Lj..  5L7.  '05". 
 
 Srom  f  ^c  feifirart  of 
 
 (profe06or  ^amuef  (gtifPer 
 
 in  (^emot)?  of 
 
 3ubge  ^amuef  (gtiffer  QBrecftinrtb^e 
 
 gjreeenteb  6i? 
 
 ^amuef  (ttliffer  QSrecftinribge  feon^ 
 
 to  t^e  iiA&x(Kxt  of 
 
 (Princeton  S^eofogicdf  ^eminarg 
 
THE   HON";  V///^/  R  E  V?  W.  B  o  CAD  O  CAN 
 
 Jiif/iayiul  fii/tn  a  Mi/iiii/iiir  i/i  thf  Foije-rficn  or\WfOidoc)im  byJCoUi/er 
 
DISCOURSES 
 
 OF    THE 
 
 HONOURABLE    AND    REVEREND 
 
 WILLIAM  BROMLEY  CADOGAN,  A.M. 
 
 LATE    RECTOR    OF    ST.    LUKE's,    CHELSEA, 
 
 VICAR  OF  ST.  GILESES  J  READING',  AND 
 
 CHAPLAIN  TO  THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE  LORD  CADOGAN, 
 
 TO   WHICH    ARE    NOW    ADDED 
 
 SHORT  OBSERVATIONS  on  the  LORD's  PRAYER. 
 
 AND 
 
 LETTERS  TO  SEVERAL  OF  HIS  FRIENDS. 
 
 THE  WHOLE  COLLECTED  INTO  ONE  VOLUME, 
 WITH 
 
 MEMOIRS   OF  HIS    LIFE. 
 By  RICHARD  CECIL,  A.M. 
 
 MINISTER    OF   ST.    JOHN^S    CHAPEL,   BEDFORlf    ROff^. 
 
 Hontion : 
 
 PRINTED  FOR    F.   AND    C.    RIVINGTON, 
 NO.  6z,  ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH-YARD. 
 
 1798. 
 
N.B.   Whatever  profit  arifes  from  the  pubUcatio7i 
 
 of  the  following  Dfcourfes,  MRS.  Cadogan 
 
 appropriates  towards  the  fupport  of  an  Infii' 
 
 tution  at  Brifiol^  which  educates  pious  Youths 
 
 for  the  Church. 
 
EMOIRS 
 
 OF    THE 
 
 HONOURABLE  AND  REVEREND 
 
 WILLIAM  BROMLEY  CADOGAN. 
 
TO    THE    HONOURABLE 
 
 MRS.     C  A  D  O  G  A  N. 
 
 MADAM, 
 
 I  KNOW  not  any  one  to  whom  I  can 
 prefent  the  following  Memoirs  fo  properly 
 as  to  yoLirfelf.  It  was  at  your  prelling 
 requeft  I  undertook  the  relation ;  and 
 that  at  a  time  when,  overwhelmed  as 
 you  were  with  the  recent  lofs,  nothing 
 could  be  refufed  by  furrounding  friends 
 that  could  meet  your  wiilies,  or  mitigate 
 your  diflrefs. — You  have  alfo  furnilhed 
 a  great  part  of  the  particulars  here  re- 
 lated. 
 
 A3  In 
 
VI  DEDICATION. 
 
 In  endeavouring  to  execute  your  com- 
 mands, I  have  borne  a  feeble  but  faithful 
 teftimony — Not  to  exhibit  the  excel- 
 lency of  man  that  is  a  worm^  for  wherein 
 is  he  to  be  accounted  of ! — but  the  exceU 
 hftcy  of  the  knowledge  of  Chrifi  Jefus 
 his  Lord,  Of  the  excellency  of  this 
 knowledge,  your  late  Partner  was  a 
 ftriking  inftance.  His  fingle  aim  was, 
 that  Chrift  might  be  magnified  in  his 
 bodyy  whether  by  life  or  by  death  ;  and  I 
 truft  our  intention  is  the  fame  in  col- 
 le6ling  thefe  Memorials,   by  which  "he 
 
 "    BEING  DEAD  YET  SPEAKETH." 
 
 It  only  remains  for  me  now  to  pray 
 in  behalf  of  yourfelf,  and  of  the  affec- 
 tionate people  he  has  left,  that  the  deep 
 wound  you  have  lately  received  (and  in 
 which  multitudes  as  well  as  myfelf  have 
 fympathized)  may  appear  to  have  pro- 
 ceeded from  the  hand  of  that  Phylician 
 who  fo  often  wounds  where  he  intends 
 
 to 
 
DEDICATION.  Vll 
 
 to  heal.  I  know  that  you  have  fre- 
 quently looked  into  your  Bible,  and 
 flruggled  with  your  Heart,  thus  to  view 
 the  difpenfation ;  and  your  moft  intimate 
 friends  agree  with  me  in  thinking,  that 
 your  efforts  have  not  been  in  vain. 
 
 That  your  path,  as  well  that  of  the 
 juft  man  I  am  about  to  defcribe,  may  be 
 as  the  JJoin'wg  lights  which  Jhineth  more 
 and  more  unto  the  perfeB  day^  is  the  im- 
 feigned  wifli  and  prayer  of. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Your  faithful  and  affe6lionate 
 
 P'riend  and  Servant, 
 
 RICHARD  CECIL. 
 
 A    4  MEMOIRS, 
 
MEMOIRS,  &c. 
 
 nPHIS  Memoir  is  drawn  up  from  the  fcanty 
 -*"  materials  which  the  Editor  could  colled: 
 from  the  difcon folate  widow,  a  few  intimate 
 friends  of  the  deceafcd,  and  his  own  obferva- 
 tions. 
 
 That  only  a  few  particulars  of  fo  valuable  a 
 charader  can  be  collected  is  to  be  lamented  ;  but 
 the  reafon  feems  evident :  the  life  of  Mr.  Cado- 
 GAN,  and  that  of  many  other  laborious  minifters, 
 refembles  the  fervice  of  fome  invaluable  domef- 
 tics  in  a  family.  Such  bear  the  burden  of  the 
 day,  and  tread  the  path  of  their  duty  over  and 
 over  again  with  fidelity  and  care ;  but  the  hif- 
 tory  of  the  week,  is  almoft  the  hiftory  of  their 
 lives.  It  is  thus  the  faithful  labourer  in  the 
 miniftry,  who  has  an  appointed  ftation,  perfe- 
 veres  in  his  courfe ;  moil  feduloufly  employed 
 when  leaft  obferved.     And  it  often  happens  that 
 
 while 
 
X  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 while  feme,  who  are  doing  little  to  purpofe, 
 flun  the  hoLife  with  their  bujlle ;  he,  intent  on 
 the  duties  of  his  flation,  filently  performs  the 
 bujinefs, 
 
 Befides  which,  the  man,  of  whom  we  are 
 about  to  fpeak,  was  peculiarly  uniform. — Almoft 
 every  enquiry  I  could  make  was  anfwered  with, 
 **' what  can  we  tell  more  of  a  man  who  trod  Jo 
 **  regularly  his  coiirfe  of  diity^  that  the  path  you 
 **  found  him  in  to-day  ^  you  might  be  fur e  of  ?neet~ 
 **  i?ig  hi?n  in  to-morrow  F^  What  then  am  I  to 
 fay  of  him  ?  "  Why,  if  you  can  fay  nothing 
 **  morCy  tell  the  world  that  the  Apojile^s  words y 
 **  ONE  THING  I  DO,  might  ferve  for  his  iJiotto, 
 "  and  the  text,  (with' your  few  incidents)  will  at 
 **  leaf  furnijh  matter  for  ufeful  remark,^* 
 
 Indeed  it  will :  for  though  the  lives  of  fome 
 eminent  men  ftem  but  the  courfe  of  a  week  re- 
 peated, yet  fteadily  to  repeat  fuch  a  week — to 
 perfift  through  wearinefs  and  painfuhiefs  and 
 watchings  often  with  the  nobleft  aim ; — to  tug 
 up  the  hill  of  difficult,  laborious,  and  uniform 
 duty  with  unwearied  perfeverance ;  unrefrefhed 
 by  variety  of  road,  or  intervals  of  reft : — We 
 muft  fay  of  fuch  a  one,  **  this  was  a  man." 
 The  journal  of  an  itinerant  may  more  forcibly 
 ftrike  the  imagination,^  and  furnifh  larger  fcope 
 
 for 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  xi 
 
 for  the  biographer,  but  will  not  furnifh  a 
 ftronger  inftance  of  good- will  to  men,  or  piety 
 towards  God. 
 
 His  ftate 
 
 Is  kingly.     Thoufands  at  his  bidding  fpeed. 
 And  poft  o'er  land  and  ocean  without  reft  ; 
 They  alfo  ferve  who  only  ftand  and  wait. 
 
 Milton. 
 
 The  Honourable  and  Reverend  W.  B.  Cado- 
 GAN  was  the  fecond  fon  of  the  prefent  Lord 
 Cadogan,  who  fucceeded  to  the  title  1776. 
 His  Lordfliip  married,  1747,  the  Honourable 
 Fran<:es  Bromley,  only  daughter  of  the  late 
 Lord  Montfort.  They  had  fix  fons  by  this 
 marriage ;  Charles  Henry,  who  is  now  living, 
 and  who  was  early  introduced  into  the  army. 
 William  Bromley  ; — Thomas  brought  up  to 
 the  navy,  and  Captain  of  a  feventy-four  gun 
 fliip,  in  which  he  periftied  by  a  hurricane  in 
 the  Weft  Indies  1779. — George,  an  Adjutant 
 General  in  the  Weft  Indies,  and  who  was 
 killed  by  a  random  fhot  from  our  lines  while  he 
 was  reconnoitring. — Edward,  a  Captain  in  the 
 army,  who  died  at  St.  Lucia  1781,  of  a  fever; 
 — and  Henry  William,  who  died  a  youth. 
 
 Mr.  Cadogan,  the  fubjedt  of  this  memoir, 
 was  born  January  22,    1751,    at   the   family 
 
 town 
 
xli  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 town  refidence  in  Bruton-ftreet,  now  inhabited 
 by  Lord  Rofeberry.  It  was  his  privilege  to 
 have  a  grandmother  and  a  mother  who  were 
 both  pioufly  difpofed,  and  who  inftrudled  him 
 from  his  infancy  in  the  holy  Scriptures.  It  is 
 reported  by  a  Mrs.  Legge,  who  was  at  that  time 
 frequently  employed  in  the  family,  that  flie 
 heard  him  read  the  Englifli  Bible  into  French, 
 and  the  French  Bible  again  into  Englifli, 
 when  not  more  than  fix  years  of  age.  Mrs. 
 Cadogan  adds,  that  while  a  child,  he  had  got- 
 ten by  heart  the  139th  Pfalm,  w^hich  he  ufed 
 to  repeat  with  peculiar  fatisfadion  in  later  life. 
 
 Mr.  C.  was  placed  at  Wellminfter  School, 
 July  7,  1757.  There  he  diftinguiflied  himfelf 
 by  obtaining  feveral  prizes,  and  was  for  fome 
 time  what  is  termed  captain  of  the  fchool.  It 
 appears  alfb  that  he  thought  ferioufly  at  fchool 
 of  the  fcriptural  inllrudion  he  had  received  at 
 home. 
 
 I  am  perfuaded,  from  the  impreflions  made 
 by  a  pious  mother  on  my  own  mind,  when  a 
 child,  but  which  were  fludioufly  concealed 
 from  her,  as  well  as  from  the  early  impreffions 
 of  my  friend,  that  very  few  parents  fufficiently 
 ainiy  or  fufficiently  hope  in  their  religious  en- 
 deavours with  their  children. 
 
 Mrs. 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  xiu 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  (whofe  information  coming 
 immediately  from  her  hufl:)and  I  can  befl  depend 
 upon)  mentions  that  his  rehgious  impreffions 
 were  flrengthened  by  his  fometimes  attending  a 
 clergyman  of  eminence  in  the  neighbourhood, 
 to  whofe  miniflry  he  had  been  led  by  a  Mr. 
 S — ,  then  his  fchool-ftllow,  and  afterwards  his 
 curate.  Alfo  that  our  young  fcholar  received 
 many  friendly  attentions  from  a  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
 B — ,  who  lived  near  Weftminfler  fchool,  and 
 who  endeavoured  to  imprefs  upon  his  mind  the 
 nature  and  importance  of  vital  godlinefs ;  a 
 principle  which  no  man  pofTeffes,  but  he  defires 
 to  communicate  it. 
 
 Mr.  C.'s  defignation  to  the  church  alfo  ap- 
 pears to  have  originated  in  part  from  his  own 
 choice,  and  that  from  religious  motives,  at  an 
 early  period,  as  I  gather  from  the  following 
 anecdote. 
 
 His  father  took  him  one  day  to  vifit  Dr. 
 Ewer,  Bifhop  of  Bangor,  and  after  mentioning 
 to  the  Bi(hop  his  fon's  wilh  to  be  a  clergyman, 
 he  requefted  his  Lordfhip  to  give  him  fome 
 general  advice :  before  the  Bifliop  could  reply, 
 Mrs.  Ewer,  who  fat  with  them,  faid,  "  Sir^ 
 "  your  early  and  particular  inclination  for  holy 
 *'  orders  leads  me  to  hope  that  your's  is  a  real 
 
 *•  call 
 
Xlv  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 "  call  of  the  Holy  Ghojl  to  take  upon  you  this 
 **  office. ^^  It  is  not  improbable  that  fomething 
 in  Mr.  C.'s  behaviour  might  lead  Mrs.  Ewer 
 to  make  the  remark  :  the  efFe<5l,  however,  of 
 her  unexpe(5ted  addrefs,  he  faid,  he  (hould 
 never  forget. 
 
 In  the  year  1769  Mr.  C.  left  Weftminfter  to 
 enter  Chrift  Church  College,  Oxford.  I  can 
 procure  but  little  information  refpefting  this 
 period  of  his  hiftory.  It  is  reported  that  he 
 was  confidered  as  one  of  the  firft  fcholars  in  his 
 college  j  and  it  is  certain  that  he  received  dif- 
 ferent fets  of  books,  as  prizes  in  literary  con- 
 tefls  :  that  he  was  the  reverfe  of  thofe  who  are 
 properly  termed  loungers  at  the  univerfity,  I 
 have  full  evidence  \  for  beiides  what  appeared 
 in  his  miniftry,  his  private  papers  are  a  ftrong 
 proof  of  his  early  induftry. 
 
 When  Mrs.  Cadogan  impofcd  this  tafk  upon 
 me,  fhe  opened  his  'fcrutoire,  in  order  to  ex- 
 amine if  he  had  left  any  thing  that  it  might  be 
 proper  to  add  to  what  had  been  already  printed  ; 
 and  I  confefs  I  was  furprized  at  the  quantity  of 
 paper  covered  with  his  univerfity  ftudies.  Thefe 
 occupied  much  room,  befides  that  which  con- 
 tained a  great  number  of  written  fermons,  and 
 5  what 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XV 
 
 what  are  called  fkeletons   of  fermons,    as  he, 
 latterly,  did  not  read  his  difcoiirfes. 
 
 When  I  fay  I  was  furprifed  at  this,  it  was  not 
 fo  much  from  obferving  how  greatly  his  cha- 
 racter had  differed  from  that  of  many,  who  go 
 to  univerfities  merely  as  a  neceffary  introdu6lion 
 into  a  particular  profeffion,  and  pay  little  regard 
 to  the  other  advantages  which  fuch  feminaries 
 afford  ;  but  becaufe,  after  a  long  intimacy  with 
 him,  I  had  remarked  his  indifpofition  to  con- 
 verfe  on  thofe  branches  of  fcience  which  I  now 
 found  he  had  fo  laborioufly  cultivated.  I  had 
 imputed  the  indifpofition  rather  to  his  having 
 never  deeply  purfued  fuch  fubjed:s,  than  to 
 what  I  afterwards  found  to  be  the  real  motive, 
 namely,  an  habitual  delight  in,  and  eager  pur- 
 fuit  after  fublimer  obje<fts ;  for  latterly  he 
 counted  all  things  but  as  drofs  for  the  excellency 
 of  the  knowledge  of  Chrijl  yfus  his  Lord, 
 
 The  ferious  reader,  however,  will  naturally 
 wifh  by  this  time,  to  be  informed  of  the  rife 
 and  progrcfs  of  this  his  higher  aim. 
 
 It  has  been  hinted  that  while  at  Weftminfter 
 fchool  he  fometimes  attended  the  minif]:ry  of  a 
 zealous  clergyman  at  the  weft  end  of  the  town, 
 and  even  before  this,  he  had  ferioufly  difcourfed 
 
 with 
 
Xvi  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 with  his  mother  concerning  the  way  of  falva- 
 tion.  His  mind  feemed  to  be  early  interefted 
 upon  the  fiibjedt,  and,  probably  from  what  he 
 had  heard  from  the  pulpit,  fome  of  the  leading 
 truths  of  the  Gofpel  had  taken  root  in  his  mind. 
 For  truth,  like  feed  fown  in  the  earth,  will 
 often  lie  long  buried,  when  it  has  not  perifhed. 
 Certain  it  is,  that  while  at  Oxford  his  religious 
 impreffions  became  more  deep  and  lafting.  He 
 here  fuffered  very  fevere  conflidls  between  his 
 own  convid:ions,  and  thofe  impediments  which 
 arofe  from  connexions  in  which  he  was  necef- 
 farily  involved.  Thus  agitated  in  his  mind, 
 he  fought  a  refuge  in  retirement,  and  in  the 
 ftudy  of  his  Bible  :  many  fleeplefs  nights  did 
 he  fpend  on  this  account,  and,  as  I  am  aflured, 
 often  watered  his  couch  with  his  tears. 
 
 While  he  reverenced  religion,  too  many  of 
 thofe  with  whom  he  was  at  that  time  connected, 
 defpifedit  :  fuch  authors,  therefore,  as  he  knew 
 to  be  worthy  of  his  higheft  regard,  but  were 
 mifunderftood  and  reje(5led  by  his  acquaintance, 
 he  was  careful  (hould  not  be  lettered  on  the 
 back ;  for  even  at  this  period  it  appears  that  he 
 underftood  and  felt  more  than  he  had  courage  to 
 acknowledge. 
 
 But 
 
HON.    AND    REV.   W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XVli 
 
 An  anecdote,  which  Mr.  C.  told  to  his  wor- 
 thy curate  Mr.  Robinfon,  will  (hew  at  once  the 
 natural  irritability  of  his  temper,  and  that  the 
 zeal  he  then  had  was  not  according  to  know- 
 ledge. He  was  dining  in  college  with  his 
 friend  the  Rev.  Mr.  S — ,,  and  was  debating 
 with  him  on  fome  of  the  peculiar  docftrines  of 
 Chriftianity,  he  was  then  an  oppofer  of  truths 
 which  he  afterwards  as  faithfully  preached,  but 
 which  he  fo  little  underflood  at  that  time,  as  to 
 finifh  the  debate  by  throwing  the  falt-cellar  into 
 the  face  of  his  opponent. 
 
 It  would  be  well  if  fome  who  are  as  raw  in 
 thefe  matters  now  as  he  was  then,  and  who  are 
 full  as  difpofed  to  throw  a  little  fait,  and  with 
 as  little  reafon,  would  profit  by  this  anecdote. 
 For  while  prejudice  and  paffion  are  wont  to  de- 
 cide with  a  fling  and  a  dafh,  and  think  to  fettle 
 important  queftions  with  only  hard  names,  and 
 invidious  refle(51:ions ;  **  T?'uth"?iS  one  obferves, 
 **  is  the  daughter  ofJile?Ke,  of  tm  broke?!  ?nedita- 
 **  tions^  and  of  thoughts  often  revifed  and  cor- 
 *•  relied."  A  wife  man,  therefore,  will  know 
 the  reafon  he  has  to  be  a  learner  as  long  as  he 
 lives.  And  if  many  have  been  ever  learnings 
 and  yet  never  able  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
 truths  it  has  partly  been  becaufe,  like  our  Bro- 
 
 a  ther. 
 
XVlll  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 ther,  they  took  it  for  granted  that  they  were  in 
 full  pofTefTion  of  it  already. 
 
 In  the  year  1774  Mr.  C.  was  prefented 
 (though  not  yet  ordained)  to  the  living  of  St. 
 Giles's,  Reading.  It  was  more  than  a  twelve- 
 month before  he  was  capable  of  holding  it,  but 
 nullum  tempus  occurrit  regi^  and  therefore  no 
 lapfe  was  incurred.  The  manner  of  his  obtain- 
 ing this  living  was  fo  lingular,  that  though  un- 
 important, I  cannot  help  relating  it  as  I  heard 
 it  from  Mrs.  Cadogan. 
 
 Earl  Bathurft  was  at  that  time  Chancellor, 
 and  ufed  to  drefs  fo  very  plain,  that  thofe  who 
 did  not  know  his  perfon,  could  have  no  fufpicion 
 of  his  rank  in  life.  When  the  living  of  St. 
 Giles's  became  vacant,  the  Chancellor  called 
 one  morning  upon  the  prefent  Lord  Cadogan 
 (then  Mr.  Cadogan)  at  his  houfe  in  London. 
 Being  informed  that  Mr.  Cadogan  was  not  at 
 home,  he  defiled  to  leave  a  line  for  him.  The 
 fervants  kept  him  in  the  hall  while  he 
 wrote  a  note,  politely  expreffing  his  intention 
 of  prefenting  Mr.  Cadogan's  fon,  who  he 
 had  heard  was  intended  for  orders,  to  the 
 living  of  St.  Giles's,  as  being  near  the 
 family  feat.  The  note  being  brought  to  Mr. 
 Cadogan,    he    opened    it    with    furprife,    and 
 
 enquired 
 
liON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XiX 
 
 enquired  of  his  fervants  how  it  came  to  be 
 written  on  fiich  dirty  paper  ?  They  faid 
 that  they  had  given  the  firft  piece  which 
 prefented  itfelf  to  a  man  who  called,  and  wifhed 
 to  leave  his  bufinefs. — Do  you  know,  replied 
 he  in  vexation,  that  that  man  is  the  Lord  high 
 Chancellor  of  England  ?  It  is  needlefs  to  fay 
 that  the  fervants  were  thunderftruck,  and  that 
 every  proper  apology  and  acknowledgment  was 
 immediately  made  to  the  Chancellor. 
 
 The  living  of  St.  Luke*s,  Chelfea,  becom- 
 ing vacant  in  the  year  1775,  and  being  in  the 
 gift  of  the  family  by  the  late  Lord  Cadogan's 
 marriage  with  the  daughter  of  Sir  Hans  Sloane, 
 Mr.  C.  was  prefented  at  the  age  of  twenty-four, 
 and  came  to  refide  the  next  year.  No  redlor 
 having  refided  at  the  parfonage  houfe  for  ten 
 years  before,  it  was  greatly  out  of  repair.  Mr. 
 C.  being  encouraged  to  expedt  peculiar  ailiftance, 
 began  an  extenfive  repair.  That  it  was  his  in- 
 tention to  refide  principally  at  Chelfea  is  evident 
 from  his  expending  above  800I.  in  repairing 
 the  parfonage  houfe,  but  meeting  with  a  dif- 
 appointment  where  he  had  leaft  reafon  to 
 exped:  one,  he  found  it  neceflary  to  let  the 
 houfe  for  feveral  years,  and  make  Reading  his 
 principal  refidence. 
 
 z  7,  A  friend, 
 
XX  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 A  friend,  who  knew  him  from  his  firft  com* 
 ing  to  Chelfea,  has  fent  me  the  following 
 account.  "  Mr.  C.  not  only  laboured  hard  to 
 inftrud:  and  reform  his  parifh,  but  wilhed 
 to  know  every  perfon  in  it ;  the  moft  mifer- 
 able  cottage  was  not  negledled.  He  exhorted 
 them  all  to  come  to  church,  and  live  like 
 Chrifl'ians.  Where  he  found  children  un- 
 baptifed,  he  urged  their  parents  to  bring 
 them,  that  they  might  be  initiated  into  the 
 church.  He  was  very  attentive  to  the  charity 
 fchools,  and  was  for  fome  years  their  prin- 
 cipal manager.  He  gave  notice  that  he 
 (hould  publicly  catechife  the  children,  and 
 in  order  that  they  might  underftand  the 
 meaning  of  what  they  repeated,  he  delivered 
 extemporary  led:ures  upon  the  Catechifm 
 on  Wednefdays  and  Fridays  ;  which  cuftom 
 he  retained  to  the  lafl  year  of  his  life.  Thefe 
 le6tures  he  fo  adapted,  as  to  edify  perfons  of 
 all  ages  as  well  as  the  children. 
 
 ii 
 
 **  The  fame  year  he  engaged  the  charity  chil- 
 dren to  attend,  giving  them  Bibles  and  Prayer 
 Books  J  during  the  winter,  he  gave  meat  and 
 broth  to  the  poor  j  and,  to  prevent  their  con- 
 tinuing in  total  ignorance  of  religion,  he 
 infifted  upon  their  firft  faying  the  Lord's 
 prayer,  or  engaging  to  learn   it  againfl:  the 
 
 **  next 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXI 
 
 **  next  time  they  came.  He  did  not  leave  the 
 "  iick  to  be  vilited  by  his  curate  only,  but 
 **  made  it  a  rule  to  go  often  himfelf.  The  at- 
 **  tention  he  fhewed  to  a  poor  woman  who 
 **  laboured  under  a  moil  melancholy  and  of- 
 "  fenfive  diforder,  will  never  be  forgotten  by 
 **  the  writer  of  this  letter,  who  was  a  witnefs 
 **  to  the  frequency  of  his  viiits  to  this  miferable 
 **  object.  He  as  generoufly  relieved  her  tem- 
 **  poral  wants  while  he  afforded  her  fpiritual 
 **  relief,  till  fhe  departed  in  peace." 
 
 By  another  letter,  which  I  received  from  Mrs. 
 Cadogan,  I  learn  as  follows.  *'  In  the  year 
 **  1775  and  1776,  he  ufed  to  rife  at  five  o'clock 
 **  of  a  Sunday  morning,  and  go  with  his  fer- 
 "  vant  about  the  'parifh  to  obferve  what  fhops 
 *'  were  open,  and  wherever  he  found  fuch, 
 *'  after  reproving  and  inftruding  the  owners, 
 *'  he  threatened  to  profecute  them  if  they  of- 
 *'  fended  in  future.  Several,  difregarding  his 
 **  admonitions,  were  fined  ;  and  fome  of  them 
 **  threatened  to  murder  him,  but  he  purfued 
 *'  his  courfe  without  fear.  Hearing  that  a  fer- 
 **  vant  of  the  late  Dr.  Thomas,  Bifhop  of 
 "  Winchefter,  encouraged  this  traflic  on  the 
 **  Sabbath,  he  went  immediately  and  informed 
 **  the  Bifhop  of  it,  who  reproved  ,the  lervant 
 **  feverely,  and  threatened  to  part  with  him  if 
 a  3  **  he 
 
XXll  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 **  he  oflFended  again.  By  fuch  perfeveranccf 
 **  this  fcandalous  cuflom  was  in  a  confiderablc 
 *•  degree  repreffed.'* 
 
 His  zeal  alfo  appears  in  his  condudt  towards 
 a  fet  of  ringers,  who  ufed  to  begin  their  enter- 
 tainment early  on  a  Sunday  morning.  He  took 
 his  Bible,  went  up  into  the  Belfry,  and  told 
 them  tliat  as  iovcMtferious  and  fomey/<:^  perfons 
 in  the  parifh  might  find  their  ringing  at  fuch 
 an  unfeafonable  time  a  great  difturbance,  he 
 was  come  to  make  their  early  rifing  more  pro- 
 fitable ;  then  opening  his  Bible,  he  expounded 
 fome  fuitable  fcripture  for  a  confiderable  time. 
 Both  the  ringing,  however,  and  the  expound- 
 ing ended  on  that  occafion,  for  the  ringers  came 
 no  more. 
 
 Finding  the  church  at  Chelfea  fmall  and  in- 
 convenient for  fo  large  a  parifh,  and  in  a 
 decayed  ftate,  he  made,  as  he  informed  me,  a 
 very  advantageous  propofal  for  rebuilding  it, 
 and  thereby  affifting  hundreds  of  his  parifliion- 
 ers  who  were  prevented  from  attending  at 
 church  for  want  of  accommodation.  He  could 
 not,  however,  awaken  the  fame  zeal  in  his 
 parilh,  and  accordingly  his  propofal  was  re- 
 jedled. 
 
 There 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXui 
 
 There  are  too  many  places  in  which  any  little, 
 dark,  damp,  and  dirty  dungeon  muft  continue 
 to  ferve  for  a  Houfe  of  God  :  for  aflblTments 
 are  high,  and  money  cannot  now  be  eafily  raifcd 
 except  for — a  houfe  of  amufement ! 
 
 While,  therefore,  our  brother  had  yet  much 
 to  learn,  and  was  greatly  ihackled  in  his  reli- 
 gious purfuits  by  his  worldly  connexions,  yet 
 fuch  is  the  light  and  energy  of  truth,  though 
 (horn  of  its  beams,  that  he  was  the  inllrument 
 of  doing  good  in  various  ways,  and  even  of 
 awakening  fome  perfons  who  lived  in  ign6rance 
 and  carelefTnefs  before  he  came.  One  inldance 
 of  which  appears  in  a  Mrs.  S — ,  whom  he  was 
 induced  to  vifit  on  her  requelling  by  a  note  the 
 prayers  of  the  congregation.  She  lay  dan- 
 geroufly  ill  of  a  rheumatic  fever  when  he  called 
 on  her ;  her  friends,  however,  were  fo  preju- 
 diced agalnfl:  his  zeal,  or  fearful  left  he  (hould 
 difturb  her  mind,  that  they  would  not  at  firfl: 
 admit  him  to  her  apartment :  but  being  at  length 
 admitted,  his  vifits  were  fo  ufeful  to  her,  that 
 llie  became  an  exemplary  Chriftian,  and  is  now 
 living  at  Chelfea  as  one  of  the  firft,  and  one  of 
 the  mofl  authentic  feals  of  his  miniflry. 
 
 Thofe  who   have   attained   to  clearer  views 
 
 of  evangelical    truth   than    Mr.  C.    then  had, 
 
 a  4  may 
 
XXiv  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 may  learn  from  fuch  fad:s,  not  to  defpife  the  day 
 of  fmall  things  in  an  honefl  man  j  nor  to  pro- 
 nounce haftily  on  the  inefficacy  of  a  teacher  of 
 fome  important  truths,  becaufe  he  is  not  yet 
 made  acquainted  with  all,  or  does  not  exprefs 
 them  in  a  better  way.  Everyman  is  too  fond 
 of  his  own  peculiarities,  not  confidering  that  as 
 in  nature,  fo  in  grace,  it  is  the  vigour  of  life, 
 rather  than  the  lingularity  of  feature,  that  con- 
 ftitutes  the  healthy  and  efficient  man  j  and  that 
 **  Grace ^^^  as  an  old  writer  expreffes  it,  **  can 
 **  live  where  we  cannot. ^^ 
 
 At  Chelfea,  however,  Mr.  C.  was  not 
 popular  after  the  novelty  of  his  coming  as  the 
 fon  of  Lord  Cadogan  ceafed.  The  train  of 
 coaches  that  firfl:  attended  his  church  foon  drew 
 off,  and  the  parifh  in  general  did  not  choofe  to 
 be  difturbed. 
 
 No  man  naturally  loves  plain  fcriptural  truth 
 plainly  delivered  :'  it  is  directed  againft  his  idol. 
 Self;  and  there  is  alfo  a  Jiro?jg  man^  armed^ 
 feeking  to  keep  his  goods  in  peace y  and  fortifying 
 them  with  prejudices.  Till  a  flronger,  there- 
 fore, comes,  and  fpoils  him  of  the  armour  in 
 which  he  trufted,  and  enables  the  captive  to 
 commence  a  determined  quarrel  with  the  grand 
 idol  and  tne  ufurper,  there  will  be  a  determined 
 
 quarrel 
 
HON.    AND    REV.   W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXV 
 
 quarrel  with  the  zealous  preacher  who  expofes 
 both.  It  may  be  added,  that  the  call  to  *'  Turn 
 **  and  Live"  will  be  leaft  welcome  in  the  envi- 
 rons of  a  great  Metropolis  where  men  retire 
 'to  enjoy  themfelves,  as  they  term  it  j  i.e.  to  fay 
 to  their  fouls,  Soul^  thou  haji  much  goods  laid  up 
 for  many  years  y  eat^  drink ,  and  be  merry.  They 
 have,  indeed,  a  gracious  invitation  to  the  feaft 
 of  the  Gofpel,  but  they  have  bought  a  piece  of 
 ground^  and  therefore  they  cannot  come. 
 
 Befides   which,  Mr.   C.  had   not    yet  fully 
 learned  himfclf,    wh^t   he  afterwards    fo   ably- 
 taught  to  others,  that  though  outward    refor- 
 mation (hould  be  attempted  in  every  parifh,  it  is, 
 if  alone,  but  wafliing  the  outjide  of  the  cup  and 
 platter.     Nor  had  he  yet  attained  the  true  fecrct 
 of  producing  thofe  fruits   of   righteoufnefs  on 
 which    he  fo  ftrongly  infifled.      Let  us   hear 
 from  the  laft  fermon  he  printed,    his  matured 
 judgment  on  this   point.       "  Whoever   would 
 **  have  fruit,  muft  firft  plant  the  tree  which  is 
 **  to  bear  it ;    and  whoever    would    have  the 
 *'  world  filled  with  the  fruits  of  righteoufnefs, 
 *'  muft  take    care   to   be  a    preacher    of  that 
 *'  righteoufnefs   which   is    to    produce  them." 
 The  defign  of  God  is  evidently  to  honour  His 
 Son,  as  the  light  of  the  Gentiles,  and  the  foun- 
 dation, as  well  as  the  builder  of  their  church. 
 
 Even 
 
XXvi  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 Even  heJhaJl  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord^  and  he 
 jhall  bear  the  glory  * ;  and  till  men  bow  to  this 
 plan,  they  muft  labour  in  the  fire  at  real  refor- 
 mation. 
 
 One  more  remark  on  our  brother  in  this  ftate 
 of  his  progrefs  ;  while  he  reafoned  of  righteoif- 
 7iefs,  temperance^  and  judgment  to  cotne,  he 
 is  faid  to  have  done  it  in  too  harfh  a  tone. 
 He  had  light  enough  to  perceive  that  men  were 
 far  gone  from  God,  but  he  had  not  himfelf 
 fufficiently  tafted  the  fweetnefs  of  that  difpenfa- 
 tion  of  mercy  which  furnifhes  the  ftrongeft 
 argument  for  bringing  them  back  again.  There 
 is  a  hard,  dry,  and  repelling  mode  of  reproof 
 which  tends  rather  to  fiut  up  the  heart  than 
 open  it.  The  tempeft  may  roar  and  point  its 
 hail-fhot  at  the  traveller,  but  he  will  rather 
 wrap  himfelf  clofer  in  his  cloak  than  quit  it, 
 till  the  fun  breaks  out  again. 
 
 Let  us  now  accompany  him  to  the  fcene  of 
 his  greateft  ufefulnefs,  and  which  was,  for 
 fbme  years  before  he  died,  his  principal  refi- 
 dcnce. 
 
 Previoufly  to  the  coming  of  Mr.  C,  St. 
 Giles's    at    Reading   had,    for     few   a   years, 
 
 *  Zech.  vi.  13. 
 
 been 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXVll 
 
 been  favoured  with  a  minifter  of  high  refped:- 
 ability  and  diftinguifhed  piety,  in  the  Rev. 
 William  Talbot.  His  faithful  labours  had  been 
 bleffed  with  fuccefs,  and  his  miniftry  was  at- 
 tended by  a  large  and  devout  congregation. 
 The  Rev.  John  Hallward,  the  prefent  worthy 
 vicar  of  Aflingdon  in  Suffolk,  was  his  curate, 
 having  been  ordained  from  Oxford,  and  licenfed 
 upon  this  title ; — a  man  of  the  fame  fpirit  and 
 views  as  the  vicar,  and  who,  like  him,  lived 
 in  the  hearts  of  a  numerous  people.  He  was 
 called  to  the  mournful  office  of  attending  his 
 brother  and  fellow-labourer  to  his  grave,  in  the 
 year  1774;  was  continued  in  the  curacy  by 
 the  churchwardens  under  the  fequeflration  occa- 
 fionedby  Mr.  C.'s  minority;  and  ordained  priefl 
 during  that  period  upon  the  fame  title,  which 
 was  readily  accepted  by  the  Bifhop. 
 
 When  Mr.  C.  came  to  Reading  to  refidc, 
 Lord  Cadogan,  his  father,  at  that  time  lived  at 
 Caverfliam,  about  a  mile  from  Reading.  The 
 houfe  is  a  confpicuous  objecft  on  the  right  hand 
 of  the  Bath  road,  going  from  London;  but 
 was  fold  fome  years  ago  by  his  Lordfhip,  who 
 has  redded  lince  at  Downham  in  Suffolk. 
 
 Mr.  C.  fpent  much  of  his  time  at  this  family 
 feat ;  and  as  he  had  deeply  confidered  the  im- 
 portance 
 
XXviii  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 poitance  of  his  minifterial  work,  he  was  much 
 engaged  in  preparation  for  it.  His  late  curate 
 Mr.  Robinfon  tells  me,  that  when  walking 
 with  him  in  Caverfliam  library,  he  heard  him 
 relate  how  great  a  part  of  his  leifure  had  been 
 devoted  in  that  room  to  religious  exercifes, 
 and  particularly  in  reading  the  Scriptures  upon 
 his  knees.  He  took  down  a  Bible  from  one  of 
 the  fhelves  in  which  he  had  written  much,  and 
 fhewing  it  to  Mr.  R.  he  faid,  "  Thus  If  pent 
 **  my  time  here^  while  I  was  defpifed  both  by  the 
 **  world  and  by  the  church.** 
 
 Succeeding  fuch  a  man  as  Mr.  Talbot,  and 
 poffeffing  fo  much  integrity,  zeal,  and  general 
 knowledge  of  Chriftianity,  it  might  naturally 
 be  expedted  that  Mr.  C.  would  feel  himfelf 
 peculiarly  happy  in  retaining  a  curate  who 
 was  at  once,  fo  beloved  by  the  people,  fo  ufeful 
 in  his  miniflry,  and  of  fo  unblemiihed  a  repu- 
 tation :  the  Reader,  however,  may  well  be  fur- 
 prifed  to  find,  that  one  of  the  firft  fteps  taken 
 by  the  new  vicar  was  the  difmillion  of  Mr. 
 Hall  ward.  Not  that  any  charge  was  brought 
 againft  him ;  no  reafon  was  aiked,  nor  any 
 affigned  to  him  for  this  dilmiflion  ;  but  that 
 Mr.  C.  intended  to  do  the  duty  of  the  parifh 
 himfelf,  and  had  no  further  occafion  for  his 
 fervices.     And  this  extraordinary  flep  Mr.  C. 
 
 took 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  Xxix 
 
 took  with  fo  much  determination,  that  when  a 
 confiderable  number  of  the  moft  refpedlable 
 among  his  parifhioners  joined  in  a  petition  for 
 Mr.  Hallward's  continuance,  he  would  not  fo 
 much  as  read  it,  but  returned  it  immediately 
 to  the  churchwardens  who  prefented  it. 
 
 But  ftrange  as  this  ftep  might  appear  to 
 others,  it  was  perfe(5lly  underftood  by  the  par- 
 ties concerned.  Mr.  C.  confidered  Mr.  Hall- 
 ward  as  a  zealot  of  a  certain  defcription  ; — a 
 Methodift,  with  whom  it  was  improper  to  form 
 a  connexion  ;  and  meant  to  choofe  a  curate  lefs 
 objedlionable  to  himfelf :  accordingly  he  would 
 liften  to  no  propofals  refped:ing  his  continuance. 
 
 Here  it  may  be  proper  to  flop,  and  examine 
 how  far  Mr.  Hall  ward  juftly  merited  this  re- 
 proach under  which  he  fuffered,  and  of  confe- 
 quence,  how  far  Mr.  C .  was  right  in  difmifling 
 him.  And  though  a  full  explanation  of  this 
 matter  will  detain  the  reader  for  a  few  pages,  yet 
 it  may  help  him  to  form  a  juft  eftimation  of  Mr. 
 C.'s  character,  when  he  and  Mr.  Hallward  be- 
 came united  in  fentiment. 
 
 There  are  two  notions  annexed  to  the  term 
 Methodijl^  in  which  all  other  feem  to  be  in- 
 cluded.    The  firft  of  thefe  notions  is  the  more 
 
 general 
 
XXX  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 general  and  accepted  one;  and  it  fignifies  any 
 man  who  is  more  earneft  and  adlive  about  the 
 falvation  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  than  his 
 neighbour.  Such  an  one  being  a  character  dif- 
 tinguilhed  from  the  world,  the  world  has  always 
 had  a  name  to  mark  this  peculiarity  of  charac- 
 ter. There  was  a  vtime  in  which  the  term 
 Chrijlian  was  a  name  of  infamy  ;  but  when 
 this  term  no  longer  diftinguifhed  the  true  fol- 
 lower of  Christ  from  the  world  called  Chrif- 
 tian,  malice  or  accident  produced  fome  new 
 term  of  diftindlion,  fuch  as  that  of  Wickliffite^ 
 Lollard,  &c.  &c.  among  us. 
 
 Melhodijly  however,  is  the  prefent  term  for 
 one  who  has  too  much  vital  and  prad:ical 
 chriftianity  for  the  bulk  of  profefTed  Chriftians, 
 and  of  courfe  for  the  world  at  large ;  and  I  fhalf 
 affirm  without  fear,  that  whatever  be  the  rank, 
 talents,  and  general  refped:ability  of  fuch  a 
 one — however  fteady  and  confident  his  attach- 
 ment and  conformity  to  the  eftabliilied  church 
 — however  free  from  eccentricity  and  irregu- 
 larity in  his  walk — ^yet  let  him  be  in  ear?jefi  and 
 in  a5iion  as  a  Chriftian,  and  he  fliall  be  a  proof 
 of  my  remark. 
 
 Fosnum  hahet  in  cornu,  longe  fuge  — 
 
 Some, 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXXl 
 
 Some,  indeed,  have  thought  that  by  a  nice 
 adjuftment  of  their  phrafes,  habits,  and  con- 
 nexions, they  might  maintain  the  truths  and 
 yet  efcape  the  term.  I  pity  from  my  heart  an 
 honeft  man  making  fuch  fruitlefs  attempts.  He 
 is  another  Si  fyphus  *. — He  maybe  wife,  but  he 
 is  not  wife  enough :  he  does  not  fee  that  as  far 
 as  he  is  of  the  world,  the  world  will  love  its  own 
 and  no  farther.  Muft  he,  however,  from  con- 
 fcience  enter  his  proteft  ? — Let  him  do  it  in 
 Ood*s  name ;  but  let  him  know  that  as  far  as  he 
 does  it  /;/  Jimplicity  and  godly  Jincerity ,  the  world 
 will  come  forward  with  theirs. 
 
 The  reader,  however,  may  be  ready  to  doubt 
 the  truth  of  this  ftatement ; — he  may  be  fur- 
 prized  to  hear  that  the  world  is  fo  ready  to  brand 
 the  real  fpirit  of  chriftianity  with  a  term  of 
 reproach,  and  treat  it  as  the  re-verie  of  a  parti- 
 cular fedt.  Time  and  obfervation  will,  perhaps, 
 relieve  him  under  thefe  doubts ;  in  the  mean 
 time  the  following  anecdote  from  a  witnefs  who 
 cannot  be  fufpedled,  will  prove  that  I  have 
 ground  for  my  aflertion. 
 
 *  Optat  fupremo  collocare  Syftphus 
 
 In  monte  faxum :  fed  vetant  leges  yovis. 
 
 HoR. 
 
 Dr. 
 
XXxii  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 Dr.  Johnfon  tells  us  in  his  life  of  Gilbert 
 West,  that  he  and  Lord  Lyttelton  '*  had  for  a 
 "  while  liftened  to  the  blandifhments  of  infi- 
 **  delity,  and  when  Weft's  book*  was  pub- 
 **  liflied,  it  was  bought  by  fome  who  did  not 
 *'  know  his  change  of  opinion,  in  expedtation 
 **  of  new  objections  againfl  Chriftianity  ;  and, 
 **  as  infidels  do  not  want  malignity,  they  re- 
 *'  venged  the  difappointment  by  calling  him  a 
 "  Methodijir 
 
 I  could  mention  fimilar  inftances  which  oc- 
 curred while  I  was  at  Oxford,  on  my  appeal- 
 ing to  the  character  and  writings  of  the  late 
 Bifliop  Home,  then  prefident  of  Magdalen : 
 and  one  di redly  in  point,  relating  to  a  Prelate, 
 which  I  omit  merely  from  motives  of  delicacy 
 to  a  living  and  exalted  charader.  It  is  how- 
 ever, curious  to  remark,  that  while  Mr.  C. 
 was  thus  branding  Mr.  Hall  ward  at  Reading, 
 his  own  zeal  and  integrity  had  already  earned 
 for  himfelf  the  fame  reproach  at  Chelfea. 
 
 But  proofs,  which  might  eafily  be  multiplied, 
 are  unnecefTary  to  every  man  of  long  and  impar- 
 tial obfervation;  for  who  that  is  acquainted 
 with  fuch  characflers  as  Luther,  Wickliffe, 
 Latimer,  Leighton,  &c.   &c.  can  doubt  for   a 
 
 *  On  the  Rcfurredlion. 
 
 moment 
 
 7, 
 
JiON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXXUl 
 
 moment  jls  to  what  name  would  be  impofed 
 upon  them,  were  they  living  among  us  ? 
 
 Now  if  we  look  at  this  term  in  fuch  a  vague, 
 vulgar  and  invidious  application  of  it,  then  Mr. 
 Hallward  certainly  w^as,  and  is,  a  ftricft 
 Methodift  j  fo  was  his  late  vicar  Mr.  Talbot ; 
 and  fo,  moil  unequivocally,  became  the  new 
 Vicar  who  difmiffed  him;  and  fo  I  earneflly 
 pray  God  the  Writer  of  thefe  Memoirs  may  live 
 and  die.  To  ufe  the  language  of  a  late  cele- 
 brated political  writer*,  '*  In  every  accident 
 **  which  may  happen  through  lifcy  in  pain,  in 
 ^^  forrow,  in  deprej/ion,  and  dijircfs^  I  will  call 
 "  to  mind  this  accufation  and  be  co??iforted.^* 
 
 But  I  fhall  be  reminded  that  I  mentioned 
 another  general  and  accepted  fenfe  of  the  term 
 Methodifm,  and  this  is  certainly  a  more  deter- 
 minate  one.  There  is  a  numerous  body  of 
 people,  whofe  zeal  for  the  propagation  of  Chrif- 
 tianity  is  not  conned:ed  with  any  particular 
 regard  to  the  order  and  difcipline  oblerved  by 
 the  Church  of  England,  nor  even  that  of  the 
 regular  Protellant  DifTenters.  After  the  ex- 
 ample of  their  firft  leaders,  the  place  or  ihtform 
 feem  alike  indifferent  to  them  j  nor  are  they 
 much  concerned  whether  the  preacher  have  a 
 
 *  Mr.  Burke. 
 b  competent 
 
XXXIV  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 competent  fhare  of  learning  to  £t  him  for  his 
 office  or  not ;  or  whether  he  be  regularly  or- 
 dained to  it.  Regardlefs  of  denomination,  and 
 too  often  of  decorum,  the  hie  labor  and  hoc 
 opus  with  them  is,  to  exhibit  Chriftianity  in 
 its  peculiar  doctrines  and  powerful  effefts. 
 This  has  led  a  learned  and  ingenious  writer 
 of  our  own  church  to  define  Methodifm,  as, 
 "  Chrijlian  godlinefsy  without  Chrijiian  order  ^,** 
 
 The  method  which  gave  them  their  name, 
 being  fo  lax  and  immethodical,  it  might  natu- 
 rally be  expedted  that  their  zeal  would  be  mixed 
 with  enthufiafm,  and  their  efforts  debafed  by 
 extravagance.  Where  every  man  may  preach 
 that  is  difpofed,  raw  and  defperate  Adventurers 
 will  intrude,  noife  will  too  often  be  fubfli- 
 tuted  for  fenfe,  and  a  levity  bordering  upon 
 buffoonery,  admitted,  which  mufl  bring  Scandal, 
 not  only  upon  the  fed:,  but  in  fome  degree 
 upon  Chriftianity  itfelf.  It  may  be  added,  that 
 as  this  fed:  has  obtained  weight  by  its  numbers, 
 unprincipled  men  have  come  forward  to  ad:  a 
 part  in  it ;  and  ambitious  men  are  aiming  to 
 employ  its  influence  in  accomplifliing  their 
 fecular  defigns. 
 
 *  Life  of  Dr.  Home,  Page  156. 
 
 Nothing, 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXXV 
 
 Nothing,  however,  but  ignorance  or  malice 
 would  ftop  here,  in  giving  an  account  of  thefe 
 people.  With  all  the  difadvantages  and  abufes 
 which  attach  to  their  method,  they  have 
 laboured  and  not  fainted  in  planting  the  Gofpel 
 among  the  poor,  and  that  with  furprifing  fuccefs, 
 even  in  the  moft  dark  and  profligate  places. 
 They  have  exerted  themfelves  in  relieving  their 
 bodily,  as  well  as  fpiritual  wants.  They  have 
 extended  their  endeavours  to  barbarous  regions  ; 
 and  multitudes  of  genuine  Chriftians  could 
 atteft,  that  whatever  they  have  fince  attained  to 
 in  Chriftianity,  and  under  whatever  denomina- 
 tion of  it  they  now  proceed,  they  owe  their 
 firft  ferious  impreffions  to  the  labours  of  thefe 
 men ;  many  of  whom  have  not  only  polTeiTed 
 confiderable  abilities  and  information,  but  alfo 
 apoftolic  zeal  and  difintereftednefs. 
 
 This  I  believe  is  a  fair  flatement ;  but  if  the 
 reader  doubts  it,  I  muft  tell  him  that  difcern- 
 ing  and  impartial  writers,  whofe  views  are  the 
 moflf  oppofite  to  thofe  of  the  people  we  are 
 confidering,  agree  with  me  in  thinking  that 
 the  little  aflemblies  of  thefe  people,  (efpecially 
 in  their  rife)  are  a  reprefcntation  of  primitive 
 Chriftianity  itfelf*.      Alfo  that  from   fuch  a 
 
 mean 
 
 *  "  After  men  became    Chriftians,    much  of  their  time 
 
 *'  was  fpent  in  prayer  and  devotion,  in  religious  meetings, 
 
 b  a'  "  ia 
 
:XXXV1  MEMOIRS   OF    THZ 
 
 mean  and  defpifed  origin,  reformation  and  hap- 
 pinefs  has  at  length  been  diffiifed  through  a 
 whole  diftrid:  *.  Should  any  one  take  pleafure 
 in  recounting  the  tares  only,  which  have  after- 
 wards fprung  up  with  the  wheat,  we  can  only 
 pity  his  malignancy,  and  reply.  An  enemy  hath 
 done  this  j — and  another  enemy  rejoices  at  the 
 mifchief. 
 
 But  to  return  from  this  digreffion. — ^Whatever 
 is  to  be  thought  of  this  defcription  of  people, 
 
 **  in  celebrating  the  eucharift,  in  conferences,  in  exhortations^ 
 *'  in  preaching,  in  an  affectionate  intercourfe  with  one 
 **  another,  and  correfpondence  with  other  focieties.  Perhaps 
 «*  their  mode  of  life  in  its  form  and  habit  was  not  very  un- 
 "  like  the  Unitas  Fratrum,  or  of  modern  Methodifts." 
 
 Paley's  Evidences,  Vol.  I.  Page  38. 
 
 *  *'  I  am  acquainted  with  no  place  the  manners  of  whofe 
 *'  inhabitants  are  fo  unexceptionable  (as  far  at  leaft  as  a 
 *'  ftranger  is  enabled  to  judge  of  them)  as  Amlwch  :  and 
 *'  the  favourable  opinion  which  I  was  led  to  entertain  of 
 "  them  in  vifiting  the  town  laft  year,  is  confirmed  by  what 
 *'  I  have  obferved  at  prefent.  Not  a  fmgle  inftance  have  I 
 "  known  of  drunkennefs ;  not  one  quarrel  have  I  witneffed 
 '*  during  two  very  crowded  market-days,  and  one  of  them 
 "  a  day  of  unufual  indulgence,  that  I  paffed  at  this  place : 
 *'  and  I  believe  no  goal,  or  bridewell,  or  houfe  of  confine- 
 "  ment,  exifts  in  the  town  or  neighbourhood.  Moft  of  the 
 *'  miners  are  Method'ijli^  and  to  the  prevalence  of  this  reli- 
 <*  gious  fe£l,  is  chiefly  to  be  attributed  the  good  order  that 
 **  is  fo  confpicuous." 
 
 Aikin's  Tour  through  North  Wales,  Page  148. 
 
 certain 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXXvii 
 
 certain  it  is,  that  Mr.  Hall  ward  was  not  one 
 of  them.     To  difmifs  him  as  a  Methodift,  in 
 this  latter  and  determinate  fenfe,  becaufe  he  held 
 with  thefe  people  the  ncceffity  of  vital  Godli- 
 nefs,  was   to   make  as  grofs  a  miftake  as  to 
 difmifs  him  for  being  a  Papift,  becaufe  he  held 
 ihe  dodlrine  of  the  Trinity,     Both  in  principle 
 and  pracflice  he  was  and  is  Jlri^Iy,  and  ^nly^  a 
 confcientious  Minifter  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
 land ;  faithfully  fulfilling  the  engagements  he 
 Jiad  entered  into  before   God  and  the  Billiop, 
 and  preaching  thofe  do6lrines,    and   no  other, 
 which  he  had  been  called   to  fubfcribe  at  his 
 ordination.     How  therefore,  it  may  be  alked, 
 could  fuch  an  orthodox  and  zealous  man  as  Mr. 
 C,   fo  ftrongly  mifapprehend  the  character  of 
 Mr.  Hallward,  and  lb  rafhly  difmifs  him  ? 
 
 I  anfwer  firft,  Mr.  C.  was  2.  young  man ;  and 
 what  young  man  of  fpirit  is  not  ready  to  take 
 rafh  fteps,  not  fufpe<5ling  at  all  (what  is  almoft 
 always  the  cafe)  that  in  one  refpedi  or  other,  a 
 fofh  flep  is  a  wrong  one  ? 
 
 About  the  fame  time  Mr,  Wefley,  hearing  of 
 fiis  zeal,  prefented  Mr.  C.  with  all  his  works, 
 which  he  burnt  in  his  kitchen  as  foon  as  he  re- 
 ceived them ;  faying,  he  was  determined  to 
 form  his  opinions  from  the  Bible  alone.  W-e 
 b  3  cannot 
 
I^XXViii  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 cahnot  but  commend  his  zeal  for  the  Scriptures, 
 a^d  alfo  his  refufing  to  take  Mr.  Wefley  as  their 
 interpreter  :  but  furely  his  immediately  confign- 
 ing  fo  many  volumes,  without  diftindlion,  to 
 the  flames,  favoured  of  radinefs. 
 
 2.  Old  prejudices,  kept  alive  by  new  reports, 
 are  not  eafily  (hakcn  off,  even  by  good  men. 
 He  liflened  where  he  ought  to  have  fufpedted  ; 
 and  he  fufpe^led  where  he  ought  to  have  ex- 
 amined. The  afped:  and  common  repute  of  a 
 thing  weighs  far  more  with  the  generality  of 
 mankind  than  its  real  nature.  The  tim.e  is  not 
 very  remote,  when  to  have  called  fome  poor  old 
 cripple  a  Witch,  or  fome  holy  reformer  a  Heretic y 
 would  have  been  the  fignal  for  roafling  thena 
 .alive. 
 
 3.  The  man  of  greatell:  attainments  mull 
 -have  his  'Novitiate.  Mr.  C.*s  religious  know- 
 ledge and  experience  were  then  in  the  blade^ 
 though  advancing  to  the  full  ear  ;  in  this  pro- 
 grefs  he  learned  to  diftinguifh  between  a  man 
 who  is  under  reproach,  and  a  man  who  deferves 
 it.  This  plainly  appeared  when  he  wrote  to 
 Mr.  Hallvvard,  acknowledging  his  error,  and 
 entreating  him  to  return  ;  and  when  he  not 
 only  knew  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  faw 
 the  inevitable  confequence  of  bearing  a  faithful 
 
 teflimony 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XXXIX 
 
 tcftimony  to  it,  but   magnanimoully  efteemed 
 this  reproach  of  Chrijl  as  his  greateft  honour. 
 
 But  what  my  friend  knew  and  felt  of  reli- 
 gion, in  beginning  his  great  work  at  Reading, 
 he  honeftly  declared:  and  what  he  knew  and 
 felt  was  more  than  fome  good  men  in  his  parifli 
 fufped:ed,  who  thought  they  knew  a  great  deal. 
 A  few  of  thefe  (I  hope  but  a  few)  became 
 tumbling  blocks  in  his  progrefs  :  they  re- 
 marked upon  his  miftakes  without  modefty  or 
 refpe(5t  j  and  fome  even  prefumed  to  admonifti 
 him  in  his  way  from  church.  They  had  not 
 yet  fo  learned  Christ  themfelves,  as  to  imitate 
 his  meeknefs,  and  his  wife  treatment  of  men 
 in  critical  and  delicate  circumftances. 
 
 I  put  this  down  for  the  benefit  of  thofe  inju- 
 dicious, though  often  well  meaning  perfons, 
 who  are  fo  zealous  to  eftablilh  the  diftinguilhing 
 dod:rines  of  the  Gofpel,  that  they  will  often 
 attempt  to  fet  them  up  upon  the  ruins  of  com- 
 mon decency  and  good  fenfe.  The  Reader  will 
 not  be  furprifed  to  hear,  what  Mr.  C.  often 
 declared,  that  fuch  reproofs,  or  rather  reproaches^ 
 confiderably  retarded  his  improvement,  and 
 kept  alive  his  prejudices, 
 
 b  4  For, 
 
Xl  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 For,  though  at  this  period  Mr.  C.  was  feek- 
 ing  after  truth  by  earnejfl  prayer,  dihgent  ftudy 
 of  the  Scriptures,  and   alfo  of  fuch  authors  as 
 could  affift  him  in  his  purfuit ;  yet  he  had  ftill 
 much   to  learn,  and  had  mighty  impediments 
 in  his  way.     He  was  the  fon  of  a  Nobleman 
 then  in  office  and  court-favour — his  eye  had  been 
 dire(5led  to  the  worldly  profpedls  which  lay  di- 
 rectly before  him — he  had  been  educated  in  pre- 
 judices againll  that  renunciation  of  both  finful 
 and  righteous  felf,    and  that  determination  to 
 glory  only  in    the  crofs  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ,  to  which  the  Spirit  of  truth  was  con- 
 ducting him.     He   had  alfo  a  natural  hauteur, 
 and  fturdinefs    of  mind  ;    the  afpe^  of  which 
 he  never  quite  loil:,  when  the  principle  itfelf 
 was  corrected  : — and  ftridly  fpeaking,  he  had 
 not  at  this  time  near  him  a  real,  i.  e.  an  enlight- 
 ened  friend.     To   which   may  be  added,   that 
 perfons  who,   like  Mr.  C,  have  acquired  from 
 their  education  a  quick  fcnfe  of  what  belongs 
 to  decorum  and  good  manners,  receive  a  fhock 
 at  a  condu(5l  like  that  above  mentioned,  which 
 others   can  fcarcely  conceive.     It  is   not   to  be 
 wondered  at,  therefore,  that  he  had  at  this  time 
 the  ftrongefl:  conflicfts  between  the  dictates  of 
 his   confcience,  and  the  influence  of  his  habits 
 and  circumflances. 
 
 Let 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  xll 
 
 Let  not  thofe  who  are  removed  from  circum- 
 fiances  fo  diftindt  from  ordinary  life,  fay  v^hat 
 he  fhould  have  done  more,  or  proudly  imagine 
 what  they  could  have  done  better;  but  rather 
 admire  the  grace  of  Him,  who,  in  His  own 
 time  and  way,  hath  done  all  things  well. 
 
 But  to  return,  if  a  few  became  impediments 
 in  the  way  of  his  progrefs,  whofe  hearts,  we 
 hope,  were  better  than  their  heads  j  and  who 
 were  therefore  utterly  unfit  to  treat  a  cafe  like 
 his ;  Providence,  which  never  wants  inftru- 
 ments  fuited  to  it*s  purpofes,  had  prepared  for 
 him  the  Friend^  the  Guide,  and  the  Example 
 he  fo  much  needed. 
 
 This  friend  was  Mrs.  Talbot,  the  widow  of 
 the  late  vicar.  To  the  authority  of  her  years, 
 was  added  that  of  a  pure  and  fervent  piety, 
 joined  with  the  meeknefs  of  wifdom ;  fhe  was 
 fenfible,  folitc,  tender,  and  every  way  fitted 
 to  treat  a  perfon  in  his  circumflances.  Upon 
 the  death  of  her  hulband,  fhe  ufed  the  influence 
 (lie  had  with  his  people  in  comforting  and  di- 
 recfling  them  under  their  diftrefs.  She  exhorted 
 them  to  take  no  hafty  fteps,  but  to  wait  patiently 
 for  God,  who  alone  could  raife  them  up  another 
 faithful  minifter ;  and  to  join  with  her  in  prayer 
 continually  for  that  blefling. 
 
 As 
 
Xlii.  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 As  one  Jtnner  dejlroyeth  much  good,  fo  it  is 
 feldom  believed  what  extenfive  good  one  fteady,^ 
 humble,  confident,  Chrifliian  may  efFe(5l,  who 
 can  yield  to  God  that  time,  and  trujl,  in  the 
 path  of  duty  he  fo  juftly  claims  ;  for  them  that 
 honour  Him  he  will  honour, 
 
 Mr.  C.'s  acquaintance  with  Mrs.  Talbot  was 
 the  hinge  upon  which  his  future  ufefulnefs 
 turned,  as  the  following  exlrad;  from  the  fer- 
 mon  he  preached  at  her  funeral  will  evince ;  and 
 to  which  the  reader  is  referred  for  a  further 
 account  of  that  extraordinary  woman^ 
 
 **  I  felt  particular  reafons  for  faying  fo  much 
 ••  of  Mrs.  Talbot  in  a  place  where  the  great 
 **  head  of  the  church  had  made  her  an  inftru- 
 **  ment  of  fo  much  good,  by  her  prayers,  her 
 **  advice,  and  her  example.  Being  dead,  (he  yet 
 **  fpeaketh, 
 
 **  I  conceive  it  to  be  but  a  jull:  tribute  to  her 
 *•  memory ;  confidering  her,  not  only  as  the 
 ^*  beil  friend  I  ever  had  in  my  life,  but  as  a 
 "  mother  to  me  in  love,  in  every  good  office, 
 **  and  in  continual  prayers  for  my  perfon  and 
 **  miniftry  : — -confidering  her  as  the  common 
 **  friend  and  parent  of  the  church  of  God 
 •*  committed  to  my  care. — She  was  a  widow 
 
 "  indeed, 
 
HON.    AND    REV.   W.    B.    CADOGAN,  xlHl 
 
 *'  indeed,  and  defolate,  but  (he  trufted  in  God, 
 '**  and  continued  in  fupplication  and  prayers 
 **  night  and  day  :  appearances  were  againfl  her, 
 •**  but  (lie  believed;  (he  prayed  for  what  (he 
 **  beheved  God  was  able  to  perform;  (he 
 **  waited  God's  time  for  the  performance  of 
 **  what  (he  prayed  for;  and,  my  brethren,  is 
 **  the  Lord's  work  revived  in  this  place?  Are 
 **  my  labours  owned  and  approved  among  you  ? 
 **  Be  fure  to  give  all  the  glory,  to  God  alone — 
 **  be  fure  alfo  to  remember  that,  among  other 
 '*  means  employed  for  the  eftablifhment  of 
 *'  this  miniftry,  were  her  light  (hining  before 
 **  me,  and  her  prayers  poured  forth  in  fecret 
 "  before  the  throne  of  grace. — The  love  of 
 **  Christ  conftrained  her  to  take  this  acftive 
 *'  part  for  you  and  me,  and  qualified  her  to  be 
 **  a  Mother  in  Ifrael. — Her  long  experience 
 *•  made  her  wife  in  the  things  of  God,  by 
 "  which  (he  could  warn  the  unruly,  comfort 
 •"  the  feeble  minded,  fupport  the  weak,  and 
 "  teach  the  ignorant,  with  a  fweetnefs  of 
 **  temper,  and  meeknefs  of  fpirit,  quite  pecu- 
 "  liar  to  herfelf." 
 
 The  truth  is,  Mrs.  Talbot  faw  upon  Mr. 
 C.'s  firft  coming  to  Reading,  that  he  was  a  very 
 different  charadier  from  fuch  as  have  no  other 
 potion  of  their  miniftry,  than  that  of  a  mere 
 
 profcjfion. 
 
Xliv  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 
 
 profejjion,  which,  like  the  Phyfician*s  or  Law-. 
 yer*s,  fliould  be  turned  to  the  greateft  worldly 
 advantage.  She  obferved  in  him  a  ferious  aim 
 to  do  good,  though  he  had  but  a  very  imperfect 
 knowledge  of  the  means.  She  declared  after- 
 wards, that  **  when  he  firft  came  to  her  houfe 
 **  to  examine  Mr.  Talbot's  books,  with  the 
 "  intention  of  feleding  fuch  as  fuited  him,  fhe 
 **  perceived  fomething  fuperior  and  interefting 
 •*  in  his  converfation,  and  which  made  her, 
 **  from  that  moment,  refolve  to  bear  with  his 
 •*  defedls,  and  endeavour  to  draw  out  and  cul- 
 **  tivate  his  excellencies." 
 
 He  had,  indeed,  quitted  his  academical  fludies 
 for  that  of  the  Bible,  but  though  he  was  digging 
 in  the  field,  he  had  not  as  yet  difcovered  all  the 
 Treafure.  There  were  afpe(fls  under  which  he 
 had  never  yet  viewed  the  religion  of  Jesus  j — 
 there  were  humbling  acknowledgments  of  heart 
 of  which,  hitherto,  he  had  not  fat  down  and 
 counted  the  cofi ; — there  was  a  life  of  abfolute 
 dependence  upon  Christ  for  wifdom,  right- 
 eoufnefs,  fandtification,  and  redemption,  which 
 it  is  the  moft  difficult  of  all  fciences  experi- 
 mentally to  learn  ; — and  there  was  a  people  in 
 his  parifh  which  he  did  not  yet  know,  and  there- 
 fore he  as  greatly  mifapprehended  their  real 
 charader,  as  they  did  his. 
 
 For 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B,    CADOGAN.  xLv 
 
 For  Mr.  C,  like  too  many  more,  had  aflb- 
 ciated  with  his  idea  of  their  evangehcal  reli- 
 gion, that  of  the  vulgar  habits  and  fanaticaf 
 weaknefTes  of  fome  who  profefs  (and  fome- 
 times  do  no  more  than  profefs)  to  embrace  it. 
 Perfons  who  have  not  the  early  advantages  of 
 Mr.  C.  and  Mrs.  Talbot,  often  attain  to  true 
 piety,  though  they  cannot  fo  well  exprefs  or 
 embellifh  it.  But  it  is  the  philofopher  who 
 alfo  becomes  vulgar,  when  he  cannot,  or  will 
 not,  make  the  diftindtion  *. 
 
 On  the  contrary,  while  Mrs.  T.  was  dif- 
 courfing  with  him  on  the  nature  of  the  Gofpel, 
 he  faw  in  her  the  power  of  it ;  while  fhe  en- 
 larged on  the  docftrine  of  the  crofs,  he  faw  in 
 
 ♦  I  am  happy,  however,  that  I  can  name  a  Philofopher, 
 even  of  the  prefent  day,  fuperior  to  fuch  prejudices  ;  and 
 whofe  zeal  and  ability  in  defence  of  real  Chriftianity  are 
 above  praife.  He  remarks  on  this  point,  that  though  the 
 poor  *'  may  exprefs  themfelves  ill,  their  views  may  be 
 **  fimple,  and  their  hearts  humble,  penitent,  and  fmcere. 
 **  It  is  as  in  other  cafes  ;  the  vulgar  are  the  fubjeSis  of  phoe- 
 **  nomena,  the  learned  explain  them :  the  former  know 
 **  nothing  of  the  theory  of  vilion  or  of  fentiment  j  but  this 
 *'  ignorance  hinders  not  that  they  fee  and  think  j  and, 
 *'  though  unable  to  difcourfe  elaborately  on  the  pafllons, 
 "  they  can  feel  warmly  for  their  children,  their  friends, 
 *'  and  their  country." 
 
 See  Mr.  Wilberforce's  Practical  View,  Page  129. 
 
 her 
 
jdvi  MEMOIRS   OP    THE 
 
 her  its  healing  and  comforting  efficacy  on  the 
 heart  and  life :  ftie  fpake  much  of  the  true 
 Vine,  While  he  recognifed  the  living  branch 
 and  its  fruit  j  and  beheld  with  irreliflible  con- 
 viction in  her  charac^ter  the  doBrine  which  is 
 according  to  godlinefs. 
 
 Puzzled,  therefore,  as  this  honell  enquirer 
 had  been  with  the  rough  draught  of  Chrifti- 
 anity,  he  was  charmed  with  iht  finijhed portrait . 
 Her  judicious  treatment,  elegant  manners,  and 
 bright  example,  formed  both  a  contraft  and  an 
 antidote  to  the  rudenefs  he  had  met  with  in 
 others  :  and  this  fhould  teach  us  to  fet  a  due 
 value  upon  every  talent,  natural  or  acquired, 
 which  divine  grace  employs  j  though  we  our- 
 felves  happen  not  to  pofTefs  it,  and  though  every 
 talent  without  that  grace,  mull  be  employed 
 in  vain. 
 
 But  thus  accomplifhed,  and  thus  affifted, 
 Mrs.  Talbot,  like  the  woman  in  the  parable, 
 not  only  lighted  a  candle,  but  fwept  the  houfe, 
 brought  out  this  piece  of  fterling  value,  and, 
 removing  the  ruft,  gave  a  currency  to  its  worth. 
 Like  another  Prifcilla,  fhe  often  engaged  this 
 ApoUos  at  her  houfe,  and  taught  him  the  way 
 of  God  more  perfe(5lly.  She  faw  him,  like 
 tlie  noble  Ethiopian  going  on  his  way,  diligently 
 
 reading 
 
HON.    AND    REV.   W.    B.    CADOGAN.  xlvU 
 
 reading  the  Scriptures,  and  juflly  contemplating 
 the  importance  of  his  flation,  ran  tojoinherfelf 
 to  his  chariot ;  while  he,  intent  to  learn  their 
 true  meaning,  flood  ftill  to  hear ;  and  having  re- 
 ceived the  truth  as  God  was  pleafed  to  teach  it, 
 he  afterwards  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 
 
 In  order  to  teach,  every  man  muft  firft  ftoop 
 to  learn ^  and  to  learn,  perhaps,  from  a  teacher 
 who,  on  every  other  fubjed:  belides  that  in 
 queftion,  knows  much  lefs  than  himfelf. 
 
 Let  the  Reader  flop  here  to  remark  what  real 
 Chriftianity  would  do,  both  for  minifters  and 
 parifhioners,  were  they,  like  Mr.  C.  and  Mrs. 
 Talbot,  under  its  a6tual  influence :  then  let 
 him  contrail  it  with  the  contrary  fpirit  obferv- 
 able  in  thofe  parilhes,  where  the  minifter  and 
 the  people  become  at  once  the  fcorn  and  the 
 fcourge  of  each  other. 
 
 The  dawn  was  now  part,  and  the  coming  on 
 of  a  bright  day  cheered  thofe  who  had  feared 
 and  mourned  through  a  night,  which  the  death 
 of  their  late  paftor  had  brought  on.  And,  as 
 all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love^ 
 God,  I  am  informed  that  it  was  no  fmall  benefit 
 to  Mr.  C.  to  obferve  the  difference  between  the 
 ehara(51:er  of  the  pious  curate  he  had  difmifTed, 
 
 and 
 
Xlviii  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 and  that  of  the  carelefs  one  he  had  taken  intff 
 his  place. — ^When  reafonijig  upon  rehgious 
 truths  will  not  convince  men,  God  often  in 
 mercy    makes    them  hear,    and    feel  too,    by 
 
 FACTS. 
 
 From  this  period  to  the  end  of  his  courfe, 
 we  are  to  conlider  Mr.  C.  in  a  new  point  of 
 view :  but  if  the  Reader,  from  a  flight  ac- 
 quaintance with  this  fubje(5t,  does  not  yet 
 clearly  perceive  in  what  the  difference  between 
 the  former  and  latter  characfler  of  Mr.  C.  con- 
 lifted  ;  I  will  endeavour  more  exprefsly  to  in- 
 form him. 
 
 I  learn  from  his  own  declarations,  as  well  as 
 from  the  teftimony  of  thofe  who  knew  him 
 early,  that  it  cannot  fo  properly  be  affirmed  of 
 our  brother  that  he  had  taken  up  any  new 
 doBrines,  as  that  he  now  held  thefe  old  doc- 
 trines in  a  new  way.  Like  fome  others  who 
 have  cordially  fubfcribed  our  truly  evangelical 
 articles,  he  at  all  times  would  have  contended 
 earneftly  for  them  as  oppofed  to  the  herefies 
 which  in  one  form  or  other  have  ever  aflaulted 
 the  church  :  *'  ftiff  in  the  letter,  but  lax  in  the 
 *'  defign,"  he  would  have  fought  for  the  prin- 
 ciples, while  he  banifhed  thofe  who  preached 
 under  their  influence." — ^To  hold  them  as  articles 
 
 of 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  xllx 
 
 of  the  church,  was  orthodoxy  * ;  to  infifl:  on 
 their  full  meaning,  fpirit,  and  tendency,-  was 
 Methodifm. 
 
 But  that  Spirit  of  truth,  who  had  provided 
 further  inllrudiion  for  his  ear,  prepared  alfo  his 
 heart  to  receive  it ;  and  gave  him  a  more  hum- 
 bling and  heart-afFe6ting  apprehenfion  than  he 
 had  before  of  the  various  perfections  of  God 
 — the  utter  apoftacy  of  our  fallen  nature  from 
 Him — the  deep  malignity  of  fin — the  excellency 
 of  that  holy  law  by  which  the  linner  is  con- 
 demned— the  only  method  of  his  juftification 
 through  faith  in  a  Redeemer — and  the  rege- 
 nerating    grace    of   the     Holy    Spirit    as    the 
 
 *  I  cannot  help  remarking  here,  a  capital  error  in  a 
 modern  fort  of  orthodoxy.  Congregations  who  affent  to  the 
 dodlrines  of  our  church,  who  lead  virtuous,  or  at  leaft  decent 
 lives,  and  who  regularly  attend  the  ftated  worfhip,  are  too 
 often  indifcriminately  addrefl'ed — not  only  as  true  members 
 of  the  church,  but  as  members  of  Christ  j  interefted  in 
 his  Atonement,  influenced  by  his  Spirit,  and  heirs  of  his 
 Kingdom  :  in  other  words,  not  only  as  almofl-,  but  as  alto- 
 gether ChrilHans.  On  the  contrary,  had  the  Scriptures 
 been  made  the  rule,  it  would  have  been  found,  and  incul- 
 cated too,  that  all  men,  however  virtuous,  orthodox,  or 
 religious  in  their  way,  are  dead  in  fm,  and  under  condemna- 
 tion, till  they  are  awakened  to  a  fenfe  of  their  condition, 
 renewed  in  the  fpirit  of  their  mind,  and  renouncing  every 
 other  hope,  jiee  for  refuge  to  the  hope  fet  before  hern  in 
 Christ. 
 
 c  beginning 
 
1  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 beginning  of  all  real  fandlification.  Thus,  like 
 David,  as  he  entered  the  fantluary .  of  Gody  and 
 contemplated  more  diftindly  the  things  within^ 
 his  views  of  things  without  became  more 
 clear.  And  thus,  with  the  Apoftle,  under 
 new  convictions,  he  conferred  not  with  jlejh  and 
 blood 'y  but  refolved  to  break  with  a  corrupt  world, 
 though,  as  we  fhall  fee  by  and  by,  he  had  yet  to 
 encounter  another  dangerous  and  unfufpecfted  at- 
 tack from  it.  What  is  more  difficult  to  attain, 
 he  had  now  learned,  with  the  fame  Apoftle,  to 
 place  no  confidence  in  Himfelf. 
 
 While,  therefore,  our  brother  fell  down  be- 
 fore his  great  Teacher,  confeffing  that,  even  in 
 his  religious  concerns,  he  had  **  erred  and 
 **  flrayed  like  a  loft  fheep,  and  that-  there  was 
 **  no  health  in  him,"  he  rofe  in  the  church  as 
 a  Minifter  and  a  Witnefs  of  the  things  he  had 
 feen  and  heard.  He  now  more  clearly  per- 
 ceived in  how  different  a  way  two  men  may 
 hold  the  fame  do6lrines.  For  as,  according  to 
 the  old  maxim,  quicquid  recipitur  recipitur  ad 
 modum  recipientis^  or,  as  growth  depends  not 
 only  upon  the  feed^  but  alfo  upon  the  ground  i 
 fo  if  divine  Grace  does  not  prepare  the  heart  to 
 receive  divine  Truths^  the  truth  itfelf  becomes 
 but  a  barren  fpeculation  at  beft  ;  and  not  unfre- 
 quently  is  the  knowledge  that  puffs  a  man  up, 
 
 inftead 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  U 
 
 inftead  of  humbling  him  as  a  (inner  before  God, 
 and  difpofing  him  rightly  to  embrace  his  remedy 
 in  the  Gofpel.  A  man  of  this  clafs  may  glory 
 in  his  Orthodoxy,  but  will  thereby  only  more 
 deeply  deceive  himfelf,  and  perhaps  others  too, 
 with  his  way  of  holding  evangelical  dodlrines. 
 Though  accurate  in  his  general  portions,  and 
 exadl  in  his  form  of  godlinefs,  he  may  remain 
 as  far  from  the  power  of  it,  as  the  form  in 
 which  a  dead  man  is  laid  out,  differs  from  the 
 feelings  Tiwdfon^ions  of  a  living  one. 
 
 Our  Brother,  however,  from  his  youth,  was 
 a  different  characfter  from  that  laft  defcribed  : 
 feeling  deficiency,  he  continued  to  make  ferious 
 enquiry ;  and  he  that  reads  his  Bible  on  his 
 knees  fhall  not  do  it  in  vain.  His  enquiries  and 
 his  prayers  were  both  anfwered  in  God's  time 
 and  way.  Having  long  heard  of  his  Maker 
 by  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  he  at  length  attained 
 to  fuch  a  view  of  his  Chara(5ter  as  led  him  to 
 abhor  himfelf;  and  to  magnify  and  depend 
 alone  on  the  redemption  which  is  in  Chrifl 
 Jefus.  Now  inftead  of  giving  an  indiflind: 
 alarm,  his  trumpet  gave  a  certain  found,  and 
 prepared  men  for  the  battle. — Inflead  of  coming 
 in  fo  queftionablc  a  fhape,  that  good  men  knew 
 not  how  to  fpeak  to  him,  even  as  a  babe  in 
 Chrifl: ;  his  views  and  his  walk  became  fo 
 c  1  authentic. 
 
lii  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 authentic,  that  they  afterwards  looked  up    to 
 him  as  a  Father. 
 
 But  no  man,  as  has  been  obferved,  can  thus 
 fay  that  Jefus  is  the  Lord^  but  by  the  Holy  Ghoji  ; 
 nor  fhus  proceed  in  the  hght  and  power  of  the 
 truth,  but  by  His  fpecial  influence.  To  walk 
 forward  from  day  to  day  by  faith ^  and  not  by 
 fight — to  walk  through  all  ranks  in  life  as  the 
 Phyfician  walks  through  a  Hofpital,  not  to  con- 
 fult  the  fancies  of  the  patients,  but  with  a  fingle 
 aim  to  heal  their  diforders — to  determinately 
 employ  no  remedy  but  the  Gofpel  fpecific  for 
 breaking  the  hard  heart,  and  healing  the  broken 
 one — to  depend  wholly  on  divine  influence  for 
 fuccefs — to  ipeak  from  experience^ — to  be  willing 
 to  be  the  world's  fool  for  Chrifl:'s  fake — to 
 exped:  this — to  flieadily  plan  upon  it — to  em- 
 brace it  as  the  higheft  honour — and  to  honour 
 thofe  that  embrace  it — this  was  to  be  Cadogan 
 in  his  latter  years. 
 
 I  have  dwelt  the  longer  on  this  period  of  our 
 Brother's  life,  on  account  of  its  importance: 
 and  the  Reader  may,  I  think,  by  this  time  per- 
 ceive (what  will  ftill  more  fully  appear  in  the 
 courfe  of  the  narrative)  how  different  his  views 
 were  now,  from  thofe  under  which  he  had  ob- 
 ieded  to  Mr.  Hallward  j  and  not  to  him  only, 
 
 but. 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  lui 
 
 but,  as  I  learn  from  the  following  anecdote,  to 
 others  of  like  charatfter. 
 
 Mr.  Baylis,  a  worthy  and  pious  man,  who 
 is  at  this  time  parifh  clerk  of  St.  Giles's,  and 
 had  been  clerk  to  Mr.  Talbot,  as  well  as  to  Mr. 
 Cadogan,  informs  me,  that  upon  the  death  of 
 Mr.  Talbot,  the  Rev.  Philip  Gurdori  (at  that 
 time  curate  of  Cookham,  Berks,)  was  preach- 
 ing one  day  near  Reading,  and  was  attended 
 among  others,  by  Mr.  Baylis.  The  next  day 
 he  was  thus  accofted  by  our  Brother,  the  new 
 Vicar.  **  Mr.  Baylis,  if  you  expedl  to  remain 
 clerk  in  my  church,  you  muft  ceafe  to  make 
 one  of  a  mob  who  run  after  preachers  of  a 
 certain  defcription,  like  Mr.  Gurdon." 
 Indeed  fir,'*  replied  Mr.  B.  **  I  know  not 
 of  any  7yiob  j  a  few  of  us  who  had  received 
 benefit  from  Mr.  Gurdon's  miniftry  in  your 
 church  during  Mr.  Talbot's  life,  were  glad 
 to  hear  him  preach  when  he  came  fo  near 
 us,  and  had  no  apprehenfion  of  giving  you 
 offence."  **  Mr.  Baylis ^  I  utterly  dif approve 
 of  this  Jiep  i  if  I  fnyfelf  were  to  throw  about 
 my  armSy  and  make  a  great  72oife,  I  could  be 
 popular  too.^^ 
 
 Mr.    C.    was  glad,  however,  afterwards,  to 
 
 have  Mr.    Gurdon's  valuable   fervices    in   the 
 
 c  3  pulpit 
 
liv  MEMOIRS    or    THE 
 
 pulpit  of  St.  Giles's,  and  better  knew  how  to 
 eftimate,  as  well  as  to  defcribe  the  expreffions 
 of  his  zeal. 
 
 Thus  men  will  talk  ti|l  they  are  further  in- 
 ftrudted;  and  abfurdly  refolve  all  the  faithful 
 and  fervent  efforts  of  a  found,  folid,  and  evan- 
 gelical minifter  like  Mr.  Gurdon,  iiito  noife, 
 gefticulation,  or  fomething  worfe.— Prejudice 
 having  jaundiced  their  minds,  they  are  ready 
 to  believe  every  thing  but  the  truth.  Like  an 
 old  papifl  I  have  fomewhere  read  of,  who  {land- 
 ing among  the  hearers  of  the  celebrated  pro- 
 teftant  reformer  'Junius^  crept  towards  him 
 with  an  anxious  countenance,  and  drew  afide 
 his  gown,  "  What  is  the  matter,  friend  ?** 
 faid  Junius — **  nothing,  nothing,"  replied  he 
 — **  I  am  now  fatisfied — ^but  I  heard  that  you 
 *  *  had  a  cloven  foot. " 
 
 Since,  therefore,  the  illumination  of  our 
 Brother's  mind  (as  has  been  fhewn)  was  not 
 that  clear,  but  cold  apprehenfion  of  evangelical 
 truth,  in  which,  like  the  moonfhine  of  a 
 frofty  night,  much  may  be  feen,  but  nothing 
 groiL'S',  but  was  like  the  light  of  the  fun,  vivifying 
 and  expanfive;  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at, 
 (notwithftanding  all  his  former  prejudices  againft 
 acflion  and  vociferation)  if  this  child  of  the  fun 
 
 himfelf, 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.,  CADOGAN.  Iv 
 
 himfelf,  no^  cry ed  aloud ^  lifted  up  hu  voice  like 
 a  trumpet y  and,  fometimes,  ^ven  f?note  with  his 
 hand  ajid  Jlamped  with  his  foot  *,  while  he 
 warned  men  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come. 
 
 Should  the  Reader  enquire  why  a  vehement 
 fimplicity  has  been  fo  adtnired  in  Demofthenes, 
 haranguing  on  the  affairs  of  a  mole-hill,  and 
 yet  is  fo  defpifed  in  the  minifters  of  God,  while 
 treating  on  life  and  death  eternal  ? — Or  why 
 men  of  tafte  term  it  a  noble  enthuliafm  if  it  be 
 direded  to  politics,  painting,  or  fiddling,  but 
 call  it  wretched  or  dcfpicable  if  it  reiped:  the 
 fervice  of  God  ?  The  anfwer  is  eafy.  The 
 mole-hill  is  the  pifmire's  world.  Here  he  tugs 
 and  fweats,  and  fwears  too,  that  the  ant  who 
 creeps  to  the  top  has  a  noble  ambition.  And 
 thus  it  is  with  the  befl:  of  us,  till  He  who  com- 
 manded the  light  to  Jloine  out  of  darknefs^  fhines 
 into  our ,  hearts y  and  enables  us  pra6lically  to 
 meafure  all  things  by  that  flandard  of  truth, 
 which  He  hath  {tt  up  in  his  Word.  Then, 
 and  not  till  then,  will  even  wife  men  ceafe  to 
 dote,  like  children  on  their  toys,  while  things 
 of  infinite  moment  are  flighted.  JVhen  I  was 
 a  child,  I  f pake  as  a  child ,  I  underjiood  as  a 
 c^ild,  I  thought  (or  reafoned)  as  a  child:  but 
 when  I  became  a  man,  1  put  away  childijh  things, 
 
 *  Ezek.  vi.  II. 
 
 c  4  The 
 
Ivi  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 The  Reader  will  by  this  time  naturally  ex- 
 pe(5l  that  Mr.  C.  would  be  deiirous  of  avowing 
 the  revolution  which  had  taken  place  in  his 
 mind,  to  his  former  curate  ;  and,  in  order  to  be 
 corred:,  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Hall  ward  for  particular 
 information.  I  had  determined  that  nothing 
 fhould  be  publifhed  that  was  not  firft  perufed 
 and  approved  by  him,  as  one  moft  capable  of 
 correcting  any  miftake.  I  (hall  here  infert  part 
 of  his  reply  to  me,  and  afterwards  the  letter 
 fent  from  Mr.  C.  to  him. 
 
 **  Mr.  Cadogan  difmifled  me,  but  it  was, 
 **  as  he  always  behaved  to  me,  like  a  gentle- 
 "  man.  And,  indeed,  he  knew  not  how  to 
 **  behave  to  any  body  otherwife. 
 
 "  All  circumftances  confidered,  I  never  could 
 
 •*  wonder  at  that  difmiflionj  nor  did  I   ever 
 
 "  feel  a  wifh  to  reproach  him  with  it :  though 
 
 •*  he    afterwards  feverely    reproached  himfelf. 
 
 *<  Nor  could  I  allow  of  any  thing  to  pafs  under 
 
 **  my  eye  to  the  public  that  bore  too  hardly 
 
 ^*  upon  him  on  this  j^ccount  j  as  I  really  believe 
 
 ^*  he  was   even    then  a  fincere  enquirer   after 
 
 **  truth-^that  (like  St,  P^ul)  he  verily  thought 
 
 **  he  ought  to  do  what  he  did;  and   that  he 
 
 "  adted  according  to  the  light  he  then  had, 
 
 «*  And  further,  I  believe  that  great  pains  had 
 
 '*  been 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  Ivil 
 
 •*  been  taken  to  prejudice  his  mind ;  and  that  a 
 "  variety  of  flanderous  reports  had  been  carried 
 "  to  him  by  perfons,  to  whofe  fentiments  and 
 *'  charadter  he  then  paid  the  greateft  refpecft. 
 **  All  which,  and  much  more  of  a  iimilar  kind 
 **  that  might  be  added,  may  be  pleaded  in  ex- 
 **  tenuation  of  his  condud." 
 
 MR.  CADOGAN  TO  MR.  HALL  WARD. 
 
 Readings  Sept.  3,  1780. 
 **    DEAR    SIR, 
 
 **  I  FEEL  myfelf  fomewhat  comforted,  amidft 
 "  many  pangs  of  a  wounded  fpirit,  in  being  able 
 **  to  make  the  heft  reparation  I  can  for  a  former 
 "  injury  in  having  deprived  you  of  the  curacy 
 **  of  St.  Giles's,  Reading,  by  now  offering  you 
 "  the  fame  curacy  again.  Mr.  S —  leaves  me  at 
 *•  Michaelmas,  and  I  affure  you,  Sir,  it  has  long 
 
 *  *  been  my  intention ,  when  ever  I  could  fettle  mat- 
 **  ters  with  him,  to  make  you  the  offer  of  fuc- 
 "  ceeding  him.  I  can  do  very  well  till  Chrift- 
 *'  mas  without  an  afTiflant,  but  after  Chriftmas,  I 
 •*  muflbe  at  Chelfea.  If  it  will  not  fuit  you  to 
 "  come  yourfelf  (which  I  moft  ardently  wifh)  I 
 **  would  prefer  your  recommendation,  fhouldyou 
 **  know  of  any  perfon  to  whom  you  think  fuch 
 **  a  thing  might  be  elegibJe.     I  fuppofe  you  will 
 
 *  *  have  no  objedion  to  a  Lecture,  and  to  an  altera- 
 
 **  tion 
 
Iviii  MEMoms  of  the 
 
 tion  which  I  propofe  in  the  Sunday's  duty, 
 viz.  to  have  Evening  fervicc  on  that  day  alfo; 
 and  in  the  afternoon,  at  three,  to  have  prayers 
 read,  and  the  Children  catechifed ;  when,  if  we 
 are  both  here,  we  might  take  an  opportunity  of 
 expounding  the  Catechifm.  I  am  perfuaded 
 that  this,  though  we  fliould  have  to  read 
 prayers  three  times  a  day,  would  be  eafier  to 
 ourfelves,  and  better  for  our  hearers,  than 
 preaching  immediately  after  dinner,  when  both 
 preacher  and  hearer  are  generally  heavy.  But 
 I  dare  fay  we  fhall  not  difpute  about  labouring. 
 in  the  vineyard  of  that  gracious  Mafler  whom 
 we  ferve  :  and  that  it  will  be  eafy  at  any  time 
 to  get  fuch  affiftance,  whether  I  am  here  or 
 not,  as  will  make  the  duty  perfectly  eafy.  But 
 Chriji's  grace  is  fiifficient — and  we  have  the 
 teftimony  of  one  who  knew  it  *'  /  can  do  all 
 things  through  Chriji  Jirengthening  w^." 
 
 **  I  fhould  be  obliged  to  you  for  an  anfwer  as 
 foon  as  convenient,  as  you  may  be  fure  I  fhall 
 make  no  other  application  till  I  have  heard 
 from  you.  I  commend  myfelf  to  your  pity 
 and  prayers ,  of  both  which  I  Hand  in  great  need ; 
 and  hope  you  will  believe  me,  though  once  a 
 Blafphemer,  Perfecutor  and  Injurious,  to  be 
 *•  Your's  moll:  faithfully 
 
 *•  And  affedionately  in  Chrift  Jefus, 
 
 '\  W.  B.  Cadogan.** 
 Though 
 
HON.   AND    REV.   W.    B.    CADOGAN.  Hx 
 
 Though  Mr.  Hallward  could  not  accept  the 
 curacy,  becaufe  prefentcd  by  Mr.  Gurdon  to 
 the  living  he  now  holds ;  yet  he  readily  em- 
 braced the  opportunity  of  vifiting  Reading : 
 where,  like  another  Barnabas,  when  he  came, 
 and  hadfeen  the  grace  of  God,  was  glad-,  and  ex- 
 horted them  all  that  with  purpofe  of  heart  they 
 would  cleave  unto  the  Lord  who  had  done  fuch 
 great  things  for  them.  I  fcarcely  need  to  add 
 that  this  vifit,  which  was  continued  for  feveral 
 months,  was  highly  pleafant  and  profitable  both 
 to  Mr.,  C.  and  his  People. 
 
 But  the  Reader  may  wifh  to  afk,  how  Mr. 
 C.  could  fpeak  of  his  former  character  in  fuch 
 fevere  terms  as  thefe,  confidering  that  he  had 
 been  both  a  religious  and  zealous  Minifter  ac- 
 cording to  the  light  he  then  had  ?  I  anfwer, 
 this  will  not  be  fully  underftood  but  by  thofe 
 who  have  felt  as  he  nozv  did,  how  gradually 
 the  mind  becomes  enlightened,  and  how  much 
 enmity  may  exift  in  the  heart  againft  the 
 humbling  fpirit  of  real  Chriftianity  and  its 
 Minifters,  while  an  orthodox  fyflem  has  full 
 polTeflion  of  the  head,  and  zeal  and  devotion 
 mark  the  feps.  All  this  he  now  fully  under- 
 ftood, and  was  not  aihamed  to  confefs  like  the 
 Apoftle,  whofe  ftrong  exprefhons  he  here 
 adopted. 
 
 And 
 
Ix  MEMOIRS    OF   THE 
 
 And  this  too  his  new  characfter  proved  and 
 illuftrated ;  for  he  himfelf  was  now  treated  by 
 his  former  friends  as  he  had  once  treated  Mr. 
 Hall  ward. — ^The  Pharifaical  can  join  with  the 
 Profane  when  the  Minifter  of  vital  religion  is 
 to  be  difcountenanced.  But  the  Rubicon  was 
 now  palTed : 
 
 Among  innumerable  falfe,  unmov'd, 
 
 Unftiaken,  unfeduc'd,  unterrify'd, 
 
 His  Loyalty  he  kept,  his  Love,  his  Zeal  j 
 
 In]  or  number,  nor  example  with  him  wrought 
 
 To  fwerve  from  truth,  or  change  his  conftant  mind; 
 
 Though  fmgle.     From  amidft  them  forth  he  pafs'd. 
 
 Long  way  through  hoftile  fcorn,  which  be  fuftain'd 
 
 Superior Milton. 
 
 How  determinately  he  thus  pafTed,  will  further 
 appear  from  part  of  a  converfation  which  he 
 had  with  a  noble  Lord,  and  which  a  friend  of 
 unqueftionable  veracity  has  favoured  me  with, 
 as  occurring  about  this  period.  From  his  letter 
 I  tranfcribe  what  follows. 
 
 "  What,"  faid  my  Lord,  "  do  you  mean  to 
 *'  do  ?  You  have  made,  or  rather  marred  your 
 "  fortune,  indeed — all  hopes  of  preferment  are 
 **  quite  gone."  A  Stall,  I  believe  at  Weftmin- 
 **  fter,  was  promifed  Mr.  C.  and  juft  then  given 
 **  to  another,  to  which  my  Lord  was  fuppofed  to 
 * '  allude  j  and  it  was  well  known  to  both ,  on  what 
 
 *•  account 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  Ixi 
 
 **  account  Mr.  C.  was  pafled  by.  Mr.  C.  re- 
 **  plied,  **  I  am  endeavouring,  my  Lord,  to  gain 
 **  preferment  in  another  world,  where  no  one 
 **  fails  who  attempts  it.  All  worldly  prefer- 
 **  ment  is  uncertain ;  we  cannot  hold  it  long, 
 **  nor  fecure  it  one  hour — I  will  therefore  en- 
 **  deavour  to  fecure  a  treafure  where  no  moth 
 "  corrupts,  and  where  no  thief  can  fteal." 
 
 "  As  to  that  world,"  replied  my  Lord, , "  I 
 **  know  no  more  about  it  than  others  who  never 
 **  were  there."  Mr.  C.  anfvvered,  '*  /  never 
 **  faw  it,  my  Lord,  I  know  likewife  but  little 
 **  about  it ;  but  my  Bible  tells  me  that  ibere 
 **  rcjnaineth  a  rcji  for  the  people  of  God:  I 
 **  believe  that  book  to  be  divine — its  evidence 
 "  appears  to  me  irrefiftible — I  am  determined, 
 **  therefore,  to  ftake  my  fortune  upon  what 
 **  God  hath  promifed  in  his  word;  and  the 
 "  day  will  foon  arrive  that  will  determine  who 
 **  is  right."  *'  Well,"  faid  my  Lord,  **  you 
 *'  muft  enjoy  your  opinion,  and  pay  for  it." 
 "  With  all  my  heart,"  replied  Mr.  C,  "  I 
 **  have  a  faithful  God  to  go  to,  and  am  not 
 "  afraid  to  truft  Him  ;  nor  fliall  I  want  pre- 
 "  ferm.ent  while  I  can  commit  all  that  concerns 
 '*  me  to  Him.  I  fometimes,  my  Lord,  get  a 
 ^'  glimpfe  of  that  world  above,  which  makes 
 **  all  I   fee  in  this  poor  indeed, ^^     Here  both 
 
 were 
 
Ixii  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 •*  were  filent ;  and  his  LordQiip  feeming  dif- 
 "  pofed  to  move,  Mr.  C.  therefore  retired." 
 
 My  friend  adds,  *'  I  can  anfwer  for  having 
 **  given  you  the  converfation  verbatim ^  or 
 **  nearly  fo." 
 
 Speaking  of  him  as  diiinterefled,  I  ought, 
 perhaps,  in  point  of  time,  to  have  mentioned  be- 
 fore, that  the  late  Earl  of  Buckinghamfliire,  when 
 Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  made  him  an  offer  to 
 take  him  as  his  Chaplain ;  and  intimated  his 
 defign  of  giving  him  the  firft  Bifhoprick  that 
 fell  during  his  adminiftration.  The  propofal 
 however,  did  not  attra(5l  his  attention.  His 
 grand  objecfl  was  to  make  full  proof  of  his 
 Miniflry  in  the  ftation  where  Providence  had 
 placed  him,  till  the  fame  Providence  convinced 
 him,  it  became  his  duty  to  remove:  or, as  he 
 expreffed  it,  *'  he  had  not  even  the  defire  of 
 **  being  more  or  other  than  he  was,  excepting 
 •*  as  he  faw  the  will  of  God  in  it." — Truly 
 they  that  fay  fuch  thifigs,  and  in  fuch  a  way, 
 declare  plainly  that  they  feek  a  Country, 
 
 But  the  beil  of  men,  as  has  often  been  ob- 
 ferved,  are  but  men  at  the  befl :   and  if  it  were 
 only  to  keep  them  humble,  they  mufl  be  con- 
 tinually made  to  fee,  their  weaknefs,  and  their 
 6  abfolute 
 
HON,    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  IxiU 
 
 abfolute  dependance  upon  the  grace  by  which 
 they  ftand.  They  mufl  alfo  be  taught  to  know 
 the  World  much  more  deeply  than  thofe  who 
 make  it  their  grand  ftudy  ;  and  to  habitually  re- 
 gard it  as  enchanted  ground  on  which  a  good 
 man  will  fear  to  wander  without  a  fpecial  call. 
 This  was  now  to  make  a  part  of  Mr.  C.'s  ex- 
 perience; fo  true  is  the  maxim  **  th3.t  prayer, 
 **  meditation  and  te?np ration  make  a  Divine." 
 — His  letter  to  Mr.  Newton  on  the  danger  he 
 had  efcaped,  is  fuch  a  pidure  of  a  humble  and 
 ingenuous  heart,  that  I  cannot  forbear  tran- 
 fcribing  a  part  of  it  here. 
 
 **  To  think  that  /  fliould  ever  be  led  to 
 heavenly  purfuits,  is  marvellous ;  to  think 
 that  I  fhould  be  kept  in  them,  is  more  fo. 
 I  cannot  fay,  like  you,  that  I  have  been  pre- 
 ferved  from  blots  in  my  outward  profeflion  ; 
 it  was  but  lafl:  year,  after  having  efcaped  the 
 pollutions  of  the  world  through  the  know- 
 ledge of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
 Christ,  that  I  had  well  nigh  been  entangled 
 therein,  and  overcome.  I  was  enticed  from 
 the  care  of  fouls  into  Suffolk,  ^vith  my 
 worldly  friends  j  got  into  their  habits — 
 entered  into  their  fpirit — and  found  how 
 timely  it  was  faid  of  the  faithful,  that  if 
 they  had  been  mindful  of  that  country  from 
 
 **  whenc( 
 
IxiV  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 
 
 **  whence  they  camey  they  might  have  had  oppor^ 
 *'  t unity  to  have  returned.  I  was  received, 
 "  carefled,  and  I  may  fay,  that  I  had  almofl 
 **  been  even  as  they  j  my  treadings  had  well 
 **  nigh  flipped. 
 
 **  But  (marvellous  to  tell)  thy  mercy,  O 
 Lord,  held  me  up  ! — Or  rather,  by  a  fevere 
 fit  of  illnefs  He  brought  me  down,  even  to 
 death's  door. — I  called  mine  own  ways  to 
 remembrance,  I  felt  the  vanity  of  worldly 
 confidences,  and  the  wretchedncfs  of  thofe 
 who  have  not  Christ  to  truft  in ;  and,  O 
 how  bitterly  do  we  weep  when  Jesus,  whom 
 we  have  denied,  looketh  on  us  again !  Oh 
 the  agonizing  look  of  Him  whom  we  have 
 pierced  ! — It  caufeth  mourning  as  for  an  only 
 fon,  and  bitternefs  as  for  a  firft  born;  fo 
 that  here  I  ftand  a  fecond  Judas  almofl: — and 
 yet  alive,  to  adore  the  long  fuffe ring  of  God, 
 and  enabled,  I  hope,  to  count  it  falvation." 
 
 Mr.  C.'s  miniflry  had  now  become  fo  interefl- 
 ing  at  Reading,  that  his  Church  could  not 
 contain  the  multitude  which  attended  it.  He, 
 therefore,  propofed  at  a  Veflry  the  taking  down, 
 and  that  entirely  at  his  own  charge^  an  irregular 
 and  decayed  part  of  the  Church,  and  rebuilding 
 it  fo  as  to  correfpond  with  the  oppofite  aifle,  and 
 
 to 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  IxV 
 
 to  afford  much  additional  room.  It  was  ob- 
 jecfted  that,  after  his  death,  the  additional  room 
 might  not  be  wanted  (too  fadly  verified,  as  I 
 hear)  and  that  the  addition  would  increafe  the 
 expence  of  future  repairs.  He  then  nobly  pro- 
 poled  that,  he  would  not  only  clear  the  parifh 
 of  all  expence  attending  the  alteration  in  the 
 firft  inftance,  but  fecure  an  annual  fum  from 
 his  own  property,  adequate  to  keeping  it  in 
 repair : — but  all  in  vain.  Man  whether  at 
 Chelfea  or  at  Reading  can  more  eafily  be  made 
 acquainted  with  any  part  of  his  intereil  than 
 that  which  relates  to  his  Sou/. 
 
 This  want  of  Room,  however,  was  much 
 remedied  by  his  eredting  a  very  large  Gallery, 
 which  went  nearly  round  the  Church ;  for  the 
 whole  expence  of  which  he  made  himfclf  ac- 
 countable, though,  afterwards,  it  was  chiefly 
 defrayed  by  voluntary  fubicription.  Mr.  Marfli 
 writes  me  word,  that  **  the  gallery  was  eredled 
 '  in  the  year  1784,  but  in   the  year  1789  the 
 
 *  congregation  was  fo  increafed,  that  the  church 
 '  with  its  additional  gallery  was  found  infuffi- 
 '  cient  to  contain  it  ;  application  was  there- 
 '  fore  made  for  a  further  enlargement,  the 
 '  expence    of    which    Mr.    C.    undertook    to 
 
 *  defray,  but  the  veflry  refufed  to  admit  it." 
 
 We 
 
Ixvi  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 We  now  come  to  view  Mr.  C.  as  entering 
 into  a  new  relation.  And  it  fliould  be  remarked 
 to  his  lionoLir^  that  he  was  remarkably  chafte, 
 even  to  rcferve,  in  his  habits  with  the  female 
 fex.  He  had,  however,  formed  an  early  at- 
 tachment to  a  beautiful  and  accomplifhcd  Lady 
 of  the  roman  catholic  perfuafion.  It  is  natural 
 to  fuppofe  that  he  fpared  no  pains  to  convince 
 her  of  the  errors  of  her  Church  ;  and  as  fhe 
 is  faid  to  have  regarded  him  with  equal  par- 
 tiality, it  might  have  been  expedied  that  the 
 pains  he  took  would  have  met  with  fome  fuc- 
 cefs.  But  as  they  did  not;  he  refolved  to 
 facrifice  an  affed;ion  of  feveral  years  continu- 
 ance to  his  confcience,  and  to  his  ufefulnefs  : 
 and  as  fhe  felt  herfelf  under  fimilar  obligations, 
 they  agreed  upon  the  expediency  of  there  being 
 no  other  union  between  them  excepting  that 
 which  was  founded  on  the  higheft  efteem  and 
 pureft  friendfliip,  and  this  was  continued  un- 
 interruptedly between  them  until  his  death. 
 
 In  December  lySz  Mr.  C.  married  the 
 widow  of  Captain  Bradfliaw  of  the  78th 
 Regiment,  Private  Secretary  and  Aid  de  Camp 
 to  General  Vaughan,  who  was  then  Com- 
 mander in  Chief  of  the  Leeward  Iflands.  Her 
 Father  was  Thomas  Graham,  Efq;  of  Balla- 
 gan  in  Scotland.     The  fcntiments  with  which 
 
 they 
 
 6 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  IXVU 
 
 they  came  together,  aad  the  happinefs  they 
 afterwards  enjoyed,  may,  in  part,  be  colled:ed 
 from  various  exprclTions  in  the  Letters  written 
 to  herfelf  and  others,  and  placed  at  the  end  of 
 this  Vokime. 
 
 From  this  time  to  his  death,  httle  more  can 
 be  marked  (and  what  could  be  marked  better  ?) 
 than  a  fteady,  determined,  and  uniform  courfe 
 of  laborious  attention  to  the  charge  committed 
 to  him. — God,  who  had  given  him  grace  to 
 make  fo  good  a  cojifcjjioft  before  many  witnejfes^ 
 honoured  his  teftimony  to  the  awakening  and 
 eftablifliing  a  great  number ;  many  of  whom 
 are  now  living,  and  many  have  died  fcals  of  his 
 Miniftry,  and  lively  evidences  of  the  power 
 of  the  Word  and  Spirit  of  his  God.— A  courfe 
 in  which,  to  copy  the  words  of  his  and  my 
 very  amiable  friend  Mr.  Pentycrofs,  **  we  may 
 '  admire  the  beautiful  regularity  of  his  con- 
 '  dud:,  and  flridt   improvement  of  his  time — 
 
 *  riiing  conftantly  both  in  Summer  and  Winter 
 '  at   fix  in  the  Morning;  and,  excepting  his 
 
 *  attendance  at  breakflifl:  and  family  prayer, 
 '  continuing  always  in  his  ftudy  till  twelve — 
 '  then    riding   about    two  hours    and   vifiting 
 
 *  that  part  of  his  flock  which  was  at  a  diftance 
 
 *  — in  the  Afternoon  he  vifited  the  fick  and 
 
 *  diflrefled  in  the  Town,  and  on  Sundays,  the 
 
 d  2  **  Sunday 
 
Ixviii  THEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 '*  Sunday   Schools,    notwithftanding  his   three 
 **  pubhc  fervices.** 
 
 To  this  may  be  added  his  regularly  preaching 
 a  weekly  lediure  in  his  Church  ;  and  his  ad- 
 mitting fuch  of  his  hearers  as  had  not  the 
 opportunity  at  home,  to  join  his  Evening 
 family- worfhip.  Here,  indeed,  I  have  ob- 
 ferved  him  to  be  particularly  edifying.  The 
 fhort  remarks  he  was  ufed  to  make  upon  the 
 portion  of  Scripture  he  had  read,  were  luminous 
 and  afFed:ing  :  and  the  Spirit  of  prayer  in  which 
 he  afterwards  joined  was  fuch  as  every  true 
 Minifter  would  earneftly  afpire  after,  but  few 
 can  hope  to  attain. 
 
 **  The  beautiful  regularity**  of  which  Mr. 
 P.  fpeaks,  had,  indeed,  fo  entered  into  .7// his 
 habits,  that,  latterly,  on  taking  a  ftep,  he  feemed 
 to  keep  diftinAly  in  light  each  part  of  that 
 maxim  of  propriety,  A?i  liceat,  an  deceat,  an 
 expediat.  Some  zealous  people,  however,  of  a 
 more  fanguine  and  eccentric  turn  than  himfelf, 
 haftily  objected,  it  feems,  to  his  claiming  that 
 right  of  private  judgment  in  the  choice  of  his 
 fteps,  which  they  on  every  occafion,  claimed 
 for  their  own.  I  put  down  what  follows  for 
 their  ufe,  as  well  as  for  the  ufe  of  thofe  w^hofe 
 
 irrrefo- 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.     B.     CADOGAN.  Ixix 
 
 irrefolution  fuffers  them   to  be   reproached  into 
 meafures  which  tliey  cannot  fully  approve.- 
 
 Mr.  C.  one  day  complained  to  me  that,  at 
 different  periods  of  his  miniflry,  he  had  to 
 contend  with  fomc,  who  in  other  refpedU  he 
 highly  refped:ed,  but  who  in  forming  their 
 various  fchemes  for  the  promotion  of  reh'gion, 
 (improper  here  to  particularize)  had  pointed  out 
 to  him  the  part  which  he,  as  a  Minijfter  of 
 Chriil,  was  bound  to  take  in  them  :  and  who 
 had  not  only  been  offended  at  his  fometimes  re- 
 fufing  to  concur,  but  aifo  had  paffed  illiberal 
 reflexions  upon  fuch  refufals.  "  I  heartily 
 '   wifhed  them  fuccei's"  fa  id  he  **  in  their  way 
 
 *  of  doing  good  ;  but,  on  fuch  occafions,  what 
 '  it  is  expedient  for  ?ne  to  do,  I  think  I  ought 
 '  to  be  fuppofed  beit  to  know — at  leaft  fbme 
 
 *  credit  Ihould  be  given  as  to  the  principle  upon 
 
 *  which  I  ad:."  His  manner  of  fpeaking  on 
 this  fubjed:  plainly  indicated  that,  though  his 
 mind  was  fully  made  up  as  to  refifting  fuch 
 impofed  obligations,  it  was  alfo  confiderably 
 hurt  by  the  incautious  exprellions  which  had 
 been  dropped  in  urging  them. 
 
 To    fufpccfl  unworthy    motives,    or    even   a 
 
 deficiency  of  right   motive,  in  a  man  of  found 
 
 charadcr,  bccaufe  we  cannot  account  for  a  par- 
 
 d  3  ticular 
 
IXX  MEMOIRS    OP    THE 
 
 ticular  ftep  in  his  condud,  is,  to  fay  the  leafl 
 of  it,  to  make  a  great  miftake  :  but  to  fiifpedt 
 a  man  who  had  already  made  facrifices  to  con- 
 fcience  that  very  few  indeed  ever  have  it  in  their 
 power  to  make,  was  a  Hill  greater  miftake,  and 
 which  I  hope  none  who  knew  him  could  com- 
 mit. It  may,  however,  be  necelfary  to  remark' 
 here,  that  nothing  can  more  efFed:ually  fruflrate 
 the  GRAND  PROJECT  (which  we  all  ought  to 
 have  at  heart")  of  reforming  the  world,  than 
 that  the  very  men  who,  in  their  different 
 ftations,  fhould  be  aiming  at  this  only^  (hould 
 ever  be  found  fufpeiling  and  traducing  each 
 other. — What  fliould  we  think  of  Soldiers  who, 
 when  one  corps  was  Rationed  for  the  defence 
 of  a  particular  town,  and  another  fent  out  to 
 attack  a  poft,  or  to  fcour  the  country,  if 
 inftead  of  attending  to  their  diftind:  appoint- 
 ments, they  fhould  be  engaged  in  weakening 
 and  betraying  each  other,  and  thereby  the 
 Caufe  itfelf,  into  the  hand  of  the  common 
 Enemy  ? 
 
 But  it  is  the  common  Enemy  that  has  a  chief 
 hand  in  thefe  divijions  of  heart  ;  and  which 
 thofe  who  are  really  intent  on  the  fuccefs  of  the 
 common  Caufe  fhould  reprobate  and  watch 
 ^gainft  as  one  of  his  deepeft  devices.  Right 
 views  of  this  fubje6t  will  be  greatly  promoted 
 
 by 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  Ixxl 
 
 by  a  clofe  attention  to  that  mafterly  difcuflion 
 of  it,  I  Cor.  xii ;  where  the  fixed  diftindtion 
 and  office,  as  well  as  the  mutual  dependance  of 
 the  different  members  of  the.fame  body  is  pointed 
 out.  The  truth  is,  God  hath  Jet  the  members ^ 
 every  one  of  them  in  the  body^  as  it  hath  pleafed 
 him ;  and  that,  in  order  that  there  Jhould  be  no 
 fchifm  in  the  body  :  and,  on  the  other  hand,  it 
 is  no  lefs  clear  that  Satan  will  fet  them  at 
 variance  if  he  can. 
 
 Would  to  God,  therefore,  that,  after  we  have 
 fufficiently  ftudied  this  fubjecSt  in  the  chapter 
 abovementioned,  we  might  proceed  (as  we  are 
 all  under  prejudices  of  one  fort  or  other)  to  the 
 chapter  which  follows  it ;  and  there  learn  a 
 more  excellent  way  in  that  Charity  which  is 
 **  the  very  bond  of  peace,  and  of  all  virtues/* 
 which  fuffereth  long  and  is  kind^  ^c  ;  and  whofe 
 holy  flame  burns  up  the  briars  and  thorns  of 
 thofe  evil  furmiiings  and  perverfe  difputings 
 which,  even  among  good  men,  have  long  kept 
 the  myftical  body  of  Chrill  bleeding. 
 
 It  was  not,  however,  at  Reading  and  Chelfea 
 only  that  the  benefit  of  Mr.  C.*s  miniftry  was 
 felt ;  he  was  ready,  at  all  opportunities,  to 
 ftand  up  for  Public  Charities  at  their  collecflion 
 fermons,  and  to  afTift  fuch  of  his  brethren  as 
 d  4  knew 
 
Ixxii  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 knew  how  to  value  his  ferv ices.  Mrs.  Cadogan 
 having  but  very  tender  health,  he  endeavoured 
 to  procure  her  reUef  by  travelhng ;  and  ac- 
 cordingly in  the  year  1785  he  made  a  tour  into 
 Wales;  in  1786  another  into  Scotland ;  and  in 
 1788  a  third  to  the  Ifle  of  Wight. 
 
 In  looking  over  his  papers,  I  found  a  fhort 
 Journal  which  he  kept  during  each  of  thefe 
 Tours  ;  it  contains,  indeed,  little  more  than 
 the  different  ftages,  and  fome  notice  of  thofe 
 objects  which  ftrike  every  traveller,  with  here 
 and  there  a  remark  :  the  few  remarks,  how- 
 ever, which  he  makes,  plainly  fliew, 
 
 r.  His  fixed  defi^rn  of  feekinor  wherever  he 
 came  opportunities  for  ufefulnels  :  accordingly, 
 when  in  the  Ifle  of  Wight,  he  preached  con- 
 ftantly  at  one  or  other  of  the  Churches,  but 
 principally  at  Coires  ;  and,  as  often  as  he  could, 
 in  Scotland  and  Wales. 
 
 2.  His  attachment  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
 land :  as  appears  from  the  following  exprcfTions 
 found  in  his  Scotch  Tour.  **  Auguft  12, 
 '*  w^ent  to  the  Flirk  to  hear  their  preaching 
 **  before  the  Sacrament ;  but  hiard  or  faw 
 **  nothing  which  did  not  make  me  thankful 
 "  for  the  Church  ot  England,  fo   much   pre- 
 
 *'  ferable 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  Ixxiu 
 
 •*  ferable  to  that  of  Scotland  in  the  frequency 
 **  of  her  Communion,  an^  in  her  mode  of  ad- 
 **  miniftering  it."  Again  "  Auguft  20.  The 
 *'  High- Church  (of  Glafgow)  is  the  finell 
 **  piece  of  Antiquity  I  have  almoft  ever  feen ; — 
 •*  it  is  a  moft  noble  Cathedral.  O  that  Epifco- 
 **  pacy  was  eftabliflied  in  it ! '* 
 
 3.  His  refolution  not  only  to  preacji,  but  to 
 take  up  the  crofs  on  every  occafion.  I  could 
 mention  from  his  Welfli  Tour  a  deplorable 
 inftance  or  two  of  ignorance  and  prejudice,  if 
 nothing  worfe,  in  the  oppolition  he  met  with ; 
 but  I  will  not  render  evil  for  evil  by  inferting 
 names  or  particulars  :  his  own  remark,  hov/- 
 ever,  on  one  of  thefe  occafions  ought  to  appear. 
 **  Tidings  were  brought  of  my  fermon,  and  I 
 
 **  was  forbid  to  preach  any  more  in but 
 
 **  I  felt  fomewhat  of  the  fpirit  of  the  Apoflles 
 **  when  they  departed  from  the  prefence  of  a 
 **  fimilar  council;  rejoicing  that  they  were 
 **  counted  worthy  to  fuffer  fhame  for  the  name 
 ♦*  of  Jefus." 
 
 To  this  remark  of  his,  I  will  add  another  or 
 two  of  my  own.  Firlf ,  for  the  ufe  of  minif- 
 ters  lefs  eminent  than  Mr.  C,  who  are  deprefied 
 by  the  frowns  of  the  World.  Marvel  not,  my 
 brethren,    if  the   World  hate  you.       You  may 
 
 obferve 
 
Ixxiv  MEMOIRS    Of    THE 
 
 obferve  that  neither  the  Man  of  high  Rank^ 
 nor  the  high  Churchman — neither  the  finifhed 
 Scholar,  nor  the  diiinterefted  Labourer,  could 
 exGufe  the  faithful  Witnefs }  nor  procure  that 
 reception  of  his-  teftimony  which  is  refufcd  to 
 yours.  Real  Chriftianity  mull:  expedl  often  to 
 wander  as  an  unacknowledged  ftranger  even  in 
 Chriftendom  :  and  though  it  has  condefcend- 
 ingly  courted  the  attention  of  mankind  by 
 various  modes  of  addrefs,  if,  by  any  ?neans,  it 
 might  win  f 07716 ;  yet  we  fee  plainly  it  has  piped 
 to  them  and  they  have  not  danced  ;  /'/  has  mourned 
 and  they  have  not  wept. 
 
