burden of the proof lies upon you—that suppose one should assert, that many in the House of Commons are rogues, and be challenged on that account; it would not be sufficient for him to say, that if six men, in or about London, will declare that they are all honest men, he will retract his charge; for having called them rogues, he must prove it: nay, I doubt much, that suppose he was able to bring a proof of his charge, this would assoil him in case an action was brought against him, because the law does not allow private men to publish the bad things they may know of one another: but, on the other hand, suppose six men should be got to declare as you require, I humbly apprehend what you promise in that event might have very disagreeable consequences; for as it is beyond all question, that several of our clergy have departed from some religious principles contained in the formulas which they subscribe, your retracting what you have said would contradict truth, give a sanction to such dissemblers as subscribe what they do not believe, and occasion no small offence to the most religious people here. I am, therefore, on the whole, of opinion, that silence is the most proper answer; at least, that he should be attacked only by a nameless author; and if you think proper to draw an answer in that view, it shall be published with all secrecy.

These are the loose sentiments which occur at present; time scarce allows to read what I have wrote. I wait your command whether to publish your answer or not; and am, with undecaying esteem,

Rev. and Dear Sir, your affectionate Brother, and
faithful humble Servant,

TO THE REV. SAMUEL CLARK, D.D.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Northampton, Jan. 1, 1748. WE heartily thank you for your very kind present of so fine a side of house lamb, which made a feast for my family, of which I was very sorry that Mr. Clark could not partake, as he and his cousins had determined on a little tour into Leicestershire, and we could not persuade them to alter their plan.

We are much troubled to hear that you and your excellent lady have both been attacked with the gout; these renewed afflictions call for the sympathy of your friends, and those who cannot sympathize with you must not deserve the name. I believe no man living owes you so much as myself, and I wish I may always find it as easy to pay all my debts as it is to maintain a constant gratitude of heart to you, though it is impossible my services should bear any proportion to it. I think I have no friend on earth whom I more frequently recommend to the divine blessing, and I hope God will graciously answer our petitions for you, as he knows particular circumstances require it. Were we to judge, we should think few persons in the world needed afflictions less than Dr. Clark and his lady; but our heavenly Father is the competent judge; and, considering his beneficent designs, they are no doubt to be often understood as tokens of special favour, rather than as intimations of displeasure.

I bless God I am now finely recovered from my late indisposition, but I still feel an unusual sensibility of cold, which hinders me from rising so soon as I used to do, and so prevents my despatching my usual business. I feel this the more, as the charge of distributing so large a part of Sir Joseph Jekyl's charity increases my employment, although it gives me a pleasure which makes it a refreshment rather than a fatigue.

Dr. Watts's late book of the Constitution of the Christian Church is just come to my hands, but I have not had an opportunity (as it was not two hours ago that I received it) of looking into it so as to read one section. A friend tells me that it contains some very curious and judicious things.

I thankfully own the goodness of God in the kind reception which Colonel Gardiner's Memoirs have met with, at which I wonder much more than at the faults found by some, or even at the virulent Scotch pamphlet addressed to me on the occasion, in which I am treated as the pest of human society, and the murderer of reputation and usefulness, and insulted, as envying the preferments of an establishment, as grapes that hang beyond my reach. I have the satisfaction to hear that the rude libeller is held in great contempt at Edinburgh, even by those of his own sentiments in general; but it is a much greater satisfaction to hear that a blessing seems to have attended the book to some military men of considerable rank, and to some persons of quality about the Court. Of this I am informed by a very obliging anonymous letter, which I may, perhaps, give to Mr. Clark to transcribe, but I must beg you would not make it public. They are translating the "Memoirs" into Dutch, in which language "The Rise and Progress" is already published, and I believe a French translation will soon follow. I hope it is a better principle than the desire of applause that makes these last advices so comfortable to me as they are.

But I have written till it is so late that I must finish with our best services and wishes of health and prosperity to the dear heads and members of your family, and all friends at St. Albans.

I am, Reverend and Dear Sir,

Your most obliged and affectionate humble Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

P. S. I am much pleased with Mr. Gibbons's serious Discourse on the Sanctification of the Sabbath, and think it is calculated to do good. I shall on Monday send to London the last sheets of the index to my Family Expositor, which I hope nothing will now retard. I am also sending up some serious sermons of Mr. Shepherd's. The loss of so promising a youth, just as he was appearing in public, was a great affliction to me, but I hope God will bless what he has left behind him, in some measure to supply the want of his further personal service.

I will trespass upon your patience no longer than while I recommend myself to your prayers, though I cannot forbear telling you in one word the great satisfaction I have in my son, who, though he was but twelve years old last August, reads Homer very prettily, manages Horace and Tully with ease and pleasure, and with very little preparation can render a passage from Racine's Tragedies into good English. He discovers, also, a good disposition of mind, with regard to religion, and will, I hope, be a great comfort to us.

FROM THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON.

London, Jan. 3, 1748. My being ill has interfered with my answering yours, and with it some interruptions arose you would, I know, be much pleased with. Religion was, I believe, never so much the subject of conversation as now. Some of the great of this world hear with me the gospel patiently; and thus much seed is sown by Mr. Whitfield's preaching, and I need not tell you, some of the best; oh! that it may fall in good ground, and bring forth fruit abundantly. I am sorry to find that you are still interrupted by the Moravians: many good souls are among them, and by and by our Lord will

separate them from the chaff. I have sent Christian salutations to the Count Zinzendorff, and expect to see him. If the Lord will allow me, I hope to speak a word in the spirit of love and meekness, but with plainness to him, upon many points he establishes as fixed, on which, in some particulars, the scripture is silent, and, in many others, it is absolutely contrary to most of their avowed principles. A hymn book is lately published by them, which, to speak as I feel towards them in love, can be thought of no other way but as the product of the most wild enthusiasts upon the earth.

I had the pleasure, yesterday, of Mr. Gibbon and Mr. Cruttenden's company, with that of Mr. Gifford, to dine with me. Lord Lorthan and Lady Frances Gardiner gave them the meeting, and we had truly a most primitive and heavenly day; our hearts and voices praised the Lord; prayed to him, and talked of him I had another lady present, whose face, since I saw you last, is turned Sionward. Of the honourable women I trust there will be not a few: patience shall have its proper work, and if we love our Lord, we must be tender over his lambs, and lead those gently, who yet appear not to be so. I trust he will assist us to keep fanning the flame in every heart: this, my friend, is our joyful task for the best Master we can serve, either in time or eternity. Do not let your hands hang down; we must wrestle for ourselves, and for all dead in their sins, till the day break, and the shadows of time flee away. Many will be our attacks from a world lying in the way of the Wicked One, from our evil hearts, and the infirmity of our flesh; but let us remember we know in whom we believe, and that the Captain that leads us is nothing less than an Almighty conqueror over all these, and that nothing is too hard for Him. Remember it will soon be over; and let us withstand for a moment, eyeing the recompense of reward.