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tioning it to a man I so much esteem, and whose heart I know to be so right.

It was with great concern I found Mrs. Dod. dridge so ill at Bath. I know the grief this must have occasioned you. But I know your sufficiency. I trust in God she has by this time received the expected benefit from the waters. It was by accident I saw her name in Leak's book (for then I had not received your last) a little before I left Mr. Allen's. I visited her twice, The first time, she was going out to drink the waters; the second time, a visiting: so I had not the pleasure of much of her company. You may be assured, I would not hinder her the first time; and I made a conscience not to do it the second: for it was a new acquaintance she was going to make; a matter perhaps as useful to her amusement, while she stayed at Bath, as the other for her health.

Thus you see, my good friend, we have all something to make us think less complacently of the world. Religion will do great things. It will always make the bitter waters of Marah wholesome and palatable. But we must not think it will usually turn water to wine, because it once did so. Nor is it fit it should, unless this were our place of rest, where we were to expect the bridegroom. I do the best I can, and should, I think, do the same if I were a mere Pagan, to make life passable. To be always lamenting the miseries of it, or always seeking after the pleasures of it, equally takes us off from the work of our salvation. And though I be extremely cautious what sect I follow in religion, yet any in

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philosophy will serve my turn, and honest Sancho Panca's is as good as any; who, on his return from an important commission, when asked by his master whether they should mark the day with a black or a white stone, replied, 'Faith, sir, if you will be ruled by me, with neither, but with good brown ochre. What this philosopher thought of his commission, I think of human life in general, good brown ochre is the complexion of it.

I got home a little before Christmas, after a charming philosophical retirement in a palace with Mr. Pope and Mr. Allen for two or three months. The gentleman I mentioned last is, I verily believe, the greatest private character that ever appeared in any age of the world. You see his munificence to the Bath-hospital. This is but a small part of his charities, and charity but a small part of his virtues. I have studied his character even maliciously, to find where his weakness lies; but have studied in vain. When I know it, the world shall know it too for the the consolation of the envious; especially as I suspect it will prove to be only a partiality he has entertained for me. In a word, I firmly believe him to have been sent by Providence into the world, to teach men what blessings they might expect from heaven, would they study to deserve them.

I received your agreeable present of your pupil's Sermons*, with your Life of him, which my nephew has read with great pleasure, and you have both our most hearty thanks for it. He is now of Jesus-college in Cambridge. But I take

By the rev. Mr. Thomas Steffe.

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what care I can myself of his education. He is very promising, and I hope will prove a comfort to an excellent, though unfortunate mother.

Dr. Taylor has just now shown me the first part of your excellent Answer to Christianity not founded on Argument; which he highly esteems, and we wait impatiently for the second.

Will you forgive my concluding without overlooking this sad scribble, which I should be even afraid to do had I time. But now I have not a moment more than to conclude, with my best respects to Mrs. Doddridge, dear sir, your most affectionate and faithful friend and brother.

LETTER LIX.

MR. WARBURTON TO DR. DODDRIDGE.

DEAR SIR, Prior-Park, Sept. 2, 1751. YOUR kind letter gave me, and will give Mr. Allen, great concern: but for ourselves, not you. Death, whenever it happens, in a life spent like yours, is to be envied, not pitied, and you will have the prayers of your friends, as conquerors have the shouts of the crowd. God preserve you; if he continues you here, to go on in his service; if he takes you to himself, to be crowned with glory.

Be assured the memory of our friendship will be as durable as my life. I order an inquiry to be made of your health from time to time; but if you

fatigue yourself any more in writing, it will prevent me that satisfaction. I am, dear sir, your most affectionate friend and brother.

LETTER LX.

DR. DODDRIDGE TO SIR J.

DEAR SIR,

Northampton, Dec. 8, 1742,

PERMIT me frankly to speak my mind to you on a head on which I fear to be silent, lest I should fail in a branch of duty and gratitude to a gentleman to whom I think myself obliged, and whom I would gladly serve to the best of my little ability. Be not angry, when I tell you,. I was heartily grieved at the liberties you took last night in using the venerable name of the Ever-Blessed God in so light a manner; and in the needless appeals which you made to him, as to things which would have been believed on much less evidence than the word of sir J. I have not heard so much of that kind of language, except when passing by people of low education in the streets, for some years; whether it be owing to the complaisance with which gentlemen commonly treat our profession, or, as I rather hope, to a sense of what is in itself reasonable and decent.

I am sure, sir, that your knowledge of men and things is capable of making conversation pleasant and improving, and of filling up your full share in it, without these dreadful expletives; for dreadful I must call them, when considered in a view to

that strict account which must so certainly, and so quickly, be rendered up to God for all our words as well as our actions. I was the more solicitous, sir, to mention the affair to you in consideration of your office as a magistrate; the dignity of which must certainly be most effectually supported by avoiding whatever it might require you to punish in others. In this view, sir, permit me to entreat you to join your efforts with those of all other wise and good men to discountenance, and, if possible, to drive out of the world this unprofitable enormity of swearing in common conversation; concerning the evil of which, I am sure it is not necessary to enlarge, when addressing myself to a gentleman of your good understanding.

I conclude, sir, with my most affectionate good wishes and prayers for you, that the whole of your conduct in every circumstance of life, may be such as will yield the most pleasing reflections in the awful hour of death, and the most comfortable account before the divine tribunal, to which we are hastening; and in the serious views of which, I have presumed to give you this trouble, hoping you will esteem it, as it undoubtedly is, a proof that I am with great sincerity, honoured sir, your most faithful and obedient humble servant.

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