 Next,  I  fhall  repel  that  grofs  impofition 
 which,  in  protefling  againfl  fuch  Witnefles, 
 catches  up  a  vulgar  term  of  reproach,  and  col- 
 lects a  ftale  lift  of  acknowledged  abufes — for 
 what  ? — to  fhew  that  the  heft  things  may  be 
 mifnamed  and  abufed  ? — No  :  but  to  mifnamc 
 and  abufe  the  heft  things.  What  is  this  but  the 
 very  impofition  played  off  by  Infidels  againfl: 
 Chriftianity  itfelf? — What  is  this,  but  that 
 other  farce  played  off  by  the  Church  of  Rome  ? 
 — ^We  will  have  no  new  lights  fay  they : — 
 Right  j  if  the  light  be  really  new : — but  we  ap- 
 prehend your  meaning — it  is  that  you  will  have 
 no  light  at  all. 
 
 Still 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  IxXV 
 
 Still  truth  will  fpcak  for  itfelf,  and  it  often 
 extorts  a  reverence,  where  it  fails  to  generate 
 an  afFediion.  There  was  an  evident  integrity 
 in  Mr.  C.  which  gave  weight  and  meaning  to 
 his  religious  habits  and  converfation,  and  made 
 that  appear  natural  and  refped:able  in  him, 
 which  in  lefs  authentic  chara6lers  would  have 
 appeared  fanatical  or  fufpicious.  I  will  give 
 the  Reader  a  few  inflances  illuflrative  both 
 of  his  charad:er  and  manner. 
 
 A  mufical  Amateur  of  eminence  who  had 
 often  obferved  Mr.  C.'s  inattention  to  his  per- 
 formances, faid  to  him  one  day,  **  Come  I  am 
 determined  to  make  you  feel  the  force  of 
 Mufic — pay  particular  attention  to  this 
 piece.'" — It  was  played, — *'  Well  what  do 
 you  fay  now?" — '*  Why  jufl  what  I  faid 
 before" — **  What,  can  you  hear  this  and  not 
 be  charmed  ?  Well  ;  I  am  quite  furprifed  at 
 your  infenfibility — JVbere  arc  your  ears  f*'' — 
 Bear  with  me,  my  Lord,"  replied  Mr.  C, 
 fince  /  too  have  had  my  farprife — I  have, 
 often  from  the  pulpit  fet  before  you  the  moft 
 ftrikins:  and  affed:in<T  truths, — I  have  founded 
 notes  that  have  railed  the  dead — I  have  faid 
 furely  he  will  feel  now — but  you  never  feemed 
 charmed  with  my  Mufic,  though  infinitely 
 more    intercfting    than   your*s — /  too   have 
 
 "  been 
 
IxXVi  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 "  been  ready  to  fay  with  aftonifliment — Where 
 **  are  his  earsf^* 
 
 I  do  not  believe  a  fpark  of  afFe(5lation  was 
 fufped:ed  in  the  reply  he  made  to  a  pious  Lady 
 whom  he  vifited.  She  was  making  many  en- 
 quiries and  remarks  relating  to  his  birth,  family, 
 and  connexions  ;  *'  My  dear  Madam,'*  faid  he, 
 **  I  wonder  you  can  fpend  fo  much  time  upon 
 **  fo  poor  a  fubje(5t  ! — I  called  to  converfe  with 
 **  you  upon  the  things  of  Eternity.'* 
 
 What,  however,  affords  flronger  proof  that 
 this  negledt  of  his  Rank  was  genuine,  and  arofe- 
 from  his  hold  of  grander  objecfts,  is,  that  he 
 not  only,  as  we  have  juft  feen,  turned  from  the 
 fubjecSt,  but,  as  has  been  remarked  by  many 
 of  his  intimate  friends  as  well  as  by  myfelf, 
 he  never  introduced  it. 
 
 I  believe  the  late  learned  Bifhop  of  London 
 Dr.  Lowth,  upon  whom  Mr.  C.  ufed  fre- 
 quently to  call,  did  not  queftion  the  fincerity  of 
 his  declaration  on  the  following  occaiion.  The 
 Bifliop  had  been  long  confined  with  the  gout, 
 and  faid,  as  he  fat  in  pain,  "  Ah  Mr.  Cadogan, 
 "  fee  what  a  poor  thing  it  is  to  be  a  Bilhop  of 
 "  London.*'  **  Truly,  my  Lord,"  replied 
 Mr.  C,  •'  I  always  thought  it  was  TiVery^oox 
 
 *'  thing 
 
HON.    AND    JIEV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  IxXvH 
 
 **  thing  to  be  a  Bifhop  of  London,  if  a  man 
 **  pofTefTed  nothing  better." — It  may  be  re- 
 marked that  fuch  a  reply  came  with  a  better 
 grace,  as  it  came  from  one  who  in  all  proba- 
 bility might  have  obtained  a  Bifhoprick,  had  he 
 made  it  his  object. 
 
 It  was  to  the  fame  Prelate  that  he  mentioned 
 the  difficulty  he  found  in  the  ufual  mode  of 
 adminiftering  the  Sacrament :  the  number  of 
 his  communicants  had  fo  greatly  increafed,  that 
 if  he  pronounced  the  prefcribed  words  to  each 
 of  them,  the  length  of  time  required,  not  only 
 produced  wearinefs,  but  many  could  not  return 
 to  the  afternoon  Service.  He  therefore  propofed 
 to  the  Bifhop  adminiftering  the  elements  to 
 more  than  one  at  a  time,  which  the  Bifliop, 
 under  fuch  circumftances,  judged  proper. 
 
 His  converfation  indeed  was  feldom  without 
 profit,  not  only  as  to  his  choice  of.  the  fubjedt, 
 but  as  to  the  concife  and  pithy  mode  of  his 
 expreflion. 
 
 A  curate  of  Mr.  C.'s  has  honourably  re- 
 corded an  inftance  both  of  his  benevolence  and 
 manner.  In  the  year  1785,  this  gentleman  "Vvas 
 afflicftcd  with  a  nervous  fever  which  brought 
 confiderable  trouble  and    expence  to  his   Vicar 
 
 in 
 
IxXVlii  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 in  fupplying  his  Church.  During  his  illnefs, 
 beiides  thetendernefs  and  fympathy  with  which  he 
 was  treated  in  other  refpedts,  he  continued  to 
 receive  his  tull  falary.  To  ufe  his  own  words, 
 "  another  quarter  was  ended  with  ftill  lefs 
 '*  fervice  done  than  in  the  former.  The  hke 
 *'  beneficence  w^as  exercifed.  The  curate,  con- 
 **  founded  at  fuch  repeated  and  uninterrupted 
 **  generofity,  exclaimed — "  Dear  Sir,  I  have  no 
 '*  demand  upon  you  for  this  fum  of  money — 
 *'  I  cannot  receive  it — I  have  only  done  duty 
 *'  for  a  few  weeks,  and  how  much  trouble  and 
 "  expence  have  I  put  you  to,  by  my  illnefs  !'* 
 **  — With  a  tender  fmile,  and  a  nobledignity  of 
 "  fpirit,  becoming  his  natural  and  fpiritual  birth, 
 **  Mr.  C.  replied — "  Take  that  which  is  thine 
 **   own  :  did  I  not  agree  with  thee  for  a  penny  ?** 
 
 ,  From  a  letter  which  I  lately  received  from 
 another  of  his  friends,  I  extraft  one  more 
 inflance.  **  After  my  being  or-dained  Deacon, 
 *'  and  returning  from  Oxford  through  Reading, 
 "  I  called  on  Mr.  C."  *'  So  Mr.  W— ,»  faid 
 **  our  Friend,  *'  You  are  in  Orders," — *'  Yes  Sir, 
 
 *  and  I  am  frequently  diftrelTed,  left  I  fhould 
 *•  not    difcharge  my    office   aright."      "  You 
 **  have.   Sir,"   replied  he,  **  but  one  thing  to 
 **  do, — Exalt  Jefus,  and  the  promife  is,  /,  if 
 **  /  6e  lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men  unto  Wf  .**" 
 
 *'  The 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  Ixxix 
 
 **  The  impreirion  which  it  made  on  my  mind 
 **  was  not  tranlient ;  I  frequently  now,  (as  I 
 **  have  repeatedly  done  in  the  courfe  of  my 
 **  Miniftry)  recolledl  the  hint  with  profit.'* 
 
 There  are  fome  people  who  fpeak  well  upon 
 religion,  but  one  feels  a  wifli  that  they  would 
 talk  on  any  other  fubjed:  ;  we  can  only  reply 
 true — it  is  fo — ^you  are  right — ^but  all  the  time 
 we  have  reafon  to  fear  that  they  themfelves  are 
 wrong. — Like  the  Serpent,  who  the  fabuliil 
 tells  us  came  among  other  creatures  to  Jupiter 
 on  his  wedding  day  with  a  prefeilt,  and  brought 
 a  Rofe  in  his  Mouth,  we  are  ready  to  reply 
 with  Jupiter,  **  the  thing  itfelf  is  acceptable, 
 *'  but  not  the  prefenter." 
 
 The  converfation,  howe\^er,  of  our  Brother 
 was  a  Rofe  which  grew  from  the  root  that  was 
 in  him,  and  diffufcd  a  fragrance,  appropriate 
 and  diftinguiftiing,  as  it  flourifhed  amidil  fur- 
 rounding  thorns. 
 
 For  all,  it  feems,  ivho  will  live  godly  in  Chrifi 
 yefuSy  Jhall  fuffer  perfecution  in  one  form  of  it 
 or  other. — A.  few,  who  knew  nothing  of  his 
 worth,  fent  him  not  only  unkind  but  abufive 
 letters ;  and  returned,  in  various  ways,  evil  for 
 his ^ood  will :  Mrs.  Cadogan  thought  he  (houJd 
 
 refejit 
 
IXXX  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 refent  fome  of  thefe  things,  left  too  great 
 meeknefs  fliould  invite  more.  It  was  natural 
 for  any  woman  of  feeling  united  to  fuch  a  man, 
 and  to  fuch  a  minifter,  to  think  the  fame.  She 
 informs  me,  however,  that  he  always  replied 
 **  We  muft  fhew  thefe  people  a  more  excellent 
 *'  way — we  muft  overcome  evil  with  good  ; — 
 •*  we  muft  pray  for  them  as  Chrift  did,  for 
 **  they  know  not  what  they  do."  As  he  was 
 riding  with  her  the  day  after  he  had  received 
 one  of  thefe  infults,  he  met  the  man  who  had 
 fent  it,  and  ftopped  the  Chaife  to  ftiake  hands 
 with  him  in  the  moft  conciliatory  manner. 
 When  he  was  told  that  one  had  threatened  to 
 infult  him  if  he  even  entered  his  doors,  he 
 went  in  the  moft  friendly  way  to  his  houfe,  at 
 once  furprifing  and  difarming  the  heart  of  the 
 owner. 
 
 From  Mr.  C.Js  attorney  at  Reading  I  learn, 
 that  a  perfon  calling  himfelf  a  quaker,  had 
 from  the  year  1784  to  1790  refolved  to  put 
 Mr.  C.  to  the  unpleafant  neceftity  of  enforcing 
 payment  of  his  tythes  by  legal  procefs.  To 
 render  the  expences  as  light  as  poffible,  Mr. 
 C.  not  only  chofe  to  proceed  on  the  mildeft 
 ftatute,  but  forbore  proceeding  for  feveral  years, 
 although  infulted  and  abufed  by  his  debtor.  A 
 conliderable  fum,  however,  becoming  due,  a 
 3  warrant 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  IxXXl 
 
 warrant  of  diflrefs  was  about  to  be  iffued  ;  and 
 notwithftanding  a  letter  had  been  written  by 
 this  pretended  quaker,  ftating,  that  it  was  in- 
 confiftent  with  his  rehgion  to  contribute  to  the 
 fupport  of  a  hireling  Minijier ;  and  adding 
 that,  he  was  wilHng  to  undergo  v/hatever  a 
 pretended  Zealot  might  be  permitted  to  inflidt ; 
 yet  Mr.  C.  on  the  fohcitation  of  a  friend  of 
 this  man,  not  only  flayed  the  execution  of  the 
 warrant  of  feizure,  but  abfolutely  forgave  the 
 whole  of  the  debt. 
 
 About  the  Year  1790,  Mr.  C.  was  to  un- 
 dergo a  trial  of  another  fort.  An  antinomian 
 preacher  attempted  at  Reading  to  diffeminate 
 his  pernicious  principles ;  of  whom  I  {hall 
 take  more  notice  than,  perhaps,  fuch  charadlers 
 deferve,  in  order  to  place  Mr.  C.  as  an  example 
 before  the  eyes  of  young  Minifters  j  efpecially 
 fuch,  as  may  have  to  encounter  difficulties  of 
 the  like  kind. 
 
 To  be  intelligible  to  every  Reader,  it  may  be 
 neceffary  iirfl  to  obferve  that,  Antinomianifm 
 is  an  error  which  fets  up  the  grace  of  God  in 
 oppolition  to  his  government :  accordingly  it 
 makes  light  of  the  evil  of  fin — the  neceflity  of 
 repentance — and  the  evidence  and  excellence  of 
 bolinefs ;  and  all  this  upon  the  fpecious  pretence 
 
 e  of 
 
IxXXii  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 of  exalting  and  glorifying  the  work  of  Chrift. 
 But  the  work  of  Chrift  was  not  only  to  die  for 
 the  (ins  of  his  people,  but  alfo  to  fave  his 
 people  forom  their  fins  ;  and  to  fulfil  his  great 
 evangelical  promife  of  putting  bis  law  into  their 
 hearts^  and  writing  it  in  their  minds,  and  caujing 
 them  to  walk  in  his  Jlatutes,  and  keep  his  judg- 
 ments, and  do  them.  The  truths  therefore,  as 
 it  is  in  yefos,  refpedts  what  he  does  for  them 
 and  what  he  does  in  them  :  but  as  half  the 
 truth  is  a  lie,  fo  this  is  the  lie  called  Antino- 
 mianifm ;  that  myilery  of  iniquity  of  which 
 we  are  fpeaking. 
 
 Mr.  Broughton  in  his  did:ionary  under  the 
 article  Antinomians ,  fays,  *'  they  were  certain 
 **  heretics  who  firft  appeared  in  the  year  1535," 
 and  that  **  they  were  fo  called,  becaufe  they 
 **  rejected  the  Law,  as  of  no  ufe  under  the 
 **  Gofpel  Difpenfation.'*  But  thofe,  who  ex- 
 amine their  principle,  will  find  that  this  myltery 
 of  iniquity,  as  well  as  others,  began  to  work 
 even  in  the  Apoftlcs  days.  Accordingly  we  find 
 St.  Paul,  after  having  ftated  the  do6lrine  of 
 juftification  by  faith,  making  a  fland  againfl 
 this  perverfion  of  the  dod:rine,  in  the  fixth 
 Chapter  of  his  Epiftle  to  the  Romans — What 
 Jhall  we  fay  then  P  Jhall  we  continue  in  Jin  that 
 grace  may  abound  f  (Jod  forbid.     We  find  him 
 
 lamenting 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.         IxXXlll 
 
 lamenting  with  tears  the  Antinomianifm  which 
 prevailed  even  in  fo  early  a  flage  of  Chriftianity. 
 Many  walk  (i.  e.  as  profefTcd  difciples)  of  whom 
 I  have  told  you  often,  and  now  tell  you  even  weep- 
 ing^  that  they  ar-e  the  enemies  of  the  crofs  of 
 Chriji  ;  whofe  end  is  deJtruBion  ;  whofe  God  is 
 their  belly  ;  and  whofe  glory  is  in  their  fiame  ; 
 who  mind  earthly  things.  Againfl  this  error  we 
 alfo  find  St.  James  and  St.  John  labouring 
 through  their  Epijflles,  and  St.  Peter  and  St. 
 Jude  in  theirs,  llriving  together  for  the  true 
 faith  of  the  Gofpel,  and  proving,  with  St. 
 Paul,  that  without  holinefs  no  manfiallfee  the 
 Lord  *. 
 
 *  A  found  divine  obferves  that,  "  as  the  Law  of  God  is 
 "  that  perfe£l  ftandard  of  holinefs  from  which  every  devia- 
 *'  tion  is  fin^  fo  Antinomianifm  confifts  in  relaxing  on  any 
 *'  pretence,  or  in  any  way,  man's  obligation  to  obey  his 
 *'  Maker's  commands."  And  befides  the  ufual  and  more 
 generally  acknowledged  courfe  of  this  error  as  defcribed 
 above,  he  adds  "  Verily,  I  look  on  modern  moral  preaching, 
 "  as  a  refined  fpecies  of  Antinomianifm :  for  it  does  not 
 "  refer  to  the  Law  of  God  as  the  ftandard,  but  to  fome  vague 
 **  notio'ns  of  right  and  wrong,  which  vary  according  to 
 "  men's  faftiions,  educations,  connections,  or  even  inclina- 
 "  tions.  It  operates  to  render  men  Antinomiansy«/^t'7z^m, 
 "  Whatever  their  notions  of  mercy  and  falvation  are,  they 
 *'  ufe  them  as  a  palliation  for  fm,  and  to  perfuade  themfelves 
 "  that  God  will  make  allowances,  and  as  it  were,  fell  or 
 "  give  indulgences  and  difpenfations."  Certainly  fuch  a 
 perfuafion,  whether  it  proceeds  under  a  moral  or  evangelical 
 form,  is  the  very  fpirit  of  Antinomianifm, 
 
 e  Q,  But 
 
Ixxxlv  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 
 
 But  the  holy  religion  of  Jefus  will  ever  be 
 perverted  and   deformed   while    man  is  man, 
 that  is,  a  creature  who  naturally  like  the  wild- 
 afs*s   colt  fcorns   the  rein  of  his    Mafter,  and 
 will    feek  one  way  or  other  to  (hake  it   off. 
 Pride  will  lead  the  Pharifee  to  objedt  to  the 
 humbling   tendency  of  Gofpel  doBrines ;    and 
 corruption  will  lead  the  Antinomian  to  evade 
 the  obligation  of  Gofpel  precepts :    And  fo  deep 
 and  diffembled    fometimes  is   this   myftery  of 
 iniquity,  not  only  from  the  multitude,  but  alfo 
 from  the  Antinomian  himfelf,  that  while  he  is 
 ranting  about  the  doctrines  of  grace,  and  dealing 
 out  vulgar  and  abufive  epithets  againft  every 
 true  Minifter  who  adds  the  practical  part  to  the 
 do6trinal,  he  fuppofes  that  he  is  making  2ijiand 
 for  the  truth. — He  is,  forfooth,  the  Reformer, 
 the  Apoftle,  the  Contender  for  the  pure  and  un- 
 mixed faith  once  delivered  to  the  faints  : — he  is 
 miftaken  by  his  fimple   followers   for  another 
 Paul,    and   no    marvel,   for   Satan   himfef  is 
 transformed  into  an  Angel  of  light ;  therefore  it 
 is  no  great  thing  if  his  minijlers  alfo  be  tranf 
 formed  as  the  minijlers  of  righteoufnefs ;  whofe 
 endfiall  be  according  to  their  works. 
 
 But  to  return  to  the  Preacher  who  came  to 
 Reading ;  I  ought,  from  the  account  I  have 
 received,  to  clear  him  from  any  attempt  at  dif- 
 
 fembling 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.         IxXXV 
 
 fembling  his  principles  as  many  others  have 
 done :  he  fpoke  out,  and  thereby  became  lefs 
 dangerous.  Nothing  however  that  he  could  fay 
 or  do,  diverted  Mr.  C.  from  the  ftrait  line  and 
 fcriptural  courfe  he  had  been  purfuing  ;  and  my 
 defign,  in  dwelling  on  this  period  of  his  life  is, 
 to  call  the  attention  of  my  Brethren  in  the 
 miniftry,  to  the  wife  and  fuccefsful  method 
 which  he  took  in  fubverting  error  by  eflablifli- 
 ing  truth. 
 
 I  could  name  more  than  one  honeft  and 
 zealous  Minifter  who,  when  he  has  leen  his 
 flock  in  dangers  of  this  kind,  has,  indeed,  been 
 anxious  to  fecure  them  from  the  mifchiefs,  but 
 has  erred  greatly  as  to  the  right  way.  For  while 
 the  fanatic  has  been  fetting  afide  all  practical 
 godlinefs  in  his  way  of  eftablifhing  two  or  three 
 do(ftrinal  points,  the  regular  Paftor  has  endea- 
 voured to  counteract  the  error  by  infifting  fo 
 much  on  pra6iical  topics  and  obligations,  as 
 feemingly  to  abandon  the  foundation  upon  which 
 alone  they  can  be  fucceisfully  built.  But  this  is 
 attempting  to  remove  errors  of  one  kind  by 
 errors  of  another.  The  meaneft  Peafant  might 
 perceive,  that,  however  firm  a  hold  his  minilier 
 had  taken  of  the  end,  or  pra<flical  part  of  St. 
 Paul's  .Epiflles,  he  had  dehvered  up  the  full 
 polTelhon  of  the  beginning,  or  doctrinal  part, 
 
 e    3  to 
 
Uxxvi  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 to  be  mangled  by  the  fanatic.  Nothing  can 
 cftabhfli  error  more  than  fuch  a  practice  as  this, 
 yet  this  is  a  miftake  into  which  even  men  of 
 eminence  have  fallen. 
 
 But  He  from  whom,  "  all  holy  defires,  all 
 •'  good  counfels,  and  all  jufl:  works  do  proceed,*' 
 preferved  our  Brother  from  turning  out  of  the 
 Harrow  path  he  had  to  keep,  either  to  the  right 
 hand,  or  to  the  left.  Whatever  feparate  part  of 
 God's  counfel  an  erroneous  teacher  was  exclu- 
 lively  adopting,  Mr.  C.  wifely  determined  to 
 preach  the  whole  counfel  of  God.  He  would 
 not  quit  the  foundation  becaufe  another  was 
 building  wood^  hay,  Jiubble  upon  it.  He  was 
 too  well  inftrudled  to  blindly  advance  the  ArmU 
 nian  error  as  the  only  fpecific  to  cure  the  Anti^ 
 nomian.  Herefy  is  not  to  be  cured  by  Herefy, 
 but  by  Truth.  He  maintained  firmly  the 
 dodrines  of  Grace,  though  another  was  per- 
 verting them  J  and  ceafed  not  to  preach  as  fully 
 and  freely  as  before,  Redemption  through  the 
 blood  of  Chrijly  as  many  hundreds  now  living 
 can  tcilifyj  and  they  can  teflify  too,  that  he 
 did  not  flop  there  ;  he  preached  alfo  fanBijica^ 
 tion  by  the  Spirit  of  Chrijl,  and  the  peculiar 
 obligations  which  the  do(ftrincs  of  grace  lay 
 Chriftians  under  to  dcnv  ungodlinefs  and  worldly 
 
 lujis^ 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.       IxXXVii 
 
 lujlsy  and  to  walk  foberly,  righteouJJy  and  godly 
 in  the  prefent  world. 
 
 Does  any  fincere  Preacher  of  God*s  word, 
 now  labouring  under  fuch  difficulties  as  our 
 Brother  had  to  ftruggle  with,  wifli  to  know 
 what  fuccefs  is  to  be  expe(5ted  from  fuch  a  fteady 
 perfeverance  in  the  doBrine  which  is  according  to 
 godlinefs — a  courfe  which  will  no  more  coun- 
 tenance carnal  gofpellers  and  mad  evangelifts 
 than  dead  formalifts  or  hardened  profligates — 
 I  will  endeavour  to  ftrengthen  his  hands  by  in- 
 forming him  that  it  was  attended  with  the 
 following  good  effecfls. 
 
 I  ft.  The  appeal,  which  his  confiftent  condudl 
 lodged  in  the  confciences  of  his  people,  kept 
 the  greater  part  of  them  from  wandering,  and 
 recovered  others  that  had  wandered.  His  Con- 
 gregation increafed ;  God  fet  his  feal  to  his 
 word  j  and  afforded  his  power  and  prefence  to 
 the  genuine  adminiftration  of  it.  Many  were 
 awakened,  others  eftablifhed  in  the  whole  truth. 
 Such,  indeed,  was  the  effedl  felt  by  many  who 
 were  brought  under  the  Minifter  of  St.  Giles's, 
 that  it  reminds  us  of  fuch  Aflemblies  as  are 
 defcribed  i  Cor.  xiv.  25,  where  if  *'  there 
 **  fhould  come  in  one  that  believe th  not^  or 
 *  *  one  unlearned y  he  is  convinced  of  ally  he  is 
 e  4  *'  judged 
 
IxXXviii  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 ^^  judged  of  all ^  and  thus  are  the  fecrets  of  his 
 **  heart  made  manfejl^  and  fo  falling  down  on  his 
 •*  face  he  will  worjhip  God^  and  report  that  God 
 **  is  in  you  of  a  truth. ^* 
 
 2.  The  effed  was  felt  by  the  falfe  Apoftle ; 
 his  Congregation  declined :  ferious  enquirers 
 perceived  that  this  teacher  could  urge  no  evan- 
 gelical dod:rine  or  privilege  that  their  own 
 Paftor  did  not  as  firmly  maintain.  Mr.  C.  was 
 none  of  thofe  who  fear  to  give  the  Children 
 bread  left  the  dogs  fhould  catch  at  it :  or,  if 
 they  give  it,  they  give  it  fo  fparingly,  and 
 with  fo  much  caution,  that  the  Children  are 
 afraid  left  it  fhould  poifon  them. — But,  like  a 
 true  Parent,  he  gave  his  Children  not  only  their 
 
 foody  but  alfo  their  work^  and  their  medicines 
 too  when  they  needed  them.  (O  that  every 
 Preacher  would  confider  this  !)  The  Children 
 knew  the  Father,  and  crowded  round  him,  till 
 at  length  the  Antinomian  not  being  able  (as  Mr. 
 M —  of  Reading  informs  me)  to  raife  a  fub- 
 fiflence,  left  them  in  1796,  and  the  place  was 
 afterwards  fhut  up. 
 
 3.  The  good  effed:  of  our  Brother's  condud: 
 was  vifible  throughout  Reading.  If  all  did 
 not  love  him  as  a  faithful  witnefs  (and  where 
 and  when  did  the  world  love  a  faithful  witnefs  ? ) 
 
 yet 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.      Ixxxlx 
 
 yet  all  had  marked  the  fteady  and  devoted 
 Minifter.  In  walking  with  him  at  different 
 times  through  the  town,  I  could  not  but  obferve 
 the  kind  of  refpecft  paid  to  him  j  and  though 
 part  of  this  may  be  placed  to  the  account  of  his 
 family  having  refided  fo  long  on  the  fpot,  yet 
 how  many  high-born  Clerks  have  droned  away 
 their  lives  in  fight  of  their  family  manfion,  and 
 at  length  ceafed  to  cumber  the  ground  without 
 producing  a  fingle  figh  of  '*  AlaSy  my  Brother  /'* 
 — On  the  contrary,  how  many  whofe  births 
 could  fcarcely  be  traced,  have,  on  taking  their 
 flight,  wrung,  like  our  Brother,  the  cry  from 
 a  thoufand  hearts  of  **  My  Father,  my  Father^ 
 **  the  chariots  of  Ifrael  and  the  horfemen 
 **  thereof  I" 
 
 Among  other  inftances  which  might  be  given 
 of  his  general  influence  in  Reading  is,  that  of 
 the  exclufion  of  thofe  minifters  of  impiety  and 
 licentioufnefs,  Strolling-Players.  The  Devil  it 
 feems  has  his  Ordinafices  and  Minijiers  as  well 
 as  God,  by  which  he  plants,  waters,  and 
 matures  evil  habits ;  and  thefe  two  forts  of  Ordi- 
 nances are  contrary  the  one  to  the  other  as  arc 
 the  ends  to  which  they  tend. — The  Players,  I 
 am  informed,  could  not  find  a  fupport  for  fome 
 years  before  Mr.  C.*s  death,  but  came  in  again 
 very  foon  after  he  departed.     Who,  when  he 
 
 hears 
 
XC  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 hears  this,  can  help  applying  that  paflage,  A/iJ 
 E/i/ha  died  J  and  they  buried  him ;  and  the  bands 
 of  the  Moabites  invaded  the  land  at  the  coming  in 
 of  the  year  ! 
 
 I  proceed  to  give  what  I  can  further  colle(fl:  of 
 this  valuable  man;  and,  fince  the  above  was 
 written,  I  have  received  the  following  parti- 
 culars from  Mrs.  Cadogan,  which  I  fhall  infert 
 as  they  ftand  together  in  her  Letter,  though 
 evidently  intended  by  her  as  disjointed  hints  of 
 his  habits  and  character  to  be  interwoven  where 
 I  thought  proper. 
 
 "  My  dear  Hufband  had  fo  tender  a  Con- 
 **  fcience,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  he  could 
 **  bring  his  mind  to  the  difcharging  of  his 
 *'  fervants,  'till  compelled  by  the  greatefl  info- 
 **  lence ;  and  even  then,  he  would  overpay 
 **  them  both  in  money  and  cloaths.  When 
 *'  alfo  fome  of  the  Farmers  or  Gardeners  were 
 •'  diflrefled,  he  remitted  half  their  tythes  : — I 
 '*  have  known  him  excufe  confiderable  fums  at 
 **  a  time  to  one  perfon  ;  and,  inftead  of  refent- 
 *'  ing  injuries,  would  return  fome  ad:  of  kind- 
 •*  nefs.  "  Faithy'*  he  ufed  to  fay,  **  turns 
 •*  every  thing  to  Gold"  and,  that  "  we  have 
 **  nothing  to  fear  but  Jin,'* 
 
 He 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XCl 
 
 "  He  dilliked  vifiting,  except  a  few  felecfb 
 friends  and  the  fick,  the  afflicted,  and  the 
 poor. — He  ufed  on  a  Saturday  to  go  among 
 them  with  his  pocket  full  of  filver  for  their 
 relief,  and  before  the  Sunday-Schools  were  fet 
 up,  he  annually  expended  from  twenty  to 
 thirty  pounds  in  putting  their  Children  to 
 School. — Latterly  the  Sunday-Schools  were 
 his  great  concern,  which  coft  him  at  leaft 
 thirty  pounds  a  year :  he  ufed  to  vifit  them 
 almoft  every  Sunday,  heard  them  read, 
 catechifed  them  and  the  other  Children  of 
 the  Parifli  in  the  Church,  and  gave  them  a 
 dinner  on  Chriftmas  day. 
 
 "  The  poor  of  the  Parifli  had  meat  and  broth 
 every  week  for  three  months  during  the 
 winter,  for  which  purpofe  we  had  thirty 
 pounds  of  beef  every  week. 
 
 '*  He  ufed  to  vifit  the  fick  and  afHidted  in 
 the  Country  when  he  took  his  ufual  morning 
 ride,  and  thofe  in  the  Town  after  dinner, 
 nor  would  he  fuffer  any  thing  to  turn  him 
 afide  from  what  he  deemed  his  duty.  I  re- 
 member we  went  to  dine  with  Mr. on 
 
 that  monday  in  the  month  on  which  he  ufed 
 to  meet  a  Society  called  the  Sick  man^s  vijitor^ 
 he  forgot  the  day,  and  was  fo  unhappy  when 
 
 "  he 
 
Xcii  MEMOIRS    OF   TH£ 
 
 •*  he  recolleded  it,  that  he  went  and  gave  them 
 •*  a  guinea  belides  his  ufual  fubfcription. 
 
 "  If  he  happened  to  fleep  after  fix  in  the 
 *'  morning  (which  rarely  was  the  cafe)  it  ufed 
 **  to  diiliirb  him  during  the  whole  day;  though 
 **  he  never  went  to  bed  till  after  Eleven.  He 
 **  efteemed  his  time  as  very  precious,  and  ufed 
 •'  to  fay,  that  "  //  was  a  talent  for  which  he- 
 **  muji  account  at  the  Bar  of  God,** 
 
 **  He  was  fcrupuloufly  exadl  in  the  payment 
 
 **  of  his  debts,  and  faid  frequently,  that  "  we^ 
 
 **  ought  to    owe  no    man  any  thing  but  lave,** 
 
 **  Indeed,  he  feemed  to  make  St.  PauPs  direc* 
 
 •*  tion  to  his  fon  Timothy  his  conftant  rule  in 
 
 **  doing  as  he  would  be  done  by ;  caring  not 
 
 *'  for  the  praife  of  men,  concerning  which  he 
 
 **  often  faid  **  we  can  do  without  their  appro^ 
 
 *'  bation,  if  we  have  the  Lord* s  ;  but  let  us  give 
 
 **  offence  to  none  if  we  can  pojjibly  help  it,  and 
 
 **  be  willing  to  be  reproved  by  the  weakefi** 
 
 *'  The  Sabbath  was  his  greateft  delight : 
 "  and  if  he  had  been  harraffed  with  trials  (of 
 **  which  he  had  many)  the  whole  of  the  week 
 "  before,  he  ufed  to  be  happy  on  that  day,  and 
 •*  often  faid,  "  this  is  the  Lord's  own  day,  and 
 7  *'  Iwill 
 
HON.    AND    REV.   W.    B.    CADOGAN.  Xclil 
 
 **  /  will  endeavour  that  neither  Men  nor  Devils 
 "  Jljall  deprive  me  of  the  enjoyment  of  it." 
 
 •*  His  heart  was  fet  upon  the  welfare  of  the 
 
 *  Souls  in  both  his  Parifhes  j  he  ufed  to  pray 
 
 *  moft  earneftly  for  them  in  private ;  and  he 
 
 *  never  was  comfortable  but  when  refident  at 
 
 *  one  of  thern.     He  often  faid  when  he  was 
 
 *  abfent,  that  **  he  feared  he  was  not  in  the  path 
 
 *  of  duty  J  and  for  that  reafon  did  not  preach  fo 
 
 *  comfortably  abroad.'*  He  ufed  to  wonder  at 
 the  tafte  of  thofe  who  love  running  from 
 houfe  to  houfe. 
 
 **  Though  ready  to  part  with  his  money  to 
 thofe  in  want,  he  was  exadt  in  keeping  an 
 account  of  what  he  received  and  fpenf: 
 JVe  mujl  be  juji,'*  he  would  fay,  **  before  we 
 are  generous  :"  this  led  him  to  be  cautious  of 
 fpending  money  upon  himfelf. 
 
 *.*  I  have  only  to  add,  that  the  late  Sir  James 
 Patty,  who  was  a  Brewer  at  Reading,  had 
 a  fervant  who  was  a  dreadful  fwearer,  and 
 accuftomed  to  beat  and  abufe  the  horfes  ;  it 
 was  remarkable  that  at  once  he  left  off  thefe 
 evil  pra(5tices.  This  being  obfe'rved  by  Sir 
 James,  he  enquired  of  him  what  had  occa- 
 fioned  this  happy  change  of  condudl :    The 
 
 **  man 
 
XCIV  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 **  man  replied,  that  he  had  been  to  St.  Giles's, 
 "  and  had  there  heard  from  Mr.  Cadoiran 
 "  what  a  dreadful  thing  fin  was,  and  likewife, 
 **  what  were  the  means  of  deliverance.  He 
 **  entreated  Sir  James  to  attend  Mr.  Cadogan^s 
 **  Miniftry,  which  he  afterwards  did." 
 
 A  Parifhioner  of  Chelfea  adds  in  a  Letter, 
 that  "  for  feveral  Years  he  refided  at  Chelfea 
 **  from  January    to  June,    dividing  his    time 
 **  between  his  two  Livings.     The  firft  Sunday 
 **  in   every  Month   he  went  to  Reading,    and 
 **  when    refident  at  Reading,   he   came  every 
 **  lafl  Sunday  in  the  month  to  adminif^er  the 
 **  Sacrament    at    Chelfea.      He    eilablifhed    a 
 **   Lecture  for  our  ufe  every  Tuefday  Evening, 
 **  and    when   at   Chelfea   conftantly  preached 
 **  himfelf.     In  the  Year  1783  he  liberally  con- 
 **  tributed  to  a    fubfcription  for  the  relief  of 
 "  poor  Houfekeepers  ;  beginning  with  a  hand- 
 **  fome  fubfcription,  arid  went  himfelf  through 
 **  the  Parifh  with  the  Church- wardens  to  folicit 
 "  the  affiftance  of  others.     He  liberally  fub- 
 **  fcribed   to  the    Poor    every  Chriftmas,    en- 
 **  couraging  the  Children  in  reading  and  rcpeat- 
 "  ing  chapters,    and  the   catechifm. — On  the 
 **  Sunday  his  dinner  was  always  cold,  that  all 
 *'  the  Servants  might  attend  divine  fervice  twice 
 **  in  the  day.'* 
 
 A  Lady 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XCV 
 
 A  Lady  who  conftantly  attended  Mr.  C.'s 
 miniftry  at  Reading  has  fent  me  the  following 
 Prayer  which  he  generally  ufed  before  his 
 fermon ;  and  which  frequent  repetition  had 
 fixed  in  her  memory. 
 
 **  O  Lord  !  of  thine  own  gift  it  cometh  that 
 **  we  do  unto  Thee  true  and  laudable  fervice ; 
 **  of  thy  great  grace  it  is  that  we  have  the  Word 
 **  of  Life  and  Salvation  before  us  ;  and  of  thy 
 "  ftill  greater  grace  that  we  have  the  promife  of 
 "  the  Spirit  of  life  that  gave  it,  to  blefs  that 
 **  word,  and  to  make  thofe  means  eftediual : 
 "  We  are  waiting  for  this  loving-kindnefs  of 
 "  thine  O  Lord;  We  look  for  it  in  this  Ordi- 
 "  nance  of  thine  own  appointment ;  We  a{k  it 
 **  in  the  Name  of  Jefus  Chrift.  O  fend  us 
 *'  not  empty  away!  Open  thine  Heavens  and 
 *  *  come  down ;  ftir  up  thy  ftrength  and  come 
 **  amongft  us ;  bear  fome  frefh  teflimony  to 
 **  the  Word  of  thy  grace  this  day  ;  carry  it  in 
 **  the  demonftration  of  thy  Spirit  and  power  to 
 **  the  hearts  and  confciences  of  this  Church 
 **  and  People.  Hear  us  thou  God  of  our  Sal- 
 "  vation ;  and  anfwer  and  accept  us  in  the  Name 
 "  and  for  the  fake  of  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ! 
 **  who  in  mercy  hath  taught  us  thus  to  pray. 
 "  Our  Father,  &c." 
 
 The 
 
XCVl  MEMOIRS   O?    THE 
 
 The  Reader  I  think  will  agree  with  me,  that 
 even  thefe  brief  and  fcattered  accounts  of  fuch 
 a  man  ought  not  to  be  loft.  If,  as  we  obferved 
 at  the  beginning,  his  life  cannot  like  that  of 
 fome  others  amufe  by  variety  of  viciflitude  and 
 anecdote,  it  was  becaufeduty  fixed  his  foot,  and 
 vigilance  his  eye  within  the  limits  of  his  ap- 
 pointment ;  he  gladly  however  fecured  any  and 
 every  opportunity  to  fpend  and  be  fpent  as  a 
 Minifter  of  Chrift.  Our  Brother  differed  toto 
 ccelo  from  the  timid,  who  {brink  to  nothing  at 
 the  fneer  of  a  Fop, — the  delicate  who  can  only 
 move  where  the  path  of  duty  is  carpeted — or 
 the  frigid  and  half-hearted  who  require  a  thou- 
 fand  reafons  to  take  a  ufeful  ftep.  I  will  not, 
 however,  affirm  that  he  did  not  fometimes  err 
 in  the  contrary  extreme  :  his  laft  illnefs  is  fup- 
 pofed  to  have  originated  in  the  quantity  of  extra 
 duty  )vhich  he  undertook  upon  a  particular 
 occafion ;  and  I  fliall  here  relate  another  inftance 
 of  this  to  which  I  was  a  witnefs,  though  it 
 feems  to  tell  againft  myfelf. 
 
 Being  oppreffed  with  my  undertaking  as 
 Sunday  Evening  Ledurer  of  Chrift  Church 
 Spital  Fields,  I  requefted  Mr.  Cadogan  to  affift 
 me,  though  he  had  to  come  from  Chelfea 
 after  doing  the  duty  of  his  own  Church.  He 
 came,  however,  with   great  readincfs,    but  on 
 
 afcending 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XCvii 
 
 afcending  the  pulpit,  and  perceiving  the  extent 
 of  voice  neceffary  to  fill  the  largefi:  Parifh 
 Church  in  London,  crouded  from  end  to  end, 
 he  fo  exerted  himfelf  as  to  burft  a  vein  which 
 filled  his  mouth  and  throat  with  blood  :  but 
 deeply  impreffed  with  his  fubjc6l,  and  animated 
 at  feeing  fuch  a  vafi:  multitude  hanging  upon 
 his  lips,  he  determined,  if  poffible,  to  fuftain 
 the  continued  inconvenience.  Some  of  us, 
 indeed,  perceived  by  his  frequent  interruptions, 
 and  his  putting  his  handkerchief  fo  often  to  his 
 mouth,  that  fomething  was  amifs  ;  but  his  zeal 
 was  fo  unreprefTed  by  the  accident,  that  he  re- 
 minded us,  for  near  an  hour,  of  the  Ba/ils  and 
 ChryfoJio?jis  of  better  days — Minifters  of  whom 
 it  was  faid  that  they  thundered  in  the  pulpit, 
 and  liofhtnedin  converfation. 
 
 o 
 
 Nor  ought  I  to  forget  to  mention,  what  I  fo 
 often  have  had  opportunity  for  remarking  that, 
 his  fervent  zeal  was  attended  with  an  unfeigned 
 charity. — **  I  do  not,"  fays  the  admirable  Pq/cal, 
 **  admire  a  man  who  has  one  virtue  in  per- 
 **  fedtion,  if  he  does  not  polTefs  the  oppofite 
 "  virtue  in  an  equal  degree.  This  was  the 
 **  accomplifhment  of  JS/)rw///7(9/7^^j-,  that  he  had 
 "  the  greatcft  valour  with  the  grcatcft  huma- 
 **  manity. — A  man  never  (hews  true  greatnefs 
 **  in  being  fixed  at  one  end  of  the  line  ;  but  he 
 f  *•  (hews 
 
XCVm  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 **  fliews  it  to  admiration,  if  he  touches  both 
 "  extremities  at  once,  and  fills  and  illiiflrates 
 **  all  between." 
 
 This  is  true ;  and  yet,  methinks,  Mr.  Pafcal 
 might  have  illuftrated  his  rule  by  a  better 
 ftandard  than  Epaminondas  :  that  is,  by  a  Cha- 
 racter which  no  man  could  inve?2tt  and  who 
 exhibited  every  virtue  perfed:  in  kind,  and 
 perfed:  in  contraft.  He,  indeed,  by  the  ap- 
 plication of  this  rule,  ftands  difcovered  as  the 
 chief  among  ten  thoufand^  and  altogether  lovely ; 
 but  who  befides  Himfelf  could  ever  abide  the 
 tell! 
 
 A  meafure,  however,  of  this  excellence,  not 
 only  in  temper,  but  in  fentiment,  I  have 
 often  remarked  in  my  friend. — He  had  been 
 brought  up,  and  certainly  remained  to  the  laft, 
 what  many  would  call  a  high  churchman; 
 but  I  have  heard  him  exprefs  the  moft  heart-felt 
 i'atis faction  at  the  fuccefs  of  a  fleady  and  evan- 
 gelical diflenter. — "  Chrift  is  preached ^^^  he 
 would  lay,  **  and  I  therein  do  rejoice,  yea,  and 
 **  will  rejoice.*'^  It  alio  as  fully  appears  that 
 he  was  a  decided  calvinill;  but  he  was  the 
 reverie  of  a  bitter  and  contentious  one.     Firmly 
 
 *  See  alio  his  Letter  at  the  end  of  this  Volume  to  the 
 Rev.  Mr.  Kingfbury  of  Southampton. 
 
 as 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  XClX 
 
 as  Mr.  C.  held  the  more  clear  and  important 
 truths  of  revelation,  and  in  which  enlightened 
 men  of  all  ages  have  fufEciently  agreed,  he  was, 
 neverthelefs,  aware  how  much  human  explica- 
 tions had  obfcured  others  : — points  which  have 
 been  maintained  or  oppofed  by  the  ignorant  and 
 rafh  with  a  defperate  confidence,  but  which  the 
 learned  handle  with  caution,  and  the  humble 
 itudy,  like  pious  Hervey,  on  their  knees.  But 
 fettled  as  he  was  in  his  own  views,  he  was  fo  far 
 from  undervaluing  or  weakening  the  hands  of  a 
 ufeful  minifter  on  account  of  what  he  deemed 
 only  an  error  in  his  judgment  of  no  very  dan- 
 gerous tendency,  that  I  know  fome  good  men, 
 and  wife  men  too,  who  could  not  have  kept  pace 
 with  him  on  the  following  occafion. 
 
 When  I  recommended  to  him  Mr.  Robinfon 
 as  a  curate,  he  told  me  he  had  been  treating 
 with  Mr.  Powel,  who  had  been  mentioned  to 
 him  as  a  truly  pious  and  ufeful  man,  but  who 
 had  written  to  him,  obje(5ling  that  their  creeds 
 were  fomewhat  different ;  and  that  he  could 
 not  preach  particular  Redemption.  "  I  wrote 
 **  for  anfwer,"  faid  Mr.  C.  *'  come  to  mc 
 **  dired:l)|||  and  preach  among  us  Redemp- 
 **  tion  freely,  fully,  and  eternally  by  the  blood 
 **  of  Chrift,  and  crofs  general  and  particular 
 **  out  of  your  Creed." 
 
 f  2  The 
 
C  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 The  fame  may  be  faid  as  to  his  reading ; 
 thoroughly  fettled  in  his  mind,  and  determined 
 in  his  principles,  he  gave  Archbifhop  Leighton 
 the  preference  to  any  human  author ;  but  you 
 might  have  found  him  remarking  with  delight 
 on  the  works  of  Fenelon  or  Ouefnel,  of  Baxter 
 or  Erfkine,  of  Bifliop  Home,  or  his  biographer 
 Jones ;  though  on  fome  points  he  could  not  but 
 wifh  that  they  had  expreffed  themfelves  other- 
 wife. — *'  They  that  are  not  againjl  usy'*  he  would 
 fay,   **  are  on  ourjide.^* 
 
 It  has  often  been  remarked  how  much  a 
 congregation,  in  a  courfe  of  time,  is  formed  by 
 the  character  of  the  minifter  it  refpe6ts  ;  not 
 only  fo  as  to  adopt  his  fentiments,  but  his  very 
 expreffions  and  manner.  This  fhould  deeply 
 imprefs  a  Minifter  with  the  importance  of 
 tc?nper2i^  well  as  truth;  and  lead  him,  while  he  is 
 anxious  to  deliver  found  dodrine,  to  be  anxioufly 
 concerned  alio  as  to  what  jvcinner  of  fpirit  he  is  of 
 in  the  delivery  ;  for  that  fpirit  will  certainly  be 
 adopted  and  propagated  ; — he  will  beget  chil- 
 dren in  his  ownlikenefs.  It  is  alfo  lamentable 
 to  confider  that,  through  the  depravity  of  our 
 common  nature,  the  Wafp  of  a  ^urch  can 
 more  fpecdily  multiply  his  kind,  than  the  Bee, 
 Who  could  not  teach  a  hundred  to  bite-  and  fling 
 9  in 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CI 
 
 in  lefs  time  than  he  could  bring  even  one  to 
 prepare  honey  ? 
 
 Happy  am  I  in  bearing  a  teftimony  to  the 
 flate  of  thofe  who  might  properly  be  called  his 
 people  at  Reading  :  they  were  fuch  as  one  might 
 expe(5t  would  grow  up  under  the  Miniilier  here 
 defcribed.  Like  his  Master,  he  was  the  plain 
 preacher  to  the  poor  ;  the  ftriking  example  of 
 the  rich  ;  the  large-hearted  friend  of  all ;  watch- 
 ing and  rejoicing  over  a  flourifhing  people. 
 As  he  himfelf  was  the  revcrfe  of  the  nibbler  or 
 the  groveller,  fo  were  they.  Speaking  of  them 
 as  a  body,  and  that  with  very  few  exceptions, 
 they  were  for  a  long  time  ftrangers  to  thofe 
 morbid  fymptoms  w^hich  precede  the  fpiritual 
 death  of  a  Gofpel  Church.  You  would  have 
 heard  among  them  no  unhinging  difputes  about 
 government  in  church  or  ftate  ; — ^no  vai?i  jang- 
 lings  whether  the  private  notions  of  John  a 
 Nokes  were  preferable  to  thofe  of  John  a  Stiles. 
 — No  Jirifes  of  words  about  nice  points  and 
 diftindlions  on  which  the  beft  of  men  in  all 
 ages  have  agreed  to  differ,  Nor  were  they 
 anxious  to  know  where  a  new  preacher  could  be 
 heard,  forflhey  heard  none  with  fq  much  plea- 
 fure  as  their  own. 
 
 f  3  Does 
 
cii  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 Does  any  young  minifler  who  may  read  this 
 account,  wifh  to  alk  how  this  peace  and  prof- 
 peri  ty  was  effe(5ted  ?  I  can  tell  him,  that  it  was 
 efFecfted  by  the  blelfing  of  God  upon  the  prac- 
 tice of  his  own  rule — "  speaking  the  truth  in 
 LOVE."  Mr.  C.*s  aim  was  high,  his  heart  was 
 "u^arm,  and  his  determination  wife  in  abandon- 
 ing inferior  confiderations  in  order  to  carry 
 main  points.  Taking  with  their  Paftor  this 
 fuperior  ground,  his  people  were  raifed  above 
 that  low  and  unhealthy  atmofphere  where  a  kind 
 of  moral  jaundice,  fevers,  and  confumptions 
 turn  in  the  end  a  Church  into  a  Defert. 
 
 The  manner  in  which  our  Brother  laboured, 
 and  the  profperity  attending  his  labours,  were 
 like  thofe  of  the  Farmer  in  ancient  times,  who 
 when  accufed  of  witchcraft  on  account  of  his 
 crops  being  fo  much  greater  than  thofe  of  his 
 neighbours,  brought  to  the  tribunal  his  Plough, 
 his  Oxen  and  his  Labourers,  crying  Here  are 
 my  Sorceries  !  And  I  muft  tell  the  Reader  that 
 fuch  a  Sorcerer  was  Mr.  C.  in  this  refpedt, 
 and  fo  truly  had  he  won  by  truth,  love,  and 
 labour  the  hearts  of  his  people,  that  when  a 
 minifler  has  mentioned  his  name  in  the  pulpit, 
 though  many  months  after  his  death,  a  great 
 number  of  his  people  have  burft  into  tears. 
 This  fa(^  I  have  from  his  worthy  friend  Mr. 
 
 Tanner 
 
HON.    AND    REV.   W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CUI 
 
 Tanner  of  Reading,  who  presented  the  annexed 
 plate  of  his  monument  to  the  prefent  work. 
 
 That  a  People  fliould  be  defirous  on  the 
 death  of  fuch  a  minifter  to  infcribe  his  name, 
 and  their  forrows  on  marble,  was  grateful,  but 
 not  very  uncommon ;  but  to  wear  it  in  their 
 hearts  as  a  name 
 
 **  — —       for  ever  dear  ! 
 
 <*  Still  breath'd  in  Sighs,  ftiil  ulher'd  with  a  Tear  !" 
 
 Thefe  are,  indeed,  funeral  honours  that  belong  to 
 no  ordinary  charad:ers.  And  may  thofe  who 
 have  thus  teftified  their  regard  to  the  Truth  and 
 its  Minifter,  continue  firmly  united  in  the 
 faith  and  love  which  they  have  been  taught ! 
 May  they  flill  proceed  under  that  great  Shepherd 
 who  is  the  fame  yejierday,  to  day^  and  for  ever  /-— 
 And  may  their  children  to  the  lateft  pofterity 
 be  partakers  with  them  of  the  fame  grace  ! — 
 I  will  not  ceafe  thus  to  pray  for  the  peace  of 
 jferufalejn — They  Jhall  prof  per  that  love  thee. 
 
 But  our  Lord  has  forewarned  us  to  expedt 
 that  however  hard  the  hufbandman  may  labour, 
 and  how#ver  good  the  feed  which  he  fows, 
 there  will  come  a  labourer  of  a  different  cha* 
 radter — an  enemy  intent  upon  mifchief,  who 
 will  fow  tares  in  the  fame  field.  That  fettled 
 f  4  and 
 
dv  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 and  prosperous  congregations  may  be  fecured, 
 and  their  minifters  kept  awake  to  prevent  as 
 much  as  poilible  the  attempts  of  this  enemy, 
 I  will  mention  a  painful  occurrence  that  took 
 place  juft  before  Mr.  C.'s  death. 
 
 After  a  long  and  fucccfsful  miniftry  at  Read- 
 ing, the  mind  of  my  Friend  was  grieved  at 
 obferving  a  difpofition  in  a  few  of  his  hearers 
 to  fcparate  from  him.  The  Congregation  in 
 general  were  fuch  as  has  been  defcribed,  and 
 confequently  continued  unfliaken  in  their  at- 
 *^  tachment  ;  but  he  faw  that  the  departure  of 
 even  a  few  had  a  tendency  to  deflroy  that  unity 
 which  had  fo  long  and  fo  happily  prevailed  : 
 he  alfo  feared  the  effe(5ls  pf  a  feceffion  ;  for, 
 though  the  Father  may  have  a  numerous  family, 
 his  heart  will  yearn  if  but  one  of  his  children 
 is  in  danger. 
 
 Though  no  fubftantial  reafbh  could  be  urged 
 for  fuch  a  ftep  at  that  time,  yet  the  cafe  was 
 eafily  underftood  by  thofe  among  us  who  had 
 been  witneffes  to  fimilar  feparations,  and  who 
 had  alfo  felt  the  pain  and  difcouragement  which 
 they  muft  give  to  one  who  is  watchiftg  for  the 
 fouls  of  his  people,  whether  in  the  Church, 
 or  as  a  Diflentcr. 
 
 Whenever 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CV 
 
 Whenever  tlie  Gofpel  is  removed  from  a 
 people,  they  who  know  the  vakie  of  it,  will 
 no  doubt  pray  earneftly  for  it's  return ;  and 
 employ  every  mean  in  their  power  that  they  may 
 again  enjoy  this  grand  Ordinance  of  God  for 
 the  enlightening  and  healing  of  the  Nations. 
 But  there  is  a  reftlefs  fpirit  in  man,  even  while 
 the  Gofpel  remains,  and  is  adminiHered  by  a 
 Cadogan  ;  this,  with  the  charm  of  a  new  thing, 
 and  the  love  of  being  fomething,  fomewhere, 
 prompts  him  to  liften  to  trivial  objections, 
 imagined  improvements,  and  fpeciouspropofals. 
 He  will  then  Humble  at  a  fir  aw  in  his  former 
 Church  or  Minifter,  as  if  the  t^'A  was  witb^ 
 out  him,  inftead  of  being,  where  it  generally 
 is,  within  him. 
 
 Unmindful  now  of  the  old  device,  **  divide 
 **  and  conquer,'*  he  will  even  fometimes  be 
 found  crawling  from  the  cedar  to  the  bramble, 
 faying,  rule  thou  over  us.' — I  need  not  remind 
 the  Reader  how  the  Apoftle  mourned  over 
 needkfs  and  pernicious  divifions  of  this  fort, 
 and  laboured  to  prevent  them.  To  divide  for 
 the  truth's  fake  is  the  fpirit  of  martyrdom  ;  to 
 divide  for  Jiraws  is  the  fpirit  of  fchifm,  and 
 ftands  among  the  works  of  the  ilefh. 
 
 But 
 
CVl  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 But  the  Apoflle  affures  us  that  there  mufl 
 needs  be  fuch  fchifms  in  the  Church,  that 
 they  which  are  approved  may  be  made  manifeji. 
 And  nothing  convinces  good  men,  who  have 
 been  drawn  into  miftakes  of  this  kind,  of  the 
 evil  of  fuch  errors,  hke  the  coftly  experiment 
 of  lofing  fuch  a  Minifter  as  Mr.  Cadogan. — 
 It  is  then  that  they  perceive  the  meaning  of 
 that  text,  '*  though  ye  have  ten  thoufand  m^- 
 **  JiruBors  in  Chrijf,  ye  have  not  many  fa- 
 *'  THERS  :"  the  lofs  is  often  found  irreparable; 
 and  bitter  recrimination  takes  place  of  frivolous 
 objediion.  I  dwell  on  this  fubjedl  for  the 
 benefit  of  thofe  profefTors  among  whom  the  light 
 of  eternal  life  ftill  fhineth,  and  a  heart  of  pa- 
 ternal love  flill  watcheth,  but  neither  are  duly 
 prized. 
 
 Our  Brother  obferved  the  operation  of  this 
 divifion  with  much  concern,  and  exprelTed  it  to 
 his  intimate  Friends.  I  could  mention  feveral 
 expreflions  of  his  uneafinefs  on  the  account 
 which  I  wifh  not  to  record  :  but  what  he  men- 
 tioned to  Lady  Catherine  Murray  difcovers  fo 
 much  of  the  character  of  a  true  Shepherd,  that 
 I  ought  not  to  omit  it.  After  informing  her 
 of  the  above  particulars,  **  I  fent,"  faid  he, 
 **  for  fome  young  men,  to  whom  my  miniftry 
 *'  had  been  blelTed,  and  whom  I  fufpedled  had 
 
 "  been 
 
HON.   AND    REV.   "W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CVll 
 
 «»  been  tampered  with  by  this  faction;  and 
 **  after  difcourfing  fome  time  with  them  on  the 
 "  danger  of  their  being  drawn  afide,  and  my 
 "  own  diftrefs  on  their  account,  they  burfl 
 **  into  tears ; — they  wept,  nor  could  I  refrain 
 •*  from  weeping  with  them." 
 
 I  have  now  dehvered  to  the  Reader  fuch  par- 
 ticulars as  I  could  colle(5t,  and  have  delivered 
 them  as  I  received  them  ;  omitting  nothing  that 
 I  could  confider  as  authentic,  or  worth  infer- 
 tion :  and  I  believe  that  any  error  which  may 
 be  difcovered  can  be  but  flight  and  circumflan- 
 tial  at  moft.  In  the  remarks  I  have  made,  I 
 have  ftudioufly  endeavoured  to  cut  off  occafion 
 of  offence  from  fuch  as  feek  occafion ;  but  I 
 know  the  difficulty  if  not  impoffibility  of  this ; 
 and  therefore  muft  repofe  in  a  good  intention, 
 and  the  confcioufnefs  of  having  declared  what  I 
 believe  to  be  the  truth. 
 
 We  now  come  to  that  period  when  the  Church 
 felt  a  fhock  which,  in  fome  refpe<5ts,  it  had  not 
 felt  for  years  before.  When  we  thought  from  Mr. 
 C.'s  age,  vigour,  and  importance  that  his  fplen- 
 did  lamp  would  fhine  for  many  years  to  come, 
 and  when  it  was  not  even  known  that  he  had 
 been  ill,  it  was  faid  "  be  is  dead'^  Such, 
 indeed,  was  the  fhock  to  myfelf  and  other  of 
 
 his 
 
Cviii  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 his  intimate  friends,  that  lamentation  could  only 
 give  place  to  refle(5tions  like  thefe.. — Who,  after 
 this,  can  plan  upon  years  to  come  from  prefent 
 health  or  importance  of  ilation  ! — Or  who  can 
 pretend  to  be  the  interpreter  of  a  Providence 
 that  often  defies  even  conjecture  ! — What  is  the 
 value  of  that  hope  which  could  make  fuch  a 
 man  willing  to  depart  ! — and  What  an  admo- 
 nition to  us  all  to  work  while  it  is  day  ! 
 
 His  laft  moments,  however,  are  of  too  deci- 
 five  and  interefling  a  nature  to  be  (lightly 
 marked ;  and,  therefore,  after  having  compared 
 the  account  publiihed  in  the  Sermon  preached 
 at  his  funeral,  with  the  remarks  made  by  thofe 
 who  attended  him,  I  fliall  condu6t  the  Reader 
 to  a  fcene  always  affedling,  and  fometimes 
 highly  inilrudlive. 
 
 "  The  Chamber  where  the  good  Man  meets  his  Fate, 
 **  Is  privileg'd  beyond  the  common  Walk 
 *'  Of  virtuous  Life  j  quite  in  the  verge  of  Heav'n.— 
 *'  You  fee  the  Man  ;  you  fee  his  hold  on  Heav'n. — > 
 **  Heav'n  waits  not  the  laft  Moment ;  owns  her  Friends 
 *^  On  this  fide  Death  j  and  points  them  out  to  Men." 
 
 Mr.  Robinfon  his  curate,  having  bufinefs  from 
 home,  Mr.  C.  undertook  the  whole  duty  of 
 his  Church,  on  Sunday,  January  7,  at  which 
 he  read  prayers  and  preached  three  times.  It 
 was  a  fevere  day,  and,  after  his  evening  duty, 
 
 he 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CIX 
 
 he  walked  out  to  baptize  a  child ;  by  thefe  ex- 
 ertions he  appears  to  have  been  injured. 
 
 On  Thurfday  Evening,  January  I2,  he  was 
 feized  after  preaching  upon  Plalm  Ixvii.  i. 
 with  an  inflammation  in  his  bowels  ;  medical 
 affiflance  being  called  in,  he  was  confiderably 
 relieved. 
 
 On  Tuefday  the  17th,  about  one  o'clock  in 
 the  afternoon,  he  relapfed,  and  feemed  perfua- 
 ded  that  he  fhould  not  recover  ;  faying,  this  is 
 for  the  grave.  Upon  his  going  to  bed,  Mrs. 
 C.  aiked  him  if  he  could  pray,  he  faid,  yes  ; 
 fhe  faid,  are  you  happy  in  your  Soul  ?  he  faid 
 yes,  happy,  happy,  happy,  all  isfafe  j  but  bring 
 me  the  Bible  and  read :  where,  faid  flie,  fliall  I 
 read  ?  he  replied  'where  you  will ;  fhe  opened  at 
 the  8th  Chapter  of  Proverbs,  and  when  fhe 
 came  to  the  words  '*  Whofo  findeth  me  findeth 
 **  life,"  he  {^id  Jlop,  Jlop,  that  is  enough  for 
 me.  Soon  after  fhe  read  to  him  the  23d  Pfalm, 
 when  he  began  to  doze. 
 
 About  two  o'clock  he  faid  to  his  medical 
 attendant,  /  /hall  die,  but  I  blefs  God  all  my 
 affairs,  •  temporal  a?  id  f pi  ritual,  are  fettled. 
 Through   the  afternoon  he  continued  in  great 
 
 agony, 
 
ex  MEMOIRS   OP  THE 
 
 agony,  but  without  the  leaft  appearance  of  im- 
 patience. 
 
 At  eight  he  called  Mrs.  Cadogan,  and  faid, 
 1  don't  think  1  (hall  recover-,  and,  after  fpeak- 
 ing  to  her  about  fome  temporal  concerns,  he 
 bleffed  her.  She  then  lay  down  by  him,  and  he 
 put  his  arms  round  her,  and  faid,  /  cannot 
 return  to  youy  but  you  Jhall  come  to  me. — Set 
 the  Lord  before  you  in  all  your  ways^  and  that 
 will  bring  you  peace  at  the  laji. 
 
 In  the  Evening  he  grew  eafier,  and  thought 
 himfelf  better,  but  at  ten  o'clock  he  felt  him- 
 felf  fo  much  worfe,  that  he  faid  to  his  medical 
 attendant,  /  am  goi?ig — /  am  dying — //  is  well — 
 /  die  in  the  faith  of  the  Lord  fefuSy  and  in  love 
 with  all  mankind ;  and  concluded  with  an  ex- 
 preflion  of  peculiar  afFe<5tion  towards  all  chrif- 
 tian  brethren;  but,  as  his  voice  faulteied,  and 
 was  very  low,  the  precife  words  could  not  be 
 afcertained. 
 
 About  twelve  o'clock  he  faid  to  the  fame 
 gentleman,  (prefTing  at  the  fame  time  his  hand 
 very  affedtionately  as  he  fat  by  the  bed  fide) 
 Trujl  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine  hearty  and  lean 
 not  to  thine  own  underjlandi?2g ;  ///  all  thy  ways 
 acknowledge  Hinif  and  Hefiall  direB  thy  paths, 
 
 3  During 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CXI 
 
 During  his  illnefs,  he  was  continually  utter- 
 ing paflages  of  Scripture.  At  one  time  he  faid 
 with  exultation.  Though  I  walk  through  the 
 valley  of  the  Jhadow  of  Death,  I  will  fear  no 
 e-vil,  for  thou  art  with  me,  thy  rod  and  thy  Jlaff 
 they  CO?? fort  ?ne  : — and,  probably  recolleding 
 the  laft  words  of  the  venerable  Minifter  whom 
 he  was  following  to  glory,  he  cried.  Holy, 
 Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  Al??2ighty,  bleffedfor  ever 
 and  ever,  and  added  Amen  !  with  an  energy 
 that  furprifed  the  hearers. 
 
 To  one,  who  flood  weeping  at  his  bed,  he 
 faid,  G?'ieve  ?iot  for  me,  1  am  taken  away  frortt 
 the  evil  to  come,  and  foon  after  added,  Lord  now 
 letteji  thou  thy  fervant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine 
 eyes  havefeen  thy  Salvation, 
 
 His  deeply  afflicfled  Partner,  who  incefTantly 
 watched  him  with  her  arm  under  his  head, 
 about  two  o'clock  on  the  Wednefday  morning 
 begged  him  to  pray  for  her,  particularly,  that 
 (he  might  follow  him  whither  he  was  going, 
 he  faid,  "  feek  the  Lord,  and  be  refigned  to  his 
 *'  will,  and  you  JhalL^* 
 
 Perceiving  his  departure  near,  he  called  for 
 a  fervant  who  had  lived  many  years  with  him, 
 and    faid,    /  thank  you  for  all  your  faithful 
 
 fervices  i 
 
exil  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 
 
 fervices ;  God  blefs  you. — From  a  difficulty  of 
 breathing  he  fuffered  much,  but  was  oblerved 
 to  be  continually  praying  ; — repeating,  at  times, 
 not  my  will  but  thine  be  done  \  and,  praying, 
 departed  to  begin  his  work  of  eternal  praife, 
 January  18,   1797,  aged  46. 
 
 I  heartily  join  the  fentiment  of  my  excellent 
 friend  and  brother  from  whofe  fermon  I  extract 
 fome  of  thefe  particulars,  that  *'  The  multi- 
 *'  tude  who  attended  his  funeral  with  their 
 *'  fighs  and  tears,  yielded  a  far  more  real 
 **  honour  to  his  memory,  than  all  the  empty 
 **  pageantry  of  this  world  could  poffibly 
 "  afford." 
 
 IT  may  feem  unnecelTary  to  enlarge  on  a 
 Character  which  has  been  already  fufficiently 
 defcribed ;  I  (hall,  however,  indulge  myfelf, 
 and  the  friends  of  the  dcceafed,  in  marking 
 more  exprefsly  fome  features  that  have  been 
 but  flightly  touched,  and  noticing  others  which 
 it  has  not  before  lain  in  my  way  to  m.ention. 
 
 To  begin  with  his  domeftic  and  familiar 
 habits ;  he  was  at  all  times  the  affectionate 
 hufband  of  a  wife  whofe  tender  health  needed 
 
 great 
 
I'hcli 
 
 Srccntd  Son  ofill 
 Keclar  uf  Sn.nkesC 
 ^V^lO  di'partt 
 
 -Vniinatrtl  b) 
 
 Rink.Talents.l 
 
 He  A 
 
 Thathrjni^liJ 
 
 HisTheme.) 
 
 Vfhicli  gave I'jKigy ral/ 
 
 iaiv 
 
 IVhcn  cvcrv  t'a 
 
 "Susl 
 
 jlnd  bore  hi 
 
 €, 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CJilll 
 
 great  attention,  but  not  greater  than  fhe  re- 
 ceived:— a  kind  mailer  j — a  warm  and  hofpitable 
 friend  ;  to  which  many  befides  myfelf  can  bear 
 ample  teftimony. — He  had  early  contracfted  a 
 fcowling  fort  of  afpe<5t  which  might  have  led  a 
 ftranger  to  doubt  of  his  being  fo  amiable  and 
 benevolent  as  he  really  was  :  and  fpoke  fome- 
 times  with  a  kind  of  bluntnefs,  heightened  by  a 
 rough  and  deep  toned  voice,  which  concealed, 
 at  the  moment,  a  humility  which  was  fterling, 
 and  quite  diftindt  from  that  affed:ation  of  meek- 
 nefs — that  counterfeit  lowlinefs  which  crawls 
 and  drivels  to  be  admired,  but  which,  when 
 oppofed  and  detedted,  fumes  and  flings. 
 
 But  though  a  man  of  his  plainnefs,  fimpli- 
 city,  and  ardour  of  purfuit  could  never  floop  to 
 •'  fludy  the  graces,**  he  had  that  dignity  of 
 manners,  and  attention  to  the  decencies  and 
 decorums  of  good  breeding  which  might  be 
 expelled  in  the  Son  of  Lord  Cadogan. 
 
 Some,  however,  who  were  intimately  ac- 
 quainted with  his  habits  till  within  a  few  years 
 of  his  death,  thought  his  temper  very  warm  ; 
 — that  he  was  apt  to  be  rafli  in  affertion,  and  at 
 times  fevere  in  reproof,  though  grace  had  greatly 
 corrected  thefe  defecfls.  I  cannot  fay  that  I 
 never  obferved  any  thing  which  might  give  oc- 
 g  cafion 
 
CXIV  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 cafion  to  thefe  remarks,  but  I  can  fafely  fay 
 that  I  never  obferved  any  thing  which  tended  to 
 invalidate  that  general  charadler  of  him  given 
 in  the  prefent  Memoir.  Had  it  pafTed  under 
 his  own  eye,  he  doubtlefs  would  have  added 
 humble  confeffions  of  many  other  defects.  I 
 alfo  am  ready  to  acknowledge  that  I  cannot  help 
 writing  con  amore  on  this  fubjed:.  It  is  the 
 fault  of  every  memoir  I  have  feen  written  by  a 
 friend.  Impartial  biography  is  to  be  found 
 only  in  the  Scriptures.  After,  therefore,  telling 
 all  I  know  of  his  dcfcd:s  as  well  as  of  his 
 excellencies,  and  that  as  I  am  able,  I  muft 
 be  content  to  fail  where  others  in  accounts  of 
 their  friends  could  not  fucceed.  I  (liall  only  add 
 that,  he  mull  polfefs  no  common  (hare  of 
 malignity,  who  is  capable  of  abufing  fuch  a 
 concellion. 
 
 Viewlnof  him  as  a  Minister,  he  had  fet  out 
 with  all  the  advantages  which  one  of  the  firfl 
 fchools  and  univerfities  could  afford  ;  but  he 
 feems  to  have  foon  difcovered  how  miferably 
 deficient  that  minifler  mufl  be,  who  flops  at  the 
 learning  df  the  fchools.  While  he  could  have 
 diftinguiflied  himfelf  as  a  fcholar,  the  follow- 
 ing remark  which  he  makes  upon  Mr.  Romaine 
 in  his  funeral  fermon,  will  as  flridily  apply  to 
 himfelf,  **  The  errors  and  vices  of  the  heathen, 
 
 **  however 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CXV 
 
 *'  however  ornamented  by  rhetoric  or  poetry, 
 **  were  difgufling  to  a  heart  purified  by  faith  ; 
 "  he  therefore  turned  from  profane  to  facred 
 *•  literature." 
 
 The  fimple  fa6t  is  that,  what  he  o?2ce  counted 
 gaifty  he  learned  afterwards  to  count  but  lofs  for 
 Chriji,  I  remember  hearing  him  fay,  *'  I  have 
 no  patience  now  to  read  Homer,  Virgil,  or 
 Horace  whom  I  ufed  to  idolize.  To  a  man 
 who  enters  into  the  views  of  the  Bible,  they 
 become  not  only  infipid,  but  often  difgufting. 
 In  genius,  tafte,  and  elegance  they  never 
 have  been  excelled,  but  (as  Dr.  Hornc  alfo 
 remarks,)  in  almoft  every  thing  elfe  worth 
 knowing,  they  were  as  ignorant  as  the  beafts 
 that  perifh." 
 
 The  Scriptures,  indeed,  he  had  ftudied  day 
 and  night  in  their  original  languages  :  he  had 
 fludied  them  critically,  and  in  their  connexion, 
 till  he  was  familiar  with  them  beyond  mofl:  of 
 his  contemporaries.  His  mind  was  a  concord- 
 ance and  harmony  of  Scripture.  He  quoted 
 with  amazing  facility  (not  at  random  as  fome 
 do,  who  diftinguifh  not  found  from  fenfe,  but) 
 whatever  tended  to  explain  or  illuftrate  the  point 
 before  him.  To  this  may  be  added  that  his  dic- 
 tion, like  that  of  the  original  he  ftudied,  was  fo 
 ,        g  2  plain 
 
CXVl  MEMOIRS    OF   THE 
 
 plain  and  perfpicuoiis,  that  the  meanefl  of  his 
 hearers  might  clearly  underfland  him. 
 
 Learned  like  Mofes  in  all  the  wifdom  of  his 
 day,  he  difcovered  what  far  furpalTed  it  all, 
 and  became  a  fpecial  witnefs  and  example  of  the 
 truths  he  was  fent  to  teach.  To  which  of  us 
 all  in  the  Miniftry  could  thofe  words  be  fo 
 ftri6lly  applied  ?  By  faiths  when  he  was  come 
 to  years ^  he  refufed  the  honours  to  which  he 
 was  born  ;  chuftng  rather  tofuffer  aJffiiBion  with 
 the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleafures  of 
 fn  for  a  feafon  ;  ejleeming  the  reproach  of  Chriji 
 his  great cji  riches. 
 
 The  Philofopher  may  declaim  on  the  vanity 
 of  human  greatnefs  ;  he  may  alfo  fpeculatively 
 perceive  the  truth  of  his  principle  ;  but  to  feel 
 it  abiding  at  heart,  and  to  ad:  upon  it  humbly 
 and  confidently  through  life,  requires  a  grace 
 which  our  brother  a6tually  poffelTed,  and  nobly 
 demonftrated  thereby,  that  this  is  the  viBory 
 which  over  Cometh  the  world y  even  our  faith. 
 
 His  iirm  and  decided  adherence  to  the  Govern- 
 ment he  was  placed  under  both  in  the  Church 
 and  in  the  State,  will  fufficiently  appear  in  the 
 foJloYviiifi:  Difcourfes  ;  and  his  readinefs  to  in- 
 flrud:  the  ignorant,  recover  the  wandering,  vifit 
 
 the 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CXVii 
 
 the  fick,  promote   iifeful  inflitutions,  and  re- 
 lieve the  diflreffed,  have  been  already  defcribed. 
 
 As  a  Writer,  he  certainly  did  not  excel : 
 he  thought  fo  himfelf,  a  difcovery  which  much 
 inferior  writers  feem  not  to  have  made  ;  it  was 
 probably  on  this  account  that  he  pubhihed  fo 
 little.  The  following  pieces,  delivered  to  me 
 by  Mrs.  C.  for  republication,  will  (hew  the 
 dates  and  occafions  of  their  being  printed. 
 Befides  which,  he  publiflied  a  Memoir  of  the 
 life  of  the  Rev.  William  Romaine,  to  whofe 
 eminent  piety  and  ufefulnefs  he  bore  a  faithful 
 tcftimony.  I  cannot  help  adding  that,  the 
 Reader  will  fee  more  of  him  in  his  Letters, 
 than  in  any  thing  he  publilhed. 
 
 As  a  Preacher,  he  certainly  flood  high,  and 
 I  may  fafely  affirm  this,  though  his  voice  was 
 rough,  his    utterance   rather  indiftinct,  and  at 
 times  unpleafantly  monotonous.    I  am  alfo  ready 
 to  acknowledge   that   (like  many  other   ufeful 
 men)  he  was  more  qualified  to  make  the  AlTauIt, 
 than  to  condu(ft  the  Siege. — He  was  more  of  an 
 yijax  than  a  U!y(fes ; — more  of  a  Herald  than  a 
 Cafuift.     His  memory  indeed  was  remarkably 
 flrong,  his  mind  firm  and  vigorous,  and    his 
 difcourfcs  ftudied  ;  but  he  had  little  Imagina- 
 tion,   Tafte,    or   Ear. — Plain   and  convincing, 
 g  3  decifive 
 
CXviil  MEMOIRS    OF   THE 
 
 decifive  and  commanding,  he  exhibited  truth  in 
 the  mafs,  and  characters  in  the  general  with  great 
 efFed  ;  but  to  difcriminate  with  accuracy — to 
 touch  the  firings  of  the  heart  with  fkill — and 
 to  meet  objecflion  in  its  different  forms,  were 
 talents  he  did  not  poffefs  himfelf,  though  he 
 knew  how  to  value  them  in  others. 
 
 I  fear  not,  however,  again  to  aflert  that  he  was 
 a  Preacher  of  eminence  in  point  of  effed: ;  and 
 fuch  a  one  as  will  fcarcely  be  conceived  by  thofe 
 who  know  him  only  by  the  fermons  which  he 
 printed.  For  if  he  had  not  the  Apoftle*s  ad- 
 drefs,  yet,  like  the  Apoftle,  he  had  fuch  a  deep 
 and  evident  perfuafion  of  the  truths  he  taught, 
 that  he  feemed  more  like  a  man  talking  of  what 
 he  faw,  what  he  felt,  and  what  he  kept  firm 
 ko/d  of,  than  of  what  he  had  heard  or  read. 
 He  had  fuch  a  convidion  of  the  reality  and 
 importance  of  divine  Revelation  that,  he  did 
 not  treat  of  it  as  fome  do,  who  feem  to  doubt 
 whether  it  would  bear  them  out  fhould  they  go 
 all  lengths  with  it.  Thefe,  like  children  ven- 
 turing on  ice  newly  frozen,  ftep  and  flep  with 
 tender  tread,  fearing  lefl  the  next  venture  fhould 
 ingulph  them ;  He,  on  the  contrary,  having 
 knowledge  of  the  foundation,  ftood  upon  it  as 
 on  the  everlafling   hills,  and  from  thence,  as 
 
 one 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CXIX 
 
 one   bearing  the    melTage  of   Heaven,    boldly 
 called  the  World  to  account. 
 
 In  treating  of  his  grand  theme,  the  glory  of 
 the  Redeemer,  I  know  not  that  he  has  left  his 
 equal  upon  earth  :  He  often  fpoke  upon  this 
 fubjecft  with  an  authority  and  undlion,  that 
 unbelief  feemed  but  folly,  and  vice  madnefs : 
 and  thus  he  proceeded,  till  a  holy  fympathy  was 
 propagated,  and  men  left  him,  like  Elisha 
 after  the  Mantle  was  caft  over  him,  wondring 
 what  had  fo  ftrangely  carried  them  away  from  the 
 Plough  and  the  Oxen. 
 
 To  fay  any  thing  further  of  Mr.  Cadogan 
 as  a  Christian  feems  needlefs.  His  piety 
 was  not  only  tranfparent,  but  fplendid.  I  doubt 
 not  but  many  who,  tied  and  bound  by  the  chain 
 of  their  fins,  could  not  approach  his  faith- 
 ful miniftry,  faid  as  he  pafiTed  their  doors, 
 **  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous.^*  His 
 life  was  a  Serm.on,  known  and  read  of  all  men 
 who  did  not  wijfully  (hut  their  eyes  againfl:  the 
 light  of  it ;  and  I  am  happy  at  the  conclufion 
 to  add  fo  refpediable  a  teftimony  as  the  follow- 
 ing, from  a  fermon  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
 Valpy  of  Reading,  on  the  Faft  Day,  March  8, 
 1797,  at  St.  Lawrence's  in  that  ^town,  before 
 g  4  Mr. 
 
CXX  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 Mr.  Juftice  Thompfon  and  Mr.  Juftice  Law- 
 rence, the  Judges  of  Aflize. 
 
 *'  I  am  taken  away  from  the  evil  to  come," 
 **  were  among  the  dying  expreffions  of  a  late 
 **  great  and  good  Paftor  of  this  Town  j — of 
 **  whom  it  may  be  truly  faid,  that  he  taught 
 "  the  nobleft  truths  of  Chriftianity  with  the 
 **  zeal  and  fervor  of  a  primitive  Father  of  the 
 "  Church  ; — and  that  he  pra(5tifed  in  fpirit  and 
 **  in  truth  the  leffons  that  he  taught.  Like  his 
 **  great  Mafter,  he  went  about  doing  good, 
 **  Raifed  as  he  was  by  birth  and  connections  to 
 •*  claim  the  higheft  honours  in  the  Church,  he 
 "  preferred  the  ufeful  tafk  of  preaching  the 
 **  Gofpel  to  the  poor,  to  the  fplendid  fcenes  of 
 **  public  life.  His  great  objedt  was,  to  preach 
 *'  the  Kingdom  of  God,  and  to  teach  thofe 
 *'  things  that  'concern  the  Lord  Jefus,  with  all 
 **  confidence  and  boldnefs.  In  all  things  he 
 *♦  (hewed  himfelf  a  pattern  of  good  works  ; 
 **  and  he,  who  was  of  a  contrary  part,  had  no 
 **  evil  thing  to  fay  of  him. 
 
 **  He  is  taken  away  from  the  evil  to  come." 
 **  But  all  things  have  worked  together  for  good 
 •*  to  him.  "  He  is  taken  away  !"  but  he  flill 
 **  lives  in  the  bleffings  of  the  Poor,  in  the  hearts 
 
 "of 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CXXl 
 
 of  the  Good,  in  the  applaiife  of  Angels,  and 
 in  the  rewards  of  the  Almighty." 
 
 AND  now  fhould  any  one  of  my  Brethren  in 
 the  miniftry  have  perufed  this  Memoir,  whofe 
 dodlrines  and  habits  are  different  from  thofe 
 defcribed  in  the  latter  part  of  it,  let  me  affec- 
 tionately urge  it  upon  him  for  his  own  fake, 
 as  well  as  that  of  his  people,  to  put  the  follow- 
 ing queftions  to  his  heart. 
 
 "  Am  not  I  at  this  time  under  thofe  very 
 prejudices  againft  vital  religion,  and  its  minif- 
 ters,  from  which  Mr.  Cadogan  is  faid  to  have 
 fo  happily  emerged  ? — And  yet  has  my  way  of 
 preaching  fucceeded  like  his  ? — Has  God  fet  his 
 feal  to  it,  in  awakening  and  reforming  linners 
 as  he  did  to  his  ? — Has  not  my  Learning,  or 
 Morality,  or  Orthodoxy,  ferved  me  for  a  re- 
 putation and  a  reft  fhort  of  the  true  one  ? — Has 
 not  the  fear  of  man  proved  a  fnare  to  my  heart, 
 in  ftifling  my  convidlions,  and  fettering  my 
 efforts  ? — Whatever  I  may  ingenioufly  plead  in 
 my  defence,  does  not  my  confcience  declare  that 
 to  deny  myfelf,  take  up  the  crofs,  follow  Jcfus 
 Chrift,  and  confefs  him  and  his  caufe  before 
 men  has  not  hitherto  been  my  plan  ?'* 
 
 Let 
 
CXXli  MEMOIRS   OF    THB 
 
 Let  me,  however,  remind  fuch  a  one  of  the 
 admonition  of  our  Mailer,  that  except  we  thus 
 follow  HIM  through  an  ungodly  world,  we  can- 
 not be  even  his  difciples^  and  much  lefs  his 
 Minifters. — ^We  may  be  any  thing  and  every 
 thing  in  the  World,  but  we  fhall  be  nothing,  or 
 worfe  than  nothing  in  the  Church, 
 
 Till  we  Minifters  have  wreflled  with  God 
 like  Jacob,  prevailed  with  him,  and  obtained 
 his  bleffing,  can  we  expedl  to  prevail  with 
 men  ? — Can  we  be  wife  to  win  fouls  to  God, 
 while  we  rejed:  his  counfel  as  to  the  right  way  ^ 
 — Can  we  anfwer  at  his  bar  when  the  cries  of 
 perifhing  finners,  once  committed  to  our  care, 
 are  witneffing  againfl  us  ? — Or  will  it  There 
 excufe  our  negligence  that  we  could  point  out 
 the  enthufiafm  or  knavery  of  fome  who  were 
 ad:ive  ?  On  the  contrary,  the  efFe6ts  often  pro- 
 duced by  evangelical  truth  when  found  in 
 bad  hands,  fhould  roufe  us  to  the  confideration 
 of  what  might  be  expected  from  it  in  better ! 
 
 A  weak  man  may  expofe  the  Truth,  and  a 
 bad  man  may  pervert  it,  yet  fuch  honour  has 
 God  put  upon  his  Gofpel,  as  fometimes  to 
 aflPord  it  an  evidence  which  the  preacher  of  it 
 muft  otherwife  c'eftroy.  Folly  and  craft  mixed 
 with  the  truth,  like  any  foul  matter  fall- 
 ing 
 7 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CXXUl 
 
 ing  into  a  medicine,  may  impede  its  good 
 effed: ;  yet  as  there  are  medicines  fo  potent  as 
 to  work  a  cure  through  all  impediments,  fo  the 
 Gofpel  is  found  fometimes  prevailing  through 
 circumftances  which  feem  compleatl  y  calcu- 
 lated to  render  it  of  no  effed:. — But  being  the  true 
 medicina  mentis^  even  the  empirick  that  ftum- 
 bles  on  this  fpecific  will  often  cure,  where  the 
 regular  phyfician,  purfuing  fome  prefumptive 
 theory  may  kill.  Surely  I  need  not  infifl,  that 
 nothing  is  farther  from  my  intention  than  to 
 countenance  empiricifm  of  any  fort  !  I  am 
 endeavouring  to  fhew  in  a  variety  of  ways,  the 
 efficacy  of  that  remedy  our  Brother  exhibited, 
 and  not  to  extenuate  the  abufes  or  abfurdities 
 that  too  often  mix  with  and  contaminate  it. 
 
 And  what  this  remedy  will  produce,  when 
 found  in  a  heart  and  a  hand  like  Mr.  C.'s, 
 we  have  full  evidence  before  us. — We  fhould 
 enquire,  "  What  had  this  man  difcovered  ? — 
 What  valuable  conjideration  had  he  received,  that 
 he  (hould  fo  determinately  turn  his  back 
 upon  all  other  confiderations  ? — ^W^hat  did  he 
 feel  when,  like  Mofes  he  preferred  the  reproach 
 of  Chrift  to  all  the  honours  and  emoluments 
 which  lay  dire<5lly  before  him  ? — What  were 
 the  principles  which  fo  diftinguifhingly  puri- 
 fied his    heart  and  life,    gave  efficacy  to  his 
 
 labours, 
 
CXxiv  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 labours,  bore  him  up  to  the  lafl,  and  made  his 
 very  name  a  favour  ?'* — If  we  are  to  judge  of 
 caufes  by  their  effects,  furely  here  is  another 
 and  a  noble  proof,  that  the  Gofpel  is  the  power 
 of  God  unto  fahation ;  and  that  his  was  the 
 true  knowledge  of  it. — I  thank  God  for  fuch  a 
 teftimony  to  the  Truth  in  a  day  of  rebuke  and 
 blafphemy  like  the  prefent. — May  it  never  be 
 refifled  ! — May  it  never  rife  in  judgment  againft 
 Him  that  records,  nor  againft  Him  that  reads  it ! 
 
 I  fhall  mourn  if  this  addrefs,  inftead  of  being 
 received  in  the  fame  fpirit  as  it  is  written, 
 proves  an  occafion  of  offence  to  any.  I  would 
 ftrive  with  the  Apoftle  to  avoid  giving  fuch 
 offence  to  any  one  as  far  as  I  honeftly  could.  I 
 am,  however,  aware  that  fome  who  have  pa- 
 tiently paffed  through  the  hijiory,  will  be  ready, 
 like  the  auditors  of  Stephen,  to  take  umbrage 
 at  the  application.  But  with  the  beft  of  caufes, 
 the  beft  of  examples,  and,  as  I  truft,  with  the 
 beft  of  intentions  I  will  proceed.  Nor  is  it  to 
 men  who  are  at  enmity  with.thefe  truths  that  I 
 now  fpeak,  though  for  even  fuch  I  defire  con- 
 tinually to  pray.  They  are  of  the  world:  there- 
 fore fpeak  they  of  the  world ;  and  the  world 
 heareth  them ;  but  they  themfelves  will  neither 
 hear  nor  bear  the  truth. 
 
 But 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.  CXXV 
 
 But  to  Men  of  more  tender  and  enlightened 
 confciences  let  me  fay,  (hall  we — we  Minifters 
 and  Stewards  of  the  myfteries  of  God  not  re- 
 folve  diligently  to  ftudy  and  faithfully  to  in- 
 culcate them  ?  In  us,  even  to  be  unfkilful,  or 
 unrefolved,  is  to  be  deeply  criminal.  Shall  we 
 not  lay  it  to  heart,  how  many  are  looking  up  to 
 us  for  inftru6tion  in  the  things  that  belong  to 
 their  peace? — Souls  dependant  upon  us  for  it 
 — committed  to  us — many  of  them  in  fimpli- 
 city  taking  each  of  us  by  the  hand,  faying 
 **  lead  us,  take  care  of  us,  dired:  our  fleps  in 
 **  the  way  of  life,  for  thou  art  our  Guide.'* 
 Souls  alfo  dropping  one  after  another  into 
 eternity,  before  they  can  have  their  minds  well 
 dire(fted  to  meet  it  ? — The  beft,  the  wifefl,  and 
 the  mofl-  laborious  minifters  of  Chrift  when 
 they  think  of  thefe  things,  tremble  at  their 
 office  i — what  then  fhould  others  do  I 
 
 I  would,  therefore,  urge  it  firft  upon  my  own 
 heart,  and  then  upon  that  of  every  one  confci- 
 entioufly  engaged  in  the  facred  office,  to  go  afide 
 and  daily  revolve,  *'  Is  my  bible  true?  What 
 are  the  truths  it  contains  ?  What  awful  and 
 aftonifhing  profpe6ls  does  it  prefent  of  that 
 World  into  which  minillers  and  their  congre- 
 gations are  haftening  !  Should  not  every 
 nerve    be   ftrained    to    bring    men   aquainted 
 
 with 
 
CXXvi  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 with  thefe  truths, — efpecially  fuch  as  are  par- 
 ticularly committed  to  my  care  !  And  if  in 
 the  faithful  difcharge  of  this  duty,  the 
 reproach  of  the  fearful  and  unbelieving,  as 
 well  as  of  the  profane,  lights  upon  me,  let  me, 
 in  fuch  a  caufe,  refolv^  to  be  fingular — let  me 
 dare  to  be  right — let  me  become  a  fooly  that  I 
 may  be  wife  !*' — Yea  I  would  add  ftill  more,  let 
 us  with  our  late  Brother,  rejoice  i?j  that  day  and 
 be  exceeding  glad,  for  great  is  our  reward  in 
 Heaven,  for  thus  treated  they  the  prophets  which 
 were  before  us, 
 
 I  go  on  to  fpeak  freely,  becaufe  I  know  there 
 are  many  of  my  Brethren  who  are  ferioirffy 
 feeking  to  do  good  in  their  pariflies,  but  are  dif*- 
 couraged  at  obfcrving  how  little  fruit  appears 
 after  many  years  labour.  I  have  heard  them 
 exprefs  it ;  but  I  have  heard  it  without  furprife. 
 Whoever  confiders  the  guilty  and  grovelling 
 habits  of  men,  and  aims  to  eredl  their  minds 
 to  the  higheft  objedts,  and  to  implant  habits  of 
 faith  and  holinefs,  (hould,  before  he  attempts 
 building  fuch  a  tower,  ft  down  and  count  the 
 cof.  He  propofes  a  moral  miracle,  and  ihould 
 contemplate  the  means  as  well  as  the  end.  Power 
 bclongeth  unto  God :  and  he  has  a  right  to  an- 
 nex the  communication  of  it  to  what  ordinances 
 he  pleafes.     Had  Moses,  injftead  of  lifting  up 
 
 a  fer- 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    \V.    B.    CADOGAN.         CXXVU 
 
 a  ferpent,  and  direding  the  Ifraelites  to  look 
 to  that  alone  as  God's  ordinance  for  healing 
 them,  been  fo  weak  and  prefumptuous  as  to 
 have  employed  remedies  which  feemed  in 
 themfelves  more  eligible,  the  Ifraelites  might 
 have  concurred  with  him  in  the  application,  but 
 would  have  died  of  their  wounds. — Had  Cado- 
 GAN  proceeded  as  he  began,  fome  good  would 
 have  been  done  among  his  people,  becaufe  he 
 knew  fomething  of  God's  remedy,  and  em- 
 ployed what  he  knew;  but  no  fuch  extenfive 
 benefits  as  thofe  which  followed  when  he 
 knew  the  way  of  the  Lord  more  perfedly,  and 
 determinately  rejedled  every  other.  Then  it  was 
 that,  working  with  God,  he  prevailed  with 
 men; — like  Joseph,  the  Lord  was  with  him,  and 
 tloe  thing  that  he  did,  the  Lord  made  it  to  prof  per. 
 
 Some,  indeed,  may  attempt  to  refiftthis  fad; 
 and  what  fad,  when  it  bears  hard  upon  men*s 
 interefts  or  humours,  will  they  not  attempt 
 to  invalidate?  But  a  man  might  as  well  go 
 about  to  prove  that  Robefpierre  was  not  outrage- 
 oufly  mifchievous,  as  that  Cadogan  was  not 
 eminently  ufeful.  Let  us  not  then  be  deceived 
 by  thofe  felf-iiattering  and  falfe  flatements  with 
 which  the  profane  or  the  pharifaical  attempt  to 
 intrench  themfelves — refifting  and  mifrepre- 
 fenting  true  religion,  by  raking  together  a  few- 
 ridiculous 
 
CXXVlll    ,  MEMOIRS    OF    TH2 
 
 ridiculous  or  fcandalous  abufes  (rejoicing  in  evils 
 which  we  lament)  while  they  wilfully  clofe 
 their  eyes  to  the  moft  cogent  fads  and  argu- 
 ments. Which  of  us,  if  he  were  fo  blindly 
 or  corruptly  difpofed,  could  not  with  even 
 feeble  abilities,  thus  decently  drefs  out  the 
 carcafe  of  a  dead  profeflion  as  Michal  did  an 
 image,  when  David  himfelf  was  gone  j  till  on 
 the  matter  being  examined,  behold  !  there  was 
 an  image  in  the  bedy  with  a  pillow  of  goat^s-hair 
 for  his  boljier  f — Ah  how  eafy  is  it  in  health  and 
 cafe,  for  men  to  lofe  fight  of  the  nature  and 
 value  of  true  religion,  and  of  that  dying  pillow 
 when  the  mere  images  of  it  will  yield  them  no 
 comfort !  And  much  more  to  lofe  fight  of  that 
 DAY  when  fuch  images  mufl  be  examined  and 
 expofed  ! 
 
 Nor  let  us  be  impofed  upon  by  the  found  of 
 words,  as  if  fomething  new  in  religion  was  here 
 advanced.  Let  any  one  fatisfy  himfelf  on  this 
 head,  by  turning  to  the  Reformers — the  articles 
 of  our  Church — or  the  writings  of  its  mofl  emi- 
 nent and  ufeful  Bifhops.  Wherein  did  the 
 principles  of  Andrews  and  Davenant,  Hall  and 
 Ufier^  Reynolds  and  Leigh  ton  ^  Hopkins  and 
 ^everidge,  &c.  &c.  differ  from  thofe  of  our 
 departed  friend  ?  If  he  differed  from  others, 
 it  was    becaufe  he    fo    intirely    agreed    with 
 
 thefe. 
 
Hon.  and  rev.  w.  b.  cadogan.  cxxIx 
 ttiele.  Both  they  and  he  were  convinced, 
 that  till  the  heart  is  humbled  and  animated 
 with  the  principles  and  promifcs  of  the 
 Gofpel,  we  fhall  exhort  men  in  vain  to  the 
 performance  of  its  duties,  and  till  then,  even 
 fuch  performances  muft  be  undertaken  on  a 
 wrong  principle.  It  is  therefore  the  good  old 
 way  that  ignorance  io  frequently  miftakes  for  a 
 new  path.  Mr.  C.  chofe  that  old  way  for  him- 
 felf  and  his  people;  they  walked  therein,  and  found 
 rejl  for  their  fouls.  Many  of  them  have  accom- 
 panied him  to  glory,  and,  if,  after  his  depar- 
 ture, the  refl  fliould  fo  wander  and  degenerate 
 as  to  return  to  the  world  from  whence  they 
 came  out  (a  fuppofition  not  to  be  admitted)  ftill 
 the  fa(5l  remains,  under  his  miniftry  they  were 
 called  out  from  that  world,  under  the  fame  they 
 walked  towards  the  world  above,  and  where  I 
 alfo  trufl  he  will  meet  them  as  his  crown  of 
 rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jefus. 
 
 Let  us  then  no  longer  halt  between  two 
 opinions  I  Efpecially  as  they  lead  to  two  fuch 
 oppofite  and  important  refults.  Soon  will  an 
 eternal  world  open  upon  us,  and  the  Kingdom 
 of  our  Redeemer  break  forth  with  an  unut- 
 terable fplendour  and  irrefillible  convidlion,  to 
 the  honour  and  joy  of  his  friends,  and  the  eternal 
 confufion  of  his  enemies.     He  has  warned  us 
 
 h  that 
 
CXXX  MEMOIRS    OF    THE 
 
 that  the  gate  of  it  is  ftrait,  the  way  narrow, 
 and  comparatively  few  are  found  walking  there- 
 in: and  if  we  perceive  this,  fhall  men  in  our  pre- 
 dicament confult  the  tafte  of  a  blind,  difordered 
 and  perifhing  world  about  it? — or  alk  leave 
 to  declare  it  plainly  ? — Let  us  know  men 
 better,  love  them  more,  and  fear  them  lefs,  that 
 we  may  bothfave  ourf elves  and  them  that  hear  us. 
 
 But  whatever  zeal  we  may  attain  for  evan- 
 gelical principles,  let  us  be  no  lefs  zealous  tOi 
 follow  our  Brother  as  he  followed  Christ,  in  a 
 parental  tendernefs  and  forbearance  towards 
 thofe  that  oppofe  themfelves,  if  God  per  adven- 
 ture will  give  them  repentance  to  the  acknowledge 
 ing  of  the  truth.  If  we  would  fucceed  as  Mr. 
 C.  did,  "  We  muft,"  to  ufe  his  words,  **  fheW 
 **  thefe  people  a  more  excellent  way — we  muft 
 '*  overcome  evil  with  good  ; — we  muft  pray  for 
 **  them  as  Chrift  did,  for  they  know  not  what 
 **  they  do."  We  muft,  like  him,  fhake  hands 
 with  the  man  that  would  infult  us,  and  by  a 
 friendly  approach  to  the  houfe  of  an  enemy, 
 attempt  to  difarm  his  heart  *.  Benevolence  of 
 character  is  a  fort  of  eloquence  that  is  under- 
 ftood  in  every  country,  and  which  every 
 one  finds  it  very  difficult  to  reiift :  Chrif- 
 tian  Love  is  a  ftill  higher  principle,  and  has  a 
 
 *  See  Page  80, 
 5  look 
 
HON.    AND    REV.    W.    B.    CADOGAN.         CXXXl 
 
 look  and  a  language  even  towards  its  enemies, 
 which  have  often  melted  down  the  moft  obdurate. 
 Fas  eft  et  ab  hofte  doceri^  and  from  one  of  the  worft 
 we  may  learn  that,  **  the  good  man  alone 
 **  knows  the  art  of  making  others  fo." 
 
 The  work,  indeed,  is  arduous,  and  man  is 
 weak  j  but,  with  the  warrant  and  promife  of 
 our  God,  any  thing  may  be  done.  His  power 
 precludes  all  defpair  in  making  this  grandefl  of 
 attempts.  Whatever  has  been  related  of  our 
 late  Brother  is  but  an  exhibition  of  divine 
 Grace  which  wrought  in  him  both,  fo  will  and 
 to  do.  He  was  a  man  of  like  paflions  and  pre- 
 judices with  us,  and  owed  all  that  he  was,  and 
 all  that  he  did,  to  its  fole  efficacy  :  and  to  illuf- 
 trate  the  power  and  tendency  of  that  grace,  is 
 the  grand  defign  of  thefe  Memoirs,  or  the  writei 
 of  them  is  but  a  fool  in  his  folly. 
 
 Let  us,  therefore,  work  while  it  is  day,  and 
 pray  while  we  work  :  looking  to  Him  who  is 
 able  to  build  us  alfo  up,  and  give  us  an  inherit- 
 ance among  them  that  are  fand:ified ;  that  when 
 our  work  is  done,  we  may,  like  our  Brother, 
 repofe  on  oar  dying  pillow  with  a  well-grounded 
 confolation  that  we  have  ''^  fettled  every  affair  for 
 •*  both  worlds,'* 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 "Page  9,  line      l,  rtzd.  tbe/e  Memoirs  art  i  alfo  p.  1 14.   aad  1 2 1. 
 22,  4,  for  in,  x.Jrom. 
 
 24,  9,  for  rather  than,  r.  ««</  «<?/. 
 
 30,  I,  after  and,  r.  «Wfr  /^w, 
 
 36,  2,  for  ^tfj>  r.  have. 
 
 46,  14,  for  ^i^tf/^,  X.  any. 
 55»  6,  for  i-cj  ^^M,  r.  /V. 
 
 59,  2,  for  hecaufe,  r.  ^w^g-. 
 
 '  62,  laft  line,  £ot  fee,  r.feeL 
 
 71,  line  4,  for  is,  r.  are. 
 
 77 1  3t  for  «,  r.  /^^. 
 
 84,  8,  for  e'vade,  r.  rejifi. 
 
 85,  17,  for  /h,  r.  by. 
 
 92,  14,  for  z«  put  a  colon. 
 
 96,  4,  for  that,  r.  the  lives',  line  17,  for  «?  r.  ot. 
 
 99»  S>  ^o^  ^^'''^  ''•  have. 
 
 II J,  z,  hx  have,  x.  has. 
 
THE 
 
 POWER   OF   FAITH: 
 
 CONSIDERED    IN    A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 PRIACHED  IN  THE  PARISH  CHURCH  OF 
 
 ST.    ANN,    BLACK-FRIARS, 
 On  SUNDAY,  MARCH  19,  1780  j 
 
 FOR    THE    BENEFIT    OF   A    SOCIETY    INSTITUTED   FOR    THE 
 
 PURPOSE    OF     DISTRIBUTING    BIBLES     AMONGST     HIS 
 
 majesty's    FORCES    BY   SEA    AND    LAND. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM  BROMLEY  CADOGAN,  A.M. 
 
 RECTOR  or  ST.  Luke's,  chelsea,  and  of  st.  Giles's,  reading,  and 
 
 CHAPLAIN    TO    THE    RIGHT    HONOURABLE    THE    LORD    CADOGAN. 
 
 SOME    PUT    THEIR    TRUST    IN    CHARIOTS,   AND    SOME    IN 
 
 HORSES,    BUT    WE    WILL    REMEMBER    THE    NAME    OF 
 
 THE    LORD    OUR    GOD. — PSALM  XX.  7. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A  Number  of  religious  perfons  have  entered 
 **•  ^  into  an  afTociation  to  furnifh  his  Majefly's 
 army  and  navy  with  the  brighteft  ornament  and 
 proper  badge  of  a  Proteftant,  the  Bible.  For 
 Them  this  difcourfe  v^as  preached ;  and,  to  Xid^ 
 tify  my  hearty  concurrence  with  Theiriy  it  is  now 
 made  pubHc.  That  foldiers  and  failors  were 
 never  more  needful,  than  at  this  alarming  crifis, 
 I  believe  nobody  will  deny  ;  that  they  are  never 
 completely  armed  without  the  Armour  of  God, 
 deny  it  who  will,  I  dare  to  affirm,  and  appeal  to 
 fcripture,  to  reafon,  to  fadt  and  experience,  for 
 the  truth  of  the  affertion.  To  fight  againft  God 
 is  madnefs  in  any  caufe,  and  we  do  fo  in  all, 
 unlefs  we  remember  what  is  written,  **  When 
 **  the  hoft  goeth  forth  againft  thine  enemies, 
 **  then  keep  thee  from  every  wicked  thing." — • 
 Deut.  xxiii.  9. 
 
 B  2 
 
2  CHRON.   XX.    20. 
 
 Believe  in  the  Lord  your  Godj  fo  Jhall  you  be 
 ejiablijhed ;  believe  his  Prophets ^  fo  Jhall  ye 
 profper. 
 
 THERE  is  one  apology  for  godlinefs, 
 which,  one  would  think,  might  recom- 
 mend it  to  every  gainfayer.  It  is  an  apology, 
 which  is  given  by  infpiration  of  God,  that 
 "  godlinefs  is  profitable  for  all  things,  having 
 "  the  promife  of  the  life  which  now  is,  and  of 
 **  that  which  is  to  conie*. 
 
 But  how  doth  this  tally  with  the  experience 
 and  obfervation  of  another  **  holy  man  of  old, 
 **  who  fpake  as  he  was  moved  by  the  Holy 
 "  Ghoft  ?  Lo,  thefe  are  the  ungodly,  thefe  prof- 
 **  per  in  the  world,  thefe  have  riches  in  pof- 
 **  feflion-f-.'*  Go  into  the  fancfluary  of  God, 
 and  confult  his  word,  and  you  fee  the  ftate,  and 
 the  end  of  thefe  men :  you  fee,  that  their  power 
 and  pre-eminence,  their  flourifhing  and  exalted 
 ftations,  are  "  flippery  places,  from  which  they 
 
 *   I  Tim.  iv.  8.  f  Pfal.  Ixxiii.  I2. 
 
 B  3  "  are 
 
6  THE    POWER    OF    FAITH. 
 
 "  are  caft  down  and  deftroyed  for  ever :  Oh ! 
 **  how  fuddenly  do  they  confume,  perifh,  and 
 *'  come  to  a  fearful  end!"  You  fee  that  their 
 profperity  "  is  as  a  dream,  which,  when  one 
 **  awaketh,  is  gone;  as  duft  that  is  blown  away 
 "  with  the  wind ;  as  thin  froth  that  is  driven 
 "  away  with  the  ftorm ;  as  the  fmoke,  which  is 
 **  difperfed  here  and  there  with  the  tempefl; 
 **  and  as  the  remembrance  of  a  gueft  that  tarri- 
 **  eth  but  a  day."  This  is  the  way  of  them, 
 and  in  their  fober  and  ferious  moments,  they 
 will  acknowledge  that  it  is  fo;  but  this  is  their 
 foolifhnefs,  that  whilft  they  fee  their  folly,  they 
 purfue  it,  and  their  poflerity,  inftead  of  profit- 
 ing by  their  experience,  "  praife  their  faying.** 
 
 **  Truly  then  God  is  loving  unto  Ifrael ;" 
 he  is  flill  loving,  whilfl  he  chaftens  and  corrects 
 them,  whilfl  he  weans  them  from  a  world,  of 
 which  he  hath  faid,  **  curfed  is  the  ground  *;" 
 and  prepares  them  for  that  heavenly  land,  where 
 he  hath  promifed  his  bleffing  and  life  for  ever- 
 more: and  flill  may  the  believer  fay,  **  it  is 
 "  good  for  me  to  hold  fafl  by  God,  to  put  my 
 **  trufl  in  the  Lord  God,  and  to  fpeak  of  all 
 "  thy  w^orks,  in  the  gates  of  the  daughter  of 
 "  Sionf." 
 
 Of  fimilar  import  are  the  words  of  my  text, 
 and  fimilar  was   the   prad:ice   of  Jehofhaphat, 
 
 *  Gen.  iii.  17.  f  Pfal.  Ixxiii.  27. 
 
 who 
 
THE    POWER    OF    FAITH.  ^ 
 
 who  fpake  them :  may  God  make  them  profit- 
 able to  us  at  this  time,  whilft  we  confider— 
 
 Firft,  The  occafion  of  them. 
 
 Secondly,  The  import  of  the  exhortations, 
 "  beheve  in  the  Lord  your  God,  believe  his 
 "  prophets.** — ^And — 
 
 Thirdly,  The  prefent  and  eternal  profit  of 
 obedience  to  fuch  exhortations — '*  fo  Ihall  ye  be 
 **  eftablifhed,  fo  fhall  ye  profper." 
 
 The  occafion  of  thefe  words  was  as  follows  : 
 — ^The  kingdom  of  Judah  was  invaded  by  a 
 powerful  army,  compofed  chiefly  of  the  "  chil- 
 **  dren  of  Moab  and  the  children  of  Ammon ;" 
 upon  tidings  of  which,  "  Jehofhaphat  feared,** 
 and  **  fet  himfelf  to  feek  the  Lord,  and  pro- 
 **  claimed  a  faft  throughout  all  Judah  :**  and  it 
 appears  not  to  have  been  a  mere  royal  procla- 
 mation, a  mere  mock  folemnity,  to  be  obferved 
 by  all  but  thofe  that  appointed  it,  to  amufe  the 
 people,  rather  than  avert  the  wrath  of  God  * ; 
 but  we  find  the  king  himfelf  *'  in  the  congre- 
 **  gation  of  Judah  and  Jerufalem,  in  the  houfe- 
 **  of  the  Lord  before  the  new  court,**  making 
 prayers  and  interceflions  for  his  people  before 
 
 *  Among  the  innumerable  fins  of  our  guilty  land,  are 
 there  any  that  cry  louder  to  heaven  againft  us  than  what  we 
 call  General  Fajls  f  Let  our  manner  of  obferving  them,  and 
 our  condudl:  before  and  after  determine,  whether  we  can  oifer 
 a  greater  infult  to  the  God  of  heaven, 
 
 B  4  the^ 
 
8  THE    POWER    OF    FAITH. 
 
 the  Lord  God  of  his  fathers  *.  Here  was  the 
 ftrength  and  ftabihty  of  his  throne,  here  was 
 the  diftinguifhing  glory  of  his  reign,  that  "  he 
 **  walked  in  the  firft  ways  of  his  father  David, 
 **  and  fought  not  unto  Baalim  j  but  fought  the 
 *'  Lord  God  of  his  father,  and  walked  in  his 
 "  commandments,  and  not  after  the  doings  of 
 "  revolting  and  rebellious  Ifrael.'*  Therefore, 
 **  the  Lord  was  with  him,  and  therefore  the 
 "  Lord  profpered  the  kingdom  in  his  hand^." 
 By  fuch  encouragements  as  tbefe  (and  they 
 who  truil  the  Lord  will  always  be  encouraged  to 
 truft  him)  "  his  heart  was  lifted  up  in  the  ways 
 **  of  the  Lord:"  but  ftill  he  had  caufe  to  be- 
 ware of  what  an  apoftle  warns  us,  *'  an  evil 
 "  heart  of  unbelief,  in  departing  from  the  Liv- 
 **  ING  God  J."  He  betrayed  this  common,  this 
 grievous  infirmity  of  a  fallen  nature,  in  a  fatal 
 
 *  The  prayer  of  king  Jehofhaphat  is  written,  2  Chron. 
 XX.  6. — I  cannot  but  obferve,  that  he  pleads  nothing,  before 
 God,  but  His  Sovereign  Will  and  Special  Grace,  which 
 chofe  Ifrael  to  himfelf,  and  gave  them  the  lands  of  the  Heathen 
 in  pofleffion.  I  find  nothing  about  making  themfehes  worthy 
 of  God's  pardon  and  forgivenefs^  this  was  referved  for  modern 
 times.  What  pity,  what  difgrace  to  us,  that  the  Bible  is  not 
 our  model  for  praying  and  preaching  too  !  But  what  comfort 
 to  every  member  of  the  church  of  England,  that  he  cannot, 
 conhftently  with  his  profeflion,  receive  any  thing  as  truth, 
 but  what  "  i^  read  in  holy  fcripture,  or  to  be  proved  thereby !" 
 See  Article  6th  of  the  Church  of  England. 
 
 t  2  Chron.  xvii.  %  Heb.  iii.  I2. 
 
 alliance 
 
THE    POWER    OF    FAITH.  9 
 
 alliance-  with  Ahab  *  ;  and  in  this  fingle  inftance 
 of  his  departure,  he  proved  the  folly  of  it  alfo; 
 he  was  witnefs  to  the  llaiighter  of  Ahab,  accord- 
 ing to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  was  faluted 
 upon  his  return  to  Jerufalem,  by  that  keen  and 
 juft  rebuke  from  Jehu  -f  (and  would  to  God  there 
 were  always  prophets,  who  would  bear  his 
 teflimony  before  kings  and  not  be  afhamed) 
 *•  Shouldft  thou  help  the  ungodly?'*  Is  it  for 
 this  that  thou  beareft  the  fword?  is  it  for  this 
 that  thou  art  a  minifter  of  God?  and  fhouldfl 
 thou  **  love  them  that  hate  the  Lord?"  No, 
 furely — *'  Charity  rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity,  but 
 **  rejoiceth  in  the  truth  \ — therefore  is  WTath 
 "  upon  thee  from  before  the  Lord."  Here  was 
 a  lelTon,  which  taught  him  upon  the  next  emer- 
 gency to  flee  for  help  unto  the  Lord  God  of 
 his  fathers:  he  received  infl:rud:ion,-  and  fled 
 thither  accordingly :  and  lo !  "as  all  Judah  fl:ood 
 **  before  the  Lord  with  their  little  ones,  their 
 "  wives  and  their  children  §,"  and  (what  was 
 the  moft  glorious  fight  of  all)  with  their  king  at 
 
 *  2  Chron.  xviii.  f  2  Chron.  xix. 
 
 X  There  is  nothing  more  miftaken  amongft  us  than  the 
 nature  of  charity:  where  there  is  not  the  love  of  God,  there 
 can  be  no  charity.  What  muft  we  think  then  of  the  admiflioii 
 of  all  principles  and  perfuafions,  to  the  utter  exclufion  of  the 
 ONE  Faith,  and  one  Truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  which 
 pafles  for  "  Chrijiian  candour  r"' 
 
 §  2  Chron.  xx.  13. 
 
 their 
 
10  THE   POWER   OF   FAITH. 
 
 their  head,  lo,  upon  Jahaziel  the  prieft,  **  came 
 **  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  in  the  midft  of  the 
 •*  congregation:  and  he  faid,  Hearken  ye,  all 
 "  Judah,  and  ye  inhabitants  of  Jerufalem,  and 
 •*  thou  king  Jehofhaphat:  thus  faith  the  Lord 
 **  unto  you,  ,be  not  afraid  nor  difmayed  by 
 **  reafon  of  this  great  multitude,  for  the  battle 
 "  is  not  your's,  but  God*s:  ye  fhall  not  need  to 
 **  fight  in  this  battle,  fet  yourfelves,  fland  ye 
 **  ftill,  and  fee  the  falvation  of  the  Lord  with 
 **  you,  O  Judah  and  Jerufalem:  fear  not,  nor 
 **  be  difmayed ;  to-morrow  go  out  againfl  them, 
 *'  for  the  Lord  will  be  with  you."  Thefe  ani- 
 mating words  from  heaven  produced  fuitable 
 returns  of  thankfgiving  and  praife,  and  fuitable 
 alertnefs  to  take  the  field  j  **  and  as  they  went 
 "  forth,  Jehofhaphat  flood  and  faid.  Hear  me, 
 **  O  Judah,  and  ye  inhabitants  of  Jerufalem, 
 "  believe  in  the  Lord  your  God,  fo  (hall  you 
 "  be  eflablifhedj  believe  his  prophets,  fo  fhall 
 "  ye  profper."  His  pracSlice  too  is  according  to 
 his  profeflion;  for,  "  when  he  had  confulted 
 **  with  the  people,  he  appointed  fingers  unto 
 "  the  Lord,  and  that  fhould  praife  the  beauty  of 
 **  holinefs  as  they  went  before  the  army,  and  to 
 "  fay,  praife  the  Lord,  for  his  mercy  endureth 
 "  for  ever." 
 
 Here  is  mufick,  to  which,  if  we  had  faith, 
 we  might  march  to  eternity:  it  is  with  "  the 
 
 **  praifes 
 
THE    POWER    OF    FAITH.  ll 
 
 "  praifes  of  God  in  their  mouths,  and  the  two 
 **  edged  fword  of  his  word  in  their  hands  *,'* 
 that  the  armies  of  the  faithful  * '  run  and  are  not 
 **  weary,  walk  and  are  not  faint -f-."  Here  was 
 manly  martial  condudl,  worthy  of  a  great  and 
 victorious  monarch,  who  looks  upon  his  autho- 
 rity and  his  fubjedts  as  a  charge  from  God ;  he 
 had  furnifhed  his  troops,  no  doubt,  with  weapons 
 of  war,  as  "  faith  in  God"  implies  the  ufe  of 
 all  the  means,  which  God  hath  put  in  our 
 power;  but  he  faith  not,  fee  here  are  arms  and 
 ammunition^  and  money  and  multitudes,  truft  in 
 THESE,  and  ye  fhall  conquer  ;  but,  "  believe  in 
 "  THE  Lord  your  God,  fo  (hall  you  be  cftab- 
 "  liflied;  believe  his  prophets,  fo  fhall  ye 
 "  profperj." 
 
 *  Pfal.  cxlix.  6.  t  Ifa.  xl.  31. 
 
 X  The  immortal  Chlllingworth,  as  he  is  ftiled  by  a  learned 
 biihop  of  our  day,  in  a  famous  fermon  before  Charles  the 
 Firft,  complained  of  the  profligacy  and  profanenefs  of  his 
 army ;  and  told  him,  that  by  thefe  things  they  fought  more 
 powerfully  againft  his  party,  than  by  all  other  means  they  did, 
 or  could  fight  for  it.  Whether  this  fermon  had  the  fame 
 effecSt  upon  Charles^  as  the  remonflrance  of  Jehu^  and  the  ex- 
 hortation of  "Jahaziel  had  upon  Jehojlmphat^  I  do  not  know  : 
 but  this  I  know,  that  the  preacher  fpake  like  an  honest 
 man ;  and  that,  however  great  his  veneration  for  the  King's 
 perfon  and  prefence,  his  veneration  for  the  Word  of  God, 
 as  delivered  by  the  Royal  Pfalmift,  feems  to  have  been 
 greater.  "  I  will  fpeak  of  thy  teftimonies  alfo  even  before 
 "  Kings,  and  will  not  be  afhamed."     Pfal.  cxix.  46. 
 
 Such 
 
12  THE    POWER    OE,  FAITH. 
 
 Such  was  the  occafion  of  the  words  of  the 
 text  j  proceed  we  next  to  the  import  of  the 
 exhortations,  "  beheve  in  the  Lord  your  God, 
 "  beheve  his  prophets." 
 
