I am much obliged to you for carrying my message to the Abbey with so much speed, and conveying to me with equal dispatch a satisfactory answer. When you visit the worthy family again, be pleased, after presenting my affectionate compliments, and most cordial good wishes, to inform Mrs, that the piece is sent to the press, and after some corrections made in the dedication, addressed to my godson. It is my humble request to him, and my earnest prayer to God, that he may regard it, not merely as a complimentary form, but as the serious and pathetic advice of his father's intimate acquaintance, and his soul's sincere friend; who, in all probability, will be cut off from every other opportunity of fulfilling his sacred engagements, and admonishing him of whatever a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health.

I forgot whether I told you, that the last work will be divided into two parts; will be full as large as the two first letters; and therefore the whole will be disposed into two small pocket volumes, on a very neat paper, with an elegant type, in duodecimo. But a convenient number of the new essays will be printed in the octavo size and character, for the satisfaction of those who purchased the former edition, and may possibly be willing to complete their book. It was a considerable time before I could think of a title for the last pieces, that suited their nature, and expressed their design. At length I have determined to style them Contemplations on the Night, and Contemplations on the Starry Heavens.

Now I apprehend myself to be near the close of life, and stand, as it were, on the brink of the grave, with eternity full in my view, perhaps my dear friend would be glad to know my sentiments of things in this awful situation. At such a juncture, the mind is most unprejudiced, and the judgment not so liable to be dazzled by the glitter of worldly objects.

I think, then, dear sir, that we are extremely mistaken, and sustain a mighty loss in our most impor

tant interests, by reading so much, and praying so little. Was I to enjoy Hezekiah's grant, and have fifteen years added to my life, I would be much more frequent in my applications to the throne of grace. I have read of a person who was often retired and on his knees, was remarkable for his frequency and fervency in devotion; being asked the reason of this so singular a behaviour, he replied, Because I am sensible I must die. I assure you, dear Mr -, I feel the weight of this answer, I see the wisdom of this procedure; and, was my span to be lengthened, would endeavour always to remember the one, and daily to imitate the other.

I

I think also we fail in our duty, and thwart our comfort, by studying God's holy word no more. have, for my part, been too fond of reading every thing elegant and valuable that has been penned in our own language; and been particularly charmed with the historians, orators, and poets of antiquity. But was I to renew my studies, I would take my leave of those accomplished trifles. I would resign the delights of modern wit, amusement, and eloquence, and devote my attention to the Scriptures of truth. I would sit with much greater assiduity at my divine Master's feet, and desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. This wisdom, whose fruits are peace in life, consolation in death, and everlasting salvation after death; this I would trace, this I would seek, this I would explore, through the spacious and delightful fields of the Old and New Testament. In short, I would adopt the apostle's resolution, Acts vi. 4. and give myself to prayer, and to the word.

With regard to my public ministry, my chief aim should be, to beget in my people's minds a deep sense of their depraved, guilty, undone condition; and a clear believing conviction of the all-sufficiency of Christ, by his blood, his righteousness, his intercession, and his Spirit, to save them to the uttermost. I would always observe to labour for them

in my closet, as well as in the pulpit; and wrestle in secret supplication, as well as to exert myself in public preaching, for their spiritual and eternal welfare. For unless God take this work into his own hand, what mortal is sufficient for these things?

Now, perhaps, if you sat at my right hand, you would ask, What is my hope with regard to my future and immortal state? Truly my hope, my whole hope, is even in the Lord Redeemer. Should the king of terrors threaten-I fly to the wounds of the slaughtered Lamb, as the trembling dove to the clefts of the rock. Should Satan accuse-I plead the Surety of the covenant, who took my guilt upon himself, and bore my sins in his own body on the tree. Should the law denounce a curse- -I appeal to him who hung on the accursed tree, on purpose that all the nations of the earth might be blessed. Should hell open its jaws, and demand its prey-I look up to that gracious Being who says, Deliver him from going down into the pit, for. I have found a ransom. Should it be said, No unclean thing can enter into heaven; my answer is,The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin: though my sins be as scarlet, through his blood they shall be as white as snow. Should it be added, None can sit down at the supper of the Lamb without a wedding-garment, and your righteousnesses, what are they before the pure law and piercing eye of God, but filthy rags? These I renounce, and seek to be found in Christ Jesus, who is the Lord my righteousness. It is written in the word that he is to judge the world at the last day, By his obedience shall many be made righteous.

