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Dear SIR,

Received your laft valuable Letter, and fincerely thank you for the judicious Obfervations it

Mr. Hervey here uses the Word Godly in the common Signification of it, as diftinguishing the Religious from thofe who profefs no Religion; but, in the Scripture Senfe of the Word, it is confined to thofe whofe Religion is formed by the Belief and Love of that Truth which came from God for the Hope of the Guilty.

Thefe Godly People he mentions mistook him continually, by apprehending all he faid in the Light of the properly qualified Faith; whereas his Apprehenfion was totally in the Light of free Salvation to the Guilty, as the Ground of immediate Confidence: And as they could make no Hesitation about confiding in the Lord, if (as they term'd it) their Evidences were clear; fo he made no Hefitation about confiding in the Lord as a guilty Sinner; the divine Declarations to the Guilty anfwering to him as the Foundation of his Confidence, as their Evidences would to them if they could conceive them to be clear; and as his Confidence only arofe from the Truth he believed, it ftood in fo near a Connection with it, that he accounted it effential to it: As, on the other Hand, their Confidence depending upon what they found in themfelves, as diftinguishing Characteriflics of God's Children, could only have Exiftence when and while they could thus conceive of themfelves.

Remarks upon, and Objections to, Mr. Marshall. I would tranfmit it to you by this Conveyance, but I remember you have already Work upon your Hands. In my next it shall wait upon you. My only Aim, I trust, is to find out the Truth as it is in JESUS; which, at prefent, I am convinced is with you. There is fo much Clearnefs and Simplicity in your Doctrine, it is so suitable to the Goodness of GOD, and fo eminently conducive to the Comfort, Recovery, and Happiness of a Sinner, that I cannot be perfwaded to relinquish it. I should be glad to maintain it in a convincing, yet the most inoffenfive Manner. I propofe to allot two Dialogues for this very important Subject. How, in what Form and Order would you advise me to proceed? Pray don't fcruple to exprefs yourself with all poffible Freedom. Direct and correct, as a Friend and FellowLabourer*, &c.

Dear SIR,

LAST Night I received the Favour of your two Packets; and, I affure you a real Favour I efteem them. Your Anfwers are fo clear, fo confiftent, so comfortable; they very much tend

*The Remainder of this Letter is loft.

te

to establish my Mind. I find by your Experience, the "Account I mean of GOD's Dealings with your Soul," that you have incurred (but furely without any juft Cause) the Displeasure of Many. Now, as this is the Cafe, my dear Sir, let us act prudently; be wife as Serpents. Don't you think, I beg of you, that I am afhamed of your Friendship. GOD forbid! But as I have fome Concern, and you have a greater Zeal, for these precious Doctrines, let us ufe the most probable Means to spread them. You know the Power of Prejudice is great; is almost incredible. Many People, were they to know, that you and I have been laying our Counfels together, perhaps would never look into my Book. We feem now to have a favourable Opportunity of diffusing these facred and delightful Truths*. My Books have been well spoken of in three of the London † Maga

zines

* How evidently does Mr. Sandeman appear to be miftaken, in calling this the popular Doctrine, or in judging that Mr. Hervey had gained a public Efteem on the Account of it.

† Some of thefe Recommendations were not to the Advantage of the Truth, which it was his main Defign to communicate: Of this Mr. Sandeman has not failed to take notice; and it must be acknowledged, that a Refentment of the Offices of fuch a Friend might not have been improper. But the fame Reafons which he had for dething the Silence of one

zines fucceffively; and there is printing a new Edition. The LORD JESUS, the WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR, direct Us in this truly important Affair. - I will now, relying on His unerring SPIRIT, fet about preparing the xvith Dialogue for the Prefs; and I should be very defirous to have it pafs under your Examination before it is launched into the World. You will give me Leave to expect an Anfwer; and let me know, from Time to Time, where a Letter may find you, fent by,

Dear SIR,

Your obliged and affectionate Brother,

in CHRIST JESUS,

Weston, May 8.

J. HERVEY.

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Dear SIR,

Have been fo poorly in my Health, and so much engaged in Company, that I could not poffibly get the enclosed ready before this Time; which is the Cause, the only Cause, of my deferring my Thanks for your last Favour.

As to the Doctrine under Confideration, I have given a favourable and attentive Ear to all that is

faid

Friend for the prefent, may be justly fuppofed the Reason he fhewed no Refentment to the Officioufness of the other.

faid against it; and yet the more it is attacked, the more I am convinced of its Truth. The

LORD JESUS enable me to deliver and testify, with Clearness of Sentiment, and Meekness of Temper, what I am perfuaded in my own Confcience, is the true Gofpel of Grace! - The enclofed Paper contains fome of the Alterations which I propofe to make. Another Sheet will comprize the Remainder. Let me defire you, dear Sir, to examine them, and remark upon them, as freely and impartially as you have done upon other Papers. Pray treat me with a kind Severity. Whatever Sentence or Expression appears wrong, I beg of you, animadvert, correct; spare it not. I affure you, I can bear to be told, (by your friendly Pen at least) this is not Evangelical; here you contradict yourself; this is redundant, and that ambiguous. Pleafe to make little Marks of Reference in the MS. and pen down your Obfervations on a separate Paper.

I think to drop my first Design of dividing the Effay into two Dialogues, and answering the various Objections. This I intend to poftpone for the prefent; and would print no more than is needful to explain, establish, and guard the Tenet.

I think to add in a Note, a friendly Invitation to any ferious and ingenuous Person on the other Side of the Question, to debate and fift this very important Point; profeffing, that, if it can be