Pvomifh religion, 
 I eftecm it the worft in the world, a complication of 
 
 folly 
 
C I2 9 ] 
 
 folly and wickednefs; but to my aftoniihment I 
 have found that God has raifed up amongft them 
 fuch examples of fublime devotion, fervent cha- 
 rity, Uriel: temperance; fuch men, whofe days 
 were fpent in unwearied obedience, and their 
 nights in uninterrupted prayer and contemplation, 
 that of them it might be faid, that they lived the 
 religion of Jefus, that they brought heaven down 
 to earth, that their life of Chrift was manifeft in 
 their mortal bodies, and that they flood complete 
 in the whole will of their God. I may guefs that 
 you had in your thoughts Sir Francis or St. 
 Anthony, who to the eyes of the world appeared 
 ridiculous and diffracted, but they were inwardly 
 inflamed, and the love of God was in their hearts 
 like a fire fhut up in their bones ; I often wonder 
 that pious and devout men do not commit (what 
 the world would call) greater extravagancies, fuch 
 as fpeaking aloud the name of Jefus in the ftreets 
 before they were aware, which I think would be 
 a natural refult of that infinite fund of love, and 
 bank of devotion, they feel in their breafts j in- 
 deed, when men lift up their eye balls with a 
 defign to deceive, this is mean and contemptible 
 beyond the reach of words, but when I fee any 
 man do fo I never fufped: him, becaufe I think it 
 an unavoidable effedt of an elevated foul, and be- 
 caufe the world rather treat fuch a man with 
 
 K laughter 
 
[ 13° ] 
 
 laughter and fcorn than encourage him to affect 
 and diflemble a religious exterior. I would not 
 have fcnt this if I had not been fure (from what I 
 know of you) that you would take it in good part. 
 I write it in fimplicity, and not in the fpirit of re- 
 proof and finding fault, for I look upon you as 
 one anointed with the Holy Ghoft, whom I be- 
 lieve God has made a fpiritual father to many an 
 heir of heaven, and to whom I am well affured 
 Jefus will fay, " Well done good and faithful fer- 
 vant." 
 
 Take not this as a compliment, for flattery 
 I abhor. 
 
 I have fent the three other volumes of Poems ; 
 your fentiments of them would be acceptable to 
 j^our humble fervant, 
 
 J. PETTIT. 
 
 From 
 
[ *3« ] 
 
 From Mr. Edward Cave to Dr. Watts, 
 LETTER I. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, St. Joan's Gate, Dec. 16, 1734. 
 
 J\ S a ft ranger I ought to make fome apology 
 for giving you this trouble \ but your goodnature 
 will excufe my prefumption, and your known at- 
 tachment to the Belles Lettres is encouragement 
 enough to expect your attention to what is offered 
 you by one who is a well-wifher to the fciences. 
 
 The undertaker 'of the Gentleman's Magazine, 
 a monthly book, which you have poflibly heard 
 of (I dare not prefume it has merit enough to 
 deferve a place in your library) for the enter- 
 tainment of his readers, and as a fpur to inge- 
 nuity, annually propofes a fiibject to exercife the 
 wits of the age, and to fpirit emulation, annexes 
 a prize to the belt performances. The firft fub- 
 ject of this kind he offered the public was, oa 
 Her Majefty's Grotto, and the poems wrote thereon 
 were inferted in feverai magazines in the vear 
 1733, and publifhed in a feparate pamphler, called 
 The Conteft •, and the prizes were adjudged ac- 
 cording to the impartial opinion of ibme gen- 
 K 2 tkmen 
 
C n* ] 
 
 tlemen who were fo kind as to undertake that 
 office. 
 
 The fubjecl: given out for a prize for the year 
 173.4, was Aftronomy. Four poems have been 
 wrote upon it, which you will find, p. 503, 562, 
 563* 564 > anc * the prize being to be determined 
 this month, three of the writers, the fourth is un- 
 known to us, unanimoufly refer the decision to 
 your judgment and determination, declaring their 
 entire fatisfa&ion in your opinion, to whomfoever 
 it fhall give the preference -, only pleafe to obferve, 
 there are two degrees of merit ; the firft is entitled 
 to the belt prize, the other to the fecond bell. 
 If you will be fo good as to comply with their 
 requeft, they will efteem it as a peculiar favour, 
 and you will alfo hereby oblige him, who is, 
 with true refpedt, and very great efteem, your 
 humble fervant, 
 
 EDW. CAVE, 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, St. John's Gate, March 11, 1735* 
 
 1 Am commiflioned by the gentlemen, who are 
 candidates for the prize, to return you their molt 
 grateful acknowledgments for the pains you have 
 fo kindly taken, in difcufTing their refpective 
 claims. They did not expect fo learned and cri- 
 tical 
 
t *33 ] 
 
 tical a diflertatlon on their feveral pieces, whofc 
 merit, they imagined, was far from entitling them 
 to fo great an honour. But fince you have con- 
 defcended, in fo polite and candid a manner to 
 examine their feveral pretenfions to the prize, it 
 is the lead part of their gratitude to declare 
 their unanimous fatisfadbion in your opinion of 
 their deferts, and accordingly have amicably ad- 
 jured the difference betwixt themfelves. 
 
 With regard to what you have added in the 
 poftfeript to your letter, I mutt allow, Sir, there 
 has been too much reafon for the cenfure you 
 have paffed on the Magazine ; but it mail be my 
 future care to let nothing pafs of that kind, and 
 to convince the world I am much better pleafed 
 with ingenuity of a more ferious turn, I have 
 propofed a confiderable reward for poems on five 
 fublime fubjecls ; on which, if it fuited your lei- 
 fure, and you have not taken an abfolute leave 
 of the Mules, I mould be proud of a poem from 
 Dr. Watts. 
 
 I muft own myfelf tardy in not paying you my 
 refpe&s till now -, but multiplicity of bufinefs, and 
 a great deal of illnefs has been the reafon, which 
 I truft your goodnefs will take as an excufe for a 
 neglect not intended by your very humble fervant, 
 
 EDW. CAVE. 
 K 3 From 
 
C 134 ] 
 
 From the Bifhop of York to Dr. Watts. 
 
 REV. SIR, Downing-ftrect, Weftminfter, Oft. 16, 1739. 
 
 1 Have received your favour of the 10th of this 
 month, and have great pleafure in obferving, that 
 my fmall benevolence to Mr. Leland will be dou- 
 bled to the good man by your leave to find its 
 way to him through the hands of lb good and va- 
 luable a friend. 
 
 On that account alfo it is, that I take the 
 liberty to afk the further favour of knpwing from 
 you, if the gt od man's papers have efcaped the 
 flames, and that we may yet hope to fee the reply 
 which we have heard he was preparing to a fecond 
 volume, not long fince publifhed by the fhamelefs 
 enemy of the perfon and doctrine of our bleffed 
 Saviour. 
 
 May the good God of heaven and earth fupport 
 and aflift us all in our juft endeavours to repel, with 
 vigour, the virulent and impious affaults on the 
 whole fabrick of our common faith -, and to de- 
 tec!:, with temper, the fallacious and unmanly 
 arts employed by the modern adverfaries of our 
 holy religion, with a degree of boldnefs and inve- 
 
 teracyj 
 
C ns ] 
 
 teracy, not to be equalled by thofe of any age that 
 I have read of fince the days of Julian the 
 'Apoftate. 
 
 Give me leave to return to you in kind all your 
 good wimes to me, together with the true efteem 
 and fincere refpedt of, reverend Sir, your faithful 
 and obliged humble fervant, 
 
 LAU. EBOR. 
 
 From 
 
[ '36 ] 
 
 From G. A. Franckius, S. P. D. to Dr. Watts. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 -LlTTERAS, quas ad me dedifti, vir reverende, 
 animi amiciflimi fignificationibus refertas 3 una cum 
 munere Hbrorum & aeris longe gratiffimo redte ac- 
 ccpi, & eo quidem laetior, quo minus ha?c omnia 
 expe&ata venerunt : qua de re & certiorem te quam 
 primum facere decrevi, & gratias fimul agere pro 
 eo ac decet quam maximas. Declarafti hac ratione 
 quanti apud te fierent ilia opera parente pie in- 
 ftituta, & a me ope immortalis Dei fufTulto adhuc 
 continuata. Singulare imprimis mihi gaudium at- 
 tulit, quod intellexi illas fiducial & fpei in Deo 
 opt. max. collocatse rationes, quas & b. parens 
 fectatus eft, & ego ampledtor perquam proh dolor ! 
 his noftris temporibus ignotas, adeo tibi probari, 
 teque eodem fidei fpiritu totum inflammatum agi. 
 Exinde enim evenifle arbitror, ut b. parentem 
 quoad vixit amantiffime coleres, & ejufdem obitum 
 graviter lugeres, tuafque lacrimas, ut fcribis, cum 
 noftris mifceres, uti ex ilia doloris focietate ali- 
 quid, quod fieri folet, confolationis caperemus. 
 AudiatDeus vota preceique, quas pro incolumitate 
 l & 
 
[ *37 ] 
 
 & incrementis rei divinse & in univerfo terrarum 
 orbe & inter nos inprimis, fudifti ardentiflimas- 
 Averruncet pro fumma, qua fuos fonet, benignitate 
 mala, quae ecclefise imminent quotidie, contra vero 
 felicitatem illius magis in dies magiique efflorefcerc 
 & perennare jubeat, eique plures Watfios, k ii 
 amanter mavis Auguftos Hermannos Franckios 
 fufcitet, per quos emolumentis illius confulat. 
 Quorum veterum fore ut rei reddamur, neutiquam 
 dubito, inn-umeris enim iifque luculentiffimis fpe- 
 ciminibus per illud tempus, quod pod mortem b. 
 parentis effluxit, cognovimus, curas cordique nos 
 Deo noftro effe, quare jam audentiores facli in pof- 
 terum eadem quid quod majora exfpeclabimus. 
 
 Libri quos amoris tui documenta tranfmififti te 
 fcriptore digniffimos, bibliothecae orphanotrophei 
 decus infigne tuique nominis fummam venera- 
 tionem apud lecluros conciliabnnt. Licet enim illis 
 fermonibus facris de flatu animarum poft mortem, 
 qui in germanicam linguam tranflati ante biennium 
 apud nos prodierunt, & ex qnibus b. parens brevi 
 ante mortem le£Hs ingentem deleclaticnem cepir, 
 nominis celebritatem lis confecutus, illam tamen 
 vehementer audtum ii i confido, fi in bibliotheca 
 noflra publica&reliquorum tuorum laborum ufura 
 omnibus concedetur. 
 
 NobilnT. Hollifium meis verbis valere quam rec^ 
 tiflime & fcliciter . agere jubeto. Quod reliquum 
 
 eft 
 
[ i33 ] 
 
 eR tuo amori, benevolent'^ & fanclriori inter de- 
 precandum recordation! me, mcafque rationes om- 
 nes, quas quod ad communis noftri Domini caufam 
 pertinent, & tuas appelio, vehementer etiam atque 
 ctiam commendo. Si quae a me in te orficia profl- 
 cifci poterunt, non committam profe&o ut aliquid 
 exfpectetur aut poftuletur, quod in viribus meis 
 pofitum erit, in quo non expectationem tuam fu- 
 perare annitur. Multum falutatus a Collegis meis, 
 quibus ex illo libro de quo fupra mentionem feci, 
 
 fatis innotuifti, iterum iterumque vale. Dabam 
 
 Jialae, die 3. Id. Odtobr. Anno 1728. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 OERIUS, vir reverende, ad nos accefik Manitius 
 nofier,cui litteras tuas ad me perferendas traaidifti, 
 quippe quas, fexto atque vicefimo Aprilis die 
 fcriptas, ante fex demum hebdomades mihi reddi- 
 dit j libellorum deinde fafciculus pofl integri fere 
 mentis fpatium adferebatur. Quam ob caufam, 
 prsefertim cum aliquot tibi munufcula viciflim 
 tranfmittenda viderentur, non miraberis, vir re- 
 verende, quod nunc demum litteris tuis refcribam. 
 Primum ergo tibi, ut debeo, gratias ago, quas 
 pofTum, maximas cum de favore tuo, quern erga 
 
 me 
 
[ l 39 ] 
 
 me atque orphano-tropheum noftrum luculenter 
 demon ftrafti ; turn de iibellis, quos olim, quofque 
 nuperdenuo muneri orphanotropheo mififti. Quid? 
 quod reperi etiam adpolitos quinque aureos, atque 
 adeo multis me tibi nominibus obftrictum eKe in- 
 tellexi. 
 
 Ceterum omnes ifti prseftantes ingenii tui foetus 
 in bibliotheca orphanotrophei noflri fcrvantur *, 
 ilium vero, quern de morte & cas-lo confcripfifti, & 
 
 qui vcrnacula noftra ante aliquot annos prodiit, 
 iterum nunc typis efTe divulgatum fcias. Quod 
 ad mcditationes tuas de emendandis Chriftianorum 
 rebus attinet, id apud nos agitur, lit potiora ex 
 ill is momenta fpeciatim notentur, & recenfionibus 
 eorum, qua? ad ftabiliendum Dei regnum fpectant, 
 (vulgo, d^n Sammlungen zum Bau des Reiches 
 Gottes) interferantur. Ex tribus brevioribus fcriptis 
 prsecipue laudem meretur Domini Jenningii Trac- 
 tatus, quo de prasdicando Jcfu Chrifto & orationi- 
 bus facris ad pietatis exercitium refle dirigendis, 
 egregie commentarus eft, qua? commentatio Integra 
 memoratis recenfionibus interferetur. Omnis fane 
 pietatis atque falutis cardo in falvatoris noftri cog- 
 nitione recta verfatur : quare academic noftra? pa- 
 rentes, d vvv h dyioig id femper egerunt, ut 
 falutari fofpitatoris cognitione auditorum animos 
 imbuerent, atque eandem nobis quoque provinciam 
 praecipue demandatum elTe arbitramur, quorquot 
 
 in 
 
[ i 4 o ] 
 
 in vinea Domini adhuc operamur & animas 
 Chrifto lucrari allaboramus. Neque minus vero 
 tetamur, quod in Anglia quoque fint, qui eandem 
 fibi metam prsefixerunt. Eflkit pranerea humanitas 
 tua, vir Do&iflime, ut ea, quas cum a B. parente 
 meo, turn a me Latine fcripta funt, tranfmittere 
 nullus dubitem. Spero enim fore, ut ftudium 
 tibi noftrum haud difpliceat. At vero, libri plane 
 non compadti tibi offeruntur. Sed facile mihi, 
 confido, ignofces, quandoquidem noftrorum opi- 
 ficum opcram iis voluminibus, quse apud vos 
 compinguntur, longe poftponendam efTe fatis con- 
 Hat, mihique iignificatum eft, asgre in Angliam 
 admitti libros alibi terrarum compadtos : quam 
 ob rem cavendum efle duco, ne qua moleftia tibi 
 adferatur. In libello ifto, qui de Chrifto fcriptura? 
 nucleo agit, appendix habetur, quo non nulla de 
 Apoftolica Chrifti cognitione cxponuntur, e qui- 
 bus, quid B. parens meus de Chrifti cognitione 
 ftatuerit, facile intelligi poffunt. Prodiit ejufdem 
 epiftola vom erbaulichen predigen, five de orationibus 
 facris ita habendis, ut ad cr/>ccSc/y/ : ;:<' omnia referantur. 
 Juffi hanc epiftolam, ut a te legi poffit, in Latinam 
 linguam transferri : quam interpretationem, in 
 prasfentia nondum abfolutam, fimulatque fieri po~ 
 teft, etiam tibi perferendam curabo. Non quidem 
 accuratius utrumque elaboratum eft, fed familiaris 
 tantum fermonis habitus eft cum in hoc, turn in 
 
 illo 
 
[ I4i ] 
 
 illo fcripto : varia tamen, quibus delecteris, quae* 
 que ad tuam & Domini Jenningii mentem plane 
 funt adcommodata, in utroque reperiri mihi viden- 
 tur. Quod reliquum eft, Manitium, fupra nomi- 
 natum, poftquam per aliquot hebdomades apud 
 nos fuic, ad oberrantes & domo Ifraelis oves revi- 
 fendas nuper iam hinc difcefiiile fcito. Vale, vir 
 reverende, vale per fummi numinis virtutem, qu?e 
 vires tuas fenectute attenuatas ita roboret, ut in 
 multos adhuc annos ipfi vivere poffis. Precibus tuis, 
 quoad hac aura vefceris, habeas me commendaturm 
 atque ita tibi perfuadeas, me nominis tui imme- 
 morem haud effe futurum. College mei omnem 
 tibi falutem vicifTim adprecantur. Scripn v Halae, 
 d. 15 Septembr. 1735. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 L 
 
 dTTER^E tuse, quas 23 Febr. exarafti, vir 
 reverende, perlatde quidem ad me funt : multitu- 
 dine autem laborum meorum evenit, us nihil hue 
 ufque ad illas refponderim. Tandem officio meo 
 nolui diutius deefle, connfus, diuturnum filentium 
 in meliorem partem te efle interpretaturum. Scias 
 icaqne dulcem mihi fuiffe epiflolam tuam, ex ilia 
 cognofcenti, voluminibus, qus nuper tranfmifia 
 a me funt, te non modo delectatum effe, fed opera 
 
 tua 
 
[ I 4 2 ] 
 
 tua etiam accidifle, ut Dn. Jenningfius, querri 
 meo nomine viciflim falutatum velim, illam paren- 
 tis mei de facris orationibus epiftolam anglicc 
 interpretandam fufceperit. Spero enrm fore, fal- 
 tem ex animo pretor, ut ex hoc qualicunque opuf- 
 culo fructum aliquem capiant ingenui leclores. 
 De libello, quem litteris tuis adjunxifti, gratias 
 tibi ago, eumque libris orphanotrophei noftri ad- 
 numeratum efle; iftum vero, quem de morte & 
 cselo ipfe confcripfifti, iterum jam vernacula noftra 
 publice exfcribi atque divulgari, fcire te vole •, ex 
 quo adparet habere labores tuos fructum aliquem, 
 quo ladteris. Ceterum adverfam quidem valetu- 
 dinem tuam, qua diu multumque laborare fignifi- 
 cas, doleo ; confido tamen, fempiternam mortali- 
 tatis memoriam menti falutarem fuifle, & quic- 
 quid tibi voluptatis per corporis dolores detraclum 
 eft, id falvatoris noftri vulneribus mille modis 
 reftitutum efle ; iimulque precor, ut hafce litteras 
 legens, dudum jam convalefceris, &, fi Deo vifum 
 fuerit, magis magifque confirmatus, complures 
 annos in gregis tui commodum vinas & vigeas. 
 Vale, fcripfi Halae d. 23 Oct. 1736. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 XVEVERENDI Ziegenhagenii litteris relatum 
 legi, vir reverende, quod denuo munificentias tuae 
 in orphanotropheum noftrum aliquod extare volue- 
 
 ris 
 
[ H3 ] 
 
 rls documentum. Proinde non pcflfum ncn, quin 
 tibi o-ratum & obftruftum teller animum meum, 
 & largiffimam Dei O. M. compenfationem adpre- 
 cer. Scias quoque, pecuniam iftam ex ifto sre> 
 quod pro Indis ad Chriftum covertendis miflum 
 a nobis fervatur, orphanotropheo folutam efTe ; 
 Rev. ZiegenhagenJum vero eandem, quam a te 
 accepit, ad fummam iftam, quse per Angliam ad 
 Indos mittitur, retuliffe. Prasterea gratias tibi 
 quoque habeo de epiftola tua quam 12 Aprilis 
 die fcriptam his demum diebus accepi. Signiflcas 
 enim parentis mei epiftolam de fermonibus facris 
 recle habendis, quam-plurimos in AngUa habere 
 amatores. Eft hoc, quod merito gaudeam, quia 
 res Domini fine dubio aliquod inde incrementum 
 eft perceptura. ■ Cum epiftolam hanc tibi tranf- 
 mitterem, vir reverende, mentionem quoque feci 
 fcripti illius, quo parens meus de cognitione Ghrlfii 
 pauca differuit. Addita eft ejus interpretatio La- 
 tina commentationi deChrifto Scripture nucleo, qtfcfe 
 liaud ita pridem etiam Anglice reddita produt. Ne- 
 que minus illud opufculum quam plurimis veftra- 
 tinm,opinor,carum& acceptumcffefuturum,fi An- 
 glice legendum exhiberetur* Ex libellis mis iftum 
 quoque de SacrificioChrifii expiatorio, & Spirit us S an cii 
 charifmatibus, in vernaculam noftram tranftatum 
 efie, fpero te cognovifle. Exemplar ejus una cum 
 
 duobus 
 
[ 144 ] 
 
 duobus programmatibus, aucloritate publica, quia 
 Decanus eram, a me confcriptis, nuper ad Rev* 
 Ziegenhagenium tranfmifi, multi fane ambabus, 
 quod aiunt, manibus librum hunc excepere, neque 
 dubium eft ullum, quin volo tuo, ut fcilicet Deus 
 in Chrifto glorificetur, hac opera fatisfiat. Qui- 
 bus precibus noftras quoque fociatas efle, perfua- 
 fum habeto. Tandem gratias tibi ago de opofculis, 
 quaecum litteris tuis reddita mihi funt, & ex 
 voluntate tua libris orphanotrophei nunc adnume- 
 rantuf. Prae reliquis mihi placuit illud de vl £s? 
 tmpotentia rationis human a \ Argumentum enim eft 
 dignum & neceflarium, quod inter nos quoque 
 fedulo expendatur & inculcetur: fiquidem quam 
 plurimi litteratorum noftrorum recentiore Philofo- 
 phia Leibnicio Wolfiana eo abripiuntur, ut rationi 
 plus, quam par eft, tribuant, & dlvvoi^uuv fuam 
 oblivifcentes, divina omnia ratione adfequi & 
 emetiri cupiant. Quo fit> ut amifia ratione, non 
 nifi \LiJLiav fuam aperiant. Teftis eft praecipue 
 auclor Bibliorum Wertheimenfium, qui Chriftum 
 ex Mofe climinandum & quamplurima dicta in 
 alienum fenfum pervertenda curanit. Hanc ab cauf- 
 fam optarim, ut fifieri poteft, libellus ifte tuus 
 noftratibus quoque legendus proferatur. Ceterum 
 etiam reliqui libelli,maxime qui ftatum ecclefias 
 veftrce docent, mihi fuere pergrati. Ifte vero y 
 quern de humilitate feu animi demiflione confcrip- 
 
 fifti, 
 
C H5 ] 
 
 fifti, in memoriam mihi revocavit Du Lignonii, 
 qui Labadii partes fecutus eft, commentationem, 
 lingua Batavica de Nedrige Van Herten infcrip- 
 tarn, quam Germanice redditam me non fine fructu 
 legirTe memini. Quod reliquum eft, hue ufque te 
 valuifle, gaudeo, & ut non corpore folum con. 
 ftanter valeas, fed & Numinis amore mens tua 
 magis magifque fruatur, ex animo precor. Scripfi 
 Halae d. 13 Augufti 1737. 
 
 L E T T E R IV. 
 
 V'Uemadmodum tibi nuper, vir admodum re~ 
 
 verende & Docliflime de parentis mei epiftola, 
 
 quam Anglice interpretandam & typis mandan- 
 
 dam curavifti, gratias egi : ita quoque nunc 
 
 gratam tibi mentem teftor, quod ejufdem inter- 
 
 pretationis duo exemplaria mihi tranfmiieris. 
 
 Novum enim hoc amoris erga me tui documentum 
 
 eiTe indicavi. Qua de caufa eo magis opto, ut in 
 
 multos adhuc annos etiam atque etiam valeas, fal- 
 
 tem nullus tibi in hac vita dies tranfeat, quin 
 
 favoris divini fructibus vefcaris, quo de tuo etiam 
 nos laetemur bono, & plures alii habeant, de quo 
 
 fibi gratulentur. Reverendis Miflionariis, in Do- 
 mino mihi longe carifiimis, Obuchio, "Wiede- 
 brockio & Kolhoffio copiam fpero fa&am efle te 
 Vol. II. L adeundi, 
 
[ 146 ] 
 
 adeundi, quos ut porro fauori & precibus tuis 
 commendatos habeas, humaniftime ex te peto. 
 Quod reliquum eft, pereximium librum tuum, 
 quem de Chrifto redemptore & fandlificatore noftro 
 confcripfifti, traditum a me eiTe fcias, ut in verna- 
 culam noftram converfus, typis exfcribatur. Id 
 quod haud quaquam tibidifpliciturum confidimus. 
 Vale & nos amare perge. Scripfi Halae d. 13 
 Jan. 1737. 
 
 From 
 
C 147 ] 
 
 fcVom jo. Hen. Callenbern to Dr. WAtts. 
 
 JVJlAGNAM ex litteris, libel lifque tuis cepi 
 voluptatem ; ill^ enim tui erga me favoris tefles 
 funt, hie animo infuper meo fructum attulerunr. 
 Quicquid efficiency, firmandsque pis animi de- 
 miffioni infervit, id cupide ufurpo, ex quo intellexi 
 quam pertinax, & infidiofa fit vitiofuas, que ei 
 adverfatur, didtorum a certs forms abflinentia 
 virorum canfam nunc accuratius novi. Reddac 
 Deus chriftianos homines opinionum partim fteri- 
 
 liores, partim tolerantiores j chriftique vere aman- 
 tes, ac tenaces fundamenti, qtiantocunque locorum, 
 aliove disjuncli Tint intervallo, confociet ad trac- 
 tandum & propagandum opus, quod unum eft 
 neceflarium ! Eo fenfu ut imbuerem tributes 
 meos, fub lamphili nomine, abhinc feptem annis, 
 vulgari fcriptum : Henrici Gulielmi Ludolfi, auls 
 Anglicans fecretarii,confilium deuniverfe ecclefiae 
 falute procuranda : quod, data occafione, tecum 
 communicate Direcla ad beatum virum, Cott. 
 Matherum narratio epiftolica hiftorici operisparti- 
 cula eft. Compleflitur illud Hiftoriam Ecclefis; 
 Univerfae inde ab anno fuperioris fsculi octogefimo 
 nono j bona cujufvis, coctas in eo ample a me, com- 
 memorantur, at fummatim mala; utraque fincere, 
 
 L 2 Quomodo 
 
C h8 ] 
 
 Quomodo conatus nofter circa Judasos fuccedat, 
 nova relatio aperiet, quam alia via tranfmittam* 
 Abfoluta eft Novi Teftamenti editio Judaicoger- 
 manica, eodemque idiomate typis jam exfcribitur 
 Vetus Teftamentum ; in quo ufque ad pofteriorem 
 Samuelis librum pervenimus. Primus laboris fru- 
 ctus extantior in gentis do&oribus quibufdam 
 fpedtatur. Adfit nobis Deus porro, & tibi quo- 
 que, Honoratiffime Fautor ; fervet te quam diutif- 
 fime inter mortales, luce ac gratia fua mentem 
 tuam beat, laborique tuo feliciflimum tribnat fuc- 
 cefTum ! Vale in Chrifto, communi fervatore 
 noftro, mihique favore perge. Scr. Halae Saxo- 
 num, d. 21 Maii, 1738. 
 
 From 
 
[ 149 ] 
 From Mr. Isaac Watts to Mr. Enoch Watts. 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER, 
 
 1 Send you the following definitions, or perhaps 
 rather defcriptions, according to your requeft, be- 
 ing the fhorteft and moil comprehenfive that I can 
 form upon the fubjects. Yours affectionately, 
 
 ISAAC WATTS. 
 
 The feveral opinions about religion, that are this 
 day in England, are as follows ; Firft, in refpect 
 of doctrine ; Atheifts, Deifts, Arians, Socini- 
 ans, Quakers, Papifts, Arminians, Sabbatarians, 
 Anabaptifts, Calvinifts, Baxterians, and Anti- 
 nomians. 
 
 I. ATHEISTS. 
 
 Firft, Deny the being of God. 2d, Say that 
 the world is. eternal, that it had no beginning, 
 and fhall have no end, and that as men are conti- 
 nually born, and afterwards die, fo fucceffive ge- 
 nerations fhall laft to eternity. Others indeed there 
 are, who fay the world was formed fome thoufands 
 of years ago by atoms, or little particles of matter 
 jumping together by chance, and that thefe atoms 
 
 L 3 fhall 
 
[ i5o ] 
 
 fnall after fome time fall to pieces again ; and af- 
 terwards, it may be, jump into new worlds— ra very 
 pretty conceit ! So that they believe thefe atoms to 
 be from eternity to eternity. 3d, Hence it fol- 
 lows, that there is nothing in man diftincl: from his 
 body, and that the foul is nothing but fine fpirits, 
 drawn from the blood and playing about in the 
 brain. 4th, Hence it follows, that they own no 
 after ftate, bqt as the brute dies fo dies the man, 
 and the foul dies with the body. 5th, As a con- 
 fequence of all this, they think they may indulge 
 themfelves in all manner of pleafures. 
 
