in any thing, and I am pretty well furnished with books for the purpose. They will remain with my executor, if I cannot print them myself.*

TO REV. T. BELSHAM.†

DEAR FRIEND,

Northumberland, June 5, 1798. WHAT Would I not give to lay before you my Notes on Daniel and the Revelation, as well as my Comparison, to which I have now added, Remarks on M. Dupuis's Origin of all Religions. It is impossible to be perfectly grave in answering

it.

Accordingly, I have occasionally indulged in irony, as in my answer to Volney; who, it seems, had all his wild notions from him, and, I hear, triumphs greatly in the publication. Mr. Estlin has some good observations on the subject of this work; but weak as it is, it deserves, on account of the great labour, ingenuity, learning, and originality, a fuller answer.

There are no studies that give me so much satisfaction as those relating to the Scriptures and revelation in general, and at present the prophecies are certainly the most interesting, as the fulfilment of the most important of them is, no doubt, at hand; and yet a good many years may intervene before the scene of calamity be passed. I fully expect the personal appearance of Jesus, and have given my reasons for it at large in my Notes on the Revelation;§ but this will hardly be before the restoration of the Jews, of which there are no symptoms at present. The Turkish empire must fall, before that event, and the neighbouring powers do not seem disposed to meddle with it. But, great changes in the dispositions of men may take place in a short time, and things least expected come to pass. Of this we have lately seen many instances. Little did I expect hostility between this country and France, when I came hither. It was rather thought there would have been a war with England.

You will, probably, think me a visionary and an enthusiast, but I have pleased myself much of late in thinking that Jesus

has a proper sphere of action relating to his church at present. Consider what he says to the seven churches in the Revelation, which implies both his attention to them and his direction of their affairs, especially ch. ii. 5, 22, and iii. 10,* and his saying to Peter, concerning John, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" Angels may be men in the same state with him, and occasionally visible. We do not see them, but they may see us, and have more to do than we are aware of Jesus is no doubt living and on the earth, and he cannot be unemployed. No intelligent being, who is awake, is or ought to be so.

My letters, I fear, do not reach you, any more than yours reach me. I shall, however, continue to write.

P. S. I have just received and read, with the greatest satisfaction, your answer to Mr. Wilberforce. I admire it throughout, and cannot help thinking that, if he would read it at all, it must satisfy even himself, had we not so many instances of the invincible power of prejudice, especially when reason is avowedly distrusted.

I wish I could see your Exposition of Isaiah. I am more than ever at a loss to understand many parts of his book, especially those that have been thought to relate to Christ. Jarchi gives very good reasons for applying most of them to the Hebrew nation. I wish you would tell me which you think are really prophecies concerning Christ in the Old Testament. It is a subject that wants light very much. I shall not fail of giving the closest attention to it; but I despair of getting complete satisfaction.§

TO REV. T. LINDSEY.

DEAR FRIEND,

Northumberland, June 16, 1798. AFTER an interval, which I thought very long, I have just received three of your letters. I rejoice that, in such times as these, we can have any communication. I fear this great source of satisfaction to me will grow less and less.

* See W. XIV. 451.

+ Thus Coward and Bekker. See W. II. 373, note *.

In "Letters to a Lady."

We are now, in fact, at war with France, and you are threatened, probably by this time more than threatened, with an invasion from the same great power. It is, no doubt, the instrument in the hands of Providence of effecting the greatest purposes, and such as they least of all intend. The issue will no doubt be happy, but the immediate effect will be calamitous. The fall of the Papal power must be followed by that of those which have supported it; but in what manner, or at what distance of time, we cannot tell. A few years, we see, produce the most unexpected events. I am glad to see the French looking towards the East, though with what view does not appear.

As to my speculations about the Millenium, and the present condition of Christ, &c., surely they are innocent. To myself they are something more than amusing; and that they should offend any body, really surprises me. I cannot help thinking that some of my observations on that subject are calculated to remove considerable difficulties in the scheme of revelation. I should not have thought that, to any Christian, they would have appeared very extravagant, much less that they would have given offence, except to the very captious; and if what is both useful and original must be wholly overlooked, and nothing but blemishes dwelt upon, it will be time to give over writing. But I hope that some readers will have more candour. I shall, however, hardly undertake more than completing, in the best manner that I can, what I have begun. The Notes on the Old Testament will employ me several years; and if they never be published, I shall not repent my labour, as I cannot do any thing else that will give me so much satisfaction. I have nearly finished the short-hand copy of my Notes on the Minor Prophets. I find Zechariah the most difficult, though Blayney has thrown much light on that book.

