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certainly, originated at Lambeth. The oftenfible pretext is, to expunge fome exceptionable paffages, which are "offenfive to thinking men, and hurtful to tender confciences." The new Lambeth-articles (if Providence do not render the defign abortive) will be of a very different caft, from the old ones of 1595.

I am much obliged to you, for your kind invitation, in my way to London, if I thould have occafion to go thither. The truth is, I ought to have feen the capital, long ago. But I really dread to do fo. The fight of places, and the converfation of perfons, where and with whom I have enjoyed fo many happy hours in the company of my late honoured parent, will naturally recall her fo ftrongly to my remembrance, that, I fear, my nerves will hardly bear it. I am thankful, that she never accepted any of my invitations into Devonshire; as it would, now, have only tended to revive those ideas, which I fhould be happier never to recollect. The higher a departed fatisfaction has been, the more painful (fuppofing the departure to be final) is its remembrance. Philofophy may cenfure these feelings, as a weakness; but they are fuch a weakness, as I cannot help. Refignation is one thing, infenfibility is

another.

I have, unawares, extended thefe reflections to too great a length. If I was not writing to a friend, I should certainly, on a review, cancel this letter, and fubftitute a more revifed half-fheet. But, as the cafe ftands, I will avail myfelf of your candour. Believe me to be,

Rev. and dear fir, ever your's,

Auguftus Toplady.

LET

MADAM,

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Broad-Hembury, Feb. 5, 1773.

MY parishioner, Mrs. H. H. defires me to pre

fent you with her moft refpectful and affectionate thanks, for your late kind and obliging letter. Indeed, as the good woman told me, with tears of gratitude, your many inftances of friendship and regard are fuch, as plainly indicate the particular hand of Providence, which alone could raise up fo valuable and difinterested a fupporter of her old age. She is inexpreffibly fenfible of the kindness of your offer, refpecting your readiness to fend her fome additional affiftance, on account of her prefent illnefs. But he defires, moft thankfully, to decline putting you to that trouble: as, through the goodnefs of God, the can hitherto defray the expences of her fickness, by means of your stated fupply. I hope the recovers, though flowly, her pain and feebleness continuing very great.

She requests me to inform you, that any advantages of outward fituation, which might attend her removal to Columpton, would not, in her judgment, compenfate for the fpiritual want of fuch a ministry, as fhe could fit under with comfort.

Permit me now, madam, to apologize, for my taking upon myself to acquaint you with thefe particulars. The truth is, Mrs. H. has now no near 'neighbour, in whom the can venture to confide, but myfelf. She knows I love her dearly; to which I am induced, by the grace which is given her of God. I may fafely exprefs myself fo unrefervedly, of one who cannot be lefs than ninety. And, I own, there are yery few in my parifh, large as it is, whom I fo tenderly esteem. Her many doubts and fears, respect

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ing the fafety of her foul, and the certainty of her acceptance with God, are, to me, fo many proofs, that he is indeed chofen, redeemed, and justified. And I am perfuaded, that the Lord will not take her hence, until he has fhone her doubts and fears away. At least, it is a remark, to which I never remember to have met with a fingle exception, that fuch of God's people, as are moft exercifed with fear and trembling on their journey through life, are the moft comfortable and triumphant in the hour of death. Like Mr. Ready-to-halt, in the Pilgrim's Progrefs, they are ufually the first to fling away their crutches, when they actually come in view of Jordan.

It would be needlefs to inform you, that Mrs. H. begs you to accept her beft refpects and most grateful acknowledgements. To which I add the fincere compliments of, &c.

Auguftus Toplady.

P. S. If Providence fhould prolong all our lives until fummer, and you should have leifure and inclination to see Mrs. H. before fhe goes to Heaven, I have a part of the vicarage house at your fervice..

LETTER

XVII.

TO AMBROSE SERLE, Esq.

EVER DEAR SIR,

Broad-Hembury, March 5, 1773

GOD, I truft and believe, will, himself, be the giver of that fupport and confolation, which 1, with all my fympathy, can only with and pray that you may experience. Having premifed my

hope,

hope, permit me to thank you for your letter: the only one of your's, that ever gave me pain.

With melting heart, and lifted eye, I blefs the Lord, for his having pointed the late providential fhaft with gold: in other words, for his having foftened your unfpeakable lofs of dear Mrs. Serle (dearer, as an angel, than when only a faint) with fuch undoubted and juft affurance of her eternal reft in Chrift. May thofe foretaftes of the joy that fhall be revealed, with which he was fo eminently favoured, be our ftrength and fong, during the appointed courfe of our remaining pilgrimage, until the fpirit of God have matured us for the inheritance of the faints in light.

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I have long obferved, that fuch of his people, as are leaft on the mount, while travelling to Heaven are highest on it, and replenished with the richeft discoveries of divine love, in the closing scene of life. When they come in actual view of that river, which parts the Church below from the Church above, the celeftial city rifes full in fight. The sense of interest in the covenant of grace becomes clearer and brighter. The book of life is opened to the eye of affurance. The holy fpirit more feelingly applies the blood of fprinkling, and warms the foul with that robe of righteousness which Jefus wrought. The once feeble believer is made as David. The once trembling hand is enabled to lay fast hold on the cross of Christ. The fun goes down without a cloud.

Those lines of Dr. Watts are as weighty, as they are beautiful.

"Juft fuch is the Chriftian. His race he begins, Like the fun, in a mift, while he mourns for his fins, And melts into tears. Then he breaks out and fhines,

And travels his heavenly way.

But, as he draws nearer to finish his race,

Like a fine, fetting fun, he looks richer in grace; And gives a fure hope, at the end of his days, Of rifing in brighter array."

On occafions of this kind, I never offer to condole. I would wish to conceal even my own feelings. Officious lenitives generally operate as corrofives, when tendered to an heart that bleeds under fo exquifite a lofs; and do but irritate the wound, they are meant to affuage. Rather, let me wish you to take down your harp from the willows, and to adore the unerring wisdom of him, who is daily "accomplishing the number of his elect, and haftening his kingdom."

You have my thanks, dear fir, for your polite and obliging invitation. Should bufinefs force me to London, this year, I certainly fhall, were it only for my own fake, pay my refpects to you, as ufual; though I fhall hardly prevail with myself to take full advantage of your kind and friendly offer.

Our meeting together again, on earth, is, humanly fpeaking, precarious. Not fo, our meeting in Heaven. We are, by no means, fure of the former; but I am fully affured of the latter.

Grace, mercy, and peace, be with you and your's, So prays, from the inmoft of his heart, dear fir, Your obliged, &c.

LETTER

Auguftus Toplady,

XVIII.

To RICHARD HILL, Efq,

[Extract.]

Broad-Hembury, March 12, 1773,

AM told, that Mr.Fletcher has it in contemplation to make an attack on me too. He is welcome. I am ready for him. Nor fhall I, in that cafe, altogether imitate the amiable examples of yourself and your brother; unless Mr. Fletcher should treat me

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