not generally very well; and I find that too close application to writing hurts me more than any other exertion. I have however as good health, taking one time with another, as I have had for many years; and as good as I ought to have far better than I have any right to. I know also that I shall live as long as the Lord has any work for me to do: and I need not desire to live longer. 66 If any of your friends should wish to have the Bible, I would rather favor them, by foregoing my usual profit: that is, if their circumstances require it: for somebody must maintain authors, as well as printers. You must not speak of this therefore to wealthy persons. "I am afraid that, having no peculiar subject on which to write, my letter will be far too dear of postage: yet silence would not so emphatically express a desire of hearing concerning your welfare, and of dropping any hints that I can of an useful nature. With much difficulty I have got a little before the printer, and am owning, if not paying, my debts to my correspondents; and I was not satisfied to leave you out: for, if I say little at present, your answer may make way for something rather more to the purpose another time. "Your account of the state of religion in Scotland, though rather discouraging, gives me the idea that far more regard has been, and even still is, there paid to the gospel than in England. Some years ago.......it might almost be said that the whole was here sunk into formality and self-righteousness........ The irregular and desultory, yet zealous and honest labors of Mr. Whitefield and his coadjutors produced great effects; and since he went forth there has been a great revival in the established church. Nor were the labors of Mr. Wesley and his helpers without much fruit. Yet a great deduction must be made. A flashy, superficial, and immethodical style of preaching was rendered fashionable: gradually a view of the gospel rather tending to antinomianism was introduced by the successors of the ministers that have been mentioned—that is, of Mr. Whitefield and Co. An experience which admits of a great mixture of enthusiasm, and opens the door to delusion, was sanctioned: a bad taste, so to speak, was propagated: and the eminence of the men who set the example gave currency to these things; which became far worse in the hands of men in all respects their inferior In the church of England, among those who are repu to preach the gospel, many do comparatively little........ There are, however, a considerable number of able, solid, and zealous men; and the expensive encouragement given by some superior people to the education of pious young men, of good abilities, for the ministry, presents the most pleasant prospect that the state of things affords. But, alas! our superiors in the church either oppose the most unexceptionable men who preach according to the articles and liturgy, or are afraid to countenance them........Among the numerous bodies of the Calvinistic and Arminian Methodists, a considerable degree of fervor and earnestness is discoverable; and I trust there are many well-meaning people: but their religion is superficial; and they are easily deluded into pernicious errors, or unbecoming practices, for want of more complete and clear acquaintance with the system of truth, and the rule of duty. Though the two sects seem totally to differ, yet the same defect is visible in both; only the Arminians are more enthusiastic and joyful, the Calvinists more acquainted with their own hearts, and employed in escaping dejection by a low experience. But, in fact, superficial views of our obligations to holiness, according to the spiritual law of God, and an unperceived tendency to antinomianism, are too common in both-though the Arminians are thought to be in the opposite extreme. The dissenters, both Baptists and Pedobaptists, are of various kinds. Some are of the methodistical cast, and have much life, and not proportionable judgment and depth: others are solid Calvinistic divines, but rather cramped by system and church order; and, with a few exceptions, useful only on a small scale. Others are dry systematics, with little life or unction: and, alas! no small number are avowed Arians and Socinians. A political spirit at present does considerable harm to the cause of vital godliness, and widens our divisions on religious points; an evil which the enemy promotes. In London and some other principal cities and towns, people have abundance of religious advantages; though I fear they do not proportionably improve them: but in many parts of the country gross darkness prevails in an awful degree. "If this rude sketch of things, as they appear to me, stir up you and your friends to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers, I have my reward. "I find I have not mentioned the Presbyterians; about whom a native of North Britain may feel particularly in terested: but I dare say you know more of them (even as they exist among us) than I do, as a body of men. All I know rank with the best sort of dissenters. With best' wishes, "Yours sincerely, "THOMAS SCOTT." In reading this letter, it will be borne in mind that it was written nearly thirty years ago. The writer would, no doubt, have joyfully and thankfully acknowledged, that, in the period which has since elapsed, a great improvement has taken place in almost all the bodies of professed Christians whom he mentions.-Had he himself revised his letter for the press, he would also certainly have noticed the existence of many excellent individuals, as well as of a large body of "well-meaning" people among the different classes of "Methodists."-The "Presbyterians" will of course, not be confounded with the Unitarians, who often attempt to usurp that name.