 II. DEISTS. 
 
 Firft, They own there is a God. 2d, That this 
 God is to be worfhiped, u e. by loving him, ho- 
 nouring, and having awful thoughts of him. 3d, 
 They deny the fcriptures to be the word of God, 
 and fo are called Antifcripturifts. 4th, They deny 
 the Trinity and Chrift, and all the methods of the 
 Chriftian Religion that are particularly revealed in 
 fcripture, and oblige themfelves only to perform 
 the duties of natural religion, u e. loving and ho- 
 nouring God in general, and fometimes praying to 
 him and giving him thanks, and being honeft 
 among men. 5th, Hereby they fuppofe they 
 fo pleafe God, that they (hall be in an' happy ftate 
 
 hereafter, 
 
C i5» 3 
 
 hereafter, if there be any fuch thing, for fome of 
 them doubt whether there be or no. 
 
 III. A R I A N S. 
 
 Arians are old heretics, the difciples of one 
 Arius, above one thoufand years ago, and in our 
 times fome men are apt to believe his errors, which 
 are, Firft, That Chrift is not real and true God, 
 equal with the Father, but only a creature created 
 before all things elfe, and God made ufe of him 
 before he made the world. This notion they build 
 upon the falfe interpretation of 1 John, i. ii. iii. 
 and 1 Colof. xv. xvi. 2d, That Chrift is called 
 God only in refpect of his office ; that is, his doing 
 miracles, his inftructing the world, and fuch like. 
 3d, They deny the Holy Spirit to be a perfon in the 
 Godhead, and fo overthrow the Trinity, and hence 
 they are called Anti-trinitarians. 
 
 IV. SOCINIANS. 
 
 There was one Socinus in Calvin's time, who 
 revived the herefy of Arius, but explained it after 
 another manner. Firft, The Socinians deny Chrift 
 to be real God, and yet they own the fcripture to 
 be the word of God as well as the Arians. 2d, 
 They fay Chrift did not die to fatisfy divine juftice 
 for our fins, but only to confirm the truth of his 
 doctrine, and to give us a good example. They 
 
 L 4 deny 
 
L 152 ] 
 
 deny a Trinity of perfons in the Deity ; they deny 
 original fin, and fay that children fin by imitation, 
 not from corrupt nature. The foundation of their 
 errors is that they make reafon the interpreter of 
 jcripture, and generally believe the foulfleeps with 
 the body till the refurredtion. 
 
 V. CLU A K E R S. 
 
 They did generally (hake and quake at their firft 
 coming up, which was about fifty years ago, and 
 thence had their name. They deny all ordinances, 
 and fay, they are above them. 3d, They affirm 
 perfection in this fife, and deny that Jefus Chrift, 
 who died at Jerufalem, to be true God. They 
 own a light within, which they call Chrift # and 
 God, and fay it is in every man if he would attend 
 to it, and they follow the motions of this light 
 within in all their actions : This gives them the 
 name of Enthufiafls ; though they do not utterly 
 deny fcripture, yet fpeak meanly of it, fay it is a 
 dead letter, and that they do not need it becaufe 
 they have the holy fpirit in them, &c. they deny 
 honour, and therefore they falute none. In their 
 firft rife they had a great many mad frantic fits, 
 and ftrange. They are lately divided into two 
 fects, one of them follow Pen, of the notions 
 aforementioned, the other George Keith and 
 Mead ; and it is faid, they own Chrift the Son of 
 
 God, 
 
C i53 ] 
 
 God, fatisfaction by him, and juftification through, 
 him, and are by little and little leaving the old 
 Quakers principles, 
 
 VI. PAPISTS. 
 
 They deny original fin in that extent as Calvin 
 nifts own it-, alio juftification by faith alone, per- 
 feverence, affurance, &c. They own the doctrine 
 of meritorious works, tradition of equal authority 
 to fcripture, the worfhip of God by images and 
 tranfubftantiation, the conftant facrifice of the mafs, 
 perfection in this life, and works of fupereroga- 
 tion, invocation of faints, prayer for the dead, im- 
 plicit faith, or believing whatever the pope fays, 
 purgatory, the pope's fupremacy over the church, 
 feven facraments, and to other things contrary to 
 the reformed churches. 
 
 VII. ARMENIANS. 
 
 There was one Pelagius of old, that invented 
 feveral opinions about free-will, and againit free- 
 grace, thofe that followed him ftrictly were called 
 Pelagians ; thofe that allowed more to free-grace 
 were called Semi-Pelagians, almoft the fame with 
 modern Armenians, called alfo Remonftrants, and 
 by the common people Free-willers. Their no- 
 tions are, that God elects* none to falvation but on 
 the account of that faith he forefees in them. 2d, 
 
 That 
 
C '54 ] 
 
 That faith and fincere obedience are made the con- 
 ditions of juftification and falvation, juft as Adam's 
 perfect obedience would have entitled him to eter- 
 nal life, and fo God reputes this imperfect obedi- 
 ence for perfect, having releafed the rigour of the 
 law upon the account of (Thrift's fatisfaction, that 
 God fent him to die without any particular defign 
 to fave any particular perfon by it, but only to re- 
 deem all men in general, and now he applies fal- 
 vation to all that believe and repent. That Chrift 
 fo far redeemed all men, that none mall be con- 
 demned for original fin, nay, they are ready to fay, 
 there is no original fin, or at lead nothing in that 
 extent, as Calvinifts make it, that a natural man 
 may ufe common grace, fo as to attain faving grace 
 and at lad falvation. That all the grace that God 
 gives towards the converfion of a finner, is nothing 
 but perfuading him and enlightening his under- 
 Handing, but fome go farther and fay, that God 
 gives fome little touches to the will of man, to 
 move him to believe and repent, but all of them 
 fay, that after all a man is left indifferent. They 
 fay God gives a believer grace enough to perfevere, 
 but he may not ufe it, and fo fall. That no 
 certainty of perfeverance in this life, and confe- 
 quently no certainty of falvation without parti- 
 cular revelation. 
 
 VIII. SAB- 
 
C *55 ] 
 
 VIII. SABBATARIANS. 
 
 Thefe are thofe who go by the name of Seventh-? 
 day-men, becaufe they fuppofe the Jewifh fabbath is 
 notabolifhed, and therefore they obferve our Satur- 
 day for their fabbath. They are againft baptizing 
 infants. Many of them now only aflert a happy- 
 Hate of the church to be expecled. 
 
 IX. ANABAPTISTS. 
 
 They differ not from Calvinifts in their doc- 
 trine, unlefs in the article of infant baptifm. 
 They generally deny any children to be in cove- 
 nant of grace, and fo deny the feal of the cove- 
 nant to them. They deny baptifm by fprinkling 
 to be real and true baptifm. In church govern-* 
 ment generally Independents. 
 
 X. CALVINISTS, 
 
 So called from John Calvin, a great reformer ; 
 his doctrine the fame with the Alicmbly's Con? 
 feflion of Faith. 
 
 XI. B A X T E R I A N S. 
 
 From Mr. Richard Baxter, whofe defign was to 
 reconcile Calvin and Arminius ; his Body of Di- 
 vinity is part of the one and part of the other. 
 The one God has elected fome which mall certainly 
 
 be 
 
[ *& 1 
 
 be faved, and others to whom the Gofpel is 
 preached have fufricient grace given them •, that is, 
 they have common grace, which if they improve 
 well they mall have faving grace according to Ar- 
 minius. They own, according to Calvin, the me- 
 rits of ChriiVs death to be applied to believers 
 only ; but alfo that all men are in a irate capable of 
 falvation. Mr. Baxter fays, there may be a cer- 
 tainty of perfeverance here, and yet he cannot tell 
 whether a man may not have fo weak a degree of 
 faving grace as to lofe it again ; a-kin to Arminius. 
 But fo long as Mr. Baxter owns no falvation, but 
 by the falvation of, and merits of Chrifr, and no 
 application of thcfe without believing, and no true 
 faith but what is the gift of God : hence there is 
 fufricient ground to believe that his opinions, and 
 his followers, who are generally not fo wide as him- 
 felf, are not fo exceeding dangerous as fome men 
 think them, and we may believe them true chrif- 
 tians, though they may differ in many things from 
 the confeflion of faith, and the general opinions of 
 the reformers and reformed churches, 
 
 XII. A N T I N O M I A N S, 
 
 Thofe called Antinomians now-a-days take not fo 
 much care in exprefling the Calviniftic doctrine, 
 which mod of them pretend to own, and fo vent 
 dangerous errors under fuch dangerous expreflions as 
 
 thefe : 
 
C *57 ] 
 
 thefe: id, That God fees no fin in his people* 
 and therefore faints need not afk pardon. 2d, Chrift 
 was a murderer, a blafphemer, &c. becaufe he 
 had thofe fins imputed to him. Chrift believed 
 and repented for us as well as died for us. We 
 muft not try our affurance or the goodnefs of our 
 eftate by our graces or fanclification ; there is no 
 ufe of the law in driving a man to Chrift, and 
 therefore not to be preached. God loves a man 
 never the better for holinefs, nor an elect perfon 
 the worfe for unholinefs : Chrift is a believing 
 fancYifkation, fo far that he need not feek it in him- 
 felf to evidence juftification : faith is not fo pro- 
 perly an acceptance of Chrift as an affurance that 
 he is ours. 
 
 The feveral opinions about religion are, fecondly* 
 in refpedt of difcipline and order. The three 
 chief in England at prefent are called by the 
 names of Epifcopacy, Prefbytery, and Inde- 
 pendency. 
 
 I. EPISCOPACY. 
 
 Thefe are thofe called Conformifts, or Church 
 of England. ift, They own that a bifhop is 
 an officer appointed by Chrift to over-fee churches . 
 and their pallors, and in their hands are placed 
 the keys of admiffion and excommunication of 
 
 every 
 
C 158 ] 
 
 every particular church. 2d, All ordlriation of 
 minifters ought to be by bifhops. 3d, That the 
 church, or thefe heads of it, have power to im- 
 pofe ceremonies. 4th, Hence they worfhip God 
 in a ceremonious way, as the crofs in baptifm* 
 bowing at the high altar, kneeling at the facra- 
 menc, the furplice, and many other things teftify, 
 5th, They not only allow but impofe forms of 
 prayer, and ufe little elfe. 6th, Though their 
 great pretenfions and chief fubjects of their fermons 
 be peace, and love, and unity, though they own 
 thefe ceremonies to be indifferent in their nature, 
 and believe the Diffenters worfhip God aright ; yet 
 have they almoft perfecuted them to death for 
 not conforming. But it is hoped this perfecuting 
 tenet does not belong to their church, but only 
 was authorized and encouraged by men of power, 
 
 II. PRESBYTERY. 
 The true and original notion of prefbetery is, 
 that God hath appointed a fynod, or clafs, or 
 afTembly of minifters, or elders, to be fuperior in 
 power and government to any particular church or 
 officers thereof. 2d, That thefe fynods or councils 
 have power minifterially to determine controverfies 
 in faith and difcipline, and that any perfon in a 
 church may appeal to them for any injury received 
 from any church, &c. but this opinion is almofl 
 
 worn 
 
[ *59 ] 
 
 worn off in England. The tenet of the Prefbyterians 
 of our time and day are : ift, That a minifter ought 
 to be ordained by the laying of the hands of other 
 elders or minifters after examination, fading, and 
 prayer. 2d, That a minifter may be ordained 
 fo as to have power given him to adminifter ordi- 
 nances in general, even before he takes the charge 
 of the church upon him. 3d, That there is no 
 need of any new ordination when they are called to 
 a particular congregation. 4th, That it is the 
 office of a minifter to rule in the church, and the 
 peoples duty to confent, though generally the 
 minifter will not do any thing in the church with- 
 out their confent. 5th, If all the church are 
 willing any church act fhould be done, yet it muft 
 not be done without confent of the minifter. This 
 is called the minifter's having a negative voice, but 
 this is contrary to rigid Independents. 6th, Their 
 doctrine is generally Calviniftical, but many of 
 thofe who are called Prefbyterians have of late 
 years inclined more to Mr. Baxter. 7th, They 
 preach, that good knowledge and a fober conver- 
 fation is not fufficient evidence of a good Hate, 
 and yet ufually enquire no farther than of the 
 knowledge and converfation of thofe they admit 
 into their churches ; hence it follows, they are 
 larger in church difcipline than Independents. 
 8th, Moft of them own the office of deacons in a 
 z, church, 
 
I 160 ] 
 
 church, but generally deny any ruling elder9 
 diftinct from minifters, and yet many of them think 
 it convenient to chufe two or three men of their 
 church to infpect the converfations of others. 
 
 III. INDEPENDENTS. 
 There were fome of the Independents hereto- 
 fore called Brownifts, fome of whom were very 
 irregular in the management of church affairs, but 
 they are not to be found now ; the tenets of 
 rigid Independents are: i ft, That every church 
 hath all the power of governing itfelf in itfelf, and 
 that every thing done in a church mull be by the 
 majority of the votes of the brethren. 2d, That 
 every church has its minifter ordained to itfelf, 
 and that he cannot adminifter the ordinances to 
 any other people, and if he preaches among 
 others it is but as a gifted brother. But the gene- 
 rality of Independents follow rather Doctor Owen's 
 notions-, their tenets are fuch as thefe : 1ft, That 
 the power of church government refides in the 
 paflors and elders of every particular church, and 
 that it is the duty of the people to confent ; and, 
 neverthelefs, becaufe every act in a church is a 
 church act, they never do any thing without the 
 confent of the people, though they receive no new 
 authority by the peoples confenting. 3d, They 
 generally think a minifter not to be ordained but 
 
 to 
 
C '61 ] 
 
 to a particular church, though many of them now 
 think that by virtue of communion of churches, 
 he may preach authoritatively, and adminifter the 
 ordinances to other churches upon extraordinary 
 occafions. 4th, That it is not abfolutely neceffary 
 that a minifter. be ordained by the impofition of 
 hands of other miniflers, but only requifite that 
 other miniflers fhould be there prefent as advifers 
 and afiiftants when he is ordained by the church 
 that is fet apart by their choice, his acceptance, 
 mutual falling and prayer. 5th, They generally 
 hold more to the doctrine of Calvin than Prefby- 
 terians do. 6th, They think it not fufficient 
 ground to be admitted a member, if the perfon 
 be only examined as to his doctrinal knowledge 
 and fobriety of converfation; but they require with 
 all fome hints, or means, or evidences of the work 
 of Grace on their 'fouls, to be profeiTed by them, 
 and that not only to the minifter but to the elders 
 alfo, who are joint rulers in the church. Though 
 this profeffion of fome of their experiences is gene- 
 rally made firft to the minifter, either by word or 
 writing, but the elders aluays hear it and are fatif- 
 fied before the perfon is admitted a member. 7th, 
 Thefc relations ; which the Independents require, 
 are not (as ibme think) of the word or fcripture, 
 Vol. II. M or 
 
C i6 2 ] 
 
 or time, or place, or fermon, by which they were 
 converted ; for very few can tell this, but only 
 they difcourfe and examine them a little of the 
 way of their conviction of fin, of their being brought 
 to know Chrift, or at lead afk them what evidences 
 they can give why they hope they are true be- 
 lievers, and try to fearch whether there be fince- 
 rity in the heart as much as may be found by out- 
 ward profellion; that they may, as much as in them 
 lies, exclude hypocrites. 
 
 From 
 
C 163 ] 
 
 From Mr. Enoch Watts to the Reverend Doftor 
 his Brother, importuning him to publifh his 
 Hymns, &c. 
 
 DEAR BROTHER, Southampton, March, 1700. 
 
 1 N your laft, you difcovered an inclination to 
 oblige the world by ihewing it your Hymns in 
 print ; and I heartily wim, as well for the fatisfac- 
 tion of the public as myfelf, that you were fome- 
 thing more than inclinable thereunto ; I have fre- 
 quently importuned you to it before now, and your 
 invention as often furnifhed you with fome modeft 
 reply to the contrary, as if what I urged was only 
 the effect of a ram and inconfiderate fondnefs to a 
 brother, but you will have other thoughts of the 
 matter, when I firft allure you that that affection, 
 which is infeparable from our near relationfhip, would 
 have hxd in me a very different operation, for in- 
 flead of prefiing you to publifh, I mould with my 
 lad efforts have endeavoured the concealment of 
 them, if my bed judgment did not diredt me to 
 believe it highly conducing to a general benefit, 
 without the'leaft particular difadvantage to your- 
 felf ; this latter I need not have mentioned, for I 
 am very confident, whoever has the happinefs of 
 reading your Hymns (unlefs he be either foe 
 
 M 2 or 
 
[ i6 + ] 
 
 or atheift, will have a very favourable opinion of 
 their author, fo that at the fame time you contri- 
 bute to theuniverfal advantage, you will procure the 
 efteem of men the moil judicious and fenfible. 
 
 In the fecond place, you may pleafe to confider, 
 how very mean the performers in this kind of 
 poetry appear in the pieces already extant. Some an- 
 cient ones I have feen in my time, who flourifhed in 
 Hopkins and Sternhold's reign, but Mafon now re- 
 duces this kind of writing to a fort of yawning indif- 
 ferency, and honed Barton chimes us afleep. There 
 is therefore great need of a piece, vigorous and 
 lively as yours, to quicken and revive the dying 
 devotion of the age, to which nothing can afford 
 fuch affiftance as poetry, contrived on purpofe to 
 elevate us even above ourfelves. To what may we 
 impute the prevalency of the fongs, filled with the 
 fabulous divinity of the ancient fathers, on our 
 paffions ? Is it, think you, only owing to a natural 
 propenfity in us to be in love with fable, and 
 averfe to truth in her native plainnefs. I prefume 
 it may partly be afcribed to this, that as romance 
 has really more need of artifice than truth to fet it 
 off, fo it generally has fuch an abundance more, 
 that it feldom fails of affecting us, by making 
 new and agreeable imprefilons. Yours now is the 
 old truth, dripped of its ragged ornaments, and 
 appears, if we may fay fo, younger by ages 
 
 in 
 
[ l«5 3 
 
 in a new and faftiionable drefs, which is commonly 
 tempting. 
 
 And as for thofe modern gentlemen, who have 
 lately exhibited their verfion of the pfalms : all of 
 them I have not feen I confefs, and perhaps it would 
 not be worth while to do it, unlefs I had a mind 
 to play the critic, which you know is not my talent; 
 but thofe I have read confefs to me a vail defer- 
 ence to yours, though they are done by perfons of 
 mean credit. Dr. Patrick molt certainly has the 
 report of a very learned man, and, they fay, un- 
 derltands the Hebrew extremely well, which indeed 
 capacitates him for a tranilator, but he is thereby 
 never the more enabled to verfify. Tate and Brady 
 frill keep near the fame pace; I know not what fo- 
 ber bead they ride (one that will be content to 
 carry double) but I am fure it is no Pegafus ; 
 there is in them a mighty deficiency of that life 
 and foul, which is neceffary to raife our fancies 
 and kindle and fire our paffions ; and fomething or 
 other they have to alledge againft the reft of ad- 
 venturers ; but I have been perfuaded a great 
 while fince, that were David to fpeak Englifh 
 he would choofe to make ufe of your ftyle. If 
 what I have faid feems to have no weight with 
 you, yet you cannot be ignorant what a load of 
 fcandal lies on the DifTenters, only for their 
 
 M 3 imagined 
 
[ «66] 
 
 imagined averfion to poetry. You remember what 
 Dr. Speed fays. 
 
 So far hath fchifm prevailed, they hate to fee 
 Our lines and words in couplings to agree, 
 It looks too like abhorr'd conformity : 
 A hymn fo fofr, fo fmooth, fo neatly drefs'd, 
 Savours of human learning and the beafh 
 
 And perhaps it has been thought there were fome 
 grounds for his afperfion from the admired poems 
 of Ben Keach, John Bunyan, &c. all flat and dull 
 as they are j nay, I am much out, if the latter has 
 notformerly made much more ravifhing mufic with 
 his hammer and brafs ktttle. 
 
 Now when yours are expofed to the public view, 
 thefe calumnies will immediately vanifh, which me- 
 thinks mould be a motive not the leaft consider- 
 able. And now we are talking of mufic, I have a 
 crotchet in my brain, which makes me imagine that, 
 as cords and difcords equally pleafe heavy-eared 
 people, fo the bed divine poems will no more 
 infpire the rude and illiterate than the meaneft 
 rhymes, which may in fome meafure give you fa- 
 tisfaclion in that fear you difcover, tie in rude vulgus 
 cadant, and you muft allow, them to be taftelefs to 
 many people, tolerable to fome, but to thofe few 
 who know their beauties, to be very pleafant and 
 defirable ; and laflly, if I do not fpeak reafon, I 
 
 will 
 
[ i6 7 j 
 
 will at prefent take my leave of you, and only de- 
 fire you to hear what your ingenious acquaintance 
 at London fay to the point, for I doubt not you 
 have many folicitors there, whofe judgments are 
 much more folid than mine. I pray God Almighty 
 have you in his good keeping, and defire you to 
 believe me, my dear brother, your mod affec- 
 tionate kinfman and friend, 
 
 ENOCH WATTS. 
 
 M4 LETTER 
 
[ i68 ] 
 
 From Dr. Watts to Mr. Bradbury, 
 
 DEAR BROTHER, London, Feb. 26, 1724-5. 
 
 X HOUGH your late conduct in fever al inftances 
 feems to have renounced the paternal bonds and 
 duties of love, yet charity perfuades me to give 
 you that appellation. I was much concerned that 
 you mould have fo great and weighty accufations 
 againft my worthy colleague Mr, Price, as to give 
 fo many miniflers and gentlemen the trouble of 
 a particular fummons to attend and hear the caufe 
 lad Monday, viz, Feb. 22. He allures me that 
 he expected to have heard fome important and 
 dreadful mifdeameanors laid to hischarge, worthy 
 of fuch a folemnity ; though he could not guefs 
 what they were, being not confcious to himfelf of 
 any heinous and criminal behaviour. But when 
 the whole charge amounted to no more, than the 
 imprudent mention of your name in a letter which 
 he confeiTes had been better concealed, I fufpecl; 
 that all indifferent perfons will form a judgment 
 of the temper and fpirit which influenced you in 
 this affair not much to your advantage. However, 
 I am glad that it was fo happily finifhed, and a 
 mutual reconciliation agreed on by fome degrees of 
 
 acknow- 
 
[ i«9 ] 
 
 acknowledgment on each fide, May that agree- 
 ment and peace be lafling. 
 
 As for what relates to myfelf, I had never de- 
 figned to have taken any notice of the reproaches 
 and farcaftical language with which you have 
 treated me, both from the pulpit and from the 
 prefs, having in fome meafure learnt of cur great 
 Lord and Matter, who when he was reviled, re- 
 viled not again, but committed his caufe to him 
 that judgeth righteoufly. But when in the midffc 
 of our late debates at Lime-ftreet you Hood up and 
 made fuch folemn proteftations of your own inno, 
 cency under four general heads, and declared 
 diftinctly, that '* No man could charge you with 
 ingratitude ; No man could charge you with quar- 
 relling ; No man could charge you with falfhood 
 or lying ; No man could charge you with injuftice:" 
 and when you repeated this twice over with an un- 
 common degree of afTurance in that afTembly, I 
 could not but Hand amazed, and thought the 
 providence of God called me at this feafon to 
 make a reply in my own vindication , for fince 
 your cenfures of me have been fufficiently public, 
 had I been filent at this time I might have been 
 reafonably fufpected to have provoked you to fome 
 very great degree, and to have given you juft 
 ground for the public reproaches thrown upon me. 
 
 Firft, 
 
1 170 ] 
 
 Firft, You difclaim all manner of contention or 
 quarrelling ; and, becaufe you were fenfible this 
 might be abundantly charged upon you when I 
 repeated your word to you, you explained your- 
 felf, " That you never begun a quarrel with any 
 
 man." 
 
 You may remember, Sir, that I then enquired 
 of you in that afTembly, Whether ever I had given 
 you occafion to quarrel with me ? to which you 
 made an honeft and generous reply, and faid, 
 fi I had given you none." 
 
 I entreated you then to confider whether all the 
 hard language that you had beftowed on me in 
 fcveral fermons at Pinner's Hall, were not the be- 
 ginning of a contention, if I had fuffered refent- 
 ment to arife and made a like return, you were 
 pleafed to defend yourfelf by affirming, " That 
 you defigned not to make it a matter of conten- 
 tion, nor to caft reproaches upon me :" though 
 the knowing part of the affembly underftood your 
 meaning, but many plain and pious chriftians came 
 away grieved, and wondered what a fad conten- 
 tion was fallen out between Mr. Bradbury and 
 Mr. Watts. What the particular exprefiions were, 
 are better known to yourfelf than to me, though 
 I have heard fevcral of them too. 
 
 Among other things I could not but be furprized 
 that you mould fall fo foul both in preaching and 
 
 in 
 
[ i7' ] 
 
 in print upon my books of Pfalms and Hymns ; 
 when, while I was compofing the Book of Pialms, 
 I have confulted with you particularly about the 
 various metres, and have received directions from 
 you in a little note under your own hand, which 
 was fent me many years ago by my brother, 
 wherein you defired me to fit the fiftieth and one 
 hundred and twenty fecond Pfalms to their proper 
 metre : though I cannot fay that I am much oblig- 
 ed to you for the directions you then gave me, 
 for they led me into a miftake in both thofe Pfalms 
 with regard to the metre, as I can particularly in- 
 form you if defired. 
 
 As for the fevere and ridiculing language you 
 have ufed in your lad volume of Sermons, you 
 difclaim any defigned reproach in them : nor will 
 I attempt to convince you of it any other way than 
 this, viz. be pleafed to turn to thofe pages both 
 in the preface and in the feventh fermon, which 
 you know how to find, and afk your own confeience, 
 in a retired hour, whether you think you mould be 
 fenfible of no reproach in all thofe expreflions, if 
 another perfon had wrote them and pointed them 
 at yourfelf. 
 
 I only afk you now, Sir, whether you think you 
 fland entirely clear (even your own confeience 
 being judge) of beginning a quarrel with me. 
 
 Be fides, 
 
[ I 7 2 ] 
 
 Befides, good Sir, be pleafed to look back upon 
 former years and fcenes of tranfaftion with Mr. 
 Bennet at Newcaftle, with Mr. Galpin at Stepney, 
 with Mr. Andrews your deacon, and others of your 
 own church, the firft year you came among them ; 
 look back to your contentions with many of your 
 brethren in the miniftry, and many gentlemen in 
 the world, and tell me if there be any one minifter 
 this day in London who hath been fo often in the 
 fire of contention, and embroiled in fo many quar- 
 rels as Mr. Bradbury. AfTure yourfelf, Sir, the 
 world will not always believe that all your antago- 
 nifts were the angry and quarrelfome men, and that 
 Mr. Bradbury was ever innocent and peaceful. 
 
 But let me now come to the fecond thing which 
 you fo utterly difclaim, and that is ingratitude ; 
 I confefs I am very unwilling, and it is a pain to 
 me to mention any kindnefs I have done for a 
 friend : but upon this occafion you conftrain me to 
 fay thus much. I little thought that the man 
 whom I had fo often excufed in days pad when he 
 has been charged with excefiive levity and vain 
 converfation, and vindicated his reputation as far 
 as poffible, mould ever have indulged himfelf to 
 infult and ridiclue me in print, while he con- 
 feffes I have never begun any quarrel with him, 
 I little thought that a perfon for whom I pro- 
 cured the afliftance of about twenty guineas 
 
 or 
 
[ *73 3 
 
 or upwards towards the education of a near rela- 
 tion, fhould have rewarded me with reproaches ; 
 I did not expect that a man whom I had prefented 
 with every book I publifhed till within a few late 
 years, mould never have made me a return of any 
 books he has publimed, except a few fermons on 
 the 5th of November almoft twenty years ago, 
 and I think a fingle Sermon for the Reformation, 
 and one on the Storm. Not that I am be^sfino; 
 
 DO £» 
 
 a mare in your publications, No, Sir, a few 
 millings will eafily fupply me with them : but your 
 conduct in this point among ether tilings, I am 
 fure, will fecure me from any fhadow of unkind- 
 nefs in that I have lately made you no prefents of 
 this kind. 
 
