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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


FREDERIC  THOMAS  BLANCHARD 
ENDOWMENT  FUND 


s&r  -L&I  tAj.  tAaj^Kj-  >^K>tA^  tA*  j%-  .<^K>.^.^vAjt^^j,-*s» yflU  tAj^  tAj-t^fr.  s  v* 
,  >  '  .<•<.-«<.<  4-4  .<••<•«••<  •<••<•  <••«•<  <•<•<•<•<•«•<•<»••>•>••»->  »••>••>  »•>•>••>•>•>••»••»>•>••>•>.•»  >••*••>••  "3N4 '~ 

THE 

I   W     O     R     K     S    \ 


* 


O    F 

The  late  Reyerend 

X  A 

JAMES    H  E  R  V  E  Y,    A.  M.  i 

i  i 

Redor  of  Weftpn-Favell,  in  Northamptonfhire. 

i  A 

»  'A 

A  A 

VOLUME     v. 


CONTAINING 
JL 


'v 


His    FIVE    SERMONS, 


x 

t  * 

MISCELLANEOUS   TRACTS, 

V  V 

I  i 

AND 
I  J 

PART   OF    HIS    LETTERS. 

:  | 

*  i 

»    We  preach  Chrift  crucified ;  —  Chrift  the  psnxer  of  Qjdr  and  the   i 
•vjijdojn  of  God.     i  Cor.  i.  23,  24. 

!  '        j 


EDINBURGH: 

I  Printed  for  P.  WHYTE,  and  J.  ROCH,  the  Publi-  ] 
fliers,  and  fold  by  them,  at  their  Shop,  Lnckenbooths,  ] 
and  by  the  principal  Bookfcllers  in  Great-Britain. 


M  DCC  LXXIX. 
Jjfr  '•f^f-r^t  f~tf'fr'%7fyt  r^->  r^T0rj^7S ^.(^r r^i r-±  r rjf  r^» .->/  • 


f 


\- 


c 


PR 

£ 

a 
)  r/ 


THE 


TIME  OF  DANGER, 


THE 


MEANS  OF  SAFETY, 


Being  the 

Subftance  of  THREE  SERMONS 
Preached  on  the  late  public  FAST-DAYS, 


PREFACE. 

SHOULD  any  one  afk,  "  Why  docs  this  author 
"  publifh  his  fermons,  when  the  faft  is  gone  and 
"forgotten?" — For  this  very  reafon  hepublim- 
es,  that  the  faft,  though  gone,  may  not  be  forg(  cten  5 
that  we  may  remember  the  fins  we  confefTed,  and  the 
miferies  we  deprecated ;  remember  the  vows  of  GOD, 
which  are  ftill  upon   us  ;  and  the  ihares  of  death, 
which  are  ftill  around  us. 

Should  it  be  further  afked,  "  Why  does  he  obtrude 
A  2  '*'  hintfrtf 

- 


4  PREFACE. 

i<urrlf  on  the  public,  when  fo  many  eminent  wrT« 
"  tei  >  have  already  made  their  appearance  '.  Does 
"  he  bring  with  him  any  diftinguiihcd  -xoellrncv  of 
41  compofition,  any  iupcrior  force  of  argument,  or 
ct  uncommori  delicacy  of  f&ntimert  ?'r  lSic»  fuch  thing. 
He  pretends  to  nothing  refined  or  extraordinary  :  he 
jiffefts  neither  brilliant  thought,  nor  polilhed  l:yle  : 
equally  remote  from  nice  criticifrri  and  profound 
learning,  his  difcourfes  are  itudioufly  plain,  and 
brought  down  to  the  level  of  the  meirnell  capacity. 

tk  What  then  is  his  motive?" — i'iiis  is  the  very 
truth.  In  feveral  of  the  fermons  publili  ed  on  this 
occalion,  the  one  thing  needful  fe<  ms  to  bt  »-^  c  looked. 
CHRIST  and  his  free  grace,  CHR1SY  aiul  .  -cat 

falvation,  are  cither  totally  omitted,  or  h:t  flij^htly 
touched.  Where  thefe  are  but  {lightly  to;ic!iccL  the 
door  of  hone  and  the  city  of  refuse  are  (hewn,  a:->  it 
were,  through  a  rniftr  dknly  and  indiftinclly.  We 
have  no  more  than  a  tranfient  glimpfe  of  the  ddirable 
objecls  ;  arxi  o-nly  ia  much  light  as  is  iiifficlent  to  be- 
wilder, rather  than  direcl. — Where  they  are  totally 
omitted,  the  door  of  hope  is  barred,  ant**  the  city  of 
refuge  withdrawn  from  our  view.  «in  this  cafe,-  be- 
ing without  CHRIST,  we  are  without  coniblation  ; 
and  may  juftlycomplain,  wkh  the  mourning  prophet, 
the  Comforter^  that  fliould  relieve  our  Jouls,  /j  far  off. 

Through  the  following  difcourles,  a  conftant  re- 
gard is  paid  to  the  redemption  which  is  in  CHRIST 
"JESUS;  to  his  all-atoning  blood,  and  his  everlaft- 
ing  righteouinefs  \  which  are  the  grand  means,  be-th 
of  comforting  our  hearts,  and  fanctify  ing  cur  nature. — 
Indeed  the  principal  aim  of  the  whole  is,  to  dffplay 
the  unfearchable  riches  of  C  II  R  I  ST,  the  matchlels 
efdcacy  of  his  death,  and  that  perfecl  freencfs  with 
'.vhich  all  his  invaluable  benefits  are  beltowed. — Tothoje 
"j)ho  believe  he  is  precious  ;  and  to  thofe  who  are  con- 
vinced of  fin,  thefe  falutary  truths  will  be  their  own 
befl  r-:-.u.ninen-Jation.  Such  readers  will  ^xcufe  a 

multitude 


P    R    E    F     A    G    E.  j? 

multitude  of  blemifhes,  provided  they  find  J  E  S  US 
who  was  crucified;  JESUS,  who  is  the  delire  of  all- 
nations  ;  JESUS,  than  whom  no  other  foundation  can 
be  laid,  either  for  prefent  holinefs,  orfuture  happinefs. 

As  thefe  fermons  were  not  preached  to  gratify  a 
curious  tafte,  neither  are  they  publimed  with  any  fond 
profpecl  of  reforming  a  finjul  nation.  Sincerely  as 
the  author  loves  his  country,  and  ardently  as  he  de- 
fires  the  falvation  of  his  counl'rymen,  he  is  not  fo> 
vainly  fanguine  in  his  expectations. — But  this  he  will 
venture  to  affert,  that,  if  ever  a  reformation  is  pro- 
duced, it  muft,  under  the  influences  of  the  eternal 
SPIRI  F,  be  produced  by  the  doctrines  of  free  grace, 
and  juftification  through  a  REDEEMER'S  righteouf- 
ncis.  Till  thefe  doclrines  are  generally  inculcated, 
the  moft  eloquent  harangues  from  the  pulpit,  or  the 
moft  correct  diltertations  from  the  preis,  will  be  no- 
better  than  a  point lefs  arrow,  and  a  broken  bow. 

This  alfo  he  will  venture  to  hope,  that  the  dif~ 
courfes  may  here  and  there  meet  with  fome  poor  fm- 
ner  who  is  fmitten  with  a  fenle  of  guilt,  and  alarmed 
with  apprehenfions  of  danger  ;  who  defires  nothing  lc> 
much  as  to  find  a  refting-  place,  where  he  may  be 
free  from  the  terrors  of  confcience,  and  fafe  in  the 
day  of  trouble.  This  freedom  and  this  fafety  are  to 
be  found  o«/y,  are  to  be  found  infallibly,  in  the  bleffed 
JESUS  and  the  blood  of  fprinkling.  If  fuch  a  reader, 
by  the  following  pages,  is  conducted  to  this  divine 
fandhiary,  the  writer  is  fatisfied,  is  rewarded,  enjoys 
the  utmoft  of  his  wiihes. 

Then,  inflead  of  ibliciting  the  voice  of  fame,  or 
coveting  the  wreath  of  honour  ;  inftead  of  giving 
himfelf  any  concern  about  the  officious  critic  ;  he  will 
thankfully  adore  that  almighty  hand  which  confirmeth 
the  ivord  of  his  Jervant^  and  perfor  meth  the  counjel  of 
his  meffengers  *.  For,  oh  !  how  inlipid  is  the  praife  of 

teen, 

*  If.  xl-iv.  26. 


6  PREFACE. 

men,  compared  with  the  exalted  pleafure  of  glorify- 
ing GOD,  and  edifying  an  immortal  ioul  !  How 
harmlefs  is  defamation  from  a  fellow-creature,  when 
our  great  CREATOR  fmiles  ;  and  is  pleated  by  lueak 
things,  and  by  things  that  are  dej'pijed  *,  to  accomplish 
the  purpofes  of  his  infinite  grace  and  everlafling  love  ! 

*  i  C«r.  i.  27,  28. 


S  E 


SERMON      I. 

The  Time  of  Danger. 


HEB.  xi.  28. 

Through  forth  he  kept  the  pa  [/over ,  and  the  fprinkling 
of  blood,  left  he  that  destroyed,  the  firjl-born^  JJwuld 
touch  them. 


IF  we  confult  the  hiftory  to  which  thefe  words 
refer,  we  (hall  find  the  Ifraelites  in  a  ftate  of 
great  affliclion.  The  Egyptians  opprefled  them  ; 
very  heavily  laid  the  yoke  upon  them  ;  and  made 
their  lives  bitter  luith  hard  bondage. — The  mifcry  of 
his  people  GOD  pities,  and  is  refolved  to  redrefs. 
Accordingly  he  fends  Mofes,  in  the  quality  of  his 
ambaflador,  to  demand  their  releafe.  The  king  of 
Egypt  moft  infolcntly  replies,  Who  is  the  L  0  R  Z), 
that  I  fliould  obey  his  voice,  to  let  Ifrael  go  f  I  know 
not  the  LOR  Z>,  neither  -will  I  let  'ijrael  go.  GOD, 
to  chaftife  his  infolence  and  obftinacy,  inflicts  a  va- 
riety of  plagues  on  him  and  his  fubjech  :  in  contempt 
of  all  which  Pharaoh  hardens  his  heart,  perfifts  in  his 
difobediencc  ;  and  refufes  to  let  the  people  go. — At  laft, 
fays  the  LORD,  I  will  bring  one  plague  more  upon  Pha- 
raoh and  upon  Egypt  *;  which  fliall  infallibly  accom-» 
jslifh  my  purpofe.  Be  their  hearts  hard  as  the  nether 

mill(lonea 

*  ExocL  xi.  i. 


fi  T    H    E      T    I    M    E 

atone,  thisfliall  make  them  feel:  be  their  refolution 
ftubborn  as  an  iron  finew,  this  (hall  make  it  bend. 
*lbout  midnight  I  ivill  go  out  into  the  mid/}  of  Egypt, 
find  all  the  firfl  born  in  the  land  of  Egypt  Jhall  die  *. 

But  as  the  Ifraclites  then  dwelt  in  Egypt,  how 
fliotild  they  be  fafe  amidft  the  general  deiblation  ? — 
Will  it  belaid,  the  Ifraelites,  being  the  people  of  GOD ? 
were  not  expoied  to  this  punifhment  ;  had  no  reafon 
to  fear  the  infliftion  of  this 'vengeance  ?  None,  that 
remembers  how  all  the  world  is  become  guilty  before 
GOD,  will  affirm  this  ;  none,  that  conliders  how  re- 
bellious and  idolatrous  the  Ifraelites  were,  can  fup- 
pofc  this.  And  every  one  who  has  read  Ezek.  xx. 
,8.  «j-  mud  allow,  that  there  was  no  difference  in  this 
j-efpc&.  The  one  people  were  -criminal,  as  well  as 
the  other.  All  of  them  mofl  righteoufly  deferved  the 
afflictive  ftroke.  Grace,  free  and  fovereign  grace 
alone,  muft  make  the  diftinftion. 

Since  this  was  the  cafe,  jt  may  reafonably  be  afked, 
How  fhall  the  Ifraelites  be  fafe  ?---The  LORD  himfelf 
directs  Mofes  to  a  method,  which  fhou4d  effectually 
iecure  all  the  families  of  Ifrael,  while  death  entered 
Jnto  every  habitation  of  the  Egyptians.  The  method 
— its  .execution — and  fuccefs — are  all  ipecified  in  the 
text.  By  faith  Mojes  kept  the  pa  (fiver '.,  andthefprink- 
ling  of  bloody  left  he  that  deftroyed  the  firjl-born  Jliould 
touch  them.  Where  we  may  obferve, 

I.  A  very  dreadful  danger,,  fignified  by  the  deftruc- 
iio  n  of  the  fir  ft-  born . 

II.  A  method  of  fecurity  from  this  danger  ;  effected 
,by  keeping  the  paflover,  -and  the  bluod  of  jpr inkling. 

III.  The  fuccefs  of  this  method  ;  denoted  by  the 
•cleftroyer  not  Jo  ninth  as  touching  them. 

The 

*  Exod.  xi.  4,  5. 

•j-  But  they  rebelled  againft  me,  and  would  not  hearken  unto 

me  :  they  did  ntt,  every  man,  ca/f  away  the  abominations  tif 

his  eyes,  neither  did  they  fcrfake  the  idoh'of  Egypt.     Ihfn  / 

faid^  i  will  pour  out  my  fury  upon  them,  to  accompli/h 

•Anger  againft  them,  in  the  midft  of  the  land  o 


SER.L         OF      DANGER.  9 

The  good  LORD  enable  us  to  open  and  apply  the 
words,  thus  divided  !  Then  we  flnll  fee,  their  iuitable- 
nefs  to  the  prefent  occafion  ;  and,  i  hope,  feel  their 
ialutary  influence  on  our  ibuls. 

I.  A  very  dreadful  danger  ;  (ignified  by  the  dcftruc~> 
tion  of  the  fir  ft -born,  Ttie  LOlisJ  had  already  put  his 
hand  to  the  fwoni*  It  vv.s  even  now  drawn  from  ins 
fcabbard,  and  had  received  a  commiilion  to  go  forth  ; 
to  go  forth  that  very  night  ;  to  walk  through  all  the 
Jand  of  Egypt  ;  and  to  be  bathed,  before  the  morning- 
light,  in  the  blood  of  the  firft-born,  all  the  firit  born, 
from  the  haughty  king  that  fat  on  the  throne,  even  to 
the  flave  tbat  toiled  at  the  mill,  and  the  very  Iheep 
that  yeaned  in  the  field. — Tremendous,  as  well  as  ine- 
vitable blow  !  O  what  an  alarm  will  it  create,  and 
what  affliction  will  it  fpread  !  make  every  heart  fad, 
and  every  houfe  a  fcene  of  mourning  !  There  fliall  be 
a  great  cry  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  Juch  as- 
there  was  none  like  //,  nor  Jhall  be  like  it  any  more  *. 

And  is  not  the  prefent  time  a  tiaie  of  imminent 
danger  ?  are  not  the  judgments  of  the  Almighty  now 
abroad  in  the  world  ?  have  not  earthquakes  maker* 
kingdoms,  and  rent  the  foundations  of  nature  ?  have 
they  not  fpread  terror  through  our  own  and  diftant 
nations  ;  laid  wealthy  towns  and  magnificent  cities  in. 
ruin  ;  and  fwallowcd  up  or  deftroycd  unknown  mul- 
titudes of  our  fellow- creatures  ? 

Is  not  the  fword  of  flaughter  drawn  ?  has  not  war 
hung  out  her  bloody  fhg  ?  are  not  the  flames  kindled 
in  Europe  and  America  ;  on  the  land  and  on  the 
ocean  !  are  they  not  gathering  ftrength  daily  ;  fpread- 
ing  their  rage  continually  ;  and  threatening  to  over- 
run all  ? 

If  we  were  evidently  fuperior  to  our  enemies  iri 
number  and  power,  in  vigilance  and  unanimity  5  yet 

the 

Exod.  xi-  6. 
VOL,  V.  N°2o,  B 


to  T    H    E      T    I    M    E  SER.  f. 

the  events  of  military  undertakings  are  very  uncertain. 
The  h'.itt'c  is  not  aliuays  to  the  Jlrong  *.  Succcfs  and 
victory  depend  upon  a  hand  higher  far  than  the  arm  of 
Helh.  Without  me,  faith  the  LORD,  they  fhallbo-w  down 
under  the  prijoncrs,  and  they  fli  all  fall  under  theflain  \ . 
But  are  we  not  at  war  with  one  of  the  moil  potent, 
infidious,  entcrprifing  kingdoms  in  the  world  ?  is  there 
rot  great  reafon  to  fuppofe,  that  tney  will  foon  be 
joined  by  their  neighbours  the  Spaniards  ?  And,  if  we 
have  been  worded  by  one,  how  (hall  we  contend  with 
their  united  forced — Conlideringthe  tituation  and  be- 
haviour of  the  ungrateful  Auflrians,  have  we  not  caufc 
to  fufpeft  the  junction  of  a  third  Popifh  power  againft 
our  religion  and  liberty  ?  will  not  the  court  of  Rome, 
•with  all  her  bigotted  adherents,  urge  and  infligate 
them  to  be  aftive  in  this  confederacy  \  ?  will  they  not 
at  this  juncture, — the  moft  favourable  for  the  profe- 
«ntion  of  their  purpofe  that  any  age  has  afforded,  or 
their  own  fanguine  zeal  can  defire  ; — will  they  not  ex- 
ert their  utmofl  ability  to  crufh  the  Protcftant  caufe, 
and  extirpate  the  Proteflant  name  ||  ? 

Should 

'•'•  Ecclef.  ix.  ir.  -j-  If.  x.  4. 

^  I  am  informed,  that  when  the  Pope  heard  of  the  alliance 
lately  ettablifhcd  between  the  houfes  of  Bourbon  and  AuQria, 
Hungary  and  Bohemia,  llren^thened  by  the  unexpected  accef- 
fiiinof  RufTia,  he  cried  out,  with  an  air  of  triumph,  0  admirubilf 
cvmmcrcium  generis  human i  I  u  Admirable  alVociation  and  in- 
*s  tercourfe  of  mankind  1"  promifing  hirnfelf,  I  fuppoie,  from 
this  remarkable  turn  of  affairs,  fuch  advantages  to  the  caul-.: 
and  interefts  of  Popery  as  exceeded  even  ail  his  hopes. 

||  The  French  and  Auitrian  minilters,  it  feems,  have  long 
been  concerting  rneafures  to  tear  up  the  reformed  religion  by 
the  roots,  and  not  to  leave  a  Proteftant  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth.  This  execrable  plot  is  difcovered  by  the  fagacity  and 
activity  of  the  king  of  Pruflia;  is  averred  and  proved,  in  the 
memorials  lately  publiftied  by  his  Majeity.  If  that  hero  and 
his  army  fhould  fall  btfjre  their  enemies,  what  can  hinder  the 
execution  of  this  horrid  defign  ?  It  may  puzzle  the  acuteft 
p<  ''ticiiwi  to  afitgn  any  kumnn  means,  iufEcieut  to  (land  as  a 
barrier. 


.I.          OF      DANGER.  n 

Should  the  enemy  make  a  defcent  upon  our  iflaiid, 
tvhat  can  we  exped,  but  that  our  illand  be  turned  into 
a  field  of  blood  ?  They,  who  have  always  been  jea- 
lous of  our  intereft  and  influence,  have  now  adde<-  rage 
to  their  jealoufy.  Their  reientment,  like  the  burning 
fiery  furnace,  is  heated  feven  times  hotter  than  ufual. 
We  fhould  certainly  find  them,  as  the  fcripture  fpeaks, 
a  bitter  and  ha/ly  nation  *  ;  and,  without  the  ipirit  of 
prophecy,  may  venture  to  declare,  Wo  be  to  England, 
if  GOI}  fhould  now  deliver  it  into  the  hands  of  the 
French. 

Some,  perhaps,  may  cry,  "  Thefe  fears  are  all  chi- 
"  merical.  There  is  no  ground  for  fuch  difcoura- 
"  gi°g  fuggeftions.  We  don't  queftion  but  we  (hall 
"  be  a  match,  and  more  than  a  match  for  our  adver- 
li  faries." — To  this  confident  boailing  let  not  my 
tongue,  but  let  the  courfe  of  events,  let  the  difpolals 
of  Providence  reply. — Have  we,  then,  been  i'uperior 
in  the  day  of  trial  ?  Alas!  have  we  not  loft  Minorca  ? 
is  not  Ofwego  gone  r  a  general  (lain,  and  his  army 
cut  in  pieces  ?  an  admiral  condemned  to  be  /hot  to 
death,  and  his  fleet  defeated  by  an  inferior  number  of 
the  enemy's  mips?  Are  not  ravages  and  depredations 
madealmoft  continually  upon  our  colonies  in  America; 
and  horrible,  unheard-of  cruelties  committed  by  the 
iavages,  on  the  perions  of  our  fellow-fubjecis  ?  What 
have  we  reaped  from  the  late  campaign,  but  difap- 
pointment,  lois,  and  mame  ? 

Are  not  all  thefe  things  apparently  againft  us  ?  wiU 
they  not  difpirit  our  men  and  embolden  our  foes  ?  will 
they  not  make  our  allies  backward  to  come  in  with 
their  fuccours,  and  render  the  powers  that  are  unen- 
gaged afraid  to  declare  themielves  on  our  tide  ? 

All  thefe  circumftances  coniidered,  the  prefent  time 
appears  to  be  a  time  of  uncommon  danger  :  affairs, 
look  where-ever  we  will,  wear  a  louring  alpecfr.  Our 
is  black  with  clouds ,  and  there  is  the  found  of  abun- 
B  2  dance 


la  T    H    E      T    I    M    E  SER.  I. 

dance  of  rain*.  Judgments  feem,  more  than  feem, 
to  be  hovering  all  around  us.  How  ibon  they  may 
fall,  GOD  only  knows  ! 

If  »  OD  indeed  were  for  us,  we  might  truft,  andnoe 
be  afraid  ;  we  might  look  danger  in  the  face,  and 
boldly  lay,  Who  /hall  be  againji  us  -J-  ? — But  is  this  the 
cafe  ?  are  we  a  righteous  nation,  that  keepeth  thetruth\f 
is  there  fufficient  reafon  to  believe,  that  the  holy  One 
of  Ifrael  is  our  defence  ? — Are  we  not,  on  the  contra- 
ry, a  finful  generation,  a  people  laden  with  iniquity  ? 
is  there  not  abundant  reafon  to  fear,  left  our  GOD 
jfhould  fay,  in  terrible  indignation,  They  are  joined  to 
idols,  let  th<.tn  alme  \f — In  order  to  determine  this 
point,  let  us  examine  our  ways.  Nothing  can  be 
anore  proper  for  a  day  of  humiliation.  Are  not  we, 
like  the  Egyptians,  in  a  flate  of  great  danger  ?  If  wp 
eonfider, 

1.  They7«/  of  our  nation. 

2.  The  judgments  of  G  O  D  denounced  upon  fuch 
ftns. 

3.  The  certain  execution  of  thofc  judgments,  unlefs 
\ve  tiy  to  the  appointed  refuge. 

I.  Confider  the  fins  of  our  nation.  Here  I  (hall 
mention  fome,  and  only  fome,  of  thole  abominations, 
which,  where-ever  they  are  found,  cannot  fail  to  pro- 
voke the  eyes  of  G  O  D's  glory,  and  render  either  a 
ycrfon  or  a  people  ripe  for  his  vengeance. 

The  Chrifiianjabbath  is  an  ineftimable  privilege  to 
the  church  of  C H R  IS  T:  it  is  a  happy  means  of 
"building  us  up  in  knowledge,  of  eftablifhing  us  in 
faith,  and  preparing  us  for  our  everlafting  reft. — Yet 
is  it  not  (hamefully  profaned  in  city  and  in  country  ? 
What  multitudes  wafte  it  in  idlenefs,  or  fquander  it 
away  in  unedifying  conversation  ;  making  it  by  far 
the  mod  ufelcfs  and  contemptible  day  of  the  week  ? — 
This  they  do,  even  though  GOD  ftrictly  charges, 

faying, 

*  t  Kings  xviii.  41,  -r  Rom.  viii.  31. 

2.  ||  Hof.  iv.  17, 


SEK.I.         OF      DANGER.  13 

faying,  Remember  ye  the  Sabbath-day,  not  barely  to 
abftain  from  your  ordinary  works,  but  to  keep  it  ho- 
ly*;  devoting  it  entirely  to  holy  purpoies,  and  reli- 
gious exercifes. — This  they  do,  even  though-  GOD 
folemnly  threatens,  faying,  If  ye  will  not  htarken  unto 
me,  to  hallow  the  Jabbath-day,  then  will  I  kindle  afire 
in  your  gates,  and  it  fliall  devour  the  palace?  ofjeru- 
Jalem,  and  it  ftiall  not  be  quenched^. 

Is  not  the  name  of  GOD  great,  wonderful,  and  holy  ? 
ought  it  not  to  be  ufed  with  the  deepeft  veneration, 
and  magnified  above  all  things  ?  But  is  it  not  audaci- 
oufly  difhonoured,  and  impioufly  blafphemed  ?  diiho- 
noured  by  cuftomary  and  wanton,  blafphemed  by  falie 
and  perfidious  {wearing  ?  Has  not  the  moft  high  GOD 
declared,  that  he  will  in  no  wile  hold  fuch  daring 
wretches  guilt  lefs  ?  Yet  how  do  thefe  daring  wretches 
i'warm,  like  the  locufls  of  fociety,  in  our  polluted 
land  ?  O  England,  how  is  thy  air  tainted  with  this 
breath  of  the  infernal  pit  !  how  do  thy  ftreets  refound, 
moil  horribly  refound,  with  this  language  of  hell  ! 
And  will  not  the  almighty  LQMD  make  thee  know, 
—know,  by  bitter  experience,  what  that  meaneth, 
which  is  fpoken  by  his  prophet  ?  Becauje  of  fa  car  ing 
the  land  mournethj;  mourneth  under  afflicting  viilta- 
tions,  and  defolating  judgmtnts. 

Is  not  the  fcripture  a  iinguhr  blefling  ?  Yes;  it  is 
ct.lcbrated  by  the  Pfalmift  as  the  ibvereign  bleffing  ; 
that  which  crowns  the  other  inftanccs  of  divine  good- 
nefs  :  He/Jtciueth  his  "word  unto  Jacob,  his  Jlatutes  and 
ordinances  unto  Ijrael.  It  is  alfo  celebrated  as  a  mod 
difl»nguifliing  bleiling,  from  which  multitudes  are  ex- 
cluded: He  hath  not  dealt  Jo  with  all  nations,  neither 
have  the  Heathen  knowledge  of  his  laws  |j.  Should  not 
then  the  fcripture  be  precious  to  our  fouls  ;  more  pre- 
cious than  fine  gold  ;  fweeter  alfo  than  honey,  and  the 
droppings  of  the  honey-comb  ?  fhould  we  not  exerciie 

ourfelves 

*  Exod.  xx.  8.  *f-  Jer.  xvii.  27. 

J  Jcr.  xxiii.  jo.  j|  Pfal.  cxlvii.  19,  20, 


14  T    H    i:  I    M    E  SER.  L 

ourfelvcs  in  it  day  and  night*;  reading  it  by  clay, 
meditating  on  it  by  night  '.  Ihould  \vc  not  make  it  the 
r.iolt  deli^h'ful  fubjc'c't  of  our  converfaiion  ?  talk  of  it 
to  our  children,  our  domeftics,  our  neighbours  ;  when 
we  lie  down,  and  rile  up  ;  when  we  walk  by  the  way, 
and  fit  in  the  houie-}-  ? — But  where  are  the  perfons 
xvho  bear  luch  a  iuperlative  efteem  for  the  Bible  .? 
where  is  the  company  that  delights  to  converle  on 
tholl-  01  udes  of  truth  ?  where  are  the  parents  that  dili- 
gently inilrtivl  their  children,  and  feed  them  with  the 
milk  of  the  word  :  Diveriion,  of  every  kind,  engages 
their  attention,  and  the  mod  trifling  impertinence 
employs  their  tongue  :  but  the  LOR  D's  word  is  in- 
iipid,  if  not  irkt'ome.  His  word  is  treated,  even  by 
Proteitants,  as  the  manna  was  treated  by  the  liraelitcs, 
\vho  h;>.d  the  ingratitude  and  impudence  to  fay,  Our 
Joul  Ivatheth  this  light  bread  j; .  A  plague  from  the 
LORD  of  hofts  v/as  the  confequence  of  their  con- 
temptuous treatment  of  the  meat  that  perifheth.  Of 
liow  much  lorcr  punimment  (ball  we  bethought  wor- 
thy, who  contemn  the  food  which  endureth  to  ever- 
latting  life  ? 

GOD  hath  referved  the  unjuft,  faith  the  fcripture, 
unto  the  day  of  judgment,  to  be  puniflied  ;  chiefly  Ikojc 
iuho  -walk  ujtcr  the  flejh  in  the  lujh  of  uncle annejs  jj .  Is 
not  this  iniquity  rampant  among  the  inhabitants  of 
England  ?  What  lewd  pi»fiures  are  expofed  to  view  ! 
\vhat  filthy  writings  are  differed  to  fee  the  light !  fewel 
for  luft,  and  incentives  to  debauchery. — What  is  wit, 
in  our  days,  but  either  iome  lafcivious  hint,  or  fome 
licentious  abufe  of  fcripture  ?  Are  not  the  wanton  tn- 
tertaimr^cntsof  theftage,  and  other  fern inarics  of  lewd- 
nefs,  countenanced,  fupported,  thronged  ?  Can  you 
acquit  our  cities  and  towns  of  drunkennefs,  revellings, 
and  abominable  exceffes  ?  Are  not  thefe,  and  all  forts 
of  fihhinefs,  found  in  our  Ikirts  ?  If  ib,  hear  the  word 

of 

*  Pfal  4.  2.  f  Deut,  vi,  7.  £  Numb,  xxi,  5.  [j  2  Pet,  ii.  10, 


SEK.T.        O   F     D    A    N    G    E    a.  15 

of  the  LORD,  and  let  it  fink  deep  into  every  heart  ; 
When  I  had  fed  them  to  the  full,  they  then  committed 
adultery  and  ajjcmbled  thcmjeivcs  by  troops  in  the  har~ 
lots  houfes.  They  were  as  fed  horjes  in  the  morning: 
every  one  neighed  after  his  neighbour*  s  "wife.  Shall  Inof 
vi fit  for  theje  things  *  faith  the  LORD  ;  and  /hall  not 
my  foul  be  avenged  on  Juch  a  nation  as  this  *  f 

Is  not  religion,  vita!  religivn,  very  much  upon  the 
decline  ?  does  it  not,  even  among  the  ferious,  wear  a 
lickly  dying  afpect  ?  What  multitudes  profefs  to  knov.' 
GOD,  but  in  works  deny  him ;  and,  quite  deftitute 
of  thq  power  of  godlincfs,  content  themfelvcs  with 
the  mere  form  ?  Whereas,  if  any,  in  imitation  of  the 
firft  believers  and  preachers,  are  fervent  in  fpirit,  fer- 
ving  the  LORD  with  alacrity  and  zeal;  thefe  perions, 
inftead  of  being  encouraged,  are  oppofcd  ;  inilead  of 
being  eflecmed,  are  reproached. — Of  fuch  performs  even 
the  malignant  fpirit  could  bear  witnefs  ;  Thefe  are  the 
fervants  of  the  mo  ft  high  GOD,  luho  fliew  unto  us  thf 
11} ay  offalvation  f.  But  among  us,  who  call  ourfelves 
Chriflians,  who  pique  ourfelves  upon  being  the  pu- 
rcft  church  in  Chriitcndom,  among  us  fuch  perfons 
are  deemed  the  vilionaries  of  the  age,  the  diftut  bcrs  of. 
Jbcicty,  the  rncn  that  would  turn  the  worldupjide down\. 
— The  ministers  who  are  moft  faithful,  and  the  people 
who  are  moft  exemplary,  are  aderifion  and  a  by-word 
among  their  neighbours.  Thus,  in  Ifrael^  they  mocked 
the  mejjcngcrs  of  GOD,  and  dcjpifed  his  words ,  atict 
mijujcd  his  prophets.  But  it  was  to  the  confufion  of 
thole  fcotfers,  and  the  ruin,  of  their  country,  for  the 
lurath  of  thf  LORD  nroje  agciinjt  his  people,  till  there 
iv a j  no  remedy.  Therefore  he  brought  upon  them  the 
king  of  the  Chaldces,  i-jho  jlc'w  their  young  men  luit'n  the 
{word,  in  the  honje  <>j  their  fe.nftuary  ;  and  had  no  com- 
pajfion  upon  young  man  Or  maiden,  old  man  or  hurt  that 
JJooped  for  age  || . 

Arc 

*  Jer.  v.  7,  8,  Q.  -j-  Afts  xvi.  17*          ~  Ads  xv;j.  $> 

\^|  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  ;6,  17. 


i*  T    H    E      T    I    M    E  SER.  f- 

we  not  abandoned  to  a  fpirit  of  carnal  confi-> 
.-;''  Whim  do  we  dill-over  any  reliance  on  the  Al- 
mighty, or  afcribe  any  of  our  fuccefs  to  his  gracious 
intcrpoGtion  \  It  is  not  GOD,  but  our  {word,  that 
ihall  help  us.  Or,  if  any  unfeen  power  is  acknow- 
ledged, it  is  not  the  LORD  of  hofls,  but  good  fortune. 
One  would  almoib  imagine,  that  we  were  afhamed  of 
a  heavenly  nlly  ;  and  thought  it  a  difgracc  to  own  our- 
leives  dependent  on  Omnipotence.  Is  not  fuc'h  a  tem- 
per a  national  infatuation,  and  the  harbinger  of  na- 
tional judgments  ?  Zedekiah  and  the  men  of  Judah 
forgot  or  neglected  the  Mock  of  their  falvation,  and 
made  Pharaoh's  army  their  confidence  But  fee  what 
was  the  iflue,  or  hear  it  from  rhe  mouth  of  him  who 
fulfilled!  the  words  of  his  iervants;  Tho*  he  had  fmit- 
ten  the  luhole  army  of  the  Chaldeans  that  fight  againji 
you,  and  there  remained  but  wounded  men  anwng  them, 
yet  fliould  they  rife  up  every  man  in  his  tent^  and  burn 
this  city  -with  fire  * . 

Should  you  lay,  This  is  a  falfc  charge  :  have  we 
not,  this  very  day,  publicly  acknowledged,  that, 
"  without  the  divine  aid,  the  wiiefl  counfels  of  frail 
"  men,  and  the  multitude  of  an  hoft,  and  fill  the  in- 
"  ftruments  of  war,  are  but  weak  and  vain  ?"  Have 
we  not  likewifc  exprefsly  declared,  that,  u  not  con- 
41  fiding  in  the  iplendor  of  any  thing  l^iat  is  great,  or 
<c  the  (lability  of  any  thing  that  is  flrong  here  bcJow, 
ct  we  do  molt  humbly  flee  to  the  LORD  for  fuccour, 
"  and  put  our  trult  under  tlie  madovv  of  his  wings  fr'"* 
I  would  to  G  O  D  we  believed  that  acknowledgment, 
and  aclcd  conformably  to  this  declaration.  We  mould 
then  be  very  diligent  to  propagate  religion  among 
our  foldieis  and  Tailors;  we  mould  feek  for  fuch  offi- 
cers and  commanders,  as  are  men  fearing  GOD; 
we  fhould  be  as  defircus  to  eflablifh  our  troops  in 

godlinefs, 

*  Jer.  xxxvii.  10. 
•f  The  forhi  of  prayer  appointed  for  rhe  fart. 


SER.  I.         OF     DANGER.  17 

godlinefS)  as  to  train  them  up  in  military  difcipline. 
But  is  it  thus  with  our  army  ?  is  it  thus  with  our 
navy  ?  Vifit  a  man  of  war.  You  will  think  yourlelf, 
not  in  one  of  the  bulwarks  of  our  ifland,  but  in  a  little 
hell.  "Obierve  the  gentlemen  of  the  fword.  Concern- 
ing the  generality  of  them  you  will  have  reaibn  to 
afk,  Are  theie  Chriftians  ?  are  they  not  incarnate  de- 
vils *  I — And  can  we  expeifr,  that  the  infinitely- pure 
GOD  will  go  forth  wither/;  holts  ?  will  he  not  ra- 
ther become  th^ir  enemy  ^  and  fight  againft  them  \f 

What  ignorance  prevails,  <  fpecially  among  the  lower 
ranks  of  people  f  Thegrpilci^  ignorance  of  themtelves, 
and  of  GOD  our  SAVIOUR;  the  groiTeft  ignp- 
ranee  of  grace  and  falvation  by  a  REDEEM  Eli's 
righteoufnefs  ;  the  groflefl  ignorance  of  the  very  iir/t 
principles  of  our  holy  religion.  To  do  evil  they  arc 
wife  :  but  to  do  good,  to  believe  in  JESUS  CHRIST^ 
to  love  and  glorify  him  who  bought  flnners  with  his 
blood  ;  to  do  all,  to  do  any  of  this,  they  have  no 
knowledge.  And  is  it  a  imall  matter  to  be  thus  chil-* 
dren  ofdarknefs?  is  not  the  foul  alienated  from  the  life 
of  GOD  through  ignorance  J  ?  does  not  this  difpleaii? 
the  mod  high  GOD,  and  provoke  the  holy  One  of 
Ifrael  ?  Let  his  own  word  determine:  //  //  a  people  of 
no  underftanding  ;  therefore  he  that  made  them^will  not 
have  mercy  on  them;  and  he  that  formed  them,  ivilljheiv 
them  no  favour  jj .  Are  thefe  impotent  menaces  ?  made 
only  to  be  contemned  \  then  we  may  difmifs  our  fears. 

But 

'  Does  this  found  harfb  ?  or  will  ^iny  other  part  of  the  charge 
advanced  in  theie  difcourfes  prove  oiFenfwe? — I  am  lorry 
there  fhould  be  any  occafion  for  fuch  language.  But  1  dare  not 
retract  it;  1  muft  no:  foften  it;  no  nor  apologize  for  it.  Thus 
asuch,  however,  I  will  very  readily  acknowledge,  borrowing 
tne  words  of  Job;  If  it  b'  not  fn  tmu^  let  experience  make  me 
u  liar,  and\\\  this  cafe  make  my  fpecch  nothing  -worth,  Job  xxiv. 
25.  Defirous  as  I  am  of  fpeakiirg  truth,  here  I  (hall  rejoice 
W  be  convi&fd  of  falfehood. 

•f  If.  Ixiii.  ip.  ^  Eph.  iv.  1 8.  jj  If.  xxvii.  xi. 

VOL,  V.  N°  21.  C 


• 
ib  T    HE     TIME  SER.L 

But  if  they  arc  the  word  of  GOD,  which  liveth  and 
abideth  for  ever;  then  we  have  reaibn  to  cry,  "  What 
tv  will  become  of  Enjihncl  :" 

In  a  word,  religion,  both  as  to  knowledge  and 
pradice,  was  never  at  ib  low  an  ebb,  fince  the  refor- 
mation took  place  ;  nor  luxury,  and  immorality  of 
every  kind,  at  iiich  an  enormous  height. — Where  now 
arc  our  rulers  f  are  they  zealous  for  G  ()  D,  and  va- 
liant for  the  truth  ?  have  they  courage  to  Item  the  tor- 
rent, or  to  oppofe  the  overflowings  of  ungodlinefs  ? 
— Where  are  the  grandees  and  magiftrates  ?  warm 
with  generous  indignation,  do  they  (hatch  the  fpear ; 
and,  like  the  gallant  Phmchai,  fmite  through  the  loins 
of  iniquity  ?  Alas  !  have  not  our  great  men  altogether 
broken  the  yoke,  and  bur/}  the  bonds  *?  are  they  not, 
generally  Ipeaking,  the  ringleaders  in  tranfgreiHon  ; 
as  eminent  for  their  contempt  of  GOD,  as  for  the  af- 
fluence of  their  circumftances  ?  Tea,  the  hand  of  the 
princes  and  rulers  hath  been  chief  in  the  ieveral  tref- 
paflcs  f .  But  will  that  dignity,  which  they  have  abu- 
led  ;  will  that  authority,  which  was  lent  them  for 
better  purpofes  ;  will  thofe  diftin&ions  be  a  fecurity 
to  them  or  their  country,  in  the  day  of  vilitation  ? — 
Hear  what  the  righteous  LORD  fays,  who  is  higher 
than  the  highefl,  and  able  to  execute  all  his  decrees  : 
//  if  the  f word  of  the  great  men  that  are  /lain,  ivhich 
enter  eth  into  their  privy  chambers .  I  havefet  the  point 
of  the  /word  avainft  all  their  gates,  that  their  hearts 
may  faint,  and  their  ruins  be  multiplied  J.  Gates,  be 
they  ever  fo  ttrongly  fortified,  or  ever  fo  faithfully 
guarded,  are  no  fence  againft  the  point  of  JEHO- 
V  A  H's  fword.  And  if  fin  is  fulfered  to  enter, 
judgments  will  affuredly  follow  :  judgments  will  fol- 
low even  the  mod  powerful  and  wealthy  finners  ; 
will  puriue  them  like  an  eager  blood-hound  ;  will 
haunt  them  like  a  difmal  ghoft: ;  will  force  a  way  into 

their 

*  Jer.  v,  5.          -|-  Ezrt  1:-:.  2.         $  Ezek.  xxi.  14,  15. 


SEE.  I.         O    F      D    A    N    G    E    R.  19 

their  palaces,  nay  into  their  clofeft  retirements  ;  and 
never  remit  the  chace,  till  jointing  of  heart  ends  in 
multiplied  ruin;  in  the  ruin  of  themfelves,  their  fa- 
milies, their  country. 

Amidft  all  thele  crying  evils,  are  we  not  prefumptu- 
oujly  fccure  f  is  there  not  a  deplorable  fpirit  of  itupi- 
dity,  which  blinds  our  eyes,  and  renders  us  infenfible  ? 
Scarce  anyone  lays  thefe  miferies  and  dangers  to 
heart.  Who  mourneth  for  the  abominations  of  the 
land  :  who  ftirreth  up  himielf  to  call  upon  GOD,  if 
ib  be  he  may  yet  be  intreated,  and  have  mercy  upon 
Zioni — Are  we  not  too  much  like  the  intoxicated  lin- 
ners  of  the  old  world  ?  'They  ate,  they  drank ;  they 
bought,  they  fold;  they  planted,  they  builded.  They 
gave  themielves  wholly  up  to  fenlual  gratifications, 
and  inferior  cares ;  disregarding  all  the  admonitions  of 
Noah,  and  all  the  tokens  of  impending  vengeance  : 
////  the  divine  long- fullering  ceafed ;  the  univerfalyfoo^ 
came ;  and,  with  irrefiftible  violence,  fwept  them  all 
away  *. — Are  we  not  in  the  condition  of  thofe  lupine 
fenfelefs  people,  fpoken  of  by  the  prophet  Zephaniah  ? 
It  fhall  com-e  to  pajs  at  that  day,  that  1  will  Jearch  fc- 
rujalem  luit/i  candles,  andpunifh  the  men  that  are  Jet  tied 
upon  their lees  ;  that  fay  in  their  heart,  The  LORD  will 
?iot  do  good,  neither  will  he  do  evil.  And  may  we  not 
juftly  expedi  their  awful  doom  r  Therefore  their  goods 
fliall  become  a  booty,  and  their  houjes  adefolation.  Their 
blood  fliall  be  poured  out  as  dujl,  and  their  Jicfh  as  the 
dung.  Neither  their  filver  nor  their  gold  fhall  be  able  to 
deliver  them,  in  the  day  of  the  L  0  R  D*s  'wrath;  but 
the  whole  land/hall  be  devoured  by  the  fire  of  hisjealuujy  |. 
As  a  farther  aggravation  of  our  crimes,  have  we 
not  been  incorrigible,  amidft  the  moft  compuHive  and 
the  moft  winning  motives  to  amendment  ? — We  have 

been 
*  Luke  xvii.  27.  -j-  Zeph.  i.  12.  &c. 

Trementi'ous  threat'ningi  black  as  night  it  jtands, 

Fierce  as  ten  furies,  terrible  us  hell, 

Andfl)akes  a  dnadful  dart;  MILTON, 

C  i  Even 


to  T    H    E      T    I    M    E  SER.  I. 

been  vifited  with  a  contagious  diflempcr  among  our 
cattle  ;  which,  we  are  apprehenlive,  might  have  in- 
troduced a  plague  among  the  human  race.  From  this 
fear  we  have  been  delivered  :  but  are  we  delivered 
from  our  evil  works,  and  have  we  renounced  all  un- 
godlinefs  : — Rebellion  broke  out  in  our  ifland  ;  threat- 
ring  to  overthrow  our  Protcflant  government,  and 
deprive  us  of  our  reformed  religion  ;  threatening  to 
deprive  us  of  our  liberty  and  its  privileges,  of 
our  peace  and  its  comforts.  The  florm  alib  was 
ibon  blown  over,  and  tranquillity  reftored  to  our  land. 
But  did  we  return  every  one  to  the  LORD  our 
GOD,  who  dealt  ib  gracioufly  with  us? — Earthquakes 
have  lhattered  other  kingdoms,  have  deftroyed  other 
cities  ;  while  they  only  admonifhed,  not  injured,  us 
and  ours.  Has  this  goodneis,  this  diftinguifhing  good- 
aieis  of  GOD,  led  us  to  repentance  \ — Were  we  not 
lately  preferved  from  the  mod  calamitous  of  all  tem- 
poral lofTes  ?  from  loling  the  precious  fruits  of  the 
earth.  When  the  corn  was  ripe  and  ready  for  the 
fickle,  who  can  forget  the  louring  fky,  and  the  de- 
icending  rains,  which  held  back  the  hufbandman's 
hand,  and  forbade  the  gathering  ?  A  few  more  days 
of  inch  unfeafonable  weather  had  inevitably  1'poiled 
the  produce  of  the  ground,  and  deftroyed  the  ftaff  of 
life.  But  divine  v Providence,  at  the  very  hour  of 
need,  retrained  the  immoderate  mowers  ;  bid  the  fun 
fhine  forth  with  peculiar  brightnefs ;  and  gave  us  the 
expected  weeks  of  the  harveft;  thus  refcuing  us 
from  famine,  perhaps  from  peftilence,  probably  from 
mutiny,  certainly  from  a  train  of  evils,  the  particu- 
lers  of  which  we  cannot  fo  much  as  imagine.  But  is 
there  not  too  much  ground  for  the  complaint,  fo  pa- 
thetically 

Even  the  dart  of  divine  indignation  over  a  guilty  land.  Yet 
>vho  is  awakened  from  a  fbre  of  indolence?  who  is  induced 
to  watch  and  pray  ?  who  falls  down  at  the  feet  of  JEHO- 
VAH, though  they  fee  his  wrath  enkindling,  and  hear  his 
terrors-denounced  ? 


SER.I.         O    F     D    A    N    G    E    R,  ai 

theticaliy  urged,  and  fo  frequently  repeated,  by  the 
prophet;.  Though  I  have  done  all  tins  for  you,  yet  have 
ye  not  returned  unto  me,  Jaith  the  LORD  *  f 

Behold,  now,  the  ft  ate  of  our  nation. — Our  fins 
abound,  and  are  grown  up  to  heaven  ; — fins  of  every, 
even  the  mod  horrid  kind  ;— lins  among  all  ranks, 
from  the  higheft  to  the  lovveit. — In  our  fins  we  per- 
fift,  though  wooed,  as  it  were,  with  the  choiceft  mer- 
cies ;  though  made  to  fmart  under  various  judgments ; 
though  threatened  with  far  more  afflictive  visitations. 
—  And  wiii  the  great,  the  mighty,  the  immortal  GOD, 
always  bear  with  fuch  a  people  ?  will  he  receive  the 
moft  horrible  indignities,  and  ftill,  (till  refrain  him- 
felf  ?  Surely  he  will  awake,  as  one  out  of  fleep'i 
furely  he  will  fay,  with  a  determined  indignation, 
jihl  /  "will  caje  me  of  mine  adverjaries,  and  avenge 
me  of  mine  enemies  f  / — Has  he  not  fhewed  us  evident 
tokens  of  his  diipleafure  I  is  he  not  filling  all  his  dif- 
penfations  with  marks  of  anger?  And  what,  O  what 
may  be  the  end  of  thefe  beginnings  !  how  doleful, 
how  deftruclive  !  unlefs  fovereign  grace  interpofe  ; 
bringing  us,  by  faith  in  the  S  O  N  of  GOD,  to  un- 
feigned repentance  and  newnefs  of  life. — Some  no- 
tion we  may  form  concerning  the  end  of  thefe  things 
by  unfolding  the  fecond  point  ; 

2.  The  judgments  of  GOD  denounced  on  fuch  fins. 
— Where  fuch  iniquities  prevail,  we  might  naturally 
conclude,  that  the  divine  indignation  is  awakeneti, 
and  the  divine  vengeance  lingereth  not.  Is  there  a 
GOD  ?  does  he  behold  the  children  of  men  ?  is  his 
nature  infinitely  pure  and  holy  ?  Surely  then  he  can- 
not, he  will  not  fuffer  the  moil  outrageous  violations 
of  his  fublimc  perfections  to  pafs  unpunifhed. — Thus 
we  might  argue  from  the  nature  of  G  O  D  ;  this  we 
might  conjecture  from  the  afpeft  of  things.  But  we 
have  a  more  fure  word  of  prophecy  ;  in  this  word, 
the  wrath  of  GOD  is  revealed  again/I  all  ungodlinefs 

and 
*  Amos,  iv,  6,  8,  9,  10,  ir.         -f  Ifa,  i.  24. 


i     H    E      T    1    M    E  SER.  I. 

and  nni -ighteoujticfs  of  me n  * .  And  fee  !  in  what  fla- 
ming colours,  by  what  frightful  images  this  wrath  is 
jcprefented,  theie  judgments  are  dcicribed. 

They  are  likened  to  a  lion  rending  his  prey.  The 
1.O11O  hath  been /<///<>  Ephraim  as  a  moth,  and  unto 
ihe  /iou/'f  of  Jima/i  as  a  worm.  He  hath  diipenicd 
jniider  corrections  ;  afflicting  them  in  meafure,  and 
xvith  holding  inferior  comforts.  His  judgments  xverc 
J.ke  a  moth  fretting  the  garment,  or  like  a  worm  cor- 
roding the  wood.  In  both  which  cafes  the  coniump- 
lion  creeps,  as  it  were  ;  the  xv ailing  operates  lilently, 
and  proceeds  {lowly.  Thus  the  chafiiiing  JEHOVAH 
aclted  ;  giving  the  people  fpace  for  recollection,  and 
looking  for  repentance  ;  but  no  repentance  was  pro- 
duced :  they  continued  irreclaimable,  adding  fin  to 
Jin. — Then  lays  the  L  O  I\  D,  /  will  be  unts  Ephraim 
as  a  lion;  which,  all  fierce  and  ravenous,  ruflies  up- 
on a  lonely  traveller.  I  xvill  now  come  forth,  as  an 
iucenfed  and  irrefiftible  adverfary,  and  be  as  a  roaring 
lion  to  the  honje  of  'Judah.  /,  even  1,  who  am  omni- 
potent, will  tear,  will  deftroy  them  with  a  mighty 
hand  ;  and  go  away,  fatiated  with  (laughter  and  ven- 
geance. /  will  take  away  both  prince  and  people  ;  I 
will  take  away  their  very  place  and  nation  ;  and  none 
Jhall  nave  power  to  effect,  or  courage  to  attempt  a 
rejcuc  •)-. — If  GOD  do  thus  to  perverie  and  incorrigi- 
ble Judah,  why  fhould  we  imagine  that  he  xvill  deal 
otherxviie  xvith  perverie  and  incorrigible  England  ? 

They  are  defcribod  by  a  flood.  Now  therefore  behold 
ihe  LOR  D  brin^eth  up  upon  them  the  waters  of  the  river, 
Jirong  and  many,  even  the  king  of  AJJyria  and  all  his 
glory  :  and  he  fhall  come  up  over  all  his  channels,  and 
r'0  over  all  his  banks.  And  he  fnall  paj's  thro9  Judah; 
he  fhall  overflow  and  go  over  ;  he  fhall  reach  even  to  the 
neck,  and  the  ft  retching  out  of  his  wings  fhall  fill  the 
trtadth  of  thy  'land,  0  ^1  MM  ANU EL\.  Thc,king 

of 

*  Rom.  i.  1 8.        -j-  Hof.  v.  12,  14.         £  If.  viii.  7,  8. 


SER.  I.        O    F      D    A    N    G"  E    R.  -3 

of  Aflyria  and  his  army,  determined  to  invade  Judah, 
are  fignified  by  the  waters  of  the  river,     Theie  the 
LORD  bringeth  up;  over-ruling  the  purpofes  of  am- 
bitious princes,  and  making  even  their  wicked  defigns 
fubfcrvient  to  liis  hc:y  will. — They  are,  like  the  wa- 
ters of  an  immenfe  flood,  ftrong  and many ;  their  mul- 
titude  innumerable,    and  their  force  unconquerable. 
For  they  (hall  come  with  all  their  glory ;   with  their 
choicefl  troops,  their  ableft  commanders,  and  their 
whole  warlike  artillery.   He  /hall  corns  up  over  all  his 
channels,  and  go  over  all  his  banks  :  from  all  parts  of 
his  vaft  dominion,  his  troops  (hall  be  afTembled  ;  each 
province  (hall  be  drained  of  its  braved  inhabitants  ; 
and  all  unite  to  render  this  expedition  one  of  the  molt 
formidable  that  ever  was  undertaken. — He  fhall  paff 
through} Judah;  not  only  make  inroads  upon  the  fron- 
tiers, but  pufli  his  way  through  the  country,   and  pe- 
netrate the  very  heart  of  the  kingdom.  He  (hall  over- 
flow ;  fpread  terror  and  defolation  on  every  fide,  and 
in  every  quarter.      He  jliall  go  over  villages,  towns, 
cities,  tribes  ;  and  bear  down  all   before  him.     He 
jhall  reach  even  to  the  neck  ;  his  ravages  (hall  extend 
even  to  the  royal  city,   to  the  very  gates  of  the  me- 
tropolis ;   threatening  deftruclion  to  the  palace  of  the 
king,  and  the  walls  of  the  temple.  Ylte  fi fetching  out 
of  his  -wings,   the  ieveral  detachments  and  parties  of 
his  victorious  army,  fliall  fill  the  breadth  of  the  land 
with  havock,  (laughter,  and  ruin  ;  evdn  of  thy  land\ 
O   I  MM  AN  U  EL.     Their  relation  ti>  thce  (hsli 
procure  no  favour,  mail  afford  no  protection.     They 
have  dilhonoured  that  goodly  name  wherewith  they 
were  called.     Therefore  that  goodly  name  (hall  no 
longer  (land  in  the  breach,  but   pour  itlelf  with  the 

torrent,    and  render  it  irreiiftible. Such  an  inunda* 

tion  of  judgments,  fo  terrible,  io  deft  ruclivc^  have  not 
we  deferred,  may  not  we  expect  ? 

Thcie  judgments  are  compared  to  fire,  and  to  the 
fkiccfl  of  fires,  that  which  glow  •  :"  i  ftt-nxcc,  "  The 

"  houfc 


24  T    H    E      T    I    M    E          SER.!, 

"  houfe  of  Ifrael  is  to  me  become  drofs,  ail  they  arc 
41  brais,  and  tin,  and  iron,  and  lead,  in  the  midft  of 
*'  the   furnace  ;   they   are   even  the  drofs  of  lilver. 
"  Therefore  thus  faith  the  LOUD  GOD,  becaufe  ye 
**  are  all  become  drofs,  behold,  therefore  I  will  ga- 
"  ther  you  into  the  midft  of  Jcrufalcm.     As  they  ga- 
*'  thcr  brnfs,  and  iron,  and  tin,  and  lead  into  the  midll 
41  of  the  furnace,  to  blow  the  fire  upon  it,  to  melt  it ; 
**  fo  will  I  gather  you,  in  mine  anger,  and  in  my  fu- 
u  ry  ;  and  1  will  leave  you  there  and  melt  you.  Yea, 
11  I  will  gather  you,  and  blow  upon  you  in  the  fire  of 
"  my  wrath,  ami  ye  (hali  be  melted  in  the  midft  thcre- 
"   of*."  Aftonifhing  words-!   And  they  are  doubled  ! 
y  are  redoubled  !    in  order  to  alarm  the  infenfible 
fnmers  :  as  the  fword,  by  being  brandifhed  in  many  a 
dreadful  circle,  over  the  criminal's  head,  ftrikes  terror 
into  his  cipprehenfions,  before  it  does  the  work  of  ven- 
geance on  his  heart. — This  generation  is  become  brafs, 
impudent  in  their  wickednefs.    They  have  a  whore's 
forehead  ;    they  cannot  blufh  at  their  iniquities,  but 
glory  in  their  (hame. —They  are  tin;  a  degenerate  race, 
children  that  are  corrupters.  They  have  forfaken  the 
good  old  way,  and  fwervcd  from  the  example  of  their 
fathers. — With  regard  to  hardnefs  of  heart,  they  are 
as  iron;  impenitent  amiclii  all  their  guilt  ;  obdinately 
tenacious  of  their  vices  ;  and  not  to  be  wrought  up- 
on by  any  addrefTes,   not  to  be  reclaimed  by  any  ex- 
pedients.— In  another  refpcft,  they  are  as  lead;  itupid 
and  fottifh  ;  pliable  to  evil,  but  for  any  good  purpofe 
unmeet,  to  every  good  work  reprobate. — Becaufe  they 
are  fo  exceedingly  fmful,  they  (ball  be  overtaken  by 
G  O  D's  anger,  and  furrounded  by  his  fury  ;  as  me- 
tals caft  into  the  inidjt  of  a  furnace,  are  furrounded 
with  the  raging  heat.     The  flame  of  this  wrath  (hall 
be  blown,  as  with   a  vehement  wind,  to  its  utmoit 
height.       In   this   furnace  they  (hall  be  left,  to  this 
wrath  they-fhall  be  abandoned;  till,  by  a  complication 

of 
*'  Ezc-k.  xxii.  1 8,  19,  20,  ax. 


SER.I.        OF     DANGER.  45 

of  afflictions,  refembling  the  complication  of  their 
vices,  they  are  overcome^  fubdued,  and  cvcnfnteltc?df 
fo  melted,  as  to  be  either  purged  from  the  drofs  of 
their  iniquities,  or  elie  blended  together  in  one  pro- 
miicuous  ruin, 

Theie  judgments  are  defcribed  by  the  terrible  repre- 
fcntation  of  an  end.  An  end  of  aifluence  and  proipe- 
rity,  of  which  \ve  have  gloried  :  an  end  of  power 
and  ftrength,  in  which  we  have  trufled  :  an  end  of 
all  national  blelfings^  which  we  have  not  improved  to> 
GOD's  honour,  but  turned  into  licentioufnefs.  1  hur 
laith  the  LORD  GOD,  An  end,  the  end  is  come  upon, 
the  four  corners  of  the  land.  The  j  word  is  without,  and 
the  pejlilence  and  the  famine  within :  he  that  is  in  thefield^ 
jhatl  die  with  the  Jword;  and  he  that  is  in  the  city^ 
pejlilence  and  famine /hall  devour  him  *.  For  this  we 
have  been  ripening,  by  an  unintermitted  cotirfe  of 
ungodlinefs  and  iniquity.  And  what  can  be  expected 
by  an  impenitent  people,  hating  to  be  reformed  ? 
What,  but  that  judgments,  which  have  long  been 
iafpended,  fliould  at  lad  be  inflicted  ?  An  end  is  come: 
— /'/  is  come  upon  the  land.  It  is  a  national  vifitation  ; 
not  confined  to  a  part,  but  extending  to  the  whole 
kingdom. — Upon  the  four  corners  of  the  land.  No  place 
fiiall  be  exempt ;  nothing  fecure  :  neither  that  which 
ieems  to  be  mod  fecret,  nor  that  which  lies  hioft  re- 
mote. The  vengeance  is  univerfal  and  inevitable. — - 
The  executioners  of  this  vengeance  take  their  (land, 
within  and  without,  at  home  and  abroad  ;  fo  that  to> 
'iy  from  one  is  only  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  another* 
He  that  is  in  the  field  (hall  find  no  way  to  efcape,  but 
Jhall  die  with  the  Jword.  He  that  is  in  the  city  lhall  ob- 
tain no  protection,  but  famine  and  pejlilence  fliall  de+ 
•.'our  him.  Every  city  mall  be  a  charnel-houfe,  and  e- 
very  field  a  field  of  blood.  In  city  and  country  fin 
has  prodigiouily  abounded  ;  therefore  in  city  and 

country 
*  Ezek.  vii.  2,  15. 

VOL.  V.  N*ai.  D 


26  T    HE     TIME  SER.I. 

country  devolution  fliall  be  made,  deaths  fhall  be  mul- 
tiplied, miferifs  lliall  al>ound. 

Thcic  are  fomc  of  the  images,  by  which  the  judg- 
ments and  the  wrath  of  GOD  are  repreiented  in  the 
fcriptures.  But  when  all  images  arc  uied,  when  fancy 
ill  elf  is  rxhauUed,  we  may  truly  cry  out  with  the  Pfal- 
miit,  f-P/io  knoiaeth  the  power  of  thine  anger*  f  If  GOD 
whet  his  glittering  I'word,  and  his  hand  take  hold  on 
judgment,  what  can  withftand  it,  or  who  can  iintain 
it  ?  If  his  wrath  be  kindled,  yea  but  a  little,  it  fliall 
conjume  t/ie  earth -with  h;r  increafe  ;  it  fliall  jet  on  fire 
f/ie  foundation  of  the  mountains,  and  burn  to  the  low- 
eft  hell  |. 

When  the  lion  has  roared,  fays  the  prophet,  "who  "will 
not  fear  ?  When  the  moil  high  GOD  has  fpoken  ; 
fpoken  fuch  terrible  things  in  righteoufnefs  ;  who  will 
not  lay  them  to  heart  ?  O  !  how  deep  is  that  deep  ; 
how  deadly  is  that  lethargy,  which  the  voice  of  him 
who  fhakes  the  heavens  does  neither  alarm  nor  awe  ! 

Left  you  fliould  begin  to  fay  within  yourfelves, 
Thefe  threatenings  are  applicable  only  to  the  Jews,  I 
proceed  to  (hew, 

3.  The  certain  execution  of  thefc,  or  fome  fuch 
judgments  on  us,  u'nlefs  we  fly  to  the  appointed  re- 
fuge. 

GOD  is  an  infinite  fpeaker.  In  his  word,  he  ad - 
dreffcs  himfelf  to  all  generations  of  men,  and  to  e- 
very  individual  of  the  human  kind,  where  his  holy 
revelation  is  made,  k  is  therefore  a  certain  rule,  that 
when  any  people,  enlightened  by  the  glorious  gofpel, 
become,  like  J^ruialem,  univerlally  and  incorrigibly 
corrupt  ;  they  do,  in  Jerufalem's  doom,  read  their 
ow  n . 

GOD  is  the  fame  yefterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever. 
He  remembereth  his  threatenings,  as  well  as  his  pro- 
miles,  to  a  thoufanci  generations.  Whatibever,  of  ei- 
ther 

*  ~Pfal,  »c.  it.  -\  Deu:.  xnxii.  22. 


SE  i  •  I.         OF      DANGER.  27 

ther  kind,  happened  to  our  forefathers)  happened  to 
them  as  enj ample  s  to  us.  And  whatjoever  "was  written 
aforetime,  was  -written  for  our  learning.  Obferve,  it 
was  written,  not  for  our  amufement,  but  for  Our 
learning  and  admonition  *  ;  that  we  may,  as  in  a  mir- 
ror, fee  our  own  picture  ;  and,  as  from  an  oracle, 
learn  our  own  deftiny. 

Is  it  not  in  a  manner  necciTary,  for  the  manifestation 
of  G  O  D's  inflexible  juftice,  and  his  unalterable  ha- 
tred of'  (in,  that  judgments  mould  take  their  couffe  ; 
when  iniquity  rears  its  head,  and  refufcs  to  be  con- 
trolled ?  At  liich  a  juncture  does  not  every  one  of  the 
divine  attributes  cry  aloud,  0  LORD  GOD,  to  who/a 
vengeance  -belongeth ;  thoit  GOD,  to  "whom  vengeance 
belongeth,  /hew  thyfelf. — And  how  can  the  j;iitice  :>f 
GOD,  with  regard  to  a  wicked  nation,  be  fliewn,  but 
by  executing  his  vengeance  upon  them,  in  temporal 
calamities  : 

Confidcr,  Sirs,  the  very  effence  of  nations  and  poli- 
tical communities  is  temporal,  purely  temporal.  They 
have  no  duration,  no  exiftence,  but  in  this  world. 
Hereafter  iinners  will  be  judged  and  punifhcd  fingly, 
and  in  a  peribnal  capacity  only.  How  then  ihall  He, 
who  it  ruler  among  the  nations,  maintain  the  dignity  of 
his  government  over  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  but 
l>y  inflicting  national  fjuniihments,  for  national  provo- 
cations; and,  for  final  impenitence,  total  destruction  ? 

Belides,  has  not  the  LORD  always  acted  in  this 
manner  ?  Go  hack  to  the  generations  of  old.  Con- 
template Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  the  cities  about 
them  ;  well  watered  every  where,  even  as1  the  garden 
of  the  LOUD.  Yet  this  fruitful  land  is  made  barren > 
thole  populous  cities  are  turned  into  zftics^fortheiuick- 
ednejs  of  them  t/i.'it  dwelt  therein  |;  for  their  pride  and 
idlencfs  ;  for  their  voluptuous  and  wanton  indulpen 
cies.  For  -which  things  Jake  the  lur&h  of  GOD 

only 

*  i  Cor.  x.  it.  -j-  Pfa).  cvii,  ^ 

D  2 


98  T    H    E      T    I    M    E  SER.  I, 

only  has  come,  in  former  ages,  and  in  diftant  nations  ; 
but  in  every  age  cometh,  and  in  every  nation  will 
come  upon  the  children  of  dij  obedience  *. 

Pafs  over  to  Babylon,  the  grandeft  city  that  the 
fun  ever  beheld  ;  which  fet  calamity  at  defiance,  lay- 
ing in  her  heart,  /  fliall  be  a  lady  for  ever  \.  How  is 
(he  fallen  !  Jwept  with  the  bffom  of  deftruttion  \l  Not 
ib  much  as  a  trace  or  footflep  of  her  ancient  glory 
left  !  And  fhall  we  be  fafe,  when  thofe  very  iniquities 
prevail  among  us,  which  razed  the  foundations  of  the 
Babylonian  metropolis,  and  overthrew  the  magnifi- 
cence of  the  Babylonian  monarchy  ? 

Take  a  view  of  Conftantinople,  once  the  moft  flou- 
rifhing  ChrifUan  city  in  the  world  ;  where  the  firft 
ChriiHan  emperor  filled  the  throne,  and  Chryfoftom, 
that  great  Chriftian  orator,  the  pulpit.  Then  it  wasglo- 
rioufly  enlightened  with  the  knowledge  of  JESUS 
CHRIS  T.  Grace  and  truth  dwelt  in  it  ;  and  the 
beauties  of  holinefs  adorned  it.  But  now  the  candle- 
flick  is  removed.  It  is  now  given  up  to  infidelity  and 
barbarity  ;  is  now  f  ull  of  darknefs,  and  cruel  habitations. 

Come  hither  then,  ye  carcleis  ones,  and  fee  what 
defolations  fin  has  made  in  the  earth.  On  account  of 
fin  Sodom  was  coniumed,  as  in  a  moment  ;  Babylon 
is  totally  deftroyed  j|  j  Conftantinople  has  loft  her  glo- 


*  Col.  iii.  6.  ^  If.  xlvii.  7.  :p  If.  xiv.  23. 

||  Will  any,  raifed  in  their  o\vn  conceit  above  the  vulgar  le- 
vel, neglect  thefe  admonitions  with  a  finile  pf  difdain  ?  Becaufe 
they  can  aflign  the  ffcond  cavfis  of  fome  fuch  evils,  as  have 
been  defcribed,  will  they  therefore  qniet  their  fpirits,  amidd 
the  alarming  profpecl  of  judgments  from  heaven  ?—  They  have 
heard  (I  make  no  doubt)  that  a  midnight-debauch  in  Babylon, 
nnd  a  popular  iedition  in  Jernfalem,  left  the  gates  of  the  for- 
mer open  to  Cyrus,  and  the  walls  of  the  latter  without  defence 
to  Vefpafian.  Perhaps  they  will  fuppofe,  that  thr  overthrow 
of  Sodom  was  occafioned  by  the  fhock  of  an  earthquake;  and 
that  the  fire  from  heaven  was  produced  by  fulphureous  exha- 
Jatipns. 

Be 


SER.L          OF      DANGER.  29 

ry.     And  will  the  LORD,  the  LORD  GOD,  who 

is  unchangeably  juft  and  holy ;  will  he  fpare  that  in 
one  people  which  he  has  fo  feverely  corrected  in  ano- 
ther ?  He  that  chajlifeth  the  Heathen,  /hall  not  he  pit- 
nifli  us,  when  we  do  according  to  all  their  abomi- 
nations ? 

Have  we  a  licence  to  .fin  with  impunity  ?  are  our  fins 
lefs  hainous  than  thole  of  other  people  ?  quite  the  re- 
verfe.  Confidering  the  many  bleflings  which  we  en- 
joy as  a  nation  ;  the  many  deliverances  we  have  enjoy- 
ed as  a  Proteftant  nation  ;  the  numberlels  advantages 
for  religious  knowledge  and  religious  practice,  which 
we  both  have  enjoyed,  and  do  enjoy  above  ail  the  na- 
tions on  earth; — confidering  thele  circumflances,  our 
wickedneis  is  highly  aggravated ;  it  is  become  exceed- 
ing (inful ;  it  overpafjes  the  deeds  *  of  the  moll  aban- 
doned Heathens.  What  then  can  prevent  our  ruin? 

Will  you  reply,  **  We  faft,  and  humble  ourfelves 

u  before 

Be  the  premiffes  ever  fo  certain,  is  there  any  thing  rational 
jn  the  conclusion  ?  Is  not  what  we  term  the  co^urfe  of  nature, 
the  incefiant  adminiftration  of  providence?  are  not  many  of 
its  ordinary  appearances  very  evident  indications  of  a  righ- 
teous and  holy  government,  unalterably  determined  to  punifh 
fin  ?  The  poverty  and  ignominy  of  the  lazy  vagabond  ;  the 
liifeafes  of  the  debauchee,  and  the  diflreffes  ot  thefpendthrift; 
are  thele  lefs  nianifefi  figns  of  divine  difpleaiure,  becaufe  they 
are  the  immediate  effeds  of  an  evil  conclude  ?  are  they  not  as 
certainly  \.^Q  judicial^  the  penal,  as  they  are  th-e  natural  con- 
fequcnces  of  vice  ? 

Let  thofe  therefore  who  fear  no  judgments,  compare  caufes 
and  events.  If  felfifiinels,  avarice,  and  venality;  if  indolence, 
luxury,  and  prodigality;  if  youth  without  principles,  tradef- 
men  without  honeity,  and  nobles  without  honour  ;  if  thefe  arc 
allowed  to  be  either  provoking  immoralities  or  fatal  iymp- 
toms,  I  fear  the  ruin  of  England  cannot  be  far  off.  GOD 
Almighty  grant  we  minifters  may  not  accelerate  the  fall  of 
our  country,  by  neglecting  to  warn  every  man,  and  exhort 
every  man,  to  the  great  evangelical  duty  of  BELIEVING; 
in  order  to  promote  national  reformation,  and  to  efcape  na- 
uqnal  deftru&ion.  *  Jer.  v.  28. 


5o  T    H    E     T    I    M    E  SER.I. 

4-  before  the  LORD  ?"— I  afk,  Do  we  fa  ft  from  fin  ? 
arc  our  fail-days  the  beginning  of  a  gofpel- re  forma- 
tion ?  When  we  abftain  from  our  daily  bread,  do  we 
turn  by  faith  to  JESUS  CHRIST  ;  that  eating  his 

./,  \(>e  may  live  thro*  him  *  f 

Jive  in  hoiinels  here,  and  live  in  glory  hereafter,  by 
applying  his  immaculate  righteoufnefs  to  our  fouls. 
— If  this  is  the  cafe,  we  may  entertain  reviving  hopes. 
The  fcripture  fpeaks  eood  words,  and  comfortable 
words,  to  iiich  people  ;  be  their  condition  ever  fo  vile, 
or  their  guilt  ever  fo  great. — But  alas  1  are  we  not 
jult  the  fame  peribns  the  day  after  our  fait  as  we  were 
before?  as  v-^n  in  our  converfation,  and  as  forgetful 
of  G  OD  ?  as  fond  of  folly,  and  as  negligent  of  di- 
vine grace  ?  as  mad  upon  our  idols,  of  carnal  gratifi- 
cation ;  and  worldly  gain  ? — if  fo,  our  falls  are  not  aa 
acceptable,  no,  nor  a  reasonable  fcrvice  ;  but  a  mere 
mockery  of  the  omnifcient  Majefty.  May  he  not  juft- 
ly  ufethat  upbraiding  expoflulation  ?  Will  ye  Jleal,  and 
commit  adult  ry,  and  Jwear  faljely,  and  walk  after  other 
gods^  ferving,  not  the  LOUD  JEHOVAH,  but  divers 
Jails  and  pleafures ;  and  then,  with  hypocritical  devo- 
tion, Jland  before  me  in  this  houje^  which  is  called  by 


44 


44 


Perhaps  you  are  ready  to  alledge,  ct  Our  alms  will 
a  deliver  is.  The  fon  of  Sirach  exhorts  us,  to  fnut 
up  alms  in  our  flore  -houfes  ;  and  affures  us,  that  they 
fliall  fight  for  us  agathft  our  enemies,  better  than  a 
mighty  Ji.itld'  and  JtroKg  (pear\.  And  when  was 
there  a  greater  flow  of  beneficence  obfervable  in 
our  own,  or  in  any  land  ?  What  fums  have  been 
<4  given  to  the  poor  during  this  fcvere  ieaibn  of  cold 
44  and  icarcity  !  wiirt  hofpitals  of  various  forts,  and 
44  otlicr  charitable  foundations,  have  been  let  on  foor, 
44  and  are  fupported  through  the  kingdom  !"  —  Let  us 
beware,  brethren,  left  thofe  very  things,  which  we 
look  upon  as  our  recommendation,  (liould  prove  an  of- 

fence 

*  John  vi.  57.     4-  Jer.  vii.  9.  ic.    ±  Ecchis.  xxix.  t2,  13, 


SER.I.        OF     DA   N    G    E    R.  31 

fence.  If  our  alms  proceed  not  from  faith  in  JESUS 
CHRIST,  and  an  unfeigned  zeal  for  the  glory  of  GOD; 
if  they  are  not  accompanied  with  a  Ipirit  of  love  to 
his  name,  and  with  a  courfe  of  obedience  to  hi;-, 
commands;  hear  what  the  LORD  himfelf  lays 
concerning  ilich  works  ;  fee  what  a  figure  they  make 
in  his  light ;  and  then  judge,  whether  they  are  likely 
to  be  a  fecurity  to  our  land.  "  1  hate,  I  defpife  your 
"  feaft-days,  and  I  will  not  fmell  in  your  ibiemn  ai'- 
Cl  feniblies.  Tho'ye  offer  me  burnt-offerings,  and  your 
"  meat-offerings,  I  will  not  accept  them  ;  neither  will  I 
u  regard  the  peace-oiferings  of  your  fat  beafh.  Take 
"  thou  away  from  me  the  noife  of  thy  longs  ;  for  I 
u  will' not  hear  the  melody  of  thy  viols."  Hymns  of 
praife,you  fee,  are  no  other  than  a  noife  in  the  LORD's 
car  ;  the  moil  coflly  lervices  of  religion  are  no  better 
than  zfrnoke  in  his  noftrils  ;  unlefs  judgment,  and  the 
love  of  GOD,  run  down  as  a  river  ;  tvnlels  righteouf- 
nefs,  and  the  faith  of  CHRIST,  abound  as  a  mighty 
fir  earn  *. 

Do  you  dill  conceit  yourlelves,  that,  becaufc  there 
are  many  righteous  peribns  remaining,  they  will  (tanci 
inthc  gap  ;  they  will  turn  away  the  a^ngerof  the  LORD, 
and  be  as  the  chariots  of  Urael,  and  the  horiemen  of 
Ilrael,  to  our  endangered  itate  \ — Here  what  a  charge 
thefupreme  JEHOVAH  gave  to  his  prophet,  when 
the  provocations  of  Ifrael  wcr?  rii'en  to  a  very  high 
pitch  :  Pray  not  thou  for  this  people,  neither  lift  up  cry 
nor  prayer  for  them,  ;;•.  it  her  ;nak  s  intertieffivn  to  me  :  for 
I  "Mill  not  hear  thee^'.  Amazing"  and  awful  prohibi- 
tion !  Yet  it  is  repeated  again  and  again;. — God's  pro- 
tefling  people  may,  by  their  exceliive  wickcdnefs,  be- 
come fo  infufterably  loathfomc,  that  were  the  greateffc 
iaints  to  make  iupplication  in  their  behalf,  they  fhould 
not  prevail.  Though  Noah,  Daniel,  and  Job,  men 
mighty  in  prayer,  and  zealous  for  the  welfare  of  their 
neighbours  ;  though  thcfe  three  men  (who  had  each, 

by 

*  Amos  v.  21,  22,  23,  24,  -f  Jer*  Vil-  J^' 

^  Jer.  xi.  14.  &  xiv.  n. 


gs  T    II    E      T    I    M    E  S£R.  i. 

by  his  fingle  interceflion,  procured  blcilings  from  hea- 
ven) \\vrc-  uniting  their  petitions  \n  the  midJt  of  this 
profligate  generation  ;  (is  I  //i'<f,  faith  the  LORD 
G  0  D,  thrv  Iti'ill  deliver  neither  Jons  nor  daughters ; 
they  only /hall  b>j  delivered,  but  the  land  fh  all  be  defolate  * . 

The  land /hall  be  dejoiatc. — Doleful  found  !  difmal 
decree  !  And  has  it  not  long  ago  been  carried  into  ex- 
ecution ?  Was  not  Jeruialem  ploughed  as  a  field,  and 
trodden  down  by  the  Gentiles  ?  are  not  the  inhabitants 
rooted  out  of  their  dwellings,  and  {battered  to  all  the 
ends  of  the  earth  ?  while  their  country  is  given  up  for 
a  prey  and  for  a  poffcflion  to  Grangers,  to  infidels,  to 
Turks. 

Perhaps  you  will  fay,  '*  The  Jews  crucified  the 
u  LORD  of  glory,  and  rejected  his  gofpel  :  therefore 
41  wrath  came  upon  them  to  the  uttermcft."— And  are 
tuf  innocent  in  this  refpecl  ?  are  not  we  verily,  are  not 
we  greatly  guilty  concerning  this  thing  ?  Is  CHRIST 
received  into  the  hearts  of  men,  with  deep  adoration 
of  his  perfon,  as  1MMANUEL,  GOD  with  us?  do 
they  glory  and  delight  themfelves  in  his  complete  re- 
demption, as  finifht'd  by  the  great  GOD  and  our  SA- 
VIOUR ?  do  they  confide  in  him  alone  for  their  jollifi- 
cation, as  an  infinite  Surety,  and  as  JEHOVAH  our 
righteoufnefs  :  do  they  depend  on  him  alone  for  their 
fariclification,  as  JESUS,  who  iaves  his  people  from 
their  fins,  and  fanclifies  them  through  his  blood .?  do 
they  count  all  things  but  dung,  for  the  excellency  of 
CHRIST,  and  his  incomprehcnfible  merit  ? — Alas  ! 
is  not  his  gofpel,  though  the  light  of  the  world,  dff- 
regarded  and  defpiied  ?  is  not  his  name,  though  a  name 
above  every  name,  derided  and  blafphemed  ?  are  not 
the  influences  of  his  eternal  S  P  I  R  I  T,  though  the 
very  life  of  our  fouls,  exploded  and  ridiculed  ?  They 
who  would  exalt  the  SAVIOUR,  would  make  c- 
vcry  fheaf  bow  down  to  the  R  E  D  E  E  M  E  P.'s  re- 

pretending 

*  Eask.  xi v.  t4. 


SER.L        OF     DANGER.  $$ 

prcfenting  him  as  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  begin- 
ning and  the  ending,  in  the  faivation  of  finners ;  thofe 
preachers,  thofe  writers,  thofe  believers,  are  treated 
as  the  foolifli  people  that  dwell  in  Sichem  *. 

What  the  Jews  did  through  ignorance,  we,  who 
call  ourfelves  Chriftians,  fcnglifhmen,  Proteftants ;  we 
do  knowingly,  wilfully,  and  of  malicious  wickednefs. 
And  if  we  thus  trample  upon  the  blood  which  alone 
can  fcreen  us  ;  if  we  thus  crucify  afreih  that  JESUS 
who  is  our  only  hope  ;  what  can  we  look  for,  but 
vengeance  and  fiery  indignation  ?  If  we  ourfelves,  with 
our  own  hands,  demolifh  the  only  barrier,  what  can 
enfue,  but  an  inundation  of  wrath,  tribulation,  and 
anguifh  ? 

Conlider  thefe  things,  brethren.  The  LORD  en- 
able you  to  difcern  the  figns  of  the  times !  Then  you 
will  acknowledge,  that  we  have  reafon  to  be  alarmed., 
to  tremble,  to  be  horribly  afraid. — Are  not  thefe  ini- 
quities the  Achans,  that  will  affuredly  bring  diilrefs 
and  trouble,  if  not  deftruction,  upon  our  country  ? 
are  not  thefe  iniquities  the  Jonahs,  that  will  awaken 
the  divine  difpleaiure,  and  deliver  up  our  veflel  to  the 
tempeft,  if  not  to  (hipwreck  ? 

Is  any  one  difpoicd  to  fay  within  himfclf,  "  Though 
<c  others  may  be  guilty  of  thefe  flagrant  iniquities, 
"  yet  am  not  I  :" — Remember,  my  friend,  the  pro- 
phfjt  Ifaiah.  He  Was,  at  leaft,  as  free  from  thefe  fla- 
grant iniquities  as  yourftlf.  Yet  he  laments,  and  with 
painful  apprehenfions,  the  guilt  of  his  countrymen, 
as  well  as  his  own  "f .—  Remember  king  Jofiah.  Tho' 
a  holy  man  and  a  juft,  he  rent  his  clothes,  and  trem- 
bled at  GOD's  word  denouncing  vengeance  againft  an 
irreligious  people  £. 

Conlider  alfo,  whether  you  have  not  been  an  accef- 
fary,  even  where  you  was  not  the  principal.  Though 
you  have  not  joined  with  the  more  profligate  finners, 

nor 

*  Ecclus.  1.  26.      -j-  If.  vi.  5.      %  2  Kings  xxft.  12,  i?r 
VOL.  V.  N°ai.  E 


$4  T    H    E      T    I    M    £  SEI.I. 

nor  Tut  in  the  feat  of  the  fcornful  ;  yet  have  you  not 
connived  at  their  impiety  ?  Do  their  affronts  offered 
to  the  King  of  heaven  roufc  you  into  a  becoming  zeal 
to  vindicate  his  injured  honour  ?  or,  becaitfe  iniquity 
has  abounded,  is  not  your  love,  and  the  love  of  many 
waxed  cold  *  f  Have  not  the  difciplcs,  even  the  dif- 
tiples  of  JESUS,  been  cowards  and  traitors  ;  while 
others  have  been  profcflcd  enemies  and  rebels  ? 

Belides,  have  not  you,  have  not  I,  have  not  all  con- 
tributed, in  many,  many  inftances,  to  {"well  the  fcore 
of  national  provocations  ?  Is  not  every  fin  a  difobe- 
dience  of  GODrs  molt  holy  command  ?  is  not  every 
IMI  a  defiance  of  his  uncontrollable  authority  ?  is  not 
every  fin  an  imitation  of  the  devil  ?  does  it  not  create 
a  kind  of  hel-1  in  the  heart  ?  muft  it  not  therefore  be 
inconceivcably  odious  to  the  holy,  holy,  holy  LORD 
GOD  of  Sabaoth  f — If  fo,  how  guilty  are  the  very 
heft  among  us  ?  Is  not  this  accurjed  thing  f  found  in- 
all-  our  tents  ?  Has  not  every  one  added  to  the  load, 
that  dreadful  load,  which  is  likely  to  fink  the  nation 
in  ruin  ?  Should  not  every  one,  therefore,  Imite  up-* 
on  his  breaft,  and  fay,  with  the  penitent,  What  have 
I  done  I  and  cry  with  the  publican,  GOD  be  merciful 
fo  me  a  finncr  ! 

Will  you  ftill  flatter  yourfelf?  "  All  thefe  judg- 
<c  ments  may  be  delayed  :  they  may  not  come  in  my 
"  time."— I  anfwer,  If  there  be  any  truth  in  GOD's 
word  ;  if  any  conjecture  is  to  be  made  from  the  ap- 
pearance of  things  ;  thefe  judgments  are  near  ;  they 
are  at  the  door.  They  are  like  the  axe  in  the  execu- 
tioner's hand,  which  has  been  poifed,  has  received  its 
3aft  elevation,  and  is  now  falling  on  the  criminal's 
week. — Yet,  if  thefe  (hould  be  vvith-held  fora  feafon, 
will  not  ficknefs  come  upon  you  ?  are  not  many  dif* 
afters  lying  in  ambufti  to  icize  you  ?  is  not  death 
Sharpening  his  arrow ;  perhaps  fitting  it  to  the  firing; 

or 
*  MciKh,  xx iv,  12.  -f  Jofli,  vi.  ;8, 


I.        OFDANGER.  35 

or  even  aiming  at  your  life  ?  Is  not  the  day,  the  dread- 
ful day  approaching,  when  the  mout  of  the  archan- 
gel and  the  trump  of  GOD  will  be  heard  ;  when  the 
dead  fhall  arife,  and  heaven  and  earth  fiee  away  ?  will 
not  the  LORD,  the  LORD  GOD  omnipotent 
quickly  come,  u  with  ten  thouiands  of  his  faints,  to 
4C  execute  judgment  upon  all,  and  to  convince  all  that 
"  are  ungodly,  of  all  their  ungodly  deeds,  which  they 
"  have  ungodlily  committed  ;  and  of  all  their  hard 
41  fpeeches,  which  ungodly  tinners  have  fpoken  a- 
"  gainlt  him  *  ?" 

Take  then,  my  dear  hearers,  take  the  advice  of  the 
greateft  of  preachers,  and  the  wifeft  of  men  ;  The  pru- 
dent fore  feet  h  the  evil,  and  hideth  himfslf  \. — Behold  ! 
the  rains  are  defcending,  and  the  lioqd  is  coining  ; 
haften  like  Noah,  haft  en  to  your  ark.  See  !  the  ikies 
are  kindling  all  around,  and  the  (hafts  of  vengeance 
are  ready  to  fly.  Make  hafte,  Oh  !  make  haite,  and 
delay  not  the  time,  to  get  into  a  hiding-place. — Let 
me  found  in  your  ears  the  angel's  admonition  ;  and 
may  the  LORD  of  angels,  may  the  Friend  of  tinners, 
convey  it  to  your  hearts !  EJcaye  for  your  lives,  left  ye 
ie  conjumed  :  left  the  judgments  of  GOD,  and  the 
wrath  of  GOD,  more  to  be  feared  than  a  deluge  of 
waters,  more  to  be  feared  thrn  a  torrent  of  flames, 
iiirround  you  fuddenJy, — ieizc  you  unavoidably, — and 
overwhelm  you  in  ruin,  temporal  and  eternal. 

O  that  I  might  -prevail  !  O  that  GQD  would  make 
ou  fentible  of  your  peril  1  O  that  man,  woman,  and 
child,  would  afk,  "  How  (hail  1  fly  from  die  wrath 
11  to  come?  where  (hall  1  be  fafe  in  the  day  of  vifit^- 
:c  lion  ?  Shew  me  the  ark  !  (hew  me  the  refuge  !" — 
I  mould  then,  with  great  fatisfa&ion,  proceed  to  an- 
iwer  this  inquiry  ;  and  point  out  CHRIST  to  your 
ibuls,  as  the  only  hiding- place, as  thefure  hiding-place, 
where  you  may  certainly  find  fafety.  But  this  muft 
be  the  bufmefs,  the  plealing  bufmefs  of  my  next  dif-. 
•courfc*  H  2  Let 

*  jude,  ver.  14,  15.  -f  Prov.  xxii.  3. 


35  T    H    E      T    I    M    E,     &c.      Sin.  I. 

Let  me  bcfeech  you,  in  the  mean  time,  to  lay  thefe 
alarming  truths  to  heart:  let  them  imprefs  your  con- 
fciences  !  let  them  penetrate  your  fouls !  And  O  thou 
gracious,  thou  almighty  LORD  GOD,  do  thou  com- 
mand them  to  fink  deep  into  all  our  minds  :  that  we 
may,  with  Ezra  thy  pried,  fit  down  aftiamed  andajlo- 
ni/hed  *,  under  a  icnfe  of  our  manifold  iniquities  : — 
That  we  may,  with  thy  fervant  Job,  abhor  our/elves, 
and  repent  in  duft  and  a/hes  f : — That  we  may,  in  the 
words,  and  with  the  compunction  of  thy  prophet, 
every  one  cry  out,  Wo  is  me,  for  I  am  undone  :  be- 
caufe  I  am  a  man  of  unclean  lips  ;  and  I  dwell  in  the 
mid/}  of  a  people  of  unclean  lips  £ , 

*  Ezra.  ix.  3.  f  Job  xlii.  6.  ^  If.  vi.  5, 


SER- 


SERMON     II, 

The  Means  of  Safety. 


HEB.  xi.  28. 

through  faith  he  kept  the  pafjouer^  and  the  fprinkling 
of  blood^  left  he  that  deflroyed  the  firft-borny  flwuld 
touch  them. 

WE  have  been  confidering  the  danger  of  our  na- 
tion occaiioned, — by  the  fin  of  its  inhabitants, 
— by  the  judgme nts  of  G  OD,  denounced  againft  inch 
finners, — by  the  certain  execution  of  his  righteous 
threatenings,  unlefs  we  fly  to  the  appointed  refuge. — 
"When  fuch  is  the  ftate  of  a  nation,  it  is  high  time  for 
the  watchmen  on  her  walls  to  lift  up  their  voice  ; 
not  indeed  to  fpread  vain  terrors,  but  to  give  notice 
of  the-  approaching  evil ;  to  warn  the  unwary  ;  to  call 
in  the  ftragglers  ;  and  urge  every  one  to  retire  into 
a  place  of  fafety. 

Having,  in  the  preceding  difcourfe,  attempted  to 
difcharge  this  office  ;  I  mail  now,  brethren,  as  in  the 
prefence  of  the  all- feeing  GOD,  afk, — Have  we  been 
attentive  to  thefe  things  ;  are  we  alarmed  with  a  fenfe 
of  our  guilt  and  our  peril  ?  have  we,  with  the  pro- 
phet Ifaiah,  lamenterl  our  own,  and  the  fins  of  our 
people  ? — If  ib,  we  (hall  highly  prize,  we  fhall  ardent- 
ly defire,  the  fame  confolation,  and  trie  fame  relief, 
which  the  G  O  D  of  infinitely-free  goodnefs  vouch- 
fafed  to  his  fervant.  Then  flciu  one  of  the  Jcraphinis 
Unto  ?xcy  having  a  Hue  coal  in  his  hand^  which  he  had 

taken 


$6  T    H    E     M    E    A    N    S        SEE.  II. 

taken  from  off  the  altar,  and  lie  I  aid  it  upon  my  mouth  *: 
au  a«!lion  which  rcprefents  the  very  thing  Signified  in 
the  text  by  thejprinkling  of  blood. 

The  altar  typified  CHRIST;  who  is  both  the  fa- 
crifice  tli.it  makes  the  atonement,  and  the  altar  that 
fandifies  the  gift.'— The  live  coal  ieems  to  betoken  the 
word  of  grace,  and  the  word  of  life  ;  which  brings 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  go i pel,  and  tcftifies  of  the 
bleeding  JESUS. — Laying  this  upon  the  mouth,  very 
Significantly  denotes  the  application  of  CHRIST  and 
his  great  atonement.  When  this  is  done,  under  the 
influence  of  the  S  1J I  R  1  T,  and  by  means  of  faith, 
then  iniquity  is  taken  away,  and  fin  purged;  taken  a- 
•way  from  the  fight  of  GOD,  and  purged  from  the 
Dinner's  conference.  Guilt  is  abolithed  ;  fear  ceaies. — 
jBut  this  leads  us  to  our  iecond  particular, 

II.  The  method  of  fecurity  from  danger,  effected 
by  keeping  the  pajjbver,  andjprinkling  the  blood. 

Mofes  was  apprised  of  a  dreadful  vengeance  to  be 
infiicled  on  Egypt ;  the  moft  dreadful  that  ever  was 
known  iince  the  beginning  of  their  nation  ;  ib  dread- 
ful, that  it  would  make  every  ear  tingle,  and  eVery 
heart  bleed.  The  deftroying  angel  was  to  pafs  thro" 
all  the  territories  of  Pharaoh,  and  fmite  every  firit- 
born  both  of  man  and  beaft  ;  ib  that,  before  the  morn- 
ing, there  fliould  be  heaps  of  (lain  in  the  cities,  the 
villages,  the  fields ;  not  a  houfe  exempt,  not  a  family 
ipared,  not  a  herd,  nor  a  flock,  free  from  the  fatal 
calamity. 

Mofes  feared  the  blow.  He  feared,  as  the  text  in- 
timates, the  leaft  touch  of  the  divine  executioner's 
fword;  knowing  that  it  would  ciufh.  him  and  his  peo- 
ple, as  a  moth  is  cruflied  by  the  falling  millftone.  He 
is  therefore  greatly  felicitous  to  provide  for  their  wel- 
fare. But  what  expedient  (hall  he  ufe  ?  Shall  he  give 
them  orders  to  clofc  their  windows,  and  bar  their 

d oci: ; 

*  If.  V!.  7. 


OER.  fl.        6    F     S    A    f    £    T    Y.  3$ 

doors  ;  to  erect  fortifications,  and  ftand  upon  their  de- 
fence ?  Alas  !  before  an  invifible  hand,  armed  vvitli 
the  vengeance  of  heaven,  all  fuch  precantions  would 
have  been  as  a  fpark  before  the  whirlwind. — Shall  he 
ailemble  the  warriors,  or  detach  parties  of  foldiers  tor 
patrole  the  ftreets.  and  guard  the  houfes  ?  Vanity  of 
vanities  !  the  fword  of  the  avenging  angel  wouM 
pierce  through  legions  and  legions  of  iuch  guards,  as 
lightening  penetratesthe  yieldingair. — Shall  the  wholr 
congregation  bend  their  knees,  with  folcmn  confeflion 
of  their  fins,  and  fmcere  relblutions  of  future  amend- 
ment ?  This,  though  abfolutely  neceffary  to  be  done, 
was  extremely  improper  to  be  relied  on.  It  would 
have  been  relying  on  a  broken  reed,  and  defpifmg  the* 
ordinance  of  the  HOLY  ONE. 

The  LORD  hrmlelf  appoints  a  method  of  prefer - 
vation.  Moles  is  directed  to  Hay  a  larnb.  Each  fa- 
mily in  Ifrael  is  to  do  the  fame.  Having  received  the 
blood  into  a  bafon,  they  are  to  fprinkle  it,  not  on  the 
threihold,  but  on  the  lintel  and  fide -ports  of  their 
doors.  This  fhatl  be  a  iign  to  the  deftroying  angeL 
Looking  upon  this  fign,  he  will  pafs  over  the  houfe  5 
will  ftrike  no  blow,  and  execute  no  vengeance,  where- 
ever  he  fees  the  blood  fprinkled. — All  this,  in  purfu- 
r.nce  of  the  divine  direction,  being  performed  ;  with 
faith  and  tranquillity,  they  wait  the  event. 

You  will  fay,  perhaps,  What  is  all  this  to  us  ?  I  an- 
iWer,  It  is  a  pattern  for  our  imitation. — Are  we  then 
to  do  the  very  fame  thing  : — We  are  to  do  what  their 
practice  typified.  The  fhadoxv  was  theirs,  the  fub- 
itance  is  ours.  The  blood  of  the  lamb  typified  the 
blood  of  CHRIST,  who  is  the  LAMB  of  GOD,  (lain 
for  the  fins  of  the  world.— By  Ihc  blood  of  CHRIST' 
is  frequently  fignified  in  fcripture  the  iuholf  *  merit  of 
his  life  and  death,  of  his  actions  and  lufferings,  of  his 

trials 

*  Being  jufllfied  by  his  Mood,  Rom.  v.  9.     That  is,  being 
pardoned,  being  made  righteous,  and  heirs  of  sit  Ipiritual  blel- 


40  T    II    E      M    E    A    N    S        SER.  II, 

trials  and  graces  :  which  fatisficd  GO  D's  juflice,  and 
magnified  GOD's  law  ;  which  made  propitiation  for 
iniquity,  and  brought  in  an  everlafling  righteoufncfs. 
—Well  does  the  apodle  call  it  precious  blood.  Un- 
fj>e:ikably  precious  are  its  etiecls.  It  appeafes  the 
\\iv.ih  of  GOD  revealed  from  heaven,  and  makes 
peace  between  the  offended  CREATOR,  and  the 
oftVnding  creature.  Sprinkled  on  the  confcience,  it 
takes  away  all  guilt,  and  iecures  from  all  vengeance. 
—  This,  therefore,  my  brethren,  this  blood  is  our  fe- 
curity.  This  is  to  our  fouls,  what  the  blood  of  the 
pafchal  lamb  was  to  the  liraelitifh  families.  The  name 
of  the  LORD,  the  grace  and  goodnefs  of  G  O  D, 
manifeitcd  in  the  death  and  obedience  of  CHRIST^ 
.•;  a  jlrong  tower  :  not  only  the  righteous  perfon,  but 
the  diftrefled  creature,  and  the  endangered  (inner, 
runneth  unto  it  arid  is  jcife  *. 

Since  this  is  a  point  of  the  utmoft  importance,  it 
cannot  be  too  clearly  difplayed,  or  too  ftrongly  efta- 
blifhed.  For  this  purpofe,  the  icriptnre  gives  us  feve- 
ral  mod  amiable  and  inftruclive  views  of  CHRIST^ 
as  our  refuge  and  fafety.  —  He  is  called  ^hiding-place^. 
To  a  hiding-place  people  retreat,  and  arc  iecure  from 
their  enemies,  even  from  thofe  crael  enemies  that  feck 
their  definition.  Thus  the  prophets,  whom  Oba- 
diah  hid  by  fifty  in  a  cave,  were  iecure  from  Ahab's 
tyranny,  and  Jezebel's  persecution.  So  the  ibul  that: 

flies 


iings.  —  Thwliaj}  redeemed  us  tz  COD  by  thy  blosd,  Rev.  vi.  9. 
That  is,  thou  ha(t  delivered  us  from  all  (in  and  all  wrath  ; 
thou  hall  reconciled  us  to  the  Almighty  MAJESTY,  and 
introduced  us  into  h;s  blifsfui  preience.  —  Thefe  bleffings,  a- 
fen  bed  to  cur  LOKD's  blood,  are  confelFedly  the  fruit,  not 
barely  of  his  fuffcriu^s,  but  of  his  whole  humiliation,  obedi- 
ence, and  death.  Therefore,  in  a  very  valuable  dictionary  of 
the  moil  valuable  words  and  phrafe3T  we  have  this  explication 
of  the  blood  of  the  LAMB  ;  ^  The  facrifice  ofCHRISJ's 
44  death,  together  with  hi-,  perfect  righteoulhels  and  hohnefs 
»'  ;nv;uted."  See  \Vilfc  u'd  Cfcrill.  Did. 

*  iVcv,  >.vi;i.  10.  -f  If.  xxxii.  2. 


K.         OF      SAFETY.  41 

flies  to  CHRIST,  that  takes  fan&uary  under  the 
blood  of  fprinkling,  is  iecure  from  the  moft  formi- 
dable of  all  enemies  ;  is  fecure  from  all  the  wrath  due 
to  fin,  and  from  every  accufation  which  Satan  can 
bring.  To  fuch  a  perfon  (hall  be  fulfilled  what  is 
fpoken  by  the  prophet  Jeremiah  ;  ffhen  the  iniquity 
of  Ijrael  JJiall  be  Jought  for,  there  /hall  be  none ;  and 
the  (ins  of  Judah,  they  /hall  not  be  found  *. 

CHRIST  is  ftyled  a  covert  from  the  tempeft.  d 
man,  fays  Ilaiah,  that  is,  the  GOD-man  CHRIST 
JESUS,  /liall  be  as  an  hiding-place  from  the  wind, 
and  a  covert  from  the  ten.peft  |.  When  the  thunders 
roar,  and  the  lightnings  fiafh  ;  when  the  clouds  pour 
down  water,  and  a  horrid  itorm  comes  on  ;  all  that 
are  in  the  open  air  retire  under  the  branches  of  a 
thisk  tree,  or  fly  to  fome  other  commodious  melter. 
What  ftorm  can  be  fo  dreadful  as  the  righteous  ven- 
geance of  G  O  D,  poured  out  upon  a  iinful  nation  ? 
What  ftorm  can  be  Ib  dreadful  as  the  eternal  ven- 
geance of  GOD,  poured  out  upon  a  finful  foul  ?  To 
both  the fe  we  are  expofed,  to  both  theie  we  are  juftly 
liable.  But  CHRIST'S  blood  and  righteoufheis  are 
a  covert.  Hither  we  may  fly,  and  be  fcreened  ;  hither 
we  may  fly,  and  be  fafe  :  fafc  as  was  Noah  when  he 
entered  the  ark  ;  and  GOD's  own  hand  clofed  the 
door,  and  GOD's  own  eye  guided  its  motions.  For 
there  is  no  condemnation  of  any  kind,  or  from  any  quar- 
ter, to  them  that  are  in  CHRIST  JESUS  J. 

CHRIST  is  compared  to  a  ftrong-hold.  Turn  ye  to 
the  ftrong-hold,  fays  the  prophet  Zechariah  |j.  When 
iblcliers  fly  from  a  victorious  army,  being  admitted 
into  an  impregnable  caftle,  they  are  beyond  the  reach 
of  danger.  They  give  their  fears  to  the  wind,  and 
repofe  themfelves  in  tranquillity.  When  finners  fly- 
by  faith  to  the  dying  JESUS,  they  alib,  from  thence- 
forth, are  in  a  tower  vffalvation  §.  They  may  fay, 

each 

'   Jer.  1.  20.  -f  If.  xxxji.  2. 

•'    Rom.  viii.  i.          |j  Zcch.  ix.  12.          §  2  Sam.  xxii.  51. 

VOL.  V.  N°  21.  F 


4*  THE      MEANS        SER.  itv 

each  one  for  himfclf,  u  Soul,  take  thine  eafe.  All  thy 
44  guilt  is  laid  upon  thy  LOUD,  anil  puniihccl  in  thy 
44  Surety.  The  flaming  fword  of  juilice  is  returned 
u  to  the  llieath,  having  received  full  iutisfaclion  from 
"  the  fufiVrings  of  CHRIS  T.  The  curie  of  a  vio- 
14  lated  law  is  no  more,  having  been  executed  to  the 
44  ut m oft  upon  the  pcribn  of  my  REDEEMER.  Nay, 
44  its  curie  is  turned  into  a  blefllng.  For  CHR  1ST 
4<  has  redeemed  us  from  the  cur  ft  of  the  lau'j  that  the 
lt  blejjing  of  Abraham  might  come  upon  its  Gentiles  *  : 
44  even  the  blcfling  of  perfect  reconciliation,  and  cver- 
44  lifting  fiiendimp,  with  GOD  molt  hig.li." 

This  leads  me  to  mention  another  beautiful  compa- 
rifon,  which  reprtients  CHRIST  not  only  as  the  caufe 
of  isfety,  bui  as  the  fource  of  coniblation.  lie  (hall 
be  a s  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place ^  and  as  the  fliadow 
of  a  great  rock  in  aweary  land^. — In  a  dry  place,  burnt 
up  for  want  of  moilture,  nothing  is  fo  dcfirable,  no- 
thing fo  refrefliing  as  water.  To  the  poor  iinful  foul, 
of  whofe  condition  the  parched  ground  is  a  fit  reiem- 
hlance,  CHRIS  T  (hall  be,  not  barely  as  the  morn- 
ing-dew, not  barely  as  the  transient  fhovver,  but  as  a 
river  ;  yea,  as  rivers  of  water,  that  flow  in  copious  and 
never- failing  ftreams  through  the  thirfty  foil ;  making 
even  the  fandy  defert  green  with  herbage,  and  gay 
with  flowers. — In  a  fuhry  clime,  where  the  fun  pours 
infufferable  heat,  and  all  things  Janguifh  under  the 
glaring  rays,  nothing  is  fo  chearing  to  the  labourer, 
nothing  fo  welcome  to  the  traveller,  as  a  cool  and 
gloomy  fliadc.  A  poor  foul,  aflaulted  by  the  fiery 
darts  of  Satan,  and  di'treffed  with  the  remembrance 
of  former  iniquities,  is  this  fultry  clime,  or  weary 
Lind.  But  CHRIST  and  his  atonement  are  not 
barely  as  the  boughs  of  an  oak,  which  extend  their 
coolnefs  to  a  fmall  distance  ;  not  barely  as  the  canopy 
of  an  alcove,  through  which  much  of  the  glowing 

influence 
'•  Gal.  iii.  13,  14.  If  xxxi;.  2. 


:S>ER.II.         O    F      S    A    F    E    T    Y.  43 

influence  penetrates  ;  but  like  the  fliadow  of  a  rock,  a 
great  rock  ;  which  projects  the  friendly  fhade  over 
many  a  league  ;  which  has  repelled  and  excluded  the 
fun,  through  all  preceding  ages  ;  and  gives  you,  as  k 
were  "  the  cold  of  fnow  amidft  the  heat  of  har- 
"  vett  *." 

Here  then,  brethren,  is  oar  fecurity  amidft  all  peril. 
The  blood,  the  righteoufnefs,  the  infinitely  glorious 
perfon  of  CHRIST  ;  theic  are  our  hiding  place — theie 
are  our  covert — theie  are  our  ftrong-hold.  And  (blei- 
fed  be  GOD  !)  the  doors  Hand  wide  open  :  they  are 
never  (hut,  night  nor  day.  The  accefs  is  free  for  any, 
free  for  all,  free  for  the  greateft  iinnert.  We  are  not 
only  allowed,  but  we  are  invited  ;  nay,  we  are  com- 
manded, to  approach  ;  to  enter  ;  to  enjoy  the  pro- 
tection ;  or,  as  the  words  of  the  text  exprefs  it,  to 
Jprinkle  the  blood  on  our  Jfouls. 

Sprinkle  the  blood-on  our  fouls  !  You  will  probably 
fay,  "  What  does  this  fignify  ?  What  was  done  by 
tfc  Moles,  when  he  fprinkled  the  vHible  blood,  we  eafi- 
"  ly  apprehend  :  but  how  c*in  we  fprinkle  the  blood 
"  of  CHRIST,  which  v/e  never  faw  ?  the  blood  of 
u  CHRIST,  whom  the  heavens  have  received  I" — 
This  is  one  of  thofe  myfteries  which  the  natural  man 
nnderfUndeth  not;  he  can  form  no  notion  of  it ;  it  is 
•fooliflmefs  to  his  apprehenfion.  Therefore,  may  the 
rternal  S  P  I  ii  I  T  both  teach  us  to  underhand  the 
clodtrine,  and  enable  us  to  praAifc  the  duty  ! 

To  fprinkle  the  blood  of  CHRIST,  is  truly  to  be- 
•ieve  in  CHRIST,  in  his  infinite  atonement  and  e- 
verlafting  righteoufnefs:  it  is  to  receive  thc-fc  bleliings 
as  GOD's  free  gift  to  men,  to  Tinners,  to  ourfelves 
•in  particular  ;  and,  having  received,  to  make  conti- 
nual ufe  of  them  in  every  time  of  trial,  for  every  oc- 
cafion  of  need. 

Perhaps  this  doctrine  may  become  clearer,  if  we  i-1- 

*  Prov.  xxv.  13. 
F  * 


44  THEMEANS        SER.  IF. 

ludratc  it  by  an  example.  A  remarkable  example  we 
have  in  the  pra&ice  of  David.  After  the  commiffion 
of  his  grievous  crimes,  he  did,  in  a  very  eminent 
manner,  fprinkle  the  blood.  For  he  faid  unto  the 
LORD,  T lion  fault  put  ge  mcivithhyffop,  (theindrument 
of  iprinklmg  the  typical  blood,)  and  L /hall  be  clean; 
thou  fault  ruu/fi  me  in  the  fountain  opened  for  fin  and 
uncleanneis,  and  I  jliall  be  whiter  than  J now  *.  This 
fountain  he  looked  upon  as  opened  for  his  fins  ;  and 
fully  iufficient  to  cleanie  him  from  all  his  filthineis  ; 
ib  that  he  Ihould  be  as  free  from  fpot,  before  the  righ- 
teous Judge,  as  the  fnow  on  Salmon  was  free  from 
{lain. — Hid  he  faid  within  himfelf,  "  My  crimes  are 
11  too  great  for  this  blood  to  expiate  ;"  or,  u  This 
<l  blood  cannot  be  (lied  for  ib  vile  an  offender  as  I 
*'  am  :"  he  would  then  have  put  the  atonement  far 
from  him,  together  with  all  its  expiating  virtue.  This 
would  have  been  not  to  apply,  but  to  throw  away  the 
blood  ;  not  to  fprinkle  it  upon  the  foul,  but  to  pour 
it  upon  the  ground. 

Come  then,  brethren  ;  come,  fellow-fmners  ;  let 
us  alfo,  in  this  day  of  fear  and  danger,  look  unto 
CHRIS  T,  as  dying  that  we  may  live  ;  as  made  fin, 
that  we  may  be  made  the  righteoufnefs  of  GOD  in 
him  ;  as  made  a  curie,  that  we  may  inherit  eternal 
blefledneis. — Let  us  look  unto  JESUS  as  taking  our 
nature,  and  (landing  in  our  (lead.  Behold  him  ap- 
prehended as  a  thief;  ignominiouily  bound,  and  mark- 
ed with  the  lafhes  of  the  icourge.  Behold  him  crown- 
ed with  thorns  ;  his  hair  clotted,  his  face  difcoloured, 
his  bread  and  (houlders  all  bedewed  with  his  own  mod 
innocent  blood.  Behold  him  nailed  to  the  crois  ; 
hanging  in  the  mod  racking  podure,  till  all  his  bones 
are  out  of  joint ;  hanging  amidd  malefactors,  forfaken 
of  GOD,  of  angels  and  men.  Behold  him  bowing 
his  head  in  death,  and  dabbed  to  the  heart  with  the 

executioner's 
*  Pfal.  li.  7. 


SER.H.         O    F      S    A    F    E    T    Y.  45 

executioner's  fpear. — Thus  behold  him,  arid  fay, 
"  Verily,  this  fufferer  was  the  S  O  N  of  G  O  D,  and 
<{  the  LORD  of  glory.  Verily,  thefe  fufFerings  were 
"  the  punifhment  due  to  my  fins.  In  all  this  extreme 
<c  anguifh  he  bore  my  griefs,  and  carried  my  for  rows. 
u  He  was  opprefTed,  and  he  was  afflicted,  becaufe  I 
<c  had  done  atnifs  and  done  wickedly.  He  was  cut 
u  off  out  of  the  land  of  the  living,  that  he  might 
u  make  his  foul  an  offering  for  my  fins,  and  obtain 
<c  eternal  redemption  for  me." 

Thus  behold  the  bleffed  JESUS;  thus,  finners, 
behold  the  LORD  your  righteoufnefs ;  with  this  look 
of  application,  with  this  appropriating  faith.  Be  ve- 
rily perfuaded,  that  you  fhall  find  mercy  before  a  holy 
GOD  ;  not  becaufe  you  have  any  worthinefs,  but  be- 
caufe CH R  IS  T  has  incomparable  merit  ;  that  you 
fhall  never  come  into  condemnation,  not  becaufe  you 
have  fafled  and  prayed,  but  becaufe  CHRfSTis  your 
great  propitiation.  Be  perfuaded,  that  GOD,  has  gi- 
ven his  SON  for  you  ;  that  GOD  gives  his  SON  to 
you;  and  together  with  him  eternal  life. — Be  periiia- 
ded  of  all  this,  upon  the  bed  of  foundations,  the  in- 
fallible word  of  GOD;  who  has  declared,  that 
CH  R  7S  Tidied  for  the  ungodly  *,.  and  by  his  obe- 
dience finners  are  made  righteous  f  ;  that  CHRIST 
was  wounded  on  the  crofs,  and  intercedes  in  heaven 
for  tran/grf(/urs  J;  that  he  received  fpiritual  gifts, 
and  divine  bleffings,  even  for  the  rebellious  || . — The 
LORD  GOD  omnipotent,  the  author  and  finimer  of 
faith,  enable  you  thus  to  believe  !  on  the  ground  of 
his  own  moft  fure  word,  thus  to  believe  !  Then  you 
keep  the  Chriftian  paffover ;  then  you  fprinkle  the 
blood  ofCHRIST;  then  you  may  boldly  fay,  Un- 
der his  fhadow  we /hall  be  jafe. — Which  reminds  us  of 
the  third  particular,  namely, 

III.  The 

*  Rom.  v.  6.  f  Rom.  v.  19. 

JIf.liii.i2.  jjPlaK  Ixviii.  18. 


4*  T    II    E     M    £    A    N    S        SER,  IL 

HI.  The  fticcefs  of  this  method,  denoted  by  the  de- 
ftrdyer  not  fo  much  as  touching  them.  Left  he  that  dc- 
ftroyedthefirft-bornjliouldtouch  them. — What  a  beau- 
tiful antithefis  !  The  Egyptian  firfr-born  were  wound- 
ed, were  mortally  wounded,  were  abfolutely  deflroy- 
ci;  the  liraelites  were  not  hurt,  nor  endangered,  no, 
nor  fo  much  as  touched.  So  lure  and  complete  a  de- 
fence was  this  blood  of  fprinkling  !— -  Nothing'  elie 
could  have  yielded  any  protection  ;  this  afforded  pcr~ 
fed  lecurity.  When  this  was  fprinkled  on  their  door- 
pofts,  they  had  no  caufe  to  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by 
Might,  nor  for  the  arrow  that  ftieth  by  day  ;  for  the  pej- 
tilcnce  that  walketh  in  darkneft^  nor  jor  the  dcftruc- 
tion  that  'ivafteth  at  no  on -day  *. 

And  is  not  the  hiding-place,  the  covert,  the  flrong- 
liold,  provided  for  us  in  the  blood  and  righteouinefs 
of  C  H  R  I  S  T,'  an  equal  fecurity  ?  do  they  not  yield 
abfolute,  perfecl,  confummate  fafety  ?  Nothing  elie 
could  adminifter  the  leaft  hope  to  the  chiefeft  apoftle,; 
this  opens  an  inviolable  fanctuary  even  for  the  great  eft 
of  finners.  None  ever  perimed  who  laid  their  help 
upon  CHRIST,  Hcfcwfj — he  laves  to  the  uttermoft ; 
— he  faves  not  a  few  tfnly,  but  all — all  that  come  unto 
GOD  through  him  "j~.  Is  our  danger  great  ?  Our  fc- 
.curity  is  greater.  Is  our  danger  exceeding  great  f 
Our  iecurity  is  incomparably  greater.  In  fhort,  our 
refuge  and  fecurity  are  the  greatell  that  can  be  vvifliecl, 
that  can  be  imagined,  that  GOD  himfelf  could  pro- 
vide.— Chearing,  charming,  ravifliing  truth!  Suffer 
?r,e  to  enlarge  upon  it,  brethren.  Let  your  attention 
hang  on  the  glad  tidings.  May  your  hearts  imbibe  the 
precious  dodlrine  ! 

Had  more  than  forty  men  bound  the mf elves  with  an 
oath,  that  they  would  neither  eat  nor  drink  till  they  had 
J?illed\  fome  one  in  this  congregation  ;  the  danger 
would  be  great,  and  the  cafe  flartling.  Neverthelefs, 

the 

*  Pfal.  xci.  5,  6.  -j-  Heb.  vii.  25.          %  A&s  xxiri.  &, 


SER.H.        O    F      S    A   F    E    T    Y.  tf 

the  endangered  perfon  would  think  him  fufficiently 
fafe,  if  he  could  fteal  away,  and  hide  himfclf  in  one 
of  the  deepeft  caves  of  America,  with  a  vaft  trad  of 
unknown  land,  and  all  the  waters  of  the  vafter  ocean 
between  himfclf  and  the  ruffians.  Much  fafer  will 
your  fouls  be  under  the  hiding,  cleanfmg,  atoning 
efficacy  of  this  blood  of  Iprinkling  ;  by  which  unrigh- 
teoufnefles  are  forgiven,  lins  are  covered,  and  iniqui- 
ties done  away,  as  though  they  had  never  been. 

Were  you  overtaken  by  a  violent  and  impetuous 
ftorm  ?  If  you  fought  fhelter  under  a  covert  that  was 
firmer  than  boards  of  cedar,  harder  than  (labs  of  mar- 
ble, thicker  than  the  roofs  of  all  the  houfes  in  Europe;, 
you  would  reckon  yourfelves  fecure  from  torrents  of 
rain,  or  from  volleys  of  hail.  Much  more  lecurewill 
you  be  from  everJalting  wrath  ;  lecure,  even  when 
the  LORD  fliall  rain  jnares,  fire  and  brintftone,  florin 
and tcmpeft  * ;  provided  you  are  found  under  the  co- 
vert of  CHRIST'S  magnificent  and  meritorious 
righteoufnefs  ;  by  virtue  of  which,  all  that  believe  are 
jujlified — I  fay  not  from  millions,  or  from  thoufands 
of  millions,  but — -from  all  offenfive,  provoking,  cri- 
minal things  |. 

.Should  you  be  purfued  by  a  conquering  foe,  deter- 
mined to  cut  you  in  pieces  \  If  you  turned  into  a 
cattle  whofc  walls  were  Wronger  than  brafs,  ftronger 
than  adamant,  ftronger  than  all  the  rocks  in  the  world  ;, 
you  might  laugh  at  the  attempts  of  your  enemy ;  you 
are  guarded  from  the  power  and  peril  of  the  fworcU 
So,  and  abundantly  more,  are  you  guarded  from  e- 
very  ipirttual  enemy,  and  from  every  fpiritual  evil, 
when  you  %  to  the  ftrong-hold  of  CHRIST'*  death 
and  atonement.  The  (buls  that  abide  in  C H R  IS  Tv 
they  Jhall  dwell  on  high}  beyond  the  rage  of  the  old 
ferpent,  and  the  great  dragon  :  tlisir  place  of  defence 
jhall  be  the  munitions  of  rocks  {;  againit  which  all  the 

a  {faults 

*  Pfal.  xi.  6.  f  A£s  xiii.  39.  \  If.  xxxiii.  16* 


48  T    H    E      M    E    A    N    S        SEn.n. 

afTaults  of  earth  and  hell  fliall  never  be  able  to  prevail. 
They  may  lay,  with  the  triumphant  apoflle,  How  much 
more  /hall  we,  who  receive  abundance  ef  'grace,  and  of 
the  gift  of  ri^hteoufntfs,  be  delivered  from  ruin,  and 
reign  in  'life  'by  CH  R  1  S  T  J  E  S  US  *  / 

And  will  you  not  prize  fuch  a  ftrong-hold  ?  fliall  not 
Inch  a  covert  be  dear  to  your  guilty  fouls  ?  will  you 
not  fet  an  exceeding  great  value  upon  fuch  an  hiding- 
place  ?  efpecially  when  the  florin  is  gathering  and 
threatening  all  around  ;  when  days  of  defolation  and 
perplexity  are  coming  upon  the  world,  and  judg- 
ments, inflicted  by  men,  may  tranfmit  us  to  the 
everlafting  judgment  of  GOD. — How  did  Ifrael  blefs 
and  adore  their  moll  merciful  JEHOVAH,  for 
granting  them  fuch  an  effectual  means  of  prefervation, 
as  the  blood  of  the  pafchal  lamb  !  and  mall  not  we 
blefs  and  adore  the  fame  mod  gracious  JEHOVAH, 
for  granting  us  a  means  of  prefervation  altogether  as 
effectual,  and  incomparably  more  wonderful  ? 

If  you  ftiould  fay,  "  How  does  it  appear,  that  the 
"  blood  of  CHRIST  is  fuch  a  fecurity  ?  fo  great,  fo 
"  wonderful,  fo  matchlefs  1" — Becaufe  it  is  the  blood 
of  him  who  is  J  E  H  O  V  A  H's  fellow  f ;  of  him  who 
is  GOD  over  all,  hlejf'cd  for  ever  \  ;  of  him  in  "whom 
dwells  all  the  fullnejs  of  the  GODHEAD  bodily  ||.~- 
Permit  me,  brethren,  to  clear  up  and  eftablifli  this 
dodhine  j  as  it  is  adodlrine  ofthelaft  importance  ;  on 
which  the  very  (Irength  of  our  falvation  is  built ;  and 
from  which  the  fullnefs  of  our  confolation  flows. 

There  are  in  CHRIST,  in  his  one  undivided  per- 
fon,  two  diitincl:  natures.  One  nature  is  eternal,  infi- 
nite, almighty  ;  which  is  called  by  the  apoftle,  the  form 
of  GOD  \.  The  other  nature  had  a  beginning;  is 
limited  as  to  extent,  and  limited  as  to  power.  This 
is  termed  by  the  apoMle,  the  feed  of  Abraham  -t-i-. — As 
GOD,  he  is  iubjeft  to  no  authority,  and  infinitely 

fuperior 

*  Rom.  v.  17.  -j-  Zcch.  xiii.  7.  \  Rom.  5x.  5. 

JS  Col,  ii.  9.  4.  Phil.  ii.  6.  +fHeb.  ii.  16. 


SEK.  II.         O    F     S    A   F    E    T    Y.  49 

fuperior  to  all  poffibility  of  fufFering.  To  become 
capable  of  obeying,  fuffering,  and  dying,  he  humbled 
hinifelf,  and  was  found  in  fafhion  as  a  man  :  that  by 
obeying,  iliffering,  and  dying  in  human  flefh,  he  might: 
triumph  over  fin  and  Satan,  in  that  very  nature  which 
Satan  had  overcome,  and  fin  had  ruined  :  that,  by  ac- 
compliihing  all  this  in  the  room  and  ftea.d  of  his  peo- 
ple, he  might  bring  many  ions  u*  to  glory;  not  with- 
out a  full  fatisfaclion  to  the  rights  of  injured  juilice, 
and  to  the  demands  of  a  violated  law. 

JESUS  CHRIST  then,  in  his  divine  nature,  is 
the  moft  high  GOD.  The  heaven  of  heavens  is  the 
auguft  palace,  and  royal  reiidence,  of  this  blcifed  and 
only  Potentate.  Thouiand  thoufands  mimitei  unto 
him,  and  ten  thoufand  times  ten  thoutand  itand  before 
him.  The  church  militant  rely  on  him  ;  the  church  tri- 
umphant adore  him  ;  while  all  the  holts  of  angels  pay 
homage  to  him.  JESUS  CHRIST,  in  his  divine  na- 
ture, is  the  majeftic  and  adorable  I  AM;  ielf- -exiftent 
and  independent.  All  worlds  and  all  beings  are  derived 
•wholly  from  him,  and  depend  continually  upon  him  :  he 
made  the  worlds ,  andupholdeth  all  thing*  *. — View  the 
beauty,  the  magnificence,  the  harmony,  obfervable  in 
heaven,  on  earth,  throughtheuniverie.  All  is  intended, 
Jike  the  miracle  wrought  atCana  of  Galilee,  Ivmanifcft 
his  glory  | ;  to  tell  every  one  who  has  eyes  to  fee,  and  a 
heart  to  underftand,  how  great  our  SAVIOUR  is,  how 
fublime  hismajefty,  and  how  marvellous  his  perfeclion. 
All  things,  fays  the  SPIRIT  of  inspiration,  were  created 
by  him,  and/or  him. — Judge  then,  whether  the  obedi- 
ence and  atonement  ofjucha.  REDEEMER  are  notfuf- 
ficient  to  fecure,  perfectly  to  fecure  any  finner,  every 
iinner,  all  finners,  that  fly  by  faith  under  his  wings.. 
As  perfectly  fufficient  they  are  for  this  blefled  -ptirpole, 
as  the  unmeafurable  circuit  of  the  fkies  is  roomy  e- 
nough  for  a  lark  to  fly  in,  or  as  the  immenfe  orb  of 
the  fun  is  beamy' enough  for  a  labourer  to  work  by. 

Behold 
*  Heb.  i.  2,  3.         -j-  John  ii.  n.         ^  Col.  i.  16. 

VOL.  V.  N«ai.  G 


jo  i     ti    i.      M    E    A    N    S  R.  if, 

Behold  now  the  dignity  and  excellency  of  this  blood, 
wlrch  is  your  covert,  your  hiding-place,  your  ilrong- 
hoH.    It  has  all  the  power  and  efficacy  that  every  di- 
vine perfection  can  give  it.     It  is  the  blood  and  righ- 
*        ;.eih  of  him  who  is  ctern.il,  incompreheniible,  and 
rd  above  all  blelJing  and  praiie.    Surely  then  no- 
can  bear  any  proportion  to  it.     Guilt,  all  guilt, 
though  ever  lo  execrable  and  horrid,  compared  with 
the  grandeur  and  riches  of  this  invaluable  blood  *,  is 

as 

*  St  Chryfo  (lo  ni's  explanation  of  a  verfe  lately  quoted  is  fo 

important  in  it J elf,  and  fo   appolite  to  our  purpole,  exhibits 

fucii  a  magnificent  and  delightful  difplay  of  the  faivation  -which 

is  in  CHlilST  JESUS,  that  I  prornife  myfelf,  the  reader 

will  alU<w  me  to  prefeut  him  with  a  tranfUtion.     Jfo\u  much 

m'jtcjball  they  ii'ho  receive  abundance,  of  grace,  and  rf  the  rift 

of  right  ituf.iefs,  reign  in  lift  by  en;   CtlKl'ST  JE  6'  US  - 

o-j*  FIT ,:» fwT«u9a  X;<f>v>,  &c.     "  The  apoltlc  fays  not,  grace,  buc 

u  abundance  of  gract.    For  \ve  receive,  not  barely  what  m;iy 

"  fufficc  to  obtain  our  pardon,  but  incomparably  more.     We 

4t  are  delivered  from  all  pnnifliment,  and  from  every  evil.    Wr, 

4  are  juiified.  we  are  lanclified,  made  the  children  of  GOD, 

1  and   the  brethren  of  his  only  begotten  SON.     We  are 

1  conltituted  heirs,  joint-heirs   with  the  PRINCE  of  hea- 

'  ven.     Yen,  we  become  the  members  of  his  body  ;  moH  iu- 

'  timately  and  indiilolubly  united  to  that  divine  head. 

"  All  thele  privileges  St  Panlftyles  the  abundance  of  grace  : 
4<  intimating,  that  the  antidote  is  not  only  qualified  to  counter- 
l<-  ,ift  and  expel  the  poiibn,  but  is  fovereign  allo  to  eltabiilli 
4t  health,  to  create  beauty,  to  impart  honour,  and  from  the 
"  moll  malignant  of  all  evils,  to  produce  the  moit  di(hjlguifl)- 
"  ed  bUfltftgs:  any  one  of  which,  feparately  conlidered,  would 
**  have  been  fufHcient  TO  overcome  and  difarm  death  ;  but, 
41  under  their  combined  influence,  it  is  abfolutely  deltroycd, 
*'  it  vaniflies  entirely  away,  and  leaves  not  fo  much  as  a  trace 
u  of  mifchief,  or  a  fhadow  of  terror. 

"  Let  us  fuppofe  fomc  poor  debtor  owing  a  confiderable 
"  fum,  and  for  want  of  payment,  caft  iute  pnlun.  A  gene- 
"  rous  friend,  pitying  his  condition:  difchargts  the  whole  debt, 
"  and  relcafcs  him  from  confinement:  and  nor  this  only,  but  be- 
"•  ft;>wi  upo'.i  h.m  fplcndid  apparel,  with  thoufands  of  filver  and 
"  gold  ;  introduces  l.ini  to  court,  and  recoiurriendi  him  to  the 

*'  royal 


SER.II.         OF      S    A    F    E    T    Y.  jl 

as  a  pjtaw-worm  before  the  fun.  All  manner  of  fins 
and  blafphemies  are  blotted  out  by  iiich  an  expiation, 
as  the  (hades  of  night  are  abolifhed  by  the  light  of  day. 
Every  ilnner  waihed  in  this  blood  muft.b^  whiter  ihau 
the  unfullied  wool,  whiter  than  the  virgin- ihows.  E- 
vcry  iinner  clothed  in  this  righteoufnefs,  mult  be  un- 
blameablc  and  unreproveable,  even  before  the  eye  of 
Omnifcience  itfelf. 

For  this,,  therefore,  blefs  the  LORD,  O  my  foul ; 
and  all  that  is  within  me,  bleis  his  holy  name.  Blefs 
the  LORD,  O  my  brethren  ;  and  let  every  thing 
that  hath  a  being  praife  his  unutterable  grace.  For  /><?- 
h'lld!  GOD  is  our  falvation.  GOD  himlelf  is  made 
fiefli,  and  become  our  facrifice,  our  fin-offering,  our 
juftifying  righteoufnefs  :  therefore  will  we  irujl.  and 
not  be  afraid  *;  truft  in  this  infinitely  fufficicnt  S  A- 
V1OLJR  ;  and  not  be  afraid  of  death  or  hell,  of  any 
enemy  or  any  evil. — But  this  leads  me  to  apply  the 
whole  :  which  I  fhall  do  by  way  of 

G  2  Examination, 

ii  royal  favour.;  procures  his  advancement  to  the  higheft  ho- 
"  Hours,  and  puts  him  in  poiTeilion  of  the  grandeft  prefc-r- 
"  inencs.  Where  now  is  the  diigrace  of  his  irnpnfonment  ? 
41  and  where  are  the  diftrelTes  of  his  infolvent  ttare? 

kt  Such  is  the  cate  with  regnrd  to  us  tinners,  and  our  mod 
"  gracious  REDEEMER.  He  has  paid  inconceivably  more 
t;  than  we  either  did  or  could  poliibiy  owe.  Being  GOD,  the 
lt  true  GOD,  the  infinite  and  eternal  GOD,  his  payment; 
*'  exceeds  our  debt,  as  much  as  the  waters  of  the  great  deep 
'exceed  the  lin.il!  drop  ot'  a  backet. — Doubt  iiur,  therefore, 

*  poor  tinner,  that  flieft  for   refuge  to   this  all-glorious   S  A- 
k  VIOUR;  daubt  not    but  thy   tins,  though  more  virulent: 
'  than  all  plagues,  are  done  away  ;  and  death,  though  he  be 

•  the  king  of  terrors,  is  aboliihed;  this  aboiiihed,  and  thole 
'  done  away,  before  f'ucb  grace  and  m^r'.t;  even  as  a  fpork  oi 

*w  fire  is  exiinguiibed,  when  plunged  into  the  abylles  of  the 
14  lea." — For,  indeed,  compared  with  a  divine  prrfon,  and  an 
infinite  righteoufnefs,  whatever  guilt  you  have  contracted, 
whatever  thing  you  car  name,  is,  as  our  devout  orator  fp<-ak% 
pa/ic  ai».?oc  *c>f  ft^uyn  anipov,  no  more  than  a  fcunty  di  op  c 
.with  th»  b:undlffs  vaan.  Vid.  QiryfoJt.  in  loc.  •*  I£  xii. 


52  T    H    E      M    E    A    N    S         SER.!!. 

Examination, 
Direction, 
Exhortation, 
Confolation. 

T.  By  way  of  examination.  Examineyouroivnfelvcs^ 
fays  the  apoltle  *.  Have  you  kept  the  pafTover  ?  have 
you  fprinkled  the  blood  ? — Many,  perhaps,  will  be 
ready  to  anfwer,  u  We  have." — But  beware,  my 
friends,  leaft  ye  deceive  your  own  fouls.  Let  me 
give  you  a  touch- ftone,  whereby  you  may  try  your 
fpirir,  and  pronounce  aright  concerning  your  (late. 

Have  you  been  convinced  of  your  great finfulnefs  ? 
of  your  fin  ful  nature  and  your  finful  practice  ?  Have 
you  been  made  fenfible,  that  hell,  the  deepen;  hell,  is 
your  dcferved  portion  ?  is  what  you  deferve  for  any 
tranfgreflion, — for  every  tranfgreffion  ? — how  much 
more  for  the  many  thoufands, — how  much  more  for 
the  many  millions, — how  much  more  for  the  number- 
lefs  multitude  of  your  provocations?  If  you  have  ne- 
ver been  convinced  of  thefe  mofl  alarming,  but  cer- 
tain truths  :  if  you  have  never  been  touched  with  a 
fenfe  of  your  extreme  guilt,  and  undone  ftate  ;  I  fear, 
you  are  fettled  upon  your  lees,  you  are  in  the  dead 
ileepoffm.  You  are  not  fo  much  as  awakened; 
much  lefs  have  you  applied  CHRIST. 

Again,  have  you  been  made  to  ice,  that  nothing  but 
CHRIST  and  his  precious  blood,  nothing  but 
CHRIST  and  his  divine  righteoufnefs  can  be  your 
fecurity  from  vengeance  ?  Have  you  been  convinced, 
that  thoufands  of  rams,  and  ten  tboufands  of  rivers 
of  oil,  could  never  expiate  the  leaft  of  your  iniqui- 
ties ?  that  no  tears,  no  confeffions,  no  amendnaent, 
nothing  but  the  facrifice  of  the  body  of  C  H  R  I  S  T, 
can  make  your  peace  with  GOD  ?  If  you  have  not 
been  taught  .the  abfolute  infufficiency  of  every  reme- 
dy, fave  only  the  meritorious  fufferings  of  J E  S  US 

CHRIST; 

*  2.  Cor.  xiii.  5. 


SER.  II.         OFSAFKTY.  53 


ST;  you  have  not  feen  him,  neither  known 
him  ;  much  lefs  is  his  blood  fprinkled  upon  your  con- 
fcience. 

Once  more,  have  you  a  fupreme,  a  matchlefs  cjleem 
for  CHRIST?  Is  CHRIST  anci  his  great  ialvation 
the  thing  that  you  long  for  ?  is  he  to  your  fouls  the 
pearl  of  great  price  ?  do  you  account  all  things  but 
Jofs,  that  you  may  win  CHRIST,  and  be  found  in 
him  ?  If  this  is  not  the  ftate  of  your  foul,  I  dare  not 
flatter  you  with  vain  hopes  ;  I  muft  not  buoy  you  up 
with  ungrounded  imaginations.  You  are  not,  as  yet, 
in  your  hiding  place  ;  neither  have  you  fled  to  your 
ftrong-hold.  All  the  courfes  of  the  divine  law  itand 
charged  and  pointed  full  againft  you.  You  have  no 
iecurity  from  being  hurt  by  the  firft  death,  nor  from 
being  irrecoverably  ruined  by  the  fecond  death.  If 
judgments  mould  come  upon  a  finful  and  backfliding 
people,  you  have  no  defence;  there  is  no  wall  of  fire 
around  you.  You  muft  therefore  expeft  to  fall  a- 
mong  thofe  that  fall  ;  and,  falling  by  the  fword,  may 
immediately  drop  into  hell. 

Can  you  hear  this,  and  be  unconcerned  ?  can  you 
liften  to  this  warning,  more  awful  than  the  voice  of 
ten  thoufand  thunders,  and  not  (tart  from  your  infen- 
libility  ?  are  you  not  looking  around,  and  ready  to  cry 
out,  u  What  then  mall  I  do  to  be  fafe  in  the  day  of 
Li  evil  :"  —  O  !  that  this  inquiry  came  from  the  very 
bottom  of  your  hearts.  I  mould  then  proceed,  witii 
great  chearfulnefs,  to 

2.  A  word  of  direction.  —  Fly  to  CHRIST,  alarmed 
iinners.  Come  under  the  covert  of  his  blood.  Ap- 
propriate the  blefled  JESUS  ;  look  upon  him  and  his 
merit  as  your  own.  Thus  fprinkle  his  blood:  fprinklc 
it  upon  your  lintel  and  door-pofts  ;  upon  all  you  are, 
upon  all  you  have,  and  all  you  do  ;  upon  your  con- 
fcicnces,  that  they  may  be  purged  ;  upon  your  fouls, 
that  they  may  be  fanclified;  upon  your  works,  that 
they  may  be  accepted.  —  Say?  every  one  for  himfelf, 

«  I 


$4  I'    n    E      M    E    A    N    S         SER,  II. 

"  I  am  :i  p;>or,  guilty,  he!  pic  Is  creature  ;  bat'm  JESUS 
lt  CHRIST^  who  is  full  of  grace  and  truth,  I  have 
<•'  rightfoufncfs  andftrength  *. — I  am  a  poor,  polluted, 
"  loathiome  creature :  but  JESUS  CHRIST,  who 
4t  is  the  image  of  tbe  invisible  GOD,  and  the  bright- 
*c  nefs  of  his  Father's  glory,  has  loved  me ,  and  wa  filed 
44  the  from  my  filthinejs  in  his  own  i!ood\. — I  am  by 
44  nature  a  perverfe  deprived  creature  ;  and,  by  evil 
"  practice,  a  lolt  damnable  {inner;  but  J  ESUS 
"CHRIST,  who  made  the  worlds;  JESUS 
44  C H R.  IS  T  whom  heaven  and  earth  adore  ;  even 
"  JESUS  CHRIST  himielf  came  from  the  man- 
ct  lions  of  hlifs,  on  purpofe  to  Jeek  me,  to  fave  me  |  ; 
44  to  give  himielf  for  me. — And  how  can  I  pcrifli,  who 
"  have  iuch  a  ranfom  r  how  can  I  be  undone,  who 
44  have  iuch  a  repairer  of  my  breaches  ?  how  can  1 
44  come  into  condemnation,  who  have  the  blood,  not 
Jtc  of  ten  thoufand  facrtfices  ;  the  merit,  not  often 
44  thoufand  angels,  but  the  blood  and  merit  of  J  E- 
44  H  O  V  A  H  himfelf,  for  my  propitiation  r" 

Should  you  fay,  44  Have  I  a  warrant  for  fuch  a 
"  truil  r" — You  have  the  beft  of  warrants,  ourLOKD's 
exprefs  permtffton  :  Ifhojvevcr  will,  let  him  take  the 
ivatcr  of  life  freely  \ .  It  is  not  laid,  this  or  that  peribn 
only,  but  ivhofoever ;  including  you  and  me  ;  exclu- 
ding no  individual  man  or  woman. — It  is  not  faicl, 
whoibever  is  worthy,  but  whofoever  is  willing.  Wilt 
than  It  made  whole?  was  our  LORD's  ouefhon  to  the 

•j, 

impotent  man  at  the  pool  of  Bethefda.  //^/Y/  th'ji^ 
all  terms  and  conditions  apart,  inherit  grace  and  glo- 
ry ?  is  his  moil:  benevolent  addreis  to  {infill  men,  in 
all  ages. — Let  him  take  the  water  of  life ;  let  him  re- 
ceive ME  and  my  righteoufnefs  ;  let  him  look  upon 
all  that  I  have  done  and  fuffered,  as  done  and  luffcreil 
tf or  his  redemption.  This  will  adminifler  peace  of  con- 

icience 

*  If.  xlv.  24.  r  Rev.  i.  5.  \  Matth.  xviii.  u, 

jj  Rev,  xxii.  17. 


SZTL.II.        OF      S    A    F    E    T    Y.  55- 

fcience,  and  joy  in  the  HOLY  GHOST:  this  will 
produce  love  of  GOD,  and  alacrity  of  obedience  ; 
in  which  things  the  true  life  of  the  foul  confifts. — All 
thefe  bleflings  are  to  be  received  freely,  without  mo- 
ney, and  without  price  :  that  is,  without  any  good 
works,  any  good  qualities,  or  any  preparatory  requi- 
lites  whatever:  to  be  received,  as  the  infinitely-rich 
gift  of  divine  grace,  vouchiafed  even  to  the  loft — the 
guilty — the  undone. 

You  have  our  LORD'S  moft  generous  invitation; 
Come  unto  ME.  And  whom  does  he  call  :  The  righ- 
teous ?  No.  The  excellent  ?  Quite  the  reverie.  He 
calls  finners  ;  miferable  fmners  ;  even  the  mod  mifer- 
able  of  iinners  ;  thole  who  are  weary  and  heavy  ladcn'r 
overwhelmed  with  iniquities  ;  bowed  down  to  the 
very  brink  of  hell,  and  ready  to  think,  "  There  is  no 
u  hope  for  them."  Yet  them  he  encourages  ;  thera 
he  invites  ;  to  them  he  declares,  I ivill  give  you  reft*  ; 
.v.?(t  in  the  enjoyment  of  peace  with  GOD,  and  peace 
in  your  own  coniciences. — Obfervc  -and  admire  the 
riches  of  your  REDEEMER'S  grace.  He  fays  not. 
Ye  are  vile  wretches  ;  polluted  by  fin,  and  cnflavcd  to 
the  devil  ;  therefore  keep  at  a  diftancc  ;  but,  tlicrefore 
'o;;ic.  Come,  and  be  cleanfed  by  my  blood  ;  come^ 
and  be  made  free  by  my  SPIRIT. — He  lays  not, 
Furnifh  yourfelvcs  with  this,  or  that,  or  the  other  re- 
commending accomplimment,  but  only  come  :  come 
jurt  as  you  are  ;  poor,  undone,  guilty  creatures.  Yea, 
come  to  ME  for  pardon  and  recovery  ;  to  ME,  who 
have  given  my  life,  myiirlf,  my  all,  for  your  ranfom. 

Should  you  Mill  queltion,  whether  thele  ineftimable 
blellings  are  free  for  you  ?  Remember,  brethren,  they 
are  free  forjinncrs.  Js  this  y<  ;ir  character  f  Then 
they  are  as  free  for  your  acceptance,  as  for  any  perfon's 
iu  the  world.  To  us  eternal  life  is  given \\  not  us 
who  had  defervcd  it  by  our  goo:lncfs,  but  us  who- 

had 

*  Matth.  xi.  28.  -j-  i  John  v.  n» 


56  THE      MEANS        SER.!!, 

had  forfeited  it  by  our  fins. — To  yon  is  preached  the 
forgivencfs  of  fins  *  ;  not  you  whofe  tranfgreifions 
were  inconfiderahle,  but  you  whofe  iniquities  were 
more  in  number  thin  the  hairs  of  your  head. — Even 
to  you,  who  are  the  Jolt  and  perifhing  tinners  of  A- 
dam's  family,  //  the  word  of  this  jalv  at  ion  lent  \.  And, 
by  a  commillion  from  GO  D,  we  publifli  it  ;  that,  as 
fmners,  you  may  receive  it  ;  that,  receiving  it,  you 
may  commence  believers  ;  "and  believing,  may  have 
life  through,  liis  nuntt  \. 

Some,  perhaps,  will  be  inclined  to  debate  ;  "  Is 
"  this  Ib  extraordinary  a  matter  ?  will  this  exercife  of 
"  believing  do  luch  great  things  for  us,  or  put  us  in 
44  poflelh'on  of  luch  lingular  blelfings  : — Moles  might 
have  formed  the  fame  fcruple  with  regard  to  the 
fprinkling  of  blood.  Will  this  feemingly  infignificant 
circumftance  be  fuch  an  extraordinary  fafcguard  to  us  ? 
will  this  preferve  us  from  the  impending  blow,  more 
effectually  than  the  labours  of  the  engineer,  or  the 
fhield  and  fpear  of  the  warrior  ? — But  Mofes  confulted 
not  with  flelh  and  blood;  Moles  rejected  all  fuch  carnal 
reafonings.  By  faith  he  and  his  people  kept  the  paff- 
over,  and  were  made  partakers  of  the  temporal  falva- 
tion.  By  faith  may  you  and  1  receive  CHRIST!  So 
ihall  we  be  partakers  of  pardon  and  eternal  falvation. 
By  believing  the  promife  of  GOD,  and  by  trufting 
in  the  perfon  of  CHRIST,  we  are  united  to  the 
LORD  J  E  S  US  ||  ;  fo  as  to  have  a  real  intereft  in 
his  blood  and  righteoufnefs.  Beingunited  to  CHRIST, 
our  fins  are  done  away,  by  virtue  of  his  infinitely- 
precious  atonement  ;  and  eternal  life  becomes  ours, 
on  account  of  his  everlafting  righteoufnefs. — Whoever 
thus  believes,  believes  merely  as  a  finner,  not  upon 
the  fuppofition  of  any  goodnefs  in  himfelf,  but  upon 
the  ible  warrant  of  G  O  D's  promife,  in  the  infallible 

word 

*  Afts  xiii.  28.  -f  Acls  xiii.  26. 

-J  John  x-x.  >i.  !(  Ep'h.iii.  17. 


SEk.  II.         OF      SAFETY.  57 

word  of  the  gofpel*  Such  a  perfon  (hall  not  be  afliamed 
of  his  belief ;  (hall  never  be  diiappointed  of  his  hope  ; 
according  to  his  fait /i  fhall  it  be  unto  him  '*; 

Come  then,  fellow-fmners  ;  believe  the  record  of 
heaven.  Set  to  your  feal,  that  GOD  is  true.  Honour 
his  word,  which  cannot  lie ;  honour  his  grace,  which 
is  abfolurely  free  ;  honour  his  dear  S  O  N,  who  has 
obtained  eternal  redemption  for  fuch  unworthy  crea- 
tures as  you  and  I.  What  (hall  hinder  you  ? — But 
this  leads  me  to, 

3.  A  word  of  exhortation.  I  fay  then,  what  fliall 
hinder  you  ?  what  (hall  vvith-hold  you  a  (ingle  moment^ 
from  believing  ?  fines  all  things  are  ready  -j-  in  CHRIST 
JESUS,  The  great  propitiation  is  made  by  him  ;  the 
perfect  obedience  is  performed  by  him  ;  all  the  condi- 
tions of  the  new  covenant  are  fulfilled  by  him.  Come 
then,  and  partake  of  the  heavenly  bleflings  ,  as  you 
partake  of  a  marriage- feaft,  when  the  entertainment 
is  all  prepared,  and  the  bridegroom  bids  you  welcome, 

Fain  would  I  prevail  in  this  mo(t  important  addrefs* 
L  O  K  D,  make  bare  thy  arm  ;  incline  their  hearts  ; 
make  them  -willing  in  the  day  of  thy  power  \ — My  dear 
friends,  if  you  turn  away  from  fuch  invitations,  you 
are  ruined  to  eternity  :  m  if  cry  awaits  you  here,  and 
damnation  hereafter.  Suffer  me  then  to  be  importu- 
nate. Refute  not  him  that  calleth  you  by  my  mouth  ; 
that  bids  you  truft  and  not  be  afraid  ;  that  offereth 
himfel^  with  all  his  fulnefs,  to  you. — Why  are  you 
backward  ?  why  (low  of  heart  to  believe  ?  why  do 
you  (land  at  a  diftancc  from  the  all-gracious  JESUS  ? 

Is  it  becaufcyou  are  guilty  wretches  ?  Then  he  pu- 
blifhes  the  aft  of  indemnity  to  you  :  /,  even  /,  am  he 
that  blotteth  out  your  tranJ'weJJionS)  for  mine  oiunfakc  ||* 
— Is  it  becauie  you  are  polluted  crcrturcs;  loathlbme 
in  your  own  eyes,  and  much  more  loathibjne  in  the 

eye 

•  Match,  ix.  29.  f  Matth.  xxii  ,4.  \  Pial.  ex,  3.  {|  If.  xlih.  25. 
VOL,  V.  N°  21.  H 


58  T    H    F.      M    E    A    N    S         SER.  H. 

rye  of  infinite  purity  :  Then  hear  the  word  of  the 
HOLY  ONE  :  /  w ill  fpriii  \le  clean  wnttr  upon  you, 
and  vc  Jhall  bs  clean,  From  all  your  Jilt [//hit/ *'.\ ,  and  from 
all  your  idols  luill  1  citan/e  you  *. — Is  it  becauie  your 
iins  are  mure  numerous,  and  more  hainous  than  the 
lins  of  others  f  Be  they  ever  ib  liainous,  or  ever  ib 
aggravated,  thus  faith  the  ( j  O  D  of  immenfdy  rich 
grace  in  CHRIST;  Tlioughyour  fmt  be  as  /car let,  they 
;hall  be  as  white  as  (now  ;  though  they  be  red  like  criin- 
/'<;«,  t/icy  f/iall  be  as  wool  |. 

Arc  you  Rill  objecting,  "  I  am  weak  ;  I  have  no 
"  ftrt-n^th  ;  I  cannot  believe?" — Look  then  to  a  pro- 
rniting  GOD,  that  he  may  help  your  unbelief;  that  he 
may  fulfil  in  you  all  the  good  pleature  of  his  will,  and 
the  work  of  faith  with  power.  For  he  who  is  truth 
iti'elf  hath  laid,  Tour  GOD  will  come  and  favc  you* 
'f/ienf/iall  the  eyes  of  the  blind  be  opened,  arid  the  cars 
of  the  deaf  Jhall  be  unftopped  :  the  lame  man  jhall  leap 
as  an  hart,  and  the  tongue  of  the  dumb  /hall  fing  \. — 
Has  the  LORD  given  you  a  deiire  to  believe  in  his 
dear  SON  ?  doubt  not  but  he  will  alib  give  you  the 
power.  Does  GOD  the  LORD  bring  to  the  birth,  and 
not  giv^-  ftrength  to  bring  forth  ?  That  be  far  froiti 
him. !  the  iufpicion  be  far  from  us  1  He  has,  in  un- 
ipeakable  mercy,  appointed  his  blefled  SPIRIT  for 
tliis  purpoie.  The  HOLY  GHOST,  the  Comforter, 
attencleth  continually  on  this  very  thing;  to  teflify  of 
CHRIST,  and  to  reveal  CHRIST  in  our  finful  fouls  ; 
enabling  us  to  difcern  the  all-iliittciency  of  CHRIST, 
to  difcern  our  right  to  make  ufe  of  CHRIST,  and  to 
receive  CHRIST  as  our  own — our  Q-WH  GOD  and 
SAVIOUR. 

Be  it  then  your  daily  endeavour,  your  continual 
bulineis,  ^o  believe  ;  firmly,  confidently,  aflbredly  to 
believe  in  JESUS  C  II  R  I  S  T,  as  the  great  and 
glorioits  REDEEMER,  in  whom  you  have  pardon, you 

have 

'  Ezek.  jixxvi.  25.          -f-  If.  i.  18.        ^  If,  xxxv.  4,  5,  6, 


SER.  II.         OF      SAFETY.  59 

have  righteoufnefi,  and  eternal  life.  Thus  exercii'e 
yourfelves  unto  godlinefs,  and  GOD  -will  help  you  : 
GOD  will  ftren^theri  you;  yea,  GOD  will  uphold  yon 
with  the  rii*ht  hand  of  his  riohteon/nefs . — Thus  exer- 
cile  yourielves  unto  godiinels,  .depending  on  the  diviner 
faithfulnefs,  proceeding  upon  the  divine  warrant,  in 
obedience  to  the  divine  command,  which  exprefsly 
lays,  Believe  in  the  LORD  your  GOD,  Jo  fliall  ye  be 
e/tablijhed:  believe  his  prophets,  jo  /Jiail  ye  prof  per*  :  ' 
believe  in  fits  dear  SON,  {b  fnall  ye  be  f avert  ^. 

Pharaoh  laid  to  Joieph,  Now  thou  art  commanded, 
this  do  \.  Let  me  alio  lay  to  my  hearers,  Now  ye  are 
.allowed,  invited,  commanded,  to  believe  in  the  SON 
of  GOD,  this  do.  'Tii>  your  grand  concern  ;  the  one 
thing  needful.  Without  this,  nothing  will  profit  you.. 
Therefore  1  repeat  my  exhortation  ;  therefore  I  am  Ib 
urgent  ;  therefore  1  cannot  diimifs  the  fubject,  with- 
out befeeching  the  FATHER  of  mercies  to  com- 
mand a  blefling  upon  the  word  ;  that  you  may  indeed 
believe  \\  unto  ri^hteoufnefs,  unto  life,  unto  falvation. 
Thus  will  you  glorify  the  ineffable  goodnefs  of  GOD, 
and  the  inestimable  merit  of  CHRIST  :  thus  will  you 
find  a  fare,  a  full,  an  incomparably-rich  provifion  made 
for  your  fafety  :  and  thus  will  you  moft  effeclually 
comply  with  that  tender  and  gracious  invitation  of 
the  LOPtD  your  GOD  ;  Come,  my  people,  enter  thou 
into  thy  chambers,  and  friut  thy  doors  about  thee  :  hide 
thyjelfas  it  were  for  a  little  moment,  until  the  indignation 
be  overpaft.  For  behold  !  the  LORD  comet h  out  of  his 
place,  to  puwfli  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  for  their 
iniquity  |. 

And  what  will  ye  do,  when  the  LORD  cometh 
forth  to  punihh,  *if  you  are  not  received  into  the  hi- 
ding-place ? — What  will  ye  do,  ye  men  of fober  and 
decent  converfation  ;  who  have  nothing  but  an  out- 
ward regularity,  and  ibme  cuftomary  conformity  to 

H  2  religious 

*  2  Chron.  xx.  20.  f  A#s  xvi.3i. 

^  Gen.  xlv.  19.     j;  Rom.  x.  10         ^.  If.  xxvi.  2.0,  21. 


i      II     I        M    K    A     N    S         SER.U. 

religious  woilhip  f  Thcle,  though  in  their  place  valu- 
able, yet  .uc  no  teem  icy-  They  arc  only  the  outworks, 
not  your  fortiluMtion,  nor  your  citadel.  When  the. 

:  .icons  ]i:  ;:le<ijroin  heaven  in  flawing 

caiueoH  tiitrri  that  obey  not  the  go j pel  *\ 

fc,  without  the  blood  of  1'prinkling,  will  be  but  as 
'.  \\iihered  leaf  amidlt  the  inextinguilhable  burning. 

\Vhat  will  ye  do,  ye  men  of  wealth  and  large  pol- 
leirions?  //•''/'//  riches  profit  you  in  the  day  ofivrath\? 
will  riches  protect  you  in  the  day  of  the  L  O  11  D's 
coutrovcii)  \  Alas  1  they  will  mark  you  out  for  a  prey, 
and  i'erve  only  to  lure  the  vultures.  If  riches  have  been 
your  idol  ;  hoarded  up  in  your  colVers,  or  lavilhed  out 
upon  yourfclves  ;  they  will,  when  the  day  of  reckon- 
ing comes,  be  like  the  garment  of  pitch  and  brimftone, 
put  upon  the  criminal  condemned  to  the  flames. 

What  will  ye  do,  ye  mighty  men  of  valour  ?  If  the 
LOUD  turn  his  hand  upon  you,  your  heart  fliall  fail, 
and  your  knees  be  feeble  ;  your  arm  fiiall  lofe  its 
itrengih,  and  your  i'word  (hail  lofe  its  edge,  Your 
ileets  and  armies ///<?//  be  as  tow,  and  the  commanders 
of  them,  as  a  J park;  and  they  ftiall  both  burn  together, 

i  none  Jliall  quench  thcm\. — if  you  are  not  flickered 
nnd  iecured  by  this  blood,  what  will  ye  do,  when  the 
jhout  of  the  archangel  is  made,  and  the  trump  of 
C  O  D  is  heard  ?  Undaunted  as  you  now  feem,  you 
will  then,  in  an  agony  of  defpair,  call  upon  rocks  to 
fall  upon  you,  and  mountains  to  cover  you  \\ . 

Wir.t  will  yc  do,  ye  voluptuous  men,  and  ye  cardefs 
women  \  ye  that  eat  the  lambs  out  of  the  flock,  and 
the  calves  out  of  the  inidlt  of  the  flail  ?  ye  that  drink 
wine  in  bowls,  and  anoint  yourielves  with  the  chief 
ointments  \  Ah  !  what  will  ye  do,  when  the  luholeland, 
for  theunivcrfal  degeneracy  of  its  inhabitants,  for  their 
contempt  of  CHKI.ST,  and  neglec\  of  grace,  fliall 

become 

-  2  ThrfT.  i.  7,  8,  -f  Prov.  ?i.  4. 

