if possible to the ends of the earth, and the end of time. I esteem it my great felicity to be engaged with other worthy authors, in assisting men's minds to a scriptural religion and a Christian temper. And though many provinces may appear much more splendid in the eyes of the learned and polite world, I trust ours will be at least as favourably remembered in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, at his coming. And I would have no standard of honour, wisdom, and happiness, which will not stand the test of that important day." *

The first practical piece he published was "Sermons on the Education of Children," 1732. This he principally intended for the use of his own congregation, to supply, in some measure, that want of more frequent personal instructions on the subject, which his care of the pupils necessarily occasioned. These discourses contained a variety of important advices and affecting motives in a little compass, and have been very useful to assist parents in this difficult work.

His tender concern for the rising generation showed itself in his "Sermons to Young People," published in 1735, and in his "Principles of the Christian Religion,' in verse, for the use of children and youth, published in 1743. In this composition, which was drawn up by the desire of his friend, Dr. Clark, he hath happily united ease, plainness, and elegance. And here I may also mention his prefixing a recommendatory preface to a small piece, entitled "Familiar Dialogues for Children," which is well adapted to instruct them in their duty to God and man, and preserve them from the vices and follies of childhood and youth, at the same time that it agreeably entertains and amuses them.

In 1736 he published Ten Sermons on the power and grace of Christ, and the evidences of his glorious gospel. The three last, on the Evidences of the Gos pel, were, in some later editions, by the particular

*Ten Sermons, Pref.

desire of one of the first Dignitaries of the Church of England, printed so as to be had separate from the former. They contain a sufficient defence of Christianity, and are well adapted to the use of those whose office calls them to defend it. It gave the author singular pleasure to know, that these sermons were the means of convincing two gentlemen of a liberal education and distinguished abilities, who had been deists, that Christianity was true and divine. And one of them, who had set himself zealously to prejudice others against the evidences and contents of the gospel, became a zealous preacher, and an ornament of the religion he had once denied and despised.

In 1741 the Doctor published some practical Discourses on Regeneration. He was very sensible of the importance of the subject at all times; and knowing that several controversies had, about that time, been raised concerning it, he chose to treat it more largely than he had done before; lest these controversies should have been the means of unsettling men's minds, and have led them into some particular errors, or into a general apprehension that it was a mere point of speculation, about which it was not necessary to form any judgment at all." These Lectures, being preached on Lord's day evenings, were attended with uncommon diligence, by many persons of different persuasions; and God was pleased to make them the means of producing and advancing, in some who heard them, the change which they described; and since their publication, they have been useful to the same purpose.*

The following is a translation of part of a letter sent by Mr. Will. Pieffers, one of the ministers of Amsterdam, to the printer of the Dutch translation of this work. "Herewith I gratefully return you the work of Dr. D. concerning the New Birth, Salvation by Grace, &c. which I have read more than once, with such uncom mon pleasure, that I long to see all that excellent author hath published. I did not know him before so much as by name: but from this incomparable master-piece, in which the oratory of the ancients seems to be revived, he appears to be a very great man. Here orthodoxy reigns joined with inoderation, zeal with meekness, deep, hidden wisdom with uncommon clearness, Here simplicity