 And as for my little book of the Trinity which 
 I gave you when it firft came out, one would have 
 thought, that you mould at lead with decency and 
 gentlenefs have argued againfl the notions which 
 you difapproved in a man who efpoufed the fame 
 caufe, and not have cited them on purpofe to make 
 a jell of the author without the lead attempt toward 
 a refutation. 
 
 A third crime which you fo roundly and utterly 
 difclaim, was that of falfhood or lying •, and a 
 fourth, was that of injuftice. Here I only enquire, 
 whether what you yourfelf confefs you reported of 
 Mr. Hotham was both juft and true, viz. That 
 
 if 
 
[ 174 ] 
 
 if fuch an exhibition were with-held from a perfon 
 in the country, it mud be Mr. Hotham that had 
 done it ? 1 enquire again, whether your repeated 
 charge and accufation of Mr. Price for befpeaking 
 a dinner and not attending it, were a truth ? I 
 enquire again, whether the charges and fcandalous 
 accufations which you brought againft feveral 
 minifters in your letters to Berwick, were ftrictly 
 true and juft ? Whether all that you have pub- 
 limed, both in exprefs language and in evident 
 innuendos, againft my Lord Barrington and Mr. 
 Nevil, be ftrictly truth ? Whether in your con- 
 tentions with our reverend and worthy brother Mr, 
 Clarke, there was always juftice and truth obferv- 
 ed on your fide ? I confefs I have fo little inter- 
 mingled in any of thefe affairs that I know but 
 few particular circumftances. But give me leave 
 to tell you, Sir, that there is not any one minifter 
 in London whom I have heard fo often charged 
 with falfhood and injuftice in fuch fort of conten- 
 tions as Mr. Bradbury. 
 
 I wiih, good Sir, it were but polTible for you to 
 look upon your own conduct abftractcd from that 
 fondnefs which we all naturally bear to felf, and 
 fee whether there be no occafion for fome humbling 
 and penitent thoughts in the fight of God. It 
 has pleafed the great Lord of his church, to fur- 
 nifh you liberally with fome fprightly talents that 
 I might 
 
[ 175 ] 
 
 might be made honourably ufeful in the fervice 
 of the temple, and I hope and believe they have 
 been employed in fome meaiurc to that facred 
 purpofe. You might maintain the truth with 
 zeal, and adorn the gofpel of truth without wrath 
 and reviling. I beg you would not always per- 
 fuade yourfelf and proclaim to the world, that 
 the cenfures that fall upon you arife only from 
 your zeal for the piety of our blefTed Saviour. 
 It is your conduct in the world that has thus ex- 
 pofed you •, for there are feveral perfons, perhaps 
 of equal zeal for the fame doctrine, who do not 
 fall under the fame cenfures, becaufe their beha- 
 viour in life does not give the fame occafion, 
 
 Believe me, Sir, it is not the defign of this let- 
 ter to carry on a quarrel with you : I fhould rejoice 
 to fee your own temper mollified a little, and the 
 talents with which God has entrufted you happily 
 employed to fupport and promote truth and godli- 
 nefs in the fpirit of the gofpel, l. e. in the fpirit of 
 meeknefs and love. Confider what a fair handle 
 you give to the adverfaries of chriftianity, and of 
 the diffenting intereft, to caft fhame and feoffs 
 upon our holy profeflion by your continual quar- 
 rels. If your vein of wit wants a vent, think how 
 much better it may break out on the profane liber- 
 tines and the fcurrilous infidels of the age, than on 
 your friends and brethren, who adore the fame 
 God and Saviour, and preach the fame gofpel. 
 
 Ide- 
 
[ '76 3 
 
 I declare fincerely, I write thofe lines as an honePc 
 and chriftian admonition to a brother, whom I 
 mould rejoice to fee recovered to a friendly temper 
 with all thofe who are engaged in the fame facred 
 work and office. I heartily pray that your wit 
 may be all fandtified, that you may minifter in 
 holy things with honour and purity and great fuc- 
 cefs, and that you may become as eminent and as 
 public an example of piety, meeknefs, heavenly 
 mindednefs, and love to all the faints, as your 
 own foul wifhes and defires. Farewel, dear bro- 
 ther, and forgive this freedom of your fincere 
 
 friend and humble fervant, 
 
 I. WATTS. 
 
 From 
 
[ i?7 ] 
 
 from Dr. Watts t the Reve rend ^ r « Thomas 
 Bradbury. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, January 24, 1725-6. 
 
 J\S feveral weeks pafl away before you could 
 determine in what manner to return an anfwer 
 to that occafional letter which you received from 
 me November i ft, fo you will eafily forgive me if I 
 alfo was at a lofs in what manner to anfwer yours. 
 There feemed to be fo much of the fame temper 
 and fpirit in it which your conduct had exprefied 
 in various inftances this laft year or two, that I 
 had but little hope of faying any thing that might 
 give a happier turn to your thoughts. 
 
 Yet at lait I refolved to anfwer it : for 1 faid to 
 myfdf, perhaps it was written under the influence 
 of that ruffling rencounter which you had with my 
 brother the day before. I mufl needs confefs, in- 
 deed, that many of my friends pafs an harder cen- 
 fure upon your treatment of me than ever I have 
 done : yet, after all, you declare " that you had 
 taken abundant care not to grieve my fpirit ;" 
 which fentence conftrains me to wifh you could but 
 turn the tables, Sir, and fuppofe every thing you 
 had fpoken and written, both in public and private, 
 againft me, were fpoken and written againft your- 
 felf •, and then I am perfuaded you would never 
 Vol. II. * N believe 
 
C '78 ] 
 
 believe that fpcaker or writer had " taken abun, 
 dant care not to grieve your fpirit." 
 
 The firft partof your letter lays fevere accufations 
 upon thofe whom I call " my worthy brethren." 
 As for your charges of Mr. Price, I thought they 
 had been all talked over and adjufted at the meet- 
 ing which you had fummoned in February laft : 
 after fuch a public and mutual confeffion and re- 
 conciliation, I think it is contrary to all the rule s 
 of chriflian and human fociety to make the fame 
 things a matter of perpetual frefh accufation : and 
 I am perfuaded Mr. Bradbury would think fo too, 
 if it was merely a caufe between Caius and Titius. 
 
 You are pleafed to call him " my favourite ;" 
 and I muft acknowledge that by twenty years ex- 
 perience I have found him to be a fincere good 
 man, and love him as fuch. You term yourfelf 
 * c my abhorrence :" a moil furprizing word ! for 
 which I have never given you any occafron. But 
 I entreat you, Sir, to alk yourfelf whether your 
 conduct towards me, has not laid a jufter founda- 
 tion for your applying that term in another manner. 
 
 You tell me that " I am now apprized that one 
 of tl«e miniders at our board was a contributor of 
 fome papers to a book full of peribnal reflections 
 and low dirt." To which I anftver, folemnly, I 
 known nothing at all of that matter, nor have I 
 any fuiTicient ground fo much as to conjecture the 
 
 truth 
 
[ i79 ] 
 
 truth of what you feem to intend concerning 
 Mr* Neale. 
 
 Your following paragraphs repeat fome of thofe 
 obliging and refpectful expreflions concerning me, 
 which you ufed in your letter to the board. I 
 thankfully acknowledge the former refpcct I have 
 received from you •, but I would entreat you, Sir, 
 that fuch expreflions may not be ufed as a medium 
 more effectually to add credit to fentences of a 
 cenforious kind. I could inform you alfo if it were 
 needful, what pains I have taken many a time to 
 fcreen your character and reputation from thofe 
 charges of licentious levity of conduct and conver- 
 fation, which have been cau Upon you; fo that 
 I have not been behind hand with you in paying 
 refpect. 
 
 You furprize me again, Sir, by telling me that 
 my writings have been called u profane, impu- 
 dent, pragmatical, by minifters who have more 
 of my good will than you have, and that I have 
 not fo much of their good will as I have of Mr. 
 Bradbury's." At this I can only ftand amazed, 
 and doubt, and be filent ! 
 
 If you do net believe there was a vote paffed at 
 the board that your company mould be dented as 
 in times pail, and that all thefe lac; contefts mould 
 be buried, afk your good friend Mr. Horrccks, 
 who came immediately from the board into our 
 N 2 houfe, 
 
C iSo ] 
 
 houfe, and converfed freely with me about it* 
 acknowledging that the greateft part of hands were 
 held up for that queflion, and remarking one or 
 two that were not held up •, which I hope will re- 
 frefh his memory, and convince you of the truth 
 of it, though it was nor written down in the book 
 among the tranfactions of the day. 
 
 When you charge us with " inviting two mef- 
 fengers of your church to fit there without their 
 paftor, I know of nothing but this, that fince the 
 board continued expecting your return, and we 
 knew nothing of your churches joining with you 
 in any refolution to the contrary, we thought there- 
 fore that under fuch expectations they might have 
 liberty to fit there till the end of the year, which 
 they alfo feemed to defire ; unltfs* it were fully 
 determined before that time that you would not 
 join with us, nor bring your collection to our 
 board. 
 
 I am obliged to you that in any following para- 
 graph you do me the honour and juftice to fay ex- 
 prelsly, " I never gave you any occafion to ufe me 
 ill," and you add, " that you have given me no 
 occafion to think I did :" for this I will refer you 
 only to the exprefs words of that you have preached 
 and printed, omitting the language of your occa- 
 fional converfation. Nay, I would only afk whe- 
 ther the preface and fome ether paiTages of your 
 
 fermons, 
 
[ i«i ] 
 
 fermons, printed eighteen months ago, have ufed 
 me well ? 
 
 What I wrote about reviewing your own con- 
 dud:, abftracted from a fondnefs for felf, you ft rain 
 nto a conftruction which came not into my heart, 
 as though you were " given up to a reprobate 
 mind, &c." 
 
 And here, good Sir, give me leave to take no- 
 tice, that it is the ftrength and vivacity of your 
 imagination that is fo ready to magnify and fwell 
 any fuppofed reflections, you receive from your bre- 
 thren, to a prodigious fize, while the reproaches 
 and cenfures you pafs upon them are, by the fame 
 lively imagination, contracted and fhrunk to no- 
 thing, becaufe you feel them not. 
 
 As for my thoughts and expreffions, concerning 
 the perfon of our bleffed Saviour, and the doctrine 
 of his deity, I can only tell you again, that all my 
 labour and care has been engaged to fupport that 
 doctrine, in fuch a manner as might moft effectu- 
 ally refute both the objections and the calumnies of 
 thofe who oppofe it. Your reflections on fuch a 
 profeflion, of my feeking for divine guidance, with 
 the ftory of Socinius, carries in it an unbecoming 
 air, to fay no worie ; and your further turns of wit 
 on my prayers for you, (hall receive no anfwer from 
 me but filence. 
 
 You' 
 
 N 3 
 
[ i8a ] 
 
 You tell me that u I rival it with David, whe- 
 ther he or I be the fweet pfalmift of Ifrael." I 
 abhor the thought •, while yet at the fame time I 
 am fully pcrfuaded, that the Jcwifh pfalm book 
 was never defigned to be the only pfalter for the 
 chriftian church ; and though we may borrow 
 many parts of the prayers of Ezra, Job and Da- 
 niel, as well as of David, yet if we take them en- 
 tire as they ftand, and join nothing of the gofpel 
 with them, I think there few of them will be found 
 proper prayers for a chriftian church ; and yet I 
 think it would be very unjuft to fay, " we*rival it 
 with Ezra, Job, &c." Surely their prayers are not 
 beft for us, fince we are commanded to aik every 
 thing in the name of Chrift. Now, I know no 
 reafon why the glorious difcoveries of the New 
 Teflament fhould not be mingled with our fongs 
 and praifes, as well as with our prayers. I give 
 folemn thanks to my Saviour, with all my foul, that 
 he hath honoured me fo far, as to bring his name 
 and gofpel in a more evident and exprefs manner 
 into chriftian pfalmody. 
 
 And fince I find that you have been pleafed to 
 make my hymns, and imitation of the pfalrns to- 
 gether with their prefaces, the object of your fre- 
 quent and harfh cenfures, give me leave to afk yon, 
 whether I did not confult with you while I was 
 tranilaiing the pfalms in this manner, fourteen or 
 
 fifteen 
 
[ is 3 3 
 
 fifteen years ago ? Whether I was not encouraged 
 by you in this work, even v/hen you fully knew 
 my defign, by what I had printed, as well as by 
 converfation ? Did you not fend me a note, under 
 your own hand, by my brother, with a requeft, 
 that I would form the fiftieth and the hundred and 
 twenty-fecond pfalms into their proper old metre ? 
 And in that note you told me too, that one was fix 
 lines of heroic verfe, or ten fyllables, and the other 
 fix lines of fhorter metre : by following thofe di- 
 rections precifely, I confefs I committed a miftake 
 in both of them, or at leaft in the laft; nor had 
 I ever thought of putting in thofe metres, nor 
 eonfidered the number of the lines, nor the mea- 
 fure of them, but by your direction, and at your 
 requeft. 
 
 I allow, Sir, with great freedom, that you may 
 have changed your opinion fince, and you have a 
 right to do it without the leaft blame from me •, but 
 I do declare it, that at that time you were one of 
 my encouragers, and therefore your prefent cenfures 
 ihould be lighter and fofter. 
 
 You defire me at the end " to remember for- 
 mer friendihips j* but you will give me ieave to 
 afk which of us has forgot them moft : and I am 
 well aftured, that I have more effectually approved 
 myfelf all that which you are pleafed to fubfcribe, 
 N 4 viz. 
 
[ i8 4 ] 
 
 viz. your fteady, hearty, and real friend, your obe- 
 dient and devoted fervant, 
 
 I. WATTS, 
 
 P. S. It has always been a painful and a griev- 
 ous thing to me, to hold a contefl with any perfon 
 living, much more with one for whom I have had 
 fo fincere an efteem ; more efpecially fince my con- 
 ftitution and my fpirits are much broken by long 
 illnefs. If therefore the temper of your mind 
 continues the fame as runs through a good part of 
 your two le r ters to the board and to me, I can nei- 
 ther defire nor expedr. a return to this paper, nor 
 am I willing by any means to carry on fuch an epif- 
 tolary contention : If you think fit to talk with me 
 on any of thefe heads, in a fpirit of meeknefs, I am 
 very ready to give you further fatistacTion about 
 any of them. I confefs I have heard it obferved in 
 converfation, that there is fome hope you may re- 
 lent, becaufe you have neither put my Lord Bar- 
 rington, nor Mr. Neal, nor myfelf, into your laft 
 preface : and if the great. God, in whofe hands arc 
 all our hearts, mould reduce you to a gentler frame 
 of fpirit, and a more chriftian conduct towards 
 your brethren, you mall find none of thofe, whom 
 you have reproached, more ready to ferve and ho- 
 nour yon, than your humble fervant and bro- 
 ther, &c. 
 
 From 
 
From the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bradbury to 
 Doctor Wat ts. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, Charter-fquare, Jan. 27, 1725-6. 
 
 Y OUR lad letter gives me abundant convic- 
 tion. It is not in my power to make any defence 
 for a conduct you are refolved to run down. Ge- 
 neral declamations againft my temper and fpirit arc 
 all the anfVer I am to have. The charge you 
 brought againft me in your former letter was, not 
 of oppofing your notions, and maintaining thofe 
 wholfome ways of fpeaking, to which the churches 
 of Chrift had been ufed in every kindred and 
 tongue, and people and nation. Kad I been ac- 
 cuied of continuing in the things that I had long 
 learned ; or of difapproving the humour of novel- 
 ties in doctrine, I would have owned it all ; but 
 you accufe me of " making it fufliciently appear 
 that I defign reproach to the man,' 1 and tell me 
 * f that particular inftances of this kind you need 
 not re hear fe :" I fuppofe by this you would infi- 
 nuate, that they are both numerous and flagrant. 
 Upon this you think " yourfelf obliged to admo- 
 nifh me as a brother againft the wrath of man " 
 and entreat me to " confider what degree of paf- 
 fion and perfonai fentiment may mingle themfelves 
 with my fuppofed zeal for the gofpel." 
 
 1 To 
 
[ i86 ] 
 
 To this horrid charge I pleaded not guilty, and 
 though you will allow mine to be no more than a 
 " fuppofed zeal for the gofpel," it is neither bet- 
 ter nor worfe for your unkind opinion. But I did 
 deny, and do again, that it ever led me into any 
 perfonal reflections upon you ; and I was in hopes, 
 that unlefs you had more evidence for it than tale- 
 bearers, my protection might have been allowed : 
 but inftead of that you go on with your evil fur- 
 mifings. I aver that there is not one fentence in 
 the book you refer me to, that will fupport your 
 violent accufation. 
 
 I wifh I had never told you what care I had not 
 to grieve your fpirit, fince it is what you will nei- 
 ther believe nor value. But do you think that 
 there was no room for more remarks than I have 
 given you ? Or that what I obferved was the only 
 paflage in your notions on the Trinity or Pfalmody 
 that have (tumbled me and many others ? No, I 
 had my affliction almoft in every page ; and as mean 
 as my abilities are, I always thought them fufficient 
 to fhew, that you had departed from the plain 
 text of fcripture, and allowed yourfelf in danger- 
 ous vagaries of human invention. 
 
 And are you refolved if any one, who has no 
 mind to have the divinity of his Saviour evaporate 
 into an attribute, and his humanity to be different 
 from the nature that he reprefented, and gives you 
 
 reafon 
 
[ i8 7 ] 
 
 reafon for his (landing in the good old paths ; are 
 you refolved, I fay, either to filence fuch an author 
 or torment him, by calling his arguments cc perfo- 
 nal reflections ?" Is not that abufing the man whom 
 you ought to anfwer ? If you give yourfelf any 
 further trouble about me, either let me know what 
 you take to be a (c per final refit Bion and difgrace" or 
 drop the charge. Be not guilty of taking up a 
 report againft your neighbour. 
 
 I am again forry that I writ fo many obliging 
 things as you call them, which contained my real 
 fentiments of your excellent qualifications 5 be- 
 caufe you tell me thofe are " ufed as a medium to 
 add credit to fentences of a cenforious kind." I fee 
 by this pruning of words, to a meaning that the 
 Lord knows was never within me, that it is impof- 
 fibie I (hould pleafe a perfon that fearches for 
 iniquity. 
 
 What you tell me of your friendftiips, <c many 
 a rime to fkreen my reputation from the charges of 
 licentious levity" is amazing to me. The terms of 
 " licentious levity" have as ill a found as can 
 be, or at bed a very uncertain one. If you have 
 ever heard that thefe licentious levities, went the 
 length of profane babbling, filthy communication, 
 or drunkennefs,fo grievous this falfliood has been to 
 me, that not once in all my life have I been guilty 
 in any of thefe particulars. If by thefe levities 
 
 you 
 
C i83 ] 
 
 you mean no more than finging, jefting, and what 
 is known to be my natural temper, it is p:ty you 
 called them tc licentious •," the former will not bear 
 a fkrccn, and the latter does not need one. 
 
 What I writ about the uneafinefs of minifters, 
 and of the names they gave you, which you doubt 
 of, both I and many others are fure of: and if I 
 can either believe what I fee or hear, I muft think 
 you have no doubt of it. 
 
 The ftory about my being invited to the fund 
 you miftake. I knew, I heard, that at your read- 
 ing of my letter this was done : but what I com- 
 plain of is, that when an invitation was given to 
 Mr. Dance and Mr. Bull, at that time there was 
 none fent to me; and it is this, I believe, that 
 your gentleman refered to, who told me there 
 was none. 
 
 T made no fuch remark as you intimate of your 
 thinking me given up to a reprobate mind, on your 
 advifmg me to review my conduct •, but it was upon 
 your " wiftiing it but poffible I mould do fo." 
 
 Your turn is very unkind to what I faid about 
 your daily prayers, you put up for light into the 
 doctrine of our bleffed Saviour. I hinted, that 
 fuch an infinuation ought to have no place in an 
 argument, and I gave you an inftance of how lit- 
 tle value it was. I doubt not Dr. Owen, and I 
 hope thoufands that have not diflented from him 
 can fay the fame., though they feldom do. But 
 
 if 
 
[ i8 9 ] 
 
 ,:y are not fo free to tell what is done in fecret, 
 do not fuppofe they are prayerlefs difputants. I 
 trull that many who now bear the reproach of 
 Chrift, will be found among the generation of 
 feekers. 
 
 Your notions about pfalmody, and your fatyri- 
 cal flouiifnes in which you have expreffed them, 
 are fitter for one who pays no regard to infpiration, 
 than for a gofpel minifter, as I may hereafter ihew 
 in a more public way. 
 
 But I mud tell you, there is hardly any founda- 
 tion for what you fay about my encouraging that 
 work fifteen years ago. I was glad to hear that 
 your thoughts were turned to a tranflation of 
 David's Pfalms ; I thought it was a good evidence 
 that you begun to come in to them, as others do ; 
 that they are not of private interpretation, but 
 what God defigned for his churches under the New 
 Teilament. In order therefore to make your work 
 more ufcful, I defired you to put in two meafures 
 which Dr. Patrick has omitted, becaufe we have 
 admirable tunes fitted to them. 
 
 But you are mi (taken if you think I ever knew, 
 and much lefs admired, your mangling, garb- 
 ling, transforming, &c. fo many of your fongs 
 of Sion ; your preface to your work is of the fame 
 ftrain with what you had writ before; and if I re- 
 member that, you had my opinion very freely, in 
 company with the late Mr. Thomas Collings. 
 
 One 
 
[ i 9 o ] 
 
 One paffage I had almofl overlooked relating to 
 a minifter at the board, that he was a contributer 
 to the Appeal, which I call a book full of perfonal 
 reflections and low dirt: you anfwer, folernnly, that 
 you know nothing of the matter. You muft then have 
 forgot that Mr. Neale, at the board, owned he 
 writ a part of it. 
 
 My not naming you, or Lord B. or Mr. Neale, 
 in a late preface, was what I always defigned. I 
 lhould never have levelled you, as you have done 
 yourfelf, with the man who had caufed all our 
 divifions, and whofe character is made indelible 
 by the unanimous vote of parliament ; fo vairi 
 were the extravagant commendations that you fent 
 down to Berwick. 
 
 Your opinion of Mr. Price mould not be oppof- 
 ed to his favage impudent language upon all the 
 fubfcribing minifters, and his rudenefs and injuftice 
 to me, which was never confefled by him, and ne- 
 ver made up at the board. 
 
 I afk your pardon for calling myfelf your abhor- 
 rence, the expreflion is, my abhorrence : but I 
 meant no more by it, than that you mewed more 
 favour to him who did the injury, than to him 
 who received it. Pity the pamon you find in one 
 who meets with provocations and do not overlook 
 it in the man that gives them. I am, dear Sir, 
 your mod hearty friend and fervant, 
 
 THO. BRADBURY. 
 From 
 
[ 19* 3 
 
 From Dr. Watts to the Reverend Mr. Thomas 
 Bradbury. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, Feb. 2, 1725*. 
 
 X Thought to have written no more on thefe fob- 
 jedts of our debate ; but fince your laft letter char- 
 ges me with " general declamations againft your 
 temper and fpirit, with evil furmifings, violent 
 accufations, and barkening to officious tale- bearers/* 
 fince you require " that I would let you know 
 what I take to be a perfonal reflection, or to drop 
 the charge/' I thought myfelf bound in duty to 
 point you to your iermons at the Wednefday 
 lecture, pref. p. y } 8. Sermon 7th, p. 105, the 
 firft of which I believe you will grant is treating 
 me with ridicule inilead of realbning : and the fe- 
 cond, is taking a fcourge out of Dr. Owen's hand 
 with which he attacks the Socinians, to fuit me 
 with it, without fo much as the attempt of an ar- 
 gument againft the foregoing page which you cite 
 out of my book of the Trinity. And, indeed, in 
 that page I muft flill declare, that I think I have 
 done fervice to that article of the Deity of the Holy- 
 Spirit, even in the moll orthodox explication of 
 it, by fhewing what reafons might be given why 
 
 * But being in EfTex near a month I did not fend this till 
 March 2, 
 
 the 
 
C *9* 3 
 
 the Holy Spirit was not exprefsly invoked in fcrip- 
 ture, though true Godhead belongs to him. 
 
 Now, Sir, when I was informed by feveral per- 
 fons, and even by fome of thofe who were car- 
 witnefTes, of fevere reflections call on me in pub- 
 lic preaching as well as in your converiation, I 
 could not reafonably difbelieve feveral of them ; 
 fmce what you had publifhed to the world in print, 
 afiiired me that you might have conceived anger 
 enough to fay thofe things which were reported 
 to me. But I thought it was very fufficient to 
 give a general hint of thofe things to yourfelf, fince 
 the rehearfal of them might be imperfect, and all 
 the words not exactly repeated, and might have occa- 
 fioned and required more of what is called proving 
 and defending, than I defire. 
 
 But if after all you will aver that there is not 
 one fentence in the book I have cited, which will 
 fupport my accufation, i.e. " of perfonal reflections," 
 I may eafily infer, that you allow nothing elfe to 
 be called fo, whatever you have fpoken elfewhere. 
 But there is an higher judgment and a more awful 
 fentence concerning perfons and things than yours 
 or mine : and I defire ever to act, write, and fpeak 
 in fuch a manner concerning my fellow chriftians, 
 as may approve itfelf in the rehearfal at that great 
 day : and I entreat you, Sir, to walk by the fame 
 rule. That day will make a juft and folemn dif- 
 
 tinction 
 
[ l 93 ] 
 
 tincYion between arguments for the truth and re- 
 proaches of a brother. 
 
 I acknowledge with refpect and thankfulnefs, 
 the kind opinions you have entertained of me ; and 
 I really u value all the care that you have fhewn 
 not to grieve my fpirit," wherefoever I fee it prac- 
 tifed. I eafily believe, indeed, that your natural 
 talent of wit is richly fumxient to have taken occa- 
 fions from an hundred paflages in my writings to 
 have rilled your pages with much feverer cenfures. 
 In the vivacity of wit, in the copioufnefs of ftyle, 
 in readinefs of fcripture phrafes, and other ufeful 
 talents, I freely own you far my fuperior, and will 
 never pretend to become your rival. But it is 
 only calm and fedate argument that weighs with 
 me in matters of controverfy : nor will I be difpleaf- 
 ed with any man for fhewing me my miftakes by 
 force of argument, and in a fpirit of meeknefs . 
 it is only in this manner truth mult be fearched 
 out, and not by wit and raillery. 
 
 I know not of any thing in all my writings on 
 the fubject of pfalmody that can deferve the name 
 of a <c fatyrical flourim," unlefs it be one fentence 
 in the Appendix to my firft edition of Hymns, 
 which was written near twenty years ago, and 
 fhould have been revoked or corrected long fince, 
 had I ever reprinted it ; and therefore I fhall by no 
 means fupport or defend that expreffion now. 
 
 Vol, II. O But 
 
[ J 94 ] 
 
 But as to H fatyrical flourifhes," Sir, it has been 
 always accounted by the world one peculiar excel- 
 lency of your writings, wherefoever thofe flourifhes 
 were j uft and proper. And you will forgive me, 
 Sir, if I fay, that your charging me with making the 
 Cl divinity of Chrift evaporate into an attribute," 
 is fuch a flourifh, borrowed from the chymifts, 
 and a very unjuft one too, if you would read my 
 DiiTert. 7th page, (I think) feet. 2. the book is not 
 at hand ; befides much more that I have to fay to 
 relieve that charge whenfoever I fhall publifh more 
 of my papers. 
 
 And fince, Sir, you fo often repeat that fcanda- 
 lous reflection upon the fubferibing m millers, with 
 which you charged Mr. Price at the board, I think 
 it neceffary to put you in mind, he utterly denied 
 the remembrance of any fuch expreflion, that he 
 folemnly declared it was contrary to his thoughts 
 and fentiments of them ; and if it could ever be 
 made to appear that he ufed fuch an expreflion, he 
 would with the utmoft freedom renounce and retract 
 it. And I think, after fuch fort of declarations as 
 thefe, a man ought not to receive repeated charges. 
 
 For this reafon, Sir, you ought not to be charged 
 with telling me that I count you " my abhorrence," 
 fince with a chriftian and becoming paragraph you 
 conclude your letter, utterly retracting that warm 
 expreflion. 
 
