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but indulge eelie that real Christianity is increasing in the world; and that what we perceive of this kind at present is but the dawn of a more glorious era, which will shortly arrive. 'The convulsed state of the world, and the limitation of popish power, announce the speedy accomplishment of prophecy, i he trumphant establishment of the kingdom of Christ. Whereve Whereve e gospel is preached, there is a disposition, unknown in former mes o attend upon it.

Poor M- -! he has finished his career.

When we look back upon those who have been too much addicted to the love of the world, what a dream, what a vanity does it appear! how unworthy the supreme pursuit of a creature who is hastening to his final account! May we, my dear sir, be preserved from this fatal snare, and possess as though we possessed not.

*

Dear Sir,

XXVIII.

TO THE REV. JOSIAH HILL.

Leicester, Jan. 23, 1810. I thank you for your kind letter. I am happy to hear you are so comfortably settled, and that God has provided you with a suitable companion, with whom I wish you may enjoy many years of felicity. As to the proposal you are so good as to urge, of my visiting Pembrokeshire next summer, it will be quite impracticable. I have one summer excursion in view already; and a visit to so remote a part would occupy far more time than it would be proper for me to be absent from Leicester. I have had, in a manner, a new congregation to form; sc that any considerable absence is attended with serious inconvenience, as the people are, as yet, by no means compacted and consolidated. I consider it as the first duty of my life well to cultivate my own field, which is such at present as demands all my care: which I may say, with humble gratitude, it rewards, the Lord having, in various instances, set his seal to my poor labours. The congregation which I serve consists mostly of the poor, many of whom are, however, "rich in faith;" so that I can truly say I never found so much encouragement in my work as since I have been here. The effect of time, and of spirits broken by a series of afflictions, has been to make me very reluctant to travelling. Nothing but the claims of absolute duty can surmount that reluctance. My ambition is to spread the savour of the knowledge of Christ in the connexion where I am placed, content to leave the more enterprising and brilliant career of an evangelist to persons of more active and ardent minds. It would give me much satisfaction to meet my dear friend Phillips anywhere, and more espe cially under your hospitable roof. That pleasure, however, I must postpone till I go to London, or until he will favour me with a visit in

Leicestershire. I shall be always happy to see you, and to hear of your success and prosperity in your great work. Of this you say you can speak nothing at present. The congregation, I fear, from the character of its former pastor, has sunk into a very lethargic state. It will be your study and ambition, I am persuaded, to awaken them, and to recall them to the power of that religion which "makes all things new." Whatever speculative difficulties you may have felt, or may still feel, you can be at no loss to discover, that the warm and affectionate preaching of Christ crucified is the grand instrument of forming lively Christians. May you in this glorious attempt be abundantly honoured and blessed.

I return you my warmest thanks for every expression of esteem and affection with which you have honoured me, and remain, with senti ments of high esteem, dear Sir,

Your affectionate Brother,

ROBERT HALL.

XXIX.

TO WILLIAM HOLLICK, ESQ.

ON THE DEATH OF MRS. HOLLICK.

My dear Friend, Leicester, July 6, 1810. I sincerely sympathize with you in the heavy stroke with which your heavenly Father has seen fit to visit you in the removal of your dear partner, with whom you have so long trod the paths of this weary pilgrimage. I hope she has gone to eternal rest; and you, my dear friend, will, I trust, meet her in that world where no separation, no sorrow or sin will ever enter. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in him."

I have endeavoured already, and often shall, "to spread your case before the Lord," and to entreat him to support you under, and sanctify you by this dispensation. You have learned, my dear friend, the terms on which all earthly unions are formed; the ties on earth are not perpetual, and must be dissolved; and every enjoyment but that which is spiritual, every life but that which is "hid with Christ in God," is of short duration. Nothing here is given with an ultimate view to enjoyment, but for the purpose of trial, to prove us, and "to know what is in our hearts, and if we are upright before God, to do us good in the latter end." You had, no doubt, often anticipated such an event as the inevitable removal of one from the other; and I hope neither of you were wanting in making a due improvement of the solemn reflection, and laying up cordial for such an hour. Still I am well aware that the actual entrance of death into the domestic circle is unutterably

solemn, ana places things in a different light from what we ever saw them in before. You seem, and it is with much pleasure I perceive it, fully aware, thoroughly apprized of the true improvement to be made of this heavy blow, which is undoubtedly intended to quicken your preparation for a future world. It loudly says to you, and to all, "Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." God grant it may be eminently sanctified by weaning you more completely from this world, and "setting your affections" more entirely and habitually "on the things that are above." You will then, in the midst of that deep regret such a loss has neces sarily inspired, have cause to bless God that you were afflicted.

We have been for some time in expectation of a visit from you. I hope you will not disappoint us, nor delay it long, as my dear wife expects in a very few months to be confined. We shall rejoice to see you, and shall be happy to contribute in some measure to your solace and relief. My wife, whose health is extremely delicate at best, and very often interrupted, desires to be most respectfully and affectionately remembered to you. Please to present my kindest and most sympathizing regards to your daughter, and love to inquiring friends. I remain, dear sir, with best wishes and prayers, Your affectionate and sympathizing Friend and Brother, ROBERT HALL.

