words, O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! The other admiral was next under him in command at the bombardment of Copenhagen. He in a style of animated exhortation stirred up the large assembly, not only to contribute liberally, as a pleasure and a privilege, to circulate the Bible; but to study it themselves carefully, and to read it in their families, as the best bond of domestic harmony. I thought at first he had been a preacher; and I said to myself, if a preacher he is an uncommonly good gne-The whole was peculiarly animating and edifying."

"Aston Sandford, Dec. 3, 1814.

"I DO most heartily rejoice in what your missionaries are doing in India. Their's is the most regular and best conducted plan against the kingdom of darkness, that modern times have shewn; and I augur the most extensive success. More genuine Christian wisdom, fortitude, and disinterested assiduity, perseverance, and patience appear, than I elsewhere read of. May God protect and prosper! May all India be peopled with true Christians!-even though they be all baptists. If you read the Registers of our society, you will find that our prospects are opening both in India and Africa. I trust a similar plan of translating and dispersing will soon be adopted in Africa, by some who were under my care. The Lord is doing great things, and answering prayer every where."

"Aston Sandford, Jan. 9, 1815.

"I HAVE lately, and indeed for several years, bestowed a great deal of pains in reading various books in the Greek language; and am certainly far more competent to speak on the subject of diminutives, &c." (such as Bar!(α) "than I was: and in revising my note on Matthew iii, will, should I be spared, take your criticisms also into consideration, and alter or soften whatever I may judge needs Further than this I cannot say."

it.

This I insert as a proof of the consideration, with which what appears upon the subject in the Commentary must be understood to have been written.

"DEAR SIR,

"Aston Sandford, Oct. 23, 1815.

"I AM, like you, little at leisure for writing letters: yet I also often think of you, and of your situation, both in respect of your most important society, and of the interests of vital, holy, evangelical religion in your connexion. I hope you have many coadjutors; but, except Satan be dead or asleep, you must expect many opponents; for every thing which either feeds the pride, or fosters the sloth or worldliness of human nature, will always, till the grand and universal pouring out of the Holy Spirit, be better received among men, even men professing Christianity and many particular truths of Christianity, than the humbling holy truth as it is in Jesus. But be of good cheer: Magna est veritas et prævalebit: or rather, as my poor folks at Ravenstone used to say, 'Well, after all, God is above the devil.' Go on and prosper, and strive earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, and for the grand essentials of the gospel; and, while less will be done than you perhaps once expected, more will eventually be done than at other times you supposed.

"The tendency of the religion in London and its vicinity, among the evangelical body, is strongly towards antinomianism.........I do however think that in other parts, in our connexion, antinomian Calvinism is not the general danger; but rather such a shyness about Calvinism as greatly darkens the glory of the gospel. Yet still, most certainly, vital Christianity is far more deeply, and practically, and widely inculcated by the clergy than it was thirty years ago. . My thirty, and more than thirty years have been spent in opposing antinomianism and self-righteous religion. The most permanent and extensive means has been and will be the Exposition: but I must soon take my armor.".

off

I would here observe that in a letter of a later date, October 19, 1818, he, on the one hand, expresses a less favorable opinion of the views of many of the "Calvinistic evangelical clergy," and, on the other hand, considers "scriptural principles as awfully exploded under the obnoxious name of Calvinism."

"Aston Sandford, Aug. 12, 1819. "IN respect of the new set of antinomians,* I have no doubt, from the self-conceited spirit that prevails among

Those who have been called Seceders.

172

LETTERS TO REV. DR. RYLAND. [No. X.

many of them, that the event will be in many a total dereliction of evangelical and even of orthodox principles; but in a variety of ways and forms of heresy. I should' think the book you mention is a mere refinement of Arianism: if not somewhat nearer 'the frigid zone.' But, alas! if one could smile, instead of weeping, one might smile at recollecting the words of the wicked author of Hudibras,

'As if religion were intended

For nothing else but to be mended.'

........"I never miss a day praying for your missionary society, as well as others; and very often with an especially. ........I hope that God has graciously removed the sickness of your family: but it is a sick, and suffering, and dying world. May the Lord give us faith and patience and hope, that we may be ready when the summons comes, and in the mean time may do what we can, that others may have what we have learned and taught, worthy remembering, in remembrance after our decease!"

........"I SHOULD be glad to make my letter worth postage by inserting in it any observations that were made on the way of dividing and spending time: but I fear I cannot ex promptu do much justice to the subject. It was generally agreed that no man can lay down rules which suit another; so much depends on health, circumstances, disposition, and engagements:-that a man should not so lay down rules for himself as to bind himself to them at all events; otherwise he may decline services to which he is called, because contrary to his rule; set up his own will as to the disposal of time in opposition to that of God; lose his temper when broken in upon; and be tempted to harshness and unkindness to the distressed, whose case will not admit of delays. Our Lord suffered even his retired hours to be intruded on, and did not bid the people come at a more seasonable hour.-In order to divide time aright it must be redeemed: we must know its worth and importance, and determine not to part with it but for a valuable consideration. A man should have his plan, though he should not either attempt to impose it on others, or bind himself too stiffly to it. Many arrangements in the family, and in

every branch of it, are necessary to procure the largest quantum of time to be divided, and a man must know how to rule his own household, as well as to curb his own affections, who would not let time run to waste. Such visits as are not likely to produce benefit to ourselves or to others, or at least to obviate prejudice and prevent harm, should be shunned: and yet it is sometimes well to lose a little time, as we would a little money, rather than give offence, and preclude ourselves from usefulness. The best hours of the day, and those least liable to interruption, should be chosen for devotion, meditation, and closer studies. One part of our duty should be made a recreation from the weariness of another: especially conversation and social intercourse, or such books as require comparatively little attention. Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost. Have some book at hand, or some employment ready, for the odds and ends, the parentheses of time, which are generally wasted. As little time allotted to sleep and animal recreation, as serves to keep the body in health, is of great use: but, where a man carries this further than his constitution will admit, because others have found that they could do what he attempts, he will in the event find it unfavorable to his grand object. In all cases the care of health and spirits, by air and exercise, &c. in moderation, is a valuable use of time, and should be considered in the division of it.-Upon the whole, some men ought to spend much time in their study; others will do more good in going among the poor, or in visiting such as are willing to welcome instructions. Some ministers should allot much time to the study of their sermons; others will speak most intelligibly when less elaborate, and may redeem their time for other purposes: but all ought to have stated times for searching the scriptures and prayer; and to seize occasional opportunities for ejaculatory worship in addition; but not to depend on this latter practice, or be satisfied with it. The man who loves money finds out how to get and spare it; and he who wants to make it go far finds out how to divide it. We are the Lord's servants; and if we be employed as he would have us our time is rightly divided, though other rules be neglected. I have only room to add that I remain yours very affectionately,

"THOS. SCOTT."