Your worthy relative* was a workman that need not be ashamed. He knew how clearly to state, and solidly to establish the faith of God's elect, and the doctrine according to godliness. Oh that my heart, and the heart of every reader, may be opened by the eternal Spirit to receive the precious truths! The letter at the end of the first volume+ is a judicious performance. It rightly divides the word of truth, and lays the line with a masterly hand, between the presumptuous legalist and the licentious Antinomian. I am particularly pleased with the honourable testimony borne to those two excellent books, Dr Owen's Treatise on Justification, and Mr Marshall's Gospel Mystery of Sanctification;‡ books fit to be recommended by so good a judge. If the Lord pleases to give Theron and Aspasio any acceptance in Scotland, I shall be sincerely glad; but if he vouchsafes to make them not only welcome, but useful visitants, I shall exceedingly rejoice. In case you should think them calculated to promote the honour, and further the gospel of Jesus Christ, I hope you will favour them with your recommendation, and accompany them with your prayers; which * Mr Robert Traill was uncle to Mr John Traill. This letter is entitled, "A Vindication of the Protestant Doctrine concerning Justification, and of its Preachers and Professors, from the unjust charge of Antinomianism." "I think," says Mr Traill, "that Dr Owen's excellent book of Justification, and Mr Marshall's book of the Mystery of Sanctification by faith in Jesus Christ, are such vindications and confirmations of the Protestant doctrine, against which I fear no effectual opposition. Mr Marshall was a holy and retired person, and is only known to the most of us by his book lately published. The book is a deep, practi cal, well joined discourse, and requires a more than ordinary attention in reading of it with profit. And if it be singly used, I look upon it as one of the most useful books the world hath seen for many years. Its excellence is, that it leads the serious reader directly to Jesus Christ, and cuts the sinews, and overturns the foundation of the new divinity, by the same argument of gospel holiness by which many attempt to overturn the old. And as it hath already had the seal of high approbation by many judicious ministers and Christians that have read it, so I fear not but it will stand firm as a rock against all opposition, and will prove good seed, and food, and light to many hereafter. will be a fresh instance of kindness to, Sir, your obliged friend, and obedient servant, Weston-Favell, July 8. 1755. JAMES HERVEY. PROMISES To be Pasted at the beginning of a Bible. "God hath given us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature," 2 Pet. i. 4. Isa. xxix. 18. Jer. xxxi. 34. John xiv. 26. DIVINE TEACHING. The eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity. They shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them. The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things. Isa. lviii. 11. The Lord shall guide thee continually. PARDON. Isa. xliii. 25. I am he that blotteth out thy trans gressions. Isa. i. 18. Sins as scarlet, shall be as white as snow. 1 Pet. ii. 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. 1 John i. 7. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. JUSTIFICATION. Rom. viii. 33, 34. It is God that justifieth. Rom. iii. 21-24. Justified freely by his grace. Isa. xlv. 24, 25. In the Lord have I righteousness. 2 Cor. v. 21. We are made the righteousness of God in him. SANCTIFICATION. Ezek. xi. 19, 20. I will put a new spirit within you. Tit. ii. 14. Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity. Heb. viii. 10-12. I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts. 1 Thess. v. 23. The God of peace sanctify your whole spirit, and soul, and body. PROMISES. To be Pasted at the end of a Bible. TEMPORAL BLESSINGS. 1 Tim. iv. 8. Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is. Psalm xxxvii. 3. Verily thou shalt be fed. 1 Tim. vi. 17. Seek first the kingdom of God, and TEMPTATION. 1 Cor. x. 13. God will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able. 2 Cor. xii. 9. Rom. vi. 14. My grace is sufficient for thee. AFFLICTION. Job v. 17. Happy is the man whom God correcteth. Lam. iii. 32. Though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion. Psalm 1. 15. Call upon me in trouble; I will deliver thee. Rev. iii. 19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. 1 Cor. xv. 2 Cor. v. 1. John iii. 16. DEATH. 55-57. God giveth us the victory If our earthly house is dissolved, we Psalm xxiii. 4. Though I pass through death, I will fear no evil. CONCLUSION. "God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath," Heb. vi. 17. A LETTER TO RICHARD NASH, Esq. Late Master of the Ceremonies at Bath. * ISA. IV. 6." Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. SIR, THIS comes from your sincere friend, and one that has your best interest deeply at heart: it comes on a design altogether important, and of no less consequence than your everlasting happiness, so that it may justly challenge your careful regard. It is not to upbraid or reproach, much less to triumph and insult over your misconduct; no, it is pure benevolence, it is disinterested good-will prompts me to write; so that I hope I will not raise your resentment. However, be the issue what it will, I cannot * Mr Hervey is supposed to have written this letter when he was at Bath in the year 1743. It was found among Mr Nash's papers after his death, and an extract of it was inserted in an account of his death, published several years ago. For ought that appears, this man of pleasure despised the awful warning given by the benevolent Mr Hervey, and died as he had lived. bear to see you walk in the paths that lead to death, without warning you of your danger, without sounding in your ears the awful admonition, "Return and live; for why will you die?" I beg of you to consider whether you do not, in some measure, resemble those accursed children of Eli; whom, though they were famous in their generation, and men of renown, yet vengeance suffered not to live. For my part, Í may safely use the expostulation of the old priest; Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people: nay, my brother, for it is no good report I hear,-you make the Lord's people to transgress." I have long observed and pitied you; and a most melancholy spectacle I lately beheld, made me resolve to caution you, lest you also come into the same condemnation. I was, not long since, called to visit a poor gentleman, erewhile of the most robust body and gayest temper I ever knew; but when I visited him, oh! how was the glory departed from him! I found him no more that sprightly and vivacious son of joy which he used to be, but languishing, pining away, and withering under the chastising hand of God! his limbs feeble and trembling, his countenance forlorn and ghastly, and the little breath he had left sobbed out in sorrowful sighs! his body hastening apace to the dust, to lodge in the silent grave, the land of darkness and desolation; his soul just going to God who gave it, preparing itself to wing away to its long home, to enter upon an unchangeable and eternal state. When I was come up into his chamber, and had seated myself on his bed, he first cast a most wishful look upon me, and then began, as well as he was able, to speak. "Oh that I had been wise, that I had known this; that I had considered my latter end! Ah! Mr Hervey, death is knocking at my doors; in a few hours more I shall draw my last and then judgment, the tremendous judgment! How shall I appear, unprepared as I am, before the allknowing and omnipotent God! how shall I endure gasp, |