A letter written out of the country to a person of quality in the…A letter written out of the countrey to a person of quality in the…

But for the manner of his treating of his subject, That I impute to the prevalency of some present temptation; and hope he did not express in that Sermon his habitual temper. And am highly confident, notwithstanding what he hath said in it; if it were in his power, we might even safely trust him to prescribe us terms, and should receive no hard ones from him.

Somewhat it is likely he was expected (and might be urged) to say to this business. And his own thoughts, being set a work, fermented into an intemperate heat, which it is to be hoped, will in time evaporate.

If I may freely speak to you my own thoughts, he seems to deal in this business as one that forced himself to say somewhat. For though I apprehend he speaks his judgment, yet the expressing it in this time and manner he might regret. And because it might appear a becoming thing to him to seem earnest; The temptation prevailed with him (against his habitual inclination) to supply with sharpness, the defect of reason; which the poverty of the Cause afforded not. For really his reasonings are faint, unconcluding, and unlike Doctor Stillingfleet. So that if any expected this performance from him, one may think (and this ought in some part to excuse him) that, besides some little flourishes of his reading and wit, he seems only to have lent them his name. Which however I pray you let still be of great value with you. And turn your displeasure into serious earnest praying for him, that his spirit may not be further harmed; that, amidst his many temptations, he may be delivered and preserved from being at all puffed up or any way embittered, and that so valuable a person be not lost, or in the least degree, rendered less useful to the Church ⟨p. 47⟩of God. And that all that know his more inward conversation may discern in his frequent savoury discourses, in his continued serious calling upon God in his family, in his readiness to do good, especially to the souls of men, in his aptness to condescend to those that are much beneath him, how great the Efficacy is, of divine Grace. And that, through the power of it, a great measure of Wit, learning, applause, and secular advantages, may not only consist with vivid godliness, and sincere devotedness to the Interest of Religion, but contribute abundantly to the service and diffusion thereof in the World. I am very serious in this advice to you. Nor, thanks be to God, have so low or profane thoughts of prayer (which hath ever born so great a part in the Religion of all times, nations, and sorts of men) as to think it will signify nothing. Especially when the design of it is not mean and private, but such wherein all good men will Unite.