would I read an oration in Tully, or a dissertation of Seneca's.

When you can spare the Rev. Dr Browne's Estimate, and likewise his two sermons preached at the cathedral church of Carlisle in 1746, just favour me with a sight of them. I presume they will not tell me of Jesus which was crucified, therefore I shall soon be satisfied with their company; for though I may find some amusement from his fine style, and striking sentiments, yet I can find no consolation in, any name, nor in any thing, but only in the grand propitiation and everlasting righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Thanks for Dr Akenside's Ode to the country gentlemen of England. He wrote this with a very good intention, and he is certainly a man of genius; but to me this ode reads somewhat flat: I fear it will not rouse and animate like the poems of Tyrtæus.*

This probably will find you returned in safety from your journey. When the journey of life is over, I hope we shall sit down together in everlasting rest; and see his glory, who endured the cross, and despised the shame. Till then, and then much more, shall I be most affectionately yours, &c.

LETTER CLXIII.

THANKS to my dear friend for the perusal of Dr Glynn's poem, entitled, The Day of Judgment. It is not void of elegance and spirit; but methinks it. wants that energy and pathos, which, on so interesting and solemn an occasion, should awe, transport, and agitate our souls. But the great deficiency is, the neglect of Jesus Christ. He is, indeed, slightly mentioned, just at the close; but he should have made the distinguished figure throughout the whole piece. St Paul calls the day of judgment, the day

* Tyrtæus was a poet of Athens, who, by his poem pronounced at the head of the army, inspired the Spartans with so much courage and contempt of death, that they obtained a glorious victory..

of Christ. We must all stand before the judgmentseat of Christ; then shall we behold the glorious appearing of the great God, even of our Saviour Jesus Christ. But not a glimpse of this is seen in Dr Glynn's poem.

Do you ask what I think of the polite's sermon? It is a mere moral essay, not a sermon; it wants the light of Christ. To speak the truth, I think it an errant Cyclops.

Monstrum horrendum, cui lumen ademptum.
A hideous, eyeless monster.

VIRGIL, EN. B. iii.

From such preachers, and such sermons, good Lord deliver us! Is any remedy for sins comparable to the blood, the righteousness, the intercession of a divine Redeemer? Pity, ten thousand pities, so great a man (for so the author really is) should not know, or should totally overlook the grand peculiarity of the gospel. It grieves me to think such unchristian doctrine should be thus propagated. If a fair opportunity offers, I would gladly bear my testimony against such enormous perversion of the gospel of Christ.

I cannot think the manuscript sermon which you have now sent me is of such distinguished excellence as to deserve a publication. It does not seem calculated either to alarm, to comfort, or impress. There is nothing of the orator, no searching application, no striking address. The preface is not so judicious as I could wish; it anticipates what is said under the following heads, and renders some part of them tautological. The text is not exhausted. Of several emphatical words no notice is taken. I say unto you, ye shall in no case; of the kingdom of heaven, nothing particular is said. Indeed, there is a hint or two in the conclusion referring to this subject; but too rambling, indistinct, and not with such a similarity to the text as might be observed. The preacher supposes all his hearers to be of the same character, and ranks them all in one class. A

practice which discerning people will not admire, and which is hardly consistent with the apostolical rule, rightly dividing the word of truth; or with our Lord's direction, to give each his portion suited to their respective states. I love Mr R as a worthy good man, but I decline the office of revising his sermon, because I am sensible I could not make it such as I should chuse to see printed. However, if it is printed, I heartily wish the blessing of the Lord may attend it; that true religion may be promoted, and immortal souls edified.

When the Pope is installed he is reminded of this most weighty truth, Sancte Pater, dies æternitatis cogita. Let me say, Vir dilectissime, dies æternitatis cogita. We were all pleased with your last conversation. It was like your book, and like yourself. Remember, my dear friend, when you are in company, that you have written a pious book, and do not invalidate all your exhortations to others by forgetting them in your own conversation. It is this, ah! it is this that destroys what we build, confirms people in lukewarmness, and does unspeakably more mischief than can be enumerated in this letter. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth," says St Paul, "but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers."

The paper you inquire after is lost in the immane barathrum of my loose papers. If ever it emerges, it shall be restored. May my friend's soul be not as the present state of the pastures and meads, but as a watered garden whose waters fail not!

I have perused Mr Witherspoon's Essay on Imputed Righteousness: may we every day experience that sanctifying efficacy on which his discourse turns. "Sanctify them," saith our Lord, "by thy truth." I thank you for your admonition. I will bear it in my memory, and may our divine Master enable me to observe it!

Oh for a candid spirit! It gives gracefulness to

our cause; it diminishes not the weight of our argument; and surely it does honour to the Christian character.

Thanks for Mr Mason's* Odes. Polished performances; but not equal, in my judgment, to his Isis, or his Monody on Pope. I think I could point out a defect or two in these poems, but nothing defective could I discern in those. It is a pity but gratitude to the supreme Benefactor actuated our hearts and guided our pens. The rich benefits of memory displayed by the elegant Mr Mason; and not one acknowledgment to the blessed Author of all! The poet shines, but where is the Christian? I am ever yours, &c.

LETTER CLXIV.

Tuesday morning. DEAR SIR, I SHOULD think my friendship very weak, and quite unfledged, if I could be offended with the freedom for which you apologize. Those who were anciently united in the bonds of Christian friendship had this generous sentiment for their motto, "Amicorum omnia communia, præter uxores."+

I rejoice with you in the hopeful young gentleman's recovery; a pledge, I trust, of his eminent proficiency and extensive usefulness in the gospel cause.

I acquiesce entirely in Dr C's reasons; perhaps if there was much of the pure evangelical peculiarity in the recommendatory verses, it might be a forbidding circumstance to some readers.

Mr is very obliging; his cautions are very friendly. I will not speak so plainly to Mr W. as to him. I wish, if it be God's gracious will, that your little treatise may be like Dr Doddridge's works, acceptable to every reader. You see by the expressions I have taken the liberty to underline, that Mr

* Odes on Memory, Independency, Melancholy, and the Fate of Tyranny. Friends have every thing in common, except their wives.

- sees the great truths of Christianity inverted, just as we see objects in a concave speculum. The good works, according to his scheme, are the recommending cause, and the blessed Redeemer only like the master of the ceremonies, merely to introduce them with a good grace. No, we have not so learned Christ; he is our righteousness, as well as our sanctification. We are accepted in the beloved: "In him shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and in him shall they glory." This is the epidemical mistake; but I hope God will send out his light and his truth, and rectify our misapprehensions. I dare say that amiable and accomplished gentleman, that exemplary and shining Christian, that very zealous and successful preacher, Mr T―n, will be highly pleased to receive the present of your little treatise; his good heart will exult to see your open acknowledgment of the Saviour whom he so dearly loves. I hope to see you, or hear from you, before you take your journey; and am, with increasing esteem and affection, most cordially yours, &c.

LETTER CLXV.

MY DEAR FRIEND,-YOUR very kind present is come to our hands, and has made its appearance. You give me, as Theron says, exaloubor evveαbowy.

All I can say is, May the Lord supply your every need (both bodily and spiritual), according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus!

I am sorry my brother wrote so warm a letter to Mr Ay about his attempt to purchase the closes at Weston, which lie so commodious for us. The world's maxim is, Catch as catch can: But our Saviour's direction is, "Be anxious for nothing." Never fear but we shall make a shift without these closes to pass through the wilderness, and arrive at the heavenly Canaan. Were not your thoughts upon that eternal home when you attended Mr L's corpse to the tomb? One of the texts to which I