measure; our poor history would have been much worse without this. "I find it very good to look back on all the way which the Lord hath led me: and, though I can recollect few days that I would wish to spend over again, yet I can see that mercy and goodness have followed me all my days; and then I learn to hope that they will continue to do so to the end, and for ever. I feel more and more my need of daily renewing my acceptance of Christ and his free salvation; for my best needs pardoning, before it can be either accepted or rewarded. I wish to steer between pharisaical pride and antinomian licentiousness: but hard it is to keep clear of these two rocks on which so many perish! The Lord the Spirit can alone pilot us between them. "I beg an interest in your prayers, and shall be glad to see you. In the mean time I remain with sincere wishes and prayers for your increasing comfort, &c. "Your friend and servant, "THOMAS SCOTT." "DEAR SIR, "Chapel Street, September 29, 1792. "I RECEIVED your's and sent the enclosed to Miss R: but we have not seen her since you left London, as we expected we should. I am, thank God, much better in health than when you were in town; but I have as much cause to groan being burdened, on account of the body of sin that dwells and works within, as any man: but I would thank God for, and rejoice in Christ Jesus and his redemption, and in hopes of final deliverance and victory; of which such groans and griefs are no inconsiderable evidences. "My time to-day will not allow me to enlarge, as I do not wish to defer sending the parcel any longer; else I could descant concerning the affairs of the poor French. Alas, they have cast off God, and his word, as a nation, by public authority; and he seems for a time to have cast them off. Abimelech and the men of Shechem* seem to be the emblem of their present condition, and that of the emigrants, &c. The folly of human wisdom, the danger of aiming at a speculative perfection beyond the state of fallen nature, the mischief of infidelity, the emptiness of po liteness and refinement: these and many other topics might be profitably considered, and illustrated from their example. But I trust that eventually the Lord will bring good from their calamities, and that the cause of sober liberty; and even of evangelical religion will be promoted by these confused and tragical events. However, the Lord reigns, the ark is safe, whatever floods come, and I hope we are in the ark, and so that all will be well; and we shall approve the Lord's whole plan, when we view it accomplished. "I remain with good wishes and prayers for your comfort and best welfare, "Your sincere friend and servant, "THOMAS SCOTT." "DEAR SIR; "Chapel Street, June 28, 1793. "I WAS called to leave town some days sooner than I expected, just after I received the favor of your's by Mr. Newton, and the constant succession of engagements that I have ever since met with has occasioned my delay in answering it. "I entirely agree with you in your observations on the state of things in this and the neighboring nations: the hand of God is lifted up, but men will not see. I feel no disposition to vindicate the abuses that prevail either in church or state: they are great and many; but not greater or more than the state of human nature, well understood, may lead us to expect. I fear our national prosperity is declining because of our sins: and I hope that the Lord will bring some glorious consequences from the confusion and miseries that are diffused on the continent. But the care of my own soul, and attention to my own duty, and to my ministry that I have received of the Lord, are enough for me; and no good can be obtained by intermeddling out of our proper sphere. All I do is to be a peace-maker, where I have influence; as I find that Satan makes great use of these disputes to divide Christians, and prejudice them against each other. Whatever events take place, we shall be safe in the ark, and may have comfort in communion with God and his saints, if we duly mind our own business, and improve our privileges. "I thank you for your observations on my little tract on government; but I am not convinced that the 'certain con ceivable cases, mentioned in it are similar to occult causes; for the state of things at the revolution, in 1688, was exactly the case of which I conceived; and I think a Christian, according to the duty of his station, might very properly have concurred in bringing about that event, and disappointing a small faction in the state, who were aiming to destroy the liberties and religion of a great nation; as all descriptions of persons clearly saw. It was therefore a revolution evidently called for by almost the unanimous voice of the nation, as the event proved.