3'»  ilev.  vi.  jo. 


SER.II.         O    F      S    A    F    E    T    Y.  6l 

become  brimftone,  and  J  alt,  and  burning;  infomuch  that 
it  JhalL  not  be  J  own,  nor  bear,  nor  any  grajs  grow  there- 
on *  ?  Much  more  may  I  aik,  What  will  ye  do,  when 
the  heavens  mall  pais  away  with  a  great  noife,  when 
the  elements  ihall  melt  with  fervent  heat,  when  the 
whole  earth,  and  all  the  works  that  are  therein,  fhall 
be  burnt  up  f 

What  will   ye  do,  people  of  all  ranks  and  condi- 
tions, when  mij  chief  ft  lall  conienpon  mi  [chief,  and  rumour 
J/iall  be  upon  rurnour  f  f  when  your  houfes  Ihall  be  laid 
in  heaps,  and  your  (treets  be  made  a  place  of  graves  ? 
when  your  cities,  that  were  full  of  inhabitants,   ihall 
be  iolitary  ;  and  not  a  voice  heard  am'tdft  them,  but 
lighs  of  the  ditconfolate,  and  groans   of  the  dying  ? 
when  your  children  fhall  be  ilaughtered  in  one  place, 
your  parents  in  another  ;  and  the  "  {lain  (hall  lie  be- 
"  hind  the  {layer,  as  the  (heaves  \  beliind  the  reaper 
*'  in  the  time  of  harveft  r"  —  But,  above  all,  what  will 
yc  do,  when  the  great  white  throne  is  creeled  ;  when 
the  earth  and  the  heavens  flee  away  from  the  face  of 
him  that   litteth   thereon  ;  and  the   dead,  both  fmall 
and  great,  ftand  before  GOD  to  be  judged  ?  Without 
the  blood  of  iprinkling,  where  can  you  be  fafe  ?  how 
will  you  appear  ?  what  will  you  do  f  —  Whereas,  if 
CHRIST  and  his  blood  are  yours,  all  is  yours.    You 
have  nothing  to  fear,  in  time  or  eternity.    "  O  1  well 
tc  i*  it  witli  you,  and  happy  fhall  you  be."     But  this 
reminds  me  of  adding  a  word, 

4.  By  way  of  conjoin  f  ion.  —  Poffibly  you  may  be  ready 
to  inquire,  u  What  confolation  will  this  adminifter, 
"  amidlt  the  prefagcs,  or  under  the  approach,  of  na- 
u  tional  calamities  r"  —  Very  great.  Fear  not,  lays  the 
LOUD,  Jor  1  liavf  redeemed  thee  jj  .  Redemption  by 
CHRIST  is  a  prefer  vative  from  all  terror,  and  an 
antidote  againfi  every  evil.  This  cauies  the  ferene 

breaft, 


'   Dcut.  xxix.  23,  -f"  Ezck.  vii.  26. 

t  J«r.  ix.  2i.  j|  If.  xliii.  i. 


62  T    II    i:      MEANS         SER.  If. 

breull,  .?nd  the  light  lorn  e  heart.  Hence  comes  calm- 
neJs  of  conference,  quielntfs  and  afjurance  for  ever. 
Therefore,  lltysthe  prophet,  Thismanfhall  be  our  -peace 
-when  t)>e  Affyrian  Jliall  come  into  our  land.  The  blood 
and  righteoulncis  of  our  incarnate  GOD  mall  be  the 
ibvereigo  fupport  of  our  fouls,  even  when  the  enemy 
invades  our  territories,  and  preys  upon  the  vitals  of 
our  country:  yea,  when  he  treads  upon  our  palaces  */ 
not  only  dcmolifhcs  our  dwelling-houfes,  but  lays  our 
royal  edifices  in  the  dull,  and  makes  us  feel  all  the 
grievoufnels  of  war. 

Further,  when  this  blood  is  fprinkled,  fin  is  done 
away,  and  GOD  is  appealed.  His  promifes  are  your 
portion,  and  his  arm  is  your  defence.  For  the  com- 
fort of  fuch  people  it  is  written  ;  He  /hall  deliver 
th.ee  in  fix  troubles  ;  yea,  in  (even  there  J  hall  no  evil 
touch  thee*  Infantine,  he  /hall  redeem  t  he  c  from  death; 
and  in  "war,  from  the  power  efthejword.  Thou  /halt  be 
hid  from  the  fcourge  of  the  tongue  ;  neither  /halt  thou  be 
afraid  of  deftruflion,  -when  it  comcth  -J-.  In  the  hands 
of  this  reconciled  and  faithful  CREATOR,  this  un- 
wearied and  almighty  DELIVERER,  how  f'afely  may 
you  depofit  yourfelves  and  your  families,  your  poi- 
ieHions  and  your  all  ! 

Be  not  then  difcouraged,  ye  followers  of  CHRIST, 
though  troublous  times  mould  come.  All  creatures, 
and  all  events,  are  under  the  control  of  your  heaven- 
ly FATHER.  If  he  has  any  further  occaiion  for  your 
fervice,  or  fees  it  conducive  to  your  good,  he  will 
prefervc  you  amidrt  the  Created  dangers.  He  can 
draw  a  curtain  of  concealment  over  you,  as  he  did 
over  David  in  the  cave  J.  He  can  plant  an  invifiblc 
guard  around  you,  as  he  did  around  Elifha  in  Do- 
than  ||  .  He  can  turn  the  hearts  of  your  adverfaries, 
and  make  even  the  tnemy  and  the  avenger  to  be  at 

peace 


*  Mic.  v.  5.  -f"  J°k  v-  I9»  20> 

+  x  Sain.  xxiv.  3*  ||  2  Kings  vi.  17. 


SER.II.         OF      S    A    F    E    T    Y.  -  63 

peace  with  you  ;  as  he  did  in  the  cafe  of  Jacob  and  his 
enraged  brother  Efdu. — Or,  if  you  fall  in  the  com- 
mon calamity,  your  latter  end  (li all  be  peace ;  your  in- 
heritance is  unalienable,  m&yourjoy  no  man  takethfrom 
you.  Your  bell  things,  your  eternal  interclrs,  are  fe- 
ctire,  inviolably  fecure,  being  hid -with  CHRIST  in 
COD  *. 

Happy,  unfpeakably  blefled  and  happy  the  people, 
on  whom  this  blood  is  fprinkled  !  If  vindictive  viiita- 
tions  come  upon  the  land,  this  may  fcreen  and  pro- 
tect their  pcrfons  ;  like  the  mark,  which  the  man 
clothed  with  linen  fet  on  the  forehead  of  GOD's 
chofen  ones  f ;  or  like  the  line  of  fcarlet:  thread,  which 
Rahab  the  harlot  bound  to  the  window  of  her  houfe  J. 
However,  by  this  blood  of  reconciliation,  all  afflictions 
fhall  be  difarmed,  and  every  evil  unftung.  Nay,  ail 
things,  not  in  proiperity  only,  but  in  adverfity  like- 
vt\te,fliall  work  together  for  good^.  Death,  even  death, 
is  vanquifhed  for  them,  and  become  their  gain.  And 
the  lait  judgment  is  no  longer  the  object  of  their 
dread,  but  their  unfpeakable  privilege.  Being  jui- 
tified  by  this  blood,  they  may  even  trlory  in  tribula- 
tion ^  and  rejoice  in  hope^  in  lure  and  itedfalt  hope  cy 
the  glory  of  GOD  §. 

Will  ye  not  then,  brethren,  ardently  join  with  me  ? 

while 

*  Col.  iii.  3.         -f-  Ezck.  xi.  6.         \  Jofh.  ii.  18,  19. 

JKom.  viii.  28.  This  feems  to  be  the  meaning  of  the  HO- 
GHOST,  in  the  paflage  lately  quoted  from  job.  In  fix  ^ 
in  manifold  and  various  troubles  GODjbatl  deliver  thee.  U;\ 
if  he  1'ufFer  thee  to  be  involved  in  fever.,  there  jball  n>,  fuil,  iid 
pe:ial  evil,  tou^h  ihee.  His  gracious  prefence  fLall  be  more  tikai 
deliverance.  Thou  lhalt  not  feel  argufo^  but  enjoy  caw/ 
thou  flialt  not  fuffer  harm,  but  receive  benefit.  Though  the 
tiames  of  tribulation  kindle  all  around,  they  (hall  not  coniume 
thee;  but  (like  the  fire  which  furroumietl  the  three  Hel 
cwnfefTors)  mall  only  loofe  thy,  bonds,  and  ier  thee  free;  i>c 
thy  ajfeclions  free  from  a  troublefome  world,  or  ftt  thy 
.free  from  a  prifon  of  clay. 

i  Horn.  v.  r,  2,  3. 


64      THE     M    E    A    N    S,     6-r.     SER.H. 

while  I  lift  my  voice  to  GOD  in  the  heavens,  aiul  lay, 
u  Awake,  awake,  O  arm  of  the  LORD ;  let  this  be  a 
"  day  of  thy  power,  and  a  clay  of  our  redemption. 
"  Behold,  O  GOD  our  SAVIOUR,  and  look  upon 
"  thy  various  congregations.  .Sec  what  a  gathering 
**  of  the  people  there  is  in  thy  courts  ;  let  there  be  as 
tc  great  a  gathering  of  ibuls  to  thy  blelled  i'elf.  Ful- 
"  lil  the  prophecy,  almighty  SHILOH  1  Let  tinners, 
<l  won  by  the  dilcovery  of  thy  grace,  fly  unto  tiice 
tc  as  a  cloud  ;  and  take  (heller  in  thy  wounds,  as  the 
"  doves  in  their  windows  1  that  they  may  refl  in  the 
41  day  of  trouble  ;  and,  when  time  fhall  be  no  more, 
<l  may  enter  into  that  everlafting  reft,  which  remain- 
44  eth  for  the  people  of  GOD/'  Amen. 


S  E  R- 


SERMON      III. 

The  Way  of  Holinefs. 


Ez  EK.  xviii.  27. 

IV  hen  ths  wicked  man  turneth  away  from  his  ivicked* 
nef's  that  he  hath  committed,  and  doth  that  which  if 
lawful  and  right,  he  ftiall  Jave  his  Joul  alive. 


MANY  of  my  hearers,  I  obferve,  are  hufbandmen  ; 
and  the  iealon,  if  I  miltake  not,  is  the  ieaibn 
of  Jced-tima  I  will  fuppofe  a  perfon,  unfkilled  in 
your  bufinefs,  brethren,  taking  notice  of  your  work. 
Perhaps  he  goes  home,  and  lays, — u  What  ftrange 
tc  inconfiderate  creatures  have  I  ieen  in  the  field  !  I 
"  faw  them,  inllead  of  laying  up  their  corn  in  the 
<e  garner,  throwing  it  away  by  handfuls.  IMay,  they 
**  even  buried  it  in  the  ground,  and  left  it  ta  putrefy1 
"  under  the  clods.  Is  this  the  way  to  improve  their 
"  flock,  and  increafe  their  fuhftancc  ?  is  tliis  the 
"  way  to  get  gain,  and  p'rovide  for  their  families  :'" 

.Should  any  one  make   iuch    a  reflection  on   your 

conduct, you  have  an  anfvver  ready.  The  lame  aniwer^ 

only  with  an  alteration  of  circumftanccs,  will  be  e- 

qually  proper  for  your  preacher.    It  is  true,  his  ufual 

Ttibje&s  are,  the  abfolutely  free-grace  of  G  O  D,  a"nd 

VOL.  V.  N°  21.  I  the 


ou  i'    If    £       WAY  SER.IUV 

the  iinmenicly-rich  merits  of  CHRIST  ;  the  infinite 
atonement,  and  cvcrlafHng  righteouincls  of  the  RE- 
DKKMEil.  But  becaufc  he  generally  enlarges  upon 
thcfc  doftrincs,  is  lie  therefore  throwing  away  his 
words  ?  docs  lie  ncglctl  the  caufe,  or  difregard  the  rn- 
terelts  of  /wlinejs?  Far  from  it.  He  is  lowing  the  iced 
of  vital  holinefs ;  without  which  feed,  holinefs  will 
never  flourifh  in  your  hearts,  will  never  bring  forth 
fruit  in  your  lives  ;  any  more  thanyour  ploughed  lands 
would  produce  a  crop  of  corn,  without  receiving  the 
appointed  grain.  It  is  thruug/i,  the  knowledge  of  ottr 
adorable  SAVIOUR,  as  calling  ns  to  glory  andvirtne^ 
that  we  have  all  things  pertaining  unto  life  and  godli- 
ncfs  *;  unto  the  enjoyment  of  life  eternal,  and  the 
practice  of  true  godliuefs. 

To  convince  you  that  this  is  my  aim,  I  have  chofen 
a  text  full  to  the  purpofe  ;  and  not  uniuitable  to  the 
occalion  of  our  prefcnt  aflembly.  ff^ken  the  wicked- 
vi'&n  turnetk  aivay  from  his  wickedj^ef.', ,  that  he  hath 
committed,  and  doth  that  which  is  Lawful  and  right,  he 
Jhall  jave  his-  foul  alive., 

The  wqrds  naturally  divide  themftlvesvinto  the  fol- 
lowing particulars  : 

I.  What  the  wicked  man  mould  turn  from — "wicked" 
Ttefs. 

II.  What  he  fhould  turn  to — to  do  that  which  is  law- 
ful and  right. 

III.  What  will  be  the  efed  of  fuch  turning— he  /hall 
Jave  his  foul  alive, 

May  C  H  Pv  I  S  T  J  E  S  U  S,  the  Head  of  his  church, 
nnd  the  wonderful  Caunfellor,  enable  us  to  open  thefc 
truths  ;  to  add  a  word  of  lively  application  j  and  to 
receive  godly  edifying  from  the  whole  ! 

L  What  the  wicked  man  mould  turn  from — wicked- 

ncfs. 
*  a  Per.  i.  3. 


III.         O  F    H  O  L  1  N  E  S  S.  -67 

nefs.  Here  perhaps  you  expect,  that  I  fhould  mention 
Teveral  forts  of  wickednefs ;  mould  difplay  the  deteft- 
able  nature  and  definitive  confequences  of  each  ;  and 
deter  you,  by  iuch  confidcrations,  from  the  cotnmif- 
iion  of  them  all  ;  deter  you  from  lying  and  defraud- 
ing, from  curling  and  (wearing,  from  drunkennefs 
and  uncleanneis,  from  a  fpiteful  temper,  and  a  back- 
biting tongue.  Thefe  are  horrid  evils.  On  account 
ofthefe  the  Ir.nd  mourns  Thefe  bring  the  vengeance 
of  GOD  on  a  peribn,  and  on  a  people*.  If  1  could 
ipeak  in  thunder,  I  could  never  inveigh  too  loudly  a- 
gainit  theie  vices.  u  Ye  that  go  on  in  iuch  iniquities,, 
"  ye  *rt feathering  brim/ions  upon  your  habitations  f ; 
<c  ye  are  heaping  up  wrath  againjl  tlie  day  of  ivrath  \* 
"  How  can  ye  efcape  t/ie  damnation  of  htil  jj  ?'* 

But  let  me  forbear  inveclives.  Let  me  reaibn  with 
you  in  the  fpirit  of  mild  nefs  .-r-I  will  fuppofe  you  poi~ 
iefTed  of  a  pleafant  garden.  In  fome  favourite  bed, 
many  weeds  fpring  up,  alluring  to  the  eye,  but  full 
of  deadly  poifon.  Will  you  ord«:r  your  gardener,  to 
crop  off  the  leaves,  or  to  pluck  up  the  routs  f — To 
pluck  up  the  roots,  moft  certainly-.  Becaufe,  if  he 
does  the  former  only,  it  will  avail  but  litrlt  ;  it  will 
be  no  better  than  labour  loft  ;  whereas,  if  lie  does  the 
latter,  he  will  effectually  rid  your  ground  of  the  per- 
nicious incumbrance. — Thus  would  I  aft.  Wick 
nefs  is  this  pernicious  weed.  It  is  full  of  deadly  poifon  ; 
it  pollutes  your  fouls,  and  will  be  the  bane  of  your 
happincfs.  I  would  not  therefore  be  contci.t  with 
ufing  the  pruning-knife,  and  cutting  off  the  (hoots  ; 
but  I  would  take  the  fpade,  and  level  my  blow  at  the 
root. 

I  would  fain  have  you  turn,  not  partially  and  fu- 
perficially,  but  thoroughly  and  habitually; — not  from 
fome  only,  but  from  all  wickcdnefs  ; — and  not  barely 

I  2  from 

*  Col.  iii.  6.  -f  Job  xviii.  15. 

+  .Rom.  ii.  $.  |J  Marth.  xxiii.  33,, 


68  THE       W     A     Y  SER.  III. 

from  the  practice,  but  even  from  the  love  of  it,  and 
nay  fondnefi  for  it. — This  will  never  be  accomplilh- 
cd,  unlels  you  turn 

From   a  thought Icfs  ~) 

From  a  pr..ytrUls     {i-flate 

From  an  irtfenjiblf    j 

l.  From  a  thoitghtlejs  ftate. — You  are  made  for  e- 
ternity  ;  yon  are  immortal  beings.  You  mutt  dwell 
either  with  GOD  in  heaven,  or  with  devils  in  hell  ; 
and  that  to  eiuSL-fs,  endlels  ages.  You  know  not 
how  loon  you  may  be  fummoned  into  the  inviliblc 
nud  eternal  world  ;  the  following  night,  for  aught  you 
can  tell  ;  or  before  the  prefent  hour  is  expired.  Do 
you  leriouily  confidcr,  to  which  of  thel'e  cverlalting 
abodes  you  are  approaching  ?  for  which  of  thel'e  un- 
changeable conditions  you  are  meet  ? 

Except  a  man  be  born  again ,  fays  our  LORD,  he 
cami'it  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  *.  This  is  the 
fixed  determination  of  the  righteous  Judge.  You  all 
hope  for  heaven  ;  and  1  humbly  beieech  the  LORD 
that  you  may  not  be  dilappointed  of  your  hope.  But 
<Jo  you  diligently  inquire,  whether  you  have  experi- 
enced this  new  birth  ?  Is  there  a  (piritual  change 
\vrought  in  your  fouls  ?  are  your  affections  taken  off 
from  vanity,  and  fixed  on  the  infinitely-amiable  GOD.5 
is  your  memory  filled  with  the  truths  of  the  gofpel, 
and  are  your  clefires  rifjng  to  things  above?  To  ex- 
pect the  bleflednefs  of  heaven,  and  have  no  concern 
about  this  renewal  of"  your  nature,  is  to  contemn  the 
counfels  of  CH  R  I  S  T,  and  to  trifle  with  his  unalter- 
able decree. 

Without  holincfs  no  man  fliall fee  the  LORD  f .  This 
is  the  {landing  rule  for  our  preient  conduct,  and  in- 
difpenfibly  neceffary  for  our  future  happineis.  You 
may  be  civil  and  decent  in  your  behaviour  ;  you  may 
attend  the  place  of  divine  \vorfh ip,  and  pnis  for  re- 
putable 

*  John  iii.  3.  f  Hejx  xii.  14. 


SER.  111.         OF     HOLINESS.  69 

putable  pertbns  ;  yet,  unlefs  you  are  holy  in  your 
hearts,  and  holy  in  your  conveiiation,  you  cannot 
enter  into  GOD's  blifsful  preience.  To  be  holy  is  to 
put  on  CHRIST  *  ;  to  reiemble  CHRIST,  in  your 
ipirit  and  carriage,  as  one  man  rciembles  another, 
when  h'e  puts  on  his  drei's,  or  imitates  his  manners. 
Do  you  look  to  CHRIS T  as  your  pattern  ;  follow 
CHRIST  as  your  guide  ;  and,  in  the  general  courie 
of  your  life,  walk  as  CHRIST  walked  '.  —  Perhaps 
you  have  never  fo  much  as  aimed  at  this  ;  never  fo 
much  as  ferioufly  coniidered  eternity,  regeneration, 
and  a  conformity  to  CHRIS  T.  Thele  things  are  iel- 
dom,  if  ever,  in  your  thoughts  :  then  be  allured  you 
are  far  from  holinets  ;  you  are  not  turned  from  your 
evil  way  ;  no,  nor  ib  much  as  beginning  to  turn. 

Say  not,  "  This  duty  of  ferious  consideration  is  a 
"  flight  matter.  If  I  had  been  guilty  of  injullice  or 
**  perjury  ;  if  I  had  committed  adultery  or  murder  ; 
"  theie  indeed  were  heinous  crimes  :  whereas,  the 
41  omiflion  which  you  have  infifted  on,  is  but  a  imall 
"  offence." — Small  off'snce'l  Prelinne  not  to  think  fo. 
However  fuch  guilt  may  appear  little  in  your  view, 
or  fit  ealy  upon  your  conlcicncc,  it  is  hainous  enough 
to  make  heaven  and  earth  amazed.  For  thus  faith  the 
LORD;  Hear,  0  heavens,  and  give  ear,  0  earth!  I 
/iave  nourijhed  and  broug/it  up  children,  and  they  have 
rebelled  againft  vie.  The  ox  knows th  liis  owner,  and  the 
f.'/'s  his  majler'i  crib:  but  Ifr  ad  dothnot  know, my  people 
DOTH  NOTCONSIDERJ.  To  fay  the  truth,  an  incon- 
siderate carelels  lite  is  an  unintcrmittcd  coinie  of  fin; 
it  is  one  continued  act  of  rebellion  againfl  G  O  D. — 
U  oppofes  his  compaflionate  wifli  ;  0  that  they  were 
"I  that  they  und'fft'Jloqd tilts  !  thnt  they  ivoidd conjjdcr 
T'icir  latter  end  \l — It  diibbeys  his  polkivc  command  ; 
Tints  faith  the  LORD  of  liofis,  thu  fupremc  Ruler  of 
-•the  world,  Conjtderyour  ways  || .  —It  defeats  the  dc 

of 

Rn-u.  >.;:i.  14.  -f-   If.  i.  2,  3. 

\  Deut.  xxxii.  29.  J|  Hag.  i._5,  ?. 


TO  T     H     E       W     A    Y  SER.  III. 

of  his  holy  word,  and  would  make  the  blood  of  his 
SON  to  be  of  none  effect. 

2.  Turn  from  a  praycrlefs  (late.  Alas!  how  many 
of  thofe  whom  we  call  Chriftians  are  ftrangeis  to 
prayer  !  How  mzny  Jcruants  rile  to  their  work,  and 
never  bend  a  knee  before  their  MASTER  in  heaven  ! 
how  many  ma/ters  fet  their  iervants  an  ungodly  ex- 
ample; enter  upon  the  affairs  of  the  day,  without  im- 
ploring the  GOD  of  all  grace,  either  to  profper  their 
bufineis,  or  to  fa  notify  their  fouls  !  How  many  parents 
know  not  what  it  is  to  make  earned  fupplications  for 
the  converfion  and  falvation  of  their  children  !  and 
how  many  children  are  as  ignorant  of  the  nature,  the 
neceffity,  the  advantages  of  prayer,  et  as  the  wild  afs's 
"  colt  *  !" 

Shall  I  reckon  thsfe  goad  people  ?  are  thefe  turned 
to  their  GOD  ?  No  ;  they  are  defpifers  of  the  Moit 
HIGH  ;  they  caft  contempt  upon  his  majefty.  The 
language  of  their  practice  is,  "  Depart  from  us. 
44  Omnipotent  as  thou  art,  we  have  no  need  of  thee ; 
"  no  need  of  thy  SPIRIT,  to  make  interceffion  in 
tc  us  ;  no  need  of  thy  SON,  to  make  interceflion/or 
"  us." — Mofl  jnflly,  therefore,  is  it  reckoned  by  E1U 
phaz,  as  part  of  a  wicked  and  abandoned  character, 
Thou  rcftraineft  prayer  before  GOD  -j-.  Nay,  it  is  men- 
tioned by  the  Pfalmtft  as  the  finifhing  part,  that  which 
feals  up  the  foul  under  the  dominion  of  iniquity,  and 
fliuts  out  all  reafonable  hope  of  a  reformation  :  They 
are  corrupt ;  they  do  abominable  works ;  and  there  is  no 
proipcft  of  their  doing  otherwife,  fmce  they  call  not 
upon  the  LORD  J. 

Religious,  yet  neglect  prayer  !  Impofiible.  Can  a 
man  live  without  food  ?  can  he  breathe  without  air  ? 
No  more  can  you  withftand  temptation,  or  exercife 
godlinefs,  un\e&yv\ii.u  (itch  unto  prayer  jj. — Theneglecl: 

of 

x  Job  xi.  12.  -r  Job  xv.  4. 

$  Pfal.  xiv.  4. '  ||  Lph.  vi.  i& 


SER.  HI-        OF    H  O  L  I  N  E  S  S.  71 

of  prayer  is  not  only  finful  in  itfelf,  but  the  furc  figr> 
of  an  unlanftified  heart,  and  the  wide  inlet  to  every 
unrighteous  practice.  "  Shew  me  aprayerlefsperlbn," 
faid  one,  "  and  I  will  fhew  you  agracelefsperfon." — 
Turn  then,  finners,  turn,  without  delay,  to  a  habit  of 
prayer;  of  fecret,  ferious,  earneft  prayer:  othcrwife, 
you  cannot  expeft  that  the  wrath  of  GOD  fhould  be 
turned  away  from  you.  No;  when  he  whets  his  glit- 
tering fword,  and  his  hand  takes  hold  on  judgment, 
you  are  the  perfons  that  caitfe  the  indignation.;  you 
are  the  perfons  who  have  reafon  to  tremble  at  the 
ibroke.  For  thus  it  is  written  in  that  venerable  book, 
which  is  a  tranfcript  of  the  divine  will,  and  the  rule 
of  the  divine  procedure  ;  Pour  out  thy  fury  upon  the 
Heathen,  that  knoiv  theenot ;  pour  out  thy  fury  upon  the 
families  that  call  not  on  thy  name  *. 

g.  Turn  from  your  infenfible  ftate. — Be  ienfible  of 
your  guilt,  your  mifery,  your  ruin.  Thoughtlefs  and 
prayerleis  people,  you  are  fmners  before  the  GOD  of 
heaven  ;  you  are  the  children  of  his  wrath  ;  you  are 
the  objects  of  his  vengeance  ;  condemned  and  accur- 
(ed  by  his  holy  word.  O  !  may  the  LOUD  of  all 
power  rend  the  veil  from  your  underftandings,  and 
lliew  you  your  perilous,  your  dreadfully-perilous  con- 
dition. 

If,  while  I  am  fpeaking,  the  earth  fhoukl  reel  to  and 
fro,  and  be  in  flrong  convulfions  under  your  feet  ;.  if 
it  mould  open  its  horrid  jaws,  and  gape  frightfully 
wide  to  devour  you  j  not  one  in  the  afTembly  but 
would  be  greatly  alarmed.  How  then  can  you  be 
carelefs  and  unconcerned,  when  hell  from  beneath  is 
opening  her  mouth  to  fwallow  you  up  in  emllefs  per- 
dition ? — If  this  building  was  rocking  over  your  heads, 
and  tottering  on  every  fide;  if  the  beams  were  buril- 
ing,  and  the  walls  cleaving  ;  you  would  be  ftruck 
with  aftoniihinept  and  horror.  And  how  is  it  that 

you 

*  Jer.  x.  25. 


74  *     HE       WAY  S  E  R  .  1IL 

:l':d  the  FA  r  HER,  that  in  CHR  IS  Tffiouldall 
fulnils  divfll  *. 

Bccauie  you  are  £H/7/r,  and  have  a  burden  of  iniqui- 
ty on  your  fouls,  H  E  is  the  Lamb  of  COD,  that  ta- 
keth  aiiiav  *'''(•'  /'''«•  of  the  -world]  :  a  lamb  of  GOD's 
own  appointing  ;  a  lamb  of  infinite  excellence  and  dig- 
nity ;  to  whom  nothing  is  equal,  nothing  comparable. 
This  Lamb  of  GOD  has  (hcd  his  blood  for  Tinners  ; 
has  iii  (Ve  red  death  lor  linners  ;  yea,  has  died  in  their 
ftcad,  and  endured  all  that  vengeance  which  they  have 
rk  Tcrvcd.  In  this  mod  wonderful'  and  perfect:  man- 
ner has  he  obtained  their  pardon  !  pardon,  not  of  f'omc 
only,  but  of  all  (ins ;  be  they  ever  To  numerous,  or  e- 
ver  i'o  hainons,  it  makcth  no  difference  with  him.  An 
infinite  SAVIOUR!  taketlv  away  millions,  unnumbered 
millions  of  the  moil  abominable  iniquities,  with  as 
much  cafe  as- he  expiates  a  (ingle  offence,  or  the  fmall- 
cft  fr.uk.  he  blotteth  &ut  tranfgrejjifjn-s,  aggravated 
tranfgreffions,  innumerable  tranfgreflions,  as-  a  cloud\  ; 
as  eafily  and' as  completed;  as  the  wind  iv/seps  away 
a*  floating  cloud  from  the  face  of  the  fky.  Delivered 
from  this  load  of  guilt,  you  will  be  fitted  to  -walk  in 
the  way  of  God's  commandments,  and  not  be  -weary ; 
yea,  to  run,  and  not  faint  j| . 

Becaule  you  are  ruined,  and  have  nothing  that  may 
recommend  you  to  the  moft  high  GOD,  CHRIST 'has 
brought  in  a  righteoufneis— a  complete  righteoufnefs — 
a  divine  righteoufnefs.  Confider  the  unfpotted  purity 
of  his  nature,  and  the  unfmning  obedience  of  his  life  ; 
confider  his  fervent  charity  to  man,,  and  his  patient  re- 
fign^tion  to  G  O  D  ;  confider  all  his  exajted  virtues, 
nnd  all  his  exemplary  actions  ;  thefe,  all  thefe,  in  their 
utmoft  perfection,  are  not  only  for  the  imitation,  but 
for  the  jnfrificntion  alfo,  of  flich  finners  as  you  and T. 
Ht-  name  is  JEHOVAH,  which  fpeaks  incompre- 
liciilible grandeur  in  him  ;  JEHQ  VAH our  righte ottf- 

nejs, 

\ 

*  Gol.  i.  19,     -f-  Joha  i.  29.      ^  If.  xUv.22,      \\  If*  xl.  31, 


,ER.  III.         O  F     H  O  L  I  N  E  S  S.  75 

iiefs  *,  which  fpeaks  unutterable  comfort  to  us.  Jn 
this  righteouiheis  we  may  be  fully  accepted,  and  en- 
titled to  eternal  life.  Of  this  we  may  make  our  boaft, 
and  lay,  In  the  LORD  have  I  right  eoujnejs  -f--;  I,  a 
tranfgrcfTor,  have  a  real  righteoufnefs  ;  I,  a  defec- 
tive creature,  have  a  confummate  righteouinefs  ;  I, 
a  frail  relapfing  Chriflian,  have  an  invariable  and  e- 
verlalting  righteoufncis.  O  !  what  a  trcafure  is  this  ! 
what  an  i.  ilpeakable  gift  is  this  !  Is  there  a  cordial 
that  can  revive  our  fpirits,  is  there  a  motive  that  can 
animate  us  to  duty,  like  juflification  through  IM- 
1VJ  AI\  UEL's  righteoufneis  f— Bleffed  L  O  R  D  !  this 
makes  thy  yoke  eafy,  aiid  thy  burden  light. 

Becaufe  you  are  weak  and  dijablcd,  CHRIST  has 
the  rtfidue  of  the  SPI111I 1"  J  ;  the /«/»</>  of  the  SP1- 
KIT  ||  ;  thcjeven  S  P  I R  ITS  of  GOD  are  before 
his  throne  j.  The  H  O  J,  Y  G  H  O  S  T,  in  all  his  o- 
perations,  and  with  2-11  his  graces,  CHRIS  T  fends 
to  whomfoever  he  pleafes  -4-. — He  gave  this  inefli- 
rnable  bleifingto  Saul  the  perfecutor  and  blafphemer.: 
lie  gave  this  inefiimable  blefling  to  many  of  his  mur- 
derers and  crucifiers  :  he  flill  coafersthe  jieavenly  gift 
on  his  enemies  ;  yea^  an  the  rebellious  ulfo  -t- .  And 
thepromile,  theiree  gracious  promilb,  //  to  you,  and 
to  your  children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as 
;>iany  at  the  LORD  ourX^OZ),  by  the  preaching  of 
his  gofpel,y5W/  call-*-*. 

How  falutary  and  beneficial  arc  the  effects  of  this 
-/tft  1  our  LORD  liimlelf,  who  beft  knew,  has  admi- 
rably fhewn.  He  that  beiitvcth  on  ME,  out  of  his  belly 
fliall  fioiu  rivers  oj  living  -water  =.  This  fpake  he  of 
the  SPIRIT,  which  every  one  that  turns  to  him,  and 
believes  on  him,  fhall  receive.  Obferve  fome  beauti- 
ful and  copious  river  :  how  it  exhilarates  the  country, 
and  fructifies  the  foil  through  which  it  pafles  ;  beftows 
athoufand  convcniencies,  and  gives  birth  to  a  thoufajid 

K  2  delights . 

*  Jer.  xxiii.  6.        -f-  ^-  "lv-  ^4.        ^  Mai.  ii.  1,5. 

(j  C«)l.  i.  19  .1  Rev.  ii.  4.         .$_  Jc'.  i  xvi.  7. 

•-fPial.  Ixviii.  18.  -H- Ads  i.  39.        •=  John  vii.  38. 


74  'f    H    E       WAY  SER.IIL 

fleaffd  the  FA  T  H  E  R,  that  in  CHR  IB  Tfiouldalt 
fulncjs  dwell  *. 

Becaufe  you  we  guilty,  and  have  a  burden  of  iniqui- 
ty on  your  fouls,  H  E  is  the  Lamb  of  GOD,  that  ta- 
keth  away  the  fin  of  the  world]  :  a  lamb  of  GOD's 
own  appointing  ;  a  lamb  of  infinite  excellence  and  dig- 
nity ;  to  whom  nothing  is  equal,  nothing  comparable. 
This  Lamb  of  GOD  has  died  his  blood  for  Tinners  ; 
has  fullered  death  lor  fmners  ;  yea,  has  died  in  their 
Read,  and  endured  all  that  vengeance  which  they  have 
dcfcrvcd.  In  this  mod  wonderful-  and  perfect  man- 
ner has  he  obtained  their  pardon  !  pardon,  not  of  fomc 
only,  but  of  all  tins  ;  be  they  ever  fo  numerous,  or  e- 
ver  fo  hainous,  it  mnkcth  no  difference  with  him.  An 
iiu'inite  SAVIOUR  taketlv  away  millions,  unnumbered 
millions  of  the  molt  abominable  iniquities,  with  as 
much  safe  as-he  expiates  a  (ingle  offence,  or  the  imall- 
c(t  fr.uk.  he  blotteth  out  trartferej/ian-s,  aggravated 
tranfgreffions,  innumerable  tranfgrcflions,  as-  a  cloud\  ; 
as  eafily  and'  as  completely  as  the  wind  iwseps  away 
ar  floating  cloud  from  the  face  of  the  Iky.  Delivered 
from  this  load  of  guilt,  you  will  be  fitted  to  walk  in 
the  way  of  God's  commandments,  and  not  be  weary  ; 
yea,  to  run,  and  not  faint  j|. 

Becaufe  you  are  ruined,  and  have  nothing  that  may 
recommend  you  to  the  mod  high  GOD,  CHRIST 'has 
brought  in  a  righteoufnefs— a  complete  righteoufnefs — 
a  divine  righteoufnefs.  Confider  the  unfpottcd  purity 
of  his  nature,  and  the  uniinning  obedience  of  his  life  ; 
confider  his  fervent  charity  to  man,  and  his  patient  rc- 
fignation  to  G  O  D  ;  confider  all  his  exajted  virtues, 
nnd  all  his  exemplary  actions  ;  thefc,  all  thefe,  in  their 
utmofl  perfection,  arc  not  only  for  the  imitation,  but 
for  the  juftificption  alfo,  of  ilich  fmners  as  you  and T. 
Hi'  name  is  JEHOVAH,  which  fpeaks  incompre- 
henlible  grandeur  in  him  ;  JEHO  V AH  our  right eouj- 

nejs, 

i 

*  Col.  i.  19,     -f-  Joha  i.  29.      ^  If.  :Uiv.22,      jj  If»  xl.  31, 


O  F    H  O  L  I  N  E  S  S.  75 

weft  *,  which  fpeaks  unutterable  comfort  to  us.  Jn 
this  righteoufneis  we  may  be  fully  accepted,  and  en- 
titled to  eternal  life.  Of  this  we  may  make  our  boaft, 
and  lay,  In  the  LORD  have  I  right eoujnejs  f-;  I,  a 
tranfgrcflbr,  have  a  real  i  igbteoufnefs  ;  I,  a  defec- 
tive creature,  have  a  confummate  righteouihcfs  ;  I, 
a  frail  relapfing  Chrillian,  have  an  invariable  and  e- 
verla(ting  righteoufneis.  O  !  what  a  trcafure  is  this  ! 
what  an  i.  ifpeakable  gift  is  this  !  Is  there  a  cordial 
that  can  revive  our  fpirits,  is  there  a  motive  that  can 
animate  us  to  duty,  like  justification  through  IM- 
MAN  UEL's  righteoufneis  : — Bleffed  L  O  R  D  !  this 
makes  thy  yoke  eaiy,  and  thy  burden  light. 

Becaufe  you  are  weak  and  di/abled,  CHRIST  has 
the  reftdue  of  the  SPIJRI 1  }  ;  thefu/xcjs  of  the  SPI- 
RIT ||  ;  thcjcm-n  S  P  I R  I  T  S  of  GOD  are  before 
his  throne  j.  The  H  O  JL  Y  G  H  O  S  T,  in  all  his  o- 
perations,  and  with  ail  his  graces,  CHRIS  7  fends 
to  whomfoever  he  pleafes  -T-. — He  gave  this  incfti- 
rnable  blelfingto  Saul  the  perfecutor  and  blafphcmer.: 
lie  gave  this  ineftimable  blefling  to  many  of  his  mur- 
derers and  cruciiiers  :  he  ftill  coafersthe  Jieavenly  gift 
on  his  enemies  ;  yea^  an  the  rebellious  a//o  -H.  And 
thepromife,  the  free  'gracious  promilb,  is  to  you,  and 
to  your  children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as 
-,,iany  as  the  LORD  ourX^OZ),  by  the  preaching  of 
his  gofpel,/W/  call+-+. 

How  falutary  and  beneficial  arc  tine  eifecls  of  this 
;>/ift  !  our  LORD  himielf,  who  beft  knew,  has  admi- 
rably fhewn.  fie  that  believcth  on  ME,  out  of  his  belly 
fliaU  floiv  rivers  of  living  water  ==.  This  fpake  he  of 
the  SPIRIT,  which  every  one  that  turns  to  him,  an4 
believes  on  him,  fhail  receive.  Obferve  fome  beauti- 
ful and  copious  river  :  how  it  exhilarates  the  country, 
and  fructifies  the  foil  through  which  it  palfes  ;  befiows 
athoufand  convcniencies,  and  gives  birth  to  a  thoufarid 

K  2  delights , 

*  Jer.  xxiii.  6.         -j*  If.  ;.lv.  24,        ^  Mai.  ii.  i ^. 

[|  Col.  i.  19  \.  Rev.  ii.  4.         .^_  Jc'.  \  xvi.  7. 

4-Pfal.  Ixviii.  18.  -f+  Ads  i.  39.        -~  John  vii.  38. 


76  T     H     E       W     A    Y  SEiuIII. 

delights,  where-ever  it  takes  its  winding  courfe.  So 
the  COMFORTER  dwelling  in  the  heart,  gives  fuch 
charming  views  of  CHRIST  and  his  unlearchable 
riches,  as  gladden  the  confcience,  and  make  us  truly 
happy.  Hence,  as  from  an  inexhauilible  fource,  true 
"liolinefs  Hows,  and  every  fpiritual  good.  This  difpoies 
us  to  love  our  neighbour  ;  this  teaches  us  to  be  meek 
in  fpiri;  :  and  this  will  raite  our  defires  far  above  earth- 
ly, feniiial,  tranfitory  things,  even  as  David's  thoughts 
were  railed  far  above  the  fhepherd's  fcrip,  when  he 
fat  exalted  on  the  throne  of  Ifrael. 

Under' the  influence  of  this  divine  SPIRIT,  you 
will  fay,  "  CHRIST  has  taken  away  the  execrable 
<c  filth  of  my  fins  ;  and  (hall  1  wallow  in  the  mire  of 
"  iniquity  again  ? — CHRIST  has  delivered  me  from 
*e  the  pit  of  everlafting  deftrudtion  ;  and  fliall  I  leap 
*'  into  thofe  unquenchable  flames,  from  which,  as  a 
<4  brand,  I  have  been  fnatched  ? — In  my  adorable 
"REDEEMER,  I  have  a  perfed  righteouihels, 
"  and  am  completely  judified  ;  and  fhall  1  not  cndea- 
Ci  vour  to  walk  worthy  of  fuch  favours  ;  to  (hew  my 
"  gratitude  for  fuch  beneficence,  by  bringing  forth 
<c  the  fruits  of  righteouihefs  in  all  my  converfa- 
*<  tion  :" 

Yes,  brethren  ;  wheo  you  are  turned  to  CHRIST, 
to  receive  his  atonement,  to  rely  on  his  righteoufnefs, 
to  be  filled  with  his  S  P  I  R  1  T  ;  it  will  be  with  your 
foul  as  it  is  with  the  earth,  when  it  is  turned  to  the 
fun.  The  earth,  you  fee,  is  now  barren  and  unfruit- 
ful, br.catife  it  has  been  very  much  withdrawn  from 
the  enlivening  beams  of  the  iiin.  Ere  long  it  will  be 
replaced  under  the  full  influences  of  that  fountain  of 
light  and  heat.  Then  what  a  change  will  take  place  1 
how  will  the  flowers  appear  on  the  ground  !  how  will 
the  leaves  adorn  the  trees  !  how  will  the  fmging 
of  birds  be  heard  in  our  land  !  So  fliall  holinefs  and  a 
heavenly  temper  be  produced  in  your  fouls  ;  fo  (hall 
obedience,  with  all  the  fruits  of  godlinefs,  flourifh  in 

your 


SE&.  ffl.         OF     HOLINESS.  77 

your  lives  ;  when  this  Sun  of  righteoufnefs  manifefts 
himfelf  in  your  hearts,  makes  you  partakers  of  his 
falvatioh,  and  thus  arijes  upon  you  with  healing  under 
his  wings  *. 

Should  any  one  doubt,  whether  this  is  the  way  to 
do  that  which  is  lawful  and  right  ;  I  a(k, — Is  it  not  a 
pleafing  way  ?  fuch  as  we  fhould  wi!h  tor;  iiich  as  we 
mould  prefer  above  all  others ;  and  iuch  as  will  render 
our  LOR  D's  icrvice  perfect  freedom  ? — Js  it  not  a 
rational  way  ?  apparently  adapted  to  engage  the  heart, 
to  flrengthen  the  hand,  and  thereby  to  fit  the  whole 
man  for  every  good  work  ? 

Beiides,  is  it  not  the  way  appointed  by  G  O  D  ? — » 
Would  we  "  earneftly  repent,  and  be  heartily  forry 
u  for  all  our  mifdoings  :"  The  wifdom  of  GOD  af- 
fures  us,  this  forrow  muft  arife  from  believing  views 
of  CHRIST  ;  from  looking  unto  him  whom  we  have 
pierced  f/  looking  unto  him  as  wounded  for  our  tranf- 
greifions,  and  bruifed  for  our  iniquities.  This,  if  any 
thing,  will  incline  us  to  be  afflicted,  and  mourn,  and 
weep,  for  all  our  abominations.  Thus,  and  thus  on- 
ly, (hall  we  experience  that  godly  farrow  ±  which  work- 
etli  repentance  not  to  be  repented  of. 

Would  we  love  GOD  ?  The  oracles  of  heaven  in- 
form us,  that  we  muft  firft  lee  his  love  ;  his  infinitely- 
free,  and  infinitely -tender  love  towards  us';  his  love 
not  imputing  any  lin  to  our  fouls,  but  laying  all  our 
iniquities  upon  his  own  SON.  Then  fhall  we  love 
him,  when  we  perceive  and  know,  that  he  has,  in  this 
molt  divinely  gracious  manner,  regarded — loved — blef- 
icd  us. 

Would  we  he  pure  in  heart  ?  The  LORD  purificth 
the  heart  by  faith  \:  faith  in  CHRIST,  as  fliedding 
)iis  molt  precious  blood,  as  giving  his  mod  glorious 
perfbn,  for  our  ranfom  :  and,  by  his  one  oblation, 
ftnijhing  our  tranfgfcflion  ;  making  reconciliation  for  our 

iniquity  y 
"  Mai.  iv.  2.          -f  Zecli.  xii.  £O.          ^  Ads  xv.  9, 


78  T    H    E      W    A    Y  3*i.HL 

iniquity;  yea,  perfecting  us  for  ever:  rnfomuch  that  we 
may  boldly  and  ailuredly  lay,  Through  this  %race  of 
our  LORD  JL'SUS  C  H  RI ST  we  Jhall  be  faucd. 
He  that  hath  this  faith  and  this  hope  purifieth  him] elf ^ 
even  as  he  is  pure. 

Would  we  renounce  all  ungodlincfs  ?  would  we  live 
foberly,  right  coufly,  and  godlily  *  f  By  grace  we  mult 
be  enabled  ;  even  that  grace  which  brings  ialvation, 
a  finished  and  free  ialvation  to  finners.  That  grace, 
appearing  in  the  heart,  and  appropriated  by  faith,  is 
the  lure,  the  effectual  means  of  true  falsification  ;  the 
liire,  the  effectual  motive  to  willing  obedience.— There- 
fore our  LORD  fays,  He  that  ecitcth  me,  even  ht Jliall 
live  by  me  }.  Us  that  eateth  me,  that  receiveth  my 
righteoufnefs  and  redemption  ;  that  maketh  a  daily 
ufe  of  me  and  my  benefits,  far  the  refrefliment  anxi 
health  of  his  foul ;  as  people  make  a  daily  ufe  of  their 
neccffary  food,  for  the  nourifliment  and  fupport  of 
their  bodies:  even  he fliall live  by  me;  he  fiiall  live  to 
GOD  in  real  holinefs  here,  and  live  with  GOD 
in  everlafting  glory  hereafter. — This  method  will 
ilrcngthen  -and  prepare  us  for  difcharging  all  the  du- 
ties of  a  Chriftian  life,  as  bread  flrengthens  and  pre- 
pares the  labourer  for  difpatching  the  bufmefs  of  his 
toilfome  calling.  Whereas,  without  uling  this  fove- 
reign  expedient,  we*  mall  be  as  incapable  of  exercifmg 
ourfelves  unto  godlinefs,  as  the  hireling,  deprived  of 
bis  ufual  meals,  would  be  incapable  of  performing  his 
daily  tafk. 

Upon  the  whole,  brethren,  we  do  not  urge  you  to 
make  brick  without  ftraw  :  we  do  not  call  upon  you 
to  arife  and  \vork,  without  (hewing  you  from  whence 
your  ability  and  vigour  are  to  proceed. — Some,  per- 
haps, might  exhort  you  to  all  holy  obedience  ;  but, 
neglecling  thefe  moft  neceifary  directions,  their  exhor- 
tations would  be  comfortlefs  and  iniiguificant  ;  be- 

caufe 
*  Tit,  ii.  A  f  John  vi.  57. 


SER.  Iff.         OF     HOLINESS.  7? 

caufe  you  might  fetch  a  figh,  and  may  anfwer,  u  All 
"  this  we  would  gladly  do,  but  alas-!  we  are  not  able."1 
Whereas  here  is  grace  iufficicnt  for  you  in  CHRIST. 
— Whatever  hinders  you,  CHRIST  removes;  what- 
ever you  want,  CHR  IS  T  bcftows  :  that^  being  deli- 
vered from  your  enemies,  and  from  the  hand  of  all  that 
hate  you;  from  the  influence  of  all  that  embarrafles, 
and  all  that  dilcourages  you  '^  you  may  ferv e  him,  "with- 
out ilavHh  or  difquieting/ew,  in  holincjs  and  right  eouj- 
ntfs  before  him,  all  the  days  of  your  life  *, 

Happy  deliverance  !  thrice  happy  conduct  !  but- 
happier  ftill  the  iflbe  of  all  I — Which  reminds  me  of 
my  laft  inquiry  ;  namely, 

III.  What  will  be  the  effect  of  this  turning  >— /fr, 
the  wicked  man,  thus  turned,  /hall  Jave  kis  foul  alive. 

He  (\\a\\fave-~-  Safety  mall  be  his  companion  ;  fafety  • 
fiiall  be  his  guard ;  fafety  fhall  efcort  him  through  the 
dangers  of  life.  All  the  days  of  his  appointed  time 
he  (hall  dwell  under  the  defence  of  the  Mojt  HIGH,  and 
abide  under  the  f/iadow  of  the  ALMIGHTY  f.— iyioft 
defirable  fituation  I  ef|>ecially  when  judgments,  deib- 
lating  and  deftrudrive  judgments,  are  abroad. — While- 
the  ftorm  of  calamity  is  gathering,  or  when  the  tem- 
ped of  tribulation  is  raging,  0  !  what  a  calm  mult  it 
create  in  the  heart,  to  have  the  eternal  GOD  for  our 
refuge  {!  to  fay  within  ourfeives,  "  The  hand  that  // 
"  ftretched  over  the  jea,  andfnakes  the  kingdoms  of  the 
'*  earth  ;  u  the  hand  that  rends  the  mountains,  zv.djcat- 
44  ttrs  the  everlaftin'y  hills  jj  ;  that  liand  is  my  defence 
14  and  my  fliield'l"  ° 

.Save  his/?7w/' — It  is  not  improbable,  but  his  bodily 
welfare  may  be  fecu  cd.  GOD  may  fet  a  mark  up- 
on his  forehead,  and  command  the  Iwcrd  of  the  cle- 
itroying  angel  to  pals  over  his  houfe.  But  however 

this 

A 

*  Luke  i.  74,  75.  -f  Pfal.  xci.  I. 

$  Dem.  xxxiii.  ^7.  |J  Hub.  iii.  6. 


8o  T    H    £      W    A    Y  SER.  Hi, 

this  may  be  determined,  his  foul  (hall  be  fafc.  As  to 
his  fpiritunl  welfare,  he  has  a  writ  of  protection  under 
the  great  leal  of  heaven.  The  LORD  JESUS  is 
his  ever  faithful  guardian,  and  none  (hall  pluck  him  out 
of  the  divine  REDEEMER'*  hand  *.  The  roaring 
lion  may  go  about,  feeking  to  devour  him  :  but  he 
has  a  itrong  city,  which  the  infernal  adverfary  cannot 
ftorm  ;  he  has  an  impregnable  bulwark,  which  the 
powers  of  darknefs  cannot  icale.  Though  he  fall, 
the  arm  of  CHRIST  will  raiie  him  ;  though  he  be 
defiled,  the  blood  of  CHRIST  will  cleanie  him  ; 
though  he  die,  it  will  be  no  lofs,  but  gain.  HE 
that  has  the  keys  of  the  grave,  will  give  command- 
ment concerning  his  mouldering  bones  ;  H  E  that 
lives  for  evermore,  will  receive  his  departing  foul. — 
This,  perhaps,  may  be  meant  by  that  other  emphati- 
cal  word,  alive; 

He  fhall  lave  his  foul  alive — He  (hall  not  barely  b6 
fafe,  but  happy.  He  mail  enjoy  what  truly  defervcs 
the  name  of  life.  A  man  may  efcape  from  his  ene- 
my, by  flying  to  a, fortified  caftle  :  but  in  the  cattle 
there  may  be  drought  and  famine.  He  may  perifh  by 
thefe  chfafters,  though  prefcrved  from  the  purfuing 
foe.  It  fhall  not  be  thus  with  the  returning,  belie- 
ving, renewed  finner.  He  fhall  be  faved  with  a  com- 
plete and  everlafting  falvation.  He  is  a  child  of  GOD, 
and  an  heir  of  glory:  he  fhall  rejoice  in  CHRIST 
JESUS  here,  and  fhall  enter  into  the  joy  of  his 
LORD  hereafter. — When  the  earth  is  burnt  up,  he 
fhall  fee  it  ;  when  the  heavens  pafs  away,  he  fhall 
fland  with  boldnefs  ;  when  all  nature  finks  into  difTo- 
lution,  he  fhall  not  only  furvive,  but  enjoy  the  ruin. 
He  fhall  leave  a  diflblving  world,  to  pofTcfs  a  kingdom 
in  heaven  j  to  wear  a  crown  of  righteoufnefs  ;  and 
to  be  for  ever  with,  for  ever  like,  his  blefied  and  glo- 
rious LORD. 

We 

*  John  •£,  2&. 


SER.IH.         OF    HO  LINES  5.  81 

We  have  now  fliewn — what  the  wicked  man  (hould 
turn /row, — what  he  Ihtmld  turn  to, — what  will  be  the 
fJfeCt  of  this  turning. — Give  me  leave  to  aik,  Has  the 
arm  of  the  LOK.D  been  revealed  I  are  you  imprefled 
bytheawfal,  or  encouraged  by  the  comfortable  truths  ? 
If  ib,  perhaps  you  will  be  ready  to  lay,  "  Will 
44  CHRIST  receive  me  ?  will  he  make  me  a  partaker 
44  of  thefe  incomparable  benefits  ?  ihall  fuch  a  one, 
41  who  is  fo  very  unworthy ,  find  favour  in  his  fight?" 

Yes,  iuch  a  one  may  find  favour.  Any  one,  every 
one  who  comes,  he  will  receive.  He  fends  his  mini- 
iters  to  invite  you  ;  he  fends  his  judgments  to  compel 
you  ;  he  ufes  every  expedient  to  gain  you. — He  bids 
earthquakes  tear  the  foundations  of  nature,  and  turn 
mighty  cities  into  ruinous  heaps,  that  you  may  be 
built  on  that  rock  which  (hall  never  be  fhaken.  He 
calls  the  fword  of  war  out  of  its  fcabbard,  and  com- 
mands it  to  be  bathed  in  blood,  that  you  may  fly  for 
iafety  to  the  Prince  of  peace.  While  ruin  and  cleib- 
lation  are  puriuing  their  dreadful  work  all  around,  he 
throws  open  the  doors  of  his  grace  and  righteoufneis, 
and  mod  compaflionately  cries,  "  Come,  my  people; 
41  come,  poor  offenders  j  enler  into  theie  chambers, 
44  and  find  reft  *." 

L  any  of  youftill  inclined  to  replyz  "  Will  CHRIST 
<c  indeed  receive  me,  who  am  n:>t  only  a  firmer, ••—but 
44.  a  great  fmner, — a  long  per  ft  ft  ing  finner, — and  how 
4t  feem  to  come  but  at  the  la  ft  hour ;  more  like  one 
44  driven  by  fear,  than  drawn  by  love  ?" — What  think- 
eft  thou  ?  would  the  widow  of  Nain,  who  went  mourn- 
ing after  the  corpfe  of  her  only  fon,  almoft  inconfo- 
lable  with  her  loisj  would  flic  be  unwilling  to  receive 
him,  when  our  LORD  re-animated  the  cold  clny,  :>  1 
delivered  him  alive  to  his  mother  \?  \Vould  ihe  net  .1 
much  importunity,  and  hardly  be  prevailed  on,  to 
embrace  her  beloved,  her  lamented  child  ?  Impolitic 

to 
*  If.  xxvi.  20.  -j-  Luke  vii.  15. 

VOL.V.  N°  21.  L 


82  T    H    E      W    A    Y 

to  fuppofc.  Remember  *.vhat  CHRIST  has  done  for 
iinncrs  ;  what  he  has  Juffered  for  tinners  j  how  his 
bowels  yearn  over  iii>ners  ;  and  it  will  appear  equally 
inipoilibic  that  lie  ihould  reject  any  returning  profli- 
gate. 

Reject  !  No.  The  good  father,  aged  and  venerable 
cis  he  was,  baldened  ;  yea,  ran  to  meet  the  prodigal. 
He  fell  on  his  neck,  and  tenderly  luffed  the  diffolutc 
youth  *.  So,  with  fuch  readincfs,  and  fuch  com- 
paifion,  will  the  everlafling  FATHER  receive  you 
to  his  family,  his  favour,  his  love. — Nay  more,  he 
will  receive  yon  withyoy.  He  is  the  good  Shepherd  ; 
you  are  the  lolt  ihcep  :  he  is  come,  in  his  word,  to 
leek  you  j  when  you  turn  to  him,  he  has  found  you. 
Then,  fays  the  fcripture,  the  good  fhepherd  goes 
home  with  his  recovered  fheep,  rejoicing  -J-.  O  let 
your  minirter,  and  (which  is  unfpeakably  more  enga- 
ging) let  the  bleffed  JESUS  have  joy  of  you,  my 
brethren:  even  that  JESUS  by  whom  finners  are 
dearly  beloved  and  longed  for  J  /  who  has  no  greater 
delight  than  to  lave  them  from  their  iniquities,  and 
number  them  among  his  children. 

If  you  fliould  anfwer, — u  This  is  a  matter  of  the 
44  utmoft  importance.  It  lies  at  the  very  root  of  all 
4C  my  comfort.  Let  me  hear  it  confirmed  from  our 
*'  L  O  R  D  *s  own  mouth.  I  •will  hearken  what  the 
44  LORD  COD  will  Jay  concerning  me  ||." 

Hear  then  his  own  promiffj  the  mod  precious  pro- 
mife  that  words  can  form,  or  fancy  conceive ;  ffhofo- 
ever  conieth  to  me,  for  pardon,  for  juftification,  for  ho- 
linefs,  /  will  in  no  wife  cnft  him  out  § . — Jfhofocver ; 
whether  he  be  high  or  low,  learned  or  illiterate  ; 
whether  he  be  a  fervant  or  a  mafter,  a  prince  or  a 
beggar  ;  no  one  is  excepted,  no  one  mail  be  refufed. 
In  no  wife :  on  no  confideration  of  paft  tranfgreffions, 

oa 

*  Luke  xv.  20.          -f  Luke  xv.  5.          ^  Philip,  iv.  i. 
|j  Pfal.  Ixxxv.  8.  §  John  vi.  37. 


SER.  III.         OF     HOLINESS.  83 

on  no  account  of  prefect  depravity,  on  no  fore- 
knowledge of  future  failings.  Only  let  him  come, 
only  let  him  come,  and  nothing  fliall  debar  him  from 
the  enjoyment  of  my  benefits  ;  nothing  fliall  feparate 
him  from  the  endearments  of  my  love. 

Hear  his  kind  invitation;  Return  unto  me,  for  I  have 
redeemed  you  *.  Ye  that  have  hitherto  been  ftrangers 
to  ferioulheis,  and  alvyays  alienated  from  me  ;  turn 
unto  me,  and  I  will  not  ib  much  as  upbraid  you  j  with 
your  folly. — Ye  that  are  now  backfliders,  and  have  for 
a  leafon  ungratefully  departed  from  me  ;  turn  unto  me, 
and  1  will  heal  your  backflidings  ;  my  ftripes  fliall  make 
you  w.hole. — Yc  that  have  been  flaves  to  vice  ;  have 
ibid  yourfelvcs  to  work  wickednefs  ;  and  are  grown 
old  in  abominable  practices  ;  it  is  not  too  late  even  for 
you.  /  have  redeemed  even  fuch  2^  you. — I  (hake  the 
pillars  of  nature,  and  rock  the  foundations  of  the 
world;  I  clot  fa  the  heavens  ivith  blacknefs,  and  I  make 
Jackcloth  their  covering  J.  Yet,  for  fuch  as  you,  I  gave 
my  back  to  the /miters,  and  hid  not  my  face  from  fhame 
and  /pitting  (j.  Yes,  dinners  ;  finners  of  every  kind; 
1  bore  the  curfe  of  the  law,  and  died  the  death  of  the 
crofs,  on  purpofe  that  I  might  redeem  fuch  as  you. — 
Moil  amiable  REDEEMER  !  who  would  not  Men 
to  a  call  ib  wonderfully  endearing  ?  Sinners,  how- 
can  you  withfland  a  motive  ib  i'weetly  constraining  ? 

Hear  his  folemn  oath;  4s  I  live,  jaith  the  LORD 
GOD,  I  have  no  pleajure  in  the  death  of  the  -wicked,  but 
that  the  wicked  turn  jrom  his  way  and  live.  Turn  ye, 
turn  ye  from  your  evil  ways  ;  for  why  will  ye  die,  fJ 
houfe  of  Ifrael  §  f  Was  there  ever  any  declaration  fb 
charming  ?  or  any  addrefs  fo  affectionate  ? — See  !  how 
the  high  and  lofty  ONE  condefcends  !  He  commands 
in  heaven,  on  earth,  through  hell  ;  yet,  more  like  a 
iupplicant  than  a  fovcreign,  he  vouchfafes  to  folicit 

and 


v 


If.  xliv.  22.  -j-  James  i.  5.  ^  If.  1.  3. 

jj  Ver.  6.  §  Ezek.xxxiii.ii. 

L    2 


84  T    H    E      W    A    Y  SER.IH, 

and  befecch  yon.  From  the  habitation  of  his  glory 
be  cries,  Turn  ye,  poor  perifliing  creatures. — Again  he 
cries,  Turn  ye  to  your  GOD  and  SAVIOUR;  that 
yc  may  be  delivered  from  all  your  tranfgrellions,  and 
iniquity  may  not  be  your  ruin. — To  take  away  all 
your  reluctance,  he  pleads,  he  expoflulates,  ff^hy  will 
ye  die  f  why  will  ye  dellroy  yourfelves,  and  be  un- 
done for  ever  ? — That  you  may  have  no  doubt  of  a 
free /pardon  and  a  favourable  reception,  he  J'wear s  ; 
fwears  by  himiclf,  by  his  own  life  and  immortal  per- 
fections, that  he  has  no  pleafttre  in  your  death;  but 
fhall  rejoice,  iniinitejy  rejoice  in  your  recovery  and 
falvatiou, 

Here  then  you  have  the  promife,  the  invitation,  the 
oath  of  the  LORD.    Can  there  be  greater  encourage- 
ment ?    will   not   this    threefold  cord  draw  you  ?— 
Should  you  lay,  "  I  cannot  turn  ;  I  am  tied  and  bound 
"  with  the  chain  of  my  corruptions.  O!  that  CHRIST" 
— Fear  not  :  he  will,  he  will«    He  that  lends  his  mi- 
nifter  to  give  you  this  exhortation  ;  he  that  fends  his 
SPIRIT  to  work  this  defirc  in  your  foul ;  he  that  fpilt 
his  blood  to  obtain  all  bleffings  for  you  ;  he  will  put 
forth   his   ftrength,    and  turn    you   to   himfelf.      He 
ftretched  his  beneficent  hand,  and  faved  Peter  from 
finking  in  the  tempettuous  fea.    What  he  did  for  him 
is  a  pattern  and  a  pledge  of  what  he   is  ready  to   do 
for  you. — Only  continue  to  feek   his  face  ;  let  your 
heart  talk  of  him  ;  let  his   unbounded  goodnefs   and 
almighty  power  before  your  eyes  ;  meditate  on  his  in- 
finite propitiation  and  incomprehenfible  merits  ;  con- 
fider  his  everlafting  rightcoufnefs  and  never-ceafing 
interceffion  ;  look  upon   all  thefe  as  your  own.     To 
look  upon  them  as  your  own,  you  have  a  warrant,  you 
have   a  command. — And  if  CHRIST  has   done  fo 
great  things  for  you,  you  may  alluredly  believe,  that, 
jn  his  due  time,  in  his  wife  manner,  he  will  bring  you 
fpiritual  health  and  cure;  he  will  carry  on  what  he  has 
begun,  and  enable  you  to  grow  in  grace.     He  will 

comfort 


SER.III.         O  F     H  O  L  I  N  E  S  S.  85 

comfort  your  hearts,  and  flabliih  you  in  every  good 
work. 

Shall  I  proceed  ? — I  have  already  been  copious,  per- 
haps ibmewhat  tedious.  Yet  you  will  bear  with  me 
on  this  diftinguifhed  and  folemn  occafion  :  yes,  you 
will  bear  with  me  a  little  longer  :  for  1  am  loath,  very 
loath  to  difmifs  you,  without  perfuading  you.  Per- 
fuading  !  alas,  I  cannot.  GOD,  and  none  but  GOD, 
can  perjuade  "jfaphcth  * .  However,  as  an  inflrument  in 
his  all-powerful  hand,  let  me  addrefs  you  once  again: 

I  obierve  feveral  perlbns  here,  on  this  day  of  hu- 
miliation, who  very  rarely  attend  the  public  worfhip. 
— Why,  my  friends,  why  do  you  wrong  your  own 
fouls?  why  do  you  withdraw  yourft-lves  from  the 
preaching  of  the  gofpel  ?  Know  ye  not,  that  JESUS 
•pafjcth  by  f,  in  the  way  of  his  ordinances  f  Here  you 
may,  like  Bartimeus  of  old,  approach  the  Son  of 
David  ;  here  you  may  obtain  faith  and  holinefs.  Faith 
cometh  by  hearing,  and  holinefs  by  the  word  of 
GOD.  And  are  not  thefe  bleifings  worth  your  at- 
tendance ?  can  you  live  happily  without  them  ?  can 
you  die  comfortably  without  them  ?  or  can  you, 
without  them,  be  prepared  to  meet  your  GOD,  when 
he  cometh  to  judge  the  world  ? — Why  fhould  you 
forfake  the  afTembling  yourielves  together  ?  Do  you 
hear  terrifying  or  diftreffing  dodrines  in  this  place  ? 
is  not  this  the  houfe  of  praife,  as  well  as  of  prayer  ? 
does  not  \\~\z  joyful  Jound  echo  under  thcf'c  roofs  :  Is 
rot  CHRIST  fet  forth  crucified  before  your  eyes  ? 
crucified  for  fuch  offenders  as  you  !  crucified  that 
iuch  offenders  as  you  may  be  pardoned,  may  be  ac- 
cepted, may  be  glorified  ?  And  will  you  defpilc  fuch 
a  divinely-compallionate  SAVIOUR?  will  you  re- 
fufc  fuch  aftonilhingly-rich  mercies  ?  O  !  that  hcre- 
^after  you  may  be  glad  when  they  Jay  unto  you ,  Let  us 
'go  into  the  courts  of  the  LORD\. 

Should 

*  Gen.  ix.  27.      -j-  Matth.  xx.  36.      ^  Pf.  cxxii  i. 


86  T     H    E       W     A    Y  SER.!!!. 

Should  my  wifhes  prove  vain,  I  have  at  leaft  deli- 
vered my  me/Tage.  If  you  pcrifli  tlirotigh  obflinacy 
and  unbelief,  I  am  clear  from  your  blood.  I  call  hea- 
ven and  earth  to  witneis,  you  have  been  -warned,  you 
have  been  inftrudcd,  you  have  been  exhorted.  You 
cannot  fay,  you  perifh  for  lake  of  knowledge  ;  tor 
life  and  falvation  have  been  let  before  you,  have  been 
brought  to  your  very  door,  and  you  arc  importuned 
to  lay  hold  of  them.  You  will  therefore  be  without 
excule,  and  have  no  cloke  for  your  guilt. 

But  why  fhould  I  leave  you  with  fuch  melancholy 
apprehensions  ?  Let  me  hope  better  things  of  you  ; 
let  me  hope  that  you  will  not  difregard  thej'e  admoni- 
tions, however  you  may  have  difrcgarded  too  many  ex- 
hortations of  this  kind.  This  is  a  remarkable  day  : 
O  !  that  it  may  be  memorable  on  account  of  your 
turning  to  GOD.  Let  this  be  its  diflinclion  through 
all  your  future  life  ;  let  this  be  its  diftinclion  through 
all  the  ages  of  eternity  :  that  you  may  fay, — when 
death  fummons  you  into  the  invifible  flate  ;  when  the 
trump  of  GOD  calls  you  to  the  great  tribunal  ;  when 
you  mingle  with  faints  and  angels  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven, — "  Bleffed  be  G  O  D  for  that  folemn  day, 
u  and  its  facred  exercifes  !  That  was  the  day  of  my 
11  better  birth.  Then  1  began  to  confider  ;  then  I 
"  began  to  pray  ;  then  I  began  to  fee  my  undone 
tc  condition,  and  my  extreme  need  of  a  SAVIOUR  : 
"then  too  I  faw  JESUS^  giving  himfelf  a  facrifice 
"  for  my  fins,  and  redeeming  me  to  G  O  D  with  his 
"  blood." — Happy!  thrice  happy  !  inexpreilibly-hap- 
py  day  !  if  thus^  if  thus  improved  ! 

You  have,  I  prcfume,  abftained  from  your  ufual 
food,  as  you  have  been  joining  in  confeilion,  fuppli- 
cation,  and  prayer.  This  is  well  done  :  but  this  is 
only  half ;  rather  it  is,  by  infinite  degrees,  the  fmall- 
ell  part  of  your  duty.  It  is  not  faid,  When  the  wicked 
man  abflaineth  from  his  ufual  food  ;  but  "when  he  turn- 
cthfrom  his  luickednefs,  as  the  confequencc  of  his  be- 
lieving 


SER.  III.        OFHOLINESS.  87 

lieving  in  CHRIST.  It  is  not  faid,  When  the  wick- 
ed man  joins  in  pablic  confeffion  to  GOD  ;  but  when 
he  doth  that  which  is  lawful  and  right,  as  a  fruit  of  his 
fellowmip  with  CHRIST:  THEN  he  tti*\\Jave— he 
mall  fave  his  foul — he  (hall  fave  his  foul  alive.  O  that 
all,  from  the  king  on  the  throne,  to  the  labourer  in 
the  barn  ;  from  the  higheft  nobleman,  to  the  meaneft 
tradefman  ;  that  all  might  now  be  inclined,  now  be 
enabled,  to  turn  unto  the  SAVIOUR  of  the  world. 
In  him,  millions,  unnumbered  millions  of  wretched 
iinners,  have  found  recovery  and  liberty  ;  recovery 
from  the  death,  and  liberty  from  the  bondage  of  (in. 
slnd  (blefledbe  his  unbounded  grace)  yetthereis  roem. 
Then  the  national  fall  would  be  a  natio n al  blelJing. 
Whereas,  without  this  all-important  turning  to  the 
adorable  SAVIOUR,  what  will  the  formalities  of  our 
devotion  fignify  ?  They  will  be  a  mere  lip- labour,  a  re- 
ligious trifling  :  nay,  they  will  be  a  folemn  mockery  of 
the  ALMIGHTY,  and  provoke  his  abhorrence. — Does 
not  JEHOVAH  himfelf  fpeak  to  the  fame  purpofe  ? 
//  /'/  juch  n  faff  that  I  have  cho/en  f  a  day  for  a  man 
to  afflitf  his  foul  f  if  it  to  bow  down  his  head  as  a  bul~ 
rufli,  and  to  fprcad  Jackloth  and  ajhcs  under  him  *  f 
to  difcontinue  your  ordinary  bufineis,  and  refrain  from, 
a  meaPs  meat  ?  to  make  a  little  doleful  lamentation, 
and  put  up  a  few  petitions  extorted  by  fear  ?  Witt 
you  call  this  a  fajl  f  faith  the  high  and  holy  One,  with 
an  air  of  fovereign  contempt;  this  an  acceptable 
day  to  the  LORD  f  No  verily  :  it  is  the  moll  odious 
hypocrify  ;  like  crying,  Hail  mafter,  with  the  tongue, 
while  treachery  and  enuiity  fill  the  heart  :  urd-.fs  you 
turn  to  CHRIST,  that  you  may  be  waflied,  that  you 
may  be  juflified,  that  you  may  be  fanftifk-d  ;  that,  ha- 
ving remiflion  of  fins  through  his  blood,  and  peace  of 
confcience  through  his  grace,  you  may  feel  the  bands 
of  wickedncfs  loofed,  and  may  become  the  willing 
iervants  of  rightcoufncfs. 

What 
*  If.  Iviii.  5. 


88  T    H    K       WAY  SER.  JIL 

What  is  the  or  and  tin  of  our  nation  ?  Ignorance  and 
negled  of  CHRIST.  —  What  is  the  caujc  of  all  our  o- 
tlier  (ins  ?  Ignorance  and  neglect  of  C  H  R  I  S  T.  — 
Why  are  the  judgments  of  rhe  ALMIGHTY  hanging 
over  our  iiL':uU  ?  For  ignorance  and  negledt  of  CHRIST. 
Never,  therefore,  lliaTl  we  anfvver  the  end  of  our  fa- 
cred  afleinbly,  nor  the  dcfign  of  GOD's  alarming  vi- 
iitations,  till  we  bjgin  to  know  CHRIST,  to  receive 
CHRIST,  to  make  uie  of  CHRIST  by  faith.  When 
this  is  done,  we  may  rcaibnably  hope,  —  that  our 
prayers  will  go  up  with  acceptance,  and  not  return 
a^ain,  till  a  blelling  be  fent  ;  —  that,  as  individuals, 
our  light  (hall  break  forth  like  the  morning,  and  our 
health  fh  fdl  J  pring  forth  fpsedily  ;  —  that,  as  a  commu- 
nity, the  favour  of  GOD  fliall  go  before  us^  and  the 
glory  of  the  LORD  fliall  be  our  rereward  *. 

Then  may  we  look  around  on  our  moft  enraged 
enemies,  and  lay  with  the  Pfalmift,  Though  an  hoft  of 
men  jhnuld  encamp  againft  me^  yet  fliall  not  my  heart  be 
ufraid\.-  —  Then  maywelook  backward  to  the  late  de- 
iblating  earthquake,  and  fay  with  the  believers  of  old, 
COD  if  our  refuge  and  ftrength;  therefore  will  we  not 
jsar,  tfio'  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the  moun" 
tains  be  carried  into  the  midft  of  the  fea\.  —  Then  may 
we  look  forward  to  an  incomparably  more  dreadful 
fcene,  even  to  the  righteous  JUDGE,  and  the  great 
tribunal,  and  fay  with  the  triumphant  apoflle,  Who 
J':(di  lay  any  thing  to  our  charge?  It  is  GOD  that  juf- 
tifitth  i  who  /hall  condemn  us  f  If  is  CHRIST  that  died  ||  . 

Let  me  intreat  you  therefore,  brethren,  for  the  fake 
of  your  own  immortal  fouls,  and  for  the  welfare  of 
oar  end-ingered  nation  ;  let  me  charge  you  by  all  that 
is  definable  in  time,  and  awful  in  eternity,  not  to  ne- 
glecl  thefe  couniels.  Being  fo  folemnly  reproved,  if 
you  harden  your  neck^  your  deftruclion  cometh  iudden- 


*  K.  Iviii.  8.  f  Pfal.  xxvii.  3. 

^  Pfal.  xlvi.  r,  2.  |j  Rom.  viii.  33,  34, 


SE*.  HI.        OF     HOLINESS.  Sg 

]y,  and  that  without  remedy  *.  Having  thcfe  warnings 
from  the  divine  word,  and  warnings  from  the  divine 
providence,  if  ye  Jlill  do  wickedly  ;  it  is  not  man,  it 
is  not  an  angel,  it  is  GOD  HIMSELF  who  de- 
clares, Te/hall  be  confumed — cvenyc — your  country—* 
and  your  king  f. 

*  Prov.  xxix.  f •  -f  i  Sam.  xii.  25. 


VOL.  V.  N    21-  M 


SERMON      IV. 

The  Crofs  of  CHRIST  the  Chriflian's 

Glory. 


Preached  at  the  vifhation  of  the  Rev.  John 
Brown,  D.  D.  Archdeacon  of  Northampton, 
held  at  All  Saints  church  in  Northampton,  on 
the  loth  of  May  1753. 


GAL.  vi.  14. 

GOD  forbid  that  I  flwuld  glory,  fave  in  tfo  crofs  of 
our  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 

THE  crofs  of  C  H  R  I  S  T  was  the  favourite  topic 
of  St  Paul's  contemplation  : — the  crofs  of 
CHRIST  was  the  choleri  fiibject  of  his  ferrnons,  and 
the  grand  theme  of  his  writings. — At  all  times,  and 
in  every  capacity,  he  profeffcd,  he  avowed,  he  glo- 
ried in  the  crofs  of  CHRIST. — Nay,  what  is  very  re- 
markable, he  gloried  in  nothing  elfe  ; — and,  what  is 
fit  11  more  obfervable,  he  abhorred  the  thought  of 
glorying  in  any  thing  elfe.  He  fpeaks  of  iiich  a 
practice  in  the  language  of  deteftation  and  dread,  ac- 
counting it  a  high  degree  both  of  folly  and  of  wick- 
«dnefs  :  GOD  forbid  that  I  fliould  ylory^fave  in  the 
crofs  of  our  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST.  ' 
It  may  therefore  be  an  employ  worthy  of  our  pre- 

fent 


SER.IV.    THE  CROSS  OF  CHRIST,  &$.        91 

ient  attention,  to  inquire  into  the  nature,  the  reafon- 
ablenefs,  and  the  luifdom  of  this  refolution.  All  which, 
I  hope,  will  appear,  if  we  confider, 

I.  In  what  the  apoftle  would  not  glory, 

II.  In  what  he  did  glory. 

HI.  What  reafon  he  had  to  glory  in  the  crofs  of 
CHRIST.  ' 

Thefe  points  being  briefly  difpatched,  I  fhall  beg 
leave  to  add  a  word  of  application,  fuggefted  by  the 
tenor  of  the  difcourfe,  and  adapted  to  the  circum- 
ftances  of  my  feveral  hearers.  And  may  that  adorable 
JESUS,  who  has  exchanged  his  crofs  for  an  hea- 
venly crown,  accompany  all  with  his  divine  blejjlng  ! 

Let  us  then  inquire, 

I.  In  what  the  apoftle  did  not  glory  .-—Not  in  the 
grcatnefs  of  his  learning,  as  a  fcholar.  He  was  brought 
tip  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel  ;  educated  by  the  mofl  fa- 
mous tutor  of  the  age.  Nor  was  his  genius,  or  his 
induftry,  inferior  to  the  other  advantages  of  his  edu- 
cation. Yet  all  thefe  advantages,  with  their  corre- 
fpondent  acquisitions,  he  accounted  no  better  than 
pompous  ignorance,  or  refined  folly. 

Not  in  theftritfnefs  of  his  life,  as  a  Jew.^— In  this 
refpccl:  he  profited  above  his  equals  ;  was  taught  ac- 
cording to  the  perf  eft  manner  of  the  law  of  the  fathers*^ 
after  the  Jtritfeft  fett  of  their  religion  he  lived  a  Pha- 
rijee  \. :  was  zealous,  exceedingly  zealous,  of  the 
whole  ceremonial  law,  and  of  all  the  traditional  con- 
ftitutions.  Which  accomplifhments  mult  finifti  his 
chara&er  among  his  countrymen  ;  muft  open  his  way 
.to  fome  of  the  nrfl  honours  of  the  nation  ;  and  give 
him  a  name  among  thofe  worthies,  who  were  reputed 
it  he  excellent  of  the  earth.  But  what  others  counted 
gain,  this  he  counted  lofs  for  C  H  R I S  T. 

,  M  2  Not 

*  Afts  xxii.  3.  -f  Afts  xxvi.  $t 


9t  THE  CROSS  OF  CHRIST.       SER.IV. 

Not  in  the  eminency  of  his  gifts ,  nor  in  the  extent 
of  his  ufefulnejs,  as  a  Chriftian  minifter. — He  had  been 
caught  up  into  the  third  heaven  ;  had  heard  the  words 
of  G  O  D,  and  feen  the  vifion  of  the  ALMIGHTY  j 
had  wrought  all  manner  of  wonders,  and  figns,  and 
mighty  deeds. -r- What  was  ftill  more  valuable,  he  had 
planted  churches,  and  converted  fouls.  His  labours 
were  gone  out  into  all  lands,  and  his  words  into  the 
ends  of  the  earth. — Yet  all  thefe  acquirements,  before 
..the  infinite  GOD,  were  defetfive;  all  thefe  perform- 
ances, in  point  ofjurtification,  wcreinfufficient*  There- 
fore, in  none  of  thofe  he  gloried. — Which  reminds 
me  of  the  lecond  inquiry  ; 

II.  In  what  the  apoftle  did  glory. — He  gloried  in  a 
crofs.  Strange  !  What  fofcandalous  as  a  crofs  ?  On 
a  crofs  rebellious  flaves  were  executed.  The  crofs 
was  execrable  among  men,  and  accurfed  even  by 
GOD*.  Yet  the  apoftle  glories  in  the  crofs. — Cru- 
cifixion not  being  ufed  among  us,  the  exprefiion  does 
not  found  fo  harfli,  neither  is  the  idea  fo  horrid.  But 
to  the  ear  of  a  Galatian,  it  conveyed  much  the  fame 
meaning,  as  if  the  apoftle  had  gloried  in  a  halter,  glo- 
ried in  the  gallows,  gloried  in  a  gibbet  f . 

"  Stupid 
*  Gal.  Hi.  13. 

•f-  Some  perfons,  I  am  informed,  were  difgufted  at  thefe 
words,  halter,  gallows,  gibbet;  they  are  fo  horribly  cojitemp- 
£ible  !—  To  whom  I  would  reply,  that  the  crofs,  in  point  of 
ignominy  and  torment,  included  all  this  and  more,.  Unlefs  the 
Englifh  reader  forms  to  himfelf  fome  fuch  image,  he  will  ne- 
ver be  able  to  apprehend  the  fcandalon$  nature  and  (hocking 
circurndances  of  his  divine  Matter's  death. 

The  words,  I  inuft  confefs,  were  divetfified,  and  the  fenti- 
TBent  was  reiterated,  on  purpofe  to  affect  the  mind  with  this 
aftoniihing  truth.  Neither  can  I  prevail  upon  myfelf  to  ex- 
punge the  expreflions  ;  unlefs  I  could  fubftitute  others  of  a 
more  ignominious  and  execrable  import.  Only  I  would  beg  of 
the  ferious  reader,  to  fpend  a  moment  in  the  following  reflec- 
tion 


32*.  IV.     THE  CHRISTIAN'S  GLORY.  93 

"  Stupid  creature/'  perhaps  fome  may  reply,  "  to 
"  undervalue  the  mod  fubftantial  endowments,  and 
"  glory  in  infamy  itfelf !" — But  ftop  a  moment,  and 
hear  the  apoftle  farther,  He  glories  in  the  crofs  of 
CHRIST  ;  that  illuftrious  peribn,  who  was  anointed 
to  be  the  all-'inftructing  Prophet,  the  all-atoning 
Prieft,  and  the  all- conquering  King  of  the  church.— 
In  the  crofs  of  CHRIST  JESUS  ;  who,  by  the  dif- 
charge  of  all  thofe  important  offices,  mould  fave  his 
people  from  the  dominion  of  fin,  and  from  the  dam- 
nation of  hell.— In  the  crofs  of  CHRIST  JESUS  our 
LORD  ;  and  not  ours  only,  but  LORD  or  all  :  who 
doth  according  to  his  will,  jn  the  army  of  heaven, 
and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  *  ;  ivho  hdth 
on  his  venture )  and  on  his  thigh^  a  name  writ ten,  KING 

OF    KINGS  AND   Lo  R  D    OF    LORDSf. 

And  is  it  poflible  for  any  human  heart  to  contem- 
plate the  crofs  of  fq  divine  a  being,  and  not  to  glory  ? 
Is  it  poflible  to  fay,  Angels,  he  rules  over  you  ;  but  he 
died)  he  died  on  a  crojs  for  me  ;  and  not  exult  in  fwch 
traniporting  beneficence  : — This  will  be  more  evi- 
dent, if  we  examine. 

III.  What  reafon  the  apoftle  had  to  glory  in  the  crofs 
of  C  H  R  I  S  T. — The  crofs,  though  in  itfelf  an  igno- 
minious tree;  yet  being  the  crofs  of  CHRIST,  is  in- 
finitely ennobled.  It  becomes  the  tree  of  life;  it  bears 
the  divined  fruit  ;  its  clutters  are  all  fpiritual  and 
heavenly  bleffings.  Two  or  three  of  thofe  cluflers  you 
will  permit  me  to  fdeet  ;  and  may  the  G  O  D  of  all 
mercy  make  them  better  than  a  feaft  to  every  humble 
foul. 

One 

tion  : — u  Is  it  fo,  that  a  polite  and  delicate  ear  can  hardly  en- 
"  dure  fo  much  as  the/bund  of  the  worJs  ?  How  amazing  then 
*'  was  the  condefcenlion  !  how  charming  and  adorable  the 
-*4  goodnefs  of  GOD's  illuftrious  Son,  to  bear  all  that  is  figni- 
t*  fied  by  theft:  intolerjhly-vile  rerms!  bear  it  iuil/ing/yy  bear 
t*  it  chearfully,  for  us  men,  and  our  falvdtum  !" 

*  Dan.  iy.  35.  -f  Kev.  xix.  16. 


94  THE  CROSS  OF  CHRIST       SER.  IV. 

One  blcfling  is  the  pardon  of  Jin  :  the  pardon  of  all 
fin,  original  and  aftual  ;  iin  that  is  remembered,  and 
lir.  that  is  forgotten  ;  fin,  however  circumstanced,  or 
however  aggravated.  The  pardon  of  all  was  purcha- 
fed  by  the  death  of  CHIUST  ; — completely  purcha- 
led  : — fo  that,  againft  the  true  believer,  fin  (hall  never 
rife  up  in  judgment ;  Jfiall  not  Jo  much  as  be  mentioned 
unto  him  */  {hall  be  done  away,  as  though  it  had  never 
been.  For  thus  faith  the  ambaflador  of  the  Prince  of 
peace,  Be  it  known  untQ  you,  men  and  brethren,  that 
through  this  man  is  preached  unto  you  the  forgiveness 
of  Jins  ;  and  by  him  all  that  believe  are  juftifiedfrom 
all  things  f ." — Oh,,  my  foul !  my  guilty  foul  !  what 
are  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  the  glories  of 
them,  compared  with  this  ineffable  blefling  I  Yet  this 
is  but  one  among  a  multitude. 

Another  benefit,  accruing  from  the  crofs  of  CHRIST, 
is  reconciliation  with  COD. — When  we  were  enemies , 
ivc  were  reconciled  to  GOD  by  the  death  of  his  Son  J, 
Not  pardoned  only,  but  accepted  ;  from  a  (late  of  en- 
mity, reftored  to  a  ftate  of  favour;  even  that  favour 
'which  is  better  than  life  \\ . — A  privilege  of  fuch  fuper- 
lative  excellency,  that  it  was  celebrated  in  the  hymns 
of  angels.  When  the  heavenly  hoft  uttered  a  fong, 
this  was  the  fubjeft  of  their  harmonious  joy  ;  Glory 
beta  GOD  in  the  highejl ;  and  on  earth  peace,  good-will 
towards  men  §.  "By  the  birth  of  this  wonderful 
*c  child,  and  the  death  he  (hall  fuftain,  peace  is  made 
•"  between  heaven  and  earth  :  and  not  peace  only,  but 
44  a  divine  friendship  ^  commences.  GOD  regards 

"  the 

*  Ezek.  xviii.  22.  -f*  Afts  xiii.  38,  39. 

:[:  Rom.  v.  10.         Jl'Pfal.  Ixiii.  3.         §  Luke  ii.  14. 

#  There  feems  to  be  a  beautiful  gradation  in  this  angelic 

hymn.    Good-will  is  more  expretlive,  and  denotes  a  richer  blef- 

iing,  than  peace. — The  original  EuJWia  is  a  word  of  the  mofta- 

miable  and  noble  meaning.   It  fignifies  a  very  high  cjlccm,  and 

a  -very   tender  benevolence.     By  a  word  of  the  fame  import, 

the  almighty  Father  exprefles  his  infinite  fatisfa&ion  in  the 


IV.      THE  CHRISTIAN'S  GLORY.  g$ 

"  the  poor  apoftate  race  of  men,  not  only  without 
"  indignation,  but  with  complacency  and  delight. 
44  He  rejoices  over  them  to  do  them  good  *" 

Another  benefit  is  holine/s ;  or,  if  you  pleafe,  the 
true,  the  Chriftian  morality. — Let  none  think,  the  be- 
liever in  JESUS  difparages  true  morality.  True  mo- 
rality is  the  image  of  the  bleffed  GOD;  it  is  moft 
charmingly  delineated  throughout  the  whole  Bible  ; 
it  is  the  beginning  of  heaven  in  the  human  foul ;  and 
its  proper  origin  is  from  the  crofsof  our  divine  Matter. 
—For,  through  the  merits  of  his  death,  iinners  are 
made  partakers  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  who  writes  upon 
their  hearts,  and  makes  legible  in  their  converfation, 
what  was  anciently  written  upon  the  mitre  of  the  high 
prieft,  HOLINESS  TO  THE  LORD. — And  oh!  what  a 
motive  is  the  crofs  of  C  H  R I  S  T  to  the  exercife  of 
every  virtue!  Hedied;  wyLoRD^zyJu  D  G  E,wyKiNGr 
died;  to  redeem  me  from  all  iniquity,  andmake  mezealou? 
of  good  ivor ks.  How  powerfully,  far  beyond  any  na~ 
ked  injlruttions ,  orabftratt  rea/oningS)dofuch  confide- 
rations  invite  us, — urge  us, — conflrain  us  j*,  to  re- 
nounce all  ungodlinefs,  and  adorn  the  gofpel  of  GOD 
our  SAVIOUR! 

Another  bleiling  is  victory  over  death. — This  alfo  is 

the 

perfon  and  undertaking  of  his  beloved  Son.     Matth.  iii.  17. 

Would  my  reader  have  the  livelieft  parapbrafe  on  this  paf- 
fage,  or  fee  the  acYmgs  of  this  divine  complacency  defcribed 
\vithinimitable  delicacy;  let  him  attend  to  the  prophet  Zepha- 
niah;  Tf)f  LOKD  thy  GOD,  in  the  midjl  of  thec,  is  mighty,  lie 
isiltfave;  he -will  rejoice  over  thec -with  joy ;  he  will  reft  in  hi-s. 
love ;  he  -will  joy  over  thec  with  Jinging,  ch.  iii.  1-7. 
*  Deut.  xxviii.  63.  -j-  2  Cor.  v.  14. 

Religion  1  thou  the  foul  of  happincfs  ; 
And,  groaning  Calvary,  of  thee  1  There  fhine 
The  nobleft  truths ;  there  (trongeft  motives  fting  I 
-    There  facred  violence  alTauks  the  foul ; 
There  nothing  but  cowpuljitn  is  forborn 

Night-Thoughts,  NQ  IV. 


06  THE  CROSS  OF  CHRIST      SER.  IV. 

the  fruit  of  that  once  detefted,  but  now  ever  beloved 
tree.  For  thus  it  is  written,  That,  through  death,  he 
might  deflroy  him  that  had  the  power  of  death,  that  is 
the  devil;  and  deliver  them  ivho,  through  fear  of  death, 
•were  all  their  life-time  j'ubjeti  to  bondage*.  The  de- 
vil is  laid  to  have  the  power  of  death  ;  becauic,  by 
tempting  too  luccefsfully  Our  firfl:  parents,  he  brought 
death  into  the  world  ;  becaufe,  by  tempting  their  po£- 
terity  to  fin,  and  too  often  prevailing,  he  arrays  death 
in  horror ;  he  arms  death  with  its  fling.  But  CHRIST, 
by  expiating  our  guilt,  has  dilarmed  this  laft  enemy  ; 
has  taken  away  its  fting  ;  and  made  it  not  lofs,  but 
gain  to  die\. — The  gay,  -and  the  healthy,  know  not 
how  to  form  an  eftimate  of  this  deliverance  :  nor  can 
any  words  of  mine  defcribe  it  with  proper  energy. 
Go  to  dying  beds  ;  there  you  will  learn  its  true  worth. 
Afk  fomc  agonizing  friend  ;  he,  and  he  alone,  can  tell 
you,  what  a  bleffing  it  is,  to  have  the  king  of  terrors 
converted  into  a  mefTcnger  of  peace. 

One  bleffing  more  1  would  mention,  and  earneftly 
wim  it,  in  due  time,  to  all  my  hearers  ;  an  entrance  in- 
to heaven.  This  too  is  the  produce  of  our  REDEEM- 
ER'S crofs. — St  John  faw  a  bright  affembly  of  happy 
beings,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their 
hands,  rejoicing  before  the  throne  of  GOD.  Thefe, 
faid  one  of  the  venerable  elders,  are  they  -who  came  out 
of  great  tribulation,  and  have  wa/tied  their  robes,  and 
made  them  -white  in  the  bloodofthe  LA  MB.  THERE- 
FORE are  they  before  the  throne  \. — They  came  out  of 
great  tribulation:  they  fuffered,  it  is  probable,  in  the 
iervice  of  CHRIST  :  perhaps  they  laid  down  their  lives 
for  his  fake.  But  this  was  not  their  pafTport  into  the 
regions  of  blifs. — They  waflied  their  robes  in  the  blood  of 
the  LAMB\  they  had  applied  to  their  own  fouls  the 
merits  and  atonement  of  the  crucified  J  E  S  U  Si  By 
this  means  they  were  prefented  without  fpot  and 

blamelefs  ; 

•*^i 

*  H«.b.  ii.  14, 15. 

•f  Philip,  i.  2r.  £  Rev.  vii.  9,  14,  i£. 


SER.  IV.     THE  CHRISTIAN'S  GLORY.  97 

blamclefs  ;  on  this  account  they  were  admitted  to 
"  fee  the  King  of  heaven  in  his  beauty  *  ;"  and  10  be 
ever,  ever  with  tiie  LORD. 

Since  then  the  crois  of  CHRIST  wss  demonftrativc 
ofiuchftupendous  luve  ;  iinceit  isprudiiCtivt  of  benefits 
innumerable,  invaluable,  and  eternal  ;  was  there  not 
a  cauje  for  the  apoftle  to  glory  on  this  behalf  \ — Nay, 
might  not  the  very  f tones  have  cried  out,  to  reproach 
him  with  infcnjibility  and  ingratitude,  if  he  had  neglect- 
ed to  glory  in  the  crofs  of  C  H  R  1  S  I  ? — Aittl  inice 
this  love  was  (hewed,  thele  benefits  were  proem  ed, 
not  for  him  only,  but  for  «.>,  and  for  all  generations  ; 
does  not  this  afford  me  an  opportunity  of  applying 
the  doctrine  to  each  particular  hearer  I 

1.  Let  me  addrefs,  or  rather  let  me  congratulate, 
my  brethren  in  the  miniflry. — Though  you  cannot  con- 
trol the  laws  of  nature  ;  though  you  cannot  fee  into 
the  fecrets  of  futurity  ;  you  have  the  iame  caufe  of 
glorying  with  the  very  chiefeft  of  the  apoflles  ;  a 
caufe  of  glorying,  which  that  holy  man  of  GOD 
efteemed  far  above  all  fuch  miraculous  abilities.  You 
have  the  crois  of  CHRIST, 

For  youry?«<^,  as  men  ; 
For  your  hope  as  Chriftians  ; 
For  your  preaching^  as  minijlers* 

For  yourftudy,  as  men.  Here  the  reasoning  facul- 
ties, may  exert  thcmfelves  with  evcrlalHng  improve- 
ment, and  eveilafting  delight. — Here  we  contemplate 
the  wonders,  the  unparelieled  wonders  of  a  GOD 
made  man  ;  dying  as  a  pattern  of  patience,  as  a  m  ir~ 
tyr  for  truth,  as  an  all- perfect  facrifice  for  fin  — H  re 
the  LORD  JEHOVAH  hath  fuily  granted,  wh;  t 
his  fcrvant  Moles  "f  ib  carneflly  rcquefled  ;  he  hatli 

mad« 
*  If.  xxxiii.  17.  -j-  Exod.  xxxiii.  *8. 

Vet.  V.  N°  2r.  N 


98  THE  CROSS  OF  CHRIST         SER.  IV 

• 

made  fill  h'n  ?/ory  to  pail,  before  the  attonifljcd  eyes  of 
an<r  1  in-!  r>fm<  n. — Here  Juliet  has  kt  her  molt  aw- 
f.il  terrors  in  array  ;  even  v.'iiik  • /pears,  with 

inexpre'.iible  iovelincir,,  and  rhemoft  attractive  beauty. 
— Here  7V.'/.'<v-,  more  unfh.ik-n  than  a  rock,  tak<  s  lier 
im  nova:  U1  Hand  ;  ,md  Merc-',  t  n.lercr  th.m  the  mo- 
ther's tear,  yearns  with  bowl.;  of  everlafting  pity  — 
In  a  word,  the  croft  of  CHRIS  T  is  a  conspicuous 
theatre,  on  which  dl  the  divine  pertecVhtns  unite, 
and  harmonize,  and  iiiinc  forth  witli  triiiiiccndtnt 
lulh-e. 

Ac.  Cftriftians,  we  have,  in  the  crofs  of  C  II  R  J  S  T, 
i[\crich"fi provijion  for  our  own  fpiritual  wants. — This 
is  a  foundation  of  the  iu'.li:ncil  hope,  and  a  fountain 
oftheiiiott  exuberant  joy  :  this  affords  matter  for 
the  decpell  humility,  and  yields  fuel  for  the  molt  fia- 
niinp;  love.  Faith  in  our  crucified  JESUS  is  an  ever- 
aclive  principle  of  the  moft  chcarful  and  exacl  obedi- 
ence ;  is  an  ample  and  inexhauftible  map3azine,  from 
which  we  may  fetch  arms  to  conquer,  abibJutely  con- 
quer the  allurements  of  the  world,  the  folicitations 
of  the  flefh,  and  the  temptations  of  the  devil. — By 
this  a  way  is  opened  for  us  info  the  holy  of  holies  ;  and 
what  may  we  not  venture  to  afk,  what  may  we  not 
expcdl  to  receive,  who  have  the  blood  of  the  everlaft- 
ing covenant  to  plead,  in  all  our  approaches  to  the 
throne  of  grace  ; — Having  therefore  Jncli  an  high 
prieft  ;  having  in  his  crols,  un(ea»  chable  riclu.s.;  who 
fhall  make  our  glorying  void  ?  what  (hall  hinder  us 
from  rejoi  ring  and  laying  ?  4'  Blrfled  be  GOD  for 
44  thefe  opening  beauties  of  fpring  !  blelfed  be  G  O  D 
*'  for  the  expecled  fruits  of  autumn  !  bit-fled  be  GOD 
u  for  ten  thouiand  thoufand  gifts  of  his  indulgent 
"  provi-'ence  1  but  ab;>ve  all,  blcffed  be  GOD  for  the 
tc  crofs  of  CHRIST!" 

As  nvnidsrs  of  the  goipel,  we  are  not  left  to  fet  be- 
fore our  hear  rsa  iyflrm  of  refined  Heathcnijm  ;  or  to 
entertain  them  with  cold  jpiritlefs  IcAurcs  of  v.rtue. 

Mo; 


SER.  IV.     THE  CHRISTIAN'S  GLORY.  99 

No  ;  we  have  the  infinitely  tender  iove,  \\\ei  mmcnftly- 
free  grace,  of  the  bleeding,  dying  I  MM  A  NU  EL,  to 
difplay — to  improve — to  enforce.  And  is  there  atopic 
in  tuc  <iViK)ic  compai's  of  oratory,  is  there  an  argument 
amidit  uli  the  itores  of  region,  ib  admii  ably  calculated 
to  touch  \.\\zfineft  movements  of  the  ioul  ?  to  itrike  ail 
the  /,.-;/;(,// Jpr: 'tig;  of  action,  with  the  molt  pfriiialive, 
the  molt  commanding  energy  ; — Would  we  alarm  the 
or  intimidate  the  prejumptuous  ?  we  may  call 
them  to  behold  GOD's  own  Son  weltering  in  blood, 
GOD's  own  Son  transfixed  with  the  arrows  of  juftice  : 
we  may  bid  them  eoniider,  if  judgment  begins  with 
the  immaculate  MEDIATOR,  wuere  (hall  ihe  ir- 
reclaimable (inner  appear  ?  how  will  he  ejcapc  the 
llroke  \  how  bear  the  weight  of  GOD's  everlaftiog 
vengeance? — Would  we  comfort  the  dtftrcljedf  we 
may  point  them  to  an  atonement,  whoie  merits  are 
inlinite,  and  able  to  lave  to  the  very  uttermoft  *:  we 
may  lead  them  to  a  rigiitcoufnefs,  whole  efficacy  is  un- 
bounded, and  iuiiiuent  to  juliify  the  ungodly.  And 
what  Lalm  can  be  ib  ibverejgn  for  a  wounded  conici- 
cnc'  ? — Are  we  toiupport  the  weak,  and  aubnate  tne 
doubting*  here  we  may  (hew  them  promiies,  free  pro- 
miles  |,  exceeding  great  ami  precious  prothi&s,  ratifi- 
ed by  the  oath  of  J  h  H  O  V'*.H,  and  fcalcd  by  the 
blood  of  his  Son.  Ami  what  cordial*  can  be  ib  reflo- 
rative  to  the  drooping  Chriitian  ; 

In  fhort,  the  docirine  of  the  crofs  is  fuited  to  an- 
fwer  ail  the  great  end)  of  our  minilby,  an  i  promote 
all  the  truly  v  >lic'hl"  interests  of  our  people.  Jtly  this 
the  HOLY  SPiillT  delights  to  work  :  and  this,  O 
Satan,  flidl  be  ttiy  plague  j  tiiis,  O  tin,  Jliall  b.  thy  de- 

jlrudwn* 
*  Hcb.  vii.  25. 

^  To  man  the  bleeding  crrls  ha^  promis'd  all: 
T'te  biecdi'ig  ciols  has  Iworn  eternal  prace  : 
Who  gave  his  lite,  what  grace  Will  he  deny  ? 

Night- Thoughts,  N»  IV 
Nl 


ico  THE  CRO*S   OF  CHRIST 

flrutfion  *. — However,  therefore,  the  crofs  might  be 
to  the  Jews  a  Humbling  block,  and  to  the  Giceks 
fooliihueis  ;  GOD  forbid  thai  iuc  (hould  j.dory  in  any 
thing  tile  ! — Let  this  be  \\\es/!pha  and  Omega,  the  be- 
ginning and  ending  j-,  of  all  our  fublic  ministrations. 
—  J-et  us  leave  a  favour  of  this  knowledge,  which  is 
far  better  than  precious  ointment,  in  every  private 
company  1 — Let  it  appear,  from  all  our  converiation, 
thnt  the  affcdions  of  our  heart,  and  the  labours  of  our 
life,  are  devoted,  wholly  devoted  to  our  adored  RE- 
DE&MhR's  crofs.-  Happy  the  people  who  aie  under 
the  care  offuch  miniflcrs  !  and  blejj'ed\\\e,  nrinijlerswl\o 
walk  according  to  this  rule  ! 

2.  Let  me  exhort  all  true  believers  ;  thofe  who  are 
•vile  in  their  own  eyes,  and  to  whom  CHRIST  alone 
is  precious. — Remember,  brethren,  what  is  written  in 
the  prophet:  it  is  a  dcicription  of  your  itate  ;  it  is  a 
dirfdl  on  for  your  conduct.  In  the  LORD,  the 
LORD  JE6US  CHRIST,/*///  all  thf  Jccd  oj  JJrael 
be  juftified,  and  in  him  ftiall  they  glory  \, 

Let  none  fay  that  religion  is  a. gloomy  or  uncomforta- 
ble itate  ;  I  call  upon  you  this  day  to  rrjoicc  {J .  Let  none 

lay 

*  Hoi',  xiii.  14. 

•f  The  author  who  cnnld  write  the  fpirited  and  wrighty  lines 
which  follov.,  muii  doubtlefs  have  had  chis  cunvtdic-n  deep  oil 
his  heart. 

Thau,  my  all ! 

Mv  theme  !  my  ir.fniration  !  and  my  crown  ! 

JVly  flrengih  in  a^e  !  n  y  rTe  in  low  tfta  e  ! 

My  loul's  ambition,   i/le.fure,   wealth  ! — my  world  ! 

My  light  ;n  ciaikn'  Is  !  .md  my  1'fe  in  dtaih  I 

My  h  -aft  :hr»Mi':'h  time  !  hi  .is  thrcngh  err  miry  J 

~$A)'  fati'ificc  .'  iny  G  U  D  I — What  things  are  ;hefe  ! 

i\ignt  Thought  ,  Ko  IV, 
j:If.  xlv.  25. 

I]  'Tis  this  m^ikes  Chrifiian  t  /'«r»/>/'  a  command  ! 
'Tis  this  makes  j>  y  a  duty  to  tht  w'fe 

JXight  Thoughts, 


StR.IV.      THE  CHRISTIAN'S  GLORY.          101 

fay  that  religion  is  a  mean  or  defpicailc  thing  ;  I  call 
upon  you  this  day  to  glory  ,•  and  have  the  drvinc  au- 
thority for  both  *.—  You  will  dilhonour  the  bleffrd 
JESUS,  you  will  dilparagc  his  fur  puffing  excellency, 
if  you  do  not  conjiile  i.-i  him,  and  make  your  boujl  of 
him.  C  M  a  1  S  T  is  King  of  hcavtn,  C  H  R  1  5  T  is 
Judge  of  the  world,  CHRl^T  is  GOD  over  all.  And 
oijmh  A  SAVIOUR  fhall  we  not  glory  ?  Yes,  venly; 
and  in  ail  cncurnltam.es,  and  on  every  occaiion. 

Amidlh  your  manifold  in  fir  mitiej,  glory  in  i.HRiST. 
For,  though  he  was  cruciiied  in  weaknels,  he  hath  all 
power  in  heaven  arid  earth.  Ard  it  is  written  before 
him,  it  is  one  of  his  immutable  decrees,//;*  //ic.U  not 
have  dominion  over  you  |.  —  Amidft  your  various  /<<//- 
ings,  glory  in  CHRIST.  For  his  righteouineii:  co- 
vers all  your  imperfections,  his  i  ightcoulhels  fecures 
you  from  wraih  and  cos  damnation  ;  and,  though  dc- 
iicient  in  youritlves,  you  ai  e  complete  in  him  J.  —  Un- 
der the  p  refill  re  of  tribulations,  lift  up  your  heads,  and 
glory  in  the  crols;  becauiV  •  theOaptain  of  'youriilvation 
was  made  perfect  through  fufferings.  If  you  i'uifrr 
with  him,  you  fliall  alio  reign  with  him.  N  And  the 
fuffcrings  of  this  preier.t  time  arc  not  worthy  to  be 
compared  with  the  huppineis  which  CHRIST  hath 
purchaie.l  with  his  agonies,  and  will  quickly  beftow 
on  his  j)eople.  —  VViien  acath  approaches,  <Jeath,  that 
cuts  ort  the  i'i  irit  of  princes,  and  is  terrible  among 
the  king*  of  the  earth;  do  you  (till  glrry  i-.  t}ic  crols. 
Adncring  to  this  banner,  ycu  may  boldly  and  tri- 
u:n;jtidntly  fjy,  fJ  d»  ////,  inhere  it  tky  /ting?  (J  vravc, 
tliy  victory  ||  f  —  When  that  great,  tremendous 

day 


ta,,  the  word  in  our  text,  denotes  the  acl  of  rejoi- 
cing, ;)s  Bellas  of  g'orying.  )"liu>  r.  is  tranflited,  HoiA.  .  it. 
And  m<!  ».tl  this  it  always  implies.  —  bctrPlal.  v.  n.  Pi;:l.  cxlix. 
5.  b-f>t.  trunjl 

T   ^  •»  ••'•  vi.  14  ^  C.:I.  ii.  ro. 

P  i  Cor.  xv.  55.     This  is  evidently  the  Uuguage  ut  a 


102 

fifty  fliall  conic,  which  puts  an  end  to  time  and  terref- 
trial  things  ;  when  tiiat  axvf'ul  that  niajeflic  -voice  is 
heard,  which  commands  ail  the  ia<_e  of  Adam  to  ap- 
pear at  the  bar;  //;<•«,  my  dear  brethren  in  CHKlbT^ 
then  a  Kb  (hallow  glory  in  the  crois.  When  others, 
in  an  agony  of  terror,  call  upon  rocks  to  fall  on  them, 
and  mountains  to  ovei  whelm  them  ;  this  mall  be  your 
ledate  appeal  ;  rather,  this  (hall  b;  yvur  heroic  chal- 
lenge ;  l-i£ho/tiall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  G  OD's 
f!  ;•'  ?  It  is  GOD'that  jitjt ijietk;  n  ho  is  he  that  con- 
demneth*  It  h  CHRiSTthat  died  *.— '1  hen  (hall  you 
enter  the  harbour  of  eternal  reft ;  not  like  a  (liipwreck- 
ed  mariner  cleaving  to  Tome  broken  plark,  and  hard- 
ly elcaping  the  raging  waves  ;  but  like  iome  itately 
ve{frl,  with  all  her  iails  expanded,  and  riding  before  a 
profperous  gilc  f . 

g.  Let  me  caution  the  f(  If- righteous  :  thofe  who 
more"  frequently  think  of  their  own  piety  than  of 
CtiRtST's  obedience;  are  more  apt  to  cry  out  with 
the  Phaiifee,  lamn<>  extortioner,  no  adulterer ;  than  to 
confeis  with  the  publican,  6  OZ>,  be  merciful  to  me  a 

finncr* 

gueror,  addreflfcd  to  fome/orw/VdM',  but  varquijhed enemy. — 
We  fiial!  to  tn  no  improper  idea  of  this  figuificant  and  beauti- 
ful pafM^f,  it  we  piflure  to  ourfelves  the  good  a-poille,  m  the 
att.iudt-  of  thi.lt  Hi.bre^v  caftains,  who  frt  their  teet  on  the 
necks  ot  the  five  Lanaamtifti  kinj»«,  Joih  x.  ^4  If  \ve  iup- 
potc  ^im,  ir,  i'ach  a  poliure,  to  urter  ihis  animated  exclamation, 
cr  rnther  this  pi'jtts  injult,  over  the  two  praiul,  but  pr citrate 
ad»-errar:es  of  wai:k;r,d;  k'  0  dtath^  "where  is  vow  thy  jt^ng, 
*l  fjnce  L  II  K.  I  ^  1  has  expiated  lip,  by  :he  l^ci  ifict  or  iiim- 
**  teif  ?  0 grave,  -where  is  now  thy  vitfoty,  lince  G/fR/oT 
w  is  both  men  himf.'It,  and  iiab  afce;  tain^d  to  hit  people  a  joy- 
*'  tul  refurrcction  ?"  *  Koiu.  viii.  33,  34. 

•f  bt  Peter's  cxprcrfion  £„?»?,;  *>.*m-i  nftxepn-yrtwrn,  it  perhaps 
too  nervous,  and  tc-o  n  ble  to  -dmit  of  an  ad-quate  tranfla- 
ti  n.  The  above  companion  u>,  '  tin;  k,  a  very  pertinent  il- 
Juttration  of  tl»»-d  1  care  lentimciit,  2»  d  :re  delightful  doctrine. 
A  il'ij  wa'ied  ii'.to  ••  e  purr,  undcv  the  fn  I  influence  ot  wind 
aid  :'e  fenir-  »c>  afford  the  finetl  repi  f  iVntation  of  a 
a  rich.,  an  abundant  entrance.  4  Pec.  i.  11. 


SER.  IV.     THE  CHRISTIAN'S  CLORT,  103 

firmer, — What  (hall  I  fay  to  thefc  perfons  ?  Let  me 
not  be  thought  cenforious,  when  my  only  aim  is  to  be 
J-iithful.  Beware,  I  befec-ch  you,  beware,  lelt  you  build 
for  eternity,  not  on  a  rock,  but  on  the  Jand  However 
yo  i  may  appear  in  your  own  light,  before  the  ad  ruble 
majefty  of  the  everhiting  GOD,  before  the  conl'um- 
mate  perfection  of  his  holy  law,  you  are  lets  than  no- 
thing, you  are  worfe  than  nothing  :  you  are,  indeed 
y«u  are,  deficiency  and  fin.  Renounce,  therefore, 
renounce  all  dependence  on  felf.  Truit  no  longer  in 
a  refuge  of  lies  ;  lead  all'your  admired  attainments, 
at  the  day  of  final  retribution,  be  \\kefrrazu,  and  hay^ 
and  (lubhie,  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  burning  fiery  fur- 
nace.— Imitate  the  bleifed  penman  of  my  text.  Are 
you  hlamelefs  in  your  external  carriage  ?  ib  was  he. 
Are  you  exemplary  in  many  points  ?  fo  was  he. 
Yet  all  this  riglueoufnefs  he  accounted  but  dun%  for  the 
excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  CHRIST  JESUS  hit 
LORD  *. — Be  this  your  pattern.  Write  emptineff 
upon  your  own  duties,  emptinejx  upon  your  own  works  ;. 
and  you  fhall  he  filled  with  all  the  fulncft  of  GOD 
your  S  A  V  1  O  U  11.  Every  other  cauie  of  glorying 
will  be  like  the  morning  cloud,  or  the  e.irly  d<w, 
which  p<i[J':-th  away-\:  but  this  c:uife  of  glorying  will 
jtand  f(»ft  for  evermore  as  the  moon^  and  as  the  faith" 
ful  witnsfs  in  heaven  \. 

Can  I  conclude,  without  adding  a  word  of  admo~ 
nition  to  the  wicked?  thole,  I  mean,  who  are  ene- 
mies to  the  crofs  of  C  H  II I  S  T  ;  who  mind  earthly 
things,  but  neither  hunger  nor  third  after  rjohteouf- 
nHs. — My  foul  remembers  the  wormwood  and  the 
gall  of  iuch  a  ftate,  and  canr.ot  but  tenderly  pity 
thefe  unhappy  people. — Alas!  my  friends,  what  have 
ym  to  glory  in  ?  The  devil  and  his  angrls  expert  ere 
long  to  glory  in  your  de(lruc~tion.  'I  hole  malignant 
fijends  are  eying  you  as  their  prey,  and  arc  impatient 

t» 

*  Phil.  iii.  8.        f  Hof,  vi.  4.        %  Pf.  Ixxxix.  37. 


104       THE  CROSS  OF  CHRIST,  &c.   SER.IV* 

to  bcpin  your  torment.  Great,  incxprcflibly  great  is 
yo'.ir  danger  :  the  LORD  Almighty  open  your  eyes 
to  dilcero  it.  — N evert heleis,  youi  cak-  is  notdtiperate. 
Yon  nifty  yet  be  delivered,  "  as  a  bird  out  of  the  inarc 
44  ofvthe  unvlei."  Look  unto  the  crucified  JESLS. 
Why  does  he  lung  on  thnt  bloody  tree  ?  ivhy  are  his 
hands  piencd  with  iron  ?  why  is  his  body  racked  with 
pain  ?  ivhy  his  hciirt  torn  with  anguilh  ?  it  is  for  you, 
iinncrs,  for  you.  That  blood  is  poured  out,  to  cleanic 
you  from  j?nilt  ;  thole  wounds  are  fuftainod,  to  hcul 
yo»r  canfciences  ;  that  anguilh  i:,  endured,  TO  obtain 
rr(l  for  your  I'mls. — In  that  mangled  botly  time  I  Is  all 
the  fulntjs  of  the  Godhead  *.  Great,  beyond  imagi- 
nation great,  is  the  merit  'of  'hole  iulferings.  Wiry 
then,  O  !  why  will  you  die  ?  why  will  you  perifli  for 
ever,  who  have  an  all~jufficient  propitiation  in  the 
crois  of  CH  \l:S  T  ?  Fiy  to  this  1 'ancillary  :  fly  before 
it  be  too  late  :  fly,  without  a  moment's  delay.  "Tis  an 
inviolable  funcluiii-y.  None  ever  pci  ifhed  that  fled  by 
f.iirh  to  the  compaflionatc,  the  divintly  covipfijjiunutc 
REDEEM ,Mi.— His  death  fh,ill  be  a  full  iatisfaaion 
for  your  iniqui'.ifs.  A  lenie  of  his  immeniely  rich 
goodnefs  (hall  win  your  afFe&icma  ;  fliall  incline  (what 
a!j  Mie  thneatcnings  of  damnation  could  never  effect,) 
fl'JI  incline  you  to/W///  your  iins,  and  to  love  his  i'tr- 
yic"  ;  mall  fmooth  your  path,  and  expedite  your  pro- 
grcfs.  to  the  regions  of  immortal  honour  and  joy. 

Having  now,  with  preat  plainnefs  of  fpeech,  ad- 
dreifed  my  brethren  in  the  miniftry;  having  exhorted 
believers  cautioned  ^\\c JclJ-Hghteotu^  and  warned  the 
'Wirki-il;  1ft  me  comtr.cnd  the  whole  to  yourjerious  re- 
coUfCfion^  and  to  G  O  D's  gracious  benediction. — And, 
"  O  L  O  R  O  n.-oft  ho!v  !  \)  G  O  D  mod  mighty  !  O 
<u  holy  and  merciful  vSAVIOUR  !  by  thine  apony  and 
<;t  bloody  fweat — by  thy  crojs  and  pctj/ion" — let  not 
rjhc  word  now  fpoken  be  in  vain  in  the  LORD! 
and  amen* 

SER- 
*  Col.  ii,    , 


SERMON     V. 


Mini/try  of  Reconciliation :  reprcfenting  the  be- 
.nign  tendency  oj  the  go/pel;  and  that  it  is  the 
friendly  office  of  mini/lers,  as  the  ambajjadors  of 
Chrift,  toprejs  men,  'with  allimaginabletendernejs, 
humility,  and  earneftnejs,  to  accept  the  treaty  of 
reconciliation,  as  efiablijhed  in  him^  and  urged  by 
him,  'while  on  earth. 

We  are  ambafjadors  for  Chrift,  as  though  Goddid\>t- 
feech  yon  by  us:  We  pray  you,  in  Chrift's  ftead,  be 
ye  reconciled  unto  God.  2  Cor.  v.  20. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

AS  this  is  a  pofthumous  piece,  it  may  be  neceflary  to  ob- 
ferve,  for  the  latisfaftion  of  the  public,  that  Mr  Her- 
vey  was,  many  years  ago,  folicited  to  print  tiiis  ferinon,  by  le- 
veral  who  heard  it;  but  as  he  was  a  man  of  great  modefty, 
and  bad  not  then  appeared  as  an  author,  he  could  not  at  that 
time  be  prevailed  on,  by  any  folicitations,  to  comply  with  their 
requelt. — However,  at  a  particular  friend's  ddire,  he  tran- 
fcribed  it  from  his  rtiort  hand  copy,  and  gave  it  to  him. — 
Some  years  atterwards,  this  friend  deiired  Mr  Hervey  to  revife 
h,  with  a  view  of  its  being  published;  which  (in  conjunction 
with  a  very  eminent  divine)  he  accordingly  did ;  and  then  re- 
turned ihe  copy  to  his  friend;  telling  him,  that  as  the  Me- 
ditations on  the  tomb*)  &c.  had  been  fo  well  received,  he  had 
no-w  no  objection  againft  publiihing  it,  with  lome  other  fer- 
jnous ;  and  that  he  might  one  day  or  another  require  it  of" 
Vot.  V.  N°2!.  O  him 


lo6  THE    MINISTRY          SER.  V. 

him  again  for  that  purpofe. — This  fermonis  printed  from  that 
very  copy ;  and  Mr  Htrvcy  himfelf  woultl  probably  have  added 
it  to  the  volume  which  contains  his  four  lermons,  had  he  hap- 
pened to  recollect  that  it  was  in  the  poflellion  of  a  friend  who 
would  willingly  have  relinquiihed  it  to  its  author  for  publica- 
tion. 


2  COR.  v.  18. 

things  are  ofCOD^  -who  hath  reconciled  us  to  him- 
Jelf  by  JESUS  CHRIST,  and  hath  given  to 
us  the  minijlry  of  reconciliation. 


THE  love  of  God,  that  fupremely-glorious,  and 
fupremely  gracious  Being,  is,  of"  all  other  tem- 
pers, the  moft  delightful  and  divine  ;  a  facred  flower, 
which,  in  its  early  bud,  is  happinefs,  and,  in  its  full 
bloom,  is  heaven. — To  pknt  this  noble  principle  in 
the  breaft,  to  cultivate  its  growth,  and  bring  it  to  ma- 
turity, is  the  grand  end  of"  all  religion,  and  the  gen^- 
nine  fruit  of  faith  unfeigned. — Angels  are  happy,  be- 
caufe the  love  of  GOD  triumphs  eternally,  and  with- 
out a  rival  in  their  exalted  affections  *.  irue  belie- 
vers are  happy,  becaufe  the  love  of  GOD,  in  a  pre^- 
vailing  degree,  is  filed  abroad  in  their  hearts.  The 
gofpel  is  a  difpenfation  of  happinefs,  becaufe  it  dif- 
covers  the  fuperabundarit  loving-kindnefs  of  GOD  to 
man,  and  uiges  the  molt  engaging  motives  for  our 
ardent  love  to  his  almighty  Majcfty. 

The  gofpel  reprefents  the  great  GOD,  not  only  as 

bellowing 

*  To  be  gwd  is  to  be   happy  i — Angels  are  happier  than 
men,  becaufe  they  are  better. 

Guilt  is  the  fource  of  for  row  ;  'tis  the  fiend, 

Th*  avenging  fiend,  who  follows  us  behind 

With  whips  ii'd  iim^s  ;  the  kiefs' d  know  none  of  thls^ 

£ui  reft  in  eyerlalting  peaCt  of  mind.  Row?. 


OF  RECONCILIATION.  107 

be/lowing  upon  his  creatures  all  the  good  they  enjoy, 
but  as  effecting  their  reconciliation  to  his  own  ado- 
rable felf ;  effecting  this  mod  defirable  of  all  bleflirigs, 
not  barely  by  vouchsafing  a  pardon,  but  a  pardon  pro- 
cured by  the  death  of  his  Son  ;  and,  by  this  enriching 
circumstance,  infinitely  enhanced  ;  arrayed  in  all  the 
charms  that  heaven  itielf  could  give. — To  render  the 
purpofes  of  his  love  more  effectual  and  extenfive,  he 
has  instituted  an  order  of  men  to  publifh  thefe  glad 
tidings  ;  and  to  invite,  yea  to  beieech  the  world,  to 
partake  the  exceeding  riches  of  his  grace. — All  which 
the  apoftle  has  exprefTed  in  my  text,  with  his  ufual 
energy  and  concifenefs  ;  All  things  are  of  G(jD,  iuh>) 
hath  reconciled  us  to  himjelf  by  JES  US  CHRIS  T9 
and  hath  given  to  us  the  mini/try  of  reconciliation. 

From  which  words,  permit  me,  with  all  that  iim- 
plicity  which  becomes  a  minilter  of  the  humble  J  E- 

sus, 

I.  To  enlarge  a  little  upon  that  glorious  and  ami- 
able reprefentation  of  the  blefTed  GOD,  discoverable 
even  by  the  light  of  nature,  AIL  thing*  are  of  him. 

II.  To  remind  you,  how   much  more  illuftrioufly 
the  delightful  attributes  of  the  DEITY  are  difplayerl 
in  the  accomplifiiment  of  our  redemption  ;  in  that  he 
hath  reconciled  us  to  himjelf  by  JESUS  CHRIST 

III.  To  obferve  the  benign  import  and  beneficial 
tendency  of  the  gofpel-miniitry,  expreffed  in  that  re- 
markable claufe,  He  hath  given  to  us  the  miniftry  of 
reconciliation. 

Firft,  Then  let  me  enlarge  a  little  upon  that  glo- 
rious and  amiable  reprefentation  of  the  blefTed  GOD, 

•difcovcrable  even  by  the  light  of  nature,  ^411 1  kings 
are  of  him. — Heaven,  and  the  heaven  of  heavens  arc 
his,  with  all  their  hods.  Thrones  and  dominions, 
principalities  and  powers,  all  the  happy  beings,  that 

Jit  at  the  fountain-head  of  felicity,  were  produced  by 
his  power,  and  are  Supplied  with  bleflings  from  his 
fcand,  arc  filled  with  joy  from  his  countenance. — If 

O  a  we 


io8  THE    MINISTRY          SER.  V. 

we  trace  the  various  emanations  of  comfort  and  ad- 
vantage that  refrelh  our  lower  world,  we  fhall  tind 
realbn  to  acknowledge  witn  the  Pialmift,  "  All  our 
"  frtfh  iprings  are  in  GOD."  The  day  is  thine,  lays 
the  lame  iacred  writer,  and  the  night  is  thine  ;  thou 
ha{l  prtp;ic- .1  ih-  light  and  the  iiin.  The  magnificent 
luminaries  in  the  fky,  arc  tamps  of  the  LORD  ;  hung 
up  on  high,  to  dilpenle  tlie  chearing  gift  of  light  a- 
midlt  all,  the  families  of  nature.  The  interchanges  of 
night  and  day,  with  the  viciflitudcs  of  revolving  fea- 
ions,  arc  his  miniftcrs  ;  all  lent  on  errands  of  kind- 
ntu,  and  bringing  the  niv.it  valuable  prefents  in  their 
hands.  The  innumerable  vai  iety  of  living  creatures, 
and  of  nutrimental  vegetables,  are  the  portion,  not 
which  our  own  indufby  has  procured,  but  which  our 
heavenly  Father's  bounty  has  fettled  upon  us. 

Every  great  endowment,  beftowed  on  the  children 
of  men  ;  every  noble  achievement,  accomplished  by 
renowned  perfonages  ;  theie derive  their  original  from 
the  uncreated  Fountain  of  perfection  and  of  power. 

If  Solomon  is  poflrfTed  of  ei'larged  wifdom,  and 
kingly  qualities  ;  he  cxprefsly  acknowledges,  it  is  from 
the  LORD,  iuperintending  human  affairs,  that  inch 
kings  are  advanced  to  reign  ;  and  by  the  LORD  en- 
lightening their  minds,  that  flich  princes  decree  juf- 
tice.  If,  at  one  peri  >d,  Nebuchadnezzar  purfucs  his 
conquefts  with  irrefiflible  impf  tuofity,  it  is  to  fcourge 
the  offending  people  of  the  LORD  <  and  banifh  ido- 
3atry  from  their  wormip  as  the  driving  wind  fwept 
the  chaff  from  their  floors.  If,  at  another  juncture, 
Cyrus  is  equally  victorious,  and  u  comes  upon  prin- 
u  ces  as  upon  nrortar,  and  as  the  potter  treadeth 
<c  clay  ;"  it  was  the  L  O  R  D  of  hofls  that  railed  up 
this  accompliflicd  commander  from  the  Eaft,  and  bid 
him  execute  his  defignsof  reftoring  love  to  his  reform- 
ed nation. — All  thofe  arts  which  meliorate,  and  fcien- 
ces  which  embeliifh  life,  even  thtie  are  from  the 

LORD, 


OF  RECONCILIATION.  109 

LORD,  "  who  is  wonderful  in  counfcl,  and  excel- 
**  lent  in  working." 

The  time  would  fail  me  to  enumerate  particulars. 
— Whatever  is  beneficial  to  communities,  or  comfort- 
able to  individuals  ;  whatever  fprings  from  the  rain 
of  heaven,  or  is  produced  by  fruitful  feaibns ;  what- 
ever administers  to  the  improvement,  or  chears  the 
heart  of  man  ;  all,  all  acknowledge  GOD  for  their 
Author.  He  is  the  Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect 
gift.  The  whole  earth  is  filled  with  the  profution  of 
his  beneficence.  And  where,  where  is  the  creature, 
that  has  not  tailed,  that  does  not  fiibiift  on,  the  inex- 
hauftible  ftores  of  his  bounty  ? — And  though  affliction 
alib  comes  from  tiie  Father  of  our  ipirits,  yet  this  is 
no  derogation  from  his  tender  mercies  :  fince  he  chaf- 
tens,  not  with  an  arbitrary  ieverity,  but  with  a  par- 
ental pity  ;  he  chaftens,  only  to  amend  ;  and  thcfe 
light,  thefe  tranfient  tribulations,  are  preparatives  for 
an  exceeding  great  and  eternal  weight  of  glory. 

And  is  not  fuch  a  being  worthy  of  our  higheft  ad- 
miration, and  our  devotHt  love  ?  Has  he  not,  by  fiich 
ineffable  excellencies,  fuch  unmeafurable  benignity, — 
has  he  not  an  undoubted  claim  to  the  affections  of  our 
hearts,  the  praifesof  our  tongues,  and  the  unintermit- 
ted  fervices  of  our  lives  ?  He  is  the  fource  of  all  our 
good  ;  mould  lie  not  alfo  be  the  centre  of  all  our  gra- 
titude, and  of  our  whole  obedience  ? — But  our  obli- 
gations will  rife  immenfely  higher,  if  we  confider, 

Secondly,  how  much  more  illuftrioufly  the  delight- 
ful attributes  of  the  DEITY  are  d.iiplayed  in  the  ac- 
complifhment  of  our  redemption  ;  in  that  he  hath  re- 
conciled us  to  himfdfby  J ESUS  CHRIST.— MM 
was  created  upright,  immaculate,  and  in  the  ima^e  of 
GOD.  Heavenly  wifdom  flione  bright  in  his  under- 
Handing,  and  true  holinefs  fat  enthroned  in  his  neart. 
-•j-But  how  foon,  how  fatally,  did  he  fall  1  from  what 
height  of  perfection,  to  what  depth  of  degeneracy  ? 
Since  that  dcftructive  tranl'greffion,  all  flelh  has  cor- 
rupted 


no  THE    MINISTRY        SER.  V. 

rupted  his  way  ;  every  man  is  become  brutifh  in  his 
knowledge  ;  and  the  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of 
his  heart  is  only  evil  continually.  "  Our  iniquities 
41  feparated  between  us  and  our  GOD,  and  our  fins 
"  hid  liis  face  from  us,"  as  from  an  abominable  ob- 
jecl.  Nay,  our  fins  accufed  us  at  his  righteous  tribu- 
nal, and  like  the  blood  of  Abel,  cried  to  heaven  for 
veogeaace.  Vengeance  and  fiery  indignation  was  our 
expected  doom,  and  eternal  death  the  wages  due  to 
our  offences. — What  rendered  the  miitry  of  mankind 
ftill  more  cxceilively  deplorable,  and  only  not  deipe- 
rate,  was,  that  they  were  without  Jlrcngth ;  without 
any  power  to  make  1'itisfaftion  for  their  provocations, 
or  extricate  themielves  from  this  abyfs  of  wo. — Q 
wretched,  wretched  man,  if  left  in  this  Mate  of  guilt 
and  ruin  !  If  abandoned  by  the  GOD,  from  whom 
thou  hall  ungratefully  revolted,  better  had  it  been 
for  thee  never  to  have  exifted. 

But  behold  the  kindnefs  and  love  of  GOD  our  Sa- 
viour !  Hearken  to  the  founding  of  his  bowels  and  of 
his  mercies  towards  us  1  tc  1  have  feen,"  laid  he,  (as 
in  the  cafe  of  enflaved  lirael,)  "  I  have  fecn  the  af- 
"  flidlion  of  my  fallen  creatures.  They  have  undone 
"  thcmfelves,  but  in  me  *  is  their  recovery.  Satan 
"  has  deceived,  and  deceiving  has  deflroyed  them  ; 
"  but  I,  even  I  will  deliver  them." — Wherewithal 
will  the  LORD  accomplifti  this  defign  ?  By  his  free, 
unmerited  goodnefs.  By  the  blood  of  bulls,  or  of 
goats,  or  of  all  the  cattle  upon  a  thoufand  hills  ?  Con- 
temptible to  the  laft  degree  are  fuch  beggarly  obla- 
tions ;  only  fo  far  as  they  typify  the  all- glorious  fa- 
crifice. — Was  an  angel  charged  with  this  important 
bufmefs,  or  the  highcft  feraph  bidden  to  interpofe  as 
the  repairer  of  our  breach  \  The  angels  were  abfo- 
lutely  incapable  of  executing  fo  great  a  work.  It  re- 
quired a  far  abler  agent,  to  negotiate  our  reconciliation. 

It 

*  See  Hcf.  xiii.  9. 


OF   RECONCILIATION.  Hi 

It  muft  cod  incomparably  more  to  redeem  guilty  fouls. 
Therefore  the  GOD  of  our  falvation  "  laid  the  help 
*'  upon  one  that  is  mighty."  He  appointed,  to  the 
moil  momentous  of  all  offices,  the  mod  illuftrious  of 
all  beings.  He  appointed  his  own  Son,  the  brightnefs 
of  his  glory,  and  the  express  image  of  his  perfon. 

Behold  then  the  Son  of  G  O  D,  taking  our  nature, 
that  he  may  act  as  our  Mediator.  Admirable  confti- 
ttition  !  full  of  wonder  and  full  of  grace  ! — How  joy- 
ful to  the  iinner  !  the  work  mud  infallibly  profper  in 
inch  hands.  Such  a  Surety  cannot  fail  of  fucceeding, 
in  all  he  undertakes. — How  gracious  in  the  Father! 
Could  there  be  a  flrongcr  afiurance,  or  a  more  empha- 
tical  demonstration  of  his  boundlefs  beneficence,  than 
to  fend  the  Son  of  his  bofom  ;  the  Son  of  his  eternal 
delight  ;  the  Son  dearer  to  him  than  all  worlds  ? — 
How  condefcending  in  the  Saviour  I  Would  Ahafue- 
rus  abdicate  his  imperial  diadem,  or  the  great  ruler 
of  Babylon  forego  the  honours  of  his  enlarged  domi- 
nions, to  attend  on  the  welfare  of  fome  ignoble  cap- 
tive that  grinds  at  a  mill,  or  of  fome  infamous  male- 
factor that  is  chained  in  a  dungeon  ?  Yet  the  everlaft- 
ing  Potentate  of  heaven  and  univerfal  nature,  under- 
takes a  more  !•  imbling  office  of  friendfhip,  for  a  race 
of  abject  creatures,  that  dwell  in  duft,  and  were  doom- 
ed to  hell. — Let  every  child  of  Adam  look  unto 
CHRIST  by  faith,  as  all  the  people  of  Hrael  looked 
unto  Mofcs,  when  he  went  into  the  tabernacle  of  the 
congregation  to  intercede  before  the  LORD.  (See 
Exodus  xxxiii.  8.) 

We  have  Teen  the  perfon  reconciling,  let  us  next 
contemplate  the  manner  of  reconciling.  A  fubject  e- 
qually  aflonifhing  and  delightful  !  The  Father  recon- 
ciled us  to  himielf,  by  laying  upon  his  Son  the  iniqui- 
ties of  us»  all  ;  by  admitting  him  to  ftand  in  our  ftcad, 
and  Uy  exacting  from  him,  the  punifhmcnt  which  we 
had  incurred. — G  O  D  reconciler!  us  to  himielf,  not 
only  by  the  humiliation,  but  by  the  differing  of  this 

Prince 


112  THE    MINISTRY        SER.V. 

Prince  of  heaven  ;  and  not  by  fomc  llighter  fuffering, 
but  by  his  iiiftcring  unto  deatli  ;  and  not  by  his  un- 
dergoing a  common  death,  but  the  moft  ignominious 
and  tormenting  of  all  deaths,  the  death  of  the  crofs. 
"  It  pleated  the  Father,"  fays  the  apoille,  u  to  recon- 
*'  cilc  ail  things  to  himfelf ;  making  peace  by  the  blood 
"  of  the  crols." — Becauie  we  deferved  fhame,  the 
LORD  of  glory  was  numbered  with  malefactors,  and 
loaded  with  infamy.  Becaufe  we  deferved  the  bitter- 
nefs  of  death,  the  LORD  of  life  endured  the  pangs  of 
diflblution,  in  their  unabated  and  moft  racking  extre- 
mities-. Becauie  we  were  obnoxious  to  the  curfe  of 
the  law,  therefore  the  ever-bleffcd  "  JESUS  dclivcr- 
"  ed  us  from  the  curfe  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curfe 
"  for  us." 

Glorious  propitiation  !  and  altogether  as  complete 
as  glorious  !  What  now  fliall  terrify  the  true  believer? 
What  mall  (land  between  him,  and  his  eternal  hopes  ? 

Shall  Satan  mufter  up  his  accufations,  and  let  them 
in  frightful  array  ?  Yet,  though  there  may  be  much 
guilt,  there  is  no  condemnation  to  them  that  are  in 
JESUS  CHRIST.— Does  the  law  take  the  guilty 
mortal  by  the  throat,  and,  with  its  rigorous  ieverity, 
lay,  "  Pay  me  that  thou  oweft  ?"  It  is  paid,  fully 
paid  by  the  intervention  and  furetifhip,  not  of  a  mean 
man,  but  of  the  mighty  GOD  made  flcfh.— •  Does  di- 
vine Juftice  demand  fatisfaclion,  for  the  wrongs  re- 
ceived from  (inners  ?  It  is  not  only  fatisfkd,  but  moft 
awfully  glorified,  by  this  wonderful  obhtion — In 
(hort,  this  is  a  full,  perfecl,  and  iufficient  iacrifke  for 
the  (ins  of  the  whole  world.  It  vindicates  the  honour 
of  GOD's  holinels  ;  it  difplays  his  uniearchable  wif- 
dom  ;  it  mamfeils  his  utterable  goodnefs;  it  gives 
the  moft  magnificent  and  lovely  hi  fire  to  all  the  di- 
vine perfections. — May  we  not  then,  looking  unto 
our  bleeding  Saviour,  and  pleading  his  ineltimable  pro- 
pitiation, venture  to  adopt  the  apoftlf's  challenge  ? 
"  Who  fliall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  GOD's 


OF   RECONCILIATION.         113 

"cleft?  it  is  GOD  that  juftifieth  ;"  not  imputing 
our  trefpalFes  unto  us,  but  transferring  them  to  his 
dear  Son.  u  Who  is  he  that  condecineth  ?  it  is 
"  CHRIST  that  died,"  and  by  his  precious  death 
hath  made  reconciliation  for  iniquity,  and  brought  in 
everlalting  righteouinefs. 

I  have  been  the  more  copious  upon  this  fubjecl,  be- 
caufe  it  is  not  only  the  grand  point  in  my  text,  but 
is  the  very  heart  of  the  gofpel ;  the  fountain  of  all  om 
comforts,  and  the  foundation  of  all  our  hopes. — But 
I  proceed,  and  with  greater  brevity, 

Thirdly,  To  obferve  the  benign  import  and  bene- 
ficial tendency  of  the  goipel  miniftry,  exprc'fled  in 
that  remarkable  claufe,  He  hath  given  to  us  the  miniftry 
of  reconciliation.  Here  I  am  not  attempting  to  mag- 
nify my  office,  or  to  aggrandize  the  miniilerial  cha- 
racter ;  but  only  to  render  our  iervice?  acceptable  to 
our  brethren. — Some  perfons,  whether  through  preju- 
dice or  miflake,  are  apprehenfive  of  being  terrified  by 
our  meflage,  or  u  tormented  before  the  time"  by 
our  docTrine.  But  can  the  news  of  reconciliation  to 
the  LORD  GOD  of  hofls  terrify,  or  the  offer  of 
remiffion  of  fins  torment  ?  How  welcome  mould  be 
the  approach,  or,  to  fpeak  in  the  elegant  language  of 
a  prophet,  "  how  beautiful  the  feet  of  him  that  bring- 
u  eth  good  tiding!  !"  And  can  there  be  better  tidings, 
more  reviving,  or  more  tranfporting,  than  thofe  of 
the  everlafting  gofpel  ?  which  faith  unto  Zion,  "  Thy 
44  iniquity  is  taken  away,  and  thy  fin  purged  :"  thy 
GOD  is  reconciled,  and  inftead  of  abhorring  thee  as 
a  rebel,  is  willing  to  embrace  thee  as  a  child. — When 
our  armies  have  been  in  the  field,  and  fame  very  im- 
portant, fomc  decifive  engagement  drawing  near  ; 
with  what  eagerncfs  have  you  expefted,  and  with 
what  delight  have  you  received,  the  account  of  com- 
plete victory  gained  ?  And  is  not  our  report  equally 
worthy  of  all  acceptation,  which  declares  Satan  van- 
quifhed,  and  fin  deflroycd  ;  declares  elect h  abolifhed, 

VOL.  V.  N°  22.  I'  hell 


114  THE    MINISTRY         SER.  V. 

hell  deprived  of  its  prey,  and  all  the  rich  advantages 
of  pence  with  hraven  rellored  ? — When  Peter  lay 
bound  in  priibn,  was  the  angel  an  unwelcome  rnini- 
llcr,  who  Mruck  aw.iy  his  tetters,  opened  ihc  j'aics  of 
iron,  and  tranfmitted  him,  free  and  unmolelled,  to 
the  cordial  lalutations  of  his  friends  ?  As  you  are  , all, 
by  nature,  in  bondage  to  fin,  our  bufmels  is,  to  take 
yon  by  the  hand,  and  lead  yon  out  of  this  ignomi- 
nious llavery,  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  ions  of 
GOD  ;  while  the  Spirit  of  the  Molt  High  breaks  off 
your  (hackles,  and  makes  you  free  indeed. — What 
manna  can  be  more  refrefliing  than  fuch  a  mcflage  ? 
what  balm  more  healing  than  fuch  a  iervice  ? — If,  at 
any  time,  we  arm  our  words  with  terror,  and  de- 
nounce the  vengeance  of  GOi)  on  every  foul  of  man 
that  doth  evil  ;  this  is  only  to  awaken  you  from  that 
gay  infenfibility,  which  would  lull  you  into  irretrie- 
vable ruin.  It  is  like  the  gathering  clouds,  and  the 
tlidant  burfts  of  thunder,  which  might  watn  Noah  to 
retire  into  the  ark,  before  that  infinitely  more  tre- 
mendous deluge  came,  which  was  to  fweep  the  care- 
leis  world  away. — Whether  therefore  we  difplay  the 
allurements  of  divine  love,  it  is  for  your  delight ;  or 
whether  we  bend  the  bow  of  divine  indignation,  it  is 
for  your  benefit  ;  to  win  you  to  happinefs,  or  drive 
you  from  miiery.  So  that  in  every  reipeet,  and  by 
all  our  miniilrations,  we  are  to  be  "  helpers  of  your 
"  faith,  and  furtherers  of  your  joy." 

And  let  not  any  one  fufpecl,  that  ?  meffage  of  fuch 
free  and  rich  grace  has  a  tendency  to  foothe  men  into 
fupincnefs,  or  ferve  the  caufe  of  licentioufnefs.  It  is, 
of  all  other  expedients,  moft  effectually  calculated  to 
reconcile  us  to  GOD,  in  another  fenfe  of  the  word  ; 
to  {ubdue  our  enmity,  and  captivate  our  perverie  af- 
fections; to  imprefs  our  alienated  hearts  with  adoring 
gratitude,  and  engage  our  refractory  wills  to  dutiful 
obedience. — For  can  we  be  cold  and  indifferent  to  fuch 
immenfe  benignity  ?  can  we  aifront  and  grieve  fuch 

unfpeakably- 


OF   RECONCILIATION.  115- 

unfpeakably- tender  kindnefs  ?  What  effect  had  David's 
clemency  in  iparing  Saul's  life,  when  it  was  in  the 
power  of  his  hand  to  have  difpatched  that  implacable 
enemy  r  It  overcame,  tor  a  while,  even  malice  itl'elf ; 
it  fetcned  tears  of  ibrrow  from  the  perfecutor's  eyes, 
an  1  txpreiiions  of  the  moil  endeared  affections  from, 
his  lips  *.  And  when  GOD,  the  GOD  to  whom 
vengeance  belongeth,  not  onlyipares  us  guilty  wretch- 
es, out  punifhes  his  immaculate  Son  in  our  (lead  ; 
when  he  bids  the  i'word  of  Jultice  pals  by  our  devoted 
heads,  and  iheath  itftlf  in  the  heart  of  his  beloved 
Son  ;  can  v.'e  reliil  ilich  heavenly  goodnefs  ?  can  we 
fpurn  fuch  bowels  of  mercy  ?  Muit  not  love,  fo  di- 
vine and  infinite,  melt  even  the  nioft  obdurate  heart ; 
make  us  fling  down,  with  abhorrence,  the  weapons  of 
rebellion,  and  conltrain  us,  fweetly  conftrain  us  to 
obedience  f .? 

Let  me  now,  conformably  to  my  facred  cornmif- 
fion,  bciecch  you  all  to  be  reconciled.  Efpecially  let 
me  bcleech  the  humble  penitent,  and  the  haughty  { elf- 
righteous  ivioraiift. — Ye  humble  penitents,  that  arc 
convinced  of  fin,  and  mourn  for  fin,  be  of  good  com- 
fort. GOD  has  abounded  in  the  riches  of  his  grace 
towards  you,  and  has  given  you  a  raniom  to  rely  on, 
of  higher  dignity  than  ail  heavens,  of  more  value  than 
all  worlds.  The  men  of  Tyre  made  Blaftus  the  king's 
chamberlain  their  friend  J  ;  the  G  OD  of  glory  has 
configured  his  dear  Son,  your  atoning  facrifke,  your 
prevailing  advocate.  The  men  of  Tyre  defircd  con- 
ditions of  peace  ;  the  LORD  JESUS  hath  both 

obtained 

i  Sam.  xxiv.  16. 

•j-  Mr  Hcrvey  had  added,  by  way  of  a  note,  the  following 
words,  in    rhe  copy    which  he   trunfcribed,   and  from  which, 
vhis  is  printed  :  "   When  1    preached  this  fernion,  I  recapnu- 
44  lated,  in  ihis   jolace,  (as  you,  or  any    reader  may  do  if  he 
44  piedes,)  th«-  preceding  headi;  but  1  thought  it  uuncceflary 
*4  to  tranlcribe  fuch  a  recapitulation." 
^  A^ts  xii.  20. 
P    2 


ii6  THE    MINISTRY         SER.  V. 

obtained  and  fullillcd  the  conditions  of  your  peace. 
Could  there  be  a  more  glorious  peribn  chofe  to  act  as 
your  reconciler,  than  the  Prince  of  heaven,  and  Heir 
of  all  things?  could  there  be  a  more  effectual  method 
of  reconciliation,  than  his  obedience  unto  death,  even 
the  death  of  the  crofs  ? — Fly  then  to  this  all-iiifticient 
Redeemer.  Rely  on  his  molt  meritorious  and  fatisfac- 
tory  fufferings.  Be  your  fins  ever  fo  numerous,  ever 
fo  enormous,  thefe  need  be  no  bar  to  your  acceptance. 
For  GOD  has  received  an  atonement  ;  an  infinite 
atonement  GOD  has  received.  .So  that  he  can  admit 
you  to  his  favour,  unworthy  as  you  are,  without  the 
leaft  blemifh  to  his  avenging  jufticc.  He  can,  lie  will 
admit  you,  as  freely,  as  if  you  had  never  done  amiis, 
Trufb  therefore  in  your  reconciling  Saviour.  Place  a 
chcarful  confidence  in  his  propitiating  merits.  Only 
]et  the  grace  of  GOD,  which  has  appeared  with  iuch 
traniccndent  lovelinefs  in  the  bleeding  JESUS,  let 
this  grace  teach  you,  with  a  prevailing  efficacy,  u  to 
"  deny  all  ungodlinefs  and  worldly  lulls,  and  to  live 
••'  foberly,  rightcouily,  and  godlily  in  this  prcient 
4<  world.'' 

As  to  thole  of  a  contrary  character,  who  are  righ- 
teous in  their  own  eyes,  what  mall  I  lay  ?  Shall  1  de- 
cry the  exercife  of  morality,  or  difparage  the  duties 
of  holinefs  ?  GOD  forbid.  The  golpel  is  a  doctrine 
according  to  godlinefs,  and  true  holineis  is  the  health, 
is  the  happinels  of  the  Ibul.  Thefe  duties,  ifTuing 
from  faith,  and  recommended  by  the  intcrceflion  of 
CHRIST,  are  acceptable  to  the  divine  Majefty. 
But  thefe  arc  not  your  SAVIOUR.  GOD  has 
not  reconciled  the  world  to  himfelf  by  their  o'wn 
pious  practices,  but  by  his  Son  'JESUS  CHRIST. 
— Can  your  charitable  deeds  expiate  your  innumerable 
offences  ?  As  loon  may  a  fingle  drop  of  pure  water 
correct  and  fweeten  the  unfathomable  brine  of  the 
ocean.  Can  your  defective  performances  iatisfy  the 
demands  of  a  perfect  law,  or  your  wandering  devo- 
tions 


OF   RECONCILIATION.         117 

tions  fcreen  you  from  the  difpleafure  of  an  injured 
GOD?  As  well  may  your  uplifted  hand  eclipie  the 
(an,  or  intercept  the  lightening  when  it  darts  through 
the  burning  cloud. — There  is  no  other  name  given 
under  heaven,  whereby  you  may  be  reconciled  to 
GOD,  and  iaved  from  wrath,  but  only  the  name, 
only  the  name,  remember,  of  j ESUS  CHRIST. 
He;  c  fix  your  hopes,  antl  you  lhall  never  be  difap- 
pointe.J.  Fix  them  on  any  other  object,  and  everlaft- 
ing  conflilion  will  eniue. — We  hefeech  you  therefore, 
in  GOD's  ftead,  we  befeech  you  for  your  own  fouls 
lake,  reject  not  this  abundant  mercy,  neglecl  not  this 
GREAT  SALTATION. 

Now,  unto  him  who  has  reconciled  us  to  himfelf, 
and  walhed  us  from  our  {ins  in  his  Son's  blood,  be 
jilory  and  thanklgiving,  love  and  obedience,  hence- 
forth and  for  ever. 


A  D  E  F  E  N  C  E,  by  R.  Y.  of  the  foregoing  fcr- 
mon,  from  the  groundltjs  objections  raijcd  againjl 
it  by  Jome  inconfidcratc  readers. 

IT  is  fcarcely  credible,  that  any  one  fhould  aflcrt, 
that  Mr  Hervey's  pofthumous  fermon  on  the  Mi- 
mflry  uf  reconciliation,  is  contradictory  to  the  dialogues 
in  T her  on  and  Afpafto,  and  affirm  that  it  has  done  in- 
jury to  the  work. — But  fuch  an  afTcrtion  is  eafily  re- 
fated. — This  complaint  is  either  lodged  by  the  friends 
or  foes  of  the  decealed  :  If  by  his  friends,  then  I  fup- 
pofe  it  is  becaute  the  doclrine  of  imputed  rightcoul- 
«els,  which  makes  fo  great  a  figure  in  thofe  dialogues, 
is  not  mentioned  in  the  icrmon. — Tliefe  jjeople  would 
do  well  to  confuler,  that  if  it  is  not  mentioned,  it  ir. 
ftrongly  imj^lied  ;  and  what  is  flrongly  implied  in  this 
place,  cannot  be  contradictory  to  what  is  exprefied  in 
others.  In  that  fcrmon,  do  we  not  read  in  the  flrong- 
cft  terms,  4t  That  our  iniquities  are  imputed  to 

Chrift, 


il3  THE   MINISTRY          SER.V. 

"  Chrifl,  by  the  Father's  admitting  him  to  (land 
44  in  onr  flead,  and  exacting  from  him  the  punifhmcnt 
*4  which  we  had  incurred  I"  Do  we  not  here  find, 
44  GOD  reconciling  us  to  himlclf,  not  only  by  the  hu- 
44  miliation,  but  by  the  lullc-rings  of  the  Prince  of 
t4  heaven  ?  and  not  by  fome  (lighter  {offerings,  but  by 
44  his  iuilerings  unto  death  ;  and  not  by  his  undergoing 
<4  a  common  death,  but  the  molt  ignominious  and 
44  tormenting  of  all  deaths,  the  death  upon  the  crofs." 

And  as  we  rind  the  imputation  of  our  fins  Ib  plain- 
ly averted  here,  ib  we  find  in  the  Dialogues,  that 
44  this  part  of  our  Lord's  meritorious  humiliation 
44  is  by  a  very  ufual  figure  put  for  the  whole.  The 
44  death  of  Chrift  includes,  not  only  his  iulferings, 
44  but  his  obedience.  The  Pnedding  of  his  precious 
"  blood,  was  at  once  the  grand  inftance  of  his  lufler- 
44  ings,  and  the  finifhing  act  of  his  obedience.  In 
44  this  view  it  is  coniidered,  and  thus  it  is  interpreted 
<4  by  his  own  ambaffador,  who,  fpeaking  of  his  divine 
44  Maitcr,  fays, — He  was  obtctient  unto  death,  €~ven 
"  the  death  of  the  crofs, — When  the  fcripture  ai'cribes 
44  our  juftification  to  the  death  of  Chrill,  we  are 
<4  not  to  think  that.it  would  fet  afide,  but  imply  his 
44  obedience.*'  [Theron  and  djimfio,  vol.  II.  p. 
34<$.)  Now,  if  we  are  not  to  think  tnis  of  the  icrip- 
ture,  in  Mr  Hervey's  opinion,  how  then  can  we 
think  it  of  him  ?  And,  without  thinking  it,  where 
lies  the  inconiiilence  between  the  fermon  and  the  di- 
alogues \ 

But  I  rather  iimgine,  that  the  charge  is  brought 
by  IVIr  Hervey's  enemies,  iiome  of  thefe  people,  to 
avoid  being  thought  .Socinians,  feem  willing  to  al- 
low the  iatisfaclion  of  Chrift,  while  they  declare 
againft  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  the  imputation 
of  his  righteouihcfs  ;  and  luch  are  extremely  willing 
to  interpret  Mr  Ilcrvey'sfilence  into  a  confcnt  to  their 
own  pernicious  ientiments  :  T/icron  and  ^j'pafio  is  a 

dead 


OF  RECONCILIATION.  119 

dead  weight  upon  them  ;  they  have  not,  nor  can 
they  anfwer  it  ;  willingly,  therefore,  would  they  come 
off,  by  laying,  the  author  had  contradicted  himfelf* 
But  falfe  is  their  pretence,  and  as  falle  is  their  profei- 
lion.  That  they  allow  the  fatisfaction  of  C  H  R  I  S  T 
for  imputation,  is  as  reafonable,  and  as  justifiable  in 
the  one  cafe  as  in  the  other  ;  they  both  (land  upon 
one  ai.d  the  fame  footing,  fo  he  that  throws  down 
one  throws  down  both  ;  whoever  rejects  the  doctrine 
of  our  Saviour's  rightcoufnefs  being  imputed  unto 
man,  rejects,  by  fo  doing,  the  doctrine  of  man's  fins 
being  imputed  to  our  Saviour,  and  all  the  confequen- 
ces  of  it  ;  or,  in  other  words,  he  who  rejects  the  doc- 
trine of  free  juftification,  rejects,  by  fo  doing,  the 
doctrine  ofChriih  (See  TMeronsaid  ^jpa/io^  vol.  II. 
p.  170.) 

As  the  main  defign  in  writing  Theron  and  j/tfpafib% 
was  to  prove  the  fundamental  doctrine  of  juftifi  cation 
by  the  imputed  righteoufnefs  of  Chrilt  ;  and  as  it  ap- 
pears that  the  fermon  does  not  contradict  it  in  this 
moft  important  article  ;  I  fuppofe  it  will  be  allowed, 
that  the  charge  of  contradiction,  as  to  what  is  molt 
material,  is  entirely  got  over.  But,  perhaps,  in  a 
matter  of  lefs  confequence,  it  may  (till  be  objected, 
that  Mr  Hervey,  in  the  Dialogues,  appears  plainly  to 
be  Calviniftic,  in  the  doctrine  of  PARTICULAR 
redemption  ;  but,  in  the  fermon,  he  fays  exprefsly, 
that  Chrifl's  death  is  a  full,  perfetf,  and  fufficicnt  f'a- 
cri flee  for  the  fins  of  the  WHOLE  world.— The 
church  of  England  lays  this,  as  well  as  Mr  Hervey,  in 
tltc  office  for  the  communion  ;  and  yet  no  unpreji'.di- 
ied  perfon  will  queltion,  but  (he  is  perfectly  Calvinif- 
tical  in  her  articles  and  homilies. 

