GLEANINGS FROM PIOUS AUTHORS: WITH A CHOICE COLLECTION OF LETTERS, (SOME BY THE LATE REV. JOHN NEWTON,) AND Original Poetry. BY THE AUTHOR OF MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. LONDON: PRINTED FOR BURTON AND SMITH, LEADENHALL STREET. 1824. PREFACE. Indeed, this THE Editor would not have been so anxious for the publication of this Work, had he not been conscious that there was reason to hope it might in some measure be made useful, particularly as his last production had been honoured with the divine blessing in many instances. should ever be the paramount object of all works on religious subjects; and it always will be so, when the writer is influenced by the love of God, which is sure to lead to the love of his fellow-creatures: and what can be a greater proof of it, than a real desire that they may be happy in a future world, as well as encouraged and comforted in their way to it, amidst all the trials and sorrows to which they are liable? The Letters in this Volume are chiefly original, and will be found a choice feast for the children of Zion, as they are particularly adapted to their peculiar trials and conflicts; and, if attended with a divine blessing, will be the means of encouraging and confirming them in their journey to the heavenly Canaan. The Poems are also chiefly original; and, though some of them are not stamped with peculiar marks of poetic genius, the Editor has his private reasons for introducing them. The Selection of Texts at the end of the Volume, may have its peculiar use, especially to ministers, in referring to the different subjects that have been selected, when combating the contrary system. It frequently happens, in searching for particular passages to prove some point in hand, that the mind gets bewildered; which this Selection, as far as it goes, is calculated to remove. The Editor begs, in conclusion, to return his sincere acknowledgments to his friends for their exertions in disposing of so many copies of his " Miscellaneous Thoughts;" and now leaves the present Work in the hands of God, with an earnest prayer that He may bless it to the souls of all who may read it. Gleanings FROM PIOUS AUTHORS. REMARKS ON ROM. XII. 20, 21. "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." IT is Godlike to forgive an injury, but no harm to remember it, because it keeps us on our guard to prevent a repetition; it is a peculiar blessing whenever we are enabled to manifest a Christian spirit by returning good for evil; that is, whenever your enemy is particularly unkind to you, the best way is to overcome his unkind treatment by shewing a contrary spirit towards him: for instance, "if he is hungry," (attend to the Apostle's advice, and) "feed him; if he thirst, give him drink, B |