• dwell on the Question: It is much more important < to confider, how we may correct an Irregularity of

Temper, which we are not fo ignorant as not to ⚫ fee, nor fo ftupid as not to lament. It is a long Time that we have spent in blaming ourselves; let us immediately endeavour to reform, left our Lamentations and Acknowledgements serve only to render us fo much the more criminal.- -I am well aware that this unhappy Principle of -Indifference to GOD is implanted fo deeply in our degenerate Hearts, that nothing but a divine Power is able to eradicate it: But let us make the Attempt, and fee how far the Spirit of GoD will enable us to executé the Refolution, which himself hath inspired. Is it not poffible, by the Bleffing of GOD on proper Attempts, that we may, in a fhort Time, make it as natural and habitual to our Thoughts to center in GOD, and the Redeemer and the important Hopes ◄ of eternal Glory, as ever we have found them to 4 center on a Favourite-creature? At least, let us not "conclude the contrary, till we have tried: And can we say that we have ever yet tried? That we have had the Refolution, for one fingle Week, to exert the utmoft Command over our Thoughts to fix them upon divine Objects? I have tried for a Day or two with encouraging Succefs; but never yet had the Conftancy to hold out for a Week.- -As this Evening concludes one Quarter of the Year, I have devoted it to the Review of my own Temper and Conduct. I find that numberless Evils which have furrounded me, may be traced up to this unhappy Source, the Forgetfulness of GOD. I therefore determine, by divine Affiftance, to attempt the Re• formation

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formation of the reft, by bending my most refolute Oppofition against this. I communicate thefe Reflections to you, to engage the Affiftance of your Prayers, and to recommend it to you to make the ⚫ like Attempt.'

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The grand Principle, that animated him to all thefe Exercises, Labours and Services was Love; Love to GOD, and Chrift, and Mankind. The following Extracts from fome Letters to his Friends will confirm this. I blefs GoD, I feel more and more of the • Power of his Love in my Heart, and I long for the • Converfion of Souls more fenfibly than for any Thing befides. Methinks I could not only labour, but die, for it with Pleasure. The Love of Chrift conftrains me.' I feel the Love of GoD in Chrift ⚫shed abroad in my Heart. Strive earnestly in your Prayers for me, that it may be continued and increased; that He may ever dwell in my Soul, confecrate all its Powers and engage all its Services; that I may be fitted for the whole of his Will; in Affliction or Profperity, in Life or Death, in Time or Eternity. I want above all Things in the World, to be brought to a greater Nearness to God, and to ⚫ walk more constantly and closely with Him.'

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Oh, could I fpend more of my Time in catechizing • Children, in exhorting Heads of Families and addreffing to young People; and more in meditating on the Things of GoD in my Retirement, without Books, without Papers, under a deeper and more affecting Sense of GOD, and receiving vital Communications of Grace and Strength immediately <from Him, methinks, I fhould be happy. But I x am fadly incumbered. If God hath ever made

me useful to you, give him the Glory. I am one of the least of his Children, and yet a Child; and

that is my daily Joy. Indeed I feel my Love to * Him increase: I ftruggle forwards toward Him, and • look at Him, as it were, sometimes with Tears of • Love, when in the midst of the Hurries of Life, I cannot speak to Him otherwife than by an Ejacu

•lation.

CHAP. IX.

His laft SICKNESS and DEATH.

T is an Obfervation of Solomon, that the Path of the Juft is as the fhining Light, that Shineth more and more to the perfect Day. This was eminently verified in the Subject of thefe Papers. We have feen with what peculiar and unwearied Diligence he applied himself, especially during his laft Years, to converfe with GOD, to improve his Graces, to ferve his Fellow-christians and train-up his Soul for the Work and Felicity of Heaven: And we are now to take a View of the happy Effect of this pious Care and Diligence, in the Peace of Mind and holy Joy, which fhed a diftinguished Luftre on the concluding Scenes of his Life.

In December 1750, he went to St. Albans, to preach a Funeral-fermon for his Friend and Father Dr. Samuel Clark. In that Journey he unhappily.contracted

a Cold, which hung upon him thro' the Remainder of the Winter. On the Advance of the Spring, it confiderably abated, but returned again with great Violence in the Summer. His Physicians and Friends advised him to lay-afide his public Work for a while, and apply himself entirely to the Use of proper Medicines and Exercife for the Removal of his Complaint. But he could not be perfuaded to comply with the former Part of their Advice. To be useless was worse than Death to him. While he thought there was no immediate Danger, he could not be prevailed upon to decline or leffen his delightful Work, and was particularly defirous to complete his Family-. expofitor. His Correfpondents, and Friends at home, plainly observed his great Improvement in Spirituality and a heavenly Temper, the nearer he approached to his Diffolution. He feemed to be got above the World; his Affections were more strongly than ever fet upon Heaven, and he was daily breathing afterImmortality. In fome Letters to his Friends, about this Time, he thus expreffeth himfelf; I blefs GOD, Earth is lefs and lefs to me; and I fhall be very glad to have done with it once for all, as foon as it • shall please my Master to give me Leave. Yet for Him I would live and labour; and I hope, if fuch werehis Will, fuffer too.'' I thank God, that I do indeed feel my Affection to this vanishing World, dying and vanishing every Day. I have long fince weighed it in the Balances and found it wanting; and my Heart and Hopes are above. Fain would I attain ❝ more lively Views of Glory. Fain would I feel more powerful Attractions towards that World, where you and I, thro' Grace, fhall foon be ;. and

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in the mean Time would be exerting myself more and more, to people that bleffed, but neglected ▪ Region.'—' I am now intent upon having fomething done among the Diffenters, in a more public Manner, for propagating the Gospel abroad, which • lies near my Heart. I wish to live to fee this Defign brought into Execution, at least into fome For'wardness; and then I fhould die the more chearfully. Should GOD fpare my Life, many Opportunities of doing good in this Refpect may arise: But to depart and be with Chrift is far, far, infinitely, better. I defire the Prayers of my Friends in my prefent Circumftances. I remember them in " my poor Way: But alas! what with my Infirmities, and what with the Hurries to which I am here [in London] peculiarly obnoxious, and the many Affairs and Interruptions, which are preffing upon me, my praying Time is fadly contracted. O that I had Wings like a Dove! You know whither they • would carry me. I feel nothing in myself at prefent, that should give me Reason to apprehend immediate Danger, But the Obftinacy of my Cough and Proneness to return.upon every little Provoca<tion, gives me fome Alarm. Go on to pray for < me, that my Heart may be fixed upon God; that every Motion and every Word may be directed by Love to Him and Zeal for his Glory; and leave me with Him, as chearfully as I leave myself. He will do well with his Servant according to his Word. Not a Sparrow falleth to the Ground with• out him; and, tho' I am indeed, I think, less than the least of all Saints, I am nevertheless of more Value than many Sparrows. May you increafe, while