-By the "low experience," spoken of, must be understood one in which, though it is hoped that the existence of Christian graces may be traced, yet they are acknowledged to be almost out of exercise. "DEAR SIR, «Chapel Street, July 2, 1796. "I Do not think it possible for me to write more than a few lines with the parcel which you ordered, as I go out of town on Monday, and am liable now to be every moment interrupted....... "It certainly gives me heartfelt satisfaction to learn that the Lord, in any way, makes use of my poor labors to promote his cause, in the least degree: but, though I sometimes want, and always like, these cordials, yet medicines of a rougher species are more generally suited to my case, as pride and vain glory are predominant rank weeds, which my heart brings forth abundantly. I am, however, very sensible that humiliating dispensations often tend to dejection, and then the hands hang down, and the knees wax feeble: till some word spoken in season gives encouragement, and animates to diligence.-Upon the whole, I do not mean to neglect my health, and, I hope I do not: but I believe no man does exactly enough, and not too much. We all, or most of us, err on both sides frequently. Whether my life be of any peculiar use or not, it is my duty to use proper means of preserving it; and that sense of duty will suffice to influence me to act according to my conviction of what is right. "I very much rejoice in the earnestness shewn by persons of different descriptions to send the gospel among the poor benighted pagans; and I hope the Lord is about to answer the prayers which I, as well as many others, have been making to him for years. My situation, however, as a minister of the establishment prevents me, by considerations of expediency, from fully uniting with a society* which is looked upon with jealousy by our staunch churchmen, especially our rulers. At the same time I feel it incumbent on me to be cautious how I commit myself in a business which is under the management of persons varying in their views, and in their measure of respectability. Hence I am constrained to be considerably a stranger to the persons selected for missionaries, and to the interior of the management; though I am privately a steady advocate for the institution, and contribute my mite to the cause. In my situation, I cannot make any public collections, or take any other ostensible measures: but my few steady friends liberally support them. I have no doubt that the Lord will eventually bring good out of the design: but probably he may seem first to frown upon it; for it appears to me that many are too sanguine, do not sufficiently count their cost, have not wisdom equal to their zeal, and lean more to favorable providential appearances, and second causes, than to the omnipotent operation of the Holy Spirit. They do not seem sufficiently aware that neither Satan, nor the carnal heart, will suffer the kingdom of darkness to be subverted or assailed without the most determined and tremendous opposition; that it is one thing to teach natural men natural knowledge, and another to expose their vices and superstitions, and attack their consciences; that the missionaries themselves are men of like passions with others, and the intended post peculiarly dangerous, &c. In short, I admire the zeal and uprightness of many concerned, and am persuaded God will eventually bless them: but I have my doubts about many of their measures; and have an idea that disappointments and delays will be employed to teach the parties concerned, patience, meekness, humility, prudence, and simplicity; and that, when some begin to think the cause is about to miscarry, It can hardly be necessary to observe that the London Missionary Society, instituted in the preceding year, is intended.-See above, p. 115, 116. a greater, and more entire, and more explicit reliance on the Holy Spirit, and a more self-annihilating reference of the matter to God, will make way for the desired success. No doubt the leading persons rather differ in character; and perhaps the most spiritual and most wise have not the greatest influence: but I trust all this will be working itself clear; and the Lord will shew that it is his work, that he will employ his own instruments, and that it shall be effected not by might, nor by power, but by his own Spirit.-I should think that the several societies in Scotland might so far concur with this in London, as to be mutually helpful: but probably it will be best not to incorporate themselves with it....... "The cause of the gospel seems to gain ground in England: but, alas! infidelity, on the one hand, and a bad mixture of antinomianism, on the other, excite many alarms in some of us for the rising generation. "I have need to apologize for writing so hastily and inaccurately on such important subjects: but I am much straitened for time, and have only given my rough thoughts upon them, which you will read with grains of allowance. With best wishes and prayers for your increasing comfort and progress in the divine life, I remain, dear Sir, "Your sincere friend and servant, "DEAR SIR, "THOMAS SCOTT." "Chapel Street, November 25, 1796. "I APPREHEND that the energy of evangelical principles in producing holiness, both of heart and life, is the grand thing to be insisted on by the true friends of the gospel, at all times, but especially in such a day as the present. Nothing can convince more sober people that our doctrines are worth contending for, unless we can shew them their inseparable connexion with real good works: nothing can stop the mouths of reviling enemies and scoffers, but the unanswerably silencing language of the holy lives uniformly led by those who profess the doctrines of grace. Within the professing church numbers are deceived by a form of knowledge, and by an unholy confidence and selfish joy, for want of attending duly to this subject: others are kept low, and continue comparatively unfruitful, because they are not suitably impressed with its importance: and, without, multitudes have their pre dices riveted, inquirers are stumbled, and despisers |