tion, either for weakness of faith or want of confidence, cast out such a one. Let not such a one question, but he who has begun the good work will accomplish it even unto the end. We should, however, as you most pertinently observe, lament all the remains of unbelief as a misery; repent of them as a sin; and labour to obtain a more assured faith, both as our duty and our felicity. The direction for prayer, you know, is, that we draw near in full assurance of faith: and, whatsoever things ye ask in prayer, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. The Thessalonians are commended for receiving the gospel with much assurance of faith. Receiving the gospel! What is meant by that expression? Believing that the apostles were no impostors; that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah; and that his doctrine came from heaven? This, and abundantly more, I apprehend, it implies, That Christ died, not for sins only in general, but for their sins in particular; that he bore all their iniquities, in his own bleeding body and agonizing soul, on the cursed tree; that all their crimes being fully expiated, the most rigorous justice would not demand a double payment for the same debt; and consequently that there remained no condemnation for them. This is the glad tidings, which they not only attended to, and credited with a speculative assent; but with a personal application of it, each to his particular case. And why should not we do the very same? I shall only subjoin further on this head, what I take to be a very clear and accurate explanation of the apostle's celebrated definition of faith: Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; putting us into a kind of present possession of the promises, and setting divine truths before the mind in all the light and power of demonstration. For this beautiful illustration of the inspired writer, I am obliged to an excellent clergyman of this neighbourhood; who lately favoured us with an admirable visitation sermon, and, for the good of the public, was prevailed on to print it. You will give me leave to close the topic with a distinction which I have somewhere read, or on some occasion heard; a distinction which I think properly adjusts the case under consideration, and settles it, neither on a precarious nor a discouraging issue. Many have the faith which bringeth salvation, who have not that faith which produceth assurance; but none have the former, who do not aspire after, and endeavour to possess the latter. On the whole, I heartily beseech the adorable and infinitely gracious Giver of every perfect gift, to establish, strengthen, settle us in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ; that he would fulfil in us all the good pleasure of his will, and the work of faith with power. And I dare say, we shall often lift up our hearts to our heavenly Father, and breathe out that ardent petition, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief! If we have such frequent recourse to the overflowing and inexhaustible fountain of all good; if we add to our prayers meditation on the merits of Jesus, and on the sure word of promise,-our faith will grow ; the grain of mustard-seed will be quickened, and shoot up into a tree; the little drop will become a stream, and the stream spread into a river. The waters that issued from the sanctuary were, at first, deep to the ancles only; then they arose to the knees; soon they reached the loins; and were afterwards waters to swim in. The Contemplations you are pleased to inquire after are, after long delays, or a very slow procedure of the press, launched into the world. What may be their fate, I dare not conjecture. Whether, by the general disapprobation, they may be unfortunately becalmed; or, by the severity of critics, may split on the rocks of censure; or, foundering through their own unworthiness, may sink in oblivion; or, blessed by a gracious Providence, may gain the haven of public acceptance, and import those valuable commodities, pleasure which improves, and im provement which delights. When they reach your parts, be so good, dear sir, as to peruse them, first with the humble child-like spirit of a Christian, who seeks religious advantage in all that he reads. Next, with the candid rigour of a friend, saying, 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 obscure, and perspicuity is the only remedy; there it is inexpressive, and must be rendered more nervous, in order to reach the judgment or strike the passions. Above all, let me beg of you to implore a blessing from the most high God, both upon the author and his piece ; that the one may be a monument of divine mercy, the other a polished shaft in the great Immanuel's quiver. Should not a sense of his love make us more ardently desirous of bringing others to partake of that everlasting bliss, which we humbly expect as our final portion; and of which some foretastes have been indulged even in our present state? Should we not be stirred up with greater assiduity and love, to warn every man, and exhort every man, that they also may be presented perfect in Christ, and live for ever in the light of his countenance? The book I mentioned formerly, and took leave to recommend, shall be sent. I have set it apart as a present for my dear friend; and whether my life be prolonged, or my death hastened, neither of these circumstances shall make any alteration in my design. Only let me desire you, in your next, to give me once more the proper directions for conveying it to you; for, some way or other, in my late unsettled state, I have mislaid your letter. Please to present my thanks to Mrs for her kind wishes; and tell her, that they are, and shall be most cordially returned by her and your most faithful and affectionate friend, &c. LETTER XXXIV. Weston-Favell, Feb. 28. 1747. DEAR SIR, I HAVE read the ingenious gentleman's letter attentively. Though he says the strongest things that can be urged upon the point, I still adhere to my sentiments; and not because they are mine, but the Scripture's, and supportable, I am persuaded, by a variety of texts from the oracles of truth. beg leave to waive the prosecution of the controversy. Controversy is what I naturally dislike, and what I have seldom found advantageous. I know his opinion, and he has given me an opportunity of declaring mine; and would only add, that if in any thing we be otherwise minded (than is consistent with the gospel 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 Saint's Everlasting Rest, and admire the copiousness, the justness, and the devotion of his thoughts. How happy the soul that, while reading them, can make them his own! May this be always the prevailing desire, and, in due time, the heaven-vouchsafed portion of the worthy owner of the book, and of his most affectionate friend, &c. LETTER XXXV. Weston-Favell, Feb. 1747. DEAR SIR, I HAVE heard nothing from my printer during all this interval. What can be the reason of his long silence, and great negligence, I cannot imagine. But this week it occurred to my mind, that if he delays the second edition at this rate, I may possibly be able to prepare the third letter to accompany it. Accordingly, I have postponed other business, and applied wholly to this work. I have transcribed some part of the intended piece, and send it for your perusal. Pray be so good as to examine it narrowly, and favour me with your remarks and improvements, on a separate paper. There are, I fear, besides more material faults, several mistakes in the copy, owing to my want of leisure to review it. I suppose the remainder of my design, when completed, will consist of about the same number of pages. If I live till Monday, I propose to visit my patient at the infirmary; and, if company happens to be agreeable, will take the pleasure of spending an hour with a certain valuable and very much esteemed friend at Northampton. If you are not able to guess the person I mean, you shall soon be informed by, dear sir, yours, &c. Vir bonus et prudens versus reprehendet inertes, Transverso calamo signum, ambitioso recidet Arguet ambigue dictum, mutando notabit.-HORACE. This I transcribe, not to inform you of the critic's office, but only to apprize you of what I wish, and what I humbly request. LETTER XXXVI. Weston-Favell, April 12. 1747. DEAR SIR, I HAVE folded down a corner of the leaf at the place where your perusal left off. There is a note or two subjoined to the preceding pages, which I wish you would please to examine. My humble service to Dr. I desire he will write his remarks and corrections on a separate paper. What think you of the following lines for a motto? Night opes the noblest scenes, and sheds an awe -Si quid novisti rectius istis, Candidus imperti. NIGHT THOUGHTS. |