 I did 
 
 
[ *95 ] 
 
 I did not think, Sir, to have given you fo much 
 trouble as this, I have more important affairs that 
 demand the few hours wherein I am capable of 
 applying myfelf to read or write. I pray God (till 
 that he would give you to Teethings in ajufler light, 
 and grant you fuch a peaceful fpirit in all your 
 conduct as appears in your laft paragraph, and that 
 for the fervice of our common Lord and his gofpel* 
 After all your cenfures, I thank my God, I can 
 forgive, and I hope I mail continue to carry it to- 
 wards you as becomes a chriflian brother, and 
 faithful fervant for Chrift's fake, unlefs your car- 
 riage renounce all fuch fort of relations. 
 
 I. WATTS. 
 
 O 2 From 
 
C 196 ] 
 
 From the Rev. Mr. Bradbury to Dr. Watts. 
 
 REV. SIR, Charter-fquare, March 7, 1725-6. 
 
 YOUR letter, that is dated the 2d of Feb. 
 and was fent the 3d of March, makes me fear, that 
 whatever zeal you may have for peace, yet it is not 
 at all turned towards any peace with me. I was in 
 hopes, that when I had denied, with fo much vehe- 
 mence, my ever loading your name with perfonal 
 refle&ions, you would either have quitted the 
 charge, or proved it. But you are refolved I fhould 
 be guilty, as it was a difhonourable thing to be 
 driven from an accufation, and nonfuited in fcandal. 
 Your firft letter made no mention of what I had 
 printed, but referred me to numerous and unde- 
 niable inftances of perfonal abufes in my converfa- 
 tion. If my book had offended you, it ought to 
 have been anfwered in a more public way ; but as 
 you thought not fit to take notice of it from the 
 prefs, I could never imagine it was that you meant 
 in the terrible charge that began this epiftolary 
 war between us. 
 
 However, as you refolve that fome accufation or 
 other fhall be adherent, I muft follow your fearches 
 for iniquity. And 1 think it amounts to a perfonal 
 reflection on me, for you to believe that I will 
 grant, that the preface to my book treats you with 
 1 ridicule 
 
L Hi ] 
 
 ridicule inftead of reafon. Whatever you will be- 
 lieve I know not, but I grant no fuch thing. 
 That I might have faid a great deal more againft 
 unbounded imaginations upon revealed articles of 
 faith, is true ; and becaufe I did not, fome people 
 have blamed me, and indeed they gueffed the rea- 
 fon, which paries for fo little with you, viz. the 
 abundant affection I have had for you. If ever I 
 write upon that fubjecl: again, neither my friends, 
 who are angry for my faying no more, nor you 
 who blame me from dropping the argument, (hall 
 have any occafion to complain. 
 
 I call you in that preface " my dear and worthy 
 friend," and remark upon nothing but the im* 
 propriety of your allufions, and the danger of any 
 fimilitude in your doctrine of the Trinity; and as 
 there never was, nor can be fuch a whimfical inftance 
 as you have conceived, for an illuftration to the 
 the only exigence that is eternal and necefiary, fo 
 I mull tell you, it fhews a fondnefs for what is 
 your own, to put that into a fecond book, which 
 fo many perfons read with horror and trouble in 
 the fir ft ; and it is no lefs than refembling a myf- 
 tery by a monfter, which is the way to have it 
 defpifed, and can have no other effedt upon an 
 Arian, than to confirm his prejudice and fwell his 
 vanity. 
 
 O 3 As 
 
[ 198 ] 
 
 As to the quotation out of Dr. Owen, it is what 
 my learned tutor, Mr.Whitaker, above thirty years 
 ago, defired me to remember. He thought me in 
 danger from an exorbitant fancy, and a poetical 
 humour, -and gave me feveral examples how un- 
 happily feveral people had entangled, obfcured and 
 debafed the doctrine of the gofpel. If the Doc- 
 tor's words are obferved as a rule, it will do very 
 well. If you are determined to read them as a 
 mark, I cannot help it. I am forry they fit 
 you. Had you obeyed them before you writ, 
 it had done more good, than now to^efent them 
 afterwards. 
 
 I was in hopes,' from the title page of your firft 
 book, that we ihould have had the plain fcriptnre 
 doctrine, " without the aid and incumbrance of 
 human fchemes :" for though I think that vanity 
 in the frohtifpiece is an infult upon the many au- 
 thors who had fo lately writ upon the fubjecT:, yet 
 if it proved a guard upon yourfelf, I fhould have 
 been glad ; but if ever the article was encumbered 
 with human fchemes, it is fo by your difTertations; 
 and you, of all men living, had the leaft reafon to 
 infinuate fo hard a cenfure upon Drs. Waterland, 
 Knight, and the London minifters, MefTrs. Moore, 
 Enty, Smallbrook, and indeed every one befides, 
 who had engaged in thefe battles of the Lord. 
 
 But 
 
[ 199 ] 
 
 But 1 wonder what makes you fay, that the 
 words I quoted are " a fcourge with which Dr. 
 Owen attacks the Socinians." I take it for a di- 
 rection to thole who are writing in defence of the 
 truth; and had you regarded your great prede- 
 ceiTor, the author of the Appeal to the Turk and 
 Indian, could never have made fo terrible work as 
 he has done. 
 
 What you add about your notion of the Spirit 
 dwelling in believers, as a reafon why he is not 
 the exprefs objedt of our worfhip, may be recon- 
 ciled to the Socinian hypothecs, but it is no more 
 confident with ours, than Dagon was with the ark 
 of the living God : for you know, that your peo- 
 ple, whom you call orthodox, (in what kn{e of the 
 word I will not enquire) never thought the in- 
 cenfe of the Holy Ghoft in them, any argument 
 why he was not to be adored by them. 
 
 In quoting your words, I have taken more care 
 than I needed to have done, on purpofe to make 
 you eafy, calling your treatife a " ferious book,'* 
 and yourfelf a <c valuable author :" befides, I 
 mention this paflage as what the enemies of the 
 caufe have u triumphantly quoted, and make their 
 earnings of." I call it no more than " an un- 
 guarded pannage." I profefs my fatisfaction in 
 what you had faid for the worfhip of each perfon, 
 and lament that our faith and duty mould be 
 
 O 4 rendered 
 
[ 200 ] 
 
 rendered uncertain by may be's •, or that a Soci- 
 nian mould have occafion to infult a book which 
 he cannot anfwer. If there is any perfonal reflec- 
 tion in this, it is more than I can fee, or you 
 either, unlefs you give your imagination the 
 fame liberty in cenfure that you do in doctrine, 
 and maintain evil furmifings as a part of free- 
 thinking. 
 
 What " feveral perfons told you of fevere re- 
 flections I call on you in public preaching and 
 converfation," was the original charge to which I 
 pleaded my innocence. I can do no more than tell 
 you, that all the flories are falfe ; I challenged you 
 to give me one inftance, and now you flur it 
 over with the poor excufe, that you do not like 
 " defending and proving ;" after three tirefome let- 
 ters on both fides, I am neither to know the accu- 
 fers nor the accufation. I thought after fuch a ter- 
 rible impeachment, I mould have had articles upon 
 facts, but rather than do this, you think it eafier to 
 condemn me by wholefale. 
 
 And how horrid is it, inftead of doing me the 
 juftice to mention what I have been guilty of, to 
 threaten me with the higher judgment of God ; 
 that will make " a folemn diftindtion between ar- 
 guments for the truth and reproaches to a bro- 
 ther." Sir, I can fay, that my converfation has 
 been with fimplicity and godly fincerity, " and 
 
 more 
 
[ *°I ] 
 
 more efpecially to your aid." May you and I learn 
 
 never to make the book of God a fcreen to our 
 imaginations, nor the fear of God a bauble to our 
 refentments. This is too often a common place of 
 anger and fcolding. Learn to imitate him of 
 whofe authority you would make me afraid -, it is 
 not his way to judge by the hearing of the ear. 
 
 It is ungenerous, after I had told you of my 
 " care not to grieve your fpirit," to acknowledge it 
 with refped and thankfuinefs, and then come off 
 with a creeping, ill-natured provifo, " when you 
 fee it pra&ifed." Sir, I again demand an inftance 
 to the contrary •, and, if you have feen nothing of 
 this cafe even in the letters and books, that have 
 expreiTed my differing with you, it is becauie you 
 will not fee. But I will tell you another inftance, 
 which perhaps you may not have heard of. When 
 I knew that MeiTrs. Nefbit, Clark, Neal and Toper, 
 had writ to Berwick in recommendation of Lord 
 Barrington and Mr. Neville -, my correfpondent told 
 me, that Mr, Watts had fent them in a letter of the 
 moil: extravagant encomiums that ever were heard, 
 and that you reprefented Lord Barrington as fome- 
 thing more than a man. Though I made my re- 
 marks upon the four minifters, yet to what you 
 writ I was totally filent, which I allure you was not 
 owing to any approbation of your conducl, but to 
 my tendernefs for your peace; and this partiality 
 
[ 202 ] 
 
 to you is what Mr. Clarke infulted me for. If the 
 account I have of your letter to Berwick is wrong, 
 I defire you will fet me right, that when I publifh 
 the whole ftory of the affair I may do you no 
 injury. 
 
 What you fay about my talent for " fatyrical 
 flourifhes" may be true ; nor am I afhamed to ufe 
 them againfl Popery and Arianifm, the two great 
 branches of antichriltian idolatry ; but I never ufed 
 them upon the Pfalms of David, or any of the 
 words that the Holy Ghoft has taught. I durft 
 not be fo merry as you have been with a book that 
 was ever received as a treafure of all divine experi- 
 ence. What a lampoon would the following paf- 
 fage have appeared, had it come from another (the 
 people) " follow with a chearful ignorance, when- 
 ever the clerk leads them acrofs the river Jordan, 
 through the land of Gebal and Amnion, and Ama- 
 lek, he takes them into the ftrong city, he brings 
 them into Edom, anon they follow him through 
 the valley of Baca, till they come up to Jerufa- 
 lem ; they wait upon him into the court of burnt 
 offering, and bind their facrifice with cords to the 
 horns of the altar; they enter fo far into the tem- 
 ple, till they join their fongs in concert with the 
 high-founding cymbals, their thoughts are be- 
 darkened with the fmoke of incenfe, and covered 
 with Jewifh veils. " 
 
 Should 
 
[ 2 -3 ] 
 
 Should any one take the liberty of burlefquing 
 your poetry, as you have done that of the moft 
 high God, you might call it u perfonal reflection," 
 indeed. When I confider that moft of thefe ex- 
 preflions are adopted either by the New Teflament, 
 or the Evangelical Prophets, I tremble at your 
 throwing them together, as if you was refolved to 
 make the Songs of Sion ridiculous. The clerk's 
 leading the people into the ftrong city through the 
 land of Gebal, Ammon and Amalek is imperti- 
 nent •, you find your work its true, but in very 
 diftant pfalms, nor is there any mention of Gebal, 
 Ammon, and Amalek, as a road for our journey, 
 but as the enemies of the church. His bringing 
 them into the cc court of burnt offering" is not 
 the language of David, but " your imitations/' 
 That our duties, praifes, charities, and perfons, are 
 all facrificing dues, learn from the laft words of 
 the fpirit to the churches -> and where fhould we 
 bind with cords, but to the horns of the altar ? for 
 we have an altar as the apofile has told us, Heb. 
 xiii. 10. Does it fay of him as you do of David, 
 that thefe are the words of Paul the Jew ? That 
 our entering into the temple, mould they be ex- 
 pofed, is very mocking to any one who knows 
 that the typical part of the Jewifh religion was 
 their gofpel •, and may my foul be thus bedark- 
 ened, if you will call it fo, with the fmoke 
 
 of 
 
[ 2 °4 ] 
 
 of incenfe •, for it is with much incenfe that the 
 prayers of the faints are offered up -, what you 
 call a covering with Jewifh veils, I hope we have 
 found to be a getting within the veil ; and when 
 we do fo, all the words of the Lord are pure, there 
 is nothing froward or perverfe in them. 
 
 This is not the only offenfive paiTage in the book; 
 I have obferved almoft one hundred. And though 
 it is left almoft entirely of the fame complexion 
 in your later editions, yet that nothing might be 
 loft, you have taken care to tell your readers, that 
 they fhall be gathered up again in your Treatife of 
 Pfalmody ; thefe are your " fatyrical flourifhes" 
 that I complained of. You have fhewn a thou- 
 fand times more meeknefs to an Arian, who is 
 the enemy of Jefus, than you have done to 
 king David, who fung his praifes ; whofe Pfalms 
 you have been fo free as to call an " artful 
 compofure" in feveral of your writings — a wretch- 
 ed word ! 
 
 As to what concerns Mr. Price, I fhall only 
 
 obferve, that though he has been guilty of rude- 
 nefs to all the minifters, iniblence, treachery, and 
 falfhood to me, yet he can clear himfelf fooncr with 
 three words, than I am able to do with three 
 meets of paper. You can difbelieve, or difmifs a 
 number of mifdemeanors in him, and yet the pre- 
 judice you have conceived againft me is like to 
 
 ftick, 
 
[ 20 5 ] 
 
 flick, as appears by your laft paragraph. You fay, 
 cc that after all my cenfures (which I have taken 
 fo much pains to deny) you can forgive, and fhall 
 continue to carry it towards me as becomes a chrif- 
 tian brother, and faithful fervant for Chrift's fake ;" 
 but what did you mean by your next words, " un- 
 lefs my carriage renounce all fuch fort of rela- 
 tions?" that is an undoing dafh, and as it feems 
 to be writ at a different time from the reft of your 
 letter, I am afraid it is a revolting of your charity. 
 In this I have the confidence to fay, that I never 
 renounced thefe relations, yet I am convinced it is 
 out of my power to make you think fo. 
 
 There is one paffage in your enclofing letter, 
 u that you was always for peace." Let me only 
 obferve to you, that he who denies the truth, or 
 if you had rather have it called fo, who explains 
 a myftery by feeking out many inventions, is thQ 
 man who breaks the peace of churches. Divifions 
 are caufed by them who teach contrary to the 
 doctrines that we have received. And, I hope, 
 they who continue to defend the things they 
 have learned, have as good a claim to the title 
 of peace-makers, as they who deftroy the foun- 
 dations. 
 
 Your profefllon of u feeking the truth" is very 
 popular, and I do not wonder to find it fo often in 
 
 all 
 
[ 206 ] 
 
 ?.ll your writings, but then, is there fuch a thing 
 as ever learning and not being able to come to 
 the knowledge of the truth. And it is pity, after 
 you have been more than thirty years a teacher of 
 others, you are yet to learn the firft principles of 
 the oracles of God. What will our hearers think 
 of us, when we fucceed the greateft men of our 
 laft age in nothing elfe but their pulpits ? Is there 
 no certainty in the words of truth? Was Dr. 
 Owen's church to be taught another Jefus, that 
 the Son and Holy Spirit were only two powers 
 in the divine nature ? Shall the men who planted 
 and watered fo happy a part of the vineyard, have 
 all their labours rendered in vain ? Shall a foun- 
 tain at the fame place fend forth fweet water and 
 bitter ? What need is there of a charge, /, 
 
 Alas ! the paffage you refer me to in your laft 
 book has made me {till more of the opinion, that 
 with them the divinity of (Thrift evaporates into an 
 attribute. For, though I abhor all fimilitudes or 
 the divine nature, as a breach of the fecond com- 
 mandment; it is making to ourfelves the likenefs 
 of what is above ; yet in your refembling the 
 being of God by the foul of man, the plain drift 
 of your whole imagination is to deftroy a trinity 
 
 of perfons. 
 
 Pray, 
 
[ 20 7 ] 
 
 Pray, Sir, believe that your books have given 
 great offence to minifters and hearers. I do not 
 remember that I ever met with one ferious perfon 
 who had read your DifTertations, that did not ex- 
 prefs himfelf in ftronger terms againft them than I 
 have done. Several letters have I received upon 
 your conduct ; and one very eminent preacher 
 quotes a paflage in Calvin's letter to Socinus, Liberals 
 ingenium, quod tibi Dominus contulit^ non modo in rebus, 
 nihili frujlra occupari, fed exitialibus figmentis corrumpi, 
 vehementer do let. 
 
 I am allured that your refentment is directed a- 
 gainft others as well as me: I have feen one or* your 
 complaining epiftles to another minifters in which 
 there is almoft a tranfcript of what I received. Do 
 you think that the minifters of London are to (land 
 Hill while you tear in pieces eight great articles of 
 their faith ? and muft every one who anfwers your 
 arguments be accufed of iC perfon al reflections ?'* 
 Though I know none of them but who has a true 
 love for you, yet they do not think you of that im- 
 portance, that, on purpofe to keep up their friend- 
 fhips with you, they fhall be filent to fo great a denial 
 of the chief doctrine that they have either learned 
 or taught ; and, if you refolve to call their zeal for 
 the truth in queftion as you have done mine, I know 
 none fo guilty of " perfonal reflections" as yourfelf. 
 i You 
 
[ 208 ] 
 
 Yow fee how quickly I anfwer yours, and, 
 though all who knows me can tell with what reluc. 
 tance I come into the toil of writing letters, yet 
 as you have led me into it, I (hall never fail to let 
 you know that I am not afhamed of the caufe in 
 which God has engaged me, nor will do any thing 
 unbecoming the character of, Sir, your hearty 
 friend and humble fervant, 
 
 THO. BRADBURY. 
 
 From 
 
C 209 ] 
 
 From Dr. Watts to the Reverend Mr. Thomas 
 Bradbury. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, Lime-ftreet, March i$, 1725-6. 
 
 W H AT you are pleafed to call u an epiftolary 
 war," was not begun by me ; and I perfuade my- 
 felf> that if any indifferent perfons mould ever read 
 the letters that have pafTed between us, they would 
 readily determine where the fpirit of war appears, 
 and where the fpirit of peace. Surely, Sir, if 
 yourfelf would review them in your moll calm, 
 moft ferious hours, you would judge in the fame 
 manner* The many hard words in your laft let- 
 ter give me reafon to fear, that my peaceful at- 
 tempts and expectations are vain, while inftead of 
 acknowledging any perfonal reflections you are 
 pleafed to vindicate them all as juft and proper, 
 and add more to them. 
 
 I hope, Sir, I have always taken your caution, 
 and not made " the bar of God a handle to my 
 refentments," though you tell me this is " too 
 often a common place of anger and fcolding :" I 
 hope a man may mention the judgment feat of 
 Chrift, without any ground for fuch imputations. 
 
 I confefs I knew not before what you now tell 
 me, " that it was your tendernefs for my peace," 
 that made you take no notice of any thing I had 
 
 Vol. II. P written 
 
C 210 ] 
 
 written with regard to the Lord Barrington •, and 
 that a Mr. Clarke infnlted you for this partiality 
 to me." I am very forry that any degrees of re- 
 fpedt to me, which I always readily acknowledge, 
 fhould expofe you to the infults of any of my 
 friends or yours : and I am well allured, that as in 
 thofe days I fpent almoft all my time at Theobalds, 
 under much meeknefs, fo I wrote nothing but what 
 with uprightnefs and honefty of heart, I defigned 
 for the fervice of the difienting interefl ; and de- 
 clared at the fame time, that I was no partifan of 
 my Lord Barrington's in that fubfcribing conteft; 
 however, in my judgment, I thought him a very fit 
 reprefentative for a town which had many dif- 
 fenters in it. 
 
 The paffage you cite out of the flrfl edition of 
 my Hymns, was printed about nineteen or twenty 
 years ago, and had I ever reprinted that EfTay, I 
 fhould have retradted that fentence, and I now 
 condemn it. 
 
 As for my attempts to maintain the new and cf- 
 fential deity of Jefus Chrift and the Holy Spirit, I 
 have often examined my own heart, and am not 
 confcious to myfelf, that the pride and fondnefs of 
 novelty has led me into any particular train of 
 thoughts ; and I beg earneftly, that he that knows 
 all things would fearch and try me in this refpecl. 
 My only aim has been to guard this doctrine 
 
 againft 
 
C 211 ] 
 
 againft the objections and cavils of men, and to fct 
 it in the moft defenfible light; and if I can fee 
 that done in any other form, I mall rejoice to bury 
 all my papers in oblivion, or, if you pleafe, to 
 burn them all. 
 
 My weaknefTes of nature are fo many, and per- 
 petually recurring, that I am often called to look into 
 the other world, and would not dare to write any 
 thing that might derogate from the divine ideas, 
 which fcripture afcribes to God my Saviour, and 
 my Sandtifier. 
 
 But I am very unwilling to give any occafion for 
 any more tirefome letters, a§ you call them, on 
 either fide. Farewel, Sir, and forgive the trouble 
 you have received of this kind from one, that in 
 all thefe letters endeavoured to fhew how much he 
 was, Sir, your fincere friend and humble fcrvant, 
 
 I. WATTS. 
 
 P. S. March 16. On a review of what I had 
 written in the firft paragraph, I fnfpect you may 
 demand, what perfonal reflections there are in all 
 your laft letter ? give me leave, Sir, to point you to 
 fome of them. 
 
 i. You charge me with vanity in the frontifpiece 
 of my firft book of the Trinity, and " an infult 
 upon the many authors who had lately writ on that 
 fubjecV Now, Sir, I think I may be bold to fay, 
 that I had no fuch thought in my heart : but when 
 I wrote for private chriftians, I chofe to avoid en- 
 P 2 tering 
 
C 212 ] 
 
 tering into any fchcmcs or explications, and vvifli I 
 had avoided it more in that book, 
 
 2. You charge me with a horrid practice, that is, 
 " threatening you with the higher judgment of 
 God." I think my words carry nothing of 
 threatening or horror in them. 
 
 3. That " I come off with a creeping, ill-na- 
 tured provifo." 
 
 4. You accufe me of " burlefquing the poetry 
 of the mod high God :" whereas I only fhewed the 
 impropriety of ufing even infpired forms of wor- 
 fhip, peculiarly Jewifh, in Chriftian afTemblies, and 
 affuming them as our fongs of praife to God; 
 though I have confefifed to you that I condemn 
 the manner in which I have expreffed it in the of- 
 fensive fentence which you cite. 
 
 5. That " I have fhevvn a thoufand times more 
 meeknefs to an Arian, who is an enemy of Jefus, 
 than I have done to king David." 
 
 6. That " I have been more than thirty years a 
 teacher of others, and that I am yet to learn the 
 firft principles of the oracles of God." Here firft 
 you mifcount the number : it is but twenty -feven 
 years fince I began to preach ; and then, though the 
 doctrine of the Trinity is a firft principle, yet I ne- 
 ver knew that the particular mode of explication 
 was fuch a firft principle alio. 
 
 7. You tell me " that the plain drift of this 
 whole imagination, viz. of refembling the being 
 
 of 
 
[ 2I 3 ] 
 
 of God by the foul of man, is to deftroy a Trinity 
 of Perfons." Now I have often freely declared, 
 and flill declare, that I allow the greateft diftin&ion 
 poflible between the facred Three in the divine na- 
 ture, which does not arife to three diftincl: confcious 
 minds or fpirits. Make it as great as you will Ihort 
 of this, and I acquiefce in it. But then fince three 
 diftincl: confcious minds is the true idea of three 
 proper literal perfons, whatfoever falls fhort of this 
 can be but an analogical perfonality ; yet if any man 
 will call this a proper divine perfonality, though it 
 is but fimilar to human perfonality, I will not con- 
 tend about words and names. 
 
 And whereas I have fometimes called the word 
 and fprit in the divine nature, two diftincl: powers 
 or principles of operation in the Godhead, yet I 
 have in many places told what I mean, viz. that 
 the idea of diftincl: powers, or principles of opera- 
 tion, being the greateft diftinclion that we can con- 
 ceive in one fpirit, it is the neareft analogical idea 
 of the facred Three that I can arrive at, always fup- 
 pofing there may be fome unknown diftinclions in 
 the divine nature, greater than the ideas we have of 
 the powers or faculties in the foul of man. If I 
 have either given you or any one elie occafion to 
 understand me in a clirTerent fenfe from what I now 
 declare, I mould be glad to retrieve any fuch mis- 
 take of my meaning. 
 
 P 3 From 
 
[ 2I 4 ] 
 
 From the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bradbury to 
 Dr. Watts. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, March 17, 1725-6. 
 
 X Stand amazed at the firft line in your lafl letter, 
 in which you fay that this epiftolary war was not 
 begun by you. Did I write a fyllable to you, till 
 yours had been fent above fix weeks ? And you 
 know the reafon why I fet pen to paper at all, viz. 
 the ungenteel language of your brother, by whom 
 I thought to have conveyed my defence in a way 
 the moll agreeable to you. 
 
 That nrft letter contained a mofl: infamous 
 charge, which I will now take the liberty to call a 
 perional reflection upon me ; and therefore I might 
 have expected that an accufation fo loaded, would 
 either have been maintained or retracted. You ac- 
 cufe me of " perfifting in public reflections on your 
 writings, in fuch a manner as makes it fufficiently 
 appear that I de(ign reproach to the man." Of this 
 you are " abundantly informed, and need not re- 
 hearfe particular inftances." You intreat me af- 
 terwards, as a brother, to confider whether " all 
 this wrath ot man can work the righteoufnefs of 
 God," and infinuate that great " degrees of paflion 
 and perfonal refentment had mingled themfelvcs 
 with my fuppofed zeal for the gofpel." You charge 
 
 me 
 
C 2I 5 ] 
 
 me afterwards with " publick reproaches and un- 
 merited indignities ;" and tell me that (Thrift will 
 not approve what I have done to the " perfonal 
 difgrace of my brethren." You wifh it " but poffi- 
 b'.e'that I could look upon my own conduct, " ab- 
 ftracled from a fondnefs for felf." You hint at the 
 occafion there is for " humbling and penitent 
 thoughts in the fight of God." 
 
 If there is not the " fpirit of war" in a charge of 
 reproaches, indignities, reflections, perfonal refent- 
 ments, and difgraces, 1 fhall never expect to find 
 it. The man who is guilty of what you believe 
 againft me is very unfit for the pulpit ; nor can I 
 fuppofe any conduct to be more fcandalous in a mi- 
 nifter, than what you have reprefented mine to be : 
 either by this account I muit be above meafure 
 fulfill, or you have taken a great deal of liberty 
 with my character. I told you, with an abhorrence 
 of the crime, that I was very remote from any 
 approaches to it. I expected your proof of the 
 indictment ; and inftead of particular inftances, an- 
 tecedent to your firft letter, you bring them out of 
 ibme pafiages in my laft; fo that your accufation is 
 of a prophetical nature. You charge me with 
 what I had formerly faid, your evidence is from 
 what I fliould hereafter write. 
 
 That I was offended at your notions about pfal- 
 
 mody, and the perfonality of Chrift Jefus, I never 
 
 P 4 did 
 
C a»6 ] 
 
 did deny : that 1 delivered myfe-lf upon thofe fub^ 
 jects, when they came in my way, in a different 
 cad of thought from you, I freely own : but that 
 ever this was done with indignity to your character, 
 or hatred of your perfon, I denied at the fir ft hear- 
 ing, and was in hopes that the zeal with which I 
 did it, might have been your conviction. For that 
 reafon, I defired you not to be fo eafy with tale- 
 bearers, who take the advantage of your reclufe, 
 afflicted life, to irritate your fpirit, and make your 
 jealoufy to be the tool of their own envy. 
 
 I knew in my own foul, there was fcarce a per- 
 fon in the world upon whom my affections were 
 more fixed in efteem, in benevolence, in fympathy, 
 and delight. But when I told you this, you give 
 it all an outward turn. If I mention your ami- 
 able character, that you make no better than a 
 " fcreen of reproach :" if I profefs my fear of griev- 
 ing you, that you will not believe, " till you fee it 
 practifed." When I take fo much pains to be 
 owned by you as a friend and a brother, you infi- 
 nuate M my renouncing all thefe relations. " 
 
 This defperate way that you had thrown me into, 
 this contempt of all my profefiions, defires and ar- 
 guments, made me think you very unreafonable ; 
 and in that view of your tenacious averfion I writ my 
 lad letter, in which I exprefs myfelf in a way I 
 never would have taken with a perfon who is to be 
 perfuaded of my innocence. 
 
 * You 
 
[ 2I 7 ] 
 
 You have been an ear witnefs to the ill ufage I 
 have had : yon have heard the revilings of many 
 againft me : fome of them you condemned, in 
 particular the rudenefs of Mr. Travener, to which 
 I gave him no provocation. You know the run that 
 was made upon my character, as if it would have 
 been fatal to charity and moderation to let me have 
 any fhare in it •, and I fhall fear that thefe men, 
 who walk in flanders by flattering you, have fpread 
 a net for your f^t y but to me their ways are al- 
 ways grievous. 
 
