your character to be as envied as it is eminent, I am jealous over the remotest outlines of it, to keep it as clear from aspersion, as I am sure you will be to keep it (under divine aids) from any real pollution; and if, at any time, I discover an officious zeal in the correspondence with which you indulge me, you will remember at least in my favour, that it is not to be imputed to any want of that affection which becomes, Rev. and dear Sir, your most faithful humble Servant, N. NEAL. P.S. I have had the pleasure of perusing your beautiful Paraphrase of David's last words; and, though unacquainted with the Hebrew language, and consequently no competent judge of the criticisms, yet, I think, the version given by Dr. Grey so natural, consistent, and honourable to David in his prophetic character, that I could not help being pleased with it; and I really think, there is as much poetry in your paraphrase, as I ever met with in the same number of lines. SIR, FROM GILBERT WEST, ESQ. LL.D.* Wickham, March 14, 1748. UPON my going to town some time ago, I received, by your order, a present of your Memoirs of Colonel Gardiner, for which mark of your regard I return you my particular thanks, over and above those which are due to you from every one, who wishes well to Christianity, for this and "The character of Mr. West was truly amiable and excellent. In him the Christian, the scholar, and the gentleman were happily united. His works exhibit sufficient evidence of his learning; and the influence of his piety hath, it is to be hoped, been far extended by his ' Observations your many other useful and zealous labours in that noble cause. Example has always a greater influence upon the generality of mankind than precept, though founded upon the strongest reason, and enforced by the highest authority : it cannot, therefore, but be very serviceable to the men of this world, and particularly of this age, to show them, from the instances of Colonel Gardiner, and the three excellent brothers, whom you treat of in your appendix, that it is possible for a man to be a sincere Christian, and, at the same time, a soldier and a gentleman; characters that are but too commonly thought inconsistent. All I am afraid of is, that the example of Colonel Gardiner should be looked upon as too bright for imitation. Men of cool hearts are apt to suspect those degrees of zeal which they never felt, to be unnatural and affected: for which reason, I could wish that you had not inserted so many of those rapturous strains of piety, which Colonel Gardiner poured into the bosoms of those friends to whom he opened all his heart. Those Christians, indeed, whose piety is wound up to the same exalted pitch, may be touched and thrilled by them, and, like unisons, answer in the same key; and I am persuaded there are many such. But to the generality on the Resurrection,' and would doubtless have reached farther, had he lived to complete what he had for some time meditated, the Evidences of the Truth of the New Testament. His private virtues and social qualities were such as justly endeared him to his friends and acquaintance. In his manner of life he was regular and exemplary. He read the prayers of the public liturgy every morning to his family; and on Sunday evening he called his servants into the parlour, and read to them first a sermon, and then prayers. Crashaw (as Dr. Johnson observes) is now not the only maker of verses to whom may be given the two venerable names of Poet and Saint. See Cowley's verses on the death of Mr. Crashaw, which begin thus:" "Poet and Saint! to thee alone are given The two most sacred names of earth and heaven." Select Works of Mr. A. Cowley; in two volumes: vol. i. p. 121. of men, especially men of the world, I am afraid these strains, the genuine effusions only of those hearts which are smitten with the love of religion, will give the whole character of Colonel Gardiner an air of enthusiasm; an effect which the goodness of your own heart, the warmth of your affection for that excellent man, and your intimate knowledge of him, kept you, I dare say, from suspecting. This and a few peculiarities of expression, are the only exceptionable things in your book: but they are abundantly outweighed by the many strokes of piety and good sense, which appear in almost every page. One, I cannot help taking notice of to you upon this occasion, viz. your remarks upon the advantage of an early education in the principles of religion, because I have myself most happily experienced it; since I owe to the early care of a most excellent woman, my mother (whose character I dare say you are no stranger to) that bent and bias to religion, which, with the co-operating grace of God, hath at length brought me back to those paths of peace, from whence I might have otherwise been in danger of deviating for ever. The parallel betwixt me and Colonel Gardiner was in this instance too striking not to affect me exceedingly; I hope, therefore, that you will pardon me for mentioning it. I should also beg your pardon for delivering so freely my sentiments of your book, could I imagine that speaking truth would be offensive to a lover of truth, and did I not think that general praise, or a total silence on this occasion was inconsistent with the character of a friend; a character which I am ambitious of deserving at your hands. I know you will expect to hear something from me about the work, which you recommended to me so earnestly, when I had the pleasure of seeing you at Northampton. At present I can only say, that I intend to try what I can do upon that subject, with the assistance which you so * Observations upon Celsus. kindly offered me, as soon as I have rid my hands of some papers, which have lain by me many years, and which I am now revising and preparing for the press: the Translations of some Odes of Pindar, and some other pieces, both in verse and prose, translated from the Greek: to which will be prefixed a Dissertation on the Olympic Games, which yet wants something of being finished. Though I look upon these subjects as mere trifles in comparison ́with the other, yet I am sensible they have a weight, indeed too great a weight, in the opinion of the world. Hæ nugæ seria ducent In bona, laudatum semel, acceptumque benigne. Works of this kind sometimes gain a man a reputation and authority, which may serve him upon better and more useful subjects. You will not think I am either too vain or sanguine in my expectations, when I tell you that these papers have passed their examination, and received the approbation of Mr. Lyttelton, the best critic, the best friend, and the best man in this world. I have frequent letters from that admirable friend of ours, Mr. Jones,* of Alconbury, which give me great pleasure, as they breathe the true benevolent spirt of Christianity, and show him, at the same time, to be a man of parts and learning. He hath given me some insight into his scheme, mentioned in a letter of his to you, communicated to me by Mr. Lyttelton, and has promised me a fuller delineation of it, which I expect with some impatience. I am glad to find that Christianity begins to be so well understood, and taught by so many men of parts and learning in all sects; the fruits of which appear in a candour and charity unknown to all the ages of the church, *The Rev. John Jones, of whose scheme for the condensation of the Evidences of Christianity, as explained by his letter at page 475 of the fourth volume of this work, Mr. West would appear from this passage to approve. except the primitive, I had almost said the apostolic age. Does not this give you a prospect, though, perhaps, still very distant, of the completion of the famous prophecy, that speaks of the lion and the lamb lying down together in the kingdom of the Messiah. Lions there have been hitherto in all churches; but too many, fierce, greedy, and blood-thirsty lions, though often disguised like lambs: and some lambs have there been simple enough to think it expedient for the flock to assume the habits and terrors of lions. But I hope, they now begin to undeceive themselves, and to consider Christianity as intending to bring back the world to that state of innocence which it enjoyed before the fall, when in one and the same paradise, to use the words of Milton, "Frisking, play'd All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase, In wood or wilderness, forest or den : Sporting, the lion ramp'd, and in his paw Dandled the kid." To attain this happy state, all Christians should unite their endeavours; and, instead of looking out for, and insisting upon points of difference and distinction, seek for those only in which they do, or may agree. They may, at least, sow the seeds of peace and unity, though they should not live to reap the fruits in this world. "Blessed are the peace makers," says the Prince of Peace, "for they shall be called the children of God”—an appellation infinitely more honourable than that of pastor, bishop, archbishop, patriarch, cardinal or pope, and attended with a recompense infinitely surpassing the richest revenues of the highest ecclesiastical dignity. That you and all sincere Christians may deserve this character, and attain its reward, is the sincere and hearty wish of, Sir, your most affectionate humble Servant, |