195 which I left for you, at Mr. R's, when I was last in London. It was given me, the first time I was in Ireland, in the year 1755, by counfellor Harding, on whose estate (in the county of Limerick, if I rightly remember) that, and fome hundreds more of the fame make, were dug up. I have, first and last, fhewn it to many virtuofi: not one of whom could form any judgment of the metal it is of. It certainly is a very antient weapon: and if admitted to be Danish, or Norwegian, it cannot be less than 8 or 900 years old. But you, who are fo confummate an hiftorian, know, much better than I can pretend to do, about what period thofe Northern plunderers ceafed to infest Ireland. Permit me to enquire into a matter of incomparably greater importance. How is your health? Have you got rid of your cough? Is your appetitè returned? I expect a full and diftinct answer to each of these questions. May our gracious covenant God in Chrift caufe you to renew your ftrength, in every sense of that promife. Remember me in your petitions: Let me hear from you, without delay and believe me to be, what, ab imo pectoris, I am, dear and Rev. fir, your affectionate and obedient fervant, Auguflus Toplady. LETTER XXIV. To the Rev. Mr. B. P. of New York. Broad-Hembury, Sept. 6, 1773. DEAR and Rev. SIR, γου OUR very obliging favour, of July 17, arrived here by the laft poft. Accept my thanks, for the regard it breathes; and permit me to fhew my my fense of it, by fincerely befeeching God to crown you with those important mercies, which you so affectionately wish to me, the unworthieft of his meffengers. It gives me unfpeakable pleasure, to perceive, that you are a clergyman of the Church of England. I fhould have received fo valuable a letter, as your's, with refpect, and with joy, of what denomination foever the writer had been. But, I confefs, I am fo far partial to our own hill, in Sion, as to rejoice peculiarly, when I hear of faithful, fpiritual, well-principled watchmen being ftationed on her walls. I know not, how it is in America; but fure I am, that, here, their number is, comparatively, exceeding few. Yet has God favoured us, of late years, with a manifeft revival: and I had the fatiffaction, when laft in London (viz. about three months ago) of fecing fix or eight evangelical clergymen, lately ordained, whom I had not, until then, fo much as heard of. May the little leaven, in God's due time, leaven the whole lump! Your idea of Mr. J. W. and his affociates, exactly tallies with mine. Abftracted from all warmth, and from all prejudice, I believe him to be the mok rancorous hater of the gofpel-fyftem, that ever appeared in this ifland. I except not Pelagius himfelf. The latter had fome remains of modefty; and preserved, in the main, fome appearances of decency: but the former has outlived all pretenfion to both.-Have two pieces, written by my learned and religious friend, Mr. Richard Hill, found their way to America? The one is entitled, "A Review of all the Doctrines taught by Mr. J. W." The other, " Logica Wefleïenfis." If you have not yet feen them, they will give you unfpeakable fatisfaction. I am glad, for the truth's fake, to hear, that my tranflation of Zanchius was fo well received, and has been re-printed, on your fide of the Atlantic. God bless it there, as he has graciously vouchfafed to do to to many in England.-It was quite a juvenile exercife; accomplished, about a year and half before I entered into orders, by way of filling up a few fupernumerary hours. I remember fhewing the manufcript, one day, to the late Dr. Gill, when he did me the favour of a vifit. He advifed me to publish it but, to say the honeft truth, I was then not fufficiently delivered from the fear of man: and it flumbered by me, from 1760, to 1769. I literally fulfilled Horace's direction (though from a motive, not at all allied to that for which he recommends it) nonumque prematur in annum. I can never fufficiently blefs God, for giving me to fee the day, when I can truly affirm, that I care not whom I displease, when the ineftimable truths of his gofpel are at ftake. His providence has rendered me independent on any but himfelf; and his grace enables me to act accordingly.-I must likewise add, as a ftill further motive to my gratitude, that, the bolder I am in his caufe, the more he gives me the affections of those to whom I minifter, and with whom I am connected. Where I have loft one friend, by ftanding up for Chrift; I have gained a multitude. The anonymous pamphlet, to which you refer, is the production of one Mr. W-S ; who was, originally, it feems, a baker, by trade: he then became a lay-preacher of Mr. W's: and, in process of time, lady Huntingdon got him into orders. She is now extremely forry that he did fo: for her ladyfhip is convinced, at laft, that her tenderness for Mr. W- was fadly misplaced. Though, as you justly obferve, Mr. S's low libel is not, in any refpect whatever, a real answer to my Vindication of the Church of England from Arminianifm; yet have I taken the opportunity which his virulence has afforded me, of fetting the effential andabfolute Calvinifm, of the Church eftablished, in a ftill fuller and stronger point of view. My piece, which is now far advanced in the prefs, is entitled, Hiftoric Proof of the Doctrinal Calvinism of the Church of England. If Providence fpare me to fee it out of the prefs, I will direct my bookfeller, purfuant to your requeft, to leave a copy for you with our friend Mr. Gardner: and which I fhall defire your acceptance of, as my prefent. There is but one paragraph, dear fir, in your much efteemed letter, which gave me uneafinefs. I mean, the paffage relating to your ftate of health. I cannot help feeling a moft tender concern, that fo valuable a perfon, as you appear to be, fhould labour under the difadvantages of too delicate a machine. And yet, why do I permit fuch a remark to escape my pen? God beft knows what he has to do with us. If brotherly affection compels me to fympathize with you; faith, on the other hand, bids me leave you, without fear, and without complaint, to the paternal, the unerring difpofal of him who does all things well. Be fo kind as to indulge me with a line, by the firft opportunity, after your receipt of this. One reafon for which requeft is, that I may know what pamphlets of mine you have met with; which I beg the favour of you to enumerate: that I may, by the channel you have pointed out, fend you fuch of them as are in print, and which you may not already have feen. Grace be to you, fir, and love, with faith, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jefus, Christ. May the enlightening, the comforting, the fanctifying, the fealing influences of the eternal fpirit be your frength, your fong, and your ever-prefent portion, all through the courfe of your pilgrimage.Excufe this inaccurate accknowledgement, written currente calamo; and believe me to be your obliged, &c. Auguftus Toplady. P. S. Why do you exprefs fo much diffidence of publicly taking up your pen in the caufe of God? He feems to have ftrongly breathed the defire into your heart and your letter fully convinces me, that he has endued you with abilities for fuch a work. I hope (and, I affure you, it will be, in the mean while, an article in my prayers to God) that you may be effectually inclined, and powerfully enabled, to bear your teftimony againft error, in a day of fuch rebuke and blafphemy as this.-Up, then, and be doing: and the Lord crown your endeavours with his bleffing. Adieu. Pray for me, as I also for you. LETTER XXV. To the Rev. Mr. ROMAINE, (now at Tiverton). Broad-Hembury, Sept. 11, 1773 ANY thanks to dear and honoured Mr. Romaine, for his obliging favour of to-day, juft received from Tiverton. I blefs God, for bringing him fafely thither; and for the expectation of hearing him at my Church, both parts of the day, on the 19th inftant of which I fhall, gladly, give notice, to-morrow. Mrs. R. and yourself will, I hope, give me the pleasure of accommodating you both, as well as my batchelor's houfe will permit, as many days, next week, as you conveniently can, antecedently to the Sunday above-mentioned. For which purpofe, I fhall take care to be at home; or, at the utmoft, within call. God's Holy Spirit come with you, and speak by you, and blefs you to this people. You will fow on ploughed ground: and cannot offend the, generality of |