facilitating and fitting it to our language, in which I am not so strict as I was in the Scripture. Some things which are fitted for English people are not fitted for them, and in such cases I make bold to fit it for them. But I do little that way, knowing how much beneath wisdom it is to show a man's self witty, in mending another man's work. When this work is done, if the Lord shall please to prolong my life, I am meditating of translating some other book which may prescribe to them the way and manner of a Christian life and conversation, in their daily course; and how to worship God on the sabbath, fasting, feasting-days, and in all acts of worship, public, private, and secret; and for this purpose I have thoughts of translating the "Practice of Piety," or some other such book, in which case I request your advice to me; for if the Lord give opportunity, I may hear from you before I shall be ready to begin a new work, especially because the Psalms of David in metre, in their language, are going to the press, which will be some diversion of me from a present attention on these other proposed works.

I rejoice to see and taste the wonderful gracious savour of God's Spirit among his saints, in their humble retirements. Oh! how sweet is the trodden camomile! How precious and powerful is the ministry of the cross! It is a drier time with us who are making after compliances with the stream. Sir, I beseech you, let us have a share in your holy prayers, in your holy retirements, in your blessed chambers, when the Lord shuts the

door, and is yet among you himself, and maketh your hearts to burn by the power of his presence. Thus commending you and all your holy labours to the Lord, and to the word of his grace, I rest, your unworthy fellow-labourer in the Lord's vineyard,

JOHN ELIOT.

LETTER CIV.

COLONEL GARDENER to DR. DODdridge.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

Ghent, Oct. 6, 1742.

I am favoured with your very welcome letter of the third instant, for which I return you my hearty thanks. It has been matter of great praise to me upon a double account; first, that Mrs. Doddridge is in so good a way of recovery; and also, that our gracious God vouchsafes to give you such manifestations of his favour and loving kindness. As for me, I am in a dry and barren land, where no living water" is. Rivers of tears run down mine eyes, because nothing is to be heard in our Babel but blaspheming the name of my God! and I am not honoured as the instrument of doing any great service. It is true, I have reformed six or seven field-officers from swearing. I dine every day with them, and have entered them into a voluntary contract, to pay a shilling to the poor for every oath; and it is wonderful to observe the effect it has had already. One of them told me this

day at dinner, that it had really such an influence upon him, that being at cards last night where another officer fell a swearing, he was not able to bear it, but rose up and left the company: the first time, I dare answer for it, that it ever happened to him. So you see, although the first principle they acted from was but a very poor one, viz. the fear of paying their money, yet it pleases God to make use of it as an instrument to bring them to think seriously, and show them the horrid nature of that sin in particular, and may, at last, that of every other sin.

I received, some days ago, a letter from Mr. Whitfield: the accounts I have had of that man, both when in England and since I came here, have ravished my soul. If my heart deceives me not, I would rather be the persecuted, despised Whitfield, to be an instrument in the hand of the Spirit, for converting so many souls, and building up others in their most holy faith, than to be emperor of the whole world.

My dear friend, I wrote to you, that I was in hopes of having the pleasure of seeing you this winter, and to be sure it would have been a great one to me; but we poor mortals form projects, and the Almighty Ruler of the universe disposes of all as he pleases. A great many of us were getting ready for our return to England, when, to the great surprise of the whole army, my Lord Stair not excepted, we received an order to march towards Frankfort; neither can any of us comprehend what we are to do there, for there is no enemy in that country, the French army being

marched into Bavaria, where I am sure we cannot follow them. But it is the will of the Lord; and his will be done! I desire to bless and praise my heavenly Father, that I am entirely resigned to it. It is no matter where I go, or what becomes of me, so that God may be glorified in my life, or my death. I should rejoice much to hear that all my friends were equally resigned. I think you have undertaken a noble work, and I hope our gracious God will give you the wished-for success. Pray remember me kindly to Mrs. Doddridge, and to all those with you that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and particularly to Mary Wills. How much do I stand in need of your prayers. I hope God will bless you, and yours, more and more. My dearest friend, I am always, with the greatest sincerity, Your most faithful,

And most obliged, humble servant,

JAS. GARDINER.

LETTER CV.

DR. DODDRIDGE to MRS. DODDRIDGE, during her long absence at Bath for the recovery of her health.

MY DEAREST,

Northampton, Dec. 12, 1742, Lord's-day morning, 9 o'clock.

I was willing to give you the pleasure I know you will find in one line which tells you that I am, through the Divine goodness, perfectly well, and as

full of joy and comfort as my heart can hold. God graciously continues to visit me with such condescensions and endearments of his love, as often fill me with wonder as well as pleasure. Yet amidst them I forget not you, my dearest earthly friend; nay, then do I especially remember you, and so remember you, that I cannot but think he hears me, and visits you with his grace.

Hasten not your return on my account; here is One that can make me very happy without you. Stay till your physician thinks you may safely return; and then, be sure, I shall not receive you with less pleasure than if I had languished for you. in every hour of absence. I am, indeed, sometimes too impatient; but I hope God will teach us both some very valuable lessons by this absence which we have so much dreaded, and so much lamented. I often remember dear Miss Rappit with great affection, and pray for her with you, both in public and in private.

Write no more than suits your health and spirits, and lose not an anxious thought on me. I am in safe hands in all respects. Mrs. Wright's punctual, humble, tender, prudent care of me sometimes not only surprises but pains me. I deserve not, in all my little interests, and even in all my relishes and fancies, one half of that solicitude from a person of her worth. I am in high health amidst unusual labours. Be not therefore apprehensive for the event: when I grow unwell I will lay by and nurse myself: but let me preach just now my two lectures a week; one in College Lane, on

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