"his appointment, and not to rush upon even the "possibility of danger without a call. If the very "hairs of my head are numbered, I have no reason "to fear, that, supposing I receive the small-pox in "a natural way, I shall have a single pimple more "than he sees expedient; and why should I wish "to have one less? Nay, admitting, which how"ever is not always the case, that inoculation "might exempt me from some pain and inconve"nience, and lessen the apparent danger, might it "not likewise, upon that very account, prevent "my receiving some of those sweet consolations, "which I humbly hope my gracious Lord would "afford me, if it were his pleasure to call me to a "sharp trial. Perhaps the chief design of this "trying hour, if it comes, may be to shew me more "of his wisdom, power, and love, than I have "ever yet experienced. If I could devise a mean "to avoid the trouble, I know not how great a "loser I may be in point of grace and comfort. "Nor am I afraid of my face; it is now as the "Lord has made it, and it will be so after the "small-pox. If it pleases him, I hope it will please

"me.

In short, though I do not censure others, "yet, as to myself, inoculation is what I dare not "venture upon. If I did venture, and the issue "should not be favourable, I should blame myself "for having attempted to take the management out "of the Lord's hand into my own, which I never "did yet in other matters, without finding I am "no more able than I am worthy to chuse for "myself. Besides, at the best, inoculation would "only secure me from one of the innumerable na"tural evils the flesh is heir to; I should still be 66 as liable as I am at present to a putrid fever, a "bilious cholic, an inflammation in the bowels or "in the brain, and a thousand formidable diseases " which are hovering round me, and only wait his

N

"permission to cut me off in a few days or hours: "and therefore I am determined, by his grace, to "resign myself to his disposal. Let me fall into "the hands of the Lord, (for his mercies are great), " and not into the hands of men."

If a person should talk to me in this strain, most certainly I could not say, "Notwithstanding all this, your safest way is to be inoculated."

We preach and hear, and I hope we know something of faith, as enabling us to intrust the Lord with our souls: I wish we had all more faith to intrust him with our bodies, our health, our provision, and our temporal comforts likewise. The former should seem to require the strongest faith of the two. How strange is it, that when we think we can do the greater, we should be so awkward and unskilful when we aim at the less! Give my love to your friend. I dare not advise: but if she can quietly return at the usual time, and neither run intentionally into the way of the small-pox, nor run out of the way, but leave it simply with the Lord, I shall not blame her. And if you will mind your praying and preaching, and believe that the Lord can take care of her without any of your contrivances, I shall not blame you: nay, I shall praise him for you both. My prescription is, to read Dr Watts, Psal. cxxi. every morning before breakfast, and pray it over till the cure is effected. Probatum est.

Hast thou not given thy word,
To save my soul from death?

And I can trust my Lord

To keep my mortal breath.

I'll go and come,

Nor fear to die,

Till from on high

Thou call me home..

Adieu. Pray for your's.

THREE

LETTERS

ΤΟ

MISS TH

LETTER I.

MY DEAR MADAM,

LET what has been said on the subject of act quaintance, &c. suffice. It was well meant on my side, and well taken on yours. You may, perhaps, see, that my hints were not wholly unnecessary, and I ought to be satisfied with your apology, and am so... The circumstance of your being seen at the play-house has nothing at all mysterious in it as you say you have not been there these six or seven years, it was neither more nor less than a mistake. I heard you had been there within these two years: I am glad to find I was misinformed. I think there is no harm in your supposing, that of the many thousands who frequent public diversions, some may in other respects be better than yourself; but I hope your humble and charitable construction of their mistake will not lead you to extenuate the evil of those diversions in themselves. For though I am persuaded, that a few, who know better what to do with themselves, are, for want of consideration, drawn in to expose themselves in such places; yet I am well satisfied, that if there is any practice in this land sinful, attendance on the play-house is properly and eminently so. The theatres are fountains and means of vice; I had almost said, in the same manner and degree as the ordinances of the gospel are the means of grace and I can hardly think there is a Christian upon earth who would dare to be seen there, if the nature and effects of the theatre were properly set before them. Dr

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