acknowledged by him, if they should happen to meet in public. company. All intercourse therefore ceased between them, till the love of the world, and the things that are in it, brought its victim to prison.

Several letters were addressed to him while under sentence of death one from Miss Bosanquet, which was published; and also one from Lady Huntingdon, which appeared in all the papers after the Doctor's execution, and which Mrs. Elizabeth Carter said she could not understand, from its confusion of ideas and sentiments; of this, let the reader judge :

"Reverend Sir,-From the first hearing of your unfortunate situation, I could not look to any other source of support and comfort for you, than to Him who chose for our sakes to be numbered with transgressors. You are master of every rational and Scripture argument; in this, perhaps, inferior to few; and I earnestly pray God these may have their place, and their times of consolation for you.

"But reason, or the wisest conclusion drawn even from truth itself, neither removes the stings of guilt, nor possesses the soul with that 'peace, which ever passes (the best informed) understanding.' O, no ; nothing can be your point, now but that voice of Almighty power, which spoke from the Cross to your suffering companion there: and we all, like him, must pass sentence upon ourselves, and say, We indeed receive the due reward of our deeds.' How soon the welcome request, Lord, rembember me!' &c., reached the heart of our Divine Substitute! how speedy the relief!-how lasting and complete the

comfort!

6

"The meaning of my prayers and tears for your grief would have no other language, but-Go, and do thou likewise. Forgive; and do not wonder you should find my views so limited, as this seems, for your only relief. Were life extended to its latest possible period, no solid or well-grounded hope of happiness could subsist except by this purely interior blessing alone. This it is that makes the little good we possess on earth have all its safety; and by it are all the various evils of a miserable world wisely or rationally supported. Thus every thing unites to render the importunity of your suffering heart the happy subject of this mercy. This mercy, once obtained, will bear you through the fluctuating emotions and various views of life and death; which may so immediately and naturally operate upon you, it may cause you even to glory in tribulation. May you thus rejoice in the truth and power of that religion you have so long professed, and taught to others; and, becoming a witness of our Saviour's grace to sinners, be enabled to preach the best sermon you ever preached in your life, and that too to people the most miserable, the most ignorant of the high Christian privilege of salvation by the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! Should he answer the affectionate cries of his poor unworthy people for you, and that arm of infinite consolation be stretched out for your strength and eternal blessedness, how little will the appendages of death appear, which to mere suffering nature are so bitter! And

how thankfully will you see justice and mercy thus met together, and mixed in that cup, so severe in the eyes of others! or, should the tender compassions of royal mercy be extended, to save you from the suffering of the present hour; yet in life, or in the more remote event of death, this grace must be the one and only cause of praise for you through time and eternity. It is for this I would most affectionately recommend you day and night; and it is to Him who is able to do abundantly above all we can ask or think. And thus I beg to remain a sympathising friend; and, Reverend Sir, your humble servant, "South Wales, June 1777."

"S. HUNTINGDON."

Early in November Lady Huntingdon wrote to Mr. Jones of Langan, requesting him immediately to set off for Norwich, there being no supply for the Tabernacle but one student, and it was customary at that period to have a clergyman of respectability always on the spot. The society requiring some regulation, and Lady Huntingdon being unwilling to leave Trevecca at that season of the year, Lady Anne Erskine consented to undertake the journey, and Mr. Jones was accordingly directed by Lady Huntingdon to call at Trevecca, in order to accompany Lady Anne to Norwich.

In 1799 Lady Huntingdon received for her College at Trevecca, a present from the celebrated Brown of Haddington, of all his works. They were accompanied by a letter, with which we shall conclude the present chapter. It is dated Haddington, August 17, 1779, and runs thus:

