When

my vene

The writer is the guilty individual. therefore I had my last interview with rable friend, he asked me-for he was willing if possible, to learn of those he had taught, to sketch the outline of a sermon from the words, "His letters say they are weighty." I complied: but in presenting it, expressed my wonder at the choice of the subject, and intimated that I could hardly deem it important enough, for the edification of an audience, many of whom could not write at all. He smiled: and I saw he had gained his object. In this way he had insinuated a mild reproof. He had drawn from me some reflections, on the utility and importance of letter writing, by which I own I was condemned.

To excel in epistolary writing, is an enviable accomplishment, and may be rendered an instrument of great profit, as well as of pleasure. But every one has not a talent that is very ready or edifying. This however the deceased had in a peculiar degree. He wrote with uncommon facility; and his letters were so full of hints derived from his own circumstances, or applicable to those of his correspondents; they were enriched with such a vein of experimental religion; they exhibited so much of the christian and of the friend united,

that if I had not been urged by others, I should have been disposed to publish some of them with the memoirs of his life.

Aware however that in general too many private letters are made public, I determined to keep the selection within bounds: but I now find that I must reduce the allotted number for want of room, materials having multiplied, as I advanced with the work. Hence my perplexity of choice, which was considerable before, is greatly increased, nor can I presume to say that the very few which have been taken, are preferable to many that remain. Those of a pastoral nature seemed to have a claim: the rest furnish a variety, and turn on some useful and interesting topic. It was not deemed necessary to observe very strictly the order of time in which the letters are dated.

Several friends have written requesting me to send forth an additional number of his letters in a separate work. To them I take this opportunity to observe, that what is very interesting to us, may not be equally so to others: that a sufficiency is here furnished to serve by way of specimen: and that if a wish for more be generally expressed, I shall feel pleasure to indulge it. Of copies and originals, enough

have come into my hands, to make volumes: and they are all valuable.

To Mr.

DEAR SIR,

respecting his settlement at Marlborough.

"IF the few lines I wrote to you from Gritenham engaged your attention, or in any degree raised your expectation, I am sure my promise being protracted must tire your patience in proportion. But two things are my apology, one is that I have been in such an unsettled state that unfitted me to write upon the occasion, the other is that I had no objection to let a matter of so great importance rest till I could well deliberate upon it in my own mind. The very signal kindness you have shewn the gospel from its first entrance into Marlborough until now, deservedly entitles you to the representation of the people who profess it: I therefore suppose myself speaking to the church or society through you, and am persuaded in you they will find a tender, steady and affectionate friend. I told you in my last I found my mind bend towards the people, I should have added supposing they are unanimous in the choice of a pastor; for neither am I under a necessity to change my present sphere from

:

any distraction in it, nor would I upon any consideration be the means of dividing them, nor come among them, if already divided among themselves. It is but reasonable if I enter into a pastoral relation with them, that they should know what I am and what I wish for, in order to be happy in that relation. I am a Dissenter upon principle, though but a young one, having given the preference to the establishment till within these two years. As I am honest to my convictions, so I am moderate in my conduct, presuming that neither system is so compleat but they both would admit of an amendment, and as an evangelical minister in either community would wish to do good, he can no further succeed than as he is disposed to throw aside such rigor and austerity as are no where countenanced in scripture, nor were encouraged by the apostle of the Gentiles, or the master of that apostle. A compliance with the most eligible methods for usefulness, if thereby we may gain some to the faith is compatible with a strict regard to the word of God. When I profess myself a Calvinist and tell you that I preach nothing repugnant to that scheme of divinity, you may suppose the grand and leading truths of the gospel in their turn are sincerely though imperfectly preached by me, nor

am I content to deliver them as a mere system. Their influences felt and experienced can only render them beneficial, nor can they be felt but as they are preached, in a practical expérimental manner in the demonstration of the spirit and with power. Thus to preach is my endeavor, and to come short of it is my sorrow. My wish in the first place is to be useful and happy. Something must be materially wrong when a man can be content to live a course of years with a people in the sacred relation of a pastor, regardless whether his people thrive or pine away under him. As such a person answers the character of the negligent shepherds, Ezekiel xxxiv. 3. 4. his doom must be that of the careless watchman mentioned in the foregoing chapter. Usefulness must be the basis of true happiness, the minister purchases his happiness at a dear rate who suffers his people to sleep in their sin. Secondly, that I may have a discretionary power to make an excursion from home upon condition of substituting a proper supply. Such a stipulation may be considered by some a weakness, and subversive of the end of the pastoral engagement, but I apprehend this must arise from prejudice and mistake. Be assured, dear sir, I have no intention to subvert the end of a home by continually