I long for the arrival of your precious cargo; to me it is peculiarly precious, as it makes evident, that life and immortality were known in ancient times, and revealed in the ancient Scriptures. It seems to me a strange, and worse than an useless attempt to controvert, and endeavour to overthrow this truth. May you, dear sir, have much of the spirit of wisdom and understanding, to discover the truth; much of the spirit of counsel and of might, to display, defend, and establish the truth, even the truth as it is in Jesus. Yours affectionately and gratefully, &c.

LETTER CLXXXVII.

Saturday morning. DEAR SIR, I FIND by the papers, that your old friend Dr, the physician, is dead. What a call to us to get our lamps trimmed, and our souls ready for their exit! what a forcible admonition to do good to immortal souls, while we have opportunity! May the God of glory be ever with you, and bless you with all spiritual blessings!

I greatly wish that those in the practice of physic would study St Paul as well as Hippocrates, and attend occasionally to the religious wants of their patients, when they are consulted as to their bodily disorders. This would be acting the part of Christian physicians. This would be endeavouring to copy after the compassionate Physician of mankind, who, while he cured the body, cured the soul.

Being totally and continually silent at the patient's bed-side, is, I think, in some measure, denying or being ashamed of the divine Redeemer, who bought us with his blood. Is it not, as it were, refusing to embark in his cause? How many sick might be improved and comforted by a physician, without any hinderance to his prescriptions, detriment to his character, or loss of his time? Oh that these masters of the healing art, would set the Lord always before them, and then he would direct their paths.

I was looking the other day into the life of Sir

Philip Sidney, who wrote the Arcadia, in Queen Elizabeth's time; and I find it recorded of him, that "being shot in the thigh in encountering the Spaniards near Zutphen in Holland, and parched with thirst, a bottle of liquor was procured for him; and just as Sir Philip was about drinking it, a poor soldier in the same condition, bleeding and ghastly, was carried along by him, and cast up his dying eyes at the same bottle; which Sir Philip perceiving, took it from his own mouth, and gave it to the poor man with these words, Thy necessity, honest friend, is yet greater than mine." He told the surgeons when they cut him, "that they had indeed a man under their hands of a sensible and delicate nature, yet one to whom the great Redeemer had given power above himself, either to do or suffer; and therefore desired that they would not throw a blemish on their art, through over tenderness."

His last words were, "Love my memory; cherish my friends; their fidelity to me may assure you they are honest: but above all, govern your own will and affections by the will and word of your Creator and Saviour; in ME beholding the end of this world, and all its vanities." I will warrant you, the soldiers remembered these words of their general; and so would the sick, in like manner, long remember the words of their physician, if he would now and then introduce a few religious hints, and drop occasionally a striking sentence or two, with propriety and seriousness.

Worldly craftiness is a bad guide; I wish you may have religious discretion for yours, as Telemachus had the discreet Mentor, and that you would begin (instead of paying court to the great) to court souls for the everlasting Bridegroom. This is your true interest, and will avail you when every worldly consideration will be found ineffectual.

As soon as I had read Mr's letter, I burnt it, according to your desire. Who can now retrieve the syllables, sentences, and words? Thus are the sins, all the sins of them that believe in the divine

Jesus, done away. What a privilege! what a blessing! should not our souls exult in it? should not our discourse dwell upon it?

Adieu, dear sir; and believe me, with great respect, and hearty wishes for your present and eternal welfare, yours, &c.

DEAR SIR,

LETTER CLXXXVIII.

Weston-Favell, April 16. 1757. BELIEVE me, your letters are far from fatiguing me; they refresh me even under my greatest weakness. They tell me of Jesus which was crucified, the only cordial for my drooping soul.