 We  can  be  in  no  condition  or  circumftances,  in 
 which  the  faying  of  Chrift  is  not  feafonable, 
 "  Have  faith  in  God."  As  creatures  we  are 
 to  Hve  upon  our  Creator,  2in&  faith  in  him  im- 
 pHes  rehance  upon  and  recourfe  unto  him  for 
 every  thing  needful.  Had  the  creature  remem- 
 bered this  its  condition,  fin  had  not  entered  into 
 the  world,  nor  death  by  fin  :  but  when  the  devil 
 had  perfuaded  us,  "  Ye  fhall  be  as  Gods,"  then 
 it  was  time  for  God  to  fay,  "  Ye  fhall  die  like 
 *'  men."  The  fatal  effe6ls  of  this  poifonous 
 notion,  which  we  imbibed  in  the  beginning,  are 
 ever  feen  and  felt  by  thofe,  who  are  taught  of 
 God  to  know  what  is  in  them,  **  in  their  alien- 
 "  ation  by  nature  from  the  life  of  God,  through 
 *•  the  ignorance  that  is  in  them,  and  becaufe 
 "  of  the  blindnefs  of  their  heart*;"  and  they 
 are  flrongly  marked  by  the  Pfalmifl,  when  he 
 faith,  the  **  wicked,  through  the  Pride  of  his 
 "  countenance,  will  not  feek  after  God  ;  God 
 "  is  not  in  all  his  thoughts -f."  The  thing 
 made  is  exalted  above  the  Maker,  is  perfuaded, 
 that  it  can  live  by  itfelf,  be  happy  by  itfelf,  and 
 
 .     *  Eph.  iv.  18.  t  Pfal.  X.  4. 
 
 do 
 
THE    POWER    OF    FAITH.  1 3 
 
 do  as  well  without  God  as  with  him. — But  ftrip 
 him  of  this  proud  and  empty  boafting,  and  how 
 low  is  he  fallen,  in  the  eye  of  impartial  reafon, 
 who  looks  no  higher  than  himfeif;  and  whilfl: 
 he  boafls   of  his  fuperior  dignity  and  lordfhip 
 over  the  brute  creation,  lives  with  them  upon 
 the  earth,  and  lifts  not  an  eye  towards  heaven ! 
 The  great  apoftle  of  the  Gentiles,  even  in  the 
 feat  of  learning  and  eloquence,  found  it  neceffary 
 to  infift  upon  thefe  firft  principles  of  all  religion 
 — "  Ye  men  of  Athens,"  faid  he,  **  I  perceive 
 **  that    in  all  things  ye  are  too   fuperftitious : 
 **  for,  as  I  pafled  by,  and  beheld  your  devotions, 
 "  I  found  an  altar,  with  this   infcription,  To 
 *'  the  unknown  God.     Whom  therefore  ye  ig- 
 "  norantly  worfhip,  him  declare  I  unto  you. 
 "  God,   that  made   the  world,  and  all  things 
 **  therein,  feeing    that   he   is    Lord  of  heaven 
 "  and  earth,  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with 
 "  hands,    neither   is   worlhipped   with    men's 
 "  hands,  as  though  he  needed  any  thing ;  fee- 
 "  ing  he  giveth  to  all  life  and  breath,  and  all 
 "  things;    and  hath   made   of  one   blood   all 
 **  nations  of  men,  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face 
 "  of  the  earth;  and  hath  determined  the  times 
 "  before  appointed,    and   the   bounds   of  their 
 "  habitation:  that  they  fhould  feek  the  Lord, 
 **  if  haply  they  might  feel  after  him  and  find 
 him  J  though  he  be  not  far  froro  every  one  of 
 
 "  us  : 
 
 >( 
 
14  THE    POWER    OF    FAITH. 
 
 "  US  :  for  in  him  we  live,  and  move,  and  have 
 "  our  being  ;  as  certain  alfo  of  your  own  poets 
 "  have  faid,  For  we  are  his  offspring  *." — There 
 are  then  bleflings  for  the  ignorant  and  unbehev- 
 ing,  but  the  behever  knows  from  whom  thefe 
 bleflings  come. — The  unbeliever  wallows  in 
 them,  "  as  the  fow  does  in  the  mire ;"  the 
 believer  is  really  blejfed^  becaufe  he  is  thankful^ 
 and  enjoys  the  gift  by  adoring  the  Giver.  But 
 this  faith  is  evidently  of  divine  teaching. — ^The 
 Athenian  philofophers  knew  nothing  of  it,  "  It 
 "  Cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word 
 "  of  God-f:"  and  divine  teaching  is  further 
 requifite,  to  dired:  us  in  the  exercife  of  this 
 **  faith  in  God  ;"  fo  it  is  written,  not  only 
 "  believe  in  the  Lord  your  God,"  but  alfo 
 **  believe  his  prophets." 
 
 Faith  brings  us  to  God  for  all  things,  as 
 children  to  a  parent  j  his  prophets  inform  us, 
 how  we  are  to  feek  Kim ;  faith  prompts  us  to 
 feek  our  meat  from  God,  his  prophets  tell  us 
 the  means  we  are  to  ufe,  and  the  way  we  are  to 
 walk  in.  Therefore  "  believe  in  the  Lord  your 
 God,  believe  his  prophets.** — Give  credence  to 
 his  word — for  this  is  the  light  and  life  of  the 
 believer ;  and  one  fure  and  never  failing  proof 
 of  our  being  in  the  faith,  is  our  recourfe  to  this 
 
 *  A6ls  xvii.  22.  t  Rom.  x.  17. 
 
 word 
 
THE    POWER   OF    FAITH.  1 5 
 
 word  upon  all  occafions,  and  our  reception  of  it, 
 "  not  as  the  word  of  men,"  which  may  be 
 received  or  rejedted  at  pleafure,  and  made  fub- 
 jed:  to  the  judgments  of  men  ;  but  as  **  the  word 
 "  of  God,"  a  rule  which  bends  to  nothing,  and 
 by  which  all  other  things  are  to  be  proved  and 
 determined,  to  be  good  or  evil,  crooked  or  flrait, 
 falfe  or  true.  Therefore  to  the  /aw  and  to  the 
 tejlimony. 
 
 Now  what  are  the  confequences  of  receiving 
 the  word  of  God  ?  Where  it  worketh  efFed:ually 
 in  them  that  believe,  it  convinceth  them  of  two 
 grand  and  important  truths — Firft,  That  "  eter- 
 **  nal  life'*  is  the  proper  purfuit  of  a  reafonable 
 creature ;  and,  fecondly.  That  this  life  is  in  the 
 ETERNAL  SoN  OF  GoD.  **  Search  the  fcrip- 
 "  tures,  for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal 
 **  life,    and   they  are    they    which    teftify  of 
 
 '*    ME*." 
 
 Believe  his  prophets,  and  you  will  believe  in 
 his  Son,  as  they  wrote  of  him;  and  as  "  it 
 '*  hath  pleafed  the  Father,  that  in  him  fhould 
 **  all  fulnefs  dwell ;  and  by  him  to  reconcile  all 
 **  things  to  himfelf,  whether  they  be  things 
 **  in  earth  or  things  in  heaven  -f ."  The  believer 
 then  is  in  polTeflion  of  the  fountain  and  founda- 
 tion of  all  mercies,  Jesus  Christ  ;  he  hath  an 
 
 ♦  John  V.  39,  t  Coloff.  i.  19. 
 
 *•  inheri- 
 
l6  THE    POWER    OF    FAITH. 
 
 **  inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that 
 **  fadeth  not  away,  referved  for  him  in  heaven;" 
 he  hath  **  eternal  life  now  abiding  in  him  :** 
 all  other  bleflings  are  inferior  and  fubordinate  to 
 fuch  grace  as  this  ;  they  all  flow  to  him  through 
 the  fame  channel,  they  come  with  a  frefh  and 
 holy  undlion  from  **  Christ  Jesus  the  head,'* 
 and  are  received  as  "  covenant  mercies"  in  him. 
 Extend  this  principle  of  faith  to  all  the  purpofes 
 of  life,  and  to  all  ftates  and  conditions,  and  you 
 will  difcern  its  power;  you  will  difcern  the 
 prefent  and  eternal  profit  of  obedience  to  the 
 exhortations  contained  in  my  text,  according  as 
 it  is  written,  **  fo  fhall  ye  be  eftablifhed,  fofhall 
 *'  ye  profper." — This  is  our  third  and  lafl:  con- 
 lideration. 
 
 **  Believe  in  the  Lord  your  God,  believe  his 
 **  prophets  j"  what  is  it,  but  a  heavenly  call  to 
 be  juftified,  glorified,  faved  with  an  everlafting 
 falvation  ?  Contemplate  the  happy  perfon,  who 
 **  through  grace  hath  obeyed  this  calling ;"  and 
 who  is  there,  or  what  that  (hall  harm  him? 
 Hath  he  not  a  pofTeflion,  which  neither  "  tribu- 
 **  lation  nor  diftrefs,  nor  perfecution,  nor 
 **  famine,  nor  nakednefs,  nor  peril,  nor  fword, 
 *'  nor  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principa- 
 "  lities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  prefent,  nor 
 **  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor 
 
 any 
 
THE    POWER    OF    FAITHi  I7 
 
 '•  any  other  creature*'*  can  alienate  from  him  ? 
 This  poffeflion  is  the  *'  love  of  God  which  is 
 **  in  Chrill  Jefus  our  Lord.'*  It  is  this  love 
 which  makes  us  the  fons  of  God  ;  and  fonfhip 
 includes  and  implies  inheritance  eternal  in  the 
 heavens.  Put  the  polTeflbr  of  this  in  what 
 condition  you  pleafe,  put  him  in  deferts  and  in 
 mountains,  in  dens  and  in  caves,  in  tumults  and 
 in  labours,  in  reproaches  and  revilings,  in  bonds 
 and  imprifonments,  in  racks  and  in  tortures ; 
 expofe  him  to  winds,  and  to  waves,  and  to  war, 
 and  the  pofTeflion  of  love  is  ftill  unalienable — 
 Who  (hall  feparate  us  from  the  love  of  Chrift  ? 
 
 **  In  the  light  of  the  king's  countenance  there 
 "  is  life,"  faith  the  Proverb.  Let  danger  be 
 annexed  to  duty,  but  where  will  duty  carry  us, 
 where  the  liuht  of  God's  countenance  will  not 
 both  cherifli  and  chear  ?  Suppofe  the  foldier  in 
 the  field  of  battle,  with  the  faying  of  God  writ- 
 ten upon  his  heart,  **  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor 
 **  forfakethee-f,"  and  boldly  faying  out  of  the 
 abundance  of  fuch  a  heart,  "  the  Lord  is  my 
 *'  helper,  I  will  not  fear  what  man  can  do  unto 
 *'  me; — the  Lord  (hall  preferve  me  from  all 
 "  evil ;  yea,  it  is  even  he  that  fhall  keep  my 
 "  foul ;  the  Lord  fhall  preferve  my  going  out 
 "  and  my  coming  in,  from  this  time  forth  for 
 
 *  Rom.  viii.  t  Heb,  xiii.  6. 
 
 C  it  ever- 
 
iS  THE    POWER    OF    FAITH. 
 
 **  evermore."  I  will  appeal  to  all  the  world, 
 whether  faith,  like  this,  will  not  produce  fuch 
 firmnefs  and  fortitude,  as  no  other  principle  can. 
 Is  death  in  the  path  of  duty  ?  **  To  die  is  gain  *." 
 Whether  the  fummons  be  given  by  the  raging 
 fever,  or  the  roaring  cannon,  it  is  flill  a  fum- 
 mons to  be  happy,  for  ftill  '*  to  die  is  gain.** 
 Is  there  a  God  that  ruleth  and  ordereth  all  things 
 after  the  counfel  of  his  own  will  ?  Can  the  pef- 
 tilence,  the  famine,  or  the  fword  deftroy,  but 
 by  his  appointment,  and  at  his  time  ?  Whatever 
 be  the  calling  in  which  we  are  called ;  whatever 
 be  the  line  of  duty  which  Providence  prefcribes 
 to  us,  are  we  not  by  faith  equally  fecure  ?  And 
 if  faith  Cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  **  the 
 **  word  of  God,"  is  not  the  **  fword  of  the 
 **  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God,"  a  weapon^ 
 w^hich  every  foldier  and  fojourner  upon  earth 
 **  fhould  fell  even  his  garment  and  buy  ?" 
 
 Again  I  will  appeal  to  all  the  world,  are  not 
 thcfe  the  perfuafions  that  make  the  7na7i  f  are  not 
 thefe  the  perfuafions  that  make  the  hero  f  are  not 
 thefe  the  perfuafions  that  infpire  courage  and 
 conftancy,  and  arm  the  breaft  againfi:  the  pointed 
 fteel?  are  not  thefe  the  perfuafions,  that  ought 
 to  prevail  in  a  Chrijiian  army  ? — But,  alas  !  is 
 any  attempt  made  to  infufe  them.?  is  it  not  hor- 
 
 *  Phil.  i.  21. 
 
 rid 
 
THE    POWER    OF    FAITH.  I9 
 
 rid  to  think,  that  oatlis,  blafphemies,  drunken- 
 nefs,   and  debauchery,    arc   become  eiTential   to 
 the  mihtary  charadler  ;  that  legions  of  immortal 
 fpirits  are  to  be  led  like  beads  to  the  (laughter, 
 and  plunged  into  eternity,  in  a  ftate  in  which 
 God  declares,  they  '*  fliall  not  inherit  his  king- 
 *'  dom,  but  be  caft  into  the  lake  that  burneth 
 **  with  fire  and  brimftone  ?''  Is  it  not  horrid  to 
 fee  hofls  mindful  of  every  dependence,  but  the 
 Lord  their  God  ?  fighting  without  prayer,  and 
 conquering  without   praife  ?    What  !  no  public 
 thankfgiving,  no  national  acknowledgment  for 
 late  moft   fignal   victories  ^  ?    no    voice  to  cry 
 aloud,   '*  that  it  is  God  that  fights  for  Ifrael  ?" 
 No  *'  fpiritual  courtier,**  no   "  fpiritual  Lord,** 
 near  enough  the  royal  ear,  and  faithful  enough 
 to  whifper  in   it,  *'  that  it    is  God  that  giveth 
 **  vidlory   unto  kings,    and  delivereth  David, 
 **  his  fervant,  from  the  peril  of  the  fword-f*?'* 
 Are  we  to  behold  the  goodnefs   and  feverity  of 
 God,  and  to  be  moved  by  neither  ?  Then  how 
 low  are  we  fallen  !   *'  paft  feeling'*  it  is  to  be 
 feared;  and,    if  "  pail  feeling,**    then    *'   pall 
 *'  redemption**  alio  J. 
 
 We 
 
 *  Juft  before  this  fermon  was  preached,  news  arrived  of 
 the  fuccefles  of  our  fleet  under  Admiral  Rodney, 
 t  Pfal.  cxliv.  10. 
 X  Tantum  degeneramus  a  parentibus  noflris. — It  is  well 
 known,  and  recorded  by  an  hiftorian  who  was  not  troubled 
 
 C  2  with 
 
20  THE    POWER    OF    FAITH. 
 
 We  may  talk  of  coiinfels  in  the  cabinet^ 
 debates  in  the  fenate,  and  courage  in  the  fields 
 **  but  if  God  be  againft  us,  who  can  be  for 
 **  us  ?'*  To  what  purpofe  are  fleets  equipped, 
 if  filled  with  men,  whofe  mouths  are  full  of 
 curfing,  and  bitternefs,  and  blafphemy  ?  To 
 what  purpofe  are  armies  raifed,  if  they  declare 
 war  againft  the  God  of  battles  ?  For  what  are 
 political  laws  enaded,  if  the  laws  of  God  are 
 violated,  his  ordinances  neglected,  his  Sabbaths 
 profaned,  his  Son  trodden  under  foot,  and  his 
 Grace  defpifed  ?  For  what  are  the  moft  power- 
 ful alliances  formed,  if  we  are  not  reconciled 
 unto  God?  What  is  any  Politician  worth,  it 
 matters  not  what  party  or  principles,  what  form 
 of  government  or  conftitution  he  efpoufes,  who 
 excludes  from  his  fyftem,  or  rather  who  admits 
 not  into   it  as  its   prime,  leading,   grand  idea, 
 
 with  much  religion,  that  the  Normans  fpent  the  night  before 
 the  battle  of  Haftings  infilence  and  in  prayer — whilft  the 
 Englifh  were  in  riot,  jollity,  and  diforder. — We  need  not 
 call  in  the  aid  of  religion  to  decide,  which  army  was  beft 
 prepared  for  action. — It  is  well  known  too,  that  Edward  thc^ 
 Third,  and  the  Black  Prince,  made,  the  moft  public  acknow- 
 ledgments to  God,  and  repeated  upon  their  knees  at  the  head 
 of  their  army  the  cxvth  Pfalm. — After  the  decifive  battle  of 
 Poi<5tiers,  not  fatisfied  with  a  public  thankfgiving  in  the  campy 
 upon  the  Prince's  arrival  in  England  with  his  prifoner,  the 
 King  of  France,  there  were  thankfgivings  in  all  the  churches, 
 which  lafted  for  no  lefs  than  eight  days. — Rapin. 
 
 Gop^s 
 
the  power  of  faith.  21 
 
 God's  moral  government,  and  the  eternal 
 
 TRUTH  AND  DOMINION  OF  HIS  ChRIST  ? 
 
 Thefe  are  the  abominations,  my  brethren, 
 all  originating,  and  all  implied  in  our  "  depar- 
 **  ture  from  the  living  God,"  and  total  forget- 
 fulnefs  of  him  and  his  word,  in  our  politicks, 
 our  morals,  our  religion ,  thefe  are  the  abomina- 
 tions, againft  which  you  are  called  forth  to  ftand, 
 and  to  aim  at  their  removal,  by  applying  the 
 fovereign  remedy,  **  the  grand  means  of  reproof, 
 corredtion,  and  inftrucflion  in  righteoufnefs — 
 THE  Scriptures  which  are  given  by  the 
 INSPIRATION  OF  GoD.  Stand  therefore, 
 having  your  loins  girt  about  with  truth,  and 
 having  on  the  breaft-plate  of  righteoufnefs, 
 and  your  feet  fhod  with  the  preparation  of  the 
 gofpel  of  peace  ;  above  all,  taking  the  fhield 
 of  faith,  wherewith  ye  fhall  be  able  to  quench 
 all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked  :  and  take 
 the  helmet  of  falvation,  and  the  fword  of 
 the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God  *.'* 
 Ufe  thefe  weapons  yourfelves,  and  put  them 
 into  the  hands  of  others.' — Would  any  be  good 
 foldiers  or  citizens  or  ufeful  indeed  in  any  ftation 
 or  relation  of  life,  tell  them  that  it  is  Chrijl, 
 who  muft  make  them  fo ;  and  that,  by  extir- 
 pating the  ••  old  man  which  is  corrupt,*'  and 
 
 *  Eph.  vi.  17. 
 
 C  3  raifing 
 
22  THE    POWER    OF    FAITH. 
 
 raifing  up  the  "  new  man,  which  is  holy  :"  tell 
 them  to  **  fearch  the  fcriptures,  and  they  arc 
 *'  they  which  teftify  of  Chrifl:'*  tell  them  the 
 words  of  God  to  his  captain  Jofhua,  **  This 
 *•  book  of  the  law  fhall  not  depart  out  of  thy 
 *'  mouth,  but  thou  fhalt  meditate  therein  day 
 "  and  night,  that  thou  may  eft  obferve  to  do  all 
 "  that  is  written  therein  :  for  then  thou  flialt 
 *'  make  thy  way  profperous,  and  then  thou 
 "  fhalt  have  good  fuccefs  *;'*  Believe  in  the 
 Lord  your  God,  fo  fhall  ye  be  eftablifhed ; 
 believe  his  prophets,  ih  fhall  ye  profper. 
 
 The  floods  may  arife,  the  rains  may  defcend, 
 and  the  winds  may  blow,  but  ilill  the  believer  is 
 ejiablijlded^  and  will  not  fhrink,  for  he  is  founded 
 upon  a  rock  :  he  may  be  deflitute,  aiHicSted,  tor- 
 mented, but  flill  he  profpersy  becaufe  it  is  unto 
 him  according  to  the  word  of  his  Saviour,  *'  in 
 "  the  world  ye  fhall  have  tribulation  ;"  becaufe, 
 "  through  tribulation  he  is  entering  into  ^the 
 *'  kingdom  of  God;"  and  becaufe  *'  his  light 
 *'  aiflidiions,  which  are  but  for  a  moment, 
 **  work  for  him  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eter- 
 **  nal  weight  of  glory:"  in  fhort,  he  always 
 profpersy  becaufe  "  all  things  work  together  for 
 
 *  Jofhua  i.  7.  Let  me  recommend  to  the  reader,  an 
 excellent  lermon  upon  thefe  words,  preached  upon  the  fame 
 occafion,  with  a  dedication  to  the  King,  figned  Clericus. 
 
 his 
 
THE    POWER    OF    FAITH.  2^ 
 
 *^  his  good."  So  (hall  ye  be  eftahlifhed,  fo  fliall 
 ye  profper. 
 
 But  I  ftand  before  a  people,  of  whom  I  am 
 perfuaded  for  the  moft  part,  that  they  know  the 
 **  power  of  faith,'*  better  than  I  can  defcribe 
 it  * :  and,  indeed,  all  defcriptions  fail  in  this 
 cafe,  experience  is  the  ground  of  knowledge; 
 nor  can  any  one  know  what  faith  is,  *'  except 
 **  it  be  given  him  in  the  behalf  of  Chrift  to 
 **  believe  on  him.** 
 
 But  it  hath  one  power,  my  brethren,  of  which 
 I  wi(h  to  remind  you,  and  that  is  to  produce  the 
 **  fruits  of  righteoufnefs,  which  are  by  Jesus 
 "  Christ  unto  the  glory  and  praife  of  God.'* 
 The  tree  is  known  by  its  fruits  ;  it  is  by  the 
 produce,  that  the  living  is  difcerned  from  the 
 
 *  This  fermon,  as  the  title  page  declares,  was  preached 
 in  the  parifh  church  of  St.  Ann,  Blackfriars  ;  a  church  under 
 the  care  of  a  Paftor,  eminently  marked  as  a  fervant  of  God 
 by  the  abundant  bleflingof  God  upon  his  miniftry — eminently 
 diftinguifhed  as  one  among  the  few,  who  feem  to  have 
 *'  printed  in  their  remembrance,"  what  every  bifliop  at  our 
 ordination  exhorts  us  in  the  name  of  Jefus  Chrift  to  remember, 
 *'  into  how  high  a  dignity,  and  to  how  weighty  an  office 
 *'  and  charge  we  are  called:  that  is  to  fay,  to  be  Messen- 
 **  GERs,  Watchmen,  and  Stewards  of  the  Lord  ;  to 
 *'  teach  and  to  premonifh,  to  feed  and  to  provide  for  the 
 *'  Lord's  family  ;  to  feek  for  Chrift's  fneep  that  rae  difpcrfed 
 **  abroad,  and  for  his  children  who  are  in  the  midft  of  this 
 *'  naughty  world,  that  they  may  be  faved  through  Chrift  for 
 "  ever."     See  Ordination  Service. 
 
 C  4  ilcad. 
 
24  THE    POWER    OF    FAITH. 
 
 dead.  This  is  God^s  mode  of  judging,  and  let 
 this  be  ours  :  you  have  now  an  opportunity  of 
 proving  your  love  to  God :  we  afk  a  proof  of  it, 
 not  in  word  and  in  tongue^  but  in  deed  and  in 
 truth.  The  mite  of  the  widow  jfhall  prove  as 
 much  as  the  fum  of  the  wealthy  :  and  furely,  if 
 the  **  word  of  God'*  hath  wrought  effedtually 
 in  you,  it  muft  have  wrought  in  you  a  zeal  for 
 its  propagation  ;  if  **  this  word  dwelleth  in  you 
 **  richly  in  all  wifdom,"  Money  muft  have  little 
 or  no  place  in  your  affections  ;  contemptible 
 rather  muft  it  appear,  except  as  it  is  fubfervient 
 to  the  Saviour's  glory,  and  (what  is  infeparable 
 from  that)  the  finner's  falvation.  In  this  view, 
 and  only  in  this,  all  talents  are  defirable.  Come 
 then,  my  brethren,  put  forth  thofe  which  ye 
 have  in  the  fervice  of  the  Mafter  who  gave 
 them;  that,  at  his  coming  to  judge  the  world, 
 he  may  receive  his  own  with  ufury  :  for  his  they 
 are,  and  to  him  they  are  due. 
 
 *'  So  let  thy  work,  O  Lord,  appear  unto  thy 
 **  fervants,  and  thy  glory  unto  their  children, 
 **  and  the  glorious  Majefty  of  the  Lord  our 
 **  God  be  upon  us;  profper  thou  the  work  of 
 **  our  hands  upon  us,  O  profper  thou  our  handy 
 '*  work*.*'     - 
 
 *  Pfal.  xc.  17. 
 
THE 
 
 LOVE    OF    CHRIST 
 
 THE    PORTION    AND    PRINCIPLE    OF     THE 
 
 CHILDREN  OF  GOD. 
 
 PROVED    IN    A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 FR£ACHED  IN  THE  PAKISH  CHURCH  OT 
 
 ST.    GILES,    READING, 
 
 On  SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  4,  1785. 
 
 UPON    THE    DEATH     OF 
 
 MRS.    TALBOT, 
 
 RELICT    OF    THE    REV.    IVILLIAM    TALBOr,    LATE    VICAR   OF 
 THE    SAID    CHURCH. 
 
 — -«>8«®^  ga<g— 
 
 PRECIOUS  IN  THE  SIGHT  OF   THE   tOKD,    IS    THE    DEATH  OF   HIS   SAINTS. 
 
 rsALM  cxvi.  15. 
 
PREFACE  TO  THE  READER. 
 
 ^T^HIS  Sermon  is  not  put  into  your  hands,  as 
 "^  though  it  came  from  the  Prefs  verbatim  as 
 it  was  dehvered  from  the  Pulpit,  becaufe  it  was 
 preached  before  it  was  written.  I  beUeve  how- 
 ever, that  there  is  not  much  difference  of  ex- 
 preffion,  and  I  am  fure,  that  there  is  none  of 
 fentiment.  Preaching,  writing,  and  printing, 
 I  have  had  the  fame  opinion  of  the  excellence 
 of  Mrs.  Talbot's  character,  and  of  the  *'  grace 
 **  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  as  the  fource 
 of  all  that  excellence  ;  and  I  have  exhibited  the 
 one  with  a  view  to  exalt  the  other.  I  felt  more- 
 over particular  reafons  for  fayi?igfo  much  of  Mrs. 
 Talbot  in  a  place  where  the  great  *'  Head  of 
 **  the  Church^*  had  made  her  an  inji rumen t  of  fo 
 much  good,  by  her  prayers,  her  advice,  her  ex- 
 a?nple.  **  Being  dead /he  yet  fpeaketh  :*^ — her 
 funeral  fermon   was  not  preached  without  it's' 
 
 effeds. 
 
28  PREFACE. 
 
 effects,  fome  were  awakened  by  it,  others  were 
 comforted,  and  many  were  exhorted  to  follow 
 her,  as  fhe  followed  Christ.  May  the  pub- 
 lication of  it  be  attended  with  fimilar  blellings  ; 
 May  her  fpirit  be  rejoiced  in  heaven  by  the  re- 
 pentance of  more  finners  upon  earth,  and  by 
 knowing,  that  her  life  and  death  in  the  Lord 
 were  means  of  promoting  the  beil  intercfts  of 
 her  fellow-creatures. 
 
 She  is  now  finging,  **  Worthy  is  the  Lamb 
 *'  that  was  flain  !"  and  therefore  it  becomes  me, 
 in  this  token  of  refpe6t  to  her  memory,  to  look 
 for  good,  and  to  afcribe  all  that  may  be  done  by 
 it,  to  **  Him,  who  died,  rofe,  and  revived,  that 
 **  He  might  be  Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  the 
 "  living." 
 
i>  THE 
 
 LOVE   OF  CHRIST. 
 
 Epistle  to  ROMANS,  viii.  35. 
 
 Who  JJjall  feparate  iis  from  the  love  of  Chrijl  f 
 
 THIS  chapter  contains  an  account  of  "  them 
 *'  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus  ;"  that  is  of 
 all  Chriftian  people :  being  in  Christ  Jesus  is 
 the  old  Apoftolical  and  full  definition  of  a 
 Chriftian.  The  Apoftle*s  account  of  them  is 
 that  they  are  in  no  condemnation  being  pafTed 
 from  death  unto  life,  that  the  *'  Spirit  of  life 
 '*  in  Christ  Jesus"  quickens  them  together 
 with  Him,  and  leads  them  to  his  glory  through 
 the  path  of  fuffering  which  He  trod  before 
 them  ;  that  as  the  Spirit  of  the  Son  it  puts  the 
 fame  cry  of  "  Abba  Father'*  into  their  hearts, 
 which  was  alio  in  the  heart  of  Christ  Jesus, 
 and  is  a  conftant  witncfs  that  in  common  with 
 the  "  firft  born  among  many  brethren'*  they  are 
 *•  children  and  heirs  of  God;"  that  their 
 earneft  expedation  is  the  manifeftation  of  the 
 fons  of  God,  when  "  Christ,  their  life  fhall 
 "  appear  and  they  alfo  fhall  appear  with  Him 
 
 '•  in 
 
30  THE    LOVE   OF    CHRIST. 
 
 **  in  glory;"  that  their  hope  hving  and  dying 
 is  deliverance  from  the  bondage  of  corruption 
 into  the  "  liberty  of  glory,"*  and  that  having 
 the  firfl-fruiis  of  the  Spirit  they  groan  within 
 themfelves  in  *'  this  earthly  tabernacle,"   wait- 
 ing **  for  the  adoption,  the  redemption  of  their 
 "  body;"  that  in  the  mean  time  they  are  faved 
 by  hope,    and  exercifed   in   prayer,    the  fpirit 
 helping  their  infirmities ;  and  though  the  things 
 hoped  for  are  not  feen  nor  even  conceived  by  the 
 heart  of  man,  yet  their  hope  of  them  is  fo  furc 
 and  ftedfaft,  that  they  can  wait  for  them  with 
 patience ;  and  though  the  anfwer  to  their  prayers 
 is  delayed,  and  prefent  appearances  are  fo  much 
 againft  them,  as  that'"  againft  hope  they  mufi 
 "  believe  in  hope,"  yet  loving  God  becaufe  He 
 firfl:  loved    them,   they  have  this   comfortable 
 affurance,  that  all  things  are  working  together 
 for  good    to   them ;    in  few  words  that   God 
 knows  them   well,  and  conforms  them  to  the 
 image  of  his  dear  Son,  who  is  the  effulgence  of 
 his  glory  and  the  character  of  his  fubftance,  -f 
 
 *  us  T73V  BXav&epiav  ms  ^o|yjS. 
 ■\  Heb.  i.  3*  Azsavyaaixa.  ms  So^/jy  xat  y^ocpaKTrip  rvii 
 vTCoarxoBOJi  avra — I  have  kept  as  clofely  to  the  original  words 
 as  I  could,  becaufe  they  are  moft  emphatical. — x°^pa.x.rr,q  fig- 
 nifies  the  reprefentation  of  a  thing  by  ''  impreflion,"  and  is 
 therefore  a  moft  emphatical  word,  fince  nothing  can  be  more 
 minutely  and  exactly  reprefented  than  by  it's  impreflion  on 
 wax  or  metal.  Juft  fo  is  the  divinity  reprefented  in  the  per- 
 fpn  of  "  God  manifeft  in  the  flefh.". 
 
 and 
 
THE    LOVE   OF    CHRIST,  3 1 
 
 and   that  this    being  their  deftiny,    they    are 
 **  called,  juftified,  glorified." 
 
 From  this  view  of  the  chriftian  ftate  the 
 Apoftle  is  led  to  exclaim,  **  what  fhall  we  fay 
 "  to  thefe  things  ?'*  They  may  be  every  where 
 fpoken  againft,  but  they  are  matters  of  fad:, 
 written  in  the  Bible,  and  realized  in  every  one 
 who  believes  the  Bible.  **  What  (hall  we  then. 
 "  fay  to  thefe  things  ?"  What  conclufions  fhall 
 we  draw  from  them  ?  "If  God  be  for  us  who 
 **  is  againft  us  ?'*  He  that  '*  fpared  not  his 
 '*  own  Son,  but  delivered  Him  up  for  us  all, 
 "  how  (hall  He  not  with  Him  alfo  freely  give 
 "  us  all  things  ?  Who  fhall  lay  any  thing  to 
 "  the  charge  of  God's  ele<5l  ?  It  is  God  that 
 **  juftifieth,  who  is  he  that  condemneth  ?  It  is 
 *'  Christ  that  died,  yea  rather  that  is  rifen 
 "  again ;  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
 "  who  alfo  maketh  interceflion  for  us.     Who 
 
 **    shall    separate    us     FROM     THE    LOVE    OF 
 
 **  Christ?  Tribulation,  or  diftrefs,  or naked- 
 **  nefs,  or  famine,  or  peril,  or  fwoid  ?  (as  it 
 "  is  written,  for  thy  fake  we  are  killed  all  the 
 **  day  long  ;  we  are  accounted  as  fheep  for  the 
 **  flaughter)  nay  in  all  thefe  things  we  are  more 
 **  than  conquerors  through  Him  that  loved  us. 
 "  For  I  am  perfuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor 
 "  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  pow- 
 "  ers,  nor  things  prefent,  nor  things  to  come, 
 
 **  nor 
 
3^  THE    LOVE   OP  CHRIST. 
 
 *'  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creji-' 
 "  ture,  fhall  be  able  to  feparate  us  from  the 
 "  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
 **  Lord. 
 
 "  Who  shall  separate  us  from  the 
 "  LOVE  of  Christ  ?'*  I  was  led  to  fpeak  upon 
 thefe  words  by  finding  them  fo  precious  to  our 
 dear  "Mother  in  Ifrael'*  now  departed,  upon 
 her  dying  day.  I  hope  never  to  forget  her  look^ 
 her  voice,  her  anfwer,  and  the  appearance  of 
 her  whole  frame,  when  God  put  them  into  my 
 mouth  to  fpeak  unto  her ;  her  pains  had  been 
 great  for  fome  days  and  nights  before,  and  her 
 cries  were  very  affecting  indeed ;  but  upon  the 
 mention  of  thefe  words,  and  during  the  recital 
 of  the  whole  palfage  w^iich  follows  them,  heir 
 cries  ceafed  and  her  pains  feemed  to  be  gone '; 
 her  Lord  fliewed  her,  that  the  decay  and  diflb- 
 lution  of  her  body  did  not  feparate  her  from  his 
 love;  and  enabled  her  to  fliew  us,  that  they  did 
 not  feparate  Him  from  her  love  ;  Christ  loved 
 her  and  fhe  loved  Christ,  and  there  appeared 
 to  be  a  perfect  union  between  them.  From  that 
 moment  I  fixed  upon  thefe  words,  in  cafe  I 
 fhould  be  called  upon  to  preach  her  funeral  fei*- 
 mon  ;  a  fermon  which  I  conceive  to  be  but  a 
 j  Lift  tribute  to  her  memory,  qonfidering  her  not 
 only  as  the  beft  friend  I  ever  had  in  my  life,  but 
 ■JLS  a  Mother  to  me  in  love,  in  every  good  office, 
 
 and 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  ;^^ 
 
 and  in  continual  prayers  for  my  perfon  and  mi- 
 niftry  ;  considering  her  as  the  common  friend 
 and  parent  of  the  church  of  God  in  this  place 
 committed  to  my  care ;  confidering  her  excellent 
 both  as  the  wife  and  widow  of  a  dear  Minifter 
 of  Christ,  whofe  memory  fhould  be  ever 
 blefled  among  you ;  and  efpecially  confidering 
 her  both  in  life  and  in  death  as  a  witnefs  for 
 *'  Jesus  Christ,  whom  we  preach,  warning 
 "  every  one,  and  teaching  every  one,  that  we  may 
 "  prefent  every  one  perfed:  in  Christ  Jesus."  * 
 May  the  Comforter  take  of  the  things  of 
 Jesus,  and  with  them  help  us  to  improve  this 
 vifitation ;  may  He  be  with  fpeaker  and  hearer 
 while  we  are  endeavouring  firfl:  to  explaiji  the 
 words  of  the  Text,  and  fecondly  to  fliew  how 
 they  were  verified  in  the  experience  of  that 
 valuable  woman,  whom  "  the  Lord  gave,  and 
 **  whom  the  Lord  hath  taken  away,"  and  for 
 both  which  ad:s  "  bleffed  be  the  name  of  the 
 **  Lord." 
 
 The  words  of  the  text  prefent  to  our  con- 
 fideration  the  "  love  of  Chrifl:"  a  wonderful 
 fubjed:  whicii  palTeth  knowledge  !  It  is  the 
 love  of  a  wonderful  perfon,  who  is  God  and 
 Man ;  and  tlierefore  it  is  the  love  of  God.  In 
 **  Christ  dwelleth  all  the  fullnefs  of  theGod- 
 *'  head  bodily  j"  -f  it  was  an  a(5t  of  the  Godhead 
 
 «  Col.  i.  28.  t  Col.  ii.  9. 
 
 D  to 
 
34  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 to  put  all  fullnefs  in  Him,  and  by  **  Him  to 
 *  *  reconcile  all  things  to  Himfelf,  whether  they 
 "  be  things  inearth  or  things  in  heaven;"* 
 fo  that  all  the  fullnefs  of  love,  with  which  the 
 Lord  God  hath  loved  the  children  of  men,  it 
 all  centers  in  Christ,  as  in  the  proper  objed: 
 and  proper  guardian  of  the  whole.  God  fpeaks 
 of  Him  as  a  Father  fpeaks  of  the  heir  of  his 
 cflate,  upon  whom  he  depends  for  the  fupport 
 and  continuance  of  his  family ;  "  He  hath  ap- 
 "  pointed  Him  heir  of  all  things,  of  whom  the 
 **  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is  named  ;" 
 He  is  continually  teftifying  of  Him  thou  art  my 
 Son,  **  this  day  have  I  begotten  Thee;"-^  as  if 
 He  was  beholding  Him  with  frefli  delight  as  an 
 anxious  parent  does  a  new  born  Son  and  heir ; 
 **  this  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well 
 **  pleafed."  As  He  is  the  obje(5t  of  his  Father's 
 love,  fo  is  He  the  proper  guardian  of  it,  and 
 keeps  it  for  all  his  children ;  here  is  their  fccu- 
 
 *  Col.  i.  19,  20. 
 
 f  Pfalm  ii.  7.  I  have  been  often  ftruck  with  the  applica- 
 tion of  this  paflage  A6is  xiii.  33.  to  "  the  refurredion  of 
 "  Christ,"  Hebrews  i.  5.  to  his  "  coming  into  the 
 "  world"  and  "  going  again  to  the  Father,"  and  Heb.  v.  5. 
 to  ^*  his  continual  priefthood  ;"  which  feems  as  much  as  to 
 tell  us,  that  upon  every  a6l  which  he  performs  for  the  falva- 
 tion  of  men,  God  looks  upoh  him  with  freih  delight,  as  a 
 Father  does  his  only  Son  and  Heir  whom  He  confi,ders  as  the 
 hope  of  his  family. 
 
 rityi 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  35 
 
 rity ;  **  in  them,  that  is  in  their  flefli,  there 
 •*  dvvelleth  no  good  thing,"  *  their  temptations 
 are  manifold,  their  corruptions  ftrong,  fin  has 
 the  force  of  a  law  in  their  members,  and  an 
 earthly  tabernacle  is  their  continual  burden  ;  but 
 their  **  hfe"  is  hid  "  with  Christ  in  God."f 
 and  the  love  wherewith  God  hath  loved  them, 
 and  the  grace  and  glory  wherewith  he  blefleth 
 them,  they  are  all  in  **  Christ  Jesus,  who  is 
 *'  the  fame  yeflerday,  and  to-day,  and  for 
 "  ever." 
 
 The  Apoflle  is  therefore  perfuaded,  that 
 nothing  "  fhall  feparate  us  from  the  love  of 
 **  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord." 
 When  our  Lord  fpeaks  of  this  love.  He  de- 
 fcribes  it  by  faying,  "  God  fo  loved  the  world, 
 "  that  He  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that 
 **  whofoever  believeth  in  him  fhould  not  perifh, 
 **  buthaveeverlaftinglife." J  God**  fo"  loved 
 the  world,  **  fo"  as  He  has  not  loved  another; 
 •*  the  angels  which  kept  not  their  firfl:  cftate, 
 **  but  left  their  own  habitation.  He  hath  re- 
 **  ferved  in  everlafting  chains,  under  darknefs, 
 *'  unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day  ;"§  but 
 **  for  us  men  and  for  our  falvation.  He  came 
 **  down  from  heaven."  He  doth  not  in  any 
 •*  manner  take  hold  of  angels,  but  he  taketh 
 
 *  Rom.  vii.  i8.  f  Col.  lii.  2. 
 
 t  John  iii.  16.  §  Jude  6. 
 
 D  cj  **  hold 
 
36  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 **  hold  of  the  feed  of  Abraham.*  Hereby 
 **  perceive  we  the  love  of  God,  becaufe  He 
 "  laid  down  his  life  for  us.  -f  In  this  was 
 "  manifefted  the  love  of  God  towards  us, 
 *'  becaufe  that  God  fent  his  only  begotten  Son 
 **  into  the  world,  that  we  might  live  through 
 **  Him.  Herein  is  love,  not  that  we  loved 
 "  God,  but  that  He  loved  us,  and  fent  his 
 *'  Son  the  propitiation  for  our  fins."  J  This 
 is  the  love  which  the  Apoftle  is  fpeaking  of  a 
 few  verfes  preceding  the  text,  **  He  that  fpared 
 **  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for 
 "  us  all,  how  (hall  He  not  with  Him  alfo  freely 
 **  give  us  all  things  ?  He  fpared  not  his  own 
 **  Son  ;'*  He  excufed  him  not  one  jot  or  tittle 
 of  what  the  juftice,  holinefs,  and  majefty  of 
 heaven  required  for  the  expiation  of  fin  and  the 
 fulfillment  of  righteoufnefs  :  He  delivered  him 
 up  to  **  Satan,"  that  he  might  tempt  him  ;  to 
 *'  men,"  that  they  might  crucify  Him ;  to  the 
 
 AC^aaM,  iTTi.'kafj.Qavsrixi. — Heb.  ii.  1 6.  The  Apoftle  fpeaks 
 in  this  verfe  not  of  "  the  nature"  which  Christ  affumed, 
 but  of  "  the  caufe"  which  He  undertook,  which  was  not  that 
 of  **  angels"  but  of  ''  men." 
 
 t   I  John  iii.  16. 
 X   I    John   iv.    9 J   10.       Tov  qov   avTH    iXaff/xov— *'   «vai" 
 <*  to  be"  is  not  the  original,  and  it  has  no  bufinefs  in  the 
 tranflation. — He  fent  his  Son  what  He  ever  had  been,  ever  is, 
 and  ever  will  be  tfie  "  Propitiation  for  our  fins." 
 
 "  judge,'* 
 
 » 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  3y 
 
 **  judge,"  the  "  officer,"  the  **  prifon,"  that 
 the  law  might  be  in  full  force  and  take  it*s  free 
 courfe  againft  Him  ;  and  though  **  being  in  an 
 **  agony,  He  prayed  earneftly,  and  his  fweat 
 **  was  as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood  falling  to 
 "  the  ground,"*  though  He  '*  offered  up 
 "  prayers  and  fupplications  with  ftrong  crying 
 •*  and  tears  unto  him  that  was  able  to  fave  Him 
 "  from  death," -f  yet  the  Father's  hand  was 
 upon  Him,  till  He  had  born  all  the  wrath  of 
 Jehovah,  and  all  the  fins  of  his  children  ; — 
 then  and  not  till  then  He  is  fpared,  **  bows  his 
 "  head"  and  **  gives  up  the  ghoft." 
 
 In  this  wonderful  tranfadion,  I  know  not 
 whether  to  admire  moft  the  ftern  juftice  of  the 
 *'  Father,"  the  patient  obedience  of  **  the  Son," 
 the  perfevering  fupport  of  **  the  Spirit,"  or  the 
 whole  Godhead  uniting  to  make  an  end  of  fin, 
 to  bring  in  an  everlafling  righteoufnefs,  and  to 
 obtain  for  all  believers  an  eternal  falvation  : — 
 *'  God  is  love."  But  we  obferved  of  this  love, 
 that  it  is  the  love  of  **  God"  and  '*  man"  in 
 **  one  Christ  j"  and  if  we  confine  our  views 
 to  the  fingle  perfon  of  **  Christ,"  we  have  an 
 inftance  of  love,  of  which  there  is  no  other  ex- 
 ample ;  the  Apoftle  defcribes  it  in  the  verfe  pre- 
 ceding that  of  the  text,  when  he  fays,  **  it  is 
 **  Christ  that  died."     Now  what  is  death  ?  It 
 
 *  Ivuke  xxii.  44.  -f  Heb,  v.  7, 
 
 D  3  is 
 
jS  THE   LOVE   OF   CHRIST. 
 
 is  **  the  wages  of  fin."  How  came  it  into  the 
 world  ?  **  Sin  entered  into  the  world  and  death 
 **  by  lin."*  And  what  was  the  death  of 
 Christ  ?  It  was  the  **  death  of  the  Crofs" — 
 the  bittereft  death  that  ever  was  tailed — a  com- 
 plication of  horrors — the  whole  piinifhment  not 
 of  **  one  offence"  but  of  "  many;"  not  of  "  one 
 **  offender,"  but  of  millions,  redeemed  unto 
 God  by  his  blood,  who  without  fuch  an  atone- 
 ment muft  have  *'  fuffered  the  vengeance  of 
 **  eternal  fire.  He  is  the  good  fhepherd,  and 
 "  layeth  down  his  life  for  the  fheep ;  -f  He 
 feeth  the  **  wolf  coming,"  puts  himfelf  between 
 the  fheep  and  the  deflroyer,  and  fuflains  in  his 
 own  perfon  the  whole  fhock  of  the  enemy. — 
 **  Greafer  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a 
 •'  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends,  J — but 
 •'  God  commendeth  his  love  towards  us,  in 
 **  that,  while  we  were  yet  finners,  Chrifl  died 
 "  for  us,  for  when  we  were  yet  without 
 **  ftrength,  in  due  time  Chrifl  died  for  the  un- 
 **  godly.'*  II  And  who  is  it,  that  died  this 
 death  ?  that  died  for  finners  the  death  of  a  fin- 
 ner  ?  It  is  Christ — "  the  anointed  of  God, 
 "  his  fervant  whom  He  hath  chofen,  his  eledt 
 "  in  whom  his  foul  dehghteth,  § — his  beloved 
 **  Son  in  whoin  He  is  well  pleafed, — the  only 
 
 *  Rom.  V.  12.  +  John  x.  %  John  xv.  13. 
 
 II  Rom.  V.  §  Ifaiah  xlii.  i. 
 
 **  begotten 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  39 
 
 *'  begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace  and 
 **  truth  ;'*  eternally  exifting  in  the  **  bofom  of 
 **  the  Father"  in  perfect  union  and  equality. 
 Lay  thefe  things  together,  "  conlider  how  great 
 *•  this  man  was,"  who  being  in  the  form  of 
 God,  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with 
 God  !  Confider  how  low  He  was  when  **  He 
 **  became  obedient  unto  death,  and  that  the 
 **  death  of  the  crofs  !"  Confider  the  perfons 
 for  whom  He  fuffered  fuch  things,  that  they 
 were  "  without  ftrength,  ungodly,  finners  !" 
 and  what  manner  of  love  does  the  Apoftle 
 fpeak  of,  when  He  fays,  *'  It  is  Christ  that 
 **  died  ?"  it  is  "  love  which  pafleth  know- 
 "  ledge!" 
 
 The  text  fpeaks  of  this  love  as  permanent  and 
 perpetual.  **  Who  fhall  feparate  us  from  the 
 **  love  of  Christ  ?"  Neither  the  glory  of  it*s 
 author,  nor  the  meannefs  of  it's  objedls :  It  is 
 the  love  of  Jehovah,  and  therefore  not  change- 
 able, like  that  of  the  creature,  but  like  **  Him- 
 **  felf,  without  variablcnefs  or  fhadow  of  turn- 
 **  ing;" — It  is  all  in  *'  Christ  Jesus,  the 
 "  holy  One  and  the  juft,"  whom  God  muft 
 love  for  ever.  His  propofal  was  great,  **  Lo  I 
 "  come  to  do  thy  will,  O  God:"*  his  life, 
 death,  and  refurredlion  upon  earth,  and  his 
 continual  interceflion  in  heaven,  have  been  one 
 
 *  Pfalm  xl.  6,  7,  8,  compared  with  Hebrews  x.  5. 
 
 D  4  uniform 
 
4©  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 uniform  profecution  of  this  great  defign : — and 
 to  what  did  this  defign  expofe  Him  ?  The  ob- 
 je(5ts  whofe  caufe  he  undertook,  were  "  fin- 
 **  ners — He  is  made  fin*' — they  were  **  under  a 
 "  curfe — He  is  made  a  curfe  for  them" — Tliey 
 were  **  appointed  to  die — He  is  guilty  of  death" 
 — So  that  the  wretchednefs  of  the  objects  did 
 not  feparate  them  from  his  love;  not  **  their 
 **  griefs,"  for  **  He  bore  them" — not  "  their 
 *•  forrows,"  for  **  He  carried  them" — not  the 
 pains,  penalties,  and  death  they  had  incurred  by 
 fin,  for  He  was  furety  for  the  payment  of  all.  * 
 And  as  our  meannefs  does  not  feparate  us  from 
 his  love,  fo  neither  does  his  great  glory. 
 
 It  is  the  creed  of  the  world,  and  it  paffes 
 often  for  philofophy  and  fcience,  that  if  there 
 be  fuch  a  being  as  God,  He  muft  be  too  high 
 to  obferve  the  children  of  men  ;  "  tufh  thou, 
 **  God  careft  not  for  it ;  is  there  knowledge 
 with  the  Mofl:  High  ?"  This  is  a  fine  opiate  to 
 lull  the  confcience  and  to  produce  eafe  and  fecu- 
 rity  in  the  love  and  prad:ice  of  fin  :  but  thefe 
 are  human  and  therefore  falfe  conceptions  of  the 
 **  only  Lord  God  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
 "**  ■ — though  he  hath  his  dwelling  fo  high,  yet 
 **  He  humbleth  himfelf  to  behold  the  things 
 **  that  are  in  heaven  and  earth" — though  He  is 
 •'  ever  at  the  right  hand  of  God,"   He  "  ever 
 
 *  Ifaiah  liii. 
 
 ^*  liveth 
 
THE    LOVE   OF    CHRIST.  4I 
 
 "  liveth  to  make  interceflion  for  us" — though 
 he  hath  a  **  Name  which  is  above  every  name," 
 yet  in  conformity  to  the  Name  He  bears,  He  is 
 continually  "  faving  his  people  from  their  fins 
 **  — He  came  forth  from  the  Father,  and  came 
 "  into  the  world"  to  do  this — **  He  left  the 
 "  world  and  went   unto  the  Father"  to  do  the 
 fame,  and  his  one  bufinefs  in  his  prefent  ex- 
 alted ftate  is  to  plead  the  caufe  of  (inners,  who 
 go  to  Him  for  falvation  ;  to  fupply  their  wants, 
 to  flrengthen  their  weaknefTes,  to  comfort  their 
 forrows,  to  provide  for  them  grace  in  earth  and 
 glory  in  heaven,  and  to  bring  them  one  by  one, 
 through  their  manifold  temptations,    to  **  the 
 **  kingdom  prepared  for  them  from  the  foun- 
 **  dation  of  the  world. — Who  fhall  feparate  us 
 **  from  the  love  of  Christ  ?"     Should  any  one 
 alk  (and  a  more  important  queftion  cannot  be 
 propofed)  how  fhall  I  know  that  Christ  hath 
 loved  me  ?  I  would  anfwer,   that  the  great  deci- 
 live  and  fufficient  proof  of  his  love  of  Thee  is 
 thy  love  of  Him.     "  We  love  Him  becaufe  He 
 **  iirft  loved  us  ;**  this  is  the  religion  and  ex- 
 perience of  Chriftians. — They  have*'  beencon- 
 **  vinced  of    fin,**   they    have  **    believed   the 
 **  record  which  God  hath  given  of  his   Son," 
 they  have  fled  for  refuge  to   Him,  as    to  the 
 Saviour  of  finners,  they  have  found  Him  **  pre- 
 ♦*  cious,"  and  have  been  enabled  to  comprehend, 
 
 as 
 
4^  THE   LOVE   OF    CHRIST. 
 
 as  far  as  is  neceflary  for  their  peace  and  com- 
 fort, the  **  height,  depth,  length,  breadth,  and 
 •*  to  know  the  love  of  Christ  which  pafTeth 
 •*  knowledge."  When  we  fpeak  therefore  of 
 the  **  love  of  Christ,"  we  fpeak  of  His  love 
 to  us,  and  our  love  to  Him,  the  one  being  the 
 neceflary  confequence  of  the  other  ;  and  here  is 
 the  great  line  of  diftincStion,  which  feparates  the 
 **  children  of  God"  and  the  **  children  of  the 
 *'  wicked  one,"  a  line  drawn  by  the  pen  of 
 Jehovah,  and  never  to  be  erafed  from  the  word 
 given  by  his  infpiration,  *'  if  any  man  love  not 
 **  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  Ana- 
 "  thema  Maranatha,"  *  and  **  grace  be  with  all 
 •*  them  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in 
 **  fincerity."-f 
 
 It  is  one  of  thefe  fincere  lovers  of  the  **  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,"  whofe  lofs  we  are  lamenting, 
 and  whofe  life  and  death  we  wifh  to  exhibit, 
 not  with  a  view  to  canonize  her,  but  to  mag- 
 nify **  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 
 which  was  fo  eminently  with  her. — She  had 
 proofs  fufficient  of  the  love  of  Christ,  **  Who 
 **  gave  Himfelf  for  her  fms,  that  He  might 
 **  deliver  her  from  this  prefent  evil  world,  ac- 
 "  cording  to  the  will  of  God  and  our  Father." 
 — He  called  her  by  his  grace — He  chofe  her  out 
 of  the  world — He  turned  her  from  idols  and 
 
 *  I  Cor.  xvi.  22,  t  Ephef.  vi.  24. 
 
 vanities 
 
THE   LOVE   OF   CHRIST.  43 
 
 vanities  to  ferve  the  living  and  the  true  Goo- 
 He  united  her  to  a  minifter  of  his  own — He 
 made  her  an  help-meet  to  him  as  an  afFedlion- 
 ate  wife,  and  after  his  deceafe  He  made  her 
 inftrumental  as  his  widow  to  carry  on  the  work 
 in  this  place,  which  he,  under  God,  had  begun. 
 This  love  of  Christ  was  deeply  imprefled 
 upon  her  heart,  it  appeared  to  be  the  ruling 
 principle  of  her  condudt,  it  **  conftrained"  her, 
 as  the  Apoftle  beautifully  expreffes  it,  that  is, 
 it  kept  entire  polfeflion  of  her,  and  led  her  "  to 
 **  judge,  that  if  Christ  died  that  fhe  might 
 "  live,  flie  ought  to  live  a  life,  fo  dearly  pur- 
 **  chafed,  and  fo  freely  given,  not  to  herfelf, 
 **  but  to  Him  that  died  for  her  and  rofe 
 "  again.'*  * 
 
 Her  charadler,  as  far  as  it  has  fallen  under 
 my  notice,  is  ready  drawn  to  my  hand — 
 **  Honour  widows  that  are  widows  indeed. 
 **  Now  fhe  that  is  a  widow  indeed,  and  defo- 
 "  late,  trufteth  in  God,  and  continueth  in 
 "  fupplications  and  prayers  night  and  day/'-f* 
 Here  is  her  cliara(5ter  : — the  fituation,  in  which 
 I  was  firft  acquainted  with  her,  was  that  of  **  a 
 **  widow  indeed  and  defolate" — but  (he  "  trufted 
 "  in  God,"  and  **  continued  in  prayer.'*  I 
 have  been  told  by  the  perfon,  who  carried  to 
 her  the  account  of  her  hulband's  ftate,  when 
 
 *  2  Cor.  V.  i4>  15.  i  I  Tim.  v.  3,  5. 
 
 there 
 
44  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 there  were  no  hopes  of  his  recovery,  of  the 
 great  grace  which  was  then  upon  her  j — ^fhe  re- 
 ceived the  meflage,  and  defired  the  meflenger 
 to  leave  her  for  that  night,  and  return  to  her 
 again  in  the  morning,  and  that  then  fhe  would 
 tell  her  the  reafon  of  this  hally  difmiflion; — 
 her  friend  left  her  and  returned  accordingly, 
 and  was  told  by  her,  that  her  grief  was  too  great 
 for  utterance,  that  the  Lord  only  could  fuftain 
 her  burden, — to  Him  flie  made  her  fupplication, 
 and  He  comforted  and  fupported  her,  and  now 
 fhe  was  ready  to  give  up  unto  the  Lord  her 
 hufband  and  her  all  j  and  I  believe  from  that 
 time  to  the  day  of  her  death,  fhe  knew  much 
 of  that  "  perfed:  peace,  in  which  they  are  kept 
 **  whofe  minds  are  ftayed  on  Jehovah,"  and 
 could  fay  with  the  Prophet,  **  trufl  ye  in  the 
 **  Lord  for  ever,  for  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is 
 **  everlafting  ftrength."*  But  fhe  was  a 
 "  widow  indeed  and  defolate,"  not  only  as  fhe 
 had  loft  a  hufband,  but  as  the  Church  wliich 
 fhe  loved,  had  loft  a  **  Paftor" — here  was  defo- 
 lation  indeed,  but  fhe  trufled  in  God,  and  con- 
 tinued in  fupplications  and  prayers  night  and 
 day ;  appearances  were  againft  her,  but  fhe 
 believed — fhe  prayed  for  what  fhe  believed  God 
 was  able  to  perform, — ^fhe  waited  God's  time 
 for  the  performance  of  what  fhe  prayed  for  ;-— 
 
 *  Ifaiah  xxvi.  4. 
 
 and, 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  45 
 
 and,  my  brethren,  is  the  Lord*s  work  revived 
 in  this  place  ?  are  my  labours  owned  and  ap- 
 proved among  you?  Be  fure  to  give  all  the  glory 
 to  God  alone,  but  be  fure  alfo  to  remember, 
 that  among  other  means  employed  for  the  efta- 
 blifhment-of  this  miniftry  were  her  light  fhining 
 before  me,  and  her  prayers  poured  forth  in  fecret 
 before  the  throne  of  grace : — The  love  of  Christ 
 conftrained  her  to  take  this  kind  and  ad:ive  part 
 for  you  and  me,  and  qualified  her  to  be  a 
 Mother  in  Ifrael : — her  long  experience  made 
 her  wife  in  the  things  of  God,  by  which  fhe 
 could  warn  the  unruly,  comfort  the  feeble- 
 minded, fupport  the  weak,  and  teach  the  ig- 
 norant with  a  fweetnefs  of  temper  and  meeknefs 
 of  fpirit  quite  peculiar  to  herfelf. 
 
 To  proceed  in  the  Apoftle's  language,  "  fhc 
 **  may  be  well  reported  of  for  good  works  ; 
 **  file  hath  wafhed  the  faints  feet,  fhe  hath  re- 
 "  lieved  the  afflided,  fhe  hath  diligently  fol- 
 "  lowed  every  good  work,"*  that  is,  fhe  loved 
 the  image  of  God,  and  thought  no  office  too 
 mean,  by  which  fhe  could  ferve  his  children ; 
 — her  houfe  was  the  houfe  of  prayer,  and  open 
 to  all  the  lovers  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ — 
 her  foul  was  liberal  and  her  charities  large,  not 
 confined  to  this  place,  but  extended  to  places 
 where   flie   had  lived   before,    nor   were   they 
 
 *  J  Tim.  V.  10. 
 
 limited 
 
46  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 limited  to  objedis  which  we  ufually  term  poor, 
 but  difpenfed  to  others,  who  are  often  much 
 greater  objedls,  and  who  can  be  reheved  only 
 by  greater  fums  : — Sums  of  this  fort  have  been 
 put  by  her  into  my  hands  for  the  rehef  of  thofe, 
 who  are  not  fufpedled  of  indigence ;    more,    I 
 believe,  have  pafTed  through  the  hands  of  others, 
 and    confidering  her  circumftances,   they   were 
 really  furprizing.     It  ought  not  to  efcape  notice 
 (and  I  hope  it  may  be  an  ufeful  remark  in  this 
 age  of  extravagance)  that  fhe  was  juft  as   well 
 as  generous, -T-moft  fcrupuloufly  exadt  in  her 
 accounts    and   payments, — particularly   careful 
 to  owe  no  man  any  thing  but  love,  and  to  pay 
 this   debt  as  punctually   as  every  other.     She 
 was   affectionately  inclined  to  her  neighbours, 
 high,  low,   rich,  and  poor, — to  her  fervants  fhe 
 was  a  mother  as  well  as  a   miftrefs,  but  ma- 
 naged her  kindnelTes  fo  as   to  beget  by  them  no 
 indecent  familiarity,  but  the  moft  grateful  fubjec- 
 tion  ; — to  her  relations  fhe  was  kind,  affed:ion- 
 ate,  refpeCtful ;  fhe  loved  them  with  the  love 
 of  Christ,  and  mentioned  them  in  her  prayers 
 day  by  day  :  her  prayers  have  been  anfwered  in 
 this  inftance,  as  well  as  in  many  others,  and 
 God   grant,  that  her  furviving  relations,  who 
 lament  her  lofs,  and  love  her  memory,  may  be 
 related  to  her  in  Christ,  and  then  they  fhall 
 live  with  her  for  evermore. 
 
 She 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  4y 
 
 She  was  "  zealous  of  good  works,"  but  with 
 **  a  zeal  according  to  knowledge  ;**  {he  was  not 
 **  fo  ignorant  of  God's  righteoufnefs  as  to  go 
 **  about  to  eftablifh  her  own.  * — She  had  no 
 **  confidence  in  the  flefh,"  (he  never  mentioned 
 any  good  work  (he  had  done,  fhe  never  fpoke  of 
 herfelf  but  as  of  a  poor  worthlefs  dying  (inner. 
 I  hardly  ever  faw  her,  but  (he  complained  of 
 the  corruptions  of  her  heart,  and  the  evil  of  her 
 nature,  though  (he  had  the  art  and  power  of 
 concealing  them  even  from  thofe  who  were  con- 
 ftantly  about  her  ;  but  it  often  happens,  I  believe, 
 that  where  there  is  the  moft  fhining  holine(s 
 without,  there  are  the  (harpeft  confli(5i:s  within. 
 However,  (he  had  corruptions  enough  to  remind 
 her  that  fhe  was  a  (inner,  and  bodily  infirmities 
 enough  to  remind  her  that  (he  was  a  dying  fin- 
 ner,  and  therefore  her  only  hope  was  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  fo,  that  to  ufe  the  language  of 
 one  of  our  excellent  Homilies,  (he  "  acknow- 
 **  ledged  no  other  Saviour,  Redeemer,  Media- 
 "  tor.  Advocate,  Interce(ror,"  but  **  Christ 
 "  only:'*-f — this     was    her    acknowledgment 
 
 *  See  Romans  x.  2,  3. — Much  is  faid  about  zeal  without 
 knowledge,  I  wiih  that  all  who  take  up  this  expreflion  as  a 
 proverb  of  rej^roach,  would  read  the  tenth  chapter  of  the 
 Epiftle  to  the  Romans,  where  it  occurs  and  is  explained. 
 
 t  Second  Book  of  Homilies,  firft  Sermon  on  the  Sacra- 
 ment. 
 
 living 
 
48  TH£    love    of    CHRIST. 
 
 living  and  dying — "  Christ's  righteoufnefs— 
 **  Christ's  death — Christ's  life" — were  the 
 whole  of  her  dependence >  and  "  Christ's 
 *'  glory"  was  the  whole  of  her  exped:ation. 
 Her  growth  in  grace  might  be  judged  of  by  her 
 growth  in  humility,  fhe  appeared  every  time 
 one  faw  her  more  empty  of  herfelf  and  more 
 full  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 I  remember  her  converfation  the  very  day  on 
 which  fhe  was  feized  with  her  lafl  illnefs ;  flie 
 complained,  as  fhe  had  done  for  months  before, 
 of  heavinefs,  dullnefs,  deadnefs,  and  plain  fymp- 
 toms  of  decay,  and  told  me  that  fhe  could  not 
 afk  me  to  pray  with  her,  as  ufual,  (for  we  ge- 
 nerally prayed  together  when  we  met)  fuch 
 being  her  ftate,  that  fhe  could  neither  fpeak, 
 think,  nor  pray ;  and  what,  fays  fhe,  muft  I 
 do  in  this  cafe  ?  I  told  her  fhe  muft  leave  it  to 
 Jesus  to  fpeak,  think,  and  pray  for  her :  fhe 
 clapped  her  hands,  and  faid,  *'  this  Jesus  is  all 
 **  in  all."  She  foon  after  found  herfelf  in  pain 
 from  head  to  foot,  and  took  to  her  bed,  from 
 which  fhe  was  never  removed,  except  for  a  few 
 minutes,  till  fhe  was  put  into  her  coffin.  For 
 the  firfl  part  of  her  illnefs,  while  the  fever 
 lafled,  fhe  was  almoft  in  a  conftant  ftupor  and 
 delirium,  but  fhe  had  then  intervals  of  fenfe, 
 and  that  fenfe  was  exercifed  upon  Jesus 
 Christ  :  when  her  fever  left  her,  her  fenfes 
 
 returned. 
 
THE    LOVE    OF   CHRIST,  49 
 
 returned,  and  continued  to  the  moment  of  her 
 departure :  I  then  vifited  her  twice  and  three 
 times  in  a  day,  and  could  not  but  admire  in  her 
 dying  experience — firft,  her  *'  love  of  the 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  fecondly,  her  firm  be- 
 lief in  the  "  everblefled  and  adorable  Trinity," 
 thirdly,  her  *'  love  of  her  neighbour,"  which 
 is  infeparable  from  the  '*  love  of  God,"  and 
 fourthly,  what  is  equally  infeparable  from  the 
 Love  of  God,  her  "  love  of  the  Bible."  I  will 
 juft  produce  a  fpecimen  of  each  of  thefe  traits 
 in  her  character,  and  then  condud:  you  to  the 
 clofing  fcene  of  her  exiftence  amongft  us. 
 
 What  we  are  firft  to  admire  in  her  dying  ex- 
 perience, is  the  love  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
 in  this  fhe  was  conftant  and  uniform;  upon 
 every  day,  and  upon  the  day  of  her  death,  fhe 
 declared,  that  fhe  had  no  other  refuge,  that  fhe 
 defired  no  other,  that  fhe  was  fatisfied  with  Jesus 
 Christ,  and  that  there  was  all  fufficiency  to 
 fave  her  as  a  finner  in  Him  alone.  She  had  a 
 remarkable  way  of  expreffing  herfelf  upon  this 
 fubjedt :  She  told  me  often,  as  fhe  lay  upon  her 
 bed,  that  fhe  felt,  as  though  all  behind  her  head 
 were  darknefs  and  forrow,  and  all  before  her 
 face  light  and  gladnefs  ; — by  which  flie  meant 
 that  as  to  her  own  works,  they  were  nothing, 
 and  that  aS  to  what  Christ  had  done  for  her, 
 though  it  was  great  and  a  matter  of  perpetual 
 JE  thankful- 
 
50  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 thankfulnefs,  yet  it  was  little  in  comparifon  to 
 what  He  was  fhewing  her  now  ;  and  that  what 
 He  was  fhewing  her  now  was  little  in  compari- 
 fon to  what  He  would  fhew  her  hereafter,  when 
 fhe  fhould  be  with  Him  in  glory.     When  fhe 
 had  been  talking  in  this   ftrain,  I  produced  to 
 her  the  Apoftle's  experience  as   it  is  recorded  in 
 the  third  chapter  of  his  Epiftle  to  the  Philip- 
 pians,  where  he  defcribes  himfelf  as  **  counting 
 **  all    things    lofs   for   the   excellency   of   the 
 **  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  his  Lord  :  for 
 "  whom  he  had  fuffered  the  lofs  of  all  things 
 **  and  counted  them  offals,    refufe,  filth"*  to 
 be  thrown  away,  that  he  might  *•  win  Christ, 
 **  and  be  found  in  Him,  not  having  his  own 
 **  righteoufnefs  which  is  of  the  law,  but  the 
 *'  righteoufnefs  which  is  through  the  faith  of 
 "  Christ,  the  righteoufnefs  which  is  of  God  by 
 "  faith.'*     I  repeated  to  her  the  whole  chapter, 
 and  particularly  that  part,  where  the   Apoftle 
 fpeaks  of  "  leaving  the  things  which  are  be- 
 **  hind,  and  reaching  forth  to  thofe  that  are 
 **  before,  and  prefling  toward  the  mark  for  the 
 "  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ 
 "  Jesus.**      This,   fhe   faid,  was   exadlly   ex- 
 prefTive  of  her  feelings  :  fhe  defired  nothing  but 
 Jesus  Christ,  and  what  **  God  according  to 
 *•  his  own  purpofe  and  grace  had  given  her  in 
 
 **  Him." 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  5I 
 
 "  Him."*     speaking    of   the   will    of    God 
 giving  all  things  to  Jesus  Christ,  fhe  was  led 
 to  contemplate  the  council  which  fat  in  heaven, 
 confifting  of  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost, 
 — the  determinations    of  that    council,    which 
 were  confirmed  by  an  "  oath,"  and  then  revealed 
 to   us   as   the  council   and   oath   of  Jehovah, 
 "  that  by  two  immutable  things,  in  which  it 
 "  was  impoflible  for   God  to   lie,    we  might 
 **  have  ftrong  confolation  who  have   fled  for 
 **  refuge  to  lay  hold  upon  the  hope  fet  before 
 **  us."-f     She  had   fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold 
 upon  the  *'  hope  fet  before  her,"  and  appeared 
 to  have  **  flirong  confolation"  refulting  from  the 
 very  clear  and  experimental   views  which  (he 
 had  of  "  the  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven."  J 
 The  words  Father,  Son  and  Holy   Ghost, 
 were   frequently  in  her  mouth   for  fome  days 
 and  nights  together,  with  a  moft  fweet  favour 
 and  undtion ;  fhe  generally  fpoke  of  God  in  thefe 
 words,  and   often  lamented  to  me,  how  much 
 her  heart  had  been  taken  up  with  the  trifles  of 
 this  life,  and   how  little  it  had  been  fixed  upon 
 God,   efpecially  fuch  a  God   as  Father,  Son 
 and   Holy  Ghost  ;  flie  admired  each  perfon, 
 each   name,  each  chara6ter,  each  office  of  the 
 ever  blefled   Three,  whom  flie    believed  to  be 
 one  EfTence  eternally  exifting,  and  to  whom  flie 
 
 *  2  Tim.  i.  9.        t  Hebrews  vi.  18.         %   i  John  v.  7. 
 
 E   7,  looked 
 
5^  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 fooked  as  her  ftrength,   her  hope,   her  portion, 
 in  life,  in  death,  and  for  ever. 
 
 As  (he  **  loved  God,"  fo  "  fhe  loved  her 
 **  brother  alfb;'*  another  thing  much  to  be  ad- 
 mired in  her  experience.  I  hardly  ever  vifited 
 her,  but  fhe  enquired  after  her  neighbours, 
 high,  low,  rich  and  poor;  fhe  defired  me  to 
 affure  them,  that  they  had  her  befl  wifhes,  and 
 to  tell  them,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  way  to 
 heaven  :  fpeaking  of  one,  with  whom  fhe  had 
 lived  in  particular  habits  of  intimacy,  tell  her, 
 fays  fhe,  for  my  fake  to  go  to  Jesus  Christ  for 
 falvation. — She  was  moft  affediionately  inclined 
 to  the  **  houfehold  of  faith,'*  and  efpecially  to 
 .  that  church,  of  which  fhe  was  a  moft  ufeful 
 member  and  a  mofl  conflant  friend.  She  fpoke 
 much  and  oft  of  the  people,  who  heard  there 
 and  believed ; — fhe  exprelTed  many  wifhes  that 
 they  might  all  furround  her  dying  bed,  and, 
 hear  from  her  own  mouth,  what  great  things 
 God  had  done  for  her  foul ;  and  I  could  fup- 
 prefs  fuch  wifhes  only  by  afTuring  her,  that  I 
 would  tell  them  how  much  fhe  had  them  in  her 
 heart,  and  how  fhe  mentioned  them  in  her 
 prayers  night  and  day.  The  fervices  of  thofe, 
 who  miniftered  to  her  during  her  illnefs,  were 
 mofl  gratefully  acknowledged  by  her ;  fhe  faw 
 the  goodnefs  of  God  in  the  fidelity  of  her  do- 
 meflick  fervants,    and  in  the  attention  of  her 
 
 medical 
 
THE    LOVE   OF    CHRIST.  53 
 
 medical  vifitors  ; — fhe  expreffed  her  thankful- 
 nefs  for  every  attempt  which  was  made  to  re- 
 lieve her,  however  inefFedtual,  and  though  in 
 conftant  pain,  never  difcovered  ought  of  peevifh- 
 nefs,  fretfulnefs  or  murmuring.  In  patience 
 fhe  polTefTed  her  foul,  and  waited  for  her  dif- 
 miflion  from  a  corruptible  body  :  in  few  words, 
 and  thofe  the  words  of  our  church,  **  fhe  had  a 
 **  lively  faith  in  God's  mercy  through  Christ, 
 **  with  a  thankful  remembrance  of  his  death, 
 **  and  was  in  charity  with  all  men." 
 
 The  ferenity  of  her  mind  and  the  folidity 
 of  her  godlinefs  I  mufl  afcribe  to  her  love  of 
 the  B,iBLE,  another  thing  much  to  be  admired 
 in  her  experience :  this  was  her  book.  For 
 fome  years  paft  of  her  life,  no  day  had  elapfed, 
 but  fome  portion  of  it  had  been  her  fludy,  and 
 **  the  fame  was  her  comfort  in  her  affliction."  * 
 She  defired  me  to  vifit  her  every  morning,  that 
 I  might  read  or  repeat  to  her  fome  palfage  or 
 chapter,  upon  which  fhe  might  live  for  the  day, 
 and  fhe  gave  me  frefh  proofs  upon  every  vifit, 
 how  much  "  fhe  tafled  the  good  word  of  God 
 **  and  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come.""f 
 She  wifhed  to  have  all  her  experience  brought 
 **  to  the  law  and  to  the  teflimony,"  and  begged 
 me  to  tell  her  freely,  if  I  difcemed  any  thing 
 wrong  in  her ;  fhe  was  humble  and  teachable  to 
 
 »  Pfalm  cxix.  50.  f  Hebrews  vi.  5. 
 
 E   3  her 
 
54  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 her  dying  moment,  always  thought  foberly  of 
 herfelf,  and,  like  Mary  of  old,  fat  at  "  Jesus*s 
 **  feet  and  heard  his  word."  * 
 
 She  repeated  to  me  again  and  again,  how  to- 
 tally deftitute  fhe  was  in  herfelf,  and  how 
 needful  fbe  found  it  to  look  out  of  herfelf  into 
 the  **  written  word,  againft  hope  to  believe  in 
 "  hope,  and  to  be  fully  perfuaded,  that  what 
 "  God  had  promifed  He  was  able  alfo  to  per- 
 "  form."  -f  She  complained  to  me  one  morning 
 how  unfettled  fhe  felt  herfelf,  and  how  forely 
 fhe  had  been  tried  by  the  enemy  all  the  night 
 through :  I  referred  her  to  what  the  Lord 
 God  faith,  Ifaiah  xxviii.  i6. — "  Behold,  ^I  lay 
 **  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  a  flone,  a  tried  flone, 
 **  a  precious  corner  ftone,  a  fure  foundation :" 
 this  fhe  faid  was  enough,  here  fhe  could  fettle, 
 and  reft  that  day  and  for  ever.  She  complained 
 at  another  time  of  much  deadnefs  of  foul,  and 
 ■feemed  to  be  groaning,  in  common  with  all 
 God's  children,  in  '*  this  earthly  tabernacle." 
 I  repeated  to  her  from  Col.  iii.  i.  **  If  ye  then 
 *'  be  rifen  with  Christ,  feek  thofe  things 
 **  which  are  above,  where  Christ  fitteth  on 
 •'  the  right  hand  of  God.  Set  your  affedions 
 "  on  things  above,  and  not  on  things  of  the 
 **  earth.  For  ye  are  dead,  and  your  life  is  hid 
 **  with  Christ  in  God."     She  took  me  up, 
 
 *  Lukex.  3,9.  t  Rom.  iv.  18,  21. 
 
 and 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  55 
 
 and,  with  a  fweet  fmile  upon  her  countenance, 
 went  on  with  the  Apoftle,  *'  when  Christ, 
 **  our  hfe,  (hall  appear,  then  fhall  ye  alfo  ap- 
 **  pear  with  him  in  glory.'*  Thefe  words 
 appeared  to  be  much  upon  her  heart,  and  were 
 frequently  in  her  mouth  to  her  dying  day. 
 
 It  would  be  endlefs  to  recount  the  various 
 Scriptures,  from  which  {he  derived  hope  and 
 confolation :  with  what  rapture  would  fhe  hear 
 and  repeat,  **  there  is  none  like  unto  the  God 
 of  Jefhurun,  who  rideth  upon  the  heaven  for 
 thy  help  and  in  his  excellency  on  the  fky. 
 The  eternal  God  is  thy  refuge,  and  under- 
 neath are  the  everlafting  arms,  &c."  !  *  With 
 what  joy  would  fhe  fpeak  of  *'  coming  unto 
 mount  Zion,  and  unto  the  city  of  the  living 
 God,  the  heavenly  Jerufalem,  and  to  an  in- 
 numerable company  of  angels,  to  the  general 
 aflembly  and  church  of  the  firft  born  which 
 are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the  judge 
 of  all,  and  to  the  fpirits  of  juft  men 
 made  perfe(5t,  and  to  Jesus  the.  Mediator  of 
 the  new  Covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of 
 fprinkling,  which  fpeaketh  better  things  than 
 that  of  Abel!"f  With  what  ferioufnefs 
 would  (he  lament  how  little  fhe  knew  of  the 
 **  Scriptures!"  and  with  what  earncflnefs 
 would  fhe  recommend  them   to  all,  who  were 
 
 *  Deut.  xxxiii.  26.  t  Hebrews  xii.  22. 
 
 5  4  about 
 
$6  THE   LOVE   OF   CHRIST. 
 
 about  her,  as  "  being  able  to  make  them  wife 
 "  unto  falvation  through  faith  which  is  in 
 "  Christ  Jesus.*** 
 
 On  the  morning  of  the  day  of  her  death,  I 
 vifited  her  as  ufual,  and  found  her  in  extreme 
 weaknefs  and  pain ;  after  I  had  been  by  her  bed 
 iide  a  few  minutes,  I  took  her  by  the  hand, 
 and  faid,  **  Well,  Madam,  Who  shall  sepa- 
 
 **    RATE    us    FROM    THE    LOVE    OF     ChRIST  ?" 
 
 and  with  a  look,  which  indicated  joy  and  peace 
 in  believing,  and  a  ftrength  of  voice,  which  I 
 had  not  perceived  in  her  for  fome  days  before, 
 file  anfwered,  **  nothing,  nothing,  nothing." 
 I  repeated  to  her  the  whole  palfage,  which  fol- 
 lows thefe  words  of  the  Apoftle,  making  a  few 
 paufes  and  remarks  as  I  went  along — She  fmiled, 
 fhe  aiTented,  and  *'  fet  her  feal"  to  the  truth  of 
 the  whole. — I  then  fpoke  to  her  familiarly  of 
 death ;  I  addreiffed  her  as  a  dying  finner,  and 
 preached  to  her  a  "  living  Saviour,  I  am  He 
 '*  that  liveth  and  was  dead,  and  behold  I  am 
 **  alive  for  evermore."  "f* — She  declared  that  this 
 Jesus  was  her  all.  With  refped:  to  her  pains, 
 I  told  her  it  was  necelTary  that  fhe  ihould  feel 
 fome  of  the  effeds  of  (in,  that  (he  might  know 
 how  much  (he  was  indebted  to  **  Jesus  who 
 •*  himfelf  bare  her  (ins  in  his  own  body  on 
 ^*  the  tree."  J     She  widipd  to  live  and  to  die 
 
 ♦  2  Tim.  iii.  15,       f  Rev.  i.  18.        t  1  Pet.  ii.  24. 
 
 in 
 
THE    LOVE   OF    CHRIST.  5^ 
 
 in  his  debt,  and  to  praife  Him  for  evermore. — 
 With  refped:  to  death  I  told  her,  what  a  privi- 
 lege it  was  to  be  dehvered  from  the  fear  and 
 power  of  it,  to  fee  it  deprived  of  it's  fling,  and 
 changed  in  it's  nature  from  a  curfe  into  a 
 blefling. — **  O  fweet  death  !'*  fhe  had  often 
 faid  before,  and  fhe  then  fmiled  upon  the  men- 
 tion of  it,  as  upon  the  mention  of  a  friend. 
 After  fuch  converfation  I  prayed  by  her  as  ufual, 
 and  left  her.  A  little  before  eleven  o'clock  in 
 the  fame  morning  I  returned  to  her  again,  and 
 found  her  in  the  a6t  of  blefling  her  fervants  ; 
 Ihe  had  called  them  to  her  bed  fide,  and  tried  to 
 open  her  eyes,  that  fhe  might  fee  them  once 
 more  before  fhe  died ;  fhe  took  them  by  the 
 hands,  and  faid,  **  God  blefs  you  my  dear 
 **  children ;"  fhe  did  the  fame  to  two  other 
 friends,  and  myfelf,  who  were  by  her  bed  fide, 
 faying,  **  God  blefs  you  all  ;'*  and  then  added 
 — "  pray,  pray,  pray." — Thefe  were  the  lafl 
 words  which  we  could  hear  her  fpeak  ;  her  lips 
 moved  for  a  fhort  fpace  afterwards,  and  from  a 
 word  or  two  which  we  could  catch  here  and 
 there,  fuch  as  **  Shepherd"  and  **  Guide,'*  we 
 had  reafon  to  think,  fhe  was  uttering  a  prayer 
 or  exprefling  her  faith  in  God. — Death  was  now 
 upon  her  countenance,  and  in  it's  lovelieft  form 
 — it  was  impoffible  to  refrain  from  looking  at 
 her — It  was  a  fight  calculated  to  confirm  the 
 
 hope 
 
58  THE    LOVE    OF    CHB,IST. 
 
 hope  of  every  Chriftian — ^All,  who  were 
 prefent,  kneeled  round  her  bed,  whilft  in  bro- 
 ken accents,  as  far  as  utterance  was  given  me, 
 '*  I  commended  her  fpirit  into  the  hands  of  the 
 **  Lord  God  of  truth,  who  had  redeemed 
 **  it."*  He  received  it  gracioully,  and  gave  us 
 every  proof  we  could  defire,  that  He  had  re- 
 deemed her,  and  that  He  was  the  **  Lord  God 
 * '  of  truth — He  difmifled  her  in  peace  according 
 **  to  his  word." — Surrounded  by  her  weeping 
 friends  and  fervants,  (lie  fell  afleep  without  a 
 groan. 
 
 Men  and  brethren,  what  fhall  we  fay  to  thefe 
 things  ?  here  are  facfls  before  you,  and  here  is 
 one  among  thoufands  of  witneffes,  to  confirm 
 the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, — the  dodtrine  of  the 
 written  word  and  of  the  eftablifhed  Church, 
 which  we  are  continually  labouring  to  inculcate 
 among  you.  You  muft  remember  that  in  the 
 charad:er  which  we  have  now  been  exhibiting, 
 the  "  love  of  Christ"  was  the  ftriking  feature, 
 and  the  leading  principle ;  and  I  am  fure,  that 
 were  (he  alive  among  us  this  day,  (he  would 
 wi(h  that  no  other  ufe  (hould  be  made  of  her 
 example,  but  that  "  God  might  be  glorified  in 
 *'  it  by  Jesus  Christ  j"  from  whom  was 
 derived,  and  to  whom  is  to  be  afcribed,  every 
 thing  that  was  excellent  in  her  living  and  dying. 
 
 *  Pfalm  xxxi.  5. 
 
 And 
 
THE    LOVE   OF    CHRIST.,  £g 
 
 And  now  methinks  I  hear  a  voice  faying, 
 "  weep  not  for  me,  but  weep  for  yourfelves." 
 — Weep  ye  **  poor,"  for  ye  have  loft  a  friend ; 
 ye  cannot  recompenfe  her  it  is  true  ;  but  would 
 ye  make  her  any  return  for  her  fervices  ?  would 
 ye  add,  if  poffible,  to  the  joy'of  her  fpirit  in 
 Paradife  ?  O  remember  her  dying  injuncftion, 
 and  go  to  Jesus  Christ  for  falvation :  then  ye 
 **  fhall  be  rich  in  faith,  and  heirs  of  a  kingdom 
 **  which  God  hath  promifed  to  them  that  love 
 *'  Him."*  Weep  ye  Rich — ye  have  loft  the 
 (hilling  light  of  her  example :  ye  have  feen  in 
 her  a  proof,  that  the  world  and  the  things  of  it 
 are  neither  fufficient  nor  neceflary  for  your  hap- 
 pinefs  ;  ftie  might  have  had  them  all  if  fhe 
 pleafed,  but  **  the  world  was  crucified  unto 
 *'  her  and  ftie  unto  the  world,'* -f-  and  **  the  life, 
 **  which  ftie  lived  in  the  flefli,  ftie  lived  by  the 
 "  faith  of  the  Son  of  God."  J  Strange  as  her 
 life  may  appear  to  you,  I  am  fure  there  was 
 no  moment  of  it,  in  which  ftie  was  not  infinitely 
 happier  than  you  in  the  midft  of  all  your  en- 
 joyments ;  and  as  to  her  death — who  is  there 
 that  will  not  fay,  let  me  die  like  her  ?  but  do 
 the  ways  of  the  world  lead  to  fuch  an  end  ? — 
 they  never  did,  they  never  can,  they  never  will. 
 Can  you  exped:  to  depart  in  peace,  after  having 
 waged  war  with  God  all  your  lives  long  ?    Can 
 
 *  James  ii.  5.  -)■  Gal.  vi.  14..  %  Gal.  ii.  20. 
 
 you 
 
6o  ;i'HE    LOVE    OF   CHRIST. 
 
 you  expert  to  inherit  the  things  of  God,  vvhilfl 
 you  are  loving  the  things  of  the  world,  of 
 which  God  fays,  **  love  them  .  not,  for  they 
 "  are  not  of  the  Father*."  O  could  you 
 have  heard  this  dear  mother  in  Ifrael,  you 
 could  not  have  refifted  her  eloquence,  when  cal- 
 ling upon  you  with  her  dying  breath,  to  go  to 
 Jesus  Christ  for  falvation !  and  O,  would 
 **  you  prove,  what  is  the  good,  and  acceptable, 
 **  and  perfect  will  of  God  ?"  would  you 
 know  the  truth  of  the  Bible,  and  enjoy  the 
 J)romifes  contained  in  it  ?  **  be  not  conformed 
 **  to  this  world,  but  be  transformed  by  the  re- 
 *'  newal  of  your  minds  -f ; — fell  all  that  yc 
 **  have,"  and  feek  Jesus,  **  and  ye  fhall  re- 
 **  ceive  an  hundred  fold,  and  ihall  inherit  ever- 
 **  laftinglife+." 
 
 Weep  efpecially,  ye  lovers  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ, — there  is  no  harm  in  weeping — ^for 
 •*  Jesus  wept  ||."  The  Church  of  God  in  every 
 place,  and  particularly  in  this,  hath  fuftained  a 
 lofs,  which  is  not  eafily  repaired;  I  mean  the 
 lofs  of  a  **  praying"  friend.  She  was  a  fincere 
 lover  of  St.  Giles's  Church,  and  made  mention 
 of  it  in  her  prayers  night  and  day.  She  told 
 me,  foon  after  my  return  home  in  October,  that 
 
 during 
 
 *  I  John  ii.  15, 16.  t  Romans  xii.  2. 
 
 %  Mat.  xix.  29.  II  John  xi.  35. 
 
THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  6l 
 
 during  my  abfence  fhe  had  vifited  the  Church 
 upon  a  week  day,  in  order  that  fhe  might  have 
 a  full  view  of  the  improvements  lately  made  in 
 it,  that  fhe  went  into  the  reading  defk  to  furvey 
 the  galleries,  and  from  thence  into  the  pulpit — 
 **  and  when  I  was  in  the  pulpit,"  faidfhe,  **  I 
 "  could  not  help  flopping  to  put  up  a  petition 
 **  for  the  minifler  and  the  people." — God  blefs 
 her  for  this,  and  for  every  other  a<5l  of  kindnefs 
 towards  us  !  God  grant  that  her  prayers  may 
 be  anfwercd,  that  the  name  of  Jesus  may  be 
 founded  from  this  pulpit,  and  that  His  glory 
 may  fill  this  Church  to  the  end  of  time  ! 
 
 And  now,  my  Chriflian  friends,  revert  we 
 to  the  words  of  the  text — "  who  fliall  feparate 
 **  us  from  the  love  of  Christ  ?"  Not  death, 
 for  it  is  our  way  to  his  prefence  in  glory — it 
 diffolves  all  other  connexions  and  friendfliips, 
 but  not  thofe  which  are  formed  in  Christ. 
 Gladly  therefore,  O  Christ,  **  we  forfake  all 
 "  and  follow  Thee:""  I  thank  Thee  for  this 
 Friend,  this  Mother  in  Ifrael,  and  I  will  try 
 to  love  her  better  than  ever — I  will  often  recol- 
 ledl  the  many  blefTcd  hours  which  I  pafTed  with 
 iier,  and  the  many  kindnelTes  which  I  have 
 received  from  her — I  will  often  weep  over  her 
 grave,  but  I  will  give  vent  to  my  grief  in  the 
 words  of  triumph,  **  O  grave  where  is  thy 
 **  vidlory  ?"  and  I  will  look  forward  to  that 
 
 exalted 
 
6%  THE    LOVE    OF    CHRIST. 
 
 exalted  ftate,  where,  with  glorified  fpirits,  glo- 
 rified fouls,  and  glorified  bodies,  we  Ihall  enjoy 
 perfed:  communion  and  fellowfhip,  and  "  God 
 -  fhall  be  all  in  all." 
 
 "  O,  tafle  and  fee,"  my  Brethren,  "  how 
 "  gracious  the  Lord  is" — fee,  fee,  what  Christ 
 Jesus  can  do  for  us  ! — He  faves  us  from  fin 
 and  from  death — He  unites  us  to  God  and  to 
 each  other  here  and  hereafter. — '*  We.forrow 
 "  then  for  them  that  are  afleep,  but  not  as 
 **  others  which  have  no  hope — for  if  we  be- 
 **  lieve  that  Jesus  died  and  rofe  again,  even 
 "  fo  them  alfo  which  fleep  in  Jesus  will  God 
 **  bring  with  Him.  For  this  we  fay  unto  you 
 **  by  the  word  of  the  Lord,  that  we,  which 
 **  are  alive,  and  remain  unto  the  coming  of  the 
 "  Lord,  fhall  not  prevent  them  that  are  afleep. 
 **  For  the  Lord  Himfelf  fhall  defcend  from 
 **  heaven  with  a  fliout,  with  the  voice  of  the 
 **  Archangel  and  the  trump  of  God:  and  the 
 **  dead  in  Christ  fliall  rife  firft :  then  w^e, 
 **  which  are  alive  and  remain,  fhall  be  caught 
 *'  up  together  with  them  in  the  clouds,  to  meet 
 "  the  Lord  in  the  air  :  and  {o  fhall  we  be  ever 
 "  with  the  Lord.  Wherefore  comfort  one  ano- 
 "  ther  with  thefe  words."  * 
 
 Now  to  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  three  divine  perfbns  in  one  eternal  Je- 
 hovah, be  glory  this  day  and  for  ever.     Amen. 
 
 *  I  Their,  iv.  13. 
 
GOD^s  MERCY 
 
 TO    THE 
 
 FATHERLESS, 
 
 CONSIDERED    IN    A 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 PREACHE  D     IN    THE 
 
 PARISH   CHURCH  of  St.  GILES,   in  READING, 
 
 ON    THE    2IST    DAY    OF    DECEMBER,    1786. 
 FOR    THE    BENEFIT    OF    THE 
 
 GIRLS  CHARITY  SCHOOL,  in  READING. 
 
 IT    GOD    SO    lOVED    US,   WE    OUGHT    AtSO    TO    LOVE    ONE    ANOTHBR* 
 
GOD'S  MERCY 
 
 TO    THE 
 
 FATHERLESS. 
 
 *—99it9e« 
 
 HOSEA  XIV.    Latter  part  of  Ver.  3. 
 
 In  thee  the  fatherlefs  jindeth  mercy » 
 
 THIS  chapter  begins  with  an  exhortation  to 
 repentance,  and  God  not  only  exhorts 
 them  to  repent,  but  puts  words  into  their 
 mouths,  with  which  they  may  return  unto  him. 
 "  O  Ifrael,  return  unto  the  Lord  thy  God  ; 
 ^*  for  thou  haft  fallen  by  thine  iniquity.  Take 
 "  with  you  words,  and  turn  unto  the  Lord  : 
 **  fay  unto  Him,  take  away  all  iniquity,  and 
 **  receive  us  gracioufly:  fo  will  we  render  the 
 **  calves  of  our  lips.  Afhur  fhall  not  fave  us; 
 *^*  we  will  not  ride  upon  horfes :  neither  ,will 
 "  we  fay  any  more  to  the  work,  of  our  hands, 
 "  Ye  are  our  Gods ;  for  in  Thee  the  fatherlefs 
 "  findeth  mercy." 
 
 In  fpeaking  upon  thefe  words  we  are  naturally 
 
 led  to  enquire,  firft,  who  are  the  fatherlefs  ; — 
 
 iecondly,  what  is  the  mercy  which  they  find; 
 
 F  —and 
 
66  god's  mercy  to 
 
 — ^and  thirdly,  where  they  find  it. — In  "  Thee 
 **  the  fatherlefs  findeth  mercy." 
 
 Firft  then,  the  term  *'  Fatherlefs"  is  put  into 
 the  mouths  of  thofe,  who  had  turned  from  the 
 living  and  true  God  unto  idols,  **  mingled  with 
 **  the  heathen,  and  learned  their  works :" 
 which  was  the  cafe  with  Ifrael  and  Judah  when 
 Hofea  prophecied,  that  is  **  in  the  days  of 
 **  Uzziah,  Jotham,  Ahaz,  Hezekiah,  kings  of 
 **  Judah,  and  in  the  days  of  Jeroboam  the  Son 
 ,*•  of  Jofiah,  king  of  Ifrael*."  The  prophet  is 
 commiffioned  to  point  out  to  them  by  figns  and 
 by  words  their  fpiritual  fornications,  a  very 
 flriking  expreffion,  by  which  the  Holy  Ghoft 
 marks  the  idolatry  of  thofe,  to  whom  "  I  was 
 "  an  Hufband,  faith  the  Lord  -f:"  and  to 
 whom  the  Lord  reprefents  himfelf  as  a  Father 
 alfo,  {landing  as  He  does  to  his  Church  in 
 every  poflible  relation.  "  And  now  they  fin 
 "  more  and  more,  and  have  made  them  molten 
 "  images  of  filver,  idols  according  to  their  own 
 "  underftanding,  all  of  it  the  work  of  the 
 "  craftfmen  :  they  fay  of  them,  let  the  men 
 "  that  facrifice  kifs  the  calves  J."  Thefe  are 
 the  people  who  are  exhorted  to  return  unto  the 
 Lord  their  God,  and  to  confefs  themfelves 
 "  Fatherlefs." 
 
 *  Chap,  i,  I.        t  Jer.  xxxi.  32.        %  Hof.  xiii.  2. 
 
 If 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  67 
 
 If  \ve  look  into  the  thirty- fecond  chapter  of 
 the  Book   of  Deuteronomy,  we  there  find  an 
 account  of  the  parental  dealings   of  God  with 
 the  Children  of  Ifrael.     **  Is  not  He  thy  Father 
 "  that  bought  thee  ?    hath  He  not  made  thee 
 **  and  eftablilhed  thee  ?     Remember  the  days  of 
 *'  old,  confider  the  years  of  many  generations  : 
 *'  afk  thy  father  and  he  will  fhew  thee,  thy 
 "  elders    and  they  will  tell  thee.     When    the 
 "  Moll:  High  divided  to  the  nations  their  in- 
 "  heritance,    when   He   feparated  the   fons    of 
 **  Adam,    He   fet    the  bounds    of  the   people 
 **  according  to  the  number  of  the  Children  of 
 "  Ifrael.     For  the  Lord*s  portion  is  his  people, 
 "  Jacob  is  the  lot  of  his  inheritance.     He  found 
 **  him  in  a  defert  land,  and  in  the  wafte  howling 
 "  wildernefs  ;  He  led  him  about.  He  inftrucfted 
 "  him.     He  kept  him  as  the  apple  of  his  eye. 
 '*  as  an  eagle  ftirreth   up  her   neft,  fluttereth 
 **  over  her  young,  fpreadeth  abroad  her  wings, 
 "  taketh  them,  beareth  them  on  her  wings  :  {o 
 "  the  Lord  alone  did  lead  him,  and  there  was 
 *'  no  ftrange  God  with  him  *."     In  the  fame 
 chapter  they  are  warned  of  thofe  fins  by  which 
 they  fhould  lofe  all   thefe  privileges,    and  re- 
 minded of  that  bafe  principle  of  ingratitude  in 
 the  human  heart,  which  kindnefs  but  too  often 
 
 *  Verfe6— 12; 
 
 F  2  puts 
 
68  god's  mercy  to 
 
 puts  in  motion.  "  But  Jefhurun  waxed  fat  and 
 **  kicked  ;  thou  art  waxen  fat,  thou  art  grown 
 *•  thick,  thou  art  covered  with  fatnefs ;  then 
 *•  he  forfook  God  which  made  him,  and  lightly 
 "  efteemed  the  Rock  of  his  falvation.  They 
 "  provoked  him  to  jealoufy  with  ftrange  gods, 
 "  with  abominations  provoked  they  him  to 
 "  anger.  They  facrificed  to  devils,  not  to  God; 
 **  to  gods  whom  they  knew  not,  to  new  gods 
 **  that  came  newly  up,  whom  your  fathers 
 **  feared  not.  Of  the  Rock  that  begat  thee 
 "  thou  art  unmindful,  and  hall  forgotten  Goi> 
 "  that  formed  thee*." 
 
 Such  was  the  charadter  of  the  Ifraelites  in 
 the  times  when  God  raifed  up  moil  of  their 
 prophets  among  them ;  and  if  theirs  was  a 
 fatherlefs  condition  in  confequence  of  their  mix- 
 ing with  the  heathen,  fuch  doubtlefs  was  the 
 condition  of  the  heathen  themfelves.  When 
 St.  Paul  was  at  Athens  *,  "  his  fpirit  was  flir- 
 **  red  within  him  upon  feeing  the  city  wholly 
 ".  given  to  idolatry,  and  upon  finding  an  altar 
 **  with  this  infcription,  to  the  Unknown  God." 
 It  is  true  indeed  that  in  his  difcourfe  upon  this 
 occalion  he  reprefents  God  as  the  common  parent 
 of  all  mankind,  as  *'  not  far  from  every  one  of 
 **  us,  for  in  him  we  live  and  move  and  are;  as 
 
 *  Ver.  15,  16.  t  SeeAasxvii. 
 
 certain 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  69 
 
 **  certain  alfo  of  your  own  poets  have  faid,  for 
 **  we  are  his  offspring."  But  what  do  we 
 expe6l  to  find  in  children  ?  certainly  the  know- 
 ledge of  their  father ;  but  here  is  an  altar  to 
 the  Unknown  God.  We  certainly  exped:  to 
 find  fome  refemblance  of  their  father;  **  let  us 
 **  make  man  in  our  image  after  our  likenefs  *  ;'* 
 but  here  are  no  traces  of  fuch  refemblance  to  be 
 found,  for  "  my  ways  are  not  your  ways,  and 
 **  my  thoughts  are  not  your  thoughts,  faith  the 
 **  Lord  -f-.  It  is  written,  there  is  none  righte- 
 **  ous,  no  not  one :  there  is  none  that  under- 
 *-*  ftandeth,  there  is  none  that  feeketh  after  God; 
 **  they  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they  are 
 **  altogether  become  unprofitable:  there  is  none 
 **  that  doeth  good,  no  not  one." 
 
 Thefe  paffages  and  many  others  of  the  like 
 import  the  Apoftle  brings  together  in  the  third 
 chapter  of  his  Epiftle  to  the  Romans,  and  de- 
 clares that  they  were  written  that  '*  every  mouth 
 "  may  be  flopped  and  all  the  world  become 
 **  guilty  before  God."  Again,  what  do  we 
 exped:  to  find  in  children  ?  we  certainly  expedl 
 the  love  of  their  father; — ^but  they  are  **  haters 
 **  of  God  J;"  and  "  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity 
 **  againft  God,  for  it  is  not  fubjedt  to  the  law 
 ♦*  of  God,   neither   indeed   can   be  ||."     Once 
 
 *  Gen.  i.  26.  t  Isaiah  Iv.  8. 
 
 X  Rom.  i,  30,  II  Rom.  viii.  7. 
 
 F  3  more. 
 
70  GOD  S    MERCY    TO 
 
 more,  what  do  we  expedl  to  find  in  children  ? 
 we  expecSt  a  certain  confidential  nearnefs  to  their 
 father;  but  where  is  any  thing  of  this  kind 
 between  fallen  man  and  the  God  that  made  him 
 upright  ?  The  Apoftle  tells  the  converted  Gen- 
 tiles that  they  were  **  fometime  afar  ojff,  having 
 **  no  hope,'*  and  **  without  God  in  the  world  *." 
 They  dread  every  approach  and  apprehenfion  of 
 God — ^They  *'  hate  the  light,  neither  come  to 
 *'  the  light,  left  their  deeds  ftiould  be  reproved" 
 — they  **  put  far  away  the  day  of  judgment  as 
 **  an  evil  day — they  cry  to  the  feers  fee  not,  to 
 *'  the  prophets  prophecy  not ;  caufe  the  Holy 
 **  One  of  Ifrael  to  ceafe  from  before  us."  Now 
 this  is  our  ftate  by  nature,  the  Apoftle  tells  us 
 it  was  the  ftate  of  thofe  who  were  now  the 
 diftinguiftied  monuments  of  the  grace  and  of 
 the  power  of  God  ;  **  and  you  (hath  He  raifed 
 *'  from  the  dead  and  fet  at  his  own  right  hand 
 *'  in  heavenly  places)  who  were  dead  in  tref- 
 **  pafles  and  fins ;  wherein  in  time  paft  yc 
 **  walked  according  to  the  courfe  of  this  world, 
 "  according  to  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the 
 **  air,  the  fpirit  that  now  worketh  in  the  chil- 
 **  dren  of  difobedience,  among  whom  alfo  we 
 **  all  had  our  converfation  in  times  paft,  in  the 
 **  lufts  of  our  flefti  fulfilling  the  defires  of  the 
 
 *  Ephef.  ii.  12. 
 
 ♦*  flefh 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  7  I 
 
 "  flefli  and  of  the  mind  ;  and  were  by  nature 
 "  the  children  of  wrath  even  as  others*." 
 
 They  who  are  taught  of  God,  and  who  have 
 read  their  Bible  to  any  purpofe,  muft  feel  thefe 
 truths ;  they  mufi:  feel  what  the  prodigal  is 
 reprefented  to  have  felt,  when  he  found  himfelf 
 ready  to  perifh  -f ;  and  knowing  by  fad  experi- 
 ence that  to  depart  from  God  is  to  depart  from 
 happinefs,  and  that  to  perfevere  in  fin  is  to  pur- 
 fue  deftrudiion,  they  refolve  like  him,  **  I  will 
 **  arife  and  go  unto  my  father,  and  I  will  fay  to 
 **  him,  father,  I  have  finned  againft  heaven 
 "  and  before  thee,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to 
 **  be  called  thy  fon.'*  Thus  repenting  and  thus 
 returning  to  the  Lord  their  God  in  the  way 
 which  he  hath  fet  before  them,  they  will  have 
 caufe  to  acknowledge  that  a  '*  Father  of  the 
 **  fatherlefs  is  God  in  his  holy  habitation." 
 
 This  brings  me  to  the  fecond  head  of  enquiry, 
 namely,  what  is  the  "  mercy,"  which  the 
 fatherlefs  are  faid  to  find.  And  what  can  this 
 mercy  be  but  to  be  reftored  to  the  condition  and 
 privileges  of  the  children  of  God  ?  Is  not  '*  He 
 "  thy  father  that  bought  thee  ?"  So  God*s 
 children  are  **  bought  with  a  price,  not  with 
 **  corruptible  things  as  filver  and  gold,  but 
 **  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a 
 
 *  Ephef.  i.  20^  ii.  i,  &c.  t  Luke  xv. 
 
 F  4  "  Lamb 
 
72  god's  mercy  to 
 
 **  Lamb  without  blemifli  and  without  fpot  *." 
 — They  are  alio  *'  made  and  eftablifhed,"  they 
 are  a  "  new  creation,'* — "  God*s  workmanfhip 
 "created  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  good  works 
 **  which  God  hath  before  ordained  that  they 
 **  fhould  walk  in  them, — ^  they  are  renewed  in 
 **  knowledge  after  the  image  of  Him  who 
 **  created  them,"  and  eftablifhed  in  the  faith  as 
 it  is  in  Jesus. — "  Being  juftified  by  faith  they 
 -*  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord 
 ^*  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  alfo  they  have  ac- 
 "  cefs  by  faith  into  that  grace  wherein  they  ftand 
 **  and  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  the  glory  of  God  J." 
 What  mercy  is  here  ? — no  wonder  that  St.  John 
 fliould  exclaim  concerning  it,  "  Behold,  what 
 **  manner  of  love  the  Father  hath  bellowed 
 **  upon  us,  that  we  Ihould  be  called  the  fons  of 
 "  God  !  Beloved,  now  are  we  the  fons  of  God, 
 "  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  Ihall  be: 
 **  but  we  know  that  when  He  Ihall  appear  we 
 **  Ihall  be  like  Him,  for  we  Ihall  fee  Him  as 
 **~heis||." 
 
 Our  aftonilhment  at  this  mercy  muft  increafc, 
 if  we  conlider  the  methods  which  were  taken 
 to  render  it's  deligns  effedtual ;  and  of  thefe  we 
 are  informed  in  the  fourth  chapter  of  St.  Paul's 
 Epiftle  to  the  Galatians.     "  Now  the  heir  as 
 
 *  I  Pet.  i.  19.  +  Ephef.  ii.  10. 
 
 %  Rom.  V.  I.  II  I  Johniii.  i. 
 
 *'  long 
 
THE    FATHERLESS  73 
 
 **  long  as  he  is  a  child  difFereth  nothing  from  a 
 **  fervant  though  he  be  Lord  of  all,  but  is 
 **  under*  tutors  and  governors  until  the  time  ap- 
 **  pointed  of  the  father.  Even  fo  we  when 
 "  we  were  children  were  in  bondage  under  the 
 "  elements  of  the  world."  That  is  to  fay,  God 
 put  us  under  the  law  as  under  a  fchool-mafter, 
 not  to  juilify  us,  but  to  give  us  the  knowledge 
 of  fin,  that  we  might  be  trained  up  and  pre- 
 pared for  receiving  the  glad  tidings  of  the 
 gofpel. — The  **  law  is  our  fchool-m after  to 
 **  bring  us  to  Christ  that  we  might  be  juftified 
 "  by  faith*,"  and  *'  by  the  law  is  the  know- 
 "  ledge  of  fin-f-.  But  when  the  fulnefs  of 
 **  time  was  come,  God  fent  forth  his  Son, 
 "  made  of  a  woman,  made  under  the  law,  to 
 "  redeem  them  that  were  under  the  law,  that  we 
 **  might  receive  the  adoption  of  fons." 
 
 Here  are  the  methods  which  God  has  taken 
 in  order  to  effcd:  the  defigns  of  his  mercy ;  after 
 having  given  the  law  ('*  long  before  which  the 
 "  gofpel  had  been  preached  unto  Abraham  J," 
 in  confequence  of  a  **  purpofe  and  grace  given 
 "  us  in  Christ  Jesus  before  the  world  be- 
 "  gan  II")  after  having  given  us  the  law  to 
 convince  us  of  fin,  and  fo  to  teach  us  our  need 
 of  a  Saviour,  "  when  the  fullnefs  of  the  time 
 
 *  Gal.  ii.  24.  +  Rom.  iii.  20. 
 
 X  Gal.  iii.  8.  )|  2  Tim.  i.  9. 
 
 *'  was 
 
74  god's  mercy  to 
 
 was  come  God  fent  forth  his  Son." — ^And  if  you 
 afk  who  this  Son  is,  whom  God  fent  into  the 
 world — you  are  told  that  He  is  *'  the  heir  of  all 
 "  things,  by  whom  alfo  God  made  the  worlds, 
 **  that  He  is  the  brightnefs  of  God's  glory, 
 "  the  exprefs  image  of  his  perfon,  upholding 
 "  all  things  by  the  word  of  his  power,  and 
 **  having  by  himfelf  purged  our  fins,  fet  down 
 •'  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majefty  on  high, 
 **  being  made  fo  much  better  than  the  angels, 
 "  as  He  hath  by  inheritance  obtained  a  more 
 *'  excellent  name  than  them;  for  unto  which 
 **  of  the  angels  faid  He  at  any  time.  Thou  art 
 **  my  Son,  this  day  have  I  begotten  thee  ?  and 
 *'  again,  I  will  be  to  Him  a  Father,  and  He 
 **  fhall  be  to  me  a  Son  :  and  again  when  He 
 **  bringeth  in  the  firft  begotten  into  the  world, 
 *•  He  faith,  let  all  the  angels  of  God  worfliip 
 *'  him  :  unto  the  angels  He  faith,  who  maketh 
 *'  his  angels  fpirits,  and  his  minifters  a  flame 
 "  of  fire,  but  unto  the  Son,  thy  throne,  O 
 **  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever,  and  Thou  Lord 
 **  in  the  beginning  hail:  laid  the  foundations  of 
 **  the  earth,  and  the  heavens  are  the  works  of 
 **■  thy  hands,  they  fhall  perifh,  but  Thou  re- 
 **  maineft,  they  fhall  be  changed,  but  Thou 
 "  art  the  fame  and  thy  years  fhall  not  fail  *," 
 
 *  See  Hebrews  i. 
 
 What 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  75 
 
 What  a  wonderful  meflenger  was  this  to  fend 
 into  fuch  a  world  as  ours  !  the  Lord,  God,  the 
 Governor,  Preferver,  Maker,  Pofleflbr  of  all 
 things  !  and  in  what  form  was  he  fent  ?  **  made 
 **  of  a  woman :"  that  is,  however  miracu- 
 loufly  conceived,  yet  born  into  the  world  exacftly 
 like  the  reft  of  mankind,  **  made  in  all  things 
 **  like  unto  his  brethren,  fin  only  excepted,^*  as 
 perfedt  man  as  He  is  perfed:  God  :  *  *  forafmuch 
 *'  as  the  children  are  partakers  of  flefh  and 
 *'  blood,  He  alfo  himfelf  likewife  took  part  of 
 **  the  fame*."  And  in  what  condition  did  He 
 appear?  **  made  under  the  law;**  this  is  the 
 condition  of  the  whole  race  of  mankind.  As 
 there  is  but  one  Creator,  fo  there  is  but  one 
 **  Lawgiver  who  is  able  to  fave  and  to 
 **  deftroyf  :"  and  there  is  but  one  law  which 
 was  originally  written  upon  the  heart  of  Adam 
 when  he  was  created  in  the  image  and  after  the 
 likenefs  of  his  Creator ;  the  tranfgreffion  of 
 this  law  was  fin,  it  was  the  original  fin,  and  it 
 is  fin  unto  this  day  :  **  becaufe  of  tranfgrefijon,'* 
 by  which  this  law  of  his  maker  was  effaced 
 from  the  heart  of  man,  and  the  law  of  fin  intro- 
 duced in  it*s  room,  *'  the  law"  the  very  fame 
 law  •*  was  added"  or  revealed  again  by  Mofes  J, 
 gnd  written  upon  two  tables  of  ftone  never  to  be 
 
 *  Heb.  ii.  14.        f   James  iv.  12.         +  Gal.  iii.  19. 
 
 done 
 
^^6  god's  mercy  to 
 
 done  away,  requiring  only  that  rcafonable  fer- 
 vice  which  we  owe  to  our  Creator  and  our  fel- 
 low creatures,  "  thou  (halt  love  the  Lord  thy 
 **  God  with  all  thine  heart  and  with  all  thy 
 "  mind  and  with  all  thy  foul  and  with  all  thy 
 "  ftrength,  and  thy  neighbour  as  thyfelf,"  and 
 threatening  death  as  the  confequence  of  tranf- 
 greilion :  "  the  wages  of  fin  is  death  *."  There- 
 fore **  almoft  all  things  by  the  law  were  purged 
 •*  with  blood,  and  without  the  fhedding  of  blood 
 •*  or  death  there  is  no  remiflion-f  :**  Now 
 CnRiST  was  made  under  the  law,  which  we  had 
 broken;  as  our  furety  and  reprefentative,  He 
 undertook  to  obey  it's  precepts  and  endure  it*s 
 penalties,  and  is  therefore  defcribed  as  **  fulfill- 
 **  ing  the  law  and  the  prophets  and  all  right- 
 **  eoufnefs,"  as  "  having  the  chaftifemcnt  of 
 "  our  peace  and  the  iniquities  of  us  all  laid 
 **  upon  him,"  as  '*  being  made  fin  and  a  curfe 
 **  for  us,"  and  as  "  bearing  our  fins  in  his 
 **  own  body  on  the  tree  J."  Now  if  there  never 
 Was  but  one  law,  and  if  there  was  never  but 
 one  that  obeyed  it  upon  earth,  the  man  Christ 
 Jesus,  and  if  he  obeyed  it  under  the  characters 
 before  defcribed,  it  is  certain  that  there  can  **  be 
 **  none  other  name  under  heaven  given  amongfl 
 
 *  Rom.  vi.  23.  f  Heb.  ix.  22. 
 
 t  Matt.  iii.  15.  V.  17,  &c.      Ifa.  liii.      2  Cor,  v.  21. 
 
 Gal.  iii.  13,     i  Peter  ii.  24. 
 
 "  men 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  77 
 
 "  men  whereby  he  muft  be  faved,  but  only  the 
 **  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  We 
 muft  either  be  *'  found  in  Him,  not  having  our 
 **  own  righteOiufnefs  which  is  of  the  law,  but, 
 *'  the  righteoufnefs  which  is  through  the  faith 
 *'  of  Christ,  the  righteoufnefs  which  is  o£ 
 **  God  by  faith,",  or  we  muft  be  ourfelves  an- 
 fwerable  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  whole  law, 
 and  be  liable  to  everlafting  puniftiment  as  the 
 confequence  of  tranfgreffion. — The  defign,  with 
 which  Christ  Jesus  **  was  made  under  the 
 "  law,  was  to  redeem  them  that  were  under  the 
 **  law,"  that  is,  to  perform  the  part  of  a  near 
 kinfman,  one  who  by  the  Mofaic  law  had  a 
 right  to  redeem  an  inheritance,  and  was  alfo 
 permitted  to  vindicate  or  avenge  the  death  of  his 
 relation,  by  killing  the  flayer,  if  he  found  him 
 out  of  the  cities  of  refuge  *.  Christ  as  the 
 near  kinfman  of  thofe,  "  whom  He  is  not 
 *'  aftiamed  to  call  brethren,"  was  to  redeem 
 them  from  death  and  the  grave,  to  reccrver  for 
 them  the  eternal  inheritance,  and  to  avenge 
 them  on  Satan,  their  fpiritual  enemy,  and 
 murderer.  **  Forafmuch  as  the  children  are 
 •*  partakers  of  flefh  and  blood.  He  alfo  himfelf 
 "  likewife  took  part  of  the  fame;  that  through 
 '*  death  He  might  deftroy  him  that   had  the 
 
 *  See  Levit.  xxv.  and  Numbers  xxxv.  and  Mr.  Parkhurft's 
 Hebrew  Lexicon  under  the  word  V«a. 
 
 '*  power 
 
^8  god's  mercy  to 
 
 **  power  of  death,  that  is,  the  Devil ;  and  de- 
 "  liver  them,  who  through  fear  of  death  were; 
 "  all  their  hfe  time  fubjed:  unto  bondage*:" 
 and  all  this,  **  that  we  might  receive  the  adop- 
 "  tion  of  fons,'*  that  we,  who  are  fathcrlefs  by 
 nature,  having  no  natural  right  to  be  called  the 
 children  of  God,  might  be  made  fo  by  **  adop- 
 **  tion;'*  we  acknowledge  as  much  in  our 
 beautiful  colled:  for  Chriftmas-Day,  and  we  ac- 
 knowledge no  more  than  we  are  taught  to 
 believe  in  fcripture  :  **  Blefled  be  the  God  and 
 "  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
 "  hath  blefled  us  with  all  fpiritual  bleffings  in 
 "  heavenly  places  in  Christ  :  according  as  He 
 "  hath  chofen  us  in  Him  before  the  foundation 
 **  of  the  world,  that  we  fhould  be  holy  and 
 **  without  blame  before  Him  in  love :  having 
 "  predeftinated  us  unto  the  adoption  of  children 
 "  by  Jesus  Christ  unto  himfelf,  according  to 
 "  the  good  pleafure  of  his  will  •f." 
 
 But  this  is  not  all,  the  mercy  of  God  does  not 
 flop  with  the  fending  of  his  Son  ;  having  fent 
 his  Son,  He  fends  his  Spirit  alfo  :  **  and  becaufe 
 **  ye  are  fons,  God  hath  fent  forth  the  Spirit  of 
 **  his  Son  into  your  heart,  crying,  Abba  Fa- 
 "  ther."  This  is  the  Father's  gift  unto  all  his 
 children,  **  If  ye  being  evil  know  how  to  give 
 
 *  Heb.  ii.  14,  15.  f  Ephef.  i.  3,  4,  5. 
 
 "  good 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  79 
 
 **  good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how  much 
 *'  more  fhall  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven 
 **  give  the  holy  Spirit  unto  them  that  afk 
 **  Him*?'*  The  promifes  of  Christ  are  ex- 
 prefs  to  this  purpofe,  many  of  them  are  to  be 
 found  in  the  fourteenth,  fifteenth,  and  fixteenth 
 chapters  of  St.  John's  Gofpel.— He  exprefles 
 himfelf  in  a  remarkable  manner  when  he  fays, 
 **  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortlefs;"  in  the  Greek 
 it  is  op(poivisgy  orphans  -f  :  which  is  as  much  as 
 to  fay,  that  they,  who  have  not  the  fpirit  of 
 Christ,  are  in  a  "  fatherlefs"  condition ;  in- 
 deed the  Apoftle  fays  the  fame,  that  if  "  any 
 **  man  have  not  the  fpirit  of  Christ  he  is  none 
 **  of  his,"  that  **  as  many  as  are  led  by  the 
 *'  Spirit  of  GoD^  they  are  the  fons  of  God," 
 that  **  ye  have  received  the  fpirit  of  adoption, 
 "  whereby  w^e  cry  Abba  Father,"  and  that 
 *'  the  Spirit  itfelf  beareth  witnefs  with  our 
 **  fpirits  that  we  are  the  children  of  God  J." 
 The  Apoftle  Peter  has  exprefsly  faid  on  the 
 memorable  day  of  Pentecoft,  "  the  promife  is 
 "  unto  you  and  unto  your  children,  and  unto  all 
 *'  that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord 
 **  our  God  (hall  call  §  :"  from  whence  we  may 
 infer  that  the  influences  of  the  Spirit  cannot 
 ceafe,    being  effential   to  the   exiftence  of   the 
 
 *  Luke  xi.  13.  f  John  xiv.  18. 
 
