trust you will find nothing to complain of. It has uniformly been my plan to carry on my ministry in strict conformity both to the doctrines and discipline of our excellent Church. "There is some real piety among the people; and in general they are desirous to hear the good word of God. 66 Some, however, have been withdrawn from the Church by the Baptist Dissenters settled here, who are of a most proselyting spirit and character. I know only one way effectually to counteract their endeavours, which is that of preaching faithfully, and living holily. "And now, dear Sir, I solemnly transfer my charge to yourself, with the fervent desire that you may, as a wise master-builder, erect a goodly edifice on the foundation already laid. May Almighty God hear the prayers of a dying man for you, that you may prove a far greater blessing to this parish than he has been; and when it shall be your turn to resign up your trust, may you then enjoy the same good hope, through grace, which supports the heart of, "Your's truly, "T. LLOYD." The following essay is the one alluded to in the former part of this narrative. It has been out of print for many years, and very few are acquainted with it. AN ESSAY ON THE LITERARY BEAUTIES OF THE SCRIPTURES. BY THOMAS LLOYD, SCHOLAR OF king's college, cambridge. PUBLISHED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE WILL OF THE LATE MR. NORRIS, AS HAVING GAINED THE ANNUAL PRIZE WHICH HE INSTITUTED IN THAT UNIVERSITY. MDCCLXXXIV. AN ESSAY ON THE LITERARY BEAUTIES OF THE SCRIPTURES. In this age of taste and refinement, when the elegant writers of Greece and Rome are so deservedly esteemed, and have been so much the subject of learned disquisition, that there is scarce an obscurity in them, which is not in some degree illustrated, or a beauty which has not been called forth to public view and admiration; in such an age, that seems more disposed to contemplate and examine the productions of others, than to add to them by its own; it is natural to conclude, that there would be no path throughout the whole extent of science, that has not been travelled over by the eager step of literary curiosity, no flowery road in the gay regions of poetry, nor thorny one in the dreary wilderness of philosophy, which imagination has |