with, with much greater satisfaction than others spend theirs on their pleasures. I do not know how it is; but, though I am far from being an hero, yet I find Brutus expresses my exact sentiments, when he says to Cicero, Aliter alii cum suis vivunt. Nihil ego possum in Sororis meæ Liberis facere, quo possit expleri voluntas mea, aut officium.' But you will reprove me, I know, for this false modesty in apologizing for this comparison; and say, 'Where is the wonder, that a man who pretends to be a Christian should not come behind a Pagan, how great soever, in the performance of moral duties?' However this may be, I can assure you my only concern on this occasion was for an incomparable Mother, whom I feared the misfortunes of a favourite daughter would have too much affected. But, I thank God, Religion, that Religion which you make such amiable drawings of in all your writings, was more than a support to her. But I ask pardon for talking so long of myself. This is a subject I never choose to talk of; yet I could not forbear mentioning it to a man I so much esteem, and whose heart I know to be so right, "It was with great concern I found Mrs. Doddridge so ill at Bath, I know the grief this must have occasioned you. But I know your sufficiency. I trust in God she has by this time received the expected benefit from the waters. It was by accident I saw her name in Leake's Book (for then I had not received your last) a little before I left Mr. Allen's. I visited her twice. The first time she was going out to drink the waters, the second time a visiting; so I had not the pleasure of much of her company. You may be assured, I would not hinder her the first time; and I made a conscience not to do it the second: for it was a new acquaintance she was going to make; a matter, perhaps, as useful to her amusement, while she stayed at Bath, as the other for her health. "Thus you see, my good friend, we have all something to make us think less complacently of the world. Religion will do great things. It will always make the bitter waters of Marah wholesome and palatable. But we must not think it will usually turn water to wine, because it once did so. Nor is it fit it should, unless this were our place of rest, where we were to expect the bridegroom. I do the best I can, and should, I think, do the same if I were a mere Pagan, to make life passable. To be always lamenting the miseries of it, or always seeking after the pleasures of it, equally take us off from the work of our salvation. And though I be extremely cautious what seet I follow in Religion, yet any in Philosophy will serve my turn; and honest Sancho Panca's is as good as any; who on his return from an important commission, when asked by his master, 'Whether they should mark the day with a black or a white stone,' replied, 'Faith, Sir, if you will be ruled by me, with neither, but with good brown Ochre.' What this Philosopher thought of his commission, I think of human life in general-good brown Ochre is the complexion of it. " I got "I got home a little before Christmas, after a charming philosophical retirement in a Palace with Mr. Pope and Mr. Allen for two or three months. The gentleman I last mentioned is, I verily believe, the greatest private character in any age of the world. You see his munificence to the Bath Hospital. This is but a small part of his charities, and charity but a small part of his virtues. I have studied his character even maliciously, to find where his weakness lies; but have studied in vain. When I know it, the world shall know it too for the consolation of the envious; especially as I suspect it will prove to be only a partiality he has entertained for me. In a word, I firmly believe him to have been sent by Providence into the world, to teach men what blessings they might expect from Heaven, would they study to deserve them. "I received your agreeable present of your Pupil's Sermons *, with your Life of him, which my nephew has read with great pleasure, and you have both our most hearty thanks for it. He is now of Jesus College in Cambridge. But I take what care I can myself of his education. He is very promising, and I hope will prove a comfort to an excellent, though unfortunate Mother. "Dr. Taylor has just now shewn me the first part of your excellent Answer to Christianity not founded on Argument;' which he highly esteems, and we wait impatiently for the second. Will you forgive my concluding without overlooking this sad scribble, which I should be even afraid to do had I time? But now I have not a moment more than to conclude, with my best respects to Mrs. Doddridge, dear Sir, your most affectionate and faithful friend and brother, W. WARBURTON." "DEAR SIR, Prior Park, 1747. "I had the favour of your letter, and along with it Colonel Gardiner's Life,' which I have just read through with very great pleasure. Nothing can be better or more judicious than the writing part. Many considerations made the subject of great importance and expediency. The celebration