and that of our predecessors. A great part of their religious business lay in the labours of the closet and in a solicitous attendance upon other religious services; whereas we have learned to be very indifferent as to these things, and easy in the neglect of them. But if we will think justly on this subject, we shall find an extreme defect on our side. Do but consider how natural it is to pay the utmost veneration to the divine being, and to take all proper occasions of expressing it. Is not this what we owe him? Is it not at least as just and equal as to pay regard to distinguished worth in our fellow creatures? And will not that sense of worth, and that affection, which determines us to this, as naturally determine us to pay the ut most regard to that being, whose worth and excellencies are quite peerless, and to do him the utmost honour? &c.*."

But Dr. Doddridge's devotion and piety was not confined to his secret retirements; it was manifested through every day, and appeared in his intercourse with men. Besides having his hours and plan for devout retirement, to which he kept as strictly and steadily as possible, he endeavoured to carry a devout temper with him into the world; and was lifting up his heart to God in those little vacancies of time, which often hang on the hands of the busiest of mankind, but might this way be profitably employed. In his daily converse there was a savour of religion. In his lectures of philosophy, history, anatomy, &c. he took occasion to graft some religious instructions on what he had been illustrating, that he might raise the minds of his pupils to God and heaven. The christian friend and minister appeared in his visits. He took care to drop some useful hints of reproof, advice or encouragement, suited to particular cases, where the conversation did not turn on subjects directly religious. He had resolution to reprove in a gentle but effectual manner, profane or licentious words spoken by persons of rank and fortune, and had the happy art of complimenting them upon some good quality they possessed, while he reproved their irregularities; and by this means prevented their shewing any resentment. He knew how by an angry countenance to drive away a backbiting tongue, when he could not, from personal knowledge, confute the slander.

He often concluded his common visits to his friends with prayer. This was comfortable and advantageous to them; directed them how to suit their prayers to the particular circumstances of their respective families, and gave him an opportunity

*Duchal's P. Serm. v. ii. no. ii. p. 50, 51.

of suggesting, in a powerful but inoffensive manner, some reflections, which it might be needful for them to attend to, according to their particular conditions and characters. When he went with a more direct intention to converse with families upon their religious concerns, he considered how he might most easily and naturally introduce the subject; how public occurrences, which were the topic of general conversation, might furnish him with an opportunity of leading their thoughts to God and religion. I find in his papers, many hints of the manner in which he would address particular persons; and lists of those, to whom such and such particular addresses should be made. So much prudence and caution was mingled with his pious concern for their benefit, that his end might not be defeated, nor his good evil spoken of! The same pious spirit appeared in his correspondence with his friends. In short letters upon business, he often inserted something that might lead their thoughts inward, impress them with some religious sentiment and increase their zeal. He thought no opportunity was to be lost of attempting this, and his large correspondence furnished him with many. He unbosomed his soul to his particular friends with great freedom and copiousness; and I am persuaded, they esteem his letters a most valuable treasure: In order that they may be more generally useful, I have made so many extracts from those, to which I could have access.

The following letter to one of his friends in 1728 appears deserving of notice, as a specimen of the method which he took to promote religion in their hearts; and as a hint to my readers, how they may improve their correspondence to the best purposes. His friend had complained of his neglect of writing; to which he answers; "My negligence in writing was certainly a fault; but, to speak very freely to a friend from whom I affect to conceal nothing, doth not a fault of a like nature prevail in us both, with regard to other instances of much greater importance? We feel a very sensible concern, when we have failed in any expressions of respect to a human friend: But is there not an invisible friend, who deserves infinitely better of us both, than we of each other, or than others of us? And yet him of all others we are most ready to forget. Is not he, every day and every moment, reminding us of his affection and care by a rich variety of favours, which surround us? And yet hath he not reason to complain, that our hearts are estranged from him? Believe me, my friend, when I think of my propensity to forget and offend God, all the instances of negligence, which others can charge me with, are as nothing; and I am almost ashamed

of that regret, which might otherwise appear reasonable and decent. Tell me freely; am I not opening your heart as well as my own? I hope and believe that you find a more abiding sense of the divine presence, and that a principle of holy gratitude and love governs more in your soul than in mine: But is there not yet some room for complaint? We will not dwell on the question: It is much more important to consider, how we may correct an irregularity of temper, which we are not so ignorant as not to see, nor so stupid as not to lament. It is a long time that we have spent in blaming ourselves; let us immediately endeavour to reform, lest our lamentations and acknowledgments serve only to render us so much the more criminal. I am well aware that this unhappy principle of indifference to God is implanted so deeply in our degenerate hearts, that nothing but a divine power is able to eradicate it: But let us make the attempt, and see how far the spirit of God will enable us to execute the resolution, which himself hath inspired. Is it not possible, by the blessing of God on proper attempts, that we may, in a short time, make it as natural and habitual to our thoughts to centre in God, and the Redeemer and the important hopes of eternal glory, as ever we have found them to centre on a favourite creature? At least, let us not conclude the contrary, till we have tried: And can we say that we have ever yet tried? That we have had the resolution, for one single week, to exert the utmost command over our thoughts to fix them upon divine objects? I have tried for a day or two with encouraging success; but never yet had the constancy to hold out for a week.As this evening concludes one quarter of the year, I have devoted it to the review of my own temper and conduct. I find that numberless evils which have surrounded me may be traced up to this unhappy source, the forgetfulness of God. I therefore determine, by divine assistance, to attempt the reformation of the rest, by bending my most resolute opposition against this. I communicate these reflections to you, to engage the assistance of your prayers, and to recommend it to you to make the like attempt."

