AN E S S A Y Ο Ν VÍSITING. NATURAL conftitution, education, pro feffional ftudies, and our connexions, may variously bias the mind, and determine our views on different fubjects. I profess not to be superior to the influence of these, in the judgement I form of the present state of visiting, among the profeffors of religion in London. I fhall, I fhall, however, be pardoned my mistake, because I err with integrity and benevolence; and what I have to offer on this topick, is intended to profit, not to upbraid, or offend. To condemn all focial intercourfe, is to cenfure that Wisdom, which faid, in the beginning, "It is not good for man to be "alone." It is to speak against what every man, naturally and innocently, feels within him, as well as the conftitution of things without him. The advantages of friendly vifits, are very numerous, and important. They may fubferve the increafe of knowlèdge; and many, who know little of books, have reaped no fmall benefit, from walking with the wife and perfons who have devoted time to reading, and folitary meditation, will acknowledge, they owe a great deal to focial converfe, even with thofe who had not much to communicate; for intellectual property is improved by circulation. The chriftian finds in fociety occafions for the exercises of thofe graces which give a just right to that name. The variety of circumftances |