fects of a wanton, loose, and indiscreet spirit: possess their fancies with holy affections; be thou the covering of their eyes, and the great object of their hopes, and all their desires. Blessed Lord, thou disposest all things sweetly by thy providence, thou guidest them excellently by thy wisdom, thou unitest all circumstances and changes wonderfully by thy power, and by thy power makest all things work for the good of thy servants; be pleased so to dispose my daughters, that if thou shouldest call them to the state of a married life, they may not dishonour their family, nor grieve their parents, nor displease thee; but that thou wilt so dispose of their persons, and the accidents and circumstances of that state, that it. may be a state of holiness to the Lord, and blessing to thy servants. And until thy wisdom shall know it fit to bring things so to pass, let them live with all purity, spending their time religiously and usefully. O most blessed Lord, enable their dear father with proportionable abilities and opportunities of doing his duty and charities towards them, and them with great obedience and duty towards him, and all of us with a love towards thee above all things in the world, that our portion may be in love and in thy blessings, through Jesus Christ, our dearest Lord, and most gracious Redeemer.

IV.

O my God, pardon thy servant, pity my infirmities, hear the passionate desires of thy humble servant; in thee alone is my trust, my heart and all my wishes are towards thee. Thou hast commanded me to pray to thee in all needs, thou hast made gracious promises to hear and accept me; and I will never leave importuning thy glorious Majesty, humbly, passionately, confidently, till thou hast heard and accepted the prayer of thy servant. Amen, dearest Lord; for thy mercy's sake hear thy servant. Amen.

TO THE

RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,

JOHN WARNER, D. D.

LATE LORD BISHOP OF ROCHESTER.

MY LORD,

I NOW See cause to wish that I had given to your Lordship the trouble of reading my papers of "Original Sin," before their publication; for though I have said all that which I found material in the question, yet I perceive that it had been fitting I had spoken some things less material, so to prevent the apprehensions that some have of this doctrine, that it is of a sense differing from the usual expressions of the church of England. However, my Lord, since your Lordship is pleased to be careful not only of truth, and God's glory, but desirous also that even all of us should speak the same thing, and understand each other without jealousies, or severer censures, I have now obeyed your counsel, and done all my part towards the asserting the truth, and securing charity and unity professing with all truth and ingenuity, that I would rather die than either willingly give occasion or countenance to a schism in the church of England; and I would suffer much evil before I

would displease my dear brethren in the service of Jesus, and in the ministries of the church. But as I have not given just cause of offence to any, so I pray that they may not be offended unjustly, lest the fault lie on them, whose persons I so much love, and whose eternal interest I do so much desire may be secured and advanced.

Now, my Lord, I had thought I had been secured in the article, not only for the truth of the doctrine, but for the advantages and comforts it brings. I was confident they would not, because there was no cause any men should be angry at it; for it is strange to me that any man should desire to believe God to be more severe and less gentle: that men should be greedy to find out inevitable ways of being damned, that they should be unwilling to have the veil drawn away from the face of God's goodness, and that they should desire to see an angry countenance; and be displeased at the glad tidings of the Gospel of peace; it is strange to me that men should desire to believe that their pretty babes, which are strangled at the gates of the womb or die before baptism, should, for aught they know, die eternally and be damned, and that themselves should consent to it, and to them that invent reasons to make it seem just; they might have had not only pretences but reasons to be trou̟bled, if I had represented God to be so great a hater of mankind, as to damn millions of millions for that which they could not help, or if I had taught that

their infants might by chance have gone to hell, and as soon as ever they came for life, descend to an eternal death; if I had told them evil things of God, and hard measures, and evil portions to their children, they might have complained; but to complain because I say God is just to all, and merciful and just to infants; to fret and be peevish because I tell them, that nothing but good things are to be expected from our good God, is a thing that may well be wondered at. My Lord, I take a great comfort in this, that my doctrine stands on that side, where God's justice and goodness and mercy stand apparently: and they that speak otherwise in this article, are forced by convulsions and violences to draw their doctrine to comply with God's justice and the reputation of his most glorious attributes. And after, great and laborious devices, they must needs do it pitifully and jejunely: but I will prejudice no man's opinion; I only will defend my own, because in so doing I have the honour to be an advocate for God, who will defend and accept me, in the simplicity and innocency of my purposes, and the profession of his truth.

Now, my Lord, I find that some believe this doctrine ought not now to have been published: others think it not true. The first are the wise and few: the others are the many who have been taught otherwise, and either have not leisure or abilities to make right judgments in the question. Concerning the first I have given what accounts I could, to that ex

cellent man the Lord Bishop of Sarum, who, out of his great piety and prudence and his great kindness to me, was pleased to call for accounts of me. Concerning the other, your Lordship, in great humility, and in great tenderness to those who are not persuaded of the truth of this doctrine, hath called upon me to give all those just measures of satisfaction, which I could be obliged to, by the interest of any; Christian virtue. In obedience to this pious care and prudent counsel of your Lordship, I have published these ensuing papers, hoping that God will bless them to the purposes whither they are designed: however, I have done all that I could, and all that I am commanded, and all that I was counselled to. And as I submit all to God's blessing, and the events of his providence and economy; so my doctrine I humbly submit to my holy mother the church of England, and rejoice in any circumstances by which I can testify my duty to her, and my obedience to your Lordship.