-I may further add, that this was the only passage in the book which was inserted at the desire of those friends, whose judgment I had most reason to look up to; and it was thought it would render the statement more impartial and unexceptionable than it would otherwise have been. "In respect of my affairs, I shall lose 500l. and get the copy-right, which may perhaps be an advantage some time, but I am very well satisfied: if good be done, my end is answered. "Mrs. S. who is tolerably well, thank God, desires to be kindly remembered to you, and we both desire your prayers for us, and our's. LETTERS TO THE REV. DOCTOR RYLAND.* DEAR SIR, 1787-1797. Chapel Street, January 20, 1787. "I was aware that you would not readily accede to what I advanced upon the extent, or sufficiency of the death of Christ: nor do I feel much inclined to attempt a more full discussion of the subject. But, as this was one of the first impressions I had of evangelical truth, and as 1 have never seen cause in the least to alter my sentiment; but have been more and more confirmed in it by every renewed examination: as it forms, and ever has formed, a very prominent feature in my preaching, and the very basis of all my invitations and warnings, and declarations of wrath against those who neglect so great salvation: as it is evidently the doctrine of the church of England, and of most of our more eminent divines: it was very proper that I should avow it on this occasion; (because it would have had an appearance of insincerity and shuffling, if I had not:) though I then foresaw, and now find, that many consider it as rather the most exceptionable part of the sermon; and it has given Mr. Simms a handle to trouble some people's minds. However, in the long run, 'honesty is the best policy:' and most of the ministers, and even some in your line, cordially approve of the distinction. I suppose you will allow that there is an infinite sufficiency in the merit of Christ's atonement: and I do not in the least suppose (nay I avow the contrary,) that the death of Christ was intended to save those who eventually perish. You will allow that the language of the cross is good-will to men, though sinners: and I allow that there is a peculiar purpose of special love Formerly of Northampton, now of Bristol. In his Sermon on Election and Final Perseverance. See Life, p. 164, 428. to the elect. You will allow that no man perishes because of any deficiency in the provision made in the gospel; but for want of an appetite for that provision: and I allow that God gives that appetite to none but those for whom that provision was specially intended. In short, I cannot but think that you allow as much as I do, every time you invite a sinner to come to Christ, insist that faith in Christ is every one's duty, and unbelief an aggravated act of rebellion. And the reason why I think the distinction important (for I have other reasons for thinking it true,) is, that it affords, in my view, the only firm large ground for invitations; gives the most easy opening for encouragement to awakened sinners; and leaves the sinner the most inexcusable. I am far from thinking that the lost soul can, in Paul's sense, adopt his words; (Gal. ii, 20:) for they refer to the special love and intention of Christ: but the lost sinner may say, 'I am lost, not for want of sufficiency in the atonement, or of love in the heart of Christ, but through my own inexcusable impenitence and unbelief.' And this, I think, you will allow. I In the second edition, which is coming out, I have added one more note upon the subject, and should have gone on further, but that I considered that it would come into fewer hands; and that, if it were necessary, I had better state and consider the subject in a distinct publication.-I trust the effect here has been considerable; though many have left us, and there are difficulties: yet I am not left to discouragement. Such shiftings and separations do no harm.-Mr. Newton is, I think, too much afraid of controversy; others are too fond of it. It is necessary that some should contend for the truth, and oppose error: but we must look well to our spirits, not only lest we grow warm, but lest we forget in our preaching the proportion which the truth we defend bears to the whole system.-If you have any strong new arguments against my sentiments, I shall be obliged to you for them. Mr. Newton is very favorable to the sermon.I can sympathize with you, and I hope do not forget to pray for you in respect of your severe trial. I trust the end will be mercy and advantage: and I hope it will be better in a temporal sense than your fears; and that the Lord will spare and restore your help-meet. But all here is vanity and rexation, and nothing can comfort us long but the blessed Comforter. As for me my ground is taken; and, unless some one really convinces me that I am in error I must maintain it as long, and as well as I can: the swe |