had, at the time, no idea of any source from which this additional supply was to be derived: but, in the afternoon of the same day, when I was visiting my people, Mr. Higgins, jun. called at my house and left a paper, which he said when I had filled up the blanks, would entitle me to 101. from a sum of money left for the relief of poor clergymen. This I never received at any other time, nor can I recollect the source from which it came."

The remarks which I would make upon this incident are the following: That, whatever may be thought of it, the fact no doubt happened as here related: ́that my father was by no means disposed to expect extraordinary interpositions of providence, or to make a display of them when they appeared to take place: that it is by no means uncommon for good men, of the most sober minds, circumstanced as he was, to meet with such occurrences; which form one, among many means, of rendering their scanty supplies a source of greater enjoyment, than the more ample provision of their richer brethren frequently proves: and, finally, that I believe every careful observer will find remarkable coincidences in the course of events, which he will feel it right to note, as subjects of grateful remembrance to himself, whether he deem it proper to communicate them to others or not.-"Whoso is wise will ponder these things: and they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord."

"About this time," he proceeds, "I began, with great caution, to administer medical assistance to a few of my poor neighbors, and Mr. (now Dr.) Kerr, of Northampton,* be stowed some pains in directing my proceedings: for he felt, as I have always done, that the poor in country villages are under great and pitiable disadvantages in this respect, which no humanity of their neighbors, without medical skill, can prevent. I had before paid some attention to the study of medicine; and now, having so eminently skilful an adviser ready to give me counsel and aid, I made progress; and, being always cautious not to act beyond my knowledge, I had great success at small expence. It may not be impertinent to remark, that, from that time to the present, I have constantly had medical advice for myself and my family gratis; and my annual charge for medicines, including those dis

Still practising there in the full enjoyment of his powers, though many years older than my father.

tributed to the poor, has been less, on an average, than my apothecary's bill used previously to be.

"Concerning the progress of my mind at this time, in its religious inquiries, I need not add to what I have written in the 'Force of Truth." "

From that narrative we may observe, that this year, 1777, was marked as bringing his religious inquiries to a decisive result, and giving somewhat of mature form to his scheme of doctrine. In the course of it his views were cleared up, and his sentiments established, successively, upon the doctrines of the atonement, human depravity, the Trinity, justification, the work of the Holy Spirit, and finally, on that of personal election. Now also he was enabled, after many conflicts with himself, to make his last and most trying sacrifice, that of reputation; and calmly, yea, cheerfully, to submit to "suffer reproach," and to be accounted, "a fool for Christ's sake." From about the close of this year, he began with profit to hear Mr. Newton preach; and, being established in the belief of the great truths of the gospel, to cherish their proper influence upon his own heart and life.

Some further extracts from an interesting letter to his elder sister, of the 15th of April in this year, parts of which have been already inserted, may bear both on the facts just related and on those which are next to follow.

"It is an uncommon degree of fortitude to be able to set one's face against the world, and to act contrary to its received maxims and customs. The soldier, who is bold as a lion in the day of battle, turns coward here, and dares not refuse a challenge, though his reason, his religion, the laws of the land, and his own inclination, are all directly contrary to it: though his life and soul are at stake. Such a tyrant is custom! Who dare oppose him? I will tell you who: the confirmed Christian. Who is he that overcometh the world? Even he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. And this is the victory, even our faith. These are the only men who ever dare to obey God rather than man, where the two are in direct opposition. But it is not every Christian, no, nor every good and pious Christian, who can thus courageously act, and undauntedly follow the dictates of conscience, when friends, relations, and all those whom one has been used to reverence and love, are of a contrary opinion; especially if the case be dubious, and much may be said on both sides. This is the last victory the Christian

gains. He will master, by that grace which is given of God, his own lusts and passions, and all manner of inward and outward temptations; he will be dead to the interest, pleasures, and diversions of the world; and his affections will be earnestly set upon things above; long before he has mastered this fear of men. . . . . Here I find my own deficiency, as much or more than in any other respect: and often I feel an inward timidity, when about to preach an unpopular doctrine, or expose a foible which some one of my congregation, whom I otherwise love and esteem, is remarkable for: and in every instance I feel the greatest reluctancy to resign the good opinion, or act contrary to the judgment of those for whom I have an esteem. It is true I am peculiarly bound to strive against this, by reason of my ministerial office. I am to speak boldly, not as a man-pleaser, but as the servant of God: and therefore I endeavor to master all these fears, and to act implicitly as my conscience suggests, without respect of persons. Conformity to others in things unchristian, the fear of men, a servile spirit of time-serving, &c. are the faults of ministers, and effectually hinder even those who desire it, from performing the most important parts of their ministry, both in public preaching, and by private application. But this kind of spirit goeth not out but by a very spiritual and devout course of life. Indeed its expulsion is the gift of God, and is to be specially sought for from him.... To betray the more important, in order to secure the lesser interest, is a thing I could not do; and I have too great an opinion of your sincerity in your profession as a Christian, to think you would wish it. But perfection is not attainable here; and, had we nothing else to trust to for acceptance with God, but our own imperfect righteousness, we should have little to support us, and should have a strong temptation to despair, as soon as ever we became acquainted with the strictness of God's law, and our own transgressions of it, daily and hourly repeated. But, thank God, the wound is. no sooner given, than the remedy is applied; our self-dependence is no sooner undermined, than we are supplied with a more sure ground of dependence, even the merits and sufferings of our crucified Redeemer.-May you and I, and all ours, have, by true, lively, humble faith, an interest in him!"

