Let me request the favour of your sentiments upon the preceding objections. Your ingenious remarks on Deut. xxxiii. 13, &c. I received; I prize, and I thank you for them. May the gracious God, for a recompense, lead you farther and farther into the unsearchable treasures of wisdom hid in the Scriptures, and fill you with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. I comfort myself in thinking, that you do not in your prayers forget, dear sir, your much obliged, and truly affectionate friend, &c.

LETTER CVI.

Weston-Favell, Dec. 14. 1752.

REVEREND SIR,-LITTLE did I think, when I recommended to the public the Observations on that I should be so agreeably and amply recompensed for my occasional note-recompensed with a letter from the author; which, I assure you, was extremely welcome, not only on account of the same strain of elegance which runs through and adorns your book, but for the tender which it brought me of a very valuable accession to the small number of my friends. Your friendship, dear sir, I accept as a privilege, and shall cultivate with delight. Only I must, in common justice, forewarn you of one particular, That your social intercourses with James Hervey, will be an exercise of charity, rather than an advantageous traffic to yourself. Besides other reasons which I might too truly allege for the support of this hint, long-continued habit of indisposition, and bodily weakness, has laid a heavy hand on my animal spirits, which (take my word for it, since I hope you will never know it by experience) both cramps the exertion, and obstructs the improvement of the intellectual faculties. You remember, however, who has said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive;" which,

* Probably the Observations on Tacitus commended by Mr Hervey, in his Letter to a Lady of Quality. See Vol. V.

I think, will hold good when applied either to the treasures of the mind or the riches of fortune.

Your approbation of any thing in my slight remarks will give me singular satisfaction; yet I should be no less obliged for your free thoughts on what should have been added, expunged, or altered. Let this, dear sir, be the first fruits of our friendship. Point out my blemishes, and supply my defects. Applause may be more soothing to my vanity; but such kind corrections will be more pleasing to my judgment, and more serviceable to our common cause. It is scarce probable that a second edition should be published, as the first was numerous; but if there should be such a demand, I am sure your animadversions would enrich and ennoble it.

I thank you for your Reflections on the Scriptures, which are perfectly just, and peculiarly animated. I cannot but wish that the vindication of their dignity, and the display of their excellency, had fallen to your share. This, I trust, is a service reserved for your pen, to be drawn with ten-fold energy and success on some future occasion. And may you, when called to such an important work, be “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use!"

I bless God for the just notions you form concerning the Holy Spirit, and the necessity of his enlightening influences; without which the Scriptures will be a sealed book, and even the word of life a dead letter. Men of superior abilities too often lean to their own understanding, and reject the guidance, the teachings, of the Holy Ghost; not because these are not mentioned, insisted upon, promised in the gospel; but because they fancy themselves capable of comprehending, without any supernatural aid, Ta μεγαλεία τε Θε8. But may we, sir, be sensible, ever sensible, that all our sufficiency is of God; and not blush to be the humble pupils of the heavenly Teacher, who "hideth these things from the wise and prudent, but revealeth them unto babes." I am desirous of being taught by the labours of learned men; more

desirous of being taught by the written word of revelation; but, amidst all, and above all, to be taught of God; or, as our Liturgy very boldly, but not improperly explains the prophet," taught by the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit."

I am pleased to hear from - that you are situated near that worthy gentleman Dr, whose works praise him in the gate; to whom belongs that noble character, "The liberal person deviseth liberal things;" to whom, I trust, will be made good that inestimable promise in its fullest extent, "By liberal things shall he stand." They shall be his witnesses at the day of eternal judgment, that his faith in Christ Jesus has neither been empty, barren, nor dead. When you have the pleasure of waiting on him, be so good as to present him with my most respectful compliments.

