M

V.

LETTERS TO A NIECE (HIS BROTHER'S DAUGHTER WHO HAD SPENT SOME TIME AT OLNEY.

"DEAR NIECE,

1787-1788.

"Chapel-street. January 27, 1787.

"I SUPPOSE my sister1 has received before this time a pretty long letter, which I sent a few days before we received the parcel. I was indeed too dilatory in answering; but I had many peculiar hindrances.

I was just at that time engaged about a sermon that I have lately published,2 which was occasioned by many unpleasant circumstances, and produced me considerable employment. Truth in all things, and especially in divine things, lies in the middle between the extremes; but either extreme may accommodate the pride and lusts of men. Therefore men are fond of extremes, and when a man is reduced from one, he is naturally prone (like the pendulum,) to vibrate as far into the other. Thus high churchmen sometimes vibrate into stiff dissenters, self-righteous pharisees into antinomians, and confident Arminians into rigid Calvinists. This is human nature. But true grace disposes a man to caution. Under the divine teaching, he trem

See above, p. 61.

On Election and Final Perseverance:" see Life, p. 233, 234. (240.)

bles at every step lest Satan should seduce him : he recedes from his principles in general gradually, and always with some degree of moderation: and values no notions further than he experiences their influence on his heart and conduct. Let this observation introduce my subject.

My lot has been for some time, in this contentious age, so to steer between the disputing parties, as to be obnoxious to both, and pleasing to neither. The churchmen dislike me because I condescend so far to the dissenters; and the dissenters are not pleased that I do not quit the church. But especially I am obnoxious (so far as my littleness is known,) to the self-righteous and Arminians, because I will preach the doctrines of grace; and to the supralapsarians and antinomians, because I oppose the abuse of those doctrines, and insist upon the necessity of holiness of heart, and fruitfulness in good works. For the whole truth is so opposite to the pride of man on the one hand, and to the love of the world on the other, that neither party can bear it. Man may be prevailed on to sacrifice his pleasure or his profit to his pride, or his pride to his love of pleasure; that is, one idol to another; but nothing except grace can make him sacrifice all of them to the Lord Jesus.-You know what effect my ministry produced at Olney: the same, in great measure, has been the effect in London. I seem to myself like the heavy axe among the carpenter's tools, which, when it has been employed in hewing one knotty block, must hew another and another to the end; and never is to be employed in any other work-being unfit for the

office of a plane or a chisel. I was aware of this, in some measure, when I came hither; but I deemed myself called in God's providence to this place: and therefore, at length, I accepted the proposal, though not without telling the governors my apprehensions. Notwithstanding the influence of party, and the prevalence of a superficial, notional, and erroneous religion, for some time I had more acceptance and less opposition than I expected: but, going on in my downright, plain, alarming, inviting, distinguishing, practical strain, a secret dislike was working in the minds of several: and, while the opposite party were watching their opportunity, some circumstances gave them the wished-for occasion: the cry of Arminianism was propagated: they who could not bear the practical preaching, for reasons too visible, laid hold of this clamour, and insinuated prejudices into the minds of numbers who could not judge for themselves; and almost suddenly my congregation was reduced to about half the number, and I verily thought I should have been driven from my post. At that crisis, having given previous notice, I penned, preached, and published a sermon entitled, The Doctrines, &c. It was very well received by the ministers and professors in general in town, and had some considerable influence in the congregation: but the occasion was too favourable, and too assiduously improved, and prejudices and suspicions had sunk too deep to be generally removed. The views I avowed concerning the sufficiency of the death of Christ 1

Life, p. 253 (260) and 646 (664); and below, letter to Dr. Ryland, dated Jan. 20, 1787.

revived the clamour; and many have withdrawn, and I am generally unpopular. However the governors are steadily my friends, and I have many others, and I am assured that I am useful; and the post is important: the cause I know is that of truth, of righteousness, and of God. Much attention is excited; and a successful testimony cannot fail of being extensively beneficial, and introductory to further usefulness: and, even though I should be driven out, if it be only for faithfulness and firmness, united with prudence and meekness, all must be well. But it is probable that I shall be able to maintain my post.― In the mean time, besides my congregation and occasional preaching, I visit when I please, and as I please, the patients; where I address five hundred or more, in the course of the year, of the most profligate characters in the kingdom, in my plain manner; and cannot but hope for good. When I have an opportunity I will send you some sermons, and another letter, which shall have another subject than self. Yet you will know how to draw benefit from this sub

ject. The power of godliness alone can profit us, or excite the opposition of Satan and the world. I can only add that we are all tolerably well, and join in love to you all, parents and children. Wishing and praying for every blessing to you,

"I am your affectionate friend and relation, "THOS. SCOTT."

"DEAR SUSAN,

"Chapel Street, June 21, 1787.

"I was in Bucks' when your letter arrived, and therefore did not see it till above a week after. Since my return I have had several engagements, and seem to have embraced the first leisure hour to write a line to you. As I have mentioned Bucks, I would just inform you that the seed I was so long sowing there was not all thrown away; nay, much seems now to be springing up, especially among the young people at Ravenstone. I trust the religious people there are of the right stamp; and that they are saying every one to his neighbour and to his brother, Come, let us go up unto the house of the Lord, that we may learn and walk in his ways: and religion seems to sink deeper into their hearts, appear more in their lives, spread more in their families; and I hope it will descend to their posterity. Multitudes appear inclined to hear plain practical preaching, and there seems a great preparation of heart for receiving the gospel. They have two young pious ministers; one at Ravenstone, a Mr. Bull, a relation of Mr. Bull of Newport, who learned his views of the gospel under my roof, at Olney; the other Mr. Postlethwaite, who succeeded me in the curacy of Olney......Very few have turned dissenters: but most of them have taken my advice, to keep together, and edify one another. They are all satisfied I did right in coming to town. The fire at Olney was very dreadful at the time, and one poor man lost his life instan