pretend to understand them. He allowed that the authors of the Old and New Testaments, some. times wrote as the spirit dictated, but contended that they had written many things, without any such assistance; that, like other pious authors, they at times only wrote their own opinions; so that Mr. Denis only believed so much of the Bible as he approved of. The divinity of Christ, the doctrine of the atonement, &c. he did not believe. From Jane Leed, Madam Bourignon, Madam Guion, he had filled his head with associating and concentering with the divinity, which was the way to be all light, all eye, all spirit, all joy, all rest, all gladness, all love; pure love, rest in quietness, absorbed in silent spiritual pleasure, and inexpressible sweetness, &c. Mr. D. did not attend any place of worship, except the Horse and Groom public house near Moorfields could be called such. In Moorfields he sometimes would hear part of a sermon or two, and for an hour or two after the orations were ended, he was to be seen disputing among the mechanics, who very often came there for that purpose. In the afternoon on Sunday, he

would

go to the above public-house, where a room full of persons of this description usually met, and one or other of them would first read a chapter in the Bible, and afterwards animadvert on what he had read, and as many as were disposed to it, added their curious remarks. To this odd groupe of expositors, I was once introduced, but I did not repeat my visit.

From the disputes in my shop, example, &c. I soon came to think that the Sabbath-day was no more sacred than any other day; so that instead

of attending at places of worship, I sometimes read the whole of the day; at other times I walked in the fields with Mr. D. his son, and other disputants, where we debated various subjects.

I believe when any one willingly neglects public worship, he will not long be attentive to private devotion; it was at least the case with me. I also soon began to entertain doubts concerning the doctrines of the Trinity, Atonement, &c. And in proportion as I relaxed in Christian duties, I grew more fond of such disputes as had a tendency to make my mind easy on that score.

About this time Mr. R. T-nl-y advised me to read the memoirs of John Buncle, which I soon procured and read through. This pernicious work, (for such I now think it to be) at once, not only eradicated the remains of Methodism, but also nearly the whole of Christianity,

Faults in the life, breed errors in the brain,
And these, reciprocally, those again;
The mind and conduct, mutually imprint,
And stamp their image on each other's mint.
COWPER.

After the heterogeneous example of John Buncle, I indulged myself in the practice of many things which were inconsistent with the character of a Christian, and yet, like him, I was not willing to suppose those practices were at variance with the most exalted notions of rational Christi. anity.

Having, like John Buncle, given up the doctrines of the Trinity, Original Sin, Atonement. made by Christ, the Obligation of the Sabbath, &c.

and having become negligent of Christian duties, and a little relaxed in morals, it was not likely that I should stop here.

I think it was in this year (1776) that I became acquainted with one whom I shall call Jack Jolly, and some of his acquaintance, all downright infidels; but otherwise shrewd, sensible men. Of these I learned the names of such others as had wrote on the side of infidelity; and also the titles of their pernicious productions.

I think it was the witty sarcasms and vile misrepresentations of Voltaire that first made me en-, tirely give up my Bible, from which I had in past years derived so much real comfort in the most distressing circumstances of great poverty, and very great affliction. That precious book enabled me to breakfast, dine and sup on water gruel only, not barely with a contented mind, but also with a cheerful countenance and a merry heart. It was' the Bible which supported me under the several years affliction of a beloved wife, in which I truly suffered with her; it was that book which enabled her, although young, to die with joy, and in full and certain hope of a glorious resurrection. When this charming young woman died, I also was given over, my soul was, as it were, hovering on my lips, just ready to depart. In this awful crisis, my amiable wife gone! All around me expecting the moment when time to me should be no longer!

In this awful situation I remained a long time, how long I know not, perhaps a week or weeks; yet even in this state, although more dead than alive, did the divine promises contained in the sa

B

cred pages support and comfort me, so that af times I was filled with inexpressible pleasure. In these moments I could believe that I was

“A glorious partner with the Deity,

"In that high attribute, Eternal Life

"I gaz'd, and as I gaz'd, my mounting souf
Caught fire, Eternity, at thee;

"And dropp'd the world."

Say, ye infidels! in your thoughtful moments why would you deprive your poor fellow-mortals of that which alone can support them amidst the complicated miseries to which we are exposed?

Notwithstanding I had, as I have observed before, been some time relaxing in religious principles and duties, yet no tongue or pen can describe what I felt at times, on relinquishing the volume which contained the words of eternal life; but it was wrenched from me. For I was so destitute of knowledge and abilities, as not to be able to answer the witty and artful objections of that arch infidel Voltaire, and others whose works soon after I read. I must confess that I felt it very hard to part from this old constant companion of mine; and should have been glad to have retained its divine consolations, without being bound to obey all its precepts. But as that could not be, after many struggles, I took my leave of that inesti mable treasure of wisdom and knowledge.

LETTER IF.

-Proud rationals,

(That deep in speculation's wandering maze,
Bemuse themselves with error, and confound
The laws of men, of nature, and of heav'n,)
Presumptuous in their wisdom-

DEAR FRIEND,

Dr. Dodd's Thoughts in Prison.

HAVING quite done with the word of God, I soon entirely neglected the public worship of God. Before this, I went at times to one or other of Mr. Wesley's chapels, or to some parish church. But now I was taught to believe, that as the whole world was God's Temple, Icould pay my devotions to him at any time and in any place; the consequence you may easily imagine; the divine Being was soon too much out of my thoughts; the Sabbath-day was spent in reading pernicious books, or in writing my catalogues, arranging my books, casting up my profits, visiting, &c. And it was not long before I could make a hand at cards on that day.

As soon as I had gone through Voltaire's pieces, I procured other works of the same tendency, and in reading them I employed most of my spare hours for several years. And although I did not devote so much time to them after this, but read also history, voyages, travels, poetry, novels, &c. yet I often had recourse to them, and took every opportunity of purchasing new publications which had the same pernicious tondency;