that of men of wealth and extensive business in general; and so much exceeding the ordinary standard even of more serious and pious characters. It appeared to him therefore very desirable to explain the subject to such persons; to take to pieces, so to speak, the machine whose movements surprised them, and exhibit the secret springs by which the effect was produced.

The following extract, addressed to the same friend, on finishing the Commentary, will not fail to interest those who have found edification in the perusal of the work itself.

1 "June 26, 1792. I have had my hands full, and my heart too, by's mean's, and am not likely to be soon rescued from a variety of concerns, in which my connexion with him in this publication has involved me. But he that hath hitherto helped me will, I trust, extricate me from all remaining diffi culties and it was needful that the whole progress of the work should be stamped with mortification, perplexity, and disappointment, if the Lord meant me to do any good to others by it, and to preserve me from receiving essential injury in my own soul. Four years, five months, and one day were employed in the work, with unknown sorrow and vexation: yet, if I have the best success in the sale of it, I can expect no emolument at all, except the profit on the sets. I sell; whereas I may lose considerable sums. But I feel quite satisfied on that head: and, if any real good be done to a few souls by means of the whole, I am at present disposed to be thankful, even though I should lose both money, credit, and friends by means of it. I never thought I should live to con

clude it; and it seems to me as a dream now I have, and I can scarcely think it a reality. Much cause for thankfulness, and much for humiliation, I see, upon the review of the whole transaction. I meant well, but I engaged hastily and made many egregious blunders: yet I hope, through the Lord's goodness, all will end well. I do not think that my health is injured by my intense application; but my spirits are surprisingly broken: and, whereas I used to rise above difficulties, by a certain alacrity and stoutness of mind, which I took for strong faith and much patience, I am now ready to be alarmed and dejected on every occasion; and have shed more tears since I began this work, than probably I did in all the former years of my life."

In this letter he mentions preaching twice one Sunday at Margate. These sermons were productive, in one respect, of rather a singular result. In consequence of the absurd representations of them which were made to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the curate was called up to Lambeth. Having procured, however, of my father, written sketches of the two sermons, which he submitted to his Grace, no more was heard of the business.

The following extracts of letters to his elder sister, relate to his pecuniary losses by the Bible, and his state of mind under them.

"October 25, 1792. I was worth nothing, except my furniture, when I engaged in this work, and if, after some bequests made to me, I should be in the same case when it is done with, I may, and I hope I shall say, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

might have spent my time more unpleasantly, as well as unprofitably, than in the labour I have had; which, in some respects, has been its own reward: and, if any human being gets any real good by it, that forms an additional reason for my being satisfied and thankful: whilst the manifold evil that has connected with the whole business requires forgiveness, and excludes all idea of my being entitled to any reward from the Lord; and I must be very ignorant of human nature, to expect much from men for such an undertaking.-I thought you would wish to know. the state of my mind under what may be deemed a trial, but which does not much discompose me. I have a fair prospect of paying all their due, and that satisfies me."

In 1794 he had more fully ascertained the extent of his losses, and he thus writes:

"March 4. If I said that I was sorry I had written so much on the Bible, I own it was my infirmity but I do not recollect that I ever expressed myself so strongly; though the loss of all my little property, and feeling myself encumbered with a debt of 3001. or 4001., without any thing to pay it except a very precarious income, did try me for a time very sharply. But I am now quite satisfied, yea, thankful; for va rious circumstances more and more convince me, that it will in time so acquire stability, and produce durable good effects, that I am aware mortifications by the way were needful for me. The Lord has also pecu liarly favoured me this year; and I have emerged at least 2001. from my depth of debt within about fifteen months. One friend made me a present of 1004, towards my loss. So I say, As for me, I am

poor and needy, but the Lord careth for me: and I have at present no uneasiness about it."

How deeply he felt the sale of the residue of the original edition, (in 1798,) in the manner and under the circumstances already described, may be judged from the following extract: "I would rather have given 1000/. for it, could I have raised the money, than let it be so disposed of. It was like the execution of a dear friend: I would not be present; and I believe the other trustees did not take all proper precautions for my security." He evidently anticipated, in some measure, the troubles which subsequently resulted from this step. In another letter however he remarks upon it: "The labour, loss, and disquie tude, have been, and are mine; but the profit must be given to others. Yet I doubt not this is ordered in wisdom, faithfulness, and love."

The following passages relate to the preparation of an entire new edition; the first with marginal refe rences. They are from letters addressed to myself.

"March 14, 1798. I am either more indolent than formerly, or I do not stand work so well. I feel a need for the petition which Mr. Whitefield often made, that the Lord would keep him from growing slack in the latter stages of his journey.'-I every day however correct something of the Bible, besides preparing the Essays for republication, teaching, &c.; and I feel a strong desire, by some means or other, if I am spared, to have the publishing of it in my own hands, when a new edition is wanted; which will probably be ere long. I seem to think I could make great improvements: and I am more than ever convinced, that a Family Bible, which gains acceptance,

is one of the most effectual vehicles of antidote against all loose views of the gospel, that can be; because it gets into the families of persons who have any seriousness, even where public teachings lean to antinomianism; and may thus greatly counteract the effect."

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February 25, 1800. I am very closely engaged in the business of preparing a new edition of the Family Bible: indeed, it takes as much mending, thus far, as it did in writing."

"March 3, 1800. I have resumed my attention to the Hebrew, and read every part in that, and in the Greek; which often suggests useful hints and cautions. But revising the references in Brown (to make a selection, to be inserted chiefly at the end of each note,) is the great labour statedly occurring."

Before this month elapsed, he informed me, that he had " determined to have a selection of marginal references."

"October 29. You say I am in your debt as a correspondent; and indeed I am in the way to be in every one's debt, in this respect, as well as others; and here, at least, to be insolvent. I must however not only intreat, but demand, to be dealt with on other terms than many are, as I am doing a GREAT work, at least, whether a good one or not: and I find, as I proceed, so much wants mending, and I can so little satisfy myself, that I can hardly hope to satisfy others. I work very hard, and yet I do not get on at the rate of more than a sheet and a half in a week; and do not finish any one chapter according to the ideal completeness which I had framed in my mind. I trust the work has thus far been improved much :