LETTER LXXIX.

DR. DODDRIDGE to the REV. S. CLARK, D. D. just after the publication of the first volume of his Family Expositor.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Feb. 27, 1739.

I think I must thank you for writing to me no sooner; for if the time which it would have cost you was spent in a care of your own health, I had a thousand times rather that you should be well, than my most punctual correspondent. I hope your journey will so far recruit you that, as the spring advances, you may be capable of a longer. Your company here would be one of the greatest imaginable pleasures both to me and my wife; and I should be glad of an opportunity of receiving your further thoughts on my schemes of education, by which I hope many might receive benefit, and in due time your own son amongst the rest.

I thank God, I am not very solicitous about the reception the work may meet with in the world; and that because I have a secret consciousness in my own heart, that my aim was something much greater than either profit or applause: and I have a cheerful hope that God will bless it; nor can I fear that a work of which you were pleased to express so favourable an opinion should be utterly despised by persons of a true taste. How such an old fashioned dedication may be relished at court I cannot tell; my intentions were very upright, and it is much better that I should be thought too much of a Pu

ritan, than that the character of a minister should be prostituted; or that I should appear ashamed of that which is our glory.

I bless God, my wife and family are, at present, well.

I am, reverend and dear Sir,

Your most affectionate

and obedient humble servant,

P. DODDRIdge.

LETTER LXXX.

REV. GEO. WHITFIELD to MR. H

of Edinburgh.

DEAR MR. H

Melvill, October 5, 1741.

I received your kind letter with the bill, and also that signed by you, and my other friends at Edinburgh. I take all they say in good part, but think some of their reasonings a little too worldly. The calumnies of evil men are not to be regarded. I value them not in the least. My largest donations have been from the rich and substantial. The mites which the lower sort of people have given, I am persuaded will not prevent their paying their debts, or impoverish their families. Mr. W, in a letter to Mr. S- —, wishes there may be a private contribution for myself; but I know nothing of, and will not admit of any such thing. I make no purse; what I have, I give away. Freely I have received, freely I desire to give.

"Poor, yet

I

making many rich," shall be my motto still. My great and professed design, is to bring poor sinners to Jesus Christ: but as my orphan family abroad is now large, and daily to be provided for, without the least visible fund, and I believe much glory will redound to God from that house; I think it my duty to speak to those who I believe, for Christ's sake, are willing to help them. would have no one afraid of doing too much good, or think that a little given in charity will impoverish the country. May God reward you, and all others that have assisted me for his dear Son's sake! My poor prayers will always attend my Scotch friends. When I shall go to England, I know not, but I hope God will direct me. I must have done. Dear Sir, may the Lord be with you, and be your ease in pain. My kindest respects attend your kind wife, and all my dear friends. I thank you and them for their advice, and desire to subscribe myself, with much affection,

Dear sir,

Your obliged and affectionate friend and servant, G. W.

LETTER LXXXI.

REV. JOHN WESLEY to a noble LORD, reproving him for contemplating a measure which would have been attended with the public desecration of the Sabbath.

MY LORD,

1782.

If I wrong your lordship, I am sorry for it; but I

really believe your lordship fears God; and I hope your lordship has no unfavourable opinion of the Christian revelation. This encourages me to trouble your lordship with a few lines, which otherwise I should not take upon me to do.

Above thirty years ago, a motion was made in parliament, for raising and embodying the militia, and for exercising them, to save time, on Sunday. When the motion was like to pass, an old gentleman stood up, and said, “Mr. Speaker, I have one objection to this: I believe an old book, called the Bible." The members looked at one another, and the motion was dropped.

Must not all others, who believe the Bible, have the very same objection? And, from what I have seen, I cannot but think, these are still threefourths of the nation. Now, setting religion out of the question, is it expedient to give such a shock to so many millions of people at once? And certainly it would shock them extremely: it would wound them in a very tender part. For would not they, would not all England, would not all Europe, consider this as a virtual repeal of the Bible! And would not all serious persons say, "We have little religion in the land now; but by this step, we shall have less still? For wherever this pretty show is to be seen, the people will flock together; and will lounge away so much time before and after it, that the churches will be emptier than they are already!"

My lord, I am concerned for this on a double account: first, because I have personal obligations

to your lordship, and would fain, even for this reason, recommend your lordship to the love and esteem of all over whom I have any influence. Secondly, because I now reverence your lordship for your office' sake; and believe it to be my bounden duty to do all that is in my little power, to advance your lordship's influence and reputation.

Will your lordship permit me to add a word in my old-fashioned way ? I pray him that has all power in heaven and earth, to prosper all your endeavours for the public good; and am,

My lord,

Your lordship's willing servant.

LETTER LXXXII.

Principal CAMPBELL, on voluntarily resigning his offices and emoluments as professor of divinity in Marischal College, and minister of Gray Friars' Church, Aberdeen.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Aberdeen, June 11, 1795.

I hereby intimate to you, and to the reverend presbytery of Aberdeen, that I henceforth resign my charge of Professor of Divinity in Marischal College, and minister of Gray Friars' Church, into the hands of the Presbytery, whom I entreat to declare me released in future from these functions, and the pastoral relation implied in them loosed.

The causes of my making this resignation are the following: