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LETTER XLII.

To the Rev. Mr. MADAN.

[Extra&t.]

Broad-Hembury, July 8, 1774.

NOUGH of bufinefs. Now for chit-chat. My few bora fubficiva, fince my return hither, have been devoted, chiefly, to the perufal of lord Chesterfield's Letters. I fhould think the better of my own judgment, if it fhould be fo happy as to coincide with your's. Mine is, in general, that they are not only, what his lordship terms, "letters written from one man of the world to another;" but, many of them, fuch as might well be expected from a decent civilized fornicator, to his favourite baft-d. Do you not alfo complain of a negligence, in point of ftyle, compofition, and connection; really to be wondered at, in even the running productions of fo mafterly an hand? It is true, letters are but converfation committed to paper: yet, I' believe, the generality of well-bred people would blush to converfe in a ftyle equally inaccurate and defultory, with that, in which lord Chesterfield fometimes wrote.

I own, myself, however, on the whole, extremely entertained and improved, by this publication. There are almost an infinity of rules and remarks, refpecting both men and les manières, founded on, the deepest worldly wisdom and truth: yet, fo intermixed with drofs and refufe, that, had I the care of a young perfon, I would not venture to put those letters into his hands, without the precaution of an index expurgatorius.

But was any thing ever like his portrait of the female fex, in letter 129? Where he traduces them all, without making a fingle exception. I know but

one

one way to bring him off: and that, I fear, will be far from doing it effectually: viz. by fuppofing, that, when he sketched that caricature, his mind was acidulated by a recent fracas with lady Chefterfieki: and that, in revenge, he inftantly libelled the whole sex.

I never heard of Mr. Wefley's Sinai-covenanters, until you was pleafed to mention them. Poor creatures! to meet once a year, and folemnly bind theinfelves to keep the whole law! I wish I had known this particular, fome months ago. Can you tell, whether they have a written form of covenanting, or whether it be all ore tenus? and, if the former, whether it be poffible to procure a fight of it? This is a matter, well worth enquiring into.

You once favoured me with a more critical explication of Pet. i. 19, than I had before met with. I wish you would condefcend to give it me in writing.

Auguftus Toplady.

LETTER XLIII.

To the Rev. Mr. ROMAINE.

Broad- Hembury, July 8, 1774

Rev. and DEAR SIR,

AS it is poffible that our valuable and valued

friend, Mr. , may not hitherto have had an opportunity of acquainting you with the polite manner in which lord

late favour; and as Mr.

-

received your has been fo good

as to communicate to me, in a letter received here yesterday evening, the fubftance of what paffed, permit me, without delay,

1. To

1. To inform you, in general, that your kind application appeared to have a very favourable effect and that his lordship was fo obliging as to fay, he would "try the ground" with the lord chancellor.

2. To thank you, under Providence, for the very friendly intervention of your good offices: which, whether crowned with ultimate fuccefs, or not, I fhall, ever, moft affectionately remember.-And,

3. To request an exertion of your intereft with that bleffed and only potentate, who has all power both in heaven and earth; that he would graciously give fuch an event to this whole matter, as he will be pleased to blefs moft to the glory of his own

name.

I returned hither, from London, this day fe'nnight: and, last Tuesday, attended the bishop's vifitation at Tiverton. The fermon was preached by Mr. Land and upon the whole, a very excellent one it was. Among its few flaws, was, the claffing of Hutchinfon, with Clarke, Shaftesbury, and Hume: the former of whom, if living, would have been very forry at being put among fuch company. The Strand divines were, rather feverely, than fmartly, taken to task: and, as I was afterwards told, old Whitter and young Wood held down their heads in fome confufion.

The epifcopal charge, though extremely concife (i. e. difpatched in about 12 or 14 minutes), was the very best I ever heard. It chiefly turned, on the excellency of the 39 articles; the expediency of fubfcription; and the peculiar duties, more than ever, at this time, incumbent on the clergy, relative to their morals, manners, drefs, and abstractedness from the world. The whole of his lordship's behaviour, both in the Church, and afterwards at dinner, much fatisfaction to the generality, and pecugave liar pleasure to me.

Adieu, honoured and dear fir. Kindeft refpects to yourself, and to Mrs. Romaine, from your obliged and affectionate

Auguftus Toplady.

LETTER XLIV.

To AMBROSE SERLE, Efq.

Broad-Hembury, July 8, 1774.

SHALL I attempt to thank my ever dear and ever refpected friend, for his polite and obliging favour of the 30th ult. or for the kind fervices, which preceded that favour, and to which it refers? No. It is a duty, to whofe performance I feel myfelf unequal. Your friendship, therefore, like what fome fay concerning virtue at large, must be its own reward. Yet, think me not infenfible. My fenfibility is the very caufe of the omiffion. Were the obligations, under which you lay me, more moderate, I could with ease, thank you for them: but, as the cafe ftands, I must follow Horace's direction, confule quid valeant bumeri; and not aim at impoffibilities.

Sure I am, that God will incline the fcale (and) not this only, but every other, to the end of time,) fo as fhall conduce to his own glory, and to the accomplishment of his own purpofe. It is our's, to use the means, in a dependance on his abfolute providence; to blefs the means ufed, is his. With him, all events must be ultimately refted: and I trust, I can fay, ex animo, with him I ever with and defire to reft them; nor would I have a fingle incident removed out of his hand, were I poffeffed of all power both in heaven and earth.

VOL. VI. (31)

е

You

You kindly remind me, "To ftrike while the iron is warm." In answer to which, I must observe, that I have written, to-day, to Black-heath, and to Epfom. Can you fuggeft any other advisable fteps? You will find, not only my ear, but my heart, ever open to the leaft hint fuggefted by a friend of your wifdom and faithfulness, whether the fubject relate to my own interest, or not.

You are fo good as to enquire after my fafe return into the Weft. I blefs God, my journey was both fafe, and pleafant. The flighteft mercies ought to be thankfully received and noticed: for they are as abfolutely undeferved, as the greateft. We can no more merit a moment's eafe, or fafety, or happinefs, in our going out and coming in, or on any other occafion whatever, than we can merit the kingdom of heaven.

I travelled with a very old (or rather, with a very early) acquaintance: an officer, of the 21ft regiment: with whom, at our firft fetting off in the coach from London, I had an hour or two's controverfy, concerning the lawfulness of duelling. Your friend was on the negative fide of the queftion: the captain, on the affirmative. During the amicable fkirmish (a duel against duelling,) and for many hours after, we were quite ignorant of each others names. And no wonder; for we had not met, fince the year 1757, when we were both lads: and time has made fuch alteration in each, that neither knew the other. We travelled to Bridport (i. e. 138 miles) before we found out who was who: and I have feldom known an ecclairciffement which gave more pleasure on both fides. The captain, very politely, invited me to fee him, if I fhould ever go to Plymouth and, on my afking, for whom I fhould enquire, the difcovery was made.

On a review, I am really afhamed of trefpaffing on your patience and time, by fuch petty chit-chat It is high feafon for me to apologize; not by pro I

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