will read with grains of allowance.-With best wishes and prayers for your increasing comfort and progress in the divine life, I remain, dear Sir, "Your sincere friend and servant, "THOMAS SCOTT."

"DEAR SIR,

"Chapel-street.

Nov. 25, 1796.

"I APPREHEND that the energy of evangelical principles in producing holiness, both of heart and life, is the grand thing to be insisted on by the true friends of the gospel, at all times, but especially in such a day as the present. Nothing can convince more sober people that our doctrines are worth contending for, unless we can show them their inseparable connexion with real good works: nothing can stop the mouths of reviling enemies and scoffers, but the unanswerably silencing language of the holy lives uniformly led by those who profess the doctrines of grace. Within the professing church numbers are deceived by a form of knowledge, and by an unholy confidence and selfish joy, for want of attending duly to this subject: others are kept low, and continue comparatively unfruitful, because they are not suitably impressed with its importance: and, without, multitudes have their prejudices riveted, inquirers are stumbled, and despisers are emboldened, by what they witness among professors; which confirms their notion that the doctrines of grace tend to laxity of morals, and consequently are useless or pernicious-What do ye more than others? our Lord says to his disciples and to each of us. With our principles, hopes, privileges, obligations, ex

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ample, and assistances, we certainly shall, if we act consistently, do more than others: and whatever tends to promote the peace and purity of the church, or the stability, fruitfulness, and comfort of believers, as effectually tends to spread the gospel, as preaching to careless sinners, or sending missionaries into distant regions. These ought

we to do, and not to leave the other undone. Inever yet saw a few consistent, peaceable, exemplary be-, lievers in any place, but they won over, in time, some of their neighbours and relations, and rendered the gospel respected even by those without: but I have repeatedly seen a company of high professors, zealous for doctrines, and loud in disputes, but lax in their practice, who have set numbers against the gospel, and made it despised and hated, more than usual, by all around them. In this day of infidelity, in which Satan is inspiring his servants to uncommon exertions against the whole fabric of Christianity, books and sermons will do little, unless we can oppose to his progress, not only theoretical discourses on the tendency of the gospel, but also appeals to facts concerning its efficacy in rendering men holy in all manner of conversation. Our children, servants, or neighbours will be better preserved from infidelity, and more led to think of religion, by witnessing and feeling that the gospel produces happy effects on us, especially in our conduct towards them, than by all we can say. Thus we make a lodgment in their consciences, which they cannot get rid of. If they see us happier and better than other men, they cannot but feel the difference, even if they would willingly deny it: but, if they can fancy

themselves about as good without the gospel as we are with it, nature will lead them to slight it without remorse.-Our conduct also must show men what we mean by conversion, a new creation, being born of God, &c. We must embody such subjects, and be living examples and illustrations of them. We want more preachers, and should pray the Lord of the harvest. to send forth labourers into his harvest: but preachers and sermons of the cast just described are most important; and thus all ought to preach daily. Christians of this kind will be the honoured instruments of reviving religion, and diffusing it into distant lands, as well as of handing it down to posterity.1

"But I have dwelt so long on this subject, that I have not room to discuss that which you particularly mentioned. However, I do not feel myself much grieved on that account; as the cultivation of the Christian temper at large is the best preparative both for Christian conversation, and the improvement of every talent. A few words spoken by a man of eminent piety, integrity, and benevolence, will go further than the most exquisite speech of a doubtful character. Even imperfections will be overlooked in the manner, when a man is credited for his sincerity and good will. A real desire to glorify God and edify man by our discourse, with daily meditation on the scriptures, and prayers for heavenly wisdom, will generally lead a man to adopt such methods as suit him: for no rules suit all persons. Though levity should be excluded, yet I own I think cheerfulness and good will so

'Isa. lviii. 8-14. Ixi. 3, 4.

essential, that I would rather see too much sprightliness than any appearance of unsociableness and moroseness-especially when the former is known to be a man's natural disposition: for then [when it is altogether suppressed,] it is thought religion has made him ill-tempered.-I think addresses to the heart and conscience go further than discussions of doctrine; that religious subjects should be introduced gently, not forcibly; and that we should be careful not to get engaged in argument for which we are not competent.

"I can only add that I remain

"Your affectionate friend and servant,

"I REJOICE to hear of the success of the gospel in any place, and by any instruments; but especially when ministers are raised up to preach it. May the Lord grant that your friend the clergyman, and you, and I may all meet in heaven! and may numbers attend us, whom God hath made us the instruments of bringing along with us! For not only ministers are thus instrumental to the salvation of others, but every consistent Christian, by his example, prayers, conversation, and efforts in various ways, shares the same honourable privilege: and, should but one soul be won to Christ by the endeavours of a whole life, that one may useful to others after our death, and the fruit may, and probably will, remain and increase on earth to the good of others, to the end of time; while the gracious recompense is enjoyed by us in heaven.

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On the other hand, if we disgrace the gospel, or imbibe and propagate pernicious principles, the fatal effects may remain, and be diffused further and wider, long after we leave the world. So important is the conduct of a professed disciple of Christ! and such need have we to watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation!

Indeed, if the Lord should weigh our feeble attempts in the balance of his perfect law, the best of them must condemn us: and, if he made no use of any but Christians of great attainments, we might sit down in discouragement. But, where there is a willing mind, it is accepted, according to what a man hath: and he blesses his own truth, not because we speak it, but notwithstanding that we speak it, because it is his own truth. He works by feeble instruments, and generally prefers such as man despises, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of men. Much more then will he work by those who think meanly of their own attainments and services, rather than by those who are wise in their own eyes, and think highly of themselves. Even the Saviour was the stone which the builders rejected, before he was made the head of the corner: he humbled himself even to the death of the cross, before, in our nature, he was exalted to the throne of glory. Even the manifest imperfections and failings of upright persons do not render them unmeet to be employed in doing good to others. We may pull a beam out of another's eye, though we have a mote in our own; though a beam in our own eye will render us unfit to pull a mote out of our brother's eye. If we be evidently humbled when we have done wrong, and ready to acknowledge the offence