which the world know nothing of, and therefore reproach.

66

If you have some such hearers, the greater will the danger be of the serious Christian being. starved by your removal, and must be the case if the former have any influence in choosing your successor. May infinite Wisdom direct and determine your resolution!

"I shall not forget your friend, and by remembrance of me and mine at the throne of grace, you continually lay a fresh obligation upon, dear sir, your affectionate humble servant,

"Dennys De Berdt."

This letter deserves high commendation. So pernicious consequences had followed from the indulgence of a false candour, that it behoved all who were solicitous for the glory of Christ, and the dearest interest of men, to watch against it with jealous care. The soul of Darracott, indeed, was exposed to the appearance, only by that which preserved him from the reality of indifference to the orthodox creed-a heart absorbed in solicitude for the conversion of souls. This, however, rendered his friend's alarm not less justifiable or commendable. The opinion of the good man concerning Mr. Darracott's removal would not have been equally judicious, had he not himself contributed to render it so

by assisting to maintain his family at Wellington. Mr. Darracott had sunken some hundreds of his own private property since he had resided at Wellington, and was now in some embarrassment. A friend to whom he had made a disclosure of his affairs immediately applied to that valuable institution in London, known to dissenters by the name of the Fund Board, which immediately voted him five pounds as an annual addition to his salary. This, with the contributions of private friends, enabled him to extricate himself from his embarrassments.

They returned indeed, as did the invitations of destitute churches. But though he never could resolve to leave a scene of so much useful. ness, the claims of a delicate wife and rising family induced him at one time to think of keeping a school. That this scheme was abandoned should excite neither surprize nor regret. -His ardent devotional soul bounded off from the instruction of youth in the rudiments of human learning, to lead the souls of men into the heights and depths of redeeming love. And if he hesitated to leave Wellington, lest he should not be so useful elsewhere; was it not equally to be feared that the diminution of his time for pastoral studies and labours might injure the tone of his mind, and make a proportionable reduction from his success in the ministry?

If some change was necessary, his removal should have been preferred. To turn to secular pursuits is to take away one half of the minister from his present charge; but to remove to another and a larger sphere is to give him more entirely to Christ and his church. From this time, however, he laboured with increased success. He seemed almost afraid and ashamed to speak of his prosperity, but could not hide the divine goodness within his grateful heart. "I have nothing to boast of," he says, "being a poor, vile, unprofitable servant. Yet I must own that God is deigning to favour me abundantly. I have not preached for some time, but in demonstration of the Spirit and in power. Fresh seals are continually given to my ministry." Every month he received some into the church, and proposed others to its communion. At one time the whole congregation were under serious impressions. This is what, perhaps, scarcely any other minister in England has been able to say, though such scenes have not been rare in America.

The following letter, written at the end of the year 1753, expresses the joy of his heart in the care of Providence to his family, and the blessings which crowned his ministry.

"I deserve, my dear sir, none of those warm expressions of your esteem, and least of all do I

think myself worthy of that distinguishing regard my God is showing me in the dispensations of his providence; I have reason to say, with peculiar propriety, "what am I, and what is my father's house, that God should be pleased to take such care of me?" He spreads my table daily, and supplies my every want. Many a kind friend has he given me, among whom I shall ever gratefully acknowledge good Mr. W. I return you my hearty thanks for the fresh instance of your love which your present letter affords me, and desire you will make them acceptable to your church at the next meeting. God who is rich in bounty plentifully requite it to you and them.

"I have the pleasure to inform you that the church here still continues to flourish, and God is adding to us almost every month such as I hope will be saved. This month twelve years I was set up as pastor, since which time we have admitted two hundred communicants wanting two, and this week we shall take in three more, and propose two, and many more are upon the threshold, whom I hope God will bring in. I never, at one time, saw more under a serious concern of soul than at present; many have lately been joined to us from the established church, and appear to be excellent Christians. For these things join with us in giving all the glory to God, neither is he that planteth any

thing, nor he that waters. The sweet concurrence of his providence and grace in favour of his cause and interest among us, is what I adore, though I am myself nothing.

In the year 1755 he published his " Scripture Marks of Salvation." They were originally preached as sermons, and having proved very useful to many of his hearers were by them requested in a more permanent form, that the closet might revive the impressions made in the church. This publication drew him into a considerable increase of correspondence, already so extensive as to occupy a large portion of his time. He sent the "Scripture Marks" into many parts of England and Scotland; for, though the modern tracts were not then thought of, Mr. Darracott and his pious contemporaries were diligent in distributing cheap books on the most important subjects.

At this time Mr Darracott wrote the two following letters to a friend. "A serious concern about salvation spreads both in town and country; and some very profligate and abandoned sinners are deeply struck. We have set up a charity school in a village four miles off. One of the principal persons there having been lately concerned about his soul, chiefly by reading Dr. Doddridge's "Rise and Progress," and some manuscript sermons of Mr. Walker's, has felt a con