The next occurrence, recorded in the memoir, marks the faithfulness with which my father was now discharging the duties of his ministry, not only in the congregation, but

towards his parishoners individually; and the success of an attempt, which could not be made but at a considerable expence of feeling, may encourage others not to decline such

services.

I

"In the summer of this year (1777) Mr. Higgins who was formerly mentioned, returned from London in a very bad state of health, and I soon found that his disorder was dropsy; the symptoms of which afforded no hopes of his recovery, or long continuance in life: yet no one gave him the least intimation of his danger. I could not consider him as in a decidedly prepared state: nay, I greatly doubted his experimental acquaintance with religion. He was my superior and benefactor. He was old, and I was young. knew not how to act: but I could have no peace without attempting something. After much consideration and prayer, therefore, I wrote to him, in the kindest and most grateful manner I could; but plainly informing him what the physicians thought of his disease, and not obscurely intimating my fears in respect of his immortal soul. I was greatly afraid that some of the family would be offended at this proceeding, especially if he himself should not take it well. But he expressed great approbation and thankfulness; and I was requested to visit him daily as a minister: which I did, conversing very plainly with him, and always concluding with prayer. He heard me attentively; was at times affected; and always seemed pleased with my assiduity, though he spoke little. His end proved to be nearer than any one expected, and he expired suddenly in his chair, without saying any thing particular. I however had done my duty: I trust my endeavors were made useful to his widow; and certainly I lost no favor by my honesty-which is not, in such cases, by any means so perilous as we are often apt to suppose it.-I was also desired to write an inscription for his monument, which was, to me, a very difficult task; but I was enabled to execute it to the satisfaction of the parties concerned.

"In the former part of my life I had been exceedingly fond of cards. Indeed I shewed a propensity to gaming, from which many bad consequences had been foreboded: but ill success on one occasion, long before I attended to religion, had rescued me from this; and, at the time of which I am now writing, I had lost all my relish for the diversion of cards, and every other of a similar nature. I, however, occasionally joined in a game, from an idea that

too great preciseness might prejudice my neighbors: and I was then of opinion, that there was no harm in the practice, though it seemed a frivolous way of spending time. I felt it also a very awkward transition to remove the cardtable, and introduce the Bible and family worship; though I never omitted this service at home, and commonly proposed it in my visits. My fetters were, however, broken effectually, and at once, about January 1778, in the following manner. Being on a visit to one of my parishoners at Ravenstone, I walked out after dinner, as was my common practice on such occasions, to visit some of my poor people; when one of them (the first person, as far as I know, to whom my ministry had been made decidedly useful,) said to me, 'I have something which I wish to say to you, but I am afraid you may be offended.' I answered, that I could not promise, but I hoped I should not. She then said, 'You know A. B.: he has lately appeared attentive to religion, and has spoken to me concerning the sacrament: but last night, he, with C. D. and some others, met to keep Christmas; and they played at cards, drank too much, and in the end quarrelled, and raised a sort of riot. And when I remonstrated with him on his conduct, as inconsistent with his professed attention to religion, his answer was, There is no harm in cards: Mr. Scott plays at cards!'-This smote me to the heart. I saw that, if I played at cards, however soberly and quietly, the people would be encouraged by my example to go further: and, if St. Paul would eat no flesh while the world stood, rather than cause his weak brother to offend, it would be inexcusable in me to throw such a stumbling-block in the way of my parishoners, in a matter certainly neither needful nor expedient. So far from being offended at the hint thus given me, I felt very thankful to my faithful monitor, and promised her that she should never have occasion to repeat the admonition. That very evening I related the whole matter to the company, and declared my fixed resolution never to play at cards again. I expected that I should be harassed with solicitations; but I was never asked to play afterwards. Let me therefore from my own experience, as well as from the reason of the case, urge persons from their first entrance upon a religious course, when asked to do any thing which they disapprove, fairly to state their disapprobation as a point of conscience. For not only is this most becoming those in whom there is no guile, but it is also by far the most prudent proceeding. If they as