 J  Rom.  viii.  9,  14,  15,  16.       §  A(5ts  ii.  39. 
 
 Chrif- 
 
So  god's  mercy  to 
 
 Chriftian  Church  unto  the  end  of  time;  nay 
 they  cannot  ceafe  till  the  Church  is  complete  in 
 glory ;  **  but  if  the  fpirit  of  Him,  that  raifed 
 **  up  Jesus  from  the  dead,  dwell  in  you ;  He, 
 **  that  raifed  up  Christ  from  the  dead,  fhall 
 **  alfo  quicken  your  mortal  bodies  by  his  Spirit 
 "  that  dwelleth  in  you  *."  We  therefore  pray 
 in  our  beautiful  coUedl  for  Chriflmas-Day, 
 "  that  we  being  regenerate,  and  made  God*s 
 **  children  by  adoption  and  grace,  may  daily" 
 **  be  renewed  by  his  holy  Spirit.'* 
 
 This  is  the  **  mercy,"  which  is  fpoken  of  in 
 the  words  of  the  text,  and  which  is  held  forth 
 in  the  gofpel  to  thofe,  who  are  by  nature 
 "  fatherlefs,  without  hope  and  without  God 
 *'  in  the  world."  When  a  perfon  has  received 
 "  the  Spirit  of  God's  Son  in  his  heart  crying 
 "  Abba  Father,"  he  may  be  faid  to  have 
 "  found"  this  mercy  :  as  the  Apoflle  fpeaks  of 
 himfelf  in  the  firft  chapter  of  his  Epiftle  to 
 Timothy;  "  for  this  caufe  I  obtained  mercy, 
 "  that  in  me  firil,  or  the  chief  of  finners,  God 
 •*  might  fhew  forth  all  long  fufFering,  for  a 
 "  pattern  to  them  which  fhould  hereafter  believe 
 "  on  Him  unto  life  everlafting."  Now,  reader, 
 if  this  is  the  mercy  which  you  and  I  want, 
 (nay  what   mull  become    of  us  without  it  ?) 
 
 *  Rom.  viii.  ii. 
 
 and 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  8  I 
 
 and  if  it  is  freely  and  fairly  held  forth  to  us  in 
 the  word  of  God,  the  great  queftion  is,  where 
 is  it  to  be  found  ? 
 
 This  was  propofed  to  us  as  the  third  head  of 
 enquiry — it  is  moft  important,  and  great  em- 
 phafis  is  laid  upon  it  in  the  words  of  the  text, 
 **  in  Thee  the  fatherlefs  findeth  mercy.'* 
 
 The  returning  Ifraelites,  whom  we  may  ven- 
 ture with  the  Apoftle  to  call  '*  a  remnant  ac- 
 **  cording  to  the  election  of  grace  *,'*  are  taught 
 to  come  unto  God  as  **  fatherlefs,"  confefling 
 their  iniquity,  and  praying  for  it*s  removal ; 
 **  take  away  all  iniquity:"  they  are  taught  to 
 afk  for  a  gracious  reception,  **  and  receive  us 
 "  gracioufly  :"  they  are  taught  to  renounce  all 
 other  dependencies  ;  '*  Afhur  (hall  not  fave  us, 
 "  we  will  not  ride  upon  horfes,  neither  will  we 
 **  fay  any  more  to  the  work  of  our  hands  yc 
 "  are  our  Gods  ;  for  in  Thee  the  fatherlefs 
 **  findeth  mercy."  Here  the  wicked  are  taught 
 that  this  mercy  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  ways  of 
 fin  ;  they,  who  are  righteous  in  their  own  eyes, 
 that  it  is  not  by  works  of  righteoufnefs  which 
 they  have  done ;  they,  who  are  wife  in  their 
 own  conceits,  that  it  is  not  found  by  any  efforts 
 of  their  wifdom  ;  **  but  that  it  is  the  wifdom  of 
 **  God  in  a  myftery,  the  hidden  wifdom  or- 
 
 *  Rom.  xi.  5. 
 
 G  *'  dained 
 
S%  god's  mercy  to 
 
 **  dained  before  the  world  unto  our  glory*.*' 
 In  fhort  all  are  taught,  that  God  is  "  the  God 
 **  of  all  grace,'*  and  that  all  mercy  begins, 
 continues,  and  ends  with  Him.  Indeed  the 
 very  enemies  of  Christ  could  fay,  **  who  can 
 •*  forgive  fins  but  God  only?"  To  difpenfe 
 pardon  to  the  condemned  is  an  a6l  of  grace, 
 which  we  confider  as  the  prerogative  of  our 
 Sovereign,  it  is  the  brighteft  jewel  in  his  crown, 
 and  we  never  attempt  to  arrcft  it  from  him. 
 
 How  dare  we  then  make  fuch  an  attempt 
 againft  *'  the  blefTed  and  only  Potentate,  the 
 •'  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords  ?**  how 
 dare  we  be  offended,  when  He  afferts  his  pre- 
 rogative, **  I  will  be  gracious  to  whom  I  will 
 "  be  gracious,  and  I  will  have  compaffion  on 
 "  whom  I  will  have  compaffion -f  ? — I,  lam 
 *'  He,  that  blotteth  out  thy  tranfgreffions  for 
 *'  my  own  fake,  and  will  not  remember  thy 
 **  fins  J ;  for  my  own  fake,  for  my  own  fake 
 **  will  I  not  do  it,  for  how  fhould  my  name  be 
 **  polluted  ?  and  I  will  not  give  my  glory  to 
 **  another  §.'*  What  is  the  Apoflle*s  conclu- 
 fion  from  fuch  promifes  as  thefe  ?  *'  fo  then,  it 
 "  is  not  of  him  that  willeth,  nor  of  him  that 
 **  runneth,  but  of  God  that  fheweth  mercy  ||  ;" 
 indeed  St.  Paul  is  clear  and  decifive  upon  this 
 
 *  I  Cor.  ii.  7.         f  Exod.  xxxiii.  23.     Rom.  xi.  15. 
 %  Ifaiah  xliii.  25.     §  Ifaiah  xlviii.  11.     ||  Rom.  ix.  16. 
 
 fubje^t, 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  83 
 
 fubje(5t,  that,  **  if  it  be  of  grace,  it  is  no  more 
 **  of  works,  otherwife  grace  is  no  more 
 "  grace*;**  that  **  Abraham  believed  in  God, 
 **  and  it  was  counted  unto  him  for  righteouf- 
 **  nefs  ;  that  David  defcribeth  the  bleffednefs  of 
 *'  the  man,  to  whom  God  imputeth  righteouf- 
 **  nefs  without  works,  faying,  bleifed  is  the 
 **  man,  whofe  unrighteoufnefs  is  forgiven,  and 
 "  whofe  fin  is  covered,  bleffed  is  the  man  to 
 **  whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  fm-f ;" — 
 that  *'  this  bleifednefs  is  for  circumcifion  and 
 "  uncircumcilion,*'  that  is  for  Jew  and  Greek; 
 that  neither  can  be  bleffed  in  any  other  way,  and 
 that  if  any  of  either  are  alive  unto  God,  they 
 receive  their  life,  like  criminals,  as  a  gift  from 
 their  fovereign  :  **  the  wages  of  fin  is  death, 
 "  but  the  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through 
 "  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  J." 
 
 As  God  is  the  author  and  giver  of  mercy,  fo 
 He  beflows  it  in  his  own  way ;  and  He  hath 
 appointed  no  way  but  one.  **  All  things  are  of 
 God,  who  hath  reconciled  us  to  Himfelf  by 
 Jesus  Christ,  and  hath  committed  to  us  the 
 miniflry  of  reconciliation :  to  wit,  that  God 
 was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world 
 unto  Himfelf,  not  imputing  their  trefpaffes 
 unto  them.     For  He  hath  made  Him  to  be 
 
 *  Rom,  xi.  6.  t  Rom.  iv.  %  Rom.  v.  21. 
 
 G  2 
 
84  god's  mercy  to 
 
 **  fin  for  us  who  knew  no  fin,  that  we  might 
 **  be  made  the  righteoufnefs  of  God  in  Him*.'* 
 This  is  GoD*s  method  of  fhewing  mercy  to  the 
 finners  of  mankind  :  there  is  no  God  but  one, 
 and  no  way  to  him  but  one.     **  There  is  one 
 **  God,  andone  Mediator  between  God  and  men, 
 **  the  man  Christ  Jesus -f.     I  am  the  way, 
 *•  and  the  truth,  and  the  life,  no  man  cometh 
 "  to  the  Father  but  by  me  J."     It  is  efTential 
 to  true  repentance    or  converfion  to  feel    and 
 acknowledge  thefe  truths ;  that  God  is  the  firft 
 and  the  laft,  the  fole  author  and  finiflier  of  man's 
 falvation;  and   that  **    He  pardoneth  iniquity, 
 **  pafTeth  by  the  tranfgreflion  of  the  remnant  of 
 '*  his  heritage,  and  retaineth  not  his  anger  for 
 **  ever,  becaufe  He  delighteth  in  mercy  §.     But 
 "  God,  who  is   rich  in  mercy,  for  the  great 
 *'  love  wherewith  He  loved  us  even  when  we 
 "  were  dead  in  fins,  hath  quickened  us  together 
 **  with  Christ,  by  grace  ye  are  faved;  and 
 "  hath  raifed  us  up  together,  and  made  us  fit 
 **  together  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus: 
 '*  that  in  ages  to  come  He  might  fhew  the  ex- 
 '*  ceeding  riches  of  his   grace  in  his   kindnefs 
 "  towards  us  through  Christ  Jesus  :  for  by 
 **  grace  are  ye  faved,  through  faith,  and  that 
 "  not  of  yourfelves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God  ;  not 
 
 *  2  Cor.  V.  18,  19,  21.  t  I  Tim.  ii.  5. 
 
 X  John  xiv.  6.  §  Micah  vii.  18. 
 
 **  of 
 
THE    FATHERLESS-^  85 
 
 **  of  works,  left  any  manfliould  boaft;  for  we 
 •*  are  his  workmanfhip,  created  in  Christ 
 **  Jesus  unto  good  works,  which  God  hath 
 "  before  ordained,  that  we  fhould  walk  in 
 **  them*." 
 
 Well  may  the  prophet  fay,  "  Who  is  a  God 
 **  like  unto  Thee?'*  and  in  the  fame  word  in 
 which  He  hath  caufed  "  his  glory  and  his 
 *'  goodnefs  to  pafs  before  us,  and  proclaimed, 
 "  the  Lord,  the  Lord  God,  merciful  and  gra- 
 "  cious,  long  fuffering  and  abundant  in  good- 
 **  nefs  and  truth  -f,"  He  hath  propofed  himfelf 
 to  our  knowledge  and  to  our  imitation. 
 
 **  Thus  faith  the  Lord,  let  not  the  wife  man 
 '*  glory  in  his  wifdom,  let  not  the  mighty  man 
 *•  glory  in  his  might,  let  not  the  rich  man  glory 
 "  in  his  riches  j  but  let  him  that  glorieth,  glory 
 **  in  this,  that  he  underftandeth  and  knoweth 
 "  me,  that  I  am  the  Lord,  which  exercifeth 
 **  loving  kindnefs,  judgment  and  righteoufnefs 
 *'  in  the  earth  J."  As  to  other  knowledge,  it 
 may  qualify  us  to  thrive  or  ftiine  in  this  life ; 
 but  '*  this  is  life  eternal,  to  know  Thee  the 
 **  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom 
 **  Thou  haft  fent§." 
 
 Where  there  is  the  knowledge  of  God,  which 
 cannot  fubfift  without  his  image,  as  the  Apoftlc 
 
 *  Ephef.  iii.  4,  &c.  f  See  Exod.  xxxiii.  18,  19.  and 
 
 xxiv.  6.  :|:  Jer.  ix.  23.  §  John  xviii.  3. 
 
 G  3  fpeaks 
 
86  GOt)*S    MERCY    TO 
 
 fpeaks  of  **  being  renewed  in  knowledge  after 
 '*  the  image  of  him  that  created  us*,"  there 
 mufl  bs  the  imitation  of  God  alfo.  "  Be  ye 
 "  followers,  Mif/,viT(xt  imitators,  of  God  as  dear 
 "  children,  and  walk  in  love,  as  Christ  alfo 
 **  hath  loved  us,  and  given  himfelf  for  us  an 
 **  offering  and  a  facrifice  to  God,  for  a  fweet 
 *'  fmelling  favour -f-."  It  is  impoffible  to  be 
 followers  of  God,  and  not  to  be  found  in  the 
 way  of  love  ;  "for  love  is  of  God  ;  and  every 
 "  one  that  loveth  is  born  of  God,  and  know- 
 "  eth  God.  He  that  loveth  not,  knoweth  not 
 **  God  :  for  God  is  love."  Here  is  our 
 perfuafive  to  charity  J. 
 
 If  we  trace  to  their  proper  fource  all  the 
 '*  malice  and  envy,  in  which  we  are  living, 
 "  hateful  and  hating  one  another  §,"  we  mufl 
 
 *  Col.  iii.  lo.  t  Ephef.  v.  i. 
 
 %  John  Weft,  Efq;  left  twenty  {hillings  a  year  to  the  three 
 minifters  of  Reading,  for  the  time  being,  for  preaching  a 
 fermon  alternately  in  their  refpedive  parifh  churches,  on  the 
 morning  of  every  St.  Thomas's-Day  for  ever;  the  fubjeft 
 thereof  to  be,  a  persuasive  to  charity.  In  the  year 
 1779  it  w^as  propofed  to  unite  practice  with  perfuaflon,  by 
 making  a  colleilion  at  the  church  doors,  with  a  view  to  cfta- 
 blifh  a  Charity  School  for  the  education  of  Poor  Girls,  belong- 
 ing to  the  three  parifhes  of  Reading. — The  attempt  was 
 truly  laudable,  and  has  been  wonderfully  fuccefsful.  But  the 
 progrefs  of  this  good  work  muft  ftill  depend,  under  God, 
 upon  tl^e  continuance  and  increafe  of  the  public  bounty. 
 §  Tit.  iii.  3. 
 
 go 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  87 
 
 go  back  to  our  original  departure  from  God, 
 and  obedience  to  fin,  **  as  Cain  who  was  of  that 
 "  wicked  one,  and  flew  his  brother."  From 
 that  time  to  this  the  hiflory  of  the  world  has 
 been  no  better  than  the  "  roll  of  Ezckiel,  writ- 
 **  ten  within,  and  without,  lamentations,  and 
 "  mourning,  and  woe." 
 
 Our  return  unto  God  is  the  only  remedy  for 
 that  mifchief,    which  was  caufed  by   our  de- 
 parture from  Him  :  and  our  way  is  plain  before 
 us,  even  Jesus  Christ,  "   who  once  fuffered 
 "  for   fins,  the  juft    for    the  unjufl,   that    He 
 "might    bring     us    to    God*."      From    his 
 mouth    we    receive    **  a  new    commandment, 
 "  that  we  love  one  another  -f .      Give  to  him 
 "  that  afketh  thee,  and  from  him  that  would 
 "  borrow  of  thee   turn   not   thou  away.     Ye 
 "  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  faid,  Thou  fhalt 
 *'  love  thy  neighbour,  and  hate  thine  enemy  ; 
 **  but  I  fay  unto  you  love  your  enemies,  blefs 
 *'  them  that  curfe  you,  and  pray  for  them  that 
 **  defpitefully  ufe  you  and  perfecute  you ;  that 
 "  ye  may  be  children  of  your  Father  which  is 
 **  in  heaven:  for  He  maketh  his  fun  to  rife  on 
 "  the  evil  and  on  the  good,  and  fendeth  rain 
 **  on  the  juft  and  on  the  unjufl.     Be  ye  there- 
 "  fore  perfe(5t,  even  as  your  Father  which  is  in 
 
 *  I  Pet.  iii.  18.  t  Johnxiii.  34. 
 
 G  4  **  heaven 
 
88  GOD*S    MERCY    TO 
 
 "  heaven  is  perfed;  j'*  or,  '*  be  ye  merciful  as 
 *'  your  Father  alfo  is  merciful  *.'* 
 
 But  befides  a  perfuafive  to  charity  in  general, 
 we  wifli  to  recommend  a  particular  objedt  of 
 your  attention  and  bounty :  which,  as  it  is  cal- 
 culated to  promote  a  reformation  of  manners 
 amongft  us,  may  undoubtedly  be  confidered  as 
 a  national  concern.  How  frequent  are  rob- 
 beries and  murders  amongft  us  ?  how  common 
 and  juft  the  complaints,  not  only  that  we  can- 
 not travel  our  roads  or  deep  in  our  houfes  with 
 fafety,  but  that  we  cannot  get  fervants,  upon 
 whofe  fidelity  we  can  depend?  towh^tis  all 
 this  to  be  afcribed  ?  certainly  to  the  corruption 
 of  our  nature,  in  the  firft  place,  but  in  the  next, 
 to  the  want  of  all  attempts  to  counterad:  that 
 corruption,  by  a  religious  Chriftian  education. 
 I  fay,  '*  a  religious  Chriftian  education  :"  for 
 to  what  are  we  to  afcribe  the  profligacy  and 
 profanenefs,  which, prevail  in  the  higher  ranks  of 
 life,  and  are  difFufed  from  them  throughout  the 
 whole  circle  of  their  inferiors  and  dependents, 
 but  to  the  fad  negled:  of  inculcating  the  princi- 
 ples of  the  do6trine  of  Christ  in  the  courfe  of 
 their  education  ?  It  is  a  fa6t  too  notorious  to  be 
 denied,  and  of  too  ferious  confequences  not  to 
 •be  lamented,  that  whilft  all  poflible  pains  are 
 
 *  Matt.  V.  42,  &c.  and  Luke  vi.  36. 
 
 taken 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  89 
 
 taken  to  "  teach  all  that  wifdom  by  which  the 
 **  world  knew  not  God,"  none  are  taken  to  in- 
 culcate **  the  wifdom  which  is  from  above,'* 
 by  which  alone  we  can  know  Him.  A  perfon 
 may  pafs  through  mofl  of  our  public  femina- 
 ries,  and  our  two  famous  univerfities  alfo,  and 
 never  once  have  put  into  his  hands,  as  the  book 
 for    ftudy    and    meditation,    the    Scripture 
 
 GIVEN  BY  INSPIRATION  OF  GoD. 
 
 But  as  for  the  rich,  they  muft  do  as  they 
 pleafe ;  they  are  giving  daily  proofs  of  the 
 truth  of  what  is  written,  **  that  it  is  eafier  for 
 **  a  camel  to  go  through  the  eye  of  a  needle, 
 **  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom 
 **  of  God.  To  the  poor  the  Gofpel  is  preached," 
 and  to  them  we  look  for  reformation.  Much 
 has  been  done,  and  much  more  may  reafonably 
 be  expecfled,  by  the  inftitution  of  Sunday  Schools  : 
 and  indeed  we  may  always  look  for  the  bleffing 
 of  God  upon  every  attempt  to  refcue  the  rifing 
 generation  from  ignorance  and  fin ;  your  re- 
 peated fupports  of  this  charity,  for  which  I 
 have  the  honour  and  happinefs  to  plead,  are 
 proofs  of  an  approbation,  to  which  nothing 
 that  I  can  fay  may  be  fuppofed  to  add  :  but  in 
 recommending  it  from  the  pulpit,  it  becomes 
 me  to  urge  motives  infinitely  fuperior  to  thofe, 
 which  are  temporary  and  political. 
 
 You 
 
9^  god's  mercy  to 
 
 You  profefs  and  call  yourfelves  Chriftians  : 
 and  would  to  God  ye  were  fuch,  **  not  in  word 
 **  and  in  tongue  only,  but  alio  in  deed  and  in 
 **  truth  r*  You  afk,  what  claim  have  thefe 
 children  upon  us  as  chriftians  for  our  fupport  ? 
 and  you  (hall  have  their  claim  in  words  which 
 the  Holy  Ghoft  teacheth ;  **  we  are  orphans 
 **  and  fatherlefs,  and  our  mothers  are  as 
 **  widows*."  We  may  have  "fathers  of  our 
 **  flefh,"  but  through  their  poverty  or  wicked- 
 nefs,  or  perhaps  both,  we  are  deprived  of  the 
 chief  benefits,  which  we  ought  to  receive  from 
 them.  We  look  to  you  for  parental  inftrudtion 
 and  care  :  to  be  fnatched,  as  by  an  angeFs  arm, 
 from  proftitution  and  ruin,  and  to  be  conducted 
 "  to  a  little  Zoar,  that  our  fouls  may  live  :" 
 and  our  mifery  is  our  plea  for  your  mercy. 
 
 Let  the  richeft  and  the  befl:  of  us  goto  **  the 
 **  throne  of  grace,"  and  what  better  can  we  fay 
 of  ourfelves,  than  that  we  are  **  orphans  and 
 **  fatherlefs  ?"  and  what  can  we  fee  in  ourfelves, 
 that  could  induce  God  to  have  mercy  upon  us, 
 but  the  compaffionate  confideration,  that  we  are 
 **  wretched  and  miferable  and  poor  and  blind 
 **  and  naked  ?"  but  when  God  brings  us  to  a 
 throne  of  grace.  He  furniflies  us  with  a  plea, 
 which  fuperfedes  the  neceflity  of  every  other  j 
 
 *  Lamentations  y,  3. 
 
 unto 
 
THE    FATHERLESS.  9I 
 
 unto  US  He  hath  given  Jesus  Christ,  and  unto 
 **  Him  a  name  which  is  above  every  name. 
 **  Afk  whatever  ye  will  in  my  name,  and  it 
 "  (hall  be  given  you."  We  are  taught  alfo  to 
 remember,  that  the  fame  blefled  and  adorable 
 Jesus,  who  is  our  Advocate  with  the  Father,  is 
 alfo  an  advocate  with  us  for  the  poor  of  man- 
 kind. **  I  was  hungry  and  yfe  gave  me  meat, 
 **  thirfty  and  ye  gave  me  drink,  naked  and  yc 
 "  clothed  me,  fick  and  in  prifon  and  ye  viiited 
 **  me.  Verily  verily  I  fay  unto  you,  forafmuch 
 **  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  lead  of 
 *'  thefe  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto 
 "  me*." 
 
 Then  God  blefs  this  little  feminary — God  en- 
 large your  hearts  towards  it — and  God  grant 
 that  this  day's  collecStion  may  abound  with  much 
 thankfgiving  to  himfelf,  much  profit  to  thefe 
 children,  and  much  comfort  to  thofe  who  have 
 two  objed:s  at  heart,  which  are  ever  connected, 
 the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  mankind. 
 
 *  Matt.  XXV.  42,  &c. 
 
LIBERTY, 
 
 AND 
 
 EQUALITY. 
 
 TWO  SERMONS. 
 
 •••#■•«•< 
 
 WO    UNTO    THEM     THAT    CALL    EVIL    GOOD    AJMD    GOOD 
 EVIL,    ETC.       ISAIAH    V.    20. 
 
LIBERTY. 
 
 &08IBH* 
 
 JOHN  viii.    1,6. 
 
 If  the  Son  therefore  Jhall  make  you  free^  ye 
 Jloall  be  free  indeed. 
 
 AFTER  all  the  noife  that  has  been  in  the 
 world  about  *'  liberty,'*  no  people  are 
 **  free,**  but  they  who  are  made  fo  by  Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 All  but  thefe  are  flaves  and  bondmen. 
 
 They  are  free  agents,  freethinkers,  and  {o 
 forth,  above  all  rule  and  authority,  and  power ; 
 *•  prefumptuous  and  felf- willed,  they  defpife 
 **  government  and  fpeak  evil  of  dignities;*'  and 
 fet  out  with  the  grand  apoftacy  of  **  denying 
 "  the  Lord  that  bought  them*;*'  that  is  re- 
 nouncing the  fupremacy  and  atonement  of  Jesus 
 Christ,  who  is  **  the  true  God  and  eternal 
 **  life-f,'*  and  the  **  one  foundation  which  is 
 "  laid  J**  for  the  religion  and  recovery  of  fallen 
 man. 
 
 *  2  Pet.  ii.  and  Epiftle  of  Jude.  f  i  John  v.  20. 
 
 X  I  Cor.  iii.  II. 
 
 Mighty 
 
 \ 
 
96  LIBERTY. 
 
 Mighty  philofophers  thefe  in  their  own  eili- 
 mation  !  but  what  are  they  in  the  judgment  of 
 truth  ?  **  they  promife  hbcrty,  but  are  them- 
 •*  felves  the  fervants  of  corruption*;"  they 
 **  are  in  the  gall  of  bitternefs  and  bond  of  ini- 
 "  quity  -f  j  in  the  fnare  of  the  devil,  by  whom 
 "  they  are  taken  captive  at  his  will  J ;"  and 
 doing  the  work  of  him,  who  *'  was  a  liar  and 
 **  murderer  from  the  beginning  §,"  in  deftroy- 
 ing  themfelves,  and  fpreading  mifchief  and 
 mifery  among  their  fellow  creatures :  while 
 God  **  puts  his  hook  in  theif  nofe  and  his 
 •'  bridle  on  their  lips  ||,"  that  He  may  reftrain 
 their  fiercenefs,  and  turn  it  to  his  praife,  making 
 them  inftruments  (**  though  they  mean  not 
 "  fo  ^")  to  promote  his  own  counfel  and  caufe, 
 which  ftand  and  profper  amidft  all  commotions, 
 and  which  fhall  endure  for  ever  in  the  condi- 
 t;ions  of  the  righteous  and  the  wicked,  of  whom 
 it  is  written,  "  thefe  fhall  go  into  everlafting 
 *'  punifliment,  but  the  righteous  into  life 
 **  eternal  *." 
 
 How  great  then  and  grievous  is  the  bondage 
 of  thofe,  who  are  the  firll  and  foremoft  in  their 
 preteniions  to  liberty  ? 
 
 *.  2  Pet.  ii.  19.  t  A(fts  viii.  23.         %  2  Tim.  ii.  26. 
 
 §  John  viii.  44.         ||   2  Kings  xix.  28.         ^  Ifaiah  x.  7. 
 *  Matt.  XXV.  46. 
 
 This 
 
LIBERTY.  9y 
 
 This  is  what  our  Lord  has  been  telling  the 
 Jews  in  the  verfes  preceding  that  of  the  text. 
 He  had  faid  "  to   thofe  Jews,  which  believed 
 **  on  Him,  if  ye  continue  in  my  word,  ye  are 
 *•  my  difciples  indeed  ;  and  ye  (hall   know  the 
 **  truth,  and  the  truth  (hall  make  you  free." 
 They  were  much  offended  at  this,  "  and  an- 
 "  fwered   Him,  we  are  Abraham's   feed,  and 
 **  were  never  in  bondage   to   any  man  :  how 
 "  fay  eft  thou,  ye  (hall  be  made  free  ?  Jefus  an- 
 "  fwered  them,  verily  verily  I  fay  unto  you, 
 **  whofoever   committeth  (in  is  the  fervant  of 
 **  (in."     This  holds  good  with  regard  to  Jew 
 and  Greek,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  what- 
 ever country  they  belong  to,  whatever  religion 
 they  profefs,  or  whatever  opinions  they  main- 
 tain, **  whofoever  committeth  (in"  is  a  real  flave 
 under  the  worft  of  mafters,  he  is   **  the  fervant 
 *  *  of  (in :    and  the  fervant  abideth  not   in  the 
 **  houfe   for  ever" — he  may  be  bought  or  fold 
 or  difmiffed  at  the  will  of  his  mafter— "   the 
 "  Son  abideth  for  ever" — his  right  is  indifpu- 
 table  and  independant,    it  is  by  virtue  of  his 
 condition  as  "  a  Son,"  that  he  is  and  muft  be 
 in  the  houfe  of  **  his  Father." 
 
 If  the  Son  therefore  shall  make  you 
 
 FREE,    ye  shall  BE  FREE  INDEED. 
 
 Our  fubjedt  is  chriftian  freedom,  what  it  is  in 
 itfelf,  and  who  it  is  that  confers  it. 
 
 H  Chriftian 
 
gS  liberty; 
 
 Chriftian  freedom  is  deliverance  from  fin, 
 which  is  our  great  enflaver,  from  the  law, 
 which  is  the  ftrength  of  fin,  and  from  death, 
 which  is  the  wages  of  it. 
 
 If  we  wdfh  to  fee  true  liberty,  as  it  was  pof- 
 feffed  and  enjoyed  by  our  nature,  let  us  read  the 
 two  firft  chapters  of  Genefis,  and  contemplate 
 man  perfect  and  upright,  as  God  created  and 
 made  him.  Dependent  upon  his  Creator  only, 
 and  fuperior  to  a  world  produced  and  provided 
 for  his  ufe  and  benefit,  he  had  nothing  withheld 
 from  him  but  a  fingle  tree,  as  the  infliituted 
 fymbol  of  **  that  knowledge,  which  is  too 
 **  wonderful  and  high  for  us  *,  and  to  which, 
 **  however  we  may  afpire  after  it,  we  can  never 
 •'  attain."  It  is  a  knowledge,  which  belongs 
 to  God  himfelf,  and  is  part  of  *'  that  glory, 
 **  which  He  will  not  give  to  another."  Being 
 the  Maker  of  angels  and  men,  He  is  the  one 
 Judge  of  what  is  *'  good  and  evil"  for  both, 
 and  requires  only  of  both  "  to  be  contented 
 **  with  fuch  things  as  they  have,"  and  fuch  as 
 He  knows  to  be  convenient  for  their  refpedtive 
 **  eftates  and  habitations."  Had  man  continued 
 in  this  Hate,  he  had  been  **  free  indeed,"  nei- 
 ther the  dupe  nor  the  prey  of  error  or  vice,  but 
 moving  in  his  fphere  under  the  dirediion  and 
 
 *  Pfalra  cxxxix.  6. 
 
 influence 
 
LIBERTY.  99 
 
 influence  of  a  Being,  whofe  wifdom,  power  and 
 goodnefs  are  infinite;  and  with  whom  '*  is  no 
 **  variablenefs  neither  fhadow  of  turning."  But 
 fin  found  it's  way  into  his  heart  and  enflaved 
 him,  puffed  him  up  with  idle  fpeculations  and 
 high  conceits,  **  ye  fliall  be  as  Gods  knowing 
 **  both  good  and  evil ;"  and  reduced  him  to 
 the  condition  of  a  condemned  prifbner  under 
 fentence  of  death ;  in  fuch  a  condition  it  retains 
 his  poflerity,  till  the  **  ftronger  and  the  fecond 
 **  man,  who  is  the  Lord  from  Heaven,"  fet 
 them  free ;  reigning  mofl  over  thofe,  who 
 think  the  leaft  of  it's  influence,  and  the  beft  of 
 themfelves  ;  it  pofTeffes  and  engages  our  time 
 and  talents,  the  faculties  and  exertions  of  our 
 mind  and  body. 
 
 For  the  truth  of  thefe  humbling  affertions  we 
 appeal  not  to  the  lives  of  the  ungodly  and  pro- 
 fane, of  the  idle  and  difTolute,  who  are  openly 
 and  avowedly  in  the  habits  and  under  the  do- 
 minion of  fin,  but  to  the  examples  of  the 
 decent  and  honefl,  the  bufy  and  the  profperous, 
 of  thofe»  who  in  the  emphatical  language  of 
 the  Pfalmifl,  *'  do  well  to  themfelves,  and  are 
 **  praifed  of  all  *."  What  is  it  that  gives  mo- 
 tion to  the  adlive,  and  elevation  to  the  eminent, 
 that  fets  their  fprings  at  work,  that  calls  forth 
 
 *  Pfalmxlix.  18. 
 
 H  2  the 
 
100  LIBERTY. 
 
 the  efforts  of  their   genius,  and  the  labour  q£ 
 their   hands  ? — it   is    fin.     What   is   the  God 
 which    they   worlhip    and    ferve  ? — it    is    felf. 
 '*  The  ground  of  a  certain  rich  man  brought 
 "  forth   plentifully  :    and   he  thought    within 
 **  himfelf  faying,  what  fhall  - 1  do,  becaufe  I 
 **  have  no  room  where  to  bellow  my  fruits? 
 **  and  he  faid,  this  will  I  do  :  I  will  pull  down 
 **  my  barns  and  build  greater  ;  and  there  will  I 
 **  bellow  all  my  fruits  and  my  goods  :  and  I 
 *'  will  fay  to  my  foul, — Soul,  thou  haft  much 
 "  goods,  laid  up  for  many  years,    take  thine 
 **  eafe,  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry.     But  God 
 "  faid  unto  him;  thou  fool,    this  night   fhall 
 *'  thy   foul   be  required   of  thee:  then   whofe 
 *'  Ihall  thofe  things  be  which   thou  haft  pro- 
 "  vided  ?    So  is  he  that  layeth  up  treafure  for 
 **  himfelf,   and  is   not  rich  towards    God  *.'* 
 Now  what   was    the   evil  of    this   charadler  ? 
 It  could  be  no  harm   to  be  rich,  no  harm  to- 
 be    fuccefsful,    no    harm    that    his  eftate  was 
 produdive,    no   harm   to   propofe   to    himfelf 
 eafe  and  cheerfulnefs,  when  exempt  from  the 
 necelTity  of  living  by  the  fweat  of  his  brow  ; 
 but  the  evil  was  that  he  worftiipped  and  ferved 
 the  "  creature"  inftead  of  the  *'  Creator;"  that 
 he  laid  up  treafure  to  **  himfelf"  and  was  not 
 
 *  Lukexii,  i6 — 21. 
 
 rich 
 
LIBER.TY.  lOI 
 
 rich  towards  *'  God  ;'*  and  of  courfe  when 
 death  feized  him  it  proved  him  to  be  a  fool, 
 ^*  it  took  away  his  gods,  and  he  had  nothing 
 "  left." 
 
 There  is  no  charad:er  more  common  than 
 this ;  they  who  have  the  moft  of  this  world's 
 goods  are  often  the  leail  thankful  to  Him,  who 
 giveth  all  things  richly  to  enjoy  ;  they  can  pafs 
 for  the  beft  fort  of  men  in  the  world,  and  be 
 without  God  in  it  too :  but  however  honeft, 
 induftrious,  deferving,  amiable  and  fo  forth 
 they  may  be  in  the  fight  of  men,  they  are  grofsly 
 defediive  in  the  fight  of  God,  who  hath  in- 
 fcribed  **  one  thing  thou  lackeft**  upon  every 
 one  of  them.  Meafure  them  by  the  word  of 
 God,  and  you  difcover  at  once  the  great  defedt 
 in  their  character.  Propofe  to  them  the  law  of 
 the  Moft  High,  which  faith,  "  thou  fhalt  love 
 **  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  mind, 
 **  foul  and  ftrength,  and  thy  neighbour  as  thy- 
 *'  felf,"  and  they  cannot  but  affent  to  it  with 
 the  fcribe,  and  acknowledge,  '*  Well  mafter, 
 "  thou  haft  faid  the  truth*.*'  But  bring  this 
 truth  and  their  chara(5ter  together,  examine  the 
 one  by  the  other,  and  the  conclufion  muft  be, 
 that  if  one  is  right  the  other  is  wrong.  How 
 then   does   the  law    of  the   Moft    High   affed: 
 
 *  Mark  xii.  32. 
 
 H  3  them? 
 
102  LIBERTY. 
 
 them?  It  proves  them  guilty,  and  worketh 
 wrath ;  it  excites  in  them  concupifcence  to 
 break  it,  and  enmity  againft  the  God  who  gave 
 it,  and  drives  them  back  to  their  old  principles 
 and  habits,  their  old  ways  of  thinking  and 
 adling,  which  they  oppofe  to  the  will  and  word 
 of  Jehovah.  But  go  a  ftep  further,  and  pro- 
 pofe  to  them  the  Gofpel  of  the  ever  bleffed  God, 
 *'  the  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  that  there  is  a 
 **  Saviour  Christ,  Jesus  the  Lord  ^,"  that 
 He  hath  *'  redeemed  us  from  the  curfe  of  the 
 **  law,  being  made  a  curfe  for  us  -f  ;"  that  He 
 is  almighty  to  pardon  and  fubdue  our  iniquities; 
 and  that  after  *.*  the  Prieft  and  Levite  have 
 **  pafTed  by  the  wounded  and  dying  traveller," 
 and  left  him  as  they  found  him,  in  *'  his  fins 
 **  and  in  his  blood,"  here  is  the  good  Samari- 
 tan with  his  oil  and  wine,  with  his  fpirit  and 
 with  his  blood  to  heal  him,  and  with  the  word 
 of  his  grace,  faying  unto  him,  "  live." — If  the 
 **  moral  law,  which  came  by  Mofes,"  con- 
 demns you,  and  '*  the  ceremonial  law  cannot 
 "  purge  your  confcience,"  here  is  "  Grace" 
 and  *'  Truth"  by  '*  Jesus  Christ"  to  deliver 
 you  J.  *'  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  are  weary 
 **  and  heavy  laden  and  I  will  give  you  reft ; 
 **  take  my  yoke  upon  you  and  learn  of  me,  for 
 
 *  Luke  ii.  10.         f  Gal.  iii.  13.  %  See  John  i.  17. 
 
 *♦  I  ana 
 
LIBERTY.  103 
 
 '*  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart,  and  ye  fliall 
 **  find  reft  unto  your  fouls.  For  God  fo  loved 
 "  the  world  that  He  gave  his  only  begotten  Son, 
 **  that  whofoever  believeth  in  Him  fhould  not 
 **  perifh  but  have  everlafting  life*."  Surely 
 here  is  the  voice  of  the  charmer,  but  there  is 
 **  a  deaf  adder  which  poifons  and  ftops  their 
 **  ears,  fo  that  they  refufe  to  hear,  charm  He 
 *'  ever  fo  wifely." 
 
 It  is  impoftible  to  receive  this  Gofpel  while 
 the     heart     retains     it*s    original     polTeilions. 
 **  Why  do  the  heathen  rage,  and  the  people 
 *'  imagine   a  vain  thing  ?    The  Kings   of  the 
 **  earth    fet   themfelves,   and   the    rulers    take 
 "  counfel  together  againft  the  Lord,  and  againft 
 "  his  Christ -f-."    It  feems  a  common  caufe  in 
 which  Kings  and  Gentiles,  rulers  and  people, 
 who  are  oppofed  to  each  other  on  many  occa- 
 sions, are  firmly  united  together  ;  and  why  ? — 
 the  reafon  is  put  into  their  own  mouths ;  "let 
 "  us  break  their  bands  af under  and  caft  away 
 **  their  cords   from  us."     The  **  bands"  and 
 **  cords"  are  the  things  which  we  diflike.     The 
 fin,  which   keeps  us   in  bondage,  perfuades  us 
 that  we  are  free,  and  that   religion  would  de- 
 prive us  of  our  freedom;  that  we  are  "   rich 
 **  and  increafed  with  goods,"  and  that  religion 
 
 f  Mat.  xi.  28.       John  ili.  16.  f  P^aim  ii.  i,  Sec. 
 
 H   4  would 
 
104  LIBERTY. 
 
 would  take  them  away.  **  There  came  one 
 "  running,  and  kneeled  to  Jesus,  and  alked 
 "  Him,  Good  Mafter,  what  lliall  I  do  that  I 
 *  *  may  inherit  eternal  life  ?  And  Jefus  faid  unto 
 **  him,  why  calleft  thou  me  good  ?  there  is 
 **  none  good  but  one,  that  is  God.  Thou 
 *'  knovveft  the  commandments,  do  not  commit 
 "  adultery,  do  not  kill,  do  not  ileal,  do  not 
 "  bear  falfe  witnefs,  defraud  not,  honour  thy 
 "  father  and  mother.  And  he  faid  to  him,  all 
 *'  thefe  things  have  I  obfervedfrom  my  youth  *." 
 Now  here  was  a  virtuous  and  valuable  man, 
 fuch  as  attrad:ed  the  efteem  and  admiration  of 
 Jesus:  *'  then  Jesus  beholding  loved  him." 
 There  cannot  be  a  more  honourable  teftimony  to 
 his  chara<5ter,  for  the  Holy  Ghoft  always  means 
 what  He  fays,  and  therefore  authorifes  us  to 
 infer  from  this  plain  expreffion,  that  Jesus  ac- 
 tually loved  this  amiable  young  man ;  and 
 **  He  faid  unto  him,  one  thing  thou  lackeft : 
 **  go  thy  way,  fell  whatfoever  thou  haft  and 
 '*  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  (halt  have  treafure 
 **  in  heaven  :  and  come,  take  up  thy  crofs  and 
 **  follow  me.  And  he  was  fad  at  that  faying 
 *•  and  went  away  grieved,  for  he  had  great 
 *'  poffeffions."  Now  what  was  it  that  could 
 induce  this   man  to  rejed:  fuch  an  offer  ?  the 
 
 *  Markx.  17,  &c. 
 
 offer 
 
LIBERTY.  105 
 
 offer  of  **  treafure  in  heaven,"  and  of  "  Jesus 
 **  who  loved  him"  as  his  Lord  and  portion ! 
 It  was  lin,  which  (hackled,  fettered,  and  blinded 
 him.  "  If  our  Gofpd  be  hid,"  faith  St. 
 Paul,  "  it  is  hid  to  them  that  are  loft ;  in  whom 
 "  the  God  of  this  world  hath  blinded  the  minds 
 **  of  them  that  believe  not,  left  the  light  of  the 
 **  glorious  Gofpel  of  Christ,  who  is  the  image 
 **  of  God,  (hould  fhine  unto  them*."  Chrif- 
 tian  freedom  is  deliverance  from  this  bondage. 
 The  Truth,  which  makes  us  free,  is  the  minif- 
 tration  of  the  **  Spirit"  to  open  the  eyes,  the 
 ears,  and  the  heart ;  to  remove  all  things  that 
 offend,  and  fet  the  believer  at  liberty  to  em- 
 brace, to  follow,  and  to  enjoy  what  he  knows 
 to  be  true.  If  you  will  look  into  the  third- 
 chapter  of  St.  Paul's  fecond  Epiftk  to  the  Co- 
 rinthians, you  will  find  an  account  of  the  Gof- 
 pel, as  it  is  the  "  miniftration  of  the  Spirit," 
 and  as  it  finds  its  way  into  the  hearts  of  them 
 that  receive  it :  you  will  find  alfo  the  bondage 
 and  liberty,  of  which  we  have  been  fpeaking, 
 contrafted  together,  and  exemplified  in  the 
 prefent  and  future  deftinies  of  the  Jewifli  people. 
 "  The  vail  over  the  face  of  Mofes,"  when  he 
 gave  them  their  law,  was  a  fign,  that  **  they 
 "  could  not  look  to  the  end  of  that  which  is 
 
 *  2  Cor.  iv.  3,  4. 
 
 "  aboliflied 
 
I06  LIBERTY. 
 
 **  abolifhed.  But  their  minds  were  blinded: 
 **  for  until  this  day  remaineth  the  fame  vail  un- 
 **  taken  away  in  the  reading  of  the  Old  Tefta- 
 "  ment;  which  vail  is  done,  away  in  Christ. 
 "  But  even  unto  this  day,  when  Mofes  is  read, 
 "  the  vail  is  upon  their  heart.  Neverthelefs 
 **  when  it  fhall  turn  to  the  Lord  the  vail  (hall 
 "  be  taken  away.  Now  the  Lord  is  that  Spi- 
 "  RiT,  and  where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is, 
 "  there  is  liberty*." 
 
 Here  then  is  Chriftian  freedom,  where  the 
 Almighty  **  Spirit"  removes  every  obftrud:ion, 
 opens  and  enlarges  the  heart,  gains  admiflion 
 for  **  the  faithful  faying,  which  is  worthy  of 
 **  all  acceptation,"  gives  us  a  fight  of  the 
 Lord's  Glory  in  the  mirror  of  his  word,  and 
 liberty  "  to  run  the  way  of  his  commandments," 
 which  approve  themfelves  to  his  image  in  the 
 inner  man.  '*  But  we  all  with  open  face  be- 
 "  holding  as  in  a  glafs  the  glory  of  the  Lord, 
 **  are  changed  into  the  fame  image,  from  glory 
 **  to  glory,  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord." 
 By  thefe  operations  of  the  Spirit,  every  one 
 **  that  is  called  in  the  Lord  is  the  Lord's  free- 
 **  man,"  and  of  courfe  ceafes  to  be  *'  fervant 
 *'  of  men  "f."  He  has  nothing  to  do  with 
 their  traditions,  rudiments,  opinions  and  falliions, 
 
 *  2  Cor.  iii.  13,  &c.  f  ^  Cor.  vii.  22. 
 
 ^    he 
 
LIBERTY.  107 
 
 he  is  above  and  independent  of  all,  and  has  only 
 to  **  underjftand  what  the  will  of  the  Lord  is** 
 and  to  follow  it.  The  pooreft  difciples  of 
 Christ  have  this  freedom,  and  enjoy  it :  you 
 may  produce  your  reafons,  ridicule,  and  threats 
 againft  them,  you  may  bind  and  imprifon  them, 
 but  ftill  they  are  free ;  neither  the  darknefs  of 
 midnight,  nor  the  drearinefs  of  a  dungeon  can 
 prevent  the  entrance  and  influence  of  light  and 
 life  in  their  fouls ;  they  can  rife  to  prayer  and 
 praife,  and  "  mount  with  wings  as  eagles**  in 
 the  fublime  exercifes  of  faith  and  devotion ; 
 they  can  reft  and  expatiate  in  the  prefence  of 
 God  as  in  their  proper  element ;  the  Lord  is  at 
 hand  to  feed,  to  help,  and  to  blefs  them,  to 
 work  fo  that  none  fliall  let,  and  to  keep  them 
 in  his  hands,  fo  that  none  fhall  pluck  them  out ; 
 unfhackled  and  unfettered  they  run  without 
 wearinefs,  and  walk  without  fainting;  they  are, 
 in  the  language  of  the  text,  '*  free  indeed.** 
 
 I  have  dwelt  largely  upon  this  topic,  con- 
 ceiving it  to  be  an  eflcntial  part  of  true  liberty- 
 to  be  free  from  prejudice,  to  fay,  that  *'  whereas 
 "  I  was  blind  now  I  fee,'*  and  that  '*  Jesus 
 "  hath  opened  mine  eyes  *."  And  what  will 
 fuch  lieht  difcover  ?  '*  the  hidden  thinos  of 
 f*  darknefs,  the  counfels    of  a  heart,**    which 
 
 *  John  ix. 
 
 have 
 
I08  LIBERTY. 
 
 have  been  *'  only  and  continually  evil,"  and  the 
 *'  law"  which  is  "  fpiritual,"  but  has  long 
 been  without  its  effed:  through  the  glofTes  and 
 "  traditions  of  men."  Being  **  renewed  in 
 **  knowledge,  after  the  image  of  Him  that  cre- 
 **  ated  me,"  I  muft  afTent  to  the  *'  law  that  is 
 **  holy,  jufi:  and  good,"  but  having  been 
 broken  it  can  only  condemn  me,  and  giving  to 
 fin  it's  power  to  bind  and  deftroy,  it  is  called 
 "  the  ftrength  of  fin."  Deliverance  from  this 
 is  Chriftian  freedom  :  '*  the  law  of  the  fpirit 
 **  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free 
 **  from  the  law  of  fin  and  death*."  A  be- 
 liever is  *'  not  under  the  law,  but  under  Grace," 
 and  therefore  **  fin  hath  not  dominion  over  him," 
 it  neither  faflens  him  to  the  earth,  nor  cries 
 againft  him  to  heaven.  St.  Paul  in  the  feventh 
 chapter  of  his  Epiftle  to  the  Romans  reprefents 
 us  as  allied  and  fubje(5l  to  the  law,  as  a  wife  is 
 bound  to  her  hufband :  as  **  long  as  her  huf- 
 **  band  liveth,  fhe  cannot  be  married  to  another, 
 *'  but  her  hufband  being  dead,  fhe  is  free  from 
 **  that  law."  He  illuftrates  by  this  fimilitude 
 the  different  ftates  of  men  by  nature  and  Grace, 
 of  bondage  under  the  law,  and  liberty  under  the 
 Gofpel.  **  Wherefore,  my  brethren,  ye  alfo 
 **  are  bccom.e  dead  to  the  law  by  the  body  of 
 
 *  Romans  viii.  2. 
 
 "  Christ; 
 
LIBERTY.  109 
 
 •*  Christ  ;  that  ye  fhould  be  married  to  ano- 
 •*  ther,  to  Him  who  is  raifed  from  the  dead, 
 **  that  we  fhould  bring  forth  fruit  unto  God. 
 **  For  when  we  were  in  the  flefh,  the  motions 
 **  of  fins  which  were  by  the  law  did  work  in 
 **  our  members  to  bring  forth  fruit  unto  death  : 
 **  but  now  we  are  delivered  from  the  law,  that 
 "  being  dead,  wherein  we  were  held."  The 
 apoflle  proceeds  to  defcribe  the  effecfts  of  the 
 law  where  it  is  known  and  applied  by  the  Spi- 
 rit with  it's  proper  force  and  efficacy  ;  "  fin 
 *'  abounds  by  it,"  and  *'  becomes  exceeding 
 "  finful  :**  fuppofing  that  there  is  an  inclina- 
 tion to  obey  it  \Yhile  it's  condemning  power  ex- 
 ifls,  the  prefence  of  evil  infeparable  from  the 
 propenfity  to  good  leaves  him  only  to  lament, 
 *•  O  wretched  man  that  I  am  !  who  fhall  de- 
 "  liver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death?"  But 
 he  rifes  above  the  law,  and  "  thanks  God 
 "  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  :"  and 
 begins  the  next  chapter  with  a  plain  conclufion 
 drawn  from  the  contents  of  this,  **  there  is 
 **  therefore  now  no  condemnation  to  them  that 
 *'  are  in  Christ  Jesus." 
 
 What  then  ?  Shall  we  fin  becaufe  we  are 
 *'  not  under  the  law,  but  under  Grace  ?  God 
 *'  forbid."  As  creatures  we  have  great  obliga- 
 tions to  God,  as  Chriftians  infinitely  more, 
 **  ye  are  bought  with  a  price,  therefore  glorify 
 
 **  God 
 
no  LIBERTY. 
 
 *'  God  in  your  body,  and  in  your  fpirit,  which 
 "  are  God*s  *."  If  we  know  Christ  as  a  Savi- 
 our, we  muft  hate  the  fins  for  which  He  fuf- 
 fered  in  proportion  as  we  love  Him  **  who  bare 
 "  them  in  his  own  body  upon  the  tree,"  and 
 fuffered  fo  much  upon  their  account.  If  "  the 
 *'  fame  mind  be  in  us,  which  was  alfo  in 
 "  Christ  Jesus,"  our  dehght  muft  be,  hke 
 His,  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  which  He  *'  came 
 •'  into  the  world  to  fulfil,"  and  by  which  obe- 
 dience alone,  we  can  be  made  righteous  before 
 God.  The  language  of  faithfulnefs  to  God  is, 
 **  O  that  my  ways  were  made  fo  dired:,  that 
 "  I  might  keep  thy  commandments!"  O  that 
 thy  law  were  fo  written  upon  my  inward  parts 
 that  no  thought  or  defire  of  my  heart  might 
 wander  from  Thee  !  but  if  this  be  not  the  cafe, 
 as  I  could  wifh,  fhall  I  therefore  defpair  ?  fhall 
 I  fuppofe  that  I  am  not  juftified  from  all  things, 
 becaufe  I  am  not  fmdified  wholly?  God  for- 
 bid. Let  me  learn  from  my  daily  wanderings, 
 from  the  conftant  prefence  of  evil,  from  fin 
 dwelling  in  me,  and  from  it's  law  in  my  mem- 
 bers, to  doubt,  diflruft,  and  abhor  my felf;  but 
 God  forbid,  that  I  fhould  doubt  or  diflrufl  my 
 •*  Redeemer:"  no  fall  can  be  finally  ruinous^ 
 but  -departure  from  Him. 
 
 *   I  Cor,  vi.  20. 
 
 Here 
 
LIBERTY,  III 
 
 Here  is  the  Chriftian's  freedom  from  the  law 
 — ^he  confents  to  it  that  it  is  good,  he  admits 
 it  as  a  rule  of  life  in  it's  fpiritual  application  to 
 the  inmoft  recefles  of  the  foul,  and  afpires  after 
 that  love  which  is  the  fulfilling  of  it :  but 
 though  he  tranfgreffes  it  through  furprife  or  in- 
 firmity feven  times  and  feventy  times  feven  in  a 
 day,  he  will  never  acknowledge  it's  right  as  a 
 covenant  of  works  to  condemn  him ;  he  is  di- 
 vorced from  it,  dead  to  it,  and  married  and 
 alive  unto  another,  even  unto  Jesus,  who  is 
 raifed  unto  David  as  a  righteous  branch,  who 
 hath  executed  judgment  and  juftice  in  the  earth, 
 who  is  never  feen  by  his  church  but  as  the 
 author  of  falvation  and  fafety,  and  who  is  ever 
 known  and  invoked  by  his  proper,  his  glorious 
 name,  Jehovah  our  Righteousness.  Chrif- 
 tian  preaching  therefore  does  not  confift  in  fay- 
 ing, you  mull  be  this  or  do  this,  but  in  lifting 
 up  Jesus  Christ  and  faying,  *'  believe  on  him 
 **  and  thou  fhalt  be  faved  ;  go  in  peace,  thy 
 *•  faith  hath  made  thee  whole,"  as  found  and 
 fafe  as  the  everlafting  ftrength  and  righteouf- 
 nefs,  as  the  faithfulnefs  and  fulnefs  of  the 
 Godhead  can  make  thee.  What  a  life  then  of 
 freedom  and  independance  is  that,  **  which  is 
 "  lived  in  the  flelh  by  the  fiith  of  the  Son  of 
 **  God,  who  loved  me  and  gave  himfelf  for 
 
 *'  me. 
 
112  LIBERTY. 
 
 **  me*."  It  is  a  life  which  no  law  human  or 
 divine  can  find  fault  or  meddle  with.  **  The 
 ^*  Lord  is  my  life  and  my  falvation,  whom 
 **  then  fhall  I  fear  ?  the  Lord  is  theflrength  of 
 **  my  life,  of  whom  then  fhall  I  be  afraid  -f-  ?" 
 "  Who  fhall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of 
 **  God's  eledt,  it  is  God  that  juftifieth,  who  is 
 **  he  that  condemneth  ?  it  is  Christ  that  died, 
 "  yea  rather  that  is  rifen  again,  who  is  even  at 
 "  the  right  hand  of  God,  who  alfo  maketh  in- 
 "  terceflion  for  us  J.*'  Surely  it  may  be  faid 
 that  "  againfl  fuch  there  is  no  law,"  that  **  their 
 **  warfare  is  accomplifhed,"  that  "  their  iniquity 
 **  is  pardoned,"  and  that  **  they  have  received 
 **  of  the  Lord's  hand  double  for  all  their 
 "  fins  II :"  that  God  **  hath  reconciled  them  to 
 **  himfelf"  completely  and  for  ever  *'  in  the  body 
 "  of  his  flefh  through  death,  to  prefent  them 
 **  holy  and  unblameable  and  unreproveable  in 
 "  his  fight. 
 
 "  To  continue  in  this  faith  grounded  and  fet- 
 '*  tied,  and  not  to  be  moved  away  from  the 
 **  hope  of  the  Gofpel,"  what  is  it,  but,  in  the 
 language  of  the  text,  to  be  "  free  indeed  ?" 
 
 Where  fin  does  not  enflave,  and  the  law  does 
 not  condemn,  there  death  has  lofi:  it's  power. 
 
 ■*  Gal.  ii.  20.  t  Pfal.  xxvii.  i. 
 
 +  Rom.  viii.  33,  kc.  \\  Ifa.  xl.  2. 
 
 "  O  death. 
 
LIBERTY.  113 
 
 **  O  death,  where  is  thy  fling  ?  O  grave,  where 
 **  is  thy  vid:ory  ?  the  fting  of  death  is  fin  ;  and 
 *'  the  ilrength  of  fin  is  the  law.  But  thanks 
 "be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  vid:ory 
 **  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ*."  This 
 is  the  language  of  perfe<5t  freedom,  and  when 
 the  tongue  is  loofed  to  ufe  it,  and  the  heart 
 enlarged  to  enjoy  it,  they  will  not  be  fettered  or 
 filenced  by  pain,  difeafe,  infirmity,  or  the  ap- 
 proach of  death  in  any  fhape  or  form. 
 
 We  read  of  thofe,  who  "  through  fear  of 
 *'  death  are  all  their  life-time  fubjed:  to  bond- 
 "  age." — This  mufl  be  the  lot  of  all  who  are 
 partakers  of  flefh  and  blood,  and  the  moft  that 
 they  can  do  is  to  get  rid  of  this  fear  for  a  fea- 
 fon  :  the  cares,  riches,  and  pleafures  of  life  may 
 fupprefs  the  thought  of  dying,  but  the  reahty, 
 the  awful  reality,  flill  remains  :  and  who  are 
 free  from  the  fear  and  power  of  it,  but  they 
 who  believe  in  Jesus  ?  of  whom  it  is  written, 
 *'  that  forafmuch  as  the  children  are  partakers 
 **  of  flefh  and  blood,  He  alfo  himfelf  took  part 
 *'  of  the  fame,  that  through  death  he  might 
 *•  deftroy  him  that  had  the  power  of  death,  that 
 **  is  the  devil,  and  deliver  them  who  through 
 '*  fear  of  death  were  all  their  life  time  fubjedt 
 **  to  bondage  f."     Who  faith  of  Himfelf,  ♦*  I 
 
 *  I  Cor.  XV.  55.  t  Heb.  ii.  14,  15. 
 
 I  "  am 
 
114  LIBERTY. 
 
 **  am  the  Rerurre6tion  and  the  Life,  he  that 
 **  belie vcth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet 
 "  fliall  he  hve,  and  whofoever  Hveth  and  be- 
 *•  lieveth  in  me  Ihall  never  die:'*  and  who  faith 
 to  his  difciples,  **  becaufe  I  live,  ye  fhall  live 
 "  alfo."  This  is  what  the  Apoftle  calls  deli- 
 verance from  the  **  bondage  of  corruption  into 
 **  the  glorious  liberty  (or  liberty  of  glory)  of  the 
 **  children  of  God;  for  which  they,  who  have 
 **  the  firfl:  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  are  groaning 
 **  within  themfelves,  waiting  for  the  adoption, 
 **  to  wit,  the  redemption  of  their  body  *."  A 
 wonderful  ftate  of  enlargement  this !  in  which 
 crying  and  forrow  and  pain  fhall  be  no  more,  in 
 which  we  fliall  be  like  God,  incorruptible,  im- 
 mortal, glorious,  and  fee  Him  as  He  is. 
 
 Who  but  a  Chriftian  can  cherifh  fuch  hopes 
 as  thefe?  and  yet  who,  but  one  that  has  them, 
 can  pretend  to  be  free  ?  unlefs  it  be  freedom  to 
 **  be  referved  in  everlafting  chains  under  dark- 
 "  nefs  to  the  judgment  of  the  great  day,  to  be 
 "  bound  hand  and  foot  and  caft  into  outer  dark- 
 **  nefs  and  to  be  fuflPering  the  vengeance  of 
 "  eternal  fire-f."  Thefe  words  may  feem  to 
 you  as  idle  tales,  and  you  may  believe  them  not; 
 but  they  are  the  words  of  the  "  Holy  Ghoft," 
 to  defcribc  the  miferies  of  thofe,  who  fin  againfl 
 
 *  Rom.  viii.  2i,23i     f  SeeEpiftleof  JudeandMat.  xxii.  13. 
 
 GoD, 
 
LIBERTY.  tl5 
 
 God,  whether  angels  or  men ;  and  thofe  of  us, 
 "  who  know  not  God,  and  obey  not  the  gofpel 
 *'  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  (hall  be 
 **  punifhed  with  everlafting  deftrudlion  from 
 "  the  prefence  of  the  Lord  and  from  the  glory 
 **  of  his  power  *.**  While  thefe  fhall  be  in  clofe 
 confinement,  barred  within  the  iron  gates  of 
 hell,  to  come  out  no  more,  gnafhing  their  teeth 
 and  gnawing  their  tongues,  blalpheming  the 
 God  of  heaven,  and  never  repenting  to  give 
 Him  glory;  they  on  the  other  hand,  whofe 
 hearts  *'  the  Lord  hath  opened  that  they  have 
 **  attended  to  the  things  which  were  fpoken  by 
 **  Him,"  they  who  have  "  fled  for  refuge  to 
 **  Jesus  Christ  that  they  might  be  juftified  by 
 *'  the  faith  of  Him,"  they  who  have  been  "  de- 
 **  livered  from  this  prefent  evil  world,"  and 
 have  walked  at  liberty  in  the  way  of  God's 
 commandments,  they  (hall  be  walking  at  large 
 in  the  bright  regions  of  eternal  day,  they  (hall 
 be  (inging  hallelujahs  to  the  Lord  God  omni- 
 potent, and  rejoicing  in  Him  who  hath  faved 
 them  with  an  everlafting  falvation  :  in  a  word, 
 for  ever  releafed  from  (hame  and  forrow,  and 
 for  ever  crowned  with  glory  and  righteoufnefs, 
 they  are  **  free  indeed." 
 
 *  2  Their,  i.  8,  9. 
 
 I  z  Such 
 
Il6  LIBERTY. 
 
 Such  is  Chriftian  freedom,  from  the  fervice 
 of  fin,  the  curfes  of  the  law,  and  horrors  of 
 death :  and  who  is  He  that  confers  this  freedom 
 upon  us?  it  is  the  *  Son' — the  Son  of  God  and 
 the  Son  of  man. 
 
 A  wonderful  Name  this,  which  is  above  every* 
 name !  defcriptive  of  One,  who  by  the  union 
 of  two  natures  in  Himfelf  is  perfe<5t  God  and 
 perfect  man;  and  who  by  his  office  is  the  head 
 of  GoD*s  family,  *'  the  firft  begotten  of  every 
 "  creature"  in  it,  the  one  furety  and  reprefenta- 
 tive  of  the  whole,  bringing  God  to  men  and 
 men  to  God,  making  the  offended  Majefty  of 
 heaven  a  reconciled  Father,  and  making  thofe, 
 **  who  are  by  nature  children  of  wrath,  the 
 "  children  of  God  by  the  faith  of  Himfelf." 
 
 That  we  may  conceive  rightly  of  Him,  whofe 
 office  it  is  to  make  his  people  free,  as  well  as 
 of  thofe  who  are  made  fo  by  Him,  we  muft  at- 
 tend to  the  diftindtion  between  a  **  Servant  and 
 *'  a  Son;"  and  remember  that  fervants  in  thofe 
 days  were  moftly  flaves.  "  The  Servant  abideth 
 **  not  in  the  houfe  for  ever,  but  the  Son  abideth 
 **  for  ever.  If  the  Son  therefore  fhall  make  you 
 **  free,  ye  (hall  be  free  indeed."  This  diftinc- 
 tion  is  moft  beautifully  marked  in  the  very  ele- 
 gant epiflle  of  St.  Paul  to  Philemon ;  which 
 was  wrote  in  the  behalf  of  a  fervant,  who  had 
 run  away  from  his  mailer:  who  had  perhaps 
 
 been 
 
LIBERTY.  117 
 
 been  taken  up  as  a  vagrant  at  Rome,  and  im- 
 prifoned  with  St.  Paul :  who  had  certainly  heard 
 the  Apoftle  and  believed  him ;  and  is  therefore 
 ftiled  by  him  "  my  fon  Onefimus  whom  I  have 
 *•  begotten  in  my  bonds."  The  Apoftle  would 
 have  retained  him  with  himfelf  as  one  that  had 
 and  might  have  been  profitable  to  him,  but  he 
 fends  him  back  to  his  proper  mafter  :  for  the 
 Gofpel  does  not  countenance  difobedience  and 
 rebellion,  confufion  and  diforder ;  it  does  not 
 infringe  upon  God*s  conftitution  of  things,  the 
 diftind:ions  of  mafter  and  fervant,  of  high  and 
 of  low,  of  rich  and  of  poor ;  diftindlions  fo 
 eflential  to  the  good  and  happinefs  of  this  world, 
 that  no  nation  or  community  ever  has  fubfifted 
 without  them  or  ever  will.  **  Let  every  man, 
 **  abide  in  the  fame  calling  wherein  he  was 
 **  called.  Art  thou  called  a  fervant  or  a  flave  ? 
 **  care  not  for  it:  if  thou  may  eft  be  made  free,** 
 not  by  violence,  but  by  an  a<5t  of  him  who 
 hath  a  right  to  make  thee  fo,  "  ufe  it  rather. 
 **  For  he  that  is  called  in  the  Lord  being  a  fer- 
 **  vant  is  the  Lord's  free-man:  likewife  alfo  he 
 **  that  is  called  being  free  is  Christ's  fervant: 
 **  being  bought  with  the  price  of  his  blood  *." 
 With  thefe  views  the  Apoftle  fends  Onefi- 
 mus  to  Philemon,  befeeching  him  at  the  fame 
 
 *   I  Cor.  vii.  21,  22,  23. 
 
 I  3  time 
 
Il8  LIBERTY. 
 
 time  to  receive  him,  "  not  now  as  a  fervant, 
 **  but  above  a  fervant,  a  brother  beloved,  fpe- 
 **  cially  to  me,  but  how  much  more  to  thee, 
 *'  both  in  the  flefh  and  in  the  Lord  ?" 
 
 Hence  let  us  infer  the  difference  between  a 
 fervant  and  a  fon,  and  the  diftind:ion  conferred 
 upon    thofe,  who  receive   their   freedom  from 
 the  **  Son  of  God.'*     His  office  may  be  learnt 
 from  his  name,  it  is  to  make  them  that  love 
 Him  **  the  fons  and  daughters  of  the  Almighty," 
 no  lefs  (and  they  cannot   be  more)    than  par- 
 takes with  Himfelf.     '*  For  which  caufe  He 
 **  is  not  afhamed  to  call  them  brethren,  faying, 
 **  I  will  declare  thy  name  unto  my  brethren,  in 
 "  the  midft  of  the  church  will  I  fing  praife 
 **  unto  Thee ;    and,  again,  behold   I   and  the 
 **  children  which  God  hath  given  me*."     We 
 are  by  nature  fervants  of  the  law,  which  faith, 
 this  do  and  thou  fhalt  live;  of  fin,  having  obeyed 
 it,  and  therefore  fubjed:  to  death :  as  fuch,  we 
 may  be  in  the  houfe  of  God  for  a  time,  but 
 we  cannot  be  there  for  ever.     We  may  be  in 
 the   world,  which   may  be   confidered  as   the 
 houfe  of  Him  that  made  it,  built  and  fitted  by 
 Himfelf   for    the    receptiqn    and    refidence    of 
 man ;  but  we  are  not  here  for  ever ;  when  we 
 have  lived  our  time,  and  performed  our  tafk, 
 
 *  Heb.  ii.  ii,  12,  13. 
 
 wc 
 
LIBERTY.  119 
 
 we  are  difmifTed,  and  heard  of  no  more.  We 
 may  find  our  way  alfo  into  the  houfes  of  God 
 upon  earth,  in  which  the  good  and  the  bad,  the 
 wheat  and  the  tares,  are  gathered  and  growing 
 together,  but  when  the  harveil  of  the  earth 
 (hall  be  fully  ripe,  and  God  (hall  command  his 
 **  angels  to  put  in  their  fickles  and  reap,"  when 
 He  fhall  appear  as  the  Judge  of  all  men,  to  dif- 
 tinguifh  **  between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked, 
 **  between  him  that  ferveth  God  and  him  that 
 "  ferveth  him  not,"  then  the  fervant  fhall  be 
 difcharged  from  his  houfe,  and  be  neither 
 heard  nor  thought  of  in  heaven.  But  if  the 
 Son  has  made  us  free,  He  has  taken  us  into 
 union  with  Himfelf,  admitting  us  to  his  table 
 in  the  houfe  and  prefence  of  his  father.  He 
 hath  given  us  in  that  houfe  **  a  place  and  a 
 **  name  better  than  of  fons  and  of  daughters,'* 
 an  **  inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled  and 
 *•  unfading;"  a  footing  and  an ellablifhment,  to 
 which  our  title  is  clear,  and  which  none  can 
 difpute  or  deftroy.  Children  may  commit 
 offences,  (and  who  can  tell  how  oft  he  offendeth) 
 but  it  is  the  Father's  office  not  to  turn  them 
 out,  but  to  bear  with  them,  not  to  leave  or 
 forfake,  but  to  reprove,  chaften,  and  corred: 
 them;  they  may  be  ignorant,  but  it  is  the 
 Father's  office  to  teach  and  inflrutft  them ; 
 they  may  need  conflant  tuition  and  care,  but 
 
 I  '4  they 
 
120  LIBERTY. 
 
 they  are  "  heirs  of  God  and  joint  heirs  with 
 "  Christ,"  and  it  is  the  Father's  office  to  pre- 
 ferve  and  prepare  them  for  glory ;  in  a  word, 
 they  are  free  of  his  houfe,  and  have  a  right  ta 
 fay  with  the  Pfahnifl,  "  one  thing  have  I  de- 
 **  fired  of  the  Lord,  that  will  I  feek  after,  that 
 **  I  may  dwell  in  the  houfe  of  the  Lord  all  the 
 **  days  of  my  life,  to  behold  the  beauty  of  the 
 **  Lord,  and  to  enquire  in  his  temple.  Surely 
 **  goodnefs  and  mercy  fhall  follow  me  all  the 
 "  days  of  my  life,  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  houfe 
 **  of  the  Lord  forever*.** 
 
 "  If  the  Son  therefore  shall  make 
 **  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free  indeed.** 
 
 Men  and  brethren,  is  not  this  liberty  far 
 preferable  to  that,  which  has  the  name  without 
 the  nature  of  freedom  ?  which  ferves  only  as  a 
 watch  word  for  the  idle  and  feditious,  to  in- 
 flame your  paffions,  diftrad:  your  minds,  and 
 diflurb  your  peace;  to  excite  in  you  falfe 
 alarms  of  imaginary  evils,  and  foolifh  conceits 
 of  imaginary  good;  and  which,  could  it  do 
 all  that  it  pretends  for  you  in  this  life,  leaves 
 you  juft  where  it  found  you  as  to  all  profpedts 
 of  another;  born  in  fin,  children  of  wrath, 
 prifoners  and  captives  under  the  law  which 
 you  have  broken,  liable  to  be  feized  and  caft 
 
 *  Pfalm  xxvli.  4.  xxiii.  6. 
 
 into 
 
LIBERTY.  lai 
 
 into  prifon,  there  to  be  kept  and  tormented  for 
 ever  !  If  the  Bible  be  true,  this  is  the  condi- 
 tion of  all  the  children  of  Adam,  and  none  are 
 delivered  from  it,  but  they  **  who  believe  that 
 **  Jesus  is  the  Christ  the  fon  of  the  living 
 *'  God." 
 
 Haft  thou  then  believed  in  Jesus  ?  If  not, 
 thou  art  yet  in  thy  fins,  if  in  fins,  of  courfe  in 
 chains  ;  thofe  chains  are  the  chains  of  darknefs  ; 
 and,  except  broken  in  this  life,  they  are  everlaft- 
 ing.  Kind  and  gentle  reader,  a  fellow  creature 
 and  fellow  finner  with  myfelf,  **  the  Lord  Jesus 
 **  forgiveth  fins,"  and  *'  loofeth  the  prifoners ;" 
 may  He  fhew  thee  thy  want  of  Him  and  make 
 thee  free! 
 
 Is  it  thy  complaint  then,  "  I  am  fo  faft  in 
 **  prifon  that  I  cannot  get  forth?  O  wretched 
 **  man  that  I  am,  who  fhall  deliver  me  from  the 
 *•  body  of  this  death  ?  Believe  in  the  Lord 
 **  Jesus  Christ  and  thou  (halt  be  faved;  take 
 **  his  yoke  upon  thee  and  learn  of  Him,  and 
 **  thou  flialt  know  the  truth,  and  the  truth 
 *•  Ihall  make  thee  free  ;  afk  of  Him  and  He 
 **  fhall  fend  thee  a  comforter,  the  Spirit  of 
 **  Truth,  and  where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is, 
 *•  there  is  liberty." 
 
 Or  is  it  thy  happy  lot  to  have  believed  in 
 Jesus  through  grace,  and  fo  to  have  obtained 
 this  freedom  ?     You  will  not  fay,  as  the  chief 
 
 captain 
 
122  LIBERTY. 
 
 captain  did  to  Paul,  **  with  a  great  fum  ob- 
 •*  tained  I  this  freedom,"  for  you  have  it  **  with- 
 *'  out  money  and  without  price;"  but  you  may 
 fay  with  Paul,  "  I  was  free  bom.  Begotten  to 
 **  a  lively  hope  through  the  Gofpel,"  and  **  born 
 **  not  of  corruptible  feed,  but  of  incorruptible, 
 **  by  the  word  of  God  which  liveth  and  abideth 
 **  for  ever,  juftified  freely  by  his  grace  through 
 *'  the  redemption  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  I 
 **  have  accefs  by  faith  into  that  grace,  in  which 
 *'  I  ftand,"  and  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  the  glory 
 of  God.  As  a  *'  fellow  citizen  with  the  faints 
 "  and  of  the  houfhold  of  God,"  I  look  beyond 
 this  world  and  live  above  it.  I  confefs  myfelf 
 **  a  ftranger  and  pilgrim  upon  earth,  and  defire 
 **  a  better  country,  that  is  a  heavenly,"  and  I  ex- 
 ped:  glorious  liberty  and  perfect  peace  in  a  city 
 which  hath  foundations,  whofe  builder  and 
 maker  is  God. 
 
 **  Happy  are  the  people  that  are  in  fuch  a 
 **  cafe — happy  the  people  whofe  God  is  the 
 *'  Lord!" 
 
 Let  fuch  be  addrelTed  in  the  words  of  the 
 Apoftle,  "  ftand  faft  therefore  in  the  liberty 
 **  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  us  free,  and  be 
 "  not  entangled  again  with  the  yoke  of  bon- 
 *'  dage  *."     Fall  not  from  grace,  by  feeking 
 
 *  Gal.  V.  I. 
 
 righteoufnefs 
 
LIBERTY.  1 23 
 
 righteoufnefs  from  the  law,  or  happlnefs  from 
 a  condemned  and  dying  world ;  keep  your 
 Bible  and  read  it,  and  fhew  that  you  are  free  to 
 obey  and  enjoy  it,  that  you  are  here  thoroughly 
 furnifhed  unto  all  good  works,  and  want  no 
 other  book  to  dired:  your  condu(5l  in  this  life, 
 or  your  way  to  another.  That  your  religion  is, 
 "  to  rejoice  in  Christ  Jesus  as  in  your  God  and 
 "  Saviour,  and  to  have  no  confidence  in  the 
 **  flefh  j  to  be  fubjed:  one  to  another  in  love," 
 and  to  be  *'  clothed  with  humility:'*  that  your 
 politics  are,  to  **  pray  for  Kings  and  all  that 
 **  are  in  authority,  that  you  may  lead  quiet  and 
 "  peaceable  lives  in  all  godlinefs  and  honefty ; 
 **  to  ftudy  to  be  quiet  and  mind  your  own 
 "  bufinefs,  and  to  labour,  working  with  your 
 "  hands  that  which  is  good;  to  obey  magif- 
 **  trates,  and  be  ready  to  every  good  work  :**  that 
 your  profeilion  is,  to  be  "  free,  and  not  ufing 
 "  your  liberty  for  a  cloak  of  malicioufnefs,  but 
 **  as  the  fervants  of  God:'*  and  that  the  com- 
 mandments which  you  have  received  from  Him, 
 your  one  Mailer  and  Lord,  are,  **  to  honour 
 *'  all  men:  to  love  the  brotherhood:  to  fear 
 *'  God:  and  to  honour  the  King.'* 
 
 Now  unto  the  King  eternal,  immortal,  in- 
 vifible,  the  only  wife  God,  Father,  Son  and 
 Holy  Ghoft,  in  one  Jehovah,  be  honour  and 
 glory,  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
EQUALITY. 
 
 EPISTLE  TO  THE  ROMANS  iii.  2a,  23,  24. 
 
 For  there  is  no  difference.  For  all  have  Jtnnedy 
 and  come  Jhort  of  the  glory  of  God  i  being  juf - 
 tified  freely  by  his  grace  through  the  redemption 
 that  is  in  Chrijl  Jefus. 
 
 THE  cry  of  the  day  is  Liberty  and  Equality  ; 
 words  of  excellent  import,  but  liable,  like 
 mofl  things  that  are  good  in  their  kind,  to  abufe 
 and  perverfion.  As  to  liberty  civil  and  religious, 
 it  is  truly  valuable,  and  it  is  enjoyed  in  it's 
 utmoft  extent  in  our  country,  where  law  is 
 eftablifhed  to  regulate  the  condu(5l  of  thofe  in 
 authority,  and  to  prote(5l  the  perfons,  rights  and 
 properties  of  all ;  and  where  the  Scripture  is 
 eftablifhed  to  regulate  the  conduct  of  religious 
 teachers,  fo  that  nothing  can  be  impofed  upon 
 us  as  an  article  of  faith,  but  what  **  is  found 
 "  in  Scripture  and  to  be  proved  thereby  *." 
 Change  this  conftitution  in  church  or  ftate,  and 
 
 ♦  See  6th,  20th  and  2ift  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England. 
 
 fubftitute 
 
126  EQUALITY. 
 
 fubftitute  the  pafTions  and  fancies  of  men,  inftead 
 of  the  law  in  the  one,  and  the  Bible  in  the  other, 
 and  we  are  a  nation  of  flaves,  to  be  confumed 
 and  devoured  one  of  another. 
 
 But  the  liberty,  which  has  been  the  fub- 
 je6l  of  a  former  difcourfe,  is  of  a  fpecies  far 
 fuperior  to  that,  which,  however  excellent  in 
 it*s  kind,  and  however  it  has  defervedly  the 
 name  of  freedom,  extends  to  this  life  only,  and 
 is  of  courfe  confined  within  the  narrow  circle  of 
 **  threefcore  years  and  ten."  It  is  '*  Chriftian 
 **  liberty,**  which  has  employed  my  pen,  and 
 which  has  never  been  obtained  but  only  from 
 "  the  Christ  the  Son  of  the  living  God.**  It 
 conlifts  in  freedom  from  fin  which  enflaves  us, 
 from  the  law  which  condemns  us,  and  from  the 
 death  which  is  due  to  us. 
 
 To  the  fame  book,  where  I  have  fearched  for 
 "  liberty,'*  I  have  had  recoufe  for  "equality** 
 alfo,  and  I  would  fain  prefent  it  to  the  reader  as 
 I  found  it.  As  to  the  concerns  of  this  life,  it 
 is  elfential  to  the  being  and  well-being  of  fociety, 
 that  there  fliould  be  differences  and  diftin<5lions 
 in  the  ranks,  orders,  and  flations  of  men  ;  they 
 are  clearly  marked  in  the  Bible,  and  many  of 
 the  commandments  of  God  are  founded  upon 
 them.  But  as  to  grand  and  eternal  concerns 
 **  there  is  no  difference  ;**  and  if  no  difference, 
 there  is  of  courfe  equality ;  and  to  what  may 
 
 this 
 
EQUALITY.  127 
 
 this  word  be  applied  without  detriment  to  any, 
 and  with  profit  to  all  ?  It  may  be  applied  to 
 human  nature,  it  may  be  applied  to  divine 
 grace ;  we  are  levelled  by  the  one,  **  for  all 
 *.'  have  finned,  and  come  fhort  of  the  glory  of 
 **  God  ;"  we  are  levelled  by  the  other,  **  being 
 **  juflified  freely  by  his  grace  through  the  re- 
 *'  demption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus." 
 
 Firfl  of  all  then,  there  is  no  difference  between 
 us  as  creatures;  for  "  have  we  not  all  one 
 *'  Father?  Hath  not  one  God  created  iis*f" 
 It  is  our  fin  and  reproach  to  be  ignorant  of  Him, 
 **  who  is  not  far  from  every  one  of  us  :  for  in 
 **  him  we  live  and  move  and  are ;"  and  it  is  no 
 credit  to  the.wifdom  of  this  world,  that  it  could 
 ere(5t  nothing  at  Athens,  **  but  an  altar  with 
 "  this  infcription.  To  the  unknown  God. 
 **  Whom  therefore  ye  ignorantly  worfhip," 
 faith  St.  Paul,  **  Him  declare  I  unto  you.  God 
 **  that  made  the  world  and  all  things  therein, 
 "  feeing  that  He  is  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth, 
 **  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with  hands ; 
 **  neither  is  worfhipped  with  men's  hands  as 
 '  *  though  he  needed  any  thing,  feeing  He  giveth 
 **  to  all  life  and  breath  and  all  things ;  and  hath 
 **  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  for  to 
 **  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth  "f."     Here 
 
 *  Adalachi  ii.  10.  t  A(fts  xvii.  23,  &c. 
 
 then 
 
1^8  EQUALITY. 
 
 then  is  perfedl  equality,  and  were  it  felt  as  it 
 ought  to  be,  it  would  unite  the  whole  earth  in 
 one  language  and  fpeech,  *'  O  come,  let  us 
 *•  worfhip  and  bow  down  and  kneel  before  the 
 **  Lord  our  Maker.  Know  ye  that  the  Lord 
 **  He  is  God,  it  is  He  that  hath  made  us  and 
 **  not  we  ourfelves ;  we  are  his  people  and  the 
 **  fheep  of  his  paiflure  *." 
 
 Secondly,  if  there  be  no  difference  between 
 us  as  creatures,  there  can  be  no  difference  as  to 
 the  laws  under  which  we  were  created,  and  to 
 which  we  all  owe  equal  obedience,  whether  we 
 choofe  to  pay  it  or  no.  "  Thou  fhalt  love  the 
 **  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  and  with 
 **  all  thy  foul,  and  with  all  thy  mind,  and  with 
 *'  all  thy  ffrength.  This  is  the  firft  and  great 
 **  commandment.  And  the  fecond  is  like, 
 **  namely  this,  thou  (halt  love  thy  neighbour  as 
 **  thyfelf-f."  Who  can  claim  exemption  from 
 thefe  commandments  ?  Who  can  deny  their 
 reafonablenefs,  and  tendency  to  fecure  the 
 honour  of  God  and  happinefs  of  men  ?  The 
 prefervation  of  thefe  laws  in  our  hearts  and  lives 
 would  have  prevented  the  neceffity  of  enad:ing 
 others,  of  all  which  we  may  fay,  as  it  has  been 
 faid  of  the  law  of  Mofes,  that  "  they  were 
 "added   becaufe  of  tranfgreffion;};,"  in  confe- 
 
 *  Pfalms  xcvi  and  c^        f  Mark  xii.  30.        J  Gal  iii.  19. 
 
 quence 
 
EQUALITY.  129 
 
 qiiencc  of  the  many  vices,  corruptions,  and 
 enormities,  which  have  defiled  men,  and  dif- 
 turbed  the  world,  and  which  have  all  originated 
 in  the  one  breach  of  the  firft  and  one  law  of 
 nature. 
 
 Thirdly  then,  if  there  be  no  difference  be- 
 tween us  as  we  are  creatures,  and  as  we  are  all 
 fubjed:  to  the  fame  law,  and  if  it  can  be  proved 
 that  we  have  all  broken  that  law,  it  will  follow 
 that  there  can  be  no  difference  in  another  refpe(5t, 
 and  that  it  is  the  humbling  equality  which  is 
 fpoken  of  in  the  words  of  the  text — "  for  all 
 **  have  finned  and  come  fliort  of  the  glory  of 
 **  God."  The  Apoftle  concludes  this  from  fad: 
 and  from  Scripture  :  he  appeals  to  the  condudt 
 of  Jew  and  Gentile,  and  examines  it  by  the 
 evidences  which  each  had  of  God,  the  one  from 
 the  works  of  his  hands,  and  the  other  from  the 
 words  of  his  mouth;  and  *'  proves  or  charges 
 *•  both,  that  they  are  all  under  iin  *."  He  then 
 refers  them  to  Scripture,  "  as  it  is  written," 
 and  after  producing  many  palTages  from  thence, 
 declaring  God's  judgments  of  men,  he  adds, 
 *'  now  we  know  that  whatfoever  things  the  law 
 "  faith,  it  f]iith  unto  them  that  are  under  the 
 *'  law,  that  every  mouth  may  be  flopped,  and 
 "all   the   world    become  guilty   before   God. 
 
 *  Rom.  iii.  9. 
 
 K  **  There- 
 
1 3Q  EQUALITY. 
 
 **  Therefore  by  the  deeds  of  the  laW  (hall  na 
 *'  flefh  be  juftified  in  his  fight,  for  by  the  law 
 **  is  the  knowledge  of  fin."  He  then  fpeaks 
 of  **  the  righteoufnefs  of  God,"  not  by  our 
 performance,  but  "  by  the  faith  of  Jesus 
 '*  Christ  unto  all  and  upon  all  them  that 
 **  believe.  For  there  is  no  difference,  for  alj 
 "  have  finned  and  come  fhort  of  the  glory  of 
 **  God  :"  and  of  courfe  mufl  be  made  righteous 
 by  faith,  or  remain  finners  for  ever.  ' 
 
 Jt  is  eafy  by  the  light  of  God  (though  not  by 
 any  other  means)  to  trace  the  feeds  of  iniquity, 
 *'  original  or   birth  fin,"  in    every   man   and 
 woman  born   into  the    world :    their  circum- 
 flances  and  habits,  their  inclinations  and  tempers 
 may  be  as  different  as  their  faces,  but  their  heart, 
 their  nature,  is  one  and  the  fame.     **  For  how 
 **  many  might,"  fays  Dr.  South,  **  and  with^ 
 **  out  doubt  would  have  flolen,  as  Achan  did, 
 had  the  fame  allurement  been  placed  before 
 them  ?    How  many  might  have   committed 
 David's  murder  and  adultery,  had  they  been 
 under  David's  circumflances  ?   How    many 
 might  have  denied  and   forefworn  Christ 
 with  St.  Peter,  had  they  been  furprifed  with 
 the  fan^e  danger  ?  How   great  a  part  of  the 
 innocence  of  the  world  is  nothing  elfe  but 
 want   of  opportunity   to  do   the   wickednefs 
 they  have  a  mind  to  ?  And  how  many  forbear 
 
 "  finning 
 
 it 
 
EQUALITY.  131 
 
 *'  firining  not  becaufe  God*s  Grace  has  wrought 
 "  upon  their  wills,  but  becaufe  a  merciful  Pro- 
 "  vidence  has  kept  off  the  occafion  *  ?" 
 
 Thefe  very  judicious  remarks  may  have  much 
 feverity,  but  they  have  no  injuftice,  they  are 
 founded  upon  the  clear  decifions  of  the  infallible 
 God,  **  who  hath  looked  down  from  heaven 
 **  upon  the  children  of  men,  and  declared  that 
 "  they  are  all  gone  afide,  that  they  are  altogether 
 **  become  filthy,  that  there  is  none  that  doeth 
 **  good,  no  not  one  "f  ;  and  that  except  a  man  be 
 **  born  again  he  cannot  fee  the  kingdom  of 
 **  God  J."  Here  are  no  diftin(5tions  or  excep- 
 tions whatever,  the  whole  world  appears,  as  it 
 is,  **  lying  in  wickednefs,"  and  the  earth, 
 **  defiled  with  the  inhabitants  thereof,"  no  better 
 than  a  common  prifon,  in  which  **  the  Scrip- 
 *'  ture  hath  concluded  or  (hut  up  all  under 
 **  fin§,"  without  any  difference  or  inequality. 
 
 And  if  thefe  things  are  fo,  there  is  no  differ- 
 ence in  a  fourth  refped:,  inafmuch  as  it  "is 
 *'  appointed  for  all  men  once  to  die."  The 
 Apoftle  accounts  for  this  by  faying,  '*  that  fin 
 *'  hath  entered  into  the  world,  and  death  by  fin, 
 *•  and  death  hath  paffed  upon  all  men,  for  that 
 "  all  have  finned,   and  that  in  Adam  all  die  ||." 
 
 *  See  firft  Difcourfe  upon  Temptation  in  Dr.  South's  Ser- 
 mons, Vol.  vi.  p.  144.  Edit.  1737.  t  Pfalmxiv.  3. 
 %  John  iii.  3.    §  Gal.  iii.  22.    ||  Rom.  v.  12.    i  Cor.  xv.  22. 
 
 K  2,  The 
 
132  EQUALITY. 
 
 The  worft  parts  of  death  are  thofe  which  are 
 hidden  from  the  fight  aad  thought  of  the  mere 
 natural  man;  fuch  as  the  death  of  his  fpirit, 
 when  God's  fpirit  is  taken  away,  and  the 
 deflrudlion  of  thewhole  fpirit,  foul  and  body,  in 
 **  the  lake  of  fire,"  which  is  called  *'  the  fecond 
 *'  death,"  as  it  follows  tht.  death  and  refurrec- 
 tion  of  the  body.  Whether  the  torments  of  hell 
 are  equal  in  nature  or  degree,  is  what  I  neither 
 wifli  to  know,  nor  pretend  to  determine ;  fure 
 I  am  (for  it  is  written)  that  they  are  equal  in 
 point  of  duration ;  and  as  to  diftindlions  ia 
 mifery,  it  is  no  more  worth  while  to  difpute 
 about  them  here,  than  it  will  be  to  contend  for 
 them  hereafter. 
 
 Equality  however,  that  humbling  word,  is 
 ftridtly  applicable  to  that  death  which  prefents 
 itfelf  to  us  every  day,  and  which  is  known  to 
 be  the  appointed  end  of  our  prefent  exifi:ence. 
 Here  all  are  upon  a  level. — **  We  fee  that  wife 
 "  men  die  as  well  as  the  ignorant  and  foolifh. — - 
 **  I  faid  ye  are  gods,"  diftinguifhed  now  for 
 power  and  pre-eminence,  **  but  ye  fhall  die  like 
 *•  men."  There  is  no  difference  in  a  corpfe, 
 whether  it  has  lived  in  a  cottage  or  fat  upon  a 
 throne  ;  but  a  vaft  difference  in  the  ffates  of 
 departed  fouls  according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the 
 body.  **  The  only  way,"  fays  an  excellent 
 writer,  "  to  form  a  true  judgment  of  any  man*s 
 
 *'  condition 
 
EQUALITY.  133 
 
 "  condition  taken  altogether,  is  to  think  vipo^i 
 **  him  a  little  when  he  is  laid  in  his  grave. 
 **  While  he  is  alive  we  are  cheated  with  a  falfe 
 "  opinion  of  him:  our  eyes  are  fmitten  with 
 "  the  fplendor  of  his  greatnefs,  or  our  pride 
 *'  difgufted  by  the  poverty  of  his  appearance. 
 "  But  in  death  there  is  an  end  of  all  delufion  *." 
 Here  all  men  are  equal — **  like  fheep  they  are 
 **  laid  in  the  grave,  death  is  feeding  on  them" 
 — they  are  proved  to  be  miferable  mortals  **  who 
 "  have  come  up,  and  are  cut  down,  like  a 
 **  flower — their  days  a  fliadow — and  none 
 "  abiding.  There  is  no  difference— it  is  ap- 
 "  pointed  for  all  men  once  to  die  -f-." 
 
 *'  But  after  this  the  judgment  !'*  and  here  we 
 are  all  upon  a  footing  again.  Partakers  of  the 
 fame  nature,  fubjed:  to  the  fame  law,  fummoned 
 before  the  fame  tribunal,  and  the  fame  Judge 
 of  all  the  earth,  who  knows  what  He  has 
 given  to  every  creature  upon  it,  and  who  will 
 require  of  each  according  as  He  hath  given. 
 Here  there  can  be  *'  no  refpe(ft  of  pcrfons,"  no 
 confufion  of  right  and  wrong.  **  Forwemufl: 
 •*  all  appear  before  the  judgment  feat  of  Chrifl ; 
 **  that  every  one  may  receive  the  things  done  in 
 **  the  body,    according  to  that  he  hath   done, 
 
 *  See  Refledtions   on  the  life,  death,    and  burial  of  the 
 Patriarchs,  by  the  Rev.  William  Jones,  p.  18, 
 t  Pf.  xlix.  14.  Job  xiv.  2.   I  Chron.  xxix.  15.   Hcb.  ix.  27, 
 
 K  3  **  whether 
 
134  EQUALITY. 
 
 **  whether  good  or  bad  *."  Here  there  will  be 
 no  diftincflions,  but  between  good  and  evil ;  all 
 "  that  are  in  the  graves  fhall  hear  the  voice  of 
 *'  the  Son  of  God,  and  come  forth,  they  that 
 "  have  done  good  to  the  refurre(5tion  of  life, 
 **  and  they  that  have  done  evil  to  the  refurrec- 
 **  tion  of  damnation  +."  Could  we  exclude 
 for  a  while  the  things  which  are  **  feen  and 
 **  temporal,**  and  banifh  ourfelves  with  St. 
 John  to  the  ifland  of  Patmos,  with  nothing 
 before  us  but  the  things  which  are  "  not  feen 
 **  and  eternal ;"  the  fame  objeds  might  prefent 
 themfelves  to  us,  which  were  prefented  to  him. 
 **  And  I  faw  the  dead,  fmall  and  great,  ftand 
 **  before  God ;  and  the  books  were  opened : 
 **  and  another  book  was  opened,  which  is  the 
 **  book  of  life:  and  the  dead  were  judged  out 
 *'  of  thofe  things,  which  were  written  in  the 
 "  books,  according  to  their  works.  And  the 
 **  fea  gave  up  the  dead  which  were  in  it ;  and 
 "  death  and  hell  delivered  up  the  dead  which 
 **  were  in  them:  and  they  were  judged  every 
 '*  man  acco^'ding  to  their  works.  And  death 
 *•  and  hell  were  caft  into  the  lake  of  fire  :  this 
 "  is  the  fecond  death.  And  whatfoever  was 
 **  not  found  written  in  the  book  of  life,  was 
 "  caftinto  the  lake  of  fire  J.'* 
 
 *  2  Cor.  V.  10.         t  Johnv.  29.         %  Rev.  xx.  12. 
 
 Such 
 
EQUALITY.  135 
 
 Such  is  the  boafted  equality  of  man !  The 
 junction  of  which  with  the  rights  of  man  is 
 truly  furprizing :  a  ftrange  attempt  to  connect 
 words,  which  confute  each  other;  and  by  found 
 without  fenfe  to  blow  up  a  flame,  in  which  all 
 things  are  confounded  and  diflblved  together. 
 That  a  creature,  made  by  the  word  of  his  Cre- 
 ator, has  a  right  to  live,  is  undoubtedly  true, 
 but  this  right  is  received,  and  depends  upon  the 
 will  of  Him  that  gave  it.  "  Thou  takefl:  away 
 **  their  breath,  they  die*."  That  a  creature, 
 who  is  to  live  upon  earth,  has  a  right  to  eat 
 what  is  produced  in  it  for  his  fupport,  is  equally 
 true ;  but  this  right  depends  upon  his  labour, 
 and  continuance  in  that  ftation  of  life,  in  which 
 it  hath  pleafed  God  to  call  him.  "  For  even 
 **  when  we  were  with  you,  this  we  commanded 
 **  you,  that  if  any  would  not  work,  neither 
 **  Ihould  he  eat.  For  we  hear  that  there  are 
 **  fome  that  walk  among  you  diforderly,  work- 
 "  ingnot  at  all,  but  are  bufy  bodies.  Now  them 
 *'  that  are  fuch  we  command  and  exhort  by  our 
 **  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  with  quietnefs 
 **  they  work,  and  eat  their  own  bread -f."  We 
 have  fuch  rights  as  creatures ;  but  as  finful 
 creatures  we  have  none  from  the  law,  but  to  the 
 pains  and  penalties  annexed  to  the  breach  of  it, 
 
 *  Pfalm  civ.  29.  f  2  ThefT.  iii.  10,  11,  12. 
 
 K  4  and 
 
136  EQUALITY. 
 
 and  as  guilty  before  God,  none  from  Him,  but 
 **  to  his  indignation  and  wrath,"  and  to  '*  def- 
 *'  trudiion  from  his  prefence  and  the  glory  of 
 "  his  power."  In  our  claims  to  thefe  rights 
 there  is  little  or  no  difference  at  all. 
 
 But  if  the  word  *'  equality"  may  be  applied 
 to  the  human  nature,  it  may  alfo  be  applied  to 
 divine  grace  :  to  which  all  Chriftians  are  alike 
 indebted,  *'  being  juflified  freely  by  his  grace, 
 *'  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ 
 "  Jesus."  . 
 
 **  Christianity,"  fays  an  able  and  pious 
 writer,  **  is  an  ad:  of  grace,  figned  with  the  royal 
 *'  iignet  of  heaven,  to  fet  the  condemned  pri- 
 **  foner  free*."  The  gofpel,  which  proclaims 
 this  grace,  brings  down  and  levels  with  the  dufl 
 all  forts  and  conditions  of  men  :  it  teaches  the 
 wife,  the  mighty,  the  noble  (if  any  fuch  are 
 called)  to  fhare  it's  bleffings  in  common  with 
 the  poor;  whofe  privilege  it  is  to  "  be  evan- 
 gelized't',"  and  •*  chofen  rich  in  faith,  and  heirs 
 *'  of  the  kingdom,  which  God  hath  promifed 
 **  to  them  that  love  him." 
 
 "  Let  the  brother  of  low^  degree  rejoice  in 
 **  that  he  is  exalted  :  but  the  rich  in  that  he  is 
 "  made  low  J." 
 
 *  Dr.  Home,  late  Biftiop  of  Norwich, 
 f  I  have  retained  the  original  word  suxfyski^ovrxi,  which 
 we  render  ^*  have  the  Gofpel  preached  to  them." 
 X  James  i.  9,  10. 
 
 "  The 
 
EQUALITY.  137 
 
 "  The  faithful  word  is,  that  Jesus  Christ 
 "  came  into  the  world  to  fave  finners."  What 
 effed:  had  this  word  upon  St.  Paul  ?  It  ranked 
 him  among  finners,  and  conftrained  him  to 
 add,  **  of  whom  I  am  the  chief*."  He  is  lefs 
 than  the  leaft  in  his  own  eyes  j  but,  he  adds, 
 *'  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  am  what  I  am-f." 
 It  is  by  free  fovereign  grace,  that  Iwho  was 
 before  a  **  blafphemer,  perfecutor,"  and  **  in- 
 *'  jurious,"  am  now  a  Chriftian,  an  Apoftle, 
 a  Martyr. 
 
 To  teflify  the  Gofpel  of  this  grace  of  God 
 became  the  one  obje6t  of  his  life  and  labours; 
 and  fpeaking  of  the  partakers  of  this  grace,  he 
 defcribes  them  as  once  **  dead  in  trefpaifes  and 
 fins.  Wherein  in  time  paft  ye  walked  ac- 
 cording to  the  courfe  of  this  world,  according 
 to  the  prince  of  the  power  bf  the  air,  the 
 fpirit  that  now  worketh  in  the  children  of 
 difobedience  :  among  whom  alfo  we  all  had 
 our  converfation  in  times  paft,  in  the  lufts  of 
 our  flefh,  fulfilling  the  defires  of  the  fiefli  and 
 of  the  mind  j  and  were  by  nature  children  of 
 wrath  even  as  others.  But  God,  who  is 
 rich  in  mercy,  for  his  great  love  wherewith 
 he  loved  us,  even  when  we  were  dead  in 
 fins,     hath     quickened    us     together    with 
 
 *  I  Tim.  i.  t  I  Cor.  xv.  9,  10. 
 
 **  Christ. 
 
138  EQUALITY. 
 
 •'  Christ.  By  grace  ye  are  faved*."  Of 
 this  grace  all  Chriftians  feel  the  need  and  enjoy- 
 ment without  difference  or  inequality :  and  by 
 this  we  are  faid  in  the  tejct  to  be  **  juftified 
 **  freely." 
 
 To  be  juftified  is  to  be  made  righteous,  and 
 as  the  term  is  applied  to  thofe,  who  are  not 
 righteous  in  themfelves,  it  mufh  fignify  to  be 
 abfolved  from  iniquities ;  to  be,  as  the  Latins 
 fay,  "  re(5tus  in  Curi^,  upright  in  Court  ;*' 
 tried,  acquitted,  and  found  righteous  at  the  Bar 
 of  God.  They  who  can  boaft  of  this  right- 
 eoufnefs  have  nothing  to  fear  and  every  thing  to 
 hope :  they  are  the  bleffed  of  the  Lord. 
 **  BlelTed  is  he  whofe  tranfgreffion  is  forgiven, 
 **  whofe  lin  is  covered.  Bleffed  is  the  man 
 **  unto  whom  the  Lord  imputeth  not  iniquity, 
 "  and  in  whofe  fpirit  there  is  no  guile  f-.**  The 
 Apoflle  tells  us,  **  that  David  is  here  defcribing 
 **  the  bleffednefs  of  the  man,  unto  whom  God 
 **  imputeth  righteoufnefs  without  works  J." 
 Here  then  all  Chriftians  are  equal,  being  jufli- 
 fied  by  the  fame  grace,  and  being  partakers  of 
 the  fame  **  righteoufnefs  of  God,  which  is  by 
 **  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  all  and  upon 
 •*  all  them  that  believe:  for  there  is  no  differ- 
 **  ence.*'       He   puts    this    argument    into   the 
 
 *  Ephef.  ii.  ij  &:c.     f  Pfalm  xxxii.  i,  2.     J  Rom.  iv.  6,7. 
 
 mouth 
 
EQUALITY,  139 
 
 mouth  of  Titus,  when  he  charges  him  to  put 
 his  hearers  in  mind  '*  to  fpeak  evil  of  no  man. 
 "  For  we  ourfelves  alfo  were  fometimes  fooHfli, 
 "  difobedient,  deceived,  &c.  but  after  that  the 
 "  kindnefs  and  love  of  God  our  Saviour  toward 
 ^*  man  appeared,  not  by  works  of  righteoufnefs 
 **  which  we  have  done,  but  according  to  his 
 "  mercy,  He  faved  us,  by  the  walhing  of  re- 
 "  generation,  and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghoft, 
 **  which  He  fhed  on  us  abundantly  through 
 "  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour :  that  being  jufti- 
 **  fied  by  his  grace  we  might  be  made  heirs 
 **  according  to  the  hope  of  eternal  life*."  No 
 words  can  be  plainer  than  thefe :  they  defcribe 
 us  as  equal  in  guilt  by  nature,  and  equal  in 
 righteoufnefs  by  grace  :  and  that  "  through  the 
 **  redemption  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.** 
 
 Redemption  is  the  deliverance  of  criminals 
 and  captives  by  paying  the  price  of  their  ran- 
 fom.  In  the  Jewifh  ceconomy,  where  all  things 
 were  juft  and  equal,  as  it  was  the  infpired  copy 
 of  a  divine  original,  and  the  figure  for  a  time  of 
 the  everlafting  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
 law  of  redemption  was  eftablifhed,  and  the 
 right  of  it  fixed  in  the  perfon  of  the  nearefl 
 kinfman  to  fuch  as  needed  it.  If  a  man,  for 
 inftance,    died  childlefs,    it   was  his  brother *s 
 
 *  Tit.  iii.  2 — 7. 
 
 office 
 
140  ;equality. 
 
 office  to  marry  his  widow,  in  order  to  proteifl 
 her  and  preferve  his  family.  Upon  this  law 
 Boaz  took  Ruth  to  his  bed,  and  fo  became  the 
 anceftor  of  David,  *'  of  whofe  feed,  according 
 **  to  promife,  God  raifed  unto  Ifrael  a  Saviour 
 "  Jesus."  If  a  man  had  been  injured  in  his 
 perfon,  property,  or  charadler,  if  he  had  loft 
 his  life  by  violence,  or  fold  his  paternal  eftate 
 through  poverty,  it  was  the  office  of  the  near 
 kinfman  to  avenge  his  wrongs,  to  purfue  his 
 murderers,  to  redeem  his  inheritance^  and  to 
 ftand  forth  in  the  caufe  of  juftice  and  of  mercy  *. 
 Such  an  inftitution,  wife  and  politic  in  itfclf, 
 points  efpecially  to  Christ  Jesus,  in  whom  is 
 the  right  and  power  of  redemption.  Allied  to 
 the  church  as  her  "  hufband  bone  of  our  bone," 
 and  *•  flefh  of  our  flefli,"  in  "  the  form  of  a 
 "  fervant  and  in  the  likenefs  of  men"  He  un- 
 dertakes our  caufe — We  have  been  wronged  by 
 Satan,  having  been  feduced  by  him  as  a  liar, 
 having  been  ilain  by  him  as  a  murderer, — we 
 "  have  fold  ourfelves  for  nought,"  and  bartered 
 away  our  inheritance  in  the  firft  Adam,  for  fin 
 and  folly — and  fo  we  are  become  poor  indeed. 
 But  Christ  miakes  our  condition  his  own.  He 
 **  takes  upon  him  the  feed  of  Abraham,"  and 
 while  he  gives  to  God  the  honour  due  unto  his 
 
 *  See  Levit.  xxv.  and  Numb,  xxxix. 
 
 name, 
 
EQUALITV.  141 
 
 name,  and  to  his  law  that  obedience  which 
 eftabhfhes  it  for  ever,  He  '*  redeems  us  from 
 **  death,"  He  "  ranfoms  us  from  the  power  of 
 "  the  grave,"  He  "  deftroys  the  works  of  the 
 "  devil,"  He  "  reftores  our  fouls,"  ruined  by 
 the  fall,  and  raifes  us  to  the  condition  and  in- 
 heritance of  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of  the  Al- 
 mighty. 
 
 Behold  thefe  children  of  God,  '*  which  were 
 "  fcattered  abroad,"  gathered  together  in  one, 
 and  a(k  them,  to  what  they  afcribe  their  perfect 
 recovery  in  mind,  body,  and  eftate,  their  joy, 
 righteoufnefs,  and  glory,  in  the  prefence  and  at 
 the  right  hand  of  God  ?  and  with  their  eyes 
 fixed  upon  Jesus,  they  break  forth  into  one 
 burft  of  applaufe, — "  Thou  waft  flain  and  haft 
 **  redeemed  us  to  God  by  thy  blood  out  of  every 
 •*  kindred  and  tongue  and  people  and  nation." 
 They  are  **  faying  with  a  loud  voice,  worthy  is 
 *'  the  Lamb,  that  was  flain,  to  receive  power, 
 **  and  riches,  and  wifdom,  and  ftrength,  and 
 **  honour,  and  glory,  and  blefling*."  Here  is 
 no  difterence  either  of  ftate  or  opinion,  no  pre- 
 tence to  fuperiority  one  over  another,  no  men- 
 tion of  any  works  or  righteoufnefs  of  their  own; 
 but  of  the  blood  and  worth  of  Jesus,  to  which 
 their  claim  and  their  debt  are  equal,  they  fing 
 and  boaft  for  ever. 
 
 *  Rev.  V.  9,  12. 
 
 Whether 
 
14'-i  EQUALITY* 
 
 Whether  there  be  different  degrees  of  glory,  is 
 a  matter,  which  I  have  no  curiofity  to  know, 
 nor  have  I  any  encouragement  or  authority  from 
 Scripture,  to  difcufs  or  determine.  Sure  I  am,  that 
 if  there  be  any  difference,  it  cannot  arife  from 
 any  difference  of  merit  in  the  heirs  of  glory; 
 they  are  all  equal  in  this  refpedl,  having  no 
 righteoufnefs  of  their  own,  and  all  righteoufnefs 
 in  their  common  Redeemer. — ^They  have  had 
 **  one  fpirit,  one  hope,  one  Lord,  one  faith,  one 
 "  baptifm*,"  and  are  now   fully  poffeffed  of 
 *'  one  common  Salvation." — They  are  faying, 
 **  bleffing  and  honour  and  glory  and  power  to 
 "  him  that  fitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the 
 "   Lamb  for  ever  and  ever."   And  if  they  fliould 
 be  afked,  who  is  He  that  fitteth  upon  the  throne? 
 they  will  anfwer,  that  they  have  "  been  baptifed 
 **  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
 •*  Holy  GhofI:  f ,"  and  **  that  which  they  have 
 **  believed   of  the   glory   of   the   Father,    the 
 **  fame  they  have  believed  of  the  Son  and  of 
 *'  the  Holy  Ghost  J,  without  any  difference  or 
 *•  inequality." 
 
 The  word  "  equality"  then  maybe  applied 
 to  *'  the  Three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the 
 **  Father,  the  Word  and  the  Holy  Ghost  r 
 '*  for  thefe  Three  are  One§."     It  may  be  ap- 
 
 *  Ephef.  iv.  4.  t  Matt,  xxviii.  19.  %  Com- 
 
 munion Service  of  the  Church  of  England.  §  i  John  v. 
 
 plied 
 
EQUAilTY.  143 
 
 plied  to  the  human  race  produced  according  to 
 his  counfel,  "  let  us  make  man  *.'*  And  it  may 
 be  applied  to  **  the  nations  of  them  that  are 
 **  faved,"  to  all  which  **  the  thrice  Holy,"  who 
 appeared  in  viiion  to  Ifaiah,  and  faid,  '*  whom 
 '*  fhall  I  fend,  and  who  will  go  for  us-f?"  hath 
 fpoken  and  faid,  **  look  unto  Me  and  be  ye 
 **  faved  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,  for  I  am  God 
 **  and  there  is  none  elfe  J.'*  But  has  this  any 
 thing  to  do  with  the  temporal  eflates  and  con- 
 ditions, the  civil  qualities  and  diftincflions  of 
 nien  ?  Surely  not.  The  very  fame  book,  in 
 which  it  is  written,  that  there  is  no  difference 
 in  the  former  refpe<fts,  exprefsly  teaches  us  the 
 many  differences  that  there  are  in  the  latter. 
 
 In  the  very  fame  verfe,  in  which  God  is 
 faid  to  have  *'  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of 
 "  men  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth," 
 He  is  faid  to  have  **  determined  the  bounds  of 
 **  their  habitation  §."  And  that,  with  reference 
 to  a  moft  ftriking  paffage  in  the  book  of  Deute- 
 ronomy II,  where  God  is  defcribed  as  the 
 '*  Most  High,"  ruling  in  the  kingdoms  and 
 perfons  of  men,  and  adting  with  a  delign  to  dif- 
 tinguifh  his  own  people  from  the  reft  of  mankind. 
 **  When  the  Most  High  divided  to  the  na- 
 **  tions  their  inheritance,  when  He  feparated  the 
 
 *  Gen.  i.  f  Ifaiah  vi.  3,  8.  Ifaiah  xlv.  21,  22. 
 
 §  Ads  xvii.  26.  II  xxxii.  8. 
 
 "  fons 
 
144  EQUALITY. 
 
 ."■  fons  of  Adam,  He  fet  the  bounds  of  the  peo- 
 **  pie  according  to  the  number  of  the  children  of 
 *'  Ifrael :  for  the  Lord's  portion  is  his  people.** 
 Well  may  the  Apoflle  fay  to  a  Chriilian,  and 
 it  may  be  faid  to  every  creature,  **  who  made 
 **  thee  to  differ  from  another?  and  what  haft 
 *'  thou  which  thou  didft  not  receive*?  Shall 
 "  the  thing  formed  fay  to  Him  that  formed 
 *'  it,  why  haft  thou  made  me  thus  ?  Hath  not 
 *'  the  potter  power  over  the  clay  of  the  fame 
 **  lump  to  make  one  vefTel  unto  honour,  and 
 "  another  to  diftionour  -f?'*  So  that  we  may  be 
 of  the  fame  lump,  but  of  different  conftrudlion; 
 made  of  the  fame  materials,  and  for  very  dif- 
 ferent purpofes  alfo. 
 
 "  The  rich  and  poor  meet  together,**  fays  the 
 wife  man,  '*  the  Lord  is  the  maker  of  them 
 **  all  J.**  And  the  wifdom  of  God  declares  in 
 the  fame  book,  **  By  me  Kings  reign  and 
 "  Princes  decree  juftice.  By  me  princes  rule 
 *'  and  nobles,  all  the  judges  of  the  earth.**  This 
 is  the  wifdom,  which  is  defcribed  in  the  eighth 
 chapter  of  Proverbs,,  as  exifting  with  God 
 from  everlafting,  as  prefent  with  Him  in  the 
 beginning,  and  acting  in  the  formation  of  all 
 things.  What  can  this  be  *'  but  Christ  the 
 ••  wifdom   of  GoD§?'*  the   *'  Word,**  whofe 
 
 *  I  Cor.  iv.  7.  f  Rom.  ix.  20,  21. 
 
 X  Prov.  xxii.  2,  §  i  Cor,  i.  24. 
 
 glories 
 
EQUALITY.  145 
 
 glories  are  fet  forth  in  the  firfl  chapter  of  the 
 Gofpcl  by  St.  John  ? 
 
 The  commandment,  which  God  has  given, 
 **  not  to  covet,"  is  a  proof,  that  He  withholds 
 from  one  what  he  bellows  upon  another;  if 
 this  be  not  a  fadl,  the  commandment  is  without 
 a  reafon.  The  charges  which  He  has  given 
 **  to  them  who  are  rich  in  this  world,  to  do 
 *'  good,  to  be  rich  in  good  works,  ready  to 
 *'  diftribute  and  willing  to  communicate  *,  to 
 '*  confider  the  poor  and  needy,  and  give  alms 
 '*  of  fuch  things  as  they  have,"  &c.  &c.  do  not 
 imply,  that  He,  '*  whofe  mercy  is  over  all  his 
 *'  works,"  means  to  make  all  men  equal,  but 
 rather  to  preferve  that  ufeful  inequality,  by 
 which  men  are  enabled  to  live  for  the  help  and 
 fupport  of  each  other.  **  The  profit  of  the 
 *'  earth  is  for  all :  the  King  is  ferved  by  the 
 **  field  -f-."  If  he  cannot  plough,  he  can  pay; 
 and  he  may  relieve  thofeby  his  bounty,  to  whom 
 he  is  indebted  for  their  labour. 
 
 When  John  the  Baptift  appeared  in  the  wil- 
 dernefs  of  Judea,  all  forts  and  defcriptions  of 
 men  came  to  be  taught  and  baptized  by  him ; 
 *'  the  people,  the  publicans,  the  foldiers  ;}; :"  they 
 **  afked  him,  faying,  what  fliall  we  do?"  and 
 they  were  dired:ed,  not  to  defert   their  ftations 
 
 *  See  I  Tim.  vi.  7,  &  al,  f  Ecclef.  v.  9. 
 
 t  See  Luke  iii.  10,  &c, 
 
 L  and 
 
146  EQUALITY. 
 
 and  callings,  but  to  fhun  the  vices  which  v/trt 
 peculiar  to  each,  as  well  as  to  perform  the 
 duties  which  belonged  to  them.  When  his 
 **  Lord"  and  "Master"  appeared  in  the  world, 
 He  made  no  alteration  in  the  outward  ftates 
 and  conditions  of  men:  He  was  poor  himfelf, 
 and  affociated  with  them  that  were  fo  j  but 
 He  rendered  "  tribute,  cuftom,  and  honour,"  to 
 whom  they  were  refpedlively  due.  When  a 
 nobleman  came  to  him  in  the  behalf  of  his  fon, 
 and  the  Centurion  in  the  behalf  of  his  fer- 
 vant.  He  blamed  neither  for  their  rank  in  life, 
 nor  the  latter  for  faying,  **  that  he  had  foldiers 
 "  and  fervants  under  him,  and  could  fay  to  one 
 **  go,  and  to  another  come;"  but  commended 
 him  rather  for  the  conclufion  which  he  drew 
 from  his  own  authority  in  favour  of  the  power  of 
 "  Jesus,"  and  faid,  "  I  have  not  found  fo  great 
 "  faith,  no  not  in  Ifrael  *."  His  exprefs  words 
 are,  *'  to  render  unto  Caefar  the  things  which 
 **  are  Caefar's -f* : "  and  indeed,  if  Kings  and 
 Queens  are  to  be  aboliftied,  according  to  the 
 levelling  plan  of  this  day*s  philofophy,  the 
 Lord  muft  lofe  one  of  his  titles,  which  is 
 *'  King  of  Kings,"  and  the  Church  one  of  her 
 promifes,  "  that  Kings  (hall  be  her  nurfing 
 '*  fathers,  and  Queens  her  nurfing  mothers  J." 
 
 *  John  iv.  46.  Mat.  vlii.  8, 9,  10.  f  Mat.  xxii.  2i. 
 
 ■I  Ifaiah  xlix.  23. 
 
 Let 
 
fcQUALITY.  I4'7 
 
 Let  it  be  remembered  alfo,  that  God  "  faith  of 
 •*  Cyrus,  he  is  my  fhepherd*,'*  and  employs 
 "  heathen  princes"  as  the  prote6tors  of  "  his 
 **  chofen  people." 
 
 In  the  eftablifhment  of  that  kingdom,  which 
 fhall  ftand  for  ever,  the  King  of  it  is  repre- 
 fented  **  as  a  man  travelling  into  a  far  country, 
 **  who  called  his  own  fervants  and  delivered  to 
 **  them  his  goods  :  to  one  five  talents,  to  ano- 
 "  ther  two,  and  to  another  one-f."  And  that 
 according  to  the  receipt  of  each,  he  expedted  an 
 account  on  his  return.  Surely  he  that  has  one 
 talent  is  not  equal  to  him  that  has  two,  nor  he 
 that  has  two  to  him  that  has  five.  And  yet 
 this  is  God's  difpofition  of  things.  To  aim 
 therefore  at  equality  in  this  life  is  to  oppofc 
 God,  to  make  all  men  ufelefs,  and  to  throw  all 
 things  into  confufion. 
 
 The  Apoftles,  as  they  were  infpired  by  the 
 Spirit,  i'o  have  they  trod  in  the  fteps  of  their 
 Mafter :  and  have  left  fuch  ample  teftimonies 
 in  their  writings,  in  favour  of  order  and  peace, 
 of  contentment  and  fubmiffion  to  the  will  of 
 God,  of  obedience  and  fubjediion  to  the  **  powers 
 **  on  earth  as  ordained  of  God,"  that  it  is  im- 
 pofTible  to  miftake  their  meaning,  nay  it  is  im- 
 poflible  to  give  them  any  meaning,  if  all  men- 
 are  equal,  that  is,  if  Kings  are  not  to  rule,  and 
 Chriftians  are  not  to  obey  them. 
 
