read the original itself! Saurin, it seems, was a Protestant; and I am told, that in Holland, where he exercised his ministry, the streets were so crowded for several hours before the service began, that it was very difficult to gain admission. Is it not astonishing, that the sermons of so popular a preacher, and so eminent a writer, should not as yet have been put into an English dress? But this I presume is owing to the difficulty of doing justice to an author of his extraordinary genius. I am well aware, that few are equal to such an undertaking; but if there was a spirited translation of these animating sermons, published in weekly numbers, they would be well received, and might, through the divine blessing, be the means of doing much good to the community.

I have been enabled, blessed for ever be God! to perform my office, and preach to a crowded congregation. "Jesus said the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" was the text. O that it may be the power of God to the salvation of the hearers! I hope, my disorder in my head, and pain in my teeth, are not increased, though I felt the cold air breathe upon my face; for the church was so thronged, that it was not practicable to shut the Ŏ for faith in the Almighty Guardian, the

Almighty Physician!

This, I presume, will find you safely returned from London to your own habitation; but though come back to your resting-place, yet more and more sensible that we are but strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

I hope ere long to see you at Weston; for I can assure you, my dear sir, that amongst the many, many friends that dearly love you, no one can have a more affectionate regard for you than, yours unalterably, &c:

LETTER CXLVII.

DEAR SIR,-I lately very valuable friend Mr

Sept. 25. 1755. received a letter from my an extract of which I

here transcribe, as he has made some just remarks on Mr Burnham's blamable behaviour, in refusing the help of a physician. I believe you can answer for me, that I shall never be guilty of that fault; as I think altogether with the wise son of Sirach, that "the Lord hath created the physician, and that such are to be regarded for the uses we may have of them. The Lord likewise hath created medicines out of the earth, and he that is wise will not abhor them," Eccl'us. xxxviii.

"I have," says my correspondent, "been reading Burnham's Pious Memorials, as it was published with a recommendatory preface by you, in behalf of his distressed widow. The dying behaviour of Dr Andrew Rivet, page 212, and Dr Peter du Moulin, page 263, charms me exceedingly. Every word has its weight, and shines like a well-set diamond in a ring; or, as Solomon expresses it, like an apple of gold in a picture of silver. Mr Burnham was undoubtedly an excellent man, but he does not seem to come up to these in divine knowledge. Methinks I do not so well approve of his refusing the help of a PHYSICIAN, page 431, and the slight with which he treated such a proposal. It does indeed shew, that he lived quite above the fear of death; but at the same time it shews great weakness of mind. Life and health are mercies in the esteem of Heaven; and the dying Christian ought to esteem every thing as God esteems it. Suppose such a one desires to die, yet still he ought to use every lawful means to live, to make the will of God his own, and to be willing to continue even out of heaven, as long as his heavenly Father pleases. The same weakness of mind appears in his desiring his friends not to pray for his life, and in his being sorry that they made so much ado, page 433. Had he requested them to pray for him importunately, yet in humble submission to the will of God, and to be sure to acquiesce in it, whether for life or death, methinks it had been better. An earnest desire of a speedy dissolution has led some pious

martyrs, and some dying Christians too, into a mistake, which it is proper to take notice of, but more proper to avoid."

How do you approve of the following method, in conversing with the survivors after the loss of a dear child or friend? It is merely a sketch; yet a due regularity is preserved by the three divisions; and some of the heads in each division are to be enlarged upon or omitted, and others added occasionally. The use of such sketches may be seen in the preface to Mr Richard's "Hints for Religious Conversation with the Afflicted;" whose plan, though some of his hints are not sufficiently adapted to the case described, I highly approve; as it cannot but be serviceable to every Christian who is desirous of entering into spiritual discourse; and more particularly to young clergymen, who would do well to transcribe, study, and improve those hints; as they are too often at a loss how to exhort, admonish, or comfort, as various dispositions and circumstances require. When you send me your opinion, make such alterations as occur to you.

The Consolation.

It is God's will; who still continues many comforts

to us.

His will always wise, good, best.

We are his creatures. He has a right to us, as we have to our cattle or lands.

It is the Lord's doing. This was the support of Eli, Job, Hezekiah.

The Improvement.

"For us men sicken, and for us they die." (Dr Young's Night Thoughts).

To wean our hearts from the world.

To set our affections there where true joys are to be found.

To excite us with greater diligence to prepare for our own great change.

Our own Preparation.

The only preparation is to secure the favour of Christ, and an interest in his merits, by which we are pardoned and justified.

A participation of the Spirit of Christ, by which we are made fit for heaven.

I hope you remember, not without a pleasing mixture of gratitude and joy, your divine, yet bleeding Lord. I hope you feel a more comfortable trust, that your sins are done away through that all-atoning blood; and that you pray with a more steady faith for that most blessed Spirit, which was sealed to our enjoyment in the holy sacrament, of which we were so lately partakers.

I desire you would enter into some spiritual conversation with the bearer, whom I have recommended to you; you will then see the more than rocky hardness of the human heart, and the absolute need of prayer, and almighty grace, in order to make it susceptible of saving impressions. I dare say you will draw several useful conclusions from this interview, though your attempts for his benefit I fear will prove ineffectual.

A gentleman yesterday told a story, well attested, which you will be pleased to hear, as it shews in a very strong light the use of those passages of Scripture which the unthinking are too apt to consider as useless. A certain libertine, of a most abandoned character, happened accidentally to stroll into a church, where he heard the fifth chapter of Genesis, importing that so long lived such and such persons, and yet the conclusion was, they died. Enos lived 905 years, and he died; Seth 912, and he died; Methuselah 969, and he died. The frequent repetition of the words HE DIED, (notwithstanding the great length of years they had lived), struck him so deeply with the thought of death and eternity, that it changed his whole frame. He attended the remaining part of

the divine service with the utmost seriousness; went home, and prayed earnestly to God for forgiveness, and the assistance of his Holy Spirit; and became, from an infamous libertine, a most exemplary Christian. By this chapter we see, how soon youth, health, and all worldly delights must end. This, to a worldlyminded man, casts a damp upon all these desirable things; but to a soul acquainted with Christ, and an affection removed from hence already, no thought is so sweet as this. Enos died, Seth died, Methuselah died, and (blessed be God for the privilege of death) so shall I. It helps much to carry us cheerfully through wrestlings and difficulties, through better and worse. We see the land of promise near. We shall quickly pass Jordan, and be at home. There will be an end of the many vexations of this life, an end of sin, an end of temptations, nay, an end of prayer itself; to which will succeed new songs of endless praises. Oh, let us often reflect on what St Peter advances, "The end of all things is, therefore, at hand; be ye sober, and watch unto prayer;" 1 Pet. iv. 7.

I hope you will well weigh this, and introduce spiritual discourse whenever a fair opportunity presents. Set your face as a flint amongst the great. Establish your heart as a rock; and let nothing, nothing divert you from furthering the interest of Christ, wherever you yourself have any interest.

It

is like plunging into cold water perhaps at first, but afterwards comes a glow all over you. Remember what I now say, should you live thirty or forty years longer, yet when you come to die, take my word for will wish you had conversed more on and for

it, you

Christ.

I am satisfied from the sacred oracles,. as clear as light, concerning the origin of evil. And if any one, without having recourse to revelation, can satisfactorily solve that question, erit mihi magnus Apollo. My dear friend, let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.