content us."-I must be pardoned if I cannot contemplate with mere calm approbation sentences like these, not artfully arranged

'to serve an occasion,'

but whispered, in sincerity of heart, where, as we have already seen, they were not likely to be received with approbation, and where there was no prospect of their ever emerging to public notice:-sentences, too, accompanied with unquestionable marks of sobriety of mind and deliberate judgment; expressive of a severe sacrifice then actually taking place; and conveying sentiments which, after some further fluctuations and delays, governed the whole future life of their author. Surely there is something in them which bespeaks even the Christian hero. The occasion, indeed, which first called these principles into action, was, as he soon afterwards found, a fundamental misconception of Christian truths; but the principles themselves were noble. From my father's conduct at this crisis, Mr. Newton augured well of him: but it would be a very small part of what is now before us, that could be submitted to Mr. N.'s observation. Had he known all that passed, he might well have anticipated all that followed.

The comparative poverty in which my father spent his days has been lamented: and on some grounds it might justly be so: but, had his lot been materially different, is it not manifest that sentiments like the above, which pervade his future writings, would in his mouth have lost more than half their force ?

One further remark suggests itself. No one I should conceive can doubt, especially when these letters are viewed in connection with what subsequently

H

took place, that the writer of them was, at the time, praying to God in an acceptable manner, as well as profitably reading the scriptures. The right use of prayer-making God our refuge in time of need-is apparent in them; and the genuine effect of true prayer follows, which is composure of mind in committing events to God, while we keep the path of duty. And this falls in with a persuasion which my father always entertained, and which has in effect been already quoted from the Force of Truth, that he prayed spiritually, and consequently with acceptance, even while, to a considerable degree, involved in Socinian errors. No doubt, in such a case, he was assisted by a Spirit which he did not confess, and accepted through a Mediator, of whom, as yet, he had little explicit knowledge. But then, let it be observed, he was at this time no stationary and self-satisfied Socinian: he was now a sincere and earnest inquirer after truth: he desired" to know," in order that he might "do, the will of God:" he had already received that impulse, which was ere long to carry him far off from the Socinian ground. And accordingly the very next paragraph, in the Force of Truth, to those which are quoted as an introduction to the above letters, informs us, that the result of his great mental conflict was, to bring him " to this important determination: not so to believe what any man said, as to take it upon his authority; but to search the word of God with this single intention, to discover whether the Articles of the Church of England, in general, and the Athanasian creed in particular, were or were not agreeable to the scriptures." And hence may be dated that deep practical study of the oracles of God,

1

with constant earnest prayer for divine teaching; and that entire change of sentiments and of character, resulting from it; which the Force of Truth describes. -I cherish, not with a superstitious, yet certainly with a degree of reverent and grateful regard, a fragment of that Greek Testament in which, in the course of these inquiries, my father read and deeply meditated upon every part of that volume of divine revelation; spending usually, as I have heard him say, during that one perusal, three hours upon every chapter: frequently, when the weather would permit, passing this time in the park of Weston Underwood, which has been subsequently immortalized by the writings of Cowper.

Before we resume the narrative, I shall here introduce one more extract of a letter, showing his views of some important doctrinal points. Though it appears from the Force of Truth, that he was not established in the orthodox faith concerning the Trinity till the latter part of the year 1777, yet he wrote as follows upon some topics, apparently connected with it, as early as December 30, 1775. " I think my father's books lead him into errors of considerable consequence: but, though I wish, and pray to God to set him right, yet I seem very unwilling to offer myself as an instrument. The error I mean in chief is, the supposition that man wanted an instructor, more than a Saviour: or, in other words, that the merits of Christ were not so necessary to obtain remission of sins, as his instruction was to teach us the way of righteousness. But this is contrary to scripture. Man, every man, is there represented as a sinner, as in bondage to sin and the devil,

H 2

and as wanting redemption from them; as liable to punishment, and wanting salvation from it; as weak and frail, and wanting the divine assistance. For all these purposes Jesus came. He is therefore our Redeemer, our Saviour, as well as our Instructor; and on him, by faith, we should rely for forgiveness, for effectual assistance in obeying his precepts, and for the acceptance of our imperfect obedience."

We now return to his narrative. "During part of the time that I resided at Ravenstone, I daily attended Mr. Wrighte's son: but, in proportion as I became more decidedly attentive to religion, my company was less agrecable; and, some difference arising about the management of an indulged child, I was dismissed from this employment. For some time afterwards, I lived on terms of civility with the family: but, on my decidedly adopting and avowing my present religious sentiments, this connexion was, as nearly as possible, dissolved. Thus all my flattering prospects from that quarter terminated. But it is better to trust in the Lord, than to put any confidence in princes."The young man, who had been my father's pupil, lost his life about the time that he came of age, in a melancholy manner, on which occasion, my father says, "I wrote to Mr. W. in the most consoling, sympathizing style I possibly could, introducing a few intimations of a religious nature; hoping that on so pathetic an occasion his answer might have made way for something further: but no answer was returned."

He proceeds: "Some part of that time also, I had two young relations from London under my care. I succeeded sufficiently well in bringing them forward in their studies, but I failed of gaining their attach

ment; and I became convinced that I did not possess that patience, meekness, and self-command, which the instruction of youth, especially of indulged children, requires: and, having learned, probably better than I had any other good lesson, to trust in the providence of God for temporal subsistence, while I attended to the duties of my station; and, finding that I had, in my peculiar circumstances, quite sufficient employment, in learning and teaching religion; I deliberately gave up this part of my plan, resolving to undertake nothing more in the way of tuition, at least for the present. This being determined, I solemnly vowed before God, never more to engage in any pursuit, study, or publication, which should not be evidently subservient to my ministerial usefulness, or, generally, to the propagation of genuine Christianity. In some respects, perhaps, my notions on these subjects were too contracted: but I rejoice, and am thankful, that I have hitherto performed this vow."

On this subject the following paragraph occurs in the Force of Truth. "About this time," the latter part of the year 1776, " after many delays, I complied with the admonitions of my conscience, and disengaged myself from all other employments, with a solemn resolution to leave all my temporal concerns in the hands of the Lord, and entirely to devote myself to the work of the ministry. Being thus become master of all my time, I dropped every other study, and turned the whole current of my reflections and. inquiries into another channel; and for several years I scarcely opened a book which treated of any thing besides religion."

The purpose here described, so solemnly formed,