for the revenue or the quality of "the people in it, but purely as a cure " of fouls, as a vineyard, in which

" he was God's husbandman: that as large and as acceptable a return of "his labours might be made from a "country cure, as from a parish in a

royal city; and that a good sermon, by God's bleffing, would be the power of God to falvation in a "church, where there was not a fword "or a diamond to be feen, as where "coaches crouded about the church " door."

I wifh Dr STONHOUSE's infertions, in the newfpapers, from my Letters, may be of fervice to their readers. We do not know what good we do. A young phyfician of confiderable reputation and fortune (Dr. BOSTOCK) died lately at Liverpool of a violent fever. A little before his death, he told the minifter who attend

.ed

ed him, and who is a friend of mine, that he had received great and lasting benefit in his religious interefts, by reading fome letters of mine, to my nephew, when they were fellow-pupils together at the academy. I had no idea, that he or any one else, had seen fuch letters. But I am thankful he did, fince they were attended with such an happy effect.*

I am truly concerned, that you have under your paftoral care any flagrantly difobedient to the laws of Chrift. But what minifter hath not Juch under his care? There was a traitor in Christ's family. Young minifters are apt to fet out with expectations raised too high, and expect more encouragement and fuccefs than they

VOL. I.

K

are

* The editor of the Letters now republished, has reason to believe, that they have been useful to their readers: for which he would be thankful to a kind Providence.

are ever likely to find. "Old Adam will be too hard for young MELANCTHON," as that venerable reformer complained, after he had been fome time a preacher, and had great expectation from his zealous miniftry.

I hope you will have fome very comfortable and improving weeks with the doctor and his family, during his refidence at Cheverel; which you must set against many uncomfortable and dreary ones in the winter. I wifh the doctor would ride on horse-back every dry day, as I do. Recipe caballum, is his best prefcription.+ Surely he might meet with fome gentle, eafy horfe, no matter how ill-fhaped and ugly

"And human corruption too strong for human perfuafion, without divine grace."

See the life of the Right Reverend Father in God, SETH, Lord Bishop of Salisbury, written by Dr. WALTER POPE, 1697, pages 65, 66, and 178.

ugly, that might carry him fafely about the fields of Cheverel. I remember an aged gouty minifter, who could not walk, and having a large garden, he ufed to ride often round it in a day upon an old steady horse, who used to count his rounds for him; and then, when he had completed them, would ftop and proceed no further, though the rider tried every perfuafive and pungent argument to excite him. I heartily wish and pray for. his health and continued usefulness.-Mr. B. is fettled at Cam, within a mile of Dursley, in Gloucestershire; which is, I imagine, about thirty miles from you. You might contrive to meet at fome place equidiftant: and he fays, he fhall be very glad to fee you.

Continue your good wishes and prayers for me. I want more clearness and fatisfaction as to the great concern. My prayers are so broken, and attended

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attended with fo much diftraction and impertinence, that they are uncomfortable to myself, and can hardly be acceptable, even with all the gracious allowance of the gofpel. But I do not love to trouble my friends with my complaints, any further than to defire and direct their petitions.

Your's affectionately,

JOB ORTON.

and have laid.

P. S. Pray prevent your friend Mr.** from buying me any of the caftor-oil he spoke of, as I have met with fome in this town, in a good stock of it. This is fomething like HOBBES, with his new frieze-coat at ninety-fix. "This, faid he, will last me three years; then I will have juft fuch another." But I am no Hobbift.

LETTER