thankful to see even the least appearance of any thing lik the fear of God in any belonging to us. Your situation i not of your own choosing, that I can see, and, being your cross, will not be your detriment. "You will receive with this a few sermons, which I have lately published, preached at Olney:* perhaps you will receive some from Boston previously: but no matter: dispose of them as you think best. The people about Olney go on well in the midst of changes; and many shew the truth of the doctrine they have heard, by their lives: pray for them........I remain with prayers and good wishes for you all, "Your affectionate uncle, "DEAR SUSAN, "THOS. SCOTT ** "Chapel Street, September 16, 1788. "You must not attribute my long silence to any thing but the multiplicity of my engagements; especially with my pen. By my utmost exertions I can scarcely keep on to supply a number per week of the Bible-to finish it a the manner I would: nay for these three or four weeks past I have lost ground considerably, having been very poorly in health, though I am now better: and I consider it as my duty to let no number go forth less clear, distinct, and exact, than I could make it with proper diligence. There company, corespondence, and almost every thing (preaching in season and out of season ex pted,) must here give place. The publication gets forward in sale and in repute; and I trust will be useful: but by one means or other I have got a sad character even among my brethren; who look upon me as a man ambitious of the honor of being talked of, and of setting the world right, and reforming ministers, &c. &c. They judge according to appearance, but the Lord judges righteous judgment. "Your last letter gave me sensible pleasure in every way. I can only say, Go forward, and the Lord prosper you! Do not forget to pray to the Lord to give me humility, patience, meekness, wisdom, perseverance, and success: for what God hath taught me I certainly desire to impart to others, and to all others, of every class and character, if it were possible, all over the world. But whether in this I seek the glory of God, or my own honor, is best known to him. who searcheth the heart of man...... I remain your truly affectionate uncle, "THOMAS SCOTT." * On Growth in Grace: Life, p. 170. 9 6 LETTERS TO MR. J. CAMPBELL, EDINBURGHNOW THE REV. J. CAMPBELL, OF LONDON.* 1789-1793. In introducing these letters I shall take the liberty of prefixing the greater part of that, with which Mr. C. favored me, on transmitting them-believing that it will be interesting to the reader. "REV. AND DEAR SIR, "Kingsland, near London, February 17, 1823. "I HAVE enclosed copies of all the letters I am able to find, which I received from your late worthy father, divested of their mere business parts. I know there were others; but Hough, since my return from Africa, I have spent my leisure hours during some weeks in burning old papers and letters, I have not discovered any of those of your father's which I miss.-The reading of his letters regarding his severe asthma reminded me of hearing him preach one morning at the Lock, when he was more fit for a pillow than a pulpit, in point of health; but no creatire could have discovered it while he was preaching. I dired with him: and after dinner we set off on foot to walk part of the way to Bread Street, where he was to preach in the afternoon. A shower of rain caused all the hackney coaches to be engaged: while walking along Piccadilly, he was gasping for breath, and declared he could proceed no further, but must sit down on the pavement. That instant an unhired coach appeared at a little distance: he waved his handkerchief, exclaiming, "There's a coach, and God has sent it! Great was the gratitude he expressed on tak Visitor of the London Missionary Society's establishments in Southern Africa. ing his seat in that coach. We arrived just in time at the church, when he preached a most searching sermon from, What do ye more than others? The meagre attendance at the church shewed that few of the neighbors were aware where the best gold was to be had; or that they were more captivated by manner than matter; by how it was said, than what was said. "On a visit to London I was expressing a great desire to see the late Mr. Charles of Bala, with whom I had corresponded for three years, concerning a remarkable revival which had taken place under his ministry. Mr. Charles happening to be in town at the time, your father kindly took me to Lady Ann Erskine's, where he resided. We spent there two happy hours. Your father requested Mr. C. to favor us with a brief outline of the circumstances which led to the remarkable revival at Bala, and the surrounding region, its progress, &c. He did so, for upwards of an hour. On our leaving him, your father said, Did you not observe the singular humility of Mr. Charles, in the narrative that he gave? never having once mentioned himself, though he was the chief actor and instrument in the whole matter. "I have mentioned these few facts, not knowing whether you had a niche for such things or not. They have cost me no trouble putting