In 1745 he published another practical treatise, entitled, the Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, illustrated in a course of serious and practical Addresses, suited to persons of every character and circumstance, with a devout Meditation or Prayer added to each chapter. Dr. Watts had projected such a work himself; but his growing infirmities prevented his execution of it. He recommended it therefore to Dr. Doddridge, imagining him the fittest person of his acquaintance to execute it in a manner that would be acceptable and useful to the world. It was with some reluctance he undertook such a work, amongst his many other weighty concerns. But Dr. Watts's heart was so much set upon the design, and he urged his undertaking it with so much importunity, that he could not deny his request; after having been honoured with his friendship for many years, and receiving much assistance and encouragement from him in several of his undertakings for the good of the church. After this work was finished, Dr. Watts revised as much of it as his health would admit. It is indeed a body of practical divinity and Christian experience; and contains, as it were, the substance of all the author's preaching; and, considering how comprehensive it is, there hardly any single treatise, which may be more serviceable to young ministers and students, if they would make it familiar to their minds, and form their discourses upon this model. This book was received with much esteem, by several persons of great emishines without coldness, elegance without painting, and sublimity without bombast. Here one is equally charmed with reason without Pelagianism, and heavenly mindedness without enthusiasm. sees here, in a most lively manner, what is meant by teaching the truth in love, and what that wisdom produceth, which is from above, &c. 1 wish from my heart, that this book was used in all families, and read by every one, of whatsoever party or persuasion. For I am not only assured, that every one who has not all manner of taste, will find great satisfaction from it, but do not doubt, through the divine blessing, it would be of very general and great service. I think deists, and even atheists themselves, by such a manner of preaching and writing, must be struck with awe and reverence for the Christian religion, Happy land, where such lights of the world shine, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation!"

One

-nence for rank, learning, and piety, both clergy and laity, in the established church; and who, in a very respectful manner, returned the author their thanks for this attempt to revive religion. A person of distinguished learning and goodness always carried it with him, declaring, that it was every thing on the subject of serious and practical religion. The many editions it has gone through in a few years with the author's consent, not to mention a pirated edition or two, and its having been reprinted in America and Scotland, show how well it has been received in the world. The author was favoured with many letters from different parts of these kingdoms, America, and Holland, giving him an account how useful it had been for the conversion, edification, and comfort of many persons; and perhaps there is no practical book better calculated for general usefulness.

Besides these, he published two Sermons on Salvation by Grace, several single sermons, some on particular occasions, and charges delivered at the ordination of some of his brethren. There were circumstances relating to each that led him to believe they might be useful to the public; especially to those who desired the publication, or to whom they were first addressed. He thought, that, " as we are so near the eternal state, and must so soon be silent in the dust, nothing should be neglected, which looked like a call of Providence, directing any opportunity of doing good; though some might think, that such publications were an addition to the number of unnecessary books, with which the world was before encumbered." His plain and serious Address to the Master of a Family, on the important subject of family religion, deserves particular notice; as it hath passed through several editions, been very serviceable to ministers, who by putting it into the hands of masters of prayerless families, might excite them to their duty, without being exposed to those inconveniencies, with which a personal admonition might, in some cases, and with some tempers, be attended, and as the author's rea

soning is so plain and forcible, as to leave those inexcusable, who, after reading it, will continue in this shameful and pernicious neglect.Since his decease, his lesser pieces have been reprinted in three small volumes.

But his capital work was the Family Expositor, containing a Version and Paraphrase of the New Testament, with critical Notes, and a practical Improvement of each Section, in six volumes, quarto. He had been preparing for this work from his entrance on the ministry, and kept it in view in the future course of his studies. The large list of subscribers to the two first volumes, and the names of noble, honourable, and learned persons, which stand in it, show their esteem for the author, and concern for the advancement of religion. It is natural to expect, that after an author's death, his friends might be less solicitous to encourage the remaining part of a work, than that which the author himself had published; and that others who had no connexion with him, might neglect a posthumous work, which was not designed to help a needy family: yet the three last volumes, printed since the author's decease, met with great encouragement; and in this view, the list of subscribers to them is a more bonourable testimony to the merit of the work than the former It is in so many hands, and daily instructing and entertaining so many devout Christians and their families, that I need not enlarge on its excellency and usefulness, and the spirit of piety and love which breathes through the whole.

was.

It has been already observed, that his works have been much read and esteemed in these kingdoms and our colonies. I would add, that the most considerable of them have been translated into foreign languages, and published abroad. His sermons on Regeneration, Salvation by Grace, on the Power and Grace of Christ, and his Letter on Family Prayer, have been translated into Dutch; the Memoirs of Colonel Gardiner into the Dutch, French, and German languages; the Rise and Progress of Religion, into Dutch, German, Danish,