You are not under the least obligation to me, for bearing my testimony to your late performance. It is a debt which I owe, for the delight I received in perusing it. I wish it may soon come to a second edition; and, if my attestation to its merit is a means of introducing it into the hands of my readers, I do not doubt but it will do an honour to my taste. The present which you promise me will be very acceptable: But, my dear sir, if you have a family, or your circumstances should not be affluent, I beg you will not think of it. You see I follow your example, and speak, not as a new acquaintance, but as a bosom friend.

Should it ever be in my power to do you any service, I can suggest a method whereby you might repay, more than repay the favour. That is, by taking the trouble of revising a little work which I have upon the anvil, and bestowing upon it your free remarks. A few touches from your pen would, if the thing be not incorrigibly bad, very much improve it. Had I not seen a display of your judgment and delicacy in the Observations, &c. I should not have asked such an instance of your friendship; whereas

now I cannot but earnestly desire it, shall highly esteem it, and shall very thankfully acknowledge it.

"Not by might, nor by strength, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." And we may truly say, Not by polished diction, or brilliant sentiment; not by the arts of persuasion, or the force of reasoning; but by God Almighty's blessing, our attempts are prevalent, and our books successful. This is my comfort, and this my confidence: -as an author, I would aim, singly aim, at the glory of my Divine Master, and the furtherance of his everlasting gospel. Then I would resign the issue of my endeavours wholly to his providence and grace, who can, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, perfect his praise. Nevertheless I would by no means neglect the recommendations of a graceful composition. I would be glad to have the apples of gold, which are the truths of our holy religion, conveyed or set in pictures of silver. For this we have the genius of human nature, which, generally speaking, must be pleased, in order to be profited. For this we have the precedent of the wisest of men, who "sought and found out acceptable words," even when that which was written was the truth of God. If it is consistent with your other engagements to oblige me in this very substantial manner, ——, who undertakes to transmit this letter, has promised to convey a little parcel to your hands.

I wish you, sir, what the eloquent apostle styles, (Col. ii. 2.) "the riches of the full assurance of understanding;" and, turning my wishes into prayers, take my leave, and profess myself, reverend sir, your truly affectionate friend and brother, &c.

LETTER CVII.

MY DEAR FRIEND,-The apostle warns us not to be " carried about with every wind of doctrine." I think Marshall has answered great part of Dr

's letter (see pages 96, 97, of the 8vo edition),

Pray desire Dr ——, at his leisure, to shew wherein he suspects Marshall to be unscriptural. You may depend upon it, I shall appeal from the Doctor's determination, unless he supports it by Scripture. The poor and unlearned generally understand the gospel better than the accomplished scholars; because it pleases God, by the foolishness (see 1 Cor. i. 21.). of preaching, to save them that believe. God long ago foretold, that but few would understand and receive evangelical truth: "Who hath believed our report?" says Isaiah: Very, very few. To this St Paul adds; "Not many wise, not many mighty are called." The attributes of the Deity will stand clear from all just impeachment, if we demonstrate that his doctrine is most excellently calculated to humble the sinner, to exalt the Saviour, and promote filial obedience. Let the objections and misapprehensions of such learned and ingenious men teach us to distrust our own ability; not to lean to our own understandings, but seek more earnestly for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.

-

Dr - thinks the doctrine delivered in Marshall's book to be inconsistent with Scripture, and repugnant to reason: whereas I think it contains the very marrow of Scripture; consequently, is reason in its highest refinement. I daily experience it to be the medicine of my better life, or the most sovereign means to comfort the conscience and purify the heart. If the Doctor had leisure, I should be glad to hear what a person of his fine sense and keen discernment could say against my favourite author.

Have you any author of eloquence and spirit who has written either a treatise or sermon on the subject of true holiness, its nature, its necessity, its excellency? If you could furnish me with such a treatise, I would endeavour to put his displays of holiness into Theron's mouth, and Aspasio should shew the manner of acting, all on evangelical principles. Has Atterbury said any thing of this kind, or Foster in his sermons? I wish you would search your own