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desire that may not bias you. I cheerfully refer the matter to Providence, and to your prudence and friendship, which I have so long and so frequently experienced; and I earnestly desire that God would direct you to such a determination as may be most for his glory, the public good, and my own present and eternal happiness.

I am, dear Sir,

Your most obliged, most obedient

and most humble Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

DEAR SIR,

FROM MR. CLARK.

St. Albans, May 11, 1723.

I HAVE received your last, in which you give me an account of the prospect you have of an invitation to settle at Coventry. I had some conversation relating to that matter with Mr. Jennings last Christmas; and we both united in the opinion, that it would be an agreeable situation for you. I think it must needs be of great advantage to you to be with such a person as Mr. Warren, whose good sense, prudence, piety, learning, and good temper will render his conversation, example, and ministry very useful to you. Pray give my humble service to him; and tell him I shall think it a very good providence, if a

person, for whom I have so much concerned myself, has the happiness of standing in such a relation to him. I do not know any thing that could be more conducive to fit you for eminent service in the church of God, if you wisely improve the advantage, as I doubt not but you will. I am extremely pleased with the measures you propose as to a prudent conduct of yourself, if you should settle at Coventry. Prudence is, I could almost say, above all things necessary to a minister in order to promote his usefulness. At first caution, circumspection, and observation will be necessary. Experience and an enlarged knowledge of men and things will afterwards enable you to act with greater freedom. The acceptance providence favours you with, makes it necessary, as I believe I have at other times observed, that you should be very much upon your guard against ebullitions of pride and vainglory, which are so natural to us all, and especially when we first come abroad into the world with advantage. Humility is the best ornament to valuable gifts. The shade it casts upon them makes them appear the more lovely, and gives them a greater efficacy. Let your heart be full of a sense of those manifold defects, which an inward acquaintance with yourself will easily discover. Have often before your eyes the nature and importance of the work you are engaged in, and the account you have to give, and you will then always find reason to say from your heart, with the blessed apostle, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Let your great con

cern in all your ministrations and conversation be the advancement of the glory of God, and the salvation of souls, and you will then be the less desirous to obtain or be pleased with the applause of men. You will excuse my giving you these cautions. My experience and observations upon myself and others give me reason to think them not needless.

I entirely approve of your acceptance of Coventry rather than Kibworth, if you have the option; and I heartily beseech God that you may be an instrument of much service in that considerable place. I suppose you have received both the letters I wrote to you relating to Kibworth. Pray give my humble service to Mr. Jennings and his lady.

I am your affectionate Friend

and humble Servant,

TO MR. CLARK.

S. CLARK.

REV. SIR,

May 25, 1723. I HAVE received your letter, and am very glad to hear that you concur with me in your sentiments with relation to Coventry. I still think, that if the people had been all of one mind, it would have been as agreeable a settlement as I could have desired; but Providence had ordered it otherwise, and I have

determined for Kibworth, and hope you will not disapprove of my choice when you hear the reasons for it.

There are some people at Coventry of considerable interest, and very active, that are nearly related to Mr. Smith, and have always been very desirous that he should assist Mr. Warren. I was told by several considerable persons that he had now given up this project, perceiving that the main body of the congregation could not possibly be brought to fall in with it but they have since taken up a new scheme, by which they hope to carry their point; which is, that none should be concerned in the choice of an assistant, but those that subscribe twenty shillings a year. It is certain that the rest of the people upon whom the salary principally depends, will never be persuaded to consent to this; and if they should, it is at least an equal chance that Mr. Smith would not be chosen upon these terms; but I perceived it would be some time before the affair was determined, so that I thought I could not honourably keep the Kibworth people any longer in suspense.

Some gentlemen came over from Coventry the day that I received your letter, and they assured me, that if the congregation were to be divided into six parts, five of them would be desirous for my coming. They told me, that Mr. R. came in upon a much smaller majority, and yet lived very comfortably among them; and promised that they would raise me fifty pounds a year, whereas Mr. R.'s stated salary

was no more than forty; but I told them that I was absolutely resolved against making myself the head of a party upon any terms, or preaching to any part of a congregation against their will; and therefore desired, that they and the rest of my friends at Coventry would not entertain any thoughts of my coming, and promised the Kibworth people that I would very speedily settle among them.

It has happened very well that this Coventry affair has not given them any feeling of disgust, and it did not occasion me to suspend my answer so much as one day after they had fixed upon a place for my boarding, which is with the same family that I at first pitched upon; a way being found out to remedy those inconveniences that embarrassed us for a while. I very fairly told the society, when they were all together, that I did not lay myself under any obligation as to the time of my continuance among them; but that I would do my utmost to serve them till Providence should give me a prospect of greater usefulness and improvement another way, whether that should happen sooner or later, and they willingly and unanimously received me upon those terms.

For my own part, as I sincerely referred the matter to Providence, so I cheerfully acquiesce in its determination, and bless God that he has provided so comfortable a settlement for me as Kibworth ; where I may be in the way of doing some good, and shall be no longer burthensome to my friends; and I cannot think myself slighted in the Coventry busi

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