The  truth  is,  there  is  no  Calvinift  but  will  allow, 
that  the  fatisfaction  of  Chrifl  is  full,  perfect,  and  fuf- 
frcient  for  ALL;  but  then  they  diflinguifh  between 
the  fufficiency  and  efficiency  of  his  facrifice.  With 
regard  to  the  value  of  the  oblation,  it  is  ibih'cien:  for 

the 


THK    MINISTRY          SER.  V. 

the  redemption  of  every  man;  with  regard  to  its  ef- 
ficacy, as  every  man  is  benefited  by  the  death  of 
Chrift,  To  Chrift  died  for  him  ;  but  thefe  benefits  arc 
not  of  one  kind. — Some  are  common  to  every  man  ;  all 
the  earthly  blellings  which  unbelievers  enjoy,  are  the 
fruits  of  Chrift's  death ;  fo  far  as  tiiey  are  benefited 
by  him,  fo  far  lie  died  for  them  ;  other  benefits  be- 
long to  the  members  of  the  viiible  church,  and  are 
commuii  to  all  thofe  who  live  under  the  gofpel  : 
many  graces  Inch  may  receive  from  Chrift,  which, 
through  their  own  f.u:k,  are  not  laving,  and  fo  far  as 
they  are  benefited  by  Chriit,  fo  far  Chrift  died  for 
them :  other  benefits  Hill,  according  to  the  will  of 
God,  and  the  intention  of  the  Mediator,  are  peculi- 
ar to  thofe  which  he  himfelf  fays  are  given  unto  him 
by  the  Father  ;  his  (hecp,  his  elect,  fuch  as  a  true 
faith,  regeneration,  lanctification,  adoption,  &c.  In 
this  fenie,  fays  thofe  Chriftians  called  Calvinifls, 
Chrift  died  for  his  people  only,  to  bring  them  effec- 
tually to  grace  and  to  glory. — This  fyftem  only  is 
confiftent  with  Mr  Hervey's  notion  of  free  grace. 

The  Arminian  fcheme  is,  That  Chrift  died  with  a 
purpoie  to  make  the  falvation  of  every  man  in  the 
world  poffible,  without  any  manner  of  difference, 
whether  they  are  believers  or  unbelievers  :  That  he 
died,  not  to  bring  any  man  actually  to  falvation,  and 
make  him  a  partaker  of  righteoufnefs  and  life,  but  to 
purchafe  a  pollibility  of  falvation  and  reconciliation, 
fo  far  as  that  God  might,  confiftent  with  his  juftice, 
receive  men  into  favour,  upon  condition  of  faith  and 
repentance.  This  faith  and  repentance,  fny  they, 
Chrift  merited  not  ;  for  if  he  had,  then  God  had 
been  bound  to  give  them  unto  every  man,  and  fo 
every  man  muft  have  been  faved.  Thus,  you  fee, 
according  to  thefe  gentlemen,  Chrift:  died  equally 
for  all  the  world  ;  and  the  reafon  why  fome  are  iaved, 
lies  wholly  in  thcmfelves,  in  attaining  to  that  faith 

and 


OF  RECONCILIATION.          121 

and  repentance,  by  the  good  ufe  of  their  natural  powers, 
which  Chrift  did  not  purchafe  for  them.  This  is 
the  meaning  of  every  Arminian  *,  let  him  exprcfs 
himfelf  however  he  will.  And  how  far  this  is  incbnfift- 

ent 


*  That  the  reader  may  ftill  more  clearly  apprehend  the  doc- 
trine of  Mr  Hervey,  who  was  a  Calvinitt, — and  the  difference 
between  him  and  the  Arminians,  the  following  note  is  Tub- 
joined. 

44  The  Arminians  are  fuppofed  by  fome,  (who  are  not  fuf- 
44  ficiently  acquainted  with  their  tenets,)  to  maintain  that  we 
44  are  to  dofomcthing  for  ourfelves,  and  Chrift  to  do  the  re(t; 
44  or,  in  other  words,  that  we  \\zve  partly  a  rightedulnefs  of 
44  our  own,  and  that  Jelus  Chrift  is  to  make  up  the  deficien- 
44  cies  of  that  righteoufnefs.  This,  however,  is  not  the  com- 
44  mon  divinity  of  the  Arminians.  They  have  no  fuch  notion 
44  of  a  patch-work  justification,  or  that  we  are  faved  partly  by 
44  the  imputation  of  Chrilt's  merits  to  make  up  the  deficiencies 
44  of  our  own.  But  the  principles  of  their  fcheme  are  briefly 
44  thefe  : — That  Chrift  is  thefole  and  only  author  of  our  lalva- 
44  tion,  not  by  imputing  his  righteoufnefs  to  us,  but  by  pur- 
44  chafing  luch  favourable  terms  of  reconciliation  for  us,  and 
44  by  reftoring  to  us  luch  abilities  to  fulfil  them,  by  means  of 
*  which  we  can  only  become  capable  of  being  juftified  in  the 
44  fight  of  God.  Therefore  we  lay,  that  thole  in  this  life, 
*4  who  have  uted  well  the  grace  that  is  given  them,  and  con- 
4*  formed  to  the  terms  of  the  gofpel,  God  doth  juftify  :  That 
44  is,  were  he  to  call  them  to  the  bar  of  judgment  and  try 
*4  them,  he  would  acquit  or  pronounce  them  not  guilty* — Be- 
44  caufe  Chrift,  by  his  meritorious  death  and  Sufferings,  having 
*4  purchafed  for  them  the  law  of  repentance,  as  the  law  by 
44  which  they  are  to  be  judged  and  tried;  and  they  having 
*4  through  grace  fulfilled  the  Inw,  ;*.  e.  become  true  penitents^ 
*4  God  therefore,  for  the  above  merits  of  Chrift,  admits  of' 
«4  their  qualifications,  forgives  them  their  offences,  and  rewards 
»4  them  as  if  they  had  never  offended.  Here  then  is  nofplit- 
14  ting  of  the  imputation,  no  copartnerfiip  with  Chrift:  but 
«4  Chritl's  righteoulnels  is  represented,  as  the  file  procuring 
44  caufe  of  our  falvation,  and  ours  as  only  the  applying  caufe, 
*4  by  performing  the  requifite  conditions:  i.  e.  They  both  tend; 
44  to  different  ends  ;  one  to  procure  the  terms  of  purification, 
44  and  the  other  to  perform  them. — So  thaf,  in  ihort,  accord- 
V.  N«  22.  &  "  ing 


122          THE    MINISTRY,   &c.     SE*.V, 

cnt  with  Mr  Hervey's  exhortation  to  the  iclf-righteous 
moraliil,  in  the  elole  of  this  lormon,  i  believe  1  need 
not  tell  you.  Indeed,  Mr  liervey  engages  not  here 
in  the  coutroveriy  at  all ;  but  (v,l>i"g  upon  what  both 
fides  are  agreed  in,  viz.  the  iufficiency  of  Chrift's 
facrificc  to  iave  all  that  will  believe  )  he  invites  all  his 
he.uers  to  Hy  unto  him  for  lalvation.  Now,  if  lie  ne- 
ver enters  into  the  merits  of  the  cauie,  how  can  he 
be  guilty  of  inconiiftency  ? 

Upon  the  whole,  then,  this  is  a  moft  excellent  fer- 
mon.  As  the  dialogues  in  Tht.ron  and  ^jpafu)  were,  ib 
is  this,  the  true  otfspring  *  of  him  who  now  refls 
from  Ms  labours,  and  his  works  do  follow  him  ;  the 
offspring  of  him  who  always  (ought  to  cx&lt  the  Sa- 
viour, to  humble  the  linner,  and  to  promote  holinefs. 

The 

*'  ing  to  this  fcheme  of  the  Arminians,  our  juftification  is  not 
**  made  up  partly  of  Chrift's  right eoufne Is,  and  partly  of  our 
**  own  ;  for  his  righteoufnefs  is  not  partly  imputed,  but  not 
"  at  all  imputed,  in  the  Calvinilh'cal  lenle  of  imputation.  In 
**  o,rder  to  make  this  difference  of  opinion  ftill  clearrr,  it  muft 
41  be  obferved,  that  the  Catvmilh  (being  accultomed  to  their 
"  ideaj  of  imputative  rightroufne's)  imagine,  that  when  the 
'*  Arminians  affirm  the  necelfity  of  inherent  righieoulnefs.  in 
14  order  to  jollification,  that  they  mean  a  borrowing  of  Chnit's 
**  imputative  righteoufnei's  to  make  up  the  defk'enc'.es  of  cur 
*4  own.  Whereas  the  Arminians,  indeed,  -fuppofe,  that  Chrilt 
*4  did  not,  in  any  degree,  fulfil  the  terms  ot  juftification  in  our 
^ftead;  but,  on  the  contrary,  having  purch  >fed  'hem  for  us, 
**  and  procured  us  fufficient  powers  and  abiiittes  of  performing 
**  the;n,  he  left  us  to  co  operate  with  thole  powers,  and  fo  to 
"  fulfil  them  ourfelves."  This  is  a  fair,  candu'i,  and  confift- 
cnt  ftate  of  the  Arminian  do&rine.  No  one  can  lay  it  is  roifre- 
prefented;  for  'ti<  here  given  in  the  very  words  of  an  eminent 
divine,  and  dignitary  of  the  church  of  England,  \vho  is  himlelf 
an  Arminian. — How  much  fuperior  the  Calviuilhc  (which  was 
Mr  Hervey's)  doftrine  is,  to  humble  the  tinner,  to  exult  the 
Savionr,  and  to  promote  holinefs.  let  every  reader  judge. 

*  The  iermon  itfelf,  in  Mi  Hervey's  own  writing,  is  nowr 
in  the  hands  o!  the  llev  Mr  Robert  K.iighr,  rlie  prefent  Hec- 
tor of  WellonTavell,  who  married  Mr  Her  vey'iyoungeftliiier. 


The  Knowledge  of  Salvarion  precious  in 
tne  Hoar  of  Death  ; 


PROVED     IN     A 


E 


R       M       O       N 


Preached,   January  4.  1759, 

Upon  the  DEATH  of 

The  Rev.  Mr  JAMES   H  E  R  V  E  Y. 
By   W.    R  O  M  A  I  N  E,    M.  A. 

Lefturer  of  Sf  Dunftan's  in  the  Weft,  London. 

Right  eoufnefs  delivereth  from  death.  PROV.  x.  2. 

Lu  KE  ii.  29,  30. 

LORD,  now  lettefl  thou  thy  ffrvant  depart  in  peace, 
a -carding  to  thy  -word:  fur  ?nine  eyes  have  feen  thy 
Jalvation . 


ACCORDING  to  the  ancient  prophecies,  in  the 
fulnefs  of  time,  God  fent  forth  his  Son.  He 
cime  to  his  own,  when  there  was  a  general  cxpefta- 
lion  of  his  birth.  Many  jtift  and  devout  peribns  in 
'Jernfalem  were  then  looking  out  for  the  Redeem- 
er's coming  in  the  flcfh  j  and  among  them  good  old 

2  Simeon i 


124  A      SERMON     ON 

Simeon,  and  4nna  a  prophetefs,  arc  particularly 
mentioned.  St  Luke  fays,  There  was  a  man  in  Je- 
rui'alem,  whofe  name  -was  Simeon,  and  the  jame  man 
luas  jtt/},  a  juftified  perfon,  and  devout,  tearing  to 
offend  God,  as  the  Gretk  word  fignifies,  'waiting  for 
the  conjolation  oj  Ilrael ;  he  was  waiting  for  the  incar- 
nation of  the  divine  Comforter,  by  whofe  birth  all  the 
prpmifes  of  comfort  were  to  be  ratified  and  fulfilled, 
and  the  Ifrael  of  God  was  to  receive  everlafting  conlo- 
Jation.  The  Lord  was  plealed  to  vouchiafe  a  particu- 
lar revelation  of  his  will  in  this  matter  to  Simeon  ; 
Far  the  Holy  Spirit  "was  upon  him,  and  it  was  revealed 
unto  him  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  he  jhould  nutjee  dcaffi 
before  he  hadfeen  the  Lord* s  Chrift  incarnate.  And  he 
came  by  direction  of  the  Spirit  into  the  temple  ;  and 
when  the  parents  brought  in  the  hply  child  :fejus,  to 
do  for  him  after  the  cuflom  of  the  law,  then  took  he 
him  up  in  his  arms,  and  bleffed  God  that  he  had  lived 
to  this  happy  hour,  when  he  could  take  up  the  pro- 
phet's words,  and  fay,  Lo  this  is  our  God,  we  have 
nijaited  for  him,  and  he  "will  lave  us  ;  this  is  the  Lord, 
we  have  "waited  for  him  ;  we  will  be  qlad  and  rejoice  it? 
his  falvation.  Simeon  waited  to  fee  God  incarnate  ; 
and  having  feen  him,  he  wanted  to  live  no  longer. 
He  defired  his  difmiffion.  All  the  ends  of  Hying  were 
anfvvered  ;  and  therefore  he  put  up  this  fweet  prayer  ; 

Lord,  now  lettcjl  thou  thy  fcrvant  depart  in  peace, 

according   to  thy  word  :  for  mine  eyes  have  Jeen  thy 
falvation. 

With  thefe  fame  words  one  of  our  dear  brethren, 
now  with  the  Lord,  finifhed  his  courfe.  They  were 
the  dying  words  of  the  Rev.  Mr  James  Hervey.  He 
had  long  defired  to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Chrift, 
which  he  knew  was  far  better  than  to  abide  in  the 
flefh  ;  but  he  waited  patient  lv  for  the  Lord's  time  ; 
and  when  it  was  come,  he  thus  cxprefTed  the  thauk- 
fulnefs  of  his  heart,  Lord,  now  Iclteft  thou  thv  fcrvant 
depart  in  peace ,  according  to  thy  moil  holy  and  ccm  fort- 
able 


MR    HERVEY's   DEATH.         125 

able  word :  for  mine  eyes  have  feen  thy  precious  falva- 
tion  *. — The  Lord  heard  him,  and  gave  him  a  gentle 
difmiifion.  He  died,  as  he  had  lived,  in  a  perfectly 
even  and  calm  compofure  of  mind.  Death  mewed 
that  he  came  to  him  as  a  friendly  melTenger  to  call 
him  to  glory,  for  he  chearfully  obeyed  the  fummons. 
There  was  no  fear,  no  druggie,  not  a  figh  or  groan, 
but  he  departed  in  peace,  and  in  full  afmrarice  of 
faith.  Olv  that  you  and  I,  my  brethren,  may  fo  live 
by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  that  when  we 
come  to  die,  we  may  be  able  to  ufe  this  fame  pray- 
er, and  may  receive  of  the  Lord  a  like  gracious  an- 
iwer. 

Thefe  fwect  dying  words  of  our  dear  brother  have 
made  a  great  imprelfion  upon  feveral  of  his  acquaint- 
ance :  for  they  have  been  led  to  confider  them  more 
clofely  than  perhaps  they  ever  did  before,  and  feveral 
have  meditated  upon  them  with  great  comfort.  In 
order  that  others  might  do  the  fame,  and  that  his  hap- 
py death  might  be  the  means  of  ftirring  up  many 
to  leek  to  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  that 
their  latter  end  might  be  like  his,  1  have  deter- 
mined to  fpeak  upon  the  words  this  day.  May  the 
fame  Spirit  by  which  Simeon  fpake  them  be  in  all 
your  hearts  !  may  he  teach  you  their  true  and  full 
meaning,  and  in  God's  due  time  may  he  give  you  the 
comfortable  experience  of  them  I  Under  his  guidance 
let  us  confider, 

Fir  ft,  That  when  Simeon  had  feen  the  falvation  of 
God,  he  was  prepared  to  depart  : 

Secondly,  He  therefore  detired  it,  and  prayed  for 
it  ;  and, 

Thirdly,  He  expected  he  mould  depart  in  peace  ac- 
cording to  God's  word,  which  was  fulfilled  to  him. 

And, 

*  Several  particulars  in  this  fermon  refpefling  Mr  Hervey, 
are  more  fully  related  in  the  account  of  his  life  prefixed  tp 
vo!,  I. 


125  A      SERMON     ON 

And,  under  each  of  thefe  particulars,  I  (hall  fpeak  of 
the  rxperience  of  our  deceafed  brother. 

Fir  ft)  Simeon  had  it  revealed  to  him  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  that  he  fiiould  not  die  until  he  had  iecn  the 
Lord's  Chrift  ;  and  when  Jeius  was  brought  into  the 
tempi?,  lie  was  directed  to  go  and  receive  him  for  the 
promilVd  Melh'ah  ;  and  taking  him  up  in  his  arms,  he 
blellcd  God,  and  laid,  Lord, now  Icttcft  thouthyfervant 
depart  in  peace,  according  to  thy  word  :  for  mine  eyes 
hovcfecn  thy  falvation.  It  is  evident  he  fpoke  thefe 
words  in  their  primary  fenfe,  of  his  feeing  Je/us  with 
the  eyes  of  hi»  body  ;  but  this  could  have  been  no 
great  caufe  of  joy  to  him,  unlefs  he  had  before  feea 
Chrift  fome  other  way  ;  for  multitudes  {aw  him  with 
their  bodily  eyes,  while  he  was  upon  earth,  who  were 
no  better  for  the  fight  ;  and  multitudes  will  hereafter 
fee  him  in  his  glorified  body,  but  it  will  be  to  their  e- 
verlafting  confuiion.  There  is  another  kind  of  fight  to 
which  our  church  referred  you  this  afternoon,  when 
each  of  you  took  up  thefe  words,  and  faid,  For  mine 
eyes  have  feen  thy  falvation.  If  you  knew  what  you 
faid,  and  fpoke  the  truth,  as  you  had  experienced  it, 
you  meant  that  you  had  feen  the  falvation  of  God 
with  the  eye  of  faith  ;  according  to  what  is  faid 
of  Mofes,  That  by  faith  he  Jaw  him  "who  /j  invifible, 
(Heb.  xi.  27.)  He  law  him  by  the  eyes  of  his  foul, 
who  was  inviiible  to  the  eyes  of  his  body  ;  for  the 
foul  has  its  eyes  as  well  as  the  body  :  but  fin  dark- 
ened them  ;  it  put  them  into  the  flate  in  which  the 
eyes  of  the  body  are  when  they  have  no  light :  then 
they  can  fee  nothing.  So  the  ibul  is  faid,  in  fcrip- 
ture,  to  be  in  darknefs  and  blindneis,  until  the  eyes 
of  the  undtrftanding  be  enlightened.  They  cannot 
fee  any  fpiritual  objects  until  the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs 
fliine  upon  them  ;  nor,  when  he  does  fliine,  can  they 
fee  any  lovelinefs  in  thoie  objects,  until  they  'be  able 
to  act  faith  upon  them  ;  for  the  eye  of  faith  not  only, 
beholds  the  object,  but  alfo  diilinguifhes  its  own  inter- 
eft 


Ml    HERVEY's   DEATH.         127 

eft  in  it.  Faith  keeps  all  the  fenfes  of  the  foul  in  act 
and  exercife  upon  the  proper  object,  which  each  ap- 
prehends ;  here  the  eye  of  faith  is  fixed  upon  falva- 
tion,  not  only  viewing  it  as  a  blefling  belonging  to  o- 
thers,  but  alib  appropriating  it  to  itfelf.  Mine  eyes  have 
Jeen  thy  fatvation:  here  Simeon,  fpeaking  of  our  Savi- 
our, calls  \\imjalvafionj  becaufe  all  falvation  is  in  and 
from  him.  He  is  the  author,  and  he  is  the  finifber 
of  it.  The  great  plan  of  it  was  laid  by  the  co-equal 
and  co-eternal  Perlonsof  the  ever-bleffed  Trinity,  be- 
fore the  foundation  of  the  world  ;  it  was  carried  into 
execution  by  our  divine  Saviour  in  the  fuluels  of  time; 
and  he  is  an  eternal  falvation,  an  eternal  deliverance 
from  all  evilf  and  an  eternal  poireilion  of  all  good. 
Upon  the  entrance  of  fin  into  the  world,  this  great 
ialvation  of  our  God  was  revealed,  and  by  faith  be- 
lievers under  the  Old  Teftament-difpenfation  enjoyed 
the  benefits  of  it.  At  the  appointed  time  Jehovah 
took  a  body  of  flefh,  and  our  divine.  Immanuel  flood 
up  to  fave  his  people  from  their  fins.  He  undertook 
to  fatisfy  all  the  demands  of  law  and  juftice.  The 
law  he  fatisfied,  by  paying  it  a  perfect  uniinning  obe- 
dience ;  which  being  a  divine,  as  well  as  a  human  o- 
bedience,  did  therefore  magnify  the  law,  and  make  it 
more  honourable,  than  if  all  the  creatures  in  heaven 
and  earth  had  never  offended  againft  it.  Juftice  he 
fatisficd,  by  enduring  the  threatened  puniQnnL-nt  ; 
and  after  his  fufterings  and  death,  juflice  had  no  more 
demands  upon  him  :  for  he  came  out  of  the  prifon  of 
the  grave  with  a  full  diicharge.  This  fatisfaction, 
made  to  law  and  juflice  by  the  obedience  and  fuifer- 
ings  of  the  Lord  ftlus,  is  what  the  fcripture  calls  the 
rii>hteuufnefi  of  God,  becaufe  it  isadivineand  infinitely- 
perfect  righteouihefs,  a  divine  righteoulhds  wi  ought 
out  by  Jehovah  himlelf,  and  as  infinitely  perfect  a  ' 
righteoufnefs  as  Jihovah  couid  make  it.  In  this  all- 
glorious  righteoufnefs  of  the  God  man,  Chrift  Jefus, 
tonfifts  the  finrier's  falvation  :  for  he  is  accepted  and 

justified 


ia8          A      S    E    R    M    O    N     ox 

juftified  by  it  ;  the  fruits  of  this  righteoufncfs  arc  his 
ian&ification,  and  the  robe  of  this  righteouinefs  is  his 
glorification.  So  that  falVation  in  time  and  in  eternity 
depends  upon  the  righteouinefs  of  the  incarnate  God. 
This  is  the  fundamental  doc/trine  of  the  Chri'fHan  reli- 
gion, for  which  our  dear  brother  was  a  noble  cham- 
pion. He  law,  he  experienced  the  importance  of  it, 
and  therefore  in  his  conversation  and  in  his  preaching 
it  was  a  favourite  topic.  How  fwectly,  how  profit- 
ably have  I  heard  him  dwell  upon  it  !  and  how  excel- 
lently has  he  defended  it  in  his  writings  ?  Read  his 
Thcron  and  sJjpafio  ;  arid  when  you  are  thoroughly 
convinced  that  Chrift  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righte- 
oufnefs  to  every  one  who  believeth,  and  can  fay  with 
faith,  "  In  the  Lord  have  I  righteouinefs  arid  falva- 
"  tion ;"  then  your  mind  will  be  fettled  in  peace  and 
comfort,  and  you  will  be  delivered  from  thole  danger- 
ous errors  which  are  now  propagated  concerning  the 
righteoufneis  of  the  Lord  jefus.  Thank  God  for  the 
mafterly  defence  of  it  in  thefe  dialogues  *.  In  them 

Mr 

*  About  a  week  before  Mr  Hervey  was  taken  511,  I  mention- 
ed to  him  a  report  that  was  ipread  about,  concerning  Mr  ban- 
deman's  Letters  on  Theron  and  j4fpafiQ,  to  this  efteft :  That 
he  (Mr  Hervey)  had  written  a  letter  to  Mrs  Cooke,  and  there- 
in had  faid,  that  Mr  Sandeman  was  in  the  right,  and  had  con- 
vinced him  of  his  error;  or  words  to  that  purpofe.  To  which 
he  anfwered,  That  he  had  written  a  letter  to  Mrs  Cooke,  and 
therein  he  had  acknowledged,  that  nuny  of  Mr  Sandeman's 
remarks  were  judicious,  and  that  he  had  corrected  fome  ot  his 
ex;;reirions  and  inaccuracies.  But,  he  (aid,  that  he  was  very  far 
from  having  changed  his  opinion  as  to  the  iubttance  and  matter 
of  the  argument;  for  therein  he  thought  Mr  Sandeinan  was 
entirely  wrong.  Whereupon  I  defired  he  would  infer c  an  ati- 
vertifement  in  fome  of  the  London  papers,  figned  by  himfelf, 
to  fet  this  rniftake  right,  le(l  it  might  hinder  the  (ale  and  read- 
ing of  his  books,  and  thereby  prevent  much  good.  To  which 
he  agree.1,;  and  added,  that  he  would  let  that  paragraph  Itand 
in  his  anjwer  to  Mr  Wefley^  relating  to  Mr  Sandeman,  only 

foftening 


MR    HEaVEY's    DEATH.        129 

Mr  Hervey,  being  dead,  yet  fpeaketh  the  praifcs  of 
his  adorable  Redeemer,  and  clearly  proves  that  we 
have  our  falvation  through  his  righteoufnefs.  Imma- 
nuel  the  Saviour  is  the  juiHtier,  as  he  lays  himfelf, 
If.  xlv.  21,  22.  "  There  is  no  God  elie  befide  me, 
"  a  God  that  gives  righteoufnefs,  and  a  Saviour,  there 
"  is  none  befide  me.  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  faved, 
"  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  for  I  am  God,  and  there 
41  is  none  elfe.>:  How  could  they  be  faved  by  look- 
ing unto  Chrift  ?,  Certainly,  not  by  a  look  of-  their 
bodily  eyes.  Simeon's  joy  did  not  arife  from  having 
Chriit  in  his  arms,  and  looking  upon  him  ;  but  from 
being  able  to  look  upon  him  -by  an  act  of  faith.  He 
knew  him  to  be  his  Saviour.  ,  Thence  arofe  his  joy, 
and  from  thence  mu(t  yours  arife.  It  is  the  look  of 
faith  which  laves  ;  the  eye  of  faith  kept  in  exercife 
upon  its  proper  object,  even  upon  Jefus,  the  author 
and  finifher  of  faith.  It  is  this  act  of  faith  which  our 
Lord  requires  : — Look  unto  me,  with  this  promife  annex- 
ed, and  be  ye  Javed,  There  is  falvation  in  the  look 
of  faith  :  for  it  fees  and  receives  Jefus,  a-?  he  is  offer- 
ed in  fcripture,  for  a  free,  full,  and  complete  Saviour. 
And  whoever  keeps  the  eye  of  faith  in  conftarit  exer- 
cife is  prepared,  with  good  old  Simeon,  to  depart  in 
peace  :  becaufc,  by  having  an  interefl  and  property 
in  the  falvation  of  our  God,  he  is  thereby  delivered 
from  every  thing  that  can  make  death  dreadful,  and 
is  in  poifellion  of  every  thing  that  can  make  death  de- 
firable. 

What  is  it  that  makes  death  dreadful  ?  Is  it  not 
guilt  in  the  confcience,  accufing  the  finner  for  the 
breach  of  the  holy  law,  and  alarming  him  with  fear 
of  the  threatened  punifhmcnt,  which  the  juftice,  and 

holim  is, 

fofte-ninp  the  exprefllon  a  little:  but  all  this  was  prevented  by 
Uh  illnets  and  death.     The  truth  of  thu  I  aio  ready  to  nttefh 

ABRAHAM    MAD  DOCK, 
Curate  of  Welton  Favell. 

VOL.  V.  N°  22,  K 


1 30          A      SERMON      ON 

» 

holinefs,  and  truth  of  God  are  concerned  to  fee  in- 
flicted, in  time  and  in  eternity  ?  Thus  we  read,  u  The 
tl  (ling  of  death  is  fin,  and  the  ftrength  of  fin  is  the 
14  Jaw."  Death  has  power  to  fling,  ib  long  as  the 
broken  law  gives  fin  a  right  to  accufe  and  condemn  : 
all  unpardoncd  finntrs  therefore  are  afraid  of  death. 
From  this  itate  of  fear  and  bondage  our  Lord  came  to 
lave  his  people  :  u  He  came  to  deliver  them,  who 
c'  through  Fear  of  death  were  all  their  life-time 
"  fubject  to  bondage  ;"  arid  he  docs  deliver  them, 
when  their  fins  are  forgiven,  and  'his  right t  oui- 
ncfs  is  imputed  to  them  :  for  then  the  broken  law 
cannot  condemn,  nor'juliice  punifh,  there  being  no 
condemnation  to  them  that  are  in  Chrifl  Jeliis.  Up- 
on which  death  lofes  its  iling  ;  and  when  the  pardon- 
ed (inner  looks  upon  it,  he  fees  nothing  terrible  in  its 
appearance,  but  can  boldly  and  without  prefumption 
fay,  "  Yea,  when  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the 
41  fhadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil  :  for  thou  my 
"  God  art  with  me." 

And  he  is  not  only  prepared  to  die  becaufe  he  is  de- 
livered from  every  thing  that  could  make  death  dread- 
ful, but  alfo  becaufe  he  is  in  the  poffeflion  of  every 
thing  that  can  make  death  defirable.  He  knows  he 
has  an  interefl  in  Chrifl:,  and  Chriit  is  the  poflefibr  of 
heaven  and  earth.  He  has  all  things  in  his  hands, 
and  has  promifed  to  make  them  all  work  together  for 
the  good  of  his  redeemed  people :  fo  that  whoever 
has  Chrifl:  has  all  things.  "  All  things, "fays  the  apoflle, 
"  are  yours,  whether  life  or  death,  or  things  prefent 
u  or  things  to  come,  all  are  yours."  And  the  rea- 
fon  follows,  tc  and  ye  are  Chi  ill's,  and  Chrifl  is 
"  God's."  As  all  that  Chrifl  has  is  yours,  and  nil  that 
God  has  is  Chrift's,  confequently  all  is  yours.  And 
death  by  name  is  yours  :  no  longer  a  cur  ft;  and  a 
punifhment,  but  turned  into  a  real  blcfling;  for  it  is 
the  gste  and  entrance,  through  which  you  pals  into 
cndlcfs  life  and  never-fading  glory. 

Thus 


M*    HERVEY's    DEATH.         131 

Thus  lie  is  prepared  to  depart,  who  has  fcen  with 
the  eye  of  tYuh  tnc  ialvation  of  God.  The  doctrine 
is  clear  from  iciipture  ;  but  how  is  it,  my  brethren, 
in  your  experience  ?  Are  you  prepared  to  depart  ?  and 
ou  wlut  v.io  yc  build  your  preparation  ?  on  the  Lord 
"Jeius,  or  on  what  ?  Seaich  and  lee  ;  for  nothing  can 
comfort  you  in  the  hour  of  death,  but  having  recei- 
ved him  into  your  hearts  by  faith  and  love.  You  nmit 
fee  his  ialvation,  and  be  able  to  keep  the  eye  of  faith 
intent  upon  it,y  before  you  can  be  prepared  to  depart: 
but  when  this  is  your  happy  caie,  then  iw  whatever 
fhape  death  comes,  yon  will  be  able  to  fay  with  our 
dear  brother,  Lvrd,  now  let I eft  thou  thy  J truant  depart 
in  peace,  according  to  thy  "word:  Jor  mine  eyes  havejeen 
thyjalvation.  He  might  well  fay,  Pt'Iinc  eyes  have  feen 
thy  Ialvation  :  for  all  that  came  near  him  were  con- 
vinced that  he  had  feen  it.  The  effects  ihewed  it. 
He  had  put  off  the  old  man,  and  had  put  on  the  new  j 
and  was  under  the  influence  of  divine  love  to  his  a- 
clorable  Saviour.  The  love  of  Jcfus  ruled  in  his  heart ; 
and  was  therefore  conllantly  uppermoft  in  his  mouth. 
He  loved  to  be  telling  of  his  Ialvation  all  the  day 
long.  And  he  did  not  talk  like  a  profeflor  full  of 
mere  head- knowledge ;  but  what  he  {pake  had  a 
warmth,  and  life,  and  power  in  it,  which  (hewed  that 
it  came  from  his  heart.  He  was  p'crfectiy  inflamed 
with  the  love  of  his  divine  Lord  and  Maftcr  ;  and  if 
you  fat  any  time  in  his  company,  you  could  not  help 
catching  iome  of  the  holy  flame.  So  that  if  itran- 
gers  to  his  perfon  may  doubt  of  his  experience  of  a 
Saviour's  love,  we  who  have  convcrfed  with  him  can- 
not. We  are  lure  from  what  we  faw  and  heard,  that 
he  had  feen  the  ialvation  of  God,  and  therefore  was 
prepared  to  depart.  He  knew  in  whom  he  had  be- 
lieved, and  was  certain  the  power  and  the  love  of  the 
dear  Immanncl  were  in  his  intercft  ;  fo  that  neither 
-death,  nor  he  that  had  the  power  of  death,  cou.  * 
hurt  him. 

a  2  A 


132  A      S   -E    R    M    O    N      ON 

A  friend  of  mine  was  much  with  him  on  the 
of  December,  and  the  difcourfe  turned  upon  what 
Clirift  had  done  for  his  foul.  Mr  Hervey  fpakc  fh-ong- 
ly  and  carndlly  of  the  aifurance  of  his  faith,  and  of 
the  great  love  of  God  in  Chriil  to  him.  He  declared, 
that  the  fear  of  death  was  taken  from  him  ;  and  it 
afterwards  appeared,  that  death  had  no  fling  to  hurt, 
nor  the  grave  any  power  to  get  victory  over  him  : 
for  when  death  came,  it  found  his  mind  in  perfect 
peace.  He  hud  no  nneafy  apprehenfions  of  dying, 
but  had  hopes  full  of  glory  and  immortality.  Doubt- 
leis  then  he  had  ieen  the  ialvation  of  God.  The 
knowledge  of  ialvation  had  been  precious  to  him  in 
life,  and  therefore  he  experienced  the  pj  ccioufneis  of 
it  in  death:  for  then  he  could  give  thanks  to  God  for 
giving  him  the  victory  through  Jefus  Chrift  his  Lord. 
Happy  arc  they  to  whom  God  has  given  the  know- 
ledge of  their  ialvation  ;  they  believe  on  good 
grounds,  that  their  Saviour  has  brought  them  into  a 
itate  of  ialvation  ;  and  therefore  they  are  prepared  to 
meet  death,  yea  they  can  delne  and  pray  for  it,  as 
Simeon  did  j  which  is  the  iecond  particular  I  was  to 
confider. 

Simeon  knowing  that  he  was  prepared,  therefore  de- 
fired  to  depart.  And  this  is  the  believer's  cafe.  He 
longs  for  death,  not  out  of  an  impatient  difcontented 
temper,  but  out  of  a  real  holy  affection.  When  worldly 
men  are  oppreffed  with  troubles  on  all  fides,  and  lee 
no  way  to  eicape,  they  are  apt  to  clelire  death,  that  it 
may  bring  their  mifery  to  an  end,  and  put  them  out  of 
their  pain.  And  there  are  fome  mofl  miferable  and  ab- 
ject cowards,  who  murder  themfelves  to  get  rid  of  the 
troubles  of  life.  Thefe  men  court  death  as  a  lefs  evil, 
but  the  believer  ddires  it  as  a  real  bleffing.  He  knows 
that  his  death  will  be  to  the  glory  of  his  Saviour  ;  for 
it  grieves  him  to  the  heart  that  he  fliould  ever  do  any 
Vhing  difpleafing  to  fuch  a  kind  Benefactor.  After  re- 
ceiving fo  many  tokens  of  Chi  ill's  love,  Oh- it  is  indeed 

a  Hi  i  it  ing 


MR    HERVEY's    DEATH.         133 

affiiding  to  give  him  the  leaft  offence.  I  appeal  to 
yourf elves.  You  that  have  the  love  of  Jefus  in  your 
i,  ;ts,  are  not  you  lorry  that  you  love  him  fo  little? 
Ila\e  not  vou  reaion  daily  to  mourn  for  your  ingrati- 

e  to  hi rn  ?  and  what  will  Inch  thoughts  fuggcft,  but 
a  dv.Miiv  to  be  where  the  very  occafion  of  offence  will 
be  removed  ?  It  was  on  this  account  that  Mr  Hervey 
clefired  death  :  for  the  iait  morning  of  his  life,  when 
his  brother  came  in  to  inquire  afterhis  welfare,  he  faid, 
I  have  been  thinking  of  my  great  ingratitude  to  my 
God.  And  thefe  thoughts  made  him  vvifh  to  be  de- 
livered from  the  bondage  of  corruption,  into  the  glo- 
rious liberty  of  the  children  of  God. 

And  he  defircd  it  as  Simeon  did,  and  all  believers 
do,  upon  another  motive,  namely,  becaufe  the  Lord 
will  get  hirnfelf  honour,  by  the  honour  which  he  will 
give  to  his  people  in  his  kingdom.  He  will  be  glorified^ 
fays  the  apofHe,  in  his  jaints ;  he  will  get  himielf  glory 
by  the  great  glory  which  he  will  bellow  upon  them. 
And  as  the  believer  has,  in  all  things,  an  eye  to  God's 
glory,  fo  has  he  cfpecially  in  his  defires  to  be  diffblved 
and  to  be  with  Chrirh  Hs  knows  that  God  is  glorified 
in  him,  and  by  him  at  prcfent  ;  but  then  it  is  imper- 
fedtly,  and  that  grieves  him.  Self,  or  the  creature, 
will  be  trying  to  (bare  the  heart  with  God,  and  thereby 
to  rob  him  of  his  glory.  A  bare  thought  of  this,  when 
only  rifmg  in  the  mind,  hurts  the  believer.  He  would 
have  every  thought  brought  into  fubjc&ion  to  Chrift ; 
and  that  makes  him  defire  to  be  where  temptation  and 
fin  (hall  be  no  more,  and  where  he  thall  glorify  God, 
and  God  (hall  be  glorified  in  him  for  ever  and  ever. 
With  this  view  Mr  Hervey  de-fired  to  depart.  His  great 
love  to  his  Siviour's  glory  made  him  wifh  for  death. 
He  longed  to  be  dilfolvcd,  th:it  he  might  be  freed  from 
the  frailties  and  infirmities  of  this  mortal  life,  under 
which  he  laboured,  and  could  not  always,  nor  in  a 
jttrfecl  degree,  promote  the  glory  of  his  redeeming 
God  j  therefore  he  dciircd  to  be  with  them  who  follow 

the 


134  A      S    E    R  M    O    N      ON 

the  Lamb  whitherfoever  lie  goeth,  and  are  ever  recei- 
ving glory  from  him,  and  ever  giving  glory  to  him. 
And  the  Lord  granted  his  defire  ;  he  literally  anivvercd 
his  prayer  ;  for  he  departed  in  peace,  according  to  the 
word  of  God,  as  I  purpofed  to  ihew  under  my  third 
head. 

What  it  is  to  be  at  peace  with  God,  and  to  depart 
with  a  fenfe  of  this  peace  upon  our  minds,  I  cannot 
better  exprefs,  than  in  the  excellent  words  of  the  pre- 
fent  Archbilhop  of  Canterbury,  in  his  Nine  jcrmons,  p. 
152.  u  "The  peace  of  God  is  that  fenfe  of  being  in 
<c  friendfhip  with  him,  that  feeling  of  comfort  and 
<l  joy  flowing  from  him,  ivhich  pa []eth  all  under jl and- 
"  /Ǥ-,  exceeds  the  conceptions  of  thole  who  have  not 
44  experienced  it,  and  will  exceed  hereafter  the  pre- 
44  lent  conceptions  of  thole  who  have/*  And  the  be- 
liever, even  when  he  is  departing  this  life,  has  a  fenfe 
of  his  being  in  friendihip  with  God,  and  has  a  feeling 
of  comfort  and  joy  flowing  from  him.  This  is  pro- 
mifed  in  fcripture,  and  this  is  fulfilled  to  them  who, 
being  justified  by  faith,  have  peace  with  God:  being 
reconciled  to  the  Father  through  the  Son  of  his  love, 
they  live,  and  they  die  in  peace  j 

I  fuppofe  fome  weak  in  the  faith  are  thinking  thus 
within  themfelves  :  "Well,  is  it  fo,thattrue believers 
44  die  in  peace  and  joy  ?  I  am  fure  I  could  not  at  pre- 
44  lent  ;  for  I  am  dreadfully  afraid  of  death  ;  and 
4i  what  would  not  I  give  to  be  delivered  from  thefe 
44  fears  ;  for  they  make  my  life  miferable."  My  bre- 
thren, why  are  you  in  bondage  to  them  ?  God  offers 
you  deliverance.  There  are  many  general  promifes  in 
his  word,  that  let  what  will  happen  to  believers,  the 
peace  of  God  fiiall  rule  in  their  hearts.  Thus,  //. 
xxvi.  3.  u  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whole 
44  mind  is  (laid  upon  thce."  \nd  as  it  is  a  perfect,  fo  it 
is  a  continual  peace.  u  The  Lord  of  peace  himielf," 
fays  the  apoflle,  2  Theff'.  iii.  16.  "  give  you  peacs  al- 
44  ways  by  all  means :"  for  after  he  has  once  given  this 


MR    HERVEY's    DEATH.         135 

peace,  he  makes  all  means,  even  the  moft  unlikely, 
tend  to  the  promoting  of  it  ;  therefore  death  can  by 
no  means  weaken,  and  much  leis  defh  oy,  this  peace 
of  God.  Thefe  general  promifes  he  fulfilled  to  the 
patriarchs  : — for  St  Paiil  fays,  Heb.  xi.  13,  "  That 
*'  they  all  died  in  faith  :" — they  aded  faith  in  their 
death,  and  confequently  had  a  fweet  fenfe  of  the  peace 
of  God  in  their  hearts  when  they  died,  David  (hews 
us  the  reaibn  of  their  dying  in  faith,  PfnL  xlviii.  14. 
44  This  God  is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever,  he  {hall 
<c  be  our  guide  even  unto  death."  They  knew  that 
their  God  would  be  with  them  to  guide  and  keep 
them,  when  the  body  returned  to  duft,  and  the  fpirit 
returned  to  God  who  gave  it :  and  therefore  David 
fpoke  for  himielf  what  each  of  them  allb  could  fay, — 
"  When  I  walk  through  the  value  of  the  fhadow  of 
"  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  becaufe  thou  my  God  art 
"  then  with  me  :  thy  rod  and  thy  flaff  comfort  me 
"  even  then,*'  PfaL  xxiii.  3.  With  this  faith  they 
looked  upon  death  as  di  farmed  of  its  fling  and 
power  to  hurt  ;  and  therefore  they  laid  down  their 
heads,  and  fell  afleep  in  the  arms  of  death,  with  as 
much  compofure  as  any  weary  traveller  ever  longed 
for  reft.  They  fell  dflcep.  The  icripturefpeaks  of  their 
death  under  this  beautiful  image,  Jo- teach  us  that  death 
was  as  fweet  to  them  as  ever  deep  was  to  a  hard-la- 
bouring man.  The  faithful  fell  afleep  quietly  and 
Composedly.  And  how  fliould  it  be  othcrwife  ?  they 
had  no  evil  to  fear  ;  for  they  were  at  peace  with  God. 
And  what  could  death  do  to  hurt  that  peace  ?  It  does 
indeed  difl'olve  all  other  bonds,  but  it  flrengthens  this. 
It  is  the  happy  inftrument  of  fattening  the  bond  of  peace 
wi'h  a  tie  which  never  never  can  be  diiTolved,  And 
when  the  faithful  look  upon  death  in  this  light,  what 
is  there  in  it  but  joy  and  peace,  even  a  jov  unfpeak-- 
ai>le,  and  a  peace  that  lurpafTeth  ajl  undei  {landing  ? 

Perhaps  fome  of  you  think  this  is  not  always  the 
cafe  j  becaufe  there  are  very  good  men  Who  have  had 

ftrong 


136  A     S    E    R    M    O    N      ON 

firong  conflicts  rmd  liruggles  before  death.  Nay,  my 
brethren,  think  not  io  wickedly  of  God.  is  it  ac- 
cording to  Ills  word  that  the  faithful  (hall  depart  in 
peace,  and  do  they  not  ?  What  !  can  the  word  of 
God  be  broken  ?  No  ;  it  mail  (rand  faft  for  ever  and 
ever.  And  in  the  cnlc  which  you  ftatc,  it  does  not 
follow  that  this  peace  is  weakened  or  destroyed,  be- 
caufe  it  is  tempted  ;  by  no  means.  Theienle  of  this 
peace  may  remain  when  it  is  mod  furiouily  attacked ; 
for  it  is  the  peace  of  God.  God  gave  it,  and  God 
keeps  it  ;  and  he  may  (utter  the  devil  to  tempt,  but 
not  to  deftroy  it.  The  more  it  is  tempted,  the  more 
honour  redounds  to  God  for  prcfcrving  it  in  the  fiery 
trial.  It  was  more  to  God's  glory  to  preferve  his 
children  in  the  fiery  furnace,  than  to  have  kept  them 
out  of  it.  Doubtlefs  he  that  has  the  power  of  death, 
will  make  his  lait  efforts,  and  try  to  lhake  the  faith 
of  a  dying  believer.  The  devil  will  then  fet  upon 
him  with  all  his  fury.  But  though  he  be  a  roaring 
lion,  yet  he  is  chained  ;  and  the  almighty  Saviour  ib 
over-rules  his  malice  and  rage,  that  he  makes  them, 
work  together  for  his  glory  and  his  people's  good  ;  as 
he  did  remarkably  in  the  laft  efforts  which  the  enemy 
made  againft  our  dear  brother.  He  favv  him  in 
great  weaknefs  of  body,  and  then  made  a  furious  on- 
let  againft  his  faith  ;  but  the  dear  Immanuel  was  with 
him,  and  would  not  give  him  over  into  the  enemy's 
hands.  His  faith  was  tried,  and  it  came  like  gold  out 
of  the  fire.  He  knew  that  it  would  be  tried,  and  had 
therefore  prepared  himfelf  for  the  fiery  trial.  Speak- 
ing of  it  to  a  faithful  minifter  of  Chrift,  who  was  often 
with  him  in  his  laft  ikknefs,  he  faid, — "  How  many. 
tc  precious  texts  are  there,  big  with  the  rich  truths 
"  of  Chrift,  which  we  do  not  comprehend,  which  we 
u  know  nothing  of;  and  of  thole  which  we  do  know, 
"  how  few  do  we  remember  \  Bonus  textuarius  eft 
41  bonus  theolugus,  ai.d  that  is  the  armour.  The  word 
"  of  God  is  the  fword  ;  thefe  texts  are  the  weapons, 

u  which 


&!R    HEliVEY's     DEATH.       137 

u  which  I  muft  ufe  when  that  fubtle  fpirit,  that  arch 
*'  adverfary  of  mankind,  comes  to  tempt  and  lift  me 
"  in  my  laft  conflict.  Surely  I  had  need  be  well  pro- 
44  vided  with  thefe  weapons,  I  had  need  have  my 
"  quiver  full  of  them,  to  anfwer  Satan  with  texts  one 
44  of  the  word  of  God  when  he  aiFaults  me."  Satan 
did  afTault  him,  but  found  him  prepared  and  armed. 
Mr  Hcrvey  laid  to  his  friends  the  day  that  he  died, 
44  Oh  you  know  not  how  great  a  conflict  I  have," 
And  a/ter  he  had  fat  for  fome  time  with  his  eyes  con- 
flantly  lift  up  towards  heaven,  and  his  hands  clafped 
together  in  a  praying  form,  he  faid,  44  Now  this  great 
44  conflict  is  over."  Jefus  made  him  conqueror  over 
ail  the  powers  of  darknefs  ;  having  endeavoured  to 
rob  him  of  his  peace  ;  but  in  vain,  they  left  him  in 
the  Saviour's  arms,  never  more  to  be  tempted  ;  and 
he  watched  over  him  with  the  tendereit  love,  until  he 
took  him  home.  And  when  he  went,  he  indeed  de- 
parted in  peace.  His  body  feemed  to  be  ready  as  well 
as  his  foul.  When  death  came,  he  had  not  one  Itrug- 
gle  with  it.  There  was  not  a  fingle  groan  or  figh,  or 
any  thing  that  could  fhew  the  leaft  unwillingnefs  to 
depart.  He  had  fuch  a  gentle  difmiflion  as  he  had 
prayed  for  in  Simeon's  words.  He  departed  in  peace, 
and  fell  afleep. 

I  have  now  finimed  what  I  had  to  offer  upon  the 
three  particulars  mentioned  in  my  text  ;  and  it  ap- 
pears, that  when  a  (inner  is  convinced  of  his  want  of 
a  Saviour,  and  is  convinced  that  Jefus  is  fuch  a  Savi- 
our as  he  wants,  able  and  willing  to  fave  to  the  utter- 
mod,  and  when  he  is  made  to  fee  his  interelt  in  the 
perfect  complete  righteoufnefs  of  this  adorable  Savi- 
our, and  is  afTured  of  it  from  the  word  and  Spirit  of 
God,  and  from  the  fruits  of  righteoufnefs  produced 
in  his  life  and  converfation,  then  he  is  prepared  to 
die  ;  then  he  may  delire  it  with  fubmillion  to  God's 
Will ;  and  whenever  death  comes,  he  may  expert  to 
depart  in  peace,  according  to  the  word  of  God.  Thefe 
VOL.  V.  N»  22.  S  great 


A      S    E    a    M    O    N       OH 

great  truths  I  have  illuftrated  from  fcripture  and  from, 
experience,  more  efpccially  from  the  experience  of 
our  clear  brother,  now  with  the  Lord,  of  whom  I  have 
fjioken  nothing  more  than  what  the  words  of  my  text 
naturally,  led  me  to  fay.  If  I  were  to  attempt  to  draw 
the  character  of  this  excellent  man,  I  would  confuler 
him  in  the  feveral  relations  in  which  he  Mood  to  GodJ 
and  man,  and  would  exhort  you  to  follow  him,  fo 
fir  as  he  followed  Chrift.  But  the  compafs  of  this 
difcourfe  will  not  fuller  me  to  enlarge.  1  can  only 
oblerve  ibme  particular  instances,  from  whence  it 
will  evidently  appear  that  he  had  feen  the  falvation  of 
Cod.  He  had  a  clear  view  of  it  by  the  eye  of  faith, 
and  was  able  to  act  faith  upon  it,  for  his  vvas  a  faith 
\vorkingby  love.  "  We  love  God/'  fays  the  beloved 
apollle,  u  becaule  he  firft  loved  us  /'becaufe  we  know 
by  faith  that  he  firft  lovtd  us  :  fo  that  our  love  is  the 
reflr-x  acl:  of  his  love  to  us.  And  Mr  Hervey  had  great 
experience  of  God's  love  to  him,  and  therefore  hi» 
heart  was  full  of  love  to- God  ;  and  out  of  the  abund- 
irice  of  his  heart  his  mouth  fpake.  There  was  fuch  a 
iweetnels  of  heart  love  upon  his  tongue,  that  he  ufed 
to  fpeak  of  the  love  of  the  adorable  Redeemer,  like 
one  wl:o  had  feen  him  face  to  face  in  the  fulnefs  of 
his  glory.  He  \vould,  with  all  the  power1  of  language 
and  dignity  of  fentiment,  fpeak  for  along  time  together 
in  praife  of  the  evcr-bleffed  Saviour.  But  you  might 
plainly  fee,  though  every  body  elfe  was  plcaled,  yet  he 
•was  not  fatisfied  with  what  he  had  faid.  He  thought 
he  had  not  laid  enough,  and  what  he  had  faid  fell  far 
below  his  Lord's  merit.  But  ilill  he  would'try  again, 
and,  indeed  was  never  weary.  You  could  not  hear  him 
fpc^k  for  any  time  upon  this  his  favourite  fubject,  with- 
out being  convinced  that  he  felt  what  he  laid  ;  and  if 
you  had  any  love  of  God,  when  you  went  into  his 
company,  his  converfation  would  inflame  it.  He  had 
an  excellency,  which  I  never  f»v  to  fo  great  a  degree 
in  any  other  peribn.  lie  never  let  an  opportunity  flip 

of 


HERVEY's    DEATH.         139 

of  fpcaking  of  the  love  of  Ghrift.  He  would  take  oc- 
cafion  from  the  inoft  common  incident,  and  yet  it 
would  not  appear  forced;  for  he  had  a  wonderful  ta- 
lent at  fpiritualizing  and  improving  whatever  happen- 
ed about  him  ;  by  which  means  he  hindered  the  con- 
veriatiou  from  turning  upon  trifling  matter's,  and,  at 
the  iame  time,  kept  k  up  with  ipirit  and  ulefulncls. 
Having  let  the  Lord  always  oefore  him,  he  law  tlia 
love  of  God  in  every  thing,  and  therefore  it  is  not  to 
be  wondered  that  all  objects  and  events  Ihouldgivt  him 
..occafion  to  {peak  of  it.  In  his  lalt  fickncls  it  conti- 
nued (till  to  be  his  favourite  theme ;  for  whenever  my 
friend,  who  was  much  with  him,  came  into  the  room, 
he  would  begin  to  talk  of  the  love  of  Clirilt,  and  of 
the  great  things  which  Chriii  had  done  for  him,  until 
his  breath  failed  him  ;  and  as  ibon  as  he  had  recover- 
ed himfelf  a  little,  he  would  proceed  upon  the  fame 
iweet  iubjeft  ;  fo  that  he  might  have  truly  applied  to 
himfelf  the  words  of  the  prophet, — u  My  mouth  ihall 
*'  be  telling  of  thy  .righteoulheis  and  of  thy -lalvation 
"  all  the  day  long;  for  1  know  no  end  there  rf." 

This  heart-love  to  God  appeared  evide  iy  in  every 
part  of  his  character.  As  a  miniller,  his  faith  wrought 
by  love  to  the  fouls  of  men  in  all  the  offices  of  his 
function.  While  his  health.permitted  iiim,  ue  watch- 
ed like  a  faithful  (heplierd  over  his  flock.  He  ufed 
to  viiit  them  from  houfe  to  haufe,  and  to  Ipeak  freely 
to  them  of  the  ftate  of  their  fouls  ^  and  when  the 
weaknefs  of  his  body  obliged  him  to  drop  theie  reli- 
gious vifits,  he  would  often  grieve,  that  he  could  not 
be  more  ufeful,  and  would  {peak  with  great  concern 
and  uneafmeis  of  his  not  being  able  to  preach  oftener, 
and  to  do  more  for  Chr-irt.  In  the  pulpit  he  was  fer- 
vent and  earned  with  his  people,  and  would  often  ex- 
ert himfelf  beyond  his  ftrength  :  for  he  preached  the 
.great  doctrines  of  falvation,  as  one  who  had  experi- 
enced the  power  of  them.  It  was  manifefl  to  all  who 
heard  him,  that  he  felt  what  he  fpakc.  And  when  we 

S  $  fpeafc 


140  A     SERMON     OK 

ipeak  what  we  know,  and  teftify  what  we  have  feen, 
then  God  blclles  this  experimental  preaching.  He 
puts  a  divine  power  and  energy  into  it,  and  renders 
it  effectual  to  awaken  Tinners,  to  comfort  them  that 
mourn  for  fin,  and  to  edify  and  build  up  the  faithful. 
Mr  Hervey  had  many  happy  proofs  of  the  ufefulnefs 
of  his  preaching  for  each  of  theie  purpofes  ;  and  there- 
fore he  did  not  think  it  enough  to  preach  once  a- week 
on  the  Lord's-day,  but  he  fet  up  a  weekly  lecture  at 
W  tfton-Favell,  which  was  very  well  attended,  and 
%vas  bklfed  to  many  of  his  neighbours,  who  will  be 
his  glory  and  crown  of  rejoicing  in  the  preicnce  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chriir,  at  his  coming. 

He  did  not  forget  that  he  was  a  miniftcr  in  his  own 
houie  ;  for  he  called  his  family  together  twice  a- day 
to  ferve  God.  It  was  his  cuftom  in  the  evening,  after 
the  iervants  had  read  the  Pfalms  and  the  fecond  lef- 
fon,  to  explain  fome  part  of  what  had  been  read.  In 
this  cxercile  he  would  fometimes  dwell  for  half  an 
hour  ;  and  when  he  met  with  a  fweet  pafTage  upon 
the  love  of  Chrift,  I  have  heard  him  fpcak  for  three 
quarters  of  an  hour,  and  then  he  concluded  with 
prayer. 

In  the  morning,  when  the  family  were  met  toge- 
ther, he  ufed  to  afk  the  fervants. — "  Well !  where  was 
*'  our  text  laft  night  ?"  And  after  they  hnd  repeated  it, 
he  made  them  give  an  account  of  what  had  been  laid 
upon  it ;  and  then  he  would  repeat  and  enforce  his  laft 
right's  diicourfe,  concluding  with  prayer. 

In  the  afternoon,  when  he  was  called  down  to  tea, 
he  uied  to  bring  his  Hebrew  Bible  or  Greek  Teftament 
with  him,  and  would  either  fpeak  upon  one  verfe  or 
upon  feveral  verfes,  as  occafion  offered.  This  was 
generally  an  improving  feafon.  The  glory  of  God  is 
very  feldom  promoted  at  the  tea-table  ;  but  it  was  at 
Mr  Hervey 's.  Drinking  tea  with  him  was  like  being 
at  an  ordinance  ;  for  it  was  fanclificd  by  the  word  of 
God  and  prayer, 

As 


MR    HERVEY's    DEATH.        141 

As  a  member  of  fociety,  his  faith  wrought  abun- 
dantly by  love  to  his  neighbour  :  for  he  was  full  of 
good  works.  His  charities  to  the  poor  were  very 
large  ;  and  that  he  might  be  liberal  to  them,  he  was 
very  frugal  in  his  own  exper.ces.  He  chofe  rather  to 
clothe  the  poor,  than  to  give  them  money.  He  ufed 
to  get  fome  judicious  perfon  to  buy  linen,  coarfe  cloth, 
itockings,  Uioes,  drc.  for  them  at  the  beft  hand,  al- 
ledging  that  the  poor  could  not  buy  fo  good  a  commo- 
dity at  the  little  (hops,  and  with  driblets  of  money. 
"  1  am  God's  Reward,"  lays  he,  "  for  his  poor,  and 
"  1  muft  hulband  the  little  pittance  i  have  to  beftow 
"  upon  them,  and  make  it  go  as  far  as  poffible."  But 
where  money  would  be  particularly  ferviceable  to  a 
family  long  aJilicled  with  ilckneis,  or  to  a  prudent 
houfekeepcr  who  had  met  with  great  lofles  in  trade, 
he  would  give  five,  ten,  or  fifteen  guineas  at  a  time, 
taking  care  it  ftiould  not  be  known  from  whence  the 
money  came. 

He  gave  away  a  great  number  of  good  books,  with 
fuitable  inftructions  for  their  ufe,  and  efpecially  Bibles. 
In  the  blank  leaf  he  frequently  wrote  fomething  ftri- 
king,  or  elfe  ftuck  in  a  printed  paper,  relating  to  the 
promifes  of  God  in  and  through  Jefus  Chrift. 

Mr  Hervey's  income  was  but  iinall,  and  it  may  be 
wondered  how  he  managed  it  ib  well  as  to  have  fucli 
i'ums  to  fpare  for  charitable  ufes  ;  but  what  money 
was  left,  after  the  family-expences  were  paid,  and  all 
the  profits  arifing  from  the  fale  of  his  books,  which 
was  a  very  confiderable  ium,  he  gave  away  in  charity. 
He  made  of  it  a  bank  for  the  poor.  "  And  this," 
lays  he,  "  I  have  devoted  to  God.  I  will  on  no  ac- 

'  count  apply  it  to  any  worldly  ufes.     I  write  not  for 

'  profit  or  for  fame,   but  to  ferve  the  caufe  of  God  ; 

c  and  as  he  has  blefled  my  attempt,  I  think  myfelf 
^  bound  to  relieve  the  diftrefles  of  my  fcllow-crta- 

;t  tures  with  the  profit  that  comes  from  this  quarter." 
And  he  is  flill  relieving  them.     He  was  not  willing 

that 


A     S    E    R    M    O    N     ON 

that  hre  charities  fhould  die  with  him  ;  for  he  ordered 
all  the  proiit  arifing  from  the  future  Tale  of  his  books 
to  be  conftantly  applied  to  charitable  uies.  Thus, 
liaving  believed  in  God,  he  was  careful  to  maintain 
good  works,  knowing  that  thefe  things  are  good  and 
profitable  unto  men. 

In  his  private  life  he  was  under  the  influence  of  the 
fame  faith,  working  by  love  to  the  will  and  command- 
ments of  God.  His  holy  walking  was  very  exemplary. 
What  he  laid,  in  words,  concerning  his  intereft  in  the 
Redeemer's  righteoufnefs,  he  proved  by  his  actions  ; 
for  he  was  very  fenfible  of  the  importance  of  this 
fcripturc,  "  He  that,  faith  he,  a'bideth  in  him,  ought 
tl  himleJf  alfo  to  walk,  even  as  he  walked."  (i  John 
ii.  6.)  Mr  Hervcy  walked  yery  clofc  after  Chrift^ 
and  found  that  the  belief  of  Chrift's  righteoufnefs  be- 
ing imputed  to  him  for  his  juftification,  was  fo  far 
-from  being  a  licentious  doctrine,  that  it  infpired  him 
with  the  noblefl  motives  to  a  grateful  obedience.  His 
lioly  life  was  an  excellent  recommendation  of  his 
principles  :  for  1  never  faw  one  who  came  up  fo  near 
to  the  fcripture- character  of  a  Chriflian.  God  had  en- 
riched him  with  great  gifts,  and  with  great  graces, 
and  had  made  him  humble  :  for  he  was  humbled  by 
the  power  of  grace.  He  had  been  a  very  vain  proud 
young  man  ;  but  the  grace  of  God  emptied  him  of 
pride  and  felf,  and  clothed  him  with  humility.  Ha- 
ving put  on  Chrift,  he  had  put  on  with  him  the  orna- 
ment of  a  meek  and  quiet  fpirit ;  which  appeared  in 
his  great  patience  and  reiignation  to  the  will  of  God. 
He  had  fame  very  (harp  trials  of  his  faith  and  .patience, 
both  from  God  and  from  men,  and  he  learned  obedi- 
ence by  the  things  which  he  fuffered.  It  was  very 
remarkable,  that  in  his  long  illnefs  he  was  never 
known  to  fret  or  be  uneafy  ;  nor  did  the  perfons  a- 
bout  him  ever  hear  one  angry,  or  one  hafty  word  come 
out  of  his  mouth. 

The  fame  principle  of  faith  working  by  love  was 

manifeft 


MR    HERVEY's    DEATH. 

manifeft  in  his  ftudies,  which  he  diretfed  to  the  glory 
of  God.  He  was  once  a  great  reader  of  the  Greek 
and  Roman  authors,  and  his  writings  mew  that  he 
had  a  good  tafle  for  claffical  learning  ;  but  for  fome 
years  paft  he  chiefly  applied  himfelf  to  the  ftudy  of 
the  facred  fcriptures.  God  had  blefled  him  with  a  fine 
underftanding,  and  a  great  memory,  which  he  cxer- 
cifed  in  reading  the  Bible  in  the  original  languages. 
He  was  very  well  fkilled  in  the  Hebrew,  and  was  an 
excellent  critic  in  the  Greek,  and  was  a  fcribe  inflrucl- 
ed  unto  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  who,  like  unto  a 
man  that  is  an  houfeholder,  bringeth  forth  out  of  his 
treafurc  things  new  and  old.  He  had  a  great  venera- 
tion for  this  treafure  of  the  Old  and  New  Teftaments. 
He  ufed  to  talk  of  them  in  the  highcft  terms,  next  to- 
that  adorable  perfon  of  whom  they  treat.  They  were 
fwccter  to  him  than  honey  and  the  honey-comb;  and 
fo  they  will  be  to  every  one  who  reads  them,  as  he 
did,  with  faith.  Whoever  can  aft  faith  upon  the  ex- 
ceeding great  and  precious  promifes  contained  in  the 
facred  volume,  wil-1  find  fo  much  fweetnefs  in  it,  that 
he  will  have  but  little  relim  left  for  other  books. 

As  tahis  writings,  I  leave  them  to  fpeak  for  them- 
felves.  They  ftand  in  no  need  of  my  praifes.  They 
are  in  the  hands  of  the  public,  and  every  reader  will 
form  his  own  judgment.  Oh  that  the  Spirit  of  the 
living  God  may  dircft  it,  that  whoever  reads  his  wri- 
tings may  learn  to  have  no  confidence  in  the  flefli,  but 
to  make  mention  of  Jehovah's  righteouineis,  even  of 
his  only. 

The  time  would  fail  me,  if  I  was  to  enlarge  upon 
all  the  particulars  of  his  life  and  death.  That  was 
not  my  defign.  1  only  intended  briefly  to  relate  fome 
things,  from  whence  a  tolerable  judgment  might  be 
formed  of  Mr  Hervey's  charafter.  But  I  cannot  finifli 
without  taking  notice  of  the  laft  fcene  of  his  life, 
which  was  very  triumphant  and  glorious.  The  hit 
a«d  great  trial  of  his  faith  was  more  precious  than 

thai: 


144  A      SERMON      ON 

that  of  gold  which  periflieth.  Its  precioufncfs  never1 
appeared  more  tlian  in  the  hour  of  death  ;  for  then  he 
evidently  law  by  faith,  and  apprehended  the  falvation 
of  God,  and  could  rejoice  in  a  clear  view  of  his  own 
intcreit  in  it.  •  When  Dr  Stonehoufc  law  him  for  the 
laft  time,  namely,  on  Chriilmas-day,  about  two  hours 
before  he  expired,  Mr  Hervey  prtiled  home  upon  him. 
his  everlafling  concerns,  in  the  molt  affectionate  man- 
ner ;  telling  him  that  here  is  no  abiding  place,  and 
b;  .  ing  of  him  to  attend,  amidft  the  multiplicity  of 
his  Lmnneis,  to  the  one  thing  needful. 

The  doctor,  feeing  the  great  difficulty  and  pain  with 
which  he  fpoke,  (for  he  was  almoit  fuffocatcd  with 
phlegm  and  frequent  vomitings,)  and  finding,  by  his 
pulie,  that  the  pangs  of  death  were  then  coming  on, 
deiired  that  he  would  {pare  himfelf.  "  No,"  fays  he, 
"  Doctor,  no.  You  tell  me  I  have  but  few  moments 
4C  to  live  ;  Oh  let  me  fpend  them  in  adoring  our  great 
44  Redeemer.  Though  ray  fiefh  and  my  heart  fail  me, 
u  yet  God  is  the  ftrength  of  my  heart,  and  my  por- 
4t  tion  for  ever."  He  then  expatiated  in  the  mod 
linking  manner  upon  thcfe  words  of  St  Paul,  i  Cor. 
iii.  22,  23.  "  All  things  are  yoars,  life  and  death  :  for 
"  ye  are  Chrift's."  u  Here,"  lays  he,  u  is  the  trca- 
•4  i'ure  of  a  Chriftian.  Death  is  reckoned  amongft  this 
vt  inventory  ; — and  a  noble  treafurc  it  is.  How  thank- 
t£  ful  am  I  for  death,  as  it  is  the  paljage  through  which 
ct  1  pals  to  the  Lord  and  Giver  of  eternal  life,  and  as 
"  it  frees  me  f»oni  all  this  mifery  you  now  ice  me  en- 
u  durc,  and  which  I  am  willing  to  endure,  as  long 
tc  as  God  thinks  fit  1  for  I  know  he  will,  by  and  by, 
"  in  his  own  good  time,  diftnifs  me  from  the  body. 
14  Thefe  light  niHictions  are  but  for  a  moment,  and 
u  then  conies  an  eternal  weight  of  glory.  Oh  vvel- 
4t  come,  welcome  death  ! — Thou  may  ft  well  be  reck- 
tl  oned  among  the  treaiures  of  the  Chriilian.— To  live 
41  h  Chriit,  but  to  die  is  gain." 

After  which,  as  the  doctor  was  taking  his  final  leave 

of 


MR     HERVEY's     DEATH.      145 

of  him,  Mr  Hervey  cxprcfTed  great  gratitude  for  his 
vifits,  though  it  had  been  long  out  of  the  power  of 
medicine  to  cure  him. — He  then  paufed  a  little,  and, 
with  great  ferenity  and  fweetnefs  in  his  countenance, 
though  the  pangs  of  death  were  then  on  him,  re- 
peated thefe  triumphant  words — 

"  Lord,  now  letteft  thou  thy  fervant  depart  in 
"  peace,  according  to  thy  moft  holy  and  comfortable 
*'  word  :  for  mine  eyes  have  ieen  thy  precious  falva- 
*'  tion.  Here,  Doctor,  is  my  cordial  What  arc  all 
*'  cordials  to  the  dying,  compared  to  the  ialvation  of 
"  Chrilt  ?  This,  this  fupports  me." — He  found  this 
fupporting  him  in  his  laft  moments,  and  declared  it, 
by  laying,  twice  or  thrice,  Precious  Jalvation  !  and 
then  leaning  his  head  againrt  the  fide  of  the  ealy  chair 
in  which  he  fat,  he  (hut  his  eyes,  and  fell  afleep.  Oh 
precious  Ialvation  !  how  precious  muft  it  be  to  the 
dying  man,  who,  interefted  in  it,  can  thank  God  for 
d-  ath,  and  reckon  it  among  his  riches  ;  who,  fupport- 
ed  by  faith  in  the  falvation  of  God,  can  account  it 
his  g-ain  to  die  ;  and  can  gladly  fay,  Oh  welcome,, 
welcome  death  1  May  this  faith  i'upport  you,  my 
brethren,  when  all  other  fupports  fail,  and  make  ial- 
vation as  precious  to  you  as  it  v/as  to  Mr  Hervey  1 
and  of  this  you  may  be  afTured,  that  what  the  Lord 
did  for  him  he  is  able  alfo  to  do  for  you.  Hr  was  in- 
deed a  glorious  inftance  of  the  power  of  grace  ;  for 
by  the  grace  of  God  he  was  what  he  was.  And  grace 
is  free  ;  as  free  for  you  as  it  was  for  him  ;  able  alfo  to 
make  you  live  and  die  as  much  to  the  glory  of  God 
as  he  did  He  was  truly  a  burning  and  mining  light  ; 
but  the  Lord's  hand  is  not  (hortened.  It  can  make 
your  light  fhine  alfo  before  men,  and  enable  you  to 
adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  your  Saviour  as  much  as 
Mr  Hervey  did.  And  the  great  ufc  to  be  made  of  his 
example  is,  to  ftir  you  up  to  glorify  God  for  the  gifts 
arid  graces  beftowed  upon  him,  and  to  defirc  the  fame 

VOL.  V.  N°  22.  T  may 


146          A      SERMON      ON 

may  be  beftowed  upon  you.    With  this  view  I  mail 
apply  it, 

/•/r/?,  To  thofe  perfons  who  have  never  feen  the  fal~ 
vation  of  God,  and  confcquently,  are  not  prepared 
to  depart  in  peace  ;  and  thefe  are  all  carelefs  Tinners, 
who  live  lecure  in  the  wilful  commiflion  of  iin.  Mr 
Hervcy  knew,  that  whenever  the  Lord  (hould  call 
him  out  of  this  life,  he  {hould  be  found  in  Chrift,  not 
having  his  own  righteoufnefs,  which  is  of  the  law, 
but  that  which  is  through  the  faith- of  Chrift,  the  righ- 
teoulhefs  which  is  of  God  by  faith  ;  and,  clothed  in 
this  righteoufnefs,  he  was  certain  that  he  fhould  ap- 
pear at  the  bar  of  juftice  without  fpot  of  fin,  unto 
eternal  falvation.  But  this  is  not  your  experience. 
Nay,  you  have  never  been  awakened  to  defire  it.  You 
have  never  been  humbled  under  a  fenfe  of  your  lofl 
condition,  nor  broken  down  under  a  conviction  of 
your  helplefTnefs  :  £b  that  you  have  never  ieen  your 
want  of  a  Saviour,  and,  coniequently,  have  never  feen 
the  falvation  of  our  God.  If  you  entertain  any  hopes 
of  departing  in  peace,  while  you  are  in  this  Mate,  you 
are  of  all  men  the  moft  deceived  ;  for  w'«?en  death 
comes,  it  will  find  you  in  your  finsnnpardoned,  with- 
out any  faith  in  the  Redeemer's  righteoufnefs  to  make 
death  deferable,  but  with  every  thing  that  ean  make  it 
terrible.  The  holy,  juft,  and  good  law  of  the  moft  high 
God  will  accufe,  confeience  will  plead  guilty,  juftice 
will  condemn  and  punifii,  and  the  wrath  of  God  will 
abide  upon  you  for  ever  and  ever.  Row  is  it  pofftble 
yon  (hould  depart  in  peace,  unlefs  you  die  infenfible  \ 
and  that  would  be  dreadful  indeed-.  If  fin  {hould  fo 
far  infatuate  you,  that  you  never  awake  out  of  its 
delufive  (lumbers  until  you  are  called  to  receive  the 
xir&ges  of  fin,  Oh  think  what  Tort  of  a  peace  you  fpeak 
to  yourfelves  !  fince  it  leaves  you  in  the  greateft  dan- 
ger, and,  at  the  fame  time,  infenfible  of  it  To  de- 
part in  fuch  a  falfe  peace,  would  be  your  everlafting 
deitrucYton.  Oh  Sirs,  cenfidcr  then  what  a  delufion 

you 


MR    HERVEY's    DEATH.        147 

you  arc  under  I  The  wrath  of  an  offended  God  abid- 
eth  on  you,  the  curies  of  his  broken  law  hang  over 
your  guilty  heads,  and  you  are  liable  to  the  vengeance 
of  his  almighty  jufticc  ;  and  yet  you  think  yourielves 
iafe.  You  are  faying,  Peace,  peace,  while  all  the 
powers  in  heaven  and  earth  are  at  war  with  you,  and 
in  a  moment  you  may  be  cut  off,  and  delivered  over 
to  the  tormentors  ;  and  then  you  will  have  a  lad  and 
•eternal  experience  of  that  awful  threatening,  ll  There 
"  is  no  peace,  faith  my  God,  to  the  wicked,*' 

Men  and  brethren,  what  d&  you  fay  to  thefe  things  ? 
Are  they  true,  or  are  they  not  ?  If  they  be  true,  why 
are  you  not  influenced  by  them  ?  And  if  yon  think 
ihem  not  true,  why  do  you  make  any  profeffion  of 
the  Chriftian  religion  ?  why  do  you  come  to  the 
lioufe  of  God  to  attend  upon  his  ordinances  ?  Your 
appearance  here  ranks  you  among  profefTors  ;  and  if 
you  keep  up  the  form,  without  the  power  of  godli- 
iiefs,  I  have  for  you,  in  the  fecond  place^  a  word  of 
reproof. 

There  have  arifen,  in  the  latter  days,  mockers,  who 
pretend  to  ridicule  the  feeing  of  the  falvation  of  God, 
and  the  being  thereby  prepared  to  depart  in  peace. 
Poflibly  there  may  be  fome  fuch  amongft  tu  to-day, 
v/ho  laugh  at  all  vital  and  experimental  religion.  If 
there  be,  I  would  afk  them,  whether  the  fcripture  has 
not  promifed  deliverance  from  the  fear  of  death  ?  Is 
it  not  written,  (Ileb.  xi.  15.)  *'  That  Chrift  came  to 
"  deliver  them  who  through  fear  of  death  were  all 
*  their  life-time  fubjecl  to  bondage  ?"  Obferve,  they 
were  in  bondage  to  the  fear  of  death,  butChriflcameto 
deliver  them.  And  did  not  he  attain  the  end  for  which 
he  came  ?  Moft  certainly  he  did,  "  I  have  finifh- 
<e  ed,"  fays  he  to  his  Father,  u  the  work  which  thovj 
*c  gavcft  me  to  do."  Now,  it  was  part  of  the  work 
to  deliver  his  people  from  the  fear  of  death  j  and  as 
"the  work  was  finilhed,  confequently  they  are  deliver- 
ed. And  they  fay  they  are.  They  atteft  it,  and  they 

T  2  fcav« 


148  A     SERMON      ON 

h.ivc  given  the  moft  convincing  proofs  of  their  having 
conquered  all  fear  of  death:  they  have  been  afflicted, 
tormented,  itoned,  lawn  afunder,  put  on  the  rack  ; 
and  yet  they  would  not  accept  deliverance,  becaufe 
they  were  fure  of  obtaining  a  better  refurredion. 
And  of  tliefe  there  have  not  been  two  or  three  only, 
but  a  noble  and  numerous  army,  yea  a  great  multi- 
tude, whom  no  man  could  number ;  and,  glory  be  to 
God,  it  is  an  increafing  multitude  :  there  are  ibme  who 
daily  depart  in  peace,  and  there  are  hundreds,  thou- 
iands  now  alive,  who  are  waiting  for  their  departure 
with  hopes  full  of  immortality  ;  and  why  mould  you 
think  they  will  be  difappointed  of  their  hope  ?  Will 
Chrifl  break  his  word  ?  can  his  promife  fail  ?  No  : 
his  word  and  his  promife  mall  be  eftablHhed,  when 
heaven  and  earth  (hall  be  no  more  ;  and  until  the 
place  of  them  (hall  not  be  found,  the  Lord  will  always 
have  fuch  witnefles  of  the  truth  of  the  doctrine  in 
my  text,  as  Mr  Hervey,  who  will  depart  this  life  in 
the  triumph  of  faith. 

Againft  thefe  plain  facts  what  can  you  object  ?  They 
«re  founded  upon  the  clear  promifes  of  icripture, 
which  are  literally  fulfilled  at  this  very  day ;  and  you 
can  have  no  pretence  to  reject  their  authority,  unlefs 
you  run  inco  downright  fcepticifm,  and  deny  the  au- 
thority of  the  holy  Icriptures.  If  any  of  you  have 
arrived  at  this  pitch  of  ridicule,  I  mail  not  reaibn  with 
you  at  prefect.  Let  the  day  decide  the  point.  If 
death  does  not,  judgment  will.  You  will  be  forced 
to  be  tried  by  that  book  which  you  reject,  and  by 
that  Judge  whom  you  have  infulted  and  vilified.  O 
that  you  may  be  convinced  of  your  error  before  it  be 
too  late  !  May  God  open  your  eyes  to  fee  your  guilt 
and  your  danger,  that  you  may  fue  for  mercy  along 
with  them  who  are  fefking  the  experience  of  the  doc- 
trine in  my  text ;  to  whom  I  have,  in  the  third  place, 
a  word  of  comfort. 

I  iuppofe  there  are  many  pcrfous  here,,  who  find 

the 


MR    HERVEY's    £>  E  A  T  H.       149 

the  fting  of  death  in  their  guilty  conferences,  and 
who  tftei  efore  de-fire  to  be  delivered  from  the  fear  and 
fro  n  the  power  of  d.;ath'.  My  brethren,  thtre  is  a  glo- 
rious Deliverer,  who  has,  in  his  own  perfon,  conquered 
death,  and  him  that  had  the  power  of  death  ;  and  he 
is  able  to  make  you  conquerors.  His  power  is  al- 
mighr.y  :  for  he  is  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  ;  and 
he  is  an  all-loving  Saviour,  who  is  more  ready  to  give, 
than  you  are  to  aik,  his  promifed  help.  Since  he  has 
jliewn  you  your  want  of  it,  afk  and  you  mall  have, 
leek  and  you  fliall  find. 

You  do  feek,  you  fay,  but  it  is  with  many  doubts 
and  fears.  Of  what  do  you  doubt  ?  of  Chrift's  power 
or  of  Chrift's  love  ?  He  can  deliver  you.  All  things 
are  pollible  to  him,  becaufe  all  power  in  heaven  and 
canh  is  in  his  hands.  And  he  is  a  God  of  love  ;  he 
lias  (hewed  mercy  to  the  greateft  of  iinners,  and  has 
fhcd  his  love  abroad  in  their  hearts.  He  has  given 
them  faith  to  fee  their  intereft  in  him,  and  then  they 
were  happy  living  or  dying:  for  whether  they  lived, 
they  lived  unto  the  Lord  ;  or  whether  they  died,  they 
died  unto  the  Lord  :  fo  that  living  and  dying  they 
were  the  Lord's. 

True,  fay  you,  I  believe  this  was  the  happy  cafe  of 
M!  Heivey,  and  of  many  others  ;  but  I  am  full  of 
doubts  and  fears,  becaufe  I  am  fuch  an  unworthy 
creature,  that  1  do  not  deierve  any  mercy.  Nor  did 
they  :  God  did  not  treat  them  upon  the  footing  of 
deiert ;  wiiat  he  give  them  was  m.re  bounty,  flowing 
fro  n  the  riches  of  his  unmerited  love.  That  is  the 
way  in  which  he  beitows  his  great  falvation.  All  the 
bleflings  of  it  are  free,  as  free  for  one  (inner  as  for 
another.  None  are  excluded,  becaufe  they  are  great 
(inners  ;  Paul  found  mercy  :  and  none  are  rejected, 
becaufe  of  their  nnworthinefs  ;  Mary  Magdalen  was 
p;t  doned  ;  and  why  may  not  you  ?  For  all  the  gifts 
of  God  flow  from  his  free  grace,  and  are  beftowed 
upon  unworthy  finners  ;  and  if  you  are  one  of  them, 

you 


A      S    E    R    M.   O    N      ON 

you  arc  a  proper  objeft  to  receive  the  bleffings  of  free 
^race  ;  and  the  ienfe  of  your  unworthinefs  mould 
make  you  more  earnelt  in  afking,  but  it  is  no  bar  to 
your  receiving,  all  the  blcilings  of  ialvation  ;  for  Je- 
dus  Chrift  afllires  us  in  his  word,  u  that  he  came  to 
44  feck  and  to  fave  that  which  was  loft  j  fuch  loft 
iinners  as  you  are,. 

Thus  you  fee  what  encouragement  you  have  to  be- 
lieve in  God.  You  have  his  word  and  his  promife  to 
rely  upon  ;  you  have  the  teftimony  of  God's  people, 
declaring  that  they  were  once,  as  you  are,  afraid  of 
death,  but  now  Chriii  has  taken  away  the  fear  of  it. 
They  have  feen  the  falvation  of  God,  and  know  by 
faith,  that  all  the  We/lings  of  it  are  freely  given  them 
in  Chriit  Jcilis  ;  therefore  they  are  ready,  they  defire 
to  depart.  May  the  tender  mercies  of  our  God  bring 
•every  one  of  you  into  this  happy  ftate  !  And  to  thofe 
who  are  already  in  it,  I  make  my  fourth  remark. 

My  Chrillian  friends  and  brethren,  you  have  feen 
the  falvation  of  God,  and  are  delivered  from  the  fear 
•of  death  :  what  return  will  you  make  unto  the  Lord 
for  all  the  benefits  which  he  hath  done  unto  you?  Cer- 
tainly you  will  not  forget  the  great  things  which  he 
has  already  given  you,  and  the  greater  things  for 
which  you  are  waiting  ;  and  let  thefe  confidcrations 
•conllrain  you  to  love  this  divine  Benefa&or,  and  to 
lerve  him  without  fear,  in  an  holy  obedience,  all  the 
days  of  your  lives.  Give  evidence  of  the  fmcerity  of 
your  love,  as  your  Lord  requires  ;  u  If  ye  love  me, 
"  keep  my  commandments  :"  —  Keep  near  to  me  in  my 
ways,  and  walk  clofe  with  me  in  mine  ordinances,  and 
you  will  not  only  thereby  give  proof  of  your  love, 
but  it  will  alfo  grow  exceedingly  ;  and  as  it  grows, 
your  deiire  to  depart  will  grow  with  it  ;  for  when  the 
love  of  Chrift  rules  in  the  heart,  yoju  will  be  ready, 
yea,  you  will  defire  to  depart,  and  to  be  with  him. 
This  was  the  happy  experience  of  our  deceafed  bro- 
ther 5  and  let  his  example  iiir  you  up  to  great  care 


( 


MR    HERVEY's    DEATH. 

and  watchfulnefs  in  your  holy  walking  heavenwards, 
that  your  faith   may  be  always   working  by  love,   as 
he  did.     Confider  the  graces  of  his  life,  and  leek  the 
fame.     Stop  not  fhort,   but   try  to  get  beyond  him. 
Confider  his  death.  Remember  with  what  perfect  af- 
furance  he  fpake  of  his   intereft  in  Chrift,  and  what 
ftrong  proofs  he  gave  of  it  ;  and  then  pray  that  your 
faith  may  ftand  as  unfliaken  as  his  was   in   that  great 
time  of  trial.     And,  above  all,  forget  not  what  fup- 
ported  him  in  his  laft  moments  ;  it  was  the  clear  vicv/ 
he  had  of  his  intereft  in  the  great  falvation  of  God  : 
"  This,  this,"   lays  he,  "  fupports  me,"— now  at  the 
approach  of  death.     Oh  how   precious   did  falvation 
then  appear  to  him,  when   he   found  death  coming 
difarmed,    and   without    a   fling  !    and   it    grew   ftill 
more  precious,  when,   with  his  laft  breath,  he  decla- 
red that  death  had   no   power  to   hurt  the  peace  of 
God,  which  ruled  in  his  heart  ;  for  even  then  he  found 
falvation  precious.     You  need  not  fear,  my  brethren, 
but  this  will  be  your   happy  experience.     God   has 
given  you  the  knowledge  of  falvation  by  the  rcmiflion 
of  your  fins  ;   and  as  your   faith   grows  exceedingly., 
falvation' will  grow  exceedingly  precious.  The  great- 
er experience  you  hereby  get  of  the  love  of  Chrift,  the 
more  will  you  be  fupported  under  the  trials  of  life, 
and  the  better  prepared  for  the  trials  of  death*     You 
will  find,  that  the  iwcet  fenfe  of  Chrift's  love  in  the 
heart,  will  enable  you  to  rejoice  in  fuffcrihg,  and  then, 
you  need  rot  fear  but  it  will  enable  you  to  rejoice  in 
the  fufferings  of  death.     For  who  or  what  (hall  fepa- 
rate  believers  from  the  love  of  Chrift  ?  Shall  the  trou- 
bles of  life,  or  the  pains  of  death  ?  (hall  tribulation,  or 
tliftreis,  or  perfecution,  or  famine,   or  nakedncfs,  or 
peril,  or  fword  ?  No  ;  in  all'theie  things  we  arc  more 
than  conquerors   through   him   that  loved  us.     More- 
than  conquerors  !  Oh  gloi  ions  warfare,  in  which  belie- 
vers not  only  conquer  their  enemies,  but  nHo  reap  in- 
numerable and  endlcfs  bldlings  to  thf  mitivcs.     Even 

death 


A     S    E    R.    M    O    N      OH 

death  is  to  them  a  real  blcfling  ;  they  expedl  it,  they 
find  it  io,  and  they  arc  more  than  conquerors  over  it, 
through  him  that  loved  them. 

In  the/rt/?  place,  I  muft  put  you  all  in  remembrance, 
that  neither  the  words  of  my  text,  nor  what  has  been 
faid  upon  them,  will  be  of  any  benefit  without  a  bl ef- 
fing from  God.  We  cannot  ice  his  falvation  with  the 
eye  of  faith,  nor  experience  the  power  of  it,  without 
the  help  of  his  grace.  It  is  from  him,  who  has  done 
all  for  us,  that  all  muft  be  done  in  us  ;  and  if  iome 
good  imprellions  have  been  made  this  day  upon  any 
of  your  hearts,  they  will  loon  wear  away,  unlefs  he 
preferve  and  ftrengthen  them.  If  you  defire,  at  prc- 
ient  to  live  Mr  Hervey's  life,  and  to  die  his  death, 
this  defire  will  be  inetfeclual,  unlefs  it  be  carried  ii.to 
ad  by  the  mighty  working  of  God's  Spirit:  he  is  all 
in  all.  For  which  realbn  we  al  ways' begin  and  always 
end  the  hearing  of  the  word  with  prayer  ;  being  af- 
fured,  that  if  Paul  fhould  plant,  and  Apollos  mould 
water,  yet  it  would  be  to  no  purpofe,  unlefs  God 
mould  give  the  increafe.  Oh  that  it  may  be  abundant 
this  day  to  his  glory,  and  to  the  good  of  your  fouls. 
To  that  end  let  us  pray — 

O  almighty  and  mod  merciful  God,  we  humbly  be- 
feech  thee  to  look  down  with  mercy  upon  this  con- 
gregation, and  to  blefs  the  words  which  we  have 
heard  this  day  with  our  outward  ears.  Make  them 
the  means  of  opening  the  blind  eyes  which  have  never 
feen  their  want  of  thy  falvation,  Lord,  enlighten 
them,  and  help  them  to  feek,  until  they  find  pardon 
and  peace  in  thce.  Be  gracious  to  thofe  who  are  now 
waiting  upon  thee,  believing,  that  after  they  have 
feen  thy  falvation,  they  (hall  be  able  to  depart  in  peace. 
O  Lord  God,  manifeft  it  unto  them,  and  add  this  day 
to  the  number  of  thofe  who  have  feen  and  experien- 
ced it.  We  defire  to  glorify  thee  for  every  living 
Chriftian  who  knows  in  whom  he  has  believed,  and  is 

ready 


MR    H  E  R  V  E  Y ' s    D  E  A  T  H. 

ready  and  prepared  to  depart  in  peace.  We  give  all 
the  praife  to  the  riches  of  thy  free  grace.  ,\nd  we 
alfo  blefs  thy  holy  name  for  all  thy  iervants  departed 
this  life  in  thy  faith  and  love,  beseeching  thee  to  give 
us  -grace  4o  to  follow  their  good  examples,  as  they 
followed  Chrift  ;  that  with  them  we  may  be  parta- 
Icers  of  thy  heavenly  kingdom.  Grant  this,  O  Father, 
for  Jefus  ChrifPs  fake,  our  only  Mediator  and  Advo- 
cate ;  to  whom,  with  thee,  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  three 
qo-equal,perfons  in  one  Jehovah,  be  honour,  and 
and  bleflfmg,  and  praife,  for  ever  and  ever. 


.  V.  N°  22.  U  R 


REMARKS 


Q    N 


LORD   DOLING  B  ROKE's 


ON      THE 

STUDY  and  USE  of  HISTORY; 

SO  FAR  AS  THEY  RELATE  TO  THE 

HISTORY  of  the  Q  L  D  TESTAMENT, 

ATJD    ESPECIALLY    TO    THE 

CASE  of  NOAH,  denouncing  a  Curfe  upon  CANAAN. 
In  a  LETTER  to  a  LADY  of  OUAHITY. 

Merfes  profuN<iot  pulchrior  cvenit.  HOK. 


R 


A 


E. 


THE  reader  will  fee,  from  the  date  of  the  follow- 
ing letter,  that  it  was  written  a  confidcrable 
time  ago.  From  which  circumflancc  he  will  probably 
conclude,  that  it  was  not  intended  for  publication. 
A  conjecture  which  is  perfectly  juit.  The  publication 
is  owing  to  the  Right  Honourable  perionage,  whole 
name,  though  it  would  grace  and  recommend  his  pa- 
pers, the  author  is  not  allowed  to  mention.  Her 

Ladyfhip's 


R    fc    M    A    R.    K    S,    6*. 

Ladyftiip's  commands,  which  would  admit  of  no  ex- 
cufe,  drew  the  remarks  from  his  pen  ;  and  her  defire, 
which  with  him  will  always  have  the  force  of  a  com- 
mand, has  brought  them  to  the  prefs.— •  It  will  give 
him  the  higheft  pleafure,  if,  while  he  is  paying  the 
debt  of  obedience  and  gratitude  to  a  Noble  friend,  he 
may  fupport  the  dignity  of  the  divine  word  ;  may 
raiie  its  efieem,  and  promote  its  ftudy  among  men  : 
becaufe  then  he  may  reafonably  hope  to  promote  the 
be/I  inter  efts  of  his  fellow-creatures  ;  and  liibiervc 
that  grand  deitgnation  of  the  almighty  tVlajefty,  ex- 
prefTed  by  the  Pfalmifl, — Thou  haft  magnified  thy  -word 
above  all  thy  name  * . 

*  Pfal.  cxxxviii.  2. 


MADAM, 

AS  you  was  plcafed  to  afk  my  opinion  concerning 
LORD  BOLI  N  G  B  JL  o  KL  E'S  remarks  on  thejcrip- 
tiiral  hiftory,  I  have  procured  the  book  ;  have  perufed 
what  relates  to  the  fubjecT: ;  and  fubmit  to  yo'ur  judg- 
ment -the  thoughts  which  occurred  ;  alluring  your* 
Lordfhip,  that,  though  many  might  difcufs  the  point 
much  more  clearly  and  fatisfaftorily  than  the  perfoii 
you  favoured  with  your  commands  ;  yet  no  one  can 
think  it  a  greater  honour  to  receive  them,  or  a  great- 
er pleafureto  execute  them. 

"  The  Old  teftament,"  it  is  alledged,  "  is  no  fuf- 
"  ficient  foundation  for  chronology  from  the  beginning 
tt  of  time  *  ." — To  enter  upon  the  niceties  of  chrono- 
logy^  would,  perhaps,  be  too  difficult  a  rcfearch ;  at 
leaft,  it  would  require  from  your  Ladyfliip  a  more 

U  2  painful 

«  See  Lord  jgo/m^roAff's  letters  on  the  ftudy  and  ufe  of  bi- 
i>t>ry,  vol.  i.  p.  98. 


REMARKS      o  .: 

painful  attention,  than  I  fhould  chufe  to  occalion 
any  of  my  letters.  And  I  very  frankly  own,  that  £ 
am  by  no  means  matter  of  the  argument,  nor  equal  to 
the  talk  Others,  1  don't  doubt,  whole  inclination 
has  diipofed,  and  whole  gen-ius  has  fitted  them  for 
this  particulai  (tudy,  will  undertake  to  decide  the 
q'.ieilion,  and  give  the  honour  where  the  honour  is 
due. —  This,  however,  from  a  very  icanty  ibrvcy  oi 
the  cafe,  I  car»ealily  difcern  ;  that  the  chronologer 
will  no  where  find  fuch  memorable  events  for  fixing  his 
aeras,  nor  fuch  early  and  fitbftantial  aids  for  computing 
his  time,  as  trom  the  Mojaic  monuments,  and  the  fa- 
cred  annals. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  flood,  we 
have  ,an  orderly  gradation  of  time,  marked  out  by  the 
lives'  of  ten  eminent  patriarchs. — From  the  Hood,  we 
may  proceed  to  that  glorious  promifc  of  a  Redeemer, 
ni^de  to  .*4bt*kam;  In  thy Jeed  fliall  all  the  nations  of 
tk°  earth  be  blejjcd. — From  this  promife,  to  the  mi- 
raculous deliverance  of  the  Israelites  from,  Egyptian 
bondage. — From  thence  to  the  building  of  Solomon's 
temple  ;  which  was  an  illuftrious  type  *  of  that  di- 
vine pcrfon,  in  lukom  dwells  all  the  fullness  of  the 
Godhead  bodily, — From  the  building  of"  this  magnifi- 
cent flructure,  to  the  demolition  of  it  by  the  Babylo- 
nian monarch. — From  thence,  to  the  conqueft  of 
Babylon  by  Cyrus  the  Perfean. — And  from  the  reign 
of  Cyrus,  to  that  grand,  that  moft  important  of  all 
tranfadlions,  the  death  of  Mefiiah  the  Prince;  when 
\\c.finiflied  the  tranjgreffton^  and  made  an  end  of  fins, 
and  made  reconciliation  for  iniquity  ^  and  brought  in 
everlafting  righteoujnefs  f . 

The  intermediate  fpace,  between  each  of  thefe  verjf 
diftinguiflied  periods,  may,  I  believe,  be  afcertainedy 
to  a  confiderable  decree  of  exaclncfs,  from  the  fa- 
cred  volumes.  If  fo,  this  will  conftitute  a  more  com  - 

prehenfivs 

*  Sen.  xxii.  18.     John  ii.  21.  -j-  Dan.  ix.  24. 


BOLlNGBROKE's  LETTERS. 

prehcrtfive  and  perfect  fyftem  of  chronology,  than  care 
be  derived  from  the  Olympiads  of  the  Grecians,  or  the 
tiegira  of  the  Mahometans  ;  from  the  Pcrjian,  the  Ro- 
man, or  any  other  epocha. 

But  the  hijlory  of  the  Old  Teftament  is  much  more 
neceffary  to  be  known,  and  much  more  cafy  to  be 
underftood.  Yet  this,  my  Lord  iuggefts,  is  not  a 
complete  hiftory  of  the  firfl  ages  *. — We  allow  the  fug- 
gtftion.  It  neither  is,  nor  has  materials  for,  a  com- 
plete univerfal  hiftory.  It  pretends  to  nothing  more, 
than  to  relate  the  affairs  of  one  particular  family  ;  in 
which  the  church  of  G  O  D  was  to  fubfift,  and  from 
which  the  SAVIOUR  of  men  was  to  fpring.  Ne- 
verthelefs,  fo  many  collateral  incidents  are  touched  up- 
on, fo  many  branches  of  this  main  flream  are  occa- 
iionally  puriued,  as  prefent  us  with  a  collection  of 
the  moft  ancient^  the  mod  curious^  and  moil  inftruttivc 
fafts. 

Here  we  are  brought  acquainted  with  the  creation 
of  the  world,  and  the  formation  of  man.  The  origin 
offvil,  both  natural  and  moral,  is  difcovered  in  the 
fall  of  our  firft  parents  ;  and  the  difpleafure  of  GOD 
againft  fin,  is  manifefted  by  the  waters  of  a  general 
deluge. — Here  we  fee  theprefervation  of  our  fpecics  in 
the  ark,  and  repeopling  of  the  earth  by  Noah;  the  in- 
vention of  polite  arts  f,  and  the  rife  of  ufeful  manufac- 
tures J  j  the  eftablifhment  of  nations,  and  the  foun- 
ers  of  their  principal  kingdoms  ||.  Not  to  add,  that 
thcfe  records  are  the  royal  archives,  in  which  the  char- 
ter 


"  Pag.  83.  -f"  Gen.  iv.  2r.  ^  Gen.  iv.  20,  22. 
||  Gen.  chnp.  x.  Which,  though  but  little  adverted  to,  b 
tbe  nobleft  piece  uf  geographical  antiquity  extant  in  the  world. 
It  (hews  us  how  the  whole  earth,  from  the  three  (bus  of  Noah, 
was  overlpread,  inhabited,  and  denominated.  It  ciiic<^vers  ihe 
true  fource  of  the  feveral  nations ;  about  which  profane  au- 
thors either  fay  nothing  at  all,  or  elfe  fay  what  is  chimerical. 


REMARKS       ON 

ter  of  ourfovercignty  *  over  the  creatures  isprcfervedv 
and  the  original  drjwjjit  of  the  covenant  of  grace  j 
depolited. — Here  then,  may  we  not  challenge  any,  or 
nil  the  books,  written  in  every  language  under  hea- 
ven ?  "What  memoirs  go  ft}  fur  back  into  antiquity  ? 
what  memoirs  arc/;  interring  to  all  mankind  ? —  Had 
they  been  Iran  tin  itted  to  us  by  any  Grecian  or  Roman 
author,  how  would  they  have  been  admired  and  va- 
lued !  how  laviihly,  and  indeed  how  juitly,  praifed  ! 

Another  excellency  of  thefe  writings  (and  peculiar 
to  thete  nlonc)  is,  That  they  not  only  reach  backward, 
as  far  as  the  vtty  birth  of  things  ;  but  proceed  for- 
wards, even  into  the  remfftefifittgrfty. — They  foretold 
the  ruin  of  Babylon  J,  trie  noblell,  the  bed  fortified, 
and  mod  commodiouily  lituated  metropolis  in  the  uni- 
vverfe  ;  who  faid,  and  no  one  would  have  iufpccted  it 
to  be  a  vain  boaft,  / fliall  be  a  lady  for  ever  ||.  Yet 
the  fcriptures  pronounced  her  utter  deft  rutf  ion  _{.,  anti 
fpecified  the  per/on  who  mould  bring  about  this  great 
cataftroplie. — They  pointed  out  the  place  of  his  a- 
i>odc  ~—  ; — they  deicribed  him  by  ieveral  etiftingxi/kixg 
circumftanccs  -H-  J — they  particularized  the  genius  of 
Vis  warlike  enterprizss  =  ; — they  mentioned  his  very 

name  / 


*  Gen.  i.  28.       -j-  Gen.  lit.  15.       ^  If.  xiii.  19.  &c.  xv'u 
23,  24.         j|  If.  xlvii.  7.         4-  If.  xiii.  19,  20.  &c.  xvi.  23,  24* 

+-  If.  xlvi.  ii. 

-H-  That  he  Ihould  bcfiege  and  take  the  moft  impregnable1 
of  cities.  If.  xlv.  i,  2. ; — that  he  (hould  enrich  himfelf  with 
immenfe  Ipoilf,  If.  xlv.  3. ;- — that  he  (hotild  net  be  a  tyrant, 
but  zjbfpherd  to  the  captive  Jeu's  ;  fhould  reic-afe  them  from 
their  captivity,  and  both  permit  and  promote  tfce  rebuiklingof 
their  temple,  If,  xliv.  28. 

=  He  is  called  a  ravtnous  blrd^  If.  xlvi.   tr.  denoting  his 
J?tcd+  aflivity,  srd  great  exprttitfog.     Which  were  move  like 
the  flight  of  ^fuiift-vnnge'd  bird,  (this  is  the  exaft  lenleof  the 
original  fy  than   the   march  ei~  an   army,  with  all  its  encum- 
brances.   This  \i  acknawl edged  by  Tigntnfs,  :u  liis  fine  expof- 

tulatorjr 


BOLINGEROKE's  LETTERS.     159 


*  ;  —  all  this,  fome  hundreds  of  years  before  the 
event  took  place,  or  the  conqueror  was  born. 

They  foretold  the  rejection  and  calamities  of  the 
difobedient  yews  ;  who  are  the  chief  fubject  of  their 
hiftory  ;  (and  this,  furely,  could  not  be  with  a  view 
to  aggrandize  their  nation,  or  to  anfwer  any  iinifter 
clefign  :)  that  they  fhould  be  fubdued  by  their  enemies, 
lofe  the  favour  of  their  God,  and  the  pofltffion  of 
their  native  land  ;  yet  not  be  fettled,  as  a  colony,  in 
ibme  particular  tract  of  the  vigor's  dominions,  but 
bcjcatfered  abroad  under  the  whole  heavens  f.  —  ^This 
was  threatened  by  their  J  E  HO  V  A  H,  —  this  is  re- 
corded in  their  books,  —  and  this  is,  even  now,  fo  re- 
markably fulfilled,  as  to  be  a  f?ct  of  the  uimoft  noto- 
riety. Go  into  the  moft  polite  or  moft  barbarous 
countries,  the  neareft  or  moft  difhnt  parts  of  the 
world  ;  you  will,  every  where,  find  living  evidences 
of  this  fcriptuj  al  prediction. 

The  icriptures  fpeak  in  the  moft  explicit  and  per- 
emptory terms,  with  regard  to  the  reparation  of  the 
Jc*ivs  J.  —  This  reiteration  could  not  be  effected,  at 

leafl: 

tulatory  dilcourfe  with  Cj'rj/j:  7  a^wJi™™^  *tf,tr>**  *<,?«,  «r«  *-w«9«» 

if^wiras  iKbui  o-j»   xo\f'j  fo\u,  *(ji»   7*To»    rtit  Trap'    tavla    <?u»a^t<»   «6f>«i<ra<rflii. 

You  fo  far  exceed  the  king  of  Armenia  in  tht  fwif  tuffs  of  your 
motions,  that,  before  he  cwldgcl  together  the  few  forces  quar~ 
tered  in  his  neighbourhood,  y^u  arc  come  from  a  dlft.i-.t  country  ', 
and  have  Jurr  bunded  him  vith  a  large  ai  my.  Xeij  ^h.  Cyro- 
paed.  lib.  III.  —  Thus  Alexander,  whofe  marches  and  whofe 
victories  were  almoft  incredibly  fwif't,  is  beautifully  and  ex- 
actly characterized  by  the  prophet  Daniel.  As  J  wasconj?d;r- 
ing,  behold',  an  he-goat  came  from  the  vjtft  on  th:  face  of  the 
whole  earth,  and  touched  not  the  ground.  Chap.  vi:i.  5.  No 
orator  w'uh  all  the  powers  of  language,  could  more  beauti- 
fully have  defcribcd  the  rapidity  and  the  excent  of  the  Mace- 
donian conquers;  nor  could  any  h'flori^n,  though  wriring 
-fcer  the  accomplifhment  of  the  events,  have  defcnbed  the;n 
more  cxaftlj-. 

*  If.  xiiv.  28.  xlv.  i.      -f  Dcut.  xxyiii.  64.     Amos.  ix.  9. 

:j:  Ezeic.  xi.  i-t.  Amos.  ix.  14,  15.  Zeth.  xiv.  10,  n.  I  have 

no: 


•itSo  REMARKS       ON 

leaft  could  not  be  obferved,  if  they  had  been  blended 
and  incorporated  with  the  inhabitants  of  other  climes. 
Therefore,  to  be  a.  prej'uwptive  proof  of  its  accomplifh- 
ment  ;  and  to  render  it,  when  accomplished,  the  moft 
•ob/ervable  of  all  revolutions  ;  they  have  lubfifted  a  dif- 
tintt  people,  amidft  all  the  regions  whither  they  have 
been  driven. — A  molt  fingular  and  aftonifhing  cir- 
cumftance  !  How  Toon  were  the  Dqmcs,  the  Saxons^ 
and  the  Normans,  mingled  with  the  Britons  !  and  how 
•entirely  are  they  all  melted  down  and  loft  among  the 
natives  of  our  iile  !  But  the  Jews,  like  a  drop  of  oil 
on  the  water,  have  continued  zjeparate  community  ; 
and,  though  difpcrfed  into  all  nations,  are  not,  through 
the  long  •couric  of  feventeen  hundred  years,  embodied 
xvith  any. — This  is  fuch  a  peculiarity  in  the  diipenia- 
tions  of  providence,  as  I  can  never  fufficiently  admire  : 
and  is,  I  think,  an  undeniable  voucher  to  the  authen- 
ticity of  the  icriptures  ;  held  forth,  as  it  were  by  the 
hand  of  Omnipotence,  in -the  light  of  all  the  world. 

Such  events  the  ancient  fcriptures  foretell,  and/wofc 
fads  they  relate  ;  facts  of  incomparable  grandeur,  and 
events  of  the  greateft  importance.  All  which  are  deli- 
vered in  fuch  a  inajejlic  Jimplicity  of  ftyle,  as  nothing 

can 

tiot  ventured  to  determine,  whether  this  reftoration  of  the 
'Je-ws  is  to  he  underftood  of  a  return  to  their  own  country,  or 
of  their  conversion  to  the  faith  of  CHRI ST.  Though  I 
think,  the  litter  is  the  meaning  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  will  be  no 
iefs  wonderful  than  the  former ;  and  feems  to  be  fupported 
by  fuch  paflages  as  the  following. — Theyjhall  look  on  ME,  -whom 
ihey  have  pierced,  and  mourn.  The  gift  of  repentance,  not 
the  circumftance  of  flace,  is  the  material  point,  Zech.  xiii.  10. 
— When  it/hall  turn,  not  the  tribes  of  Ifrael  to  Jerusalem,  but 
the  heart  ot  the  Ifraelitfs  to  the  LORD,  2  Cor.  iii.  16. — Then 
all  I(rae\/ball  be  faved,  Rom.  xi.  26.  fliall  be  made  partakers 
of  the  goipel,  of  its  facred  privileges,  and  its  great  falvation. 
in  which  they  will  enjoy  all,  more  than  all  the  bleflings,  which 
Canaan  could  afford.  Of  which,  that  goodly  land,  in  its  JUt- 
4aoQ  fertility,  affluence,  and  glory,  was  but  a  type. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     i6i 

can  equal  but  their  precife  yeracity. — Yet  thefe  books 
Lord  Bminybrokc  difparages  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time, 
extols  the  writings  of  Tacitus . — The  remains  of  Tnci- 
tus,  he  tells  us,  4k  are  precious  remains  *."  Thole  of 
the  holy/'cripture  u  are  dark  and  imperfect  accounts  f.*1 
In  Tacitus,  u  hiftory  preferves  her  integrity  and  her 
44  luftre  \"  In  the  holy  (ctipture,  inilead  of  hiitory, 
you  have  u  an  heap  of  fables  ;  which  can  pretend  to 
11  nothing  but  fome  infcrutable  truths,  and  therefore 
44  uielefs  to  mankind  j| ." — Every  line  of  Tacitus  has 
weight  §,  and  cannot  be  mentioned  without  admira- 
tion. Whereas,  \\\e  J acred  hiftory  is  put  upon  a  level 
with  the  extravgancies  of  *4madi*  of  Gaul  \.,  and 
44  can  never  gain  iufficient  credit  from  any  reafonable 
"  man  #.'* 

ii/hf)  is  this  uncircumcifed  Philiftine,  faid  David,  that 
hefhoidddefy  the  armies  of  the  living  GO  D  =  f  And  who 
is  this  Tacitus,  would  I  afk,  this  darling  author,  that 
he  fhould  be  railed  to  the  fkies,  while  the  divine  hifto- 
rians  are  trodden  to  the  duft  ? — If  your  Ladyfhip  is 
unacquainted  with  his  character,  let  me  give  it  in  the 
words  of  a  moil  elegant  and  mafterly  critic  :  u  Having 
44  coniidered  the  principal  qualities  of  Tacitus  as  a 
44  writer  and  an  hiftoi  ian,  1  c.innot  help  thinking, 
44  that  there  is  a  falie  iiiblimc  and  afFc<ftation  in  his 

44  defcriptions  ; 

*  Page  i6r.  -f  Pa^e  108.  +  Pape  161. 

||  Page  121.  §   PaRe  I^]f'  -J-  P^i^  i2r. 

,   Page  118. If,  in  the  pagec.  I  have  referred  t;^  a;;tl  tlie 

iencences  I  h<«ve  quoted,  my  Lord  does  not  aim  at  thejcriptu- 
rat  records,  1  lhall  very  willingly,  nay,  myl gladly  acknowledge 
myfelf  miltaken.  To  me,  after  a  repeated  an-l  actentive  pei  u- 
ial  of  th<?  paiTages,  he  appears  to  mean  thf.fc,  and  tlulc  /;/  ins.1- 
pally.  He  means,  according  to  his  own  pi  ofellion,  fuck  an- 
cient hijltjty  as  he  had  ban  dcj'cribing  (fee  pag.  1 18.);  and  I  am 
very  fure,  the  principal  fubjecl  of  the  preceding  meets  was 
the  facrfet. — But  why  mould  not  his  Lordlhip  fpe::k  his  fcnti- 
mentb  plainly  ?  Is  it  for*  want  of  ingenuity  ?  t>r  owing  to  dif- 
fidence in  the  caufe  ? 

=  i  Sam.  xvii.  26. 

VOL.  V.  N°  22,  X 


162  REMARKS       ON 

4d'  fcriptions  ;  a  fcurrility  and  fattrical  vein,  with 
11  too  cpigrammatica)  a  concilencis  in  iiis  wit  ;  an  a- 
"  cut  ncis,  but  too  ipeculative,  and' a  polity  over-ic- 
"  fined  in  his  obi'crvations ;  a  mali'iu^  M  a  '  ill-natu- 
"  red  turn  in  his  characters  ;  a  j)h;ioloj,n,  u>o  ai.: ;;  •;•.#- 
*'  ed  and  elevated  in  his  realonhig.--,  aiul  a  an  ty  in  his 
"  learning.  In  fhoj t,  that  he  is  in  antiquity  a  pedant  ; 
u  in  the  philofophy  of  nature  a  iccptic  ;  in  ni'Mvis 
"  loofe  ;  'in  description  gaudy  and  pompous  ;  in  po- 
u  litics  i'ubilolous,  refined,  and  knaviih  *." 

Yet  this  is  the  writer  that  mult  be  placed  in  fuch 
jj;reat  fuperiority  to  Mojes^  Jojhua,  and  Samuel;  this 
the  hiftory  (rile  Criticilm,  and  relent  the  indignity  !) 
that  is  Ipoken  of  with  applaufe  and  rapture,  even  while 
the  iacred  annals  are  treated  with  difrefpecl:  and  oblo- 
loquy. 

I  might  recount  the  glorious  privileges  exhibited  in 
this  blelTcd  book ;  the  ineltirnable  promijes  made  to  the 
righteous ;  the  tendcrly-compalfionate  invitations  ad- 
clrefTed  to  Tinners  ;  the  refined  and  exalted  displays  of 
morality ;  with  many  other  noble  particulars ; — which 
it  is  the  prerogative  of/cripture  to  contain, — the  wif- 
dom  of  mankind  to  believe, — and  the  only  felicity  of 
our  nature  to  be  interefted  in  them,  and  influenced  by 
them. 

But  my  Lord  is  ready  to  agree  on  thefe  topics.  He 
exprefTes,  in  fome  places  at  lead,  no  diflike  of  the  doc- 
trinal and  prophetical  parts.  Nay,  he  has  contrived 
an  expedient  to  rclcue  them  from  the  difhonour  which 
he  would  bring  upon  the  hiftorici'l.  He  allows  the 
former  to  be  written  under  the  infpiration  of  the  holy 

and 

*  The  treatife,  which  furnifhes  me  with  this  extraft,  is  writ- 
ten by  Mr  Hunter;  is  eir  tied,  Qkfcrvatibns  on  Tacitus;  and, 
if  my  reader  hu-  not  penifed  them,  I  >!*re  venture  to  afliire  him, 
that  he  hat  one  of  the  higheft  entertainments  in  polite  litera- 
ture yet  to  come.  See  page  184. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     163 

and  uner*.-ing  Spirit.  The  latter,  he  affirms,  are  "  pure- 
"  ly  human,  and  therefore  fallible  *." — Proceeding 
upon  this  iuppofition,  he  fcruples  not  to  reprefent 
them,  as  the  devices  of  craft,  or  the  blunders  of  ig- 
norance. "j~. 

I  ran  ft  beg  leave  to  obferve,  that  fach  a  diflinttion 
is  without  the  leaft  ground  of  reality  to  iupport  it  ; 
and  would,  if  admitted,  be  an  effectual  method  lojitb- 
vert  the  whole  of  revelation.  For,  if  it  could  be  pro- 
ved, that  the  authors  of  this  hiftory  were  fb  'weak  as 
to  i  'I  into  palpable  errors,  where  a  common  degree 
of  Sagacity  would  have  fecured  them  from  miftaking; 
or  if  they  were  ib  treacherous  as  to  palm  upon  the 
world  a  multiplicity  of  forgeries  ;  ib  impious  as  to  a- 
f cribe  their  faliehoods  to  the  GOD  of  truth  ;  this 
would  at  once  ruin  their  character  as  men,  and  deftroy 
their  credit  as  -writers.  At  this  rate,  who  could  de- 
pend upon  their  teftimony  in  any  point  whatever  ? 

Beiides,  many  of  th,e  dodrinal  parts  of  fcripture  re- 
fer to,  and  are  deriveafrom,  the  hiftorical.  If  the  lat- 
ter were  a  parcel  of  impolitions  and  miilakes,  what 
degree  of  veracity  or  dignity  could  the  former  claim  ? 
If  tne  foundation  is  a  bubble,  how  can  the  fupcrftruc- 
ture  ftand  ? — VVhcther  his  Lordfhip,  by  iuch  a  ipecious 
pretence  affcrving  the  intercfts  of  true  religion,  in- 
tended iecretly  to  undermine  it,  1  will  not  prefume 
to  lay.  But  this  I  may  venture  to  declare,  that  his 
icheme  is  very  fhrewdly  calculated  to  compafsfuch  an 
end.  Grant  what  his  LorcluYip  afks  ;  and  what  all  the 
enemies  of  Ciiriftianity  wifh,  will  undoubtedly  follow. 

Farther,  Madam, — fuch  a  diftinclion  is  contrary  to 
the  exprels  declaration  of  the  New  Teftament ;  which 
pofitively  aflcrts,  that  A  L  L  jc ripture  is  given  by  injpi- 

X  2  ration 

'  Page  96. 

•j-  That  this  is  no  aggravated  imputation,  every  attentive 
reader  of  his  Lord/hip's  letters  will  eafily  perceive;  and  I  be- 
lieve, it  will  appear  too  plainly  from  the  paflages  to  be  produ- 
ced in  the  iequcl  of  this  epifllc. 


164  REMARKS       ON 

ration  of  GOD  *.— Our  blcflcd  LORD,  who 

\  c  rv  well  qualified  to  (i'jcirn  truth,  and  equally  zea- 
lous to  maintain  it,  makes  no  Inch  difference,  lie 
lays  in  general,  Search  the  jcripturcs  f  ;  the  whole  col- 
lection of  facred  writings  — Whatjocvcr  things,  adds 
»St  Paul,  not  ibme  particular  padages  only,  hut 
WHATSOEVER  THINGS  were  writ  en  aforetime, 
were  written  for  our  learning  J  ;  and  mult  therefore 
have  been  under  iuch  a  divine  fupenntendency,  as  fe- 
cured  them  from 'all  poilibility  of  error.  Otherwife, 
they  might  be  written,  not  for  pur  learning,  but  for 
our  deception. — So  that  St  Paul's  direction  is  as  con- 
trary to  Lord  Balingbrvjidt  difttnction,  as  the  eaft  is 
pppofitc  to  the  weft.  We  n>ay  as  foon  bring  thofe 
two  points  of  the  hemifphere  together,  as  reconcile 
his  Lordfliip's  refinements  with  the  apoltle's  religion. 
1  believe  it  will  be  equally  difficult  to  render  his 
Lordfliip  confident  with  himfelf.  His  conceffion  over- 
throws his  diflinttion.  Admitting  the  doctrinal  parts 
of  the  fcripture  to  be  true,  the  veracity  of  the  hillo- 
rical  is,  by  necc(Jary  conjtquence,  and  beyond  all  con- 
tradiction, cftabliflicd.  They  are  indi  ffbtubty  connect- 
ed :  they  mutually  bear  on,  and  mutually  fufrain  each 
other  ;  and  muft  frand  or  fall  together.  They  are  like 
an  arch  molt  exactly  finilhed  ;  not  a  flonc  of  which 
can  be  taken  away,  without  difconcerting  the  whole 
Jtruclurc  ;  arid  like  an  arch  firmly  founded,  as  well  as 
correctly  finifhed,  the  more  they  are  firejjed,  the 
Jlronger  they  will  appear, 

My  Lord  fays  indeed,  That  CHRIST  came  not  to* 
*'  conieci  ate  all  the  written  traditions  of  the  'Jews  II ." 

*/  1 1 

fie  Jays  it,  but  where  or  how  does  he  prove  it  ? — By 
written  traditions  of  the  Jews^  I  fuppofe  we  arr  lo 
lirxlerftand  all  the  Hebrew  j crip tures»  The  drift  of 

the 

*  2  Tim.  Hi.  16.  -f-  John  v.  39.  £  Rom.  xv.  4. 

||  Page  §4. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     165- 

the  difcourte  leads  us  to  this  fenfe.  Now,  it  is  appa- 
rent, that  our  Saviour  has  actually  confederated,  has  fet 
the  leal  of  authenticity  and  infallibility  to  the  law  of 
Mofes,  to  t/ie  pialms,  and  to  the  prophets  * .  By  ap- 
pealing to  them  as  decifive,  and  by  allowing  them  to 
be  predidive,  he  has  acknowledged  them  to  be  divine- 
ly inipired  ;  to  be  unqueftionably  true.  And  a  very 
little  acquaintance  with  Jcwi/h  antiquities  will  inform 
us,  that,  in  thefe  three  partitions,  the  whole  body  of 
the  Hebrew  fcriptures  is  comprehended  ? — What 
then  becomes  of  his  Lordftiip's  affertion  ?  or  to  whofc 
diicredit  does  it  tend  ;  that  of  the  'Jciuijh  fcriptures, 
or  tliat  of  his  own  knowledge  ? 

I  mu(t  defire  your  Lordlhip  to  take  notice  of  the 
expreffion  in  this  palfage.  It  is  fomewhat  fingular,  and 
deferves  a  particular  regard.  Written  traditions  is 
the  phrafc.  Every  one  knows  that  we  explode,  and 
very  juitly,  thofe  juper/iittous  whimfies  of  the  Jews^ 
which  pafs  under  the  denomination  of  traditions.  Yet 
my  Lord  thinks  proper,  to  call  the  hiftories  of  the 
Old  Tejlament  by  this  dijrcputable  name  ;  only  he  ad- 
mits one  difference,  that  whereas  the  former  were 
tranfmitted  by  itrength  of  memory,  the  latter  arc  com- 
mitted to  writing. — But  is  this  an  honeft  reprefenta- 
tion  ?  is  this  free  from  all  malignant  difguife  ? 

Let  us  put  the  matter  to  the  following  trial.  The 
word  legend,  when  applied  to  any  modern  ftory,  raifes 
the  fame  contemptible  and  abfurd  idea,  as  the  word 
tradition  excites,  when  applied  to  any  \fcwifli  notion. 
Would  my  Lord,  or  would  his  friends  think,  that  due 
honour  or  common  juJHce  was  clone  to  his  Jketch  of 
t':c  hi  ft  or y  and  ft  ate  of  Europe,  if  it  fliould  be  flyled, 
in  our  public  papers,  Lord  Bolingbroktfj  written  If. 
gtn.1i  f — 'J'he  impropriety  and  the  malevolence  of  fuch 
a  title  would  be  undeniable  and  odious  :  Who  then  can 
vindicate  the  propriety  of  his  Lordship's  language,  or 

clear 

*  I/ukc  xxiv.  44. 


166  R     E     MARKS 


O  N 


clear  it  from  being  a  moft  injurious  mifreprefentation 
of  the  lac red  records  ?  which,  however  lome  of  the 
ts  might  come  down,  in  a  traditionary  channel,  to 
the  writers,  by  palling  through  their  hands,  receive 
the  ftamp  of  undoubted  certainty  ;  and  are  no  longer 
traditions,  but  qraclcs. 

I  wifh  this  had  been  the  only  inftance  of  artifice  and 
impofition  uied  in  the  letters  under  examination. 
Why  are  fo  many  idle  talcs,  and  fcandalous  Itories, 
raked  together,  and  cxpoted  to  vie  v  *  ?  Why  ?  but 
to  put  a  cheat  upon  the  inattentive  reader,  and  de- 
preciate f  the  dignity  of  the  divine  word  ?  depretiate 
it,  much  in  the  lame  manner,  as  its  mod  illuitrious 
object  and  author  w  is  formerly  difhonoured  ;  not  on- 
ly by  the /£,/£•  accvfafhttft  with  which  he  was  charged ; 
but  alfo  by  the  infamous  company,  with  whom  he  was 
numbered. — Did  my  Lord  imagine,  that  thcfe  tales 
were  really  believed,  even  by  the  warmelt  advocates 
for  holy  writ  ?  No  :  he  muft  know  in  his  confcience, 
that  they  never  were  received  by  the  generality  of  di- 
vines ; 

*  See  paeres  85.  86,  88, — 102, — 108,  109. 
f  I  would  by  no  means  indulge  A  ^eiulant  or  cenforious  hu- 
mour. Yet  I  c-mnot  forbear  thinking,  that  the  icriptnres  are 
too  often  depreciated  in  his  Lordihip's  performance;  fome- 
times  by  fneer  ;  lometimes  by  cavil ;  and  fometimes  even  by 
languid  approbation,  or  a  counterfeit  fort  of  praiie.  Such  as, 
— "  //"the  foundation's  of  ChrifHamty  have  been  laid  in  truth," 
page  123. — "  Paffages  \\h\chfecrn  favourable  to  the  doftrine  of 
**  the  Trinity."  Pzge  98. —  1  ho*  1  llioukl  be  loath  to  reject 
any  tefliiuony  in  favour  of  Chriftianity  ;  Aill  more  loath  to 

give  up  fo  eminent  a  name  as  Lord  B e  to  the  Deiftical 

party  ;  yet  I  cannot  prevail  upon  myfelf  to  acknowledge,  that 
we  are  much,  if  at  all  obliged  to  him,  for  thefe  poor,  je- 
june, cold  compliments.  Such  a  tefrimony,  and  luch  compli- 
ments, arejuft  as  lerviceable  to  the  momentous  caule,  as  a 
broken  tooth  is  ferviceable  to  the  eater,  or  a  foot  out  tf  joint 
to  the  walker.  Prov.  xxv.  19.  They  are,  in  truth,  mere 
tufa,  ajjpa — or  as  Mr  Pope  moreftrongly  expreflesthefentiment, 

They  damn  ivitb  faint  praiff. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     167 

vines  ;  neither  are  mentioned  by  authors  of  difcern- 
ment,  unlefs  it  be  to  confute  and  rejeti  them. — How- 
ever, be  they  credited  or  not,  it  was  apprehended, 
they  might  ierve  a  purpofe.  But  whether  it  be  the 
purpofe  of  integrity,  impartiality,  and  truth,  1  leave 
to  the  determination  of  others. 

Still  it  is  urged,  That  thefe  fcriptures  are  <c  full  of 
"  additions,  interpolations,  and  tranipofitions*." — 
That  they  arc  full  of  additions,  is  more  eafily  afTerted 
than  evinced.  I  can  find  but  one  inftance  fpeciiied  by 
his  Lo'dfliip.  Which  is  the  account  "  of  the  death 
"  and  fepulchre  of  MuJ'es^  with  a  Tort  of  funeral  pa- 
"  negyric  f,"  recorded  in  the  laft  chapter  of  Deutero- 
nomy. Here  it  is  taken  for  granted,  that  we  are  re- 
duced to  a  terrible  dilemma, — either  to  own,  that  this 
paragraph  was  written  by  Mofes  himjelf;  and  then  we 
may  expecl  to  hear  of  impoffibility  and  abfurdity  ; — 
or  elfe,  that  it  is  all  fuppofitious ;  and  then  the  fcrip- 
tures muft  have  pafltd  through  tampering  fingers,  and 
fuffered  adulteration  ? — But  luppofe  this  fmall  appen- 
dix was  made  by  Jo/'ma;  a  man,  whofe  mind  was 
illuminated,  and  his  hand  guided,  by  the  Spirit  of 
the  Moft  High  ?  Does  fitch  an  addition  deierve  to  be 
branded  with  an  ignominious^  or  even  brought  into 
difefteem  bya/nfpicious  character  ? — Or,  what  if  fame 
other  prophet,  whofe  name  is  unknown,  fuperadded 
this  valuable  anecdote  ?  Is  the  concealment  of  the 
penman's  name  fufficient  to  impeach  the  gc-nuinenefs, 
or  invalidate  the  authority,  of  the  paflan-e  ?  eipeciaily, 
fince  it  has  been  approved  by  other  iqfpired  writers, 
and  received  the  Imprimatur  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  ? — I 
know  not  who  is  the  printer  of  his  Lordliip's  t^wo  vo- 
lumes ;  yet,  though  ignorant  of  this  circumftance,  for 
other  very  fatisfatfory  reafons,  I  have  no  doubt  but 
they  arc  the  genuine  produ^lioiis  of  his  pen. 

May 

95.  96* 


168  REMARKS      o  tf 

My  Lord  would  have  done  well  to  confider, — whe- 
ther it  was  a  probable  or  a  practicable  thing,  to  intrr- 
polute  a  let  of  books,  which  were  fhidied  with  fo 
much  accuracy,  and  kept  with  fo  much  vigilance;  the 
nunii  t  of  whole  veries,  clpecially  in  the  Pentateuch^ 
was  computed  ;  and  the  arrangement  of  the  very  let- 
ters known.  Whether,  aftei7  the  coming  of  Chrifr, 
the  jealous  eye  which  the  Jeius  and  Chriftlans  had  oa 
each  other,  was  not  an  uuiurmountnble  bar  again  ft 
any  innovations  or  material  alterations  \ — As  for  fran/- 
pojitiour,  ihry  are  uicd  by  the  moft  approved  hiftori- 
ans.  When  uled  with  judgment,  they  redound  to  the 
reputation  of  the  writer,  and  increafe  the  pleafure  of 
the  reader.  And  would  his  Lordfliip  make  that  adit". 
paragemcnt  of  the  facred  narrative,  which  is  a  recom- 
mendation of  any  ordinary  compofition  ? 

But  my  Lord  imagines,  that  he  lias  found  out  a 
fubftantial  reafon  for  the  aforementioned  diltinction  ; 
— has  detected  fuch  improprieties  in  the  facred  narra~ 
tive,  u  as  contradict  all  our  notions  of  order  and  of 
41  juftice  *."  He  produces,  by  way  of  jpccimcn,  the 
cale  of  Noah  denouncing  a  curfe  upon  Canaan. — This, 
it  i'eems,  is  the  capital  abfurdity  ;  this  the  glaring  er- 
ror ;  which,  he  concludes,  is  Sufficient  to  uncanonize 
tlie  hiitories  of  the  Old  Tcftamcnt,  and  degrade  their 
writers  from  the  clafsof  inipiration. — '1'his,  therefore, 
if  your  Ludyfhip  pleafcs,  we  will  examine  a  little  more 
particularly. 

The  charge  in  general  is  thus  exprcfled,  "  One  is 
u  tempted  to  think,  that  the  patriarch  was  (till 
"  drunk  ;  and  that  no  man  in  his  fenfes  could  hold 
<l  fnch  language,  or  pals  fuch  a  fentence.-" — Was  1  at 
leiiure  to  ci  iticile  upon  words,  I  fliould  be  tempted  to 
obferve,  that  the  diction  lt  no  man  could  hold  fuch 
"  language,"  may  be  French^  but  is  fcarcely  Englifli* 

However, 
*  Page  no. 


fcOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.    i6cj 

However,  from  the  expreffion  Ipafs  to  the  fentiment. 
— This,  for  candour  znd/blidity,  is  much  like  the  re- 
flection of  the  Jews,  on  the  memorable  day  of  Pcnte- 
coft.  When  the  apoftles  addrefTed  the  inhabitants  of 
Various  countries,  each  in  his  own  native  tongue  ; 
fome  of  their  hearers  afcribed  this  miraculous  ability — 
to  what  I  we  are  amazed,  when  we  read, — to  the  in- 
toxicating power  of  wine  *.  Strange  !  that  exceffive 
drinking,  which  incapacitates  other  people  for  talk- 
ing common  fenfe,  mould  enable  the  difciples  of  CHRIST 
to  f'peak  all  kinds  of  languages  !  —-  Is  it  not  equally 
itrange,  that  a  drunken  diibrder  mould  enable  the 
patriarch  to  deliver*  prophecies,  and  foretel  future 
events  !  which  (as  I  hope  to  prove)  was  the  real  im- 
port of  the  ipeech. 

Perhaps,  this  curfe  may  feem.  to  be  the  effect,  if  not 
of  diforderly  indulgence,  yet  of  intemperate  paffion. 
And  how  incompatible  is  this  With  the  character  of  a 
preacher  of  righteoufnefs  ?  Surely  Noah  mould  not 
have  been  fo  forward  to  call  for  the  thunderbolts  of 
vengeance.  Any  benevolent  man,  much  more  a  pious 
progenitor,  would  rather  have  deprecated  the  blow. — • 
I  wonder,  his  Lordfhip  did  not  ftart  this  objection  ; 
which  would  have  been  much  more  plaulible,  and 
much  Icfs  mocking.  To  this,  in  cafe  it  had  been 
ftarted,  we  might  reply,— That  Noah  acted  as  the 
oracle  of  GOD.  This,  and  many  other  fuch  paflTages, 
which  feem  to  be  imprecations,  are  really  predictions. 
Holy  men  fpoke,  as  they  were  influenced  by  the  Spi- 
rit ;  and  uttered,  not  the  fuggeflions  of  their  own 
minds,  but  the  will  of  almighty  GOD.— Which  in- 
clines me  to  think,  it  might  be  no  lefs  proper,  and 
much  more  fuitable  to  the  prophetic  ftyle,  if  we  tranf- 
lated  fuch  paffages,  as  indicatives,  rather  than  impera- 
tives ;  making  them  declaratory  of  what  is  decreed  inj 
the  cabinet  of  heaven,  and  will  as  certainly  take  place, 

as 
'  Acts  ii.  13* 

VOL,  V.  N'  22.  Y 


REMARKS      ON 

as  if  it  already  exifted.  CulTed  //,  rather  than  be? 
C.:;;..v>:.  Blelfed  of  the  LORD  ;V,  inftead  of&r, 
Ris  land,  Deut.  xxxiii.  13.  Thus  Ifaiah,  foretelling 
the  incarnation  of  that  wonderful  and  adorable  per- 
Ibn,  whom  he  ftyles  the  mighty  GOD,  fays,  To  us  a 
a  child  is  born  *  ;  fo  calling  the  tilings  that  are  not, 
as  though  they  lucre. — Such  a  manner  of  fpeaking 
would  remove  from  this  particular  paflTage,  all  that 
founds  har/Jiy  or  feems  uncharitable  ;  and  would,  irf 
the  general,  impart  an  unequalled  rnajefty  j-  to  the  lan- 
guage of  fcripturs. 

It  was  GOD  then,  and  not  man,  from  whom  this 
avenging  fentence  came.  And  G  O  Dr  to  fliew  his 
utter  deteftation  of  all  iniquity,  to  manifeit  his  fin- 
gular  delight  in  all  virtue,  frequently  takes  occaiion 
to  denounce  vengeanpe,  or  prom-ife  happinefs,  when 
ibme  notorious  evil  is  commited,  or  fbroe  laudable 
good  performed.  And  was  there  not  a  molt  noto- 
rious evil  committed  here  ? — Charity ,  lays  the  apol- 
tle,  covereth  all  things  1  ;  draws  a  veil  over  the  va- 
rious infirmities  of  every  common  neighbour.  But 
this-  man  (man  (hall  1  fay  ?  rather  monfler  of  ingrati- 
tude)1 fees  the  fhame  of  a  father^ — an  aged  ||  father, — 
a  pious  father  ;  and  inftead  of  concealing,  when  he  co- 
methfortkj  he  telleth  if. — Fools  they  are,  abandoned 
profligates,  that  make  a  mock  at  Jin.  What  name  then 

can 

*  If.  ix.  6. 

•f  Blrfjl-dbCi  is  what  any  holy  perlbn  might  fay,  and  compre- 
hends no  more  than  a  fupplicatory  benediction.  Riejfcd  is, 
funs  only  themouthof  a  prophst,  and  implies  an  authoritative 
blefliug. 

•  ^  i  Cor.  xiii.  7.  -rats.  ah.  This  is  one  article  in  the  fineft 
difplay  official  virtue  that  ever  was  exhibited  to  the  world; 
and  mould,  I  think,  be  tranQ.ued  (not  beartth,  but)  cover etb 
or  concealeth  all  things  The  natural  import  of  the  wordjuflt- 
jies,  and  the  context  evidently  requires  this  fenfe.  Otherwife, 
the  firfl  and  lafl  claufes  of  the  verfe  will  co-incide  in  their 
,  or  rather  make  an  unmeaning  tautology, 
||  Lev.  >:ix.  32. 


SOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     171 

can  be  badenough  for  a  prophanc  and  unnatural  wretch, 
who  makes  fport  with  a  parent's  folly,  a  parent's  1m- 
iulnels,  a  parent's  mifery  •? — Surely  this  was  a  mod 
flagrant  violation  of  filial  reverence,  filial  love,  and 
filial  duty  *.  Which  not  only  implied  ib  many  par- 
ticular offences,  each  attended  with  its  rejpeftive  guilt, 
but  indicated  the  offender  to  be  d^ftitute  of  all  piety, 
For,  to  argue  in  the  apoflle's  ftrain,  how  could  this 
man  venerate  a  father  in  heaven,  whom  he  had  not 
feen  ;  jf  he  was  fo  irreverent  to  a  father  on  earth, 
whom  he  bad  feen  ? 

But  fuppofing  the  turpitude  and  immorality  of  the 
action  to  be  very  enormous,  and  fuch  as  deferyed  fome 
iignal  vengeance  ;  the  vengeance,  it  is  objected,  was 
mifapplied.  t;  For  Ham  alone  offended  :  Canaan  was 
"  innocent," — My  Lord  is  not  furc  that  Canaan  was 
innocent,  though  he  aiTerts  it  pretty  confidently.  The 
contrary  notion  has  obtained  among  the  Jews.  They 
apprehend,  that  Canaan  was  iirft  in  the  tran%reflion, 
and,  inftead  of  being  reproved,  was  imitated  by  his 
father.  Biihop  Patrick,  Mr  Poole^  and  other  eminent 
Y  2  commentators, 

*  The  turpitude  and  immorality  of  this  offence  will  appear 
in  blacker  colours,  if  we  confider  the  very  peculiar  reverence, 
which,  iu  thofe  days  of  primitive  fimphcity,  was  paid  to  any 
aged  perfon,  much  more  to  an  aged  parent. 

Credfbant  hoc  grandc  nefas,  ft  marts  piandutrt 

Si  juvenis  vetulo  non  ajfurrexcrait  et  jl 

Barbato  suicunquc  fucr.  Juven.  Satyr.  XIII. 

We  may  fee,  from  that  awful  threatening,  Prov.  xxx.  17, 
with  what  extreme  deteftation  the  moft  holy  GOD  refents 
Hich  an  unnatural  behaviour.  The  eye  that  MOCKETH  AT 
HIS  FATHER,  and  defpiftth  to  ricy  his  mother,  the  ravens 
of  the  valley  Jh all  pick  it  out,  and  the  young  eaglsjhall  eat  it. 
Nay,  it  fhould  feem  from  this  text,  as  though  all  nature  was 
ready  to  teftify  its  abhorrence  of  t'uch  a  crime;  and,  rather 
than  it  fhould  efcape  condign  pumthment,  the  mod  infenCbl.e 
animals  would  rife  up  to  execute  vengeance. 


172  REMARKSrfN 

commentators  think  this  to  be  no  improbable  opinion. 

If  his  Lordfhip  was  unacquainted  with  the  Hebrew, 
he  will  fcarcely  be  thought  qualified  to  pronounce  fo 
peremptorily  concerning  a  cafe  related  in  that  lan- 
guage. If  he  was  acquainted  with  the  original,  he  afts 
fomewhat  unfairly  in  faying,  "  This  notion  is  not 
"  only  without,  but  againfl  the  exprefs  authority  of 
"  the  text  *."  For  he  muft  know,  that  it  receives 
fome  countenance  even  from  the  text  itfelf.  I  would 
by  no  means  offend  your  Ladyfhip's  eyes,  with  any 
rugged  figures,  or  uncouth  quotations.  But  you  may 
venture  to  believe  me,  when  1  afliire  you,  that  the 
moft  exacl  tranflation  of  ver.  24.  is,  Noah  kntiu  -what 
his  Jon  had  dune  to  him,  the  or  that  little  one  \.  Ham  could 
not  fo  properly  be  ftyled  the  little  one ;  fince  he  was 
the  middlemoft,  and  is  always  placed  in  that  order ; 
Shem,  Ham,  japheth.  But  the  defcription  agrees 
perfectly  well  with  Canaan,  the  grandfon  of  Noah; 
and  it  was  quftomary  among  the  Jews,  to  call  the 
grandchildren,  the  Jons  of  their  grandfather.  |. 

Canaan,  it  is  added,  u  was  alone  curfed."-—  The 
•words  would  run  fmoother,  if  tranlpofed  in  this  man- 
lier, Canaan  alone  was  curled.  As  for  the  fafl,  that 
wants  fome  better  confirmation  than  my  Lord's  bare 
afTertion.  To  me  it  is  evident,  that  Ham  was  not  ex- 
empted from  the  curfe.  What  ?  If  it  did  not  fall  up- 
on him  in  perfon  ?  yet  to  be  punifhed  in  his  offspring 
jnufl  be  very  affecting,  and  no  lefs  afflicting. 

But 

*  Page  l.l  j. 

•j"  Though  it  would  have  been  very  impolite,  to  quote  He- 
brew in  writing  to  a  Lady  ;  it  may  be  judged  proper,  perhaps 
be  thought  neceflary,  now  the  letter  is  made  public,  to  produce 
the  original  exprellion  ;  that  where  an  argument  is  derived 
from  \\\eprecifc  (ignification  of  the  phrafe,  the  Icarncdrcader 
may  examine  and  determine  for  himfelf. —  reprf>3a  Gen.  ix. 
24.  The  word  rap  is  ufed  of  Benjamin^  Jacob's  youngeft  for, 
and  tranflated  a  little  one,  Gen.  xliv.  20. 

:J:Gen.  xxix.  5.     i  Chron.  i.  17. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS      173 

But  hold  ;  my  Lord  has  foreftalled  us  in  this  reply. 
Jnftead  of  waiting  for  it,  or  acquiefcing  in  it  ;  he  plays 
jt  upon  us,  with  an  :;ir  of  triumph.  tc  Will  it  be  faid, 
"  — this  has   been  laid, — that    Ham  was   puniflied  in 
"  his  poftcrity  *." — It  has  ;  and,  with  his  Lordfhip's 
leave,    1  will  venture   to  fay  it  again.     Nor  mould  I, 
in  cafe  Lord  Bolingbroke  was  alive,  have  went  farther 
than  his  own  breaft,  for  a  proof  of  my  afTertion.  Would 
he,  with  all  his  exalted  ideas  of  liberty,  have  thought 
it  no  punifhment  on  himieif,  provided  he  had  been  the 
father  of  children,  to  have  heard  them  doomed  to  a 
itate  ofjlavery;    nay,    to  be,  as   he   very  rightly  ex- 
plains  the  facred  phrafe,    u   the   vileft  and  worft  of 
"  flavcs  \" — efpecially  if,  like  Ham,  he  was  appoint- 
ed, in  the  courfe  of  providence,  to  be  the  father  of  fe- 
veral  nations? — and  if  the  doom  had  been  pronounced 
by  a  perfon,  of  whofe  prophetic  fpirit  there  was  fo  in- 
contellible  an  evidence,   as  the  univerfal  inundation 
was  of  Noah's. 

Since  my  Lord  has  no  more  communication  with  us 
or  our  affairs,  I  appeal  to  any,  to  every  parental 
heart. — Let  nature, — fond,  compaffionate,  yearning 
nature  fpeak, — whether  the  infliction  of  fuch  a  penalty 
on  the  fon,  (perhaps  a  favourite  fon,  like  Jofeph,}  the 
fon's  fons,  and  the  lateft  poflerity, — whether  this  be 
not  properly  a  punifliment  of  the  father  \  whether  the 
father  muft  not  feel  by  anticipation,  what  his  wretched 
progeny  muft  endure  in  reality  ! — Nature  once  fpoke 
to  fuch  a  query,  and  this  was  her  language  ;  0  my  fon 
Abfalom  I  my  Jon,  my  Jon  Abfalom  !  'would  GOD  I  had 
died  for  thee  !  0  Abfalom,  my  Jon ,  my  fon  \l  Did  hif- 
tory  ever  record,  or  poetry  ever  invent,  fo  melancholy 
a  moan  \  Jt  breathes  the  very  foul  of  wo  ;  and  exem- 
plifies thefentiment,.whichhis  Lordfhip  would  explode, 
David,  it  is  plain,  was  puniflied  in  the  calamitous 
£xit  of  this  young  prince ;  in  the  difaflers  fuilained, 

and 

*  Page  n;.  |  2  Sara,  xviii,  33. 


X74  REMARKS      ON 

and  the  diforders  committed,  by  his  other  children  *. 
uidam  thought  him  lei  f  punifhcd  in  the  ruin  which 
he  brought  upon  the  human  race  ;  and  laments  it, 
in  the  mod  pathetic  terms,  as  the  fevereft  diftreis  at- 
tending bis  apoftafy  |. — One  wifer  than  Adam,  one 
greater  than  David,  whole  judgment  is  always  ac- 
cording to  truth,  is  evidently  of  the  fame  opinion  ; 
and,  for  that  reafon,  has  formed  the  fanction  of  a  molt 
iacred  commandment,  upon  this  very  principle  ;  He 
"will  vifit  the  iniquities  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children , 
unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation  of  them  that  half 
him. — What  GOD  has  fo  exprefsly  threatened,  he 
has  actually  done  ;  not  on  this  only,  but  on  various 
other  emergencies.  Thus  Efau  fuffered  in  his  deicend- 
ents  J  ;  Jehu  in  his  family  j]  ;  and  Hezekiafi  in  his 
children  §  ?  who  all,  like  the  Canaaniter,  were  children 
of  their  fathers  difobedience  ^  ;  inheritors  of  their  fin, 
as  well  as  of  their  name. — But  this  would  anticipate 
the  reply  to  another  objection. 

Where  is  the  equity  of  curfing  a  people,  that  are 
yet  unborn  ?  Does  not  this  u  contradict  all  our  no- 

"  tions 

*  2  Sain.  xii.  ip. 

•f  See  the  whole  of  Adam's  difconiblate  complaint;  part  of 
which  are  the  following  lines; 


-Yet  well,  if  here  would  end 


The  mi  f  cry  ;  I  deferv'd  it,  and  would  bear 
My  o-wn  defervings  :  but  this  -will  not  ferve. 
Ail  that  1  eat,  or  drink,  or  flail  beget, 
Is  propagated  curfe.     0  voice  !  once  heard 
Delightfully,  Increafe  and  multiply  ; 
Now  death  to  hear  ! 

Farad.  Loft,  book  X.  I. 

%  Compare  Gen.  xxvii.  40.  with  2  Sam.  viii.  14.  Thou/halt 
fcrve  thy  brother;  here  is  the  fentence.     All  they  of  Edom 
ibavid'sfervants;  here  its  execution. 
Hof.  i.  4.  §  If.  xxxix.  6,  7. 

"irum  fuijusfln*  '  Juv,  Sat.  XIJI. 


BOLINGBKOKE's  LETTERS.     175 

"  tions  of  order  and  of  juftice  ?" — It  may  be  contrary 
to  our  notions,  or  at  leaft  it  would  be  unjuftifiable  in 
our  practice  ;  but  is  quite  otherwife  with  regard  to 
the  all-feeing  GOD.  Is  it  not  agreeable  to  the  ftrict- 
eft  rules  of  juftice,  for  a  magiftrate,  when  he  has  heard 
the  witneffes,  fummcd  up  the  evidence,  and  found 
the  prifoner  guilty ; — is  it  not  agreeable  to  the  ftrict- 
eft  rules  of  juftice,  to  pafs  fentence  upon  fuch  a  crimi- 
nal ?  The  queftion  can  admit  of  no  doubt.  Yet  it  is 
equally  certain,  that  this  was  the  very  cafe  with  re- 
ference to  the  fupreme  Judge,  and  thofe  finners  the 
Canaanites . — They  pra&ifed  the  grolfeft  and  moft  inhu- 
man idolatries  ;  they  abandoned  themiclvestothe  moft 
horrid  immoraHties ;  fuch  as  violated  nature ;  confound- 
ed  all  order  ;  and  fuch  as  it  would  be  Shocking  even. 
to  mention  *. — Now  all  thefe  provoking  crimes  were 
prefent  to  the  view  of  HIMj  by  whofe  inipiration  Noah 
fpake.  He  faw  them  with  the  fame  circumftantial  ex- 
actnefs,  as  if  they  had  been  already  perpetrated. — Let 
us  take  thefe  very  important  particulars  into  confidera- 
tion,  the  exceffive  wickednefs  of  thofe  nations,  and  the 
all-forefseingdiftcrnmcnt  of  JEHOVAH  ;  and  then  who 
will  dare  to  injinuate,  that  the  evcrlafting  Sovereign 
acted  unjuftly  ?  that  he  launched  the  lightnings  of  his 
indignation,  in  an  arbitrary  manner,  or  upon  an  in- 
nocent people  ?— Who  will  be  fo  precipitate,  as  to  af- 
firm with  my  Lord,  that  "  no  other  writer  but  a* 
u  Jew,  could  impute  to  the  (economy  of  divine  Pro- 
"  vidcnce  the  accomplifhment  of  fuch  a  prediction  ;• 
ct  nor  make  the  Supreme  Being  the  executor  of  fuch 
44  a  curfe  f  ?" 

The  former  of  thofe  circumflances  will  appear  in  a 
proper  light,  what  his  LorcKhip  calls,  u  cruelties  com- 
*•'  mitted  by  Jofliuu  in  the  conqueft  of  the  Canaan- 
**  ites"  It  will  make  them  appear  to  be  acts  of  righ- 
teous vengeance;  a  much-needed  and  moftdeJirableex- 

tir;?atio» 
*  Lev,  xviii.  4.  -^  Pag.  i  te. 


176  REMARKS       ox 

tirpation  of  a  pcftilent  people ;  altogether  as  fervic£~ 
able  to  the  public,  as  it  was  formerly,  to  deftroy  the 
wolves  from  our  ifland ;  or  as  it  is,  at  prcfent,  to  de- 
liver over  Come  flagitious  malefactors  to  the  ientence 
of  the  law. — Yet  the  execution  of  this  vengeance  was 
delayed,  year  after  year,  century  after  century.  The 
leed  of  Abraham,  for  feveral  ages,  were  not  permitted 
to  enter  upon  the  pollellion  of  their  deftined  inheri- 
tance ;  becaufe  the  iniquity  of  the  Amorites,  which  was 
the  caufe  of  their  extermination,  was  not  yet  full  *. 
— Does  it  then  befpeak  the  man  of  integrity,  to  repre- 
fent  thofe  proceedings  of  Jo/hua,  under  the  abhorred 
irnag*  of  cruelties  ;  which  were  afts  of  a  juftice,  ex- 
emplary, lalutary,  and  greatly  to  be  revered?  Is  it  be- 
coming an  honejt  inquirer  after  truth,  to  fuggcft,  with- 
out the  lead  fliadow  of  proof,  ajelfif/i  and  malignant 
reafon,  for  the  dedrueliori  of  the  Ca naanites ;  w)ien 
a  reafon,  the  moll  equitcble  in  its  nature,  the  moft  be- 
neficial in  its  contequences,  is  exprefsly  and  repeat- 
edly afligned  by  the  iacred  hiftorian  f  ?— This  I  refer 
to  your  Ladyfhip's  decifion ;  who,  I  am  fure,  will  not 
err  on  the  uncharitable  extreme  j  yet,  1  believe,  will 

find 

*  Gen.  xv.  16. 

f  Gen.  xv.  16.  Deut.  ix.  5.  FOR  THE  WICKED- 
NESS of  thofe  nations,  the  LORD  thy  GOD  doth  drive 
them  out  from  before  thee. — See  alfo  Lev.  xviii.  25.  Where 
the  facrecl  writer  delcribes  their  execrable  and  unparalleled 
vilenefs,  by  one  of  the  Urongeitand  bokleft  figures  imaginable. 
So  vile  they  were,  that  the  very  country  loathed  them;  was 
weary  to  bear  them  ;  and  acted  like  a  difgufted  naufearing 
ftomach,  when  opprefTed  with  foul  and  ofFenlive  food  :  Ihe 
land iifclfvomitctbout her  inhabitants.— ^Let  nofqueami/h  critic 
betray  his  falfe  tatte,  and  worfe  temper,  by  carping  at  the 
expreffton.  But  lee  all  be  attonifacd  at  the  outrageous  im- 
piety of  the  Canaanites;  and  adore  the  vindictive  arm  of  JE- 
HOVAH;  and  acknowledge,  that  fuch  horrible  mifcreants 
•were  (not  for  fome  reafons  of  ftate,  as  rny  Lord  is  pleafed  ro 
infinuate,  deemed  only,  bat  were)  really,  and  on  the 
f/antial  principles  of  jullice,  an  accurfid  race.  Page 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     177 

find  it  difficult,  with  all  your  good-nature,  to  acquit  the 
author  of  thcie  letters  from  the  charge  of  diftngenuity . 

May  I  not  add, — this  way  of  foretelling,  yet  re- 
fpiting  the  punifhment,  is  gracious  both  in  itfelf, 
and  in  its  tonietjuences  ? — In  itfelf j  bccaufe  a  reprieve 
is  always  reckoned  an  alleviation  of  the  lenience,  e- 
ven  though  it  be  not  the  forerunner  of  a  pardon. — In 
its  consequences  j  becaufc  it  afforded  large  ipace  for  rc- 
colle&ion,  a. id  lliould  have  awakened  the  offenders  to 
a  fenie  of  thdr  guilt.  It  fliould  have  incited  them  to 
ufe  all  poflible, diligence  to  avert  the  daona,  both  by  a 
perfonal  reformation,  and  by  educating  their  families 
religiouily.  Why  did  they  not  act  as  king  Ahab 
acled  *,  and  argue  as  the  men  of  Nineveh  argued  f, 
in  a  following  age,  but  on  a  like  occafion  ? — Infiead 
of  this,  inflead  of  betaking  themfelves  to  coniidera- 
tion  and  prayer,  to  repentance  and  amendment,  they 
ran  to  thejame,  to  greater  excels  of  ungodlinefs. 

So  that  thefe  people,  being  evidently  inheritors  of 
their  father's  finful  nature,  and  obftinately  periitting  in 
their  father's  finful  ways,  we're  mofl  deferuedly  partakers 
of  his  curie.  And  though;  GOD  is  that  uncontrollable 
Sovereign,  who  giveth  not,  is  under  no  obligation  to 
give,  account  of  any  of  his  matters  J;  though  he  often 
has  reafons  for  his  difpenfations  absolutely  unfearch- 
able  by  any  mortal  ;  yet  here  he  is  clearly  vindicated 
even  before  men, — even  before  thefinners  themfelves. 
They  themfelves  muft  confefs  the  jufHce  of  their 
doom  ;  and  own,  fhat  GOD  Jiath  done  rightconjly,  but 
they  have  done  "wickedly  ;  that  GOD  has  fliewed  all 
iong-iuffcrii'g.  and  given  full  warning  before  the  blow 
fell.  Whereas  they,  notwithftanding  this  forbearance 
and  this  admonition,  have  continued  incorrigible  ; 
and  without  any  other  change,  but  that  of  becoming 
more  confummately  vile. 

Agreeably 
*  i  Kings  xxi.  27,  29.       -f  Jonah  iii.  9       £  Job  xxxiii.  13. 

V.  N°  22.  Z 


178  R     E     MARKS       ON 

Agreeably  to  all  this,  and  conformably  to  the  molt 
acknowledged  rules  of  equity,  it  is  declared  by  the 
iacred  hiflorian,  that  the  Anwritcs^  the  deiccndents  of 
Canaan,  fuftered  not  till  they  had  filled  up  the  mcaiure 
of  their  iniquities  *;  their  own,  as  well  as  their  father's. 
—All  which,  I  fliould  imagine,  is  fuHicient,  not  only 
to  jujlify  the  counlels,  but  to  glorify  the  judgments, 
of  the  great  JEHOVAH,  fufficient  allo  to  /atiijy 
any  inquirer,  who  is  (as  my  Lord  very  handibmeiy 
expreffes  himfclf)  "  candid  but  not  implicit,  willing 
*c  to  be  informed  yet  curious  to  examine." 

My  Lord's  citrioflty  to  examine,  (hall  I  fay  ?  or  his  re- 
fohmon  to  be  diffitisfied  ?  proceeds  Hill  farther.  Ac- 
cordingly he  adds,  "  Who  does  not  fee,  that  the 
"  curie  and  the  punifliment,  in  this  cafe,  fell  on  Ca- 
"  nnan  and  his  poitei  ity,  exclufively  of  the  reft  of  the 
"  pouVrity  of  tiam  \?" — The  particle  o/,  fo  frequent- 
ly repeated  in  a  (ingle  fentcnce,  can  hardly  be  admired 
as  an  elegance  \  of  Ipcech^  But^  taking  no  more  notice 
of  fuch  little  blemilhes,  1  flialj  conlider  the  weight, 
not  the  polifh,  of  his  Lordfhip's  arguments. —  \s  for 
this  argument,  1  verily  think,  when  laid  in  the  balance 
of  impartiality  and  candour,  it  will  be  found  wanting. 
For,  admitting  the  objection  in  its  full  icope,  what 
fallows  ?  Why,  that  the  righteous  GOD  pardoned 
Jonie  criminals,  when  he  might  juftly  punifh  #//• 

And 

*  Gen.  xv.  t6.  *f"  Page  no,  112. 

^  This,  and  one  or  two  proceeding  remarks  of  the  fame  na- 
ture, are  fcarcely  worth  our  notice.  Neither  fliould  I  have 
mentioned  the:n,  had  thty  not  fell  in  my  way  ;  and  were  it 
rot  .o  put  a  query  upon  the  popular  notion,  that  his  L^-rd- 
ih'p'^  Hyie  is  fc  correct,  elegant,  and  noble,  as  to  he  z]t<*nd' 
at d  i^- fin'  writing.  It  cannor,  in  mv  apprehenfion,  julily 
cijiin  tltib  honour.  If  others  think  differently,  I  le;ive  them 
to  enjoy  the;r  opinion;  and  (hall  not  (though  it  would  be 
pafy  enocgh  to  multiply  procf.,)  add  a  word  more  upon  the 
fubje^l. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.      179 

And  if  it  fhould  have  pleated  the  fupreme  Judge  to 
repeal  the  fentence,  and  remit  the  penalty,  with  regard 
to  ibme  offenders,  who  mall  arraign  his  conduct  ?  who 
lhall  ceniure  his  providence  ?  To  exerciie  mercy  is  his 
great  prerogative  ;  an  aft  not  of  debt,  bu:  of  royal 
bounty,  which  he  exerciles,  when  and  to  'whom  it 
icemeth  good  in  his  fight  :  /  will  have  mercy  on  whom 
1  will  hroe  mercy  *,  is  his  high  and  holy  reiolve. 

