the furtherance of the gospel, and to diffuse more widely, than my preaching extends, those views of Christianity, which I have delivered and you received in your neighbourhood. . . . . I have nothing to add to the exhortations I have so often given, but my prayers that you may abound more and more. The notion of religion goes down very well, but the devil and the world hate the power of it: therefore we ought to love it. Give my love to all your family, and to all the dear people, along with the sermons."

"January 25, 1787. We thank you for your present and your letter. The former was acceptable, the latter more so; for it reminded me of former times, and revived the assurance, that, however the doctrine I deliver may be reviled and slighted, it is indisputa ́bly that doctrine, which is the power of God unto salvation; as the lives of many in your neighbourhood do testify. If I should exhort you all to go forward, and abound more and more in every good word and work; I doubt not that you would in rèturn exhort and incite me to do the same; and, notwithstanding all opposition, and regardless of all consequences, to preach to all around the same truths which you have heard, received, feel, shew the effects of, and rejoice in. I trust the Lord will enable us all thus to do. But it is grievous to think to what a degree the blessed gospel is abused and corrupted, where it is not openly opposed or neglected; and what numbers are willing to hear a part of the truth, who will not hear the whole of it. The time is lamentably come, when numbers will not endure sound doctrine, but turn away their ears from the truth, and are turned unto fables. However, I have reason

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to think, that neither my preaching nor publishing shall be in vain. We have numbers of such professors as Olney abounds with: but we have a remnant of another sort; and I trust they are increasing even at the Lock. The post is very difficult and precarious, but I trust that it will all issue well. I have need of much prudence, patience, meekness, and courage; and therefore you have need to pray much for me."-He adds, that he had "written a letter to the people," on a particular subject.

"June 28, 1787. My journey (into Buckinghamshire) was very encouraging and establishing to myself, and I hope to others also. I pray God the seed sown may spring up abundantly, and appear evidently in the lives of believers, and in the conversion of sinners. But, when I got home, I began again to struggle with my difficulties, and seem to have got into another world, amongst another species of creatures; religion seems such a different thing amongst them. Yet I cannot but hope that, in process of time, the same effects will follow as have in your neighbourhood. But I am often discouraged, and ready to think I shall never be able to keep my post, or do any good in it. Then again I am encouraged: and all this is to teach me, that the help that is done on earth, the Lord doeth it himself. Upon the whole, every thing concurs to satisfy me that I am in my proper place, and doing my Master's work, and preaching the truth of God, (though often with much mixture of human infirmity ;) and that it is exceedingly wanted here, and that nothing else can rectify the disorders which prevail: and therefore, if this doctrine cannot obtain a hearing, or doth not

produce an effect, true religion must be extinguished in the congregation. But indeed London is such a mass of wickedness, and even religion is here such a superficial slight matter, so very yielding and worldly, that every thing I see and hear, as well as what I feel, is grievous. When I look into the Bible, and view the religion therein contained, it is so pure, so beautiful, so divine, that I long to see its counterpart on earth: but, when I look for it in this and the other church, or denomination of Christians, I seem to find nothing like it; but its opposite: hatred instead of love, pride instead of humility, contention instead of peace, worldly-mindedness instead of heavenly affections, and dissimulation instead of sincerity. Yet there is even at this time a remnant according to the election of grace, and many more than the eye of man can discover. God saw seven thousand in Israel, where Elijah could not find one. This is a consolation; as is also that promise to those who sigh and mourn over prevailing abominations, though they cannot cure them. And, if there are so few true Christians, what thanks are due to the Lord if we are such, who are by nature no better than others! What diligence in making our calling and election sure; what activity in doing good; and what patience in tribulation, rejoicing in hope, and fervency in prayer; ought we not to aim at! And how welcome will a world of perfect purity and love be at last!.... We shall be happy to see you when convenient. Mrs. S. joins me in love to you all. My love to every branch of your family: the Lord make them all branches of his family! My love to all the people and inquiring friends. Tell them to love one another,

and pray for themselves and each other, and for me. With sincere affection and prayers for you,

I remain your friend and servant, T. SCOTT." The following belong to a later period, but they may be introduced here to finish at once my extracts from this series of letters.

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April 7, 1788, he proposes to send "one or two" out of his twenty-five copies of his Bible for the perusal of the poorer people, who cannot afford to purchase it. September 9, 1794. I am too much engaged in discharging the large debt, in which Mr. R.'s failure has involved me, to be able to send money (as I otherwise meant to have done,) to help my poor brethren, or rather children, in Ravenstone and the neighbouring places: but, having finished my Essays, I have sent twelve copies to be sold, and the money given away.... Should they speedily go off, I shall be glad hereafter to follow them with a similar present; wishing that I had it in my power to show my sincere affection in a more effectual way.... I beg all who regard my opinion to do nothing hastily, or without much previous prayer; not to listen to those persons, who will probably attempt to make divisions or proselytes, pretending zeal for some important doctrines; and to endeavour, as much as possible, to keep united as one body, waiting to see what the event may be of these changes; which perhaps cannot at present be well known."

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July 2, 1795. The very high price of bread and other provisions continually reminds me of my poor people at Ravenstone, &c. in respect of their temporal provision. I have not indeed much in my power, but the Lord gives me plenty of things neces

sary; and I think it my duty, at such a time as this, rather to exceed ordinary rules in helping others, especially the household of faith and none have so good claim on me, as those whom I look on as my children in the gospel, and who I trust will be my crown of rejoicing in the day of Christ."-He sends three guineas, and proceeds: "I wish I could do any thing more effectual to relieve the pressing necessities of a people ever dear to my heart: but I hope they will trust in the Lord both for temporal and spiritual things, and that more entirely in times of trouble. I recommend the sixty-second psalm to their consi→ deration at this time, and the thirty-seventh. Give my love to them all."

"February 14, 1799. As the Lord hath in pecu→ niary matters been very kind to me, in an emergency when I was led to expect great difficulties, I think it my duty to make some acknowledgement, by contributing a little to the relief of such of my brethren as are in poor circumstances." He sends therefore two guineas....." My heart is very much with you, and I do not always forget to pray for you all: but, in this and all other good things, I am too apt to be negligent."

One more series of letters, from which I shall give a few extracts in this place, presents my father in an interesting connexion with the British and Foreign Bible Society: not indeed with its actual formation, (which was many years posterior to this time,) but with the preceding events which led the way to it. As the historian of that society remarks, "The primary occasion of all those measures, out of which