 I am glad that you diflike that pafTage in your 
 book of hymns that has been fo wounding to me ; 
 and I think you owe the world a public retracta- 
 tion. There are feveral others that are equally 
 offenfive -, I do not mean only in the argument, but 
 in the language. I read with terror your affertion, 
 that the Pfalms of David are (hocking to pious ears. 
 Such a notion as that lets in deifm like a flood : 
 but I will not debate this matter in private epiftles. 
 
 I fee no reafon you have to number the feven 
 particulars in my laft letter among perfonal injuries. 
 I believe every reader would have formed the fame 
 judgment of your expreftions. I am furprifed at 
 my miftake in the length of your miniflry, I al- 
 ways fuppofed you to be my fenior, and it is now 
 very near thirty years fince I began to preach, and 
 I have been more than one hundred times every 
 year in the pulpit. 
 
 I am 
 
C *** "J 
 
 I am afraid what you lay about your letter to 
 Berwick will be no foftening to the mighty enco- 
 miums you give of Lord Barrington. I do defign 
 to draw up the whole ftory, becaufe I am very fen- 
 fible what I did in thofe matters have opened the 
 rage of tongues againfl me. 
 
 I wifh you would fatisfy me about a fufpicion 
 
 that I have had of your unkindnefs : if you deny 
 
 the ftory, I will difcharge every imagination upon 
 
 that head. It is this ; my Lord Grange of Scotland 
 
 told me, that a minifter in this city aflured him, it 
 
 was my uiual way to bring pergonal affairs into the 
 
 pulpit. He inveighed againft the practice, and I 
 
 againft the charge. I know he vifited you, and I 
 
 was afraid he might have the report from you ; but 
 
 as he mentioned no name, I cannot fix it upon any 
 
 one perfon. Your difowning it will be conviction 
 
 enough to me. I am, Sir, your obedient faithful 
 
 iervant, 
 
 THO. BRADBURY. 
 
 From 
 
t 2i 9 ] 
 
 From Dr. Watts to the Rev. Mr. Bradbury. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, Lime-Street, March 18, 1725-6. 
 
 I AM quite tired with this epfiolary war (as you 
 pleafe to call it) I defire this letter may entirely 
 finim it j and I thought I might roundly fay, I ne- 
 ver begun it, when your letter to the board at 
 Lime-Street was partly directed to me as a member 
 of that board, and contained a whole page or two 
 relating to me, which gave occafion to my firfl; 
 writing. 
 
 And fince, Sir, you allow nothing in that letter 
 or in your public writings to be a " perfonal re- 
 flection," I eafily fuppofed it was in vain to attempt 
 to cite any reports of other perfons which you 
 would allow to be perfonal reflection ; and for that 
 reafon, as well as others, I avoided it, though my 
 informations were not few. 
 
 I am always ready to acknowledge whatfoever 
 perfonal refpect Mr. Bradbury has conceived for 
 one of fo little merit as I can pretend to : but I 
 knew not how to reconcile the profefiion of fo 
 much refpedt with fo many and fo fevere cenfures, 
 and with fuch angry modes of expreflicn as )'ou 
 have been pleafed to ufe both in print and in 
 writing. 
 
 3 The 
 
[ 220 ] 
 
 The chief thing that engages me to return this 
 anfwer, is to allure you that I do not remember 
 that I had any converfation at all with my Lord 
 Grange about you ; much lefsthat lever told him, 
 " it was your ufual way to bring perfonal affairs 
 into the pulpit." My lord never did me the ho- 
 nour of more than one vifit ; which was but a little 
 before his departure. Yet I hope you will forgive me 
 if I venture to tell you, there are fo many minifters 
 as well as private chriftians in this city, who have 
 conceived fuch an opinion concerning your practice, 
 that my LordGrange might very eafily " hear fuch 
 a report from a minifter," without ever feeing me 
 at all. 
 
 Once more farcwcl, Sir, and let us examine con- 
 cerning what is pad, and take care for the time to 
 come, that what we write or print with regard to 
 our brethren, be expreffed in fuch language as may 
 dare appear and be read by the light of the lad 
 conflagration, and the fplendor of the tribunal of 
 our returning Lord. 
 
 Take this final and friendly valediction from 
 one who has endeavoured to follow this rule in 
 thefe letters, and to approve himfelf to God and 
 you, as your faithful fervanr, for ChritVs fake, 
 
 I. WATTS. 
 
 From 
 
C 2 2I ] 
 
 From the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bradbury to 
 Dr. Watts. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, March 22, 1725-6. 
 
 X HE letter which I writ to Lime-fleet, contain- 
 ed a very true account of thofe abnfes that I met 
 with at that board from Mr. Clark, Mr. Neale, 
 and Mr. Price; I was in hopes that if thofe perfons 
 thought they had done me an injury, either by 
 their own indignation, or the direction of fuch as 
 knew your cafe, they would have confefTed what 
 was pad, and given fome aflurance that a man 
 might fit among them with fecurity and decency 
 for the time to come. I might have taken notice 
 in my complaint, of the fury that appeared both 
 in your countenance and language, when you gave 
 me that uncivil interruption. In truth, my friend, 
 you are a man of like paffions with your brethren ; 
 and perhaps want to enquire as well as I, what 
 fpirit you are of. There was not very much of a 
 chriftian meeknefs in your behaviour at that time. 
 I am far from excufing any warmth of temper in 
 myfelf ; but your anger and mine are vifibly dii- 
 tinguifhed upon the head of onecircumftance, that 
 I have had as much provocation and you as little 
 from treacherous men and falfe brethren, as any 
 minifters in England, 
 
 To 
 
[ 222 ] 
 
 To this letter I had no anfwer for fix months •, 
 and as I was amazed that you charged me with 
 beginning this epiftolary war, fo I am quite con- 
 founded at the way you take to prove it, for what 
 you fay in your lad letter is a flat contradiction to 
 one paragraph in your firft, viz. " that you de- 
 ligned never to have taken any notice of that letter, 
 if you had not been abundantly informed that my 
 conduct fmce is of the fame kind :" fo that, if I 
 underftand what you complain of, it is my abufing 
 you with <c perfonal reflections" from the pulpit 
 and in converfation, this " you was abundantly 
 informed of." I wanted to know, (and have a 
 right to demand it) both the information and the 
 informer. The practice would be fcandalous in 
 me, the charge without an equal evidence is fo 
 in you. 
 
 You have brought a railing accufation againft 
 your brother, and acted beneath the manner of the 
 Romans, who never condemned any man till he 
 and the accufer were brought face to face. I ob- 
 ferve what an eafy thing felf- defence is in Mr. 
 Price, and how hard it is for me. It is my turn 
 now to tell you of a more righteous judgment, 
 that never goes by hearfays or may be's, but 
 will proceed upon the royal law, and find out the 
 wickednefs of thofe who bear falfe witnefs againft 
 their neighbours. 
 
 I did 
 
C MS ] 
 
 I did believe, if you had been fo fair and upright 
 as to mention any particulars. I might have had it 
 in my powtr to mew you the villainy of the whifper- 
 ing and backbiting; that has obtained among- ns. 
 Your brother told me of one fentence that I am 
 faid to deliver at Pinner's-hall, which I do not re- 
 member, nor do any of thofe whom I enquired of; 
 I therefore fuppofe it lies at the door of falfhood 
 and prejudice, and was fupplied by the forry fac. 
 tion who clubbed to the " Appeal." In that book 
 is an inftance, that we have both laymen and matters 
 of arts, who can be inventors of evil tilings. I 
 had, indeed, fuch a confidence in your eafmeis to 
 be intreated, that I made no doubt to convince 
 you of my innocence. But, I declare, you have 
 cured me of the opinion I entertained both of your 
 meeknefs and your impartiality. I mutt now dif- 
 pel my fears that you have conceived a peribnal 
 refentment againft me, and I will freely lay open 
 my jealoufy to your own examination. 
 
 You have known for many years what an un- 
 common affection I had for you ; perhaps no per- 
 fon more valued your worth or pitied your weak- 
 nefs ; and when I thought it my duty to exprefs 
 different actions from yours, upon a doctrine 
 that I believe and adore, I defired you to perufe 
 and correct my papers ; I offered twice either to 
 fend them or bring them : and, whatever bitter- 
 
 nefs 
 
[ 22 4 ] 
 
 nefs you may think there is in them, I had more 
 blotting out of harm expreffions, more interpola- 
 tions of foftening ones in thofe few pages, than in 
 all the book befides. Again, I challenge any one 
 to fay, that I ever fpoke of you without a perfonal 
 favour. Many that have heard me, own that I 
 take you to be wider from the common doctrine, 
 about the perfon of Chrift than Dr. Clark or Mr. 
 Emly : know that I have always larded thofe com- 
 plaints with a character of your ferious and hum- 
 ble temper. Laftly, when you charged me with 
 abufing you by " perfonal indignities" ; I received 
 it with aftonifhment •, I declared againft it •, I con- 
 demned the practice ; and, upon any evidence of 
 guilt, would have condemned myfelf. 
 
 I cannot forbear faying, all this, and a great deal 
 lefs, would have done to a man of chriftian charity, 
 I do not mean by charity a lukewarmnefs in the 
 caufe of God, but a principle that is not eaiily 
 puffed up or provoked, and that feeks not its own. 
 Had this been your fpirit, you would not have 
 rejoiced in iniquity : Charity (I mean that of the 
 old fed) would have made you believe all things ; 
 it is a crofs-grained new fchemed charity that be- 
 lieves all things againft a man, and nothing for 
 him. Had you acted without partiality and with- 
 out hypocrify, you would have fown the work of 
 righteoufnefs in peace. Examine your ways with 
 
 me, 
 
[ **$ ] 
 
 me, by the refolution of David, cc Who fo privily 
 Handers his neighbour, him will I cut off:" had 
 a proud heart and a high look been as intolerable 
 to you as it was to him, you w T ould have writ 
 othenvife to Berwick, and otherwife to Charter- 
 houfe Yard. As low an opinion as you may have 
 of my conduct, I have fpoke the truth from my 
 heart, I have hated the work of thofe that turned 
 afide : and had not you encouraged this backbiting 
 with the tongue, and taken up a reproach againft 
 your neighbour, I mould not have had vain repeti- 
 tions of complaint, without evidence, over and 
 over again : I mould either have known my guilt, 
 or you would have known my innocence. But you 
 have had infinuating converfation with fuch as do 
 all they can to weaken my hands ; and, in order 
 to it, give their mouths to evil. Whether you 
 have admonilhed, reproved, and condemned the 
 flanders they > L have uttered againft me, as you do 
 the fuppofed injuries that I have given to you, 
 will be examined by him that fits in the throne 
 judging right. 
 
 You mould have left off contention before it was 
 meddled with, for I doubt not to open to the world 
 your lhame. You have given ear to a naughty tongue. 
 Had you not fuffered flattery to yourfelf to be the 
 vehicle of a reproach againft me, you would have 
 call out the fcorner, and then ftrife and contention 
 
 Vol. II, Q^ muft 
 
[ 226 ] 
 
 muft have ceafed. But thofe words of tale-bearers 
 that gave fo many wounds to your friend, you have 
 received into the innermoft parts of your heart : and, 
 becaufe they could introduce themfelves with a 
 compliment to your writings, you have encouraged 
 thefe burning lips and wicked hearts, merely be- 
 caufe the potflierd was covered with filver drop : 
 away with fuch an ungenerous conduct ! Had my 
 brother ufed your character as your favourite has 
 done mine, he frrould either have humbled himfelf 
 to you, or have known his diftance from me. 
 
 Now, after all the injuftice you have done me, 
 without either the proof or the retractation of a 
 moll dreadful charge, you are for dropping it : 
 but that I fhall not do ; I learn no fuch paflive 
 obedience to an unreafonable adverfary, but rather 
 the contrary from a man that kept the faith : I fay, 
 as he did, " They have beaten us openly and un- 
 condemned, and now do they think to thruft us 
 out privily." Are you at liberty in four letters to caft 
 abroad firebrands, arrows, and death, and in the 
 fifth to drop all the accufation, as if you was only 
 in fport ? Was you making an experiment upon 
 my reputation and peace ? Let me fay as you 
 do, that I love a fpirit of meeknefs, and an in- 
 clination to peace, " when I fee them pratt'ifed/' 
 And I am unwilling to own a perfon as a brother 
 and a friend, u unlefs he renounces thofe rela- 
 3 tions. 
 
[ **? ] 
 
 tions. ,, It is nothing to me with what affectations 
 of mildnefs you are pleafed to write : it is pofllble 
 enough for the words to be fmoother than but- 
 ter when war is in the heart: for words to be fofter 
 than oil, and yet to be drawn /words, Pfalm \v* 
 You have left out thofe paffages in your Pfalm- 
 Book, " as not fuiting with the fpirit of the gof- 
 pel," but I hope they will ever be in mine. 
 
 Upon the whole I do affure you, that if I have 
 not what is equivalent to the copy of my indict- 
 ment ; if you do not tell me what you have heard, 
 and who it is that has told it to you, I (hall number 
 you among thofe that walk in (landers, the railers, 
 the falfe accufers, who have no honourable apo- 
 logy for their head, and a prophet that tells lies for 
 their tail. 
 
 I am fatisfied with the account you give me of 
 your converfation with my Lord Grange, but 
 there was no occafion when you had faid a thing 
 that pleafed me, to clofe it with a fling, " that 
 many minifters and private chriftians conceive fuch 
 an opinion of me, as that valuable perfon had 
 heard, viz. that I bring private affairs into the 
 pulpit." It is a fign what fort of hearers thofe mi- 
 nifters and private chriflians are, not doers but 
 judges of the law. They are doing the devil's 
 work, who by fpreading fuch a report may harden 
 finners againfl conviction. For, though this is 
 a common charge as you very well know, yet I 
 Q^2 do 
 
[ 228 ] 
 
 do not know any thing that does more harm, and 
 very often it is as falfe againfl the preacher, as it 
 is always dangerous to the hearer. I durft never 
 encourage thofe insinuations upon others. Mr. 
 Clark once accufed me of directing a whole fermon 
 againft him, though I believe he was never once 
 in my thoughts when I either ftudied or preached 
 it. But, if minifters are refolved to fcatter thofc 
 evil furmifings againft one another, it can end in 
 nothing lefs than giving mankind an abhorrence of 
 our perfons, and a contempt of our errand. I hope 
 I can truly fay, quite through, that labours of 
 thirty years, that have been more abundant than 
 moft of my {landing, that I have endeavoured nei- 
 ther to walk in craftinefs, nor handle the word of 
 the Lord deceitfully. I am forry that I mufl now 
 fubferibe myfelf your abufed and injured brother, 
 
 T. BRADBURY. 
 
 From 
 
[ 22 9 ] 
 
 From Dr. Watts to the Rey. Mr. Bradbury. 
 
 REVEREND SIR, Lime-Street, Nov. i, 1725. 
 
 ON Friday night laft my worthy friend and 
 neighbour Mr. Caleb Wroe called on me at Theo- 
 balds, and defired me to convey the inclofed papers 
 to you, with his humble thanks for the fhare you 
 have given him in the late legacy intruded with 
 you : and he intreats that you would pleafe to pay 
 the money into the hands of this rneffenger, that 
 I may return it to him ; and I cannot but join my 
 unfeigned thanks with his, that you are pleafed to 
 remember fo valuable and pious a man in your 
 didributions, whofe circumftances are by no means 
 above the receipt of fuch charitable bequefts, 
 though his modefty is fo great as to prevent him 
 from fueing for an intereft in them. 
 
 But while I am acknowledging your unexpected 
 goodnefs to my friend, permit me, Sir, to enquir e 
 into the reafon of your unexpected conduct toward 
 myfelf in fo different a manner. It is true, I live 
 much in the country, but I am not unacquainted 
 with what paffes in town. I would now look no 
 further backward than your letter to the board at 
 Lime-Street, about fix months ago, where I was 
 prefent : I cannot imagine, Sir, what occafion I 
 had given to fuch fort of cenfures as you pafs upon 
 
 CL3 m e 
 
[ 2 3° ] 
 
 me there, among others which you are pleafed to 
 call: upon our worthy brethren : nor can I think 
 how a more pious and christian return could have 
 been made by that board at that time, then to vote 
 a filence and burial of all paft contefts, and even of 
 this laft letter of yours, and to defire your company 
 amongft us as in times paft. 
 
 I had defigned, Sir, to have never taken any 
 further notice of this letter, if I had not been abun- 
 dantly informed that your conduct fince is of the 
 fame kind : and that you have perfifted in your 
 public reflections on many of my writings in fuch a 
 manner, as makes it fufficiently appear, that you 
 defign reproach to the man as much as to fhew 
 your zeal againft his fuppofed errors. The parti- 
 cular inftances of this kind I need not rehearfe to 
 you ; yourfelf are bed acquainted with them. 
 
 And yet after all this, I had been filent ftill, but 
 as I acknowledge God and feek him in all my ways, 
 fo I am convinced it is my duty to give you a pri- 
 vate admonition : and, as a brother, I intreat you 
 to confider whether all this wrath of man can work 
 the righteoufnefs of God ? Let me intreat you, 
 Sir, to aik yourfelf what degrees of paflion and 
 perfonal refentment may join and mingle them- 
 felves with your fuppofed zeal for the gofpel ? 
 Jefus the fearcher of hearts, he knows with what 
 daily labour and ftudy, and with what conftant 
 
 addreffes 
 
[ 2 3* ] 
 
 addrefles to the throne of grace, I feek to fupport 
 the doctrine of his Deity as well as you, and to 
 defend it in the b~ft manner I am capable of: and 
 fhall I tell you alfo, Sir, that it was your urgent 
 requefb among many others that engaged me fo 
 much further in this ftudy than I at fir ft intended. 
 If I am fallen into miftakes, your private and 
 friendly notice had done much more toward the 
 correction of them than public reproaches. 1 am 
 not confcious to myfelf that either my former or 
 latter conduct toward you has merited fuch indig- 
 nities as thefe ; nor can I think that our bleffed 
 Lord, who has given you fo rich a furniture of 
 imagination, and fuch fprightly talents for public 
 fervice, will approve of fuch employment of them 
 in the perfonal difgrace of your brethren that own 
 the fame faith, that preach the fame Saviour, and 
 attempt to fpread abroad the fame doctrines of 
 falvation. 
 
 I wifh, Sir, it were but pofTible for yon to look 
 upon your own conduct abftracted from that fond- 
 nefs which we all naturally bear to felf, and fee 
 whether there be no occafion for fome humbling 
 and penitent thoughts in the fight of God. It is 
 not the defign of this writing to carry on a quarrel 
 with you. It has been my frequent prayer and it 
 will be my joy to fee your temper fuited to your 
 work, and to hear that you employ your ftudies 
 
 Q^4 and 
 
C *3 2 ] 
 
 and your flyle for the fupport of truth and godli- 
 nefs in the fpirit of the gofpel, that is, in the fpirit 
 of meeknefs and love. And 1 conclude, with a 
 hearty requeft to heaven, that your wit may be all 
 fanctified, that you may minifter holy things with 
 honour and purity and great fuccefs, and that you 
 may become as eminent and public an example of 
 piety, meeknefs, heavenly mindednefs, and love 
 to all the faints, as your own foul wifties and de- 
 Ares. Farewel, Sir, and forgive this freedom of 
 your humble fervant, and fellow labourer in the 
 gofpel of Chrift, 
 
 I. WATTS. 
 
 From 
 
[ *33 ] 
 
 From the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bradbury to 
 Dr. Watts*. 
 
 REV. SIR, Chartcr-houfc, Dec. 23, 1725. 
 
 1 WAS in great hopes to have prevented both 
 you and myfelf the trouble we may find in an an- 
 fwcr to your letter, by conveying my thoughts in a 
 free difcourfe with your brother, which yeiterday 
 I had an opportunity of doing. I read him part of 
 your letter, and allured him, as I went along, that 
 I was far from deferving the hard opinion you had 
 conceived of me. But he was pleafed (in a lan- 
 guage which I thought it below both him to give 
 and me to take) to convince me, that he was no 
 proper mefTenger of my vindication to you. 
 
 I am therefore obliged to take this way very 
 much againft my will, becaufe I do it with a fear 
 that you may be more uneafy at fome exprcflions 
 than I ever deligned to make you. Though, up- 
 on that head, the Doctor has delivered me from a 
 great deal of my pain, for he intimates that you 
 treated the preface to my late book in fuch a way, 
 as it was not in my power to give you much 
 trouble •, by which I perceive, the abundant care 
 I had not to grieve your fpirit, might all have^ 
 been fpared. 
 
 * For the anfwer to this letter, fee p. 177. 
 
 The 
 
[ 2 34 j 
 
 The firft thing you complain of is u patting 
 cenfures upon you and your worthy brethren," in 
 a letter that ought either to be anfvvered fooner 
 than in fix months time, or not at all. The cen- 
 fures I cad upon one of " your worthy brethren" 
 are for tale-bearing, difhonourable converfation, 
 feparating me from an old friend, ufing me with 
 treachery and rudenefs, as he has already ufed all 
 the fubfcribing minifters, venturing to call them 
 coxcombs -, I am forry, when you know all this to 
 be true, that the man who did the injury is your 
 favourite, and he who fuffered it your abhorrence. 
 
 As to your other " worthy brethren," you may 
 remember what a flame they put themfelves into 
 upon a very old (lory of Lord Barrington's election. 
 You are now apprifed that one of the minifters at 
 the board was a contributor of fome pages to a 
 book as full of pcrfonal reflections and low dirt 
 as any I ever read. Therefore I hope you will 
 agree with me, that I have fuffered as much by 
 railing accufations as anyone ; and, if your charity 
 is of that fort, that you will confider me as your- 
 felf, I have a claim to more of your pity than your 
 indignation. For, as to your infinuation that I 
 treated you, with whom I had no quarrel, as I 
 did thofe who had abufed me in language and 
 actions much beneath the dignity of their cha_ 
 rafter, I do utterly difavow it. Nor can I ima- 
 gine 
 
[ 235 ] 
 gine what there is in that letter that you are capa- 
 ble of laying your charge upon, when I actually 
 call you one whom I have always loved as a 
 perfon of the bed parts, and mod unfeigned 
 ferioufnefs I ever knew. 
 
 I mentioned alio, what I can at any time prove, 
 and they mult be very unworthy brethren if 
 they deny it, that " I have heard worfe things 
 from fome of that board than I ever fpoke or writ, 
 upon your books of the Trinity, and your Funeral 
 Sermons. ,, It is added afterwards, " that I love 
 you for qualifications which I mall never equal, 
 and pity you for diibrders that I often feel." I call 
 you the belt divine poet in England, and the 
 liberty you have taken with David's Pfalms, affirm- 
 ing u that they are (hocking to pious ears," is a 
 harllier phrafe than ever I ufed of you. 
 
 I have heard your WGrds called profane, impu- 
 dent, pragmatical, and conceited, by minifters 
 who have more of your good-will than I have 5 
 but I am pretty fure you have not lb much of 
 theirs as of mine. But, if after all that 1 have 
 writ in that letter, I mult there be accufed of 
 abufing you, I cannot but fear, that it is inclina- 
 tion that makes me guilty, and not evidence. 
 
 You tell me, what fome at the fund deny, fo 
 that a miftake mult be fomewhere, that a vote was 
 paired, (which I fuppofe will be determined by 
 
 the 
 
t 236 ] 
 
 the books) that my company fhould be defired as 
 in times pad. This, I fay, was contradidled-when 
 I once read your letter. But though you call this 
 " a mod pious and chriflian return" to pais Inch 
 a vote, I mud take this opportunity to tell you 
 that vvorfe names than thefe are owing to another 
 part of your conduct, viz. inviting the two mef- 
 fengers of our church to fit without their pallor, 
 againfl the fundamental conflitution of the fund 
 itfelf, and with a vifible tendency to involve us in 
 a quarrel at Fetter-Lane. This was pufhing fore 
 at us that we might fall, but the Lord has helped us. 
 
 Your next paragraph charges me with " public 
 reflections on your waitings, in fuch a manner as 
 makes it fufficiently appear that my defign is to 
 reproach the man, as much as to be zealous againfl 
 your fuppofed errors. M And you amaze me with 
 faying, <c that particular inflances you need not 
 rehearfe, becaufe I myfelf am beft acquainted with 
 them." Alas ! Sir, who has beguiled you ? I do 
 not know one inflance in my whole life of fuch a 
 carriage towards your perfon, or fuch a treatment 
 of your reputation. 
 
 I deny the charge, I abhor the fact ; I detefl it 
 as a villainous practice in the authors of the Appeal 
 againfl me. Your admonitions upon this head 
 are very good againfl the wrath of man, and be 
 pleafed to apply them when they are fo vifibly 
 
 wanted 
 
[ *37 ] 
 
 wanted among your fC worthy brethren/' I own 
 all that you fay, that you never gave me any occa- 
 fion to ufe you ill, and believe me, dear Sir, I 
 have given you no occafion to think I did. 
 
 Therefore, upon this affair, put on an angry 
 countenance to drive away a backbiting tongue. 
 Do not take up an evil report againft one whom 
 you ufed to efteem as an honefl man. Believe not 
 all words that are fpoken. 
 
 I own, that my adherence to the things that I 
 have learned and been allured of, has made me 
 think in a very different way from what you have 
 now printed, both about the Pfalms and the fon of 
 David ; and it will be too unkind in my gooclna- 
 tured friend, and too cowardly in a free-thinking 
 author, to flifle any oppofition to his private fenti- 
 ments, by giving it the name of " perfonal reflec- 
 tions. " I have certainly the fame right and the 
 fame obligation too to defend what I have believed 
 from the beginning, as you have to undermine it : 
 but if a zeal for what I regard as a fundamental 
 doctrine, is to be called by thefe hard titles, it looks 
 fo like evil furmifing, that I am forry to find it in 
 my friend, when he can no longer confent to what 
 he once reckoned wholefome words. 
 
 Your laft fentence lets me fee in what a forlorn 
 way I am with your charity. You wifh it were 
 " but poflible for me to look upon my own con- 
 duct, 
 
r 2 3 s ] 
 
 duel:, abftracled from a fondnefs to felf, and fee 
 whether there is not occafion for humbling and pe- 
 nitent thoughts in the fight of God." I fhould 
 have hoped, that it was not impoflible for a man to 
 be unentangled with this fame fondnefs for notions 
 that he has received from others, which thoufands 
 in all ages have profefled as well as he ; and that 
 the great danger of this vile humour had been in 
 your cafe of noftrums, vanities of our own, illus- 
 trations and fimilitudes that we never faw in the 
 mount, but dug out of a vain imagination ; fo that 
 I promife myfelf upon fecond thoughts, you will 
 not think the cafe fo defperate in my way of talk- 
 ing, as others may fuppofe it is in yours ; for you 
 writ as if you thought that I was given up to a re- 
 probate mind and a heart that cannot repent. 
 
 I dare not fay fo of you ; for as I fee in a great 
 many particulars, you have not only contradicted 
 others, but yourfelf, fo I cannot think it impoflible 
 but that in your fourth book, if the world is to 
 have fo many, you will fhow yourfelf c * abftracled 
 from the fondnefs that we all naturally bear to felf," 
 and return to your more early thoughts about the 
 perfon of Chrift Jefus, which you received indeed 
 by education, but had been profefied by men of 
 the firft rate for learning and piety, fuch as I defire 
 ro follow, but ever defpair to equal. I heard and 
 faw the holy Sir John Hartopp, with tears running 
 
 down 
 
[ 2 39 ] 
 
 down his cheeks, lament your oppoiition to Dr. 
 Owen, which he imputed to an inftability in your 
 temper, and a fondnefs for your own inventions. 
 
 It is a right way that you acquaint me with your 
 obicrving, and my employment, if that kind is fo 
 much below yours, that I am afhamed to tell you 
 what I have done, viz. " with daily labour and 
 ftudy, and conilant addreffes to the throne of grace, 
 to feek to fupport the doctrine of Chrift's deity." 
 I have read that Socinus prayed feventeen times to 
 know the meaning of one text, " My father is 
 greater than I." It is well if fome people, when 
 they fee your notions upon that fubjecl: fo like to 
 his, will not call a departure from the common, 
 faith an anfwer to prayer, and treat Dr. Owen's ar- 
 guments as if they did not belong to a doctrine 
 according to godlinefs. 
 