I  might  therefore  anfvver  his  Loi  diliip's  qneftion,  by 
afking  another  ;  which  I  might  propote,  in  the  plain 
but  folemn  words  of  our  LOUD  JESUS  CHRIST  : 
"  If  thsfe  are  fpared,  while  thoje  arc  punilhtcl,  ivhut 
u  /'/  that  to  thee  f  Is  thine  eye  evil^  becauje  GOD  is 
"  gosdf" — Bat  1  (lull  rather  reply  to  the  objection, 
by  denying  the  fact.  The  punilhment  was  not  con- 
fined to  Canaan  and  his  poilerity.  It  reached  the  o- 
thcr  delcendcnts  of  Ham;  Mijraim  himfelf,  the  fathtr 
of  the  Egyptian^,  (as  will  befhewn  in  a  proper  place,) 
not  excepted.  Canaan,  'tis  true,  is  particularity  men- 
tioned.— Becaufehe  was  (as  from  this  very  circumftaijcc 
is  extremely  probable)  an  accomplice  \  with  Ham,  in 
the  breach  of  filial  duty.— Becaule  this  branch  of  the 
family  was  more  than  ordinarily  corrupt,  nay,  beyond 
ineajure  vitious. — Becaule  the  Canac.nitts  were,  in  the 
Jirft  place,  and  in  the  fulli-ft  manner,  to  fed  the  ef- 
fects of  the  curie. — And  Mojes,  being  charged  with  a 
coimniffion  to  execute  the  vengeance  on  this  people 
only^  had  no  occafion  to  concern  himfelf  with  any  o- 
ther.  Juft  as  the  f  her  iff  of  a  county,  demanding  the 

body 

*  Rom.  ix.  1 6. 

•f  This  is  rendered  flill  more  credible,  by  that  particularity 
of  ftyle,  which  the  icripture  ul'es  in  fpeaking  of  Ham.  ham 
the  fitther  vf  Canaan,  Gen.  ix.  18,  2^.  Why  of  Cann&n  fo 
efpecially  ?  Had  he^no  other  children,  no  other  ions  ! — Several 
other. — But  this  difVin&ion  feems  to  be  a  brand  of  infamy  fee 
upon  the  offender  j  and  intimates,  that  he  who  v/as  father  of 
Canaan  by  blood,  was  his  partner,  was  his  brother  in  ini* 
quity. 

I    2 


i8o  REMARKS       ON 

body  of  a  condemned  male faclor,  produces  the  dead- 
warrant  for  his  execution  ;  without  intermeddling,  or 
thinking  himlelf  under  any  neceifity  to  intermeddle, 
with  the  other  prifoners  in  the  jail.— This  leads  me  to 
a  new,  and,  if  I  judge  right,  oy  tar  the  molt  import- 
ant inquiry  ;  namely,  whether  the  curfe  was  executed, 
as  well  as  pronounced  f 

As  I  haften  to  the  proof  of  this  particular,  my  Lord 
embarraflTes  and  retards  me  with  a  frefh  obftacle.  He 
himfelf  has  thought  proper  to  inform  us,  lt  why  the 
44  poiterity  of  Canaan  was  to  be  dscmed  an  accurfed 
44  race."  But  he  lets  the  world  know,  "  it  is  not  fo 
u  eafy  to  account,  why  the  poflerity  of  the  righ- 
tc  teous  Shem,  that  great  example  of  filial  reverence, 
"  became  flaves  to  another  branch  of  the  family  of 
*f  Ham>  during  more  than  fourfcore  years  *." — I  am 
by  no  means  convinced,  that  the  point  propofed  en- 
ters into  the  merits  of  our  caufe.  Should  the  reafons 
for  this  difpenfation  remain  an  impenetrable  fecret  ; 
yet,  if  we  clear  up  the  propriety ,  and  demonftrate  the 
equity,  of  the  curfe  denounced,  we  compafs  our  main 
end,  and  confute  the  grand  cenfure.  However,  as 
the  queftion  is  prefe'nted,  it  fiiall  be  conlidered  :  and 
though  his  Lordmip  fhould  affercl  tojneer,  I  chuie  ra- 
ther, in  imitation  of  thofe  noble  writers,  whole  dig- 
nity I  would  afTert,  to  bcjerious. 

Why  were  the  Ifraelites  fojonrncrs  in  Egypt  f — A 
reaibn  occurs,  that  is  worthy  of  a  gracious  GOD,  and 
greatly  for  the  public  good  :  That  they  might  carry 
thither  the  knowledge  of  the  everlafling  JEHOVAH, 
and  of  the  promifcd  MESSIAH;  of  the  only  ac- 
ceptable method  of  wormip,  and  the  only  eff'ettual  way 
of  falvation. — As  Egypt  was  the  parent  of  literature, 
and  the  fountain-head  of  {cience  ;  as  men  of  letters 
and  curiolity  came,  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  to 

complete 

*  Page  112. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     181 

complete  their  ftudies  at  Egypt ;  if  thefe  heavenly  - 
doctrines  were  received  THERE,  they  would  be 
more  likely,  ibme  dreams  of  them  at  leaft,  to  be 
transfuied  into  all  climes,  and  improve  every  nation. 
So  that  the  people  of  the  LORD,  the  only  depofi- 
taries  of  divine  philofophy,  were  fettled  in  thfs  land 
of  general  refort,  with  much  the  fame  wife  and  bene- 
ticient  views,  as  the  ableft  profeilbrs  of  learning  are 
placed  at  our  famous  univeriities. 

But  why  were  they  flaves  in  Egypt  f — This  might 
be  to  try  them,  and  to  humble  them  ;  to  (hew  them 
what  was  in  their  heart,  and  to  purge  out  their  drofs. 
We  .^.re  taught  in  fcripture^that  the  Almighty  chaftens 
whom  he  loves,  and  fcourges  the  men  whom  he  re- 
ceiveth  to  himfelf.  Even  the  heathen  dailies,  my 
Lord's  favourite  authors,  have  frequently  remarked, 
That  adverfity  is  a  fchool,  in  which  both  private  per- 
fons  and  public  focieties  have  learned  the  moft  heroic 
virtues. — Befides,  this  might  be  intended  to  animate 
and  infpirit  the  IJraelites  for  their  invaiion  of  Canaan. 
They  were,  in  the  general,  a  fupine  and  grovelling  * 
fet  of  people.  Had  they  been  fettled  in  a  (late  tole- 
rably eafy,  or  in  territories  that  were  but  moderately 
commodious,  they  might  never  have  alpired  after  the 
land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey  ;  never  have  made 
any  refolute  efforts  to  polTefs  their deftined  inheritance. 
But,  being  driven  by  the  lafli,  and  infligatcd  by  the 
goad,  of  pungent  galling  flavery,  they  were  even  con- 
ftrained  to  buril  the  chains,  and  pufli  their  way  to 
liberty  and  Canaan.  Their  infuppurtable  flavery  was 
fomewhat  like  bending  the  bow,  and  ft  raining  the 
ft  ring,  in  order  to  launch  the  arrow. — Farther,  GOD 

almighty 

*  Let  none  imagine,  that  the  -wifdorn  of  GOD  is  impeach- 
ed, by  felecTmg  to  himlelf  a  people  of  this  character.  *  His 
clemency ,  his  fur bear ance^  and  all  thole  benign  perfections, 
which  are  fo  neceiT.try  for  the  falvation  of  Tinners,  are  hereby 
difplayed  with  peculiar  advantage,  and  to  our  uni'peakablecon- 
folation. 


.82  REMARKS       ON 

almighty  allures  Abraham,  that  his  iced,  though  cn- 
liaved  for  a  while,  fhould  conic  out  of  their  bondage 
•with  great  (ul'jlance  * /  with  the  illver,  the  gold,  the 
jewels,  and  the  choiceft  treafurcs  of  Egypt.  So  that, 
when  labouring  for  their  tajkmajiers,  they  were,  in 
fad,  labouring  for  thswfelves .  The  wealth  of  the 
opprcllbrs  was  laid  up  for  the  opprell'ed.  And  the 
feaibn  of  thrir  aiiiic'tion  in  the  enemies  country,  was 
like  the  rigorous  cold  of  winter;  which,  far  from  ob- 
Hrucling,  only  makes  preparation,  for  \\Abioff9mJJdi 
jpriag,  and  the  Jruits  of  autumn. — Theie  confider- 
ations  might  h;we  iolved  the  difficulty  to  his  Lord- 
fliip,  as  a  politician. 

Other  rcafo'.is  are  fuggdled  by  our  divines ;  which, 
if  my  Lord  had  thought  it  worth  his  while  to  regard, 
might  have  given  better  fatisfaction,  and  yielded  more 
edification.  They  would  have  reminded  the  Riqht 
Honourable  querift, — that  iuch  a  gloomy  afpecl:  of  the 
Jewijh  affairs,  made  way  for  the  brightest  mauifefta-/ 
lion  of  GOD's  glorious  attributes  ;  of  his  power,  in 
retelling  them  from  their  tyrannical  rulers  ;  of  his 
jnithjulncjs,  in  fulfilling  his  promiie  made  to  their  fa<- 
thers  ;  of  \\j&goodwffs ^  in  Supporting  and  conducting 
them;  keeping  them^  amidlt  the  moil  formidable  dan- 
gers, as  the  apple  of  an  eye ;  and  bearing  them,  even 
through  the  moit  infuperable  difficulties,  as  on  eagle'? 
wings  f .  This  alib  opened  a  mofl  conjpicuous  theatre, 
for  that  amazing  train  of  miracles,  which  have  been, 
in  all  ages,  as  ierviccable  to  the  faith  of  Chriftians,  as 
>  they 

*  Gen.  xv.  14. 

•f  See  Deut.  xxxii.  10,  it.  Thefe,  1  think,  are  trmft  delight- 
ful and  Inimitably-delicate  reprefentations.  Let  the  pious  critic 
try,  if  lie  can  conceive  thole  tender  offices,  that  unintennltted 
vigilance,  and  aifiduity  of  protecting  cherifhing  cares,  which 
are  exprefled  in  thele  fine  images.  For  n>y  part,  I  own  my  felt' 
incapable  of  defcribing  them  ;  but  moft  earneltly  wilh,  that 
every  reader  as  well  as  myfelf  may  learn  them  in  that  belt  of 
ichools,  the  fchvjol  of  experience. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     183 

they  were  formerly  conducive  to  the  welfare  of  the 
'Je-ws. — They  would  farther  have  informed  his  Lord- 
fhip,  and  have  confirmed  their  opinion  by  apoftolical 
authority,  that  the  whole  of  this  molt  wonderful 
tranfaftion  was  typical  of  J'piritual  things  ;  was  a  ferits 
*of  living  leiFons,  delivered,  according  to  the  eaflern 
method  of  conveying  knowledge,  in  iigures  and  em- 
blems. The  Egyptian  bondage  was  a  refemblance  of 
our  natural  condition  ;  which  is  a  (late  of  the  molt 
abjecl  flavcry  to  fin. — The  arbitrary  and  injurious  im- 
poiitions  of  the  tajkmafiers  fhadow  forth,  though  but 
faintly,  the  tyranny  of  unruly  appetites,  and  imperious 
pafiions. — That  barbarous  edicl:  for  the  de£ruclion  of 
all  the  infant-males,  fitly  enough  reprefents  the  genu- 
ine tendency  of  earned  and  corrupt  affections ;  which 
deftroy  our  true  comfort,  fubvert  our  nobleft  interefts, 
are  as  death  to  the  joys  and  to  the  hopes  of  our  fouls. 
— Their  deliverance  from  that  miserable  ftate,  was  an 
expreflive  (ign  of  our  redemption  from  the  guilt  and 
the  dominion  of  fin  *.  Both  which  the  LORD 
JESUS  accomplices  ;  the  one  by  price,  the  other 
by  power  :  not  by  Haying  the  firft-boi  n,  but  by  fhed- 
cUng  his  own  blood  ;  not  by  ibftening  rocks  into  a 
iiream,  but  taking  away  the  heart  of  Itone  ;  not  by 
turning  the  current  of  Jordan  backward,  but  by  turn- 
ing 

*  The  divine  writer  to  the  Hebrews^  makes  the  land  of 
Canaan^  typical  of  a  better  country,  even  of  an  heavenly^ 
Heh.  xi.  1 6.  xii.  22.  According  to  the  fame  author,  the  peace* 
fulfrttlement  of  the  Ifraelites  in  Canaan^  I'uggeded  to  their 
thoughts,  and  pointed  out  to  their  faith,  that  tverlafling  r<-/? 
\vhkh  remaineth  for  the  people  of  GOD,  Heb.  iii.  4,  5,  &c. 
Since  the  terminus  ad  quern  (as  the  fchoulmen  fpeak)  is  evident- 
ly myftical  and  allegorical ;  may  we  not  conclude,  that  rhe 
terminus  a  quo  is  myttical  and  allegorical  1  kewile?  Then  it  will 
follow,  upon  the  cleared  principles  of  analogy,  rhat  the  irter- 
m •  diate  Heps  and  advances  are  of  the  fime  nature;  fignifica- 
tive  of  refined  andfpiritual  things,  under  ear  tiny  mAf.nfiblc 
images. —  I'his,  if  I  miltake  not,  is  put  beyond  all  doubt,  i  Cor. 

X.  I,  2.  &C, 


184  REMARKS       o  u- 

ing  all  our  defires  into  a  new  channel. — The  many 
troubles  and  oppositions  they  met  with  in  the  wilder- 
neis,  exhibit  a  lively  piclure  of  the  moleftations  that 
attend,  and  the  temptations  that  aflaylt,  the  Chriftian. 
Trials  await  us.  Snares  are  around  us.  Through 
many  conflicts,  and  much  tribulation  we  muft  enter  in- 
to the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Only  let  us  beware,  left,  like 
the  ungrateful  Ifraelites,  we  forget  the  G  O  D  of  our 
ialvation,  and/i;//  after  the  fame  example  of  unbelief. — 
The  cloudy  that  was  fpread  over  them  by  day,  to  in- 
tercept the  glare,  and  icrecn  them  from  the  heat  of 
the  luu;  the  lire,  that  ihone  before  them  in  the  night, 
to  chear  the  nocturnal  darknefs,  and  lead  them  through 
the  trat  kiefs  defert ;  were  not  thefe  very  amiable  and 
exact  emblems  of  our  Saviour's  merits,  and  of  his 
holy  word?  The  former  of  which  are  refre/hing  to  the 
guilty  confcience,  as  the  veil  of  a  thick  interpofing 
cloud  is  welcome  to  a  traveller  in  fulti  y  climes.  The 
latter  is  a  light  to  our  feet,  and  a  lantern  to  our  paths 
to  guide  us  in  the  way  everlafling. — Their  pafja^e . 
through  Jordan,  the  priefts  that  bare  the  ark  of  the 
covenant  going  before  them  *,  and  ftanding  in  the 
midft  of  the  river,  till  all  the  congregation  were  pafled 
over  ;  this  very  emphatically  prefigured  our  great 
High  Pried,  bearing  our  /£»/,  fulfilling  the  law  in  our 
flcad,  aboli/hing  death,  and  making  it  zfafe  as,  well  as 
fhort  tranfition  to  life  eternal. 

You  will  excufe  me,  Madam,  for  expatiating  upon 
thefe  topics.  They  are  Ib  inviting,  fb  plcafing,  fo 
comfortable,  that  I  can  hardly  perfuade  myfelf  to 
leave  them. — If  any  other  parts  of  the  epiflle,  thro* 
a  kind  of  unhappy  neccffity  almoft  infeparable  from 
coptroverfy,  mould  refemble  the  afperityoftbc  thorn; 
this,  I  hope,  will  bear  Ibme  affinity  to  the  fragrance 
of  the  rofe.  For  which  caufe  it  is,  that  1  chufe  only 
to  touch,  and  but  lightly  touch,  the  one  5  while  I 

would 
*  See  Jofli.  iii.  13,  14,  &c. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.      185 

would  open  the  other  into  a  full  expanfion,  and  a  rich 
cffuiLm. — Let  me  add  one  more  observation  on  this 
Lead,  and  J  have  done.  It  is  apprehended,  by  very 
judicious  perfons,  that  the  punifhment  of  the  Egyp- 
tian*,  and  their  total  overthrow,  may  be  a  prefage  of 
the  mijtry  and  ruin,  which  will  fooner  or  later  fall 
upon  individual?  and  nations,  that  reject  the  glorious 
goipel,  and  vilify  its  facred  repoikory  THE  BIBLE. 

If  the  reafons  I  have  offered,  are  neither  tirefome, 
nor  unfatisfadtory  to  your  Ladyfhip,  I  (hall  proceed 
the  more  chearfully  to  (liew,  that  the  curie  was  exe-> 
cutcd,  as  well  as  pronounced. — Had  it  been  the  fenje- 
lejs  extravagance  of  a  man  intoxicated  with  liquor,  or 
the  raj/2  imprecation  of  a  man  heated  with  refentment, 
or  the  designing  interpolation  of  fome  crafty  ftatefm  an, 
would  the  holy,  the  gracious,  the  true  GOD  have  let 
the  broad  leal  of  heaven  to  it  ?  would  HE,  who  over- 
rules all  events,  have  Jujfered  it  to  fucceed, — have 
commanded  it  to  fucceed, — nay,  have  brought  it  himjclf 
to  pals,  by  a  mighty  hand,  and  ftretched-out  arm  ? 
Impoflible  to  conceive  ! — If  therefore  it  was  really 
brought  to  pals,  and  with  a  furprifing  punctuality, 
and  not  by  any  competency  of  human  means,  but  by 
the  moil  evident  diiplay  of  divine  power,  this  will  be 
liich  a  proof  of  its  credebiliiy,  its  reafonablenefs,  and 
equity,  as  no  one,  who  thinks  reverently  of  the  Deity, 
can  deny. 

Canaan  was  to  be  a  fervant  to  Shem. — This  was  ac- 
complilhed,  when  the  Ifraclites,  the  defcendents  of 
Shew,  conquered  the  land  of  Canaan,  flew  thirty  of 
its  kings  *,  and  took  poffcflion  of  their  cities  ;  when 
the  Gibeonitcs  particularly,  who  compofed  one  of  their 
principal  f  tales  f,  became  hewers  of  wood,  and  drawers 
of  water,  to  the  congregation  \;  or,  in  other  words, 
the  moil  menial  fcrvants.to  the  lowefl  of  the  people. 

By 
*   Jofli.  xii.  i.  -74.      -j-  Jofli.  x.  2.      £  Jofli.  U.  27. 

VOL.  V.  N°  22.  A  a 


l86  REMARKS       ON 

By  7v-/;<7/  inftrumcnts  was  this  extraordinary  revolu- 
tion v.]ot;,!.i: — by  one  of  the  lineit  armies  in  the 
eaii  or  welt  ?  marlhallcd  by  the  bravert  officers,  and 
headed  by  the  molt  experienced  general  ?  No  ;  but 
by  a  raw,  uncttfdipiined)  enllaved  people  ;  who  were 
cleititutc  of  military  Jkiil,  and  without  any  pcribnal 
q'.iahriotions,  or  warlike  apparatus  for  ib  didicult,  ib 
'  i  ous  an  entcrprize. 

Through  tv/i'it  objlcult  t  was  it  bejrnn,  carried  on,  and 
completed  ? — L,  Ipiti:  of  the  attempts  of  one  potent 
monarch  to  detain  them  in  iervitiide  \  in  fpitc  of  the 
relblution  of  feveral  combined  kings,  to  diipnte  with 
them  every  inch  of  ground  to  the  laft  drop  of  their 
blood.  A  deep  river,  and  an  arm  of  the  lea  rauft  be 
croffed,  by  fix  hundred  thoufand  men,  with  their 
wives,  their  children,  their  cattle  ;  and  without  any 
veilel  to  tivuiiport  them,  or  any  bridge  to  tranfmit 
them. — They  mull  dwell,  forty  years,  in  a  delblate, 
inhofpitable,  barren  wilderneis  ;  which  was  infelted 
by  ravenous  beafls,  and  fiery  flying  ierpents  ;  in 
xvhich  there  was  neither  water,  nor  corn,  nor  any 
iort  of  accommodation  for  abode,  or  iuftcnance  for 
life. 

How  were  nil  th.  difficultiesy//rw<9«w»Vr/r! — Not  by 
the  arm  of  flelh;  this  was  utterly  impracticable  ;  but 
by  the  molt  altonifning  inttrpofition  of  Omnipotence, 
— '1'he  Egyptian  tyrant  is  humbled,  and  brought  to 
their  terms,  by  tlie  infliction  often  tremendous  plagues. 
— The  waters  of  the  river  are  dried  up,  and  the  wav  es 
of  the  great  deep  are  divided,  ib  as  to  yield  them  a 
fate  unobftrucled  *  pafTage  — A  Itream  gufhts  even 
from  the  hard  rock  ;  and  gives  them  drink,  as  It  had 
been  out  of  t, 'ie  great  depths. — Prodigious  quantities  of 

manna 

*  JIf  Isd  them  through  the  deep,  encumbered  as  they  were 
with  their  knwfding- troughs]  and  furrouncled  \\ith  frighrfuj 
b'llows,  as  an  b'.-rfe  in  the  ivilderne/s ;  with  as  much  fafe  and 
fpirit)  as  Tome  courageous  courier  makes  "his.  way  through, 
a  phin,  open,  champaign  country.  If.  Ixiii.  13. 


BOLINGEROKE's  LETTERS.     187 


*  defcend,  with  every  morning-dew;  and  fup- 
ply  them,  not  from  the  garner,  but  from  heaven, 
with  their  daily  bread.  —  Valt  flights  of  quails  arrive, 
with  every  letting  fun  ;  and  drop,  like  a  bird  fhot 
through  the  wing  f,  in  the  thidfl  of  their  camp,  and 
round  about  their  habitations  .  —  The  wails  of  an  im- 
pregnable city  fall  to  the  ground,  st  the  blaft  of  rams 
horns  J.  The  fun  (lands  Itill  in  the  miclft  of  heaven, 
at  the  voice  of  a  man  |j".  All  the  hofts  of  the  nations, 
with  all  their  weapons  of  war,  are  driven  a/under  a* 
the  f:)fi'fi  upon  the  waters,  and  cut  of  as  the  tops  of  the 
ears  <-J  corn. 

And  is  it  probable,  can  it  be  pofiible,  that  every 
clement,  and  all  nature,  mould  not  only  concur,  but 

.     alter 

*  We  are  not  to  think,  that  the  manna  took  its  name  fronl 
any  relemblance  to  the  medicinal  drug,  which,  among  us,  is  lo 
commonly  known,  and  lb  frequently  niecl.  It  is  rather  d^ri- 
ved  trom  the  abrupt  expreflion  of  the  Ifraelites^  on  their  fiifl 
beholding  this  wonderful  food.  They  tned  out  with  amaze- 
ment, «v\  10  Man  Hu  ?  IV  hat  is  this  ?  Which  exclamation* 
denoting  their  own  furprife,  and  the  unexpected  as  well  as  un- 
paralleled nature  of  the  gift,  bec.ime  botu  a  memorial  of  the 
one,  and  a  denomination  of  the  other. 

•j-  This  ii  deftnbed  with  die  utnioll  vigour  and  be.iuty,  in 
that  fublime  piece  of  (acred  poetry,  Pfal.  Ixxviii.  27,  2.8  Hi 
rained  fiejh  upon  them  as  duft,  and  winged  (here  lie?  a  peculiar 
euij)haiib,  anil  thus  flioulJ  the  original  f,33  w  be  tranflateci, 
"winged}  fowl  like  as  the  fund  if  th?  fca.  Yet,  though  they 
were  furniilvd  with  wingi,  and  therefore  might  e.-.lily  tTcape, 
they  neglected  to  make  ule  of  their  natural  powers.  They  fell 
round  the  Ifraitiii/h  rents,  like  the  raia  from  heaven,  which 
retuineth  not  ,  and  like  die  land  of  the  Inure,  -which  cannot  bt 
numbered. 

This  whole  pfalm  is  a  manifelt  pj-oof  of  the  obfervdtinn, 
•which  was  nude  in  a  preceding  paragraph,  —  That  'he/>//?9//V.// 
;md  daflritial  paflages  of  fcripture  are  like  the  deed  and  its 
<-  'inrer-part,  in  their  fubttauce  exaflly  corresponding;  md^ 
like  the  links  of  the  fame  chain,  in  their  connexion  ahfelutcly 
infeparable. 

%  Jofii.  vi.  ||  Jolh.  x.  12,  13.  ' 

A  a    2 


REMARKS      OH 

alter  their  tjlallijhed  courfe,  depart  from  \\\r fundamen- 
tal laws  of  tiieir  creation,  on  purpofe  to  ra'ir'y,  what 
was  bolted  out  by  the  patriarch  in  a  drunken  revel,  or 
foiitcd  into  the  text  by  fomc  Hebrew 


Canaan  was  to  be  fervantalfo  tojfapkctli. — Purfuant 
to  this  prediction,  did  not  the  Greeks  and  Roman* ,  who 
derive  their  lineage  from  'fapheth,  make  themfelv.es 
mailers  of  the  reiidue  of  Canaan  ?  'Tyre  built  by  the 
Sidonians,  and  Thebes  *  by  Cadmus,  were  both  deftroy- 
cd  by  Alexander  the  Grecian.  Carthage,  founded  by 
Dido,  was,  after  a  long  fucceffion  of  lofles,  and  a  vail 
eJfufion  of  blood,  demolilhcd  by  Scipin  the  Roman. 
Which  loifes  made  Hannibal,  a  child  of  Canaan,  cry 
out,  with  a  mixture  of  aftonifliment  and  defpondency, 
jfgnofco  fortunam  Carthaginis  i  i.  e.  j-  "  1  fee  plainly 
44  the  hand  of  Deftiny  working,  \fetthat  oracular  doom 
44  hailing  toils  accomplishment,  in  thefe  dreadful  ca- 
44  lamities  fullained  by  Carthage  !" 

If  thefe  fa&s  are  true,  which  have  the  unanimous 

confent 

*  "  Alexander  laid  fiege  to  this  city,  took  it  by  ftorm,  and 
*'  entirely  deftroyed  it;  flaying  ninety  thoufand  of  the  inhabi- 
•*  tants,  and  felling  the  reft,  to  the  number  of  thirty  thoufand 
44  more,  into  flavery."  Prldeaux't,  Connefl.  vol.  I.  p.  479- 

•f  Vid.  Liv  lib.  xxvii.  ad  fin  em. — A  writer  of  the  firii  re- 
pute, for  elegant  tafle,  arid  penetrating  judgment,  thinks  it 
more  than  probable,  that  -Hannibal,  in  this  difpiri  ted  and  hope- 
Jels  acknowledgment,  refers  to  the  prophecy  under  confidera- 
tion:  which  will  julhfy  my  free,  though,  I  hope,  not  erro- 
neous trandation  c-f  the  palTag^. — What  the  fame  author  adds, 
is  Co  very  ingenious,  and  fo  ap^ofite  to  my  purpofe,  that  I  will 
beg  leave  to  tranicr  be  it. 

*4  That  the  Komans  were  no  ftrangers  to  the  fame  divine 
4<  oracle,  appears  from  Virgil:" 

Progcnium  fed  enim  Trojano  a  f  anguine  duel 
Aud\e*at,  Tyrias  olim  qua  verier  ft  arces. 
hinr  populum  late  regem,  belloque  fuperbum, 
Venturum  cxcidia  Lybia.     bic  volvere  Parcas. 

"In 


189 

confent  of  hiftorians  for  their  fupport,  what  can  we 
fay  of  his  Lordmip's  aflertion,  u  that  Canaan  was 
<c  fervant  to  Shem,  though  not  to  Japheth  *  f"  This, 
I  am  apprehenfive,  will  be  found  as  falfe,  as  the  fol- 
lowing objection  is  -weak,  [n  which  he  urges,  that 
<c  Canaan  was  iervant  to  one  of  his  uncles,  not  to  his 
"  brethren  f ." — Such  a  cavil,  (for  certainly  it  deferves 
no  better  name,)  difcovers  an  utter  ignorance  of  the 
//<?£n?n;phrafeology  ; or  elfe,  -^flran^c  inattention^ it ; 
I  would  not  fay,  an  egregious  mij representation  of  it.  I 
thought  every  one  had  known,  till  Lord  Bolingbroke  un- 
deceived me,  that  nothing  is  more  common  in  the 

oriental 

<{  In  tranflating  which,  if  we  only  name  the  anceflors,  in- 
"  ftead  of  the  dependents,  the  original  prophecy  glares  upon 
"  us." 

From  Japheth'j  loins  derived,  a  race  fhe  kneiu 
Defign'd  the  Jtrength  of  Canaan  to  fubdue  : 
Widc-fpread  their  empire,  dejMd  tofuccccd 
And  -wafte  the  fins  of  Ham  : — So  fate  decreed  ! 

See  Mr  Ridley's  fermons  at  Lady  Meyer's  ledure,  p.  252. 

*  The  words  at  large  are,  "  Canaan  became  fervant  of  fer- 
w  vants  to  Sherri)  though  not  to  Japheth,  -when  the  Ifraclitet 
44  conquered  Pali/tine."  Pag.  m. — I  rauft  beg  leave  to  in- 
quire, why  the  lalt  claufe  is  added  ?  Is  it  to  prove,  that  when 
the  Israelites  fubdued  the  Canaanites,  the  dependents  of  Ham 
were  not,  by  this  victory,  made  iervants  to  Japheth's offspring? 
It  fo,  my  Lord  encounters  a  phantom  of  his  own  raiOng,  arid 
confutes  what  no  man  aflerts. — la  it  to  inlinuite,  thar,  becaufe 
the  race  of  Canaan  were  not,  at  this  //me,  made  vaflals  to  the 
pofterity  of  Japheth^  therefore  they  never  were ;  and,  of 
confequence,  the  prophecy  was  elud:d?  This  feems  to  be  the 
delign  of  the  fentence.  Abftrafted  frem  this  deiign,  I  fee  not 
what  end  it  can  anfwer.  But  this  is  to  draw,  from  premiles 
that  are  true,  a  conclufion  that  is  falfe ;  and  is  juft  as  good 
Jogic,asthelibertine'sarguinent  is  found  divinity,  "  Vengeance 
44  is  not  yet,  therefore  it  never  •wiM6et  executed."  See  2  Pet. 
iii.  4. 

f  Pag.  in. 


igo  REMARKS       ON 

orient:-.!    idiom,    than  to  exprefs   any  relatives  of  the 
IT.  i!c  line,  by  the  denomination  of  brtthrcn  *. 

I  hope,  your  Lad)  (hip  will  not  tl,  ink  this,  or  any  of 
my  other  remarks,  indecently  free.  In  the  prclcnce  of 
the  moft  high  GOD,  all  men  ai  c  upon  a  level.  When 
the  honour  of  his  divine  word  or  glorious  attributes 
is  concerned,  we*  are  to  know  no  ».an  cftt-r  the  flcjh  \; 
pay  no  deferential  regard  to  the  diltinclions  of  birth, 
or  elevations  of  charader.  In  thej'e  lifts  the  privileges 
of  perra-e  ccafe.  And  I  (hould  reckon  mylelf  the 
molt  abj.-ft  of  creatures,  if  through  rcfpecl  of  per- 
ibns  I  could  palliate  or  Jecrcte  the  truth,  when  the 
ever  venera1  le  or.iclcs  of  inl'piration  are  treated  with 
contemj  t.  A  violation  of  decency  this  !  by  what- 
ever lund  it  is  oll'ered,  or  from  whatever  quarter  it 
comes,  incomparably  more  flagrant  than  Jcanduliwi 


Pardon,  Mr.dam,  this  digreffion,  and  permit  me 
farther  to  obfcrve,  —  That  the  progeny  of  Hani,  in 
another  line,  are,  to  this  very  day,  the  Haves  of  the 
whole  trading  world.  The  negroes  I  mean  ;  whole 
clefcent  is  from  that  unhappy  man.  And  what  is 
their  country  but  a  market  of  flavery  f  Are  not 
their  pcrlbns  bought  J  and  fold  as  the  meanefl  com- 
modities ?  are  th^y  not  debafrd  to  the  moft  Jbrdid^ 
and  harafTed  with  the  mod  toiljome  drudgery  ?  made, 
in  the  itridly-literal  fenfe  of  the  phrafe,  Jervants  of 
Jcrvants  f 

I  have  not  forgotten  what  I  promifed  to  make  ap- 
pear, with  relation  to  the  Egyptians  ;  neither  (hall  I 

overlook 

*  See  Gen.  xiii.  8.  ;  where  Abraham  and  £o/,  though  uncle 
and  nephew,  are  called  brtthrcn.  —  Gen.  xxiv.  48.  ;  where  Bt- 
thuel  another  of  Abraham's  nephews,  is  (tyled  his  brother.  — 
Gen.  xvi.  t2.  xxiv.  27. 

•f  2  Cor.  v.  1  6. 

^  No  lefs  than  thirty  tkwfand,  I  have  been  informed,  are, 
every  year,  bought  for  (laves  by  the  Englifh  only. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS'.     191 

overlook  what  his  Lordfliip  has  rcmonftrated  from  ihc 
lame  q'!.i;t-r.  "  The  deicendems  of  Mijraim^  He 
lay:-,  ^  a  /.her  of  the  Ions  of  Ham,  were  the  E-gyp- 
"  tia;is  :  a  vi  tixy  were  Ib  far  from  being  fcrvanisof 
41  lervams  to  their  foufms  the  Shemites,  that  theic 
u  wcreiervants  irfiorv  ants  to  them  *."  —  For  a  lealbu 
they  were.  B  jUhisiervitude  was  calculated  for  the  £ood 
of  their  convmmit)  ,  and  redounded  to  the  glory  of  their 
GOD.  It  terminated  in  i'uch  a  liganl  deliverance,  as 
brought  honour  and  opulence  to  themlelves,  confu- 
iion  aod  ruin  to  their  enemies.  Docs  it  then  follow, 
from  this  tc>>  purnry  fuperiority  of  the  Egyptian  f,vt\\\ch 
ended  in  fo  dij-(fJroits  a  manner,  that  they  were  ex- 
ccpte.'l  in  the.  denunciation  of  the  curfe,  or  favoured 
with  an  aft  of  indemnity  f 

What  lays  the  fupreme  Arbitrator  ?  The  nation 
ID  horn  they  Jet\ve  will  I  judge  f  :  I  myfelf  will  punifh  ; 
not  by  any  human  inflruments,  but  by  my  own  im- 
mediate hand.  Accordingly,  they  were  vifued  with 
the  uioft  dreadful  and  dellruftive  plagues.  In  the  lalt 
of  which,  the  firft-born,  the  flower  of  their  kingdom, 
were  cut  off;  and  at  leiiotli,  their  king,  and  his 
whole  army,  pcriihed  in  the  Red  (en.  Does  my  Lord 
make  no  account  of  thel'e  moil  terrible  and  unexampled 
;ncnts  ? 

Beiides,  what   was  the   condition  of  this  people  in 

the   following   apes  ?  If  we   confult  EzzkicL  lie  will 

declare  it,  as  clearly  by  the  (pirit  of  prophecy  J,  as  if 

he  had  livrd  on  the  ipot,  and  fecn  the  face  of  affairs. 

tc    \nd  it  came  to  pafs,  in  the  eleventh  year,  in  the  tirfl 

"  month.,  in  the  fcvcnthday  of  the  month,  that  the  -.\-ord 

'  <>f  the  I.OilD  came  unto  me,  fiying,  Son  of  man,  I 

e  broken  the  arm  of  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt  ;  and 

'  lo,  it  f!iall  not  be  bound  np  to  be    liealed.  to  put  9 

'  roller  to  bind  it,  to  make  it  itrongtohold  thefword. 

tt    _  £ 


*  Pa?e  n2.  ^-  Gen.  xv.  r^ 

^  Eztk.  xxx,  20,  21,  23.  xxix.  15.  xxx.  13. 


192  REMARKS       ON 

«*  — J  will  fcattcr  the  Egyptians  among  the  nations, 
<l  and  will  difperfe  them  through  the  countries. — E- 
44  gypt  fliall  be  the  baled  of  kingdoms,  neither  fliall  it 
"  exalt  itielf  any  more  among  the  nations. — And  there 
*4  lliall  be  no  more  a  prince  of  the  land  of  Egypt." 
— Is  not  all  this  confirmed  by  ancient  hiftory,  and  by 
the  prejcnt  ftate  of  Africa  ?  From  the  one  we  learn, 
that  the  Egyptians  were  fubjeft,  firft  to  the  Per/I  ans^ 
next  to  the  Grecians,  then  to  the  Romans ;  afterwards 
to  the  Arabs.  And  from  the  other  it  appears,  that 
they  now  wear  the  Turki/h  yoke  ;  arc  governed,  not 
by  a  prince  of  their  own,  but  by  the  Grand  Seignor 
and  his  bafliaws. 

Nay,  let  any  perfon  look  round  upon  all  the  coun- 
tries peopled  by  the  progeny  of  Ham;  and  I  am.  much 
miitaken,  if  he  does  not  find  them,  what  the  Pfalmifl 
defcribcs,  dark  places  of  the  earth,  and  full  of  the  ha" 
bitations  of  cruelty  *  ;  the  dens  of  rapine,  and  the  dun- 
geons of  ignorance;  where  Jlavery  drags  the  chain, 
and  tyranny  lifts  theicourge. — Infomuch,  that  we  need 
not  icruple  to  lay,  in  the  emphatical  words  ofjo/hua^ 
Not  one  thing  has  failed  of  all  the  good,  or  the  evil 
things,  -which  the  LORD  Jpake  by  the  mouth  of 
Noah,  concerning  each  of  his  ions  refpedlively.  •/#/  are 
come  to  paft ,  not  one  thing  has  failed  *j" . 

This  calls  upon  me  to  clear  up  another  part  of  the 
prediction  ; — the  bleffing  pronounced  upon  Shem,  and 
the  enlargement  promifed  to  J  op  fifth  :  which  will  af- 
ford a  new  argument,  to  maintain  tlie  authenticity  of 
the  paflTage,  and  aflert  its  divine  infpiration. 

I  faid  the  blefling  pronounced  upon.  Becaufe  I  would 
not  traiiflatc  the  words,  Bleffed  be  the  LORD  GOD 
of  Shem  ;  hut,  Bleffed  of  the  LORD  GOD  is  Shcm. 
This  will  put  a  Jlriking  contrajt  between  the  doom 
of  the  irreligious  fcoffer,  and  the  reward  of  filial  pie- 
ty :  this  is  what  we  naturally  cxpeft  from  a  G  O  D, 

who 

*  Pfal.  Ixjiiv.  20.  Jofh.  xxiii.  14. 


BOLlNGBROKE's  LETTERS.     193 

who  is  not  unrighteous  to  forget  his  people,  and  their 
labours  of  love  :  this  fenie  the  original  language  will 
very  commodioufly  bear  *,  and  the  event  feems  to  re- 
quire. For  how  manifeftly,  how  eminently,  was  this 
benediftive  fcntence  fulfilled  !  fince,  in  the  pofterity 
of  Shcm^  the  thurch  of  GOD  was  eftabliflied,  and  his 
true  worfhip  propagated.  From  him,  the  Redeemer 
of  mankind,  that  blejfing  ofblejfings^  according  to  the 
flefh  fprung. 

The  great  enlargement  of  Japhettfs  territories,  is  no 
lefs  certain,  and  no  leis  remarkable.  He  had,  for  his 
pofTeifion,  the  iiles  of  the  fea  wcltward,  and  the  fine 
extenfive  countries  near  them  ;  Spain,  Italy,  Greece^ 
sffia  the  Lejs^  all  Europe,  and  the  vaft  regions  towards 
the  north  ;  which  anciently  the  Scythians^  now  the 
Tartars  inhabit ;  from  whom  the  Americans,  the  people 
of  the  new  world,  feem  to  be  derived. — By  Japheth's 
dwelling  in  the  tents  o/Shem,  is  meant  the  converfion 
of  the  European  Gentiles  to  the  gofpel  of  CHRIST: 
who,  through  a  long  progrefiion  of  years,  were  alien s 
from  the  common-wealth  ofl£rzt\,JIrangers  to  the  cove- 
nants of  promifc,  having  no  hope  of  eternal  life,  and 
"without  any  laving  knowledge  of  GOD  in  the  world^: 
but  were,  in  due  time,  periuaded  to  embrace  the  true 
faith  ;  were  made  (as  the  apoftle  elegantly  fpeaks,  arid 
in  a  ftrain  perfectly  correfponding  with  the  language 
of  our  prophecy)  fellow- citizens  ivith  the  faints,  and  of 
the  houjehold  of  GOD  \.  An  event,  altogether  as  unde-r 
niablc,  as  it  is  important,  delightful,  and  glorious. 

Upon  the  whole,  I  cannot  but  think  that  his  Lord- 
fliip  has  planted  his  battery,  and  played  his  artillery, 

if 

*  Gen.  Tx.    26.  ownVx  r.vr  113— »words    of    the  very  fam« 

import,  in  the  very  fame  conftruction,  are  thus  rendered  by 

oar  tnnflatorS)  Deut.  xxxiii.  13.  and  will  hardly  admit  of  any 

ether  interpretation  ;  ruT»  -nnx  mn'  BlrjTcd  OF  the  LORD,  ice, 

f  Eph.  ii.  il.  ^  Eph,  ii.  ly, 

V9L.  V.  N*  22.  Bb 


194  REMARKS       on 

if  not  like  an  unfkilful,  at  leaft  like  an  unfucccfsful 
engineer,  lie  has  pla nted  his  battery  agalnll  a  place, 
too  well  fortified  to  admit  of  any  imprcilion,  and  that 
mult  infallibly  triumph  over  every  allault.  He  has  io 
yiiyed  his  artillery,  that  it  recoils  upon  himielf,  and 
irufhcs  his  own  deiign. — And  this,  1  apprehend,  will 
always  be  the  Hlue,  when  men  even  of  the  fineft  geni- 
us and  moft:  improved  capacities  prefume  to  attack  the 
Icriptures  of  eternal  truth. 

This  very  paffhge,  inftead  of  dcpretiating,  unfpeak- 
ably  ennobles,  the  divine  writings.  It  flievvs,  that  they 
bear  the  {Limp — of  that  all-over-ruling  power,  which 
jmrpoies,  and  none  (hall  difannul  it  j — of  that  all  com- 
prehending knowledge,  which  difcerns  events,  long, 
long  before  they  come  into  exiftence. — And  let  any 
unprejudifcd  reader  judge,  what  degree  of  efteem 
thole  books  may  fairly  challenge,  whole  leaft  confider- 
able,  or,in  his  Lordfhip's opinion,  mojl  obnoxious  parts, 
have  luch  a  depth,  and  fuch  a  dignity  of  wifdom  !  luch 
as  will  be  admired  and  revered,  ib  long  as  hijloric  truth 
has  any  credit,  or  commercial  intelligence  any  being. 

Shall  I  trefpafs  upon  your  Ladyfhip's  patience  a  lit- 
tle farther? — The  penmen  of  the  Old  Tejtament  carry 
all  the  marks  of  the  mofl  difmterejledz.\\(\  undcfigning 
fincerity.  They  record  \\\Q  failings  of  their  favourite 
and  mofl  illuftrious  heroes,  without  concealing  the 
piwijhmcnt  inflicted  on  fuch  mifcarriages.— '1'hc uniform 
tendency  of  their  narratives  and  obfervations  is,  to  pro- 
mote a  religion  the  mod  pure,  the  moil  benevolent,  the 
moft  elevated  imaginable  ;  as  remote  from. all  felfifli 
aims,  and  every  low  art  of  collufion,  as  the  heavens 
are  higher  than  the  earjth. — They  were  r-:en  fmgularly 
qualified  for  their  work  ;  being  either  cye-iuitrie(Jes  of 
the  fadh  they  relate,  or  elfe  contemporaries  with  the 
perfons  they  defcribe,  or  flill  more  remarkably  diftin- 
guifhed,  by  their  ability  to  work  miracles,  and  their 
infi^ht  it&Q  futurity. — As  to  the  facts  related,  forne  of 

them 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     195 

them  had  anniverfary  fol 'emn ities ,  on  which  they  were 
commemorated :  ibme  of  them  had  fignificant  ceremo- 
nies, by  which  they  were  repreferited.  They  were 
publicly  read  in  the  fynagogues,  and  univerjally  knuivn 
through  the  nation,  it  was  a  duty  of  religion,  tvtalk 
of  them  by  day,  to  meditate  on  them  by  night,  and  di- 
ligently to  infirutf  the  children  in  them.  And  were 
nottheie  circumltancesaiecurity,  an  inviolable  fecurity 
againfl  any  attempt  to  corrupt,  to  innovate,  or  alter  ? 
— So  that  their  writings  appear  with  every  character, 
both  internal  and  external,  of  genuine  truth  ;  and 
with  the  mod  unquestionable  credentials,  from  the 
GOD  of  power,  and  GOD  of  wifdom  *.  Conic - 
quently,  they  have  a  credibility  of  their  own;  fuffi- 
cient  both  to  claim,  and  to  fupport,  the  faith  of  an  an- 
cient Jew ;  fuch  as  muft  command  the  aflent  of  every 
rational  and  honeft  inquirer,  even  before  the  Chriftian 
difpenfation  took  place. 

If  my  Lord  had  duly  adverted  to  thefe  confidera- 
tions,  Ibrely  he  would  have  expunged  that  bold  and 
rafli  aflertion,  tc  Without  Chriftianity  we  have  no  ob- 
"  ligation  to  believe  the  Old  Tcftament  f." — Surely  he 
would  never  have  left  behind  him,  that  uma  arrant  able 
and  injurious  infinuation,  that  the  Hebrew  original  de- 
ierVes  no  better  credit,  than  the  fabulous  ftory  \  of  the 

Septnagint 

*  Another  very  extraordinary  peculiarity  in  thefe  writings, 
und,  to  rae  at  lealt,  an  undoubted  proof,  that  their  authors 
were  divinely  infpired,  is,  their  perftff  agreement  and  entire 
conjiftcncy  throughout. — Thoughthey  werecoropoCedby  differ* 
ent  men,  placed  in  very  different  (tations  of  liie,  and  flourilh- 
ing  in  very  dijiant  ages  of  the  world  ;  yet  they  are  as  como- 
nant  and  harmonious,  as  if  they  had  all  been  penned  by  the 
fame  hand. — Any  thing  equal  to  this,  I  never  faw ;  never  heard 
of;  and  1  believe,  the  molt  inveterate  or  nioft  fagacious  adver- 
iaries  of  the  Old  Tejlament  will  not  attempt  to  produce  a  pa- 
rallel, -j-  Page  94. 

^  They?ory  is  told,  page  86. — The  injinuatio*  is  made,  in 
a  prolix,  confuted,  and  obfcure  paragraph,  page  87, 

Bb  2 


I96  REMARKS      ON 

Septuagint  tranflation  ;-^nor  have  found  any  rcafon 
to  "  proteft,  that  he  knew  of  no  rule  to  go  by  *,"  (in 
fettling  the  degree  of  aflcnt  due  to  the  feveral  parts  of 
the  Old  Teflament,}  but  the  fanciful  diftinttion  which 
has  already  been  examined. — He  would  rather  have 
found  reafon  to  adopt  and  iubfcribe  sfgur's  confellion 
of  faith  ;  a  man,  who  was  famous  in  his  own,  who 
will  be  famous  in  every  generation,  and  for  this,  a- 
inong  other  mod  judicious  maxims,  EVERY  "word 
of  GOD  is  pure  f.  'Tis  all  gold,  fine  gold,  without 
any  the  leajl  alloy. 

For  my  own  part,  I  freely  acknowledge  to  your 
Ladyfhip,  that  I  value  the  facred  hiftory  (even  exclu- 
five  of  its  connection  with  the  transcendent  glories  of 
CHPvIST,  and  the  unfpeakable  benefits  of  redemp- 
tion) on  the  very  fame  principles,  which  incline  our 
ConnoifTeurs  to  value  thole  celebrated  antiquities  they 
call  medal sfingular ;  becaule  it  is  fuppofed,  there  is 
but  one  of  the  fort  extant.— Confider ing  the  private 
interefls,  and  perfonal  attachments,  which  are  fo  apt 
to  bias  the  human  mind ;  conlidering  the  impcrfett  in- 
formation, and  ignorance  of  caufes,  to  which  all  other 
writers  are  unavoidably  fubject ;  I  cannot  but  conclude, 
that  the  facred  hiftory  is,  in  point  of  Ariel,  precife," 
univerlal  veracity,  SINGULAR.  There  is  none 
other  befides  this,  no,  not  one  in  the  whole  world, 
that  is  free  from  ail  the  falfe  colourings  of  prejudice  ; 
clouded  with  no  mixture  of  uncertainty  ;  moft  minute" 
ly  true  ;  and  to  be  depended  on,  in  every  particular. 
The  facred  hiitory  is  not  only  ieated  on  the  throne  of 

truth, 
*  Page  100. 

•f-  Prov.  x;xx.  5.  St  Peter  bears  much  the  fame  tcftimony 
to  the  whole  order  of  fcriptural  writings.  With  regard  to  their 
«/?,  he  calls  them  milk;  becaufe  nothing  is  fo  well  adapted  to 
tiouri/h  our  faith  and  our  holinefs.  With  regard  to  their  qua' 
lity,  he  (tyles  them  aXa\<»>,  fmcere^  unadulterated,  pure;  with* 
out  any  lujxture  of  faKehood,  or  any  tiifclure  of  folly,  i  Per. 
tk  2. 


BOLINGBFvOJCE's  LETTERS.     197 

•> 

(ruth,  but,  in  t/iefe  re{pec"b,  pofTefles  it  without  a  rival. 

Lord  Bolingbroke  is  fond  of  Davila  *  ;  becaufe  Da- 
Vila  difcoyers  the  hidden  jpring*  of  action,  and  traces 
up  almoft  every  enterprize  to  its  fburce  f . — Is  this  fo 
valuable  a.  qualification  in  the  Italian  t  How  then 
(hould  we  admire  the  injpircd  hiitoriaps  ?  who  dilclofe 
to  us,  not  the  fecret  mcai'ures  of  a  court,  but  the  ttn- 
Jearchable  counfels  of  heaven  ;  not  the  little  motives 
that  aftuatc  the  politician,  but  the  deep  defigns  of  the 
univerfal  Sovereign  ;  and  all  this,  not  from  precarious 
iunruie,  but  with  thefulle/l  ajjurance.  An  excellency  I 
to  which  no  other  narrative  on  earth  can  lay  any  claim. 

The  fcriptures  throw  light  upon  the  moft  memo- 
rable tranfactions,  that  have  paired  in  the  Heathen  world, 
and  are  recorded  by  the  clajfic  authors. r— When  the  AJ*- 
Cyrian  monarch  fubdues  kingdoms,  and  ravages  na- 
tions ;  we  are  apt  to  think,  he  is  only  gratifying  his 
infatiable  ambition.  But  the  fcripture  allures  us,  that 
he  was  thejlaffin  JEHOF^H's  hand^  and  the  rod 
of  his  indignation  \;  an  inftrumcnt  made  ufe  of  by  the 
King  of  kings,  to  execute  his  righteous  vengeance. — 
When  Cyrus  is  habituated  to  all  the  noble  exercifes, 
educated  in  all  the  fine  accomplishments,  that  form 
the  gallant  prince,  and  conftitute  the  complete  gene- 
ral ;  Xenophan  fees  nothing  more  than  the  exertion  of 
human  policy.  But  Ifaiah  beholds  the  aH-fuperin- 
tending  arm,  of  the  LORD,  girding  ||  this  hero,  and 

preparing 

*  He  wrote  a  hiftory  of  the  civil  wars  of  France,  in  fifteen 
books;  containing  all  that  was  remarkable,  from  the  death  of 
Henry  II.  in  1559,  to  the  peace  of  Verving  in  1598.  It  was 
originally  written  in  Italian,  and  tranfldted  into  French  by  7 
Bocloin.  Collier''*  ti'ifl  J)i&. 

t  P^e  167.  $  If.  x.  5. 

||  If.  xlv.  5.  /  have  girded  thee,  though  tbou  haft  not  known 
me.  Xenophon's  KU^»  n«i,h,a,  : bo*  written  with  quite  a  different 
view,  is  a  very  fine,  and  pe  .laps  the  \ery  bell  commcat  on 
{.faiah's  beautirul  and  exprc  live  ph.-a/c,  TKH 


198  REMARKS      ON 

prep.irinr.  him  for  the  deliverance  of  his  people.— -So 
that  the  icripturc-hiitory  is  it/elf  the  grandcft  and  moft 
uieful  ;  while  its  intercurrent  obiervations  are  a  key  to 
open  the  moft  celebrated  affairs,  which  give  weight 
and  eflimation  to  other  annals. 

The grandeft  and  moft  ujefui.- — JThis  will  appear  to  be 
more  than  a  bare  affertion,  if  we  recollect,  that  here  is 
a  difplay  of  that  great  McJJiah,  who  is  the  hope  of  If- 
rael  * ,  and  the  defire  of  all  nations  f  /  a  difplay  of  him, 
in  his  mylterious  incarnation,  his  wonderful  perfon, 
and  all  the  gracious,  the  benign  majefty  of  his  media- 
torial offices.  From  the  original  prom  lie  (made  to  our 
firft  parents)  through  all  its  progreilive  evolutions,  till 
he  ariies  in  the  New  Teftament,  as  the  only-begotten  of 
the  Father  £,  with  a  luftre  and  dignity  iuitable  to  ib 
divine  a  perionage. — Which  is  an  event,  of  iuch  in- 
comparable condefcenfion,  magnificence,  and  grace,  that 
all  the  prophets  bear  witneis  to  it  ||,  and  the  very  an- 
gels defire  to  look  into  it  4^. 

How  then  muft  your  Lady/liip  be  furprifed,  to  fee 
Lord  Bolingbroke  undertaking  to  aflign  tlic  principal 
fcope  of  the  Mofaic  -t-  hiftory,  (the  former  part  of  it  at 
leaft,)  and  not  enlarging,  not  dwelling  upon,  no,  nor  fo 
much  as  mentioning,  the  Redeemer  :  That  all-glorious, 
all-important  R  E  D  E  E  M  E  R,  who  is  the  fum  and 
iubftance  of  the  whole  fcriptures  ;  the  ^4lpha  and  0- 
mega  in  all  the  revelations  of  GOD  : — cf  whom  Mo- 
(es-+  wrote,  and  whole  day  Abraham  faw  •»-«• ; — whole 
righteoufnefs  was  preached  by  Noah  =,  ar;d  his  final 
advent  foretold  by  Enoch  **  : — whofe  merits,  appre- 
hended 

"    Acts  xxviii.  20.  -f  Hag.  ii.  7.  :j:  John  i.  14. 

||  Ads  x.  43.  4-  i  Pet.  i.  1 2.          •$-  Pag.  icy. 

-f-  John  v.  46.  -H-  John  viii.  56. 

=  2  Per.  ii.  5.  It  can  hardly  be  doubted,  but  Noah  preach- 
ed the  very  fame  righteoufnefs,  of  which  he  hnnfelf  was  an 
heir :  and  that,  we  are  allured,  was  the  righteoufnefs  of  falth> 
Heb.  xi.7. 

**  Jude,  veh  14, 


BOLINGBROKE'S  LETTERS.     199 

bended  by  faith,  were  the  recommendation  of  Abel's 
iacrifiee  *  ;  and  the  confolation  of  Adam  f ,  under  the 
lofs  of  immortality,  and  expulfion  from  paradife  :  from 
whom  many,  if  not  all,  the  antediluvian  patriarchs 
borrow  their  honours,  and  ftand  upon  everlafting  re- 
cord, chiefly  as  being  in  the  number  of  his  progeni- 
tors.— This  capital  omiflion  is  (to  ufe  his  Lordfhip's 
.own  language)  "  a  manifeft  abufe  of  facred  hiflory, 
"  and  quite  inexcufable  in  a  wrker,  who  knew,  or. 
14  fbould  have  known  J,"  that,  in  its  nwjt  early  as 
well  as  in  its  later  periods,  it  invariably  testifies  of 
CHRIST  ||. 

Thus  to  undertake,  and  thus  to  execute,  is  as  if 
fome  pretender  to  anatomy  fhould  engage  to  explain  the 
nature  of  animal  motion,  and  fay  not  a  word  concern- 
ing the  nerves,  the  mufcles,  the  heart  ;  or,  as  if  fome 
Jmatter  in  geography  fliould  offer  to  exhibit  a  com- 
plete map  of  our  country,  and  leave  entirely  out  of 
his  plan,  the  cities,  the  towns,  and  the  rivers. — Yet 
this  is  not  the  only  incident,  on  which  my  Lord,  how- 
ever critical  in  profane  literature,  difcovers  himfelf  to 
have  been  very  remifs  in  the  fludy,  at  leaf!  very  Jit - 
perficial  in  the  knowledge,  of  his  Bible. 

From  which  hint  I  would  take  occaiion  to  intreat, 
and  with  the  moft  affc&ionate  carncfhiefs,  all  that  are 
inclined  to  difpute  againft  this  divine  book,  firft  to 
make  themfelves  thoroughly  acquainted  with  it. — And 
would  they  once  let  about  the  momentous  work,  with 
a  candid,  upright,  and  impartial  mind  ;  free  from  the 

••-idice  of  prejudices  ;  not  blinded  with  the  fumes  of 
lelf  conceit ;  nor  intoxicated  with  the  cup  of  vitious 
pleaiiire  :  if  they  would  thus  examine  the  inipircd  vo- 
lumes, they  would  loon  perceive  inch  a  lovely  conftcl- 
lation  of  truth,  of  wifdom,  and  of  grace,  (Inning  forth 
from  every  page,  as  mufl  turn  lhcirdJfc/fee?KmtG  ad- 
miration, and  their  avcrfion  into  delight. 

But 

*  Heb.  >ii.  4.     j  Gen.  iii.  15.     J  Pag.  i'8.     ||  John  v/39- 


BOO          REMARKS      ON 

But  if  they  bring  with  them  a  fondnefs  for  fame,  a 
haughty  felf-ilitficiency  of  fpirit^  or  an  ignoble  at- 
tachment to  feniual  gratifications  ;  if  they  are  deter- 
mined to  cheriih,  and  will  on  no  confidcration  divorce, 
thefe  feducers  of  the  heart,  and  pervertcrs  of  t\\t  judg- 
ment;  we  cannot  wonder,  that  the  fcriptures  fhould  ap- 
pear to  them,  with  much  the  fame  afpecl,  as  the  mira- 
culous cloud  appeared  to  the  Egyptians  f  which  threw 
darkncfs  on  their  paths,  and  fhed  horror  on  their1 
ibuls,  even  while  it  gave  light  to  the  fteps,  and  ala- 
crity to  the  hopes,  of  the  IJraelites  *. — -In  this  cafe, 
we  may  affign  a  reajbn  for  their  vppnfition,  from  the 
unhappy  circumftances  recorded  of  Iflimael  f  .-  Their 
hand,  their  tongue,  their  pen,  is  a^ainll  the  word  of 
GOD;  becauje  the  word  of  G  O  D  is  againft  them, 
their  tempers,  and  their  ways. 

In  the  facred  narrations,  we  behold  the  arm  of  the 
LORD  revealed. — Other  hiftorians  only  guejs  at  the 
interpofition  of  an  avenging,  or  propitious  GOD. 
And  though  conjectures  of  this  kind  occur  but  very 
rarely  in  their  works  ;  they  are  frequently  cenfured, 
as  a  prefumptuous  intrufion  upon  the  arcana  of  heaven. 
— But  the  penman  of  fcripture,  with  unerring  certain- 
ty declare,  This  is  the  LORD's  doing;  a  flroke  from 
the  fword  of  his  juftice  J,  or  a  reward  from  the  riches 
of  his  goodneis  j| . 

Here 

*  Exod.  xiv.  20.  ft  -was  a  cloud  and  darknefs  to  them^  but  it 
gave  light  by  night  to-  thefe. 

•j-  Gen.  xvi.  12.  His  hand  -wili  be  againjt  every  man,  and  e- 
vety  man's  hand  againft  him. 

^  See  2,  Chron.  x.  15.—- xv«  6. — xxv.  20. — xxyiii.  5,  6. — » 
xxix.  8,  9. 

j|  See  a  Chron.  xii.  7. — xiii.  15,  16,  i8.-—xiv.  6,  12. — xxvi. 
5. — xxvii.  6. — I  refer  to  the  Chronicles,  rather  than  to  the  o- 
ther  parts  of  facred  hiftory,  in  order  to  create  a  higher  eftccm 
for  thefe  excellent  memoirs.  Many  people,  1  believe,  arecow- 
tentedly  ignorant  of  the  Chronicles ;  becaulc  feme  of  the  firft 

chapters 


BOLINGBROKE'g  LETTERS.    201 

Here  we  perceive,  as  in  the  brighteft  mirror,  what 
practices  he  favour j,  and  what  methods  lie  oppq/es ; 
what  couries  are  attended  with  his  bleffing,  and  what 
behaviour  provokes  his  di/pleafure. — Thefe  records  fet 
before  us  the  molt  ftrikfag  exemplifications,  both  of 
the  divine  thrcatenings,  and  of  the  divine  promifes  ; 
demonftrating,  from,  repeated  experience,  that  the 
former  arc  more  than  vain  menaces  ;  the  latter  are 
far  from  alluring  fallacies.  By  which  means,  they 
are  admirably  well  adapted,  to  inculcate  thole  funda- 
mental leflbns  of  practical  religion  ; — a  continual  ad" 
•vertence  to  GOD  ; — a  believing  dependence  on  GOD  ) 
— and  an  habitual  expectation  ofjiicccfs  in  our  fchemes*) 
not  merely  from  any  addrefs  or  induftry  of  our  own, 
but  from  the  all- powerful  benediction  of  G  O  D  :— - 
which  are,  of  all  other  precepts,  perhaps,  the  mofl 
falutary  and  beneficial  to  mankind. 

My  remarks  would  be  immoderately  prolix,  were 
they  to  enumerate  all  the  perfections  of  facred  hiftory. 
I  fhali  content  myfelf  with  wifhing,  that  your  Lady- 
fhip  may  eftecm,  may  reverence,  may  love  the  whole 
book  of  G  O  D,-*-0#/y  in  proportion  to  its  worth* 
Then,  I  am  perfuaded,  it  will  have  your  highc/feRcem^ 
your  profoundefi  reverence,  and  moft  devoted  love. 

Before  I  conclude,  give  me  leave,  Madam,  to  make 

on  f 

chapters  confift  of  Hebrew  names,  which  *ve  forbidding,  and  of 
genealogical  tables,  which  are  ufelefs  to  the  generality  of  read- 
ers.— But,  notwithstanding  their  unpromifmg  introduction, 
they  contain  the  rooft  memorable  and  momentous  occurrences. 
They  are  interfperfed  with  the  mod  weighty  and  edifying  re- 
marks. They  are  worthy  of  our  repeated  perufal,  and  will 
amply  repay  the  mo(t  careful  attention.- — I  would  compare 
them  to  fome  noble  mine,  whole  furface  is  barren,  and  feems  to 
include  nothing  valuable.  But,  as  you  penetrate  the  foil,  the 
treafure  opens.  The  deeper  you  go,  the  more  riches  you 
find.  And,  inftead  of  regretting  the  little  toil  of  application, 
you  ars  only  grieved^  that  you  undertook  the  gainful 
no  fooner. 

VOL,  V.  N°  23,        C  c 


202  REMARKS       ON 

ene  rcqucfl  :  which  I  make,  under  a  fenfe  of  my  vari- 
ous obligations  to  your  Lady  (hip,  with  all  the  enga- 
ging acts  of  your  condefcenfion  and  gcnerofity,  full 
in  my  view.  It  ought  therefore  to  be,  and  it  really 
is,  expre[/ive  of  the  molt  unfeigned  thankfulnefs  for 
your  favours,  and  of  the  tnicji  zeal  for  your  happi- 
ucis.  It  is  this, — That  you  would  carry  on  a  daily 
intercourfe,  and  cultivate  a  holy,  an  intimate  famili- 
arity, with  the  infpired  writers,  and  their  iucftimable 
volumes. — Read  them.  Recollect  them.  Weigh 
them. — Contemplate  them  in  their  magnificent  whole, 
in  their  beautiful  parts^  and  their  harmonious  con- 
ned ions. 

I  (hould  be  afraid  to  recommend,  in  this  zealous 
manner,  and  to  this  affiduous  peruial,  the  mojl  corrctt 
compofitions,  that  ever  proceeded  from  a  human  pen. 
But  here  I  am  under  no  apprehenfion  of  your  cxhauft- 
ing  the  mine,  and  complaining  of  emptinejs  ;  under  no 
apprehcnfion,  left  the  entertainment  ihouldy?<«//d>«  up- 
on your  tafte,  and  create  difguft.  The  more  we  fearch 
thofe  florehoufes  of  wifdom,  the  better  we  underftand 
thole  oracles  of  truth,  the  more  they  will  approve  them- 
felves  to  our  judgment,  and  become  dearer,  flill  dearer 
to  our  affettions. — The  pages  of  fcripturc,  like  the  pro- 
ductions of  nature,  will  not  only  endure  the  teft,  but 
improve  upon  the  trial.  The  application  of  the  mi- 
crofcope  to  the  one,  and  a  repeated  meditation  on  the 
other,  are  fure  to  difplay  new  beauties,  and  prefent  us 
with  higher  attract ives. — Nay,  the  very  attempts  of 
an  advcrlary  to  blacken  the  fcriptures,  irrvc  only  to 
increaje  their  lu/lre  For  my  part,  I  never  fhould  have 
ieen  the  prediction  of  Noah  rijing,  with  fuch  perfpicu- 
ity,  propriety,  and  g'ory,  to  obfervation,  had  not 
Lord  Balingbroke  made  an  effort  to  overwhelm  it  with 
objections,  zvdftnk  *  it  into  difcrcdit. 

Above 

*  An  allufion  to  the  motto,  in  the  title-page, 
Mfrfes  fro  fun  do  pulckrior  event  /} 
and  expreflive  of  its  meaning. 


BOLINGBROKE's  LETTERS.     203 

Above  all,  may  we  bring  to  this  beft  of  ftudies,  an 
humble  mind;  a  mind  deeply  fenfible  of  its  own  igno- 
rance and  iveaknejs  ;  yet  frequently  and  chcarfully  lift- 
ed up  to  GOD,  for  his  enlightening  and  animating 
Spirit :  that,  by  his  bleffed  influences,  our  under jland- 
ings  may  be  opened  to  under/land  the  Jcriptures  *,  and 
our  hearts  opened  to  receive  them  \  :  to  underftand  them, 
in  all  the  folne/s  of  their  heavenly  meaning;  to  receive 
them,  in  all  the  force  of  their  transforming  power. — 
That,  reading  the  threatening*,  we  may  tremble  J  at 
the  awful  word,  and  acknowledge  ourielves  juftly  li- 
able to  thofe  terrible  judgments  ;  but  at  the  fame  time 
believe,  that  CHRIS  f  has  delivered  us  from  the  curfe 
cf  the  laiu,  being  made  a  curfe  for  us  [j  ; — That,  reading 
the  promifes,  we  may  confefs  ourielves  unworthy  of 
an  interest  in  fuch  unfpeakable  blellings  ;  yet  reft  af- 
fured,  that  all  thepromijes  of  GOD  are  yea  and  amen 
in  CHRIST  JE  S  US  #;  are  our  uuqueftionablc 
portion,  through  his  merits  and  atonement  ;  and  will 
certainly  be  fulfilled,  through  his  interceifion  andfaith- 
fulnefs. — Reading  the  precepts  ^  let  us  rejoice  in  the  be- 
lief, that  our  Saviour,  obedient  unto  death,  has  fulfil- 
led 

*  Luke  xxiv.  45. 

•f  Afts  xvi.  14. — Such  is  the  darkncfs,  fuch  the  depravity 
of  our  mind?,  that  they  will  not,  they  cannot,  be  made  -wife 
unto  falvation,  even  from  the  fcriptures  themlelves,  without 
the  powerful  Agency  of  the  bleffed  Spirit.  Unlefs  his  influen- 
ces enlighten  our  underftandings ;  and  apply  the  doclrines, 
•when  underftood,  to  our  hearts ;  we  fhall  be,  even  with  the 
word  of  light  and  life  in  our  hands,  fomewhat  like  blind  Bar- 
tinieus^  fitting  amidll  the  beams  of  day  ;  or  like  the  withered 
arm,  with  invaluable  treafures  before  it.  This,  I  think,  ex- 
perience muft  acknowledge ;  this,  I  am  very  certain,  the  texts 
referred  to$  in  concert  with  many  others,  evince. 

\  See  Ezra  x.  3. — 2  Chron.  xxxiv.  27. ;  where  it  might 
not  be  amils,  to  compare  the  temper  of  true  believers^  and  the 
behaviour  of  an  iHultrious  king,  with  the  fpirit  that  runs  thro* 
his  Lord/hip's  performance. 

j|  G<ti.  iii.  13.  f  2  Cor.  i.  20. 

C  C   2 


REMARKS      ON 

led  them  perfectly  for  our  justification  ;  that  our  Savi- 
our, exalted  unto  heaven,  hac  engaged  to  put  his  Spi" 
rit  within  us  for  our  fanclification  ;  caujing  us  to  walk 
in  his  ftatutes,  and  to  keep  his  judgments,  anddo  them  * . 
— Contemplating  the  various  examples,  may  we  ufe 
fbme  of  them,  as  admonitory  lea- marks,  to  avoid  the 
rocks  of  fin  j  ufe  others,  as  a  conducing  clue,  to  guide 
our  feet  into  the  way  of  peace  ;  ufe  all,  as  ib  many 
incitements,  to  awaken  our  circumipeclion,  or  quicken 
our  diligence,  in  muting  our  calling  and  eletfion  fure* 
Then  we  (hall  have  another  proof,  that  the  original 
of  thefe  holy  books  is  not  from  man,  but  from  the 
LORD  JEHOVAH:  a  proof,  which  fome  peo- 
ple may  explode,  as  imaginary  or  enthufiaftical,  but 
is  really  of  the  utmoftjolidity,  and  of  ihelaft  importance  : 
which,  though  by  no  means  independent  on,  much 
lefs  exclufive  of,  other  evidences,  is,  neverthclcfs,  to 
«ach  individual  perfon,  incomparably  more  valuable 
than  any,  or  every  other  alteration.  We  (hall  HAVE 
THE  WJ :  TNESS  IN  OURSELVES  f.  We 
mall  experience,  on  our  own  fouls,  the  happy  energy 
ofthc/criptures.  They  will  be  ihcinftrument  of  work* 
ing  fuch  a  lively  faith  in  CHRIS  T,  fuch  an  ardent 
love  of  GOD,  fuch  a  cordial  benevolence  for  our  fel- 
Jow-  creatures  J,  as  cannot  fail  to  exalt  our  defires,  re- 
fine 

*  Erek.  xxxvi.  37.  -f-  i  John  v.  10. 

^  This  is  what  his  Lord/hip  means,  or  ought  to  mean, 
when  he  fpeaki  of  4fc  the  proper  force  of  religion  ;  that  force, 
*'  which  fubduev  the  mind,  and  a\ves  the  confcience  by  con- 
•*  viftion."  page  182.  And  i  am  well  afTured,  whatever  he 
may  furmife  to  the  contrary,  that  this  voucher  to  the  real  in» 
fpiration  of  the  fcriptures,  and  divine  original  of  Chriftianity, 
"  is  not  winiing  "  Nay,  1  durfl  venture  to  engage,  thar  it 
never  will  be  wagting  to  any  perfon,  who  fefks  it  with  due 
attention  and  becoming  diligence;  and  neither  forgets  nor  ne- 
gle&s  rhofe  [-ecefFiry  prep.r^t'ves,  prefcribed  by  thegreatMafr 
fen>f  theChri(!iat;  fcbocl:  \  he  one  comprehend  in  this  maxim, 
man  -willdokis  -will,  he Jhali know  of  the-  faftrine^hcthcr 


20$ 

fine  our  affe&ions,  and  dignify  our  tempers  ;— fuch  as 
will  adminifter  comfort  under  affliction,  and  impart  an 
additional  relifh  to  profperity  ; — luch  as  will  teach  us 
to  order  our  convcrfation  right,  amidft  all  the  fnares, 
all  the  labyrinths  of  time  ;  and  gradually  train  us  up 
for  the  pure  blifs,  and  confummate  enjoyments  of 
eternity, 

May  THIS  proof,  Madam,  be  written  «n  your 
hearty — written  in  bright  and  indelible  chara&ers,— - 
written  by  the  finger  of  the  living  GOD  ! — Then,  I 
am  afTurcd,  every  attempt  to  dagger  your  belief,  or 
withdraw  your  veneration  from  THE  BIBLE,  will 
be  like,an  attempt  to  (hatter  the  rock  in  pieces  with  a 
bubble,  or  to  pierce  the  adamant  with  a  feather. — 
This  is  not  only  thzjincere  wijh,  but,  fo  long  as  reli- 
gion and  gratitude  have  any  place  in  my  bread,  it  will 
alio  be  the  carnejl  prayer  of 


Your  LADYSHIP'S 

much  obliged, 
April  zz. 
» 

and  mod  obedient 

humble  fervant, 
JAMES   HErlVEY. 


it  be  of  GOD.  John  vii.  17.  The  other  delivered  in  the  fol- 
lowing direction,  If  any  of  you  lack  -wifdom,  Itt  him  a/k  ofGOD^ 
•who  glveth  to  all  men  liberally ,  and  upbraidcth  not,  and  it /ball 
be  given  him.  Jam.  i.  5, 

POST- 


REMARKS, 


POSTSCRIPT, 


I  have  taken  no  notice  of  his  Lordfhip's  animadvcr- 
fions,  relating  to  the  gcntiinenefs  of  i[\e  gofpel-hiftory  : 
becaufe  this  would  be  entering  upon  a  new  field,  which 
I  leave  open  and  untouched,  for  fome  more  able  de- 
fender of  that  invaluable  depolitum. — Not  that  I  ap- 
prehend, there  is  any  thing  very  formidable  in  the  at- 
tack. But  I  think  it  would  be  ierviceable,  as  1  am 
perfuaded  it  is  eafy,  to  (hew  the  -weakrujt  and  unrca- 
fonablenefs  of  thole  arguments,  which  men  of  luperior 
abilities  arc  obliged  to  take  up  with,  when  they  lift 
themiclves  under  the  banner  of  fcepticifm  or  infidelity. 
—It  would  alfo  be  a  piece  of  public  juftice,  to  inquire 
into  t\\cfincerity,  probity,  and  confijlency  of  thofe  wri- 
ters ;  who,  in  fome  places,  lay  a  mighty  ftrejs  upon 
the  authority  of  the  New  Teftamcnt,  (page  94.)  in 
others,  endeavour  to  Jap  the  very  foundation  of  its 
credibility,  (page  177.) 


CON- 


CONSIDERATIONS 

ON      THE 

PREVAILING    CUSTOM 

O    F 

VISITING  ON   SUNDAYS. 


fentiments  here  offered  againft  the  prevailing 
cuflom  of  profaning  the  Sabbath,  will  probably 
be  a  fatisfa&ion  to  every  ierious  reader,  and  be  pro- 
dudlive  of  much  good ;  especially  as  it  is  in  every  body's 
power  to  reform  one,  and  as  then  his  own  condu<ft 
will  be  a  tacit  reproof  to  his  acquaintance,  who  may 
probably,  through  his  example,  be  induced  to  weigh 
thefe  proceedings  attentively,  and  no  longer  follow  a 
multitude  to  do  evil. — It  is  certainly  a  matter  of  im- 
portance to  inquire  whether  Sunday- vifits  are  juftifi- 
ablc  upon  the  principles  of  fcripture  and  of  reafon^ 
as  the  conlcientious  obicrvation  of  the  Sabbath  has  of 
late  years  been  ib  much  dilrcgarded  ;  and  as  it  is  now 
become  the  principal  day  of  vifiting  among  pcrlbns  of 
all  ranks.  The  chief  advocates  for  the  continuance  of 
Ibch  a  practice  fhould,  methinks,  defend  it  publicly, 
that  their  arguments  may  be  properly  examined,  if 
(in  their  opinion)  fuch  a  cuflom  can  admit  of  any  ra- 
tional defence.  And  thoie  who  are  iufficiently  con- 
vinced by  what  is  here  advanced,  mould  refolvr  to 

dilcontinuc 


CONSIDERATIONS    ON 

difcontinue  Sunday- vifits  themfelves,  and  difcounte* 
nance  them  in  others,  as  far  as  they  can  confident 
with  decency  and  prudence. — That  the  number  of 
fuch  \vell-difpoied  pcrfons  may  be  daily  incrcafing,  is 
undoubtedly  the  hearty  wifh  of  every  one  who  is  iin- 
cerely  defirous  of  promoting  the  glory  of  GOD,  and 
the  good  of  mankind. 

Qu.  Whether  it  be  right  for  TRULY-SERIOUS 
perjons  to  vifit  on  Sundays  f 

PHE  perfons  here  mentioned,  are  the  truly-fcri- 
\_  ous.  As  to  many  people,  it  matters  not  whe- 
ther they  arc  at  home  or  abroad  :  G  O  D  is  not  in  all 
their  thoughts  ;  they  have  no  concern  for  their  eter- 
nal welfare  ;  they  therefore  are,  in  every  place,  al- 
together and  alike  unprofitable. 

But  when  we  begin  to  difcern  the  things  that  arc 
excellent  ;  when  we  fmccrely  defire  to  "  obtain  lal- 
"  vation,  with  eternal  glory,  by  JESUS  CHRIST;" 
then,  whether  it  be  proper  to  fall  into  the  pre- 
vailing cuftom  of  vifiting  on  Sundays  «*  is  the  quef- 
tion. 

Were  our  companions  religious,  and  was  our  con- 
verfation  edifying,  I  fliould  make  no  fcruple  to  give 
my  voice  in  the  affirmative.  Every  parlour  would 
then  be  a  little  fanftuary  ;  would  echo  back  the  ex- 
hortations, and  lecond  the  defigns  of  the  pulpit  ; 
and  we  might  truly  fay,  //  //  good  for  us  to  be  here. 

But,  alas  !  where  do  we  find  fuch  company  ?  when 
do  we  hear  fuch  converfation  ?  The  general  con- 
vcrfation  is  all  impertinence  ;  not  fo  much  as  fea- 
foned  with  a  fpice  of  religion.  T/ify  talk  of  vanity 
every  one  with  his  neighbour,  Pfal.  xii.  2.  For 
which  reafon,  I  cannot  think  it  fafe  or  expedient,  al- 
lowable or  innocent,  HABITUALLY  to  vifit  on 
Sun  •J.'-vs, 

It  is  inconfiflent  with  the  beft  example.     /  was  in 

the 


S   U   N   D    A    Y-V   I   S   I   T   5.        209 

the  Spirit  'on  the  LORD's  day,  fays  St  John.  I  was 
filled  with  the  communications  of  the  HOLY  S  P  1- 
KI  r,  giving  me  clear  views  of  CHRIST,  bright 
hopes  of  glory,  and  (bedding  abroad  the  love  of  GOD 
in  my  heart.  But  is  this  compatible  with  the  idle, 
trifling,  iniignificant  chat,  which  ingroffes  our  ordi- 
nary viiits  ? 

OBJ  ECTION  I.  Will  it  be  faid,  the  apoflle's  was 
a  peculiar  cafe  ?  I  anfwer,  it  was  a  peculiarly- happy 
cafe.  And  will  a  prudent  Chriftian  relinquish  the 
proipect  of  fuch  unfpeakable  happinefs,  for  the  rnolb 
empty  and  dclufive  amufement  I  But,  1  believe,  it 
was  not  peculiar  to  the  apoftle  ;  rather  the  common 
privilege  of  all  believers  ;  written  as  a  pattern  for 
their  practice,  and  to  be  the  plan  of  their  expecta- 
tions. 

It  is  contrary  to  the  divine  prohibition*  The  ne- 
gative law,  relating  to  the  Sabbath,  is,  *'  not  doing  thy 
4  own  ways,  not  finding  thy  own  pleafure,  not  fpeak- 
''  ing  thy  own  words,  //.  Iviii.  13. — Not  doing  thy  own 
"  ways  :"abltaining  from  fecularbufinefs,  and  all  world- 
Jy  purfuits. — Nit  finding  thy  own  pleajure  ;  renoun- 
cing all  thofe  recreations  and  amufements,  which  may 
tend  to  gratify  thy  tafte,  not  to  glorify  thy  almighty 
JLOiiD. — Not  Jpsaking  thy  own  -words;  converfmg  on 
fpi ritual,  fublime,  and  heavenly  fubjects  ;  not  on  low, 
earthly,  temporal  matters,  which,  having  no  reference 
to  the  Creator's  honour,  are  therefore  called  thy  own. 
However,  fome  people  may  act,  or  whatever  they  may 
think,  this  is  the  exprefs  and  unalterable  law  cfla- 
blilhed  by  the  GOD  of  heaven.  Whether  it  be  pof- 
fible  to  mingle  in  modifh  compajiy,  and  obey  this 
law,  let  thofe  judge  who  arc  acquainted  with  the 
world. 

it  breaks  the  divine  command.     The  pofitive- law- 
relating  to  the  Sabbath  is,  Remember  the  Sabbath-day^ 
to  keep  it  holy.     11  EM  EM B  E  R,  take  particular  notice 
of  Ttfis    injunction.     It  is  a  duty  greatly  to  be  re- 
VOL,  V.  N°  23,  D  d  garcled 


aio       CONSIDERATIONS      ON 

par cled,  and  mo  ft  confcicntioufly  to  be  obfervcd. 
Upon  the  due  obfervance  of  this,  our  diipolition  and 
ability  to  obferve  the  other  precepts,  in  good  meafure, 
depends.  Keep  it  holy;  devote  it  to  holy  purpofes  ; 
fpcnd  it  in  holy  exercifes  ;  and  not  barely  an  hour  or 
two  ;  not  barely  the  intervals  of  private  and  public 
devotion  ;  but  the  day,  the  Sabbath-day,  the  whole 
day.  Neither  will  the  whole  day  be  too  long,  if  we 
make  confciencc  of  difcharging  the  feveral  duties  of 
religion,  reading  and  meditation  ;  prayer  and  praife  ; 
teaching  our  children,  and  infti  lifting  oar  do  medics  ; 
examining  our  hearts,  and  taking  heed  to  our  ways. 
All  thefe  offices,  if  properly  performed,  will  leave 
very  little,  rather  no  time  for  unnccefFary  elopements. 
And  (hall  we  huddle  over  all  thefe  important  offices, 
or  totally  neglecl:  ibme  of  them,  only  to  indulge  our- 
ielves  in  the  moft  unprofitable  levities  ?  at  once  doing 
an  injury  to  our  fpiritual  intcrefts,  and  violating  the 
divine  precept. 

I  fear,  it  will  be  a  kind  of  crucifying  afrefli  our  ble  [fed 
M after,  Heb.  vi.  6.  This  expreflion  we  have  often 
read,  but  think  ourfelves  free  from  the  guilt  implied 
in  it,  and  indeed  from  the  very  likelihood  of  contract- 
ing it.  But  let  us  be  reminded,  that  we  crucify  our 
LORD  afrefli,  when  we  give  others  occafion  to  con- 
clude, that  we  have  very  little  eftecm  for  him,  or 
gratitude  to  him  ;  confequently,  that  he  has  little  or 
no  excellency,  for  which  we  or  ©thers  mould  defire 
him.  Now,  what  elfe  can  the  world  conclude,  when 
they  fee  us  giving  into  the  vanities  of  a  licentious 
mode,  on  that  very  day,  which  is  facred  to  the  com- 
memoration of  his  refurreclion  ?  "  Surely,"  might 
the  children  of  this  world  fay,  "  if  thefe  Chriftians 
"  had  any  real  reverence  for  their  LORD,  they 
4<  would  fliew  it  on  his  own  day.  They  would  either 
14  be  retired  to  contemplate  and  adore  him,  or  elfe 
u  come  abroad  to  exalt  and  glorify  him.  But  they 
"  come  abroad  to  be  as  frothy  in  their  talk,  and  as 

u  trifling 


*' 


S    U    N    D    A  Y-V    I    S    I    T   S.       211 

trifling  in  their  temper,  as   forgetful  of  their  S  A- 

V  1  O  U  R,  and  as  regardlefs  of  his  honour,  as  the 
<c  moll:  arrant  worldling  among  us  all."  To  afford 
a  handle  for  fuch  reflections,  is  to  wound  the  R  E- 
D  E  E  M  E  R  in  the  houie  of  his  friends. 

It  \v\l\grieve  the  HOLT  SPIRIT,  Eph.  iv.  30. 
Chriflians  believe,  that  he  is  infinitely  wife,  ail-  graci- 
ous., and  ever  bleflcd  ;  that  he  d\velis  in  their  hearts, 
and  is  the  fource  of  all  their  holinefs  and  all  their  hap- 
pinefs.  Therefore  we  pray  daily  in  our  liturgy,  that 
the  HO  L  T  S  P  I  R  I  T  may  not  be  taken  from  us. 
On  Sunday,  we  commemorate  the  defcent  of  this  di- 
vine gueit  5  and  are,  in  a  particular  manner,  to  im- 
plore his  prefcnce,  and  cultivate  his  influences.  But 
can  this  be  done,  by  neglecting  his  cxprefs  prohibition, 
and  breaking  his  pofitive  command  ?  by  difregarding 
the  examples  which  he  has  fct  before  us  ;  and  diflio- 
nouring  that  SAVIOUR  whom  he  delights  to 
magnify  ?  Befidcs,  dare  any  mortal  prefume  to  fay  in 
his  heart  amidft  a  circle  of  our  polite  vifitants,  "  1  am 
u  now  acting  in  a  manner  becoming  my  relation  to 
"  the  eternal  S  P  I  R  I  T.  Thefe  fentiments  and  this 
'•  difcourfe  are  fuitabie  to  his  dignity,  vvifdom,  and 
"  glory  ;  a  proper  method  of  celebrating  and  honour- 
"  ing  the  day  of  his  miraculous  miflion  :" 

Should  any  one  afk,  u  what  is  meant  by  «ricvinp  the 
"  HOLT  SPIRIT?"  It  means  offending  his'  ex- 
alted Majefty,  and  caufmg  him  to  act  as  men  com- 
monly act,  when  they  are  grieved  and  difplcafcd  with 
any  one  ;  they  withdraw  from  his  company,  and  vi- 
fit  him  no  more.  When  Samuel  was  grieved  for  Saul'r. 
mifbehaviour,  it  is  written,  u  lie  came  no  more  to 
41  fee  SM/."  If  the  almighty  C  O  M  F  O  R  T  E  R 
be  provoked  to  deal  thus  with  our  fouls,  alas  !  what 
a  lofs  muft  we  iufUin  !  a  Jofs,  unfpcakablc,  irreparable, 
eternal  ! 

So  that  if  this  practice  were  not  finful,  it  mutt  be 
exceedingly  detrimental  ;  and  that,  not  in  one  only,  but 

D  d  2  in 


512        CONSIDERATIONS    ON 

in  various  rcfpects.  Have  we  received  fpiritual  good 
from  the  public  ordinances?  The  admonition  of  hea- 
ven is ,  We  ouvkt  to  give  the  more  enrnejl  heedto  tht  things 
which  lue  have  heard,  left  at  any  time  lue  fhould  let  them 
flip,  Heb.  ii.  I.  By  this  practice,  we  not  only  fuffer 
them  to  flip,  but  open  ns  it  were  a  leak  for  their  im- 
mediate difcharge.  Have  we  been  under  edifying 
imprcllions  from  our  private  exercifes  ?  The  unerring 
direction  js,  Quench  not  the  Spirit.  Stifle  not  the  feri- 
ons  deiires  which  he  has  awakened.  Allow  them  their 
full  fcope,  till  they  are  formed  into  gracious  habits. 
By  the  practice  under  confideration,  we  pour  water 
inflead  of  oil  upon  the  feeble  flame.  We  extinguifh 
what  we  fhould  cherilh.  Is  the  heavenly  feed  fown 
in  our  breafh  ?  The  He  diffipating  interviews  are  the 
ravenous  birds,  which  follow  the  feedfman,  and  de- 
vour the  grain :  to  that  nothing  takes  root.  No  fruit 
of  faith,  of  joy,  or  love  is  produced. 

Let  me  only  add,  that,  on  a  dying-bed,  the  mifim- 
provement  of  all  our  time  will  be  molt  bitterly  regret- 
ted. How  much  more  the  mifimprovement  of  thofe 
hours,  which  GOD  himfelf  has  allowed,  has  fet 
apart  for  the  nobleft  purpofcs,  and  is  wont  to  blefs  in 
an  efpecial  manner!  u  While  others  were  feeking  the 
"  pearl  of  great  price,  and  gathering  thofe  treasures 
u  of  wifdom  and  grace,  which  endure  to  everlafling 
<c  life  ;  I,  alas  1  was  fquandering  away  the  precious 
11  opportunities  in  very  vanity.'1  To  fee  the  curtain 
of  time  dropping,  to  fee  a  vaft  eternity  opening  before 
us,  and  to  have  iuch  reflections  haunting  our  confci- 
cnce  ;  this  will  caufe  mifery  not  to  be  exprefled,  create 
anguifh  not  to  be  conceived. 

OBJECTION  II.  Will  it  be  faid,  in  anfwer  to 
thefe  confiderations,  u  That  company,  even  trifling 
41  company,  rs  a  relaxation.  We  return  to  the  in- 
**  ftruttion  of  our  families,  and  to  our  evening-devo- 
*'  tion  vvitii  frefh  abcrity,  being  fick  of  thefe  triflers  ?" 
A  Grange  argument !  It  Should  rather  be  reverted.  The 

objectors 


S    U   N    D    A   Y-V   I   S   I   T   S.       213 

objectors  might  truly  fay,  Being  Tick  of  religion  and 
its  fervices,  we  want  fuch  trifters  to  afford  us  ibme  re. 
lief.  The  fincere  fcrvant  of  CHRIST  would  find 
no  recreation,  but  feel  ^rief  of  heart,  in  fuch  in- 
terviews. It  muft  be  a  real  affliction  to  obferve  his 
divine  LOUD  abfolutely  difregarded  ;  difregarded 
on  the  day  peculiarly  devoted  to  his  honour  ;  every 
vanity  now  preferred  before  him,  as  Barabbas  the 
robber  was  formerly.  The  true  rcfrefliment  for  our 
fouls  confifts  in  having  our  faith  increaied,  our  hope 
elevated,  and  our  views  of  heaven  enlarged  ;  in  con- 
templating the  infinite  perfection  arid  glory  of  our  Re- 
deemer ;  the  infinite  grandeur  and  fulnefs  of  his  pro- 
pitiation ;  and  our  complete,  I  might  have  faid,  our 
infinite  fecurity  from  wrath  and  vengeance,  by  being 
interested  in  his  merits. 

OBJECTION  III.  "  Sunday  is  the  beft  part  of 
11  our  time  for  this  purpofe  ;  bufinefs  is  fufpended  ; 
u  every  body  is  ready  drefled  ;  all  circumftances  in- 
*c  vitc."  Is  it  the  befl:  part  of  our  time  ?  Then  let 
it  be  devoted  to  the  belt  of  beings.  Who  is  more 
worthy  of  our  choiceft  thoughts,  affections,  hours, 
than  that  divinely-compaffionate  Saviour,  who  offered 
himfelf,  in  the  very  prime  of  his  life,  a  bleeding  vic- 
tim for  our  fins,  that  his  facrifice  might  have  every 
recommending  circumftancc,  which  could  render  it 
acceptable  to  GOD,  and  available  for  man  ? 

OBJECTION  IV.  "  It  is  the  univerfal  cuftom. 
"  To  diicontinue  it,  would  render  us  unfafhionable.." 
And  cannot  you  bear  to  be  a  little  unfafhionable  for 
his  fake,  who  was  dcipifed  and  rejected,  who  hum- 
bled himfelf  to  death,  even  the  death  of  the  crofs, 
for  four  fake  ?  Is  it  the  uuiverfal  cuftom  ?  Then 
cuftom  is  the  idol,  which  we  are  called  to  renounce. 
I  mufl  fay  of  cuftom,  in  this  cafe,  as  Elijah  faid  of 
Baal;  If  cuftom  be  GOD,  follow  its  dictates  ;  but 
if  JEHOVAH  be  GOD,  obferve  his  precepts.  It 
is  written  in  the  fcripturcs,  llonit  xii.  2.  Be  not  con- 
formed 


CONSIDERATIONS   ON 

formed  to  this  world.  To  what  docs  this  prohibition  re- 
Jate  ?  To  fuch  ungodly  cuttoms,  no  doubt.  No  bat- 
tery of  canon  was  ever  pointed  more  diredtly  againil 
a  citadel  to  be  demolifhed,  than  this  text  againft  fuch 
cuftoms.  In  indifferent  matters,  Jet  the  Chriftian  a- 
void  iingularity  ;  let  him  drefs  fomewhat  like  his 
neighbours  ;  let  him  make  an  appearance  fuitable  to 
Jiis  itation:  but  let  him  not  follow  a  multitude  to  pro- 
fane the  Sabbath,  or  to  do  any  evil.  HERE  religious 
perfons  fliould,  by  all  means,  be/ingulttr;  fliould  dif- 
tingutfh  themfelves  by  a  becoming  zeal  for  their 
GOD;  ihould  fet  an  example,  and  (Line  as  lights, 
in  the  midft  of  a  crooked  and  perverfe  generation  : 
otherwife,  they  may  do,  not  themfelves  only,  but  o~ 
thers  alfo,  incredible  harm. 

OBJECTION  V.  Some  perhaps  may  ftart,  and 
reply,  "  If  thefe  things  are  fo,  to  what  a  degree  of 
"  finful  negligence  is  even  the  Chriftian  world  arri- 
*'  ved  !" — With  regard  to  the  world  called  Chriflian, 
this  is  too  true.  And  no  meafure  of  forrow  can  be 
fufficient  to  bewail  the  deplorable  degeneracy.  Ne- 
gligence, or  rather  obftinacy,  in  this  capital  inftance, 
is  a  melancholy  indication  of  no  lefs  diibbedience  in 
other  refperts. 

OBJECTION  VI.  "  This  will  be  irkfome,  will 
"  render  our  religion  a  burden."  I  hope,  no  one 
that  pretends  to  ferioufnefs  will  offer  to  make  this  ob- 
jection. The  finners  in  Zion  made  it.  For  which  rea- 
Ibn  they  are  branded,  and  by  the  divine  SPIRIT 
himfelf,  with  infamy  that  will  never  be  blotted  out  : 
O  !  what  a  wearine/'s  is  it  !  when  will  the  Sabbath^ 
and  its  irkfome  folemnities,  begone?  Mai.  i.  ig.  and 
jfmos  viii.  5.  This  difcovers  a  heart  alienated  from 
GOD,  that  has  not  tafted  the  good  word  of  grace, 
and  favours  not  the  things  which  be  of  C  H  R  I  S  T. 
Otherwife,  fuch  would  be  the  language,  u  One  day, 
"  thus  employed,  is  better  than  a  thoufand,"  Pfal. 
Ixxxiv.  Jo.  Is  it  tedious  and  burdenfome  to  pafs 

a 


S   U   N   D   A  Y-V   I    S   I   T   S.        215 

a  Jingle  day  in  devout  exercifes  ?  How  then  fliall  we 
pafs,  how  fliall  we  endure  the  agts  of  eternity  ?  fince 
we  are  afllired,  that  thofe  happy  beings,  who  ftand  a- 
round  the  throne,  clothed  with  white  robes,  ferve 
their  GOD  day  and  night,  for  ever  and  ever,  in  his 
temple.  In  the  regions  of  immortality  they  find  a 
heaven  ;  becaufe  there  they  have  a  never-ceafing  and 
eternal  communion  with  GOD;  becaufe  there  they 
have  an  uninterrupted  and  everlafting  Sabbath. 


TREATISE 

O    N      T    H    E 

RELIGIOUS    EDUCATION 
o   r 

DAUGHTERS, 


Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  Jhe  Jbould go  ;  and  luhenjhe  is  old, 
Jhe  -will  not  depart  from  it.     Prov.  xxii.  6. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

AS  this  little  treatife  was  intended  for  the  prefs, 
by  Mr  HE  R  v  E  Y,  he  had  tranicribed  it  from  his 
fhort-hand  copy. — The  candid  reader  will,  however, 
make  the  proper  allowances  for  a  pofthumous  piece, 
which  would  undoubtedly  have  appeared  lefs  defec- 
tive, had  it  been  revifed  by  the  ingenious  AUTHOR. 


IT  has  long  been  a  prevailing  report,  that,  among  per- 
fons  of  education  andd:(tincT:ion,truereligionisvery 
rare.  This,  I  would  hope,  is  an  invidious  rumour,  rather 
than  a  true  reprefcntation  of  the  cafe.  May  it  not  be  an 

artifice 


On  the  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION,  &c. 

artifice  of  the  grand  enemy  ?  calculated  to  bring  the 
bcft  and  noblert  of  cauies  into  diirepute  ;  as  though 
politenefs  and  piety  were  inconfdtent  ;  as  though  grace 
and  good-breeding  were  irreconciieable. — Is  then  the 
faith  of  CHRIST  quite  fatal  to  refined  manners  I 
as  the  rod  of  Mofes  was  to  the  counterfeit  miracles  of 
the  magicians.  No  :  it  is  rather  like  the  influence  of 
the  fanftuary  on  the  rod  of  sJaron;  which,  while  it 
remained  at  a  diftance  from  the  tabernacle,  was  a  dry, 
Japlels,  and  barren  flick  ;  but,  when  depofited  before 
the  ark,  was  quickened  into  vegetable  light,  was  a- 
dorned  with  a  milk-white  bloom,  and  enriched  with 
full-grown  fruit  ;  or,  as  the  facred  biftorian  expreile* 
this  iurprifing  -fact,  "  It  brought  forth  buds,  and 
"  bloomed  biolFoms,  and  yielded  almonds/'  Numb. 

KVli.   ft. 

I  find  upon  the  lift  of  faints,  the  moft  -renowned 
kings,  and  victorious  generals  ;  the  ableft  politicians, 
and  the  greateft  philofophers  :  men,  that  have  bid  the 
fun  ftand  (till,  and  prolong  the  departing  day  ;  have 
laid  an  embargo  upon  darknefs,  and  protra&ed  the 
Shades  of  night  ;  have  commanded  the  ground  to 
cleave  afunder,  and  tranfmit  their  prefumptuous  foes 
to  a  ftrange  and  inevitable  deftru&ion  ;  have  divided 
the  impetuous  waves,  and  led  their  followers  to  fafe- 
ty  and  to  conqueft,  through  the  depths  of  the  fea  : 
men,  who  have  walked  in  the  burning  fiery  furnace, 
as  under  the  flicker  of  an  embowering  arbour  ;  and 
•fat  in  the  lion's  den,  an;iclfl  a  herd  of  hungry  mongers, 
with  as  much  ferenity,  and  as  much  Security,  as  a- 
midlt  a  circle  of  bofom-friends. 

I  myfelf  have  known  various  perrons,  admired  for 
their  accomplifhed  behaviour,  and  revered  for  their 
exalted  ftation,  wko  have  thought  it  their  higheft  ho- 
nour to  be  fervants  of  J  E  S  U  S  CHRIS  T.  My 
excellent  friend  Camillus,  at  whofe  houfe  I  now  refide, 
is  one  of  the  number.  I  cannot  refrain  from  giving  a 
.portrait  of  C&millus  ;  or  rather,  of  a  few  of  his  mofi: 

Vox.  V.  N°  23.         Ee 


2i8        On  the  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 

cliftinguifhing  features  :  for  to  paint  him  in  full  pro- 
portion, as  he  daily  appears,  in  all  the  mild,  the  be- 
jiign  majefty  of — domeftic  authority, — parental  go- 
vernment,— and  ChrHUan  zeal  j — to  do  this,  would 
require  a  much  abler  hand  than  mine. 

CamilluS)  not  long  ago,  entertained  in  his  houfe  a 
young  clergyman,  who  vyas  always  treated  with  a  re- 
ipe<ft,  faitable  to  the  dignity  of  his  office,  and  the 
piety  of  his  behaviour.  Haying  lately  prefented  the 
•worthy  ecclefiaftic  to  a  living,  and  always  requiring 
refidence  on  the  benefice,  he  is  now  defHtute  of  a 
chaplain.  Remembering,  however,  that  all  Chriftians 
are  fpiritual  priefts  ;  he  thinks  it  no  difhonour  to  have, 
an  immediate  and  pcrfonal  audience  with  the  King  of 
heaven  ;  nor  acting  at  all  out  of  character,  to  reprc- 
fcnt  the  wants  of  his  houiehold,  with  his  own  mouth, 
fit  the  throne  of  grace. 

Before  i upper  is  introduced,  the  evening-incenfe 
afcends.  This,  rather  than  a  later  hour,  is  pitched 
upoq,  that  the  little  congregation  may  join  in  the  fa- 
cred  fervice,  with  a  lively  devotion.  After  a  plentiful 
meal,  when  the  limbs  are  weary,  people,  even  though 
kneeling,  and  in  the  prefence  of  God,  are  more  in- 
clined to  nod  than  to  pour  out  their  fouls  ;  are  very, 
very  apt  to  miftake  the  cuihion  for  a  pillow. — No  fer- 
vant  is  allowed  to  be  abfcnt ;  one  only  excepted,  wliofe 
prefence  in  the  kitchen  is  abiblutely  neceffary.  Ac- 
quainted with  their  matter's  refolution,  they  are  care- 
ful, ib  to  manage  their  affairs,  and  difpatch  their  bu- 
finefs,  that  no  avoidable  obftacle  may  intervene,  to 
detain  them  from  the  ftated  worfliip. 

When  all  a^e  aifembled,  without  either  tumultuous 
diibrder  in  their  approach,  or  a  ilovenly  negligence  in 
their  apparel,  a  chapter  is  read.  Caviillus  makes  rhe 
choice.  He  imagines,  it  is  not  ib  ufeful  for  his  family, 
\vhofe  memories  are  weak,  and  their  capacities  fcanty, 
to  read  the  IclTbn  for  the  day.  He  has,  therefore, 
fclected  ibme  cf  the  moit  iuilruciive  and  animating 

portion^ 


of    ft    A    U    G    H 

portions  of  fcripture  ;  and  judges  it  advifable  to  per- 
tife  thefe  agaiii  and  again,  rather  than  to'  go  regularly 
through  the  whole  infpired  writings. — The  iervants 
take  it  by  turns  to  read  ;  which  improves  them  in  the 
practice,*  and  keeps  them  awake.  If  any  of  them 
difcovers  a  difpofition  to  fleep,  to  him  the  office  is  fure 
to  be  ailigned. 

When  the  chapter  is  /i'mmed,  Camillus  fingles  out 
fome  one  verfe,  of  very  weighty  and  edifying  import ; 
which  for  the  fpace  of  five  or  lix  minutes,  he  explains, 
applies,  and  affectionately  urges  upon  their  confciences. 
— This  done,  with  great  ferioufnefs,  and  profound 
reverence,  he  offers  up  evening-prayers.  Kis  prayers 
confift  of  fhort  ftntences,  and  the  whole  is  performed 
in  a  little  time.  Every  part  is  pronounced  with  that; 
deliberate  flownefs,  and  folemn  accent,  which  com- 
mand attention,  and  create  awe.  He  makes  a  very 
perceivable  paufe,  at  the  clofe  of  each  petition  ;  that 
every  one  may  have  lerfure  to  add,  in  (Hence,  a  hearty 
Amen  ;  and  to  recoiled:  the  merits  of  that  blefled  Re- 
deemer, which  render  every  thanklgiving  acceptable, 
and  every  fupplication  fuccefsful. 

In  the  morning,  before  breakfaft,  the  worftiip  of 
the  living  God  is  renewed.  At  this  juncture,  Camillus 
omits  the  chapter  ;  but  requires  one  of  his  domeftics 
to  repeat  the  verfe  on  which  he  enlarged  the  preceding 
night.  None  knows  which  -(hall  be  called  to  this  tafk  ; 
therefore  every  one  is  obliged  to  be  properly  prepared. 
He  throvvs  the  fubftance  of  his  exhortation  into  a  few 
Searching  and  interefting  queflions,  which  he  addreffcs 
to  one  of  his  children  or  fervr-nts  :  for,  in  this  rcfpt-clT 
no  difference  is  made.  All  arc  equally  enjoined  to  re- 
niember  :  all  ire  equally  accountable  for  wh;tt  they 
hear. — Sometimes  he  encourages  tlu»!e,  whole  aniwcrS 
flicw,  that  they  have  given  diligent  hetd  to  his  in- 
Itrmflions.  .Sometimes  he  puts  on  an  air  of  fevcrityy 
mixed  with  tenderncfs,  nnd  reptoves  the  notorioufly- 
negligent.  Alwayshe  re-inculcates  the  principal  points) 

E  e  a  diargui</ 


On  the  RELIGIOUS  ED  uc  AT  row 

charging  them  to  retain  the  dortrincs  in  their  memory ,- 
.-UK!  revolve  them  in  their  thoughts,  while  they  are 
puriiiiiig  their  rdpeclive  buiineis. — Thcle  doctrines 
are  the  kred  of  faith  ;  the  root  of  godlincis.  Unlefs 
THESE  be 'lodged  in  the  mind,  and  operate  on  the 
licart,  he  never -experts  to  have  his  domeftics  com- 
mence true  believers,  or  real  ChrHtians.  No  more 
than  the  hufbandman  can  rea-ton-ably  expert  a  crop  in 
harvefl,  without  towing  his  field  ;  or  the  florilt  pro- 
inifc  himlHf  a  blow  of  tulips,  without  planting  his 
parterre. 

I  have  given  a  glimpfe  of  Camillas ,  at  the  head  of 
his  family  ;  let  me  now  (hew  my  favourite  in  another 
attitude. — Camillas  is  convinced,  that  no  trult  is  of  lu- 
pcrior,  or  of  equal  importance,  to  the  tuitionary  cul- 
tivation *  of  an  immortal  foul.  As  Providence  has 
blefled  him  with  two  fine  daughters,  therr  prefent  and 
future  happineis  is  the  reigning  object  of  his  care. 
He  has  no  intereft  fo  much  at  heavt,  as  to  give  them 
a  truly-refined  education  ;  fuch  as-  may  render  them 
an  ornament  and  a  blclfing  to  iociety,  while  they  pals 
the  time  of  their  fojouming  here  below  ;  and  may 
train  them  up  for  a  ftate  of  everlafting  blifs,  when  the 
\vorld  and  its  tranfitory  fcenes  fliall  be  no  more. 

Camillas  never  could  perfuade  himfelf  to  admire  the 
maxims  of  prudence,  faid  to  be  gathered  from  the 
extravagant  rant  of  our  tragedies  ;  and  lefs  is  his 
efleem  for  thole  modeft  difpofitions,  which  people  pre- 
tend to  imbibe  from  the  lufcious  gallantries  of  come- 
dy. For  which  reafon,  he  has  no  impatient  defire  to 
iecurCj  for  Mils  Mitijja  and  Mils  Serena,  a  place  in  the 

front- 

*  Stnfcrs,  quid  mfrts  rite,  quid  indues. 
Nittrita  fuii/h's  fub  penetratibus 

Poffet.  HOR, 

The  meaning  of  which  in  Engli/b  is  : 

a  What  could  be  done  u-e  know,  were  we  but  led 
"  By  b-right  example,  and  by  virtue  bred." 


of    DAUGHTERS. 

front-box. — However,  as  we  are  apt  immoderately  to 
covet  what  is  abfolutely  forbidden,  he  has  himfelf  at- 
tended them,  once  or  twice,  to  the  theatrical  enter- 
tainments, and  public  diverfions  j  thinking  it  much 
the  fafeft  method,  that  their  curiofity  fliould  be  grati- 
fied under  his  own  infpedlion  ;  and  hoping  to  make 
them  icnfible  how  much  they  endanger  their  virtue, 
who  too  often  frequent  them  ;  how  fhamefully  they 
debafe  their  affections,  who  are  paifionately  fond  of 
them  ;  and  what  mere  phantoms  they  follow,  who 
feek  for  fatisfaction  in  fuch  delufory  delights. 

They  learn  to  dance,  in  order  to  acquire  a  genteel 
air,  and  a  graceful  demeanor  ;  not  to  mine  at  a  ball, 
or  win  the  worthlefs  admiration  of  fops. — He  is  con- 
tent to  have  them  unacquainted  with  the  wild  and  ro- 
mantic fables  of  Heathen  poetry  -,  nor  is*  under  any 
painful  apprehenfions  of  damping  the  fprightlinefs  of 
their  temper,  though  they  have  no  tafte  for  the  chi- 
merical adventures  of  our  romances,  and  are  ftrangers 
to  the  looie  intrigues  of  our  novels  ;.  being  fujly  per- 
fuaded,  that  there  is  as  much  found  fenfe>  as  linart- 
nefs  of  thought,  in  that  celebrated  faying, 

Retire,  and  read  your  BIBLE,  to  be  gay ; 
'There  truths  abound  of  fuvereign  aid  to  peace  *  / 

He  lias  introduced  them  to  the  knowledge  of  hiftory, 
a-nd  its  inftrucVive  facts.  They  have  a  tolerable  idea 
of  the  four  univerfal  monarchies,  fo  eminent  for  their 
great  events,  and  fo  circtimftantially  foretold  in  fcrip- 
ture.  They  have  been  led  through  the  moft  remark- 
able tranfa&ious  of  our  own  country,  and  are  pretty 
well  acquainted  with  the  prefent  flate  of  Europe.  They 
have,  all  along,  been  taught  to  obferve  the  wonderful 
revolutions  of  empires,  and  the  adorable  procedure  of 
providence:  that  they  may  dilceni  how  thefa/hion  of 
this  'world  paJJ'cth  away  \;  and  how  happy  ate  the peo- 

pley 

*  Dr  Youngs  eighth  night  thought. 

•f-  i  Cor.  vii.  31.     Not  only  the  little  projeft*  and  puny 

achievement* 


On  the  RELIGIOUS  feo tr CATION 

pie,  how  happy  thr  pcrfons,  who  have  the  LOR 
ilicir  GOD.  They  have  been  taught  to  bbferve  the 
honourable  fucccfs,  that  has  ufually  attended  the  prac- 
ti  t;  of  integrity,  guided  by  prudence  ;  together  with 
tlr  Icandal  and  ruin  which  have  always  pur fued  Folly 
in  her  ienlrleis  rambles,  and  dogged  Vice  to  her  hor- 
rid haunts  :  that  they  may  ie.e  the  roeks  On  which 
Tome  have  fplit,  anil  avoid  the  deflruclive  track  ;  fee 
the  road}  which  has  conducted  others  to  the  haven  of 
happinefs,  and  fleer  the  fame  auipicious  couffe. 

They  have  been  initiated  in  geography,  and  under- 
ftand  the  feveral  divifions  of  the  globe;  the  extent  of 
its  principal  kingdoms;  and  the  manners  of  their  va- 
rious inhabitants.  They  will  tell  you  the  peculiar  com- 
modities which  each  climate  produces:  whence  comes 
the  tea,  that  fur ni flies  their  breakfafl  ;  and  whence 
the  fugar  that  renders  it  palatable  :  what  mountains 
fupply  them  with  wines,  and  what  iflands  fend  them 
their  Ipices  :  in  what  groves  the  filk-worms  fpin  the 
materials  for  their  cloaths;  and  what  mines  *  Itipply 
them  with  the  diamonds  that  fparkle  in  their  ear-rings. 
• — A  icreen,  covered  with  a  fet  of  coloured  maps,  and 
a  cuftom  of  referring  from  the  public  papers  to  thofe 
beautiful  draughts,  has  rendered  the  acquifition  of  this  , 

knowledge 

achievements  of  private  perfons;  but  the  power  of  diftinguifii- 
td  families  ;  the  policies  of  mighty  fUtes;  the  magnificence  of 
the  greatelt  kingdoms  ;  all,  all  are  in  a  ilate  of  perpetual  fluc- 
tuation. They  fade  n-way  (as  theapoltle  mod  fignificantty  de- 
icribes  the  ca!e)  like  the  graceful  and  gloffy  ai'peft  of  foine  de- 
licate fluwer,  when  the  lun  arilcs  with  a  fcorching  hear,  "Jam. 
i.  n.  They  fxifs  away  (as  the  prophet  iliil  more  emphatically 
fpeaks)  like  the  chaff  of  the  funimer  threfliing-floors,  which 
rhe  wuid  carries  off  on  its  wings,  and  the  place  thereof  is 
knov/n  no  more,  Dan.  ii.  34. 

*  The.  beft  of  the  diamond  mines  are  in  the  kingdom  of 
Gotconda,  near  to  M ADR. ASS  (or  Fort  St  Gtcrgr,  as  it  is 
frequently  called,  bfcaufe  the  Eafr-India  company  have  fo  ny 
med  the  furt  they  have  builr,  for  thsfeturity  of  their  import- 
ant factory  at  Mudrafs  ) 


of     DAUGHTERS. 

knowledge  a  diverilon  rather  than  a  tafk;  has  enticed 
them  into  a  valuable  branch  of  icience,  under  the  in- 
viting difguife  of  amuiement. — This  ierves  to  enlarge 
their  apprehenfions  of  things;  gives  them  magnificent 
thoughts  of  the  great  Creator;  and  may  help  to  fup- 
prei's  that  filly  ielf-admiration,  which  prompts  fora  any 
pretty  idols,  to  fancy  themiclves  the  only  confiderable 
creatures  under  heaven. 

They  fpeli  to  perfection  ;  and  have  obtained  this 
art,  by  a  fort  of  play,  rather  than  by  laborious  appli- 
cation. Whenever  they  aiked  any  little  gratification, 
it  has  been  their  papa's  cuftom  to  make  them  ipeli 
the  word  ;  which  if  they  performed  aright,  they  iel- 
dom  failed  to  fucceed  in  their  requeft — '1  hey  are 
niillrcfTes  of  the  needle  ;  and  the  youngcft,  whole 
genius  inclines  that  way,  is  expert  in  ufinj»  the  pencil. 
Mulic  is(  their  recreation  not  their  buiineis.  The  ti- 
ded, to  a  fkilful  finger,  adds  a  melodious  and  well-re- 
gulated voice.  She  often  entertains  me  with  iinging 
an  anthem  to  her  harpfichord.  Entertains,  did  1  fay  ? 
fhe  really  edifies  me.  Thefe  truly-excellent  perform- 
ances exalt  the  defires,  and  compofe  the  affections. 
They  infpire  iuch  a  ferenity  of  delight,  as  leaves  nei- 
ther a  Ming  in  the  corifcience,  nor  a  Main  on  the  ima- 
gination. Methinks,  they  bring  us  a  little  antepaft  of 
heaven,  and  tune  our  fouls  for  its  harmonious  joys. 

Thoroughly  verfed  in  the  moft  practical  parts  of 
arithmetic,  they  have  each  her  week,  wherein  to  be 
intruded  with  the  management  of  a  fum  of  money. 
This  they  difburfe,  as  circtimftances  require,  for  the 
fmaller  neccffaries  of  the  family.  Of  this  they  keep 
an  exact  account,  and  make  a  regular  entry  of  each 
particular  in  their  day-book.— Not  long  ago,  a  tenant 
of  inferior  rank  came  to  Camillus  with  his  rent.  In- 
ftead  of  receiving  it  himfelf,  he  referred  him  to  Mils 
Serena.  You  would  have  been  delighted  to  obferve 
the  behaviour  of  our  little  landlady,  on  this  occafion  ; 
the  engaging  condefcenfion,  with  which  Hie  addreifed 

the 


On  the  RE tio  10 us  EDUCATION 

*he  honefl  ruftic ;  the  tender  good-nature,  with  which 
i\\c  inquired  after  my  dame  and  the  family  at  home;  the 
ready  dexterity  with  which  me  wrote  and  fubfcribed  a 
proper  receipt ;  and,  above  all,  her  amiable  generofity, 
in  returning  half  a  crown,  to  buy  a  copy-book  for 
his  eldeft  ion;  u  who,"  he  £iid,  "  was  juft  going  in<- 
*•*  to  joining- hand;  but,  he  feared,  would  never  come 
**  to  fpell  or  write  half  fo  well  as  her  Ladyfhip." 

Though  Camillus  is  careful  to  ground  them  betimes 
in  the  rules  of  (Economy,  he  is  equally  careful  to 
.cultivate  a  fpirit  of  difcreet  beneficence. — A  few  days 
ago,  when  my  friend  and  his  lady  were  abroad,  Mils 
Mitiffa  was  informed  of  a  poor  woman  in  the  parifh 
juft  brought  to  bed,  after  a  long  a*id  hard  labour  ; 
who,  being  unhappily  married  to  a  fot  of  a  fellow, 
was,  at  a  time  when  the  choiceft  comforts  are  fcarcely 
•fuificient,  deflitute  of  the  meaneft  conveniencies.  Up- 
on hearing  the  calamitous  cafe,  ftie  immediately  dif- 
patched  a  fervant,  with  a  crown  from  her  weekly 
ilock  :  part,  to  buy  for  the  afflifted  .creature  fome 
prefent  accommodations ;  and  part,  to  defray  the  cx- 
pences,  at  filch  a  juncture,  unavoidable  :  .but  gave  a 
•ftrift  charge,  that  the  whole  fliould  be  employed  for 
the  relief  of  the  diftrefTed  mother,  and  her  helplels 
infant  ;  none  of  it  fingered  or  enjoyed  by  the  worth- 
leis  drone  her  hufband.  When  Camillus  returned, 
he  wasfo  pleaied  with  this  feafonabie  and  well-judged 
charity,  that,  beiidcs  his  commendation  and  careiTes, 
he  farther  rewarded  our  confideratc  matron-like  bene- 
faclrefs,  by  making  her  a  prefent  of  ClariJJ'a  *.  For 
he  always  contrives  to  make  what  tends  to  their  im- 
provctuent,  the  matter  of  their  reward.  If  they 
liave  committed  a  faujt,  they  are  forbid  the  privilege 
•of  ufing  their  maps.  If  they  have  behaved  in  a  be- 
coming manner,  their  recompenfe  is,  not  a  piece  of 
money,  or  a  paper  of  fweet-meats,  but  fome  new  in- 

ilru&iori 

*  A  book  admirably  calculated  to  inftruft  and  entertain ; 
•wjote  by  the  celebrated  Mr  RICHARDSON,  in  eight  volumes 


of    D    A   U    G    H   T   E    R    S.         225- 

ftru&ion  on  the  globe,  fome  new  lefloH  on  the  harpfi- 
chord,  wliich  may  at  once  delight  and  improve  them. 
To  prevent  a  haughty  carriage,  and  to  worm  out 
all  inordinate  felf-love,  he  teaches  them  to  confider 
their  neighbours,  as  members  of  the  fame  univerial 
family,  and  children  of  the  fame  almighty  Father. 
However  poor  in  their  circumftances,  or  mean  in  their 
afpeft,  they  are  the  objects  of  GOD's  infinitely  ten- 
der regards  ; — of  that  GOD  who  has  given  his  own 
Mori  to  fuffer  death  for  their  pardon,  and  has  prepared 
a  heaven  of  endlefs  blifs  for  their  final  reception.  For 
which  reaibn  they  fhould  deipife  none,  but  honour 
all  ;  fhould  be  as  ready  to  do  them  good,  as  the  hand 
is  ready  to  footh  the  eye  when  it  fmarts,  or  cafe  the 
head  when  it  aches. — One  afternoon,  when  he  was  go- 
ing to  treat  them  with  an  orange,  he  bid  each  of  them 
bring  a  fine  toy,  lately  received  for  a  prefent.  It  was 
made  in  the  lhape  of  a  knife  ;  the  handle  of  ivory, 
and  inlaid  with  they  gayeft  colours  ;  the  blade  of  glafs, 
mod  dazzlingly  bright,  but  without  an  edge.  Cut  the 
orange  in  two,  faid  their  pappa.  When  they  both 
tried  with  their  pretty  knives,  and,  to  their  no  fmall 
mortification,  both  failed  ;  he  furnifhed  them  with 
another,  of  more  ordinary  appearance,  but  tolerably 
fliarp.  With  this  they  eafily  pierced  the  rind,  and 
came  at  the  delicious  juice.  "  Who  now,"  faid  Ca- 
millus,  "  wou|d  not  prefer  one  fuch  ferviceablc,  tho* 
"  plain  utenfil,  to  a  hundred  of  thofe  glittering,  but 
44  worthlefs  trifles  ?  And  you,  my  dear  children,  if 
44  you  have  no  other  recommendations,  than  a  fhewy 
44  perfon,  and  the  trappings  of  dreis  ;  you  will  be  as 
"  contemptible  in  your  generation,  as  that  infignificant 
44  bauble.  But  if  it  is  the  defirc  of  your  hearts,  and 
44  the  endeavour  of  your  lives,  to  be  eXtenfively  ufe- 
41  ful  ;  you  will  gain,  and,  what  is  better,  you  will 
44  delerve  re£pe<ft  ;  your  names  will  be  precious,  and 
44  your  memories  blefled." 

With   equal    watchfulnefs,  he  difcopntcnances  all 
VOL.  V.  N°  23.        F  f  thofc 


126         On  the  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 

tbofe  arts  of  petulcnt  barbarity,  which  children  are  fo 
apt  to  cxercifc  on  the  reptile  creation.  He  will  allow 
no  court  of  inquifition  to  be  creeled  within  his  houfc  ; 
no,  not  upon  the  mofl  defpicablc,  or  even  the  noxious 
animals.  The  very  nuifanccs  that  are  endued  with  life, 
he  thinks  fhould  be  difpatched,  not  with  a  lingering 
butchery,  but  with  a  merciful  expedition. — To  rend 
in  pieces  a  poor  fly,  and  feaft  their  eyes  with  the 
mangled  limbs,  fliivering  and  convulicd  in  the  pangs 
of  death  ;  to  impale  a  wretched  infect  on  the  needle 
or  the  bodkin  ;  and,  what  is  Mill  more  Shocking,  to 
take  plealure  in  hearing  its  palHonate  moan,  and  fee- 
ing its  agonizing  struggles  ;  inch  practices  he  abfolute- 
ly  forbids,  as  infufferable  violations  of  nature's  law  ; 
iuch  as  tend  to  extingnifli  the  loft  emotions  of  pity, 
and  inure  the  mind  to  a  habit  of  inhumanity. — He 
often  informs  his  lovely  pupils,  that  every  living  crea- 
ture is  fenfible  of  pain  ;  that  none  can  be  abufed  in 
this  cruel  manner,  without  fuffering  very  exquifite 
mifery.  To  turn  their  torments  into  paftime,  and 
make  fport  with  their  anguifh,  is  a  rigour  more  than 
tyrannical,  worie  than  brutal  ;  is  the  very  reverfe  of 
that  benign  Providence,  whole  tender  mercies  are  over 
ALL  his  works. 

He  propofes  to  give  them  a  tafte  of  natural  philofo- 
phy,  and  to  accommodate  them  with  the  beft  micro- 
fcopcs  ;  that  the  ufe  of  thej'e  instruments,  and  a  fpice 
of  that  knowledge,  may  infpire  them  with  an  early 
admiration  of  nature's  works,  and  with  the  deepeft 
veneration  of  nature's  almighty  Author. — Carnillus  has 
no  defign  to  finifh  a  couple  of  female  philosophers  ;  or 
to  divert  their  attention  from  thole  domeltic  arts, 
which  are  the  trueft  accomplifhments  of  the  fex  *  : 
yet  neither  would  he  have  his  daughters  debarred 
from  that  rational  and  exalted  delight,  which  is  to  be 

found 

*  ——For  nothing  lovelier  can  be  found 
In  woman,  than  to  Itudy  huufehold  good.  Mi  IT. 


of    DAUGHTERS.  227 

found  in  the  contemplating  the  curiofities  of  the  great 
Creator's  cabinet.  Why  may  they  not,  without  de- 
parting from  their  owny  or  encroaching  on  the  mauu- 
line  character;  why  may  they  not  be  acquainted  with 
the  accurately-nice  ftructure  of  an  animal,  or  with  the 
procefs  and  effects  of  vegetation  ?  Why  may  they 
not  learn  the  admirable  operations  of  the  air,  or  the 
wonderful  properties  of  the  watei  ?  haveibme  general 
notion  of  th£  immenfe  magnitudes,  the  prodigious 
distances,  and  the  flill  more  amazing  revolutions  of 
the  heavenly  orbs  ?  He  apprehends  it  very  practicable, 
to  conduct  an  entertainment  with  dignity,  and  order 
a  family  with  propriety;  even  while  they  retain  1'ome 
tolerable  idea  of  thole  magnificent  laws,  which  regu- 
late the  fyftein  of  the  univerfe. 

The  microicopc,  whenever  they  are  inclined  to  a- 
mufe  themfelves,  will  (hew  them  a  profufion  c=f  fplen- 
did  ornaments,  in  fome  of  the  moft  common  and  con- 
temptible objects.  It  will  (hew  them  gold  and  em- 
broidery, diamonds  and  pearl,  azure,  green,  and  ver- 
milion, where  unaffifted  eyes  behold  nothing  but  pro- 
vocatives of  their  abhorrence.  This  inflrument  will 
(hew  them  the  brighteft  varnifli,  and  the  moft  curious 
carving,  even  in  the  minuteft  i'craps  of  exiftcnce. 
Far  more  furprifing  than  the  magic  feats  of  the  moft 
dexterous  juggler,  it  will  treat  their  fight,  not  with 
delufive,  but  with  real  wonders.  A  huge  elephant  * 
ihall  ftalk,  where  a  puny  mite  was  wont  to  crawl. 
Blood  fhall  bound  from  the  beating  heart,  and  eyes 
iparkle  with  a  lively  luftre  ;  limbs  fhalt  play  the  moft 
iprightly  motions,  or  ftand  compofed  in  the  moft 
graceful  attitudes  ;  where  nothing  ordinarily  appear- 
ed, but  a  confufed  fpeck  of  animated  matter. — A  tinc- 
ture of  philolbpby  will  be  the  cojmetic  of  nature  ;  will 
F  f  2  render 

*  What  is  allufwely  faid  of  the  defraying  tongue,  may,  I 
think,  without  a  figure,  be  affirmed  of  this  wonderful  indru- 
ment.  Trabem  in  fcjluca^  elfphantcm  in  culicf,  Alpcs  et  Pyre- 
l.us  in  verruca  oJUr.dit. 


ss8        On  the  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 

render  all  her  fcenes  lovely,  and  all  her  apartments  a 
theatre  of  diverfion  ;  diverfions  infinitely  fupcrior  to 
thole  dangerous  delights  which  arc  fo  apt  to  inveigle 
the  affections,  and  debauch  the  minds  of  young  peo- 
ple.— When  Philofophy  lends  her  optics,  an  uncloud- 
ed morning,  beautiful  with  the  riling  fun  ;  a  clear 
night,  brilliant  with  innumerable  ftars  ;  will  be  a  more 
pleafmgipe&acle,  than  the  gaudieft  illuminations  of  the 
affembly-room.  The  melody  of  birds,  and  the  mur- 
mur of  fountains  ;  the  humming  infect,  and  the  figh- 
jng  gale  ;  will  be  a  higher  gratification,  than  the  fi- 
nefl  airs  of  an  opera.  A  field  covered  with  corn,  or 
a  meadow  befprinkled  with  daifies  ;  a-raarfh  planted 
with  ofiers,  or  a  mountain  (haded  with  oaks  ;  will 
yield  a  far  more  agreeable  proipeft  than  the  moft 
pompous  fcenes  that  decorate  the  ftage.  Should  clouds 
overcafl  the  heavens,  or  winter  difrobc  the  flowers  ; 
an  inquiry  into  the  caufes  of  thefe  grand  viciifitudcs, 
will  more  than  compenfate  the  tranfitory  lofs.  A 
difcovery  of  the  divine  wifdom  and  divine  goodnefs, 
in  thefe  feemingly-difaftrous  changes,  will  impart  gaU 
cty  to  the  moft  gloomy  fky,  and  make  the  moft  un- 
ornamented  feafons  fmile. 

It  is  for  want  of  fuch  truly  elegant  and  fatisfaftory 
amnfernents,  that  fo  many  ladies  of  the  firft  diftinc- 
tion,  and  fineft  genius,  have  no  proper  employ  for 
their  delicate  capacities  ;  but  lofe  their  happinefs  in 
flights  of  caprice,  or  fits  of  the  vapour  ;  lofe  their 
time  in  the  moft  jnfipid  chat,  or  the  moft  whimfical 
vagaries  J  while  thought  is  a  burthen,  and  reflection 
is  a  drudgery,  folitude  fills  them  with  horror,  and  a 
ferious  difcourfc  makes  them  melancholy. 

Above  all,  Camillas  is  moft  earneftly  defirous  to 
have  his  tender  charge  grounded  in  the  principles, 
and  actuated  with  the  fpirit  of  Chriftianity.  No 
fcheme,  he  is  thoroughly  perfuaded,  was  ever  fo  wife- 
ly calculated  to  fweeten  their  tempers,  to  exalt  their 
ajffeftions,  and  form  them  to  felicity,  either  in  this 

worjd 


of     DAUGHTERS.          229 

world  or  another.  It  is  therefore  his  daily  endeavour, 
by  the  molt  eafy  and  endearing  methods  of  inftruction, 
to  fill  their  minds  with  the  knowledge  of  thole  heaven- 
ly doctrines ;  and  win  their  hearts  to  the  love  of  that 
invaluable  book,  in  which  they  are  delineated. — He 
longs  to  have  a  fcnfe  of  G  O  D  Almighty's  goodnefs 
imprcffed  on  their  fouls.  From  this  fource,  under 
the  influences  of  the  fanctifying  Spirit,  he  would  de- 
rive all  the  graces,  and  all  the  duties  of  godlinefs  *. 
With  this  view,  he  fpeaks  of  the  Divine  Majefty,  not 
only  as  fupereminently  great,  but  as  moft  tranlcend- 
ently  pofTeiTc'd  of  every  delightful,  every  charming 
excellence.  He  reprefents  all  the  comforts  they  en- 
joy, and  every  bldfing  they  receive,  as  the  gifts  of 
his  bountiful  hand,  and  as  an  earned  of  nnfpeakably- 
richer  favours.  He  often,  often  reminds  them,  that 
\vhatevertheirhcavenly  Father 'commands,  for bids ,  /«- 
flifts,  proceeds  from  his  overflowing  kindnefs,  and  is 
intended  for  their  eternal  good,  if,  by  thefe  expedi- 
ents, he  may  awaken  in  their  minds  an  habitual  gra- 
titude to  their  everlafting  Benefactor.  The  actings  of 
which  noble  principle,  are  not  only  fruitful  in  every 
good  woi;k,  but  productive  of  the  truett  fatisfadtion : 
ibmewhat  like  the  fragrant  ftrcams  of  confecrated  in- 
cenfe  ;  which,  while  they  honoured  the  great  object 
of  worfhip,  regaled  with  their  plealing  perfumes  of 
devout  worfhip. 

Nothing  is   more  difpleafing  to  Camillus,  than  the 
fond  flatteries,  which  their  injudicious  admirers  be- 

ftow 

'  This  method  is  perfectly  conformable  to  the  practice  of 
the  PfalmHt ;  Thy  loving  kindnefs  is  ever  before  mine  eyfs^  and^ 
animated  by  tin*  iwtet  inducement,  I  -will  walk  in  thy  truth^ 
Flal.  xxvi.  3. — To  the  injunction  of  our  divine  Matter;  If 
yvulnvc  me^  let  this  be  the  proof,  this  the  fruit  of  your  affec- 
tion, keep  my  commandments,  John  xiv.  15. — And  to  the  expe- 
rience of  the  chief  of  the  apoitles  ;  'Ihe  love  of  Ckrift*  though 
uot  excluliveof,  yet  fuperior  to  every  other  motive,  c 
efh  us,  2  Cor.  v.  14. 


130        On  the  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 

flow  on  their  fhapc  and  their  complexion,  the  grace- 
fulncfs  of  their  carriage,  and  the  vivacity  of  their  wit. 
He  would  fain  make  them  fenfible,  that  thefe  embel- 
lifhments  are  of  the  lowed:  value,  and  mod  fading 
nature  *  ; — that  if  they  render,  their  poflefTors  vain 
and  felf- conceited,  they  are  far  greater  blcmifhes,  than 
a  hump  on  the  back,  a  wen  in  the  neck,  or  fluttering 
in  the  fpeech. — He  would  have  them  thoroughly  con- 
vinced, that,  notwithftanding  all  their  filks,  diamonds, 
and  other  marks  of  their  fuperior  circumftances,  they 
are  ignorant,  guilty,  impotent  creatures  ;  blind  to 
truths  of  the  laft  importance  ;  dcferving  the  venge- 
ance of  eternal  fire,  and  unable  of  themfelves  to 
think  a  gr  od  thought  :  that,  from  iuch  convictions, 
they  may  perceive  their  abiblute  need  of  a  Saviour ;  a 
Saviour  in  all  his  offices  ; — as  a  Prophet,  to  teach  them 
heavenly  wifdom  ; — as  a  Pricft,  to  atone  for  all  their 
many,  many  fins  ;  as  a  King,  to  iubduc  their  iniqui- 
ties, write  his  laws  in  their  hearts,  and  make  them, 
in  all  their  conversation,  holy. 

In  fhort,  the  point  he  chiefly  labours,  is,  to  work 
in  their  hearts  a  deep,  an  abiding  fenfe,  that  GOD 
is  their  fupreme,  their  only  good  ;  that  the  blefTed 
JESUS  is  the  rock  of  their  hopes,  and  the  fountain 
of  their  falvation  ;  that  all  their  dependence,  for  ac- 
quiring the  beauties  of  holinefs,  and  tailing  the  joys 
of  the  fublimeft  virtue,  is  to  be  placed  on  the  H  O- 
L  Y  G  H  O  S  T  the  Comforter.— Amidft  all  thcfe  ef- 
forts 

*  Here  i«  the  amiable  and  noble  reverfe  of  that  modi/h  nio 
tnre  represented  by  Milton  : 

For  that  fair  female  troop  thou  faw'ft,  that  feem'd 

Of  godilefles,  fo  blithe,  fo  i'mooth,  fo  gay, 

Yet  empty  of  all  good,  wherein  conlifts 

Woman's  domeftic  honour  and  chief  praife; 

Bred  only  and  completed  to  the  tafte 

Of  luftful  appetence,  to  fing,  to  dance, 

To  drei's,  and  troll  the  tongue,  and  roll  the  eye. 

J3.  XI,  614, 


of     D    A   U    G    H    T   E    R    S.          231 

forts  of  his  own,  he  never  forgets,  never  fails  to  plead, 
that  precious  promifeofthe  unchangeable  JEHOVAH; 
/  will  pour  my  Jpirit  upon  thy  ferd,  and  my  bleffing  upon 
thy  offspring,  and  they  fliail  grow  upy  in  knowledge 
and  in  grace,  as  willows  by  the  water-courjcs  *. 

A  lady  of  brilliant  parts,  but  no  very  extraordinary 
piety,  told  Camillus,  that  he  would  fpoil   the  pretty 
dears;  would  extinguifb  that  decent  pride,  and  fond- 
nefs  for  pleafure,  which  are   fhining  qualifications  ia 
an  accomplifhed  young  lady  ;  which  give  her  an  ele- 
vation of  ientiment,  and  a  delicacy  of  taftc,  greatly 
iuperior  to  the  ignoble  vulgar. — To  whom  he  replied, 
"  Far  from  extirpating  their  paffions,  I  only  attempt 
44  to  turn  them  into  a  right  channel,  and  direct  them 
"  to  the  worthieft  objects.     Willing  I  am,  that  they 
44  mould   have  a   decent  ambition  ;  an  ambition,  not 
44  to  catch  the  giddy  coxcomb's  eye,  or  be  the  hack- 
44  neyed  toaft  of  rakes  ;  but  to  pleafe  their  parents  ; 
44  to  make  a  hufband  happy  ;  and  to  promote  the  glo- 
44  ry  of  God. — They  may  entertain   a  fondnefs   for 
41  pleafure  ;  but  fuchpleafure  as  will  ennoble  their  fouls, 
44  afford  them  fubftantial  fatisfaclion,  and  preparethem 
41  for  the  fruition  of  immortal  blits. — Let  them  be  co- 
41  vetous  alfo,  if  you  pleafe,  Madam  ;  but  covetous  of 
44  redeeming  their  time,  and  of  gaining   intellectual 
44  improvement  ;   covetous  of  thofe  riches,  which  no 
41  moth   can  corrupt,  nor  thief  (teal  ;  which  neither 
"  time  nor  death  deftroy." 

In  all  thefe  inftanecs  of  parental  folicitudc,  his  be- 
loved Emilia  takes  her  conftant,  her  willing  (hare  ; 

contributes 

*  If.  xliv.  3,  4.  A  promife  of  ineflimable  worth;  never  to 
be  forgotten  by  believing  parents;  better,  to  their  children, 
than  the  largeft  patrimony,  orthericheftdowery. — It  is  exceed- 
ingly beautiful,  and  equally  comfortable.  Not,  I  will  drop,  I 
will  <///?///,  hut  I  will  pour;  denoting  a  large  and  copious  fupply. 
They  (hall  p,ro\v,  not  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground  ;  but  as  a 
trff,  planted  in  a  moft  kindly  foil,  where  it  is  plentifully  uja- 
tcredt  and  flourffics  in  the  molt  ample  manner. 


232      On  the  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION, 

contributes  her  advice,  in  every  plan  that  is  concert- 
ed ;  and  her  hearty  concurrence  in  every  expedient 
that  is  executed  ;  every  expedient,  for  polifhing  the 
human  jewel  *,  and  making  their  manners  as  fault lefs 
as  their  forms. — May  the  GOD  of  infinite  gbodnefs, 
the  facred  fourceof  all  perfection,  proiper  their  endea- 
vours !  that,  as  the  young  ladies  are  adorned,  in  their 
perfons,  with  native  beauty,  they  may  be  enriched, 
in  their  underftandings,  with  refined  knowledge;  and 
dignified,  in  their  fouls,  with  the  fpirit  of  the  bleflTed 
JESUS. — Then,  furely,  more  amiable  objects,  the 
eye  of  man  cannot  behold  ;  more  defirablc  partners, 
the  heart  of  man  cannot  wifli. 

*  Delightful  taflc  !  to  rear  the  tender  thought, 
To  teach  the  young  idea  how  to,  flioot, 
And  pour  the  frefli  inftru&ion  o'er  the  mind. 

TaoM SON'S  Spring. 


P  R  E- 


PREFACE, 


T     O 


BURNHAM's   PIOUS   MEMORIALS  *. 


Z>  EL  1C  10 N,  or  an  affectionate  and  firm  connec- 
tion of  the  foul,  with  God,  is  the  higheft  im- 
provement of  the  human  mind,  and  the  brighteft  or- 
nament of  the  rational  nature.  It  is  the  mod  indil^ 
ibluble  bond  of  civil  foeiety,  and  the  only  foundation 
of  happinefs  to  every  individual  perfon. 

The  go/pel,  by  which  we  have  accefs  to  the  King 
immortal,  invifible,  through  the  merits  of  Jefus  Chrifl  • 
by  which  we  are  conformed  to  his  amiable  and  holy 
image,  through  the  operations  of  the  blefTed  Spirit ; — 
the  gofpel  is,  of  all  other  religions,  moffc  cxquifitely 
adapted  to  compafs  thole  delirable  ends. 

This  point  hath  often  been  demonitrated  with  all 
the  ftrength  of  argument,  and  illuftrated  by  every  de-^ 
coration  of  eloquence. — In  the  following  (beets,  we  arc 
prefented  with  a  new  proof  of  the  fame  important 
truth  ;  deduced  from  a  toprc  level  to  every  capacity, 
and  from  a  fcene  in  which  all  mutt,  fooner  or  later, 
be  pfrjonally  concerned. 

Nothing  ftrikes  the  mind  of  a  wife  and  attentive 
obferver  fo  forcibly  zsjatf;  nothing  hath  fo  ftrong  a 
tendency  to  convince  the  judgment,  and  influence! 
the  conduct.  .  In  the  Collection  before  us,  we  have  a 

feries 
*  Referred  to  in  Mr  HERVEY'S  Life,  page  vii. 


VOL.  V.  N°  23, 


G 


234  PREFACE       TO 

fcries  of  indubitable  and  interefling  facts. — Here  arc 
jome  of  the  in  oil  reno-wned,  many  of  the  moft  worthy 
peribns,  after  a  life  of  exemplary  devotion  and  exalted 
virtue,  bearing  their  dying  teftimony  to  the  excellency 
of  the  poipel,  and  the  pltajures  of  religion  : — Peribns 
from  different  countries,  of  different  denominations, 
and  flourifhing  in  diftant  periods  of  time  : — Perfons 
in  the  moft  awful  moments  of  their  exigence  ;  when 
hypocriiy  drops  the  mafk  ;  when  worldly  motives  lofc 
their  weight  j  and  there  remains  no  more  temptation 
to  deceive  ; — all  thefe,  uniting  in  the  fame  fentiments  ; 
all  repollng  their  confidence  on  the  lame  GREAT  ME- 
DIATOR ;  all  proclaiming  the  dignity,  efficacy,  and  glory 
of  the  evangelical  fyftem,  in  a  manner  fnperior  to 
language  : — proclaiming  it  by  a  peace  of  conicience, 
which  the  whole  world  cannot  give  ;  and  a  joy  of 
heart,  which  tranicends  all  defcription. 

Such  a  collection  of  Memoirs  is,  I  think,  a  valuable 
addition  to  the  evidences  for  Chriftianity  ;  a  confider- 
able  aid  to  the  interefts  of  piety  ;  and  worthy,  both  of 
frequent  perufal,  and  univerjal  acceptance. 

A  work  of  this  nature  hath  often  appeared  to  me 
among  the  dtfiderata  of  the  clofet.  I  have  fometimes 
wondered,  that  no  ingenious  pen  hath  attempted  it  ; 
and  always  thought,  that,  when  duly  executed,  it 
would  bid  fair  for  extenfiv e  ujrfulnefs .  But  I  am  glad 
to  find  myfelf  anticipated  in  this  opinion  by  a  writer  *, 
whofe  words  I  mail  beg  leave  to  tranicribe,  and  whofe 
judgment  cannot  be  queftioned  : — "  There  is  nothing 
"  in  hiftory  which  is  f'o  improving  to  the  reader,  as 
"  thofe  accounts  which  we  meet  with  of  the  deaths  of 
"  eminent  perfons,  and  of  their  behaviour  in  that 
"  dreadful  ieafon  -f-  " — Here  is  a  large  field,  in  which 
the  reader  may  not  barely  glean  a  few  ears^  but  gather 
liis /heaves,  or  reap  a  harveft  of  that  facred  improve* 
ment,  which  our  admired  critic  mentions.  Here  is  a 

multitude 

*  Mr  Addifw.  f  Sfcflattr,  vol.  IV.  N?  289. 


Bu RNHAM'S  Plow s  MEMORIALS.         235 

multitude  of  thole  mod  diflingui/Jied  and  animating 
parts  of  hiftory,  traced  through  various  ages  of  the 
church;  from  the  heroic  martyrdom  of  venerable  Ig- 
natius, to  the  peaceful  exit  of  the  pious  and  ingenious 
Dr  Watts. 

Thefe  hiftories  are  not  only  unqueftionably  true, 
but  of  the  moft  unexceptionable  kind. — They  are  deli- 
vered in  the  very  words  of  the  author  from  vvhofe 
writings  they  are  extracted  :  fo  that  we  may  depend 
upon  a  ftric\  exadntjs  in  point  of  authenticity,  and 
(lull  be  entertained  with  an  agreeable  diverjity  in  refe- 
rence to  ftyle.  None  of  thefe  accounts  perlbnate  Ihe 
romantic  iniei, Ability  of  the  Stoic,  or  the  brutal  hardi- 
nefs  of  the  Sceptic.  None  of  them  exhibit  the  inde- 
cent levity  of  a  Petronius,  or  the  pitiable  fluctuation 
of  a  Socrates.  But  all  diiplay  true  fortituiO,  rational 
tranquillity,  and  -well- grounded  hope  ;  built  upon  the 
divi-.e  promiies,  fupported  by  the  divine  Spirit,  ren- 
dered ftedfaft  and  immoveable  by  a  divine  propitiation 
and  righteoufnefs. 

Here  the  minifter  of  the  gofpel  may  farnifh  himfelf 
with  noble  materials,  to  enrich  and  enliven  his  com- 
pofitions  for  the  pulpit.  And  I  dare  venture  to  fore- 
tell, that  no  part  of  his  public  addrefles  will  be  heard 
with  a  clofer  attention,  or  collected  with  a  iweeter  re- 
lim,  than  his  pertinent  application  of  the  lad  layings 
of  truly  religious  men. 

Here  the  ftrong  Ghrirtian  may  view,  not  without  a 
glow  of  gratitude,  perhaps  with  a  rapture  of  delight, 
the  inviolable  fait/ifulnejs  of  his  divine  Mafter  ;  who 
never  leaves  nor  forlakcs  his  fcrvants  ;  no,  not  at  that 
trying  fealon,  which  may  molt  emphatically  be  flyled, 
the  time  of  need.  He  may  view  the  never  failing  tender- 
nejs  and  grace  of  that  good  Spirit,  who  opens  the 
rich  promifes  of  fcripture  ;  applies  the  precious  atone- 
ment of  a  Saviour  j  and  makes  the  foldier  of  JES  u  s 
always  to  triumph* 

G  g  2  Here 


PREFACE       TO 

Here  the  feeble,  trembling  believer  may  fee  imper- 
fect creatures,  men  of  like  paflions  and  of  like  infir- 
mities with  himfelf,  looking  death  in  thp  face  Math 
intrepidity.  He  may  hear  them  addreifing  that  ghaflly 
monarch,  in  the  triumphant  language  of  the  apoftle, 
O  Death,  iu  here  is  thv  ft  in?  ! — To  hear  and  fee  this, 
will  be  a  more  effectual  expedient  to  eftablifti  his  heart, 
more  lovcrcign  to  deliver  him  from  the  bondage  ef fear  ^ 
than  the  molt  fpirited  exhortations,  or  the  inoit  lage 
directions. 

Should  the  unbeliever  be  fo  impartial,  as  to  mark 
theie  difciples  of  JES  u  s,  and  confider  the  end  of  their 
converi'ation  ;  he  mull  iurely  acknowledge,  both  the 
divine  origin,  and  nnequnlled  energy  of  the  glorious 
gofpel  ;  fince  it  administers  inch  Jlrorig  coniblation, 
amidil  the  pains  of  a  mortal  difremper,  and  the  ruins 
of  diflolving  nature. — Vain,  inexpreflibly  vain  and 
infignificant,  mud  every  other  icheme  of  falvation  ap- 
pear, which  is  deftitute  of  an  all-iufficient  Redeemer, 
and  void  of  an  almighty  Comforter. 

Should  the  libertine,  in  a  ierious  interval,  approach 
theie  death-  beds  of  the  juit ;  he  may  behold  the  genuine 
fruits  of  faith  unfeigned,  and  the  lie  (fed  confequences 
of  vital  holineis.—- And  where  can  he  behold 

jifccne,  fo  ftrong  to  ftrihe,  fo  Jweet  to  charm, 
So  great  fo  raifc,  Jo  heavenly  to  injpire, 
So  f olid  to  fupport  fair  Virtue's  throne  *  f 

Or  how  can  he  behold  all  this,  without  feeling  fome 
pangs  of  faint ary  regret  ;  without  entering  into  him- 
ielf,  and  forming  forne  uieful  reflections  ? — "  Will  my 
fc  vitious  gratifications  create  fuch  fweet  compojure, 
<•'  fuch  humbleyoy,  fuch  heavenly  hope,  at  the  laft  a\v- 
"  ful  hour  ?  Alas  !  will  they  not  rather  fliarpen  the 
V  fatal  arrow  ;  add  poifon  to  the  point,  and  anguifh, 
£'  inconcciveablc  anguifli,  to  the  wound  ?" 

*  Ni^ht-Thoughts,  uight  II. 


Pious  MEMORIALS.         237 

There  may  be,  and  there  doubtlefs  is,  a  variety  of 
treatifes,  written  upon  a  variety  of  fubjects,  in  which 
many  people  are  no  way  interefted.  But  the  fubjeft 
of  this  book  appertains  to  all.  It  is  appointed,  and 
by  an  irrevocable  decree,  that  all  muft  die.  There  if 
no  discharge  in  this  warfare ;  no,  not  for  the  votaries 
of  gaiety  and  indolence. — This  conlideration,  me- 
thinks,  fhould  incline  even  the  gay  and  indolent  to  ob- 
ierve  what  is  traniacted  in  the  antechamber  to  thofe 
apartments,  where  they  themtetoes  mail  (hortly  lodge. 
And  would  they,  from  the  eniiiing  narratives,  make 
their  obfervation,  they  might  be  led  to  entertain  more 
favourable  apprehenfions  of  our  holy  religion. — They 
would  find,  that,  far  from  embittering  life,  itjweetens 
death,  Inftead  of  damping  the  enjoyments  of  healthy 
it  ibftens  the  bed  of  ficknels,  and  fooths  even  the  ago- 
nies of  diffolution. — Why  then  mould  they  be  afraid 
of  pure  and  undefiled  religion  ?  why  ftand  aloof,  why 
withdraw  themielves,  from  its  benign  invitations  ? 
Can  that  throw  a  gloom  upon  the  delectable  hills, 
which  is  able  to  gild  and  gladden  the  valley  of  dark- 
nefs  ? 

Some,  perhaps,  may  be  prompted  by  curiofity  to 
cart  an  eye  upon  this  folemn  and  augult  Iprclacle  ; 
— a  multitude  of  rational  beings,  arrived  on  the  very 
borders  of  the  inviiible  ftate, — bidding  a  final  adieu  to 
time, —  and  juft  launching  out  into  the  abyfTes  of  eter- 
nity.— And,  bleifed  be  the  divine  gooducfs,  the  fpec- 
tacle  is  as  delightful  as  it  is  auguj} .  Their  Go  D  ,  their  GOD 
fuftains  them  in  the  grcateft  extremity. —  "They  overcome 
the  laft  enemy  through  the  bloedof  the  L4MB. — Their 
difcourfes  favour  of  heaven  ; — their  hopes  are  full  of 
immortality. — Ami  is  not  t /its' a  privilege  devoutly  to 
be  wifhed  *  ?  Who,  that  has  the  leaft  ferioufnefs,  or 

feels 

*  Even  a  Pagan  writer  could  not  but  difcern  the  excellency 
of  Inch  a  blelling;  and  made  it  one  of  the  principal  ingredient* 
which  conflitute  happinefs. 

&HX, 


138  PREFACE       TO 

feels  any  concern  for  his  true  happinefs,  can  forbear 
crying  out,  on  fuch  an  occafion,  LET   ME  DIE   THE 

DEATH    OF     THE    RIGHTEOUS    *   ! 

Life-)  take  thy  chance.    But  oh  !  for  fuch  an  end  \  ! 

Upon  the  whole,  I  would  perfuacle  myfelf,  that 
THE  Piou  s  MEMO  RIALS  may  be  a  wordinfcafon,  a 
welcome  and  well-adapted  addrefs  to  readers  of  every 
character  , — may  be  a  means,  in  the  hand  of  Provi- 
dence, to  awaken  thcthaughttefs,  and  fix  their  atten- 
tion upon  important  and  everlafting  things  ; — may 
tend  to  reclaim  the  diflblute  from  ruinous  practices, 
and  engage  them  in  the  purfuit  of  thole  fubftantial  ac- 
quifitions,  which  will  "  bring  them  peace  at  the  laft  ;" 
—may  animate  the  Chrijlian  to  frefh  zeal  and  renew- 
ed activity,  in  the  fervice  of  our  adorable  IMMANU  EL. 
—That  each,  while  he  is  running  his  race,  may  be 
infpirited  to  fay,  with  the  holy  apoftle,  Te  we  to  live  is 
CHRIST;  and  each,  when  he  hath  finifhed  his 
courfe,  may  be  emboldened  to  add,  To  me  to  die  is 
gain. 

"With  this  aim  the  narratives  were  collected  ;  with 
this  aim  they  are  publifhcd.  May  the  LORD  of  all 
power  and  might  make  them  effectual  to  accomplifli 
\vhat  is  fo  laudably  deligned  !  Then  it  will  not  be 
deemed  a  piece  of  officious  impertinence,  or  prefuming 

boldnefs, 

Fzlix,  qul  potnit  rerum  cogno/ccre  caufas, 
Atque  metus  omnes,  et  inexorabile  fatum, 
Subject!  pcdibus,  (trepitumque  Acherontis  avari. 

VIRG.  Georg.  Jib.  II. 

I  wiih  I  could  do  juftice  to  Virgil's  beautiful  lines :  but, 
though  I  dare  not  attempt  a  tranflation,  I  will  affure  the  un- 
learned reader,  that  no  book  in  our  language,  none,  at  \c*{), 
that  I  am  acquainted  with,  contains  fo  copious  an  exemplifica- 
tion of  their  meaning,  as  the  following  pages  afford.  Here  he 
>nay  fee whatthecAarw/Mg- ;>c<rf  fo  delicately  defcribes,  but  what 
(he  poor  Heathen  never  knew  where  to  find. 

*  Numb,  xxiii.  i&,  f  Night- thoughts,  night  U. 


BUILNHAM'S  Pious  MEMORIALS.        239 

boldnefs,  for  me  to  recommend  them  :  it  will  rather 
be  looked  upon  as  an  aft  of  friendjhip  to  the  decea- 
fed  author,  and  his  diftrefled  widow  ; — as  an  effort  of 
true,  of  Chriftian  benevolence  to  my  fellow- creatures; 
— and  a  proper  expreflion  of  my  gratitude  to  the  Pu- 
blic, for  that  remarkable  candour  and  indulgence 
fhewn  to 


Their  obliged,  and 

Very  humble  fervanl:, 


Wefton-Favell, 
July  1 8.  1753. 


JAMES  HERVEY. 


E       T       T.       E       R 


T     O 


Mr  JOHN  TRAILL  late  Bookfeller  in  Edinburgh, 
now  Minifter  of  a  Congregation  of  Proteflant 
DifTenters  at  Chelfca,  near  London. 

S  I  R, 

I  Received  your  very  valuable  and  no  lefs  acceptable 
preient  *,  fome  weeks  ago.  I  mould  have  acknow- 
ledged the  favour  fooner  ;  but  I  chofe  to  flay  till  I  had 
tafled  the  difh  you  fet  before  me.  And  indeed  I  find  it 
to  be  favoury  meat,  the  true  manna;  food  for  the  foul. 

Your  worthy  relative  f  was  a  workman  that  need 
not  be  aftiamed.  He  knew  how,  clearly  to  ftate  and 
folidly  to  eftablifh  the  faith  of  GOD's  elecl:,  and  the 
do&rine  according  to  godlinefs. — O  !  that  my  heart, 
and  the  heart  of  every  reader,  may  be  opened  by 
the  eternal  SPIRIT,  to  receive  the  precious  truths  ! 

The  letter  at  the  ericl  of  the  firft  volume  J,  is  a  ju- 
dicious performance^.  It  rightly  divides  the  word  of 
truth,  and  lays  the  line,  with  a  mafterly  hand,  between 

the 

*  Mr  Trail!  had  fent  Mr  Hervey  a  copy  of  his  new  edition 
of  the  firft  two  volumes  of  the  works  of  the  Rev.  Mr  Robert 
Traill  late  miniQer  in  London.  The  third  volume  was  not 
republifhed  till  after  Mr  Hervey's  death. 

-j--  Mr  Robert  Traill  was  uncle  to  Mr  John  Traill. 
,:£  This  letter  is  entitled,  A  vindication  of  the  Protcftant  doc- 
trine concerning  juftification,  and  of  its  preachers  and  prof cj~ 
forSj  from  the  unjujl  charge  of  Antinomianifm. 


