such distinctions among persons who appear, as humble penitents, to rely on the merits and atonement of the divine Saviour, and to desire to live according to his will, and to his glory, I pay but little regard to them. I believe there are many things unscriptural among us all; that is either defective, redundant, or erroneous: but human nature is very fallible; ten thousand circumstances produce prejudices, which, warp the judgment; and the Lord seems to illuminate his people but in part. There must therefore be differences of opinion: these our corrupt passions will magnify into matters of importance, and urge us tenaciously and vehemently to contend about them: the enemy will stir up these passions, to disgrace and weaken the common cause, and to take men off from such endeavours as tend to subvert his kingdom; and by his influence, together with the deceitfulness of our hearts, we are readily persuaded to think we are zealous for the Lord God of hosts, and doing him service, while we are thus gratifying our pride or malignity.—I do not consider these things (in which we differ) as immaterial; for there is right and wrong, truth and falsehood in every thing; and they have always some effect on the heart and conduct: but, when we are satisfied in our minds, as far as circumstances will admit, that we are in the place, and worshipping after the manner, that it is the will of God we should, we are not vainly to imagine that we can do much more; or that we can remove rocks and mountains ;-for it would be no less a work if we could bring the state of the church, even in our own neighbour

hood, from what ages have confirmed, to what we think right: and, at last, we are as liable to be prejudiced and to mistake as other men. I have not met with any society or denomination of Christians, with whom I should agree in every thing: but, all things considered, I have deemed it my duty to abide where the Lord first found me, in that respect. I never could find liberty to join any other body: and I felt no temptation to attempt another division of the church. I am not called upon to do any thing contrary to my conscience and, if I were, the path is plain-give up the advantage, and bear the loss or cross; then conscience may be followed. Nor do I deem myself answerable for the sins of others belonging to the same corps.-If the different sects of Christians, among whom the truths of the gospel are maintained, would but consider themselves as different regiments in the same army; and stand up, as it were, for the honour of their particular regiment, (only) by endeavouring to outdo others in promoting the spread of true religion; and thus fighting against the common enemy: the divisions might be overruled for good. But, alas! too many say, We saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us; and, while they frown upon, instead of forwarding, and praying for success to, every endeavour to disseminate truth in a dark world; they prejudice and harden the minds of worldly people by their eager, not to say fierce, contests with each other: and, having thus caused their zeal to evaporate, they remain indifferent and lukewarm about the common cause.-But there are some

symptoms of a better spirit in this country; and that, connected with steadiness in the principles held. The Antipedobaptist missions are supported liberally by many Pedobaptists, both dissenters and churchmen: and other plans of a similar nature are set on foot. As far as we can, we should assist all such undertakings, if they seem to originate from good motives, and to be conducted in the fear of God: and we should pray for success to them all, if we can do nothing more. The world is wide: perhaps not one fourth of mankind profess Christianity; and, alas! perhaps not one in a hundred of those called Christians are really such. Let us enlarge our views, desires, and prayers beyond the limits of a sect or party; according to the extensive meaning of the first clauses of the Lord's prayer.

"I have let my pen run on upon this subject, so that I have no room for another. But the deceiving of souls may be compared to the picking of pockets. He who is much afraid of having his pocket picked will generally take such precautions as will prevent it: so will he who is much afraid of being deceived; especially the means used by David, Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24.

“I remain, with best wishes and prayers, your sincerely affectionate friend and servant, "THOMAS SCOTT."

"DEAR SIR,

"Chapel Street, March 17, 1796.

"I HAVE been so peculiarly engaged in writing for the volume of sermons which I am printing, that I have been almost constrained to

put off my correspondents, in order that I might not hinder the printer. Upon the whole my health is better than when I wrote last: but I am not generally very well; and I find that too close application to writing hurts me more than any other exertion. I have however as good health, taking one time with another, as I have had for many years; and as good as I ought to have-far better than I have any right to. I know also that I shall live as long as the Lord has any work for me to do: and I need not desire to live longer.

".... If If any of your friends should wish to have the Bible, I would rather favour them, by foregoing my usual profit: that is, if their circumstances require it: for somebody must maintain authors, as well as printers. You must not speak of this therefore to wealthy persons.

"I am afraid that, having no peculiar subject on which to write, my letter will be far too dear of postage: yet silence would not so emphatically express a desire of hearing concerning your welfare, and of dropping any hints that I can of an useful nature. With much difficulty I have got a little before the printer, and am owning, if not paying, my debts to my correspondents; and I was not satisfied to leave you out: for, if I say little at present, your answer may make way for something rather more to the purpose another time.

"Your account of the state of religion in Scotand, though rather discouraging, gives me the idea that far more regard has been, and even still is, there paid to the gospel than in England.

Some years ago..... it might almost be said that the whole was here sunk into formality and selfrighteousness....... The irregular and desultory, yet zealous and honest labours of Mr. Whitefield and his coadjutors produced great effects; and since he went forth there has been a great revival in the established church. Nor were the labours of Mr. Wesley and his helpers without much fruit. Yet a great deduction must be made. A flashy, superficial, and immethodical style of preaching was rendered fashionable: gradually a view of the gospel rather tending to antinomianism was introduced by the successors of the ministers that have been mentioned-that is, of Mr. Whitefield and Co. An experience which admits of a great mixture of enthusiasm, and opens the door to delusion, was sanctioned: a bad taste, so to speak, was propagated: and the eminence of the men who set the example gave currency to these things; which became far worse in the hands of men in all respects their inferiors. In the church of England, among those who are reputed to preach the gospel, many do comparatively little.

...There are, however, a considerable number of able, solid, and zealous men; and the expensive encouragement given by some superior people to the education of pious young men, of good abilities, for the ministry, presents the most pleasant prospect that the state of things affords. But, alas! our superiors in the church either oppose the most unexceptionable men who preach according to the articles and liturgy, or are afraid to countenance them...... Among the numerous