Present my most affectionate love to your dear Brother, and dear Mercy, and Cælia, in which your mamma joins. cannot say with what endearments I am yours,

I

P. DODDRIDGE.

FROM THE REV. C. ASHWORTH, D. D.

DEAR MADAM,

London, Sept. 10, 1751. I HAVE been near a fortnight in town, and have scarcely heard any news inquired for but "How is Dr. Doddridge?" You will believe I have been not a little pleased with the concern that every person I have met with, and even some whom I suspected of being too indifferent, have discovered. It was, indeed, a very sensible satisfaction to me, not only as a proof of respect to a person so deservedly dear to me, but also as it gave encouragement to hope that God would hear those prayers which his people seemed disposed so universally to offer on this account. God did not surely design to give that shock to our faith in the benefit of prayer, which the denial of those addresses would have been, which he had put it into our hearts to present! I say which he had put into our hearts; for, though we could never part with Dr. Doddridge without great reluctance, I do verily believe there was much of God's influence in that earnestness which we found ourselves inclined to use upon the occasion.

The fatigues and fears which you, Madam, must have had, and the awful prospect before you, have awakened a very tender sympathy, and excited the utmost fervour of prayer. I had intended this very post to have sent you a letter of condolence; in which it had been my design to suggest some of those consolations of the gospel which alone can support the mind under such a bereavement, as the frequent discouraging accounts we received gave us

too much reason to fear you were going to suffer; and I had therein designed to acquaint you with the design I had formed of coming to Bristol the next week, to have paid my respects to a person to whom I am under unspeakable obligations, and for whom I think I may modestly, and I am sure I can justly say, I have a proportionable value.

But, blessed be God! your letter to Mr. Cruttenden has, I hope, rendered my journey needless, and changed the subject of my letter. I congratulate you, Madam, on the favourable symptoms you relate, which I hope will be the opening of a complete deliverance. I bow my knee to the Father of Mercies in the most sincere and affectionate gratitude for his goodness to you, to your family, to me, to the Doctor's friends, and to the church, in giving us ground to hope that we may still enjoy a life so peculiarly precious.

And for you, dear Madam, may the eternal God be your support, and give you proportionable strength under all the sympathy you feel, the labours you are called to undertake, and the fears you may at any time have occasion to entertain. These are prayers daily offered up with unfeigned importunity; and which, I trust, it will endear the methods of providence to me to find answered.

I beg my cordial salutations to the Doctor, and that you will tell him I was scarcely ever more desirous to see my own father, and that I conceive great joy in the hope of meeting him at Northampton, and of joining my brethren in praising God on his account, with a fervency equal to that with which we united in pouring forth our hearts in prayer for him.

I am, Madam,

Your very obliged humble Servant,

CALEB ASHWORTH,

DEAR SIR,

FROM NATHANIEL NEAL, ESQ..

Tunbridge Wells, Sept. 11, 1751. MR. JOHNSON came into Mr. Barker's lodgings with your letter whilst I was there to-day with my family at dinner, and after the contents of it had been read and considered, I was desired to put our united opinion (which you know, where a consultation has been held, is the province of the youngest) into writing.

We all agree, that the single point which must determine the expedience of your making trial of a warmer climate, is the probability of its restoring your health, of which your physicians are the only competent judges. The accounts you have had of its success in like cases is undoubtedly a strong testimony in favour of their judgment; and Mr. Barker mentioned it to me last Sunday, as what he apprehended might prove the most probable means of your speedy and perfect recovery.

The objections arising in your mind, from your connexions with your Academy, Church, or Family, must not be suffered to deter or perplex you. If we cannot supply your place for six months, how shall we supply it if you go to the place from which there is no return? Be assured, my dear friend, that so far from being dismayed, we spring forward in the hope of being instrumental in keeping alive the many precious interests that lie near your heart, till you return, and cherish them again under your own tender wing.

May God Almighty (the alone all-sufficient friend and counsellor) inspire you and your dear lady with wisdom and magnanimity equal to every emergency; and be assured that, whilst we have any heart or breath remaining, our

VOL. V.

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dear

prayers and our affections will follow you, though you should remove to the ends of the earth. I am, my and worthy Friend, faithfully and entirely yours,

FROM LADY ERSKINE.

N. NEAL.

SIR,

Houghton Park, Sept. 17, 1751.

I RECEIVED your obliging letter, for which I return you many thanks. I have read over the Discourse and Dialogues with so much pleasure that I could not forbear sending them directly to my children. I hope the same hand will oblige the world with a continuation of the Dialogues; and I no less wish that you, Sir, may have leisure to accomplish your design of the Scripture Prints, with Proper Dialogues to each, for I know of few things likely to do so much good; for, as far as I have had occasion to observe, both pictures and dialogues take the fancy of children most. I found Mr. Basnage's prints of great use to my children some years ago, and I wish I had gone on longer with them; but the explanations are too tedious for children, at least I found them so with mine, when they were last at home.

But I beg pardon, Sir, for taking up so much of your time, though I know you will excuse it, as also my asking you what commentary of the Old Testament you would recommend to me for my own reading. I believe I asked you this question once before, but I am ashamed to say I have lost the memorandum I then took of your answer.

My mother is not quite well, but better than she has been. Lady Kintore went to Scotland with her father six weeks ago, when they were both well. I beg my compliments to Mrs. Doddridge, and am, Sir,

Your most humble Servant,

F. ERSKINE.

DEAR SIR,

FROM NATHANIEL NEAL, ESQ.

Million Bank, Sept. 21, 1751. I PRAY God the measure advised by so great a body of the College may be as successful as, with such a sanction, it was apparently irresistable.

Your provision for the Academy, I can already assure you, is very satisfactory to Dr. Jennings, Mr. Price, and myself, and I have no doubt will be so to Dr. Guyse, to whom I shall communicate it the first opportunity. We had a meeting on the day before your last letter arrived ; at which the trustees unanimously, and with the warmest affection, agreed to desire your acceptance of thirty guineas, as a present towards your expenses at Lisbon, and in your voyage thither.

And now, my dear friend, I cheerfully accept the office of your banker and steward; and though I undertake for nothing more, yet, from the generous ardour many of your friends express towards you, do not despair of receiving your stock entire, if it be the will of God that you return to us again. You go with a full gale of prayer, and I trust we shall stand ready on the shore to receive you back with shouts of praise. But it becomes us also to be prepared for a more awful event; and I think it needful to desire you to tell Mrs. Doddridge (though, God forbid the hand should wound that fain would heal) that we, as it were, forget you, I had almost said forget ourselves, whilst we think of her: that she is heir to every heart that is yet yours; above all, that she is sure of an interest in that God, whose arms are everlasting, whose presence is universal, and whose compassions never fail. He is the creator of the ends of the earth, who fainteth not, neither. is weary, and there is no searching his understanding. Oh, Sir, the time is hastening, when these ways of his, which are now so unsearchable, shall appear to have been