till next Monday, the sermon will not be preached till Sunday sevennight.

When one thinks of the death of so great a man as Dr. Watts, it strikes a damp to the heart, like the setting of the sun though I cheer myself with this thought, that he is risen on some happier world, with a new and more resplendent glory. Oh, may the scattered rays he has left behind him, in our benighted hemisphere, light and cheer us onward in our ascent to the regions of everlasting day, where the system of universal nature will be unveiled to our view, and where the firmament is filled with stars, that are risen never to set any more! I am,

Dear Sir, your most faithful and affectionate Servant,

N. NEAL.

TO MR. WILLIAMS, OF KIDDERMINSTER.*

DEAR SIR, Northampton, Dec. 15, 1748. I THANK you heartily for your kind and truly friendly letter, which I perused with deep attention, and have been sincerely asking myself the questions you so properly suggest; and I will as freely tell you the result of that examination. I cannot and dare not vindicate myself with regard to them all, nor absolutely as to any one of them. And yet my conscience testifies, in the sight of God, if the

* As the system of religious discipline countenanced among the Nonconformists has, on the one hand, been grossly misrepresented by their enemies, and, on the other, been carried to an extreme, incompatible with christian freedom in some modern instances, I am happy in having it in my power to lay before the reader the following letter of instructions, furnished by Dr. Doddridge to the Elders of his own congregation.

As a perusal of this document will render the reader perfectly master of the subject, I would only remark that those inquisitorial and priestly powers, which ill-informed persons are apt to ascribe to dissenting pastors,

prejudices of self-love do not impose upon me, that, with with regard to most of the things you refer to, I have, in some degree, endeavoured to discharge my duty to the souls under my care.

are altogether foreign to the nature of their situation; these ministers are, in fact, too often the passive instruments of their own church societies.

"To the Rev. Mr. Evans, the Rev. Mr. Orton, and Mr. John Brown, Elders of the Church of Christ at Northampton, under my Pastoral Care; together with Mr. Hayworth, their associate in that good work.”

My dear and worthy Friends, beloved in the Lord, permit me, with all possible sincerity, to assure you that I esteem the relation in which you stand to the Church as its Elders, in the number of the many valuable mercies which I enjoy in my present very comfortable situation. I doubt not, but that from the word of God, and the reasonings of your own minds upon that relation in general, you are in the main acquainted with the duties of your office, and I well know there are those of you who have been active and faithful in discharging them. Nevertheless, as you desire some further advice upon that head, I, who also am an Elder, and your companion as well as your leader in the service of our common Lord, have thought it incumbent upon me to comply with this your request, and, in doing it, I shall use great plainness of speech, humbly hoping that He, in whose name I set about this work, will assist me to write what may be as a nail fixed in a sure place, and may be useful to others as well as to yourselves.

I apprehend, my dear brethren, that the duties of your office may be considered, partly as ordinary, that is, due from you to all the members of the Church, whatever their circumstances are, and partly as peculiar and extraordinary, in consequence of something singular in the condition of some persons who may come under your consideration.

First, the great, common, and ordinary duty, which you owe to the Church in general, and which must indeed be the foundation of all the rest, is that you carefully inspect them, and for that end that you visit them; for, without that care, it will hardly be possible to judge thoroughly of the state of religion amongst them. For the better regulation, therefore, of this important affair, I would humbly offer you the following advice.

1st. Get a list of all the heads of families at least, and, if you can, of all other persons belonging to the Church. I present you with such a list, together with this letter, and I desire that each of you would transcribe it, and sometimes review it, suppose once a year, that you may recollect

It will be observed that Dr. Doddridge employs the word Church in the catholic and truly Christian sense, as comprehending the whole congregation worshiping together under his care.

I know nothing in the world I have desired so much as "the glory of God and the conversion of souls," in the prosecution of my ministry. I have been "looking up to God," I hope sincerely, though I confess not so fervently,

what notice is taken of the several persons who stand upon it, and it will be easy for you to make proper additions to it as new members are admitted amongst us.

2dly. Let this be distributed into different classes, and each class assigned in a more particular manner to one of you, not as the only persons you are to regard, but as those of whom you are to take the chief care. This should be done by mutual consent, and a catalogue of them written out by the Elder, to whose special care they fall. And I think it would be proper this should be done on a sheet of paper, in such a manner that there may be room to write over against every name the time when the person was solemnly visited last, and, perhaps, some little memoranda concerning further business to be done with or for him; or, if such memoranda be too long, a little book may be reserved for them, the articles of which may be easily referred to in this paper, by setting them down under distinct numbers.

3dly. Let the families and persons thus taken upon the list of each, be visited as you have opportunity, taking the most important first, but on the whole neglecting none, and endeavour to make your visits as serviceable to them as possible. For this purpose call the heads of families apart; inquire of them how it fares with them and their families as to their religious state; give them such exhortations, instructions, and admonitions as you judge proper; and, especially, endeavour to engage them to a strict observation of family worship, and a spiritual care of their children and servants.

4thly. Observe how they are furnished with good books, and especially with Bibles, and what provision is made for teaching the children and servants to read.

