■A V r ^ ■>-i^- ^ ..# # ...-If/ --* V M I.. f FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY V. 6 ^/ THE 5^^ :>:^^ \}Y V ^. vniPiUS/\ NOV 23 19$/ -^r. if 'GiGAl ANN^ WORK S O F AU G U S T U S ^.O P L A D Y, J. B. Late Vicar of Broad Hembury, Devon. IN SIX VOLUMES. V O L. VI. LONDON: P R I M T E D f^):- the PROPRIETORS, A.N'D SOLD BY W. R.OVI', Gr"nr Mariboroug-i-ftrcft; J. Pirfons, Patcr-nofter-row ; J. Deighton, Holborn ; Hcrbertt, Pall-m^li; J.Mathews, Strand; Wilibn and Co. York; Phorion, RtMwlclc ; Brnwa, Briftulj Penny, Ex:"ter", Cooke, Oxibni ; Ni- cholloa, Cambridge ; and J. Barker, RulTell-court, Dmry-lane. 1794.. ixly SKETCH of CONTENTS. VOL. VI. Page n^HE Jcheme of chrifiian and philo/ophical necejjtty aJfertcJy preface to ' •• 1 1 CHAPTER I. NeceJJity defined. Short account of fate , and the order ob- fer^ed in the chain of things, Necejfity perfeBly compatible nviih voluntary free do7n • • '- — 1 7 CHAPTER 11. Man a compound being. Senfation the only fottrce of hi^ ideas. The faults extenfinje dependence on the body, during their prefentjiate of connexion. An argument ^ draiun f .m thince, for the necejjjty of human 'volitions, ^erieSy propofed to the cfferters of f elf determination •— 22 CHAPTER Jir. Vrobahle equality of human fouls. Brutes themfelves not merely material. NeceJJity coufjlent ivith the morality of a£iio7is ; and ivith re-ward and punjhmenty praife and blatne ; and nvith the retributions of the judgment ^day. No certainty ^ ncr pojjibilityy of a final judgment ^ on the Arminmn. prin- ciples of chance and j'elf ae terminal ion. Anti-neceJJitarians unable to cope lAjith hijidels. Co incidence of chrijlian pre- dejtination ^ixith philoj'ophical mcejjity ■ ^2 CHAPTER IV. Specimen of Scripture attefiations to the doSlrine of necejjity. Probable^ that men are^ by nature^ utici/vili%.ed atumuls, Total depeyidency of all e-vents, and oj^ all created beings, on God ^ 47 CHAPTER V. Proofs that Chrifi himjef --was an ahfolute necejfitaridn. This argued from Jtnjeral pajjuges in his fe>mon on the mount ; from his miracles ; from on fore knatvledgc ; from his pro- phecies ; from his occafi.nal declarations ; and fr.m the nvhole hijlory of his Itfe ana death recorded in the gofpels f*^ CHAPTER VI. Necejfity y in the moral Efq. — 143 — M4 — 147 — 149 — '5^ — 152 — IS4 — 157 — ibid — »59 — 160 — i6r — 163 — i6j — 166 . 169 — 171 — 172 — '74 — »7? ~ 177 188 ~ 191 194 — 19$ — 199 20O 203 -— 205 — 2C6 — 208 — 210 2 12 xxxiir. CONTENTS. V Letter Pnge XXXIII. Mr. Toplady to Mrs. Macaulay 2»3 XXXiV. '• Ambrofe Serle, Efq. — 216 XXXV. Rev. Mr. Romains 218 XXXVr. Mr. — 219 XXXVII. Mrs. Macaulay 221 XXXVIII. Rev. Mr. De Coetlogon — 223 XXXIX. Mr. G. F. 224 XL. Mr. H. 226 XLI. Mrs. Macaulay 228 XLir. Re'/.Mr.,Macian 230 XLIII. » — Rev. M'r. Romaine >— 231 XLIV. ■ Ambrofe Serle, Efq. 233 XLV. Mr. O. 235 XLVI. . Mr. . — 237 XLVir. 1 Mrs. B. . 239 XLVIII. Rev. Dr. B. ^ 241 XLIX, — _— . Countefs of Huntingdon — 243 L. Rev. Dr. Prieilley 246 LI. Mr — 253 LII. Rev. Mr. Ryland 255 Lin. ■ — — Ambrofe Serle, Efq. — 257 LIV. ■ Mrs. Macaulay 258 LV. . . Mr. L. C. 260 LVI. ■■ — Mr. Francis Toplady — 26/; LVir. —Rev. Mr. . 266 LVIII. Rev. Dr. Giftord 269 LIX. - MefTrs. Valance and Co. — 273 LX. ■ ■ Lady Huntingdon — — 274 LXL Mr. L. . 376 Lxn. Mr. N. . 277 LXIIL Dr. Dodd 279 LXIV. Rev. Mr. Berridge — 280 LXV. Mr T, 281 LXVL Mr. HuiTey 283 LXVII. Mr. Davies — 285 LXVllL A. B. 287 LXIX. Rev. Dr. B. 289 LXX. Mrs.A.Gi 290 LXXL Mr. E. H. 292 LXXH. ?vTr. F. 29/ LXXIIL . Mr. Vallance ^6 LXXIV. Mr. T. W. 297 LXXV. . Rev. Dr. Prieilley - 298 LXXVI. Mrs. Fowler 3°! LXXVir. Mr. HuiTey 303 LXXVllL Mr. HuiTey -— 3^4 j^fj arf^ojer to a quejiion^ :orks, hut according to his oivn purpofe, and grace, njohich avas given us before the 'world began He hath borne our grief s^ siff . — — - — - Faith in the prom fds - •- — — Divine aid • — Almighty ponver • — — Meny experienced — — Fer^vcnt defre — — . ■ - ■ ^xitten in illnefs, PfaJm civ. 34. My mccituiion \(f h:tn jhull he j'oicet Page 310 3'3 «•$ 317 3 SO 365 385 392 403 ibid 406 4.07 408 409 ibid 410 ibid 411 412 4^3 ibid 414 415 ibid 4'7 418 419 420 ibid 422 4^3 he ciji^.rr bel:^: cul 4n 426 ihid 427 ibid 4^8 429 43 » THE SCHEME O F CHRISTIAN AND PHILOSOPHICAL NECEssirr ASSERTED. In Oppofition to Mr. John Wesley's Tra(5t that Subjed, *' Adeo ftat et permanet invifta fententia, omnia neceflitate fieri. Nee eft hie uUa obfcuritas, aut ambiguitas. In Efaia dicit [Deus], confilium meum flabit, et voluntas mea fiet. Quis enim puer non intelligit.quid veliat haec vocabula, confilium, voluntas, fiet, ftabit?" Luther, de Servo Arbitrio, fed. 1 9, *' Qu^ nobis videtur contingentia, fecretum Dei impulfum fuiffe. agnofcet fides." Calvin, Inftiiut. I. i. c. 16. '* Quid igitur, inquies, nullane eft in rebus, ut iftorum vocabulo «tar, contingentia? Nihil cafus ? Nihil fortuna ? — Omnia ncceflario evenire Scriptures decent.'* Melandhon, Loc. Com. P. 10. Edit. Argentor. 1 5:23. ** There is not a fly, but has had infinite wifdom concerned, not only in its ftrudure, but in its dcftination," Dr. Young's Cent, not fab. Letter IL Vol. VI. {'2ji.) B {^') PREFACE. "YESTERDAY^s poft brought me a packet from •*- London, including, among other papers, a rtnall trad, recently publifhed by Mr. John Wefley, entitled, *^ Thoughts upon Neceffity." I had no fooner perufed thofe " Thoughts," than I refolved to bring them to the teft : arid am now fetting about it. During fome years paft, I have, for the moft part, flood patiently on the defenfive, againfl this gentleman. It is high time, that I take my turn to invade j and carry the arms of truth into the enemy's own territory. >• Mr. Wefley's tra<5t, above-mentioned, was fent to me, by a well-known, and very deferving, Lon- don clergyman. So much of whofe letter, as relates to the faid tra^l, flhall, for the amufement of* my readers, be fubmitted to their view. " I went, laft night, to the * Foundery ; expell- ing to hear Pope John : but was difappointed. After hearing a Welfhman, for an hour and twenty minutes, on Pfalm Ixxxiv. ii, preach up all the herefies of the place ; a man, who fat in the pulpit, told him to ' give over ;* for he feemed to bid fair for another half hour, at lead. But he came to a conclufion, as dcfired. Then this man, who feemed a local preacher, flood up, with a pamphlet in his hand, and addrelTcd the auditory in the following manner : " I am defired, to publifli a pamphlet upon Necef- fity and Free-will : the bed extant, that I know of, * Mr, Wefley's principal meetlng-houfe in London. B Sr III xii PREFACE. in the * Englifh toijgue ; by Mr. John Wefley, price three-pence. . I hacT purpofed to have faid; a good deal upon it : but the time is eiapfed. But, in this three-penny pamphlet, you have all the difputes that have been bandied about fo lately. And you v/iil get your minds more eftablillied, by this three- penny pamphlet, than by reading all the books that have been written for and againft. It is to be had, at both doors, as you go out. " I beg leave'* (adds my reverend friend), "to tranfmit you this here faid fame three-penny wonder." 'Upon the whole, this muft have been a droll fort of mountebank fcene. Attended, however, with one moil melancholy, and deplorable circumftance, arifing from the unreafonable and unfeafonable pro- lixity of the long-winded holderforth : which cruelly, injudicioufly, and defpitefully, prevented poor Zany from puffing off, with the amplitude he fully intcnd- *cdj the multiplex virtues of the doctor's three-penny free-will powder. Never do that by delegation, fays an old proverb, which you can as well do in propria per fond. Had Do5:or John himfelf got upon the ftage, and fung, " Come, buy my fine powders, come buy dem of me ; *' Hare be de jDefl: powders dat ever you fee :'' Who knpws, but the three-penny dofes might have gone off, V' at both doors^" as rapidly as peas •from a pop- gun ? My bufinefs, for a few Ipare hours j fhall be, to amufe myielf, by anal yfing this redoubtable powder. The chemical refolution of fo ineftimable a fpecific into its component parts (a fpecific, " The like whereto was never feen, '' Nor will again, while grafs is green/') * Qiiery. Does the faid lay preacher, whoever he may be, know aught of any other tongue ? may. PREFACE. xiii may, moreover, be of very great and lignal ufe. It were pity, that the materia medica^ of which it is made up, Ihould remain a fecret. Efpeclally, as the good doftor defigned it for general benefit. To make which benefit as univerfal as I can, J do hereby give notice, unto all philofophers, divines, and others, who have poifoned their intrails, by unwarily taking too deep a draught of Neceflity : that they may, at any time, by help of the following decompofition, have it in their power to mix up, for their own imme- diate recovery, a competent quantum of the famous Moorfielcls powder: whofe chief ingredients are. An equal portion of grofs Heathenifm, Pelagi- anifm, Mahometifm, Popery, Manich^ifm, Ran- terifm, and Antinomianifm ; culled, dried, and pulverized, fecundiim artem : and, above all, mingled, with as much palpable Atheifm as you can poffibiy fcrape together from every quarter. Ha tibi erunt artes. Follow the above prefcription, to your life's end, and you will find it a mofl plea- fant, fpeedy, and infallible antidote againft every fpecies and efFedt of the baneful neceflitarian night- Ihade. It is thtfelix malum^ '§luo non prefentius ullum (Poadaji quando (ava infecere novercef, Alifcueruntque herbas^ et non imwxia verba) Auxilium venet, ac membris agit atra Venena *, But though Mr. John Wefley is the vender, and the oftenfible proprietor, of this efficacious three- penny medicine \ the original difcovery of the nof- trum is by no means his own. He appeal:^ to have pilferred the fubftance, both of his arcana medendi^ and of his cavils againfl the true philolbphy of co- lours, from the refuted lucubrations with which a certain North-Britiih profefibr hath edified and en- * Gsorgic. I. 2. 127. B 3 ricted XIV PREFACE, riched the literary public. Let the fimple, how- ever, be on their guard, left Mr. Wefley's fpiritual medicines have as pernicious influence on their minds, as the quack remedy, which he * recom- mends for the gout^ had on the life of Dr.T d, the late worthy dean of N ch. By way of dired Introduction to the following fheets, allow me to premife an extract from the commentary of a very great man on thofe celebrated lines of Juvenal : ' ' Nullum numen habesjijit pudentia ; fed te nosfacimtiSy fortunay deam^ cceloque locamus. " Dicit autem hoc foeta^ oh fortunam : qua non fotmn nullum numen efi^ fed nujquam et nihil ejL Nam cum fciamus omnia in mundo^ maxima et minima^ providentid Dei gubernari ; quid reft at defortund, nijivanum et inane wmen f \ Unde^ re5ie dicitur, tolle ignorantiam e * In Mr. Wefley's book of Receipts, entitled " Primitive Phyfic/' he advifes perfons, who have the gout in their feet or hands, to ap- ply raw lean beef (leaks to the part affeded, frefh and frefh every twelve hours. Somebody recommended this dangerous rcpellant, to Dr. T. in the year 1764, or early in 1765. He tried the experi- ment. The gout was, in confequence, driven up to his ftomach and head. And he died, a few days after, at Bath: where I happened to fpcnd a confiderable part of thofe years ; and where, at the very time of the Dean's death, I became acquainted with the particulars of that cataftrophe. I am far from meaning to infinuate, becaufe I do not know, that the perfon, who perfuaded ETr. T. to this fatal recourfe, derived the recipe immediately from Mr. Wefley's medical compilation. AU I aver, is, that the recipe itfelf is to be found there. Which de- monitrates the nnlkilful temerity, wherewith the compiler fets him- felf up as a phyfician of the body. Should his quack pamphlet come to another edition, it is to be hoped that the beef fteak remedy will, after fo authentic and fo melancholy a probatum eji, be expunged from the lift of fpecifics for the gout. It is, I acknowledge, an effec- tual cure. Cut off a man's head, and he will no more be annoyed by the tooth-ach. Alas, for the ingenium njeloxy and for the audacia perdita, with which a rafti empiric, like Juvenal's Graailm e/uritns^ lays claim to univerfal fcience ! Qrammaticus, Rhetor, Geomefres, Pi^or^ Meptes^ Augur t SchccnQbaks, Med'cus^ Magus / Omnia no'vit f ptrfom. PREFACE. XY per form i,fortunam de rebus Juftuleris. ^lia emn homines rerum omnium caufas mn perfpicimus, ut eft mortalium Cdcciias ; foriiinam nefcio quani vngam^ irritam^ inftabilem^ nobts fingimtis . ^jod ft caufas rerum latent es & abditas nobis infpicere darettir ; non modo nullam ejje talem for- tunam videremuSy verum eiiam omnium minima , ftngiilari Dei providentia^ regi. Et fic fm'tuna nihil aliud eft^ qudm Dei providentia^ fed nobis non perfpeda. Et rede divinus ilk Seneca : f or tuna ^ faium^ natura, omnia ejufdem Dei nomina, varie fua pot eft ate uientis *.'* i.e. " The poet, in this place, levels his arrows at fortune or chance : wliich is not only no goddefs, but a mere nothing, and has no exlftence any where. For iince it is certain, that all things in the world, both little and great, are condu<5i:ed by the provi- dence of God ; what is chance, but an empty un- meaning name ? Henc^ it has been rightly obferved. Take away man's ignorance, and chance vanishes in a moment. The true reafon, why any of us are fpr fetting up chance and fortune, is, our not being always able to difcern and to trace the genuine caufes of events : in confequence of which, we blindly and abfurdly feign to ourfelves a fuppofed random, unreal, unfteady caufe, called luck, or contingency. \Vhereas, were we endued with fuffi- cient penetration to look into the hidden fources of things, we fliould not only fee that there is no fuch power, as contingency or fortune ; but fo far from it, that even the fmallefl and moft trivial incidents are guided and governed by God's own exprefs and fpecial providence. If, therefore, the word, chance, have any determinate fignification at all, it can mean neither more nor lefs than the unfeen manage- ment of God. In which fenfe, the admirable Seneca makes ufe of the term : Fortune (fays that philofo- pher) and Fate, and Nature, are bu*- {o many dif- * Lubini Commenr. in Juvenal, Sat. lo. P. 4^4. Edit. Han- ov1;e, 1 619. B 4 . ferent xvi PREFACE. ferent names of the one true God, coniidered as ex- erting his power in various ways and manners." — But, with Seneca's good leave, as the vjovds for tune y chance^ contingency^ &c. have gradually opened a door to the grolieft Atheifm ; and as they require much fubtilty and prolixity of explanation, in order t0 their being underftood in any other than an atheifti- cal fenfe ; it is more than expedient, that the words themfelves fhould be totally and finally cafliiered and thrown afide. I have only to add, that if, in the fticceeding EfTay, any reader fhould imagine I exprefs my meaning with too much plainnels.; it may fuffice, to obferve, that there is no end, to the capricious re- finements of affected and excellive delicacy.- - ^od vemmy atque decens^ euro, & rogo, ^ omnis in hoc fum. • ■' • Language, like animal bodies, may be phyficed, antii if has no'flrength left.' We may whet it's edge, as the ,fool sharpened his knife, and as fome are now for reforming ,the Church, until we have w'hetted the whole blade away. ■ Bread. Hmbttry, January 22, 1775. CHAP. I. NeceJJity defined: and its Conjiftency^ toith voluntary Freedom^ proved, j^L I ^U I S in omnibus, nv.lhis infingulis. The man, who concerns himfelf in every thing, bids fair not to make a figure in any thing. Mr. John Wefley is, precifely, this altqiiis in omni- bus. For, is there a fingle fubjecl, in which he has not endeavoured to fliine ? — He is alfo, as precifely, a tndltis infviguUs, For, ha« he ilione in any one fubiecl which he ever attempted to handle ? Upon what principle can thefe two circumflances be accounted for ? Only upon that very principle, at which he fo dolefully flmkes his head : viz. the principle of necefiily. The poor gentleman is ne- ceflarily, an univerfal meddler : and, as necefiarily, an univerfal mifcarryer. Can he avoid being either the one or the other? No. "Why, then, do you animadvert upon him ?" I. Becaufe I mytelf am as necefTary an agent as he : — 2. Becaufe \ love to " (hoot folly as it flies:'* — 3. Becaufe, as, on one hand, it is necefTary that there fhould be herefies among * men ; it is no lefs necelFary, on the other, that thofe herefies ihould. be dilTedled and expofed. Mr. Wefley imagines, that, upon my own principles, I can be no more than " a clock." And, if fo, how can I hdp flrik- ing ? He himfelf has, feveral times, fmarted, for coming too near the pendulum. Mr. Wefley's incompetence to argument is never more glaringly confpicuous, than when he paddles in metaphyfics. And yet I fuppofe, that the man who has modeftly termed himfelf, and in print too, *' The greateft minifter in the world j" docs, with * I Cor. xi. 19, equal 1 8 Philofophical Necejfity Aff'erted. equal certainty, confider himfelf as the ableft meta- phyfician in the world. But his examinations are far too hafly and fuperficial, to enter into the real merits ofiubjedts foextremelyabflrufe, and whofe concatena- tions are (though invincibly ftrong, 3^et) fo exqui- fitely nice and delicate. One refult of his thus ex- erciiing himfelf in matters which are too high for hi-m, 'is, that, in many cafes, he decides perempto- rily, without having difcerned fo much as the true ftate of jhe queftion ; and then fcts himfelf to fpeak evil of things which, it is very plain, he does not un- der (land. Or, (to borrow the language of Mr. Locke), he " knows a little, prefumes a great deal, and fo jumps to conclufions." I appeal, at prefent, to his '' Thoughts upon Ne- ceiTity." Thoughts, which, though crude and dark as chaos, are announced, according to cuftom, with more than oracular pofitivenefs : as though his own 'ghmdiila pine alls was the fmgle focus, wherein all the rays of divine and human vvifdom are concentred. His thoughts open thus. I . " Is man a free-a2;ent, or is he not ?'* — With- out all manner of doubt, he is ; in a vaft number and variety of cafes. Nor did I ever, in converfa- tion, or in reading, meet with a perfon, or an au- thor, who denied it. But let us, by defining as we go, afcertain what free-agency is. All needlefs refinements apart, free- agency, in plain EngUQi, is neither more nor lefs, than voluntary agency. Whatever the foul does, with the full bent of preference and defire ; in that, the foul ads freely. For, tibi conjenfiis, ibi voluntas^ y, ubi voluntas^ ibi libertas, I own myfelf very fond of d'efinitions. I therefore premife, what the NecefTity is, whofe caufc I have undertaken to plead. It is exadly and diametrically oppofite, to that which Cicero delivers concerning/or///;/^, or chance, luck , hapi accidentality, and contingency s invented by the Philofophlcd Necejfuy JJj'crtecL 1 9 the poets of fecond antiquity, and during many ages, revered as a Deity, by both Greeks and Romans. " ^iideflaliud/ors, quid for tuna ^ quidc/ifuSy quid event us -, nifiqiiimfic aliqiddcecidit^fic e-venit, utvelnoncadere at que evenire vel aliter cadere atqiie e^-enire, poluent*:'' i. c. Chance, fortune, accident, and uncertain event, are then faid to take place, when athingfo comes to pals, as that it either might not have come to ]~;aik at ail ; or might have cpme to pafs, otherwife tluin it does. On tiie contrary, I U'ould define necefiity to be that, by which, whatever comes to pafs cannot but come to pafs (all circumftances taken into the ac- count); and can come to pafs in no other way or manner, than it does. Which coincides with Arif- totle's definition of necefiity (though, by the way, he was a freewiller himfdf ): To p/,i B^hx^ur^cv Aaaqi: tx^iv, ccyc'Sy.xw ot be Iodp;e(l in the foul itfelf : nor could the matter of the body afFed it iiny ciher way, than by deadeninjr (i. c. by impeding] its adivity ; which, 1 thinlc't is never the cafe in thcfc appearances. In fhort, the difcrder of mat- ter might make a man a Hupid idiot; fuhjed him to fit ep, apo- plexy, or any thing approaching to its own nature : but could never be the caufe of rage, diitradion, phrenfy, unlefs it were employed as an inftrument by fome other caufc : that is, it cannot of itfelf be the caufe of thefe diforders of reafon. If the inertia of matter in- fers any thing, it infers thus much/' Baxter's Enquiry into the Nature of the human Soul, vol. ii. p." 14.1, 142. — I no more doubt, that mad perfons, at this very day, are daemoniacs, or influenced and agitated by incorporeal and invifihle beings; than I can doubt, that fome people were fo poffeffed, at the time of our Lord's abode on earth. Such. an afiertion .will, probably, found romantically ftrange, to a prejudiced, and to a fuperficial, ear. Eut (let the far two that follow^ — The way of man is not in himfeif : it is not in man that walketh to dired his own fteps*. — Without me ;[i. e. without Chrifi], ye can do nothing -f. — In him [i.e. in God] we Uve, and are moved {ytivauA^ccl, and have our exiftence %. — It is he who worketh all in all §. — It is God, who worketh in you both to ♦ill and to do ||. — Of him, and to him, and through him, are all things ^. * Jer. y. 23. + John xv... f. ± Adsxyii. 28. § 1 Cor, xii. 6. |! Phil.ii. 13. ^ ^ Rom.xi. :^6, ■f4 ' -7. M;iy 3 2 Philojophical NeceJJity ^JJerted. 7. May we not, on the whole, foberly affirm, that the Icheme of necelfity is phiiolophy in her right mind ? And that the fcheme of contingency is phi- lofophy run mad ? C H A P. III. Several ObjeElions, to the Scheme cf Necejfity, anjwered, TT feems mofh agreeable to the radical fimplicity, -*• which God has obferved in his works, to fup^ pofe, that, in themfelves, all human fouls are equal. I can eafily believe, that the foul of an oyfler-? woman has, naturally, the (unexpanded) powers of Grotius, or of Sir Ifaac Newton : and that what conduces to raife the philofopher, the poet, the po- litician, or the linguift, fo much above the ignorant and ftupld of mankind, is not only the circum- ftance of intelleftual cultivation, but (ftill more than that) his having the happinefs to occupy a bet- ter houfe, i. e. a body more commodioufly organiz- ed, than they. The foul of a monthly reviewer, if imprifoned within the fame mud walls which are tenanted by the foul of Mr. John Wefley, would, fimilarly cir- cumflanced, reafon and ad (I verily think) exadly like the billiop of Moorfields. And I know fome very fenfible people, who even go fo far, as to fup- pofe, that, was an human fpirit Hiut up in the fkull of a cat, pufs viiould, notwithftanding, move f)rone on all four, pur when flroked, fpit when pinched, and birds an^' mice be her darling objeds of purfuit. Now, though I can, by no means, for my own part, carry matters to fo extreme a length as this ; ' ' yet. PhilofopMical Necejfity A[ferted. 33 yet, I repeat my opinion, that much, very- much, depends on corporeal organization. Whence the ufual remark, that a man is (I v*'Ould rather fay, appears to be) fcnfible and ingenious, according to his dimenfion and Iblid content of brain. That is, as I apprehend, the foul is more capable of exerting its powers, when lodged in a capacious and well- conftruded vehicle. I dare believe, that the brain of Dr. Thomas Novvell is, to that of Mr. John Weiley, as two to one, at the very leafL And yet, all this is the refult of abfolute neceiTily. For, what is brain, but matter peculiarly modified ? And who is the modifier ? Not man, but God. J juft now hinted the conjecture of fome, that an human fpirit, incarcerated in the brain of a cat, would, probably, both think and behave, as that animal now does. But how would the foul * of a cat acquit itfelf, if inclofed in the brain of a man ? We cannot refolve this queftion, with certainty, any more than the other. We may, however, even on this occafion, addrefs every one of our human bre- thren in thofe words of that great philofophic ne- cefntarian,'St. Paul ; and afk, who maketh thee to differ from the lowed of the brute creation } Thy Maker's freewill, not thine. And what pre- * Let not the reader flart, at that expreffion, * The foul of a cat.' For though the word, fo applied, may feem ftraiige to thofe who have not weighed both fides of the queftion fit would have feemed very ftrange to me, about fifteen years agoj ; yet, on giving the caufe an impartial hearing, the fcaie of evidence will, in my judg- ment, ftrongly decide for an immaterial principle in brutes. 1 mean not, here, to difcufs the argument. But let me hint, that one principal hinge, on which the enquiry turns, is: Do thofe in- ferior beings reafon, or do they not ? If they do (be it in ever fo fmall a degree), they mull confill of fomething more than body: i. e, they muft be compounded of matter and fpirit.— If they do not rea- fon at all (and we may as well doubt whether they can feel at all) ; we may fet them down for mere material machines. — He, however^ who ferioufly thinks, that even birds, or infects, are watches ; may, with equal eafe, while his hand is in, advance a few fteps higher, and fuppofe, that men are clocks, i. e, larger watches of the three. *'' eminence 34 Philofophical Neceffity ^jjerted. eminence haft thou, which thou didft not receive from him ? Not the leaft, nor the fliadow of any.— . I Now, if thou didft [not acquire, but] receive it, as adiftinguiQiinggift of his free and fovereign pleafure, why carrieft thou thyfelf proudly {x»ux«crfi^), as though thou hadft not receiyed it* ? *' He, who through vaft immenfity can pierce; *' See worlds on worlds compofe one univerfe ; *' Can tell how fyftem beyond fyftem runs 3 ** What other planets circle other funs ; " What vary'd being peoples ev'ry ftar : *' May tell, why Heav'n has made us as we are." What the poet could not tell, the Bible does. *' Why are we made as we are ?'* Even fo, Father : for fo it feemed good in thy fight. Which is anfwer enough to fatisfy me. I take the truth of the matter to be this . All the intellectual diftindions, which obtain throughout the whole fcale of animated exiftence, from the brighteft angel down to man, and which give advantage to one man above another ; v;hich intelledual diftinc- tions defcend, likewife, in juft gradations, from man, to the minuteft animalcule ; are diftributed, to each individual, in number, in meafure, and in w^eight'j-, by the fovereign will and the unerring hand of God the only wife. The ufes, to which thofe intelledlual powers (liall fubferve ; the term of their duration ; and, in fliort, every circumftance relative both to them and their pofleflbrs \ I conhder as falling under the regulation of God's determining and permifTive decree before time, and of his ever- prefent and ever-ading providence in time. According to this fcheme of things (a fcheme, which, when fairly v^eighed, will be found the moft chearfui to men, and the moft worthy of God, which * I Cor. iv. 7. + Wifd. xi. 20. \yas Philojophical Necejfity AJerted. 35 was ever propofed to the human mind), that melan- choly, that abfurd, that atheiftical fidion, whofe name is Chance, has nothing to do with God or with his works. On the contrary, the golden chain of necefTity, providence, or fate (it is no matter which you term it), is let down, from the throne of the fupreme, through all the ranks of animated and of unanimated creation : guiding and governing every individual fpirit, and every individual atom, by fucli means, and in fuch a manner, as bed comport with the dignity, the efiicacy, the wafdom, and the love, of him who holds the chain, and who has implicated every link. Thus, he doth according to his will, in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth ; and none can ftay his hand, or fay unto him, What doeft thou* ? Hence it is, that the very-j- hairs of our heads are all numbered in his book ; and not one of them can fall from its pore, without the leave of Heaven. He is the guardian of fparrows ; and will not let what we account the meaneft infed: ex- pire, until the point of time, divinely deflined, is come. He not only tells the number of the ;j: ftars, and calls them each by name ; but notice^ and direds the very particles of § duft, which float in the atmofphere. The || fun (bines not, but at his command : nor can a ** wind blow, but by au- thority from him. May we not fay, of necefTity, what the Pfalmifh fays, of the central luminary, round which our globe is v^heeled ; that there is no- thing hid from the heat thereof? And yet, there are thofe, who think, that necellity makes no part of the Chriftian fyftem ! Mr. Weiley is, or pretends to be, of this number. Let us give a concife hearing to the difficulties, which, in his eflimation, clog the fcheme of evan- * Dan. iv. 35;. + Matth. x. 29, 30. % Pfalm cxlvii. 4. ^ Ifaiah xl. J2r U Job ix. 7. ** Pfalm cxxxv^ 7, gelical 36 Philofophlcal NeceJJity AJferted. gelical and philofophlcal fate : though they are fuch as have been refuted ag^ain and ao;ain. I. *' There can he no moral good, or evil; no virtue, and no vice'." So thought * Ariftotle ; and his difciples, the Peripatetics. Hence, they defined moral virtue to be an elective habit, flowing originally from free- will, and rendered eafy by repeated ads. It is no wonder, that proud heathens fliould thus err; feeing they know not the Scriptures^ nor the power of God. But Mr. Wefley fhould remember, that he has read, and profefies to believe, a book which tells him, that a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven >^'-; that we can- not even think a good thought j, unlefs God breathe it into our hearts ; and that it is the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrifh, who muft work in us that which is well-pleafmg in his light §. Nor fhould his lordfhip of Moorfields forget, that he has folemnly fubfcribed (to omit all prelent men- tion of articles and homilies) a certain liturgy : in which hturgy, among a thoufand other paffages equally excellent, God himfelf is addreffed, as the fole being, from whom all holy defires, all good counfels [or lincerely devout intentions], and all juft works, do proceed. The fupreme is, likewife, in the fame " Calviniilical and Antinomian Prayer- book," declared to be the almighty and everlafting God, who maketh us both to will and to do thofe things that be good, and acceptable to his divine * And yet Ariftotle, though a vehement, was not (any more than his difciple of the Foundery) a confiftent, freewill man. fience, Ariftotle, being once alked, " Who can keep a fecret?" made this odd anfwer: He that can hold red-hot coals in his mouth. — Surely, Freewill muft be very feeble, and Neceffity irrefiftibly potent, upon this principle ! Not to afk : If Freewill cannot, on a proper occafion, (hut the mouth of the man that has it; how can it bring him virtue, and fave his foul ? i Johniii. 27. % 2 Cor. iii. 5. § Hebr. xiii. 21. majefty. Philofophicd Necejity AJferted. 3 7 majeftv. And, in abfolute harmony with this necel- fitating princiole, the faid book befceches the blefled Father" and governor of men, that by his holy in- fpiration, we may think thofe things that are good ; and that we may, by his merciful guidance, faith- fully perform the lame. If this is being, what Mr Wefley terms, " a fine piece of clock-work •;' I heartily wiOi and pray, that I may, every hour ot mv life, be fo wound up. But mil, fays the objec^ior, "moral good, or evil," cannot * confift with neceffity. I, on the contrary, fay, that it both can, and does. Mr. Wefley does not confider the tremendous confe- quences, which unavoidably flow from his pofition. For, if neceiTarv virtue be neither moral, nor praife- worthy ; k wiU'follow, that God himfelf (who, with- out all doubt, is necellarily and unchangeably good) is an immoral being, and not praife-worthy for his goodnefs 1 On the fame horrible Arminian principle, it would alfo follow, that Chrift's mod perfed obe- dience (which was necefiary : for he could not but obey perfeQly) had no moraHty in it, was totally void of merit, and entitled him to neither praile, nor reward \ The axiom, therefore, which dares to affirm, that " neceffity and moral agency are irre- concilable things;" la^%,.at once, the axe to the root both of natural and revealed religion, and ought to be hilT^d back again by all mankind to the hell from v;hence it came. * *« The hacknled objeaion to the doan'ne of necefTity, from_ its being fpretendedlv] inconfiltent with the idea of virtue and vice, as implying praife and blame, may be fully retorted upon its op- ponents. For. as to their boaited feif-determinin,^ power (were the thin^poffible in itfelf, and did not imply an ahfurditv), by whitti they pretend to ha\e a power of ading independently of every thing: that comes under the defcription of motive ; I fcruple not to iay, that it IS as foreign to every idea of virtue or vice, praife or blame, as the prolTea kind of mechnnifm that the moil blundering writer in defence of liberty ever afcribed to the advocates for moral neceflity. Dr. Prieaiey's Exam, of Eealtie, ^c. p. I'th. The jS Philofophkal Neceffity AJfertedi The crucifiers of the Son of God perpetrated the moft immoral ad:, that ever was, or ever will be, committed. And yet, I am exprefsly afTured, by the written teftimony of the Holy Ghoft, entered on a record which will continue to the end of time, that Herod, and Pontius Pilate, and the people of the Jews, were gathered together againfl: Jefus, for to do whatfoever God's hand and God's counfel had fore-determined to be done*. So that,- upon Chrif- tian principles at leaft, neceffity and moral evil (by the fame rule, alfo, neceffity and moral good) may walk -j- hand in hand together. If Mr. Wefley pre- fers Ariflotleand the other gentlemen of the Lyceum, to the infpired writers; and chufes the, peripatetic fcheme of freewill, rather than the Bible fcheme of neceffity ; he muft, for me, go on to hug an idol that cannot fave. The whole cavil amounts to precifely this. If God is the alone author and worker of all good j virtue ceafes to be virtue : and, if God is the free permitter of evil, vice ceafes to be vice. Can any thing be, at once, m.ore impious, and more irra- tional, than the letter and the fpirit of thefe two propofitions } In one word : thofe modes of actions, called vir- tue and vice, do not ceafe to be moral, i. e. to afFeft our manners, as creatures of God, and as members of fociety ; be thofe modes occafioned by what they may. Adls of devotion, candour, juftice, and bene- ficence, together with their oppofites, are, to all intents and purpofes, as morally good or evil, if they flow from one fource, as from another : though no works can be evangelically good and pleafing to God, which do not fpring from his own grace in the heart. But this latter circumilance is entirely of fpiritual * Ads il. 23. and iv. 28. +1 have largely canvafled this point, in a former tra^^ entitled, «* More Work for Mr. John IVefley." confideration. Thilofophical Necejfity AJJerted. 39 confideration. It has nothing to do, off or on, with the mere * morality of a6lions. Good is morally, i. e. religioufly excellent, or focially beneficial ; and evil is morally, i. e. religioufly bad or focially inju- rious ; whether men be felf-determining agents, or not. Light is light, and darknefs is darknefs ; flow they from the right-hand, or from the left. ql. We are told, that, on the hypothecs of nc- cefTity, m.an is " neither rewardable, nor puniQi- able ; neithei- praife, nor blame-worthy/' No objeftion can be more unphilofophical than this, becaufe it quite lofes fight of the very point in debate ; viz. of neceflity itfelf : by which, certain caufes inevitably produce certain eifecrs, and certain antecedents are inevitably concatenated with certain confequences. It is fufficient, therefore, to anfwer : that the will of God has eftabliflied a natural con- nexion between virtue and -{- happinefs, vice and mifery. This divine eiiabiifhed connexion is fo in- diflbluble, that, even in the prcfent ftate of things, happinefs never fails to enter at the fame door with virtue ; nor does mifery ever fail to tread upon the heels of vice. Some fenfualifts, however, profefs otherwife : and affirm, that their own deviations from the moral path are neither attended, nor followed, by any pungent briar, or grieving thorn. Their draughts are all balmy and nc^larious, v/itbout a drop of wormwood or of gall, to allay the fvveetnefs, or to embitter the remembrance. Thofe gentlemen muft, however, excufc miC from takincr their word for this. I do not believe one fyllable of it to be true. Both Scripture, and the nature of the cafe, and the obfervations I have, * M(ir;ility, is, I think, l:f}^al!3^ and very j'lftly, defined to be, that relation, or proportion, which aftinns bear, to a given rule. — Conrequ?:ntly, neither nccellity, nor non-necelhty, has any thing to do wiih the morality of acHon. + i hear fpeak oi intellectual happinefs or mifery. made, 40 Philofophicjl NeceJJity AJjerted, made, unite to render me quite pofitive, that the \\-^T of tranfgrefibrs is hard* : that even in the midft of laughter, they have a tinge of forrovv in their hearts ;, as well as that the end of their mirth is hea- vinefs-}-. They may, for a time, li^e the Lacede- monian Boy, conceal the wolf that is eating out their very intrails -, and fet the glofs of an outward Sardo- nian fmile, on the inward pangs they endure : but the great law of necelTity, from which neither the virtuous nor the licentious are exempt, afTures me, that this pretended eafe is mere diftimuiation and grimace. One of the mod fenfible men I ever knew, but whofe life, as well as creed, had been rather eccen- tric, returned me the following anfwer, not many months before his death, when 1 afked him, " whe- ther his former irregularities were not both accom- panied, at the time, and fucceeded, afterwards, by feme fenfe of mental pain ?'' Yes, faid he : but I have fcarce ever owned it, until now. We [mean- ings we infidels, and men of fa(l:iionable morals] do not tell you all that paiTes in our hearts. The fa(5tj then, plainly is, that rectitude of man- ners faves people from much uneafinefs of mind ; and, that the perpetration of moral evil involves in it a Trojan horfe, whofe hidden force puts their comforts to the fword. I have feen inftances of this, in very high, as well as in more humble, life : not- withftanding all the labour and art, which have been obtended, to vail it from the eye of man. They who plough iniquity, and few wickednefs, reap the fame J : the crop is always, more or lefs, fimilar to the feed. The wicked man travelleth with pain, all his days -, and a dreadful found is in his el^rs§ ; let him fay what he will to the contrary. So that w^e * Prov. xiii. i^, + Prov. xiv. 13. J Job iv. 8. § Job XV'. 20, 21. ^ may Phihfophlcal Necejfity Aprted. 41 may almoft afTert, with * Seneca, " prima & maxima peccantium pma ejl, peccajfe:"' i. e. the very coinmif- lion of fin is its own primary and capital punifli- ment. God himfelf has joined the chain together : no wonder, therefore, that its Hnks cannot be put afun- der. Hence, I conclude, that, let what feeming con- fequences foever flow from the pofition of neceflity, God would have not tied moral and natural evil to- gether, into one knot, if moral evil were not jufcly punifliable. And, while facls, indifputable fafts, fay, aye ; fafts I will dill believe, though tenthoufand imaginary inferences were to fay, no. I muft likewife add, that, if we fliut out the doc- trine of neceflity, which aflerts the infeparable con- nedtion of moral evil with intelledual (and, often, with external) infelicity ; men will want one of the moil rational -f- motives, which can poflibly induce them * Epift. Lib. 16. Ep. 2 When St. Paul fpeaks (Eph. iv. 19.) offome who were aTrrj^AxoJe?, which we render, paft feeling (though it may better be rendered, quite funk in indolence and idlenefi; totally enervated, and diffipated: enemies to all honeft, manly, and laborious employ:} there is no neceflity for fuppofing even the Englilh phrafe to import, that thofe wretched people were void of inward horror and tormentmg anguilh; but that they were quite void of outward decency, and had no feelings of delicacy: for there is a fort of refinement (though bad is the beft), which even vice iifelf is capable of, When the fame apoftle fpeaks, elfewhere (i Tim. iv. 2.) of the xtHuvl'n^ia.criJ.svaiv t Of perfons whofe confciences have been feared as with an hot iron ; the word (not to canvafs, here, the feveral cri- tical fenfes which it will admit of) may be fairly confidered, as importing neither more nor lefs than this, that they carry a fearful brand, or mark of condemnation, in their ov.'n minds; though they may endeavour to tofs otF matters, outwardly, with an air of feeming unconcern. + Should any be fo pitiably undifcerning, as to afk, " What can necciiity have to do with rational motives?" — I anfwer : that there are numberlcfs cafes, wherein certain motives appear fo very- rational to the mind, as to be abfolutely cogent, and incline the will cfTeduaily. For, the finally predominant motive conftantly an^i infallibly determines the will: and the will, thus necefftirily deter- mined, as conftantly and infallibly (all extrinfic impedinicnts rc- VoL. VI, (29.) D moved) i 42 Chr'iftian and Philofophical them to an hatred of vice. And fo great is the de- pravation of human nature, that, were it not for the thing neceffity, virtue neither would nor could have any fort ot exiflence in the world. As for that mixture (or, rather, interfperfion) of good and evil, which obtains throughout our fublu- nary planet ; this, likewife, I acknowledge to be the confequence of aclual and reigning neceffity. But this, in a philofophic eye, reflects no more blame on neceffity itielf, than the two contrary powers of attraction and repulfion can refieifl: difhcnour on the wifdom of him, who, for good reafons, endued mat- ter with thofe oppofite properties. Coufin german to the fecond, is Mr. Wefley's 3d. Objedlion : namely, that, if univerfal neceffity determine all the thoughts and aftions of man, " there can be no judgment to come^" i. e. God cannot, in the laft day, judge and fentence mankind according to their works. I have *, elfewhere, amply refuted this empty cavil. But, as it is now haflied andfervedup again in a different diQi, I will give it another examination, before we difmifs it from thq table. The objedor forgets one main circumftance, of no fmall importance to the argument ; viz. that the judgment day, itfelf, and the whole procefs of the grand tranfadion, together with every thing that relates to it, dire^ly or indirectly; are, upon the Chriftian fcheme, no lefs necef- fary and inevitable, than any intermediate event can be. An oak is not more the dauo-hter of an i3 moved) determines the a6^ions of the wilier, Non eft intelHgentis caufaj, fine fine fibi propofua, agere. Jf motives did not fo operate on the mind; and if the mind, fo operated upon, did not give the law to the will; and if the wiil, fo biaffed and conciliated, did not (pofitis omnibus ponendis) necefla- rily influence the conduct ; adions and volitions would be uncaufed efFeds : than which ideas it is impoflible for any thing to be more abfurd and feif-contradidiory. * More Work for Mr. John Wefley, p. 82—85. acorn J Necefflty AJferted. 43 acorn ; than abfolute neceffity will be the mother of that univerfal audit, wherewith fhe is already preg- nant. But, obferve. The fcriptural is not a blind ne- ceflity, or a neceflity refiilting (as fome of the groffer Stoics believed) either from the planetary pofitions, or from the '* ftubbornnefs of matter.'* I no where contend for thefe kinds of neceflity : which, even admitting them to have their refpedlive degrees of phyfical influence, in fubordination to providence; ftill can never, by any Chrifhian (nor, Iftiould think, by any man of refined underftanding), be confldered as exerciflng the leafl: dominion over God hinifeif, by inferring any fort of caufality on his interior purpofes, or extrinfic operations. On the contrary, neceflity, in general; with all its extenfive feries of adamantine links, in particular ; ,is in reality, what the poets feigned of Minerva, the iflue of divine wifdom : deriving its whole exifl:ence, from the free-will of God -, and its whole efFeduoflty, from his never-ceafing providence. Thus I aflirm the day of judgment to be necef- fary : to-wit, becaufe God has abfoiutely * appoint- ed it. For his counfel fliall fhand, and he will do all his pleafure -f . It is alfo necefl[ary, that there fhould be.confcious beings, on whom to pafs fen- tence ; and that there fliould be both good and evil adions, on which the fentence of the judge flioulcf turn. We muft, I think, admit this; or, atone fhroke, deny the certain futurition of a judgement- day. And, for my own part, I would nmch rather believe and maintain fo important an article of re- vealed religion, though upon the principle of ne- ceflity ; than 1 would 'virtually deny it, as an Ar- minian, by imagining, either the great day itfelf, or the deciflons of the day, to be things of unfixed * A(fls xvii. 3r, f Ifalah xlvi. 10. D 2 chanre, 44 Chrijiian and Philofophical chance, lying at fixes and fevens., and which confe- quently, may or may not take effe5l at all. It is the do6lrine of uncertain felf-determination, which, by reprefenting events to lie at hap-hazard, flamps atfurdity on the fure exped'^.on of a judg- ment to come. It is the dodlrine of abfolute ne- cefTity, alone, which, by refufing to hang anyone circumftance on a peradventure, affixes the feal of Infallible futurity to the day itfelf, to the bufinefs of the day, and to all the antecedents, concomitants, and confequences, of the whole. That fide-face of Arminian free-will, which we have hitherto furveycd, carries no more than a fquinting afped on the day of ultimate retribution ; by only leaving the day, and its retributions, at the uncertain mercy of a may-be. Look at the other profile (i. e. view the blind fide) of the Arminian goddefs ; and you will immediately perceive, that, according to her fcheme of metaphyfics, it is utterly impoffible there (liould be any day of judgment at all. For, He alone can be called " a felf- determining agent," who is quite independent on any other agent^ or agency whatever. If I may depend, for my be- ing, for my ideas, and for my operations, on an- other ; my being, and ideas, and operations, are and mufh be influenced and affefted by that dependence. Confequently, I am neither felf-exiftent *, nor felf- * Seep, 173. of a performance already quoted, namely. Dr. Prieftley's mafterly ** Examination of Dr, Reid's Inquiry into the Human Mind, Dr. Beattie's Effay on Truth, and Dr. Ofvvald's Appeal to Common Senfe." — I cannot help obferving, what, by this time, almoft every perfon kn6ws, and every impartial judge mu ft acknowledge; viz the energy and fuccefs, with which Dr. Prieftley has battered the free-will lanthorns (the ^Inquiry, the Ap- peal, and the Effay), in which the three northern lights had refpec- tively fluck themfelves and hung themfelves out to public view. It lay, peculiarly, in Dr. Prieftley's department, to examine the theory of thofe new lights and colours. And he has done it to purpofe. Though, I am apt to think, that the luminous triumvirate, like iEfop's one eyed ftag, received the mortal (hot from a quarter whence they leaft expected it, determined. Necejfiiy yfjjerud, 45 determined. — But, if I am an independent animal, I am alfo, neceflarily, * lelf-exiftent : and I not only may be, but abfolutely mud be (view what fide of the argument we will, neceflity ftares us in the face!) I abfolutely mud be a felf-determinant. Thus, felf- exifience and independence necellarily enter into the hafis of felf-determination, i. e. of Arminian or Methodiftical free-will. Let us, for a moment, imagine ourfelves to be what Mr. Wefley fuppofes us. Lord of myfelf, is efTentially conneded with, ac- countable to none. Farewell, then, to the ver}' pofTibility of a judgment-day. Shall an independent being, who can have no fuperior, hold up his hand, as a felon, at the bar ? — Shall a potent felf-exifler deign to be puniQied, for the evanid crimes of an hour ? — Shall a fovereio;a feif-determiner fubmit to receive ientence from the lips of another? Impofil- ble. Paul was a knave, for alferting it. And Felix was a fool, for trembling at the em.pty found. What a truly Chridian tenet, therefore, is that of free-will ! Howpatly it fquares with the Bible ! And with how good a grace does orthodox Mr. John introduce his 4th Obje6lion, that '* \ht Scriptures cannot be of divine original/' if the doctrine of neceffity be true. I, e contra, fcruple not to declare, that no man can confiftentlv acknowledo;e the " divine authoritv of the Scriptures," without beheving their contents : i.e. without being an abfolute neceflitarian. I will even add, that all the intentional defenders of Chriflianity in the world, who encounter Deiim, or * An independent creature is a contradiftion in terms. To nflc, " Whether the Deity might not endue created beings with philofo- phical independence?" is to aik, whether one God might not make millions of others. I anfwer. No. And yet I do not, by fo fay- ing, ♦* limit the Holy One of Ifrael." His power is ftill infinite. For, as fome have well exprefled it, an effcntial contradidlion is no obje<^ of power, D 3 Atheifm 46 Chrifiian and Philofophical Atheifm itfelf, on any but neceflitarian principles ; fuch defenders ever will, and inevitably muft, have the worft end of the ftaff : for the Bible will ftand on no ground but its own ; nor can the cavillings of its doclriral gainfayers (flimfy as their cavillings are) be hewn effedually in pieces, by any w^eapons but thofe which the Bible itfelf fupplies. Among others, it fupplies us with the invincible tv/o-edged fword of predeftination and necefTity (which two edges, by the way, terminate, fword-like, in one common * point): a weapon, peculiarly formed and tempered to penetrate the beft mail of our modern unbeliev- ing Philiftines; moft of whom have fenfe enough to laugh (and laugh they may in perfedl fafety) at ' ^ " Thepointlefs arrow and the broken bow;" equipped with which, Arminianifm comes limping into the field of battle. * People do not fee all things at once. I'he rifing of truth, up- on the mind, is commonly gradual i like the rifing of the fun, on the world. Hence, fome philofophers, who are rooted necefTilafians, either do not yet perceive, or forbear to acknowledge, the coin- cidence of Scflpture-predeftination with phyfical and metaphyfical necefTity. i3ut, all in good time. The more thefe doftrines are examined, and compared together, the more clearly and ftrongly will they be found to fuppofe and fupport each other. T he Arminians are aware of this: and pelt both predeftination and necedity, with equal rage, and with the felf-fame cavils. Nor without reafon. For what is predeflination, but necefTitas imperata ; or, the free and everlafting determination of God, that fuch and fuch a train of caufes and efreing on the ideas of which thofe perceptions are the fource ; ftill, no ad- Vantages are any thing more to u?, than divir.r Providence makes them to be. Let him, therefore, that glories, glory in the Lord. — For, it is God, uhoteacheth us more than the bealls of the earth, 9x\d maketh us v.-ifer than the fowls of heaven, i Cor. i. 31. Job XXXV, II, winds i Necejfity Aferted. 5 1 winds ', and he welgheth the waters by meafure. He made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightening of the thunder. Job xxviii. 25, 26. When he giveth quietnefs, who then can make trouble ? and, when he hideth his face, who then can behold him ? whether it be done againll a na- tion, or againft a man only. Job xxxiv. 29. Ab- folute neceffity dill. By the breath of God, frofl is given ; and the breadth of the waters is ftraitened. Alfo, by water- ing, he wearieth the thick cloud : he fcattereth his bright cloud. He caufeth it to come ; whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Job xxxviii. 10 — 13. We fee, from this, as well as from a preceding and from two or three fubfequent quotations, that the air cannot be comprefTed into a current of wind ; nor rain find its way to the earth ; nor exhalations kindle into thunder and lightening ; nor a river overflow its banks ; nor fufpended vapours condenfe into fnow or hail ; nor water freeze, or, when frozen, thaw ; without the exprefs appoint- 'ment of God's will, and the hand of his particular providence. Second caufes are but effeds of his decree: and can operate no farther, than he, from whom they derive their whole activity, condefcends to make ufe of them as mediums of his own agency. The kingdom is the Lord's ; and he is the go- vernor among the nations. Pfalm xxii. 28. O Lord, thou prefervefl man and beaft. Pfalm xxxvi. 6. Except the Lord build the houfe, they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Pfalm cxxvii. i . Whatfoever the Lord pleafeth, that did he ; in heaven, and in earth, in the feas, and in all deep places. He caufeth the vapours to afcend from the ends of the earth : he maketh lightcnings, for the rain -, 5* Chriflian and Philofophkal rain ; he bringeth the wind out of his treafuries. Pfalm cxxxv. 6. 7. He covereth the heaven with clouds, he prepareth rain for the earth, he maketh grafsto grow upon the mountains. H^ giveth to the beafh his food ; and to the young ravens, which cry. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the fineft wheat. He giveth fnow, hke wool ; he fcattereth the hoar froft, like afbes. He cafteth forth his ice, like mor- fels ; who can Hand before his cold.^ he fendeth out his wqrd, and melteth them ; he caufeth h.s wind to blow, and the waters flow. Pfalm cxlvii. 8, 9, 14 — 18. What fo variable and uncertain, humanly fpeaking, as the weather ? And yet, we fee, all its modes and changes are adjufted and determin- ed, from moment to moment, by divine imprefiion: i. e. by a necelTity, refulting from the will and pro- vidence of the fupreme Firfl Caufe. Fire, and hail ; fnow, and vapour; flormy wind, fulfilling his word ! Pfalm cxlvii i. 8. Neither is material nature alone thus * " bound faft in fate." All other things, the " human will" it- felf not excepted, are no lefs tightly bound, i. e. cffeftually influenced and determined. For, The preparations of the heart, in man ; and the anfwer of the tongue ; are from the Lord. Prov. xvi. I. That is, men can neither think, nor fpeak; they can neither refolve, nor a8, independently of providence. The Lord hath made all things, for himfelf ; for the manifeftation of his own glory, and for the ac- complinuPient of his ou-'n defigns : even the wicked, for the day of evil. Prov. xvi. 4. If fo, he has en- dued none of his creatures Vv'ith a felf-determining power, which might ifi'ue in counteracting and de- feating the purpofes of his infinite wifdom. * See Pope's Univcrfal Prayer, A man's Necejfity AJferted. ^'^ ■ A man's heart devifeth his way : but the Lord dlre6teth his fteps. Prov. xvi. 9. Yea, there are many devifes in a man's heart : neverthelefs, the counfel of the Lord, thatlhall (land. Prov. xix. 21. The lot is caft into the lap : but the whole dif- pofing thereof is of the Lord. Prov. xvi. -^3. Even the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water : and he turneth it, v/hitherfo- cver he will. Prov. xxi. i . Odd fort of felf-deter- mination, this ! Enemies and evil-minded men, are under the ab- folute controul of God ; nor can their enmity, or their wickednefs, do a jot more hurt, than he gives leave. O AfTyrian, the rod of my anger. Ifai. x. 5. Thou art my battle-axe and weapons of war : for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I deftroy kingdoms. Jer. li. 20. Very extraordinary declarations thefe, if men are felf- determining agents ! a felf-determining rod, for in- ftance : a felf determining battle-axe ; a felf-deter- mining hammer! Arminianifm does that, which God, by the prophet, fatirizes in the following lively terms : Shall the axe boaft itfelf againft him that heweth therewith ? or fhall a faw magnify itfelf againft him that fliaketh it } As if the rod (hould fliake itfelf againft them that lifted it up ! or, as if a ftafFfliould lift up itfelf as though it were no wood ! Ifai. X. 15.— What ! is that noble freewiller, man, comparable to an axe, to a faw, to a rod, and to a ftick ; not one of v^^hich can operate, or fo much as move, but in proportion as It is adled upon ? This is worfe than being likened to Mr. Wefley's clock- work ! But who can help it ? The prophet goes on, elfewhere. The Lord of hofts hath (worn [i. e. hath folemnly and immuta- bly decreed], faying. Surely, as 1 have thought, fo fiiall it come to pafs : and as I have purpofed, fo fliall it ftand. This is the purpofe, which is pur- pofed upon the whole earth ; and this is the hand that 54 ' Chrijlian and Philofophical that is ftretcbed out upon all nations. For the Lord of hods hath purpofed, and who Qiall difannul it ? And his hand is (Iretched out, and who fhall turn it back? Ifai. xv. 24, 26, 27. Grand and conclufive queftions 1 Queftions, however, which lordly Arminianifm can folve in a moment. Who Ihall difannul God's purpofe ? Why, human freewill to be fure. Who fliall turn back God's hand ? Hu- man felf-determination can do it, with as much eafc as our breath can repel the down of a feather ! I form the light, and create darknefs : I make peace, and create evil. I the Lord do all thefe things. Ifai. xlv. 7. V/ho is he that faith, and it cometh to pafs ; when the Lord commandeth it not ? Lam. iii. 37. The highefb angel cannot. Wifdom and might are God's. He changeth the times and the feafons. He removeth kings, and fetteth up kings. He giveth wifdom to the wife, and knowledge to them that know underftanding. Dan. ii. 20, 21. Locufts, and other ravaging Infers, cannot afflict a land, without a commiflion under the great feal of Providence. The locuft, the canker-worm, the ca- terpillar, and the palmer-worm ; my great army, which I font among you. Joel ii. 25. Shall there be evil in a city [viz. any calamitous accident, as it is commonly called], and the Lord hath not done it ? Amos iii. 6. — Impoflible. I caufedit to rain upon one city, and caufed it not to rain upon another city. — I have fmitten you with blafhing, and mildew. — I have lent among you the peftilencc. — Your young men have I ilain with the fword. Amos iv. 7 — 10. They [Paul and Timothy] were forbidden of the Holy Ghoft to preach the word rn Afia. They efTayed to go into Bithynia : but the fpirit fuffered them not. A6ls xvi. 6, 7. Had fcif-determinatioh any thing to do here } A certain Necejftty AJJ'erted, 5^ A certain woman, named Lydia, heard us : whofe heart the Lord opened, fo that (lie attended to the things that were fpoken by Paul. Ibid. v. 14. As many, as were ordained unto eternal life, be- lieved. Ads xiii. 48. I am carnal, fold under fm. For that which I do, H yivKCY.u, I am far from approving : for what I would, that do I not ; but what I hate, that do I. To will is prefent with me : but how to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I would, I do not : but the evil which 1 would not, that I do. When I would do good, evil is pre- fent with me. I delight in the law of God, after the inner man : but I fee another law in my mem- bers, warring againft the law of my mind, and bring- ing me into captivity to the lav/ of fm which is in my members. O wretched man that I am ! Who Ihall deliver me from the body of this death ? I thank God, through Jefus Chrifl our Lord. So then, with the mind, I myfelf ferve the law of God : but, with my fleih, the law of fin. Rom. vii. 14 — . 25. According to the account which St. Paul here gives of himfelf, he no more dreamed of his being a felf-determiner, than of his having attained to ilnlefs perfe6tion. No wonder that fome flaming Armi- nians have a peculiar fpite againfl this apoftle ! In whom [i. e. in Chrift] v.'e alfo have obtained an inheritance : being prededinated, according to the purpofe of him who worketh all things accord- ing to the counfel of his own will, Eph. i. 11. Speaking of affliction and perfecuiion, the apoflle comforted himfelf and his fellow-fufierers, by refolv- ing all into neceility : that no man Ihould be moved by thefe afflictions; for ye yoyifelves know, that we g.re appointed thereto, i Theff. iii. 3. What idea St. James entertained, concerning free-will and felf-determination, fully appears from the following admonition : Ye know not [much lefs can ye be the difpofers of] what fliall be on the niorrow. 56 ChriJIian and Philofophiail morrow. For what is your life ? it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanifheth away. Ye ought to fay, if the Lord will, we (hall live, and do this, or that. James iv. 14, 15. Why did St. James reafon in this manner ? Becaufe he was endued with grace and fenfe to be a necef- fitarian. So was St. Peter. Hence he telh the regenerated ele(5l, to whom he wrote, Ye alfo, as lively ftones, are built up, a fpiritual houfe. i Pet, ii. 5. This is giving free-will a ftab under the fifth rib. For, can ftones hew themfelves, and build themfelves into a regular houfe ? no more, in this apoftle's judg- ment, can men form themfelves into temples of the Holy Ghoft. It is the effect of neceflitating grace. The prophecy came not, in old time, by the will of man : but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft. 2 Pet. i. 21. — Neceffity again, There fliall come, 'in the laft days, fcoffers, walk- ins; after their own lufts. 2 Pet. ii'i. r>. — But the apoftle could not have been fure of this, without taking neceffity into the account : or, as himfelf ex- preffes it, unlefs they who flumble at the word, were appointed to difobedience. i Pet. ii. 8. There are certain • men crept in unawares, who were before, of old, ordained to this condemnation. Jude 4. If fo, were not the fin and condemnation of thofe men neceftary and inevitable ? ^ CHAP. V. Proofs that Chriji Himfelf was an abfolute Necef- ftarian. TEST any, who may not, hitherto, have con- ^^ fidered the fubjeft, with the fame attention that I have done, Qiould be ftartled at the title of this Necejfay JJh-feJ. J7 this chapter ; I fliall adduce the larger evidence, In order to make good what the title imports. The reader will not, however, exped a fynopfis of the whole evidence, by which this great truth is audien- ticated : for, were I to attempt that, I mud tran- Icribe well-nigh all the 89 chapters of the four cvangelifts. Jt fhould feem that our blefled Lord began his public miniftrations with his fermon on the Mount, recorded Matt. v. vi. and vii. In that difcourfe, are the following paiTages. One jot, or one tittle, (hall in no wife pafs from the law, until all be fulfilled. Thou canft not make one hair white or black. Your Father, who is in heaven, maketh his fun to rife on the evil and the good, and fendeth rain on the jufh and on the unjuft. Surely, man can neither promote, nor hinder, the riiing of the fun and the falling of the rain ! Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. — How can a free-wilier fay the Lord's Prayer ? Which of you, by taking thought, can add one cubit unto his ftature ? The word hxtKioc fignifies botli ftature, and age. As we Imve no fingle term, in Englifli, which comprifes both thofe ideas to- gether ; the paflage fliould be rendered periphra- ftically : which of you, by being anxious, can either make addition to his ftature, or prolong the dura- tion of his life ? Be not tormentingly diftrelTed, concerning futu- rity: for futurity fhall take care of its own things. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof: i. e. commit yourfelves, in a believing and placid ufe of reafonable means, to the will and providence of him, who has already lain out the whole plan of events in his own immutable purpofe. The appointed mea- fure of fuppofed evil is infallibly connected with its Vol. VI. (29.) E day, 35 Chrijlian and Philojophical day, which no corrodings of imaginary anticipation can either ftave off, or diminilli. " Reafonable means ! are not all means, hereby, fliut out of the cafe ?" No. Not in any refpeft whatever. ' For we know not what means God will blefs, until we have tried as many as we can. But, when all tried, the refult flill reds with him. I (liall only quote one other paflage, from the fer- mon on the Mount. — Th.e rain [of afflidion] de- fcended, and the floods [of temptation] came, and the winds [of perfecution] blew, and beat upon that houfe [the houfe of an elefl, redeemed, converted foul]: but it fell not ; for it was founded upon a rock. That is, in plain Englifli, it could not fall. It flood, neceffarily: or, as the fenfe is yet more forcibly expre fled in St. Luke, when the flood arofe, the ftream beat vehemently upon that houfe, and could not fliake it. Luke vi. 48. In other parts of the gofpels, wc find Chrifh rea- foning and ading on the highefh principles of ne- ceflity. I will ; be thou clean : faid he, to the poor leper. What was the confequence ? And immediately his leprofy was cleanfed. Matt. viii. 3. The effed neceflTarily followed. The leper could not but be healed. And, indeed, what were all the miracles wrought by Jefus, but efledts of his irrefifliible and neceffitat- ing power ? Let the Chrifl:ian reader examine and weigh each of thofe miracles, with this remark in his eye ; and he will foon become a convert to the dodrine of necefiTity. Was it poflTible for thofe miracles not to have taken effed ? i. e. was it pofli- ble for Chrift*s miracles not to have been miracles } Was it chance, which armed his word with ability to heal and to deftroy ? If fo, farewell to all Chrif- tianity at once. I can perceive no fliadow of me- dium between neceffity and rank infidelity. Neither Necejjity AJferted, 55 Neither can I make any thing of the prophecies of Chrift, unlefs thofe prophecies be confidered as infallible: i. e. as inferring a certain, or necelfary, accompiiHiment, in every part. For, if a fingle predicted circumftance can pofiibly happen, other- wife than it is foretold ; the en^tire argument, for the truth of divine revelation, drawn from the topic of prophecy, moulders into duft. Nor is the Arminian felf-determining hypothefis more compatible with (what is the eflential bafis of prophecy) the fore-knowledge of God. If, for ex- ample, it fo lay at the free-will of Chrift's betrayer and murderers, that they might, or might not, have betrayed and crucified him ; and if it fo lay at the free-will of the Romans, as that they might, or might not, have deftroyed Jerufaiem ; it will follow, that thofe events were philofophically contingent : i. e. there was no certainty of their taking place, till after they actually had taken place. The feif- determining will of Judas might pofiibly have de- termined itfelf another way. So might the felf-de- termining will of every perfon concerned in the cru- cifixion of Chrift. And fo mi9;ht the felf-determin- ins: wills of thofe Romans, who befieoied and razed Jerufaiem. Confequently (on that principle,) divine fore-knowledge could not, with certainty, know any thing of the matter. For that which is not certainly future, is not certainly fore-knowable. It may be emptily confidered, as poflible : or (at the very utmoft) be uncertainly guefled at, as not im- probable. But knowledge mult be left out of the queftion : for knowledge will fland on none but * certaia * There arc four links, which all the art of man can never fepa- rate; and which proceed in the following order: Decree — Fore* knowledge — Prophecy — Neceflity. Let us take a fnort Scripture view of ihofc facrcd links, and of their conned^ion with eacli other. I nm*God, and there is none elfe; lam God, and there is nonelike mc: declaring the end, from the beginning ; and, from antient time?, the things that afc not yet done : faying, my ^o^^nfcl (baUi ftaod, and fi \ I wiU 6o Chrijlian and Philojophical certain ground. God does not fore-know, but after- know (i. e. he is never fure of a thing's coming to pafs, 1 will do aH my pleafure. Yea, T have fpoken ; I will alfo bring it to pafs. I have purpofed : I will alfo do it. Jfaiah xlvi. 9, 10, II. I admit, that this fublime paffage had immediate reference to the certainty of Babylon's capture by Cyrus. But not to that only. *• The things which are not yet done," as well as that in particular, are all known to Jehovah; and many of them explicitly predided likewife. And on what is God's abfolute and all-comprifing kn«w- Icdge grounded ? On the *' counfel," or decree; and on the *' plea- fure," or fovereign and almighty determination ; of his will. — By the fame rule, that God had predellinated, and did foreknow, the exploits of Cyrus; he muft have predeftinated, and foreknown, the exploitsof every other man. Since, if any one being, or anyone fad, incident, or circumftance, be unknown to God; every being, fad, incident, and circumftance, may be equally unknown by him. But, putting matters upon the bcft footing on which Arminianifm can put them; the divine knowledge can neither be eternal, nor infinite, nor infallible, if aught is exempted from it, or if aught can happen otherwife than as it is foreknown. How ereat a ftreis God lays, on this his attribute of complete and unmiftaking prefcience ; and how he claims the honour of it, as one of thofe efiential and incommunicable perfedions, by which he (lands diftinguiflied from falfe gods ; may be fecn, among other places, in Ifaiah xli. 21, 22, 23. and xlii. 8, 9. and xliii. 9, 12. and xlv. 21. — Well, theiefore, might St. James declare, in the fynod of apoftles and elders held at Jerufalem, known unto God are all his works, air onuv^, from eternity. Ads xv. 18. The late excellent Mr. William Cooper, of Bolton, in New Er g- land, (1 fay, the late; becaufe I fuppofe that good man to be, tie this time, gathered into the ailcmbly of faints made perfed) cb- ferves, in the fecond of his Four Difcourfes on Predeftination unto Life, ihat it was the Scripture dodrine of God's omnifcience, which profelyted our famous Dr. South to Calvinifra, *• I have it," fays Mr. Cooper, *• from very good authority" [appealing in the margin, to Dr, Calamy s Continuation, vol. i. p. 146.J, *'that, fome time after the Reftoration, Dr. South being in company, at Oxford, with feveral perfons of note, and among the reft with Mr. Thomas Gilbert, who was afterwards one of the ejeded minifters ; they fell into a converfation, about the Arminian points. On Mr. Gilbert's aflerting, that the predeftination of the Calvinifts did neceflarily follow upon the prefcience of the Arminians ; the dodor prefently engaged, that, if he [Gilbert] could make that out, he [i. e. Dr. South] would never be an Arminian, fo long as he lived. Mr. Gilbert immediately undertook it: and made good his aflertion, to the fatisfadion of thofe prcfcnt. And the dodor himfelf was, fo convinced, 33 to continue, to the laft, a very zealous afTcrter of the reformed Necefiiy yljertcd. 6i pafs, until it does or has come to pafs), if it be in the power of his creatures to determine themfelves to a contrary ])oint of the compafs. ** Oh, but God fore-knows to what particular point of the compafs the}^ certainly will determine themfelves." Pray, leave out the word, certainly; and likewifethe word, will : for they ftab poor felf- dqtermination to the heart. If you retain thcfe words and their ideas, you give up the very eflence of your caufe. For, what certainly will be, is no longer uncertain. And what is not uncertain is ne- ceflary, or will furely come to pafs, and cannot but do fo : elfe, the certainty evaporates into nothing. When Chrii^ fent his difciples for an afs's colt, wdiich, he foreknew and foretold, they would find exactly at fuch a place ; he added, that the owner of the animal, on their faying, the Lord wants it, would immediately permit them to lead it away. They went to the village, and made up to the very fpot ; where every thing fell q\xt precifely, as their heavenly Mafiier had predided. Let me alk : Was the man's confent to part with his colt necelTary ; or was it uncertain ? All circumftanccs confidered, had he power to refule, and might he actually have refufed to let go his property ? If (which was certainly the cafe) he could not poflibly withhold his alfent, Chrift's fore-knowledge was real ; and the man him- lelf, what the ingenious Mr. Weiley would term, " a fine piece of clock-work ;'* but what I fhould termj a neceflary free -agent. If, on the other hand, he might have denied complying with the difci])les' requeft, and could have difmilTed them without fuc- cefs ; it will neceffarily follow, that our Lord fliot his arrow at a venture, fent his meffengers on a blind errand, and that his own fore- knowledge was not fore-knowledge, but random conjedure and fur- reformed [i, e. of the Calviniftic] dodrine, againft its various op- pofers.'* E 3 mife. 6i Chrijlian and Thtlofophical mife. " Oh, but our Lord foreknew that the man Certainly would do as requefted.'