You need not be concerned about my not finding prophecies concerning the Messiah. There are enow, and I only expressed some doubts about the Christian interpretation of the 53d of Isaiah, thinking that of the Jews, which I have been considering, more plausible than I was used to think it, and wishing to have Mr. Belsham's assistance, as he has lately

been expounding that book. I have not formed any decided opinion on the subject.

I find a great disadvantage in being alone, having no person whatever to confer with on any subject of this kind; and as we used to observe with respect to Mr. Cappe, my solitary speculations may lead me astray, farther than I can be aware of myself; and for this there is not perhaps any remedy, and therefore my friends must bear with me. They should, however, consider that they are not infallible, any more than myself; and to many of us the time is not far distant when we shall see more clearly than we do at present.

I am truly thankful for the benefactions of my friends, and desire you would make my acknowledgments to Mr. Heberden, and my particular respects to his venerable father, of whose bounty I have largely partaken, whether the present came from him or not. I have written to the Duke, and shall inclose a letter to Mrs. Rayner. I hope I truly feel the obligations which such benefactions lay me under, to do all that I can to promote the great cause they have at heart, and I hope that we shall one day rejoice together.†

DEAR FRIEND,

To THE SAME.

Northumberland, Aug. 2, 1798. I AM just made very happy by the receipt of two letters from you. I hear also that the books you have been so good as to send me are safely arrived at Philadelphia, and will soon be here, together with the newspapers, by Mr. Brookes,‡ whom I have not yet seen.

I only learned that Mr. Salte was dead, by the Monthly Magazine, which I received very lately. I have had no letter from Mr. Sharpe. The legacy will be acceptable, though I have no wish for any thing, but to enable me to print what I have composed; and this, I doubt not, will be in my power

* See supra, p. 315.

↑ Orig. MS.

A much-esteemed friend of mine, now residing at New York. See supra, p. 313...

ere long, and in the mean time I shall endeavour to make what I have written, more perfect.

I am much concerned at your account of the very bad state of Dr. Aikin's health. I always thought him very healthy, and likely, being temperate and active, to live long. He was always usefully employed, and his manners peculiarly pleasing. Dr. Enfield's death was mentioned by Mrs. Barbauld and Mr. Johnson as an event with which I must be acquainted, whereas I had not had any account of it at all, and was much concerned at it. He was much younger than me, and always actively and usefully employed. I am particularly thankful that you and Mrs. Lindsey are preserved. Could I but see you once more, (and I do not despair of it,) it would, I think, make me live something longer, it would give me so much satisfaction. But we are all in the hands of One who best knows how to dispose of us; and the thing we should, and I hope do, chiefly attend to, is to secure a happy meeting in a state of greater permanency than this.

I had some hopes that's scepticism had left him, but you intimate the contrary. However, even Christianity itself is only a means to a certain end; and, if that be attained, though I think it next to impossible, all will be well. That any unbeliever can be pious, and habitually devout, (without which every character must be very imperfect,) is what I have not yet seen any appearance of.

Your account of Mrs. Rayner and Dr. Heberden is very pleasing. I have not yet had the letter of the former, but now I shall not despair of any thing. It will give me great pleasure to receive it, come when it will. Time will carry off one friend after another; and this makes our own removal less painful, nay, rather desirable. I do not wish to live a day longer than I can live to do some good; and I am thankful that my health is on the whole better now than it has ever been yet, though I am far from being strong. I wish Mrs. Lindsey could say the same.

Dr. Aikin recovered, (see infra, p. 415,) and survived till "Dec. 7, 1822, having nearly completed his 75th year." See M. R. XVII. 771; XVIII. 52, 717. To Dr. Aikin's Life of Dr. Priestley, in the Universal Biography, I annexed some notes, in 1815. See ibid. X. 1—13.