XXX.

TO R. FOSTER, JUN. ESQ., CAMBRIDGE.

My dear Sir, Leicester, July 12, 1811. I thank you for your favour, enclosing a draught for 75l. 2s. 9d., and am highly gratified with the genuine sentiments of piety contained in your letter. It has been a peculiar satisfaction to me, for a long time past, to hear of your decided attachment to the cause of God; and it is my earnest prayer that the life of God, which his grace has commenced, may flourish more, till it issues, as it infallibly will, in the fruit of eternal life. Go on, my dear sir, in the course you have begun; dare to be singularly good, and to follow Jesus "out of the camp, bearing his reproach"-a reproach that will be found "greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt." You are already the joy of good men, and a shining hope of the church, and it is impossible to calculate the eminent advantage you may be of to the interests of religion in the sphere where Providence has placed you.

Your admonitions I take in good part. I am not without a consciousness of my not having exerted my small abilities to the extent I ought in the cause of religion; but I find strange and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, arising in part from a certain fastidiousness of taste which renders me dissatisfied, and even disgusted, with all my

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performances. My extreme ill state of health must also be taken into the account. I am seldom free from pain, which is often very severe.

I remain, my dear Sir,

Yours most affectionately,

ROBERT HALL

XXXI.

TO JOSEPH GUTTERIDGE, ESQ., DENMARK HILL,

CAMBERWELL.

Leicester, September 16, 1811.

My dear Sir, I have not relinquished my intention of publishing the substance of the sermon delivered at Prescott-street, though I think it will be most proper to print it in the form of a charge, in which it was first delivered. You may rest satisfied I shall not omit making mention of the occasion on which it was preached at Prescott-street, and embracing the opportunity of recommending, as far as lies in my power, the new institution to the attention and patronage of the religious public. The reason of the sermon not appearing sooner has been, principally, an almost uninterrupted struggle of painful discouragement arising from its appearing so contemptible under my hand.* The truth is, I am tormented with the desire of writing better than I can, and as this is an obstacle not easily overcome, I am afraid it will never be in my power to write much.

XXXII.

FROM MR. GUTTERIDGE TO MR. HALL.

PROPOSING THAT HE SHOULD PREACH A SERIES OF LECTURES IN LONDON

Dear Sir,

I am now about to address you on the subject of our conversation when last at Denmark Hill. I then suggested to you the wishes of many friends that you would consent to visit London the following spring, and make arrangements for spending a longer time with us. Several persons have been inquiring if there were a probability of such an event being realized; but I did not wish to trouble you further on the subject till it became needful to do so.

The sermon here referred to is that on the Discouragements and Supports of the Christian Minister-ED.

,

My idea has been, that if you would spend six weeks at least with as, a course of lectures might be established, to be preached by you that, under a Divine blessing, without which all our efforts are vain, might be productive of much good at the present season. A course of lectures, say you;-on what subject? I reply, on any subjects that have a tendency to counteract the impiety and irreligion of the world in which we live: and surely you will admit this is latitude sufficient. I am aware that some objections will arise in your own mind. You will perhaps indignantly ask, "Does he think I will go to London to preach for money?" You may rely upon it, I have too much regard for you to wish you to do any thing that might even be interpreted to your discredit. But is it dishonourable in a man who has a family that have claims upon him to do that which may promote their comfort? Is the fair and honourable exercise of talent to be deprived of a suitable remuneration? Is not "the labourer worthy of his hire?" And although he who is called to preach the gospel is not to be actuated by motives of " filthy lucre," yet he is nowhere called to despise the cup of blessings that Providence may put into his hands, "who giveth us all things richly to enjoy." All this I am saying upon a presumption that your friends will cheerfully raise a subscription, of which you will know nothing, save the contents.

I should propose to obtain places of worship well adapted for evening lectures, probably one in the city and one on the other side Temple Bar; and that on the Lord's-day evening, and also one evening in the week, you might alternately preach there. This plan would leave your Sabbath mornings at liberty to oblige particular friends, or to supply destitute congregations; and in this respect I would propose to fix you to Prescott-street, if I dare. The time that appears to me most suited for the purpose would be the beginning of April; and then you would be in town through the missionary meetings. There is also, in the beginning of May, a most important service to be performed for the "Orphan School," the only school among Protestant dissenters where the children are maintained as well as educated, and which has been upon the decline, but is now, we hope, reviving. I should rejoice to see you become the advocate of so extensive and valuable an object; and if you fall in with my design, you will, I hope, undertake it. I hope Mrs. Hall and the children will come with you; you have friends who will be glad to take them in; but if you would prefer a lodging, we can, I doubt not, manage that to your satisfaction. Thus have I given you the outlines of a plan which is subject to any alterations you may propose. Let me beg you to take it into your serious consideration, and to send me soon a favourable answer. I am, dear Sir, affectionately yours, JOSEPH GUTTERIDGE.

VOL. III.-Q

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