burns, melts, and reduces the natural man to nothing. I thank you for teaching me, that Faith is the golden mean which communicates the life of God to the foul of man. O Lord, increase iny faith! That God may bless you, Rev. Sir, is the carneft prayer of, T. J. [From Mr. A. M. to the Rev. Mr. Wesley,] Rev. Sir, Sligo, April 14, 1767. Am glad to hear that the Gospel is attended with fo great fuccefs, particularly in the North, where they have been fcripture-proof for a confiderable time. Brother Levick has been in this Circuit for half a year, and the bleffing of God feems to attend his labours. Several of the army here, and a few of the town's people are awakened; fome of whom are lately come to the experimental knowledge of the Truth. As for my part, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Chrift; for I know it is the power of God to falvation, to every one that believeth." Yet I labour under fome inward difficulties with respect to my conduct. In a conflict fome time ago, thofe words, "There is none pleadeth for the truth," laid hold on me as I was reading them, as if they had been applied to Sligo. Notwithstanding Providence fmiles on me, with regard to the world, yet God determines my choice, “Rather to be a door-keeper in his houfe, than to dwell in the tents of fin; for I dare not once think of turning his benefits into weapons of rebellion against himself. The hearts of my Wife, little Nelly, and myself, are open for you, as well as our house, and I believe that the hearts of the whole Society are glad to hear of your coming. It is near a twelvemonth fince I joined it. I am, Rev. Sir, your unworthy, but affectionate Brother, A. M. LETTER LETTER CCCXI. [An Extract from one of Admiral T-Il's Letters, to Nathaniel Gilbert, Efq;] SINCE June 25, 1765. INCE Wednesday I have been deeply fenfible of the divine presence; and if I am not deceived, have met you in fpirit each morning fince Tuesday, between the hours of five and fix, in prayer. Such fpiritual communications among Chrift's flock, I am informed are not unfrequent. May the divine bounty vouchfafe to communicate fuch a communion to us, as is moft conducive to his honour and glory, and the restoration of his holy Spirit to our lapfed souls, through the ineftimable merits of our Redeemer, Jefus Chrift! Amen. POETRY. On the Death of Dr. MIDDLETON, an eminent Phyfician in Bristol, who died Dec. 16, 1760. G LORY to the Redeemer give, The glory of a foul brought home! Is to the eternal garner come : Like a ripe fhock of corn laid up, In feafon due, for God mature; He kept the Faith, held faft his Hope, And made his crown through fufferings fure. Let infidels and heathens mourn, Hopeless to fee their dead reftored; We feel him from our bofom torn, But calmly fay,—It is the Lord! Whom God had to the afflicted givèn; He justly afks his own again, And takes to his reward in heaven. Let Let us the fhining path pursue, And boldly owned he feared a God. O where shall we his equal find! The father good, the friend fincere: Yet in no narrow bounds confinéd, Rendered to all the love it owed: Covered with honourable fhame, He marked the poor afflicted FEW, In life and death to Jefus true: Not Not biaffed by a party-zeal, ..... A fervant of falvation's heirs, He asked no payment-but their prayers. In part, before he reached the sky,' He miffed that witness from above; And not in sweet forgiving love. Dan The God unknown his fervant, knew, And withered all his virtuous pride: He comes the finner's Friend to meet; By Grace fubdued, and taught to bow, "A leper poor at Jefu's feet." While weeping there the finner lay, A funder fawn with hopes and fears, The righteousness of seventy years! Nor yet the peaceful answer came; His fpirit to the utmost triéd, Muft fuffer all its guilty fhame, Condemned, and fcourged, and crucified, Dr. ARBUTHNOT's Character verfified. OUR praife, thy wit and learning juftly claim; But more important worth endears thy name, You cautioned Pope against the wiles of man- Let not the Chriflian's fteps be led aftray, That Creed (a ftranger to ignoble fear) You owned, though Chesterfield flood by to sneer; Paffing, you gave your God the breath he lent, } |