* Then the man Could not help doing it His volition was inevitable. It could not have been infallibly known, that he certainly would comply ; if that compliance was antecedently uncertain, and if it could fo have hap- pened that he might not have complied. Thus does Scripture-prophecy (not one only, but every individual prophecy in God's book) demon- ftrate, i. The abfolute fore-knowledge of the three divine perfons : and, 2. The unalterable neceffity, pr indefeatable futurition, of things foreknown. Either God is ignorant of future events, and his underftanding, like that of men, receives gradual improvement from time and experience and obferva- tion (a fuppofjtion blacker, if poflible, than atheifm itfelf !) or, the whole train of incidents, even to the rife and fall of a mote in the air, ever was, now is, ever will be, and ever mufk be, exadly that, and no other, which he * certainly knew it would be. Fore- knowledge, * Properly fpeaking, it cannot be affirmed of God, that he either did knew, or that he will know; but, fimply, that he knows. For, in Deum non cadunt prius & poiicrius: there is no paft, nor future, to h'lm. All is prefent, and unruccefiive. T he diftribution of things, into thofe that have been, ihofe that are, and thofe that fliall be ; is, indeed, Anted to the flux condition, and to the limited facilities, of beings like ourfelves, uhofe elHmates of duration are taken from the j>eriodical journies of an opaque grain, round a lucid fpcck termed the fun : but can have no place in him, of whom it is declared, that a thoufand years are, with the Lord, as one day ; and one day, as a thoufand years. Ar\^ even this declaration, magnificent as it is, falls infinitely ihort of the mark. When, therefore, I fpeak of foreknowledge, as aq attribute fflential to Deity; I fpe;or's leave, carry the antiquity of neceffity fomewhat higher up. God himfelf is a necefTary being. He exifted, and could not but exift, without beginning. Heex- ifts, and cannot but exift, without end. Neceffity, therefore, isco eval with, and infeparable from, Deity ; i. e. it is, truly and properly, eternal: as all his other attributes are. 1 would term neceffity, in this view of it, necejptas prwia. With regard to Adam, he was fufficiently infbrudl- ed in the doflrine of neceffity, during the ftate of innocence. He could not but know, that he ex- ifted neceffarily, and that every circumftance of hi§ fituation was neceiraTilj- determined by a fuperior hand. For example. When he was v/ell awoke from that deep fleep, into which he had been necefiarily caft, v/ithout his own confent firfl: had and obtain- ed; was not that fingle incident (efpecially when he adverted to the important cfTecl of it) m.ore than enough to imprefs a refleding mind with the idea of neceffity? The very miffing of his rib, which he had involuntarily loft on the occaiion, muft have made him a ncceffitarian, fuppofing him to have G 3 been^, 94 Cbriftian and Fhilofophical beeh', what I make no doubt he was, a man of com- mon underftanding. Eve, likewife, coiild not but know, that flie was necelTarily made, neceffaiily placed In Eden, and neceiTarily configned to Adam. I conclude, therefore, that the firfl man and his wife were neceilitarians, antecedently to their fall. And if they, afterwards, endeavoured to account for their fall, upon the principle of neceffity ; I muft declare, that, for my own part, I fee neither the impiety of the attempt, nor the lamenefs of the reafoning. '' Oh, but this makes God the author of their falling.'* By no means in the world. It is the Ar- minian hypothelis, which reprefents Deity as either tuifeafonably abfent from the place, or as looking unconcernedly on, while his feeble creature Eve was chopping unequal logic with a migh,tier and more artful being than herfeif. It is the free will fcheme, which lays original fm at the divine door-: by fup- pofmg, that God ftood neuter throughout the whole affair; though he knew (if Arminianifm will allow him to have foreknown) that no lefs, than the ruin of all mankind, would be the confequence of that neutrality. When we fay, that the fall of man came neceffa- rily topafs] it is only faying, that Satan is neither too ftrong, nor too vv^ife, for God : and that Satan would not have proved too flrong, or too wife, for Eve herfeif, had it been the will of God pofuijje ohi- ff/?/, i. e. to have hindered, Satan from iucceeding. Now, if it was not the divine will to bar the enemy Irom fucceeding; and if it was really foreknown, that, without fuch bar, the enemy would fucceed y and if God could, without injuftice, a61uaily forbear, at the very critical time, to put an etledual bar in the way, though he certainly had power to do it : the inference is invincible, that Adam and Eve fell Jieceiraiily. Nor Neceffuy JJJerted, 95 Nor is God's decree to permit tlie fall, liable to any one cavil, which will not hold, with equal or with flronger force, againft the adual permifTion it- felf. '' But why did God decree to permit the fall, and permit the fall according to his decree ?" For reafons, the whole of which he has not thought pro- per to communicate. He giveth not account, to any, of his matters. Job xxxiii. 13. And this is too good an anfwer to fo daring a quedion. Let me give our Freewiilers a very momentous hint, viz. That the entrance of original fin was one of thofe efTential links, on which the Mefliah's incar- nation and crucifixion were fufpended. So that, if Adam's fall was not necelTary (i.e. if it was a pre- carious, or contingent, event) ; it would follow, that the whole Chriftian religion, from firfl to lad, is a piece of mere chance-miedley : and, conlequently, cannoc be of divine infiitution. Arminians would do well, to confider, whither their principles lead them. 3. I'he true neceffity is, toto calo, remote and different from Manich^eifm: as indifputably appears, on comparing the two fyfliems together. Not to ob- ferve, that St. Auftin (who, in his earlier part of life, had been * entangled in the Manich^an net) was * " The Manich?3an fcherae/* fays Mr. Wefley, " was formerly efpoufed by men of renown : St. Auguftin in particular." But I will doS:, Ai:ftin that jullice which this gentleman withholds, by adding, that God converted him from Manichaiifm, while yet a young man; and feveral years, before he was fo much as baptized into the Chrif- tian Chuich. — The Methodift goes on: *' Manicha^ifm is now fo utterly out of date, that it would belolt labour to confute it.*' Here- in, \\t is, to exprefs it as tenderly as I can, utterly miliaken in his reckoning. 1 fhall clearly prove, a page or two hence, that he him- felf is, in one refpect, as much ; an which were four in number, to a profelyte of his, named Budda-* Tercbinthus. This Budda, fettling afterv>'ards in Perfia, refided in the houfe of a widow, who had bought Manes for a flave. On Budda's deceafe, the books of Scythian fell into Manes*s hands ; from 'whence he drew the generality of thofe tenets which pais under his nam.e, and m.oulded them into a iyflem. In this odd manner, did Manes come to diilinguiih himfelf as an H^refiarch. H?ppy fet dement, after forty years Infinity of fhiftings and flittings Either and thither ! ** Thus weathercocks, which, for a while, *' Have turn'd about with ev'ry blait ; /' Grown old, and deftitute of oil, ** Ruft to a point, and fix atlaft!'* * *' Mutato nomine, deinde Manis, vel Manetis, nomen adopta- vit; Feriicum aliis, quod oM>.'/]\7tv dicat, difceptaiorem, agcniftam: aliis Chalcii'icum \^k.o, Gr^ce ^ctv^^q, ex thQ, qucd, Babyloniorurn lingua, fignihcat, vas, organum ; quod fe aKcv>^ i'/.X!^:Qcv dicerar, quo DeuSj ad dod^rins divincc propagationem, uti vellet. Hino videtur faftum, ut falfic dodrinae audorcm talmudift^ vocarint 't n^a"i^^ fundens, feceie ManichaDum.** Spanheaiii Hift, Chrifiian. Sasc. 3. — Operum Tom. I. Col. 751, 752. The Necejfity Jfferted. -97 The amount of his fyftem was this : " There are two co-equal, co-eternal, and in- dependent Gods, or infinite principles, viz. God, proDerly lo cilied ; alias light : and matter ; alias dark -el's. " The firft, is the author of all good : the fecond, of a:l evil. " The light God infpired the penman of the New Teftainent ; the dark God infpired the writers of the Old Teftament. Confequently, the Old Teflament is worth nothing. " Thefe Gods are real fubftance ; the one, a good fubfhance ; the other, a bad. " In the work of creation, the good being wrought jpart, and the bad being wrought part. ** The good being is the maker of human fouls. " The good being united himfelf to the elements of air and fire ; the bad being took poffeffion of earth and water. " The evil God made the world, and the human body, and fin, and magifliracy. " There is a Trinity ; but it confiils of Scythian, Budda, and Manes. Scythian's feat is in the fun j Budda's in tlie moon ; and Manes's in the air. " The fun in the firmament is Chrifl. " Chrifl did not alfume a real, but only a feeming body. " The ele(5i: are thofe, in whom the evil principle is quite done away. *' Matrimony does but unite us m.ore clofely to the evil God. '* Water-baptifm is worth httle. " The fouls of my auditors" [i. e. of thofe who conftantiy attended his aiTemblies, and imbibed his dodrines] *' are thereby changed into ele6t fouls ; and fo return, quite purified, to the good being. " The fouls of other people tranfmigrate, at death, into beafls^ and trees, and all kinds of vegetables. " Inward 9^ Chriftian and Philofophical " Inward concupifcence is a per Ton. It is never healed, but it may be totally feparated from men. In the day of judgment, each concupifcence (hali be flmt up in a globe, and there live in perpetual imprifonment. " The good God, and the bad God, wage im- placable and never ceaiing war againfl each other ; and perpetually clog and difconcert one another's fchemes and operations. " Hence, men are impelled, by forcible con- ftraint, to good, or to evil ; according as they come under the power of the good Deity, or the bad one." Such is a ilcetch of what I have been able to col- lect with certainty, of the abfurd and execrable tenets of Manes : which form a medley of Pytha- gorifm, Gnofticifm, and almoft every other ifm, both Pagan and Fleretical, which that and preceding ages could fupply. It is probable, that Budda im- proved upon Scythian, and that Manes improved upon both. Though, in reality, neither of-the three, nor all the three t02:ether, were authors of the mon- flirous opinions which conftituted the jumble. The opinions were taken from a variety of other fources ; and the pilfering triumvirate, contrary to the prac- tice of thieves m general, feemed refolved to ileal the word of every thing they could lay their hands on. I believe, it is abfolutely impoffible to trace, quite up to its fource, the antiquity of that hypothecs, which abfurdly affirms the exiftence of two eternal, contrary, independent principles. The other orien- tal nations feem to have adopted it from Egypt. But whence the Egy^ptians had it, and when they firft entertained it, we know not : at lead, I could never find out. What led {o many wife people, and for fo great a feries of ages, into fuch a wretched miftake, were, eliiefly, I fuppofe, thefe two confiderations : (i.) That Neceffity AJferted. ,99 That evil, both moral and phyfical, are pofitive things, and fo muft have a pofitive caufe. (2.) That a being perfeBly good, could not, from the very nature of his effence, be the caufe of fuch bad things. But (i.) Evil, whether phyfical or moral, does not, upon a narrow infpeftion, appear to have fo much of pofitivity in it, as it is probable thofe an- cients fuppoled. A man breaks his leg : i. e. the continuity, or cohefion of parts, natural to that limb, ceafes to be integral. This is followed by the evil of pain. And what is pain ? tl:!e abfence, or privation, of fenfible eafe antecedently enjoyed. A man's houfe is burnt down. The confequence is, a lofs, or pri- vation, of property. He does not poflefs as much as he polielfed before. Tlius (not to multiply need- lefs inftances), licknefs is a privation of health : and is, from thence, very properly termed, difeafe. Po- verty is a deficiency of wealth and conveniences. Death itfelf, a ceffation of animal life. God forbid, that I fhould even willi to extenuate the malignity of fm. The omniprefent Reader of hearts and hearer of thoughts knows, that, next after his own awful difpleafure, I dread and depre- cate fin, in all its forms, as the greateft of poITible calamities. Let us, however, with cautious and timid hand, put moral evil itfelf into the philofophic fcale. When I was a boy, and began to read Watts's Logic, I well remem.ber the furprife it gave me, to find, that fo good a man fhould venture to treat of fin, in the 6th Sedlion (pt.i. chap. 2.), under the title Of Not-Being. And 1 confefs, I partly wonder at it Hill. But let the dodor fpeak for himfelf. '^ The finfulnefs of any human ad ion is fnid to be a priva- tion : for fin is that want of 'conformity to the law of God, wdiich ought to be found in every adion of man.- — I think/' adds thj dodlor, and in troth j think I oo Cbri/fian and Philofophical thint fo too, " we mud not reduce- fuch pofitive beings as piety, and virtue, and truth, to the rank of non-entities, which have nothing real in them. Though fin, or rather the (infulnefs of an adion, may be properly called a Not-Being: for it is a want of piety and virtue. This is a mod ufual, and per- haps the nioft juft, v/ay of reprefenting thefe mat- ters." Very happily, we have a line definition of fin, given us by a Logician who could not err. Jia?o iro^av Tr^v etua^iooft xott rviv uvoutocp •n'oiet' y.a* '•/) AMAPTIA e^m 'n ANOMIA* I John iii. 4. Every man, who committeth fln^ doth alfo commxit illegality : for fm is iiiegaiity.- — Whence I conclude, in the firil place : that fm, ftridly confidered, has more of negation in it, than ofpofiti'vity; elfo, it could not have been properly defineable by a merely negative term. For, illega- lity imports no more, than a non-commenraration to the law, as a rule, or raeafure of length and breadth. — But, Secondly, I infer, that, unlefs fin had foniething of pofitivity in it, the iiiegaiity of it could not be faid to be commifTable : "Every man, who committeth iliegahty." And yet, after ail, I do not clearly difcern, how that can be, without the affift- ance of Dr. Watts's diftinction (adidindion which is, 1 believe, admitted by mod, if not all, metaphy- fical writers) between adions themfelves, and tiie (infulnefs of them. Critics explain rw'3> one of the Hebrew words for fin, by the Greek w^ord a^Ba-^; which im.ports un- fettledneis, and, in particular, a not danding to articles before agreed upon. M:n, the mod ufual word for fin, properly lignifies, a not walking in the right road, and a not hitting the propofed mark. iny is obliquity, or crookednefs : i. e. want of drait- nefs. The Greek af^a-^ix, mod certainly, conveys a ne- gative idea : and figrtifies, like the. fecond Hebi-e\v %ord abovementioned, a felling fiiort of tiie mark. The Necejfuy AJferted. loi The LM\n peccafum (which foine arc for deriving from pit's) is aifo explained by deli^umy i. e. a failure in duty. hi qui fas, cu!pn, 7wxa, injujlilia^ impietas^ fcelus^ viiiunu and a multitude of others; are, in ftridnefs, terms of negation. But (2.), in what light foever we confider thofc modes ol being and atlion, called natural and moral evil ; whether we view them as pofetive qualities, or as negative, or as mixed ; flill the queftion returns, whether the great Firil Caufe, who is inBiiitely and merely good, can be, either efficiently, or deficient- iy, the author of them ? In my opinion, the fingle word permiflion folves the whole difficulty, as far as it can be folvcd in the prefent beclouded iiate of human realon. Certainly, God is not bound to preclude evil from among his works. It is equally certain, that he can permit it, not only to obtain, but even to reign. And it is as certain, that he adually does fo permit it. Why ? Not for v/ant of knowledge, to perceive it. Nor for want of pov/er, to hinder it. Nor for want of wifdom, to counteract it. Nor for want of good- jnefs, to order all for the befb. But becaufe it was •and is his unfearchable * will (and the will of God is * And a ftep, or an Inch, beyond this, we cannot go. Tha& God willed to permit evil, cannot be doubted, but at the expence, either cf his uifdom, or of his power. The reafons why he willed it, are, perhaps, among thofe arcana, which angels thsmfelves have not yet been allowed to fee into. I think, I may venture to affert, that the Scriptures throw hardly any degree of light upon the divine motive, or motives, ro this per- naifTion.^ And it appears inconteflably plain, from the writings, and from fuch authentic memorials, as remain, of the moft fagacious philofophers of preceding ages, and of every civilized clime, the Chinefe themfelves included ; that all their various hypothefis (fome, of which were extremely fabtil and ingenious) by which they {trained both judgment and imagination, to account for the primary exigence and introdu6iion of moral and phyfical ataxy; terminated, univcr- fally, in the point from whence they fet out, viz. We cannot tell. Whoever defires to fee, at one view, as much as needs to be known, cpncerning the fptculations of the greateft fjges among the ancients, on 102 Chrijlian and Philofophlcat is reftitude itfelf), to allow the entrance and the continuance of that feeming foil to the iovelinefs of his works* Arminianifm on this inextricable fubjedt ; will enjoy a moft refined amufement (but attended, I think, with no feafible folution of the difficulty immediately in point), by perufing the fecond part of that concife, elegant, judicious, and' faithful fkctch of antique philofophy, en- titled, A Difcourfe upon the Theology and Mythology of the An- cients. Written by the Chevalier Ramfay ; an author, who, though, in my opinion, extremely fanciful and erroneous on fome metaphyfi- cal queliions ; yet deferves to be loved and admired, as one of the nioft ingenious, polite, candid, and entertaining reafoners, that ever added the enchantments of beauty to the dignity of virtue and to the riches of learning. But ftill, our utmoft inveftigations leave us, precifely, where they began. We know fcarce any of the views, which induced uncreated goodnefs to ordain (for, where infinity of knowledge and power and of wifdom unite in the permitter, I fee no very great difi'erence be- tween permitting and ordaining) the introgreffion, or, more properly, the intromifljon, of evil. For my own part, I can, with unrepining chearfulnefs, give God credit (and that to all eternity, Ihould it be his pleafure to require me) for, doing every thing well. '• I know but this, that he is good, ** And thatmyfelfam blind." Can any body bring the matter to a more fatisfadory iffue ? Si non, hoc utere mecum. It might have been happy for that fine, but too excurfive Theorift, Dr. Conyers Middleton, if he had not, with more rafhnefs than good fpeed, endeavoured to overleap that boundary, which God himfelf has fixed, to the prefent extent of human knowledge. Were wc even to grant the doftor his favourite hypothefis, viz. that the whole Mofaic account of the fall is merely allegorical ; the origin of evil would ftill remain as dark, and as deep at the bottom cf the well, as ever. For to what does this boafted allegory amount ? Dr. Middleton (hall give it us, in his own words (Works Quarto. Vol.11. P. 149). *' By Adam, we are to underftand reafon, or the mind of man. By ^^'^> ^^^ ?^^^\» or outward fenfes. By the Ser- pent, luft, or pleafure. In which allegory, we fee clearly explained the true caufes of man's fall and degeneracy : that, as foon as his mind, through the weaknefs and treachery of his fenfes, became captivated and feduced by the allurements of luH and pleafure, he was driven by God cut of Paradife, i, e. loft and forfeited the hap- pinefs and profperity, v^hich he had enjoyed in his innocence." With all the refpeft due to fo very fuperior a pen, I would offer an obfervaiion oc two on this paffage, 1 ♦ If Adam, and Eve, and the Neceffity AJferted, i dj Arminianifm (which reprefents moral and natural evil as entering and as reigning in defiance and con- trariety to the will and wilh and endeavours of the Divine Being) co-incides fo patly with the Mani- chsean dream of two almighty confli6ling principles, who reign in fpite of each other, and catch . as catch can ; that I really wonder at the reverfed mo- defby of thoie free-wiiiers, who are for (liifting off t'le Serpent, and the Trees of Knowledge and of Life, and the very Paradife where they grew, were all aDegorical (i^e. fahuioiis and un- real) ; might not an atheift fuppcfe, with equal reafon, that the ado- rable Creator, whom this fame hiftory terms God, is as allegorical a being as the reft ? 2. If the fail itfelf, as related in Scripture, be no more than a piece of moral fiflion : what fecurity have we, that the fcriptural account of redemption, is not equally fictitious ? "indeed, where is the neceflity, or {o much as the propriety, ;ind rea- fonablenefs, of imagining, that an allegorical ruin requires more than an allegorical reftoration? 3. Among a multitude of other objefticns, which clog the wheel of this unfiuisfai^lory fcheme, the following is one; that the difficulty of accounting for the rife of evil, iHlls fubfilh in all its primitive and impenetrable obfcurity. YoT, (i.) How came the '^allurements of lull and pleafure," to exilt at ail ? efpecia'ly, in a date of abfolure innocency r — (2.) How C'ime man's *' outward fenfes" to be (o very eafy of acccfs as to fly open, like the doors of an enchanted caftle, at aimofl the firft ap- pearance of this faid gigantic lady, called '* Allurement?" — {3.} How came the hunnan mind to yield itfelf (o tame a *' captive'* to thcfe reducing fcnfes? Not. to afk, (4.) Why. ihe fenfes thsmfelves v^ere originally indued with that ** w^eaknefs, and treachery," and power of ** feduftion," which the doctor fo freely places to their account ? — 1 think myfe'f warranted to conclude, that this maRerly allegorizer has not " clearly explained," nor fo much as thrown the ieaft glimmering of explanation upon, ** the true caufes of man's fall and degeneracy." What, then, do we gain, by reading Mofes through the dodor's allegoric fpefiacles ? ^^o far from gaining, wc lofe the little we had. The man who pulls down my houfe, and builds me a better in its place, deferves my thanks. But the man who takes down my dwelling, under pretence that it is not fufficient- ly ample and elegant for a pcrfon of my dignity to inhabit ; and, after all this para. ie, leaves me to fleepinthe open air, unihcltereJ by any roof at all, docs me a material injury. When infidels can raife a morecomm.odious fabric (i. e. propofe a more unexception- able fyftem of principles), than that the Bible prefents us with ; we will chearfDJly remove from our old houfe. But, until then, let ihcfc gentlemen flcep fub dio by themfelves. the 104 Chr'tftian and Philojophical the charge of Manichseifm, from themfelves, td other folks. Nay, w6re I difpofed to make the moft of my ar- gument, I might add, and very fairly too. That the the old Manich^eifm v^ras a gentle impiety, and a ilender abfurdity ; when contrafhed with the modern Arminian improvements on that fyftem. For, which is worfe ? To alTert the exifhence of two independent beings, and no more ; or, to aflert the exiftence of • about one hundred and fifty millions of independent beings, all living at one rime, and mofh of them waging fuccefsful war on the defigns of him that made them ? Moreover, if fo very minute a crumb of the crea- tion, as this terraqueous planet, which we at prefent occupy, can furnifn out fuch a^ formidable army of independent principles (i. e. of felf - determiners : in which number, infants and children thcmfelves mud be virtually included, which will fwell the ca- talogue with about feventy millions more); the ag- gregate number of independent and pofTibly-con- fliding agents, contained in the univerfe at large, may exceed the powers of all the angels in heaven to compute. But, even confining ourfelves to our own world ; it will follow, that Arminian Mani- chsifm exceeds the paltry oriental duaHty, at the immenfe rate of 1 50000000 to 2 ! And this, at the very lowed and mod favourable computation, i. e. without taking infants into the account; and with- out reckoning the adult felf-determiners of pad ge- nerations, nor of thofe generations which are yet to come. Poor Manes ! with how excellent a grace do Ar- minians call thee an heretic ! And, above all, fuch Arminians (whereof Mr. John Weiley is one) as agree with thee, in believing the attainability of fin- lel's perfection here below : or, to ufe the good old Manichsean phrafe, who alTcrt tba^ the evil principle may Necepy AJjh-ied. lOj may be totally feparated from man in the prcfent life ! " Oh, but Manes held neceffity alio.'* But what fort of neceffity ? Such a necelfity as a child would be under, if the Dragon of Wantley was pulling him by one arm, and Moore of Moore -hall by the other. Chriftianity and philofophy have nothing to do with this necefifity, except to laugh at it. 4. Mr. Wefley feems much difpleafed with a brace of gentlemen, whofe names he has not com- municated to the public ; but who appear, from his account of them, to be in no very fair w^ay toward finlefs perfedion. One of thefe, we. are told, delivered his mind, to this eiFed' ! " 1 frequently feel tempers, and fpeak many words, and do many actions, which I do not approve of But I cannot avoid it. They refult, whether I will or no, from the vibrations of my brain* together with the motion of my blood, and the flow of my animal fpirits. But thefe are not in my own power. I call not help them. They are independ- ent on my choice." Thus far, I totally agree with, the gentleman unknown. Every one of his premifes is true. But the conclution limps, moti mifera- biy. Which conclufion (if Mr. Wefley have re- prefented it fairly) is this : '' Therefore I cannot apprehend miyfelf to be a {inner. '* And pray, what does the gentleman apprehend himfelf to be } A iaint, I prefume. Should this tradlvines drew up the celebrated Lambeth articles: whereof 1 fliall here cite but one, for a fpecimen ; having treated, at large, of this afTembly, and its determina- tions, * elfewhere, " Prtjedejlinatornm p}\^fim!.iis et cer- tiis eft 7Uinierus : qtiinec augeri^nec 'iVinuiy poteft," i. e, * In a Traft, entitled, The Church of England vindicated from the. Charge of Arminianifm ; and in my HiRoric Proof of the Doc- trinal Calvinifm of the Chiuch of England. H 3 . 'J he no CbriJIian and Philojophical The number of the predeftinated is fore-determin« ed, and certain: To tliat it can neither be incrcafed, nor diminiihcd. There have alfo been ftill larger afTembiies of di- vines: corppofed of all the bidiops, deans, and de- legates of the clergy, in England. Witnefs the af- fembhy, who drew up the 39 articles, to .which Mr. Wefley has, indeed, over and over again, fat his hand,: but with the fame fimplicity and godly fin- cerity (2 Cor. i. 12.), which feem to have aduated Dr. Reid, Dr. Ofwald, and Dr. Beattie, when they fubfcribed the confeiTion and catechifm of the Weft- minfier afTembly. There's fuch a thing, as holy tricking. Tefts are but pie-cruil, made for breaking. Our own conveniency, and gains, Are fweetmeats, which that cruft contains. To come at thefe, wdiat man fo foolifh, But would a thoufand crufhs demolifli ? Moreover, W'hat iliall w^e fay, concerning that moft reverend, right reverend, aflembly ; who put that woeful colled into the liturgy, beginning with, O God, whofe never-failing providence ordereth all things, both in heaven and earth ? Can any thing breathe, more ftrongly, the whole of what we mean by neceffity ? — A providence — a never-failing pro- vidence—That ordereth not only fome, but all things — Yea, all things both in heaven and earth ! In that one pafiage (and the Church has very many others, quite like unto it), " See neceflity drawn at full length, and painted in themofl: lively coloui^." 6. It is curious, |o behold Arminians themfelves forced, by ftrefs of argument, to take refuge in the harbour of that necellity which, at 'other times, they fo vehemently feek to deftroy. *' It is necelTary," fay they, " that man's will (liould be free: for, nithout freedom, the will were no will at rJi." I pity Neceffity Aferted. 1 1 1 I pity the diftrefsful dilemma, to which they are driven. Should they fay, it is not necefTary for man's will to be free; they give up their whole caufe at once. If they fay (and fay it they do), that it is neceffiiry, yea abfolutely neceflary, for the will to be free; and that, in its very nature, it cannot but be free; — then, fay I, upon that principle, thefe good people are free, with a liberty of neceffity, and fheer neceflity itfelf is the root and fap of all their boafted free-agency. In other words, free-agency, them- felves being judges, is only a ramification of ne- ceffity 1 7. Though I have mentioned the following anec- dote, in a preceding publication ; yet, by way of recompeniing Mr. Wefley, for the amufement he has afforded me, in publiQiingthe converfation of the two neceffitarian gentlemen, v.diereof I have juft given the reader an account ; I alio, in my turn, lliall refer him to a very remarkable converlation, which paffed between a free-will gentleman and my- felf, June 21, 1774, in the neighbourhood of Lon- don, and in the prefence of my friend, the Rev. Mr. Ryland. " God does all he poffibly can,'' faid the Armi- nian philofopher, " to hinder moral and natural evil. But he cannot prevail. Men will not permit God to have his wifn."— Then the Deity, anfwered I, muft certainly be a very unhappy being. • *' Not unhappy in the lead:.*'— What ! meet with a con flan t feries of crolTes ; thwarted m his daily en- deavours ; difappointed of his wiOies ; difconcerted in his plan of operations ; defeated of his intentions ; embarralfed in his views ; and actually overpowered, every moment of every day. By numberlefs of the creatures he has made ; and yet be happy under all this incelfant feries of perplexing and mortifying circumftances ? — " Yes: for he knows, that, in confequence of the free-will, with which he has en- H 4 dued 1 1 2 Chnjiian and Philofophical dued his rational creatures, he himfelf muft; be dif- appointed of his wiflies, and defeated of his ends ; 'and that there is no help for it, unlcfs he had made us mere machines. He therefore fubmits to necef- fity : and does not make himfelf uneafy about it *. Can any thing be more fhockingly execrable, than fuch a degrading and blafphemous idea of the ever blefTed God ? And confequently, is not the dodrine of human felf-determinability the mofh daring, the mofl: inconfiftent, the moil faUe, the moft con- temptible, and the mofl atheiftical tenet, that was ever fpawned by pride and ignorance in conjunclion ? A doQrine, which, in running away from the true necefhty, coins an impoilible necefuty of its own inventing; and, while it reprefents men as gods, links God far below the level of the mean- efb man ! Is not the adorable Creator of the world, the Governor of it too ? Or has he only built a ftagc, for fortune to dance upon? Does Almighty Provi- dence do no more than hold the diftaff, while con- tingency (i. e. while nothing) fpins the threads, and wreathes them into a line, for the FirftCaufe (very falfely fo called, if this be the cafe !) to wind upon his reel, and turn to the befb account he can? Ar- niinians may affirm it. But God forbid, that I. ihould ever believe it. For my own part, I folernnly profefs, before God, angels, and men, that I am not confcious of my be- ,ing endued with that felf-c^etcrmining power, which Arminianifm afcribes to me as an individual of the human fpecies. Nay, I am clearly certain, that I have it not. I am alio equally certain, that I do not ^ Sec a note, fuhjoined to p. ^. of a Sermon lately publifhed by me, entitled. Freewill and Merit brought to the Tell; or. Men not their own Saviours: where fome of the horrible confequences, and of the gigantic inconfiftencies, infeparable from thisgentlemau's theojy, are briefly pointed oiJit, wiftl ■ Necefftty AJjerted. - 113 wi(h to have it : and that, was it pofTible for my Creator to make me an offer of transferring the deter- mination of anyone event, from his own will tomine ;^ it would be both my duty and my wifdom, to en- treat, that the fceptre might ftill remain with him- felf, and that I might have nothing to do in the direction of a (inp-le incident, or of fo much as a fingle circumftance. Mr. Weilcy laments, that neceffity is " The Icheme, which is now adopted by not a few of the niofl: ienfible men in tlie nation." I agree with him, as to the fact. But I cannot deplore it as a cala- mity. The progrefs, which that doctrine has, of late years, made, and is ftill making, in this king- dom, J confider as a mofh happy and promifing fymptom, thatthe Divine Goodnefs has yet abundant mercies in referve, for a Church, the majority of whofe reputed members have long apofhatized from her eifential principles, and for a country, whofe * * Take a fpecimcn of the vitiated ftate, in which the free-will gangrene has reduced the moral taiieof this Chriitian ana reformed country, in the following admired lines, which are part of a very applauded entertainment, lately introduced on the Englilh ftage : " With fport, love, and wine, fickle fortune d^dy ; Dull wifdom all happincfs fours; Since life is no more than a paffage, at bed j Let us ihew the way over with flow'rs." Was a religious and fenfible foreigner, whether a Protcdant, or Popifh ; Jew, Mahometan, or Heathen; to be informed, that fuch equally deteftable and defpicable fentiments, as thofe, are heard with rapture at the Britifb. theatres, and chorufed widi delight in numberlefs private companies in every part of the kinj^dom : would he not be inclined to fet us down, in general, for a nation of Epicu- rean Atheiits, fit only to wallow in the Circean {\y ; quite loft to all religion, philofophy, virtue, and decency; and no otherwife en- titled to the name of man, than by perpendicularity of (hap^ con- neded with the art of fpeaking ? *' If prone in thought, our ftature is our fname: And man fliculd bluft), his forehead meets the Ikics." morals 114 Chriftian and Philojophkal NeceJJityy become objeBs, by being adually expoled to, and by actually operating upon, the organs of a perci- pient being. Thus, there mi2,ht have been tremul-^tions in the atmofphere, tlirough the impulfe of one niafs of matter upon another (primarily fet in motion by the divine will), if no animal, or fentient being, had been created. But, in that cafe, it is utterly in- conceivable, how ihofe tremulations, though ever fo violent, could have occafioned what we call, found. Again. — The difpofition of certain furfaces to rc- f[tck., refradl, and abforb, the incident rays of light ; might have been juft what it now is, independently on the optic nerves of animals : but then no furface, however difpofed, i. e. be its texture, refleclions, refractions, or abforptions, what they v/ill -, could have occafioned that ideal refult, which we term co- lour, without being oppofed to the vifual organ of an Intelligent fubftance. And fo on, through every fpecies of fenfible quality. Hence, there is nothing hyperbolic, or extrava- gant ; but all is no lefs ftricfly and foberly philofo- phical, than fublimely and elegantly poetical , in the following lines of Dr. Young : " The fenfes, which inherit earth and heavens, Enjoy the various riches nature yields : Far nobler 1 give the riches they enjoy. Give tafte to fruits ; and harmony to groves ; The radiant beams to gold, and gold's bright fire : Take in, at once, the landfcape of the world, - At a fmall inlet, Vv'hich a grain might clofe. And half-create the wond'rous world they fee. But for the m.agic organ's pow'rfui charm. Earth were a rude, uncolour'd chaos (lill. Obiefls 1 1 8 A Dijfertation concerning the Objeds are but th' occafion : our's th' exploit. Our's are the cloth, the pencil, and the paint. Which nature's admirable pi6lure draw, And beautify creation's ample dome. Like Milton's Eye, when gazing on the lake, Man makes the matchlefs image, man admires." This is provable, not only by reafon, but by numberlefs experiments. Do but artfully vary the medium through which you fee it, and you may make the furface of any body whatever aflume, in appearance, any colour you pleafe : and that in the moft rapid fucceffion, and in every mode of poflible diverfity. A certain fign, that colour is only a fen- fible quality, and not a real property, of matter. But let us hear Mr. Wefley : who wildly thinks himfelf no lefs qualified to demolifh the fundamental axioms of natural philofophy, than to overturn the firft principles of natural and revealed religion. *' Colour," fays he, " is a real, material thing. There is no illufion in the cafe, unlefs you confound the * perception with the *' thing perceived. And all other fecondary qualities are jufb as real, as figure, or any other primary one." With regard to colour (for I have neither room nor leifure to run through all the other fecondary qualities), its non-exiftence is certain, not only from the preceding confidera- tions ; but, likewife, in general, from the natural darknefs of matter. Every atom (even thofe not excepted, which conftitute that exquifite fluid, calU ed light ; though it is the mofl attenuated and fubtil body with which we are acquainted) is, in- ** The plain, natural nieaning of this, is, that *' the thing per- ceived," viz. colour, confidered as refident in bodies, is ** real :" but that our "perception" of that ** real" colour is a mere ** iilu- fion!" — Without any *' illufion" at all, may we not pronounce Mr. Wefley to be the lameft, the blindett, and the moft felf- con trad idory wafter of ink and paper, that ever pretended to the name of rea- foner ? It is almoil a difgrace, to refute him. trinfically, Senfihle §ualities of Matter, <^e, 1 1 9 trlnfically, dark : and, confequently, colonrlefs. Light itlelf, by whofc intervention other bodies be- come, vifible, feems to depend greatly, if not en- tirely, for that power, on the exility, the extreme rarefadion, and on the incomparably rapid motion, expanfion, and protrudibility, of its component par- ticles \ by which properties, it is peculiarly fitted, ta aft upon the inftruments of animal fight ; as thefe are likewife reciprocally fitted to admit that fenfa- tion, which Providence defigned they fliouid receive, in confequence of being fo a6led upon. " All colours," fays Mr. Wefley, '« do as really exifi: without us, as trees, or corn, or heaven, or earth." He is welcome to enjoy a delufion, which (like mod of his other opinions) has not one found argument for its fupport. But hear him aaain : " When I fay, that cloth is of a red colpur ; I mean, its furface is fo difpofed, as to refiect the red; i. e. the largeft, rays of light. When I fay, the iky is blue, I mean, it is fo difpofed, as to re- fled the blue, i. e. the fmallefc, rays of light. And where is the delufion here ? Does not that difpofi- tion, do not thofe rays, as really exift, as either the cloth, or the fKy? And are they not as really refied- ed, as the ball in a tennis-court r" What, in the name of wonder, could induce Mr. W. to make thefe ' conceffions ? Concefiions, which cut the throat of his own hypothefis from ear to earl For I appeal to any competent Reader, whether the following conclufions do not neceffarily fiow from thofe premifes ? I. That colour is the mere creature of fenfa- tion : which fenfation is occafioned (net by any real tinge inlierent, either in the object, or in the rays of light ; but occafioned) by the " difpofition," i. e. by the texture, or configuration and connedion, of the fuperficial particles ; and by the " largenefs," or *-' fmallnefs," i.e. by the fize, of the "reflected rays." This is all very right, fo far as it goes. 2. That 1 10 A Tii^eriailon concerning the 2. That. " rednefs" and " bluenefs" (for infTancej are mere ideas, refulring from the peculiarly '* dif- pofed furfaccs" of the refleding bodies, and from the magnitude, or minutenefs, of the " rays" which thofe furfaces either ftrike back, or refra6l in various dire6lions. And what is this, but the very dodrine, againft which Mr. Weiley profeiTedly draws his wooden fword ? For, 3. As to the real exiftence of bodies, and their furfaces, and rays of light ; it is not queftioned by any, I knov/ of, except by the few followers of bifhop Berkley \ and they are*very few indeed. Not three dozen, I luppofe, inthe three kingdoms. 4. It follows, that Mr. Wefley's inconfiftent alTer- tion cannot, even on his own principles, be true : viz. that "colour is a real, material thing.*' No : it is an ideal thing ; generated in our minds by the ** difpofition" of " furfaces," and by the reverbera- tion, &c. of " rays." The Methodift goes on. " It is true, that, when they" [i. e. when irradiated furfaces] ''ftrike upon my eye, a particular fenfation follows in my foul. But that fenfation is not colour : I know no one that calls it fo." Nor I neither. The fenfation only gives at firil, and repeatedly excites afterv/ards, the idea of colour. For, properly Ipeaking, there is no fuch thing as abfolute colour, either in the bodies themfelves, or in the rays which they refled, or in the eye, or in the foul. Yet is the ideas founded on a complication of realities. For both the bodies, and the rays, and the eye, and the foul, have a pohtive exiilence. But Mr. Wefley has a dreadful peal of thunder in jeferve ; which he thus rattles over the head of na- tural philofophy. " Take it altogether" [i. e. be- lieve the fenfible qualities to be no more than fen- fible], '' what a fuppofition is this ! Is it not enough to make one's blood run cold } The great God, the creator of heaven amd earth, the fathec of the fpirits of SenJibJe ^taliiies of Matter^ &c, 1 2 1 of all flefli, the God of truth, lias encompafTetl with falfehood every foul that he has made ! Has given tip all manl, or 10,000 times more, is uncertain *." No difhononr will accrue to this great man, now fo largely quoted, by obferving, that, in what he fo ably delivered concerning the feccndary or fenfible qualities of matter, he Hood on the fhoulders of his illudrious fore-runner in fcience, Mr. Boyle. — Per- mit me, at once, to enrich the prefent appendix, with a few paragrachs from this laft-mentioned phi- lofopher; and to confirm its general drift, by the fandion of fo exalted an authority. " I do not deny, tliat bodies may be faid, in a very favourable fenfe, to have thofe qualities [po- tentially], which we call fenfible, though there were no animals in the world. For a body, m that cafe, may have fuch a difpofition of its conftituent cor- pufcles, that, if it were duly applied to the fenfory of an animal, it would produce fuch a fenfible [effsft], which a body of another texture would not. Thus, though, if there were no animals, * Locke's Effay, book 2. chap, 8, and chap. 25. I 3 there 126- A Dijfertation concerning th6 there would be no fuch thing as pain ; yet a [thorji,] may, upon account of its figure, be fitted to caufe pain, in cafe it were moved againft a man's finger : whereas a blunt body, moved againit it with no greater force, is not fitted to cauie any fuch per- ception. So fnow, though, if there were no lucid body, nor organ of fight, in the world, would ex- hibit no colour at all (for I could not find it had any, in places exaftly darkened); yet hath it a greater difpofition, than a coal, or foot, to reilecl fliore of light outwards, when the fun fhincs upon them all three. We fay, that a lute is in tune, whether it be actually played upon or no, if thefirirjgsbe allfo duly llretched, as that it would appear to be in tune, if it were played on. '^ Thruft a pin into a man's finger bcth before ^nd after his death. Though the pm be as fliarp, at one time, as at another; and makes, in both cafes alike, a folution of continuity; yet, in the former cafe, the adlion of the pin will produce pain : and not in the latter, becaufe, in this, the pricked body wants the foul, and, confequently, the perceptive faculty. — So, if there v/ere no fenfitive bemgs, thofe bodies, which are now the objects of our fenfes, v;ouid be no more than difpofitively endued with co- lours, taftes, and the like : but adtuaiiy w^th only the more catholic aifeclions of bodies, as figure, motion, texture, &c. *' To iiluftrate this yet a little farther. Suppofe a man (houid beat a drum, at fome diftance from the mouth of a cave, conveniently fituated to return the noife he makes. People will prefently conclude, that the cave has an echo : and will be apt to fancy, upon that account, fome * real property in the place, to * Real properties it undoubtedly has: and it is impoflible that any portion of matter fhonld be without them. But Mr^ Boyle means, that the particular cff«d, which we term found, is not of the number qf thofe real properties, but merely fendiivc and ideal ; a^d Senfble ^lalities of Matter y i£c. 127 to which the echo is laid to belong. Yet, to fpeak piiyfically of things, this pecuhar quahty, or pro- perty, which we fancy to be in the cave; is, in it, nothing elfe but the holiownefs of its figure, where- by it is fo difpofed, as when the air beats againll it, to refied the motion towards the place v/hence that motion began. And what paiies on the occafion, is indeed but this : the drumftick, faUing on the drum, makes a percuflion of the air, and puts that fluid body in an unduhiting motion; and the aerial waves, thru-fting on one another, until they arrive at the hollow fuperficies of the cave, have by reafon of its refiftance and hgure, their motion determined the contrary way : namely, backward, towards that part where the drum was when it was ftruck. So that, in that which here happens, there intervenes nothing but the figure of one body, and the motion of another : though if a man's ear chance to be in the way of thefe motions of the air forward and 'ba.ckward, it gives him a perception of them, w^hich he calls found. *' And whereas one body doth often feam to pro- duce, in another, divers I'uch qualities as we call len- lible ; which qualities therefore feem not to need any reference to our fenfes ; I confider, that, when one inanimate body works upon another, there is nothing really produced by the agent, in the patient, fave fome local motion of its parts, or fome change of texture confequent upon that motion': but, by means of its effccls upon our organs of fcnfe, we are induced to attribute this or that qualitv to it. So, if a piece of tranfparent ice be, by the falling of fome heavy and hard body upon it, broken into a grofs powder that looks whitiih; the falling body doth nothing to the ice, but break it into very fmall and becomes fo, when matter, >jnder certain mooes and clrcmift.inccs of figure and motion, is objeiSed to and operates upon the fuiiabl)^ difpofed organ of a perceiving sriimal. 1 4 fragments, 128 A Differ tatlon concerning the fragments, lying confufedly upon one another: though, by rcaron of the fabric of the world and of our eyes, there does, in thi day-tim^^, upon this comminution, enfue luch a kind of copious refle6t:iori of the incident light to our eyes, as vvc call wbite- nefs. And when the fun, by thawing this brokea ice, deftroysits whitenefs, and maKes it become dia- phonous, which it was not before ; thv" fun dues no more than alter the texture of the component parts, by putting them into motion, .and, there-' y, into a nev^^ order : in which, by reafon of the dirpoiition of the intercepting pores, they reliedt but few of the incident beams of light, and tranfmit moft of them. ** When you polifli a rough pl^jce of filver, that which is really done is but the depreilion of the little protuberant p;arts, into one level v,'iih the reft of the fuperficlei; : though, upon this m-echanical change of the texture of the fuperficial parts, we men fay, that it hath left the quality of roughnefs, and ac- quired that of fmoothnefs ; becaufe, whereas the ex- ftances did, before, b|^ their hgure, refift a little the motion of our finger, our finger now meets with no fuch offenfive refiitance. ". Fire will miake wax flow, and enable it to burn a man's hand. And yet this does not argue in it any inherent quality of heat, diftindl from the power it hath of putting the fmall parts of the wax into fuch a motion, as that their agitation furmounts their co-hcfion. But though we fuppofe the fire to do no more than varioufly and brilkly to agitate the infenfible parts of the wax, that may luflicc to make us think the v;ax endued with a quality of heat; becaufe, if fuch agitation be greater than that of our organs of touch, it produces m us the fenfa- tion we call heat : which is fo much a relative to the fenfory which apprehends it, that the fame luke- warm water (i.e. water whole corpufcles are mode- rately agitated by the fire) will feem hot to one of a man's Senfible ^alities of Matter , C^t\ 1 29 man's hands, if that hand be very cold ; and cold to the other, in cafe it be very hot ; though both of them be the fame man's hands. Bodies, in a world conflituted as our's now is, being brought to a6l upon the moft curioully contrived fenforics of animals, may, upon botn thefe accounts, exhibit many different fenfible phsenomena: which, how- ever we look upon them as diftindV qualities, are but the confequent effects of the often-mentioned catholic afFedions of matter, and deducible from the lize, (hape, motion, (or reft), pofture, order, and the refulting texture, of the infenfiblc parts of bodies. And therefore, though, for fhortnefs of fpeech, I Ihall not fcraple to make ufe of the word, qualiliei, fmce it is already fo generally received; yet, I would be underitood to mean it, in a fenfe fuitable to the do8:rine above delivered *.'* But there is one ccnfidcration, which, in my view of it, decides the queftion abfoluteiy and irrefraga- bly. To wit, the efTential famenefs of matter in all bodies whatever. The opinion, that what aje commonly termed the four elements, (viz. earth, water, air, and fire,) are fo many (imple and efTentially different principles, or abfolute and firft rudiments; feems, to me, an exceedingly erroneous fuppofition. For I take thofe elements, as they are ufually fcyled, tobe, themfelves, but fo many various modifications of that fame fim- ple matter, whereof all body, or extended fubftance, without exception, confiils -j-. Now, * Boyle's Origin of Forms and Qiialities, p. 31 — ^S, Edit, Oxf. 1667. t Without entering either deeply, or exteniively, into the confi- derations vbich determine me to this belief; I would barely offer the followin.!^ hints. I. I'd imagine, that Infinite Wifdom would multiply effences, without reaforihble caafe, were to folier an hyporhefis diretfily contrary to that beautiful fimpliciry, which, fo evidently, an-i fo univerfailv, charr6ciifes the vanegatd works of God. Nature (i. e. omnipotence behind the curtain] is radically frugal, though its 130 A Dijjh'tation concerning the Now, if it be allowed, that all matter is eflentially the fame, under every pofTible diverfit}^ of appear- ance ; ats ph^enomena exhibit almnft an infinity of moc^al cliverfification. Two effences only (viz. fpirit and matter) are fully fufficient, to ac- count tor every appearance, and to anfwer every known purpore, of creation, and of providence. What occafion, then, for rive? or, as fome fuppofe, for no fewer than fevcn^ viz. earth, vater, air, fire, light, sethcr, and fpirit ? Might we not, jull as rationally, dream of feventy, or even feventy millions of effences ? Sir Ifaac Newton's rule for philofophifing, and the argument on ■which be grounds it, ftrike me with all the force of felf-evidcjicc: CaU'fas rerum naturalium non plures admitti dtbere, quam qu^ et vera? lint, & earum phsenomenis exph"candis fufHciant. Dicunt utique philofophi: Natura nihil agit fiullra ; & frultra fit, per plnra, quod fieri poteft per pauciora, Natura enim fimplex eft, «&• rerum •Caufis fuperfiuis non luxuriat. If this be jiift, the admiffion of more offences, than two, would be totally inconfiitent with a firll and fundamental principle of all natural knowledge. 2. The four claffes of matter, commonly called Elements, are, in reiility, not fimple, but exceedingly compound, bodies ; and partake very much of each other. Which circumftance forms no incoofi- " fuch conceiiion would na- turally engender a farther miftake, viz. that at leaft thofe feven colours, which are denominated original ones, and which appear fo very difierent from- each other, are in fact: fo m.any different eiiences. But as this conciufion, though forcibly deducible from the premife, would be fraught with abfuvdities neither few nor fipall, we may foirly fufpect the preuiife itfelf to be untrue. combuftible coal (and confequently fire); both of which may be fo copious, as to leave no jail caufe to fufpe^"'!, that they con Id be ai)y thing near afforded by any little fpiritiious parts, U'hich may be prefumed to have been communicated, by that part of the vegetable that is firft put into the v^-ater, to that far grsater part of it which was committed to dill illation." Ori^iin of Forms, &c. p. 61 — 63. * Dr. PriciUey's Examination of Eeattie, &c. p. 145. An 134 A Dijjertation concerning the An objeclion was lately ftarted in private com- pany, againft the doflrine which maintains the uni- verfal famenefs of matter, 3S if, upon this hypothev fis, it would follow, that '' All bodies and all qua-* lities of bodies, are equally eftimable.'' Nothing, however, can be more frivolous than fuch a fup- pofition. It might as plaufibly be alledged, that, " Becaufe all adlions, confidered, as actions, are ex- ertions of power ; therefore, all a6lions are equally good.'* Whereas the modes and effeds of aftion occafion fuch vafh relative differences in adions themfelves : that a man of common underftanding and virtue cannot long hefitate, what fpecies of adlion to approve. Thus it is, with regard to bo- dies, and femblances. For, " Tho' the fame fun, with all-difFufive rays, Blufh in the rofe, and in the diamond blaze -, We prize the ftronger effort of his powV, And juftly fet the gem above the flow'r/* If a philofophic lady vifits a mercer's (hop with i view to Mt&i the brighteft filk it affords ; the fair cuftomer will be naturally led to fix her choice on that, whofe colourings appear, to her, the mod ele-^ gant and vivid : though flie knows that thofe co- lourings are illufive, and that, in reality, there is no fuch thing as abfolute colour at all. In fhort, we are foconftituted^ as to receive much more deledlable idea, from fome femblances, and from fome com.bi nations of femblances, than from others. And we, with very good reafon, like or diflike accordingly. Though, were our organs contrarily fabricated to what they ares the fame obje(5ls, which now give us pleafure, would be fources of pain : and what we now reiifli as de- firable, and admire as beautiful, would ftrike us as dif^^uftful and deformed. How Senjible ^fali/ies of Matter, &e, i -^ ^ How often are pleafures and pains generated by imaginary confiderations! And yet thole pains and pleafures are as real, and fonietimes flill more poig- nant and exquifitc, than if they were judly founded. Dr. Dodderidge has fome concifc obfervations, on the fecondary quahties of bodies, much to the pur- pofe of my general argument. " The fame external qualities, in objecls, may excite diifcrcnt ideas iu different perfons. " I. If the or2:ans of fenfation be at all different, the ideas of the fame objed: rnufc be proportionably fo, while the fame laws of nature prevail. '' 2. It is probable, there may be fome degree of difference, in the organs of different perfons. For inftance : in the diftance of the retina and chryfba- line humour of the eye ; in the degree of extenfion in the tympanum of the ear ; in the acrimony of the faliva, &c. And the variety, which is obfervableia the faces, the voices, and the bones of men ; and almoil through the whole face of nature ; would lead us to fufped:, that the fame variety might take place here. *^ 3. Thofe things, which are very pleafing to one, aje extremely difagreeable to another. " 4. Thofe things which are, at one time, very agreeable; are, at another, very difagreeable; to the fame perfon : when the organs of his body are indifpofed, or when other difagreeable ideas are af- fociated with thofe that had once been grateful *." Thus, as Mr. Boyle remarks, " Some men w^hofe appetites are gratified by decayed cheefe, think it then not to have degenerated, but to have attained its befh ftate, when, having loft its former colour and fmell and tafte, and, which is more, being in great part turned into thofe infeds called mites ; it is both, in a philofophical fenl'e, corrupted, and, m * Dodderidge's Lectures, p. 15. the 136 A Differ tat ion concerning the the eftlmation of the generality of men, growii putrid *." It is well-known, that fome perfons have, literally, fainted, not only at the continued fjght of the above-mentioned viand, whether decayed or found ; but (which evinces the artipathy to be unaticded) eveti when the offending fubftance has been totally concealed, from the view of the unfufpedling gueft, by thofe who have purpofely tried the brutal and in- hofpitable experiment. — Others will be convulfed, at the approach of a cat.— And I have heard of a gentleman, who would fwoon, at the prefence of a cucumber properly cut and prepared for the table. Now, whence is it, that what eminently gratifies the fenfes of one individual, Iliall thus have a re- verfe effect on thofe of another ? Certainly, not from any difference in the objed : for both the fubftance and the attributes of that remain precifely the fame, whether the perceptions, which they occafion in us, be pleafmg, or oflenfive. Confequently, if one and the fame objed operate in fo contrary a manner on the fenfitive organs of various people -, the diverfity of effe61:, where it really obtains, rnuft be owing to a modal variation in the mechanical ftrucfture of the fenfitive organs themfelves. I confider it, therefore, as equally ungenerous and abfurd, when particular averfions, feem they ever fo odd, are haftily blamed and ridiculed. They may be, and very frequently are, conftitutional, and infuperable. The elegant fex, efpecially, are often favagely cen- fured, on thefe accounts. If a lady turn pale, when it thunders j or ftart from a fpider; or tremble at a frog; or fliriek at the nigh appearance of a moufe j I cannot, in common juftice, laughingly exclaim, with Dean Swift, * Origin of Forms, &c, p. 59. *' If Senftble ^lalities of Matter, ^c. 137 *' If chance a moufc creep in her fight, She finely counterfeits a fright : '. So fweetly fcreams, if it come near her, It raviflies all hearts to hear her.*' Such antipatliies are not, dways, to be clafled under the article of affedation, nor even of prejudice. They frequently arife, more particularly in females, and in very young perfons, from the extreme deli- cacy of their nervous and organic fyftems. I fmiled, indeed, on a lady's once faying to me, I havejuft payed a morning vifit to Mrs. G ; and really thought I fhould have fainted away, on feeing the cloth laid for dinner, at fo fliocking an hour as one o'clock. This, I confefs, ftruck me, at firft, as the language, not cf real, but alTumed, ele- gance : and I treated it accordingly; by hoping, that '*in all her future vifits to Mrs. G , (he would previoufly arm herfelf with a fmelling-bottle, for fear of confequences." I will not, however, be too peremptory in denying, that the fight of a table- cloth, difplayed at an hour defmed fo *' fhockingly" unfeafonabie, might literally excite fome, though not an infupportable, degree of painful vibration, in the nerves of fo refined a perfon. A few other famifiar illuflrations of our main point fiiall clofe the prefent difquifition. '* We will imagine a gentleman to be, as we com- monly phrafe it, violently in love. That is : the charms, or aiiemblage of fenfible qualities, in a par- ticular lady, are exactly adapted to.firike with rap- ture a fyftcm of fenfes fo fabricated as his ; and, of courfe, to fall in with his ideas of beauty, merit, and accomplin;iment. — What is the confequence ? He becomes her captive; and can no more avoid be- cdming fuch, than an afpin leaf can refift the im- pulfe of zephyr. Hence, fhe is necelTarily confider- ed; by him, as an Helen, a Venus, a Panfebia. " Grace is in all her fteps : heav*n in her eye : In ev'ry gefture, dignity and love." Vol. VI. (30.) K And 138 A Dijfertation cmcerning the And yet this felf-fame lady may appear far lefs at- trading ; or but barely paflable ; or, perhaps, in fome refpeds, even homely and difagreeable ; to the eyes of another man. — Why? Becaufe our ideas de- pend upon our fenfes : and our fenfes depend upon their own interior conformation, for the particular caft and mode of every perception which is imprefled upon them from without. Hence, it is a common phrafe, concerning a man who has never been in iove, that lie has not feen the right objed. And nothing can be more phllofophically true. A lady, too, may be totally and inextricably cap- tivated. When this is the cafe, the happy fwain fhines, in her eftlmation, a Narciflus, an Adonis, a Phoebus. Nor are the virtues of his mind diflanced by the charms of his perfon. Other gentlemen may have their moral excellencies : but he, the incom- parable he, is " More juft, more wife, more learn'd, more ev'ry thing.'' While, perhaps, a great part of her acquaintances fhall unite to wonder, very ferioufly, what flie could poffibly fee in this imaginary fanfpareill ; and even lift up their hands, at her monftrous indelicacy of tafte. Parental affedion, likewife, affords obvious and ftriking proof of the theory for which I have been pleading. " Where yet was ever found a mother. Who'd give her booby for another } No child is half fo fair and wife ! She fees wit fparkle in its eyes." Very probably. And it is alfo very poflible, that die may be the only perfon in the world, who is able to difcern any fuch thing. An acquaintance, or an occafional vifitant, fo far from agreeijig with the en- raptured parent, w^ould, perhaps, cry out, if polite- nefs Senjible §iialities of Matter^ is^c: '1J9 nefs did not prohibit, concerning the fweet little dear, who pafles for the " very image of his papa and mamma.** " Where are the fathef's mouth and nofe ? And moiher's eyes, as black as floes ? See here a fliocking, awkward creature, That fpeaks ihe fool in ev'ry feature T* DifTcrent people ^ee the fame things differently.—* And thu3>> as Mr. Meimoth writes to his friend : " Though we agree in giving the fame names, to certain vifible appearances ; as whitcnefs, for in- ftance, to fnow : yet it is by no means dernonftra- tipn, that the panicu'iar body, which affeds us with that fenfation, raifes the fame precife idea in any two perfons who fhould happen to contemplate it together. I have often heard you mention your youngeil daughter, as being the exa6l counter part of her mother. Now, ihe does not appear, to me, to refemble her, in any fingie feature. To what can this Ciiikgreement in our judgm.ents, be owing ; but to a diiterence in the ftrudlure of our organs of fight * r What ftiall we fay of felf-love } How many noble and delightful fenfiblc qualities does a man of this caft really believe himfeif to pofTefs ; moft, if not all, of which, are abfolutely invifible to every other beinp, ! o What fine fingers I have ! ' faid a lady, once, in my hearing : how beautiful the joints are turned! Undoubtedly The thought fo. But dodors differ. Not on.'.y the articulation of her fingers, but ihe conflrudlion of her own hand, feemcd, to me, rati:er cluniiy than elegant. The fame lady (by the wav) aduaiiy thought herfelf finlefs. But herein, iikewile, I couid not help diflenting from her judgment. * FitZ'Ofborne'? Letters^ Vol. 1, Let. 34. K 2 A vain 1 40 A DiJfertaUon concerning the A vain man is, generally, flill vainer, than the vaineft female. Mr. John Wefley, for example, de- clares himfelf to be " the greatefl minifter in the world.'' ' I do him the juftice to believe, that, in permitting this declaration to pafs the prels, his avowed vanity was the honefh trumpeter of his heart. But how few others will fubfcribe t6 his opinion 1 There is more learning, in one hair of my head, faid the felf enamoured Paracellus, than in all the univer- lities together. Who ever queftioned, herein, the fincerity of that pratling empiric ? But who does not more than queftion the reality of thofe great qualities, on which he fo extravagantly and fo ridi- culouily valued himfelf? — When, a bookfeller, de- firous to prefix an engraving of Julius Scaliger to one of that critic's publications, requefled him to fit for a likenefs ; Julius modeftly anfwered, If the artift can colled: the feveral graces of Maffinifla, of Xenophon, and of Plato, he may then be able to give the w^orld fome faint idea of my perfon. If Scaliger was in love with his own outward man, Dr. Richard Bentley was no Icfs fo with his own intellec- tual improvements. Mr. WalFe {faid the dodor, very gravely) will be the greateft fcholar in England, when I am dead. — Peter Aretin had a medal flruck, at his owm expence, exhibiting his own profile j en- circled with this humble infcription : /'/ divino Are- tino, i. e. the divine Aretin*. 'When I reficd on fuch inftances of ielf- idolatry, as thefe, they remind me of Congreve's obfervation : '* If happinefs in >f felf-content is plac'd, The wife are wretched, and fools only bieft." We * In fetting Mr Wefley at the head of thefe felf-admiring gen- tlemen, I by no means intend to inHnuate, tbar he ftantis on a level with the loueft of them, in any one article ; that of vanity and con- ceit, alone, excepted. Mifi^ke ire not, therefore, as though I nieant to put him, ahfoJutely, into the company of fuch men as Paracelfus, Scaliger, Eentley, and Aretin. + True happinefs, however, is not placed in ** felf-content :'* but arifes from a comfortable apprehenfion of our reconciliation to Goi Seufble ^talities of Matter y i^c. 141 ^We have taken a furvey of love, in more of its terminations than- one. Let us, for a moment, ad- Tert to its oppofite. In revolving the defcription, which the celebrated Dr. John Ponet, bifhop of Winchefter, has given us of his Popilih predecelibr in that fee, 1 have been prone to furmife, that the latter might really appear as hideoufly frightful, in the eyes of the former, as the following written pi6ture reprefcnts him to have done. '' This do6lor,*' fays bi(hop Ponet, fpcaking of Stephen Gardiner, *' has a fwart colour, hanging look, frowning brows, eyes, an inch within his head ; a nofe, hooked like a buzzard ; noftrils like an horfe, ever fnuffing into the wind ; a *fparrow mouth, great paws, like the devil's. Taions on his feet, like a gripe [i. e. like a gryphon], ;tWo inches longer than natural toes ; and fo tied to with fmews, that he cannot abide to be touched, nor fcarce fuffer them to touch the ftones. And nature, having thus fhaped the form of an old monfler, gave him a vengeable wit, which, at Cambridge, by labour and diligence, he made a great deal worfe : and brought up many in that faculty*." Such was bidiop Gar- diner, according to bifbop Ponet's view of him. Notwithftanding which, this identical Gardiner might feem, in his own eyes, and in the eyes of queen Mary and others of his friends, a portly, per- fonable prelate. To be ferious. Let me, by way of needful and fmcere apology, for a difquifition which has extend- ed to an unexpedled length, obferve ; that, in fift- ing the queflion, it was neceflary to recur to firft principles, and to furvey the argument in various points of view. Let me, moreover, add ; that, in God by the blood and righteoufnefs of his fon. Hence, a good man ftiall be fuisfied [not with, buV] from himfelf : Prov. xiv. 14, viz. from w.ithiri : or from the inward teftimony of the Holy Spirit, wit- nefling to his confcience that he is a child of God. Rom. viii. 16. * Biogr. Did. vol. v. p. 307. ^Article, Gardiner, K3 all 14* A DiJJertation, &c. all I have delivered on the fubjewV, I do but exprefs my own fenfe of it, without the leaft aim of dictat- ing to others : or of prefumptuoufly feeking to ob- trude my philofophic (any more than my religious) creed, on fuch perfons as m^y honour thefe pages with perufal. Upon the whole, I conclude, with Mr. Locke*; that " The infinitely wife Contriver of us, and of all things about us, has fitted our fenfes, faculties, and organs, to the conveniences of life, and to the bufi^ nefs we have to do. Such a knov/ledge as this, which is fuited to our prefent condition, we want not faculties to attain. But, were our fenfes altered, and made much quicker and acuter, the appearances and outward fcheme of things would have quite another face to us : and, I am- apt to think, would be inccnhfti^nt with our being, or at leaf!: well-being, in this part of the univerfe which we inhabit." * EffayonUnd. bopl^ ii. chap. 23, COLLEC- COLLECTION OF LETTERS. THE following letters were written by the author without the lead view to publication, but foon after his deceafe, by the advice of friends, fome of them were deemed proper to be printed. It (liould have been notified at the time, that they were fud- den thoughts committed to paper without correc- tion. For in a book that the rough draught of the letters were infertcd, a memorandum was made, verbatim, as follows : **' In looking among fome old papers, I met with the copies of a few letters, which I had formerly written, and which I defie;ned to enter, either in this or fome other plain paper book, by way of preferv- ing them, for my own future fatisfadion, if Provi- dence (hould pleafe to.preferve my life." " The finding of thofe, fuggefted to me the hint of takmg foul copies of fuch letters as are any way interefting. I may, hereafter, write to particular friends, before I draw them out fair for the pod. If I live, they may be of ufe to myfeif ^ it not, they can do me no hurt." Broad Hembury, A, X. Oft. I, 1772. The chief value of this colle6tion, lies in the exhi- bition it gives of the diftinguifhed merit, and pious occupation that followed the writer of them in his private correfpondence. They are interfperfed with feveral obfervations on religion and human life, and /hew a heart penetrated with truth, endeavouring to perfuade others, accompanied with fprightlinefs of wit, folidity of judgment, extent of knowledge, and elegance of tafte, joined with all the undefine- able eafe, and familiarity of the moft unreferved. convcrfation, which takes off that infipidnefs of a la- boured ilifFnefs that often attends the epiflolary in- tcrcourfe of many very fenfible perfons. Editor. K 4 LET- LETTER I. Mr. E. Fen Ottery, March 6 , 1767. Ever dear Sir, WILL my honoured friend forgive me, if, from a kind impatience to be informed of his welfare, I take the liberty to enquire how he does ? Though writing letters is one of the things, which, in general, I am lead fond of, yet I cannot forbear, dear fir, to prefent you and Mrs. , with my re- fped:s, and to wilh you the joys of believing, and the comforts of the holy fpirit. 1 have been return- ed into Devonfliire about a fortnight : Mr. is at London, attending the fervice of parliament ; fo that I cannot, very readily, get my letter franked. I am glad, notwithftanding, that he is abfent, as he was one of the two hundred and fix members, who, this day fe'nnight, carried the vote for the reducflion of the land-tax, inoppofition (as he writes me word) to one hundred and eighty-eight, who were for keep- ing it up to four fliillings. But, to come to matters of infinitely greater importance, I hope, fir, you are enabled to truil your foul to Chrift, and to caft your care on God. Satan, no doubt, will be ever ready to bring in the indi(5lnient, and confcience cannot help pleading guilty to a great part of the charge : but remeniber, that your judge is, at the very fame time, your advocate and Saviour. " He is a lover of your foul, and was the propitiation for your fins ; they cannot be too numerous, nor too heinous, for mercy like his to pardon, nor for merit like his to cover. Only flee to him for refuge, fly to the hiding place of his righteoufnefs, death and interceflion ; and LETTERS. 145 and then, the enemy can have no final advantage over you, nor the Ton of wickednefs approach to hurt you, in your evciUfting intereft. Aflliult you he may, in your way to the kingdom of God ; overcome«jyou he *cannot, if you look, or dcfire to look, "to Jefus for f;;fety ; lie at his bleffed feet for proteftion ; lay hoki on his vidlorious crofs for falvation ; and then 3^ou fliall find him gra- cious to relieve, migluy to deliver, and faithful to uphold. Cafb anchor on his love, ^ and be happy, rely on his omnipotence, and be fafe. He knows that you are very near my heait, that not a day paffes, in which I do not befeech him on your be- half; may his holy fpirit diffufe his heavenly peace throughout your foul ; make you be joyful with his holy vilitations ; and while he comforts you from on high, fanclify you to the uttermoft ! In life, in death, in eternity, may he be your light, your flrength, and your exceeding great reward ! I know that your health is fo bad, you cannot read much, but you can pray ; you can fend up your defires, as incenfe, to the throne of God, almoft every mo- ment. As you fit, as you walk, as you take an airing, you may cultivate an intimacy with heaven ; you may carry on a correfponclence with God, you may hold filent intercourfe with the fpirit of grace. Every figh, if diredled to him, is a prayer; every tearfhed for fin, is a fort of oblation, acceptable to him in Chrift, and fliall be noted in his book. Yet, not the fighs we breathe, nor the tears we pour, are our juftifying merit ; but the figh, the tears, the obedience, the death, of his co-eternal Son : his are the propitiations ; our's are the memorial, and the proof of the work of grace, which his fpirit begins in the fouL Refign ycurfelf to his w^ill, in every dif- penfation ; lie pafiive in his hand, ftir not from his footilool, take all your fpiritual diftreffes, as com- miiiioned from him. The cup, the medicinal cu[), •is of his mixing ; the chaftifement is the chaftife- iBent of a father, who loves while he ftrikes, and whofe i46 LETTERS. whofe feeming wrath is real mercy. May his, evcr-^ lading arms be fpread beneath you ; may his grace (as 1 doubt not it will) be fufficient for yoii , may his prelence be with you, with yours, and with your afFedionate fervant in him, Augtiftus 'Toflady, P. S. From my earneft defire, for to have you manage every one of your affairs in fuch a way as may mofl conduce to the peace of your own mind, and the welfare of your family ; I cannot help re- queftmg leave to fugged an hint, which, was my re- gard for you lefs than it is, I Qiould certainly fup- prefs : it is, my dear fir, in relation to Mrs. , and your two younged fons : with refped to Mrs. ■■ ■ , God forbid that you fhould leave her de- pendent, either for habitation, or for maintenance, on your children, or on any body elfe. If you are not quite clear as to thefe two points, do let me befeech you, to revife your papers ; and if there is any deficiency in either of thefe refpeds, fet it right, while Providence, by prolonging your life, continues it in your power. Indeed, and indeed, you will not difcharge your duty without it ; nor can you exped to depart in peace, if you omit it.. With regard to your two younged fons, let me en- treat you to leave them equally ; they have both the fame right to your affection, and to what you may defign to give. Their aunt's kind intentions, ought to make no difference as to this point : it is incumbent on you, my dear fir, to do your duty; and by that means, Mrs. , will be left (as (lie ought to be) at full liberty to bedow her favours on the mod dcierving. Weigh what I have laid, and may the Lord God give you a right judgement in all things. It is not from motives of impertinence, that I have prefumed to mention thefe particulars, but from the fincere aire<^ions I have for you and your's. LETTERS. 