 *  Ifaiah  xliv.  2,S,  t  Mat.  xxv.  14. 
 
 h  2,  It 
 
148  EQUALITY. 
 
 It  is  abfard  to  fuppofe,  that  the  inilitution  of 
 Kings  was  peculiar  to  the  Gentile  world,  and 
 unknown  to  the  people  of  God.  *'  Melchi- 
 '*  fedec  was  King  of  Salem*,**  to  whom  the 
 patriarch  **  Abraham  gave  the  tenth  of  his 
 *'  fpoils."  When  the  feed  of  Abraham  are  pre- 
 fented  to  "  Balaam  in  the  plains  of  Moab,  the 
 **  Lord  his  God  is  with  him,  and  the  iliout  of 
 '*  a  King  is  among  them  -f.  Mofes  commanded 
 *'  them  a  law,  and  he  was  King  in  Jefliurun, 
 *'  when  the  heads  of  the  people,  the  tribes  of 
 **  Iffael  were  gathered  together  J."  He  was 
 fucceeded  in  place  and  power  by  Jofliua,  with 
 whom  God  engaged  to  be  as  He  had  been  with 
 Mofes,  and  to  whom  the  people  engaged  to  be 
 as  obedient  as  they  had  been  to  his  predeceflbr. 
 After  the  death  of  Jolhua  they  fell  under  the 
 government  of  judges:  but  little  is  recorded  to 
 their  credit  during  this  period  of  their  hiftory. 
 The  treatment  of  the  "  Levite's  concubine'*  is 
 marked  "  as  fuch  a  deed  as  had  not  been  done 
 **  nor  feen  from  the  day  that  the  children  of 
 *•  Ifrael  came  up  out  of  Egypt,  unto  that  day§.** 
 This  was  preceded  by  the  thefts,  ravages,  and 
 idolatries  of  Micah  and  the  Danites,  and  fol- 
 lowed by  the  (laughter. of  forty  thoufand  Ifrael- 
 ites,  and  then  of  all  the  Benjamites,  except  fix 
 
 *  Gen.  xiv.  18,  Sic.  f  Numb,  xxiii.  21. 
 
 %  Deut.  xxxiii,  5.  §  Judges  xix.  30. 
 
 hundred, 
 
EQUALITY.  149 
 
 hundred,  who  had  been  the  firft  aggreflbrs,  and 
 in  the  firft  oiitfet  conquerors  alfo.  And  all  is 
 faid  to  have  happened  when  '*  there  was  no 
 *•  King  in  Ifrael,  and  every  man  did  that  which 
 *•  was  right  in  their  own  eyes."  Which  words 
 are  four  times  repeated  *,  as  expreffing  the  caufe 
 of  the  irregularities  and  enormities,  which  pre- 
 vailed amono-ft  them. 
 
 When  Samuel  was  raifed  up  among  them,  and 
 "  eflablifhed  a  prophet  of  the  Lord,"  he  re- 
 proves them,  it  is  true,  **  for  their  wickednefs 
 *'  in  afldng  themfelves  a  King-f."  But  this 
 wickednefs  was  not  a  deiire  to  be  governed,  (few- 
 people  are  guilty  of  that)  but  reiilling  the  go- 
 vernment of  God:  they  were  *'  murmurers  and 
 "  complainers,"  and  preferred  a  King  of  their 
 own  chufing,  to  Samuel,  whom  the  Lord  had 
 appointed  to  "  rule  over  and  admonifh  them." 
 Saul  is  given  to  them  by  *'  the  Lord  in  his 
 *'  anger,  and  taken  away  in  his  wrath."  But 
 David  is  called,  '*  as  a  man  after  God's  own 
 heart,"  to  be  King  of  Ifrael ;  in  whofe  reign,  and 
 in  that  of  his  fon  Solomon,  (a  Monarch  as 
 great  and  ab folate  as  ever  fwayed  a  fceptre)  the 
 Jews  attained  the  fummit  of  their  wealth  and 
 fplendor. 
 
 *  Judgv-'S  xvil.  6.     xviii.  i.     xix.  i.     xxi.  25. 
 f   I  Sam.  xii.  17. 
 
 L  3  They 
 
150  EQUALITY. 
 
 They  continued  under  the  government  of 
 Kings,  as  long  as  they  continued  a  people: 
 till  after  having  been  invaded  by  the  firft,  and 
 fubjedled  to  the  three  fucceffive  empires  of  the 
 world,  they  filled  up  the  meafure  of  their  ini- 
 quities in  crucifying  their  King,  Jesus  Christ. 
 Soon  after  which  their  city  and  temple  were 
 deftroyed,  all  diftindtions  levelled,  and  them- 
 felves  difperfed  into  every  nation  under  heaven, 
 to  remain  as  monuments  of  the  fiercenefs  and 
 wrath  of  Almighty  God. 
 
 What  has  happened  to  the  **  Jews"  has  hap- 
 pened to  the  *'  Greeks"  alfo.  Travel  through 
 the  deferts  of  Afia  Minor,  where  the  wifdom 
 of  this  world  flourifhed,  and,  what  is  more, 
 where  the  wifdom  of  God  was  taught  by  his 
 Apoflles,  and  you  may  trace  perhaps  here  and 
 there  the  ruins  of  a  Doric  or  Corinthian  co- 
 lumn, but  the  "  Attic"  as  well  as  **  Chriftian 
 "  fait  hath  loft  its  favour."  Athens  itfelf  is 
 but  a  parcel  of  huts,  inhabited  by  a  rude  and 
 barbarous  people,  unacquainted  with  the  com- 
 mon arts  of  admitting  the  light  and  excluding 
 the  air.  Among  their  heathen  anceftors  were 
 the  emulations  of  genius,  valour,  and  induftry, 
 iamong  their  Chriftian  the  better  emulation  to 
 **  excel  for  the  edifying  of  the  church."  Among 
 the  prefent  race  there  is  *'  equality "^-and  there 
 can  be  nothing  elfe. 
 
 The 
 
EQUALITY.  I  5 1 
 
 The  attempts  of  a  ftate  therefore  to  equahze 
 its  members  are  the  fure  prognoftics  of  its  ruin; 
 figns,  that  it  has  feen  its  day,  has  forfaken  its 
 God,  and  is  left  by  Him,  toperifh  in  its  iniquities. 
 
 Neither  are  we  to  imagine  that  in  the  Church, 
 as  it  exifts  upon  earth,  all  the  members  are 
 equal.  The  Apoftle  tells  us  that  *'  there  arc 
 **  diverfities  of  gifts,  but  the  fame  fpirit ;  dif- 
 '*  ferences  of  adminiftrations,  but  the  fame 
 **  Lord  ;  and  diverfities  of  operations,  but  the 
 "  fame  God  which  worketh  all  in  all."  He 
 compares  the  Chriflian  to  the  natural  body ; 
 "which  is  one,  and  hath  many  members,  and 
 to  each  its  particular  office  and  ftation  afligned*. 
 Difplace  thefe  members,  and  they  ceafe  to  be 
 ufeful,  or  reduce  them  to  one,  the  whole  body 
 to  an  ear  or  an  eye,  and  you  reform  an  orga- 
 nized and  well  tempered  body,  into  a  mafs  of 
 inert  and  fhapelefs  matter. 
 
 From  fuch  "  rights  of  man"  to  mend  the 
 works  of  God,  fuch  "  liberty  and  equality," 
 good  Lord  deliver  us  ! 
 
 And  now,  to  conclude  the  whole,  fhould 
 thefe  pages  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  rich,  the 
 mighty,  the  noble  of  this  world,  ye  will  ac- 
 knowledge, I  hope,  that  however  they  may 
 "  bring  jftrange  things  to  your  ears,"  they  offer 
 
 *  See  I  Cor.  xii. 
 
 L  4  no 
 
1^2  EQUALITY. 
 
 no  affront  to  your  perfons :  they  render  all  that 
 is  due  to  your  rank  and  pre-eminence  among 
 men :  and  if  they  did  not,  they  would  not  fpeak 
 as  the  oracles  of  God.  Long  may  ye  have  thefe 
 things  and  enjoy  them!  But  it  is  not  the  defign 
 of  a  fermon  to  flatter  or  deceive  you,  to  raife 
 you  above  the  level  of  creatures,  w^ho  muft  give 
 an  account  of  yourfelves  unto  God,  who  have 
 his  law,  his  gofpel,  his  judgment  before  you,  and 
 who  are  taught,  that  '*  to  whomfoever  much 
 **  is  given  of  him  much  will  be  required*.** 
 Can  any  circumflances  whatever  make  a  "  dif- 
 "  ference,"  where  the  Scriptures  have  faid' 
 **  there  is  none  ?"  *'  for  all  have  sinned 
 **  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God; 
 
 *'    BEING     justified     FREELY     BY      HIS     GRACE 
 
 *'  through    the    redemption    that    is    in 
 **  Christ  Jesus." 
 
 **  Beware  then,  left  God  take  thee  away  with 
 **  a  ftroke,  and  then  a  great  ranfom  cannot 
 *'  deliver  thee:  will  he  efteem  thy  riches  ?  no — 
 *'  not  gold,  nor  all  the  forces  of  thy  ftrength  -f . 
 *'  Produce  your  caufe,  faith  the  Lord,  bring 
 **  forth  your  ftrong  reafons,  faith  the  God  of 
 **  Jacob  J ;"  but  who  of  you  can  anfwer  or  avoid 
 the  queftion,  "  what  (hall  a  man  be  profited  if 
 •*  he  (hall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lofe  his 
 
 *Lukexii.  48.         f  Jobxxxvi.  18, 19.         J  Ifaiahxli.  21, 
 
 •*  own 
 
EQUALITY.  153 
 
 "  own  foul*?"  Can  any  birth  exempt  thee  from 
 the  neceffity  of  "  being  born  again  ?'*  Can  any 
 fituation  raife  thee  above  God's  command- 
 ment, **  Remember  the  Sabbath  Day  to 
 **  KEEP  IT  HOLY  ?'*  Or  is  any  perfon  refped:ed 
 in  the  commiffion  of  Jesus  ?  "  go  ye  forth  into 
 *•  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gol'pel  to  every 
 **  creature.  He  that  believeth  and  is  baptifed 
 **  (hall  be  faved  ;  but  he  that  believeth  not  (hall 
 **  be  damned  "f.** 
 
 **  Be  wife  now  therefore,  O  ye  kings,  be  in- 
 *•  ftru6ted,  ye  judges  of  the  earth.  Serve  the 
 *'*  Lord  with  fear,  and  rejoice  with  trembling. 
 **  Kifs  the  Son,  left  he  be  angry,  and  ye  perifh 
 "  from  the  way,  if  his  wrath  be  kindled  but  a 
 **  little  :  blefTed  are  all  they  that  put  their  truft 
 "  in  him  J." 
 
 Again,  whoever  thou  art  that  readeft  thefe 
 pages,  do  them  the  juftice  to  acknowledge  that 
 it  is  not  their  defign  to  difturb  or  diflatisfy  you 
 about  temporal  things,  or  to  diffuade  you  from 
 doing  your  duty  or  feeking  happinefs  in  that 
 ftation  of  life,  in  the  which  it  hath  pleafed  God 
 to  call  you:  the  very  reverfe  is  their  aim,  to 
 convince  you  that  ufefulnefs  and  fuccefs  are  to 
 be  fought  and  found  in  no  other  ftation.  But 
 the  great  truths  which  they  would  inculcate 
 upon  thee  are,  that  thou  art  a  linner  by  nature, 
 
 *  Mat.  xvi.  26.  t  Mark  xvi.  15,  16. 
 
 X  Pfalm  ii.  10,  il,  12. 
 
 that 
 
1 54  EQUALITY. 
 
 that  thou  canft  be  juftified  only  by  grace,  and 
 that  none  but  Jesus  can  fave  thee. 
 
 As  to  the  poor,  if  you  are  chriftians,  of 
 what  can  you  complain  ?  **  Hath  not  God 
 **  chofen  the  poor  of  this  world  rich  in  faith, 
 "  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom  which  He  hath 
 "  promifed  to  them  that  love  him*?"  Hath 
 He  not  delivered  you  from  a  great  hardfhip  ? 
 **  how  hardly  do  they  that  have  riches  enter 
 **  into  the  kingdom  of  God  ?'*  Hath  he  not 
 fandtified  your  flate,  **  by  himfelf  becoming 
 **  poor,"  and  accomplifhing  '*  through  his  po^ 
 **  verty,"  what  no  riches  of  this  world,  nor 
 even  the  riches  of  his  Godhead,  could  have 
 done  without  it  -f  ?  Rejoice  then  in  your  con- 
 formity to  "  Christ  Jesus,"  and  in  the  **  gof- 
 **  pel  which  is  preached  to  you."  Look  for 
 mercy  to  Him,  **  who  remembered  us  in  our 
 **  low  eftate,"  and  **  hath  redeemed  us  from  our 
 **  enemies ;  who  raifeth  up  the  poor  out  of  the 
 **  duft,  and  lifteth  the  needy  out  of  the  dung- 
 **  hill;  that  he  may  fet  him  with  princes,  even 
 **  with  the  princes  of  his  people  J." 
 
 Laftly,  as  to  all  Chriftian  readers,  think, 
 **  that  ye  are  fellow  citizens  with  the  faints  and 
 **  of  the  houfliold  of  God,"  and  then  all  dif- 
 tindtions  of  this   life  will  appear  beneath  you  : 
 
 *  James  ii.  5.  f  Mark  x.  23.  %  2  Cor.  viii.  9. 
 
 Pfalm  cxxxvi.  23,  24.     cxiii.  7,  8. 
 
 in 
 
EQUALITY.  155 
 
 in  the  aflemblies  of  the  faints,  at  leafl,  let  them 
 be  forgotten.  **  Have  not  the  faith  of  our 
 **  Lord  Jesus  Christ  the  Lord  of  Glory,  with 
 **  refpe<5l  of  perfons,**  look  deeper  than  to  the 
 '  *  gold  ring  and  goodly  apparel"  of  one  wor- 
 Ihipper,  or  than  to  **  the  vile  raiment  of  ano- 
 ther*." **  Receive  ye  one  another,  as  Christ 
 **  hath  received  us,  to  the  glory  of  God."  Sa- 
 lute one  another  with  "  brotherly  kindnefs,"  and 
 **  walk  together  in  love.  Let  the  potfherd 
 "  ftrive  with  the  potfherds  of  the  earth  -f ,"  but 
 let  "  our  fellowfliip  be  with  the  Father,  and 
 **  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  Let  us  renounce 
 "  the  hidden  things  of  darknefs,"  the  din  of 
 politics,  and  the  noife  of  folly,  and  let  us  **  dwell 
 **  in  the  light,  as  God  is  in  the  light,"  that 
 "  we  may  have  fellowfhip  one  with  another  in 
 *'  a  peaceable  habitation,  in  fure  dwellings,  and 
 **  in  quiet  refting  places."  And  that,  inftead 
 of  being  **  confumed  in  the  iniquities"  of  the 
 world,  we  may  have  it  to  fay,  that  **  the  blood 
 **  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  hath 
 "  cleanfed  us  from  all  fin  J." 
 
 To  Him  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy 
 Ghoft,  three  perfons  in  one  Jehovah,  be  equal 
 and  everlafling  praife.     Amen. 
 
 *  James  ii.  i,  2,  3.         f  Ifaiah  xlv.  9.  J  i  John  i. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 CONTINUANCE  AND  CONSTANCY 
 
 OF    THE 
 
 FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD, 
 
 AS    A 
 
 COVENANT  GOD  WirH  HIS  PEOPLE: 
 
 CONSIDERED     IN     A 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED 
 
 ON  SUNDAY  MORNING,  AUGUST  g,  1795, 
 
 IN     THE     PARISH     CHURCH     OF 
 
 fe>t*  janljccto  Qillaftirobe  auD  ^t.  ^ntt  Blacfefriargf, 
 
 UPON    THE 
 
 DEATH  OF  THEIR  LATE  VENERABLE  RECTOR 
 
 W.  ROMAINE,  A.M. 
 
 — »o8»^3:80oe» 
 
 remember  them  which  have  the  rulb  over  you, 
 who  have  spoken  to  you  the  word  of  cod,  whose 
 faith  follow,  considering  the  end  of  their 
 conversation. 
 
 Jesus   Christ,    the    same    yesterday,    to-day,    and 
 
 FOR    EVER. 
 
THE 
 
 FRIENDSHIP  OF  GOD. 
 
 »»—im>«*** 
 
 Psalm  xlviii.   14. 
 
 For  this  God  is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever.  He 
 Jhall  be  our  Guide  unto  death, 
 
 IN  this  pfalm  the  church  triumphs  in  her  God 
 and  Saviour — fhe  celebrates  the  beauty  and 
 joy  which  fhe  receives  from  Him — fhe  acknow- 
 ledges Him  as  her  refuge  and  mighty  deliverer, 
 as  the  deflroyer  of  all  her  enemies,  as  the  per- 
 former of  his  own  word,  as  encouraging  all  true 
 worfhippers  to  think  of  or  wait  for  his  loving 
 kindnefs,  to  truft  in  his  name  and  praife  it  unto 
 the  ends  of  the  earth — fhe  calls  her  fons  and  her 
 daughters  to  joy  and  gladnefs,  invites  them  to 
 walk  about  Sion,  to  tell  her  towers,  mark  her 
 bulwarks,  and  confider  her  palaces  ;  or,  to  fpeak 
 in  New  Teflament  language,  to  contemplate  the 
 fabric  of  the  Chriftian  church,  the  foundation 
 upon  which  it  is  built,  the  fuperftrudture  raifed 
 upon  it,  the  fpirit  which  breathes  in  it,  and  the 
 fruits  which  are  produced  by  them,  **  that  they 
 
 "  may 
 
l60  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 •*  may  tell  it  to  the  generations  following,"  and 
 thus  bequeath  to  their  furvivors  the  bell:  of 
 legacies- — a  living  and  dying  teftimony  to  the 
 truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 
 
 It  is  with  God's  children  upon  earth  as  with 
 the  children  of  men,  that  '*  generation  pafTeth 
 **  away,  and  generation  cometh — none  of  them 
 *'  are  fuffered  to  continue  by  reafon  of  death  ;" 
 but  though  they  are  removed,  God  remaineth; 
 though  they  change,  God  is  the  fame — for 
 
 This  God  is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever. 
 He  shall  be  our  Guide  unto  death. 
 
 I  pitched  upon  thefe  words  at  firft,  having 
 heard  that  they  were  the  laft  articulately  fpoken 
 by  the  Reverend,  nay,  I  muft  deliberately  call 
 him,  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  Christ, 
 William  Romaine.  I  have  fince  had  reafon 
 to  doubt  this  circumftance,  but  none  for  doubt- 
 ing that  a  better  illuftration  of  them  never  was 
 produced  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  life  and 
 death  of  this  juftly,  generally,  greatly  venerated 
 and  lamented  man.  Of  his  perfon  w^e  have  no 
 remains  upon  earth,  except  a  body  of  vilenefs 
 returned  unto  the  duft  from  whence  it  fprung, 
 but  as  fafe  as  his  fpirit  in  the  hands  of  his  Re- 
 deemer, who  will  raife  it,  and  change  it  into  a 
 body  of  glory.  Of  his  labours  we  have  large 
 remains  in  his  writings  (and  I  hope  we  fliall  have 
 more,)  and  in  many  living  witnefles  for  Jesus, 
 
 who 
 
The  friendship  of  god.  i6t 
 
 who  have  been  born  again,  and  built  up  in  the 
 faith,  by  the  word  of  the  gofpel  fo  ably  and 
 fuccefs fully  delivered  by  him.     Who,  that  ever 
 heard  and  knew  him,  does  not  lament  him  ? 
 And  who  have  fo  much  reafon  to  lament,  as 
 they  who  neither  heard  nor  knew  him  ?     But 
 furely  we  have  reafon  to  fay,  "  BlefTed  be  God, 
 *•  even  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 **  the  Father  of  mercies,  and  the  God  of  all 
 "  comfort,  u^ho  comforteth  us  in  all  our  tribu- 
 **  lations:  and,  that  as  the  fufferings  of  Christ 
 **  abound  in  us,  fo  our  confolation  by  Christ 
 **  aboundeth  alfo."     Surely,  fo  long  and  ufeful 
 a  life,  fo  fhort  and  blifsful  a  death,  are  matters 
 of  thankfulnefs  and  praife  to  God,  who  called 
 him  at  firft,  and  confirmed  him  unto  the  end; 
 And  furely  we  fhould  rejoice  that  fo  divine,  fo 
 venerable,  fo  excellent  a  fervant  of  Jesus,  has 
 been  difmiffed  at  the  age  'of  fourfcore  and  one 
 from  labour  and  forrow,  and  hath  actually  en- 
 tered into  the  reft  and  joy  of  his  Lord. 
 
 He  had  been  fifty-eight  years  in  orders  lafl 
 0(5tober,  and,  though  admitted  fo  early  into  fo 
 holy  a  fund: ion,  he  appears  not  to  have  rufhed 
 haftily  into  it  without  previous  ftudy  and  prayer; 
 nor  to  have  hurried  into  populous  towns  immedi- 
 ately upon  his  ordination,  but  to  have  employed 
 the  fiift  years  of  his  miniflry  in  country  villages, 
 where  he  might  give  attendance,  like  young 
 M  Timothy, 
 
1 62  tHE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOV. 
 
 Timothy,  to  reading,  to  exhortation,  to  dodrine"? 
 and  when  he  came  forth  into  public,  his  profiting, 
 appeared  unto  all  men. 
 
 He  publifhed,  in  the  year  1 741 ,  at  the  requeft 
 of  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Court  of  Aldermen,  a 
 fermon  preached  before  them  and  the  citizens  of 
 London,  at  the  cathedral  church  of  St.  Paul;  the 
 title  of  it  is,  **  No  Juftification  by  the  Law  of 
 **  Nature  >"  and  the  defign^-of  it  is  to  prove, 
 that  there  can  be  no  juftification,  but  by  the  law 
 of  faith  in  Christ  :  the  conclufion  of  it  is  in  the 
 excellent  words  of  our  excellent  church,  which 
 are,  that  they  alfo  are  to  be  had  accurfed  that 
 prefume  to  fay,  that  every  man  fhall  be  faved  by 
 the  law  or  ktl  that  he  profel^ieth,  fo  that  he  be 
 diligent  to  frame  his  life  accc^ding  to  that  law 
 and  light  of  nature ;  for  the  Holy  Scripture  doth 
 fct  out  to  us  only  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,, 
 whereby  rhen  mull  be  faved. 
 
 Thus  he  began  his  miniftry,  as  he  ended  it,  by 
 *'  teaching  and  preaching  Jesus  Christ;"  he 
 never  was  ••  corrupted  from  the  fimplicity  which 
 *'  is  in  Christ  ;"  he  had  great  and  extraordinary 
 talents,  but  he  laid  them  at  the  foot  of  the  crofs, 
 and  found  ample  employment  for  them  in  the 
 glories  of  Chri/I  crucified^  he  faw  all  fullnefs  in 
 Him,  and  fet  Him  forth  to  his  fellow  creatures  in 
 the  ftile  and  fpirit  of  the  Bible  ;  contending  ear- 
 neflly  for  faith  in  Him,  as  the  one  antidote  againft 
 
 fm 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP   OF    GOD.  163 
 
 fin  and  forrow,  and  the  one  fource  of  righteouf- 
 nefs  and  peace ;  and  what  he  wrote  and  preached 
 he  exempUfied  in  himfelf  hving  and  dying. 
 
 It  is  remarkable,  and  I  have  often  heard  him 
 tell  it  with  thankfulncfs,  that  during  the  long 
 period  of  fifty-eight  years,  he  was  never  inter- 
 rupted in  the  exercife  of  his  ministry  by  any 
 illnefs — till  the  laft-^and  then,  as  he  expreffed 
 himfelf  to  his  fon  and  friends,  he  was  fent  into 
 the  furnace  for  the  trial  of  his  faith,  and  for 
 proof  to  himfelf  and  others  what  a  precious  gift 
 he  had  received  from  God  ;  then  he  could  fay, 
 that  he  felt  and  faw  what  he  wrote  and  preached 
 more  than  ever  ;  then  it  was,  that  the  Spirit  of 
 glory  and  of  God  refted  upon  him,  flrength- 
 ened  him  with  might  in  the  inner  man,  difpelled 
 every  cloud  from  his  mind,  fuftained  him  in 
 the  full  ufe  of  his  faculties,  in  the  firmeft  ex- 
 preflions  of  his  hope,  and  in  the  mofl  calm,  the 
 moft  conftant,  the  mofl  lively  exercifes  of  praife 
 and  prayer,  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghofl, 
 full  of  Jesus  and  of  love,  full  of  days  and  full 
 of  heaven.  During  the  laft  days  of  his  ex- 
 iftence  upon  earth,  he  was  frequently  faying, 
 **  O,  how  good  is  God  !"  It  was  his  language 
 every  morning.  He  realized  what  is  written  in 
 Ifaiah  xxvi.  4.  **  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in 
 **  perfed:  peace  whofe  mind  is  flayed  on  thee, 
 '*  becaufe  he  trufteth  in  thee.  Truft  ye  in  the 
 M  2  '*  Lord 
 
164  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 **  Lord  forever:  for  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is 
 "  everlafting  ftrength.**       He  could    fay  unto 
 the  Lord  with  the  Pfalmift,  xxxi.  14.    **  Thou 
 "'  art  my   God,  my  times  are  in  thy  hand  :" 
 he  knew  that  the  time  of  his  hfe  and  the  time 
 of  his  death,  the  time  of  his  fuffering  in  the 
 flefh,  and  dehverance  out  of  them,  were  in  the 
 hands  of  his  reconciled  God  and  Father ;  and 
 he  was  perfectly  refigned  to  his  fovereign  dif- 
 pofal.      His  laft  words   upon  earth  were   the 
 words  of  heaven,  "  Holy,  Holy,  Holy  !   Blef- 
 **  fed  and  Holy  Jesus,  to  thee  be  endlefs  praife  !'* 
 Certainly  then  he  could  have  faid,  whether  he 
 did  fay  it  or  no. 
 
 This  God  is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever. 
 He  shall  be  our  Guide  unto  death. 
 
 Lefs  I  could  hardly  fay  of  fuch  a  perfon  in 
 the  introdudiion  to  a  difcourfe  upon  the  prefent 
 occafion,  and  in  a  place  which  he  fiUed  with  {0 
 much  credit  to  himfclf,  fo  much  comfort  to  his 
 hearers,  and,  above  all,  with  fo  much  honour 
 to. his  God.  But  he  was  a  mortal  man,  and  is 
 gone  the  way  of  all  the  earth  ;,  by  nature  he  was 
 a  "  chiM  of  wrath,"  and  by  *'  grace  he  was 
 **  faved:"  and  I  am  fure,  that  if  any  thing 
 could  difturb  his  perfe(5t  fpirit,  it  would  be  the 
 fubftitution  of  himfelf  in  the  place  of  his 
 Saviour;  and  if  any  thing,  could  add  to  his 
 joy  in  paradifc,  it  would   be,  that,  **  accord- 
 
 "  ing 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  165 
 
 **  ing  to  his  earneft  expedtation  and  hope  upon 
 **  earth,  Chrift  fhould  be  magnified  both  by 
 **  his  hfe  and  his  death,"  as  they  are  brought 
 to  our  recollediion  this  day. 
 
 Let  us  then  look  up  unto  Jesus,  for  his 
 Spirit  the  Comforter,  that  he  may  take  of 
 his  things,  and  help  us  with  them  to  improve 
 this  vifitation,  and  to  fpeak  as  we  ought  from 
 the  words  of  the  text ;  firfl,  of  the  known 
 objeA  of  worfhip,  which  they  propofe  to  us, 
 called  this  God  ;  fecondly,  of  his  connexion 
 with  his  people,  who  called  him  our  God  ; 
 thirdly,  of  the  continuance  of  that  connexion, 
 for  ever  and  ever :  and  fourthly,  of  the  con- 
 flancy  of  it  in  this  tranlitory  life,  in  trouble, 
 forrow,  need,  ficknefs,  or  any  other  adverfity, 
 He  fiall  be  our  guide  unto  death. 
 
 Firft,  here  is  a  known  obje(n:  of  worfhip, 
 this  God.  If  an  **  altar  to  the  unknown  God" 
 will  do  for  Athens,  it  will  not  do  for  the 
 churches  of  the  faints.  "  We  know  what  we 
 "  worfhip,"  faid  Christ  to  the  woman  of 
 Samaria,  John  iv,  22, :  and  as  he  came  to  feek 
 fuch  worfhippers  as  fhould  worfhip  God  in 
 fpirit  and  in  truth,  he  proclaims  him  unto  the 
 ends  of  the  earth  in  words  which  cannot  be 
 miflaken ;  **  Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all 
 **  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
 **  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
 M  3  "  Ghost,** 
 
l66  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 "  Ghost,"  Matt,  xxviii.  19.  This  is  a  full 
 explanation  of  the  word  Gody  as  it  occurs  in 
 this  and  a  thoufand  other  places  of  the  Old 
 Tellament  j  a  plural  word  defcribing  a  plurality 
 of  perfons,  joined  with  a  fingular  pronoun  def- 
 cribing an  unity  of  elfence  ;  it  explains  the  invo- 
 cation of  faints  in  the  Old  and  New  Teftament, 
 fo  precious  in  the  mouth  of  our  lately  departed 
 minifler — 'Holy,  Holy,  Holy  Lord  God  of 
 hofts,  &c.  ;  it  explains  the  firfl:  principle  of 
 revealed  religion,  as  delivered  by  God*s  fervant 
 Mofes,  Deut.  vi.  4.  **  Hear,  O  Ifrael,  the 
 **  Lord,  thy  God,  is  one  Lord  ;  Jehovah 
 **  thy  Alehim  is  one  Jehovah.*'  Jehovah 
 defcribes  the  elTence  eternally  exifting,  Alehim 
 the  plurality  of  perfons  in  that  effence,  and 
 thofe  perfons  in  covenant,  in  counfel,  and  under 
 the  obligation  of  an  oath  :  in  counfel  upon  our 
 creation.  Let  us  make  inan  ;  and  before  in  coun- 
 fel confirmed  by  an  oath  to  redeem  man,  that 
 by  two  immutable  things,  in  which  it  was  im- 
 pofTible  for  God  to  lie,  we  might  have  ftrong 
 confolation,  &c.  Heb.  vi.  18.  None  could  fit 
 in  thefe  councils  but  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
 Ghofl ;  nor  could  they,  unlefs  every  perfon  by 
 himfelf  had  been  God  and  Lord  ;  for,  with 
 whom  took  he  counfel?  Ifaiah  xl.  14.  The 
 New  Teflament  reveals  the  performance  of  this 
 wonderful  plan ;  **  We  have  feen  and  do  teflify, 
 *'  the  Father  fent  the  Son  to  be  the  Saviour  of 
 
 **  the 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    QOE).  167 
 
 "  the  world ;  we  know,  that  the  Son  of  God 
 **  is  come,  and  hath  given  us  an  underftanding, 
 **  that  we  may  know  him  that  is  true,  and  we 
 **  are  in  him  that  is  true,  even  in  his  Son,  Jesus 
 **  Christ.  This  is  the  true  God  and  et-ernal 
 **  Life ;  whereof  the  Holy  Ghoft  is  witnefs," 
 as  in  the  mouths  of  all  the  prophets  fince  the 
 world  began,  fo  in  the  hearts  of  all  God*s 
 people,  enabling  them  ^o  fay,  that  Jesus  is 
 Lord  ;  through  whom  they  have  accefs  by  one 
 Spirit  unto  the  Father.  This  is  the  God  of  the 
 text,  and  of  the  Bible:  need  I  remind  you  that 
 he  was  Mr.  Romaine*s  God  ?  How  exprefs  in 
 his  Sermons,  and  in  his  Writings,  the  acknow- 
 ledgment of  the  eternal  Three  in  Jehovaih  ?  and 
 with  what  energy  have  we  heard  him  take  up 
 the  confeflion  of  our  church,  and  fay,  that  the 
 fame  which  we  believe  of  the  glory  of  the 
 Father,  the  fame  we  believe  of  the  Son  and  the 
 Holy  Ghoft,  without  any  difference  or  in^ 
 
 EQUALITY  ? 
 
 To  know  this  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
 Christ,  whom  he  hath  fent,  this  is  life  eternal. 
 John  xvii.  3.  and  the  fecond  thing  to  be  fpoken 
 of  from  the  words  of  the  text  is  his  connexion 
 with  his  people,  who  call  him  our  God. 
 
 This  connexion  is  the  very  fource  and  foul  of 
 
 worlhip  j  in  the  Pfalm,  which  is   in  daily  ufe 
 
 amongft  us,  we  fay,  **  O  come  let  us  worfhip 
 
 M  4  "  an4 
 
l68  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 **  and  bow  down  :  let  us  kneel  before  the  Lord 
 "  our  maker :    for    he    is   our  God.'*      It  is 
 brought  about  by  his  grace,  and  by  a6ts  which, 
 are  quite  his  own  :  fome  of  them  are  recorded, 
 Jer.  xxxi.  '})7i^  34.  "  But  this  is  the  covenant  that 
 **  I  will  make  with  the  houfe  of  Ifrael ;  after 
 **  thofe  days,  faith  the  Lord,  I  will  put  my 
 **  law  in  their  inward  parts,  and  write  it  in  their 
 "  heart,  and  I  will  be  their  God,  and  they  fhall 
 *'  be  my  people.     And  they  fhall  teach  no  more 
 **  every  man  his  neighbour,  and  every  man  his 
 *'  brother,  faying.  Know   the  Lord:  for  they 
 *'  fhall  know  me  from  the  leafi  of  them  to  the 
 **  greatefl  of  them,  faith  the  Lord;  for  I  will 
 **  forgive  their  iniquity,  and  I  will  remiember 
 "  their  fin   no   more."     In  a  letter,  which   I 
 received  fome  years  ago  from  Mr.  Romaine,  I 
 find   the  following  exprellions  :  "  I  have  juft 
 *'  finifhed  my  reading  of  the  Bible  for  1783. 
 **  It  has  been  a  feafon  of  great    teaching.     I 
 **  never  went  through  it  with  more  delight,  or 
 **  with  more  profit.      My   foul  has  found  it 
 **  more  precious  than  gold,  and  much   fweeter 
 "  than  honey.     But  ftill  I  fee  much  before  me 
 ."  to  be  le<^rnt  and  experienced.     I  do  not  doubt 
 *'  of  the  promife  being  fulfilled  to  me,  Jer.  xxxi. 
 **   33 »  34*  but  I  am  feeking  and  waiting  for  its 
 **  being  engraved  deeper  upon  my.  heart,  and 
 *'  more  fairly  copied  out  in  my  life.     O  that  the 
 
 *«'  Lord 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  169 
 
 **  Lord  the  Spirit,  may  caft  you  and  me  intQ 
 **  the  mould  of  the  word,  that  we  may  take  the 
 **  impreilion  of  every  truth,  and  receive  it  in 
 **  the  love  of  it." 
 
 Here  is  the  way  in  which  God  connecfls  him- 
 felf  with  his  people,  he  reveals  himfelf  to  them 
 by  his   word,  he  caufes  it  to  be  mixed  with 
 faith,    and  by  the  acStings  of  the  faith  of  his 
 operation,  makes  them  to  fay  this  is  our  God, 
 our  hope  and  our  portion,  our  fhield  and  our. 
 exceeding  great  reward ;  fo  that  our  bulinefs  is 
 to  be  followers  of  him,   and  to  be   happy    in 
 heaven,  where  God  is  all  in  all.     He  himfelf 
 lemoves  every  obftacle,  whether  of  ignorance  or 
 of  fin,  which  ftands  in  the  way  of  this  perfect 
 communion ;    **  they  fhall  all  know  me  from 
 *'  the  leaft  of  them  unto  the  greateft,  for  I  will 
 *'  forgive  their  iniquity,    and  remember  their 
 *'  fin  no  more.'*     In  order  to  effed:  this  recon- 
 ciliation, he  is  God  incarnate  in  his  dear  Son, 
 becoming  ours  in  our  nature  and  likenefs,  with 
 our  griefs  and  forrows,    our  tranfgreflions  and 
 iniquities,  our  punifhment  and  death,  all  meet- 
 ing together  in  his  wonderful  perfon :  and  having 
 made  peace  through  the  blood  of  his  crofs,  he 
 comes  and  preaches  peace  by  his  word,  and  ap- 
 plies  it   by  his   Spirit  :    hereby  we  know  tliat 
 God  dwelleth  in  us  and  we  in  God,  we  can  fay 
 truly  our  fellowfhip  is  with  the  Father,  and  with 
 
 his 
 
1 70  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 his  Son  Jesus  Christ;  and  this,  as  Mr, 
 RoMAiNE  often  exprefled  himfelf,  is  heaven 
 upon  earth. 
 
 Such  al fo  has  been  the  teaching  and  experi- 
 ence of  all  God's  children — "  We  come  unto 
 ^*  thee,  for  thou  art  the  Lord  our  God,"  Jer. 
 iii.  23.  **  O  God,  thou  art  my  God,  early 
 f*  will  I  feek  thee."  Pfalm  Ixiii.  i.  What- 
 ever be  my  ftation  or  calling,  and  whatever  be 
 the  bufinefs,  cares,  or  trials,  annexed  to  them. 
 Thou  art  the  firft  objed:  of  my  purfuit — let  thy 
 prefence  go  with  me,  let  thy  blefling  be  upon 
 me-,  and  all  fhall  be  well.  In  this  fenfe,  he  was 
 the  God  of  Abraham,  and  of  Ifaac,  and  of 
 Jacob  :  In  this  character,  he  reproves,  chaflens, 
 and  inftrud:s  his  people,  taking  pains  with 
 them  as  a  people  whom  he  has  formed  for  him- 
 felf, and  faying,  I  am  God,  even  thy  God. 
 Pfalm  1.  7.  And  as  he  is  not  the  God  of  the 
 dead  but  of  the  living,  fo  this  connexion  as  to 
 the  continuance  of  it,  is  for  ever  and  ever. 
 Which  is  the  third  particular. 
 
 Where  God  is,  there  can  be  no  death,  for 
 He  iiveth  ;  and  there  can  be  no  time,  for  He  is 
 eternal.  How  different  from  the  gods  many 
 and  lords  many  of  the  children  of  men  !  from 
 the  world,  the  flefh,  and  the  devil,  the  riches, 
 honours,  and  pleafures  of  life,  in  the  fervicc 
 and  purfuit  of  which  men  live  for  a  time,  and 
 
 then 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  I7I 
 
 then  die  for  ever !  How  finely  is  the  contrail 
 drawn,  Jer.  x.  lO,  &c.  "  But  the  Lord  is 
 the  true  God,  he  is  the  hving  God,  and  an 
 everlafting  King:  at  his  wrath  the  earth  fhall 
 tremble,  and  the  nations  fhall  not  be  able  to 
 abide  his  indignation.  Thus  Ihall  ye  fay 
 unto  them,  the  gods  that  have  not  made  the 
 heavens  and  the  earth,  even  they  fhall  perifh 
 from  the  earth,  and  from  under  thefe  heavens. 
 He  hath  made  the  earth  by  his  power.  He 
 hath  eflablifhed  the  world  by  his  wifdom, 
 and  hath  ftretched  out  the  heavens  by  his 
 difcretlon.  When  He  uttereth  his  voice, 
 there  is  a  multitude  of  waters  in  the  heavens, 
 and  he  caufeth  the  vapours  to  afcend  from 
 the  ends  of  the  earth  :  he  maketh  lightnings 
 with  rain,  and  bringeth  forth  the  wind  out 
 of  his  treafures.  Every  man  is  brutifh  in 
 his  knowledge  :  every  founder  is  confounded 
 by  the  graven  image  ;  for  his  molten  image 
 is  falfehood,  and  there  is  no  breath  in  them. 
 They  are  vanity  and  the  work  of  errors  :  in 
 the  time  of  their  vifitation  they  fhall  perifh. 
 The  portion  of  Jacob  is  not  like  them :  for 
 He  is  the  former  of  all  things,  and  Ifrael  i? 
 the  rod  of  his  inheritance,  the  Lord  of 
 Hofts  is  his  name."  What  a  mercy  to  be 
 turned  to  God  from  idols,  and  to  wait  for  his 
 Son  from  heaven,  whom  He  raifed  from  the 
 
 dead, 
 
lya  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 dead,  even  Jesus,  who  delivereth  us  from  the 
 wrath  to  come !  Thefe  efFedts  are  conflantly 
 produced  by  the  faith  of  the  gofpel.  Believ- 
 ing in  Jesus,  though  we  were  dead,  yet  we  Hve, 
 and  living  and  beheving  in  Jesus  we  never  die 
 — ^we  are  his  for  ever.  All  his  followers  have 
 known  this,  and  none  more  than  Mr.  Romaine  : 
 when  he  fent  me  his  book  on  the  Triumph  of 
 Faith,  *'  Thank  our  divine  teacher,  the  Holy 
 **  Spirit,  faid  he,  for  leading  me  into  the  truth, 
 **  and  for  keeping  me  in  it  through  fuch  a  long 
 **  life,  and  for  the  moft  blelTed  profpe(5t  opened 
 "  to  me,  when  this  life  fhall  be  ended.'*  The 
 lafl:  moments  of  his  life  were  thofe  in  which  he 
 was  mofl:  alive  unto  God,  when,  like  an  inha- 
 bitant of  heaven,  he  was  crying,  **  Holy,  Holy, 
 **  Holy  !"  Dying  indeed  as  an  inhabitant  of 
 earth,  but  knowing  no  more  of  death  than  as 
 the  door  of  hope  and  the  gate  of  heaven. 
 
 There  could  be  but  one  reafon  for  fuch  a 
 happy  end  of  his  converfation  upon  earth,  and 
 that  is,  that  God  was  his  guide  unto  death. 
 The  conftancy  of  whofe  friendfhip  with  his 
 people  in  this  tranfitory  life,  in  trouble,  forrow, 
 need,  ficknefs,  and  the  end  of  all,  is  the  laft 
 thing  to  be  admired  in  the  words  of  the  text, 
 "   He  (liall  be  our  guide  unto  death.'* 
 
 Our  way  upon  earth  is  a  continued  progrefs 
 unto  death,  a  way  of  wearinefs  and  painfulnefs 
 
 of 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  1 73 
 
 of  difeafe  and    infirmity,    and    the    continual 
 perifliing  of  the  outer  man ;  but  in  our  Imma- 
 nuel  we  have  a  friend  born  for  adverfity,  and 
 one  that   fticketh   clofer    than  a  brother  :  and 
 God   being  with  us   in    the  way,    how   is   it 
 ftrewed  with  promifes,  and  watered  from  above 
 with    fhowers    of    bleffing  ?     *'   When    tliou 
 **  paffeth  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with 
 *'  thee;  and  through  the  rivers,  they  fhall  not 
 **  overflow  thee:  when  thou  walkeft  through 
 **  the  fire,  thou  (halt   not  be  burnt;    neither 
 **  fhall  the  flame  kindle  upon   thee."     Ifaiah 
 xliii.  2.     **  And  to  your  old  age  I  am  he,  and 
 **  to  hoar  hairs  will  I  carry  you  :  I  have  made, 
 **  and  I  will  bear,  even  I  will  carry  and  will 
 **  deliver  you.'*     Ifaiah  xlvi.  4. — The  expref- 
 fion  in  the  original  of  the  text,  is  very  flrong 
 and    emphatical,    it  is   KlH,  He   himfclf  fhall 
 lead  us  even  unto  death  :  intimating,  no  doubt, 
 that  he  never  trufl:s  his  followers  to  any  conduct 
 but  his  own.     **  As  an  eagle  ftirreth  up   her 
 *'  nefl:,    fluttereth  over    her  young,    fpreadeth 
 **  abroad  her  wings,  taketh  them  and  beareth 
 **  them  on  her  wings :   fo  the  Lord  alone  did 
 *•  lead  him.**     Deut.   xxxii.   11.     If  we  alk, 
 how  it  is   that  he  condu(5ls  them  ?   Nehemiah 
 fpeaks  upon  this    fubjed:,  ix.   20.      **    Thou 
 **  gavefl:  alfo  thy  good  Spirit  to  infl:rudl:  them.*' 
 And  a  greater  than   Nehemiah   has   promifed 
 
 this 
 
174  THE    FRIENDSHIP   OF   GO0. 
 
 this  guide  for  his  church,  unto  the  end  of  the 
 world — **  even  the  Spirit  of  truth,  he  Ihall 
 •*  lead  you  into  all  truth,  &c/*  So  that  **  as 
 "  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  are 
 "  the  fons  of  God  ;  and  if  the  Spirit  of  him  that 
 **  raifed  up  Jesus  from  the  dead  dwell  in  you, 
 "  he  that  raifed  up  Christ  from  the  dead  Ihall 
 **  alfo  quicken  your  mortal  bodies  by  the  fpirit 
 "  that  dwelleth  in  you."  Rom.  viii. — Here  is 
 a  guide  unto  death,  and  unto  judgment  alfo,  to 
 quicken  our  fpirits  in  the  one,  and  our  bodies  in 
 the  other  ;  to  breathe  into  us  the  breath  of  life, 
 that  we  may  have  it  more  abundantly  than  we 
 had  it  in  Adam. — It  was  a  life  in  Adam  which 
 lafted  only  till  the  hour  of  temptation,  in  Christ 
 it  endured  temptation  and  furvived  it,  and  is 
 given  to  his  people  for  ever.  Hence  it  is  that 
 they  live  in  death — they  fear  no  evil,  for  God 
 is  with  them  ;  and  this  was  evidently  the  cafe 
 with  our  departed  brother  :  the  fame  God,  who 
 fed  him  all  his  life  long,  the  angel  which  re- 
 deemed him  from  all  evil,  redeemed  him  from 
 death  and  the  power  of  the  grave;  and  with 
 fuch  a  fhepherd  and  guide,  he  had  only  to  fay, 
 **  Holy,  Holy,  Holy;  Holy  and  blelTed  Jesus, 
 **  to  thee  be  endlefs  praife  !**  The  friend,  at 
 whofe  houfe  he  departed,  thought  it,-  no  doubt, 
 a  privilege  to  receive  him  in  dying  circum- 
 ftances,  and  derived  comfort  and  fupport  from 
 
 feeing 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  f] ^ 
 
 feeing  and  hearing  him  in  them,  which  amply 
 compenfated  for  the  forrow  which  the  lofs  of 
 fuch  a  brother,  and  fuch  a  father,  muft  occafion. 
 BlefTed  be  the  Father  of  mercies,  and  the  God 
 of  all  comfort — bleffcd  be  his  name  for  the 
 abundant  fupport  voiichfafed  to  his  departed 
 fervant,  and  for  his  abundant  confolations  to  his 
 furviving  brethren — thanks  be  to  God,  who 
 gave  him  the  vidlory,  and  will  give  it  to  us,  if 
 we  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ — all  glory 
 be  to  God,  who  was  his  guide  unto  death. 
 
 I  could  have  wifhcd  that  fo  juft  a  tribute  to 
 his  memory,  as  is  propofed  this  day,  had  fallen 
 into  much  abler  hands  than  mine :  it  could 
 have  fallen  upon  none  lefs  able  to  do  it  juftice, 
 but  none  more  willing.  I  yield  to  all  my  fel- 
 low-fervants  in  Christ  in  point  of  ability,  but 
 to  none  in  love  and  efteem  for  fo  burning  and 
 ihining  a  light,  in  which  the  great  Head  of  the 
 church  has  permitted  us  to  rejoice  fo  long,  beforehe 
 took  him  to  fhine  as  the  brightnefs  of  the  firma- 
 ment, and  as  the  fun  in  tlie  kingdom  of  his 
 Father.  In  order  to  do  juftice  to  the  fervant 
 we  muft  give  glory  to  the  Mafter,  and  remem- 
 ber that  there  is  nothing  excellent  or  eminent  in 
 any  man,  but  what  comes  from  him  who  is 
 **  the  true  Light  that  lighteneth  every  man  that 
 *'  Cometh  into  the  world.'* 
 
 It 
 
176  The  friendship  of  god. 
 
 It  would  be  impoffible  to  comprife  Mr.  Ro- 
 maine's  life  and  character  in  the  compafs  of  a 
 fermon ;  nor  fhall  we  ever  have  fo  good  an  ac- 
 count of  the  beft  part  of  his  hifhory,  his  reli- 
 gious experience  as  a  man  of  God,  as  is  to  be 
 found  in  his  Lifcy  Walk,  and  Triumph  of  Faith, 
 under  his  own  hand.  But  I  am  authorized  to 
 fay,  that  as  foon  as  authentic  documents  can  be 
 collected  and  compiled,  fuch  an  account  w'll  be 
 given  to  the  public  as  will  be  at  leaft  faithful  and 
 true.  And  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  they  will  wait 
 for  it  with  patience,  and  rejed:  every  thing 
 fpurious  in  the  mean  time. 
 
 However,  I  fhould  do. great  injiiftice  to  my 
 own  feelings,  and  perhaps  to  your  expectations, 
 were  I  to  pafs  by  this  opportunity  of  dropping  a 
 few  hints  refped:ing  his  walk  and  warfare  upon 
 earth,  his  behaviour  in  the  relations  in  which 
 he  ftood  to  God  and  man,  by  which  it  has  beai 
 plainly  proved,  that  this  God  was  his  guide 
 unto  death,  who  is  his  God  for  ever. 
 
 We  may  rank  him  among  thofe  of  whom  the 
 apoftle  may  be  fuppofed  to  fpeak,  Heb.  xiii.  7, 
 **  Remember  them  which  had  the  rule  over 
 **  you,  who  have  fpoken  to  you  the  word  of 
 **  God,  whofe  faith  follow,  ronfidering  the 
 **  end  of  their  converfation."  Here  is  one, 
 whom,  in  proportion  as  we  regret,  we  muft 
 remember     with     pleafure,     his     converfation 
 
 amongfl 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF   GOD.  I77 
 
 amongft  us  will  bear  retrofped:,  and  the  more 
 it  is  fcrutinized,  the  better  it  will  be  found. 
 He  had  that  rule  over  the  church  to  which  his 
 great  age  and  long  experience  in  the  things  of 
 God  fo  juftly  entitled  him.    The  word  Tiynf^svog, 
 {ignifies  one  who  prefides  in  the  church,  and 
 is  eminently   applied,  Matt.  ii.    6.  unto   him 
 who  was  to  come  out  of  Bethlehem  a  governor, 
 to  rule  God*s  people  Ifrael.     It  is  applied,  Luke 
 xxii.  6.  to  thofe  whom  this  governor  is  pleafed 
 to  employ  in  his  fervice,  *'  and  he  that  is  chief, 
 *'  as  he  that  doth   ferve."     And  it  is  applied, 
 Ad:s  XV.  22,  to   chofen   men  of   the  church, 
 who    are  called   chief   men,    or  (to  fpeak  in 
 modern    language)   leading    men    among    the 
 brethren.     In  Mr.  Romaine  we  had  a  leading 
 man,  whom  we  might  confult   in  private,  and 
 hear  in  public  with  profit  and  pleafure.     His 
 congregation,  on  Tuefday  morning,  was  gene- 
 rally a  choice  company  of  minifters  and  people  ; 
 he  hath  fpoken  to   them    the  word   of  God, 
 with  purity,  with  plainnefs,  with  talents  quite 
 his  own — fuch  as  we  all  admired,    but   none 
 could   imitate;  he  believed  what  he  preached, 
 and  if  we  follow  his  faith,  we  (hall  be  led  into 
 a  life,   a  holier  and  happier  than   which  was 
 never  lived  among  men ;  and  if  we  confider  or 
 behold  the  end,  ex^uc-tVy    or  going  out  of  his 
 converfation,  we  fhall  find  it  perfedly  confident 
 N  with 
 
lyS  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 with  his  coming  in.  The  Lord  preferved  both 
 the  one  and  the  other. 
 
 As  he  was  fteady  in  the  profeflion  of  the  truth, 
 he  was  fleady  in  every  thing  elfe ;  he  ruled  well 
 his  own  houfe,  as  a  hufband,  a  father,  and  a 
 maflcr;  and  has  left  thofe  to  lament  him  moft 
 who  were  beft  acquainted  with  him ;  as  the  con- 
 flant  witnefTes  of  his  inflrudlion  and  devotion  in 
 his  family,  of  his  thankfulnefs  and  temperance 
 at  his  meals,  of  the  regular  difpofition  of  his 
 time,  and  confecration  of  it  to  the  fervice  of  his 
 beloved  Jesus. 
 
 As  a  friend  and  companion  he  was  among  the 
 beft  that  I  ever  knew — plain,  but  poliflied  in  his 
 manners ;  and  as  cheerful  in  his  behaviour,  as  he 
 was  happy  in  his  foul.  As  a  fcholar  he  could 
 converfe  on  any  fubje<5t,  and  accomodate  himfelf 
 to  any  underftanding.  In  his  writings  there  is 
 great  plainnefs  of  fpeech,  and  great  purity  of 
 diction ;  the  unlearned  cannot  miilake,  nor  can 
 ^he  learned  criticife  or  mend  them.  He  was  a 
 man  of  fcience  and  philofophy  truly  fo  called : 
 for  he  ftudied  nature  with  the  Bible  in  his  hand, 
 and  took  his  account  of  the  things  which  are 
 made  from  bim  who  made  them.  He  was  cer- 
 tainly a  proficient  in  claflical  learning,  and  gave 
 no  fmall  proof  of  his  acquaintance  with  the 
 Latin  tongue,  in  his  elegant  preface  and  dedica- 
 tion, which  he  fent  forth  with  his  edition  of 
 
 Calafio, 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  I79 
 
 Calafio,  in  the  thirty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 
 But  the  errors  and  vices  of  the  heathens,  how- 
 ever ornamented  by  rhetoric  or  poetry,  wer& 
 difgufting  to  a  heart  purified  by  faith :  he  there- 
 fore turned  from  profane  to  facred  Hterature, 
 ftudied  the  Hebrew  tongue,  as  God's^  language, 
 in  which  he  has  been  pleafed  to  reveal  his  will; 
 and  he  knew  it  intimately,  and  to  the  very  root 
 and  marrow  of  it:  he  was  well  acquainted  with 
 its  genius,  as  containing  letter  and  fpirit  in  every 
 word,  reprefenting  invifible  things  by  vifible  ob- 
 jedts,  prefenting  the  truths  of  God  to  the  fcnfes 
 of  men,  and  painting  the  myfleries  of  the  khig- 
 dom  of  heaven  in  the  glowing  colours  of  nature. 
 So  he  brought  forth  much  fruit  as  a  difciple  of 
 Jesus;  learned  much  in  the  fchool  of  him  who 
 fpake  by  parables,  and  who,  confidering  what  he 
 was  to  teach,  could  not  fpeak  without  them. 
 Such  knowledge  of  God  in  his  works  made  his 
 pilgrimage  upon  earth  a  delightful  paiTage  to 
 heaven.  He  could  learn  as  much  in  his  walks 
 as  in  his  fludy;  and,  being  very  affable  and 
 communicative,  was  a  moft  entertaining  and 
 edifying  companion  in  the  houf^,  in  the  field, 
 and  iv\  the  garden.  He  could  fpeak  of  mofl 
 natural  things  with  a  peculiar  favour,  becaufe 
 he  could  point  out  the  fpiritual  things  to  which 
 they  are  related:  all,  therefore,  that  received 
 him  into  their  houfes  were  the  better  for  his 
 N  2  vifits ; 
 
l80  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 vilits  ;  while  all  that  heard  him  could  not  but  be 
 profited  by  his  preaching  in  fuch  ilrid:  confor- 
 mity to  the  oracles  of  God. 
 
 You  know  his  worth  as  a  parifh  pricft  much 
 better  than  1  can  defcribe  it,  and  have  given  a 
 proof  of  the  opinion  you  entertain  of  fuch  a  mi- 
 niftry,  by  preferring  an  unanimous  petition  for 
 the  continuance  of  it,  and  I  rejoice  with  you  that 
 you  have  not  preferred  it  in  vain.  You  recolledl 
 how  admirably  he  adapted  himfelf  to  his  hearers, 
 how  familiarly  he  fpoke  to  children,  how  faith- 
 fully to  youth,  and  how  feelingly  to  the  aged ; 
 and  how  liberally  he  provided  for  the  poor  by 
 charity  fermons,  by  weekly  colle6tions  at  facra- 
 ments,  while  he  performed  the  beft  of  all  offices, 
 in  preaching  the  gofpel  to  them. 
 
 As  he  loved  all  Chriflian  people,  all  churches 
 of  the  faints  will  mifs  him,  but  the  church  of 
 England  has  loft  in  him  one  of  her  brighteft 
 ornaments  and  beft  friends.  He  not  only  revived 
 her  dod:rines  at  a  time  when  they  were  almoft 
 forgotten,  but  he  maintained  them  in  her  com- 
 munion, and  under  great  difcouragements.  He 
 might  fay,  with  St.  Paul,  "  At  my  firft  coming 
 •*  no  man  ftood  by  me,  but  all  forfook  me ; 
 **  neverthelefs  the  Lord  ftood  by  me  and 
 **  ftrengthened  me."  It  is  well  known  what 
 things  befel  him  at  Oxford,  where  he  was  re- 
 fufed  the  univerfity  pulpit  for  fermons  entitled 
 
 The 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP   OF   GOD.  l8l 
 
 The  Lord  our  Right eoufnefs^  which  he  publifhed, 
 that  they  might  fpeak  for  themfelves  ;  at  St. 
 George's,  Hanover-fquare,  from  whence  he  was 
 removed,  after  having  been  morning  preacher 
 there  for  fome  years,  for  filling  that  church 
 with  the  do(5trine  which  ought  always  to  be 
 preached  in  it;  and  at  St.  Dunftan's  in  the  Wefl, 
 upon  being  chofen  Led:urer  there,  what  oppo- 
 fition  he  met  with,  what  perfecutions  he  en- 
 dured !  But  out  of  them  all  the  Lord  delivered 
 him,  and  fo  delivered  him,  as  He  generally  de- 
 hvers  his  people,  by  calling  him  to  the  exercife 
 of  faith  upon  fo  trying  an  occaiion.  Had  he 
 walked  by  fight  and  not  by  faith,  he  might  have 
 yielded  to  the  ftrong  folicitations  of  fome  of  his 
 friends,  to  leave  his  church  and  his  country,  and 
 embraced  the  moft  tempting  invitations,  which 
 were  held  out  to  him,  to  go  to  America:  but  he 
 was  confcientiouily  attached  to  the  church  of 
 England,  and  thought  it  his  duty  to  wait  till  a 
 door  was  opened,  which  afterwards  proved  to 
 be  great  and  effe(ftual.  He  lamented,  no  doubt, 
 that  there  were  fo  few  of  her  minifters  who  felt 
 the  obligations  laid  upon  them  at  their  ordination 
 to  preach  Christ  unto  the  people :  but  if  the 
 labourers  were  few,  he  was  taught  to  pray  for 
 more ;  and  what  he  had  been  taught,  he  did  in 
 faith. 
 
 N  3  When 
 
1 82  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 When  he  firft  began,  the  number  of  thofe 
 who  preached  the  gofpel,  and  churches  open  to 
 them,  were  few  indeed ;  it  might  conlifl:  of  units, 
 it    increafed    afterwards    to    tens,    and  then  to 
 hundreds,  and  before  he  died  he  had  a  hft  of 
 above  five  hundred  brethren  at  once,  for  whom 
 he  could  pray  as  fellow  labourers  with  himfelf 
 in  the  word  and  in  dodrine.     He  conftantly  re- 
 membered them  in  his  prayers,  and  fet  apart 
 one  day  in  the  week,  which  he  called  his  Litany 
 day,  and  which  I  believe  was  generally  Friday, 
 when  he  mentioned  them  every  one  by  name  be- 
 fore the  throne  of  grace.     The  church  of  En- 
 gland then  has  loft  a  great  friend,  a  fteady  and 
 a  praying  friend,  in  Mr.  Romaine ;  and  you 
 will  do  well  to  try  your  beft  to  make  amends  for 
 his  lofs,  and  to  follow  his  faith  in  this   parti- 
 cular.    The  prayer  of  faich  availeth,  and  wait- 
 ing as  well  as  praying  faith  did  wonders  for  this 
 excellent   mauj    he   lived   to   fee   many    doors 
 opened  to  him,  which  were  fliut  againft  him ; 
 and  was  not  only  himfelf  ftablifhed,  ilrength- 
 ened,  fettled,  after  he  had  fuffered  for  a  while, 
 but  placed  in  a  moft  refpedtable  lituation,  as 
 Redlor  of  this    Parifli,  in  which   he  has   dif- 
 charged  his  duty  with  great  fidelity  and  ufeful- 
 nefs,  and,  his  work  being  ended,  is  gone  out  of 
 the  world  with  as  much  credit  as  ever  man  left 
 it,  to  give  an  account  of  himfelf  unto  God. 
 
 Behold 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  183 
 
 Behold  now  the  end  of  his  converfation — fee 
 him  in  old  age,  and  you  fee  how  true  the 
 Pfalmifl's  defcription  is  of  thofc,  **  that  are 
 **  planted  in  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  and  flourifh 
 **  in  the  courts  of  our  God,  that  they  fliall  ftill 
 **  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age:"  and  all  **  to 
 **  fhew  that  the  Lord  is  upright.  He  is  their 
 **  Rock,  and  there  is-  no  unrighteoufnefs  in 
 **  Him,'*  Pfal.  xcii.  13.  The  cheerfulnefs  of 
 our  departed  friend  feemed  to  increafe  with  his 
 declining  years  j  if  one  afked  him,  How  he 
 <lid?  His  anfwer  frequently  was,  '*  As  well  as 
 "  I  can  be  out  of  heaven."  If  he  preached,  I 
 have  heard  thofe  that  heard  him  remark,  **  it 
 •*  was  as  though  he  had  been  in  heaven,  and 
 **  come  back  to  earth  to  tell  us  what  is  doing 
 **  there/*  Indeed  there  was  a  wonderful  liveli- 
 nefs  in  his  preaching  to  the  lafl: ;  and  I  could  not 
 but  obferve,  the  laft  time  I  heard  him,  a  light 
 upon  his  countenance,  which  appeared  like  the 
 dawn,  or  a  faint  refemblance  of  glory. 
 
 We  are  now  brought  to  the  clofing  (ccne  of 
 his  exift  nee  upon  earth ;  but  as  I  had  neither 
 the  pain  nor  the  pleafure  of  feeing  him  in  thofe 
 circumftances,  I  can  only  retail  the  accounts  of 
 thofe  who  did,  and  the  few  hints  which  I  have 
 colledled  and  committed  to  writing,  I  will  repeat 
 and  read  to  you. 
 
 N  4  On 
 
184  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 On  the  fixth  day  of  June,  he  was  feized  after 
 breakfaft  with  his  lalt  iicknefs  which  was  unto 
 death,  at  a  friend*s  houfe  at  Balaam-hill,  near 
 Clapham.  He  came  down  to  breakfaft  at  fix 
 o'clock,  prefided,  as  ufual,  in  family  devotion, 
 and  prayed  earneftly  that  "  God  would  fit  us  for 
 **  and  fupport  us  in  our  trials  that  day,  which 
 **  might  be  many."  He  converfed  mofl  pro- 
 fitably and  comfortably  in  his  way  to  London, 
 on  the  approach  of  death,  and  near  profpedt  of 
 eternity:  '*  O!  how  animating  is  the  view 
 *•  which  I  now  have  of  death,  and  the  hope 
 **  laid  up  for  me  in  heaven,  full  of  glory  and 
 **  immortality!"  He  continued  in  town  under 
 medical  advice  till  the  twenty-fixth  day  of  June, 
 and  then  went  to  a  friend's  houfe  at  Tottenham, 
 for  a  fortnight,  where  he  was  fo  much  better 
 as  to  be  able  to  walk  about  the  garden ;  from 
 whence  he  came  back  to  London,  continued 
 there  a  few  days,  and  as  change  of  air  and 
 country  air  were  deemed  necefiary  for  him,  he 
 returned  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  July  to  Balaam, 
 where  he  had  been  originally  feized.  During 
 this  interval  he  had  frequent  fpafms  at  his  heart, 
 fhortnefs  of  breath,  attended  with  degrees  of 
 pain  and  convulfion,  and  confidered  himfelf  as 
 haftening  to  the  end  of  his  converfation. 
 
 But  his  faith  and  patience  never  failed  him — 
 he  was    frequently   faying,  ♦*  O  how  good   is 
 
 "  God! 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP   OP   GOD.  l2$ 
 
 "  God  !  What  entertainments  and  comforts  does 
 **  he  give  me !  O  what  a  profpedt  do  I  fee 
 "  before  me  of  glory  and  immortahty!  He  is 
 **  my  God  through  life,  through  death,  and 
 **  throughout  eternity."  On  the  twenty-third 
 day  of  July,  as  he  fat  at  breakfaft  he  faid,  '*  It 
 "  is  now  near  (ixty  years  fince  God  opened  my 
 **  mouth  to  publilh  the  everlafting  fufficiency 
 **  and  eternal  glory  of  the  falvation  of  Christ 
 **  Jesus  ;  and  it  has  now  pleafed  him  to  (hut 
 **  my  mouth,  that  my  heart  might  feel  and  ex- 
 "  perience  what  my  mouth  has  fo  often  fpoken." 
 On  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  July,  after  he  had 
 been  helped  down  flairs,  he  faid,  **  O  how  good 
 **  is  God  ! "  requefling,  as  he  had  often  done,  that 
 prayers  without  ceafing  might  be  made  for  him, 
 that  his  faith  and  patience  might  not  fail.  He 
 exprelfed  exceeding  great  kindnefs  and  affedtion 
 for  his  partner  Mrs.  Romaine,  and  thanking 
 her  for  all  her  kind  and  tender  care  of  him,  he 
 faid,  "  Come,  my  love,  that  I  may  blefs  you, 
 **  the  Lord  be  with  you  a  covenant  God  for 
 **  ever  to  fave  and  blefs  you."  He  fpoke  with 
 the  fame  tendernefs  and  affecflion  to  his  fon,  of 
 whom  alfo  he  fpoke  much  and  oft  during  his 
 illnefs,  exprefling  his  hope  of  him  as  a  fon  in 
 the  faith  as  well  as  in  the  flefh :  but  his  par- 
 ticular expreflions  upon  this  fabje<5t  have  been 
 modeftly  withheld  from  me,  and  with  peculiar 
 
 propriety, 
 
1 86  THE    FRIENDSHIP   OF    GOD. 
 
 propriety,  as  it  was  his  fon's  intention  to  have 
 been  here  this  day,  and  in  which  cafe  nothing 
 would  have  been  faid  from  this  place  concern- 
 ing him.  But  as  fo  much  has  been  faid,  I  muft 
 be  permitted  to  exprefs  my  bell  wifhes  and 
 prayers,  that  the  widow  may  find  a  hufband  in 
 her  Maker,  and  a  Redeemer  in  the  Lord  of 
 Hofts,  and  that  the  fon  may  preach,  live,  and 
 die  like  his  father  ! 
 
 To  return  to  our  narrative  : — the  lady  who 
 was  cherifhing  in  her  houfe  fuch  a  dying  gueft, 
 upon  feeing  and  hearing  him  blefs  his  wife,  faid, 
 •'  Have  you  not  a  bleiling  for  me.  Sir  ?'* 
 **  Yes,"  he  faid,  **  I  have;"  I  pray  God  to 
 blefs  you :  and  fo  he  faid  to  every  one  that 
 came  to  him.  On  Saturday  the  twenty-fifth  day 
 of  July,  he  was  not  down  ftairs  at  all,  but  lay 
 upon  the  couch  all  day,  in  great  weaknefs  of 
 body,  but  ftrong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God. 
 •—The  power  of  Christ  was  refling  upon  him, 
 and  keeping  him  in  the  continual  exercife  of 
 prayer  and  praife.  This  was  the  laft  day  he 
 fpent  upon  earth,  and  in  the  clofe  of  it,  he  was 
 thought  to  have  faid,  **  Yea,  though  I  walk 
 •*  through  the  valley  and  fhadow  of  death,  I 
 **  will  fear  no  evil,  for  thou  art  with  me." 
 About  an  hour  before  he  died,  his  friend  and 
 hofl  went  up  to  him,  and  faid,  **  I  hope,  my 
 **  dear  Sir,  you  now  find  the  falvation  of  Jesus 
 
 "  Christ 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  1 87 
 
 •*  Christ  precious,  dear,  and  valuable  to  you." 
 His  anfwer  was,  **  He  is  a  precious  Saviour 
 **  to  me  now."  Thefe  were  the  laft  words  he 
 faid,  except  "  Holy,  Holy,  Holy!  Holy  bleffed 
 "  Jesus,  to  thee  be  endlefs  praife  I"  And  in  the 
 firft  hour  of  the  next  day,  which  was  the  fab- 
 bath  day,  he  refigned  his  breath,  almoft  im- 
 perceptibly to  thofe  that  attended  him,  in  prayer 
 to  God  who  gave  it. 
 
 **  Conjider  the  end  of  his  converfation!^*  and 
 that  you  may  give  the  praife,  where  only  it 
 ought  to  be  given,  go  on  with  the  Apoftle  and 
 fay, 
 
 **  Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday, 
 **  to-day,  and  for  ever." 
 
 Men  and  brethren,  it  may  well  be  fuppofed 
 of  a  man  who  hath  fpoken  fo  much  when  living, 
 that  he  yet  fpeaketh  when  dead.  I  befeechyou 
 therefore  to  fuffer  from  me  a  word  of  applica- 
 tion. 
 
 And  firft,  to  you  who  defpifed  and  rejecfled 
 his  miniftry.  What  do  you  think  of  it  now  ? 
 and  what  do  you  think  of  yourfelves  for  having 
 loft  fo  fair  an  opportunity  for  receiving  the  in- 
 ftrudtion  of  wifdom  and  knowledo-e  ?  Should 
 you  die,  as  you  have  lived,  without  **  knowing 
 "  God,  and  obeying  the  gofpel  of  the  Lord 
 **  Jesus  Christ,"  hath  not  every  one  of  you 
 reafon  to  tremble,  *'  left  thou  mourn  at  the  laft, 
 
 **  when 
 
l88  THE    FRIENDSHIP   OF    GOD. 
 
 "  when  thy  flefh  and  thy  body  are  confumed,*' 
 and  fay,  **  How  have  I  hated  inftru(5tion,  and 
 •*  my  heart  defpifed  reproof!"  Prov.  v.  ii. 
 Perhaps  fome  of  you  here  prefent  may  be 
 haunted  by  this  bitter  reflection,  may  be  humbled 
 before  God  on  account  of  your  fins,  and  your 
 great  fin  in  defpifing  the  word  of  falvation. 
 Blefs  God,  that  He  has  brought  thee  to  thy 
 fenfes  before  thy  flefh  and  thy  body  are  con- 
 fumed,  cry  mightily  unto  Him,  **  God  be 
 •*  merciful  to  me  a  finner,"  confult  his  lively 
 oracles  refpe<5ting  this  important  queflion, 
 **  What  mufl  I  do  to  be  faved?"  There  you 
 will  find  the  anfwer  fo  conflantly  in  the  mouth 
 of  your  dear  departed  minifler,  **  Believe  in  the 
 **  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  (halt  be 
 "  faved."  BlefTed  be  God,  that  though  the 
 fervant  is  gone,  the  Mafler  is  with  us,  and  the 
 mefTagealfo. 
 
 I  am  fpeaking,  no  doubt,  to  many,  who  loved 
 and  attended  his  miniflry,  but  who  have  reafon 
 to  lament  your  fhort  comings,  your  little  profit 
 under  the  advantages  which  you  enjoyed ;  many 
 opportunities  which  you  have  lofl,  and  many  of 
 which  you  have  availed  yourfelves  and  thought 
 but  little.  Such  refled:ions  have  occurred  to 
 myfelf,  and  perhaps  to  you,  upon  the  lofs  of 
 fo  eminent,  fo  ufeful  a  man.  He  feems  to 
 fpeak  to  us  who  are  left  in  the  world,  **  Arife 
 
 ••  and 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD.  1 89 
 
 '*  and  depart,  this  is  not  your  reft,  follow  more 
 **  earneftly  than  you  have  done  the  things  which 
 **  alone  can  bring  you  peace  at  the  lafl."  May 
 his  death  be  our  life  !  may  the  prefent  feafon  be 
 an  awakening  feafon  !  may  God  the  Spirit  guide 
 you  and  me,  and  in  proportion  as  the  cloud  of 
 witnefTes  increafes  over  our  heads,  may  we  be 
 increafing  in  faith,  may  we  be  ftirred  up  to 
 follow  them  as  they  followed  Christ  !  and  may 
 we  endure  unto  the  end,  looking  unto  Jesus, 
 the  Author  and  finifher  of  our  faith  ! 
 
 I  am  fpeaking  to  many,  no  doubt,  who  arc 
 ready  to  fay  (and  I  am  ready  to  join  them,)  that, 
 confidering  the  great  age  of  this  wonderful  man, 
 his  long  continuance  in  the  miniftry,  his  rich 
 experience  in  the  things  of  God,  and  his  parti- 
 cular talents  for  preaching  Jesus  Christ,  he 
 has  not  left  his  equal  behind  him.  But,  my 
 brethren,  he  has  left  many  able  and  faithful 
 minifters  of  the  New  Teftament,  who  by  their 
 life  and  dodrine  are  fetting  forth  God*s  true  and 
 lively  word ;  and  though  their  talents  may  not 
 be  the  fame  with  thofe  of  our  departed  father  in 
 Christ,  yet  their  aim  is  precifely  the  fame,  to 
 teilify  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith  to- 
 wards our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Cherilh  fuch 
 men,  encourage  and  efteem  them  highly.  There 
 are  diverfities  of  gifts,  but  the  fame  Spirit ;  and 
 wherever  that  Spirit  is,  do  you  rejoice  in  the 
 
 light 
 
190  THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    GOD. 
 
 light  that  is  raifed  by  it,  attend  upon  the  mi- 
 niftry  produced  by  it,  follow  it  with  your 
 prayers,  and  do  all  in  your  power  to  ftrengthen 
 the  hands  of  thofe  that  have  it,  and  to  love 
 them  as  they  are  loved  of  God.  Let  me  con- 
 gratulate this  Parifh  upon  the  continuance  of  the 
 gofpel  miniftry  among  them,  and  let  me  re- 
 commend to  your  love  and  efteem  the  perfon 
 whom  it  has  pleafed  God  to  move  the  heart  of 
 the  Patron  of  this  living  to  put  into  this  church. 
 He  has  been  known  ten  years  among  you — he 
 has  laboured  in  the  miniftry  with  his  beloved 
 predeceflbr— -he  has  his  feelings  no  doubt,  upon 
 being  called  to  ftand  in  the  place  of  fuch  a  man, 
 and  the  more  he  feels,  the  more  he  needs  your 
 fupport  and  your  prayers — he  has  mine,  and  I 
 hope  he  will  have  yours,  that  as  the  mantle  of 
 his  father  has  dropped  upon  him,  fo  a  double 
 portion  of  his  i'pirit  may  reft  upon  him  alfo ! 
 
 And  now,  brethren,  I  commend  you  to  God, 
 and  the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build 
 you  up,  and  give  you  an  inheritance  among  them 
 that  are  fandiified,  through  faith,  which  is  in 
 Christ  Jesus — that  fo  you  may  be  in  the  hands 
 of  Him,  who  will  guide  you  with  his  counfel, 
 and  after  that  receive  you  with  glory,  and  bring 
 you  to  fay,  as  all  who  have  lived  and  died  in 
 his  faith  and  fear  have  faid  before  you,  **  Whom 
 •*  have  I  in  heaven  but  Thee  ?  and  there  is  none 
 
 '*  upon 
 
THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF   GOD,  I9I 
 
 **  upon  earth  that  I  defire  befide  Thee ;  my 
 "  fleih  and  my  heart  fail,  but  God  is  the  ftrength 
 "  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for  ever." 
 
 To  this  God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
 Ghost,  in  one  Jehovah,  be  glory  for  ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 FELICITY  OF  GOD'S  CHILDREN, 
 
 PREACHED    UPON    THE 
 
 DEATH  OF  A  LADY, 
 
 IN    THE    PARISH    CHURCH    OP 
 
 ST.  GILES,  IN  READING, 
 ON  SUNDAY  MORNING,  NOVEMBER  20,  1796. 
 
 A     GRACIOUS     WOMAN    RETAINBTH    HONOUR.     PROV.xi.  l6. 
 
 HER    CHILDREN    ARISE      AND    CALL    HER    BLESSED.       FROV. 
 
 xxxi.  28. 
 
 o 
 
TO    THE 
 
 SURVIVING  CHILDREN 
 
 OF    THE    LATE 
 
 Mrs.    LITTLEHALES, 
 
 *^m»ti< 
 
 DEARLY  BELOVED, 
 
 AT  your  requeft  I  have  preached  and  printed 
 the   following  difcourfe.     This  muft  be 
 my  apology  for  prefenting  to  the  public,  what  is 
 fcarce  worthy  of  their  reception,  except  as   it 
 contains  fome  teflimony  of  Jesus  Christ,  fome 
 account  of   one,    who   lived   and   died  to  his 
 glory,  and  fome  matter  to  gratify  or  alleviate  a 
 dutiful,    loving,    and   afflicfled   family.     I  am 
 pleafed  with  your  requeft,  as  it  fhews  your  filial 
 piety;  and  as  it  gives  me  a  fair  opportunity  of 
 expreffing  my  regard  and  affediion  for  you.     I 
 have  wept  with  you  for  the  lofs  of  one,  "  be- 
 **  loved  fpecially  to  me;  but  how  much  more 
 **  unto  you,  certainly  in  the  flefh,"  and  (let  me 
 hope)   '*  alfo  in  the  Lord!"     Accept  my  befl 
 
 O  2  wilhes 
 
(     196    ) 
 
 wifhes  for  your  temporal  and  eternal  profperity. 
 My  prayers  for  you  are,  that  your  prefent 
 diftrefs  may  be  produ6tive  of  lafting  profit, 
 that  it  may  turn  you  from  the  creature  to  the 
 Creator,  from  dead  and  lying  vanities  to  the 
 living  and  the  true  God:  that  the  fame  faith, 
 which  dwelt  in  your  mother,  may  be  alfo  in 
 you^  and  lead  you  to  the  fame  happy  end  of  it, 
 even  the  falvation  of  your  fouls. 
 
 I  am,  your  faithful  friend. 
 And  Servant  in  Christ, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 Rteding,  Dec.  14,  1796. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 FELICITY 
 
 OF 
 
 GOD^s  CHILDREN 
 
 Psalm  xvii.   15. 
 
 As  for  mCy  I  will  behold  thy  face  in  righteoufnefs  \ 
 I  fiall  be  fatisfedy  when  I  awake j  with  thy 
 Ukenefs, 
 
 THE  language  of  the  text  is  the  language 
 of  faith,  exprellive  of  its  victory  over 
 the  prefent  world,  and  of  its  great  expectations 
 in  the  world  to  come.  The  Pfalm  contains  fuch 
 appeals  to  the  courts  of  juftice  and  equity  in 
 heaven,  together  with  fuch  profeflions  of  in- 
 tegrity, as  could  proceed  only  from  the  mouth 
 of  the  true  David,  to  whom  the  Jews  are  to 
 return  in  the  latter  days,  as  to  their  proper 
 Lord  and  King.  The  perfon  alluded  to  is  the 
 God- Man  Christ  Jesus ;  and  the  words  of 
 the  pfalm  will  fuit  us,  in  proportion  as  we  are 
 allied,  united,  and  conformed,  to  him.  He, 
 who  can  make  fuch  profeflions,  can  call  upon 
 O  3  God 
 
198      THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD's  CHILDREN. 
 
 God  for  his  pioted:ion  and  care,  **  to  be  kept 
 "  as  the  apple  of  the  eye'* — the  tendereft  part; 
 let  a  flraw  or  a  thread  but  touch  it,  and  they 
 will  give  it  exquifite  pain:  **  to  be  hidden  under 
 **  the  fhadow  of  his  wings,'*  that  is,  to  be  as 
 the  fucking  children  of  the  fondeft  mother. 
 
 Such  to  God  is  Christ,  his  well  beloved 
 Son,  and  fuch  are  all  chriftian  people.  "  For 
 •*  he  that  toucheth  you,  toucheth  the  apple  of 
 **  his  eye.'*  Zech.  ii.  8.  **  How  often  would 
 **  I  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  even 
 "  as  a  hen  doth  her  brood  under  her  wings," 
 &c.?  Matt,  xxiii.  37.  Luke  xiii.  34.  **  Can 
 **  a  woman  forget  her  fucking  child  that  (he 
 "  (hould  not  have  companion  on  the  fon  of  hef 
 **  womb?  yea  they  may  forget,  yet  will  I  not 
 **  forget  thee.**  Ifaiah  xlix.  15.  The  Pfalmift 
 fpeaks  as  an  oppreiTed  and  perfecuted  perfon, 
 and  prays  for  deliverance  from  **  the  wicked," 
 from  •*  deadly  enemies,**  that  is,  as  the  margin 
 has  it,  "  enemies  againfh  the  foul.**  Thefe  he 
 confiders  as  Gob's  '*  hand,**  and  as  God's 
 **  fword,"  acting  under  his  eye,  and  fubjed:  to 
 his  controul.  He  prays  for  deliverance,  not 
 only  from  their  malice  and  power,  but  from 
 their  fpirit  and  temper;  and  he  defcribes  them 
 as  "  inclofed  in  their  own  fat  :**  as  **  fpeaking 
 *•  proudly  with  their  mouth  :"  as  '*  compaffing 
 *•  him  in  his  Heps;**  *'  having  fet  their   eyes 
 
 *'  bowing 
 
THL  FELICITY  OF  GOD  S  CHILDREN.       I  99 
 
 •*  bowing  down  to  the  earth;  like  as  a  lion 
 **  that  is  greedy  of  his  prey,  and  as  it  were  a 
 "  young  lion  lurking  in  fecret  places."  He  de- 
 fcribes  them  as  **  men  of  the  world,  their 
 "  portion  in  this  life,  and  whofe  belly  God 
 **  filleth  with  his  hid  treafure:  their  children 
 *•  are  full,  and  leave  the  reft  of  their  fubftance 
 "  to  their  babes."  All  this,  fays  a  believer, 
 may  do  very  well  for  them,  but  it  will  not  do 
 for  me.     I  want  fomething  more. — **  As  for 
 
 **  ME,  I  WILL  behold  THY  FACE  IN  RIGHTE- 
 **  OUSNESS:  I  SHALL  BE  SATISFIED,  WHEN  I 
 '*    AWAKE,    WITH  THY  LIKENESS." 
 
 I  fhall  take  occafion  from  thefe  words  to  con- 
 fider  the  felicity  of  the  children  of  God,  which 
 differs  from  that  of  the  children  of  this  world, 
 as  much  as  does  their  character.  This  felicity 
 confifts  in  the  vifion  of  God — in  that  righteouf- 
 nefs,  in  which  alone  He  can  be  feen  with  com- 
 fort— in  his  likenefs,  without  which  he  cannot 
 be  feen  at  all — and  this  felicity  will  be  complete, 
 when  this  likenefs  fhall  be  complete,  that  is, 
 when  I  awake — and  then,  fays  the  Pfalmift,  "  I 
 •*  fhall  be  fatisfied."  Of  thefe  tilings  in  their 
 order;  and,  firft,  let  us  confider  the  vifion  of 
 God. 
 
 **   As  for  me,  I  fliall  behold  thy  face."     The 
 
 word  rendered y^tr^',  is  in  the  plural,  faces.     Here 
 
 are  plainly  more  faces  than  one,  the  face  of  "  the 
 
 O4  "Father," 
 
200      THE  FELICITY  OF  GOd's  CHILDREN. 
 
 *'  Father,"  the  face  of  "  the  Son,"  and  th« 
 face  of  **  the  Holy  Ghoft:"  **  and  thefe  three  are 
 •*  one."  As  the  face  is  that  by  which  we  prin-* 
 cipally  diftinguifh  perfons,  fo  the  expreflion 
 iignifies  perfofis:  and  as  where  the  per/on  is, 
 there  of  courfe  is  the  prefence,  fo  it  fignifies 
 prefence  alfo:  and  being  apphed  to  God,  it  de- 
 notes the  faces,  the  perfons,  the  prefence  of 
 God,     See  Exodus  xxxiii.  ii,  14,  15,  20,  23. 
 
 To  fee  all  this,  or,  in  the  words  of  St.  John, 
 "  to  fee  God  as  he  is,"  is  the  very  joy  of  his 
 people.  By  what  mercy  is  it  that  He  is  to  be 
 feen  of  thofe,  whom  He  hath  juftly  driven  from 
 his  prefence?  or  that  he  hath  faid,  "  behold  me, 
 "  behold  me,  to  a  nation  that  was  not  called  by 
 **  his  name!"  Ifaiah  Ixv.  i.  If  we  alk  how 
 God  is  to  be  feen,  we  may  learn  from  the  vifion 
 of  Jacob;  of  whom  it  is  written.  Gen.  xxxii. 
 24,  that  "  there  wreftled  a  man  with  him  till 
 •*  break  of  day :"  and  that  upon  the  perfeverance 
 of  the  Patriarch,  in  refufing  to  part  with  this 
 heavenly  vifitant,  until  he  had  obtained  his  blef- 
 ling,  his  name  was  changed  from  yacob  to 
 Ifraely  "  becaufe  as  a  prince  he  had  power  with 
 **  God,  and  with  men,  and  had  prevailed." 
 The  name  of  the  place  where  he  had  been 
 favoured  with  fuch  a  wonderful  interview,  he 
 called  Peniel,  that  is,  the  face  ov  prefence  of  God: 
 "  for,"  faid  he,  **  I  have  feen  God  face  to  face, 
 
 "  and 
 
THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD's  CHILDREN.       201 
 
 **  and  my  life  is  preferved."  It  appears  then, 
 that  he  faw  God  in  the  likenefs  of  man,  he  had 
 a  difcovery  of  the  "  great  myftery  of  godlinefs, 
 "  God  manifeft  in  the  flefh."  So,  and  fo  only, 
 God  is  to  be  feen.  "  For  God,  who  caufed 
 **  the  light  to  fhine  out  of  darknefs,  hath 
 "  fhined  in  our  hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the 
 **  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God,  in  the 
 "  face,"  or  in  the  perfon,  "  of  Jesus  Chrit." 
 1  Cor.  iv.  6.  "  We  now,"  it  is  true,  **  fee 
 **  through  a  glafs  darkly,  but  then,  (when  that 
 "  which  is  perfed:  is  come)  face  to  face.  We 
 **  now  know  in  part,  but  then  we  (hall  know 
 **  even  as  we  are  known.'*  i  Cor.  xiii.  12. 
 This  is  the  felicity  of  God's  chofen: — how 
 different  from  that  of  the  children  of  this 
 world  ?  Of  other  fights,  as  many  as  you  pleafe, 
 but  the  fight  of  God  as  little  as  pofTible.  Nay, 
 what  is  the  tendency  of  the  cares,  riches,  and 
 pleafures  of  this  life,  of  all  that  the  world  is 
 doing,  but  to  keep  God  out  of  fight,  or  **  to 
 "  caufe  the  holy  one  of  Ifrael  to  ceafe  from 
 "  before  us  ?" 
 
 The  reafon  why  the  world  is  fo  averfe  to  the 
 fight  of  it's  Maker,  is  that  it  **  lieth  in  wicked- 
 **  nefs.  God  is  light" — and  men  "  love  dark- 
 **  nefs  rather  than  light,  becaufe  their  deeds  arc 
 **  evil :  they  hate  the  light,  neither  come  to  the 
 **  light,  left  their   deeds  fhould  be  reproved." 
 
 .      And 
 
202      THE  FELICITY  OF  COD*S  CHILDREN. 
 
 And  in  a  ftate  of  fin  God  cannot  be  feen.  "  Bu^ 
 "  as  forme,'*  fays  the  Plalmift,  "  I  fhall behold 
 **  thy  face  in  righteoufnefs."  Secondly,  there- 
 fore, the  felicity  of  God's  children  confifts  in  that 
 righteoufnefs,  in  which  alone  he  can  be  feen 
 with  comfort.  And  where  fhall  this  be  found, 
 and  what  is  the  place  thereof  ?  We  have  heard 
 in  the  portion  of  fcripture  felecfted  for  the 
 Epiftle  of  this  day*,  *'  Behold  the  days  come, 
 **  faith  the  Lord,  that  I  will  raife  unto  David 
 **  a  righteous  branch,  and  a  king  fhall  reign 
 **  and  profper,  and  fhall  execute  judgment  and 
 **  juftice  in  the  earth.  In  his  days  Judah  fhall 
 "  be  faved,  and  Ifrael  fhall  dwell  fafely  :  and 
 "  this  is  his  name,  whereby,  he  fliall  be  called 
 "  THE  lord  our  righteousness."  Jer.  xxiii* 
 5.  Thus  does  the  Lord  bring  near  his  righte- 
 oufnefs, he  brings  it  near  to  his  children  in 
 the  perfon  of  Jesus  Christ,  **  making  Him 
 "  who  knew  no  fin,  to  be  fin  for  them,  that 
 **  they  might  be  made  the  righteoufnefs  of  God 
 "  in  Him."     2  Cor.  v.  25. 
 
 The  happinefs  of  God's  children,  therefore, 
 confifts  in  righteoufnefs,  in  the  fulfilment  of 
 God's  righteous  law,  and  in  real  conformity  of 
 heart  to  it.  *'  They  delight  in  it  after  the  in- 
 **  ner  man."      How   different   this   from   the 
 
 *  The  laft  Sunday  after  Trinity. 
 
 happinefs 
 
THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD  S  CHILDREN.       20^ 
 
 happinefs  of  the  children  of  this  world,  which 
 confiils  chiefly  in  fin  ?  If  they  are  not  openly 
 immoral  and  profane,  to  be  amiable,  fenfible,  ro- 
 mantic, to  appear  outwardly  righteous  before  men,, 
 thefe  are  great  objcifts  with  them  :  but  to  be 
 righteous  in  God's  fight,  to  have  his  "  law 
 written  upon  their  inward  parts,"  to  be  "  pure 
 "  in  heart  ;**  thefe  are  no  parts  of  their  concern. 
 Yet  they  will  be  found  matters  of  vafl:  moment, 
 when  *'  the  wicked,"  that  is,  the  tranfgrefTors 
 of  the  law,  '*  fhall  go  away  into  everlafling 
 **  punifhment,  but  the  righteous  into  life  eter- 
 **  nal."     Matt.  xxv.  46. 
 
 As  we  cannot  behold  God's  face  in  peace, 
 except  we  behold  it  in  righteoufnefs,  fo  neither 
 can  we  behold  it  all,  except  we  are  renewed  in 
 his  *'  likenefs  ;"  which  is  the  third  ingredient  in 
 the  happinefs  of  tlie  children  of  God. 
 
 From  their  defliny  to  fee  Him  as  He  is,  the 
 Apoflle  John  infers,  that  they  fhall  be  like  Him. 
 **  Beloved,  now  we  are  the  fons  of  God,  and 
 **  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  fhall  be,  but 
 "  this  we  know,  that  we  (hall  be  like  Him ; 
 **  for  we  fhall  fee  Him  as  he  is."  i  John  iii. 
 a.  The  likenefs  of  God  is  that  at  which  his 
 children  always  aim.  **  Be  ye  followers," 
 fjLilJLViTaiy  literally,  imitators  of  God,  *'  as  dear 
 •*  children."  Ephef.  v.  i.  They  now  learn  to 
 **  put  off  the  old  man,  which  is  corrupt,  ac- 
 
 *•  cording 
 
204      THE  FELICltY  OF  GOD*S  CHILDREN. 
 
 "  cording  to  the  deceitful  lufts,  and  to  put  oil 
 •*  the  new  man,  which,  after  God,  is  created 
 **  in  righteoufnefs  and  true  hoHnefs.'*  Ephef. 
 ii.  22,  24.  They  are  **  renewed  alfo  in  know- 
 **  ledge  after  the  image  of  Him  that  created 
 *'  them."  Col.  iii.  10.  Thus  are  they  com- 
 pletely reftored,  in  Christ,  to  that,  from 
 which  they  departed,  in  Adam :  and  being  £0 
 reftored,  they  are  ranked  among  thofe,  of  whom 
 God  faith,  **  this  people  have  I  formed  for  my- 
 "  felf,  they  fhall  fhew  forth  my  praife."  Ifaiah 
 xliii.  21.  The  Lord  faith  concerning  Mofes, 
 Num.  xii.  8.  "  With  him  will  I  fpeak  mouth 
 "  to  mouth,  even  apparently,  and  not  in  dark 
 **  fpeeches,  and  the  fimilitude  of  the  Lord  (hall 
 "  he  behold."  What  can  this  fimilitude  of  Je- 
 hovah be,  but  **  the  Angel  of  his  prefence," 
 Ifaiah  Ixiii.  g ;  *'  who  accompanied  the  people 
 **  in  the  wildernefs,"  and  in  whom  was  the 
 name  (that  is,  the  nature)  **  of  Jehovah,*' 
 Exod.  xxiii.  21  ;  even  the  fame  Angel  that 
 wreftled  with  Jacob  in  the  form  of  a  man. 
 Here  is  the  likenefs  of  God,  "  the  brightnefs 
 **  of  his  Father's  glory,  and  the  exprefs 
 **  image  of  his  perfon."  They  are  to  be  found 
 in  his  well-be!oved  and  only -begotten  fon.  And 
 "  whom  God  did  fore-know,  he  alfo  did  pre- 
 •*  deftinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his 
 "  Son,  that  he  might  be  the  firft  born  among 
 
 "  many 
 
THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD  S  CHILDREN.       aOJ 
 
 •*  many  brethren."  Rom.  viii.  29.  This 
 image  of  Christ  is  the  mark  of  every  Chrif- 
 tian,  diftinguifhing  real  irom  nominal  Chriftians, 
 and  the  children  of  God,  from  the  children  of 
 this  prefent  evil  world.  They  have  it  now  im- 
 prefTed  upon  their  hearts,  they  bear  in  their 
 bodies  the  marks  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  they 
 favour  of  Christ  in  their  lives  and  converfa- 
 tions. 
 
 But  the  likenefs  will  not  be  complete  in  this 
 world :  here  "  they  groan  in  an  earthly  taber- 
 "  nacle,  being  burdened:"  fo  did  **  Christ 
 "  before  them  :"  but  He  "is  gone  into  heaven," 
 and  his  body  is  become  a  heavenly  tabernacle, 
 a  glorious  body.  The  happinefs  of  his  fol- 
 lowers will  be  complete,  when  they  fhall  be 
 like  him,  that  is,  when  they  fhall  awake ^  which 
 will  be  at  the  refurred:ion.  The  bodies  of  the 
 dead  are  reprefented  as  in  a  ftate  of  fleep ;  and  as 
 fleeping  implies  waking,  fo  from  the  metapho- 
 rical ufage  of  the  term  in  fcripture,  may  be 
 fairly  implied  the  refurreftion  of  the  body*. 
 And  not  only  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  but  alfo 
 ihe  fouls  of  the  living  are  reprefented  as  in  a 
 Hate  of  deep,  while  they  are  living  in  fin :  that 
 is  in  a  ftate  of  darknefsy  infenjibility ^  and  delujion. 
 
 *  See  an  ingenious  diflertation  concerning  the  metapho- 
 rical ufage  and  application  of  fleep  in  the  fcriptures,  by  the 
 Rev.  William  Jones. 
 
 Men 
 
206      THE  FELICITY  OF  GOd's  CHILDREN. 
 
 Men  may  "  now  fleep  on  and  take  their  reft," 
 they  may  lleep  under  providences,  under  judg- 
 ments, under  fermons.  But  non^  (hall  lleep, 
 •*  when  the  trumpet  fhall  found,"  and  the 
 "  Lord  himfelf  Ihall  defcend  from  heaven 
 **  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel  and  the  trump 
 **  of  God."  Then  "  many,"  the  many,  the 
 generality,  all,  "  that  fleep  in  the  duft  of  the 
 **  earth  fliall  awake ;  fome  to  everlafting  life, 
 **  and  fome  to  everlafting  ftiame  and  contempt." 
 Dan.  xii.  a. 
 
 To  awake  to  fliame  and  contempt,  will  not, 
 
 cannot,  be  the  lot  of  the  believing  children  of 
 
 God  ;  *'  for  my  people,"  faith  He,  **  ftiall  never 
 
 •*  be  aftiamed."     And  yet  it  muft  be  the  lot  of 
 
 all  who  have  not   been    awakened,  now,  to  a 
 
 fenfe  of  their  fins,  and  a  knowledge  of  Jesu$ 
 
 Christ  as  a  Saviour.     "  Wherefore  he  faith, 
 
 **  awake  thou  that  fleepeft,  and  arife  from  the 
 
 "  dead,    and   Christ  ftiall    give  thee  light.** 
 
 Ephef.  V.  14.     It  is  one  of  the  known  qualities 
 
 of  GoD*s  children  to  be  awake,  and  tha^,  while 
 
 the  reft  of  the  world  are  fteeping.     "  But  ye, 
 
 **  brethren,  are  not  in  darknefs,  that  that  day 
 
 *'  fliould  overtake  you  as  a  thief.     Ye  are  the 
 
 **  children   of  light,  and  the  children  of  the 
 
 **  day  :  we  are  not  of  the  night,  nor  of  dark- 
 
 **  nefs.      Therefore,    let   us    not  fleep,  as  do 
 
 *•  others;  but  let  us  watch  and  be  fober:  for 
 
 •*  they 
 
T'HE  FELICITY  OF  GOD  S  CHILDREN.       1^07 
 
 -**  they  that  deep,  ileep  in  the  night ;  and  they 
 **  that  be  drunken,  are  drunken  in  the  night. 
 "  But  let  us,  who  are  of  the  day,  be  fober, 
 "  &c."  I  Thef.  V.  4,  5,  6,  7,  8.  The  day 
 of  the  Lord  does  not  frighten,  nor  dejedl,  but 
 gladdens  and  raifes  them  ;  as  it  brings  to  light 
 all  that  they  wi(h  to  know,  and  puts  them  into 
 the  pofTeflion  of  all  that  they  defire  to  enjoy. 
 They  (hall  be  **  fatisfied:"  as  the  word  figni- 
 fies,  they  fhall  **  be  full,  have  enough,"  all 
 that  they  want  to  make  them  happy.  The 
 world  knows  nothing  of  this ;  of  being  **  fatis- 
 "  fied,"  of  being  "  full.'*  "  All  the  rivers 
 **  run  into  the  fea,  yet  the  fea  is  not  full  :  unto 
 **  the  place  from  whence  the  rivers  came, 
 **  thither  they  return  again.  All  things  are  full 
 **  of  labour;  man  cannot  utter  it:  the  eye  is 
 **  not  fatisfied  with  feeing,  nor  the  ear  filled 
 **  with  hearing."  "  He  that  loveth  filver  Ihall 
 **  not  be  fatisfied  with  filver ;  nor  he  that 
 **  loveth  abundance  with  increafe.  This  is  alfo 
 «*  vanity."  Ecclef.  i.  7,  8.  v.  10.  The  apoftle, 
 on  the  other  hand,  learned,  through  Christ 
 ftrengthening  him,  in  whatfoever  ftate  he  was, 
 to  be  content.  He  could  take  pleafure  in  re- 
 proaches, necefTities,  afBidlions,  and  pcrfecu- 
 tions,  for  Christ's  fake.  If  God's  people  can 
 be  fatisfied  upon  earth,  much  more  are  they 
 likely  to  be  fatisfied  in  heaven :  where  there  is 
 
 fullnefs 
 
208      THE  FELICITY  OP  GOD's  CHILDREN. 
 
 fullnefs  of  joy  j  no  trials  of  afflidions,  but  plea- 
 fures  for  evermore;  where,  in  fhort,  after 
 having  been  awakened  by  the  voice  of  their 
 beloved  Lord,  they  are  **  fatisfied  with  his 
 •*  likenefs"  in  glory. 
 
 I  was  led  to  this  text  and  fermon  by  the  de- 
 parture of  an  excellent  lady  ^,  whofe  corpfe  was 
 removed  from  her  houfe  in  this  Church  Yard, 
 on  Thurfday  laft.  This  portion  of  fcripture 
 was  much  upon  her  mind  in  her  life  time,  and 
 fhe  often  exprefled  a  wifh  that  the  poetical  ver- 
 iion  of  it  by  the  celebrated  Dr.  Watts  might  be 
 infcribed  upon  her  tombilone 
 
 My  flefli  fhall  flumber  In  the  ground, 
 *Till  the  laft  trumpet's  joyful  found  ; 
 Then  burfl  the  chains  with  fweet  furprifij, 
 And  in  my  Saviour's  image  rife. 
 
 I  thought,  therefore,  that  I  could  not  feled:  a 
 more  proper  palTage,  as  well  for  the  infl:ru6lion 
 of  the  living,  as  for  the  remembrance  of  the 
 dead.  I  mentioned  her  indeed  at  church,  upon 
 the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  fhe  died,  and 
 was  Conftrained  to  do  fo  from  the  laft  which  I 
 faw  of  her  in  an  earthly  tabernacle.  Her  end 
 was  peace  indeed  !  I  had  no  thoughts  of  men- 
 
 *  Mrs.  LiTTLEHALES,  who  retired  to  Reading  between 
 three  and  four  years  after  the  deceafe  of  her  hulband,  and 
 there  died  (as  flie  had  lived)  in  faith,  on  the  loth  day  of 
 November,  1796. 
 
 tioning 
 
THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD*S  CHILDREN.       2O9 
 
 tioning  her  again ;    but  the    affed:ion    of  her 
 furviving  children,  the  impreflions  made  upon 
 them  by  the  excellence  of  her  characfter  as  a 
 Chriftian  and  as  a  Parent,  and  of  courfe  by  the 
 great  lofs  which  they  had  fuftained,  the  privacy 
 of  her  life,  which  confined  the  knowledge  of 
 her  excellence  within  a  fmall  circle,  thefe  and 
 other  considerations   urged  them  to   unite  in  a 
 requefl,  that,  being   dead,  fhe  might  fpeak  to 
 more,  than  (he  converfed  with,  when  living  ; 
 and  that  fomething  might  be  faid  of  her  from 
 the  pulpit,    from  which  her  neighbours,  who 
 have  been  accuftomed  to  appear  with  her  in  the 
 fame  church,  might   profit,  in  the   recoiled: ion 
 of  her  ways,  and   in  the  confideration  of  their 
 own.     So  pious  a  requeft  it   was  impoffible  to 
 refufe  j  and  indeed  what  can  be  more  gratifying 
 to  the    Minifter  »of  a  pariih  than  to  produce, 
 either  from  the  rich  or  the  poor  of  his  flock, 
 examples  of  the  faith,  for  which  he  contends  ; 
 living  and  dying  witneffes  to  the  truth,  who  are 
 his  **  glory"  and  "joy?" 
 
 Among  fuch  let  me  rank  this  excellent  lady, 
 who  had  been  a  follower  of  the  Lord  above 
 thirty  years,  without  denying  her  Mafter,  or 
 difgracing  her  profellion.  She  had  witneflfed  a 
 good  confeflion  before  many  witneffcs,  and  par- 
 ticularly before  thofe,  among  whom  her  lot  was 
 call:  in  the  earlier  periods  of  her  Chridian  life, 
 
 P  whom 
 
210       THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD*S  CHILDREN. 
 
 whom  the  Bible  calls  fcofFers,  who  choofe  to 
 make  religion  the  fubjed:  of  wit  and  raillery, 
 and  can  find  no  better  employment  for  their  parts, 
 than  to  mock  and  blafpheme  him  who  gives 
 them,  and  to  rifk  their  fouls  for  the  fake  of  fhew-. 
 ing  them.  I  was  not  acquainted  with  her  in 
 thefe  circumftances,  but  I  have  learned  from 
 thofe  who  were,  that  her  condud:  under  them 
 was  that  of  wifdom^  patience^  godlinefs.  She 
 was  a  woman  of  an  excellent  and  forrowful 
 Ipirit,  of  gentle  and  polifhed  manners ;  her 
 trials  were  great,  but  fcarcely  to  be  difcovered  in 
 her  converfe  with  men  ;  they  carried  her,  where 
 fhe  carried  them,  to  the  Lord  j  and  led  her  to 
 feek  that  comfort  and  fupport,  which  come  from 
 God  only.  By  her  education,  accomplifhments, 
 and  fortune,  fhe  was  qualified  and  entitled  to 
 move  in  the  highefl  circles  of  life.  But  it 
 pleafed  God  to  deliver  her  from  this  prefent  evil 
 world ;  to  teach  her  that  fhe  mufl  through  much 
 tribulation  enter  into  his  kingdom,  and  to  bring 
 her  through ^a  fea  of  troubles,  to  that  refl,  which 
 remaineth  for  his  people.  She  was  naturally  of 
 an  anxious  mind,  and  having^  experienced  many 
 changes  and  chances  in  this  mortal  life,  having 
 been  left  a- widow  with  feven  children,  and  with 
 the  care  of  them  devolving  upon  herfelf,  (he 
 had  much  to  feed  and  quicken  her  anxiety.  The 
 alternate  influences  of  joy  and  grief,  of  hope 
 
THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD  S  CHILDREN.       211 
 
 and  fear,  feem  to  have  wafted  her  fpirits,  preyed 
 upon  her  animal  frame,  and  brought  her  body 
 to  diftblution  in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  her  age. 
 She  had  often  prayed,  that  her  laft  illnefs  might 
 be  fhort,  and  that  when  her  fpirit  had  returned 
 to  God  who  gave  it,  her  corpfe  might  have 
 fuch  an  afpe(ft,  as  to  be  feen  without  difguft, 
 though  not  without  forrow :  her  prayers  were 
 anfwered  in  both  thefe  refpecfls ;  for  her  fick- 
 nefs  was  of  Uttle  more  than  a  week's  duration, 
 and  was  conlidered  to  be  unto  death  fcarce  two 
 days  before  her  departure ;  and  they  who  looked 
 ftedfaftly  on  her  after  her  deceafe,  faw  her  face 
 as  it  had  been  the  face  of  an  angel. 
 
 Though  her  faith  had  been  tried  with  fire, 
 and  was  pure  and  refplendent  as  gold,  though  her 
 hope  of  the  refurrecflion  to  eternal  life  was  fure 
 and  certain,  and  though  her  love  was  abundant 
 towards  God  and  man,  yet  (he  had  often  ex- 
 prejGTed  herfelf  to  her  friends  refpedting  the 
 pajfage  itfelf  through  the  valley  and  fhadow  of 
 death,  as  though  it  prefented  fomething  awful 
 to  her  mind.  But  God  was  better  to  her  than 
 her  fears  :  The  hour  came,  and  fupport  came 
 with  it :  "  her  feet  were  iron  and  brafs,  and  as 
 **  was  her  day,  fo  was  her  ftrength."  She 
 feemed  to  have  been  imprefled  with  the  idea  of 
 death  from  the  moment  flie  retired  to  her  bed  of 
 ficknefs  :  her  lahguage  at  leaft  favoured  ftrongly 
 
 P  2  .      'of 
 
212       THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD's  CHILDREN. 
 
 of  fuch  an  impreflion.     She  faid  to  one  of  her 
 
 vifitants,  that  fhe  could  not  go  at  a  better  time, 
 
 that  {he  jfhould  not  be  better  prepared,  were  fhe 
 
 to  hve  twenty  years  longer  :  to  another  (he  faid, 
 
 that  though  (lie  had  been  careful  and  troubled 
 
 about  many  things,  fhe  was   now  careful  for 
 
 nothing  ;  flie  could  leave  even  her  children,  and 
 
 commit   them     into   the   hands  of   a  heavenly 
 
 Father  :  and  fhe  often  repeated,  that  **  her  flefh 
 
 **  and  heart  were  failing,  but  that  God  was  the 
 
 '*  flrength  of  her  heart,  and  portion  for  ever." 
 
 She  fent  for  an  old  religious  acquaintance  two 
 
 days  before  her  death,  merely  that  fhe  might 
 
 communicate  her  joy  and  peace  in  believing,  and 
 
 hej:  thankfulnefs  to  God  for  his  mercies,  adding, 
 
 that  what  fhe  now  felt  was  alone  worth  living 
 
 for,  and  was  an  ample  recompence  for  a  whole 
 
 life  of  pain.     On  the  morning  of  her  departure, 
 
 fhe  called  her  children,  who  were  with  her  in 
 
 the  houfe,  to  her  bed  fide,  that  fhe  might  blefs 
 
 them,  and  flie  defired  that  her  blefTing  might 
 
 be  imparted  to  thofe  who  were  abfent  from  her. 
 
 I  faw  her  afterwards  by  her  defire,  and  received 
 
 her  dying  benedidtion  ;  and  taking  her  by  the 
 
 hand,  which  had  the  coldnefs  of  death,  I  afked 
 
 her  if  fhe  could  trufl  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  fhe 
 
 anfwered   me,  that  fhe  knew  him  to  be  an'  Al- 
 
 -MiGHTY  Saviour.     She  had  patiently  fubmitted 
 
 to  every  medical  prefcription,  but  now  finding 
 
 that 
 
THF  FELICITY  OF  GOD's  CHILDREN.       21  3 
 
 that  all  means  were  ufelefs,  fhe  defired  that  no 
 more  might  be  given  her  :  (he  furvived  this  in- 
 terview a  few  hours ;  and  having  thanked  and 
 bleffed  the  maid,  who  attended  her,  (he  laid 
 herfelf  upon  her  arms,  and  fell  afleep  in  Jesus 
 — to  awake  no  more,  till  fhe  fhall  be  fatisfied 
 with  his  likenefs,  and  behold  his  face,  in  per- 
 fect righteoufnefs,  and  eternal  joy. 
 
 You  fee,  men  and  brethren,  that  the  words 
 of  the  text  are  true  ;  expreffing  the  dying  hopes 
 of  "  our  dear  fifler  now  departed,"  and  of  thou- 
 fands  and  ten  thoufands  of  our  fellow  creatures, 
 who,  like  her,  have  died  in  the  Lord.  **  Bleffed 
 **  are  fuch  dead,  faith  the  Spirit,  for  they  reft 
 "  from  their  labours,  they  enter  into  peace, 
 "  and  their  works  do  follow  them."  The  cha- 
 racter, which  we  are  here  recollecting,  is  that 
 of  an  excellent  lady,  who  defervedly  ranked 
 among  the  heads  of  the  parifh  ;  defervedly ^  I 
 fay,  for  fhe  was  an  example  q{  faith  unfeigned. 
 Some  of  you  are  prefent,  who  knew  and  ref-« 
 pecfled  her ;  and  you  could  not  but  admire  that 
 cafe,  that  elegance,  that  politenefs  of  manners, 
 which  diftinguifhed  her  as  a  gentlewoman  ;  and 
 which  qualified  her  to  appear  and  to  fhine  in 
 the  fafhionable  world.  But  you  never  met  with 
 her  at  your  evening  amufements,  or  your  mid- 
 night revels  :  She  was  not  partaker  with  you 
 in  thefe  things  pr  rather  nothings,  fhall  ( 
 P  3  ^^U 
 
3-14      THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD*S  CHILDREN. 
 
 call  them  ! — in  which,  time  that  fliould  be  re- 
 deemed, is  killed;  God,  who  fhould  be  remem- 
 bered, is  forgotten;  religious  impreflions,  which 
 fhould  be  retained,  are  effaced ;  and  fouls  loft, 
 which  fhould  be  faved.  Such  arc  the  innocent 
 recreations,  rational  too,  as  they  are  fometimes 
 called,  of  this  prefent  world  !  Thofe  of  this 
 excellent  lady  were  of  a  different  kind.  She 
 had  a  chamber,  to  which  fhe  could  retire,  and 
 commune  with  her  own  heart;  a  throne  of 
 grace,  to  which  fhe  could  refort,  and  commune 
 with  her  God  ;  fhe  had  a  Bible  to  read,  in  which 
 fhe  could  learn  the  will  of  its  gre^t  Infpirer; 
 fhe  had  a  church  to  attend,  which  fhe  found  to 
 be  the  houfe  of  God  and  the  gate  of  heaven ; 
 in  fhort  fhe  had  a  fpiritual  mind,  which  delighted 
 in  fpiritual  exercifes ;  and  in  thefe  fhe  found 
 more,  infinitely  more,  than  ever  was  to  be  found 
 in  all  that  this  world  can  give,  and  in  the  whole 
 round  of  gaiety  and  difhpation.  Whatever  you 
 might  have  thought  of  her,  while  fhe  lived, 
 you  all  agree  in  praifing  her,  now  that  fhe  is 
 dead  ;  you  naturally  drop  a  tear  over  her  grave, 
 and  fay  **  let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
 *•  and  let  my  laft  end  be  like  hers."  But  how 
 can  you  cherifh  fuch  a  hope,  unlefs  you  are 
 living  the  life  of  the  righteous  ?  unlefs  you  are 
 doing  fuch  works,  as  can  follow  you  to  the 
 judgment  feat  of  Christ,  where  you  muft  all 
 
 appear  % 
 
THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD  S  CHILDREN.       21  5 
 
 appear ;  unlefs  you  are  living  the  lives,  which 
 you  now  live  in  the  flelh,  by  the  faith  of  the 
 Son  of  God,  who  *'  has  all  power  in  heaven 
 "  and  earth  to  forgive  fin,"  and  *'  authority  to 
 **  execute  judgment  alfo,  becaufe  he  is  the  Son 
 "  of  Man  ?" 
 
 You  may  be  fure  that  I  am  regretting,  in  my 
 place,  the  lofs  of  a  valuable  friend  and  neigh- 
 bour, as  w^ll  as  of  a  living  witnefs  to  the 
 truths,  which  I  am  endeavouring  to  inculcate 
 among  you.  And  though  I  have  reafon  to  be 
 thankful  for  the  civility  and  love,  which  I  re- 
 ceive from  all  my  parifhioners,  and  am  glad  to 
 vifit  you,  whenever  I  can,  yet  you  know  and 
 are  perfuaded,  that  I  ought  not  to  make  idle, 
 ceremonious,  and  ufelefs  vifits  ;  but  that  I  fhould 
 like  that  company  beft,  in  which  I  am  moil  re- 
 frefhed  with  fpiritual  things,  and  comforted  by 
 the  mutual  faith  of  you  and  of  me.  May  fuch 
 a  relation  fubfift  between  us,  as  ought  to  fubfifl 
 between  a  paftor  and  his  flock ;  a  connexion 
 which  Ihall  furvive  time,  and  fubfifl  for  ever  ! 
 
 In  order  to  this,  let  me  befeech  and  exhort 
 you  to  be  followers,  not  of  **  vain  perfons," 
 but  **  of  thofe  who  through  faith  and  patience 
 '*  inherit  the  promifes ;"  not  of  '*  vain  things," 
 but  of  thofe  **  which  make  for  your  peace," 
 and  '*  are  good  for  the  ufe  of  edifying."  Let 
 me  preach  to  you  Christ  Jesus  and  the  Lord, 
 P  4  and 
 
3l6      THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD*S  CHILDREl^. 
 
 and   perfuade   you  to  forfake  all,    and  follow 
 Him. 
 
 Whatever  clafs  of  people  I  may  fuppofe  to 
 be  before  me/ I  cannot  fuppofe  myfelf  to  be 
 fpeaking  to  any,  who  zx^fatisjied.  If  you  are 
 poor,  you  complain  of  poverty ;  if  rich,  your 
 **  eye  is  not  fatisfied  with  riches,"  and,  when 
 you  look  over  your  account^,  you  would  fain 
 call  it  over  more ;  if  you  are  in  a  middle  ftate 
 between  poverty  and  riches,  you  think,  that, 
 though  your  condition  might  be  worfe,  yet,  that 
 it  might  alfo  be  better.  If  you  have  tried  the 
 world,  this  only  you  have  found,  that,  "vanity 
 **  of  vanities,"  as  the  preacher  faith,  *'  all  is 
 **  vanity  !"  If  you  have  lived  in  fins,  and  been 
 convinced  of  them,  you  have  had  no  fruit  from 
 them  but  fhame  and  remorfe ;  if  you  have  at- 
 tempted to  cover  yourfelves  with  your  own 
 works  and  righteoufnelTes,  and  to  appear  in 
 them  before  God,  you  have  difcovered,  that 
 they  are  **  filthy  rags,"  not  fit  to  wear  in  the 
 prefence  of  Him,  who  is  pure  and  holy  :  if 
 your  goodnefs  has  been  brought  to  the  teft  of 
 day,  it  has  been  like  the  morning  cloud,  and  the 
 early  dew,  pafling  away  before  the  light  of  the 
 fun.  In  fhort,  if  you  are  men  and  women, 
 you  are  fallen  creatures,  you  have  brought  the 
 world  to  ruin  by  your  fall,  and  therefore  can- 
 not, ought  not,  to  be  fatisfied  with  any  thing 
 
 that 
 
THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD  S  CHILDREN.       217 
 
 that  is  in  or  about  you.  What  a  wonder  of 
 mercy  is  it,  that,  when  we  are  tired  with  every 
 thing,  having  proved  its  emptinefs.  He  fhould 
 propofe  himfelf  to  our  regard  and  reception, 
 *'  in  whom  all  fullnefs  hath  been  well-pleafed 
 •**  to  dwell*!"  Hear  what  comfortable  words 
 he  faith,  **  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  are 
 *'  weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
 **  refl".  Take  my  yoke  upon  you  and  learn  of 
 *  *  me ;  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart ;  and 
 **  ye  fhall  find  reft  unto  your  fouls."  Matt.  ii. 
 28. 
 
 If  I  am  fpeaking  to  thofe,  who  are  Chrif- 
 tians  indeed  and  in  truth,  I  am  addrefling 
 people,  who  ought  to  be  the  moft  fatisfied,  but 
 who  in  fome  relped:s  are  lefs  fo  than  others. 
 You  are  diflatisfied  with  yourfelves.  You  do 
 not  believe,  as  you  could  wifti ;  you  do  not 
 love,  as  you  could  wifh,  when  you  confider 
 that  He  is  the  obje6l  of  your  faith  and  love, 
 who  *'  loved  you,  and  gave  himfelf  for  you." 
 You  are  defective  in  every  thing,  in  which  you 
 wifh  to  be  perfe(5t,  and  your  fer vices  of  Him 
 bear  no  proportion  to  his  fervice  towards  you. 
 You  find  your  **  flefli  lufting  againft  his  Spi- 
 '*  rit."     **  Evil  prefent  with   you,  when  you 
 
 *  Such  I  apprehend  to  be  the  literal  tranflatlon  of  Col.  i. 
 ig.        *Oti  liQcvrco  sv^oKxas  ZJ%\  to  OT^wr^a'/y-a  xaroiKr/Tai. 
 
 **  would 
 
21  8       THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD*S  CHILDREN,. 
 
