that this Holy Spirit may direct our hearts to the love of God, and to the patient waiting for of Christ Jesus, when he shall come to be glorified in his faithful servants, and admired in all them that believe!"

In another place, Dr Bates expresses himself in these very momentous terms: "Worldly men, when death is near, are not so much affected with the loss of the crown of glory, and the kingdom of heaven, as with their leaving the present world, and its vanities. This makes death intolerably bitter. In short, till the love of God inflames and purifies the heart, the fruition of his glory is not esteemed nor desired."

Your question will be still further answered, by considering thoroughly two tracts, wrote by Professor Franck; one of which is entitled, A short Introduction to the practice of the Christian Religion; and the other is entitled, Nicodemus, or, A treatise against the Fear of Man; wherein the causes and sad effects thereof are briefly described, with some remedies against it, dedicated to the honourable society. for reformation of manners.

And now having mentioned Professor Franck, and his treatise against the fear of man, I cannot conclude without observing, that I think him one of the most eminent Christians, and most extraordinary men I ever heard of, as his Pietas Hallensis, which I read with admiration and deep humility, sufficiently demonstrates; and had I been a member of the soeiety for reformation of manners, when the dedication of his Nicodemus had been presented to them, I should have made a motion to have had an hundred pounds expended in a proper distribution of that most important book, as there can be no material reformation till the fear of man is removed; and as nothing can be better calculated to extirpate such fear, and promote all the other laudable ends of the society. I am, dear sir, yours, &c.

P.S.-The title of the book I recommended to your son, please to tell him, was Henry's Pleasantness of a Religious Life. The author designed it particularly for young people; and in my conversation with them, I generally mention it. Indeed, I am the more solicitous of having it put into their hands, as they are too apt to look upon religion in a gloomy view, considering it as destructive of every enjoy

ment.

LETTER CLV.

Weston-Favell, Feb. 22. MY DEAR FRIEND,-THE three volumes of Theron and Aspasio desire you first to accept them, then freely to animadvert upon them; and above all, to implore the blessing of God for them. I think, when people's sentiments differ so excessively as Mr

-'s and mine, it is best to be at a distance. O may we all be kept close to our divine Head; and, in a little time, that which is imperfect will be done away. We shall see him as he is, and know as we are known. I hope you prosper in your health, and are blessed in your ministerial labours. The book you inquire after, which Mr saw in my study window at Weston, and described to you as a well thumbed Lilliputian of two or three inches high, was written by one Mr Bogatzky, a German ; in which language it passed nineteen editions, from which it is now translated, and entitled, "The Golden Treasury for the Children of God, whose treasure and hearts are in heaven;" containing select texts of the Bible, with practical observations in prose and verse, for every day in the year. It is pretty well thumbed, for there is rarely a day passes that I do not make use of it; and particularly when I am so languid as to be incapable of attending to my usual studies. The author very properly calls it "A Golden Treasury for the Children of God," who esteem the word of God more than gold, and

much fine gold, and from which they may be daily supplied with proper advice and relief in all manner of spiritual necessities, as thousands have happily experienced already. The verses are elegant, and edifying on most of the subjects; and it was his earnest desire and prayer, that the Lord, in his infinite goodness, would please to bless his endeavours to the good of many souls, and to the glory of his holy name. Mr Bogatzky observes judiciously, that it is not to be expected that a performance of this nature will suit the taste of those who unhappily mistake mere outward morality for true Christianity, and go no farther than natural reason and strength will carry them: but such as either have, or desire to have, a real experience of the kingdom of God in their souls, will find much in it to the awakening, comforting, and encouraging their hearts in the right

way.

That we may know, and ever continue in that right way, is, my dear friend, the frequent and ardent prayer of your affectionate brother in Christ.

LETTER CLVI.

Wednesday morning. DEAR SIR, THE grievance you complain of, is, like many other grievances, irremediable; for, according to the old proverb, What is every one's business, is no one's. It is the same in numberless instances. How many turnpikes are erected, where the money taken will scarce defray the expense of the gates; and where the roads neither are, nor ever will be mended, and consequently they are nuisances instead of benefits? yet our nobility and members of parliament pass frequently through such turnpikes, complain of the grievance, but take no pains to redress it. And even in an affair of the highest consequence, how negligent is the community? I mean, in the long expected reformation of our Liturgy; in which, excellent as it is upon the whole, there are

some passages so justly exceptionable, that every bishop in the kingdom will tell you he wishes to have them expunged; and yet, I know not for what political or timid reasons, it continues just as it did. Had our first reformers been thus indolent, we still had been papists. Our laws are daily complained of, and might most certainly be abridged to the great benefit of the nation; this is allowed by every individual; but the parliament, you see, will not exert themselves in bringing this important affair to pass.

I have often wondered, that in this age of humanity, (for such with all its faults it certainly is), while infirmaries are erecting in different parts of the kingdom, public bridges building, and large collections making for charitable uses, there should be no societies established for redressing grievances. To found such kind of societies, would be truly laudable and highly beneficial. May God of his infinite goodness and unerring wisdom, put it into the hearts of the active, the benevolent, and the powerful, to set in good earnest about the institution of societies for the redressing our grievances; some for public, and others for private grievances. Were such once established, what a world of good might be done! Then the fatherless, the widow, and the injured, would have substantial friends always at hand, who would rescue them from their oppressors, by taking them under their own protection, and defending their cause out of the subscription fund. From these funds likewise, the expense of procuring useful acts of parliament, or of getting ineffectual ones amended or repealed, might be defrayed.

I know you will be pleased to hear that Mr has lately wrote very seriously to Mr about his religious concerns, and pressed him strongly "to DETERMINE (as his expression was), and set about religion in good earnest." "Pray, dear sir," said he in one part of his letter, " take care, and do not hurry away life. Give that affair a serious thought;

I am sure it is worth it. I wish you well, (sorry am I to say I think) better than perhaps you wish yourself. I should be glad to be mistaken. Would to

God I could persuade you resolutely to fall in love with religion, and espouse its cause with all your interest, and with all your might. Was that once and thoroughly to be the case, what an instrument might not you be, in the hand of God, to rouse men from their lethargy; to animate them in the pursuit of their own eternal welfare; and to encourage their zeal for that of others? Oh! sir, a man with your capacity, your fortune, your opportunities, what could there be too hard for him, except himself? By your irresistible arguments and spirited behaviour, you knock down others on every occasion, and carry almost every point you undertake; why do not you knock down yourself? Aude sapere, incipe.

"What conscience dictates to be done,

Or warns you not to do,

This, as your hell, with horror shun,

That, as your heaven, pursue."

POPE'S Universal Prayer.

In another part of his letter he thus interrogated Mr. "Will not every wise man frequently ask himself some such questions as these? Am I, or am I not in the right road? How long shall I halt between two opinions? Is not to-day certain, and to-morrow uncertain? Am I ashamed of being religious? Have I courage to stand it out against God and not against the world? Do I take proper care of my children's religious principles? If I destroy myself, shall I destroy my offspring too, and eternally ?"

Towards the conclusion he added, "You have recommended several books to me, let me recommend Rymer's Representation of Revealed Religion to you; though, if I was to advise Mr, it should not be TO READ, but TO DETERMINE; resolutely and unalterably TO DETERMINE to be a religious man. You want no instructions, and the time of life with you