down, so no harm can be done, though they should prove useless to you; though sometimes little things are rendered valuable by the greatness of the character to which they are attached. Should I discover any other letters I shall send them. "I am your's sincerely, "JOHN CAMPBell.” "Chapel Street, June 15, 1789. "DEAR SIR, "Ir gave me real pleasure to receive a letter from you, with an account of your safe arrival at home; and I should be glad to write a more full answer to it, but that I am poorly in health, and have more to do than I can get through. "I am obliged to you for mentioning my pamphlet among your acquaintance, and for attempting to disperse it: ifit be in any way useful I shall rejoice. The comment mentioned in the Force of Truth was directly Socinian: it was published in weekly numbers in folio, about the year 1762 or 1763; and was said to be written by a society of gentlemen. It made altogether five moderate sized volumes. There was a considerable degree of specious reasoning, and ingenuity in the management of their arguments, but it seems to me that it did not spread very wide; for I have not met with more than one copy of it since I entered into orders, and I find but few people who are acquainted with it. "In general I know little afterwards about the patients whom I speak to in the hospital; but a few instances I have met with, which have convinced me that my labor was not in vain: and the new institution, which is annexed to the hospital, for the reception of penitent female patients, promises considerable usefulness, if it be not deranged. But I meet with many difficulties in my situation, and it is doubtful whether I shall continue long in it. However, all things are in the hands of the Lord; his wisdom, power, and love are infinite; his counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure; and his cause shall triumph over all opposition: and all who cordially favor it shall be ere long more than conquerors, through him who loved them. "Desiring an interest in your prayers; and sincerely begging of the Lord to multiply mercy, grace, and peace to you, and all in your part of the world, and indeed everywhere, who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, "I am "Your sincere friend and servant, "THOMAS SCOTT." "Chapel Street, April 3, 1791. "DEAR SIR, "I AM quite ashamed to address a line to you after my long silence: but if you had known all the hurry of engagements that I have been in, as well as the variety of my inward agitations, you would be disposed to forgive me. I have enclosed a few sermons that I have published, without my name, on occasion of the death of a much valued friend, whom you have often heard of, Mr. Thornton. "Hitherto the Lord hath helped us; I trust all is working together for good; the bitter as well as the sweet; and I find much to be contained in the words of Deut. viii, 2, suited to my feelings and my whole case. May all we meet with, my dear sir, tend to make Christ more precious to us, and sin more hateful; to deliver us more and more from the love of the world, and from the fear of death, that we may look forward with joy to the time when we shall depart hence to be with Christ, and meet before the throne to part no more. "I remain "Your sincere friend, "THOMAS SCOTT." "Chapel Street, July 10, 1792. "DEAR SIR, "ON June 27th I wrote the substance of the following letter, intending to send it with the remaining numbers immediately: but unforeseen hindrances have retarded; and, as you will so soon be in town, and I hope to see you at my house, I shall omit sending them till you come. "In excuse for my long silence, I can only say that I had so much writing that I could only get through it by the utmost possible exertion; so that I have lately almost wholly given over corresponding with my nearest relatives. I procrastinate therefore from necessity, not from inclination: and, having now, by the help of God, concluded my laborious publication,* I shall be glad again occasionally to interchange information and sentiments. Some little books I meant to have sent for distribution; which I shall shew you when you come. "I can cordially unite with you in your observation concerning the wisdom and love of the Lord's conduct towards us, and the frequent instances of our folly and ingratitude towards him. Humility and gratitude seem to be the two great lessons which we are to learn on earth, in order to our enjoyment in heaven: for the deep sense of our own vileness, and of the Lord's mercies, forms the principal preparation for joining cordially in the song of the redeemed. Ordinances, providences, and experiences concur in teaching the true believer these lessons. Our sighs, groans, and tears, nay our very blunders and miscarriages, though discordant and distressing, are, like the tuning of an instrument, necessary to the subsequent harmony. But it is a great mercy, with such hearts as our's, and in such a world as this, to be kept from dishonoring God and the gospel; and we have therefore abundant cause to be thankful that the Lord hath hitherto helped us in any * His Commentary. |