pence of my conscience, by granting them testimonials which I know they do not deserve; or by helping them into settlements, which would be unhappy to themselves and the congregations, which refer their case to my advice. For this reason, imaginary injuries, never complained of to me, were talked over and aggravated. My conduct was continually watched over for evil: My writings, lectures, sermons, letters, words, every thing, were compared to find out imaginary inconsistencies, and to charge them, as instances of dishonesty, partiality, and what not? When they went abroad they talked of these things; and there were those in both extremes, who were ready to lay hold on any story to my disadvantage. But this is my comfort, that most of those, who have been my pupils, are my cordial and affectionate friends: And I find all the tenderest and most grateful friendship from those now under my care. I am more and more confirmed in the judgment I passed on those, who are setting out in the church; and am convinced that the part I have acted, in the difference I have made between them, hath been approved in the sight of him, to whom my final account is soon to be rendered. In the mean time, the longer I live, the less I am inclined to enter into debates, which I have neither time nor heart for; and perhaps have been too indolent in tracing out injurious reports, and too dilatory in making remonstrances for ill usage. I have generally chosen the shorter way, heartily to forgive and pray for those from whom I have apprehended that I have received the most injurious treatment; and to endeavour to live in such a manner, that they, who intimately know me, may not lightly believe rumours to my disadvantage.

and

Methinks the lovers of mankind, and the lovers of christianity too, should pardon each other some little mistakes in conduct, and should put the gentlest, not the harshest, construction upon things which may wear a dubious aspect. I will endeavour to bear these things, as a burden, which providence is pleased to lay in my way. I will remember him, who bore, in all respects, infinitely worse usage for me; will comfort myself with looking forward to that day, when every calumny will be wiped off: when omniscience will attest, as it certainly will, the integrity of my conduct, and when those evil principles, which may in some degree, and at some times, leaven the minds of good men, will be all purged away."With regard to those of his pupils, who occasioned the foregoing reflections, I have great reason to believe, that further knowledge of the world and themselves,

convinced them, that they had acted wrong. I assuredly know, that some of them deeply repented of it afterwards; and particularly one, who a little before his death, wrote his tutor a most pathetic and friendly letter, in which he largely confessed his own guilt; laid open to him many of the sly arts, which had been used to hurt his character, and, with all the marks of humility, penitence and affection, earnestly desired his forgiveness and his prayers.*

I have been larger upon this part of the Doctor's character than was, perhaps, necessary to illustrate and vindicate it but probably some yet living may entertain prejudices against him and against his writings in consequence thereof. I was therefore willing to set it in its true light; and to exhibit a noble pattern of a christian behaviour, under such reproaches and slanders, as many good and useful men are yet suffering by, and the best, perhaps, most. I shall only add, that he practised the advice which he gave to others in such circumstances, and did not "suffer himself to be interrupted in his generous, worthy course, by the little attacks of envy and calumny, which he met with in it. He was still attentive to the general good, and steadily resolute in his endeavours to promote it; and he left it to providence to guard or to rescue his character from the base assaults of malice and falsehood, which, he had observed and experienced, will often, without a person's labour, con

*It may not be amiss to take notice of an aspersion, which was thrown on the Doctor, a little before his death, as if he had acted unfaithfully in the guardianship of Miss Ekins, daughter of Thomas Ekins, Esq; of Chester on the Water, in Northamptonshire, one of his Majesty's justices of the peace and the Doctor's intimate friend: Especially as I have heard, that it had spread itself as far as NewEngland, where the falsehood of such a charge could not so easily be detected. It will be a sufficient answer to such a calumny to say, that the young lady, at the Doctor's decease, was so sensible of his integrity, that at her request, being then eighteen years of age, the Lord Chancellor Hardwicke appointed the Doctor's widow guardian in his stead; that on her attainment of her age of twenty one years, the whole account of her estate was carefully examined by her and met with her entire approbation. This lady is since married to the Rev. Dr. James Stonhouse, a gentleman of a handsome paternal estate, formerly a physician of great eminence at Northampton, and now (1765) lecturer of All-Saints, in Bristol: And it is at their united request I add, that they are sensible of their obligations to the Doctor and his lady, for the fidelity, prudence and friendship discovered by them in the discharge of their trust, and that they retain the highest veneration for the Doctor's memory. Those who were best acquainted with the whole affair, were so far from thinking that his conduct stood in need of any defence, that they considered both his undertaking the trust, amidst his various other cares, and the manner in which he discharged it, especially in the education of his ward, as a striking instance of his probity, friendship and benevolence.

fute themselves; and heap upon the authors greater shame, or, if they are inaccessible to that, greater infamy, than his humanity would allow him to wish them."

SECT. VIII.

His Piety towards God, and his Devotion, as the Support of that, and every other Virtue.

IT may truly be said of Dr. Doddridge, as it was of Socrates, that his life was a life of prayer+. We have already seen the care he took to maintain a devout spirit, and live near to God in early life. He held on this religious course, and grew stronger and stronger even to the last‡. He made conscience of presenting serious addresses to God every morning and evening, whatever his business and avocations were, and often employed some moments in the middle of the day in the same manner. That his devotions might be more regular, copious and advantageous, and his mind be kept in a devout frame through the day, he laid down a plan for this purpose, which I have reason to believe he often reviewed in a morning, as it always lay upon his desk §; and from thence it appears what pains he took to

*Rise and Progress, &c. ch. 28. § 9.

Max. Tyr. Diss. 30.

The prime and leading feature of his soul was that of devotion. This was the pervading principle of his actions, whether private or public. What Dr. Johnson has observed with regard to Dr. Watts, that as piety predominated in his mind, it was diffused over his works; and that whatever he took in hand was, by his incessant solicitude for souls, converted to theology, may with equal propriety be applied to Dr. Doddridge —K.

