and his church service, if I had the preferment which I may verily hope for;-though I may justly fear, that by refusing this preferment which I sought for, I shall gain the reputation of weakness and levity, and incur their displeasure, whose good opinion, next to God's favour and my own good opinion of myself, I do esteem and desire above all things;— though all these, and many other terribiles visu formæ have represented themselves to my imagination, in the most hideous manner that may be,yet I am at length firmly and unmovedly resolved, if I can have no preferment without subscription, that I neither can nor will have any.

For this resolution I have but one reason against a thousand temptations to the contrary; but it is ev μɛya, against which, if all the little reasons in the world were put in the balance, they would be lighter than vanity. In proof, thus it is so long as I keep that modest and humble assurance of God's love and favour, which I now enjoy, and wherein I hope I shall be daily more and more confirmed, so long, in despite of all the world, I may, and shall, and will be happy. But if I once lose this, though all the world should conspire to make me happy, I shall and must be extremely miserable. Now this inestimable jewel, if I subscribe, (without such a declaration as will make the subscription no subscription,) I shall wittingly, and willingly, and deliberately throw

away.

Though I am very well persuaded of you and many other friends, who do so with a full persua

sion that you may do it lawfully, yet the case stands so with me, (and I can see no remedy but for ever it will do so,) that if I subscribe, I subscribe my own damnation.

I shall not need to entreat you not to be offended with me, for this my most honest, and as I verily believe, most wise resolution; hoping rather you will do your endeavour that I may neither be honest at so dear a rate, as the loss of preferment, nor buy preferment at so much dearer a rate-the loss of honesty.

I think myself happy that it pleased God, when I was resolved to venture upon a subscription, without a full assurance of the lawfulness of it, to cast in my way two impediments to divert me from accomplishing my resolution; for I profess unto you, since I entertained it, I have never enjoyed quiet day nor night, till now that I have rid myself of it again.

And I plainly perceive, that if I had swallowed this pill, howsoever gilded over with glosses and mental reservations, and wrapt up in conserves of good intentions and purposes, yet it would never have agreed nor staid with me; but I would have cast it up again, and with it whatsoever preferment I should have gained with it, as the wages of unrighteousness.

But however this would have succeeded, in case I had then subscribed, I thank God that I am now so resolved that I will never do that, while I am

living and in health, which I would not do if I were dying; and this I am sure I would not do. I would never do any thing for preferment, which I would not do but for preferment, and this I am sure I would not do. I will never so undervalue the happiness which God's love brings to me with it, as to put it to the last adventure in the world, for the gaining of any worldly happiness. I remember very well quærite primum regnum Dei, et cetera omnia adjicientur tibi, and profess, whenever I make such a preposterous choice, I will give you leave to think I am out of my wits, or do not believe in God, or, at least, am so unreasonable as to do any thing in hope I shall be sorry for it afterwards and wish it undone.

It cannot be avoided but my Lord of Canterbury must come to know this my resolution: I think the sooner the better.

Let me entreat you to acquaint him with it, if you think it expedient; and let me hear from you as soon as possibly you can. But when you write, I pray remember that my foregoing preferment (in this state wherein I am) is grief enough to me; and do not you add to it, by being angry with me for doing that which I must do or be miserable.

I am, your most loving and true servant,
WILLIAM CHILLINGWORTH.

LETTER LXXVII.

JOSEPH ADDISON, ESQ. to the HON. MAJOR DUNBAR, on his having offered, in return for an important piece of service, a bank-bill of three hundred guineas, and, on its being rejected, a diamond ring of the same value.

I find there is a very strong opposition formed against you, but I shall wait on my lord lieutenant this morning, and lay your case before him as advantageously as I can, if he is not engaged in other company. I am afraid what you say of his grace (') does not portend you any good.

And now, sir, believe me when I assure you, I never did, nor ever will, on any pretence whatsoever, take more than the customary and stated fees of my office. I might keep the contrary practice concealed from the world, (were I capable of it,) but I could not from myself; and I hope I shall always fear the reproaches of my own heart more than those of all mankind. In the meantime, if I can serve a gentleman of merit, and such a character as you bear in the world, the satisfaction I meet with on such an occasion, is always a sufficient, and the only reward to,

Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
J. ADDISON.

(1) Duke of Marlborough.

LETTER LXXVIII.

DR. DODDRIDGE's Letter to MRS. OWEN, proposing a marriage with her relation, Miss Maris.

HONOURED MADAM,

Northampton, Aug. 6, 1730.

I discovered so many charms in the person and conversation of the agreeable lady I saw at your house last week, (and whom I was so happy as to meet there more than once before,) that had I followed the impulse of a rising passion, I should immediately have offered her my services, and urged my suit with an importunity as earnest as the circumstances would permit.

I am, however, aware it is highly reasonable that her friends should be consulted in the first place; and that it is my own interest to address them, before repeated interviews have put me entirely in the power of that lovely creature, and rendered me incapable of those prudential considerations, which I owe to her happiness as well as to my

own.

I should have been glad to have met you at Worcester on this occasion; but I have been absent from home many weeks, and am just recommencing with my pupils, after a long vacation, so that I must deny myself that pleasure; and hope I shall not be blamed for a close attendance to those engagements which Providence has made my duty. I shall, however, allow myself to write with the utmost freedom, and depend upon your