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bearing spirit, for which he was very remarkable, and which seems to me a very essential part of humility, especially in a learned man and a teacher; as the contrary is the very essence of pride. In this light also must be considered, his relating to his pupils his own juvenile indiscretions, both in his compositions and conduct, as a caution to them. Yea, so great was his humility, that he desired his friends, the elders of his church, and even his pupils, freely to inform him what they thought amiss in his conduct; and he thankfully accepted their admonitions: being sensible, that amidst the variety of his cares, some important business might be neglected, or have too little of his time; some errors might escape his notice, and some irregularities of temper be indulged, which he would be glad to rectify. Patience of reproof is certainly a branch of humility, and a very important one; and this he discovered. When he had once received an admonition from a faithful friend, he thus writes to him; "I do such justice to your experienced friendship, that you need not give yourself the trouble of gilding a reproof or caution, but may advance it in the plainest terms and with the utmost freedom. For indeed I know I have many faults, and I think it one of the greatest felicities of life to be put into a way of correcting any of them; and when a friend attempts this, I place it to the account of the greatest obligations; even though, on the strictest examination, I should apprehend that some mistaken view of things had been the immediate occasion of such a generous and self-denying office of friendship." As a stronger evidence that he was possessed of this amiable temper, I would add, that in one of his diaries, there is an account of an admoni. tion he had received from a friend, concerning an improper gesture in his public prayers, which seemed to denote a want of due reverence for God, upon which he writes; "I would engrave this admonition upon my heart. May it not be owing to the want of that habitual reverence for God which I ought to feel in my own mind? I desire to be very thankful for so

seasonable a reproof; resolving by divine assistance to lay it seriously to heart and examine myself for the future, in some special regard to it." Such was the strong sense this excellent man expressed of his own weakness, imperfections, and defects; at the same time that some, who knew him most intimately, were ready to admire the zeal, activity, and success, with which he exerted himself in his Master's work. In him was eminently fulfilled that saying of our Lord, He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

SECT. VI.

HIS PATIENCE, SERENITY, AND CHEERFULNESS UNDER AFFLICTIONS, AND UPON WHAT PRINCIPLES THESE GRACES WERE EXERCISED AND

SUPPORTED,

IN all ages God hath been pleased to visit those with afflictions, who have been dearest to him, and most active in serving him. By purging and pruning the branches which bring forth fruit, he hath enabled them to bring forth more fruit. This was the case with Dr. Doddridge; and we are now to see how his heart was affected with his afflictions, how he was supported under them, and improved by them.

His health was not often interrupted so as to render him incapable of business; and he frequently recorded and devoutly acknowledged the goodness of God in this respect. But he was visited with some threatening fevers, which might have been prevented, or sooner removed, had he taken due precautions in time. But the ardour of his spirit in his Master's work made him too much disregard the body; and, as he found some public services gave him a present flow and cheerfulness of spirits, he did not sufficiently consider how much his health might be impaired, and

beginning disorders increased, by neglecting a timely recess from business, and the use of proper remedies. He once lay long under a violent fever, which gave his family and friends many painful fears. But he bore the affliction with great patience; and as soon as he was able to write, he gave an intimate friend an account of his recovery; to which he added, "It is im possible to express the support and comfort which God. gave me on my sick-bed. His promises were my continual feast. They seemed, as it were, to be all united in one stream of glory, and poured into my heart. When I thought of dying, it sometimes made my very heart to leap within me, to think that I was going home to my Father and Saviour, to an innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. Animal nature was more than once in great commotion; my imagination, just at the height of the fever, hurried in the strangest manner I ever knew. Yet, even then, Satan was not permitted to suggest one single fear with regard to my eternal state. I can never be sufficiently thankful for this. Assist me in praising God upon this account. O, may I come out of the furnace like gold!" Speaking of another illness some months after, he saith, "I did not experience so much of the presence of God in this illness, as I did in the former; but I bless God, I have not been left either to dejection or impatience." Concerning another, he saith, "I have been confined of late by a threatening disorder; but I thank God, through the prayers of my friends and a blessing upon the use of means, I am now well. Assist me in acknowledging the divine goodness. He hath filled my soul with joy by the light of his countenance, and given me, I hope, more and more to rise above every thing selfish and temporal, that my soul may fix on what is divine and immortal. The great grief of my heart is, that I can do no more for him. O, that my zeal may increase; that I may know how, on every occasion, to think and speak and act for God in Christ, and may spend all the remainder of my days and hours upon earth, in what