The grand principle, that animated him to all these exercises, labours and services was love; love to God and Christ and mankind. The following extracts from some letters to his friends will confirm this. "I bless God, I feel more and more of the power of his love in my heart, and I long for the conversion of souls more sensibly than for any thing besides. Methinks I could not only labour, but die for it with pleasure. The love of Christ constrains me."—" I feel the

love of God in Christ shed abroad in my heart. Strive carnestly in your prayers for me, that it may be continued and increased; that he may ever dwell in my soul, consecrate all its powers and engage all its services; that I may be fitted for the whole of his will; in affliction or prosperity, in life or death, in time or eternity. I want above all things in the world, to be brought to greater nearness to God, and to walk more constantly and closely with him."-" O, could I spend more of my time in catechizing children, in exhorting heads of families and addressing to young people; and more in meditating on the things of God in my retirement, without books, without papers, under a deeper and more affecting sense of God, and receiving vital communications of grace and strength immediately from him, methinks, I should be happy. But I am sadly incumbered. If God hath ever made me useful to you, give him the glory. I am one of the least of his children and yet a child; and this is my daily joy. Indeed I feel my love to him increase; I struggle forward towards him, and look at him, as it were, sometimes with tears of love, when in the midst of the hurries of life, I cannot speak to him otherwise than by an ejaculation."

CHAP. IX.

His last Sickness and Death.

IT is an observation of Solomon, that the path of the just is as

the shining light, that shineth more and more to the perfect day. This was eminently verified in the subject of these papers. We have seen with what peculiar and unwearied diligence he applied himself, especially during his last years, to converse with God, to improve his graces, to serve his fellow-christians and train up his soul for the work and felicity of heaven: And we are now to take a view of the happy effect of this pious care and diligence, in the peace of mind and holy joy, which shed a distinguished lustre on the concluding scenes of his life.

In December, 1750, he went to St. Albans, to preach a funeral sermon for his friend and father Dr. Samuel Clark. In that journey he unhappily contracted a cold, which hung upon him through the remainder of the winter. On the advance of the spring, it considerably abated, but returned again with great violence in the summer. His physicians and friends advised him to lay aside his public work for a while, and apply

himself entirely to the use of proper medicines and exercise for the removal of his complaint. But he could not be persuaded to comply with the former part of their advice. To be useless was worse than death to him. While he thought there was no immediate danger, he could not be prevailed upon to decline or lessen his delightful work, and was particularly desirous to complete his Family Expositor. His correspondents, and friends at home, plainly observed his great improvement in spirituality and a heavenly temper, the nearer he approached to his dissolution. He seemed to be got above the world; his affections were more strongly than ever set upon heaven, and he was daily breathing after immortality.

In some letters to his friends, about this time, he thus expresseth himself; "I bless God, earth is less and less to me; and I shall be very glad to have done with it once for all, as soon as it shall please my master to give me leave. Yet for him I would live and labour; and I hope, if such were his will, suffer too.""I thank God, that I do indeed feel my affection to this vanishing world, dying and vanishing every day. I have long since weighed it in the balances and found it wanting; and my heart and hopes are above. Fain would I attain more lively views of glory. Fain would I feel more powerful attractions towards that world, where you and I, through grace, shall soon be; and in the mean time would be exerting myself more and more, to people that blessed, but neglected region.”. "I am now intent upon having something done among the dissenters, in a more public manner, for propagating the gospel abroad, which lies near my heart. I wish to live to see this design brought into execution, at least into some forwardness; and then I should die the more chearfully. Should God spare my life, many opportunities of doing good in this respect may arise: But to depart and be with Christ is far, far, infinitely better. I desire the prayers of my friends in my present circumstances. I remember them in my poor way But alas! what with my infirmities, and what with the hurries to which I am here [in London] peculiarly obnoxious, and the many affairs and interruptions, which are pressing upon me, my praying time is sadly contracted. O that I had wings like a dove! You know whither they would carry me. I feel nothing in myself at present, that should give me reason to apprehend immediate danger. But the obstinacy of my cough and its proneness to return upon every little provocation, gives me some alarm. Go on to pray for me, that my heart may be fixed upon God; that every motion and every word may be directed