LETTERS. 303 



ia common with the humbling, self-denying religion 

 taught by the Apostles, by the homilies of our Church, 

 and by all the reformers ? The chief argument of the 

 latter against the Romish Church, was their asserting 

 the validity of works. Now, what ideas must your son 

 have of Christian faith ? You say, that even Shakes- 

 pear s debauchees ivere believers ; and he is given to un- 

 derstand that he is a good Christian, if he do his duty 

 to his master and fellows, go to church every Sunday, 

 and keep clear of enthusiasm. And what has Jesus 

 Christ to do with your system? and where is the faith 

 banished of which every page of Scripture is full ? 

 Can this be right ? " Closet devotion" is the means of 

 attaining faith ; and humble prayer is the true means 

 of arriving at fervency in religion, without enthusiasm. 

 You condemn Socinianism ; but I ask you where Jesus 

 Christ appears in your scheme, and why the influences of 

 the Holy Ghost, and even his names, are banished from it? 

 * « * « 



TO MR P. THOMPSON. 



Nottingham, 8th April 1806. 

 Dear Sir, 



I sincerely beg your pardon for my ungrateful dis- 

 regard of your polite letter. The intervening period 

 has been so much taken up, on the one hand, by ill 

 health, and on the other, by occupations of the most in- 

 dispensable kind, that I have neglected almost all my 

 friends, and you amongst the rest. I am now at Xot- 

 tiiigham, a truant from study, and a rejected votary at 

 the shrine of Health ; a few days will bring me back to 

 the margin of the Cam, and bury me once more in the 

 busy routine of college exercises. Before, however, I 

 am again a man of bustle and occupation, I snatch a few 

 moments to tell you how much I sliall be gratified by 

 your correspondence, and how greatly I think myself 

 flattered by your esteeming mine worth asking for. 



The little sketch of your past occupations, and present 