of worthy men who sacrificed themselves for the service of their country; the tribute paid to private friendship; the example, particularly to the Soldiery, of so much virtue and piety, as well as courage and patriotism; the service done to the survivors of their families, are such important considerations, as equally concern the Writer and the publick. I had a thousand things to remark in it which gave me pleasure. But I have room but for two or three. The distinction you settle between Piety and Enthusiasm in the 78th page, is highly just and important, and very necessary for these times, when men are apt to fall into the opposite extremes. Nor am I less pleased with your observations on the mutilated form of Christianity in the 130th page: we see the terrible effects of it. The same pleasure your 162d and 163d pages afforded me. Your Hymns are truly pious and poetical. The By the Rev. Thomas Steffe. T. S. SH YOL. II. note note at the bottom of page 176, is fine. I entirely agree in your sentiments concerning the extraordinary circumstance of the good man's conversion. On the whole, the book will do you honour, or, what you like better, will be a blessing to you by its becoming an instrument of public good. Mr. Allen (who is now upon beginning your book), Mrs. Allen, and my Wife, join with me in our best respects. I am, dear Sir, with the truest esteem, your most affectionate servant, W. WARBURTON." "DEAR SIR, Bedford Row, June 10, 1749. "Mr. Allen has just sent me your kind Letter; and tells me, I am obliged to you for your Sermon *, which he commends extremely. YourEssay on Inspiration' is a well-reasoned and judicious performance. I think you do not set a just value on yourself, when you lend your name or countenance to such weak, but well-meaning, rhapsodists as This may do well enough with the people; but it is the Learned that claim you. And though the intermixing with works of this cast sober books of devotion of your own composing, becomes your character, and is indeed your duty; yet your charity and love of goodness suffer you to let yourself down in the opinion of those you most value, and whose high opinion you have fairly gained by works of learning and reasoning inferior to none. Forgive me this freedom. "The Divine Legation' I am proceeding with in good earnest. I have been a little diverted upon an important subject; viz. in writing a Discourse to prove the Miraculous Interposition of Providence in defeating Julian's attempt to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem. It is in three parts. The first, to establish the truth by human testimony, and the nature of the fact. 2. An Answer to Objections. 3. An Enquiry into the nature of that evidence which is sufficient to claim a rational assent to the miraculous fact. It is in the press, but will not be published till winter. "I imagined I had communicated my grief to you for the greatest loss I ever had, in that of the best parent and woman that ever wast. It yet hangs heavy upon me, and will do so while I live. God preserve you in the possession and enjoyment of all those blessings most dear to you. Which brings me to remember, with my best compliments, good Mrs. Doddridge, and to assure you that I am, with the highest esteem, dear Sir, your very faithful and affectionate humble servant, W. WARBURTON. *"On the Peace concluded with France and Spain." T. S. + I have lived some time in the world; and, blessed be God, without giving or taking offence. This time has been spent in my parish church (for I am a Country Clergyman, and reside constantly on my cure), in the service of my neighbour, in my study, and in the offices of filial piety. With lenient arts t' extend a Mother's breath, And keep awhile one parent from the sky. Bp. Warburton's Works, 4to, vol. VI. p. 12. T. S. "DEAR 3:49 June 15, 1750. "DEAR SIR, "Your favour of the 17th of May was sent me to London, where I then was, and yet am till to-morrow, when I return to Prior-Park. I am greatly flattered by your thoughts of Julian: because I know the sincerity of your professions. Some people of consideration would persuade me to take to task at the end of Julian a chapter of one Hume' on Miracles,' in a rank atheistical book called Philosophical Essays; and as the subject of the second part may be a little ticklish, perhaps it may be prudent to conciliate warm tempers by such a conclusion. "I was very sincere in the hint, which you are pleased to call advice, of my last letter; as I am in saying that I do not know of any thing which your abilities and application are not capable of. You are very good to enquire after my motions. I shall be in town either in June or July. Towards the decline of the summer I have some thoughts of taking a journey into Lincolnshire. If I do, I may take Northampton in my way, and will take my chance of finding you at home. As to the 'Disquisitions,' I will only say, that the temper, candour, and charity, with which they are wrote, are very edifying and exemplary. I