147 your's. Aditu, my dear friend, and forgive mc, if my regard has carried me too far. My bell reipects, when you write next to Bath, and my kind compli- ments to the young gentlemen. Do not neglect to take the air every day. Once more, adieu. LETTER II. To Mr. Morris, Broad'Hembury, near Honiton^ Devon/h. Sept, 2, 1768. ,TT is, now, above eight years, fince I faw, or heard -■- from, my ever dear Mr. Morris. The Lord knows, you are near my heart, and are often prefent to my thoughts. God grant that this letter may find my valued friend as well in body, and as lively in foul, as. when I faw him lad ! I have been in orders, between fix and feven years ; and .now write to you from my living. The fpirit of God has kept me fl;edfaft in his glorious truths, and given me much joy and peace in beheving. I tiuft, too, that my labours, as a minifter, have been owned from above, to the calling in of fome chofen veiTeis, and to the confolation of others who were, before, quickened from their death in trefpalfes and fms : Vv'hich I mention to the praife of the glory of his grace, who vouchfafes to make ufe of the meaneft, the feebleft, and the unworthieli: inftru- •ments, to accompliih his dcfigns of love towards thofe he delights to fave. — VVhiKt I am writing, the fire kmdles in my foul : may it reach your heart, when this letter reaches your hands. I am, at preient, high on the mount of divine Icve, and can fing with the Church, Ifa. Ixi. 10. "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord," &c.— How is it with you ? Are you as zealous I4S LETTERS. zea ous for Chrifli, and fox fouls, as when God made you the means of my converfion twelve years ajro ? O that the Lord would rend the heavens, and come do'vvn, and fet you all in a fiame for himfelf ! Per- mit your fpiritual Son to remind you of the fweet, the memorable days and months that are pail. In- deed, and indeed, 1 loveydu tenderly, in tne bowels of Jefus Chrift. How has my heart burnt within me, and how have my tears flowed, like water from the fmitten rock, when I Irave heard you preach the unfearchable riches of his grace, blood, and righte- oufnefs ! 'I'he word came with povver, and with the Holy Ghoftfentdown from heaven. And is it true, can it be poffible, that you (hould ceafe from your work of calling fmners to repentance ? Do you with- draw your hand from the gofpel- plough, after God. has made it profper fo long in your hands ? I ant told fo ; but I cannot believe it. O man of God, ftir up the gift that is in thee : let it nnt rull and moulder, by lying ufelefs. The Lord hath often fpoke to me by your mouth: Oh, that he would now fpeak to you by my pen ! Do, at my requeft, meet the dear people of C and who knows, but there may, once more, be (bowers of blefiing? Bldw the trumpet in Zion, as heretofore. While life and health and ftrength continue, let your feet ftand up- on the mountains, and the law of gofpel-kindnefs dwell uponyourtongue, to the very lafl : yea, let your iips feed many. — Adieu'. I fcarce know how to leave off, when I write to any of my brethren in the faith. If even the poor, feeble, m.ortal faints be- low, love one another fo well: no wonder that the love of an infinite God to his own deareled, (liould be from everlafting to everlafting. — Eleding, jufti- fying, regenerating, fandifying, and perfevering grace, have been, and are, the fubjeds of my mini- firy : and, I hope, will be, to my latefl: breath. If a melTengcr of Chrift is under the lively, experi- mental influence of thefe glorious truths; the word ot" LETTERS. 149 of his mafter will be as fire in his bones: yea, he will be in pangs, as it were, like a woman in travail, until Chrift is formed in the hearts of them that .hear. God Almighty pour out fuch a fpirit of fer- vency on my dear Mr. Morris, and on his ever affedionaie friend, Augujlus I'oplady, J 7 LETTER IIL To Mr. Phi LI PS, Broad -Hembwy, Sept. 6, 1768. Sir, , ' I Believe I (liall go to town by way of Sali(bury ; In which cafe, I will certainly do myfelf the pleafure of calling on you. I wifh I could fulfil your re- quefl in the other particular, concerning which you write ; but the times will not allow It. Every one, that knows me, knows that I have the grcatefc and moft cordial regard for the evangelical dilfenters. I am exaQly the fame, in that refpe6l, as when you knew me firfl: : and mod heartily wiili that the wall of partition was fo far pulled down, as to admit all gofpel miniflers to occupy each others* pulpits, with- out diflinclionof party and denomination. But, as this is an happinefs we cannot exped to fee; I am under a neceffity of foregoing the fatisfa61ion it would give me to hold forth the word of life to thofe Chrif- tians who are beyond the pale of the eftabllPnment : except (which, in the courfe of my miniflry, many hundreds have done) any of them are fo conde- fcending as to attend on me, who, they know, arh tied up from waiting on them.— I am well acquaint- ed with Mr. Elliot ; and an excellent man he Is : but he has fet himfelf more at liberty, than I can be, by abfolutely 150 LETTERS. abfolutely renouncing all conneflion with the Church of England ;' which, I freely own-, confclence will not futFer me to do : and I am clear, moreover, that it would be going out of bounds, and over-leaping thofe limits which Providence hath prefcribed me, was I to attempt it. Pray make my affediionate compliments accept- able to your people, and let them know, that it is neither bigotry, want of refpe6t, nor want of love, that hinders me from complying with the re- quefl: they have done me the fivour to make. Law- ful, in itfelf, 1 am convinced, it would be : but, all things confidcred, far from expedient. — As mat- ters at pre tent ftand, it is a great bleffing, never to be fufficiently valued and acknowledged, that there are fome faithful miniflers of every Proreftant deno- mination among us : fo that no denomination, un- lefs particularly circumftanccd, need go beyond their own tents, in order to gather the gofpei manna: by which v^^ife and gracious dilpenfation of things, God's elecl, of every name, are fed and nourifiied up to life eternal, notwithftanding the nominal diilinc- tions, which bigotry, prejudice, and human laws, have fixed. — 1 am concerned to hear of Mr. H- — 's defection. If he was ever of us in reality, God^will, in due time, bring him to us again. A truly gra- cious man, hke a thorough good watch, may deviate, and point wrong, for afeafon ; but, like the ma'chine juft mentioned, will, after a time, come round, and point right as before. Li the mean while, let fuch inftances teach us io be jealous over our own cor- rupt hearts ^ make us dependent, feniibiy and in- creafingly dependent, on the power and faithfulnefs of the Holy Ghoft : ftir us up to prayer, that we may be kept from being carried away with the error of the wicked ; and put a fong of thanksgiving into our mouths, to that God, whofe free, invincible grace hath eiia^bled uf'To ftand, when others (in appear- ance, ftronger than we) iiave fallen, and become as water LETTERS. 151 water that runneth apace. — You enquire about my iifefulnefs, acceptance, and number ot hearers. My parilh is very large, and confiderably pc-pulous. My Church, 1 fuppole, will hold lix hundred at Icaft. Strangers, I apprehend, ufually make one third of my auditory : and the word has been fignajiy blcfl to fome, both in the parifh and out of it. I have the greateft reafon to believe, that, within the courie of the lad twelvemonth, God has owned my miniilry more than ever. May my Mailer's feet go on to found behind me; and may the laft works be, con- tinually, more and greater than the preceding I Atignjius Joplady. LETTER IV. To Mr. R u T T E R, Broad'Hembury^ October 2,^ 1768. Rev. and Worthy Sir, C L E N D E R as our acquaintance Is, I yet can- *^ not forbear requefting leave to exprefs the real concern I feel, on being informed of the affliclivc Tifitation you lately experienced : if that may be termed afflidive, which is the refult of God's uner- ring providence, who does all things well. May he vouchfafe to fandify this, and every fubfequent dif- penfation which may yet befal you ! May the light of his gracious countenance, the comforts of his fpirit, aad the chearing intimations of his favour, be your flrengtb, and your portion, when heart and ileOi fail ! You have, I trufl, a merciful and faithful high-prieft above, who bears you on his heart, and is touched with the feeling of your infirmities. To him^ let us look ; on him, let the anchor of cur re- liance 1^2 LETTERS. liance be call. The merit of his blood and righte- . oufnefs, Hk.e the waving of Elijah's mantle, Ihall fmite the waters of death; fo that the ftream fhali part hither and thither, and open a way for his re- deemed to pafs over on dry ground. D» ubt not, dear fir, but he wiU fend forth his light and his ^truth, to lead you to his holy hill and to his dwell- ing-place, that land of reft, and that city of ha- bitation, where the inhabitants ilull no more fay, I am fick. I beg an intcreft in your prayers, and remain, with much refped and eileem, Rev. Sir, your affedionate brother, and mo ft humble fervant, Augtijlus Toplady- LETTER V. To Mr. BOTTOMLEY, New-Way, Wefimhtjler, Bee, 3, 1768. Worthy Sir, I HAVE read, attentively, the paper you con- defcended to put into my hands ; and which I return, becaufe I apprehend you meant I (liould only perufe it, I not only approve, but admire, the modefty, with which ' you write. I pray God, I may be enabled, more and more, to adopt the fame truly Chriftian fpirit. And I verily hope and be- lieve, that that moft gracious Being, who has led you thus far, will go on to tranflate you farther and far- ther into the light and liberty of his diiiidren,— As I once took occafion to tell you, it is much the fame with miftakes in matters of judgment, as it was with the two difciples in the dungeon of Philippi : firft, the prifon ihakes j apd, next, the doors fly open. I / ain LETTERS. 153 am heartily glad, that you are fliaken, as to the fyftcm you have long embraced ^ and truft, that it is prelufive to your deliverance from it. — I do not trouble you with my thoughts on the fubftance of your paper: though I muft own, tlicre is not, in the whole of it, any finale exception againft the doctrine of predeflination, which will not admit of a very ealy folution. Lut I omit attempting this, as the per- fon, to v;hom that letter was particularly addreiled, is abundantly more capable, than myfelf, of obviating your doubts.— Suffer me, dear fir, to repeat, with all humility, the requcfi: I made to you lome time ago; Be not hafty, in determining your judgment on this moft important point. View the qucftion on all fides. Chiefly, keep your eye fixed on the Scrip- tures ; and derive, by humble, earneft, waiting prayer, all your light and knov/ledge from thence. One thing I am very clear in ; that, if you reduce your ideas to the ftandard of Scripture, and make this the mode] of thofe ; fuffering the unerring word of revelation to have the caftiiig vote, and turning your mind into thegofpel mould ; you mufh and will, eventually, throw the idol of Arminianifm, in all its branches, to the moles and to the batts ; you will no longer dwell with Mefech, nor have yout habitation among the tents of Kedar. Having tafted the good old wine of diftinguilhing grace, you will no longer have any relilhforthe new fcheme of grace withovit a plan, and of a random-falvation : for j^ou will both know and acknowledge, that the old h better. Hoping to fee that happy time, I remain, with great efteem, dear fir, your afiedtionate brother in Chrift, Jugtijiiis Toplady, Voi.VLfqo.l L LETTER (30^ 154 LETTERS. LETTER VI. Mr. N . Bread'Hembwryy 051, 5, 1774. Dear Sir, "VT" O U need not trouble yourfelf to fend me the -*- pamphlet you mention, entitled, A Philofo- phical Survey of Nature. It is already in my pof- feflion. 1 remember to have read it, feveral years ago, when it firft came to my hands : and, fince mj* receipt of your lad favour, I have given it a frefh pe- rufal. The author is, undoubtedly^ a profefled materialift. His fyftem therefore is atheiftical, to all intents and purpofes. He is, I fliould imagine, a perfon of too much fenfe, to be an abfolute atheift himfelf : but he feems to wiQi he could. The two grand principles, which enter into the very balis of his fcheme, viz. That matter may have exifted from ^11 eternity; and that matter may, by organization, be refined into intelligence : are pofitions, which, if admitted, would lay the axe to the very root of all exiftence purely fpiritual; and, confequently, render the being of God impofilble. To fuch horrid lengths of abfurdity and impiety, are men, even thofe or the brightefl talents, liable ; when they unhappily fluit their eyes againft that written revelation, which fo kindly holds the lamp io beniighted reafon. One would almoft think, that writers of this cafl are purpofely raifed up by- Providence, to fhew mankind the necefCty of fu* perior illumination;, and to demonftrate the utter infufficiency of mere reafon, genius and philofophy» to guide lis either to happinels or truth. ' This is the only principle, on which I can ac- count for the glaring inconfiftencies,. which never fail to difgrace the reafonings of. infidels. The very author, now under confideration,. though he at- tenuates I LETTERS. 155 tenuates his theory to a very nice and pluufible tex- ture, h y Lightfoct's father? Turk, — Who was father to Turk? Sweep- flakes. — Who got Sweepftakes ^ Hazel. Were we capable of tracing back the pedigree of Lighifoot to its original fource, we fhould not ftop until we came to the very firft horfe that ever e^iifted. Being arrived fo high as that, another queftion would yet remain : how came this firft horfe to exift at aii ? Certainly, by the will and power of forae fuperior being. L 2 Wovld 156 LETTER S.. Would not reafon laugh at the man who (hould affirm, that there never was a firft horfe, but that horfes exifted eternally ? There muft, therefore, in all our afcending en^ quiries, be fome ultimatum^ fome. given point, at which to flop. This given point, this firft caufe, is God. — The lame analyfis, which has been applied to Lightfoot, will hold equally true, when applied to any material thing whatever. All muft terminate fomewhere : for there is " no effedl without a caufe.'* Confequently, matter is not eternal. " But may not matter be fo organized and refin- ed, as to rife into what we call intelligence ?'* The plain Englilh of this queftion is, " May not matter, (fuch as a cabbage, a marble ftatue, a candle, or 2i, cheft), be able to hear, fee, feel, tafte, fmell, reafon, fpeak, read, write, and walk V If any individual of the human fpecies can coolly and in earneft fuppofe this; let his next of kin (if the infane man's pof- feflionswill regompence the trouble) fue foraftatute of lunacy, and tranfmit him to his proper apartment in Moorfields. I confefsmyfelf afliamed to encounter fuch a pofi- tlon, with any degree of ferioufnefs. Suffer me, how- ever, to afk : Is there no eftential, but only a modal difference, between the writer of the Philofophical Survey of Nature, and the pen with which he com- mitted his ideas to writing ? , A correfpondent, lefs polite than yourfelf, would tell me, perhaps, that, inftead of enquiring into the capacities of cur author's pen, it is time I fhould la,y down my own. I cannot, however, do this, without firft repeating the affe(ftion and refpeA with which I am^ yours, &c, Aupijius Toplady,. LETTER LETTERS. 157 LETTER VIL To B. S. EsQ^ Broad- Ilembury, Nov, 9, 1772* Sir, ACQUAINTED as you are with the leading objeds of my thoughts, you ftill would not eafily conjedure on what fpeculation they lately turned.— I have been comparing my own fituation (not as fome philofophers advife, with perfons of in- ferior rank to myfelf ; but) with that of thofe whom the world calls great. Every great man I know, has palTed before me in a kind of intelledlual review : and the refult is, that, if it were even in my po\fer, I would not make an exchange of condition with any one of the twenty-feven. To be happy, we muft be virtuous : and, in order to our becoming truly virtuous, we muft experience the grace of God which bringeth falvation. Aiigujius Toplady, LETTER VIII. Ambrose Serle, Escti Broad'Hembury, Nov. 20, 1772. Sir, CONTRARY to my wifhes, and by a fort of fatality, for which I find myfelf unable to ac- count, I am, ufually, leaft regular, in writing to thofe, whom I moft regard. Though incapable of forgetting them, experience proves that I am but L3 too 158 LETTERS. too capable of feeming to negled them : and none has motereafon to bedifpleafed with me, oil this ac- count, fhan my dear, my very dear friend, to whom I am now, after a long interval of filence, addrefling myfeif at lad. How many defefts have I, for your candour to excufe! Prove yourfelf candid indeed, by excufing them all. Thus will you lay me under ftill deeper obligation, and (hameme, by your ccndefcenfion, into a m.ore punctual acknowledgement of your favours. — Your favours, dear fir, eminently deferve the name. They have followed me, at home, and abroad, ever fince 1 faw you ; and if I had, by a deadnefs to all gratitude, been even difpofed to forget you, they would have conflantly reminded me of you, whether 1 would or not. In juftice, hov/ever, to m_yfelf, as well as to you, I muft repeat my long intermitted alTu- rances, that the peribn does not breathe, whom I love and refpeft more than yourfelf. If I do not tell you (o, as often as I ought ; impute the omiffion to any caufe, except the want of thofe two. The goodnefs of God ftill continues to furrcund me on every fide. Oh, that my thankfulnefs, and improvements in grace, bore feme little proportion to his exuberance of mercies ! But in vain do I look within myfeif, for that excellence, which I (hall never find there, until death is (wallowed up in vic- tory. God enable me, in the mean while, to feel my own nothingnefs, more and more ; and to trull in that great ful filler of ail righteoufnefs, who ^' Toil'd far our eaie, and, for our fafety, bled." To thofe who believe, he is t^wv?, precioufnefs, in the abflrad. And the more we fee of his precioufnefs, the more humbling views we have of our own vile- nefs. Indeed, felf-renunciation is the grand, cen- tral point of the fpiritual life. It is the ram fo7^rK a/is, the very elTence, of true religion. Oh, for a larger meafureofit! Wq are then happieft, and fafieft, when LETTERS. IJ9 when we im lowed, and feel that Chrift and gmce are all in all. But I am, unawares, almoft preaching, to one, at whofefeet J wilh to fit. May you take the beft revenge, and preach largely to me, in return. The longer your fermon, the better 1 fhall like it: like him, who thought the longeft of Demofthenes's orations, the beft. I greatly defire to hear from you : and hope, you are too forgiving, to follow the bad example of delay, which 1 have fet you. Commend myfeif to the continuance of your af- fection, I need not. Commend myfeif to your prayers, I ought, and humbly do. Every blefiing be with you. Above all, the beft of blefiings, the peace and love of God in Chrift. Angujlus Toplady, LETTER IX, To Mrs. G . Broad' Hembury^ Nov. ao, 1772. WILL good Mrs. G. permit the moft un- worthy, but not the leaft fmcere, of her well- wifbers, to enquire after her health; and, at a con- (iderable diftance of place, and after a long interval of time, to repeat his thanks for her many inftances of politenefs and condefcenfion ? Above all, Madam, how is it with your foul } What are your views of God, and Chrift, and hea- ven? Lively, I truft, and full of glory. Yet, if our views are dim and languid, ftill he abideth faithful, and cannot deny himlelf. Not upon our frames, but upon the adorable givel^of them, is all our fafety built. If we cannot follow 'him in the light, God help us to follow hira in the dark : and if we cannot L 4 follow i6o LETTER S. fbllow him fo, to fall down at his feet, and fink into nothing, under the feelings of our own vilenefs. They, who are enabled thus to fall, (liall be raifed in riue time. I know not why, but I could no longer forbear writing to you. May the fpirit of the living God write his confolations on your heart, and caufe your trmmphs in Chrifl to abound more and more. Im- pute this liberty to refped and efleem : and be- lieve me to be, with a great (hare of both. Madam, your obliged and obedient fervant, Augujius T'oplady. ♦ L E T T E R X. To Mr. Samuel Naylor, [Extra 6t . ] Broad-Hembury, Nov. 27, 1772. I A M informed, that inveterate troubler in Ifrael, Mr. J. W , has lately publifhed a fourth fquib againft Mr. Hill, I fliould be glad tto fee it. What a mercy it is, that the enemies of the gqfpel, amidll all their plenitude of malice, have little fkill; and.lefs power! Mr. VV , confideredasarcafoner, is one of the mofh contemptible writers, that everfet pen to paper. O, that he, in whofe hand the hearts of all men are, may make even this oppofer of grace a monument of its almighty power to fave I God is witnefs, how earnefcly I wiih it may confift with the divine will, to touch the heart and 9pen the eyes of that unhappy man. I hold it as much my duty, to pray for his convcrfion, as to expofe the futility gf-his ralhngs againft the truths of the gofpel. - Jugujius Toplady, le:tter Letters. iGi L E T T E R xr. To Mr. B. E . [Extrad:.] Broad- Hembury, Dec. 4, 1772. 1 AGREE with you, that the exprejTion [viz. That one drop of Chrift's blood would have fuf- ficed to the redemption of finners] has been ufed by Tome very pious and well-meaning pcrfons. Yet, I can by no means look upon the idea itfelf as true, or on the expreffion as warrantable. If an individual drop had been fufficient, we might indeed well afk, Why all this wafte of fufferings and of love ? The overplus was, according to this fuppofition, abfolute- ly fhed in vain. But I cannot bring myfelf to be- lieve, that any part of Chrift's mofx precious humi- liation was fuperfluous and unnecelfary. His in- effable dignity as God, and his abfolute innocence as man, forbid me to imagine, that the Father would inilift a fingle grain of puniihrnent, on his co-equal and immaculate Son, beyond what w-as abfolutely requifite to the plenary payment of our infinite debt. Jfit be a rule even in the operations of nature, fnifira jit per phira^ quod fieri potefl per pauciora ; much more ftrongiy will it hold, in the prefent argument. What idea fhould we have of that man's wifdom, who fliould lavifli a million of guineas, to procure what a fliilling might purchafe ? As to the lecond queftion, "Whether finners might not have been faved in fome other way, than by the incarnation, righteoufnefs, and death of Chriil?'* I make no fcruple to give it as my judg- ment, that there w^as no other pofTible way of falya- t ion for the loft fons of Adam. If there had, Infi- nite Wifdomand Goodnefs would certainly have fixed upon it, in preference to the forrows and agonies, the wounds and death, of him who had done no fin, qcither was guile found in his mouth. His own prayer. i62 LETTERS. prayer, If it be poffible, let this cup (the cup of pain and death) pafs from me; would moft infallibly have been granted (for the Father heareth him al- ways,) and Chrill could no more pray, than he could bleed, in vain, if any thing Ihort of the oblation of himfelf could have obtained eternal redemption for the people of his love. — Ought not Chrift to have fuffered thefe things ? owx* ravlaci^ttvocQm^, was there not a muft be, a neceliity for it? Yes : there was. And, upon any other hypothefis, I fee not how it could pleafe the Father to bruife the finlefs Mefliah and and put him to grief; without forfeiting every claim to juftice, wifdom, and goodnefs. Neither is this, ''fettering and limiting the om- nipotence of God.'* It is a received maxim in me- taphyfics, and no maxim can be more juft and rea- fonable, that an efientlal contradiction is no object of power. Now, the pardon of fin, without an ade* quate expiation ; the jufiiification of finners, without a perfedt righteoufnefs ; and, in a v/ord, the falvation of the guilty, without a complete redemption j would have eflentially contradided every attribute of God, and every declaration of his will. It \s, therefore, putting no more limitation on the divine power, to believe that fallen men could not poflibly be reftored, but by the intervention of Chrift's obe- while you wield the fpiritual fword, which, as matters now Hand, you cannot fiieath without fm. And let me prefume to drop an hint, which, by the way, I need to have imprefted on myfelf j namely, confult not your own eafe, at the expence of God's caufe. Be not weary of, and God will keep you from being weary, in well-doing. Forgive my freedom, and know, that, if J had not the higheft opinion of your candour, I fhould not exprefs my wi(h with fo little ceremony. Dr. Dodderidge was ftrengthened and comforted. LETTERS. 165 comforted, at a time when he was greatly ftraight- ened In foul, by only hearing (as he was riding through a country village) a child reading, at a door, to his fchool-miftrefs, thofe words, Thy flioes Hiall be iron and brafs, and, as is thy day, fo. fhall.thy (Irength be. May this hafty Icribble, though coming from me, who am, in all things, a child, except in years, be condefccndingly accepted: and may myutmoft prayers and expectations, con- cerning you, be anfwered. — Believe me to be, Everyour's, in him who died for us and rofe again, Angujlus Topiady. I LETTER XIII. To Mrs. Baco>t, Broad'Hembury, Dec. 11, 1772* HOPE I (land too fair in dear Mrs. B's opinion^ to be fufpefted of levity in friendlhip, only be- caufe I do not trouble her with my refpedts fo often as I ought and wifh. However appearances may be againft me, realities are not. I (hall always remem- ber you, madam, with highefteem; and confider myfelf more than a little interefted, in whatever re- fers to your fpiritual or fecular happinefs. For this reafon, on my receipt of your laft favour, I deeply felt for the writer. That fpirit of grief and that turn of dejedlion, by which it v;as fo flrongly marked, made me, whether I would or no, figh on your behalf at the throne of God. Oh, let faith dry your tears : and know, that what he wills and does, is, and muft be, not only right but beft. Afflid not yourfelf with uneafy appre- henfions, concerning the ftate of him, whom you mourn as an hufband, and I regret as a friend; Leave i66 LETTERS. Leave his foul with him, v'ho, I humbly truft, re- deemed it with his own moft precious blood: blood, which cleanfes from all fin ; and iprinkled with which, any and every finuer, who is enabled to truft in it, may lift up his head, with boldnefs and joy, in the prefence ot him who chargeth even the angels with folly. Bleffed be God, that dear Mr. Bacon pleaded that availing blood, as the bafis of his fupplications for mercy. — I have read, concerning good Mr. Fox, the Martyrologift, that *'he could never re fufe giv- ing pecuniary relief to any, who afked him in the name and for the fake of Chrift." Much lefs will the Great Father of mercies rejed: the petitions of thofe, whom his bleffed fpu'it hath ftirred up (and none can ftir us up, but his own fpirit) to intreat his favour, on account of what the agonizing friend of finners has done and fuffered for the unworthy, the guilty, and the hell-deferving. It is a plea that cannot foil, while God is God. — May the plea be your's and mine, both in life and death. Augu/lus Tophdy. LETTER XIV. ^ To Ambrose Serle, Efq. ^ Broad' Hembury, Dec. i8, 177a. DEAR Mr. Serle's moft obliging favour of the 28th ult. calls for an affedionate acknowledge* meat on my part. I muft, however, enter an ex- ception to the ceremonious paffages which occur La his much eftecmed letter ; and beg leave to file a proteft againib all future declarations of that high fefped, with which my valued friend vouchfafes to honout LETTERS. 167 honour me. 1 know, my dear fir, that your polite- nefs is not a mere complaifance, like that of the world. If I confidercd it in fuch a view, I could difpenfe with it, readily enough* Eut your tranf- parent lincerity, which adds weight and ferioufnefs to the elegance with which you write, is the very circumllance that humbles and abaHies meJ Cer- tain lam, that you condefcend to allow nie a place in your regard : and, by that regard, I intreat you to confider me, and to addrefs me, as (what indeed I am) lels than the lead of all iliints. The higheft charader, to which I afpire (God grant I may be entitled to it,) is that of an ele6l linner, redeemed with blood, and faved by grace. I rejoice unfelgnedly on your behalf, that you are favoured with a calm and fettled comfort from on high. I faid, from on high : for, that peace and joy, which lay us in the duft, at the footftool of free grace, do and muft come from God alone. To be abforbed, and melted as into nothing, under the over-whelming radiance of his unmerited love^ to fit in holy filence and ftillnefs of foul, beneath the ihadow of the crofs ; to derive, by the miniftratioa of his fpirit, all our hope, happinefs, and tranqui- lity, from the ineftimable merits and interceffion c£ the Lamb that is in the midft of the throne ; to caH anchor on the covenant-favour, and covenant- faithfulnefs, of Father, Son, and Spirit ; — are the grand and only fources of holinefs and joy. I admire your excellent motto. It is more than a motto: it is a maxim, an axiom, certain as cer- tainty itfelf. Deo duce^ omnia honay is the language ofreafon, no lefs than of faith. It is a text, on iwhich, eternity itfelf will be an everlafting comment. God enable us to live under the chearful influence of that great principle, until mortality is iwallowed up of life. I did not apprehend, that your knowledge of amounted to an intimacy. I thank you for inform-. 168 LETTERS. ing..me of it, as it gives me a double pleafure. Yoti- may eafily guefs, that I mean the pleafure of con- gratulating you on fuch a connection ^ and the plea- fure of knowing, that fo worthy a perfonage has the happinefs of fo vaiuablc a friend. Had I the h.)nour of being acquainted with his , I fliould felici- tate him on his acquifition : an acquifition, which rarely falls to the portion of the great, i God, I doubt net, will enable you to wait, with implicit confidence, and with the mod paffive ferenit} , the iiTue of his own all-wife purpofes. He that believeth fhall not (at lead, he riiould not) make hafte. You condefcend to enquire after my projected life of archbifliop Laud. I cannot fay, that I ha^-e not began it. But I am in doubt, whether 1 ought to proceed in it. Ecclefiailical matters wear a ver)^ dif- ferent afpeft among us, from, what they did when I firft formed the defign. We bid fair, at preient, not for having an high Church, but for having qo Church at all. A reviev*^ of the life and times of that prelate, pregnant with the molt horrid detail of civil and religious tyranny, would hardly be fea- fonable at prefent, when every unfledged ignoramus has a ftone to fling at the eftabli lament. I may, per- haps, feem to fpeculate too minutely : but, I aiTure you, it is a fpeculation which has confideiable weight with me. It is time, however, that my fpeculation s (hould ceafe to intrude on the attention and valuable mo- ments of my dear friend: elfe, he may be induced to fuppofe, that my motto is, Scriptus i^ in Ter^o, necdumfinituSy Orefies. I fliall, therefore, with afFedlionate compliments to Mrs. S. and your family in general, fubfcribe my- felf, dear fir, Your obliged and obedient fervant, AttguJIus Toplady. LETTER L LETTERS. 169 ; L E T T E R XV. To the Rev. Dr. B. of Sali/bury, Brodd-Hrinbur\\ Feb, 4, 1773. YOUR late favour, dear fir. arrived m due courfe : and as your letters never fail to be fraught with friendlliip, politenefs, and good fenfe, I cannot but lament that fo few of them find their way hither. If you had my excufe to plead, I could not, v/irh any tolerable propriety, exped: you to write oftener to me, than I to you. But, as you have hitherto found no employment for the printers, you are the more at leifure to entertain and improve me by manufcript. Accept my condolences, on your lofs of your uncle at Bulbridge : the qualities of whofe heart rendered him more truly amiable and refpedable, than, without them, the brighteft talents could poffibly have done. Your account of your own health is fuch,as I W'Ifh ever to receive. Next to the pleafure of enjoy- ing ycur converfation, I value every information that aflures m.e of your welfare. As to myfelf, in confe- quence of being well, I have, for iome months paft, been far from idle : though, that induftry might not make me ill, I keep (as you rightly conjedure) to my old cuftom of intermixing labour with occafionat relaxation. I could wiih, indeed, to be ever on the wing, ever on the (Iretch : but it is impoffible, in the prefent ftate. We mufc wait, for every fpecies of perfection, until we enter a fuperior world. What think you, concerning the archi-epifcopal fcheme or '' reforming*' the liturgy and articles ? Sach a plan is certainly on the carpet ; and it, as . Vol. VI. (31.) M certainly, 170 LETTERS. certainly, originated at Lambeth. The oftenfiblc pretext is, to expunge feme exceptionable paflages, which are " offenfive to thinking men, and hurtful to tender confciences.'* The new Lambeth-articles (if Providence do not render the defign abortive) will be of a very different caft, from the old ones I am much obliged to you, for your kmd invita- tion, in my way to London, if I fhould have occa- fion to go thither. The truth is, I ought to have feen the capital, long ago. But 1 really dread tp do fo. The fight of places, and the converfation of perfons, where and with whom I have enjoyed fo many happy hours in the company of my late hon-^ cured parent, will naturally recall her fo ftrongly to my remembrance, that, I fear, my nerves will hardly bear it. I am thankful, that (he never accepted any of my invitations into Devonfliire ; as it would, now, have only tended to revive thofe ideas, which I (liould be happier never to recoiled. The higher a departed fatisfadion has been, the more painful (fuppofmg the departure to be final) is its remem- brance. Fhilofophy may cenfure thefe feelings, as a weaknefs ; but they are fuch a weaknefs, as I can- not help. Refignation is one thing, infenfibility is another. I have, unawares, extended thefe reflexions to too great a length. If I was not writing to a friend, I lliould certainly, on a review, cancel this letter, and fubftitute a more revifed half-fheet. But, as the cafe fiands, 1 will avail myfelf of your candour. Believe me to be, Rev. and dear fir, ever your^s, Augupts Toplady. 4. E T- r LETTERS. 171 ' LETTER XVL To Mrs. S. H. Madam, • Broad- Hembur)\ Feb, 5, 1773. MY parifliioner, Mrs, H. H. defires me to pre- fent you with her moft refpectful and affec- tionate thanks, for your late kind and obliging let- ter. Indeed, as the good ^voman told me, with tears of gratitude, your many inftances of friendship and regard are fuch, as plainly indicate the particu- lar hand of Providence, which alone could raife up io valuable and difinterefted a fupporter of her old ^ge. She is inexprefltibly fenfible of the kindnefs of your offer, refpediing your readinefs to fend her fome additional affiflance, on account of her prefent ill- nels. But fiie defires, moil thankfully, to decline putting you to that trouble: as, through the good- nefs of God, flie can hitherto defray the expences of her ficknefs, by means of your flated fupply. I hope file recovers, though flowly, her pain and fee- blenefs continuing very great. She requefts me to inform you, that any advan- tages of outward fituation, which might attend her removal to Columpton, v.'ould not, in her judgment, compenfate for the fpiritual want of fuch a miniftry, as fhe could fit under with comfort. Permit me now, madam, to apologize, for my taking upon myfelf to acquaint you with ihefe par- ticulars. Ihe truth is, Mrs. H. has now no near ' neighbour, in whom (he can, venture to confide, but myfelf. She knows I love her dearly ; to which I am induced, by the grace which is given her of God. I may fafely expreis myfelf fo unrefervedly, of one w^ho cannot be lefs than ninety. And, I own, there arc very few in my parifb, large as it is, whom I fo ten-* derly efleem. Her many doubts and fears, refpedt- M 2 ine 171 L E T T E Pv S. ing the fafety of her foul, and the certainty of her acceptance with God, are, to me, fo many proofs^ that (he is indeed chofen, redeemed, and juftified. And I am perfuaded, that the Lord will not take her hence, until he has (hone her doubts and fears away. At lead, it is a remark, to which I never remember to have met with a fingle exception, that fuch of God's people, as are mod exercifed with fear and trembling on their journey through life, are the mofl comfortable and triumphant in the hour of death. Like Mr. Ready-to-halt, in the Pilgrim's Progrefs, they are ufually the firft to fling away their crutches, when they adually come in view o( Jordan. It would be needlefs to inform you, that Mrs. H. begs you to accept her beft refpeds and mad grate- ful acknowledgements. To which I add the iincere compliments of, &c. Augujius Toplady, P. 5. If Providence fhould prolong all our lives until fummer, and you (hould have leifure and in- clination to fee Mrs H. before (he goes to Heaven^ I have a part of the vicarage houfe at your fervice. LETTER XVIL To Ambrose Serle, Efq. Brodd-Bemburyy March c^^ ijj^. Ever 'd-ear Sir, OD, I trull and believe, will, himfelf, be the ^ giver of that fupport and confolation, which I, with all my fympathy, can only wi(h and pray that you may experience. Having premiled my hope. G' LETTERS. I7J iiope, permit me to thank you for your letter : the only one of your's, that ever gave me pain. With melting heart, and lifted eye, I blcfs the Lord, for his having pointed the late providential fhaft with gold : in other words, for his having foftened your unfpeakable lofs of dear Mrs. Serle (dearer, as an angel, than when only a faint) with fuch undoubted and juft affurance of her eternal reft in Chrift. May thofe foretaftes of the joy that Ihall be revealed, with which fhe was fo eminently favoured, be our ftrength and fong, during the ap- pointed courfe of our remaining pilgrimage, until the fpirit of God have matured us for the inheritance of the faints in light. I have long obferved, that fuch of his people, as are leaft on the mount, while travelling to Heaven ;, are higheft on it, and rcpleniflied with the riched difcoveries of divine love, in the clofing fcene of life. When they come in adual vievv^ of that river, which parts the Church below from the Church above, the celeflial city rifes full in fight. The fenfe of interefh in the covenant of grace becomes clearer and brighter. The book of life is opened to the eye of alfurance. The holy fpirit more feelingly applies the blood of fprinkling, and warms the foul with that robe of righteoufnefs which Jefus wrought. The once feeble believer is made as David. The once trembling hand is enabled to lay fafl: hold on the crofs of Chrift. The fun goes down without a cloud. Thofe lines of Dr. Watts are as weighty, as they are beautiful. " Juft fuch is the'Chriftian. His race he begins. Like the fun, in a n^ift, while he mourns for his fins. And melts into tears. Then he breaks out and (hines. And travels his heavenly way. But, as he draws nearer to finifh his race, Like a fine, fetting fun, he loaks richer in grace ; And gives a fure hope, at the end of his days. Of rifing in brighter array," M 3 On 174 LETTERS. On occafions of this kind, I never offer to con- dole. I would wirti to conceal even my own feelings. Officious lenitives generally operate as corrofives, when tendered to an heart that bleeds under lb ex- quifite a lofs ; and do but irritate the wound, they are meant to affuage. Rather, let me wiQi you to take down your harp from the willows, and to adore the unerring wifdom of him, who is daily " accom- plifliing the number of his ele(ft, and haftening his kingdom.*' You have my thanks, dear fir, for your polite and obliging invitation. Should bufmefs force me to London, this year, I certainly fliall, were it only for my own fake, pay my refpeds to you, as ufual ; though I fhall hardly prevail with myfelf to take full advantage of your kind and friendly offer. Our meeting together again, on earth, is, human- ly fpeaking, precarious. Not fo, our meeting in Heaven. We are, by no means, fure of the former s but I am fully affured of the latter. Grace, mercy, and peace, be with you and your's. So prays, from the inmoft of his heart, dear fir. Your obliged, &c. Jugujus Toplady, LETTER XVIII, To Richard Hill, Efq. [[Extra(^.] Broad' Hem Inny, March 12, iJJ^, I AM told, that Mr. Fletcher h^s it in contemplation to make an attack on me too. He is welcome. I am ready for him. Nor fliall I, in that cafe, al- together imitate the amiable examples of yourfelf and your brother j unlefs Mr. Fletcher fhould treat me witl:| LETTERS. 175 with more decency, than he has, hitherto, obferved towards others. Tendernefs, it is very evident, has no good effecl on Mr. Wefley, and his pretended family of love. Witnefs the rancour, with :fiyhich Mr. Hervey's memory and works are treated bV that lovely family. For my own part, I {hall nev|r at- tempt to hew fuch millftones with a feafefc^r. ^hey muft be ferved as nettles : preis them'TlofQ-, and they cannot fting. — Yet have they my prayej'i, and my befl wifhes, for their pVefent and future f^vation. But not one hair's breadth of the gofpel will I ever (God being my helper) offer up at their flirine, or Sacrifice to their idoL AugiiftiiS Toplady, LETTER XIX. To Mr. Ryland, Junior. London, April 30, 1773. TV/TANY and bed thanks to dear Mr. R. for his '^^ two valuable and much efteemed letters : as alfo for the feveral pamphlets, with which the latter of his two fivours was accompanied. Mr. Richard Hill had (hewn me Weiley's fecond remarks, immediately on my coming to town : I am, however, greatly obliged to you for forwarding it. Heartily I wiih, that I could avail myfelf of your dear father's invitation to Northampton. But it is a pleafure, which my time, at prefent, will not fuf- fer me to enjoy. I muft, volente Deo^ leave town next week. Snould life be fpared, and opportunity grant- ed, in future, I know not the family, with whom I could fpend a week or two, more profitably and Sigreeably, ^han your*s. M 4 The 176 .LETTERS. The word of God runs and is glorified in London, Ccbler Tom laments, it feems, publicly from his preaching-tub (mif-named, a pulpit), that fuch an Antinomian as myfelf fhould have crouded audito- ries, while the preachers of the pure gofpel (by which, ycu know, he means free-will^ merit, and perfecf* .on)jiare fo thinly attended. The envy, malice, and fury of Wefley's party, are inconceivable. Bat, as violently as they hate me, J dare not, I cannot hate them in return. I have not fo learned Chrift. — They have m.y prayers and my befl wi flies, for their prefent and eternal falva- tion. But their errors have my oppofition alfo : and this is the irremiffible fm, which thofe red-hot bigots know not how to forgive. Ycu defire to be informed of the title to my in- tended publication, now in the prefs. It runs thus. *' Hifloric Proof of the doclrinal Calvinifm of the Church of England : including, a brief Account of fom.e eminent Perfons, famous for their Adoption of that Syftem, both before and fince the Reformation y with Specimens of their Teflimonies." I fear, it will extend to a four or five fliilling vo- lume. But the fads and evidences are fo numerous, and drawn from fuch a multiplicity of fources, that I could not poiiibly bring it into lefs compafs. Ac- quaint your good father, that his grand favourite and mine, archbifliop Bradwardin, makes a very eminent figure, in the chapter which relates to our own Englilh heroes. Though I have, for fifteen years paft (i. e. for very near half my life), been folidly and clearly con- vinced of the original and intrinfic Calvinifm of the eftabfifhed Church ; ftill, I did not know, that the fubjed was lupported by fuch a vafl: confluence of poiitive authorities, until the furious oppofition of the Methodiils forced me to take a nearer and more exad view of the argument. Thus far, at leaft:, I am obliged to that virulent fed. And, on a retro- foedive- LETTERS. 177 fpedlive fuiTey of the whole matter, I myfelf ftand aflonlfhed at that profufion of evidence, which pours from every quarter, in favour of the main point. My own collcftions (to go no farther,) viewed in the aggregate, abfolutely furprife me. - And yet, the argument is far from being exhaufted. — But, if that is not exhaufted, my paper almoft is. I mull therefore conclude : having but juft room to falute you and your family ; to commend me to your prayers ; and to fubfcribe myfelf, ever dear fir, * Your*s nxoii affe(5tionately, /^ugujlus foplady. LETTER XX. To the Rev. Mr. P. [Extrad.] London^ May 2, y I773« YO U was not mif-informed, as to my having had an interview with Thomas Oliver. It happened thus : On Saturday, the 8th of laft month, I was going to fee good Mr. Hitch in, of Hoxton. On my way, paffing by the Foundery, it occurred to me, that I had now an opportunity of gratifying my curiofity, by purchafing Welley's laft printed Journal. I therefore went in, and found a man reading, in what is called the Book-room, i. e. the room where Wefley's publications are fold. The man, on my telling him what I wanted, anfwered, ''Sir, I am not the perfon that fells the books ; but I will ftep and call him.'* He left me, for two ox three minutes; and returned with (I think) two other men and three women. Having paid for the Jour- nal and taken my change, I was comings away : when one of the men, who proved to be Mr. Jofeph Cownlev, afkcd me, *' whether my name was not Toplady?'' lyS LETTERS; Toplady r" My anfwer was, " Yes, fir, at your fer- s vice.'* All prefent immediately afTunied an air ofmuch civility. I flopped and chatted with them for, 1 be- lieve, ten minutes. In the courfe of my {^ay, I took out myfnuff-box. Mr. Cownley afked forapinch. As I held it to him, 1 faid, with a fmile, " Is not it againfl: the law of this place, for a believer to take fnufF?" Mr. Cownley huddled the matter up, by alledging, that he was troubled with the head-ach. Imme- diately on which, one of the good women (whom I afterwards found to be tlie wife of Mr. Thomas Oliver) faid, direcling herfelf to me, '* O fir, Mr, Wefley has no ohjedlion to people's taking fnuff me- dicinally." I ar:fvvcred, "I am glad you are allowed fome latitude : J thought you were tied up by an abiblute prohibition, without any loop-hole of ex- ception." Our chat (which, though humorous, was extremely civil on all fides) being over, I took leave of the company. — I fhould have told you be- fore, that, no fooner was my name authenticated, than one of the women flipped out of the room. Who (he was, I know not : but flie was fufficiently corpulent : as broad, comparitively, as l])e was long. The reafon of her decampment, I fuppofe, was, to announce the tidings to cobler Tom, of the unex- p^dled vifitant in the Book-room. As I was going out of the faid room, the fat lady flood on the right hand, and a man in black on the ]ch, withoutfide the door. In paffing, I moved my liat. Sir, cried the corpulent fifter, pointing to the ether fide of me, " that is Mr. Oliver." — I fi\id, foiling, " what, my famous antagonift?" Oliver fmiied and bowed. *' Mr. Oliver," added I, "give me your hand : cudgel-players rtiiake hands, though they mean to break each others' heads." He made me no verbal anfv^er, but, repeating his bow, (hook me by the hand; and fcemed pleafed. As I was not willing to have quite a filent meeting on his part, I begiin afrcdi : '* Your complexion, Mr, Oiivcr, LETTERS. 179 Oliver, feems to indicate too cJofc an Intenfenefs of thought. Do not ftudy too hnrd, left the iwoid be too fliarp tor the flieath.'* He then began to open : " Oh, fir, I do not ftudy too clofely. I do not hurry myfelf. I take my time."' On which I told him, " As you are thrown in my way, I lliouid be glad of a quarter of an hour's converfation with you, if you are at leafure." He anfwered, " with all my heart, fir: I ftiall be very glad:'' and caUing tor a key, up ftairs we went to his apartment. Onenterino; it, I faw a fmall table covered v;ith printed pamphlets and written papers. Among the pamphlets, was Mr. Hill's Logica IVeJle'ienfis. — To avoid the frequent repetitions of faid 1, and faid he ; I ihall throw as much of our converiiition as 1 can' recoiled, dialogue-wife, under the initials of our re- fpedive fur-names. Prernifing one remark, viz. that he ftrove much to draw me into a pitched de- bate on the Arminian points, which I was as much deterniined to avoid ; and that for this reafon, be- caufe, as none wereprefent but himfelf and his wife, what I might have faid, would have lain at the mercy of their mifreprefentation afterwards. I there- fore parried him at arm's length, and was rather an hearer than a fpcaker. After reconnoitring his table at my firft going up, J obferved to him, *' So, here is the whole polemical apparatus, ready to fire off. When do you intend to publiih againft us? O. It feems, fir, that you too are going to publifti a book againft Mr. Sellon. T. Perhaps io : and I will give you a friendly hint. Do not be too halty in printing your next attack. If you will have patience to wait, you may have an opportunity oi killing two or three birds with one ftone. You know, if we.write a folio, it is but your printing a penny iheet, and we are an- fwered at once. Nay, write but a hngle page, and call it an anfwer, and we are knocked down liat. O. Mr. iSo LETTERS. O. Mr. Richard Hill is a very bitter abufive Writer. T. If you knew him, you would pronounce him as amiable a man as lives. O. We once thought you the bitterefl: of Mr. Weiley's oppofers : but, upon my word, Mr. HilFs fcurrili'.ies exceed every thing. T. How partial are moft men to themfelves and to their own party 1 Had Mr. Hill written for Mr. Wefley, inftead of writing againil him ; he would have been cried up, by the gentlemen on your fide of the queftlon, as one of the meekefl and moft candid authors that ever put pen to paper, had he written ten times more fmartly than he has. O. I believe the time will come, when both you and Mr. Hill will be grieved in your minds, for what you have publiibed againft Mr. Wefley. T. Mr. Wefley, if you pleafe, has abundant rea- fon to be grieved for what he has publillied againft the truths of God. I hope, for his own fake, that divine grace will make him grieve foon and grieve deeply. O. Mr. Wefley is a very good man, and a very toneil one. T. He has amply fhewn himfelf fo. Forgery, for inftance, is honefty all over. O. He only drev/ fuch plain inferences from Zan- chy, as neceffarily flow from Zanchy*s principles. T. He ought to have given the inferences as his own: and not to have fathered them upon ano- ther man. O. Do you not think I have demonf^rated that thofe inferences are juft ? T. Do not you think that I have refuted every one of them ? O. Mr. Wefley is certainly an honefl: man. T. Mr. Wefley's honefty, Mr. Fletcher's meek- nefs, and Mr. Sellon's politenefs, are very fit to go together. O. Ofir, h3' I LETTERS. i8i O. O fir, ilircly you will not talk about meetc- nefs ! T. Certain I am, that your writers have no more title to arrogate meeknels to themfclves, than many of your preachers and pertcdioniili have to fct up for a monopoly of holineis. O. Sally, [or Nanny; I am not fure vv-luch] — do fetch a bottle of wine. Mr. Tcplady, perhaps, will drink a g-lafs. Mrs. Oliver went, and returned m half r. minute. T. To fliew you that I bear you no enmity, I will drink your health in a iingle giais. O. I have read logic, and I hc;ve read metaphy- fics, and 1 have read natural philofophy. * T. Doubtlefs, your reading has been very ex- tenfive. O. Oh fir, I am no more t^an a cobler, you koow. You have bid me get away to my ftall. T. Certainl}' you are a Crifpinian, thougli not a Crifpian. Do you remember one William Gay, of Uffculme, in Devon (hi re ? O. Gay ? Gay ? Let's fee. What is he ? T. A mafter mafon. He remembers you, if you do not remember him. You lodged at his houfe, fome years ago ; and like St. Paul,-preached and worked at your trade by turns. O. It is a good many years fmce I was at his houfe. T. I beg pardon for breaking the thread of me- taphylics. O. Why, fir, I was going to fay, that fome me- (taphylical writers think the will takes the lead of the underftanding. Others fuppofe the underfland- ing leads the will. T. You h^ve read logic too. O. Yes, indeed. T. Mr. Welley's three-penny cut? O. O3 much more than that. I have read feverai fyfiems. T. The i82 LETTERS. _ T. The poor predeftinaiians had need look about them. O. Before I would be a predeftinarian, I would luffer myfelf tobe tied hand and foot, and carried through this window to yonder mad-houfe T. Should you fland in need of confinement, there would be no occafion for removing you out of your prefent quarters. The Foundcry would an- fwer all the purpofes of a mad-houfe, without con- veying you out at the falh. I fhould vote for keep- ing you where you are. O. Ha, ha, ha ! Well : But fmartnefs is not ar- gument. Pray, fir, have you read the AfTembly's Catechifm ? T. Yes, fir. O. The pofition with which it fets out, is, that ** God hath from all eternity unchangeably ordain- ed whatever comes to pais.'* I fuppofe, fir, you agree with thofe learned divines as to this particular. T. You may poffibly have feen fome of my pamphlets : and, as you are remarkably pat at draw- ing inferences, you may from my writings infer pretty nearly, how far I do or do not agree with thofe learned divines. O. But, fir: their docVrine deflroys all free- agency. T. What may your idea of free-agency be ? O. Why — why — free-agents are them that can aft or not aft, juft as they pleafe. T. You do not fuppofe that men are free, with a freedom of independency ? O. I acknowledge, that men are dependent on God, as creatures. He made them, and he can put an end to their lives whenever he thinks fit. T. But are man's volitions independently free.? O. Mofi: undoubtedly. T. Men, in determining their own wills, are in- dependent on their Maker himielf .^ O. They LETTER S. 1S3 O. They mud be fo: or the will would ceafc to be free. T. Do not let me mif-underftand you. You hold, that men are abfoiutely independent on God, fo far as relates to the management and a blefs it there, as he has gracioufly vouchiafed to do to LETTERS. 197 to many in England. — It was quite a juvenile exer- cife; accomplifhed, about a year and half before I entered into orders, by way of filling up a few fuper- numerary hours. I remember fliewing the manu- fcript, one day, to the late Dr. Gill, when he did me the favour of a vilit. He advifed me to publifli it : but, to fay thehoneft truth, I was then not fuf- ficiently delivered from the fear of man: and* it flumbered by me, from 1760, to 1769. I literally fulfilled Horace's dire^lion (though from a motive^ not at all allied to that for which he recommends it) nonumqiie prematur in annum, I can never fufficiently blefs God, for giving me to fee the day, when I can truly affirm, that I care not whom I difpleafe, when the ineftimable truths of his gofpel are at (take. His providence has rendered me independent on any but himfelf ; and his grace enables me to a6l accordingly. — I muft likewife add> as a flill further motive to my gratitude, that, the bolder I am in his caufe, the more he gives me the affections of thofe to whom I minifter, and with whom I am connected. Where I have loft one friend, by flanding up for Chrift -, I have gained a multitude. The anonymous pamphlet, to w^hich you refer, is the produdion of one Mr. W S ; who was, originally, it feems, a baker, by trade : he then became a lay-preacher of Mr. W's : and, in procefs of time, lady Huntingdon got him into orders. She is now extremely forry tbit (lie did fo: for her lady- fliip is convinced, at laft, that her tendernefs for Mr. W was fadly mifplaced. Though, as you juftly obierve, Mr. S *s low libel is not, in any refpect whatever, a real anfwer to my Vindication of the Church of England from Ar- minlanifm -, yet have I taken the opportunity which his virulence has afforded me, of fetting the efTential andabfolute Calvinifm, of the Church eftablifhed, in a ftiil 198 LETTERS. flill fuller and flronger point of view. My piece, which is now far advanced in the prefs, is entitled, Hiftoric Proof of the Do6trinal Calvinifm of the Church of England. If Providence fpare me to fee it out of the prefs, I will direct my bookfeller, pur- fuant to your requeft, to leave a copy for you with our friend Mr. Gardner : and which I (hall defire ydur acceptance of, as my prefent. There is but one paragraph, dear fir, in your much efteemed letter, which gave me uneafmefs. I mean, the paffage relating to your ftate of health. I cannot help feeling a moft tender concern, that lb valuable a perfon, as you appear to be, fliould la- bour under the difadvantages of too delicate a ma- chine. — And yet, why do I permit fuch a remark to efcape my pen ? God bell knows what he has to do with us. If brotherly affedion compels me to fym- pathize with you ; faith, on the other hand, bids me leave you, without fear, and without complaint, to the paternal, the unerring difpofal of him who does ail things well. Be fo kind as to indulge me with a line, by the lirft opportunity, after your receipt of this. One reafon for which requeft is, • that I may know what pamphlets of mine you have metivith ; which I beg the favour of you to enumerate : that I may, by the channel you have pointed out, fend you fuch of them as are in print, and which you may not already have feen. Grace be to you, fir, and love, with faith, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jefus Chrift. May the enlightening, the comforting, the fandtify- ing, the i^ealing influences of the eternal fpirit be your ftrength, your long, and your ever-prefent portion, all through the courfe of your pilgrimage. — Excufe this inaccurate accknowledgement, written ciirrente calamo ; and believe me to be your obliged, &c. Augufins Toplady. P. S. Why LETTERS. 199 P. S. Why do you exprefs fo much diffidence of pubficly taking up your pen in the caufe of God? He feems to have ftrongly breathed the define Into your heart : and your letter fully convinces me, that he has endued you with abilities for fuch a work. I hope (and, I alfure you, it will be, in the mean while, an article in my prayers to God) that you may be effectually inclined, and powerfully enabled, to bear your teftln^ony againft error, in a day of fuch rebuke and blafphemy as this. — Up, then, and be doing : and the Lord crown your endeavours with his biefling. Adieu. Pray for me, as I alfo for you. LETTER XXV. To the Rev. Mr. Romaine, (now at Tiverton). Broad' Hembitry, Sept. 11, 1773, MANY thanks to dear and honoured Mr. Ro- maine, for his obliging favour of to-day, juft received from Tiverton. I blefs God, for bringing him fafely thither ; and for the expeclation of hear- ing him at my Church, both parts of the day, on the 19th inftant : of which I fhall, gladly, give notice, to-morrow. — Mrs. R. and yourfelf will, I hope, give me the pleafure of accommodating you both, as well as my batcheior*s houfe will permit, as many day5, next week, as you conveniently can, antecedently to the Sunday above-mentioned. For which pur- pofe, I fhall take care to be at home; or, at the utmoft, within call. God's Holy Spirit come with you, and fpeak by you, and blefs you to this people. You will fowon ploughed ground : and cannot' offend the generalitv of 200 LETTERS. of my hearers, preach free and finifhed falvation ai ftrongly as you will. May you be enabled to reach their hearts. With aflfedionate refpec^s to dear Mrs. Romaine, I fubfcribe myfelf, ex animo (as all my fubfcriptions are) ever your's, Augujltis i'oplady. LETTER XXVL To Ambrose Serle, Efq. Broad' Hemburyy OSi. i, 1773* MY having fpent part of the week at Exeter, will account for this late acknowledgement of dear Mf y S's favours, which 1 found at my return. You have my particular thanks, ever valued fir, for the tranfmifiion of your learned and ingenious manufcript concerning the Origin of the Human Soul *. I waited, with fome degree of impatience, for this conipletion of your kind promife, made when we were travelling together from Honiton to Exeter : and I mufl own, that, though I am not profelyted, I am confiderably ftaggered, by the ar- guments you bring. The fhrongeft of which, in my idea, is, that, drawn from the eternal generation of ,God the Son. This, [certainly, if any thing, bids fairefl for turning the fcale in favour of the hypo- thelis, you fo heartily adopt, and fo ingenioully de- * The manufcript, here alluded to, has fince been publifhed in a feries of fome of the firft numbers of the Theological JVIifceilany, by the ingenious and refpedabic gentleman unto whom this letter is addrefled ; who is held in high eftimation for his integrity, piety, and benevolence, but particularly for his profound and critical re- fearches evinced in his exhibition of divine truth, , Editor. fend. LETTERS. 201 fend. Nor can I anfvver to the inference you de- duce from that topic. I niuft, however, with all the refped and tender- nefs fo judly due to my exceileni; friend, fufpend my judgment concerning the whole matter • as I have, liitherto, been always forced to do ; and as no iefs a man, than St. Auflin, did, to the end of his life. Yet, thous^h not determined to either Hde of the queftion (non no/trim eft tantas componere liles) I own myfelf inclinable to believe that fouls are of God's own immediate creation and infufion. Diffi- culties, both many and great, do, without doubt, clog the wheels of this opinion. But thofe, which embarrafs the ^v^ofovia, feem, at prefect, to me, both mpre and greater. I know not, for inftance, how to reconcile it to fuch Scriptures as Eccles. xii. j. Zech. xii. i. Heb. xii. 9. Nor can I conceive how foul can generate foul, without fuppoling the foul to h^ive paries extra partes : and if we once grant its di- vifibility, what becomes of its abfolute immateria- lity, together with its elTential incorruptibility, and its intrinfic immortality ? Neither can my dear friend afcertain, from which of the two parental fouls a third is educed : whether from the father's only, or from the mother's only, or by a denfione utruifqtie, As little can it be explained, hov/ one, or two fouls, can produce many. The uiual fimile, of " candle being lighted by candle," will here give us no light at all. One candle, it is true, is able to light up an hundred others : but not Jtne intercifione materia propria;. It actually communicates fome of its own luminous particles to the candle or candles which it enfiames. But can we fay this of the foul, and at the fame time maintain its fpirituality ? Thefe, my dear fir, are a fpecimen of the difficulties which will not allow me to adopt the -^vxoyor.x', and which induce me to-confider the %|/i;xo>iVi? as the Icfs excep- tionable fcheme of the two. Vol. VI. (31.) O After 202 LETTERS. After all, it may, perhaps, be bed, for us, as humble Chrillians, not to launch too far into the immenfe ocean of too curious fpeculation. God's word is the believer's chart. God's fpirit is the be- liever's pilot. Where the former ceafes to defcribe our path, and the latter to (hape our courfe, it will mofh conduce to the fimplicity and joy of faith, to limit our enquiries, to leave with God the fecret things which belong to him, to keep within fight of land, and wait for all unnecefTary ecclairciffements until our dif-imprifoned fouls (hall afcend on angels* wings to the prefence of him whofe are all the trea- fures of wifdom and knowledge. And yet, I widi to fee your modeft and elegant difquifition in print. I hope you will give it to the pubic : for, whether the hypothefis it afferts be in- triiifically right or wrong, you treat the argument with fuch purity of didion, with fuch refinement of reafon, and with fuch tranfparent piety, that it muft pleafe the phiiofbphic, and cannot pofiibly offend the Chrifhian reader. — Permit me to detain it from you a week or two longer : as I am very defirous of giving it feveral perufals more. After putting your patience to fo long a trial, I mufl not aggravate my prolixity, by apologizing for it. Nor can I conclude, without reminding you, that you are ftill my debtor, by promife, for a fight of thofe compofitions in verfe, in which (by the few famples you have formerly indulged me with) I. know you to poliefs fo refined a tafhe. Lay me, foon, under this obligation alfo : though no obliga- tions, which even you are able to confer, can make me, more than I already am, your affectionate and devoted, AngnJiiis'Toplady,. LETTER LETTERS. 203 L E T T E Pv XXVII. To Mr. M. Pollard. Brocl-Hemhiny, Otl. i, 1773. Dear Sir, I FEAR 5'ou have, long r^go, fet me down for -■■ little le(s than a monller of ixicivility, on account of my permitting your letter t-'> lie fo long unac- knowledged. I am really aniarned to review its date. You wrote it, Ocl. i, 1772. I am anfwer- ing it, Od. I, 1773. Such a feeming failure, in common decency, needs much candour, in you, to excufe it ; and requires a very (ufficient apology^ from me, to extenuate it. The truth is, your favour was, by fome means or dther, miilaid : and was not retrieved, until a few days ago, when I was hunting among my papers. I oftei! recolleded, with pain and regret, that I was your epiftolary debtor: but was forced to connnue fo, until, by recovering your addrefs, I could know, with certainty, how to direct my anfwer. I read that rancorous and paltry libel on the Church of England, com.j.iled by Ccrniih, of Cul- liton, .which ycu was fo obliging as to feud me: a performance, raked together from a variety of ant ient and miOdern dunghills 3 and. exhibiting fuch a jum- ble of fcurriiity, as was never,- 1 believe, before, crowded into fo fmall a compafs. I cannot agree with you, that it deferves a public animadverfion. It is, moreover, by this time, dead and buried, in great meafure. It was pity to recall it into life. Let it fmk, and be forgotten. The Church has nothing to fear, from the elFons of fucli an indecent fcribbler, who has ftarted nothing new ; but deals in flale, borrowed cavils, which have beeri refuted, again and again, times without number. O2 Eefides: 204. • L E T T E R S'. Betides : an anfwcr would only conduce to render both the man and his pamphlet confpicuous. It would fet the former, on a pedeilal; and diffufe the latter into a greater number of hands. Mr. Addifon fomewhere obferves, there are in- fers, fo exceedingly minute, that we cannot examine them,without magnifying them : and compares per- fons, who enter the lifts with contemptible writers, to the traveller, in the fable ; who, being incommoded with the noife of grafshoppers, '* alighted from his horfe, in great wrath,, to kill them all. Which was troubling himfelf, tonopurpofe: for, had he pur- fued his journey, without taking notice of them, they would have died, of themfelves, in a very few weeks.'* This is my chief reafon for declining the tafk yo-u wifli me to undertake. To which I 'muft add, that my bufinefs, for feveral years paft, has lain in another department. My call from Providence feems to be, not the alTailing of thofe who honeftly feparate from a Church which (unhappily) they do not approve ; but to expofe the treachery, and to obviate the interefted fophiftry, of too many among us, who, for caufes fufficiently notorious, pretend to revere the Church, and adually live by her breafts, while they hate her doctrines in their hearts, and labour, with all their might, to ftab her under the fifth rib. With afFedionate wifhes for your welfare both here, and ever, I remain, Sir, your obedient fervant, Aiignjlm TopJacly\ LETTER LETTERS. 205 LETTER XXVIIL To Mr. Burgess. [Extracl.] Broad-Hembury, 05i. 22, 1773* T HAVE feen fo much of the religious world, and have lb largely experienced how little ftrefs is to be laid on fair appearances j that I prize, with re- doubled efteem, the graces and the irienddiip of the genuine few ; in which number, I am thoroughly fatisfied, my valued Mr. B. flands. I am led to this remark, by the recent conduct of a very iiaming profeffor (R , of Lyme) who has at length dropt the mafque, and, with equal dithonour to the gof- pel and himfelf, proves ( I fear) no other than a whited wall and a painted fepulchre. — In (hort, one hardly knows, whom to truil, or of whom to enter- tain a good opinion. But the great Head of the Church knows them that are his ; and blefled be the riches of his faithful love, he will take care of his own to the end. Mrs. W. lam afraid, will think my filence a mark of difrefped. But I am fo thoroughly cer- tain, that all Zion's children fliail be taught of the Lord ; that I am the lefs folicitous to obviate her fcrijples, refpecting the doftrines of grace. God has, already, began to do great things for her. He will, doubtlefs, go on, to make her path brighter and brighter. There is no need of my holding a lan- tern to her fteps. She is in a fair way for the king- dom : and I would have as little of human teaching enter into her experience, as pofTible. — Pray, prefent her with my Chriftian falutations : and affure her of an intereft in my unworthy addrelies at the throne of our common Father. The bleflings of Providence, and of grace, continue, through mercy, to furround my path. I have no O 3 caufe 2o6 LETTERS. caufe of perfonal uneafinefs, but the remains of un- belief and untbankfalnefs And even thefe (hall be done away, totally and for ever, when mortality is fvvallovved up of life. The'richeft bleflings of God's covenant love be with you. I afTeclion-ately falute our friends in ge- neral : particularly, good captain T. Mr. and Mrs. S -'-r, Mr. and Mrs. S y, and Mifs B. Write to me, as often as you can. And though my many engagements may not always permit me to return you letter for letter ; yet believe me to be, what I mod fincerely am, Your affedionate brother in the Lord our righte- oufnejs, Juguflus "fop lady. LETTER XXIX. I To Ambrose Serle, Efq. [Extrad:.] Broad- Hembury, 05i, ii^ I773» FEEL my utter inability to debate fo abftrufe a point, with fo potent and mafterly an antagonift. We are, however, both agreed, that we have fouls. And bleiied be God, for giving us caufe to believe, that they are redeemed to hiir^felf, by the precious blood of his co-equal Son. Allow m.e, dear fir, to repeat my requeft, rela- tive to the publication of your thoughts on a fub- je6l, which has exercifed fo few pens of eminence, and which your own, is fo peculiarly qualified to dif- cufs. In fl:iort, I ihall never ceafe teazing you, until my wiOi is granted. You are too generous, to blame me, for the ilow- nefs, with which I recede from my own opinion con- cerning the queftion in difpute : or, rather, for my fufpenle LETTERS. 207 fufpenfe between the two opinions. J well remem- ber, that, in 1758, when I firfl began to dilcern fomething of the abfurdities and impieties of Armi- nianifm, my mind was in a. fimilar ftate of flu'flua- tion, for many fucceeding months. Dr. Man con's Sermons on the 17th of St. John were the means, through which my Arminian prejudices received their primary fhock : a bleffing, for which an eter- nity of praife will be but a poor mite of acknow- ledgement to that God, whofe fpirit turned me from darknefs to light. But it was a confiderable time (and not until after much prayer, and much reading on each fide of the argument) ere my judgment was abfolutely fixed. — I Ihall, when in heaven, remem- ber the year 1758, with gratitude and joy: as I, doubtlefs, (hall the year 1755, in which I was firft awakened to feel my need of Chrift. The origin of the foul, though not of equal im- portance with the doftrines of grace, yet requires much difquifition, in order to our coming at any fat!sfa(5lory and folid ground whereon to reft the fole of our foot. At leaft, I find it extremely dif- ficult. 1 fee not any thing, by intuition. Veritas in puteo. It, mofh times, requires much labour, to draw it up : and, very frequently, eludes our ^t- -mofi fkill and pains, at laft. It is a comfort* after all, that the foul may be happy here, and faved forever ; though ignorant, at prefent, of her own immediate fource. 'ifins Toplady, A. {01 O4 LETTER jq8 letters. LETTER XXX. To Mrs. Macau LAY, B) -oad- Hemhury , 08. ii^ '^1J'^\ AS we live at a period, when to be in debt, and to be in the fafliion, are almoft infeparable ideas ; I off^r no apology, for the length of time, during which, my honoured friend's obliging letier has pa fled without acknowledgement. I will go farther ftill : and even value myfelf on an omiiTion, which has, perhaps, contributed fome- thing to the public benefit. In writing to me, you pleaie and improve a grateful individual. But, as an hiftorian, you convey pleafure and inftrudion to multitudes. Was I to return you an immediate anfwer to the favours I receive, your friendfnip and p^litenefs would not fail to balance the epiftolary account with equal exadnefs. A confideration, which indu(pes me, now and then (contrary to the general maxim of the age), to confult my coun- try's advantage, though at the occafional expence of my own. With regard, madam, to Oliver Cromwell, on whom ourcorrefpondence has, of late, chiefly turn- ed, I find myfeif fllenced, though not entirely con- vinced, by the force of your obfervations. 1 mufh refign my client, to your better judgement and fu- .pcrior powers : unlels you will permit me to com- promife matters, in the language of Lord Lyttleton. *' By an uncommon appearance of zeal, by great addrefs, and great valour, Cromwell firfl: enflamcd the fpirit of liberty into extravagance; and, after- wards, duped and awed it into fubmifllon. He trampled on the lav.s of the nation, but he raifed the LETTERS. 