blessings to many!-I remain, with kindest remembrance to Mrs. W., dear sir, "Your faithful friend and brother, "THOMAS SCOTT." To the Rev. W. Gray, West Rounton, Yorkshire. "REV. AND DEAR SIR, "Aston Sandford February 10, 1821. "I WOULD not delay to reply to the inquiry contained in your very friendly and pleasing letter; though I can spare but little of my time for correspondence. "I cannot conceive from what the report which you have heard, of certain books which I so strongly recommended, could arise: for, having been struck,and not a little grieved, at the partial and injudicious commendations of this and the other book, given by persons of considerable eminence, I have always made a point not to give any such recommendations, aware that I also might have my prejudices and partialities. The report, however, is totally groundless. In the preface which I annexed to my notes on Bunyan's Pilgrim, I spoke of it as a book which had been peculiarly useful, and was likely to continue so: but there were eminent ministers before Bunyan wrote, and are and will be among those who never saw the Pilgrim's Progress. "It is many years since I read, Grotius de Veritate: but my idea is, that the arguments contained in it have been so retailed; and that many parts of it are so undecided, or erroneous, as to what constitutes Christianity; that on the whole I think it is a book, at present, of inferior value.— U Walker of Truro has been one among my favourite divines: yet some things in his excellent Lectures on the Church Catechism I could not subscribe; though the applications are admirable.-Edwards of New England, especially on the Affections, and his Life of Brainerd, I have been much indebted to: yet I differ in some points from him also. "But I need not enlarge: Prove all things by the law and the testimony, and hold fast that which is good, as far as you, by study and prayer, can discover it. And, when you read any of my poor attempts, prove them in like manner: use my spectacles candidly, but see with your own eyes; only praying, Open thou mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy law! "I am thankful for any information which gives me reason to hope that my labours have not been wholly in vain: but I am now old, infirm, and diseased; in the last week of my seventy-fourth year; and I greatly need more patience, fortitude, and hope; and shall value your prayers for me in those respects especially.-When you see Mr. Richardson, or any at York who know me, remember me to them, in Christian respect and affection, I pray God to bless you and all your's with the best of blessings; and to make you a blessing to numbers in your stated and occasional services. “I remain, rev. and dear sir, "Your sincere and obliged friend and servant, "THOMAS SCOTT." This letter bears a later date than any other in the collection-little more than two months before the writer's decease. The following number consists of papers rather than letters. "As wholly unable to meet you in person, I send you my proxy, in a paper of hints on your most important question. "Should any brother undertake to form a paper for publication from the whole result of the discussion, he is perfectly at liberty to use my hints for that purpose: but, if this be not determined I shall be glad to receive them back again; as probably I may make some use of them hereafter: and I shall also gladly receive any of the remarks which my brethren make on them, or on the general subject. on, "I hope I shall not forget to pray for a large blessing on the company and the congregations; for my heart will be with you: and I trust you will be particular, both when together and when separate, in praying for me; not for my life, or health, or even ease, so much as that I may be upheld, and enabled to act consistently in my closing scene, and may finish my course with joy, &c.: for I feel myself a poor, weak, and sinful creature, in constant danger of falling or fainting, unless upheld by the power and grace of the Lord Jesus. With my kind remembrances to Mrs. Knight, and prayers for a blessing on you and your family, and Christian love to all the assembled brethren, I remain, "Your faithful and affectionate brother, "Thoughts on the words of St. Paul to Timothy, Give thyself WHOLLY TO THEM, (¿y Tétais ĭoði,) considered as an instruction to all ministers of Christianity, in every age and nation. "The context of this expressive clause should be considered with peculiar attention, in explaining the words made use of. Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee-by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things, GIVE THYSELF WHOLLY TO THEM; that thy profiting may appear unto all. Take heed to thyself, and to the doctrine: continue in them : for in so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. (1 Tim. iv. 12—14.) Each expression, when closely examined, is as it were a sermon; and the whole comprises such a mass of appropriate instruction, warning, and encouragement to ministers, as can rarely be found in so few words. Let us then meditate on these things continually. "Two particulars seem especially to call for our notice in the clause more immediately under consideration 1. The things which the apostle intended: and 2. What it is to give ourselves wholly to them. "I. The things intended. The apostle doubtless referred to those exhortations, which he had just before given to his beloved son Timothy, respecting his personal conduct and example; his ministerial office, as a talent entrusted to him; the exercise of this ministry; the preparation for that exercise; and the ends to be proposed in the whole-Continue in them, for in so doing thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee; that is, who so hear thee as to believe and obey the doctrine taught by thee. "A few hints may then be here dropped on some of the particulars relating to our important ministry-for we cannot too much magnify our office, and should have high and honourable thoughts of it; as the best of all good works; the most beneficial service which man can perform to man; and the most immediately connected with the glory of God our Saviour; yet attended with the most awful responsibility. It is a gift conferred on us, when set apart to that service. To us it is GIVEN, to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. It is a talent entrusted to our stewardship, which demands faithful improvement. It |