TRAILL    RECOMMENDED.        241 

the  prcfumptuous  legalift,  and  the  licentious  Antino- 
mian. — I  am  particularly  pleafed  with  the  honourable 
teltimony  bore  to  thole  two  excellent  books,  Dr 
Owen's  treatife  on  juftification,  and  Mr  Marfliall^ 
gofpcl-myftcry  of  ianclification  *  :  Books  fit  to  be  re- 
commended by  fo  good  a  judge  ! 

if  the  LORD  pleaies  to  give  TH  E  RON  and  As  pA- 
sio  any  acceptance  in  Scotland,  \  fliall  be  fincerely 
glad  ;  but  it'  he  vouchfafes  to  make  them,  not  only 
welcome,  but  uieful  vifitants,  I  (hall  exceedingly  re- 
joice.— In  caie  you  mould  think  them  calculated  to 
promote  the  honour  and  further  the  golpel  of  JE-- 
SUS  CHKfST,  I  hope  you  will  favour  them  with 
your  recommendation,  and  accompany  them  with  your 
prayers ;  which  will  be  a  frefh  inllancc  of  kindneis  to, 

SIR, 

Wefton,  July  8.  Your  obliged  friend, 

1755-  and  obedient  fervant, 

JAMES  HER  v  E  Y. 

P  R  O- 

*  «  I  think,"  fays  Mr  Traill,  " that  Dr  On*»'s  excellent 
44  book  of  juitification,  and  Mr  Mar/halt's  book  of  the  myP- 
44  tery  of  faiktification  by  faith  in  Jefus  ChriH,  are  fuch  vin- 
u  dications  and  confirmations  of  the  Proteftant  doctrine,  a- 
44  gainit  which  I  fear  no  effectual  oppofition. — Mr  Mar/hall 
i4  was  a  holy  and  retired  perfon,  and  is  oniy  known  to  the 
*'  molt  of  us  by  his  book  lately  publifhed.  The  book  is  a  deep, 
*k  practical,  well-jointed  diicourie,  and  requires  a  more  than 
44  ordinary  attention  in  reading  of  it  with  profit.  And,  if  it 
u  Ue  fingly  ufed,  I  look  upon  it  as  one  of  the  moft  ufet'ut 
44  books  the  world  hath  ieen  for  many  years.  Its  excellence 
44  is,  that  it  leads  the  ferious  reader  directly  to  Jefus  Chrid, 
**  and  cuts  the  Cinews  and  overturns  the  foundation  of  the 
**  new  divinity,  by  the  fame  argument  of  gofpel-liolinefs,  by 
4i  which  many  attempt  to  overturn  the  old.  Ami,  as  it  hath 
44  already  had  the  feal  of  high  approbation  by  many  judicious 
44  minitters  and  Chriftians  that  have  read  it ;  fo  1  fear  not 
"  but  it  will  Aand  firm  as  a  rock  againft  all  oppofition,  and 
«*  will  prove  good  feed,  and  food,  and  light  to  many  here- 
"  after." — See  above,  vol.  III.  p.  389.  and  vol.  IV.  jp. 

.  V,  N°  23.  H  h 


242 

PROMISES, 

To  be  pafted  at  the  beginning  of  a  Bible. 

GOD  hath  fiven  tts  exacting  great  and  precious  promi/cs,  that 
by  the/ewe  might  be  partakers  of  the  divine  nature.  2  Pet.  1.4. 

DIVINE  TEACHING. 

Jf.  xxi*.  18.  The  eyes  of  the  blind  lhall  lee  oat  of  obfcurity. 
Jer.  xxxi.  34.  They  (hall  all  know  me,  from  the  lead  of  them 

unto  the  greateft  of  them. 

John  xiv.  26.  The  Holy  Ghoft  (hall  teach  you  all  things. 
If.  Iviii.  n.  The  LOUD  (hall  guide  thee  continually. 

PARDON. 

If.  xliii.  25.  I  am  he  that  blotteth  out  thy  tranfgreflions. 

If.  i.  18. — Sins  as  fcarlet — mail  be  as  white  as  fnow. 

i  Pet.  ii.  24.  Who  his  own  felf  bare  our  fins,  in  his  own  body, 

on  the  tree. 
i  John  i.  7.  The  blood  of  JESUS  CHRIST  cleanfeth  froqi  all 

fin. 

JUSTIFICATION. 

Jlom.  viii.  33,  34. — It  is  GOD  that  juiHfieth. 

Rom.  iii.  2i,  22,  23,  24. — Juftified  freely  by  his  grace. 

If.  xlv.  24,  25.  In  the  LORD  haye  I  righteoufnefs. 

2.  Cor.  v.  2i.  We  are  made  the  righteoufnefs  of  GOD  in  hims 

SANCTIFICATION. 

Ezek.  xi.  19,  20.  I  will  put  a  new  fpirit  within  you. 

Tit.  ii.  14.  CHRIST  gave  hjmfelf  for  us,  that  he  might  redeem 

us  from  all  iniquity. 
Heb  viii.  10,  n,  12,  I  will  put  my  laws  into  their  mind,  and 

write  them  in  their  hearts. 

I  ThefT.  v.  23.  The  Goo  of  peace  fanctify — your  whole  fpi- 
rit, and  foul?  and  body. 

PRO- 


243 

PROMISES, 

To  be  pafted  at  the  end  of  a  Bible. 


TEMPORAL 

1  Tim.  iv.  8.  Godlinefs  hath  the  promife  of  the  life  that  now  is* 

Pfalt  xxxvii.  3.  Verily  thou  flialt  be  fed. 

Matthi  vi.  33.  Seek  firfl  the  kingdom  of  GOD,  and  all  things 

(hall  be  added. 
i  Tim.  vi.  17.  Who  giveth  us  all  things  richly  to  enjoy. 

TEMPTATION. 

1  Cor.  x.  13.  GOD  will  not  fuffer  you  to  be  tempted  above  that 

ye  are  able. 

2  Cor.  kii.  9.  My  GRACE  is  fufficient  for  thee. 
Rom.  vi.  14.  Sin  mail  not  have  dominion  over  you. 

Luke  xxii.  32.  I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not. 

AFFLICTION. 

Job  v.  17.  Happy  is  the  man  whom  GOD  correfteth. 
L;im.  iii.  32.  Tho*  he  caufe  grief,  yet  will  he  have  companion* 
Pfal.  1.  15.  Call  upon  me  in  trouble  ;  I  will  deliver  thee. 
Rev.  iii.  19.  As  many  as  I  love,  I  rebuke  and  chaften. 

DEATH. 

i  Cor.  xv.  55,  56,  57.  GOD  giveth  us  the  viftory,  through 

our  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 
2,  Cor.  v.  t.  If  our  earthly  houfe  is  diflblved,  we  have  a  build- 

ing of  GOD. 

John  iii.  16.  Whofoever  believeth,   (hall  have  everlafting  life. 
Pfal.  xxiii.  4.  Though  I  pafs  through  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil. 

CONCLUSION. 

,  "willing  mire  abundantly  tojh:w  unto  the  heirs  of  promife 
the  Immutability  of  his  counfel^  confirmed  It  by  an  oath.  Heb. 
vi.  17. 

H  h  a  A 


LETTER 


T    O 


RICHARD  N<ASH, 

Late  Matter  of  the  Ceremonies  at  Bath  * 


Seek  the  Lord  while  hf  may  be  found,  call  upon  him  while 
he  is  near.     If.  Iv.  6. 


S  I  R, 

THIS  comes  from  your  fincere  friend,  and  one 
that  has  your  beft  intercll  deeply  at  heart  :  it 
comes  on  a  defign  altogether  important,  and  of  no 
lefs  confcquence  than  your  everlafling  happincfs  ;  fb 
that  it  may  juftly  challenge  your  careful  regard.  It 
is  not  to  upbraid  or  reproach,  much  leis  to  triumph 

and 

*  MrHervcy  is  fuppofed  to  have  wrote  this  letter,  when  he 
wa*  at  Bath)  in  the  year  1-43.  It  was  found  among  Mr  Na/Jj's 
papers  after  his  death;  and  an  rxftract  of  it  was  inferred  in  an 
account  of  hi4  death,  pubiiflied  i'everal  years  ago. — For  ought 
appears,  this  man  of  plealVredefpifed  the  awful  warning  given 
him  by  the  benevolent  Mr  Hetvcy,  and  died  as  he  had  lived., 


A      LETTER,      &c, 

and  iufult  over  your  mifcondudt :  no  ;  it  is  pure  be- 
nevolence, it  is  diiintercfted  good-will  prompts  me 
to  write  ;  fo  that  I  hope  I  (hall  not  raife  your  refent- 
mcnt  :  however,  be  the  ifTue  what  it  will,  I  cannot 
bear  to  lee  you  walk  in  the  paths  that  lead  to  death, 
without  warning  you  of  your  danger  ;  without  found- 
ing in  your  ears  the  awful  admonition,  "  Keturn  and 
"  live  : — for  why  will  you  dia  ?"  1  beg  of  you  to 
confider  whether  you  do  not,  in  fome  meafure,  re- 
femble  thole  accurfed  children  of  Eli;  whom,  tho* 
they  were  famous  in  their  generation,  and  men  of 
renown,  yet  vengeance  fuffercd  not  to  live.  For  my 
part,  1  may  fafely  ufe  the  export uht ion  of  the  old 
prieft  : — "  Why  do  you  fuch  things  ?  for  I  hear  of 
44  your  evil  dealings  by  all  this  people :  nay,  my  bro- 
"  ther,  for  it  is  no  good  report  I  hear;  you  make  the 
"  Lord's  people  to  tranfgrefs."  I  have  long  obferveel 
and  pitied  you  ;  and  a  nToft  melancholy  fpcclacle  I 
lately  beheld,  made  me  reiblve  to  caution  you,  left 
you  alfo  come  into  the  fame  condemnation. 

I  was,  not  long  fince,  called  to  vifit  a  poor  gentle- 
man, ere  while  of  the  moft  robuft  body,  and  gayeft 
temper  1  ever  knew  :  but  when  1  villted  him,  Oh  ! 
how  was  the  glory  departed  from  him  !  I  found  him 
no  more  that  Iprightly  and  vivacious  fou  of  joy  which 
he  ufed  to  be  ;  but  languishing,  pining  away,  and 
withering  under  the  chaltiiing  hand  of  God  !  his 
limbs  feeble  and  trembling  ;  his  countenance  forlorn 
and  ghaftly  ;  and  the  little  breath  he  had  left,  fobb'd 
put  in  forrowful  fighs  1  his  body  liaftcning  apace  to 
the  dud,  to  lodge  in  the  filent  grave,  the  land  of 
darknefs  and  defolation  :  his  foul  juft  going  to  God 
vwho  gave  it  ;  preparing  itfelf  to  wing  away  to  its 
long  home ;  to  enter  upon  an  unchangeable  and  eter- 
nal (late.  When  1  was  corne  up  into  his  chamb  r,  and 
had  (bated  myfelf  on  his  bed,  he  firfl  caft  a  molt  wifli- 

feft 


246  A       L      E      T      T      E      R 

ful  look  upon  me ;  and  then  began,  as  well  as  he.  was 
able,  to  fpeak: — "  Oh  1  that  I  had  been  wile;  that  I 
44  had  known  this  ;  that  I  had  confidercd  my  latter 

u  cud  !    Ah  I   Mr  H y,  Death  is  knocking  at  my 

44  doors  :  in  a  few  hours  more  1  (hall  draw  my  lalt 
44  ga^P  >  and  tncn  j'-'dgment,  the  tremendous  judg- 
*'  ment !  How  (hall  1  appear,  unprepared  as  1  am,  be- 
44  fore  the  all-knowing  and  omnipotent  God  ?  how 
*'  (hall  1  endure  the  day  of  his  coming  ?"  When  I 
mentioned,  among  many  other  things,  that  fir itt  ho- 
lincfs,  which  he  had  formerly  i'o  (lightly  efteemed ;  he 
replied,  with  a  halty  eagernefs  ;  4;  Oh  I  that  hulinejs 
44  is  the  only  thing  I  now  long  for:  I  have  not  words 
"  to  tell  you  how  highly  1  value  it  :  I  would  gladly 
44  part  with  all  my  cflate,  large  as  it  is,  or  a  world,  to 
t4  obtain  it :  now  my  benighted  eyes  are  enlightened  ; 
"  1  clearly  difcern  the  things  that  are  excellent:  what 
44  is  there  in  the  place  whither  I  am  going  but  God  ? 
*'  or,  what  is  thereto  be  delired  on  earth  but  religion  ?" 
— But  if  this  God  mould  reftore  you  to  health,  faid  I, 
think  you  that  you  would  alter  your  former  courfe  ? 
44  I  call  heaven  and  earth  to  witneis,"  faid  he,  <4  I 
*4  would  labour  for  holinefe,  as  I  (hall  foon  labour  for 
"  life  :  as  for  riches  and  plcafures,  and  the  applaufes 
44  of  men,  I  account  them  as  drois  and  dung  ;  no 
44  more  to  my  happinefs  than  the  feathers  that  lie  oa 
44  the  floor.  Oh  !  if  the  righteous  Judge  would  try 
44  me  once  more  ;  if  he  would  but  reprieve  and  ipare 
44  me  a  little  longer ; — in  what  a  fpirit  would  I  fpend 
44  the  remainder  of  my  days  ?  1  would  Jtnow  no 
44  other  bufmefs ;  aim  at  no  other  end  than  perfecting 
4'  myielf  in  holinefs  :  whatever  contributed  to  that  ; 
44  every  means  of  grace  j  every  opportunity  of  Ipiri- 
44  tual  improvement,  fhotild  be  clearer  to  me  than 
44  thoufands  of  gold  and  (liver. — But  alas  !  why  do  I 
44  amufe  myielf  with  fond  imaginations  ?  The  bed 
44  resolutions  arc  now  infignih'cant,  becaufe  they  are 
44  too  late  :  the  day,  in  which  I  fliould  have  worked, 


TO       MR       NASH.  247 

u  is  over  and  gone  ;  ar.d  1  fee  a  fad,  horrible  night 
<4  approaching,  bringing  with  it  the  blacknefs  of  dark- 
"  riefs  for  ever.  Heretofore,  (wo  is  me  !)  when  God 
<c  called,  I  refuftrd  ;  when  he  invited,  1  was  one  of 
*•'•  them  that  made  excuie  :  now,  therefore,  I  receive 
"  the  reward  of  my  deeds  ;  fear fulneis  and  trembling 
"  are  come  upon  me  ;  I  fmart  ;  I  am  in  fore  anguifh 
4t  already  ;  and  yet  this  is  but  the  beginning  of  for- 
tc  rows  1  It  doth  not  yet  appear  what  I  mail  be  ; — 
**  but  iu re  I  fhall  be  ruined,  undone,  and  dcflroyed 
*'  with  an  everlafling  defiruciion." 

This  fad  fcene  I  (aw  with  my  eyes  ;  thefe  words, 
and  many  more  equally  affecling,  I  heard  with  my 
ears  ;  and  foon  after  attended  the  unhappy  gentleman 
to  his  tomb.  The  poor  breathlefs  (keleton  fpoke  in 
fuch  an  accent,  and  with  fo  much  earneftneis,  that  I 
could  not  eaiily  forget  him,  or  his  words  :  and  as  I 
was  muling  upon  this  forrowful  iubjecl,  I  remembered 
Mr  No/hi — 1  remembered  you,  Sir  ; — for  I  difcerned 
too  near  an  agreement  and  correfpondence  between 
yourfelf  and  the  deceafed.  They  are  like,  faid  1,  in 
their  ways,  and  what  fhall  hinder  them  from  being  a- 
like  in  their  end  ?  The  courie  of  their  actions  was 
equally  full  of  fin  and  folly  ;  and  why  (hould  not  the 
period  of  them  be  equally  full  of  horror  and  diftrels  ? 
1  am  gricvoufly  afraid  for  the  iurvivor,  left,  as  he 
lives  the  life,  lo  he  mould  die  the  ue-ith  of  this  wretch- 
ed man,  and  his  latter  end  fhould  be  like  his. 

For  this  caufe,  therefore,  I  take  my  pen,  to  advife 
— to  admonilh — my— to  rcqueft  of  you  to  repent, 
while  you  have  opportunity  ;  if  haply  you  may  find 
grace  and  forgivenefs  :  yet  a  moment,  and  you  may 
die  ;  yet  a  little  while,  and  you  mujl  die  :  and  will  you 
go  down  with  infamy  and  defpair  to  the  grave,  rather 
than  depart  in  peace,  and  with  hopes  full  of  immor- 
tality ? 

But 


148  A       L     E     T     T     E     R 

But  I  muft  tell  you  plainly,  Sir,  with  the  utmofl 
freedom,  that  your  preicnt  behaviour  is  not  the  way 
to  reconcile  yourfclf  to  God  :  you  arc  fo  far  from  ma- 
king atonement  to  offended  juftice,  that  you  are  ag- 
gravating the  former  account,  and  heaping  wp  an  in- 
create  of  wrath  agaiuft  the  day  of  wrath.  For  what 
fay  the  fcripturcs  ?  thole  books,  which,  at  the  confum- 
mation  of  all  things,  the  Ancient  of  days  lhall  open, 
— and  judge  you  by  every  jot  and  tittle  therein  ;  what 
fay  thefe  facred  volumes  ?  Why,  they  teftify  and 
declare  to  every  foul  of  man,  7 hat  luhofoever  liveth 
in  plcafure  is  dead  while  he  liveth  :  fo  that,  fo  long 
as  you  roll  on  m  a  continued  circle  of  fenfual  dcligtits, 
and  vain  entertainments,  you  are  dead  to  all  the  pur- 
pofes  of  piety  and  virtue  :  you  arc  as  odious  to  God 
as  a  corrupt  carcaie  that  lies  putrefying  in  the  church- 
yard :  you  are  as  far  from  doing  your  duty,  or  work- 
ing out  your  falvation,  or  refloring  yourfelf  to  the  di- 
vine favour,  as  a  heap  of  dry  bones  nailed  up  in  a 
coffin  is  from  vigour  and  activity.— Think,  Sir,  I  con^ 
jure  you,  think  upon  this,  if  you  have  any  inclina- 
tion to  efcape  the  fire  that  never  will  be  quenched. 
Would  you  be  refcued  from  the  fury  and  fierce  anger 
ofalmighty  God  ?  would  you  be  delivered  from  weep- 
ing, and  wailing,  and  incefTant  gnafhing  of  teeth  ? 
Sure  you  would  ! — Then  I  exhort  you  as  a  friend  ;  I 
befeech  you  as  a  brother  ;  I  charge  you  as  a  meflcnger 
from  the  great  God,  in  his  own  nioft  folemn  words  : 
"  Cafl  away  from  you  your  tranfgremons  ;  make  you 
4t  a  new  heart,  and  a  new  ipirit  ;  fo  iniquity  (hall  not 
"  be  your  ruin. 

Perhaps  you  may  be  difpofed  to  contemn  this,  and 
its  fcrious  purport,  or  to  recommend  it  to  your  com- 
panions as  a  fit  fubjecl:  for  raillery  : — but  let  me  tell 
you  beforehand,  that  for  this,  as  well  as  for  other 
things,  God  will  bring  you  into  judgment  :  he  fees 
me  now  write  ;  he  will  obfervc  you  while  you  read ; 

he 


T  o    M  R      N     A     S     H.  249 

lie  notes  down  my  words  in  his  book  ;  he  \vnk  note 
down  your  confequent  procedure  :  ib  that  not  upon, 
me,  but  upon  your  own  felf,  will  the  negle&ing  or 
defpifing  my  fay  ings  turn.  "  If  thou  be  wife,  thou 
"  flialt  be  wife  for  thyfclf ;  if  thou  fcorneft,  thou 
*'  alone  flialt  bear  it." 

Be  not  concerned,  Sir,  to  know  my  name  ;  it  is 
enough  that  you  will  know  this  hereafter  :  tarry  but 
a  little,  till  the  Lord,  even  the  moft  mighty  God,  fliall 
call  the  heaven  from  above,  and  the  earth,  that  he 
may  judge  his  people  ; — and  then  you  will  fee  me 
face  to  face  :  there  mail  i  be  ready,  at  the  dreadful 
tribunal,  to  joy  and  rejoice  with  you,  if  you  regard 
my  admonitions,  and  live ;  or  to  be—what  God  pre- 
vent,— by  inclining  your  heart  to  receive  this  friendly 
admonition. 


VOL.  V.  N°  23.  li  RULES 


RULES   AND   ORDERS 


O    F      T    H    E 


Affembly  for  Chriftian  Improvement  *. 


God  is  greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  ajfemblies  of  his  faints  ; 
and  to  be  had  in  reverence  by  all  that  are  round  <«- 
bout  him.  Pial.  Ixxxix.  7. 


I. 

THAT  this  afTembly  confift  of  no  more  than 
ten  or  twelve  at  the  utmoft,  left  an  increaled 
number  fhould  produce  confufion  or  diflenfions  ;  and 
that  each  member,  in  order  to  prevent  any  finifter 
reflections  from  the  inconfiderate,  or  vitious,  be  cau- 
tious of  mentioning  to  any  others  that  he  belongs  to 
iuch  "I*  an  aflembly. — And  that  each  member  before 
he  fcts  out,  and  on  his  return,  do  ufe  the  forms  of 

.       t       prayer, 

*  Referred  to  in  Mr  Hervey's  Life,  p.  xxxiii.  vol.  I. 

•f-  As  this  afTembiy  met  at  different  inns,  public  prayer  would 
have  alarmed  thk  attendants,  and  caufetl  groi's  mifreprefenta- 
tions. — Belides,  the  real  tlefign  of  this  meeting  was  known  on- 
ly to  a  few;  and  the  injuncHo'ns  of  fecrecy  was  given  to  each 
member,  in  order  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  religious  otlenta- 
tion,  and  in  compliance  with  the  apoltle's  precaution,  viz. 
Let  not  your  good  be  evilfpoken  of,  Koni.  xiv*  16. 


RULES,         &c.  251 

prayer,  which  are  fpecified  in  the  MINUTES,   and 
particularly  adapted  to  this  occafion. 

II. 

That  no  one  (hall  be  admitted  a  member,  who  has 
not  been  propoied  by  the  chairman  at  the  preceding 
afTembly, — or  who  ihall  be  difapproved  of  by  any  two 
members  on  a  ballot,  which  fhall  always  be  taken  on 
fuch  occafions,  how  unanimous  foever  the  members 
may  feem  to  be  beforehand. 

III. 

That  the  members  fhall  be  regiftered  alphabetically 
in  the  MINUTES  of  the  aflembly's  proceedings,  and 
that  the  chairman  of  the  clay  be  appointed  regularly, 
according  to  that  lift  ;  fo  that  no  mifunderftanding 
m-ay  ariie  about  precedence  ;  arid  that  a  treasurer  be 
clefted  annually,  the  firlt  Tuejday  in  January. 

IV. 

That  the  aflembly  meet  on  the  firft  Tutfday  in  every 
month  during  the  iummer-ieaibn,  punctually  at  twelve 
o'clock  ;  and  on  the  moon-light  Tuejday^  during  the 
wintcr-ieafon,  exactly  at  ten,  at  iuch  inn  as  (hall  from 
time  to  time  be  agreed  on  by  the  majority  ;  and  that 
dinner  be  ready  preciicly  at  two  in  the  iummer,  and 
one  in  the  winter, 

V. 

That  as  foon  as  tlic  afTembly  is  met,  the  names  of 
the  prefent  members  (hall  be  entered  in  the  MINUTES, 
and  the  forfeits  (if  there  be  any  due)  deposited  in  the 
charity- purfe, — After  which  the  chairman  ihall  inquire, 
if  the  prayers,  as  agreed  upon  by  the  affembly,  and 
entered  in  their  MINUTES,  have  been  properly  ufed  by 
each  member  at  his  own  home.  Then  the  chairman 
mall,  in  a  fhort  charge,  or  exhortation,  remind  his 
aflbciates  of  the  importance  of  iach  a  meeting,  and 
enumerate  the  good  elfefts,  which  the  felecled  chap- 
ters, if  rightly  improved,  may  produce, 

1  i  2  VI. 


K.    U    L    E    S      o  r      THE 

VI. 

The  chairman  mall  then  read  the  chapter  in  the  Old 
Teftament  in  Engtijh,  and  fhall  paufe  at  the  end  of 
every  verfe,  that  any  one  who  pleales  may  make  fuch 
inquiries  and  reflexions,  as  may  occafionally  arife  ; 
but  that  no  two  peribns  ipeak  at  a  time  ;  and  if  two- 
accidentally  begin,  the  chairman  fhall  direct  which  is 
to  go  on. — And  that  every  member  mall,  againft  the 
next  meeting,  fend  to  the  chairman  whatever  obfer- 
vation  of  his  on  the  chapter  of  the  day  the  members 
then  prefent  had  defired  to  have  entered  in  their  Ml- 
v  u  T  ES  :  by  which  method,  many  ufeful  observations 
tnay  be  preserved  :  And  in  cafe  any  verfe  (hall  not  be 
cleared  of  its  difficulties  to  the  fatisfaction  of  the  pre- 
fent members,  the  laid  verfe  (hall  be  re-confidered  at 
the  next  meeting. 

VII. 

At  three  o'clock  precifely,  during  thefummer-fea- 
fon,  (no  more  than  an  hour  being  allowed  for  dining,) 
the  chairman  (hall  proceed  in  reading  a  chapter  in 
Creek  out  of  the  New  Teftament,  to  be  commented  on 
in  like  manner  as  that  out  of  the  Old.  But  in  the 
winter-feafon,  when  the  affembly  meet  at  ten,  the 
chapter  both  in  the  Old  as  well  as  the  New  Teftament 
fhall  be  read  before  dinner;  and  after  dinner  no  other 
bufinefs,  than  that  fpecified  in  the  ninth  article,  fhal} 
be  entered  on. 

VIII. 

That  the  two  chapters  to  be  confidered  by  the  affem- 
bly at  their  next  meeting,  be  previoufly  appointed  be- 
fore the  adjournment  of  every  aflembly,  either  by  the 
fucceeding  chairman,  if  prefent,  or  in  cafe  of  his  ab- 
jfence,  by  the  majority  j  of  which  chapters  the  abfent 
jncmbers  fhall  have  timely  notice  fent  them  in  writing. 

IX. 

That  at  every  meeting  (as  time  permits)  each  mem- 
ber, in  an  alphabetical  order,  fhall  be  defired  to  give 

an 


I  M  IP  *OV£MENT-SoCI  ET  Y.          253 

an  account  of  fome  religious  author  (which  he  has 
read  in  the  preceding  month)  in  as  concife  and  fuccinct 
a  manner  as  pofllble.  » 

X. 

That,  at  every  meeting,  half  a  crown  mall  be  given 
by  each  member  for  charitable  ufes  ;  and  that,  at  the 
end  of  the  year,  the  money  lhall  be  expended  in  clo- 
thkig  or  educating  fuch  poor  perfons  or  relieving 
fuch  incurables,  as  the  members  in  their  alphabetical 
order  fhall  recommend  to  the  afTembly. 

XI. 

That  every  member  who  is  abfent,  though  occa- 
fioned  by  the  moft  urgent  bufincfs,  or  even  indifpo- 
fition,  (unlefs  fuch  indifpofition  fhall  continue  longer 
than  a  month,)  fhall  pay  half  a  crown  towards  the  cha- 
rity-purfe,  and  one  milling  and  fixpence  towards  the 
dinner,  in  the  fame  manner  as  if  he  had  been  prefent. 

XII. 

That  the  afTembly  break  *  up  by  feverr  in  the  fum- 
mer,  and  by  four  in  the  winter  ;  and  that  each  men>- 
ber,  on  his  return  home,  ufe  the  form  of  prayer  which 
is  fpecified  in  our  MINUTES,  and  peculiarly  adapted 

to  this  occafion. 

. 

WE  whofe  names  are  underwritten,  have  this  day 
(being  the  ievcnth  day  of  July  174?)  iubfcribed  our 
aflcnt  to  thcfe  rules  and  orders,  as  witnefs  our  hands. 

The 

*  Some  of  the  members  lived  five  or  fix  miles  from  the  place 
of  meeting,  which  was  always  at  public  houfes,  and  as  near 
the  centre  of  each  member's  refidence  as  could  be  convenient- 
ly contrived. 


254        R    U    L*    E    S       OF       THE 

The  FORM  of  PRAYER  compofed  by  Mr 
JfcrveVy  to  be  ufed  by  e&cli  member  before 
fetting  out  for  the  ASSEMBLY. 

Lord,  thouhaftfaid,  Where  two  or  three  are  gathered 
together  in  thy  name,  there  am  I  in  the  mid/}  of  them. 
Matth.  xviii.  20. 

ALmighty  and  immortal  God,  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jeius  Chriit,  and  through  him  the  God  of  all 
mercies,  vouchfafe,  we  befeech  thee,  to  look  down 
upon  us  thy  fmful  fervants,  who  arc  preparing  to 
meet  together  in  thy  name,  and  with  an  humble  de- 
lire  to  build  up  one  another  in  our  mod  holy  religion. 
Pardon  all  our  iniquities  through  the  blood  of  the 
everlafting  covenant,  and  make  us  and  our  fervices 
accepted  through  the  Beloved.  O  heavenly  Father, 
unite  us  to  one  another  by  mutual  love,  and  to  thy 
bleffcd  felf  by  faith  unfeigned.  Enlighten  our  minds 
with  the  knowledge  of  thy  truth,  and  fan&ify  our 
hearts  by  the  power  of  thy  grace.  Direct  our  coun- 
fels,  and  profper  all  our  endeavours,  to  the  glory  of 
thy  divine  Majefty,  and  the  falvation  of  our  own,  and 
the  fouls  of  others.-— Grant  this,  mofl  gracious  God, 
through  the  precious  death,  and  never-ceafing  inter- 
ceffion  of  jcius  Chrift  our  Lord.  Amen  ! 

The  FORM  of  P  R  A  Y  E  R  compofed  by  Mr 
Hcr*vey,  to  be  ufed  by  each  member  when  re- 
turned from  the  ASSEMBLY. 

Lord,  thou  haft  faid,  If  two  of  you  fliall  agree  on 
earth,  as  touching  any  thing  that  ye  /hall  ajk,  it  foall 
be  done  for  them  of  my  Father  -which  is  in  heaven. 
Matth.  xviii.  19. 


o 


Lord  God  of  our  falvation,  thou  Giver  of  every 
good  and  perfect  gift,  we  adore  thy  glorious 

nan>e 


IMPHOV   EMEMT-SOCIETY. 

name  and  beneficence,  foe.  the  redemption  of  our  fouls 
by  Jefus  Ghrill,  and  for  all  thy  other  unnumbered 
and  undefervcd  mercies.  In  a  particular  manner,  we 
praife  thy  unipeakable  goodnefs,  for  the  valuable  op- 
portunity we  have  this  day  enjoyed,  of  provoking 
one  another  to  love,  and  to  good  works.  Pity  our 
infirmities,  moft  merciful  Father,  and  pardon  what- 
ever thou  haft  feen  amils  in  the  tenor  of  our  conver- 
iation,  or  in  the  fpirit  of  our  minds. — Sanctify,  we 
humbly  befeecU  thee,  thy  holy  word,  which  we  have 
heard.  Command  it  to  fink  deep  into  our  fouls,  and 
to  be  a  lively  and  lading  principle  of  godlinefs  in  our 
hearts.  O  !  let  us,  by  every  fuch  conference,  grow 
in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Sa- 
viour Jefus  Chrift  :  that,  through  thy  infinitely -pre- 
cious favour,  we  may  become  ftedfaft  in  faith,  joyful 
through  hope,  and  rooted  in  charity  ;  and  fo  much 
the  more,  as  we  fee  the  day  approaching. — Ancl  for- 
afmuch  as  we  are  now  fcparated  into  a  world,  where 
wickednefs  abounds,  preferve  us,  O  God,  our  defence, 
from  the  leafl  infection,  and  from  every  appearance  of 
evil.  Infpire  us  with  wii'dom,  fo  to  order  our  con- 
verfation,  that  we  may  give  no  juft  occafion  of  offence 
in  any  thing.  Endue  us  with  holinefs,  that  we  may 
adorn  the  gofpel  of  God  our  Saviour  in  all  things  ; 
and  animate  us  with  fuch  a.  fleady  and  well  tempered 
zeal,  that  neither, the  ilothfulneis  of  our  nature,  nor 
the  fear  of  the  world  may  with- hold  us  from  purfuing 
fuch  couries,  as  may  be  conducive  to  the  glory  of  thy 
blefled  name,  the  advancement  of  time  religion,  and 
the  ialvation  of  our  immortal  fouls. — This,  and  what- 
focver  elfe  is  needful  for  us,  and  for  carrying  on  the 
work  which  thou  haft  given  us  to  do,  we  humbly 
beg,  for  the  lake  of  Jefus  Chrift  our  only  Mediator, 
and  all-  fufficient  Redeemer.  Amen. 


RULES 


RULES        OF 


Rules  *  and  orders  of  a  religious  fociety  ^  confijling 
of  two  claffcSy  viz. 

Of  men   into  which    no  woninn   can  be   admitted  : 

And, 

Of  married  men,  their  wives,  and  other  women  ;  in- 
to which  no  unmarried  man  can  be  admitted. 

Each  clafs  meets  every  ether  week  alternately* 

R  -U     L    E       I. 

AS  the  fole  defign  of  this  focicty  is  to  promote 
real  holinefs  in  heart  and  life,  every  member  of 
it  is  to  have  this  continually  in  view,  trufting  in  the 
divine  power,  and  gracious  conduct  of  his  Holy  Spi- 
rit, through  our  Lord  Jcfus  Chrift,  to  excite,  advance, 
and  perfect  all  good  in  us. 

RULE       II. 

That  in  order  to  the  being  of  one  heart,  and  one 
mind,  and  to  prevent  all  things  which  gender  ftrifes  ; 
as  well  as  to  remove  alloccafion  of  offence  from  being 
taken  againft  this  focicty,  no  perfon  is  to  be  admitted  a 
member  or  allowed  to  continue  fuch,  who  is  a  member 
of  any  other  meeting,  or  follows  any  other  preaching 
than  that  of  the  eftablifhed  minirtry  of  the  church  of 
England. — That  none  be  members  but  fuch  as  attend 
the  facrament  every  month,  and  that  no  perfon  be  at 

any 

*  As  the  plan  and  proceedings  of  this  fociety,  fo  much 
commended  by  Mr  Hfrvey,  may  probably  be  extenlively  ufe- 
ful ;  it  is  here  printed  from  a  private  copy,  by  the  particular 
define  of  feveral  of  Mr  Hervey's  friends  ;  and  it  is  hoped  the 
worthy  director  and  members  of  the  fociety  at  Trwro,  will  ex- 
cufe  i  he  liberty  here  taken  without  their  knowledge,  when  they 
c  nfi  ler  the  good  effecls  which  may  probably  arife  from  this 
publication.  See  Mr  Hcrvcy's  letters,  Jet.  132.  vol.  VI. 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETY.         257 

any  time  introduced  except  by  rcqueft  of  the  director. 

R     U     L     E       III. 

That  no  perfon  be  admitted  a  member  but  upon  the 
recommendation  of  the  director,  with  the  conient  of 
the  majority  of  members  then  prefent. — And  that  the 
*  director  be  the  Reverend  Mr  IPalker. 

R     U     L     E    ,  IV. 

That  the  members  of  this  focicty  meet  together 
one  evening  in  a  week  at  a  convenient  place,  anil 
that  they  go  home  at  nine  o'clock. — And  that  all 
matters  of  bufinefs  be  done  before  the  fentences 
begin. 

RULE       V. 

That  every  member  give  conftant  attendance,  and 
be  prefent  at  the  hour  of  meeting  precifely. — And 
that  whoever  abfents  himfelf  four  meetings  together, 
without  giving  a  fatisfactory  account  to  the  director^ 
which  (hall  by  him  be  communicated  to  the  fociety^ 
fhall  be  looked  upon  as  difaffected  to  the  /bciety. 

RULE       VI. 

That,  to  prevent  confufion,  no  perfon  be  removed 
from  this  ibciety  but  by  the  director,  who  (hall  be 
prefent  on  fuch  occafions. — That  any  member  do  be- 
forehand apply  to  the  director,  in  cafe  he  judges  fuch 
removal  neceilary. — That  a  diforderly  f  carriage,  or  a 

proud 

*  This  fociety  is  very  happy  in  having  fo  accompllfhed  a  per- 
fon at  their  head. — But  where  fuch  a  one  cannot  be  had,  per- 
haps it  would  be  prudent  to  elect  a  dire&or  annually,  whofd 
office  might  be  continued  more  or  lek  number  of  year.',  as 
leemed  bed  for  the  general  good. 

•f  By  a  diforderly  carriage  we  mearu  not  only  th?  grofs 
commiliion  of  fcandalous  fins,  but  a  lib  what  are  efteeuaed 
matters  of  little  moment  in  the  eyes  of  the  world;  fuch  as  a 
light  ufe  of  the  words,  Lord,  God,  Jtfus,&.o..  inonlinary  convcr- 
iation  ;  which  we  cannot  but  interpret  as  an  evidence  of  want 
of  God's  prefence  in  the  heart. — The  doing  necdlefs  buiinels 
<m  the  Lord's  day. — The  frequenting  alehoufes  or  taverns 
v;ithout  neceifrry  bufinefs. 

VOL.  V.  N°  23.          K  k 


258  RULES        OF        A 

proud,  contentious,  difputing  temper,  (the  greateft 
adverfary  to  Chrillutn  love  and  peace,)  be  futficient 
ground  for  inch  complaint  and  removal. 

RULE       VII. 

That  all  the  members,  conftdering  the  fad  confe- 
qnences  of  vanity  and  amufements  over  the  nation, 
do,  in  charity  to  the  fouls  of  others,  as  well  as  to  a- 
void  the  clanger  of  fuch  things  themfelves,  look  up- 
on themfelvcs  as  obliged  to  ufe  peculiar  caution,  with 
refpect  to  many  of  the  ufual  amufements,  however 
innocent  they  may  be,  or  be  thought  in  themfelves  ; 
fuch  as  cards,  dancings,  clubs  for  entertainment, 
playhoufcs,  fports  at  feftivals  and  parifh-feafls,  and,  as 
much  as  m*y  be,  parifh -real Is  themfelves  ; — left  by 
joining  herein  they  mould  be  ahindrance  tothemfeives, 
or  their  neighbours. 

RULE      VIII. 

That,  with  the  content  of  the  director,  the  major 
part  of  the  fociety  have  power  to  make  a  new  order 
when  need  requires,  but  that  the  propofal  for  this 
purpofe  be  made  by  the  director . — And  that  any 
member  may  confult  the  director  hereupon  before  the 
day  of  meeting. 

RULE       IX. 

That  perfons  difpofed  to  become  members  of  this 
fociety,  muft  firft  be  propofcd  by  the  director,  in 
order  that  the  members  of  the  fociety  may  oblerve 
their  conduct  for  the  fpace  of  three  months  before 
admittance. 

RULE       X. 

That  every  member  do  confider  himfelf  as  peculiar- 
ly obliged  to  livs  in  an  inofFentive  and  orderly  manner, 
to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  edifying  his  neighbours. 
— That  he  fludy  to  advance  in  himfelf  and  others, 
humility,  faith  in  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  love  to  God, 
gofpcl- repentance,  and  new  obedience  ;  wherein 

Chriftian 


RErLiG.ious    SOCIETY.        259 

Chriftian  edification  confifts. — And  that,  in  all  his  con- 
vcrfation  hereupon,  he  flick  clofe  to  the  plain  and 
obvious  fenfe  of  the  holy  icripturcs,  carefully  avoid- 
ing all  niceties  and  refinements  upon  them. 

RULE       XI. 

That  thefe  orders  fhall  be  read  over  at  lead  four 
times  in  the  year  by  the  director  ;  and  that  with  iuch 
deliberation,  that  each  member  may  have  time  to  ex- 
amine himfelf  by  them. 

RULE       XII. 

That  the  members  of  this  fociety  do  meekly  and 
humbly  join  together  in  the  following  offices  of  de- 
votion. 


The  office  of  devotion  ufed  weekly  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  fociety. 

The  direttar  fliall  read  theje  fentences^  himfelf  and  every 
one  (landing* 

GOD   is   greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  afTemblies  of 
his  faints,  and  to  be  had  in  reverence  by  all  that 
are  round  about  him.     P/al.  Ixxxix.  7. 

God  is  a  righteous  judge,  flrong  and  patient,  and 
God  is  provoked  every  day.  PjaL  vii.  12. 

God  will  bring  every  work  into  judgment,  with  c- 
very  fecret  thing,  whether  it  be  good,  or  whether  it 
be  evil.  Ecc/ef.  xii.  14. 

He  that  hideth  his  fins  mail  not  profper  ;  but  he 
that  confefTeth  and  forfaketh  them,  fhall  have  mercy. 
Prov.  xxv iii.  13. 

If  any  man  finneth,  we  have  an  Advocate  with  the 
Father,  Jefus  Chrilt  the  righteous,  and  he  is  the 
propitiation  for  our  fins.  1  'John  ii.  i,  2. 

O  come  let  us  worfhip,  and  fall  down,  and  kneei 
before  the  Lord  our  Maker.  PJal.  xcv.  y,  6. 

Then 
Kk  2 


26o          RULES       or        A 

Then  fh  all  be  f  aid,  thefi  three  colletts,  all  kneeling  : 
"  Prevent  us,  O  Lord,"  &c. 

<c  BlelTed   Lord,   who   halt  caufed   all  holy  fcrip- 
"  tures,"  Crc. 

"  O  God,  for  as  much  as  without  thee,"  &c. 

Allfcatinvtliemfdves,  a  portion  offcriptiirefliall  be  read. 
Then  kneeling  down^  they  fliull  join  in  this  confefliun 


"  Almighty  God,  Father  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
-"  Maker  of  all  things,  Judge  of  all  men,"  &c. 

fc  Our  Father,  which  art,"  &c. 
j4fter  -which  the  diretfor  alone  foall  fay  : 

"  Almighty  and  everlafting  God,  who  hateft  no- 
"  thing  that  thou  haft  made,"  <6'f. 

O  moft  holy  and  bJefled  God  !  the  Creator,  Gover- 
nor, and  Judge  of  all  ;  who  hateft  falfehood  and 
hypocrify,  and  wilt  not  accept  the  prayer  of  feigned 
lips  ;  b^t  haft  promilcd  to  fliew  mercy  to  fuch  as  turn 
unto  thee  by  true  faith  and  repentance  ;  youchfafe, 
\ve  pray  thce,  to  create  in  ps  clean  and  upright  hearts, 
through  an  unfeigned  faith  in  thy  Son  our  Saviour. 
To  us  indeed  belongeth  fhame  and  confufion  efface  ; 
we  are  not  worthy  to  lift  np  our  eyes  or  our  voice  to- 
wards heaven  ;  our  natures  are  depraved,  and  our 
ways  have  been  perverfe  before  thee.  O  let  not  thy 
wrath  rife  againft  us,  left  we  be  confumed  in  a  mo- 
ment ;  but  let  thy  merciful  bowels  yearn  over  us,  and 
vouchfafe  to  purify  and  pardon  us,  through  thine  all- 
iiifficient  grace  and  mercy  in  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  : 
fmce  it  hath  pleafed  thee  to  offer  him  up  as  a  facrifice 
for  finners,  vouchfafe,  we  befeech  thee,  to  cleanfe  us 
from  all  iniquity  through  his  blood.  We  believe,  that 
he  is  able  to  fave  to  the  uttermoft  thole  that  come  un- 
to thee  by  him,  and  we  do  earneftly  defire  to  embrace 
him  as  our  Prince  and  Saviour  ;  O  give  us  repentance 
remillion  of  fin  through  his  name,  All  we  like 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETY.         261 

fiieep  have  gone  aftray,  every  one  in  his  own  way  ; 
good  Lord,  reduce  us  into  thy  fold  through  this  great 
.Shepherd  of  fouls,  and  be  pleaied  to  lay  on  him  the 
iniquity  of  us  all.  And  as  we  have  much  to  be  for- 
given, be  pleaied  to  incline  our  hearts  to  love  thee 
much,  who  forgiveft  iniquity,  tranfgreflion,  and  fin. 
Give  us  that  faith,  that  worketh  by  love  ;  and  fuch 
love  as  will  conftrain  us  to  have  regard  to  all  thy 
commandments.  And  make  us  to  look  carefully  to 
all  our  ways,  that  we  may  never  again  do  any  thing, 
whereby  thy  holy  name  may  be  blafphemed,  or  thine 
authority  defpifed. 

Give  us  the  deepeft  humility,  without  which  we  can 
never  be  accepted  of  thee;  our  infinitely  condefcend- 
ing  God,  make  us  continually  to  tread  in  the  fteps  of 
our  blefled  Lord  and  Saviour  Jefus  Chrift  ;  being  of 
a  meek  and  quiet  fpirit,  always  influenced  by  the 
higheft  love  of  thee  our  God,  and  by  the  moft  chari- 
table difpoiition  towards  all  men. 

Vouchiafe  to  endue  us  with  the  faving  knowledge 
of  fpiritual  things,  that  we  may  receive  all  thy  truths 
in  the  love  of  them,  in  all  patience,  purity,  juftice, 
temperance,  godlinefs,  and  brotherly  kindncfs  ;  that 
we  may  adorn  our  holy  profefRon,  and  refcmble  the 
divine  goodnefs  of  thee  our  heavenly  Father. — And 
fince  we  are  not  only  weak  and  frail,  but  corrupt  and 
finful,  vouchiafe,  O  Lord,  to  keep  us  by  the  power 
of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  that  we  fall  not  from  our  avowed 
liedfallnefs,  in  all  Chriflian  duty.  Preierve  us  from 
all  the  lin  and  vanity  to  which  our  age,  condition,  and 
nature  are  prone,  and  to  which  the  devil  and  this 
world  may  at  any  time  tempt  us. 

Glorify,  good  God,  thy  ftrength  in  our  weaknefs, 
thy  grace  in  our  pollution,  and  thy  mercy  in  our  fal- 
vation.  May  our  holy  religion  be  grounded  and  fet- 
tled in  our  hearts,  that,  out  of  the  good  treafurc  of  a 
gracious  heart,  our  fpcech  may  be  lavoury,  and  our 
converfation  exemplary  ;  that  we  may  be  fruitful  in 


RULESOF          A 

all  good  works,  even  to  our  old  age,  and  to  our  laft 
day. 

.  Fit  us,  we  pray  thee,  for  every  ftate  of  life,  into 
which  thy  providence  fliall  caft  us  ;  profper  our  law- 
ful undertakings  ;  preicrvc  us  night  and  day,  and  pre- 
pare us  for  an  hopeful  death  and  a  blefled  eternity. 

Be  pleafcd,  we  bcfeech  thee,  to  bleis  all  thole  ib- 
cieties,  who  in  truth  apply  their  hearts  to  thy  fervice 
and  glory  ;  we  pray  thee  be  pleafed  to  ftrengthen, 
eftablifh,  and  fettle  both  them  and  us,  in  thy  holy 
faith,  fear,  and  love.  Let  nothing  in  this  world  dif- 
couragc  us  from  the  purfuit  of  thofe  holy  purpofes, 
which  thy  Spirit  hath  at  any  time  put  into  our  hearts 
and  minds.  But  make  us  all  faithful  to  thee  our 
avowed  God  and  deiired  portion,  even  unto  death  ; 
that  we,  at  leaft,  (with  thy  whole  church,)  may  be 
partakers  of  that  eternal  life  and  perfect  blifs  which 
thou  haft  promifed  through  Jcius  Chrift,  thy  only  be- 
gotten Son,  our  Mediator  and  Redeemer.  Amen. 

44  Almighty  and  ever-living  God,  who,  by  thy  holy 
11  apoille,  has  taught  us  to  make  prayers,"  &c. 

Then  all  Jlanding  up^  a  pfabn  JJiall  be  fun g,  and  *  a 
fcrmon  read,  or  a  charge  given  by  the  direfior.  j4f- 
ter  'which  fame  Juitable  prayer  fliall  be  ujcd  as  he 
foal  I  judge  fit. 

Then  all  Jianding  up,  this  exhortation  to  humility  fliall 

be  read. 

My  brethren,  flnce  the  great  God  has  often  allured 
us  in  his  holy  word,  "  that  he  will  refift  the  proud, 
*'  and  give  grace  unto  the  humble,"  Jam.  iv.  6.  i  Pet. 
v.  5.  let  us  conlidcr,  that  ail  our  undertakings,  though 
ever  io  good,  will  fail  and  come  to  nought,  unlefs 
we  be  truly  and  deeply  humble,  Luke  xiv.  1 1.  Indeed 
it  cannot  be  otherwife  j  becauie  the  proud  perfon 

quits 

*  The  direftor,  when  abroad  or  indifpofed,  is  to  appoint 
what  ferinon  fliall  be  read,  and  by  whom. 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETY.        263 

quits  his  reliance  on  God  to  reft  in  himfelf  j  which  is 
to  exchange  a  rock  for  a  reed. 

Alas  1  what  arc  we,  poor  empty  nothings  !  Gen, 
xxxii.  10.  Yea,  what  is  worfe,  we  are  condemned, 
perishing  Tinners  !  We  have,  perhaps,  underftanding 
now  ;  but  God  can  foon  turn  it  into  madnefs,  Dan. 
iv.  42.  We  may  have  fome  attainments  in  grace  ; 
but  fpiritual  pride  will  wither  all,  and  foon  reduce  us 
to  a  very  profligate  and  wretched  eftate,  If.  Ixvi.  2. 
iuch  as  we  have  feen  others  fall  into  who  have  begun 
in  the  Spirit,  and  ended  in  the  flelh !  What  have  we, 
that  we  have  not  received  ?  i  Cor.  iv.  7.  And  even 
that,  he  who  gave  it  rnay  as  foon  take  away. 

Ye  that  are  young  in  years  and  younger  in  grace, 
I  Tim.  iii.  6.  are  in  danger  of  felf- conceit,  and  of  be- 
ing puffed  up ;  which  is  a  quick  fand,  in  which  thou- 
fands  have  been  (Wallowed  up  and  perifhed.  It  is  not 
in  vain  that  the  apoflle  requires,  "  that  young  men 
4t  be  exhorted  to  be  fober- minded,"  Tit.  ii.  6.  Prov. 
xvi.  1 8.  which  he  clfewhcre  explains,  when  he  fays, 
41  Let  no  man  think  of  himfelf  more  highly  than  he 
44  ought  to  think;  but  to  think  fobcrly,"  Rom.  xii.  3. 
//.  xiv.  12,  13. 

By  pride  the  angels  fell  from  heaven,  i  Tim.  iii.  £. 
and  if  ever  we  climb  up  to  thofe  bleifcd  feats  from 
which  they  are  fallen,  it  mud  be  by  the  gracious  (teps 
of  humility  and  lowlinefs  of  mind,  Luke  xviii.  14. 
44  Wherefore  let  him  that  thinketh  he  ftandeth,  take 
44  heed  left  he  fall,"  I  Cor.  x.  12.  4t  Let  us  walk 
44  humbly  with  our  God,"  and  ever  have  lowly 
thoughts  of  our  vile  felves,  Rom.  xi.  20.  and  of  our 
poor  attainments,  and  of  our  defective  performances: 
and  with  St  Paul  (who  was  nothing  behind  the  very 
chiefdt  apoftlcs)  let  us  always  fay,  I  am  nothing, 
a  Cor* 'xii.  ii. 

Let  us  therefore  now  fing  to  the  praife  and  glory 
of  God,  to  whom  alone  praii'c  is  due. 

si 


264  R      U      L      E     S       o  F 


A  pfalm  being  fitngi  the  direflor  fli 
44  It  is  very  meet  and  right,"  &c. 

All  Jliall  join. 
"  Therefore  with  angels  and  archangels,"  drr. 

The  director  alone. 
May  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,"  &c.  Amen. 


Confederations  laid  before  the  members  of  the  fociety ; 
being  the  fubftance  of  the  fir Jl  charge,  or  exhorta- 
tion^ Jpoke  at  its  opening  by  the  diretfor. 

BRETHREN, 

YO  U  expect  that  I  lay  before  you  the  defign  of 
this  fociety,  and  give  you  ibme  cautions  con- 
cerning it.     The  delign  is  threefold  ;    1.  To  glorify 
God.      2.  To  be  quickened  and  confirmed  ourfelves. 
3.  To  render  us  more  ufeful  among  our  neighbours. 

I. 

As  a  fociety,  we  fliall  be  better  able  to  glorify  God ; 
for  hereby  we  bear  a  more  evident  teftimony  to  the 
caufe  of  Chrift,  and  make  a  more  avowed  confellion 
of  him  and  his  words,  in  thelc  evil  days,  than  we 
could  do  when  feparate. 

Every  one  of  you  defires  that  the  kingdom  of  Jefus 
Chrift  were  more  eltablifhed,  and  more  honourable  in 
the  world  than  it  is,  and  you  join  your  hand,  with 
others,  to  promote  ib  deiirable  an  end. 

Take  thefe  cautions  for  this  purpofe  : 

1.  Look  upon  yourielf  as  one  aflbciated  with  others 
in  vindication  of  your  Mailer's  honour. 

2.  Never  be  alhamed  of  him,  or  his  doftrine,  or  of 
this  fociety. 

3.  Demean  yourfelf  to  every  one  as  his  difciplc,  by 
walking  in  humility,  meeknefs,  hcavenly-mindedncfs, 
charity  after  Chrift's  example. 

4.  Keep 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETY.       265 

4.  Keep   yourfelf  heedfully  from  all  things  which 
may  difgrace  your  Mafter,  and   this  fociety  ;  fuch  as 
pride  in  a  conceit  of  your  knowledge  or  attainments, 
or  that  you  are  a   member  of  this  ibciety. — Valuing 
yourfelf  upon   any  distinction  in   ftation  or  wealth. — 
Sinking  into  a  worldly  frame, — or  decliningfinto  floth 
and  idlenefs. — Practiiiug  the  lead  difhoncfty,  or  con- 
niving at  the  difhonefty  of  others. — Making  compli- 
ances to  avoid  lhame,  or  promote  worldly  intereft. — • 
Falling  into  lukewarmnefs,  and  forgetting  your  firit 
love. — Slighting  public  ordinances. 

5.  Often  (efpecially  before  and  after  great  trials) 
reflect,  that  you  belong  to  a  religious  fociety  for  pro- 
moting the  glory  of  Chrifl. 

II. 

The  fecond  defign  of  this  fociety  is,  to  be  quicken- 
ed and  confirmed  ourfelves.  For  hereby  we  ihall  be 
better  able  to  maintain  the  war  againft  our  enemies, 
(efpecially  the  world,)  and  to  grow  in  grace  ;  feeing, 
by  thisaflbciation,  we  have  the  Spirit  to  blefs  our  exer- 
cifcs  ; — (hall  have  the  benefit  of  mutual  advice  *  and 
reproof; — (hall  be  more  hardy  to  oppofe  the  tempta- 
tions befetting  us  in  this  wicked  world  ; — (hall  walk 
under  a  peculiar  reftraint,  as  being  members  of  a're- 
ligious  fociety  ; — and  fliall  be  affiited  by  the  prayers, 
as  of  one  another,  fo  of  all  good  men  in  the  whole 
Chriftian  church.  To  this  end, 

1.  Watch  over  one  another  in  love. 

2.  Be  willing   to   hear   of  your  faults,  and  of  the 
fearsandfufpicionsofthefeyourfriendsconccrningyou. 

3.  Be  watchful  againft  any  difguft  to  one  another  ; 
and  if  any  arifes  in  you,  without  delay  tell  the  party, 
and  if  th*£  avail  not,  tell  the  director. 

4.  Defire  the  prayers  one  of  another,  and  pray  for 
one  another. 

5-.  Be 

*  There  is  a  moft  ufeful  little  piece  for  thefe  pnrpofcs,  en- 
titled, Regulations  and  helps  for  promoting  religious  conversation 
among  Chrijiians. 

VOL.  V.  N°  23.  L  1 


266  11      U      L      E      S        o  F        A 

5*.  Be  furc  you  reft  not  on  your  being  a  member  <r 
this  focicty  ; — ieeking  continually  to  call  off  all  ii.it  de- 
pendence. 

6.  Watch  the  lead  decay  of  love  to  Chrift,  or  zeal 
for  his  honour  and  the  p^ood  of  fouls. 

7.  Coi^inu.continually  upon  your  heart  the  obliga- 
tions you  lie  under  as  a  member  of  a  religious  ibciety. 

III. 

The  third  defign  of  this  fociety  is,  to  render  us 
more  ufeful  among  our  neighbours. — Hereby  we  are 
more  obfervable. — People  will  not  be  io  eafily  quiet  in 
their  fins. — Good  examples  carry  a  brighter  and  more 
convincing  light,  confounding  the  works  of  darkntik. 
To  this  end, 

1 .  Be  careful  to  fet  a  Chriftian  example  before  the 
world. 

2.  Think  not  to  gain  any  by  making  compliances. 

3.  Diicountenance  all  fuch  things  as  you  fee  preju- 
dicial to  others,   fuch  as  taverns,  alehoufes,    gaming, 
and  many  fpot  ts  which  are  defiruc'tive  to  fouls. 

4.  Shew  all  love  to  mens  fouls  and  bodies. 

5*.  Avoid  all  difputings  which  proceed  from  pride, 
and  nurfe  contention  and  variance. 

6.  Don't  be  angry  with  thofc  who  blame  this  fociety, 
but  meekly  and  filently  bear  with  them. 

7.  Don't  in  your  heart  defpife  others,  becaufe  they 
are  not  members  of  this  fociety  ; 

8.  Nor  (hew  any  valuing  of  yourfelves  becatofe  you 
are. — Never  fpeak  of  yourfclf  as  a  member,  unlefs 
with  a  view  of  doing  good  to  others. 

MOTIVES. 

1.  Real  difciples  do  more  than  nominal  profeffors. 

2.  The  Spirit,  will  ftrengthen  antl  comfort  you. 

3.  You  will  have  the  blefling  of  a  quiet  confcience. 

4.  You 'are  engaged  in  the  moft  honourable  fervice. 

5.  You  will  promote  the  intereft  of  your  Matter. 

6.  He 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETY.        267 

6.  He  will  acknowledge  your  labours  in  the  clay  of 
his  appearing.  j4men.     So  be  it. 

A7.  B.  Whereas  too  many  people  are  apt  to  mifre- 
preient  every  religious  fociety  as  a  methodiftical  meet- 
ing ;  it  was  judged  necefTary  to  infert  the  following 
extract  from  the  celebrated  Mr  D odd's  late  iermon  : 
"  The  cry  of  Methodi/m  is  frequently  raifed  by  fuch 
44  as  are  totally  ignorant  of  the  nature  of  the  accufa- 
44  tion  ;  and  many   are  iligmatized   with   the  name, 
u  who  are  perfectly  innocent  of  the  thing.    The  ob- 
"  iervations  I  have  made  may  poflibly  lerve  to  fettle 
"  the   point  in  fome  degree,  or  at  leaft   to  flop  the 
44  tongues  of  thoie  who  very  unjuftly  call  the  afper- 
44  (ion,  where  there  is  not  the  lead  caufe  :  and  it  de- 
44  ferves,  perhaps,  to  be  con(i^)ered  by  all  lerious  and 
tc  fincere  Proteitants,  whether  the  affixing  the  charge 
'  of  Methodijm,  &c.  &c.  indifcriminately  upon  men 
u  of  unblameable  lives,  and  irreproachable  converfa- 
4  tion,  may  not  tend  greatly  to  prcjudiie  our   holy 
4  faith  in  general,  and  to  bring  a  reproach  upon  Chrii- 
44  tianity   itfclf,    through    the   pretended    offence   of 
44  Mtthodifin:  this  may  be  a  triumph  to  the  Dcift  and 
44  Papift  equally  pleah'ng. — And,  if  fo,  can  we  be  too 
i4  accurate  in  our  diminutions,  or  too  cautious  in  our 
41  imputations  ? — Kemembering,  that  while  we  con- 
44  found  Chrillianity   and  Methodifm,  we  are   doing 
44  difcredit  to   ChrifHanity  in   the  lame  proportion  as 
44  we  are  giving  weight  and  dignity  to  Mfthodifm." 
See  Mr  Dodd's  excellent  iermon,  entitled,  Unity  ttcom- 
mcnded^  preached  before  the  religious  focietics  in  and 
.-'bout  London,  at  their  annual  meeting  in  the  parifh- 
rhurch  of  Sf  Mary-le-Bow^  on  E after  Mo nday  1759; 
to  which  is  added,  an  Appendix,  giving  an  account 
of  the  original  deiign,  general  rules,  and  prefent  fiate 
of  the  religious  focietics. — A  farther  account  of  which 
may  be  feen  in  a  little  piece  wrote  in  Queen 
time,  by  the  IXcv.  Dr  Jofiah  Wovdward,  entitled, 

L  1  2  account 


268          HINTS         FOR 

account  of  the  rife  and  progrefs  of  the  religious  focicties 
in  and  about  London^  and  of  their  endeavours  jar  there- 
formation  of  manners. — The  fixth  edition.  In  this  lit- 
tle trad:  the  mod  confidcrable  objections  againft  reli- 
gious  focieties  are  fully  anlwered. 


HINTS   concerning  the  means  of  promoting  R  E- 

L  I  G  I  o  N  in  ourjeivcs  or  others  *. 

I. 

BE   always  chearful  as  well  as  ferious,  that  you 
may   win   men  to   Chriftianity.     And   in  every 
converfation  introduce  Tome  religious  hints,  if  it  can 
be  done  with  propriety. 

II. 

Avoid  all  controverfies  ;  no  good  can  come  from 
difputing  ;  but  contend  earneilly  for  the  eflentials  of 
Chriflianity. 

III. 

Heal  all  divifions  among  lefts  and  parties  to  the  ut- 
molt  of  your  power. — And  prevail  with  thofe  who  are 
moll  fiery ,to  read  Henry's  excellent  treatife  on  meeknefs. 

IV. 

Tdk.  familiarly  to  children  about  religion,  as  a  de- 
lightful employment.  Put  eafy  queftions  to  them, — 
encouraging  them  occafionally  by  fome  little  prefents, 
— and  thus  teaching  them  an  amiable,  chearful,  gene- 
rous piety. 

V. 

Make  it  a  conftant  rule  to  pray  for  all  who  affront 
or  injure  you. — Chrift  enjoins  us  to  pray  for  all  who 
delpitefully  ufe  us.  See  Matth.  v.  44.  Disregard  all 
opprobrious  names. —  Chrift  himfelf  (as  will  every  one 
who  ftrives  againft  the  corrupt  prejudices  and  vices  of 
imnkind)  was  abufed  as  a  wine-bibber,  and  even  a 
blafphemer,  &c. 

VI. 
*  Referred  to  in  Mr  Hervey's  life,  p.  xxxvi.  vol.  I, 


PROMOTING    RELIGION.      269 

VI. 

Be  accnftomed  to  a  regular,  daily,  but  moderate 
courfe  of  devout  retirement  :  and  recommend  inter- 
cefiion  for  others,  both  in  the  family  and  in  private  ; 
as  likewife  frequent  attendance  on  the  iacramcnt. 

VII. 

Frequent  public  worftrip  every  day  in  the  week,  if 
your  bufmeis  permit,  and  if  you  live  in  a  place  where 
it  is  performed. 

VIII. 

Secret  ejaculations  too  may  be  ufed  as  you  are  walk- 
ing, or  riding,  or  in  whatever  company  you  may  hap- 
pen to  be  ; — and,  on  fame  particular  hour,  remember 
(as  for  inftance,  at  morning,  noon,  afternoon,  or 
evening,  when  your  TOWN  CLOCK  ftrikes,  which  will 
be  a  loud  and  ne-ver- failing  memorandum)  to  ietyour- 
fclf  as  in  the  prefence  of  God  *  for  a  few  minutes. 

IX. 

*  This  method  is  thus  recommended  by  the  late  Bifhop  of 
Durham  (Dr  Butler,  in  discharge  to  the  clergy,  1751.)  44  Se- 
44  cret  prayer,  as  exprefsiy  as  it  is  commanded  by  our  Saviour, 
44  and  as  evidently  as  it  is  implied  in  the  notion  of  piety,  will 
44  yet  1  fear  be  grievoufly  forgotten  by  the  generality,  till  they 
44  can  be  brought  to  fix  tor  themlelves  certain  times  of  the  day 
44  for  it.  Secret  prayer  comprehends  not  only  devotions  be- 
44  fore  men  begin,  aud  after  they  have  ended  the  bufinefs  of 
44  the  day,  but  fuch  allb  as  may  be  performed  while  they  are 
44  employed  in  it,  or  even  in  company. 

44  And  truly,  if,  beiides  our  more  let  devotions  morning  and 
44  evening,  all  of  us  would  fix  upon  certain  times  o:~  the  day, 
44  fo  that  the  return  of  the  hour  mould  remind  us,  to  lay  fhort, 
44  prayers,  or  exercife  our  thoughts  in  a  way  equivalent  to 
44  this,  perhaps  there  are  few  perfuiis  in  fo  high  and  habitual 
44  a  Hate  of  piety,  as  not  to  find  the  benefit  of  it. — If  it  took 
44  up  no  moj  e  ihan  a  minute  or  two,  or  even  lefs  time  than. 
44  that,  it  would  ferve  the  end  I  am  proposing: — it  would  be 
44  a  recollection  THAT  WE  A  HE  IN  THE  DIVINK  FKF.SENCE, 
44  and  contribute  to  our  being  in  t/:e  fear  cf  the  L'jrd  all  the 
44  day  long. 

4i  A  duty  of  the  like  kind,  and  fcrvjng  to  the  fame  purpofr, 

44is 


270  HINTS         FOR 

IX. 

Ufc  frequent  meditation  ;  than  which  nothing  can 
be  more  profitable:  Nor  can  any  thing  fo  much  awa- 
ken and  difpoie  us  for  that,  and  for  all  that  is  good, 
as  a  flrong  faith  in  providence,  and  a  confUnt  chcar- 
fulnefs  *  of  fpirit. 

X. 

Entertain  the  higheft  regard  for  the  word  of  God, 
and  furniih  yourfclf  with  a  few  of  the  heft  writers, 
but  particularly  with  Henry  on  meekncjs^  and  [farthing- 
ton  on  re/igdation. — Study  them  thoroughly,  and  en- 
deavour to  make  their  fentiments  your  own.  Meek- 
nefs  and  refignation  are  the  two  principal  duties  of  a 
Chriftian. — Difperfe  good  books  occasionally,  if  your 
circumltances  will  permit  ; — and  be  very  careful  in 
the  choice  of  them,  and  in  adapting  them  to  the  cir- 
cumftances  of  the  peribn  to  whom  they  are  given. 

XL 

"  is  tHe  particular  acknowledgment  of  God,  when  we  are  par- 
u  taking  of  his  bounty  at  our  meals. — The  neglect  of  this  is 
"  faul  to  have  been  fcandalous  to  a  proverb,  in  the  Heathen  * 
u  world;  but  it  is  frequently  and  without  (hame  laid  afide  at 
"  the  tables  of  the  higheft,  and  the  loweft  ranks  among  us." 
*  In  order  to  obtain  a  proper  confidence  in  providence,  and 
a  fettled  chearfulnefs  of  mind,  the  reader  (efpecially  the  gloo- 
my and  dilpirited)  would  be  much  aflifled  by  Bifhop  Patrick's 
advice  to  a  friend,  which  is  a  moil  ineftiiaable  little  piece. — It 
was  fir(t  wrote  (as  the  preface  tells  us)  to  preferve  a  pious 
friend  in  peace  and  chearlulnels  ;  but  if  the  advice  be  good, 
the  more  public  it  is  made  the  better.  It  was  contracted  into  a. 
little  room,  that  it  might  be  as  ealy  to  carry  in  the  mind,  as 
in  the  pocket  ; — and  is  a  nioft  excellent  guide  to  peace,  chear- 
fulnefs, and  whatsoever  is  graceful,  amiable,  and  d durable  in 
a  Chriilian. — They  who  are  offended  at  the  uncomfortablenefs 
of  a  religious  life,  never  yet  knew  the  true  way  of  religion, 
into  which  this  author  will  lead  them. — Her  -ways  (fays  Solrj- 
?J?OH)  are  ways  of  pltafcntnefs,  and  all  her  paths  ar:  peace. — 
See  likewiie  Htnry's  Pleafontnefs  of  a  religious  life. 

*  See  C.faubon  in  Athenscum,  lib.  i.  cap.  ii.  pag.  22. 


PROMOTING    RELIGION.      271 

XI. 

Encourage  by  your  influence,  and  purfe  too  (if 
able.)  ibcieties  for  promoting  the  gofpel,  both  at  home 
and  in  foreign  parts  ;  and,  in  order  to  be  well  ac- 
quainted with  theie,  read  the  celebrated  Dr  Ifood- 
Wrtrd's  rije  and  fro^rejs  of  the  religious  jocieties  in 
London  and  Weflminifler. 

XII. 

Whenever  you  reprove,  let  it  be  tenderly,  private- 
ly, and  with  all  due  huir.il  ity. 


For  the  reformation  of  iwearing  *,  lying,  flander- 
ing,  Sabbath-  breaking,  paffionate  f,  or  unchafte  \  per- 

fons, 

*  Hints  for  the  reformation  of,  or  converfation  with  a 
f  wearer. 

i.  None  fo  ignorant  as  not  to  know  'tis  a  breach  of  the  third 
commandment.  —  2.  He  who  lives  in  the  fear  of  God,  is  fo  far 
from  being  capable  of  it,  that  it  (hocks  him  to  hear  others  of- 
fending this  way.  —  3.  We  are  taught  by  Chrift  daily  to  pray, 
*4  Hallowed  be  thy  name."  Angels  praife  it,  and  devils  trem- 
ble ar  it.  —  4.  Chi  \(\  enjoins  us  to  fwear  not  at  all.  See  Matth. 
v.  34.  and  alfo  James  v  12.  —  5.  Give  to  a  fwearer  Dr  JVood- 
'jjard\  kind  caution  toprofanefwearers,ort}'.e]att:'Biil}vpof  Lon- 
don's (Dr.  G  ibfin*)  admonition  againft  frophane  and  common 
fwearing. 

-f  Hints  for  the  reformation  of  a  poffionate  mnn. 

i.  Caufelefs  and  irmm  derate  anger,  proceeds  from  a  proud 
and  haughty  temper,  arid  is  contrary  to  gofpel-meeknef*  —  that 
mecknefs  a»d  quiemcf*  of  fpirit,  which,  as  St  Pcttr  allures  us, 
i  Pet.  iii.  4.  is  of  great  price  in  the  fight  of  God.  —  2.  Chrilt 
bids  us  learn  of  him,  who  was  lowly  and  meek,  Matth.  xi.  9. 
—3.  Every  paflionate  tongue  is  fet  on  fire  by  hell,  ftejames 
iii.  6.  —  4.  He  who  fays  the  Lord's  prayer  with  an  unforgiving 
temper,  curfes  himfelf.  —  5.  No  one  has  offended  us  fo  often  as 
we  hvve  offended  God,  therefore  our  anger  fhould  be  againlt 
our  own  fins  —  6.  Let  all  bitternefs(fay»theapoftle,)and  wrath, 
and  anger  be  put  away  —  In  patience  poflefs  ye  ycur  .uuls, 
Ijikc  xxi.  19.  —  No  paffion  in  lu-aven,  theieforeno  paffion  in  a 
heavenly  mind.  —  Give  to  a  paffionate  man  J/enry  on  mecknefs. 

•jf.  Hints  for  the  reformation  of  an  unchalte  perfon. 

l.  Contrary  to  the  fcventh  commandment  of  the  great 

God, 


87*  HINTS         FOR 

fons,  you  may  write  out  (or  keep  by  you  fomc  print- 
ed) hints  on  ilips  of  paper,  againft  either  of  thefe  vi- 
ces, and  place  them  in  the  wayof  fuch  perfons,  either 
by  putting  them  into  their  books,  windows,  or  other 
places,  provided  you  don't  care  to  give  them  to  the 
perfon  yourfelf ; — or  they  may  be  lent  by  the  poft  * 
from  or  to  the  metropolis. 

XIV. 

Make  it  a  rule  to  have  at  leaf}  on:  religious  fentencc 
in  the  letters  you  write  to  your  relations  or  friends, 

when 

God. — 2.  A  fin  which  defiles  the  foul,  and  brings  it  under  the 
dominion  of  the  flelhly  appetites.  No  fpiritual  life  in  fuch  a 
one,  fee  Rom.  xiii.  6.  — 3.  A  partaker  of  other  people's  tins, 
— making  them  partakers  of  yours, — thus  doubly  guilty. — 4. 
All  adulterers,  fornicators,  and  unclean  perfons,  are  declared 
to  have  no  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  fee  Cor.  vi.  9. 
—5.  You  are, a  fervant  of  fin,  and  in  bondage  to  the  deepeft 
corruption. — 6.  If  you  fin  in  any  of  thefe  ways,  yon  fin  a- 
gainft  your  own  body,  and  pollute  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft  — Being  joined  to  an  harlot,  the  Holy  Spirit  dwells  not 
there. — 7.  We  mufl  glorify  God  both  in  body  and  fpirit,  pre- 
fenting  ourfelves  a  living  facrifice,  holy  and  acceptable  unto 
God,  fee  Rom.  xii.  i.  — 8  Purity  and  chafh'ty  required  in  the 
goipel ; — even  impure  andluftful  defires  are  there  condemned, 
fee  Matth.  v.  28. — Give  to  an  unchalte  perfon  Jcnks's  glorious 
viflory  of  chaftity^  or  Dr  Woodward's  exhortation  to  chaftity. 
^7*  Thefe  hints  may  be  very  much  improved,  and  are  ex- 
traded  (merely  as  fpecimens)  from  Mr  Richards'*  hints  for  rf- 
tigious  converfation ;  where  likewife  may  be  found  fuch  hints 
for  converfation  on  molt  other  vices,  as  will  affift  per  fons  of 
•weak  memories  who  aredellrous  of  converling  religioufly  \vith 
the  vitious,  or  reproving  them,  either  by  letter  or  perfonally, 

as  opportunity  may  offer. 

\ 

*  The  following  letter  was  fent  by  the  poft  to  a  Deift,  and 
bad  a  very  good  effect. 

SIR, 

Though  you  difb^lieve  Chriftianity,  I  cannot  fuppofe  that 
you  d-fbelieve  a  future  ftate  of  rewards  and  punifhments  : 
pleafe  therefore  to  take  it  into  ferious  conlidcration,  whether 

you 


PROMOTING    RELIGION.       273 

* 

when  it  can  be  conveniently  introduced  ;  as  fuch  a  fen- 
tence  properly  interwoven,  often  ftrikes  a  perfon  ;  and 
is  productive  of  more  real  good,  perhaps,  than  a  la- 
boured difcourie  from  the  pulpit,  or  formal  advice  at 
home. 

XV. 

Guard  people,  as  much  as  in  you  lyes,  againft  en- 
thufiat'ra,  and  cxceilive  rigours,  cither  as  to  abflinence, 
retirement,  or  converfation ;  and  advife  them  to  take 
all  the  comfort  that  the  lltuation  in  which  God  has 
placed  them  will  conveniently  admit  of;  reminding 
them,  at  the  fame  time,  to  acknowledge  him  in  all 
their  ways,  and  to  be  dijcreetly  *  zealous  for  the  ho- 
nour of  Chrift. — Kepofing  an  entire  confidence  in  the 
wifdom,  power,  and  goodncfs  of  God  ;  and  alluring 
themftrlvcs  of  the  extent  of  his  Providence  (of  which 
we  know  not  either  the  value  or  power)  to  all  his 
creatures,  and  to  all  their  actions. 

XVI. 

But,  above  all,  write  down  the  reafbhs  which  at  any 
time  make  you  afraid  to  die,  and  then  endeavour,  by 
faith,  by  prayer,  and  by  converfation  with  experienced 
Chriflians,  to  remove  the  caufes  j-^and  thus  be  pro- 
perly preparing  for  death  :  And,  if  your  time  and 
capacity  will  admit,  keep  a  Dl A  R  Y ;  particularly  note 
your  fins  of  omilfion, — and,  by  this  method,  you  will 
ice  your  progrefs  or  declenfioh  in  religion. 

MANY 

you  think  your  aftions  are  ftich,  as  will,  upon  your  own  prin- 
ciples, (land  the  teft  at  the  great  day  of  account. 

As  it  highly  becomes  us  to  do  what  good  we  can  while  we 
live  in  this  world;  and  as  larn  truly  concerned  for  you,  I  take 
the  liberty  of  giving  this  friendly  hint}  and  hope  you  will  re- 
ceive it  as  a  proof,  that  the  writer,  though  unknown,  is 

Your  very  fincere  well-wiflier 

A.  Z,- 

*  A  certain  zealot  being  warned  againft  injuring  the  cauffif 
of  Chriit  by  his  imprudencies,  defpiied:hecaution,and  allcdgedj 
that  PRUDENCE  was  "  at  beft  but  a  rafcally  virtue/* 

VOL.  V.  N*  23.  M  m 


*^F*t?-J**%t**;*>x*  *>5?*  *^\  *  *r*'^v*  *?!**  *^jf^  *•£**>*£*  *^\* '^S*  *yiT-*  ^^if"  *^sf*  ^i-  ^^r* 

llllllllilllllllll; 


MANY  made  righteous  by  the  Obedience 
of  ONE. 


TWO   SERMONS,    preached    at    BIDDE- 
FORD,  DEVON,  in  the  year  1743. 

With  a  PREFACE,  by  \  u  G  u  s  T  u  s  To  p  LAD  Y  ,  A.  B. 

Vicar  of  Broad  Hemhury,   Devon. 


To  the    READER, 


TH  E  following  fermons  have  been  judged  too 
excellent  to  be  fupprelTed.    They  were  preach- 
ed, according  to  the  beft  information,  at  Biddeford^ 
in  the  year  1743. 

As  to  their  authenticity,  they  carry  in  themfelves  the 
ftrongefl  internal  evidences  of  their  being  genuine. 
Whoever  reads  them,  will  know  who  wrote  them. 
u  Celebrated  writers,"  as  this  excellent  author  ob- 
ierves  *  eliewhere,  u  have  a  ftyle  peculiar  to  them- 
"  felves."  This  was  eminently  true  of  hiinlelf.  His 
performances  (Tome  of  his  letters  cxcepted,  written  in 
the  younger  part  of  life)  are  indeed  as  apples  cf  gold 
in  pictures  of  filver  :  tranfmitting  the  mod  precious 
truths,  through  the  channel  of  the  moft  elegant,  cor- 
rect 

*  Meditations,  vol.  I.  p.  261.  note. 


T  6     T  n  E      READER.          275 

reft  expreflion  ;  and  adorning  the  doctrines  of  G  o  D 
our  SAVIOVR,  with  all  the  heightening  graces  of 
exquHite  compolition.  When  Hervey's  pencil  gives 
the  drapery,  TRUTH  is  iiire  never  to  iuffer,  by  ap- 
pearing in  an  ill  dreis.  His  prole  is,  in  general,  more 
lovely  and  harmonious,  more  chaffcely  refined,  and 
more  delicately  beautiful,  than  half  the  real  poems  in 
the  world. — With  Hcrvey  in  their  hands,  his  delighted 
readers  well  nigh  tind  themfelves  at  a  lofs,  which  they 
fhall  moft  admire  j  the  iublimity  and  fweetnefs  of  the 
blefled  truths  he  conveys,  or  the  charming  felicity  of 
their  conveyance. — There  is,  if  the  term  may  be  al- 
lowed, a  fort  of  family -liken  ejs,  difcernable  in  all  this 
author's  pieces.  You  difcover  the  lively  lignatures  of 
the  parent,  in  every  one  of  his  offspring.  They  not 
only  carry  the  fupcricription  of  his  name,  but  like- 
wife  bear  the  image  of  his  genius,  and  are  himfelf  at 
fecond-hand. — Among  others,  the  cnfuing  perform- 
ance may  be  confldered  as  a  traniparent  medium,  a 
fcreen  of  cryftal,  through  which  the  original  writer 
is  diftinclly  feen,  and  known  from  every  other  :  A 
circumftance,  which,  with  me,  has  more  convincing 
weight,  than  the  cxtriniic  atteftation  of  a  thouiand 
vvitneffes. 

The  copy,  from  which  thefe  fermons  are  printed, 
was  lately  tranfmitted  to  me,  for  publication,  by  a 
moft  valued  friend,  of  Exeter.  Ideem  it  a  particular 
happincis,  that  fo  choice  a  treafure  mould  pafs,  through 
my  unworthy  hands,  to  the  church  of  GOD*  And  I 
rejoice  the  rather,  as  I  have,  by  this  means,  an  op-' 
portunity  of  doing  myfelf  the  honour  to  bear  the 
moft  open  and  public  tcftimony  to  that  grand,  funda- 
mental, ineltimabledoftrine of aiinner's  F  u  J.L,  F  R  EE, 

AND  FINAL  JUSTIFICATION,  DY  THE  ALONK 
OBEDIENCE  AND  SACRIFICE  of  JESUS  CHRIST 
THE  RIGHTEOUS. 

1  mall  not  detain  the  evangelical  reader  from  this  feaft 

any  longer,  than  juft  to  affure  him,  that  neither  my 

M  m  2  excellent 


276          To     T  HE      READER. 

excellent  friend,  who  communicated  the  copy  to  me; 
nor  my  it-It",  who  communicate  it  to  the  work!  ;  pro- 
pole  to  ourfelves  any  fort  of  pecuniary  advantage, 
from  this  publication  ;  nor  will  we  accept  of  any, 
fhould  the  fale  be  ever  fo  great, 

Refpcct  for  the  memory  of  that  holy  man  of  GOD 
who  preached  thefe  iermons,  and  an  hope  of  their  be- 
ing made  ufeful  to  fuch  as  read  them,  were  the  mo- 
tives which  induced  us  to  fend  them  abroad. — One 
would  wifh  to  gather  up  the  very  fragments  that  re- 
main of  fo  diftinguifhed  a  writer  ;  and  that  nothing  fo 
apparently  calculated  for  general  benefit,  might  be  loft. 

1  thought  it  necefTary  to  add  two  or  three  occafional 
rotes  ;  of  whole  propriety  the  reader  will  judge  for 
himfelf. 


WESTMINSTER, 
July  8.  1769. 


AUGUSTUS  TOPLADY, 


V 

^*  7hc  tw  following  fermons  -mould  have  fallen  to  be  annexed 
to  Mr  Her v ey' s five fermons^  in  the  preceding  fart  of  this 
volume,  had  they  been  fublifoed  befcrc  ihefejermons  were 
frinted  off. 


S  E  R- 


SERMON      I. 

ROMANS    V.    19. 

ty  the  QBE  DIE  NCE  cf  O  N  ILJhall  M  A  N  Y 
be  made  RIGHTEOUS. 

~nT  the  'works  of  the  laiv  JJiall  no  man  living  be  juf- 
tifitd,  was,  not  long  ago,  the  fubjecl:  of  a  public 
difcourfe  ;  and,  I  hope,  has  frequently  been  the  fub- 
jedl  of  our  private  coqlideration. — O,  that  the  im- 
portant truth  may  be  writteo  moll  intelligibly  upon 
our  hearts,  and  beget  in  us  a  found  humility,  and  an 
evangelical  poverty  of  fpirit  ! — We  then  pulled  up 
the  wrong  foundation,  and,  now,  permit  me  to  eftab- 
li(h  the  rig/it. — We  then  warned  you  of  \\itfandy 
foundation  ;  and,  now,  permit  me  to  lead  you  to 
the  Rock  of  ages  ;  where  you  may  fafely  repoie  all 
your  confidences,  and  build,  wilh  the  utmoft  iecurity, 
for  a  blifsful  eternity.  This  is  pointed  out  in  the 
fcripture  before  us  ;  which,  though  concife.  in  its  ex- 
preflions,  is  rich  and  copious  in  its  meanings,  and 
breathes  the  very  fpirit  of  the  gofpel. 

By  the  obedience  ofo  N  E  fliall  MANY  be  made  righ- 
teous. The  ONE  mentioned  in  the  to.t,  is  the  man 
CHRIST  JESUS.  The  obedience  fpoken  of,  includes 
both  his  active  and  pajfive  obedience ;  the  labours  of  his 
life,  and  the  agonies  of  his  death  :  ail  which  he  exer- 
cifed  2J\&Juffcrcd,  in  conformity  to  his  Father's  will, 
for  the  fake  of  fallen  men  ;  that  they,  by  MIS  righ- 
teoufnefs,  might  be  made  righteous  ;  that,  having 
thefe  credentials,  they  may  be  admitted  into  the  court 
pf  'iCaven,  and,  carrying  this  pafTport,  may  be  admit- 
into  the  evcrlajling  habitations. 

This 


278  MANY    MADE    RIGHTEOUS 

This  doctrine  I  take  to  be  the  moft  fwect  and  pre- 
cious part  of  our  Chriftian  faith  ;  that  which  gives 
the  moft  pure  and  undivided  honour  to  God  ;  which 
yields  the  molt  reviving  and  iblid  comfort  to  thefinner ; 
and,  in  the  moft  endearing  and  effectual  manner,  pro- 
motes every  intereft  of  holinefs.  But  inafmuch  as  it 
is  little  understood  by  ibme,  entirely  exploded  by  o- 
thers,  and  Jcarcc  ever  thought  upon  by  more  ;  let  us 
crave  your  impartial  attention,  while  I  clear  up  and 
confirm  it  :  and  not  only  crave  your  attention,  bre- 
thren, but  implore  the  renewing  and  enlightening 
influence  of  divine  grace  ;  without  which,  I  am  a- 
\vare,  my  words  will  be  unintelligible  to  ibme,  and 
appear,  perhaps,  ridiculous  to  others  :  for  the  natural 
man  dijcerneth  not  the  things  which  are  of  the  Spirit  of 
God;  on  the  contrary,  they  tire  foolifhnejs  unto  him. 
Depending,  therefore,  on  divine  grace,  let  us  ex- 
amine, 

I.  How  the  obedience  of  another  can  make  us  righ- 
teous. 

II.  Hovf  fefficienf  Chrift's  obedience  is  for  this  pur- 
pole. 

III.  How  worthy  this  method  of  becoming  righteous 
is  of  all  acceptation; — and  then, 

IV.  Give  fome  few  directions,  that  may  difpofe  us 
to  rely  on,  and  prepare  us  to  receive  the  righteoufncls 
of  Jeiiis  Chrift. 

I.  Let  us  examine  how  the  obedience  of  another  can 
make  us  righteous.  This  point  may  be  proved  and 
illuftrated, — 

(l.)   From  the  nature  of  afurefy. 

(2.)  From  Chrift's  dying  AS  A  SINNER  for  us. 

($.)   From  Adam's  fin  being  IMPUTED  to  us. 

(i.)  The  doctrine,  of  our  being  made  righteous 
th'rough  the  obedience  of  Chrift,  may  be  proved  and 
illuftrated  from  the  nature  ofafurefy;  who  is  one  that 

undertakes 


BY    THE    OBEDIENCE    OF    ONE.  279 

undertakes  and  engages  for  another.  Let  us  fuppofe  the 
parties  were  Paul  and  One/wins.  Onejimus  was  Phile- 
mon'* flave. — The  flave  dilbbeyed  his  mafter,  ran  away 
from  him  and  his  fervice  ; — not  only  deierted  his  fer- 
vice,  but  ftole  his  goods  ;  turned  fugitive  and  thief  A 
once. — For  the  firft  of  thefe  crimes  he  deferves  ftripes 
and  a  road  ;  for  the  laft,  death  and  the  gallows. —  5't 
Paul,  meeting  with  Onejimus,  learns  the  ftate  of  his 
condition  :  and,  having  been  the  means  of  his  con- 
verlion  to  Chriftianity,  by  his  preaching ;  and  of 
his  reconciliation  to  God  through  Jefus  Chrift  ;  offers 
to  become  his  mediator  with  his  offended  m after.  In 
order  to  execute  which  office  more  effectually,  he  puts 
himfetfin  the  criminal's  Jiead;  becomes  aniVverabie 
for  his  villany,  and  takes  upon  him  to  make  full  repa- 
ration for  the  injuries  he  had  done  to  his  matter  :  —  If 
he  hathwrongedthee  ought,  (fays  the  beneficent  apoftle,) 
or  owet/i  thee  ought,  put  that  to  my  account;  I  Paul  have 
'written  it  -with  mine  own  hand  I  will  repay  it. — By  this 
means,  the  renegade  flave  is  difcharged,  and  Paul  the 
innocent  apoftle  becomes  debtor.  But  how  ? — Not 
actually,  but  imputatively  ;  for  neither  Jias  Onejithusre- 
paid,  nor  Paul  ftolen  ought  ;  but,  by  virtue  of  the  un- 
dertaken furetyftiip,  0;/c//;7;«j's  debt  lies  upon  Paul,  and 
Paul's  freedom  turns  to  the  acquittance  of  Ontjrmus. 
Thus  it  is  in  the  matter  of  juftification. — We  had 
all  finned  in  Adam  ;  forfeited  the  favour  of  God. — In 
order  to  our  reconcilement,  God  required  zfuttfotis- 
fattion  to  his  juftice,  and  a  psrfett  obedience  tq  his  laws. 
Thefe  we  could  not  poflibly  render  in  our  own  pcr- 
fons  ;  therefore  Chrift  gracioufly  prefenled  HIMSKLF, 
and  undertook  to  perform  both  in  our  (lead. — Upon 
MIL,  fays  the  compaflionate  Redeemer,  upon  ME,  be 
their  offences  laid.— -If  they  have  tranfgreffed,  let  ven- 
geance make  its  demands  on  me ;  1  will  repay  to  the 
very  uttcrmoft  farthing  ;  and  forafmuch  as,  through 
the  weakncfi  of  their  mortal  nature,  they  are  not 
able  to  yield  an  exacl  conformity  to  the  divine  laws,  I 

am 


MANYMA.DE     RIGHTEOUS 

am  willing  to  fulfil  all  righteoujhefs  in  tUeir  ftead  and 
behalf.  Lo  !  I  come  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God  !  I  do  it, 
not  for  myfelf,  but  for  them,  that  the  merit  of  my 
obedience  may  redound  to  my  people,  and  that  they, 
through  my  righteouihefs,  may  be  made  righteous. 

(2.)   The  doctrine,  of  our   being   made  righteous 

through  Chrift,  may  be  inferred  from   his  dying  as  a 

firmer  for  us. — 'Tis  a  very  remarkable  paflage,  and  full 

to  our  purpofe,  where   the  apoltle   declares,  that  the 

almighty  Father  made  his  Son,  who  knew  no  fin,  to  be 

fin  for  us  that  we  might  be  made  the  rightconj'nefs  of 

God  i  N  H  I  M. 

How  you  may  be  affected  at  prefent  with  fuch  a 
fcripture,  brethren,  I  cannot  determine  :  but  if  ever 
ypu  come  to  the  knowledge  of  yourjelve /,  and  the 
hainoufnefs  of  your  fins,  and  the  worthleflhels  of  your 
duties  ;  fuch  a  text  will  be  iweeter  to  you  than  the  ho- 
ney or  the  honey- comb  to  your  taftc,  and  more  re- 
frefliing  than  the  richeft  cordial  to  your  fouls. — 
However,  from  St  Paul's  declaration,  we  gather  this 
precious  truth,  that  we  are  made  righteous  before  God, 
injttch  a  manner  as  CH  R I  s  T  was  made  afmner  for  us  : 
not  by  any  pei  Tonal  demerit  ;  for  he  had  done  no 
fin,  neither  was  guile  found  in  his  mouth  j  but  the 
Lord  laid  on  HIM  the  iniquities  of  us  all. 

In  like  manner,  how  are  the  greateft  faints  made  righ- 
teous before  God  ?  Not  by  any  perfonal  merit.  They 
have  done  nothing  that  can  deferve  God's  love,  or 
that  is  worthy  of  a  reward  ;  but  God  looks  upon  them 
as  interefted  in  his  dear  Son's  obedience,  and  ib  re- 
wards them  purely  for  their  Saviour's  lake. — God  vi- 
iited  our  fins  upon  HIM  ;  and  God  rewards  his  merits 
upon  us  ;  God  accounted  our  tranfgrellions  to  be  his  ; 
and,  on  this  footing,  he  was  punifhed  as  a  malefactor  ; 
and  God  eitecms  his  righteoufrieis  as  ours  ;  and,  by 
virtue  of  this  imputation,  we  are  accepted  as  com- 
plete. 

(3.)   Once  again,  the  doclrme,  of  our  being  made 

righteous 


BY    ±HE    OBEDIENCE    OF    ONE. 

righteous  through  the  obedience  of  Chrift,  may  re- 
ceive ftronger  proofs  and  fuller  illuftrations  from  A- 
dam's  Jin  being  imputed  unto  us. — This  is  an  undoubted 
truth,  written,  as  it  were  with  a  fun-beam,  in  almoit 
every  page  of  fcripture.  St  Paul  aflbres  us,  that  in 
sldam  all  die.  And,  if  fo,  'tis  certain  that  in  Adam 
all  finned.  Tell  me  now,  how  came  that  perfonal  fin 
of  Adam  to  be  charged  upon  us  ?  how  can  his  ha- 
ving eat  the  forbidden  fruit,  render  us  liable  to  death 
and  damnation  ?  How,  but  by  imputation  ?  Adam  was  a 
public  perfon  :  he  reprefented  the  whole  race  of  man- 
kind :  his  act  was  imputed  to  his  whole  pofterity. 
Such  a  communion  there  is  between  Chrill  and  his  e- 
lecT:  :  he,  too,  was  a  public  perfon  ;  he  was  a  reprefcn- 
tative  of  all  his  chofen  ones  ;  and  his  obedience  is 
looked  upon  as  theirs.  Thus  believers  are  made  righ- 
teous by  the  obedience  of  their  everlafHng  head  Chrift 
Jefus,  even  as  they  were  made  tinners  by  the  tranf- 
greflion  of  their  mortal  father,  Adam  ;  becaufe  of  the 
analogy  and  fimilitude  there  is  between  his  righteoui- 
nefs  to  juftify,  and  Adam's  iniquity  to  condemn  *. 

Let 

*  Mr  Hervey  feems,  here,  to  have  had  an  eye  to  i  Cor, 
xv.  22.  For  as  in  Adam  all  die  ;  even fo  in  CHRIST^^//  all 
be  mad:  alive.  The  jra»?if,  or  all  affirmed  by  the  apoftle  to 
have  died  in  Adam,  are  the  lame  »«irff,  or  <///,  that  lhall  be 
made  alive  in  Chrift  ;  namely,  all  the  members  of  Chrift's  my- 
flic  body  ;  all  that  church,  which  he  loved,  and  for  which  he 
gave  himielf  to  death.  There  are  two  reaibns,  in  particular, 
which  determine  the  meaning  of  the  word  «//,  in  this  paflage, 
to  the  tlcfl,  and  to  them  only.  i.  Throughout  the  whole  con- 
text St  Paul  treats  folely  of  the />/?  refurreclion  y  the  refur- 
reftion  of  the  juft;  the  refurrec'tion  to  life  eternal.  He  fays 
not  one  word  in  this  chapter,  c;)ncerning  the  refurreclion  of 
the  ungodly  ;  but  confines  himfelf  fingly  to  that  of  true  be- 
lievers. 2.  He,  in  the  very  next  vei  li-,  exprefsly  points  out 
the  perfons  of  whofe  refurreclion  he  here  Ipcaks  r  thefe,  he 
tells  us,  are  c,  x?ir«,  thttfe  that  belong  to  Chrift,  and  aire  his  own 
peculiar  property ;  who  were  given  to  him,  by  rh,o  Father,  m 
the  covenant  of  redemption;  ar.d  in  whom  he'.Jias  a  fpecul, 
inadcuifTible  intereil. 

VOL.  V.  N°  23.  N  n 


MANY  MADE   RIGHTEOUS 

Let  us  now  make  a  paufe,  and  review  our  attempt. 
We  have  endeavoured  to.  render  the  doftrine  of  the 
text  Ibmcwhat  clearer,  by  confidering  the  nature  of 
njiirety, — from  CH  R I  s  T  's  being  made  Jin  for  us, — and 
from  the  imputation  of  Adam*  s  offence  to  us.  Butthefe, 
alas  !  are  points  little  known  to  the  world.  Corrupt 
nature  is  prejudifcd  againft  them  ;  and  Satan  is  ftudi- 
ous  to  hide  them  from  our  eyes.  Let  us  bcfeech  the 
God  and  Fat  her  of  our  Lord  JES  u  s  CH  RIST,  to  reveal 
the  myftery  ofgodlinejs  in  our  hearts ;  that  we  may  be- 
lieve in  JESUS  CHRIST  as  the  Son  of  God,  and  only 
Saviour  of  the  world  ;  and  that  believing  ive  may 
have  life,  not  through  any  fancied  goodnefs  of  our 
own,  but  entirely  through  his  name. 

II.  Let  i*s  now  jufb  take  notice,  how  fufficient 
CH  RIST'S obedience  is  for  the  purpofe  of  justification. 
It  is  a  moft  incomparably-excellent  obexlieioce  :  it  ex- 
ceeds, not  only  the  righteouihefs  of  innocent  and  up- 
right Adam,  but  the  righteoufiiefs  of  angels,  principa- 
lities, and  powers.— Extol  this  righteouihcfs  as  high  as 
words  can  reach,  or  idea  foar  !  for  it  is  the  righteouf- 
nefs  of  incarnate  Divinity  ;  wrought  out  by  HIM, 
who  was  GOD  and  MAX  in  one  CHRIST  ;  whofe  divine 
nature  gave  an  infinity  both  of  efficacy,  and  of  dig- 
nity, to  all  he  did.  To  you  that  believe  the  Godhead 
of  JES  u  s,  his  righteoufneis  muft  needs  be  inconceiva- 
bly precious  :  you  will  not,  you  cannot  think  it  ftrange. 
that  a  whole  world  of  believers  mould  be  accepted  thi  or 
it,  and  owe  all  their  falvation  to  it. — The  prophet,  in 
the  moft  exprefs  terms,  fets  his  feal  to  this  truth,  when 
he  affirms,  that//;?  LORD,  the fupreme  and  incompre- 
henfible  JEHOVAH,  is  our  right  coufnejs  :  and  who  woukl 
forfake  the  everlafting  ROCK,  in  order  to  lean  on  a 
bruifed  reed?  who  would  quit  an  illuflrious  ROB  E,  for 
fcanty  covering  and  filthy  rags  f  St  Paul  accounted  all 
things  but  lofs,  in  companion  of  his  Saviour's  righ- 
s.  Yea,  his  own  eminent  holinefs,  and  tran- 

fcendent 


BY     THE    OBEDIENCE    OF    ONE.  283 

fcendent  ufefulnefs,  he  regarded  no  more  than  drofs 
and  duns;,  that  he  might  win  CHRIST,  and  be  found 
in  H I  M.     This   is   the   righteoufnels,   whole  influ- 
ences extend  to  the  earlieft  days,  and  will  reach  to 
the  moil    dillant    ages.      By  //;//  -the   holy  men    of 
old  enjoyed  the  favour  of  God  :    by  this    ALONE, 
the  generations  yet  unborn  will  enter  into   their  IVIa- 
iler's  joy.     In  a  word,  this  is   the  hope,  the  Jure  and 
fole  hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the  e^rth,  and  of  them  thai 
remain  in  the  broad  Jea  :  for,    in    every  nation  under 
bcaven,  and  through  all  the  revolutions  of  time,  God 
is  well  pleafed  with  fmners,  only  in  his  beloved  Son. 
Let   me   draw    one    remark   from  the  whole,  and  I 
have  done.     Let  me  obfervc  the   difference   between 
the  /aw  of  NATURE,  and  the  law  of  MOSES,  and  the 
law  of  FAITH.    The  law  of  nature  -lays,  * l  Live  up  to 
u  the  duties  of  thy  reajon  and  the  conviction  of  thy  own 
"  mind;  and  thou  flialt  be  f aft?'     The  law  of  Mofes 
faith,  u  Keep  the  commandments  and  execute  all  thejla- 
u  tutes,  and  thy  Jalv  at  ion /hall  before"    But  FAITH 
faith,  "  Thou  ncedeft  not  attempt  thefe  impojjibilities . 
"  CHRIST  hath  done  .both,  hath  done  all  in  thy  Jlead. 
'•'   He  hath  improved  the  light  of  nature  -and  fulfil  Led  the 
<c  whole  law  of  GOD  ;  and  this  in  the  capacity  of  t/iy 
u  Surety."    Go,  then,  to  thy  Redeemer  ;  lay  hold  o,n 
His  righteoufnefs.   Believe  truly  in  CH  R  i  s  T  JES  u  s, 
and  what  /;<rhath  done  (hall  be  accounted  thine.    Thy 
eternal  felicity  is  ALREAD  y  procured.    Thou  haft  no- 
thing .elfe   to  do,  but   to  look  upon  it   as  thy  certain 
portion,  and  unalienable  inheritance,  through  •Chrift  ; 
and  to  live  in  humble  and  chearful  expectation  of  that 
great  day,   when  thy  free  title   fhall  be  changed  into 
a&ual  poffeflion.     And,  in  the  mean   time,   love  that 
divine    Benefactor   with  all  thy  heart,  and  ftudy  to 
pleafe  him  in  all  holy  converfation  and  godlincis. 

N  n  2  S  E  Rr 


SERMON     II. 


ROMA  N  s  V.  19. 

By  the  obedience  ofO  N  E  flail  MANY  be  made 
righteous. 


IN  the  book  of  Job^  iv.  13,  —  17.  we  have  a  very  a- 
vvakening  lefTon  of  humiliation,  moft  admirably 
calculated  to  imprefs  the  thought,  and  to  bring  down 
the  conceited  mind.  Eliphnz  relates  a  vifion  *.  When 
midnight  drevy  her  black  curtains  over  the  world, 
when  darknefs  and  deep  filence  reigned  through,,  the 
whole  univerfe  ;  in  thefe  folemn  moments,  a  fpirit 
paiTcd  before  his  face.  Fearful  nefs  and  aftonifliment 
•feized  the  beholder  ;  his  bones  (hivered  within  him  ; 
his  flefh  trembled  all  over  him  ;  and  the  hairs  of  his 
head  flood  creel:  with  horror.  In  the  midft  of  thefe 
tremendous  circumflances,  a  voice  broke  forth  from 
the  fiery  phantom  :  a  voice,  for  its  importance,  worthy 
to  be  had  in  everlafting  remembrance  ;  and,  for  its 
atufulnefs,  enough  to  alarm  a  heart  of  ftone.  It  fpake 
to  this  effect,  "  SHALL  MORTAL  MAN  BE  JUST  BE- 

FORE GOD  ?   SHALL  A  MAN  BE  P  URE  IN  TH  E  SIGHT 

OF  His  MAKER?"  The  words,  thus  translated,  breathe 
a  wonderful  dignity  of  fentiment  ;  and  lead  our  minds 
Into  the  moft  exalted  notions  of  GOD  ALMIGHTY,  im- 

maculate, 

'*  See  Mr  HERVEY'S  Contemplations  on  the  Night,  vol.  I.  p. 
304.  In  the  prcfent  fermon,  the  defcription  ofEliphaz's  vilion 
refembles  the  primary  fketch,  the  naked,  imperfect  outlines  of 
a  mafterly  picture:  but,  in  the  Contemplations  (publifhed  about: 
four  years  after  this  was  preached)  we  behold  the  pifture  corr>- 
pletely  finiflieH  ;  and  touched,  I  had  almolt  faid?  into  the  very 
perfection  of  grandeur  and  beauty, 


MANY   MADE    RIGHTEOUS,    &C.  885 

maculate,  and  inconceiveabie.  —  C.  •t/.inly,  they  com- 
prife  one  of  the  mod  powerful  antidotes,  againft  the 
pride  and  haughtinefs  natural  to  fallen  man,  that  can 
poffibiy  be  imagined.  They  are  a  token,  in  thisfenfc, 
truly  worthy  of  the  awful  Being  who  uttered  them, 
and  that  air  ofvaft  importance  with  which  they  were 
introduced.  —  Our  tranflation  finks  the  idea  exceeding- 
ly. It  tells  us  no  more,  than  what  all  the  world  muft 
acknowledge  at  the  very  firft  reflection  ;  and  fo  fcarce 
deferves  to  be  ufhered  in  with  i'o  great  folemnity.  It 
leems  alfo  to  oppofc  what  no  one  can  deny,  or  have 
jniblence  enough  to  maintain  :  —  for  none,  I  fhould 
imagine,  even  Lucifer  himfelf,  could  ever  prefume  to 
think  himfelf  more  juft,  more  pure,  than  the  ORIGINAL 
and  STANDARD  of  all  perfections.  —  No:  letaperfonbe 
eiteemed  ever  fo  juft,  in  companion  of  his  fellow-fin- 
uers  ;  let  him  be  accounted  moft  eminently  holy,  by 
thofe  that  are  polluted  clay  like  himfelf:  —  Yet,  before 
infinite  and  uncreated  purity,  O  !  let  him  be  greatly 
abafed  ;  let  him  put  his  mouth  in  the  duft,  take  (hame 
to  himlelf,  and  cry  out,  Unclean  I  unclean  !  Accord- 
ing to  this  tranfhtion  of  the  words,  you  fee,  the  doc- 
trine of  man's  univerfal  depravity  is  as  ancient  as  the 
times  of  Job;  and,  that  there  is  no  poflibility  of  be~ 
ing  juftified  by  any  perfonal  accomplifhments  or  ac- 
quirements, was  exprefsly  taught  in  thofe  early  ages. 
O  !  that  it  may  be  as  unfeigneclly  believed  in  thefc 
latter  days  !  "  But  if  this  be  the  cafe,"  fays  an  in- 
quifitive  hearer  ;  —  u  if  all  men  are  become  abomi- 
"  nable  ;  if  their  bcfl  deeds  are  ftained,  and  there  are 
"  none  that  are  righteous  before  GOD,  —  no  notow?;  — 
tc  how  fliall  they  be  accepted,  when  they  are  judged  \" 
—  Why,  by  a  method  that  lyes  vaftly  beyond  the  reach 
of  human  wifdom  or  device.  By  a  method,  that  wasbut 
dimly  *  hinted  at  in  the  generations  of  old,  but  isclear- 


*  That  5?,  dimly  hinted  at,  in  romparifon  of  that  more  per- 
feft  knowledge,  which  has  been  fince  brought  to  light  by  the 
gofpel  eminently  fo  called.  See  £/  h.  iii.  5. 


aB6  MANY  MADE  RIGHTEOUS 

iy  revealed  by  the  apoftlcs  and  preachers  of  the  gof- 
pel  ;  even  by  the  obedience  of  Jcius  Chrill  ;  by  a 
riohtcouihefs  not  wrought  BY  us,  but  imputed  TO  us. 
The  nature  of  which  imputation  we  have  already  il- 
luitrated,  and  (hewn  the  iiiihcicncy  of  our  Redeemer's 
obedience  for  this  purpoie.- — Which  two  points  being 
difpatched, 

III.  I  am  to  Ihewyou  how  worthy  of  all  acceptation 
this  method  of  becoming  righteous  is. — And  that  as 
it  is  perfectly  confonant  to  the  ancient  prophecies  ;  as  it 
gives  the  higheft  glory  to  God;  and  as  it  yields  the 
richeft  conjoiation  to  man. 

1.  This  method  of  becoming  righteous  through  the 
obedience  of  Chrift,  is.  perfectly  confonant  to  the  te- 
nor of  ancient  prophecies.  In  the  patriarchal  age, 
GOD  prom i fed  to  Abraham,  and  renewed  the  gra- 
cious aflbrances  to  Jjaac^  u  that  in  his  feed  all  the 
*'  nations  of  the  earth  Jhuuld  be  bleffcd."  Now,  what 
was  this,  but  a  difcover.y  of  this  evangelical  doc- 
trine ?  'Twas,  indeed,  fame  what  obfcure  then  : 
'tis  clear  as  the  day  now.  Thcjeedof  Abraham,  is 
doubt lefs  our  glorious  Mediator^ — who,  in  tne  -uhiefs 
of  time,  took  flefli,  and  was  born  of  a  deicenderit 
from  Abraham.  In  HIM  all  the  ele.c"t  under  heaven 
fliall  be  bleflcd. — Obferve,  not  in  thcmfelves,  not  for 
any  excellency  that  is  in  them.;  but  IN  HIM  they 
fhall  inherit  all  heavenly  bleflings.  He  is  the  Alpha 
and  Omega  of  our  happinefs  ;  the  beginning  and  the 
end,  the  caule  and  the  confummation,  of  all  our  joy. 
He  is  the  only  fpring  and  fountain  of  all  blefTedntis, 
as  much  as  yonder  fun  is  the  only  fountain  of  this 
light  that  now  fhines  around  us.  Every  ray  of  light 
that  falls  upon  our  eyes,  proceeds  altogether  from  that 
bright  luminary  :  we  do  nothing  towards  enkindling 
it  ;  we  only  uje  its  beams,  and  rejoice  in  its  fplendor. 
So  fallen  man  can  do  nothing  towards  procuring  the 
favour  of  his  almighty  MAKER  :  .but  can  only,  by 

fa/th 


BY    THE    OBEDIENCE    OF    ONE.  287 

faith  InjEsusCHRisT,  receive  it,  already  procured  ;; 
and  teftify  his  gratitude  for  it,  by  a  cheai  ful  obedi- 
ence. 

In  the  prophet  Ifaiah^  we  find  the  following  paf- 
fages.  God  the  Father,  fpeaking  of  his  obedient  and 
beloved  Son,  has  this  remarkable  expreffion  ;  By  his 
knowledge  ftiall  my  righteous  Jervant  jufiify  many.  Here, 
infinite  wifdom  informs  the  whole  world,  how  they 
mufl  expect  juftification,  and  final  acceptance.  'Tis 
entirely  through  his  dear  SON,  our  divine  MEDIATOR; 
his  holy  life,  and  propitiatory  death,  are  the  only  procur- 
ing caufes  of  our  forgivenefs,  the  only  conditions  of 
our  ialvation  ;  and  a  true  knowledge  of  him, — a  right 
belief  in  him,  make  the  merit  of  both  our  own  *. 

GOD  lays  not,  he  mail  make  them  capable  of  recon- 
ciliation; he  mall  in  part  juftify ;  he  fhally?//  tip  their 
deficiency,  and  perfect  what  is  wanting  in  their  duties. 
No!  but  he  (hall  accomplijh  the  whole  work;  he  fhall 
execute  the  great  office  without  a. rival;  without  a 
partner,  he  will  juftify  the  faithful,  and  not  they  them- 
ielves. 

2.  This  method  of  becoming  righteous,  through 
the  obedience  of  Chrift,  is  worthy  of  all  acceptation, 
becaufe  it  gives  the  higheft  glory  to  God.  Nothing  can 
be  fo  effectually  calculated  to  abaj'e  the  iinner,  and  ex- 
alt 

*  From  a  f.iving  knowledge  of  Chrift,  and  by  faith  in  him, 
we  arc  manifeftativfly  interested  in  what  he  lias  done  and  fuf- 
fered.  Our  interefl  in  his  righteoufnefs  mufl,  in  the  very  na- 
ture of  things,  have  been  prior  to  ourfenft:  of  intereft  in  it  s 
otlrerwife,  all  fenfe  of  it  would  he  delutive,  and  converfanc 
with  a  non-entity.  Faith  is,  as  it  were,  the  medium  offpiritual 
vijion  ;  a  divine  liftht  whereby  we  fee  our  intereft  in  ChrUt, 
which  we  cannot  fee,  till  we  believe  with  the  faith  that  works 
by  love.  Faith  is  the  <Aif^o«,  or  conviflion  of  things  not  fecn 
before;  and  of  juftification  among  the  reft,  Heb.  xi.  i.  Bur, 
funrJy,  the  bleffings,  of  which  faith  is  the  conviction,  had  a 
real  exigence  before  ever  faith  was  acled  :  they  are  only  un- 
fceny  till  faith  b  given  to  difcern  them  by. 


283  MANY    MADE    RIGHTEOUS 

tilt  the  Saviour,  as  THIS  way  of  obtaining  falvatiori. 
This  will  bring  clown  the  lofty  look  of  man  :  this  will 
lay  every  affuming  thought  in  the  very  duft,  and  leave 
the  Lord  alone  glorious  and  exalted;  Til  I  s  thorough- 
ly fecures  to  God  his  great  prerogative,  and  utterly 
excludes  human  boafting,  and  brings  unminglcd  ho- 
nour and  glory  to  the  Surety  of  men.  Whereas,  was 
life  eternal  the  reward  of  their  own  works,  there  would 
be  fome  pretcnfion  for  ielf  admiration. — Men  would 
arrogate  ibrae  of  the  merit  to  themfelves,  and  fay  in 
their  hearts,  My  power,  find  the  might  of  my  hands  hath 
gotten  me  this  -wealth.  If  they  were  to  expect  the  blef- 
fing  of  the  eternal  ftate  as  -wages  which  they  have  earn- 
ed, O  !  what  a  damp  would  this  (trike  on  their  thank- 
fulneis  1  hovr  little  would  they  //;?;;£  themfelves  obliged, 
and,  indeed,  how  little  would  they  be  obliged,  to  God 
their  Saviour,  on  this  footing  !  But,  when  faints  in 
light  view  their  heavenly  inheritance;  when  they  fur- 
vey  that  great,  exceeding  great  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory,  and  remember  that  they  did  nothing  todeierve 
all  this  ineffable  felicity ;  that,  if  it  had  not  been  pro- 
cured entirely  by  their  dying  and  obedient  Saviour, 
they  had  been  everlaflingly  banifhed  from  the  realms 
of  bleffedncfs  ;  O  !  what  pure  and  fervent  gratitude 
mufl  this  infpire  them  with  1 — what  an  emphafis  and 
ardor,  while  they  utter  that  devout  acknowledgment, 
"  Not,  notuntous,  O  Lord!  not 'unto  us,  but unto  //zydear 
<c  and  adorable  name  be  the  praife  !  We  were  enemies 
t(  in  our  minds,  and  by  our  wicked  works  ;  but  thou  haft 
"  redeemedus  unto  God  by  thy  blood:  all  our  choiceft  ac- 
u  tions  were  polluted  and  unclean,  but  thou  haft 
"  worked  out  for  us  a  perfect  and  everlafting  righ- 
"  teoufheis." 

Thus  will  adoration  and  love  be  given  to  the  Lamb 
that  was  llain  :  every  crown  will  be  caft  low  before 
the  throne,  and  wear  this  humbling  motto,  Not  by 
'works  of  righteoujnefs  which  we  have  done,  but  accord- 
ing to  his  mercy  he  faired  us,  O  !  the  depths  both  of 

the 


BY    THE    OBEDIENCE    OF    ONE.  289 

the  wifdom  andgoodnefs  of  God  \ — Goodnefs,  in  efta- 
blifhing  fuch  a  method  of  falvation  for  us  ;  in  all 
things  ib  well  ordered  and  Hire  !  ff^ifdom^  in  cutting 
off  all  occafion  of  felf-glorying,  and  bringing  man 
to  the  deepeft  humiliation,  even  while  it  exalts  him 
to  the  heaven  of  heavens  ! 

3.  This  method  of  becoming  righteous  through  the 
obedience  of  Chrift:,  is  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  be- 
caufe  it  admiuifters  the  richeft  confolation  to  man  ;  it  is 
an  inexhauftible  fpring  of  fatisfaftion  and  re*pofe. 

Lu  T  H  E  R,  that  renowned  reformer,  and  greatcham- 
pion  for  the   Proteftant   caufe,  when  he  broke  away 
from  the  mifls  of  Popery,  and  began  to  underftand 
this  moll  noble  peculiarity  of  Chriftianity,  declared,  that 
"  the  gate  of  Paradile  feemed  to  fly  open  to  his  view  : 
"  — that  he  had  a  glimpfe  of  its  beauty,  in  contempla- 
"  ting  this  facred  truth  ;  andatafteof  itsdelights,inbe- 
"•  lieving  it :  fo  fvveet  acompofure,  and  fuch  a  charming 
"  tranquillity,  did  it  diffufe  thro*  his  mind.*'  Nor  do  I 
wonder  at  his  faying,  "  For,  while  we  are  ignorant  of 
"  this  doctrine,  there  is  nothing  but  horror  and  dread 
"  around  us."  If  we  ftrike  this  text  from  our  Bible,  or 
this  article  from  our  creed,  all  is  difmal  and  diitreffing. 
Turn  which  way  you  will,  the  profpc<ft  is  uncomfort- 
able.   If  we  look  to  ourfelvfs,  we  (hall  find  mifery  and 
guilt;  if  to  GOD,  nothing  but  indignation  and  difplea- 
iiire. — But  this  brightens  up  the  whole  fcene.    Let  us 
obfervc,  in  the  character  of  a  feeble  Chriftian3  and  of  an 
awakened  profligate,  what  glad  tidings  the  gofpel  is,  by 
virtue  of  this  doctrine  ;  andwhat  a  milerable  comforter 
it  would  be  without  it.    The  language  of  \\\e  former, 
in  his  private  meditations,  muft  proceed  in  fome  fuch 
manner  as  this  :   "  Wherewithal  fhall  I  come  before 
"  the  mod  high  God  ?  Shall  I  offer   him  my  pious 
"  lerviccs  ?  Alas  !  they  are  miferably  deficient  ;  they 
"  ifTue  from  a  corrupt  ftock,  and  cannot  but   be  cor- 
u  rupt  flioots  ;  I  have  clone  nothing  that  is  worthy  o£ 
"  his  acceptance,  how  then  (hall  I  itand  in  his  facred 
VOL.  V,  N°  23.         O  o  "  prcfence  ? 


290  MANY  ?.r  A  B  E   RIGHTEOUS 

lt  prcfcnce  ?  I  ftrive  to  be  perfeft  and  entire,  and 
"  wanting  nothing;  but  I  feel  myfelf  to  be  poor  and 
"  indigent,  and  wretchedly  defective.  U  !  whither 
tc  (hall  I  go,  but  to  him  who  is  appointed  for  this 
44  very  purpofc  ?  that  the  bones,  which  arc  broken  by 
44  mifery  and  guilt,  may  rejoice  ;  that  the  hands, 
tc  which  hang  down,  through  lelf-condemnation  and 
44  defpondency,  may  be  lifted  up. — Thither  then  will 
44  I  turn,  frail  and  difpiritcd  as  I  am,  and  call  all  my 
44  burthen  upon  the  Lord  Jcibs  Clirift  :  in  his  un- 
"  Ipotted  rightcoufnefs,  and  in  nothing  elfe,  can  the 
44  fole  of  my  foot  find  any  reft..  When  doubts  arife, 
44  and  fear,  like  a  gloomy  cloud,  thickens  around  me, 
4t  this  Sun  of  righteouGieis  fhall  dillipate  the  gloom 
44  in  all  my  pilgrimage ;  this  fhall  be  fny  conftant 
44  fong  ;  in  all  my  anxieties,  this  faall  be  my  only 
"  cordial  : — Why  art  thou  caff  doivn^  0  my  foul,  and 
44  uuhy  art  thoufu  difquietcdwithin  me  !  0  !  put  thy  trujl 
u  in  Jefus  Chrift  I  His  merits,  and  not  thine  own 
u  v/orks,  are  the  horn  of  thy  falvation  :  whefocver  be- 
44  lieveth  in  him  faall  not  be  confounded"  And  as  for 
the  poor  finner  brought  to  a  fenfe  of  his  enormous 
crimes  ;  methinks,  I  hear  him  bewailing  his  condition, 
in  fome  fuch  difconfolate  manner  :  u  O  wretched  man 
tc  that  I  am  !  how  mall  I  attain  the  favour  of  God  ? 
<c  My  fins  are  multiplied  above  number,  and  aggrava- 
tc  ted  beyond  exprefllon.  I  cannot  make  any  fatisfac- 
u  tion  for  what  is  paft,  much  lefs  can  1  win  the  di- 
"  vine  good-will  for  the  future.  I  am  polluted,  root 
«"  and  branch  :  what  can  I  do  ?" — Truly,  tinner,  I 
know  not  what  thou  canft  do,  unlels  thou  comefb  to 
Jefus  Chrift  :  there  is  not  a  gleam  of  hope,  or  a 
jrrain  of  comfort,  in  all  the  univerfe  befides.  If 
thou  lamented  thy  folly,  and  feeft  thy  undone  ftate  ; 
*with  the  Lord  there  is  mercy,  abundant  mercy  ;  and 
with  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  there  is  plenteous  redemp- 
tion. If  thou  canft  rely  on  C7*>//?,  thy  iniquities 
(hall  be  done  away  like  a  morning-cloud  j  if  thou 

can  (I 


BT  T;HE  OBEDIENCE  OF  ONE.         291 

canft  believe  in  HIM,  thy  debts  are  cancelled  through 
his  blood  ;  and  that  which  thou  art  unable  to  perform, 
he  hath  fulfilled  for  thce.  See,  how  conibnant  this 
doctrine  is  to  the  whole  ieries  of  fcripture,  and  the 
voice  of  ancient  prophecies  !  See  what  an  unmared 
revenue  of  glory  and  thankfgiving  it  brings  unto  the 
blefTed  God  : — both  fupporting  the  jteble  Ghrijlian 
amidft  all  his  infirmities,  and  opening  a  door  of  hope; 
to  the  a-wakened [inner,  notwithftanding  all  his  im- 
pieties !  Surely,  then,  this  precious  doclrine  is  worthy 
of  all  acceptation  :  furely  we  have  reaibn  to  receive 
it  with  aJl  imaginable  thankfuinefs  !  But,  left  it  mould, 
after  all,  feem  to  us  an  idle  tale,  rather  than  glad 
tidings  of  great  joy,  let  me, 

IV.  Give  fume  directions  that  may  difpofe  us  to  rely 
on,  and  prepare  us  to  receive,  the  righteoufnels  of 
Jefus  Chrift. 

//>//,  Bring  a  child-like  mind  to  the  confideration  of 
it.  Lay  afide  proportions  *,  and  meekly  receive  the 
ingrafted  word  with  a  teachable  fimplicity.  Let  us  fit 
at  the  feet  of  Jefus,  and,  like  very  little  children, 
learn  heavenly  wifdom  from,  his  gofpel.  If  we  are 
conceited  of  our  abilities,  and  lean  to  our  own  un- 
derftanding.,  God  may  puniih  our  pride,  by  leaving 

us 

*  "  Lay  afide  proportions:"  a  miftake,  perhaps,  forprfpof- 
/t/fions.  However,  rhe  ientence,  as  it  ftands,  conveys  a  very 
ufeful  direction  :  "  Lay  afnie  proportions  ;"  /'.  e.  Submit  your 
wifdom  to  God's ;  embrace  1m  gracious  method  of  falvation  ; 
without  arguing  yonrfelf  into  needlefs  doubts  and  perplexities. 
— Mr  HERVEY  feems,  here,  to  intimate,  what  another  excel- 
lent divine  has  fince  exprefied  more  clearly  :  4*  Believe  fiinply, 
*'  with  the  meeknefv  of  a  child,  juft  as  you  are  told  by  Go», 
**  without  murmuring  or  difputing.  Depend  as  abfokitely* 
44  day  by  day,  on  the  teaching  of  Chril^,  through  his  word 
44  and  Spirit,  for  the  knowlrdge  of  all  things  needful  to  lalva- 
44  tion,  as  any  pupil,  at  an  academy,  depends  on  the  inltruc- 
<*  dons  of  an  able  and  celebrated  imfter." 

Mr  VENN'S  complete  duly  of  man,  p.  1^5. 
O  p   * 


2Q2  MANY   MADE     RIGHTEOUS 

us  in  the  dark  ;  for  he  hides  thefe  things  from  the  wife 
and  prudent,  and  reveals  them  unto  babes. — You  mull 
acknowledge  your  natural  ignorance,  and  implore  the 
teachings  of  his  blcfled  Spirit  ;  for  this  is  his  peculiar 
office,  to  convince  the  "world  of  right eou/nejs  ;  that  is,  tp 
convince  the  world  of  the  fulnels  of  the  Redeemer's 
righteoufnefs,  of  its  unfearchable  riches,  and  of  its 
abfolute  fufRciency  to  juftify  his  people. 

Secondly,  If  you  would  not  be  offended  at  this  doc- 
trine, get  a  deep  fenfc  of  your  own  n  ^righteoufnefs . 
It  is  the  want  of  this  conviclion,  that  indiipoies  men, 
for  a  reliance  on  Chritt  ;  fo  long  as  they  fancy  them- 
ielves  rich  and  increased  in  goods,  they  will  never  be 
concerned  to  feck  the |/?;*<r  gold  of  their  Saviour's  obe- 
dience.— And,  indeed,  he  camenot  to  call  the  righteous  ; 
his  gofpel  is  of  fuch  a  nature,  that  the  felf-jufliciary 
\vill  difcern  no  comelineis  in  it  :  it  will  feed  the 
hungry,  and  poor  in/pirit,  with  good  things  ;  but  the 
rich,  and  thole  that  are  righteous  in  their  own  eyes,  it 
wilMend  empty  away. 

Labour,  therefore,  to  fee  your  own  vilcnefs  :  and 
then  the  merits  of  a  Saviour  will  be  precious.  Be 
fenfible  of  your  own  nakednefs,  and  then  the  robe  of 
a  Redeemer's  righteoufhefs  will  be  prized  indeed. 
Confider  yourfelvcs  as  infolvent,  wretched  bankrupts, 
"who  HAVE  nothing,  who  can  do  nothing,  that  is  ipi- 
ritually  good  ;  and  then  the  perfcclt  obedience,  the 
full  fatisfaclion  of  ywur  divine  Surety,  will  be  as  health 
to  your  /bul,  and  as  marrow  to  your  bones. 

Thirdly,  Pray  for  faith.    'Tis  faith  that  unites  *  to 

Jefus 

*  Serfihle  union  with  Chrift,  or  aftual  fellowfhip  with  him, 
in  a  way  m  c-vnfort,  occafioning  the  foul's  calm  fun-Jkine,  and 
the  heart-felt  joy,  is,  no  doubt,  a  rffult  of  faith.  But  then, 
this  is  not  fo  properly  union  itfelf,  as  communinn  flowing  from 
an  union  rim  fubfilted  between  Chritt  and  his  church  from 
before  ail  time;  ,md  of  which  union,  that  communion,  whicK 
follows  ii'.mn  faith,  is  no  more  than  the  perception,  difcovery, 
and  enjoyment. 


BY    THE    OBEDIENCE    OF    ONE.  293 

Jefus  Chrift.  By  faith  you  are  implanted  into  him. 
Faith  is  the  hand  that  lays  hold  on  the  Saviour's  me- 
rits: By  faith  ye  arejaved,  fays  the  apoftle.  This  ap- 
pears, to  the  foul,  the  great  J'alvation  purchafed  by  our 
dear  Redeemer :  therefore  befeechGod  to  beget  in  you 
this  lovely  and  lively  faith,  whereby  you  may  lay  hold 
on  Chrift:,  cleave  mod  infeparably  to  Chrift,  and,  re- 
nouncing every  other  refuge,  lay  the  whole  ilrefs  of 
your  fouls  folely  on  Chrift,  as  a  fhipwreckcd  mariner 
relinquifhes  all  his  finking  cargo,  and  clings  only  to 
the  planks  that  may  float  him  fafe  to  more.  Seek  this 
blefiing  to  yourfclves,  brethren;  and,  if  ever  I  forget 
to  join  my  bed  fupplications  to  yours,  let  my  tongue 
cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth.  My  heart's  defire,  and 
prayer  to  God,  (hall  always  be,  that  you  may  believe  to 
the  faving  of  your  fouls. — And  a  holy  converjation  will 
be  a  fij^n  unto  you,  that  JO\\Y  faith  is  real. — A.  life  of 
fmcere  holinejs  can  fpring  from  nothing  but  from  this 
divine  head,  CH  RIST  JESUS.  Bythisfliallallmenknoiu 
that  ye  are  his  difciples,  if  ye  live  by  his  Spirit,  and 
•walk  as  he  walked.  By  this,  likewife,  your  own  con- 
fciences  may  be  aflured,  that  God  hath  given  you  an 
intereft  in  his  dear  .Son,  and  fent  him  to  blcls  you;  if 
he  has  turned  you  from  your  iniquities,  and  created  you 
anew  unto  good  works. 

Give  me  leave,  at  the  clofe  of  all,  to  afk  you  with 
all  fimplicity,  Have  you  underftood  thefe  things  ?  do 
you  believe  this  report  ?  or  ain  I  as  one  that  fpeak- 
eth  a  parable  ? 

If  any  be  of  this  opinion,  I  fhall  addrefs  them  in  the 
words  of  St  Paul  to  the  Galatians,  and  commit  them 
to  enlightening  grace.  The  apoftle,  inculcating  this 
very  point,  and  perluading  them  to  this  felt  fame  be- 
lief, fays,  Brethren,  be  as  1  am,  for  I  WAS  as  ye  art  *. 
Thus  the  words  1  would  tranflate ;  and  then  they  are 
very  pertinent  to  the  purpofe,  and  applicable  to  you 
and  me  ;  and  when  paraphrafed,  will  run  thus  :  u  I 

*'  don't 

*  Gal.  iv.  12. 


394        MANY  MA  HE  RIGHTEOUS,  6-r. 

u  don't  wonder,  brethren,  that  yc  arc  prejudifed  a- 
"  gainfl  this  doctrine.  I  myfelf  was  ftrongly  pollefled 
*'  with  fuch  prejudices.  I  verily  thought,  that  my 
"  own  righteoulhefs  would,  at  leaft,  bear  a  part  in 
"  procuring  my  acceptance  with  the  eternal  Majelty. 
u  Determined  I  was,  in  fome  meafure,  to  ftand  on  my 
44  own  bottom:  and  advance  my  plea,  for  life  everlaft- 
44  ing,  from  my  own  holy  endeavours.  But  now 
"  thefe  arrogant  resolutions  and  vain  confidences  arc 
*'  dropt.  I  now  difavow  all  Inch  pretenlions.  God 
"  hath  brought  me  to  a  founder  mind. — And,  as  yc 
<c  have  been  partakers  with  me  in  my  miftake,  be 
<l  partakers  alfo  of  my  righter  judgment.  1  truft- 
"  ed  to  I  knew  not  what  :  but  now  I  know  in  whom 
41  /  have  believed.  I  put  myfelf,  and  the  whole  of 
''  my  falvation,  in  my  adored  Immanuers  hands  j 
*'  and  doubt  not  of  his  fufficiency  for  my  fccurity. 
*'  Henceforward  I  fet  my  heart  at  reft,  not  becauie  I 
<c  have  gone  through  fuch  offices,  or  done  inch  du- 
*'  ties ;  but  becaufe  my  Redeemer  is  mighty  and  me- 
<c  ritorious.  "Tis  God,  the  incarnate  God,  that  jujlifies 
"  me  ;  who  is  he  that  fnall  condemn  me  ?  Never,  never 
'*  (hall  my  heart  cry  to  divine  juftice,  Have  patience 
*c  "with  me,  and  I  will  pay  thee  all :  this  were  the  lan- 
"  guage  of  grofs  ignorance,  or  great  prefumption.  But, 
<fc  in  all  my  temptations,  in  every  difcouragement, 
"  this  fnall  be  my  acknowledgment,  this  fball  ftill  be 
*l  my  earneft  prayer,  The  righteoufnefs  of  thy  obe- 
"  dience,  moft  blefTed  Jefus,  is  everlafting;  O!  grant 
c<  me  an  interefl  therein,  and  I  Ihall  live." — Amen, 
Amen  ;  fo  let  it  be,  O  Lord. 


*2>  -O*  •«£*•  •*£*  ***  *£••  *<•*•  *2>  <i»  <•'»•  ***•  *£*  •*£*  *2*  •*£*•  s3^  *»*•  •*** 


o     - 

LETTERS 

Written  by  Mr  Hervey,  from   1733  to  1758. 

PREFACE. 


TT  has  been  already  obferved,  in  the  account  of  Mr  Hervey's 
Life  prefixed  to  vol.  I.  thai  he  frequently  wrote  religious 
letters  to  his  acquaintance  according  to  their  different  cireuin- 
(Lnces,  in  the  moll  amiable  and  convincing  manner;  and  that 
he  Itemed  to  make  it  altnoft  an  invariable  rule,  not  to  write  a 
letter  on  any  occafion,  without  at  leait  one  pious  fentence  in 
it;  and  that  not  introduced  in  a  forced  and  awkward  man- 
ner, but  interwoven  ib  as  to  Appear  naturally  to  arile  from 
tiu  fubjeft  *. 

The  reafons  for  publishing  this  collection  of  Mr  Hervey's 
letters,  were  the  (trong  folic'tations  of  ihofe,  who  knew  ami 
valued  the  author  and  his  writings;  a  detire  of  contributing 
ro  the  inleretb  of  religion,  which  was  the  great  fcope  of  an 
his  labours  ;  and  a  perluafion,  that  1'uch  a  colk'clion  would 
give  a  peculiar  latisfacYion  to  every  intelligent  and  pious  |>er- 
IOQ  :— efpeciaHy  as  to  be  thus  introduced  to  partake  of  the  en- 
tertaining and  inflruclive  iutercouries  of  his  fnc.;d'i;ip,  ri 

pclTjbiy 
*  Vol.  I.  p  xxxvii.  xxxviii. 


296  PREFACE       TO 

poffibly  be  the  means  of  encouraging  others  to  G®  AND  no 
LIKEWISE.  Nor  will  it  be,  it  is  prelumed,  necelfory  to  befper.k 
the  candour  of  the  reader,  or  deprecate  the  petulance  of  criti- 
cifm,  whatever  defeds  or  inaccuracies  may  be  found  in  a  work 
of  this  kind,  not  intended  for,  though  well  worthy  of,  the 
public  eye. 

As  the  following  letter  to  the  editor  is  fo  truly  charac"terifti- 
.cal  of  Mr  Hervey,  'tis  to  be  hoped  that  it  will  not  be  altoge- 
ther unacceptable  to  the  reader — When  writers  like  h:m,  of 
dittinguilhed  fuperiority,  have  gained  our  admiration  and  ap- 
plaufe,  w,e  are  ford  ot  penAtating  into  their  more  retired  a- 
partmems,  and  aiTociating  wTth  then)  in  the  fequettered  walks 
of  privare  life:  for  here  thefe  great  geniufes  appear  in  an  un- 
drefs;  the  intrinfic  excellence  of  their  characters  ihines  out 
•with  genuine  luftre;  and  although,  as  authors,  their  talents  are 
beyond  our  imitation,  yet  the  feveral  milder  graces  and  virtues 
of  their  more  common  and  ordinary  behaviour,  are  in  foine 
meaiure  attainable  by  every  one. 

S  I  R, 

jTP  WAS  with  no  fmall  fatisfaftion  I  faw  an  adrertifement 
•*-.   in  the  public  papers,  ddiring  the  correfpondents  of  the 
late  Mr  Htrvey  to  furn'fli  the  editor  with  fome  of  his  letters 
for  publication,   and  glad  I  am  'tis  in  my  powef  to  fend  you 
fo  large  a  number  ;  fince  in  many  of  them  will  be  found  fuch 
traces  of  an  upright  heart,  as  no  llranger  can   otherwife  be 
made  acquainted  with.    There  will  be  feen  the  dcepeft  humility. 
Kvwr  unconfcious  of  his  own  fhining  abilities,  he  was  always 
defirous  of  improving  by  the  meaneft  in  the  church  :  in  low- 
linels  of  mind  he   would  prefer   others  to  himfelf:   he  would 
frequently  be  the   humble  queritt,  and  make   his  friend  the 
refpondent.     There  will  be  ieen  the  greatejt  love  to  mankind; 
— a  love,  which  he  has  Wrongly  txprefled  on  every  occafion, 
not  only  in  words,  but  in  the  moft  important  acls  of  benevo- 
lence, both  temporal  and  fpiritual.    There  will  be  feen  the  nwft 
zealous^attachments  to  truth.    He  was  extremely  defirous  that 
every  fentiment  of  his  fliould  be  fir  icily  examined;  and  where- 
ever  he  found  any  thing  capable  of  the  leaft  improvement,  he 
immediately  acquiefced  with  the  greate(t  thar.kfulnefs. — In  a 
vord,  there  will  be  feen  the  utmojt  fercnity  of  mind  under  the 
preffure  of  very  grievous  afflictions.     As  his  joy  was  not  of 
this  world,  no  worldly  calamities  could  take  it  from  him,  .no- 
thing could  ruffle,  nothing  could  difcompofe  him. — He  was 
indeed,  what  his  Maiter  fays  of  the  Baptiit,  a  burning  and  a 

Jblning 


THE       LETTERS.         297 

fhinlng  light;  and  as  fuch  as  he  was  a  guide  for  our  feet. — As  a 
burning  light,  be  warmed  many  by  his  example:  he  had  re- 
ceived the  grace  of  God  in  abundance  ;  which  he  had  long 
and  moft  earneftly  implored  j  and  the  ftuits  of  which,  in  his 
life  and  converfation,  the  world  have  feen,  and  his  friends  will 
teil  with  pieafnre. — As  zflining  light,  he  inftructed  many  by 
bis  doclrine.  He  was  a  molt  Itrenuous  aflertor  of  the  free 
grace  of  God.  He  taught  men  to  be  rich  in  goad  work?, 
without  placing  the  leait  dependence  on  them.  Chnlt  was  all 
to  him,  and  it  was  his  ivkale  bujincfs  to  publifh  his  Redeemer's 
rmfearchable  richer. — It  wns  St  Paul's  faithful  faying,  viz. 
Thar,  *'  Chritt  Jelus  canif  into  the  iwtldtof.tvtjinnfrs;"  and 
it  was  Mr  Hfrvcy'b  contain  employment  to  bring  finners  to 
him  empty-handed,  ^  to  buy  wine  and  milk  without  money 
**  and  without  price," 

He  was  al!o  a  molt  flrenuous  aflertor  of  evangelical  holi- 
nefs. — While  he  pub-iillied  the  free  grace  of  God,  he  was  Ib- 
licitous  that  none  fhouki  abufe  it  to  licentioufnefs.  Herein  al- 
ib  he  imitated  St  Paul  in  another  faithful  faying,  viz.  That 
44  they  -wkf)  believe  in  God  Ihould  be  careful  to  maintain  good 
"  works." 

Such  was  the  friend  I  have  lofl.  God  grant  we  may  all  **  be 
'*  the  foUc-jjcrs  tf  him,  -who  through  faith  and  patience  now  in- 
44  htnts  the  fromif: j." — He  relts  from  his  labours,  and  my 
correspondence  with  him  is  for  ever  at  an  end;  but  by  the  let- 
ters I  here  fend,  he  -will,  though  dead,  yetfpf.ik,  and  fpread 
wide  that  valuable  inltrudion,  and  thole  ingenious  remarks, 
which  were  originally  defigned  only  for  the  private  inlpeclion 
of,  bir,  your  humble  lew  ant,  &c.  &c, 

P.  S.  Mr  Hervry's  zeal  for  his  great  MaQer,  ami  his  eminent 
abilities  to  advance  the  interefh  of  religion,  will,  it  is  hoped, 
iecure  the  good  opinion  of  the  community,  in  behalf  of  the 
publication  of  his  private  letters  and  lift-;  efppcially  when  it  1$ 
cofifidered,  thru  it  was  in  ibme  meafure  nece'firy  to  be  done; 
not  only  as  they  exhibit  in  their  purport,  competition,  and 
various  tendencies,  a  linking,  amiable,  and  true  picture  of 
the  ingenuity,  learning,  candour,  and  piety  of  this  excel- 
lent man;  but  as  his  character  Ins  been  injured  by  fome  thro*' 
nulreprefentation:  and  as  his  writings  have  been  cenfured  by 
otners  through  mifapprehenfion  : — all  fuch  will  now  fee  ho\v 
far  Mr  Herv-y  is  delerving  of  blame,  or  of  applaufe;  lince 
there  is  nothing  that  cxprefles  a  man's  particular  character 
irore  fully,  than  his  letters  to  his  intimate  irieuds. 

VOL.  V.  Ny  23.  P  p  IA 


20.8  PREFACE       TO 

In  this  edition  care  has  been  taken  to  arrange  the  letters  in 
the  lame  order  in  which  they  were  wrote,  as  tar  as  was  prac- 
ticable. But  there  is  no  pollibility  of  doing  it  exactly,  for  this 
plain  reafon,  that  in  many  letters  written  to  thofe  with  whom 
ht  kept  a  frequent  correfpondence,  Mr  Hervey  was  accuftom- 
ed  to  expreis  neither  month  nor  year,  but  only  to  write  Mon- 
day morning,  Tuefday  night,  &c. ;  and  that  ft*  eval  letters  were 
tranfmitted  to  the  editor,  with  thcdates  as  well  asnames  eraftd. 

There  are  a  few  things  infer  ted  in  this  collection,  fuch  as 
the  cottager's  letter  *,  Mr  Boyfc's  -f,  the  letter  to  Dr  T*x  :£, 
which  were  introduced,  not  only  for  the  great  propriety  of 
fuch  an  introduction,  but  at  the  particular  defire  of  lome  of 
Mr  Hervey 's  friends,  in  order  to  fulfil  his  intentions,  and  ren- 
der him,  though  dead,  as  extenfively  uteful  as  poffible. 

44  I  would  by  all  means,"  fays  one  of  his  mod  judicious  and 
favourite  correspondents,  "  have  that  letter  of  mine,  addrtlTed 
44  to  Dr  2"**,  printed  in  the  collection  ;  as  I  think  this  may 
'*  in  foine  meafure  be  fulfilling  the  will  of  my  deceafed  friend, 
44  who  appears  by  his  own  letter  ||  to  me  to  have  judged  fome- 
44  thing  of  that  nature  highly  necejfary  ;  and  he  would  certain- 
44  ly  have  attempted  it  himlelf,  as  he  declared,  had  not  a  cer- 
*4  tain  church-preferment  brought  him  very  unexpectedly  into 
**  a  connection,  which  made  fuch  a  publication  at  that  junc- 
*4  ture  ineligible.— Mr  Hervey  is  now  dead,  and  that  reafon 
*4  is  no  longer  in  force;  and  therefore  now  feems  to  me  the 
44  fitted  time  for  fuch  purpofe.  I  wrote  that  letter  to  Dr 
44  2***  at  Mr  Nervcy's  exprefs  defire,  and  I  gave  him  full 
*4  power  to  make  \vhat  ufe  of  it  he  pleafed  ;  hoping,  that, 
*4  after  correcting  it  to  his  mind,  he  would  have  lent  it  to 
44  Dr  2"**  himfelf ;  or  elfe  that  he  would  have  wrote  in  an- 
*4  other  /form  (perhaps  in  an  introduction  to  his  faft-fermons) 
44  fomething  far  more  valuable,  extracting  from  my  letter 
*4  what  belt  anivvered  his  ends.  But  that  not  being  done,  the 
*'  publication  of  my  letter  in  this  collection,  immediately  after 
44  what  Mr  hcrvey  fays  in  his  to  me  4.  about  Dr  2"**'s  fer- 
44  mon,  may,  with  the  fame  divine  bleffing,  be  of  ufe  ;  and, 
*4  though  of  little  worth,  yet,  like  the  widow's  mite,  when  it 
4*  was  her  ALL%  it  may  be  acceptable,- — There  are  thoufands 
**  of  preachers  who  think  in  the  fame  way  with  Dr  2"**,  and 
**  very  likely  many  of  thefe  may  be  the  readers  of  Mr  Hctvey\ 
**  letters :  and  if  fo;ne  of  them  reflect  and  reform,  the  unjufl 

44  archer 

*  Let.  83.  f  Annexed  to  let    166.  t  Let.  i.<8 

\  Ltt.  ij7.  \  Tib  fo  printed  as  here  dcfircd.— bcc  let.  jjS. 


THE       LETTERS.        299 

"  anger  cf  the  reft  is  very  little  to  be  regarded.  Therefore, 
"  upon  the  mod  ferious  confideration,  it  is  my  earned  requeft, 
44  that  the  letter  to  Dr  T**  Ihould  be  printed  jurt  as  I  fent  it 
".to  Mr  tfervey." 

It  njuft  be  acknowledged,  that  feme  of  his  firfi  letters  writ- 
ten from  college  when  be  was  not  more  than  twenty  years  of 
age,  either  fpeak  a  language  different  from  free  grace,  for 
which  we  find  he  was  afterwards  lo  powerful  an  advocate,  or 
at  theleaft  they  treat  very  confuiedly  of  it;  and  perhaps  feme 
may  lay,  why  then  were  they  printed  ?  For  thefe  two  plain  rea- 
fons;  that  the  reader  may  fee  and  know  what  early  and  ftrong 
imprellions  he  had  of  piety  !  what  love  to  GOD  !  and  to  his  fel- 
low-creatures ! — Though  we  f>y  not,  that,  like  John  Baptift) 
he  was  fanctified  from  his  mother's  womb,  yet  his  very 
early  labours  for  his  Saviour,  when  too  many  others  of  his 
age  and  fending  were  captivated  by  their  paffions,  and  fwal- 
lowed  up  by  their  lufts,  prove  to  a  demonftration,  the  dodrine 
he  afterwards  taught,  viz.  the  power  of  redeeming  love  :  they 
ihew  how  early  the  feeds  of  grace  were  fovvn  in  his  heart ;  and 
when  they  look  forward,  they  may  obferve  from  what  fmall 
fparks  of  light  and  grace  the  Holy  Spirit  hath  gradually  taught 
him  *,  and  led  him,  as  it  were  by  the  hand,  into  the  full  and 
holy  liberty  of  the  children  of  GOD.  When  but  twenty- one 
years  of  age,  we  find  him  afraid  of,  and  flying  from  praiie, 
when  others  would  be  courting  it ;  for  having  wrote  fome 
verfes  to  a  relation  which  were  greatly  commended,  he  hear- 
tily withes  -j-  he  had  never  wrote  a  line  of  poetry  in  his  lifej 
and  he  wrote  upon  another  occafion  :}:  exprefsly  blaming  a 
friend  for  prilling  him  ;  and  again  ||,  he  fays,  4t  You  have  paid 
*4  me  an  obliging  compliment;  beg  of  the  blefled  GOD,  dear 
"  Sir,  that  1  may  not  be  puffed  up  with  vain  conceit  of  myfelf 
44  or  my  writings." 

From  the  reading  of  thefe  familiar  letters,  which  is  in  a 
manner  listening  to  and  hearing  the  thoughts  of  the  writer,  we 
may  learn,  that,  by  nature,  "his  heart  was  hard  as  the  flint. 
44  and  his  hands  tenacious  even  to  avarice j"  thofe  are  his 
words  4-.  Yet  (fee  the  power  of  that  free  grace,  which 
living  and  dying  he  ador'd)  he  became  a  bright  example  of  u- 
niverfal  charity  -H-. 

His,  great  humility  and  diffidence  of  his  own  judgment  and 
learning,  appear  in  many  of  his  letters  j  in  one,  which  is  far 

from 

•  If.  liv.  13,      John  vi.  45-  t  Letter  j.  t  Letter  fa. 

i|  Let  60.    4  Let.  33.    -H-  See  his  life,  p.  xxxiii.    and  let.  ji,  60.  &c. 
P    p    2 


goo  P     H     K     FACE       TO 

from  being  contemptible  either  for  ftyle  or  argument,  ha  ei>- 
johu.  his  friend  to  return  his  letter  immediately  to  him-,  that  it 
might  never  appear:  yt  his  friend  got  the  better  of  that  ino- 
dcitv,  and  obtained  leave  to  keep  it  ;  to  which  is  owing  the 
publication  of  that  now,  which  Mr  Hsrvt-y^  at  the  tiuve  of 
writing  it,  defired  it  might  never  lee  the  light  *. 

Another  mllance,  and  a  (Irking  one,  we  may  meet  with, 
let.  53.  where,  anfwering  tlie  objections  of  a  lady  to  the  mi- 
racle which  Chritt  wrought  at  the  marriage  of  Can  a  in  Galilee^ 
he  lays,  "'  1  have  neither  ftrength  of  mind  nor  folidity  of  judg- 
"  ment,  fuificient  to  conduct  the  procedure  of  an  argument," 
&-c. 

As  the  love  of  Goo  was  (lied  abroad  in  his  heart;  it  pro- 
duced an  ardent  ddire  to.  promote  the  caule  of  CHR  IST  JESUS 
and  of  his.  religion.  And  when  he  found  himfelf  bowed  down 
witli  the  fpirit  of  weajuiefs  and  infirmity,  he  was  apt  to  fear 
lett  he  Ihould  difgr.ice  the  gofpcl  in  bus  lariguiihing  moments  -f; 
lie  earnetUy  prayed  to  God,  and  deiired  others  to  unite  in  the 
fame  petition,  that  he  might  not  thus  dishonour  the  canfe  of 
CHRIST.  And  his  and  their  prayers  were  heard  ;  for  not- 
Wlthfla ruling  his  lingering  weaknefs  and  depreffed  fpirits,  which 
at  length  gave  him  up  into  the  hands  «f death,  yet  he  triumph- 
ed over  his  fear.-.,  he  triumphed  over  the  grand  tempter  and 
adverlary  of  fouls. 

His  willingneis  to  have  his  writings  corrected,  by  every  judi- 
cious friend,  and  his  thankfulnefs  in  receiving  their  criticifms, 
appear  throughout  all  his  letters  written  to  his  learned  cone- 
fpondents;  a  fpccimen  of  it  you  may  fee,  let.  6i.  101.  181. 
His  earned  defire  to  prefer  his  friend's  opinion  to  his  own  ; 
or,  in  other  words,  his  humble  opinion  of  his  own  judgment 
and  powers  in  argumentation,  makes  him  ever  rtqueliing, 
44  Pray  ufe  freely  the  pruning- hook,"  drc.  It  may  fcem  a  won- 
der, therefore,  that  he  Ihould  ever,  under  thefe  discouraging 
thoughts  <  f  himfelf,  write  at  all,  especially  fo  much  as  he  has 
done  ;  confidering  he  was  no  more  than  five  and  forty  when  he 
died,  and  that  the  firft  of  his  works  was  publilhed  when  he 
was  thirty-three. — Perhaps'  ihe  reader  might  be  almoit  tempt- 
ed to  fufpeft,  that  his  humility  was  affected,  and  that  pride 
lurked  under  that  fair  garment :  bin  hypocrity  dwelt  not  in 
him  ;  he  wrote  under  all  that  weaknefs,  and  under  all  thole 
fears,  becaufe  he  dared  not  be  iilent;  the  caule  of  Goo  and 
truth  was  publickly  attacked ;  the  caufe  of  his  Mailer  was 

oppofed, 

*  Let.  a4.  t  Let.  60. 


THE       LETTERS.         30! 

oppofed,  and  he,  as  a  faithful  watchman,  was  compelled,  how- 
ever weak  in  body,  however  unequal  he  thought  himfelf  to  the 
talk,  he  was  compelled  to  cry  aloud  and  (pare  not ;  and  there- 
fore he  wrote  not  from  pride,  or  from  avarice,  but  from  coa- 
fcience,  and  a  fenfe  of  duty;  and  this  the  intelligent  and  can- 
did reader  will  eafily  perceive  from  many  of  his  letters. 

At  a  time  when  infidelity  and  depravity  prevailed,  and  when 
it  was  become  almolt  faihionable  to  (lander  and  fpeak  evil  of 
perfons,  depredating  another's  reputation  in  order  to  raife 
or  eltablUh  our  own;  we  find  Mr  Hcrvty  making  it  a  rule  to 
Tingle  out  the  bed  things  he  had  heard  of  his  neighbour,  and 
carefully  avoiding  even  to  hint  any  thing  which  might  be  the 
caule  of  propagating  a  rumour  *  to  his  detriment;  or  to  difclole 
a  iecret  which  might  be  injurious  to  him:  thus  careful  was  he 
to  carry,  into  his  own  practice,  the  doctrine  he  taught,  the  re- 
ligion he  profelFed  ; — and  thus  far  was  he  from  efpoufing  either 
the  principles  or  practices  of  Antinomians.  Some  of  his  pretend- 
ed friends  of  that  (tamp,  as  well  as  his  adverfaries,  have  taken 
much  pains  to  make  the  world  believe,  that  he  in  all  things  a- 
greed  with  them,  that,  if  poflible,  they  might  be  thought  not 
to  differ  from  him  ;  but  they  will  find  it  as  impracticable  to 
raile  their  reputation  upon  his,  as  it  will  be  to  reduce  his  cha- 
racter to  a  level  with  their  own,  fo  lortg  as  his  works  (hall  live 
to  proclaim  his  principles,  aod  a  friend  (hall  remain  to  declare 
his  truly  Lhriit'un  practices,  his  holy  lite  and  converfation. 

It  cannot  but  be  observed,  that  Mr  Hervfy,  in  two  of  his 
letters  *f-,  has  repeated  the  fame  argument  in  pretty  near  the 
lame  words;  and  perhaps  this  repetition  may  dilgu(t  the  deli- 
cate and  curious  reader,  efpecialiy  as  it  returns  fo  foon  as  with- 
in the  compat's  of  thirty  pages;  but  it  is  to  be  confulered,  that, 
they  were  written  at  different  times;  the  one  to  a  clergyman 
at  Bath  in  1743,  and  the  other  for  the  fat isf action  of  a  lady 
five  years  afterwards;  and  as  the  objections  were  the  fame 
from  both,  Mr  Hervfy  had  a  right  to  return  each  of  them  the 
fame  anfvier. 

I  mult  once  more  trefpafs  on  my  reader's  patience,  as  I  can- 
not conclude  without  exprefling  my  hopes,  that  every  perfon 
of  candour  and  judgment  will  make  the  necetTary  allowances 
for  thole  different  (Kite-,  both  of  bodv  and  mind,  which  one 
of  Mr  Hcruey's  weak  conllitution  mult  have  undergone  in  the 
1'pace  of  five  and  twenty  years,  during  which  thefe  letters 
wrote. — A  manii'eli  inequality  of  judgment,  of  accuracy,  ' 

and 

*  Let.  j*.  t  Let.  17.  &  53. 


PREFACE,      &c. 

and  of  ftyle  in  familiar  letters  wrote  at  fuch  diftances,  with 
more  or  lefs  attention  and  care,  according  to  the  variety  of  cir- 
cumflances  which  occur,  and  without  the  leaft  thought  of  their 
publication,  will  appear;  nor  can  it  be  other  wife  expected  in- 
deed from  any  one. — Some  of  thegreateft  geniufes  of  the  age, 
luch  as  Pope  and  Swift,  have  made  their  apology  in  the  fame 
cafe;  and  no  one,  lam  lure,  is  morejudly  entitled  to  the  indul- 
gence of  the  public,  than  he  vvhofe  letters  are  here  collected. 


LET- 


LETTER 


Of  the  late  Reverend 


MR   JAMES  HERVEY. 


LETTER      I, 

To  his  S  i  s  T  E  R. 
Lincoln-College,  Oxon.  Sept.  16.  1733. 

Dear  Sifter^ 

WAS  there  any  occafion  to  apologize  for  the 
ferious  purport  of  this,  it  would  be  fufficient 
to  direct  you  to  the  date,  and  the  time  of  its  in- 
diting ;  but  I  promife  myielf,  -that  to  you  any  thing 
of  this  nature  will  be  unnecefTary.  For  though  we 
are  in  the  very  prime  and  fpring  of  our  years, 
ftrongly  difpofed  to  admire,  and  perfectly  capaci- 
tated to  relifh  the  gaieties  of  youth  ;  yet  we  have 
been  inured  to  moderate  the  warmth  of  our  ap- 
petites, accuftomed  to  anticipate  in  our  minds  the  days 
of  darknefs,  and  incefTantly  difciplincd  into  a  remem- 
brance of  our  Creator.  For  my  part,  I  find  no  feafon 
fo  proper  to  addrefs  one  of  the  principal  fliarers  of  my 
heart,  one  of  my  neareft  arid  dcarefl  relations,  as  that  I 
have  at  prefent  chofe  and  made  ufe  of,  when  either  an 
univerfalfilencecompofesthe  ibul,  and  calms  every  tur- 
bulent 


304          A     COLLECTION        Let.  I. 

bulcnt  emotion,  or  the  voice  of  joy  and  gladnefs  fpeak- 
ing  through  celeilial  mufic,  invites  to  adore  the  won- 
ders of  our  Redeemer's  love,  touches  upon  the  firings 
of  the  foftefl  paflions,  and  infpires  the  mod  i'weet, 
moil  tender  fentiments. 