209 the glory of it : and it is hard to fay, which he mod delerved ; an halter, or a crown." From a perfon, whofe public merits were thus equivocal, 1 revert, with pleafure, to one, whole patriotic deierts no honell and capable judge can difpure. To be informed, and from fo good autho- rity as your own, that your health and ftrength are improved, give me far greater and folider joy, than any other information you were able to convey. I hope to be an eye-witnefs of tlieir continuance, if, as I have fome thoughts of doing, I Qiould fpend a. fortnight in London, during the enfuing winter. I learned another piece of good news, a few days fmce, at H , where our friend Mr. N , acquainted me, on Mr. D — 's authority, that your 6th volume will appear, early in the fpring. This will be the mod valuable amends you can make us, for depriving us of your company, this year, in the Weft. Your old acquaintance and admirer, Mr. H. has, lam told, received fome difguft at L , and is very feldom there. Lord C. however, ftill pro- fefles to affe6l that romantic fea-port; though it does not promife to yield him (as, if fame fay true, be once hoped it would) a fecond Sir W. P. it were pity a fecond (hould ever fall to his fliare. With every wifli of happinefs, and with the ut- moft (incerity of refpecl, I remain, Madam, your moft obliged and obedient fervant, A-ugtiftiis Toplady, 'LETTER no LETTER 5, LETTER XXXL To Ambrose Serle, Efq. Broad' Hemhury , Nov . 23, 1773. WHEN favours, received, di fiance all power of equal return, the receiver can but barely acknowledge his receipt of them, and confefs his in- competency to repay them. Your inftances of friendlhip, to me, are of the above kind, both as to number and value. My returns, to you, are, and mufl: ever be, as lad defcribed. Allow me, dear fir, fo far to revive our late ami- cable conteft, as to intrcat you not to fupprefs the «publication of your Thoughts De Origine Anim^. Were they to appear, they might open a Vv^ay for other learned and ingenious perfons to ventilate the fubje6l : which is one reafon why I take the liberty to urge the requefl. — If I have detained ycur valu- able manufcript," too long, you may draw on me, for it, whenever you pleafe ; though, the longer I am i^idulged with it, the more your debtor J ihall be. —Pray, have you feen Mr. Charles Crawford's Re- marks on Plato*s Phsdon ? I am told, that perform- ance is not deftitute of fire and genius, though very excentric from the point of orthodoxy. PofTibly, the perufal of it might give you occafion to enlarge your papers, on the fubjed we have debated, iliould you be prevailed with to give them to the public : in which cafe, the random fliots of the ianguine and romantic Weft Indian may be of fervice to the Church of God, by being turned into a contrary diredion. Do think of this, ferioufly. I reckon myfelf fo intereflied in whatever relates to you, that I cannot help intimating a widi, which dwells much upon my mind, concerning the trea- tife. LETTERS. all tilt, you have in band, oh the proper divinity of our adorable Hioh Prieft and Saviour. My wi(h is, that you would take occafion, in the courfe of that work, to vindicate and eftabliQi the perfonalityand divinity of the Holy Spirit : points, which were never iriore neceliary to be afTerted and elucidated, than at prefent,; when the poifon o{ fabelliamjm be- gins to pour in, as a flood, even among fome fpi ri- tual profelibrs themlelves. Let n^e teaze you, with yet another requeft. It is, that I may be indulged with a fight of thofe^om- pofitions, which you m.entioned on our way between Broad-Hemburyand Hcniton. You fee, I am already fo deeply in your debt for obligations received, that, like a profeffed bankrupt, I care not how many frefli fdebts I incur. Nay, I v.'ini to fink, deeper and deeper. God give us to fmk deeper into his love, and to rife, higher and higher, into the image of his ho- linefs 1 Thoroughly perfuaded I am, that, the more we are enabled to love and refemble him, the more active we n:!all be, to promxOte his glory and to ex- tend his caufe, with our lips, our pens, our lives, our all. Be this cur bufmefs, and our blifs, on earth. In heaven, we Qiall have nothing to do, but to fee him as he is, to participate his glory, and to fing his praife ; in delightful, in never-ending con- cert with angels, with faints who are got home be- fore us, and with thofe of the elect w^iom we knew and loved below. I would hardly give fix-pence for a friend (hip, which time and death are able to quench. Our friendfliip is not of that evanid fpe- cies, I can, therefore, fubfcribe myfeif, ever and forever your's, Av.gufiiis Toplady, LETTER 212 LETTERS. LETTER XXXn. To Ambrose Serle, Efq. Broad- Hembur\\ Bee. 8, 1773. I Cannot but fmile, at the eafe and readinefs, with which we cut oui work for each other. My dear friend's politenefs, in fo condefcendingly heark- ening to my fohcitations for the public appearance of his mafterly thoughts, ihould induce me, by every tie of refpedful gratitude, to meet his wi(hes, with equal facility. But I am really unqualified for the departm.ent affigned me hj his partiality of efteem. My acquaintance with the fathers is too llender, and my general compafs of reading far too contracted, for the undertaking you recommend. I fliould be mafter of at lead, Irenasus, Epiphanius, and Auftin, to write, in a manner tolerably fatisfa6lory, on fo complicated a fubjedV, as a review of heretics and herefies. I have, it is true, many fubfidiary helps ; but I ever wifli, where the nature of the cafe will pOiTibly admit, to derive my inform^ions, not at fecond hand, but from the fountain's head. Allow me, dear fir, to recommend the propofal, to the propofer himfelf. The work would be as compleat, as any human perform.ance can be, if you was to oblige and improve the world with the projected looking glafs for heretics. Glad I am, to be informed, that your defence of the Meffiah's divinity is almofb finiOied. My ad- miration is fure to be excited, by every thing you write : nor (hall my moft facred wilTies be wanting, that God would flj^mp general ufefulnefs on ail your attempts for the glory of his name. Your delign, of honouring and gratifying me with the firllperufal of your treatife, calls for more ac- knowledgement than I am able to cxprefs. Next to LETTERS. 213 to your converfation, I can receive no higher intel- le(5lual feaft, than that which refuUs from a pcrufal of your writings. Though iell: intcreft, therefore, operates, in this matter, too ftrongly on my mind, to admit of my decHning fo decifive a proof of your affedionate friendlhip ; yet, that I may not be too greatly indulged at the public expence, I cannot help intimating a defire, that my enjoyment of the firft fruits may not prejudice the harveft : I mean,, that the advanced parts of your work may be tranf- mitted hither, fo feafonably, as not to delay the publication of the whole. Accept my thanks, likewife, for the promifed fight of what you are pleafed to flile the Ferfiis iner- tes. If they "give me the head-ach," 1 will let you know it: and, by the fame rule, if they charm me into admiration, your delicacy muft difpenfe with my telling you fo. The fubjedl of ordination, revives my wifli, that you would fubmit to the impofition of hands. The Church would then (a very uncommon thing in this age) be a gainer at the expence of the ft.ate. LETTER XXXIIL To Mrs. Macaulay. Broad-Hemburyyjan. 11, 1774. T AST Saturday, I returned from a (hort excur- -*^ fion to Dorfetfhire. Though you can be no ftranger to the lofs, which the public have fuftained, in the deceafe of Mr. Hollis ; yet, it is poffible, you may not have been apprifed of the particulars, by an authentic hand. That 114 LETTERS. That friend of the Brkifh empire and oF mankind was, earl}' in the aiternooii Ot Nt w Year's Da^^, in a field, at fome diftance from his place of refi Jence at Corfcombe, attended by only one workman, who was receiving his directions, conci-ri.ing a tree, which had been lately felled. On a fudden, he put one of his fingers ro his forehead; faying, *' Rich- ard, I believe the weather is going to change: I am extremely giddy." Thele v/ords were fcarce off his lips, when he dropped. He fell on his left fidej and, being near an hedge, bis head war. received by the fubjacent ditch. The man (I know nor, whether a carpenter, or a common labourer) fprung to his afTiftance ; and, raifing him from that fad lituation, adminiftercd what little relief he could. The ex- piring patriot was ftill fufficiently himfeif, to fay, " Lord, have iLcrcy on me; Lord, have mercy on me; receive my foul :" which were the la fh words he was able to pronounce. His lips moved, after- wards ; but no found was formed. In a few feconds more, his fpirit was dif-imprifoncd. The frighted affiflant loft no time. Leaving the' corpfe on the grals, he haftened av»^ay, for fuperior lielp. But in vain. The lancet, when applied, was without eiied;. It feems, Mr. Hollis always wifhed, that his death might be (udden. Providence was pleafed to grant his requeft. — Was 1 qualified to chufe for myfelf, and were it lawful to make it a fubjedt of prayer, I would wifh for the fame indulgence, v/henever my appointed change may come. It is, 1 think, the moft deiirable mode of departure, where the perfon is in a ftate of grace. Hew happy, to be furprifed into heaven ! And, to furviving friends, it is but a fmgle fliock, oiice for all. At the time of his deceafe, Mr. Hollis was ready booted ; intending to ride that day to Lyme Regis. When I was there, it was my melancholy lot to oc- cupy the chamber in which he always ilept, during his LETTERS. 275 his occafional ftay in that town, and which had been prepared for his reception, two or three nights be- fore. It was at the Three Cups : an inn, which he purchafed a few years ago. How black is the ingratitude of human nature ! Though this valuable man lived entirely to the be- nefit of others, and may be clalied with the mofl public-fpirited worthies that ever breathed -, yet I have feldom known a death io little regretted by the generality. An eminent foreigner was of opinion,, that " there is no fuch thing as friend fhip in the- world.*' Had he faid, ** there is not much," he would have hit the mark. ** With fame, in juft proportion, envy grows : The man, that makes a character, makes foes.'* Very exalted virtue is often admired : but not often loved. What is the reafon } Becaufe, few are truly virtuous. And we mufb have fome virtue,, ourfelves, ere we are capable of loving it in others, or of loving others for it. You knew and efteem.ed Mr. Hollis*s virtues ;. nor (which is one of the higbefl encomiums his me- mory can receive) was he unworthy even of your friendfhip. Allow me, madam, to exprefs my wifli, that the precious blood and the imputed righteoufnefs of the adorable Meffiah, who lived and died for (inners, may prefent you, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgement, faultlefs and complete before the uncreated Majefty. But, for the fake ' of thole whom, in virtue and in knowledge, you fo greatly f urpafs ; may you be long detained from receiving that crown of life, to which (I trufl) the Son of^ God has redeemed you by the atonement of his Ineftimablc death.- Angu[ius I'oplady, LETTER 2.16 LETTERS, ^ LETTER XXXIV. ^ To Ambrose Serle, Efq. Broad-Hemkiry, Jan. ii, 1774* I\ V A S in Dorfetnilre, when dear Mr. S — 's fa* vour, of the 4th inftant, arrived here: elfe^ my thanks had waited on him, much earher than they now do, for his repeated obligations. 1 never was mafter of fo ufeful a pocket-book, as that, which your lad packet conveyed. Nor have I often met with compofitions, fo pleafing, and fo profit- able, as thofe, which your friend lliip was {o good as to communicate, under the fame inclofure. But how could my dear friend (whofe judgment rarely fails, unlefs when his own pieces are the objeds of its criticifm) ever think of fubmitting fuch finifhed performances to my corredions ? No. To prefervei their excellence, they mud continue as they are. I mufi: fay of them, as Handell faid concerning the old tune of the looth Pfalm, when he was afked to improve that confummate piece of noble mufic : '* was I to alter a note, 1 fliould fpoil the whole.*' — Make your obligation . complete, by favouring me with more of thofe elegant and devout produdions. If you have copies, of thofe already fent, I fliall beg leave to keep them. If not, I (ball folicit your per- miflion to tranfcribe them, before they are re- turned. I was once in company with Mr. McGregor, of Woolwich ; whom you have honoured with your pious, benevolent, and judicious animadverfions. I believe him to be a good man : but he is, certairi- iy, a very ignorant one. If you fuffer yourfelf to be at the beck of every conceited nibbler, who dreams himfelf qualified to conteft the plained truths, you will LETTER S/% 217 will have work enough upon your hands. My heft thanks are due, for your valuable tract. Though, perhaps, it may conduce to render both 1^ your antagonift, and his antecedent fcrawlation (for- "^**|jive an homely DevonOiire term), more confpicu- ous, than they might otherwife have been. I am happy, in the expectation of foon receiving your introdudion to your great work. Do not ful- pccl me of complalfance, for flyling it great, before 1 have fee n it. I give it that epithet, on account of the unutterable confequence of the fubje6t on which it treats. What my unworthy judgement may be, of the manner, in which you have treated the argu- ment ; ' fhall, as ufual, be tranlmitted^ to you, ex aniwo, when I have had the long wifhed-for indul- gence of perufing the welcome pacquet. Some confiderable time ago, I requefted my ever dear friend, to reftrain the overflowings of his kind partiality toward, not the leaft grateful, but the lead: important, of his obliged confidence. Talk no more, of a " giant" and a *' dwarf," unlefs you vWll allow me to aflume all title to the latter denomi- nation. If you love me, treat me as (what I am) an ignorant, feeble, dying linner. And, if you are fo benevolent, as to entertain a favourable idea of my wiflies for the caufe of God, keep that favourable idea to yourfelf, in tinle to come. The holidays, 1 fuppofe, will hardly be expired, when this reaches your hands. Commend me^ therefore, to your dear little folks. And may the children of my ineftimable- friend be the children of the living God. Mr. Fletcher may fire off, as foon as he pleafes. The weapons of his warfare can never^ wound the truths of God, any more than an handful of feathers can batter down my Church tower. I iljatl, how- ever, be glad to fee his performance, when it ap- pears. Mr. Shirley told me, when I was laft at Bath, tliat Fletcher is to fucceed pope Wefley, as Vol. VI. (31.) P commandejr 2i8 • LETTER S. commander in chief of the focietles, if he (liould furvive his holinefs. No wonder, therefore, that the cardinal of Madely is fuch a zealous ilickler for the caufe. One would think, that the Swifs were uni- verHilly fated to hght for pay. Adieu. Aitguftus Toplady. LETTER XXXW To the Rev. Mr. Romaine. Broad' Hembury, Jan. ii, 1774. ACCEPT my thanks, honoured and valued fir, for the welcome prefent of your three precious volumes. May the life of faith be more and more operative in my heart -, and may the walk of faith be difplayed in every part of my converfation ; until the great author and finifher of faith give me an abundant entrance into the land of fight and of glory. I wifli it was in my power, to render you an ac- knowledgement, adequate, in worth, to the kind favour you have conferred. When the printer will give my intended publication leave to appear, a copy of it, fuch as it is, will folicit your ac- ceptance. The God, whofe you are, and whom you ferve, lend you long to his Church ; multiply his mercies toward you, and caufe your path to (hine, with in- crealing brightnefs, to the perfecSt day» -You give me your friydiLip ; give me alfo your prayers, and confide r me as your affedionate and obliged, Jjfgujfus Toplady^ ' My bed remembrance waits on dear Mts. Ro- maine. Mifs L cxprefles mucla concern and furprize, LETTERS. ai9 fiirpitze, at your having palTcd through Welling- ton, without calling on hef; and wifncs to knovr the reafon. LETTER XXXVL To Mr. . Broad- Hembury^ Feb, 9, 1774. DOCTOR Young has an obfervation, which difcovers, as much as any he ever made, his knovvledge of human nature : " It is dangerous/' I think he fays, *' to dive, into mofi: men, deeper thai^ the furface ; left clofer acquaintance fhould abate our good opinion of them.** You, my deareft friend, are primus e paucis, emi- nent among the rare exceptions to that rule. The perfon, who knows you beft, will be fure to value you moft : and, the longer he has the happinefs of knowing you, the more muft he regard and refpe6t you. His efteem will refemble the progreflive en- largements of a river, which w'idens and increafes as it flows. I am led to Hiis remark, by a repeated perufal of your valuable manufcript. Pardon the delay, if no part of it wait on you by the prefent pacquet. Were your papers lefs excellent, they would be difmiiTed from hence with greater expedition, w^ I did not doubt of your approving Gale's Court of the Gentiles. It is indeed a treafure. Thou2;h, I think, in fome cafes, the learned and devout au- thor winds up his darling hypoth'^fis too high, in fuppofing, that the Jews, during the very infancy of their nation, were the fole lumina terray or the foun- tains from whom the Egyptians and other eaftern literati derived the fubllance of their erudition. I P a like wife 220 LETTERS. likewife agree with you, that he might have dllplay- ed more judgement, in arranging his materials : which (like what Mr. Addifon obferves concerning Solomon's Proverbs) refemble a fuperb amalTment of pearls, rather piled into a magnificent heap, than regularly ftrung and artificially difpofed. However, it is eafy to criticife. But, to compile fuch a per- formance, was not attended with equal facility : hie labor ^ hoc opus. Did you ever meet with a tra6t, written by Wit- fius, and entiled (to the beft of my remembrance) De Trinitatejudalca ? It is the only part of his Latin works, which I have never been able to procure. I dare believe, it would be worthy of your perufal : as every thing of his is peculiarly learned, elegant and judicious. Poffibly, if you enquire among your literary friends, fome of them may get you a fight of that very fcarce difi^ertation. Markius mentions it, in his Oration at Witfius's interment. Thanks, to you, dear fir, for the news-paper ex- traordinary ; which contained feveral particulars, de- ferving of attention. The anecdotes, related of Richard IIFs illegitimate fon, are fo curious, and wear fuch an afpedl of probability, that J thought them worth cutting out.^ and have palled them to a blank leaf of Walpole's Hiftoric Doubts. The minutes of do6lor Samuel Johnfon's Tour to Scot- land are perfedly in character. He is the very ori- ginal, there delineated. I have fome perfonal knowledge of him : and, hovi^ever I dififent from va- rious of his principles, nor can avoid fmiling at fome of his not-unpleafing oddities : he ftill paflfes with me, for one of the ableft and honefteil men, who now adorn the republic of letters. Mr. Hollis's charadler is, I think, prodigioufly overcharged ; and the panegyric beyond mealure excefiive ; though he certainly was a very valuable member of fociety ; and his deceafe awakened, in me, much of that painful fenfibility, which I heartily wifli I could dived LETTER S. 221 divefl myfelf of. I flood obliged to him, for a number of fcarce and curious tracts, relative to the time of Charles I. artd he would have favoured me with incomparably more folid tokens of his efteem, had I been capable of feigning myfelf a republican, and of difiembling my fincere attachment to the Scriptures and to our ecclefiaftical eftabliOiment. I tremble, with you, for the event of things in America. But the kingdom of Providence rules over all. This is as much of politics, as I almofl: ever ventured to write. Vox audita perit: Litera Scripta manet. Adieu. Atigufiiis Toplady. LETTER XXXVIL To Mrs. Macau LAY, nozv at Bath, Broad'Bemhiiryy Feb, i8, 1774. HAD I not lived long enough in the world, to ceafe from wondering at any thing, I (liould have more than wondered at the incident, of which you fo juftly complain. If almoft any pen, except your own, had informed me of Mr. 's ingra- titude and injuftice, J iliould have queftioned the reality of the fa6t. I am forry, ftill more for his lake, than for your's, to find it fo authentically at- tefted. Well may Scripture (a book which you, madam, are too wife and too virtuous to defpife) fay. What is man ! Pity it is, that, on fuch occafions as the prefcnt, you are not divefled of that exquilite fenfibility, which, at your own expence, adds too much honour to the remembrance of a focial dehnquent. Forget it all ; and, as you are more than female, in under- ftanding \ be more than mafcuhne, in fortitude. P 3 Triumph 1X2 LETTERS. .Triumph over the irritating favagenefs of the eyni- cifm which has requited you (o ill, by oppohng to it the iron apathy of the portico. Do more. Rife into a ftill nobler revenge. — NameJy, by centering your expedtations in him, who never difappoints thofe delircs, of which his fpirit is the gracious infpirer. " Lean not on earth ; 'twill pierce thee to the heart : At beft, a broken reed ; but, oft, a fpear. On it's fharp point, peace bleeds, and hope ex- pires." Only the experienced favour and the felt pofTeflion of God in Chrift can fill the vaft capacities of a foul hkc your's. Enjoy his communicated fmile : *' Then bid earth roll ; nor feel the idle whirl." May Bath have an happy effecl on the health of a perfon fo important to the community. You tell me, your flay there will be of confiderable duration. I think to fee London, fome time'in April. Should you continue at the V/eftern Bethefda, until the latter end of that month, or until the^ beginning of May, I will take Bath in my return to Devonlhire, by way of feeing how the waters have agreed with yipu. Let me fubmit a fingje caution to your candour, viz. Be careful not to renew your acquaintance with the dapper dod.or ; and, above all, beware of being feen with him in public. " Hie niger eft : himc in, Romana, caveto. He would derive luftre from you ; but, like a piece of bkck cloth, he would abforb the rays, without refleding any of them back. The world is very ma- licious : and a, charader, fo eminently confpicuous as your's;, is a markjfllit Vvdiich envy and cenlure de- light i LETTERS. 223 liglit to feizc every opportunity of difcharging their arrows . As you give me hopes of feeing you in this coun- try, during the Courfe of the enfulng (umiiier; who knows, but I may have the honour of efcorting you hither, through the whole length of Somcrfctfhire ? But I mull not detain you from the Pump-room, by my tedious fpeculations. So, for the prefent, farewel. God give you good fpirits; for, where they lead the van, good health generally brings up the rear. AuguJIns Toplady, P. S. I could wiOi you acquainted with Mrs. Derham, of Green-ftreet, Bath. You would find her one of the mod fenfible and amiable women in that city. She has all the genuine eafe, without any of the affcdled grimace of politenefs, her hufband is a wine-merchant, and fhe has a lovely daughter, nearly the age of your's. LETTER XXXVIIL To the Rev. Mr. De Coetlogon. Broad'Hembmy, April ij, 1775. Dear Sir, Received your late favour ; and am much your debtor, as well for your obliging partiality to my humble efforts in behalf of God's truths -, as for the poHtenefs, with which you exprefs it. Were I fituate near the capital, I fhould, with much rcadinefs, accede to )^ur requeft, by con- tributing my affiftance toward carrying on theGofpel JNlagazine : but 1 find it fo very inconvenient,, to P 4 > lia\e I 2^4 LETTERS. have any concern with printing, at fo remote a diftance,- that I fhail, probably, in future, publiQi no more, in anyway whatever, tlian abfolute oc- cafion m^y require. With bed remembrance to your moft amiable bride, 1 remain, your affectionate fervant, Augufrus 'Toplady. LETTER XXXIX. To Mr. G. F. Broad-Hembury, Aprils, ^71^- LONGER time is ufually allowed, for the pay- ment of large debts, than of trivial ones.- By parity of argument, a delay of corrcfpondence, on the fide of him who has received great epiftolary obligations, is the more venial, on that very ac- count. If my valuable and valued friend will not admit this reafoning to be fair, I muft own, that I have nothing better to urge, in extenuation of my having fo long omitted to thank him for his Lift welcome and much efteemed favour. Yet, as fome degree of imperfection is connected with every thing human : I muft likewife coniefs, that I cannot ex-, tend my thanks, for thofe ftrbkes of undue pane- gyric, with which, dear fir, your kind partiality \o profufely honours me. Sincerely I fay it (and it may be faid, once for all) that I would much rather be told of my real faults, than of thofe fuppofed excel- lencies which the extreme benevolence of my friends is fo ready to place to my account. Candour and po- litenefs, like your's, firft illuminate every object, on which they (liine ; and then afcribe, to the objed itfeif, thole communicated rays, of which it is no more than the humble and obliged receiver. Let LETTERS. 225 ' Let me now advert ^o a fuperior fubjedl : and thank you for the improving particulars, lb kindly- forwarded, concerning the lamented deceafe of our honoured and defcrving friend, the late truly excel- lent Mr. Hitchen ; that amiable and precious man of God, whofe grace was as folid, as his parts were fliining. His fteady faith, and his calm, unruffled departure, amidd iuch circumfhances of bodily pain, can only be attributed to that everlafting love, and to that atonirg blood, which made him more than conqueror. Looking, the other day, into my book of occafional collections, I found two remarks, v/hich dropped from Mr, Hitchen, in a converfatioa I had with him, July 18, 1769 ; and which were well worthy of being preferved from oblivion. They run, verbatim^ thus : " The greater our fandification is, and the more advanced we are in holinefs, the more we Ciall feel our need of free juftification," " An archited cannot fay, to his rule, to his line, or other inflrument, " Go, build an houfe." He muft, firft, take them into his own hand, ere the wiQied for efted will follow. What are minifters of God, but mere inftruments ? And, if ever they are ufeful in building up the Church of Chrifh, it is his own hand muft make them fo," Such improving obfervations as thefe ; fuch va- luable reliques, of faints indeed ; are too precious, to be lightly forgot. May they be engraven on our hearts ! I rejoice to hear of dear Mr. Ryland fe^iior's li- berty and fweetnefs, in his miniftrations to Mr. H- 's widowed flock. Our Northampton friend is an liraelite without guile ; and he is among thofe, who ftand higheft in my regard. He blames me for feldom writing to him : but, was I to correfpond regularly, even v;ith my firft rate favourites, I fhould do nothing more than write letters from morning to night. In heaven, we fliall be all together, for ever and ever. Make zx^ ^ L E T T E R S. Make my afFedlionate refpe(5ls acceptable to dcaF Mrs. F , ^c. he, Grace, mercy, and peace; bright evidences, fweet experiences, and growing hoiinels ; be your portion, their portion, and the portion of your afiedlionate fervant in Chrifl, Aiigtijius Toplady. LETTER XL. To Mr. H. [Extract.] TiichfieU-fireet^ London^ May i^,^ I774' YEfterday afternoon, being Whitfunday, curio- lity led me to hear Mr. Theophilus Lindfey, who lately refigned the vicarage of Catterick. I took care to be there, before any of the fervice be- gan, in order to hear, what that gentleman calls, I he reformed liturgy: but what may more truly be termed, the liturgy deformed. It is a wretched flceleton of the old Common Prayer, fliorn and caftrated of all its evangelical excellencies. He preached, or rather read, a poor, dry, un- graceful harangue^ on Matt. xxv. 14, 15. So uTetchedly was he tied and bound by the chain of his notes, that, if, by accident, he happened to take his eye from his papers (and it happened feveral times) he was fure to blunder ; and ejadeavoured, in an exceedingly confufed and embarralied manner, to gather up the broken thread as well as he could. He is a palpable Arian, in his ideas of ChriiVs per-' fon ; and appears to be a thorough-paced Socinian, as far as concerns the do(5lrine of atonement. Yet, God f.>rbid that 1 fliould judge and condemn him. To his own mafter he muft Hand or flill. But I mufl obferve two things : i . I blefs the grace of God^ LETTERS. 227 God, for giving me eyes to fee, and an heart to va- lue, the ineflimable truths of liis holy gofpel : 2. I never prized our good old liturgy, and the precious dodrines of the reformation, more, than on hearing- Mr. Lindfey's liturgy and fermon yefterday. No man (as our Lord obierves) having drank old wine, ftraightway defireth new : for he faith, the old is better. Mr. Lindfey's Arian meeting is held in EfTex- flrect, up one pair of flairs, in the houfe called EiTex-houfc. It is a long narrow room (which, if filled, would hold about two hundred people) where auctions (particularly for books) ufed to be held. He feems to be a man of much perfonal modefty and diffidence ; and, I verily believe, ads upon principle. But he has no popular talents : no pathos, no dig- nity, no imagination, no elegance, no elocution. He mufl, unavoidably, foon fink into obfcurity, when the novelty of his fecelTion begins to fubfide, ard when his Arian friends are weary of puffing him off in the news-papers. Take my word for it (and I am very glad I can truly have it to fay) the Church of England has notliing to fear from a gentleman of Mr. Lindfey's flender abilities. He can neither thunder nor lighten ; but crawls on, quite in the hum-drum way ; and is no more qualified, either by nature or attainments, to figure at the head of a party ; than I am, to undertake the command of a navy. One of my company (for a whole coachful cf us went) faid to me, after fervice was over ; '* Well, I fuppofe you will call Mr. Lindfey's dif- courfe a piece of arrant Lindfeywolfey." No, in- deed, replied I : it was mere Lindfey throughout ; abfolute Afiarrffm, Socinianiim, and Pelagianifm, without one thread of the contrary from firfl to kfl. Auguflm Toplady. LETTER 22S LETTER S. LETTER XLI. To Mrs. Macaulay. [Extracl.]] Broad-Hembury^ July 8, 1774. I Arrived here, from London, no longer ago, than this day fe'nnight ; and though I was not able to take Bath in my way home, through the unavoid- able length of my flay in town, I hope, madam, to be, foon, amply recompcnfed for that lofs, by fee- ing you, fafe and well, in this part of the world. Favour me with a line : and God grant it may im- port thefe two things : ift. That all your complaints are com.pletely annihilated by the Bath waters ; and, 2dly, That you have begun to take the previous meafuies for your intended two months excurfion to Dev^'.mfliire. I left good Mr. Ryland behind me in London. He deiired his bed remembrance to you : and wiQies (in his lively manner), " that you may be a perfect idiot once in every twenty-four hours, and incapable of writing, reading, thinking, or converfmg, viz. fro^ ten at night, until fix or feven in the morn- ing :" that you may not in^pair your health by fitting up late. No friend, 1 verily believe, has more refpecl and efteem for you, than he : not even your obiio-ed and obedient o Augujiiis I'oplady, P. S. One day, when Mr. Ryland and I went to Iflington, to dine with Mrs. Bacoii, he took that opportunity of introducing me to Mr. Eurgh, author of the '* Political Difquifitions." 1 (liw himto great difadvantage, as he was in much pain, and in a very ill humour. The interview, on the whole, was a curious one. I was hardly feated, when he faid to Mr. LETTERS. 229 Mr. Ryland, concerning mc, " This gentleman, I apprehend, is an antagonift of Mr. Lindfey's.'* I anfwered, for myfelf,. no, fir; I am not, indeed, of Mr. Lindfey's principles, but I look upon him, with all his miftake§, to be an honeft man : and I rcfped; an honefl man, be his opinions what they will. By degrees, our converfation grew rather engaging : and Mr. Burgh feemed, for a while, to feel a truce frqni the torments of the fhone, and afiume fome degree of good-nature. But I iliould have had a fharp onfet, if he had been in perfe(5t health. Even as it was, he could not forbear feeling my pulfe, on the article of freewill. In the courfe of our debate, I drove him into this dreadful refuge, viz. that *' God does all he poffibly can,'* [thefe were Mr. Burgh's ovv'n words] " to hinder moral and natural evil, but be cannot prevail : men will not permit God to have his wi ill." Left I fliould miftake his meaning, 1 requefted him to repeat thofe terms again ; which he did. Then the Deity, faid I, muft needs be a very imhappy being. *' Not in the leaft," repUed Burgh. '' What (rejoined I,) difappointed of his withes, cmbarraiTed in his vie^vs, and defeated of his fchemes, and yet not be unhappy ?" " No," rejoined Burgh : " for he knows that he muft be fo difappointed and defeated, and that there is no help for it : and therefore he fubmits to neceflity, and does not make himfelf unhappy about it./* A ftrange idea this, of the Supreme Being ! At coming away, I told Mr. Burgh, that however he might fuppofe God to be difappointed of his will, I hope the public would not be difappointed of the remainmg volumes of the Political Difquifitions yet unfiniibed. And, in very truth, madam, your friend Burgh is much better qualified for political difquifitions, than either for theological or for metaphyseal ones. Adieu. Jugti/Ius Toplady, L E T- 2JO LETTERS. i LETTER XLII. To the Rev. Mr. Madan. [Extrafl.] Broad 'Hembury, July 8, 1774. ]7 N O U G H of bufinefs. Now for chit-chat. -*-^ My k^ hora fiibficiva, fince my return hither,, have been devoted, chiefly, to the perufal of lord Chefterfield's Letters. I fhould think the better of my own judgment, if it fliould be fo happy as to coincide with your's. Mine is, in general, that they are not only, what his lordfhip terms, '^ letters writ- ten from one man of the world to another ;'* but, many of them, fuch as might well be expected from a decent civilized fornicator; to his favourite baft — d. Do you not alfo complain of a negligence, in point* of ftyle, compofition, and connection ; really to be wondered at, in even the running pro- dudionsof fo mafterly an hand? It is true, letters are but converfation committed to paper : yet, I believe, the generality of well-bred people would blulh to converfe in a ftyle equally inaccurate and defultory, with that, in which lord Chefteriield fometimes wrote. I own, myfelf, however, on the whole, extremely entertained and improved, by this publication. There are almoft an infinity of rules and remarks, refpe6l- ing both men and les manieresy founded on, the deepeft worldly wifdom and truth : yet, fo inter- mixed with drofs and refufe, that, had I the care of a young perfon, I would not venture to put thofc letters into his hands, without the precaution of an. index expiirgatorius. But was any thing ever like his portrait of the female fex, in letter 129 ? Where he traduces them all, without mjiking.a fingle exception. I know but one LETTERS. 231 one way to bring him off: and that, 1 fear, will be far from doing it cffeclually : viz. by fupj^oling, that, when he ikctched that caricature, his mind was acidulated by a recent fracas with lady Chefberficld : and that, in revenge, he inllantly libelled the whole fex. I never heard of Mr. Wefley's Sinai-covenanters, until you was pleafed to mention them. Poor crea- tures! to meet once a year, and folemniybind them- felves to keep the whole law 1 I wi{h 1 had known this particular, fome months ago. Can you tcjl, whether they have a written form of covenanting, or whether it be all ore teniis ^ and, if the former, whether it be pofTible to procure a fight of it.^ This is a matter, well worth enquiring into. You once favoured me with a more critical expli- cation of Pet. i. 19, than I had before met with. I wifb you would condefcend to give it me in writing. AiiguJItis Toplady. LETTER XLIIL To the Rev. Mr. Romaine. Broad- Tlembiiry^ July S, 177. A^ Rev. and dear Sir, S it is pofuble that our valuable and valued - friend, Mr. , may not hitherto have had an opportunity of acquainting you vvith the polite manner in which lord received your late favour ; and as Mr. has been fo good iis to communicate to me, in a letter received here yefterday evening, the lubllance of what paiFjii ; permit me, without delay, ^ I . To 232 L E T T E R , S. 1. To inform you, in general, that your kind application appeared to have a very favourable ef- fect : and that his lordlhip was (o obliging as to fay, he would *' try the ground" with the lord chancellor. 2. To thank you, under Providence, for the very friendly intervention of your good offices : which, whether crowned with ultimate fucceis, or not, I fhall, ever, mofl: affeclionately remember. — And, 3. To requeft an exertion of your intereft w^ith that bleiTed and only potentate, who has all power both in heaven and earth ; that he vv^ould gracioufly give fuch an event to this whole matter, as he will be pleafed to blefs mod to the glory of his own name. I returned hither, from London, this day fe'nnight : and, laft Tuefday, attended the bifliop's vifitation at Tiverton. The fermon was preached by Mr. Land : and upon the whole, a very excellent one it was. Among its few flaws, was, the claffing of Hutch- infon, with Clarke, Shaftefbury, and Hume : the former of whom, if living, would have been very forry at being put among fuch company. The Strand divines were, rather feverely, than fmartly, taken to talk: and, as I was afterwards told, old Whitter and young Wood held down their heads in fome confufion. The epifcop?fl charge, though extremely concife (i. e. difpatched in abqut 12 or 14 minutes), was the very beft I ever heard. It chiefly turned, on the excellency of the 39 articles 3 the expediency of fubfcription ; and the peculiar duties, more than ever, at this time, incumbent on the clergy, relative to their morals, manners, drefs, and abftraClednefs from the world. The whole of his lordiliip's beha- viour, both in the Church, and afterwards at dinner, gave much fatisfadion to the generality, and pecu- liar pleafure to me. Adieu, LETTERS. 27S Adieu, honoured and dear fir. Kindeft refpeds to yourfelf, and to Mrs. Romaine, from your obliged and affedionate AugtiJItis TopIaJy, LETTER XLIV. lo Ambrose Serle, Efq. Brcad'Hemhury^ July 8, 1774. SHALL I attempt to thank my ever dear and ever refpcBed friend, for his pohte and obliging favour of the 30th ult. or for the kind fervices, tvhich preceded that favour, and to which it refers? No. It is a duty, to whofe performance I feel myr felf unequal. Your friend Qiip, therefore, like what fome fay concerning virtue at large, mud be its own reward. Yet, think me not infenfible. My fenfi- bility is the very caufe of the omiffion. Were the obligations, under which you lay me, more moderate, I could with eafe, thank you for them: but, as the cafe flands, 1 muft follow Horace's diredion, con- fute quid "oakant humeri', and not aim at impofTibi- lities. Sure 1 am, that God will incline the fcale (and not this only, but every other, to the end of time,) fo as (hall conduce to his gvvn glory, and to the ac- compliQiment of his own purpofe. It is our's, to ufe the means, in a dependancc on his abfolute pro* vidence; to blefs the means ufed, is his. With him, all events muft be ultimately refted : and I truft, I can fay, ex animo^ with him 1 ever wiQ) and defire to reft them; nor would I have a hngle incident removed out of his hand, were I poflelTed of all power both in heaven and earth. V^L. VI. (31.) Q^ '\ You 234 LETTERS. You kindly remind me, " To flrike while the iron is warm.'* In anfwer to which. I muft obferve, th^J: I have written, to-day, to Black-heath, and to Ep- fom. Can you fuggeft any other advifable flops ? You will find, not only my ear, but my heart, ever open to the leafl hint fuggefled by a friend of your wifdom and faithfulnefs, whether the fubje6t relate to my own interefl, or not. You are fo good as to enquire after my fafe re- turn into the Weft. I blefs God, my journey was both fafe, and pleafant. The flighteft mercies ought to be thankfully received and noticed : for they are as abfolutely undeferved, as the greatefl. We can no more merit a moment's eafe, or fafety, or happi- nels, in our going out and coming in, or on any other occafion whatever, than we can merit the kingdom of heaven. I travelled with a very old (or rather, with a very 'early) acquaintance : an ofHcer, of the 2 ifl regiment ; with whom, at our firfl fetting off in the coach from London, I had an hour or two's controverfy, concerning the lawfulnefs of duelling. Your friend was on the negative fide of the queftion : the cap- tain, on the affirmative. During the amicable ikir- mifh (a duel againft duelling,) and for*many hours after, we w^ere quite ignorant of each olhers names. And no wonder ^ for we had not met, fince thvc year 1757, when w^e were both lads: and time has made luch alteration in each, that neither knew the other. We travelled to Bridport (i.e. 138 miles) before we found out who was who : and I have fel- dom known an ecclairciffement which gave more pleafurc on both fides. The captain, very politely, inTited me to fee him, if 1 (hould ever go to Ply- mouth : and, on my afking, for whom I fliould enquire, the difcovery was made. On a review, I am really afhamed of trefpafTing on your patience and time, by luch petty chit-chat it is high feafon for mc to apologize^ not by pro 1. excufe LETTERS. 23J excufes, but by cutting matters (hort at once. Only obferving, that, if the unexpected fight of an , old and valued friend, on earth, gives an heart -felt joy, which none, but a breaft formed for friendPnip, can experience; what far more exceeding and exalted bleflednefs mull refult from that " Communion of faints" made perfedl which will obtain in the king- dom of glory! — Until then, and when there, I am, and fhall ever be, your affedlionate friend, Atigiijliis Toplady. LETTER XLV. Mr. O . Broad 'Hembury^ Jidy 29, 1774. BEST thanks to you ever dear fir, for your kind and obliging letter, of the 19th inflant. From what I felt, m reading it, I cannot help be- lieving, that your foul was much alive to God, when you wrote it. May your holinefs and comforts referrible the flow of fome mighty river, which widens and enlarges, rriore and more, in proportion as it advances nearer the ocean into which it falls. I rejoice at what you fay, concerning the happy- frame of foul, in which the reverend Mr. Green afcended to Abraham's boforii. It is delightful, to live and walk in the fhinings of God's countenance: but to die in the light and confolations of his pre- fence, is (next to heaven itfelf) the crowning merey of all. How gracious is the Holy Spirit of promife, thus to fhine away the doubts and fears of his peo- ple, and put them to bed by day-light ! O may we 0^2 tafte 236 LETTERS. taile the fweetnefs of his love, rife into a nearer con* formity to his image, enjoy clofer communion with him both in and out of ordinances, and experience an increafmg fenfe of his never faihng faithfulnefs ; till we receive the end of our faith, even the full and ultimate falvation of our fouls. I blefs the Lord, I cannot doubt of his making all this our portion. He fometimes enables me to look as it were, into his heart of everlaftinglove ; and to catchaglimpfeof that page in the Book of Life, where he has written my unworthy name : and in the ftrength of that comfort, ] can travel many days. I am very glad, that dear Mr. — has broken the ice, at Weftminfter. Would to God, that the nafty party walls, vyhich feparate the Lord's people from each other below, were every one of them thrown down. Sure lam, that, in heaven, all God's houfe will be laid into one. Ephraim (hall, then, no more envy Judah ; nor Judah vex Ephraim. I am greatly indebted to Mr. M , for what he did me the honour to fay of me, and of my late publication, in the pulpit. But I defire, at the fame time, to be (and, I blefs God, I am) humbled and abafhed, inftead of elevated and puffed up, by the unmerited obligations which I continually re- .ceive from the excellent of the earth. Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but to thy name, be the undivided glory of every gift, and of every grace afcribed. Prefent my affedionate refpeds to dear Mrs. ♦- : who, I hope, has, by this time, added to your family, without danger to herfelf. Let me know this particular : for 1 bear her much upon my heart. « While your dear little daughter continues as little as (he is, I may venture to fend my love to her. And I wi(h, alfo, to be kindly remembered to all in your Uoufe> who loYii your Lord and mine. How LETTERS. 237 How is mifs ! Chriftian ialiitations to her and all that family ^ and to as many as condeicend to enquire after. Dear fir, your obliged and very aflfedionate fervant, Augujlus Toplady, LETTER XLVL To Mr. . Broad-Hemburyy Sept, 3c, 1774. Ever Dear Sir, THOUGH your kind politenefs has defired me, never to thank you by letter,^ for the many inftances of the regard with which you are continually obliging me ; yet, I muft, for once, violate the prohibition, by acknowledging my fafe receipt of the , &c. which you have lately added to my , and for which I requeft you to ac(?ept my cordial thanks. I wiQi, that you and dear Mrs. • were here, to help to ufe them. I greatly admire the elegant and , in particular, and I pray the Father of mercies, that the fweet fentences, with which the former is*deco- rated and infcribed, maybe written, indelibly, on the hearts both of the donor and of the receiver. Next, let me thank you for your much efteemed letter of the 13th inftant, and for the kind trouble, you were fo good as to take, in calling on Mr. — , Whatever courfe the NorthamptonQiire affair may take, it will be in confequence of that *' never fail- ing Providence, which orders all things, both in 'tieaven and earth." Bleffed be God, for enabling me, in fome meafure, not only to acquiefce, but to rejoice, in the uneiting difpofals of his will ; and to adore, with thankfulnefs, that Infinite Wifdom, ^ 0^3 which 238 LETTERS. which alone is able to chufe our heritage and our lot. I have not been on the mount, for Tome days, until now. The Lord warm your heart with a ray of that fire, *which, through the free grace of his fpirit, he, at prefent, gives me to experience. Oh, what treafures arc in the blood of Chrift, what fafety, in his righteoufnefs ! what fweetnefs in }iis fellowQiip ! Lord, enlarge our fouls to receive of his fullnefs more and more. If the fcanty velTel of imperfect faith can draw fuch water of comfort from the w^clls of falvation ; what will be the bleflednefs of God's dcci, when they are taken up into glory, and there walk with him, " High in falvation and the climes of blifs !'* The clearer views God gives us, of intereil: in his covenant, and in the unfearchable riches of Chrift^ the deeper we fink into an humbling fenfe of our own vilenefs and unfruitfulnefs. The fame candle of the Holy Spirit, which lliews us God's love, and €»ur part in the Book of Life, difcovers to us the exceeding hatefulnefs of fin, and convinces us that we are hell deferving finners. • It alfo fires us with an inextinguiOiable wifh and third for conformity to Cftrift in hblinefs, and effectually caufes us to cry out, with David, "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein is my defire." Doubt not, my dear fir, but the Lord will go on to take care of us, in all thefe refpeds, and in every other ; even beyond the utmofl we are able to afk or think. My be ft remembrance wait on the amiable and deferving partner of your heart: and I do, with trutli and love in Chrift Jefus, fubfcribe myfelf, her and your * • affedionate fervant in fcim, • ' Augujlus Topladv . P.S. Be ^LETTERS. 239 P. S. Be fo good as to prefent my refpedful falu- tations to Mr. -— : whom I requell: to accept my thanks for 'the intended 'token of his efteem which, when it arrives, I hope ever to prcferve and value, for the fake of the giver. I (hall be happy, to hear from you, as often as you can find lelfure. Is Mrs. hour of danger pad ? She has my earneft prayers. Adieu. o LETTER XLVIL To Mrs. B . Broad-Hembury, Nov, 11, 1774. N my receiving a letter, franked by lord Sand- wich, I immediately conjedured, to whom I Itood indebted for the contents : and on breaking the leaJ, found my hope moft agreeably realized. Your triendfhip and politenefs, dear madam, are great in- deed: which not only induced you to forgive my omiflions ; but even prevailed on you to be your- lelf, the renewer of that correfpondence, which both your merit, and my own promife, required me to recommence. Happy in the continuance of your elteem, and fignally obHged by the accumulated iavours you confer, I Oiould be totally Inexcufable, were I to perfift in putting your condefcenfion to tliole trials, whereof our truly valuable friend, Mr. -Kyland, fo loudly complains. But what can 1 fay, relative to the profufe enco- miums, with which you deign to honour my late publication? Your probity is unqucfllonable. Your di cernment, m every other inftance,- unimpeach- able. I am thankful, for not having difpleafed fo^ refined a judge. May that adorable Being, whofe" Ipirit, alone, is able to enlighten the darknefs of the human mind, command his gracious blerfinP- on every attempt, which has his glory, and the iiluftra^ tion ot his truths, for its objeds! 0.4 Apcr^ a4o LET T^E; R S. A perfon, whom we both defervedly admire, has juftleft Devonftiire, after a refidence in it of no lefs than three months. I mean Mrs. Macaulay^ who wifely intermitted herhiftoricalpurfuits, for the fake of purfuing that, without which the former would foon come to a final period -, namely, health, I left her very weak and Unguid (as, I believe, I told 3^ou), when 1 parted from her, laft May, at Bath, on my way to London. But fhe has quitted this part of the Weft, in all the vigour and alacrity of health. She is returned to Bath, where flie has taken an lioufe on St. James's Parade; and where, if buCnefs or inclination (hould call ybu to that city, fhe will be, 1 doubt not, extremelv glad to fee j^ou. I have promifed torqake an excurfion thither, for a month or tWo, before v^inter is over, provided my iludics will any way give leave : and ibould be happ} , if you could, with convenie^nce toy6urfelf, contrive to vifit Bath at the fame time,' You tell me, you have been anjufed at London, or rather fliocked, by thofe vehement exertions of female zeal, which, in peerefles, are no lefs violations pf law, than of delicacy. I too was, laft Wcdnef- day, amufed, here in my own parifn, by a fcene, much humbler than that vvhich your eledlioneering ladies exhibited,: viz. by what is callqd, in this coun- try, a S'kimmington. A procefTion, which is very accurately defcribed in Hudibras, and not vvith more humour than the real fight conveys. A moft un- eafy pair, whofe conftant jarnngs, and whofe fre- quent ikirmilhes (in which, however, the heroine, not the hero, generally came off vidtoricus), have long been the talk cf the parifh, and a nuifance to their immediate neighbours, \ycTt mimicked, and rl liculed, to the life, in this ruftic exhibition: but a:companied with much better and fofter mufic, than the fquabbles of the originai^ couple uiually afford. ' ' ' \ have L E T T E R S. - 241 I have hearfl you remark, and no remark. Was ever more juft, that, let me be where I will, I amfureto meet with inftanccs of connubial infelicity. They really occur to me, on every hand ; juft as *'the graces'* bolt, from every corner, on the puifuers of lord Che{lerfieid*s Letters. And yet (you will fmile, if not triumph, at fuch a declaration from me), I am, really and literally, tired of being a batchelor : not unwilling, to try a certain hazardous experi- ment) though half afraid to venture. After givmg fuch a voluntary and decifive 4)roof of my (incerity, I cannot be fufpeded of duplicity, if I fubfcribe myfelf, what in very truth I am, dear madam, your obliged friend and mod obedient fervant, Auguftiis Toplady. P. S. Good Mrs. Ch. has my refpedful and af- fedionate remembrance. God loves her ; and will take care of her, even to the end, and without end. T—Adieu. LETTER XLVni. To the Rev. Dr. B. of Sanm. Broad- Hembury^ Nov. 18, 1774. AS I fuppofe you are, by this time, returned from Frelhtord; it is incumbent on me, .dear fir, to acknowledge your favour of the 9th ult. which arrived here, a day or tw^o after my laft to you was forwarded to Sarum. 1 fhould have been extremely happy to have enjoyed your and Mrs. B's company in Devonfliire : but cannot wonder at my difap- pointment, when I confider the fupcrior attradions, of which Frefliford and its environs have to boaft. ^nother year, I hope, will make me amends. Mrs. 24^ LETTERS. Mrs. Macaulay has lately left us, in a more vi- gorous ftate of health and fpirits, than I ever yet remember to have feen her enjoy. Notwithftand- ing the many local and focial cha!-ms of Frefhford, you have really fuftained a lofs, by not being here, during her long refidence in this neighbourhood. I (hall be extremely obliged to you, for commu- nicating the Jamaica epitaph on Bradlhaw. Though," before I fee it, I muft inevitably fet it down for a mere lufus ingenii : the perfon, from whom you had it, being moil egregioufly mif-informed, if he in earneft believes that the fubjed of it died in that idnnd where the epitaph was born. Certain it is, that Bradfhaw died at London, in November, 1657, the year before Cromwell expired: and that he f Bradfhaw] was interred in Henry yth's chapel; Mr. Rowe, the famous Puritan minifier, preaching his funeral fermon, in Weilminfter Abbey, from that text in Ifaiah, The righteous periflieth, and no man lays it to heart. Moreover, Bradlhaw's remains were, foon after the Refloration, dug up, and buried under the gallows, with thofe of other partizans in the fame caufe. So that your Weft Indian corref- pondent is totally miftaken, in every point of view. But, pray, let me fee the epitaph : which is no more the worfe for the mif information wnth which it was introduced to your acquaintance, than the intrinftc merits of Mr. Drelincourt*s excellent Treatife on Death, are impaired, by the fabulous legend, pre- fixed to it, concerning Mrs VeaFs apparition. Augujius Toplady, LETTER LETTERS. 243 LETTER XLIX. To the Countefs of Huntingdon. Broad'Hembury, Dec. 9, 1774. Madam, 1W A S, in due courfe, honoured with your lady- fliip's letter, of Nov. 24; and, had its contents been lefs weighty, fhould have fooner acknowledged my receipt of it. After fo condefcending, and fo explicit, a difplay of your views of divine things ; 1 lliould be crimi- nally inexcufable, were I not, with all poflible re- ipe(ft, but yet with the moft naked and undifguifed fimplicity, to fubmit the refult, both of my prayers and of my refledions, to your ladyftiip's judgement and candour. I cOnfider the; true minifters of God, as providen- tially divided into two bands: viz. the regulars, and the irregulars. The former may be compared to centinels, who are to keep to their ftations : or to watchmen, whofe attention is immediately confined to their refpe^tivc diftrids. — The latter,' like troops of light-horfe, are to carry the arms of their fovereign, wherever an opening prefents, or occafional exigence may require, i— Both thefe corps are ufeful, in their diflind: de- partments; and, in my opinion, fliould obferve the fame harmony with each other, as obtains among the flationary and planetary flars, which are fixed and erratic in the regions above us. Hitherto, I have confidered myfelf as a regular; and have been very cautious, not to overftep that line, into which, I *am perfuaded. Providence has thrown me; and in which, I can thankfully affirm, divine grace has been pieafed to blefs me. Ought I not 244 LETTER 5. I not to fee the pillar of divine dirediob moving be- fore me, very vifibly, and quite incontcftibly, ere 1 venture to deviate into a more excurfive path? I remember, that, in one of my lad converfations with dear Mr. Whitefield, antecedently to his laft voyage to America, that great and precious man of God faid as follows : "My good fir, why do not you come out? why do not you come out? You might be abundantly more ufeful, v/ere you to w^iden yopr fphere, and preach at large, inflead of reftraining your miniftry to a few parifli churches." My anfwer was to this effed: that *'The fame Pro- vidence, which bids others roll at large, feems to have confined me to a particular orbit." And, I honeftly own, I am ftill ofthe fame mind. If there be, for me, a yet more excellent way, God, I trufl:, will reveal even this unto me. I hope 1 can Jruly fay, that I defire to follow his guidance, with afjngle eye. As tothe doftrines of fpecial and difcriminating grace, I have thus much to obferve : tha% for the four firft years after I was in orders, 1 dwelt, chiefly, en the general out-lines of the gofpel, in the ufual ccurfe of my public minifrry. I preached of little elfe, but of juilification by faith only in the righte- oufnefs and atonement of Chrift; ai^l of that per- fonal holinefs, *without which, no man fhall fee the Lord. My reafons for thus narrowing the truths of God, were (with humifiation and repentance 1 defire to fpeak it,) thefe two: i. I thought thefe points were fufTicicnt to convey as clear an idea, as was ab- folutely necefiary, pf falvation. And, 2. I was partly afraid to go any further. Godhimfelf (for none but he could do' it) gradu- ally frecime fr^m th\t fear. And as he never, at any tim.e, permitted me to deliver, or even infinu- ate, any thing contradidory to his truths; fohas he been graciouily pleafed, for between feven and eight years pafb, to open my mouth to make known the entire L E T T E R S. ^ 245 entire myftery of his gofpel, as far as Lis ipirit lia-i enlightened me into it. — The confcquence of my firft plan of operations was, that the ircnerality of. my hearers were pleafed : but very few were con- verted. — The refult of my latter deliverance from worldly wifdom and from worldly fear (fo far as -the Lord has exempted me from thofe fnares), is, that multitudes have been very angry : but the conver- fions, which God has given me reafon to h(3pi£ he has wrought, have been, at lead, three, for one before. Thus, I can teflify, fo far as I have been concern- ed, the ufefulnefs of preaching predeftination : or, in other words, of tracing faivation, and redemp- tion, to their fird fource. Your ladylliip's goodnefs will pardon the unrc- ierved freedom and plainnefs, with which I have taketi occafion to open my mind. Nor will you, 1 hope, difbelieve me, when, with the fame fimpli- city and truth, I affure your ladyP^iip, that I \o\q and revere you, for what God has made you, and for what he has effeOed through you. Let me have, as you kindly promife, an intereft in your prayers. Should I vifit my Bath friends, this winter, as I have fome thoughts of doing, I will avail m.yfelf of your ladyjhip's invitation, by paying my refped:s to you; and the rather, as it is, now, between ten and eleven years, fnice I had an opportunity of prefeiit- ing'you with them in perfon. Whenever I have been in Bath, during this long period, your ladylhip never happened to be there. WiOiing you, not the compliments of the enfu- ing feafon, but an encreafmg enjoyment of tlie realities, which it ^brings to our remembrance, I re- main, madam J Your iadyOiip's moft obedient, and moft humble fervant, Jtfgu/Ius TopIaJv. P. S. May I take the liberty, to wifh,*^ that, when you next write to lord Moira, your ladyfliip would coi^de-* 246 LETTERS: condbfcend to make my rerpe6Vs acceptable to hlm^ Mr. Shirley, if at Bath, has my afFedionate falii- tatiofts* LETTER I To the Rev. Dr. Priestley. Rev. Sir, Broad-Hembtiry, Dec. 23, 17740 /^Ondefcend to accept the thanks of a perfon, ^^ who has not the honour of being acquainted with you, for the pleafure^ and improvement, re- cently received, from a perufal of your fpirited (and, for the mofh part, juft) Animadverfions on the three Northern Doflors. Allow me alfo to thank, in ani efpecial manner, the good providence of God, which has raifed up no lefs a man, than yourfelf, to con- tend, fo ably, for the great doftrine of neceflity : a dodrine, in my idea, not only eiTential to found and rational philofophy ; but, abflra6ted from which, I could not, for my own part, confider Chriftianity it- felf as a defenfible fyftem. Greatly as I admire the main of your performance, I fhould, probably, not have taken the liberty to trouble you with my acknowledgements^ but for the followino; circumftance. In your fuccefsfui aflault and batter}^ of the new Scotch fortification, you have, occafionally, fired fome random fliot on a very numerous fet of men, who, fo far as concerns the article of neceflity, are your adual friends, and your natural aUies. Permit me, therefore, fir, to offer you, in this private man- ner, a few plain, but not intentionally difrefpedlful, ftriftures on fome rafh and exceptionable paffages ; which LETTERS. 247 which ferve, as foils, to render your penetration'and candour, on Ibme other occafions, the more con- fpicuous. 1 (hall confine myfclf to your Introdudion. 1. Are you certain that *' The common Arminian doftrine of freewill is founded on Scripture, and pre- fuppofed by the philofophic do6lrine of neceflity ?" Is it not very pofTible, and often actually matter of fad, that men have not " the power of doing what they pleafe, or will" to do ? The triumvirate of doctors (for inftance) are, I doubt not, vecy willing to beat you off from their intrenchments, and to give you a total defeat. But I am much midaken, if they have " the power of doing it," 2. Why are '' Calvin's notions" reprefented as *^ gloomy ?" Is It gloomy, to believe, that the far greater part of the human race are made for endlefs happinefs ? There can, I think, be no reafonablc doubt entertained, concerning the falvation of very- young perfons. If (as fome, who have verfed them- felves in this kind of fpeculations, affirm) about one half of mankind die in infancy ; and if, as indubitable obfervation proves, a very confideraHe number, of the remaining half, die in early childhood; and if, as there is the flrongefh reafon to think, many rail- Uons of thofe, who live to maturer years, in every fucceffive generation, have their names in the Book ot Life : then, what a very fmall portion, compara- tively, of the human fpecies,. falls under the decree of preterition and non-redemption ! This view of things, I am perfuaded, will, to an eye fo philofophic as your's, at leafl: open a very chearlul vifta through the " gloom ;" if not entirely turn the imaginary darknefs into fun-lhine. For, with refpecl to the few reprobate, we may, and w^e ought to, rcfign the difpofal of them, implicitly, to the will of that only King who can do no wrong : inflead of fumnioning the Almighty, to take his trial at the tribunal of our own 248 LETTERS. own fpeculations,»and of fetting up ourfelves as the judges of Deity. 3. I mufl confefs, I fee nothing^ *' wonderful/' nor to be gazed at " as. a flrange phenomenon /' in the co-incidence of ** philofophic neceffity" with the Calviniflic theology and metaphyfics. I fliould ra- ther '* wonder," if they did not co-incide : fince (according to the ideas formed by me, who live in a Chrifiiiaif country, and believe the Chriitian reve- lation) they mutually fuppofe and fupport each other. For, what is Calviniim, but a fcriptural ex- panfion of the philofophic principle of neceffity ? or, if you pleafe, a ramification of that principle into its religious parts? It is poflible, indeed, for a perfon to be a grofs Neceflitarian, or a Necefiitarian at large, without being, fully, a Calvinift (witnefs many of the antient, and fome modern, philofo- phers:) but it feems impofiible, to me, that any perlbn can be, fully, a Calvinift, without being a Necefiitarian. Moreover, every Chriftian NecelTitarian is, fo far, a Calvinift. Have a care, therefore, Dr. Prieftley : k ft, "'having fet your foot in the Lemaine lake, 5^oa plunge in, qimntiis qttantns. A cataftrophe, which, for my ovvn part, and for your own fake, I fincere|}^ \vi(h may come to pafs ; and of which I do not wholly defpair. 4. There is, I apprehend, no fliadow of reafon, for fuppofing, that, had the great and good Mr, Edwards *' lived a little longer, he v^ould have^'been fenfible, that his philofophy w^as much more nearly allied to Socinianifm, than to Calvinifm." That deep and mafterly reafoncr would, rather, have rejoiced » at feeing fo important a branch of the Calviniftic philofophy, (viz. the dodrine of neceflity) fo warm- ly adopted by a Socinian divine. Scrioufly, I think you have admitted a Trojan horfe into your gates; whofe concealed force will, probably, at the long run, difpiay the banner of John LETTERS. 249 John Calvin on your walls, and mafler your capital, though at prefent garrifoned by the confederate forces of Pelagius, Sozzo, and Van Harmin. 5. Nor was it any " piece of artifice, in NJc. Ed- wards, to reprefent the do6lrine of philoroj)hical ne- cefTity, as being the fame thing with Calvinifm ; and the doctrine of philofophical liberty, as the lame thing with Arminianilm." This fuggeliion, fir, (which, by the way, is more than a little ungenerous, when we confider how upright and valuable a man IVIr. Edwards, by all accounts, proved himlelf, in every part of his conduct) feems to have been ftart- ed, merely, as a falvo for yourfeif. You are, on the article of necefTity, the reverfe of an Arminian. And you are terribly afraid of being dubbed a Calvinift. I muft own you are in fome httle danget. But, chear up. Your cafe is not yet defperate. Poor Janflenius was in a (ituation, fomewhat fmiilar to your's. He, in- deed, fwam farther into the Geneva lake, than you have ventured to do : and, to elude the name of heretic, allured as many good peoole,- as would believe him, that he was, all the while, bathing ia the Tiber. So far as I can judge, Mr. Edwards gave the naked and genuine fentiments of his heart to the public. And I am, likewife, of opinion, that the fact (lands, {imply and literally, jufl as he reprefents it. Armt- nianifin, when ftripped of its fophiftical trappings, contends for fuch an abfolute and inviolable freedom, £» ajLt!ptees7r«, as is independent, in its exercile, on any • thing but the will itfelf. Confequently, the Armi- nian fcheme is no lefs incompatible with the religion of r^afon, than with the religion of the Bible : and diredly contravenes the whole current, both of na- tural and of revealed truth. 6. It is, certainly, a very unguarded affertion, that *' the modern queftion of liberty and neceflity" is w^hat the Calvinian divines, " never underftood, nor, indeed, fo much as heard of.*' The contrary is Vol. VI. (32.) R evincible. ISO LETTERS. evincible, from their writings. The queftion, fo far from being purely " modern," has exercifed Tome of the ableft Proteftant pens, from the reformation,, quite down to the prefent day. It has been agitated, with no little zeal, pro & contra, even among the Papifts, long before, but more frequently fince, the Proteftant sera. And it was the fubjedt of no fmall debate, among fome of the heathen philofophers themfelves. 7. Mr. Edwards, therefore, was not the " firft Calvinift who ever hit upon the true philofophic doc- trine of neceffity." A vaft nun-^er of the greateft reformed divines, both foreign and Englidi, touched the felf-fame key. And it is extremely evident, that Mr. Edwards, himfelf, received much light, from them, into the fubjeft ; and even availed himfelf, very frequently, of phrafes, diftindlons, and argu- ments, which thofe grand luminaries had, with fuc- cefs, made ufe of, before him. 8. '' Zealous Calvinifls," you tell us, " regard ypur writings with abhorrence." It would have been candid, fir, to have expreffed this, with more re- ftridiion, and with lefs vehemence. Many very " zealous Calvinifts" regard your writings, on fome fubjeds, not only without " abhorrence," but with honour and admiration. D.irk and " gloomy" as, you have represented us ; w^e ftill have fufficiency,, both of eye-fight and of day- light, to difcern the luftre of your genius, and the improvements which your equally profound and refined refearches have added to the ftock of philofophic knowledge. 9. Nervous (and, I think, irrefragable) as Mr. Edwards's treatife is ; you fbill are much too fan- guine in aflferting that the Calviniils " boaft of it, as the flrongefl bulwark of their own gloomy faith." We never boafted of it, under any fuch charaBer. We have, in my apprehenfion, fome hundreds of "bulwarks," no lefs " ftrong" than this American one, whofe towers I concur with you in defervedly admiring. LETTERS. 251 admiring. Exclulively of which numerous bulwarks, we have a citadel (the Bible,) againfl: which, no weapon can poflibly prevail. 1 pafs over yourfavouritc epithet '' gloomy," which you fo repeatedly prefix to Calvinift.c " faith.*' When you have attended, as minutely, to the philofophy of Scripture-vifion, as you have to that of animal optics ; you will per- ceive the diftricl of Calvin to be, not a Cimmerian region, but a very land of Gofhen. 10. You think proper, fir, to fuppofe, that *' zeal- ous Caivinifts will be furprifed to hear" (it is well we are not deaf and blind too) *' you fo full and earneft in the recommendation of Mr. Edwards*s book." I much queftion, whether their wonder will mount to " furprife." There are fo many weak- nelTes, contradictions, and inconfiftencies, in philo- fophers, as well as in ordinary men, that few people, Tv'ho know much of the world, and of human nature, will be greatly " furprifed" at any thing. 11. You, however, are of a diiTereht opinion. Perhaps, becaufe " zealous Caivinifts,^' like moles and bats, live in a thick and perpetual gloom, with hardly a (ingle ray of truth, or of common fenfe, to gild their m.idnight darknefs. People, in fo melancho- ly a fit nation, are, doubtiefsly, very apt to take fright. If your charity will not pour day-light on our gloomy abodes, it would at lead be compafiionate in you, to mitigate the woeful " furprife," with which you think ycur treatife calculated to imprefsus. ' No ! You will no more deign to alleviate our *' furprife," than to difiipate our gloom. It is ra- ther cruel, though, firft to fnut us up in the dark ; and, then, to Icare us. It feems, we " mufh ftill continue to wonder." Wherefore? Becaufe "It would be to no purpofe for you to explain, to" the zealous Caivinifts, " Why they ought not to wonder at the matter. What I (hould fay on that fubjedt,'* adds the high and mighty dodor, ^' would not R 2 be 252 LETTERS. ^ be intelligible to them." Inexpreflibly candid and polite ! The plain Englilh of the compliment is this: " Ever)' zealous Calvinifl: is a fool ; or a dunce, at beft. I will therefore wade no time on fuch in- curable afles. All my philofophic apparatus itfelf would not afford them a gleam of knowledge : nor all my confummate ikili in language and in reafoji- ing make them comprehend the lowed of my fublime ideas. 1 ther-efore leave them, to ftumble on, in their impenetrable gloom : and to knock their blockifh heads againd tables, doors, wails, and pods, amid the tremor of their furprife." Our caie is pitiable indeed. But why will not the illuminated and illuminating doctor dired: a few of his rays, by way of experiment, toward our dark and dreary habitations ? Be honed, good fir: and fairly tell us, that your reafon, for huddling the matter up, and for not defcending to particulars, was not our ftupidity, but your fear of the confequences that would refuk to yourl'elf, had you gone to the bot- tom of the fubjeft, and unfolded all that was in your heart. To fcreen yourfelf, you affe(5l to give us over, as incurable, before you have fo much as tried what you can make of us. If you fet about it, who can tell, but, dupid as we are, fome of us .may recover our fight and fenie, and be emancipated from our gloom and from our furprife together? Electricity, under your aufpices, may work miracles. However lightly I may, occafionally, have ex- preded myfeU ; I adure you, on the vi'ord of an honed man, that I have the honour to be, with feri- oufnefs and truth. Reverend fir, your admirer, and very humble fervant, Augiijlus Montague 'Toplady, P.S. On LETTERS. 253 P. S. On reviewing this letter, I deem myfelf obliged, in fome meafurc, to apologize for that vein of freedom, into which, the fupreme and infulting contempt, you exprefs of the Calvinids, has, un- \farily, betrayed me. Your laft-quoted paragraph, fir, a])pears to carry an implication of extreme pre- judice, and of fovercign pride. Nothing can be more iupercilious, more rude, and more unjuft, than the letter and the fpirit of that whole paliage. I would willingly, if I were able, frame an excufe for you : by fuppofmg, that it efcaped you, volante calamoy and that it is to be imputed, not fo much to malice, to haughtinefs, or even to your unac- quaintednefs with the people ypu traduce ; as to the hurry and precipitation, with which your treatife was apparently written. Believe me to be, fir, mofl refped fully, your*s. LETTER LI. .To Mr. *****. Broad-Heynhury^ Dec, 29, 1774. NO congratulations wait on my ever dear friend, from Broad-Hembury, on account of his nt^ connexion. The realbn is, becauk no change of ftate, on his part, can make me love and wifii him better, than I did before. Nor do I tranfmit you thofe complimenis, which ufually reverberate, from friend to friend, at this particular leaon of the year: becaufe you have my very bed wilhes, without inter- miffion, ail the year round. And fo, I doubt not, will the new partner of your heart, when I have the honour and the pieafure of kngwing her. In liiO R 3 i'^^sic.^n, 254 LETTERS. mean while, I requeft you to inform her, that flie has my refpeclful falutations. • I take the liberty to trouble you with the inclofed pacquet, for Mr. M. It conrains only the fermoh on Pfalm. cxv. i ; which owes its tranfmiflion to the prefs, entirely, to your condefcending defire, figni- fied when 1 was laft in London. You fee, 1 am not all difobedience to your commands ; though I muft, for once, run counter to fome of them : I mean, fo far as concerns the principal fubjeft of your laft kind and obliging letter. Some nephritic complaints, to which I have long perceived myfelf liable, warn me, to ply my pen no more than necefilty may require. I am, with great affeQion and refped:, &c. Aitgnjlus TopJady. P. S. I lod poor Mr. Lane, about a fortnight ago : who, at the age of feventy-fix, preferved all the ftrength and gaiety of a boy at fixteen, until within a few days of his deceafe. He was the fecond of my domeflics, whom God has removed by death, in the compafs of two months. Mrs. Lane (who, by the way, continues as lively at feventy-feven, as fiis could be at thirty) ilill keeps my houfe ; and fupports the lofs of her hufband, not only philofo- phically, but heroically. An eftate, however, of twenty-five pounds per anmm, which died with him, is, I believe, very fincerely, though not inconfolably, -regretted. Mr. Lane l>ad not been dead a quarter of an hour, when his reli6t addreffed me thus : *' Sir, I have been thinking, that it will be to no purpofe to lay out money for a fine ihroud, to be hid in a coffin ; nor for a fine coffin, to be hid un- der the eaith." This was natural philofophy, literally fo called. It is, really, an happinefs, on irremediable occafions, to have little or no feeling. I envy infenfible people ; becaufe they are ignorant of mental pain, the keencft fpecies of any. Adieu. LETTER LETTERS. 