 "  would  do  good,"  and  "  another  law*  in  your 
 
 **  members  warring  againft  the  law  of  your 
 
 **  mind;"  and  you  cannot  but  exclaim  with  the 
 
 apoftle,  *'  O  wretched  man  that   lam!"    Let 
 
 all  this  convince  us,  that  we  are  **  ftrangers 
 
 •*  and  pilgrims  upon  earth,"  that  "  we  have 
 
 **  here  no  continuing  city,  but  are  feeking  one 
 
 **  to  come;"  that  **   we  have  not  already  at- 
 
 **  tained,    neither  are  already   perfed: ;"    that 
 
 "  we  mull  groan  and  travail  in  pain  together 
 
 "  with  GoD*s  children  in  an  earthly  tabernacle," 
 
 and  "  wait   for  the  adoption,   to  wit,  the  re- 
 
 "  dcmption  of  our  body  :"  that  **  leaving   the 
 
 **  things  that  are  behind,  and  reaching  forth  to 
 
 **  thofe  that  are  before,  we  muft  prefs  toward 
 
 **  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of 
 
 **  God  in  Christ  Jesus  :"  that  chriftianity  is 
 
 a  btifinefs,  not  for  a  day  or  a  year,  but  for  life ; 
 
 that  it  will  employ  us  wholly,  and  employ  us 
 
 well ;  without  degenerating  into  carnal  fecurity, 
 
 or  wild  enthufiafm,  into  lifelefs   formality,  or 
 
 lawlefs  antinomianifm.     In  a  word,  that   **  our 
 
 **  converfation  is   in  heaven,  from  whence  we 
 
 "  look    for    the    Saviour    the    Lord   Jesus 
 
 *'  Christ,    who   fhall  change  our  vile  body, 
 
 "  that  it  may  be  fafhioned  like  unto  his  glo- 
 
 "  rious  body  :"  and  that,    if  we  are  his  work- 
 
 manfhip,  we  cannot  be   fatisfied,  till   He  has 
 
 put 
 
.>-, 
 
 THE  FELICITY  OF  GOD  S  CHILDREN.       21 9 
 
 put  this  finifhing  ftroke  upon  the  works  of 
 his  hands.  O,  ufeful  exercifes  !  O,  delightful 
 profped:s  ! 
 
 AS  FOR  ME,  I  WILL  BEHOLD  THY  FACE  IN 
 RIGHTEOUSNESS  ;  I  SHALL  BE  SATISFIED, 
 WHEN  I  AWAKE  WITH  THY  LIKENESS. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD, 
 
 FREACHEB    IN    THK    PARISH    CHVSCH   OT 
 
 ST.   ANDREW*S   HOLBORN, 
 
 ON  SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  43,  1796. 
 
 THE   RIGHT   HON.   THE  LORD  MAYOR, 
 THE  SHERIFFS  OF  LONDON, 
 
 AND 
 
 THE  GOVERNORS  AND  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  SCHOOLS, 
 
 BKLONCING    TO 
 
 ST.  ANN'S  SOCIETY, 
 
TO 
 
 HENRY  THORNTON,  Esq.  M.P.  Frefident, 
 
 Sir  Stephen  Langston,  Knt. 
 Sir  William  Staines,  Knt. 
 John  William  Anderson,  Esq.  M.P. 
 Samuel  Thornton,-  Esq.  M.P. 
 Robert  Thornton,  Esq.  M.P. 
 William  Wilberforce,  Esq.  M.P. 
 Thomas  Skinner,  Esq.  Alderman. 
 Joseph  Rose,  Esq. 
 
 William  Willson,  Esq.  Treafurer, 
 THE  COMMITTEE, 
 
 AND    REST    OF    THE 
 
 GOVERNORS  OF  ST.  ANN'S  SOCIETY, 
 THIS    SEUMON 
 
 ^  IS  HUMBLY  INSCRIBED, 
 
 THE  AUTHOR, 
 
ST.  ANN'S  SOCIETY. 
 
 At  the  Anniverlary  Meeting  of  the  Governors^ 
 of  this  Charity,  held  at  the  PauFs-Head 
 Tavern,  Cateaton-Street,  on  Thurfday  the 
 24th  of  November,   1796. 
 
 Sir  STEPHEN  LANGSTON,  Rnt. 
 in  the  chair. 
 
 Resolved  unanimously/ 
 
 That  the  thanks  of  this  Society  be  given 
 to  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  William  Bromley 
 Cadogan,  M.A.  for  his  excellent  Sermon, 
 preached  before  the  Right  Hon.  the  Lord  Mayor 
 and  Sheriffs  of  London,  at  the  Parifh  Church 
 of  St.  Andrew,  Holborn,  on  Sunday,  Odober 
 23,  1796;  and  that  he  be  requefted  to  print 
 the  fame  for  the  benefit  of  this  Inflitution. 
 
 s 
 
 {Signed,) 
 STEPHEN  LANGSTON,  Chairman, 
 
7HE 
 
 PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD, 
 
 mt 
 
 EPISTLE  TO  TITUS  iii.  8. 
 
 T^is  is  a  faithful  faying,  and  thefe  things  I  will 
 that  thou  affirm  conjlantly,  that  they  which 
 have  believed  in  God  might  be  careful  to  main^ 
 tain  good  works:  thefe  things  are  good  and 
 prof  table  unto  men. 
 
 THE  Epiftle,  from  which  thefe  words  are 
 taken,  may  be  confidered  as  a  paftoral 
 letter  to  a  Chriftian  Bifhop,  calling  him  to  the 
 exercife  of  his  proper  office,  which  is  to  do 
 good ;  and  in  order  that  good  may  be  done, 
 dire(5ling  him  to  the  right  methods  of  doing 
 it. 
 
 This  I  apprehend  to  be  the  fubjedl  of  the 
 paflage  here  before  us,  which  feems  to  divide 
 itfelf  into  the  following  parts;  Firfl,  The 
 means  which  a  Chriftian  minifler  may  ufe  law- 
 fully and  confidently,  **  This  is  a  faithful  faying, 
 
 Q  '*  and 
 
226      THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD. 
 
 "  and  thefe  things  I  will  that  thou  affirm  con- 
 "  flantly."  Secondly,  The  effects  which  he 
 may,  and  ought  to  expe6t  from  the  ufe  of 
 them,  **  that  they  which  have  believed  in  God, 
 **  may  be  careful  to  maintain  good  works:" 
 and  Thirdly,  The  excellency  as  well  of  the 
 means  as  of  their  effecfls,  **  thefe  things  are 
 **  good  and  profitable  unto  men." 
 
 Firft,  then,  What  are  the  means  which  we 
 are  to  ufe  in  order  to  do  and  to  promote  good  ? 
 •*  This  is  a  faithful  faying,"  or  as  the  fentence 
 may  be  rendered,  faithful  is  the  word — an  ex- 
 prellion,  which  denotes  either  the  divine  and 
 fubftantial  word,  who  made  all  things,  and 
 was  himfelf  made  flefh^  or  the  infpired  word, 
 which  teftifies  of  Him.  It  occurs  here  in  the 
 latter  fenfe,  it  is  faithful,  fure,  and  to  be  de- 
 pended upon: — the  word  of  a  faithful  God, 
 who  cannot  lie,  ftrong  to  execute  all  that  it 
 threatens,  and  able  to  perform  all  that  it 
 promifes  ;  and  who  is  faithful  to  fupport  thofe 
 who  believe  it,  in  all  which  it  may  call  them  to 
 do  or  fuflfer.  The  apoftle  ufes  the  fame  lan- 
 guage in  his  Epiftle  to  Timothy,  "  This  is  a 
 **  faithful  faying,  and  worthy  of  all  aecepta- 
 **  tion,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world 
 **  to  fave  finners."  Thefe  are  the  weapons  of 
 a  Chriftian  preacher,  God  puts  no  other  into 
 his  hands.     "  For  God   fent  me,  (faith  St. 
 
 Paul) 
 
THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD.   227 
 
 **  Paul)  not  to  baptize,  but  to  preach  the  Gof- 
 **  pel,  not  with  the  wifdom  of  tvords,  left  the 
 **  crofs  of  Christ  Ihould  be  of  none  efFed:;" 
 and^gain,  **  we  preach  Christ  crucified,  unto 
 **  the  Jews  a  ftumbling-block,  and  unto  the 
 •*  Greeks  foolifhnefs ;  but  unto  them  that  are 
 "  called,  both  Jews  and  Greeks,  Christ,  the 
 **  power  of  God  and  the  wifdom  of  God. 
 **  And  I,  brethren,  when  I  came  to  you,  came 
 **  not  with  excellency  of  fpeech,  or  enticing 
 "  words  of  man's  wifdom,  declaring  unto  you 
 **  the  teftimony  of  God.  For  I  determined  to 
 "  know  nothing  among  you,  fave  Jesus 
 **  Christ,  and  him  crucified."  i  Cor.  i.  17, 
 23.  ii.  I,  2.  The  Gofpel  of  Christ  then  is 
 that  faithful  faying  which  God  puts  into  the 
 hands  of  his  miniftring  fervants,  by  which  he 
 does  the  greateft  good  that  is  done  upon  earth, 
 in  the  converfion  of  finners,  and  the  edification 
 of  Chriftian  people. 
 
 "  And  thefe  things  I  will  that  thou  affirm 
 **  conftantly."  What  things  ?  The  context  will 
 inform  us.  St.  Paul  directs  Titus  to  remind 
 thofe  who  were  committed  to  his  care,  *'  to  be 
 **  fubjeft  to  principalities  and  powers,  to  obey 
 •*  magiftrates,  and  to  be  ready  to  every  good 
 "  work."  How  favourable  is  chriftianity;  to 
 the  interefts  of  civil  fociety  !  **  To  fpeak  evil 
 **  of  no  man,  to  be  no  brawlers,  but  gentle, 
 Q  z  "  (hewing 
 
228      THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD* 
 
 **  Ihewing  all  meeknefs  unto  all  men."  And 
 he  enforces  this  meeknefs  and  gentlenefs,  this 
 reflraint  of  our  tongue  from  evil,  by  the  fol- 
 lowing confiderations ;  **  For  we  ourfelves 
 **  were  fometimes  foolifh,  difobedient,  deceived, 
 "  ferving  divers  lufts  and  pleafures,  living  in 
 **  malice  and  envy,  hateful,  and  hating  one 
 **  another.  But  after  that  the  kindnefs  and 
 **  love  of  Gx)D  our  Saviour  toward  man  ap- 
 **  peared,  not  by  works  of  righteoufnefs  which 
 **  we  have  done,  but  according  to  his  mercy  be 
 "  faved  us,  by  the  wafhing  of  regeneration 
 **  and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  which 
 **  he  fhed  on  us  abundantly,  through  Jesus 
 **  Christ  our  Saviour,  that  being  juftified  by 
 **  his  grace  we  might  be  made  heirs  according 
 ■*  to  the  hope  of  eternal  life.  This  is  a  faith- 
 "  ful  faying,''  or  the  faithful  word,  **  and 
 **  thefe  things  I  will  that  thou  affirm  con- 
 *'  flantly."  The  fum  and  fubftance  of  the 
 things  here  pointed  out  to  us,  are  our  fall  in 
 Adam,  and  our  recovery  by  Jesus  Christ,  the 
 poverty  and  wretchednefs  of  the  human  nature, 
 the  riches  and  glory  of  the  divine  grace. 
 
 The  word  of  God  is  held  forth  to  us  as  a 
 mirror,  in  which  we  may  fee  ourfelves—^/ooZ/y^ 
 — for  "  profefling  ourfelves  to  be  wife,  we 
 •*  became  fools  j" — difobedient y  for  we  difobeyed 
 God,  and  obeyed  the  Devil — deceived^  by  the 
 
 "  dragon 
 
THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD.  22^ 
 
 **  dragon  and  old  ferpent,  which  deceiveth  the 
 "  whole  world" — **  Serving  divers  lufts  and 
 **  pleafures,"  inftead  of  the  one  living  and 
 true  God — and  **  living  in  malice  and  envy, 
 **  hateful,  and  hating  one  another, **inflead  of  liv- 
 ing in  the  obfervance  of  the  two  great  com- 
 mandments, viz.  to  love  God  above  all  things, 
 and  our  neighbour  as  ourfelves. 
 
 This  is  the  true  pidlure  of  the  human  nature, 
 not  as  it  originally  came  from  God,  but  as 
 it  was  debafed,  difgraced  and  deftroyed  by  fin. 
 To  talk  therefore  of  its  dignity,  is  to  contradi(5t 
 God*s  account  of  it,  and  to  attempt  its  reform 
 or  improvement,  by  words  without  meaning 
 and  without  effecft,  fuch  as  mora/  rediitudey  the 
 Jitnejfes  of  things,  the  decora  and  honefta  of  the 
 ancient  heathens,  and  the  reafon,  as  it  is  called, 
 of  modern  ones,  what  is  this  but  to  fubftitute 
 fidtion  in  the  place  of  truth,  and  to  adopt  the 
 wifdom  of  men  inflead  of  the  wifdom  of  God  ? 
 If  man  is  ever  to  be  cured,  he  muft  know  and 
 feel  his  diftemper,  and  if  he  is  ever  to  be  re- 
 covered and  reclaimed,  he  mufl  be  acquainted, 
 deeply  acquainted,  with  his  fall. 
 
 The  fame  word  is  alfo  a  mirror,  in  which 
 we  may  fee  God*s  glory.  If  we  look  for  our- 
 felves in  it,  we  fhall  fee  what  we  are,  as  a  man 
 beholds  his  natural  face  in  a  glafs ;  if  we  look 
 for  God  in  it,  we  fhall  fee  what  He  is.  When 
 Q  3  Mofes 
 
230      THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD. 
 
 Mofes  defired  to  fee  His  glory,  He  caufed  his 
 goodnefs  to  pafs  before  him.  Hence  it  fhould 
 appear,  that  his  glory  confifts  in  his  goodnefs, 
 in  the  chara<5ter  which  he  fuftains  as  God  our 
 Saviour — in  his  kindnefs  and  philanthropy,  or 
 love  towards  men.  A  love,  which  induced 
 him  to  become  man  in  the  perfon  of  Jesus 
 Christ,  and  in  our  nature  and  likenefs  to  live 
 ^nd  die,  to  rife  again,  to  afcend  into  heaven, 
 and  there  to  intercede  for  his  faithful  people. — 
 A  love,  which  induced  him  to  fend  his  fpirit 
 to  quicken  us  together  with  Christ,  that 
 having  been  juflified  freely  by  his  grace,  we 
 might  be  born  again  of  water  and  of  the  Holy 
 Ghoft  ;  and  fo  become,  or  rather  be^  heirs  ac- 
 cording to  the  hope  of  eternal  life :  that  is, 
 have  the  exiftence  and  nature  of  thofe,  who  are 
 to  be  fons  and  daughters  of  the  Almighty,  to 
 live  with  him  for  ever  in  his  prefence,  and  at 
 his  right  hand,  and  to  be  made  happy  in  the 
 love  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit, 
 flowing  to  the  loft  finners  of  mankind,  not 
 through  any  works  which  they  have  done,  but 
 through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Saviour. 
 
 Thefe  are  the  proper  topics  of  Chriftian 
 preaching,  and  noble  topics  they  are  ;  how  far 
 fuperior  to  any  thing  and  every  thing  that  can 
 be  put  in  their  ftead  !  They  are  the  means  by 
 which  God  is  brought  to  men,  and  men  are 
 
 brought 
 
THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD.       23 L 
 
 brought  to  God  ;  by  which  righteoufnefs,  and 
 true  hohnefs,  with  every  good  word  and  work, 
 are  promoted  amongft  us.  And  this  leads  to 
 the  fecond  particular,  namely,  the  efFe(3:s  which 
 a  Chriftian  minifter  may  and  ought  to  expe<^ 
 from  the  ufe  of  them. 
 
 Thefe  things  I  will  that  thou  affirm  conilantly, 
 itoiCe^oiiii(r9Miy  to  be  confirmed  in  them  thyfelf ; 
 to  eflablifh,  ftrengthen,  and  fettle  others  in  the 
 belief  of  them,  to  **  fet  thy  face  like  a  flint, 
 **  gnd  ftand  as  a  defenced  city,  an  iron  pillar, 
 "  and  a  brazen  wall,"  in  maintaining  them, 
 that,  (/va)  **  in  order  that  they  which  have 
 "  believed  in  God,  might  be  careful  to  main- 
 *  *  tain  good  works . " 
 
 As  every  man  of  God  is  zealous  of  good 
 works,  fo  in  the  fcripture  he  is  thoroughly  fur- 
 niflied  unto  them.  Whoever  would  have  fruit 
 mufl  firft  plant  the  tree  which  is  to  bear  it ;  and 
 whoever  would  have  the  world  filled  with  the 
 fruits  of  righteoufnefs,  mufl  take  care  to  be  a 
 preacher  of  that  righteoufnefs  which  is  to  pro- 
 duce them.  Thai  righteoufnefs  is  **  the 
 **  righteoufnefs  of  God,  which  is  revealed  in 
 **  the  gofpel  from  faith  to  faith,  as  it  is  written, 
 "  the  juft  fhall  live  by  his  faith,"  The  apoflle 
 in  the  text  obferves  the  due  order  and  courfe  of 
 things,  that  they  which  have  **  believed  in 
 ?*  God  might  be  careful  to  maintain  good 
 Q  4  **  works/* 
 
232   THE  PROPER  MEANS  GP  DOING  GOOD. 
 
 "  works."  Firft  believe,  and  then  doj  we 
 know  of  no  other  principle  which  has  wrought 
 any  good,  fince  Adam  was  created,  but  the 
 faith  of  God's  operation.  *'  For  without  faith 
 "  it  is  impoffible  to  pleafe  God."  Faith  in 
 God  his  Creator  would  have  kept  man  upright, 
 and  faith  in  God  his  Saviour  muft  raife  him 
 when  fallen.  We  belong  to  a  church,  which 
 affirms,  that  "  we  are  accounted  righteous 
 **  before  God,  only  for  the  merit  of  our  Lord 
 **  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  by  faith,  and 
 **  not  for  our  own  works  or  defervings  :  and 
 **  that  we  are  juftified  by  faith  only,  is  a  moft 
 **  wholefome  doftrine,  and  very  full  of  com- 
 '*  fort.  That  good  works  are  the  fruits  of 
 •*  faith,  and  follow  after  j unification  ;  that  they 
 **  cannot  put  away  our  fins,  or  endure  the 
 **  feverity  of  God's  judgment ;  yet  are  they 
 **  pleafing  and  acceptable  to  God  in  Christ, 
 •*  and  do  fpring  out  neceflarily  of  a  true  and 
 *'  lively  faith,  infomuch  that  by  them  a  lively 
 •*  faith  may  be  as  evidently  known  as  a  tree  is 
 **  difcerned  by  the  fruit :  that  works  done 
 **  before  the  grace  of  Christ,  and  infpiration 
 **  of  his  Spirit,  are  not  pleafant  to  God  ;  and 
 •*  forafmuch  as  they  fpring  not  of  faith  in  Jesus 
 **  Christ,  nor  are  done  as  God  hath  willed 
 **  and  commanded  them  to  be  done,  we  doubt 
 
 **  not 
 
THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD.       233 
 
 **  not  but  they  have  the  nature  of  fin*."  We 
 fliould  rejoice  in  being  members  of  a  church 
 which  is  in  fuch  perfed:  concord  with  apoftles 
 and  prophets.  "  That  they  which  have  be- 
 "  lieved  in  God  fhould  be  careful j"*  faith  St. 
 Paul — that  is,  as  the  word  may  be  rendered, 
 might  think,  ftudy,  or  devife.  Faith  fets 
 people  upon  thinking ;  it  makes  them  ferious 
 and  fober.  It  leads  them  to  think  for  them- 
 felves  and  for  others.  Ading  from  this  prin- 
 ciple, they  not  only  relieve,  but  conjider  the 
 poor  and  needy — their  condition,  their  wants-— 
 how  their  fpiritual  and  temporal  welfare  may 
 be  beft  promoted — and  how  God  has  made 
 them,  and  put  them  in  the  way  of  the  rich, 
 as  a  charge  to  which  they  are  to  attend. 
 
 **  Might  be  careful  to  maintain  good  works** 
 — that  is,  as  the  word  fignifies,  to  ftand  before 
 them,  to  be  foremoft,  or  to  excel  in  the  per- 
 formance of  them,  or  to  ftand  before  them  for 
 their  defence,  to  maintain  them  as  neceflary 
 and  ufeful,  as  the  proper  evidences  of  the 
 Chriftian  faith,  by  which  God  is  glorified, 
 and  his  light  is  reflected  amcmg  the  children 
 of  men. 
 
 It  is  obvious  to  remark  how  much  the  truths 
 alluded  to  by  the  apoftle,  and  the  faith  which 
 
 *  See  the  nth,  12th,  and  13th  Articles  of  the  Church 
 of  England. 
 
 comes 
 
^34      THE  PROPER  MEANS  Of  DOING  GOODi 
 
 comes  by  hearing  them,  are  calculated  to  pro-^ 
 mote  good  works. — For  the  tendency  of  thefe 
 things  is  to  bring  us  to  God,  as  to  our  Father 
 and  Mafter ;  and  then  the  queftion  is,  how  we 
 fhall  ferve  and  pleafe  Him.  Weconfider,  that 
 whatfoever  we  have,  we  received  it  from  Him, 
 and  are  therefore  bound  to  employ  it  to  his 
 honour,  and  according  to  his  will.  They  then 
 "  that  have  believed  in  God,"  have  a  conftant 
 principle  aud  rule  of  right,  by  which  they  are 
 ready  to  every  good  worjc,  difpofed  to  it  as  to 
 their  proper  buiinefs,  and  the  great  end  of  their 
 exiftence. 
 
 Again.     Of  all  perfons  fo  brought  to  God, 
 it  may  be  juftly  faid,  "  I  drew  them  with  the 
 **  cords  of  a  man,  with  the  bands  of  love." 
 Hofea  xi.  4.     "  Yea  I  have  loved  thee  with  an 
 **  everlafting  love,  therefore  with  loving  kind- 
 •*  nefs   have  I  drawn   thee."      Jer.    xxxi.   3. 
 They  love   God  becaufe  He  firft  loved  them, 
 and  having  hjs  loye  fhed  abroad  in  their  hearts 
 by  the  Holy  Ghoft,  they  find  their  hearts  en- 
 larged   and  drawn  out  in  love  towards  their 
 fellow  creatures.     They  do  not  a<5t,  as  formerly, 
 as  though  every  one  lived  for  himfelf,  and  as 
 though  charity   begun   and  ended   at   home — 
 '*  for  none  of  us,"  faith  St.  Paul,  **  liveth  to 
 "  himfelf,  and  none  of  us   dieth  to   himfelf. 
 **  For  whether  we  live,  we  live  unto  the  Lord, 
 
 "  or 
 
THE  PROPER  MEAKS  OF  DOING  GOOD.      23^ 
 
 *  or  whether  we  die,  we  die  unto  the  Lord  5 
 
 *  whether  therefore  we   live  or  die,  we  are 
 
 *  the  Lord's."  Rom.  xiv.  7,  8.  And  again 
 he  faith,  **  We  then  that  are  ftrong  ought  to 
 
 bear  the  infirmities  of  the  weak,  and  not  to 
 pleafe  ourfelves.  Let  every  one  of  us  pleafc 
 his  neighbour  for  his  good  to  edification. 
 For  even  Christ  pleafed  not  himfelf,  but  as 
 it  is  written,  the  reproaches  of  them  that 
 reproached  thee  fell  on  me."     Rom.  xv.  i, 
 
 3,  5.  The  fame  apoflle  fays  to  the  Philippians, 
 Look  not  every  man  on  his  own  things,  but 
 every   man  alfo  on  the  things  of  others ;" 
 
 and  he  exhorts    the   Ephefians  **  to    labour, 
 
 *  working    with   their   hands  that    which  is 
 
 *  good,"  not  merely  that  they  may  get  for 
 themfelves,  but  "  that  they  may  have  to  give 
 "  to  him  that  needeth."  Thus  it  is  that  faith 
 operates  to  deflroy  felf,  and  to  reftore  God  and 
 our  neighbour  to  their  proper  place  in  our 
 affedlions. 
 
 Again,  to  thofe  who  are  thus  brought  to 
 God,  mercy  mufl  be  peculiarly  fweet,  and 
 mifery  mufl  recommend  itfelf  with  peculiar 
 force.  They  themfelves  are  monuments  of 
 mercy,  they  have  obtained  it,  and  are  faved  by 
 it.  And  if  the  miferies  of  others  have  been 
 brought  upon  them  by  their  fins,  fo  have  their 
 pwn,  by  fins,  which  they  have  felt,  lamented, 
 
 and 
 
236      THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD. 
 
 and  repented  of  before  God.  How  cogent  to 
 fuch  is  their  mailer's  expoftulation,  **  Oughteft 
 **  not  thou  to  have  pity  on  thy  fellow-fervant, 
 **  even  as  I  had  pity  on  thee  ?  BlefTed  are  the 
 **  merciful  for  they  fhall  obtain  mercy." 
 
 Once  more.  They  who  have  beheved  in 
 God  will  be  ready  to  every  good  work,  becaufe 
 they  want  what  they  can  fpare  for  no  other 
 purpofe.  They  have  *'  overcome  the  world," 
 and  "  are  quickened  together  with  Christ," 
 and  "  raifed  up  together  with  him  to  fit  in 
 **  heavenly  places."  It  is  to  be  lamented,  that 
 perfons,  placed  in  fuperior  flations,  and  quali- 
 fied to  do  the  moft  good  by  their  rank  or  wealth, 
 are  the  leaft  difpofed  to  do  it  by  their  habits  or 
 inclinations.  They  want  all  their  money  and 
 their  time  for  their  pleafures ;  and  living  in 
 a  conftant  round  of  diffipation,  they  know 
 nothing  of  mifery  but  by  the  name.  So  great 
 are  their  calls  for  the  fports  of  the  country, 
 and  the  diverfions  of  the  town,  that  they  have 
 nothing  left  for  the  relief  of  the  poor.  A 
 Chriftian  has  no  wants  of  this  kind ;  he  is 
 above  and  beyond  them ;  he  is  in  the  purfuit 
 and  enjoyment  of  pleafures  infinite  and  incon- 
 ceivable ;  and  while  he  has  a  heart  to  give  to 
 him  that  needeth,  he  finds  that  he  has  more  to 
 fpare  for  every  obje(5l  of  diflrefs  that  comes 
 before  him. 
 
 How 
 
THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD.  22^ 
 
 How  excellent  a  thing  is  the  word  of  truth 
 in  the  gofpel !  how  wonderfully  calculated  to 
 promote  God*s  glory  and  man's  happinefs  I 
 and  how  juftly  does  the  apoftle  alTert  the  excel- 
 lency as  well  of  the  means  as  of  their  efFed:s, 
 when  he  fays  in  the  lafl  claufe  of  the  text, 
 **  thefe  things  are    good  and   profitable  unto 
 
 men." 
 
 Thefe  words  may  be  referred  either  to  the 
 faithful  faying,  and  the  things  which  Titus  was 
 to  affirm  conftantly,  or  to  the  good  works, 
 which  arife  from  the  reception  of  them.  They 
 may  be  applied  with  equal  propriety  to  both. 
 For  to  give  meat  to  the  hungry,  and  drink  to 
 the  thirfty,  to  clothe  the  naked,  to  vifit  the 
 fick  and  the  prifoners,  to  (hew  kindnefs  to  the 
 leaft  of  our  race,  to  refcue  children  from  igno- 
 rance and  poverty,  and  to  teach  them  fuch 
 things  as  will  make  them  ufeful  in  this  life, 
 and  happy  in  another ;  Thefe  furely  are  good 
 works,  intrinfically  good,  always  good,  and 
 profitable  unto  men.  They  are  works,  which, 
 having  been  done  upon  Chriftian  principles, 
 (hall  be  acknowledged  by  Christ  himfelf  at 
 the  great  day  of  his  appearing;  and  having 
 been  admitted  by  Him  as  the  fruits  of  right- 
 eoufnefs,  they  fhall  follow  the  righteous  into 
 life  eternal.     Matt.  xxv.  3S)  46. 
 
 Thefe 
 
238      TH£  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOtNG  GoOf)J 
 
 Thefe  works  are  good  and  profitable  in  another 
 refpe(5l,  as  they  are  pure,  honefl,  truly  honour- 
 able, fuited  and  creditable  to  the  Chriftian  pro- 
 feflion,  as  its  proper  ornaments,  and  befl 
 recommendations.  "  Let  your  light  fo  (hine 
 *'  before  men,  that  they  may  fee  your  good 
 "  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  who  is  in 
 •*  heaven."  Matt.  v.  16.  Chriftians  may  be 
 every  where  fpoken  againft,  but  they  are  com- 
 manded "  not  to  render  evil  for  evil,  or  railing 
 **  for  railing,"  but,  *'  by  well-doing,  to  put 
 **  to  filence  the  ignorance  of  foolifh  men ;  to 
 ••  have  their  converfation  honefl:  among  the 
 •*  Gentiles,  that  whereas  they  fpeak  againfl 
 **  them  as  evil  doers,  they  may  by  their  good 
 •*  works,  which  they  fhall  behold,  glorify 
 •*  God  in  the  day  of  vifitation."  Thefe  things 
 are  good  and  profitable  unto  men. 
 
 If  fuch  are  the  things  themfelves,  the  doc- 
 trfnes  which  lead  to  them,  and  which  only  lead 
 to  them,  are  good  and  profitable  alfo.  Let  us 
 confine  ourfelves  to  the  doctrines  alluded  to  in 
 the  text,  which  are  the  principal  topics  of 
 Chriftian  preaching  ;  fuch  as  our  fall  in  Adam, 
 and  our  recovery  by  Jesus  Christ,  the  poverty 
 and  wretchednefs  of  the  human  nature,  the 
 riches  and  glory  of  the  divine  grace.  It  cannot 
 be  good  or  profitable  unto  any  man  to  be  mif- 
 taken,  efpecially  in  fo  important  a  point  as  his 
 
 own 
 
THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD.     239 
 
 own charadler  and  condition;  to  fuppofe  himfelf 
 righteous  when  he  is  guilty;  fafe,  when  he  is 
 loft ;  aHve,  when  he  is  dead ;  wife,  when  he  is 
 a  fool ;  and  fomething,  when  he  is  nothing  in 
 the  fight  of  God.  Errors  of  this  fort  cannot  be 
 good ;  but  a  right  knowledge  of  ourfelves,  of 
 what  the  judge  of  all  the  earth  has  pronounced 
 concerning  us,  a  knowledge  acquired  now,  in 
 the  accepted  time^  and  now  in  the  day  offahation^ 
 how  good  and  profitable  is  it !  how  far  better 
 than  have  it  all  to  learn  in  the  day  of  judgment, 
 and  to  know  it  only  in  hell,  **  where  the  worm 
 **  never  dieth,  and  the  fire  never  goeth  out,"  and 
 of  courfe,  where  there  is  no  hope,  no  remedy, 
 no  redemption. 
 
 And  if  it  be  good  to  know  our  difeafe,  it 
 muft  be  good  alfo  to  know  the  cure  of  it : 
 which  is  to  be  looked  for  in  the  kindnefs  and 
 philanthropy  of  God  our  Saviour.  To  be 
 taught  the  methods  of  his  grace,  his  falvation 
 of  finners  by  Jesus  Christ,  his  juftification  of 
 the  ungodly  by  the  righteoufnefs  and  blood 
 of  his  dear  Son,  the  fan(5tification  of  his  eledt 
 people  by  the  influences  of  his  Spirit,  by 
 which  they  are  born  again  and  renewed  daily, 
 and  fo  made,  or  conftituted  heirs  of  God  and 
 joint  heirs  with  Jesus  Christ — thefe  things 
 are  good  and  profitable  unto  men;  fo  good  and 
 profitable,  that,  in  comparifon  with  them,  all 
 
 others 
 
24O  THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD. 
 
 Others  appear  trifling  and  infignificant,  mean 
 and  contemptible^  For,  after  all,  "  what  (hall 
 **  a  man  be  profited,  if  he  gain  the  whole 
 •'  world,  and  lofe  his  own  foul?"  What 
 muft  be  the  reflections  of  a  dying  perfon,  who 
 has  lived  only  for  this  world,  without  any 
 view  to  another  ?  He  can  only  lament  that  he 
 has  purfued  nothing  which  is  really  good  and 
 profitable  unto  men.  While  they,  on  the  other 
 hand,  who  have  attended  to  the  things  which 
 Titus  is  exhorted  to  affirm  conftantly,  who 
 have  believed  in  God,  and  have  been  careful  to 
 maintain  good  works,  fhall  have  the  moft 
 pleafing  retrofpedts,  and  the  brightefl:  profpedts 
 in  the  time  of  their  departure,  and  fhall  have 
 reafon  to  rejoice,  in  that  they  have  followed 
 things,  of  which  the  goodnefs  and  the  profit  are 
 infinite  and  everlafting. 
 
 If  thefe  things  are  fo  good  and  profitable 
 unto  men,  it  is  meet,  right,  and  our  bounden 
 duty,  to  tranfmit  them  to  our  poflerity;  and 
 to  take  every  pofTible  care  that  the  rifing  gene- 
 ration be  inftru6ted  in  them.  It  is  a  pleafmg 
 reflection,  that  there  is  hardly  a  parifh  in  this 
 metropolis  and  its  vicinity,  or  any  confiderable 
 town  in  England,  which  has  not  fchools  fup- 
 ported  by  charity,  for  the  children  of  the  poor. 
 *And  it  is  a  ftill  more  pleafing  refledion,  that 
 the  daring  zeal  of  infidels  and  atheifls,  to  pra- 
 
 pagate 
 
THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD.    2^1 
 
 pagate  the  feeds  of  irreligion  and  vice,  and  to 
 train  up  youth  to  every  thing  that  is  barbarous, 
 horrid,  and  deteftable,  hath  provoked  the  zeal 
 of  many  in  this  country,  to  extend  fuch  pro- 
 vifions  for  religious  teaching,  by  the  moft  ufe- 
 ful  inftitutions  of  Sunday  Schools,  andfchools 
 of  induftry  added  to  them.  In  this  noble  v^ork, 
 the  clergy  and  laity  have  gone  hand  in  hand, 
 and  feme  female  characters  have  taken  the  leadj 
 who  are  defervedly  confidered  as  the  ornaments 
 of  their  fex,  and  the  delights  of  their  times. 
 '*  Children  arife  up,  and  call -them  blefled;" 
 and  fay  to  every  fuch  daughter  of  the  Almighty, 
 **  Many  daughters  have  done  virtuoufly,  but 
 **  thou  excelleft  them  all.'*  Prov.  xxxi.  28,  zgi 
 An  inflitution  of  this  fort  is  now  recom- 
 mended to  your  attention  and  bounty,  an  in- 
 flitution known  by  the  name  of  St.  Anne's 
 Society^  eftablifhed  in  the  year  1709,  for  the 
 purpofe  of  clothing  and  educating  thirty  boys 
 and  thirty  girls.  Their  number  is  now  increaled 
 to  one  hundred;  forty  boys  of  whom  are  wholly 
 maintained,  clothed,  and  educated,  in  a  houfe 
 taken  for  that  purpofe,  at  Peckham,  in  Surry; 
 and  the  Society  mean,  if  their  finances  will 
 admit,  to  provide  fuch  an  afylum  for  girls  alfo. 
 This  circumftance  is  a  particular  recommenda- 
 tion of  this  charity:  for  it  is  often  to  be  la- 
 mented, though  it  cannot  be  avoided,  that  all 
 
 R  .  which 
 
242    THM  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD. 
 
 which  is  learned  at  fchool,  is  unlearned  in  the 
 ftreets  or  at  home;  but  here  they  are  fequeftered 
 and  fecured  from  the  contagious  influences  of 
 bad  advice  and  bad  example.  The  benefit  of 
 fuch  a  reatreat  appeared  to  this  Society  in  the 
 inftance  of  a  boy,  who  was  deemed  almoft 
 incorrigible ;  he  had  gone  fuch  lengths  in  wick* 
 cdnefs,  as  to  threaten  to  defliroy  himfelf.  His 
 mother  entreated  for  him,  the  truftees  had 
 patience  with  him,  and  removed  him  to  the 
 country  fchool.  It  pleafed  God  to  blefs  the 
 means  here  ufed  for  his  reformation,  and  he 
 came  out  of  it  a  fincere  follower  of  Christ, 
 and  an  ufeful  member  of  fociety.  You  will 
 confider,  that  the  prefent  dearnefs  of  provifions 
 muft  increafe  the  expence  of  fuch  charities 
 as  thefe.  And  you  will  think,  no  doubt,  if 
 you  are  rich  in  this  world,  and  in  good  works 
 alfo,  that  the  fame  diftreffes  of  the  times,  which 
 require  temperance  and  moderation  in  the  fupply 
 of  your  own  wants,  call  upon  you  for  an  ex- 
 tended liberality  in  relieving  the  wants  of  others. 
 Deny  yourfelves  every  thing,  deny  the  poor 
 nothing. — We  hear  much  of  advantageous  loans, 
 but  which  of  them  is  fo  advantageous  as  that 
 propofed  in  the  bible?  "  He  that  hath  pity  upon  ' 
 **  the  poor,  lendeth  unto  the  Lord  ;  and  that 
 **. which  he  hath  given,  will  he  pay  him 
 **  again."  Prov.  xix.  17.     **  An  hundred  fold 
 
 "  in 
 
THE  PROPER  MEANS  OF  DOING  GOOD.      143 
 
 "  in  this  life,  and  in  the  world  to  come,  life 
 ^*  everlafting.** 
 
 I  might  fay  much  to  you  in  favour  of  charity 
 fchools,  were  I  addrefling  you  merely  as  lovers 
 of  your  country  and  of  your  fellow-creatures. 
 But  I  hope  that  I  may  addrefs  you  as  chriftians ; 
 and  as  a  chriftian  preacher,  I  muft  draw  all 
 motives  to  charity,  from  t\iQ  faithful  faying,  and 
 the  things  which  St.  Paul  would  have  Titus  to 
 affirm  conjlantly:  that  is,  from  the  principles  of 
 the  do5iri?je  ofChriJl;  and  I  look  up  to  his  Spirit 
 for  their  proper  influences  upon  your  minds  this 
 day. — If  thefe  things  are  not  good  and  profitable 
 unto  you,  I  am  not  likely  to  fay  any  thing  that 
 Would  induce  you  to  feek  the  profit  of  others. 
 If  they  are  good  and  profitable,  I  need  not  fay 
 any  thing;  for  **  you  yourfelves  are  taught  of 
 '*  God  to  love  one  another."  Let  then  **  the 
 **  love  of  Christ  conftrain  you/*  let  this  dic- 
 tate to  you  upon  the  prefent  occafion,  X  a{k  no 
 better  a  colledtion  than  it  will  raife.  I  have 
 only  to  beg  of  you,  to  give  heartily,  to  give 
 handfomely,  to  give  freely — to  give,  as  God 
 giveth,  for  Christ  Jesus's  fake — to  whom 
 with  the  Father,  and  the  Holy  Ghoft,  be  glory 
 for  ever.     Amen, 
 
 R  2 
 
AN 
 
 CLERGYMAN 
 
 PARISHIONERS. 
 
 »0-#»9^e«< 
 
 lo-O*   it   aVTOK*       BE    IN    THESE    THINGS.       1     TIM.    IV.    19. 
 
 BE    INSTANT    IN    SEASON,    OUT    OF    SEASON,    REPROVE, 
 
 (.EBUKEj    EXHORT,    WITH    ALL     LONG-SUFFERING 
 
 AND    DOCTRINE.       2    TIM.    IV.    2. 
 
 PUBLISHED  IN  THE  YEAR  1785. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 'T^HE  following  pages  were  drawn  up  for 
 -*•  the  ufe  of  a  large  Parifh  near  London,  but 
 as  they  contain  matters  of  a  like  importance  to 
 every  parifli  and  every  perfon,  they  are,  there- 
 fore, publifhed  with  a  view  to  promote  the 
 general  good.  They  pretend  to  nothing  new  or 
 ingenious ;  but  aim  only  at  the  revival  of  the 
 good  old  truth  of  God,  as  it  hath  flood  for  ages 
 in  the  Bible,  and  as  it  hath  been  eftabliflied  for 
 more  than  two  centuries  in  the  pure  and  reformed 
 Church  of  England.  They  are  put  into  your 
 hands.  Reader,  with  my  prayers,  that  God 
 would  write  his  truth  upon  your  heart,  if  you 
 are  acquainted  with  it ;  that  He  would  give  you 
 more  grace  to  believe  and  enjoy  it,  if  you  are 
 ignorant  of  it;  that  He  would  ftir  you  up  **  to 
 **  ftand  in  the  ways  and  fee,  and  to  afl^  for  the 
 "  old  paths,  where  is  the  good  way,  and 
 **  walk,  therein,  and  thou  fhalt  find  refl  unto 
 ♦*  thy  foul  V* 
 
 ♦  Jer,  vi.  |6, 
 
 R    4  AN 
 
AN 
 
 ADDRESS,  &c. 
 
 IT  is  impoffible  to  have  been  ten  years  your 
 Minifter,  and  not  to  have  obferved  the 
 general  negled:  of  thofe  holy  things  in  w^hich 
 I  am  fent  to  minifter  among  you  ;  a  negled:, 
 which  I  cannot  but  obferve  with  concern,  not 
 as  it  is  infulting  to  myfelf,  but  as  it  is  difho- 
 nouring  God,  and  confequently  bringing  upon 
 yourfelves  fwift  deftru(5tion :  for  God's  rule  of 
 proceeding  is  invariable,  **  them  that  honour 
 **  me  I  will  honour,  and  they  that  defpife  me, 
 "  ftiall  be  lightly  efteemed*." 
 
 Having  "  received  a  miniftry  of  the  Lord 
 **  Jesus,  to  teftify  the  Gofpel  of  the  grace  of 
 **  God  "f,"  and  having  been  fet  over  you  for 
 this  very  thing,  it  is  the  firft  objed:  of  my 
 life  to  converfe  among  you  in  this  particular 
 
 ♦  I  Sam.  ii.  30.  t  Adls  xx.  24. 
 
 charader, 
 
250   AN  ADDRESS  FROM  A  CLERGYMAN 
 
 charadler,  to  be  known  "  whofe  I  am,  and 
 **  whom  I  ferve,"  both  publickly  in  the 
 church,  and  privately  from  houfe  to  houfe, 
 as  occafion  fhall  require.  Your  forgetfulnefs 
 of  the  Sabbath-day  to  keep  it  holy,  by  afTem- 
 bling  together  in  the  houfe  of  God,  as  it 
 deprives  me  of  one  mode  of  difcharging  my 
 duty,  fo  does  it  deter  me  from  attempting  the 
 other :  and,  indeed,  had  I  accefs  to  every  per- 
 fon  among  you  in  the  name  of  a  fervant  of  Jesus 
 Christ,  I  could  rarely  avail  myfelf  of  that 
 accefs,  by  reafon  of  other  numerous  duties  in  a 
 populous  parifh,  and  the  necelfary  retirement 
 for  fludy  meditation  and  prayer,  in  order  to 
 perform  the  public  fun6tions  of  a  Minifter. 
 
 As  things  are  in  this,  and  perhaps  every 
 other  large  parilh  in  the  kingdom,  particularly 
 in  and  about  the  Metropolis,  there  feems  no 
 way  left  for  me,  but  by  an  epiftolary  addrefs 
 of  this  kind,  to  remind  many  among  you  of 
 the  things  which  belong  to  your  everlafling 
 peace,  and  to  my  office  as  your  Paflor.  I 
 befeech  you,  therefore,  to  hear  me  patiently. 
 
 Believe  me  when  I  affure  you,  that  my  mo- 
 tive for  writing  is  love,  the  love  of  God  and 
 the  love  of  you ;  and  that  the  one  defign  of  this 
 trad  is  to  **  tell  you  words  by  which  you  may 
 •'  be  faved  * ;"  not  the  words  which  man's  wif- 
 
 *  A6ls  xi.  14. 
 
 "  don) 
 
TO    HIS   PARISHIONERS.  25 1 
 
 **  dom  teacheth,  but  which  the  Holy  Ghofl 
 **  teacheth*."  They  are  to  be  found  "  in  the 
 fcripture  given  by  infpiration  of  God,"  which, 
 "  as  the  gofpel  of  his  grace,"  and  as  "  his 
 **  power  unto  falvation-f-,"  is  both  the  record 
 and  conveyance  of  Ufe  to  every  one  that  bcheveth. 
 This  moil  valuable  book  is  in  your  hands  as 
 well  as  in  mine,  and  is  unprofitable,  either 
 becaufe  it  is  not  heard,  or  becaufe  it  is  **  not 
 "  mixed  with  faith  in  them  that  hear  it  J." 
 That  we  do  not  hear  is  certainly  our  fault,  and 
 that  we  do  not  believe  is  becaufe  we  do  not 
 hear ;  for  "  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and 
 **  hearing  by  the  word  of  God§."  In  order 
 to  hear,  read,  and  fearch  the  Bible  with  profit, 
 it  is  requifite  that  we  be  earneft  and  fincere  in 
 our  enquiry,  that  we  wifh  to  be  informed  and 
 influenced  by  it ;  in  fhort,  that  we  hear,  read, 
 and  fearch  it,  **  not  as  the  word  of  men,  but 
 **  (as  it  is  in  truth)  the  word  of  God  ||  :"  that 
 is,  not  as  a  human  compofition,  entertaining 
 for  the  moment,  but  as  a  divine  law,  **  convert- 
 *•  ing  the  foul  f ." 
 
 A  book  of  this  kind  mufl:  be  the  fubje(5l  not 
 of  opinion  and  debate,  but  of  implicit  reiigna- 
 tion  and  obedience  ;  becaufe  whatever  we  think 
 
 *  I  Cor.  ii.  13.         f  Rom.  i.  16.  |:  Heb.  iv.  2. 
 
 §  Rom  X.  17.  II  I  ThefT.  ii.  13.     ^[  Pfal.  xix. 
 
 of 
 
252   AN  ADDRESS  FROM  A  CLERGYMAN 
 
 of  it,  it  mufl:  be  right,  and  however  we  majr 
 try  to  forget  or  evade  it,  it  muft  ftand  for  ever. 
 That  it  is  not  underftood  by  all  who  read  it,  is 
 true;  but  the  reafon  is,  becaufe  it  is  not  re- 
 ceived as  *'  the  word  of  God.'*  It  would  be 
 extraordinary  indeed,  if  "  the  wifdom  which 
 "  is  from  above,"  could  accommodate  itfelf  to 
 that  which  is  **  earthly,  fenfual,  devililh*;" 
 as  extraordinary,  as  that  light  fliould  commune 
 with  darknefs,  inllead  of  operating  to  drive  it 
 away.  The  dark  place  is  not  the  word  of  pro- 
 phecy, but  the  mind  of  man ;  which  upon  the 
 entrance  of  iin  into  the  world,  became  the  feat 
 of  the  prince  of  darknefs,  who,  "  as  the  God 
 **  of  this  world,  and  the  fpirit  that  now  work- 
 **  eth  in  the  children  of  difobedience,  hath 
 **  blinded  the  minds  of  them  that  believe  not, 
 •*  left  the  light  of  the  glorious  gofpel  of 
 **  Christ,  who  is  the  image  of  God,  fhould 
 **  ftiine  unto  them-f*."  The  nature  of.  God 
 and  the  nature  of  the  old  Adam  being  fo  di- 
 re<5tly  oppofite,  it  is  impoftible  that  the  **  natural 
 "  man  fhould  receive  the  things  of  the  Spirit 
 **  of  God,  they  are  foolifhnefs  unto  him,  nei- 
 "  ther  can  he  know  them,  becaufe  they  are 
 "  fpiritually  difcerned  J  :**  Therefore  by  re- 
 eeivino;  the  Bible  as  the  .**  word  of  God,"  we 
 
 *i3 
 
 *  James  iii.  15.       f  2  Cor.  iv.  4.       $1  Cor.  ii.  14. 
 
 mean 
 
To    HIS    PARISHIONERS,  253 
 
 mean  receiving  it  with  an  impreffion  that  we 
 have  no  faculties  to  difcern  it,  no  affedlions  to 
 defire  it,  and  that  we  want  the  fame  fpirit 
 which  infpired  it,  as  the  "  fpirit  of  truth  to 
 **  lead  us  into  all  truth,"  as  the  **  fpirit  of 
 "  faith'*  to  enable  us  to  prove  the  truth  of  it ; 
 and  as  the  "  fpirit  of  power'*  to  make  its 
 working  effed:ual :  and  if  there  is  any  meaning 
 in  thofe  words  of  Christ,  in  which  he  promifes 
 to  fend  this  fpirit  as  the  comforter,  who  is  to  be 
 with  us  for  ever  j  this  is  the  infpiration,  which 
 conftitutes  the  church  of  God,  and  each  indivi- 
 dual member  of  it,  unto  the  end  of  the  world. 
 In  conformity  to  thefe  words  of  Christ,  which 
 are  to  be  found  in  all  the  evangelifts,  and  par- 
 ticularly in  the  xivth,  xvth,  and  xvith  chapters 
 of  St.  John*s  gofpel,  the  Apoftles  affirm,  that 
 "  if  any  man  have  not  the  fpirit  of  Christ  he 
 **  is  none  of  his'* — that  "  as  many  as  are  led 
 "  by  the  fpirit  of  God  they  are  the  fons  of 
 **  God*"— that  *'  no  man  can  fay  that  Jesus 
 "  is  Lord  but  by  the  Holy  Ghoftf  ;**  and 
 "  hereby  know  we  that  he  abideth  in  us  by  the 
 "  fpirit  which  he  hath  given  us  J.** 
 
 Marvel  not  then,  reader,  **  that  I  fay  unto 
 "  thee,  ye  muft  be  born  again  §."  I  put  the 
 Bible   into  your    hand,    that  you  may   know 
 
 ♦  Rom.  viii.  9,  14.  f  i  Cor.  xiii.  3, 
 
 %  X  John  iii.  24.  §  John  iii.  7. 
 
 the 
 
2^4      ^^   ADDRESS    FROM    A    CLERGYMAN, 
 
 the  ground  which  I  take,  the  weapon  with 
 which  I  fight,  and  the  fource  from  which  I 
 draw  every  argument  for  your  convi6lion,  com- 
 fort, and  edification ;  and  putting  it  into  your 
 hand  as  the  word  of  God,  '*  marvel  not  that  I 
 **  fay  unto  thee,  ye  mufl  be  born  again.'* 
 This  is  the  firft  and  great  adt  of  God,  by  which 
 we  are  brought  into  the  fpiritual  world,  made 
 capable  of  living  by  the  food  defigned  for  its 
 fupport,  and  of  learning  the  wifdom  defigned 
 for  its  falvation.  "  That  which  is  born  of  the 
 **  flefh  is  flefh,"  and  confequently  fitted  for  the 
 fun(5tiohs  of  animal  life,  **  that  which  is  born 
 **  of  the  fpirit  is  fpirit,'*  and  confequently 
 fitted  for  the  fund:ions  of  fpiritual  life*  This 
 new  birth  therefore,  or  new  creation,  lies  at 
 the  root  of  all  pra6tical  religion :  till  this  opera- 
 tion of  God  take  place,  there  is  a  veil  upon  the 
 heart  which  excludes  the  light,  fo  that  the  truth 
 itfelf,  as  it  is  revealed  in  the  fcripture,  cannot 
 enter.  This  veil  remains  untaken  away,  till  the 
 power  or  fpirit  of  Christ  reft  upon  us,  in 
 whom,  as  in  the  fecond  Adam,  "  we  are  a  new 
 **  creation,  old  things  are  pafifed  away,  behold 
 all  things  are  become  new*.'*  By  which  new 
 creation,  we  mean,  not  a  change  of  form  or 
 countenance,  but  of  heart,  fpirit,  mind,  conduit^ 
 
 *  2  Cor.  V.  17. 
 
 chara(5ler> 
 
*rO    HIS    PARISHIONERS.  ^^5 
 
 charader,  fuch  as  the  Holy  Ghoft  defcribes,  by 
 **  being  renewed  in  knowledge,  after  the  image 
 **  of  God  that  created  us  * ;"  and  as  God  is  a 
 Spirit,  it  is  **  being  renewed  in  the  Spirit  of 
 **  our  minds,  and  putting  on  the  new  man, 
 '*  which  after  God  is  created  in  righteoufnefs 
 **  and  true  holinefs  "f." 
 
 That  which  qualifies  us  to  underftand  and 
 enjoy  the  fcripture,  is  **  the  Spirit  of  wifdom 
 **  and  revelation  in  the  knowledge  of  Christ; 
 **  the  eyes  of  our  underftanding  being  en- 
 **  lightened,  that  we  may  know  what  is  the 
 **  hope  of  the  calling  of  God,  and  what  the 
 **  riches  of  the  glory  of  his  inheritance  in  the 
 **  faints,  and  what  the  exceeding  greatnefs  of 
 **  his  power  towards  them  that  believe,  ac- 
 **  cording  to  the  working  of  his  mighty  power, 
 "  which  He  wrought  in  Christ  Jesus,  when 
 **  He  raifed  Him  from  the  dead,  and  fet  Him 
 *'  at  his  own  right  hand  on  high,"  a  power 
 **  which  quickens  us  together  with  Christ, 
 **  and  raifes  us  up  together  with  Him  to  fit  in 
 **  heavenly  places  in  Him  J."  When  this  is 
 the  cafe  we  are  one  with  Christ^  which  is  the 
 very  Situation  we  mufl-  be  in,  if  we  would  be 
 delivered  from  the  wrath  of  God,  and  live  in 
 bis    favour   here  and  for  ever.     Then    **    the 
 
 *  Col.  iii.  10.  t  Ephef.iv.  23,  24. 
 
 X  Ephef.  i.  17,  &c. 
 
 **  fame 
 
256        AN    ADDRESS    FROM' A    CLERGYMAN 
 
 **  fame  mind  which  was  in  Christ  will  be  in 
 **  us  alfo ;"  the  fame  law,  which  was  written 
 upon  his  heart,  will  be  written  upon  ours  alfo  ; 
 the  fame  will  and  work  of  his  heavenly  Father, 
 which  it  was  "  his  meat  and  his  drink  to  do 
 **  and  to  finifh,"  will  exercife  and  delight  uS 
 alfo ;  and  then  we  fhall  know  that  we  are  the 
 children  and  people  of  God  by  the  fulfilment 
 of  his  promifes ;  "  A  new  heart  will  I  give 
 **  them,  and  a  new  fpirit  will  I  put  within 
 "  them,  and  I  will  write  my  word  upon  their 
 **  hearts  and  my  law  in  their  inward  parts,  and 
 "  they  fhall  know  me  from  the  leaft  of  them 
 **  unto  the  greateft,  for  I  will  be  merciful  to 
 "  their  unrighteoufnefTes,  and  their  fins  and 
 *'  iniquities  will  I  remember  no  more  *."  This 
 is  "  the  good  work  of  God  which  He  begins 
 **  and  performs  until  the  day  of  Jesus 
 **  Christ  "f  ,'*  in  all  that  are  partakers  of  his 
 grace,  and  have  fellowfhip  in  the  gofpel :  and 
 as  God  is  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth,  fo  we" 
 may  be  fiire,  that  when  He  is  exalted  in 
 judgment.  He  will  acknowledge  no  work,  no 
 law,  no  way  to  heaven  but  his  own.  *'  Every 
 "  branch  that  my  heavenly  Father  hath  not 
 **  planted  fhall  be  rooted  up  J."  **  They  fhall 
 **  be  called  trees  of  righteoufnefs,  the  branch 
 
 ♦  Jer.  xxxi.  Ezek.  xxxvi.  Heb.  viii.  Szc,         f  Phil.  i.  6. 
 "+  Matt.  XV.  13. 
 
 *'  of 
 
TO    HIS    PARISHIONERS.  257 
 
 *"  of  my  planting,    the  work   of  my  hands ^ 
 **  that  I  may  be  glorified*." 
 
 As  a  creature  then,  who  am  to  give  an  account 
 of  myfelf  to  my  Creator,  who  have  the  reve- 
 lation of  his  will  before  me,  and  am  to  exift 
 for  ever,  with  God  in  happinefs,  or  without 
 God  in  mifery;  my  grand  concern  is  to  know 
 how  I  am  to  liVe,  die,  and  rife  again  in  the 
 knowledge  and  love  of  God  ;  whether  1  am 
 his  !f.Vworkmanfhip  created  in  Christ  Jesus 
 **  unto  good  works,  which  God  hath  before 
 **  ordained  that  I  fhould  walk  in  them-f;'*  in 
 (hort,  whether  I  am  "  doing  the  will  of  God 
 **  from  the  heart,'*  and  fo  formed  by  his  grace 
 upon  earth,  as  to  be  fit  for  his  glory  in  heaven*! 
 
 We  cannot  err  in  enquiries  of  this  fort,  be* 
 caufe  the  fcripture  is  given  us  for  this  very 
 purpofe;  informing  us  what  God  is,  as  far  as 
 He  has  been  pleafed  to  reveal  Himfelf,  and  what 
 God  does  for  and  in  all  them  that  are  faved ; 
 fo  that  nothing  can  be  more  *'  fure  than  th^ 
 **  word  of  prophecy,"  it  carries  its  own  evi- 
 dence and  conviction  with  it ;  and  wherefoever 
 it  is  underftood,  or  "  mixed  with  faith  in  them 
 **  that  hear  it,"  it  is  a  hiftory  of  our  own  ex- 
 perience, or  of  the  great  things  which  God 
 hath  done  for  our  fouls.     With  fuch  a  teft  be- 
 
 *  Ifaiah  Ix.  21.  ixi.  3.  t  Ephef.  ii.  10. 
 
 S  fore 
 
258       Al^    ADDRESS    FROM   A    CLERGYMAN 
 
 fore  US  there  can  be  no  fear  of  enthufiafm ;  w^ 
 are  not  left  to  meafure  ourfelves,  or  to  judge  6f 
 our  ftate  by  the  flights  of  fancy,  or  fallies  of 
 imagination,  but  by  "  the  words  of  truth  and 
 **  fobernefs,"  the  clear  and  determinate  deci- 
 fions  of  infinite  and  unerring  wifdom:  and  all 
 that  they,  who  **  labour  among  you,  and  ad- 
 **  monifh  you  in  the  Lord,"  have  to  wifh  of 
 you  is,  that  inflead  of  being  all  in  an  uproar, 
 like  the  **  city  of  Theflalonica"  of  old,  without 
 examining  the  **  flrange  things  which  may  ht 
 '*  brought  to  your  ears,"  you  would  imitate  th6 
 more  temperate  condu(^  of  the  **  Bereans,  who 
 **  were  more  noble,  evfeves-epoiy"  better  bred  and 
 better  taught  **  than  thofe  of  Theflalonica,  in 
 **  that  they  received  the  word  with  all  readinefs 
 **  of  mind,  and  fearched  the  fcriptures  daily 
 •*  whether  thefe  things  were  fo.  Therefore 
 **  many  of  them  believed  *."  The  fame  caufe 
 will  produce  the  fame  eflTedis  unto  the  end  of 
 the  world. 
 
 As  the  infpired  book  is  the  inftrument  in  the 
 work  of  falvation,  fo  the  agent  is  the  Spirit  of 
 truth,  its  infpirer  ;  arid  when  Christ  promifed 
 to  fend  Him  into  the  world,  He  at  the  fame 
 time  pronounced  the  certain  and  conftant  effe<fts 
 of  his  coming;  **  and  when  He  is  come  He 
 
 *  Ads  xvii. 
 
 •'  (hall 
 
TO    HIS    PARISHIONERS.  259 
 
 **  (hall  reprove  the  world  of  fin,  and  of  righ- 
 "  teoufnefs,  and  of  judgment;  of  fin,  becaufe 
 **  they  beheve  not  in  Me ;  of  righteoufnefs- 
 •*  becaufe  I  go  to  the  Father,  and  ye  fee  me 
 "  no  more ;  of  judgment,  becaufe  the  prince 
 **  of  this  world  is  judged*."  I  call  thefe  the 
 conflant  and  certain  efFed:s  of  his  coming,  be- 
 caufe it  is  faid,  He  (hall  convince  the  "  world" 
 of  them :  an  expreflion  which  admits  of  no 
 limitation  to  any  particular  period  or  people, 
 but  includes  all  that  fhall  be  taught  of  God  as 
 children  of  a  Father.  And  this  divine  teaching 
 is  effential  to  the  formation  of  every  chriflian ; 
 "  It  is  written  in  the  prophets,  and  they  fhall 
 **  be  all  taught  of  God  ;  every  one,  therefore^ 
 **  that  hath  heard  and  learned  of  the  Father 
 "  Cometh  unto  Me  -f-."  As  it  is  necelTary  then 
 for  my  eternal  happinefs,  that  I  fhould  be  under 
 divine  teaching,  fo  is  it  eafy  to  afcertain  whether 
 I  am  fo ;  it  is  only  to  afk  whether  I  am  ac- 
 quainted with  **  fin,  righteoufnefs,  and  judg- 
 *•  ment."  A  few  hints  on  each  of  thefe  topics 
 may  lead  to  this  important  difcovery. 
 
 As  the  firfl  flep  towards  a  cure  is  to  know 
 the  diforder,  fo  the  firfl  flep  towards  falvation 
 is  to  be  acquainted  with  *'  fin:"  a  lelTon  fo  hard 
 to  learn,  and  fo  much  to  be  attended  to,  that 
 
 *  Johnxvi,?,  I  John  vi.  45. 
 
 S  ^  the 
 
260      AN    ADDRESS    FROM    A    CLERGYMAN 
 
 the  Apoftle  calls  upon  his  **  brethren"  to  *^^x- 
 "  hort  one  another  daily  whilft  it  is  called  to 
 **  day,  left  any  of  them  be  hardened  through 
 "  the  deceitfulnefs  of  fin  *."^  The  **  Serpent 
 **  that  beguiled  us,  was  more  fubtle  than  any 
 •*  beaft  of  the  field,"  and  at  firft  infinuated 
 himfelf  into  our  affections,  by  perfuading  us, 
 that  the  very  thing  which  degrades  and  deftroy^/ 
 was  to  adorn  and  exalt  our  nature.  He  haff 
 been  carrying  on  the  cheat  from  that  time  until 
 now,  and  endeavouring  by  lies  to  countera<5t  the 
 commandment  of  God,  which  is  according  to 
 truth,  and  by  which  **  fin  becomes  exceeding 
 "  finful-f."  Hence  wife  men  after  the  flefh, 
 who  are  fliled  *'  fools"  by  the  Spirit,  "  make  a 
 **  mock  at  fin  J ;"  treat  the  apprehenfion  of  it 
 as  a  vulgar  error  or  fuperftitious  delufion,  and 
 the  falvation  from  it  of  courfe  as  a  cunningly 
 devifed  fable:  hence  thoufands  and  ten  thou- 
 fands  *'  take  their  eafe,  eat,  drink,  and  are 
 "  merry"  under  the  wrath  of  God,  the  curfe 
 of  his  law,  and  the  fentence  of  death ;  whilft 
 others  of  a  more  decent  caft,  "  daubed  with  the 
 **  untempered  mortar  §,"  of  what  paftes  in  the 
 world  for  religion  and  virtue,  are  trufting  in 
 themfelves  that  they  are  righteous;  inftead  of 
 going  to  **  Him,"  who  comes  into  the  world  to 
 
 *  Heb.  iii.  13.  t  Rom.  vii.  13. 
 
 X  Prov.  xiv.  9.  §  Ezek,  xiii.  10,  &c.  xxii.  28. 
 
 feek 
 
TO   HIS    PARISHIONERS.  261 
 
 feek  and  to  fave  the  finner.  We  can  be  fuperior 
 to  thefe  impofitions  only  by  divine  teaching; 
 and  the  divine  law  is  given  for  this  purpofe,  for 
 **  by  the  law  is  the  knowledge  of  (in  *,"  the 
 **  law  entered  that  the  offence  might  abound  -f- ;" 
 that  "  by  it  fin  might  become  exceeding  finful." 
 It  was  by  this  method  that  the  Apoflle  Paul 
 was  reproved  of  fin.  He  fays  of  himfelf, 
 **  without  the  law  fin  was  dead,"  it  was  quite 
 forgotten  as  a  dead  man  out  of  mind.  "  I  was 
 **  alive  without  the  law  once,  but  when  the 
 "  commandment  came,  fin  revived  and  I 
 **  died  J."  So  he  became  acquainted  with  fin: 
 **  The  law  which  is  holy,  and  the  command- 
 **  ment  which  is  holy  and  juft  and  good,"  ferved 
 as  a  flrait  rule  by  which  he  might  afcertain 
 his  own  deformity,  and  the  power  of  divine 
 truth  to  fearch  **  the  inward  parts  which  are  very 
 **  wickednefs,"  extorted  from  him  the  con- 
 fefTion,  "  the  law  is  fpiritual,  but  I  am  carnal, 
 **  fold  under  fin  §/*  Then  all  his  confidence  in 
 the  flefh  was  over;  though  *' circumcifed  the 
 "  eighth  day,"  of  "  the  flock  of  Ifrael,  of  the 
 **  tribe  of  Benjamin,  an  Hebrew  of  the  He- 
 **  brews,  as  touching  the  law  a  Pharifee,  con^ 
 *'  cerning  zeal  perfecuting  the  church,  as  touch- 
 '^  ing  the   righteoufnefs  wjiich  is  in  the  law 
 
 *  Rom.  iii.  20.  t  Rom.  iv.  20. 
 
 J  Rom.  vii.  9.  §  Rom.  vii.  14. 
 
 S3  **  blamelefs, 
 
26Z      AN    ADDRESS    FROM    A    CLERGYMAN 
 
 •*  blamelefs,  he  counts  all  lofs  for  Christ,  and 
 **  fuffers  the  lofs  of  all  that  he  may  win  him  ^." 
 "  Thus  the  law  was  his  fchoolmafter  to  bring 
 "  him  to  Christ,  that  he  might  be  juftified 
 **  by  faith -f*;"  it  fhewed  him  by  a  rigid  and 
 fevere  difcipline  the  fin  which  made  fuch  a 
 Saviour  neceflary ;  it  convinced  him  that  there 
 could  be  falvation  in  none  other,  **  that  he 
 "  could  not  be  juftified  but  only"  (eai;  fji.7i  to  the 
 utter  exclufion  of  every  other  way)  "  only  by 
 *'  faith  of  Christ  J  -/'  and  of  courfe,  that  as 
 Christ  is  the  one  and  fure  way  to  God,  fo  un- 
 belief in  Christ  is  the  fin  that  muft  feparate 
 between  us  and  God  for  ever  and  ever :  herein 
 is  the  faying  true,  "  He  (hall  convince  the 
 "  world  of  fin,  becaufe  they  believe  not  on 
 "  me:"  and  every  one  who  knows  what  it  is 
 to  be  a  finner,  that  is,  who  is  taught  of  God 
 to  know  himfelf,  will  never  reft  fatisfied  but 
 with  that  faith,  by  which  he  is  one  with 
 Christ  as  his  head,  furety,  and  reprefentative, 
 who  lived,  died,  and  rofe  again  for  him  wep 
 avTi£,  in  his  place  and  ftead  upon  earth,  and 
 who  ever  liveth  to  make  interceflion  vrrep 
 eiVTi£  §  for  him,  as  reprefenting  him  in  heaven. 
 
 And 
 
 *  Phil.  iii.  t  Gal.  iii.  24.  t  Gal.  ii.  16. 
 
 §  See  Raphelius  on  Rom.  v.  6,  7,  8. '*  He  has  abun- 
 
 *'  dantly  demonft rated,  fays  Doddridge  on  the  fame  paffage, 
 
 that 
 
TO   HIS   PARISHIONERS.  z6^ 
 
 And  this  Is  the  faith  which  the  Apoftle  de- 
 fcribes,  when  he  fays,  **  I  am  crucified  with 
 **  Christ  ;  neverthelefs  I  hve,  yet  not  I,  but 
 **  Christ  liveth  in  me;  and  the  hfe  which  I 
 **  now  live  in  the  flefli,  I  Hve  by  the  faith  of 
 **  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me  and  gave 
 "  himfelf  for  me  *." 
 
 Christ  crucified,  thus  {et  before  the  eyes  of 
 the  reproved  finner,  will  become  a  wonderful 
 and  delightful  objed:  of  contemplation ;  and  the 
 knowledge  of  Him,  whilfi:  it  comforts  and 
 faves  on  the  one  hand,  will  be  producing  deeper 
 convicflions  of  fin  on  the  other :  in  the  fufferings 
 of  the  innocent  we  may  read  the  crimes  of  the 
 guilty;  and  fin  mufi:  appear  to  be  fin  indeed, 
 when  it  is  viewed  as  caufing  fuch  agonies  to  the 
 Son  of  God,  and  requiring  fuch  for  its  expia- 
 tion. As  '*  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life"  pre- 
 vails in  our  minds,  we  fhall  perceive  its  oppofite 
 the  law  of  fin  in  our  members  fi:riving  for  the 
 mafl:ery,  "  the  flefh  lufteth  againfi:  the  Spirit, 
 **  and  the  Spirit  againfi:  the  flefh  •!-.'*  And  be- 
 ing forced  to  cry  from  the  knowledge  of  felf, 
 
 *'  that  vvs^  viixm  aTrsQave,  fignifies  he  died  in  our  room  and 
 *'  ftead.  Nor  can  I  ever  find  that  a^roflaveiv  vrnq  nvoy  has 
 **  ever  any  other  fignlfication  than  that  of  refcuing  the  life  of 
 *'  another,  at  the  expence  of  our  own."  The  fubftitution  of 
 Christ  in  the  Tinner's  place  is  the  peculiarity,  the  glory  of 
 the  Chriftian  Syfteni. 
 
 *  Gal.  ii.  20.  t  Gal.  v.  17. 
 
 S  4  **  O  wretched 
 
364      AN   ADDRESS    FROM    A    CLERGYMAN 
 
 **  O  wretched  man  that  I  am  !'*  we  fhall  fin4 
 ourfelves  every  day  more  indebted  to  the  God 
 of  all  grace,  and  more  thankful  for  "  Christ 
 **  Jesus  the  Lord." 
 
 The  world  therefore  will  appear  "  to  be  lying 
 ^*  in  wickednefs  *,"  becaufe  they  believe  not  in 
 Jesus  ;  and  proving  from  day  to  day  the  excel- 
 lency of  that  *'  name,"  by  which  every  faved 
 ^nner  ftands  whole  before  God,  we  fhall  be 
 ■ftrengthened,  ftablifhed,  fettled  in  the  perfua- 
 fion,  that  there  is  "  none  other  name  under 
 **  heaven  given  amongfl  men  whereby  we  muft 
 *'  be  faved  -f-."  Thefe  are  the  operations  of  the 
 Spirit  in  convincing  the  world  of  fin ;  and  as 
 all  have  finned,  **  were  made  KuTetrToiQvitrciy 
 **  were  conflituted  finners  by  the  difobedience  of 
 "  one  man  J,"  fo  they  are  operations"  which 
 mufl  take  place  in  us,  ere  we  can  have  any 
 reafon  to  hope  that  we  are  fit  for  the  kingdom  of 
 God. 
 
 Annexed  to  the  reproof  of  fin  is  the  con^ 
 yidiion  of  righteoufnefs ;  that  is,  that  there  is 
 fuch  a  thing  as  righteoufnefs ;  in  other  words, 
 that  the  law  of  Jehovah  hath  been  fulfilled, 
 and  that  there  is  a  righteous  man  in  heaven. 
 This  obedience  to  the  law  and  this  righteous 
 charader  are   in  vain   fought   for   among   the 
 
 *  I  John  V.  19.  t  Afts  iv.  12.  X  Rom.  v.  19. 
 
 children 
 
TO   HIS   PARISHIONERS.  ^65 
 
 children  of  men:  God  looked  down  from 
 heaven,  to  **  fee  if  there  were  any  that  would 
 **  underftand  and  feek  after  God,  but  they  are 
 "  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they  are  altogether 
 *•  become  unprofitable,  there, is  none  that  doeth 
 *'  good,  no  not  one*."  In  fuch  a  ftate  of 
 things,  He  makes  provifion  himfelf  for  the 
 fulfilment  of  his  law.  "  Behold  the  days 
 "  come,  faith  the  Lord,  that  I  will  raife  unto 
 "  David  a  righteous  branch,  and  a  King  (hall 
 "  reign  and  profper,  and  (hall  execute  judg- 
 **  ment  and  juftice  in  the  earth.  In  his  days 
 **  Judah  (hall  be  faved,  and  Ifrael  fhall  dwell 
 **  fafely;  and  this  is  the  name  whereby  he 
 "  (hall   be   called,    The  Lord   our  righteouf- 
 
 "  nefsf." 
 
 Here  is  the  fulfilment  of  all  righteoufnefs, 
 and  the  imputation  of  it  to  all  that  believe.  In. 
 the  fifteenth  and  twenty-fourth  Pfalms,  God 
 reprefents  himfelf  as  enquiring,  "  Who  fhall 
 **  afcend  into  the  hill  of  the  Lord,  or  who 
 "  (hall  rife  up  in  his  holy  place  ?'*  He  pro- 
 ceeds to  delineate  the  righteous  character,  and 
 then,  by  a  ftriking  proclamation,  points  us  to 
 this  righteous  Branch  of  his  own  raifing,  "  Lift 
 **  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates,  and  be  ye  lift  up 
 **  ye  everlafting  doors,  and  the  King  of  glory 
 
 *  See  Rom.  iii.  and  the  pafTages  there  referred  to. 
 t  Jer.  xxiii. 
 
 "  fhall 
 
i66   AN  ADDRESS  FROM  A  CLERGYMAN 
 
 ••  (hall  come  in.  Who  is  the  King  of  glory  ? 
 "  the  Lord  flrong  and  mighty,  even  the  Lord 
 **  mighty  in  battle.  Lift  up  your  heads,  O 
 **  ye  gates,  even  lift  up  ye  everlafting  doors, 
 •*  and  the  King  of  glory  (hall  come  in.  Who 
 ••  is  this  King  of  glory  ?  The  Lord  of  Hofts, 
 "  He  is  the  King  of  glory." 
 
 'By  comparing  thefe  fcriptures  together,  wc 
 may  underftand  what  Christ  means,  when  he 
 fays  of  his  Spirit,  "  He  (hall  convince  the 
 "  world  of  righteoufnefs,  becaufe  I  go  to  the 
 **  Father."  He  goes  as  the  righteous  man, 
 having  fulfilled  his  engagement,  "  Lo  I  com6 
 **  to  do  thy  \vill;"  having  "  glorified  his 
 **  Father  upon  earth,  and  finiihed  the  work 
 "  which  was  given  him  to  do,"  and  now  he 
 puts  in  his  claim,  "  O  Father,  glorify  thou 
 **  me  with  thine  own  felf,  with  the  glory  which 
 **  I  had  with  Thee  before  the  world  was:"  a 
 claim  which  he  urges  as  the  Son  of  God,  or 
 reprefentative  of  all  his  children,  **  that  they 
 **  all  may  be  one;  as  Thou,  Father,  art  in 
 **  me  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  alfo  may  be  one 
 "  in  us  j  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou 
 **  haft  fent  me  *."  Here  is  the  only  way  in 
 which  we  can  be  convinced  of  righteoufnefs, 
 or  be  in  pofTeffion  of  that,  which  will  juftify 
 
 *  See  John  xvii. 
 
 US 
 
TO    HIS    PARISHIONERS.  z6j 
 
 US  before  God,  and  give  us  an  entrance  into  his 
 kingdom. 
 
 And  would  we  but  contemplate  the  charadler 
 of  Jesus  more,  I  am  perfuaded  we  fhould  think 
 much  lefs  of  our  own ;  all  our  righteoufnefles 
 would  vanifti  before  his,  2iS  the  twinkling  ftars 
 before  the  meridian  fun  ;  and  we  fhould  fee  the 
 impoffibility  of  {landing  before  God,  but  as  we 
 are  "  made  righteous  by  the  obedience  of  one 
 "  man  Jesus  Chrit."  This  Paul  was  con- 
 vinced of,  **  when  he  defired  to  be  found  in 
 **  Him,  not  having  his  own  righteoufnefs  which 
 **  is  of  the  law,  but  that  which  is  through  the 
 **  faith  of  Christ,  the  righteoufnefs  which 
 **  is  of  God  by  faith  *.'*  The  convid:ion  of 
 this  righteoufnefs  as  our  claim  and  dependance 
 for  etemal  life  is  the  triumph  of  grace;  it  is 
 that  ad:  of  grace  which  bringeth  falvation,  and 
 puts  us  in  a  ftate  infinitely  higher,  and  infinitely 
 fafer  than  we  could  have  been  in  the  firft  Adam, 
 by  making  us  the  righteoufnefs  of  God  in  the 
 **  fecond  Adam,  who  is  *'  God  and  Man  in  one 
 "  Christ." 
 
 Annexed  to  the  conviction  of  righteoufnefs  is 
 the  conviction  of  "  judgment,  becaufe  the 
 **  Prince  of  this  world  is  judged."  That  is, 
 that  "  the  Dragon  and  old  ferpent,  called  the 
 
 *  Phil.  iii.  9. 
 
 "  Devil 
 
268   AN  ADDRESS  FROM  A  CLERGYMAN 
 
 •*  Devil  and  Satan,  who  deceiveth  the  whole 
 **  world  *,"  is  difarmed  of  his  power  and  de- 
 throned from  his  feat,  ufurped  in  the  fpirit  and 
 nature  of  man;  and  this  according  to  the  judg- 
 ment of  God,  who  has  condemned  and  over-, 
 thrown  the  enemy.  The  Apoftle,  writing  to 
 the  converted  Gentiles  of  Ephefus,  is  particular 
 in  recalling  to  their  remembrance  what  they 
 were  before  their  converfion ;  and  he  tells  them, 
 that  they  **  were  dead  in  trefpaffes  and  fins, 
 **  wherein  in  time'pall  they  walked  according  to 
 **  the  courfe  of  this  world,  according  to  the 
 **  Prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  the  fpirit 
 **  that  now  worketh  in  the  children  of  difobe- 
 **  dience"f :"  reprefenting  hereby  the  power  of 
 the  Prince  of  this  world,  who  has  a  two-fold 
 influence  on  the  children  of  men:  He  rules 
 them  by  the  *'  law  of  fin  in  their  members  J  :" 
 that  is,  the  governing  principle  of  fin  which 
 has  the  force  of  a  law  in  their  nature :  he  rules 
 them  alfo  by  the  "  law  of  God,  which  is  the 
 •*  ftrength  of  fin  §;"  containing  a  charge  and 
 curfe  againfl:  it,  and  bringing  in  **  the  whole 
 **  world  guilty  before  God  ||:"  in  other  words. 
 He  is  "  Tempter'*  and  "  Accufer;"  and  where 
 he  cannot  perfuade  us  to  commit  iniquity  with 
 greedinefs,  by  reafon  *'  of  another  law  in  our 
 
 *  Rev.  xii.  9.  f  Ephef.  ii.  2.  J  Rom.  yii.  23. 
 
 §  I  Cor.  XV.  56.         II  Rom.  iii.  19. 
 
 **  minds," 
 
to    His    PARISHIONERS.  t6g 
 
 '*  minds,"  implanted  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  to' 
 countera(5t  "  the  law  of  fin,"  he  will  perfuade 
 us,  if  he  can,  that  we  are  too  guilty  to  be 
 faved. 
 
 Now  it  is  the  office  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
 to  convince  the  world  that  he  is  judged  in  both 
 thefe  refpe<5ts:  as  **  Tempter"  he  is  judged  by 
 the  life  of  Christ,  who,  in  the  days  of  his 
 flefli, -*^  was  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we 
 "•are,  and  was  yet  without  fin*;"  and  as 
 •'*  fuch  is  both  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our 
 *'*  infirmities,  and  is  able  to  fuccour  them  that 
 "  are  tempted ;"  as  **  Accufer"  he  is  judged  by 
 the  death  of  Christ,  in  which  he  made  a  full 
 fatisfadtion  to  God,  and  anfwered  all  the  de- 
 mands of  his  law  j  fo  "  blotting  out  the  hand- 
 **•  writing  of  ordinances  which  was  againfi:  us, 
 "'  which  was  contrary  to  us,  and  took  it  out  of 
 "  the  way,  nailing  it  to  his  crofs  ;  and  having 
 *'  'fpoiled  principalities  and  powers,  made  a 
 **  (hew  of  them  openly,  triumphing  over  them 
 "  in  it-j-."  Here  is  the  judgment,  the  con- 
 demnation, the  downfall  of  Satan,  effed:ed  by 
 Jesus  Christ;  who,  *' forafmuch  as  the  chil- 
 "  dren  were  partakers  of  flefli  and  blood,  him- 
 *•  felf  likewife  took  part  of  the  fame,  that 
 **  through  death  He  might  deftroy  death,  and 
 
 *  Heb.  iv.  15.  t  Col.  i.  14. 
 
 *♦  him 
 
2^0      AN   ADDRESS    FkoM'  A    CLERGYMAN 
 
 •*  him  that  had  the  power  of  death,  that  is,* 
 "  the  Devil;  and  dehver  them  who  through 
 •*  fear  of  death  were  all  their  life-time  fubje(Sfc 
 "  unto  bondage*."  Therefore  when  he  was 
 going  to  death,  He  fays,  **  Now  is  the  judg- 
 *^  ment  of  this  world,  now  is  the  Prince  pf 
 •*  this  world  caft  out.  The  Prince  of  this 
 "  world  Cometh  and  hath  nothing  in  Me  -f" 
 
 This  convidtion  of  "  judgment,  becaufe  the 
 **  Prince  of  this  world  is  judged,"  is  the  com- 
 fort and  fupport  of  all  chriftians.  It  is  by  this, 
 that  *•  being  delivered  from  the  hands  of  their 
 '*  enemies,  they  are  enabled  to  ferve  God  with- 
 "  out  fear,  in  righteoufnefs  and  holinefs  before 
 "  him  all  the  days  of  their  life  J ;"  and  to  wait 
 **  for  his  Son  from  heaven,  even  Jesus,  which 
 **  delivered  them  from  the  wrath  to  come  §." 
 Of  what  ufe  was  this  convi(5tion  to  St.  Paul, 
 when  **  a  thorn  in  the  flefh,  a  meffenger  of 
 •*  Satan  was  fent  to  buffet  him  ?"  No  matter 
 what  the  temptation  was.  He  was  convinced  he 
 had  to  deal  with  a  vanquifhed  enemy;  *'  for  this 
 **  I  befought  the  Lord  thrice,  that  it  might' 
 **  depart  from  me;  and  he  faid  unto  me,  my 
 **  grace  is  fufficient  for  thee,  for  my  ftrength  is 
 "  made  perfe(5t  in  weaknefs.  Moil  gladly, 
 "  therefore,  will  I  rather  glory  in  mine  infir- 
 
 *  Heb.  ii.  14.  f  Johnxii.  31.  xiv.  30. 
 
 %  Luke  i.  74.  §  I  Their,  i.  10. 
 
 **  mities, 
 
TO    HIS    PARISHIONERS*  2J^ 
 
 ^*  mities,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may  reft 
 "  upon  me  *."  Here  is  an  inftance  of  a  tempted 
 perfon,  whom  the  Comforter,  fent  by  Christ, 
 has  convinced  of  judgment ;  and  (hould  the 
 feme  perfon  look  forward  to  the  great  judg- 
 ment-day, and  be  tempted  to  fear  any  charge 
 which  may  then  be  brought  againft  them,  what 
 a  blefled  conviction  is  that  which  John  felt, 
 wheA  he  faid,  **  and  I  heard  a  loud  voice  faying 
 **  in  heaven,  now  is  come  falvation  and  ilrength, 
 **  and  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  the  power  of 
 •*  his  Christ,  for  the  Accufer  of  our  brethren 
 "  is  caft  down,  which  accufed  them  day  and 
 "  night  before  God,  and  they  overcame  him  by 
 "  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  by  the  word  of 
 **  their  teftimony  "f ." 
 
 Such  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  in  convincing 
 the  world  **  of  fin,  and  of  righteoufnefs,  and 
 •*  of  Judgment." — Convid:ions,  which,  how- 
 ever they  may  be  treated  by  thofe  who  never 
 have  felt  them,  are  the  eifentials  of  that  chrif- 
 tian  knowledge  and  experience,  which  make  us 
 truly  happy  and  wife  unto  falvation. 
 
 It  is  plain  from  the  foregoing  obfervations, 
 that  in  true  pra(ftical  religion  "  Jesus  Christ 
 **  is  all  in  all ;"  that  He  will  be  glorified  by 
 **  his  own  Spirit"  in  the  whole  courfe  of  hi$ 
 
 ♦  2  Cor.  xii.  8.  t  R^^'  xii.  lo. 
 
 teaching. 
 
tj%      AN  ADDRESS  FROM  A  CLERGYMAN 
 
 teaching.  Are  we  to  learn  fin?  Where  are  w& 
 to  learn  it,  but  in  the  view  of  Christ  crucifiedv 
 to  whona  the  law  conducts  us,  that  we.  may 
 read  the  giiilt  and  malignity  of  fin  in  the  fuf-i 
 ferings  required  for  its  punifhment  and  expia4 
 tion?  Are  we  to  learn  righteoufnefs  ?  Where 
 are  we  to  find  it  but  in  the  perfon  and  charadler  of 
 Jesus  Christ,  who  is  gone  to  the  Father,  and 
 is  fitting  upon  the  throne  of  his  glory,  **  as 
 **  the  Lord  .  our  righteoufnefs  j"  to  difpenfe 
 **  the  righteoiifnefs  of  God,  which  is  by  the 
 **  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  unto  all  and  upon 
 **  all  them  that  believe  *."  This  is  GoiD*s 
 mode  of  juftifying  finners,  **  for  He  hath  rtiade 
 **  Him  to  be  fin  for  us  who  knew  no  fin,  that 
 **  we  might  be  made  the  righteoufnefs  of  God 
 *'  in  Himf." 
 
 Are  we  to  learn  judgment  ?  that  is,  are  we  to 
 be  delivered  out  of  the  kingdom  of  Satan? 
 Where  are  we  to  obtain  this  vidlory  and  live  in 
 the  ufe  of  it,  but  in  union  with  Christ,  who 
 has  proved  himfelf  by  his  life  and  death  to 
 **  be  the  feed  of  the  woman,  which  was  to 
 **  bruife  the  Serpent's  head  J?"  To  hear 
 **  Christ,"  therefore,  and  "  to  be  taught  by 
 "  Him  as  the  truth  is  in  Jesus,"  is  the  whole 
 of  godlinefs.     **  It  is  putting  off  the  old  man, 
 
 ♦  Rom,  iii.  22.        f  2  Cor.  v.  21/        |  Gen.  iii.  15. 
 
 **  which 
 
TO   HIS    PARISHIONERS.  ^73 
 
 "  which  is  corrupt  according  to  the  deceitful 
 **  hifts,  and  putting  on  the  new  man,  which 
 "  after  God  is  created  in  righteoufnefs  and  true 
 *'  hohnefs  *.'*  Hence  you  read  in  the  A<5ts  of 
 the  Apoftles  of  their  **  teaching  and  preaching 
 "  everywhere  Jesus  Christ -f:'*  His  name 
 was  constantly  in  their  mouths,  and  **  his  name 
 **  through  faith  in  his  name"  did  all  that  was 
 done  by  their  hands.  **  Whom  we  preach," 
 faith  Paul,  "  warning  every  man,  and  teaching 
 **  every  man,  that  we  may  prefent  every  man 
 "  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus  |'."  This  was  the 
 one  object  He  aimed  at  in  all  his  public  and 
 private  miniftrations.  **  I  determined  not  to 
 **  know  any  thing  among  you,  fave  Jesus 
 "  Christ  and  Him  crucified  §."  And  he 
 reduces  all  faving  religion  to  a  fingle  point ; 
 "  grace  be  with  all  them  that  love  the  Lord 
 *'  Jesus  Christ  in  lincerity  ||,"  and,  if  any 
 "  man  love  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let 
 **  him  be  Anathema^." 
 
 That  which  was  taught  by  the  Apoftles,  was 
 the  fame  which  had  been  taught  by  all  who 
 ever  fpake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy 
 Ghoft  from  the  beginning  of  the  world.  *'  To 
 **  Him  gave  all  tlic  prophets  witnefs,  that 
 "  through  his   name    whofoever   believeth  in 
 
 *  Eph.  Iv. 
 
 t  Ads  V.  42. 
 
 t  Col.  i.  28. 
 
 §  I  Cor.  ii.  2. 
 
 II  Eph.  vi.  24. 
 
 i^  I  Cor.  xvi.  22. 
 
 T 
 
 "  Him 
 
274   AN  ADDRESS  FROM  A  CLERGYMAN 
 
 "  Him  fhall  receive  remiflion  of  fins  *  :"  it  was 
 •*  the  fpirit  of  Christ  in  them  which  teftified 
 **  the  fufferings  of  Christ,  and  the  glory 
 "  that  fhould  folio wf  :"  in  fliort,  "  the  tefti- 
 **  mony  of  Jesus  is  the  Spirit  of  prophecy  J ;" 
 and  "  Christ"  himftlf  fo  interpreted  the  Bible, 
 when  **  beginning  at  Mofes  and  all  the  pro- 
 **  phets,  He  expounded  to  them  in  all  the  fcrip- 
 **  tures  the  things  concerning  himfelf§.** 
 Hence  it  appears,  that  the  leading  truth  of  the 
 infpired  volume  is  Christ  Jesus  ;  and  the 
 great  defign  of  it  is  to  bring  the  finners  of 
 mankind  to  **  Him,  whom  God  hath  fet  forth 
 **  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood  || ;" 
 and  to  whom  he  hath  given  "  a  name  which 
 **  is  above  every  name  j  that  at  the  name  of 
 •*  Jesus  every  knee  fliould  bow,  of  things  in 
 **  heaven  and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under 
 "  the  earth;  and  that  every  tongue  (hould  con- 
 **  fefs,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the 
 "  glory  of  God  the  Father  f /' 
 .  This  particular  objedt,  which  diilinguifhes 
 the  book  of  God,  is  the  flriking  charadler  of 
 the  book  of  Common  Prayer,  according  to  the 
 ufe  of  the  Church  of  England ;  a  book  in- 
 ferior only  to  the  Bible  itfelf :  it  is  impoflible  to 
 join  in  its  fervice,  and  not  to  feel  that  we  are 
 
 *  A£ls  X,  43.         +1  Pet.  i.  II.  X  Rev.  xix.  10. 
 
 §  Lukexxiv.  27.    ||  Rom.  iii.  25.       ^  Phil.  ii.  10,  ii. 
 
 iinners, 
 
TO    HIS    PARISHIONERS.  275 
 
 iinners,  and  that  Christ  Jesus  is  the  only- 
 way  to  the  Father.  With  refpedt  to  our  finful 
 ftate,  the  ninth  article  afferts  "  the  fault  and 
 **  corruption  of  the  nature  of  every  man  that 
 **  is  naturally  engendered  of  the  offspring  of 
 **  Adam,  whereby  man  is  very  far  gone  from 
 **  original  righteoufnefs,  and  is  of  his  own 
 **  nature  inclined  to  evil,  fo  that  the  flefh  luft- 
 •*  eth  always  contrary  to  the  fpirit ;  and,  there- 
 •*  fore,  in  every  perfon  born  into  this  world,  it 
 **  deferveth  God's  wrath  and  damnation."  In 
 the  tenth  article,  that  **  the  condition  of  man 
 **  after  the  fall  of  Adam  is  fuch,  that  He* 
 **  cannot  turn  and  prepare  himfelf  by  his  own 
 **  natural  ftrength  and  good  works  to  faith  and 
 *•  calling  upon  God."  With  refped:  to  the 
 way  in  which  we  are  to  be  'juflified  and  faved, 
 it  aflerts,  in  the  eleventh  article,  that  **  we  are 
 *'  accounted  righteous  before  God,  only  for  the 
 **  merit  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
 **  Christ  by  faith,  and  not  for  our  own  works 
 "  or  defervings  ;"  and  in  the  eighteenth,  that 
 *'  they  are  to  be  had  accurfed  that  prefume  to 
 **  fay,  that  every  man  fhallbe  faved  by  the  law 
 **  or  fe6l  which  he  profeflcth,  even  though  he 
 "  be  diligent  to  frame  his  life  according  to  that 
 "  law  and  the  light  of  nature  ;  for  holy  fcrip- 
 **  ture  doth  fct  out  to  us  only  the  name  of 
 *'  Jesus  Christ  whereby  men  muilbe  faved  :" 
 T  2  and 
 
27^       AN    ADDRESS    FROM    A    CLERGYMAN 
 
 and  laftly  with  refpedl  to  that  work  of  the  fpi- 
 rit  we  have  been  fpeaking  of,  which  makes  us 
 wife  unto  falvation,  and  fit  for  the  kingdom  of 
 God,  it  alTerts  in  the  feventeenth  article,  that 
 **  they  who  are  chofen  of  God  in  Christ,  are 
 **  called  according  to  God*s  purpofe  by  his 
 "  fpirit  working  in  due  feafon ;  that  they, 
 **  through  grace,  obey  the  calling;  that  they 
 **  are  juftified  freely  j  that  they  are  made  the 
 **  fons  of  God  by  adoption ;  that  they  are  made 
 *'  like  the  image  of  his  only  begotten  Son  Jesus 
 **  Christ;  that  they  walk  religioufly  in  good 
 *'  works,  and  at  length,  by  God's  mercy,  they 
 **.  attain  to  everlafting  felicity  *." 
 
 Thus  have  I  endeavoured,  as  briefly  as  I  was 
 able,  to  fet  before  you  that  **  work  of  the 
 **  Lord,  for  which  every  good  man  prays, 
 **  that  He  would  revive  it,  and  make  it  known 
 "  in  the  midft  of  the  years  "f  ;"  for  which  the- 
 world  itfelf  was  made  and  is  continued,  and 
 for  which  as  "  labourers  together  with  God," 
 we  are  bound  to  contend.  I  have  endeavoured 
 alfo  to  fet  forth  the  work  of  God  in  the  words 
 of  God  ;  and  have  referred  you  not  only  to  the 
 fcripture,  as  the  great  fource  and  ftandard  of 
 truth,    but  likewife  to    the   dodrines    of   the 
 
 *  See  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England,  w^iich  (hould 
 be  printed  in  every  Common  Prayer  Book. 
 ■\  Habak.  iii.  2. 
 
 eftablilhecj 
 
 I 
 
TO    HIS    PARISHIONERS.  27^ 
 
 eflablifhed  church,  to  which  you  and  I  profefs 
 to  belong.  Confidering  the  promifes  which  I 
 made,  and  the  inftrucftions  which  I  received, 
 both  at  my  admiffion  into  orders  and  inftitution 
 to  my  hvings,  (which  you  may  fee,  if  you 
 pleafe,  in  the  fervices  and  forms  conftantly  ufed 
 upon  fuch  occafions)  I  muft  be  extremely  igno- 
 rant of  my  own  profeilion,  or  fomething  worfe, 
 (if  any  thing  can  be  fo)  were  I  not  impreffed 
 with  the  love  of  your  fouls,  and  urgent  in  the 
 things  which  make  for  their  falvation  :  and 
 you  muft  renounce  the  names  of  Chriftians  and 
 Proteftants,  if  you  negledt,  defpife,  and  oppofe 
 the  truths,  which  are  the  very  conftitutive  prin^ 
 ciples  of  the  one  and  the  other.  It  is  hardj 
 indeed,  upon  me,  that  the  very  fervices  which 
 found  a  claim  for  the  rewards  of  my  profeftion, 
 and  for  a  place  in  your  efteem,  fhould  be  urged 
 as  the  reafons  for  depriving  mc  of  both  ;  but  it 
 is  much  harder  upon  you,  that  evil  reports  of 
 others,  or  prejudices  of  your  own,  fhould  fo 
 operate,  as  to  keep  you  out  of  the  way  of  thofe 
 things,  the  importance  of  which  is  infinite, 
 becaufe  they  are  eternal  :  that  things  of  this 
 nature  are  not  countenanced  by  the  fafliion  of 
 the  world,  is  what  I  ferioufly  lament  and  readily 
 allow,  that  they  are  not  countenanced  by  the 
 word  of  God  and  the  church  of  England,  is 
 what  I  never  will  admit,  as  long  as  I  have  the 
 T  3  Bible 
 
278       AN    ADDRESS    FROM    A    CLERGYAAN' 
 
 Bible  and  prayer-book  before  me;  for   **  there 
 **  are  the  books,  and  there  is  the  rehgion." 
 
 What  is  it  then  which  keeps  you  from  the 
 houfe  of  God,  where  thefe  things  are  read  and 
 preached  upon  every  fabbath-day  ?  Is  it  the 
 name  of  reproach  indifcriminately  given  to  the 
 great  truths  of  chriftianity,  and  to  the  bold  and 
 honeft  defenders  of  them  ?  Whatever  be  the 
 caufe  of  fuch  conduct,  what  is  the  condu^ 
 itfelf,  but  "  to  refift  the  Holy  Ghoft*;"  to 
 **  reje<5l  the  counfel  of  God  againft  your- 
 •*  felves-f ;"  to  **  defpife  the  word  of  the 
 **  Holy  One  of  Ifrael  j; ;"  and  fo  to  give  up  an 
 eternity  of  happinefs  in  compliment  to  a  trifling 
 and  dying  world,  which  can  do  you  no  good, 
 and  which  has  never  yet  found  an  anfwer  to  the 
 very  ferious  queftion,  **  What  (hall  a  man  be 
 **  profited  if  he  gain  the  whole  world  and  lofe 
 **  his  own  foul§?'*  But  *'  Jesus  Christ" 
 tan  do  you  good  :  He  has  all  power  in  heaven 
 and  in  earth,  and  is  therefore  exalted,  that  He 
 may  have  mercy  upon  you ;  He  has  all  grace 
 and  glory  at  his  difpofal,  and  if  you  will  come 
 to  him,  that  you  may  have  life.  He  will  give 
 you  length  of  days  for  ever  and  ever.  Need  I 
 be  afhamed  of  my  preference  for  fuch  things  as 
 thefe,  or  of  the  gofpel  which   contains  them, 
 
 *  Ad$  vii.  51.  t  Luke  vii.  30.  J  If,  v.  24. 
 
 §  Matt.  xvi.  26. 
 
 for 
 
TO      HIS    PARISfttONERS.  279 
 
 for  the  preaching  of  which  I  am  certainly  your 
 debtor,  and  of  which  we  know  by  indifputable 
 fadis,  that  it  "  is  God's  power  unto  falvation 
 •*  to  every  one  that  beheveth  *  ?'* 
 
 For  myfelf  I  can  fay,  and  to  the  praife  of 
 the  glory  of  divine  grace  I  ought  to  fay  it,  that 
 however  miferably  deficient  in  preaching  and 
 living  the  gofpel,  I  have  experienced  its  truth 
 and  reality  under  circumftances  uncommonly 
 trying,  and  under  much  obloquy  and  contempt, 
 which  (thanks  be  to  God)  have  been  as  little  re- 
 garded, as  they  have  been  little  deferved  by  me. 
 My  manner  of  life  for  thefe  ten  years  paft  you 
 have  known  ;  and  to  that  I  refer  you  as  the  befl 
 evidence  of  my  prefent  views  in  writing ;  they 
 are  fimply  thefe  : — To  conciliate  you  to  myfelf, 
 by  convincing  you,  that  I  have  your  beft  inte- 
 refts  at  heart ;  to  my  miniftry,  by  convincing 
 you  that  it  is  rational,  ecclefiaftical,  fcriptural ; 
 to  Christ  Jesus  my  Mafter  and  Lord,  by 
 perfuading  you,  that  He  and  He  only  is  able  to 
 fave  you  ;  and  to  the  word  of  God,  becaufe 
 it  is  "  the  teftimony  of  Jesus."  In  few  words, 
 I  (hall  have  gained  my  points,  if  you  will  call 
 for  my  fervices,  fearch  the  fcriptures,  attend  the 
 church,  and  hear,  read,  and  judge  for  your- 
 felves.     Then   at  leaft  you  will  be  under  the 
 
 *  Rom.  i.  16. 
 
 T  4  means 
 
aSo     AIC  ADDRESS  FROM  A  CLERGYMAN,  &C. 
 
 means  of  grace,  and  in  thofe  ways  in  which 
 God  ufually  meets  and  bleiTes  his  people ;  for 
 the  fuccefs  of  thefe  means  we  muft  depend  upon 
 the  fovereign  Lord,  who  hath  appointed  them. 
 I  therefore  **  commend  you  to  God,"  as  well 
 as  "to  the  word  of  his  grace*.'*  And  I  pray 
 that  the  God  of  the  fpirits  of  all  flefh  may 
 diredl  and  fandlify  your  hearts,  and  thefe  pages 
 to  your  edification.  I  pray  for  you,  that  you 
 may  be  faved  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
 and  for  myfelf,  that  I  may  rejoice  in  the  fame 
 day,  that  I  have  neither  run  nor  laboured  in 
 vain. 
 
 *  A6ls  XX.  32, 
 
 A   FAST 
 
FAST  MONITOR, 
 
 DEDICATED    TO    THE 
 
 PARISH  AND  CONGREGATION 
 
 OF 
 
 ST.   GILES,    IN  READING. 
 
 WHF.K    YE    FAST    BE    NOT     AS    THE    HYPOCRITES. 
 
FAST  MONITOR. 
 
 Dearly  beloved, 
 
 IF  you  are  Chriftiaiis  in  deed  and  in  truth 
 you  know  that  fin  is  the  great  evil,  which 
 is  ofFenfive  to  God,  and  deflru(5live  to  his  crea- 
 tures ;  that  it  provokes  the  divine  wrath  and 
 vengeance,  bringing  fore  judgments  upon  the 
 earth,  and  eternal  judgment,  after  death,  upon 
 thofe  who  live  and  die  in  it.  You  know  that 
 Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  was  mani- 
 fefted  to  take  away  fin,  and  that  none  can  take  it 
 away  but  this  Lamb,  provided  by  God  himfelf 
 for  a  burnt  offering,  flain  from  the  foundation 
 of  the  world  in  the  fight  of  Him,  who  feeth 
 things  that  be  not  as  though  they  were ;  fore- 
 ordained before  the  foundation  of  it,  and  mani- 
 fefted  in  thefe  lafl  times  for  you,  who  by  him 
 do  believe  in  God,  that  raifed  Him  from  the 
 dead,  that  your  faith  and  hope  might  be  in 
 God.     Jesus  Christ  hath  been  evidently  fet 
 
 forth 
 
284  A    FAST   MONITOR. 
 
 forth  crucified  among  you — the  word  which 
 teftifies  of  Him  has  been  nigh  to  you,  and  you 
 through  grace  have  beheved  it — ^you  have  called 
 upon  Him  by  prayer  and  been  holpen — you  have 
 trufted  in  Him  by  faith,  and  not  been  con- 
 founded— ^you  have  turned  to  God  from  idols, 
 and  are  waiting  for  his  Son  from  heaven,  even 
 Jesus,  who  delivereth  you  from  the  wrath  that 
 now  is,  and  from  that  which  is  to  come. 
 
 Thefe,  if  we  are  Chriilians,  are  our  princi- 
 ples, in  which  we  have  been  inflruded, 
 grounded  and  fettled  by  the  fpirit  of  Christ  ; 
 and  it  is  the  defign  of  this  addrefs  to  ftir  up 
 your  minds  to  the  remembrance  of  them.  They 
 are  principles  upon  which  our  fore-fathers  in 
 faith  and  patience  have  a(fted  in  their  times, 
 and,  as  followers  of  them,  we  mull:  ad:  upon 
 the  fame  in  ours — perilous  times,  no  doubt, 
 full  of  danger,  becaufe  they  are  full  of  fin  : 
 but  for  all  times  there  is  one  faith,  and  they 
 who  are  full  of  it,  have  nothing  to  fear  in  any. 
 **  This  is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the  world 
 *'  even  our  faith ;  and  who  is  he  that  overcometh 
 **  the  world,  but  he  that  believeth  that  Jesus  is 
 *'  the  Son  of  God  ?"    i  John  v.  4,  5. 
 
 Before  us  is  the  king's  proclamation  appoint- 
 ing'a  day  for  a  general  fast  and  humiliation 
 before  Almighty  God,  to  be  obferved  in  the 
 moft  devout  and  folemn  manner  by  fending  up 
 
 our 
 
A    FAST   MONITOR.  28^ 
 
 our  prayers  and  fupplications  to  the  divine 
 Majefty  ;  for  obtaining  pardon  of  our  fins,  and 
 for  averting  thofe  heavy  judgments,  which  our 
 manifold  provocations  have  fo  juftly  defervedj 
 imploring  His  blefling  and  affiftance  on  the 
 arms  of  his  majefty  by  fea  and  land,  and  for 
 reftoring  and  perpetuating  peace,  fafety  and 
 profperity  to  himfelf  and  to  his  kingdoms. 
 
 Let  this  proclamation  be  received  upon  Chrif- 
 tian  principles,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to 
 the  reception  it  will  meet  with.  What  is  there 
 in  it  which  believers  can  rejed  ?  Neither  the 
 authority  from  which  it  comes,  nor  the  exer* 
 cifes  to  which  it  calls  us.  Yea,  what  is  there 
 in  it  which  believers  will  not  receive  with  joy, 
 peace  and  thankfgiving  ? 
 
 Let  us  call  forth  upon  the  prefent  occalion, 
 that  faith,  by  which  we  profefs  to  live ;  and  let 
 us  try,  whether  it  will  not  detach  us  from  men 
 and  meafures,  from  party  and  politicks,  and 
 draw  us  to  the  living  and  the  true  God  :  that 
 we  may  fee  Him  in  war,  as  in  one  of  his  fore 
 judgments,  and  look  to  Him,  firft,  for  its 
 proper  effeds,  and  then,  for  its  timely  removal. 
 
 Intending  to  preach  this  year  in  my  other 
 parifh,  I  addrefs  you  from  the  prefs  inflead  of 
 the  pulpit ;  that  I  may  leave  my  teftimony  in  a 
 place,  where  God  has  called  me  to  labour  for 
 |he  good  of  fouls,  that  I  may  offer  to  you  a 
 
 feafonabl^ 
 
^86  A   FAST   MONITOR. 
 
 fealbnable  token  of  my  great  love  and  efteem, 
 and  that,  though  abfent  in  body,  I  may  be 
 prefent  with  you  in  fpirit,  joying  and  behold- 
 ing your  order,  and  the  ftedfaftnefs  of  your 
 faith  in  Christ. 
 
 Accept  then  of  this,  as  of  a  faft  fermon, 
 which  fhould  turn  upon  the  duties  of  the  day, 
 and  the  benefits  to  be  expe(5led  from  doing  them. 
 They  who  have  the  Bible  to  read,  and  faith  to 
 receive  it,  mufl  know  thefe  things,  muft  do 
 them,  and  muft  be  bleffed  in  their  deed. 
 
 The  prime  duty  then  of  this  and  of  every 
 day  is 
 
 TO   TURN    UNTO   THE   LORD. 
 
 **  Therefore  now,  thus  faith  the  Lord, 
 **  turn  'ye  unto  me,  with  all  your  heart,  and 
 **  with  fafting,  and  weeping,  and  mourning." 
 Joel  ii.  12.  Whatever  a  Chriftian,  does  he 
 will  do  it  heartily,  as  unto  the  Lord,  and  not 
 unto  men ;  and  having  read  in  his  word  the 
 moft  gracious  calls  to  the  revolting,  the  rebel- 
 lious and  backfliding,  to  turn  and  return  unto 
 the  Lord,  he  will  pray  for  himfelf,  for  others, 
 and  for  his  country,  that  there  may  be  a  general 
 turning  unto  the  Lord  this  day. 
 
 2.  If  this  is  to  be  called  a  faft,  it  is  clearly 
 a  duty  of  it 
 
 TO    FAST, 
 
 That  is,  to  abftain  from  food — whether  with 
 a  total  or  partial  abftinence,  may  be  left  to  the 
 
 difcretion 
 
A    FAST   MONITOR.  287 
 
 difcretion  of  believers,  and  may  be  determined 
 by  their  bufinefs  in  the  church,  as  well  as  by 
 the  known  tempers  and  habits  of  their  mind 
 and  body.  But,  to  abjlairiy  is  the  conflant  duty 
 of  thofe,  who,  as  ftrangers  and  pilgrims  upon 
 earth,  are  going  to  their  home  and  reft  in  hea- 
 ven. They  who  are  well  cloathed  and  fed  every 
 day,  may  do  well  to  conlider,  how  little  things 
 fo  gratifying  to  the  flefh  contribute  to  the  profit 
 of  the  fpirit ;  and  how  many  of  their  poor 
 neighbours,  rich  in  faith,  are  ftrong  to  bodily 
 labour,  and  alive  to  God  and  godlinefs,  with 
 the  daily  provifion,  and  fcarcely  that,  of  bread 
 and  water  !  I  need  not  remind  a  Chriftian,  that 
 to  faft  is  not  only  to  abftain  from  food,  but  alfo 
 from  flefhly  lufts,  which  war  againft  the  foul — 
 to  feel  the  want  of  a  Saviour  to  pardon  thefe 
 lufts  and  fubdue  them,  and  to  fupply  the  lofs  of 
 them  by  being  Himfelf  the  food  and  life  of  their 
 fouls.  **  Can  ye  make  the  children  of  the 
 *'  bride-chamber  faft,  when  the  bridegroom  is 
 **  with  them  ?  but  the  days  will  come  when 
 "  the  bridegroom  fliall  be  taken  from  them, 
 **  and  then  ftiall  they  faft  in  thofe  days.'* 
 Luke  V.  34,  '^^. — a  Chriftian  faft  then  compre- 
 hends the  body  and  the  mind  ;  as  an  outward 
 a6l,  it  exprefles  and  promotes  inward  forrow 
 and  fand:ity. — **  When  ye  faft,  be  not  as  the 
 **  hypocrites,  of  a  fad  countenance :  for  they 
 
 disfigure 
 
28S  A    FAST  MONITOR. 
 
 **  disiigure  their  faces  that  they  may  appear  unto 
 '  *  men  to  fail.  Verily,  I  fay  unto  you,  they  have 
 **  their  reward.  But  thou  when  thou  faftefl 
 ^'  anoint  thine  head,  and  wafli  thy  face,  that 
 **  thou  appear  not  unto  men  to  faft,  but  unto 
 **  thy  Father  which  is  in  fecret,  and  thy  Father, 
 **  which  feeth  in  fecret,  himfelf  fhall  reward 
 **  thee  openly."  Matt.  vi.  i6.  Here  our 
 Lord  evidently  fuppofes,  that  his  difciples  will 
 faft,  for  He  gives  them  directions  how  to  do  it : 
 He  teaches  them  in  this,  as  in  every  other  ad: 
 of  religion,  to  beware  of  hypocri fy — the  fepa- 
 ration  of  body  and  fpirit,  of  form  and  power, 
 of  the  outer  and  inner  man,  which  God  hath 
 joined  in  redemption  and  worfhip,  and  fuch  a 
 reparation  as  caufes  the  one  to  belie  the  other.  He 
 teaches  them  to  do  it  in  faith,  believing  that  God 
 is,  and  that  He  is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  dili- 
 gently feek  Him  in  this  and  every  other  ordi- 
 nance ;  and  in  the  ufe  of  the  means  to  look  for 
 the  promifed  bleffing,  which  can  only  come 
 from  our  God  and  Father  ;  that  He  may  re- 
 ward them  openly  with  the  fubjedion  of  their 
 body,  the  mortification  of  its  members,  with 
 fpiritual  and  heavenly  mindednefs,  fo  elfential 
 to  the  peace,  comfort,  and  credit  of  his  chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Do  we  want  authentic  precedents  for  royal 
 proclamations  to  faft  ?  ■  let  us  read  the  hiltories 
 
 of 
 
A    FAST   MONITOR.  289 
 
 of  Ifmel  and  Judah,  and  we  fhall  find  abund- 
 ance. Do  we  want  divine  calls  to  obey  fuch 
 proclamations,  let  us  fearch  the  fcriptures  of  the 
 prophets,  and  we  have  enough.  If  we  want 
 New  Teftament  authorities  for  farting,  we  have 
 them  in  the  Ad:s  of  the  Apoftles,  x.  30  ;  xiii. 
 2,  3  j  xiv.  23.  and  St.  Paul,  in  the  feventh 
 chapter  of  his  firft  epiftle  to  the  Corinthians, 
 and  the  fifth  verfe,  evidently  fuppofes  it  to  be  a 
 practice  of  Chriftians,  to  give  themfelves  occa- 
 iionally  to  fafting  and  prayer. 
 
 3.  Then  another  duty  of  a  faft  is 
 
 TO  PRAY. 
 
 This  indeed  is  a  Chriftian*s  bufinefs  every 
 day  and  every  hour  of  his  life,  it  is  the  very 
 breath  of  life  in  his  foul ;  it  is,  faith  Bifhop 
 Home  in  his  Comment  on  Pfalm  l:5^vi.  ly.  one 
 gift  of  God  ;  and  every  other  gift  is  obtained 
 by  it.  It  is  never  unfeafonable,  and  in  our 
 greateft  diftrefs  it  is  the  mofl:  feafonable.  Our 
 Lord  fpake  a  parable  to  prove  that  men 
 ought  always  to  pray  and  not  to  faint.  Luke 
 xviii.  r .  His  apoftles  call  upon  us  to  be  con- 
 ftant  and  inftant  in  prayer.  Is  any  among  you 
 afflicted  ?  here  is  his  remedy,  let  him  pray. 
 James  v.  1 3.  We  are  commanded  to  pray  one 
 for  another,  for  all  men,  for  kings  and  all  that 
 are  in  authority,  &c.  We  are  told  of  the  great 
 avail  of  effedual  fervent  prayer,  that  it  faves 
 
 U  the 
 
290  A    FAST    MONITOR. 
 
 the  fick,  opens  and  fhuts  heaven,  averts  national 
 judgments,  and  brings  down  national  bleflings* 
 In  fhort  there  is  nothing  which  God  gives,  and 
 which  his  people  receive,  of  which  it  is  not 
 written,  "  afk  and  ye  fhall  have."  And  every 
 promife  comes  with  its  proper  fweetnefs  and 
 power,  when  it  comes  as  an  anfwer  to  prayer. 
 We  are  furniflied  in  the  fcriptures  not  only 
 with  exhortations  to  pray,  but  with  matter  and 
 words  of  prayer  fuited  to  every  occafion  :  we 
 have  the  prayers  of  David,  Solomon,  Elijah, 
 Hezekiah,  Daniel,  Nehemiah,  Jonah,  and  that 
 of  Joel  for  a  faft,  with  many  others  in  the  Old 
 Teftament ;  and  we  have  the  wonderful  one  of 
 our  Lord,  comprifing  in  few  words  all  that 
 concerns  God*s  glory  and  our  good,  with  fome 
 particular  ones  of  the  primitive  church  in  the 
 new.  And  may  the  fpirit  help  our  infirmities 
 and  enable  us  to  make  ufe  of  them  ! 
 
 The  neceflity  of  faying  more  upon  this  head 
 has  been  happily  fuperceded,  by  the  re-publica- 
 tion of  an  Earneft  Invitation  to  the  Friends  of 
 the  Eflablifhed  Church  to  join  with  feveral  of 
 their  brethren,  clergy,  and  laity,  in  London ; 
 in  fetting  apart  one  hour  of  every  week,  for 
 prayer  and  fupplication  during  the  prefent 
 troublefome  times.  This  cheap  and  ufeful  little 
 trad:  is,  I  believe,  in  moft  of  your  hands,  and 
 the   contents   of  it,    I  hope,    will  be  in  your 
 
 practice 
 
A    FAST   MONITOR.  2gi 
 
 pradlice  from  eight  to  nine  on  every  evening  of 
 the  Lord's  day.  To  this  tra6t  let  me  add 
 another,  and  recommend  it  to  your  notice,  viz. 
 a  Serious  Exhortation  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great 
 Britain,  with  reference  to  the  approaching  fail, 
 by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Robinfon,  M.A.  Vicar  of 
 St.  Mary's,  Leicefter.  The  perufal  of  this  pub- 
 lication would  have  occafioned  the  fuppreffion 
 of  my  own,  had  it  not  been  for  fome  reafons 
 before  mentioned,  and  for  this  added  to  them, 
 that  if  the  teftimony  of  one  man  is  good,  the 
 teftimony  of  two  or  three  may  be  better. 
 
 4.  As  it  is  our  duty  to  pray  always,  and 
 efpecially  upon  a  faft,  fo  it  is  our  duty  when- 
 ever we  pray,  and  particularly  upon  fuch  occa- 
 fions  as  thefe, 
 
 TO  CONFESS  OUR  SINS. 
 
 And  here  is  employment  enough  not  only  for 
 one  but  for  all  days.  The  fins  of  our  nature — 
 the  fins  of  our  lives — the  fins  of  our  nation — 
 and  our  public  perfeverance  in  them  under  the 
 plainelT:  chaflifemcnts,  no  arithmetic  can  count, 
 no  language  can  defcribe  them  :  of  the  number 
 of  them  therefore  we  may  fay  with  the  pfalmift, 
 *'  they  are  more  than  the  hairs  of  our  head," 
 and  of  their  heinoufnefs,  with  the  apoftle,  that 
 they  are  **  exceeding  finful."  But  what  en- 
 couragement do  we  find  in  the  fcriptures  to 
 eonfefs  them  ?  "  My  fon,  '  give  glory  to  the 
 U  2,  Lord 
 
292  A    FAST   MONITOR. 
 
 *•  Lord  God  of  Ifrael,  and  make  confeflTon  to 
 **  Him.*'  Jofhua  vii.  19.  *'  I  acknowledged 
 •*  my  iin  unto  Thee,  and  mine  iniquity  have  I 
 *'  not  hid  :  I  faid^  I  will  confefs  my  tranf- 
 •*  greflions  unto  the  Lord  ;  and  Thou  forgavell 
 **  the  iniquity  of  my  fin."  Pfalm  xxxii.  5. 
 **  Only  acknowledge  thine  iniquity."  Jer.  iii, 
 13.  And,  *'  if  we  confefs  our  fins,  God  is 
 *'  faithful  and  juft  to  forgive  us  our  fins.** 
 I  John  i.  9.  So  that  the  fcripture  moveth  us  in 
 fundry  places  to  acknowledge  and  confefs  our 
 manifold  fins  and  wickednefs,  and  that  wc 
 fhould  not  dilfemble  nor  cloak  them  before  the 
 face  of  Almighty  God  our  heavenly  Father, 
 but  confefs  them  with  an  humble,  lowly,  peni- 
 tent and  obedient  heart. 
 
 5.  If  we  have  fins  to  confefs,  we  have  fa 
 many  caufes 
 
 TO  BE  HUMBLE,    TO  BE  SORRY,    TO  REPENT. 
 
 Sin  humbled  us  at  firft,  and  therefore  never 
 tan  be  thought  of  without  humbling  the  fouL 
 Sin  is  the  parent  of  forrow,  and  therefore  never 
 can  be  felt  without  producing  it. — Sin  can  never 
 dwell  with  God,  and  therefore,  except  we  re- 
 pent, that  is,  be  renewed  in  the  fpirit  of  our 
 minds  and  reclaimed  from  it,  it  will  feparatc 
 individuals  from  his  prefence.and  nations  from; 
 his  care.  I  need  not  remind  you  of  the  frequent 
 calls  in  the  fcriptures  to  be  afflicted  and  mourn 
 
 and 
 
A    FAST   MONITOR.  293 
 
 and  weep,    and  of  the  great    encouragements 
 there  given  to  the  humble  and  repenting  finner. 
 **  Seeil:  thou  how  Ahab  humbleth  himfelf  be- 
 **  fore    me  ?    becaufe     he    humbleth    himfelf 
 **  before  me,  I  will  not  bring  the  evil  in  his 
 **  days."     I    Kings    xxi.    29.      ""   Surely    He 
 **  fcorneth  the  fcorners,   but  He  giveth   grace 
 *'  to  the  lowly."    Prov.  iii.  34.    James  iv.  6. 
 I  Pet.  v.  5.   **  Verily,  verily  I  fay   unto  you, 
 **  that  ye  fhall  weep  and  lament,  but  the  world 
 **  fhall   rejoice,  and  ye  fhall  be  forrowful,  and 
 **  your  forrow  fhall  be  turned  into  joy."     John 
 xvi.  20.    "  Now  I  rejoice  not  that  ye  were  made 
 **  fbrry,  but  that  ye  forrowed  to  repentance,  for 
 **  godly  forrow  worketh  repentance  to  falvation 
 **  not  to  be  repented  of."     2  Cor.  vii.  9,    10. 
 We  are  alTured,  that  '*  there  is  joy  in  heaven 
 **  over  every  finner   that   repenteth,"  and  that 
 **  Jesus  Christ  is  exalted  to  be  a  Prince  and  a 
 **  Saviour,    to  give  that  repentance,"    which 
 fills  heaven  with  joy.     Such  repentance  towards 
 God,  can  be  none  other  than  that  which  is  in 
 union    with    faith    towards    our    Lord    Jfsus 
 Christ.     A(5ts  xx.    21.   without  which  there 
 can  be  no  repentance,    and  if  there  could,    it 
 could  be  of  no  avail. — And  therefore, 
 
 6.  It  is  the  great,  the  elfential  matter,  whe- 
 ther we  fail,  or  eat, 
 
 U  3  to 
 
294  ^  FAST  MONITOR. 
 