 Your frequent prayer for me, that cc my tem- 
 per, and ftile, and wit, and fprightly imagination 
 may be fandtified, &c." is very kind : but if any 
 one elfe had faid this, after he had concluded it 
 irnpoflible I mould be abftracted from a fondnefs 
 for myfelf, I Ihould fear he was only bringing a 
 railing accufation before the Lord. Of you I hope 
 better things ; though what I am able to conclude 
 from your letter, makes me fear you find it hard 
 to lift up your hands for me without w r rath or 
 doubting. 
 
 I can 
 
[ 240 ] 
 
 I can allure you, I am not behind-hand in hearty 
 willies, that your good temper may not be loft to 
 thofe who are for the truth, whilit it is fo very 
 abundant to them who -ire againft it : and that your 
 poetical furniture may never make you fuppofe 
 that the higheft of human fancy is equal to the 
 Joweft of a divine infpiration ; that you will learn 
 to fpeak with more decency of words that the Holy 
 Ghoft teaches, and lefs vanity for your own, and 
 never rival it with David, whether he or you are the 
 fweet pfalmift of Ifrael. 
 
 I can as truly deny as you do, that I defign no 
 quarrel. Whether God may call me to anfwer 
 your books I know not ; if he does, my way is 
 clearer than once it was ; and I hope, whatever 
 Dr. Watts has thought lit to fay, that I fhall always 
 ufe you as a friend, and do nothing unworthy of a 
 chriftian, a gentleman, and a fcholar, which he has 
 ventured to fay I have dropped in my laft perform* 
 ance. This he told me of a book which he read 
 haftily *, but it is always a rule with me, the more 
 hafty I am in reading a book, the lefs hafty I am in 
 reviling it. 
 
 Farewel, dear Sir, remember former friendfhips, 
 and let not new ichemes ruin old acquaintance and 
 endearments between you, and reverend and dear 
 brother, your fteady, hearty and real friend, your 
 obedient and devoted fervant, 
 
 THO. BRADBURY. 
 
SERMONS 
 
 PREACHED AT 
 
 P I N N E R'S-H A L L, 1707, 
 
 By I. WATT S, D. D. 
 
 Vol. II. 
 
[ 243 ] 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 Isaiah lvii. 17, 18. 
 
 For the iniquity of his covetoufnefs was I zvroth, and 
 fmote him : I hid me, and was wroth, and he went 
 on frowardly in the wcy of his heart. I have feen 
 his ways, and will heal him : I will lead him alfo, 
 and rejlore comforts unto him, and to his mourners. 
 
 YOU have here an account of an antient, 
 beloved, and privileged people of God, that 
 feemed to offend by a perpetual backfliding. 
 Jer. viii. 5. There was iniquity found amongfl 
 them in a departure from the Lord their God. 
 They turned afide from the Lord through many 
 lulls, and amongft the reft the love of money is 
 named, for the iniquity of his covetoufnefs was I wroth, 
 &c. This prevailed in their hearts ; this run 
 through the whole courfe of their lives ; this difco- 
 vered itfelf in their actions : the Lord was angry 
 and he chaftened them with temporal punifhments, 
 for the iniquity of his covetoufnefs I was wroth and 
 fmote him ; but this availed little, this was not fufE- 
 cient to reclaim them, he therefore inflicted a fpiri- 
 tual judgment upon them, / was wroth and I hid 
 my face from them. Yet ft ill they went on frowardly 
 in the zvay of their own hearts, turning from the liv- 
 R 2 ing 
 
C *44 ] 
 
 ing God, and purfuing their own pernicious de- 
 vices. Now mark what courfe God takes with 
 them : Well, faith he, fince nothing will do, fince 
 I have fmitten, and they have not returned to me \ 
 fince I have hid my face from them, and they have 
 not fought after me ; fince neither temporal nor 
 fpiritual judgments have any force on them, I will 
 take another method, I will overcome them with 
 overflowing kindnefs : / have feen his ways and I 
 will heal him. But he will be ready to wander 
 again, therefore I will lead him : there have been 
 many of this people that have begun to mourn 
 under my chaftifements, and perhaps their friends 
 have mourned and grieved upon their account : I 
 will reftore joy unto them alfo ; i" will lead him and 
 reft ore comforts to him and to his mourners. 
 
 This feems to be in fliort the meaning of the 
 words, and though it is the latter verfe I chiefly 
 defign to inlarge upon, yet now I fhall be able only 
 to run over the firit, which I fhall do by railing fe- 
 veral doctrinal propofitions. 
 
 Fir ft. The firft doctrine I fhall raife is this : Co- 
 vetoufnefs in the children of God is a provoking 
 fin. Though the defign of my choice of this text 
 be not to infill: upon this vice, yet it being men- 
 tioned as a particular inftance, wherein the people 
 of God of old had departed from him, I cannot 
 but fpeak to it a little. And, 
 
 I. It 
 
[ 2 45 ] 
 
 I. It provokes God, becaufe it is a fetting up art 
 idol in the heart in the room of the living God* 
 Col. iii. 5. Covetoufnefs which is idolatry. We doi 
 not indeed, in our nation, make gods and images 
 in the likenefs of man, or any other form., and fall 
 down and worfhip them J but there is another way 
 of making gods of gold, even by overvaluing our 
 treafure, and fetting our hearts and affections in our 
 chefh where our money is* Now the Lord is God 
 alone, and his glory he will not give umo another; 
 he will not fufTer inward fpiritual worfhip to be paid 
 to gold and filver. Covetoufnefs was fo hateful in 
 the Apoftle's eyes, that he faith it ihould not fo much 
 as be named in a chrifuan church. 
 
 II. Covetoufnefs is a provoking fin when found 
 in the children of God cfpecially •, for it is a return 
 to the earth after a fight and foretaite of heaven : 
 fuch a backfliding is a contempt cafl upon the glo- 
 rious grace of God •, it is a refufal of his benefits* 
 Ye that are called to the fellowfhip of Chrift, have 
 ye not had fome hope of an eternal everlafting in- 
 heritance ? and do ye return to this world as your 
 chief joy ? Do you efleem your enjoyments in it 
 your chief good ? Have ye begun in the fpirit, and 
 will ye thus end in the flefh ? Have ye an inheri- 
 tance provided above, that fades not way, and do 
 you again choofe for youri'elves Ihort-lived pofTef- 
 fions and inheritances that will quickly confume 
 
 R z away ? 
 
[ * 4 6 ] 
 
 away ? Such a return to fenfual and carnal lulls 
 may well be provoking to that God that has once 
 raifed you out of that ftate. Such a contempt of 
 the goodnefs of grace, of which you are made a 
 partaker, mud needs be difpleafing to the almighty 
 giver. Again, 
 
 III. It muft needs be a provoking fin to God, 
 becaufe covetoufnefs is an abufe of the creature, 
 and a perverfion of it from that end for which God 
 gave it. He gave the good things of this world 
 to be ufed and not to be hoarded up merely to be 
 looked upon. Whatever comforts of life, what- 
 ever advantages, privileges, or talents God has 
 been pleafed by his kind providence to confer upon 
 us whilil we are here, remember they are not cur 
 own, they are but lent us, and we mud one day 
 give an account what we have done with them : 
 this is a fin that lies very fecret in the heart, and 
 perhaps it cannot be fo well charged upon us by 
 others as by ourfelves. Let us then be the more 
 ftrict in making an inward fearch in our con- 
 fciences. The 
 
 Second doctrine is this : God's difpleafure againft 
 his own people for fin, is often manifcfted by his 
 ftrokes of temporal judgment. I was wroth and 
 fmote him. You have this very fin of covetoufnefs 
 reprefented as the occafion of fevere judgments 
 from God upon Jerufalem, upon his cholen people. 
 Jcrcm. viii. 10. In the foregoing vcrfcs God had 
 
 been 
 
t *47 ] 
 
 been charging his people of holding fajl deceit, and 
 refufmg to return ; and then he faith, therefore I will 
 give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that 
 jhall inherit them, for every one even from the leaji to the 
 greatefi is given to covet oufnefs. Thofe whom the fa- 
 ther has once loved and given into the hands of his 
 fon, the father will always love, and the fon 
 will bear an eternal affection to them •, but the 
 father and the fon may be difpleafed with them, 
 and may fmite thofe very children fometimes, 
 that when enemies ftrike them, they touch him 
 nearly. In the eighty-ninth Pfalm, where the co- 
 venant of grace is glorioufly difplayed, as made 
 with our Lord Jefus Chrift for all believers, there 
 are thefe afflictions brought into this covenant : If 
 his children for fake my law, and walk not in my judg- 
 ments, if they break my jiatutes, and keep not my com- 
 mandments, then will I viftt their iranfgrejfwn with the 
 rod, and their iniquity with Jlripes ; neverthelefs my 
 loving kindnefs will I not utterly take from him, nor 
 fuffer my faithfulnefs to fail ; my covenant will I not 
 break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 
 And the prophet Amos, chap. iii. ver. 2. tells the 
 Jews in the name of the Lord, faying, You only 
 have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore 
 I will not punifh you for all your iniquities. As if he 
 had faid, I will not always take care to punifh other 
 nations when they are guilty of enormous crimes ; 
 I will not take fo much pains to recover them, let 
 R 4 them 
 
[ 248 ] 
 
 them fink into deftru&ion : this is the language of 
 God to every one here, You only have I known, 
 you have I favoured above the reft of the world, 
 and you have rebelled againft me, therefore I will 
 punifli you for your iniquities. And this God doth 
 to fhew his own hatred of fin both before his own 
 people and before the world. If thofe that are re- 
 conciled to God, by the blood of his fon, mould 
 commit iniquities from time to time, that are vifi- 
 ble to the eyes of the world, and there mould be 
 no fenfible animadverfions upon them for them, the 
 wicked would fay that God ceafes to love holinefs, 
 he punifhes not his people when they fin. No, 
 faith God, my gofpel (hall appear to be a holy 
 gofpel ; if thofe very faints that I have taken into 
 my bofom mould offend me, I will make it appear 
 to the world that I hate fin in them as well as I do 
 in others, and I will punifli it. There is a fort of 
 governing inftance, which Chrifl the king of the 
 church exerciies for the honour of his own law, 
 and his own gofpel, for the fake of his own and 
 his Father's holinefs ; and though it be not reveng- 
 ing juftice, yet it is fometimes very terrible and 
 fevere. i Cor. xi. 30. There were feveral difor- 
 ders praclifed by the Corinthians in their partici- 
 pation of the holy ordinance of the Lord's fupper : 
 Ihey come together, not for the better, but for the worfe y 
 &ne being hungry, and another drunken, i$c. Well, 
 faith the Lord, by the apoftle, Examine yourf elves, 
 
 left 
 
[ 2 49 ] 
 
 left ye come together unto condemnation ; for wbofoevcr 
 flxdl eat of this bread, and drink of this cup unzvorthiiy, 
 fball be guilty of the blood and body of the Lord ; yea* 
 he eaieth and drinketh damnation to himfelj : which 
 appears by the context to mean temporal judg- 
 ments, viz. weaknefs, ficknefs, and death. Ano- 
 ther defign of God is to awaken his children out 
 of their fecurity, and to reclaim them from fin •, 
 for the defign of afflictive providences upon the 
 children of God, is to lead them back again to 
 ordinances and obedience. Ha, xxvii. 9. By this Jlmll 
 the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and his fin taken away ; 
 that is, this I will ufe as means to reitore him from the 
 power of fin which has now gotten the upper hand. 
 And in Heb. xii. God gives us a large account 
 how he chafteneth his people on purpofe to make 
 them return to him. Well then, when God foaites 
 us let us mourn to think that we by our tranigref- 
 fions mould provoke him to take this method for 
 the vindication of his holinefs ; and let each of us 
 fay, Lord, mew me wherein I have offended and 
 I will do fo no more. The 
 
 Third doctrine is this; that fpiritual chaftiiements 
 will very probably follow when temporal ones do 
 not attain the end and reduce the backflider. I was 
 wroth and fmote him, but that had no e fifed:, that 
 was not fufficient to reclaim obdurate finners ; 
 therefore, faith God, / zvill hide me, I will with- 
 draw 
 
C *S° 3 
 
 draw my prefencefrom you. If ye will walk con-* 
 rrary unto me I will walk contrary unto you, faith 
 the Lord ; you mall not feel the fmiles of my 
 countenance : the elect of God have a fenfe of this 
 fort of corrections, which the world have not •, and 
 therefore fuch fort of threatenings, though they 
 affect not the unconverted finners much, yet they 
 affect the faints of the mod High : they that know 
 what it is to have the face of God difcovered to 
 them, and to fee his love, they are afraid of the 
 hiding of it, and covering it with a thick cloud 
 that they cannot fee it. How doth Job complain ; 
 Behold, Igo forward, but he is not there -, backward, but 
 I cannot perceive him -, on the left -hand where he doth 
 work, but cannot find him ; and on the right-hand, but 
 I cannot fee him. If one might paraphrafe this in 
 a gofpel fenfe, it might be thus : I go forward in 
 the paths I now go, but cannot perceive him ; I 
 look back to the paths I have already been, I re- 
 collect my former experiences, but cannot find 
 him there. On his left-hand, where he works, I 
 can fee nothing of him, in any of his providences 
 or dealings with me ; or on his right-hand, in hi s 
 gofpel and grace, I can fee nothing no where either 
 in his works, his providences, his nature or his 
 grace ; he can hold no converfe with him either 
 in private or public duties, in reading, in prayer, 
 in hearing when the word of God is fpoken, the 
 i foul 
 
C *ji ] 
 
 foul can fee little of the glory of God in it. This 
 is a heavy judgment indeed, and thofe fouls that 
 have been made to know God in truth, may feci 
 fome fuch experiences as thefe are, for when he 
 hides his face, who can behold him ? When he 
 fpeaks trouble, who can give comfort ? I might 
 add further, that thefe forts of judgments are more 
 certain tokens of God's difpleafure than any tem- 
 poral corrections can be, for God may fuffer us 
 to loofe much of our outward fubftance, and at the 
 fame time may communicate to us a molt lively 
 fenfe of his love and our intereft in the unfearch- 
 able riches of Chrift -, and then he can hardly be 
 faid to punifh us much, or in reality to afflict us : 
 but when he hides his face, then, as Job faith, He 
 counts me for his enemy, that looks fo much like dif- 
 pleafure that it cannot be otherwife conftrued. The 
 ' Fourth doctrine is this ; the way of man's own 
 heart is to turn afide from God. I hid me, and was 
 wroth, and he zvent on frowardly turning afide after the 
 way of his own heart : this is the nature of man, 
 this is the temper of a fallen creature, and fo far 
 as fin prevails in the faints, this is their temper 
 too. To turn away from God our creator, is a 
 turning from our life, in whom we live, move, 
 and have our being : to turn away from God, who 
 is our firfi: caufe, who is our lad end j to turn afide 
 from the fpirit of God as the guide of our ways ; 
 
 to 
 
[ 252 ] 
 
 to turn afide from the quickening grace of God, 
 which is the life ; and from his aflifting powers, 
 which is the help of our fouls. But the turnings 
 afide of a faint have fornething of a more aggra- 
 vated nature in them, for he doth not only turn 
 afide from a creator, benefactor, lawgiver, or pre- 
 ferver, but he turns afide from God his father, 
 from Jefus his faviour, that has delivered him from 
 the wrath to come ; he turns afide from the fpirit, 
 the fandtifier that has begun a good work in his 
 foul, and laid the foundation of eternal happinefs 
 there ; and yet this is the very temper of a back- 
 Hiding faint, for all fin is ours, all the holinefs that 
 is in us, in our hearts or lives is from God. The 
 ways of man's heart are different from the ways of 
 God's heart, and in this fenfe it may be faid, my 
 thoughts, faith the Lord, are not your thoughts, nor 
 my ways your ways; and we mould fay, O Lord, 
 thy ways are holy, but our ways are unholy; thy 
 ways are pure, juft, and good, but our ways are 
 polluted, defiled, and unrighteous. See here then 
 what a vaft difference there is between innocent 
 and fallen man, innocent man was like to God, 
 fallen man is afiimilated to the fallen angel. See 
 in the next place what a necefiity there is of felf- 
 denial, if ever we would be reftored from the ruins 
 of our fall. We muft turn away from our own 
 inclinations if ever we would turn to God, for the 
 
 way 
 
[ *53 ] 
 
 way of man and the way of God are ju ft con- 
 trary to one another. The 
 
 Fifth doctrine. It is poffible for the children of 
 God to turn afide further from him, even ftill while 
 God is dealing with them in order to their recovery. 
 I was wroth for his iniquity^ and 1 fenote him, and hid 
 my face from him \ and after this he went on frozvardly 
 after the way of his own heart. This is not the cha- 
 racter of all chriftians-, but I fay there are fome who 
 run this length, they refufe to be reconciled after 
 many methods that God has ufed with them. Some 
 there are that tremble at his word, and no fooner 
 do they hear the voice of the Lord fpeaking a word 
 to them, return ye, but their hearts anfwer, Lord 
 we return ; fuch are the fouls that dwell with God, 
 with whom God dwells. He guides them with 
 his eyes, one look of his eye turns them to him- 
 felf. Again, there are others that have not lb foft 
 a temper that yet may be aw r akened with the fir ft 
 ftrokes of God's rod, and God has no need of lay- 
 ing on ftroke after ftroke. Others again are not 
 fenfibly touched till God begins to hide his face 
 from them ; they may be fmitten and yet may not 
 return back to the Lord ; but when he hides his 
 face, then they cry with Job, JVhyhideft thou thy face, 
 andcountejl me as thine enemy ? Some there are that 
 muft have both thefe inflicted upon them together, 
 or elfe they will not return j they that are the belt 
 
 of 
 
C 254 ] 
 
 of faints may fall into this cafe. David was much 
 afflicted with both thefe before he was awakened 
 of his fin ; Deep calls unto deep at the wife of thy 
 water-fpoutSy all thy waves and thy billows have gone 
 ever me. So you find Jonah, when he had been 
 commanded to deliver his mefTage to Nineveh, he 
 refufed ; he went away frowardly after the way of 
 his own heart. God was angry and hid his face 
 from him ; God cad him into thefea, and ordered 
 a whale to fwallow him, and then he cries out* 
 I cried by reafon of mine afflitlion unto the Lord; out of 
 the belly of hell cried I, for thou haft cafi me into the 
 midjt of the deep, into the middle of the feas ; the floods 
 compajfed me about \ all thy billows and thy waves pajl 
 over me, the waters compajfed me about even to the 
 fold, the depths inclofed me round, the weeds were wrapt 
 about my head, I went down to the bottoms of the 
 mountains of the earth. Some there are whom Satan 
 and their own corruptions get fo much power over, 
 that they go on notwithstanding all methods of 
 recovery. Some, on the other hand, faint, and 
 have no heart to worlhip God, they give over 
 all as loft, they feem to be given up to everlafting 
 backflidings, and return not in a long time, being 
 preffed down by defpair. Sometimes, indeed, the 
 children of God grow more hardened after afflict 
 tions, but this looks fo very like the character of 
 rebels, jhat the world, nor they themfelves, can be 
 
 able 
 
C *55 3 
 
 able to diftinguifh them. From all this I would 
 make thefe two remarks : 
 
 I. That while we have good reafon to hope that 
 the grace of God was once wrought in truth in any- 
 foul, that though we ihould fee them Aide back 
 tfrangely, we ihould not give them over for loft : 
 the root of the matter may be in them ftill, there 
 may be fome fpiritual life within, there may be 
 fome fpark of grace ftill, though it feems to be 
 buried under mountains and floods of corruption. 
 
 II. I would advife thofe that have ever had any 
 hopes of the mercy of God, that they mould not 
 entirely defpair though they have found this per- 
 yerfe temper of mind long prevailing : return, 
 faith the Lord, for I am married to you. The lafl: 
 
 DoEtrine I fhall mention is this ; that neither 
 temporal nor fpiritual chaflifements have power 
 enough of themfelves to reduce a finner to God : 
 this is evident from the text ; for if all this could 
 have reftored Ifrael, then Ifrael had been reftored in 
 that verfe, and there had not been the following 
 verfes written, and the reafons for it may be thefe 
 three : 
 
 I. That afflictions of a temporal, or of a fpiri- 
 tual nature, do work only by way of perfuafion, 
 and have only a moral influence on the mind, and 
 there is no moral argument whatfoever that is able 
 
 to 
 
[ 2 5<> ] 
 
 to bring back a foul that is backflidden from 
 God, Again, 
 
 II. Afflictions were never ordained of God for 
 this end, to work grace in the heart, or to reftore 
 decaying grace without his fpirit. True, they are 
 happy inftruments in the hand of his fpirit, when 
 his fpirit pleafes to ufe them, but the rod muft not 
 Hand in ftead of the hand that fhakes it. Afflic- 
 tions are only God's inftruments, and he himfclf 
 is the fovereign caufe. 
 
 III. Grace muft have the honour of every ftep 
 in our way to heaven. God will not give his ho- 
 nour to any thing but himfelf, though fometimes 
 he will confer grace while he ufes the rod, yet 
 fometimes he fuffers them to backflide beyond the 
 recovery of all afflictions whatfoever, to fhew that 
 my text muft come in place. It is only the touch 
 of the finger of God himfelf on our hearts that can 
 turn us to himfelf. I would make two ufes of this 
 doctrine : 
 
 I. Of the exceeding power of remaining corrup- 
 tion even in the hearts of faints. We are not to 
 think that fin is nullified when it firfl receives its 
 mortifying wound, and this is not to be foftened 
 over with the name of mere infirmities, and thereby 
 eafily indulged and flightly thought of, for fuch 
 goings back as thefe are deferving much harder 
 names ; the flefh or corrupt nature is very guilty 
 
 3 and 
 
C 2 57 ] 
 
 snd deferves condemnation, though the law of God 
 cannot provide it with justification ; fee here afflic- 
 tions are unable to reftore us unto God by reafon 
 of the flefh, of the fin and corruption that flill 
 remains in us, but it does not therefore follow, that 
 we are guiltlefs, no, we are fo much the more 
 guilty. The 
 
 Second uk is, that we mould wonder that God 
 has not cut us off with eternal deftrudtion which he 
 has ufed fo many means with us, and yet not one 
 of them has prevailed. O how mould we glorify 
 his fparing mercy, had we but a fenfe of the great- 
 nefs of our fin in the continuance in fuch obftinate 
 backflidings ; but believe, believe flill that he that 
 has had patience enough to fpare you all this while 
 in rebellions, he has grace enough in his heart to 
 recover you, and he has treafured up grace enough 
 in his Son, and then you will be prepared for the 
 next words, I have feen his ways and will heal him, 
 I will lead him alfo, and will reftore comforts to him and 
 to his mourners. 
 
 Vol. II. S S E R- 
 
E * 5 s ] 
 SERMON II. 
 
 Isaiah lvii. 17, 18. 
 
 For the iniquity of his covetoufnefe was I wroth, and 
 fmote him : I hid me, and was wroth, and he went en 
 froivardly in the way of his own heart. I have feen 
 his zvays, and will heal him, 1 will lead him alfo: and 
 zvill rejlore comforts unto him, and to his mourners. 
 
 tx AVING in the lad difcourfe given you a large 
 paraphrafe of the firft part of the words, I now 
 proceed to this part, I have feen his ways and I will 
 heal him", from whence I would raife this doctrine : 
 When no methods of chaftifement, neither tem- 
 poral ftrokes, nor the hiding of God's face will re- 
 duce a backflider, then God recovers him by a won- 
 drous exercife of his fovcreign grace. This is not 
 God's common way of exerting grace towards his 
 people, generally he accompanies his chaftifement 
 with his fpirit, but fometimes he lets a foul run fo 
 far from him that no external methods of recovery 
 will do 5 then faith God it is time I ihould arife, 7 
 have feen his ways, and I will heal him. My defign on 
 thefe words is to awaken thofe by a gentle touch of 
 divine mercy on whom the ftrokes of God's rod 
 have been repeated in vain. And let fuch as are 
 dead in trefpafTes and fins attend to this word of 
 
 almighty 
 
[ 259 ] 
 
 almighty grace ; thofe that think themfelves never 
 fo near to hell, though they are running from God, 
 yet if God pleafe he can heal them. In difcourf- 
 ing to thefe words, let us take this method ; 
 
 Fir ft + Let us confider what thofe ways are from 
 which God intends to reclaim his people. I have 
 feen his ways, and I will heal him. 
 
 Secondly, Confider the greatnefs of the grace of 
 God, by the aggravations of this fin of back- 
 iliding. 
 
 Thirdly, How God beholds them. I have feen 
 his ways, &c, 
 
 Fourthly, What is implied in healing them. I 
 have feen his ways, and will heal him* 
 
 Fifthly, What methods God takes to heal them, 
 when all outward methods of converfion have been 
 ufed in vain. 
 
 Firfi, What are thofe ways which the text 
 mentions, I have feen his ways, £fcjj In general 
 the text hints at an immoderate love of ibme 
 finite created objedt \ for the iniquity of his coveiouf 
 nefs was I wroth, and J mote him : but what is faid of 
 this one fin may be faid concerning many other fins, 
 concerning any departure from the living God* 
 whether the purfuit of the riches of this world, or 
 the acquiring of honours amongfc men, or the in- 
 dulging of our fiefh by fenfuality and eafe, or many 
 of them together. When the thoughts are conti- 
 S 2 nually 
 
[ i6o ] 
 
 nually running out after fome created good that the 
 foul has exalted too near to God ; when the will i3 
 continually pointing out after it, the defire and 
 love are fixed upon it, and it ha9 a greater averfion 
 to what would hinder it of this created good than 
 it has to fin and iniquity. When we are more 
 anxious about thefe things than thofe of another 
 world ; when this continues and abides on the mind 
 for a feafon ; when all the powers of the body and 
 foul are exercifed in the purfuit after it. For 
 though there is a fecret love to God kept alive in 
 the heart of the faints through all backflidings, yet 
 fometimes the fpark is fo covered by allies, that it 
 cannot be difcovered by themfelves or others. I 
 have feen his ways, faith God, yet I will heal him. I 
 have feen that he loves the creature more than me, 
 but yet I love him more than I do other creatures j 
 his love is weaned from me in a great degree, but 
 my love was to him from eternity, and mall be with 
 him to all evcrlafting : it is this eternal love of 
 God the creator towards us that is the fpring of his 
 healing grace, when our love finks down from the 
 creator, and terminates upon the creature. This is 
 the general character of the fin here mentioned, 
 and it is accompanied with thefe four conco- 
 mitants. 
 
 I. A forgetfulnefs of God in the courfe of his 
 life. He doth not walk with God as he did be- 
 fore. 
 
L 261 3 
 
 fore. His converfation is not in Heaven as once 
 it was. One would think that this is fomething 
 ftrange, that a faint fhould forget his God, that a 
 child fhould forget his father: but I have feen 
 thefe forgetful ways of his, faith God, and I will 
 heal him ; he has been ready to forget himfelf by 
 forgetting me, but I will not forget him, I will 
 have companion on him j he has little to do with 
 me now in all the affairs of life, but my eye runs 
 to and fro through the earth to do him good ; 
 though he does not know it is his cafe, and his cir- 
 cumftances are before me, faith the Lord, whom- 
 foever God has fixed his love upon, there is not 
 one moment of God's duration that that foul is not 
 fixed upon his heart ; he remembers us with an ever- 
 lafting remembrance. 
 
 II. As a tendency towards the creature intro- 
 duces a forgetfulnefs of God, fo it brings a negli- 
 gence of duties towards God. For when the heart 
 takes up with fome created good, then there will not 
 be that delight and fatisfaclion that there once was 
 in duty •, and when once the relifh of a performance 
 is loft, there will be a wearinefs in it ; and when 
 there is a wearinefs, there will follow a negligence 
 in it, and gradually an omiftion of duties and 
 vvorfhip will follow, and perhaps a total neglect cf 
 both public and private devotion. For a feafon a 
 perfcn may fuffer a defpairing thought fo to prevail 
 S 3 as 
 
[ 262 ] 
 
 as to neglect waiting upon God : yet, faith God, 
 I will not neglect him, I remember him, and I will 
 heal him ; he is grown weary of mc, but I am not 
 grown weary of my love to him, or of my kind 
 concern for him •, there is a deadnefs and coldnefs 
 in his heart when he draws nigh to me, but my 
 heart has the fame warmth of love to him as ever it 
 had, though the manifeftations of it are various, 
 yet the fpring of love is everlaftingly the fame. He 
 has not called upon me in fecret, but my eye is con- 
 tinually upon him there ; he has not waited upon 
 me in public, though my blefiings wait for him in 
 Zion. 
 