255 LETTER LIL To the Rev. Mr. Ryland. Broad' Hembury, Dec. 29, 1774. WHEN my dear friend's letter (whofe date I am quite alhamed to recoiled:) arrived, our valuable Mrs. Macaulay was prefent. Her coun- tenance brightened, at learning from whom it came. She, on all occafions, teftifies a fingular efleem of you : which is, in other words, faying, that flie really has you in very great eftimation -, for (lie is too mag- nanimous, and too upright, to diflemble. She gives your name, as a favourite tbaft of your's and mine, in public and mixed companies. And (he has, moreover, fo high an opinion of your judgement, in phy(ic, no lefs than in metaphyfic, that (he makes it a conftant rule, and did fo, during the whole of her three months ftay in Devonfliire, to retire to her chamber at ten o'clock. Though I love and i-efpeft you, as much as that extraordinary lady can do ; ftill, I cannot fay, that I have carefully followed your advice, relating to that early hour of repofe, with the fame implicit obe- dience. We often regard the phyfician, and, yet tranfgrefs hi^ prefcriptions. I am, however, reform- ing, very faft, in this particular. As a proof of which, I muil tell you, that, if I prolong m.y ftudies, at any time, until two or three in the morning, I begin to think I am fetting up late. For the moil part, I rarely exceed twelve or one. Had the Northamptondiire living fallen tT!)-my lot, I (hould have been a very troublefome neigh- bour to you. Not a fixpenny pamphlet would I have fent to the prefs, without previoufly foliciting your corredions and amendments. You may be R 4 thankful. 256 LETTERS. thankful, that I am only your friend, and not your neighbour. Let me, in a religious view, ferioully add, that I myielf am thankful, and very thankful, that I cont'nue where I am. And 1 fay this, not becaufe I fliould not have preferred your county to this ; but becaufe it was the will of God, as the event has clearly proved, that I fliould remain in this county, and not be tranfplanted to your's. Your thoughts, concerning the " Diredlons to young Divinity Stuclents," are fo juft, fo forcible, and fo vivid, that I muft, abfolutely, lay afide all view, of engaging in fuch a book, myfelf. The de- partment is eminently, and exclufively, your's. Let Homer, therefore, write his own Iliad. As to me, I feel my incompetence to fo difficult and important a tafk ; and mull follow the old*, fenfible advice : Confide^ quid faleanty &c. My be ft thanks attend you, for that valuable paper, tranfmitted to me, fome time ago, from Wells, under Mr. Tudway's encloiure \ enumerating the paiiages, in the Old Teft-ament, wherein Chrift is ftiled Jehovah. You may judge how poorly qua- lified I am, to accommodate young divines with rules for ftudy ; when I alfure you, that I did not know, until you informed me, that the bleffed Me- diator, between God and man, is called Jehovah, ^Imoft two hundred times, in the courfe of the firft Teftament. If you wifti your letters to Mr. S- — may arrive free of poftage, you muft inclofe them to . Mr. S is one of the moft learned, moft devout, and moft \aluable men I know. With all his choir of refpcdable and of amiable qualities, he poirelTes this crowning one, viz. an heart, like your's, capable of friendfliip. Augvjius Tcplady, LETTER LETTERS. 257 LETTER LIII. To Ambrose Serle, Efq. Broad' He??] bury, Jan . 25, 1775. Ever Dear Sir, T Write, to requeft, that you will condefcend to -^ prelent Mr. M. with my thanks, for his pacquet, jately lent : and to inform him, that, though I was by no means well, when it arrived ; yet, the perufal of Mr. Wefley's " Thoughts upon NecefTity" (which were part of the pacquet's contents) put my ipirits into fuch a pleafing flow, that I inftantly re- folvcd to attack thofe thoughts, and, in half an hour afterwards, aciually fet about it. 1 have, at three fittings (or, rather, ftandings ; for I generally write upon my feet), got mid-way through my intended pamphlet ; which will, if Providence pleafe to con- tinue health and leifure, be a Defence of Chriflian and Philolbphical Neceffity. I defign writing to Mr. M. myfelf, fo foon as I have finiflned my trad : and thanking him for the kind conveyances, with which he has favoured me. But, to fay the truth, J am, at prefent, fo abforbed in the fubjedl on the tapis, that 1 am willing to pur- fue it, while my ideas are warm ; and warm ideas, if not fpeedily feized and arrefted, are very fugitive. Every happinefs be your's, Augtiftiu 'Toplady. LETTER 258 LETTERS. LETTER LIV. To Mrs. Macaulay, Broad 'Hembury, Feb. 10, 1775. Dear Madam, 'Y'^UR favour, of Jan. 27, arrived in due courfe. -*" Had you defered penning it, but three days longer, it would have borne the date of a certain anniverfary, on which no perfon living is fo well qualified to write as yourfelf. I have had too much ill health, this winter, to be, as you fuppofe me -to have been, very affiduoufly engaged " in deep refcarches after pbilofophical and religious truth.'*- The principal refult of my few refearches in that way, has been a tracl (begun and finiihed withm a fortnight) in explication and de- fence of Chriftian and philofophic neceffity. But, I believe, I fliall not commit it to the prefs, until I go to London : the printers being a very teafing fet of people, to be concerned with at fo great a diftance from the fcene of adion. As I know not how much longer my fuppofed " refearches" may be impeded, by want of health ; I mud beg, that you will not, in time to come, for- bear writing hither, from an imaginary fear of " in- t rrupting''* refearches which have little or no ex- iiieiice. I will reduce you to a dilemma, on the occafion. Either I am, or 1 am not, engaged in the faid re- fearches. If the former, then do you write by all means ; and the oftener, the better : for I know no pen, more capable of affifting a philofophic enquirer, than your own. If the latter. Hill write: for, in that cafe, the very reafon, under which you flielter yourfelf, ceafes to exift. To tell you the truth, I am quite of opinion, that by your polite apology for being fo bad a correfpon- dent, LETTERS. 259 dent, you have only wedged yourfelf fad in a cleft flick : from which, nothing can extricate you, but your direding as many letters to Broad-Hembury as poffible. I have not been at Honiton, fince I took leave of you there. But your hoil, Mr. N. I have icea twice ; once at my own houfe, and once at Mr. Prewe's. Many thanks to you, dear madam, for the purfe, which, you tell me, you have condefcended to knit for me. I would rather, however, defer receiving it, until I have the plealure of feeing you at Bath ? which I hope will be within thefe two months y either in my way to, or in my return from, London. I have a very extraordinary letter to fnew you ; fent me by my refpectable friend. Dr. Baker, vicar of St. Martin's, in Salifbury : relative to Bradlhaw's interment in Jamaica. I own, I am partly dagger- ed, though not profelyted, as to that m.atter. 1 fet it down under the clais of *' Hiftoric doubts.** But, without any fhadow of doubt at all, I have the honour to be, madam, your much obliged and very obedient fervant, Augiijius Toplady, P. S. Compliments to Mifs Macaulay. I obferve, you do not fay a fyllabie, concerning our common favourite, Mr. Lytton. On fecond thoughts, I will not (as I at firfh dehgnedj defer fhewing you Dr. B's letter until we meet : but fliall inclofe it in this. The circumftance, of double poftage, is not to be confidered. Adieu. LETTER 26o LETTERS. LETTER LV. To Mr. L. C . [Extraa:.] Eroad-Hmk&j, Feb. 1 3,> 1 7 75. |T is Dr. Samuel Johnfon, whom Ion? Cheftcrfield ^ terms " a reipeclable Hottentot:*' and whom bis. lordQitp, hy a caricature aburid:jntl3r too fevere and over-charged, reprefents as the living elTence of ^ukwardnefs, and lil-breedino;. I can tellifv, upon my own knowledge, that the Tliades are too deepen- ed, and the lines too diflorted. But the dodor is pretty even, {t feems, with the noble defamer : and fxyles thofe letters, '' A fyftem of morals for a u^iore, and afyftem of manners for adancing-mafter." I totally agree with the do^or, as to the morals : and paitly agree with him, as to the manners. Senoufly, poor Mr. Phil. Stanhope was greatly to be pitied, for falling under the management of fuch a father: a father, who was at once capable of guiding a fon into the ruinous paths of vice; and of pretending, at other times, to give him a few fquea- mi^ cautions againtl it. Like fome hypocritical proftitute, who entices with an air of affeded mo- defty ; and affun^es that air of modefty, only to ren- der her enticcm.ents the more effcdual. Moreover, after all his lordflifp*s attention to the "graces'* of his difciple; the poor young gentleman lived and died almoft as great a ftranger to the graces of po- litenefs, as to thofe of the Holy Spirit. So that the difappointed father had the mortification of per- ceiving, that he had only been raining upon a rock. Few men of education and high connexion were ever more clumfy and ungainly m their devoir, than Mr. Stanhope. I take the true original of lord Chefterfield's dif. gufl againil Dr. J to have been, the doclor's having LETTERS, 261 having too much Cliriftknity for his lordlhip's taHic. Not but what Johnfon has, on ibme occafmns, a great deal of politiv€nefs about him : and lord C was fo much of the fine gentleman, as to think, that nothing, either in religion or philofophy, was worth contending for, in cppohtion to whatever genteel company a perfon might happen to be with* It would be committing an acl of hollility " cm the graces," were a man n^l to fwim ImpHcitly with the current, whether good or bad. Jobnfon, I beheve, was never guilty, io much as once in hvs life, of fuch mean, cowardly difHmuIation, And I honour him for it. If heJikeshis compan3% no man is more affable and communicative. If he meets v/itb a coxcomb, he is fure of taking him down without mercy. Or, if people of fenfe affront him, he dif- covers very great and quick fenfibility, and generally makes them pay dear tor their tem.erity: for his re- proofs are weighty with fentiment, and his repartees cuttingly fmart. It mud have been pleafant, to have \c€n him and lord Chefterfield together. The fmooth diffimulation of the latter, extend- ed, in fome meafure, even to me. The year after I w^as in orders (viz. 1763), I afked his lordlhip for a fcarf. " i am extremely forry, fir," replied he, *' that you did not mention it early enough, Had yoii allied me two days fooner a fcarf Ihould have been at your fervlce : but, no longer ago than yefterday, I gave away my only vacant one," I anfwered, that I (hould be glad to hope for the ho- nour of the next that fell. He replied, *' The very next is already promifed : but you (hrril certainly have the next after that." You can difcern, with- out my pointing it out, the fiat felf-contradidion of thele two plaufible fpeeches. — I ^^ver aiked him again : but looked upon him, as a liniQied courtier, from that day forward. When I was a boy, he ufed to give me a guinea now and then : and generally p>refaced his donation (which to me, was then a ca- pital 262 LETTERS. pital fum) with fome fuch proper advice as this t *' Now, do not buy too many apples, or nuts, or oranges, to make yourielf fick.*' He certainly had a great fund of good nature, at bottom : though it^ was half fmothered and corrupted by art and finefle. Have you read Mrs. Macaulay's Addrefs to the People? I am\ greatly pleafed with the flrength of lenfc, which appears in that concife, but folid per- formance. Alas, too folid ! Would to God, that the fa6^s, which it cenfures, were ill founded. But his Providence governs and orders all. No thanks to them, that they are, involuntarily and unknowingly, accomplifhing the decree of heaven. '* Leaches," as a good man fomewhere obferves, " when they draw blood of a patient, do it to gratify themfelves : they know nothing of the wife end, for which the phyfi- cian ordered them to be applied.'* The mention of my Vc^luable friend, Mrs. Macati- lay, reminds me of the aforefaid Dr. Johnfon : whole high principles, both political and ecclefiafli- cal, are very different from thofe of the fair hifto- rian. A few years ago, Mrs. M. and the dodlor (who never had a very cordial efteem for each other) met at rhe houfe of a third perfon, who had invited them to f{:end the day. Before dinner, the conver- fation turned on the nature of civil government. Johnfon, as ufual, declared, in very ftrong terms, for monarchy. Mrs. M. for a republic. Some fparring paft on both fides : and Johnfon happenmg to cite fome pafTagc of Scripture, which he thought fpoke in favour of his own fyftem ; Mrs. M.' un- dertook him on the fcriptural fcore, and (as I was told, for I was not prefent) was rather more potent and pertinent, in her quotations, than he. John- fon, who does not eafilydigeft contradiction, grew rather four: and he well knows, that he acquits him- felf better in a political, an hiftoric, or a philofophic war, than in an holy one. The annunciation of dinner LETTERS. 263 dinner occafioncd a truce to debate. But the doc- tor, with more ill manners than 1 ever heard authen- tically placed to his account, except in this in- ftance, took occafion, when the company were all feated at table, to renew hoflilities with his amiable antagonifl. Mrs. M's. footman was - (landing, ac- cording to cuftom, at the back of his lady's chair; when Johnfon addrelfed him thus: *' Henry, what makes you (land? Sit down. Sit down. Take your place at table with the beft of us. We are all Re-^ publicans, Henry. There^s no difi:in6lion here. The rights of human nature are equal. Your miftrels will not be angry, at your afferting your privilege of peerage. We are all on a level. Do, take your chair, and fit down." This was very indelicate, and rude. Nor vyas it arguing fairly: for a mafter or miftrefs (let the natural rights of mankind be, ori- ginally, ever fo equal) has not only a juft claim to fuperiority, but a title to ti^e fervices of every per- fon, who, by voluntary ftipulation, engages to render thofe fervices for a conhderation agreed upOn. Mrs. Macaulay, it feems, coloured a little, and drew up her head, but made no anfwer. If I had been* there, I (hould not have let the dodor off fo ealily^ for this favage piece of fpurious wit. It is true, his great parts are entitled to proper refpecl : but, as Mrs. Macaulay was obfcrving to me, when (lie was lad in Devonfhire, with reference to this very doc- tor Johnfon, '^ A learned man is not fo miraculous a phenomenon in this kingdom, that he (hould ex- ped to be honoured with divine worihip.** Though,. it muft be owned, there are very few Johnfon's, in any kingdom, or in any age. It is, however, this great man's foible, to look for more homage arid attention, than every body will give him. How little he brooks oppolition, may be inferred from the droll (but which might have been a very ferious) adventure, between him and Ofborne, the Lincoln's Inn bookleller. Oiborne called upon him 264 LETTERS. him one morning, foon after t\\e publication of his Didionary. The particulars of the converfation I have forgot : but, in the courfe of it, fome refer- ence was had to a paflage in that work. The doc- tor was for confultmg the particular place itfelf : and, afcending a fet of moveable fteps, reaching down his Diclionary from one of the higher- mod fhelves, while Johnfon was thus mounted, and hofttting the g Dictionary in his hands, Ciborne, who was'ftanding beneath, happened to fay fome faucy thing that the dodlor did not relilh: on which, withqut-'farther ceremony, he hurled the maflTy folio at i:he poor bookfeller's head, who fell to the floor ^'ith the blow, but foon recovered his feet again. . " An im- pertinent puppy ;** faid Johnfon to him, " J will teach you to behave with infolence to me ; I will." But, furely, this was not adling very philofophi- cally. One more anecdotef while my hand is in : and then I will releafe you. I knew this Ofborne; and, by the w^ty, a very refpeftable man he was. In the fpring of 1762, a month or two before I took dea- con's orders, I was cheapening fome books of him. After that bufinefs was over, he took me to the far- theft end of his long (hop, and, in a low voice, faid thus: *' Sir, you 'will foon be ordained. I fuppofe, you have not laid in a very great ftock of Sermons, lean fupply you with as many fetts as you pleafe. All originals : very excellent ones : and they will come for a trifle." My anfwer was, *' I certainly fliall never be a cuftomer to you, in that way : for I am of opinion, that the man, who cannot or will not make his own Sermons, is quite unfit to wear the gown. How could you think of my buying ready made Sermons? I would much fooner, if I muft do one or the other, buy ready-made cloaths.'* His anfwer (liocked me: "Nay, young gentleman, do not be furprifed at my ofTering you ready-made Sermons : for, I allure you, I have fold ready-made Sermons to many a billiop in my time." My reply was: LETTERS. 265 was : " Goo d Mr. Ofborne, if you have any concera for the credit of the Church of England, never tell that news to any body elfe, Trom henceforward, forever.'* Augiyhs Toplady, LETTER LVL To Francis Toplady, Efq. Broad' Hemburyy March 19, 1775. Very Dear Sir, YO U are one of the laft perfons on earth, in whofe bread I would wi(h to occafion pain. Confequently, it gives me much concern to find, from your favour of Feb. 21, that the fubjed, men- tioned in my laft, ''touched you to the quick.'' Let it refemble a drawn ftake, on each fide ; and let both of us confider the matter, as if it had never been ftarted. ■ Your kind foHcitude for my health, merits my afFedionate acknowledgements. Though I cannot entirely agree with you, in fuppofing that intenie fludy has been the caufe of my late indifpofiiions; I mud yet ccnfefs, that the hili of fcience, like that of virtue, is in forne inftances, climbed with labour. But, W'hen we get a little way up, the lovely prof- peels, which open to the eye, make infinite anienjs for the fleepnei's of the afcent. In (hort, I am wedded to thofe purfuits, as a man ftipulates to take his wife : viz. for better for worfe, until aeath usdo : part. My third for knowledge is, literally inex- tinguifl]able. And, if I thus drink mylelf into a fuperior world, I cannot help it : but mud fay, as Vol. VI. (32.) S fome 266 LETTERS. fome report Ariftotle to have faid, when he threw himfeU into the fea (if it be true that he did fo throw himlelf,) quod rion caper e po/fiim, me capiet. Since I wrote- to you laft. my complaints have been crowned, or rather fliod, with a fhort, but imart, touch of the gout. Oa this occafion, I have been congratulated, until I iiave loli all patience. There- fore I do, by tbefe prefents, enter an exprefs caveat againftyour wiQiing me joy. — I am glad, however, that I know at laft, what is the matter with me : for I have not been right well thefe two years ; and was unable, until feized by the foot, to alcertain the radical caufe. It is really one of the laft diforders, to which I fhould have fufpe^led myfelf liable. If the ftrideft temperance could have favedm.e from the gout, Imoft certainly had been exempted : for i never knew what it was to be the reverie of fober, fo much as once, in my whole life. ^ On a review, I am quite aftiamed to perceive, that I have made myfelf the fole hero of my letter. But, notwithftanding the felf-important pronoun I, has already occurred too often^ I muft yet repeat it again; by alluring you, that 1 am, with tender and refpeftfui compliments to yourfelf, to my aunt, and to my coufin Charlotte, Dear fir, your affedionate nephew, Aiigii/Ius Top/a ch. LETTER LVII To the Rev. Mr. . Broad' Hemhry, April 5 , 1775. Very Dear Sir, IAiVI, both literally and figuratively, your debtor, for the welcome packet, with which you favour- ed me toward the clofe of laft January. Friendfliip LETTERS. 267 FrlendQiip and politenefs, lefs indulgent and ex- tenfive than your own, would tell me, that I ought to blufh, for having delayed my acknowledgements To long. — The truth is, I had been extremely ill, for feveral weeksi Before the parcel arrived ; and continued fo, for fome weeks afterwards : which, added to the numerous avocations, that have, fince, demanded my attention, obliged me to poftpone, until now, the pleafure of tendering my afifedionate thanks to your condefcending acceptance. I have not been able to devote many hours to th^ perufal of Lilly's Aflirology. But I muft frankly own, that I have read enough, to deter me from falling very deeply in love with that real or fuppofed fcience. Judge, my dear fir, how exalted an idea, I muft needs entertain, of your candour, ere I could pre- fume to teftify, in fuch blunt terms as thefe, my opini n of a ftudy, which, in- the eyes of your fu- perior eftimation, appears to be recommended by ib many folid and alluring charms. Among others, two obfervations, in particular, flrike me, with great force, on thisoccafion. 1. Either we can, or we cannot, learn, from the flars, the train of future events. — If we cannot, the whole bufinefs evaporates, at once, into a laborious delufion and an ingenious nothing. — If we can, it feems unwarrantable to pry into " the times and feafons, which the Father hath put in his own power," and which, the highefh authority affures us, "are not for us to know.'' The leaft that can be faid, is, that it is more humble, and more fafe, to leave the evolution of futurity to Providence: to pray, inftead of ercdlng a planetary figure : and, inftead of confulting the ftars, to caft all our care on him that made them. 2. Without doubt, many different infants are born into the world, at the fame precife point of time; and, confequently, under the 1 eh lame afpeds of the heavenly orbs. From which leading S 2 cirpum- 268'^ LETTERS. circumftance, it would follow, on aftrological prin- ciples, that the caft of mind, the adions, the feli- cities, the adverfities, and, in (hort, the whole lives and deaths, of perfons fo born, fliould, exadly, in every pundilio, refemble thofe of each other. Their nativities being common, their fates would be the fame. — But are there any two men upon the flagc of the earth, though they entered it at the fame in- ftance, whofe minds and fates are perfedly fimilar and uniformly correfpondent throughout ? Notwithftanding thefe free, fceptical remarks, I value Lilly's Book, as a very curious one : and (hall, with many thanks, reimburfe my dear friend for its coft. Though you have not fet me to work, as an? aflrologer; you have as a polemic Mr. Wefley's Thoughts on Neceflity, which made a part of your obliging pacquet, determined me to reprefent that grand theological and philofophic article in its true point of view. Though I was then fo ill, that I could Icarcely hold my pen. Providence enabled me to begin my EfTay almoft immediately on my receiving Mr. John's Trad, and to finifli it within a fort- night. I fhould not, however, have made fuch hafte ; had I not apprehended, that, if I did not avail myfelf of the prefent hour, 1 might, probably, be in another world, before my treatife was com- pleated. — But God has extended my reprieve. May I live, and fpeak, and ad, to his glory ! May I congratulate you, on your fuccefs, as can- didate for the ledurefliip of St. ****** ? If not,. 1 (hajl ftill wifh you joy. You, and all your con- cerns, are in the hand of him, whofe will is wifdom, who^ heart is love, and whofe providence is omni- potence itfelf. AuguJIus Toplady. LETTER LETTERS. 269 LETTER LVIIL To the Rev. Dr. Giffard. Broad' Hdmbwy, Jpril 6 , 1775. Dear and Rev. Sir, * IN obedience to your wifh, I fliall, conclfely, pre- fent you with my extemporaneous thoughts, con- cerning the Arminian cavil, againft perlonal eleclion and reprobation, drawn from that relationfliip of God to men, by which he is denominated and con- sidered as .the Father of the whole human r^e. Properly fpeaking, paternity and filiatioi^ig^e cor- relates, refulting from the production of .1||i;£milar intelligent being, ex ejfentid prodn^oris. Where this agency and effed: obtain, the producer is, fbridly, fhyled, a Father ; and the produced is, ftridly, :flyled, the offspring of that Father. Confequently, when any of mankind, or when all of them together, are termed fons, or children of God, the phrafe is, necelTarily and apparently, figu- rative. For, no being, lefs divine than God him- felf, can, according to the precife ideas of paternity and filiation, be literally, termed his Son. Hence, when this predicate, fons of Go^^ is af- firmed, concerning angels or men ; the afiirmation neither is, nor can be, philofophically ftrid:. Becaufe, there is no communicated famenefs of elfence, from the producing party, to the party produced. Over and above which metaphyfical obfervation, holy Scripture explicitly afcertains the fenfe, in which God is reprefented as the Father of men. — Have we not, all, one Father? Hath not one God created us. Mr. Toulmin therefore, in his controverfy with Mr. Rooker (a controverfy, by the way, whofc merits 1 have not looked into,) fliould have ilated S 3 his 270 LETTERS.. his obieflion thus : " Can the common maker of mankind put an arbitrary difference between the men he has made, confiflentiy with infinite goodnefs and juftice?'* However, we will let Mr. Toulmin have his own way, and cloath his argument in his own terms. He obferves, 1. That *' Our Lord has taught us to argue from the paternal character" of God. — -True. And that paternal charafter is neither lefs nor more, than the creative character. The paifage, Matt. vii. ii.to which Mr. Touimin refers, plainly eftabliflies this remark : for it is tantamount to faying, How much more (hall your Maker, who is in heaven, &c. [Let me digrefs, en pajjant^ by obfervin^^, that, in the 21 ft verfejrf the above chapter, Chrift ufes the word. Father, in its true and abfolute fignification. I^or the firll perfon in the Godhead is, properly, literally, and phylicahy, the Father and the immediate fource of the fecond, per communicationem effentide.'] ' 2. Mr. T. afks Mr. R. '' Would you, fir, who are a parent, fecretly refolve, before your children were born, and could have done either good or. evil, to difinherit any of your children ?" On which I obferve, (i.) That Mr. Rooker may, in his turn, afk Mr. Toulmin, And would you, fir, after your children are born, adually permit any of them to be very wicked and very miierable, if it was in your power, by a finglc nod of your will to make them good and to render them happy ? Now, God certainly is able to endue all mankind, and the very devils themfelves, with holinefs and felicity. He could both have fiived them from failing; and can ftill reclaim them, though fallen. And yet he, knowingly and willing, ly, permits many of the former, and the whole num- ber of the latter, to be the fubjeds of fin and pain. And, if the real, pofitive, continued permilTion of this be not inconfiilent with the '* paternal charac- ter s'* LETTERS. 271 ter ;" why fhould that ** characler'* be fuppofed to reftrain God from fecretly refolving, beforehand, on that permifTion ? For, lurely, the refulution to do, or to permit, a thing; can no more ciafh with the " paternal charader,'* than the aftual doing, or tlie adlual permitting, of the thing itfelf. — But, after nil, (2.) God, and an earthly parent, are not parallels, in any one refpedl whatever. When an Imman fa- ther becomes polfeiTed of the fame numerical nature and attributes as God is, in all their infinity and perfection; it will then (but, until then, it cannot) be an admifTible pofition, that the Deity is and muft be fuch an one as ourfelves, and oug-ht to reaulate his condud, by the example we let hun. — I remem- ber, in the year i7i;9, while I was a fludent at col- lege, a gentleman aflced me (with reference to this very do&rine which Mr. T. oppofes,) would you, if you was God, create any being to mifery? My an- fwer was, when I am God I will tell you. — Surely, Arminians muft be at a difmal lofs, eie they could thus think of felting up tlie human pafTions, and* parental affedion in particular (which is, ufually, the blindefl aflfefflion of any,) as the fcandard, and nnodel, and archetype, from which God himi'elf muft form his eftimate of right and wrong, and in con- formity to which he his bound, (for the piea fuppofes this, if it fuppofes any thing) to accommodate his purpofes and fhape his moral condud 1 As if his ways were L^ot higher than our ways, and his thoughts than our thoughts! (3.) The cavil is very unhappily flated. For, the mod iTiaterial part of it is phrafed in the very words of Scripture. With this elfenhal ditlcrence, however :, that the faid Scripture phrafes pofitively affirm the identical propofition, which the cavji is framed to deny. So dircdly and totally contrary is the judgement of Mr. T. to that of St. Paul ! (4 ) It is mondroufiy inaccurate, to infinuat^, that God has " Secretly refolve'd to dinaheiit fome S 4 of 272 LETTERS. of his children." We utterly rejed the very fliadow of fuch an idea, as involving in it both a religious and a philoibphical impoflibility. To difinherit is, to cut -off, from fuccefTion to a patrimony or other property, one," who, before, was adual heir. Men may do this: becaufe men are liable to change, and tb miftake, and to be chagrined or difgufted byun- forefeen incidents. But this can never be the cafe with God. Confequently, he cannot be faid to dif- inherit the reprobate, who never w^ere heirs. And, for the eled, he will never difinherit them : feeing, nothing (liail be able to feparate them from that un- changeable love, which hath gracioufly made them heirs of God, and joint-hetrs with Cliriil himfelf. (5.) I fuppofe, Mr. Touimin m.eant to afk : " Would God refolve, not to^inveft fome of his creatures with a title to the heavenly inheritance ?" To which I anfwer, Yes. God not only jufliy might, but he adually has fo refolved : unlefs the Bible is falfe from end to end. But, as to difinheriting, the ^Bible knows nothing of that. It is Arminianifm, which reprefents the immutable God.as the caprici- ous difinheritor of his children ; not\ we, who be- lieve, that whom he did predeftinate, — them he alfo- glorified. (6.) To make the objeftion fquarewith the thing objedied to, the objedlion (hould run thus : " Would you, Mr. Rooker, who are a creator, fecretly refolve, . before your creatures were formed, to exclude any of them from felicity, for wife and juft reafons beft known to yourfelf?" But this phrafeology, which alone comes up to the point in debate, would not fuit Mr. Toulmin*s fallacious views. It would not fuffice to raife a fophifticai mid before the eyes of the unwary, which are apt to be caught by fu- perficial appearances, and to be dazzled by the trappings of undue metaphor artfully put on. To make a (trait fliick feem crooked, you mud look at it, through a denfer medium than air : i. e. hold it * llantingly LETTERS. 2 73 flantingly under water, and the bufinefs is done. Unguarded ipeBators may be feduced by the ftra- tagem : but carelul obfervys perceive the trick. In one word : the quelVion, as Hated and pfirafcd by Mr. TouJmin, argues a di-jcrjo ad diverfum : and, confequently, -is totally illogical, and proves nothing. I am, with great efteem, he, ■ Augufius Toplady. LETTER LIX. To MefTieurj Vallance and Simmons. Plymouth, July 7, 1775- ' Gentlemen, T AM here, on a fliort vifit, previoufly to my fet- •*■ tinoi; out for Bath and London : and now write to you, on occafion of a report, which prevails here, that Mr. J. W died, lately, in Ireland. You, who dwell .at the mart of intelligence, know, probably, the real ftate of that matter, with more certainty, than I can yet attain to at this diftance. But, Qiould my information be true, I muft fignify to you my hearty wiQies, that my Elfay on Necef^ fity, if not yet actually publKbed, may be fuppreffed for the prefent : until I can throw it into a new form, by cancelling all the paffges, which have any perfonal reference to my old antagonift ; and by re- taining only fo much of the Treatiie, as relates to the naked argument itfelf. I hope, this intimation will reach you, time enough, to anfwer the defired purpofe. If it be too late, I cannot help it. But 1 do not wi(h to profc- C'jte my war with that gentleman, if he be really fummonid Z74 LETTERS. fummoned to the tribunal of God, and unable on earth to anfwer for himfelf. In that cafe, lee mv remembrance of his mifAmeanors die and be buried with him. Direcl your anfwer, to me, at Mr. D — ^ *s, in G ftreet, Bath. I have only time to add, that I am, with efleem, Gentlemen, yours, &c. Aiigvjius Toplady, LETTER LX. To Lady Huntingdon. BrighthelmfiOne^ Sept. ii^ ^77 S' Madam, BEST thanks to your dear ladyfliip for the ho- nour of your much efleemed letter from Briftol, of the 8th inflant. You was fo ill when I left you there, that the receipt of a. letter which carries in it the evident traits of your recovery, was peculiarly welcome, and furnidied me with additional matter of ihankfgiving to that God, who, in mercy to his Church, has been gracioufly pleafed to protracl a life fo tranfcendentiy ufeful and valuable. It would be far better for your ladyfliip to be diflblved and to bp with Chrifh : but it is more needful for his people below that you remain in the body. On their account, may it be very long ere you exchange your coronet for a crown. It would have given me much joy, to have been pre- fent, on a late happy occafion, at Briftol; our friends Mr. and Mrs. , when they had the honour of waiting on your ladyfhip there, prefented my meflage, I fuppofe, and affigned the reafon; 1 blefs the Father of mercies, that the povTer of the fpirit v;as ex- perienced, LETTERS. 275 perienced, and that he continues to fpeed your gof- pel plough. I have been at this place a week to day; and mean, if the Lord pleafe, to overftaythe ifh Sunday in Odober: here is a very confiderable gathering of people to the ftandard of the crols. I have found much union with them, and the undion of the Holy One has given me much comfort and enlargement among them hitherto, in our public approaches to God. By a letter from dear Mr. P , who .is now at Chicheiler, I find that a new chapel at Pet- worth, and another at Guildford, are to be opened the I ft of October. May they receive that true confecration W'hich arifes from the prclence and power of the Great Shepherd and Bilbop of fouls. I truft God will enable me and the people here, who are now of the mod clearly enliglitened, moO: judicious, mofl: harmoniouHy united, and moH lively congregations I ever was with, to pour out our fouls in prayer on that day, for a blefTmg on your ladyQiip's labour of love in general, and on thofe two new encampments in particular. I am informed, that lady M 's zeal for God, has been confiderably bleft to many of her neigh- bours at or near Ealing. She has frequent preach- ing' in her houfe ; and it feems there is good hope, that lord R himfelf begins to have the hearing ear and the feeling heart. Has your ladyfliip feen the corredled copy of.dear Mr. R 's Treatife on Pfalmody? If you have, you muft have perceived that the very exception- able paiiages, which laid that great and good man open to fuch juil reprehenfion, are happily expunged. 1 afked him for a copy, foon after my ainval 111 London. He anfwered, that in its prefent ftate, he did not acknowledge it for his : but, I Ihould have one as foon as publillied. He was as good as his W'ord, and fhortly after gave me his book. I exa- mined it very carefully ^^ and find that the faulty pa-es ^7^ LETTERS. pages have been cancelled. We now no longer read of Watts's Hymns being Watts's whims, nor of the Holy Spirit*s being always prefent where the Pfalms are fung, and never being pfefent where hymns are fung. I am glad that my valuable friend was under a neceflity of ftriking out thefe and fuch like violent and unguarded poiitions. I never met with fo much as one fpiritual perfon who did not cenfure them moft feverely ; but as he has been fo humble, and fo jnfl: to truth, as to difplace them from his EfTay, I hope he will meet with no farther ilight and mortification on their account. God go with your ladyfliip into Cornwall, and fhine on all your efforts for the glory of his name, and for the transfufion of his lalvation into the hearts of fmners. Open your trenches, and ply the gofpel artillery. And may it prove mighty, through God, to the demolition of every thought and every error, and every work, which exalts itfelf againft the knowledge, the love, and the obedience of Chriill Your affedianate fervant in him, J, M. Toplady. LETTER LXI. To Mr. L , Bright bejmfi one, Sept, 25, ^775- Dear Sir, • PERMIT me to condole with you, and with dear Mrs. , on the lofs of our valuable and va- lued friend, Mrs. : the oldeft, and one of the moft efteemed acquaintance, I had on earth. I re- joice, however, that, through the precious blood and the imputed righteoufaefs oi Chrift, flie is exalted to LETTERS. 277 to that place of glory and of reft, where the inha- bitants fliall no more fay, I am fick. Let me give you the true apology, for my having no fooner acknowledged the receipt of your obliging letter, which you will not wonder at, when I inform you, that I was five or fix weeks in travelling from Broad-Hembury to London, occafioned by the many interjacent friends I had to vifit : and by their con- defcending importunities, which detained me much longer with each of them, than 1 expeded or de- figned. On my arrival in town, I found your letter, and would have anfwered it while there, but for the mul- tiplicity of engagements, in which the afFedion of my London friends involved me. I had not been long in the capital, when I received a prefling invi- tation to this place, where 1 have ftayed near a fort* night, and from whence I return to London next week . May the late affediing breach, which Providence has made in your domeftic connexions, be fandified to you both, and excite you to feek an intereft in that Saviour, who is the certain and only deliverer of his people, from the wrath to come. In him J remain, dear fir, your and Mrs. *s, very fmcere friend and fervant, A, M. Toplad)\ LETTER LXIL To Mr. N— — , Brigbthelmjlone^ Sept. 26, 1775. TF you fhould ever, ftand in peculiar need of very -*- violent exercife, come down hither, by way of Ryegate and Cuckfieid ; and before the prefent ilage 278 LETTERS. flage coach is worn out. The road, from the former of thefc towns to this, is the roiigheft ; the country, the coarfeft, and the vehicle the uneaneft, that can well be imagined. I never yet had fo complete a fliakinf^ : and, thoupji much ufed to travelling, wa§ literally fore from head to foot, for twenty-fouf hours after my arrival here ; occafioned by fuch a feries of concudions, (I had almoft faid contufions), as I really thought it impofTible for any carriage to impart. But I have had ample amends, at my jour- ney's end. For though, in my opinion, our weftern fea-ports have generally, many local charms, greatly fuperior to thofe of this ; yet, the inhabitants here, feem to have received a much higher polifh, from their intercourfe with ftrangers. But, above all, the ferious people of Brighthelmftone, are, fo far as I can hitherto judge, peculiarly amiable and eftimable ; extremely judicious, and well informed in things of God ; and all alive to him.. In fliort, I know of no congregation, any where^ who feem to be more en- tirely after my own heart. Their union, likewife^ and fellowdiip with each other, are uncommon, con- fidering their number. The great mafter of our aflemblies, God the Holy Spirit, has given us fome comfortable opportunities in public ; and deigned, I truft, feveral times, to be eminently prefent. To' free and covenant grace, be all the praife. I am as well, as I ufually find myfelf, when im- plunged in a fea air. The falts, I apprehend, with which thefe kind of atmofpheres are charged ; to- gether with the large quantity of vapour, exhaled by fo great an expanfe of water ; by confiderably in- creallng the weight of the element we breathe, make it, at once, more externally compreffive, and require a ftronger force of interior effort and refiftance, to refpire with due vigour. Lafl Wednefday we were faluted by a continued feries of lightening, from eight at night until one in the morning. Not a momenta interval obtained • between LETTERS. 279 , /- n c ,vl,\rh formed abfolute flieets baween the ^^.^"^L^f -^'^,,^Sncr each other with of the moft vivid flame, lucceeui .^ flea.ng mirror. There r!^^'^.^^^^ ^l^^jer. I I am, . your affcdionate fervant in him, A. M. Toplady. LETTER LXIII To Dr. William Dodd. Rev. Sir, ^"'mTdt'^nLm I allude, is Mrs. G—, I not 'to cfepit this world, without repaymg as „.uch oi that imquitous debt, as you poffibly can. ^ ^^^^^ 28o LETTERS. I {ay, before you depart this world. For it is hut too indubitable, that there is not a fing!e ray of hope, from any one quarter whatfoever, of your avoiding the utmoft efFedl of the terrible fentence which impends. Let me, therefore, importune you, for God's fake, and for your own, to devote the re- mainder of your time to more important employ, than thjit of writing notes on Shakefpeare. Indeed, and indeed, your fituation is fuch, as (hould confine your attention to objeds of infinitely greater mo- ment. The Searcher of hearts knows, that I thus plainly addrefs you, from motives of ablblute hu- manity, and from an anxious folicitude for your everlafting welfare. I am, with undiflembled fympathy and refpedt. Sir, your well-wiflier in time, and eternity, March ,7, 1777. Jugtifius Topiady. You will oblige me, fir, if you favour me with a line (by the gentleman w4io delivers this to your hands) relative to the bufinefs refpedling Mrs. G . LETTER LXIV. To the Rev. Mr. Berridge. Dear Sir, New-Jireel, March 19, 1776. TH E paper, to which you refer, in your fa- vour of to day, is, I apprehend, the Public Ledger, of the 5th inftant. As you inform me, that you have not feen it> I inclofe it to you, for your LETTERS. 281 your perufal, under the prefent cover : together with a rublequent ledger, of the 9th, containincv my an- fwer. When you have read them, I requ-^it you to return them, fo foon as convenient : for I rcfcrve every thing, of this kind j left it may prove nec.:iiary, to appeal to them in future. If 1 was not certain, that the glorious and gracious^ Head of the Church- orders all things for the good of his myftic body; and that not an hair can fall, with- out his leave ; I fhould deeply lament the continu- ance of your cough. But, when I recoiled, who it is that fits at the helm ; I can, m a Ipirit of prayer and of faith, commit you, and all that relates to you, to the unerring difpofal of infinite wifdom, love, and power, In whofc covenant-bonds I re- main, dear and rev. fir, &c, Augnjlus Toplady. LETTER LXV. To Mr. T . London^ April ^^ iT]6, Sir, IT gives me unfpeakable pleafure, to find, that you dehgn to republilh the Abridgment of Fox's Martyrology : which I confider as a faithful and ju- dicious compendium of the mod valuable eccle- (iaflical hiftory extant in our language. We live at a time, when the generality of profeffqd Proteftants appear to have lofh fight of thofc grand and elTential principles, to which the Church of England was reformed, and in defence of which her martyrs bled. Vol. VI. (32J T JReligious 82 LET T E R S. 252 Religious ignorance, and a general unconcerned nefs about divine things, together with the naoft profufe diflipation, and a growing difregard of moral virtue, are the reigning charaderiftics of the prefent age. In a country thus circumftanced. Popery (ever on the watch for advantages) will, and muft, and does, gain continual ground. Ignorance, infidelity, and licentioufnefs, naturally terminate in fiiperfti- tion, as their ultimaSte refugee : and Rome too often reaps, what profanenefs and 'immorality have fown. To ftem fo dangerous a torrent, no means are more likely (under God), than the re-publication of fuch a work as this : a work eminently calculated to difplay, and to guard us agalnfi:, the principles and the fpirit of Popery ; to perpetuate the holy lives, the faithful teftimonies, and the triumphant deaths, of thofe evangelical worthies, who refifted error, even unto blood ; to exalt the ftandard of Chrift ; to ex- hibit the, loving-kindnefs of the Holy Ghoft, who gave fuch grace and power unto men 5 and to fland as the befh com.mentary on thofe rnedimable truths,. which (through the good hand of God upon us) ftill continue to fhine in the liturgy, articles, and homi-' lies, of cur eftablin-jed Criurch. I with this performance miuch fuccefs, in the name of the Lord. May its diffufion be very ex- ♦tenfive, and its ufefulnefs very great. May it prove mighty, through God, to m.ake the Proteftant Churches in general, and our own national Church in particular,, remember from whence they are fallen ; {lir them up to doctrinal knd p radical repentance ; and bring them back to their firft principles, and to their firil works I With this prayer, breathed from the inmoft of my heart, I remain, fir, your affedionate well-wiflier, Augujius Montague Toplady. ^ LETTER LETTERS. 283 LETTER LXVL To Mr. HussEY. Broad-Hembury, Sept. 9, 1776. Very dear Sir, A Student of Lady Huntingdon's, whofe name is Cottingham, and from whom I parted at Briflol, on my return from Wales, promifed me to wait on you and Mrs. ttulTey in London, to inform you, how gracious the Lord has been to me, ever iince I law you laft. The night I left town, the Worceder coach, in which I went, broke down : but not one of us re- ceived the leafl; injury. I have a ftill greater deHver- ance to acquairit you with : even fuch as, I truft, will never be blotted from my thankful remem* brance. On the Anniverfary Day, in Wales, the congregation was fo large, that the chapel v>'ould not have contained a fourth part of the people; who were fuppo fed to amount to three thoufand. No fewer than one thoufand three hundred horfes were turned into one large field, adjoining the College ; befides what were ftationed in the neighbouring vil- lages. The carriages, alfo, were unufually numer- ous. A fcaffbld was erected, at one end of the Col- lege-court, on which a book-ftand was placed, by way of pulpit : and, from thence, fix or ieven of us preached, fuccciFively, to one of the mod attentive, and mofi lively congregations I ever beheld. When it came to my. turn to preach, I advanced to the front ; and had not gone more than half through my prayer before fermon, when the fcaflfold fuddeniy fell in. As I flood very near the highermoft ftep (and the (leps did not fall with the j-efl,) Providence T 2 enabled 284 LETTERS. enabled me to keep on my feet, through the afTiff- ance of Mr. Winkworth, who laid faft hold on my arm. About forty minifters were on the fcaffold and fteps when the former broke down. Dear Mr. Shirley tell undermoft of all ; but received no other hurt, than a very flight bruife on one of his thighs. A good woman, who, for the conveniency of hearing, had placed herfelf under the fcaffold, re- ceived a trifling contufion on her face. No other mifchief was done. The congregation, though greatly alarmed, had the prudence not to throw them- felves into outward diforder : which, I believe, was- chiefly owing to the powerful fenfe of Goc^'^s prefence, which was eminently felt by mofl of the allembly. Such was the wonderful goodnefs of the Lord to me, that I was not in the leaft difconcerted on this dangerous occafion : which I mention, to the praife of that grace and providence, without which, a much fmaller incident would inevitably have fhocked every nerve I have. About half a minute after the inter- ruption had commenced, I had the fatisfadtion to inform the people, that no damage had enfued : and removing for lecurity, to a lower flep, I thanked the Lord, with the rejoicing multitude, for having fo undeniably given his angels charge concerning us. Prayer ended, I was enabled to preach : and great grace Teemed to be upon us all. If God permit, I hope to be with you, in Lon- don, foon after the middle of this month. I deem it one of the principal feHcitles of my life, that I have the happinefs and the honour to minifter to a praying people. We fhould not have had fo much of the Lord's prefence in Orange- ftreet, if he had not poured upon us the fpirit of fuppiication. Go on to pray, and God will go on to blefs. Remem- ber me, moft refpedlfully and moft tenderly, to as- many of our dear friends in Ch rift, as ^rou are ac- quainted with. And, particularly, inform Mr. and Mrs. Willett, and Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, that I have not LETTERS. 285 -not foTgot my promife to write to them ; and that I will perform my promife, unlefs they are fo kind as to difpenfe with it : which, I am very fure, they would mod willingly do, if they knew how little time I have to myfelf. Farewell. Grace be witfe you, and with dear Mrs. Hufley. Grace comprehends all we want, in time, and in eternity. I remain, my valuable friend, ever, evcryour's, Attptftiis T'Oplady, P. S. I had the happinefs to fee dear lady Hunt- ingdon (who is the mofl precious faint of God I ever knew) well, both in body and foul. The Lord, I truft, flill continues with you at Orange-Chapel. I Ihall be mtlch obliged to you, for informing me how things go on ; by a line di- rected to me, at Mr. Derham's, in Green-ftreet, Bath : for which place I intend to fet out, from De- vonfliire, on Monday next, the i6th infbant. I have the unutterable fatisfadion to find feveral more awakened people at Broad- Hem bur^^ than I formerly knew of. The Lord never fends his gofpsl to any place, in vain. He will call in his own people; and will accomplifh his own work. There is really z, very precious remnant, in and about this parifli. Thanks to free grace for all. LETTER LXVIL To Mr. . Much lamented Sir, IN confequence of your defire, communicated to me by Mr. , I fignified my intention of waiting" on you: but, on refledion^ I more ,than T 3 fear, 2S6 LETTERS. fear, that I have not fufficient firmnefs of nerves, to fuftain fo trying ^n interview. My feelings are (un- hp.pplly for myfelf ) fo terribly keen, that I (hould enly receive material injury, without being able to render you the lead good. My tears can be of no fervice to you. My prayers are frequently afcending to God for you, both in public and in private. May the uncreated angel of the covenant take them, warm as they rife trom my unworthy heart and lips ; and make them his own, by prefenting tnemwith the much incenfe of his ever efFedual interceflion [ If I am rightly informed, you have, form.erly, fat under the found of the gofpcl. Let me befeec^ you, fir, to cry mightily to him who is' able to. fave, that the Holy Ghoft may realize, to your departing foul, thofe precious truths of grace, which have, it feems, been often brought to your ears. Nothing, fliort of experimental religion, will ftand you in any ilead. The Lord Jelus enable you, by the opera- tion of his fpirit, to come to him, as a loft linner ; throwing yourfelf on the righteoufnefs of his life, and on the atonement of his death, for your free pardon and full juftification with God ! In which cafe, though your tranfgreffions be as fcarlet, they fliall be white as fnow ; and, though deep as crim- fon, they fhall be made as wool, I have too much reafon to apprehend, that all application in your behalf, to the powers of this world, wmII be, totally, without avail. Confider yourfelf, therefore, dear fir, as abiblutely a dying man. My earneft fupplications fhall not ceafe to be poured out at the footftool of the throne of grace, until death fets you beyond the reach of prayer. — Several congregations of God's people bear you, deeply, on their hearts, Jefus blefs you with the manifeflations of his fa- vour ; and grant you to fing his praifes, for ever and ever, in concert with that innumerable aflembly of fallen LETTERS. 287 fallen finners, whom he has loved, and waflied from their fins in his own blood. So prays, with bended knees and weeping eyes, he who is, lir, Your unknown, but not lefs affedionate well-wiflier, 0(fl. 31, 177^- Jii^uJItis Tcplacly. LETTER LXVin. To A. B . KnightJbrUge^ Aug. 12, 1777. TF A. B's favour, of June 16, had not been mif- -*► laid, it would have been anfwered, long before. I hope, the polite and ingenious writer will pardon the delay. Jn reply to the queftion ftated, I am mod deeply and dearly convinced, that the faints in glory know each other: and more particularly, thofe with whom they took fweet counfel when on earth, and with whom they walked in the houfe of God as friends. Our Lord himfeif, I apprehend, gives us to under- ftand as much, where he tells us, that the elecl tliall be, in the future ftate, icra/^eAot, or equal to the angels. Now, it feems impofhble, that the unfallen angels, who have lived together, in heaven, or (at ieatl} very near 6000 /ears, ihould not be perfedly acquainted with each other. And the fame privilege is requifite in order to our being, in every refpcd, on an equality with them. — The departed foul of the rich man knew Lazarus, when he beheld him afar off- and likewife, at fight, knew Abraham, whom he could never have feen in the prefent life. Much more do Abraham and Lazarus, and all the glorified family T 4 above J 288 LETTERS. above, reioice in that communion of faints, which obtains in their Father's houfe. — St. Paul, fpeaking of the rpirltual children whom God had given hq\ among the Theffalonians, fays, that they would be his "dory and crown of rejoicing, in the day of the Lord Jefus." But how could this be, and how Gould they mutually congratulate each other on the grace beftowed upon them below, if all perfonal ac- quaintance was to ceafe ? Surely, there are no ftrangers, in that land of light and love 1 The three apoftles, who attended our blefled Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration, knew Mofes and Elijah, Vxdien they appeared in glory, To add no more : that remarkable text, I think, fully efla- blifiies the point, where our adorable Saviour bids us make to ourfelves friends, by the mammon of unrigh- teoufnefs ; that, when we fail, they may receive us into the cverlafting habitations. As if he had faid ; " V/hile you are on earth, take care to conciliate- the affedlions of my indigent difciples, by beftowing on thern a proper portion of the wealth which God has lent you, and, which is too often perverted to purpofes of unrighteoufnefs, by them that know not me. So, when your bodies die, and when your fouls afcend to heaven, the fouls of thofe poor af- flided faints, whom your bounty relieved below, and who were got to glory before you, lliall be among the firfl; exulting fpirits, who fliall meet you on your arrival above, and congratulate you on your fafe and triumphant entrance into the world of joy." But they could not do this, uqlefs they knlew us, and we them. May the precious blood and righteoufnefs of our Incarnate God, and the faithful leadings of his eter- iial fpirit, bring you and me to that general aflembly and Church of the firft-born ! where we fliall both fee him, as he is ; and likewife know each other, even as we (ball then be known. With this prayer, and in LETTERS. 289 jn this hope, I beg leave to fubfcribe myfelf, who- foever you may be. Your affedlionate welUwiflier in Chrifl:, Augujius Toplad)\ LETTER LXIX, To the Rev. Dr. B. of S arum. Knight/bridge y Av.guft 12, 1777.' YOU pay me a compliment I do not deferve, in fuppofing, that I am induflrioufly employed on fome ufeful work. For a long while, I have been unufually idle, both as a preacher, and as a writer. But my indolence was and is the refult of obedience to medical prefcription. I have been, at beft, in a moil fluftuating'Aate of health for a year and half paft : and, feveral times, was in a near view of land- ing on that coaft, where the inhabitant fhall not fay, I am fick. At thefe times, I blefs God, my chear- fulnefs never forfook me; and, which calls for ftill infinitely greater thankfulnefs, my fenfe of perfonal interefl in his ele6ling mercy, and in the great fal- vation of Jefus, was never darkened by a fingle cloud. For the laft two months, I have been abun- dantly, and almoft miraculoufly, better. Whetheif my remaining days be few or many, I only pray and wifh that they may be confecrated to the glory of the great Three -One. And now to defcend to the affairs of this world. The accounts of the extravagant and ridiculous rnanner, in which, as you obferve, my friend Mrs. M 's birth-day was celebrated at Bath, gave me extreme difguft ; and have contributed to reduce my opinion of her magnanimity and good fenfe. Such contemptible vanity, and fucb childilh aftc(^ta- tion of mock-majefty, would have difgraced a much inferior underflanding j and have funk even the meaneft t^o LETTERS. meaneft charader lower, by many degrees. If I live to fee her again, I will rally her handfomely. I muft agree with you, in feeling for the advancing miferies of our unhappy country. We are already become the jeft, and the contempt, of all Europe. Never, furely, was a great and important empire fo wantonly thrown away; and never was nation fo in- fatuated before ! However, when we recoiled who it is that prefides, invifibly, at the helm of all hu- man affairs (fee Daniel iv. 32, 35.) we are recon- ciled to every appearance, melancholy as appearances may feem ; and adore the infinite wifdom, which, fecretly, but irrefiftibly, over-rules even the vices, and follies, and the madnefs of men, to the accom- pliOiment of its own defigns. I am happy, to hear that yourfelf and family are well ; and, if you was not a very particular friend, I fliculd almoft have grudged you the felicity you mufl have enjoyed, in your late excurfion -to our much efteemed friends at Frefhford. More than compliments to you and your's, con- clude me your affedlionate fervant, Atigujlm Toplady. LETTER LXX. To Mrs. A. G . Knight/bridge, Lord's- Day Evenings Nov, 2, 1777. Madam, YOUR letter quite diflrefles me : becaufe it places excellencies to my account, which I feelmyfelfto be totally unpofTelfed of. Among all the weak and unworthy fervants of Chrift, I ;im the unworthiefl LETTERS. 29t unworthieft and the weakoft. If you knew me, as well as 1 know myfelf, you would be entirely ot" my mind. For the Lord's fake, let us look to Jefus only, and learn to ccafe from man. Chriilis all in all. Every other perfon and thing are vile, and vvretchc'\ and hateful, but fo far as he deigns to fmile and b'cfs. *' Lefs than notliing and vanity ;*' is the only moito that belongs to mc. 11 he vouchfife to waih me in his blood, and to fave me by his infinitely free and glorious redemption ; a more worth lels and holp- lefs fmner will never fing his praifes in the land of glory. Inftead of commending me, pray for me ; that I may be kept from evil, and devote my few days (in humble and earned attempt at ieaft) to the honour of his name. If I wilhed you to retain your exalted opinion of me, I fhould, in my own defence, wave tlie honour of your acquaintance, which you fo politely offer me. But, as I defire to undeceive you, and to ap- pear juft what I am ; I ihall be extremely happy' to lee you here, any day, in the forenoon, after the prefent week is elapfed ; which latter, viz. the re- mainder of the prefent week, I am to pals at the houfe of a friend, who lives nine miles from hence. God have you in his keeping, and m^ake you a par- taker of the graces and confoiations of his fpirit. — 1 am, with much refpect. Madam, &c. Augujius Toplady. LETTER ^<)^ LETTERS. LETTER LXXI. To Mr, E. K . Knightfbridg^^ Nov, 22, 1777. My Friend and Brother in Chrifl, Y a letter, which I have this moment received B from Mr. Lake, I am informed, that you are apprehenfive of the fpeedy approach of death: and that you are particularly defirous of feeing me; or, if that cannot be, of at leafh hearing from me; be- fore the great change comes. As I am not certain of being able to wait on you, fo foon as I could wiQi, confidering the long extent of way that interpofes between us ; and being will- ing to lofe no time in affuring you how much I love you, and how earneftly I commend you to God ; I feize the immediate opportunity of writing to you. Nor (hall I ceafe to remember you in my worthlefs add refs at the throne of grace, both publicly and in private. The time, however, is perhaps arrived, which eminently calls upon you to ceafe entirelyfrom man. Forget me ; forget even your family ; forget all your earthly friends, fo far as to lofe fight of them : and look only to Jefus, the glorious author and faithful finifher of falvation. Repofe your confidence on his alone blood, righteoufnefs, and interceffion. He reprefented you, on the crofs ; he bears your name, on his breaft, and on the palms of his hands, in heaven ; he fympathizes with you, in all your pains and forrows; and will take care of you, unto death, through death, and to all eternity. May his com- forting fpirit make thefe blefTings clear to your view, and powerfully feal upon your heart a fenfe and en- joyment of your perfonal intercll in them. Leave LETTERS. 295 Leave Providence to take care of your wife and children. And leave the covenant-grace of Father, Son, and Spirit, to take charge of you. Nor do I doubt, that, whether we meet again, or not, in this valley of tears, we (l:iall fing together, for ever, in the Jerufalem above. So believes, and fo prays, your old friend and ranfomed fellow-finner, Angtiftiis Toplady. P. S. I fliall hold myfelf greatly indebted to Mr. Lake, for informing me, from time to time, how the Lord deals with you. LETTER LXXIL To Mr. F . Knight/bridge y Nov, 27, 1777; Deah Str, IF I rightly underftood you yefterday, the cafe of confcience, propofed by your friend, is this: " He lives in a part of England, where the gofpel is not preached, by the clergy of the eflablilhed Chqrch. But the gofpel is preached, in a neigh- bouring congregation of dilTenters. He is compell- ed therefore, either not to hear the gofpel preached at all ; or to hear it at a difTenting meeting-houfe. — Query: Is it his duty to communicate with the dilTenters, as well as to hear them ? Or n\ay he with a fafe confcience, continue only to hear them, and dill maintain his communion, with the Church of England ?" For my own part, I am mod clearly of opinion, (i.) That, if he cannot hear the Church of England dodlrines preached in a pariih-church (which 294 LETTERS. (which is terribly the cafe in fome thoufands of places;) be is bound in confcience to hear thofe truths, where they can be hea»rd : was it in a barn, in a private houfe, in a field, or on a dung-hill. But, (2.) I am no lefs clearly convinced, that he is not under the fmaliefl: necefiity of breaking off from the communion of the Church eflablilhed* Some of my reafons are thefe : 1. Your friend's love to the Chtirch-dodlrines (i. e. to thegofpel of grace,) is the very thing that forces him to lorfake the Church-walls, as an hearer. But this need not force him from communicating there. It Qiould rather bind him, more clofely and firriily, to a Church whofe do6lrines and facraments are holy, harmlefs, and undeftled ; and alike remote from error, fuperftition, and liccntioufnefs. 2. Our blelfed Lord, himfelf, communicated with the eflabliQied Church of Judea; though its minifters and peoplewere as deeply degenerated from the purity and power of God*s truths, a6 the prefent minifters and people of the Church of England are, for the inoft part, now. — That our Lord actually did thus communicate in the Jewiili church (fallen as its pro* feftbrs were,) is evident, from his celebration of the Paflbver, antecedently to his inftitution of the Holy Supper, in the evening of the very night wherein he was betrayed. 3. The goodnefs, or badnefs, of a parifli minifter, neither adds nor detrads from, the virtue and value of the facraments he difpenfes. Judas appears to have preached the gofpel, and to have wTote mira- cles. Was the gofpel, or were thofe miracles, at all the worfe on his account ? No : in no wife. — " But the minifter of my parifli does not preach the gofpel.** Beitfo. — You do right, therefore, in not hearing him. Ncverthelefs, though (in this refpedl) he out-Qns Judas himfelf ; why fhould that unhap py circumftance make you quarrel with, and abfent yourfeif LETTERS. 295 yourfetf from, the communion-fervice of the Church? 4. J can fct my own probatum ejl^ to the condudl I am now recommending. For feveral years after I was made acquainted with the grace of God, I chiefly refidcd in a place, where I was obliged, either to ftarve my foul, by never fitting under the mini- ftry of the word ; or to go for it, to a dilfenting meeting-houfe. I made not a moment's hefitation, in chufing the latter; and would again puriue the fame line, if Providence was again to place me in fimilar circumflances. But, though I heard the gofpel, conilantly, at meeting (becaufe I could hear it nowhere elfe,) I, conftantly and (IriBly, commu- nicated in the Church only. I know that this was pleafing to God, by the many happy foul-feafons I enjoyed, both at the Lord's table, and in the fepa- rate affembly. And yet, (as you may judge from my leaving them as preachers,) the clergymen, at whofe hands I received the memorials of Chrift's dy- ing love, knew no more of the gofpel, than fo many ftocks or tlones. 5. Let a parini-minifcer be ever fo fpiritually blind and dead, the litur^^y remains the fame. BieiTed be God, the clergy are forced to read it; and to ad- minifter the Lord's lupper, and ether offices, ac- cording to its admirable and animating form of found words, 6. While your friend communicates in the Church of England, he is at full liberty to hear the gofpel elfevvhere : But, Should he communicate with a diffenting-church, he muit, firfl:, fo far become one of them, as to hear the go;pel, in great meafure, if not entirely, among them only. Such a transfer of communion, there- fore, would reicmble tying himfelf by the leg (or, rather, nailing^ himfelf by the ear) to a fingle tree ; in preference to enjoying the full range of God's garden. I have feenfo verymanyinftances of this, in a courfe 296 LETTERS. courfe of more than two and twenty years obferva- tlon, that no antecedent promifes, profeffions, or proteflations, to the con^ra^y (made to a new con- vert by any of thofe religious aliemblies,) would have the lead weight on my judgement of this matter. Thus I have, agreeably to your defire, fignified a few of thofe reafons, which have long had great in- fluence in determining my own mind . Influence fo very great and deciflve, that I am thoroughly perfuaded, was the glorious company of apoftles to live again on earth, at this very time, and to live in England ; not one of them, I very believe, would be a dilfenter from our eftablifl^ed Church : though they would all deeply lament the dreadful ft:ate of fpiritual, of dodlrinal, and of moral declenfion, to which the greatefl: part of us are reduced. — May God inform andi teach your friend, the way in which he ought to go; and, forever, guide him with his eye! With which prayer, for him, for you, and for myfelf, I remain. Sir, your fervant in Chrifl:, Jngitjlus Toplady, LETTER LXXIIL To Mr. Vallance, Knight/bridge^ Dec, i, ^777. Dear Sir, r\^ the cover of laft: month's magazine, fread ^-^ the following notice : " Thanks to Minimus, for his pious Meditation." Now, as I am the only perfon, who ever appeared, in your magazine, under the LETTERS. 297 the fignature of Minimus; and as I never fen t you any meditation, whether pious or impious, fince I furrendered my editorl'hip of the faid magazine [in July lad], and as it is generally known, that the papers figned Minimus, were written by me : It will be both uling me extremely ill ; and alfo look like a delire, on your part, to palm a deception on your readers, if you permit any future paper, of which I am not the author, to bear the fignature above-mentioned. Not doubting, that, on further confideration, you will fee thejuftice and propriety of this hint, and adt accordingly ; 1 remain, fir, your afTedionate friend and fervant, Ai(gnjltt5 Toplady. LETTER LXXIV. To J. W , Efq. Knight/bridge y Dec. 30, 1777, Sir, T THROW myfelf on your candour and polite- •*• nefs, for your pardon of the prefent freedom,^ taken by a perfon who has not the honour of being known to you. The favour which I prefume to folicit, is, that you would be fo obliging as to communicate to me fuch leading particulars, as you may recoiled, concerning a late friend of your's ; who was one of the greateft, and yet (by a fate pe- culiarly ftrange) one of the obfcureft men, whom this iiland ever produced : I mean, Mr. Baxter, the metaphyfician, who dedicated the 3d volume of his Vol. VL (32.) U chief X98 LETTERS. chief work to you. I have a very cogent reafon,. for wifhing to acquire authentic and exact informa- tion of the times and places of his birth and death ; and of fuch other principal circumflances, as may merely fuffice to perpetuate the out-lines of his per- fonalniftory: which, in point of diffufivenefs, need not be more prolix, than is tlie letter 1 now addrefs to you. I am, &c. Augujlus I'o^kdy. LETTER LXXV. To the Rev. Dr. Priestley. Knightjbridge, Jan, 2.0, 1778* 1AM much your debtor, fir, for your late polite- favour from Calne : but, efpecially, for the obliging prefent of your Difquifitions concerning Matter and Spirit j and of the Appendix, concerning Neceflity.. I have read them, with great attention : and, as you condefcend to requefh my opinion of thofe ingenious pieces -, you fliall have it, with the mofl tianfpa- rent unreferve. I need not fay any thing, as to the article of ne- ceflity : becaufe you well know, that I have the ho- nour to coincide, almofl: entirely, with your own view of that great fubjeft. Permit me, however, to aik, enpajjant, in what part of any printed work of mine, I '* Teem to think that the torments of hell will not be eternal?'* You yourfelf, dear fir, I doubt not, will, on a calm review, be the firfl to condemn your own temerity, in having publicly advanced a conjedure totally unwarranted on my part : and I am equally difpofed to believe, that this will be the laft liberty of the kind, which you will venture to take LETTERS. 299 take either with mc, or with any other man. You muft be fenfible, that not a word, on the nature or the duration of future punilhment, ever pafl be- tween you and me, either in writing, or in perfonal converfe. Confequently, you muft be entirely un- acquainted with my ideas of that awful fubje(ft: and, as fuch, was totally unqualified to advance the infinuation, of which I have Tuch juft reafon to Complain. With, regard to your " Difquifitions," &c. I would obferve, I . That I can fubfcribe to no more than to one moiety of them. I ftill confider materialifm^ as equally abiurd in itfelf, and atheiftical in its ten- dency. But, 2. The perufal of yoiir book gave me no fur-- prife ; becaufe 1 have, for a confiderable time paft, viewed you as a lecret materialift : whofe favourite principle, like the workings of a fubterraneous fire, 'would, at laft, break forth into open birth. 3. Nor has this publication lelfened, in the fmall- eft degree^ my refped and efteem for its author. You have a right, to think for yoUrfelf ; and to publifh the refult of your thoughts, to the world. If my own brother was of a different judgment, as to this point, I fhould fet him down for an enemy to the indefeafible prerogatives of human nature^ 4. I revere and admire real probity, wherever I fee it. Artifice, duplicity, and difguife, 1 cannot away with. Tranfparency is, In my opinion, the firftand the moft valuable of all focial virtues. Let a man's principles be black as hell, it matters not to me, fo he have but integrity to appear exactly what he is. Give me the perlbn, whom I can hold up, as I can a piece of chryftal, and fee through him. For this, among many other excellencies, I regard and admire Dr. Prieftley. 5. I muft acknowledge, fir, that, in the foregoing part of your " Difquifitions,** you throw no fmaU U 2 * quantity 300 LETTERS. quantity of light on the nature of matter at largo. My apprehenfions, concerning vifible fubftance, are, in feveral important refpccts, correBed and im- proved, by your mafterly obfervations on that fub- jeft. I vviih you had flopt at matter, which you evidently do undei-ftand, and better, perhaps, than any other phi lofopher on .earth; and not meddled with fpirlt, whofe acquaintance, it is very plain, you have not cultivated with equal afTiduity. 6. Bifliop Berkeley tells me, that I am all fpirit, without a fingle particle of matter belonging to me. Dr. Prieilley, on the other head, contends, that I am all body, untenanted and unanimated by any immaterial lubftance within. Put thefe two theo- ries together, and what will be the produ6i: ? Thai my fum total,, and tlrat of every other man, amounts to juft nothing at all, I have neither body, nor foul. I have no fort of exiftence whatever. — Here it may be alledgcd, "That the two fyflems cannot be throw together, as being totally incompatible." I a fwer: Why may not bifliop Berkeley's word go as far as Dr. Prieftley's ; and the dodor's as far as the biihop's ? Though,' when all is done, the beft way, in my opinion, is, to ceafe from both, and to believe neither. 