 TO  BELIEVE. 
 
 For,  *'  whatfoever  is  not  of  faith  is  fin/*  and, 
 **  without  faith  it  is  impoflible  to  pleafe  God." 
 Let  lis  then  look  for  the  fafl  of  faith,  the  prayer 
 of  faith,  the  confeffion  of  faith,  the  humihty, 
 forrow,  and  repentance  of  faith,  all  fpringing 
 from  it  as  the  proper  fruits  of  the  living  tree. 
 And  how  can  we  exped:  the  fruit  except  we 
 firfl:  plant  and  cultivate  the  tree  ?  Whether  it  be 
 a  people  or  a  perfon,  acknowledging  their  vile- 
 nefs,  repenting  of  their  faults,  and  crying  to 
 God  for  mercy  and  deliverance,  we  have  but 
 one  language  of  relief  and  comfort — **  Believe 
 *'  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  and  thou,  and 
 thine  houfe,  and  thy  country  fhall  be  faved. 
 For  to  Him  "  every  knee  fhall  bow,  and  every 
 **  tongue  fliall  fwear."  Ifaiah  Ixv.  23.  Phil, 
 ii.  10.  Yea,  "  all  kings  (hall  fall  down  before 
 Him  :  all  nations  (hall  ferve  Him.  For  He 
 fliall  deliver  the  needy  when  he  crieth  ;  the 
 poor  alfo,  and  Him  that  hath  no  helper. 
 He  fliall  fpare  the  poor  and  needy,  and  fliall 
 fave  the  fouls  of  the  needy.  He  fliall  redeem 
 their  foul  from  deceit  and  volence  :  and  pre- 
 cious fliall  their  blood  be  in  his  fight.  His 
 Name  fliall  endure  for  ever  :  his  Name  fliall 
 be  continued  as  long  as  the  fun :  and  men 
 fliall  be  blc:fled  in  Him  :  all  nations  fliall  call 
 Himbkflbd."     Fflilm  Ixxiii. 
 
 Here 
 
A    FAST    MONITOR.  295 
 
 Here  then  is  a  decided  way  of  falvation, 
 there  is  no  other  in  the  Bible ;  and  if  we  would 
 preach  or  hear  to  our  own  or  our  country*s  good 
 upon  the  faft,  we  muft  not  ceafe  to  preach  and 
 to  hear  Jesus  Christ:"  for  **  to  Him  give 
 **  all  the  prophets  witnefs,  that  through  his 
 **  Name,  whofoever  believeth  in  it,  fhall  re- 
 **  ceive  remiflion  of  iins."  O  then  that  thefe 
 were  believing  kingdoms  !  that  falfe  philofophy, 
 that  reafon  without  revelation,  that  Socinianifm, 
 Deifm  and  Atheifm  had  no  footing  among  us  ! 
 O  that  this  was  a  faithful  nation;  and  it  would 
 ceafe  to  be  finful :  O  that  this  were  a  faithful 
 people ;  and  they  would  be  eafed  at  once  of  their 
 load  of  iniquity.  We  fhould  have  as  little  to 
 fear  from  the  progrefs  and  threats  of  the  French, 
 as  Hezekiah  and  his  faithful  fubjedis  had  from 
 the  conquefts  of  Sennacherib  and  the  words  of 
 Rabfhakeh. 
 
 7.  Where  there  is  faith,  there  is  hope,  and 
 let  us  confider  it  as  one  of  the  duties  of  a  Chrif- 
 tian  fall 
 
 TO  HOPE. 
 
 And  from  whence  is  this  fo  likely  to  arife  as 
 from  tribulations  themfelves,  when  fandiified 
 and  improved  ?  **  knowing  this,  that  tribulation 
 **  worketh  patience,  and  patience  experience, 
 "  and  experience  hope."  Rom.  v.  3,  4.  In 
 all  the  fufferings  of  the  prefent  time,  the  apoftle 
 U  4  tells 
 
296  A    FAST   MONITOR. 
 
 tells  US,  Rom.  viii.  that  we  are  faved  by  hope, 
 which  is  not  feen  of  courfe,  but  waited  for  with 
 patience,  and  prayed  for  with  the  fpirit  helping 
 our  infirmities.  He  tells  us  in  another  place, 
 Heb.  vi.  that,  upon  the  waves  of  this  trouble- 
 fome  world,  we  have  this  hope  as  an  anchor  of 
 the  foul,  which  entereth  within  the  vail,  and 
 is  caft  upon  Jesus  as  our  forerunner  into  reft. 
 We  may,  we  mull;  forrow  as  Chriftians,  but 
 not  as  others  which  have  no  hope.  Let  us  then 
 fafl  and  pray,  not  in  the  gloom  of  defpair,  but 
 in  the  rays  of  this  heavenly  grace ;  let  us  re- 
 member that  our  God  is  the  God  of  hope,  who 
 caufeth  light  to  rife  up  in  darknefs,  and  putteth 
 his  bow  in  the  cloud.  Let  us  look  for  his 
 tokens  of  good  in  the  worfl  of  times,  and  may 
 He  fill  us  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing  ! 
 
 8.  Above  all  let  us  invite  into  ourfolemnalTem- 
 bly  the  great  grace  of  charity  ;  all  is  deformity 
 where  fhe  is  not,  and  heaven  itfelf  is  made 
 happy  by  her  charms.  **  Now  abide  faith, 
 **  hope,  charity,  thefe  three,  but  the  greateffc 
 **  of  tliefe  is  charity."  As  no  good  can  be 
 done  without  it,  the  Apoflle  exhorts  us  to  do  all 
 things  with  it,  and  therefore  I  obferve,  in  the 
 lafl  place,  that  it  is  our  duty  in  prayer  and 
 fading 
 
 TO  LOVE. 
 
 And   if  the  exercife  of   Chriftian  love  was 
 ever  more  needful  at   one  time  than   another, 
 
 furely 
 
A    FAST   MONITOR,  5*97 
 
 furely  it  miift  be  upon  the  prefent  occalion : 
 when  we  are  called  upon  to  unite  againft  the 
 common  enemy,  fin ;  and  to  contend  earneftly 
 for  the  common  falvation,  for  the  faith  once 
 delivered  to  the  faints.  Let  us  faft  therefore, 
 not  for  ftrife  or  debate,  and  let  us  pray  every 
 where,  lifting  up  holy  hands  without  wrath 
 or  doubting. — Here  furely  are  works  of  love, 
 in  which  all  Chriftians  fhould  join.  Where  are 
 they,  who  worfhip  God  in  the  fpirit,  and  re- 
 joice in  Christ  Jesus,  who  wifh  to  have  their 
 places  of  worfhip  converted  into  temples  of  rea- 
 fon  !  Where  are  they,  who  have  ever  called  a 
 fabbath  a  delight,  and  who  would  exchange  the 
 feventh  day,  which  the  Lord  hath  bleffed  and 
 fandiified,  for  the  unhallowed  decade  or  tenth 
 day  of  man*s  invention  ?  Where  are  they,  who 
 have  drank  the  old  wine  from  the  word  of  God, 
 and  can  ftraitway  defire  nev/  from  the  dregs  of 
 heathenifm  ?  Where  are  they,  who  have  traced 
 upon  our  mountains  the  beautiful  feet  of  them, 
 who  preach  the  Gofpel  of  peace,  and  would 
 wifh  to  trace  in  the  fame  country  the  feet  which 
 run  to  evil,  and  are  fwift  to  fhed  blood  ?  Can 
 we  be  enamoured  with  the  fubjed:,  however  we 
 mufl  admire  the  pidture,  fo  finely  drawn  by 
 the  pfalmift's  pen  ?  *'  O  God,  the  heathen  are 
 "  come  into  thine  inheritance  :  thy  holy  temple 
 **  have  they  defiled;  they  have  laid  Jerufalem 
 
 "on 
 
298  A   FAST   MONITOR. 
 
 **  on  heaps.  The  dead  bodies  of  thy  fervants* 
 **  have  they  given  to  be  meat  unto  the  fowls  of 
 **  the  heaven,  the  flefh  of  thy  faints  unto  the 
 **  beafts  of  the  earth.  Their  blood  have  they 
 **  fhed  like  water  round  about  Jerufalem,  and 
 *'  there  was  no  man  to  bury  them.  For  they 
 "  have  devoured  Jacob  and  laid  wafte  his 
 **  dwelling  place." 
 
 Who  is  there  that  can  dwell  with  delight  on 
 fuch  a  fcene  ?  Let  all,  who  dread  it,  unite  to 
 avert  it,  and  ufe  the  weapons  which  God  hath 
 put  into  their  hands.  **  O  remember  not  againft 
 **  us  former  iniquities :  let  thy  tender  mercies 
 **  fpeedily  prevent  us :  help  us,  O  God  of 
 **  our  falvation,  for  the  glory  of  thy  name :  and 
 **  deliver  us,  and  purge  away  our  fins  for  thy 
 **  name's  fake.  So  we  that  aye  thy  people  and 
 **  flieep  of  thy  pafture,  will  give  Thee  thanks 
 "  for  ever,  we  will  fhow  forth  thy  praife  to  all 
 "  generations."  Pfalm  Ixxix. — If  God  fo 
 loved  us,  as  to  give  his  Son  to  die  for  us,  his 
 word  to  call,  and  his  fpirit  to  quicken  us,  we 
 ought  alfo  to  love  one  another.  If  the  world 
 hate  us,  as  it  will  do,  if  we  live  godly  in 
 Christ  Jesus,  we  have  the  more  reafon  to  love 
 one  another.  As  difciples  of  Christ  under  the 
 renewed  influence  of  his  new  commandment, 
 let  us  flrivc  to  be  of  one  heart  and  of  one  foul — 
 let  us  fct  our  flioulders  to  the  work,  and  take 
 
 our 
 
A    FAST   MONITOR.  299 
 
 our  country  upon  them,  endeavouring  to  fup- 
 port  and  fave  it,  not  with  worldly  policy,  but 
 with  wifdom  and  ftrength  and  means  from 
 above:  let  us  call  for  them  with  one  mouth, 
 and  glorify  the  God  who  gives  them.  "  There 
 **  is  one  faith,  one  Lord,  one  fpirit,"  and 
 thefe  conftitute  a  body,  which,  in  all  times,  is 
 **  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  fun,  and  in 
 **  times  of  diftrefs  and  danger,  terrible  as  an 
 **  army  with  banners."     Canticles  vi.  lO. 
 
 My  Chriftian  brother,  think  on  thefe  things. 
 Are  they  not  the  things  of  God  ?  and  is  it  not 
 much  better  to  favour  of  them,  than  of  the 
 things  that  be  of  men  ?  Colledl  them  together 
 againft  the  approaching  faft,  and  try,  if  they 
 will  not  employ  thee  well  in  it,  and  afford  thee 
 fuch  an  anfwer  as  thou  fhouldfl  wifh  to  give  to 
 a  written  qucftion :  "  Wilt  thou  call  this  a 
 **  faft,  an  acceptable  day  to  the  Lord  ?'*  Ifa. 
 Iviii.  5. — If  thine  anfwer  to  this  queftion  be  an 
 anfwer  of  peace,  depend  upon  it,  that  the  pro- 
 mifed  bleftings  are  thine.  "  Then  fhall  thy 
 **  light  break  forth  as  the  morning,  and  thine 
 "  health  {hall  fpring  forth  fpeedily :  and  thy 
 **  righteoufnefs  fhall  go  before  thee ;  the  glory 
 **  of  the  Lord  fhall  bring  up  thy  rear.  Then 
 "  fhalt  thou  call,  and  the  Lord  fliall  anfwer  : 
 **  thou  fhalt  cry,  and  He  (hall  fay,  here  I  am." 
 Though  all  things  change,  the  Lord  changeth 
 
 not ; 
 
30Q  A   FAST   MONITOR. 
 
 not :  His  words  do  not  pafs  away,  nor  one 
 thing  fail  which  He  hath  fpoken,  whether  good 
 or  evil.  See  Jofhua  xxiii. — His  ways  of  pro- 
 ceeding are  clearly  revealed,  and  they  are  always 
 the  fame.  **  Them  that  honour  me  I  will 
 **  honour,  and  they  that  defpife  me  (hall  be 
 **  lightly  efteemed."  i  Sam.  ii.  30.  "  Right- 
 **  eoufnefs  exalteth  a  nation,  but  fin  is  a  re- 
 **  proach  to  any  people."  Prov.  xiv.  34. 
 **  At  what  inftant  I  fpeak  concerning  a  nation, 
 "  and  concerning  a  kingdom,  to  pluck  up  and 
 "  to  pull  down,  and  to  deftroy  it  j  if  that 
 **  nation  againll  whom  I  have  pronounced, 
 **  turn  from  their  evil^  I  will  repent  of  the 
 **  evil,  that  I  thought  to  do  unto  them."  Jer. 
 xviii.  7. 
 
 Thefe  are  God's  politicks,  and  they  (hould 
 be  ours.  A  black  cloud  hangs  over  our  heads, 
 exhaled  from  the  abominations  and  iniquities, 
 to  which  you  and  I  have  contributed  our  fhare ; 
 thefe  teftify  againft  us,  and  cry  aloud  to  heaven ; 
 let  our  prayers  cry  louder  than  our  fins  :  let  us 
 make  ufe  of  the  name  of  Jesus,  believing,  that 
 his  blood  fpeaketh  more  for  mercy,  than  all  the 
 fins,  for  which  it  was  fhed,  can  fpeak  for 
 judgment.  Let  us  hope,  that  there  may  be 
 fome  truth,  feme  knowledge  of  God  in  our 
 land,  and  let  us  rejoice  at  their  late  and  prefent 
 increafe  in  the  church   of  England :  may  the 
 
 Lord 
 
A    FAST   MONITOR.  30i 
 
 Lord  fend  forth  more  labourers  into  it,  and  add 
 unto  it  daily  fuch  as  (hall  be  faved  ! 
 
 Let  us  rejoice  alfo  in  the  converfion  of  every 
 iinner,  and  with  all  in  every  place,  who  love 
 the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  lincerity  :  grace, 
 mercy,  peace,  be  multiplied  unto  them  !  May 
 there  be  a  general  union  among  thofe^  who  arc 
 the  fait  of  the  earth,  and  the  light  of  the  world. 
 
 After  all,  the  kingdoms,  the  churches,  and 
 all  things  upon  earth  come  to  an  end  j  and  that 
 end  is  at  hand.  "  Watch  ye  therefore,  and 
 *•  pray  always,  that  ye  may  be  accounted  wor-f 
 "  thy  to  efcape  all  thefe  things,  that  are  coming 
 "  to  pafs,  and  to  ftand  before  the  Son  of  Man;" 
 who  Cometh  with  clouds,  and  every  eye  fhall  fee 
 Him.  Into  whatfoever  city  or  village  He 
 Cometh  upon  earth.  He  **  fets  a  mark  upon 
 *•  thofe  who  cry  and  iigh  for  the  abominations 
 **  which  are  done  in  the  midft  of  them,'*  and 
 who  fly  for  refuge  unto  Him,  as  unto  the  hope 
 fet  before  them.  This  Son  of  Man,  is  Jesus 
 Christ — God  manifeft  in  the  flefli — He  only 
 has  glory,  dominion,  and  a  kingdom,  which 
 fhall  be  for  ever — He  hath  all  power  in  heaven 
 and  in  earth  to  forgive  fin — He  is  fet  forth  a 
 propitiation  for  fin  through  faith  in  his  blood— 
 Wherefoever  this  faith  is,  there  is  the  blood  of 
 fprinkling,  and  there  the  deflroying  angel  hath 
 no  power.     Where  then  are  we  to  go  for  peace 
 
 of 
 
302  A    FAST   MONITOR, 
 
 of  confciencc,  for  purity  of  heart,  for  refor- 
 mation of  manners  ?  "  To  Him  fhall  men 
 **  come,  and  all  that  are  incenfed  againft  Him 
 "  (hall  be  afhamed."  Ifaiah  Ixiv.  34.  "  Let 
 "  us  receive  a  kingdom,  which  cannot  be  fha- 
 **  ken,  and  let  us  look  for  a  city  which  hath 
 **  foundatiofts,  whofe  builder  and  Maker  is 
 "  God." 
 
 To  the  God  who  hath  prepared  this  city  for 
 his  people,  and  is  not  alhamed  to  be  called  their 
 God  ;  to  the  God  of  Abraham  and  of  Ifaac  and 
 of  Jacob,  who  ruleth  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
 be  glory  for  ever.     Amen. 
 
ON    THE 
 
 LORD'S  PRATER. 
 
N.B.  This  Difcourfe  on  the  Lord's  Prayer 
 was  never  intended  for  pubHcation,  but 
 written  at  the  requeft  of  Lady  Catherine 
 Murray,  as  the  fubftance  of  what  Mr.  C. 
 had  dehvered  in  the  Chancel  of  St.  Gileses, 
 to  fome  of  his  parifhioners,  who,  with  her 
 Ladyfhip,  attended  him  there  every  week. 
 Some  abridgment  has  been  made  in  the  firft 
 part. 
 
THOUGHTS,  &c. 
 
 **o*&^^^^< 
 
 PRAYER  is  the  breath  of  fpiritual  Hfe :  it 
 defcends  from  God  by  His  fpirit,  and  af- 
 cends  to  Him  again  by  the  fame  fpirit.  It  is 
 ordained  by  Him  as  the  grand  mean  of  commu- 
 nication between  Himfelf  and  them  that  are 
 His :  it  comes,  as  all  knowledge  of  God  comes 
 to  us,  through  Christ  i  and  goes  through  Him 
 to  the  Father.  It  is  that  to  which  the  natural 
 man  is  an  entire  flranger ;  he  has  no  inclination 
 to  it  in  the  firft  place,  being  alienated  from  the 
 life  of  God,  and  dead  in  trefpalfes  and  fins  ; 
 he  has  no  ability  for  it  in  the  feccnd,  being 
 fhapen  in  iniquity  and  conceived  in  fin,  and  in- 
 capable, as  a  guilty  creature  under  a  fentence  of 
 death,  of  communion  with  his  Creator. 
 
 It  was  neceffary,  therefore,  that  the  one  Me- 
 diator between  God  and  men,  the  man  Christ 
 Jesus,  God  manifefl  in  the  flelh,  fhould  teach 
 
 X  his 
 
306       THOUGHTS    ON    THE    LOko's    PRAYER. 
 
 His  difciples  to  pray,  as  well  as  afTiire  them^ 
 that  they  have  a  reconciled  God,  who  heareth 
 prayer.  Accordingly  He  hath  left  upon  record 
 for  the  conftant  life  of  His  church  upon  earth, 
 a  form  of  found  words  called  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
 expreiling  all  the  promifes  of  the  giver,  and  all 
 the  Xvants  of  the  receiver  ;  all  that  concerns  the 
 glory  of  one,  and  the  good  of  the  other. 
 
 A  believer  with  the  words  of  this  prayer  in 
 his  mouth,  and  in  his  heart,  never  can  alk 
 amifs  :  a  fufficient  reafon  for  always  adopting 
 them  in  public  and  private  worfhip.  The  king 
 af  grace  hath  appointed  this,  in  the  firft  place, 
 as  a  ftanding  form  :  *'  when  ye  pray  fay  our 
 **  Father,*^  Luke  xi.  2;  and  in  the  fecond,  a& 
 a  ftanding  model  for  all  other  forms,  '*  after 
 *'  this  manner  pray  ye."    Matt.  vi.  9. 
 
 The  compofition  is  purely  divine;  no  other 
 pen  could  have  exprefled  fo  much  in  fo  little : 
 had  it  been  left  to  men  or  angels  to  defcribe  the 
 Father  and  the  children,  the  blelTer  and  the 
 blefted,  giving  and  receiving  bleffings  to  the 
 utmoft  bounds  of  the  everlafting  hills,  I  fup- 
 pofe,  that  even  the  world  itfelf  would  not  con- 
 tain the  books  that  fhould  be  written. 
 
 We  are  to  confider  then,  the  compofition  here 
 before  us,  as  a  form  and  model  of  prayer,  given 
 us  by  Him  who  was  in  the  bofom  of  the  Father, 
 and  hath  declared  Him ;   who  alfo  knew  what 
 
 was 
 
THOUGHTS    ON    THE    LORD*S    PRAYER.      jO^ 
 
 was  in  man ;  and  the  prayer  itfelf  may  be 
 divided  into  two  parts,  as  it  relates  to  God's 
 honour,  and  to  our  good.  The  petitions,  which 
 relate  more  immediately  to  God's  honour,  are 
 the  firfl,  **  Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven, 
 *'  hallowed  be  thy  name  j  thy  kingdom  come, 
 **  thy  will  be  done  in  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven." 
 
 Thefe  petitions  come  firft,  in  order  to  remind 
 us,  what  fhould  be  our  firll  objed:  in  prayer; 
 namely,  the  glory  of  Him  upon  whom  we  are 
 calling  : — that  felf  fhould  be  particularly  denied, 
 and  even  annihilated  before  a  throne  of  grace; 
 and  that  though  it  is  right  to  feel  and  to  exprefs 
 our  wants,  yet  that  the  relief  and  fupply  of  them 
 fhould  be  fought  only  as  fuch  relief  and  fupply 
 are  confiftent  with  his  will.  God  has  never 
 feparated  the  happinefs  of  His  creatures  from 
 His  own  good  plea fu re ;  and  if  He  ever  gives 
 them  their  delire  without  the  concurrence  of 
 Mis  own^  it  is  only  to  prove  to  them  the  folly  of 
 indulging  it  j  **  He  gave  them  their  requeft, 
 **  but  fent  leannefs  into  their  foul."  Pfalm  cvi. 
 1 5.  and  what  fad  aflbciates  are  a  full  flomach, 
 and  a  famifhed  foul  ! 
 
 We  are  to  learn,  therefore,  from  the  order  of 
 the  words,  what  is  the  true  order  of  things ;  and 
 what  is  that  fpirit  of  prayer,  which  breathes 
 in  the  hearts,  and  in  the  mouths  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  God.  It  afpires  after  God  himfelf ; 
 X  2  who 
 
308      THOUGHTS    ON   THE   LORD*S    PRAYER. 
 
 who  is  the  firft  and  the  laft,  and  befides  whom 
 there  is  none  other ;  it  feeks  firft  his  kingdom 
 and  righteoufnefs,  and  then  the  addition  of  all 
 other  needful  things  ;  and  that  we  may  be  en- 
 couraged to  exped:  the  fupply  of  all  our  needs 
 from  Him  to  whom  we  are  praying,  we  are 
 taught  to  addrefs  Him  as 
 
 **  Our  Father"* 
 
 It  has  been  faid  with  truth,  **  have  we  not  all 
 **  one  Father  ?  hath  not  one  God  created  us  ?" 
 and  God  faith  to  all  who  ufe  this  faying,  "  if  I 
 "  be  a  Father  where  is  mine  honour  ?"  Malachi 
 i.  6.  From  whom  do  I  receive  that  honour 
 which  is  due  to  the  name  of  Father,  in  whom 
 we  live,  move,  and  are,  and  who  giveth  to  all  life 
 and  breath  and  all  things  ?  He  receives  this 
 lionour  from  no  mere  child  of  Adam,  and  never 
 has,  fince  man  was  perfuaded  to  difobey  his 
 commandment,  and  fet  up  for  himfelf  under 
 the  temptation  **  ye  fhall  be  as  Gods."  All, 
 therefore,  that  we  can  fay  for  ourfelves  is, 
 "  Father,  we  have  finned  againft  heaven  and 
 **  before  thee,  and  are  no  more  worthy  to  be 
 **  called  thy  children.'* 
 
 **  But  God  hath  given  us  in  his  houfe  a 
 **  name  better  than  that  of  fons  and  daughters  ;** 
 the  Lord  and  builder  of  this  houfe  is  Christ 
 Jesus,  who  by  making  us  bone  of  his  bone 
 and  flefli  of  his  flefh,  gives  us  a  right  to  fay 
 
 **  our 
 
THOUGHTS   ON   THE    LORd's    PRAYER.     309 
 
 **  our  Father."  This  is  the  order  of  things  iri 
 grace,  God  is  firft  the  Father  of  Christ,  and 
 then  of  Chriftians — **  Go,  tell  my  brethren, 
 "  I  afcend  to  my  Father  and  your  Father,  unto 
 **  my  God  and  your  God.'*  John  xx.  iq.  Not 
 that  when  we  ufe  this  term  we  addrefs  only  one 
 perfon  in  Jehovah,  but  by  the  name  of  **  our 
 **  Father,"  we  call  upon  the  whole  trinity  in 
 unity,  the  undivided  and  eternal  Godhead,  all 
 the  fullnefs  of  which  dwells  bodily  in  Christ 
 Jesus,  and  becomes  propitious  and  acceflible  to 
 us  in  Him. 
 
 Such  is  the  God  whom  we  are  commanded 
 to  call  •*  our  Father  :"  and  what  is  there  which 
 may  not  be  expedted  from  fuch  a  Father !  we 
 are  commanded  to  fay  **  our  Father,"  becaufc 
 prayer  is  not  only  the  bufinefs  and  privilege  of 
 every  Chriftian  in  private,  but  it  is  a  focial 
 family  duty,  for  the  performance  of  which  we 
 meet  in  God's  houfe,  (as  it  is  written,  Mr  hoiife 
 fhall  be  called  a  houfe  of  prayer)  and  for  which 
 every  Chriftian  will  call  his  family  together 
 morning  and  evening :  he  may  ufe  the  expref- 
 fion  too  in  his  moft  retired  moments,  confidering 
 himfelf  as  one  of  a  large  body. 
 
 How  much  then  is  implied,  how  much  rer 
 
 ligion,  and  how  many  duties  inculcated  in  the 
 
 firft  words  of   the  prayer,   which  fpecify    the 
 
 objed  of  worlhip  ?    Calling   God  our  Father, 
 
 X  3  we 
 
310  THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORD  S  PRAYER. 
 
 we  expert  from  Him  every  parental  office,  and 
 we  acknowledge  his  right  to  expedt  from  us 
 every  filial  duty,  that  fear  which  he  promifes 
 to  put  in  our  hearts,  that  we  may  not  depart 
 from  Him.  "  If  ye  call  on  the  Father,  who 
 **  without  refpe(5t  of  perfons  judgeth  according 
 **  to  every  man's  work,  pafs  the  time  of  your 
 "  fojourning  here  in  fear."  i  Pet.  i.  17.  In 
 faying  "  our  Father,"  we  exprefs  our  obliga- 
 tion to  love  one  another,  upon  which  fuch  ftrefs 
 is  laid  in  the  fcriptures,  and  particularly  in  the 
 firft  general  epiftle  of  John.  **  Love  is  of 
 "  God,  and  he  that  loveth  not,  knoweth  not 
 **  God,  for  God  is  love ;  and  this  command- 
 *'  ment  have  we  from  Him,  that  he  who  loveth 
 **  God,  fhould  love  his  brother  alfo." 
 
 vVe  are  not  only  taught  whom  wc  are  to  wor- 
 fhip,  but  where  He  is  to  be  found ; 
 
 **  Who  art  in  heaven'' 
 There  is  the  material  heaven,  the  immenfe 
 aerial  fluid  expanded  around  and  above  us ;  there 
 is  alfo  the  heaven  the  peculiar  refidence  of  God, 
 called  by  the  Pfalmift  xx.  6.  the  holy  heavens, 
 the  heavens  of  holinefs  or  i'eparation ;  God*s 
 dwelling  place,  i  Kings  viii.  30,  39,  43,  49. 
 from  whence  Christ  defcended — where,  after 
 his  rcfurre(51:ion  and  afcenfion.  He  fat  dovvU  on 
 the  right  hand  of  the  majefty  on  high — where 
 He  appeareth  in  the  prefence  of  God  for  us — 
 
 and 
 
THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORD  S  PRAYER.   Jl  t 
 
 and  where  He  brings  all  His  followers.  Here 
 God  is ;  here  we  are  to  feek  and  find  Him ; 
 and  here  we  are  to  live  with  Him  for  evermore. 
 Who  art^  not  who  waft,  or  njcilt  be,  though 
 He  certainly  was  and  is  to  come;  but  His 
 name  and  His  memorial  to  all  generations  is, 
 I  AM — i.e.  eternally  exifting,  and  eternally  prefent 
 with  them  that  know  Him.  The  fpirit  of  prayer, 
 which  breathes  in  the  words  before  us,  how 
 delightfully  is  it  defcribed,  Ifaiah  Iviii.  9. 
 **  Then  fhalt  thou  call,  and  the  Lord  fhall 
 "  anfwer ;  thou  fhalt  cry,  and  He  fhall  fay, 
 **  here  I  am  !" 
 
 Having  afcertained  the  true  objed:  of  wor- 
 fhip,  that  He  is  our  Lord  God,  our  heavenly 
 Father,  the  giver  of  all  goodnefs,  we  mufl 
 furely  wim,  that  we  may  worfhip,  ferve,  and 
 obey  Him  as  we  ought  to  do  ;  and  how  finely 
 are  thefe  wilhes  exprefTed  in  the  Lord^s  Prayer  ? 
 **  Hallowed  be  thy  name — thy  kingdom  come 
 *'  — thy  will  be  done  in  earth  as  it  is  in 
 *'  heaven.'* 
 
 **  Hallo'Vi'ed  he  thy  Name'* 
 A  name  is  dcfigncd  to  cxprefs  the  nature  of 
 the  thing  or  pcrfon  to  which  it  is  given ;  God 
 aifumes  names  in  compaflion  to  our  infirmities, 
 to  convey  to  us,  as  far  as  words  can,  ideas  of 
 His  being  and  perfcdions — His  relations  to- 
 wards us  as  creatures  and  chriflians — and  His 
 X  4  will 
 
313     THOUGHTS    ON    THE    LORD*S    PRAYER. 
 
 will  concerning  us.  As  the  fullnefs  of  the 
 Godhead  dwelt  bodily  in  Christ  Jesus,  fo  one 
 of  His  titles  is  the  name  of  the  Lord,  or  the 
 name  Jehovah.  What  a  reproach  to  us  is  it 
 that  there  fhould  be  a  neceffity  for  the  third 
 commandment  !  What  a  fin  is  the  ufe  of  this 
 Name  as  an  expletive,  an  affirmative,  an  excla- 
 mation in  common  difcourfe,  without  fo  much 
 as  a  thought  of  Him  that  bears  it !  And  how 
 much  more  finful  is  it  to  curfe  and  to  fwear  ! 
 There  feems  to  be  no  temptation  to  this  fpecies 
 of  iniquity,  but  what  arifes  from  an  innate  for- 
 getfulnefs  and  contempt  of  God.  This  peti- 
 tion not  only  guards  againfl  this  wickednefs, 
 but  prays  for  the  contrary,  that  God's  name 
 may  be  efleemed  or  reverenced,  as  holy  and 
 facred,  as  infinitely  fpparated  from  and  fuperior 
 to  all  created  beings.  *'  Sanctify  the  Lord  of 
 **  hofts  himfelf,  and  let  Him  be  your  fear, 
 **  and  let  Him  be  your  dread,  and  He  fhall  be 
 *'  for  a'fandluary."  Ifaiah  viii.  13.  And  the 
 promife  of  the  Lord,  who  redeemed  Abraham, 
 concerning  the  houfe  of  Jacob  is,  that,  "  when 
 **  Jacob  feeth  his  children  the  work  of  my 
 **  hands  in  the  midft  of  him,  they  fhall  fane- 
 **  tify  my  Name,  and  fand:ify  the  Holy  One 
 **  of  Jacob,  and  fhall  fear  the  God  of  Ifrael." 
 Iftiah  xxix.  23.    And  the  command  to  fuffering 
 
 Chrif- 
 
THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORD*S  PRAYER.   313 
 
 Chriftians  is — '*  Sancflify  the    Lord   God  in 
 "  your  hearts."     i  Pet.  iii.  15. 
 
 **  Thy  kingdom  come** 
 
 God's  kingdom  is  where  He  reigns  ;  it  ought 
 to  be  upon  earth,  but  it  is  not. — Christ  came 
 to  preach  and  to  eftabhfh  it,  and  does  do  it  by 
 His  gofpel,  and  by  His  fpirit,  in  the  hearts  and 
 lives  of  His  people;  **  it  cometh  not  with  ob- 
 **  fervation  ;  it  is  not  lo  here,  and  lo  there; 
 **  but  behold  it  is  within  you." — It  is  **  not  in 
 **  word  but  in  power  :"  *'  not  meat  and  drink, 
 •*  but  righteoufnefs,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
 **  Holy  Ghoft."  In  this  petition  therefore  we 
 pray,  that  Jehovah  may  be  our  king — that  the 
 gofpel  of  His  dear  Son  may  fpread — that  the 
 children  of  men  may  be  tranflated  out  of  the 
 power  of  darknefs  into  His  kingdom — that  the 
 number  of  His  eled:  may  be  accomplifhed,  and 
 that  the  day  may  be  haflened  in  which  his  glo- 
 rious and  everlafting  kingdom  fhall  appear  and 
 fubliflin  it*s  proper  perfed:ion. 
 
 **  Thy  will  be  done** 
 
 This  muft  be  the  cafe  in  His  kingdom ;  He 
 is  a  Sovereign,  and  reigns  alone,  and  all  things 
 that  are  done  in  the  church  are  done  accordingr 
 
 o 
 
 to  the  good  pleafure  of  His  will.     Ephef.  i. 
 *'  In  earthy  as  it  is  in  heaven'* 
 
 It 
 
314  THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORD's  PRAYER, 
 
 It  is  this  which  turns  earth  into  heaven ; 
 producing  perfed;  peace  and  harmony,  where 
 no  will  prevails  but  that  of  Him,  who  is  the 
 blefled  and  only  Potentate.  This  is  a  vaft  and 
 comprehenfive  petition ;  and  when  put  forth  in 
 fimplicity  and  godly  fincerity,  it  will  be  anfwered 
 with  that  peace  which  pafTeth  all  underftanding, 
 and  that  joy  which  no  man  taketh  from  us.  It 
 not  only  fortifies  us  againfl  trials  and  tribula- 
 tions, but  prepares  us  to  meet  and  receive  them 
 with  alacrity  and  thankfulnefs.  For  feeing  the 
 will  of  God  in  all  things,  and  knowing  that 
 that  will  is  our  fandiification  and  glory,  how 
 ihould  we  not  rejoice  in  all  difpenfations,  which, 
 however  various  in  themfelves,  look  all  the 
 fame  way,  and  are  all  dired:ed  to  the  fame 
 gracious  and  glorious  end  !  Whereas  were  we 
 to  have  our  own  will  and  not  God's,  we  might 
 have  things,  which  for  the  prcfent  feem  joyous, 
 but  the  end  would  be  a  day  of  grief,  and  of 
 dcfperate  for  row. 
 
 There  is  a  fine  comment  upon  this  petition 
 in  the  fourth  chapter  of  the  Epiftle  to  the  Co- 
 loflians  and  the  twelfth  verfe,  where  the  apoftle 
 is  fpeaking  of  Epaphras,  one  of  his  fellow 
 w^orkers  unto  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  re- 
 prefents  him  as  "  labouring  fervently  for  them 
 **  in  his  prayers,  that  they  may  fland  pcrfed: 
 ••  and  complete  in  all  the  will  of  God." 
 
 Being 
 
THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORDS  PRAYER.   315 
 
 Being  thus  filled  with  the  knowledge  of 
 GoD*s  will,  we  are  in  a  proper  ftate  of  mind 
 to  afk  the  relief  and  fupply  of  our  own  necef- 
 fities,  the  petitions  refped:ing  which  come  next 
 in  order. 
 
 *  *  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread" 
 Man  is  compofed  of  foul  and  body,  of  the 
 breath  of  God  and  the  duft  of  the  earth,  and 
 this  prayer  is  fuited  to  his  condition.  Bread  is 
 the  ftafFof  life  :  the  poor  know  too  much,  and 
 the  rich  too  little,  that  it  is  alone  fufficient  to 
 fupport  the  animal  frame ;  it  may  therefore  be 
 ufed  here  for  food  in  general ;  **  feed  me  with 
 **  food  convenient  for  me."  The  fpirit  of  piety 
 breathes  in  this  prayer,  teaching  us  to  alk  for 
 whatever  we  have  :  it  is  too  true  that  they  often 
 have  the  moft  of  this  world's  goods,  who  nei- 
 ther pray  nor  praife  for  any  of  them ;  but 
 though  their  hearts  are  fet  upon  the  creature, 
 they  know  not  their  ufe  nor  value,  for  *'  they 
 **  are  fancflified  by  the  word  of  God  and  by 
 *'  prayer.*'  Bread  is  fweet  to  a  man,  which  is 
 received  as  the  gift  of  God,  and  comes  to  him 
 as  the  anfwer  to  prayer.  The  little  therefore 
 that  the  righteous  hath,  is  better  than  great 
 riches  of  the  ungodly  ;  the  blefling  of  the  Lord 
 it  maketh  rich,  and  He  addeth  no  forrow  with 
 it ;  it  turns  bread  into  the  mofl  favoury  meat, 
 and  water  into  the  beft  of  wine. 
 
 The 
 
3l6  THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORD*S  PRAYER. 
 
 The  fpirit,  which  teaches  us  to  afk  that  we 
 may  have,  teaches  us  alfo  to  afk  every  thing  as 
 the  gift  of  God — '*  give  us  this  day" — There 
 is  but  one  Jehovah,  who  giveth  to  all  life  and 
 breath  and  all  things,  **  feed  to  the  fowcr  and 
 **  bread  to  the  eater,"  the  blade,  the  ear,  and 
 the  full  corn  in  the' ear,  but  the  gift  of  God  is 
 perfectly  confident  with  the  labour  of  the  re- 
 ceiver j  it  neither  excludes  nor  excufes,  but 
 implies  and  enjoins  it.  Thefe  two  things,  the 
 gift  of  God,  and  the  labour  of  man,  are 
 joined  together  in  a  paffage,  which  refpeds  not 
 merely  the  bread  that  is  to  fupport  our  mortal 
 frame,  but  the  living  bread  which  came  down 
 from  heaven,  that  a  man  may  eat  thereof  and 
 not  die.  "  Labour  not  for  the  meat  that 
 **  perifheth,  but  for  that  which  endureth  to 
 **  everlafting  life,  which  the  Son  of  Man  fhall 
 .**  give  you."  We  want  this  bread  as  Chrijlians^ 
 no  lefs  than  we  do  the  other  as  Creatures^  and 
 the  appointed  method  to  obtain  and  enjoy  both 
 is  the  fame — **  afk  and  ye  fhall  have  them." 
 
 We  live  then  as  dependant  creatures,  not  by 
 bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth 
 out  of  the  mouth  of  God  ;  and  as  f  uch  fhould 
 have  a  conflant  imprefTion  of  His  goodnefs  upon 
 our  fouls.  But  it  is  the  fpirit  of  moderation  as 
 well  as  of  piety,  which  breathes  in  the  peti- 
 tion before  us ;  godlinefs  and  fobriety  are  infe- 
 
 parable  j 
 
THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORD*S  PRAYER.  317 
 
 parable  J  we   are  taught  to  fay  "give  us  this 
 "  day  our  daily  bread." 
 
 There  is  an  apparent  tautology  in  thefe  words, 
 but  a  real  emphalis,  fo  that  it  is   impoffible  to 
 mifs  or  miftake  them  j    *'  give  us  for  the  day 
 *'  our  bread  for  our  prefent   fubfiftence.'*     We 
 are  not  fent  to  the  throne  of  grace  upon  a  fooPs 
 errand,  or  after  a  fooFs  portion;  '*  foul,  thou  haft 
 **  many  goods  laid  up  for  many  years,"  &c. : 
 but  we  are  taught  as   creatures  of  the  day  to 
 live  for  the  prefent,  and  to  truft  for  the  morrow. 
 We  are  taught  to  pray  for  our  daily  bread,   for 
 that  which   is  particularly  fuited,  adapted,  and 
 appropriated  to  us,  which  belongs  to  our  ftation 
 and  calling,  which  is  the  recompence  of  our 
 own  induftry,   and  not  the  portion  of  another. 
 The  fame  ideas  will  hold  good  refpecfling  the 
 living  bread   which   came  down  from  heaven, 
 of  which  we  are  to  take  and  live /or  ever  ;  we 
 want  a  daily  portion  of  this    for   every  day. 
 The  being  nordo  with  Christ,  is  the  beft  reafon 
 of  hope  that  we  Ihall  be  with  Him  hereafter — 
 to  be  receiving  out  of  His  fullnefs,  to  be  enjoy- 
 ing his  prefence,  to  be  acquainted  with  Him  as 
 the  great  I   am,  to  be  telling  of  his  falvation 
 from  day  to  day,  and  to  be  proving  the  fuffici- 
 ency  of  His  grace  to  fupply  every  want,  this  it 
 is  to  be  a  Chriftian,  and  this   is  implied  and 
 
 exprefled 
 
31 8      THOUGHTS    ON    THE    LORD's    PRAYER. 
 
 exprefifed  in  the  petition,  "  give  us  this  day  our 
 "  daily  bread." 
 
 Such  hving  for  the  moment  by  the  fpirit  of 
 grace  and  fupplication  in  dependence  upon  God, 
 and  in  communion  with  Him,  has  no  favour  of 
 that  heathen  maxim,  '*  let  us  eat  and  drink,  for 
 **  tomorrow  we  die,"  nor  of  that  unprincipled 
 profligacy,  which  excludes  all  Providence  and 
 prudence  in  our  temporal  concerns  :  much  lefs 
 does  it  favour  of  a  want  of  forefight  for  eternity, 
 which  differs  from  time  no  lefs  in  point  of  cer- 
 tainty, than  it  does  in  point  of  duration.  A 
 Chrifliian  knows  and  fees  that  he  has  a  certain 
 ftation  to  fill,  and  certain  duties  to  perform  in 
 this  life,  but  he  confeffes  that  he  is  a  ftranger 
 and  pilgrim  upon  earth,  and  defires  a  better 
 country,  that  is  a  heavenly ;  believing  that 
 God  hath  formed  him  for  Himfelf,  and  that  he 
 fhall  (hew  forth  the  praifes  of  the  Lord  who 
 formed  him,  he  looks  for  prefervation  and  fup- 
 port  till  the  great  ends  of  his  prefent  exiftence 
 are  accompliflied,  and  in  this  fpirit  he  prays, 
 '*  give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread." 
 
 *'  Forgive  us  our  trefpajjes^^ 
 We  have  another  need  as  conftant,  and  as 
 preffing  as  that  of  our  daily  bread,  viz.  the 
 forgivenefs  of  fin  ;  for  who  is  there  that  liveth 
 and  finneth  not  ?  And  "  who  is  a  God  like 
 **  unto  Thee,"  faith  the  prophet,  *'  that  par- 
 
 **  doneth 
 
THOUGHTS    ON    THE    LORD's    PRAYER.      319 
 
 "  doneth  iniquity  tranfgreirion  and  fin!"  We 
 may  weary  God  with  our  iniquities,  but  we 
 cannot  with  alking  Him  to  forget  and  forgive 
 them  :  it  is  only  afking  Him  for  the  fulfilment 
 of  His  own  promifes.  *'  I  will  blot  out  as  a 
 **  cloud  thy  tranfgreflions,  and  as  a  thick  cloud 
 **  thy  fins,  for  mine  own  fake,  for  mine  own 
 **  fake  will  I  do  it."  Ifaiah  xliii.  24,  25. 
 xliv.  22.  He  is  God  manifeft  in  the  flefh, 
 that  He  may  fhew  this  mercy  in  a  juft  and 
 honourable  way,  and  **  through  this  man,  (viz. 
 **  the  God-man,)  is  preached  unto  you  the 
 **  forgivenefs  of  fins." 
 
 While  we  alk  God  for  forgivenefs,  we  are 
 reminded  of  the  temper  and  fpirit  which  become 
 thofe  who  have  received  and  are  daily  receiving 
 this  mercy. 
 
 **  As  we  forgive  our  debtors'^ 
 Our  Lord  lays  great  ftrefs  upon  thefe  words, 
 they  are  the  only  words  in  the  prayer  upon 
 which  He  comments.  "  For  if  ye  forgive 
 **  men  their  trefpaifes,  your  heavenly  Father  will 
 **  alfo  forgive  you ;  but  if  ye  forgive  not  men 
 **  their  trefpafiTcs,  neither  will  your  Father 
 "  forgive  your  trefpaifes."  I  dare  not  fay  that 
 this  is  the  meritorious  condition  upon  which  we 
 are  to  be  forgiven,  becaufe  it  is  written,  that, 
 **  we  have  redemption  through  the  blood  of 
 **  Christ,    even  the  forgivenefs    of   fins  ac- 
 
 *'  cording 
 
3^0     THOUGHTS    ON   THE    LORD's    PRAYER; 
 
 **  cording  to  the  riches  of  His  grace;"  but  I 
 dare  aflert  that  it  is  the  certain  confequence  and 
 evidence  of  our  being  forgiven,  becaufe  the 
 love  of  God  fhed  abroad  in  the  heart  by  the 
 Holy  Ghoft  produces  its  own  nature,  the  image 
 and  Hkenefs  of  God,  in  which  every  Chriftian 
 is  renewed  day  by  day. 
 
 We  are  taught  to  look  upon  fin  as  a  trefpafs 
 and  a  debt : — as  a  trefpafs,  it  is  going  beyond  the 
 bounds  which  our  Maker  has  been  pleafed  to 
 prefcribe  for  us. — *'  Ye  fhall  be  as  Gods."  Here 
 is  the  origin  of  the  boafted  Rights  of  Man ; 
 fuch  lawlefs  claims  under  fpecious  titles,  muft 
 ever  be  the  caufes  of  confulion  and  every  evil 
 "Work  ;  when  man  has  once  exceeded  the  limits 
 which  the  only  wife  God  has  been  pleafed  to 
 prefcribe  for  him,  he  becomes  a  wanderer,  a 
 vagabond,  a  prey  to  fin  and  folly,  and  he  mufl 
 go  aflray  for  ever,  except  the  fame  God  whofe 
 laws  he  has  tranfgreffed,  is  pleafed  to  recall  and 
 reclaim  him.  As  a  debt,  fin  makes  us  liable  to 
 be  feized — to  be  committed  to  prifon,  and  there 
 lie  infolvent  under  an  infinite  charge.  Except 
 God  himfelf  difcharge  it,  what  muft  become  of 
 us  ?  *'  the  redemption  of  their  fouls  is  precious, 
 •**  and  it  ceafeth  for  ever."  Confider  fin  in 
 this  point  of  view,  and  what  an  unfpeakable 
 mercy  is  the  forgivenefs  of  it ! 
 
 Being 
 
THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORd's  PRAYER.   321 
 
 Being  finners  we  are  expofed  to  temptation, 
 and  are  therefore  taught  to  pray 
 
 **  Lead  us  not  into  temptation.^* 
 
 Not  that  any  man  **  when  he  is  tempted  is 
 *'  tempted  of  God,  for  God  cannot  be  tempted 
 **  with  evil,  neither  tempteth  He  any  man;  but 
 **  every  man  is  tempted,  when  he  is  drawn 
 "  away  of  his  own  luft  and  enticed  /*  but  this 
 world  is  a  world  of  trial,  and  where  God  giveth 
 faith  He  always  appoints  it's  trials,  that  it  may 
 fland,  and  come  forth  as  gold,  and  **  be  found 
 "  unto  praife  and  honour  and  glory  at  the  ap- 
 *•  pearing  of  Jesus  Christ."  We  pray  there- 
 fore that  God  would  not  withold  his  grace,  or 
 withdraw  His  fpirit  from  us — that  He  would 
 with  every  temptation  make  a  way  to  efcape, 
 that  we  may  be  able  to  bear  it — and  that  He 
 would  keep  us  from  ways  which  are  full  of 
 fnares  and  traps,  in  which  we  fhould  be  tempted 
 with  evil  and  drawn  into  fin.  And  furely  the 
 duty  enforced  upon  us  in  this  petition  is  that  we 
 do  not  run  heedlefsly,  wilfully  or  wantonly, 
 where  we  have  to  expert  no  inducements  to  good, 
 but  temptations  to  evil. 
 
 We  pray  God,  in  the  next  place,  that  He 
 would 
 
 **   Deliver  us  from  evilj** 
 
 Y  i.  e. 
 
322   THOUGHTS  ON  THE  LORD  S  PRAYER. 
 
 i.  e.  from  the  evil — the  evil  thi?ig^  or  evil  one, — 
 Apparent  evils  are  not  real  ones  ;  they  are  often 
 quite  contrary  to  what  fight  and  fenfe  judge 
 them  to  be ;  the  one  evil  is  fin  ;  and  God  is  the 
 deliverer  from  it.  '*  I  write  unto  you  young 
 "  men  becaufe  ye  have  overcome  the  wicked 
 "  one.'''  I  John  ii.  13.  **  We  know  that 
 *'  whofoever  is  born  of  God  finneth  not,  and 
 "  that  the  wicked  one  toucheth  him  not."  To 
 be  delivered  from  this,  is  to  be  delivered  from 
 all  evil.  For  furely  it  may  be  fafely  affirmed  ot 
 thofe,  whom  God  has  juflified  freely  by  His 
 grace,  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ 
 Jesus^ — whom  He  hath  taken  out  of  the  hands 
 of  fin  and  fatan,  by  fending  His  Son  to  be  their 
 deliverer,  who  was  called  Jesus,  becaufe  He 
 was  to  fave  his  people  from  their  fins — furely 
 it  may  be  faid  of  fuch,  that  **  no  evil  fhall 
 **  happen  unto  them,  nor  any  plague  come 
 **  nigh  their  dwelling  ;"  and  that  the  God, 
 who  giveth  them  grace  and  glory,  will  with- 
 hold from  them  no  manner  of  thing  that  is 
 good.  The  promife  is,  that  all  things  fhall  work 
 together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  and 
 whatever  be  their  prefent  afped:,  they  are  pre- 
 fented  to  the  eye  of  faith  as  free  from  curfe,  and 
 full  of  blefTmg. 
 
 It  is   the  excellency  of   faith   to    purify  the 
 heart — to  fimplify  us  fo  as  to  reduce  our  mife- 
 
 ries 
 
THOUGHTS    ON   THE    LORD  S    PRAYER.     2'^3 
 
 ries  to  oiie,  and  to  feek  real  happinefs  in  the  re- 
 moval of  this  one  caul'e  of  contention — ^this  one 
 bar  of  feparation  between  God  and  us ;  and  of 
 courfe  the  one  origin  and  fource  of  all  evil.  So 
 that  fin  being  taken  away  by  the  mediation  of 
 Jesus,  life  is  reftored  to  us  more  abundantly 
 than  we  had  it  in  Adam,  and  God's  favour 
 and  loving  kindnefs,  which  are  better  than  life 
 itfelf,  having  nothing  to  oppofe  them  on  the 
 one  hand,  and  every  thing  to  promote  them  on 
 the  other,  are  poured  in  full  meafure,  prelTed 
 down,  and  running  over  into  our  bofom. 
 
 Surely  none  can  ufe  this  petition,  but  they 
 who  acknowledge  fin  to  be  the  chief  evil, 
 and  falvation  the  chief  good  of  man :  none 
 but  they,  who,  not  prefuming  to  judge, 
 think,  or  fet  up  for  themfelves  according 
 to  the  devil's  advice,  '*  ye  fhall  be  as  Gods 
 "  knowing  both  good  and  evil;'*  but  who 
 knowing  that  they  are  men,  caft  themfelves 
 upon  the  care  of  their  Maker,  Prefer ver,  and 
 Judge,  and  fay,  do  Thou  who  alone  knowell 
 what  is  good  for  us,  and  what  is  evil,  lead  us 
 to  the  one,  and  remove  us  from  the  other. 
 
 The    prayer    concludes    with     afcribing    to 
 God 
 
 "  T/jc  kingdom,  /lie  power,  and  the  glory '^ 
 
 That  is,  carrying  us  back  to  the  point  from 
 
 whence  we  fet    out,  and    uniting  praife  with 
 
 prayer.      They    are    infeparable    companions  ; 
 
 Y  2  the 
 
324     THOUGHTS    ON    THE    LORD*S    PRAYER. 
 
 the  one  has  been  called  the  echo  of  the  other, 
 I  fliould  rather  have  faid,  that  they  are  both 
 equal  realities,  tiowing  into  the  hearts,  lips, 
 and  lives  of  the  faithful,  from  one  boundlefs, 
 fathomlefs,  and  exhauftlefs  ocean,  and  return- 
 ing to  the  fource  from  whence  they  fprang. 
 We  acknowledge  that  God's  is  the  kingdom  in 
 which  alone  there  is  ftability  and  happinefs  ; 
 that  God's  is  the, power,  by  which  alone  that 
 kingdom  is  eftabliflied  and  fupported ;  and  we 
 eftablifhed  and  fupported  in  it ;  and  that  in  that 
 kingdom,  and  by  this  power  only,  we  expedl 
 an  anfwer  to  this  comprehenfive  prayer.  Thus 
 while  we  have  the  good.  He  has  the  glory; 
 and  while  we  remain  in  the  humble  and  grate- 
 ful pofture  of  receivers.  He  is  alone  exalted,  and 
 for  ever  diftinguiflied  as  the  Giver  of  all  that 
 we  richly  enjoy. 
 
 Thus  it  is,  laftly,  that  all  our  requefts  move 
 in  a  circular  line,  which  God  himfelf  hath 
 drawn,  beginning  and  ending  in  the  fame  point. 
 His  own  glory.  The  exercife  of  prayer,  faith 
 Archbifliop  Leigh  ton,  is  a  heavenly  motion, 
 circular  as  that  of  the  heavens,  in  the  line  which 
 God  hath  appointed  for  them ;  this  line  is  to 
 fet  bounds  to  our  wants,  which  therefore  form 
 the  middle  part  of  the  prayer,  and  of  thefe  re- 
 quefts,  which  refped:  our  own  neceflities,  one 
 only  can  be  applied  to  thofe  of  time  and  mor- 
 
 tahty ; 
 
THOUGHTS    ON    THE    LORD  S    PRAYER.      32^ 
 
 tality  ;  teaching  us  that  few,  very  few  words 
 are'  enough  for  thefe,  while  more,  many  more, 
 are  due  to  the  fpiritual  concerns  of  our  immortal 
 fouls.  Indeed  of  all  other  concerns,  **  vanity 
 **  of  vanities,  faith  the  preacher,  all  is  vanity  ;" 
 but  to  fear  God  and  to  keep  His  commandments, 
 
 is  THE  WHOLP  OF  MAN. 
 
 Ame?jy  fo  be  it. 
 
 May  the  Lady  by  whofe  defire  thefe  pages 
 were  written,  fet  her  feal  to  every  mercy  and 
 truth  contained  in  the  Lord's  Prayer  !  Amen. 
 
 Y  3  LETTERS 
 
LETTERS 
 
 FROM    THE 
 
 LATE  M^'  CADOGAN 
 
 TO 
 
 SEVERAL   OF  HIS   FRIENDS. 
 
The  Editor  takes  this  opportunity  of  ex- 
 prc^fiing  his  obHgations  to  thofe  who  have 
 favoured  him  with  the  following  Letters. 
 If  fome  equally  excellent  have  been  omitted, 
 it  was  done  to  avoid  repetition  in  fentiment, 
 and  an  inconvenient  fize  in  the  Volume.  Such 
 as  are  inferted,  it  was  thought  better  to 
 prefent,  as  they  were  put  down  at  the 
 moment,  and  from  the  heart,  than  to  flatten 
 them  by  an  attempt  at  further  correction. 
 Such  neceflary  abridgments  and  corrections, 
 however,  as  every  private  correfpondence 
 ftiould  undergo  before  it  is  prefented  to  the 
 public  eye,  have  been  made.    . 
 
LETTERS. 
 
 TO  THE  REV.  JOHN  HAL  WARD. 
 
 Readings  OSiober  1 6,  1780. 
 DEAR    SIR, 
 
 I  Was  favoured  with  your*s  of  the  ninth,  and 
 I  hope  need  not  tell  you  how  happy  it  made 
 me.  As  to  your  going  into  Suffolk  for  the 
 Eafter  vifitation,  fhould  it  be  even  in  May, 
 there  will  be  no  difficulty  about  thaty  as  I  have 
 one  or  two  years  begun  my  fummer  refidence  at 
 Reading,  in  May,  and  never  deferred  it  later 
 than  the  firft  funday  in  June ;  but  this  next 
 year,  if  it  pleafe  God  that  we  live  fo  long,  it 
 fhall  be  fooner  or  later,  entirely  to  accommodate 
 you. 
 
 As  I  know  you  to  be  much  intcrefted  in  our 
 affairs  at  Reading,  I  cannot  but  inform  you  of 
 the  divine  blelling  which  evidently  feems  to 
 attend  our  new  regulations  here.     Sinful,  help- 
 
 lefs, 
 
^30  LETTERS. 
 
 lefs,  and  vile  as  I  am,  I  have  proved  the  truth 
 of  our  Mailer's  faying,  my  grace  is  fufficient  for 
 thee^  for  myjlrength  is  made  perfeB  in  wcaknefs, 
 I  have  been  enabled  to  go  through  the  whole 
 duty  thefe  laft  two  fundays  without  any  incon- 
 venience, and  have  preached  to  very  numerous 
 congregations  indeed.  Mr.  Newton  was  fo 
 good  as  to  preach  for  me  laft  Thurfday  evening, 
 by  which  fervice,  (it  being  his  peculiar  talent 
 to  fpeak  a  word  in  feafo?i)  he  not  only  relieved 
 me,  but  greatly  ftrengthened  my  hands. 
 
 I  feel  myfelf  much  indebted  to  Mr.  Gurdon, 
 for  his  concurrence,  in  order  to  gratify  my 
 wifhes,  with  regard  to  your  coming  herej  fo 
 much  fo,  that  I  mean  to  write  to  him  to  thank 
 him  for  it.  I  (hall  dire(5t  to  him,  at  Afon  Hali^ 
 near  Sudbury^  which  I  fuppofe  will  be  a  direc- 
 tion that  will  find  him ;  in  cafe  it  fhould  not, 
 I  (hould  be  obliged  to  you  the  next  time  you 
 write,  to  communicate  to  him  my  affecftionate 
 refpcdls,  and  alfo  my  intentions. 
 
 There  is  one  fubjedt  we  did  not  converfc 
 upon,  which  is  ufually  the  prime  confideration, 
 though  I  hope  not  fo  with  us  ;  and  that  is  your 
 ftipend :  I  had  much  rather  you  would  fix  it 
 than  myfelf;  perhaps  you  will  expecfl  more  from 
 me  than  you  received  from  Mr,  Talbot,  and  if 
 you  do,  I  hope  you  will  frankly  tell  me ;  as  1 
 (hall  very  readily  and  joyfully  give  it,    , 
 
 And 
 
LETTERS.  331 
 
 And  now  Sir,  let  me  commend  myfclf  to  your 
 prayers,  and  affure  you  of  mine  in  your  behalf, 
 that  God  may  blefs  you  with  diWfpiritual  blej- 
 Jings^  £v  BTTHpocvioig,  in  Chriji ;  put  you  in 
 pofTeffion  of  bis  kingdom  and  righteoiifnefs^  that 
 immeafurable  body  and  bulk  of  blcflednefs  (as 
 Dr.  Shaw  calls  it)  to  which  all  the  comforts  of 
 this  life,  that  are  added  of  courfe,  are  but  as 
 an  appendix  to  a  volume. 
 Believe  me,  dear  Sir, 
 
 With  great  truth  and  regard. 
 
 Your  affedionate  friend,  brother, 
 and  fervant,  in  Christ  Jesus, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Chelfeay  J<inuary  20,  1782. 
 MY    DEAR    SIR, 
 
 NOT  being  at  Reading,  when  you  wrote  me 
 your  laft  obliging  letter,  I  did  not  receive  it  till 
 a  few  pofts  ago ;  and  I  have  had  fo  much,  and 
 fo  unpleafant  bufinefs  upon  my  hands,  that  I 
 had  not  time  to  anfwer  it  till  now.  I  return 
 you  many  thanks  for  your  kind  wifhes  and 
 prayers,  which  are  indeed  particularly  needful 
 for  me  at  this  time.     Our  God  indeed  has  blell 
 
 me 
 
22'2>  LETTERS. 
 
 me  with  an  help  meet  for  me,   in  one  of  the 
 bell:  wives  in  the  world,  but  left  I  fhould  be 
 too  happy,  and  forgetful  that  I  am  a  ftranger 
 here,  and  a  fojourner  as  all  our  fathers   were, 
 He  has  fuffered  me  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  a 
 man,  who  caufes  me  trouble  night  and   day  : 
 a  man  whom   I  once  efteemed  as   my  bofom 
 friend,  and  that  in  the  beft  of  bonds.     He  has 
 deferted  the  caufe  in  which  we  embarked  to- 
 gether— fet  all  my  friends  and  relations  againft 
 me,  by  the  moft  cruel  mifreprefentations  of  my 
 wife — and  has    forced  me    to   exhibit   charges 
 againft  him,  in  order  to  remove  him  from  my 
 curacy  at  Chelfea.     You  may  guefs  from  thefe 
 ftiort  hints  in  Vvhat  a  perplexed  ftate  I  am,  and 
 I  juft  hint  it  to  you,  in  hopes  of  adding  you  to 
 the  lift  oy"  my  praying  friends,  which  I  truft  are 
 many  in  number.      Indeed  I  muft    own  with 
 much  thankfgivmg  and   praife,  that  in  propor- 
 tion as  father  and  mother,  and  other   worldly 
 friends   for  fake  me,  the  Lord  taketh  me  up ; 
 and  vouchfafes  me  much  of  His  prefence  in  my 
 public  miniftry,  and  in  private  prayer :  fo  that 
 I  am  enabled  to  believe,  that  He  who  bath  de- 
 livered, wil/  deliver. 
 
 May  I  trouble  you  with  my  beft  refped:s  to 
 Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gurdon  ?  Both  he  and  yourfelf, 
 have  my  beft  wifhes  and  prayers  for  Gou*s 
 blefling  on  your  miniftry  at  Afon  ;  and  though 
 
 vou 
 
LETTERS.  233 
 
 you  do  not  fee  any  great  fruits  of  it  at  prefent, 
 I  hope,  that  as  God  does  not  defpife  the  day  of 
 fmall  things,  fo  neither  will  you;  and  that  you 
 will  be  endued  with  the  patience  of  the  huf- 
 bandman,  who  waiteth  for  the  early  and  the 
 latter  rain.  Our  comfort  is,  that  if  we  wait 
 we  fliall  certainly  obtain  j  and  if  we  fow,  we 
 fhall  certainly  reap  in  due  time. 
 I  remain, 
 
 Your*s  moft  faithfully, 
 
 and  affediionately, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Reading,  Nov.  23,  1785. 
 MY    DEAR    SIR, 
 
 I  WRITE  to  acquaint  you  with  an  event,  at 
 which  I  dare  fay  you  will  not  be  furprized, 
 nor  even  forrowful  as  others,  who  have  no  hope  : 
 it  is  the  death  of  our  dear  friend  and  mother, 
 Mrs.  Talbot.  She  died  as  fhe  lived,  in  Christ 
 and  in  peace.  I  was  with  her  in  her  lafl 
 moments,  and  was  witnefs  to  God*s  dealing 
 with  her  according  to  His  word,  in  giving 
 her  a  moft  blefled  difmiffion.  Her  fenfes  were 
 preferved    to  the  lafl,    and    were  all  exercifed 
 
 upon 
 
334  '  LE'i'TERS. 
 
 upon  Jesus.  A  few  minutes  before  flie  died, 
 {he  called  for  her  fervants  and  bleffed  them. 
 She  blelTed  Mrs.  Hervey  alfo,  who  was  with 
 her,  and  Mrs.  C.  and  myfelf  •  and  then  called 
 upon  us  to  pray.  We  all  kneeled  round  her 
 bed,  and  as  well  as  I  was  able,  I  commended 
 her  fpirit  to  the  Lord  God  of  truth,  who  had 
 redeemed  it.  The  Lord  God  received  it  gra- 
 cioufly,  and  fhe  expired  without  a  groan,  in 
 the  adt  of  prayer.  She  kept  her  bed  a  month 
 except  one  day  ;  and  every  time  that  I  was  with 
 her,  which  was  generally  twice,  and  often  three 
 times  a  day,  Ihe  had  fomething  to  fay  for  Jesus 
 Christ.  She  fpoke  much  of  Father,  Son,  and 
 Holy  Ghofl;  the  wonders  of  each  name — the 
 love  of  each  to  her  foul- — and  their  marvellous 
 union  in  one  Jehovali,  who  was  her  ftrength, 
 her  fong,  and  her  falvation. 
 
 I  need  not  tell  you  how  much  her  lofs  will  be 
 felt  by  all  here,  by  myfelf  in  particular,  whom 
 fhe  always  treated  as  her  fon.  Pray  for  us, 
 my  dear  lir,  and  for  me  who  am  lefs  than  the 
 leaft  of  all.  Mrs.  Cadogan  joins  with  me  in 
 befl:  refpe6ts  and  wifhes  to  Mrs.  Hahvard  and 
 yourfelf;  and  wiihing  you  all  comforts  and 
 bleiiings, 
 
 I  remain,  dear  Sir, 
 
 Mofl  faithfully  and  afFed:ionateIy  your's 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN, 
 
 TO 
 
LETTERS.  335 
 
 TO  THE  REV.  JOHN  NEWTON. 
 
 Readings  Nov.  1 6,   1782. 
 MY    DEAR    SIR, 
 
 I  HAVE  acknowledged  my  debt  to  you  by  a 
 fioie  of  hand  as  it  were,  and  I  now  fet  down  to 
 discharge  it  by  a  /eUer ;  but  I  mufl  own  it  is 
 with  an  interefted  view%  hoping  that  when  you 
 have  been  in  fome  meafure  repaid  for  your 
 trouble,  you  will  be  inclined  to  truil  me  with 
 your  correfpondence  again.  And  indeed,  it 
 feems  to  me  peculiarly  needful,  that  Chriilians 
 (hould  converfe  as  much  as  poflible  together  in 
 the  houfe  of  their  pilgrimage ;  the  communion 
 of  faints  is  a  fource  of  their  improvement  here, 
 as  it  will  be  no  doubt  of  their  happinefs  here- 
 after. What  more  encouraging,  what  more 
 edifying  to  us,  than  the  mutual  faith  of  you  and 
 of  me  ! — The  communication  of  that  experience 
 and  exercife  in  the  ways  of  God,  by  which  it 
 appears  how  the  fame  afRid:ions  are  accom- 
 pliflied  in  our  brethren  that  are  in  the  world — 
 how  the  fame  comforts  are  held  out  to  them — 
 how  the  fame  truths,  contained  in  the  fame 
 Bible,  are  applicable  to  the  great  and  number- 
 lefs  exigencies  of  thofe  that  receive  and  embrace 
 them — how  the  fame  Jesus,  revealed  and 
 formed  in  them  by  the  fame  fpirit,  and  dwelling 
 
 in 
 
22^  LETTERS. 
 
 in  their  hearts  by  the  fame  faith,  is  able  to  fave 
 for  evermore,  and  make  them  every  w^hit 
 whole ! 
 
 I  often  think  of  the  day  when  He  fhall  come 
 to  be  glorifed  in  his  faints,  and  admired  in  all 
 them  that  believe.  When  He  alone  fhall  be  ex- 
 alted, among  the  thoufands  and  ten  thoufands  that 
 furroiind  His  throne  ;  redeemed  unto  God  by 
 His  blood,  fandtified  unto  God  by  His  fpirit, 
 and  gathered  together  in  one  by  His  Gofpel : 
 how  glorious,  how  admirable  fhall  He  be ! 
 His  name  fhall  be  called  wonderful  I 
 
 As  to  myfelf  I  am  all  wonder  and  aflonifh- 
 ment ;  I  mufl  add  another  line  to  yours  : 
 
 "  Oh  to  grace  how  great  a  debtof, 
 "  Dally  £'m  conftrain'd  to  be  !" 
 
 To  think  that  I  (liould  ever  be  led  to  heavenly 
 purfuits,  is  marvellous  ;  to  think  that  I  fhould  be 
 kept  in  them,  is  more  fo.  I  cannot  fay,  like  you, 
 that  I  have  been  preferved  from  blots  in  my 
 outward  profeflion ;  it  was  but  laft  year,  after 
 having  efcaped  the  pollutions  of  the  world 
 through  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Sa- 
 viour Jesus  Christ,  that  I  had  well  nigh 
 been  entangled  therein,  and  overcome.  I  was 
 enticed  from  the  care  of  fouls  into  Suffolk,  with 
 my  worldly  friends  ;  got  into  their  habits — 
 entered  into  their  fpirit — and  found  how  timely 
 it  was  faid  of  the  faithful,   "  that  if  they  had 
 
 *•  been 
 
LETTERS.  337 
 
 *'  been  mindful  of  that  country  from  whence 
 *'  they  came,  they  might  have  had  opportunity 
 *'  to  have  returned.'*  I  was  received,  careiTed, 
 and  I  may  fay,  that  I  had  almofl  been  even  as 
 they  ;  my  treadings  had  well  nigh  flipped. 
 
 But  (marvellous  to  tell)  thy  mercy,  O  Lord, 
 held  me  up  ! — Or  rather,  by  a  fevere  fit  of  illnefs 
 He  brought  me  down,  even  to  death*s  door. — I 
 called  mine  own  ways  to  remembrance,  I  felt 
 the  vanity  of  worldly  confidences,  and  the 
 wrctchednefs  of  thofe  who  have  not  Christ  to 
 trull  in ;  and,  O  how  bitterly  do  we  weep  when 
 Jesus,  whom  we  have  denied,  looketh  on  us 
 again !  Oh  the  agonizir^g  look  of  Him  whom 
 we  have  pierced  ! — It  caufeth  mourning  as  for 
 an  only  fon,  and  bitternefs  as  for  a  firll:  born  ; 
 fo  that  here  I  fland  a  fecond  Judas  almofl — and 
 yet  alive,  to  adore  the  long  fuffering  of  God, 
 and  enabled,  I  hope,   to  count  it  falvation. 
 
 I  feek  no  more  the  friendship  of  the  world, 
 but  count  myfelf  blcffed  when  men  feparate  me 
 from  their  company,  and  caft  out  my  name  as 
 evil  ;  and  when  I  hear  of  their  reproaches,  it  is 
 my  fliudy,  by  well  doing,  to  deferve  them. 
 Indeed,  my  dear  Sir,  I  agree  with  you  in  feeing 
 the  wide  difference  between  fettlng  out,  and 
 holding  out.  It  feems  with  the  graces  that  are 
 given  us  here,  as  with  all  other  blefTmgs  and 
 ordinances   for  our   fupport,  that  they  perifh  in 
 
 Z  the 
 
^^S  LETTERS. 
 
 the  ufing  :  and  that  a  Chriftian  muft  perifh  un- 
 lefs  the  inward  man  is  renewed  day  by  day. 
 How  emphatical  the  petition,  **  give  us  day  by 
 **  day  our  daily  bread  !"  But  it  is  fome  comfort 
 that  if  we  are  born  again,  it  is  of  incorruptible 
 feed,  the  feed  of  eternal  Mh ;  and  that  he  who 
 liveth  and  believeth  in  Jesus,  howevei-  he  may 
 languifh,  faint,  and  fade — however  he  may  be 
 without  fruit  and  leaves  for  a  feafon — ^yet  that 
 he  fhall  never  die. 
 
 I  lament  much  that  my  fituation,  both  at 
 Reading  and  at  Chelfea,  is  fo  far  diltarit  from 
 you,  as  to  prevent  that  frequent  intercourfe  with 
 you,  Vvhich  I  fhould' otherwife  cultivate:  but 
 however  abfent  in  body,  I  truft  we  are  prefent 
 in  fpirit ;  and  however  feparated  here  upon 
 tarth,  according  to  the  work  affigned  to  us,  yet 
 that  we  are  partakers  of  the  fame  grace,  heirs 
 of  the  fame  hope,  members  of  the  fame  body, 
 and  fliall  one  day  join  the  bleffed  and  innumer- 
 able company/  which  reft  not  day  and  night, 
 finging  falvation  to  God  and  the  Lamb. 
 
 You  fee  how  large  a  letter  I  have  written  to 
 you  ;  I  had  left  a  place  for  the  feal  on  the  other 
 iide,  meaning  to  conclude  there,  but  how  can 
 we  conclude  when  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
 is  our  theme  ?  There  is  no  end  of  his  great- 
 nefs  !  But  there  muft  be  an  end  of  a  father  s 
 patience,   when   little  children  or  young  men  in 
 
 9  the 
 
LETTERS.  339 
 
 the  Gofpel,  intrude  too  much  upon  their  time. 
 You  muft  blame  yourfelf,  however,  for  the 
 trouble  of  this  letter,  as  you  brought  it  upon 
 yourfelf,  by  your  kindnefs  to  me.  ? . 
 
 Our  dear  friend  Mrs.  Talbot  is  very  v^ell,- 
 and  joins  v^ith  me  in  the  hc{{  wiflies  towards 
 Mrs.  Newton  and  yourfelf.  I  have  only  two 
 requefts  more  to  make  to  you,  the  one,  that  you 
 will  remember  m.e  at  the  throne  of  grace ;  th^ 
 other,  that  you  will  perrriit  me  to  fubfcribg 
 myfelf,  ,£ 
 
 Dear  Sir, 
 
 Your  very  faithful  and  affectionate 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 -'  t  bioi  h  -iL 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 •Readings  D^c.  13,   1782^;    , 
 MY    DEAR    SIR, 
 
 I  RETURN  you  many  thanks^  fo^'Vour  letter  of 
 the  eleventh,  which  has  greatly  increafed  my 
 debt '^ to  you,  as  I  have  to-'tickho^vlcdge  the  rsi- 
 ceipt  of  another  by  the  hands  of  our  good  and 
 valuable  frien'i  Mr.  BarVram;  but-'I  Vv-us-  abfent 
 .li'om'"1^eadin^'^^at'tHat  tiine,'  w^n  the  bufmeis 
 iVjiich  you'^dre  fo^icind  as  to  congriitulatg'itie 
 Z  2  upon, 
 
340  LETTERS. 
 
 upon,  and  which  I  hope  you  will  admit  as  an 
 apology  for  my  negled:  of  you. 
 
 Indeed,  my  dear  Sir,  my  experience  convinces 
 me  that  **  whofo  trufteth  in  the  Lord,  mercy 
 **  embraceth  himon every  fide."  Idifcern  fome- 
 thing  more  than  a  Providence  in  all  that  befalls 
 me ;  I  difcern  "  a  purpofe  of  grace,  given  us 
 **  in  Christ  Jesus  before  the  world  began." 
 Every  thing  feems  working  according  to  that, 
 and  with  reference  to  a  blefled  eternity  provided 
 and  prepared  by  it.  With  refpedt  to  my  earthly 
 connecftions,  I  could  read  nothing  in  my  Bible 
 but  God's  call  to  Abraham,  "  leave  thy  country 
 *'  and  thy  kindred,  and  come  unto  a  land  which 
 **  I  will  fhew  thee."  I  learned  there  too,  that 
 this  call  was  accompanied  with  the  promife  of 
 an  hundred  fold  in  this  life,  as  well  as  in  the 
 end,  life  everlafting.  And  indeed  to  be  efpou- 
 fed  unto  one  hufband,  and  prefented  as  a  chafte 
 virgin  unto  Christ,  is  to  form  an  alliance, 
 which  is  more  than  an  hundred  fold  compenfa- 
 tion  for  the  lofs  of  every  other.  But  our  gra- 
 cious God,  in  addition  to  this,  has  blefled  me 
 wdth  a  gracious  partner  of  my  bed  ;  a  child  of 
 his  own,  whom  He  has  indeed  formed  for  Him- 
 felf  I  and  in  the  converfion  and  confolation  of 
 whom.  He  has  honoured  me  as  the  inftrument ; 
 having  called  me  to  her  in  a  fcene  of  uncom- 
 mon affli(flion.      How  ought   fuch  tokens  of 
 
 His 
 
LETTERS.  341 
 
 His  love  to  humble  me  1 — I  know  that  in  me, 
 that  is  in  my  fiefh,  there  dwelleth  no  good 
 thing ;  and  I  am  taught  to  believe,  that  in 
 Christ  Jesus  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown 
 of  righteoufnefs,  &c.  &c.  therefore  I  abhor 
 myfelf,  and  repent  in  duft  and  aflies. 
 
 What  adds  to  my  comfort  upon  this  occafion, 
 is,  that  the  family  and  connections  of  my  dear 
 wife  are  fuch,  as  remove  every  objedtion  that 
 my  own  friends  might  make  upon  this  head, 
 though  the  malice  of  the  wicked  one  has  been 
 at  work,  and  endeavoured  to  perfuade  them 
 that  I  have  paid  no  attention  to  my  lituation  in 
 this  meafure.  But,  my  dear  Sir,  how  empty 
 and  infignificant  are  all  titles  of  worldly  honour, 
 when  we  are  come  unto  "  Mount  Zion,  and 
 **  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly 
 "  Jerufalem  ;  and  to  an  innumerable  company 
 **  of  angels,  and  to  the  general  affembly,  and 
 **  church  of  the  firfl  born,  whofe  names  are  writ- 
 **  ten  in  heaven,  and  to  Jesus  the  Mediator  of 
 **  the  new  coveriant,  and  to  the  blood  of  fprink- 
 **  ling,  which  fpeaketh  better  things  than  that  of 
 *»  Abel!"  Here  is  blood  royal  indeed!  Blood 
 which  cleanfeth  from  all  fin,  and  in  which 
 we  {hall  boaft  throughout  eternity. 
 
 You  fee  with  what  freedom  I  treat  you ; — 
 
 your  kindnefs  encourages  me  to  do  fo.     I  will 
 
 only  add  how  fincerely  Mrs.   Cadogan  unites 
 
 Z  3  with 
 
342  LETTERS. 
 
 with  me  in  all  grateful  acknowledgments, 
 and  befl:  wifhes  towards  Mrs.  Newton  and 
 yourfelf,  and  we  commend  ourfelves  to  your 
 prayers,  that  we  enjoy  the  fame  happinefs 
 which  you  both  have  enjoyed  together. 
 ^  I  am,  my  dear  Sir, 
 
 Moil  faithfully  and  affectionately  your's, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  Nov.  14,  1785. 
 DEAR    SIR, 
 
 I  HAVE  to  thank  you  for  your  late  kind  re- 
 membrance of  me,  in  fending  me  your  account 
 of  Mifs  Eliza  Cunningham  ;  and  I  have  to 
 add  Mrs.  Talbot's  thanks  to  mine :  indeed  it 
 was  upon  Mrs.  Talbot's  account,  that  I  have 
 deferred  writing  to  you  for  this  week  p aft,  in 
 hopes  from  day  to  day,  that  I  might  be  able  to 
 give  you  a  better  account  of  her  bodily  ftate, 
 than  I  am  able  to  do.  I  really  think  that  fhe 
 is  upon  her  death  bed ;  and  though  one  does  not 
 know  when  to  giv€,h.er  up,  as  flie  has  ftruggled 
 through  fo  much,  before,  y-et  I  cannot  fee  a 
 probability  of  her  being  able  to  refifl  the  prefent 
 attack. 
 
 She 
 
LETTERS.  343 
 
 She    was  felzed    lad    V/ednefday  fortnight, 
 with  that  feverifli  complaint  to   which  fhe  has 
 been  always   fubjed:.     Her  fever  lafted  for  tea 
 days,  and  left  her  in  a  very  languid  ftate  indeed. 
 She  appeared  for  a  day  or  two  to  be  regaining 
 ftrength,  but  (he  has  drooped  very  much  for 
 thefe  laft  three  or  four  days,  and   is    now   fo 
 weak,  that  fhe  can  hardly  turn  herfelf  in  her 
 bed.      Whilfi:  her    fever   was   upon   her,    her 
 head  was  much   affedled,    and  ihe  rambled  a 
 good  deal,  but  fince  that  fhe  has  been  perfecftly 
 calm  and  fcnfible,  fpcaks  little,  but  always  ^ij 
 praife  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     She  talks 
 of  the  Father's  love  in  giving  her  to  His   Son, 
 to  redeem  and  keep ;  of  the  Son's  love  in  un- 
 dertaking the  care  of  her,  and  of  the    fpirit's 
 love  in  bringing  her  to  the  Sc«,  and  through 
 Him  to  the  Father ; — fhe  talks  of  the  general 
 afTcmbly  and  church    of  the  firfl  born,  where 
 fhe  fhall  meet  all  her  friends,  and  praife  Father, 
 Son    and    Holy    Ghoft,    without    interruption, 
 and  without  end.     She  appears   indeed  to  be  a 
 follower     of   them    who    through     faith    and 
 patience  inherit  the  promifes.     She  afks   after 
 all  her  friends  by  turns,  and  fays  fhe  thinks  of 
 more  than  fhe  afks  for  ;  lafl  night  fhe  men- 
 tioned you  in  particular,  defired   thkt  I  would 
 write  to"^you,  rfiaj^l^  you   for  your  little  book, 
 md  wmmaid  her  to  your  prayers.      Whei;i- 
 Z  4  ever 
 
344  LETTERS. 
 
 ever  it  pleafes  God  to  take  her  from  us,  the 
 church  of  Reading  in  general,  and  I  myfelf  in 
 particular,  fhall  fuftain  the  lofs  of  a  mother, 
 but  we  fhall  rejoice  at  her  gain. 
 
 I  hope  that  Mrs.  Newton  and  you  are  well, 
 and  that  grace,  mercy,  and-peace  are  with  you. 
 The  great  Lord  of  the  church  is  doing  wonders 
 for  us  at  Reading ;  I  pray  that  we  may  be 
 humbled,  and  He  exalted  alone — ^that  He  may 
 be  thanked  and  we  thankful ;  for  He  is  fliewing 
 Himfelf  alive  amongft  us,  by  many  infallible 
 proofs,  and  letting  all  men  fee  that  His  name 
 only  is  excellent,  and  his  praife  above  heaven 
 and  earth. 
 
 My  dear  Sir,  pray  for  us,  and  particularly 
 for. 
 
 Your  very  faithful  and  affedlionate 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN, 
 
 TO  MRS.  BRADSHAW. 
 [Afterwards  Mrs.  Cadogan.] 
 
 Readings  Nov.  15,  1782. 
 MY  DEAREST  MADAM, 
 
 YOU  excufed,  I  hope,  the  (hortnefs  of  my 
 yeflerday's  letter,  upon  the  promife  it  contained 
 
 of 
 
'      LETTERS.  345 
 
 of  another  to  day  ;  I  now  fet  down  to  be  as 
 good  as  my  word,  which  you  ihall  always  find 
 me  to  be. 
 
 I  read  prayers  and  preached  laft  night,  and 
 
 found   great  freedom  and   comfort  in  I'pcaking 
 
 upon  Pfalm  Ixxiv.  2.  in  the  Bible   tranilation  ; 
 
 from   which  paifage  I  was  led  to  fpeak  of  the 
 
 people  of  God,  as  the  purchafe,  the  inheritance^ 
 
 the  redeemed^    and    the  habitation  of  Jehovah  : 
 
 and  to  infer  from  each  of  thefe  circumftances, 
 
 the  certainty  of  their  being  remembered  by  Him  ; 
 
 and  that^  not  in  an  ordinary,  or  common  man* 
 
 ner,  but  kept  as  the  apple  of  his  eye  j  led  about 
 
 and  inftrucfted  by  Him  through  life,    througli 
 
 death,  unto  eternity.     This  is  the  congregation 
 
 in  which,  I  hope^  you  and  I  are  found ;  and  if 
 
 we  are,  the  union  between  us,  is   a  union  for 
 
 ever  and  ever  ;  and  how  little  need  we  trouble 
 
 ourfelves  about  this  world's   goods,  if  we  can 
 
 fay  with   the  Apoftle,    Ephef.  i.  3.    "  BleiTed 
 
 "  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our   Lord  Jesus 
 
 "  Christ,  who  hath  blefled  us  with  all  fpiri- 
 
 *'  tual  bl;  flings  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ, 
 
 '*  &c.  &c,  ?'*    What  are  all  worldly  connedions 
 
 to  be  thought  of,  when  *'  we  are  come  unto 
 
 **  Mount  Zion,  and  unto  the  city  of  the  liv- 
 
 ••  ing  God,  the  heavenly  Jerufalem,  and  to  an 
 
 **  innumerable    company     of    angels,    to   the 
 
 '*  general  alfembly  and  church  of  the  firft  born 
 
 **  which 
 
346  LETTERS. 
 
 **  which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the 
 **  judge  of  all,  and  to  the  fpirits  of  juft  men 
 "  made  perfed:,  and  to  Jesus  the  Mediator  of 
 '*  the  new  covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  fprink- 
 **  ling,  which  fpeaketh  better  things  than  that 
 **  of  Abel  ?"  Heb.  xii.  22.  Here  is  blood 
 fufficient  to  ennoble  and  enrich  us  for  ever ; 
 and  how  contemptible  do  ail  other  alliances  ap- 
 pear, when  we  can  fay,  "truly,  our  fellowfliip 
 **  is  with  the  Father,  and  with  .his  Son  Jesus 
 "  Christ."  —  —  __  -^  -^  .  —  — 
 I  remain  -  •'«  m  iv 
 
 Your  mofl  faithful  and' affedlionate,' 
 
 J':  rjov 
 
 TO  MRS.  CADOGAN. 
 
 Readings  'June  ig^  1787. 
 MY  DEAR  LIFE, 
 
 BY  Mr.  Annefley's  goodnefs  in  fending  me  a 
 frank,  you  have  a  letter  extraordinary;  I 
 thought  you  would  be  uneafy  if  you  did  'riot 
 hear  by  yefterday^s  poft,  otherwiife  I  fhould  not 
 have  wrote  till  to  day.--'''  • 
 
 Mr.  ——  thought,' It  "^dvifeable  to  take  no 
 moue  notice  about  -'-^—  fort-he  prefentj  — = — 
 iblihr    '  and 
 
LETTERS.  347 
 
 and  I  think  fo  too,  as  it  is  a  dirty  bufinefs, 
 fiom  firll:  to  lafl ;  and  it  is  much  better  to  let 
 dirty  people  abne.  Expect  nothing  from  men; 
 it  is  a  great  mercy  from  God,  when  we  are 
 prevented  by  difappointments,  from  forming  all 
 fuch  exped:ations.  We  have  to  do  with  Him, 
 who  always  does  as  He  fays,  **  them  that  honour 
 '*  Me  I  will  honour."  To  honour  God  is  to 
 truft  Him  wholly  and  folely  for  every  thing. 
 If  He  is  our  fliepherd  we  can  lack  nothing ; 
 He  gives  life  and  fupports  it.  He  fupplies  all 
 things  that  pertain  unto  life  and  godlinefs  ;  and 
 godlinefs  hath  the  promife  of  the  life  that  now 
 is,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come.  His  loving- 
 kindnefs  and  truth  (hall  follow  us  all  the  days 
 of  our  life,  aiKl  we  (hall  dwell  in  the  houie  of 
 the  Lord  for  ever.  This  is  the  portion  of 
 Jacob,  not  the  thing  formed^  but  the  former  of 
 all  things ;  the  Lord  of  hoils  is  His  Name. 
 As  the  Lord  of  hofts.  He  will  iight  all  our 
 battles  for  us,  and  help  them  to  right  thatfuffer 
 wrong  J  and  the  more  we  lay  upon  Him,  the 
 more  He  will  be  pleafed  with  our  confidence. 
 If  we  had  faith,  we  (liould  hardly  have  an 
 anxious  thought,  or  a  turbulent  pailion;  they 
 would  be  checked  at  leafl  in  their  riling,  and 
 every  thing  that  excites  them  would  be  kft  in 
 the  hands  of  God,  who  turns  the  wickednefs 
 
 of 
 
348  LETTERS. 
 
 of  man  to   his  praife,   and  reilrains  it  within 
 bounds  of  His  own  appointing. 
 
 I  wrote  to  on  Tuefday,  and  recom- 
 mended to  him  caution,  and  to  ad:  as  a  follower 
 of  Him,  who  when  He  was  reviled,  reviled 
 not  again :  when  He  fuffered,  He  threatened 
 not;  but  committed  Himfelf  to  Him,  who 
 judgeth  righteoufly :  and  in  all  this,  leaving  us 
 an  example,  that  we  fhould  follow  his  fteps. 
 He  is  the  beft  of  mailers,  and  nothing  can  hurt 
 us  when  we  are  engaged  in  His  fervice,  and 
 walking  as  He  walked  before  us. 
 
 I  fuppofe  that  letter  which  mifcarried,  con- 
 tained the  account  of  what  you  heard  on  Sunday. 
 I  hope  you  heard  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord 
 preached,  whether  you  went  to  church,  or  to  a 
 diffentmg  meeting.  God  cannot  be  worfhipped 
 but  where  Christ  Jesus  is,  and  whatfoever 
 place  He  hath  chofen  to  put  His  precious  Name 
 there,  this  is  none  other  than  the  houfe  of  the 
 Lord,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven.  **  I  am 
 **  the  Door,  by  Me  if  any  man  enter  in,  He  fhall 
 "  go  in  andout,  andfhall  findpafture;" — hefhall 
 be  fed  with  the  fineft  of  wheat,  which  is  the 
 bread  of  life,  and  fatisfied  with  honey  out  of 
 the  Rock,  and  that  Rock  is  Christ. 
 
 Your's  moft  affectionately, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO 
 
LETTERS.  349- 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readmg,  July  13,  1787. 
 MY  DEAR  LIFE, 
 
 IT  rains  fo  hard  that  I  cannot  go  to  Mr. 
 Searle*s,  I  have  therefore  fent  to  Mr.  Annefley 
 for  a  frank,  and  am  fet  down  to  write  you  ano- 
 ther letter.  I  hope  you  received  mine  of  y^i- 
 terday,  and  my  two  from  Chelfea. 
 
 All  is  well  at  Reading ;  we  are  baking  to 
 day ;  we  fhall  not  get  money  by  baking,  but 
 we  fhall  get  good  bread.  But  the  beft  of  bread 
 is  ready  provided  for  us ;  and  to  be  had  with- 
 out money,  and  without  price,  and  that  is  the 
 bread  of  life.  The  true  bread,  and  the  living 
 bread  which  came  down  from  heaven,  that  a 
 man  may  eat  thereof  and  not  die.  You  have  a 
 full  account  of  it,  John  vi.  and  if  you  have 
 faith  in  that  account,  you  will  hunger  for  that 
 bread,   and  be  fed,  and  fatisfied  with  it  alfo. 
 
 If  you  have  had  the  fame  rain  at  Tunbridge, 
 which  we  have  had  here,  you  have  feen  the 
 truth  of  the  fixty-fifth  Pfalm.  **  The  earth  is 
 '*  full  of  the  riches  of  Jehovah,  and  the  year  is 
 •'  crowned  with  His  goodnefs.'*  Corn,  herbs, 
 plants,  flowers,  (all  now  in  their  perfection  and 
 beauty)  which  are  produced  by  the  earth,  are 
 reprefented  as  a  variegated  crown  put  upon  its 
 
 head, 
 
350  LETTERS. 
 
 head,  by  it's  beneficent  Creator ;  and  the  hea- 
 vens, which  are  called  the  paths  of  Jehovah, 
 colled;  and  diftil  the  rains  which  impregnate 
 the  earth,  and  make  it  the  parent  of  terreftrial 
 blefhngs. 
 
 In  Ifaiah  Ixiii.  4.  God  fpeaks  of  the  year 
 of  His  redeemed,  and  that  year  will  be  crowned 
 with  His  goodnefs,  when  His  redeemed  fhall  be 
 gathered  together  out  of  every  nation,  and 
 tongue,  and  kindred,  and  people;  and  when 
 the  admired  and  glorified  Jesus  fhall  put  a 
 crown  of  righteoulhefs  and  glory  upon  each  of 
 their  heads.  O  !  what  a  fight  will  it  be V  A 
 church  will  be  there  prefented,  all  glorious 
 within  and  without.  This  •  corruptible  fhall 
 piit  on  incorruption ;  and  this  mortal  fhall  piit 
 on  immortality  ;  no  winter  will  fucceed  this 
 harvell:,  but  a  blefifed  reft,  which  is  finely,  but 
 faintly  reprefented  by  a  calm,  ferene  day -in 
 G<5tober,  in  which  the  earth  appears  perfedlly 
 quiet,  and  not  a  cloud  is  feen  in  the  fky. 
 
 Never  exped:  perfed  happinefs,  till  your 
 Almighty  Saviour,  according  to  the  mighty 
 working  whereby  H^  is  able  to  fubdue  all 
 things  to  Himfelf,  has  changed  your  vile  body, 
 that  it  may  be  like  unto  His  glorious  body. 
 OFliC'  waters  of  Tiinbridge  cannot  do  this ;  but 
 there  is  a  pure  river  of  water  of  life,  clear  as 
 cryftal,  proceeding  out  of  the   throne  of  G<>D 
 
 and 
 
LETTERS.  351 
 
 and  of  the  Lamb,  .which  can..^  \\MiJn  this,- 
 and  drink  of  this^  and  you  are.  perfectly  \whole  r 
 but  reniember'  that  all  its  efficacy,  as  well  as  th« 
 efficacy  of  Tunbridge  water  for  the  health  of 
 the  body,  is  derived  from  Jesus.  He  is  the 
 Saviour  of  foul  and  body..  He  is  the  author 
 and  preferver  of  all  things.  '  By  Him,  and  for 
 Him  were  all  things  made  ^  .aj^ic^  -  by  Him  all 
 things  confift.  •  I  Whatever  you;  waAt  fot  fpirity 
 foul,  or  body,  go  to  Jesus  ff3>r  it^  and  you  will 
 find  that  all  fuUnefs  is  iniHjnfi.  All  that  ^re 
 faved,  muft  acknowledge,  now ,  and  for  ever, 
 **  that  of  His  fulncfs  have  they,  all  received, 
 •'  and  grace  for  grace.'*     John  i. 
 
 The  frank  is  juft  come  home,  and  reminds 
 me  of  Him,  who  will  freely  take  ey^ry  mefTage 
 and  petition  which  you  have  to  His  Father,  and 
 will  take  every  bleffing  and  grace  from  His 
 Father,  and  convey  it  freely,,  by  His  free  fpirit, 
 to  you.  Make  ufe  of  fuch  jj.  Mediator,  that 
 your  fellowihip  jiiay  be  iwii-h:  t}>e  Father^  and 
 with  His  Son;  Jbsus  Cnt^iSTci/afid  that  you 
 may  know,  that  He  dwellLth  in.-you,  and  you 
 in  Him,  by  His  fpirit,  which  He  hath  given 
 you.  Alk  and  you  fhall  receive  ;  thus  feek, 
 and  you  Ihall  find  it ;  knock,  and  the  door  of 
 the  palace .  of  the  ICjng  of  Kings,  fhall  be 
 opened  untQ  yo'jL  .^Butaik,  feek,  knock  in  the 
 name,    righteoufnefs,    and   flrength    of   Jesus 
 
 Christ. 
 
352^  LETTERS. 
 
 Christ.  By  thefe  things  I  live,  and  I  delire 
 no  other  ;  they  cannot  be  enjoyed  as  they  ought 
 with  an  iinnecefTary  fuperfluity  of  other  things  ; 
 they  render  fuch  additions  perfectly  needlefs. 
 
 This  will  probably  reach  you  upon  the 
 LoRD*s  Day  ;  it  is  His  day,  when  He  is  exalted 
 alone  j  and  when  He  comes  and  takes  pofleffion 
 of  our  hearts,  and  difpels  the  clouds  and  dark- 
 nefs,  which  are  there  without  Him — it  is  as  a 
 morning  without  clouds,  and  clear  fliining  after 
 rain. — We  become  the  children  of  the  light, 
 and  of  the  day,  and  walk  in  the  path  of  the 
 juft,  which  fhineth  more  and  more,  as  it  brings 
 us  nearer  to  heaven.  God's  word  is  our  lamp, 
 Jesus  Christ  is  the  light  of  it :  and  His  fpirit 
 the  oil  which  fupplies  it.  When  that  word  is 
 written  upon  your  heart  and  mine,  it  operates 
 as  an  engrafted  word,  and  makes  us  partakers 
 of  its  nature.  Then  we  know  all  things,  and 
 the  whole  body  is  full  of  light. 
 
 Pity  and  pray  for  them  who  walk  on  flill  in 
 darknefs,  for  the  earth  is  full  of  it,  and  of  cruel 
 habitations,  and  all  its  foundations  are  out  of 
 courfe.  Are  you  turned  from  darknefs  to  light? 
 be  thankful ;  it  is  fpecial,  difHnguifhing  grace, 
 for  which  you  are  to  be  thankful.  Vfe  the 
 means  of  grace ;  read,  hear,  watch,  pray, 
 and  whenever  you  go  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
 remember  your 
 
 Faithful  and  affectionate, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
LETTERS*  353 
 
 TO  MRS.  DEANE. 
 
 Readings  OSl,  8,   1784. 
 MADAM, 
 
 IT  was  not  till  about  a  week  ago,  that  Mr. 
 Eyre,  my  curate  at  Chelfea,  put  part  of  a  letter 
 of  your*s  into  my  hands,  which  I  underftood 
 was  delivered  to  him  by  your  fervant.  The 
 kind  manner  in  which  you  have  expreffed 
 yourfelf  towards  me,  added  to  the  defire  you 
 have  intimated  of  my  correfpondence,  have  in- 
 duced me  to  trouble  you  with  this  letter. 
 
 I  had  not  conceived  till  now,  that  there  was 
 a  friend,  or  relation  of  my  family,  who  was 
 united  to  the  Lord  Jesus  :  at  leaft  I  knew  of 
 none  to  whom  it  had  been  given  in  the  behalf 
 of  Christ,  to  believe  on  Him.  I  congratulate 
 you  fincerely,  on  account  of  your  love  to  Him  ; 
 it  is  a  proof  of  His  love  to  you,  '*  we  love 
 **  Him  becaufe  He  firll:  loved  us  *"  and  He  is 
 an  objedt  that  defer ves  all  our  love.  Indeed  we 
 cannot  love  Him  fufficiently — -no  friend  nor  re-i 
 lation  like  Him — He  alone  is  Father,  Mother, 
 Hulband,  Wife,  Brethren,  Sifters,  Houfes, 
 Land,  and  all  this  an  hundred  fold.  To  them 
 that  thus  believe,  He  is  precious ;  He  is  that 
 Pearl  of  great  price,  which  we  do  well  to  fell 
 all  that  we  have,  and  buy. 
 
 A  a  I  blefs 
 
354  LETTERS. 
 
 I  blefs  His  name,  that  I  have  found  Him  t6 
 be  fuch ;  and  under  fome  very  heavy  trials  from 
 the  world  without,  my  own  evil  heart  within^ 
 and  a  fad  finful  nature  which  I  conftantly  carry 
 ^bout  me  ;  I  have  been  enabled  to  go  to  Him  for 
 daily  pardon,  and  daily  vi<5tory ;  and  as  furely 
 as  I  go  to  Him,  fo  furely  do  I  triumph  in 
 Christ  Jesus. 
 
 Here,  Madam,  is  our  great  and  common 
 Head  ;  here  and  hence  all  the  life  which  we  are 
 to  live,  here  and  for  ever.  It  hath  pleafed  God 
 that  in  Him  all  fulnefs  (hould  dwell,  and  if  we 
 are  Chriftians,  we  can  fay  with  the  Apoftle, 
 •*  of  His  fulnefs  we  have  all  received,  and 
 •*  grace  for  grace ;"  we  are  rooted  in  Him, 
 built  up  in  Him,  and  growing  up  into  Him,  in 
 all  things.  He  is  all  in  all;  His  Name  only  is 
 excellent,  and  His  praife  above  heaven  and 
 earth. 
 
 May  I  hope  that  this  letter  will  encourage 
 you  to  favour  me  with  a  line  ;  if  by  my  corref- 
 pondence  I  can  be  of  any  ufe  to  you,  I  ihall  be 
 very  happy  to  continue  it ;  and  am. 
 Madam, 
 
 Your  moil:  obedient 
 
 Humble  Servant, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN, 
 
 TQ 
 
LETTERS.  2£^ 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Chelfea,  Fth,  2r,  1785. 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 I  AM  afliamed  to  look  at  the  date  of  your 
 letter,  which  informs  rne  that  it  is  near  four 
 months  fince  I  was  favoured  with  it ;  but  when 
 I  tell  you  that  I  have  two  large  parifhes  to  take 
 care  of,  and  confequently  a  great  deal  of  preach- 
 ing, and  other  duty  upon  my  hands,  I  hope 
 you  will  excufe  me. 
 
 You  defire  me  to  point  out  an  author,  whofe 
 arguments  are  fhort  and  moft  concluftve  upc«i 
 the  truth  j  I  know  nothing  that  might  anfwer 
 your  purpofe  better  than  Dr.  Leilie*s  fhoi't 
 method  with  the  Deifts  and  Jews.  It  is  printed 
 feparately  from  his  other  works.  I  would  alfo 
 recommend  the  Book  written  by  Mr.  Milner, 
 of  Hull,  againft  Gibbon.  But  advife  your 
 friend  to  fearch  the  Scriptures  ;  they  will  fpeak 
 for  themfelves.  They  contain  fuch  things, 
 •*  as  eye  hath  not  feen,  nor  ear  heard,  nor  hath 
 **  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive." 
 And  even  if  men  could  have  invented  fuch 
 things,  they  could  have  had  no  worldly  views  in 
 propagating  them.  The  doctrines  they  contain, 
 are  alike  adverfe  to  the  pride  of  philofophy,  and 
 the  pleafures  of  lin ;  that  is,  to  every  thing 
 A  a  «  that 
 
^^6  LETTERS. 
 
 that  is  loved  and  pradtifed  in  the  world  r—^And 
 yet  they  exift  amongft  us,  and  that  to  the  com- 
 fort of  thoufands.  If  this  work  or  counfel 
 had  been  of  men,  confidering  the  difficulties  it 
 has  had  to  flruggle  with,  it  would  have  come 
 to  nought  long  ago:  but,  fays  the  Apoftle, 
 •*  I  am  not  aftiamed  of  the  Gofpel  of  Christ, 
 **  for  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  falvation,  to 
 •*  every  one  that  believeth  :'*  and  its  purpofes 
 are  effed:ed,  not  with  excellency  of  fpeech,  or 
 the  enticing  words  of  man*s  wifdom,  but  with 
 the  demonftration  of  the  fpirit,  and  of  power» 
 
 The  reafon  why  the  Bible  is  read  and  under- 
 Ilood  fo  little,  is,  becaufe  it  is  treated  as  the 
 word  of  men,  but  not  as  the  word  of  God. 
 Confidered  as  the  word  of  God,  it  is  not  the 
 fubjedl  of  opinion  and  debate,  but  of  implicit 
 confidence  and  obedience ;  and  furely  it  is  a 
 bold  thing  to  fay,  that  fuch  a  book,  fo  unlike 
 every  other,  and  fo  wonderful  in  its  contents 
 and  its  efFed:s,  is  not  the  word  of  God.  In  its 
 full  effed:,  however,  as  the  word  of  God,,  it 
 mull  be  fpiritually  difcerncd,  and  can  be  under- 
 ilood  only  by  the  fame  fpirit  that  infpired  it; 
 leading  us  into  all  truth. 
 
 This  fpirit  of  truth,  is  the  fpecial  gift  of  the 
 Father,  to  thofe  who  are  His  children  in  His 
 Son  Jesus  ;  and  O,  what  a  mercy  is  it,  if  you 
 5ind  I  are  in  that  number  !    **  Let  them  give 
 
 "  thanks 
 
LETTERS.  357 
 
 **  thanks  whom  the  Lord  hath  redeemed,  and 
 **  dehvered  from  the  hand  of  the  enemy," 
 He  is  gathering  them  from  the  eaft,  and  from 
 the  weft,  from  the  north,  and  from  the  fouth, 
 and  He  calls  them  together  by  His  word,  which 
 being  accompanied  by  His  fpirit,  is  an  efFedtual 
 calling,  that  nmkes  them  acquainted  with  His 
 love  to  them  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  fo  that  they 
 may  live  in  the  enjoyment  of  that  love  here  and 
 for  ever — ^nothing  can  feparate  them  from  it. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  and  I  have  fome  thoughts  of 
 going  this  year  into  Scotland,  and  if  we  do, 
 we  propofe  to  ourfelves  the  pleafure  of  paying 
 our  refped:s  to  you  at  Whitkirke,  if  you  will 
 let  us  know  whether  it  be  convenient. 
 I  am, 
 
 Dear  Madam, 
 
 Your  very  faithful 
 
 And  obedient  Servant, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  July  26,  1785. 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 I  AM  afhamed  that  your  laft  kind  letter  of 
 
 May  the  fecond,  (hould  have  laid  by  me  fo  long 
 
 A  a  3  _  unan- 
 
358  JLETTERS. 
 
 iinanfwered.  I  was  in  hopes,  long  before  now, 
 of  being  able  to  give  you  fome  tidings  of  our 
 intended  vifit  to  Whitkirke,  but  all  thofe  hopes 
 are  fruftrated  by  the  illnefs  of  my  curate  at 
 Reading,  and  my  inability  to  fupply  his  place  ; 
 fo  that  I  have  given  tp  all  thoughts  of  my 
 northern  expedition,  and  have  only  to  fay,  the 
 Lord's  will  be  done. 
 
 Iwas  forry  to  hear  of  your  illnefs  ;  I  hope  it 
 is  removed ;  or  that  it  is  fandlified :  which  is 
 far  better  than  its  removal.  Health  or  ficknefs, 
 wealth  or  want,  are  trifles  in  themfelves.  There 
 is  but  one  defireable  ftate,  and  that  is  to  be  the 
 LoRD*s  :  to  have  an  intereft  in  Jesus  Christ; 
 to  live  the  life  of  faith  in  Him — to  be  in  the 
 hands  of  a  reconciled  God  and  Father — and  to 
 have  His  fpirit  in  our  hearts,  conforming  our 
 wills  to  His.  We  can  then  thank  God  for 
 having  made  us  meet  to  be  partakers  of  the  in- 
 heritance of  the  faints  in  light,  and  that  inherit- 
 ance is  incorruptible y  iindeJUed,  and  unfading. 
 It  makes  the  poor  rich  indeed,  and  the  fick 
 perfedily  whole.  That  the  Lord  may  blefs 
 you,  and  keep  you,  is  the  fincere  wifh  and 
 prayer  of, 
 
 Dear  Madam, 
 
 Your  much  obliged  and 
 Moft  obedient  Friend  and  Servant, 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
LETTERS.  359 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  Jan.  19,  1787. 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 I  THANK  you  for  your  iaft  kind  Jetter,  and 
 am  aftiamed  that  I  have  npt  anfwered  it  fooner^- 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  has  got  a  cold  and  fore  throat, 
 which    added  to    her    other  complaints,    have 
 brought  her  low.     She  defired  me  to  tell  you, 
 that  (he  has  juft  began  to  try  one  of  the  prefcrip- 
 tions  which  you  gave  her.     But  to  God  only  wife 
 be  glory  through  Jesus  Christ  for  ever.     God 
 is  wife,  and  all-wife,  and  o?tIy  wife ;  He  knows 
 what  is  beft  for  us  >,  and  whether  He  gives  or 
 withholds  the  bleffings  of  this  life.  He  is  wifer 
 than  we  are,  and  His  love  towards  His  children 
 conftantly  inclines  Him  to  put  forth  His   wif- 
 dom  to  dire<ft  and  contrive  for  them,  and  His 
 power  to  protect  and  preferve  them.     They  can 
 defire  no  more,    and  being   once  fatisfied  that 
 God  is  their  God,  they  are  in  pofleffion  of  all 
 good.     They  are  blefled  in  health,  bleffed  in 
 iicknefs,    bleffed  in   wealth,    bleffed  in  want, 
 bleffed  with  children,  and  bleffed  without  chil- 
 dren ;  bleffed   in  their  going  out,   and  in  their 
 coming  in ;  in  life,  in  death,  and  for  ever. 
 
 Dear  Madam,  think  often  on  your  mercies  j 
 
 if  you  are  a  child  of  God,  the  burden  of  your 
 
 A  a  4  fong, 
 
360  LETTERS. 
 
 fong,  is,  **  His  mercy  endureth  for  ever.*'  You 
 and  I  fhall  be  finging  this  fong  throughout  eter- 
 nity, if  we  are,  what  I  truft  we  are,  heir$  of 
 God  through  Christ.  What  are  all  earthly 
 enjoyments  compared  to  this !  Your  valuable 
 friend  and  neighbour  at  Temple  Newfam,  is  not 
 fo  happy  in  her  palace  without  Christ,  as  you 
 are  in  your  cottage  with  Him.  You  may  ven- 
 ture to  tell  her  fo,  and  her  own  experience  will 
 tell  her  the  fame. 
 
 The  world  pafleth  away,  with  all  its  riches, 
 honours,  and  pleafures,  but  He  that  doeth  the 
 will  of  God  abideth  for  ever.  The  year  eighty 
 feven,  will  bring  us  no  more  than  the  year 
 eighty  fix.  When  we  reflect  upon  the  years 
 that  are  paft,  we  fhall  fay  of'  them  as  Jacob  did 
 unto  Pharaoh,  that  they  have  been  few  and 
 evil.  But  Christ's  fulnefs  is  inexhauftible ; 
 the  more  we  receive  of  it,  the  more  it  fecms  to 
 abound ;  and  if  He  has  done  great  things  for 
 us  already,  whereof  we  rejoice.  He  will  do 
 greater  ftill.  He  will  be  better  to  us  in  eighty 
 feven,  than  He  was  in  eighty  fix,  and  better 
 and  better,  till  He  has  brought  us  to  Himfelf 
 jn  glory.  This  is  the  beft  of  all,  the  fuperla- 
 tive  good  which  nothing  can  exceed,  and  it  will 
 be  without  interruption,  and  without  end.  Seek 
 uothing   but  Christ,  and  then  you  may  fay 
 
 with 
 
LETTERS.  361 
 
 with  the  Apoftle,  **  as  having  nothing,  and  yet 
 "  poffeffing  all  things.*' 
 
 Remember  us  kindly  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  At- 
 kinfon,  and  all  our  other  friends  in  Christ,  in 
 and  about  Whitkirke.  And  may  God  blefs  you, 
 my  dear  Madam,  with  all  fpiritual  bleflings 
 in  heavenly  places  in  Christ,  and  increafe  you 
 ever  more  and  more  !  Though  abfent  in  body, 
 I  am  prefent  with  you  in  fpirit ;  and  if  I  never 
 fee  you  again  upon  earth,  I  hope  to  fee  you, 
 where  we  fhall  fee  God  as  He  is,  and  be  like 
 Him. 
 
 I  am,  Dear  Madam, 
 
 Your  very  faithful  and  affedlionate 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Reading^  Nov.  19,  1787, 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 IT  is  fo  long  fince  we  had  the  pleafure  of 
 hearing  any  thing  from  you,  or  of  you,  that  we 
 are  quite  uneafy  j  I  think  that  I  wrote  to  you 
 lafl,  upon  Mrs.  Cadogan*s  return  from  Tun- 
 bridge,  in  the  beginning  of  Auguft,  and  I  have 
 never  received  any  anfwer  to  that  letter. 
 
 You 
 
^62  LETTERS. 
 
 You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  Mrs.  Cadogan 
 has  found  great  benefit  from  Tunbridge,  or  from 
 ibme  other  means,  as  fhe  has  been  for  this  laft 
 month,  or  fix  weeks,  remarkably  well. 
 
 To  what  fecond  caufe  we  are  to  afcribe  this, 
 is  uncertain ;  but  we  cannot  err,  in  afcribing  it 
 to  God  as  its  firft  caufe,  for  He  giveth  us  life, 
 and  breath,  and  all  things.  If  we  do  not  enjoy 
 His  gifts,  it  is  becaufe  we  are  not  thankful, 
 but  vain  in  our  imaginations,  our  foolifh  heart 
 is  darkened,  and  we  worfhip  and  ferve  the  crea- 
 ture inflead  of  the  Creator,  who  is  bleffed  for 
 ever. 
 
 Such  is  your  ftate  and  mine  by  nature  ;  and 
 what  a  wonder  of  mercy  is  it,  that  when  you 
 and  I  were  totally  unmindful  of  God,  He 
 (hould  be  fo  mindful  of  us,  as  to  give  "  His 
 "  only  begotten  Son,  that  whoever  believeth  in 
 "  Him,  (hould  not  perifh,  but  have  everlafting 
 **  life."  This  is  the  gift  of  gifts,  and  can  be 
 known  and  enjoyed,  only  by  thofe  that  are 
 thankful.  Where  there  is  faith  to  depend  upon 
 God  for  fuch  mercy  as  this,  there  muft  be 
 thankfulnefs  >  and  the  beauty  of  fuch  a  depen- 
 dence, is,  that  it  will  make  us  thankful  for  all 
 things.  Heakh  and  ficknefs,  wealth  .and  want, 
 &:c.  &c.  all  are  in  our  way  to  glory,  and  have  a 
 tendency  to  make  us  meet  for  an  inheritance  in- 
 corruptible,   undefiled,  unfading;    referved  in 
 
 heaven 
 
LETTERS,  2^3 
 
 heaven  for  thofe  who  are  kept  by  the  power  of 
 God,  through  faith,  unto  everlafling  falvau- 
 tion. 
 
 I  trufl  that  you  are  in  fuch  hands  ;  the  eter- 
 nal God  is  thy  refuge,  and  underneath  are  the 
 everlafling  arms ;  whatever  enemies  you  have 
 to  encounter,  He  fhall  thruft  them  out  from 
 before  thee,  and  fhall  fay,  deftroy  them.  You 
 are  well  ftricken  in  years,  and  confequently 
 nearly  ripe  for  eternity.  Ifrael  then  fhall  dwell 
 in  fafety  alone ;  and  fin  and  finners  fhall  molefl 
 them  no  more.  This  is  the  falvation  which  is 
 in  Christ  Jesus, with  eternal  glory:  The  Scripture 
 is  the  word  of  it,  and  it  is  fent  unto  you.  Oh 
 Madam,  you  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  praife 
 the  God  of  your  life,  and  to  pray  to  Him  for 
 more  grace,  that  you  may  praife  Him  more  from 
 day  to  day  : — as  you  grow  weak,  you  fhall  fay 
 you  are  flrong,  and  learn  to  glory  in  your  infir- 
 mities, that  the  power  of  Christ  may  refl 
 upon  you.  So  fhall  you  bring  forth  more  fruit 
 in  your  age,  fhew  how  true  the  Lord  your 
 ftrength  is,  and  that  there  is  no unrighteoufnefs 
 in  Him. 
 
 I  hope  that  this  will  provoke  you  to  write  to 
 me ;  I  long  to  hear  how  you  are,  and  how  your 
 ibul  profpers  j  fo  does  Mrs.  Cadogan,  who 
 joins  with  me  in  all  good  wifhcs  towards  you. 
 Salute  in  our  names  all  about  you  that  are  in 
 
 Christ 
 
364  LETTERS. 
 
 Christ  Jesus,  and  particularly  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
 Atkinfon. 
 
 I  am,  Dear  Madam, 
 
 Your  mofl  faithful  and  obedient 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN, 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readingy  June  18,  1788, 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 THE  laft  account  which  I  had  of  you,  gave 
 me  much  concern,  but  as  I  had  wrote  to  you  a 
 day  or  two  before  I  received  it,  I  was  in  hopes 
 of  hearing  better  tidings  concerning  you.  I 
 long  to  know  how  you  do,  and  how  your  foul 
 profpers,  it  often  profpers  much  in  the  fchool 
 of  affliction.  When  the  Apoftle's  thorn  in  the 
 flefh  drove  him  to  his  Lord  in  prayer,  and 
 when  the  Lord,  in  anfwer  to  his  prayer,  faid, 
 **  my  grace  is  fufficient  for  thee,  for  my 
 **  ftrength  is  made  perfedt  in  weaknefs;"  He 
 was  more  than  cured  of  his  complaints.  **  Mofl 
 **  gladly  therefore  will  I  rather  glory  in  my  in- 
 **  firmities,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may  reil 
 **  upon  mcj  therefore  I  take  pleafure  in  re- 
 
 **  proaches. 
 
LETTERS.  2^Si 
 
 •*  reproaches,  &c.  for  when  I  am  weak,  then 
 •*  am  I  ilrong."     2  Cor.  xii. 
 
 This  ihould  be  your  experience,  and  I  have 
 no  doubt  but  it  is,  for  fuch  as  are  planted  in  the 
 houfe  of  the  Lord,  (hall  flourifh  in  the  courts 
 of  the  houfe  of  our  God  ;  they  (hall  bring 
 forth  more  fruit  in  their  age,  and  be  fat  and 
 flouri(hing.  Pfalmxci.  14.  Whilft  they  who 
 are  in  Adam  are  growing  worfe,  they  who  are 
 in  Christ,  are  growing  better  every  day.  We 
 want  only  to  get  rid  of  this  earthly  tabernacle, 
 in  order  to  be  completely  happy  ;  **  look  there- 
 **  fore  not  to  the  things  that  are  (een,  but  to 
 **  the  things  that  are  not  feen,"  and  what  bright 
 and  bleffed  profpedts  are  before  you  !  And  till  we 
 are  in  the  full  po(refIion  and  enjoyment  of  what 
 we  now  fee  afar  off,  **  though  the  outward  man 
 **  peri(h,  the  inward  man  is  renewed  day  by 
 "  day ;  and  our  light  afflid:ions,  which  are  but 
 **  for  a  moment,  work  for  us  a  far  more  ex- 
 **  ceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.  Happy 
 **  are  the  people  that  are  in  fuch  a  cafe,  yea 
 **  happy  are  the  people,  who  have  the  Lord 
 **  for  their  God  !"  You  will  acknowledge 
 when  you  fee  Him  as  He  is,  that  He  hath  done 
 all  things  well;  and  that  His  brighteft  defigns 
 towards  us,  have  often  been  veiled  under  clouds 
 of  forrow  and  pain. 
 
