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gregation every night confifts of Gentlemen and Ladies of the greatest note in the ifland. For a few of the first nights we had much noife. But now we are quiet. I preach in St. John's every Sunday afternoon, and every Tuesday and Thursday at fun-fet. At Parham, the fecond town in the ifland, I preach one Sunday in the morning, the other in the afternoon, before I preach at St. John's. Here I also preach on a Wednesday evening. I preach at my brother's house every Monday, Friday and Saturday nights, and the congregation is increafing here alfo. I was conftrained to publish the gospel at Parham fooner than I intended, for fome in the island had fixt a day, and given notice that I was to preach there at that time. Preaching was almoft always a burden to me. But now it is my pleasure to preach Jefus, and the more fo, because the land is peftered with deifts, as well as overspread with infidelity. It has been a greater cross to me to ftand up before a few fimple people in London, than I find it to speak before a St. John's congregation. I find fuch boldness in publishing the gofpel, that I care not who is prefent. But after all I must acknowledge, I have such a sense of my unfitness, that I often believe, little good will be done by my preaching: and I am aftonished that the politer and. more learned fort of hearers, will hear me a fecond time. However I blefs Jefus Chrift that a fenfe of my infufficiency does not difcourage me, and that I find fomething more than a willingness to do my best, as long as it shall please my Master to employ me. I think, I may say, I am growing in grace, which aftonishes me more than all; but God is love. I feel conftant peace, and by looking to Jefus, I am always happy; yet I have a heart which puts me in mind that I am the chief of finners. At prefent we have had no perfecution, but a few lies told.

My moments are much taken up in private meetings. My brother and I meet every day, we are together, in order to speak freely to each other. He is very zealous, and encouVOL. V.

A a a

rages

rages the work much, and without him, I cannot fee how I could have made a beginning: for the preaching of the gospel here is attended with great expence. My youngest fifter, (an account of whofe converfion you faw last year,) is growing in grace, and is the only one in the family, except Bodily and the two blacks, that has faith. I find her very useful to me. We have agreed to watch over each other in love, and we meet together every day, in order to help each other forward. Once a week I meet all the family, as alfo the white fervants; and once a week I meet my brother's children, also the Houfe-Negroes, and a Class of other Negroes befide. I perceive there will be vifiting work enough for me, when I am in town. Next week, if not this, perhaps I may preach at the Barracks. I thank Jefus Chrift I have my health better, and am ftronger in body, than I have been, I think, for fome years back. May the Lord strengthen you in body, and fill you with all joy in believing! O do not forget in private and public to pray for

Your unworthy Son in Chrift,

LETTER

FRANCIS GILBERT.

CCXLVII.

[From the Rev. Mr. B. Colley, to the Rev. Mr. Wefley.]

My dear Sir,

'TIS

Newcastle, July 18, 1763.

MS with comfort I now write to you. The bar, which Satan thruft in, God has burst asunder. You are near unto me; I can fympathize with you in your various afflictions. To reflect upon my former conduct, that added to the weight you endured, now pains me. Though you have forgiven me, I cannot forgive myfelf. I cannot bring into

words,

words, how I loath and abhor myfelf. O that you and I may ever be in this fpirit. I think if ever I had fcriptural experience, it is now. Indeed, the Lord gave me fuch bitter phyfic, that I thought it would have coft me my life; but it has wrought effectually. To his name be the glory.

I have continued to preach morning and evening, though often tempted to give over, through the cloudiness of my understanding, and my various, horrible conflicts within. I have for fome days found little else but temptations to blasphemy, and have thought, now the Lord will strike me dead upon the fpot, and fend me to hell; but though I did not fee it, he was with me in the fire. Though it was as much as I could endure, yet there was a way for me to escape. His hand fuftained me, and I am now (O for gratitude!) brought into the wealthy place.

I hope the love, which I have expreffed towards you, will neither hurt you, nor be idolatry in me. Indeed there is need of watching and prayer; fo various and fubtle are the devices of Satan.

I meet with fome precious fouls in the North: yea in every place that I come to. But I think in general they are a happier people in Yorkshire. Opinions seem to take place with many, more than love. Satan has not yet loft his cunning. When he has stolen away life, then he infuses predestination. Durham feems to be renowned for that dangerous principle. I keep off from contention, as much as poffible, both in preaching and converfation, and enforce Repentance, Faith, and Holiness both of heart and practice. This is the only way that I can find, to pull down the ftrong-holds of Satan. The Lord fill you with wisdom, and spiritual underflanding! This is the fervant prayer, of

Your Brother in the Gospel,

B. COLLEY.

POETRY.

POETRY.

THOUGHTS ON IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS,

Occafioned by reading the Rev. Mr. Hervey's Dialogue's between Theron and Afpafio. By Dr. Byrom.

PART IV.

HAT numèrous texts from Paul, from every faint,

WHA

Might furnish out citations, did we want?

And could not fee, that Righteousness, or Sin,

Arife not from without, but from within?
That imputation where they are not found,
Can reach no farther than an empty found:
No farther than imputed health can reach
The cure of fickness, though a man fhould preach
With all the eloquence of zeal and tell,
How health imputed makes a fick man well.
Indeed if fickness be imputed too,

Imputed remedy, no doubt may do;

Words may pour forth their entertaining store,
But things are juft-as things were just before.

In fo important a concern as that,
Which good Afpafio's care is pointed at;
A fmall mistake, which at the bottom lies,
May fap the building that fhall thence arife;
Who would not wish that Architect, fo fkilled,
On great mistakes might not perfift to build;
But ftrictly search, and for sufficient while,
If the foundation could fupport the pile?

This Imputation, which he builds upon,
Has been the fource of more mistakes than one:
Hence rofe, to pass the intermediate train

Of growing errors, and obferve the main,
That worse than pagan principle of fate,
Predeftination's partial love and hate;

By which, not tiéd like fancied Jove to look,
In stronger Destiny's decreeing book;
The God of Chriftians is supposed to will
That fome fhould come to good and fome to ill:
And for no reason, but to fhew in fine,
The extent of goodness, and of wrath divine,

Whose doctrine this? I quote no less a man,
Than the renowned Calvin for the plan;
Who having laboured, with distinction's vain,
Mere Imputation only to maintain ;

Maintains, when speaking on another head,
This horrid thought, to which the former led;
"Predeftination here I call," (fays he
Defining) "God's eternal, fixed decree;
"Which having settled in his Will, he past,
What every man should come to at the last;"
And left the terms fhould be conceived to bear
A meaning lefs, than he propofed, fevere;
"For all mankind (he adds to definition,)
Are not created on the fame condition;"
Pari conditione-is the phrafe,

If you can turn it any other ways;
"But life to fome, eternal, is restrained,

To fome, damnation endless pre-ordained."

ELEGY

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