7. The arguments, for abfolute and univerfal ma- teiialifm, drawn {or, rather, pretendedly drawn) from rational and philofophic fources, appear, to me, prodigioufly forced, lame, and inconciufive. And, if we take Scripture into the account, not all the fubtilty nor all the violence of crlticifm will ever be able to eftabhdi your fyftem on that ground. What wretched work do you yourfelf make, with thofe few texts, which you venture to quote and flrive to obviate, 'whtr^ln plemi Ie^ prima facie^ man is fpoken of, as a being compounded of matter and^ fpirit ! Can you bear this plain dealing ? If you can, give- me your hand. And I mofh heartily wi(h, that all, who differ from you, and efpecially that all who may a LETTERS, 301 may commence your public antagonrfb, may treat you, as i ever defire to do, with the Tefpe(fl due to your virtues and your talents. How is your health ? Bev/are of too clofe applica- tion, and of too intenfe exertions of mind. I, for my own part, can moft heartily fubfcribe to thefe remarks of the apocryphal writer : *' The tiioughts of mortal men are miferable, and our devices are but uncertain. For the corruptible body preffeth down the fouj, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that mufeth on many things. Hardly do we guefs aright, at things that are upon earth ; and ivith labour do we find the things that are be- fore us: but the things which are in heaven, who hath fearched out r And thy caunfel who hath known, except thou give wifdom, and {tnd thy Holy Spirit from above?" — May that Holy Spirit, ftiining on his written word, and thining into our h-earts, l>e ,a light to Ehe paths of the much -e (teemed friend, to whom I am writing ; and the paths of his obliged and moil obedient iervant. LETTER LXXVI. To Mrs. Fowler. ^night/bridge^ Feb. 20^ ^77^- Dear Madam, KNOWING that the officious zeal of numerous vifitants, however well-nicaiit, occafions more trouble than relief, daring the firil imprcffions that refult from fo trying a difpenfation, as that, under which God is now exercifing you; I, for this reafon, wave prefenting you with my perfonal condolences, U 3 and 50£ LETTERS. and requeft yourfelf and your amiable family tq accept my written refpefts. You and your's are deeply on my heart, before the mercy-feat. Has the Holy Spirit yet brought you to that point, whither faith invariably tends, and in which it will always ultimately reft? viz. ** It is the Lord. Let him do, as feemeth him good.'' That your hufband's God is and will be your God, even to the end, and without end, I believe, with the fulleft aflurance. May he likewife be the God of all your offspring ! It is a great, an unfpeakably great thing, to be born again. How far that moft momentous work has taken place on their fouls, I know not. But may they ever tread in the religi- ous footfteps of their defervedly honoured father ; and never forget, that the fame blelTed and triumph- ant confolations which enlivened his laft hours, will alfo felicitate their lives, and brighten their deaths, if effedual grace render them partakers of like pre- cious faith, with him, in the righteoufnefs of our God and Saviour. ^ The prefence of our Lord Jefus Chrift be with you all. Remember, that " Your Maker is your hufband :" an hu (band, who never dies, and who changes not. — My kindeft and moft fympathifing refpeds attend the two young ladies, and both the gentlemen. Adieu, until I have an opportunity of alTuring you, by word of mouth, how much I am, &c. Augiijlm Toplady, LETTER LETTERS. 393 LETTER LXXVII. To Mr. HussEY. Broad 'Hemhury^ March 19., 1778. Very Dear Sir, "TTHE holpitable kindnefs of my old friend at -*- SalifDury, detained me in that place, until Monday laft; in the afternoon of which day I fat forward for my own parifti, and arrived here on Tuefday. I cannot boafh of any great effere, it is im- pofTible for one, under fo dcfpicable a bias, to be a truly great man. To defcend from argument, to plain, matter of fad:. If any perfon doubts whether popular applaufe be that unfatisfa6lory thing which I have dcfcribed it, he need only go a few miles out of town, to a place called Hayes : and there he will fee, with his ov/n eyes, that popular applaufe, how- ever it may tickle a man's vanity for a while, will, if he has not fomething more folid for his mind to feed on, leave him, fooner or later, miferable, con- temptible, and unfatisfied. I know but of one truly great man, who was a profefied lover of popular ap- plaufe ; -and that was the illuftrious Cicero : but it fhould be remembered, that that confummate ftatef- man, patriot, and philofopher, flourillied in the very dregs of the Roman commonwealth ; when public virtue, and public liberty (which will always, at the long run, (tand or fall together) were expiring. At fuch a time, to love Cicero, and to love virtue, to love Cicero and to love liberty, wert the fame thing. Of this, that mofh accoinpliilied man could not but be confcious : and it may be, he was ambitious of popular eftimation, at the critical time, in hopes of being able, by the credit he fought and deferved, to give an happy turn to the public affairs, and make the fcale preponderate in favour of his fmking coun- try : all wnich, he well knew, it would be impoffible for him to effecl, by any counfcls he could give, or any meafures he could take, unleis he could pre- vioufly fecure the approbation of the people he wl(h- ed An Anfzver to the folloivin^ ^fejlioyiy ^c. 309 ed to fave : fo that Cicero's unbounded thipft of praife feems to have arilen purely and folely from the lo\-e he bore to the nobleft republic that ever fubfifted : and he coveted popularity, not for his own fake, or for any folid fat is fact ion it yielded to himfelf as an individual ; but, as matters then ftood,, he con fide red the acquifition of uni^^erfal efteem, as the medium to his country's welfare, and the only poflible e^^ped-ient v/hich could retrieve it from the ruin which then threatened, and with which it was foon after acluaily overwhelmed, notwithilanding the manifold and almoil fupernatural efforts of that great man to avert the blow. — Or, even fuppoOiig^ that Cicero, with all his philofophy and virtue, had fome remains of vanity in him, which he fought to gratify, by {landing a perpetual candidate for praife^' (which, however, his characfter and condu6t in ail other refpeds, forbid us to believe) ; yet, even on this hypothefis, it would not follow, that " popular applaufc can yield folid fatisfadtion to a trulv great miiKi." For the gratification of vanity is one thing; fatisfaction of mind is another. Vanity may be qua- lified, and yet the mind go unfatistied : and lice ver/a, Befides, were it otherwile, we are not to adopt the foibles even of a great man, for they are foils and blemilhes, in wh?.t character foever thev are found. 1 hough, for reafons already hinted, I cannot perfuade rayfelC, that Cicero's was mere love of praife : it had the nobleft of motives,, and v*'as di'* re^^ed to the beft of ends. It was founded on love to his country, and a pafiionate ardour for her pre- fervatiort. But, admitting the reverfe to be proba- ble, it Would not follow, that becaufe Cicero, ^he moft riiining perfon heathen antiquity lias to boalt of, deferved, and,, from confcioufnefs ofthatdefert (which we could not juftly wonder at, in one who had not the advantage of golpel revelation to hum- ble him) coveted applaufe ;. that therefore others have a right to claim the fame privilege,. fincc» Cicero was fo tranfcendent and peculiar a charader- 310 Jn Anfwer to the following ^lejlioriy i£L that what was lawful for him to confpire to^ would be inexcufable in the reft of mankind. For though fucceeding ages will, without doubt, give many millions of men to the world; yet, poflibly, no age nor country will ever produce a fecond Cicero^ AN ANSWER To THE FOLLOWING QUESTION. *' Whether an Highwayman or a cheating ^radefman, is the honejter Per/on F' ISuppofe, moft perfons will allow, that plain deal- ing is one very important branch of honefty. Taking this for granted, the next enqtiiry will be^ who is the plain dealer ? The highwayman, who openly avows his defign, and fays to you, frankly and above-board, your money or your life ! Or the fliarking, fl-juffling tfadefman, who, in a fly clan- deftine manner, abufes the confidence you repofe in him, and cheats you, under the fictitious appear- ance of a fair dealer ? Is not fuch a perfon, as much a robber, to all intents and purpofes, as the man who privily fteals any part of your property out of your dweiling-houie, or takes it from you by force on the highway ? Mutual confidence, fuch as is fuppofed to obtain between buyer and feller, is one main band of fo- ciety : and every illicit practice, that tends to render tHat confidence precarious, is a ftep to- w'^*^"' olving thofe focial connexions, of which confidence is the bafis. Here, again, I the fcale turns in favour of the high- Vhen he prefcnts his piftol at the coach- t may be, fomething that looks like ,infpiie terror, without even a pofTibi- ^^ \ % Att/lnfwer to the following ^leJIioHy (5c, 311 lity of doing real mlfchief), he gives you your alter- native \ he lets you know what you have to cxpcd^ in cafe of refufal. You are not betrayed under a pretext of honeily, but exprefsly left to your owr^ option, whether you will relign your purfe, or (land to the conlequence. 1 grant this to be a breach of the peace, and a breach of integrity: but then it is an open, declared one ; and you know what you have- to do. And, let it be a breach of what it will be- fide, it is plainly no breach of truft : confidence is utterly difavowed on both tides: and therefore,, though forced to part with fome of your money, in order to fecure your peribnal fafety (and he, I think, is a fool who would not), yet you are not cheated of it. And though force of this kind, if univerfal, would be no lefs fubverfive of fociety, than fraud ;. yet, fince, by the care of the legiilature, in- ftances of the former are infinitely fewer than inflan- ces of the latter ; going on the highway is not, upon the whole, and as matters now ftand, either fo ge- neral an evil, or fo pernicious to the community, as cheating behind a counter. Add, to all this, that, when I exchange my mo- ney for fome certain commodity in lieu of it, I juftly expedl, and my tradefman profeffes to let me have,, an equitable equivalent for the money fo paid. But> if, inflead of fuch an equivalent, there is, in reality, no due proportion between the price I pay, and the article I purchafe ; I am as much robbed by that infiduous ialefman, as if he was to ftop me on Houn- flow Heath. 1 mean not to juftify the gentlemea of the road. I am truly fenfible, that before a per- fon can take that defperate and unlawful method of repairing his fortune, he mud have bid adieu to virtue and be loft to principle. 5 we are not now ex- culpating, villainy, ^^ut only weighing and compar- mg It. In commom life, it is ufual to diftinguifh between theft and robbery. But I apprehend, thefe, though nominally 312 ' An Afifwer to the following ^ueftion, i^ci nominally and circumftantially different, are, in fa6l, one and tiie fame. The man, who unjuftly deprives another of his property, robs him : and there are but two ways of doing this; either privately or publicly. But, in this cafe, the thing it fcif fuffers very great altera- tion, from the mode of doing it. I therefore fet down the unfair tradefman, and theprofeft Ivghway- man, for robbers. Only, one conducls his fcheme ]n a.i open m.anner ; the other adds treachery to dif- honefty. Robbery is robbery, either way : if there is any difference, it feems to confiil in this: that robbery on the public road, is robbery barefaced ; whereas, robbery in a fliop, is robbery difguifed: which only makes it a vvorfeipecies of the fame genus. One thing more defcrves confideration. There have been inilances of men who have robbed others on the highway, and, fome years after, fent the per- fons, they robbed, anonymous letters, including Bank bills to more than the amount of what they took: thus repaying, with intereft, what they had formerly borrowed on the Heath. But 1 never yet heard of a cheating tradefman who made the fame return to the cuftomers he had defrauded: and, in- deed, if a tradefman of that (lamp was, afferwards, to a(5t on this noble principle of recoiling integrity, he would have enough to do, and, after all his un- juft gains, have little or nothing to bequeath to his own family. However, as the inftances, of rcim- buriing the party robbed are rare; and as general conclufions cannot be formed from particular pre- mifes, I lay no great flrefs on the lafl obfervation: but for the reafons alledged before, I muft, and da" give it as my opinion,, that though the cheating, tradefman, and the highway robber are both roguesy and great ones ; yetit^Wit, upon the whole, the high- wayman is the honefter rogue of the two. And as,, of two evils, prudence bids us chufe the leafh; fo, of two villains, jiidice tells us, that the Jeaft is io be preferred, POEMS POEMS SACRED SUBJECTS, WHEREIN THE Pundamental Do&rines of Cbrijiia?tity^ WITH MANY OTHER INTERESTING POINTS^ are occafionally introduced. Written between Fifteen and Eighteen Years of A^^, En, fanf^os Manibus punfet fumeret Ignes Veftatcm fe Mi^a facit ; bene libera Cutis Libera Deliciifque, Jocifgue & Amorc profanoi . Vol. VI. (32.) X The PREFACE. THE following Pieces are not recommended to the patronage of the Public, on account of any excellency in themfelves, but merely for the import- ance of their fubjeds: for, however defective the fuperflrudlure may be, its foundation is unqueftion- ably ^good. All the dodlrines here adyanced, de- ducing their authority from the Sacred Scriptures, and their faithful epitome, the Homilies, and Arti- cles of the eftablifhed Church. That the dignity of truths fo momentous, might be impaired as little as pofTible by the manner of exprefllng them, they are often introduced in the very words of the infpired Writers, and our venera- ble Reformers ; as every reader, who is intimate with the invaluable Books juft mentioned, cannot fail of obferving. Since all the elTentials of religion are comprifed in thefe two,^ound faith, and a fuitable courfe of obe- dience, every thing that may give offence to Chrif- tians diflenting from each other in points merely in- different, is ftudloufly avoided, and no particular tenets any where ftruck at, except one or two, which apparently tend to invalidate the authority of Revelation, and, by confequence, to fubvert the whole fyftem of Chriftianity. The Author wiflies it was in his power to do juf- tice to the fublime dodrines here treated ofj but, until death is fwallowed up in vi61ory, the glorious privileges and ineffable benefits redounding to be- lievers from the manifeftation of God in the flefh, cannot be perfedly conceived, much lefs properly exprefled. Left a continued famenefs (hould pall, and want of method confufe the reader, the metre is occa- X 2 fionally P R E F' A C E. fionally varied, and the whole prefents itfelf to his view, digefled as follows : > ^ I. Petitionary Hymns. ** II. Hymns of Praife. III. Paraph rafes on fome Seledt Pcrtiom^'of Holy Writ. IV. A few Pieces occafioned by the Death of Friends, And, Laftly, feveral Pieces, not properly referable to any of the preceding Heads,, thrown together by way of Appendix. PETITIONARY PETITIONARY HYMNS. Tc Mente pura & limplici Te Voce te Cantfl pio, Rogare curvato genu, Flendo & cancndo difcimus. Prvdbntibs, *' Oratio eft Oris Ratio, per quam intinws Cordis Noftri manifeftamus Deo." POEM I. « 1 "O EFTNING Fuller, make me clean, -■^ On me thy coftly pearl beftow : Thou art thyfelf the pearl I prize. The only joy I feek below. z Difperfe the clouds that damp my foul. And make my heart unfit for thee ; • Caft me not off, but feal me now Thine own peculiar property. 3 Look on the wounds of Chrift for me. My fentence gracioully reprieve : Extend thy peaceful fceptre. Lord, And bid the dying traitor live. 4 Tha* I've tranfgrefs'd the rules prefcrib*d. And dar'd the juftice I adore, Yet let thy fmiling mercy fay. Depart in peace, and fin no more. POEM II. A^ entering into the Church. I FATHER of love, to thee I bend My heart, and lift mine eyes ; O let my pray'r and praife afcfend As odours to the ikies. 2. Thy pardoning voice I come to hear, To know thee as thou art I X3 * Thy 3 1 8 Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subje^s, Thy minifters can reach the ear, But thou mull touch the heart. 3 O ftamp me in thy heav'nly mould, And grant thy word appiy'd May bring forth fruit an hundred fold And rpeak me juftify'd. POEM III. IVben Service is ended. 1 LORD, let me not thy courts depart, Nor quit thy mercy-feat:, Before 1 feel thee in my heart. And there the Saviour meet. 2 Water the feed in weaknefs fown, And ever more improve : Make me a garden of thine own, May evVy flow'r be love ! 3 O fend my foul in peace away ; For both my Lord hath bought : And let my heart, exulting, fay, I've found the pearl I fought ! POEM IV. For the Morning. 1 JESUS, by whofe grace I live. From the fear of evi! kept. Thou haft lengthened my reprieve. Held in being while 1 flept. With the day my heart renew ; Let me wake thy will to do. 2 Since the laft revolving dawn Scattered the noClurnal cloud, O how many fouls have gone, Unprepared, to meet their God ! Yet thou doft prolong my breath. Nor haft feal'd my eyes in death. 3 O that I may keep thy word. Taught by thee to watch and pray ! To thy fervice, deareft Lord, ' Sanftify th' prefent day ; Swift Jttvenile Poems on Sacred Siibjd5i5. 319 Swift it's fleeting moments hade : Doom'd, perhaps, to be my lail. 4 Crucify'd to all below. Earth fliall never be my care; Wealth and honour I forego. This my only wifli and care. Thine in life and death to be. Now and to eternity. POEMV. For the E'vening. 1 GOD of love, whofe truth and grace Reach unbounded as the ikies, Hear thy creature's feeble praife. Let my ev'ning facrifice Mount as incenfe to thy throne. On the merits of thy Son. 2 Me thy Providence has led Through another bufy day : Over me thy wings w^ere fpread. Chafing fm and death away : Thou haft been my faithful (hield. Thou my footfteps haft upheld. 3 Tho' the fable veil of night Hides the cheering face of heav'n, Let me triumph in the light Of my guilt in thee forgiv'n. In my heart the witnefs feel. See the great invifible. 4 I will lay me down to flcep, Sweetly take my reft in thee, Ev'ry moment brought a ftep Nearer to eternity : I (hall foon from earth afcend, Quickly reach my journey's end. 5 Ail my fins imputed were To my dear, incarnate God ; Bury'd in his grave they are, Drown'd in his atoning blocd : X 4 Me ^ao Juvenik Poems on Sacred SuhjeBs. Me thou wilt not now condemn. Righteous and compleat in him. 6 In the Saviour's right 1 claim All the bleflings he hath bought ; For my foul the dying Lamb . Hath a full redemption wrought ; Heaven through his defert is mine ; Chrift's I am, and Chriil is thine ! POEM VL There is Mercy with thee. I LORD, fliould*ft thou weigh my righteoufnefsj Or m.ark what I have done amifs, J^ow fliould thy fervant (land ? Tho' others might, yet furely I Muft hide my face, nor dare to cry For mercy at thy hand. z But thou art loth thy bolts to (hoot ; Backward and flow to execute The vengeance due to me : Thou dofl: not willingly reprove, For all the mild effeds of love Are centered, Lord, in thee. 3 Shine, then, thou all fubduing light. The powers of darknefs put to flight. Nor from me ever part : From earth to heaven be thou my guide^ And O, above each gift befide. Give me an upright heart. POEM VIL /;; Sicknefs. 1 JESUS, fince I with thee am one. Confirm my foul in thee. And ftill continue to tread down The man of fin in me. 2 Let not the fubtle foe prevail In this my feeble hour : Fruflrate all the hopes of hell. Redeem from Satan*s powV. ^ 3 Arm yuvenlle Poems on Sacred Suhje^s, 321 3 Arm me, O Lord, from hSiid to foot With rightcoufnds divine ^ My foul in Jefus firmly root. And Teal the Saviour mine, 4 Proportioned to my pains below, O let my joys increafe. And mercy to my fpirit flow In healing ftreams of peace. 5 In life and death be thou my God, And I am more than fafe : Chaftis'd by thy paternal rod. Support me with thy ftaff. 6 Lay on me. Saviour, what tlTou wilt. But give me flrength to bear : Thy gracious hand this crofs hath dealt. Which cannot be fevere. 7 As gold relin'd may I come out. In forrow's furnace try'd ; Preferv'd from faithleflTnefs and doubt. And fully purify 'd. 8 When, overwhelmed with fore diftrefs. Out of the pit I cry. On Jefus fuffering in my place Help me to iix mine eye. 9 When * marr'd with tears and blood and fvveat, The glorious fufferer Jay, And in my ftead, fuftain'd the heat And burthen of the day. ^o The pangs which my weak nature knows Are fw allowed up in thine : How numberlefs thy pondVous woes ! How few, how light are mine! n O might I learn of thee to bear Temptation, pain and lofsl Give me an heart inur'd to prayer. And fitted to the crofs. " * * Referring to his Agony in the Garden. 12 Make 3^2 Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subjects, J 2 Make me, O Lord, thy patient fon ; Thy language mine fhall be : " Father, thy gracious will be done, I take the cup from thee.'* 13 While thus my foul is fixt on him Once faften'd to the wood. Safe fhall I pafs through Jordan's flream. And reach the realms of God. 14 And when my foul mounts up to keep With thee the marriage feaft, I (hall not die, but fail afleep On my Redeemer's breaft. POEM VIII. John xiv. 17. He dwelleth with you^ and fhall be in you. 1 SAVIOUR, 1 rhy word believe, My urfbelief remove ; Now thy quick'ning fpirit give. The unftion from above ; Shev/ me. Lord, how good ihou art. My foul with all thy fullnefs fill : Send the witnefs, in my heart The Holy Ghoft reveal. 2 Dead in fin 'till then I lie, Bereft of pow'r, to rife ^ 'Till thy fpirit inwardly Thy faving blood applies: Now the mighty gift impart. My fin erafe, my pardon feal ; Send the witnefs, in my heart The Holy Ghoft reveal. 3 Blefled Comforter, come down. And Hve and move in me ; Make my ev'fy deed thine own. In all things led by thee: Bid my ev'ry luft depart, And with me O vouchfafe to dwell ; Faithful witnefs, in my heart Thy pcrfed light reveal. 4 Let Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subje^Is, 323 4 Let me in thy love rejoice, Thy (hrlne, thy pure abode; Tell me, by thine inward voice. That I'm a child of God : Lord, I chufe the better part, Jclus, I wait thy peace to feel j Send the witnefs, in my heart The Holy Ghoft reveal. 5 Whom the world cannot receive, O manifeft in me : Son of God, I ceafe to live, Unlefs I live in thee. Now impute thy whole defert, Reflore the joy from which I fell: Breathe the witnefs, in my heart The Holy Ghoft reveal. POEM IX. On War. 1 GREAT God, whom heav'n and earth and fea. With all their countlefs hofts, obey. Upheld by whom the nations ftand, And emp.res fall at thy command : z Beneath thy long fufpended ire Let papal Antichrifh expire ; Thy knowledge fpread from fea to fea, 'Till ev'ry nation bows to thee. 2 Thenfliew thyfeif the prince of peace, Make ev'ry hoftile efforts ceafe ; All with thy facred love infpire. And burn their chariots in the fire. 4 In funder break each warlike fpear ; Let all the Saviour's liv'ry wear ; The univerfal Sabbath prove. The utmofl reft of Chriftian love ! ^ The world (liall then no difcord know, ■ put hand in hand to Canaan go, Jefus, the peaceful king ado And learn the art of war no more. POEM X. 32,4 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeHs, POEM X. Befning to he given up to Ged. I O THAT my heart was right with thee. And lov'd thee with a perfedt love! that my Lord would dwell in me. And never from his feat remove \ Jefus remove th' impending load. And {tt my foul on fir^ for God 1 5L Thou feeft I dwell in awful night Until thou in my heart appear ; Kindle the flame, O Lord, and light Thine everlafling candle there : Thy prefence puts the fhadows by ; ' If thou art gone, how dark am 1 1 3 Ah 1 Lord, how fliould thy fervant fee, Unlefs thou give me feeing eyes ? Well may I fall, if out of thee ; If out of thee, how fliould I rife ? 1 wander, Lord, without thy aid. And lofe my way in midnight's fhade. 4 Thy bright,, unerring light afford, A light that gives the fmner hope ; And from the houfe of bondage, Lord, O bring the weary captive up; Thine hand alone can fet me free. And reacli my pardon out to me. 5 O let my prayer acceptance find, And bring the mighty bleifling down ; ' With eye-falve, Lord, anoint the blind. And feal rne thine adopted ion : A fallen, helplefs creature take. And heir of thy falvation make. POEM XL Mat, \m.z^. Lord, fave uSy "ace perip. I PILOT of the foul, awake. Save us for thy mercies fake; Now rebuke the angry deep, Save, O fave thy finking (hip I 2 Stand JttUenile Poems on Sacred Subjecis* ^tj 2 Stand at the helm, our veflel fleer. Mighty on our fide appear ; Saviour, teach us to defcry Where the rocks and quickfands lie. 3 The waves fliall impotently roll, If thouVt the^anchor of the foulc At thy word the winds, jfhjill ceafe» Storms be huQi'd to perfed pe*ace\ 4 Be thou our haven of retreat, A rock to fix ourwavVing feet > Teach us to own thy fov*reigti fw^ay. Whom the winds and feas obey, POEM XII. O that my fVays were made fo dir^B, Of. 1 O THAT my ways were made fo ftrait. And that the lamp of faith Would, as a flar, dired: my feet Within the narrow path ! t O that thy ftrength might enter now. And in my heart abide, To make me as a faithful bow That never flarts alide ! 3 O that I all to Chrift were giv'n^ (From fin and earth fet &ee) Who kindly laid afide his heav'n. And g;ive himfelf for me I 4 Not more the panting hart defires The cool refrefhing ftream. Than my dry, thirfly foul afpires At being one with him. . 5 Set up fhin.p image in my heart ;. Thy temple let me -be. Bid every idol now depart That fain would rival thee. S Still keep me in the heav'nly path it Beftow the inward light ; Arid lead me by the hand till faith Is ripen*d into fight. PGExM xrir. I 326 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SuhjsElu POEM XIII. 1 FATHER, to thee in Chrift I fly, What tho' my fins of crimfon dye For thy refentment call ? My crimes he did on Calv'ry bear, The blood that flowed for iinners theref Shall cleanfe me from them all. 2 Spirit divine, thy pow'r bring in, O raife me from this depth of hn, Take off my guilty load : Now let me live through Jefus's death. And being juftified by faith. May I have peace with God ! 3 Foul as I am, deferving hell. Thou can'ft not from thy throne repel A foul that leans on God : My fins, at thy command, fhall be Caft as a ftone into the fea The fea of Jefu's' blood. ■ POEM XIV. 1 SUPREME high prieft, the pilgrim's light^ My heart for thee prepare. Thine image ftamp, and deeply write Thy fuperfcription there. 2 Ah ! let my forehead bear thy feal. My arm thy badge retain. My heart the inward witnefs feel That I am born again ! 3 Thy peace, O Saviour, flied abroad, That ev'ry want fupplies : Then frorn its guilt my foul, renew'd. Shall, phoenix like, arife. 4 -Into thy humble manfion come. Set up thy dwelling here : Poflefs my heart, and leave no room For fin to harbour there. 5 Ah, Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subjedi, 327 5 Ah ! give me, Lord, the fingle'eye, Which aims at nought but thee : I fain would Hve, and yet not I Let Jefus hve in me. 6 Like Noah*s dove, no reft I find But in thy ark of peace : Thy crofs the balance of my mind. Thy wounds my hiding-place. 7 In vain the tempter fpreads the fnare. If thou my keeper art : Get thee behind me, God is near. My Saviour takes my part ! 8 On him my fpirit I recline, Vv^ho put my nature on ; His light fliall in my darknefs fhinc. And guide me to his throne. 9 O that the penetrating light, And eagle's eye were mine ! Undazzled at the boundlefs light, rd fee his glory fliine ! 10 Ev'n now, by faith, I fee him live To crown the conquering few ; Nor let me linger here, but ftrive- To gain the prize in view. 11 Add, Saviour, to the eagle's eye. The dove's afpiring wing. To bear me upwards to the fky. Thy praifes there to fing ! POEM XV. Self Dedication, I JESUS, my Saviour, fill my heart With nothing elfe but thee ; Now thy faving pow'r exert, And more than conquer me : Each intruding rival kill. That hinders or obftruds thv reign i All thy glorious might reveal. And make me pure within. Through 3 28 yuvenile Poems tn 5 acred SuhjeSis^ i Through my fotil in mercy fhine. Thine holy fpirit give ; Let him witnefs, Lord, with mine, That I in Jefus live ; Set me free from Satan*s load, The gift of liberty difpenfe. In my heart O (hed abroad Thy quickening influence. 3 Let the gifts beftow'd on me, Live to thy praife alone ; Lord, the talents lent by thee Are thine, and not my own : May I in thy fervice fpend All the graces thou haft given ^ Taken up, when time fl)all end. To live and reign in heav'n. POEM XVL In Temptatm. t COMPASS'D by the foe, on thee Feebly I prefume to call ; Get thyfelf ^he vidory, Hold me and I (hall not fall : On thy creature mercy (hew. Thine I am by purchafe too. 2 Guard of my defencelefs heart. Wherefore hideft thou thy face f Mercy's fountain head thou art. Ever full of truth and grace : Quell the roaring lion's powV, Father, fave me from this hour. 3 Sun of righteoufnefs arife, Shed thy blifsful rays on me ; Kindly liften to my cries, Try'd by him who tempted thee : Thou my helplefs foul defend. Keep m . My confidence thou art ; Difplay the virtue of thy blood, % And clrcumcife my heart. From heav'n, thy holy place, on me Defcend in mercy down; Water of life, I third for thee. To know thee for my own. Rend, O rend the guilty veil. That keeps me from my God ; Remove the bar, and let me feel That I am thine abode. O might this worthlefs heart of mine The Saviour's temple be ! Empty'd of ev'ry love but tJiinc, And (hut to all but thee ! POEM XXXIV. 342 Juvenile Poems on Sacred [SuhjeSis. POEM XXXIV. / know that in my Flejh dwelkth «# good Thing. 1 LORD, is not all from t^ee ? Is not all 'fulnefs thine ? Whate'er of good there is in me, O Lord, is none of mine» 2 Each holy tendency Did not thy mercy give? And what, O Saviour, what have I That I did not receive ? 3 I cannot fpeak a word, Or think a thought that's good, But what proceedeth from the Lord ; And Cometh forth from God. 4 Jefus, I know full well, What my bed adions are ; They'd fink my grievous foul to hell, If unrefined they were. 5 Myfelfandalll do, O fprinkie with thy blood ; Renew me, Saviour, ere I go. To (land before my God. 6 I of myfelf have nought. That can his juftice pleafe -, Not one right word, nor adl, nor thought, But what I owe to grace. POEM XXXV. Refuge in the Righteoulnefs of Chnft. 1 FROM thy fupreme tribunal, Lord, Where juftice fits fevere, I to thy mercy feat appeal. And beg forgivenefs there. 2 Tho' I have finn'd before the throne, My advocate I fee : Jefus, be thou my Judge, and let My fentence come from thee. 3 Lo, weary to thy crofs I fly. There let me (belter find : Lord, juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeBi. 343 Lord, when thou caU'dthy ranfom'd home, leave me not behind ! 4 I joyfully embrace thy love To fallen man reveal'd ; My hope ot glory, dearelt Lord, On thee alone I build. 5 The law was fatisfy'd by him Who fleHi for me was made : Its penalty he underwent. Its precepts he obeyed. 6 Defert and all felf-righteoufnef$ 1 utterly forego ; My robe of everiailing blifs. My wedding garment thou !" 7 The fpotlefs Saviour liv'd for me. And dy'd upon the Mount : Th' obedience of his life and death Isplac'd to my account. 8 Can'ft thou forget that awful hour. That fad, tremendous fcene. When thy dear blood on Calvary Flow'd out at ev'ry vein ? 9 No, Saviour, no , thy v^'ounds are frelb, Ev'n now they intercede j Still, in Q^tdi, for guilty man ' Inceliantly they bleed. 10 Thine ears of mercy ftill attend A contrite Tinner's cries, A broken heart, that groans for God, Thou never wilt defpife. 1 1 O love incomprehenfible, That made thee bleed for me ! The Judge of all hath liiffer*d death To fet his prifoner free 1 POEM XXXVL For Pardon of Sin. I JESUS, thy feet I will not leave, Till I the precious gift receive, 1 he purchased pearl poilefs ; Impart 44 Juvenile Poetns on Sacred Siihje5ls, Impart It, gracious Lord, while I With lupplications humbled cry, Inveft the throne of grace. Baptize me with the Holy Ghoft; Make this the day of Pentecoft, Wherein my loul may prove, Thy fpirit's fweet renewing pow'r, And fhew me, in this happy hour. The riches of thy love. Thou canft not always hide thy face, Thou wilt at laft my foul embrace. Thou yet will make me clean : My God, is there not room for me? I'll wait with patience. Lord, on thee, 'Till thou flialt take me in. Remember, Lord, that Jefus bled. That Jefus bdw'd his dying head. And fweated bloody fweat : He bore thy wrath and curfe for me In his own body on the tree, And more than paid my debt. Surely he hath m.y pardon bought, A perre(5l righteoufnefs wrought out His people to redeem : O that his righteoufnefs might be By grace imputed now to me : As were my fins to him. POEM XXXVII. THOU Sun of righteoufnefs arife. Shine glorious morning ftar. Enlighten my benighted foul, And make the Ethiop fair. Confus'd and blind tho' now I am^ And prone to go aftray. Bid me receive my fight, and I Shall clearly fee my way. The captive, at thy word, fliall be From ev'ry chain released ; The Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeEls. ^5 The broken heart, (hall fingforjoy, The troubled lea HkiII reft : Enflame me with a ray of heav*n, Pure, fervent love iijfpire ; And let thy dove-like fpirit aid And fan the holy fire. 3 Be thou my light, for light thou art, O crucify each doubt ; Sweep ev'ry corner of my heart. And turn the tempter out : Let not my hopes be over-caft With fliadows of defpair ; . Dart through my foul thy quick'ning beams. And build an altar there. 4 Redeem me from temptation's rage. Break down the holds of (in ; Give me to ftand in crooked ways, And-keep my garments clean : Tranfplant me. Saviour, from my felf. And graft me into thee ; Then (liall the grain of muftard-feed Spring up into a tree.' POEM XXXVIII. Phil. ii. ^. Let this Mind be in you zvhich "jcas aljo in Chriji J ejus, 1 LORD I feel a carnal mind That hangs about me ftill, Vainly tho' I ftrive to bind My own rebellious will , Is not haughtinefs of heart The gulf between my God and me } Meek Redeemer now impart Thine own humility. 2 Fain would I my Lord purfue. Be all my Saviour taught, Do as Jefus bid me do. And think as Jefus thought : But 'tis thou mufh change my heart, The perfed; gift muft come from thee : Vol. VL (33.) Z M:ek 34^ Juvenile Poems on Sacred SuhjeSls, Meek Redeemer now impart Thine own humility. 3 Lord, I cannot, muft not reft, 'Till 1 thy mmd obtain, Chafe prelumption from my breaft. And all thy mildnefs gain ; Give me, Lord, thy gentle heart. Thy lowly mind my portion be : Meek Redeemer now impart Thine own humility. 4 Let thy crofs m.y will controul ; Conform me to my guide ; In thine image mould my foul, And crucify my pride ; Give me, Lord, a contrite heart. An heart ti'at always looks to thee : Meek Redeemer, now impart Thine own humility. ^ Tear away my ev*ry boaft. My ftubborn mind abafe; Saviour, fix my only truft In thy redeeming grace : Give me a fubmiffive heart, Fi cm pride and felf dependance free y Meek Redeemer, now impart Thine own humility. POEM XXXIX. For all the Mind of Chrijl, 1 HAIL, faultlefs model, finlcfs guide, In whom no blame was feen ! Able thou were, and none befidc, To ranfom guilty men. 2 I want my happineis below In thee alone to find; Surely thou wilt on me beftow Thy pure, thy heav^n'y niind ! 3 Adive for God I fain would be. And do my work affign'd : Jefuj?, look down, implant in me. Thy zealous, fervent mii.d 1 4 While Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subjecls, 347 4 While here, it was thy conftant aim To benefit mankind : O give me, dear redeeming Lamb, Thy loviiig, gracious mind ! 5 Stiff is my neck, and proud my heart. Unbroken, unrcfign'd : When wilt thou, blell'ed Lord, impart Thy patient, humble mind ! 6 My (ins how flowly do I leave, To earthly things inclined 1 But wean me. Lord, and let me have Thy felF denying mind ! 7 O might I walk with faithful heed, And look no more behind, Poffefb'd of what I chiefly need. Thy lerious fteady mind ! 8 Still may my ev'ry grace increafe, *TiIl I in heaven appear : On earth like thee in holinefs, Like thee in glory there. POEM XL. For Pardon. 1 NOW, Lord, the purchas'd pardon give. Nor e'er the grant revoke. But bend my ftifi' obdurate neck Beneath thine eafy yoke. 2 O might I, as a faithful (lieep, My fliepherd ne'er forfake ! O might I now for heav'n fet out, And never more turn back ! 3 Chrift, in his refurre6tion's powV, Within my heart reveal : Forgive my deep revoltings, Lord, And my forgivenefs leal. 4 Thou only haft the words of life. My fpirit upward draw. Me to thy kingdom. Lord, inftrud, And teach me in thy law. Z 2 ^ ApoUo'fj. 34^ Juvenile Poems on Sacred Siibjeris. 5 Apollo's water's but in vain, Paul plants without fuccefs ; The prophets labours fruitlefs are Except thou give increafe. POEM XLI. The Same. 1 SHOULD'ST thou be ftria to mark our faults, Who could acquitted be ? Who, unrenewed, could flanJ the fearch, Or bear the fcrutiny ? 2 Lord, at thy feet I meekly fall, Held in contrition's chain : Thy gracious hand that caft me down, Shall raife me "up again. 3 O fpeak the word, thy fervant hears. Pronounce me pardon'd now : Lord, I believe, encreafe my faith. And let me know thee too. 4 Thou' only, Saviour, haft the key, Unlock the prifon door! Tho' yet 1 cannot fly to thee, ril fend my heart before. 5 The blood of fprinkling now^ apply> And that ft)all make me clean ; Weigh not my worthlefs works, O Lord, But O forgive my fin 1 6 Take now away whatever obftru6ls Thine intercourfe with me : And may I cheerfully leave all I have, to follow thee ! ' POEM XLIL 1 JESUS, thy pow'r I fain wou'd feel. Thy love is all I want : O let thine ears confider well The voice ,of my complaint. 2 Thou feeft me yet a Have to fin. And deflitute of God ; O purify and make me clean By thine all-cleanfing blood. \ 2 Far Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subjecls, j^^ Far off I (land, O bring me nigh. And bid me fit up high'r : Immanuel, now in love pafs by. And anfwer my defire. Jefus, undertake for mc, Thy peace to me be given : . For while I ftand away from thee, I ftand away from heav'n. ^ 1 will not my offence conceal, I will not hide my fm, But all my crimes with weeping tell. And own how vile I've been. Lord, will thy wrathful jealoufy As fire for ever burn ? And wilt thou not a fuccour be, And comfort thofe that mourn ? Reje6t not Lord my humble pray'rs. Nor yet my foul deftroy : • ^ Thine only Son hath fowji in tears That I might reap in joy. EUCHARISTIG EUCHARISTIC HYMNS. '* Iromenfa Beneficia Laudibus iramenfis cclebranda.'* Primas. O thou Patron God, Thou God and Mortal, thence more God to Man, Man's Theme eternal, Man's eternal Theme! 7hou canft not 'fcape injur'd from our Praife. Night Thoughts, Night ix. HYMNS OF THANKSGIVING. HYMN L Praife for Converfion. 1 ""VTOT to myfelf I owe -»-^ That I, O Lord, am thine, Free grace hath all the (hades broke thro*. And caused the light to fhine. Me thou haft willing made Thy ofF-irs to receive \ Caird by the voice that wakes the dead> I come to thee and live. 2 Why am I made to fee, Who am by nature blind ? Why am I taken home to thee. And others left behind ? Becaufe thy fov'reign love Was bent the word to fave, Jefus, who reigns inthron'd above. The free falvation gave. 3 Tho' once far off I flood. Nor knew myfelf thy foe, Brought nigh by the Redeemer's blood, ' IVlyfelf and thee I know: No Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subjeds. 3^1 No more a child of wrath Thy fmiling face I fee ; And praiie thee for the work of faith Which thou haft wrought in me. With me thy fpirit drove, Ahuighty to retrieve ; Thou faw'll me in a time of love, And faid unto me, live. By thee made free indeed, I felt thy gracious words ; Thy mantle over me was fproad. And I became the Lord's : Jefus, thy Son, by grace, I to the end Oiali be; Made perf. d: through thy comelinefs Which I received from thee. I drink the living- dream To dii believers giv*n, A fellow citizen with them. Who dwell in yonder heav'n. With all thy chofen band I trud to fee thee there. And, in thy righteoufnefs, to dand Undaunted at thy bar. HYMN II. ne Heavens declare the Glory of God, THE iky's a veil, the outward fcene Proclaims the majedy within; Which boundlefs light, tho' hid behind. Breaks out too great to be confin'd. The heav'n thy glorious imprefs wears, Thy image glitters in the dars : The firmament, thine high abode. Seems too the fpangled robe of God. Whenever its beauty I admire, It's radiant globes diredl me high*r, In filent praiie they point to thee. All light, all eye, all majedy ! Glory to him who duds the iky, (Earth's variegated canopy) Z4 * With 352 Juvenik Poems on Sacred Suhje5ls. With lamps to guide us on our way. Faint emblems of eternal day. 5 Yes, Lord, eachvlbining orb declares Thy name in dazzling characters ; As precious gems they dart their rays. And feem to form a crown of praife. HYMN III. On AJcenfton Day. 1 LO ! the Lord By whom falvation Is to fallen man refi:or*d, Now refumes his blifsful ftation, Shews himfelf th' Almighty Lord^ Slow afcending. Bids us, for a while, farewel. 2 Who his heav'nly fl:ate fufpended. And for man^s atonement dy'd,. By unnumbered hods attended, Rifes to his Father's iidev Born by angels , Back to his eternal throne. 3 Sefraphs, chaunt his endlefs praifes^ Guard him to his ancient feat -, Open wide, ye heav'nly places, Your returning God adfnit : Heav'nly portals Let the King of Glory in! 4 Chrift his kingdom re-inherits. His before the world began j Myriads of admiring fpirits Hover round the ion of man ^ Wrapt in wonder View the wounds he bore for us. 5 " W,orthy thou of exaltation,'' Loft in fweet furprife they ling; " Mortals, with like acclamation, Hail your great redeeming King :. Lei: your voices Emulate th' angelic choir.'* Yes, Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subje5ls. ^^3 6 Yes, O Chrift, from ev'ry creature, Praifc (hall to thy name be giv'n ; Worthy thou of more and greater, King of faints and king of heav'n ! Kindling tranfports Swell our hearts and tune our tongues! 7 Though our Lord is taken from us, Prefent but in fpirit now, This his faithful word of promife Made while fojourning below -, *' Where I enter ThitJ^er fliall my fervant come;" 8 Him we praife forhis afceniion. Conqueror of fin and death ; Gone up to prepare a manfion For his ranfom'd flock beneath : They fhall quickly Reign with him in glory there. 9 There already is our treafure, There our heart, our hope, our crown ; Thence on fublunary pleafure, We with holy fcorn, look down : Earth hath nothing, Worth a moment's tranfient thought. 10. A^'e fhall foon in blifs adore thee. Gain the realms of endiefs day; Soon be gather'd home to glory, All our tears be wip'd away : There, for ever. Sing fhe Lamb's nev/ fong of love, HYMN IV. To the Trinity, ~ 1 GLORIOUS union, God unfought ^ Three in name and one in thought. All thy works thy goodnefs fliow. Center of perfedion thou! 2 Praife we, with uplifted eyes. Him that dvv^ells above the ikies : God who reio;ns on Sion's hill. Made redeemed, and keeps us flilL 3 Joi^ 354 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeBs. 3 Join th' angelic hofts above Praife the Father's matchlefs love. Who for us his Son hath giv'n. Sent him to regain our heav*n. 4 Glory to the Saviour's grace. Help of Adam's helplei's race ; Who, for our tranfgreflions flain, Makes us one with God again. 5 Next the Holy Ghoft we blefs ; He makes known and feals our peace. Us he cleanfes and makes whole. Quickens ev'ry dying foul. 6 Holy, blefled, glorious Three, One from all eternity. Make us vellels of thy grace. Ever running o'er with praife. 7 Thee we laud with grateful fong, Sever'd from the guilty throng, Ranfom'd by the Son who dy'd. By the fpirit fandified. '* 8 Ail the perfons join to raife, Sinners to a ftate of grace ; Ail unite their blifs t' infure. In the glorious work concur. 9 O that we his love might tafte ! Blafs us and we fliall be bleft. Cleanfe us, Lord, from fuis abufe. Fit us for the mailer's ufe ! 10 In our hearts, thy temples dwell; With the hope of glory fill : Be on earth our gueft divine, Then let heav'n make us thine. HYMN V. Another, 1 FATHER, Creator of mankind. Thee we attempt to fing ; With thy Son and Spirit join'd. Our everlafting king ; Us Juvenile Poems on Sacred SiihjeEls. ^^^ Us thou doil in Chrift receive, Clothed with Chrift we come to thee : Him thou did'ft for Tinners give Their fubftitutc to be. All our fins, dear Lamb of God, Are for thy fake lorgiv*n, Jefus, thy reftoring blood Entitles men to heav'n : Self-exiftent, Lord of all, Uncreate, with God the fame. Bought by thee on thee we call, Exulting in thy name. Spirit of Jehovah write Thy nature on our heart, Us unto the Lord unite, As thou united art ; Make us meet his face to fee, Jefus' righteoufnefs apply : Holy Ghoft, our leader be, And guide us to the iky. Three in One, before thy feet Our inmoft fouls we bend, Glorious myftery, too great For worms to comprehend : We can ne'er, on this fide death, Bring the Deity to light ; Reafon here muft yield to faith, ^Till faith is loft in fight. HYMN VL JESUS, thoutry'd foundation ftoqe, From whofe prevailing blood alone Thy faints exped falvation. My robe thou art, I feel thy grace. And triumph in thy righteoufnefs. Made mine by imputation. ' Exulting in thy ftrength I go. My allotted work rejoice to do. For 35^ Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subjects. For love divine conflrains me : Supported inwardly by this, Through evVy obftacle I prefs While thy great arm fuilains mc. 3 By thy free grace 'till now upheld. My future hopes on thee I build, Nor are my hopes ill-grounded : Thy promifes are an "my fide. And fafe to glory, lo ! I ride, Bycountlefs deaths furrounded. 4 Before I from the body fiy. He who forgave (hall fandiify And perfectly renew me ; Stronger than Satan Jefus is % Sin lliall not always wound my peace, Nor finally fubdue me. 5 Who wafh'd me from its deadly flain. Shall here cut lliort its guilty reign. And weaken its dominion ; From height to height my faith (hall rife, Until I gain my native ficies, On love's feraphic pinion. 6 Unmov'd, till then, on Chrift I fland. And Satan from the Saviour's hand, In vain attempts to ftir me: On Jefus I for ftrength depend ; My omnipotent redeeming friend, Prepare my way before me. HYMN VII. 1 PRAISE the Lord, my joyful heart, With the elders bear thy part : Stand with them around the throne. Singing praifes to the Son. 2 Strive with them in rapture loft, Who (hall laud the Saviour moft : Join with angels to proclaim All the mercies of the Lamb, % Praifc Juvenile Poenn on Sacred SuhjeBs. - 3^7 3 Pralfe his great humility, Long as life remains in thee ; By thy prayVs and prailes given. Make on earth, a little heav'n. 4 Jefus, I the theme renew, Endlefs praifes are thy due : Anthems equal to thy grace. Saints and ang-els cannot raife. 5 I my worthlefs mite can: m, Here the fong of heav'n begin : I th' eternal chorus join, ' v Ecchoing the love divine. 6 Ever may I worQiip thee, - Praife my fole employment be ; Sing the virtues of thy blood ! Every moment thank my God. HYMN VIII. 1 MY foul witliibleffings unconfin*d. Thy tender care fupplies -, Thyfelf the fountain head from whence Thofe bleffings firfl arife. 2 Let me thy gracious gifts receive, With gratitude and joy. And in thyjuftand ceafelefs praife, Each thankful hour employ ! HYMN IX. Rom. viii. 16. ne Spirit it feJf bears fVitnefs zvith our Spirit^ that we are the Children of Grace-. 1 EARNEST of future blifs, Thee, Holy Ghoft, we hail ; Fountain of hoiinefs, Whofe comforts never fail. The cleanfmg gift on faints befliow'd. The witnefs of their peace with God. 2 With our perverfenefs here. How often haft fhou flirove. And fpar'd us year by year. With never-ccafing lov^ ! O 35^ ^/^I'^wi/^ Poems on Sacred SubjeSfs. O fet from fin our fpirits free. And make us more and more like thee. 3 What wond'rous grace is this, For God to dwell with men ! Through Jefus' righteoufnefs^ His favour we regain. And feeble v,'orms, by nature loft. Are temples of the Holy Ghofl: ! 4 Tlio* Belial's fons would prove That thou no witnefs art. Thanks to redeeming love, V/e feel thee in our heart ; Continue gracious Lord to bear, Thine inw^ard teftimony there ! 5 By thee on earth we know, Ourfelves in Chrifl: renew'd. Brought by thy grace into Tlie family of God : Of his adopting love the feal, % And faithful teacher of his will. 6 Great Comforter, dcfcend, In gentle breathings, down, Preferve us to the end. That no man take our crown: Our guardian flill vouchfafe to be, < Nor fuffer us to go from thee. HYMN X. nankfgiving for the divine Thankfulnefs . 1 IMMOVEABLE our hope remains. Within the vail our anchor lies ; Jcfus, who wadi'd us from our ftains. Shall bear us fafely to the fkies. 2 Strong in his tlirength, we boldly fay, For us Iramanucl. ilied his blood ; Who then (hall tear our (liield away. Or part us from the love of God ? 3 Can tribulation or dlilrefs. Or perfecunon's fiery fword? Can Satan rob us of our peace. Or prove too mighty for the Lord ? 4 Founded Juvenile Poems on Sacred Siibjetls. 359 4 Founded on Chrift, fecure we ftand. Sealed with his Ipirit's inward leal ; We foon fluill gain the promis'd hnd, Triumphant o'er the pow'rs of hell. 5 The winds may roar, the floods may beat j And rain, nnpetuous, delcend ; Yet will he not his own forget, But love and fave them to the end. 6 Jefus acquits, and who condemns? Ceafe, Satan, from thy fruitlejs ftrife: Thy mahce cannot reach our names. To blot them from the book of life, y This is eternal life to know, God and the Lamb for tinners giv*n; Nor will the Saviour let us guD, His ranfom'd citizens of heav'n. 8 Us to redeem his life he paid. And will he not his purchafe have ? Who can bel|pld Immanuel bleed, And doubt his willing-nefs to fave ? 9 Surely the Son hath made us free, Who earth, and heav'n, and hell commands; Our caufe of trium.ph this — that we Are graven on the Saviour's hands. 10 To him wlio wailied us in his blood, And lifts apoliate man to heav'n. Who reconciles his (lieep to God, Be everlafting glory giv'n. HYMN XI. On the Birth of Chrift, 1 AMPLEST grace in thee I find. Friend and Saviour of mankind, Richeft merit to atone For our lins before the throne. 2 Born to fave thy Church from hell, Once thou didft with finners dwell ; Was to earth a prophet giv'n, Now our advocate in heaven. 360 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeBs. 3 Well might vvond'ring angels cry, " Glory be to God on high, *' Peace on earth, good will to men, " Loft mankind is found again." 4 Join my foul, their holy fong, Emulate the brighter throng. Hail the everlafting word. Welcome thy defcending Lord ! 5 Grace unequalled ! Love unknown ! . Jefus lays afide his crown, Cloaths himfelf with flefli and blood. Takes the manhood into God. 6 Hardened rebels tho' we are, Lo, he comes to fojourn here : See him lie where oxen feed, This his chamber, hay his bed ! 7 God (O hear it with furprife 1) For a manger leaves the fkies. By alTuming flefti beneath, „ Render'd capable of death. 8 From their maker turn'd afide. As in Adam all have dy*d. So whoever his grace receive. Shall in Chrift be made alive. ^ HYMN XII. [nankfgivtnpf or general Mercies. i.'6RACIOUS Creator, thy kind hand In all thy works I fee ; Refiftlefs pow'r andmildeft love Are blended, Lord, in thee. When thou art wrath and hid'fl; thy face. The whole creation mourns j Thou art the attractive pole to which Thy ranfom'd people turns. O let my heart be wholly thine. Thy property alone ! No longer let me think it mine, Or call myfeif my own ! 4 Without Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subje5f5, ^6i 4 Without referve I quit the claun, And give up all to thee, For thou, my all-fufficient Lord, Art more than ail to me. 5 Only do thou refine my drofs, And cleanfe me with thy blood, To make th' imperfed: facrifice Acceptable to God. 6 Nor (liall I fear, if Jefus pleads, Unworthy as I am, Being excluded from the feaft, And fupper of the Lamb. HYMN XIIL Tbankfgivingfor the Rigbteoufnefs of Cfjrift, 1 FOLTNTAIN of never ceafing grace, Thy faint's exhauftlefs theme. Great objed of immortal praife, Effentially fupreme ; We blefs thee for the glorious fruits Thy Incarnation gives ; The righteoufnefs which grace imputes. And faith alone receives. 2 Whom heaven's angeHc hoft adores. Was flaughter'd for our fin, The guilt, O Lord, was wholly our's. The punifhment was thine : " Our God in fleih, to fet us free. Was manifefted here ; And meekly bare our fins, that we. His righteoufnefs might wear. 3 Imputatively guilty then ^ Our fubftitute was made. That we the bleffino-s might obtain For which his blood was llied : Himfelf he offer'd on the crofs, Our forrows to remove ; And all he fuffer'd was for us, And all he did was love i Vol. VL (33.) A a 4 la % 362 - Juvenile Poems on Sacred SuhjeBs, 4 In him we have a rlghteoufnefs. By God himfelf approved, Our rock, our fure foundation this. Which never can be mov*d. Our ranfom by his death he paid. For all his people giv'n. The law he perfectly obey'd. That they might enter heav'n. 5 As all, when Adam finn'd alone. In his tranfgreflion dy'd, So by the righteoufnefs of one. Are finners juftify'd. We to thy merit, gracious Lord, With humblefl joy fubmit, * • Again to Paradife reflor'd. In thee alone complete. 6 Our fouls his watchful love retrieves. Nor lets them go aftray. His righteoufnefs to us he gives. And takes our fins away : We claim falvation in his right. Adopted and forgiv'n, His merit is our robe of light, His death the gate of heav'n. ^YMN XIV. thankfgivingfor the Sufferings of Chrifi. 1 O THOU who did'fl thy glory leave, Apoftate finners to retrieve, From nature's deadly fall ; Me thou haft purchased with a price, * Nor (hall my crimes in judgment rife, Fqj thou haft borne them all. 2 Jefus was punifh'd in my ftead. Without the gate my furety bled. To expiate my ftain ; On earth the Godhead deign'd to dwell, And made of infinite avail, The fuif 'rings of the nian. q And Juvenile Poems on Sacred Siibjeds. ^6^ 5 And was he for his rebels giv*n ? He was : th* incarnate King of heav'n] Did for his foes expire -, Amaz'd, O earth, the tidings hear; He bore, that we might never bear. His Father's righteous ire. (. Ye faints, the man of forrows blefs. The God for your unrighteoufnefs. Deputed to atone : Praife him 'till with the heav'nly throng, Ye fing the never-ending fong. And fee him' on his throne. HYMN XV. The General Thank/giving in the Liturgy^ paraphrafed. . ETERNAL God, the thanks receive. Which thine unworthy fervants give -, Father of evVy mercy thou. Almighty and all-gracious too ! , In humble yet exulting fongs, Thy praifes iffue froaj our tongues. For that inceflant, boundlefs love. Which we and all thy creatures prove. Fafliion'd by thy creating hand. And by thy providence fuftain'd. We wifli our gratitude to (hew. For all thy temporal bleflings due. But O ! for this we chiefly raife The incenfe of admiring praife — Thy love unfpeakably we own Which fent the willing Saviour down. For him, of all thy gifts the bed, Th' exceeding gift which crowns the reft. Chiefly for him thy name we laud. And thank thee for a bleeding God. Nor fbould we fail our Lord to praife, For all the affifling means of grace ; Th' appointed channels which convey Strength to fupport us on our way. A a 2 7 To 364 Juvenile Poems on Sap'ed Suhje5ls. 7 To thee let all our thanks be giv'n. For our well-grounded hope of heaven. Our glorious truft that we fhall reign> And live with him who died for man. 8 And O ! fo deep a fenfe imprefs Of thy fupreme unbounded grace. That anthems in full choir may rife, And (liake the earth and rend the fkics t 9 Make us in deed, as well as word. Shew forth the praifes of the Lord, And thank him ftill for what he gives Both with our lips, and in our lives I 10 O that, by fm no more fubdu'd. We might devout ourfelves to God, And only breathe to tell his praife. And in his fervice fpehd our days 1 J I Hail, Father ! Hail, eternal Son \ Hail, facred Spirit^ three in one ! Bleffing and thanks, and pow'rdivine> Thrice, holy Lord, be ever thine t P A R A- PARAPHRASES ON SELECT PARTS OF HOLY WRIT. Sanftos aufus recludere Pontes. PARA. I. Pfalm CXLVIII. ♦ I . r^ EN'RAL pralfe to God be glv'n 5 vJT Praife him in the height of heav'n ; Him, ye glorious hofts, proclaim. Saints and angels, blefs his name ! 2 Sun, his lofty praife difplay. His who made thee king of day : Moon, adore the god of light, God, who made thee queen of night, 3 Stars, your tribute too be giv'n, *. Spangles in the robe of heav'n : God, your awful fpvereign, own. Bright forerunner of the morn. 4. Praife thou curtain of the fky, (Hiding heaven frorn mortal eye) Him that fpreads thy watVy clouds^. Celebrate the God of gods. 5 Higheft heav'n, his dwelling place. Lift thy voice, refound his praife. Hymn " the dweller ev'ry where," Prefcnt more fupremely there. Aa 3 6 Sua 366 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeEls, 6 Sun and moon, and flars and light, Heav'n and fky, and clouds unite : Verbal creatures of the Lord, ^ Swift exifting at his word. 7 *Stabli(h'd firm by his command, Lo ! immoveable, we ftand ; Him, th' ineffable adore, Own his regulating pow*r. . 8 Womb and fepulchre of man. Join, O earth, the grateful train : Praife, 'till, in the laft great fire, ' Thou and all thy works expire. 9 Ocean, with thy numerous brood. Swell to magnify thy God : Roll his praife from (bore to (hore, Lift his name and found his pow'r. lOv Praife him, fire and hail, and fnow, Praife him, all ye winds that blow : Cold and heat — let each extreme Join to render praife to him. 1 1 Storms difpenfing wafte and death. Dreadful meflengers of wrath ; Spread his fear and praife abroad, Weapons of an angry God. 12 Mountains, vales, and hills, and trees, Tell how good your Maker is ^ His exalted praife declare, Feather'd fongfters of the air. 13 Beads of prey, where'er ye prowl. Join to make the concert full : ♦: Cattle, low Jehovah's fame ; Meaneft infeds, do the fame. 14 Kings and people, rich and poor. Celebrate creating pow'r ; Who are ranfom'd by the Lamb, Join to praife the great I AM. . 15 Female, male of ev'ry age. From the fuckling to the fage. All confpire with one accord, ^ Chaunt the glories of the Lord, 16 Worthy Jtivenile Poems on Sacred SubjeSis. 3-67 1 6 Worthy praife can ne'er be giv'n, *Till his faints arrive at heav*n, There, with all the glorious ones. Sing his praife and caft their crowns. PARA. II. Names of Chrijl^ exprejfive of his Offices^ taken from various Parts of Scripture, 1 LOW at thy feet, O Chrift, we fall. Enabled to confefs, And call thee by the Holy Ghoft, The Lord our righteoufnefs, 2 God over all Immanuel reigns. With his great Father one ; The brightnefs of his glory thou, And partner of his throne. 3 Author and finifher of faith. In all that know thy name ; % A lion to thy flubborn foes, But to thy friends a lamb. 4 Sceptre of Ifrael, prince of peace. Immortal king of kings : The fun of righteoufnefs that fliines With healing in his wings. 5 The gift of God to fallen itian. The Lord of quick and dea .1 : A well of life to fainting fouls. And their fuftaining bread. 6 Foundation of thy people's joy. Their pardon and their reft ; On earth our facrifice for fin. In heay'n our great high prieft. 7 The Lord of life, who fuffer'd death That we might heav'n regain : The fource of bleffing, who, on earth,^ Was.made a curfe for man. 8 Was poor that Adam's needy fons Treafure in thee might find ; Repairer of the dreadful breach^ Reftorer of mankind. A, a 4 9 Througli 368 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeUs. 9 Through thy defeit a fallen race To God may gain accefs ; With thy fine linen deck our fouls, Thy perfect righteoufnefs. 10 With that celeflial robe endued, We evVy foe defy; On earth it (hall our armour be, Our glory in the fky. PARA. III. The Prayer of King ManaJJes para- phrajed. 1 AUTHOR of all in earth and fky. From whom the ftars derive their light. When thou art wroth the planets die, And melt as nothing in thy light. 2 Meafur'd by thine almighty hand, Urifathom'd feas of liquid glafs, Obedient, own thy high command, And keep the bounds they cannot pafs. 3 Shut up by their reftraining Lord, '' They in their proper channels flow: ' Obey Jehovah's fovereign word, ' " Here, and no farther^ (hall ye go." 4 Thy terrors as a blazing flame, Devour and weigh the finner down: The mighty tremble at thy name. And nations quake beneath thy frown. ^ Tremendous as thy judgments are. Thy pity too no limit knows ; > Thine arm is ilretch*d the meek to fpare. And terribly confume thy foes. *■ 6 With fl;iame, great God, I own with me, Thy waiting mercy long hath borne, ^ Yet would I not come back to thee. Proudly refufing to return. 7 When mercy call'd I ftopp'd my ear. How did I from the Saviour rove, ■• And, bent on death, refufe to hear ' The voice of thy inviting love ! 8 Blind y^tvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeElSs 369 8 Blind were my eyes, and hard my heart, And proof againft thy ftriving grace : I would from thee, my ftrength, depart, And ceafe to walk in wifdom's- ways. 9 But lo 1 On thee I fix my hope ; Be thou my friend and advocate : Gracious Redeemer, lift me up. And raife me to my firft eflate. 10 Faith in thy merit is thy gift, By which thou doft backiliders heal : Impart it, gracious Lord, to lift My abject foul from whence I fell. I 11 Defhrudiion fhall not feize the juft, Whofe fm already is forgiv'n, Whom thou haft reicu'd from the loft. And number'd with the heirs of heav*n. 12 To fmners, of whom I am chief. Thy healing promifes pertain ; Who fell from thee through unbelief. By faith may be reftor'd again. 13 Of boundlefs mercy I have need. My fms have took deep hold on me; In number tliey the grains exceed, That form the maro-in of the fea. . o 14 Meek on the earth thy fervant lies. And humbly makes his forrows known ; Unworthy to lift up my eyes To heav'n, my injur'd Maker*s throne. 15 Bow*d with my fenfe of fin, I faint, ' Beneath the complicated load ; " Father, attend my deep complaint, I am thy creature, thou my God ! 16 The' I have broke thy righteous \n^\ • Yet with me let thy fpirit ftay ; Thyfelf from me do not withdraw, Nor take my fpark of hope away. 17 Mercy unlimited is thine, • God of the penitent thou art ; The faving pow'r of blood divine, . Shall wipe the anguifli from my heart. - - 18 TheK 370 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeHs. 1 8 Then let not fin my ruin be, Give nie in thee my reft to find : Jefus, the fick have need of thee. The great phyfician of mankind. 19 In my falvation. Lord, difplay The triumphs of abounding grace : Tell me my guilt is done away, And turn my mourning into praife. 20 Repriev'd fo long from hell's abyfs, Thou wilt not hurl me there at laft. But chear me with the fmile of peace, Nor look at my offences paft. 21 Then (hall I add my feeble fong To their's who chaunt thy praife on hlgli, And fpread, with an immortal tongue, Thy glory through the echoing iky. PARA. IV. The xxth Pfalm. 1 BELOV'D of God, may Jefus hear The ardent breathings of thy pray'r. And cancel thy tranfgreffions 3 Be with thee in afili6lion*s day. Redeem thee from thy fears, and fay Amen to thy petitions ! 2 Thy ev'ry need he will fupply ; His faints Ihall furely find him nigh. The God whom they rely on j He will not turn away his face, ^ But fave thee from his holy place. And fend thee help from Sion. 3 Thy feebleft prayV (hall reach his throne. Thy ev'ry pang is noted down. And thou fhall be forgiv'n i He loves thee, troubled as thou art i And all the pantings of thy heart Are treafured up in heav'n. 4 God is our triumph in diftrefs i His children's privilege it is To fmile at tribulation ; Jefus, Juvenile Poems on Sacred SuhjeSls, 37 x Jefus, to thee we lift our voice. By grace enabled to rejoice. In hope of thy falvation. 5 Ready to hear, O Lord, thou art. Mighty to take thy people's part. And help them in aftiidion : Creation kneels to thy command, The faving ftrength of thy right-hand, Shall be our fure proteiftion. 6 In chariots fome repofe their truft, ' Of horfes others make their boaft. But we In God are ftrono-er : Who on the arm of flefli rely, Trembling before our face (hall ily, When we fliall more than conquer. 7 Still may the palm to us be giv'n, ; Thy faints, O mighty king of lieav'n. Continue to deliver : Support us with thy flrength'ning grace, ^Till we, in yon celeftial place, Sit down with thee for ever. PARA. V. Pfalm cxix, Verfe 169, to the End, 1 CONSIDER, Lord, my juft complaint, ^ Wifdom divine is what I want ; From lack of knowledge. Lord, I groan : O when (hall I my God put on ? 2 O let my fupplication rife, - As fumes of incenfe to the fkies. Enter Jehovah's high abode. The prefence chamber of my God. 3 When I am truly taught thy ways, . My lips fhall only fpeak thy praife ; My tongue fhall ling of thee alone. And tell the wonders thou haft done. 4 Affift me in thy love to ftand. And hold me by thy guardian hand : Help me to choofe the lot of grace, The way of life, tlie path of peace. .- ' .. 5 Lord, 37^ Juvenile Poems ^n Sacred Subjeds, ^ Lord, I have long*d thy will to know. And, knowing, all thy will to do : My meat and drink is thee to pleafe, And know the Saviour as he is. 6 Tho', as a (heep, I went aflray, And wander'd from thy holy way : The way that Chrift my mafter trod, The narrow way that leads to God : 7 Sought out by grace, brought back I am^, Sav'd by the merits of the Lamb ^ And now, O Chrift, myfelf J fee, Li Adam loil, reftor'd to thee. PARA, VL The cxxift Pfalm. 1 MY heart, whene'er I lift my eyes To heaven's exalted fphere, Wing'd with impetuous ardour flies. To meet thee in the air. 2 Jefus by faith I ever fee. Who for the finner pleads. And ev'ry moment look tq thee. From whom my help proceeds. ^ The great artificer of heav'n, • My guard and keeper is, Who, by his fpirit inly giv'n, AfTures me I am his. 4 Where'er I go he guides my fteps, Nor fufFers me to fall : Ifrael's defence, who never fleeps, Surrounds me as a wall. 5 In my Redeemer's watchful fight. Secure I ever ftand ; My guard by day, my fcreen by night, My fliield on either hand. 6 Knit to my condefcending God, I dwell with the Supreme ; Nor open force nor fecret fraud. Shall fever me from him. His Jtivmle Poems on Sacred SubJeSIs. ^j^ 7 His light, his peace, his hcav*n is mine. And mine his mighty pow'r: My faithful centinel divine, Preferves me ev'ry hour. PARA. VII. The cxxxivth Pfalm. 1 YE friends and followers of God, With robes made white in Jefus' blood, Approach the throne of grace : His temple's hallow'd court draw nigh. By day and night renew the cry, And found the trump of praife. 2 With ardour lift your hearts and hands; In yonder heav'n Immanuel (lands To offer up your prayVs : . From Sion he your fouls (hall blefs ; Builder of heav'n and earth he is, And dwells above the ftars. PARA. VIII. r/je iwth Chapter of Amos. 1 YE Kine of Bafhan, who devour The needy and opprefs the poor. Who drown in wine your every I'enfe, And drink the fpoil of violence. 2 God by his holinefs hath fvvorn (The awful God whofe law ye fcorn) ^ Your foes, whom more than him ye dreaa^ Your deftin'd borders (hall invade. -3 The Lord hath ratify'd your doom, Yourfelves and your's he will confume^ Aliens his inftruments (hall be, To fcourge your vile idolatry. 4 Your (lately buildings then (hall fall ; His vengeance (hall deftroy them all. Your palaces (hall be a prey, And (lalls for oxen in that day. 5 Shall guilty hands and wanton eyes Be lifted up in facrifice ? Ceafe to tranfgrefs, and then my ear Shall meet the incenfe of your pray*r. • 6 la 374 juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeHs, 6 In vain my judgments are abroad. Tokens of an offended God ; Nor wrath nor mercies can prevail. Nor Jove of heav'n, nor fear of hell. 7 T gave you, in your greateft need, Clcannefs of teeth, through want of bread ; Each face was pale, and weak each knee, Yet have ye not returned to me. 8 Have I not marr'd the rip'ning grain, With fcorching heat and wantof rain ? And fruftrated your rifing hopes, By withered trees and blafbed crops ? 9 Your water filil'd, your wells were dry ; Your thirfh ye could not fatisfy: Your fainting cities yet finned on. And drew my fiercer judgments down. 10 Your figs and olive trees I fmote, Your vineyards I confumed with drought j Mildew and palmer-worms bereft The earth of what the drought had left, 1 1 Contagious ficknefs next I fent : (Infatuate Egypt's punifhment) My fury next in blood I pour'd, And gave your children to the fword* 12 Horfes (the ruin who can tell?) PrOmifcuous with their riders fell : Caus'd by their ftench, the infedtious air Increased the havock of the war. 13 Obdurate, ftill, ye felt mine ire Reveal'd from heav'n in flames of fire j The blazing ruin fwept away Men, towns and cities in a day : 14 Hear then the meffage of the Lgrd, The awful thwnder of his word ; Since all my judgments flrive in vain, To kindle fear in ftubborn man. 15 Myfelf in judgment fh all appear. And call thee, Ifrael, to my bar : 4 Jwucnile Poems on Sacred StibjeEls. 3^; As hardened Pharaoh blind and proud. Prepare to meet thy hollile God. 16 Prepare to meet your dreadful foe, Omnifcient and Almighty too ; Whofe terrors heav'n and earth proclaim, The God of glory is his name. PARA. IX. Pfalm cxix. Verfes i^i, 162, 163, 164, ^c. to the i6^tb, 1 PRINCES have perfecuted me, But, Lord, my truflis flill in thee ; Me from my hope they fought to move, But could not ftir me from thy love. 2 I fly for refuge to my Lord, For comfort to his healing word : From Saul my fafe retreat he is, And all the troublers of my peace. 3 Each palling hour difplays his care ; He faves me from the latent fnare : His love with wonder I lurvey. And praife him feven times a day. 4 Jefus, my mind from earth withdraw;. Great peace have they that love thy law : No precept there which thou haft giv'n. Is hard to them who ftrive for heav'n. ^ I too have look'd thy health to fee, And tafte the peace that comes from thee; Each inward luft have ftrove to kill. And walk in all thy perfed: will. 6 My foul hath lov'd thy ways and thee. Thy word is life and health to me : Exceedingly thy word I prize, The fund whqre heav'nly treafure lies. 7 Thy teftimonies are my food. The faving oracles of God : Studious of them on earth I'll be^ And then fly up to reign with thee : PARA. 37^ Juvenile Poems on Sacred Suijecff. PARA. X. Salvation recovered for Man by Jefus ChriJI, IfaiahYu. i, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 15. 1 ZION, awake, put on thy ftrength, Refume thy beautiful array; The promis'd Saviour comes at length. To chafe thy guilt and grief away : Thee for his purchafe God fhall own^ And fave thee by his dying Son. 2 Jerufalem, be holy now» Satan no more fhall dwell in thee ; Waflb'd from thy fm, and white as fnow, Prepare thy God made man to fee j Prepare Immanuel to behold, And hear his peaceful meiTage toldi 3 Shake off the dull, arife with fpeed. Too long haft thou a captive been; Redemption's near, lift up thine head. And caft away the chains of fin ; Forth from thy prifon come, and fhake The yoke of bondage from thy neck. 4 Tho' ye have fold yourfelves for nought, And forfeited your claim to heav'n, Accept the Saviour's love unbought s Your treafon now is all forgiv'n ; My blood the fallen race reftores. And faves without defert of your's. 5 Ye defart places, fing fot joy ; Loft man, your hymns of wonder raife; Let holy fhouts invade the Iky, And ev'ry altar flame with praife s For I, Almighty to redeem. Have comforted Jerufalem. 6 My arm's made bare for your defence. To fave my Church from Satan's pow'r, Depart, depart, come out from thence. Defile yourfelves with fm no more : Be pure ye priefts, who preach my word. And bear the veflels of the Lord. 7 Look Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeEU< 377 7 Look out and fee Immanuel come, Myrld.ds to fprinkle with his blood ; He many nations fhall bring home. And fave them from the wrath of God : And earth's remotefl bounds ihall fee The great falvation wrought by me. PARA. XL ne viiith Chapter of Hofea. 1 SET the loud trumpet to thy mouth. Let all the final warning hear ; My everlafting word of truth, To high and low alike declare. 2 Swift, as the rav'nous ^agle flies. And darts, impetuous on her prey. Shall their vidtorious enemies. Fill Ifraers land with pale difmay. 3 Then fliall they cry to me in vain ; Tho' afk*d with tears, no aid I'll grant, Becaufe they did my words difdain, And trample on my covenant. 4 Me for their God they will not have. Therefore I give them to the fword : Your foes commifTion fhall receive, T' avenge my quarrel, faith the Lord. 5 Sin is the God whom they adore, ^ And hell-born lufts their rulers are : Th* apoftate land (liall feel my pow'r. The fury of deftrudive war. 6 Go, to your gods, O Ifrael, go ! Samaria to thy calf apply ! Thy idols cannot help thee now. Nor fave thee when diilrefs is nigh. 7 When wilt thou turn to me thy God ? When wilt thou feek my injured face? 'Till then my wrath fhall drench in blood. The hardened, unbelieving race. 8 Ye fools and bhnd, confider this. Can they be gods which hands have made? On you and on your images, rU hurl the ruin I have faid. Vol. VL (33.) B b 9 Who 37^ Juvenile Poe-ms on Sacred Subjects, 9 Who fow in fin fhall reap in pain ; My word fliall furely come to pafs : Un-number'd mifchiefs 3^et remain. For thofe defpifers of my grace. 10 To punilh their apoftacy. The corn (hall perilh ere it rife; Or what comes up fhall only be A portion for their enemies. 11 For ItVael waxes worfe and worfe, Nor quakes at my tremendous frown, Famine and war unite their force. To bring a fmful people down. 12 Before the heathen Ifrael flies, His boafted ftreiigth is weaknefs found : As when a broken veffei lies. Slighted and ufelefs on the ground. 13 Ephraim is up to Syria gone, In all the confidence of pride : Alas, he goes to war alone, Jehovah is not on his fide. 14 Ephraim in vain the King of kings. With condefcending pity woo'd : The fatal love of earthly things. Has drawn him from the love'^of God. 15 The fierce invaders to repel, Tho* they have foreign aid obtained. Yet (hall th' ungrateful nation feel. The weight of my avenging hand. 16 Since Ephraim hath difguifec' his fin. Beneath religion's fpecidus forms, His very prayer Qiali be unclean, And haftcn to bring on the florm. 17 In vain I gave my gracious law. The treaiure of my written word y No beauty there the worldlings faw. Nor priz'd the meflage of the Lord. r8 Wherefore their cry 1 vviil not hear, Nor yet accept their ^facrifice ; Unpardoned fin pollutes their prayV,^ Nor lets it penetrate the fkies. 