increase therefore the Holy Ghost tells us, Paul and Apollos are nothing; then surely we must be double diminutives, less than the least of all saints. Our journey from D. to H. was a very pleasant one, and our conversation was sweet together, until you mentioned your thoughts of a college. I told you my thoughts in a measure; but the next day, as I went from H. to Richmond, I pondered it over in my mind: Alas! said I, how shall I endure to see my son, whom I love in the truth, who is by occupation no more than a poor S. or master C. up in a pulpit, with robes and bands? How shall I, with any degree of patience, look on my son, without being disgusted? I can love and revere thy grace, but not thy pride; and if pride should obscure thy grace, how shall I find a feature of Christ to fix my affections on? Gospel love can never fix but on some feature of the Saviour; humbling grace is the image of him, pride the image of the devil. Thou knowest at this time that I am as good, if not a better scholar, than any of my flock at G. and if my pride has at any time prompted me to express a great swelling word, hast thou not seen how they have looked up at me? as much as to say, What doth our barbarian pastor mean by that? But my son's humour may object, and say, suppose I should be called to preach in London, as you are? Well, suppose you should; thou needest not become a collegian on that account; because the steps of his unpolished father, without wag 315 therefore the Holy Ghost tells us, Paul utives, less than the least of all nothing; then surely we must tion was sweet together, a measure; but the to Richmond, I ponsaid I, how shall ove in the truth, and bands? poor S. or look honourable. I believe, ment in the and me u buildin honor J un the cross, nor ..isdom may plead the use wn to draw people; to which I nets manufactured by human wisdom weak to hold a sinner. Cast the Lord's with the hand of faith, and pray for the wind e to blow, and doubtless you will have a draught. it: Strive not to please a few light, bigoted Pharisees, with a gown and band; their applause will puff thee up, and pride may blind thine eyes, until thou mayest appear in thine own sight almost a master of arts; but every discerning Christian will see thee in another light. Go on as thou art; bring no carnal props to support the ark of God; an unpolished preacher is less capable of deceiving. Many ap 315 owns and bands, with refined language, more than mere instruments, with'ife, deceiving the people with an erefore the Holy Ghost tells us, Paul "less than the least of all nothing; then surely we must was a very pleasant a college. weet together, ut the d, although they are called gospel to be feared they neither know es: better judges than I say Mors. hear one of these gentle no more right to them very sound-worded h, ingenuity, and ing wanting but nan lent me a before, called Ben I had not read in it saw, word for word, all the ingeni Course which I had lately heard; and how at divine appeared in my eyes afterwards I shall leave you to guess. I told a friend who went with me, that if these gentlemen were kept from hearing gospel ministers, and without money to buy commentators, they would be forced to act the part of a journeyman shoemaker when he has spent all his cash on St. Monday; I mean, stand still for the want of stuff. I know some learned gospel ministers in London, who have come down in their style of speech to the weakest capacity; while others, some of whom were as low and mean as myself, are climbing up in pride to that pinnacle from which the others descended. Do not mistake me, I am not steps of his unpolished father, without wag the of the world, it is t 315 herefore the Holy Ghost tells us. Fals nutives, less than the least of all tion was sweet together, a measure; but the said I, how shall we in the truth, and bands? poor S. or renewing, miraculous grac ment in th quired ab and me buildi honr the cross, nor dom may plead the use Jown to draw people; to which I nets manufactured by human wisdom o weak to hold a sinner. Cast the Lord's it with the hand of faith, and pray for the wind to blow, and doubtless you will have a draught. Strive not to please a few light, bigoted Pharisees, with a gown and band; their applause will puff thee up, and pride may blind thine eyes, until thou mayest appear in thine own sight almost a master of arts; but every discerning Christian will see thee in another light. Go on as thou art; bring no carnal props to support the ark of God; an unpolished preacher is less capable of deceiving. Many ap 315 rowns and bands, with refined language, no more than mere instruments, withlife, deceiving the people with an `nd, although they are called gospel to be feared they neither know Ives better judges than I say refore the Holy Ghost tells us, Paul less than the least of all nothing; then surely we must s a very pleasant et together, college. the ors. 'o hear one of these gentleno more right to them a very sound-worded ech, ingenuity, and +hing wanting but 'eman lent me a before, called Ben I had not read in it dw, word for word, all the ingeni ourse which I had lately heard; and how at divine appeared in my eyes afterwards I shall leave you to guess. I told a friend who went with me, that if these gentlemen were kept from hearing gospel ministers, and without money to buy commentators, they would be forced to act the part of a journeyman shoemaker when he has spent all his cash on St. Monday; I mean, stand still for the want of stuff. I know some learned gospel ministers in London, who have come down in their style of speech to the weakest capacity; while others, some of whom were as low and mean as myself, are climbing up in pride to that pinnacle from which the others descended. Do not mistake me, I am not |