 III. When the foul grows ftrong in this love to- 
 wards fome created object, and departs from God, 
 it will be ready to go on in the contrary path, And 
 this has been the experience of many chriftians, 
 that when they have given a loofe to their defires, in 
 the purfuit of a lawful thing, too far, they have been 
 left to fall into great and fcandalous fins. Yet, 
 faith God, though he walks contrary to me, I 
 walk not contrary to him, I will turn my face to 
 him now before he turns to me. / have feen his 
 ways, and I will heal him. 
 
 IV. The creature may fo far lofe his God and 
 the lively exercifes of grace, and fo far fall in with 
 fin and a neglect of duty as to be uneafy at the 
 thoughts of God. A defpondency in his mercy, 
 
 2 will 
 
I 263 ] 
 
 will bring a murmuring at all his dealings, fo as 
 to fay, Lord, why hart thou dealt thus with me r 
 Yet, faith the Lord, Hill, though he be uneafy at 
 me, J will not be uneafy at him, I think on him 
 with pleafure, becaufe I refolve to recover him ; 
 though he be unwilling to return to me I pity him, 
 he knows not whither he runs when he runs 
 from me, I will call him back ; he may for a fea- 
 fon look like one that is utterly dead in trefpaiies 
 and fins, but it cannot be faid as to a chriftian any 
 otherwife but that he fleepeth. He looks like cne 
 that is dead in fins, but I will awaken him again ; 
 he is uneafy at the thoughts of me, but I will ma- 
 nifefl myfelf to him w::h fuch love, as (hall make 
 my felf the mod delightful object of his thoughts ; 
 he fhall receive my kindnefs with wonder and all 
 thankfulnefs. He now murmurs at my dealings, 
 but he (hall fee that all my ways are faithful ways, 
 and ail my dealings are dealings of love and kind- 
 nefs. It is fad, very fad, when he is fallen to this 
 low degree of Chriilianity, but yet God has his 
 healing methods. 
 
 Secondly, To fhew the greatnefs of the grace that 
 is contained in this text, let us confider what are 
 the aggravations in their departure from God. 
 
 I. Great folly and ftupidity to forfake the liv- 
 ing, all-feeing God, and to purfue the creatures as 
 though life were expedted from them. It is fuch a 
 S 4 love 
 
[ 2 6 4 ] 
 
 love that God calls to the inanimate creatures to 
 fland amazed at it. Jer. ii. 12. Be aftonifhed, O 
 ye Heavens y at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye 
 very defolate, faith the Lord j has a nation changed 
 their gods, which yet are no gods t Pafs over the ijles 
 and fee, confider diligently if there be fuch a thing -, but 
 my people have changed their glory for that which does 
 not profit : they become more brutifhy faith the Lord, 
 than any of the nations afar off : and this is declared 
 in words, very expreflive of the higheft folly, in 
 Jer. v. 12. and following verfes. Rebellion, re- 
 volting, turning afide from God to the creature, is 
 an inftance of fuch folly, that God has exprefled 
 it in fuch language as mould make it appear to us 
 the moil: obftinate, the moft impudent, and the mod 
 hateful of all fins. Well, I have fecn thefe follies, 
 faith God, but I will rcflore the fools and give them 
 wifdom again. 
 
 II. There is alfo great ingratitude •, not only they 
 finned againft much light, but againft much love, 
 when they departed from God after he has once 
 manifefted himfelf to them. Have I y faith God, 
 been a wildernefs to thee, or a land of darknefs that thou 
 haft ferved me thus ? Jer. ii. 31. Have I been back- 
 ward in (hewing mercies, and yet how haft thou re- 
 quited me ? For one that has known God to turn 
 away from him, for him to feek blerTednefs in the 
 creature; for one that has frequently, and for a long 
 1 time 
 
[ *6j ] 
 
 time experienced my goodnefs, in a thoufand in- 
 ftances, to forget and depart from me and feek 
 the creature ; yet I can look over this, I have more 
 love, and I will manifeft more inftances of it ; I will 
 recover him from all this ingratitude, I will not 
 ceafe to do him good, though he has been as it were 
 trying to weary me out by his rebellions; but I will 
 not let it be wearied out, I will ftillfhew mercy and 
 recover him. 
 
 III. Stubbornnefs is another aggravation of this 
 fin : an unwillingnefs to return after many methods 
 ufed to reclaim him. This was the cafe in our text, 
 that after God had ufed many ways to recover 
 Ifrael, yet he went onforwardly in the way of his czvn 
 heart : this is expreffed in Jer. v. 3. Thou hajl 
 Jirkken them, O Lord, but they have not grieved; thou 
 haft confumed them, but they refufed to receive correction ; 
 they have made their faces, harder than a rock, they have 
 refufed to return, &V. God might be ready to fay, 
 and he does often fay, How Jhall 1 pardon thee for 
 this, JhaU I not vijit for thefe things, and fJj all not my 
 foul be avenged offuch a nation as this ? Go ye up upon 
 her walls anddeftroy, but make not a full end. I have 
 a mind to make them return, therefore do not ut- 
 terly deflroy them, faith the Lord. A child iome- 
 times manifefts ftubbornnefs long and in many in- 
 ftances, and yet the parent will not wholly turn him 
 out of doors j thus it is with God and linners, we 
 
 repeat 
 
C ^6 3 
 
 repeat onr provocations, and God repeats his long 
 fufferings. 
 
 IV. A multiplication of fins of many kinds will 
 attend a departure from God. Though you have 
 played the harlot with many lovers, yet, faith the 
 Lord, return, &:c. 
 
 V. It may be, there has been much difhonour 
 brought to the name of God by it. My name 
 has been continually blafphemed by you, faith 
 the Lord, among all nations : yet he will heal, 
 he will recover them, he will reftore them again, 
 and brino- them near to himfelf. The 
 
 Third thing I propofed, in order to difcover the 
 greatnefs of this Cm of back Aiding, was to fhew 
 how God beholds it. / have feen his ways, &c. 
 
 I. He beholds our fins in all their number, more 
 than we can fee, imagine, or conceive of them. 
 There is not a man upon earth that lives and fins 
 not, and there is not a man upon earth that lives 
 and knows all his fins ; every thought, every word, 
 every action, that has neither a diredt, nor remote 
 tendency to the glory of God, is w r ritten down as a 
 fin in the book of God ; who then knows his errors, 
 but the Lord beholds them all, he knows our finful 
 thoughts afar oil, before they are formed into pur- 
 pofes of fin •, yet, faith he, I have feen them all, 
 and I will heal them ; his fins are many indeed, 
 but I have a pardon for every one of them. I, 
 
 even 
 
[ *6 7 ] 
 
 t ven I am he that blotteth out thy iniquities for my 
 Own name's fake. 
 
 II. God fees fin in the full evil of its nature, 
 and yet he refolves to pardon, to recover, to reftore 
 and heal them. Now this is what we can never do, 
 for we can never fully difcover the greatnefs of the 
 diftance there is betwixt God and the creature ; we 
 can never know fully the greatnefs of that honour 
 and glory that is violated by every fin ; we cannot 
 fully know the nature of God. Now every fin has 
 a tendency to ftrike at the nature of God as well as 
 againfl his law ; though God beholds all the 
 iniquity that is in any one of their departures from 
 him, yet, faith he, I behold, and I will heal. One 
 would think he fhould fay, I will revenge, they are 
 fo great, but his thoughts are not as man's thoughts, 
 nor his words as man's words. Again, 
 
 III. God fees our bacldlidings with all their 
 complicated aggravations. He feeth that light 
 againft which we have finned, and yet he refolves 
 that he will pardon the wilful finner. He fees all 
 thofe methods of recovery, which he has ufed in 
 order tp recover us, and through which we have 
 broken, yet fiill he refolves he will ufe other means 
 that fhall be available. He will bind us with bands 
 of love, though other bands of love were not ftrong 
 enough to hold us. Again, 
 
 IV. God 
 
[ 268 ] 
 
 IV. God beholds all our fins at once. We can 
 take cognizance of but a very few of our fins at 
 one time, but God furveys, with one extenfive view, 
 all the iniquities that we ever were, are, or fhall be 
 guilty of; yet, faith the Lord, though I behold 
 them all, yet will I heal them : And the reafon 
 why God can refolve to heal backfliders, even 
 though he beholds their fins in all their num- 
 ber, in all their evil, and in all their aggrava- 
 tions, and all at once, is, becaufe at the fame time 
 he furveys his own mercy, all his own companion, 
 all the righteoufnefs of his own Son •, fo that though 
 he has the fullefl and mod extenfive view of all our 
 evils that can be, yet he has a full view of his own 
 mercy and companion, and of the merits of his own 
 Son ; and he can fay, without difhonour to himfelf, 
 that he will heal them. 
 
 Two Words of Caution. 
 
 I. That the fins of faints are not lefs hateful in 
 the eyes of God than the fins of the vileft finners are, 
 though he refolves to heal them. For fin cannot 
 put off its vile nature any more than God can put 
 off his nature of holincfs ; and therefore God looks 
 upon all fin with an eye of hatred and difpleafure, 
 and fometimes more remarkably punifhes his own 
 children for fin, with temporal corrections ; and I 
 may fay, all the fins of his own people are punifhed 
 
 more 
 
t ^9 3 
 
 more feverely than all the fins of others are, or can 
 be, becaufe he has punched their fins upon his own 
 Son, and has received a fatisfaction equal to the 
 offence. 
 
 II. That from this difcourfe Chriftians can take 
 no encouragement to fin, or to go on and proceed 
 in a backfliding courfe, becaufe when they are 
 fallen into fuch circumftances as thefe are in my 
 text, they can have no reafon to look upon them- 
 felves as believers, but to efteem themfelves un- 
 converted wretches. If they have any true grace 
 in their hearts, yet it is at fo low an ebb, that it 
 cannot be difcovered either by themfelves or others ; 
 they are called to ufe their utmoft diligence to feek 
 after that God that is hidden from them, and to re- 
 turn to that God from whom they have departed. 
 
 SERMON 
 
[ 270 ] 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 Isaiah lvii. 18. 
 I have feen his ways, and will heal him. 
 
 1 NOW proceed to the fourth thing propofed, 
 and that is to mew what is implied in this word 
 healing. Sin is fuppofed to be a diftemper of the 
 foul, and recovery from it is called healing. And 
 thus you have it very often reprefented in the word 
 of God, Ifa. i. 5, &c* Afinful nation ', a people laden 
 with iniquity, a feed of evil doers, they have forfaken 
 their God, they are gone away backward. Why floould 
 ye be Jlricken any more f Ye will rev oli more and more 5 
 and their character is, the whole head is fick, and the 
 whole heart faint, from the fole of the foot even unto 
 the head there is no foundnefs in it, but wounds, and 
 bruifes, and putrijying fores, &c. Man was at firft 
 created in a found and healthy conftitution of 
 blood and fpirit. The animal nature performed 
 all its operations fuccefsfully, the fpirit maintained 
 all its performances happily too, but fin entered 
 into human nature and fpoiled the conflitution of 
 the flefh and fpirit. There is an univerfol conteft 
 amongft the faculties of man, by nature -, yet God 
 has provided a mighty healer for it, the great Phy- 
 fician came down from heaven to earth to take care 
 
 of 
 
[ 2 7 I ] 
 
 of them that were fick, and would apply thernfelves 
 to him. And he reprefents himfejf in his own 
 preaching under this character ; by his fpirit and 
 his blood he has healed ten thoufands already, and 
 frill continues to heal ; but amongft all thefe pa- 
 tients there are fome that relapfe, they follow the 
 creature after they have given up themfelves unto 
 the Lord ; then, for the cure of their lulls, he 
 takes up the incifion knife, and* when healing 
 medicines will not do, he takes up his rod ; he 
 ufes cutting and burning; if that will not do> 
 he is wroth and hides his face from them : but if 
 they (till go on perverfely, then fovereign grace 
 and love takes the cafe into its hand, and faith, I 
 will heal him. I might bid my fword of vengeance 
 awake; awake, O my fword, againftthe backflider! 
 but I will let my fword alone, faith God, and lay 
 afide my rod too. Juftice would cut him afunder, 
 but mercy defires a little delay. The vengeance 
 of God is ready to fay, Why is he not flain ? I will 
 deftroy all mine enemies, but fovereign grace in- 
 terpofes, and the Lord faith, I pity him and his 
 madnefs, and I will recover him to his right mind ; 
 I will have mercy, and heal him •, I will not fuf- 
 fer him to deftroy himfelf utterly. Such great 
 grace as this is, is not manifefted in every page of 
 fcripture -, to me it feems a peculiar text, filled 
 with mercy above moil of its fellows in fcripture. 
 
 Let 
 
[ 272 ] 
 
 Let us then fee what this kind word means. I will 
 heal. 
 
 I. I will enlighten his darkened understanding. 
 I have done it once already, faith God, but he 
 has fhut his eyes again : he is not fenfible of his 
 departure from me, but I will open his eyes to 
 let him fee at what a dreadful diftance he is run 
 from me, and he fhall return to his Father again : 
 he has forfaken the path of holinefs, but I will 
 mew him the path of holinefs and difplay its beau- 
 tiful character to him ♦, he ihall return to it once 
 more. I might have call judicial blindnefs upon 
 him, but I will enlighten his eyes left he Qeep the 
 fleep of death. Let every foul of us now fay, halt 
 thou ever been thus recovered ? O ! adore that 
 grace that plucked you, though unwillingly, from 
 the mouth of eternal torments. 
 
 II. J will heal him ; that is, I will foften his heart. 
 It was once hard as the neither millftone, and I 
 foftenedit; or rather, I took it away and gave him 
 another foft one ; but now he has fullered hard 
 fcales to grow over it, and I might, indeed, pro- 
 nounce fentence againlt him, and fay, thou haft 
 thus long hardened thyfelf againft me, and be thou 
 for ever hardened. But, faith God, 1 will have 
 mercy, my bowels yearn within me, and my re- 
 pentances are kindled together, and I will return 
 him to his father's love again. He is fallen into 
 
 a fpi- 
 
[ *73 ] 
 
 a fpiritual lethargy, cuttings and burnings 1 have 
 tried, but he took no notice : well, I will now 
 look upon him with an eye of love, and apply 
 mollifying medicines, and make him relent in 
 tears -, he fhall feel the power of my fovereign 
 grace ; the threatenings of my rod have no force 
 upon him, but I will touch him with my finger, 
 and then he fhall read my epiftle of love with gra- 
 titude and delight, and he fhall feel every word 
 that he reads. O ! it is well for us, that we have 
 fuch a God as this is, that can turn hearts into 
 flefn when they have almoft grown into (tone the 
 fecond time. 
 
 III. I will heal him ; that is, I will turn his per- 
 verted will towards me again. It was once in a 
 ftate of finful nature, but I brought him near me, 
 and he has forfaken his God again, and runs aftray 
 like a wild afs, fnuffing up the wind \ but I will 
 recover him, faith the Lord, and bring him near 
 to myfelf. Behold, I, even I, am he that blots out 
 thy iniquities, and cancels thy tranfgreffions for my 
 own name's fake. Ephraim has turned afide from 
 me like a backfliding heifer, but I will make 
 Ephraim turn to me and fay, Lord, do thou turn 
 me, and I fhall be turned. 
 
 IV. i" will heal him. I will mortify his appetite 
 to fin in general, and particularly to his beloved 
 luft, to his dear idol. I might give him up to all 
 
 Vol. II. T the 
 
[ 2 74 ] 
 
 the lulls of his own heart, and might fay to him, 
 Rebel, what have I to do with thee ? go on in fin, 
 plunge thyfelf into endlefs ruin. But, faith the 
 Lord, I will touch his heart and his tongue too, 
 and I will make Eprhaim cry out, Lord, turn me 
 and I fhall be turned. I might fend him to the gods 
 whom he has ferved, and fay, go and find com- 
 fort from them ; but I, even I, will be his God : 
 I know how inefficient all creatures are for his 
 relief: I will wean his heart from every other love ; 
 he has indulged a vicious appetite to forbidden and 
 poifonous fruit, but I will prevent the fpiritual 
 mortality, and he fhall fit under my fhadow with 
 great delight. 
 
 V. I will heal him \ that is, I will renew all his 
 inward paflions, I will renew all his affections ; 
 I have done it once already, but he has almoft loft 
 the divine tincture, but I (will reftore it again. 
 He has fcattered his foul amongft a thoufand vani- 
 ties, but I will reaffume all his faculties into my 
 own hands, and I will create them all anew. He 
 has hoped for peace in the neglect of duty, but I 
 will teach him that there is no comfort in created 
 things. I will fanctify his joy, his faith, his love, 
 and his fear •, he fhall fear nothing but my dif- 
 pleafure, and his joy, his faith, and his love fhall 
 all make their God their centre. Thus I might 
 
 inflance 
 
[ 275 ] 
 
 inflance in all the affections of the foul, for all of 
 them have backflidden alike. 
 
 VI. I will heal him -> that is, I will ftrengthen his 
 powers to duty. I taught Ephraim to go, taking 
 him by the arms, though now he has trodden the 
 path of fin too long, and has forgotten his duty. 
 And I will heal his infirmities, and reftore (trength. 
 to him again : he has brought forth no fruit for 
 a long feafon, and henceforth mall no fruit grow 
 upon thee for ever, might God fay : but on the 
 other hand, though we have been long fruitlefs, 
 and cumberers of the ground, yet, faith the Lord, 
 I am as the dew to Ephraim, and of me fhall he 
 receive power to bring forth fruit. The 
 
 Fifth thing I intend to fpeak to is, what means 
 God uies to this end. Sometimes it is an un- 
 expected word of grace and joy impreffed upon 
 their fpirits in an immediate manner. This is 
 given fometimes in reading, fometimes in hear- 
 ing the word read or preached, fometimes in 
 prayer, or in divine conference ; or, it may be, 
 fometimes in the affairs of this life ; then all the 
 foul melts while its beloved fpeaks, and there is 
 a great turn wrought upon the fpirit. God might 
 fay, ye are not my people, and I will not be your 
 God, but he rather chufes to fay, I am the Lord 
 that heals you. God works fometimes a lively 
 faith in the foul by a meditation on fome (ingle 
 
 T 2 word, 
 
C 276 ] 
 
 word, and that purifies the foul. I faid, faith the 
 Lord, that thou haft backflidden far, that it will 
 be hardly honourable for me to recover thee 
 again ; well, thou (halt call me thy father, and 
 fhall not go away from me, I will be thy God, 
 I will be a father to thee •, then fhall thy heart an- 
 fwer by echo, thou art my God, thou art my Lord, 
 my eternal companionate father. 
 
 Sometimes, by a fweet revival of old experiences 
 of divine love, and the foul thus argues with him- 
 felf : Surely God was with me at fucha time, and I 
 was with God, and I committed my felf into his 
 hands for healing grace ; furely then I loved the 
 Lord, I had fome intimations of his love to me ; 
 it is the fame God flill, his love is unchangeable, 
 I will again return and put my truft in him. 
 
 Sometimes, by hearing the experiences of others, 
 by converfing with Chriftians, by hearing of God's 
 dealings with their fpirits ; of God's recovery of 
 them from fins after their backiliding from him. 
 Thefe and many other ways has God in the fecrets 
 of his counfel. His methods of love are number- 
 lefs, we cannot trace the paths of divine grace, 
 they are various and hidden as the paths of his 
 providence. The 
 
 Laft thing I propofed to fpeak to is, why God 
 
 doth this, why he fuffers a foul to run fo far from 
 
 him, and after all reclaims him ? Why God doth 
 
 3 not 
 
C 2 77 3 
 
 not rather reclaim him at firfb by ordinary methods ? 
 to which I anfwer, 
 
 I. To fhew the infufficiency of all outward 
 means, and the fovereignty and ne'ceffary power of 
 grace, God doth for the moft part in the govern- 
 ment of nature and of grace too, ufe means ; but 
 fometimes God will work without inftruments and 
 without means, to fhew that his grace is fufficient 
 to do what he pleafes, and that all outward means 
 and inftruments without it are vain and infigni- 
 ficant things. I will do what I will do, faith 
 Grace> I will fhew mercy to whom I will fhew 
 mercy. Again, 
 
 II. For the honour of his own covenant ; for 
 when fouls are run fo far from God beyond the 
 common methods of recovery, fo that afflictions 
 will not reitore them, then what is it can reftore 
 them but his covenant and his faith fulnefs to his 
 own promifes, and becaufe he has given them into 
 the hands of his own Son, therefore he will never 
 fuffer them to be plucked out of his hands. He 
 remembers his covenant, he remembers his pro- 
 mifes of old, which he fware to their fathers, to 
 Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, &c. 
 
 III. After many afflictions and chaftifements 
 have been tried, and fouls are not reftored to God, 
 he doth it by his own grace then becaufe he feeth 
 they are not able to bear more afflictions without 
 running into defpair. They will be ready to plunge 
 
 T 3 themfelves 
 
C *7» J 
 
 themfelves into eternity at uncertainties, they arc 
 upon the borders of deftrudtion, and therefore I 
 will put forth my fovereign love and will heal them. 
 IV. God doth this to encourage other back- 
 Aiders not to defpair utterly. It may be, there are 
 many of us here that have been ready to fink into 
 defpair becaufe of our fins, but find encourage- 
 ment by the (lory of Peter in the Gofpel. Thus 
 the inftance of his fall and his recovery, and that 
 of David, have been methods whereby the divine 
 Spirit has releafed fouls that were finking under 
 the weight of defpair. David himfelf cries out 
 from the depth of diflrefs, and the Lord heard him, 
 and then he faith, let Ifrael hope in the Lord, for 
 the Lord will have mercy. Thefe are fome of 
 the reafons for which God now and then goes out 
 of his ordinary way to reclaim tranfgrefiions : but 
 remember, that this is not God's ufual method; 
 I would have this inculcated upon all our fpirits. 
 It may be where he recovers one finner that runs on 
 at this rate, there are many thoufands hurry along 
 to their eternal mifery. 
 
 SERMON 
 
C 279 3 
 SERMON IV. 
 
 Isaiah lvii. 18. 
 
 I have feen his ways, and I will heal him, &c. 
 
 I Now proceed to make fome little improvement 
 of the difcourfes thus far. Thefe inferences may 
 be drawn from them : 
 
 I. How extenfive and unfearchable are the riches 
 of grace in the covenant. Grace, that is refolved 
 to recover fuch ftubborn backfliders. Large grace 
 it was that procured the covenant, that promifed 
 the bleflings of it, and that fulfilled all its articles, 
 according to the feveral feafons of the church's 
 neceffities. How abundant mull be the compaf- 
 llon of the father, that he fhould fee our fmful 
 ways, and yet heal us ! the wilfulnefs of the re- 
 bellion, and yet not ftretch out his hands and fmite 
 us ! That he fhould fee us in all the aggravations 
 of our guilt, and yet not lift up his fword of juf- 
 tice, and take an ample vengeance on us ! Well 
 may we cry out, O Lord our Lord, how glorious 
 is thy grace throughout all the earth ! how vaft 
 thy magnificence of companion above all our 
 abounding iniquities ! Again, how abundant is the 
 
 T 4 love 
 
[ 2CO ] 
 
 love of our Redeemer ! He died for his enemies ; 
 yea, he continues flili with a heart and tongue 
 pleading for us ; fur us, who have finned againft 
 himfelf and his Father ! How glorious and effica- 
 cious are all his perfections ! What great righte- 
 oufnefs mud that be that could make fatisfaftion 
 for fuch guilt ! What (trong companion dwells in 
 the heart of this phyfician, that he will apply his 
 blood to thofe wounds that we have made after his 
 once healing us. How great are his fan£tifying 
 influences ! A touch of his finger brought us to 
 him at firft, and recovered us after our backiliding. 
 How long-fuffering is he ; his love has been 
 quenched by our many rebellions •, and we may well 
 wonder that he fhould return to rekindle dying 
 grace. Let every backflider that has been healed, 
 Jet every preferved believer, and let every converted 
 finner in this afTembly fay, Honour and glory be to 
 the love of God the Father* the companion of our 
 Saviour, and the kind influences of the Spirit, who 
 heals all our fins. 
 
 II. We may here fee how various and uncon- 
 fined is our heavenly Father in his dealings with 
 his backiliding children. Now he chaftifes gently ; 
 if this be not fufficient, he grows wrath and hides 
 his face, and withdraws his fpirit from them, and 
 ufes keener darts -, but if all thefe are too little, 
 
 then 
 
C t*i ] 
 
 then almighty grace takes the ftubborn foul into his 
 hands, and overlooking all the guilt of the un- 
 worthy prodigal, refolves that he fhallbe recovered 
 by fovereign love. O the depth of the wifdom 
 and contrivance of God for our good ! How un- 
 fearchable are his ways, and his mercies, as well his 
 judgments, pad finding out. 
 
 III. How well is it for finners, that have refilled 
 many methods of grace, that there is fuch a word 
 as this in the bock of God. Such lines, as we faid 
 before, are not to be found in every page of fcrip- 
 ture ; that when God has tried fo many methods of 
 recovery on a finner, and he has rejected them 
 all, that then he fhould ufe his almighty grace. 
 I have feen his ways y and I will heal him. 
 
 This he does, left they fhould fink into defpair, 
 and run away from him into final apoflacy. For 
 when ac hild of God has rebelled againft his Fa- 
 ther, and has gotten his confcience a little hardened 
 by a continuance in fin, God has repeated his 
 flrokes upon him, and he found his heart no fofter. 
 Then bleffed be God for fuch a word as this is ; 
 there is mercy and love that can recover, when 
 chaflifing providence would have not had this 
 blelfed effect. 
 
 IV. How very difhonourable to fuch grace is 
 the fin of unbelief. Haft thou, O finner, had the 
 
 difeafe 
 
C 282 ] 
 
 difeafe of thy fpiric arife fo high as to make thee 
 defpond when there is fo mighty, fo all-fufficient a 
 healing medicine. Although thou haft found a 
 variety of methods unfuccefsful, yet when God fees 
 that one thing will not do he ufes another •, he takes 
 the foul into his own hands, and touches it and 
 heals it. Let us fay with the leper, Lord? if thou 
 wilt, thou canft make me clean> thou canfi heal me. 
 And where there has been fuch faith, the foul has, 
 as it were, heard the Lord fay, I will; be thou 
 clean. Befides, let thofe that have backflidden from 
 God, after they have been brought near him, re- 
 member how far diftant they were from him once, 
 when they lay in a ftate of fin and nature, dark and 
 dead, cold and negligent, and yet how eternal love 
 has drawn them ? How everlafting love has reco- 
 vered them ? He that faw our ways and healed us 
 when we were making hafte to deftrucYion, and 
 walking in the broad ways that lead to death ; this 
 God, when he beheld our backilidings, had grace 
 enough to reftore us. 
 
 V. How dangerous will it be to turn away from 
 God when he begins to excrcife this healing grace 
 upon thy foul ! Haft thou been long blinded and 
 walked on in a maze of errors, doth he begin now to 
 difcover to thee the value of Chrift and his falva- 
 
 tion ? 
 
C *s 3 ] 
 
 tion ? Doth he begin to difcover a fight of heaven 
 to thee now, and wilt thou check thefe beginnings 
 of recovery ? Doth he now begin to touch thy 
 tender part ? Doth he begin to awaken thee to a 
 fenfe of former backflidings, and wilt thou ftill 
 turn away ? O dread the thoughts of being fealed 
 over for ever to judicial hardnefs; thy face has 
 been turned away from the God of Sion, and he 
 begins to turn thee to himfelf again, and wilt thou 
 indulge fin fo as to caufe thy foul to turn backward $ 
 what canft thou expect but that God ihould give 
 thee up for ever ? 
 
 VI. How ftrong are the obligations of thofe 
 that have been thus recovered, and thus healed, to 
 Hand afar off from all fin ? To avoid all feafons 
 and all places of infection ■-? Thofe that have had 
 fuch mortal difeafes cured ; thofe that have found 
 a remedy at the point of death. God does not 
 work fuch inftances of mercy every day. If ever 
 the Lord has turned thy foul from great back- 
 flidings, with cords of fuch love as this is, how 
 ftrongly fhould this lie upon thy foul to keep thee 
 clofe to God ? How jealous fhould thy foul be of 
 every temptation ? The fin of Solomon is aggra- 
 vated beyond the fins of many in fcripture, became 
 he finned after the Lord had twice manifefted him- 
 felf to him. And it will lie with an heavy burden 
 
 on 
 
[ *8 4 ] 
 
 on thy confcience, O backflider, if thou departed 
 from thy God, after he has difcovered himfelf unto 
 thee twice with enlightening love and healing 
 grace. 
 
