upon myself the conduct of the general design. My want of leisure, especially in this present crisis, when I am so hurried with preparing my Family Expositor for the press, is something; but it is more that I am but one minister in the Country, and it would be a great presumption to expect that my brethren in London and elsewhere should act under my direction. The plan that has offered itself to me is this:-That you should go to London, and consult with some of the principal ministers of all denominations, particularly with Mr. Barker, Mr. Stennet, Dr. Guyse, and Mr. Burroughs. You see I take in general as well as particular baptists, and though I mention these four, whom I look upon as men of distinguished wisdom and piety, I mean not to exclude any other. You may, you think it will be of any avail, communicate to them what I now write, and you may learn whether they in general approve of the design, and are ready to join their counsel and efforts for bringing it into execution. If they approve it, and will authorize me, I will then apply to some of the principal ministers of Edinburgh, and to the Earl of Leaven, and the General Assembly, acquainting them with what is working in our hearts, and desiring that they would attempt to procure a motion in the Assembly for a day of fasting and prayer on this account to be ordered throughout Scotland; and if timely notice be given of it, I think the influence of those gentlemen, in concurrence with several leading men in the country, to whom with this foundation we may reasonably apply, will certainly make it as general a thing as we can reasonably suppose any thing of this sort can be among the Protestant Dissenters; and our concurrence with our brethren of the Scotch establishment, for which, as an Establishment, we have something of a regard, will make the thing less exceptionable. And on this foundation it may be extended to Ireland, and our plantations in America. If God spare my life I will

preach, and, if it be thought proper, will publish the Discourse, which, in consequence of my correspondence with some of the Walloon ministers in Holland, I can easily have translated into the French, as several of my writings already are (and especially one, which was never yet published in England, relating to the state of the Church in Holland, which, if I may judge by the many thousands dispersed through that country, was remarkably blessed in a very peculiar crisis). Perhaps God will send this sermon into France, and it may be introductory to some greater and better attempt; but this last part of the scheme I would choose at present to conceal, the rest communicate as you judge proper, and please to favour me with the result as soon as you can, that I may write to Scotland without delay, and set the machine in motion. In the mean time let us lift up our hearts to God daily for its success, and let him do what seemeth good in his sight. I may in consequence of this, in some future letter, lay before you another scheme of great importance, as I apprehend, for the service of religion, in the propagation of the gospel of our Blessed Redeemer, which lies much on my heart, and to which I think the providence of God is opening a way by some remarkable occurrences. In the mean time let me recommend to you the reading the Life and Journal of Mr David Brainard, if you know where to get it in large. Quick's Synodicon I have. The Icones I shall be very glad to see, when you can conveniently spare them, but I think whatever views we may have secretly, with regard to their publication, it will be proper to reserve them in our own breasts till the first grand part of our scheme is brought into full execution, which may prepare a way for the other. I have but one thing to add, which is, that whereas I have hitherto only thought of you as a worthy brother, whom I have sincerely joined with others in the general prayers I have been offering for persons of

your character; I have now (touched to the heart by your excellent letter) inserted your name in a list of a few select friends, whom I especially, esteem, as the excellent of the earth, and whom I remember before God, in seasons of solemn intercession. Let me conclude with presenting you both with our united salutations, and entreating you thus to remember,

I HAVE often had yours of September 29 before me, but never found an opportunity, nor scarcely a capacity of making a reply without some difficulty, since the all-wise God hath afflicted me for some months with such a flow of water from mine eyes as hath occasioned a very great dimness, without any relief by bleeding, or the use of spectacles. It is but little I can write or read, but I have the more leisure to pray; and I think with grief and shame on the little improvement I have made of that noble faculty of seeing which my good God continued to me so long; and if I cannot converse with my friends so much in an epistolary way as I have formerly done, I am in humble dependance on Divine grace, endeavouring to converse with my God, and with them at the throne of Mercy, which may be done, though we have no eye to see, nor tongue to speak, nor hand to write.

I have for some years past often begged of my heavenly Father, that if it be his will, I may not outlive my capacity

for usefulness, but be called home to rest when that is gone but we know not what to desire in this or in any respect, and therefore I would not prescribe to the Almighty, who hath chosen for me better than I could have done for myself; but I have long agb given up all my senses, health, strength, and ease, reputation, friends, usefulness,-all into the hands of Christ, to be continued or taken away as he pleases. Dear Sir, help me by your prayers to stand to what I have done; for it is hard work when the trial comes: but I know who was (and hope I shall be) able to do all things through Christ strengthening me; my heart (as far as I know it) does at present say, "if he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Though I am tempted and tried never so far, can I have but the light of his countenance it is enough, and more than I deserve.

I sincerely rejoice, and have given my God all the glory of the many mercies you enjoy, in conjunction with many other of your friends and acquaintance, on a temporal and spiritual account. Your account of Christian friends in Huntingdonshire, and of the worthy Dr. Stonhouse, in your town, together with his excellent book, hath tended to raise my drowsy heart in praise and prayer. My service and thanks to him for his valuable present of Archbishop Leighton's Works, and to you for your labour, in preparing them for the press. But my eyes fail, and I must conclude, with respects to all as due from

Your real Friend and unworthy Brother,

SAMUEL BATES.

FROM BENJAMIN FORFITT, ESQ.*

DEAR AND REV. SIR,

London, Feb. 23, 1751.

THE gentlemen received, with pleasure, your kind approbation and good wishes to their attempts to promote the interests of religion; and I have the satisfaction to inform you, that, since the time we began, which was in August last, we have forty-two pounds yearly subscriptions, and have received between thirty and forty pounds occasional contributions, and have the agreeable prospect of considerable additions. I have taken the liberty to send you an account of our design, and something of the method wherein it is proposed to carry it on, that any worthy persons, to whom it may approve itself, may know where to direct their benevolence; and I think I may assure them that it will be very faithfully applied. I do not know, dear Sir, whether justice does not oblige me to inform you, that if the world receives any advantage from this design, I think, under God, it is indebted to Dr. Doddridge for it, as the sacred fervour which animated your addresses from the pulpit, when last in town, kindled a spark of the same benevolence to the souls of men and in the breast of one, who could no longer retain his desires of usefulness within the compass of his own small abilities, without exciting others to the same views.

Believe us, Sir, we honour, I had almost said envy, the happiness of faithful and successful ministers of the blessed Jesus, in being made his instruments to rescue the precious souls of men from the bonds of sin and Satan, and of forming them to a meetness for everlasting happiness:

* When it is remembered that the charity to which Mr. Forfitt alludes was the Bible Society in its infancy, this letter becomes highly interesting.