of his friends had died, he saith, "O, what a gospel is this! I protest, by our rejoicing in Christ Jesus, that I see and feel more and more of its excellency ;' that I esteem it the greatest madness in the world to oppose it, and, next to that, to neglect it. Who would not rejoice in that gospel, which is such a cordial to the soul, when every thing else loseth its relish? Who would not delight to preach it, and adore that gracious hand which imparts the consolations of it to our companions in the ways of religion, when their flesh and heart faileth? Thus do I hope he will comfort us, when we are capable of labouring no longer for him, and convey us into a blissful eternity under his sensible smiles: but if not, we know whom we have believed, and the surprise of glory will be but so much the greater." At another time he thus writes; "Such things have lately befallen me, in the death of some friends, and the removal of others to a distance, that had I not been peculiarly supported, I know not how I should have borne them; but through the undeserved goodness of a gracious God, I have found very great consolation. The divine presence hath made my work my joy amidst all its fatigues, and hath caused my soul to overflow with such unutterable delight, that I have hardly known how to quit it. things, that used to be pleasant, have been painful to me, as separating me from that delightful intercourse with God through Christ, which I have known in prayer, meditation, and reading devotional pieces. hath been like a fire glowing in my heart; so that I could scarce forbear speaking to every one I met with about their souls and divine things; and have longed for opportunities, both in public and private, of imparting the fulness of what I felt within." Other It But there was no affliction which lay with greater weight upon his mind than the death of his eldest daughter, who lived long enough to give him very agreeable hopes as to her pious disposition. In the sermon he published on that occasion, the world hath seen how his heart was affected, and what considerations supported him under that affliction; and many mourn ing parents have been comforted and instructed by the arguments and consolations he hath suggested in it. I wish such may reap a like advantage from viewing some of the workings of his heart in secret, which he recorded at once for his humiliation and thankfulness: and then my design will be answered; though others, who are strangers to the tender feelings of nature on such an occasion, may be unimpressed with his reflections. "I have been preaching from these words, Is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.' But surely there never was any dispensation of providence in which I found it so difficult to say it.. Indeed, some hard thoughts of God were ready to arise; and the apprehension of his displeasure against me brought my mind into a painful situation; but it pleased God to quiet it, and lead me to a silent, cordial submission to his will. I see that I doted too much upon her; my heart was opened to her with a fond flattering delight. And now, O my soul, one of thy earthly delights is gone. Seek thy greatest delight in heaven, where I trust my child is, where I am sure my saviour is, and where I trust, through grace, not. withstanding some irregularities of heart on this occasion, I shall shortly be. This circumstance I must record, that I recollected this day, at the Lord's Table, that I had some time ago taken the cup at that ordinance with these words, Lord, I take this cup as a public, solemn token, that having received so inestimable a blessing as this, I will refuse no other cup which thou shalt put into my hands.' I mentioned this again to-day, and publicly charged the thought on myself and Christian friends who were present. God has taken me at my word; but I do not retract it. I repeat it again with regard to every future cup. Much sweetness is mingled with this bitter potion, chiefly in the views and hopes of the eternal world. May not this be the beauty of this providence, that, instead of her living many years upon earth, God may have taken her away, that I may be better fitted for, and recon ciled to, my own dissolution, perhaps nearly approaching? Lord, thy will be done! May my life be used for thy service while it is continued, and then put thou a period to it whenever thou pleasest." The next evening, after the funeral, he adds, "I have now been laying the delight of my eyes in the dust, and it is for ever hid from them. We had a suitable sermon from these words, Dost thou well to be angry for the gourd?' God knows that I am not angry, but sorrowful he surely allows me to be. Blessed Lord, I trust thou hast received my child, and pardoned the infirmities of her short, childish, afflicted life. I love those who were kind to her, and those that weep with me for her; shall I not much more love thee, who art this moment taking care of her, and opening her infant faculties for the business and blessedness of heaven? Lord, I would consider myself as a dying creature. My first-born is laid in the dust; I shall shortly follow her, and we shall lie down together. But O how much pleasure doth it give me to hope that my soul will rest with her, and rejoice in her for ever! But let me not centre my thoughts here: It is a rest with and in God that is my ultimate hope. Lord, may thy grace secure it to me; and, in the mean time, give me a holy acquiescence of soul in thee; and now my gourd is withered, shelter me under the shadow of thy wings." Thus did this good man observe the hand of God in all the afflictive events in which he was concerned; and so careful was he to improve every such occurrence, in order to strengthen his submission to the divine will, to weaken his attachment to the world, and to increase his value for the supports and consolations of religion. And how happy an effect this had to render his trials easy, and to make them subservient to his spiritual improvement, will be easily imagined by every pious reader. SECT. VII. HIS TEMPER AND BEHAVIOUR UNDER UNJUST AND UNKIND TREATMENT. THE state of the world must be much altered for the better, and the malice of the accuser of the brethren, and his influence upon mankind, much lessened in modern times, if a person who discovered so much piety and zeal for the happiness of men, as Dr. Doddridge did, should pass through life without persecution; at least by those milder methods which alone the lenity of our laws allows, but which the law of Christ absolutely condemns. He knew the history of man and the state of the world too well to expect the esteem and good word of all, even for the most upright and friendly intentions and attempts. He thought that the observation of St. Paul, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution, was not to be confined to the primitive age, but was verified in the best of men in every age." He expected his share of this kind of trouble, as many of his fathers and brethren had theirs; and he prepared himself to receive and improve it with a Christian temper. The following extract from a letter to a friend will show what were his sentiments on this head: "I settle it as an established point with me, that the more diligently and faithfully I serve Christ, the greater reproach and the more injury I must expect. I have drunk deep of the cup of slander and reproach of late; but I am in no wise discouraged; no, nor by, what is much harder to bear, the unsuccessfulness of my endeavours to mend this bad world. I consider it as my ' great care to let my dear Master (who hath bought me with his precious blood,) see that I have a grateful sense of his benefits, and that his name and cause lie near my heart. If the labours of many years, whether * Family Expositor, vol. ii. sect. 176. (e.) they do or do not succeed, may secure this, it is well. Nay, indeed, in this case, Labor ipse Voluptas. I shall not be surprised if more afflictions come upon me; I need them all; and the cup is in the hand of my wise and gracious Father; for that God is such I assuredly know. Let us give diligence to seize every opportunity we have of serving his interest, in that of his Son, while we are here; and then nothing in life or death needs much to move us." The ill treatment he met with might have been passed over in silence, were it not so commonly the lot of the most active useful men, and an affliction which, perhaps, they find it more difficult to bear than any other. Some account of his sufferings of this kind, his reflections upon them, and behaviour under them, may properly be given, as they illustrate his character, show his companions in the tribulations of Christ, that their case is not singular, and may suggest to them the proper behaviour under it. No sooner was he settled at Northampton, with the pleasing prospect of great usefulness, by his relation to so large a congregation and the increase of his academy, than he met with injurious treatment from his neighbours. Not to mention some insults which he and his family suffered from the vulgar, through the influence of a party-spirit, a more formidable attack was made upon him from another quarter, whence he expected more candour and moderation. A prosecution was commenced against him in the ecclesiastical court, by some dignitaries of the church of England for teaching an academy. Persons of the best sense, among different parties, were surprised at this step; and several gentlemen of the established church, of considerable rank and public characters, warmly declared their disapprobation of it. Nay, the very person, in whose name the prosecution was carried on, came to the Doctor to assure him of his abhorrence of it; and to know, before it commenced, whether he could, with safety to himself, being then churchwarden, refuse to sign the presentment, or in any other |