"Madam,-Scarce had my last to you got into the post-office, when I began to fear I had been too rash, insomuch as indirectly hinting that I had some thoughts of presenting your Theological Society with a copy of that system of divinity which, for about twelve years past, I have essayed to teach to a somewhat similar society of candidates for the holy ministry. It appeared to me presumptuous-like to suppose that the prelections of one who had had so little of a regular education, whose poverty of diction, and want of an ear, rendered him incapable to express himself handsomely to an English ear, and who had vainly squandered away much precious time and talent in the vain attempt to be an universal scholar, could be useful to a seminary which had teachers with far superior advantages and abilities. However, being by your Ladyship's repeated condescensions led into a kind of promise, my conscience and my credit as a minister and a Christian, seemed to forbid my drawing back, without your allowance. This I blushed to ask. I therefore applied myself to transcribe the copy, as I have not a hand to trust to do it exactly; and amidst a scene of distress, in my person and in my family, have got it accomplished as it stands. This distress I plead as an excuse for the badness of my writing and for so long a delay. I have sent it by, I think, a safe hand for you, directed to the care of Messrs. Vallance and Simmons, printers of the (Gospel Magazine,' in Cheapside, London, No. 120, from whom the

carrier can bring it to you, if you please to direct him. After an introduction chiefly directed against the fasionable scheme of the Infidel Deists, it attempts to extract every thing in religion from the oracles of God, and to comprehend the marrow and substance of what I think proper for ministers to preach, or sinful men to hear for promoting their eternal salvation. As plain Scripture texts bid fairer to fix themselves on man's consciences than any human reasoning, I have dealt plentifully in those which, with us, students are requested to repeat on their being quoted to them, in order to oblige them to become mighty in the Scriptures. Candour, I thought required me to transcribe one copy without reserve, which occasions a few hints towards the close, in favour of our church government and worship in this country. These, I hope, will be so far from giving offence with you, that it will occasion you a delightful satisfaction to observe how extensive and inportant the agreement, and how small the difference of religious sentiments, there is between a professedly staunch Presbyterian and a truly conscientious Episcopalian, if they both cordially believe the doctrine of God's free grace, giving unto men eternal life of holiness and happiness through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord. The hearty belief of this doctrine would unite us in the warmest affection to one another. Perhaps compassion to my rashness may require your Ladyship to conceal how you came by the manuscript, till by yourself or your learned friends you see whether it will be any way useful to your Theological Society; and, if it is thought to be no way useful, it may be returned to the care of Mr. James Hastil, carpenter, in Portland-street, Cavendish-square, London, No. 72. If it is found to be any way useful to your students, I, as a distinguished debtor to the free grace of God, heartily dedicate it to their service as a token of my affection to them as friends of the Gospel of this grace, and as a token of my bidding them 'God speed,' though they follow not with us. And I leave it to your Ladyship to direct the presentation of it to them in what manner you judge best. Only, in such a case, it might be proper that one of them who hath a good hand should write out a plain copy of it, for the more easy perusal. I intended to have sent along with it a dozen or two of the catechism that comes with this, as a present to thic boys and girls in your family service, but could not presume to trouble the bearer with any more bulk; but if I could get the smallest hint that they would be acceptable, I should see to get them conveyed by another. But, dropping the superficial chat concerning my poor books, let us have a word concerning that great, that glorious, that truly original Book of God-GOD MADE MANIFEST IN THE Flesh. Blessed be God for our English translations of his oracles, and of our safe and easy access to peruse them. Blessed be God for the Hebrew and Greek originals of the Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ. And blessed be above all blessings, and praised be God for that Original Bible, Jesus Christ, of which he himself hath engraved the engraving. O for grace to regard it day and night till we go to see him, and God in him, as he is, and know him even as we are known! O, to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord! How delightfully wonderful is God made manifest in the