As  I  was  the  other  day  traverfing  the  fields  in  queft 
of  health,  I  obferved  the  meads  to  have  loft  that  pro- 
fufion  of  fragrant  odours  which  once  perfumed  the 
air,  to  be  difrobed  of  that  rich  variety  of  curious  dies, 
which  furpaffed  even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory.  Not 
a  iingle  flower  appears  to  gladden  the  fight,  to  be- 
fpangle  the  ground,  or  enamel  the  barren  landfcape. 
The  clouds,  that  ere  long  diftilled  in  dews  of  honey, 
or  poured  themfelves  forth  in  mowers  of  fatncis,  now 
combine  in  torrents  to  overflow  the  lifelefs  earth,  to 
bury  or  fweep  away  all  the  faint  footfteps  of  ancient 
beauty.  The  hills  that  were  crowned  with  corn,  the 
valleys  that  laughed  and  fung  under  loads  of  golden 
prain  ;  in  a  word,  the  whole  face  of  nature,  that  fo 
lately  rejoiced  for  the  abundance  of  her  plenty,  is  be- 
come bare,  naked,  and  diiconiolate.  As  I  was  conti- 
nuing my  walk,  and  muling  on  this  joylefs  fcene,  me- 
thought  the  iudden  change  exhibited  a  lively  picture  of 
our  frail  and  tranfitory  Hate  ;  methought  every  object 
that  occurred,  feemed  fileutiy  to  forewarn  me  of  my 
own  future  condition. 

1  dwelt  on  theie  confidera'ions  till  they  fermented  in 
my  fancy,  and  worked  themfelves  out  in  iuch  like  ex- 
preflions.  "  What  !  muft  we  undergo  fo  grievous  an 
kt  alteration  ?  we,  whofe  fprightly  blood  circulates  in 
11  brifkeft  tides  !  we,  who  are  the  favourites  of  time, 
44  on  whom  youth,  and  health,  and  ftrength,  flied 
t4  their  felecleft  influence  !  we,  who  are  fo  apt  to  look 
"  upon  ourfclves  as  exempt  from  cares,  or  pains,  or 
"  troubles,  and  privileged  to  drink  in  the  fweets  of 
<c  life  without  restraint,  without  alloy  !  Muft  we  fore- 
*'  go  the  funfhinc  of  our  enjoyments  for  any  thing 
11  refembling  this  melancholy  gloom  !  Muft  the  fpark- 

41  ifng 


Let.  i.          o  F     L   E   T   T    E   R    S.  305 

44  ling  eye  let  in  haggard  dimnefs?  the  lovely  features 
u  and  glowing  cheeks  be  obicured  by  pale  deformity  ? 
u  mud  loft  and  gay  deiires  be  banished  from  our 
4t  breads,  or  mirth  and  jollity  from  our  converiation  ? 
4t  mud  the  vigour  of  our  age  fall  away  like  water 
4t  tiiat  runneth  apace,  and  the  bliisful  minutes  of  the 
44  prime  of  our  years  vanifh  like  a  dream  ?  If  this 
k4  our  cafe,  in  vain,  fure,  do  we  boaft  our  fliperior 
**  felicity,  in  vain  do  we  glory  in  being  the  darlings 
"  of  heaven.  The  inanimate  creation  droop  indeed* 
*k  iicken  and  languish,  for  a  time;  but  quickly  revive* 
11  rejoice,  and  again  fliine  forth  in  their  brjghteft  luilre  : 
41  'tis  true,  they  relinquifh,  at  the  approach  of  win- 
44  ter,  their  verdant  honours,  but  reft  fully  allured  of 
44  receiving  them  with  intered  from  the  fuccecding 
4'  ipring.  But  man,  when  he  has  paiFeci  the  autumn 
44  of  his  maturity,  when  he  has  once  i  eiigned  him  (elf  in- 
44  to  the  cold  embraces  of  age,  bids  a  long,  an  eternal 
44  adieu  to  all  that  is  entertaining,  amiable,  or  en- 
41  dcaring;  110  plcaling  expectations  refrcfh  his  mind  j 
44  not  the  lead  dawnings  of  hope  glimmer  in  to  qua- 
44  lify  the  darkfome  looking-for  of  death." 

I  had  not  long  indulged  thcfe  bitter  relieclions,  be- 
fore I  eipied  a  remedy  forthbfe  lore  evils  which  oc- 
calioncd  them.  Though  I  perceived  all  our  pallionate 
delights  to  be  vanity,  and  the  Hfue  of  them  vexation 
of  ipirit ;  yet  1  law  like  wile,  that  virtue  was  jlubftan- 
tia!,  and  her  fruits  joy  and  peace  ;  that  though  all 
things  came  to  an  end,  the  way?-  of  wii'dom  were  ex- 
ceeding broad,  The  feeds  of  piety^  if  implanted  in 
our  tender  breads,  duly  cheriLhed,  and  conftantly  cul- 
tivated, will  bud  and  bloflbni  even  in  the  winter  of 
our  days  ;  and  when  white  and  red  (hall  be  ho  more, 
when  all  the  outward  embcllilhmcnts  of  our  little  fa- 
bric (hall  difappcar,  this  will  (Hll  ftourifh  in  immortal 
bloom.  To  walk  humbly  with  our  God,  dutifully 
with  our  parents,  and  charitably  with  all,  will  be  an 
inexhaiidible  iburce  of  ncver-ccaling comforts 

\  UL.  V.  N°  24.  (.1^ 


3o6  A     COLLECT  ION         Let.  a. 

though  we  fhall  fometimes  be  unable  to  hear  the  voice 
of  linging  tnen  and  fmging  women  ;  though  all  the 
fenics  prove  fa  lie  to  their  trull,  ami  refute  lo  be  any 
longer  inlets  of  pleailire  ;  'tis  now,  dear  iiilrr,  rtis 
now  in  our  power  to  make  fuch  happy  proviiions,  as 
even  then,  in  thole  forlorn  circnmftances,  may  charm 
our  memories  with  ravifliing  rccolle&ions,  and  regale 
all  our  faculties  with  the  continual  feail  of  an  applaud- 
ing confcience.  What  fweet  complacency,  what  un- 
fpeakable  iatisfaclion  fhall  we  reap  from  the  contem- 
plations of  an  uninterrupted  ieries  of  ipotlefs  adlions! 
No  prcfent  uneafmefles  will  prompt  us  impatiently  to 
wifli  for  diflblution,  nor  anxious  fears  for  futurity 
make  us  immoderately  dread  the  impending  llrokc  ; 
all  will  be  calm,  eafy,  and  ferene;  all  will  be  foothed 
by  this  precious,  this  invaluable  thought,  that  by 
reafon  of  the  meeknels,  the  innocence,  the  purity, 
and  other  ChrifKan  graces  which  adorne-d  the  ieveral 
ftages  of  our  progreis  through  the  world,  our  names 
and  our  aflies  will  be  embalmed,  the  chambers  of  our 
tomb  confecrated  into  a  paradifc  of  reft,  and  our  fouls, 
white  as  our  locks,  by  an  eaiy  tranfition,  become  an- 
gels of  light.  I  am,  with  love  to  my  brother, 

Dear  fitter, 
Your  molt  affectionate  brother, 

JAMES  HERVEY. 


LETTER       II. 
To  his  SISTER. 

Dear  Sifter,      Lincoln  College^  Oxon.  Mar.  28.  1734. 

IT   is  now   a  considerable   time  fince  I  enjoyed  the 
true  and  real   pleaiure   of  your  company.     I  fay 
true   and  real,  becaufe  my   fancy  has   often  took   its 
flight  to  Hardingjlun,  and  delighted  itielf  with  the  ima- 
ginary converiation  of  you  and  my  other  dear  rela- 
tions ; 


Let.  2.          OF     LETTERS.  307 

tions  ;  I  have  frequently  recollected,  and  as  it  were 
atfted  over  again  in  my  mind,  the  many  pleafmg  hours 
we  have  fpent  together  in  reading  holy  and  edifying 
books,  or  difcourfing  on  pious  and  ufeful  iubjecls.  And 
mcthinksl  iliould  have  been  exceeding  glad  to  have  had 
the  fatisfadlion  yet  more  improved,  by  receiving  a  let- 
ter from  you  ;  which  I  am  ilire  would  have  been  full 
of  the  moft  tender  endearments  of  love  and  affection, 
and  I  hope  would  not  have  wanted  expreffions  of  true 
religion  and  virtue  ;  and  could  1  but  once  fee  that, 
could  1  but  obferve  ourfelves  not  only  dwelling  to- 
gether in  unity,  but  travelling  hand  in  hand  towards 
the  heavenly  Jeriiialem,  mutually  encouraging  and 
ailifting  one  another  to  fight  the  good  fight,  to  lay 
hold  on  eternal  life,  then  fhould  I  greatly  rejoice,  then 
Ihould  I  begin  to  live. 

I  hope  I  may  now  congratulate  your  perfect  reco- 
very ;  however  I  am  certain  there  is  great  reafon  for 
congratulation  on  account  of  your  being  fo  choice  a 
favourite  of  heaven  as  your  frequent  fickncffes,  and 
often  infirmities  fpenk  you  to  be.  Our  gracious  Fa- 
ther, though  an  indulgent  lover  of  all  mankind,  ieems 
to  watch  over  you  with  more  than  ordinary  care  and 
concern,  to  be  extremely  defirous,  nay,  even  folicitous 
for  your  falvation.  How  does  his  goodnefs  endeavour, 
by  the  repeated,  though  lighted  ftrokes  of  his  rod,  to 
cure  whatever  is  difordcred,  to  rectify  whatever  is  a- 
miis  in  you  ?  How  ftudioufly  does  he  feek,  by  laying 
you  on  a  fick-bed,  to  make  you  fee  yourfelf  and  all 
things  elie  in  a  true  and  proper  light  :  to  point  out  to 
you  your  frailties  and  follies,  your  darling  lulls,  and 
the  fins  that  do  moft  eafily  be  let  you  ;  to  convince  you 
that  you  are  only  a  ibjourner  here  upon  earth,  your 
body  a  poor  frail  and  corruptible  houie  of  clay,  your 
foul  a  bright,  glorious,  and  immortal  being,  that  ir. 
haflening  to  the  fruition  of  God,  and  fo  maniions  of 
eternal  reft  ;  to  difcovcr  to  you  the  vanity,  mcanncfs, 
and  contemptible  littlcncfs  of  this  world,  and  the 

worth, 


g<>8  A     COLLECTION          Let.  2. 

worth,  the  importance,  and  amazing  greatnefs  of  the 
next.  Do  not  th.cn  hold  out  againft  theie  kind  calls  to 
repentance  and  amendment  ;  do  not  refill  llich  earneit 
importunities,  fuch  iweet  iolicitations.  But  iuft'er 
vourlelf,  by  this  loving  correction,  to  be  made  great ; 
great  in  humility,  holinels,  and  happinefs.  Humble 
yourielf  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God  ;  and  by  a 
hearty  ibrrow  for  your  pail  faults,  and  a  firm  refolu- 
tion  of  obedience  for  the  future,  let  this  fatherly 
thaftiiement  bring  forth  in  you  the  peaceable  fruits  of 
righteouiuefs.  Oh  1  let  us  dread,  let  us  tremble,  to 
reject  any  longer  the  tenders  of  grace,  left  \ve  awake 
at  length  his  juiticc,  and  draw  down  vengeance  upon 
ourlclves  ;  leit  our  viiitation  be  not  in  love  and  with 
kindnefs,  but  in  heavy  difpleaiure  and  with  fury 
poured  out  ;  left  his  next  diipenfation  be  not  a  mer- 
ciful feverity,  but  indignation  and  wrath,  tribulation 
and  anguifli. 

Sure  I  can't  but  admire  that  adorable  wifdom  which 
has  contrived  all  things  fo  evidently  and  ib  directly  to 
your  advantage  !  Your  late  illneis  has,  I  doubt  not,  be- 
got in  you  ferious  thoughts  and  holy  difpofitions,  and 
thefe  I  flatter  myfelf  will  be  noui  ifhed  by  the  reception 
of  the  blefTed  facrament  the  following  Eafler.  Let 
us,  dear  fifter,  break  off  our  finr.  by  repentance  ; — let 
ns  amend  our  lives,  and  begin  from  this  very  inftant 
to  deny  all  ungodlinels  and  worldly  lufts,  and  Jive  fo- 
berly,  righteoudy,  and  godly  in  the  prefent  world. 
So  mall  we  anfwerthe  good  ends  of  our  ficknels  ; — io 
iliall  we  be  meet  partakers  of  thofe  holy  myfteries 
here,  and  enjoy  an  inheritance  amongft  the  Taints  in 
light  hereafter. — And  now  I  can't  but  acquaint  yon, 
how  earneftly  I  wifhed  that  you  and  others  of  my 
neighbours  (with  whom  I  have  difcourfed  upon  this 
fubjeft)  were  giving  devout  attendance  to  the  prayers 
and  praifes  that  were  offered  up  laft  Monday  in  your 
church,  as  likewife  how  I  fliould  rejoice  with  exceed- 
ing great  ]oy,  to  hear  that  both  you  and  they  continue 

flcdfafts 


Let.  3.         OP     LETTERS.  309 

ftedfaft,  or  rather  '.bound  more  and  more  in  the  prac- 
tice of  this  and  fuch  other  religious  duties.  And  if 
you  think  the  defire  of  my  heart,  and  the  longings 
of  my  foul  are  of  any  weight  with  any  of  them,  pray 
let  them  know  how  1  hope,  dcfire,  and  pray,  that  we 
may  be  worthy  communicants,  by  an  immediate  for- 
faking  of  all  wicked  ways,  and  a  thorough  amendment, 
as  well  as  an  unfhaken  refolution  to  perfevere  and  ad- 
vance in  that  amendment. 

My  kind  refpefts  to  all  that  you  (hall  fliew  or  read 
this  letter  to  ;  defire  them  not  to  forget  me  in  their 
prayers  :  let  **  and  **  know  that  I  often  think  of 
them,  and  hope  they  fometimes  remember  me,  and 
the  words  that  I  have  often  ipoke  to  them. — I  am,  &c. 

JAM  ES  HE*  VEY. 


LETTER     HI. 

Dear  Sifter,       Lincoln  College,  Oxon.  May  2.  1/34. 

Finding  myfelf  in  a  writing  humour,  and  remem- 
bering that  I  had  formerly  promifed  you  an  en- 
tertaining prefent,  and  being  ienfible  of  the  decency 
of  introducing  it  with  an  epiflle ;  upon  theie  accounts 
I  again  let  pen  to  paper,  and  addrefs  you,  notwith- 
ftanding  you  have  fo  very  lately  received  a  letter  from 
me.  By  an  ufefully- entertaining  prefent,  I  mean  fuch 
an  orj£  as  will  improve  and  edify,  at  the  fame  time  that 
it  diverts  and  delights  ;  as  will  not  only  make  you 
enfv  to  yourfelf  and  agreeable  to  others,  but  alio  good, 
and  holy,  and  wife  unto  falvation.  Now  I  fearer  know 
any  human  compofiticn  more  likely  to  promote  thcfc 
excellent  purposes  than  this  poem  on  the  laft  cay  *. 
For  being  in  verfe,  and  let  off  with  all  the  graces  of 
fpeech  and  thought,  it  can't  fail  of  charming  as  well 
Jlje  nice  car  as  the  found  judgment  ;  and  as  for  the 

iiibjcck, 
*  By  Dr  Young. 


gio  A     COLLECTION        Let.  3. 


,  Cure  nothing  can  be  more  prodigiouflypleafing, 
than  to  read  of  that  hnppy  time  which  (hall  be  the 
beginning  of  a  blifsful  eternity  ;  when  our  Redeemer, 
by  his  mighty  power,  lhall  change  our  vile  bodies,  that 
they  may  be  like  unto  his  glorious  body,  and  tranflate 
us  from  a  ftatc  of  corruption  in  the  grave,  to  fhinc 
forth  as  the  fun  in  the  kingdom  of  our  Father.  And 
every  one  mufl  own,  that  the  moft  engaging  perfua- 
flons  to  piety  and  holineis  of  converfation  are  drawn 
from  the  recompenfc  of  a  future  invaluable  reward  ; 
and  that  the  rood  ibvereign  prefci  vative  againft  all 
ungodlincfs  and  v/orldly  luits,  is  the  terrors,  the  infup- 
portable  terrors  of  the  Lord.  If  therefore  you  would 
pleafe  yourfclf,  refine  your  tafte,  or  have  the  practice 
of  religion  pleafing,  inftead  of  plays,  ballads,  and  o- 
ther  corrupt  writings,  read  this  almoft  divine  piece  of 
poetry  ;  read  it  (as  I  have  done)  over  and  over,  think 
upon  it,  endeavour  to  digcft  it  thoroughly,  and  even  to 
get  by  heart  the  inoft  moving  paifages,  and  then  I  truf\ 
you  will  find  it  anlwer  the  ends  1  purpofe  in  fending  it. 
You  will  excuie  me  from  exerciling  my  poetical 
talent,  fince  there  are  already  two  copies  of  recom- 
mendatory v  cries,  and  becauie  I  perceive  iiich  an  at- 
tempt will  be  cither  very  abfurd  or  very  dangerous. 
For  fhould  I  tack  together  a  few  doggrel  rhymes,  this 
would  be  an  affront  to  you  ;  whereas,  (hould  I  fucceed 
fo  well  as  to  gain  the  applaufe  of  my  readers,  this  I 
am  {lire  would  portend  very  great  harm,  if  not  to 
you,  yrt  moft  certainly  to  me.  For  what  can  portend 
greater  harm  than  the  words  of  praife  ;  which,  though 
fmoother  than  oil,  yet  be  they  very  fvvords  ?  What 
can  be  more  deftruclive  of  that  humble  mind  which 
was  in  Chrift  Jciiis,  that  meek  and  lowly  fpirit  which 
is  in  the  fight  of  God  of  great  price  !  I  am  fo  far 
ifrom  carrying  on  my  verifying  defigns,  that  I  heartily 
with  I  had  never  conceived  any  ;  that  thole  lines  I  lent 
to  my  coufin  *****  had  either  never  been  made,  or 
that  I  had  never  heard  them  cpinmended.  Pride  and 

yanity 


Let.  3.          o  F     L   E   T   T   E    R    S.  311 

vanity  arc  foolifli  and  unreafonable  in  duft  ind  afhes, 
and,  which  is  worfe,  odious  and  detectable  before  infi- 
nite perfection  and  infinite  power.  O  !  let  you  and 
1  then  dread  whatever  may  adminitter  fewel  to  thefe 
word  of  tempers,  more  than  the  poifon  of  afps,  or 
the  peftilence  that  walketh  in  darknefs.  Let  us  pray 
againft  feeking,  defiring,  or  taking  pleafure  in  the 
honour  that  cometh  of  men.  And  if  at  any  time  the 
flattering  tongue,  that  fnare  of  death,  fhall  overtake 
us,  let  us  inltantly  fly  unto  our  Saviour,  and  com- 
plain unto  our  God  ;  then  let  us  remember  ;  and  re- 
membering, let  us  acknowledge,  that  we  are  nothing, 
have  nothing,  and  deierve  nothing  but  (hame  and  con- 
tempt, but  mifery  arid  punifhment. 

I  hope  you  was  fo  happy  as  to  receive  the  holy  fa- 
crament  this  Eajler ;  and  I  beg  of  you  to  be  fo  wife  as 
well  to  understand  and  often  to  coniidcr  what  you 
then  did.  We  gave  up  ourfelves,  our  fouls  and  bodies, 
to  be  a  reaibnable,  holy,  and  lively  facrifice  to  God  : 
fo  that  we  muft  look  upon  ourfelves  as  having  now  no 
longer  any  right  or  title  to  ourfelves,  but  as  our  hea- 
venly Matter's  fole  property  ;  we  may  not  follow  our 
own,  but  mutt  do  his  will  in  all  things.  We  under- 
took to  lead  a  new  life,  to  follow  the  commandments 
of  God,  and  to  walk  henceforth  in  his  holy  ways; 
and  this  and  whatever  elfc  we  promifed  at  that  facred 
altar,  we  mutt  endeavour  to  perform,  if  we  hope  to 
enter  into  heaven.  Let  therefore  no  day  pals  without 
reflecting  on  the  folemn  engagement  we  have  made, 
and  without  examining  whether  we  have  acted  up  to 
it.  Let  us  not  imagine  that  we  did  the  whole  of  our 
duty,  when  we  took  the  confecrated  elements  into 
our  mouths  ;  but  be  convinced,  that  we  only  ns  it  were 
litted  ouffclves  afredi  under  our  Captain's  banner,  and 
that  the  fervice,  the  fight  againft  his  and  -our  enemies, 
is  to  be  hourly  renewed,  and  conlbntly  maintained 
ever?  unto  death. — I  am,  6-r. 

JAMES  H E R  v  E  Y . 

L  E  T- 


A     COLLECTION         Let.  4, 

LET     T    E     R         IV. 

Dear  Sifter,  Oxen.  March  u.  1735. 

YEflerday   the  judge   came  hither,  and  to-day  the 
atfizes  begin.     1  fhall  go  to  hear  the  aiiize-fer- 
mcn  prefently.     This  cannot  but   put  us   in  mind  of 
that  great  account  we  nuift  all  give   before  the  judg- 
ment-feat of  Chrift.     How  melancholy  a  fight  is  ir. 
to  fee  a  poor  criminal  go  up  to  the  bar  1   All  he  has 
is  no  longer  his  own  ;  his  very  life  is  in  the  power  of 
the  magiftrate  ;  and  he  is  in  great  danger  of  a  ipccciy 
death.     And    if  this  be  fo    dreadful,  how    infinitely 
more  dreadful  will  it  be  to  appear  before  a  more  itridt 
and  awful  tribunal  ?  The  good  Lord  grant,    that  you 
and  I   may   not  be   caft  in  that  tremendous  trial  !   A 
trial  that  will  be  undergone  before  angels  and  God  ; 
upon  the  iflue  of  which  our  eternal  life  will  depend. 
Was  I  to  wifli  a  wifh  for  the  deareit  friend  in  the 
world  ;  it  fhould  not  be  for  gold,  or  jewels,  or  appa- 
rel ;  thefe  things  are  fading,  and  the  fafhion  of  them 
pafTcth  away  ;   but  it  fhould  be  for  a  favourable  fen- 
tence  in  that  laft  and  great  day.     Will  not  the  arch- 
angel   fhortly  found  the  trump  ?    Will  not    all    the 
dead  come  forth  of  their  graves,  and  the  Ancient  of 
days    fit  ?    How  valuable  then    will  an  humble  and 
holy  life  be  !   If  you  and  1  be    found  with  the  wed- 
ding-garment on,  we  fliall  dor.btleis  enter  into  the  joy 
of  our  Lord,  never  to  die,  never  to  grieve,  never  to 
be  parted  more.     But  if  we  mould  either  of  us  be 
iifliiigent  in  this  matter;   if  we    ihoulci  be  fbrprifed 
without   oil    in  our   lamps  :   oh  !   the   fearfulneis  and 
trembling  that  will  come  upon  us  !  the  horrible  dread 
that  will  overwhelm  us  !  to  think  that  we  mud  be  for 
ever  (hut  out  of  heaven,  banifhed  eternally  from  the 
prefence   of  God  the  ibciety  of  faints,  and  the  fill- 
nefs  of  joy  !  If  you  or  I   were  to  be  torn  from  our 
kindred,  and  our  father's  houle,  and  hurried    away 
captive  into  a  foreign  country  ;   there  to  be  chained 

to 


Let.  5.          o  F     L   E   T  T  E   R   S.  313 

to  the  galleys,  or  condemned  to  the  mines  :  how- 
would  this  grieve  both  us  and  our  dear  relations  ! 
ho\v  would  it  pierce  our  fouls  as  a  fword  !  if  this  be 
fad,  (as  certainly  it  is,)  alas  !  what  will  it  be,  to  be 
everlailingly  feparatedby  the  unpayable  gulf  r  for  one 
to  be  caught  up  to  heaven,  and  there  to  be  ever  with 
the  Lord ;  and  for  the  other  to  be  thru  ft  clown  into 
torments,  and  dwell  with  wailing  and  gnafliing  of" 
teeth  ?  Dear  lifter,  let  us  confider  this  ;  and  give  all 
diligence  to  make  our  calling  and  election  lure  ;  that 
when  the  changes  and  chances  of  this  mortal  life  are 
over,  we  may  meet  and  live  together  in  glory  ever- 
lafting.  Which  is,  and  mail  be,  the  hearty  prayer  of, 
—your,  &c. 

JAMES    HERVEY. 


LETTER       V. 

Good  Madam,  Dummcr,  May  7.  1737. 

PRay  be  pleafed  to  caft  your  eye  to  the  bottom, 
and  obferve  who  it  is  that  defircs  to  befpeakyou. 
It  is  one  who  knows  himfelf  to  have  been  guilty  of 
the  molt  flighting  behaviour,  and  to  have  deierved, 
in  return  your  greateft  difdain.  If  after  you  per- 
ceive his  name  to  be  Hervey, — that  Hervcy  who  wasfo 
lately  and  fo  long  in  London,  without  ever  waiting 
upon  Mrs  ***  ;  without  paying  his  refpefts  to  her 
who  merits  fo  much  the  elleem  of  every  Chriftian, 
without  any  thankful  acknowledgment  for  her  kind 
wiflves  fo  often  conceived,  and  her  prevailing  prayers 
ib  often  put  up  in  his  behalf: — if,  Madam,  after  you 
are  informed  of  all  this,  you  can  bear  to  give  the  re- 
mainder of  the  paper  a  favourable  reading,  I  fhall  not 
01. ly  account  myfelf  highly  obliged  to  your  good- 
nature, but  when  I  have  an  occafion  to  put  up  an  af- 
front, and  to  exercile  forgivenefs,  I  will  thifik  upon 
it  as  a  pattern. 

VOL.  V.  NQ  24.  R  r  On 


A     COLLECTION          Let.  5. 

On  Sunday  I  was  called  out  by  Providence  from 
jny  own  flock,  to  preach  at  two  ftrange  churches. 
They  lay  at  a  confiderablc  diflance  from  each  other, 
and  from  Dummer  ;  ib  that  in  palling  to  them,  and 
repairing  again  to  my  own  parifii,  1  travelled  a  good 
many  miles.  All  the  way  I  went  along,  1  was  enter- 
tained inthefineit  manner  imaginable;  far  more  fine- 
ly than  mine,  or,  1  may  venture  to  lay,  than  any 
words  can  defcribe.  I  wifti  1  had  thf  glowing  colours, 
the  accurate  pencil,  and  the  m after ly  genius  of  ibme 
firft-ratc  painter,  that  I  might  draw  out,  with  as  little 
injuftice  as  poflible,  the  lovely  landscape,  and  make  a 
prcfent,  in  fome  degree,  worthy  your  acceptance. 
The  air  was  in  its  beft  temperament  ;  neither  fo  hot 
as  to  enfeeble  or  diipirit,  nor  ib  cold  as  to  caufe  any 
uneafy  chillncfs.  It  was  fit  to  recommend  and  let  off 
the  moft  agreeable  objects,  and  to  be  the  vehicle  of 
perfumes,  not  much  inferior  to  myrrh,  aloes,  and 
caflia.  I  was  in  company  with  a  gentleman  of  a  clear 
underftanding,  and  a  tolerable  ihare  of  reading  ;  he 
had  ieen  much  of  the  world,  and  had  a  very  deep 
piercing  infight  into  things  ;  he  could  talk  judicioufly 
upon  raoft  topics,  and  would  ibmetimes  beflow  fome 
hints  upon  religious  ones.  So  that  when  1  was  difpo- 
fed  for  converfation,  I  could  have  immediate  recourfe 
to  one  that  would  refine  my  tafle,  and  improve  my 
judgment,  if  not  minifler  grace  to  my  heart.  The 
face  of  the  Ikies  alfo  confpired  to  render  every  prof- 
peel  completely  pieaiant ;  it  was  decked  and  diversified 
with  filver-like  clouds  ;  not  fuch  as  were  charged  with 
heavy  rains,  but  fuch  as  prevented  the  annoyance  of 
one  continued  glare,  and  changed  the  funihine  fre- 
quently for  a  welcome  fhade  ;  fuch  as  ferved  for  a  foil 
to  the  nnfullied  ethereal  blue.  Thus  did  God  order 
all  circumflances,  fo  as  to  render  our  ride  exceedingly 
delightful.  At  our  firft  fetting  out,  we  went  over 
ftrong  ground  ;  where  no  feed  was  fown,  and  fe  no 
fruit  could  grow.  Its  ufeleflhefs  was  not  owing  to 

any 

\ 


Let.  5.         OF     LETTERS.  315 

any  defecl  in  point  of  fertility,  but   to  a  want  of  be- 
ing manured*. 

Is  not  this  the  cafe  of  many  immortal  fouls,  who 
are  born  with  bit- fled  difpoiitions,  and  bid  fair  for  be- 
coming eminent  Taints,  but  are  loll  and  fpoiled  for 
want  of  care  and  inflruction  ?  O  for  faithful  fhep- 
herds  to  leek  them,  for  induitrious  huibandmen  to 
cultivate  them  !  Send,  Lord,  a  plenty  of  iuch  to  work 
in  thy  vineyard,  and  to  watch  over  thy  flieep  !  This 
coarfe  beginning,  though  it  had  no  form  nor  comeli- 
n els  in  itlelf,  yet  tended  to  give  an  additional  verdure 
to  the  iucceedinglcenes.  So  the  bottonUeispit,  andthe 
unquenchable  fire,  though  infinitely  formidable,  will 
create  in  the  eledt  a  more  tafteful  relifh  and  enjoyment 
of  their  heavenly  felicity.  We  made  more  hafte  than 
ordinary  to  get  away  from  this  barren  fpot.  JFor  why 
fhould  any  one  tarry  in  iuch  a  place,  or  frequent  fuch 
acquaintance,  where  all  that  occurs  is  vain  and  unprp- 
fitable*?  where  nothing  truly  beneficial  can  either  be 
imparted  or  acquired  ?  The  iboner  we  are  delivered 
from  iuch  a  fituation,  the  better  ;  no  departure  can 
be  abrupt,  no  flight  precipitate.  When  we  were  ad- 
vanced a  little  farther,  we  entered  upon  a  large  in- 
clofure.  Here  were  all  the  footfteps  of  a  commendable 
and  iuccefsful  induftry.  The  wheat  was  in  the  blade, 
and  fprang  up  with  a  plenteous  increaic,  and  in  good- 
ly array.  It  was  not  choked  with  weeds,  nor  em- 
ban  afTcd  with  thirties,  but  like  a  clean  and  even  mantle 
covered  the  plain  :  a  prefent  credit,  and  likely  to  be 
a  future  comfort  to  its  owner.  This  iuggeftect  to  me 
the  value  of  a  diligent  hand,  that  portion  which  it  is 
in  every  one's  power  to  bequeath  to  himfclf.  All  the 
affairs  of  the  ilothful  are  like  the  mountains  ofGilboa, 
on  which  there  was  no  clew,  neither  rain,  nor  fields 
of  offerings.  But  where  there  is  prudence  and  clii- 
crction  to  contrive,  ond  a  fteady  fervour  to  execute, 
there  whatsoever  is  undertaken,  will,  in  all  probabili- 
ty, profper.  By  a  fpirit  of  management,  even  the  wil- 

R  r  a  dernef* 


3i6  A     COLLECTION        Let.  5, 

derneis  may  be  brought  to  bud  and  bloflbm  as  a  rofe : 
and,  was  there  inch  aipirit  in  the  profeflbrs  of  religion, 
it  would  prompt  them  to  be,  like  Dorcas,  full  of  good 
works  ;  or,  like  the  great  apoitle,  continually  afpiring 
after  frefh  and  higher  mealures  of  perfection.  We 
Ihould  be  frugal  of  our  time,  careful  of  all  our  ta- 
lents, and  molt  laudably  covetous  of  every  grain  of 
improvement  in  piety.  We  held  on  our  courie,  ad- 
miring (till  as  we  went,  the  teeming  earth,  the  infant 
corn,  and  the  pregnant  promitcs  of  a  prodigious  har- 
veft.  This  led  me  to  mule  upon  one  of  the  diftin- 
guifhing  doclrines  of  Chriftianity,  1  mean  the  general 
refurrection.  It  convinced  me  how  perfectly  poflible 
it  is  with  God  to  raife  the  dead  ;  it  gave  me  allb  a 
glimpfe  of  that  perfection  of  beauty,  to  which  the 
bodies  of^the  jult  mall  rife.  For  a  little  while  ago  I 
beheld,  and  lo  1  the  whole  vegetable  world  was  naked 
an^l  bare,  without  any  ornaments,  or  ib  much  as  one 
amiable  feature,  like  ibme  withered,  wrinkled,  de- 
formed hag.  But  now  how  charmingly  it  appears, 
and  fmiles,  and  (nines  1  No  virgin  is  more  gay  and 
blooming,  no  bride  is  better  arrayed,  or  more  ipark- 
ling.  And  if  God  fo  enlivens  and  clothes  the  grafs 
of  the  earth,  and  the  tenants  of  the  field,  how  much 
more  (hall  he  quicken  and  ennoble  our  mortal  bodies, 
which  we  hope  are  the  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  ? 
.Several  of  our  dear  friends  we  have  accompanied  to, 
the  grave  :  we  law  with  weeping  eyes  their  poor  bones 
depofited  in  the  duft.  But  henceforth  let  us  dry  up 
our  forrows  ;  they  are  not  to  perim,  but  to  be  purified 
in  thole  gloomy  chambers.  The  hour  is  coming  when 
the  Lord  himiVlf  lhall  deicend  from  heaven,  with  the 
voice  of  the  archangel,  and  the  trump  of  God.  Then 
fhall  they  hear  the  almighty  iummons,  and  fpring  from 
their  confinement  like  to  a  roe,  or  to  a  young  hart 
upon  the  mountains  of  fpices  *.  Then  will  they  look 
forth  from  their  dark  abodes  as  the  morning,  fair  as 

the 

*  Cant.  viii.  1. 


Let.  5.         o  ?     L   E    T   T   E   R.   S.  317 

the  moon,  clear  as  the  fun  *  ;  never  more  to  return  to 
corruption,  but  to  flourifh  in  immortal  vigour  and 
youth.  This  is  a  pleating  meditation,  and  deferves 
to  be  indulged,  but  at  this  time  it  muft  give  place  to 
others.  Our  next  remove  was  to  a  lane,  let  on  either 
lide  with  lofty  trees  and  humble  fhrubs.  Here  the 
profpe<fi  was  contracted,  and  we  had  nothing  left  to 
contemplate  but  our  branching  and  leafy  mound. 
The  iittle  boughs,  clad  with  a  chearing  green,  were  re- 
freming  to  the  eyes  ;  and  it  was  curious  to  obferve, 
how  rvery  different  plant  was  decked  with  a  different 
livery.  Here  the  twigs  were  gemmed  with  buds  juft 
ready  to  open  and  unfold  ;  there  they  were  already 
opened  into  bloffoms,  and  garnifhed  the  pointed 
thorns  ;  fo  that  they  were  very  delicate  to  look  uponT 
though  dangerous  to  touch.  Oh  1  the  adorable  effi- 
cacy of  the  divine  voice  !  how  powerfully  and  how 
laftingly  it  operates  I  God  faid  once,  Let  the  earth 
bring  forth  ;  he  fpake  not  twice,  and  yet  how  punc- 
tually does  nature  obey  this  fingle  command  1  Several 
thouiand  years  are  gone  about,  nor  is  its  force  evacu- 
ated, impaired,  or  at  all  diminifhed.  It  endureth  in 
full  authority  to  this  day,  and  is  ftill  a  moil  binding 
law  to  all  the  material  world.  O  that  men  would  lay 
this  to  heart,  and  learn  a  leffon  of  obedience  from  the 
inanimate  creation  !  All  other  things  Continue  ac- 
cording to  their  Maker's  ordinance,  and  fliall  man  be 
the  only  rebel  in  the  kingdom  of  nature  ?  Shall  man 
alone  make  the  word  of  Omnipotence  to  be  of  none 
effect  ?  While  our  light  was  regaled  in  this  manner, 
a  let  of  chiming  bells  lalutcd  our  ears  with  a  folemn 
and  ferene  harmony.  It  had  no  great  diverfity  of 
itops,  nor  artful  mixture  of  notes,  but  lure  it  was 
mod  gladdening  mulic,  and  ipoke  a  heavenly  meaning. 
.  It  was  calculated  to  inlpire  inch  a  joy  as  the  royal 
IMalmift  felt,  when  he  heard  the  acceptable  invitation 
of  going  up  to  the  houfe  of  the  Lord.  On  a  Hidden, 

when 

*  Cant.  vi.  10, 


318  A    COLLECTION        Let.  5. 

when  we  were  lealt  apprehenSive  of  it,  the  wind 
wheeled  about,  and  bore  away  the  filver  founds.  But 
it  was  only  to  bring  them  back  again  as  unexpectedly, 
with  the  fre(h  pleafure  of  a  grateful  furprifc.  Here  I 
thought  of  the  Svveeteii:  influences  of  grace,  and  wiflied 
for  that  happy  time,  when  the  vilits  of  the  blcfled 
Spirit  will  be  uninterrupted  Quickly  the  lawns  and 
plains  disappeared  again,  and  we  dived  into  a  wood. 
Numbers  of  fprightly  birds,  hopping  and  finging  a- 
mong  the  branches,  folaccd  us  as  we  patted.  We 
thanked  the  pretty  iongfters,  and  bid  them  go  on  to 
Supply  our  lack  of  praiie.  But  what  mod  of  all  af- 
fecied  us,  being  altogether  new,  was  the  warbling  of 
the  nightingale.  What  a  tuneful  throat  has  that 
charming  creature,  and  what  an  unwearied  uie  does 
ike  make  of  it  !  1  myfelf  heard  her  melody  in  the 
day-time,  and  1  am  told  in  the  night  feafon  alfo  (he 
takes  no  rci't.  How  Sovereign  and  undeferved  is  the 
goodneSs  of  the  Lord  to  the  children  of  men  !  The 
pipe  of  this  wakeful  choriftcr,  though  now  fo  in- 
ceffant  in  thankSgivings,  muft  ibon  be  Sealed  up  in 
endlefs  Silence:  while  the,mouth  of  dull  and  ungrate- 
ful mortals  will  be  filled  with  everlafting  anthems. 
The  air  was  impregnated  with  Sweets  ;  and  without 
money,  or  without  price,  we  breathed  in  Such  a  deli- 
cious fragrance,  as  far  excelled  the  powders  of  the 
merchant  *.  This  put  me  in  mind  of  Some  beauti- 
ful lines  of  the  great  Milton* '&  : 

•  '  — Now  gentle  gales 

Fanning  their  odoriferous  wings,  difpenfe 
Native  perfumes,  and  whifper  whence  they  ftole 
Thofe  balmy  f polls* 

The  other  recalled  to  my  memory  part  of  a  divine 
deScription,  vaftly  Superior  to  Milton's.  Lo,  the  win- 
ter is  paft,  the  rain  is  over  and  gone.  The  flowers 
appear  on  the  earth,  the  time  of  the  finging  of  birds  is 
come,  and  the  voice  of  the  turtle  is  heard  in  our  landf. 

Two 
*  Cant.  in.  6,  -j-  Cant.  ii.  n,  12. 


Let.  5.         o  F     L   E  T  T   E   R   S.  319 

Two  of  our  fenfes  being  fo  cxquifitely  gratified,  we 
were  in  no  hafte  to  leave  the  place,  though  it  was 
narrow,  and  afforded  no  other  profpecl  but  the  (Lining 
canopy  over  our  heads.  But  as  loon  as  we  were 
emerged  from  this  fylvan  path,  what  wonders  preierrt- 
cd  themfelves  to  our  view !  I  think  1  was  fcarce  ever 
more  agreeably  flartled  in  my  life.  We  flood  upon 
tUe  brow  of  a  hill,  and  underneath  were  tra&s  of  le- 
vel ground  of  an  immenfc1  circumference.  The  la- 
bouring eye  could  hardly  deicry  the  utmoft  bounds. 
The  ^Hiole  fcene,  being  parcelled  out  among  a  variety 
of  tillers,  and  producing  variety  of  fruits,  was  like  a 
noble  piece  of  chequer-work.  The  nearer  parts,  and 
thofe  diftinclly  clifcernable,  were  replenifhecl  with  ru- 
ral riches.  The  folds  were  full  of  fheep,  and  of  lambs, 
frisking  by  the  fide  of  their  fleecy  dams.  The  valleys 
flood  Ib  thick  with  corn,  that  they  even  laughed  and 
lung.  One  fpot  was  not  fprinkled,  but  feemed  to  be 
overlaid  with  a  profution  of  flowers,  as  the  roof  of 
the  temple  was  with  gold  ;  another  was,  as  it  were, 
enamelled,  like  an  embroidered  carpet,  with  a  well- 
proportioned  diflribution  ;  fome  of  them  yellow  as 
oranges,  fome  white  asfnow,  fome  tinged  with  a  bor- 
der as  red  as  blood.  The  towns  and  villages  inter- 
iperfed  here  and  there,  looked  like  the  tiny  tents  of 
the  fabled  fairies.  Numberlefs  other  beauties  glanced 
upon  my  fight  ;  but  as  I  had  not,  then  leifurc  to  exa- 
mine them,  fo  neither  have  I  now  room  to  relate  them. 
O  that  thefc,  and  all  the  charms  of  the  delightful 
leafon,  may  lead  up  every  fpe&ator's  thoughts  to  the 
inimitable  glories  of  heaven.  And  while  the  eye  feafls 
upon  them,  let  every  tongue  acknowledge  to  the  ho- 
nour of  the  all-creating  God  ; 

Theff  are  thy  glorious  "works,  Parent  of  good  i 
Almighty  !   thine  this  univ  erf 'al  frame, 
Thus  -wondrous  fair  ;  thyjslj  hoiu  wondrous  then  / 
1  am,  &c? 

JAMES  H  E  R  v  E  r . 
L  K  T- 


320  A    C  O  L  L  E  C  T  I  O  N         Let,  6. 

L     E     T    T    E     K       VI. 

Dear  Brut  her  y  Dunwier,  June  27.  1737. 

I  Find  you  are  at  London  looking  out  for  a  trade,, 
and  a  mafter  to  fet  youifclf  to.     I  hope>  you  pray 
earnestly  to  God  to  guide  you  in  your  choice  by   hil 
infinite  wifdom.     He  only  knows  what  kind  of  em- 
ploy will  be  beft  for  you  ;  in  what  family  or  neigh- 
bourhood you  will  have  the  mod  helps  and  encourage- 
ments to  holinefs  ;  where  you  will  be  moft  expoicd  to 
temptations,  to  evil  company,  and  to  an  early  corrup- 
tion.    Therefore,  remember  what  you  have  learned 
in  the  jd  chapter  of  Proverbs,  and  now,  above  all  other 
times,  put  in,  practice:  ll>ln  all  thy  ways  acknowledge 
"  him,  and  he  lhall  direct  thy  paths."     Befeech  the 
all-wife  God  to  go  before  you  in  this  weighty  under- 
taking, and  to  lead  you  to  fuch  a  matter,  and  to  fet- 
tle you  in  fuch  a  place,  where  you  may,  the  moft  ad- 
vantagcoully,  work  out  your  falvation.     Defire  alfo 
your   honoured  mother,  and  "mine,  to  have  a  great 
regard  to  your  foul,  and  the  things  that  make  for  its 
welfare,  in  putting  you  out.     Let  it  be  inquired,  not 
only  whether  fuch  a  tradefman  be  a  man  of  fubftance 
and  credit,  but  whether  he  be  alfo  a  man  of  religion 
and  godlincfs  ?  whether  he  be  a  lover  of  good  people  ? 
a    careful    frequenter   of  the  church  ?    whether    his 
children  be  well  nurtured  and  educated  in  the  fear  of 
the  Lord  ?  whether  family -prayer  be  daily  offered  up 
in  his  houfe  ?  whether  he  believes  that  the  fouls  of  his 
iervants  are  committed  to  his  truft,  and  that  he  will 
be  anfwerable  for  the  neglecl  of  them  at  the  judgment- 
feat  f  It  will  be  fadly  hazardous  to  venture  yourfelf 
under  the  roof  of  any  pcrfon,  who  is  not  furnimed 
with  thcie  principles,  or  is  a  ftranger  tothefe  practices. 
But,  if  he  be  quite  contrary  to  all  thefe,  a  defpifer  of 
God  and  goodnefs,  wholly  devoted  to  carnal  pleafure, 
and  worldly  gain  ;   if  he  not  only  omit  the  religious 
care  and  overfight  of  his  houfehold,  but  alfo  fet  them 
3  wicked  and  corrupt  example  j — let  nothing  induce 

you 


Let.  6.         OF     L   E   T   T   £  R   Si 

you  to  enter  into  his  fervice.  A  lewd,  drinking^ 
iwearing,  cheating  matter,  will  be  lure  to  difregard 
the  fobriety  and  purity  of  your  behaviour,  and  very 
likely  to  corrupt  it.  To  Inve  his  diforderly  carriage 
daily  before  our  eyes,  will  be  as  dangerous  as  to  lodge 
in  a  plague-houfe.  Therefore,  let  no  Consideration  of 
proh't,  or  advantage,  or  of  any  other  fort,  prevail 
with  you  to  become  apprentice  to  fuch  a  one.  If  you 
do,  depend  on  it,  you  breathe  tainted  air  ;  and  it  is 
much  but  you  catch  the  deadly  infection. — After  you 
are  bound  to  a  matter,  you  mufl  be  as  diligent  in  do- 
ing your  duty  to  him,  as  you  mould  be  of  examining 
into  his  character  before  you  are  bound.  As  I  have 
jjiven  you  my  advice  concerning  the  latter  of  thefe 
particulars,  1  fancy  you  will  not  take  it  amifs,  if  I 
give  you  fome  directions  concerning  the  former.  As 
loon  as  you  are  bound,  you  are  at  your  matter's,  and 
not  at  your  own  difpofal  :  he  has  then  a  right  to  your 
hands,  your  ttrength,  and  all  that  you  can  do.  He 
becomes  a  fort  of  parent  to  you  ;  and  though  not  a 
natural,  yet  a  civil  rather.  You  are  alio  obliged,  not 
only  by  the  laws  of  your  country,  and  the  tenour  of 
your  indentures,  but  by  the  jfth  commandment  of 
God,  to  pay  him  all  due  iiibmiliion  and  honour.  To 
do  this,  is  a  moft  material  part  of  your  duty,  as  a 
Chriftian,  as  well  as  your  undeniable  debt,  as  an  ap- 
prentice. It  is  required  of  you  by  God,  in  holy  fcrip- 
tiue  ;  and  you  mutt  not  once  imagine  that  you  do 
what  is  pleafing  to  him,  unlefs  you  confcientioully 
perform  it.  .Now,  that  you  may  know  what  it  is 
that  your  matter  will  expect  from  you,  and  what  it  is 
that  the  Lord  has  enjoined  you,  with  regard  to  him, 
remember,  itconfitts,  firftin  reverence  of  hisperfonj 
fccondly,  in  obedience  to  his  commands  ;  and  third- 
ly, in  faithfulncfs  in  his  bufmefs. 

Firft,  in  reverence  of  his  pcrfon.  You  mutt  ctteem 
him  very  highly  for  his  fupci'iority's  f.ike,  and  the  re- 
iVmblance  he  bears  to  God.  For  God,  \vhomade  you. 

Vox..  V.  K°  24.  *>  s  and 


322  A     COLLECTION         Lot.  6, 

and  has  an  uncontrollable  power  over  you^  has  com- 
municated  iome  of  tint  power  to  your  mailer  ;  fo 
that  you  are  to  look  upon  him  as  the  representative, 
in  ibrae  fort,  of  the  divine  Majefty,  and  inveited  with 
Iome  of  his  authority.  Accordingly  St  Paul  lays, 
1  Tun.  vi.  I.  Yon  muft  count  him  worthy  of  all  ho- 
nour ;  all,  /.  e.  internal  and  external,  that  of  the  ac- 
tions and  words,  as  well  as  that  of  the  heart.  It  is 
not  enough  to  maintain  a  worthy  eitimation  inward- 
ly ;  but  you  mufl  let  it  appear  on  all  occasions  out- 
wardly, by  behaving  yourfelf  very  obligingly  to  him 
before  his  face,  and  by  fpeaking  very  rcipeftively  of 
him  behind  his  back.  Suppoie  you  Ihouid  difcern 
failings  and  infirmities  in  him,  you  muft  by  no  means 
divulge  them,  or  make  yourfelf  merry  with  them, 
much  lefs  mult  you  dare  to  let  light  by  any  of  his  or- 
ders. Whatever  you  have  reaion  to  think  will  grieve 
or  difpleafe  him,  will  be  prejudicial  or  otfcnlive  to 
him,  that  you  mult  cautiouily  forbear. 

Secondly,  obedience  to  his  commands.  See  how  full 
the  apoflie  ipeaks  to  this  purpofc,G;/.iii.  2  2.  Servants, o- 
bey  in  all  things  your  mailers  according  to  the  flefh.  Ob- 
ierve  likewiie,  from.  thispaifage,  not  only  the  neceili- 
ty,  but  allb  the  compafs,  and  latitude  of  your  obedi- 
ence ;  how  large  and  exteniive  it  is.  It  reaches,  not 
barely  to  a  few,  but  to  all  and  every  inftance.  If  you 
Should  receive  orders  that  are  ever  ii>  much  a- 
gainli:  the  grain  of  your  own  inclinations,  you  muil 
force  youriclf  to  comply  with  them  ;  receive  them 
as  you  uled  to  do  naufeous  -phyiic  ;  though  they 
be  unpl'Jifant  at  tiril,  they  will  do  you  good,  and  be 
comfortable  to  you  afterwards  ;  your  own  pleafure 
muft  always  (loop,  and  give  way  to  your  mailer's.  If 
hefets  you  fuch  a  tafk  as  is  mean  and  ignoble,  and  iuch 
as  (accordingto  the  expreilion  of  the  world)  is  beneath 
a  gentleman's  fon,  do  not  icrunle  it,  dear  brother,  but 
difpatch  it  chearfully.  Remember  wiio  hath  faid,  Ser- 
vants, obey  your  niafters  in  all  things.  And  oh!  re- 
member, 


Let.  6.         OF"    LETTERS.  323 

member,  that  be  we  as  well  born  and  bred  as  we  will, 
yet  he  that  was  higher  than  the  higheft  of  ns  all,  even 
the  moft  excellent  and  illuftrious  perfon  that  ever  li- 
ved, condefcended  to  the  loweft  and  (fuch  as  our  fine 
folks  would  account  the)  ihamefullefl:  offices.  The  Lord 
Jcfus  Chrift,  though  the  brightnels  of  his  Father's  glo- 
ry, difdained  not  to  wafli  his  difciples  feet.  Neither 
be  dejected  becauie  you  are  treated  in  an  unworthy 
manner,  or  let  to  do  Ibme  mean  and  low  office  for 
him,  or  his  family  ;  but  rejoice  rather  in  that  you  are 
made  like  unto  your  Redeemer,  and  in  the  happy  prof- 
pecl  you  will  have  of  becoming  great  in  heaven,  by 
being  ib  little  on  earth.  1  am  aware  this  piece  of  ad- 
vice is  not  ib  unexceptionable  as  the  reft;  it  may  pof- 
fibly  be  adjudged  the  mark  of  too  yielding  and  iheak- 
ing  a  fpirit ;  but  never  forget,  that  the  things  which  are 
moft  highly  efteemcd  by  God,  are  held  in  ieaft  repute 
by  men.  I  know,  and  am  iure,  that  if  any  appren- 
tice would  make  luch  a  compliance  for  the  fake  of 
prelerving  peace,  and  out  of  confidence  to  the  com- 
mand of  God,  and  with  an  eye  to  the  example  of 
Chrifl,  there  is  a  day  coming  when  he  will  not  repent 
of  it  ;  \vhcn  it  will  not  be  deemed  a  blot  in  his  cha- 
raftcr,  but  be  an  ornament  of  grace  to  his  head,  and 
more  comely  than  chains  about  his  neck  *.  Well, 
you  fee  your  obedience  muft  be  universal ;  you  shaft 
come  when  he  calls  you,  and  go  where  he  bids  you  ; 
do  all  that  he  commands  you,  and  let  alone  all  that 
he  forbids  you.  This  muft,  moreover,  be  done,  not 
grudgingly,  or  of  necemty,  but  readily  and  gladly  : 
for  hear  what  the  fcripture  iaith,  Whatfoever  ye  do, 
do  it  heartily  f  ;  and  again,  With  good  will  doing  fcr- 
vice  |  ;  fo  that  we  vnuft  not  creep,  but  be  quick  and 
expeditious  in  our  butinefs,  howfocver  difagreeable. 
^You  mult  not  go  about  it  with  grumbling  words  and 
muttering  in  your  mouth,  but  with  fo  futisfied  an  air, 

as 

*  Prov.  i.  9.  f  Col.  iii.  23.  ^  Eph.  vi.  7. 

S  s  9 


324  A    C  O  L  L  K  C  T  I  O  N         Let.  6. 

as  may  fliew  that  yon  arc  pleafed  with  whatever  pleafes 
your  m after. 

Thirdly,  in  faith  fill  nefs  in  his  bufmefs.    Tins  is  the 
]afl  branch  of  your  duty  to  your  matter  ;  and  iince 
Moles  has  obtained  an  honourable  teftimony,  on  this 
account,  be  you  alib  faithful  in  all  his  houfc  *.     You 
may   find  this,  as  indeed    all   the  qualifications  of  a 
J>ood  fervant,  defcribcd  by  St  Paul,  (TV/,  ii.  ko.)  Not 
purloining,  fays   he,   but    ihewing   all   fidelity.     You 
are  charged  tjot  to  purloin,  /.  e.  not  to  keep  back  from 
your  maltcr,   nor  to   put  into   your  own  pocket,  nor 
convert  to  your  own  ule,  any  of  that  money,  which, 
in  the  way  of  trade,  pjffes  through  your  laands.    You 
were  taught  from  your  childhood,  to  keep  your  hands 
from  picking  and  ftealing,  and  I  hope  you  abhor  fuch 
abominable  practices  from  the  bottom  of  your  heart. 
You  mud  not  fell  at  a  cheaper,   and  buy  at  a  dearer 
rate,   in    order  to   have  fome   valuable  consideration 
made  you  privily  in  your  own  peribn.     Thefe  differ 
from  robbing  on  the  highway,  (they  are  flagrant  acts 
of  diihonclty,  and  will  cry  to  heaven  for  vengeance,) 
only    in  being   lefs  open  and  notorious.     Such  tricks 
and  villanous  devices  do  the  fame  thing  by  craft  and 
treachery,  as  houiebreakers  do  by  force  and  violence. 
Therefore,  dear   brother,    renounce,  deleft,  and   fly 
from  them  us  much  as  from  fire,  arrows,  and  death. 
Befidcs,   you  are    not  only  to  abftain  from  inch  clan- 
deftine  knavery,  hut  alfb  to  mew  all  good   fidelity. 
What  is  meant  by  this,  you  may  underfiand,  by  read- 
i»g  how  Jof'-ph conducted  himfelf  in  Pofip/iar'sfervicc. 
Your  matter,  it  is  likely,  will  commit  the  management 
of  fome  of  his  affairs   to  you  ;  and  you   muft  endea- 
vour, by  a   difcreet  behaviour,  and  a  pious  life,  to 
bring  the  bleifing  of  the  Lord  upon  all  that  you  take 
in  h.ind.     You  muft   lay  out  your  time  and  your  la- 
,  und  give  all  diligence  to  anfvver  the  trult  repo- 

ied 
*  Jicl}.  iii.  5, 


Let.  7-         OF     LETTERS.  325 

fed  in  you.  You  muft  not  delay  the  bufincfs  which  is 
urgent,  nor  do  your  work  by  halves,  nor  transfer 
that  to  others  which  is  expected  you  fhould  do  your- 
i'elf.  The  ilothful  man,  lays  Solomon,  is  brother  to 
him  that  is  a  great  warier  ;  therefore  you  mult  avoid 
idlcncfs,  and  carelemiels.  In  a  word,  you  muft  do 
nothing  knowingly  and  wilfully  that  is  likely  to  im- 
poverifhyour  matter,  but  feek  by  all  lawful  and  laud- 
able means  to  incieafe  his  fubttance.  All  this  you 
mull  obferve,  not  only  when  he  (lands  by  you,  and 
infpecls  you,  but  when  his  back  is  turned,  and  you 
are  removed  from  his  vi-^vv;  othcrwife  yourfervice  is 
nothing  but  cye-lcrvice,  fuch  as  will  prove  odious  to 
man,  and  is  already  condemned  by  God.  For  if  you 
appear  to  be  induftrious,  and  in  earneft,  before  your 
mafter,  but  to  loiter  and  trifle  when  out  of  his  hght, 
you  will  be  chargeable  with  bypocrily  ;  a  fin  extreme- 
ly hateful  to  Chrift,  and  grievouiJy  pernicious  to  the 
foul. —  But  I  am  afraid  1  tire  you  ;  this  one  fentence, 
therefore,  and  I  have  done.  You  muft  carry  your- 
fclf,  throughout  the  whole  couri'e  of  ycur  apprentice- 
ihip,  fo  relpectfully,  fo  obediently,  fo  faithfully,  that 
at  the  end  of  it  you  may  truly  lay  with  Jacob,  With 
all  my  power  1  have  ferved  your  father.  1  had  more 
to  write,  but  will  lend  you  (if  you  care  to  accept  it) 
the  remainder  fome  other  time.  May  God  bJeis  you 
all,  and  your  affectionate  brother, 


LETTER       VII. 

My  dear  friends,  tlic  inhabitants  ofGollingtree,  near 
Northampton,  Duinmtr,   "June  '<.<$>  1737. 

I  Received  the  letter  wrote  in  your  name,  and  figned 
with  your  hands,  and  was  very  well  plcafed  with 
its  contents.    1  am  glad  that  you  are  all  in  good  health, 
and  am  obliged  to  you  for  retaining  fo  honourable  a 
remembrance  of  an  unworthy  youth.    Your  defire  to 

*  have 


326  A     COLLECTION        Let.  7. 

have  a  careful  clergyman  fettle  among  you  is  perfectly 
right   and   laudable.     But  I  fear  you   make  an  over- 
favourable  and  raiftaken  judgment,  when  you  imagine 
me  to  be  fuch  an  one,  and  pitch  upon  me  for  that  pur- 
pofe.     However,  letting  this  pal's  ;  it  is,   I  fay,  well 
and  wifely  done  of  you,  to  be  Iblicitous  in  this   mat- 
ter.    For  a  minifter  is  a  perfon  of  the  greatell  im- 
portance imaginable  ;  his  office  is  of  the  molt  univer- 
ial  concernment  ;  and  his  demeanour  therein,  of  the 
moft   beneficial  or  prejudicial  tendency.     Beneficial, 
if  he  be  able,  faithful,  and  watches  for  his  people's  fouls 
as  one  that   mult  give  account.     Prejudicial,  if  he  be 
unfkilful,  unactive1,  and  unconcerned  about  the  fpiri- 
tual  welfare  of  his  people.     The  things  that  pertain 
to  falvation,   and  the  means  of  obtaining  everlafliiig 
life,  are  lodged  in  his  hands.    He  is  the  fteward  of  the 
myfleries  of  Chrift,  and  fo  the  guardian  (under  di- 
vine grace)  of  your  heft  and  moft  abiding  intcreils. 
If  through  ignorance  he  mifmanage,  or  through  idlc- 
nefs  neglect  this  weighty   trufr,  it  may  be  the  ruin  of 
immortal  fouls.    Whereas,  if  he  be  both  dil'crcet  and 
diligent  in  his  holy  vocation,  he  may   be  the   inftru- 
inent  of  the  richeft  benefits  to  thole  committed  to  Iris 
charge.     His   praying  to   God,  and  his    preaching  to 
them,  may  be   attended  with  fuch  a  blefiing  from  on 
high,  as    will  fill  them  with  heavenly  v/ifdom  ;  form 
them  to  true    holincls  ;   and    lit  them    f»r  the  future 
glory.     Benefits  theic,  not  inconsiderable  or  momen- 
tary, but  fuch  as  are  great  beyond  all  expreflion,  and 
lafting  to  eternity.    For  thefe  reafons,  it  will  be  your 
%vifdom  and  your  happinefs  to  procure  a  paftor  whole 
life  is  exemplary  ;  whole  doctrine  is  found  ;  whole 
heart  is  warm  with  zeal  for  God  ;  and  whofe  bowels 
yearn  with  companion  for  men.     If  your  bones  were 
broken,  or   if  you  were   brought  to  death's  door  by 
the  force  of  fome  violent  difeaie  ;  you  would  not  be 
content  with  the  prescription  of  a  quack,  but  feck  out 
for  the  befl  advice.   If  your  wives  were  in  hard  labour ; 

if 


Let.  7.         OF     LETTERS.  327 

if  the  children  were  come  to  the  birth,  and  there  was 
not  ftrength  to  bring  forth,  you  would  not  fpare  to 
ride  for  the  moil  experienced  midwife.  Oh  !  be  as 
prudent  and  careful  for  the  falvation  of  your  fouls, 
which  endure  for  ever,  as  you  are  for  the  life  of  your 
bodies,  which  is  but  as  a  vapour.  Remember,  that  you 
are  lick .  of  fin,  fadly  difordered  by  fundry  corrup- 
tions, and  mult  neceiTarily  be  cured  before  you  go 
hence,  and  are  no  more  feen.  Remember,  that  you 
mull  be  regenerated  and  born  again,  or  you  cannot 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  And  be  not  will- 
ing to  truil  iuch  matters,  which  are  of  infinite  and 
everlafling  moment,  to  the  management  of  any  that 
comes  next. 

Now  that  you  may  be  the  better  able  to  make  a  right 
choice  in  this  important  particular,  I  will  lay  before 
you  two  or  three  of  the  diltinguiming  characters  of  a 
true  miniller. — Firft,  he  lias  a  tolerable  flock  of  know- 
ledge. Though  not  enough  to  explain  all  mylleries, 
or  to  anfwer  every  perplexing  queftion,  yet  enough 
to  make  himfelf  and  iiis  hearers  wife  unto  falvation. 
He  may  be  ignorant  of  many  things  without  much 
difparagement  to  himfelf,  or  prejudice  to  his  people; 
but  he  mud  be  acquainted  with,  and  able  to  teach 
others  all  that  is  neceiFary  for  them  to  know. — Second- 
ly, he  has  not  only  foine  underflanding,  but  fome  ex- 
perience alfo  hi  the  way  of  godlinefs.  He  has  learned 
to  fubdue,  in  iome  meaiure,  the  pride  of  his  nature, 
and  to  be  humble  in  his  own  eyes,  and  not  fond  of 
applaufe  from  others.  He  has  broke  the  impetuofity 
of  his  paliion,  and  generally  polfefles  his  foul  in  pa- 
tience; or  if,  upon  fome  very  ungrateful  a:id  provoking 
ul'age,  he  cannot  calm  his  temper,  yet  he  can  curb 
his  tongue  ;  and  though  his  ipirit  be  ru fried,  yet  hi> 
words  will  be  gentle.  He  is  moll  commonly  meek 
after  tne  manner  of  his  bleilecl  Mailer,  and  will  al- 
ways return  blefling  for  curling,  acconii:;^  *>> 
holy  command.  He  has  often  la-.;  •  <  the:  Ihort* 

riefs 


328  A    C  O  L  L  E  C  T  I  O  N        Let.  7. 

nets  of  time,  and  the  length  of  eternity  ;  he  has 
weighed  the  greutneis  ami  riches  of  heaven,  with 
the  insignificant  and  defpicable  meanneis  of  earth  ;  and 
diicovers  liich  a  mighty  difference,  as  helps  him  to 
live  above  the  world,  even  while  he  is  in  it.  So  that 
he  is  no  lover  of  filthy  lucre,  no  hunter  of  carnal 
pleaiures,  but  his  hopes,  his  defires,  and  all  his  views 
of  happineis,  are  hid  with  Chrift:  in  God.  He  is 
courteous  and  condescending,  and  will  ftoop  with  the 
utmoft  chearfulnefs  to  the  loweft  perion  in  his  parilh. 
He  will  be  affable  and  kind,  and  leek  to  pleaie,  not 
himfelf,  but  his  neighbours,  for  their  good,  to  edifi- 
cation. But  you  mult  not  tcxpeft  to  find  him  trifling 
or  ludicrous  ;  he  will  not  preach  to  you  on  the  Sun- 
day, and  play  with  you  on  the  week  days,  but  carry 
the  fpirit  of  his  iermons  into  his  ordinary  converia- 
tion.  He  will  maintain  an  uniform  gravity  of  beha- 
viour, without  differing  it  to  be  frozen  into  morofe- 
nefs,  or  thawed  into  levity.  He  will  love  his  pari- 
fliioners,  not  for  their  agreeable  peribns  or  amiable 
qualities,  but  becaule  they  are  redeemed  by  the  blood 
of  Chrift.  It  will  be  his  bufmeis  and  conftant  endea- 
vour, I  had  almoft  (aid  his  meat  and  drink,  to  fet  for- 
ward their  Salvation  ;  that,  by  their  being  made  meet 
for  the  inheritance  of  faints  in  light,  his  crucified  Lord 
imy  fee  of  the  travail  of  his  ibul,  and  be  fatisfied. 
He  will  never  forget  the  importunate  request  of  his  Sa- 
viour, but  thole  winning  arid  commanding  words,  Feed 
my  fheep,  feed  my  lambs,  will  be  engraven  upon  the 
tables  of  his  heart.  To  fulfil  this  earneft  requeft,  and 
execute  this  laft  charge  of  his  deareft  Redeemer,  will  be 
the  fixed  and  invariable  Scope  of  all  his  defigns.  If 
at  any  time  he  hits  this  defirable  mark,  by  bringing 
home  to  the  fold  any  that  have  gone  aftray,  he  will  be 
as  glad  as  one  that  findeth  great  fpcils.  To  fee  the 
people  of  his  cr.rc  perSifting  in  profanenefs,  feniualiry, 
and  an  unror.v  rted  (tare,  will  be  the  greateft  grief 
that  he  feels  :  but  to  ice  his  children  walking  in  the 

truth, 


Let.  7-  OF     LETTERS.  329 

truth,  mortifying  their  evil  affections,  and  growing 
up  in  goodrieis  as  the  calves  of  the  flail,  this  will  be 
his  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing  ;  better  to  him  than 
thoufands  of  lilver  and  gold.  It  is  his  work  lo  win 
fouls  ;  and  by  the  former  of  thefe  qualifications  he  is 
fitted  for  it,  by  the  latter  he  is  wholly  devoted  to  it. 
And  in  order  to  prolecute  it  with  the  greaier  iucceis, 
lie  will,  firrt,  take  herd  to  himfelf,  that  his  life  be  a 
fair  and  beautiful  tranicript  of  his  doctrine,  fuch  as 
may  remind  men  of,  and  be  daily  re-inforcing  his  in- 
ftructions.  He  will  not  bind  the  yoke  upon  your 
fhoulders,  till  he  has  wore  it  himfclf ;  and  (houkl  the 
paths  of  religion  piove  ever  io  thorny,  he  will  go 
firfb  and  beat  the  way.  As  far  as  human  infirmities 
permit,  he  will  ftrive  to  be  unblameable  and  unre- 
proveable,  that  he  may  renew  the  apoille's  challenge, 
Be  ye  followers  of  me,  even  as  I  am  of  Chritt.  Se- 
condly, his  preaching  will  be  plain  ;  full  of  fuch  ufe- 
ful  lenfe  as  may  be  edifying  to  the  better  learned,  and 
yet  delivered  in  fo  eafy  a  manner,  as  may  be  intel- 
ligible to  the  ignorant.  It  will  not  only  be  plain,  but 
powerful  alfo,  if  preceding  prayers  and  tears,  if  words 
coming  warm  from  the  heart,  and  accompanied  with 
an  ardent  defire  of  being  attended  to  ;  if  to  feel  himielf 
what  he  fpeaks,  and  fo  long  that  it  may  be  felt  by  o- 
thers,  can  make  it  fuch,  he  will  declare  the  whole 
will  of  God,  without  with  holding  or  mincing  any. 
Be  the  truth  ever  io  diiagreeable,  contrary  to  your 
profits,  or  contrary  to  your  pleafures,  you  will  be 
lure  to  hear  it.  He  will  indeed  (hew  it  in  as  lovely  a 
light,  and  make  it  as  palatable  as  he  can,  but  nothing 
will  prevail  upon  him  to  conceal  or  difguife  it.  Third- 
ly, he  will  not  confine  his  teaching  to  God's  day  or 
houfe,  but  will  exercife  his  care  of  you  every  day, 
^and  will  bring  it  home  to  your  own  houics,  whether 
you  invite  him  or  no.  He  will  frequently  vifit  you, 
and  for  the  fame  end  as  he  meets  you  at  church.  Now, 
{hall  you  like  this  part  of  his  duty,  or  bid  him  wel- 
VOL.  V.  N°  24.  T  t  conic, 


530          A    COLLECTION         Let.  7. 

come,  when  he  comes  on  fuel)  an  errand  ?  Nay,  he 
will  think  himfelf  bound  to  proceed  farther,  and  to 
inquire  into  theitate  of  your  fouls,  and  your  proceedings 
in  your  families  ;  whether  you  are  competently  fur- 
nifhcd  with  laving  knowledge  ;  and  are  careful  to  in- 
creafe  it  daily,  by  allowing  a  $ai\y  portion  of  your 
time  for  reading  the  fcriptures  ?  what  virtues  you  are 
deficient  in,  what  vices  you  are  fubjecl  to  ?  what  evil 
tempers,  what  vile  affections,  what  unruly  paflions  are 
predominant  in  you,  and  want  to  be  fupprefTed  ?  whether 
your  children  are  catechifed,  and  your  ici  vantsinftruct- 
cd  ?  whether  you  are  conftant  in  family-  worfliip,  and  at 
your  clofet- devotions  ?  how  you  fpend  the  fabbath  ; 
whether  you  fquander  it  away  in  impertinent  vifits, 
idle  chat,  or  foolifli  jefting  ;  pr  whether  you  conie- 
crate  it  to  the  better  exercifes  of  prayer,  praile,  holy 
dilcourfe,  reading,  and  meditation  ?  Thefe,  and  other 
points  of  the  like  nature,  he  will  examine  into,  and 
exhort  you  to  amend  what  is  arrfifs,  no  lefs  than  en- 
rourage  you  to  perfevere  in  that  which  is  good.  Nor 
will  he  exhort  you  once  or  twice  only,  but  again  and 
again,  and  hardly  leave  off  till  he  has  won  yqur  con- 
fent.  In  things  that  relate  to  himfelf,  he  will  be  eafily 
iaid  nay  j  but  when  the  great  God  infifts  upon  obe- 
dience, and  a  bleffed  immortality  will  be  [oil  by  dii- 
obedience,hewillbe  inftantin  leafon,  and  out  offeafon, 
he  will  foJicit  with  unwearied  applications  the  import- 
ant caufe,  and  prels  you  to  perform  your  duty :  as  the 
poor  widow  importuned  the  unjufl  judge  to  avenge  her 
of  her  adverfary,  he  will  add  to  his  exhortations,  re- 
proofs. His  eye  will  be  open,  and  his  ears  attentive  to 
•what  pafTes  in  his  parifli  ;  and  when  any  one  walks  dif- 
0rdcrly,  he  will  meet  him  as  Elijah  did  Akab  *,  with  a 
rebuke  in  his  mouth,  'i  his  I  can  promife,  that  he  will 
Tiot  rail  at,  nor  accoft  you  with  repi  oachful  words  ;  but 
he  will  certainly  fet  before  you  tht  things  that  you  have 
done.  He  will  not  defame  you  behind  your  backs, 

*  i  K;ngs  xxi.  2q. 


Let.  7.  o  F     L   E   "T   T  E   R   S.  331 

but  whether  you  be  rich  or  poor,  whether  you  be 
pleafed  with  it  or  not,  he  will  bear  in  mind  the  com- 
mandment of  the  Lord,  and  (hew  his  people  their 
tranigrellions,  and  the  houie  of  Jacob  their  fins*.  He 
will  tell  you  with  tendernefs,  but  yet  with  plainneis, 
that  inch  courfes  are  a  fad  and  too  lure  a  proof,  that 
grace  has  not  had  its  proper  work  on  your  iouls,  that 
ye  are  carnal,  and  hdve  not  the  Spirit  of  Ghrifl.  So 
that  a  true  minifter  of  the  gofpel  will  be  a  conftant 
inspector  of  your  actions,  a  faithful  monitor  of  your 
duty,  and  an  impartial  reprover  of  your  offences.  He 
will  guide  you  by  his  counlcl,  and  animate  you  by  his 
example,  and  bleis  you  by  his  prayers.  If  you  be 
willing  and  obedient,  he  will  conduct  you  fafely 
through  a  troubleibme  and  naughty  world,  and  bring 
you  to  the  land  of  everlalting  felicity  :  but  if  you  be 
perverle  and  obltinate,  he  will  be  a  (landing  terror 
to  your  consciences  here,  and  a  fwift  witneis  againft 
you  hereafter  j  he  will  be  the  unhappy  means  of  in- 
crealing  your  preient  guiltj  and  aggravating  your  fu- 
ture account,  and  of  making  it  more  tolerable  for  'Tyre 
and  Sidon  in  the  day  of  judgment^  than  for  you. 

And  now,  my  kind  and  dear  friends,  are  you,  upon 
fecond  thoughts,  delirous  of  having  iuch  a  paftor  pla- 
ced amongityoLi  ?  Shall  you  be  glad  to  have  the  afore- 
mentioned vigilance  and  diligence  exerted  in  the  holy 
function  ?  Can  you  willingly  fubmit  to  an  overiight 
fo  narrow,  to  admonitions  Ib  mediant,  to  corrections 
ib  clofe  arid  particular  I — if,  after  due  confideration, 
yc  are  willing;  give  me  leave  to  Inform  you,  ho  wye 
may  procure  iuch  a  man  of  God  to  come  unto  you, 
and  take  up  his  abode  with  you.  He  is  an  exceeding 
great  and  precious  bleiling  to  %py  people  j  too  preci- 
ous to  be  purchafed  with  money,  and  is  the  free  gift 
of  God.  So  that  the  svay  to  obtain  him,  is  to  addrcfs 
yonrfelvcs  to  heaven,  and  make  iuppligation  to  the 
Almighty.  Wiiat  cannot  prayer,  fervent  and  belie- 

T  t  2  ving 


332        A     COLLECTION  Let.  7. 

ving  prayer  do  ?  I  tcarcely  know  any  thing  that  is  a- 
bove   its  power,    or  beyond    its    reach.     Prayer   lias 
locked  up  the  clouds,  and  opened   them  again,  made 
the  earth  as  iron,  and  the  heavens  as  brals  ;  prayer 
has  arreded  the  f'nn  in  his  race,    and  made  the  moon 
Hand  IH11    in  her  march,    and   reverted  the  perpetual 
decree  ;  prayer  has  fetched  down  angels  from  above, 
and  railed  up  the  dead  from  beneath,  and  done  many 
wonderful  works.     In  like  manner,   prayer  will  get 
for  you  an  ufcful  and  worthy  teacher ;  if  he  be  ever 
fo  far  otf,  this  will  bring  him  near  ;  if  he  be  ever  ib 
averfe,  this  will  over-rule    his  inclination.     Do   you 
doubt  of  this  ;  I  own  you  would  have  goodreafon,  if 
you   had    nothing   but    my    word  to  iup;>oi  t  it.     But 
what  if  God,   who  cannot  lie,  has  tellified  and   given 
you  aflarance   of  the   lame  ?    Why   then,  1  hope,  ye 
will  be  no  longer  faithlefs,  but  believing.  Hear,  there- 
fore, what  he  himfelf  has  laid  by  his  own  beloved  Son, 
A(k,  and  ye  mall  receive  ;  feck,    and   ye  fhall  find  *. 
Again,  he  faith,  if   ye  mail  aik  anything  in  my  name, 
I  will  do  it  -j".  Here  you  fee  the   Almighty  has  palled 
his  word.,  and  he,  to  whom  all  things  are  pollible,  has 
pawned  his  veracity,  that  he  will  not   deny   you  the 
requeft  of  your  lips.      And  dare  you  not  trull  the  All- 
powerful  ?    Can  you   have  a  better  fecurity   than  his, 
whofe  titls  is  faithful  and  true  f  The  divine  promiies 
arc  all  immutable,  ftronger  than  the  ftrong  mountains  ; 
and  heaven  and  earth  fiiall  pals  away,   iboner  than  one 
jot  or  tittle  of  them  (hall  pals  unfulfilled.     When  ye 
defire  a  pious  and  able  minilter,  ye  delire  a  good  thing, 
fuch  as  will  be  for  the  honour   and   glory  of  God  to 
grant.     Therefore,  encouraged  by  this%  and  confiding 
on  his  moft  lure  promife,  beg  of  the  Moil  High  to  give 
you   a  true  paftor  and  Ihepherd  for  your  fouls  ;  one 
that  may  love  you  like  St  Pnul^  rule  you  like  David^ 
teach  you  like  Sumnel,  and  lead  you  like  Jofliua  to  the 

heavenly 
*Matth.  vii.  7,  -fjohn  xiv.  14. 


Let.  7.        OF       LETTERS.         333 

heavenly   Canaan  ;  that   bltlled  and  bliisful  country, 
where  we  all  would  be  I 

O  God,  great  and  glorious,  infinite  in  thy  wifdom, 
and  uncontrollable  in  thy  power!  thy  providence  is 
over  all  thy  works  ;  thine  eyes  run  to  and  fro  through 
the  earth,  to  behold  the  condition,  and  Supply  the 
wants  of  thy  fcrvants.  Thou  lenteft  Mojcs  to  deliver 
thy  children  out  of  Egypt ^  Philip  to  inftrucl:  the  ig- 
norant eunuch,  and  Peter  to  preach  to  the  devout  cen- 
turion. O  bleifed  Lord,  who  art  the  fame  yeiterday, 
and  to-day,  and  for  ever,  vouchiafe  the  fame  mercy 
to  us  of  this  parifh,  that  we  alfo  may  have  a  teacher 
come  from  God.  Grant  us,  O  thou  Giver  of  every 
good  gift,  a  faithful  (hepherd  for  our  fouls  ;  who  may 
feed  us  in  a  green  pafture,  and  lead  us  forth  belide  the 
waters  of  comfort  :  one  that  may  be  wholly  devoted 
to  thy  Service,  and  intent  upon  nothing  but  the  due 
difcharge  of  his  important  office  ;  who  may  be  a  light 
to  our  paths  by  his  godly  directions,  and  as  fait  to  our 
corrupting  fouls  by  his  unblameable  conversation, 
Let  Such  a  minifler,  we  befeech  thee,  be  placed  over 
us,  as  will  watch  for  our  Spiritual  welfare ;  that  will 
love  us  with  an  affectionate  and  parental  tenderncSs  ; 
that  will  cherilh  us,  as  a  hen  cherifheth  her  chickens 
under  her  wings  :  one  that  may  be  able  as  well  as 
willing  to  inftrucl:  us  in  our  duty,  to  whom  thou  haft 
revealed  the«  wondrous  things  of  thy  law,  and  the 
glorious  myfteries  of  thy  gofpcl  :  whole  lips  may  pre- 
ierve  knowledge,  whole  tongue  may  be  continually 
dealing  it  out,  and  whole  mouth  may  be  unto  us  a 
well  of  life  :  whole  diScourSes  may  be  milk  to  tho 
babes,  meat  to  the  flrong,  and  medicine  to  the  lick  : 
who  may  have  a  fkilful  as  well  as  a  compailionate 
zeal,  and  know  how  to  divide  rightly  the  word  of 
truth  ;  who  may  be  an  example  as  well,  as  an  exhort  er, 
a  pattern  as  well  as  a  preacher,  of  every  charitable  ac- 
tion, and  every  devout  temper  :  under  vvliof'e  gui- 
dance we  may  walk  in  the  ways  of  peace  and  piety, 

of 


334         A     COLLECTION          Let.  8, 

of  mecknefs  and  humility,  of  righteoufnefs  and  falva- 
tion  ;  till  we  all  come  to  the  city  of  the  Jiving  God, 
to  an  inurnerable  company  of  angels,  and  to  the  fpi- 
rits  of  jufl  men  made  per  feel.  O  grant  us  inch  a 
prieft,  and  clothe  him  with  luch  qualifications,  and 
make  thy  chofen  people  joyful.  Hear  us,  mod  merci- 
ful Father,  for  his  lake,  whole  fheep  we  are,  who 
bought  us  with  his  Uood  ;  who  died  for  us  on  earth, 
and  maketh  intercetfion  for  us  in  heaven  ;  even  jelus 
Chrift  :  to  whom,  with  tuee,  and  the  Holy  Ghoft, 
be  all  honour  and  glory,  world  without  end.  Amen. 


LETTER      VIII. 

To  his  Sis  T  ER. 
Dear  Sifter ,  Dummer,  July  j*.  1727. 

I  Hope  London  does  not  dilagree  with  the  health  of 
your  body,  and  1  dare  lay  it  may  be  made  feme-c- 
able to  the  health  of  your  foul.  There  are  precious 
opportunities  of  going  to  church,  and  worshipping 
the  divine  Majefty,  every  morning  and  evening  ;  which 
1  hope  you  do  not  flight,  but  embrace  with  all  thank- 
fulnefs,,and  prefer  before  every  other  engagement. 
If  you  was  grievoufly  lick,  and  even  hard  at  death's 
door,  you  would  be  glad  to  have  recourfe  to  any  phy- 
fician  ;  but  if  you  heard  of  one  that  coutd  not  poliibly 
rniftake  your  cafe,  and  would  infallibly  cure  yoa,  how 
f  agcrly  would  you  fly  to  him  ?  Sifter,  believe  me,  our 
fouls  are  ikk  of  fin,  fick  of  worldly  mindednefs,  firk 
of  pride,  fick  of  paffion,  and  iundry  other  dilorders, 
which,  if  not  fpecdily  healed,  Will  bring  us  down, 
not  only  to  the  urave,  but  to  the  torments  of  hell. 
We  have  almoft  as  little  tafle  or  relifli  of  holy  and 
devout  exerciies,  as  a  fick  and  languiming  man  has 
for  the  ftrong  meats  he  loved  when  he  was  well  ; 
which  is  a  plain,  and  lot;  uraic-nirtble  a  proof,  that  our 
better,  our  immortal  part  is  fadly  out  of  order,  Now.  at 

church 


Let.  8.         OF     LETTERS.  335 

church  you  may  fin.d  a  fure  and  never-failing  remedy 
for  your  fpiritual  disorders.  God's  grace  is  a  ibvcreign 
medicine,  and  in  his  houie  it  is  to  be  obtained.  There 
he,  like  a  moll  bountiful  and  beneficent  prince,  (lands 
ready  to  difpenie  the  help  and  aiGltance,  the  enlight- 
ening and  purifying  influences  of  his  Spirit.  Sure 
then,  we  who  have  fuch  urgent  and  immediate  need 
of  them,  {hall  not  be  backward  to  go,  and  with  an 
humble  earnefhiefs  leek  them.  I  lay  immediate;  for 
fince  our  life  is  fo  uncertain,  and  we  know  not  what 
a  d  iy  may  bring  foith,  we  ought  to  get  our  work 
diipatchcd,  and  our  accounts  ready  without  delay. 
It  is  evening  now  I  write  this  ;  and  1  cannot  tell  whe- 
ther this  may  not  be  the  night,  in  which  1  am  to  hear 
that  amazing  cry,  Behold  the  Bridegroom  cometh. 
I  intend  to  di reel  my  letter  to  my  clear  fifter  •****, 
and  hope  (he  will  receive  it  fafe  ;  but  I  have  no  cer- 
tainty, whether  me  be  yet  alive  or  no.  For  ought  I 
Jmow,  her  ibul  may  be  ftanding  before  the  judgment- 
f'eat  of  Chrift,  and  going  to  be  fixed,  if  not  already 
fixed,  in  an  unchangeable  eternal  (late.  Her  body 
may  be  pale  and  cold,  and  ftretcbed  out  in  the  coffin  ; 
my  dear  mamma  and  my  brothers  taking  their  laffc 
farewell,  and  giving  her  the  parting  kifs  ;  the  joiner 
juit  about  to  nail  on  the  lid,  and  hide  her  face  for 
ever  from  mortal  view.  Nay,  fhe  may  already  have 
been  carried  upon  mens  fhouldcrs,  and  committed  to 
the  dull,  fo  that  what  1  am  inditing,  may  find  her  in 
the  grave.  She  may  be  ileeping  in  f'-me  church-yard 
that  I  know  nothing  of,  among  thoufands  of  dead 
bodies,  never  to  awake,  never  to  arife,  till  the  arch- 
angel's trumpet  founds,  and  the  heavens  are  no  more. 
— The  very  imagination  of  thisfudden  change,  rtrikcs 
a  damp  upon  my  heart ;  I  hope  it  is  not  a  prelage  of 
_what  has  really  happened  ;  if  it  be,  and  if  my  dear 
fifter  is  a  departed  fpirit,  1  will  henceforth  labour  to 
clrel's  my  foul  with  holinefs,  that  it  may  be  ready  to 
go  for^h  at  a  minute's  warning,  and  give  her  the 

meeting 


336  A     COLLECTION        Let.  9, 

meeting  in  another  world.  Them,  if  my  filler  and  I 
ihall  be  found  to  have  minded,  above  all  things,  the 
one  thing  needful,  and  to  be  full  of  heavenly,  fpiri- 
tual,  and  divine  tempers,  ihe  will  be  to  me  better 
than  a  filler  ;  and  I  mall  be  to  her  better  than  a 
loving  and  affectionate  brother,  <yc. 


LETTER       IX. 

My  dear  Friend, 

I  Received  your  kind  letter,  and  thank  yon  for  your 
affectionate  wifhes.  I  endeavour  not  to  be  be- 
hind-hand with  my  people  in  this  exercife  of  love. 
You  are  always  on  rny  heart,  and  often,  often  men- 
tioned in  my  prayers.  Efpecially,  that  you  may  be 
partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghofr,  and  feel  all  thofe  laving 
tonviftiohs,  which  are  defcribed  by  our  Lord,  John 
xvi.  8,  9,  10,  n.  That  you  may  be  interested  in  the 
new  covenant ;  and  enjoy  all  thole  precious  privileges, 
which  were  purchafed  for  us  by  our  dying  Saviour, 
and  are  recorded  by  his  apoftle,  Heb.  viii.  10,  II,  12. 

Yeflerday,  in  the  evening,  two  gentlemen  of  the 
city  came  to  vifit  me.  Our  converfation  was  f'uch, 
as  I  would  have  yours  be  ;  fuch  as  was  iuited  (if 
God  vouchlafe  his  blcfiing)  to  edify  one  another,  and 
minifter  grace  to  the  hearers.  We  talked  of  that  in- 
finitely-condefccnding  and  gracious  Friend  of  finners, 
who  came  from  heaven  on  purpofe  to  be  crucified  for 
us,  and  is  returned  unto  heaven  on  purpole  to  inter- 
cede for  us.  The  interceffion  of  our  blefled  Lord  was 
the  chief  ibbjtcl:  of  our  difcourfe,  and  is  a  mod  com- 
fortable article  of  our  faith.  Becaufe 

His  interceffion  never  ceafes. — He  fitteth  at  the, 
right  hand  of  his  Father,  in  an  abiding  poflurc. — 
Other  high  priefls  are  removed  by  death ;  but  he  ever 
Itveth  to  make  interceffion  for  us. — We  refign  part  of 
onr  time  to  fleep,  and  then  lofe  all  attention  to  our 
own  interefts;  but  he  is  the  Keeper  of  Ifrael,  who  ne- 
ver 


Let.  9.         OF     LETTERS.  337 

ver  flumbcreth  nor  fleepeth. — We  too  frequently  for- 
get our  God,  and  neglect  to  carry  on  communion 
with  him.  But  Chrift  has  written  our  names  (worth- 
leis  as  tliey  are)  upon  the  palms  of  his  hands  ;  and  a 
mother  may  forget  her  fucking  child,  much  fooner 
than  he  will  difcontinue  his  kind  concern  for  the  weak- 
eft  believer. 

His  interccffion  always  prevails. — If  Mofes  was  heard, 
when  he  made  fupplication  in  behalf  of  Ij'racl  ;  \fjob 
was  not  denied,  when  he  petitioned  for  the  pardon  of 
his  three  friends  ;  if  Elijah**  prayer  entered  into  the 
ear  of  the  Lord  God  of  hofts,  when  he  requefted  for 
rain  upon  the  parched  earth  ;  furely  God's  dearly  be- 
loved Son  will  not  be  rejected,  when  he  maketh  in- 
terceflion  for  the  faints. — The  Father  loves  him,  in- 
finitely loves  him,  and  therefore  hears  him. — He  has 
purchafed  whatever  he  afks  ;  purchafed  it  by  his  obe- 
dience and  death,  and  therefore  cannot  but  obtain  his 
fuit. 

Perhaps,  you  will  inquire,  what  it  is  that  Chrift 
prays  for  ? — We  are  informed  of  this  in  John  xvii. 
He  prays,  that  we  may  be  kept  from  the  evil  that  is 
in  the  world,  vcrfc  15. — That  we  may  be  fanclified 
through  the  truth  ;  fanclified  through  the  word  of 
fcripture,  verfc  17. — That  we  may  be  united  to  Chrift, 
and  have  fellowfhip  with  the  Father  by  faith,  fellow- 
fhip  with  one  another  by  brotherly  love,  verfe  21. — 
That  we  may  be  made  perfecl  in  his  righteoufnefs ; 
prcfented  without  fpot  through  his  blood  \  and,  at 
laft,  be  with  him  where  he  is,  to  behold  his  glory, 
and  partake  of  his  joy,  verfes  23,  24. 

Should  you  be  defirous  of  knowing,  whether  you 
are  in  the  number  of  thofc  for  whom  Chrifl  intercedes  ? 
You  may  determine  this  important  point,  by  the  fol- 
lowing queftions.- — Do  you  value  above  all  things,  the 
bleflings  for  which  Chrifl  intercedes  ? — Do  you  join 
your  own  repeated  and  carneft  fupplications  to  his 
jnterceflion  ? — And  do  you  rely  wholly  upon  Chrift's 

Yoi    V.  N°  24.  U  a  unipeakable 


538  A     COLLECTION        Let.  10, 

unfpeakable  merits,  for  the  acceptance  of  all  your 
prayers  ? — If  lo,  be  not  difcouraged  ;  Chrifl:  is  your 
Advocate  with  the  Father.  He  died  for  you  on  the 
crois,  and  pleads  his  meritorious  oblation  for  you  on 
his  throne. 

Is  not  this  an  ineftimable  blclfing  ?  If  Hex  kiah  dc- 
fired  the  prayers  of  IJaiah;  if  Darius  defncd  the  pray- 
ers of  the  godly  'Jews,  for  himielf  and  his  ions  ;  how 
ihould  we  rejoice  in  having  the  prayers  of  the  exalted 
Jefus  ! — If  we  are  tempted,  let  this  be  our  fecurity, 
Luke  xxii.  31,  32.  If  we  fall  into  fin  through  the 
j  infirmity  cf  the  fiem,  let  this  be  our  refuge,  i  John 
ii.  1,  ?.  If  under  apprehenlions  of  death,  or  eternal 
judgment,  let  this  be  our  confolation,  Rom.  yiii.  33, 

34- 

I  don't   write   out  the  fcriptures,  becaufe  I  would 

have  you  look  tjiem  out,  or  even  wrke  them  out  with 
your  own  hand.  And  may  the  bleffed  Spirit  of  God 
•write  them  upon  all  our  hearts  ! — This  will  come  to 
you,  I  hope,  on  Chrijlmas  eve.  You  will  talk  of  this 
letter,  and  its  contents,  to  your  harveft-men.  J 
ihould  fce  glad  to  be  with  you,  and  converfc  as  we 
tiled  to  do,  on  ChrHl  and  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
!Npne  of  my  flock,  I  hope,  will  be  filled  with  liquor, 
wherein  is  exce|s  ;  but  be  filled  with  the  Spirit. — IVly 
kind  love  to  your  family,  and  all  your  neighbours  ; 
particularly  to  your  brother  WiUiam^  whofe  letter  I 
/hall  anfwer  by  the  firll  opportunity.— Yours,  drc. 


LETTER.       X. 

Dear  Sifter,  Stokc-sfbbey,  June  19.  1738. 

WILL   you   accept   of  another  letter  from  your 
loving    brother,  who  loves  your  better  part, 
and  would  fain  be  helpful  to  your  immortal  interefts  ? 
J  think  I  wrote  to  you  when  at  London;    I  know  not 
what  acceptance  that  letter  found,  but  I  can  afiurc 


Let.  10.         OF     LETTERS.  339 

you  it  meant  nothing  but  good,  fpiritual  benefit,  and 
everlafting  advantage  to  you* 

1  hope  my  *  *  *  *  and  *  *  *  *  are  more  eafy  with 
regard  to  me  and  my  welfare.  My  diforder  is  a  lan- 
guor and  faintneis,  a  feebleneisand  inability  for  action, 
which  is  increased  or  lefTened  according  to  the  various 
temperature  of  the  weather.  I  bleih  God  Almighty, 
I  am  not  deprived  of  my  appetite  to  food,  neither  are 
my  bones  chaltened  with  pain  ;  fo  that  many  impute 
all  my  complaints  to  a  hippifh  and  over-timorous  turn 
of  mind,  to  a  diftempcrcd  imagination,  rather  than  a 
cliibrdered  body. 

I  write  this  in  a  pleafdre-houfe  of  Mr  ***#,  fitu- 
ate  upon  a  high  cliff,  on  the  very  edge  of  the  fea.  On 
one  fide  a  vail  tract  of  land  extends  itielf,  finely  di- 
veriified  by  ftately  trees,  floating  corn  and  pafturage 
for  cattle.  On  the  other  fide  rolls  the  great  and  wide 
fea,  where  go  the  (hips,  and  where  is  that  leviathan, 
whom  the  almighty  Creator  has  made  to  take  his  paf- 
time  therein.  Which  Way  foever  I  look,  I  meet  with 
footfteps  of  the  divine  immenfity.  I  view  thy  great 
and  marvellous  works,  O  Lord  God  omnipotent  :  I 
am  encountered  with  ten  thoufand  arguments,  to  fear 
thy  tremendous  power,  and  love  thy  diffulive  good- 
nels.  Oh  !  how  fafe  are  they,  who  have  ib  infinite 
and  mighty  a  being  for  their  guard  !  how  happy  arc 
they,  who  have  fo  inexhauftibly-rich  a  God  for  their 
portion  !  But  how  wretched,  dear  lifter,  how  mifer- 
ably  and  emphatically  wretched,  who  have  fudi  a  one 
for  their  enemy  and  avenger  !  Oh!  how  can-our  feeble 
frame,  that  flirinks  at  a  little  light  affliclion,  that  is 
but  for  a  moment, — how  can  it  bear  the  never-ending 
vengeance  of  that  prodigious  arm,  which  llretched 
out  the  heavens,  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth, 
and  poured  out  the  waters  of  the  mighty  deep  ! 

I  have  been  about  twenty,  or  twenty-fix  miles  into 
and  feen  wondrous  workmarifhip  of  the 

-creating  God  ;  ragged  rocks,  roaring  leas,  fright- 

U    U     2  fill 


340          A    COLLECTION        Let.  10. 

ful  precipices,  and  dreadfully- fteep  hills.  At  Biddc- 
ford,  a  market-town,  about  fourteen  miles  off,  I  am 
pretty  well  known,  and  am  a  little  efteemed.  It  is 
itrangc  to  tell,  but  let  it  be  to  the  glory  of  God's  free 
and  undeferved  goodnels,  though  I  am  worthy  of 
flume  and  universal  contempt,  yet  I  find  favour  and 
good  understanding  almoit  where-ever  I  go. 

Mr  *  *  *  *'s  houfe  is  fituate  in  a  fine  vale.  It  is 
an  ancient  ftruclurc,  built  for  the  ufe  of  religious  re- 
clufcs,  and  has  an  antique,  grave,  and  iblemn  afpecl:  ; 
before  it  is  a  neat  fpot  of  ground,  let  apart  for  the  uic 
of  a  garden,  enriched  with  fruits,  and  beautified  with 
flowers.  This  leads  into  a  curious  fort  of  artificial 
wildernefs  made  of  elms  and  limes,  planted  in  rows,, 
cut  into  form,  and  uniting  their  branches.  In  the 
rnidft  is  a  fountain  large  enough  to  fwim  in,  and  a 
little  engine  playing  the  waters.  On  each  fide  are  ar- 
bours for  {hade,  in  various  parts  feats  for  reft  ;  on  the 
right  hand  runs  parallel  to  it  a  clear  purling  brook  re- 
plcnimed  with  trout,  on  the  left  a  thick  grove  hang- 
ing from  the  fide  of  a  hill  :  the  one  ferves  for  a  wa- 
tery mound,  the  other  is  a  leafy  flicker  from  the  north- 
wind,  and  both,  I  think,  greatly  ornamental.  This, 
you  will  fay,  is  pleafant  ;  but  how  unworthy  to  be 
compared  with  thofe  blisful  manfions  fitting  up  for 
the  righteous  in  the  heaven  of  heavens  !  This,  and  if 
there  be  any  other  fpot  a  thouiand  times  more  delicate, 
is  no  better  than  a  howling  wildernefs,  if  compared 
with  the  regions  of  paradife.  I  wifh  my  dear  fifter 
would  carnefHy  fcek  for  God's  grace  to  draw  off  her 
affections  from  earthly  delights,  and  fix  them  there 
where  real,  fubftantial,  and  eternal  joys  are  to  be  found, 
'viz.  on  the  blifsful  vifion  of  God,  and  thefulnefs  of  joy 
.that  is  in  his  prefence  for  evermore. — Your,  <6-f. 

LET- 


Let.  11.         o  F     L   E  T  T  E   R   S.  341 

LETTER        XI. 

Dear  5//?<fr,  Biddefurd^  Dec.  10.  1740. 

T  Hough  I  am  Co  backward  in  my  compliments,  I 
am  moft  hearty  in  my  wilhes,  that  your  fpoufe 
and  yourfelf  may  enjoy  abundance  of  happinefs  in  the 
married  flatc.  I  congratulate  late,  but  I  fhall  ever 
pray,  that  you  :nay  find  blcifings  twifted  with  the 
matrimonial  bands  ;  and  not  only  live  lovingly  to- 
gether, as  one  flefli,  but  live  holily  together  as  fellow- 
heirs  of  the  grace  of  life. 

I  hope  you  will  both  remember  the  eternal  world, 
which  muft  very  fhortly  receive  you  :  That  ere  long 
the  nuptial  bed  mult  be  refigned  for  a  lodging  in  the 
grave  ;  and  the  ornaments  of  a  fparkling  bride,  be  ex- 
changed for  the  dreflings  of  death.  And  if,  under 
the  frequent  view  of  thffe  ferious  truths,  you  ftudy 
to  further  each  other  in  faith  and  holinefs, — then  will 
•you  be  true  help- meets  one  to  the  other :  then  will  you 
come  together,  not  for  the  worfe,  but  for  the  better; 
then  may  you  truft,  that  when  death  {hall  dhTolve  the 
union  below,  Chrifl  Jefus  will  bid  it  commence  again, 
above  ;  and  continue  to  endicfs  ages,  in  the  midii  of 
unfpeakablc  delight. 

Pleaie  to  preient  my  humble  fervice  to  the  feveral 

Mr ,   and   Mrs ,   that  ftill  remain  in  your 

town  ;  to  Mrs ,  and  her  daughter  ;  Mr and 

his  fpoufe,  and  Mr  — — .     Remember  me  alib  in  the 
k'mdeft  manner  to  your  poor  neighbours,  particularly 

thole  who  have  Mr 's  books.    May  God  Almighty 

give  them  grace  to  make  a  proper  and  practical  ufc  of 
them  !  May  he  fanctify  the  attentive  and  diligent  read- 
ing of  them,  to  their  increaie  in  godlinefs,  and  in  the 
'knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jefus  Chrift  ! 

When  you  fee  myCol/infrtrfe  relations  and  acquaint- 
ance, falute  them  affectionately  in  my  name.     I  fup- 

pofe  you  will  ibou  fee  niy ,  and ;  pa-cfciit  my 

my 


342         A     COLLECTION         Let.  12, 

duty  to  them,  I  Hi  on  Id  rejoice  to  fee  them  again  in  the 
flelh,  before  any  of  us  go  hence,  and  are  no  more  ieen. 
May  the  Father  of  oar  fpirits,  and  the  Father  of  the 
Lord  Jcius  Chritt,  our  right  eouihefs,  prepare  us  for 
a  happy  meeting  in  the  regions  of  glory,  and  for  the 
blifsful  vifion  of  his  own  adorable  iclf. 

There  is  at  Biddcford^  and  has  been  for  a  confider- 
able  time,  a  townfman  of  mine,  a  middle-aged  man, 
born  at  — — —  •  his  name  is  •  ••-.  I  little  thought 
to  find  fuch  a  perfon  in  thele  remote  parts.  It  puts 
me  in  mind  of  heaven,  where  people  of  every  kind- 
red and  tongue,  of  all  nations  and  languages,  will  form 
one  general  and  glorious  aflembly.  May  you  and  I, 
dear  lifter,  one  day  be  numbered  with  thole  children 
of  God  ;  and  have  our  lot,  our  delightful  and  ever- 
lafling  lot,  among  the  faints. — I  am,  &c. 


LETTER       XII. 


Reverend  and  dear  £/>,  June  2.  1747. 

CAN  you  accept  the  will  for  the  deed  i1  It  was  in 
my  heart,  long  before  this,  to  have  made  you 
my  belt  acknowledgments  ;  and  not  in  my  heart 
only,  but  actually  attempted.  In  Buckingham/liire  I  re- 
membered my  kind  and  obliging  friend,  and  was  with 
delight  fet  down  to  give  vent  to  my  grateful  thoughts. 
Bat  company  on  a  fudden  coining  in,  arrefted  my  pen  ; 
and  engaging  me  till  I  returned  from  that  place,  pre- 
vented the  execution  of  my  defign.  Now,  Sir,  my 
heartied  thanks  for  your  welcome  aflillance,  defire 
your  acceptance.  And  if  the  utmoft  fincerity  can  a- 
tone  for  the  delay,  my  confcious  heart  allures  rne,  they 
will  not  be  rejected.  —  My  father  is  wonderfully  reco- 
vered. Had  he  lived  in  the  times  of  fuperftition,  for 
ought  I  know,  his  uncommon  diforder  might  have 
been  afcribed  to  witchcraft,  and  his  fpeedy  recovery 
patted  current  for  a  miracle.  The  grave  fcemed  to 

have 


Let.  12.          o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R   S.  343 

have  opened  her  mouth  for  him.    We  thought  him  to 
be  on  the  very  brink  of  death. 


p£ne  furvs  regna  Proferpint, 
Et  judicnntem  viderit  s£<icu;n, 
Scdefque  dejcriptas  piorum  I 

But  now  God  has  turned,  and  refrefhed  him  ;  yea, 
and  brought  him  from  the  deep  of  the  earth  again. 
He  lives  and  regains  his  ftrerigth  daily.  Laft  Sunday 
he  read  prayers  in  his  church,  and  intends  next  Sun- 
day to  fill  the  pulpit. 

Mrs  ,  I  hope,  is  very  well  ;  to  whom  I  beg 

my  humble  lervice  may  be  acceptable.  Your  dear  lit- 
tle ones  too,  the  olive-plants  about  your  table,  1  trufl 
arc  in  a  flourishing  ftate.  May  the  good  Lord  fulfil 
bis  precious  promife  to  them,  and  the  children  of  your 
honoured  neighbour.  May  he  pour  his  -Spirit  upon 
your  feed,  and  his  blefling  upon  your  offspring,  that 
they  may  grow  up  (in  knowledge  and  grace)  as  wil- 
lows by  the  water  courles.  —  I  am  juft  now  going  to 
our  vifitation,  held  at  Northampton*  I  (hall  appear  as 
a  ftranger  in  our  Jenifalem  ;  knowing  few.,  and  known 
by  fewer.  Methinks  there's  fomething  auguft  and 
venerable  in  a  meeting  of  the  clergy  ;  efpecially,  if 
one  looks  upon  them  as  fo  many  agents  for  the  invi- 
fible  God,  and  envoys  from  the  court  of  heaven.  I 
hope  to  be  put  in  mind  of  that  awful  day,  when  the 
Lord  Jcftis  Chrifl,  that  great  Shepherd  of  the  fheep, 
and  Bilhop  of  fouls,  will  make  his  entrance  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven.  Then,  at  that  great,  final,  and 
dccifive  entrance,  may  my  dear  friend  receive  the  ap- 
probation of  his  judge.  May  he  then  be  rewarded 
for  his  kind  offices  to  myfelf  and  others,  in  everlafl- 
ing  honour  2nd  joy.  —  1  am,  drr. 


LET- 


344         A    COLLECTION        Let.  134 

LETTER      XIII. 

Dear  Sifter,  Biddeford,  July  7.  1741. 

AFter  a  very  fultry  journey,    I  arrived  fafe  at  Bid- 
deford.    Here  I  have  been  one  whole  week.  At 
Bath  and  at  Bridgwater  I  made  a  considerable  flay.    I 
tarried  at  each  place  a  couple  of  nights  ;  was   enter- 
tained with  abundance  of  civility. 

There  is  a  general  profpeft  of  a  plenteous  harveft. 
The  valleys  Hand  Ib  thick  with  corn,  as  makes  the 
traveller  rejoice,  and  the  hufbandman  ling.  There  is 
great  want  and  fcarcity  of  many  things,  but  there  is 
plenty  of  fifti.  Now  the  dry  land  is  fo  barren,  the 
waters  yield  the  larger  increafe.  It  is  obferved,  to  the 
glory  of  God's  good  providence,  that  now  flefh  is  fo 
dear,  fifh  is  uncommonly  cheap.  Thus  gracioufly  does 
the  Almighty,  when  he  locks  up  one,  open  another 
fountain  of  his  beneficence.  During  my  abfence  from 
Biddeford,  a  lufty  man,  in  the  prime  and  vigour  of  life, 
was  carried  off  by  my  father's  diforder.  It  is  there- 
fore diftinguifhed  mercy  that  our  father  has  enjoyed  ; 
fuch  as  has  been  with- held  from  others,  while  it  has 
been  vouchfafed  to  him. 

I  am  now  far  from  my  dear  relations.  Friends  I 
have  indeed,  but  not  one  of  my  kindred  near  me.  O  I 
that  God  may  be  my  guide,  my  proteclor,  and  my 
portion  here  and  for  ever.  If  the  Lord,  the  Lord 
Jefus  Chrii'l  be  my  Shepherd,  I  mall  lack  nothing. 
Unworthy,  altogether  unworthy  of  fuch  an  ineflima- 
ble  favour,  I  deiire  to  lye  at  the  feet  of  his  free  un- 
merited grace  ;  feek'mg  what  he  is  ready  to  give, 
though  I,  alas  !  am  moft  undeferving.  And  furely 
we  have  good  reafon  to  hope,  and  the  very  beft  en- 
couragement to  feek.  For  if  he  gave  his  life,  and 
fpilt  his  blood  for  us,  will  he  not  much  rather  give  us 
pardon  of  our  fins,  and  juflification  through  his  righ- 
tcouihefs  ? 

* 


Let.  14.         e  F     L    E    T   T   E   R   S.  345- 

I  hope  my  brother  — —  is  in  perfect  health.  I  wifh 
him  a  ieaibnahle  and  kindly  harveft  ;  and  wi(h  you 
both  abundance  of  happineii  j — and  am,  dear  filler, 

His  and  yours, 


LETTER       XIV. 

My  dear  Friend^ 

I  Find  you  have  had  Mr  *•--  among  you  latelyi 
Many,  1  hope,  have  found  abundant  benefit  from 
his  preaching,  and  you  in  particular.  He  is  a  fliining 
light,  a  choice  and  illuftrious  ambafTador  of  JefuS 
Chriit.  What  a  favour  of  his  divine  Mailer  does  lie 
filed  abroad  whenever  he  preaches  1  fuch  a  favour,  as 
many  corruptions  cannot  overcome,  nor  all  the  world 
iiipprefs.  Biddcford,  I  hope,  has  experienced  this  fa- 
vour.— Methinks,  I  now  fee  him  in  the  pulpit,  and 
hear  him  lifting  up  his  compaflionate  voice  like  a  trum- 
pet, and  proclaiming  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lordi 
Methinks,  I  fee  him  difplaying  the  gofpel-ftandard, 
and  his  tongue  touched  from  the  heavenly  altar,  in- 
viting Tinners  to  flock  under  his  Ihadow  ;  crying,  Come, 
ye  fimple  ones,  whom  Satan  has  beguiled,  and  Chrift 
mall  give  yon  light  ;  come,  ye  wicked  ones,  whom 
Satan  has  enfiaved,  and  the  gracious  Redeemer  flialt 
let  you  free  ;  conic,  ye  that  have  bean  righteous  in 
your  own  eyes,  forfake  this  refuge  of  lies,  and  enter 
into  the  ark  before  the  rains  defcend,  and  the  floods 
come,  which  will  fweep  away  every  falie  hope  :  O  ! 
lean  not  upon  a  broken  reed  ;  build  not  upon  the  fink- 
ing fand  ;  but  upon  the  Rock  of  ages  ;  the  Foundation 
laid  in  Zion  by  the  hand  of  heaven  itfclf.  Come  untd 
Jefus,  ye  ruined  and  undone  finners,  for  he  has  a  ten- 
der heart  that  is  ever  open  to  receive  you  ;  and  an 
arm  that  is  omnipotent  to  fave  you.  Indeed,  my 
friends,  thofe  that  know  Chrift's  name  will  feck  no 
ether  Saviour,  nor  defirc  any  other  good  j  all  their 
VOL.  V.  N°  24.  X  x  bone» 


A    COLLECTION        Let.  14, 

bones  will    cry  out,  Lord,  unto  whom  fl'iall  we  go, 
but  imto  thce  ?   thou  only  halt  the;   words  of  eternal 
life     They  that  know  Chrifl's  free  goodnefs,  will  put 
their  whole  trutt  in  him,  and  leek  no  other  way  to 
the  Father  of  rnercy,  but  through  his  merit.     This  is 
their  only  claim  they  have  to  make  for  their  accept- 
ance, Chrift  died  ;  but  for  whom  did  he  die,  my  dear 
friends  ?  He  gave  himfelf  a  ranfoni   for  all  ;   he  \vas 
lifted  up  upon  the  accurfed  tree,    and  out  of  his  fide 
came  a   fountain  of  blood  and   water,   where  every 
tinner  may  bathe  and  be  made  clean.    The  awakened 
fons  of  sldam,  that  feel  their  miienes,  lee  a  fulnefs  of 
merit   in  one  drop  of  that  blood,  iuffkient  to  atone 
for  the  guilt  often  thoufand  worlds.     This  fills  them 
with   great   comfort,    although  they  are   vile  finners. 
What  though  they  are  loathibme  beggars,  taken  from 
the  dunghill  of  uncleanneis,  that  are  but  now  returrr- 
ing  from  the  highways  and  hedges  of  every  abomina- 
ble pra&ice  ?   What  though  they  are  as  beads  before 
God,  very  dogs,  like  that  poor  Syropfonician  woman  ? 
yet  Chrift's  /aving  kindnefs  is  fo  great  and  unbounded, 
that  he  cafteth  out  none  who  come  unto  him.     Here 
h  confolation  for  the  trembling  firmer,  though  he  has 
not  a  grain  of  worthinefs  in  himfelf,  yet  his  Lord  has 
infinite  treafures  of  unmerited  grace.    They  who  be- 
lieve  that   Chrift   flied  his   precious   blood  for  guilty 
finners,   will   chearfully  put  their  truft  in  this    atone- 
ment for  pardon.    They  will  fay,  O  !  they  will  often 
Jay,  with  gratitude,  glowing  in-  their  breafts,  and  tears 
in  their  eyes  ;  Be   it  that  my  fins   are  as   the  deepeft 
crimion  dye,   and  more  in    number  than  the  hairs  of 
my  head,  yet  the  blood  of  Chrift  cleanfeth  from  all 
fin,    and  waflieth  a  filthy   polluted   confcience  whiter 
than  fnow.     With  him  there  is  no  icanty,  but  plen- 
teous  redemption.     Be  my   debts  ever  fo  great,   ten 
thoufand  times  ten  thoufand  talents  ;  yet  the  agonies 
of  the  once-ilaughtered  Lamb  has  paid  it  to  the  very 
uttermoft  farthing.     They  who  know  his  -riguteoui- 

nefs, 


Let.  15.         o  F     L    E    T   T   E    R   S. 

nels,  will  put  their  trufl  in  it  alone  for  juftification. 
If  1  had  the  righteoufnefs  of  a  faint,  fays  one,  O  how 
happy  fhould  1  be  f  If  T  had  the  righteoufnefs  of  an 
angel^fays  another,  I  fhould  fear  no  evil.  But  1  am 
bold  to  fay,  that  the  poorefl  linner  that  believes  in 
Chrill,  has  a  righteouthefs  infinitely  more  excellent 
than  either  faints  or  angels.  For  if  the  law  afks  for 
linlcls  perfection,  it  is  to  be  found  in  my  divine  Sure- 
ty. If  the  law  requires  an  obedience  that  may  fland 
before  the  burning  eye  of  God,  behold  it  is  in  J^fus 
my  Mediator.  Should  the  ftri&eft  juflice  arraign  me, 
and  the  purclt  holinefs  make  its  demands  upon  me,  I 
remit  them  both  to  my  dying  and  obedient  Immanusl; 
with  him  the  Father  is  always  well  pleafed,  in  him  tlxc 
believer  is  complete.  They  who  know  Chrift's  power, 
will  put  their  trufl  in  him  for  fanclilieation  of  heart 
and  newnefs  of  life.  Though  fin  is  rooted  in  my  foul, 
and  rivetted  in  my  conftitution,  yet  Chrilt  can  pnrge 
it  out.  Though  it  were  twifttrd  with  every  nerve  oi" . 
rny  flefli,  yet  he  can  make  the  rough  tempers  fmooth, 
and  the  crooked  difpofitions  flraight  :  the  vile  ?ffec- 
tions,  like  legions  of  devils,  he  can  root  out,  and  fill 
every  heart  with  the  pure  love  of  God.  To  which 
happy  ftate  of  foul  may  both  you  and  I  be  brought 
while  here  below  ;  that  we  may  be  made  meet  to  a~ 
fcend  to  that  habitation  of  God,  where  nothing  un- 
clean can  enter. — 1  am  yours  finccrely,  &c. 


LETTER       XV. 

v. 

To  his  FATHER. 
Rev.  and  lion.  £/r,         Biddcford,  Qtt.  i.  1742. 

YOnr  laft,   containing  the  melancholy   account  of 
the  death  of  both  my  aunts,  I  received.     1  hope 
they  died  in  the  Lord,  and  ileep  in  the  bofom  of  Jeius  § 
and  then,  truly,    they  are  the  happy  pcrfons,  and  we 
the  objecls  of  pity.    They  reft,  and  have  call  anchor 

£*3  in 


"348          A     COLLECTION         Let.  13, 

in  the  harbour  ;  whereas  we  are  ftill  beating  on  the 
ocean,  and  toffed  in  the  ftorm. — If  we  coniider  things 
impartially,  this  world  is  our  grave  ;  nor  do  we  really 
live,  till  we  burft  the  flefhly  prifon,  and  get  beyond 
the  vifiblc  fkies. 

In  the  grave  is  darknefs.  It  is  called  the  fhadow  of 
death.  And  what  elfe  is  this  wretched  world  ?  what, 
but  a  ftate  of  gloomincfs  ?  a  valley  of  the  thickeft 
darknefs  ?  where  poor  mortals  grop  in  fpiritual  igno- 
rance ;  am1,  wander  up  and  down,  not  feeing  the  things 
that  belong  to  their  peace. 

In  the  grave,  and  among  the  tombs,  we  look  for 
phantoms  and  apparitions. — And  what  elfe  do  we  meet 
with  here  be}o-,v  ?  A  thoufand  forts  of  happinefs  pre- 
ient  themfelves  to  our  wifhes,  but  are  unlhbftantial  and 
phantaftical  all.  They  are  a  gay  delufion,  and  mock 
our  expectations,  as  one  of  thoie  vanifhing  forms 
would  baulk  our  embraces. 

The  graye  is  the  land  where  all  things  are  forgotten. 
The  ideas  of  friendfhip  are  obliterated,  and  the  dear- 
eft  relatives  are  remembered  no  more. — And  is  not 
this  too  true  a  defcription  of  our  prefent  ftate  I  Do 
\vc  not  unaccountably  forget  Jefus  Chrift,  our  almigh- 
ty Friend,  and  everlafting  glory,  our  invaluable  heri- 
tage ?  Where  is  the  man  that  remembers  his  bleeding 
tSaviour  on  his  bed,  and  thinks  upon  him  when  he  is 
waking  ?  No  ;  the  Redeemer's  inconceivable  love, 
3nd  the  precious  benefits  of  his  paflion,  are  buried  in 
a  deep  oblivion. — This  world  then  of  darknefs,  appa- 
ritions, and  forgetfulnefs,  is  the  grand  dormitpry  ; 
fiefh  and  blood  the  tomb  of  our  immortal  minds. 
Nafcentcs  morimur. 

I  fear,  I  tire  you,  honoured  Sir  ;  but  becaufe  I  have 
no  news  that  you  can  apprehend  or  relifh,  f  allow 
my  pen  in  thefe  excurfions. — -This  week  1  was  lent 
for  to  vifit  a  lady  of  this  parifh,  in  the  fame  diforder, 
that  proved  fo  fatal  to  my  two  aunts.  She  lay,  poor 
gentlewoman,  moft  terribly  afflicted,  and  is  now  re- 
leafed* 


Let.  16.          o  F     L   E   T   T  E   R   S.  349 

leafed.  It  put  me. in  mind  of  the  Pfalmift**  peniten- 
tial acknowledgment,  which,  1  think,  is  never  more 
applicable  than  in  the  cafe  of  the  imall-pox  :  When 
thou,  Lord,  with  rebukes  doft  chaften  man  for  fin, 
thou  inakeil  his  beauty  to  confume  away,  like  as  it 
were  a  moth  fretting  a  garment.  I  fhall  rejoice  to 
hear  that  you  and  my  mother  continue  well,  under 
all  your  trouble  and  fatigue  ;  and  remain, 
Reverend  and  Honoured  Sir, 

Your  mo  ft  dutiful  fon, 

JAMES  HERVEY. 


L     E    T     T     E     IV       XVI. 
Dear  Sifter,  Biddcford,  Otfobcr  12.  1742. 

I  Received  your  kind  letter.  It  was  a  pleafure  to 
hear  from  Hardinvftone,  the  place  which  gave  me 
birth,  and  the  place  which  prefer ves  my  filter. — I  am, 
obliged  to  the  Rev.  Mr  Rofe  for  remembering  me,  and 
defire  him  to  accept  my  beft  compliments  ;  I  hope  he 
will  be  an  inftrument  of  doing  much  good  in  your 
parifli.  To  lave  fouls,  is  the  nobleft  acquilkiofi  in  the 
world  ;  infinitely  more  defirable,  than  to  find  great 
fpoils.  May  this  be  his  honour  and  happineis,  and 
may  it  be  my  continual  aim  ! 

My  poor  aunts  are  no  more,  they  are  gone  the  way 
of  all  flelb  ;  eternity  has  received  them  ;  their  ftate  is 
now  become  unchangeable.  Oh,  that  we  may  be 
alarmed  by  their  departure,  and  labour,  while  we  have 
time,  to  make  our  calling  and  cleclion  lure  ! 

My  mother  tells  me,  you  have  been  much  indifpo- 
fed  ;  I  fliall  rejoice  to  hear  that  you  are  better.  Sick- 
nefs  and  afflictions  are  God's  call,  they  are  divine  ad- 
monitions, and  warn  us  net  to  be  fond  of  the  world, 
"but  let  our  aftecVions  on  things  above.  May  the  blef- 
fed  Jcfus  make  them  effectual  to  our  fouls  I 

I  wifh  I  had  any  news  to  write,  that  you  can  nn- 
derftand  and  relifh.  The  fmall-pox  is  marking  many, 

and 


$5«  A    COLLECTION        Let.  17. 

and  carrying  off  ibmc  among  us  ;  it  is  a  privilege  of 
no  (mall  value,  to  be  pail  that  infectious  diforclcr  :  I 
have  often  thought,  that  it  is  too  lively  an  emblem 
of  the  condition  of  our  fouls,  by  corrupt  nature  and 
evil  practice.  So  polluted,  I'o  loathibme  is  our  better 
part,  in  the  eye  of  uncreated  purity,  till  we  are  wafti- 
ed,  till  we  are  cleanfed  in  redeeming  blood.  May  we 
carncflly  long  to  be  waflhed  in  that  fountain, .opened 
in  our  Saviour's  fide,  for  iin  and  for  unclcanncis. 

See  how  our  judgments  and  inclinations  alter  in 
procels  of  time  !  I  once  thought  I  mould  make  lei's 
ule  of  the  Spectators  than  you  ;  but  now  1  believe  the 
reverfe  of  this  is  true,  for  we  read  one  or  more  of 
thofe  elegant  and  instructive  papers  every  morning  at 
breakfatt ;  they  are  fcrved  up  with  our  tea,  according 
to  their  original  defign.  We  reckon  our  repafl.  im- 
perfect, without  a  little  of  Mr  dddijon's  or  Mr  Strelc's 

company.     I  wifli   Mifs  Becky  K an  increafe   of 

happineis  in  the  change  of  her  Itate ;  marriage  mould 
augment  our  joys,  and  dimmifh  our  forrows.  My 

humble  fervice  attends  Mrs  A" ,  MrC *s  family, 

and  Mr  V .  My  love  to  my  brother,  and  to  your- 

felf,  concludes  all  at  prefent  to  be  communicated  by, 
Dear  Sifter, 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

J.  HERVEY. 


LETTER       XVII. 

Rev.  Sir,  $ath,  Anguft  27.  1734. 

SUnday  Jaft,  I  happened  not  to  be  at  the  Abbey- 
church,  in  the  afternoon.  But  converting  yefter- 
day  with  a  gentleman  who  was  one  of  your  auditors, 
I  defired  to  have  a  fummary  account  of  your  fermon. 
And  truly  he  gave  me  fuch  an  account,  as  both  a- 
ftonillied  and  grieved  me.  You  dignified  worldly 
profperity  at  fo  extraordinary  a  rate,  and  almoft  ca- 
nonized the  prolperous  man.  On  the  other  hand, 


Let.  17.         o  F     L   E   T   T  E   R   S.  351 

you  vilified  the  glorious  Jefus  in  fo  fcandalous  a  man- 
ner, and  fet  the  incarnate  Godhead  to  one  of  the  moft 
ignoble  and  abominable  offices.  This  made  me  en- 
courage my  friend  to  draw  his  pen,  and  Tend  you  a 
word  of  admonition.  And  when  he  .declined  the  talk, 
1  could  not  forbear  undertaking  it  -rnyfelf.  For  it 
would  be  unkind  to  you,  Sir,  to  perceive  you  under 
fuch  grievous  miflakcs,  and  not  to  warn  you  of  the 
error  of  your  ways.  Nor  would  it  be  lefs  unfaithful 
to  your  Mafter,  and.  my  Matter,  to  be  informed  of 
iuch  preaching,  and  fuffcr  it  to  pals  current  without 
any  animadvcrfion. 

j 

If  I  mif/eprcfent  you  in  any  particular,  I  am  ready 
to  retraft.  And  if  1  have  truth  on  my  fide,  and  you, 
Reverend  Sir,  have  fpoken  unworthy  your  facrcd  of- 
fice, have  difhonoured  the  divine  Redeemer,  and  per- 
verted his  everlafting  gofpel ; — I  truft,  you  alfo  will  be 
fo  ingenuous,  as  to  condemn  that  ofFenilve  fermon  to 
the  flames,  and  fuch  doclrines  to  filence  and  clarknefs. 
For  1  allure  you,  it  is  from  no  ill-natured  fpirit  of 
criticifm,  no  morofencfs  of  temper,  or  fondnefs  for 
contradiction,  but  from  a  fmcere  concern  for  the  in- 
terefts  of  true  religion,  and  the  honours  of  our  com- 
mon Lord,  that  1  take  leave  to  fugged  the  following 
hin\s  : 

I  think  you  firft  exhorted  people  to  rejoice,  when 
their  circumftances  were  affluent,  and  their  worldly 
affairs  profperous  ;  you  enforced  this  palatable  advice, 
by  the  precepts  of  fcripture,;  and  left  it  fhould  not 
be  received  with  a  proper  welcome,  you  further  urgexl 
it  upon  your  hearers,  by  the  example  of  our  blclfed 
Saviour.  In  oppotition  to  this  ilrain  of  teaching, 
permit  me  to  obierve, 

1 .  That  worldly  profperity  is  no  fufficicnt  caufe  for 
a  Chriftian  to  rejoice. 

a.  That  it  h  ofcenoncof  the  forcft  evils  that  can  be- 
fal  a  perfon. 

3.  To  (ketch  out  the  true  nature  of  fcriptural  prof- 
perity ; 


352         A     COLLECTION        Let.  17, 

perky  ;  or  clifcover,  what  is  that  folid  ground 
for  rejoicing,  which  the  oracles  of  Gocl  recom- 
mend. 

Firlt,  worldly  profperity  is  no  fufficient  caufe  for  re- 
joicing, becaufc  worldly  tilings  are  empty  and  uuiatis- 
factory.  That  which  is  lighter  than  vanity  itfelf,  can- 
not poifibly  give  fubltantial  joy.  If  we  build  for  con- 
tentment upon  fublunary  things,  we  rear  our  edifice 
upon  the  finking  land.  You  can  no  more  bring  i'atis- 
faction  out  of  any  thing  created,  than  you  can  carve 
an  image  out  of  the  riling  fmoke,  or  fill  your  belly 
with  the  earl  wind.  Thole  that  rejoice  only  (and  you, 
<lear  Sir,  alfigned  no  other  caufe  for  rejoicing)  becaufe 
they  have  abundance  of  earthly  things  richly  to  enjoy, 
are  like  fomc  bewildered  and  benighted  traveller,  pier- 
ced with  cold,  dripping  with  wet,  that  leaps  for  joy 
becaufe  he  finds  a  glow-worm  under  the  hedge.  A- 
las  !  this  is  in  no  wile  able  to  direct  his  wandering  feet, 
to  light  him  through  the  diimal  gloom,  or  to  warm 
his  benumbed  limbs  ;  no  more  than  it  is  able  to  fup- 
ply  the  place  of  the  fun,  and  dart  its  faint  glimmer 
through  the  univerfe. — The  pleafures  which  a  fuperior 
fortune  furnifh  out,  O  !  how  foon  do  they  become 
Aale,  and  pall  upon  the  appetite  !  How  eafily  may  a 
thoufand  accidents  fnatch  them  from  our  embrace,  or 
dafh  them  to  pieces  in  our  arms  !  How  certainly  mud 
we  forfake  them  in  a  very  little  time  ;  and  when  we 
have  taken  a  few  more  pleafant  morfels,  a  few  deli- 
cious draughts,  eat  and  drink  again  no  more  for  ever  I 
And  what  a  wretched  difproportionate  delight  is  this, 
for  an  immortal  mind,  that  is  to  furvive  the  dilTolution 
of  the  globe  ;  that  is  to  live  unnumbered  ages,  when 
all  that  our  eyes  have  feen,  is  pafTed  away  and  gone  ? 
Again,  worldly  profperity  is  no  fufficient  caufe  for 
rejo/cing,  becaufe  a  perfon  may  polTefs  this,  and  have 
neither  faith,  nor  grace.  There  is  no  manner  of  con- 
nection bet  ween  faith  and  wealth.  The  poor  frequent- 
ly receive  the  gofpel,  while  numbers  of  the  rich  rejeft 

their 


Let.  17.         OF     LETTERS; 

their  own  happinefs.  And  without  faith  it  is  i 
to  pleafe  God  ;  it  is  unreafonable  and  Unwarrantable  to 
rejoice.  The  believer,  indeed,  has  a  permiffion  ;  has 
a  privilege,  yea,  has  a  patent,  for  rejoicing.  The 
Chriftian  has  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing.  All—- 
you lee  here  is  a  monopoly,  faith  has  ingrolTed  this 
precious  commodity.  None  is  to  be  procured,  but 
from  her. — And  as  for  grace,  talents  of  gold  may 
be  in  the  coffers,  and  not  one  grain  of  grace  in  thd 
heart.  Thole  that  call  whole  lordfhips  their  owrij 
cannot,  perhaps,  lay,  that  they  have  received  the  Holy 
Ghoft.  And  while  they  are  defHtute  of  this  divine 
principle,  I  can  call  them  nothing  but  wretches. 
You  may  add  illuftrious,  Right  Honourable,  and  \Vor- 
ihipful,  if  you  pleafe  ;  but  (till  they  are  miferable 
wretches,  uulefs  Chrift,  the  hope  of  glory,  be  formed 
in  their  fouls.  The  Holy  Ghoft,  you  know,  Sir,  is  cal- 
led the  Comforter,  becaufe  it  is  his  amiable  office  id 
adminifter  confolation  to  his  people.  He  giveth  joy, 
and  who  can  make  fadnefs  !  But  alas  1  if  he  withdraw 
bis  benign  influences,  who  or  what  can  create  fatis- 
faclion  ?  Silver  fhoes  may  as  well  charm  away  the  rack- 
ing pains  of  a  go*utified  foot,  or  golden  duft  quench 
the  third  of  a  parched  throat,  as  any  worldly  abundance^ 
as  all  worldly  plenty,  beget  real  joy  ,without  the  commu- 
nications of  the  comforting  fpifit. — You  forget,  Sir^ 
the  prayers  which  you  daily  offer  up  in  the  congrega- 
tion. In  them,  you  acknowledge  that  the  world  cannot 
give  peace.  And  if  not  peace,  lurely  not  joy.  If  not  the 
fruit,  furcly  not  the  bloflbm.  There  is  no  peace,  faith 
my  God,  to  the  wicked.  And  all  arc  wicked,  who  are 
void  of  faith,  and  unrenewcd  by  grace.  All  run  counter 
to  the  divine  declaration,  who  bid  fuch  peribns  rejoice, 
though  they  fhould  have  every  kind  of  prosperity  that 
a  carnal  heart  can  with. 

Once  more ;  worldly  profperity  is  no  fumcient  caufe 
for  rejoicing,  becaisfe  a  man  may  pofTefs  this,  ami  be  a 
thiid  of  wrath  nctwithftanding.  Providence  often 

Vol.  V.  N°  24.  Y  y  fcatters 


A    COLLECTION         Let.  n» 

fcatteri?  temporary  things  among  the  tents  of  his  c- 
ncmies.  Tiicy  have  children  at  their  defire,  and 
kavc  the  rcll  or'  their  fbbftance  for  their  babes.  Thefc 
are  hufks  which  the  i'wine  are  permitted  to  eat.  God's 
deareft  iervants,  thole  who  are  heirs  of  glory,  are  fre- 
quently teen  to  be  without  any  fbare  of  them,  while 
ttie  moft  abandoned  finners  have  them  to  the  full. 
L^Zurus  has  not  a  houfe  to  lay  his  head  in,  while  the 
voluptuary  dwells  ill  apartments  ceiled  with  cedar,  and 
painted  with  vermilion.  Lazarus  has  not  enough  to 
purchale  one  moriel  of  meat,  muft  be  beholden  to 
charity  for  the  leaft  crumb  of  provifion  ;  while  his 
htJrd- hearted  neighbour  drinks  wine  in  bowls,  and  eats 
the  choicefh  of  the  flock  j  is  clothed  in  purple  and  fine 
linen,  and  fareth  fumptuoufly  every  day. — Who  then 
can  rationally  rejoice  in  that  which  is  no  pledge  of 
the  divine  acceptance  ;  which  carries  with  it  no  proof 
of  our  reconciliation  to  that  eternal  Majefty,  whofe 
{mile  is  inconceivable  blifs,  whole  frown  is  inlupport- 
able  wo  ? — A  wealthy  and  fuccefsful  perfon,  if  he  be 
eonfiderate  as  well  as  fortunate,  mu$  go  home  from 
fuch  a  fermon  arguing  in  this  manner  :  "  The  preach- 
tc  er  foiieits  me  to  rejoice  in  my  worldly  goods.  But 
u  how  can  I  firrd  complacency  in  fuch  periftiing  pof- 
*c  feflions,  when,  perhaps,  I  may  be  an  outcaft  from 
ct  heaven,  and  have  no  place  in  that  kingdom  which 
u  endureth  for  ever  I  how  can  I  take  pleafure  in  thefe 
<l  dainties  that  replenifh  m-y  table,  when  perhaps  the 
(i  heavy  wrath  of  God  may  fall  upon  me,  while  the 
u  meat  is  yet  in  my  mouth  ?  This  fumptuous  furni- 
"  ture,  this  glittering  equipage,  thefe  delicious  treats, 
u  how  can  I  take  real  fatisfacYion  in  them,  when,  for 
**  ought  1  know,  a  hand-writing  upon  the  wall  may 
"  be  denouncing  my  doom  ?  If  God  would  lift  up 
<c  the  light  of  his  countenance  upon  me  ;  if  1  was 
*'  fwectly  afcertained  of  his  good  will  ;  then  I  could 
"  rejoiceunfeigneclly.  But  as  for  thefe  large  revenues, 
"  and  tides  of  iuccefs,  that  are  fo  much  extolled  by 

"  tlue 


Let.  17.         OF     LETTERS.  355 

*'  the  preacher,  they  may  prove  like  the  rich  paftures 
*'  that  fatten  the  ox  for  the  knife." 

Will  you  have  patience  with  me,  Sir,  if  I  proceed 
to  prove, 

2.  That  worldly  profperity  is  fo  far  from  being  an 
adequate  cauie  for  our  rejoicing,  that  it  is  frequently 
one  of  the  foreft  and  moft  mifchicvous  evils  ? — This  I 
am  fure  was  the  opinion  of  Archbifnop  UfJier.  That 
moft  renowned  and  excellent  prelate,  in  his  younger 
days,  had  a  continued  ieries  of  prolperity  :  healthy 
impaired  by  no  attacks  of  (icknefs  ;  credit  ful-lied  by 
no  breath  of  fcandal  ;  and  fuccefs  interrupted  by  no 
difappointment,  or  difaftrous  turn.  And  what  emo- 
tion did  this  occafion  in  that  devout  and  judicious 
peribn's  mind  f  did  his  heart  dance  within  him  for 
joy  r  did  he  b!ils  himlelf  on  this  behalf?  No. — But 
he  was  under  lad  apprehenfions,  left  God  had  for- 
iakcn  him,  and  given  him  over  to  a  reprobate  cotirfe. 
He  feared,  that  his  heavenly  Father,  becaufe  he  iparec! 
the  rod,  hated  the  child  ;  that  not  being  brought  un- 
der the  dikipline  of  providential  correction,  he  was  a 
baftard,  and  not  a  loo  of  the  Lord  Almighty. — How 
diametrically  oppolite  was  this  way  of  thin-king,  to 
your  way  of  preaching  !  And  whether  it  was  hot  & 
very  fobcr  and  jufl  method  of  thinking,  let  the  foL- 
1  owing  considerations  determine. 

Worldly  prosperity  is  apt  to  attach  men  to  earthly 
things.  When  iuccefs  (wells  their  iails,  and  all  pro- 
ceeds according  to  their  \vifh,  O  1  bow  prone  are  we 
to  di (regard  Jefus,  and  cverlaftrng  ages  1  Many  are 
immoderately  fond  of  the  world,  becaufe  they  have 
fwam  fweetly  down  the  ibcam  of  profperity  ;  who, 
probably,  would  have  been  weaned  from  its  delights, 
juid  indifferent  to  i'.s  goods,  in  cafe  they  had  toilctj 
upon  the  craggy  cliffs  of  fome  intervening  advcrfity. 
When  they  walk  always  upon  rofes,  and  mret  wjtfc 
UQ  thorns  in  their  paths,  the  coufequcncc  is  an  ac- 

Y  y  2 


A     COLLECTION         Let.  17, 

quiefcence  in  tlicir  prefent  ftation,  and  remifFncfs  in 
let  king  the  joys  of  an  invifible  world.  A  contentment 
jn  the  things  that  arc  leen,  without  any  alpiration 
after  the  things  that  arc  not  feen,  is  the  moil:  unhappy 
condition  imaginable,  and  is  generally. the  offspring  of 
worldly  prosperity.  And  when  this  worldly  profptrity 
is  ib  highly  rated  in  the  calculations  of  the  pulpit,  what 
other  effect  ca-ii  poflibly  attend  fuch  lectures,  but  to 
glue  our  affections  more  cloiely,  and  rivet  them  more 
infeparahly,  to  thefe  trifles  of  a  day  ? 

Again,  worldly  prosperity  is  frequently  a  mifchie- 
vous  evil,  becaufe  it  is  apt  to  make  men  proud.  They 
come  in  no  misfortune  like  other  folks,  fays  the  Pjnl- 
m(fl,  and  this  is  the  caufe  that  they  arc  fo  holden  with 
pride,  Prosperity  is  often  a  lulcious  poifon.  It  bloats 
and  puffs  men  up  with  an  overweaning  opinion  of 
themfelves.  It  intoxicates  the  mind,  and  makes  it 
drunk  with  ielf-  conceit.  It  prompts  people  to  idolize 
themfelves,  and  contemn  others.  The  intolerable  ar- 
rogance of  the  Babylnnifli  monarch,  what  was  it  ow- 
ing to  but  his  vait  and  uninterrupted  fuccefles  ?  He 
meafuretl  his  merit  by  the  length  of  his  purfe,  and 
challenged  a  veneration  proportionable  to  the  extent  of 
his  dominions.  This  vile,  rank  weed,  thrives  in  the  hotr 
beds  of  honour,  wealth,  and  carnal  pleaiurc.  Where- 
as it  might  never  have  reared  its  head,  in  the  colder 
climate  of  tribulation,  or  icantinefs  of  circumftances. 

Once  more,  worldly  proiperity  is  frequently  a  per- 
nicious evil,  bccaufe  it  renders  men  carnally  iecnre. 
It  cafe- hardens  the  mind  againfl  all  the  threatenings, 
and  makes  it  deaf  to  the  invitations  of  heavenly 
wifdom.  It  is  a  ftupefyinjr  potion,  and  lulls  the  foul 
into  a  fatal  forgetfulnefs  of  everlalHng  things.  Thofe 
that  were  lufty  and  ftrong,  in  our  Saviour's  days, 
joined  with  the  impious  multitude  in  dcfpifing  the 
veiled  Divinity.  But  thole  who  were  diicalcd  in 
their  bodies,  or  difordercd  in  their  minds,  with  ea- 
gerpeis  fell  proftrate  at  his  facrcd  feet,  and  implored 

hig 


Ltrt.  17.       o  F     L    E    T   T  E    R   S.  357 

bishealinghand. — P*rfrJ[cnt,rrifi peril jfcnti — You  can- 
not  but  have  obferved  various  proofs  of  this  remark 
in  the  con  He  of  your  miniftry.  You  mufl  have  feen 
many  pcrlbnsthat  rejected  all  your  counfel,  and  would 
none  of  your  reproof,  while  they  walhed  their  fteps 
in  hotter,  and  the  rock  poured  them  out  rivers  of  oil. 
But  how  teachable  were  thcie  once  refractory  world* 
lin^s, — how  willing  to  hear  the  coniblations  of  the 
goipel,  when  their  fenfible  delights  were  perifhed  and 
gone  f  How  dcfiroiis  to  be  informed  of  a  happineis  in 
the  heavens,  which  facleth  not,  when  their  carnal 
plealbres  had  made  them  (elves  wings,  and  were  flown 
away  ?  In  the  gaiety  of  their  health,  and  abundance 
of  their  plenty,  they  were  iettled  upon  the  lees  of 
fupinencfs.  But  when  the  fcene  was  (hiftcd,  they 
cried  out  with  vehemence,  What  mud  we  do  to  be 
faved  ?  This  1  raylelf  have  frequently  remarked  in  the; 
fhort  compafs  of  my  experience.  Men  who  were  like 
an  iron  iinew  in  their  Horn  idling  condition,  have  been 
impreflible  as  melting  wax  in  a  reverie  of  fortune. 

We  lee  then,  that  the  profperity  of  this  world  is 
always  dangerous  ;  ofreYi  pernicious  ;  and  too  fre- 
quently deltruftive.  It  yields  pleaiures  that  infatuate  ; 
— fweets  that  are  impoifoned  ; — delights  that  ftupefy. 
Infomuch,  that  a  Heathen  could  fay,  Niliil  infclicius 
iilo,  cni  nihil  infelix  conti^it. 

Here  it  may  be  afkcd,  Are  we  to  take  no  comfort 
in  our  portion  on  earth  ?  mufl:  we  become  gloomy 
and  melancholy,  and  go  mourning  all  our  days  ? — 
Far,  far  from  it.  Religion  allows  us,  religion  enables 
us,  religion  requires  us  to  be  joyful.  Yea,  it  gives 
its  faithful  adherents  to  rejoice  with  joy  uufpeakable, 
and  full  of  glory. — But  then  it  is  founded  on  a  prin- 
ciple vaflly  fuperior  to  that  which  you,  Sir,  thought 
ft  to  fingle  out  and  dilplay.  It  fprings  from  a  fource, 
and  re(h  on  a  bafts,  that  has  no  manner  of  dependence 
on  worldly  circumstances.  Which  reminds  me  of 
another  point  I  am  engaged  to  clear  up,  viz. 

The 


A    COLLECTION      Let.  17. 

Thetrue  nature  of  fcriptural  profperity. — Thefcrp- 
ture  is  a.  Ipiritual  fchcme.  Spiritual  goods  arc  what  it 
chiefly  recommends,  and  from  fpiritual  evils  it  chiefly 
deters.  Chrift's  words  are  fpirit ;  tending'to  make  men 
not  carnally  minded,  but  ipiritually  minded  ;  to  ren- 
der them  ipiritual  in  their  underftandings,  their  affec- 
tions, their  conduct.  Iniomnch  that  one  need  not 
fcruple  to  affirm  constantly,  That  the  holy  fci  ipture 
never  calls  that  flate  a  ftate  of  profperity,  which  is 
not  grounded  on  the  favour  of  God  ;  nor  ever  en- 
courages people  to  rejoice  in  any  thing,  till  they  are — 
reconciled  to  God, — interested  in  Chrift, — and  renew- 
ed by  the  Holy  Ghoftj  which,  1  think,  confiitnte  the 
fcripturai  profperity  ;  I  am  fure,  are  the  ground-work 
of  ail  happinefs. — Firft,  for  reconciliation  to  God. 
His  favour  is  better  than  life.  Life  itfelf  is  worthlefs, 
and,  coniequently,  all  its  enjoyments,  without  this 
prime  fundamental  blefling.  For  this  caufe,  the  Prince 
of  Peace  bled  to  death,  that  the  hand-writing  of  guilt 
might  be  blotted  out ;  that  the  wrath  of  God  might 
be  appealed  ;  and  that  we  who  were  enemies,  might 
be  brought  near  through  his'blood.  This  is  the  door 
to  all  good.  Enter  in  by  this  gate,  O  ye  fons  of  men, 
or  elfe  you  will  inevitably  mifcarry  in  your  fearch 
after  felicity.  If  you  feck  for  blifs,  and  bottom  not 
your  expectations  on  this  rock,  you  are  Jure  to  be  dii'- 
appointed  of  your  hope.  I  can  no  more  have  true 
comfort  in  any  pofieflion,  till  1  have  redemption  through 
my  Redeemer's  paffion,  than  that  unfoitqnate  captive 
could  rejoice  in  the  royal  banquet  that  was  before  him, 
when  a  ponderous  fword,  edged  and  unfheathed,  was 
hanging  by  a  ilender  thread,  and  fhaking  every  mo- 
ment over  his  head. — An  intereft  in  Chrift.  This  is 
another  pillar  to  fupport  our  felicity.  Therefore,  our 
blefled  Lord,  directing  us  in  the  way  to  our  true 
good,  fays,  Seek  ye  firft  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
his  righteouinels.  The  everlafting  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven as  the  end,  and  the  imputed  rightcftufnefs  of 

Jefu§ 


Let.  17.      o»     LETTERS. 

Jcfus  Chrift,  as  the  way  Till  the  one  is  our  aftual 
poileifion,  and  the  other  our  certain  revedion,  we 
may  look  for  real  fatisfaclion,  but  fliall  find  none. 
Apply  to  all  the  creatures ;  rifle  all  their  charms  ;  tafte 
all  their  fweets  ;  you  will  perceive  them  to  be  alto- 
gether lighter  than  vanity  itfelf,  without  an  union 
with  Chrift,  and  an  eflablifhment  in  his  merits. —  Re- 
novation of  mind,  is  another  ingredient  of  the  pro- 
fperity  delineated  in  fcripture.  Till  the  foul  be  fanc- 
titied,  it  is  in  a  ftate  of  grievous  dilbrder ;  like  a  body, 
all  whole  bones  are  out  of  joint.  And,  oh  !  what 
joy  can  be  tafted  in  iuch  a  condition  ?  Till  divine 
grace  have  the  afcendant  witfiin  us;  till  the  kingdom 
of  God  be  fet  up  in  our  hearts  ;  we  are  in  bondage 
to  corruption.  Vile  affeclions  domineer  over  us.  The 
devil  and  our  own  lufts  play  the  tyrant  in  our  breads. 
"We  are  like  flaves  under  a  galling  yoke,  and  like 
lepers  under  a  noifome  diftemper.  Therefore  the 
PJalmift  fays,  When  i  awake  up  after  thy  likenefs,  I 
fhall  be  fatisfied  with  it.  Till  thy  image  be  rc-in- 
ftamped  upon  my  heart,  I  never  expecl  to  fee  good. 
While  we  are  in  the  bond  of  iniquity,  we  mufl  in- 
fallibly be  in  the  gall  of  bitternefs. 

This  is  the  prosperity  celebrated  in  the  fcriptures. 
Of  this  every  believer  is  a  partaker  ;  and  you  will 
pleafc  to  remember,  that  every  exhortation  to  rejoi- 
cing, which  we  meet  with  in  thofe  infpired  books,  are 
addrcffcd  to  fuch  perfons  only.  They  give  net  the 
leaft  invitation  to  any  one,  no  nor  the  lead  licence, 
to  reft  fatisfied,  much  lefs  to  rejoice,  till  they  are 
brought  into  fuch  circumftances  of  reconciliation  with 
heaven,  and  renovation  of  mind.  Nor  have  you, 
Sir,  any  warrant  to  fay  to  yourfelf,  or  your  people, 
Soul,  take  thine  cafe,  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry,  bc- 
caule  thou  haft  much  goods  laid  up  for  many  years. 
This  is  the  Epicure's  creed.  The  lively  orncles  bear 
their  teftimony  againft  fuch  conclusions.  They  ft'yle 
all  the  unregeneratc,  fools.  And  to  fuch,  worldly 

abundance 


3*a  A    COLLECTION       Let.  17. 

abundance  is  not  matter  for  mirth,  but  matter  of  ruin. 
For  the  prosperity  of  fools  mall  dcitroy  them.  Be 
they  grand  as  Nebuchadnezzar,  in  as  much  ailluencc 
as  ^ha/Herns,  honoured  as  Herod  was  by  the  applaud- 
ing multitude,  yet  every  page  of  fcripture  fays  to 
them,  as  'Jehu  to  jforam's  mdfenger,  What  halt  thou 
to  do  with  peace  ?  And,  however  fome  imooth- 
tongued  preacncrs  may  iiatter  and  cajole  them  in  their 
pomp  ;  however  they  may  propheiy  imooth  things, 
and  iblicit  them  to  rejoice  on  luch  a  footing,  as  the 
Lord  has  not  made  a  ground  for  rejoicing  ;  yet  an 
apoftle  beipcaks  them  in  very  different  language :  Go 
to  now,  yc  rich  men,  weep  and  howi.  The  Teacher 
lent  from  God  has  other  tidings  to  tell  them,  Wo 
unto  you  that  are  rich,  that  are  full,  for  ye  have  your 
coniblaticn,  ye  fhall  hunger  hereafter.  And,  in  ano- 
ther world,  they  may  hear  this  awful  admonition 
Ibunding  in  their  ears,  Son,  remember  that  thou  in 
thy  lifetime  receivedlt  thy  good  things  ;  thy  good 
things,  thofe  which  thou  accountedll  good,  not  that 
really  were  good,  but  only  appeared  fo,  to  Ihy  dif- 
tempered  judgment,  and  vitiated  taftc. 

Surely,  Sir,  it  mull  have  been  perfectly  prudent, 
or  rather  abfolutely  neccflary,  to  caution  your  au- 
jdience  againft  fo  fatal  a  miftake  ;  efpecially  fince  they 
confilt  of  the  gay,  the  grand,  the  pleafurablc.  A  vi- 
gilant minifter  would  certainly  give  them  to  under- 
Hand,  that  wealth  and  plenty  is,  by  no  means,  the 
profperity  which  the  Spirit  of  God  commends  ;  that 
joy,  without  the  loving-kindnefs  of  the  Lord,  is  a 
mere  chimera  ;  that  none  are  entitled  to  this  medi- 
cine of  life,  but  thofe  who  can  lay  their  hand  upon 
their  hearts,  and  fay,  with  a  faith  unfeigned,  My  fins 
are  all  forgiven,  through  the  atonement  of  the  flaugh- 
tercd  Lamb  ;  my  peace  is  made  with  the  eternal  God, 
and  the  Spirit  of  Jefus  Chrift  dwells  in  me.  This  is 
that  which  juflifies,  which  produces  joy.  Then,  in- 
deed, and  not  till  then.,  the  wife  man's  advice  may  be 

thy 


Let.  17.         OF     LETTERS.  361 

thy  practice  :  Go  thy  way,  eat  thy  bread  with  joy, 
and  drink  thy  wine  with  a  merry  heart,  f#r  God  now 
acccpteth  both  thee  and  thy  works.  Then  thoti 
mayil  take  comfort  in  thy  earthly  accommodations, 
as  Ib  many  little  appendages  of  thy  bliis  ;  not  as  the 
efTence  which  conftitutes  it  ;  but  as  the  cement,  which 
fervcs  to  fi!l  up  lame  little  interfaces,  and  renders  the 
whole  fomewhat  more  compact.  And  even,  in  this 
cafe,  our  bleflcd  Mailer  (who  bid  his  diiciples  not  to 
rejoice,  becaule  the  devils  were  iubjecl  unto  them,  but 
becatile  their  names  were  written  in  heaven,)  would, 
probably,  caution  us  not  to  rejoice,  becaufe  we  have 
all  worldly  things  copiouily  to  enjoy,  but  becaufe  we 
are  pardoned,  we  are  juitified,  we  are  fandlified. 

Upon  the  whole  :  Suppofc  worldly  proiperity  was 
not  oftentimes  a  moft  mifchievous  evil,  which  it  un- 
doubtedly is  ; — fuppofe  it  was  a  fubftantial  ground  for 
Curiflian  rejoicing,  which  it  really  is  not  ; — fuppofe 
this  was  the  fcriptural  profperity,  which  notion  is,  I 
truft,  fufficiently  difproved  ; — in  a  word,  fuppofe  the 
whole  tenor  of  your  doclrine  to  be  true,  whereas  it 
fcems  to  be  palpably  falfe  :  yet  what  good,  in  the 
name  of  wonder,  can  you  polfibly  propofe  by  fuch 
preachments  ?  You  cannot  but  be  fenfible,  that  we 
are  all  llrongly  addicled  to  inferior  things.  We  are 
already  too  fond  of  worldly  goods,  too  impetuous  in 
our  purfuit  of  fenfual  gratifications.  We  want,  we 
extremely  want  a  curb  to  check  our  career,  and  you 
clap  a  fpur  on  our  (ides.  You  employ  your  eloquence 
as  a  provocative,  in  a  cafe  that  cries  aloud  for  rcftric™ 
lives.  Alas  !  Sir,  you  have  no  occaiion  to  pufh  the 
headlong  torrent  1 — But  I  have  done  with  this  point  ; 
have  nothing  more  to  add  upon  this  head,  unlefs  it 
be  to  recommend  to  your  fcrious  confideration,  that 
alarming  verdict,  pronounced  by  infinite  wifdom,  He 
that  liveth  in  pleaiure,  is  dead  while  he  liveth  ;  dead 
to  God,  dead  to  grace  ;  a  dead  Chriflian,  though  a 
Jiving  animal.  Compare,  Reverend  Sir,  this  dcclara- 
Vci..  V.  N*  24.  Z  z 


362         A     COLLECTION          Let.  17. 

tion  with  the  tendency  of  your  doctrine.  Then,  I 
afliire  myfelf,  you  will  not  redden  with  indignation 
at  thcfe  plain  remonftrances  ;  but  rather  (as  I  mould 
in  your  cafe)  turn  pale  with  grief,  at  your  patt  teach- 
ings ;  and  tremble  with  fear,  for  the  confequences  of 
ttu'in. 

Thus  much  for  your  divinity  :  Now,  Sir,  if  you 
plcafe  for  your  logic.  We  have  canvaiTcd  your  doc- 
trine ;  let  us  next  coniider  the  argument,  with  which 
you  eflablifh  it.  This  is,  if  pollible,  ten  thouland 
times  more  exceptionable  than  the  tenet  itfelf.  For 
after  having  told  your  audience,  that  the  carnal  de- 
light, which  you  fo  earneftly  prefs  to  take,  is  agree- 
able to  the  reafon  of  things,  is  confonant  to  the  de- 
figns  of  providence,  you  think  proper  to  add,  that  it 
is  alib  countenanced  by  our  Saviour's  example;  fince, 
at  a  certain  marriage- fcaft,  when  the  wine  fell  fliort, 
he  wrought  a  miracle,  and  furnilhed  them  with  a  frcfh 
fupply  on  purpofe,  That  the  mirth  might  not  die. 
This  was  your  expreffion.  And,  furely,  a  more  fliock- 
ing  one  never  came  from  a  preacher's  lips.  Was  ever 
fo  abject  and  fcurvy  a  reafon  affigned,  for  one  of  the 
rnoft  illuftrious  actions  ?  Could  any  debauched  liber- 
tine, at  a  drunken  club,  have  derogated  more  contu- 
jnelioufly  from  the  dignity  of  our  Lord's  behaviour  ? 
Jefus,  the  mirrour  of  purity,  the  fountain  of  wifdom, 
of  whom  it  is  teflified.  That  he  did  all  things  well  ; — 
this  wife  and  glorious  Being  is  reprcfented,  not  by  an 
abandoned  fot,  but  by  a  minifter  of  the  gofpel,  as 
exerting  his  omnipotence  to  prolong  a  merry  bout. 
O  !  that  it  might  not  be  told  in  Gath,  or  publifhed  in 
the  ftreets  of  ^Jkelon  !  But — -fugitirrevocabile  verbum; 
you  cannot  revoke  the  words.  The  only  reparation 
you  can  make  to  the  injured  Jefus,  or  the  offended 
Chriftian,  is  to  give  us  a  fermon  of  recantation,  and 
antidote  the  poiibn  that  has  been  propagated. 