What do you think is the meaning of," But this shall be with burning and fuel of fire?" Isa. ix. 5. Is MACLTH a substantive? I should rather take it for an adjective, agreeing with SHA. Let the interpretation of this place fill the case of your letter. I am raised indeed from my bed, but not released from my chamber, after a violent fever. The two preceding Sundays I have been enabled to officiate for myself; and my disorder has left upon me so grievous a cough, as makes my days, especially my nights, become labour and sorrow. Pray favour me with the continuation of your thoughts. They cheer and comfort me in my languid state. The two sermons were transcribed before this sickness seized me. And, since I have your encouragement, they shall soon (if my life is prolonged) be put to the press. I propose to entitle them, The Time of Danger, and The Way of Safety. The Lord God omnipotent accompany them with his blessing! Mean they are, as the stones from the shepherd's sling; but I remember it is written, "They shall subdue with sling stones." In this word do I trust, in this word do I comfort me. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our FATHER, give you, dear sir, everlasting consolation, for all the kindness you have shewed to your truly affectionate friend. Yours, &c.

* See these Sermons in Vol. V.

LETTER CLXXXIX.

Weston-Favell, May 19. 1757.

MY DEAR FRIEND,-ACCEPT my best thanks for your welcome and valuable letter. It found me just released from the chamber of sickness; the fever removed, the cough abated, but my strength like the bruised reed. And now my mind is a fellow-sufferer with my body; this being enervated, that is enfeebled.

However, as I am delighted with your criticisms, give me leave to propose another text to your consideration, which puzzled me much as I was reading yesterday; you will find it in Zech. xiv. 6, 7. The Hebrew of the sixth verse seems to be uncommonly difficult.

A sermon or two I am still inclined to publish. In this, and in all our ways, may the God of all wisdom direct us, and the God of all grace prosper us, through Jesus Christ!

I have not the honour of Lord D's acquaintance, but I hear that he is full of grace, and valiant for the truth; a lover of Christ, and an ornament to his gospel. Lady F is alive, and full of good works, and I hope grows up in him in all things who is the head. Dr S (whom you inquire after) still resides at N; is in high repute as a physician, and, I trust, does not forget or neglect the one thing needful; though the world, the smiling world, is a syren. Lord, stop our ears against its enchanting song, and let our eyes be blind to its inveigling charms. Mr Moses Browne executes his ministry at Olney with much acceptance, I am informed, and with a good deal of success. About ten days ago

Mr P―― took a family-dinner with me. Our conversation turned partly upon points of literature, partly upon evangelical subjects. O that we may taste the sweetness, feel the energy of the latter, and count all things as dross in comparison of their transcendent excellency! Is not your interpretation of Zech. xiv. 6, 7. rather too forced? Is not the ·

following somewhat more natural and easy, if not more just?

"It shall come to pass in that day, there shall not be light," full and strong, in opposition to the gloom of night; but now effulgence and clearness of vision, anon obscurity and dimness of vision: "Yet it shall be one" real, determinate "day;" whose duration, whose properties, and all whose circumstances, are known to the Lord. Thus much he hath graciously revealed by his prophet, that, during the first periods, the morning and the noon of this wonderful dispensation, it shall not be entire day nor entire night, but a mixture or interchange of both. Sometimes grace triumphant, sometimes sin rebelling in the hearts of believers. Sometimes calamity darkening, sometimes prosperity brightening the state of the church. However, at the eventide, when such an appearance is least expected, it shall be unmixed, prevailing, perfect light. Then "the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun as the light of seven days. Then the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and his people shall be all righteous."

Freely censure, solidly correct this interpretation, if you think it improper; and give me leave to expect, according to your own appointment, a monthly -letter for the comfort and edification of, dear sir, your very affectionate friend and servant, &c.

LETTER CXC.

Weston-Favell, Aug. 6. 1757. MY DEAR FRIEND, I HAVE been too tardy in acknowledging the receipt of your letter, which was very valuable, and deserved thanks as speedy as they are sincere. The true cause of my delay is this: I have been preparing two or three sermons for the press, which to my enervated hand is really a work of toil. Yesterday I sent them to London, and I hope to see them in print within the space of a fortnight. I purpose to have some upon neat