1 9 In Juvenile Poems on Sacred Suhje^S. 375I 19 In Egypt they again fl;all weep; ril vifit their iniquity : Their fins 1 will in memory keep, Becaufe they have forgotten me. 10 In vain they fence their cities round. In forts and ramparts put their truft: Their lofty fpires ihall kifs the ground, • By lightening levei'd Vv'ith the duft. PARA. XII. The cxxvth Pfalm. i WHO, Lord, confide in thee. And in thy faith endure. Shall as Mount Sion be, Immoveable and fure: As Chrift their rock, unOiookj unmov'd 5 Of Qod^sternally belovM. 1 The rifing mountains ftand Around Jerufalem ; So God's almighty hand,. Guards us who truft in him : We never will of fafety doubt, While he fliall compafs us about. 3 Ye foiils who ftand in- God, Whom Jefus' blood hath bought, Theguiity finner's rod Shall never be yoiir lot : Ye fhall not fail, upheld by grace. Nor put your hands to wickednefs. 4 The upright men in heart, Jehovah will defend ; Will not from them depart. But love them to the end : He will do well, O faints, tayou. The Lord will never let you go. 5 But fuch as will forfake. The happy path of peace. Deceivers, that turn back To their own wickednefs, B b 2 The 3 So Juvenile Poems on Sacred Suhje£is^ The double wrath of God fhall feel. And fink unpardoned into hell. 6 While they who hear his call, And plead a Saviour's blood. Shall reign in joy with all The ranlom'd ones of God r Peace upon Ifrael fliall come, To endlefs glory gathered home. PARA. XIII. Lord's Prayey.. Matthew Vu 9, icv II,. 12, 13. 1 OUR holy Father, all thy win We fain would perfectly fulfil; But each has left thy law undone,. Unworthy to be called thy Son. 2 Who art in heaven, enthroned on higlv Diffufing glory through the iky ; Reigning above, on earth rever'd, By laints belov'd, by finners fear'd. o For ever hallow'd be thy name. The Triune God, the bright I Am^ At which feraphic choirs and all The hofts of heav'n adoring fall. 4 Thy kingdom come, e'en now we wait Thy glory to participate : Rule in our hearts, unrival'd reign, Nor e'er withdraw thyfelf again. J Thy will, thy law, thy precept giv'n. Be done on earth, as 'tis in heav'n i Faithful as angels, fain would we With cover'd faces wait On thee. 6 Great God, on whom the ravens cfy,. For fuflenance, our wants fupply : Give us this day, and evermore. Oar daily bread from hour to hour. 7 Forgive whate'er we do amifs, Our wilful (ins and trefpalTes, As we forgive (reward us thus) All them that trefpafs againfl us. k And Juvenik Poems on Sacred Subje^ls. 38 1 S And lead us not by bounty's tide. Into temptation, luft or pride : But what by mejxy we obtain, Let pow'r omnipotent reftrain, 5 And O I deliver us thine own From evil and the evil onQ^ Who fain his darts in us would flieath. And bind us with the chains of death. 10 Thou, Lord, can'flvanquifh his dcfign. Thine is the kingdom, only thine; The pow*r, th* eternal majefty. And glory, appertain to thee ! PARA. XIV. rhe\xmdPfalm, 1 O GOD, my God thou art. My Father too by grace ; I dare not from my hope depart. Or ceafe to feek thy face : My thirfby fpirit pants Thy plenitude to prove. And comprehend with all thy faints^ The fulnefs of thy love, 2 In this dry, barren land. Where water is not found, I fain would fly to thy right hand. Where living dreams abound : Thee, thee, I long to know, Athirft for God I am. And come to thee as needy now I As when at firfh I came. 3 Thy glory and thy pow*r J long again to fee. To have again, as heretofore, Sweet fellowfl-jip with thee ; Again to feel thy peace, Again thy name to praife : fetter than life thy favour is, To all that know thy grace. B b 3 4 With $82 Juvenile Poems on Sacred Siibje5is» 4 With perfevering hope, '>. Thy mercy I'll proclaim. My hands in fteady faith lift up. And magnify thy name. Thy praifes Fli reveal, *Till I from earth remove, My mouth .with joyful lips fhall tell The wonders of thy love. ^ Surely I rea;fon have ) Qn thee, my God, to truft; My life thou lifteft from the grave. My fpirit from the duft : ' Thy grace and boundlefs might My theme by day (hall be. My glory in the filent night. To meditate on thee. 6 My fuccour thou haft been When evVy helper failed. Or I, ere now, had fell by fin. And Satan had prevail'cl ; '' My foul, redeemed from death. To thee her offering brings, And hides her helplefs head beneatt^ The covert of thy wings. 7 Thou keep'ft my fteady feet, In" thy appointed road ; By all the powers of hell befet, I follow after God : In Jefus I am fafe, My caftle of refort ; His hand is both my fhield and ftaff. My fhelter and fupport. 8 The men who feek to tread Thy faithful people down, And perfecute, in them, their Head, And crucify their Son, Thou, Lord, will furely foil In thy avenging day. And give their bodies for a fpoll To ev'ry beaft of prey. 9 But Juvenile Poems on Sacred SnbjeBs, 383 But me, and all who love Thy worfhip and thy ways, Thou far from danger wilt remove, And hide us in thy place : Who fpeak the words of truth. Thou, Lord, on them fliall fmile, But thou wilt flop the liar's mouth, And flay the fons of guile. PARA. XV. Pfalm cxix. From the 40th Ferfe ig tbe\^gth. LET thy loving mercy, Lord, Come alfo unto me ; Now according to thy word, My prefent Saviour be : Unbelievers then no more Shall againft my hope blafpheme j Forced to own *' the mightv pow'r Of God hath refcu'd him.'* In thy word my truft I place. And humbly urge my claim, 'Till I of thy faving grace, A living witnefs am : Give me. Lord, thyfelf to know, Then in me thy word fulfil, To walk in all things here below, According to thy will. Seeking now in fliedfaft faith, I wait a word from thee ; Bring my feet into the path Of perfect liberty; Then, when I the path have found, ' Un-afliam'd thy truth Til fliew : Kings (hail hear the joyful found. And feek falvation too. ^^> ^ 4 ^y 384 Jttvenile Poems on Sacred Suhjedis: 4 My delight is in thy word Which I have lov*d of old, Dearer is thy promife, Lord, To me than mines of gold : Up to thee my hands I lift, 'Till I of thy grace receive j Give the never changing gift. Thy full redemption give, j OCCASIONAL OCCASIONAL. PIECES ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS. John xi. 26. JVhofoever liveth and believeth in me JJjall never die. Quid fibi Saxa cavata^ Quid pulchra volunt Monumenta, Nili quod Res creditor illis Non mortua, led data Sommo ? Pru». ■} EPITAPH I. On Mrs. E. B. IF Candour, merit, fenfe or virtue dies. Reader, beneath thy feet dead virtue lies Yet flill (be lives, if worth can eternize. Lives far above the reach of death : But where ? in heav'n, and ev'ry heart that knew her here. Vain are encomiums ; praife is idly fpent On them whofe actions are their monument. Thrice facred tomib, be loyal to thy truft. And guard, till Chrift revives her hallow'd dull: Then, as a faithful fteward, fafe reflore The precious treafure thou muft keep no more, EPITAPH II. On Mr. G. Walton. 1 THE debt of nature I have paid. Which thou muft (liortly pay: To learn inftruQion from the dead. Thou breathing taper, flay. 2 Swifter than thought thy years depart, My verle proclaims their hafte : A moment nearer death thou art. Than when you read the lad. 3 Soon 386 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SuhjeBs, 3 Soon mud thy earth to earth be giv'n, Soon muft thou'difappear : Say, reader, is thy heart in heav'n, And is thy treafure there ? 4 Like thee the proftrate dead I view'd. While in the flefh detain'd : How differ we? thou 'rt on the road, I've reached my journey's end. EPITAPH m. On the Death of Mrs, F. T. June 3, 1754. Heb. iv. 9. There remaineth therefore a Refifor the People of God, I THE robes of light our fifter wears, Which emulate the fun. Should caufe us to fufpend our tears, And make our anthems rival their's Whc5 ftand before the throne, c Glory to him whofe love conflrains. And faves us by his blood : By virtue of his dying pains. She finds the reft that ftill remains, For ev'ry child of God. 3 In fiery trials day by day Undiaken did fhe fland; To glory fweetly made her way. Meek and refign'd as pafTive clay. In her great Potter's hand. 4 Her woes their period have found. They cannot now enfiave, Nor come where endlefs joys abound, Nor haunt her peaceful foul beyond The limit of the grave. j Vidori'jus (he affumes the wreath, For conquerors defign'd. The end of p^rfevering faith ; And leaves h^r cares, released by death, Eternally behind. 6 No jfuvenik Poems on Sacred SubjeEls^ 387 |5 No more, by Satan's rage purfu'd, Affliftion (halt thou fee ; Secure of lieav*n for thine abode, Bleft with the prefence of thy God, To all eternity. 7 The happy change that life deny'd, Afiifhing death affords; Behold her at Immanuel's fide. Unutterably glorify'd. Immutably the Lord's ! 8 O may we too maintain our ground. From faith to faith go on ! At the laft day in Chrift be found. And form the circles that furround. His everlafling throne 1 EPITAPH IV. On the death -of Mr. Enoch Williams, Auguft, 1757- Gen. V, 24. And Enoch walked with God, he was mt, for God took him. I HEARKEN! the Saviour's voice at laft Invites his fufferer home, And tells thee all thy toil is paft, But thy reward is come. % Till meet for blifs on earth detain'd, The conqueft thou haft won ; Through much temptation thou haft gain'd The prize, and reach'd the crown : 3 While (liouting angels chaunt their joys, And tune their notes the higher. And clap their wings, for O ! thy voice, Is added to the choir. ^ Of his inheritance above They hail a faint pofteft : Made meet, by his Redeemer's love. To be Jehovah's gweft, 5 Swift 388 Jirjenile Poems on Sacred Snhje5is, 5 Swift as an arrow through the air. The tow'ring fpirlt flies, Intrufted to a feraph's care. And convoy'd to the ikies : 6 On the expanded wings of love. He feeks his high abode. To meet the happy fouls above. That are brought home to God. 7 Him they falute with lifted cry. As foon as entered there, ' *' But for thy favoured miniftry^ Or we had not been here : 8 From pain to glory fummon'd forth, Thrice welcome from below, Our fellow-fufferer on earth, Our fellow angel now !'* 9 While humbly he draws near the throne, The Saviour's chryftal feat ; Gives him the praife, and cafts his crown, At his redeeming feet. 10 Lifted above the reach of pain. We foon (hall change oyr place ; And join Immanuel's (hining train. And fee his blifsful face : 11 Rejoicing in that glorious hope, We bear his crofs below; We quickly fhall be taken up, Sublimer joys to know. 12 For our arrival into blifs, Our friends in glory wait : Cut (hort thy work in righteoufnefs. And make their joys compleat ! 13 The happy foul whom Jefus gives. In him to live and die. Its bled tranfition fcarce perceives Into eternity. , 14 A fight of him that conquer'd death. In our laft moments giv'n. Shall elevate our languid faith. And charm us into heav'n. I j Chrift Jin^enile Poems on Sacred Siibjeth. 389 15 Chrlft when expiring Stephen view'd. He fcorn'd death's utmoft pow'r. And cahnly fell aileep in God, Am'.dfl the ftony fliowV. 16 Aflift us, Lord, to walk and live. In Sion's heavenly road. And then our fouls to thee receive^ When call'd to meet our God. 17 A little while and we (hall foar To yonder promis'd land, And meet our brethren gone before^ Enthron'd at thy right hand: 18 Thy praife fliall aduate each tongue. Thy love our hearts enflame ; And we with them fhall fing the fong Of Mofes and the Lamb. EPITAPH Y. On Mafter Eustace Bateman, I HAIL, happy youth, fo early taicen home. Caught up to Jefus from the ill to come : By thy Redeemer fweetly ordered hence. Ere vice had' marr'd thy lovely innocence, % When twice fix winters he had fcarcely feen. His heav'n-born foul difdain'd to dwell with men: Ardent the crown eternal to receive. And ripe fo^r heav'n, he only dy'd to live. EPITAPH VI. On the Death af the Rev. Mr.R.B. Numbers xxiii. 10. Let me die the Death of the Righ^ tevKS, and let my laji End belike his, I THRICE happy they who fleep in God^ Securely wafted o'er the flood. To Canaan's peaceful fliore !" Whofe lives were as a daily death. Who walk'd with God, and liv'd by faith. And now fhall die no more 1 1 Such, gracious Lord, we wilh to be ; Such was our paftor, now wit^i thee,. Oor ^9^ Juveuik Poems on Satred StthJeSfs, Ourcandleftick below : A b jrnlng arid a Qiining light. He liv'd a while to blefs our fight. But Ihines in glory now. 3 A Prophet hallow'd from the womb. To feek and bring the wand'rers homCi- Anointed, let apart : Enabled by the fearchingword. To fet the meffage of the Lordj Home to the finner's heart. 4 His ev'ry pow'r devoted was To further his Redeemer*s caufej Nor did his talents hide: A beacon fet upon an hill, He liv'd to do his Mailer's will, He did his will, and dy'd. 5 A faithful meflenger he ftood. The trumpet and the mouth of God^ To make his counfcl known : His life one conftant voice hath been^ Inviting finners to come in, And afk^th' eternal crown. 6 May I like him my hours employ, FiniQi, like him, my courfe with joy. And fleep to wake in blifs ! Like him be numbered with the blefl: ! Jefus regard my one requeft, Make my laft end like his. EPITAPH VII. On the Death of Mr. R. V^ Bel?, vi. 12. Be notjlothfuh but Followers of them wBo^ through Faith and P alienee y inherit the Promijes, I THE crown of righteoufnefs is giv'n^. Our friend is landed fafe in heav'n ; His warfare now accompli (h*d is, And face to face his Lord he fees. % Forever now redeemed from pain. He did not run nor ftrive in vain : With triumph from his clay released, Tranflated to his place of reft^ 3 Ear Jttvenile Poem^ on Sacred Subjetls. 391 2 Ear hath not heard, nor eye beheld, What to the faints is there reveal'd; BHfsful experience only knows. The glories of the upper houfe. 4 Far, far from all diftrefs removed, They know the God whom here they lov*d : Temptation, ficknefs, grief and care. Shall never gain admiflion there. 5 Then let us feek, in fredfaft faith, A city tlTat foundations hath: Our bright, immoveable abode, Whofe glorious architecl: is God. 6 There we iLall all our pain forger. And only fongs of praife repeat ; In knowledge, happinels and love. To all eternity improve. 7 There we fliall as the angels fliine. The martyr's noble army join; And fee the Lamb (thrice blifsful fight !) ^ Encompafs'd with his faints in light. 8 When fnali we to our joy be giv'n ; O when exchange this earth for heav'n ? And caft our crowns before the throne. And worfhip him that fits thereon ? 9 When (liall we hear th' inviting word^ And be for ever with the Lord ? A day with Chrift in glory there. Is better than a thoui'and here. 10 Holy and true, call in thine own. Accompli (h. Lord, their number foon :• U^ to thy fecond coming feal. And with thyfelf for ever fill ' AN APPENDIX. Conjijiingoffeverai Pieces, not properly reducible to any of the preceding Heads. 1 T OOK back, my foul, and take a vieW^ -■— ' Of Chrlft expiring on the 'tree : Behold thy Saviour breathe his laft. To buy eternal life for thee ! Thy Jefus faints — 'Tis finifli'd, cries. Reclines his facred head, and dies. 2 Shadows and types are done away. The temple's veil is rent in twain ; Vanifh, ye emblematic rites, The real vi6tim now is flain j Is flain for fmners to atone, The prieft and fieri fice in one. 3 Methinks I fee the purpled earthj Startle to feel its Maker's blood ; The fun retires, and from their graves. Saints rife to hail their dying Lord : Each fympathiiing rock appears More tender than his murderers. 4. And did the Saviour thus exchange His throne of glory for a crofs ? Left he for this th' ethereal court. To die a painful death for us ? For us he bled at ev'ry vein, And, flain by man, for man was flain. 5 Obdurate Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subjecls. 393 5 Obdurate heart, fliall mountains heave. And nature mourn her bed belov'd, Shall the rocks tremble at his voice, And 1 alone abide unmov'd ! Shall T not weep his death to fee, Who wept in tears of blood for me ? 6 O Prince of martyrs, touch my heart. There at thy mighty ftandard reft; Burn purifying incenfe there, , ^-^it it for fo divine a gueft : Tijcre ler thv pow rful crois refide, 'Till ev'ry luft is crucified. II. To a Friend zvho afked what God is', 1 IS there a man whofe daring hand. Can number ev'rv o;rain of fand ? Can count the drop;; that fill the fea. Or tell how many ilars there be } 2 Who, then, (hail fkrive to comprehend Infinity that knows no end } Who (liall let bounds to boundlefs pow'r,' Reftrain omnipotence, or low'r Eternity to one poor hour .f^ 3 Believe me, friend, thou can'fc no more The vaft defigns of God explore. Than thy fhort arm can touch the ikies. Or fathom ocean's deep abyfs. 4 Who (hall diiclofe his Maker's plan," Or dare his fecret will to fcan ? Shall feeble, guilty, finite man ? 5 None but perfedllon, fuch as his. Can know th' Almighty as he is ; His glory never can be brought Adapted to a mortal's thought. 6 Conlider Vv^hat thou art, and fear This unfeen witnefs always" near. Dive not into his deep decree : The object's too elate for thee. Thou muft not aik^ nor wiHi to fee. Vol. VI. [11,) Cc Cafl } } } 394 Juvenile Poems on Sacred SubjeSls, Cafi each prefumptuous doubt away ; "j Remember thou'rt, at bed, but clay, > Whofe only province is t' obey. J III. Isaiah xlix. 16. Behold ^ I have graven thee on the Palms of my Hands, 1 REDEEMED offender, hail the day That fees thy fm forgiv'n : Jefus hath borne thy guilt away And pkads for thee in heav'n. 2 Imprinted on his hands thou art In charaders of blood ; The ilream that iffu'd from his heart Shall waft thee fafe to God. 3 For me vouchfaf'd th' unfpotted Lamb, His Father's wrath to bear: I fee his feet, and read my name Engraven deeply there. 4 Forth from the Lord his gulhing blood In purple currents ran : And evVy wound proclaim*d aloud • His wond'rous love to man. 5 My faith looks back and fees him bleed % A thorny crown he wears, To fet upon the fmner's head A ihining crown of flars. 6 Saviour, I fain would take the wreath, To thee, my center, move, In all the lowlinefs of faith, In all the heights of love. 7 Thy righteoufnefs my robe (hall be. Thy bitter death my hope : For my offence upon the tree My Lord was Ufted up. 8 For me the Saviour's blood avails. Almighty to atone : The hands he gave to piercing nails Shall lead me to his throne. IV. PillL. Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subjecis, 395 IV. Phil.Iv. 5. Be careful for nothing. CAN my heav'n-born foul fubmit To care for things below ! Nay, but never from the feet Of Jefus may I go. Anxious, Lord, for nothing here, In ev'ry ftraight I look to thee^ Humbly cafh my ev*ry care. On him that cares for me. Godlinel's is greateft gain, For that alone 1 pray ; Lard, I never would complain, Give thou or take away : Never would I grieve for ought, So Chrifl: is mine and I am his ^ I would ne'er by taking thought, Obftrud my inward peace. He fliall dv/ell in perfect reft Whofe mind is itay*d on thee. Whom to keep within my bread. My only care fliall be ; View the lilies of the field, '1 hey grow, but neither toil nor fpin. By their Maker's arm upheld. Who cloaths the earth with green. See the ravens, day by day, ; Their Maker gives them food. Lions, roaring for their prey, Do ^eek their meat from God : Lean thou on his faithful word, Nor, by diftruft, provoke his wrath, Cafl thy burden on the Lord, O I'hou of little faith. -^ ^ Will the Saviour (who thy peace At fuch a price hath bought) From his work of mercy ceafe And fell thy life for nought ? C c 2 Doubting 39 6 Juvenik Poems on Sacred SuhjeBs, Doubting foul, to him look up. His ears are open to thy cry ; God fhall recompence thy hope, And all thy need fupply. 6 Thou haft promised help to thin^. And I believe the word ; I will never afk a fro-n, Nor daie to tempt the Lord : *Tis enough for God to fay, ril feed my people with my hand ; Heav'n and earth fhall pafs away, But his decree (hall ft and. V. Judgemmt, 1 BEHOLD, the awful day comes on. When Jefus on his righteous throne. Shall in the clouds appear : With folemn pomp fhall bow the fky. And in the twinkling of an eye. Arraign us at his bar. 2 But nrft th' archangels trump fiiall blow. Our fcatterM duft it's voice (hall know. And quicken at the found j The fea ftiall then give up her dead. And nations, ftarting from their bed^ Shall cleave the op'ning ground. 3 Who fliall fuftain his righteous ire. When Jefus fets the clouds on fire. And makes the earth retreat i*^ ' In vain fhall finners then repent. When each expiring elemenr. Shall melt with fervent heat. 4 The dead in Chrift (liall firft awake. The faithful few, who for his fake. On earth were juftifyVl : Guarded by a feraphic band. Aloft they mount to his right-hand. In whom they liv'd and dy'd. 5 See Juvenile Poenis on Sacred Sulyecls, 397 5 See next the guilty crowd arife. Beholding, with relut^ant eyes. The glories of the Lamb, While taunting fiends impatient wait. To hurl them from the judgment feat, To hell's eternal flame. 6 Hark ! as they mount, by devils borne. To meet their judge, on earth their fcorn, Defpairingly they cry, ** Fall on us rocks with all your load, "" And fcreen us from tlie wrath of God, " And hide us from his eye." 7 In vain on rocks and hills ye call, The rocks fhall from their baiis fall. And know their place no more : The hills fhall melt when God comes down, And mountains crumble at his frown. And groan beneath his pow'r. S What thought can paint their black defpair, Who this tremendous fentence hear, Irrevocably giv'n, ■''Depart ye curfed, into hell, *' With evertafting burnings dwell, " Remote from me and heav'n ?'' 9 But O thou Saviour of mankind, Difplay thy pow'r, and to the blind Effedual light aflR:)rd : Snatch them from unbelief, And now compel them to come in, And tremble at thy word. 10 Methinks I hear thy mercy plead, The voice of him that wakes the dead Doth over finners mourn : " Why do ye ftill your God forget, *' And madly haften to the pit ^' From whence is no return ? 11 '' Ye reafoners, make the wifeft choice j ' " Liften, in time, to reafon's voice, S^ Nor dare almighty ire : ^ c 3 *' Turo'^ ^ 398 ^^uvenDe Poems on Srrcred Subje5is. " Turn, left my hottcft wrath ye feel, *' And find, too late, the flames of hell *' No metaphoric fire.** V I . Contempt of the World. 1 CAN ought below engrofs my thought ? Or am 1 to the world confined ? Nay, let my pure affedions foar To objecfts of a nobler kind 1 2 I know I'm but a pi]grim here, That feeks a better, promis'd land : Then may T run and never tire, Till that celeftial home's obtained. 3 Refolv'd to tread tl>e facred way That Jefus water'd with his blood, I bend my .fixed and chearful courfe Through that rough path my mafter trod, 4 Contemptuous of the world I live, . A daily death rejoice to die : And, while I move and walk below. My abfent heart mounts up on high. 5 O light of life, ftill guide my fteps. Without thy friendly aid I ft ray : Lead me, my God, for I am blind, Dired me, and point out my way, 6 Let the vain world applaud or frown. Still may I heaven's path purfue : Still may I ftand unftiook, and keep The center of my hopes in view ! 7 Tho' Satan, earth and lelf oppofe', Yet, thro' thy help, I'll perfevere ; To Canaan's hills my eyes lift up, And chufe my lot and portion there. - 8 The way that leads to glory lies Through ill-report, contempt and lofs; Affift me to deny myfcif, To follow thee and bear thy crofs. 9 Let Satan never come betvv'cen. Nor feparate my God from me ; But may my foul, in ev'ry ftorm, Find a fure refting place in thee. Juvenile Poems on Sacred Subje6ls, 399 VII. 1 DYING Redeemer, flaughter'd Lamb, Thou pour'dfl out thy blood for me y O may I, kindled by thy flame, As freely give myfelf to thee ! My heart to thee I now refign. For, Lord, it cofl the blood of thine ! 2 To fave my falling foul from death, Th* immaculate Redeemer dy'd ; Lord, my offences drove the nails, The foldier I, that piercM thy hde : For this my reftlefs eye runs o'er, Becaufe I can lament no more. 3 How gladly Ihould my head have worn, The crown of thorns to hinder thine ! Have fuffer'd in my mafter's ftead, And made thy dying forrows mine ! Have ftretch'd my arms upon the tree, And dy'd myfelf to refcue thee, 4 But O ! no other facrifice. The Father's juftice could appeafe ; Ten thoufand worlds had dy'd in vain. Thy blood alone could buy our peace : The God offended muft be flain. To expiate the offence of man. 5 And ihail I not his crofs take up Who dy'd upon a crofs for me ? Jefus, through good and ill report, I, in thy ftrength, will follow thee. My mafter liv'd defpis'd, abhorr'd. And I am not above my Lord. VIII. Life and Immortality brought to Light by the Gof[)eL I HOW bled am I ! no fnare I fear, While Jefus keeps his dwelling here : His prefence chaces death away. Enlivening with continual day, C c 4 2 By 400 Juvenile Poems on Sacred StibjeEls, 2 By Satan's rage I (land unfliook, My hopes are founded on a rock : .Chrifl: is' the ftone on which I build. My caftle, guardian, helmet, Ihield ! IX. To the Rev. Mr. E. W, March, iJS7* SOLDIER of the living God, Steward of the myftic word, Ufe the gifts on thee beftow'd To the honour of thy Lord. Free thou didfh from him receive, Man of God as freely give. Clad v/ith zeal as with a cloak. Boldly urge thy rapid way -, Firmly grounded as a rock. Faithful in the trying day : Stand in Chrift thy fure abode, Safely hid with him in God. Li Immanuel's ftrength go forth. Loud his dying love proclaim, Uarfe the feeble fons of earth. Conquer in his faving name : March with Jefus for thy guide. Go, for God is on thy fide I Bear the ftandard of the Lord, Fight thy captain's battles well ; With the fpirit's tvvo-edg'd fword," Put to flight the hofts of hell : Single thou thy foes (Ijall chafe, Arm'd with all the ftrength of grace. Satan and the world may join. Hell and death with thee engage j Strong thou art, in ftrength .divine,' ■ Safe amidft their blackcft rage : Jefus Qiall thy foul confirm. Lift tiiee up above the ftorm. Vainly iliall the blinded crew Strive thy prQgrefs to withftand , Thee they never Ihall fubdue. Guarded by the Saviour's hand ; God Juvenile Poems on Sacred SuhJeSls. 401 God hath fald concerning thee, '' As thy day thy ihength .hall be.'* J But if Joius (hou'd depart, For a feafon ceafe to fmile. Proving what is in thine heart. Leave thee to thyielf a while, He again thy ftay will prove, Bear thee ia hi? arms of love. 8 When thou do'fh in lecret pray'r^ Find, a ready, free accefs. When thou tellefl all thy care. Sweetly at the throne of grace. Me to Jefus then commend. Think upon thy diftant friend ! 9 Dauntlefs thou hh word proclaim. Tell his meffage to mankmd ; Bid ihem, in thy mafter's name, Afk the pearl for thofe delign'd; Tell them, Jefus will redeem All that come to God by hmi. 10 Faithful to thy facred truft. Thus from ftrenath to ft-eni?th so on; Stay the vveak, bring back the \'A\, Labour 'till thy work is done : Fight and conquer, end tne ftrife, Enter on eternal hfe. X. Thess. v. 24. Faithful is he that c. . --^ icho aljo vjill do it. 1 FICKLE and changeable man, Terrefl/ial joys are juft as vain. And periih in the tafting j But Jefus* truth I cannoc fear. His gifts without repentance are, His love is everl-^ilmg. 2 Mercy unchangeaoie is his. Eternal as himleif i" is. Nor will his promife fail me : I own t.x token he has given. And fteadily prefs on to heav'n, * Tho' fiends and men alTail me. 402 juvenile Poems on Sacred Subje&s, 3 He never will from me remove ; For me the Saviour pleads above. Still making interceffion : I hear his pray'r, I feel his blood. Kept by the mighty pow'r of God, Throu2:h faith unto falvation. 4 His fpirit for that end is giv*n. To bear unhurt, "^ unfl:ain*d, to heaven. The foul of each believer : Deputed by the Lamb he is. To comfort, guard, and ftrengthen his. And ftay with them for ever. ^ Through him united to the Son, Unalienably fealed his own. Nor earth, nor hell (liall move me : From conquering I *to conquer go; Jefus hath lov'd me hitherto. And to the end will love me. 6 Bent to devour the ferpent fhands. But Chrifl: from his own mighty hands Will never let him force me : My Maker is my hufband now, Nor heights above, nor depths below. Shall from my Lord divorce m.e. 7 If, for a feafon, Satan's chain Be lengthen'd, Jefus will fuftain Me in the fore temptation ; Will fruftrate the accufer's hope, And bear my ranfomVl fpirit up Above the inundation. 8 His name alTuredly I prove Eflential faithfulnefs and love ; Shall 1, by doubting, grieve him ? My foul he with a price hath bought. His law within my heart is wrote, And I fliall never leave him. TO TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, Modernized from the Office for Ordination. HYMN I. To the Holy Spirit, &c. 1 /^OME, Holy Ghoft, our fouls infpire, ^^ And warm with uncreated fire ! Thou the anointing fpirit art, Who doft thy feven-fold gift impart : Thy bJeiTed undion from above Is comfort, life, and fire of love. 2 Enable with perpetual light The duUnefs of our blinded fight ; Anoint and chear us, all our days. With the abundance of thy grace ; Our foes convert, give peace at home : Where thou art guide, no ill can come. 3 Teach us to know the Father, Son, ■ And- thee ; a Trinity in one : That, thro' the ages all along. This may be our endlefs fong ; Praife to thy eternal love. Father, Son, and myfi:ic dove ! HYMN II. A ContemplatiGn, fuggejied by Rev. vii. 9 1?- I I SAW, and lo 1 a countlefs throng Th' eledl of ev'ry nation, name, and tongue, Affembled round the everlafi:ing throne i With 404 Hymns 7vritten on Sacred SubJeSfSy With robes of white endu'd (The righteoufnefs of God) ; And each a palm fuftain'd In his vi6lorious hand ; When thus the bright melodious choir begun : *' Salvation to thy nair.e, ** Eternal God, and co-eternal Lamb, " In pow'r, in glor}', and in effence, one 1" So fung the faints, th' angelic train, Second the anthem with a loud Amen. . (Thefe in the outer circle ftood. The faints were neareft God) ; And profhrate fall, with glory overpow'r'd, And hide their faces with their wings. And thus addrefs the King of kings : " All haii^ by thy triumphant Church ador*d I ** Biefling and thanks and honour too ** Are thy fupreme, thy everlafting due, " Our tri-une, fov'reign, our propitious Lord !" While I beheld th' amazing fight, A feraph pointed to the faints in white. And told me who they were, and whence they came: " Thefe are they, whofe lot below Was perfecution, pain, and woe : Thefe are the chofen purchased flock, Who ne'er their Lord forfook ; Through his imputed merit, free from blame ; R.edeem'd from ev'ry (In ; And, as thou feeft, whofe garments were n^adc clean, Wafli'd in the blood of yon exaltec} Lamb. Sav*d by his righteoufnefs alone, Spotlefs they ftand before the throne, And in th* etherial temple chaunt his praife ^ Himfelf among them deigns to dwell, And face to face his light reveal : Hunger and third, as heretofore. And pain, und heat, they know no more ; Nor and particular Occajions. 405 Nor need, as once, the fun's prolific rays, Immanuel, here, his people feeds, To ftreams of joy perennial leads, And wipes, for ever wipes, the tears from ev'ry face.** Happy the fouls released from fear, - And fafely landed there ! Some of the fliining number, once, I knew. And traveird with them here : Nay, fome (my elder brethren now) Sat later out for heav'n ; my junior faints, below ; Long after me, they heard the call of grace. Which wak'd them unto righteoufnefs. How have they got beyond ! Converted laft, yet firft with glory crowned \ Little, once, 1 thought that thefe Would firft the fummit gain. And leave me, far behind, flow journeying thro* the plain ! Lov'd, while on earth ; nor lefs belov'd, tho* gone j Think not I envy you your crown ; No; if I could, I would not, call you down, Tho' flower is my pace, To you I'll follow on. Leaning on Jefus all the way. Who, now-and-then, lets fall a ray Of comfort from his throne. The Q^inings of his grace Soften my paflage thro' the wildernefs. And vines, nedtareous, fpring, where briers grew .; The fweet unveilings of his face Make me, at times, near half as blefl as you. O might his beauty feaft my raviih'd eyes, His gladd'^ning prefence ever flay, And chear me all my journey thro' 1 But foon the clouds return ; my triumph dies y Damp vapours from the valley rife. And hide the hill at Sion from my view. Spirit 40 6 Hymns written on Sacred SubJeSfs, Spirit of light, thrice holy dove, Brighten my fenfe of int'reft in that love Which knew no birth, and never Ihall expire ! Electing goodnefs, firm and free. My whole falvation hangs on thee, Eldeft and faireft daughter of eternity. Redemption, grace, and glory too, *^ Our blifs above, and hopes below, > From her, their parent-fountain, flow ; J Ah, tell me. Lord, that thou haft chofen me 1 Thou, who haft kindled my intenfe defire, Fulfil the will) thy influence did infpire. And let me my election know ! Then, when thy fummons bids me come up higher, Well-pleafed I fhall from life retire. And join the burning hofts, beheld at diftancc now. HYMN IIL Happinefs found. I HAPPINESS, thou lovely name, Where's thy feat, O tell me where ? Learning, pleafure, wealth, and fame, All cry out, " It is not here :" Not the wifdom of the wife Can inform me where it lies, Not the grandeur of the great Can the blifs, I feek, create. a Objedt of my firft defire, Jefus, crucify*d for me 1 All to happinefs afpire, Only to be found in thee : Thee to praife, and thee to know, Conftitute our bhfs below ; Thee to fee, and thee to love, Conftitute our blifs above- 3 Lord, and particular Occaftons, 407 3 Lord, It is Dot life to live. If thy prefence thou deny ; Lord, if thou thy prefence give, 'Tis no longer death to die : Source and giver of repofe. Singly from thy fmile it flows ; Peace and happin^efs are thine ; Mine they are, if thou art mine. 4 Whilfl I feel thy love to me, Ev'ry obje6l teems with joy ; Here O may I walk with thee. Then iato thy prefence die ! Let me but thyfelf poiTefs, Total fum of happinefs ! Real blifs I then fhall prove ; Heav'n below, and heav*n above. HYMN IV. Affarmn. 1 ENCOMPASSED with clouds of diRrefs, *• Juft ready all hope to refign, \ pant for the light of thy face. And fear it will never be mine : Difhearten'd with waiting fo long, I fink at thy feet with my load ; All plaintive I pour out my fong, "^ And ftretch forth my hands Unto God^ 2 Shine, Lord, and my terror (hall ceafe. The blood of atonement apply ; And lead me to Jefus for peace, The rock that is higher than I : Speak, Saviour, for fweet is thy voice,- Thy prefence is fair to behold j • I thirft for thy fpirit with cries And groanings that cannot be tpld, 3 If fometimes 1 ftrive, as I mourn. My hold of thy promife to keep. The billows more fiercely return, And plunge me again in the deep ; While 4o8 Hyfnns loritt'en on Sacred Subje^s; While harratsM, and cafl from thy fight, The tcn-.pter fuggetts, with a roar, " The Lord hath torfaken thee quite, . Thy God will be gracious no more/* 4 Yet, Lord, if thy love hath defign'd No covenant blefling for riie, Ah, tell me, how is it I find, Some fweetnefs in waiting for thee ? Almighty to refcue thou art ; Thy grace is my only refource; If e'er thou art Lord of my heart, Thy fpirit mud take it by force. HYMN V. The Method of ' Salvation: 1 THE Father we blefs, Whofe diflingui (hi ng grace, Seleded a people to fliew forth thy praife; Nor is thy love known, By election alone ; For, O thou hail added the gift of thy Son. 2 The goodnefs in vain. We attempt to explain, Which found and accepted a ranfom for men ; Great furety of thine Thou didft not decline, To concur with the Father's mofl gracious defign. 3 To Jefus our friend. Our thanks (hall afcend. Who faves to the utmoft, and loves to the end ; Our ranfom he paid, In his merit array'd We attain to the glory for which we were made. 4 Sweet fpirit of grace, Thy mercy we blefs, For thy eminent fliare in the council of peace ; Great and particular Occajions, 409 Great agent divine, To reftore us in thine, And caufe us afrelh in thy likenefs to fliine. 5 O God, 'tis thy part, To convince and convert; To give a new life, and create a new heart ; . By thy prefence and grace, We're upheld in our race; And are kept in thy love to the end of our days. 6 Father, Spirit, and Son, Agree thus in One, The falvation of thofc he has mark'd for his own; Let us too agree. To glorify thee, Thou ineffable One, thou adorable Three. UYWt^ Yl. fhe evil Heart. 1 ASTONISH'D and diftrefs'd, I turn mine eyes within ; My heart with loads of guilt oppreft, The feat of every fin. 2 What crouds of evil thoughts, What vile affedions there ! Diftruft, prefumption, artful guile, Pride, envy, flavifh fear. 3 Almighty King of faints, Thefe tyrant lufts fubdue ; Expel the darknefs of my mind. And all my powers renew. 4 This done, my cheerful voice, Shall loud hofannas raife ; My foul fhall glow with gratitude. My lips proclaim thy praife. HYMN VII. Thy Kingdom come. I O WHEN fhall we, fupremely bleft, Enter into our glorious reil ! Vol. VI. (34.) Dd Partake. ^lo Hymns wriH en on Sacred Stibje 51 s. Partake the triumphs of the fK}^ And, holy, holy, holy, cry 1 a With all thy heav'nly hods, with all Thy blefled faints, we then (liall fall; And fing in extacy unknown. And praife thee on thy dazzling throne, 3 Honour, and mujefty, and pow*r, And thanks and bleffings evermore ; Who doft through endlefs ages live. Thou, Lord, art worthy to receive. 4 For thou haft bid the creatures be. And ftill fubfift to pleafure thee ; From thee they came, to thee they tend, Their gracious fource, their glorious end \ HYMN VIIl. The Propitiation. THY anger, for what I have done, The gofpel forbids me to fear : My fins thou haft charg'd on thy Son ; Thy juftice to him I refer : Be mindful of Jefus and me 1 My pardon he fuffer'd to buy; And what he procured on the tree. For me he demands in the Iky. HYMN IX. JJfurance of Faith. 1 A DEBTOR to mercy alone. Of covenant mercylfmg; Nor fear with thy righteoufnefs on, My perfon and off 'rings to bring : The terrors of law, and of God, With m.e can have nothing to do ; My Saviour's obedience and blood, Hide all m.y t ran fgrelTions from view. 2 The wdrk which his goodnefs began, The arm of his ftrength will complete ; His promife is Yea, and Amen, And never was forfeited yet : Thi nofs and particular Occafions. 41 1 Things future, nor things that are now. Not all thin9:s below nor above. Can make him his purpoie forego. Or fever my fdul from his love. My name from the palms of his hands. Eternity will not erafe : Impreft on his heart it remains, In marks of indelible grace ; Yes, I to the end fliall endure. As fureas the earned is giv'n ; More happy but not- more fecure, The glorified fpirits in heav*n. HYMN X. rothe BleJfed.Spirit. HOLY Ghoft, difpel our fadnefs. Pierce the clouds of finful night. Come thou fource of fweeteft gladnefs. Breathe thy life, and fpread thy light ! Loving Spirit, God of peace, Great diftributor of grace. Reft upon this congregation. Hear, O hear our fupplication. From that height which knows no meafure. As a gracious fliowV defcend ; Bringing down the richeft treafure, . Man can wifh, or God can fend ; O thou glory, lliining down From the Father and the Son, Grant us thy illumination ! Reft upon this congrega- ion. Come, thou beft of all donations, God can give, or we implore; Having thy fweet confolations. We need wifti for nothing more : Come with un6:ion and vv'ith pow'r ; On our fouls thy graces (howV; Author of the new creation, Make our hearts thy habitation. D d 2 4 Known 412 Hymns zvritten on Sacred Subjecfs, 4 Known to thee are all recelies Of the earth, and Ipreading' Ikies ; Every fand the (nore pofTefTes, Thy omnifcient mind defcries : Holy fountain, wadi us clean ; Both from error, and from (in 1 Let us fly what thou refufeft, And delight in what thou chufeft. 5 Manifeft thy love forever, Fence us in on every fide ; In diftrefs be our reliever ; Guard, and teach, fupport, and guide I Let thy kind, effedlual grace, Turn our feet from evil ways 3 Shew thyfelf our new creator. And conform us to thy nature. 6 Be our friend on each occafion ; God, omnipotent to fave ! When we die, be our falvation ; When we're buried, be our grave : And, when from the grave we rife. Take us up above the ikies ; Seat us with thy faints in glory. There forever to adore thee. HYMN Xr. Divhie Breathhm. o 1 I GROAN from (in to be fet free. From felf io be released ; O take me, take me unto thee. My everlaPdng reft ! 2 Come, O my Saviour, come away ! Into my foul defcend: No longer from thy creature ftay; ' My author, and my end 1 3 The blifs thou haft for me prepared. No longer be dtlay'd ; Come my exceeding great reward. For whom I firft was made. Thou and pari ictilar Occaf.ons. 413 Thou all our works in us haft wrought, Our good is all divine ; The praife of ev'ry virtuous thougiit And righteous work is thine. 'Tis not of him that wills or runs, That labours or defires ; In anfwer to my Saviour's groans, . Thy love my breaft infpires. The meritorious caufe I fee, That precious blood divine, And I, fince Jcfus dy'd for me. Shall live forever thine. HYMNXIL PfalmcxWn. i. 'T^S pleafant to fing, The fweet praife of our King, As here in the valley we move : 'Twill be pleafanter ftill, When we ftand on the hill, And give thanks to our Saviour above. HYMN XIII. Hebrews x. 19th verfe. We have Boldnefs to enter into the HoliefJ: by the Blood of Jejus. O PRECIOUS blood, O glorious death. By which the (inner lives ! When ftung with fin, this blood we view. And all our joy revives. We flourilh as the watered herb, Who keep this blood in light, The blood that chafes our diftrefs, And makes our garments white. The blood that purchased our releafe, And waQies out our fiains. We challenge earth and hell to (liew, A fm it cannot clean fe. D d 3 4 Ou^ 4H Hymns written on Sacred SubieEls^ 4 Our fcarlet crimes are made as wool, And we brought nigh to God : Thanks to that wrath appeafing death ; That heav'n procuring blood. 5 The blood that makes Ijis glorious Church From ev'ry blemifh free ; And, O the riches of his love ! He pour'd it cut for me. 6 Guilty and worthlefs as I am. It all for me was giv'n ; And boldnefs, thro* his blood, I have. To enter into heav'n. 7 Thither, in my great furety's ri^ht, 1 furely fliall be brought ! ^ He could not agonize in vain. Nor fpend his ftrength for nought. ■ 8 He wills that I and all his flieep. Should reign with him in blifs'- And povv^'r he has to execute, Whate'er his will decrees. 9 The Father's everlafting love, And Jefus' precious blood. Shall be our endlefs themes cf praife ; In yonder blefl abode. 10 In patience let us then pofTefs, Our fouls, 'till he appear : Our head already is in heav'n. And we fhall foon be there. HYMN XIV. A propitious Gale longed for, 1 AT anchor laid, remote from home. Toiling I cry, fweet fpirit come, Celeftial breeze, no longer flay. But fvvell my fails, and Ipeed my way. 2 Fain would I mount, fain would I glow. And loofe my cable from below ^ But I can only fpread my fail -, Thou, thou mufl breathe th' aufpicious gale. "hymn and particular Occafions. 41^ HYMN XV. All in AIL COMPARED with Chrlft, in all befid^ No comelin.is I fee: The one thing needful, deareft Lord, Is to be one with thee. The fenfe of our expiring love. Into my foul convey ; Thyfelf beftow; for thee alone. Myall in all I pray. Lefs than thyfelf will not fuffice. My comfort to reilore : More than thyfelf I cannot crave ; And thou canfh give no more. Love of my God, for him again. With love intenfe Til burn : Chofen of thee ere time began, I'll chufe thee in return. Whatever confifts not with thy love, O teach me to refign ; Vm rich to all th' intents of blifs, If thou, O God, art mine. HYMN XVI. IVeak Believers encouraged, ^ YOUR harps, ye trembHng faints, Down from the willows take : Loud, to the praife of love divine, Bid ev'ry ftring awake. " Tho' in a foreign land. We are not far from home. And nearer to our houfe above. We ev'ry moment come. His grace will to the end. Stronger and brighter fliine; Nor prefcnt things, nor things to come. Shall quench the fpark divine. Dd4 4Fa{len'd 41 6 Hymns zvritten on Sacred Subje^Is, 4 Faften'd within the vail, Hope be your anchor flrong ; His loving fpirit the fvveet gale. That wafts you fmooth along. 5 Or, (liould the fuvges rife, And peace delay to come ; Bleft is the forrow, kind the florm, That drives us nearer home. ' 6 The people of his choice, He will not caft away ; . Yet do not always here exped, On Tabor's Pvlount to flay. 7 When we in darknefs walk. Nor feel the heav'nly flame ; Then is the time to truft our God, And reft upon his name. 8 Soon fliall our doubts and fears, Subfide at his controul ; His lovins; kindnefs fhall break through The midnight of the foul. 9 No w^bnder, when God's love, Pervades your kindling breaft, You wi(h for ever to retain, The heart tranfporting gueft. 10 Yet learn, in evVy ftate. To make his will your own ; And when the joys of fenfe depart. To walk by faith alone. 1 1 By anxious fear deprefs'd. When, from the deep ye mourn, " Lord, why fo hafty to depart. So tedious in return !" 12 Still on his plighted love. At all events rely : The very hidings of his face. Shall train thee up to joy. WaiL and particular Occafions . 417 13 Wait till the fliadows flee ; Wait thy appointed hour : Wait, till the bridegroom of thy foul, Reveals his love with povv'r. 14 The time of love will come. When thou fhalt clearly fee, Not only that he flied his blood, But that it flowed for thee. 15 Tarry his leifure then, Altho' he feem to ftay : A moment's intercburfe with him. Thy grief will overpay. 16 Blefl: is the man, O God, That fiiays himfeif on thee 1 Who wait for thy falvation. Lord, Shall thy falvation fee. HYMN XVII. Chr'ifi the Light of his People, 1 I LIFT my heart and eyes to thee, Jefus, thou unextinguilli'd light, My guardian ftay and leader be, My cloud by day, my fire by night. 2 Glory of Ifrael, fliine within; Unfliadow'd, uneclips'd appear : '■'^With beams of grace exhale my fin ; Break forth thou bright and morning ftar. 3 The earth a tracklefs labyrinth is ; Be thou my thread and faithful clue ! Thy kingdom and thy righteoufnefs, The only objefts I purfue. 4 Light of the Gentiles thee I hail; Eflential truth, thyfelf impart! Spirit of light, his face reveal. And fet thy fignet on, my heart. 5 Thy office 'tis t' enhghten man. And point him to the heav'nly prize; The hidden things of God t* explain. And fliine the darknefs from our eyes. 6 Witnefs 41 8 Hymns written on Sacred SubjeBs^ 6 Witnefs of Chrifh within my heart. My int'reit in his love difplay; My int'refl in that better part, VVhich never can be torn away. 7 In bondage 'till thou fet me free, Fain would I know my part in him : The brighcnefs of his rifing fee, And bafkin thy meridian beam. 8 Shine then thou uncreated ray! If but a moment thou withdraw. That moment fees me go adray, That moment fees me break thy law. 9 The word and fpirit both confpire, To tell thy Church fhe is forgiv'n -, And lift her daily high'r and high'r, 'Till all her joys are crown'd with heav'n. 10 To that blefs'd realm of bright repofe. Thou wilt condudl my weary feet ; Where peace no interruption knows. And where my fun fliall never fet. HYMN XVIII. Leaning on the Beloved. 1 COURAGE my foul ; Jehovah fpeaks ; His promife is for thee : " I never will forfake nor leave The foul betroth'd to me." 2 The chearing v;ord, as heav'nly dew. My thirfty foul drinks in : Jefus commands me to rejoice. Who bore away my fin. 3 My Saviour*s ever watchful eye, Is over me for good : What will he not on me beftow. Who hath himfelf beflow'd ? 4 Me to enrich, himfelf he made Poor, and of no efteem : The fource, the true foundation, this. Of all my love to him. c Dear and particular Occafions. 419 5 Dear Lord, into thy faithful hands. My welfare I commit ; And to thy righteoufnefs alone, For fafety I retreat. 6 Sorrows and a^^onies and death. Thou didft endure for me, When all the fms of God's ele6l, Were made to meet on thee. 7 Tho' worthy, in myfelf, of hell. And everlafting (liame ; I cannot dread the frown divine. Accepted in the Lamb. 8 Still on thy merit, gracious Lord, Enable me to lean : Ever in thee may I be found. My hiding-place from fm ! 9 Exult my foul ; thy fafety Hands LTnfiiaken as his throne : His people's everlafting life Is founded on his own. HYMN XIX. Before Hearing. SOURCE of light and powV divine. Deign upon thy truth to ihine ; Lord, behold thy fervant ftands, Lo, to thee he lifts his hands : Satisfy his foul's defire. Touch his lip with holy fire ! Source of light and pow'r divine. Deign upon thy truth to fliine. & Breathe 420 Hymns written on Sacred SuhjeHsy 2 Breathe thy fpirit, fo fliall fall Undion fweet upon us all ; 'Till, by odours fcattcr'd round, Chrifh himfelf be trac'd and found; Then fliall ev'ry raptur'd heart, Rich in peace and joy depart : Source of light and pow'r divine, Deign upon thy truth to fliine. HYMN XX. A Morning Hymn. 1 CHRIST whofe glory fills the fkies, Chrift the true, the only light, Son of righteoufnefs arife. Triumph o'er the (hades of night ^ Day fpring from on high be near. Day flar in my heart appear. 2 Dark and chearlefs is the morn, Unaccompanied by thee ; Joylefs is the day's return, Till thy mercy's beams I fee : Till they inward light impart, Glad my eyes and Warm my heart. 3 Vifit then this foul of mine. Pierce the gloom of fin and grief. Fill me, radiancy divine; Scatter all my unbelief; More and more thyfelf difplay, Shining to the perfed day. HYMN XXI. A Chamber Hy mn. WHAT tho' my frail eye-lids refufe. Continual watching to keep, And pundual as midnight renews. Demand the refrefliment of fleep ; A and particular Occajions. 421 A fov'reign protedlor I have, Unfeen, yet forever at hand. Unchangeably faithful to fave ; Almighty to rule and command. 2 From evil fjcure and its dread, I reft if my Saviour is nigh. And fongs his kind prefence indeed Shall in the night feafon fupply ; He fmiles and my comforts abound. His grace as the dew fliall defcend, And walls of falvation furround. The foul he delights to defend. 3 Kind author and ground of my hope. Thee, thee, for my God 1 avow. My glad Ebenezer fet up, And own thou haft help'd me till now , I mufe on the years that are paft. Wherein my defence thou haft proved, Norv.'ilt thou relinquifh at lafb A fmner fo fignaliy lov'd. 4 Infpirer and hearer of prayV, Thou feeder and guardian of thine, My all to thy covenant care I fleeping and waking refign, ^ If thou art my fhield and my fun. The night is no darknefs to me. And faft as my moments roll on, They bring me but nearer to thee. 5 Thy miniftVing fpirits defcend. To watch while thy faints are afleep. By day and by night they attend, The heirs of falvation to keep ; Bright feraphs, difpatch'd from the throne. Repair to the ftations affign'd. And angels eled are fent down, To guard the eledt of mankind. 6 Thy 42 2 Hymns written on Sacred Sub) e 51 s, 6 Thy worfhlp no interval knows. Their fervour is flill on the wing; And while they protect my repofe, They chaunt to the praife of my king. 1 too, at the feafon prdain'd. Their chorus for ever fliall join ; And love and adore, without end. Their faithful Creator, and mine, HYMN XX.TL A Prayer, living and dying, I ROCK of ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myfelf in thee ; Let the water and the blood, From thy riven fide which flow'd. Be of fin the double cure, Cleanfe me from its guilt and powV. ^ Not the labours of my hands. Can fulfil thy laws demands : Could my zeal no refpite know, Could my tears forever flow ; All for fm could not atone. Thou m.ufh fave, and thou alone. 3 Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to thy crofs I cling; Naked come to thee for drefs, Helplefs look to thee for grace: Foul I to the fountain fly, WaQi me, Saviour, or I die. 4 While 1 draw this fleeting breath. When my eye-firings break in death; When I Ibar to worlds unknown. See thee on thy judgment throne ; Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myfelf in thee. HYMN and particular Occajions, 423 HYMN XXIII. To the Trinity. ETERNAL hallelujahs. Be to the Father giv'n. Who lovVi his own Ere time begun, And mark'd them out for heav'n. Anthems of equal glory, Afcribe we to the Saviour > Who liv'd and dy'd, That we his bride, Might live with him forever. Hail co-eternal Spirit, Thy Church's new Creator ! The faints he feals Their fear difpels, And fandifies their nature. We laud the glorious triad, The myftic one in eiTence ; 'Till caird to join The hofls that (hine In his immediate prefence. Faithful is he that promis'd. And Hands engag'd to fave us : The triune Lord Has pafs'd his word. That he will never leave us. A kingdom he aflign'd us. Before the world's foundation : Thou God of grace, Be thine the praife, And our's the confolation. HYMN 424 Hymns written on Sacred SubjeElSy HYMN XXIV. 2 Tim, i. 9. *' I^Vbo hath faved us and called us with an holy calling ; 7iot according to our works ^ but according to his own purpofe, and grace, which was given us before the world began.'* 1 HOW vafl the benefits divine. Which we in Chrid poiTefs, Sav'd from. the guilt of fm we are. And call'd to hoHnefs. 2 But not for works which we have done. Or fliall hereafter do ; Hath God decreed on finful worms, Salvation to befliow. 3 The glory, Lord, from firfi: to laft. Is due to thee alone j Aught to ourfelves, we dare not take. Or rob thee of thy crown. 4 Our glorious furety undertook To fatisfy for man, And grace was given us in him. Before the world began. 5 This is thy Vvill, that in thy love We ever fliould abide, And lo, we earth and hell defy. To make thy counfel void. 6 Not one of all the chofen race. But (liall to heav'n attain; Partake on earth the purposed grace, And then with Jefus reign. 7 Of Father, Son, and Spirit, we Extol the three-fold care, Whofe love, whofe merit, and whofe powV, Unite to lift us there. HYMN and particular Occafions. 425 HYMN XXV. He hath borne our Griefs, i^c, 1 SURELY Chrift thy griefs hath borne. Weeping loul no longer mourn : , View him bleeding on the tree, Pouring out his life for thee s There thy ev'ry fin he bore. Weeping fouls lament no more. 2 All thy crimes on him were laid, , See upon his blamelefs head -, Wrath its utmofh vengeance pours, ^ Due to my offence and yours j Wounded in our ftead, he is Bruis'd for our Iniquities. 3 Weary finner keep thine eyes. On th* atoning; facrifice : There th' incarnate Deity, Numbered with tranfgrelTors fee ; There his Father's abfence mourns, Nail'd and bruis'd, and crown'd with thorns, 4 See thy God, his head bow down, Hear the man of forrows groan ! For thy ranfom, there condemned. Stripped, derided, and blafphem*d ; Bleed the guiltlefs for th' unclean. Made an oft 'ring for thy fin. 5 Caft thy guilty foul on him, Find him mighty to redeem : At his feet thy burden lay, Look thy doubts and cares away ; Now by faith the Son embrace. Plead his promife, truft his grace. 6 Lord, thy arm niuft be reveal'd, Ere I can by faith be heal'd 1 Since I fcarce can look to thee Caft a gracious eye on me ; At thy feet, myfelf I lay. Shine, O fliine, my fears away. Vol. VL(35.) Ee UYU)^ 4-^-6 Hymns zsoritten on Sacred SubjeBs HYMN XXVI. Faith in the Prmifes. 1 WHAT in thy love poflefs I not. My ftar by night, my fun by day ; My fpring of life when parch'd with drought> My wine to chear, my bread to flay ; My iirength, my fliield, my fafe abode. My robe before the throne of God. 2 From all eternity with love Unchangeable, thou haft me view'd Ere knew this beating heart to move^ Thy tender mercies me purfu'd ; Ever with me may they abide. And clofeme in on ev'ry fide. 3 In fuff 'ring be thy love my peace. In weaknefs be thy love my pow'r : And when the ftorms of life fliall ceafe, Jefus in that important hour ; In death as life, be thou my guide. And fave me, who for me haft dy'd. HYMN XXVII. Divine Aid. 1 THE pow'r of hell, the ftrength of fin, My Jefus fhall fubdue : His healing blood ftiall wa(h me clean, • And make my fpirit new. 2 He will perform the work begun, Jefus, the finners friend ; Jefus, the lover of his own. Will love me ti the end. 3 No longer am I now afraid. The promife (hall take place, Perfedl his ftrength in weaknefs made : Sufficient is his grace. 4 When thou doft in my heart appear. And love erc6ls its throne ; I then enjoy falvation here. And heav'n on earth begun. 5 Lord, and particiikr Occafwns, 4^7 Lord, I believe and reft fecure. In confidence divine ; Thy promife ftands for ever fure. And all thou art is mine, HYMN XXVIII. Almighty Power. WHAT tho' I cannot break my chain Or e'er throw off my load ; The things impoflible to men. Are poflible to God. Who, who (ball in thy prefence ftand. Or match Omnipotence ; Unfold the grafp of thy right-hand. And pluck the finner thence. Faith to be heal'd I fain wou'd have, O might it now be giv'n ; Thou canft, thou canft the finner fave. And make me meet for heav'n. Bound down with twice ten thoufand ties, Yet let me hear thy call ; My foul in confidence (hall rife. Shall rife and break through all. ^ ■ Thou canft overcome this heart of mine. Thou wilt victorious prove ; For everlafting ftrength is thine. And everlafting love. HYMN XXIX. Mercy experienced. I JESUS, what haft thou befto^'d On fuch a worm as me ; What compaffion haft thou Ihew d, To draw me after thee : Mindful of thy mercies paft. Still I truft the fame to prove. Still my helplefs foul I caft, On thy redeeming love. E e 2 Haft 428 Hymns zvriiten^cn Sacred SiibjeBs, 2 Haft thou not reversed my doom. Thou haft, and I believe > Yet I ftill a fmner come, That thou may' ft ftill forgive ; Wretched, miferable, blind, Poor, and naked, and unclean. Still that I may mercy find, I bring thee nought but fin. 3^ Open, Lord, my inward ear. And make my heart rejoice i ,. Bid my quiet fpirit hear. Thy comfortable voice : Silent am I now and ftill. Dare not in thy prefence move -, To my waiting foul reveal The fecrets of thy love. 4 Chrift hath the foundation laid. And Chrift will build me up ^ I (hall certainly be made, Partaker of my hope ; Author of my faith he is. He its finifher (hall be. Sovereign grace has fealed me his. To all eternity. HYMN XXX. Fervent Defire. 1 FATHER, I want a thankful heart, I w^ant to tafte how good thou art, To plunge me in thy mercy's fea. And comprehend ♦hy love to me ; The length and depth, and breadth and height, Of love divinely infinite. 2 Jefus, niy great high prieft above, My friend before the throne of love ; If now for me prevails thy prayer, If now I find thee pleading there. Hear, and my weak petitions join. Almighty advocate to thine. 1 O fo- and particular Occajwns, 429 3 O fovereign love, to thee I cry, Give me thyfelf, or elfe I die ; Save me from death, from hell fet free. Death, hell, are but the want of thee ; My life, my crown, my heav'n thou art, O may I find thee in my heart ! HYMN XXXI. Writtpi in Illnefs *, Pfalm civ. Ver. 34. *^ My meditation ofhimjhall be fweet,'' 1 WHEN languor and difeafe invade This trembling houfe of clay ; 'Tis fweet to look beyond our cage. And long to fly away. 2 Sweet to look inward and attend The whifpers of his love ; Sweet to look upward to the place Where Jefus pleads above. 3 Sweet to look back and fee my name In life's fair book fet down ; Sweet to look forward, and behold Eternal joys my own. 4 Sweet to refled how grace divine My fms on Jefus laid ; Sweet to remember that his blood My debt of fufFerings paid. 5 Sweet on his righteoufnefs to ftand. Which faves from fecond deJth j Sweet to experience day by day. His fpirits quickening breath. * The lateCountefs of Huntingdon had the original of this melli- fluous piece of poetry fent her by the Author. 1 he rrght honour- able lady Ann Erlkine gave herfelf confiderable trouble to procure it for the Editor, for which obliging politenefs and condefcenfion, he returns this public acknowledgement. ' E e 6 Sweet ].;^o Hymns written on Sacred Siibje^s 6 Sweet on his faithfulnefs to reft, Whofe love can never end ; Sweet on his covenant of grace. For all things to depend. 7 Sweet in the confidence of faith. To truft his firm decrees ; Sweet to lie paflive in his hand, And know no will but his. 8 Sweet to rejoice in lively hope. That when my change (hall come ; Angels will hover round my bed. And waft my fpirit home. 9 There (hall my dif-imprifon'd foul Behold him and adore ; ' Be with his likenefs fatisfyM, And grieve and fin no more. 10 Shall fee him wear that very flefh. On which my guilt was lain j His love intenfe, his merit frefh. As tho* but newly flain. 1 1 Soon too my llumb'ring duft (hall hear The trumpet*s quick'ning found ; And by my Saviour's power rebuilt. At his right-hand be found. 12 Thefe eyes fhall fee him in that day. The God that dy'd for me ; And all my rifing bones fhall fay^ Lord, who is like to thee. 13 If fuch the vie#s which grace unfolds Weak as it is below ; . What raptures mufl: the Church above In Jefu's prefence know. 14 If fuch the -fweetnefs of the flream. What muft the fountain be ; Where faints and angels draw their blifs, Immediately from thee. 15 O may and particular Occajidhs, 4 :; i 15 O may the undioi) of thefe truths, For ever with me flay ; 'Till from her finful cage difmifs'd My fj)irit flies away. HYMN . XXXII. ne Dying Believer to his Soul. : 1 DEATHLESS principle, arife ; Soar, thou native of the fkies. Pearl of price, by Jefus bought. To his glorious likenefs wrought, Go, to fhine before his throne ; Deck his mediatorial crown : Go, his triumphs to adorn i Made for God^ to God return. 2 Lo, he beckons from on high ! • Fearlefs to his prefence fly : '/ Thine the merit of his blood i Thine the righteoufnefs of God. 3 Angels, joyful to attend, Hov'ring, round thy pillow bend 3 Wait to catch the fignal giv'n, And efcort thee quick to heav'n. 4 Is thy earthly houfe diftrefh ? Willing to retain her guefh ? 'Tis not thou, but ilie, muft die : Fly, celeftial tenant, fly. Eurft thy fliackles, drop thy clay. Sweetly breathe ipyfelf away : Singing, to thy crown remove ; Swift of wing, and fir'd with love. ^ Shudder not to pafs the ftream : Venture all thy care on him ; Him, whofe dying love and pow'r "' Stiird its toffing, hufh'd its roar. Safe is the expanded wave -, Gentle, as a Summer's eve : E c 4 43 2. Hymns wisifUfi on Sacred SuhjeSfs, &c^ Not one objed of his care Ever fuffer'd fhipwreck there. See the haven full in view ! Love divine fhall bear thee through. •Truft to that propitious gale : Weigh thy anchor, fpread thy fail. •6 Saints, in glory perfed made. Wait thy paflage through the fhade : Ardent for thy coming o'er, See, they throng the blifsful fhore. Mount, their tranfports to improve : Join the longing choir above : Swiftly to their wi(h be giv'n : Kindle higher joy in heav*n. • Such the profpedls that arife. To. the dying Chriflian's eyes I Such the glorious vifta. Faith Opens through the (hades of death 1 INDEX. INDEX- N. B, The Roman Numerals refer to the Volume, and the Figures to the Page. A. ABBOT, Dr. George, Archblfhop ofCanterbury, joins with Sir H. S. in printing Bradwardin's Book againft Pelagian-* ifm, i. 189. A remarkable anecdote, retrieved and related by him, concerning the mifcarriage of Calvin's fcheme for a general union of the reformed churches, ii. 153, 154. ^ote. His character and account of P. Martyr's wife, 1 1. 190. no}e, Bertius's Book againft Final Perfeverance, fent to this Arch- bifhop, ii. 225, 2z6, The refentmerit conceived againft Ber- tius on that account, ilfi4r Remarkable paffage, concerning the extent of redemption, in a letter written to this Arch- r bifhop, by the Britifh divines at Dort, ii. 264, 265. , * Abbot f Dr. Robert, Biihop of Sarum, publicly cenfures Laud, Abraham, was juflified before he oftered up Ifaac, ii. 31. In what refpedt he was jufiified by work?, i. xxvi. ii. 29. 31, 122. 200. Accident, no fuch thing, v. 168. Accurfed from Chrift, what St. Paul meant by the wifh, iii. 432. Ack-worth, Mr. public orator of Cambridge; his public enco- miums on Bucer and Fagius, ii. 187, 188. Adam and Eve, neceflitarians antecedently to their fall, vi. 93. 94- Adheral, Mr. dies in pri^n*for the gofpel, li. 102. Ad'vent Sunday, a meditation upon it, iii. 441. ■ Adverjity, a good' teacher, iv. 163. Afflidions, the right improvement of, i. 278. Abfolutely ne-^ ceffary in the chriftian's lot, iii. 7. 119. Dealt out with an unerring hand, 108. Albigenjes and IValden/es, churches of, whence fo called, i. 138. Their great antiquity, 139. Abounded in moft parts of Europe, 140. Extrafts from their feveral confeiTions of faith, ibid. Severely perfecLUed by the church of Rome, 145. At the Reformation, had recourfe to Zuinglius and Calvin to fupply them with preachers, 146. Alexander 11 INDEX. Alexander VII. (Pope) fulminates againfl the dodrines of grace, i. 89, 90. Orders Janfenius's tomb to be demolillied, i. 80, 87. note. Alfred, his concealment in a fhepherd's houfe, ii. 374. The immortal inllitutor of juries, 377. Probability of his divid- ing England into ihires, 378. The diftribution of his time, and death, ibid, Ally frequent fcripture fignification of that term, i. xxviii. Allertofiy Mr. Ral{)h, the martyr, ii. 6z. Ahnfgi'vingy how enforced by the church of England, ii. 343, Alfopy Rev. Mr. fo^e account of, iv. 9 ^ AndrewSf Dr. Launcelot, BifliQp of Wmchefter, his high cha- rader of Calvin, ii. 12. Remarkable pafTages in his private devotions, 290, 191, note. Anecdote of the Bifhop of Clogher, ii. 44O. s and incidents, iv. 141 &c. Angels, the glorified fouls of departed infants feem to be called by that name in fcripture, i. xliv. ■ , fuppofed to bear an efpecial part in the folemnities of public worfliip, iii. 262. Aftte^lta, vi. 100. Ava/>?79, vi. 19. Avof/,nx.f vi, 100. ^ Antinomianifm confidered, iii. 40. The term often ufed hy way ofdeception, 185. Antipathies^ often founded in nature, vi. 136, 137. 41. note* Ato{ile\ Cfeed, hiftoryof, iii. 442. AppariiionSi fome fenfible and modefl reflexions upon the theory of, iii. 282, &c. Applaufe, popular, whether it can yield foiid fatisfa^lion to a truly great mind, vi. 306, &c. Appropriation of Chrill's merits, to one own {t\i in particular, requifite to the joy of faith, i. 298, 299. ii. 61. 129. 212. Aquinas (Thomas) a very wavering predellinarian, i. 97. AfTerts free will, together \vith the conditio Mere founds without fenfe, vi. 49. A vle^aaioVf J Azincourt, battle of, iii. 172. B. TiAlNHAM, Mr. the martyr, i. 223, 224. Support under the torments of fufferings, ibid. Baker, Sir Richard, his account of the fynod of Dort, ii. 270. Balcanqualy Dr. fent to Dort as a miniiler of Scotland, ii. 245. '262. Bale, Bilhop, the antiquarian, his account and vindication of Edward VI. i. c;6, 57. Bancroft^ Archbifliop of Canterbury, an excellent rule of his refpecting predeftinarion, i. 275, 274. ii. 239. Had an hand in the Lambeth articles, ii. 173. Waits on Queen Elizabeth in her laft illnefs, ii. 211. Baptijm, not a real bu^ a typical regeneration, i. 284. vi. 107. Sometimes attended with the renovating influence of the Holy Spirit, ihid. Curious baptifm adminiftered by Mr. Wefley, ii. 367. An acknowledgment of human finfulnefs, iii. 72. Baptifm of the dead, an illuftfation of it, 434. Definition of baptifm, vi. 108. 'Barber, Mr. a providential deliverance of his^ iv. 180. Barnabas, St. feme account of him, i. 1 r8, 119. Largely cited, 121. Barneid. By whom and for what invited to England, 313, 314. Made divinity profefror at Cambridge, il?id. Revifes and corrects the Englifh Liturgy, 314, 315. 348. Remarkable for his warm attachment to the doctrines and difcipline of the church of England, 344. Hi^ feniiments concerning predefti- nation, 316. His remarks on the obduration of Pharaoh, 317. AlTerts reprobation, 316. 318. 320. His dodrine of eIe(^ion and perfeverance, 319, 320. And of limited re- demption, 321. His death and funeral, 323. His bones dug up and burned in the reign of Mary, ii. 185 — 188. A great admirer of our church homilies, i. 346. \Vhether he held the merit of works, 345. His modell and candid apo- logy for retracing fome paft exprefTions of his, which had been mifmterpreted by certain merit-mongers, 346. His doc- trine of predellination bafely flandered by three Popifh doc- tors, ii. 185, 186. Remarkable honours rendered to hij , memory by Queen Elizabeth and the church of England, iS-. 188. Buckingham, INDEX. Ix Buckingham , Duke of (Charles the FirlVs favourite) beftt and watched by Jefults and Arminians, i. xxxiv. Was the perfon to whom Dr. Laud owed his promotion, ii. 273, 274. Bullinger, Bilhop Hooper's paning converfation with him, 1. 30S. Concerned in drawing up the larger Helvetic con- fellion, ii. 130, 13!. More of him, i6c. 166, 180, 181. His Decades ordered to be iludied by Englilh clergymen, i8i, 182. Bullsy Papal, i, 72. 76. 88, 89, 90. 92, 93. Bunyariy Mr. John, a reply of his, iv. 148. Burgh, Mr. his converfation on natural and moral evil, vi. 22S, 229. Burnet, Biihop, his charafler of K. Edward VI. i. 57. Pre- vails with the ftate of Geneva to abolifh fubfcriptions, 64. Would willingly have played the fame game in England, 63. His lamentation, ibid, note. Anecdote of him, iv. 143, Burj, Richard de, Biihop of Durham, i. 187. C. f^ALAMT, Dr. Edmund, his charafter of John Gcodwin, i. xli. Calling, effedlual, a fruit of eleflion, ii. 206, 207. Cal^vin, numbered by Chrillopher Potter himfelf among the worthieft dodlors of the church, i. 70, note. Confuces the council of Trent, 81. note. His account of Bolfec's Sermon, 95. note. Remark on the dedication of his inititutions, 114, note. The Englifh Liturgy remodeled in confequence of his remonftrances, i. 349, 350. ii. 9, Approves of w fet form of public prayer, and adminiftraiions of the facraments, i. 349, 350. ii. 1^2. Held in extreme veneration by King Edward, and the Englifh reformer?, i. 351. ii. 10, 11. Prevails with the court of England to releafe Bp. Hooper from confinement, ibid. Altars in the churches converted into communion tables, at hrs defire, ibid. Requeued by Cranmer to write often to King Edward, ibid. The high terms of honour in which he is mentioned by our old Englifh biihops and others, II, 12. Remarkable initance of his meeknefs, 13, 14. His approbation of the liturgy and ceremonies of the church of England, 15. No enemy to epifcopacy, 15, 16. 153, 154. Correfponds with archbifhop Parker, 151, 152. Receives the thanks of Queen Elizabeth's privy council, 152, 153. Offers a plan in the reign of Edward, for a general union of Proteftants, 151, 152. note. That excellent fcheme fruf- trat-ed by the crafty intrigues of the council of Trent, then fitting, 151, 152. note. And by the audacious fubtilty of Bonner and Gardiner, 153, 154. note. Calvin renews the fame propofal to Queen Elizabeth's adminiftration, i^r, i!;2. But dies before it could take effe*^, 153. Archbifhop Vol. VI. (35.) F f GrindaP* i INDEX. GrindaFs great efteem of him, 160. Much honoured by Archbifliop Whiigift, 182. His judicious caveat againft the abufe of predeftinaiion, 239. His book of Inftitiites highly valued by the Englifh bifhops, univerfities, and clergy, 304.. 313. FalTely charged with terming reprobation an horrible decree, 352, 353. _ Cahvinifm, the prevailing fyftem under Edward VI. Elizabeth and James, i. xx. ii. 143. 2-9 311. Extremely odious to the church of Rome, i. xxxiii. Why Laud drove to fmother it, 68. Acknowledged by our adverfaries themfelves to be the f)fiem of our E^nglifh Reformers, i. 244. 248. ii. 144. 244. V. 36, 37. Does net countenance moral remiffnefs, ii. 51. 125, iz'^. By whom tirit publicly cppofed in the church of England, fince the reformation, ii. 170. When and why llandered with the name of Puritanifm, 217. 345. Vindicated as the doftrine of the church of England, in a letter of Mr. Toplady's to Dr. Nowcl, v. 10, &c. Cal^inijis (Doftrinal) why difcouncenanced by Charles I. i, ix. To whom we are indebted for the name, 158. note. Why perfecuted by the church of Rome, 221. Were cruelly perJecuted in Holland, by the firll Arminians there, ii. 220. CalnjinoTurcifmusy fome account of a Popifh book fo entitled, i. 219. ?}oie, Anfvvered by Dr. Sutclifte, Dean of Exeter, ibid. Cambridge, univerfity of, complains of, and profecutes Barro the Pelagian, i. 170, 171. Her zeal to vindicate the honour of Eucer and Fagius, ii. 189. S^eUni-verJities. ■ ,. Camden, Mr- his account of the Famiiifts, i. 104, 105. His oblique fling at the Arm'nians, 104. His characler of Bp. Carleton, ii. 265. ticre, CampfjsySy a xtry ho: Free-will-man, fome account of him, ii, 184. Smartly taken to talk by Veron and Crowley, 185. Candour, a di[lin£ticn concerning it, i. xii. xiii. Mr. Wefley the worfe for being treated with it. ibid. Cannon, Dodor, a very fly divine, ii. 177. Canterbury and Gene'va, well agreed in the fixteenth century, ii. 48. 156. 164, 165. Canute, his reign, death and burial, ii. 383. II. fuppofed to have died in a ftate of inebriety, ii. 38?. , Cardan (Jerom) his account of Edward VI. i. 58 — 60, Re- markable inftance of that philofopher's integrity,_/^/W. Cardmaker, Mr. John, the martyr, ii. 41. Carele/s, Mr. John, dies in prifon for the Proteftant faith, ii. 52,60. Examined concerning predellination, by the Popifh commifTary, ii. 52, 53. Extratls from his ineftimable let- ters, 54 — 59. In his eftimation, free-will and pharifeeifm are reciprocal, 56. Carleton, Dr. George, Bifhop of Chichefler, afTerts the divine rights of epifcopacy in the fynod of Dort, ii. 154, 155. note. Imputes the rampancy of Arminianifm in Holland to the want of blfhops there, 15). His tellimony to the Calvinifm of I N D E X. xi of the church of England, 210. Sent by K. Janaes to tjie fynod of Dort^ C44, 24:;. IrJis particular department while there, 262. His converfation with the heads of the Armi- iiian party in HoIUnd, 252. Denies univerfal redemption to be a doftrine of the church of England, 265. note. Other particulars concerning him, ibid, and fome account of him, C<2/?/a/;o, Sebaftian, fome account of him, ii. 139, 140. A book of his in behalf of free-v.ill and perfection, gives great offence in England, [40, 14.1. Catechijmy the, afcnbed toBp. Ponet, enjoined to be tan^htby all fchoolmalters in the EngliOi dominions, i. 54. 257. Received and fubfcribed to by the Proieftants throughout England, 63. The Papiils very angry at it, ii. 134.. Extradls from it, 3. 2^5 — 257. fubfcribed by Cranmer, 256, 251. And by Ridley, ibid. And by the fame convocation which fettled the articles of religion in Edward's time, ibid. Appears to have been drawn up by the reformers themfelves, 251. note. Bp. Ridley on his trial at Oxford, publicly acknowledged that he bimleif had an hand in compiling it, 250. 