 I proceed to fpeak to the latter words of this text; 
 1 will lead him alfo. Let us here confider the parts 
 of this blefling, the nature of it, and the methods 
 which God ufes to lead his people by. 
 
 The nature of this blefTing has thefe three things 
 in it : 
 
 I. Leading implies the prefence of him that leads, 
 with him that is led. 
 
 II. Leading is a gentle method of conduct. 
 
 III. It implies fafety in our whole courfe. 
 
 I. Leading implies the prefence of him that 
 leads, with him that is led. When one perfon leads 
 another in a path, there is a mutual friendship. 
 See now the extent of this blefling. God re- 
 conciles a backfliding foul to himfelf, and will 
 be prefent with him that he may not run away. I 
 will heal him and will lead him, faith the Lord. 
 I will take him by the hand, and afford my con- 
 flant gracious prefence with him, and he mail not 
 run fo far back from me again as he has done. 
 Such great backfliding that draw near to apof- 
 tacy, are not frequently repeated in the life of a 
 
 chriilian. 
 
 II. Leading 
 
C 285 ] 
 
 II. Leading implies a gentle method of conduce. 
 God has been before trying by fevere providences 
 to bring the foul back to himfelf, that is, the fhep- 
 herd takes his rod into his hand, and endeavours 
 to drive his wandering fheep into the fold again : 
 well, but it will not do ; and, faith God, I will take 
 him by the hand and will gently lead him. Our 
 Saviour is reprefented as a gentle fhepherd, that 
 leads his flock. Ifa. xl. 11. Thofethat are feeble, 
 thofe that are burthened and opprefled with many 
 forrows and temptations, they (hall be led gently 
 that they may not faint and fall away. Such gen- 
 tle methods as a companionate mother ufes towards 
 her children, fuch does our Lord Jefus Chrift life 
 towards his feeble faints, and efpecially when he 
 has found that fevere methods will not do. 
 
 III. Divine leading implies fafely to the end 
 alfo. He will conduct us fafely through all the 
 dangers that attend in journeying, and will bring 
 us to his upper houfe. So he led Ifrael of old in 
 the wildernefs through many dangers, he made 
 his own people to go forth out of Egypt like fheep, 
 he guided them in the wildernefs like a flock, he 
 brought them along fafely to the land which he 
 had promifed, to the borders of Canaan. Thus 
 he will lead us fafely till he brings us to a pro- 
 mifed 
 
[ 286 ] 
 
 mifed inheritance, the heavenly Canaan, his own 
 bofom. 
 
 Secondly, The parts of which this blefling con- 
 fids, are fuch as thefe : 
 
 I. Leading implies direction in dark and doubt- 
 ful ways. The children of God fhall find their 
 Father's leadings when duty feems to be obfcure. 
 God will direct them which is the way in which 
 they fhould walk. Our enemies are many : fin 
 within, and the world without us ; but God will 
 defend us. Again, when fnares (land thick, then 
 God will lead us in the right way, it may be free 
 from fnares and temptations ; they (hall hear a 
 voice, faying, this is the way, walk in it. 
 
 II. This implies afiiftance in walking through 
 difficult paths, and wherein are many oppofitions. 
 Thus you have God defcribed, aiding his people, 
 in Deut. xxxii. 10, n, 12. It was he made them 
 as it were to leap over mountains that flood in 
 their way ; nothing could hinder their progrefs to 
 Canaan. 
 
 Again, this implies fupport under wearinefs and 
 faintings, when we undertake to lead people we 
 expect that fometimes they mould lean upon us : 
 thus God is the rock and fupport of all that truft 
 in him ; when they are ready to fall he will uphold 
 them by his right-hand ; they fhall walk and not 
 faint, they fhall run and not be weary, becaufe 
 
 their 
 
[ 2 S 7 ] 
 
 their God is with them : he takes care to fupply 
 them with every thing that is neceffary till they 
 arrive to the heavenly country: when, through 
 difficulties in their way, they are ready to be over- 
 whelmed, he will remove them all, and fupport 
 them. Who is this that comes out of the wilder- 
 nefs leaning upon her beloved ? The church of 
 Chrifl leans upon him whom me has chofen for 
 her beloved, all the while (lie is in this world till 
 fhe comes to her father's houfe. 
 
 Thirdly, The methods God leads his people by 
 are thefe : His word, his providence, and his fpirit. 
 
 I. He leads by his word ; this is his map, or 
 his fea-chart, wherein he has difcovered all the 
 by-roads, all rocks and (helves, that his people may 
 efcape them. 
 
 II. By his providence alfo he leads us. Lead 
 us not into temptation, that is, let thy providence 
 be fuch through our lives that we may not be ex- 
 pofed to temptations. Sometimes divine provi- 
 dence encompafTes us all around with ftrong temp- 
 tations, as when we are brought into evil company, 
 when we cannot ferve God but by the lofs of our 
 eitates, Sec. David oftentimes found temptations 
 furrounding him. For God then to conduct us, 
 or to lead us by his providence, is to guide us 
 through this world in fuch a way and courfe of 
 
 I life 
 
C 28S ]' 
 
 life as is lcaft expofed to temptations and motives 
 to fin. 
 
 III. Again, God leads us by his fpirit. By this 
 he teaches us to underftand his providences and 
 his word. Suppofe a map or globe of the world 
 were fet before a child, he would not well know 
 which is the way from one place to another, or 
 underfland the meaning of thofe lines and articles 
 in it, which is the way from one port to another, 
 what rocks are to be avoided, what fhelves to be 
 ihunned, without fome guide to teach and inftrucr. 
 him. Thus it is with us ; God has given us his word 
 as a map and chart to direct our pafiage through this 
 world, but we are as ignorant as children of it, un- 
 lefs he guide us by his fpirit. This then is the 
 deflgn of the fpirit of God to teach us, and guide 
 us to heaven by explaining his word and provi- 
 dence. Sometimes, indeed, he leads us contrary 
 to the feeming indignations of his providence, but 
 never to his word. 
 
 If I would make any inferences, they mould be 
 thefc two : 
 
 I. What need is there of divine leading in our 
 way to heaven, when there are fo many fnares, fo 
 many difficulties, to allure or affright us from our 
 God, and his worfliip, and his ways ? 
 
 II. How full (hall our joy be in heaven, when 
 we are brought home in fafety ; when we (ball look 
 
 back 
 
C 4*9 ] 
 
 back upon this great wildernefs wherein there were 
 fo many fiery flying ferpents, wherein there were 
 fo many temptations, fo many difficulties, fo many 
 enemies that oppofed our journey. It may be 
 perhaps one of our del ightfu left contemplations to 
 look upon the various methods of Divine grace to 
 bring us to heaven. 
 
 Firjl 9 What is implied in this comfort r Anjwer. 
 It implies all that inward peace and joy that belongs 
 to religion in this life, and that flows from the hope 
 of blefTednefs in the life to come. I will reftore to 
 him, faith the Lord, a fenfe of my love, and fhed 
 it abroad in his foul, and compofe all the powers of 
 his nature into divine peace. I will fay unto him, 
 he is my beloved, as well as fweetly conflxain him 
 to love me. I will give him a fight of the grace 
 that is in my heart for him, and a fight of the grace 
 that I have wrought in his heart aifo, which has 
 -Joeen long buried under the rubbifh of fin and loads 
 of guilt. I will uncover the face of his foul and 
 fhew him the characters of his adoption, the 
 gravings of the finger of my own fpirit, which has 
 been filled up with the duft of this world, fo that 
 he could not read them. I will brighten his evi- 
 dence of falvation ; I will give him peace and joy 
 alio in his outward circumftances, and remove the 
 rod wherewith I fmote him ; I will forgive all his 
 iniquities, and heal all his difeafes-, he (hall walk 
 Vol. II. U with 
 
[ 2 9 ] 
 
 with me in the ways of holinefs and comfort; 
 and he fhall rejoice in the hopes of everlafting , 
 glory. 
 
 Secondly^ What is meant by reftoring comfort to 
 him ? 
 
 Anf. He fhall renew his tafte of the pleafures of 
 religion again, which he has loft in the days of his 
 backfliding and guilt : the comforts that he once 
 fed upon in the days of his firft converfion, he fhall 
 feed upon again with new relifh and fweet de- 
 light, even the joys that arife from a fenfe of 
 recovering grace. He fhall know afrefh what it is 
 fenfibly to receive a word of pardon from my pro- 
 mifes, and the voice of confolation from my wit- 
 neffing fpirit, and tafte thofe pleafures that he has a 
 long time been a ftranger to. I will reftore to him 
 the light of my countenance, who might have hid 
 my face from him for ever. I might have bid him 
 go fetch comforts from the creature which he has 
 idolized, from the riches or pleafures that he has 
 purfued. Go and fetch comfort from the paflions 
 that you have indulged, and all the follies and hu- 
 mours that you have been gratifying while you 
 wandered away from me. I might fay to him, go 
 to the gods that you have ferved •, your felf-will, 
 your pride, and vanity of mind, and all the lufts 
 of your heart : but I will give him peace liberally 
 and not upbraid : I myfclf will undertake to be 
 
 his 
 
[ 2 9* 3 
 
 his comforter. Come to me, O thou backilider, 
 faith the Lord, and receive my peace : thou haft 
 grieved my fpirit, the comforter, but he fhall re- 
 turn unto thee with all his confolations. 
 
 Thirdly; What fignify the mourners of Ifrael ? 
 
 Anf, I. The backfiiders thernielves, that have 
 been fomewhat uneafy under all their wanderings 
 from God, and now begin to mourn that they 
 have departed from him *, the foul could not find 
 fatisfaction and reft amongft all its idols, and yet 
 it hardly knew the way to return to its God, the 
 only fatisfying good, till he began to heal and lead 
 him : and when this healing work begins, then the 
 foul begins to mourn fenfibly for its old back- 
 flidings, and comes under that promife \ Blefled 
 are they that mourn, for they fhall be comforted. 
 
 Anf. II. The mourners of Ifrael may imply fel- 
 low chriftians, that fought the Lord for him, and 
 tthat mourned for his wanderings. All his friends, 
 that have been afflicted for his fms and departure 
 from God, fhall rejoice in his return, and in his 
 confolations. The minifters of the gofpel, that 
 have mourned over wandering fouls, fhall delight 
 to fee them returning to their great fhepherd. The 
 watchmen fhall rejoice, with the voice together 
 they fhall fing, when they fhall fee the people be- 
 longing to their charge, face to face, in the pre- 
 fence of the Lord. When the Lord fhall bring 
 U 2 the 
 
[ 2 9 2 ] 
 
 the children of Sion back again to their father's 
 courfe, and his ordinances, from their captivity to 
 fin and fatan. And our thoughts may from hence 
 take a rife and meditate upon the overflowing joys 
 of that day, when all the backfliders of Ifrael fhall 
 be brought home ; when all the mourners fhall be 
 comforted ; when they fhall return to Sion ; when 
 they fhall arife to heaven with everlafting joy 
 upon their heads, and forrow and fighing fhall 
 fly away. 
 
 SERMON 
 
t 2 93 ] 
 
 SERMON V. 
 
 2 Corinthians vi. 9. 
 As dying, and behold* we h ve * 
 
 X^i E T us read the account which St. Paul gives 
 of himfelf, his dangers and his fufferings, in 2 Cor. 
 xi. 23, &c. and we fhall fee, the words in my 
 text abundantly exemplified and confirmed; in 
 flripes above meafure, in labours more abundant, 
 in prifons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the 
 Jews five times received I forty flripes, -fave one ; 
 thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I ftoned, 
 thrice I fufTered fhipwreck, a night and a day I have 
 been in the deep : in journeying often, in perils of 
 water, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own 
 countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in 
 the city, in perils in the wildernefs, in perils in the 
 fea, in perils among falfe brethren , in wearinefs 
 and painfulnefs, in watchings often, in hunger and 
 thirft, in fallings often, in cold and nakednefs. 
 The apoftle is in all thefe fufTerings, and yet he is 
 faved •, in all thefe deaths, and yet he lives : he 
 fpeaks with a fort of mark of admiration, Behold, 
 zue live. He tells us, the apoftles carried about the 
 treafure of the glorious gofpel in earthen vefTels, 
 2 Cor. iv. 7. One would wonder that his earthen 
 U 3 vellel 
 
[ 2 94 ] 
 
 veflel had not been broken to pieces long before : 
 this makes him refemble his life to the life and 
 death of Chrift, for the life of Chrift was full of 
 fufferings and forrows. 2 Cor. iv. 10, 11. Or 
 the words, Life of Chrift, may be conftrued in ano- 
 ther fenfe, viz. Notwithstanding all thefe deaths, 
 yet I live, to fhew that Chrift is alive, and hath 
 power in heaven to preferve fnch an earthen veffel 
 from being broken ; and that partly according to 
 the promife of Chrift, Becaufe I live, ye JJoall live 
 alfo : John xiv. 19. 
 
 Now, as it was with this great apoftle in a mod 
 eminent degree, fo it is in fome meafure with every 
 chriftian. We appear as dying creatures in many 
 fenfes, and yet behold we live. Give me leave to 
 employ your meditations this day, in paraphrafing 
 thefe words of the apoftle, in a (qh^c fomewhat 
 larger than is precifely defigned in my text, 
 and accommodating or applying them to our own 
 cafe. 
 
 Firft. We may be con fide red as dying crea- 
 tures, with regard to the natural life of the 
 body. 
 
 Secondly. With regard to the courage of our 
 hearts, and our hopes, and our comforts in 
 this life. 
 
 Thirdly. With regard to our fpiritual eftate, or 
 the heavenly life which is begun in us, which 
 
 confifts 
 
C 2 95 ] 
 confifts in holinefs and peace. And though we 
 are poor dying creatures in all thefe refpects, yet 
 to the glory of the grace of God, Behold, we live. 
 And, as the apoftle exprerTes it, Acts xxvi. 22. 
 Having obtained help of God> we continue to 
 this day. Under each of thefe general heads, I 
 fhall briefly reprefent our dying circum fiances, 
 and then put you in mind of the methods which 
 providence and grace make ufe of to continue 
 us in life. 
 
 Fir ft. We are dying creatures with regard to the 
 natural life of this body. \\ r hat continual need 
 of frefh renewal of life, left hunger and thirft 
 fhould deftroy our nature and diflblve our frame ? 
 What feeds of weaknefs and difeafe lurk within us, 
 and often break out and bring down our tabernacle 
 near to the grave ? And when we think them gone, 
 their fymptoms return again with new terror. 
 What perpetual danger are we expofed to among 
 the accidents of this life? How many hundreds 
 come to their end by fuch accidents ? Befides the 
 wearing out of this mortal nature, by labours 
 of the mind or body, or growing years and ad- 
 vancing age. What multitudes have gone down 
 to the dufl: fince we have been born, and yet we 
 continue upon the earth, who have nothing in us 
 that can promife, or that can fecure length of life 
 to us beyond thofe who are dead. We are thus 
 
 U 4 furrounded 
 
[ ?9* ] 
 
 furrounded with deaths within and without, and 
 yet we live. 
 
 I. By conftant fupplies of food and raiment, 
 and the neceffaries of life, which we have out of 
 the flores of divine bounty. It is God that feeds 
 and clothes us in this wildernefs, and gives us our 
 daily bread, though not in fo wonderful and vifible 
 a manner as he did to the Ifraelites. It is he 
 bleiTeth our daily food to make it nourifhing to our 
 natures, and effectual to preferve life. Deut. viii. 3. 
 Man doth not live by bread only, but by every 
 word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the 
 Lord. We are fometimes filled with anxieties; 
 what mail I eat, &c. but God hath hitherto pro- 
 vided, and we live. He feeds the lamp of life 
 with frefh oil, which would othervvife expire in 
 darknefs. 
 
 II. By his kind providence preferving us from 
 outward dangers. Pfal. cxxi. 2, 3, 4. He car- 
 ried the Ifraelites through the wildernefs ; their 
 feet fwelled not, nor did the heat confume them, 
 or ferpents or plagues utterly deftroy them. Pfal. 
 xxxiv. 20. He keepeth all our bones, not one of 
 them is broken. He fends his angels for our guard, 
 and gives them charge over us to keep us in all our 
 ways. Pfal. xci. n, 12. To bear us up in their 
 hands, left we dafh our feet againft the ftones. 
 
 Pfal. 
 
[ 2 97 ] 
 
 Pfal. lxviii. 20. He that is our God, is the 
 God of falvation •, often we have been on the 
 very edge of the grave, and behold, we live ; 
 to the Lord our God belong all our efcapes 
 from death. 
 
 III. By merciful recoveries from ficknefs, by 
 healing our difeafes which were ready to deftroy 
 us. Pfal. ciii. 3, 4. Who forgiveth all thine ini- 
 quities, who healeth all thy difeafes, who re- 
 deemeth thy life from deftruction, who crowneth 
 thee with loving kindnefs and tender mercies. 
 Pfal. xxx. 2, 3. O Lord, I cried unto thee, 
 and thou haft healed me. O Lord, thou haft 
 brought my foul from the grave, thou haft kept 
 me alive, that I fhould not go down to the pit. 
 We have been on the very brink of death, and 
 behold, we live. 
 
 Let us recount the wonders of his mercy to- 
 wards us ; let our hearts be filled with gratitude, 
 and our lips with his high praifes ; blefTed be the 
 name of the Lord our God, our feeder, our pre- 
 ferver, our healer. Amen. Hallelujah. Praife ye 
 the Lord. 
 
 Secondly* We are often dying with regard to the 
 courage of our hearts, our hope and comforts in 
 this life, and yet behold, zve live. 
 
 When 
 
C 298 ] 
 
 When outward troubles furround us, how do our 
 hearts fink within us, and our life is ready to fail 
 us. We give all over for loft, and our hopes are 
 ready to expire. 
 
 How do we faint under every frefh affliction, 
 every new burden preffes us down almoft to the 
 grave. One lofs comes upon the back of another, 
 poverty (tares us in the face, all meagre and in 
 tattered raiment, at the apprehenfion of its fright- 
 ful appearance we are ready to drop into the 
 duft. How fhall I provide for myfelf and my 
 houfhold ? 
 
 Our paths are befet with thorns and fnares, our 
 diflrefs is great, our friends forfake us utterly, and 
 perplexing circumftances attend us, overwhelming 
 trials and overwhelming fears ; our enemies rife up 
 againft us, ever watchful and ever malicious. As 
 David flying like a partridge to the mountains. 
 Pfal. cxlii. Refuge failed me, no man cared for 
 my foul : I fhall one day perifh by the hand 
 of Saul. 1 Sam. xxvii. 1. Or reproach hath 
 broken my heart, and my foul is poured out 
 in the duft. Pfal. lxix. 20. My heart feems dy- 
 ing within me. 
 
 Notwithftanding all thefe diftrefTes, our hearts 
 are not broken : notwithftanding all thefe deaths, 
 yet beholdy we live. God, even our God, hath pre- 
 ferved us. 
 
 I. By 
 
[ 2 99 ] 
 
 I. By fome unforefeen and unexpected turns of 
 Providence, changing the fcene of things, in a 
 fhort time fcattering the clouds, and giving us 
 a fair and Alining fky. Amos v. 8. Sometimes he 
 makes the day dark as the night, and then he turns 
 the fhadow of death into the morning, and by the 
 paths of the grave leads us to life and joy. There 
 are flrange revolutions of the right hand of the 
 mod high •, he changes enemies into friends, and 
 makes a curfe work into a bleffing. Deut. xxiii. 5. 
 He brings the blind by a way that they know not, 
 and leads them in paths that they have not known : 
 he makes darknefs light before them, and crooked 
 things ftraight. Ifai. xlii. 16. He fends provifion 
 by the mouth of a raven, morning and night, to 
 feed the prophet; he multiplies and encreafes the 
 cruife of oil into a river, and the barrel of meal 
 doth not wafte : he finds out ways for unexpected 
 fupplies. They that live upon Providence lhali 
 know the ways of the Lord ; but they who will 
 not live but upon their own ftores, have no tafte, 
 no knowledge of thefe fort of blefiings ; this 
 loving kindnefs of the Lord. Pfal. cvii. and the 
 laft verfe. 
 
 II. By confolations and fnpports, derived to us 
 from the word of God, under our huge troubles and 
 threatening diftreffes. 
 
 Sometimes 
 
[ 3°° ] 
 
 Sometimes a promife fuited to our cafe ; thefc 
 are fprings of divine comfort, hidden cordials for 
 a fainting Chriftian •, though the men of the world 
 feel nothing in them reviving. Ifaiah xliii. 2. I 
 am thy God, when thou walked through the fire 
 thou (halt not be burnt, neither fhall the flame 
 kindle upon thee. 
 
 Sometimes a precept, a folemn reproof filences 
 all our fears. Fear not, faith the Lord, / am with 
 ihee. 
 
 Sometimes the reprefentations of the ancient 
 dealings of God with his people, Pfa. lxxvii. 11, 
 12, &c. I will remember the works of the Lord ; 
 furely I will remember thy wonders of old, I will 
 meditate alio of all thy works, and talk of thy 
 doings. Pfa. xxii. 4, 5. Our fathers trufted in thee ; 
 and thou didft deliver them : they cried unto thee, 
 and were delivered : they trufted in thee, and were 
 not confounded. 
 
 Art not thou he who hath delivered Abraham, 
 and Jacob, and Jofeph, and the Ifraelites, who haft 
 faved David from his hourly perils, and brought 
 him to the kingdom. 
 
 III. By calling to mind the mercies and deliver- 
 ances that we ourfelves have received from the 
 hands of God in the hours of diftrefs. Pfa. lxxi. 5. 
 Thou haft been my truft from my youth, I am as 
 a wonder unto many •, but thou art my refuge. 
 
 Ver. 
 
C 3°* 1 
 
 Ver. 20. Thou which has fhewn me great and 
 fore troubles, fhalt quicken me again, and bring 
 me up from the depths of the earth. 2 Cor. i. 9, 
 10. Who delivered us from fo great a death, and 
 doth deliver us : in whom we truft that he will yet 
 deliver us. Thou haft been my helper ; ' in the 
 fhadow of thy wings will I truft. 
 
 IV. By the comfortable words of friends and 
 acquaintance relating their own experiences of the 
 goodnefs of God, and encouraging and fupponing 
 us under trouble. 2 Cor. i. 3, 4. BlefTed be the 
 God of all comfort, which comforteth us in all our 
 tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them 
 which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith 
 we ourfelves are comforted of God. Comfort the 
 feeble-minded, fupport the weak, be patient to- 
 ward all men. 1 ThefT. v. 14. Comfort one 
 another with thefe words, Chap. iv. ult, Prov. 
 xxvii. 9. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart : 
 fo doth the fweetnefs of a man's friend by hearty 
 counfel. Telling them I was in thefe circum- 
 ftances, and the Lord hath delivered me, &c. and 
 thefe were my fupports, and thefe my methods to 
 obtain peace and relief. 
 
 V. By teaching us to live more upon invifible 
 things, and making all prefent troubles feem very 
 light, and by railing our hearts to things eternal and 
 heavenly. By daily converfe with God and heavenly 
 
 things, 
 
[ 302 ] 
 
 things, and living above the world. 2 Cor. iv. 
 17, 18. For our light affliction, which is but for 
 a moment, worketh for us a far more ^xceedinor 
 and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at 
 the things which are feen, but at the things that 
 are not feen ; for the things which are feen are 
 temporal, but the things that are not feen are 
 eternal. Thus we have been dying, and behold, 
 we live. Blefs the Lord, O my foul ! Amen. 
 Hallelujah, praife ye theLord ! 
 
 Thirdly. We feem to be dying in regard to our 
 fpiritual life, the life of holinefs and peace begun 
 in us. 
 
 When we feel our corruptions working and rifing 
 at every turn, we are afraid we fhall be overpower- 
 ed by them, and quite led captive to fin and 
 death. 
 
 Pride, finful appetite, intemperance, furious an- 
 ger, refentment, uneafinefs, and repining at Pro- 
 vidence, &c. 
 
 When we feel the temptations of the world fur- 
 rounding us and preffing hard upon us, either the 
 foft enticements of the world, and the allurements 
 of flefh, luxury, and vanity, or the oppofitions and 
 frowns, and reproaches, and terrors of the world, 
 between one and the other we are ready to cry out, 
 We fhall fink and die ! and efpecially if God delays 
 to hear our prayers and hide himfelf from us, and 
 1 if 
 
C J°3 ] 
 if the tempter, the accufer, be fuffered to aiTault 
 and buffet 'us, we find inroads made upon our holi- 
 nefs and our peace. Always dyings yet behold*, we live! 
 L By a frcfh fight of the glory of Chrift, and the 
 all-fufliciency of the covenant of Grace ; when we 
 ourfelves are never fo guilty, there is righteoufnefs 
 in him fufficient : when we are unholy, there is 
 fanctifying grace in him : when weak and waver- 
 ing, there is life, and ftrength, and {lability in him: 
 when diffident and fufpicious of our own hearts, 
 there is faintnefs and fafety in the covenant of 
 Grace : when we lofe our fight of Chrift and the 
 covenant of Grace, we die ; but we gain a renewed 
 view of the glorious Gofpel, and the Son of God, 
 and then we live. Jefus is our life and our fal- 
 vation. 
 
 II. By mourning for paft mifcarriages, and awak- 
 ing and ftirring up our fouls to new vigour and 
 watchfulnefs. In this life, the children of God, 
 walking through the wildernefs, often fall and rife 
 again •, fall by fins of infirmity, and rife by re- 
 pentance. 
 
 By ihaking off (loth, renouncing our idols, going 
 forth again in new ftrength, by chiding our hearts 
 out of their defponding frames. Pfa. xl. ult. Why 
 art thou caft down, O my foul, and why art thou 
 difquieted within me ? Hope thou in God ; for I 
 
 ihali 
 
[ 304 ] 
 
 fhall yet praife him, who is the health of my couiv 
 tenance and my God. 
 
 III. By renewed exercifes of faith on Chrift 'and 
 his Gofpel. As we begin the fpirjfual life, fo we 
 muft continue in it and fo recover it. We are 
 crucified with Qirift, ' and yet we live; and, 
 as the apoftle faith, Not I, but Chrift liveth 
 in me. Gal. ii. 20. I live by the faith of the Son 
 of God. 
 
 IV. By fome fuitable word of God, brought to 
 the heart, and impreft upon it by the Holy Spirit, 
 who is a fandlifier and comforter. Gal. vi. 10. Be 
 not weary in well-doing, for in due time you mall 
 reap if you faint not. The Spirit often makes nfe 
 of his own word to quicken our dying graces, to 
 revive our dying comforts, and to fave our fouls 
 from fpiritual death. 
 
 V. By the fpecial ordinances of the New Tefta- 
 ment, I mean particularly the Lord's Supper ; in 
 all the parts of it, it is fitted to renew the dying life 
 of a faint. Are we ready to die under the fenfe 
 of guilt ? Here is pardoning mercy. Are we fink- 
 ing under forrows? Here is the wine of the kingdom 
 for our cordial. Are we fainting and feeble ? Here 
 is fpiritual food to nourifh and fupport us. Are 
 we opprelTed under temptations and huge conflicts ? 
 Here is the fpirit of God to enable us to overcome 
 them ; here is the blood of the Lamb to call: down 
 
 the 
 
[ 3°5 ] 
 
 the tempter. Are we drawing near to death and the 
 grave, with forrows or ficknefs ? Here is a dying 
 Saviour fet before you, who now lives and reigns 
 in glory, as our pattern and our forerunner. Though 
 he was once a man of forrows, and acquainted with 
 grief; who was put to death through weaknefs, yet, 
 behold, he lives by the power of God raifing him 
 from the dead. 
 
 h In what a feeble ftate are Chriftians in this 
 world, both with regard to their temporal life and 
 peace, and yet how well fecured by the grace of 
 Chrift and the Gofpel : Ever dying, and behold 
 they live. The bufh burning is not confumed : 
 God is the bum. 
 
 II. How glorious a grace is faith to fupport 
 dying Chriftians through fo many diftrefTes and 
 difficulties, both in fiefh and fpirit ? The Chrif- 
 tian's life is upheld by faith ; this revives us from, 
 
 ^all our dying circumftances, and under all our 
 finkings this fupports us. 
 
 III. What foundation is l^id for the courage and 
 liope of Chriftians in their loweft ftate in this life : 
 when they confider this hath been the cafe of their 
 predeceflbrs in all ages ; dyings and behold they, 
 live ! The church of God itfelf, how often hath it 
 been near deftrucYion ? but the arm and love of 
 God hath prefer ved it : every particular faint hath 
 
 Vol. II. X had 
 
i 
 
 •J.