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amination of the copy would naturally give, he felt some impressions, which he wished always to retain. He found in them such heart-affecting lessons of simplicity and humility, candour and benevolence, exalted piety without the least tincture of enthusiasm, and an entire mortification to every earthly interest without any mixture of splenetic resentment, as he thought could hardly be found any where else, but in the sacred oracles. He had a chearful hope, that God would make these pieces the means of promoting the interest of true christianity, and also that spirit of catholicism, for which the 'Archbishop was so remarkable, and extending it among various denominations of christians in the northern and southern parts of our Island. In this view he says, "If the sincerest language or actions can express the disposition of the heart, it will here be apparent, that a diversity of judgment with regard to episcopacy and several forms both of discipline and worship connected with it, have produced in my mind no alienation, no indifference towards Archbishop Leighton, nor prevented my delighting in his works and profiting by them. In this respect I trust my brethren in Scotland will, for their own sakes and that of religion in general, shew the like candour. On the other side, as I have observed, with great pleasure and thankfulness, how much many of the established clergy in this part of Britain, are advancing with moderation towards their dissenting brethren, I am fully assured they will not like these excellent pieces the worse, for having passed through my hands."

In confirmation of what I have said, in this chapter, of Dr. Doddridge's literary character, I shall here subjoin a letter from Dr. Watts to Mr. David Longueville, minister of the English church at Amsterdam. Such an honourable testimony to Dr. Doddridge's merit, from so distinguished a person as Dr. Watts, especially as written without his knowledge, may very properly have a place in this work." Rev. Sir, It is a very agreeable employment, to which you call me, and a very sensible honour you put upon me, when you desire me to give you my sentiments of that reverend and learned writer Dr. Doddridge, to be prefixed to a translation of any of his works into the Dutch tongue. I have well known him many years, and

* Dr. Henry Miles, of Tooting, speaking of Archbishop Leighton's works, said in a letter to Dr. Doddridge, "I bless God I ever met with them. There is a spirit in them I never met in any human writings, nor can I read many lines in them without, being affected; though you know all his works are imperfect and inaccurate." Scotland, in the middle of the last century, produced some divines who had imbibed in a wonderful manner, the genuine spirit of devotion, and the genuine spirit of christianity.

have enjoyed a constant intimacy and friendship with him, ever since the providence of God called him to be a professor of human sciences, and a teacher of sacred theology to young men amongst us, who are trained up for the ministry of the gospel. I have no need to give you a large account of his knowledge in the sciences, in which I confess him to be greatly my superior; and as to the doctrines of divinity and the gospel of Christ, I know not any man of greater skill than himself and hardly sufficient to be his second. As he hath a most exact acquaintance with the things of God and our holy religion, so far as we are let into the knowledge of them by the light of nature and the revelations of scripture, so he hath a most happy manner of teaching those who are younger. He hath a most skilful and condescending way of instruction; nor is there any person of my acquaintance, with whom I am more entirely agreed in all the sentiments of the doctrine of Christ. He is a most hearty believer of the great articles and important principles of the reformed church; a most affectionate preacher, and pathetic writer on the practical parts of religion; and in one word, since I am now advanced in age, beyond my seventieth year, if there were any man, to whom providence would permit me to commit a second part of my life and usefulness in the church of Christ, Dr. Doddridge should be the man. If you have read that excellent performance of his, the Rise and Progress, &c. you will be of my mind; his dedication to me is the only thing in that book, I could hardly permit myself to approve. Besides all this, he possesseth such a spirit of charity, love and goodness towards his fellow-christians, who may fall into some lesser differences of opinion, as becometh a follower of the blessed Jesus, his Master and mine. In the practical part of his labours and his ministry, he hath sufficiently shewn himself most happily furnished with all proper gifts and talents, to lead persons of all ranks and ages into serious piety and strict religion. I esteem it a considerable honour, which the providence of God hath done me, when it makes use of me, as an instrument in his hands, to promote the usefulness of this great man in any part of the world: And it is my hearty prayer, that our Lord Jesus, the head of the church, may bless all his labours with most glorious success, either read or heard, in my native language or in any other tongue. I am, Reverend Sir, with much sincerity, your faithful humble servant, and affectionate brother in the gospel of our common Lord, "ISAAC WATTS."

CHAP. VIII.

His Private Character.

HAVING considered Dr. Doddridge in his public and more important relations, as a minister, tutor, and author, we are now to take a view of his temper and behaviour in private life, and the many virtues, which adorned his domestic and social character.