But,  1  would  hope,  it  is  too  grofs  to  ipread.   That 
mjrth  may  not  die,  is  an  aflertion  that  muft  fhrtlc 

every 


Let.  17.         o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R   S.  363 

every  hearer.  Why,  this  a  common  vintner  might 
have  prevented,  as  well  as  an  almighty  Being  :  a  few 
flafks  from  the  tavern  would  have  anfwered  this  end. 
Molt  ignoble  purpofe  !  unworthy,  altogether  unwor- 
thy fo  auguft,  divine,  and  admirable  a  perfon. —  O  ! 
what  a  handle  does  this  yield  to  infidels  for  prophanc 
banter  !  That  Jefus  mould  defcend  from  the  heaven  of 
heavens,  and  come  into  the  world,  vetted  with  un- 
controllable power,  on  fo  poor,  grovelling,  and  fordid 
an  errand  !  That  a  part  of  his  bullncfs,  in  the  ftate  of 
humanity,  {hould  be  to  guard  againft  the  extinction  of 
fiich  idle  mirth,  as  owes  its  birth  to  a  bottle  !  The 
ibldiers  that  (tripled  our  Lord  of  his  apparel,  and 
mocked  his  facrcd  perfon  ;  that  fpit  upon  his  blcfTed 
face,  buffeted  his  divine  head,  and  loaded  him  with 
all  manner  of  fcurrilities  and  indignities  ;  did  not  com- 
mit (in  my  opinion)  fo  flagrant  an  abuie,  as  a  modern 
preacher  in  one  of  his  ftudied  folemn  harangues.  They 
took  him  to  be  a  mere  man  ;  they  pronounced  him-  a 
vile  man  j  and,  therefore,  offered  him  fuch  opprobrious 
affronts.  But  you,  Sir,  acknowledge  him  to  be  God  ; 
you  know  him  to  be  infinitely  wife,  and  yet  make 
him  a  lackquey  to  the  molt  errant  trifles,  a  drudge  to 
mens  carnal  indulgencics. — Suppofe  both  our  houfes 
of  parliament,  after  the  matured  deliberation,  {hould 
employ  the  whole  army  of  the  nation,  to  clear  away 
all  obftruclions  for  a  butterfly  in  her  flowery  range, 
<>r  to  fee  that  a  filly  kitten  goes  on  unmokfled  in  her 
fportive  gambols  ;  would  you  extol  the  wifdom  of  our 
fenators  ?  would  you  not  cry  lliame  upon  their  con- 
duel:  ?  Now,  your  affertion  is  full  as  depredatory  to 
the  consummate  prudence,  and  exemplary  purity  of 
our  divine  Mailer  :  lince  you  fet  them  both  on  work, 
joined  with  his  irreliftible  might,  only  to  furnifh  out 
'  a  little  more  gaiety,  a  little  more  laughter,  to  a  fet  of 
caroufers,  whom  you  dcfcribe  as  pretty  well  in  for  it 
already. 

That  the  mirth  might  not  die  !  That  is,  That  thofe  who 

Z  z  2  were 


364         A     COLLECTION          Let.  17, 

were  already  made  merry  with  liquor,  might  go  on  in 
their  jovial  delights,  till  they  added  dninkenneisto  their 
third.  For  when  people  arc  thus  exhilarated,  to  take 
frefh  draughts,  and  pour  down  more  wine,  mull  in- 
deed make  them,  as  a  profdfrd  icorner  profanely  ex- 
prelTes  himfclf,  on  this  very  occafion,  more  than  half 
feas  over.  So  that  when  you  give  an  evafive  flonrilh 
or  two,  and  would  have  your  hearers  to  believe,  that 
you  are  no  advocate  for  intemperance,  it  is  plain, 
you  are  only  complimenting  the  cauie  of  fobriety. 
This  interpretation  put  upon  our  Lord's  conduct, 
knocks  all  inch  (ham  pretences  on  the  head.  For,  if 
he  wrought  the  miracle  with  fuch  a  view,  and  for 
fuch  fort  of  people,  all  the  world  cannot  clear  him 
from  being  a  promoter  of  exccfs  ;  and  if  he  did  not, 
all  the  world  cannot  acquit  you,  Sir,  from  the  mod 
abulive  mifreprelentations  of  your  Redeemer. 

That  the  mirth  might  not  die  !  What  could  a  lewd 
rake  have  done  at  his  riotous  table,  worfe  than  that 
which  you  afcribe  to  the  pattern  of  all  perfection  ? 
My  blood  grows  chill  :  my  thoughts  recoil  at  ib  hor- 
rid a  poiition.  Any  gentleman  of  tolerable  feriouf- 
nefs,  when  he  perceives  his  friends  are  got  merry 
with  his  drink,  would  rather  withdraw  the  glafs,  than 
add  fewel  to  the  flame.  For  my  part,  I  fhoukl  think 
myfelf  an  abettor  of  excels,  and  little  better  than  a 
pimp  for  debauchery,  if  when  men  are  merry  in  their 
cups,  I  fhould  fupply  them  with  means  of  driving  on 
the  wanton  humour.  And  yet, — be  amazed,  O  ye 
heavens,  and  be  horribly  afraid,  Dearth  ! — Aminifter, 
in  the  midfl  of  a  thronged  congregation,  charges  this 
very  practice  upon  the  mofl  immaculate  Lamb  of  God  ! 
— O  !  Sir,  how  could  he  who  came  to  be  our  ianctifica- 
tion,  adminifter  to  our  inordinate  gratifications?  how 
could  he  who  has  injoincd  us  not  to  make  provilion  for 
thefleflito  fulfil  the  lufts  thereof,  be  inftrumental  to  con- 
tinue a  luxurious  revel  ? — O  blefled  Jefus,  furely  that 
is  fulfilled  which  was  fpoken  by  thy  prophet,  Thou 

art 


Let.  17.         OF     LETTERS.  365- 

art  wounded  in  the  houfe  of  thy  friends.  Thy  cha- 
racter is  debated,  thy  doctrines  adulterated,  by  thoi'e 
who  profefs  themielves  adorers  of  the  one,  and  ex- 
pounders of  the  other'.  O  !  that  ever  the  Chnfhan 
pulpit  mould  become  a  porch  to  the  temple  of  Bac- 
chus !  and  a  ChrilHan  preacher  act  the  part  of  a  pur- 
veyor for  the  tippling- houic  ! 

Do  you  intend  to  pleaic,  Sir,  or  to  profit  your  au- 
dience, by  theie  admonitions  ? — You  can  pleaic  none 
but  men  of  corrupt  minds,  whofe  God  is  their  belly, 
who  mind  earthly  things.  You  can  profit  none  but 
thole,  whofe  heaven  is  to  be  found  in  the  juice  of  the 
grape.  They  can  iervc  no  other  end,  but  to  give  a 
ibrt  of  Canction  to  their  extravagancies.  Your  lec- 
tures, perhaps,  may  be  recollected  with  applauie  on  an 
ale-bench,  and  pleaded  among  a  circle  of  jolly  topers. 
But  I  allure  you,  Sir,  they  are  heard  by  the  ferious 
and  devout,  with  the  utoioft  ibrrow,  and  with  equal 
deteftation,  Their  ears  are  wounded,  and  their  hearts 
bleed,  under  the  found  of  fuch  Bacchanalian  doctrines. 

May  I  now  be  permitted  to  declare  my  Centimcnts, 
with  regard  to  that  paffage  of  icripture,  'which  you 
have  Co  unhappily  perverted  ? 

As  to  the  mii  th  you  leem  Co  fond  of,  there  is  no 
mention  of  it  in  the  Cacred  narrative.  For  Chrift  went 
not  about  to  fpread  the  laugh  among  his  company, 
but  to  make  them  Cerious,  Cober,  and  wife  unto  Cal- 
vation.  If  he  vouchfafed  his  prcfencc  at  entertain- 
ments, and  Cat  at  .the  tables  of  finners,  it  was  with 
a  gracious  clefign  of  inlh-ucting  and  converting  them 
in  their  own  houfcs.  He  came  to  featts  in  the  fame 
Cpirit,  and  for  the  Came  purpoies,  ns  he  came  into  the 
world  ;  to  turn  poor  mankind  from  darkncis  unto 
light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God;  Co  that 
none  can  imagine,  whtn  he  was  in  the  room,  that 
there  could  be  anything  like  that  licentious  divcrlion, 
which  too  generally  prevails  in  our  merry  meetings. 
Jfthcy  did  rejoice,  they  rejoiced,  doubtkfs,  after  a 

godly 


366          A     COLLECTION         Let.  17. 

godly  fort.  They  rejoiced  in  the  precious  and  in- 
flructive  words,  that  dropped  from  Chrift's  Jips,  as 
fWects  from  an  honey-comb.  They  rejoiced  to  have  ib 
divine  a  prophet  railed  up  unto  God's  people,  and  to 
have  the  honour  of  fo  illutlrious  a  perfonage  amonglt 
them.  They  rejoiced,  without  all  peradventure,  to 
fee,  and  hear,  and  handle  the  word  of  life. 

As  for  that  exprelfion,  which  we  tranflate  well 
drunk. — M«6uja-«j«»,— profane  wits,  1  know,  raile  mighty 
triumphs  upon  it  :  but,  in  truth,  they  are  -#«/'i/- build- 
ings, and  proofs  of  nothing  but  their  own  folly. 
They  thereby  give  us  to  underftand,  that  their  want 
of  i'enfe  is  as  unqueftionable,  as  their  malignity  to 
Chriftianity.  For,  iurely,  they  mull  be  full  as  errant 
idiots,  as  they  are  fhamelefs  lots,  who  can  offer  to 
fetch  the  leafl  fhadow  of  a  plea  for  riotous  indulgen- 
ces from  this  paflage.  Since,  let  the  meaning  of  the 
word  be  ever  fo  loofe  and  exceptionable,  yet  nothing 
can  be  concluded  from  thence,  againft  the  ceconomy 
and  decorum  of  that  entertainment,  becaufe  the  go- 
vernor fpeaks  only  of  the  ufual  cultom.  at  other  treats. 
He  fays  not  a  word,  good  or  bad,  of  the  guefts  that 
were  prefent  at  that  bridal-  feftival.  It  muft,  there- 
fore, be  not  only  precarious,  but  ridiculous  and  ab~ 
furd,  to  infer  the  diforderly  proceedings  of  thofe 
people,  from  what  the  ruler  obferves  concerning  o- 
thers.  I  once  was  acquainted  with  a  worthy  gentle- 
man, who  frequently  invited  to  his  table  the  young 
perfons  of  his  neighbourhood  ;  and.would  take  a  plea- 
lure  in  infilling  or  cultivating  in  their  minds  the  prin- 
ciples of  fobricty,  induftry,  and  piety.  Now  in  cafe 
he  had  faid,  after  fupper  was  removed,  kt  I  know 
very  well,  my  honeft  neighbours,  it  is  cuftomary  with 
fome  perfons  of  fortune,  both  to  pleafe  and  pride 
themfelves  in  making  their  viiitants  drunk.  They 
pufh  the  glafs  briikiy  rouifxl,  and  prefs  one  bumper 
upon  another,  till  they  fend  their  guefts  daggering  to 
bed."  But, — now,  would  any  one  be  fo  ftupis,  as  to 

infer 


Let.  17-      OF       LETTERS.        367 

infer  from  this  acknowledgment  of  the  practice  of  o- 
thers,  that  this  was  alfo  the  practice  of  my  friend  ? 
Yet  this  they  may  do,  with  as  much  juftnefs  and  fo- 
lidity  of  reafoning,  as  deduce  any  maxim  in  favour  of 
excefs  from  the  fpecchof  the  slrchitriclinus  (or  mailer 
of  the  fcaft  ) 

Evident,  1  think,  it  is,  that  this  exprellion,  what- 
ever be  its  exact  import,  is  in  no  wife  referable  to  the 
condition  of  thofe  guefts  ;  Ib  that  we  allow  our  adver- 
iaries  too  much  advantage,  by  admitting  any  of  their 
remarks  upon  its  fignirication.  We  mould  wreft  this 
weapon  out  of  their  hands,  which  they  brandifh  ib 
formidably,  rather  than  guard  agninft  its  ftrokes. — 
But  in  cafe  it  was  applicable  to  them,  yet  it  is  moft 
monftrous,  to  fuppoie  it  fignificant  of  the  lead  devia- 
tion from  temperance.  For  had  we  not  known  the 
company  to  be  of  the  moft  exemplary  behaviour,  and 
heavenly-minded  fpirit;  had  they  been  a  parcel  of  ir- 
religious and  lewd  fellows,  inftead  of  the  virgin-mo- 
ther, and  the  Redeemer's  difciples,  yet  it  would  be  im- 
potfible  to  conceive,  that  any  thing  which  had  the 
lead  approach  towards  furfeiting  and  drunkennefs 
mould  be  tolerated,  when  Jefus  himfelf  was  in  the 
midlt  of  them.  Before  ib  venerable  and  divine  a  per- 
fon,  they  would  not  dare  tfo  allow  themfelvcs  in  any 
miibecoming  indulgences,  or  indecencies  of  carriage. 
Bcfidcs,  had  their  inclinations  been  ever  Ib  abandon- 
ed or  impetuous,  his  eternal  power  and  Godhead 
would  have  retrained  them.  He  that  intimidated 
the  facrilegious  rabble,  when  they  profaned  the  tem- 
ple, and  drove  them  before  his  fmgle  fcourge  ;  he  that 
ftruck  proftrate  to  the  ground,  a  whole  band  of  armed 
men,  only  with  his  word  ;  he  that  had  all  hearts  in  his 
hand,  and  could  manage  them  as  lie  pleated  ;  would, 
doubtlefs,  have  forbid,  at  this  junfturc,  whatever 
"bordered  upon  diffolutenefs. 

Should  any  one  inquire,  For  what   caufe  then  did 
Chrift  work  this  miracle,  if  not  to  revive  the  dying 

mirth  I 


368  A     COLLECTION      Let.  17. 

mirth  ? — I  anfwer,  ieveral  noble  reafons  are  affigriablc 
and  obvious. 

One  ;  To  furnifh  a  fupply  for  frefh  guefts,  which 
on  thole  occalions  were  continually  pouring  in  ;  that 
the  feaft  might  be  prolonged  to  its  ufual  period,  and  all 
that  came  might  be  moderately  refrefhed.  For  1  can 
by  no  means  imagine,  that  this  frefli  fupply  was  in- 
tended for  thofe  who  had  cheared  themielves  already 
with  a  fufficient  quantity.  This  indeed  is  what  your 
ibrmon  takes  for  granted,  or  elie  your  application  of 
this  fad:  is  frivolous  and  impertinent.  But  1  promiie 
mylelf,  when  you  give  it  a  fecond  consideration,  you 
will  wonder,  how  lo  unworthy  a  thought  could  come 
into  your  mind  ;  and  be  forry,  that  it  ihould  ever 
proceed  from  your  lips ;  flnce  it  is  fo  entirely  repug- 
nant to  the  whole  character,  conduct,  and  preaching 
of  our  Lord  Jefus. 

Another  reatbn  might  be,  To  reward  the  married 
pair,  for  their  hofpitality  to  himfelf  and  his  followers  : 
To  give  early  notice  to  the  world,  that  none  mould  be 
lofers  by  (hewing  kindnefs  to  him  or  his :  That  every 
piece  of  refpecl  paid  to  Jeitis,  and  every  kindnefs  cx- 
ercifed  towards  his  family,  mould  meet  with  a  full  re- 
compenfe  of  reward.  Thus  did  he  prepare  an  exten- 
five  fund  for  thofe,  who  had  forfaken  houfes,  lands, 
relations,  and  their  earthly  all,  for  his  fake  ;  prep  ire 
a  fund  for  their  fubfiftence,  by  difpofing  people  to  en- 
tertain and  accommodate  them,  when  they  Ihould  be 
fent  forth,  without  ftatf,  or  icrip,  or  money  in  their 
purfcs. 

Another  caufe,  and  that  which  is  remarked  by  the 
holy  hiftorian,  was,  To  manifeft  forth  his  glory  ;  to 
give  a  moft  confpicuous  difplay  of  his  Meffiahfhip. 
He  opened,  as  it  were,  his  commiftlon,  and  fliewed 
his  divine  credentials  :  which  was  done  with  perfect 
propriety,  in  a  public  manner,  before  more  fpeclators 
than  his  own  attendants  :  And  whatever  effect  it 
might  have  upon  others,  it  confirmed  the  faith  of  his 

difciples. 


Let.  I?,         o  F     L   £   T  T  E   R   S.  369 

difciples.  Seeing  this  incontestable  proof  of  his  million* 
it  is  laid,  They  believed  on  him  ;  and  were  thence- 
forth inviolably  attached  to  his  perion  and  miniftry. 

Other  rcafons  may  be  fuggelled,  and  thofc  exceed- 
ing found  and  tifeful  ;  fuch  as  point  out  a  noble  and 
deep  iignificancy  in  this  miracle  ;  make  it  rich  with 
divine  and  Ipiritual  meaning ;  and,  upon  this  footing* 
a  more  delicious  feaft  for  our  fouls,  than  wines  of  the 
fincit  flavour,  and  mod  generous  quality,  are  to  our 
animal  nature. 

For  inftance  ;  it  might  fignify  the  fuperior  richnefs 
of  thole  comforts^  which  his  goipel  was  introducing 
into  the  world  :  That  they  exceeded  thofe  broached 
by  Mofes  and  the  law,  as  much  as  the  pure  blood  of 
the  grape  excells  the  water  of  our  common  wells  : 
That  his  flefh  and  blood  would  be  a  fovereign  fource 
of  alacrity  and  conlblation  to  his  people  ;  gladden 
and  revive  their  hearts,  like  fome  exquitite  cordial  ; 
ftrengthen'and  invigorate  their  minds,  like  the  beft- 
bodied  wines. 

This  particular  feafon  of  a  marriage-ceremony,  was 
probably  chofen,  in  order  to  intimate  the  neceffity  of 
being  efpoufed  and  united  to  Chrift,  before  we  can  be 
partakers  of  thefe  evangelical  delights.  Divorced  we 
mult  be  from  our  old  huiband,  the  law  ;  divorced 
from  the  covenant  of  works  ;  and  no  longer  wedded, 
by  ielf-opiiiionativenefs,  to  our  own  righteoufneffes  ; 
but  married,  by  the  bond  of  a  lively  faith,  to  that 
cvcrlaiting  Bridegroom,  in  order  to  taftc  thole  com- 
forts, and  have  our  (hare  in  thofe  joys. 

A  reaibn  fixed  upon  by  our  church  is,  That  Chrift 
would  hereby  put  an  honour  upon  the  matrimonl! 
ftate  ;  by  gracing  the  folemnity  with  his  {acred  com- 
pany, and  performing  his  firlt  public  miracle  on  this 
.  occafion.  A  fine  admonition  this,  to  render  us  more 
than  ordinarily  folicitous,  to  have  the  favourable  con- 
cur»ence  of  jcfus,  both  when  we  devile,  and  whert 
we  take,  ib  important  a  ftep.  Becaufc  the 

VOL,  V.  N°  24.  I  A 


370         A     COLLECTION         Let.  17. 

lity  and  happinefs  of  our  fubiequent  life  depends,  very 
much,  on  this  alteration  of  our  condition. — That  we 
Ihould,  by  all  means,  marry  in  the  Lord  ;  and  im- 
plore his  fpiritual  gracious  pretence  at  the  wedding  ; 
which  will  improve  the  advantages,  and  fanclify  the 
enjoyments,  of  that  comfortable  ftate  ;  will,  as  it  is 
delicately  figured  out  in  the  metaphor,  turn  our  wa- 
ter into  wine. 

It  might  alib  be  intended  to  remind  us,  That  the 
comforts,  even  of  animal  life,  were  recovered  by  the 
ieconcl  Adam,  as  they  were  forfeited  by  the  firft  Adam* 
When  our  firft  parents  were  guilty  of  rebellion  againft 
their  Maker,  they  loft  all  right  to  the  valuable  pro- 
ductions of  nature.  This,  indeed,  was  their  dowery 
originally  fettled  upon  them  ;  but  by  their  difloyalty 
it  became  confiscated.  Juftice  ieized  upon  their  in- 
heritance, and  vengeance  laid,  Curfed  be  the  ground 
for  your  fakes.  Chrift,  in  this  exigency,  immediately 
intcrpofed  ;  took  off  the  attainder,  and  reftored  to 
poor  Adam  and  his  pofterity,  the  precious  fruits  of  the 
earth.  Thefe  bleffings,  derived  from  Chrift 's  media- 
tiony  were  very  properly  recognized  at  a  wedding  \ 
becaufe,  ftraightway  after  the  marriage  of  the  firft 
couple,  they  were  alienated  and  fequeftered. 

This,  Sir,  is  a  way  of  expounding  our  Redeemer's 
miracles,  well  worthy  your  confideration,  if  not  your 
imitation.  In  this  light  they  appear,  not  barely  fo 
many  witneifes  of  his  being  the  Melfiah,  but  fo  many 
living  mirrours  of  his  mediatorial  mercies.  In  which 
we  difcern  a  moft  expreilive  figure  of  thofe  fpiritual 
good  things,  which  we  extremely  want,  and  may  ful- 
ly enjoy  thro*  Jefus  Chrift. — The  marvellous  things 
brought  to  pafs  by  the  agency  of  prophets,  apoftles, 
nnd  holy  men  of  old,  were  indifpntablc  vouchers  for 
their  being  lent  of  God.  But  our  Redeemer's  works 
had  a  farther  excellency,  and  anlwcred  a  diviner  end. 
They  held  forth  and  prefented,  even  to  the  fenfes,  a 
moft  ftriking  pattern  of  thofe  fpiritual  blcflings,  which 

finners 


Let.  17.         OF     LETTERS. 

finners  may  enjoy  thro'  their  Saviour. — Thus,  when 
he  cured  the  man  born  blind  ;  what  did  this  fignify 
but  his  healing  the  blindneis  of  our  understandings,, 
and  pouring  the  day  of  his  glorious  gofpel  upon  our 
internal  light  ? — When  he  made  the  poor  paralytic 
ftrong  and  vigorous,  that  was  not  able  to  turn  himfelf 
on  his  bed,  or  to  u-fe  his  limbs  ;  what  a  lively  emblem 
was  here,  both  of  our  difeafc,  arid  his  fovercign  help  ? 
Of  our  difeaie,  whereby  we  are  utterly  impotent  to 
do  a  good  work,  or  think  a  good  thought  :  of  his 
ibvcreign  help,  whereby  we  are  enabled  to  do  all  things, 
through  Chritt  Strengthening  us  ;  enabled  to  believe 
through  his  grace,  and  to  mortify  our  corruptions 
through  his  Spirit. — Was  not  the  filthy  leper,  a  true 
pi&urc  of  our  loathfoinenefs,  through  original  defile- 
ment, and  actual  tranfgremons  ?  and  when  our  Re- 
deemer difclained  not  to  touch  this  noifome  creature,  and 
make  him  perfectly  clean  ;  how  appofitely  did  this 
image  point  out  the  condefcenfion  of  his  goodnefs,  in 
undertaking  our  redemption  ;  and  the  efficacy  of  his 
blood  in  accomplifhing  our  purification  ? — 1  might 
go  through  the  whole  feries  of  our  Lord's  miracles, 
and  dilcover  in  them  a  mod  fignificant  and  complete 
portraiture  of  all  manner  of  ipjritual  bleilings. — But  the 
foregoing  instances  {hall  Suffice.  From  theie  hints,  we 
may  difcern  an  adorable  depth  of  defign  ~3  unfearcbable 
treafures  of  contrivance,  as  well  as  beneficence,  inthofe 
operations  of  his  mighty  power.  Which  noble  pecu- 
liarity gives  them  a  vaSt  pre-eminence  above  all  the 
miracles  in  Egypt,  and  the  wonders  in  the  field  of  Zoanj 
renders  them  ib  many  fine  reprefentations  of  the  de- 
liverances and  privileges,  enjoyable  through  our  ever- 
blefTed  Immanuel  ;  in  a  word,  renders  them  a  kind  of 
gofpelthat  addrcllesitfclf  even  to  our  eyes  ;  and  ib  mod 
,  -wifely  calculated,  both  to  direct  our  hopes,  and  itrength- 
-cn  our  faith,  in  the  incarnate  God. — 1  am,  &c. 

3  A  2  L  E  T- 


|J7*          A     COLLECTION         Let. 
LETTER      XVIII. 


Madam^  Bath,  1743. 

AT  Bath  1  have  tarried  thus  long,  but  purpofe  to 
fct  forward  for  my  father's  houfe,  if  I  live  till 
next  week  ;  and  if  I  have  as  good  a  journey  thither, 
fis  I  had  to  this  place,  \  lhall  have  caufe  to  be  very 
thankful  to  that  gracious  Providence,  which  blefles 
our  going  out,  and  our  coming  in  ;  which  protects 
us  from  wrong  and  robbery  ;  from  evil  accidents 
and  dangers  as  with  a  fhield.  1  hope  you,  Madarn, 
and  Mr  -  :,  are  well  ;  and  mould  rejoice  to  hear  of 
your  both  being  partakers  of  that  which  I  wilh  you 
to  enjoy  ;  and  none  can  be  faid  truly  to  enjoy  health,  but 
thofe  who  improve  it  to  the  purpofe  :  all  others  wafte 
health  ;  embezzle  it  ;  fquander  it  away  ;  all  but  thofe 
\vho  ufe  it,  as  a  precious  opportunity  of  making  the  ir 
calling  and  eleclion  lure.  We  have  had  moll  delicate 
•weather  for  the  harveft  «  a  bleffing,  which  I  don't 
doubt  has  been  vouchfafed  to  you  as  well  as  to  us  ;  an 
univerfal  bleffing!  andfuchaswill  prove  very  extenfive. 
"We  (hall  feel  the  good  eftech  of  it,  all  the  year  round, 
when  winter  freezes  the  air,  and  turns  the  earth  into 
iron,  or  buries  it  under  heaps  of  fnow.  We  (hall  be 
refrefhed  even  then  with  the  productions  of  the  fruit- 
ful ieafon,  O!  that  our  hearts  may  be  filled  with 
gratitude,  as  our  barns  are  with  plenty.  The  harvdt 
puts  me  in  mind  of  the  end  of  the  world  \  then  our 
bodies  mail  arife  out  of  the  dufl  of  the  earth  ;  having 
lain  a  while  under  the  cleds  and  fecn  corruption,  they 
•will  then  fpring  up  incorruptible  and  immortal,  an 
amazing  multitude,  like  the  blades  of  grafs,  or  the 
ears  of  corn,  innumerable. 

The  huibandman  in  harveft,  receives  a  reward  for 
all  his  toil.  The  labours  of  the  preceding  year  are 
amply  recompensed  by  the  rich  fruits  of  increaie. 
And  the  confummation  of  all  things  will  be  the  great 
retribution-day  j  then  the  Chriftian  receives  the  end 


Let.  19.          o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R   S.  373 

of  his  faith,  even  the  falvation  of  his  foul  ;  then  the 
riches  he  has  coveted,  will  be  bellowed  in  the  favour 
of  the  feeing  him  who  is  immortal,  invifible  ;  whole 
loving-kindnefs  is  better  than  life.  He  will  fee  the  de- 
fire  of  his  foul,  and  the  fruits  of  his  Saviour's  fuffer- 
ings,  and  fit  down  everlaiHngly  fatisfied.  The  hufband- 
man  rejoices  in  harveft,,  this  is  his  time  of  feftivity 
and  delight.  They  joy  before  thee,  faith  the  fcrip- 
tures,  according  to  the  joy  of  the  righteous  ;  they 
will  look  up  and  rejoice,  to  behold  thek  Redeemer 
coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  all  the  holy  an- 
gels with  him  ;  then  will  they  look  down  and  rejoice 
to  fee  the  wicked  world  burning,  in  which  they  were 
tempted  ;  rejoice  to  fee  all  their  enemies  put  under 
their  feet ;  and  when  the  doors  of  heaven  are  left  open, 
then  mall  they  enter  triumphantly  into  that  city  of 
the  living  God,  and  everlaiting  joy  will  be  upon  their 
heads,  and  reign  with  Chrift  for  evermore.  Into  this 
exceeding  great  and  eternal  blifs,  I  wifh  you,  Madam, 
and  your  huiband,  an  abundant  entrance,  and  remain 
his  and  vour,  &c. 


LETTER       XIX. 

Dear ,  ffefton-Favell,  1744- 

IPromifed  -. to  fend  the  remainder  of  her  let- 
ter, in  a  few  lines  to  you.  Either  me  may  tran- 
ilribc  from  you,  or  you  from  her,  in  order  to  com- 
plete the  little  effay. — i  left  off,  1  think,  fomewhere 
hereabouts. — But  Jpiritual  inter  efts  arc  infinitely  more 
valuable.  For  thole,  therefore,  Chrilt  will  provide 
more  abundantly  :  if  they  want  knowledge,  he  will 
not  only  give  them  his  divine  word,  but  his  enlighten- 
ing Spirit,  to  lead  them  into  all  tiuth. — If  they  are 
poor,  he  will  give  them  the  fine  gold  of  his  obedience  : 
he  will  fay  to  them  as  the  father  fain  in  the  parable, 
Son,  all  that  I  have  is  thine.  Are  they  wounded  ?  he 

will 


574         A    COLLECTION        Let.  19. 

will  give  them  the  healing  balm  of  his  precious  blood  ; 
this  will  cure  the  won  ml  which  fin  has  made  in  the 
foul  ;  and  make  the  bones  which  have  been  bioken, 
to  rejoice.  Arc  they  naked  ?  he  will  clothe  them  with 
the  robe  of  his  own  rtghteoufne&  ;  they  fhall  appeal- 
before  the  God  of  gods  in  the  garments  of  thi*  their 
elder  brother.  Arc  they  weak  ?  his  ftrength  fliall  be 
made  perfect  in  their  weaknefs  ;  he  will  work  in  them 
both  tc  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleafure.  When 
they  die,  he  has  provided  a  flight  of  angels  to  attend 
their  departing  fouls,  and  conduct  them  to  his  own 
compafiionate  arms  ;  he  has  provided  maniions  of  glory, 
a  houfe  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens, 
for  their  future  reception.  He  has  provided  a  fulneis 
of  joy  and  pleasures  for  evermore,  for  their  final  por- 
tion and  inheritance. 

Oh  1  what  ample  provifion  is  here  !  this  is  indeed 
good  mcaiure,  prcfTed  down,  and  fnaken  together,  and 
running  over- — What  can  needy  creatures  want,  which 
Jefus  does  not  fuppiy  ?  Jultly  was  it  once  laid  by  an 
eminent  believer,  Jehovah  Jireh,  The  Lord  will  pro- 
vide. Let  this  be  the  language  of  our  hearts  in  all 
our  needs. 

The  hen  comforts  her  winter-brood  ;  fhe  fcreens 
them  from  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather.  She 
fpreads  out  her  wings,  and  forms  a  canopy  over  them  ; 
this  affords  them  a  houle  to  lodge  in,  and  a  bed  to 
ilccp  on  ;  no  velvet  is  fofter,  no  blankets  are  warmer  ; 
here  they  are  cherilhed  and  refreihed  ;  here  they  find 
heat  when  they  fhiver  with  cold,  are  dried  when  they 
come  dropping  with  wet. 

Jefus  allb  comforts  his  poor  people  ;  he,  is  called  the 
c onfolation  of  IJrael :  Come  unto  me,  lays  the  merci- 
ful Redeemer,  ail  ye  that  labour,  and  are  heavy  laden, 
and  I  will  give  you  reft  ;  all  ye  that  are  weary,  and  I 
will  refrefh  you.  He  is  afflicted  in  all  their  affliction*, 
and  is  as  ready  to  fuccour  them,  as  a  man  is  to  ailay 

the 


Let.  19.          o  F     L   E  T  T   E   R   S,  375- 

the  anguim  of  his  own  fmarting  fiefh.  He  is  the  good, 
the  inconceivably- good  Shepherd,  whofe  bowels  yearn 
with  the  tendered  compaffion,  when  his  lambs  are  fa- 
tigued or  diftrtfled  ;  he  even  lays  them  in  his  bofom. 
— Every  thing  but  Jefus  {peaks  terror,  and  creates 
difmay  to  his  little  flock.  But  this  compaffionate 
Shepherd  leads  them  forth  befides  the  waters  of  com- 
fort. The  world  lays  many  a  fnare  for  their  feet ;  the 
world  peribcutes  and  hates  them.  In  the  world  they 
inuft  have  tribulation  ;  but  Chrift  fays,  Be  of  good 
cheer,  I  have  overcome  the  world,  and  will  make 
you  partakers  of  my  victory  ;  becauie  I  have  conquer- 
ed, ye  (hall  conquer  alib.  The  law  lays  dreadful 
things  to  their  charge  ;  the  law  is  the  miniftration  of 
condemnation  ;  the  law  thunders  out  threatenings  : 
they  are  rebels,  fays  that  righteous  law  ;  they  have 
traufgi  effed  my  precepts  ;  they  deferve  to  iuffer  ail 
the  curies  denounced  againft  the  diibbedici-t  and  un- 
godly. But  Chrift  gently  whifpers,  Be  of  good  cou- 
rage, my  people,  take  fan&uary  in  your  Mediator,  I 
have  anlwered  all  the  demands  of  the  law  :  if  it  re- 
quires punilbment,  i  fuflained  torments  unutterable  ; 
if  it  infifts  on  blood,  I  fatisfied  it  with  divine  blood  ; 
with  every  drop  of  my  heart's  blood ;  fo  that  there  is 
no  condemnation  to  them  that  nre  intereited  in  me. 
If  it  called  for  righteoufnefs,  I  fubmitted  to  its  autho- 
rity ;  I  performed  every  jot  and  tittle  of  its  commands, 
and  thereby  brought  in  a  perfect  and  everlafting  righ- 
teoufnefs. Lay  hold  on  my  obedience  ;  receive  this 
from  my  free  grace,  and  the  law  has  nothing  more  to 
charge  againft  you  ;  for  the  rigiiteonihefs  of  the  law- 
is  fulfilled  in  them  that  believe,  though  the  devil 
tempts  and  diflrefles  the  children  of  Jeius.— He  not 
only  tempts,  but  accufcs  them,  aggravating  and  calling 
.aloud  for  vengeance  ;  cries,  Down  with  them,  clown 
with  them,  even  to  the  duft.  But  Jcfus  gracioufly 
fteps  in,  baffles  the  a.ccufation,  arrefts  the  judgment, 
and  fays,  1  have  died  to  favc  them  from  poing  into 

the 


576  A     COLLECTION        Let.  19. 

the  pit ;  for  I  have  found  a  ranfom  ;  if  they  have  iin- 
ued,  I  have  taken  them  upon  myielf ;  if  they  have 
multiplied  tranfgrellions  as  the  fiars  of  heaven,  my 
Father  hath  laid  on  me  the  iniquities  of  them  all. 
They  arc  my  redeemed  ones  ;  they  are  bought  with 
my  blood.  I  cannot  lofe  my  purchaie  ;  if  they  are 
not  laved,  I  am  not  glorified. 

Such  fweet  truths  lent  home  upon  the  poor  foul, 
muft  be  very  comfortable  and  reitorative  to  the  droop- 
ing firmer  j  more  refrclhing  and  gladdening  to  the 
conicience,  than  the  feathers  of  the  hen  are  to  her 
feeble  ftarving  brood. 

Upon  the  whole,  let  us  imitate  the  chickens,  by 
trufting  in  Jelus  for  all  we  want  or  wifh  ;  let  us  lean 
upon  our  Beloved  in  all  our  progreis  through  this 
wildernels  ;  expect  to  be  furnifhed  entirely  out  of  his 
fulnefs  ;  look  for  protection  from  his  almighty  arm. 
Depend  upon  provifion  from  his  inexhauftible  trea- 
iures ;  and  for  comfort,  from  a  growing  fenic  of  our 
intereft  in  him. 

Let  this  be  the  habitual  language  of  our  heart. — 
BlelFed  Lord,  1  am  weak  and  wretched,  furround- 
ed  by  a  multitude  of  dangers,  and  defiled  by  a 
thouland  corruptions,  O  defend  me  by  thy  eter- 
nal power.  Let  thy  almighty  arm  be  over  me. 
Let  thy  Holy  Spirit  be  ever  with  me  ;  never 
leave  me  to  my  enemies  ;  never  give  me  up  to  my 
own  blindnefs  and  impotency,  for  I  flee  unto  thee  to 
hide  me  :  on  thee  I  depend  to  break  every  fnare  of 
temptation  that  endangers  me  from  without,  to  mor- 
tify every  feed  of  corruption  that  pollutes  me  from 
within.  1  am  poor  and  needy,  blelfed  Jeius,  do  thou 
provide  for  me.  .Since  I  muft  one  day  give  an  account 
of  myfelf  to  God ;  let  thy  blood  wafh  away  my  guilt, 
and  drown  all  my  tranlgrefiions.  Since  I  muft,  ere 
long,  ftand  before  him  whofe  eyes  are  as  a  burning 
fire,  O  !  clothe  me  with  the  robes  of  thy  righteoufneis, 
the  garments  of  falvation,  that  I  may  be  holy  and 

blamelefs 


Let.  20.         OF      LETTERS.  377 


blamclefs  in  his  fight.  Since  I  muft  quickly  die 
of  this  miferable  world,  provide  me  an  entrance  into 
thine  own  everlafHng  kingdom  ;  and  while  I  continue 
in  this  world,  provide  me  with  grace  fufficient  for  me, 
that  I  may  live  like  thine  eled,  and  adorn  the  gofpel 
of  God  my  Saviour. 

I  am  often  diftrefied  ;  mifgiving  thoughts  and  an- 
guifh  of  mind,  makes  me  hang  down  my  head  like  a 
bulrufh.  Through  fear  of  death,  and  dread  of  eternal 
judgment,  my  joints  are  fometimes  ready  to  fmite  one 
againft  another  ;  but  O  !  holy  and  mod  merciful  Sa- 
viour, be  thou  my  ilipport.  Pour  the  oil  of  gladnefs 
into  my  inner  man  ;  give  me  the  joy  of  thy  falvation  : 
the  law  condemns  me,  but  do  thou  juftify  me  ;  my 
own  confcicnce  writes  bitter  things  againfl  me,  but  do 
thou  whilper  to  my  foul,  Be  of  good  cheer,  thy  fins 
are  forgiven  thee.  The  roaring  lion  often  terrifies 
me  ;  but  O  !  thou  good  and  faithful  Shepherd,  let 
thyfclf  comfort  me.  Let  me  know  and  feel,  that  1 
am  thine,  and  then  nothing  (hall  pluck  me  out  of  thy 
hands. 

This  was  wrote  before  my  late  illnefs.  You  fee  from 
hence,  that  you  my  friends  at  Biddeford  have  been 
on  my  thoughts,  though  they  have  not  of  late  been 
addrelTed  by  way  of  letter  ;  and  I  (hall  always  fay, 
that  whether  we  are  fick  or  in  health,  the  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  may  be  the  ftrenth  of  our  hearts,  and  our  por- 
tion for  ever. — I  am,  f^c. 

LETTER       XX. 

Dear , 

IT  is  our  duty  continually  to  fing  hofanna  to  the  King 
of  Ijrael,  who  treadeth  all  enemies  under  his  feet. 
He  can  tread  them  down  like  clay  in  the  ftreets,  or 
caft  them    out  as  lightning  from  heaven.     Nothing  is 
impoffible  to  him  ;  they  who  know  Chrift's  faithful- 
VOL,  V.  N°  24.  38  ncfs 


A      COLLECTION       Let.  20. 

nefs  and  truth,  will  put  their  truft  in  him  ;  they  will 
hang  upon  him  every  moment,  as  the  feeble  child  in 
the  arms  of  the  indulgent  mother,  for  grace  to 
flrengthen  and  enable  them  to  withstand  the  devices 
of  that  enemy  of  fouls,  who  is  feeking  every  moment 
to  dcftroy  the  weak  believer,  the  babes  in  Chrift. — 
Satan  fays,  with  that  wicked  one  in  Exodus^  I  will  pur- 
fuc  them  with  inconceivable  malice  and  rage,  1  will  o- 
vertake  and  tear  them  in  pieces  like  a  lion ;  1  will  lay  ten 
thoufand  fnares  in  their  way,  and  if  it  be  poflible,  bring 
them  under  the  dominion  of  fin,  and  after  that  into 
the  damnation  of  hell. — The  believer  replies,  Thou 
vvouldft  effect  this,  O  thou  enemy  of  all  godlinefs.  I 
know  thou  wouldft  effeft  it  with  as  much  cafe,  as  a 
feather  is  borne  down  by  a  fweeping  whirlwind,  was 
I  left  a  moment  to  myfelf;  but  my  ftrength  do  I  afcribe 
unto  my  incarnate  God.  The  bleffed  Jefus  has  under- 
taken for  my  fecurity  ;  he  watches  over  me  every  mo- 
tnent,  and  nothing  can  pluck  me  out  of  his  hands. 
He  hath  faid,  who  (hall  difannul  it  ?  that  fin  mall  not 
have  dominion  over  me  ;  he  will  preferve  me  by  his 
almighty  power  unto  falvation.  Let  all  my  adverfa- 
t ies  know  affurcdly,  that  my  lafety  is  not  in  myfelf. — 
But  as  the  hills  (land  round  about  Jerujalem,  even  la 
ftandeth  the  Lord  round  about  his  people,  from  this 
time  forth  for  evermore. 

Whoever  attempts  the  ruin  of  a  foul  that  is  ftaid 
on  jefus,  muft  wrench  the  fovei  eignty  from  the  hand 
of  Omnipotence,  and  caufe  unftiaken  faithftilnefs  to 
.fail.  So  long  as  all  things  in  heaven  and  earth,  and 
under  the  earth,  do  bow,  and  obey  the  Lamb  that 
was  (lain  ;  fo  long  as  ChrSft  is  a  God  unchangeable, 
and  faithful  that  cannot  lie,  fo  long  (hall  a  poor  feeble 
worm  that  trufts  in  him,  be  fecure  from  apoftafy  ant} 
perdition.  O  !  the  bleilings,  the  comforts  that  fpring 
from  a  right  knowledge  of  Jcfus  !  Richer  bleffings  I 
cannot  wifh  !  greater  treafures  I  cannot  enjoy  nor  pof- 
fe|s.  This,  this  alone  is  that  knowledge  which  St 


Let.  21.          OF     LETTERS.  379 

Paul  valued  above  all  other  accomplifhments  or  acquire- 
ments ;  in  comparifon  of  which,  he  counted  all  things 
elie  no  better  than  drois  or  dung.  O  !  let  my  dear 
Biddeford  friends  beg  of  the  Father  of  lights  to  fend 
out  the  Spirit  of  wifdom  and  revelation,  that  I  may 
be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  him,  and  of  Jems 
Chrift  whom  he  hath  fent  ;  and  in  return  both  they 
and  you,  my  frieilds,  may  be  allured  of  the  moft 
hearty  and  repeated  prayers  of — 

Your  fincere  friend, 


LETTER       XXI. 

ffSefton-Favell,  November  16 »  1745. 

IT  is  not  eafy  to  exprefs  the  fatisfadlion  I  received 
from  your  agreeable  and  uleful  converfation  this 
afternoon.  I  rejoice  to  find,  that  there  are  gentlemen 
of  genius,  learning,  and  politenefs,  who  dare  profef$ 
a  fupreme  value  for  the  fcfiptures,  and  are  not  alha- 
med  of  the  crofs  of  Chrift.  I  congratulate  you,  dear 
Sir,  on  this  occafion  ;  and  cannot  but  look  on  a  mind 
fo  principled,  and  a  heart  fo  difpbfed,  as  a  very  choice 
and  diftinguifhing  part  of  your  happineis.  Was  I  to 
frame  a  with  for  the  deareft  and  m oft  valuable  friend 
on  earth,  I  would  earneftly  defire,  that  he  might  grow- 
daily  in  this  grace,  and  increafe  in  the  knowledge  of 
our  Lord  arid  Saviour  Jeius  Chrift.  And  when  my 
pen  begs  leave  to  alfure  you,  that  this  is  my  unfeigned 
with  for ,  it  only  tranici  ibes  what  is  deeply  writ- 
ten on  my  heart. 

This  brings  the  dedication  and  the  preface,  which 
are  to  introduce  a  little  eftliy,  entitled  Meditations  a- 
mong  the  tombs,  and  Reflexions  on  a  flower-garden, 
-in  two  letters  to  a  lady.  I  hope,  Sir,  in  conlequcncc 
of  your  kind  promife,  you  willpleaie  to  perufe  them 
with  the  file  in  your  hand.  The  (everity  of  the  critic,, 
and  the  kindnefs  of  the  friend,  in  this  cafe,  will  be  in- 

382  Icparable. 


A     COLLECTION        Let.  12. 

Separable.  —  The  evangelical  ftrain,  I  believe,  muft  be 
preierved  ;  becaufc,  otherwiie,  the  introductory 
thoughts  will  not  harmonize  with  the  fubiequcnt  ;  the 
porch  will  be  unfuitable  to  the  building.  —  But  if  you 
perceive  any  meannefs  of  cxpreffion,  any  quaintneis 
of  ientiment,  or  any  other  impropriety  and  inelegance, 
I  (hall  acknowledge  it  as  a  very  fingular  favour,  if  you 
will  be  ib  good  as  to  difcover  and  correct:  iuch  blc- 
mifhes. 

I  hope,  Sir,  my  end  in  venturing  to  publifh,  is  an 
hearty  defire  to  ferve,  in  fome  little  degree,  the  inter- 
efts  of  Chriftianity,  by  endeavouring  to  fet  fome  of 
its  moft  important  truths  in  a  light,  that  may  both  en- 
tertain, and  edify.  As  I  profeis  this  view,  I  am  cer- 
tain, your  affectionate  regard  for  the  moft  excellent 
religion  imaginable,  will  incline  you  to  be  concerned 
for  the  iffue  of  fuch  an  attempt,  and  therefore  to  con- 
tribute to  its  fuccefs,  both  by  bcftowing  your  ani- 
madverfions  upon  thefe  fmall  parts,  and  by  fpeaking 
of  the  whole  (when  it  (hall  come  abroad)  with  all  that 
candour  which  is  natural  to  the  Chriftian,  and  will  be 
fo  greatly  needed  by  this  new  adventurer  in  letters, 
who  is, 


I 


LETTER       XXII. 

Dear  S/r,  ffefton-Favell,  Nov.  19.  1745. 

Cannot  forbear  making  my  grateful  acknowledge- 
ments for  your  mod  obliging  letter.  You  could 
not  poffibly  have  imagined  any  thing  more  agreeable 
to  my  inclination,  than  the  propofal  you  are  pleafed 
to  make  of  admitting  me  to  your  acquaintance  and 
converfation.  I  accept  your  kind  offer,  Sir,  withthank- 
fulnefs,  with  joy  ;  and  (hall  moft  gladly  cultivate  a 
friendfhip,  which  is  not  only  perfectly  innocent,  but 
remarkably  elegant  and  improving,  Efpecially,  fince 
you  arc  pleafed  to  permit  the  difcourfe  to  turn  upon 
thofe  points,  which  it  is  my  duty  to  ftudy,  and  my 

delight 


Let,  22.         OF     LETTERS.  381 

delight  to  contemplate.  Nor  (ball  I  forget,  how  much 
I  am  indebted  to  your  condefceniion  for  this  favour  ; 
but  (hall  ahv  ys  bear  a  refpectful  fenfe  cf  the  diftin- 
guiihed  rank,  and  fuperior  abilities  of  my  worthy 
friend. 

Indeed  I  am  particularly  delighted  with  fuch  inter- 
views, as  ferve  to  enlarge  our  knowledge,  and  refine 
our  affections  ;  fuch  as  have  an  apparent  tendency  to 
render  us  more  ufeful  in  our  prefent  ftations,  and  to 
ripen  us  for  future  happinefs  ;  fuch  was  that  which  I 
lately  enjoyed  in  your  company.  This  is  a  feaft:  of 
reaibn  ;  a  feaft  of  truth  ;  and,  1  muft  own,  has  charms 
for  me,  infinitely  fuperior  to  all  the  impertinent  a- 
mufements  of  modi(h  chat,  or  the  mean  gratifications 
of  the  bottle. 

When  1  have  been  afked  to  fpend  an  afternoon  with 
gentlemen  of  a  learned  education,  and  unqueftionable 
ingenuity,  I  have  fancied  myfclf  invited  to  take  a 
turn  in  fomc  beautiful  garden  ;  where  I  expected  to 
have  been  treated  with  a  fight  of  the  moft  delicate 
flowers,  and  moft  amiable  forms  of  nature  :  when,  to 
my  great  furprifc,  I  have  been  (hewn  nothing  but  the 
moft  worthlefs  thiftle,  and  contemptible  weeds.  To 
one  who  has  fo  often  been  difappointed,  it  muft  be 
peculiarly  pleafing  to  find  the  iatisfaction  which  he  has 
long  fought  in  vain.  This  I  make  no  doubt  of  ob- 
taining, if  I  may  be  permitted  to  be  a  third  perfon  in 

the  interview,  when  you  arid  Mr fit  together  in 

focial  conference. 

1  beg  leave  to  return  my  thanks  for  your  ingenious 
remark  upon  a  fentence  in  the  efTay  towards  a  pre- 
face ;  and  alfo  to  exprefs  my  entire  fatisfaction  in  your 
motion  for  confidering  more  attentively  the  fpiritual 
intcrefts  for  the  poor  patients  in  the  holpital.  At  pre- 
-fent,  it  is  undeniably  plain,  that  much  more  afli- 
duous  and  effectual  care  is  taken  of  their  temporal,  than 
of  their  eternal  welfare.  With  pleafure  I  mall  join 
in  concerting  fomc  proper  method  to  rectify  this  mif- 

condu& 


332          A    COLLECTION        Let.  23, 

condutf,  and  with  a  real  alacrity  fliall  execute  (as  far 
as  I  mall  be  enabled)  any  expedient  which  you  (hall 
judge  conducive  to  the  recovery  and  health  of  their 
fouls. 

I  almoft  repent,  that  my  pen  has  intruded,  perhaps, 
in  the  midft  of  important  buiinefs,  and  ilole  fo  much 
of  your  valuable  time.  —  But  now  I  have  done  :  —  and 
{hall  only  repeat,  what  agreeable  views  I  form  from  the 
profpecl:  of  your  future  acquaintance,  and  what  an 
addition  it  will  be  to  my  happinefs  to  be  owned  and 
regarded,  as, 


LETTER       XXIII. 

SIR,  Wefton-Feeuell^  Dec.  17.  1745. 

T  Admire  your  remarkable  regard  for  truth,  and  that 
noble  greatnefs  of  foul,  which  fcorns  to  1'aci  ifice 
confcierice  to  intereft,  and  cannot  ftoop  to  receive 
temporal  honours  on  luch  ignoble  terms.  Your  con- 
duel;  reminds  me  of  a  moil  amiable  peculiarity  in  the 
upright  and  religious  man's  character,  as  it  is  drawn 
by  the  infpired  writers  ;  with  which  you  cannot  but 
be  particularly  pleated,  as  it  fo  exactly  correfponds 
with  your  own  ;  fuch  a  one,  fays  the  royal  preacher, 
feareth  an  oath  ;  fuch  a  one,  adds  the  fweet  finger  of 
Ifrael,  fpeaketh  the  truth  from  his  heart. 

The  thirty-nine  articles  I  have  more  than  once  fub- 
fcribcd  ;  and  as  I  continue  ftedfart  in  the  belief  of  them, 
as  you  are  pleafed  to  afk  my  opinion  relating  to  fome 
ieemingly-  exceptionable  tenets  contained  in  them,  I 
mod  readily  fubmit  it  to  your  consideration  ;  not,  Sir, 
in  the  capacity  of  a  cafuift,  who  would  attempt  a  fa- 
tisfaclory  anfwer  to  your  queftions  ;  but  only  under 
the  notion  of  a  fincere  friend,  who  would  freely  dif- 
clofe  his  whole  foul,  and  entertain  no  one  fentiment, 
but  what  mould  be  communicated  to  a  valuable  ac- 
quaintance. 

"  You  are  a  good  deal  puzzled  about  the  equality 

"  of 


Let.  23.        o  F     L   E   T  T   E   R   S. 

"  of  the  Son  with  the  Father,  in  Athanafius's  fenfc." 
— I  own,  it  is  no  wonder,  that  we  ihould  be  fome- 
what  daggered  at  this  myfterious  truth  ;  eipecially  if 
we  indulge  a  wanton  curiofity,  and  inquire  after  the 
quomodeity  of  the  doctrine  ;  if  nothing  will  content  our 
bufy  minds,  but  a  clear  comprehenfion  of  this  parti- 
cular, they  will  never  be  brought  to  acquietce  in  this 
article.  But,  if  they  dare  venture  to  believe  the  ex- 
prefs  declarations  of  infinite  wifdom,  and  wait  till  a 
future  (late  for  a  full  evolution  of  the  myftery,  their 
alfent  will  foon  be  determined. 

1  once  thought  a  very  ftriking  proof  of  this  fcrip- 
tural  doctrine  might  be  derived  from  the  known  pro- 
perties of  a  mortal  child,  conlidcred  in  comparifon 
with  the  parent.  Is  not  the  fon  as  perfect  a  partaker 
of  all  the  conftituent  parts  of  the  human  nature  as 
the  Father  ?  Are  not  the  children  of  this  age  pofTefF- 
ed  of  the  fame  endowments  of  body  and  mind,  as 
their  fathers  in  the  preceding  age  ?  Whatever  cfTen- 
tial  excellencies  belong  to  the  one,  may  with  equal 
truth  be  predicated  of  the  other.  And  if  the  ion, 
in  this  our  inferior  world,  be  in  all  points  equal  to  his 
progenitor,  why  fhould  we  not  fuppofe,  that  the  o-lo- 
rious  Son  of  God  is  equal,  in  all  refpefts,  to  his  a!T 
mighty  Father  ? 

But  I  chufe  to  forbear  all  fuch  fond  endeavours,  to 
explain  what,  to  our  very  limited  apprehenfions,  is 
altogether  inexplicable.  1  rather  receive  tcripture  for 
my  teacher,  and  give  up  my  icntiments  to  be  formed 
and  conducted  by  that  infallible  guide.  In  fcripture 
there  are  abundance  of  texts,  which,  in  the  mod  ex- 
plicit terms  imaginable,  afiert  the  Son  to  be  God. 
JNow,  if  he  be  God,  he  cannot  have  any  fuperior:  in- 
feriority evidently  dcftroys  divinity  :  inferiority,  in 
any  inftancc,  is  inconfiltent  with  the  notion  of  a  fu- 
preme  Being.  So  that  every  text  in  fcripture  which 
afcribes  a  divine  nature  to  the  blefled  Jcfus,  feems  to 
all  that  Athanajw  maintains,  concerning  the  ab- 

folute, 


384          A    COLLECTION        Let.  23. 

folute,  univerfal  equality  of  the  Son  with  the  Father. 
In  what  refpects  can  the  Son  be  fuppofed  inferior1? 
Arc  not  the  fame  honours  given  to  the  Son  as  are 
paid  to  the  Father  ?  The  Pialmift  mentions  two  of 
the  incommunicable  honours  which  arc  due  to  the 
fupreme  Majefty.  Both  which,  he  declares,  are,  and 
{hall  be,  addrdfcd  to  the  Son  :  Prayer  mall  bt;  made 
ever  unto  him,  and  daily  (hall  he  be  praifcd.  This 
adorable  perfon  is  the  object  of  our  worfliip  through- 
out the  whole  litany.  In  the  doxologies  of  our  li- 
turgy, the  fame  glory  is  afcribed  to  all  the  three  infi- 
nitely-exalted pcribns  of  the  Trinity.  1  take  notice 
of  this,  not  as  a  conclufivc  argument,  but  only  to 
hint  at  the  uniform  judgment  of  our  reformers  on 
this  important  head,  and  to  point  out  then  particular 
care  to  inculcate,  with  inceifant  afliduity,  this  belief 
upon  the  members  of  their  communion. — Are  not 
the  fame  works  afcribed  to  the  Son,  as  are  aicribed  to 
the  Father  ?  God,  the  fovereign  and  fupreme  God, 
(according  to  the  periphratis  of  a  Heathen  poet,  Cui 
ni  lii  L  fi  mile  ^  autjccundum,}  often  declares  his  matchlcfs 
perfections,  by  referring  mankind  to  his  aftoniihing 
works  of  creation.  And  is  not  the  Son  the  Creator 
of  the  univerfe  :  All  things  were  made  by  him,  is  the 
teftimony  of  one  apoftle  ;  and,  Heupholdeth  all  things 
by  the  word  of  his  power,  the  depolition  of  another. 
— Is  not  the  fame  incommunicable  name  applied  to  the 
Son  ?  Jehovah  is  allowed  to  be  a  name  never  attributed, 
throughout  the  whole  fcripture,  to  any  being,  but  only 
to  the  one  living  and  true  God  ;  who  only  hath  im- 
mortality, who  hath  no  fuperior,  none  like  him  in 
heaven  or  earth.  But  this  title  is  the  character  of  the 
incarnate  Son.  If  we  compare  Moj'cs  and  St  Paul,  we 
(hall  find  that  Chrift  is  Jehovah,  Numb.  xxi.  6.  with 
I  Cor.  x.  9.  This  argument,  I  think,  is  not  common  ; 
and,  I  muft  own,  has  had  a  great  influence  in  fettling 
my  judgment,  ever  fince  I  was  apprifed  of  it. — Ano- 
ther proof  was  fuggcftcd  in  the  morning- leifon  for  the 

day, 


Let.  23.       OF     LETTERS.  385 

day,  If.  xlv.  23.  compared  with  Phil.  ii.  10.  It  is 
the  Lord  in  the  prophet,  that  infinitely- wife  God  who 
manifefteth,  even  from  ancient  time,  the  dark  and 
remote  events  of  futurity  ;  who  peremptorily  declares, 
that  there  is  no  God  befides  him,  confequently  none 
fuperior  in  any  degree  to  him  ;  yet  this  moft  facred 
perfon,  who  in  the  prophet's  text  has  the  attributes  of  - 
incomparable  perfection  and  unftiared  fupremacy,  is, 
in  the  apoftle's  comment,  the  Redeemer. 

I  fancy  all  thofe  texts  of  fcripture,  which  feem  to 
you,  Sir,  fo  diametrically  oppofite  to  this  doctrine, 
will,  upon  a  renewed  examination,  appear  referable 
only  to  the  humanity  of  our  .Saviour,  if  fo,  they  can- 
not affect  the  point  under  debate,  nor  invalidate  the 
arguments  urged  in  its  fupport. 

After  all,  I  believe,  here  lies  the  grand  difficulty.  Son- 
fhip,  we  take  for  granted,  implies  inferiority.  Sonftiip 
implies  the  receiving  of  a  being  from  another  ;  and  to 
receive  a  being  is  an  inftance  of  inferiority. — But,  dear 
Sir,  let  us  reprefs  every  bold  inquiry  into  this  awful  fe- 
cret  ;  left  that  of  the  apoftle,  «.  ^  fap«*.i*  t^e^^a,,  be  the 
lighteft  cenfure  weiucur.  What  is  right  reafoning,whea 
applied  to  the  cafe  of  created  exigence,  is  little  leisthan 
blafphemy  when  applied  to  that  divine  perfon,  who  is. 
from  everlalting  to  everlafting,  the  great  I  AM. — The 
generation  of  the  Son  of  God  is  an  unfathomable  myf- 
tcry.  A  prophet  cries  out  with  amaze,  Who  can  de- 
clare his  generation  ?  and  if  we  cannot  conceive  it, 
how  can  we  form  any  conclufions,  or  determine  what 
conicquenccs  follow  from  it  ?— --Here  it  becomes  us  not 
to  examine,  but  to  adore.  If  we  know  not  how  the 
bones  do  grow  in  the  womb  of  her  that  is  with  child, 
how  (hall  we  be  able  to  ftate  the  nature,  or  explain  the 
effects  of  a  generation,  inexpreflibly  more  remote  from 
..our  infinite  apprehensions  ? 

Upon  the  whole  ;  iince  the  fcripture  has  given  us 
repeated  and  unqueltionable  aflurances,  That  Chrift 
is  God  ;  fince  common  fcnfe  cries  aloud  againft  the 

VOL.  V.  N°  24,  3  G  ablurdity 


386          A     COLLECTION          Let.  23. 

abiurdity  of  fuppofing  a  God,  who  has  a  fuperior  ; 
fliall  we  reject  inch  pofitive  evidences  of  revelation, 
and  be  deaf  to  the  ilrongeft  rcmonttranccs  of  our 
reaibn,  merely  becaufe  we  cannot  conceive,  how  the 
•Sonfhip  of  the  Redeemer  can  be  compatible  with  an 
abfolute  equality,  in  all  poflible  perfection,  to  the  Fa- 
ther ? 

It  need  not  be  hinted  to ,  that  this  doctrine  of 

the  Divinity,  conlequently  of  the  equality,  of  the  fa- 
crec]  TRI-  u  N  E,  is  not  merely  a  ipeculative  point,  but 
has  a  moil  dole  connection  with  practice  ;  and  is  ad- 
mirably fitted  to  influence  our  lives,  in  the  molt  power- 
ful and  endearing  manner.  That  it  is  no  lefs  inlepa- 
rably  connected  with  the  grand  bleilings  of  acquaintance 
from  the  guilt,  and  delivery  from  the  bondage  of  fin  ; 
blellings  of  unutterable  and  infinite  value,  without 
which  the  children  of  men  are  of  all  creatures  molt 
milcrable  ;  which  yet  we  cannot  reafonably  hope  to 
enjoy,  if  any  of  thole  illuftrious  pcribns  concerned  in 
accomplishing  the  great  redemption,  be  fuppoled  lefs 
than  divine. 

The  i8th  article,  you  add,  is  another  objection  to 
me,  which  begins  thus,  They  allo  are  to  be  had  accur- 
ied,  &c. — This,  as  you  obferve,  leems  harm.  Yet  the 
harflmefs  is  not  ours,  but  the  apoftle's.  I  imagine, 
this  is  no  more  than  a  tranfcript  of  St  Paul's  awful 
and  folemn  declaration,  tranfmitted  to  the  Galatian 
converts,  and  denounced  againft  their  corrupting 
teachers.  Be  pleated,  Sir,  to  perufe  attentively  that 
whole  infpired  letter,  andcfpecially  toconfiderchap.  i. 
verfcs  6,  7,  8,  9.  rl  hen  permit  me  to  appeal  to  your- 
felf,  whether  our  article  prof  dies  any  doctrine,  which 
is  not  clearly  eliablifhed  in  that  molt  excellent  epiftle  ; 
or  whether  our  church  ufes  more  levere  terms,  than 
the  apoftle  thinks  proper  to  thunder  put,  in  that  me- 
morable palfaye  ? — But  might  not  this  doftrine  have 
been  -alliateda  little,  or  the  tremendous  fanctionfome- 
what  foftened  ?  l«Joj  we  mutt  not  add  to,  or  diminifh 

from, 


Let.  23.         OF     LETTERS.  387 

from,,  our  inviolable  rule.  A  faithful  fteward  of  the 
divine  myfteries,  niuft  declare  the  whole  will  of  God, 
in  its  full  extent  and  latitude  ;  together  with  the  fear- 
ful confequences  of  prefumptuouily  oppofing  it,  as 
well  as  the  blelfed  effects  of  cordially  receiving  it. 

I  am  not  furprifed,  that  this  procedure  ftartles  fome, 
and  offends  others.  St  Paul  feenis  to  have  forefeet-)  this 
event ;  and  therefore  apologizes  for  nimielf,  fhall  I  fay  ? 
rather  declares  his  unalterable  resolution  of  perfilting 
in  this  practice  ;  q.  d.  I  am  ienfible,  that  fuch  teach- 
ings will  be  far  from  palatable  to  too  many  of  my 
hearers  ;  1  am  aware  alio,  that  to  threaten  the  divine 
anathema  on  every  oppofer  of  this  doctrine,  will  be 
flill  .more  offenfive.  But  lhall  i  defift  on  thefe  corifi- 
derations  ?  fhall  I  accommodate  the  flandard  doctrines 
of  heaven  to  the  depraved  tafte  of  the  age  ;  or  be  fo- 
licitousto  make  them  fquarewith  the  favourite  fchemes 
of  human  device,  only  to  avoid  creating  difguft  in 
fome  minds  ?  No,  verily:  I  preach  what  unerring 
wifdom  has  revealed,  not  what  capricious  man  has 
dreamed,  («p?<  r*t>*  e^n/i  T«e«, « *»,  e^ov;)  and  therefore  dare 
not  vary  one  jot  or  tittle  from  my  high  orders.  My  bu- 
finefs  is  principally  to  pleafeGod  by  a  faithful  diicharge 
of  my  commiffion,  not  to  ingratiate  myfelf  with  men, 
by  modelling  my  doctrine  in  conformity  to  their  hu- 
mours ;  (?«•?«  «»ap«T«i5  a^Mn  -,)  and  therefore  I  muft,  I 
mult  deliver  it,  jufl  as  I  received  it. 

But  why  do  I  offer  to  illuftrate  thefe  texts  ?  Your 
own  meditations,  I  perfuade  myfelf,  will  difcern, 
much  more  clearly  than  I  can  reprefent,  that  the  com- 
pilers of  our  articles  are  no  other  than  the  echo  of  St 
Paul:  or  rather  that  they  only  fet  their  leal  to  the  doc- 
trines of  Chrift,  which  he  taught  ;  and  approve  that 
verdict  of  heaven  which  he  has  brought  in.  This  con- 
jfulcration  will  acquit  them  from  the  charge  of  harfh- 
jiefs  of  expreffion,  or  uncharitablencfs  of  fentiment. 

Your  objections  thus  proceed.  I  believe  that  every 
one  will  be  favcd,  who  acts  up  to  the  befl  of  his  know  - 

302  ledge. 


388          A     COLLECTION         Let.  23. 

ledge. — I  almoft  durll  venture  to  join  iflue  with  my 
friend  upon  this  footing  ;  and  undertake  to  prove,  from 
this  very  polition,  the  univerfal  necelfity  of  believing 
in  Chrift  for  i'alvation.  Becaufe,  I  think,  it  is  indii- 
putably  certain,  that  there  is  no  man  living,  who  has 
in  ail  points  acted  up  to  his  knowledge  :  and  if  he  has 
fwcrved,  in  any  inltance,  from  his  known  acknow- 
ledged duty,  how  fhall  he  efcape  punifhment,  with- 
out an  atonement  ?  Video  mtliora  proboque,  deteriora 
fcquor-)  is  what  the  moll  vigilant  and  upright  of  mor- 
tals have,  at  ibme  unhappy  moments,  felt  to  be  true.  If 
fo,  how  fhall  they  Hand  before  that  righteous  God, 
who  will  not  accquit  the  guilty,  without  an  interelt  in 
the  great  expiation  ? — But,  I  prefume,  your  propofi- 
tion  is  to  be  taken  in  a  more  qualified  fenfe  ;  it  means, 
that  thole  who  fincerely,  though  not  perfectly,  in  the 
main  courfe  of  their  life,  and  as  far  as  the  infirmities 
of  a  frail  nature  admit,  act  up  to  their  knowledge  ; 
that  thefe  (hall  be  faved,  even  without  their  applica- 
tion to  the  merits  of  a  Saviour.  If  this  opinion  be 
true,  I  own,  it  mult  be  very  unfafe  to  fubferibe  our 
articles. 

When  this  point  is  in  difputc,  I  apprehend,  we  are 
to  confine  it  to  thofe  who  live  in  a  gblpci  land,  where 
opportunities  of  knowing  the  good  will  of  God  pre- 
fent  themielves  every  day,  every  hour.  As  for  the 
Heathens,  who  lye  under  unavoidable  and  irremedi- 
able ignorance  of  the  blefTed  Jcrfus,  they  are  out  of  the 
queftion.  They,  I  think,  fliould  be  remitted  to  God's 
unfearchable  wifdom  and  goodnefs.  There  may  be 
uncovenantcd  mercies  for  them,  which  we  know  no- 
thing of.  It  feems  to  be  a  daring  and  unjuRifiable 
rafhnefs,  for  us  to  determine  one  way  or  the  other, 
with  regard  to  their  final  ftate.  This,  however,  is 
plain  fi  om  the  oracles  of  revelation,  that  it  will  be 
more  tolerable-  for  thole  poor  Gentiles  in  the  day  of 
eterml  judgment,  than  for  thofe  inexcufable  infidels, 
who  have  heard  and  dilbbeyed  the  glorious  gofpel. — 

The 


Let.  23.         o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R   S.  389 

The  controverfy  ther.  concerns  thofe  only  \vho  have 
the  Bible  in  their  hands,  or  the  voice  of  the  preacher 
founding  in  their  religious  afTemblies  every  fabbath- 
day.  Thefe,  dear  Sir,  I  cannot  think  will  inherit  fal- 
vation,  though  they  act  with  ever  fo  much  fincerity, 
according  to  their  knowledge,  unlefs  they  add  to  their 
knowledge,  faith. 

Perhaps,  what  we  call  their  knowledge,  is  no  bet- 
ter than  downright  and  wilful  ignorance  :  the  light 
that  is  in  them  is  darknefs.  Perhaps,  they  never  took 
any  pains  to  get  tbemielves  informed  in  the  gloiious 
peculiarities  of  the  gofpel.  If  fo,  their  conduct  is  one 
continued  difobedience  to  the  divine  commands,  which 
require  us  to  feck  for  wifdom  as  for  hid  treafures  ;  which 
charge  us  to  fearch  the  fcriptures  (fptuv«v)  as  narrowly, 
as  induftrioufly,  as  the  fportfman  learches  every  fpot 
of  ground,  beats  every  taft  of  grafs,  in  order  to  Mart 
the  latent  game.  In  this  cafe,  what  we  call  their  know- 
ledge is  really  blindneis  itfelf ;  and  their  want  of  true 
knowledge  cannot  be  their  plea,  becaufe  it  is  evident- 
ly their  neglect  and  their  fin. 

But  fuppofe  thefe  perfons  have  fearched  the  fcrip- 
tures, and  yet  are  perfuaded,  that  there  is  no  fuch 
need  of  a  Saviour's  merits.  Shall  we  condemn  them 
in  thefe  circumftances  ?  We  do  not  prcfume  to  fit  as 
their  judges,  or  to  fcatter  at  our  pleafure  the  thunders 
of  eternal  vengeancr  ;  we  only  declare,  what  fentence 
is  paifed  upon  them  by  the  fupreme  Difpenfer  of  life 
and  death.  He  has  made  it  an  adjudged  cife,  he  has 
patted  it  into  an  in  epeaia'jle  law,  Thai  whoibbclieveth 
not  in  the  Son  of  God,  whofoevcr  perverfely  perftfts  in 
feeking  fome  other  method  of  falvation,  and  will  not 
flv  to  that  Redeemer  whom  infinite  Wifdom  has  fet 

-•  , 

forth  for  a  propitiation,  rhis  man  is  condemned  already. 
Will  it  be  faidv  That  a  man  cannot  help  affcnt- 
ing  to  wimt  he  is  thoroughly  perfuaded  to  be  right ; 
And  if  a  ,  )ei(t  from  his  very  foul  believes,  that  mo- 
rality alone  is  the  way  to  life  ;  and  that  the  notion 

of 


35©  A     COLLECTION      Let.  23. 

of  a  Redeemer,  to  make  fatisfaction,  and  procure 
juftification,  is  a  religious  chimera  ;  fliall  we  blame 
luch  a  one  for  following  the  genuine  dictates  of  his 
mind  ? — I  anfwer,  (till  I  anfwer,  That  we  muft  abide 
by  the  determinations  of  that  fovereign  God,  whofe 
judgments  we  are  fure  is  according  to  truth.  He  has 
laid,  nor  can  all  the  cavils  and  fophiftry  in  the  world 
fuperfede  the  decree,  He  that  belicvcth  not,  (hall  be 
damned.  Be  not  (hocked,  Sir,  at  the  feeming  ievc- 
rity  of  the  doom.  Rather  let  us  be  mocked,  be  great- 
ly aftoniihed,  at  the  prodigious  hardinefs  of  thole 
more  than  fteely  hearts,  which  can  attend  to  fuch  ter- 
rors of  the  Lord,  and  not  be  perfuaded  to  come  to 
Chrift ;  nay,  what  is  enough  to  make  heaven  and 
earth  horribly  amazed,  can  hear  of  thefe  terrors,  and 
yet  regard  them  no  more  than  a  puff  of  empty  air. 

Nor  will  it  extenuate  the  crime  of  unbelief,  to  allege 
in  behalf  of  the  infidel,  that  he  is  actually  convinced, 
in  his  own  confcience,  that  his  ientiments  are  right. 
He  may  be  fo  ;  and  yet  be  inexcufably  guilty  not- 
withftanding  :  for  is  it  not  owing  to  his  own  fault, 
that  he  has  imbibed  fuch  fentiments  !  Is  it  not  through 
bis  own  criminal  mifconduct,  that  he  has  contracted 
iuch  a  perverfe  habit  of  thinking  ?  Has  he  not  indul- 
ged fomc  darling  vice,  which  has  eloudcd  his  under- 
(landing  ?  Or  inllead  of  obeying  the  great  mandate 
of  heaven,  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  heai*  ye  him  ; 
has  he  not  attended  iblely  to  the  arguings,  deductions, 
and  difccrnment  of  his  own  reaibn,  as  his  only  guide 
to  heavenly  truth  ?  A  drunkard  verily  thinks,  (if  he 
thinks  at  all,)  that  he  does  nobly  in  committing  infults 
on  quiet  harmlefs  people.  But  will  his  bare  thinking, 
that  he  acts  gallantly,  acquit  him  at  the  bar  of  equity  ? 
Perhaps,  in  his  prefect  condition  he  cannot  help  fan- 
cying, that  his  actions  are  becoming,  and  that  he 
tloes  well  to  be  turbulent  and  outrageous  ;  but  though 
he  cannot  help  th£  effect,  might  he  not  have  avoided 
the  cauie  of  his  phrenzy  ?  Methinks,  this  companion 

will 


Let.  23.         o  F     L   E   T   T   E    R    S.  391 

will  hold  good,  if  applied  to  the  cafe  of  many  (corn- 
ers of  the  gofpel  ;  who  think  contemptuously  of  Jefus 
Chrift,  and  who  really  apprehend  they  do  nothing  a- 
mifs  in  depredating  his  obedience  and  death.  But  I 
fear,  they  have  brought  upon  themfelves  this  deplo- 
rable delirium  or  intoxication  of  their  underftandings, 
either  by  voluptuoufnels  and  debauchery,  or  elie  by 
felf-conceit,  and  the  mod  odious  arrogance  of  mind  ; 
which,  in  the  eftimate  of  the  Holy  One  of/frae/,  is  no 
better  than  fpiritual  idolatry. 

For  my  part,  I  am  allured,  that  God  has  vouch* 
fafed  us  the  means  of  obtaining  the  knowledge  of  him- 
felf,  and  of  Jefus  Chrift,  whom  he  hath  lent  ;  it  is  e- 
qually  certain,  that  he  has  commanded  us  to  acquaint 
ourfelves  with  him,  and  be  at  peace  ;  it  is  no  leis  un- 
deniable, that  whofoever  feeks  this  ineftimable  know- 
ledge, by  a  diligent  application  to  the  fcriptures,  by 
a  child  like  dependence  on  the  teachings  of  the  divine 
Spirit,  by  humble  prayers  to  be  led  into  all  truth,  and 
by  doing  the  will  of  God,  fo  far  as  he  is  acquainted 
with  it,— whofoever  leeks,  by  ufmg  thele  means,  mall 
find,  lhall  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and 
be  laved.  If  therefore  perlbns  arc  fo  negligent,  as  not 
to  ufc  thefe  methods ;  fo  audacious,  as  to  contemn 
them  ;  Ib  haughty,  as  to  imagine  they  have  no  need 
of  them  ;  they  may  juftly  be  given  over  to  their  own 
delulions,  and  yet  be  moft  righteoufly  punifhcdas  iui- 
cides  of  their  fouls. 

But  ftill  it  is  pleaded  in  vindication  of  the  good-na- 
tured, civilized  infidel.  That  there  is  no  turpitude  in 
his  life  ;  that  his  behaviour  is  every  way  irreproach- 
able.— As  to  the  turpitude  of  his  life,  when  compa- 
red with  the  converiation  of  other  men,  I  have  no- 
thing to  fay  :  but  furely,  there  is  the  hij/heft  iniquity 
rn  his  principles  and  conduct,  when  compared  with 
the  revealed  will  of  God  ;  which  is  the  only  criterion 
of  truth,  the  only  ftandard  of  excellence.  God  has 
commanded  all  men  to  honour  the  £>on,  even  as  they 

honour 


392  A    COLLECTION      Let.  23. 

honour  the  Father  ;  but  thcfc  people  proteft  againft 
the  divine  edict,  and  lay,  with  thole  iuiblent  liibjecls 
in  the  gofpel,  We  will  not  have  this  Jei'us  to  reign  o- 
ver  us.  God  has  Iblemnly  declared,  'I  hat  all  mankind 
arc  become  guilty  before  him  ;  that  by  the  works  of 
the  moral  law,  no  ttelh  living  fliall  be  juftified  ;  that 
there  is  no  Mediator  between  God  and  men,  but  the 
man  Chrift  Jelus  ;  but  theie  people  maintain,  in  defi- 
ance of  this  declaration,  that  they  themiclves  are  able 
to  make  up  matters  with  their  offended  Creator;  and 
can,  by  their  own  honeft  behaviour,  iecure  a  title  to 
evcrlafting  felicity.  God,  of  his  fuperabundant  and 
inconceivably-rich  goodnefs,  has  given  his  Son,  his 
only  Son  to  fuffer  agonies,  to  med  ulood,  to  lay  down 
an  infinitely-precious  life  for  them ;  yet  thefe  people, 
like  thole  impious  wretches  that  crucified  the  Lord  of 
glory,  deride  his  agonies,  trample  upon  his  blood, 
and  though  he  has  redeemed  them,  they  fpcak  lies  a- 
gainft  him  *• — Let  us  fee  then  a  little  part  of  the  evi- 
dence fummed  up  againft  the  fpirit  of  unbelief.  It 
implies  flubbornnefs,  which  is  as  the  fin  of  witchcraft  ; 
rebellion,  which  is  as  iniquity  and  idolatry  :  it  implies 
the  mofl  afTuming  pride,  which  is  an  abomination  to 
the  Lord:  it  implies  the  vileft  ingratitude,  even  amidll 
the  moft  unbounded  beneficence  ;  and  the  voice  of  na- 
ture has  poclaimed,  higratumfi  dixeris^  omniadixcris. 
— Let  the  impartial  confiderer  decide,  whether  the 
heart  of  thefe  perfons  be  right  before  God  ;  or  whe- 
ther their  conduct,  when  brought  to  the  teft  of  that 
word  which  is  to  judge  them  at  the  laft  day,  be  Ib 
onblameable  as  is  frequently  pretended. 

Enough  has  been  faid  of  the  two  firft  points;  I  fear 
more  than  enough  to  fatigue  your  attention.  How- 
ever, I  now  draw  in  the  reins,  and  promife  not  to  put 
your  patience  upon  doing  fuch  tedious  penance  any 
more. 

There  is  another  expreflion  in  the  paragraph  rela- 
ting 
Hof.  viii.  13. 


Let.  23.         OF     LETTERS.  393 

ting  to  the  i8th  article,  which,  fince  you  expect  my 
undiiguiied  opinion,  i  cannot  dii'mifs  without  a  re- 
mark. When  the  icriptures  lay,  that  men  (hall  be  fa- 
ved thro*  the  name  of  Chrifr.,  you  fnppoie,  Sir,  they 
mean,  that  Chriil  made  a  general  atonement  for  ori- 
ginal fin. — Whereas,  I  apprehend,  that  iuch  texts  im- 
port abundantly,  I  had  aimoft  laid  infinitely  more. 
Thus  much  1  think,  at  leaft  they  muft  amount  to  in 
their  fignirkation  ;  that  if  we  are  faved  from  the  guilt 
of  our  offences,  it  fhall  be  only  through  the  all -ato- 
ning blood  of  the  Lamb  of  God  If  we  are  made  ac- 
ceptable to  that  awful  MajeOy  who  dweileth  in  light 
inacccllible,  this  our  julUtication  fhall  be  in  conlldera- 
tiou  of  the  obedience  and  righteoufnefs  of  the  beloved 
Son  ;  if  we  obtain  the  Spirit  of  iandification,  are  ena- 
bled to  deny  all  ungodiinefs,  and  to  live  foberly,  righ- 
teouily,  and  godlily  in  tnis  preient  evil  world,  it  fhall 
be  through  the  interceffton  of  Jetiis  our  great  High 
Prieft,  by  whom  alone  the  Holy  GhoO:  is  vouchfafed 
to  unworthy  polluted  finners.  All  this  I  take  to  be 
included  in  that  word,  of  moft  rich  and  cornprehcn- 
five  meaning,  falvation  ;  and  flnce  it  is  affirmed,  that 
we  are  faved  by  Chri.it,  1  fhould  think,  it  miifl  fignify, 
that  we  obtain  all  thefe  glorious  and  invaluable  bene- 
fits  through  that  all-futficient  Mediator. 

As  to  Chrift's  making  an  atonement  for  original  fin, 
that  furely  was  but  one  fingle  branch  of  his  important 
undertaking  :  Wo,  wo  be  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth,  if  he  did  no  more.  OUT-  a<5rual  fins,  the  fins  of 
our  heart,  the  fins  of  our  life,  our  fins  of  omiffion  and 
Tins  of  commifiiori ;  ami  all  thei'e  fins,  which  are  more  in 
number  than  the  hairs  of  our  head,  heavier  with  hor- 
rid aggravations  than  the  fand  of  the  fen,  he  bore 
in  his  own  body  on  the  tree.  He  was  wounded  for 
our  offences  ;  he  was  bruUed  for  our  tranigrefTions  ; 
and  the  Lord  laid  on  hi-n  (not  only  the  innate  cicpra- 
yity,  but)  the  actual  iniquities  of  us  all. 

Your  ncx    objection  Jus  agaiufl   the    igtb   article, 
»  V.  N°  24.  3D  namely, 


394          A    COLLECTION        Let.  23. 

namely,  Works  done  before  the  grace  of  Chrift,  are 
not  acceptable  to  God: — Js  the  meaning  of  this  tenet, 
you  afk,  that  men  are  made  with  a  natural  incapacity 
of  doing  any  thing  but  iinful  actions  ? — I  anfwer,  this 
is  not  io  properly   the   meaning   of  the   article,  as  a 
moft  cogent  reaibn  to  eftablHh  it.  Only  let  it  be  ftated 
a   little   more  clearly,  and 'it  is  no  inconfiderable  ar- 
gument in  proof  of  the  doctrine.  Men  were  not  made 
by  their  Creator  with  this  incapacity,  but  they  have 
brought  it  upon  themfelves  by  their  own    fault.     By 
their  original  lin  they  have  contracted  a  moft  miferablc 
depravity,  and  have  made  themfelves  rP«r  »*v  »/>><«  «y«e8» 
aSo*.tv*t    Since  therefore  we  can  do  no  good  work,  be- 
fore we  are  renewed  by  the  grace  of  Chrift,  it  feems 
to  follow,  that  we  can  do  no  work  acceptable  to  God, 
till  this  renovation  take  place. — This,  you  obferve,  does 
not  ieern  fo  agreeable  to  chanty,  as  one  could  wifh. — 
"Worthy  Sir,  our  notions  of  charity  arc  not  to  be  the 
rule  of  the  divine  acceptance  either  of  perfons  or  things. 
If  the  doctrine  be  agreeable  to  the  declarations  of  un- 
erring wifdom,  we  are  to  admit  it  with  all  readincfs, 
and  rather  conclude,  that  we  miftake  the   nature   of 
charity,  than  that  the  fcripture  miftakes  the  terms  of 
the  Almighty  V acceptance   and   favour. — You  know, 
Sir,  it  is  the  exprefs  voice  of  fcripture,  thar  without 
faith  it  is  impoffible  to  pleafe  God  ;  and  till  the  Spi- 
rit of  Chrift  be  (bed  abroad    in   the   foul,   it  pofleffes 
no  fuch  facred  principle  as  true  faith. — It  is  a  favour- 
ite apophthegm  of  our  divine  Matter's,  That  a  cor- 
rupt tree  cannot  bring  forth  good  fruit.  And  are  not  all 
that  fpring  from  the   Itock   of  fallen  Adam,  corrupt 
trees,  until  they  are  ingrafted  into  the  true  olive-tree, 
and  partake  of  his  meliorating  and  generous  juices  ? — 
I  (hall  only  mention  one  more fcriptural  oracle  ;  an  oracle 
delivered  not  from  Dtlpfos,  no,  nor  from  mount  £/>;#/, 
but  immediately  from  heaven  itfelf :  This  is  my  be- 
loved Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleafed    I  have  always 
thoiignt  thefe  words  are  to  be  taken  in   an  exclufive 

fenfe  ; 


Let.  23.       o  F     L   E   T   T  E   R   S.  395 

fenfe  ;  as  though  the  everlafting  Father  had  (aid,  I  am 
well  pleafed  with  the  apoftate  race  of  Adam,  only  as  they 
are  reconciled  through  rny  beloved  Son  :  uninterefted 
in  him,  no  perfons  are  the  objects  of  my  complacen- 
cy ;  unrecommended  by  him,  no  actions  are  the  fub- 
ject  of  my  approbation.  If  this  be  the  genuine  fenfe 
of  the  paifage,  it  will  ferve  at  once  to  confirm  the  ar- 
ticle, and  to  obviate  the  objection  derived  from  the 
deficiency  and  remains  of  pollution,  that  cleave  even 
to  the  performances  of  a  believer. 

1  am  glad  you  have  fatisfied  yourfelf  with  relation 
to  the  article,  which  touches  upon  predeftination  and 
election.  Thefe  are  fublime  points,  far  above  the  fo- 
lutiori  of  our  low  capacities*  But,  for  my  part,  I  &m 
no  more  furprifed,  that  fome  revealed  truths  fiiould  a- 
rnaze  my  understanding,  than  that  theblazingfun  ftiould 
dazzle  my  eyes.  That  iuch  things  are  mentioned  in 
the  infpired  writings  as  real  facts,  is  undeniable.  I 
mould  renounce  my  very  reafon,  if  I  did  not  believe 
what  Omnifcience  attefts,  even  though  it  ftiould  imply 
what  is  altogether  inexplicable  by  my  fcanty  concep- 
tions. And  why  fhould  the  incaverned  mole,  whofe 
dwelling  is  in  darknefs,  whofe  fight  is  but  a  fmall  re*- 
move  from  blindneis,  why  mould  fuch  a  poor  animal 
wonder,  that  it  cannot  dart  its  eye  thro'  unnumbered 
worlds,  or  take  in  at  a  glance  the  vaft  fyftem  of  the 
univerfe  ? 

Your  fenfe  of  the  2oth  article  is  exactly  mine.  The 
authority  you  mention,  is,  in  my  opinion,  all  the 
authority  which  the  church,  the  rulers  and  governors  of 
the  church,  can  reasonably  claim,  or  regularly  exercife, 
in  matters  relating  to  faith.  Thefe  rulers  have  power, 
as  you  juftly  obferve,  to  fettle,  in  conformity  with 
what  they  conclude  to  be  the  meaning  of  fcripture, 
the  nature  and  extent  of  their  own  creed  ;  and  none, 
I  think,  can  fairly  deny  them  a  right  co  determine, 
what  points  of  belief  fhall  be  the  indifpenfable  terms 
of  enjoying  communion  with  their  fociety.  But  as 

3  D  2  for 


396          A     COLLECTION         Let.  24. 

for  I  know  not  what  privilege  of  interpreting  fcriptnre, 
in  fueh  a  manner,  as  that  it  (hall  he  contumacy  to  exa- 
mine, before  we  credit,  or  heterodoxy  and  herefy  to 
controvert  their  expolition  ;  this  is  an  authority  which 
1  cannot  allow  to  any  man,  or  body 'of  men,  now 
in  the  world.  At  this  rate  our  faith  would  be  built 
upon  the  decifions  of  the  church,  not  on  the  deter- 
minari  >ss  of  the  infpired  word  ;  and,  consequently, 
be  not  of  God,  but  of  men. 

Could  I  have  imagined  when  I  fct  pen  to  paper,  that 
It  Would  have  run  fuch  extravagant  lengths  !  Bear 
Xvith  my  prolixity,  dear  Sir,  and  excufcr  my  freedom  ; 
or  rather,  if  I  have  laid  any  thing  in  too  free  a  ftyle, 
you  muft  charge  it  upon  your  own  condefcenlion  and 
candour,  Which  have  emboldened  me  to  deliver  my 
fentiments  without  the  lead  cloak  or  refcrve. 

But  I  muft  not,  I  dare  not,  clofe,  without  afting  as 
becomes  a  minifter  of  the  goipel  ;  without  reminding 
my  valuable  friend,  that  the  infpiration  of  the  Almigh- 
ty givcth  wifdom  ;  that  a  man  can  receive  nothing,  much 
lefs  an  acquaintance  with  the  myfteries  of  the  Redeem- 
er's kingdom,  unlefs  it  be  given  him  from  above. 
To  this  Fountain  of  wifdom,  and  Father  of  lights,  let 
us  make  humble,  earnefr,  daily  application.  Then 
(hall  we  fee  the  things  that  belong  to  our  peace,  and, 
as  it  is  moft  emphatically  exprefied  by  the  facred  pen- 
man,  know  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jeius. — I  am,  &c. 

LETTER       XXIV. 

Deaf  Sir,         tFcfton-Favell,  Jan.  10.  17 45-  6. 

HOW  arduous,  and  how  momentous,  is  the  tafk 
you  have  afligned  me  !  A  fenle  of  its  difficulty 
and  importance  almoft  deterred  me  from  venturing 
io  much  as  to  attempt  it.  A  cordial  friendfhip  infti- 
gated,  and  a  conilioufnefs  of  my  own  incapacity 
checked,  for  fome  time,  my  flucluating  mind.  At 
length  the  bias  inclined  to  the  fide  oi  the  former  ;  my 

reluctance, 


Let.  24.        OF     LETTERS.  397 

reluftance,  urged  by  the  requeft  of  a  friend,   gives 
way  ;  and  now  I  am  fully  determined — Determined, 
to  what  ?  To  enter  the  lifts  againft  the  adversaries  of 
the  Trinity  ?  More  particularly  to  appear  as  the  chain- 
pion  for  the  personality  and  divinity  of  the  Holy  Ghoft? 
With  a  view  of  reding  the  grand  debate  on  the  dex- 
terity of  this  pen  ?  No  ;  Sir,  I  form  no  fuch  roman- 
tic ichemes  ;  I  renounce  any  fuch  undertaking  5  I  am 
only  determined  to  lay  before  you  the  thoughts  which 
have  occurred,  flnce  1  have  received  your  laft  letter  ; 
and  this,  on  the  condition  of  having  them  returned  to 
the  fecrecy  of  my  cloiet,  after  you  have  parted  your 
judgment,  and  beftowed  your  corrections  upon  them. 
in  managing  this  controverfy,  (hall  I   lay  ?  or  ra- 
ther in  puriuing  this  inquiry,  it   behoves   us   humbly 
to  apply  to  the  greaj   Father  of  lights  for  direction. 
They  fliall  all  be  taught  of  God,  fays  the  prophet ; 
this  promife  we  mould  humbly  plead  at  the  throne  of 
grace,  and,  in  chearful  dependence  on  its  accomplifli- 
ment,  proceed  to  examine,  with  a  modeft   and   re- 
verential awe,  the  myfterious  points  before  us.    Who- 
ever rejects  this  key,  and  yet  hopes  to  be  admitted  in- 
to the  treafures  of  heavenly  knowledge,  acls  altoge- 
ther as  imprudent  a  part,  as  if  he  mould  expect  to  at- 
tain a  mafterly  (kill  in    mathematics,  and  at  the  fame 
time  neglect  to  inform  himfelf  of  the  fir  ft  principles 
of  that  admired  fcience.    When  a  divine  perion  is  the 
object  of  our  confideration,  then  i'urely  it  becomes  us, 
in  a  moreefpecial  manner,  not  tolean  to  our  own  under- 
Handing,  but,  like  little  children,  to  rely  on  the  teach- 
ings of  that    all- wife  Spirit,  whofe  nature,  dignity, 
and  attributes,  we  would  devoutly  contemplate. — You 
will,  perhaps,  take  notice,  that  1  anticipate  what  is  to 
be  proved  ;  and  take  it    for  granted,  that  the  Holy 
-  Ghoft  is  indeed  God.    I  would  only  obftrve  from  this 
remark,  how  naturally  we  wifli,  how  almoft  unavoid- 
ably we  conclude,  that  perfon  to  be  really  God,  who 
is  appointed  to  lead  us  into  all  truth. 

Let 


398          A     COLLECTION      Let.  24. 

Let  us  now,  Sir,  if  you  ple-afe,  addrels  ourfclvcs  to 
the  inquiry,  whether  the  Holy  Spirit  is  a  real  perlon, 
— whether  that  pcribn  is  very  God  ? — and,  thefe  par- 
ticulars being  difcufled,  it  may  be  proper  to  examine 
briefly  the  mod  material  of  IVlr  Towkins's  objections. 
—But  to  whom,  to  what  (hall  we  apply,  in  order  to 
find  the  fatisfaction  we  feek  ?  To  reafon,  and  her 
naked  unaffifled  dictates  ?  Hardly  can  reafon  guefs  a- 
right  with  relation  to  the  things  that  are  before  our 
eyes  ;  much  leis  can  (he  determine,  with  any  certainty, 
concerning  the  unfearchable  depths  of  the  divine  na- 
ture, thofe  T<*/3«enT«0t«.  We  have  in  the  word  of  reve- 
lation an  infallible  oracle.  To  this  let  us  direft  our 
fearch.  To  the  decifion  of  this  unerring  ftandard,  let 
us  inviolably  adhere  ;  however  it  may  furpais  our 
comprchenlion,  or  run  counter  to  our  fond  prcpofTef- 
iions. 

Here  we  may  poflibly  afk,  Is  not  the  Spirit  of  God, 
by  a  common  metonymy,  put  for  God  himfelf  I — I 
own  I  have  fometimes  been  inclined  to  hefitate  on  this 
queftion.  When  it  is  faid,  My  Spirit  mall  not 
always  drive  with  man,  and,  Grieve  not  the  Holy 
Spirit  of  God  ;  I  have  never  thought  thefe  paflages  a 
iufficient  proof  of  the  perfonality  of  the  bleffed  Spirit, 
though  (if  I  miftake  not)  commonly  urged  in  fup- 
port  of  the  doctrine.  Thefe,  I  apprehend,  might  fair- 
ly be  interpreted  of  grieving  God  himfelf,  and  refitt- 
ing the  tender  gracious  overtures  of  his  mercy.  Con- 
formably to  that  parallel  form  of  fpeech,  where  it  is 
laid  by  the  infpired  writer,  Paufs  fpirit  was  grieved, 
/.  e.  'without  all  difpute,  Paul  himfelf  was  inwardly 
afflicted. 

Again  ;  perhaps,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  may  be  no- 
thing more  than  a  particular  modification  or  exercife 
of  a  divine  power  refident  in  the  Deity.  For  inltance, 
when  it  is  faid,  in  the  prophetic  language,  Not  by 
might,  nor  by  force,  but  by  my  Spirit,  faith  the  Lord  ; 
or  by  the  evangelical  hiflorian,  The  Holy  Ghoft  was 

upon 


Let.  24.         OF     LETTERS.  399 

upon  him.  Arc  not  thefe  texts  nearly  equivalent,  in 
point  of  fignification,  to  thofe  fcriptural  expreffions, 
The  right  hand  of  the  Lord  bringeth  mighty  things  to 
pafs,  The  inipiration  of  the  Almighty  giveth  under- 
Itanding  ?  Is  not  this  the  meaning  of  the  former  paf- 
iagc,  Not  mortal  llrength,  but  God's  omnipotent  aid 
giveth  victory  in  the  battle,  and  fuccefs  in  every  un- 
dertaking ;  and  this  the  import  of  the  latter,  The 
communications  of  infinite  wifdom  enlightened  his 
mind  in  an  extraordinary  manner  ? 

Were  there  no  other  fcriptures  which  concerned 
themfelves  in  this  debate,  I  fliould  be  ready  to  give  up 
the  point.  But  there  are  feveral,  which  moft  ftrong- 
ly  imply  the  perfonality  of  the  x  Holy  Ghoft,  though 
they  may  not  aflert  it  in  pofitive  terms.  It  is  true, 
we  meet  with  no  fuch  term  as  perfonality  in  facred 
writ  ;  but  if  we  find  the  thing  fignified,  it  is  in  effecl 
the  lame.  No  one  can  (hew  me  the  word  refurreclion 
in  the  whole  Pentateuch,  but  will  any  one  prefnme  to 
maintain,  that  this  doctrine  is  not  to  be  proved  from 
the  books  of  Mofet  ?  Our  Lord's  famous  reply  to  the 
eninaring  interrogatory  of  the  Sadducees,  mult  for  c- 
ver  filence  i'uch  a  fuggeftion.  And  this  we  may  further 
learn  from  his  method  of  arguing,  that  it  is  not  only 
proper,  but  our  duty,  to  deduce  truths,  by  fair  con- 
iequences,  which  the  text  rmy  not  explicitly  fpeak. 

Bepleafed,  Sir,  to  confider the  apoftolical  benedic- 
tion, The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and  the  love 
of  God,  and  the  fellowfhip  Of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  be  with 
you  all.  If  we  allow  the  apoftle  to  wnderftand  the 
true  import  of  language,  muft  it  not  follow  from  this 
paflage,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  a  real  perfon.anddiftinct 
from  the  Father  and  the  Son  ?  Otherwife,  would  not 
the  facred  writer,  ought  not  the  facred  writer,  to  have 
exprcfled  himfclf  in  'a  different  manner  ;  to  have  iaid 
rather,  The  fdlowQiip  of  his,  or  the  fellowfhip  of 
their  f'pirit ? — The  form  of  adminiftering  baptifm  is  an- 
other text  of  this  nature  :  In  the  name  of  the  Father, 

and 


400        A     COLLECTION          Let.  24. 

and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghoft.  It  is  evi- 
dent ;  I  believe,  it  is  allowed  by  all,  that  the  two  firft 
are  real  diftin&  pcrions  ;  and  is  there  not  equal  reaibn 
to  conclude,  that  the  laft-mentioned  is  a  perfon  alfb  ? 
Suppoie  you  Ihould  endeavour  to  diflinguifti  three 
perlbns  in  your  difcourfe,  what  other  language  would 
you  uie  than  this  ? — 1  dare  fay,  Sir,  you  are  fenfible, 
that  one  icripture-proof,  if  plain  in  its  fignification, 
and  incontestable  in  its  evidence,  is  as  valid,  as  decilive 
as  one  thoufand  ;  becaufe  one  iiich  proof  bears  the 
ftamp  of  infallible  wifdom  and  infinite  veracity.  There- 
fore,was  there  no  other  hint  in  all  the  infpircd  volumes, 
but  thele  pregnant  words  which  compofe  the  form  of 
baptifm,  this  lingle  proof  would  be  fufliciently  fatif- 
factory  to  my  judgment. 

I  fhall  take  leave  to  refer  you  to  a  few  more  evi- 
dences, and  tranfcribe  only  the  following  :  There  are 
three  that  bear  witnefs  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Lo- 
gos, and  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and  theie  three  are  one. 
But  this,  we  are  told,  is  a  furreptitious  text  ;  foiflcd 
by  the  bigotted  efpoufers  of  a  certain  favourite  let  of 
doctrines. — The  only  refource  this  of  our  oppofers, 
when  their  cafe  becomes  defperate,  when  conviction 
flafhes  in  their  faces  ;  when  every  other  fubter'fuge 
fails  ;  then  the  pretence  of  fpurious,  and  interpolated 
reading  is  trumped  up.  It  is  not  to  be  found,  they 
cry,  in  fome  very  ancient  copy  ;  perhaps,  the  Alexan- 
drine MS.  acknowledges  no  fuch  palTage.  But  this  I 
mud  be  allowed  to  queftion  :  I  dare  not  take  our  ad- 
veriaries  bare  word  ;  eipccially,  fmce  fome  of  the  de- 
clared enemies  of  orthodoxy  are  not  the  moft  exem- 
plary for  truth  and  integrity.  However,  granting  that 
there  may  be  no  fuch  text  in  the  Alexandrine  MS.  for 
rny  part,  I  mould  not  fcruple  to  abide  by  the  uriiver- 
ial  teftimony  of  all  editions,  in  all  countries,  much 
rather  than  to  give  up  my felf  implicitly  to  the  autho- 
rity of  a  fingle  MS.  I  mould  think  it  much  more  rea- 
fouable  to  conclude,  that  the  tranfcriber  of  that  par- 
ticular 


Let.  24.      OF       LETTERS.        401 

ticular  copy,  had,  through  overfight,  dropt  fome  fen- 
tence,  rather  than  to  charge  all  the  other  copies  with 
forgery,  and  the  editions  of  all  ages  with  a  grofs  mil- 
take.  Confider,  Sir,  not  only  the  apparent  difficulty, 
but  the  moral  impoffibility  of  corrupting  the  facred 
books  in  that  palpable  manner,  which  this  objection 
would  infmuate  ;  at  a  time  when  every  private  Chi  if- 
tian  valued  them  more  than  life,  and  fpent  no  day 
without  a  diligent  contemplation  of  them  ;  at  a  time, 
when  each  particular  feel  read  them  conftantly  in  their 
public  aflemblies,  and  watched  over  the  genuinenefs 
of  each  text  with  a  moft  jealous  eye.  Would  it  be 
an  eafy  matter  to  introduce  a  fuppofitious  claufe  into 
an  ordinary  will,  after  it  had  been  iblemnly  proved  at 
Dotfors  Commons,  and  one  authentic  copy  preferved  in 
the  archives  I  If  this  is  fcarce  poffible,  how  much  more 
unlikely  is  it,  that  any  one  (hould  be  able  to  praclife 
fo  iniquitoufly  upon  the  infpired  writings,  when  not 
one  only,  but  unnumbered  copies  were  depofited  in 
the  moft:  vigilant  hands,  and  difperfcd  throughout  the 
world  ? 

I  (hall  only  defire  you  to  confult  thofe  other  fcrip- 
tures,  Rom.  xv.  16,  30.  Johnwi.  13,  14,  15   which, 
without    heaping    together    a    multitude    of    other 
proofs,  fcem  to  put   the  matter  beyond   all  rational 
doubt.    In  the  laft  of  thofe  places,  you  will  take  par- 
ticular notice,   that  the  writer  fpeaks   of  the  Holy 
Ghoft  in  the  mafculine  gender.    How  could  this  con- 
fift  with  propriety  of  ftyle,   upon   any  other   fcheme 
than  ours  ?  The    expreflion  mould  have  been  //,  not 
he,   if  the  Holy  Ghoft  were  a  divine  energy  alone, 
and  not   a  real  perfon.     Nay,   it  is   remarkable,  that 
though  n»iw/»«  be  a  neuter,  yet  the  hiftorian  varies  the 
gender,  and  gives    us    a    mafculine    relative,  01**  i\e« 
iM.roj,  E/.tivw  ipt  fotarn ;    and  on  what  principles    can    this 
*  conilrudbion  be  accounted  for,  or  jullified,  but  by  al- 
lowing the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  a  peribn  ?  This,  I  think, 
is  an  obfervation  of  fomc  confluence  ;   and,  there- 
Voj..  V.  N°  25-.  3  E  fore 


402         A     COLLECTION         Let.  14, 

fore,  accurate  writers  fliould  beware  of  nfing  the  word 
//,  and  rather  chule  the  prououn  /«'/»,  when  Ipeaking 
of  this  divine  Being. 

The  mention  of  .divine  Being  reminds  me  of  our  fe- 
cond  lul'jeft  of  inquiry,  viz.  Whether  the  Holy  Ghoft  is 
very  God  ? — Here  1  fhould  be  glad  to  know,  what  kind 
or  degree  of  evidence  will  fatisfy  the  inquirers.  If  we  are 
fo  far  humble  and  impartial  as  to  prefer  the  declarations 
of  an  unerring  word,  to  the  preconceptions  of  our  mind  ; 
I  think,  there  is  mo  ft  fufhc  ient  proof  afforded  by  the  fcrip- 
tures.  Whereas,  if  we  bring  not  thei'e  difpofitions  to  the 
iearch,  it  will  be  no  wonder,  if  we  are  bewildered  ;  if 
we  are  given  up  to  our  own  delufions  ;  nay,  it  will  be 
no  incredible,  no  unprecedented  thing  for  God  to 
hide  theie  myfteries  from  fuch  (in  their  own  opinion) 
wife  and  prudent  ones,  while  he  reveals  them  to  (men 
endued  with  the  fimplicityand  teachablenefs  of)  babes. 

Is  that  Being  truly  God,  who  is  pofTeffcd  of  divine 
attributes?  This  queftion,  I  imagine,  every  body  will 
»nfwer  in  the  affirmative.  So  that  if  it  appears,  that 
the  Holy  Ghoft  is  inverted  with  the  incommunicable 
attributes  of  the  Deity,  our  affent  will  be  won,  and 
oar  difpute  at  an  end. — Is  it  not  the  prerogative  of  the 
all  feeing  God,  to  fearch  the  heart,  and  try  the  reins  ? 
Jer.  xvii.  10.  and  is  not  this  the  undoubted  prerogative 
of  the  blefTedSpirit  ?  I  Cor.  ii.  10. — Is  eternity  an  attri- 
bute of  God,  and  of  God  only  ?  Dent,  xxxiii.  27,  °  v-ws 
t%a,  *Bxv«.r,«,,  i  Tim.  vi.  16.  This  is  clearly  the  property 
of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  who  is  ftyled  by  the  author  of  the 
cpiftle  to  the  Hebrews,  The  eternal  Spirit,  Heb.  ix.  14. 
—Is  wifcjpm,  underived,  effential  wifdom,  a  charac- 
ter of  God,  called  by  the  apofllc  ^o»«  <™?w  «'*«,  Jude  25.  ? 
This  is  the  illuflrtous  character  of  the  Holy  Ghoft. 
He  is  the  Spirit  of  wifdom  and  revelation,  Eph.  \.  \ja 
In  confequence  of  which  lacred  excellency,  he  is  able 
to  lead  his  people  into  all  truth  — Is  Omniprefence  a 
neceflary  proof  of  Divinity  I  If  Ib,  the  Holy  Ghoft 
challenges  it  upon  this  claim  j  for  thus  faith  the  in- 

fpired 


Let.  24.         OF     LETTERS.  403 

fpired  poet,  Whither  (hall  I  go  then  from  thy  fpirit  ? 
Pfal.  cxxxix.  7 — Is  orrmipotencea  fufficient  atteftation 
of  the  Godhead  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  ?  He  that  enableth 
mortals  to  control  the  powers,  to  alter  the  courfe,  to 
fupercede  tlie  fundamental  laws  of  nature  ;  can  he  be 
kis  than  the  Lord  God  Almighty  ?  Yet  St  Paul  de- 
clares, that  his  ability  to  work  ail  manner  of  aftonifh- 
ing  miracles,  for  the  confirmation  of  his  miniftry,  was 
imparted  to  him  by  the  Spirit,  Rom.  xv.  19. — if  any 
farther  proof  is  demanded,  be  pleafed  to  confidcr,  with 
an  uuprejudifed  attention,  that  very  memorable  paf- 
fage,  Mattii.  xii.  31,  32.  Sorely,  from  an  attentive 
coutideration  of  this  text,  we  muft  be  conftrained  to 
acknowledge,  that  the  Holy  Ghoft  is  ftrictly  and  pro- 
perly God.  Otherwise,  how  could  the  fin  agaloft  him 
be  of  fo  enormous  a  nature,  fo  abfolutely  unpardon- 
able, and  the  dreadful  caule  of  inevitable  ruin  ?— St 
Paul,  in  his  firft  epiftleto  \\\eCorinthians,  (vi.  19.)  ad- 
dreflcs  his  converts  with  this  remarkable  piece  of 
inftruclion,  Your  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghoft. 
The  fame  apoftle,  writing  to  the  fame  believers,  in  his 
fecond  epiflle,  (vi.  16.)  has  the  following  expreffion, 
Ye  are  the  temples  of  the  living  God.  Who  can  com- 
pare thefc  texts,  and  yet  be  fo  hardy  as  deliberately 
to  deny,  that  the  Holy  Ghoft  and  the  living  God  are 
one  and  the  fame  ?  Befides,  if  thefe  two  fcriptures, 
\  iewed  in  conjunction  with  each  other,  did  not  aicer- 
tain  the  Divinity  of  the  blefled  Spirit,  the  vejy  pur- 
port of  the  cxpreffion,  Ye  are  temples  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  fufficiemly  evinces  it.  It  is  certain,  that  the 
very  effence  of  a  temple,  or,  to  fpeak  in  the  terms  of 
the  logician,  the  differentia  conftitutiva  of  a  temple, 
confifts  in  the  refidence  of  a  Deity.  The  inhabitation 
of  the  hi ji heft  created  Being  cannot  conftitute  a  tem- 
ple ;  nothing  but  the  indwelling  of  the  one  infinite, 
almighty  Lord  God.  Since,  therefore,  the  indwelling 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  renders  the  bodies  of  Chriftians 
temples,  it  iccms  to  be  a  clear  cafe,  that  he  is  truly 

E  2  Gcd". 


404        A     COLLECTION         Let.  24. 

God. — Another  text,  a  text  never  omitted  when  this 
point  is  under  debate,  and  a  text,  in  my  opinion,  iingly 
liifiicient  to  give  a  final  deciiion  to  the  doubt,  is  in 
u4tfs  v.  3,  4.  where  the  perlbn  (Hied  A^*  nv(U/««  in  one 
verfe,  is  exprdsly  declared  to  be  &««  in  the  next. 
Now,  can  we  imagine,  that  an  evangelift,  under  the 
guidance  of  unerring  wifdom,  could  write  with  iuch. 
unaccountable  inaccuracy  as  the  dcnicrs  of  this  article 
mult  maintain  ?  Were  this  iuppofition  admitted,  I 
mould  almoft  begin  to  queftion  the  infpiration  of  the 
iacred  books.  At  this  rate,  they  would  leem -calcu- 
lated to  confound  the  judgment,  and  elude  the  com- 
mon fenfe  of  the  readers.  For  to  ipeak  fo  frequent- 
ly of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghoft, — to 
ipcak  in  fuch  language  as  we  always  ufe  in  diftinguifh- 
ing  various  perfons, — to  alcribe  to  them  feverally  fuch 
attributes  as,  by  univerfal  acknowledgment,  comport 
only  with  the  fupreme  God, —  nay,  to  call  each  per- 
fon  by  himfelf,  diftin&ly,  exprefsly  to  call  each  per- 
ibn  God  and  Lord  j — lure,  if,  after  all  thefe  declara- 
tions, there  be  not  three  perfons  in  the  one,  incom- 
prehcnfible  Godhead  ;  if  each  of  thefe  illuftrious  per- 
fons be  not  very  God  ; — what  can  we  fay,  but  that 
the  fcriptures  are  inconfiflent  and  felf- contradictory 
pieces  ? — So  that,  upon  the  whole,  we  are  reduced  to 
this  dilemma,  either  to  admit  this  abfurd  and  impious 
charge  upon  the  fcriptures  ;  or  elfe  to  acknowledge 
the  perfonality  and  divinity  of  the  three  perfons  in  the 
•adorable  Trinity. 

But,  perhaps,  a  curious  genius,  that  has  been  ac- 
cuflomed  to  enter  deep  into  the  rationale  of  things  ; 
that  thinks  it  beneath  a  fagacious  inquirer  to  credit, 
unlefs  he  can  comprehend, — iuch  a  genius  may  afk, 
with  a  kind  of  amazement,  How  can  thefe  things  be  ? 
— Here  I  pretend  to  give  no  fatisfaclion.  Here  I  con- 
fefs  myfelf  at  a  lofs.  I  cannot  conceive  how  the  prin- 
ciple of  gravitation  acts,  or  what  conftitutes  the  power 
of  attraction.  If  1  cannot  penetrate  the  hidden  qua- 
lities 


Let.  25.          OF     LETTERS.  405 

lities  of  a  thoufand  common  objects,  that  daily  prefent 
themfelves  to  my  fenfes  ;  no  wonder,  that  I  mould  be 
unable  to  unravel  the  awful  fecrcts  of  the  divine  na- 
ture ;  no  wonder  that  1  fhould  be  incapable  of  finding 
out  to  perfection  that  infinite  Majefty,  who  dwells  in 
light  inaccellible.  Since  the  T»  *«.««  is  attefted  by  a 
multitude  of  witnelFes  from  fcripture,  let  us  be  con- 
tent to  wait  for  the  r»*as,  till  this  grol's  interpofing 
cloud  of  flcfh  and  mortality  flee  away  ;  until  that  hap- 
py hour  arrives,  that  defirable  ftate  commence,  when 
we  (hall  no  longer  fee  thro'  a  glafs  darkly,  but  mall 
know  even  as  we  are  known. 

I  fhould  now  proceed,  according  to  the  ability  which 
the  great  fource  of  wifdom  may  plcafe  to  bellow,  to 
examine  Mr  Tonkins'*  Calm  inquiry;  but  this  is  what 
my  time,  claimed  by  a  variety  of  other  engagements, 
will  not  permit  ;  and  what,  I  prefume,  you  youriblf, 
tired  already  by  a  tedious  epiftle,  will  very  readily  ex- 
cufe.  Hereafter,  if  you  infift  upon  my  executing  the 
plan  laid  down  in  the  beginning  of  this  paper,  I  will 
communicate  my  remarks  (fuch  as  they  are)  relating 
to  the  forcmentioned  treatife,  with  all  that  chearful 
compliance,  and  unreferved  opennefs,  which  may 
moft  emphatically  bcfpeak  me,  dear  Sir, 

Yours,  &c» 


LETTER       XXV. 

Wefton-Fa-vell,  Feb.  9.  1745-6. 

'T'Hanks  to  you,  dear  Sir,  for  your  kind  wifhes. 
JL     Bleffed  be  the  divine  Providence,  I  am  now  able 
to  inform   you,  that  what  you  wifh  is  accomplished. 
1  have  had  one  of  the  moft  agreeable  lofles  i  ever  met 
-  with  ;  I  have  loft  my  indiij/olidon,  and  am,  in  a  man- 
ner, well. 

1  fend  herewith  the  poem  on  Chriftianity.      The 
other  books,  which  you  have  been  pleaied  to  lend  me, 

will 


A     COLLECTION          Let.  26. 

will  follow  by  the  firft  opportunity.  I  read  Mr  Hob- 
Jon's  performance  with  cagernefs  and  delight.  What 
is  wrote  by  a  valuable  friend,  has  a  kind  of  fecret  un- 
accountable charm.  It  may  not  be  preferable  to  ofiiier 
competitions,  yet,  methinks,  it  pleaies  more. 

1  congratulate  you,  Sir,  and  my  country,  on  the 
good  news  received  from  the  north.  How  do  you 
like  Stackkou/e's  hiftory  of  the  Bible  ?  I  am  iure  he 
has  one  advantage,  fupcrior  to  all  the  hiftorians  of  the 
world  ;  That  the  fa  els  he  relates  are  more  venerable 
for  their  antiquity,  more  admirable  for  their  grandeur, 
and  more  important  on  account  of  their  univcrfal  ule- 
fulnefs.  I  have  often  thought,  that  the  icripture  is 
finely  calculated  to  furnilh  out  the  nioft  exquilite  en- 
tertainment to  the  imagination,  from  thole  three  prin- 
cipal fources  mentioned  by  Mr  ^iddifon  the  Great,  the 
Beautiful,  and  the  New.  But  what  is  this  compared 
with  that  infinitely  noble  benefit,  to  impart  which  is 
their  profefTed  ddign  ;  the  benefit  of  making  us  wife 
to  falvation,  of  making  us  partakers  of  a  divine  na- 
ture : — I  am,  Crr. 


LETTER       XXVI. 

Dear  S/r,  Weft  on- Few  ell,  Feb.  11.  1745-6. 

I  Received  your  ticket  fome  time  ago,  in  which  you 
defire  me  to  coniider  ibme  particular  paflages  of 
icripture.  After  an  afflictive  indilpoiition,  which 
confined  me  to  my  room  teveral  days,  i  have  exami- 
ned the  texts  you  alledge.  They  relate,  I  find,  to  that 
grand  qucftion,  which  has  lately  been  the  iubject  of 
our  debate,  the  Divinity  of  our  Lord  JefusChrift- — I 
could  have  wifhed,  that  the  controvcrfy  had  been 
brought  to  a  fatisfactory  and  happy  iflue.  Very  un- 
willing to  engage  in  it  a  iecond  time,  I  mud  beg  leave 
to  fue  for  my  Bene  decejfit,  and  refign  the  management 
of  fo  important  a  difpute  to  incomparably  more  able 

hands* 


Let.  26.         o  F     L   E   T   T  E   R   S.  407 

hands, — However,  in  obedience  to  your  requeft,  {quid 
tnim  amicitia  dsnegandum?}  I'fhall  briefly  lay  before 
you  my  opinion  concerning  thofe  portions  of  infpired 
wifdom  ;  and  then  proceed,  in  purfuance  of  my  pro- 
mife,  to  weigh,  with  calmneis  and  impartiality,  the 
molt  material  of  JVlr  Tomkins's  objections. 

You  obierve,  That  the  Father  is  never  reprefented 
yielding  obedience  to  Chrift,  or  praying  to  Chrift. — 
1  acknowledge  the  truth  of  the  remark,  and  aHign 
this  clear  and  obvious  reafon,  becaufe  it  was  the  pe- 
culiar office  of  the  fecond  perfon  of  the  Trinity  to 
humble  himfelf,  to  unite  himielf  to  fledi  and  blood, 
and  to  be  made  in  all  things  like  unto  us,  fin  only  ex- 
cepted.  Had  not  the  bleffed  Jefus  been  clothed  with 
our  nature,  and  partook  of  our  innocent  infirmities, 
we  fliould  never  have  heard  any  flich  thing,  as  his 
yielding  obedience,  or  praying  to  another,  greater 
than  himteif.  This  refults  not  from  his  efTential,  but 
his  aflumed  nature  :  nor  is  it  at  all  repugnant  to  rea- 
fbn,  to  be  inferior  in  one  character,  and  at  the  fame 
time  absolutely  equal  in  another.  His  Majefty  King 
George  may  be  inferior  to  the  Emperor,  in  the  capacity 
of  Elector  of  Hanuver ;  he  may  be  lubjecT:  to  the  Impe- 
rial authority,  as  he  is  a  prince  of  the  Get  manic  body; 
and  yet  equal  to  the  moft  illuftrious  monarchs,  ob- 
noxious to  no  earthly  jurisdiction,  in  his  nobler  qua- 
lity of  King  of  Great  Britain,  France^  and  Ireland. 
This  iecms  to  be  a  very  eaiy  and  natural  iolution  of 
the  difficulty  :  whereas,  1  think,  1  may  venture  to 
defy  the  niceft  metaphyfician,  or  the  moft  ac-ite  ca- 
iiiift,  to  reconcile  the  notions  of  divinity  and  inferio- 
rity. As  well  may  contradictions  be  made  compati- 
ble. A  God,  who  is  inferior,  is,  to  my  apprehenfion, 
a  perfect  paradox.  It  is  necefTarily  implied  in  the  idea 
<lf  God,  That  he  be,  as  our  old  tranllation  of  the 
Plal-.ns  very  emphatically  and  beautifully  Ityles  him, 
The  Moft  Hi^heft.  Therefore,  our  Saviour,  who  of- 
ten aflerts  his  claim  to  Divinity,  declares,  as  an  inie- 

parablc 


408  A     COLLECTION        Let.  26, 

parable  confequent  of  this  high  prerogative,  All  things 
which  the  Father  hath,  are  mine.  Is  the  Father's  tx- 
iftence  inconceivable  and  eternal  ?  the  lame  alib  is  the 
.Son's.  Has  the  Father  an  unequalled  abiblute  iupre- 
macy  ?  fuch  likewifc  hath  the  Son. 

But  I  fee  you  have  ready  at  hand  to  object,  John 
xiv.  28.  My  Father  is  greater  than  I. — Who  are  we  to 
underftand  by  the  perfon  I  ?  Doubtlefs,  that  being 
who  was  capable  of  going  and  coming  ;  who  was 
Sometimes  in  one  place,  and  iometimes  in  another  ; 
now  with  the  difciples  on  earth,  anon  fcparated  from 
them  by  a  tranflation  into  -eaven  :  and  who  can  this 
be  but  the  man  Chrift:  JeU  s  ;  the  human  nature  of  our 
Redeemer  ?  The  attribute  of  limited  locality,  deter- 
mines this  point  with  the  utmoft  clcarnefs ;  why  then 
fhould  any  on."  apply  that  property  to  the  Godhead  of 
our  blefled  Matter,  which  he  himielf  fo  plainly  ap- 
propriates to  his  manhood  1 

This  text  very  opportunely  furniflies  us  with  a  key, 
to  enter  into  the  true  meaning  of  your  next  quota- 
tion, I  Cor.  xi.  3.  The  head  of  Chrid  is  God.  Only 
let  St  John  be  allowed  to  expound  St  Paul,  I  afk  this 
linglc  conceffion  from  my  worthy  friend,  (and  lure  it 
is  no  unreafonable  one.)  Let  us  agree  to  pay  a  greater 
deference  to  the  beloved  difciple's  comment,  than  to 
Mr  Piercc's  paraphrafe,  or  the  interpretation  of  the 
jfrian  creed  ;  then  the  fenfe  will  be  as  follows,  The 
Deity  is  the  head  of  the  Mediator.  As  the  members 
are  conduced  by  the  head,  and  fubfervicnt  to  the 
head  ;  fo  Chrifl  Jefus,  in  his  human  capacity,  acted 
and  acts  in  fubordination  to  the  Godhead  ;  obeying 
the  fignifications  of  his  will,  and  referring  all  his  ad- 
ininiftrations  to  his  glory.  This  expofition,  1  imagine, 
the  context  corroborates,  and  the  fcope  of  the  ap>>- 
ftle's  arguing  requires. 

As  for  Hcb.  \.  8,  9.  this  text  affirms,  in  the  moft 
exprefs  terms,  That  Chrift  is  God,  o  ep0voi<r»o  GEOS.  And 
what  can  be  a  ftronger  proof  of  his  unrivalled  fupre- 

macy 


Let.  26.          OF     LETTERS.  409 

macy   and  fovereignty  ? — But,    perhaps,  this  may  be 
one  of  thole  places,  in  which,  xve  are  intprmed  by  our 
obje&ors,  the  word  GOD  iignifies  no  more  than  a  king 
or  ruler,  confequently,  does  not  prove  our  Redeemer 
to  be   God  in  reality,  and  by  nature  ;  but  only  to  be 
complimented  with  this  appellation,  in  refpect  of  his 
office  and  authority. — I  believe,  Sir,  you  will  find, 
upon  a  more   attentive    inquiry,    that  this  fubtik  dii- 
tinclion  is  contrary  to  the  perpetual  uie  of  the  icrip- 
tures.    A  very  celebrated  critic  obferves,  that  vvhere- 
cverthe  nameELOHiM  (translated  by  the  apoflle  GEOS) 
is  taken  in  an  abtblute  ienfe,  and  rcftrained  to  oue  par- 
ticular perlbn,  (as  it  is  in  the  pailage  before  us,)  it  con- 
flantly   denotes  the  true  arid    only  God.     Magistrates 
are  indeed  laid  to  be  Elohim,  in  relation  to  their  of- 
lice,    but  no   one  magiltrate  was    ever  ib  called  ;  nor 
can  it  be  faid,  without  blafphemy,  to  any  one  of  them, 
Thou  art  Elohim,  or  God.    It  is  alib  recorded  of  Mo- 
Jfs,  Thou  (halt  be   Elohim  ;  yet  not  absolutely,  but 
relatively  only,  a  God  to  Pharaoh,  and  to  Aaron,  i.  e* 
in   God's   ftead,    doing   in  the  name  of  God  what   he 
commanded,    and   declaring   what  he  revealed.— Be- 
fides,  does  not  the  apoflle,  in  this  very  chapter,  ver.  10. 
addreis    the    following    acknowledgment    to    Chrift, 
Thou,   Lord,   in  the  beginning,  haft  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  the  earth,   and  the  heavens  are  the  work  of 
thy  hands.     And  is  not  the  work  of  creation  tlje  un- 
ihared  prerogative  and   honour  of  tiie  iupreme  God. 
This  I  am  pretty  lure  of,  it  is  the  prerogative  of  that 
God  to   whom  the   worJhip  of  the  fainls,   under  the 
Old  Teflament,  is  directed  ;  of  that   God,  who  has 
declared  himfelf  jealous  of  his  honour,  and  refolves 
not  to  give  his  glory  to  another  ?   Melchijedec  made 
this  illultrious  being  the  object  of  his  adoration,  Blef- 
-led   be   the  molt  high  God,  poflcflbr  of  heaven  and 
earth  :  The   day   is   thine,  and   the   night   is   thine  : 
thou  haft  prepared  the  light  and  the  iun  ;  was  judg- 
ed by   the   Pjalmijt  one  of  the  noblcft  afcriptions  of 
VOL.  V.  N°  25.  3  F  Prail€j 


410          A     COLLECTION         Let.  26. 

praiie  which  could  be  made  to  the  Deity.  Jonah  has 
left  us  a  confeffion  of  his  faith,  and  an  abftract  of  his 
devotion,  in  the  following  words  ;  I  fc*ar  tnc  Lord, 
the  God  of  heaven,  who  hath  made  the  lea,  and  the 
dry  land.  Yet  »St  Paul  allures  us,  that  this  great 
Creator  and  Proprietor  of  heaven  and  earth  ;  this  ob- 
ject of  divine  woj  (hip  in  all  ages  of  the  ancient  church, 

IS    lie——  o  <fi'  inw7«  x.f.Sa.pio/u.ov  Troitiff/x/^tvOS  rat  ctf/.ap1ia»  r>/jt.ai,    VCriC     3*~"~~ 

Now,  can  we  view  the  magnificent  fyftem  of  the  uni- 
vcrie,  the  immenlity  of  its  extent,  the  vail  variety  of 
its  parts,  the  inimitable  accuracy  of  its  Structure,  the 
perfect  harmony  of  its  motions,  together  with  the  a- 
Itonifliing  energy  and  effects  of  its  mechanic  powers  ; — 
can  we  contemplate  this  world  of  wonders,  and  with- 
hold ourfelves  a  (ingle  moment  from  afcribing  the  glo- 
ry of  incomparable  wiidom,  and  matchlels  perfections 
to  its  Maker  ?  Can  we  glance  an  eye,  or  ftart  a  thought, 
thro*  that  ample  field  of  miracles,  which  nature  in  all 
her  fcenes  regularly  exhibits,  and  ftill  conclude,  that 
the  Author  of  all  takes  too  much  upon  him,  when  he 
advances  the  following  claim  ? 

— .  .    , , None  I  know 

Second  to  me,  or  like,  equal  much  lefs.      MILT. 

Poffibly,  our  fceptical  gentlemen  are  ready  to  re- 
ply, We  are  far  from  denying  that  Chrift  made  the 
world  ;  but  we  fuppofe,  that  he  made  it  only  as  a  mi- 
iiifterial  being  ;  not  by  any  iufficiency  of  his  own,  but 
by  a  power  delegated  to  him  from  the  infinite  God- 
head.— But  furc  the  abettors  of  this  opinion  never  con- 
fidered  t! iat  emphatical  pafTage,  n«,7a  st'  «u7«,  g  s,s  au7ov  ixi«r«<  f. 
By  whatever  artful  evafiori  they  may  think  to  elude 
the  force  of  the  former  exprcflion,  I  cannot  fee  what 
poilible  efcape  they  can  contrive  from  the  latter.  Jt 
is  plain  from  the  philofophical  principles  of  an  apoftle, 
that  the  univerfc  was  formed  by  Chrift  as  the  almighty 
Artificer,  for  Chrift  as  its  final  end  :  and  is  not  this  a 
demonstration,  that  Chrift  was  not  a  mere  inftrument, 

but 
Col.  i.  t6. 


Let.  26.          o  F     L   E   T   T  E   R   S.  411 

but  the  grand,  glorious,  felf-iufficient  agent ;  the  Al- 
pha and  Omega  of  all  things  ! 

After  all  that  has  been  laid  upon  this  text,  will  it 
be  intimated,  that  1  have  been  partial  in  my  examina- 
tion of  it  ?  that  the  fentence,  which  moll  particular- 
ly favours  your  opinion,  and  looks  with  the  moft 
frowning  afpect  on  mine,  is  panned  over  without  no- 
tice ?  namely,  where  it, is  taught,  That  Gcd  anointed 
Chrift  with  the  the  oil  of  gladneis  above  his  fellows  * . — 
I  reply,  by  owning,  that  thefe  words  mod  undeniably 
imply  inferiority  ;  they  imply  a  ilate  of  indigence, 
which  wants  fomcthing  it  has  not  naturally  ;  a  hate  of 
impotence, which  receives  from  another, what  it  cannot 
convey  to  itlelf.  Surely,  then,  this  claule  muft  accord- 
ing to  all  the  laws  of  juft  interpretation,  be  referred  to 
that  nature  which  admitted  of  iiich  wants,  and  was  fub- 
jecl  to  fuch  infirmities.  To  alcribe  it  to  that  narure, 
which  is  characterized  as  God,  would  be  almoft  as  af- 
fronting to  reafon,  as  it  is  to  the  Deity. — It  is  farther 
obfervable,  that  the  very  expreflion  limits  the  fenie  to 
that  capacity  of  our  Redeemer,  in  which  others  flood 
related  to  him  as  his  fellows.  And  can  this  be  any 
other  than  the  human  f — Let  me  add  one  word  more, 
before  I  difmifs  this  inquiry  ;  fuppofe  I  was  to  fhift 
fides  in  the  diipute,  and  turn  the  tables  upon  the  dif- 
ciples  of  Ariu*.  Gentlemen,  lince  you  take  fo  much 
pains  to  prove  the  inferiority  of  our  Lord  Jeius 
Chrift:,  permit  me  to  try,  if  I  cannot  outlhoot  you 
in  your  own  bow.  I  will  undertake  to  mew,  on 
your  own  principles,  that  he  was  inferior  to  millions 
of  created  beings  ;  for  this  1  have  the  pofitive  and  f'ure 
evidence  of  fcripture,  We  fee  Jeius,  who  was  made 
a  little  lower  than  the  angels  -f- . — Th<  11  gentlemen,  I 
verily  think,  would  have  i'o  much  regard  for  the  ho- 
pour  of  a  perfon  on  whom  tlieir  everlafting  all  de- 
pends, as  to  anfwer  with  f'ome  becoming  fpirit,  You 
arc  to  diftinguifh  between  what  our  Saviour  was 

3  F   2  madq 

*  Heb.  i.  9.  -j-  Hcb.  ii.  9. 


412          A     COLLECTION         Let.  26. 

made  occalionally,  and  what  he  was  originally  :  Tho* 
his  human  nature  was  taken  from  a  clafs  of  beings 
lower  in  dignity  than  the  nngcls,  yet  his  nobler  and 
more  exalted  nature  was  greatly  fuperior  to  them  all. 
— Now,  Sir,  as  we  mud  have  recourfe  i'ometimes  to 
this  didinvftion,  our  aclverfarics  thcmielves  being  our 
judges  and  our  precedent,  why  fhould  we  not  carry 
it  along  with  us  continually  ?  Without  it,  a  multi- 
tude of  texts  appear  perplexed  in  their  meaning,  and 
clafli  with  other  icriptures  ;  with  it  they  drop  their  ob- 
fcurity,  are  difentangied  from  their  intricacy,  and  har- 
monize entirely  with  the  whole  tenor  of  facred  writ. 
l  Cor.  xv.  28  is  another  fcripture  pointed  out  for 
consideration.  This,  I  coufefs,  is  a  difficult,  and  ad- 
mitting it  was  (to  me  at  lead)  an  unintelligible  paf- 
fage,  nay,  directly  repugnant  to  myt  hypothefis, — 
what  would  be  a  rational  procedure  in  this  cafe  ?  to 
renounce  my  faith,  becaufs  I  cannot  reconcile  it  with 
one  fcripture,  though  it  itands  fupported  by  a  copi- 
ous multiplicity  of  others  I  if,  in  debating  on  any  que- 
ftion,  there  be  five  hundred  ayes,  and  but  one  no,  I 
appeal  to  the  conduct  of  the  Honourable  houfe  of  Com- 
mons, whether  it  be  reasonable,  that  the  point  mould 
be  carried  by  the  fingle  negative,  fa  oppofition  to  fovaft 
a  majority  of  affirmatives  ?  However,  the  date  of  our 
doctrine  is  not ib bad,  northis  text  fo  diametrically  op- 
pofite  to  it,  as  to  dcdroy  all  hopes  of  eftablifhing  it  with 
a  neminc  contradicente.—T\\€.  apoftle  affirms,  that  at  the 
confummation  of  terredrial  things,  when  the  date  of 
human  probation  ends,  and  the  number  of  the  elect  is 
completed,  then  mall  the  Son  alfo  himfelf  be  fubject 
unto  him  that  put  all  things  under  him  ;  that  God 
may  be  in  all  ;  /.  e.  according  to  my  judgment,  the 
Son,  at  the  commencement  of  that  grand  revolution, 
will  entirely  refign  the  adrainidration  of  his  mediato- 
rial kingdom  ;  he  will  no  longer  act  as  an  advocate  or 
jntercefTor,  becaufe  the  reafons  on  which  this  office  is 
founded  will  ceafc  for  ever  ;  he  will  no  longer,  as  a 

high 


Let.  26.         OF      LETTERS.  413 

high  prieft,  plead  his  atoning  blood  in  behalf  of  fin- 
ners,  nor,  as  a  king,  difpenle  the  fuccours  of  his  fanc- 
tifying  grace,  becaufe  all  guilt  will  be  done  away,  and 
the  actings  of  corruption  be  at  an  end :  he  will  no  long- 
er be  the  medium  of  his  people's  accefs  to  the  know- 
ledge and  enjoyment  of  the  l?ather,  becaufe  then  they 
will  ftand  perpetually  in  the  beatific  prefence,  and  fee 
face  to  face,  know  even  as  they  are  known. — I  may 
probably  mittake  the  meaning  of  the  words  ;  but  what- 
ever mall  appear  to  be  their  precife  lignification,  this, 
I  think,  is  Ib  clear  as  not  to  admit  of  any  doubt,  that 
it  relates  to  an  incarnate  perfon  ;  relates  to  him,  who 
died  for  our  fins,  was  buried,  and  rofe  again  *.  And 
can  the  furrender  of  all  authority  made  by  the  man  Je- 
fus  Chrift,  be  any  bar  to  his  unlimited  equality  as  God  ? 
You  refer  me  to  Pjnl.  viii.  5.  &  Ixxxii.  i,  6.  ExoiL 
xxii.  28.  and  add,  thefe  texts  prove  that  God  figni- 
fies  in  fome  places  king  or  ruler. — 1  acknowledge, 
that  the  word  Elohim,  in  the  aforecited  paflages,  fig- 
nifies  no  more  than  angels,  kings,  or  rulers.  But  is 
this  a  dcmonftration,  that  the  word  Jehovah,  the  in- 
communicable name,  fignifies  no  more  than  an  angel, 
a  king,  or  a  ruler  ?  This  is  the  conclufion  our  adver- 
iarics  are  to  infer  :  this  the  point  they  are  to  make 
good,  othervvile,  their  attempts  drop  fhort  of  the  mark, 
fly  wide  from  their  purpofe.  Becaufe  it  is  plain  from 
incontestable  authorities,  that  Jefus  is  Jehovah.  This 
was  hinted  in  a  former  letter  ;  and  if  you  pleafe  to 
compare  If.  vi.  3.  with  John  xii.  41 .  you  will  find  an- 
other convincing  evidence,  that  the  Jehovah  of  the 
Jews  is  the  Jefus  of  the  Chriftians. — Befides,  in  all 
thofc  places,  where  the  term  God  is  ufed  to  denote 
ibmc  created  being,  invefled  with  confiderable  au- 
thority, or  pofleiTed  of  confirierable  dignity,  the  con- 
ie&ion  is  iuch,  ,ns  abfolutcly  to  exclude  the  perfo*^ 
io  denominated,  from  any  title  to  a  divine  nature  ; 
whereas,  when  the  name  God  is  applied  to  the  le- 

cond 
•*  i  Cor.  xv.  3,  4. 


4M  A     COLLECTION       Let.  26. 

cond  peribn  of  the  Trinity,  it  is  connected  with  fuch 
couiequents  or  antecedents,  as  neceffarily  include  the 
idea  of  divinity  and  iupremacy.  For  inftance,  when 
the  apoftle  recognizes  the  Deity  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift,  in  thole  remarkable  words,  Rom.  ix.  y.  Wiio 
is  God  ;  left  this  idle  piece  of  fophiftry  (hould  have 
any  room  for  admittance,  he  adds  a  moit  determining 
claufe,  over  all,  bleflcd  for  ever. — I  have  called  it  idle 
fophiftry,  for  really  it  is  nothing  clie.  Only  obierve  the 
proccfs  of  the  pretended  argument,  and  you  yourfelf 
will  allow  it  no  better  appellation.  What  is  dcfigncd 
for  the  argument  runs  thus  :  Becaufe  rulers  of  dittinc- 
tion  have  ibmetimes  the  title  of  Elohim,  therefore 
Jelus,  who  has  the  title  of  Jehovah,  is  not  very  God, 
but  only  a  ruler  of  diftinftion  ;  or,  the  word  God, 
when  neceflarily  determined  by  the  context  to  fome 
fubordinate  being,  fignifies  a  i'ubordinate  being;  there- 
fore, the  word  God,  when  neceffarily  determined  by 
the  context  to  fignify  the  fupremeGod,  does  not  iignify 
the  fupreme  God,  but  only  fome  fubordinate  being. — 
Theie  are  the  mighty  reafonings  ;  luch  the  formidable 
artillery,  with  which  the  adherents  of  Arius  attack  the 
divinity  and  equality  of  our  Saviour.  May  the  arms  of 
our  foreign  enemies,  and  inteftine  rebejs,  be  made,  in 
their  kind,  of  fuch  metal,  confiftof  fuchftrength  1  and  I 
may  venture  to  addrefs  my  countrymen  in  David'sencou- 
raginglanguage,  Let  no  man's  heart  fail,  becaufe  of  them . 
1  hope  it  will  not  be  objected,  that  1  have  fometimes 
miftook  the  particular  point  to  be  difcuffed,  and  con- 
founded the  divinity  of  our  Lord  with  his  equality  to 
the  Father. — I  own,  I  have  not  been  fcrupuloufly  care- 
ful to  preferve  any  fuch  diftinclion,  becaufe  I  am  per- 
fuaded  it  is  perfectly  chimerical.  Whoever  admits  the 
former,  grants  the  latter.  The  one  cannot  fubfift  with- 
out the  other  ;  or  rather,  they  arc  one  and  the  fame 
thing.  To  be  equal  with  the  Father  is  to  be  divine  j 
and  to  be  divine,  is  to  be  equal  with  the  Father. — An. 
inferior  deity,  was  a  notion  that  patted  current  in  the 

Heathea 


Let.  26.       OF     LETTERS.  415* 

Heathen  world  ;  but  we  have  not  fo  learned  the  divine 
nature,  as  to  adopt  it  into  our  creed.     It  is  a  propo- 
fition  that  confutes  itfelf.     The  predicate  and  fubjedt 
are  felf-contradiclory.     God  certainly  means  a  being 
of  incomparable,  unparalleled    glory  and  perfection. 
No  one  will  dare  to  give  a  lower  definition  of  the  God- 
head.    Yet  this  the  firft  term  of  the  fentence  affirms, 
the  fecond  denies. — Whenever  I  hear  the  awful  word 
God,  I  form  an  idea  of  a  being  poflefTed  of  abiblute 
fupremacy.     Inferiority  is  altogether  as   inconfiltent 
with  my  apprehenfion  of  the   Godhead,  as  a  limited 
extenfion  is  with  immenfity.  The  fcboolmens  maxim 
is  flridly  true  when  applied  to  the  divine  nature,  that 
his  properties  and  excellencies  non  rccipiunt  magis  aut 
minus — Befides,  Sir,  is  there  not  another  apparent  in- 
conveniency,  another  inextricable  difficulty,  attending 
this  fuperfinediftinction  ?  Does  it  not  fuppofe,  inftead 
of  diftinct  perfons,  diftinft  beings,  diftincl  efTences  \ 
That  which  is  inferior  cannot  be  the  very  fame  with 
its  fuperior.     Identity  in  this  cafe,  confifts  not  with 
inequality.  Theconfequenceof  this  tenet  ispolytheifm. 
For  my  part,  I  lay  it  down  as  an  inconteftable  prin- 
ciple, fuch  as  reafon  and  fcripture  concur  to  eftablifh, 
that  whatever,  whofoever  is  God,  mud  be  abfolutely 
fupreme. — I  then  proceed   to   examine   whether  the 
divine  names,  attributes,  honours  ;  thofe  which  are 
incommunicably  divine,  which  flow  from  the   divine 
offence,  which  cannot  comport  with  a  finite  cxiftence, 
but  are  the  fole  prerogative  of  the  unequalled  God, — 
whether  thefe  are  in  fcripture  clearly  alcribed  to  the 
facred  perfon  of  the  Son  ; — if  they  are,  my  reafon  re- 
quires me  to  believe  that  he  is  very  God,  and  co-equal 
with  the  Father.  My  reafon,  in  her  lldateft  moments, 
allures  me,  that   fcripture  cannot   deceive,  though  I 
may  be  unable  to  conceive.   My  reafon  declares,  that 
I  fhall  be  a  rebel  a,  ainft  her  laws,  if  I  do  not  fubmit 
to  this  determination  of  fcripture,  as  decifive,  as  infal- 
lible.— I  am,  Crc. 

LET- 


416  A     COLLECTION        Let.  22. 

LETTER      XXVII. 


Dear  S/>,  Wejlon-Favcll^  March,  1745-6. 

IN  a  former  letter,  I  confidercd,   whether  the  bicf- 
fcd  Spirit  is  really  a  diftinft  perfon,  —  whether  this 
peribn  is  truly  and  properly  God.  —  It  appeared  from 
a  variety  of  icriptures,  that  both  thefe  qucflions  were 
to  be  refolved  in  the  affirmative.  —  Thcie  prelimina- 
ries  being   fettled,  I  would  hope,  with  fome  perfpi- 
cuity   of  reafon,  and  flrength   of  argument  ;  I  now 
proceed,  in  confcquence  of  my  engagement,    to  exa- 
mine Mr  TomkinSs  objections  againft  the  received  cuf- 
tom  of  addrcliinp;  divine  worfhip  to  this  divine  Being. 

The  author,  I  freely  acknowledge,  writes  with  a  great 
appearance  of  integrity  ;  with  a  calm  and  decent  fpirit 
of  controverfy  ;  and  with  a  very  plaufible  air  of  truth. 
As  the  fubject  of  his  inquiry  is  of  the  higheft  dignity 
and  importance,  as  his  method  of  managing  the  debate 
is,  to  fay  the  Icaft,  by  no  means  contemptible,  I  can- 
not forbear  expi  effing  fome  furprife,  that  none  of  the 
ingenious  dhTenters,  to  whom  the  piece  is  particularly 
infcribed,  have  thought  proper  to  intereft  themfelves 
in  the  difpute,  and  either  confute  what  is  urged,  or 
elfe  (like  perlons  of  that  inviolable  attachment  to  the 
pure  icriptural  wormip,  which  they  profefs)  recede 
from  the  ufe  of  their  allowed  doxologies. 

For  my  part,  as  I  firmly  believe  it  a  proper  practice 
to  wormip  the  Son,  as  we  wormip  the  Father,  and  to 
wormip  the  Holy  Ghoft,  as  we  woffhip  the  other'per- 
ibns  of  the  undivided  Trinity,  I  am  ib  far  from  dis- 
approving, that  I  admire  our  cuftomary  doxology,  and 
think  it  a  very  noble  and  inftru&ive  part  of  our  facrecl 
fervicc.  Noble,  becaufe  it  exhibits  one  of  the  grand 
myfteries,  and  glorious  peculiaries  of  the  gofpel  ;  in- 
ftru&ive,  becaufe  it  fo  frequently  reminds  the  wor- 
fhipper  of  a  point  which  it  fo  greatly  .-concerns  him  to 
believe,  and  which  is  fitted  to  infpire  the  brighteft, 
the  ftrongeft  hopes,  of  final,  of  complete  falvation. 

But 


Let.  27.         o  P     L   E  T  T   E   R   S.  417 

But  left  this  perfuafion  flioukl  be  deemed  the  crude 
production  of  early  prejudice,  rather  than  the  mature 
fruit  of  fedate  confideration,  we  will  very  readily  hear 
whatever  can  be  alledged  againft  it<;  and  not  willing- 
ly fecrcte  one  objection,  or  miirepreient  one  argu- 
ment, occurring  in  the  Inquiry. 

"  Let  it  be  iuppofed,"  fays  our  author,  "  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  one  of  the  perfons  of  the  Godhead  ;  I 
ftill  query,  what  warrant  Chriftians  have  for  a  direct 
and  diftinct  worfhip  of  this  third  perfon  in  the  God- 
head." (p.  i.) — 1  (hould  think,  there  can  be  noreafon- 
able  doubt,  whether  worfhip  is  to  be  paid  to  the  Divi- 
nity. Thou  fhalt  worfliip  the  Lord  thy  God,  is  a  law 
of  inconteftable  authority,  and  eternal  obligation. — 
As  for  the  circumftances  of  worfliip  included  in  its  be- 
ing direct,  this  cannot  alter  the  caie,  nor  render  the 
practice  improper.  According  to  my  apprehenfion, 
all  true  and  genuine  worfhip  is  direct.  If  it  be  ad- 
drefTed  to  the  divine  object  at  fecond  hand,  it  has  more 
of  the  nature  of  idolatry,  than  worfhip.  Such  is  the 
religious  foppery  of  the  Papifls,  who  will  not  apply 
directly  to  the  Father  of  everlafting  compaifions,  but 
adore  God  as  it  were  by  proxy. — With  regard  to  the 
diftinctnefs  of  the  worfhip,  this  depends  entirely  up- 
on the  fcripture's  diftinguifhing  their  perfons.  If  this 
be  clearly  done,  the  diftinctnefs  of  worfhip  is  proper- 
ly authorifed,  and  the  fitnefs,  of  it  follows  of  courfe. 
If  the  infpired  writers  aflure  us,  that  the  Father  is 
God,  this  is  a  fufficient  warrant  to  pay  divine  honours 
to  the  Father.  If  the  infpired  writers  affirm,  that 
the  Son  is  God,  this  is  a  fufficient  ground  for  afcribing 
divine  honours  to  the  Son.  If  the  fame  infpired 
writers  declare,  that  the  Holy  Ghoft  is  God,  we  need 
no  clearer  warrant,  nor  can  we  have  a  louder  call,  to 
pay  him  our  devoteft  homage. — In  a  word,  it  is  the 
voice  of  reafon,  it  is  the  command  of  fcripture,  it  is 
founded  on  the  unalterable  relations  of  things,  that 
worfhip,  direct  worfhip,  diftinct  worfliip,  all  worfliip,  be 
rendered  to  the  Deity. — SothattheDivinity  of  the  Holy 

VOL.  V,  N°  25.          3  G  Ghoft, 


418          A     COLLECTION         Let.  27. 

Ghoft,  cxclnfive  of  any  apoftolical  precept  or  example, 
is  an  incomparably  better  reaibnforafcribingdivineho- 
Dours  to  this  ("acred  perfon,  than  the  bare  want  of  fuch 
precept  or  example,  can  be  a  reaibu  to  juflify  the  o- 
iniilion,  or  condemn  the  performance  of  it. 

I  am  no  advocate  for  implicit  faith  in  any  human 
determination  or  opinion.  Should  I  fee  whole  feels, 
or  whole  churches,  in  a  glaring  error,  inch  as  I  can 
prove  from  fcripturc  to  be  palpably  wrong,  and  of 
pernicious  tendency,  I  would  make  no  fcruplc  to  re- 
monRrate,  diflent,  and  enter  my  proteft.  But  in  a 
cafe,  which  Mr  Tomkins  himfelf  (p.  2.  1.  19.)  allows 
to  be  of  a  dubious  nature  ;  where  I  have  no  pofitive 
proof  from  God's  holy  word  that  the  practice  is  un- 
lawful, or  improper  ;  I  cannot  but  apprehend,  that  it 
becomes  a  modeft  peribn,  diffident  of  his  own  judg- 
ment, to  acquiefce  in  the  general,  the  long- continued 
ufage  of  all  the  churches. — This  is  urged  by  an  infpi- 
red  writer  as  a  forcible  motive  for  rejecting  a  practice^ 
and  why  (hould  not  I  admit  it  as  a  motive  of  weight 
for  adhering  to  a  practice  ?  We  have  no  fuch  cultom, 
neither  the  churches  of  God  *,  was  an  apoftolical  ar- 
gument. And,  in  an  inftance,  where  we  are  not  pre- 
cluded by  any  prohibition  of  fcripture,  I  think,  the 
rcafoning  is  equally  conclufive,  if  changed  to  the  af- 
firmative, We  have  fuch  a  cuftom,  and  the  churches  of 
God. — Was  I  to  fettle  my  opinion,  and  adjuft  my  con- 
duct, with  regard  to  fuch  a  point,  I  mould  be  inclined 
to  argue  in  the  following  manner  :  I  cannot  bring  one 
text  from  the  facred  writings,  which  forbids  the  ufage ; 
and  as  it  is  unanimoufly  practifed  by  devout  perfons 
of  almolt  every  denomination;  as  it  has  been  the  re- 
ceived, the  uninterrupted  practice  of  the  Chrillian 
church  for  more  than  a  thoufand  years  ;  who  am  I, 
that  I  {hould  difturb  the  peace,  or  feparate  myfclf  from 
the  communion  of  the  church,  for  a  procedure,  which 
fuch  multitudes  of  excellent  perfons  maintain  to  be 
:ofifonant,  and  which  I  cannot  prove  to  be  contrary, 

to 
*  i  Cor.  xi.  16. 


Let.  27.         o  F     L    E   T    T    E    R   S.  419 

to  the  fenfe  of  fcripture  ?  Who  am  I,  that  I  fhould 
fancy  myfelf  to  have  more  of  the  mind  of  God,  than 
the  whole  united  church  of  true  believers,  eminent 
faints,  and  illuftrious  martyrs  ? 

"•  But  there  is  no  precept  for  this  worfnip  in  fcrip- 
ture," (page  i.)  ;  and  DrOwen  affirms,  u  That  a  di- 
vine command  is  the  ground,  "  (he  means,  I  preiume, 
the  only  ground,  or  elie  the  quotation  is  nothing  to 
our  author's  purpofe)  "  of  all  worfhip."  (page25-) — 
Dr  Owen's  character,  I  own,  is  confiderable,  as  well 
as  his  aflertion  peremptory  ;  but  yet  i  cannot  pre- 
vail on  myfelf  to  fubmit  to  his  ipfe  dixit  as  an  oracle, 
nor  reverence  his  judgment  as  infallible. — I  would  alk 
the  Doftorjjji^hat  divine  command  the  Heathens  ever 
received  to^lorihip  the  blcffcd  God  ?  I  know  of 'no 
verbal  or  written  precept.  But  they  law  their  war- 
rant included  in  their  wants,  they  perceived  their 
obligation  refulting  from  the  divine  attributes. — Will 
Dr  Owen  maintain,  That  no  worfhip  was  expected 
from  the  Pagans  ?  that  they  had  been  blamclefs,  and 
acted  according  to  the  principles  of  their  duty,  if  they 
had  with-held  all  acts  of  veneration  from  the  Deity  ? 
No,  furely.  St  Paul,  in  declaring  them  faulty,  for 
not  worfliipping  the  Almighty  in  fuch  a  rational 
manner,  as  was  fuitable  to  his  pure  and  exalted  na- 
ture, clearly  intimates,  that  it  was  their  duty  both  to 
worfliip,  and  to  worfhip  aright.  It  is  not  laid  by  the 
apoftlc,  though  it  is  the  confequence  of  the  Doctor's 
petition,  that  they  ought  to  have  refrained  from  all 
worfhip,  and  not  have  meddled  with  matters  of  de- 
votion, till  they  received  an  authentic  warrant  from 
revelation.  The  infpired  cafuift  grounds  his  duty, 
in  this  particular,  upon  the  eternal  power  and  God- 
Jjcad  {Rom.  i.  20.)  of  the  fupreme  Being,  which  were 
jdifcoverable  by  the  exercife  of  their  understandings, 
and  from  a  furvey  of  the  creation. — In  conformity  to 
the  apoftle's  fentiments,  1  fhould  rather  place  the 
foundation  of  religions  worfhip  in  the  glories,  the 
3  G  2  merciesj 


420         A    COLLECTION         Let.  27. 

mercies,  the  unfearchable  riches  of  the  almighty  Ma- 
jcfty.     Thefe,  together  with  the  relation  which   de- 
pendent creatures  bear  to  this  all-producing,  all-iuf- 
taining,  infinitely-beneficent  God,  are  the  grand  war- 
rant to  authorife  addrclfes  of  adoration.     Thefe  are 
reatbns  prior  to  all  exprefs  revelations,  and  would  have 
fubfiltcd,  if  actual  commands  had  never  been   given. 
If  this  be  not  true,  what  will  become   of  all   natural 
religion  ? — Scripture,  indeed,  has  declared  explicitly 
the  binding  nature  of  thefe  motives  ;  fcripture,  like 
a  facred  herald,  has  promulged  what  God  fore-ordain- 
ed, what  reaibn  had  decreed,  what  neccffarily  flowed 
from  the   habitudes  of  peribns  and  things.     Or,  to 
reprefent   the   point  in  another  light,  lAc  perfections 
of  the  Godhead  are  the  original,  the  ilBlolable  obli- 
gation to  all  expreflions  of  homage  and  devotion  ;  to 
ratify  this  obligation,  and  impart  to  it  all  pollible  fo- 
lemnity  and  fanclion,  fcripture  has  added  the  broad 
feal  of  heaven. — If  this  be  right  reafon,  and  if  the 
Holy  Ghoft  be  really  God,  his  all  tufficient  excellencies, 
and  my  ftate  of  dependence,  are  a  proper  licence,  or 
rather  a  virtual    mandamus,  for   the    applications  of 
prayer,  and  the  afcriptions  of  praife.    Grant  this  one 
propofition,  relating   to   the   Divinity  of  the  blelfed 
Spirit,  and  admit  that  his  eternal  power  and  Godhead 
are  a  fufficient  ground  for  religious  worfliip,  and  we 
fhall  find  ourfelves  unavoidably  determined.  We  muft 
rebel  againfl  our  reafon,  muft  violate  the  dictates  of 
our  conference,  muft   act   in   oppofitiqn,  not   to    one 
particular  text,  but  to  the  main   tenor   and  fcope   of 
the  whole  icripture,  if  we  do  not  render  all  the   fer- 
vice,  yield  all  the  reverence,  due  to  a  glorious  Being, 
in  whom  we  live,  move,  and  exift. 

But  ftill  we  are  told,  in  various  places,  again  and 
again  we  are  told,  4t  That  there  is  no  exprefs  war- 
rant-"— Prodigious  fb  efs  is  laid  upon  this  word  ex- 
fr •-/},  the  whole  force  of  the  objection  teems  to  ter- 
minate on  this  point.  There  is  no  exprefs  warrant, 

therefore 


Let.  27-          o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R    S.  421 

therefore  it  is  an  unwarrantable  practice. — For  my 
part,  I  have  not  difcernment  enough  to  perceive  the 
concluiivenefs  of  this  arguing.  I  mull  beg  leave  to 
deny  the  confequence  of  iuch  a  fyllogifm.  For  if  the 
fenle  of  various  fcriptures  has  made  it  a  duty,  this  is 
warrant  enough,  tho*  it  be  not  particularly  enjoined, 
or  tolerated  in  form.  This  maxim  our  ingenious  'au- 
thor will  admit  in  other  cafes,  and  why  not  in  the 
pi  efent  ?  There  is  no  exprefs  command  to  add  any 
prayer  at  the  celebration  of  baptifm.  When  our  Lord 
initituted  the  ordinance,  he  only  delivers  the  form  of 
initiation  into  the  Chriltian  church,  without  any  pre- 
fcription  relating  to  concomitant  prayer.  When  Philip 
administered  this  iacrament  to  the  eunuch,  there  is  no 
mention  of  any  addrefs  to  the  Almighty,  pertinent  to 
the  occafion.  1  cannot  recollect,  that  any  of  the  ho- 
ly writers  either  inform  the  world,  that  they  practi- 
led  fuch  a  method  themfelves,  or  ib  much  as  intimate, 
that  they  would  advife  others  in  fucceeding  ages,  to 
accompany  this  folemnity  with  fuitable  devotions. — 
But  though  we  have  no  pofitive  injunction,  we  have 
the  rcafonablenefs  of  the  thing,  for  our  plea.  Other 
fcriptures,  that  virtually,  tho'  not  explicitly,  recom- 
mend it,  are  our  warrant.  In  every  thing,  fays  St 
Paul,  let  your  requefts  be  made  known  unto  God  ; 
confequently,  in  this  facred  and  important  thing. 

