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I fay, before you depart this world. For it is but too indubitable, that there is not a fingle ray of hope, from any one quarter what foever, of your avoiding the utmoft effect of the terrible fentence which impends. Let me, therefore, importune you, for God's fake, and for your own, to devote the remainder of your time to more important employ, than that of writing notes on Shakespeare. Indeed, and indeed, your fituation is fuch, as fhould confine your attention to objects of infinitely greater moment. The Searcher of hearts knows, that I thus plainly addrefs you, from motives of abfolute humanity, and from an anxious folicitude for your everlasting welfare.

I am, with undiffembled fympathy and respect,

SIR,

your well-wisher in time, and eternity,

New-ftreet, March 17, 1777.

Auguftus Toplady.

You will oblige me, fir, if you favour me with a line (by the gentleman who delivers this to your hands) relative to the business refpecting Mrs. G

LETTER

LXIV.

To the Rev. Mr. BERRIDGE.

DEAR SIR,

New-ftreet, March 19, 1776.

THE paper, to which you refer, in your favour of to day, is, I apprehend, the Public Ledger, of the 5th inftant. As you inform me, that you have not feen it, I inclofe it to you, for

your

your perufal, under the prefent cover: together with a fubfequent ledger, of the 9th, containing my anfwer. When When you have read them, I request you to return them, fo foon as convenient: for I referve every thing, of this kind; left it may prove neceffary, to appeal to them in future.

If I was not certain, that the glorious and gracious Head of the Church orders all things for the good of his myftic body; and that not an hair can, fall, without his leave; I fhould deeply lament the continuance of your cough. But, when I recollect, who it is that fits at the helm; I can, in a fpirit of prayer and of faith, commit you, and all that relates to you, to the unerring difpofal of infinite wifdom, love, and power. In whofe covenant-bonds I remain,

dear and rev. fir, &c.

Auguftus Toplady.

LETTER LXV.

To Mr. T.

London, April 4, 1776.

SIR,

IT gives me unspeakable pleasure, to find, that you defign to republifh the Abridgment of Fox's Martyrology which I confider as a faithful and judicious compendium of the most valuable ecclefiaftical history extant in our language.

We live at a time, when the generality of profeffed Proteftants appear to have loft fight of thofe grand and effential principles, to which the Church of England was reformed, and in defence of which her martyrs bled.

VOL. VI. (32)

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Religious ignorance, and a general unconcerned nefs about divine things, together with the most profuse diffipation, and a growing difregard of moral virtue, are the reigning characteristics of the prefent age.

In a country thus circumftanced, Popery (ever on the watch for advantages) will, and muft, and does, gain continual ground. Ignorance, infidelity, and licentioufnefs, naturally terminate in fuperftition, as their ultimate refuge and Rome too often reaps, what profanenefs and immorality have fown.

To ftem fo dangerous a torrent, no means are more likely (under God), than the re-publication of fuch a work as this: a work eminently calculated to difplay, and to guard us againft, the principles and the spirit of Popery; to perpetuate the holy lives, the faithful teftimonies, and the triumphant deaths, of thofe evangelical worthies, who refifted error, even unto blood; to exalt the ftandard of Chrift; to exhibit the loving-kindness of the Holy Ghoft, who gave fuch grace and power unto men; and to ftand as the beft commentary on thofe ineftimable truths, which (through the good hand of God upon us) still continue to fhine in the liturgy, articles, and homilies, of our established Church.

I with this performance much fuccefs, in the name of the Lord. May its diffufion be very extenfive, and its usefulness very great. May it prove mighty, through God, to make the Proteftant Churches in general, and our own national Church in particular, remember from whence they are fallen; ftir them up to doctrinal and practical repentance ;. and bring them back to their first principles, and to their first works! With this prayer, breathed from the inmost of my heart,

I remain, fir,

your affectionate well-wisher,

Auguftus Montague Toplady.

LETTER

LETTER LXVI.

To Mr. HUSSEY.

VERY DEAR SIR,

Broad-Hembury, Sept. 9, 1776.

A Student of Lady Huntingdon's, whofe name is

Cottingham, and from whom I parted at Bristol, on my return from Wales, promifed me to wait on you and Mrs. Huffey in London, to inform you, how gracious the Lord has been to me, ever fince I faw you laft.

The night I left town, the Worcester coach, in which I went, broke down: but not one of us received the leaft injury. I have a ftill greater deliverance to acquaint you with: even fuch as, I trust, will never be blotted from my thankful remembrance. On the Anniverfary Day, in Wales, the congregation was fo large, that the chapel would not have contained a fourth part of the people; who were fuppofed to amount to three thousand.

ous.

No fewer than one thoufand three hundred horfes were turned into one large field, adjoining the College; befides what were ftationed in the neighbouring villages. The carriages, alfo, were unufually numerA fcaffold was erected, at one end of the College-court, on which a book-ftand was placed, by way of pulpit: and, from thence, fix or feven of us preached, fucceffively, to one of the most attentive, and most lively congregations I ever beheld. When it came to my turn to preach, I advanced to the front; and had not gone more than half through my prayer before fermon, when the fcaffold fuddenly fell

in.

As I ftood very near the highermoft ftep (and the fteps did not fall with the reft,) Providence T2 enabled

enabled me to keep on my feet, through the affiftance of Mr. Winkworth, who laid faft hold on my arm. About forty minifters were on the fcaffold and fteps when the former broke down. Dear Mr. Shirley fell undermoft of all; but received no other hurt, than a very flight bruife' on one of his thighs. A good woman, who, for the conveniency of hearing, had placed herfelf under the fcaffold, received a trifling contufion on her face. No other mifchief was done. The congregation, though greatly alarmed, had the prudence not to throw themfelves into outward diforder: which, I believe, was chiefly owing to the powerful fenfe of God's prefence, which was eminently felt by moft of the affembly.

Such was the wonderful goodness of the Lord to me, that I was not in the leaft difconcerted on this dangerous occafion: which I mention, to the praife of that grace and providence, without which, a much smaller incident would inevitably have fhocked every nerve I have. About half a minute after the interruption had commenced, I had the fatisfaction to inform the people, that no damage had enfued: and removing for fecurity, to a lower step, I thanked the Lord, with the rejoicing multitude, for having fo undeniably given his angels charge concerning us. Prayer ended, I was enabled to preach: and great grace feemed to be upon us all.

If God permit, I hope to be with you, in London, foon after the middle of this month. I deem it one of the principal felicities of my life, that I have the happinefs and the honour to minifter to a praying people. We fhould not have had fo much of the Lord's prefence in Orange-ftreet, if he had not poured upon us the fpirit of fupplication. Go on to pray, and God will go on to blefs. Remember me, moft refpectfully and, moft tenderly, to as many of our dear friends in Chrift, as you are acquainted with. And, particularly, inform Mr. and Mrs. Willett, and Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, that I have

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