252. Had the authority both of chur<:h and ftate for its fanflicn, 253. Evidently defigned as an amplification of the articles of reli- gion, ibid. A nioH remarkable conceffion of Heylyn concern- ing it, 253, 254. Bp. Ridley's high eileem of it, 259, 260. Publilhed and bound up vv-ith the book of articles, 251. «o^/?; and 253. «o/^. A V. ■ only 3 months, ii. 422. Murdered, 424. ■ ' VI. fubfcribed to the articles of the church of England, i. 53. Prefixes a letter of recommendation to Ponet's Ca- techifm, 54.257. Anecdote of, iv. 153. Part of his dying prayer, i. 54. His charader by Bp. Latimer, 55, 56. By Bp. Bale, 56, 57. By Bp. Burnet, (^-j, 58. By Bp. Mon- tague, ibid. By Caiden, 58, 59. By Mr. Guthrie, 62. His treatife againft the Pope's fupremacy, ibid. Reafon why his memory is pecked at by fome Arminians, 62, 63. His account of Bucer's interment, 323. State of the church of England in his reign, ii. 19. 311. Edwards, Dr. Stridures on Burnet's Expofitlon, v. 31. — , the late Rev. Mr. Jonathan, his mafterly Treatife on Free-will, vi. 10&, 107, EUzabtthy oiFcred Peter Martyr any preferment he pleafed if he would fettle again in England, i. 327. Ran great rifk of her life, during her fifter Mary's reign, ii. 105. Protefted by Philip for political reafons, 105, 106. Took care to fill the INDEX, xvii the epifcopal fees, and efpecially that of Canterbury, with dodrinal Calvinifts, 149, 150. Lamented the too late de- tedion of Bonner's and Gardiner's trick upon Calvin, 153, 154. » The judgment of the Pri- mitive Church concerning it, iit;. Denied by Barnabas, 121. by Clement Romanus, 126. by Ignatius, 131. 133. by Poly- carp, ibid. Whether it had any thing to do in St. PauTs con- verfion, 135. Summary of Pelagius's reafonings in favour of it, and of Bede*s againft it, 170. 172. Incompatible (in the Pelagian and Arminian fenfe of it) with the foreknowledge or omnifcience of God, 193, 194. »o/^. and 179. note. Utterly inconiiftent with prayer and thankfgiving, 209. Has no hand at all in converfion and falvation, ii. 387. Juftly repudiated by our old Englifli Proteftants as a branch of Popery, 22. 53^ 54. 185. 193. 197. Cannot confift with the dodrine of original iin,go. Theholcingoficdeemed **iofamous" and '*punilhable'* in the reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth, i. xxv. note. 49, 50. ii. 142, 143. 146. 201. Its pedigree and offspring, 356. Free Thoughts on application to parliament for the abolition of • ecclefiaitical fubfcriptions, ii. 433, &c. Free JVillers, the fi.rft profefTed Proteftants who formed a fepara- tion from the church of England, i. 49. Acknowledge them- felves to be, and were confidered as Diflenters from the eilablifhed church, xxii. note. ii. 86, 87. It does not appear- that any of them fufFered martyrdom for the Protellant religion, i. xxii. ii. 63. Puniflied with imprifonment, in the reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth, i. xxv. note, 49, 50. ii. 146. 201. A congregation of them in London, during Edward's reign, i. 48. Another in Kent, and a third in EiTex, ibid. Com- plained of to the Privy Council, 49. Seized, and forced to ^\ve bail for their appearance, 50. Profecuted in the Eccle- iiailital Court, ibid. Their names regiftered, for the better fecurity of the public, ibid. Specimen of their tenets, ibid, and ii. 76 9^. Excellent letter of recantation, written by one who was converted from that party, i. xxiii — xxxi. St. Aullin's addrefs to the ancient ones, 116. Confidered as Phaiifees INDEX. xxi Pharifees by the famous Mr. Carelefs, ii. 56. A remarkable. - contentious fed, 60. 76. Mr. Philpot the martyr's bad opinion of them, 60. Mr. Bradford's letter againfl: them, 77. More dangerous in his opinion, than profefTed Papifts, 78. Their uncharitable rudenefs to Bradford, 79. Their unjuft afperfions ofpredeftination, 85, 86. Falfely cliarged Mr. Phil- pot, the martyr, wi:h Antinomianifm, 85. Their frivolous cavils againlt the church of England, 86, 87. Solemnly difowned by the martyrs, 96, 97. A knot of them give much umbrage in Elizabeth's reign, 139. 201. Remarkable for being virulent defamers of the bifhops, 141, note. The Free- vi^illers of thofe times lefs heterodox, in fome refpedls, than many of our prefent Arminians, 144. Their number exceed- ingly few in the reigns of Edward and Elizabeth, i. 48. ii. 147. 149. Free- willers remarkable for being in general very free livers, 364. Free Will and Merit, fairly examined, iii, 168, Sec, Friendjhip, elevated ideas of, iii. 129. 449. Real, very fcarce, vi. 215. Frith, Mr. John, the martyr, i. 238. Fulke, Dr. William, his confutation «fthe Rhemilh Teftament, with extrafts, ii. 196 — 201. Fuller, Dr. the hiltorian, his facetious adieu to the Ranters, i. 109. i6y. His charader of BeJe, and his judicious refleftions concerning WicklifF, i. i?o, 181. His remark on the ill effeds of Arminianifm in England, ii. 226, 227. note. His chara6ler of Vorftius, ii. zz'i. note, JulUy ch iftifes John Goodwin for afperfing the fynod of Dort, 245, 246. /^ALLICAN, ancient liturgy, and not Roman, the bafis of the ^^ prefent Englifh Common Prayer Book, i. 247. hote. Gardiner, the Popifh biiliop of V/incheller, his remarks on the homily concerning falvation, i. 114. Nonpluli by a fmart retort, ii. 49. He and Bonner intercepts a letter from Calvin, and returns him a forged anfwer, 153, 154. note. Defcription of his perfon, by Eifliop Ponet, vi. 141. Gene'va, prefent flate of the CalvinilHc dodrines in that place, i. 64. The clergy of, releafed from fubfcription, by means of Bilhop Burnet, 64, 6q. The primitive reformed church of, flandered by a PopiOi bifhop, ii. 81, 82. Her ancient Proteltant dodrines the fame with thofe of the church of England, 48. ^2. Owned for a fifter church in the reigns of Edward and Elizabeth, 163. 165. 31 ». Gene'va Bible, the tr-infl-iiion fo called, never authorized by the church or Itate of England, ii. 109. Yet approved of, and recommended by Archbilhop Parker, 155. Gifford, xxli INDEX. .Gifford, William, the Popiih prieft, inftigates aflaflins to murder Elizabeth, i. 215. note. Endeavours to parallel Calvinills with Mahometans, ibid. Gifts of providence, how to ufe them, iii. 332. Gilly Dr. his keen retort to a Free-vviller, iv. 173. A curious addrefs of his how to get a good collation at a charity, 174.^ Glo'vevy Mr. Robert, the martyr, ii. 46. Glonjer, a Free-will preacher, imprifon^d, ii. 201. Releafed at the interceffion of Lord Burleigh, ibid. Goad, Dr. Thomas, chaplain to Archbiihop Abbot, difpatched by King James to the fynod of Dort, ii. 262. God, what he is reprefented to be, v. 195, &c. Conlidered as the father of the whole human race, vi. 296, &c. Goi's mindfulnefs of men, iii. 107. Goodman, the Arminian BiQiop of Gloucsfter, turns Papift, i. 96. note. Goodnefs of God, moral and praife- worthy, though abfolutely weceflary, vi. 37. Good news from heaven, iii. 199. Goodwin^ John, the Arrainian, the leader of the Fifth-monarchy- men, i. xxxvi. Lends his pulpit to Venner, the rebellious cooper, xxxvii. note. Publifiies a folio vindication of the regicides, xl. ii. 352. Cajoles Oliver Cromwell, xxxviii. Efpoufes Cromwell's caufe with more outward "zeal than any of the other fanatics, xxxix. How he efcaped hanging, xl. His panic on the reftoration, ibid. Dr. Calamy's charafter of him, xli. Remarkable title of Mr. Vicar's pamphlet pub- lifhed againft him, ibid. HieVoglyphical embellifhments of his pifture, ibid. Specimens of his knack at fcurrilicy, xlii. Mr, Howe chrillens him by the name of the Pagan preacher, ibid, A Dander of his on the fynod of Dort refuied by Bifliop Hall, ii. 245. 247. Signalized himfelf as a fanatic preacher during the ufurparion, 328. His loyalty contrafted with that of Archbiihop Ufner, 351, 352. Goodnvin, Dr. Thomas, his remarks upon his nephew's death, iii. 192. note. Go/pel, the, hov/ it differs from the law, i. 239. Truths of the, ought to be introduced with difcretion, iv. i66, and to be preached promifcuoufly to all men, v. 281. Gottefchalcus, fome account of him, i. 146, 147. His do<^rines, 14? — 150. His fufferings," imprifonment, and death, 150, 151. Grace, excellent definition of it, i. 75. 92. 227. ii. 34, 35. Renders itfelf efFeftual without violence, i. 156. ii. 309. Is the alone fource of all holinefs and falvation from firft to laft, i. 115. 133, 134. 155. 25 J. ii. 46. Can alone render the minidry of the wor!d. Ot providence, 511. Of perfeverance, ibid. 312. Scruples for Vol. VL (35.; G g a time x.xvi INDEX. a time to wear tlie epifcopal habic, 341. His fcruples obviated by Bucer and Peter Martyr, ibid. — 344. Hoordy Samuel, a fage argument of his again ft predeftination, i. xxxlv. Bifhop Davenant charges him with apoftacy from the church of England, i. 208, 209. Hope, aremrtikon the Chriitian grace fo called, i. 121. The generality of men's hopes illufive, iii. 9. Hopkins, Bifhop, his ftriking reprefentation of the providence of of God, V. 162, 163. Homey a divine of that name, difputes with Velfius, the free- will perfe^lionill, i. 105. note. V/as probably our Englifh Dr. Home, afterwards Bifhop of VVinchefter, ii. 162. Horribile Decretumy the fcnfe in which Calvin ufes that term, ii. 3-52, 353- Hou/oTiy Dr. John, fufpended for arminianifing, ii. 312. Ho^wCy Mr. Obadiah, writes againft John Goodwin, i. xiii. Hiiet, Monfieur, a \t.xy remarkable circumftance of, iv. £45. Human Nature, the dignity of, contrary to experience, to reafon and fcripture, iii. 27. but great upon Chriftian principles, 113. Hume, Mr. the hillorian, afiirms the Calvinifm of all the re- 'formers, both Englilh and foreign, i. 248. His account of the ill reception which the Arminians at firlt met with in England, ibid. A wifh relative to an infinuation of his concerning James I. ii. 214. His illiberal refledlionon Bucer, Melandhon, Sturmius and Draco, 330, 331. Hundred and One, proportions condemned by theBull Unigenitus, a fample of them, i. 92. Huntingdon, Countefs of, two anecdotes refpeding her, iv. 165. Hu/s, Dr. John, his martyrdom, i. 158. Some of the articles for which he was put to death, 159. 163. Charged with being a fatalift, ibid. Hut ton. Dr. Matthew, Archbiihop of York, fubfcribes the Lambeth articles, ii. 174, 175. Advifes Whitgift to deal feverely with Baro, ibid, Aflercs the dodlrinal orthodoxy of the Puritans, 349. I ^ACOB, his fweet ferenity in death defcribed, iii. 392. J James, St. in what fenfe he affirms juftification by works, i. xxvi. ii. 30, 31. 122. 200 iii. 271, 272. His works and St. Paul's faith, will and mull go together, 289. His Epillles not written to counterad St. Paul's writings, 272. James I. his account of the Familifts, or Ranters, i. 105. A petition to him from that fed, 107 — 109. Summary of his charader, ii. 213, 214. Doe:; not appear to have ever revolted from the theological dodriiies of Calvin, ibid. 2S3. Political reafons why he countenanced the Arminians in the four laft years of his reign, 215, 216. 2 18, 219. 227. His perplexity on that occafion, zjS. Seems to have departed this life at a very critical jundure, 220. Forewarns the Dutch of the civil and religious INDEX. xxvii religious confufion which would fpring from Arm'nlanifm, 22!, 222. 228. Violently oppofes the promotion of Vorlliiis, 221. His extreme detell.ition of Arminius, 221. 225. 228, 229, In alarm left Arminianifm fhould find its way from Holland CO England, 225, 226. Earnellly exhorts the Dutch StJttes to extirpate Arminius's difciples, 229, 230. Falls foul onBenius for having written againll final perfeverance, 224 — 226. Perfecuting difpofuion of this prince, 21 q. 231. His remarkable dedication of his bock againft Arminius and Vor- ftius, 232. Infults the church of England while King of Scotland, 23^^ ConfefTes himfelf an hypocrite of 27 years growth, ibid. note. His unbecoming demeanor during the Hampton Court conference, 234. Very properly declines inferting the Lambeth articles into the thirty-nine, 235, 236. Afieris the ablolute fovereignty and freenefs of eledlion and reprobation, 238. Requelh the States of Holland to admit divines from England and other Proteilant countries to affiil at the fynod of Dort, 243. The Britilh divines whom he fent thither, 244. The vehemence with which he interefied him- felf in the fynod*s condemnation of the Arminians, 248. The feveral views to which he confidered religion as fubfervient, 249. Could never entertain a good opinion of Dr. Lnud, 271. 2-4. 345, 346. His reafon fur not permitting marginal notes to be added to the prefent tranflation of the Bible, 271, 272. ConfefTes himfelf a fymbolizer with Popery, 273. note, Projeifls a general toleration of Papilb, 275. Occafions him to quarrel with his parliament, 276. Specimens of his re- ligious inconfiftencies, 278, 279. His charader by Guthrie and Burnet, 280, 281. Excefiively iiattered, yet univerfally defpifed, /^/V. 282. 346. Mifchievous effects of his politics, 282. Janjenius, Billiop of Ypres, i. 84. The labour and exadnefs with which he ftudied St. Auitin's works, ibid. Narrowly efcapes the Inquifition, ii. 85, 86. Ordains Bellarmine a prieft, 86. In fome degree a temporifer, i. 86. 88. note. His tomb demolifned by the Pope's orders, and his memory branded with herefv, 85, 87. note. The ferment with which th^ poil- humous publication of his work, entitled "Augullinus," taifed in the church of Rome, /^/V. The contrariety of his fvllem to that of the Jefuits, 88. His book prohibited by the Inquifi- tion, and condemned by the Pope, 87, 88. His five propofi- tions, which gave mod umbrage to the Romifti church, ibid, 89. The formal condemnation of thofe propofitions by Pope Innocent X. ibid. Condemned afrelh by Alexander VII. ;^/V/. go. And again, in the prefent century, by Clement XIII. 9; . A general fubfcription againll them exaded in France, 90. His writings have probably lain the bafis of the Reformation there, ibid. 91. Ideas, not innate, vi. 2^, 49, ^o. G g 2 Idiols, xxviii INDEX. [diets, not to be confidered as irrational beings, vl, 26. note. An account of one, iv. 155. Jekyl, Sir Jofeph, i. 6^. note, Jennings Soame, a curfory review of fome of his afTertions, iii. 447» &c. Jeronty St. his addrefs to St. Auftin, i. 116. A great admirer of the Stoics, 330. Jerom, of Prague, i. 164—166. Je/uits, their whole fyftem of grace founded on conditional predellination and works forefeen, i. xxxii. Were the im- mediate fore-runners of Arminius, ibid. Remarkable letter written by one of them from England in Charles the Firfl's time, xxxiv. Claim the merit of being the firft planters of Arminianifm in this kingdom, ibid. Confefs Arminianifm to be their ** main fabric" and their ** fovereign drug," ibid. The remarks of one of tliem on the ftate of Proteftantifm in England under Charles the Firft, xxxv. 72. Procure the condemnation of Janfenius's Auguftinus, 87,88. Were very ^ angry with the fynod of Dort, ii. 253. Je/usy feen of angels, confidered, iii. 61. Jeiuelj Dr. John, the famous Bifhop of Salifbury, his doftrine concerning eledion and perfeverance, ii. 150. Remarkable paflages in a letter of his to Peter Martyr, 224. nate. His life, iv. 34. Ignatius, i. 128 — 134. Immutability, effential to God, i. 191. v. 425. Important remarks, iv. 483. Incdnjiftencyoi IniiAth, on what principle to be accounted for, vi. 154. Independency, effential to God's knowledge, ii, 362, 363. Not an human attribute, vi. 31. 44, 45. Index Expurgatorius, the Popifh, extended to fomeof Auguftine's works, i. 102. note. Infants departed, their falvation not to be doubted of, i. xKii. 298. note. The Arminian fcheme very unfavourable to them, xlv. Baptifed or unbaptifed, where fuppofed to be, vi. 109. Infidelity promoted by Arminianifm, ii. 361. Infidels, their objedions not conquerable by Arminian reafonings, vi. 45 — 47- Innocent IV. Pope, menaces Grofthead, i. 174. Infenfibility , an inftance of it, vi. 254. IntelleSlual excellencies, God the dillributor of them, ri. 33, 34. 50. note. Interim, fome account of a remarkable Popifh book fo called, ii. 331. note, Joan, Pope,hiftory of, v* 468. Not a pope of Proteftant invention, ibid, John, his reign, ii. 400. His obligation to fign Magna Charta, 40 f . His refigning his crown, upon his knees, to the Pope's legate, INDEX. xxix legate, ihiJ, and fecond refignation thereof, 402. Death and burial, ibid, John/on, Df. Samuel, his maftcrly preface to Shalcefpear, i, i rj. note. An ornament to the republic of letters, vi. 220. A converfation between him and Mrs. Macauley, 263. And a droll adventure with him and Ofborne the bookfeller, ibid, 264. Jones, Mr. Thomas, his laft words, iv. 171. Journey of a Chriftian, exhibited in a diverfity of paths, iii. 334. Joy in heaven over one repenting Tinner, iii. 239. Ireland, articles of, eftablifhed in 161 5. Extrafts from them, i. 295, 296. Archbifliop Laud wiihed to flifle them, but left the work unaccomplifhed, ii. 296 — 298. Thofe Articles have never been repealed are ftill legally in force in that kingdom, 297. Ifidore of Pelufium, i. 150. note. JudaSf was never a true believer, i. 161,162. Whether Chrift died for him, 297, 298. Judgment Day^ certainty of, can be maintained only on Ne- ceflitarian principles, vi. 42 — 44. Julian, an Italian bifhop in the 5th century, artfully varni/hes the herefies of Pelagius, i.xxxi, xxxii. Junius, Francis, his commentary on the apocalypfe formerly bound up with our Engliih bibles, ii. 123. Jujiijicationy dodtrine of the church of Rome concerning it, f. §2. ii. 195. 199, 200. Denied by Clement Romanus, to be of works, i. 125,126, 127. And by the Albigenfes and Wal- denfes, 143. And by Wickliffe, 181. 189. And by Tyndal, 226, 227. And by Auitin, 231. And by Hamelton, 246. And by the church of England, 239 — 241. And by Cranmer, and our other reformers, 285 — 290. 31c. Can only accrue to us through the imputed righteoulnefs of Chrift, 290 — 292. In what fenfe faith is faid tojulHfy, 339. ii. 22. IQ4. 206. The dodlrine of justification by good works, either in whole or in part, abfolutely inconfiflent with the Chriftian religion, 29, 30. 121. 343. The Popifli doctrine, of two jollifications, confidered, 194.199 — 201. Abfolutely gratuitous, ^07, By works contrary to found dodlrine, iii. 34. Wherein it coqfills, vi. 119. 220. 137. See Works, J^ENNET, ?iihop, his juft charadler of the Flfth-monarchy- men, i. xxxvii. King,S\T Peter, Lord Chancellor, nonplus'd by honell Whifton, ii. 178. lyings, praying ones^ iv. 152. Jfnight, Mr. Stephen, the martyr, ii. 32. ^nollis. Sir Francis, Treafurer of the houfchold to Elizabeth, his letter for the fuppreffion of Caftalio's bcol> ou free-will, ii, 141. Unravels the Pelagian do(flrine of perfe^lif^n. i/rid^ G g 3 lyno-vdeJge, xxx' INDEX. Km^leiige, the divine, comprehends all things without excep- tion, 1. 193, 1^4, note. 334. Cannot conlift with the Ar- minian idea of human irto. agency, 193, 194. wo/^. Diftin- guifhable into fimple ?.nd approbacory, 195. Not founded on things known, 195 — 197. Isalmighty and infallible, 204, 205. Is founded on predeftination, 206. 33^,. Utterly incapable of fucceffion and improvement, 195 — 197, 198. What it in- cludes, ii. 75. Kno^lcdgCy hun\an, how imbecile even in natural things, iii. 66. Knox, Mr. John, life of, iv. 7, &c. Kay;:^ao|uai, vi. 34. KBx.cx.vlri^icx,:rfy.svoi, vi, 4I. no(e. J AM BERT y Mr. the martyr, i. 229 — 231. Cranmer con- cerned in his profecution, 249. note. Lambeth articles, the occafion of them, ii. 170. Why fo called, 173. Solemnly approved by the Archbi(hops of both pro- vinces, 174, 175. \X^hy James the Firll omitted to incorporate them with the 39 Articles already eftabliftied, ii. 235, 236. In- ferted into the articles of Ireland, 296. See alfo vi. 109. Latimer^ Bifhop, his charafter of Edward the Sixth, i. 55, 56. His magnanimous behaviour at the Hake, 259. Some account of his charadler and talents, 269, 270. His great refpedt for Auftin, Luther, and Peter Martyr, ibid. 271. Aflifted Cran- mer in compofing the homilies, ibid. His dodrine of eledion, 271 — 275. Of Providence, 275 — 279. Dillinguifhes the will of God into fecret and revealed, 276. Avers that God's decreeing will cannot be defeated nor difappointed, 276. 279. 2,01. Affirms the term of human life to be unalterably pre- dellinated, 275. 277, 278. In what fenfe he ufes the word chance, 27B, 279. Maintains that the death of Chrift was irrefiflibly predeflinated, 279. AfTerts original fin in its ut- raofl extent, 280, 281. Batters down free-will, 2S1 — 294. Declares the necelTity and the efficacy of Divine. Grace, 282 — 284. Denies juftification by works, 285— 290. And aflerts juftification by Chrift's righteoufnefs, 290 — 292. His nervous reafonings againft fm'efs perftdion, ibid. 294. His do<5lrine concerning the exteiit of redemption, 295 — 300. Plis idea of faving faith, 293. His dodrine concerning perfeverance, 300 — 306. Laud, Archbifliop, why he difcouraged the Calvinifts, i. ix. Expunges from a book of Chrillopher Potter fume pafTiges which bore hard on the church of Rome, 68. note. Outwitted by the faid Chrillopher Potter, 7 i. And by the elder Voflius, ibid. Was never high in the fa\^ur of James the Firft, ii. 271. 345, 346. Made Bifliop df St. David's much againft that king's mind, 273, 274. The zeal with which he promoted Arn^inianifm, INDEX. xxxi Arminianifm, ibid. 279. Flagrant impudence of his meafures, 283 — 286. Is faid ro have projetfled his fcheme for re- modelling ihe church of England, at a very early period cf life, 284. Openly renounces Calvinifm in ihe firll year of Charles's reign, 28^. Was the firll Arminian Prunate fince the reformation, 286. Would not venture to trull the ma- nagement of his fcheme to a Convocation, 289 Wifhes to fet afide the Irifti articles, and pretends to have compared his point, but without effed, 296 — 299. His injundlion to his fuffragans, 300. Would have re-modeled the thirty-nine Articles, but for the Civil War, 302. Hs views in obtruding the Romifh ceremonies on the church of England, ^02, 303. V/as fo hardy a? to difclaim Arminianifm on his trial, ibid. His troubles while a memOer of the univerfity of Oxford, on a religicus account, 284. 314, 315. The difficulty with which he gained his firfl preferment, 315, 316. 345, 34.6. At bell but a mongrel Prcteftant, v. 22. Lanu, the moral y how it differs from the gnfjel, i. 239. Our own conformity to it cannot juftify us before God, 240. Will not admit or accept of any righteoufnefs which 15 not abfolutely perfe(^, 292, 293. ji. ^6. 113. Chrifl's righteoufnefs our only poffible refuge from its maledidi :n, i. 290 — 293. ii. 121. The miniftration of death to thofe who trufl in it, iii. 12. Gcd*s inviolable holinefs requirirvg perfect obedience to it, ibid. Chrill the fulfiUerof the law, 13, 14. The ufe of the law pointed out, ibid. LaiVj Rev. William, a fpeech of his when dying, iv. 179. Leafy Mr. John, the martyr, ii. 6^, 66. note. Uncommon in- Itances of his religious zeal and intrepidity, ib:J. Learnings and learned men, extremely hated by fanatics, i. ^t. Le Clerc, Monfieur, remarkable quotation from, vi. 65. note, Leo the Tenth, his bull againll Luther, i. 76 — 70. LetferloMr. John WefleyjOn his abridgem?nt of Z^nchius, y.'-^iC:). Letters^ a colledion of, vi. 144, &c, bee the contents a!fo of vol. vi, Libertyy Englifh, what it is, iii. 303. Religious liberty, of what it confifts, 304. Life, human, its duration invariub.y fixed and determined by God's decre;% i. i6q. 225. 266. 275. 277, 278. ii. 58, 59. vi. 8:-— 87. A journey, iii. 328. Limborck, a ihamelefs afT^rtion of his, i. 117. Lindfey^ Mr. his reformed liiurgy, what, vi. 226. His manner of preaching, &c. ibid. 227. Lithaily Mr. examined by Bifh'^p Bonner's chancellor, on the article of juilification, ii. 104, 105. Liturgy of the church of England, not borrowed from the Romitli form, but from the ancient Britilh and Gallican liturgy, i. 247, 248. note. Corre6led by Buccr and Martyr. 314, 3I5. 347. Reformed at Calvin's requefl-, 349, ^50. ii. 10, Sup- ■preffed by Mary the Firil, 103. Reiiored by Klijpteth, 100, G g 4 Lake. xxxii INDEX. Locke, Mr. his idea of compulfion, i. 156, 157. note. Affirms that voluntarinefs and neceffity are perfeftly compatible, ibid. Utterly denies that freedom is predicable of the human will, ibid. His defcription of precipitate reafoners, vi. 18. His jull theory of fenfible qualities, 122 — 125. His juft remarks on the human fenfes, 141. Lollards y or Wickliffites, pafTage from a letter written by one of them, i. 213, 214. And from one of their books, ii. 222, 223. A number of them furprifed by Henry the Fifth at a religious meeting, i. 211, 212. Lo've of God to his people, eternal and unchangeable, i. xxvii. 163. 263. 303, 304. ii. 57. 69. Love and hatred, how afcribed to God, v. 382, 398. Love to Chrift a ftrong de- claration of, iv. 176. Theory of the paffion of love, vi. 137, 138. Loije^ Mr. Chriftopher, a prophecy of his, iv 191. Louis XIL of France, a noble anfwer of his, i. 146. Loyaltjy belt fecuredon Calviniftic principles, ii. 350, 35r. Luther ^ his fpirited remark on the Pope's bull, i. 78. Denies free will and finlefs perfeflion, 76. Affirms, in his heat, that the maintenance of thofe two tenets, is incompatible with falvation, 78. His unceremonious language to Pope Leo, 79. A canon of the Council of Trent exprefsly levelled at him, 80. note. Bifhop Latimer's high opinion of him, 270. Compares man's will to an horfe, 337, 338. A fmart faying of his con- cerning Henry the Eighth, ii. 310. His noble integrity, 334' 335* -^ pafTage in his will, iv. 177. A defigntopoifon him, 179. An abfolute Predellinarian, v. 19. More violent than Calvin, v. 422. note* A reply of his to Erafmus refpeft- ing the enforcing the doftrine of predeftination, 288. His two-fold diftindlion of neceflity, vi. 20. Nothing unphilofo- phical in what he relates concerning apparitions, 27. His idea concerning the neceflity of grace, 65. note. Lutherans, foon deviated from the purity of Luther's fyftem, i. 300, 301. Lydiusy hisjuft remark concerning the crafty perverfenefs of the Pelagians, ii. 259. note. Lyttleton, Lord, his remark concerning the Albigenfes and Wal- denfes, i. 138, note. His charafter of Cromwell, vi. 208. M TUrACCAIL, Mr. his triumphant dying words, iv. i6r. Machines, men are not, in the work of converfion, iii. 320. Madnefi, metaphyfical theory of, according to Mr. Baxter, vi. 26, 27. note. Mahometani/m, 2L comipoand ofjudaifm.chriflianity andheathenifm, > i. 215. Specimen of forpe (phriftian doftrines and precepts adopted by Mahomet, 216^ 217,,, Thofe of the Mahometans , who INDEX. xjfxiii who arc fatalllls, are very remote from the Chriftian doftrines of predcftination, 218. A vaft body of them are rank Arminians, in points of predcftination, grace, free-will, and perfeverance, ibid. Several particulars enumerated, whereia the Arminian Mahometans and the Arminian Methodifts agree, 21C} — 221. Mahometanifm unjulUy charged on the church of England, by Papifts and Arminians, 215. «o/^. 2^-4. Queen Elizabeth falfely taxed with it, by Mr. John Wefley, ii. 2 1 1 . Man degenerated and unrenewed, quite dead to God, and with- out fpiritual fenfe, iii. 364. An animal made up of matter and fpirit, vi. 23. Seems to be naturally wild and uncivilifed, 49. note, A non- entity on Dr. Priellley's and Bifliop Berk- ley's view of him, vi. 300. Manichaifm^ hiftory and out-lincs of that fyftem, vi. 97, 98. Enters into the bafis of Methodifm, 103, 104. Manton, Dr. a reproof, much bleffed to him, iv. 159. Marjhy Mr. George, the martyr, ii. 33 — 36. Martin the Fifth, (Pope.) his flaming bull againft predeftination, i. 73 — 75. Orders WicklifFe's bones to be dug up and burned, 183. Martyr ^ Dr. Peter, the reformer, converted by the books of Bucer and Zuinglius, i. 335. Highly refpeded by Bifhop Latimer, 270, 271. Invited into England by Cranmer and Somerfet, 313. Made Divinity Profeflbr at Oxford, and why, ibid, and i. 527. The Englifh liturgy fubmitted to his revifal, 314, 31^. Some account of his life, 335, 336. Re- fufes Queen Elizabeth's invitation, 326, 327. His dodlrine concerning fate, 327, 328. 335. Predeftination, 332, 333, Prefcience, ibid. Providence, 334, 335. Reprobation, 336. Free-will, 337, 338. Juftification, 339. Was concerned in framing the book of articles, 340, 341. Perfuades Bifhop Hooper to conform to the epifcopal habit, 342. His excellent reafoning on thatfubje6t, 342, 343. Cranmer's great opinion of him, 258. His Englifli preferment, 327. He and Bullin- ger folve Archbiftiop GrindalPs fcruples about conformity, ii. 166. Honours rendered to the violated remains of his wife, 190, 191. note. Martyrs for the Proteftant religion. Extrafl from a confeflion of faith drawn up by eleven very eminent ones, ii. 22. Their Calvinifm largely proved, ii. 22 — 105. Miraculous honours which attended fome of them in their laft moments, i. 224. ii. 33. 42. 44. Their number precifely fixed by God's decree, ii. 66. Unanimoufly difclaim all connection with the Free- will men, 96, Join in publifhing a common confeffion of their faith, A. D. 1557. 94. 96. Part of the prayer ufually faid by them at the ftake, 104. Their zeal and fortitude, 148, 149. Mary I. Queen of England, her zeal to rid the two univerfities of Calvinifm, ii. 20, 21. Publifhes a proclamation againft all books written by the reformors, ibid, Mary, XXXIV N Mary, Queen of Scots, certain religious particulars which pafled at the time of her execution, i. 183, 184. tjore. 'Materiali/mt the fyflem of Atheifm, vi. 154. A few thoughts on, I5<;, 156. Matter, one of the two univerfdl efTences, vi. 23. 129, 130. note. Abfolutely incapable of f^^eling or perceiving, 19. Totally dependent on God, 7.9, 3c. Has no efFedlive influence on the divine purpofes and operations, and is elTentially the fame in all bodies, 129 — 133. note. Matthew, St. refieiftions on his converfion, iii. 316, &c. Matthenju's Bible, why fo called, ii. 110. Maurice de NafTau, Prince of Orange, extricates the United Provinces from the calamities with which the Arminian fcdl, aided by the Popifti, endeavoured to overwhelm that country, ii. 242. Means, not fuperfeded, but included, and made efFeflual by Gcd's decree, i. 182. 272. ii. 127. Decreed no lefs than the end, V. 375, 376. 424. Ufe of, not made void by neceflity, vi. 58. 68. 84. ^ Mechani/m. See Organization. Melan^hon, had no hand in the Englifh Reformation, ii. 330. Remarkable particulars concerning him, 331—340. Melmoth, Mr. his remark concerning the fenfible qualities, vi. MeI'vin, Rev. Mr. John, imprifoned in Newgate for the faith, ii. 105. note. MenarduSy Hugh, a French Benedidine monk, his remarkable note on a paflage in St. Barnabas, i. 119. note. Is \zxy angry with that faint for not holding univerfal redemption, i. 120, 121. Mendlejhamy Proteftants expelled from, ii. 50. Mercy, what it is in the Deity, v. 227. Of God, its exercife necefTarily limited, 397. Merit of works, afferted by the church of Rome, i. 83. 99. ii. 197. Janfenius's reafon for ufmg the word, i. 88. note, Difclaimed by St. Aullin, lOi. and by Clement Romanus, 125, 126. and by Ignatius, 130. 133. and by Polycarp, and by the Albigenfes and VValdenfes, 135. and by Wickliff, 181. and by Tindal, 143. 145, 146. and Lambert, 231. and by the Englifli reformers, 255, 256. Latimer's tellimony againfl it, 265 — 290. Utterly inconfiftent with the whole chriftian fyftem, 223, 229. 241. 285. 287. 289. The fenfe in which fome ancient writers ufe it, 192. Held by the followers of Mahomet, 219, 220. and by Pelagius, 171. Merit-mongers, two inftances of, iii. 102, iv. 168, Mejftahy a portrait of, iii. 307. Meteorsy iv. 215. Methodifm defined, i. iii. Arminianifm is the life and foul of it, ii. 364, 365. See Arminianifm and Manichaifm. Millennium y doubtful wheiher angels will fhare in the glory of it. INDEX. XXXV it, iii. 77. Farther thoughts thereon, ili. 474, 475.- The felicity of that ftate, 408. MidJleton, Dr. Conyers, his allegorical interpretation of the human fall confidered, vi. 102, &c. note. Milton, his fublime definition of fate, i. 329. His poignant reply to Charles the Second, iv. 142. Minijiersy like officers in an army, v. 188. Confidered as di- vided into two bands, vi. 243. Should be fupported, fo as to be feparated from unneceflary avocations, iii. 71, Should not dare to temporize in holy things, 133. A curfe pro- nounced on thofe who do, ibid. A review of a mini Iter's pall unfaithfulnefs, how pungent to himfelf mull the recol- ledlion be on a dying-bed, exemplified in two inftances, ibid. note. An affiduous one, his fupport when dying, iv. 164, The duplicity of one, 151. The proper pre-requifues for the minifterial function, iii. 8. Miracles, of Chrift, fupply an argument in favour of neceflity, vi. 58, 59. Mifery, infeparable from vice, vi. 44 — 47. Monarchy, John Goodwin's abhorrence of it, i. xxxvii, xxxviii. note, Monte/quieu, acknowledges the incompatibility of human free- agency with God's omnipotence, i. 194. note. The m;inner in which he fuppofes a Mahometan Free-wilier to reafon on that fubjedt, ibid. The unavoidable alternative to which that train of reafoning reduces the point, ibid. Moral demQznoY i ought to be as becometh the gofpel of Chrift, iii. 163. and note. Moral and political moderation recom- mended, 298. Morality defined, vi. ^i, note. Not inconfiftent with the moll abfolute; neceflity, 21. 37. More, Sir Thomas, Lord Chahcellor, fuppofed faving faith to be in a man's own power, i. 228. Mojheimy his account of the adminiflration of King Charles the Firft, and Archbifhop Laud, ii. 235. Motion, God the immediate mover of all things, according to the philofophy of Bradwardin, i. 193. and of Dr. Barnes, 235, 236. Moiinjes, intelligent beings neceflarily determined by them, vi. 41, 42. note. Motto, an excellent one, vi, 167. Moulin, Monfieur de, a faying of his, iii. i-^o, 171. note. Mouvtagu, Dr. James (Bifiiop of Wincheller) his account of Edward the Sixth, i. 58. . , Richard, a fiery Arminian, confuted by Bilhop Carle- ton, li. 365. note. Imprudently exalted to the mitre after- wards by Charles I. /^/V. Other particulars concerning him, 2S7, 288, 289. Mi^fa/i//, Wolfgangus, Divinity-profefTc^r at Berne, his Common hlaces tranflated into Engliih, for the inftruAion of the clergy and laity, with a Preface by Archbifhop Farker, ii. 155, 15b. NATIONAL xKXMi I N D N. TSJATIONAL debt, thoughts on, iii. 476. and improvea;ent, ^ 477. &c. Natural hiftory, a fketch of, iv. 211, &c. h'tcejjtty, perfedly compatible with voluntary choice, or free- agency, i. it;7. note. 206. v. 396. 410. 417. 426. God's fore- knowledge cannot be maintained without it, i. 194. «tf/^. Mali- cious and abfurd inferences, drawn by the council of Con- fiance, from the doftrine of neceflity, 163, 164. note. Wickliff a ftrong neceflitarian, 177. iHo. 182. 184. According to Bradwardin, the ciivine will is the grand neceflitating prin- ciple, 197, 198. (See the article Fate.) Whether the human will be exempted from neceflity, 207, 208. 225. Chriftian and philofophical aflerted, vi. 17, &c. Signification of the word defined, iii. 397. vi. 18. Etymology of the term, 19. Diftinguilhed into two forts, 20. Has place in the divine nature, 37. Mod harmonioufly confident with the morality of aftion, ibid. The daughter of predeftination, 46. note. The dodlrine of the Bible at large, 47 — 56- and of Chrill in particular, 56 — 72. Efleniial to the happinefs of God, 62, 63. note. Life and death entirely governed by it, 80 — 87. Not a gloomy fyftem, 119 — 126. But the only cheerful fcheme of any, 34. 88 — 92. Calculated to imprefs the heart with the love of every chriftian and moral virtue, 91. The doftrine of the church of England, no. God himfelf a ne- ce/Tary being, 93. The chriftian necelity does not fuperfede the ufe of rational means, 5B. 68. 84. 105. 108. Nor make God the author of fm, 147 — 149. Differs from the neceflity of the ancient heathens, 76. And from that of the Mani- cha;ans, 104. Arminians themfelves forced to make neceifity their ultimate refuge, no. General remark on the prefent rapid progrefs of dodlrinal neceflity, 113. Negro, a fpeech of one, peculiarly blefl'ed to Lord Craven, iv, 147. Neighbour, not loving him as ourfelves a proof that we are law- breakers, iii. 275.^ Nenvman, Mr. John, the martyr, ii. 43. Ne'wton, Bifliop, acknowledges a dodrinal afiinity between the ancient Albigenfes and the modern Calvinifts, i. 138. His^ account of Wickliff*, i. 182. 184. Newton, Rev. Mr. an extradt from, v. 176. note. Neiv-year^s-day, 3. meditation for, iii. 405. Nicene Cteed, hiftory of, iii. 443. Nicholas, Henry, the founder of the Familifts, or Ranters, i. 10$, 106. Norfolk and Suffolk, inhabitants of, join in a religious re,mon- itrance againft Popery, ii. 103. Ncuie', INDEX. xxxvti Notuely Dr. Alexander, Dean of Sr. Paul's, fome account of him, i. 138, 139. note. Was probably concerned in drawing up Ponet's catechifm, 291. Publifhes an improved edition of that catechifm, in the reign of Elizabeth, 55. 134. Extracted from it, byHeylin, fi. 137, 138. Noiuei, Dr. of Oxford, a letter 10 him, v. 10, Sec. O. f^BEDIENCE of Chrift, at once moral, and meritorious, and praife-worthy, and neceffary, vi. 21. 37. See Right eou/ne/s. Ohje^Sy external, fupply the foul with all its rudiments of know- ledge, vi. 28. 30. Oh/ervaiions and reflexions, under their refpeflive heads, iv. 275—328- Oli'very Dr. the grace of God powerfully difplayed in him, iv. 160. Omensy considered, not always to be regarded, nor to be con- ftantly defpifei, iv. 192. Omni/cience of God, i. 193 — 195. Organization y corporeal, of vail importance to mental exertion, vi. 25, 26^ 27. note. 32. 33. Origin of evil, wrapt up in obfcurity, iii. 278, 279. Original (in, i. 256, 257. z8o, 281. Its efTeft on the human will, 281, 282, 283. ii. q8. 194. 198. Incompatible with the Popilh and Arminian dodrine of free-agency, ii. 90, 91. An hereditary derivation, iii. 29. Chrill conceived and born without it, 71. An efl*ay thereon, 349. Admitting the be- lief of it, anfwers many objedions, 358. Refident in us, 362. Important confequences deducible from the fcripture dodlrine of it, ibid. Farther confiderations, vi. 132. Could not have taken place without divine permiflion, 94, 95, lor, 102. The reafon of that permiflion not to be daringly en- quired into, 9;. loi, 102, 103. To deny that our firft pa- rents fell necefl'arily, is to annihilate the divinity of the chriftian religion, 95. Dr. Middleton's fchemc confldered, loa, 103. note, Orleans, Maid 'of, an account of her, ii. 418. Overal, Dr. John, Dean of St. Paul's, afterwards Bilhop of Norwich, frightened by King James at the Hamptou-court conference, ii. 236. Aflercs the poflibiiity of total apodacy, and in the fame breath denies it, 237. Very orthodox in the dod^rine of eledion, iiiJ. Oxford. See Uni'verjiiies. :"P, vi. 100. P. pANTING -after inward conformity to the divine image, a fure fign of efFedlual grace, iii. 331. Faraceljui, his felf opinioti, vi. 140. Farisy xxxvi'ii INDEX. PariSi Matthew, his charatSler of Bifhop Grofthead, i. 173, note. Parker, Dr. Matthew, Archbifhop of Canterbury, concerned in an edition of the Englifh Bible, ii. 113, 114. Extrafts of it, ibid. 11^. Revifes and approves the paper of advice for con- fining all the Freewill-men in one caftle, 146. The tranflation of Mufculus's Common Places dedicated to him, and fuppofed to be prefaced by him, 155. Attefts his approbation of the Geneva Bible, in a letter to Secretary Cecil, 156. Parkhurfi, Biftiop of Norwich, concerned in what was called the Bifhop's Bible, ii. 114. His opinion of Zanchius, 305. Pajfagesy excellent ones, or a little abbreviature of divinity, leleded for their fuperior excellency, by Mr. Toplady ; they are arranged alphabetically under their refpeftive fubjeds, iv. 331. Patrmifm, thoughts on, iii. 448. Pauly St. a remarkable defcription of his perfon, iii. 484. PauVs Crofs, London, fome account of, ii. 222 — 224. note, Arminian books burned there, by the command of James the Fir ft, ihid. Pear/on, Dr. John, Bifhop of Chefter, remarkable anecdote of, related by Dr. Edwards, ii. 310. Pelagiani/m, artfully palliated and qualified by Julian of Eclana, i. xxxi, xxxii. Two of its diilinguilhing principles, ibid, Firft uftiered in by Arianifm, 47, 48. Some more of its con- ftituent branches, 50. iii. 130. note. Bradwardin's account of its great progrefs in the fourteenth century, 190. Pelagians. See Free-iutllers. Pelagiusy fummary of his dodrine concerning predeftination and free-will, given in his own words, i. 170—172. With Beda's refutation of it, paragraph by paragraph, ibid. More con- cerning him, iii. wi,. note. ii. 115. PerfeSliony doftrine of, a tenet raked from the dunghills of Pela- gianifm and Rantenfm, i. 106. Afcribed by Mahometans to Mahomet, 219. Bifhop Latimer's teflimony againft it, 294. Adopted bv the church of Rome, 77. 238. Judicioufly fifted by Sir Francis Knollis, ii. 141. and by Archbifhop Grindal, 162. Dodrine of, flatly contrary to Scripture, vi. 55. A branch of Manichzeifm, 104. Perfecution, on a religious account, utterly inconfiflent with every right of human nature, i. xi. xxiv. xxv, ibid. note. The wrong cfFeft which the ceffation of it has had on the zeal and faith of the Proteftant churches, 122.^ Perfecutions endured by the Fioteflnnts in Holland at the hand of the firft Arminians, ii. 221. 267, 268. Whether the fy nod of Dort can be faid to have perfecuted the Arminians, 2^8, 2(^9. Permijfiony not eafily diftinguifhable from defign, v. 391. Per/e'verance to the end, infeparable from election and faith, i. xxvii. xxix. 209, 210. 226. 264, 265. 302. 305. 311, 312, 319. 340. ii. 47. 7f. 74. 83. 99. 121. 127. 195. 237. Bi- (hop Saunderfon's judgment of, 306. 309. Has no tendency to INDEX. xxxlx to licentioufnefs, loi. King James the Firft's exuberant zeal for the dodrine of final perreverance, 221, 222. 224, 22^. AiTerted by that Prince to be the dodrine of the church of Ergland, 224 — 226. Mrs. Rowe's fine view of it, iii. 134. and Dr. NowePs dark glofiary on it, vi. 116, 117. The blefling of it, vi. 147. The gift of God, ibid. The dodrine of it confidered, v. 386, 387. 440. Stridly philofophicai, vi. 29. note. An EfTay on Final Perfeverance, v. 476. Verjian Mahometans, follow the free-will iyftem of Hali, i. 194. note. 217. Fharaoh, Bucer's refledion on the obduration of that Prince, Phari/eesy always did and will continue to murmur at the gofpel, iii. 243. Philip, King of England and Spain, the probable caufe of his preferving the Princefs (afterwards Queen) Elizabeth from the axe, ii. 105, 106. Interferes with his confort Mary ia behalf of the Englifh Proteftants, 149. Philip III. of Spain, foments Arminianifm in the Dutch Pro- vinces, and why, ii. 241, 242. Philo/opherst beathen, their notions of fallen fpirits, iii. 352. The order in which they feeni to have confidered the chain of events, vi. 19, 20. note. Utterly unable to account for the origin of evil, 98, 99, 100. note, Philo/ophers, feme modern ones, feem to overlook the agreement of neceliity with predeilination, 46. note. The odd manner in which three of them lately reafoned, 105, 106. 111, 112. Philpoty Mr. John, the martyr, a remarkable letter of his, con- cerning the frce-willers, ii. 60. Another of his, concerning that fed, 77. Some account' of him, 80. Defies his Popiih judges to anfwer Calvin's Jnftitutions, 81. AiTerts predefti- nation to have been univerfally held by the Proteftant divines, 82. Extrads from fome of his letters, 83 — 85. Traduced as an Aniinomian by the Free-willers of that age, and why, ibid. 87. Appears to have had an hand in reviling Ponet's cate- chifm, 134. Pia et Catholica Injiiiutio, a Popifh book fo entitled, the ufe Eilbop Bonner made of it, ii. 20. note. Pilkingtouy Dr. James, Bifhop of Durham, preaches a fermon at Cambridge in honour of Bucer and Fagius, ii. 189. Pioniusy a primitive chrillian in the feccnd century, his devout wifh, i. 135, 136. Plagiari/m, an inftance of ir, and how deteded, iv. i?6. Of Mr. Wefley pointed out, in feveral extrads, v. 453 — 463. Plague in London, during that time a great out-pouring of God's fpirit, iv. 147. Plurality of perfons in the divine efTence confidered, iii. 137. Poems, juvenile, vi. 313. 402. — — , in mature yea.o, vi. 403 — 432. Political xl INDEX. Political declamation or difcuffion unfit for the pulpit, iii. 298, 299. Polyander, his remark on the fynod of Dort, on the fupercilious demeanor of the Arminians, ii. 254. Polycarp, i. 134. Extrafts from his Epiflles to the Philippians, y^/J. 135. Ponet, Dr. John, Bifhop of Winchefter, fome account of him, i. 249, 250. note. See Catechi/m. Pookt Mr. Edmund, the martyr, ii. 50. Pontius Pilate, an aflerter of free-will, vi. 72. For which Chrift reprimanded him, 73. Popi, Mr. quoted, iii. 281. note. 292. vi. 34. 52. 92. 134. 67. 76. note. Popery^ grofs advances toward it in the reign of Charles the Firft, i. XXXV. Arminianifm the turnpike-road to it, xxxiii. 94. ii. 270. (See Jrminiani/m.) Mr. Wefley's lax idea of Popery, i. 97. note. Loft much ground during the Marian perfecution of Proteftants, ii. 148. Poplinerius, Launcelot, his teilimony concerning the Waldenfes, ii. 140. Potter, Chriftopher, two letters of his to Laud, i. 66. 68. note. His pains to ingratiate himfelf with that prelate, 67. Halts between Calvinifm and Arminianifm, 69 — 71. note. A dex- terous trimmer, ibid, note. A remarkable circumftance of him, iv. 144. Prayer, irreconcilable with the Arminian doftrine of free-will, i. 209. Warranted by predeftination, ii. 126. An appointed mean to appointed ends, vi. 84. By no means incompatible with predeitination, 98, 99. Prayers for private ufe, bound up with the Liturgy, ii. 128, 129. A courfe of, for a family, v. 482, &c. Preaching to finners perfedly compatible with the doftrine of predelli nation, exemplified, v. 278. Predejiination, a dodrine peculiarly offenfive to the church of Rome, i. 74. 82. 93. ii. 186. The Pelagian idea of it, i. xxxii. 50. 171. ii. 53. The denial of predeftination fe- verely punifned by our Englifti reformers, i. xxv. note. 49, 50. ii. 146. 210. Apoftatized from, at modern Geneva, 64. St. Auftin's dodlrine of, i, 101, IC2. Judicioufly ftated by Re- migius of Lyons, 153, 154. Held by the church of England, i. no. ii. 208. 210. 291. 293. and by the primitive church, i. no — 114. Definitions of it, 206. 316.332,333. ii. 192. 20^. Extends to all things, i. 316. 332. ii. 204. Has no foundation but the fovereign will of God, i. 235. ii. 205, 206. 238. Is infallibly eiFeftual, i. 228. Archbilhop Bancroft's method of reafoning upon it, 273, 274. and Mr. Bradford's, ii. 74. How it differs from ele6tion, 205. Nothing unjuft or arbitrary in the belief of it, iii. 290. Ufes and abufes of, vi. Ill, 112. The dodrine of, ftated and aflerted, 195, 312. Does not fei afide the means, v. 2i4« Explained as it relates to INDEX. xli ' to all men, 238. Ought to be openly preached and infilled upon, 280. Exemplified, 278. A clear mirror to fee the attributes of God in, 294. Does not annihilate fin, 419. 426. Nor reduce men, to machines, 3;8. 41 1. Nor clafh with the future judgment, 431. Harmonifes with neceffity, vi. 46. note, Pre/ervation, divine, the caufe of perfeverance, i. 302. 306. 311, 312. 321. ii. 25. 58, 59. 100. Prevaricating from the grammatical fenfe of the articles, the tendency thereof, v. 28, 29. Pria'e, the parent of difcontent, iii. 280. Prideaux, Dr. John, Bifhop of Worcefter, his memorable fpeech to James the Firfl, ii. 280. Profecutes Mr. Brydges for Arminianifm, 317. Priefi, a fat-headed one, ii. g2. Very flrenuous againft pre- deftination, and in behalf of free-will, 93. PrieJiUyy Dr.quoted, vi. 37. note. 133. His complete vidlory over the Doftors Reid, Beattie, and Ofwald, 44. note. An un- guarded expreflion of his, 249. His philofophic writings regarded by many Calvinifts, 250. Though heteredox, yec a man of probity, 299. i. 86. (Memoirs.) Prior t Matthew, a reply of his, iv. 155. Prophecy^ affords an irrefragable argument and proof of pre* deftination or neceffity, i. 177 — 179. iii. 571. vi. 59— .62. Summary of fcripture prophecies, iii. 571. Pronjidence of God, i. 198. 202, 203. 205. 266. 275. 277. 278. 311. 334, 335. ii. 75. 84. 131. Particular and unlimited, an eminent branch in the Chriftian fyftem, iii. 155. Its uni- verfal agency fo as to extend to tstx'j thing, v. 395. 420. vi, 35* 5'* 54» 55* 7^* 7"* ^°^^' ^7* 9^» ^^^' ^^^ myfterioufnefs, no juft reafon for either denying or blafpheming it, v. 392. 426. 447. Neceffity another name for it, vi. 46. note. Par- ticularly concerned in the birth and death of men, 80 — 87, And of inferior animals, /^;V. Pro'vi dent iai deliverances /lu. 117. Difpenfations, 119. Prynne, William, excluded the Houfe of Commons for his loyalty to Charles I. ii. 300, 301. His zeal for the rertoration of monarchy, iSid» Accepted of a place under Charles II. Hid, Other particulars of him, 300, 301. Pulpits, at variance with the defk, i. viii. ii. 355. Puritanifm falfely charged on the Calviniftic dodlrine, ii. 323, 345 — 349. Judgment of Archbilhop Ufher and Bilhop Saunderfon on this matter, 347. 350. Puritans, ancient, fome of them actuated by a very perverfe fpirit, ii. 167. 361. note. Did not diflent from the dodrines, but from the ceremonies, of the church, 349, 350. v. 85. Vol. VI. (36.) H h ^JLITJES, xlli INDEX. 0^UALNIES^ fenfible, of matter, what they are, vl. ii6. ^^^Xj From whence they refulr, /^/W, 122, 125. 132. 135. Would be totally reveifed, if our organs of perception were oppofuely conftituted to what they are, 124, m^. 134, 135. ,142. ^arto Bible, publiftied in the reign of Edward the Sixth, ii. 1 1 3. Other editions during the reign of Elizabeth, ii. 1 1.5-— ^ery, concerning a pafl'agein the marriage ceremony, in, 445. ^ue/nel Pa/quiefy fample of the, 10 1. Propofition for which he was anathematifed by the Pope, i. 92. His exile, impri- fonment and death, 94. ^eftions and anfwers, concerning prcdeflination, formerly bound up with our EngUlli Bibles, ii. 123 — 127. Their authority vindicated, 124. R T>AMSATy Chevalier, collefts t^e conjeftures of the ancients concerning the rife of moral evil, vi. 102. note, Randal Anthony, deprived for Ranterifm, i. 106. A view of his tenets, ihid. Ranters, a continuatiou of the Familifts, i. 104. Held that predeftination was not abfolute, but conditional, 105. Vio- lent advocates for free will and perfection, ibid. note. Bore a vehement enmity to the Puritans, 108. Their (ha melefs pre- tences to veneration for the church of England, ibid. Main- tained univerfal grace and redemption, ibid. 109. Dr. Fuller's charaderof them, tbid. (See more, under the article q{ Fifth - monarchy ■ men. J Redemptiony not unlimited, i. 120. 123. 129. 141. 143. 144. 148, 266. 295 — 299. 322. ii. 72. 193. What redemption really is, i. 295. Limited, not oifcouraging, ii. 72. Conditional, a modilh tenet, iii 29. The conlequence of fuch a fyltem, 30. Not left at uncertainty, 399. A finifhed work, vi. 104. '1 he extent of, 128. Some very pertinent reflcdions thereon, 1 29, &c Rfjinementt focial, not natural to man, vi. 49, 50. note, Refitition ox\ the beginning of the year, iii. 454. Not a fource of any new ideas, vi. 24. Reformation, at what time it took its rife, v. 19. At prefent a fad awful departure from the principles, vi. 150. The fruit fuch declenhon produces, ibid. 151. Refounersy Engiifli, were profefled Calviniils in do6lrine, 1.248. Large proof of this, i. 243 — 348. Regeneration^ the work of efficdcigus grace, i. 119. 284* 285. 310. Aa INDEX. xliii An evicence of eledion, 273, 274, Man unable to contribute any thing towards it, ii. 98, 99. Its priority, v. 94. Not the effcft of human (.ower, vi. 69. 108. See Grace. Reinerius, a Popifh iiiquifuor in the twelfth century, his account of the VValdenfes, i. 140. Religion oi Chni\y peculiarly diftinguifhed from every other in one pardfular, iii. 24/. 2-3. Religious ignorance in a perfon of quality, iv. 162. 179. 190. Remarks on peculiar pafliiges of Scripture, Eccles. vii. 16. iii. 425. i. Cor. XV. 28—428. Rom viii. 4 — 430. Rom. ix 3 — 432. i. Cor. XV. 29 — 434. i. Cor. xv. 5 — 435. Cant. viii. 14—437. Remig:usy Archbifhop cf Lyons, i. 152 — 154. Repentance, the gift of God, i. 130. A mafterly confideration thereof, iii. 249, &c. ReprobatCy their number fixed and determined, v. 246. Reprobation, denied by the Pelagians, i. 50. ii. 259. note. Cal- vin falfely charged with terming it a horrible decree, 352. Peter Martyr's definition of it, i. i^'i^d. Does not maice God the author of fin, ibid, ii.132. A dodrine we are not obliged to wade in, loi.* Exprefsly revealed in fcripture, i. 320. ii. 116. J 18. I2C, 121. vi. 109. Plainly deducible and implied in the 39 Articles, ii. 108. note. 209. 210. 322. vi. 109, iio. and in the homilies, 127, 128. The Arminians at the fynod of Dort would fain have put reprobation before eledion, ii. 257, 258. A noftrine extremely orfenfive to Pelagians, 259. note. Bifliop Saunderfon's view of it, 308,309. As it refpecls angels, v. 303. And the ungodly, 2^8. &c. Reprobation of fome men moll exprefsly affirmed in fcripture, 402, 403. 407. No ways cruel on the part of God, and why, 273. Not inconfiilent with divine juftice, 388. Nor with mercy, 397, Nor with the nature of fin, 419. Nor with future judgment, 276. Its equity, proved from the inequality of Goo's providential difpenfations, 392. 394. Is rather a negative thing, than pofitive, 399. Jrreverfibie, 405. See alfo, vi. 56. 89. note. Reproof X.O a minifteron his remifTnef?, vi. 147, 148. Retradiouy a model recommended to an Arminian, i. xxiii— XXX. Rheimsy Englifh Papifls at, publifh a falfe tranflation of the New Teftament, with fophiftical notes, ii, 196, Confuted by Dr. Fulke, 197. Richard I. his reign and crufade to the holy land, ii. 398. His death and interment, 400. His defpicable charadler, ibid* Anecdote of him, iv. i t;c. ■ II. his reign, fome traits in his charafter, ii. 411, His confinement, death, indecent burial, and re-interment^ III. his reign, ii. 424. Slain in battle, 426. And interment, ibid. Ridicule^ no teft of truth, vi. 27, 28. note* JI h 2 Ridfej, xliv INDEX. RiMey, Blfliop, confefled before his Popifli judges, that he alTilled in drawing up Ponet's catechifm, i, 250. And that he fubfcribed it when finifhed, ibid. Some account of him and his manner of living, 259, 266 — 268. His intenfe ftudy of the Scriptures, ibid. His atteftation to the Calvinillic dodtrine, 262 — 266. His profound veneration for Ponet's catechifm, and for the articles and homilies, 260, 261. His remarkable kindnefs to Bonner's mother, 267. The moll learned of all our (native) Englifh reformers, 268- Writes a defence of predeftinaiion, in oppofition to the Free-will men, ii. 78. Righteous y overmuch, in what refped, iii. 424. Righteoujne/s of Chrift, the only obedience by which we can be juliified before God, i. 141. 290 — 292. Muft be carefully diftinguilhed from inherent righteoufnefs, ii. 22. Rogers y Mr. John, the firft martyr who fuffered in the reign of Mary the Bloody, ii. 23, 24. His tranquillity juft before his execution, iv. 158. Rogers t Mr. Thomas, publifhes an expofition of the 39 Articles, ii. 208. Rollin, Monfieur, a fine obfervation froiPi v. i6g. Romaine, Mr. a reply of his, to one under fpiritual trouble, iv. 174. Mrs. an appofite anfwer of her's tea clergymen, iv, 172. Ro?net church of, favoured by Archblftiop Laud, i. 68. note, 72. Exults at the deluge of Arminianifm which overflows the church of England, ibid. Thunders againft Calvinifm, 74 — 78. 80 — 83. 87 — 90. 93. Struck with alarm at Calvin's defign of uniting the Proteftants into one body, ii. 151. note. Very angry with the doftrine of abfolute predeftination, 186. 198. AfTerts two j unification s, 194. 200. Teaches eledion upon works forefeen, 195. 199. 207. Peculiarly enraged againfl the fynod of Dort, 253. 271. Rothy Mr. Richard, the martyr, ii. 62. Rough, Mr. John, the martyr, ii. 62. Ro'ue, Mr. Thomas, fome account of, iii. 121. 12 J. Reive f Mrs. Elizabeth, her life and death, iv. 118. Rule of human aftions, what, v. 47. OAINTS, in glory, know each other, reafons afTigned for the alTertion, vi. 287, 28S. Salvation, our own perfonal knowledge of, by no means pre- fumptuous, iii. 209. Samuel, Mr. Robert, the martyr, ii. 44—46. Sapma, the Arminian, his outrageous infolence to the fynod of Dort, ii. 260. note. Saunders, Mr. Laurence, the martyr, ii. 24 — 26. Saunderfon, Dr. Robert, Bifhop of Lincoln, his opinion of Cal- vin's INDEX. xlvr vm*s Inftitutes, ii. 306. His manner of accounting for the progrefs of Arminianifm, ibid. 307. His idea of eleftion and reprobation, 308, 30c). Vindicates the Calvinian dodrines from the charge of puritanifm, 350. SwuilUy Sir Henry, in concert with Archbifhop Abbot, prints Bradwardin againfl the Pelagians, i. 189. Extrads from the preface prefixed by him to that work, 1S6, 187. Sawtreey Mr. William, the martyr, i. 122. Scaligety Julius, thought himfelf exquifitely handTome, vi. 140. Sceptre, probable origin of, iii. 394. When it began to depart, and afterwards adlually departed from Judah, 396, 397. ^elf' determination, an attribute inconfiftent with the human ilate, vi. 22. 29. 44. Dodrine of, the very efTence of Atheifm, 31, 76. 112. Incompatible with a judgment to come, 44, 45. Totally antifcriptural, 31.53,^4. Excludes the foreknowledge of God, 59. 61. Tallies with Manichaeifm, 102, 103. In one refped, more enormoufly abfurd than the Manichaean hypothesis, 104. Self'lcve, vi. 139. Sellon, Mr. the capacity in which he ferves Mr. Wefley, i. vi. Very ill qualified for his office, viii. His ihocking difrefpeft to the Supreme Being, xiv. Styles himfelf an ** Exotic,'* XV. How he came to wear prunella, ibid, note. His com- pliments to the Vicar of Broad Hembury, xvii. His addrefs to ditto, xvlii. A fmall body of Pelagian divinity, xix. His title to gentlenefsof chaftifement, xx, xxi. Would fend us to Goodwin the ranter to teach us the doflrine of the church of England, xxxviii. note. His high opinion of the faid Goodwin, xlii. Rather unhappy as a logician, xliii. A fpeculation concerning him, ^t. Infults the memory of Edward the Sixth, 54. Conteffes lus own incompetence to controverfy, 63. His blunder concerning Potter, 66. 69. An hint to the Pope concerning him, 103. Convided of Ranterifm, log, no. Jumps with the church of Rome, 164. 168, Charges our firft reformers with Popery and Mahometifm, 244. 254. Un- mercifully haunted with certain ghofts, ii. 136. Parfon Tal- bot's petition to him fets him afwearing, 144. Acknowledges the Calvinifm of the reformers, i. 244. And of the church of England, ii. 145. The compliment he pafies on the bifliops who framed the xxxix Articles, ibid. And on the tranflators of the prefent Rnglifh Bible, ibid. note. Congratulated on his living in the prefent age, 147, 148. Defied to prove the pre- tended Arminianifm of Ufher and Davenant, 266, note. Sample of his aftoniftiing ignorance, 344. note. Semi'Peiagians, no important difference between their fyftcm and that of Pelngius, i. xxxiii, xxxiv. Serj/ationy the only fource of human ideas, vi. 24, 25. Sen/esy defined, vi. is 6. Sometimes millead us, 121, 122.. 124, 125. Differently conftruded in difl^"erent perfons, 135. 139, Admirably fitted, on the whole, to our prefent ilate, 142. H h 3 Sermofn, 3tlvi INDEX. SermoTff, i»?. 6, &c. Sketch of one, v. 516. Serk/efus, his murder jultlfied by Melanfthon, ii. 3^9. Seton, Alexander, preaches, and renounces the truth, i, 231, nofe. Shebbeare, Dr a remarkable obfervation of which he is fuppofed to be the author, ii. 35 t. Sheterden, Mr. Nicholas, the martyr, ii. 42, 43. Shilch, various fignitications of, iii. 398, 399. All applicable to Chrift, ibid, Sickne/s, we no where read that Chrift ever experienced it, iii^ 67. note. •S/g^^/ of Chrift, not to be waited for until death, iii. 77. Sin, the apoftle John's definition of, vi. 100. Affirmed by Dr. Watts to be a mt^re pavation, 99. Voluntary, the only caufe of any man's conCemnation, v. 404.. The permiflion of it, 197. Adam's fin imputed to his pofterity no unreafonable do6lrineiii. 360. A Ccilculation of fins, 478, &c. Singer, Mr. Walter, fome account of, iit. )i8, 119. Singing of pfalms or hymns, a medium of communion with God, iii. 452, 453. Sinle/s perfeftion leads to Antinoraianifm, inftances of, and the inconfiftency of it illuftraied, v. 341. note. Skelthorpe, a Free-wilier, converted by Mr. Bradford the martyr, ii. 80. Smith, Mr, Robert, the martyr, ii. 43, 44. Smollett, Dr. afcertains the time when the Englifh Arminians fettled into a feft, ii. 217. Accounts for the encouragement latterly given to them b^' James the Fiift, ibid, Snouoy contemplation on, v. 471. .Socinian, what conftitutes one, iii. 147. Solar Syfiem^ defcribed with remarks, iv. 241. Solitude, reflections on, iii. 124. Somerfet, (Edward Seymour) Duke of, Proteftor of England, under his nephew, Edward the Sixth, i. 57. His great venera- tion for Calvin, 52. An excellent prayer of his, 73. Tranllates a letter fent to him by Calvin, 53. Soul, the immortality of it, iii, 156. Of the believer, the in- ftant it takes its flight, is admitted to the fight and fruition of the godhead, 126. Though ignorant of its origin, maybe made happy here, with the hope of being made happy here- aft«r, vi. 207. Of God's own immediate creniion and in- fufjon, vi. 201. The alone perceiving principle in man, 25. 126. The viift dependance on the body, during their union, 24, 25. 32, 33. Confcioufnefs and reafon, two of its infe- parable attributes, 25. note. Its immediate origin difficult to afcertain, 82. note. Probable that all human fouls are endued with equal intelledual powers, 32. Sauihy Dr. R(;bert, a jult diftindion of his, i. j^. His opinion of Burnet's cxpofition, v. 30. His convcrfion from Ar- mini^nifm, vi, 60. note. Sovereignty t INDEX. xlvii Sovereignty, of God, Mrs. Rowe*s meditations on it, iii. 133. Its abfolutenefs acknowledged even by Ibme eminent Arminians, V. 415. 417. See alfo vi. 34, 35. Speculatipn, curious, an immenfe ocean, not to be launched too far in, vi, 202. Spicer, Mr. Thomas, the martyr, ii. ^o. Spirit, Holy, the influence of, how believed by a true Chrlftian, V. 88, 89. The church of England's opinion refpeding it, VI. 143, 144 Spirit and matter f the only two efle nee s in the univerfe, vi. 23. I 29. note. Spirits, unembodied, their agency the mod probable caufe of human madnefs, 26. note. Their influence on men greater than generally imagined, ihid. Spiritual dechnCions, one leading caufe of it, iii. 102. Stanhope, Mr. a fhort fketch of, vi. z^'o. Stephen, his reign, ii, 381. And death, 382. Stillingjieet, Biihop of Worceller, traces the true origin of onr prefent liturgy, i. 247. His honourable mencion.of Calvin, ii. 12. Stoicifm, in flying from it the Arminians plunge into the \zxy worft partof it, i. li^o. Stoics, what the wifer part of them meant by the word lAXe, i. 200. 328, 329. Came the neareft to ChrilHanity, both as to doctrines and morals of any other fe6l, 330, 33 i . Stoning, among the jews, iii. 483. Sublapfarian principle, what it is, i. 245. note. The hypothefis adopted by moll of our reformers, ibid. Solidly vindicated by Bifhop Davenant, ii. 209. Sub/cription ioiht 39 Articles. Converfation between two Cam- brige'divines about it, ii. 178, 179. In Bi96. A converfation between him and Mr. Burgh, iii. 168. note, and Mr. Whitefield, vi. 244. His curious inter- view with Mr. Thomas Oliver, 177 A providential efcape while preaching, 283. His choice (if confiilent with the will of providence) for fudden death, 2 u- His preaching at Orange- ftreet chapel, i. 96. Mr. VVefley and his myrmidons, their bafe falfehood againil him when dying, which occafioned the publication of his dying avowal, 99, A recital by fome of his friends, of God's fupport to him in his immediate view of diflblu:ion,io2. His death and burial, 108. Further malignity of Mr. INDEX. xlbc Mr. Wefley after his death towards his memory, log. Sir Richard Hill's letter to Mr. Wefley on his daftardly conduft, iiQ. Mr. Toplady*s laft will and teftament, 120. Mr. Fellows's elegy on his death, 125. Torpeiio, its peculiarity, iv. 187. Tourney y Mr. Hopped of his degree at Cambridge, for being an Arminian, ii. 322, 523. Tremel/ius, invited to England in the reign of Edward the Sixth, i. 324. His Englifh preferments, iiiii. Firft converted under the miniftry of Peter Martyr, 325. Trent, Council of, i. 79 — 84. Its canons refuted by Calvin, 2 1, note. Terribly alarmed by Calvin's plan for a coalitioa of all Proteftants, ii. 151. note. Treiu, a noify Freewiller, his idea of predeftination, ii. 53. Turret tin, Benedift, faid to have been the firft fuccefsful fower of Arminianifm at Geneva, toward the end of the 17th cen- tury, i. 64. Turiy anecdote of a benevolent one, iii. 102. Turrettin^ John Alphaeus, his juft character of Calvin, ii. 14, His charader of Charles the Second, ii. 328. Tym, Mr. William, the martyr, ii. 48 — 50. His ready retort on Bilhop Gardiner, 49. Mr. Carelefs's letter to him, 55—57. Tyndal, Mr. William, the martyr, i. 224, 225. His dodlrines, ihid 228. His tranflation of the Scriptures revifed and re- publilhed by Cranmer, ii. no, in, Typt^j, vi. 76. U. TTNCHj^NGEJBLENESS of God, effential to his immortality, ^ vi. 86. JJnigenitusy Bull, publilhed againft Quefnel by Pope Clement XIII. i. 92, 93. Union of Chrift with his church, indifToluble, i. 131, 132, 133. 161. 226. ii. 45. United Pro'vinces of Holland, &c. how and at what time reformed from Popery, ii. 242. Forewarned by James the Firft, of the mifchiefs which would enfue from the fchifm of Arminius, 221. 228, 229. Brought to the verge of ruin by the Arminian fadion, 220, 221. 240. Retrieved by the wifdom and he- roifm of Prince Maurice, 242, 24.3. States of, their polite liberality to the Briiifh divines, who fat in the fynod of Dort, Unity of the Godhead confidered, iii. 137. Uni the Firfi's bad opinion of him, 221. 227. His writings publicly burned at London, and at the two univerfities 222. The King foliciis the States of Holland eiJier to banifti him, or burn him, 225. 230, 231. Voffius, (John Gcr.) his convenient duplicity, i. 70. 72. note. His Pelagian hiftory new entitled, 154. Seems to have mifre- prefented Florus Magiller, ihid. W. TJ/JLDENSES. Sec Alhigen/es, Wales, the Princes of, origin of their motto and coronet, ii. 40g. Waljhy Mr. Thomas, his afFe(5ling diftrefs In his illnefs, and pe- culiar darknefs of mind, and lail words, iv. 187, Waljingham^ Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth, offers large conceflions to the Puritans, ii. 2&1. 7jote. Warburton, Bilhop, his inconfiftency, iv. 150. Ward, Dr. Samuel, Archdeacon of Taunton, one of James the f irlVs commiffioners to the fynod of Dort, ii. 224, The par- ticular branch of Arminianifm which he there fet himfelf to demolifh, 262. Remarkable extrat^s from letters which paiTed between him and Archbilhop Ulher, 296, 797. 321. 325. Warne, Mr. John, the martyr, ii. 36. His memoiable con- fefiion of faith, ihid. 41. Warren, Sir Peter, his courage, \v. 155. Waterlandy Dr. his prejudice and bigotry, ii. 153. ttote. War/on, Bilhop of Chichefter, a memorable hint of his to Queen Elizabeth in her lall moments, ii. 21 ». Wa.'tSy Dr. fome outlines of, iv. 107. Remarkable beautiful lines from, vi. 173. His theory of fin, vi. 99. We/alia, John de, his do6lrines and fuiFerings, -i. 166 — 168. W^Jley,yir. Jnhn, his implacable rancour againil Mr. Hervey's memory, and why, i. xii. xiii. A f . rm ot recantation recom- mended to him, xxiii — xxx. Abfurdlv pleads his old age and labours, ibid. Defervedly extolled by fome of the Romifh church, 97. Reprefents Popery as confiding in a mere trifle, ibid. note. Is not quite a Mahometan in ttie articles of re- creations, 220. Various particulars wherein he Ihakes hands with Mahomet, 219, 220. A rank harmonizor with the clyurcb of Rome, ii. 54,271. Striking conformity between him Hi INDEX. him and the Pelagians of the fix tee nth century, 87. Scared by an hoft of theological fpedtres, 13(5, 136. The fources from whence he partly drained his dodlrine of perfedion, il. 141. An eminent blunder-merchant, 145. Congratulated on a certain happy circumftance, 147. His encomium on Queen Elizabeth, 211. Remark on his miflion of lay- preachers, 327. Mifreprefents the doftrine of the church of England, 341. 344. A word of advice to him, 345. note, Convided of a falfhood with regard to Calvin, 352.. Some excellent lines concerning him, 363. A more circumftantial account of the Bathing-tub baptifm aSminiftered by this gentleman, 367. flis polemical variations, v. 372. Aflerts j unification and falvation by works, 379. note. 447. His dex- terous talent at forgery, 364. 404. His pair of delegable fimiles, 409. His ihamelefs plagiarifms, 428. 432. A fpe- cimen of his prefumption and inconfiftency, 344. 466. Rules for his focieties, ibid. note. Specimens of his logic, 384. 399. 409. 419, 420. A ferious addrefs to him, 447, 448. /F^y?/c/«/?^r afiembly of divines, vi. 108, 109. Whifiotiy Mr. William, fome remarkable particulars which pafled in converfation between him and Sir Jofeph Jekyl, i. 6:;, 66, note. His anecdotes of one Dr. Cannon, a profefled tem- porizer, ii. 178. Hampers Lord Chancellor King on the topic of ecclefiaftical fuhfcription, ibid. Whipping^ among the Jews, how performed, iii. 483. Whitejieldi Mr. George, a concife charadler of, iv. 134. An attempt to ftone him over-ruled, iv. 164. Anecdote of, 141. His peculiar defignation, i. 2. (Memoirs.) Whitgifty Dr. John, Archbiftiop of Canterbury, his high efteem of NowePs catechifm, ii. 135. Charadler of this prelate, 167. His trouble with Baro the Pelagian, 168 — 172. 176. His memorable atteftation to the Lambeth articles, 174, 175. 179, The politic manner in which he weeded Cambridge of Baro, 176. His veneration of Calvin, 182. Attends Queen Eli-- zabeth when Ihe was expiring, 211. Whittlcy Mr. Thomas, the martyr, ii. 46, 47. Wickliffe, his memory and doftrines anathematized by Pope Martin, i. 73 — 75. His writings the means of converting John Hufs, 158. The vaft length to which he carried the dodrine of predertination, 177 — 181. An abfolute denier of merit, ibid. Biftiop Newton's account and cbarader of him, 182, 183, His gown and pulpit faid to be ftill preferved at Lutterworth, 184. Specimen of his tranflation of the New Teftament, 182, 183. note. Learned from Bradwardin the true doftrine of j unification, 189. Lord Cobham's zeal in difperfing his works, 213. Farther notice of him, 410. Wi€ks, Mrs. her great confolation when dying, iv. 175. Will oi God, the primary and fovereign caufe of falvation, 1. 135. 235. ii. 206. The foundation of the divine foreknow- ledge, i. 197. 205, 206, 333. ii. 193. 206. Its invincible efficacy. ^fcc JZ INDEX. Hit efficacy, i. 191. 197, 198. 276, 277. 281. 11, 131. 193. Its abfolute fovereignty over the will of man, i. 175. ii. 132, 133, NecefTarily immutable, i. 198. The bafis of fate or providence, 200. noti, Diftinguifhed into fecret and revealed, 276. TTi'll of man, its natural freedom to evil acknowledged, i. 206, ii. 194. Abfolutely governed by the underftanding or intel- lefts, i. 207, 208. 228. Its fpiritual powers denied, i. 208, 209. 228. 230. 242, 243. 283. 537, 338. ii. 98. 199. 205, 206. Compared by Luther and Martyr to an horfe, i. 338. Undergoes a change in the eleft, ii. 132. 198, 199. Is not independent of God, 362. The reconciling it with the grace of God, incompatible and unfcriptural, iii. 319. William I, his reign, ii. 386. Death and burial, 387. ■ II. ii, 387. Builds Weftminfter-hall, il>id. Death and burial, 388. ■ III. his view of Providence, iv. 144. An abfolute pre- deftinarian, v. 170. Willet, Dr. Andrew, an account of his Sjnopfif Papi/mi, with extrafts, ii. 191 — 196. Reprinted by authority, in the reign of Charles I. ii. 30^-. mi/ouy Bifhop, life of, iv. 98. Winfton, expulfion of Proteftants from, ii. 50. Wijharty Mr. George, the martyr, the ilmplicity of his drefs and manners, i. 242. note. His doftrines, 243. WitfiuSy his excellent dedication of Oeconomia Faderum to Wil- liam III. i. w^.note. His remark concerning the world of the eled, 149. note. A fine remark of his, vi. 82. His early and deep progrefs in learning, 69. His converfion, 72. Wolfey^ Cardinal, his obfcure birth and high honours, ii. 430, Walton y Bifhop of Exeter, deprives the Redor of Lidford for Ranterifm, i, 106. Woman, a poor one, an intrinfic legacy Ihe left to a lady of quality, iv. 147. Woodman, (Mr. Richard) the martyr, his conteft with the Popifh Bilhop of Chichefter, ii. 8H. Confutes another Popilh dodlor in the article of free-will, 89 — 91. Encounters a very fat prieft, 92, 93. Word and fpirit of God, the two grand dated guides of a chrillian, iii, 339. The ftiidy of the word how it ought to be loved, 84. Several eminent men, their dcli;j;ht in it, loi. The fcarcity of it how prized, 102, The negligence in pe- rufing it, will be a witnefs at the lail day, ibid. Work, plenty of, to take notice of every nibbler, vi. 216. Works^ good, cannot jullify us before God, i. 125. 133. 240. ii. 29, 30. 343. Do not go before but follow after jufti- fication, i. 231. 288. 289. ii. 3;. 97. 236. jullify us before men, i. xxvi. ii. 29. 31. 122. 344. vi. 123, 124. What deno- minates them fuch, iii. 41;. Almoft every fetSl expefting fal- vation for them, 273, Good, whether they will add to our future liv I N . D E X. future glory, 471. Their ufe, 273, 274. Under pretence of magnifying faith entirely caft afide, vi. 155. World, and ivhole ixjorld, how thofe terms are often to be under- llood, i. xxviii. 135. 149, 1 5;o. 298. iii. 32. The abfurdity pointed out, when not ufed in a reltridive fenfe, 33. May be juftiy divided into two clafies, 345. To be deftroyed, and the fymptom of its difTolution, 460. Its cenfures of and ap- pellations given to new converts, 331, 332. Wrangling in private company, has no good tendency, iv. 163. Writersy contemptible oncb, a fimile from Mr. Addifon re- lpe(^ing them, vi. 204. Y. y*OUNGy the late Dr. Edward, a remark of his, r. 117. His refledion on the prefect ftate of religion in England, ii. 355. A fample how far he carried free-will, iii. 137. note. What he was compelled to acknowledge, v. 162. His advice re- fpefting having a good opinion of mankind, vi. 219. His inconfiilent ideas of human nature, 49. Fine paffages from, 117, 118. 113. 131. 224. ^JNCHJUS, Jerom. converted under the miniflry of Peter Martyr, i. 325. His arguments in favour of epifcopacy, ii. 17. Archbiftiop Grindal'shigh opinion of him, 160. And Bifliop Parkhurfl's, 305. His polite and faithful reprehenfion of Melandhon, 337, 338. Invited to England to aflift in the reformation here, 340. Some account of his life, v. 178. His clear infight into the doftrines of grace wonderful, 190. Zuin^liust Ulricus, the Waldenfes apply to him for preachers, i. 139. His charadler and magnanimous death, ii. 180, 181. note. E R R At A, Vol. I. (Memoirs.) Page 4, Line 37, read ii. inftead of xi, J, * Page 94, Line 1, read 1777 inftead of 1776. VI. Page 268, Line 9, for injianu r^ead injlant. ■'; yA iy ^'^ { ^. .^ V . V Mi .jfi ^ 'T" iW^"