DEAR BROTHER,

TO MY BROTHER.

February 27, 1723.

YOUR letters are always very agreeable, and I heartily thank you for the last. I have been looking over some copies of old letters, and do not find that I have written to you since I came to Hinckley. If I have not, I heartily ask your pardon for the neglect; but I always thought that the first letter I had written from hence was double, part of it to my sister, and part to you.

I am very much obliged to you for the advice which you give me, with relation to the management of my voice in preaching. I am sure I have need enough of it, for it is very certain that I always speak a great deal too fast, and all my friends are so kind as to tell me of it.

Since my examination, I have not had much rest. The first Sunday after it, I preached for Mr. B. at Nuneaton. He has built a very pretty uniform meeting since you were there. I have seen him several times, both at Eaton and Hinckley, and have been extremely entertained with his company. He continues sprightly, notwithstanding his late illness, which has very much impaired his constitution. His old woman is still alive and comely; but so deaf that it is hardly possible to converse with her. He gives his hearty service to you, and will be glad to see you when you come into this part of the world.

About a fortnight ago I preached for old Mr. Sanders, at Bedworth. I knew the character of the people, and, as I was resolved not to purchase their approbation by any thing wild or enthusiastic, I concluded it would be hardly possible to please them; but as both the subjects were pretty evangelical, and I made but little use of my notes, I came off much better than I expected. One of the ruling elders, who, as Mr. Sanders afterwards informed me, thinks himself well acquainted with the affairs both of kingdoms and of churches! and who, if I mistake not, is by trade a shoemaker, came to me after the meeting was over, and told me, that he heartily prayed God to give me as good acceptation in other places as I had met with at Bedworth, which I will assure you was no small surprise.

I go on very agrecably in my studies. I have almost finished Mr. Jennings's system of divinity; and the better I am acquainted with it, the more I admire it. He does not entirely accord with the system of any particular body of men; but is sometimes a Calvinist, sometimes a Remonstrant, sometimes a Baxterian, and sometimes a Socinian, as truth and evidence determine him. He always inculcates it upon our attention, that the scriptures are the only standard of orthodoxy, and encourages the utmost freedom of inquiry. He furnishes us with all kinds of authors upon every subject, without advising us to skip over the heretical passages for fear of infection. It is evidently his main care to inspire us with sentiments of CATHOLICISM, and to arm us against that

zeal, which is not according to knowledge. His instructions on preaching are rational, accurate, and important. I think you have seen some of them already. He has lately given us some other public discourses upon that subject, which I will communicate to you at Whitsuntide, and I do not question but that you will thoroughly approve them.

Our academical business is grown pretty easy; for we have in our course only four lectures a week; but then I am going over the divinity course a second time with Mr. Burroughs's class, and so have lectures with them every day except Thursday. Once a fortnight I make a thesis, and a sermon about once a month. I am obliged to be pretty frequently abroad, and Mr. Jennings has just set up a weekly lecture for young people, in which I am to take my turn. So that you see, one way or another, my time is pretty well filled up; and I have but little left for the study of the languages. However, I resolve to apply myself to them in good earnest, as soon as I have done with Hinckley; particularly, if it is possible, I will get a tolerable acquaintance with the Greek; and as I know none more capable of directing me, I shall beg the favour of your instructions and advice.

I am very sorry to hear that the disputes between our dissenting brethren at London keep up so high. I know a young man's reputation is soon overset, and therefore I resolve not to concern myself in the business. It is impossible that I should do any service on either side, and I may easily prejudice my own

usefulness, and therefore I shall content myself with being a silent well wisher to the interests of liberty and peace. We have no disputes on that matter hereabout. A neighbouring gentleman once endeavoured to introduce a subscription, but it was speedily overruled by the interposition of Mr. Some, of Harborough, Mr. Norris, of Welford, and Mr. Jennings.

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I desire, sir, that vice to Mrs. Nettleton; some other remarks I shall transmit to my sister. I am ashamed of the length of this letter, and shall therefore trouble you with no more impertinence at this time, from

YOU may well wonder at my long continued silence. I blame myself for it; but it has not been owing to a disregard of you, for I have several times been going to write, but one thing or other has still hindered me. I had heard of your beginning to preach before I received your former letter, and was informed at the same time that it was with a good acceptance; as to the reasons of your beginning so soon I entirely rely upon your tutor's judgment.

Whatever acceptance you meet with, I trust you will consider as an argument to encourage your endeavours, after a still greater improvement of your talents; to which I assure myself Mr. Jennings's observations upon your performances and his advice will considerably contribute. One thing that young ministers have particular reason to study, is humility. Many are their temptations to vanity, especially if they have the advantages of superior ability and acceptance. Indulgence in this weakness will be a bar to the divine influence, for God resisteth the proud, but gives more and more grace to the humble; it also lessens a man very much in the eyes of judicious persons, who, whatever artful methods are taken, will still be able to discover and despise it. It ordinarily also takes off from the vigour of a man's endeavours to make further advances to improve himself. It is good therefore to have our eyes very much upon our own defects, and to think how much we fall short of those excellent patterns, which we should be always proposing to our imitation. Let us not value ourselves upon, nor be much concerned about the opinions of men ; but labour above all things after the divine approbation. It is also of great importance in all our ministerial performances, to have continually in view our great end, which is the advancement of the interests of religion, and the salvation of souls; and not only in the general, but in every particular mi- nistration to awaken in our minds a very sensible concern about these matters. "O may I now be