"not the grounds of doctrine, that Co are ufual in all fermons. It is a "fault in many, that they love to <t hear fermons which are beyond "their reach, in which they stand and "wonder at the preacher, and plain

cr

preaching is little refpected of fuch.' -You will judge of his ftyle and manner by these quotations. I have lately found in his works, an analysis and harmony of the whole Bible for the ufe of ftudents at Cambridge.

I think I have now paid you in your own coin, and filled my paper to the utmost. If any thing be acceptable and useful to you in its contents, I fhall be glad. I am thankful for your prayers, which are mutual. Think of me, as laid afide from publick work, and almost useless; and learn from it to work while it is day, before difability comes, or the night,

when

when no man can work. And may God work effectually in you,

you, and by you!

I am your fincere

with

and affectionate friend,

JOB ORTON.

LETTER

DEAR SIR,

LETTER X.

April 17, 1773.

LATELY reading CHAUCER'S Character of a good Parfon, as published by DRYDEN, and recollecting fome things in your last letter about your method of preaching, induces me to transcribe the following lines, and fend them to you.

He bore his great commiffion in his look, But fweetly tempered awe; and foften'd all he spoke.

He preach'd the joys of heav'n and pains of hell
And warn'd the finner with becoming zeal;
But on eternal mercy lov'd to dwell.

He taught the gospel rather than the law;
And forc'd himself to drive; but lov'd to draw.
For fear but frightens minds; but love, like heat,
Exhales the foul fublime, to feek her native feat.
To threats, the ftubborn finner oft is hard:
Wrapt in his crimes, against the ftorm prepar'd;
But, when the milder beams of mercy play,
He melts, and throws his cumbrous cloak away.
Lightnings

Lightnings and thunder, (heaven's artillery)
As harbingers before th' Almighty fly;
Thofe, but proclaim his ftile, and difappear;.
The ftiller found fucceeds; and God is there.

There is much truth and weight in these lines, and my own experience confirms the propriety and importance of attending to them.

I am glad to find, that you preach to large congregations. But it is not eafy to know what good is done by our preaching. If we had not ground to hope, that more good is done, than appears in general, it would be very difcouraging. But great modefty, diffidence, or fome other principle, prevents our people from letting us know, how they like our fermons, and what good they get by them. Befides, we are sowing feed, which feem loft, but may only lie dormant for a while, yet may grow and fpring up and bear fruit hereafter, perhaps

may

fome

fome years hence, perhaps not till we are dead. I am glad you do not perplex yourself on this head, as indeed you should not; but while you endeavour to do your duty faithfully, leave the event to God. Yet, as it is very defirable to know what fuccefs attends our labours, every prudent method should be taken to know it. This is indeed a very nice point. One cannot make a direct enquiry, whether our fervices are useful, or even acceptable, without appearing vain and to court applaufe. Yet perhaps it may be proper to introduce in your visits, fome converfation upon the subject of your last fermon, and to remind the people of it. This may be done without any breach of modefty, and may lead them to open their hearts freely on the fubject; and thus we may judge how far they underftood and relifhed what was faid; and