Mr. W. told you. Tell me in your next your plan, heads, &c. and whether you use notes or no. If you think you cannot do without short ones, use them; but do not slavishly attend to them. I think you had better work it well into your mind first, and then deliver it extempore, or without notes. Don't be too delicate, or mind too much the smells of rooms, and so on; but consider Him who endured all kinds of hardships, lest you be weary and faint in your mind. I find I must not expect to hear from you till after your examination in July: well, let me have the more when you do send. About the logical definition, I shall say no more; only that I think you are very much mistaken when you imagine that I increase so much in knowledge, for I really do not think I do so much as I ought; indeed these blundering letters are evidence of it, so pray don't flatter. I did write a little in my last about my present experience, I believe, because I thought it was what you wanted. You say it is not quite possible to recollect all one has written in a former letter: I say, I know it is quite impossible. You say you should like to see the answers to the questions which I sent you; having room, I will transcribe some of them for you. "Question. How do you prove the existence of a God, without referring to the scriptures, or from the light of nature ?'

Answer. (1st) All nations, heathens, Jews, Mahometans, and Christians, harmoniously consent that there is a God, who created, preserves, and governs the world.'

"(2d) There is a great impression of Deity on the mind of every man; that is, an indistinct idea of his being, and a readiness to acquiesce in the truth of his existence.'

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(3d) The works of creation demonstrate it; their alterations and dependence prove them not to have been from eternity-they could not form themselves-chance could not produce them-matter cannot change its own form, or produce life or reason; therefore there must be a God."

"(4th) It is agreed from the support and government of the world-the heavenly bodies-seasons-weather-vegetables-sagacity and instinct of animals-herbs, &c.'

(5th) From the punishments which have been inflicted on nations and persons for their excessive immoralities.'

"(6th) From the terror and dread which wound men's consciences when guilty of crimes which other men do not know, or are not able to punish or restrain, as in the case of Nero, Domitian, and others, and that, too, when they laboured to persuade themselves and others that there was no God, &c.' -See Brown, Doddridge's Lectures, Ridgley, Buck's Dictionary, &c.

"Question. How do you prove that the scriptures have been faithfully conveyed to us?"

"Answer. In translations those books retain manifest marks of their Eastern original.'

“Notwithstanding all that Christ and his apostles inveighed against the wickedness of the Jews they never charged them with corrupting a single text in the Bible. The various sects among the

Jews, viz. Pharisees, Sadducees, &c. have rendered it impossible that they could corrupt them, as well as the animosities which have ever since prevailed between the Jews and Christians, so that neither of them could vitiate these sacred oracles, without being shamefully detected. Had the Jews attempted to corrupt these sacred books, it would certainly have been in those passages in which the fearful wickedness of their nation is described, and Jesus Christ magnified and honoured; but in none of them do we find the least mark of concealment or corruption. That they should be corrupted among Christians, is equally incredible: such was the multitude of copies, hearers, readers, and even sects, among them, that it is impossible they should ever have succeeded. Through the errors of transcribers, &c. the comparer of a multitude of copies cannot fail to find a number of translations. See Brown's View of Religion.

"Question. What proofs have you that man. was at first created righteous and holy?'

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"Answer.-(1st) Universal tradition; for all nations have supposed mankind to have once been in a holy and happy state."

"(2d) The nature of things; for it seems very improbable that so holy and so good a God shouldhave formed mankind, in the original constitution of their nature, in so corrupt and sinful a state.”

"(3d) The natural resemblance men have to God in the spirituality, intelligence, and immortality of their souls.-Gen. ix. 6. James iii. 9. "(4th) The express declarations of scripture: Eccl. vii. 29. Gen. i. 26, 27. Colos. iii. 10. Eph.

iv. 24.'

"These will now serve you for further meditating on, as well as the subject of natural and moral inability; your opinion of which I shall expect in your next letter. If you can, I would advise you to get Mosely's Piece, or read attentively the pieces in the Magazine; one of them is a letter from Dr. Watts.I told Mr. Hordle about your present prospects; I did not see any occasion to secret it, as Mr. W. knows it, and so many others: he is pleased on the account of it. He will be in London, if spared and well, on Wednesday the 24th instant, but do not think he will be there long enough to preach, for he is going much further, and will be away for a month, at which time we expect a supply from Hoxton: we shall have a student come down and stay all the time; which of them it will be I do not know.' I have spoken to Mr. H. about Brown's View of Religion, and he says it is quite at your service: I shall enclose it, and hope you will read it attentively through-be sure you read the address to students, at the beginning; when you have done with it, (he will not mind your keeping it a month or more) send it by coach. In it you will find a whole body of divinity in a very little compass. The part on the light and law of nature is very excellent. He was a most eminent man, and mighty in the scriptures: may you and I be like him. I am glad to hear the good news you give me of your brother; I hope it will appear to be the work of grace upon his soul, and that he may really be converted. I like your plan of having a prayer meeting much may you all experience the blessings you pray for.

As to drawing landscapes and plans you know I never was any hand at it, nor do I think of doing any thing in it; if I do, you shall have it. Perhaps I may give Samuel a note. You cannot receive this until Tuesday morning, although written on Saturday, because of the coach, so that I shall have time enough between now and then for thinking if there be any thing else to send. Wishing you every spiritual and temporal blessing, I remain your affectionate, though unworthy, friend, "THOMAS SPENCER."

No. 13.

September 4, 1806.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

"How wonderfully has Providence appeared for you and for me. This time twelvemonth beheld us both buried in a glove-shop-buried, did I say I recall the word, for we then enjoyed what we do not now, mutual conversation, and each other's company. Let us hope that the time may come when we shall again enjoy that. I am very glad that you succeeded so well as you did in your sermon before the committee; take encouragement from that circumstance to trust God for all your future discourses. The Sabbath day, August 17, though I found that I could not conveniently omit any one of the services, yet I assure you I did not forget your request. I cannot say that I think it is right (especially in me) to omit public worship for private devotion. And if I had done it, my conduet