rocks, the plan has been adopted, subscriptions are raising, we are about to hire a house, and I trust the Lord will make it very useful. But it lies heavy on my few friends: religious professors in general do not much assist me; worldly people seem more ready. Then I am raising a sum of money to purchase Welsh bibles for a multitude of people who cannot get any.* These and other things of the kind render present assistance impracticable: what may be done in a few months I cannot say. However, in the midst of all I have every reason to believe I am made considerably useful. "I have not room to say much on the subject of your letter by Mr. R. I am very far from acting on the offensive in the business; or from supposing that invitations, &c. cannot consist with a more restricted view: but it seems to me that there is design and wisdom in the generality with which the word of God speaks on that subject ;† which we lose sight of and counteract, when we are too nice and systematic. I own I am not quite satisfied with brother Fuller's criticisms upon that subject, and feel confident I could answer them but I leave that to such as agree least with those who come nearest to them. Upon Mr. Burton's scheme men fight pinioned, and can scarcely strike at all. Mr. F. has got his string much loosened; but yet, I think, not being quite loose, it catches him sometimes, and he misses a blow now and then. But I wish you all success. Lord give us a right understanding in all things! "I remain your affectionate friend and brother, DEAR SIR, May the "THOMAS SCOTT." Chapel Street, January 30, 1789. "As to my situation, I am very well satisfied with it, if I can but maintain my post. I am not popular, and have very much ceased to covet popularity. You may buy even gold too dear: and I think popularity is often too dear bought at least I could not go to the price of it if I had the talents for it. But I have many respectable friends, and a considerable field and prospect of usefulness in many lines. The hospital and the asylum united with it furnish me with much work, and, I trust, not labour in vain and you will be surprised when I inform you that I am actually engaged in writing expository notes and practical observations, in my very plain way, upon the holy scriptures, to See the preceding letter. Life, p. 181-184. be published in weekly numbers........ I can truly say that I sympathize with you in your trials both personal and ministerial: but the Lord will support you under and carry you through all. He is all-sufficient. Nay we cannot do without trials: we must be thankful for our medicines. I do not always forget you at the throne of grace: pray for me also.— If you should have an opportunity of getting any of the Hints to Patients into the hands of those in the hospital, I will give you some. "Yours affectionately, "THOMAS SCOTT." Cheapside, August 29, 1791. 66 DEAR SIR, "WHEN I think of such men as Mr. Huntington, I often am ready to compare them to Sampson, whose ingenuity was employed in catching foxes, and tying firebrands to them, to burn up the crops, but Sampson used this stratagem against Philistines; they among Israelites. However, there must be heresies, that they who are approved may be made manifest.—I am much obliged to you for your sermon, &c. respecting Mr. Hall: the remembrance of former times, and a concurrence of reflections, rendered the perusal of it very affecting to me.-I trust the Lord is with you to assist and prosper your labors, and that you will see more and more of the fruit of them from year to year; for though the truth may be run down, it cannot be kept down. I remain, "Your most affectionate friend and brother, 66 DEAR SIR, Chapel Street, December 24, 1793. I SUPPOSE you have seen that a pocket-book is published, the whole of the religious part of which was written or compiled by me; and I bestowed some pains in arranging texts of scripture into a sort of system of divinity. I have no property in it, but I was vain enough to think that it might prevent some mischief, which I apprehend has been done by such text-books, partially, negligently, and injudiciously collected; by which a half religion has been sanctioned. I suppose I shall continue it if I live, but with alterations; and the pains bestowed about the texts has suggested to me the idea of a work upon the prophecies, the internal evidence of the several constituent parts of the scripture, &c., which seems to me to be original, and may perhaps be prosecuted if I have health and opportunity. But I have had some applications from a respectable quarter to publish a volume or two of sermons.† So you see I am not likely to be cured of the cacoethes scribendi, by all my mortifications. So much for that prominent subject, self.-I have read Mr. Fuller's book twice, and much approve of it: I think it sensible, pious, candid, and judicious, and his manner of treating the Monthly Reviewers must nonplus them; though they are not to be put to shame. I am glad also to add, that my Electic brethren are unanimous in their approbation of it. I had some general idea, when I was reading it, that in some places he rather stood too much on the defensive; and that he might have fairly urged the matter still further in some particulars but perhaps all things considered, this might be more prudent. I think a fair answer to it will not easily be made. I have not seen any of the American books which you mention. From a pamphlet of Dr. Hopkins's, that I formerly saw, I did not think him equal to Edwards, or even to Bellamy: he seems to have an offensive way of expressing even undeniable