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may have the most direct tendency to people heaven! I am so crowded with cares that they almost bear me down; yet if they may but be cares for God, they are welcome."

He had much affliction in the sicknesses and other distresses of his friends and near relations, with whom he affectionately sympathized, and for whom he earnestly prayed. He thus expresseth himself to a friend, concerning the dangerous illness of his wife, and the anxiety he had upon her account: "I bless God, my mind is kept in perfect peace, and sweet harmony of resignation to so wise and gracious a will. And indeed the less will we have of our own for any thing but to please him, the more comfort we shall find, in whatever circumstances he is pleased to allot us. Self-denial, mortification, and taking up the cross, giving up our own schemes, and being sometimes censured and condemned, even for things in themselves right, and, in the circumstances in which they were done, requisite, is a very wholesome part of discipline. Though this be sometimes distasteful food, the soul often thrives by it, as I hope I have in many instances found." Upon another afflictive occasion he thus expresseth himself: "I am ready to resign my agreeable circumstances, and to come, if such were the will of my Lord, to bread and water and to a dungeon, if his name may but be glorified by it; provided he will but look through the gloom, and cheer me with the light of his countenance. Yea, I am willing to submit, in the midst of inward as well as outward darkness, if his name may but be glorified. And when I feel this, as, I bless God, at some times I do, then a living fountain of consolation springs up in my soul, and the waters of life do, as it were, overflow me.' His heart was so affectionate and tender, that the death of some of his brethren in the ministry, his friends in private life, and his pupils, wounded him deeply. In his reflections on one of his birth-days, he thus writes; "Most awful things God hath showed me since the last birthday; such as all the years of my life can hardly equal :

The death of four such valuable friends, that I question whether the whole sum of my remaining comforts could, all things considered, furnish out such another field of slaughter. My hands are indeed weak this day, and have long been so. How soon he may add me to the number of my fathers and brethren, he only knows. I thankfully own that I am not solicitous about it. I trust, through his grace, that I have, in the sincerity of my soul, devoted myself and my labours to him. Him do I honour and love above all; and it is the joy of my heart to serve him with my spirit in the gospel of his Son. I hereby leave it under my hand before him, that I am his property; that I have no greater ambition than to be disposed of by him; to be silent till he commands me to speak; to watch his eye and hand for every intimation of his will, and to do it and bear it, as far as my little strength will carry me; waiting upon him for further strength, in proportion to renewed difficulties: and all my interests and concerns I do most cordially lodge in his hands, and leave myself and them to his wise and gracious disposal." In one of his reflections on the frame of his spirit in the services of a Sacrament-day, he writes, "This day my heart hath been almost torn in pieces with sorrow; yet, blessed be God, not a hope→ less, not a repining sorrow, but so softened and so sweetened, that, with all its distress, I number it among the best days of my life; if that be good which teacheth us faith and love, and which cherisheth the sentiments of piety and benevolence. I desire very thankfully to acknowledge, that days of the sharpest trial have often been days of singular comfort. repeated views I have had of a dear dying friend, who is experiencing so much of the divine presence and love, have comforted rather than dejected me. Blessed be God, who hath sealed us both with his grace, as those that are to be companions in eternal glory! a thought which now hath a relish that nothing can exceed, nothing can equal." In a letter to one of his pupils, concerning the joy and triumph with which one

The