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THE

DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE

OF

PHILIP DODDRIDGE, D. D.

SECTION I.

General Observations, with some Memoranda made by Dr. Doddridge as an assistance in the Discharge of his Ministerial Duties at Kibworth, and a Continuation of his Confidential Correspondence.

AMONG the many pleasing characteristics which this correspondence has already displayed, its perfect exemption from cant is, perhaps, one of the most delightful. To find a bosom, where a profound veneration and an ardent love of the Deity were beyond question the dominant principles, still tremblingly alive to all the more gentle sympathies of humanity, yearning over sorrows it cannot assuage, and exulting in the innocent gaieties of youth and friendship, is indeed not only pleasing but instructive. It shows how finely the spirit of genuine Christianity harmonizes with our wants and our wishes. It demonstrates that piety and philosophy are syno

VOL. II.

B

nymous terms; and that to follow in the path which the universal Parent of Nature has traced with the confiding docility of childhood, is in fact to achieve the noblest triumph of reason.

Another interesting point is the constant presence of that charity "that thinketh no evil." Not a single passage occurs where an angry, or even a depreciating feeling is evinced towards an individual on account of a difference of opinion on theological subjects. The pride, the self-will, and contention, with which pharisaical leaders of different sects have ever struggled to enforce their private views as a general standard of faith, were never mistaken by Dr. Doddridge for piety. The only zeal he prized or felt was an extreme ardour in the adoration of the Most High, and for the service of his fellow men. For those who participated in these feelings his fraternal embrace was ever ready, nor could the artificial barriers of speculative opinion keep them from his bosom.

It may, perhaps, be remarked, that this liberality of sentiment was but the natural growth of a disposition so affectionate as that of Dr. Doddridge. This consideration has some weight; but it should also be remembered, that his tutor, Mr. Jennings, and several of his friends, as Dr. Clark of St. Albans, Mr. King, and Mr. Some, all leading ministers of that day, were evidently free from a sectarian taint, and at once too pious and enlightened to assume or recommend that specious mask of formality which the ignorant may deem a token of sanctity.

In addition to the rules for the regulation of his general conduct, quoted in the preceding volume, the following were laid down by Dr. Doddridge in reference to his ministerial duties at Kibworth.

I.

"I will spend some extraordinary time in private devotion every Lord's day, morning or evening, as opportunity may offer, and will then endeavour to preach over to my own soul that doctrine which I preach to others.

II.

"I will take every second evening in the week, in which I will spend half an hour in devotional exercises on such subjects relative to the congregation as I think most suitable to that occasion.

III.

"At the close of every Week and Month I will spend some time in its review, that I may see how Time has been improved, Innocence secured, Duties discharged, and whether I advance or lose ground in Religion.

IV.

"When I have an affair of more than ordinary importance before me, or meet with any remarkable occurrence, either merciful or afflictive, I will set apart some time for contemplation and to seek God

upon it.

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