all that God knows of the circumstances in which I have been placed, you could not blame, you would approve of the step I have taken, since it pleased God to take your dear daughter to himself. Situated and engaged as I was, it was literally impossible for me to proceed in any other way . . . . . . I remain, dear madam, with sincere affection, and good wishes and prayers for your present and future felicity, your's affectionately and respectfully, THOMAS SCOTT."

I add one more extract, from a letter addressed, like the first, to my mother's sister, and dated January 23, 1793.

"It cannot have given any person more satisfaction than it has done me, that the Lord put it into my power to add any thing to the comfort of the aged mother of her, who was so long my choicest earthly blessing, and whose memory must ever be dear to me. Though I have never seen her, I cannot but feel a measure of filial respect and affection for her, as well as love for you and your's: and I should rejoice at the opportunity of conversing with you, if the Lord saw good. But that is not likely in present circumstances. My desire therefore and prayer are, that we may be found amongst those, whom Jesus hath redeemed unto God with his blood, and may meet in heaven to spend together a joyful eternity. We are all poor sinners, in our best estate; and they who know their own hearts most, and are best acquainted with the spiritual law of God, will be most ready to make allowance for others, as well as most prepared to value the atonement, grace, and salvation of our divine Redeemer: and thus alone can we be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. You have

no reason, therefore, to write with timidity to such a poor, weak, wretched sinner as I am. The Lord hath

shown me a little of his glorious salvation, and I bear witness, in a feeble manner, to his preciousness, his power, truth, mercy, and grace: but I have no reason to assume any precedence above the feeblest of his disciples; and he alone makes me to differ from the vilest of his enemies; and must preserve that difference, if it continue-as I trust it will. . . . . I send you all the numbers to complete three copies of the Bible.... I sent the third copy for my mother, at my late dear wife's desire. If then you have sold it, the money is properly her's: and I hope you will employ it in any way for her comfort, and that will fairly tell me, whether any more can at all alleviate her sufferings in her present state. Depend upon it, neither I nor my family shall be hurt by it. Give my dutiful love to her, and tell her that it is my fervent prayer, that the Lord would be her support, comfort, teacher, and saviour; and that at last she may, in humble and lively faith, commend her soul, as Stephen did, into the hands of the Lord Jesus; that so we may all meet in heaven. . . . I remain your sincerely affectionate brother,

you

THOMAS SCOTT."

At a subsequent period the families were connected

by fresh ties.

CHAPTER XI.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS FROM THE CLOSE OF THE FIRST EDITION OF HIS COMMENTARY TO THE EVE OF HIS REMOVAL FROM LONDON.

IN giving a connected view of the transactions relative to my father's Commentary on the scriptures, we have unavoidably been carried forward beyond the regular scries of events, even past the time of his removal from London. He himself, indeed, has recorded little in his narrative concerning this whole period, beyond what is already before the reader. Some particulars, however, may be collected, especially from his letters, which must not be omitted in the history of his life.

We may first advert to the several works which he published within the period assigned to this chapter, and which may be mentioned in two or three classes.

His "Impartial Statement of the Scripture Doctrine in respect of Civil Government, and the Duties of Subjects," was published near the close of 1792; his

66

Rights of God," (a title suggested by the eager discussions then carried on concerning the rights of man,) in 1793; and his "Vindication of the Divine Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and the Doctrines contained in them, in Answer to Mr. Paine's Age of Reason, in 1796. These publications were directed against the infidel and anarchical principles at that time so widely diffused in the nation." The Rights of God"

was undertaken, and the title adopted, at the sugges tion of another person. Probably the title was not well chosen, and the work attracted less notice than, perhaps any other production of its author. The two other pieces were repeatedly printed, (particu larly the Answer to Paine, in America as well as at home,) and obtained a pretty wide circulation. Some things concerning them may be collected from the

author's letters.

His sending the first mentioned tract to his dis senting friend, now Dr. Ryland of Bristol, gave occasion to the expression of some of his political sentiments, particularly as connected with the duties of Christians.

"December 5, 1792. You will receive with this few copies of a publication on a subject mentioned in your last not on politics, but on the religious question connected with them. I have endeavoured to be impartial; and I do not expect to please either party in these violent times: but I trust moderate men will approve most of it, as far as they regard the Bible. I am no great stickler for monarchy, or any of its appendages; and I trust I am a steady friend to real liberty, in all cases and places: yet, as human nature is constituted, I am apt to think a limited monarchy, or mixed government, where one branch oversees and checks the others, is best; and that an absolute republic must verge either to anarchy. or to oligarchical tyranny. But I have nothing to do with such questions. I should obey under a republic even as under our constitution, if providence placed me under it. I also think that our constitution is like a good old clock, which wants cleaning, regulat

[CHAP. XI. ing, and oiling; but that to knock it in pieces, in order to substitute a new French watch in its place, the going of which has not been tried, would be impolitic and even ridiculous: yet multitudes are bent upon this, and I fear bloodshed will be the consequence. I must also think that many religious and respectable dissenters have expected too much, in a world of which the devil is styled the god and prince; and where protection and toleration seem the utmost that God's children can hope for. Many also, both dissenters and others, have meddled too much with such matters: and I grieve to see that the prejudice, which this has infused into the mind of religious people in the church, is likely to widen our unhappy divisions: for they will not make proper discriminations. . . . My sentiments on our duties you will see in the pamphlet: so far, I trust, we shall be agreed and, if our political creed be not identically the same, I hope that will make no difference. I always thought you so engaged in the work of the ministry, and in promoting the kingdom of Christ, as to bestow little time about other governments; and I trust you will be so still.-I am so far from wishing that Dr. Priestley had been burned at Birmingham, that I am grieved that such weapons should have been at all used by those who pretended to be friends, either to the doctrines of Christ, or to the constitution. I am sorry also, that the persons you mention are so vehement. An An enemy hath done it. As far as I have influence I would be a peacemaker: we have enemies enough, and should not quarrel with each other."

To the same, December 24, 1792. " I entirely