I  mufl  again  declare,  that  I  can  by  no  means  afTent 
to  our  author's  grand  poftiilatum,  That  nothing  in  the 
way  of  divine  worfhip  is  allowable,  but  what  has  an 
exprefs  warrant  from  fcrjpture.  Becaufe  virtual  war- 
rants are  warrants  ;  coniequential  warrants  are  war- 
rants. Our  objector  mufl;  maintain  this  in  fome  inftan- 
ccs,  and  why  mould  he  dilclaim  it  in  others  ?  To  be 
confident  in  conduct,  is  furely  efTential  to  the  character 
of  an  impartial  inquirer  after  truth.  Shall  fuch  an  one 
fometimes  reject  an  argument  as  weak  and  infignifi- 
cant,  becaufe  it  happens  to  be  illative  only,  and  not 
direct ;  and  at  other  times  urge  it  as  cogent  and  irre- 
fragable ? 


422         A    COLLECTION         Let.  27. 

fragable  ?  .  I  will  mention  one  very  memorable  parti- 
cular of  this  nature ;  that  is  the  cafe  of  the  Lord's  day. 
Why  docs  Mr  Tomkins  transfer  the  fan(ftification  of 
a  particular  day  from  the  ieventh  to  the  h'rft  ?  Has  he 
any  expreis  command  in  fcripture,  any  expreis  war- 
rant from  fcripture,  for  this  alteration  ?  If  he  has,  let 
him  produce  it.  I  muft  own,  1  have  none  but  con- 
lequential  warrants  ;  warrants  formed  upon  conclu- 
fions,  and  derived  from  fome  remarkable  icriptures. 
But  thefe  not  near  ib  numerous,  nor  near  fo  ponder- 
ous, as  thofe  which  concur  to  eftablifh  the  Divinity 
of  the  Holy  Ghoft.  Now,  if  an  exprefs  warrant  be 
•not  needful  in  the  one,  why  flinuld  it  be  fo  rigoroufly 
infifted  on  in  the  other  duty  ? — If  then  this  leading 
principle  of  our  author's  be  falfe  or  precarious,  what 
truth,  what  certainty  can  there  be  in  any,  in  all  his 
deductions  from  it?  If  the  ground-work  be  anfubftkn- 
tial,  and  the  foundation  fall,  what  folidity  can  there 
be  in  the  fuperftructurc  ?  how  can  the  building  ftund  ? 
Poflibly  Mr  Tomkins  may  reply,  u  The  example  of 
the  primitive  church  determines  this  point."  We  find, 
it  was  the  cuftom  of  the  carlieft  antiquity,  to  obferve 
the  Chriftian  Sabbath  on  the  firft  day  of  the  week  ; 
and  therefore  have  very  good  reafon  to  believe,  that 
the  ufage  was  eftablifhed  by  apoftolical  authority. — 
And  may  not  I  fay  the  fame,  with  regard  to  the  cuMom 
of  afcribing  glory,  and  rendering  adoration,  to  the 
third  perfon  of  the  Trinity  ?  Jujiin  Martyr,  the  mod 
ancient  and  authentic  apologilt  for  Chriftianity,  who  is 
next  in  fucceffion,  and  next  in  credit  to  the  patres  a- 
poftolici,  he  declares  expreflly,  That  it  was  the  received 
cuflom  of  the  Chriftian  church,  in  his  days,  to  worfhip 
the  Holy  Ghoft.  His  words  are,  nv£u^«  ^,^1,^,  »n  ^.na. 
>,»y»  ^l^lM^u<•t  a*<,jtt%o/<.tt,.  You  perceive,  he  not  only  avows 
the  thing,  but  vindicates  its  reafonablenefs  and  pro- 
priety.— Perhaps,  fome  captious  critic  may  infinuate, 
That  it  is  matter  of  doubt,  whether  the  word — r^«^i, 
— implies  divine  honours» — I  wave  all  attempts  to 

prove 


Let.  27.         OF      LETTERS.  423 

prove  this  point  from  the  original  of  the  NcvvTefta- 
ment,  bccaufe,  to  obviate  fuch  an  objection,  we  have 
another  paflage  to  produce  from  the  fame  faint,  father, 
and  martyr.— n«u^»  »-pof»iT<xo»  o-fSo^iSa  x«<  TTfoo-xum/tu,  yjpol.  \. 
Can  any  expreffions  be  imagined  more  forcible  in  their 
fignification,  or  more  appolite  to  our  purpofe  ?  They 
import  the  higheft  acts  of  adoration,  and  yet  they  de-< 
icribe  the  regards  which  were  paid  by  the  pureit  anti- 
quity to  the  Holy  Ghoft. — Will  it  ftill  be  fuggefted, 
That  Juftin  makes  no  mention  of  offering  up  prayers 
or  addreffiog  praifes  ?  I  anfwer,  This  he  muft  certain- 
ly mean,  becaufe  no  one  can  be  faid — in/we*  /.«,  r^o-*™,, 
TO,  QIOV  »  T»  rivc^a — who  with- holds  praife,  or  reflrains 
prayer.  Thefe  particular  inftances  are  .as  neceffarily 
implied  in  thofe  general  terms,  as  the  fpecies  is  in- 
cluded in  the  genus. 

You  will  pleafe  to  obferve,  that  this  amounts  to  a 
great  deal  more  than  Mr  70w/£;>z/,(page  17.),  not  very 
ingenuoufly,  fuggefts,  viz.  "  a  few  hints  that  learned 
men  have  found,  in  the  primitive  ages,  of  the  afcrip- 
tion  of  praife  to  the  Holy  Ghoft."  It  feems  alfo  en- 
tirely to  overthrow  what,  in  another  place,  he  advances 
(page  26.)  not  very  confiftently  with  truth,  viz.  "That 
there  is  fo  little  appearance  of  the  obfervance  of  fuch 
a  cuftom,  for  fo  many  ages  of  the  Chriftian  church.*' 
—Few  hints  and  little  appearance  !  Can  a  clear  and  de- 
terminate declaratioa,  made  by  a  writer  of  the  moffc 
unqueftionable  veracity,  concerning  the  unanimous, 
the  univerfal  practice  of  the  ancient  church, — can  this 
evidence,  with  any  fairnefs  or  equity,  be  rated  at  the 
diminutive  degree  of  hints  and  little  appearance  ? 

As  to  what  is  remarked  relating  to  the  corruption 
of  the  early  writers,  the  interpolations,  or  alterations 
made  by  carelefs  tranfcribers,  (page  17.),  this  feems  to 
be  a  moft  empty  and  jejune  inlinuation.  It  is  what 
will  fcrve  any  fide  of  any  debate.  It  is  oppofing  hy- 
pothefis  to  facl  ;  precarious  and  unfupportecl  hypo- 
thcfis,  to  clear  and  undeniable  fa  ft.  Thisfure  is  catch- 
ing; 


424  A    COLLECTION      Let.  27* 

ing,  not  at  a  twig,  but  at  a  fhadow.— I  never  could 
like  Dr  Bentlcy's  cfcitantia  et  hallitcinatia  librariomm, 
even  in  his  animadvedions  on  Heathen  authors  :  be- 
caufe  it  was  an  outcry  fitted  for  any  occafion,  a  charge 
ever  ready  at  hand,  and  equally  iiiited  to  difcounte- 
nance  truth,  or  detect  error.  Much  lefs  can  I  think  it 
lufficient  to  overthrow  the  teftimony,  or  invalidate  the 
authenticity  of  our  ancient  Chriftian  writers. — Would 
a  bare  innuendo  (and  Mr  Tomkins's  is  no  more,)  and 
that  from  an  intercfted  perfon,  without  any  the  lead 
ifhew  of  proof;  would  this  be  admitted,  in  a  court  of 
judicature,  to  fuperfede  the  plain,  the  iblemn  depofi- 
tion  of  a  credible  witnefs  ?  Superfede  it  I  Quite  the  re- 
verfe.  It  would  convince  the  Judge,  and  teach  the 
jury,  that  the  caufe  muft  be  extremely  wrong,  utterly 
unfupportable,  fince  artifices  fo  weak  and  tranfparent- 
ly  fallacious  were  ufed  in  its  defence. 

But  it  is  frequently  objected,  That  no  mention  is 
made,  no  warrant  is  to  be  found  for  diftinct  worfhip. 
The  aforecited  writer,  and  the  whole  fcripture  is  iilent 
upon  the  article  of  diftincl  worfhip.  And  the  reader 
is  led  to  fuppofe,  that  there  is  fome  mighty  difference 
between  diftinct,  and  1  know  not  what  other  kind  of 
worfhip. — Why  does  our  author  harp  fo  inceflantly 
upon  this  firing  ?  whence  fuch  irreconcileable  aver- 
fion  to  this  quality  of  worfhip  ?  One  would  aimed 
fulpect,  he  was  confcious,  that  fome  worfhip  ihould 
be  paid,  but  could  not  digeft  the  doctrine,  nor  fub- 
mit  to  the  payment  of  diilincT:  woHhip. — 1  muft  reply 
once  for  all,  that  if  any  worfhip  be  due,  diftincl:  wor- 
fhip cannot  be  improper  ;  much  more  if  all  worfhip 
(which,  I  apprehend,  is  included  in  fujl'm's  words, 
and  follows  from  the  Divinity  of  the  blefTed  Spirit),  be 
requifite,  diftincl  worfhip  cannot  be  unwarrantable. 

Another  grand  argument,  urged  by  our  inquirer, 
is,  "  That  the  apoftles,  as  far  as  appears,  never  prac- 
tifed  this  worfhip  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  themfclves,  nor 
recommended  it  to  others,"  (page  2.)-*-Hc  fhould,  by 

all 


Let.  27.        OF     LETTERS.  425 

all  means,  have  printed  as  far  as  appears  in  Italics,  or 
capitals  ;  bccaufe  then  the  reader  would  have  appre- 
hended more  ealily  the  uncertain  foundation  on  which 
the  reafoning  is  built. — But  tho'  this  particular,  rela- 
ting to  the  practice  of  the  apoilles,  does  not  appear, 
one  way  or  the  other;  yet  our  author  in, his  4th  page, 
and  cliewhere,  concludes  from  it  as  afluredly  as  if  it 
ftood  upon  authentic  record.  u  For,'*  fays  he,  "  if 
"  we  admit,  that  the  reafon  of  things  is  fullicient  to 
"  eftablifh  this  practice,  it  will  prove  too  much."  It 
will,  undoubtedly,  if  it  proves  any  thing,  prove  it  a 
duty  to  pay.fuch  worfhip  to  the  Holy  Spirit  ;  and, 
confequcntly,  that  the  apoiiles  were  defective,  either 
in  not  feeing  this  reafon  of  things  as  well  as  we,  or 
not  pracliiing  according  to  it.  Does  he  not  here  i'up- 
pofe,  the  apoftolical  omiilion  an  acknowledged,  un- 
doubted point  ?  which,  a  few  lines  before,  he  had 
confefTed  to  be  dubious  and  unapparent. 

However,  not  to  iniift  upon  this  little  felf-contra- 
dicting  flip,  I  would  afk,  What  reafon  has  Mr  Towkhif 
to  conclude,  that  the  apoRJes  omitted  this  ufage, 
which  the  Chriitian  churches  have  adopted  ?  Do  they 
ever  declare,  or  fo  much  as  hint,  that  they  are  deter- 
mined to  omit  it?  Do  they  ever  caution  their  converts 
ugainft  it,  as  a  dangerous  error  ?  Is  there  any  fuch. 
memorial  prefervcd,  or  any  fuch  caveat  lodged  in 
their  facred  writings  ? — Now,  to  argue  in  our  author's 
ftrain  :  If  it  was  fo  unjuflifiablc  a  tiling  to  addreis 
praile,  or  put  up  prayer  to-  the  Holy  Ghoft,  there 
could  not  be  a  more  ncceffary  precaution,  than  that 
the  apoftles,  thole  careful  inftruclors,  fhould  have 
warned  their  people  of  the  millake  ;  clpecially  fmce 
it  was  fo  extremely  probable,  fo  almo(t  unavoid- 
able, that  they  would  f:ill  into  it.  For  1  appeal 
to  the  whole  world,  whether  a  confulerate  perfon 
would  not  naturally  judge  it  realbnable,  whether 
a  devout  perfon  would  not  feel  a  forcible  inclina- 
tion, to  worfhip  that  venerable  name,  into  which 

VOL.  V.  N°  27.  3  JI  hs 


426  A     COLLECTION        Let.  :;. 


fce  was  baptized  ;  and  to  praife  that  beneficent 
who  is  the  author  of  fo  many  indtimable  blellings. 
Yet  though  this  is  Ib  apparently  natural,  fuch  as  the 
apoflles  could  not  but  fore  fee  was  likely  to  happen, 
they  lay  not  a  fyllable,  by  way  of  prevention  ;  they 
take  no  care  to  guard  their  converts  agamft  fuch  a 
practice.  A  pregnant  iign,  that  it  is  allowed  by  divine 
Wifdom,  and  chargeable  neither  with  fuperilition  nor 
idolatry. 

But  our  author,  to  corroborate  his  argument,  adds, 
u  To  fuppofe  the  apoftles  directed  any  explicit  wor- 
44  Ihip  to  the  Holy  Ghoft,  though  we  have  no  men- 
u  tion  of  it  in  fci  ipture,  where  yet  we  meet  with  fre- 
"  quent  doxologies  of  theirs,  and  addreiFes  by  way  of 
"  prayer  or  petition/'  would  be  an  uwreaibnable  pre- 
fumption.  —  I  cannot  accede  to  this  affertion.  The 
doxologies  and  prayers  of  the  apoltles,  recorded  in 
Icripture,  are  only  occaiional  and  incidcnta-1  ;  inferted 
as  the  fervour  of  a  devout  fpirit  iuggeitedy  in  the  bo- 
dy of  their  doctrinal  and  exhortatory  writings.  Now, 
the  omiflion  of  fuch  a  practice  in  writings,  which  were 
compofed  with  a  view  of  instructing  mankind  ia  the 
great  fundamentals  of  Chriftianity,  v/m'ch  were  ne- 
ver intended  as  a  full  and  complete  iyftem  of  devo- 
tions ;  —  the  omiilion  of  this  practice  in  ilich  vvritingSj 
can  be  no  fair  or  conclufive  argument  for  its  being  o- 
mitted  in  their  ftated  adls  of  public  worfhip.  If,  in- 
deed, the  apoitles  had,  in  their  epiftolary  correfpond- 
ence,  drawn  up  a  form  of  devotions  ;  had  declared 
that  in  them  was  comprized  a  perfect  pattern  of  devo- 
tional addreilcs,  proper  to  be  offered  to  the  Deity  ; 
that  all,  acts  of  worfhip,  which  deviated  a  jot  or  tit' 
tie  from  that  prefcribed  form,  were  unwarrantable  ; 
—  if  fuch  a  competition  had  been  tranfmitted  from 
the  apoitles,  and  \ye  had  found  no  inch  addreffes 
therein,  as  thofc  for  which  we  are  pleading,  I  mould 
then  allow  a  good  deal  of  force  in  the  argument  drawn 
•n  the  cpoftolical  cmiffiori  j  though,  at  the  fame 

time, 


Let.  27.      OF       LETTERS.        427 

time,  I  could  not  be  able  to  forbear  wondering  at  the 
inconfiftency  of  their  doctrines,  which  teach  us  that 
the  Holy  Ghoft  is  God,  and  of  their  worfliip,  which 
refutes  him  divine  honours. —  But,  1  think,  as  the  cafe 
ftands,  no  tblid  argument,  nothing  but  a  fpecious  ca- 
vil, can  be  formed  from  this  circumftance  of  its  be- 
ing unpractifed  in  the  writings  of  the  apoftles. 

"  It  does  not  appear  that  the  apoitles  addrefled 
diftinct  worfliip  to  the  blefled  Spirit  j  therefore  we 
conclude,  that  they  actually  addreifed  none."  As 
though  fact  2nd  appearance  were  convertible  terms. 
— I  am  furprizcd,  that  an  author  of  Mr  Tomkins's  pc- 
netration  can  prevail  upon  himfelf  to  be  fatisficd,  or 
ihould  offer  to  impofe  upon  his  readers,  with  a  deduc- 
tion fo  very  illogical.  Is  the  not  appearing  of  a  thing, 
a  certain  argument,  or  indeed  any  argument  at  all, 
for  its  not  exifting  ?  It  does  not  appear,  that  there 
are  mountains,  or  groves,  or  rivers  beneath  our  ho- 
rizon :  It  does  not  appear,  that  there  are  any  fuch 
vcflels  as  lymphatics,  any  fuch  fluid  as  the  chyle,  in 
thefe  living  bodies  of  ours.  But  by  comparing  them 
xvith  others  that  have  been  dilfecled  ;  and  by  reafon- 
ing  from  indifpu table  principles,  relating  to  the  ani- 
mal ccconomy,  we  allure  ourfelvcs  of  the  reality  of 
both  thefe  particulars. — Confider,  Sir,  into  what  un- 
numbered abfurdities,  and  evident  falfehoods,  this 
way  of  arguing  would  betray  us,  if  puriued  in  all  its 
confequences.  It  will  prove,  if  we  once  admit  it  as  a 
teft  of  truth,  that  nothing  was  tranfacted  by  fcriptu- 
ral  men,  but  what  is  particularly  recorded  in  fcrip- 
ture-hiftory.  I  no  where  read  Ifaac  circumcifcd  his 
ion  Jacob)  or  inftrutted  his  houfehold  after  the  ex- 
ample of  his  father  Abrahafa.  But  fliall  we  infer, 
from  the  filence  of  fcripture,  with  regard  to  thefe  mat- 
ters, that  he  never  conformed  to  the  former  inftitu- 
tion,  nor  performed  the  latter  fervice?  1  mould  much 
-ather  believe,  that,  as  he  bears  the  character  of  a  god- 
iyman,  he  walked  in  both  thcfc  ftatutcs  and  ordinan- 

3  H  2  c« 


428  A      COLLECTION       Let.  27. 


ccs  of  the  Lord  blamelefs.  And,  fmce  the 
uniformly  agree  in  this  grand  preinife,  That  the  Ho- 
ly Ghoft  is  God,  it  ieems  much  more  reafonable  to 
conclude  from  hence,  that  they  paid  him  direct  wor- 
Ihip,  than  from  their  bare  filence  to  infer,  that  they 
neglected  this  practice.-  —  I  no  where  read  in  the  iacred 
writings,  that  St  Peter  fufiered  martyrdom,  or  fealed 
the  testimony  of  Chrift  with  his  blood.  But  muft  we, 
on  this  account,  perfuade  ourielves,  that  he  was  not 
one  of  the  noble  army  of  martyrs  ?  No,  yon  will  fay  ; 
it  is  very  fuppofable,  that  he  laid  down  his  life  for  his 
Saviour,  even  though  this  event  is  not  exprefsly  re- 
corded, becaufc  our  Lord  clearly  predicts  it,  when  he 
informs  him,  by  what  death  he  fhould  glorify  God. 
And  may  not  I  reply,  with  parity  of  r§afon,  it  is  very 
iuppofable,  that  the  apolHes,  in  their  fplemn  devo- 
tions, addreffcd  direct  diftinct  wormip  to  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  becaufe  their  declaring  their  belief  in  his  per- 
fonality  and  divinity,  was  a  ftrong  intimation  that 
they  fhould,  was  a  fort  of  prediction  that  they  would, 
render  all  kind  of  homage  and  adoration  to  hiqj.—  - 
Upon  the  whole,  if  this  be  a  mere  prefumption,  no 
better  than  a  gratis  didum,  That  the  apoftles  did  not 
worfhip  the  Holy  Ghoft,  then  all  the  {pecious  argu- 
ments, derived  from  hence,  drop  of  courfe. 

Our  objector  Hill  iniifts,  u  That  this  is  not  a  necef- 
c<  fary  part  of  Chriitian  wormip,"  (page  2.)  —  Be  plea- 
fed  to  obferve,  how  he  departs  from  his  firft  propo- 
ial.  His  firft  inquiry,  that  which  the  title-page  exhi- 
bits, was,  Whether  this  be  warrantable  f  then,  with 
nn  evafive  dexterity,  he  Hips  into  another  topic,  and 
maintains,  that  it  cannot  be  necefTary.  Whether  this 
pe  tcrgiyerfation  or  inaccuracy,  I  (ball  not  flay  to  ex- 
amine ;  but  mufl  aik  Mr  Tomkins^  VvTliat  reaibn  he  has 
for  this  pofitive  determination,  that  it  cannot  be  ne- 
cefTary  :  —  Becaufe,  on  the  contrary  iuppofition,  "  we 
ihall  condemn  the  apoftles,  as  guilty  of  a  great  omif- 
iion,"  (page  2.).  —  This  argument  the  author  iifcs 

more 


Let.  27.          QF     LETTERS.  429 

more  than  once,  therefore  I  may  be  excufed  in  re- 
plying to  it  once  again  :  We  can  have  no  pretence  to 
condemn  the  apoftles,  till  we  have  undeniable  proof 
that  there  was  iiich  an  omiilion  in  their  conduct. 
Who  can  alTert,  who  dares  maintain,  that,  when  the 
apoftles  were  met  together  in  the  holy  congregation, 
for  targe,  i^lemn,  copious  devotion,  they  never  re- 
cogniztd  the  Divinity  of  the  three  facred  perfbns,  ne- 
ver acidreflcd  diltinct  acts  of  praife  or  invocation  to 
each  reipectively  ?  This,  Mr  'Tomkins  may  pedift  in 
iiippoling  ;  but  after  all  he  can  lugged  in  vindication 
of  this  principle,  it  will  amount  to  no  more  than  a 
bare  fnppofal.  I  may,  at  leafl,  as  fairly  fuppofe  the 
very  reverie  ;  and,  1  think,  have  the  fuffrage  of  rca- 
Ibn,  the  analogy  of  fcripture,  the  confent  of  the  purefl 
antiquity  on  my  fide. — However,  iu  cafe  Mr  Tomkins 
had  dempnftrated,  by  inconteftable  evidence,  that  the 
practice  under  consideration  cannot  be  neccfTary  ; 
docs  he  confine  himfelf,  in  every  inftance,  to  what  is 
ftrictly  neceflary  ?  does  he  not  allow  himfelf  in  what 
is  expedient  \  Could  I  not  mention  various  particu- 
lars,  which  are  not  abfolutely  neceflary,  but  yet  they 
are  decent  and  ufeful  ;  they  contribute  to  the  beauty 
and  harmony  of  woril}ip,  to  the  comfort  and  edifica- 
tion of  the  worfhippers  ?  Perhaps,  it  may  not  be  ne- 
celTary  to  particularize  in  our  devotions  the  prcfcnt 
diflreis  of  our  nation,  and  to  form  particular  petitions 
luitable  to  our  national  exigencies,  or  particular 
thankfgivings  accommodated  to  our  national  deliver- 
ances. But  iince  this  is  very  expedient  j  Gnce  it  tends 
to  beget  in  all  a  more  lively  fenfeof  our  dependence  on 
divine  Providence  ;  fmce  it  is  a  moft  emphatical  md- 
thod  of  afcribing  to  the  fupreme  Diipofer  the  glory  of 
all  our  public  mercies  ;  this  practice  is  very  becoming, 
very  proper,  very  ufeful.  Should  1  plead,  in  oppoii- 
tion  to  this  cuftom,  that  it  is  not  abfolutely  neceffary  : 
Your  prayers  may  he  acceptable  to  God,  and  benefi- 
cial to  your  country,  without  fuch  particularizing  :  St 

Paul 


A     COLLECTION         Let.  27. 

Paul  gives  no  exprefs  command,  fets  no  explicit  ex- 
ample of  any  fuch  uiage  ;  there  is  no  precedent  from 
any  of  the  apoftles,  where  the  a#Virs  of  the  ftate,  un- 
der winch  iiey  lived,  are  particularly  difplayed  be- 
fore God  inhumble  liipplication. — Would  Mr  Tonkins 
think  this  a  fofficient  reaion  for  liim  in  his  private,  or 
for  minifters  in  their  public  devotions,  to  difcontinue 
the  practice  ?  No,  verily  :  the  propriety,  the  expedi- 
ency of  the  thing,  would  juflify  and  ascertain  its  uie, 
even  though  no  icriptural  pattern  had  recommended, 
no  icriptural  precept  enjoined  it. 

It  is  affirmed,  (p-5«)  That  "theaddreffesof  theNev/ 
Teftament  are  always  made  to  the  Father,  or  to  the 
Son:"  and  it  is  added,  (page  10.)  "  that  there  is  nei- 
ther rule  nor  example  in  it  for  worshipping  any  other 
perfon  whatever." — This  point  our  author  affirms 
with  a  very  pofitive  air,  as  though  it  were  incapable 
of  being  controverted  ;  and  therefore  often  builds 
affertions  on  it,  often  makes  deductions  from  it.  Sup- 
pofe  it  was  an  undeniable  truth,  1  think,  we  have 
ihewn,  that  it  can  be  no  iatisfactory  proof,  that,  in  all 
the  enlarged  devotions  of  the  apoftles,  no  addrefTcs 
were  offered  to  the  bleffed  Spirit,  becaufe  a  few  fliort 
ejaculations  made  no  explicit  mention  of  him. — But 
this  afTertion,  perhaps,  upon  a  clofer  examination, 
may  appear  too  bold  and  unjuftifiable ;  fomcwhat  like 
the  poiitioi-i  which  has  been  advanced  with  regard  to 
the  fentiments  of  the  primitive  writers,  and  practice 
of  the  primitive  church.  It  might  be  proper  to  con- 
iider,  on  this  occafion,  2  Theft,  iii.  5.  The  Lord  direct 
your  hearts  into  the  love  o"f  God,  arid  patience  of 
Chrift.  This  you  will  allow  to  be  a  prayer  of  bene- 
diction. You  will  allb  obferve,  that  here  is  particular 
mention  of  three  perfons.  The  Lord,  who  is  the  ob- 
ject of  the  invocation,  and  bcflower  of  the  bleffing, 
is  neither  the  Father,  nor  the  Son.  And  who  then  can 
it  be,  but  the  Holy  Ghofl  ?  whole  amiable  office  it  is, 
to  ihcd  abroad  the  love  of  God  in  our  hearts  *. — It 
*  Horn.  v.  5.  will 


Let.  27.         o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R   3. 

\vill  not,  I  prefume,  be  intimated,  that  this  is  the  only 
paffage  of  the  kind.  For  were  it  the  only  one,  yet 
where  the  evidence  is  infallible,  we  need  not  the  mouths 
of  two  or  three  witnefles  to  eftabliih  the  matter  in  de- 
bate. However,  for  further  fatisfadHon,  we  may  confult 
I  The(J'.  iii.  1 1,  12,  13.  a  The  If.  ir.  16.  If  we  confider 
thefe  texts  in  conjunction  with  thofe  fcripfures  which 
ipeak  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  as  a  diftinct  peribn,  we  (hall 
perceive  a  beautiful  propriety,  and  a  particular  em- 
phaiis,  in  underflanding  the  verfes  as  mentioning  the 
iacred  perfons  Severally.  The  latter  text  especially, 
confidered  in  this  view,  is  extremely  pertinent,  has  a 
very  admirable  propriety,  and  agreeably  to  a  maxim 
laid  down  by  a  great  jnaiter  of  correct  writing  : 

Redder e  perjonx  Jc it  convenient ia  cinque. 
Our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  himfelf,  and  God,  and  our 
Father,  who  hath  loved  us,  end  given  us  everlafting 
confolation,  and  good  hope  through  grace,  comfort 
your  hearts,  and  eftablifh  you  in  every  good  word  and 
work.  Suppofing  the  three  perfons  implored  in  this 
Supplication,  every  thing  that  is  attributed  to  each, 
has  a  perfect  conformity  with  that  part,  which  each 
is  rcprefented  as  aciing,  in  the  bieffed  work  of  redemp- 
tion ;  <?.  g.  Our  Father,  who  hath  loved  us  ;  for  God 
fo  loved  the  world,  faith  St  John,  that  he  gave  his 
oniy-begotten  Son.  God,  the  Holy  Ghoft,  who  hath 
given  us  everlafting  corilblation  ;  for  it  is  the  peculiar 
office  of  the  blelfed  Spirit  to  adminirter  comfort,  call- 
ed therefore  the  Paraclete.  Jefus  Chrift,  who  hath 
given  us  good  hope  through  grace ;  We  have  hope  inr 
Chrift,  faith  the  a'poftle  to  the  Corinthians ;  and  nothing 
is  more  frequently  celebrated,  by  the  apoftolical  wri- 
ters, than  the  grace  of  our  Lord  [efus  Chrift.— Behold 
then  a  pertinency,  a  beauty,  a  iignificant  diftinftion, 
and  an  ex-^ct  harmony  between  all  the  parts  of  this 
verfe,  if  taken  in  our  fenle  ;  but  a  ftrange,  confuted, 
tautological  kind  of  diction,  if  you  difallow,  that  the 
three  divine  perfons  are  diftinftly  a-pplied  to. 

Page 


43*         A     COLLECTION        Let.  27; 

Page  6.  it  is  fiiggefttd,  u  That  we  may  incur  the 
refentment  of  tlie  other  two  peribns,  as  mewing  a 
neglect  or  diirefpecc  to  them,  if,  of  our  own  heads,  we 
Ihould,  in  any  peculiar  and  diitinguilhing  form,  wor- 
ihip  the  Father." — This,  lure,  is  a  moft  unworthy 
iniinuation,  as  though  the  infinitely  fublime  and  glo- 
rious perfons  of  the  Godhead  were  meanly  ambitious, 
or  weakly  jealous.  This  is  meaiuring  the  Deity,  not 
by  our  reaibn,  which  is  a  very  incompetent  Itandard; 
not  by  our  fenfes,  which  are  itill  more  inadequate 
judges;  but  even  by  our  fordid  and  vile  affections. — 
But  not  to  infill  upon  this  grofs  error  ;  not  to  aggra- 
vate this  affront  olfercd  to  the  adorable  Trinity  ;  this 
intimation,  and  others  of  the  like  ilrain,  fecm  to  be 
founded  on  a  great  miltake,  with  relation  to  the  nature 
of  the  Godhead.  The  elfence  is  one,  though  the  per- 
ibns  are  diiiinct,  So  that  whatever  honour  is  paid  to 
any  perfon,  is  paid  to  the  one,  undivided  offence,  li 
we  call  Jefus  the  Lord,  St  Paul  allures  us,  it  is  to. the 
glory  of  God  the  Father.  Whoever  fees  the  Son, 
our  Saviour  himfelf  declares,  fees  the  Father  alfo. 
(/.  e.)  Whoever  has  a  right  undcritanding  of  the  Son, 
and  fees  by  faith  his  divine  excellencies  ;  that  man 
iees,  is  acquainted  with,  the  perfections  of  the  Father 
alfo  ;  and  for  this  obvious  reaibn,  becaufe  the  Father 
and  Son  are  one.  And  will  not  this  hold  good  with 
regard  to  the  Holy  Spirit  ? — If  fo,  whatever  honour 
is  paid  to  one,  is  paid  to  all  the  three  facred  pet  ions : 
or  rather  whatever  devout  afcriptions  of  praiie  arc 
addrefTed  to  either  of  the  divine  peribns,  they  are  ad- 
drefled  to  the  one  living  incomprehenfible  God. — I 
wifh  Mr  funiKint  had  attended  to  this  conikleration. 
It  might  have  guarded  him  againfl  ibn?e  other  unwary 
expreffions,  which  imply  the  notion  of  Polytheiiin  ; 
particularly  that  in  page  io.  where  he  tells  us, 
"  That  the  fcripture  lets  forth  the  Father  and  the  Son 
as  the  objects  of  worfhip."  I  cannot  find  any  fuch  re- 
preicntation  it)  fcripture.  The  fcripture  is  uniform, 

and 


Let.  27.         OF     LETTERS. 

and  confiftent,  and  fpeaking  of  but  one  God,  fpeaks 
of  but  one  object  of  divine  worfhip,  viz.  the  infinite 
Deity  diftinguimed  by  a  threefold  perfonality. 
may  feem  Itrange  ;  but  fince  we  have  the  Saviour's 
word,  and  the  apofUe's  evidence^  to  fupport  the  te- 
net, it  mould,  methinks,  be  admitted  as  true.  This 
may  feem  ftrange,  but  is  it  therefore  to  be  rejected  as 
falie  ?  At  this  rate,  we  mult  deny  the  exiltence  of  a 
thoufand  phenomena  in  nature  ;  we  mud  explode  as 
impoffibilities  numberlefs  apparent  fads. 

Page  7.  the  inquirer  advances  a  very  unaccount- 
able propofition."1  It  (hould  feetn,"  fays  he,u  that  the 
Son  of  God  had  quitted  for  that  time(during  his  hu- 
miliation) his  claim  to  divine  worfhip  ;  though  it 
fhould  be  granted  that  he  did  receive  divine  worfliip 
before."— I  mad  aik  with  the.  Jeiuifh  ruler,  How  can 
thefe  things  be  ?  Can  God  abandon  his  Divinity  :  >.n 
he  ceafe  to  be  fupremely  great  and  good  ?  Is  he  not,  I 
would'  not  fay  by  the  neceflity,  but  by  the  abibiutc 
perfection  of  "his  nature,  to-day,  and  yefterclay,  and 
for  ever  the  fame  ?  Iffo,  itfeemsimpoflibk,  that  crea- 
tures {hould,  for  fo  much  as  a  fingle  inftant,  be  re- 
leafed  from  the  duty  of  adoration  ;  it  fe<rms  impoffible, 
with  reverence  be  it  fpoken,  that  God  {hould relinquiih 
his  claim  to  their  profoundeft  homage.  '^  his  would 
be  to  deny  himfelf ;  which  the  apoftle  reckons  among 
the  o/u»2T«,  2  Tim.  ii.  13.  vrr*<re-;«  «uro»  s^u.«?3.,^ — i"ns  te- 
net, I  imagine  is  contrary,  not  only  to  reafon,  but 
to  fcripture.  1  ihould  be  pleafed  to  know,  whether 
Mr  Tonkins^  when  he  was  compofmg  this  paragraph, 
recollected  that  memorable  faying  of  our  Lord,  johrt 
iii.  13.  No  man  hath  afcendcd  into  heaven,  but  he 
who  came  down  from  heaven,  even  the  Son  of 
man (••>*,  not  0 ,»,  or  •*•*••»)  who  is  in  heaven*  Is  not 
this  a  manifeft  proof  that  our  Saviour  was  in  heaven 
by  his  divine  nature,  even  while  his  human  nature 
was  fojourning  on  earth,  or  confined  within  the  limits 
of  a  fcanty  apartment  ?  And  if  the  divine  Son,  whild 
VOL.  V.  N°  25.  3  I  holding, 


434          A     COLLECTION         Let.  27, 

holding,  in  his  humanity,  a  conference  with  Nicodejntif^ 
was  preient  by  his  Godhead  in  the  heavenly  regions, 
could  the  angels  be  infeniiblc  of  his  prefcnce  ?  and  if 
ieniible  of  his  pretence,  could  they  with-hold  their 
adoration  ? — Credat  Judxns  j4\)dla^  tmn  ego. — Let  So- 
cniiuKs^  ancl  men  that  are  called  infidels,  believe  fiich 
an  abiurdity,  I  cannot  reconcile  it  to  my  apprehen- 
iions. — Onr  Lord  emptied  himfelf,  it  is  true  ;  becauie, 
when  lie  appeared  among  mortals,  he  appeared  with- 
out the  pomp  and  fplendor  of  his  celefHal  majeily. 
He  fuffcrcd  no  fuch  glory  to  irradiate  and  adorn  his 
pcricn,  r.s  iiirrounded  him  on  the  mount  of  transfigu- 
ration, and  will  invelt  him  when  he  comes  to  judge 
the  world;  but  was,  in  all  things,  fuch  as  we  are,  fin 
only  txcepted.  Thus  he  humbled  himfelf,  not  by  dii- 
robing  his  eternal  Godhead  of  its  cfleniial  dignity,  but 
by  with-holding  the  manifcftations  of  it,  in  that  infe- 
rior nature,  which  he  was  pleafed  to  alfume. 

Page  8.  our  author  feems  to  miftake  the  meaning 
of  that  royal  edict,  iflued  out  in  the  hes.venly  world, 
Let  all  the  angels  of  God  worlhip  him  *.  He  fuppofes 
this  was  a  command  to  worfhip  the  Son  in  the  iiiblimc 
capacity  of  Go.l  over  all.  This,  iurely,  could  not  be 
the  fenie  of  the  words.  Becauie  a  command  of  fuch 
an  import,  muft  be  ncedleis.  This  was  the  natural, 
the  unchangeable,  the  indilpcnfable  duty  of  all  crea- 
tures ;  and  fuch.as  thofe  fuperior  intelligences  could 
not  but  eafily  clifcern,  fuch  as  thoie  upright  fpirits 
could  not  but  readily  obty,  without  any  particular  in- 
junction. The  command,  therefore,  1  apprehend,  is 
rather  referable  to  the  humanity  of  our  blefled  Re- 
deemer ;  to  that  nature  in  Immamiel,  which  purged 
away  our  fins, .by  becoming  a  propitiatory  facrifkc. 
This  was  made  higher  than  the  angels.  This  had  an 
illuftrious  name  given  it,  to  which  every  knee  fhould 
bow.  This  was  exalted  into  heaven,  angelc,  and  au- 
thorities, and  powers,  being  made  fubjett  unto  the 
man  Chrift  Jefus.  If  this  rrmark  be  true,  then  our 
*  Keb.  i.  6.  author's 


Let.  27.         o  F     L    E    T   T   E    R   S.  435 

author's  interpretation  is  erroneous;  confequently,  his 
round-about  argument,  derived  from  a  miitaken  prin- 
ciple, inuft  fall  to  nothing. 

Page  12.  in  the  note  our  objedor  afks,  "  Bid  the 
people  of  Ifracl^  upon  hearing  thefe  \vords,  I  am  the 
Lord  thy  God,  who  brought  thee  out  of  the  iar.d  of 
Egypt,  ever  imagine,  that  there  were  three  peribns 
then  fpeaking  :"— This  qneftion,  I  fuppofc,  is  intend- 
ed to  invalidate  the  doctrine  of  the  Tiinity.  But  the 
great  article  (lands  upon  a  rock,  too  impenetrable  to 
be  undermined  by  iuch  an  interrogatory,  too  im- 
moveable  to  be  fhaken  by  iuch  a  fuggtiiion.  I  pre- 
tend not,  to  give  a  categorical  aniwer  to  the  query  ; 
but  only  deiire  to  obierve,  that  the  people  of  IJrael 
have  feveral  intimations,  in  their  facred  bocks,  of  a 
plurality  of  peribns  in  the  unity  of  the  divine  elfence. 
They  were  accuflomed  to  hear  MoJ'es  fpeak  in  the 
plural  number,  when  he  relates  the  wonderful  work 
of  creation,  Let  us  make  man.  Their  inipired  and 
royal  preachers  fpoke  of  the  almighty  Maker  of  them, 
and  of  all  things,  in  plural  terms,  Remember  now  thy 
Creator  *,  in  the  original  Creators.  The  prophets 
acknowledged  and  teach  this  grand  myftery,  particu- 
larly the  evangelical  prophet  Ifaiah,  chap.  Ixiii.  9,  10. 
So  that,  if  the  children  of  Jacob  and  Jujep/i  were  ig- 
norant of  this  awful  truth,  it  feems  owing  ratTier  to 
the  blindnels  of  their  underitandings,  than  to  the  want 
of  proper  ditcoveries  from  above. — But  be  the  cafe, 
as  it  is  ibppofed,  with  regard  to  the  'Jews.  Are  we 
obliged  to  copy  their  ignorance  ?  Muft  their  fenti- 
ments  be  our  guide  ?  their  imaginations  the  model 
of  our  creed  f  Surely,  for  a  Chrillian  to  argue,  or 
even  to  furmife,  that  thysre  is  no  iuch  thing,  becayfe 
the  ancient  Jews  were  not  acquainted  with  it,  is  alto- 
gether as  unrcaibnable,  as  it  would  be  unphiloib; 
cal  to  maintain,  that  there  are  no  iuch  places  as  Ame- 
rica, or  Greenland,  becaufe  they  were  belli  unknown 

312  to 

*  Eccl.  xii.  i, 


43*         A    COLLECTION         Let.  27. 

to  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Canaan. — MrTomkinj  can- 
not but  know  tint  it  is  the  excellency  of  the  evange- 
lical dilpenlation,  to  take  oft"  the  veil  from  the  Mojai- 
cal.  Tli.it  we,  by  comparing  their  law  with  our  gol- 
pel,  by  applying  the  interpretation  of  our  apoftles  to 
the  doctrines  of  tiieir  prophets,  are  able  to  ice  clearly 
what  they  perceived  but  dimly.  Ye  do  always  refift 
the  Holy  Gholr,  lays  St  Stephen,  as  your  fathers  did, 
lo  do  yc  *.  If  this  reproof  be  compared  with  the  fc- 
veral  narratives,  recorded  in  the  Old  Tedament,  con- 
cerning the  ftiff  -necked  and  refractory  behaviour  of  the 
'Jew j,we  (hall  gather  by  the  cleared  deduction,  that  the 
Holy  Ghoit  is  Jehovah.  Perhaps,  the  Ijraelites,  when 
they  heard  the  Pfalmift  playing  upon  his  harp,  and 
{inging  this  congratulatory  hymn  of  praife,  Thou  art 
attended  up  on  high,  thou  hail  led  captivity  captive, 
and  received  gifts  for  men  ;  yea,  even  for  thy  enemies, 
that  the  Lord  God  might  dwell  among  them  f  ; — the 
Israelites ,  I  fay,  upon  hearing  thefe  words,  might  not 
be  aware,  that  the  perfon  who  afccnded  up  on  high, 
was  the  blefled  Jefus  ;  and  that  the  Lor  d  God  dwelling 
among,  dwelling  in  depraved  difobedient  mortals,  to 
renew  and  reclaim  them,  was  the  Holy  Ghoft.  But 
we,  by  collating  Eph.  \v.  8.  with  the  former  part  of 
the  verfe  ;  and  John  xiv.  17.  Rom.  viii.  n.  with  the 
latter,  are,  to  our  exceeding  great  conlblation,  brought 
to  the  knowledge  of  thefe  glorious  doctrines. 

Page  24.  our  author  obfervcs,  "  That  Dr  H^atts 
would  prove  the  propriety  of  paying  divine  wormip 
to  the  Holy  Ghgit,  from  the  form  of  adminifteringbap- 
tifm." — 1  his  argument  he  undertakes  to  invalidate. 
He  proceeds  in  a  very  unexpected  manner ;  fprings  a 
mine,  of  which  we  were  not  at  all  apprehenfive. 
What  if  it  ihould  turn  to  the  overthrow  of  his  own 
tenet  ? — The  Doctor  maintains,  "  That  baptifm  is  a 
piece  of  worfliip."  Our  author  replies,  "  That  hear- 
ing the  word,  in  the  public  aflemblies,  may  alfo  be  re- 
puted 

*  A<fo  viit  51.  t  Ffal.  Ixviii.  18. 


Let.  27.       OF     LETTERS.  437 

puted  a  piece  of  worfhip." — May  it  To?  Then  ex  ore 
tuo — Your  own  conceffion  confutes  your  opinion.  For, 
if  to  hear  the  word  with  aiiiduity,  with  reverence, 
with  an  humble  expectation  of  its  becoming  the  in- 
ftrurnent  of  our  ialvation ; — if  this  be  a  fpecies  of  wor- 
fhip, it  is,  doubtleis,  a  worfhip  paid  to  him,  who  is 
the  author  and  giver  of  the  word.  Now,  we  are  lure, 
that  it  was  the  Holy  Ghoft,  who  ipake  by  the  prophets, 
who  fpake  by  the  apoftles,  who  fpake  all  :he  words 
of  that  life,  which,  in  our  religious  congregations, 
are  explained  and  enforced. 

Page  15.  Mr  Tomkins  urges  the  expreflion  ofStPaul, 
I  Cor.  x.  2.  which  I  cannot  forbear  fufpecling,  not- 
withflanding  all  the  remonftrances  of  charity,  which 
thinketh  no  evil,  he  wilfully  mifunderftands.  It  is 
evident,  on  the  very  firfl  glance,  that  Mofes,  in  that 
place,  cannot  mean  the  man  Mojes ;  but  the  lyftem  of 
religion,  the  body  of  laws,  moral,  judicial,  and  cere- 
monial, which  were,  by  him,  delivered  to  the  Jews. 
Is  it  therefore  a  proof,  that  to  be  baptized  into  the 
name  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  is  no  act  of  worfhip  to  that 
divine  perfon,  becaule  it  was  no  acl:  of  worfhip  to 
Mojcs,  to  have  been  baptized  into  an  ccconomy  infti- 
tuted  by  God,  and  only  promulged  by  Mojes? 

For  my  part,  I  am  ftedfaftly  perfuaded,  that«to  be 
baptized  into  the  name  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  is  a  very 
noble  and  fublime  kind  of  worfhip  ;  not  to  fay,  an 
indifpenfable  obligation  to  all  other  inftances  and  de- 
grees of  worlhip. — It  is  coupled  with  that  greatcft  of 
Chriftian  duties,  believing.  Which  1  take  to  be  a 
worfhip  of  the  mind,  far  more  important  than  any 
bodily  homage  ;  without  which,  all  external  cxjirei- 
fions  of  adoration  are  mere  formality.  He  that  be- 
lieveth,  and  is  baptized,  fhall  befavcd. — I  verily  think, 
no  one  will  deny,  that  baptifm  is,  at  leaft,  equal  in 
its  import  to  circumcifion  ;  inflcad  of  which  it  feems 
to  be  fubftituted.  Now,  circumcifion  was  evidently  a 
token  and  ratification  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah.  It  was 

a  vifiblc 


438          A     COLLECTION        Let.  27. 

a  vifible  atteftation  to  the  perfon  circumcifed,  that  the 
Lord  was  his  God,  engaged  by  covenant  to  protect, 
bids,  and  make  him  finally  happy.  It  was  a  folemn 
declaration  of  an  abfolute  felf-furrender  to  the  bleffed 
God,  to  acknowledge  him  for  the  only  Lord,  to  ferve 
him  in  all  dutiful  obedience,  to  leek  his  glory,  and  to 
be  refigned  to  his  wiil.  This  Teems  to  have  been  the 
meaning  of  that  divinely-appointed  rite,  emphatically 
exprefled  inthofewordsof  the  Jeiuijh  legiilator,  Thou 
hail  this  day  avouched  the  Lord  to  be  thy  God,  to 
walk  in  his  ways,  and  to  keep  his  ftatutes,  and  to 
hearken  unto  his  voice.  And  the  Lord  hath  avouched 
thee  this  day  to  be  his  peculiar  people  *. — And  can 
we  imagine,  that  baptifm,  which  has  fuperfeded  cir- 
cumcifion,  is  inferior  to  it  in  fignificancy  ?  Or  can  we 
imagine,  thatthefe  iolemn  aclsof  recognizing  the  Lord 
for  our  only  God,  and  confecrating  ourielves  to  his 
honour,  are  no  expreflions  of  worlhip  ? 

Though  this  dedication  of  ourielves  to  the  fervice 
of  the  Holy  Ghoft  (hould  be  implied  in  the  ordinance 
of  baptifm,  u  ftill  it  muft  be  granted,"  replies  our 
author,  u  that  this  can  be  no  other  fervice  of  the  Spirit, 
than  what  is  enjoined  in  the  New  Teftament,"  (page 
15.) — Thereby  inh'nuating,  that  it  is  ibmewhat  differ- 
ent from  the  fervice  we  itand  engaged  to  yield  both 
to  the  Father  and  to  the  Son.  But,  according  to  all 
the  allowed  methods  of  fpeech,  the  baptized  perfon  is 
dedicated  alike  to  each  of  the  three  facred  perlbns  : 
he  avows  them  all  to  be  the  objeft  of  his  worihip,  and 
the  author  of  his  falvation.  There  is  no  manner  of 
difference  in  the  terms  which  fpecify  the  obligations; 
and  iince  divine  wifdom  has  made  them  the  fame,  why 
mould  we  prefume  to  pronounce  them  divei  fe  ? — How 
unaccountably-Orange  would  the  baptifmal  form  be, 
on  our  objector's  interpretation  ;  I  baptize  thee  into 
an  obligation  to  adore,  to  obey,  to  worihip  the  Father 
and  the  Son  ;  but  not  to  pay  the  fame  reverential  and 

devout 
*  Deut.  xxvi.  17,  18. 


Let.  27.         OF     LETTERS,  439 

devout  regards  to  the  Holy  Ghoft  ?  What  writer  of 
ingenuity,  in  order  to  iupport  a  fingular  hypothecs, 
would  do  fuch  apparent  violence  to  the  meaning  of 
the  iacrcd  text  ?  What  reader  of  difcernment  would 
become  a  convert  to  an  opinion,  which  muft  darken 
and  pervert  the  moft  evident  fenfe  of  fcripture,  in  or- 
der to  acquire  an  air  of  plaufibility  ? — Suppofe  a  per- 
fon  fliould,  in  making  his  laft  will,  exprefs  himfelf  in 
the  following  ftyle  :  1  conftitute  A,  B,  and  C,  my  joint 
executors  ;  I  give  and  bequeath  to  them,  whatever 
remains  of  my  eftatc  and  goods,  when  my  legacies 
are  paid,  and  my  debts  cleared.  Would  it  not  be  a 
mod  extravagant  and  unreafonable  pretence,  if  a  cap- 
tious neighbour  mould  maintain,  that  C  is  not  vefted 
with  an  equal  power,  has  not  a  right  to  an  equal  dividend 
with  A  and  B  ?  If  a  gentleman  of  the  long  robe  fliould 
offer  to  give  this  for  law,would  he  not  forfeit  his  charac- 
ter either  of  fagacity  or  integrity  ? — If  none  of  thefeob- 
fcrvationswill  convince  Mr  Tomkins,  that  he  hasmifre- 
prefented  the  tenor  and  extent  of  thcbaptifmal  engage- 
ment, we  will,  in  order  to  bring  the  matter,  if  poffible, 
to  an  amicable  accommodation,  accede  even  to  his  own 
aifertion.  He  argues,  "That  no  other  fervice  of  the 
Spirit  can  be  meant,  but  fuch  as  is  enjoined  in^the 
New  Teftament." — Agreed  ;  let  us  join  hTuc  on  this 
footing. — Let  us  reft  the  cauie  on  this  bottom.  As  it 
is  Mr  Tomkins's,  own  motion,  I  hope,  he  will  acqnicice 
in  the  rcllilt  of  fuch  a  trial.  Now,  the  New  Tefta- 
ment,  both  virtually  and  explicitly,  requiies  us  to 
acknowledge  the  Holy  Gholt  to  be  God  and  Lord  ; 
and  what  fervice  is  payable,  according  to  the  preferip- 
tions  of  the  New  Teframent,  to  fuch  a  Being  ?  This, 
and  no  other,  I  would  render  myfelf ;  this,  and  no  o- 
thcr  is  rendered  by  all  the  churches.  1  do  not  ib  much 
as  attempt  to  be  an  advocate  for  any  other  wodhip 
to  be  addreflbd  to  the  Divine  Spirit,  than  whnt  the 
evangelical  fcriptures  direct  us  to  offer  unto  that  ma- 
jellic  and  venerable,  that  tremendous  and  amiable 

name. 


440          A     COLLECTION         Let.  27, 

name,  The  Lord  our  God.  If  therefore  the  New  Tef- 
flament  demands  all  honour  and  adoration,  as  the  in- 
violable due  of  this  molt  exalted  Being,  then  Mr 
Tomkins  mult  either  flatly  deny  the  divinity  of  the 
Holy  Ghoft,  muft  contradict  the  expreis  declaration  of 
the  infpired  writers  on  this  head,  or  elfe  confefs,  that 
his  notion  Hands  condemned  even  on  his  own  prin- 
ciples. 

What  is  alleged  from  1  Cor.  i.  i  3.  this  feems  to  cor- 
roborate our  fentiments,  rather  than  to  fupport  his. 
St  Paul  afks,  with  warmth,  and  a  fort  of  holy  indig- 
nation— nr  TO  ovoyua  nan**  i&axTia-briTi ;  he  fpeaks  of  it  as  an  ab- 
iiird  and  {"hocking  thing.  Now,  what  could  render 
this  fo  odious  and  monftrous  a  practice  ;  fuch  as  the 
apofHe  difclaims  and  rejects  with  abhorrence  ?  No- 
thing, that  I  can  apprehend,  but  the  horrid  evil  it 
would  imply.  The  evil  of  afcribing  divine  honours 
to  Paul,  making  Paul  an  object  of  worfhip,  and  con- 
fecrating  perfons  to  a  creature,  who  ought  to  be  con- 
fecrated  only  to  the  Creator,  God  blefTed  for  ever. 
So  that  I  muft  declare,  I  think  this  text  a  ftrong  inti- 
mation, that  baptifm  is  really  a  facred  fervice  or  di- 
vine worfhip,  which  it  is  utterly  unallowable  for  any 
creature  to  affume  or  admit.  Therefore,  the  good  a- 
poftle  renounces  it,  with  a  noble  kind  of  deteftation  ; 
much  like  the  angel,  who,  when  John  offered  to  fall 
at  his  feet,  and  do  him  homage,  cries,  o?<*  M»  ™  &ia 

wfoo-xv»»<rov  *. 

The  apoftolical  benediction  is  another  paffage  ufual- 
ty  and  deiervedJy  produced,  in  juftification  of  our 
practice.  Mr  Tomkins  alleges,  "That  this  is  very  differ- 
ent from  a  direct  addrefs  by  way  of  prayer  to  the  Spi- 
rit," (page  17.) — It  feems  to  me  to  be  an  undoubted 
prayer,  and  to  have  the  very  fame  force  as  if  it  had 
been  exprefled  in  the  more  common  precatory  form; 
O  Lord  Jeiiis  Chrift,  vouchfafe  them  thy  grace  ;  O 
God  of  goodnefs,  grant  them  thy  love  ;  O  eternal 

Spirit, 

*  Rev.  xxii.  9. 


Let.  27-         OF      LETTERS. 

iSpirit,  accompany  them  with  thy  comfortable  pre- 
icnce.  That  this  is  the  purport  of  the  words,  is  un- 
deniable ;  and  where  is  the  extraordinary  difl-Vri-nce, 
whether  they  be  introduced  by  an  efto,  or  a  j(icf — I 
believe,  rill  will  allow  the  form  ordained  by  God 
(Numb.  vi.  24,  25,.  26.)  for  the  nie  of  the  Jcuifh 
priefts,  was  a  real  prayer:  The  Lord  bid's  thce.  and 
keep  thce  ;  the  Lord  make  his  face  to  Pnine  upon  thce, 
and  be  gracious  unto  thce;  the  Lord  lift  up  the  light 
of  his  countenance  upon  thee,  and  give  thee  pence  1 
If  this  was  an  addreis  to  the  Almighty,  the  apoiVoli- 
cal  benediction  is  exactly  of  the  fame  nature.  To  lay, 
that  it  was  only  a  kind  of  with,  and  not  dcitgncd  for 
a  devout  afpiration  to  Jehovah,  mull  greatly  clebafc 
,ind  enervate  it:  not  to  hint,  that  this  facerdotal  blot- 
fing  contained  a  recognition  of  three  divine  peribns, 
which  might  be  obfcure  in  that  age,  but  has  been  ful- 
ly illuftrated  by  the  apoftles  :  not  to  hint,  the  great 
probability,  that  St  Paid  had  this  very  paflage  in  his 
eye,  when  he  breathed  out  his  benedidtivc  prayer, 
and  pnrpofely  intended  to  explain  it  in  the  evangeli- 
cal fenfe. — Befides,  I  would  cldire  to  know,  v/hether 
any  minifler  could,  with  a  iiife  confcience,  uie  the  fol- 
lowing benediction?  The  grace  of  our  Lord.jefus 
Chrifi,  and  the  love  of  God,  and  the  fcllmvihip  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  be  with  you  all,  amen!  Why  ihould  a 
cnnfcientious  minifter  be  afraid  of  uiing  Inch  a  form. 
if  it  be  no  prayer?  if  it  be  not  a  virtual  aicrsption  of 
nmnifcience,  omniprefcncc,  r.nd  omnipotence  to  the 
X'irgin,  rind,  in  conlequcnce  of  tlioic  attributes,  a  ilip- 
plicatory  addreis  to  her  ? — Still  we  are  encountered 
v/iih  another  objection,  lt  If  1  {iioulti  lay  to  a  friend, 
May  the  good  angels  attend  you  ;  flinll  this  he  cnllrd 
a  praying  to  the  artels  ':" — I*:r  '/«;/-;/ ///j  himfclf  mivft 
own, "if  he  will  deal  fairly,  that  the  cafe  is  by  no  means 
parallel.  The  cleel  angels  dill-wow  all  divine  worfiiip, 
but  does  the  Holy  Ghoil  do  this  ?  The  elect  p.njrrls  are 
iniftering  i'pirits,  but  of  ihc  Holy  Ghoil  it  is  iaul, 
\  OL.  V.  N°  25.-  3  K  The 


442         A     COLLECTION          Let.  27. 

The  Lord  is  that  Spirit.  The  angels  are  confefTedly 
i  seated  and  finite  beings,  io  that  it  would  be  ablurdi- 
tv  and  blafphemy  to  invocate  them  ;  but  the  Holy 
Ghoft  is  poffeiTed  of  the  perfections,  performs  the 
works,  and  is  called  by  the  incommunicable  name  of 
Goci,  io  that  it  is  vviidom  and  piety  to  pray  to.  him. 
For  which  renfons,  1  make  no  doubt,  but  that  when- 
ever the  apollles  put  up  ilich  an  ejaculation,  »  »»"•»!«  r« 
ayt*  iiifjuuarof  fill*  WTO*  v*uv,  they  accompanied  it  with  a  de- 
vout mental  addrefs  to  the  uncreated  Spirit  :  becaufe 
it  would  be  a  piece  of  irreverence  and  of  folly,  barely 
to  wi(h  the  mercy,  and  not  apply  to  that  ever-prcfent 
Being  for  its  accompliihment. 

As  for  the  other  arguments  which  Dr  ffatts  ad- 
vances, in  order  to  vindicate  the  cuftom  of  afcribinj; 
praile  to  the  Holy  Ghoft,  viz.  u  That  it  may  be  ex- 
pedient to  practife  it  frequently  in  ibme  churches, 
where  it  h;is  been  long  ufed,  left  great  offence  (hould 
be  given.'"' — That  it  may  be  proper  to  ufe  it  forae- 
times,  on  purpofe  to  hold  forth  the  doctrine  of  the 
Trinity  in  times  of  error,  and  to  take  away  all  fufpi- 
rion  of  hereiy  from  the  public  worfhip." — Thefc  con- 
iidcrations  i  leave  to  thcr  Doctor.  I  have  no  inclina- 
tion to  try  my  ikill  ar  luch  weapons,  but  chufe  to  act 
with  regard  to  them,  as  David  acted  in  relation  to 
Saul's  armour  ;  becanfe,  i  really  think,  that  they  ra- 
ther encumber  than  uphold  the  caufc  :  They  are  fa 
unwarily  worded,  that  they  reprefcnt  the  practice, 
not  as  a  noble  effential  piece  of  divine  worfhip,  found- 
ed on  the  ftrongefk  and  moil  invariable  principles,  al- 
ways datable  to  our  neceilities,  and  always  correl- 
pondent  to  the  nature  of  the  bleffed  Spirit ;  but  as  an 
occasional  and  time-ferving  expedient  ;  to  be  uicd, 
not  condantly,  liut  now  and  then  only  ;  and  that,  to 
anfwer  a  turn,  none  of  the  mou:  important,  to  avoid 
not  any  real  deficiency  in  worfhin,  but  onlv  a  fufpi- 
cion  of  herefy.  Where-eyer  1  am  felicitous  to  fecure 

the 


Let.  27.         OF      LETTERS.  443 

the  conclufion,  I  would  by  no  means  offer  to  deduce 
it  from  iiich  uniblid  and  precarious  premifes. 

t  have  now  examined  the  molt  confulerable  objecli- 
ons,  urged  by  Mr  Tomkins,  againft  the  unanimous  prac- 
tice of  Chriitian  congregations  whether  they  conform 
or  dilfent.  I  (hall  only  beg  the  continuance  of  your 
candour  and  patience,  while  I  touch  upon  another  par- 
ticular or  two,  which  may  farther  corroborate  our 
cuftpm,  and  prove  it  to  be  iomewhat  more  than  war- 
rantable. 

Suppofe  we  produce  a  command  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift  ;  will  this  be  fufficient  to  afcertain  the  prac- 
tice ?  Does  not  our  Saviour  give  this  charge  to  his 
apoftles  f  Pray  ye  the  Lord  of  the  harveit,  that  he 
would  lend  forth  labourers  into  his  harvell:  *.  Now, 
1  would  humbly  afk,  Who  the  Lord  of  this  fpiritual 
harvelt  is  ?  Shall  we  refer  ourfelves  to  fcripture  for  fa- 
tisfa&ion  ?  Will  Mr  Tumkinr  abide  by  the  determina- 
tion of  fcripture  ?  will  he  honeftly  acknowledge,  that, 
if  the  fcripture  declares  the  Holy  Gboft  to  be  the  Lord 
of  the  harveft,  we  have  then  a  clear  commillion,  a  po- 
iitive  command,  to  addrefs  ourfelves  by  way  o'f  prayer 
to  the  Holy  Ghoft  ? — It  is  the  Hoiy  Gholl  who  ap- 
points the  labourers  that  are  to  be  employed  in*  this 
harve(t :  The  Holy  Ghofl  faid,  Separate  me  Barnabas 
and  Saul,  for  the  work  whcreunto  I  have  called 
them  f ,  It  is  the  Holy  Ghoft,  who  qualifies  the  work- 
men, that  arc  to  dilpatch  this  momentous  butinefs, 
with  wifdom,  with  kno\\led^e,  with  utterance,  and 
with  all  miraculous  abiiititrs,  i  Cor.  xii.  8,  9,  10,  II. 
It  is  tLi*  Holy  Ghoft  who  makes  thefe  labours  effectu- 
al, and  crowns  them  with  ample  lucceis,  Afl*  x.  ^4. 
1  T/ifflf.  i.  5. — From  tlieie  fcriptures,  and  their  tefti- 
monies  concerning  the  bleffed  Spirit,  it  feems  indifpu- 
tably  ]>lain,  that  he  is  Lord  of  the  harveft.  Can  we 
have  a  more  forcible  motive  to  pray  unto  him,  than 
the  confideration  of  his  fui-crintcnuing,  conducting, 

3  K  2  and 

*  Matth.  ix.  38.     Luke  x.  2.        -j-  Afts  xiii.  2.  &  xx.  28. 


444  A     COLLECTION      Let.  27. 


and  proipfM-in^  the  progrefs  of  (that  heft  of  bleifings) 
the  everialHng  golpel  ?  Need  we  a  better  warrant  tc» 
offer  our  devouteft  applications  to  him,  than  our  Lord's 
cxprcis  injunction,  viewed  iu  connexion  with  thei'e 
remarkable  texts  ? 

Suppofe  I  prove  farther,  that  the  heavenly  beings 
pay  divine  worfhip  to  the  Holy  Gholt  ;  luppofe  I 
(hew  you  angels  and  archangels  in  poftures  of  pro- 
found adoration  at  the  throne  of  the  eternal  Spirit, 
and  glorifying  him  in  drains  of  the  rnoft  fublime  de- 
votion. Will  this  be  allowed  a  proper  precedent  for 
our  practice  i1  will  any  one  be  fo  bold  as  to  affirm,  that 
lie  is  unfit  to  receive  the  worihip  of  mortals  on  earth, 
if  it;  appear  that  he  is  the  object  of  angelical  worfhip 
in  the  heaven  of  heavens  ?  In  the  fixth  chapter  of  /- 
jaia/i^  we  meet  with  one  of  the  grandeft  reprcfcnta- 
tions  imaginable:  Jehovah  exhibits  himfelf  to  the  en- 
tranced prophet,  f  bated  on  a  lofty  and  augufh  throne  ; 
before  him  Itood  the  immortal  hofls  of  feraphim  ;  they 
veiled  their  faces  in  token  of  dcepeft  felf-abafement  ; 
they  lifted  up  their  voices  with  a  rapturous  fervour, 
and  uttered  this  magnificent  acclamation,  Holy,  holy, 
holy  is  the  Lord  of  hofts  ;  the  whole  earth  is  full  of 
his  glory.  The  trilagium  of  the  ieraphic  armies  ieems 
to  intimate,  that  they  addrefled  their  praifes  to  the 
one  Jehovah  in  a  trinity  of  perfons.  If  you  look  for- 
ward to  verle  8.  you  will  find  another  circumllance 
confirmingthis  remark  ;  for  the  glorious  Majesty  {peaks 
of  himfelf,  in  the  plural  number,  Who  will  go  for  us  ? 
But  the  proof  i  chiefly  depend  on,  the  proof  which  is 
absolutely  incontefhble  ;  which  none  can  deny,  with- 
out luppoiing  themlelves  better  judges  of  the  ienfe  of 
Icripture,  than  the  apoftles  ;  this  proof  is  found  in 
Ads  xxviii.  25.  where  St  Paul  evidently  applies  the 
words,  ipoke  by  this  majeftic  and  divine  Being,  to 
the  Holy  Ghoft,  '  Well  fpake  the  Holy  Ghoft,  faying. 
And  if  he  attributes  the  words  to  this  i'acred  per- 

),  who  dares  fcparate  the  honours  ?  Since  all  muft 

allow 


Let.  27.         OF     LETTERS. 

allow,  that  the  perion  who  gives  the  commiflion  to 
the  prophet,  and  the  perion  whom  the  celeftial  legions 
adore,  is  one  and  the  lame. — Since  therefore  the  an- 
gels addrefs  the  Holy  Gholt  with  folemn  acts  of  praife  ; 
iince  they  bear  united  teftimony,  that  the  whole  earth 
is  full  of  his  glory  ;  Mr  Tomkins  mould  confider  whe- 
ther he  acls  a  becoming  part,  in  endeavouring  to  ex- 
clude his  glory  from  any  Chriftian  congregation  by  his 
example,  and  from  every  Chriftian  congregation  by  his 
writings. 

If  Mr  Tomkins  mould  Mill  think  his  own  opinion 
iufficient  to  over-rule  all  thefe  allegations  of  icripture, 
of  greater  weight  than  the  practice  of  St  Paul  to  the 
TheJJalonians  ;  more  unexceptionable,  and  fitter  to  be 
admitted  as  our  pattern,  than  the  example  of  the  an- 
gelic hoft  ;  I  cannot  but  imagine,  that  the  propriety 
of  our  cuftom  is  apparent  even  on  the  tenor  of  his 
own  favourite  notions.  Page  12.  he  quotes  that  grand 
and  fundamental  law  of  revealed  religion,  "  Thou 
(halt  worfliip  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only  male 
thou  ferve."  He  proceeds  to  confider,  who  this  Lord 
oar  God  is,  whom  we  are  to  ferve.  He  then  informs 
us,  "  it  appears  from  the  whole  current  of  fcripture, 
in  the  New  Teftament,  as  well  as  the  Old,  that  ifris 
he,  who,  in  times  paft,  fpake  unto  the  Fathers  by  the 
prophets."  Rightly  judged.  We  make  no  appeal 
from  this  verdict,  but  acquiefce  in  it,  though  it  is  his 
own.  Only  taking  along  with  us  St  Peter's  declaration, 
Prophecy  came  not  in  old  time  (rather,  at  any  time, 
unquam,  not  olitn,  *»TI,  not  »«x*.)  by  the  will  of  man, 
but  holy  men  of  God  fpake,  as  they  were  moved  by 
the  Holy  Ghoft  *.  Mr  Tomkins  himfeif maintains,  that 
the  genuine  and  undoubted  object  of  divine  worfhip, 
is  that  infinitely  wife  and  gracious  Being,  who  fpako 
to  our  Fathers  by  the  prophets  ;  and  St  Peter,  in  the 
mofl  cxprcih  manner  poffible,  aflertSj  that  thisinfiuite- 

*  2  Per.  i.  21. 

« 


446         A     COLLECTION        Let.  27. 

ly  wife  and  gracious  Being,  who  fpakc  by  the  prophets, 
is  the  Holy  Ghoft.  Can  demonflration  ittclf  uc  plainer  .' 
Sure,  then,  Mr  Tonkins  mull  either  rctiact  his  poliuoit, 
ordiUllowthe  apoltle's  application  of  it,  orelic  give  us 
leave  to  adhere  inviolably  to  our  practice,  and  to  look 
upon  it  as  juitifiable  beyond  all  reasonable  exception, 
and,  what  ihould  carry  fome  peculiar  weight  with  our 
author,  juftifiable  on  principles  of  his  own. 

May  I  urge  this  point  a  little  farther? — I  (hould  be 
glad  to  know,  what  is  the  fcriptural  meaning  of  be- 
ing converted  unto  the  Lord  ?  Is  it  not,  to  renounce 
every  lying  vanity,  to  foriake  every  evil  way,  and 
turn  to  the  Lord  with  all  our  heart  ?  that  we  may 
fear  him,  love  him,  put  our  whole  trull  in  him,  and 
ferve  him  truly  all  the  clays  of  our  life.  Docs  not  this 
include  ibme,  rather  is  it  not  comprehenfive  of  all 
worihip  ?  So  that  if  it  is  certain  from  fcripture,  that 
iinners  are  to  be  converted  .to  the  Holy  Ghoft  ;  then 
it  is  equally  certain,  that  Iinners  are  to  pay  not  fome 
only,  but  all  worfhip,  to  that  blefled  Being,  who  is 
the  centre  of  their  fouls,  and  the  fource  of  their  hap- 
pinefs.  Be  pleated  to  read  attentively  2  Cor.  iii.  16, 
17.  and  we  dare  venture  to  ftand  by  your  dccifion. 

Let  me  add  one  more  confideration,  and  I  have 
done. — The  blefled  Spirit  is  to  help  our  infirmities  in 
prayer,  Rom.  viii.  26.  The  Spirit  is  to  fubdue  our  ini- 
quities, and  mortify  the  deeds  of  the  body,  Ro>n. 
viii.  13.  The  Spirit  is  to  fhed  abroad  the  love  of  God 
in  our  hearts,  Rom.  v.  5.  The  Spirit  is  to  fanclify  us 
wholly,  in  all  our  faculties,  i  Theff.  v.  23.  The  Spirit 
is  to  transform  us  into  the  divine  image,  2  Cor.  iii.  18. 
The  Spirit  is  to  feal  us  unto  the  day  of  redemption, 
Eph*  iv.  30.  and  to  be  the  earned  of  an  incorruptible 
inheritance,  Ep/i.  i.  14.  In  a  word,  from  the  Spirit 
we  are  humbly  to  expect  all  the  fruits  of  goodnefs, 
i  ightcoufnefs,  and  truth,  Ep/i.  v.  9. — Now,  what  a 
comfortable  profpedl  rifes  before  us,  if  this  Spirit  be 
the  all-fufficient,  the  infinite  God,  to  whom  nothing 

is 


Let.  27.       OF     LETTERS.  447 

is  impofTiblc  ;  who  is  able  to  do  for  us  exceedingly 
abundantly  even  above  all  that  we  can  afk  or  think  1 
But  how  languid  muft  be  our  hopes,  how  fcanty  our 
expectations,  if  he  be  not  the  divine  Being,  but  only 
fo  ae  finite  exiflence  !  And,  in  another  (late  of  things, 
to  whom  will  righteous  fouls  acknowledge  themfelves 
inexpreffibly  indebted,  to  whom  will  they  return  their 
ardent  thanks,  and  addrefs  the  in  oft  joyful  praifcs, 
but  to  the  author  of  .all  thcfc  ineflimable  blcffings  ?  If 
this  then  is  likely  to  be  the  employ  and  the  delight  of 
heaven,  Ihould  it  not  be  begun  on  earth  ? 

Upon  the  whole  ;  Since  the  cuflom  of  offering 
prayer,  and  addreffing  praife,  to  the  Holy  Ghoft,  is 
contrary  to  no  text  of  fcripture,  is  founded  upon  his 
divine  nature,  and  refults  from  the  indifpenfable  obli- 
gation of  creatures  to  worfhip  the  Godhead  :  Since 
it  was  undeniably  the  practice  of  the  Chriftian  church, 
in  its  pureft  days,  and  has  been  received,  by  unani- 
mous approbation,  for  many  hundreds  of  preceding 
years: — Since  ir  is  probable,  if  we  v/ill  allow  their 
doctrines  and  conduct  to  be  confront,  it  is  certain,  if 
we  will  prefer  the  moft  accurate  a:id  liitembarraffed 
interpretation  of  their  epiiUes,  that  the  apoilles  uiecl 
this  method  of  worlhip: — Since  the  analogy  of  the 
whole  fcripture  juftifies  it,  and  the  innumerabie  be- 
nefits, which  are  communicated  to  us  from  the  bid- 
led  Spirit,  demand  it : — Since  angels  aicribe  glory  to 
his  awful  Majefty,  and  our  Saviour  directs  us  to  put 
up  prayers  to  his  almighty  gooclnefs:—  '1'helc,  and  o- 
ther  coniideratiorsr,,  determine  me  to  join,  without  the 
Icaft  fcruple,  with  full  afluranceof  itc  propriety,  in  that 
ancient  noble  doxology .  —( Uory  be  to  the  Esther,  who 
hath  loved  us  with  an  evcrlattiug  love, — and  to  the 
Son,  who  hath  wafhed  us  fron»  our  fins  in  his  own 
blood, — and  to  the  Holy  Giiofi,  who  applies  thcfe 
bl  cf  lings  of  redeeming  grace  to  our  corrupt  hearts  ; 
to  this  great,  eternal  intomprvhcnfible  Trinity  be 
rendered  undivided  honours,  and  immortal  praiib  ! 

Having 


448         A    COLLECTION         Let.  2S. 

Having  been  fo  very  prolix  already,  1  fliall  not  ren- 
der myfelf  more  tedious  by  making  any  apology,  but 
fin  11  only  add,  what  r,o  confideration  can  induce  me 
to  omit,  that  1  am,  dear  vSir, 

Your  obliged  friend,   err, 

LETTER      XXVIII. 

Dear  £/>,  Wcfan-Ferucll,  March^  1745-6. 

YOU  have  fet  me  a  tafk,  which  I  fhould  be  glad  to 
execute,  if  I  was  able.  God  forbid,  that  1  fhonld 
he  backward  to  plead  for  the  intcreits  of  that  Re- 
deemer on  earth,  who,  I  truft,  is  making  perpetual 
interceflion  for  me  in  heaven.  But  my  fear  is,  left 
the  noble  cauie  fhould  fufFcr,  by  tjie  unfldlfulnefs  of 
its  defendant.  It  is  for  this  re  a- 1  on,  purely  for  this 
rcafon,  I  wifh  to  decline  accepting  the  challenge  you 
feem  to  give  me  in  your  letter.  For  this  once,  how- 
ever, I  will  enter  the  lifls,  and  venture  to  try  the 
ftrength,  not  of  your  arrrr,  but  of  your  arguments. 

I  do  not  \v«»ndcr,  that  you  have  objections  to  make 
againft  Chriftianity.  I  know  fome  eminent  Chriftians 
who  were  formerly  warm  and  zealous  in  the  onpofition : 
yet  they  have  frankly  owned  that  their  minds  were 
then  either  very  inconuderate,  or  elfe  immerfed  in  6- 
ther  {peculation,  and  that  they  had  no  Jeifure,  or  no 
inclination  to  weigh  the  evidences,  and  examine  the 
nature  of  the  evangelical  doctrine.  Since  they  have 
applied  theinfelves  to  confider  thefe  points,  with  a  fe- 
rioufncfs  and  attention,  becoming  an  inquiry  of  the 
Jaft  importance;  an  inquiry,  in  which  their  very  fowls 
nnd  all  their  eternal  interrils  were  embarked,  they  arc 
thoroughly  convinced,  that  their  former  fentiments 
xvere  wrong.  They  are  fully  pcrfuaded,  that  the 
ffofpel-infiitutiori  is  of  divine  extract;  that  it  is  a  fyf- 
tem,  noble  ?.r.d  fublime,  benevolent  and  gracious,  eve- 
rv  \\--y  fukablc  to  the  niajefty  of  God,  and  admirably 

calculated 


Let.  28.         OF     LETTERS.  449 

calculated  for  the  comfort,  the  improvement,  and 
the  happincfs  of  mankind. 

Methinks  you  will  reply,  and  veryreafonably,  "that 
4  all  fuch  mould  be  able  to  account  for  the  change 
'  of  their  opinions." — I  dare  fay  they  can.  But  as 
you  call  upon  me  fo  particularly  to  vindicate  the  re- 
ligious principles,  which  I  have  from  my  fancy  em- 
braced ;  I  will  now  attempt  to  vindicate  them  from 
the  various  charges,  of  which  they  ftand  arraigned  in 
your  letter. 

Be  pleafed  then,  dear  Sir,  to  obferve,  that  the  Chri- 
ftian  doftrine  teaches,  that  when  God  brought  man 
into  being,  he  bJeflVd  him  with  a  ft  ate  perfectly  holy 
and  happy.  If  you  read  the  Bible,  the  authentic  nar- 
rative of  our  fall,  as  well  as  the  only  guide  to  our  re- 
covery, you  will  find  it  an  avowed  truth,  That  God 
made  man  upright.  If,  therefore,  man  corrupted  him- 
felf,  and  (as  it  is  impoflible  to  bring  a  clean  thing  out 
of  an  unclean)  polluted  his  offspring  ;  where  is  the 
harfhnels,  where  the  injufticc  of  the  divine  procedure 
in  adjudging  him  worthy  of  death  ?  Let  God  be  juf- 
tified,  and  let  mortals  bear  the  blame. 

You  think  it  very  odd,  that  this  tragical  cataftrophe 
fhould  be  occafioned  by  eating  an  apple. — So  fhould  I 
too,  was  there  nothing  more  in  the  cafe,  than  barely 
eating  an  apple.  But  this  was  a  wilful  and  prefump- 
tuous  breach  of  a  mod  pofitive  command,  of  the  on- 
ly command,  which  the  almighty  Lawgiver  enjoined. 
And  the  (mailer  the  matter  of  the  prohibition,  the 
more  inexcufablc  was  the  fault  of  not  complying  with 
it.  In  this  aft  of  dilbbedience  was  implied/ the  molt 
pcrvcrfe  difcontent  in  the  happieft  circmnltances  ima- 
ginable ;  the  moft  fhameful  ingratitude  for  the  m  >ft 
incftimable  favours;  pride  and  arrogance,  even. to  an 
unlufterable  degree;  implicit  blatphemy,  making  God 
a  liar,  and  hearkening  to  the  fuggeftions  of  the'clc.  il, 
in  preference  to  the  folcmn  declarations  of  truth  itf.lf. 
Indeed,  this  tranfgreflion  was  a  complication  of  ni- 

VOL.  V.  N°  25.  3  L  quitics; 


450  A     COLLECTION       Let.  28. 

quitics  ;  and,  tho*  reprefented  under  the  extenuating 
terms  of  eating  an  apple,  was  really  the  moll  horrid 
provocation  that  was  ever  committed. 

But  that  the  tranfgreflion  of  Adam  mould  faften 
guilt,  or  tranfmit  corruption  to  his  latcft  pofterity, 
this,  you  imagine,  is  all  a  chimera. — If  then  you  was 
created  in  a  perfect  ftate  ;  if  you  fuffered  nothing  by 
the  original  lapfc,  why  is  your  heart  prone  to  nutn- 
berlefs  evils  ?  why  do  you  tread  in  the  Iteps  of  an  a- 
poftate  ancellor  ?  why  do  you  violate  the  law  of  an 
infinitely-pure  God,  and  too  often  delight  in  that  a- 
bominable  and  accurfed  thing  which  he  hateth,  fin  ? 
You  are  too  honeft  and  ingenuous  to  deny  the  truth 
of  thefe  expostulations.  And  if  fo,  you  muft  allow, 
that  your  nature  was  depraved  in  Adam,  or,  which 
feems  to  be  more  culpable,  that  you  have  corrupted 
yourfelf.  Then,  there  is  no  fuch  great  caufe  to  find 
fault  with  the  fupreme  Difpofcr  of  things,  for  inclu- 
ding you  in  Adam's  trefpals,  fince  you  yourfelf  do  the 
fame  things. 

Is  it  confident,  you  afk,  with  the  character  of  an 
infinitely-good  Bring,  to  make  this  refolve,  That  he 
would,  on  account  of  this  iinglc  crime,  bring  into 
exiftence  almofl  innumerable  millions  of  creatures, 
fo  fpoiled  by  himfelf,  that  they  fhould  all  defer ve  e- 
ternal  damnation  ? — I  anfwer,  This  is  entirely  a  mif- 
reprefentation  of  the  Chriftian  fcheme.  It  was  not 
in  coafequcHce  of  the  original  crime,  that  God  deter- 
mined to  bring  the  human  race  into  being ;  but  in  pur- 
fuance  of  his  own  eternal  purpofes,  which  are  always 
the  iffue  of  confummate  wifdom,  of  unbounded  bene- 
volence, and  will,  unlefs  his  creatures  ftubbornly  reject 
the  overtures  of  his  love,  terminate  in  their  unfpeak- 
able  felicity. — Neither  was  the  human  race  fpoiled  by 
the  Creator,  but  by  themfclves. — To  fuppofe,  that  the 
Author  of  all  excellence  fhould  deprave  the  work  of 
bis  own  hands,  is  doubtlefs  a  mocking  thought,  and 
fuch  as  we  utterly  difavow.  So  far  was  he  from  be- 
ing 


Let.  28.         OF     LETTERS. 

ing  the  fole  operator,  that  he  was  not  fo  much  as  ac- 
ceflary  in  any  degree  to  their  mifery  .*  but  warned 
them  of  their  danger  ;  charged  them  to  beware  ;  and 
planted  the  barrier  of  his  own  tremendous  threatenings 
between  them  and  ruin. 

You  are  difpleafed,  that  everlafting  happinefs  fliould 
never  be  attainable  by  auy  of  thefe  creatures,  but  by 
thofe  few  to  whom  God  gives  his  effectual  free  grace. 
— If  the  proportion  be  let  in  another  light,  which  is 
really  the  true  method  of  dating  it;  if  we  fay,  That, 
tho'  all  have  forfeited,  yet  all  may  recover  everlaft- 
ing happineis,  becaufe  effectual  grace  is  freely  offered 
to  all  ;  what  can  a  man  of  candour  object  to  fuch  a 
difpenfation  ?  Will  he  not  acknowledge  the  goodnefs 
of  the  divine  procedure,  and  inveigh  againll  the  per- 
verfenels  of  mortals  ;  the  mofl  unreafonable  perverfe- 
neis  of  all  thofe,  who  are  too  proud  to  be  fenfible  of 
their  want  of  grace,  or  too  carelefs  to  trouble  their 
heads  about  it?  Will  he  not  be  conftrained  to  declare 
them  fuicides,  and  that  they  are  chargeable,  if  they 
periih,  with  their  own  deflruction  ?  if  we  prefcribe 
a  medicine  of  fovcreign  efficacy,  and  the  fick  is  fo 
felf-willed  as  to  refufe  the  recipe,  who  is  to  be  bla- 
med, in  cafe  of  a  mifcarriage,  the  phyfichn  or  the 
patient  ? 

When  therefore  you  talk  of  perfons  being  unavoid- 
ably damned,  you  quite  miiconceive  the  tenor  of  our 
molt  merciful  and  benign  inftitution  ;  which  offers  for* 
givenefs  to  all,  tho'  ever  fo  profligate,  thro*  the  Sa- 
viour's atonement;  which  makes  a  tender  of  grace  to 
all,  tho'  ever  fo  abandoned,  thro*  the  Saviour's  medi- 
ation. The  language,  the  moil  cornpaflionate  language 
of  which,  is,  Turn  ye,  turn  ye  from  your  evil  ways, 
for  why  will  you  die  ?  And  becaufe  the  finner,  en- 
llaved  to  vice,  is  unable  to  (hake  off  the  fetters,  it 
farther  lays,  Afk,  and  ye  fhall  receive  j  leek,  and  ye 
fhall  find,  grace  fufficicnt  for  you. 

As  to  the  meaning  of  the  term  grace,  I  apprehend, 

3  L  2  it 


A      COLLECTION          Let.  28. 

it  lignifies  the  pardon  of  obnoxious,  and  the  accept- 
ance of  unworthy  peribns,  on  account  of  the  expi- 
ation and  merits  of  their  Redeemer.  It  imports  alib 
a  communication  of  knowledge  and  (trength  to  igno- 
rant and  impotent  creatures,  that  they  may  diicern 
their  Creator's  will,  and  difcerning,  may  be  enabled 
to  perform  it.  And  in  forming  thtfe  ideas,  1  can  i'ec 
nothing  itupid  ;  in  expecting  theie  bleflings,  nothing 
fooli/h. 

But  dill,  perhaps,  you  think  it  fcarce  reconcileable 
with  the  wiiclom,  the  juftice,  the  mercy  of  God,  to 
fairer  mankind  to  fall.  That  he  forefaw  it,  and  could 
have  prevented  it,  is  undeniable.  He  forefaw  it,  or 
clfe  he  could  not  be  omniicient :  he  was  able  to  have 
prevented  it,  otherwife  he  could  not  be  omnipotent. 
— But  what  if  the  eternal  Maker  knew,  that  this 
would  give  occafion  to  the  molt  ample  and  glorious 
manifeftation  of  thofe  very  attributes,  which  you  fuf- 
pect  are  eclipfed  hereby  ?  Would  this  conciliate  your 
approbation  ?  would  this  incline  you  to  acquieice  in 
the  ceconomy  of  the  gofpel  ? 

Certainly  it  is  a  moil  Stupendous  difcovery  of  wif- 
dom,  to  iind  out  a  method  whereby  the  feemingly- 
jarring  attributes  of  juftice  and  mercy  may  be  recon- 
ciled ; — whereby  the  (inner  may  be  faved,  without  any 
injury  to  the  inviolable  holineis  of  his  laws,  or  any 
derogation  to  the  honour  of  his  juft  and  righteous 
government.  It  was  impoiiible  to  give  fuch  an  ama- 
zing proof  of  his  infinite  kindnefs  for  poor  mortals, 
as  by  delivering  his  own  Son  to  take  their  inferior 
nature,  and  bear  all  their  guilt.  Nor  can  there  be  ib 
iignal  an  exertion  of  juftice,  as  to  punifli  this  mofi: 
excellent  perfon,  when  he  itood  in  the  place  of  offend- 
ers ;  or  of  mercy,  as  to  divert  the  vengeance  from 
their  obnoxious  to  his  immaculate  and  innocent  head. 

As  from  the  fcheme  of  redemption,  the  highest 
glory  redounds  to  the  divine  Majefty,  fo  the  richeft 
eonfolation  is  derived  from  hence  to  frail  creatures. 

The 


Let.  28.          o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R   S. 

The  happinefs  of  men  confifts  in  the  favour  of  God. 
His  love  is  better  than  life.  To  be  gracioully  re- 
g«i\ied  by  that  adorable  Being,  who  itretched  out 
the  heavens,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  the  ear*  h  ; 
to  be  the  objects  of  his  complacency,  whofe  fn^le 
constitutes  heaven,  and  whole  frown  is  worfe  thsn 
detraction  ; — this,  this  is  human  felicity.  And  how 
could  God  almighty  give  us  a  brighter  evidence, 
a  more  pregnant  proof  of  his  inconceivably-tender 
concern  foi  us,  than  by  furrendering  bis  only  Son  to 
condemnation  and  death  for  our  fake  ?  Transporting 
thought  1  big  with  a  delight,  which  man  could  ne- 
ver have  known,  had  not  Adam  fallen.  This  obviates 
an  objection,  on  which  you  ftrongiy  infift,  That  you 
and  others  never  conferred  to  make  Adam  your  repre- 
fentative.  For  if  this  method  of  ordering  things  be 
productive  of  a  fuperior  felicity  to  all  that  are  willing 
to  be  happy,  then  it  can  be  no  wrong  to  the  world  in 
general,  or  to  any  individual  perfon  in  particular. 
No  more  than  it  is  a  wrong  to  the  minor,  for  his 
guardians  to  procure  interelt  for  his  money,  and  im- 
prove his  eflate,  againft  the  time  of  his  coming  Co 
age. 

Upon  the  whole  ;  There  is  no  reafon  to  quarrel  with 
that  fovereign  will  of  God,  which  permitted  us  to  fall 
in  Adam,  from  thence  to  contract  guilt,  to  derive  pol- 
lution, and  '  confequently,  to  deferve  damnation. 
But  rather  there  is  abundant  cauie  to  admire,  to 
adore,  to  blefs  1  is  holy  name,  for  providing  a  Re- 
cleemcr  ;  a  Redeemer  of  unknown  dignity,  and  un- 
utterable perfections  ;  a  Redeemer,  by  whom  all  the 
evils  of  the  fall  may  be  more  than  redreilVd  ;  a  Re- 
deemer, in  whom  all  the  awful  and  amiable  attributes 
of  the  Deity  are  mod  illuftrioufly  difplayed  ;  a  Re- 
deemer, through  whom  the  mod  wicked  and  mork 
unfortunate  of  our  race  may  find  mercy,  and  arrive 
at  happinefs ;  a  Redeemer,  who  moft  compafiionately 
invites  all,  all  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden,  to  COHIQ 

to 


454          A    COLLECTION        Let.  29, 

to  him,  and  mofl  afluredly  declares,  that  wbofoever 
bclieveth  in  him,  fhall  not  pcrifli,  but  have  everlaltin^ 
life. — And  is  it  not  ftrange, — very  flrange, — hardly 
credible,  fure,  that  any  fhould  reject  ib  great  falvatiou, 
and  chute  death  rather  than  life  ? 

Let  me  beg  of  you,  Sir,  to  confider  thefc  points 
with  calmneis  and  impartiality.  You  cannot  but  be 
feniiblc,  that  many  learned,  many  wife,  many  excel- 
lent perfons,  moll  cordially  believe  them  ;  receive 
their  chief  fatisfaftion  from  them  ;  and  would  rather 
die,  than  renounce  them. — Since  it  is  poflible,  at  leaft, 
that  they  may  be  in  th*;  right  ;  fince  you  do  not  pre- 
tend to  be  infallible  in  your  judgment  ;  and  fince  you 
acknowledge  a  Gi  unerring  wifdom,and  everlaft- 
ing  goodnefs,  let  me  ^eieech  you  to  implore  his  gui- 
dance in  your  fearch,  and  his  direction  in  your  deter- 
mination. For  I  am  not  afhamed  to  own,  or  rather  I 
am  bold  to  maintain,  that  this  wifdom  cometh  from 
above ;  this  wildom  is  the  gift  of  God  ;  and  prayer  is 
altogether  as  necefTary  to  its  attainment,  as  fagacity 
of  mind,  or  the  accomplifiiments  of  learning. 


LETTER        XXIX. 

Dear  S/'r,  Wcfton-Pavell,  4pril  i.  1746. 

IF  you  can  fpare  the  Nighf -Thought  s^  the  bearer  of 
this  ticket  will  bring  them  fafely  to  Weft  on.   I  pra- 
pofe  to  read  them,  when  bnllneis  is  done,  and  the  day 
is  fled  ;  fo  that  the  tinie  may   correfpond   with  the 
iubjecT:. 

I  hope,  the  bookfcller  has,  before  this  time,  waited 
on  you  with  the  little  volume,  which  defires  your  ac- 
ceptance. Was  it  to  pafs  through  my  hands  before 
it  was  preiented,  1  fhould  almoft  be  induced  to  in- 
fcribe  it  with  that  pretty  line  in  Virgil, 

Munera  parva  quidem^  at  magnum  tejlantur  amorfm. 

Pray, 


Let.  30.      OF       LETTERS.        455- 

Pray,  d'j  you  think  that  paflage,  Luke  vi.  38.  ivtrwt* 
•<f  ™- xoxrov  w^a,  is  rightly  rendered  by  our  tranflators, 
Shall  men  give  into  your  bofom  ?  Is  the  idea  of  men 
necefTarily  implied  in  the  original  ?  Or  can  faft  and  ex- 
perience juftify  the  tranflatoi  s  in  giving  this  fenfe  to 
the  original  ?  God,  and  confcience,  and  a  future  ftate 
will  amply  recompenfe  the  beneficent ;  but  whether 
men,  the  generality  of  men  in  this  world  are  thus 
generous  and  grateful,  feems  to  be  a  point  that  wants 
confirmation.  This  remark  was  fuggefted  in  perufing 
the  place,  but  I  fubmit  it  to  your  judgment,  and  re- 
main, Dear  Sir,  &c. 

LETTER       XXX. 

Dear  Sir,  Wefton-Favd!,  Nov.   i.  1746. 

THis  morning  I  received  your   favour.     The  day 
lours,  and  threatens  rain,  which  debars  me  from 
the  pleafure  of  paying  you  my  thanks  ir.  perron. 

Mr  tiny  gens  I  hope  to  read  very  carefully.  But,  I 
believe,  it  will  be  proper  to  take  heed  of  adopting 'in- 
to my  plan  any  notions  that  are  difficult  and  abftrufe. 
1  would  have  every  thing  fo  perfpicuous,  that  the 
dimmeft  understanding  may  apprehend  my  meaning  ; 
fb  obvious,  that  he  who  runs,  may  read  — Let  me  lay 
before  you  a  little  fleet ch  of  my  defign,  with  a  re- 
q-ieft,  that  you  would  alter  the  general  order,  and 
make  retrenchments,  or  additions  of  particular  inci- 
dents, as  you  (hall  think  moft  expedient. 

A  contemplative  walk. — The  approach  of  evening, 
and  gradual  extinction  of  light. — The  advantages  of 
folk  d  .—The  ftillnefsofthe  univerfe.—  The  coolnefs 
o<"thr  itmofpherc — Darknefs,  and  its  ufefulnefs  to 
mankind. — Sleep,  and  its  beneficial  effects  — Dreams, 
and  their  extravagance. — A  glow-worm  glimmering! 
— An  owl  fhrieking. — A  nightingale-  Tinging.— The 
very  different  ciicumftances  of  mankinu  ;  fome  re- 
velling and  caroufing  j  fomc  agonizing  and  dying. — 

A 


456          A     C  O  L  L  E  C.T  I  O  N       Let.  30. 

A  knell  founding  .  —  The  notion  of  ghofh  walking.—- 
The  moon,  with  its  various  appearances,  and  fcrvice- 
ablenels,  to  our  globe,  —  the  heavenly  bodies,  —  their 
number,  —  fize,  —  courfes,  —  diftances,  —  di  Inlay  many 
of  the  glorious  attributes  of  their  Creator,  —  ibme  of 
which  are  fpccificd.  —  They  teach  nothing  «f  redemp- 
tion, —  this  the  peculiar  prerogative  of  revelation.  — 
Chrifl  the  day  -dar  from  on  high,  that  points  out,  and 
makes  clear  ;he  way  of  falvation. 

Theic  ire  ibme  of  the  I!::-:  -fts  which,  I  imagined, 
might  b'r  admitted  into  the  compofition  of  a  Night- 
pi~ce  f  otiv.  •  occur  to  your  mind  more  pleafing, 
or  more  linking,  be  plea  fed  to  fuggcft  them. 

1  am  glad  to  find  by  the  quotation  from  Mr  Locke, 
that  your  edeem  and  veneration  for  the  fcriptures 
are  ou  the  increafmg  hand.  May  we  be  perfuaded, 
ever  more  and  more,  of  the  incomparable  excellency 
of  thofc  facred  volumes.  This  one  confideration,  that 
they  are  the  bor  k  of  God,  is  a  higher  recommendation 
of  them,  than  could  be  difplayed  in  ten  thoisfand  pane- 
gyric orations.  For  my  part,  I  purpole  to  addict  my- 
felf  with  more  inceffant  affiduity  to  this  delightful  and 
divine  fludy.  Away,  my  Homer  ;  I  have  no  more 
need  of  being  entertained  by  you,  fince  "Job  and  the 
prophets  furnifh  me  with  images  much  more  magni- 
ficent, and  leffons  infinitely  more  important.  Away, 
my  Horace  ;  nor  dial!  I  fuflfer  any  lofs  by  your  abfcnce, 
while  the  fvveet  linger  of  Ilrael  tunes  his  lyre,  and 
charms  me  with  the  fined  flights  of  fancy,  and  infpi- 
rits  me  with  the  nobled  drains  of  devotion.  And  e- 
yen  my  prime  favourite,  my  Virgil,  may  withdraw  ; 
fince  in  Ifaiah  I  enjoy  all  his  majefty  of  ientiment,  all 
his  correclnels  of  judgment,  all  his  beautiful  propriety 
of  diclion,  and  —  But  I  muft  have  clone.  The  mei'- 
fenger  waits  ;  he  can  day  no  longer,  than  brr.  ely  to 
allow  me  leifure  to  fubicribc  myfclf,  Dear  Sir, 


L  E  T- 


Let.  31.          OF     LETTERS.  457 

LETTER       XXXI. 

Dear  5/r,  Wefton-Faucll^  Nov.  22.  1746. 

AS  I  cannot  attend  the  infirmary  this  day,  permit 
me  to  take  this   opportunity   of  acknowledging 
the  favour  of  your  lad. 

The  fermon  you  was  pleafcd  to  lend  me,  I  admire. 
Chrift  the  great  propitiation  is,  with  me,  a  molt  fa- 
vourite fubjedt  ;  and,  I -think,  the  author  has  been  fo 
happy  as  to  treat  it  in  a  clear,  nervous,  pathetic  man- 
ner.— I  am  delighted  with  his  reply,  and  rejoice  to 
obferve,  that  it  has  patted  a  fecond  edition.  I  hope 
the  antidote  will  operate*  and  fpread  as  wide  as  the 
poifon. — This  writer  has  another  recommendation. 
His  concifenefs,  added  to  perfpicuity,  renders  his  ar- 
guments eafy  to  be  apprehended,  and  not  difficult  to 
be  remembered. — I  am  fo  much  charmed  with  his  per- 
formance, that  I  beg  leave  to  keep  it  a  few  days  long- 
er ;  and  mould  take  it  as  a  favour,  if,  in  the  mean 
time,  you  would  give  the  bookieller  an  order  to  fend 
for  one  of  the  iermons  for  me. 

i  heartily  applaud  the  zeal  you  (hew  for  the  fpiritual 
welfare  of  the  patients.  The  infirmary  would  be  an 
ineftimable  blelling,  if,  by  the  grace  of  God,  it  might 
be  productive  of  a  reformation  in  the  perfons  whom, 
it  admits  and  diicharges.  As  diureffed  objects  will  in 
all  probability  reibrt  to  it  from  all  parts  of  the  county, 
a  change  wrought  in  their  hearts,  and  a  renewal  be- 
gun in  their  lives,  might  be  a  happy  means  of  diffu- 
iing  religion  far  and  near. — I  hope  the  clergy  con- 
cerned in  the  management  of  the  infirmary  will,  with 
delight  and  aifiduity,  concur  in  the  proiecution  of  fo 
defirable  an  end.  I  can  promife  for  one,  fo  far  as  God 
mail  give  him  ability. —  [  wifli  fome  proper  fchemc 
were  contrived  for  the  execution  of  this  defign,  in 
which  I  might  bear  foinc  little  part,  without  giving 
'imbrage  to  my  brethren,  or  alarming  their  jealoufy. 
-1  have  iometimes  thought  of  offering  to  give  the 

VOL.  V.  N°  2jT.  3  M  p 


A     C  O  L  L  E  C  T  I  O  N      Let.  31. 

patients  a  kind  of  lecture  or  exhortation  once  a- week, 
formed  upon  ibme  or  other  of  thofe  icriptures,  which 
are  the  (landing  memento's  of  their  wards  *.  Bur, 
ibmetirnes  doubtful  whether  fuch  a  propofal  would 
meet  with  acceptance,  ibmetimes  checked  by  the  in- 
firmities of  my  conftitution,  I  have  hitherto  neglected 
to  mention  the  affair  ;  however,  I  now  venture  to 
iubmit  it  to  your  confideration.  To  this,  or  any  o- 
ther  more  advifeable  method,  I  fliould  very  readily 
contribute  the  beft  of  my  affiftance. 

"  Are  you  inclined,  dear  Sir,  to  give  the  poor  crea- 
tures all  the  inflruction  in  the  Chriftian  religion  you 
are  capable  of?" — We  take  you  at  your  word  ;  and 
henceforward  look  upon  you  as  an  aflbciate  in  our  great 
work.  In  a  warfare  of  iiich  unfpeakable  importance, 
we  are  glad  to  ftrengthcn  our  force  by  the  accefilon  of 
every  ally  ;  much  more  of  fueh  an  auxiliary,  as  will 
be  regarded  by  the  patients  with  an  uncommon  de- 
gree of  attention  and  pleafurc.  Nor  can  I  think  it 
any  wile  inconfiflent  with  the  office  of  a  phyfician, 
or  any  derogation  from  the  dignity  of  his  character, 
to  feel  the  pulfe  of  the  foul,  to  examine  into  the  fymp- 
toms  of  fpiritual  maladies,  to  afk  exploring  queftions 
concerning  the  habit  of  the  mind,  and  prcfcribe  ac- 
cordingly, either  for  the  purging  off  the  peccant  hu- 
mours of  vice,  cr  corroborating  the  relaxed  powers 
of  grace. 

May  that  infinitely  condefcending  and  compaffionate 
Being,  who  difdained  not  in  his  own  facred  perfon  to 
take  our  ficknefles,  and  bear  our  infirmities,  both  di- 
rect your  counfels,  and  profper  your  endeavours,  in 
this  momentous  affair. 

I  purpofe  to  wait  upon  you  fome  afternoon  in  the 
next  week,  and  cannot  think  of  a  more  agreeable  to- 
pic of  converfation^  than  that  of  concerting  meafures 

for 

•  Texts  of  fcripture  in  the  -Northampton,  Winchsftcr,  and 
feveral  other  infirmaries,  are  written  on  the  walls,  and  con- 
liequeuily  are  very  ufeful,  if  ferioufly  reflected  on. 


Let.  32.         o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R   S 

for  the  proper  exertion  of  this  labour  of  love,  and  en- 
couraging each  other  to  abound  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord.  I  am,  Dear  Sir,  6-c.  &c. 


LETTER      XXXII. 

Dear  Sir,  Weft  on- Fern  ell,  Nov.  29.  1746. 

HAving  taken  cold,  and  got  a  hoarfeneis,  I  am  a- 
fraid  to  venture  abroad  ;  left  I  fliould   lofe   my 
voice,  and  be  incapable  of  performing  the  duty  of  the 
morrow. 

If  any  method  is  agreed  upon  by  the  committee  for 
endeavouring,  in  fome  more  effectual  a  manner,  to 
promote  the  fpiritual  recovery,  and  everlafling  welfare 
of  the  infirmary-patients,  I  wim  you  would  be  fo  kind 
as  to  inform  me  of  it,  in  a  letter :  that  if  any  part  of 
this  generous  undertaking  mould  fall  to  my  fliare,  I 
may  addrefs  myfelf  to  the  profecution  of  it,  with  all 
the  ability  which  the  divine  goodnefs  fhall  vouchfafc 
to  communicate.  Or,  if  there  be  no  need  of  my  con- 
currence, that  I  may  accompany  it  with  my  bell  wifh- 
es,  and,  at  leaft,  further  it  with  my  prayers  ; 

Who  am,  <&c. 

LETTER      XXXIII. 

My  dear  friend, 

YOUR  laft  found  me  on  the  recovering  hand,  get- 
ting ftrength   and   fpirits,  though  by  flow  de- 
grees. 

Soon  after  I  received  your  favour,  a  meffcnger  came 
from  London,  bringing  us  the  alarming  news,  that  my 
youngeft  brother  was  extremely  ill.  My  father's 
bowels  yearned,  and  his  heart  bled  ;  but  the  infirmi- 
ties of  age,  and  an  unwieldy  conflitution,  hindered 
him  from  taking  the  journey.  Upon  me,  therefore, 

M  2  the 


460          A     COLLECTION        Let.  33, 

the  office  fell.  Feeble  and  languid  as  I  xvas,  there 
xras  no  reje&ing  inch  a  call.  Accordingly,  I  took 
coach,  and  in  two  days  arrived  fafe  at  London  ;  where 
I  found  my  poor  brother  (the  packer)  Seized  with  a 
mofl  violent  fever.  He  was  attended  by  two  eminent 
phyficians  ;  but  they  proved  vain  helpers,  and  mifer- 
able  comforters.  For  a  conliderable  time,  his  fto.ut 
conftitution  Struggled  with  the  difeafe,  but  at  laft  was 
forced  to  yield,  was  forced  to  drop  in  the  dreadful 
combat.  After  attending  his  fick-bed  for  feveral  days, 
i  had  the  melancholy  tafk  of  clofmg  his  dear  eyes,  and 
reSigning  him  up  to  death. 

Oh  !  the  uncertainty  of  mortal  things  !  What  is 
health,  but  a  glimmering  taper,  that  expires  while  it 
f nines  ;  and  is  liable  to  be  extinguifhed  by  every  motion 
of  the  air  ?  What  is  ftrength,  but  a  tender  bloffom, 
that  is  often  withered  in  its  fulled  bloom  ;  often  blaft- 
ed,  even  before  it  is  blown  ? — Who  could  have  thought, 
that  I  fliould  furvive  my  brother,  and  follow  him  to 
the  grave  ?  I  Sickly  and  enervated,  he  always  lively 
and  vigorous.  In  flourifhing  c'rcumftances,  and  blef- 
ied  with  prosperity  in  his  buSineSs ;  but  now  removed  to 
the  dark,  inaftive,  Silent  tomb.  Lately  married  to  a 
beautiful  arid  blooming  bride  ;  but  now  everlaflingly 
divorced,  and  a  companion  for  creeping  things. 

Scarce  was  1  returned  to  Wefion,  but  another  awful 
providence  fetched  me  from  home:  My  very  worthy 
phyfician,  Dr  Stonhoufe,  who  lives  and  pracliSes  at 
Northampton,  had  the  misfortune  to  loie  an  amiable 
and  excellent  wife.  She  alfo  was  fnatched  away  in 
the  morning  of  life  (aged  25,)  and  dead,  before  I  fo 
much  as  heard  of  her  being  disordered.  At  this  valu- 
able friend's  hqufe,  I  was  deiired  to  abide  Some  time, 
in  order  to  affift  in  writing  letters  for  him,  and  diS- 
•patching  his  neceSiary  affairs ;  in  comforting  him  con- 
cerning the  difeafed  ;  and  (if  the  will  of  God  be  fo) 
in  endeavouring  to  improve  the  awakening  vifitation 
to  our  mutual  good. 

You 


Let.  33.         OF     LETTERS.  461 

You  will  furely  fay,  when  you  read  this  account, 
that  I  have  been  in  deaths  oft.  Once  upon  the  bor- 
ders of  it  myfelf,  and  more  than  once  a  fpectator  of 
its  victory  over  others. — Howe  er,  my  dear  friends, 
let  us  not  be  difmayed.  Let  no  man's,  at  leaft  no  be- 
liever's heart  fail,  becaufe  of  this  king  of  terrors. 
Tho*  thoufands  fall  befide  us,  tho'  ten  thoufands  ex- 
pire at  our  right  hand,  and  though  we  ourfelves  mull 
quickly  give  up  the  ghoft  ;  yet  the  word  is  gone  out 
of  our  great  Redeemer's  mouth,  and  it  (hall  not  return 
unfulfilled,  I  will  fwallow  up  death  in  victory  He  fhall 
itand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth  ;  he  fhall  fay  to 
the  grave,  Give  up  ;  and  to  the  fea,  Keep  not  back  ; 
releafe  my  fons  from  your  dark  confinement,  and  re- 
flore  my  daughters  to  their  everlafting  Father's  arms. 
— Then  (hall  we  lead  him  captive,  whofe  captives  we 
were,  and  triumph  eternally  over  this  lad  enemy.  In 
the  mean  time,  let  us  lay  all  our  help,  all  our  guilt, 
upon  the  divine  Author  of  our  faith,  and  Captain  of 
our  falvation.  So  mall  we  no  longer  be  in  bondage, 
thro'  fear  of  death  ;  but,  with  the  faints  of  old,  over- 
come through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  ;  overcome  the 
dread,  even  while  we  fink  beneath  the  flroke  of  this  our 
mortal  foe. 

What  I  wrote  concerning  a  firm  faith  in  God's  moft 
precious  promites,  and  an  humble  truft,  that  we  are  the 
objects  of  his  tender  love,  is  what  I  deiire  to  feel,  rather 
than  what  I  actually  experience.,  Confiderations  they 
are,  with  which  1  would  ply  my  own  heart,  in  hopes 
that  they  may  be  effectually  fet  home  by  divine  grace, 
in  hopes  that  they  may  become  the  happy  means  of 
making  me  flrong  in  faith,  and  enabling  me  thereby  to 
give  glory  to  God. 

Your  remarks  op  this  important  point  are  exceed- 
ingly judicious,  and  perfectly  right.  After  which,  it 
will  be  inlignificant  to  my  friend,  and  look  like  arro- 
gance in  his  correfpondent,  to  add,  that  they  exactly 
cjo-Lncide  with  my  fcntiments. 

I 


461         A    COLLECTION         Let.  33. 

I  do  not  doubt,  but  there  are  many  dear  children 
of  the  blcfled  God,  who  are  in  a  much  better  condi- 
tion, with  regard  to  his  favour,  than  they  can  eafily  be 
periuaded  to  believe.  Many  iincerely  righteous,  for 
whom  light  is  Ibwn  ;  many  true  hearted,  for  whom 
joyful  gladnefs  is  prepared  :  which,  tho*  latent  in  the 
furrows  of  inward  tribulation,  or  opprefled  under  the 
clods  of  mifgiving  fears,  (hall,  in  another  world,  fpring 
up  with  infinite  increafe,  and  yield  an  evcrlafting  haj> 
veil. 

That  humble  hope,  mixed  with  trembling,  you  have 
very  pathetically  defcribed,  in  the  breathings  of  a  re- 
newed foul,  panting  after  God  ;  languifhing  for  the 
tokens  of  his  love  ;  ardently  defiring  the  final  en- 
joyment of  him  in  his  heavenly  kingdom  ;  and  rely- 
ing wholly  on  the  meritorious  paffion,  pleading  nothing 
but  the  perfect  righteoufneis  of  Jefus  Chrift. — Happy, 
without  all  peradventure,  happy  the  heart,  in  which 
fuch  affections  habitually  prevail.  They  are  the  be- 
ginning of  heaven,  and  will  certainly  be  completed  in 
glory.  They  conftitute  a  fignal  part  of  that  meetnefs 
for  the  inheritance  of  fairts  in  light,  concerning  which 
the  apoflle  fpeaks,  and  which  is  one  of  the  fureft  evi- 
dences of  our  defignation  to  that  purchafed  poffcffion. 
Chrift  will  in  no  wile,  on  no  confideration  of  palt  pro- 
vocation, or  prefent  corruption,  either  for  weakness 
of  faith,  or  want  of  confidence,  caft  out  fuch  a  one, 
Let  not  fuch  a  one  queftion,  but  he  who  has  begun  the 
good  work,  will  accomplish  it  even  unto  the  end. 

We  fhould,  however,  as  you  moft  pertinently  ob- 
fervc,  lament  all  the  remains  of  unbelief,  as  a  mifery  ; 
repent  of  them,  as  a  fin  ;  and  labour  to  obtain  a  more 
aflured  faith,  both  as  our  duty,  and  our  felicity. — The 
direction  for  prayer,  you  know,  is,  that  we  draw  near 
in  full  aflurance  of  faith  ;  and,  Whatfoever  things  ye 
afk  in  prayer,  believe  that  ye  receive  them,  and  ye 
(hall  have  them. — The  TheJJalonians  are  commended 
for  receiving  the  gofpel,  with  much  aflbrance  of  faith. 

Receiving 


Let.  33.          OF     LETTERS. 

Receiving  the  gofpel.— What   is  meant  by  that  ex- 
preflion  ?  believing,  that  the  apofUes  were  no  impof- 
tors  ;  that   Jefus    Chrift  was  the  true  Meffiah  ;  and 
that  his  dodrine  came  from  heaven  ? — This,  and  abun- 
dantly more.  I  apprehend,  it  implies,— That  Chrift  di- 
ed, not  for  fins  only  in  general,  but  for  their  fins  in 
particular  ;  that  he  bore  all  their  iniquities,  in  his  own 
bleeding  body,  and  agonizing  foul,  on  the  curfed  tree ; 
that,  all  their  crimes  being  fully  expiated,  the  moffe 
rigorous  judice  would  not  demand  a  double  payment 
for  the  lame  debt  ;  and  confequently,   that  there  re- 
mained no  condemnation  for  them. — This  is  the  glad 
tidings,  which  they  not  only  attended  to,  and  credited 
with  a  fpeculative  aflent ;  but  with  a  perfbnal  applica- 
tion of  it,  each  to  his  particular  cafe.    And  why  fliould 
not  we  do  the  very  fame  ?— I  (hall  only  fubjoin  further 
on  this  head,  what  I  take  to  be  a  very  clear  and  accu- 
rate explanation  of  the  apoftle's  celebrated  definition 
of  faith.— Faith  is  the  fubftance  of  things  hoped  for, 
the  evidence  of  things  not  feen  ;  putting  us  into  a  kind 
of  prcfent  pofleffion  of  the  promifes,  and  fetting  di- 
vine truths  before  the  mind  in  all  the  light  and  power 
of  dcmonftration.     For   this   beautiful  illuftration  of 
the  infpircd  writer,  I  am  obliged  to  an  excellent  cler- 
gyman of  this  neighbourhood  ;  who  lately  favoured  us 
with  an  admirable  vifitation-fermon,  and,  for  the  good 
of  the  public,  was  prevailed  onto  print  it. — You  will 
give  me  leave  to  clofe  the  topic  with  a  diftinftion, 
which  I  have  fomevvhere  read,    or  on  fome  occafion 
heard  :  A  diflinftion,  which,  I  think,  properly  adjufts 
the  cafe  under  confideration  ;  and  fettles  it,  neither  on 
a  precarious,  nor  a  difcouraging  iffue. — Many  have  the 
faith  which  bringeth  falvation,  who  have  not  that  faith 
which  produceth  aflurance  ;  but  none  have  the  former, 
who  do  not  afpire  after,   and  endeavour  to  poflefs 
the  latter. 

On  the  whole,   I  heartily  hrfeerh  the  adorable  and 
infinitely-gracious  Giver  of  every  perfeft  gift,  to  efta- 

bliffi, 


A     COLLECTION         Let.  tfi 

blifh,  Orcngthen,  fettle  us  in  the  faith  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chi  lit :  that  he  would  fulfil  in  us  all  the  good  pleafurc 
of  his  will,  and  the  work  of  faith  with  power.  And,  I 
dare  fay,  we  (hall  often  lift  up  our  hearts  to  our  hea- 
venly Father,  2nd  breathe  out  that  ardent  petition,  Lord, 
I  believe;  help  thou  mine  unbelief! — If  wehavefuch 
frequent  recourie  to  the  overflowing  and  inexhauftible 
Fountain  of  all  good;  if  we  add  to  our  prayers  medi- 
tation on  the  merits  of  Jefus,  and  on  the  lure  word  of 
promife;  our  faith  will  grow;  the  grain  of  muflard- 
ieed  will  be  quickened,  and  moot  up  into  a  tree  ;  the 
little  drop  will  become  a  flream,  and  the  ftream  fpread 
into  a  river.  The  waters  that  iflued  from  the  lanclu- 
ary  were,  at  firft,  deep  to  the  ancles  only  ;  then  they 
arofe  to  the  knees ;  foon  they  reached  the  loins  ;  and 
were  afterwards  waters  to  iwim  in. 

The  Contemplations  you  are  pleaicd  to  inquire  after, 
are,  after  long  delays,  or  a  very  flow  procedure  of  the 
preis,  launched  into  the  world.  What  may  be  their 
fate,  i  dare  not  conjecture.  Whether,  by  the  general 
difapprobation,  they  may  be  unfortunately  becalmed  ; 
or,  by  the  feverity  of  critics,  may  fplit  on  the  rocks 
of  ceniure  ;  or,  foundering  through  their  own  un- 
worthinefs,  may  fink  in  oblivion  ;  or,  blefTed  by  a 
gracious  providence,  may  gain  the  haven  of  public 
acceptance,  and  import  thofe  moil  valuable  commodi- 
ties, plcafure,  which  improves,  and  improvement, 
which  delights.  When  they  reach  your  parts,  be  fo> 
good,  dear  Sir,  as  to  peruie  them,  firft  with  the  humble 
child-like  fpirit  of  a  Chriftian,  who  iceks  religious  ad- 
vantage in  all  that  he  reads.  Next,  with  the  candid 
rigour  of  a  friend,  faying,  as  you  proceed,  Here  his 
thoughts  are  redundant,  and  want  the  pruning- knife  ; 
there  they  are  deficient,  and  call  for  the  grafter's  hand  ; 
here  the  language  is  obfcure,  and  perlpicuity  is  the 
only  remedy  ;  there  it  is  inexpreflive,  and  mud  be 
rendered  more  nervous,  in  order  to  reach  the  judg- 
ment, or  ftrike  the  paffions. — Above  all,  let  me  beg 

of 


Let,  34.          OF     LETTER    S.  465 

of  you  .to  implore  a  bleifing  from  the  moft  high  God, 
both  upon  the  author  and  his  piece  ;  that  the  one  may 
be  a  monument  of  divine  mercy,  the  other  a  polifhed 
fhaft  in  the  great  Immanuel's  quiver. 

Should  not  a  fenfe  of  his  love  make  us  more  ardent- 
ly defirous  of  bringing  others  to  partake  of  that  ever- 
lafting  blifs,  which  we  humbly  expect  as  our  final  por- 
tion ;  and  of  which  fome  foretaftes  have  been  indul- 
ged, even  in  our  prefent  ftate  ?  .Should  we  not  be  ftir- 
red  up,  with  greater  affiduity  and  love,  to  warn  every 
man,  and  exhort  every  man,  that  they  alfo  may  be 
prefented  perfect  in  ChrHt,  and  live  forever  in  the  light 
of  his  countenance  \  —  The  book  1  mentioned  formerly 
and  took  leave  to  recommend,  (hall  be  lent.  1  have 
fet  it  apart  as  a  prefent  for  my  dear  friend  ;  and  whether 
my  life  be  prolonged,  or  my  death  h?.ftened,  neither, 
of  thefe  circumftances  mall  make  any  alteration  in  my 
defign.  Only  let  me  deiire  you,  in  your  next,  to  give 
me  once  more  the  proper  directions  for  conveying  it 
to  you.  For,  fome  way  or  other,  in  my  late  unfettlcd 
flate,  I  have  miflaid  your  letter.  Pleale  to  prefent  my 
thanks  to  Mrs  ***  for  her  kind  wiflies  ;  and  tell  her, 
that  they  are,  and  (hall  be  moil  cordially  returned  by 
her  and  your  moll  faithful  and  affectionate  friend, 


LETTER       XXXiV. 


Dear  5/>,  M^cJlon-Favdl^  Feb.  28.  1747. 

I  Have  read  the  ingenious  gentleman's  letter  atten- 
tively.    Tho*  he  fays  the  ftrongefl  things  that  can 
be   urged   upon  the  point,    I  Mill  adhere  to  my  femi- 
ments  ;  and  not  became  they  are  mine,  but  the  Icrip- 
tures,  and  fupportablc.     I  am  pc.iuaded  by  a  variety 
of  texts  from  tnc   oracles  of  truth.  —  1  beg  leave  to 
wave  the  profecution  of  the  controverfy.    Controver- 
1-  is  wlv't  I  naturally  diflike,  and  what  I  have  feldorn 
found  advantageous.     I  knew  his  opinion,  and  he  has 
VOL.  V.  N°  25-.  3  N  given 

\ 


.$66  A     COLLECTION       Let.  35. 

riven  me  an  opportunity  of  declaring  mine  ;  and  would 
only  add,  tint  if  in  any  thing  \vc  he  otherwiie  minded 
(than  is  conliltent  with  the  gotpel  of  grace,)  God, 
(upon  a  diligent  application  to  his  word,  and  humble 
prayer  for  the  teaching  of  his  Spirit,)  will  reveal  this 
unto  us.  Phil.  iii.  15. 

I  have  been  reading  Mr  Baxter's,  Saints  Everlafting 
Re/})  and  admire  the  copiouihei's,  the  juiinefs,  and  the 
devotion  of  his  thoughts.  How  happy  the  foul,  that 
while  reading  them  can  make  them  his  own  !  May  this 
be  always  the  prevailing  defire  ;  and,  in  due  time,  the 
heaven  -vouchfafed  portion  of  the  worthy  owner  of 
the  book,  and  of  his 

Moft  affectionate  friend,  &c. 

L     E     T    T     E     II      XXXV. 

Dear  S/>,  Weft  on- Fan  ell,  Feb.  1747. 

I  Have  heard  nothing  from  my  printer,  during  all 
this  interval.  What  can  be  the  reafon  of  his  long 
lilence,  and  great  negligence,  I  cannot  imagine.  But 
this  week  it  occurred  to  my  mind,  that  if  he  delays 
the  fecond  edition  at  this  rate,  I  may  poilibly  be  able 
to  prepare  the  third  letter  to  accompany  it.  Accord- 
ingly 1  have  poftponed  other  bufmefs,  and  applied 
wholly  to  this  work.  I  have  tranfcribed  fome  part  of 
the  intended  piece,  and  fend  it  for  your  perufal.  Pray 
be  fo  good  as  to  examine  it  narrowly,  and  favour  me 
with  your  remarks  and  improvements,  on  a  feparate 
paper.  There  are,  I  fear,  befides  more  material  faults, 
ieveral  mifiakes  in  the  copy,  owing  to  my  want  of 
leifure  to  review  it.  I  fuppoie,  the  remainder  of  my 
deiign,  when  completed,  will  confift  of  about  the  lame 
number  of  pages. 

If  I  live  till  Monday,  I  propofe  to  vifit  my  patient  at 
the  infirmary  ;  and,  if  company  happens  to  be  agree- 
able, will  take  the  pleafure  of  fpending  an  hour  with  a 
valuable  and  very  much  efteemed  friend  at  North- 
ampton. 


Let.  36.         OF     LETTERS.  467 

ampton.  If  you  are  not  able  to  guefs  the  perfon  I  mean, 

you  fhall  foon  be  informed  by,  dear  Sir,  yours,  C?*f. 
Vir  bonus  et  prudent  v erf  us  reprchcndct  inert es, 
Culpabit  duros,  incomptis  allinet  atrum 
Tranfverfo  calamo  Jtgnu??:,  ambitiofa  recidet 
Qrnamcnta,  panim  claris  lurem  dare  covet, 
slrguet  ambiguc  diflum,  mytando  notabit.      HOR. 
This  I  tranfcribe,  not  to  inform  you  of  the  critic's 

office,    bat   only   to  apprize  you  of  what  I  wifh,  and 

what  I  humbly  rcqueft. 

LETTER       XXXVI. 

Dear  Sir,  IVefton-Favcll,  slpril,  12.  1747. 

I  Have  folded  down  a  corner  of  the  leaf  at  the  place 
where  your  perufal  left  off.  There  is  a  note  or 
two  fubjoincd  to  the  preceding  pages,  which.  I  wifh. 
you  would  plcafe  to  examine.  My  humble  lervice  to 
Dr  :  ***.  I  deiire  he  will  write  his  remarks  and 
correclions  on  a  feparate  paper.  What  think  you  of 
the  following  lines  for  a  motto  ? 

Night  opes  the  nobleft  fccnes,  and  flieds  an  awe, 
Which  gives  thofe  venerable  fcenes  full  '-weight, 
And  deep  imprejjion  on  thy  intended d  heart. 

Night-Thoughts. 

Si  quid  novifli  rcttius  //?/>, 

Candidas  imperil. 

Your  plan  for  forming  a  Christian  fociety,  and  re- 
gulating our  interviews,  I  greatly  approve.  It  fcems 
to  me  to  be  complete.  I  fee  nothing  that  fliould  be 
taken  from  it,  nor  can  think  of  any  thing  to  be  added 
to  it.  I  heartily  wifh  to  have  it  carried  into  executi- 
on, and  hope  it  will  be  productive  of  confidei  able 
comfort  and  advantage  to  the  members  ;  and  not  to 
them  only,  but,  by  rendering  them  more  uicful  in 
their  rd'peclive  ftations,  to  many  others. 

A  cold,  and  hoarlhefs  on  my  voic<%  make  me 
3  N  2  ibmcwhat 


A    COLLECTION         Let.  37. 

fomewhat  fearful  of  coming  to  this  day. — 1  hope 

you  have  perufed  the  remainder  of  the  mannfcript  ; 
ami  cannot  but  with,  you  would  give  the  whole  a  fe- 
cond  reading.  The  unknown  importance  of  what  we 
print,  inclines  me  to  urge  this  requeft.  Who  can  tell 
how  long  it  may  continue,  and  into  what  hands  it  may 
come  ?  1  almoft  tremble  at  fuch  a  thought,  left  I  (hould 
xvrite  unadvifedly  with  my  pen  ?  and  injure,  iniltad  of 
ferving,  the  bcft  of  cauies. 

If  you  have  put  my  little  piece  into  the  hands  of 
my  Ariftarchxtt^  Dr  — —  I  mean,  defire  him  to  be  par- 
ticularly attentive  to  the  redundancies,  and  lop  them 
off  with  a  plentiful  haud. 

I  lhall  loon  create  you  a  fecond  tafk,  by  tranfmit- 
ting  for  your  correction,  twenty  folio  pages  of  remarks 
on  the  flars,  and  ferious  improvements. — Tours,  &c. 

LETTER       XXXVII. 

My  dear  Friend^    iyeJlon-Favell,~June,  27.  1747. 

COming  home  this  evening,  1  could  not  forbear 
muiing  on  the  various  topics,  which  furnifhed 
matter  for  our  difcourfe  ;  and  now  I  am  all  thought- 
ful and  retired,  I  cannot  forbear  taking  notice  of  fome 
particulars  relating  to  our  converfation.  To  be  illent 
in  fuch  a  cafe.,  would,  I  am  perluaded,  be  mere  dif- 
pleafing  to  a  gentleman  of  your  difcernment  and  ge- 
nerofity,  than  to  ufe  the  utinoft  freedom  of  fpeech. 

Was  it  you,  dear  Sir,  or  1,  that  when  a  certain  paf- 
fage  in  fcripturq  happened  to  be  mentioned,  treated  it, 
not  indeed  with  a  contemptuous  diidain,  but  with  too 
ludicrous  an  air  ?  defcanted  on  it,  in  a  fportive  and 
frolicfome  manner,  in  order  to  create  a  little  plea- 
fantry.  If  I  was  the  perfon  that  indulged  this  impro- 
per levity,  I  befeech  you  to  rebuke  me,  and  feverely 
too.  Though  my  dcfign  might  be  innocent,  my  con- 
duel  was  apparei'tly  wrong  That  infinitely  precious 
and  important  bool-;,  fhould  be  always  held  in  the 

highefi 


Let.  37.         OF     L    E    T    T    E    R    S.  469 

bigheft  veneration.  Whatever  the  divine- Spirit  vouch- 
iafes  to  dictate,  ihould  be  thought  and  fpoke  of  by 
mortals,  with  gratitude,  dutifulncfs,  and  awe.  It  is 
the  character  of  a  religious  man,  that  he  trembles  at 
God's  word  ;  and  it  is  {'aid  of  the  great  Jehovah,  that 
he  has  magnified  his  name  and  his  word,  above  all 

things. 

Who  was  it,  dear  Sir,  that  lent  to  our  valuable 
friend  that  vile  book,  Le  Sopha,  and  yet  wrote  by 
Crebiilen,  with  an  enchanting  ipirit  of  elegance  ;  which 
mud  render  the  mifchief  palatable,  and  the  bane  even 
delicious  i  I  wonder,  that  your  kind  and  benevolent 
heart  could  recommend  arfenic  for  a  regale.  It  puts 
me  in  mind  of  the  empoifoned  fnirt  prefented  to  Her- 
cules. I  am  lure  you  did  not  think  on  it,  or  elle  you 
would  no  more  have  tranfmitted  fuch  a  peftilent  trea- 
life  to  the  perufal  of  a  friend,  than  you  would  tranf- 
mit  to  him  a  packet  of  goods  from  a  country  depo- 
pulated by  the  plague.  If  that  polluting  French  book 
ftill  remains  in  your  ftudy,  let  me  beg  of  you  to  make 
it  perform  quarantaine  in  the  flames. 

The  lad  particular  relates  to  attendance  on  the  pu- 
blic worfhip  of  God.  Let  us  not  neglecl:  the  afibra- 
Ming  ourfelves  together.  This  was  the  advice  of  the 
beft  and  greateft  cafuift  in  the  world;  not  to  lay,  n>e 
injunction  of  the  Maker  of  all  things,  and  judge  of  all 
men. — Would  we  be  affared  of  our  love  to  God  ?  This 
is  one  evidence  of  that  mod  noble  and  happy  temper; 
Lord,  I  have  loved  the  habitation  of  thy  houic,  and  the 
place  where  thy  honour  dwelleth. — Would  we  glo- 
rify the  Lord  ?  Then  let  us  appear  in  his  courts,  fall 
low  ou  our  knees  before  his  footdool,  and  in  this  pu- 
blic manner  avow  him  for  our  God,  recognize  him 
for  our  King,  and  acknowledge  him  to  be  our  fu- 
prcme  good. — Would  we  follow  the  example  of  our 
devout  and  bletted  Mailer  ?  Let  us  remember  how  it 
is  written,  Jc  iiis  went  into  the  fynagogue,  as  his  cuf- 
tom  was.  And,  if  we  take  due  care  to  get  our  hearts 

prepared, 


470         A     COLLECTION         Let.  38. 

prepared,  by  a  little  previous  meditation,  and  earned 
prayer,  I  ddrc  aniwer  for  it,  our  attendance  will  not 
be  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  God  will,  according  to  his 
promifc,  meet  us  in  his  ordinances  ;  make  us  joyful 
in  his  houic  of  prayer ;  and  we  mall  experience  what, 
(if  1  remember  aright)  that  brightcft  ornament  of  the 
court  of  judicature,  judge  Hales  declared,  That  he 
never  fat  under  the  preaching  even  of  the  meanclt 
r«:rmon,  but  he  found  fome  word  of  edification,  ex- 
hortation, or  comfort. 

Dear  Sir,  beftow  a  thought  on  thefe  things.  If  the 
rcmonft ranees  are  wrortg.  I  willingly  retract  them  ;  if 
right,  you  will  not  pronounce  me  impertinent.  Love 
and  friendfhip  dictate  what  I  write ;  and  the  only  end 
1  have  in  view  is  the  hoiinefs,  the  ufefulnefs,  the  hap- 
pinefs,  the  final  falvation  of  my  much  efleemed  friend. 
It  is  for  this,  this  only  I  have  now  taken  my  pen  in 
hand,  and  for  this  1  mall  often  bend  my  knees  before 
God,  and  thereby  prove  myfelf  to  be,  Dear  Sir, 


LETTER       XXXVIII. 

Dear  Sir,  teflon- Favell,  July  18.  1747. 

IDefire  you  to  accept  my  thanks  for  the  variety  of 
beautiful  lines,  which  you  fent  me,  to  chute  a 
motto  from.  They  are  all  elegant,  but  not  fufficient- 
ly  expreffive  of  the  defign  of  the  piece.  Therefore 
I  imagined  the  following  quotation  from  Dr  Tmtng^ 
fomcwhat  more  iuitable  ; 

Night  is  fair  virtue's  immemorial  friend} 
The  conjcious  moon,  thro'  cv'ry  diftant  agey 
Has  held  a  lamp  to  ivi/dom, 

You  advifed  me  to  add  a  fort  of  note  to  the  pafTagc 
objected  to  by  Mr  ***-#,  relating  to  the  fpark's  be- 
ing vifible.  In  purfuance  of  your  direction,  1  fubjoin- 
«^d  the  following  : 

"•  I  beg  leave  to  inform  the  young  gentleman,  whofe 

name 


Let.  39.         OF      LETTERS.  471 

name  dignifies  my  dedication,  that  this  was  a  remark 
of  his  worfhy  father,  when  we  rode  together,  and 
converfed  in  a  dufky  evening.  I  mention  this  circum- 
llance,  partly  to  fecure  the  paragraph  from  contempt, 
partly  to  give  him,  and  the  world,  qn  idea  of  that  e- 
minently-ierious  talte,  which  diflinguiihcd  my  worthy 
friend.  The  lefs  obvious  the  reflexion,  the  more 
clearly  it  difcovers  a  turn  of  mind  remarkably  fpirituat, 
which  would  fuffer  nothing  to  efcape  without  yield- 
ing fome  fpiritual  improvement.  And  the  meaner  the 
incident,  the  more  admirable  was  that  fertility  of  i- 
magination,  which  could  deduce  the  nobleft  truths 
from  the  mofl  trivial  occurrences  !" 

Will  not  this  be  looked  upon  as  a  fly  underhancf 
artifice,  whereby  the  author  extols  himfelf  ? 

Does  the  famous  Dutch  philofopher,  Neiuentit  (I 
think  is  his  name)  treat  of  the  heavenly  bodies  ?  If  he 
does,  be  ib  good,  in  cafe  he  dwells  in  your  fludy,  to 
fend  him  on  a  week's  vifit  to  me.  Dr  ffatfs's  Trca- 
tije  on  aftronomy,  I  mould  be  glad  to  perufc. 

The  Hymn  to  the  moon^  whoever  is  m  ?ant  by  Scri- 
llerus  Decimus  Maximus,  is  very  poetical.  I  durft  not 
venture  to  add  what  is  wanting  to  render  it  n  com- 
plete addrefs,  left  it  fhould  become  like  the  vilioriary 
image,  wliofe  head  was  of  gold,  his  feet  of  iron  and 
clay. 

My  tranfient  remarks  on  Dr  Rymcr's  Reprefentation 
of  revealed  religion,  are  iolt.  1  mu ft  deiire  leave  to 
poftpone  my  obfervations  on  the  other  books. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  &c. 


LETTER      XXXIX. 

Dear  £;>,  ft/cflon-Favdl,  dug.  8.  1747- 

AFter  my  thanks  for   what   puffed    in   yeflerday's 
interview,  give  me  leave  to  add  my  acknowledg- 
ments for  the  pcrufal  of  your  poem,  entitled,    T/ie 
Deify.  It  is  a  noble  piece,  quite  poetical,  truly  evan- 
gelical 


472        A     COLLECTION          Let.  40. 

gelical,  and  admirably  fitted  to  alarm  and  comfort  the 
Ju-urt,  to  delight  and  improve  the  reader,  i  mail  dc- 
iirc  to  read  it  again. 

1  viiited  the  poor  condemned  malefactor,  found  him 
an  ignorant  peiibn  ;  aimed  chiefly  at  thefe  two  grand 
points,  to  convince  him  of  the  hainoufneis  of  his  iin, 
and  (hew  him  tiie  all-iudiciency  of  the  Saviour,  to  ob- 
tain pardon  even  for  the  very  vileft  of  offenders.  To 
preach  and  teach  Jefus  Chriit,  is  our  office  ;  to  make 
the  doctrine  effectual,  God's  great  prerogative.  No- 
thing more  occurs,  but  that  I  am, 


LETTER      XL. 

Dcareft  Mr  **,      f^eJlon-Favell,  Aug.  8.  1747. 

I  Ought  to  take  fhame  to  my  lei  f,  for  differing  ib 
kind  a  letter,  received  from  lo  valuable  a  friend, 
to  remain  fo  long  unanfwereed.  Upon  no  other  con- 
lideration,  than  that  of  my  enfeebled  and  languishing 
conftitution,  can  I  excufc  myielf,  or  hope  for  your 
pardon.  My  health  is  continually  upon  the  decline, 
and  the  fprings  of  life  are  all  relaxing.  Mine  age  is 
departing,  and  removing  from  me  as  a  (hepherd's  tent. 
Medicine  is  baffled  ;  and  my  phyfician  Dr  Stonhoufe, 
who  is  a  dear  friend  to  his  patient,  and  a  lover  of  the 
Lord  Jefus,  pities,  but  cannot  fuccour  me.  This  blef- 
ling,  however,  together  with  a  multitude  of  others, 
the  divine  goodnefs  vouchfafes,  to  gild  the  gloom  of 
decaying  nature,  That  I  am  racked  with  no  pain,  and 
enjoy  the  free  undiflurbed  exercife  of  my  underliand- 
ing. 

I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  carrying  my  meffage 
to  the  abbey  with  ib  much  fpecd,  and  eonveying  to 
me,  \vith  equal  difpatch,  a  fatisfaclory  anfwer.  When 
you  .vifit  the  worthy  family  again,  be  pleaicd,  after 
prefenting  my  aftcciionate  compliments,  and  mcft 

cordial 


Let.  40.       o  F     L   E   T   T   E    R   S.  473 

cordial  good  wifhes,  to  inform  Mrs  ***,  that  the 
piece  is  lent  to  the  preis,  and  after  iome  corre&ions 
made  in  the  dedication,  acldrtfled  to  my  godfon.  It 
is  my  humble  requeft  to  him,  and  my  earneft  prayer 
to  God,  that  he  may  regard  it,  not  merely  as  a  com- 
plimentary form,  but  as  the  ferious  and  pathetic  ad- 
vice of  his  father's  intimate  acquaintance,  and  his 
foul's  fincere  friend ;  who,  in  all  probability,  will  be 
cut  off  from  every  other  opportunity  of  fulfilling  his 
lacred  engagements,  and  admonifhing  him  of  what- 
ever a  Chriftian  ought  to  know  and  believe  to  his 
foul's  health. 

I  forgot,  whether  1  told  you,  that  the  laft  work  will 
be  divided  into  two  parts;  will  be  full  as  large  as  the 
two  firft  letters ;  and  therefore  the  whole  will  be  dif- 
pofed  into  two  fmall  pocket-volumes,  on  a  very  neat 
paper,  with  an  elegant  type,  in  duodecimo.  But  a 
convenient  number  of  the  new  elfays  will  be  printed 
in  the  oclavo  fizc  and  character,  for  the  iatisfaclion  of 
thofe  who  purchaied  the  former  edition,  and  may  pof- 
fibly  be  willing  to  complete  their  book. — It  was  a  con- 
liderable  time,  before  I  could  think  of  a  title  for  the 
laft  pieces,  that  fuited  their  nature,  and  exprefTed  their 
defign.  At  length,  I  have  determined  to  ftyle  them, 
Contemplations  on  the  night^  and  Contemplations  on 
the  ftarry  heavens . 

Now  I  apprehend  myfelf  to  be  near  the  clofe  of  life, 
and  ftand,  as  it  were,  on  the  brink  of  the  grave,  with 
eternity  full  in  my  view,  perhaps,  my  dear  friend 
would  be  willing  to  know  my  ientiments  of  things 
in  this  awful  fituation.  At  fuch  a  juncture,  the  mind 
is  moil  unprejudifed,  and  the  judgment  not  fo  liable 
to  be  dazzled  by  the  glitter  of  worldly  objects. 

I  think  then,  dear  Sir,  that  we  are  extremely  mif- 
taken,  and  luftain  a  mighty  lofs  in  our  molt  important 
intcrefts,  by  reading  fo  much^  and  praying  ib  little. 
Was  I  to  enjoy  Hetokiah's  grant,  and  have  fifteen  yean 
added  to  my  life,  I  would  be  much  mere  freauent  in 

VOL.  V.  N°  25.  jO  my 


474          A    COLLECTION         Let.  40. 

my  applications  to  the  throne  of  grace.  I  have  read 
of  a  perlon,  who  was  often  retired  and  on  his  knees, 
was  remarkable  for  his  frequency  and  fervency  in  de- 
votion ;  being  afkcd  the  reafon  of  this  fo  fingular  a  be- 
haviour, he  replied,  Becauic  I  am  fenfible  I  muft  die. 
I  ilfure  you,  dear  Mr  *#*,  ]  feel  the  weight  of  this 
ani'wer,  I  lee  the  wildom  of  this  procedure  ;  and,  was 
my  1'pan  to  be  lengthened,  would  endeavour  always 
to  remember  the  one,  and  daily  to  imitate  the  other. 

I  think  alfo,  we  fail  in  our  duty,  and  thwart  our 
comfort,  by  Undying  God's  holy  word  no  more.  I 
have,  for  my  part,  been  too  fond  of  reading  every 
thing  elegant  and  valuable,  that  has  been  penned  in  our 
own  language ;  and  been  particularly  charmed  with  the 
hiftorians,  orators,  and  poets  of  antiquity.  But  was  I 
to  renew  my  ftudies,  I  would  take  my  leave  of  thofe 
accomplished  trifles.  1  would  reiign  the  delights  of 
modern  wit,  amufement,  and  eloquence,  and  devote 
my  attention  to  the  fcriptures  of  truth.  I  would  fit 
with  much  greater  affiduity,  at  my  divine  Matter's  feet, 
and  defire  to  know  nothing  but  Jefus  Chrift,  and  him 
crucified.  This  wifdorn,  whole  fruits  are  peace  in  life, 
confolation  in  death,  and  cverlafling  falvation  after 
death';  this  I  would  trace,  this  I  would  feek,  this  I 
would  explore,  through  the  fpacious  and  delightful 
fields  of  the  Old  and  New  Teftament.  In  fhort,  I 
would  adapt  the  apoftle's  refolution,  and  give  myfelf  * 
(•pcrtcfiipff*.)  to  prayer,  and  to  the  word. 

With  regard  to  my  public  miniftry,  my  chief  aim 
Ihould  be,  to  beget  in  my  people's  minds  a  deep  fenfe 
of  their  depraved,  guilty,  undone  condition  ;  and  a 
clear  believing  conviction  of  the  all-fufficiency  of  Chrift, 
by  his  blood,  his  rightcoufnefs,  his  interceflion,  and 
his  Spirit  to  lave  them  to  the  uttcrmoft.  I  would  al- 
ways obfervc,  to  labour  for  them  in  my  clofet,  as  well  as 
in  the  pulpit;  and  wreftle  in  iecret  fupplkation,  as  well 
as  to  exert  myfelf  in  public  preaching,  for  their  fpi- 

ritual 
*  Afts  vi.     . 


Let.  40.         o  F     L   E   T   T   E   R  S,  475 

ritual  and  eternal  welfare.  For  unlefs  God  take  this 
work  into  his  own  hand,  what  mortal  is  fufficicnt  for 
thefe  things  ? 

Now,  perhaps,  if  you  fat  at  my  right  hand,  you  would 
afk,  What  is  my  hope  with  regard  to  my  future  and 
immortal  ftate  ?  Truly,  my  hope,  my  whole  hope,  is 
even  in  the  Lord  Redeemer.  Should  the  king  of  terrors 
threaten,  1  fly  to  the  wounds  of  the  ihughtercd  L*mb, 
as  the  trembling  dove  to  the  clefts  of  the  rock.  Should 
Satan  accufe,  1  plead  the  Surety  of  the  covenant,  who 
took  my  guilt  upon  himfelf,  and  bore  my  fins  in   ois 
own  body  on  the  tree.     Should   the   law  d<-nou   .e  a 
curie,  1  appeal  to  him  who  hung  on  the  accprfcd tree, 
on  purpoic  that  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  mi«ht  be 
blelfed.     Should  hell   open    its  jaws,  and  de-oain!  its 
prey,  I  look  up  to  that  gracious  Being,  who  fays,  Deli- 
ver him  from  going  down  into  the  pit,  for  I  h:ws  found 
a  ranfom.  Should  it  be  laid.  No  unclean  thing  can    n- 
ter  into  heaven  ;  my  anfwer  is,  The  blood  of  Chriil 
cleanieth  from  all  fin  ;  tho'  my  fins  be  as  fcarlet,  thro* 
this  blood  they  mall  be  as  white  as  fnow.     Should  it 
be  added,  None  can  fit  down  at  the  fupper  of  the  Lamb* 
...iout  a  wedding-garment,  and   your  righteoulhef- 
fes,  what  arc  they  before  the  pure  law,  and  piercing 
eye  of  God,  but  filthy  rags  ?  Thefe  I  renounce,  and 
feek  to  be  found  in  Chrill  Jefus,  who  is  the  Lo.d  my 
righteoufnefs.     It  is  written  in  the   word   that    is   to 
judge  the  world  at  the  Lift  day,  By  his  obedience  (hall 
many  be  made  righteous. 

So  that  Jefus,  the  dear  and  adorable  Jefus,  is  all  my 
truft.  His  merits  are  my  ftaff,  when  I  pafs  through 
the  valley  of  the  fliadow  of  death.  His  merits  are 
my  anchor,  when  I  hunch  into  the  boundlcfs  ocean 
of  eternity.  His  merits  arc  the  only  riches  whicri  my 
poor  foul,  when  flript  of  its  body,  dcfiresto  carry  in- 
to the  invifible  world.  If  the  God  of  glory  plcafes 
to  take  notice  of  any  moan  endeavours  to  honour  his 
holy  name,  it  will  be  infinite  condefcciiiion  and  grace  ; 

2  O  a  but 


476  A     COLLECTION        Let.  41. 

hut  his  Son,  his  righteous  and  fuflfcring  Son,  is  all  my 
hope,  and  all  my  lalvation.  Dear  Sir,  pray  for  me, 
that  the  weaker  1  grow  in  body,  the  flronger  I  may 
become  in  this  precious  faith.  May  the  choiceft  blei- 
lings  attend  you  and  yours.  A  letter  would  revive 
yours,  &c, 

P."S.  "  Tho*  the  days  are  come  upon  me,  in  which 
u  I  have  rcafon  to  lay  of  worldly  thingr.,  I  have  no 
"  picture  in  them,  ;  yet  I  find  a  iecret  latisfaclion  in 
"  this-confideration,  that  to  you,  my  dear  friend,  and 
"  to  others  of  my  candid  acquaintance,  I  may  be  per- 
u  milted,  even  when  dead,  to  {peak  in  my  little  trea- 
*'  tiles.  May  they,  when  the  author  is  gone  hence, 
44  never  to  be  fcen  in  theie  regions  below,  Oh !  may 
St  they  teftify  with  fome  fmall  degree  of  efficacy,  con- 
"  cerning  Jefus,  that  juft  one  ;  may  they  fan  the  flame 
"  of  love  to  his  perfoo,  and  ftrengthen  the  principle  of 
44  faith  in  his  merits  ! — Once  motfe,  dear  Sir,  adieu." 


LETTER       XLI. 

Dear  S/r,  Wcfton-Fcrvdl,  dug.  22.  1747. 

HAving  read  Dr  Middleton's  introductory  difcourie, 
I  hardly  know  what  to  think  of  his  bold  affer- 
tion,  That  all  the  miracle:,  fnppofed  to  be  wrought  af- 
ter the  apoftolic  age,  are  ahfurd  and  fictitious.  1  muft 
iufpend  my  opinion  concernincr  this  point,  till  I  find 
it  either  confirmed  by  the  filerice,  or  confuted  by  the 
arguments,  of  the  advoeatrs  for  ecclefiaftical  antiquity. 
In  the  main,  I  approve  of  his  dcfign,  which  is  to  iettle 
the  proofs  of  our  holy  religion  on  the  balls  of  the  in- 
fpired  writings,  and  to  deduce  its  doctrines  from  the 
fame  focred  fource.  The  Icriptures,  as  our  friend  // — 
beautifully  exprtfTes  himfelf,  are  the  armoury  of  God, 
from  whence  we  may  draw  weapons  of  a  divine  tem- 
per, wherewith  to  engage  all  that  oppofc  the  truth, 
or  hold  the  fame  in  nnrighteoufnefs. 
Docs  net  this  ingenious  writer  bear  a  Jittle  too  hard 

upon 


Let.  42.         OF      LETTERS.  477 

upon  the  religious  character,  and  exemplary  behavi- 
our, of  the  primitive  fathers  ?  I  cannot  but  think,  they 
had,  at  leaft  in  this  refpeft,  a  very  evident  iiiperiority 
over  moft  of  their  fucceflbrs. — How  flowing,  perfpi- 
CLIOUS,  and  elegant  is  the  doctor's  ftyle ;  and  how  ftiff, 
obicure,  and  bombaft  the  language  of  the  archdeacon  ? 
I  dare*  fay,  you  could  not  forbear  fmiling  at  his, — 
blazing  out  moft  faftidious  hypcrcritics  ;  reproaching 
(not  virulently,  but)  tartly  ;  ladling  (not  feverely, 
but)  fupercrlioufly ;  and  penetrating  the  very  vitals  of 
the  dead  languages. 

If  your  Mat  ho  is  not  lent  out  of  town,  I  wim  you 
would  be  fo  good  as  to  fend  for  it,  and  favour  me 
with  a  fight  of  it  by  the  bearer.  The  rcafon  of  my 

rcquefting  this  is,   that  Mr informs   me  by   my 

brother,  if  he  has  not  the  laft  piece  by  the  middle  of 
next  week,  his  prei's  mutt  ftand  (till.  And  methinks, 
i  would  gladly  perufe  Matho,  before  1  fuffer  my  lalt 
eflay  to  depart. — When  can  you  afford  me  your  con- 
verfation  for  an  hour  or  two,  in  order  to  examine  Mr 

's  remarks,   and  beftow  the  finifhing  touches  on 

the  piece  ?  Shall  I  wait  upon  you  on  Monday  morning 
early  >__When  this  bufmefs  is  diipatchcd,  your  book, 
and  my  thanks,  (hall  be  returned  together. 

Yours,  err. 

LETTER        XLII. 
Dear  Sir,  f^efton-Favell,  Otiob.  31.  1747- 

With   thanks   I   return    Colonel    Gardiner's    life. 
The   worthy  author  has   prefented  me   with  a 
copy,  which,   1   hope,  will  ferve  to  humble   and  ani- 
mate me,  fo  long  as  I  live. 

Abernethy  on  the  Divine  Attributes,  I  will  foon  re- 
flore.  In  the  mean  time,  fliall  I  brg  the  favour  of 
borrowing  Pliny's  Natural  Hiftvry  * 

You  remember,  who  is  to  call  upon  yo\\  (Deo  i 
on  Monday  morning,  1  mud  devote  the  greatelt 

part 


478         A     COLLECTION         Let.  43. 

part  of  this  day  to  prepare  my  tranflatory  quota  of 
Dickfw's  "Therapeutic a  Sacra. — The  thoughts  of  our 
little  ibciety  bring  to  my  -lind  a  plcafmg  circumitan.ee, 
which  I  oblerved,  when  we  were  at  our  lalt  interview. 

My  very  valuable  friend  Dr  S told  a  ftory,  in 

which  he  had  occafion  to  refer  to  ibme  prophane  and 
execrable  language.  Inftead  of  defiling  his  lips  with 
a  repetition  of  the  hcllifh  jargon,  he  was  fo  truly  dii- 
crcet,  as  only  to  mention  it  under  the  general  title  of 
horrid  oaths.  A  delicacy  this,  which  I  thought  high- 
ly becoming  both  the  Chriftian  and  the  gentleman. — 
I  have  ibmetimes  took  the  freedom,  to  obferve,  in  the 
inoft  refpectful  manner,  upon  ibme  little  inadverten- 
cies in  my  worthy  friend's  conduct  :  but  now  it  is 
with  the  higheft  pleafure  that  I  congratulate  him,  up- 
on a  moil  amiable  piece  of  religious  decorum,  intro- 
duced into  his  difcourfe. — I  am, 


LETTER       XLIII. 

Dear  Sir,  We  ft  on- Peru  ell,  Dec.  2.  1747. 

THE  furprife  which  your  letter  gives  me,  is  inex^ 
preifible,  and  the  grief  equal.  I  will  haft  en,  as 
foon  as  poilible,  to  my  worthy  and  afflicted  friend.  O  1 
that  I  could  bring  with  me  Ibme  healing  balm  for  his 
wounded  heart !  It  would  be  no  ilnall  alleviation  of  my 
own  Ibrrows,  if  1  might  be  instrumental  to  make  his 
lefs. — A  long-continued  cold,  and  an  unexpected  jour- 
ney, have  unfitted  me  from  following  your  preicrip- 
tions.  I  am  obliged  to  your  candour  for  afcribingmy 
neglect  to  this  caultr,  and  not  to  any  difregard  of  your 
advice.  For  I  am  perfuaded, 

Si  qua  potui  font  Pergama  dextra 

Defendi,  eiiam  hac  dcfenfa  fuifj'ent. 
I  will  May  the  meffenger  no  longer  ;  and,  I  hope,  I 
ftiall  not  ttay  long  before  1  let  out  myfelf.     It  is  ow- 
ing wholly   to  an  accident,  that  I   do  not  accompany 

the 


Let.  44.         OF     LETTERS.  479 

the  bearer,  with  a  view,  and  a  hope  of  adminiflering 
ibme  confolation  to  Dr  S .  — 1  am, 


LETTER      XLIV. 

Dear  and  worthy  Sir,    Northampton,  Dec.  y.  1747. 

YOU  will  wonder  to  fee  a  name  which  you  have 
but  lately  known,  at  the  bottom  of  this  paper. 
But  how, — oh  !  how  will  you  befurprifed,  how  griev- 
ed, to  read  the  occaiion  I — It  is  fo  afflicting,  almoft  ib 
infupportable  to  our.  valuable  friend, — that  he  is  un- 
able to  give  you  the  narrative  ;  therefore  has  com- 
mitted the  office  (trifle  minifterium  /)  to  my  pen. — 
And  mull  I  tell  you  \  can  you  bear  to  hear  it  ? —  Mrs 

5 is  dead  !  that  amiable  and  excellent  lady  is  dead. 

— She  was  fafely  delivered  of  a  daughter,  the  very  day 

on  which  Dr  S wrote  to  you  lall ;  was  as  well  as 

could  be  expected  or  wifhed  on  Sunday  morning  ;  and 
departed  this  life  on  Tuefday  evening. — On  Sunday  in 
the  evening  our  common  friend  perceived  her  to  be 
attended  with  ibme  alarming,  and,  as  he  apprehended, 
fatal  fymptoms. — Dr  K —  was  immediately  lent  for, 
who  gave  fomc  encouragement.  On  Monday  came 
Dr  J —  through  a  very  deep  fnow,  and  mofl  terrible 
weather,  but  urged  by  friend  (hip  and  companion.  The 
moment  that  fagacious  practitioner  beheld  her,  he  con- 
firmed Dr  S—'s  firft  fentiments,  that  the  cafe  was  ir- 
recoverable ;  and  added,  that  the  great  change  was  at 
the  very  door,  and  would  probably  take  place  in  twen- 
ty-four hours;  which  came  to  pals  accordingly. 

Your  own  tender  and  fenfible  heart  will  naturally 
conclude  Dr  5 —  is  fo  opprefTed  with  forrow,  as  not 
to  be  capable,  at  prefent,  of  anfwering  hisinoft  valued 
correfpondents  : 

Curs,  leves  loquuntur,  ingentes  flupent. 
But  he  intends,  when  time  has  fomewhat  alleviated 
his  grief  $  and  religion  has  more  reconciled  him  to  the 

awful 


480     A    COLLECTION,  err.     Let.  44. 

awful  difpenfation,  to  make  a  particular  reply  to  the 
whole  of  your  cpiftolary  favour.  You  will,  I  do  not 
queftion,  recommend  our  diftrefled  friend  to  the  Fa- 
ther of  mercies,  and  the  God  of  all  comfort.  May 
we  all  lay  this  awakening  ftroke  of  Providence  to 
heart,  and  give  all  diligence  to  have  our  fins  par- 
doned thro*  redeeming  blood,  our  fouls  renewed  by 
ianclifying  grace  ;  that  whether  we  live,  we  may  live 
unto  the  Lord  ;  or  whether  we  die,  we  may  die  un- 
to the  Lord  ;  fo  that  living  or  dying,  we  may  be  the 
Lord's. 

The  fecond  edition  of  my  Meditations ,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  another  volume,  is  at  lad  published.  1  have 
given  directions  to  my  bookfeller,  to  fend  you  a  copy  ; 
and  beg  of  yoa  to  accept  it,  as  a  fmall,  but  the  moft 
ipeaking  and  eloquent  expreffion  I  am  able  to  form  of 
that  great,  that  growing  efteem  I  have  conceived  for 
Dr  Siuan,  ever  fince  our  firft  interview  at  Wejlon.  Be 
pleafed,  dear  Sir,  to  read  it  with  the  utmoft,  or  ra- 
ther with  your  own  candour  ;  and  fometimcs  dart  up 
a  fliort  petition  for  the  author,  that,  whatev.er  is  the 
fate  of  his  book,  himfelf  may  live  over  his  writings, 
and  be,  what  he  defcribes. — 1  am,  err. 


The  End  of  the  FIFTH  VOLUME. 


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