flesh! The man who is God's fellow, and in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily! How stupendous his person-God man! How marvellous the union and communion of his nature! How bright, how amiable, an image he is of the invisible God! How fragrant and heart-cheering, how wonderful his unnumbered names, like ointment poured forth, and all full of grace, mercy, and love, towards men! How answerable his offices to promote the glory of God to the highest in the rich, the free, the eternal salvation of sinful man! How deep, how kind, his thoughts to usward! How gracious, powerful, and quickening his words! How marvellous all his works in the room of and towards men! How unbounded his fulness of righteousness, grace, and glory! And, to augment the wonder more, all that he is, all that the has, and all that he doth, is for men, for sinful men-for above many, sinful, wretched, worthless you,-for, above all, sinful, worthless wretched me. What shall we say to this? of God we are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Astonishing! Are we, who are altogether born in sin, and dead in trespasses and sins-we, who so richly deserve to be in hell, in CHRIST JESUS? Hath God, whom we offended; God, whom we attempted to murder; God, whom we hated with our whole heart and soul, and mind and strength, put us into Christ, instead of putting us into the lowest hell? in answerableness to our infinitely wicked and destructive folly and ignorance-guilt and crimes-baseness, sinful pollution, and ungodliness-bondage, and danger, and misery -is Christ Jesus made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption? Is he made all this to us? Is he made all this to us by God, who maketh nothing in vain? Why do we not stir up our souls to possess what the Lord our God giveth us? Why are we slack to claim, to take, to live on, all that God hath made ready for us, and by free grants in the Gospel, and by effectual influence, hath made our own? If Christ Jesus is then so much to us-made of God so much to us why should any thing but Christ and God in Christ, get such room in our hearts--why should not the heart and mind be thoroughly widowed to all things but Jesus Christ? Alas! why should we, as though we were half beasts, half devils, attempt to live on dust and sin, rather than on Jesus Christ? However, this sad life will soon be over with you and me, I hope. Death must soon break down our prisonwalls and let us fly to God, as our exceeding joy. Our body of death must give place to perfection in holiness. Our vain and wicked thoughts must give place to thoughts fixed only upon the Lord. twilight and transient blinks of the glory of God must give place to seeing him as he is in the face of Jesus Christ. And O, how we will admire and adore the grace that brought us thither! and how we will sing songs to our well-beloved, to the tune of For his mercy endureth for ever; or, shall I say to the tune of Thou art my God, and I will exalt thee; my God, and I will praise thee? May this, your husband Christ, guide you with his counsel, while here, and afterwards bring you to his glory! This from, Right Honourable Lady, your most humble servant, "JOHN BROWN.

Our

"P.S.-As I have had so little acquaintance with persons in high

station, I hope your Ladyship will forgive whatever expressions or freedom unsuited to your dignity and outward station, you discern in any hints of mine. Though it is chiefly in your high character of a redeemed bride, the Lamb's wife, that I address you, I would not choose to use any freedom unsuited to the dignity of the Countess of Huntingdon."

CHAPTER LI.

Labours of the Students-Extract from Lady Huntingdon's Letters-Itinerant Preaching Circular Letter from Lady Huntingdon-Letter to the Committee of Mulberry Gardens-Journals of Messrs. Wills, Glascott, Taylor, and Piercy-Success of their Labours-Out-of-door Preaching-SecessionObservations on Toleration-Letter to the Bishops-Dr. Lowth-First Ordination at Spafields Chapel-Particulars of the Ceremony-Articles of Belief.

THE work of God, by means of the Connexion, now became greatly extended. From all parts of the kingdom the most earnest applications for assistance were received, so that, about this time Lady Huntingdon wrote to one of her ministers in America,

"The bearer will inform you of the great and blessed honour my poor labours receive from the Lord's gracious hands, and the scores of thousands now walking in the path to glory, together with multitudes dying in the faith, and these called over the greatest part of both England and Wales. Your old beloved house, the College, flourishing with grace in their hearts, and much glory upon their labours.”

To another student she writes thus:

"Our work is so blessed-the Lord so honours every part of the plan, and the new students in an amazing manner, that we are all bound to say Great and glorious are thy works, thou King of saints ; who would not love thee? Our opening in Lincolnshire promises great things, and the West, where you laboured, and are dearly beloved, blossoms as the rose. Vast numbers of congregations are gathered. I shall go down at the end of the year to settle them all. In Wales, where you are often asked after, and as much beloved, the work spreads far and wide; and remarkable and most awful visitations attend all that do in any measure oppose, which seems to stop the present persecutions from all quarters. I could enlarge on your various blessings. Mr. Glascott, Mr. Shirley, and Mr. Peckwell, are blessed, honoured, and owned of the Lord gloriously. The latter has gone to London to preach on Hampstead Heath, and elsewhere, out of doors. It seems to be the prevailing spirit of the present students to do this everywhere. * * The gift of awakening seems much continued to our