number of existing christian moralists. But, can this be just, and right? If christianity amounts to no more, than a heathen moralist could, by philosophic discipline, attain to, we may well ask, to what purpose did the Son of God, take our nature upon him? Why, did he suffer death upon the cross?

To some, I doubt not, this whole scheme would appear enthusiastic, and be set down, as rank methodism. If so, I can only say, it is such methodism, as was taught by the great divines of our church, from the reformation, until the latter end of the seventeenth century. Then, some of the most popular divines, took up a mode of moral preaching, which they seem to have learned from Episcopius, and the other Dutch remonstrants; and to which, Tillotson's over-disgust at his own puritanic education, very much contributed. This mode became more and more general; until, at length, little other was to be met with.

And yet, were I to point out authors, whose works, as most nearly agreeing with the views given above, I am most disposed to recommend to you, as part of your first studies, I should name some of that very period, the latter end of the seventeenth century. Two laymen of that time, may be set down, as, in their lives, among the brightest examples of christianity, that ever the church afforded I mean, JUDGE HALE, and ROBERT BOYLE. The life of the former, by bishop Burnet, ought to be in every one's hands. But his Contemplations on moral and religious subjects', is

the work I particularly refer to: wonderfully plain, and simple; but exquisitely christian. There is a work, also, of that time, which contains, perhaps, the finest view of practical religion, the most removed, from coldness, on the one hand, and overheat, on the other, that is to be found in the christian world, Scougal's life of God, in the soul of man. The author was a Scotch episcopal clergyman; and died at a very early age. This, every christian ought to have, as a sort of manual.

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Another composition of that day, I would earnestly recommend to your perusal; bishop Burnet's conclusion of his own life and times. It, also, contains, in a small compass, as fine a view of țical christianity, as almost ever was composed. Burnet, both in his pastoral care, and in his own life and times, speaks much about, and bestows the highest encomiums upon, archbishop Leighton. He was a pattern of christian perfection, His writings bear a close resemblance to early English divinity: but, in sublime piety, and often in genuine strokes of natural, but most exalted eloquence, they are not excelled, but by the sacred writers.

Lucas's inquiry after happiness, especially his second volume, is peculiarly, of that kind, which avoids both coldness and enthusiasm. And to these, I would add Dr. Worthington's book on self-resignation.*

* Republished, with his other practical works, by Messrs. Rivingtons.

Burnet's life of bishop Bedel; his account of lord Rochester; and his funeral sermon for Mr. Boyle, .. deserve, also, to be placed in the highest rank. I wish much, that all Burnet's lives, including the sermon, were to be republished in Ireland; except his large one of bishop Bedel, which is easily come at, and peculiarly worth having.

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Burnet's most interesting anecdotes of archbishop Leighton, given in his own life and times, should, also, be extracted, and introduced into such a volume.

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Archbishop Leighton, however, on second thoughts, I do not recommend to you, as just for your purpose now; because I wish to mention those, only, who completely occupy that middle place you speak of; and on whom, of course, you may safely rely. But Leighton had a leaning to Calvinism: which places him in a different class. Hereafter, when your theological knowledge is somewhat more advanced, and you are able to exercise the eclectic faculty, he ought to make a part of your library: for, a more apostolic man never lived; and his genius was not only vivid, but sublime. In the far greater part of his works, he really deserves to stand very near the inspired writers.

But there are two authors, whom I would certainly wish to occupy a place in your earliest course. One, more ancient, whom, I fear, it may not be easy to come at, in Ireland. The other, modern.

The ancient one lies, at this moment, before me: it is entitled,Select discourses by John Smith,

late fellow of queen's college, Cambridge:' a quarto, of the smaller size, printed at Cambridge, in the year 1660.* His editor was the Dr. Worthington, already mentioned. Of this volume, all is learned, liberal, ingenious, and eminently pious: but the latter part is the most interesting, A discourse of legal and evangelical righteousness, &c.', and all those that follow, to the end. The first short treatise in the volume, however, on the true method of attaining divine knowledge, ought, by no means, to be passed over.

The other, the wise and excellent Doddridge, was a man, who, though a dissenter from our church, would have done any church the highest honour. Pure conscience kept him from conforming; his early views having been formed on another plan: though, there can be little doubt, that, in our establishment, his transcendent merits would have raised him to the highest dignities. He is not exactly of the description of writers I have been mentioning: but he is, indeed and in truth, a combination of all excellencies. Scougal, Burnet, Lucas, and John Smith, excelled in their views of the religion of the heart, as embracing habitual devotion, internal purity, and active charity. In these respects, they are, perhaps, the first writers in the world. But, the excesses of some of the puritanical men of that age, led them to be much on the reserve, as to some of the peculiar doctrines

* Since republished, by Messrs. Rivingtons and Cochran.

of christianity. On what concerns the Christian MeTávola, and its most precious fruits, they are un, rivalled: respecting the Christian íσs, its nature, and its exercise, they are perhaps, somewhat deficient. Who is perfect?

Our Saviour says, • Ye believe in God; believe, also, in Me.' The former duty, they well understood, and nobly inculcated, from well-experienced hearts: the latter, they themselves professed and practised; but not with equal clearness. Here, the Calvinistic puritans have been somewhat wild; and their wildness, perhaps, occasioned over-caution, in these excellent men. But Doddridge is as perfect here, as in every other respect. Instead of shunning puritanism, to which extreme, some of his connections might rather have given him an over-inclination, he extracts all its excellencies, and leaves behind all its feculence. Never was there a betterinformed divine, a more judicious casuist, or a more evangelic christian. His theological lectures, though in some measure deformed, by the strange adoption of a mathematical form in demonstrating his propositions, are a complete body, and most candid treasury, both of theoretic, and practical instruction; both of questionable opinions, and of unquestionable truth. His family expositor, is, in most parts, a perfectly sound, fair, pious, and rational interpreter of the new testament. And his sermons on regeneration, are, of all practical works, that which, perhaps, comes nearest what you mention as a desideratum,.. the fulness of