mine not to insist upon, if there be any considerable division.

If Mr. Hughes declines Nottingham, he will probably fix at Leicester as assistant, though his way thither will meet with some little obstructions from the coldness of two or three considerable persons, but they will not oppose.

I shall be heartily glad of the hints which you are so kind as to offer for reviewing and improving our academical lectures. My studies have been lately so much interrupted, that I had almost forgotten that I ever designed any thing of that nature, but the hope of such assistance as yours will me to resume it when I have opportunity.

encourage

I beg your prayers, that God would issue the Nottingham affair well, and direct me so far as I am concerned in it. It is my comfort that I have hitherto acted a strictly honest and honourable part, and that I have endeavoured to divest myself of all private views, and have been ever easy as to the event. My humble service waits on your good lady, and I am,

Dear Sir,

Under the most important obligations,

Your most affectionate and obedient Servant,

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

FROM THE REV. SAMUEL CLARK.

DEAR SIR,

St. Albans, 1728.

WHEN I heard of your going to Nottingham I was solicitous lest such a competition between two friends might occasion the destruction of your friendship, and end to the prejudice of the one or the other. It therefore gives me a sensible pleasure to understand that it has only given both an opportunity of showing the sincerity of their mutual regard with greater advantage, and that you have had a remarkable proof of the esteem of Mr. Hughes's friends, without having lost that of the opposite party; though I do not see why they should refuse to join in the offer made in your favour, since there is no prospect of their being able to exclude Mr. Hughes, who has so great a majority; nor can any thing material be objected against him. Had they been heartily your friends, as they were the persons that invited you over, it seems to me, at this distance, that they should have looked upon the proposing you as co-pastor, to be a point gained upon the other side; unless they had still a secret view to Mr. Watson, or were resolved absolutely to exclude Mr. Hughes, against the opinion of the majority, which is contrary to all rule and order, especially as there was nothing considerable to be objected against his qualifications or character.

I am obliged to you for setting me right as to

In

that story of the letter; however, I am surprised that Dr. Calamy should express himself in such a manner; as I am sure that he had no just reason to do so, and would have thought it very hard, had any minister spoken of his son in the same manner. deed I cannot but wish, between ourselves, that he may be made ashamed of it! How cautious should people be when they give characters, especially when a man's future usefulness is likely to be affected!

I am glad to hear Mr. Hardy still preserves his temper, and hope that he may be eminently useful in the church to which he has removed himself. Indeed, for my part, I am willing to allow a man the liberty of changing his mind, without thinking the worse of him for it. But I confess there is something peculiarly odd in his change; but if he still maintain his catholic spirit, and make it his business to promote the interests of true holiness among his new friends, I shall still have the same esteem for him as formerly.

Dear Sir,

Your affectionate Friend and Servant,

S. CLARK.

TO MR. BATESON AND THE CHURCH AT NOTTINGHAM*.

REVEREND SIR,

April, 1728.

On the most mature deliberation which present circumstances will allow, and after attentive reflection, diligent inquiry, and having consulted the opinion of some most judicious friends, and above all, after having frequently and most earnestly begged the Divine direction in this important affair, I am now come to a steady resolution of declining that settlement with you, which you have again proposed in so obliging a manner. I cannot perform this task without sensible regret; for God is my witness, that I have the most tender and affectionate sense of your friendship, and should from my heart rejoice in every proper opportunity of expressing it. But, in present circumstances, I am in my conscience persuaded that duty, and a regard for my future usefulness, require me rather to continue where I am.

of

It is not important to enter into a particular detail

my reasons, since the most considerable are such as it is not in the power of your kindness to remove. Should I indulge in all the tender sentiments which arise in my mind on this moving occasion I should not know where to end; but I force myself to conclude with returning you my hearty thanks for all that endearing friendship with which you have treated me, and with assuring you that it is my earnest desire My last reply to their invitation.

*

and prayer that the great Shepherd of Israel may continually watch over you for good, and may fill up the agreeable post, which you have so kindly offered to me, with one who may be much better qualified to serve you, and that you may have constant reason to rejoice in this final determination of,

Gentlemen and Friends,

Your most affectionate Friend

and obliged humble Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

TO THE REV. SAMUEL CLARK.

REVEREND sir,

Harborough, April, 1728. It is with great pleasure that I can now inform you that the Nottingham affair is determined according to your advice. I sent them an answer last Saturday, in which I declined it in so resolute a manner as will I hope prevent their giving themselves any farther trouble about it. I had made them a visit the week before, in which, though I discerned a great many most affecting evidences of their very tender friendship and high esteem, yet I saw some other things relating to the high orthodoxy of some of them, as well as to the circumstances of the High Pavement congregation, which confirmed the ideas I had before entertained, and fully convinced Mr. Some, who was before urgent for me to accept their call,