 I  have 
 
266  LETTERS. 
 
 I  have  been  afliatned  to  refle<St  how  often  I 
 have  forgot  to  fend  you  the  fermons,  which  you 
 wrote  about,  but  they  are  not  Worth  your 
 jreading ;  I  hope  that  1  fhall  remembef  them, 
 when  I  go  next  to  London. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  is  not  yet  free  from  her  com- 
 plaints, though  I  think  that  the  general  ftate  of 
 her  health  is  better,  fince  fhe  was  at  Tunbridge 
 kft  year.  We  have  fome  thoughts  of  going 
 next  month  into  Warwicklhire  and  Shropfhire, 
 I  wifh  it  was  in  our  power  to  go  into  Yorkfhire 
 zU&r  hut  that  I  fear  will  be  impoffible.  How- 
 ever, I  am  prefent  with  you  in  fpirit,  though 
 abfent  in  body ;  and  live  in  hope  that  we  are 
 infeparably  connected  in  one  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ,  of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven 
 and  in  earth  is  named.  In  this  cafe  we  (hall 
 iflaeet  in  heaven  to  go  out  no  more  ;  and  fing  to- 
 gether falvation  to  our  God,  that  litteth  upon 
 the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb  without  inter- 
 ruption and  without  end. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  joins  with  me  in  all  kind 
 wi&cs  to  you  ;  and 
 
 I  am.  Dear  Madam, 
 
 Mofl  fincerely  your's, 
 ^  W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO 
 
I.ETTERS.  3^7 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Reading,  Jan.  30,  1789. 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 I  WAS  favoured  with  your's  of  the  twenty 
 firft,  and  really  thought  that  I  had  anfwered 
 your  lafl  of  the  twenty  fifth  of  November :  but 
 upon  looking  over  it,  I  find  that  I  had  wrote  to 
 you  on  the  nineteenth  of  the  fame  month,  and 
 think  perhaps  that  having  troubled  you  fo  little 
 a  whik  before  the  receipt  of  that  letter,  I  may 
 have  omitted  to  anfwer  it ;  fo  that  I  do  not  know 
 whether  I  am  to  charge  the  blame  upon  the  pofl, 
 or  to  take  it  upon  myfelf.  The  latter,  however, 
 is  the  fafeft  fide  to  take,  and  I  do  it  the  rather, 
 becaufe  I  am  fure  of  forgivenefs,  where  God 
 hath  forgiven  all  trefpalTes,  blotting  out  the 
 hand-writing  of  ordinances  which  was  againfl 
 us,  and  contrary  to  us,  and  took  it  out  of  the 
 way,  nailing  it  to  the  crofs  of  Christ. 
 
 I  believe  that  I  am  writing  to  a  perfon,  who 
 has  feen  and  tafled  this  unfpeakable  grace  and 
 mercy,  and  therefore  I  am  willing  to  plead  guilty- 
 before  you. 
 
 I  am  glad  to  hear  fo  good  an  account  both  of 
 your  body  and  foul,  the  health  of  the  one  is 
 much  connected  with  that  of  the  other ;  and  wc 
 have  a  faithful  God  who  has  promifed,  that  He 
 
 wUl 
 
368  LETTERS. 
 
 will  prefcrve  both  blamelefs,  until  the  coming 
 of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  i  ThefT.  v.  23, 
 314.  You  are  ftill  groaning  in  an  earthly  taber- 
 nacle, and  you  mufl  get  rid  of  that,  before  you 
 arrive  at  the  ftate  of  perfedlion  to  which  you 
 are  afpiring  :  but  your  way  is  plain  before  you. 
 **  Our  converfation  is  in  heaven,  from  whence 
 **  we  look  for  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus 
 **  Christ,  who  (hall  change  our  vile  body, 
 •*  that  it  may  be  fafhioned  like  unto  His  glo- 
 **  rious  body,  according  to  the  mighty  working, 
 •*  whereby  He  is  able  to  fubdue  all  things  to 
 •*  Himfclf."  Phil.  iii.  20.  Keep  looking  to 
 Jesus  Christ,  and  you  (hall  find  that  though 
 the  outward  man  perifh,  the  inward  man  (hall 
 be  renewed  day  by  day  ;  and  when  your  fpirit, 
 foul,  and  body  are  glorified,  you  (hall  fee  Him 
 as  He  is,  and  love,  praife,  and  enjoy  Him, 
 without  a  wandering  thought,  or  wi(h,  for  ever. 
 There  I  hope  to  meet  you,  if  we  never  meet 
 again  upon  earth,  but  if  we  live  till  July  or 
 Auguft,  Mrs.  Cadogan  and  I  think  of  a  little 
 ramble,  and  we  will  contrive,  if  we  can,  to 
 comprehend  you  in  our  excurfion. 
 
 I  had  a  letter  from  my  brother  about  a  fort- 
 night ago,  he  was  then  at  Florence  in  his  way 
 to  Rome,  and  was  in  very  good  health,  but  did 
 riot  talk  of  returning  to  England. 
 
 His 
 
LETTERS.  369 
 
 His  Majcfty's  ftate,  as  you  cbferve,  is  truly- 
 deplorable.  The  opinions  of  thofe  who  fhould 
 know  better  than  me,  are  fo  various  upon  the 
 fubjed:,  that  I  can  have  none  of  my  own.  We 
 cannot  do  better  than  pray  for  him.  And  if  we 
 are  taught  to  pray  by  the  fpirit  helping  our  in- 
 firmities, O  what  a  mercy  fhould  we  think  it 
 to  receive  a  kingdom,  which  cannot  be  fhaken  ! 
 To  have  a  throne  of  grace  and  glory  occupied 
 for  us  by  Jesus  Christ,  King  of  Kings  and 
 Lord  of  Lords,  and  the  fame  yefterday,  to  day, 
 and  for  ever  !  Here  is  no  confufion,  no  change 
 of  government,  of  miniftry,  or  favour.  Happy 
 they  who  dwell  in  His  court,  and  are  receiving 
 favours  from  Him,  whofe  love,  like  His  elTence, 
 is  without  beginning,  without  interruption, 
 and  without  end ! 
 
 When  you  draw  nigh  to  Him,  remember 
 me.  Pray  for  me,  of  finners  the  chief,  and  of 
 faints  lefs  than  the  leaft.  Mrs.  C.  unites  with 
 me,  not  in  compliment,  but  in  every  kind  wifh 
 towards  you. 
 I  am, 
 
 Dear  Madam, 
 
 Mofl  fincerely  your*s, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN 
 
 B  b  TO 
 
370  LETTERS. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  OSlober  lb,  1789. 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 YOUR  lall  letter  is  dated  July  twenty  fix ; 
 it  has  travelled  with  me  firft  into  Shropfhire, 
 then  into  Suffolk,  with  intentions  that  it  fliould 
 be  acknowledged;  but  lo,  and  behold,  it  has 
 returned  with  me  unanfwered  home  !  Moft  of 
 my  intentions  come  to  the  fame  end,  and  moft  of 
 my  life  is  fpent  in  propofing  much  and  doing 
 little.  What  a  comfort  to  know  that  Jesus 
 Christ  liveth  for  me,  that  He  ever  liveth  to 
 make  interceilion,  and  the  fubjed:  of  His  inter- 
 ceffion  is  not  works  of  righteoufnefs  which  we 
 have  done,  btit  His  own  Almighty  work  finiflied 
 upon  the  crofs !  Here  furely  we  have  righteouf- 
 nefs and  ftrength;  here  all  the  feed  of  Ifrael 
 are  juftified ;  and  here  they  fhall  glory  for 
 ever. 
 
 After  the  mention  of  fuch  a  wonderful  Per- 
 fon,  I  hardly  know  how  to  fay  any  thing  of  fo 
 poor  a  wretch  as  my felf :  but  as  you  may  wifli 
 to  hear  fomething  about  us,  I  juft  inform  you, 
 that  we  have  been  upon  the  ramble  ever  iince 
 the  beginning  of  Auguft  till  this  day  fortnight, 
 when  we  arrived  at  our  quiet  and  peaceable  ha- 
 bitation.    Our  excuriions   have  been  pleafant, 
 
 and 
 
LETTERS.  371 
 
 and  I  truft  profitable.  We  went  firft  into  Shrop- 
 fhire,  and  then  into  Suffolk,  where  I  fpent  three 
 weeks  with  my  father.  I  preached  there  the 
 things  concerning  Jesus  Christ  ;  not  only  no 
 man  forbidding  me,  but  almoft  every  one  de- 
 firing  to  hear  the  fame  things  again.  My  Lord 
 heard  me,  and  thanked  me.  May  the  Lord  of 
 Lords  convey  the  word  of  grace  into  his  foul ! 
 And  is  there  any  thing  too  hard  for  the  Lord  ? 
 It  is  the  common  and  daily  exertion  of  His  om- 
 nipotence to  change  ilone  into  flefli,  and  enmity 
 into  love. 
 
 We  have  had  but  unpleafant  accounts  from 
 abroad,  refpediing  the  health  of  my  brother. 
 He  has  been  extremely  ill  for  three  months ; 
 and  indeed  there  was  a  time,  when  all  hopes  of 
 his  recovery  feemed  to  be  over,  but  the  lafl  two 
 letters  have  fpoke  more  favourably  of  him.  I 
 can  only  pray  for  him,  and  that  not  always. 
 But  there  is  an  almighty  fpirit  to  help  our  in- 
 firmities, and  the  God  who  heareth  and  an- 
 fwereth  prayer,  is  almighty  to  perform  the 
 petitions  we  defire  of  Him.  Pray  thank  Mr. 
 Atkinfon,  with  our  love  and  refpe(51:s,  for  the 
 draught  of  the  green-houfe,  which  I  ought  to 
 have  acknowledged,  as  well  as  your  letter,  be- 
 fore ;  but  I  am  fure  he  can  forgive,  becaufe  he 
 has  been  forgiven. 
 
 B  b  2  I  find 
 
^TS  LETTERS. 
 
 I  find  complaints  in  your  laft  of  the  weather, 
 and  of  your  great  profpecSts  of  plenty  being 
 diminifhed,  by  reafon  of  the  coldnefs  and  wet- 
 nefs  of  the  feafon ;  but  before  you  complained, 
 God  had  faid,  **  that  day  and  night,  feed  time 
 **  and  harveil,  fummer  and  winter,  fliould  not 
 **  ceafe ;"  and  has  He  not  been  as  good  as  His 
 word  ?  O  for  more  faith  and  fewer  fears  ! 
 
 You  complained  too  of  your  health,  which 
 I  was  forry  to  hear ;  but  what  are  we  to  expedt 
 but  forrow,  in  a  world  of  lin  ;  and  what  in  a 
 dying  world,  but  fomething  or  other,  that  re- 
 minds us  we  mufl  die  ?  But  **  bleiled  are  the 
 **  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  ;  henceforth 
 **  they  reft  from  their  labours;"  and  have 
 health  and  happinefs,  without  interruption  and 
 without  end.  Look  for  this,  and  more  than 
 this,  from  Jesus.  May  He  be  your  guide 
 unto  death,  and  your  God  for  ever  ! 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  unites  with  me  in  kind  regards 
 to  you,  and  all  that  are  with  you;  Mr.  and 
 Mrs.  Dennifon,  and  the  old  difciple.  Let  us 
 hear  that  you  are  in  health,  and  that  your  foul 
 profpereth ;  and  believe  me. 
 Dear  Madam,' 
 
 Moft  fincerely  your's, 
 
 W,  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO 
 
LETTERS.  373 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Chelfeay  March  17,  1790. 
 DEAR    MADAM, 
 
 I  BELIEVE  I  am  a  letter  in  your  debt;  the  laft 
 that  I  can  find  of  yours,  is  dated  the  twelfth  of 
 November ;  I  am  in  a  conftant  hurry  between 
 two  large  parilhts,  and  therefore  hope  that  you 
 will  excufe  my  not  writing  oftener.  I  hope  that 
 you  are  as  well,  as  when  you  wrote  laft  j  the 
 mild  winter  has  been  much  in  your  favour ; 
 and  indeed,  what  is  not  in  favour  of  thofe  who 
 love  God  ?  **  All  things  work  together  for 
 **  good,  to  them  that  love  God,  who  are  called 
 "  according  to  His  purpofe,"  &c. 
 
 We  have  been  at  Chelfea  about  three  weeks, 
 and  intend  ftaying  here  till  Eafter,  when  I  fhall 
 be  glad  to  return  to  my  fweet  retreat  at  Reading  ; 
 for  I  am  here  hurried  out  of  my  life  with  buli- 
 nefs  and  company. 
 
 My  Lord  is  very  well,  and  he  expedls  my 
 brother  home  in  July  or  Auguft.  I  have  as 
 much  to  lament,  as  to  the  fpi ritual  ftate  of  my 
 earthly  conned:ions,  as  you  or  any  one  can  have  : 
 but  I  know  one  who  faith,  '*  what  is  that  to 
 **  thee  ?  follow  thou  Me."  It  is  your  bufinefs 
 and  mine  to  follow  Christ,  let  who  will  do 
 otherwife. 
 
 B  b  3  Nothing 
 
374  LETTERS. 
 
 Nothing  is  to  be  got  by  following  the  world, 
 even  fhould  we  gain  the  whole  by  it ;  but  every 
 thing  that  God  has  to  give,  is  to  be  found  in 
 Christ,  and  is  the  portion  of  them  that  follow 
 Him.  We  are  encompalTed  with  a  cloud  of 
 witnefTes,  who  have  fet  their  feal  to  this  truth 
 in  time,  and  will  do  the  fame  throughout  eter- 
 nity. **  Let  us  therefore  lay  afide  every 
 **  weight,  and  the  fin  that  doth  mofl:  eafily 
 **  befet  us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience,  the 
 **  race  that  is  fet  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus 
 **  the  author  and  fihifher  of  our  faith,  who  for 
 **  the  joy  that  was  fet  before  Him  endured  the 
 **  crofs,  defpifing  the  fhame,  and  is  now  fet 
 •*  down  for  ever  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
 **  throne  of  God."  When  our  bleffed  and 
 adorable  Immanuel  has  brought  us  there,  if 
 there  can  be  a  moment's  forrow  in  His  glorious 
 prefence,  it  can  arife  only  from  the  retiiedlion, 
 that  we  have  followed  Him  fo  poorly  here  below. 
 But  as  we  can  follow  Him  only  by  His  own 
 ftrength  and  grace,  may  we  be  continually 
 crying,  "  draw  us  and  we  will  run  after 
 "  thee." 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  is  well,  and  defires  her  love 
 to  you;  remember  us  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  At- 
 kinfon,  the  old  difciple,  and  all  Chriflian 
 friends. 
 
 Grace 
 
LETTERS.  375 
 
 Grace  be  with  you  and  your's  ;  pray  for  us, 
 and  believe  me, 
 
 Dear  Madam, 
 
 Your  very  faithful  and 
 
 Obedient  Friend  and  Servant, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  May  19,  1790. 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 I  WAS  forry  to  receive  fuch  an  account  of  your 
 houfe,  as  you  fent  me  in  March,  but  thought 
 then  as  I  do  now,  that,  if  you  and  your  houfe 
 are  ferving  the  Lord  Christ,  (as  I  truil  yoU 
 are)  all  will  be  well  :  for  who  ever  ferved  fuch 
 a  Mailer  without  being  conftrained  to  fay,  *  *  He 
 **  hath  done  all  things  well?"  I  have  often 
 thought  of  writing  to  you  between  that  time 
 and  this,  but  one  thing  or  another  has  prevented 
 the  doing  of  it :  not  want  of  regard,  for  I  know 
 few  people  for  whom  I  feel  fo  great  a  regard  as 
 for  yourfelf,  and  with  whom  I  can  more  readily 
 weep  or  rejoice,  as  you  communicate  to  me 
 your  forrows  or  joys. 
 
 It  is  the  privilege  of  a  Chriftian,  however 
 
 forrowful,  to  be  always  rejoicing ;  for  God  in 
 
 B  b  4  Christ, 
 
37^  LETTERS. 
 
 Christ,  feen  and  known  by  faith,  is  the 
 fountain  of  eternal  joy.  Even  when  He  fends 
 chaftifements,  which  do  not  feem  for  theprefent 
 joyous  but  grievous,  we  know  that  He  is  love: 
 this  is  His  Name,  and  this  His  nature.  He 
 changeth  not,  whatever  changes  there  may  be  in 
 our  condition  j  "  and  having  loved  His  own, 
 **  He  loveth  them  unto  the  end.*'  There  is  in 
 one  refpedt,  therefore,  a  perfe(5t  famenefs  in  the 
 condition  of  a  believer,  He  may  fay  of  every 
 difpenfation  this  is  love.  Look,  therefore,  upon 
 the  late  vifitations  in  your  houfe,  as  fo  many 
 frefh  mercies  flowing  from  the  throne  of  God 
 and  the  Lamb;  you  have  perhaps  difcovered 
 them  to  be  fuch  before  now,  afflitftions,  which 
 however  light,  and  but  for  a  moment,  are  fuffi- 
 cient  in  the  hands  of  an  almighty  and  all- 
 bountiful  God,  to  work  for  you  and  your  fcr- 
 vant,  *'  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight 
 *•  of  glory." 
 
 I  am  really  anxious  to  hear  from  you,  how 
 you  do,  and  how  your  foul  profpereth  j  and  I 
 hope  you  will  WTite  to  me  as  foon  as  you  can. 
 I  have  no  claim  upon  you  for  this,  having  de- 
 ferred writing  fo  long  myfelf ;  but  as  I  live  by 
 an  2i(\  of  grace,  every  day  and  every  hour, 
 and  caTi  alk  pardon  at  the  throne  of  grace  for 
 fins  of  as  deep  a  dye  as  fcarlet  and  crimfon, 
 
 and 
 
LETTERS.  377 
 
 and  more  in  number  than  the  hairs  of  my  head, 
 fo  I  can  aik  forgivenefs  of  a  fellow  creature. 
 
 You  and  I,  dear  Madam,  mufl  learn  to  take 
 up  our  crofs  and  to  follow  Jesus  j  His  fufFer- 
 ings  increafed  every  day,  from  His  birth  in  a 
 manger,  to  His  death  upon  the  crofs  ;  and  the 
 moment  that  He  fuffered  moft,  was  almoft  the 
 moment  of  His  departure,  when  He  cried  out, 
 *'  my  God,  my  God,  why  haft  Thou  forfaken 
 **  Me  ?"  Do  not  wonder,  therefore,  if  your 
 trials  fhould  increafe  in  the  decline  of  life ;  look 
 upon  them  as  trials  of  faith ;  and  depend  upon 
 it,  that  faith  is  more  precious  than  gold  which 
 perifbeth  ;  and  will  be  found,  though  it  be  tried 
 in  the  fire,  to  the  praife  and  honour  of  its 
 author  and  finifher  Jesus  Christ  at  His  ap- 
 pearing. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan,  who  is  well,  joins  with  me  in 
 kind  regards  to  yourfelf  and  all  your  houfe, 
 and  all  our  chriftian  friends  in  your  neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 I  am, 
 
 Dear  Madam, 
 
 Very  iincerely  your's, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO 
 
378  LETTERS. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Reading,  June  3,   1795, 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 INCLOSED  are  a  few  fmall  tokens  of  Mrs. 
 Cadogan*s  great  love  and  regard  for  you,  and 
 I  would  not  let  them  go  without  adding  this  ex- 
 preffion  of  mine.  Your  laft  letter  is  dated  the 
 nineteenth  of  January,  in  which  you  complain 
 of  colds,  and  deafnefs,  and  infirmities  of  body, 
 and  perhaps  may  have  more  complaints  of  the 
 fort  now.  But  you  do  not,  you  cannot  com- 
 plain of  God.  He  is  merciful  and  gracious, 
 flow  to  anger  and  of  great  kindnefs.  He  lays 
 His  hand  moil  gently  upon  us,  and  is  fo  faithful 
 to  His  word  of  promife,  as  not  to  fuffer  us  to 
 be  tempted  above  that  we  are  able,  but  will 
 with  every  temptation  make  a  way  to  efcapc 
 that  we  may  be  able  to  bear  it. 
 
 What  a  mercy,  my  dear  Madam,  to  be  in 
 fuch  hands,  and  to  know  by  faith,  that  we  are 
 in  them  !  "  Caft  all  your  care  upon  God,  for 
 **  He  careth  for  you,"  and  has  given  you  a 
 decided  proof  of  His  love,  in  the  gift  of  His 
 only  begotten  Son.  Becaufe  we  are  fons  and 
 daughters,  **  He  hath  fent  the  fpirit  of  His  Son 
 **  into  our  hearts,  crying  Abba  Father."  We 
 may  truft  fuch  a  God  for  grace  to  live,  grace  to 
 
 fuffer. 
 
LETTERS.  379 
 
 fuffer,  and  grace  to  die ;  in  fhort,  for  grace  to 
 help  in  every  time  of  need.  He  is  the  God  of 
 all  grace,  and  giveth  more  and  more,  till  in  the 
 end  He  giveth  glory. 
 
 Though  we  may  never  fee  one  another  again 
 upon  earth,  I  rejoice  in  the  profped:  of  meeting 
 you  in  heaven;  where  we  fhall  fee  Jesus 
 Christ  as  He  is,  and  live  and  reign  with  Him 
 for  evermore ;  and  you  may  depend  upon  it  that 
 He,  who  is  gone  to  prepare  a  place  for  you, 
 will  come  again,  and  receive  you  to  Himfelf, 
 **  that  where  He  is,  there  you  may  be  alfo." 
 
 What  a  fad  thing  to  return  from  fuch  prof- 
 pedls  as  thefe,  to  a  miferable  and  finful  world, 
 concerning  which  I  have  only  to  tell  you,  that 
 it  is  as  bad  as  ever.  The  ftory,  which  you 
 heard  concerning  *  *  *  *,  is  only  a  frefli  proof 
 that  the  world  in  which  we  are  now,  is  under 
 the  influence  of  Him  who  was  a  liar  from  the 
 beginning,  for  there  is  no  truth  in  it.  But  the 
 world  to  which  we  are  going,  is  under  no  fuch 
 influence;  and  there  will  be  nothing  in  it,  but 
 truth  and  joy.  No  wonder  that  God's  people 
 (hould  confefs  themfelves  to  be  flrangers  and 
 pilgrims  upon  earth,  and  defire  a  better  country, 
 that  is  a  heavenly.  May  you  and  I  be  followers 
 of  them,  "  who  through  faith  and  patience  in- 
 **  herit  the  promifes."  And  that  God  may 
 comfort  and  fupport  you  with  all  the  comforts 
 
 of 
 
380  LETTERS. 
 
 of  His  eternal  fpirit,  is  the  fincerc  wifli  and 
 prayer  of, 
 
 Dear  Madam, 
 
 Your  mofl  faithful  and  affedlionate 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  delires  to  add  her  mofl:  afFed: ion- 
 ate  regards,  and  begs  your  kind  acceptance  of 
 the  inclofed,  which  is  little  in  itfelf,  but  ac- 
 companied with  much  love. 
 
 TO  ROBERT  SCOTT  MONCRIEFF,  Esq, 
 
 Edinburgh,  0£l,  6,  1786. 
 MY  DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  HAVE  julT:  finifhed  a  letter  to  my  curate  at 
 Reading,  defiring  him  to  acquaint  your  fillers 
 with  the  death  of  their  nephew ;  and  I  can 
 depend  upon  him  for  doing  it  with  grace  and. 
 humanity. 
 
 My  acquaintance  with  you  is  but  flight,  but 
 it  is  fufficient  to  conflrain  me  to  fufFer  and  to 
 weep  with  you ;  and  to  call  upon  you  to  con- 
 fider  the  great  Apoflle  and  High  Priefl  of  our 
 profefTion,  who  was  not  only  a  fufferer  before 
 
 you. 
 
LETTERS.  381 
 
 you,  but  who  is  alfo  the  Lord  our  God,  our 
 hope  and  ftrength,  and  a  very  prefent  help  in 
 trouble.  May  His  confolations  abound  in  your 
 heart !  May  His  fpirit  take  of  His  things  and 
 fhew  them  unto  you,  and  teach  you  that  He 
 who  has  all  power  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  has 
 ftrength  to  be  made  perfedl  in  the  weaknefs 
 of  His  people ! — **  My  grace   is  sufficient 
 
 "    FOR  THEE." 
 
 Here  is  your  fupport,  and  you  need  no  other. 
 We  look  for  a  Saviour  from  heaven,  **  who 
 *  •  fliall  change  our  vile  body,  that  it  may  be 
 "  made  like  unto  His  glorious  body."  Hefaid 
 to  Lazarlis  come  forth  ;  and  the  hour  is  coming 
 **  in  which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  fhall  hear 
 **  His  voice  and  come  forth."  Then  fathers 
 and  children  who  have  flept  in  Jesus,  (hall  be 
 brought  together  with  Him,  and  fo  be  for  ever 
 with  their  Lord.  **  Refrain  therefore  thy 
 **  voice  from  weeping,  and  thine  eyes  from 
 **  tears  ;  for  there  is  hope  in  thine  end,  faith  the 
 **'  Lord,  that  thy  children  fhall  come  again  to 
 "  their  own  border."  Jer.  xxxi.  15,  &c. 
 BlefTed  day  !  BlefTed  profpedt !  We  are  flrangers 
 and  pilgrims  upon  earth,  and  haflening  to  a 
 better  country,  that  is  a  heavenly,  where  pil- 
 grims meet  to  part  no  more. 
 
 God 
 
382  LETTERS. 
 
 God  blefs  you  and  your's  ;  pray  for  me,  as 
 I  do  for  you  ;  and  believe  me  to  be, 
 
 Your  Servant  in  Christ, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN, 
 
 TO  LADY  CATHERINE  MURRAY. 
 
 Chelfea,  Oa.  31,  1786. 
 DEAR  MADAM* 
 
 WE  fet  out  for  Reading  tomorrow,  where  we 
 hope  to  be  fixed  for  the  winter,  and  where  we 
 fhall  be  very  glad  to  fee  you,  whenever  it  will 
 fuit  you  to  come  to  us.  We  had  a  pleafant  and 
 profperous  journey  by  the  will  of  God,  and 
 both  of  us  think  ourfelves  better  for  our  ex- 
 pedition to  Scotland.  I  fhall  make  it  my  bufi- 
 nefs  to  look  out  for  a  houfe  which  may  fuit 
 you  at  Reading  j  I  have  thought  alfo  of  another 
 fcheme  for  you,  which,  in  your  circumflances, 
 may  be  peculiarly  fuitable,  and  which  I  will 
 talk  over  with  you,  when  I  have  the  pleafure  of 
 feeing  you. 
 
 I  hope  you  perfevere  in  feeking  "a  houfe 
 **  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens." 
 All  God's  children  have  unanimoufly  confefled, 
 that  they  were  flrangers  and  pilgrims  in  the 
 earth,  and  however  they  may  have  been  defli- 
 
 tute 
 
LETTERS.  383 
 
 tnte  and  defpifed  in  this  world,  God  has  never 
 been  afhamed  to  be  called  their  God,  for  He 
 hath  prepared  for  them  a  city.    See  Hebrews  xi. 
 
 You  have  reafon  to  be  thankful,  that  God 
 hath  chaftened  and  correcfled  you,  but  He  hath 
 not  given  you  over  unto  death.  He  hath 
 pointed  you  to  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  way 
 to  efcape  death,  and  to  come  unto  God.  You 
 can  deiire  no  more ;  and  if  you  have  the  re- 
 proach of  Christ  in  this  world,  you  have  that 
 which  Mofes  preferred  to  all  the  treafures  of 
 Egypt.  Amidft  all  the  fufferings  of  time,  you 
 can  fay,  **  I  (hall  not  die,  but  livQ,  and  declare 
 **  the  works  of  the  Lord  ;  the  Lord  is  my 
 "  helper,  I  will  not  fear  what  man  can  do  unto 
 **  me." 
 
 The  pleafures  of  fin  are  but  for  a  feafon, 
 but  the  pleafures  which  are  at  God's  right  hand, 
 are  for  evermore  ;  and  in  His  prefence  there  is 
 fuUnefs  of  joy.  It  is  by  the  blood  of  Jesus 
 that  we  get  into  His  prefence,  we  have  bold- 
 nefs  by  it  to  enter  the  holieft ;  and  we  need  no 
 other  plea  for  grace  Jiere,  or  glory  hereafter, 
 but  the  blood  and  righteoufnefs  of  God's  dear 
 Son.  His  name  is  above  every  name ;  all  God's 
 blefTings  are  annexed  to  it,  and  there  is  nothing 
 which  God  has  to  give  that  is  too  good  for  Him 
 to  alk,  receive,  and  beftow.  I  com^mend  you 
 to  Him,  and  defire  to  leave  you  in  His  hands. 
 
 Remember 
 
384  LETTERS. 
 
 Remember  me  kindly  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart, 
 and  all  that  belong  to  them,  and  to  all  other 
 friends.  Mrs.  Cadogan  joins  with  me  in  all 
 thefe  remembrances,  and  particularly  to  her 
 coufin  in  nature  and  grace,  Lady  Jane  Home. 
 Excufe  this  fcrawl,  as  I  am  in  great  hafte, 
 
 but 
 
 I  am, 
 
 Your  moft  faithful  and  obedient 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 
 Vv^.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Reading^  Feb.  5,  1787, 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 MRS.  CADOGAN  received  your  letter,  and 
 would  have  anfwered  it  herfelf,  had  (he  not  had 
 a  bad  head  ach  ;  though  (he  finds  herfelf  upon 
 the  whole,  vaftly  better.  There  is  every  thing 
 that  you  can  want  in  Mrs.  Talbot's  houfe,  in 
 Ihort,  more  than  is  fufficient  for  you,  if  you 
 confefs  that  you  are  a  ftranger  and  pilgrim  in 
 the  earth.  All  God*s  children  have  confcffed 
 this  living  and  dying,  and  it  is  a  moft  blefTed 
 confefiion,  for  they  that  fay  fuch  things,  declare 
 
 plainly 
 
LETTERS.  385 
 
 plainly  that,  **  they  feek  a  better  country,  that 
 *'  is  a  heavenly  ;'*  and  God  is  not  alhamed  to  be 
 called  their  God.  What  are  all  the  purfuits 
 and  expecflations  of  the  world,  to  fuch  purfuits 
 and  expectations  as  thefe  !  Let  thefe  be  your*s 
 and  mine,  and  let  the  world  go  as  it  pleafes. 
 
 It  is  a  greater  mercy  than  we  think,  to  be 
 delivered  from  this  prefent  evil  world.  It  mull 
 have  been  a  deliverance  of  great  eflimation  in 
 the  fight  of  God  and  our  Father,  becaufe  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ  gave  himfelf  to  accomplifh 
 it  according  to  His  will.  Gal.  i.  4.  Had  God 
 blefl  you  with  prefent  profperity,  and  withheld 
 this  mercy  from  you,  you  would  not  have  been 
 half  fo  happy  as  now  j  though  called  to  leave 
 your  country,  and  your  kindred,  to  deny  your- 
 felf,  and  to  follow  a  defpifed  and  crucified 
 Jesus. 
 
 They,  who  are  moft  conformed  to  the  image 
 of  God's  dear  Son,  receive  the  moft  honour  and 
 love  from  their  heavenly  father :  and  though  we 
 had  not  a  place  where  to  lay  our  head,  we 
 ihould  flill  be  in  outward  circumftances,  as 
 great  as  our  divine  Lord  and  Mafter.  May 
 we  be  like  Him,  in  earth  and  heaven  ! 
 
 Excufe  me  for  troubling  you  with  a  long 
 
 letter,  when  I  meant  only  to  write  a  (hort  one  ; 
 
 there  is  one  thing  more,   which  Mrs.  Cadogan 
 
 wifhes   to  know,    and  that  is    if  you  want    a 
 
 C  c  fervant. 
 
3S6  LETTERS. 
 
 fervant.  Employ  us  in  any  thing  in  which  wtf 
 can  ferve  you,  and  I  will  give  you  an  employ- 
 ment in  return,  in  which  you  may  repay  us  an 
 hundred  fold  ;  pray  for  us  ;  and  we  will  pray 
 for  you. 
 
 Maty  God  diredt  your  fteps,  may  His 
 |)refencie  go  with  you  wherever  you  go;  may 
 He  guide  you  with  His  counfel,  and  after  that 
 receive  you  with  glory.  Then  you  will  fay, 
 **  whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  Thee  !  and  there 
 *•  is  none  upon  earth  that  I  defire  in  comparifon 
 **  of  Thee:"  and  then  you  are  completely  and 
 eternally  happy. 
 
 I  am.  Dear  Madam, 
 
 Your  very  faithful  and  obedient 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 W,  B.  CADOGAK, 
 
 TO  JOHN  STIRLING,  Es<^ 
 
 Chelfea^  March  ig,  1787, 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  HAVE  to  thank  you  for  two  letters,  the 
 latter  of  which  brought  an  account  of  a  very 
 melancholy  event ;  the  more  melancholy,  as  it 
 was  very  little  expeded,  both  by  Mrs.  Cadogan 
 
 and 
 
LETTERS.  38/7 
 
 and  me ;  though  death  ought  always  to  be 
 expe(5ted  in  a  dying  world,  as  the  only  thing  in 
 it  which  is  certain.  Mrs.  Cadogan  was  a  good 
 deal  furprized  and  (hocked  at  hearing  it,  but 
 fhe  knows  **  in  whom  fhe  has  believed  :  the 
 **  eternal  God  is  her  refuge,  and  underneath 
 **  are  the  evcrlafting  arms  ;"  fupport  and  relief 
 like  thefe,  mull:  make  us  more  than  conquerors 
 under  every  trial. 
 
 As  your  views  are  ftill  towards  the  miniftry, 
 I  pray  God  to  blefs,  profper,  and  direct  all  your 
 purfuits  which  lead  to  it ;  the  undertaking  is 
 great,  but  the  work  itfelf  is  delightful ;  and 
 r11  its  delights  are  often  neceflary,  to  compenfate 
 for  the  many  diftreffes  incident  to  a  faithful  dif- 
 charge  of  it.  It  was  a  faying  of  Luther's, 
 **  that  prayer,  meditation,  and  temptation,  made 
 "  a  minifter."  He  muft  learn  the  lelTons  which 
 he  is  to  teach,  and  therefore  muft  be  an  exer- 
 cifed  and  experienced  Chriftian.  Divine  teach- 
 ing can  alone  furnifh  him  with  thefe  requifites, 
 without  which,  learning,  and  eloquence,  and  all 
 other  accomplilhmcnts,  *'  are  but  as  founding 
 brafs,  or  a  tinkling  cymbal."  It  is  true  that 
 Apollos  was  an  eloquent  man,  but  he  was  alfa 
 mighty  in  the  Scriptures :  and  the  Apoftle  Paul 
 was  brought  up  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel,  but  it 
 was  neceflary  that  he  (hould  be  brought  to  the 
 feet  of  Christ,  before  he  could  become  g 
 C  c  2j  minifter  j 
 
3$  8  LETTERS* 
 
 minifter ;  and  then  he  difclaims  the  excellenqr 
 of  fpeech,  and  "  the  enticing  words  of  man's 
 **  wifdom,"  and  determines  to  know  nothing 
 among  his  hearers,  *'  but  Jesus  Christ  and 
 **  Him  crucified,"  and  for  the  fuccefs  of 
 which  preaching  and  teaching,  he  depends  upon 
 "  the  demonflration  of  the  fpirit,  and  the 
 **  power  of  God." 
 
 I  hardly  know  what  books  to  advife  you  to 
 read  ;  ecclefiaftical  hiftory  is  a  ufeful  ftudy  for 
 a  minifter,  and  Mofheim*s  is  the  beft  that  we 
 have  j  but  I  remember  when  at  Oxford,  to  have 
 met  with  a  fermon  of  Dr.  Home's,  the  prefent 
 dean  of  Canterbury,  in  which  he  fays,  **  read 
 **  human  authors,  but  J^udy  the  Bible ;  as  they 
 **  have  wrote  and  preached,  fo  let  them  be  read 
 **  and  believed,  but  call  no  man  your  mafter 
 **  upon  earth,  for  one  is  your  mafter  even 
 **  Christ  ;  and  call  no  man  your  father  upon 
 **  earth,  for  one  is  your  Father,  who  is  in 
 "  heaven."  This  fentence  influenced  greatly 
 my  ftudies  in  divinity,  and  almoft  confined  them 
 to  the  Scriptures  themfelves,  which  being  read 
 in  the  original  Greek  and  Hebrew,  with  fuch 
 valuable  helps  as  Mr.  Parkhurft's  Lexicons, 
 and  Pool's  Synopfis  Criticorum,  I  am  perfuaded 
 bring  more  light  into  the  underftanding,  and 
 furnifti  vnotQ  folid  materials  for  ^  ufeful  minif- 
 try,  than  all  other  books  whatfoever. 
 
 I  would 
 
LETTERS.  389 
 
 I  would  advife  you,  if  you  have  time,  to  get 
 a  little  acquaintance  with  the  Hebrew  language, 
 which  you  will  find  extremely  eafy,  and  I  will 
 endeavour  to  fend  you  Mr.  Parkhurft*s  Gram- 
 mar and  Lexicon,  of  which  I  will  beg  your 
 acceptance.  I  will  fend  it  to  Mr.  Campbell's 
 at  Edinburgh,  and  get  him  to  fend  it  for  you, 
 to  Mr.  Dale's  at  Glafgow.  As  to  other  books, 
 as  I  fuppofe  you  will  exercife  your  miniftry  in 
 the  Church  of  Scotland,  I  fhould  think  that 
 Mr.  Balfour  could  tell  you  of  many  that  might 
 be  exceedingly  ufeful. 
 
 Mrs.    Cadogan  unites  with  me  in  all  kind 
 wifhes  to  you  and  your*s.     You  muft  remember 
 ius  in  your  prayers,  and  believe  me. 
 Dear  Sir, 
 Moft  fincerely  and  afFe(5tionately  your's, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Reading^  Jan.  25,   1 788. 
 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  WAS  favoured  with  your  letter  of  the  eighth, 
 
 and  fhould  have  anfwered  it  fooner,  had  I  not 
 
 been  exped:ing  another  every  day  fince.     Mrs. 
 
 Cadogan  was  made  very  uneafy  by  the  account 
 
 C  c  3  which 
 
390  LETTERS. 
 
 which  you  fent  of  • ,  and  is  anxious  to  hear 
 
 more  particulars  refpe(5ting  that  matter  j  nor  is 
 fhe  lefs  anxious   to  hear  how  affairs  are  fettled 
 
 But  our  Bible  fays  "  be  careful  for  nothing, 
 
 ♦*  but  caft  all  your  care  upon  Him  who  careth 
 
 **  for  you  ;  and  in  all  things  by  prayer  and 
 
 "  fupplication  with  thankfgiving,  let  your  re- 
 
 "  quefts  be  made  known   unto  God."     Could 
 
 we  learn  this   fecret  all  would    be  well ;    we 
 
 cannot  learn  it  in  the  fchool  of  nature,  but  the 
 
 grace,    which  bringeth  falvation,  **   teaches  to 
 
 **  deny    ungodlincfs    and    worldly   liifts,    and 
 
 •  •  to  live  foberly,  righteoufly,  and  godly  in  this 
 
 **  prefent  world  :  looking  for  that  bleffed  hope 
 
 **  and   glorious  appearing  of  the    great   God, 
 
 **  and  our  Saviour  Jesus   Christ."     He  is 
 
 the  great  God  and  our  Saviour;  if  He  is  our 
 
 portion,  we  can  want  nothing.     All  wills  are 
 
 made,  and  all   earthly   goods   are    difpofed  by 
 
 Him,  **  by  whom  all  things  confill,  and  with- 
 
 **  out  whom  not  even  a  fparrow  falls   to  the 
 
 '*  ground."     If  He  fees  fit  you  will  be  mafter 
 
 of  Renton,  and  if  you  are,  you  will  have  much 
 
 more  than  He  had  upon  earth,  who  had  not  fo 
 
 large  a  territory,  or  fo  quiet  a  retreat,  as  the 
 
 foxes,  or  the  fowls  of  the  air.     Well  then,  if 
 
 He  has  redeemed  me,  let  Him  claim  and  keep 
 
 me  for    His    own.      If   I  am  His    purchafed 
 
 pofTellion , 
 
LJETTERS.  395 
 
 poffeflion,  let  me  feel  His  right  to  difpofe  of 
 me,  and  pray  only  that  He  would  feal  me  with 
 that  holy  fpirit  of  promife,  which  is  the  earnefl 
 of  our  inheritance,  until  the  redemption  of  our 
 body.  Our  glory  in  that  ftate  will  not  be 
 tarnifhed  by  our  vilenefs  or  obfcurity  in  this. 
 Indeed,  if  it  can  derive  any  thing,  it  muft  de* 
 rive  luftre  from  them,  as  the  Lamb  is  worthy 
 to  receive  riches,  and  wifdom,  and  honour, 
 and  might,  and  glory,  and  bleiling,  becaufe  He 
 is  the  Lamb  that  was  llain.  And,  O !  What  a 
 privilege,  to  be  followers  of  Him  ! 
 
 I  was   glad  to  hear  of  a  fettlement  between 
 
 and  you,  by  which  I  hope  you  will  be 
 
 enabled  to  go  on  with  your  bufinefs  comfort- 
 ably and  profperoufly.  When  a  man's  way$ 
 pleafe  the  Lord,  He  maketh  even  his  enemies 
 to  be  at  peace  with  him.  Our  Chriftian  calling, 
 whilft  it  expofes  us  to  many  enemies,  leads  us 
 not  fo  much  to  encounter  them,  as  to  cleave 
 and  pray  to  the  Captain  of  our  falvation.  Liv- 
 ing in  His  prefence,  we  are  fuperior  to  all  that  is 
 againft  us,  in  our  way  to  His  glory.  Ouradverfa- 
 ries  have  then  as  little  power  over  our  temper, 
 as  over  our  faith.  His  name  being  the  objedl 
 of  our  fear,  hope,  love,  and  every  affecSlion, 
 earthly  objed:s  become  altogether  lighter  than 
 vanity.  *'  This  is  the  vidory  that  overcometh 
 ^*  the  world,  even  our  faith  j  and  who  is  he 
 Cc  4  **  that 
 
392  LETTERS. 
 
 **  that  overcometh  the  world,  but  he  that  be- 
 **  lieveth  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God  ?**  You 
 have  tafted  that  He  is  gracious  ;  you  have  trufted 
 Him,  and  found  that  He  is  to  be  trufted ;  and 
 therefore  come  to  Him,  "  as  unto  a  hving  ftone, 
 **  difallowed  indeed  of  men,  but  chofen  of 
 **  God  and  precious,'*  that  you  may  be  built 
 up  in  Him,  grow  up  into  Him  in  all  things, 
 eftablifbed  in  the  faith,  and  abounding  therein 
 with  thankfgiving. 
 
 This  is  your  bufinefs  and  mine,  and  if,  as  it 
 will  often  happen,  we  are  careful  and  troubled 
 about  many  things,  we  mufl  get  rid  of  all  our 
 troubles,  by  reverting  to  this,  and  being  re- 
 minded, that  •'  one  thing  is  needful."  I  need, 
 like  Peter,  a  frequent  look  from  Jesus,  to  recall 
 me  to  Himfelf,  and  to  weeping  and  mourning, 
 for  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief  in  departing  from 
 Him,  and  denying  Him.  But  a  glance  from 
 Him  is  fufficient  to  fhew  me  that  He  is  alone 
 and  altogether  lovely ;  whofoever,  therefore, 
 would  know  Him,  **  muft  deny  himfelf,  take 
 "  up  His  crofs,  forfake  all,  and  follow  Him." 
 Happy  for  you,  my  dear  Sir,  that  you  have 
 chofen  Him.  It  is  the  proper,  the  decifive 
 evidence,  that  He  hath  chofen  you. 
 
 Do  you  ever  fee  Dr.  Gillies,  Mr.  Balfour, 
 Mr.  Dale,  Mr.  Scott,  and  any  other  of  my 
 friends  at  Glafgow ;  tell  them  that  I  falute  them 
 
 cordially 
 
LETTERS.  393 
 
 cordially  in  Christ  Jesus;  I  would  love  all 
 that  love  Him. 
 
 I  am,  with  Mrs.  Cadogan*s  love  to  you  and 
 your*s,  and  all  proper  refpeds  to  Sir  Alexander, 
 and  Lady  Stirling, 
 
 Dear  Sir, 
 
 Moil  affectionately  your's, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  March  lO,  1788, 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  RECEIVED  your  letter  of  the  fixteenth  ult. 
 and  was  rejoiced  to  hear  of  fuch  an  interpoiition 
 of  Providence  in  favour  of  your  family  ;  but 
 more  of  the  interpofition  of  grace  in  favour  of 
 your  foul,  which  teaches  you  to  ufe  the  world 
 as  not  abufing  it ;  and  to  feek  the  enjoyment  of 
 temporal  goods,  in  the  knowledge  and  love  of 
 Him  who  gave  them.  In  the  fchool  of  Christ 
 wc  learn  both  to  be  full,  and  to  be  hungry,  to 
 abound,  and  to  fuffer  need :  to  be  content  in 
 every  ftate,  and  to  fit  fo  loofe  to  the  things  of 
 time,  in  the  midfl  of  them  all,  as  though 
 we  had  none,     i  Cor.  vii.  29. 
 
 I  wrote 
 
394  LETTERS. 
 
 I  wrote  to  your  father  to  congratulate  him 
 upon  this  acceflion  of  eftate  to  himfelf  and  his 
 family ;  and  to  exprefs  my  wifh  that  he  might 
 Jcnow  Him   who  giveth  all  things   richly   to 
 enjoy  ;  and  be  enabled  to  enjoy  His  gifts  to  His 
 glory.     But    "  how  hardly  do  they  that  have 
 ♦*  riches,  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God  !"  And 
 yet  riches  themfelves   cannot   keep  us   out,  if 
 God  determines  to  bring  us  in,  "  for  with  God 
 **  all  things   are  poflible."      I   truft  that  you 
 have  one  Father  in  heaven,  who  will  incline  the 
 hearts  of  your  earthly  parents  towards  you,  and 
 lead  them  to  do  every  thing  to  make  you  com- 
 fortable.    But  **  the  Lord  is  the  portion  of  my 
 **  inheritance,  and  my  cup.  Thou  fhalt  main- 
 *Vtain  my  lot."     Keep  faft  to  this,  and  you 
 can  want   no  manner  of    thing  that  is  good. 
 We  may  have  many  wants,  but  when  our  hea- 
 venly Father  has  formed  us  for  Himfelf,  He 
 makes  not  our  wifhes,  but  His  love,  the   rule 
 of  His  condud:   towards  us.      God    punifhed 
 the  murmuring  Ifraelites  by  giving  them  their 
 defire,  and  whilfl  they  had  meat  for  their  lufls 
 in  the  wildernefs,  they  had  leannefs  withal  in 
 their  fouj.     It  is  therefore  wifdom  and  under- 
 ftanding,  to  truft  in  Jehovah  only  andy^^r  ever. 
 When  we  know  Him  as  a  Father  who  gave 
 us   unto   His  Son,  and  His  Son   for   us,  and 
 *'  who  has  fent  the  fpirit  of  His  Son  into  our 
 
 *•  hearts, 
 
LETTERS,  395 
 
 **  hearts,  crying  Abba  Father,"  drawing  us 
 unto  Christ  Jesus  for  hfe  eternal,  we  may  b8 
 fure  that  He  will  freely  give  us  all  things. 
 **  All  are  your's,  and  ye  are  Christ's,  and 
 **  Christ  is  God*s." 
 
 Though  I  write  and  preach  about  thefe  things, 
 I  feel  myfelf  fadly  deficient  in  the  pra(5lical  ac- 
 quaintance with  them  ;  fears,  hopes,  and  lufls 
 of  other  things  enter  into  my  heart,  and  make 
 me  barren  and  unfruitful  in  the  knowledge  of 
 our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  But 
 He  changeth  not,  though  I  do;  moft  gladly 
 therefore  will  I  rather  glory  in  my  infirmities, 
 that  the  power  of  Christ  may  reft  upon  me; 
 and  that  my  life  being  hid  with  Christ  in 
 God,  and  not  in  my  keeping,  Christ  my  life 
 may  only  be  glorified  and  admired  in  me, 
 I  am,  Dear  Sir, 
 
 Moll  faithfully  your*s, 
 
 W.B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Cowes^  IJle  of  Wight^  Sept.  lo,  1 788. 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 FOUR  months  have  elapfed  fince  there  has 
 been  any  correfpondence  between  us,  and  I  fear 
 that  the  fault  is  mine. 
 
 J  hope 
 
396  LETTERS. 
 
 I  hope  that  this  will  find  you  and  your 
 family  comfortably  fettled  at  Glorat.  You 
 muft  not  follow  my  example,  but  let  us  hear 
 fpeedily  of  you  and  your's ;  we  fhall  be  glad 
 to  hear  how  you  do,  and  how  your  fouls  prof- 
 per,  and  that  you  are  {landing  together  in  the 
 faith  of  the  gofpel.  This  is  the  way  to  happi- 
 nefs  and  honour :  earthly  eftates  and  earthly 
 fettlements  are  mere  nothings  :  ' '  but  blefled  be 
 "  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
 **  Christ,  who  hath  begotten  us  again  to  a 
 **  lively  hope  by  the  refurre<5tion  of  Jesus 
 "  Christ  from  the  dead;  to  an  inheritance 
 **  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  unfading,  re- 
 **  fervedin  heaven  for  you,  who  are  kept  by 
 **  the  power  of  God,  through  faith,  unto  fal- 
 **  vation;  ready  to  be  revealed  in  the  laft  time.'* 
 What  a  fulnefs  is  there  in  this  paffage !  To  ap- 
 propriate and  experience  it  by  faith,  is  life 
 eternal.  If  we  are  born  to  fuchan  inheritance, 
 the  prefent  world  will  appear  but  little  worth  ; 
 it  is  not  worthy  of  thofe  who  are  taught  of 
 God  to  defire  a  better,  and  formed  by  Him  to 
 enjoy  it.  "  Happy  are  the  people,  that  are  in 
 "  fuch  a  cafe,  yea  bleffed  are  the  people,  whq 
 "  have  the  Lord  for  their  God." 
 
 But  though  a  granger  and  pilgrim  in  the 
 earth,  and  an  heir  and  citizen  of  heaven,  it  is 
 flill  your  duty  to  do  all  that  you  can  for  your 
 
 family  ^ 
 
letters;  597 
 
 family  ;  for  he  that  provideth  not  for  his  own, 
 and  efpecially  thofe  of  his  own  houfehold,  hath 
 denied  the  faith  and  is  worfe  than  an  infidel. 
 But  •*  feek  ye  firil  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
 **   His  righteoufnefs,  and  all  thefe  things  fliall 
 "  be  added  unto  you."     The  error  of  moft  men 
 is,  that  that  which  {hould  be  the  firfl,  is  their 
 laft  purfuit,  and  both  worlds  arc  loft,  by  being 
 too  anxious  for  one.     How  beautifully  does  the 
 Apoftle  moralize;     i  Cor.  vii.    **  This  I  fay, 
 *'  brethren,    time   is    fhort,"    &c.     And  how 
 gracioufly  has  God  dealt  with  you,  in  teaching 
 you  how  to  ufe  the  world  without  abufing  it, 
 before  He  put  you  in  polTeflion  of  it  !    Indeed, 
 when  God  giveth  Christ,  He  giveth  all  things. 
 Of  other  gifts  it  is  faid,  **  the  Lord  gave,  and 
 "  the  Lord  hath  taken  away;"  of  this  only, 
 that   He  gave,  never,  never  to  be  taken  away. 
 "  He  fo  loved  the  world,  that  He  gave   His 
 **  only  begotten  Son,  that  whofoever  believeth 
 **  in  Him,    fhould   not   perifli,  but  have  ever- 
 "  lafting  life."     Therefore   the   Apoftle   fays, 
 "  who    ftiall    feparate    us    from    the    love    of 
 "  Christ  ?"     Here  is  my  all ;  He  is  the  one 
 fubjed:  of  my  preaching;  and  would  to  God 
 my  heart  were  fo  purified,  that  He  was  the  one 
 obje(5t  of  my  defire  ! 
 
 Mrs. 
 
39^  lETTERS. 
 
 Mrs.  Csidogan  unites  with  mc  in  kindefi  re- 
 gards to  you  and  your's ;  and 
 I  am,  Dear  Sir, 
 
 Your  very  fincere  and  obedient 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  0£2.  19,  1789. 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  RECEIVED  your  letter  of  the  twenty  ninth 
 lilt,  and  (hould  have  written  to  you  before,  had 
 you  not  told  me  in  a  former  letter,  that  you  was 
 going  to  the  fea  fide,  and  that  you  would  write 
 to  me  from  thence  j  fo  that  I  hardly  knew  how 
 to  diredt  to  you. 
 
 You  no  doubt  can  fay  refped:ing  your  de- 
 parted child,  and  all  other  creature  comforts, 
 **  the  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
 "  away,  blefTed  be  His  name."  "  Blefs  the 
 "  Loud  at  all  times,  and  pour  out  your  hearts 
 **  before  Him,"  was  the  advice  given  long  ago 
 by  one  much  exercifed  in  the  fchool  of  afflid:ion. 
 All  God's  children  are  in  the  fame  fchool ;  they 
 are  taught  the  fame  lelTons  j  and  learn  by  what 
 
 they 
 
LETTERS.  399 
 
 they  lofe  on  the  one  hand,  and  what  they  win  on 
 the  other,  that  Christ  is  all  and  in  all. 
 
 We  have  been  abfent  from  home  about  two 
 months,  in  Shropfhire,  Warwickftiire,  Suffolk, 
 &c.  Our  journey  has  been  profitable  to  our 
 bodily  health,  as  we  are  returned  home  re- 
 markably well.  I  truft  too  that  the  prefence 
 of  the  Lord  was  with  us,  and  that  is  the  health 
 of  our  fouls.  Nay  I  would  hope  further,  that 
 others  have  been  profited,  as  the  Lord  opened 
 to  me  a  door  for  preaching  the  name  of  Jesus, 
 where  the  virtue  and  the  value  of  it  were  little 
 known.  I  pray  that  my  mouth  may  be  more 
 opened,  and  my  heart  more  enlarged,  in  a  work 
 of  all  others  the  mofl  happy  and  honourable. 
 But  I  believe  that  it  requires  more  grace  to  hear 
 than  to  preach  ;  and  flill  greater  grace  to  believe, 
 and  to  do. 
 
 May  this  great  grace  be  upon  you  and  me  ! 
 May  it  bring  falvation  to  us,  and  teach  us,  as 
 ftrangers  and  pilgrims  in  the  earth,  **  to  deny 
 **  ungodlinefs  and  worldly  lufls,"  &c.  and,  as 
 heirs  and  citizens  of  heaven,  **  to  look  for  that 
 "  blefled  hope,  and  glorious  appearing  of  the 
 **  great  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  !** 
 Here  is  a  profped:  which  brightens  upon  us 
 every  day,  and  the  things  which  befal  us  here 
 can  little  move  us,  when  they  occur  in  that 
 courfe  which  we  are  fure  to  finifh  with  joy. 
 
 O  what 
 
400  LETTERS. 
 
 O  what  a  divine  treafure  is  faith  ;  **  the  fub- 
 **  ftance  of  things  hoped  for,  and  the  evidence 
 *'  of  things  not  feen!"  And  what  a  mercy  to 
 have  it  in  our  earthen  velTels  !  It  is  the  key 
 which  opens  the  cabinet  of  heaven ;  it  is  the 
 hand  which  takes  from  thence  whatever  is  re- 
 quifite  for  the  prefent  ufe  and  comfort  of  our 
 fouls  j  it  is  that  gift  and  operation  of  God,  by 
 which  He  himfelf  is  known  and  enjoyed  ;  and 
 it  is  therefore  j  uftly  faid  of  thofe  who  have  it, 
 that  nothing  fhall  be  impoffible  unto  them. 
 How  hght  and  momentary,  do  all  difficulties 
 and  diflreffes  appear,  when  this  principle  is 
 adlive  and  lively  !  It  teaches  us  to  win  by  fuffer- 
 ing,  to  fave  by  lofing,  and  to  live  by  dying. 
 In  a  word,  it  unites  to  Him  who  is  love  itfelf, 
 and  doeth  all  things  well. — **  Lord  I  believe, 
 "  help  Thou  mine  unbelief!" 
 
 Pleafe  to  prefent  my  compliments  to  your 
 father,  and  tell  him,  that  I  have  received  the 
 draughts  from  Mr.  Mitchelfon  at  Edinburgh ; 
 that  I  have  paid  one,  and  will  pay  the  other, 
 when  it  is  due,  and  get  the  receipt  for  the  money 
 as  before.  Pleafe  to  tell  him  too,  what  he 
 knows  by  experience,  that  if  riches  increafe, 
 his  heart  fliould  not  be  fet  upon  them ;  they 
 cannot  deliver  from  difeafe  or  death.  Preach  to 
 Him  the  unfearchable  riches   of  Christ,  and 
 
 tell 
 
LETTERS.  401 
 
 tell  him  if  he  pofTefles  thefe,  he  has  found  a 
 ranfom. 
 
 Remember  Mrs.  Cadogaii  and  me  kindly  to 
 Lady  Stirling-  and  him;  to  Mrs.  Stirling  and 
 all  your  family.  Seek  an  alliance  with  Jesus 
 Christ,  of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven 
 and  earth  is  named.  May  His  God  and  Father 
 give  you  the  fpirit  of  wifdom  and  revelation,  in 
 the  knowledge  of  Him  !  That  you  may  know 
 Father,  Son,  and  Spirit  to  be  one  Jehovah  ;  and 
 to  be  your  one  hope  and  portion  in  the  land  oi 
 
 the  living. 
 
 I  am,  Dear  Sir, 
 
 Very  fincerely  your*s, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN, 
 
 TO  THOMAS  WILLATTS,  Esq. 
 
 Chelfea,  Oc"?.  25,   1787. 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  RECOMMEND  to  you,  as  the  beft  companion 
 in  your  journey,  Jesus  Christ  j  and  I  venture 
 to  do  it  upon  His  own  word  of  promife,  *'  Lo, 
 **  I  am  with  you  always."  We  have  not  only 
 His  grace,  which  is  fufficient  for  us,  and  His 
 ftrength,  which  is  made  perfedl  in  our  weaknefs, 
 D  d  but 
 
402  LETTERS. 
 
 but  His  prefence  to  go  with  us  wherefoever  we 
 go.  So  much  is  implied  in  His  name  Immanuel, 
 which  being  interpreted  is,   "  God  with  us." 
 
 Tiie  beUef  of  this  truth  is   the  beft  fecurity 
 
 1  know  againft   evil    communications,    which 
 
 corrupt  good  manners.     As  light  difpels  dark- 
 
 nefs,  fo  does   the  prefence  of  God  all  fin  and 
 
 iniquity  ;  and  our  company  will  be  choice,  and 
 
 our  converfation  edifying,  when  God  dwelleth 
 
 in  us  and  we  in  God.     What  amazing  grace, 
 
 that  we  who  are  i'o  far  from  God   by  nature, 
 
 ihould  be  made  nigh  to  him  again,  and  that  by 
 
 fuch  a  way  as  by  the  blood  of  Jesus  !    This 
 
 way  is   open  to   you,  make  ufe  of  it ;    draw 
 
 near  with  a  true  heart  and  full  alTurance  of 
 
 faith.     And  be  fure  to  keep  in   the  new  and 
 
 living  way,  which   God  hath  confecrated   for 
 
 you.     You  w^ill  then   travel  to  fome  piirpofe. 
 
 The   pleafure  and  health  of  your  foul  will  be 
 
 promoted  by  the  moil  falubrious  air,  the  mofl 
 
 delightful  profpe<fl:s,  and  whatever  can  refrefh 
 
 and  gratify  you  in  your  journey.     And  though 
 
 you  have  to  pafs  through  the  valley  and  fhadow 
 
 of  death,  you  need  fear  no  evil,  for  God  will 
 
 be  with  you,    His   loving-kindnefs    and   truth 
 
 (hall  follow  you  all  the  days  of  your  life,  and 
 
 you  fliall  dwell  in  His  houfe  for  ever. 
 
 Pray  for, 
 
 Yoiu-'s  moft  fincerely, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 TO 
 
LETTERS.  403 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  Jan.  i,  1788. 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 1  WILL  certainly,  if  1  live,  and  the  Lord 
 will  (two  if's  which  (hoiild  accompany  all  our 
 refolutions,  James  iv.  15.)  call  upon  you  to- 
 morrow morning ;  with  thefe  two  if*s^  I  wifli 
 you  many  happy  years.  In  Christ  there  is  no 
 if',  it  is  all  *'  yea  and  afnen  ;"  and  whatever  you 
 do  in  Him  is  bleffed  for  evermore. 
 
 Your's  moft  fincerely, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  REV.  MR.  KINGSBURY. 
 
 Chelfea,  Feb.  23,  1 789. 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 MRS.  CADOGAN  and  I  are  much  indebted 
 to  you  for  three,  and  part  of  a  fourth,  very 
 delightful  flieets  from  Southampton  ;  the  laft 
 part  I  received  on  Saturday,  juft  after  I  had  fent 
 Mr.  Samuel  Taylor's  letter  to  the  poft.  It  gave 
 us  great  pleafure  to  hear,  that  both  your  foul 
 and  body  were  refrefhed  by  your  vifit  to 
 D  d  2  Reading  ; 
 
404  LETTERS. 
 
 Reading  ;  we  can  truly  fay  that  we  were  fo,  and 
 felt  much  at  parting  with  you  fo  foon  :  but  we 
 hope  for  another,  and  another  vifit;  as  we 
 always  expecSt  from  our  friends,  when  they  ex- 
 prefs  themfelves  pleafed  with  the  poor  reception 
 which  we  can  give  them  under  our  roof,  that 
 they  will  try  us  again ;  and  not  till  after  many 
 many  trials,  to  write  '*  probatum  efl.^* 
 
 You  ferve  a  God,  my  dear  Sir,  from  whom 
 you  cannot  withhold  your  teftimony.  Who  is 
 a  God  like  unto  Thee  1  There  is  none  that  can 
 do  as  thou  doeft,  and  no  creature  can  be  happy 
 but  in  thine  hands,  and  in  unreferved  fubmif- 
 fion  to  thy  fovereign  will !  Upon  every  creature 
 comfort  He  infcribes  when  He  gives  it,  *'  to  be 
 "  taken  away  at  pleafure ;"  and  teaches  us  to 
 have  all  as  though  we  had  none.  Walking  by 
 faith,  and  not  by  fight, — what  harmony,  what 
 beauty,  what  grace,  can  we  difcern  in  all  God*s 
 difpenfations  !  Their  uniform  tendency,  is  to 
 work  together  for  our  good,  to  wean  us  from 
 earth,  and  to  waft  us  to  heaven  ;  to  draw  out 
 our  hearts  in  praife  and  prayer  to  the  God  of 
 love,  and  lead  us  to  the  knowledge  an4  enjoy- 
 ment of  His  gift. 
 
 **  If  thou  kneweft  the  gift  of  God,  and  who 
 *'-.it  is  that  faith  unto  tliee  give  me  to  drink, 
 **  thou  wouldeil:  have  afked  of  Him,  and  He 
 *'  would  have  given  thee   living   water."     It 
 
 I'eemed 
 
LETTERS.  405 
 
 feemed  ftrange  to  a  woman  of  Samaria,  that  a 
 man,  being  a  Jew,  fliould  afk  drink  of  a  Sama- 
 ritan ;  but  ftrange,  pafling  ftrange,  that  a  man, 
 being  God  and  Lord,  fliould  afk  drink  of  a 
 finner,  and  take  the  cup  of  forrow  and  death 
 from  thofe  who  had  nothing  elfe  for  their 
 portion,  in  order  that  they  may  afk  and  receive 
 of  Him  the  bread  of  life,  and  the  cup  of  fal- 
 vation.  What  a  well  of  life  is  here  !  What  a 
 fountain  opened  for  fin  and  uncleannefs  i  It  is 
 Beerfheba,  Bethfaida,  and  Siloam,  where  we 
 may  wafh  and  be  clean, — drink  and  be  fatisfied, 
 — and  have  in  us  **  a  well  of  water  fp ringing 
 '•  up  unto  everlafling  life.'* 
 
 The  patriarch  Jacob's  funeral  fermon  was 
 preached  lafl  Thurfday  evening  at  Reading, 
 where  I  took  leave,  for  a  fhort  feafon,  of  a  very 
 attentive  and  affectionate  congregation.-  Wc 
 followed  Ifrael  from  Beerfheba  to  Egypt — took 
 notice  of  his  meeting  with  Jofeph — his  intro- 
 duction to  Pharaoh — his  teftimony  for  God 
 when  he  bleffed  Ephraim  and  Manalfch — his 
 fidelity  to  his  children,  in  defcribing  to  each 
 tribe  its  real  character  and  certain  deftinationj  and 
 the  fweet  compofure  with  which  he  met  his 
 dilfolution — gathering  up  his  feet  into  the  bed, 
 yielding  up  the  ghofl,  and  fo  being  gathered 
 unto  his  people. 
 
 D  d  3  In 
 
406  LETTERS. 
 
 In  death,  in  judgment,  and  in  eternity,  all 
 God's  people  are  gathered  together.  What  a 
 comfort  to  think  that  they  are  ftill  collefting, 
 and  to  be  brought  one  by  one  out  of  every  na- 
 tion, and  tongue,  and  kindred,  and  people ; 
 and  that  God  hath  provided  better  things  for  us, 
 that  they,  who  have  gone  before,  fhould  not  be 
 made  perfed:  without  us;  hence  I  fuppofe  it 
 probable,  that  the  death-bed  of  every  believer 
 is  delightful ;  all  may  feel,  what  all  are  not 
 called  to  exprefs.  Abraham  and  Ifaac  do  not 
 leave  a  dying  teftimony  behind  them  :  Jacob 
 does,  but  they  all  died  in  faith,  not  having  re- 
 ceived the  promifes,  but  having  feen  them  afar 
 ofF,  and  were  perfuaded  of  them,  and  embraced 
 them,  and  confefled  that  they  were  ftrangers 
 and  pilgrims  on  the  earth. 
 
 You  have  been  lately  at  a  death-bed,  no  lefs 
 happy  or  infl:ru6tive  than  any  of  theirs ;  and 
 ought  not  this  daughter  of  Abraham  to  have 
 been  loofed  from  her  infirmity,  though  all  who 
 knew  her,  and  one,  above  all  the  reft,  would 
 fain  have  detained  her  longer  ?  But  ought  fhe 
 not  to  have  been  delivered  from  the  bondage  of 
 corruption,  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the 
 children  of  God  ?  What  can  infpire  a  wifh  to 
 bring  her  back  again  ?  Not  gracious  impreflion ; 
 not  natural  affecStion  ;  here  both  are  at  agree- 
 ment, and  fay,  Let  her  reft  and  be  happy ;  let 
 
 me 
 
LETTERS.  407 
 
 me   00  unto  her,    but   let  not    her  return    to 
 nie ! 
 
 Soon,  my  dear  Sir,  and  your  defire  to  be 
 with  Christ,  and  your  Chriftian  partner  fliall 
 be  gratified  to  the  full,  **  more  and  better  than 
 **  you  can  afk  or  think  :**  in  the  mean  time,  it 
 is  needful  for  you  to  abide  in  the  flefli ;  needful 
 for  yourfelf,  your  children,  your  fcholars,  and 
 your  flock.  May  the  Lord  of  hofts  be  with 
 you,  and  the  God  of  Jacob  be  your  refuge,  in 
 the  difcharge  of  every  duty,  and  the  improve- 
 ment of  every  talent  committed  to  you  by  Him. 
 May  you  live  and  die  in  the  fervice  and  faith  of 
 the  befl:  of  Mafters,  and  receive  from  Him  the 
 beft  of  eulogies,  **  well  done  thou  good  and 
 **  faithful  fervant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of 
 '*  thy  Lord." 
 
 We  had  a  profperous  journey,  by  the  will 
 of  God,  to  this  place  on  Friday  laft,  but  whe- 
 ther upon  the  journey  itfelf,  or  fince,  Mrs.  C. 
 has  caught  a  fad  cold,  which  has  fettled  in  her 
 head,  face,  and  teeth  ;  fo  that  for  thefe  three 
 days  and  nights,  fhe  has  been  in  almoft  incclTant 
 pain ;  but  fhe  can  complain  of  nothing,  with  a 
 promife  that  all  things  (hall  work  together  for 
 good  ;  and  if  it  be  true,  that  whom  the  Lord 
 loveth  He  chaflcneth,  the  more  He  chafteneth, 
 the  more  we  fliould  love  Him.  **  Therefore 
 D  d  4  **  blcfs 
 
408  LETTERS. 
 
 *'  blefs   the  Lord  O  my   foul,  and  all  that  is 
 "  within  me  blefs  His  holy  name." 
 
 Pray  for  us,  and  remember  us  kindly  to  Mifs 
 Kingfbury,  and  all  that   are  in  your  houfe,  to 
 all    Mr.   Taylor's    family,    and    the    brethren 
 which  are  in  Christ  at  Southampton. 
 I  am,  Dear  Sir, 
 Moft  fincerely  and  afFed:ionately  your's, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  MISS  LITTLEHALES. 
 
 Readings  Jpr/l  14,   1789. 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 I  DESIRED  Sir  Richard  Hill  to  tell  you,  that 
 though  I  had  not  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  I 
 fhould  foon  put  it  to  paper,  that  I  might  com- 
 municate with  you  in  your  afflid:ion.  As  mem- 
 bers of  Christ  we  fuffer  and  rejoice  together, 
 and  our  lot  in  this  world,  though  caft  into  the 
 lap  of  time  and  of  chance,  is  already  difpofed 
 by  our  bleffed  Lord  and  Mafter.  "  In  the 
 **  world  ye  (liall  have  tribulation,"  but  a  pre- 
 cious promife  is  annexed  to  this  lot,  *'  in  Me 
 "  yc  thall  have  peace."  We  are  therefore  to 
 expert  nothing  but  trouble  from  the  world,  and 
 
 nothing 
 
LETTERS^  409 
 
 nothing  but  peace  from  Christ,  **  whom  hav- 
 "  ing  not  feen  ye  love  j  in  whom  though  ye 
 *'  now  fee  Him  not,  yet  beheving,  ye  rejoice 
 "  with  joy  unfpeakable  and  full  of  glory  :" 
 and  that,  though  now  for  a  feafon,  if  need  be, 
 ye  are  in  heavinefs  through  manifold  tempta- 
 tions. 
 
 Indeed  every  temptation  becomes  a  fource  of 
 joy,  when  it  is  coniidered  as  a  trial  of  that 
 faith  which  is  much  more  precious  than  gold 
 which  perifheth,  and  whkh,  though  tried  in  the 
 fire,  will  be  found  unto  praife,  and  honour,  and 
 glory  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ. 
 What  fo  precious,  my  dear  Madam,  as  the 
 faith  of  God's  gift  and  operation !  It  is  the 
 knowledge,  pofleffion,  and  enjoyment  of  the 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We  have  this  treafure 
 in  earthen  velTels,  and  though  it  be  call:  in  the 
 botteft  furnace,  it  will  come  out  more  pure  than 
 it  went  in.  When  the  three  believing  Jews 
 were  caft  into  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  the 
 king  by  whofe  decree  they  were  fent  there, 
 cried  out  with  aflonifhment,  *'  Lo  I  fee  four  men 
 •'  loofe,  walking  in  the  midft  of  the  fire,  and 
 **  the  form  of  the  fourth  is  like  the  Son  of 
 *'  God."  The  confequence  was,  that  not  a 
 hair  of  their  head  was  finged,  nor  had  the  fmell 
 of  fire  pafled  upon  them. 
 
 "   Immanuel, 
 
4IO  LETTERS. 
 
 '*  Immanuel,  God  with  us,"  is  the  natne 
 which  impHes  every  thing.  My  prefence  fliall 
 go  with  thee,  and  I  will  give  thee  reft :  and 
 where  the  prefence  of  the  Lord  is,  all  is  love, 
 life  and  heaven.  Jesus  wept,  and  the  reafon 
 was,  becaiife  *'  for  as  much  as  the  children  are 
 ''  partakers  of  flefli  and  blood.  He  Himfelf 
 **  likewife  took  part  of  the  fame."  Weep 
 therefore  with  Him.  '*  He  is  touched  with 
 *'  the  feeling  of  your  itifirmities.  He  hath  bore 
 **  *hy  griefs,  and  carried  thy  forrows."  Thou 
 mayeft  call  Him  brother,  and  He  will  call  thee 
 fifter.  He  is  a  loving  and  almighty  brother; 
 whatfoever  is  done  upon  earth.  He  doeth  it 
 Himfelf;  and  I  am  fure  you  cannot  but  fay, 
 **  He  hath  done  all  things  well." 
 I  remain. 
 
 Very  faithfully  and  affed:ionately  your*s, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  MRS.  EDWARDS. 
 
 Readings  May  6,   1 789. 
 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 I  WAS  favoured  with  your's  of  the  fourth  of 
 laft  month,  and  was  forry  to  read  of  the  fick- 
 nefs  which  had  prevailed  in  your  family,  but 
 
 rejoiced 
 
LETTERS.  411 
 
 rejoiced  at  the  fame  time  to  hear  you  finging 
 both  of  mercy  and  jugment.  Such  a  fong  ever 
 becometh  the  hoiife  of  God,  for  the  judgment 
 which  begins  there,  is  inflicted  by  love,  and 
 direcfted  by  wifdom.  We  have  been  alfo  vifited 
 with  ficknefs ;  Mrs.  Cadogan  having  caught 
 cold  upon  cold,  and  been  confined  for  three 
 weeks  with  an  inflammatory  fever,  from  which 
 (he  is  now,  thank  God,  recovered. 
 
 The  fpirit  of  God  fearcheth  all  things,  and 
 therefore  when  He  condefcends  to  be  our  teacher. 
 He  leads  us  to  the  root  and  fource  of  every 
 complaint,  and  that  is  Sin.  It  may  appear  in 
 different  parts,  and  in  different  fliapes,  but  Hill 
 at  the  bottom  of  all  is  fin,  and  the  feat  of  the 
 diforder  is  the  heart,  which  **  is  deceitful 
 *'  above  all  things  and  defperatcly  wicked.'* 
 When  our  views  are  thus  fimplified  and  clear, 
 as  to  the  fource  and  feat  of  every  evil,  then  wc 
 (hall  fee  more  and  more,  that  the  one  and  only 
 radical  cure  of  all,  is  Christ  Jesus.  **  He  is 
 "  the  tree  of  life,  whofe  fruit  is  for  the  healing 
 **  of  the  nations  ;'*  and  we  fliould  make  the 
 fame  ufe  of  Him  by  faith,  that  the  Ifraclitcs 
 were  commanded  to  do  of  the  wood  which 
 they  were  to  cafl  into  the  bitter  waters.  Exod. 
 XV.  23 — 26.  Tliis  tree,  among  other  virtues 
 that  it  polfefTes,  turns  every  bitter  into  fweet, 
 and  God  is  known  through  this  bleffed  medium, 
 
 by 
 
412  LETTERS. 
 
 by  the  befi;  of  charad:ers ;  (fo  fuitable  to  the 
 wretched,  miferable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and 
 naked)   "  I  am  the  Lord  that  healeth  thee !" 
 
 I  was  glad  to  hear  what,  upon  the  whole,  I 
 think  fo  good  an  account  of  your  fons ;  I  hope 
 
 that will  get  out  to  fea,  and  that  He  will 
 
 profit  by  beholding  upon  that  boifterous  element, 
 fo  juft  an  emblem  of  a  wicked  mind,  which  is 
 as  reftlefs  as  the  troubled  fea,  though  not  fo 
 pure,  for  it's  waters  caft"  up  mire  and  dirt. 
 And  I  truft  and  pray  that  a  loving  Father  will 
 follow  him  up,  and  prefs  him  fore,  and  correct 
 him  feverely,  till  he  feeks  and  finds  reft  in  his 
 dear  Son.     As  to  your  eldeft   fon,  I  am  quite 
 
 glad    that    He  is  removed  from ,  where 
 
 he  could  meet  with  nothing  but  temptations  to 
 idlenefs  and  vice.  His  prefent  line  of  life  has 
 certainly  its  temptations,  but  it  is  a  very  credit- 
 able line ;  it  is  a  profellion  and  employment, 
 neither  of  which  he  might  have  had,  if  he  had 
 
 continued  at ;  and  entering  into  it  with 
 
 the  advantages  he  has  done,  may  be  confidered 
 as  a  prefumptive  proof,  that  it  is  a  line  in  which 
 the  Lord  may  have  a  favour  unto  him,  and 
 may  God,  even  our  own  God,  give  him  His 
 blcfllng.  I  hope  that  your  daughters  are  well; 
 may  they  all  come  out  from  a  vain  trifling  and 
 dying  world,  and  be  in  deed  and  in  truth  the 
 daughters  of  the  Almighty  ! 
 
 Mrs. 
 
LETTERS.  413 
 
 Mrs.  C.  unites  with  me  in  love  to  you  and 
 your's,  and  all  friends  in  Wales.  Pray  for  us  ; 
 and  believe  me, 
 
 ,    Moft  linccrely  yoiir's, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN 
 
 TO  THE  SAAiE. 
 
 Reading,  0£l.  16,   1789, 
 DEAR  MADAM, 
 
 I  HAVE  been  much  revived  by  your  letter  con- 
 taining fo  good  an  account  of  the  profperous 
 (late  of  your  own  foul,  as  well  as  of  the  welfare 
 of  your  family.  I  call  that  foul  in  a  profperous 
 ftate  which  is  breathing  thankfulnefs  to  God 
 for  mercies,  and  receiving  them  as  aniwers  to 
 prayer.  This  breathing  is  the  breath  or  fpirit 
 of  our  God,  and  the  more  we  know  of  Him, 
 the  more  we  (hall  fet  our  feal  to  St.  Paul's  ac- 
 count of  Him,  that  He  is  the  God  of  all  com- 
 fort, and  who  particularly  comforteth  thofe  tliat 
 are  caft  down.  A  widow  with  five  children 
 feems  to  have  a  great  charge  and  much  care 
 upon  her  ;  but  the  Lord  faith,  *'  cafl  thy  bur- 
 **  den  and  thy  care  upon  Me;"  and  particularly 
 Jer.  xlix.    ii,  **  leave  thy  fatherlefs  children, 
 
 I  will 
 
4T4  LETTERS. 
 
 "  1   will  preferve    them    alive ;    and    let    thy 
 **  widows  trufi:  in  me.'* 
 
 With  fiich  commandments  and  promifes  as 
 thcfc,  it  is  your  duty  and  privilege  to  be  care- 
 ful for  nothing,  but  in  all  things,  by  prayer 
 and  fupplication  with  thankfgiving,  to  let  your 
 requcfts  be  made  known  unto  God.  You  have 
 learnt  this  lelfon  and  put  it  in  pra(5tice  :  when 
 appearances  were  unpromiling,  you  have  been 
 enabled  to  goto  a  throne  of  grace,  and  you  have 
 proofs  that  the  Lord  who  fitteth  upon  that 
 throne,  *'  both  heareth  and  anfwereth  prayer." 
 The  outward  reformation  of  your  fon  is  a  great 
 bleffing,  and  who  knows  but  it  may  proceed 
 from  an  inward  work  of  grace  upon  his  foul ; 
 however,  let  God  do  what  He  will  with  His 
 own.  He  fpeaks  to  you  both  in  His  word  and 
 by  His  Providence.  Pray  on  ;  pray  always ; 
 pray  for  your  children,  and  all  your  concerns ; 
 make  every  thing  a  matter  of  prayer,  and  it 
 becomes  a  bleffing.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that 
 Jane  has  recovered  the  ufe  of  her  limbs,  and  I 
 hope  and  pray  that  God  will  reftore  to  her  health 
 and  ftrcngth  alfo.  More  efpecially  that  He 
 will  fay  to  her,  with  the  demonflration  of  His 
 fpirit  and  power,  '*  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
 *'  Christ  of  Nazareth  rife  up  and  walk.** 
 This  is  worth  all ;  we  fliall  then  fee  her  in  the 
 temple  of  which  the  Lord  God  Almighty  and 
 
 the 
 
LETTERS.  415 
 
 the  Lamb  are  the  light,  walking  and  leaping, 
 and  praifing  God  for  ever.  There  (hall  be  no 
 complaint  of  ficknefs,  **  and  forrow  and  fighing 
 **  (hall  flee  away.'* 
 
 How  light  do  our  afflictions,  which  are  but 
 for  a  moment,  appear,  when  compared  with  fuch 
 glory  as  this  !  hideed  they  are  not  worthy  to  be 
 compared  with  it.  Walk  then  by  faith,  dear 
 Madam,  and  not  by  fight ;  **  look  not  to  the 
 "  things  that  are  feen,  but  to  the  things  that 
 "  are  not  feen  ;**  and  while  your  cares  leflen, 
 your  profpedls  will  brighten  every  day.  The 
 author  and  finiflier  of  that  faith  is  the  almighty 
 Jesus,  "  by  whom  and  for  whom  all  things 
 "  were  made,  and  by  whom  all  things  confift." 
 He  hath  all  power  in  heaven  and  in  earth  to 
 forgive  fin,  and  to  make  all  things  work  to- 
 gether for  good  to  them  who  come  to  Him  for 
 repentance  and  remillion. 
 
 To  Him  I  commit  and  commend  both  you 
 and  your*s  ;  may  He  blefs  you  and  keep  you, 
 and  lift  up  the  light  of  His  countenance  upon 
 you,  and  give  you  peace  ! 
 
 We  returned  home  this  day  fortnight,  after 
 our  fummer's  cxcurfion  into  Warwickfhirc, 
 Shroplhire,  Suffolk,  &c.  &c.  Mrs.  Cadogan 
 is  much  the  better  for  it,  and  I  truft  that  I  am 
 not  the  worfe,  and  that  fome  may  be  the  better 
 for  the  name  of  Jesus,    the  glad    tidings  of 
 
 which, 
 
41 6  LETTERS. 
 
 which,  I  have  been  called  to  publifh  where  it 
 was  little  known.  Remember  us  kindly  to  all 
 that  are  in  your  houfe,  to  Mrs.  Harris  and 
 family,  and  all  friends  who  are  fo  good  as  to 
 enquire  after  us ;  pray  for  us,  and  for  me  your 
 very  faithful 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 
 W,  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  2\fi^v,  7,   1 792. 
 DEAR    MADAM, 
 
 I  THANK  you  for  your  kind  letter,  and  for 
 your  equally  kind  intention  of  writing  to  Mrs. 
 Cadogan  at  Briftol ;  fhe  would  have  been  glad 
 to  have  heard  from  you,  but  could  not  poffibly 
 have  gone  to  fee  you,  not  only  on  account  of 
 the  roads  and  the  weather,  but  as  fhe  went  to 
 Briftol  merely  for  her  health,  fhe  was  obliged 
 to  remain  there  the  whole  fix  weeks  that  flie 
 W"as  abfent,  in  order  to  give  the  waters  a  fair 
 trial.  I  went  back  to  her  again  after  my  re- 
 turn out  of  Suffolk,  and  we  came  home  the 
 beginning  of  laft  month.  She  was  upon  the 
 whole  better  for  her  expedition,  and  we  are 
 now,  thank  God,  both  verv  well. 
 
 2  '  We 
 
LETTERS.  417 
 
 We  liope  that  you  will  contrive  to  call  I'pon 
 us  at  Reading  in  your  way,  and  that  we  fhall 
 fee  you  at  Chelfea,  if  we  live  to  go  there,  early 
 in  the  fpring.  You  cannot  but  love  a  place 
 where  the  Lord  firft  met  you,  and  vifited  you 
 with  grace  and  redemption  ;  and  where,  I  truft, 
 though  appearances  are  not  fo  great  as  at  Read- 
 ing, that  He  has  met  many  more.  I  was  there 
 laft  Lord*s-day  week,  and  ftayed  over  Tuefday, 
 and  was  much  pleafed  with  what  I  faw  and 
 heard  there.  It  is  a  great  bleiling,  as  you  ob- 
 ferve,  to  have  a  Gofpel  miniltry,  and  a  ftill 
 greater  to  have  faith  to  receive  that  Gofpel : 
 **  blefled  art  thou,  Simon  Barjona,  for  flefh  and 
 *'  blood  hath  not  revealed  this  unto  thee,"  &c. 
 &c.  You  have  reafon  to  rejoice  in  both  thefe 
 bleffings ;  may  you  rejoice  in  them  more  and 
 more !  And  may  God's  mercies,  and  your 
 thankfulnefs,  go  hand  in  hand  ! 
 
 I  have  got  the  Olney  hymns,  and  have  read 
 the  forty  fifth,  of  the  fecond  book,  which  I 
 admire.  We  have  no  greater  proof  of  the 
 wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  God,  than  the  infti- 
 tution  of  the  fabbath,  which  is  coeval  with  the 
 creation  itfclf ;  and  which,  notwithftanding  the 
 entrance  of  (in  into  the  world,  has  been  con- 
 tinued in  love  to  God's  church  upon  earth,  as  a 
 ftanding  fign  of  the  reft  or  fabbath,  which  re- 
 mains for  the  church  in  heaven.     As  fuch  it 
 
 E  e  ^a? 
 
4l8  LETTERS.. 
 
 has  always  been  looked  upon  by  every  believer, 
 and  therefore  may  wdl  be  called  a  delight  ;  the 
 holy  of  the  Lord  and  honourable.  But  how 
 little  do  we  know  of  it,  till  we  know  that  the 
 Son  of  Man  is  the  Lord  of  it?  When  His 
 word  is  precious  to  our  fouls,  then  a  day  itt 
 apart  for  the  preaching  of  it,  and  for  the  honour 
 that  is  due  to  His  name,  is  precious  too. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  joins   with  me  in  all  chrif- 
 tian  regards  to  you  and  your*s ;  and 
 I  am,  Dear  Madam, 
 
 Your  very  faithful  and 
 
 Obedient  Friend  and  Servant, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  ALEXANDER  MURRAY,  Esq^ 
 
 Reading,  Dec.  17,   1789. 
 MY  DEAR  SIR, 
 
 THE  poft  of  this  day  conveyed  to  me  your 
 melancholy  and  pleafing  letter ;  melancholy, 
 as  it  brought  the  account  of  a  lofs,  which  muft 
 and  ought  to  be  moft  feverely  felt ;  but  plealing, 
 as  it  reprefents  the  ftate  of  your  own  foul,  to 
 be  fuch,  as  muft  infallibly  turn  every  lofs  into 
 gain.     Faith  working  by  love,  is  the  true  phi- 
 
 lofopher*s 
 
LETTERS.  419 
 
 lofopher*s  ftone,  which  turns  every  thing  into 
 gold  :  as  the  gift  and  operation  of  God,  it  is 
 itfclf  pure  fterhng  gold,  the  value  and  virtue  of 
 which  are  known,   when  it   is  tried  in  the  fire. 
 
 It  is  then  found  to  be  much  more  precious 
 than  gold  that  perifheth,  and  it  will  be  brought 
 out  to  the  praife,  and  honour,  and  glory  of 
 Him  that  gave  it,  at  the  appearing  of  its  Author 
 and  Finifher  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 This  world  is  a  world  of  trial  to  all  :  one 
 Lord  prefides  in  it,  who  knoweth  how  to  re- 
 ferve  the  unjuft  to  the  day  of  judgment  to  be 
 punilfhed,  and  deliver  the  godly  out  of  tempta- 
 tions, to  be  glorified  for  evermore.  How  dif- 
 ferent are  thefe  charad:ers,  purfuits,  and  ends  ! 
 How  happy,  my  dear  Sir,  are  you,  whom  God 
 hath  taught  the  truth,  which  is  after  godlinefs  ! 
 The  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  which  makes  us 
 free  from  fin  and  death,  this  is  the  great  ante- 
 dote  to  the  poifon  of  him,  who  was  a  liar  and 
 a  murderer  from  the  beginning  ;  as  a  lie  fepa- 
 rated  us  from  God,  fo  its  oppofite,  the  truth, 
 brings  us  to  Him.  The  fiiithful  liiying  and 
 worthy  of  all  acceptation  is,  that  "  Jesus  Christ 
 "  came  into  the  world  to  fave  finners,"  and  they 
 who  can  trufl  God  for  this,  may  truft  Him  for  all 
 things :  they  may  trufl  Him  for  love  unchangeable 
 and  everlafting,  and  that  love  is  the  fecret  Ipring 
 of  all  His  difpenfations  towards  them.  Nay,  it 
 E  e  2  is 
 
420  LETTERS. 
 
 is  not  always  the  fecret  fpring,  for  His  prefence 
 with  them  in  trouble,  often  lays  it  open  to  their 
 view.  **  When  thou  paiTeft  through  the  waters 
 **  I  will  be  with  thte,  and  when  thou  goeft 
 **  through  the  fire  thou  flialt  not  be  burnt,  nei- 
 *'  ther  ihall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee." 
 When  the  three  captive  Jews  were  caft  bound 
 into  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  what  a  fight 
 prefented  itfelf  to  the  tyrant,  who  had  put 
 them  there  !  **  Lo  I  fee  four  men  walking  loofe 
 **  in  the  midft  of  the  fire,  and  the  form  of  the 
 **  fourth  is  like  the  Son  of  God."  The  con- 
 fequence  was,  that  when  they  came  out,  not  a 
 hair  of  their  head  was  finged,  nor  had  the  fmell 
 of  fire  palTedupon  them. 
 
 The  fame  Son  of  God  has  promifed  to  you 
 and  me,  *'  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even 
 **  unto  the  end  of  the  world."  He  hath  no 
 where  faid  in  the  world  ye  (hall  not  have  tri- 
 bulation y  but  He  hath  faid  dire6tly  the  con- 
 trary j  and  His  name  is  "  Immanuel,  God 
 **  WITH  us"  in  all.  He  hath  engaged  as  a 
 refiner's  fire,  to  purge  away  all  our  drofs,  and 
 to  take  away  all  our  tin,  and  to  give  us  His 
 own  righteoufnefs,  falvation,  nature,  &c.  upon 
 which  the  fmell  of  fire  cannot  pafs,  nor  any 
 changes,  or  charges,  or  lofTes,  or  croffes, 
 make  the  leaft  alteration.  Nay  in  all  thefe 
 things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through 
 
 Him 
 
LETTERS.  4^1 
 
 Him  that  loved  us,  and  **  I  am  perfuaded  that 
 **  neither  height,  nor  depth,  nor  life,  nor  death, 
 •'  nor  any  other  creature,  fhall  be  able  to  fepa- 
 **  rate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in 
 **  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.''     Rom.  viii. 
 
 Here  are  the  wells  of  falvation,  and  with 
 fuch  fourccs  open  to  us,  with  faith  to  have 
 conftant  recourfe  to  them,  we  heed  not  doubt 
 but  that  where  our  afHicflions  abound,  our  con- 
 folations  fhall  abound  alfo,  and  that  infinitely 
 and  infinitely  more. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  weeps  with  you,  and  joins 
 with  me,  not  in  idle  compliments  to  yourfelf. 
 Lady  Bamff,  and  Mifs  Oglevies,  but  in  com- 
 mending you  to  the  God  of  all  grace  and  con- 
 fblation,  and  praying  that  He  who  comforteth 
 thofe  that  are  cafl  down,  may  be  your  fupport, 
 and  refuge,  and  everlafting  all. 
 I  am,  my  Dear  Sir, 
 
 Moll  fincerely  your's, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN 
 
 E  e  3  TO 
 
42C5  LETTERS, 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Reading^  Dec.  29,  1789, 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  AM  the  fcribe  of  Mrs.  Cadogan,  fhe  had 
 got  a  frank  meaning  to  write  herfelf,  but  find-? 
 ing  herfelf  unwell  has  employed  me.  We  are 
 anxious  to  know  how  you  are,  and  how  your 
 foul  profpereth.  If  it  be  true  that  "  whom 
 **  the  Lord  loveth  He  chafteneth,'*  and 
 **  fcourgeth  every  fon,  whom  He  receiveth  ;'* 
 it  is  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  every  frelh  cor-^ 
 red  ion,  will  be  followed  with  fome  frefh  tafte 
 of  His  love.  To  be  drawn  by  the  Father  unto 
 the  Son,  and  through  the  Son  to  know  who  the 
 Father  is,  are  to  be  reckoned  among  thofc  kind 
 difpenfations,  which  mark  the  people  who  are 
 truly  bleffed.  **  BleiTed  art  thou,  Simon  Bar- 
 "  jona,  for  Hefh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed 
 *'  this  unto  thee,  but  my  Father  who  is  in 
 *•  heaven;"  when  we  can  fay  to  Jesus  by  the 
 fpirits  teaching,  '*  Thou  art  the  Christ,  the 
 *'  Son  of  the  living  God  ;"  we  are  upon  a  fure 
 foundation,  a  tried  ftone,  and  precious  corner 
 ftone,  and  whofoever  believeth  in  Him,  never 
 fliall  be  confounded.  Our  circumftances  and 
 condition  may  change;  our  earthly  comforts 
 may  fail  us  ;  and  even  our  fouls  may  experience 
 
 the 
 
LETTERS.  42J 
 
 the  viciflitudcs  of  belief  and  unbelief,  of  joy 
 and  forrow ;  but  **  Jesus  Christ  is  the  fame 
 **  yefterday,  to  day,  and  forever;",  where  He 
 is,  God  is ;  yea,  all  the  fulnefs  of  the  God- 
 head ;  and  this  God  is  love. 
 
 Here  is  our  hope  and  flrong  hold.  To  be 
 perfuaded  that  God  is  love,  and  that  nothing 
 can  feparate  us  from  His  love,  which  is  ir) 
 Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  is  the  true  fait  which 
 never  lofes  its  favour.  It  feafons  every  event, 
 and  preferves  us  under  all ;  and  by  this  love  of 
 God  filed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy 
 Gholl,  we  are  enabled  to  caft  all  our  care  upon 
 Him,  to  commit  ourlelves  and  all  our  concerns 
 into  His  hands,  and  to  fay  under  the  fevereft 
 trials,  "  it  is  the  Lord  who  hath  loved  me 
 *'  with  an  evcrlafling  love,  who  hath  drawn 
 **  me  with  loving  kindnefs,  who  hath  given  to 
 **  me  His  Son,  and  with  Him  all  things; 
 fiirely  it  is  not  hard  to  fay  of  fuch  a  Lord  as 
 this,   "  let  Him  do  what  fecmetli  Him  good.'\ 
 
 The  atflidions  which  are  accomplilhed  in  all 
 God's  children  which  are  in  the  world,  ought 
 to  be  highly  valued  indeed,  when  confidercd  as 
 fo  many  calls  for  the  exercife  of  the  Father's 
 love,  and  the  children's  faith  ;  and  faith  work- 
 ing by  love,  is  the  very  temper  and  conftitu- 
 tion  of  a  Chriftian.  May  it  be  your's  and 
 mine ;  and  may  our  God  give  us  faith  and  try 
 E  e  4  it 
 
4^4  LfcTTERS. 
 
 it  too,  that  it  may  be  found  to  praife,  and 
 honour,  and  glory,  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus 
 Christ  ! 
 
 After  this  fcrawl  it  is  high  time  for  me  to 
 have  done,  and  to  refign  the  pen  into  Mrs.  Ca- 
 dogan's  hand,  that  fne  may  fay  fom.ething  for 
 herfelf,  and  convince  you  that  fhe  can  write, 
 though  it  is  but  Lttle.      —     —     —     —     — 
 
 My  dear  Friend,  as  I  found  myfelf  able  to 
 write  but  little,  1  thought  you  would  not  be 
 difplealed  to  have  part  wrote  by  Mr*  C.  as  we 
 both  fetl  much  for  you.  You  have  been  feldom 
 out  of  my  thoughts,  lince  we  received  your  laft 
 letter,  and  my  earnefl:  prayer  is,  that  the  Lord 
 may  comfort  you,  and  the  dear  friends  that 
 are  with  you,  and  fand:ify  this  heavy  afflidiion, 
 and  caufe  you  to  fing  of  mercy  in  the  midft  of 
 judgment :  we  fhall  be  anxious  to  hear  from  you, 
 and  to  know  how  dear  little  Jofeph  is ;  may  His 
 heavenly  Father  and  your's,  make  him  a  blef- 
 iing  to  you  ! 
 
 Mr.  Cadogan  joins  me  in  wifhing  you.  Lady 
 BamfF,  and  the  Mifs  Oglevies,  every  fpiritual 
 blefling  in  the  Lord. 
 
 I  am,  my  Dear  Sir, 
 Moll  affedtionately  and  fincerely 
 
 Your  Friend, 
 JANE  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO 
 
tETTE^RS.  425 
 
 TO  MRS.  HERVEY. 
 
 Lowejioft,  Aug.  29,   179 1. 
 DEAR  MRS.  HERVEY, 
 
 MRS.  CADOGAN  ought  to  have  thanked 
 you  for  your  letter,  but  flie  has  deferred  it  from 
 day  to  day,  and  at  length  throun  it  upon  me; 
 fo  that  whatever  trouble  I  give  you,  you  mufl 
 place  it  to  her  account. 
 
 Here  we  are  ftill,  but  I  can  anfvver  for  one 
 who  longs  to  be  at  home  again,  and  which  I 
 hope  to  be,  about  the  twenty-fixth  or  twenty- 
 feventh  of  September,  though  we  have  no  rea- 
 fon  to  complain  of  this  place,  nor  indeed  ought 
 we  to  complain  of  any,  becaule  "  the  e3''es  of  the 
 **  Lord  are  in  every  place  beholding  the  evil  and 
 **  the  good,"  and  Ihewing  himfclf  llrong  in  the 
 behalf  of  them  that  put  their  truft  in  Him. 
 The  faith  of  God's  operation  puts  omnipotence 
 in  action,  and  therefore  if  we  have  it,  nothing 
 fhall  be  impoffible  unto  us,  that  is  good  for  us. 
 The  heaven  of  heavens,  the  holy  of  holies, 
 the  prefence  of  God  are  all  accefhble ;  and 
 nothing  can  prevent  our  riling  and  living  with 
 a  rifen  and  living  Redeemer. 
 
 I  have  endeavoured  ro  recommend  His  name 
 to  the  people  at  Lowefloft,  and  faith  in  it  as  the 
 unfpeakable  gift  of  God,  by  which  the  virtues 
 
 of 
 
426  LETTERS. 
 
 of  it  are  to  be  known.  May  you  and  I  know 
 by  happy  experience,  that  His  name,  through 
 faith  in  it,  can  give  us  perfect  foundnefs  of  fpirit, 
 foul  and  body,  and  that  He  who  bears  it,  not 
 only  can  bring  us  to  God,  but  give  us  health 
 to  love  and  enjoy  Him,  as  the  ilrength  of  our 
 heart  and  our  portion  for  ever. 
 
 We  are  much  obliged  to  Mr.  H  —  for 
 packing  up  the  pears  for  Lady  Catherine,  as 
 indeed  we  are  for  many  other  things.  I  hope  to 
 repay  him  largely  in  fpirituals,  though  I  cannot 
 in  temporals ;  to  be  employed  as  His  fervant  for 
 Christ  Jesus's  fake,  and  to  be  an  inftrument 
 in  the  hands  of  our  common  Lord  of  imparting 
 the  choiceft  of  His  bleffings  to  his  foul.  Pray 
 tell  him  fo  with  iny  fincere  regards. 
 
 I  meant  to  have  wrote  to  Mrs.  Tudor  on  the 
 day  when  I  faw  her  Son;  my  heart  leaped  for 
 joy  upon  her  account.  She  fliould  learn  to 
 glory  in  her  forrow,  which  has  been  fo  often 
 turned  into  joy.  We  were  glad  to  hear  fo  good 
 accounts  of  all  you  mention  in  your  letter;  as 
 the  Howards,  my  old  friend  William,  (who 
 would  not  have  left  me,  if  he  had  loved  me  as 
 well  as  I  do  him)  Mrs.  Willats  and  her  Son; 
 Mrs.  and  Mifs  Young,  and  thofe  faithful  fol- 
 lowers of  the  Lord,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baylis. 
 I  could  mention  as  many,  and  twice  as  many 
 more,  in  and  about  Reading,  whom  I  love  in 
 
 the 
 
LETTERS.  427 
 
 the  Lord.  Pray  remember  us  to  them  all ;  to 
 your  nephew  and  niece  in  particular,  and  tell 
 them  that  when  the  fpirit  of  grace  and  fuppli- 
 cation  brings  them  glad  tidings  from  Him 
 whom  they  have  pierced,  and  enables  them  to 
 look  to  Him,  who  is  now  exalted  upon  a  throne 
 of  grace  to  hear  and  anfwer  them,  that  then  I 
 would  have  them  remember 
 
 Their  and  your  Servant  in  Christ, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN, 
 
 TO  WILLIAM  MARSH,  Esq. 
 
 Readings   "June  21,  1794. 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  AM  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  letter, 
 and  am  made  particularly  happy  by  it,  as  I 
 learn  from  it  what  I  (hall  always  rejoice  to  hear, 
 that  you  *'  profper  and  are  in  health,  even  as 
 *'  your  foul  profpereth."  And  as  you  are 
 pleafed  to  ftile  yourfelf  my  fon  in  the  faith, 
 you  muft  allow  me  to  repeat  what  St.  John  faid 
 to  his  beloved  Gains,  **  I  have  no  greater  joy 
 **  than  to  hear  that  my  children  walk  in  the 
 ♦♦  truth.'* 
 
 The 
 
428  LETTERS. 
 
 The  civility  which  you  have  received  from 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  and  myfelf,  had  it  been  much 
 more  than  it  is,  could  have  been  only  that  to 
 which  you  have  the  jufteft  claim.  We  fhould 
 cfteem  it  an  honour  when  perfons  of  fuch  high 
 birth  as  yourfelf  will  come  under  our  roof, 
 and  fhould  look  upon  it  as  a  fign  of  the  love  of 
 God,  fhed  abroad  in  our  heart  by  the  Holy 
 Ghoft,  when  we  delight  to  receive  them  ;  *'  for 
 **  whofoever  bclieveth  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ 
 **  is  born  of  God  ;  and  every  one  that  loveth 
 **  Him  that  begat,  loveth  Him  alfo  that  is  be- 
 **  gotten  of  Him."  My  regard  for  you  and 
 many  more  in  this  place,  as  well  as  '*  a  multi- 
 **  tude  which  no  man  can  number,  of  every 
 **  nation,  and  tongue,  and  kindred,  and  people," 
 is  founded  upon  a  love  which  is  unchangeable 
 and  everlail:ing.  "  I  have  loved  thee  with  an 
 *  *  everlafting  love,  therefore  with  loving  kindnefs 
 **  have  I  drawn  thee  j"  and  the  prayer  of  St. 
 Paul,  Ephef.  iii.  14,  &c.  is  my  prayer  for  you, 
 and  for  vour  mother,  and  for  the  whole  church 
 and  family  of  the  living  God. 
 
 What  an  honour  and  happinefs,  my  dear  Sir, 
 to  belong  to  a  family  which  is  illuftrious, 
 becaufe  it  is  divine  !  An  honour,  which  we 
 Ihould  be  every  thing  but  proud  to  fharc  with 
 the  pooreft  of  the  flock,  who  have  the  Gofpel 
 preached  to  them.     And  "  who  is  like  unto  the 
 
 **  Lord 
 
LETTERS.  4^9 
 
 *  Lord  our  God,  who  exalteth  Himfelf  to 
 '  dvv^ell  on  high,  and  who  humblcth  Himfelf 
 
 *  to  behold  the  things  that  are  in  heaven  and  in 
 
 *  earth  !  He  raifeth  up  the  poor  out  of  the 
 '  duft,  and  lifteth  the  needy  out  of  the  dung- 
 '  hill,  that    He    may   fet   him   with  princes, 
 
 *  with  the  princes  of  His  people." 
 
 As  Briftol  has  agreed  fo  well  with  you,  I 
 hope  that  you  will  fcay  there  long  enough  to  give 
 it  a  fair  and  proper  trial.  You  have  the  means 
 of  grace  there,  as  well  as  here,  and  the  throne 
 of  grace  every  where  ;  you  have  a  Father  in 
 heaven.  His  own  Son  to  introduce  you  to  Him, 
 and  His  own  fpirit  to  comfort  you,  by  taking 
 of  His  things  and  fhewing  them  unto  you. 
 **  Becaufe  ye  are  fons,  God  hath  fent  forth  the 
 *'  fpirit  of  His  Son  into  your  hearts,  crying  Abba 
 **  Father  :**  fo  that  you  know  where  to  go  for 
 prefent  help  and  needful  grace,  for  the  fanc- 
 tifying  improvement  of  all  chaflening,  and  for 
 the  alTurancc  that  your  bodily  afflictions,  which 
 are  light,  and  but  for  a  moment,  fhall  work  for 
 you  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
 
 This,  and  more  than  this,  is  annexed  to  the 
 faith  of  God's  operation :  living  by  faith,  we 
 learn  to  profit  in  all  fituations,  and  live  happily 
 in  all  circumilances  ;  while  we  *'  look  not  to 
 **  the  things  that  are  feen,  but  to  the  things 
 
 '*  that 
 
43<^  tETTERS. 
 
 •*  that  are  not  feen  ;  for  the  things  which  are 
 **  feen  are  temporal,"  and  of  courfe  not  worth 
 looking  at;  **  but  the  things  which  are  not  feen 
 *'  are  eternal,"  and  of  courfe  worthy  of  all 
 purfuit,  and  of  all  expedation.  Prefent  our 
 kind  regards  to  Lady  Marfh,  and  pray  for 
 your  fincere  Friend  and 
 
 Servant  in  Christ, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 I  delivered  your  meffage  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shep- 
 herd, who  delire,  with  Mrs.  Cadogan  and 
 many  others,  their  kind  remembrances  to 
 Lady  Marfh  and  you. 
 
 Pray  remember  us  kindly  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
 Biddulph,  and  to  Mrs.  Paul,  when  you  fee 
 them,  and  write  to  me  again. 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  May  28,  1795. 
 DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  HAVE  to  thank  you  for  a  cheefe  from  Bath, 
 and  a  letter  from  Briftol ;  both  equally  valuable 
 as  proofs  of  your  kind  remembrance,  but   the 
 
 one 
 
LETTERS.  431 
 
 one  far  preferable  in  itfelf  to  the  other,  as  the 
 food  of  the  foul  is  to  that  of  the  body ;  and  as 
 your  letter  convinces  me  that  your  faith  in 
 Christ  is  ftedfaft,  it  ought  to  contribute  to  the 
 life  of  my  foul,  for  **  now  we  live,  if  yeftand 
 "  faft  in  the  Lord." 
 
 I  am  glad  to  have  had  fuch  good  accounts  of 
 your  health  both  from  yourfelf,  and  from  Mr. 
 French,  upon  his  return  ;  I  pray  God  to  give 
 you  health  of  body,  and  grace  to  ufe  it  to  His 
 glory.  Above  all,  it  gives  me  pleafure  to  hear, 
 that  your  foul  profpcrs,  which  it  is  fure  to  do 
 by  the  faith  of  Jesus,  with  whom  is  the  foun- 
 tain of  life,  and  in  whofe  light  we  (hall  fee 
 light  eternal. 
 
 I  rejoice  to  hear  that  Mr.  Biddulph  has  fuc- 
 cecded  to  the  ledturefiiip  of  St.  Stephen's,  and 
 that  he  is  not  afhamed  of  the  Gofpel  of  Christ, 
 by  which  alone  he  can  be  ufeful  in  that  place, 
 or  in  any  other.  Efteem  it  a  mercy,  my  dear 
 Sir,  that  you  know  that  Gofpel  to  be  the  power 
 of  God  unto  lalvation,  and  pray  for  more  faith, 
 that  it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit  in  you,  to 
 your  prefent  peace  and  comfort,  as  well  as  to 
 your  eternal  joy. 
 
 We  were  fupprizcd  this  day  fe'nnight  by  the 
 fudden  death  of  Mrs.  Davifon ;  though  we 
 ought  not  to  be  furprized  at  death,  in  a  world 
 where  nothing  elfe  is  certain.     She  was  a  true 
 
 believer, 
 
432  LETTERS. 
 
 believer,  and  though  fhe  had  her  trials  and 
 drawbacks  upon  earth,  fhe  will  be  milled  by  all 
 that  knew  her,  and  ejfpecially  by  the  poor  ;  but 
 (he  is  gone  where  the  wicked  ccafe  from 
 troubling,  the  poor  from  begging,  and  where 
 the  weary  arc  at  reft  for  ever. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  is  much  obliged  to  you  for 
 your  kind  enquiries  ;  fhe  is,  thank  God,  toler- 
 ably well,  and  is  gone  to  fpend  this  day  with  the 
 Mifs  Davifons,  as  they  are  in  particular  diftrefs 
 on  account  of  the  removal  of  their  mother *s 
 corpfe,  in  order  to  it's  interment  in  the  county 
 of  Durham. 
 
 All  other  friends  here,  I  believe,  are  well ; 
 you  know  I  fuppofe  more  of  your  own  family 
 than  I  do,  and  are  no  doubt  praying  for  them, 
 that  they  may  be  adopted  into  God*s  family, 
 and  be  fons  and  daughters  of  the  Almighty. 
 
 I  trouble  you  with  our  kind   remembrances 
 to  Mrs.  Paul,  Mr.   Biddulph,  Mr.    Elard,  or 
 any  of  our  friends  whom  you  may  fee  at  BrifloL 
 Pray  for  us,  and  believe  me, 
 E)ear  Sir, 
 Very  faithfully  and  afFedlionately  your*s, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO 
 
tETTERS.  433 
 
 TO  THE  SAME. 
 
 Readings  June  ()^  1795* 
 t)EAR  SIR, 
 
 I  THANK  you  for  your  laft  letter,  and  I  thank 
 God  in  your  behalf  for  the  good  accounts 
 which  you  give  of  your  fpirit,  foul,  and  body. 
 May  your  whole  man  be  preferved  blamelefs 
 until  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  live  for 
 ever  in  a  glorified  ftate,  to  praife  Him  for  a 
 complete  and  eternal  redemption. 
 
 I  would  advife  you  to  ftay  where  you  are  till 
 the  firft  Sunday  in  July ;  not  only  for  your 
 health's  fake,  but  becaufe  our  church  is  to  be 
 fliut  up  from  Monday  next  until  that  day,  in 
 order  to  be  white-wafhed  and  painted,  &c. 
 While  the  workmen  are  decorating  it's  outfidc, 
 we  Ihould  be  praying  to  our  God  to  fill  it, 
 when  it  is  opened,  with  His  prefence  and  glory» 
 Then  it  will  be  a  church  indeed  ! 
 
 I  called  upon  your  mother  on  Friday  evening, 
 and  found  her  well ;  and,  what  is  befl  of  all, 
 reiifting  fatan,  fledfaft  in  the  faith,  and  with 
 full  purpofe  of  heart  cleaving  unto  the  Lord. 
 Of  your  fifter  too,  I  mufl  fay  the  befl  things  ; 
 her  friend  and  admirer  has  been  a  conflant  at- 
 tendant with  her  at  the  ordinances,  and  profefTes 
 to  love  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  ;  I  pray  God 
 F  f  that 
 
434  LETtERS. 
 
 that  He  may  love  it  as  much  as  he  loves  her  i 
 Nay,  he  fhould  love  it  infinitely  more,  and  then 
 no  doubt  there  will  be  a  happy  union.  Ufe 
 your  intereft  for  them  at  the  throne  of  grace. 
 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  and  I  are  much  obliged  to 
 Mrs.  Paul  and  Mr.  Elard,  for  their  kind  re- 
 membrances of  us.  I  hope  that  the  latter  is 
 better  for  his  Briftol  journey,  and  that  you  will 
 be  able  in  your  next,  which  I  (hall  exped:  foori, 
 to  give  me  a  good  account  of  Mr.  Richards. 
 Of  the  fafety  of  his  foul  I  have  no  doubt,  but 
 the  health  of  his  body,  when  he  went  from 
 hence,  feemed  much  impaired.  We  are  unwil- 
 ling to  part  with  thofe,  to  whom  we  look  as 
 nfcful  and  honourable  members  of  the  church 
 on  earth  ;  but  the  Lord  gives  them  to  us  here, 
 and  takes  them  away,  and  we  ought  to  rejoice 
 in  their  removal  from  an  earthly  to  an  heavenly 
 temple ;  there  to  be  made  pillars,  to  go  out  no 
 more. 
 
 You  are  very  kind  in  your  wiflies  towards 
 Mrs.  Cadogan  and  me;  her  health  I  think  is 
 better  of  late  than  it  has  been;  and  her  God 
 has  never  yet  failed  in  giving  her  grace  to  enjoy 
 health,  and  endure  ficknefs  to  His  honour.  His'  , 
 love  is  everlafling  and  unchangeable ;  and  what- 
 ever He  fends  to  His  believing  people,  He  fends 
 with  the  fame  philanthropy  that  induced  Him 
 to  fend  His  Son  into  the  world,  to  be  the  pro- 
 I  '     _  pitiation 
 
LETTERS.  435 
 
 pitlation  for  our   fins.     Pray    for    us   and   for 
 yourfclf,  that   we  may  tafte  and    fee  how  gra* 
 cious  the  Lordts,  and  believe  me, 
 Dear  Sir, 
 Mofl:  faithfully  and  affedlionately  your*s,     ^ 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  THE  REV.  JOHN  NEUCATRE. 
 
 Readings  Feb.  6,  1 795. 
 MY  DEAR  SIR, 
 
 — »  ^-  —  —  WE  are  much  concerned 
 to  hear  fuch  an  account  of  Mrs.  Meech  :  we 
 heard  from  Mr.  Meech  about  a  week  or  ten 
 days  ago,  but  not  of  fo  alarming  a  ftate  as  that 
 you  mention. 
 
 I  think  you  fiiould  go  over  to  Poundsford, 
 and  fpeak  a  word  in  fealbn  to  Mr.  Meech  and 
 his  friends.  "  Jesus  loved  Martha,  and  her 
 *'  fifter,  and  Lazarus  ;"  you  and  I  fliouid  imi- 
 tate Him ;  pray  go  and  tell  them  how  much  I 
 love  them  in  the  Lord  ;  how  I  pray  that  if 
 their  afflid:ions  abound,  their  confolations  by 
 Christ  may  abound  alfo;  that  the  Spirit,  who 
 is  the  comforter  of  God's  church,  may  be  their 
 comforter ;  that  he  may  take  of  the  things  of 
 
 F  f  2  JESUSp 
 
43^  LETTERS. 
 
 Jesus,  and  help  them  with  thefe  to  improve 
 this  vifitation.  Pray  exhort  them  to  receive  it 
 with  faith,  and  alTure  them  that  when  fo  re- 
 ceived, it  mufl  be  a  vifit  from  a  gracious  God 
 and  Father,  which  will  defcend  with  fhowers 
 of  bleffings  into  their  fouls. 
 
 May  the  Lord  blefs  you  and  your*s.  Ac- 
 cept our  kind  remembrances  ;  and  remember 
 us  to  Mr.  Jaratt,  the  Gardeners,  and  all  that 
 love  the  Lord  Jesus  at  Wellington. 
 
 Your's  moft  afFed;ionateIy, 
 
 W.  B.  CADOGAN. 
 
 TO  JOHN  MEECH,  Esq,   , 
 
 Readings  Feb.^^  1795* 
 MY  DEAR  SIR, 
 
 I  NEED  not  tell  you  how  fincerely  Mrs.  Ca- 
 dogan  and  I  fympathize  with  you.  Your  lofs 
 is  great,  and  fo  is  ours  :  but  "  the  Lord  gave, 
 *•  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away  ;'*  and  though 
 it.be  hard  for  fiefn  and  blood,  it  is  eafy  for  faith 
 to  fay,  "it  is  the  Lord,  and  blefled  be  His 
 **  name."  It  is  the  Lord,  my  dear  Sir,  who 
 hath  done  this,  not  againil  you,  but  for  you;  in 
 loving  kindnefs  and  in  tender  rpercy,  not  for 
 
 His 
 
tETTERS.  43-7 
 
 His  pleafure  but  for  your  profit,  that  you  may 
 be  partaker  of  His  holinefs.  I  pray,  therefore, 
 that  His  fpirit  may  be  your  comforter;  that 
 He  may  take  of  the  things  of  Jesus,  and  fhew 
 them  unto  you  ;  and  help  you  with  them  to  im- 
 prove this  vifitation  to  His  glory  and  to  your 
 good.  Writing  to  a  Chriftian  friend,  I  can 
 preach  to  you  not  only  patience  and  refignation, 
 but  peace  and  joy  :  not  a  forced  fubmiffion  to 
 what  you  cannot,  but  a  free  fubjedtion  to  what 
 you  would  not  avoid.  For  who  is  there  that 
 knows  what  is  the  will  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus 
 concerning  Him,  and  does  not  wifli  to  be  perfect 
 and  complete  in  it  all  ?  Is  it  His  will  concern- 
 ing us,  that  feeing  His  Son,  and  believing  on 
 Him,  we  fhould  not  perifli,  but  have  everlafl- 
 in":  life  ?  this  is  love  from  everlaftino"  to  ever- 
 lading.  Is  it  the  feverefl  trial  of  our  faith  ? 
 it  is  part  of  the  fame  will.  Is  it  a  death-blow 
 to  our  earthly  com.forts  ?  it  is  part  of  the  fame 
 will,  with  a  view  to  the  fandtification  of  our 
 perfons,  as  of  veiTels  of  mercy  made  to  honour. 
 Is  it  any  thing  that  forbids  us  to  lay  up  treafures 
 upon  earth  ?  it  is  that  which  commands  us  to 
 lay  up  treafures  in  heaven,  and  to  have  our 
 hearts  furely  fixed,  where  true  joys  are  to  be 
 found. 
 
 I  know  that  it  is  eafier  to  preach  than  to  prac- 
 tice, but   I  know  of  one  who  is  almighty  to 
 
 favc, 
 
^38  LETTERS. 
 
 fave,  fiipport,  and  keep  you.  May  this-eter-: 
 nal  God  be  your  refuge,  and  put  underneath 
 you  His  everlafting  arms  !  May  He  guide 
 you  with  His  counfel,  and  afterwards  re- 
 ceive you  with  glory !  May  He  teach  you 
 to  fay,  "whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee,  and 
 **  there  is  none  upon  earth  .that  I  defire  befide 
 •**  thee!"  Then  flefh  and  heart  may  fail,  but 
 God  is  the  rock  of  our  heart,  and  our  portion 
 for  ever. 
 
 Pray  fay  every  thing  kind  from  Mrs.  Cado». 
 gan  and  me,   to  Mr.  and  Mifs  Wellmans,  and 
 accept  yourfelf  thebefl  wifhes  and  prayers,  of. 
 Dear  Sir, 
 
 Your  very  affedtionate 
 
 Friend  and  Servant, 
 W.  B.  CAPOGAN, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
PubUficd  by  the  AUTHOR  of  the  MEMOIRS,  and 
 fold  by  Meffrs.  RiVINGTONS, 
 
 A  Friendly  Visit  tp  the  House  of  Mourning., 
 Price  4d. 
 
 Friendly  Advice  to  Servants.     Price  6d. 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  July  15,  1798,  at.  St.  John's, 
 Bedford  Row,  before  the  Military  Associa- 
 tion of  St.  Andrew  Holborn,  and  St.  George 
 the  Martyr,  Middlefex.     Price  is. 
 
.-.■t'wviinjswj^srsn!