5thly. Take an opportunity of addressing the children and servants of the family with some short but serious exhortation, and endeavour to impress your own hearts with a deep sense of the importance of their character. For be assured that, under God, the children of godly parents are the great hope of the Church for future generations. Remember, therefore, that they are committed to your charge, and that you, as well as I, are to feed the lambs of Christ, if we would approve our love to him. And, in this view, if you and the Deacons were to visit the Charity School at certain times, to talk to, and to pray with the children, it might, perhaps, turn to good account.

6thly. Conclude your visits with prayers where you can do so conveniently, and this not merely in ignorant, or in less considerable families, but even when you come to the families of those who are most eminent in religion. It will quicken your own hearts, and may quicken theirs.

and constantly, and humbly as I ought, "to direct me in the choice of subjects, and in the method of handling them ;" and, perhaps, you could hardly name a man living who "has less studied the artifices or excellencies of style

7thly. When you return from visiting your brethren, recollect their cases, consider what petitions are to be offered up to God for them in the next return of secret duty, what care is to be taken of them, and particularly what information it may be proper to give me concerning any thing encouraging, or otherwise, which you may have observed in them or their families.

Secondly, I would now remind you of some of the more particular duties of your office with relation to those whose case may require a distinguishing notice, and here—

1st. Take notice of those who are under any serious impressions, or any spiritual distress, and make your visits to them more frequent; remember that these are tender times, and that it is of great importance to work together with the Holy Spirit when he seems to begin his gracious operations on the soul.

2dly. Where you judge any are prepared by divine grace for Church membership, and are not yet come to the Lord's table, visit and exhort them to an approach; endeavour to remove their difficulties and discouragements, and inform me that I may put their names on the list which I keep of such persons.

3dly. Visit and pray with the sick, and deal seriously with them about their eternal interests. And here stay not always to be sent for, but go and offer your services where you have reason to think they will be acceptable; and, as it will not be probable that you can see them so frequently as their case requires, endeavour to engage some pious neighbour to visit them, so that they may be seen every day while their illness continues extreme, and, if I am informed and be near them, I shall always be ready to join my labours with yours on this occasion.

4thly. If any are under remarkable afflictions, or have received remarkable deliverances, make them a visit upon the occasion. And I have sometimes thought that if those who have children to be baptized were visited by an Elder a little before, with some serious admonition, it might turn to valuable account.

5thly. Where you hear any behave in a disorderly manner, make an immediate application to them; and, where any are offended and come to you with their complaints, do not immediately engage yourselves in the quarrel, but put them upon proceeding regularly according to the wise direction of our blessed Lord, that is, if it be matter of private offence only, let the party offended go to the offender, and tenderly expostulate with him, and then if he will not hear, let him take two more and repeat that admonition; and let these be persons of discretion, humility, and tenderness. And if the offender will not hear these, then let the matter be brought before the

in his compositions for the pulpit." I did indeed, in my younger years, study the English language with great care, and I have reason to believe that it was under a secret direction of Providence that I did so, considering the

Church; and here let it be observed, that good order seems to require that one of the Elders should be the person to state the case, for he is likely to speak more wisely than the person offended, who is often himself also much to blame. And as debates in a Church meeting are dangerous, if not managed with great prudence, I think, in such cases, all the Elders and the Pastor ought to be previously acquainted with the facts, that they may take counsel together, and ask farther counsel from the Lord, who, in that case will, I hope, guide us in judgment. But as for cases of public scandal, I think the offender ought to be publicly admonished, and if he does really repent, I apprehend that he ought to express that repentance by such confession and humiliation as may be satisfactory, not to the Elders alone, but to the Church in general; till he has done which, I cannot be free that such a person should sit down with us at the table of the Lord. This I take to be the regular method of proceeding with offenders; yet I must add, that I think it proper that the Elders should examine the case, and deal with every offender privately, before public admonition is solemnly given.

6thly. I think it incumbent on the Elders to take notice of the temporal necessities of those whom they visit, and to give proper information to the Deacons, and also to give them such exhortations relating to the discharge of their duty from time to time, as may be subservient to the good of the whole. And as God has blessed the Church with Deacons of such distinguished worth, and such approved wisdom and fidelity, I hope I need not remind you, my brethren, how proper it will be to join their counsel with yours in all matters of importance.

7thly. The Elders should cultivate an intimate friendship with each other. Remembering that the whole Church is in some degree the province of each, and proper times should be assigned, in which they and the Pastor may consult together in cases of difficulty and importance, and in which the result of their mutual observations should be carefully communicated to him; though, indeed, the more frequently something of this kind passes in occasional meetings the better it may be.

8thly. As the pastor is with peculiar care to watch over the Elders, and to admonish and exhort them, so are they likewise, in the spirit of humility and love, to watch over him in the Lord. And I do hereby entreat and charge you, my brethren, that if there be any thing in my temper and conduct, which appears to you to give just and reasonable offence, you would remind me of it plainly and faithfully, and I hope you will always find that I shall receive advice with meekness, and endeavour to be an example to others of a readiness to reform as God shall enable me.

And thus, my dear friends, I have laid before you, with all freedom, a variety of hints relating to your office, and if you think it would be for