DRIDGE's Expofitor on the Revelation, I ftudied that book as carefully as I could, and I found more confistency and fatisfaction in LowMAN on the Revelation, than any other commentator upon it.*

Mr. ROBINSON, the author of the Plea for the Divinity of Chrift, hath not received a regular education; but is a man of a furprifing genius, and vaft application. He does not appear to me to understand the controverfy about the Trinity; and has mifapplied feveral

LOWMAN's book on the Revelation, is a quarto, about eight fhillings price: the best and most fatisfactory expofition of that book, which I have feen. He was a diffenting minister at Clapham, in Surry, near London: but not a popular preacher. He wrote fome valuable tracts on the hebrew ritual and jewish antiquities. He has been dead between twenty and thirty years. I never knew him, but have heard much of his learning, moderation, and ferioufnefs. Dr. FURNEAUX fucceeded him at Clapham. Mr. ORTON, Dec. 20, 1777.

t

feveral texts, which I have taken the liberty of pointing out to him. He frequently contradicts himself, being in fome parts of his performance a Sabellian, while in others he seems to favour the Athanafian doctrine. In reality, I take him to be a Sabellian, or elfe I do not underftand him. I with none would meddle with that controverfy, but those who understand it. I have read many treatises upon the fubject, and fome angry and uncharitable ones, whofe authors did not understand it, but wrote without any clear ideas. I think Mr. ROBINSON'S book will be useful, to fhew the difficulty of the point, and to abate the confidence and cenforiousness of many.

The death of Dr. ADAMS's amia. ble nephew is, and will be, a great affliction to his good mother, and uncle. He died of a violent fever at Oxford. I wrote a letter of condolance

to

to the doctor on this very mournful occafion.*

As

Your relations and friends here are well. I blefs God I am as well as ufual, but find old age gaining upon me by long ftrides. Continue your prayers for me, that I may be ready whenever the fummons comes, and that all may be well at last. a fcotch divine faid in his dying moments, fo I would fay: "If I do not come up to HENRY'S glory, and WATTS'S glory, and DODDRIDGE'S glory, I fhall be well, if I win-in* among them."

Your affectionate friend, &c.

JOB ORTON.

* See Appendix.

LETTER

*The expreffion of winning-in, is a fcotticism, and fignifies to get-in, or rather, to gain-in, among them. We use the word for winning a prize. So in our tranflation, that I may win Chrift, negdecal, gain Chrift, as a treasure, or fomething extremely valuable. Phil. iii. 8.

LETTER XXVI.

DEAR SIR,

September 20, 1778.

Ir is common for the lawyers

when they prefer a bill in chancery against a perfon, to crave leave of the chancellor to mend the bill. This I will endeavour to do with respect to my letter of yesterday; which I wrote in a hurry, as I was not willing to make the meffenger wait.

I wish your friend Mr.** may have an opportunity of reading a difcourfe, written by Dr. WISHART, principal of the college of Edinburgh, on the Inefficacy of a Death-Bed Repentance, or fome fuch title, as it is an excellent piece: or, a fermon of Mr. NEWMAN'S (late minifter of Carter-Lane, London) on the Cafe of the penitent

Thief, which is a very judicious difcourfe. As to vifiting condemned malefactors, it is very proper: for even a good man may be hurried into fome capital crime or repentance may begin immediately after the fact: at least, it is doing the best that can be done to alleviate future mifery; and every thing should be tried, when eternity is near. There are fome excellent reflections on fuch fcenes in Archbishop TILLOTSON's two fermons on the Long-fuffering of God, from Ecclefiaftes viii. II. particularly at the end of the first fermon. And I am much of his mind on this fubject.*

VOL. I.

S

I think

"The more I fee of the world, (fays Mr. ORTON) the more I am convinced, that no just idea can be formed of perfons' characters, or future ftate, merely from the manner of their death yet on thefe many lay great ftrefs. Many would fay, *** made a good end: and Some may die in raptures of joy and triumph:

and