So that Jesus, the dear and adorable Jesus, is all my trust. His merits are my staff, when I pass through the valley of the shadow of death. His merits are my anchor, when I launch into the boundless ocean of eternity. His merits are the only riches which my poor soul, when stript of its body, desires to carry into the invisible world. If the God of

glory pleases to take notice of any mean endeavours to honour his holy name, it will be infinite condescension and grace; but his Son, his righteous and suffering Son, is all my hope, and all my salvation. Dear sir, pray for me, that the weaker I grow in body, the stronger I may become in this precious faith. May the choicest blessings attend you and yours! A letter would revive yours, &c.

P.S.-Though the days are come upon me, in which I have reason to say of worldly things, I have no pleasure in them; yet I find a secret satisfaction in this consideration, that to you, my dear friend, and to others of my candid acquaintance, I may be permitted, even when dead, to speak in my little treatises. May they, when the author is gone hence, never to be seen in these regions below, O may they testify, with some small degree of efficacy, concerning Jesus, that Just One! may they fan the flame of love to his person, and strengthen the principle of faith in his merits! Once more, dear sir, adieu.

LETTER XLI.

Weston-Favell, Aug. 22. 1747. DEAR SIR, HAVING read Dr Middleton's introductory discourse, I hardly know what to think of his bold assertion, That all the miracles supposed to be wrought after the apostolic age, are absurd and fictitious. I must suspend my opinion concerning this point, till I find it either confirmed by the silence, or confuted by the arguments of the advocates for ecclesiastical antiquity. In the main, I approve of his design, which is to settle the proofs of our holy religion on the basis of the inspired writings, and to deduce its doctrines from the same sacred source. The Scriptures, as our friend H— beautifully exHpresses himself, are the armoury of God, from whence we may draw weapons of a divine temper, wherewith engage all that oppose the truth, or hold the same in unrighteousness.

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Does not this ingenious writer bear a little too hard upon the religious character and exemplary behaviour of the primitive fathers? I cannot but think they had, at least in this respect, a very evident superiority over most of their successors. How flowing, perspicuous, and elegant is the Doctor's style; and how stiff, obscure, and bombast, the language of the archdeacon! I dare say you could not forbear smiling at his-blazing out most fastidious hypercritics; reproaching, (not virulently, but) tartly; lashing, (not severely, but) superciliously; and penetrating the very vitals of the dead languages.

If your Matho is not lent out of town, I wish you would be so good as to send for it, and favour me with a sight of it by the bearer. The reason of my requesting this is, that Mr informs iñe by my brother, if he has not the last piece by the middle of next week, his press must stand still. And me

thinks I would gladly peruse Matho before I suffer my last essay to depart. When can you afford me your conversation for an hour or two, in order to examine Mr -'s remarks, and bestow the finishing touches on the piece? Shall I wait upon you on Monday morning early? When this business is dispatched, your book, and my thanks, shall be returned together.-Yours, &c.

DEAR SIR,

LETTER XLII.

Weston-Favell, Oct. 31. 1747. WITH thanks I return Colonel Gardiner's life. The worthy author has presented me with a copy, which I hope will serve to humble and animate me so long as I live.

Abernethy on the Divine Attributes, I will soon restore. In the mean time, shall I beg the favour of borrowing Pliny's Natural History?

You may remember who is to call upon you (Deo volente) on Monday morning. I must devote the