ly allow him the honour of being distinguished by the epithet, of Judicious; that they would attentively read, and impartially consider his doctrine. This would put an effectual step to those declamations, that either ignorantly or maliciously are made against those very doctrines, as novel inventions, which have just now been explained and defended, in Mr. Hooker's own words. For my own part, though I acknowledge, that he advances many things, I should be unwilling to subscribe to; yet I heartily bless God, that at this time I read him; the first material alteration, that took place in my views of the gospel, being in consequence thereof.

One more quotation I shall produce, and so take my leave of him. (Page 552,) addressing himself unto the pastors, who are appointed to feed the chosen in Israel, he says, "If there be any feeling of Christ, any drop of heavenly dew, any spark of God's good Spirit within you; stir it up, be careful to build and edify, first yourselves, and then your flocks in his most holy faith. I

say, first yourselves; for he, which will set the hearts of other men, on fire with the love of Christ, must himself burn with love. It is want of faith in ourselves, my brethren, which makes us watchless (careless) in building others. We forsake the Lord's inheritance, and feed it not. What is the reason of this? Our own desires are settled, where they should not be. We ourselves are like those women, which have a longing to eat coals and lime, and filth; we are fed, some with honour, some with ease, some with wealth. The gospel waxeth loath

some, and unpleasant to our taste. Hoh should we then have a care to feed ality, with that we cannot fancy ours alarmfaith wax cold and slender in the hed to me, prophet, it will soon perish from 'y, would the people." "Tis not needful tual way. reflections upon this passage; elethod of will readily make them for himselfmade to however reminded thereby of Sut their words, (Eccl. c. i. v. 9, 10.) "Theened to new thing under the sun; is there are and whereof it may be said, see this is nquiring

hath been already of old time, which was before us." (Eccl. c. iii. v. 15.) "That which hath been is now, and that which is to be, hath already been."

To my shame be it spoken, though I had twice subscribed the article, which allows the book of Homilies to be sound and wholesome doctrine, I had never yet seen them, and understood not what that doctrine was. But now, being engaged in a serious inquiry after truth, and Hooker's works having given me a more favourable opinion of these old authors, I was inclined to examine fihem; and read part of the book with some my vree of attention. And though many thereon. seemed hard sayings, that I could

One move; yet many others were made so take myful to me, especially concerning dressing ion. In short, I perceived, that appointe trine, which I had hitherto despised, says, "hodistical, was the standard doctrine drop of established church, when that book good Sjomposed; and consequently, that it ful too still; for that book has lost none of then thority, though much of its esteem,

with those, who subscribe the thirty-nine articles. This weakened my prejudice, though it did not prove the doctrine true.

About this time a new and unexpected effect was produced by my preaching. I had hitherto been satisfied to see people regularly frequent the church, listen attentively to what was discoursed, and lead moral decent lives. The way, in which I had been led, was so smooth, and the progress I had made so gradual, I had lately so little experienced distressing concern for my own soul, and had so little acquaintance with persons conversant with these matters; that, though I declared the strictness, and spirituality, and sanction of the law of God, in an alarming manner; yet it never occurred to me, but that they who profited thereby, would proceed in the same easy gradual way. But I had scarce begun this new method of preaching, when application was made to me by persons in great distress about their souls; their consciences being awakened to a sense of their lost condition by nature and practice, they were anxious in inquiring

what they must do to be saved? I knew not well what to say to them, my views being very clouded, and my sentiments very perplexed concerning justification; but, being willing to give them the best counsel I could, I exhorted them to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, though I was neither capable of instructing them concerning the true nature of faith, nor in what manner they were to seek for it. However, I better understood my own meaning, when I advised them to the study of the scriptures, accompanied with prayer to God, to be led to the right understanding of them; and when I inculcated amendment of life. In this manner the Lord slowly brought them forwards; and though, for want of a better instructor, they were a considerable time, before they arrived at establishment in the faith; yet some of them, having their minds less leavened with prejudice and the pride of reasoning, were more apt scholars in the school of Christ, than I was, and got the start of me in the knowledge, both of doctrine and duty; and in their turns became,