In December 1730, he married Mrs. Mercy Maris, a native of Worcester; in whom he found a prudent, religious and affectionate companion, and whom God was pleased to continue to him through his whole life *; though he had often been exercised with painful apprehensions of losing her by some threatning disorders. It were easy to enlarge on the affection and tenderness, with which he filled up this relation, if the subject were not of too delicate a nature to admit of a particular detail. It is sufficient to say, that his behaviour in it was founded on the same excellent principles, which influenced the rest of his conduct; and discovered, in a high degree, that sweetness and benevolence of temper, for which he was so remarkable. I shall only add, as it may be a model to others, that I find him, just before his marriage, spending a day in extraordinary devotion, that by the exercises of repentance, faith and prayer, he might bring no guilt into that new state to lessen its comfort, and that he might engage the divine blessing in it; and among some maxims, which he drew up for his conduct in his various relations, in the advance of life, this is inserted; " As a husband, it shall be my daily care to keep up the spirit of religion in my conversation with my wife, to recommend her to the divine blessing, to manifest an obliging tender disposition towards her; and particularly to avoid every thing, which has the appearance of pettishness, to which, amidst my various cares and labours, I may in some unguarded moments, be liable." He kindly interested himself in the concerns of her relations, and when some of them were in circumstances of very great affliction, he exerted himself for their assistance and relief.

In the education of his children, he endeavoured to act upon the advices, which he recommended to others in his ser

VOL. I.

*And survived him a great number of years.

M

mons upon that subject. He behaved to them in an affectionate and condescending manner, encouraged them to use a proper degree of freedom with him, and carefully avoided that forbidding air, which would have kept them at a distance and rendered his instructions less pleasing and acceptable. Though, through the multiplicity of his business, especially in the latter part of his life, he had less time to employ in their education, than he could have wished, yet he was very solicitous to take every opportunity of impressing their minds with pious and virtuous sentiments. What his resolutions, with regard to the discharge of this important duty, were, will appear from the following extract from his papers : "As a father, it shall be my care to intercede for my children daily; to converse with them often upon some religious subject; to drop some short hints of the serious kind, when there is not room for large discourse; to pray sometimes with them separately; to endeavour to bring them early to communion with the church; to study to oblige them, and secure their affection." He was particularly solicitous to form his children to a catholic, mild and friendly disposition, which he thought of the utmost importance to their own comfort, and their esteem and usefulness in the world. He had observed, that," too many, from their tenderest years, have been taught to place a part of their religion in the severity with which they censure their brethren; and that a peccant humour, so early wrought into the constitution, will not easily be subdued by the most sovereign medicines." He was therefore very carcful not to convey unkind prejudices into their minds, but to educate them in open and generous sentiments; that they might learn to reverence true christianity, wherever they saw it, and to judge of it by essentials rather than by circumstantials.

He behaved to his servants with affability and kindness. Reviling and chiding, his nature abhorred; and that abhorrence increased, the more he studied the gospel. When any thing was greatly amiss in their behaviour, he privately and calmly argued the matter with them, admonished them, and attended the admonition with prayer. He was especially concerned, that they might be truly pious: For this end he gave them bibles, and practical treatises, and often on the Lord's-day evening discoursed seriously with them by themselves, and prayed with them. Thus did he walk before his house with an upright heart, and laboured that they might serve the Lord, and, when they left his family, might be blessings to other families in which they might be fixed. Nothing severe, sour or peevish was seen in his deportment to any of his domestics. He con

sidered them all as his children, and endeavoured to draw them to their duty with the cords of love.

It would be unpardonable, in this account of Dr. Doddridge, to omit his character as a friend, in which he shone so illustriously. He had a sublime idea of friendship, and a heart turned to relish its noblest joys. He used often to say, "Blessed be God for friendship, and the hope of its being perfected and eternal above! If it be so delightful on earth, amidst our mutual imperfections, what will it be in heaven !" He thus wrote to his best friend Dr. Clark, "It is a great satisfaction to me to think, that, when you cannot speak to me, you can speak to God for me and however providence may dispose of me for the present, I hope we are to live near each other in a better world, where I may be for ever improving by your conversation and for ever acknowledging, and perhaps repaying, those obligations, which do so immediately relate to that state, that I cannot but think they will be most gratefully remembered there." God honoured him with many valuable and faithful friends; and were it proper to mention their names, it would appear to all, who know them, how justly he valued them and thought himself happy in their esteem and affection. His learning, piety and politeness recommended him to the esteem and friendship of several of high rank and distinguished learning, both among the clergy and laity, with whom he kept up a correspondence. From them he received very obliging letters, expressing in strong terms, the regard they had for his works, and the benefit they had found from them. The esteem of such persons for one in his station, was an ample testimony to his great merit; as nothing but his personal qualifications could recommend him to their notice. He often improved his acquaintance with persons of superior rank and fortune to obtain assistance for some distressed objects, whose case he knew; but solicited no favours for himself. In his plan of secret devotion his friends had a considerable share; and on days of extraordinary devotion, he prayed for them separately, if there was any thing peculiar in their circumstances that required his remembrance. He esteemed it the duty of friends, daily to pray for one another, as a proper expression and the firmest support of their friendship; and he counted the prayers of his friends among his most valuable treasures. When he had occasion to mention some persons of eminence as his friends, he would sometimes add, “Though I do not merit such friends, I know how to value them, and I bless God for them. I am not insensible of the blessing, and I hope ingratitude does not secretly lurk in any corner of my

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