As this may be useful to serious persons, especially ministers, who ought to be men of eminent devotion and holiness, I will here insert it, in his own concise manner. Every morning, rising and dressing, meditate

the concerns of the church in general

views

-on Lord's-day, -Monday, rules for my own conduct -Wednesday, Mercies received

-Tuesday, the case of my friends-Thursday, the concerns of the congregation——— -Friday, evangelical -Saturday, my relations each day remember special hints -then pray, renew my covenant with God, read the scriptures, sing a psalm- -larger devotion, reverential; prepared for; thoughts guarded in it; reflected upon afterwards.- -Business of the day; seasonable, with good intentions and dispatch.- -Recreations, moderate, well designed.- -Providences, merciful; thankful for reason, senses, health, ease, food, raiment, sleep, friends, life, liberty, safety, acceptance, success.— Afflictive events, God's hand, design; submit in all things, great and small; surrender all comforts to him. -Temptations, foreseen, observed, resisted; presence of God, Christ, angels and men; remembered for caution.- -Grace, dependance upon it, earnestly sought, to awaken holy affections, through Christ, by the spirit, frequent ejaculations.-Thoughts during intervals, a general command practised; subjects of them, morning-scripture, the last, the next, sermon. C -Discourse, innoTM

keep up the life and ardour of religion in his soul. He was careful that his first thoughts in the morning and last in the evening, should, in a special manner, be consecrated to God. According to his exhortations to others*, he selected some one verse of scripture every morning, to treasure up in his mind, resolving to think of that at any time, when he was at a loss for matter of pious reflection in any intervals of leisure. He found this as a spring from whence many profitable and delightful thoughts arose, which he might not before see in that connection and force. It furnished him with matter for devout ejaculation, and prevented his thoughts from being at the mercy of those various trifles, which otherwise intruded upon him. He thought it of great importance, and found it of much advantage, to renew his covenant with God, and make a fresh and solemn dedication of himself, his capacities, time and strength to his service every morning; and especially to spend every Lord's-day morning in devotional exercises, as the best preparative for the public services of the day. He esteemed devout meditation an important part of a christian's duty, an excellent means of fitting the heart for prayer, and an exercise which afforded great pleasure. “Oh, saith he, how much delightfu enjoyment of God have I lost, by neglecting occasional meditation?" He reckoned a serious diligent care in the performance of secret prayer, an evidence and support of real religion; and strongly recommended it to others, as a most powerful incentive to every duty, and the best relief under the fatigues and afflictions of life. Thus he addressed one of his brethren; "That minister

cent, useful, provided for.

-Evangelical views; bless God for Christ and the Spirit; daily exercise faith in Christ, as teacher, atonement, intercessor, governor, example, strength, guardian, forerunner. -Avoid excess, imprudence, formality in prayers and praises, especially at meals.- -Repeat as above, in the evening, and add self-examination. Have I attended to proper business, improved serinons or other writings, watched over pupils ?--Ask the prosperity of the academy, congregation, our country; reformation advanced; thy kingdom come.

My relations, minister, tutor, domestic, writer, friend, visitant, correspondent.--- -List of friends to be particularly prayed for.Persons in the congregation, according to their circumstances, unconverted, awakened, alienated, excommunicated, the various afflicted. Remember the notes of last Lord'sday. -Memorandra, there must be an enlargement of soul previous to any remarkable success; and great diligence in prayer, and strict watchfulness over my own soul, previous to any great and habitual enlargement; and deep humiliation must precede both. When the ground is thus prepared, great and good fruit may arise from small seeds.I find it never well in family-worship, when it is not so in secret; never well abroad, when it is not so at home; nor on common days, when not so on the Lord's. The better I pray, the better I study, &c.

* Rise and Progress, ch. 19. § 18.

hath great reason to suspect the integrity of his own heart, who can pray with some copiousness, affection and pleasure with others, and in secret can only find in his heart to run over a few hasty, inattentive and customary words, in such a manner, as he would be ashamed to do, if any one of his fellow-creatures was present. Guard against this, and especially in the evening; when the fatigue, arising from the labours of the day, may expose you to particular danger of it. As prayer is the food and breath of all practical religion, so secret prayer in particular is of vast importance: Insomuch that I verily believe, that if a man were to keep a particular and accurate journal of his own heart, but for one month, he would find as real and exact a correspondence between the temper of his soul at the seasons of secret devotion, and in other parts of his life, as we find between the changes of the barometer and the weather."

He often lamented the tendency, which the variety of his cares, though most important in themselves, had, to make him less serious, copious and fervent in secret prayer, than he should have been. Thus he expressed himself to his friends; "I am often mindful of you in my prayers; though, alas! I have so many hurries of business and interruptions, and sometimes find so much indisposition in my own heart for the exercises of devotion, and my thoughts so much dissipated by the cumber of many things, that truly my prayers are to be little accounted of. But the less capable I am of praying as I could wish, for my friends and myself, the more need I have of their remembrance. My great desire, even when I am at the worst, is, that I may glorify God and promote the great purposes of religion. For that, I am honestly labouring, though amidst many infirmities; and I hope not entirely in vain.”—“ My weight of business does, in some measure, rob me of the greatest treasure I have in the world; I mean the hours I would wish to spend in secret devotion; without which there is no sweetness, no calm and serenity of mind, and therefore very little capacity for managing business. For so it is, thongh it may seem a riddle, that when I pray and meditate most, I work most."

In all his addresses to God, he was large in praise and thanksgiving; esteeming it a proper expression of gratitude to God, a necessary and delightful duty on other accounts, and the means of promoting habitual chearfulness of mind.He carefully watched the frame of his own heart and recorded the most important particulars relating to it, that they might guide, warn or encourage him for the future..