real relation to the truths themselves. Many deem themselves elect because they believe election and dispute for it; yet their boastings, railings, evil tempers, and worldly lives are black marks of reprobation; that is, that at present they are disapproved characters. But no man can know that he is not elect; for, whatever his past or present conduct may be, he may yet be converted: and every serious conviction, and desire after salvation, is a hopeful token; and a willing mind (as above described,) is a certain proof of election.-The distress of numbers on this ground is wholly the effect of misapprehension and temptation.

"Election with the doctrines connected with it, when truly believed, must produce humiliation before God; gratitude to him for every hopeful token of being made to differ; a disposition to give him all the glory, and devote ourselves to him; meekness, long-suffering, tender compassion for sinners; hope of their salvation by the same grace that saves us; diligence in using means for that end, as God works by means; and in short, every holy temper. It gives encouragement to wrestle, run, and labor, by the assurance that no temptation shall at last deprive us of the blessing but no encouragement to be slothful, or to indulge in sin; because that must make our election doubtful.-Finally, many are elect and called, and manifest the humility and holy tendency of the doctrine, and its effects upon their hearts, who dissent from the notions they have formed of it in their heads.

In

"If these general thoughts be of any use to you, or by you to any other, I shall deem it a privilege; and shall be glad to answer any question you may further propose. general, ascribe the glory of all the good to God, and the blame of all bad to man, and you cannot be far wrong. Desiring an interest in your prayers, and to be remembered with love to all my unknown brethren with you,

“I remain,

"DEAR SIR,

"Your friend and servant in Christ,

"THOS. SCOTT."

Chapel Street, September 18, 1795.

"My state of health, which is generally bad at this time of the year, joined to various other circumstances, seems to incapacitate me for writing much, or much to the purpose, at present. In respect to the external forms, and other such distinctions among persons who appear, as

humble penitents, to rely on the merits and atonement of the divine Saviour, and to desire to live according to his will, and to his glory, I pay but little regard to them. I believe there are many things unscriptural among us all; that is either defective, redundant, or erroneous: but human nature is very fallible; ten thousand circumstanees produce prejudices, which warp the judgment; and the Lord seems to illuminate his people but in part. There must therefore be differences of opinion; these our corrupt passions will magnify into matters of importance, and urge us tenaciously and vehemently to contend about them: the enemy will stir up these passions, to disgrace and weaken the common cause, and to take men off from such endeavors as tend to subvert his kingdom; and by his influence, together with the deceitfulness of our hearts we are readily persuaded to think we are zealous for the Lord God of hosts, and doing him service, while we are thus gratifying our pride or malignity.-I do not consider these things (in which.we differ) as immaterial; for there is right and wrong, truth and falsehood in every thing; and they have always some effect on the heart and conduct: but, when we are satisfied in our minds, as far as circumstances will admit, that we are in the place, and worshipping after the manner, that it is the will of God we should, we are not vainly to imagine that we can do much more; or that we can remove rocks and mountains ;-for it would be no less a work if we could bring the state of the church, even in our own neighborhood, from what ages have confirmed, to what we think right: and, at last, we are as liable to be prejudiced and to mistake as other men. I have not met with any society or denomination of Christians, with whom I should agree in every thing: but, all things considered, I have deemed it my duty to abide where the Lord first found me, in that respect. I never could find liberty to join any other body and I felt no temptation to attempt another division of the church. I am not called upon to do any thing contrary to my conscience: and, if I were, the path is plain-give up the advantage, and bear the loss or cross; then conscience may be followed. Nor do I deem myself answerable for the sins of others belonging to the same corps.-If the different sects of Christians, among whom the truths of the gospel are maintained, would but consider themselves as different regiments in the same army; and stand up, as it were, for

the honour of their particular regiment, (only) by endeavoring to outdo others in promoting the spread of true religion; and thus fighting against the common enemy: the divisions might be overruled for good. But, alas! too many say, We saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us; and, while they frown upon, instead of forwarding, and praying for success to, every endeavor to disseminate truth in a dark world; they prejudice and harden the minds of worldly people by their eager, not to say fierce, contests with each other; and, having thus caused their zeal to evaporate, they remain indifferent and lukewarm about the common cause. -But there are some symptoms of a better spirit in this country; and that, connected with steadiness in the principles held. The Antipedobaptist missions are supported liberally by many Pedobaptist, both dissenters and churchmen: and other plans of a similar nature are set on foot. As far as we can we should assist all such undertakings, if they seem to originate from good motives, and to be conducted in the fear of God: and we should pray for success to them all, if we can do nothing more. The world is wide: perhaps not one fourth of mankind profess Christianity; and, alas! perhaps not one in a hundred of those called Christian are really such. Let us enlarge our views, desires, and prayers beyond the limits of a sect or party; according to the extensive meaning of the first clauses of the Lord's prayer.

"I have let my pen run on upon this subject, so that I have no room for another. But the deceiving of souls may be compared to the picking of pockets. He who is much afraid of having his pockets picked will generally take such precautions as will prevent it: so will he who is much afraid of being deceived; especially the means used by David, Psalm cxxxix, 23, 24.

"I remain, with best wishes, and prayers, your sincerely affectionate friend and servant,

66 DEAR SIR,

66

"THOMAS SCOTT."

Chapel Street, March 17, 1796.

........" I have been so peculiarly engaged in writing for the volume of sermons which I am printing, that I have been almost constrained to put off my correspondents, in order that I might not hinder the printer. Upon the whole my health is better than when I wrote last; but I am

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 favour 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 owing if not paying, my debts to my correspondents; and I am 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 labours 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 labours 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 mep in all respects their inferiors. In the church of England, among those who are reputed

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 fervour 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 methodical cast, and have much life, and not proportionable judgment and depth: others are solid Calvinstic 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 Socicians. 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 labourers, I have my reward.

"I find I have not mentioned the Presbyterians; about whom a native of North Britain may feel particularly in