truths; but perhaps further maturity of judgment may have rectified that obliquity. I should have no objection to make my observations on his body of divinity or on any other of the books that come in my way. I can have no idea of our love or benevolence being too disinterested, if that word be properly explained; but to desire happiness in the enjoyment of God, as the supreme object of all love, and to desire that others also should join in the same felicity, seems perfectly to coincide with the two great commandments of the law, and to harmonize with making the divine glory our grand end in every thing. This kind of self-love belongs to us as creatures, not as sinners; and it is the standard and measure of our love to our neighbor. In this respect I think some of the American divines, and others, have sometimes advanced things incautiously, and drawn unscriptural inferences from their reasonings as if all regard to our own happiness were interested or sinful; or as if the glory of God, and the felicity of those who love him, could be separated: and + Ibid. p. 213. *Life, p. 216. On Socinianism. Edwards fully allows that there is a gracious self-love: see his Trea tise on Religious Affections, p. 146, 147, &c. J. R. I have known many excellent people discouraged and perplexed by such things. "I know so little of the nature of your new situation* and its duties, that I am utterly incompetent to suggest any counsel. I do however sincerely rejoice that you are fixed in it, and little doubt but God will give you wisdom to fill it to his glory, and also find a pastor for your former people.— Desiring an interest in your prayers, and begging the Lord to prosper your soul and labors, I remain, 66 DEAR SIR, "Your affectionate friend and brother, "THOMAS SCOTT." "Chapel Street, December 23, 1794. "I AM at present busy in writing notes on the Pilgrim's Progress, and superintending a very handsome edition of that admirable book. I find great satisfaction in my employment; and hope to produce an useful and acceptable work. It will, I have no doubt, go off well even in its present expensive form: but I have so settled my terms as to be at liberty, after a limited time, to publish it in any other way I please. It appears to me that a better vehicle can hardly be had, for communicating evangelical truth to careless and pharisaical people, than this work, which is read by thousands with avidity, who are strangers or enemies to its real principles; and that it is equally convenient for conveying an antidote to every degree of antinomian poison, working among evangelical professors: though in confidence I whisper to you, that the notes hitherto written upon it appear to me in some cases to favor sentiments which Bunyan would have opposed, and which tend, contrary to the intention of the writers, to antinomianism. "I cannot but hope that the Lord hath considerable good to do by you at Bristol, and the adjacent parts. May he preserve your health and life, increase your wisdom, zeal, and ministerial endowments, and abundantly bless your public and private labors.-I rejoice to hear of the prospect that opens before your missionaries in Asia; yet, knowing something of human nature, I cannot but believe that it will rise violently against their message, when the Hindoos and others, generally understand the nature and tendency of it, and the humbling mortifying things it + Life, p. 213, 413. * At Bristol. implies. Did I therefore correspond with the missionaries, I should above all things caution them agains: being too sanguine, and exhort them to pray without ceasing, not only for the patience of suffering, but also for the patience of waiting; in my idea, the most essential requisite for a modern missionary. I have, however, no doubt that the Lord will eventually bless the design; and I have the satisfaction to say, that even some of my acquaintance, who are not very favourable to dissenters, highly applaud it. "As to my situation, it has in it many discouragements; yet I trust some good is done and I desire to wait, hope, and pray for a larger pouring out of the Spirit from on high; without which all is in vain— "I remain, dear Sir, most cordially, DEAR SIR, "THOMAS SCOTT." "Chapel Street, June 27, 1797. "HAD Í entertained the least idea that my thoughts on Hopkins's publications, and on the Theological Magazine, were appointed to pass the ordeal of American criticism in a public manner, I should certainly have bestowed rather more pains on them; (for I wrote them but once over, as fast as my nimble pen could move, without stopping, so that the whole of the two letters cost me no more than about two hours and a half; and I should have used rather more caution and delicacy of expression. However I do not greatly regret what I have done : let them shift for themselves; but I would decline all controversy about them......As to what is said of Calvinism, and Arminianism, and consistency, I can only say, that I certainly believe the doctrines of grace, without the least exception to free, unconditional, eternal election to everlasting life in Christ Jesus; and I do not yet perceive (though I have often been told so both by Arminians and Calvinists,) that I hold any thing inconsistent with that belief. But I am not very anxious about consistency: I apprehend that in this world we see truth by compartments, as it were, and are as incompetent to take in the whole of what is revealed at one view, so as fully to perceive its symmetry and proportions as an insect is to view the various part of a building at once, and to decide on the architecture......I know not how it is, |