wish success to them as much as you can do; but I can tell you, of certain science, that not the least alteration will be made in the Ecclesiastical System. The present Ministers were bred up under and act entirely on the maxims of the last; and one of the principal of his* was, 'not to stir what is at rest.' He took a medicine for the stone, that killed him †; and on his death-bed he said,' he fell by the neglect of his own maxim.' Those at the head of affairs find it as much as they can do to govern things as they are, and they will never venture to set one part of the Clergy against another; the consequence of which would be, that, in the brigues of political contests, one of the two parties would cer-. tainly fall in with the Faction, if we must call it so, against the Court. Your truly divine labours are not only more excellent, but will certainly prove more fruitful But, above all, I join with your friends in encouraging you to a subscription; which I make no doubt will turn out a considerable benefit. Books of infinitely less importance have lately done so. And I ardently wish that one who has deserved so greatly of our common Christianity may not have the whole of his reward to wait for in another life. To understand that all your good family are well, gives me extreme pleasure. My truest respects to all; and particularly to the young gentleman who is beginning his studies. I must now begin to call him my learned Friend; and have sent him a magnificent Edition, which no money will buy (I mean they are not to be sold) of the Essay on Man,' and Essay on Criticism.' Believe me to be ever, with the truest esteem, Your most affectionate friend and brother, W. WARBURTON." *Sir Robert, first Earl of Orford of that name. + Mrs. Stephens's medicine, for which Parliament gave her 5000?. 3H 2 DEAK "DEAR SIR, Prior Park, Aug. 25, 1750. "I thank you for the very accurate extract you sent me. Your sentiments of those dirty rascals who are concerned in all our monthly trash* are surely very right and just. They set up these papers to publish their own trash, or other people's for money. "Mr. Allen would himself have acknowledged your obliging Letter to him of the 20th; but a disorder occasioned by bile makes him incapable of attending to any thing but to the discharge of it. With regard to that trifling favour you mention at the back of your Letter, I will tell you how the case stands. The revenue of the Post-office is in two branches: one of which Mr. Allen farms; the other is in the hands of the Crown: with regard to the latter, Mr. Allen is indulged the privilege of franking his own letters. In this he is scrupulously exact, and confines the indulgence he has to his own family. He makes a point of conscience and honour of it; and the rather, for the scandalous abuse of this privilege, that is now almost universal. Besides, as he has almost every year occasion to write to some Member or other, complaining of their scandalous abuses of this privilege (which he hardly restrains by threatening to complain to Parliament) he cannot, in common discretion, give any handle to them by committing the like abuse, though in a low degree; for, franking more than a man's own and family letters is a gross abuse of this privilege, which Mr. Allen has never yet trangressed. "Mr. Allen thinks that those of the Ministers who opposed the Brieft did it on some such considerations as these: That the immense debt, which the late War has accumulated, was much inflamed by the subsidies and pensions paid to the German Princes, who are grown rich by it; and that the flourishing Protestant Churches in Germany are much abler to assist their distressed Brethren, and under closer obligations, than this Kingdom, oppressed with taxes and the public calamity of the distemper amongst the horned cattle. Besides, the King of Prussia, the Protector of the Protestant Interest in Germany, is the richest and most powerful Prince in Europe, has got most by the War, and is nearest hand to lend his assistance. But the people of the Continent think Great Britain inexhaustible, and must supply all the expences there, both for support of Liberty and Religion. These, he supposes, may be the sentiments of the Ministry; and if they suspect that the people may think with them, they will not be disposed to give the public sanction to this charity. Mr. Allen hopes that when your Proposals are printed we shall see them. He joins with me in our best wishes - *Dr. Warburton, though he himself sometimes condescended to assist in the publishing of monthly trash, was tremblingly alive to those shafts of criticism which he affected to despise." Warburton had great powers, and wrote with more force and freedom than the Wits to whom be succeeded: but his faculties were perverted by a paltry love of paradox; and rendered useless to mankind, by an unlucky choice of subjects, and the arrogance and dogmatism of his temper." Edinb. Rev. Sept. 1816, p. 8. + For the distressed Protestants in Germany. for |