XIV MEMOIRS OP DR. WATTS. After the Doctorcame to London, he wrote to his father, recommending the servant to his particular regard, fbr that he doubted not he would make an eminent christian, and no he lived and died, leaving an honourable character for piety and uprightnessbehind him." Soon afterhe had entered upon his pastoral labours, he was visited with illness, which threatened all the sanguine hopes of his people with an early period to hisusefulness. His confinement was long, his recovery slow, and his constitution considerably impaired. Under these circumstances, the Rev. Samuel Price was chosen to assist him in the dutiesof his office. However, Isis exertions were renewed with his strength, and his sufferings enabled him to preach more than everto the instruction and delight of his hearers. In the prosecution of his various plans of usefulness, he met with no material inter- ruption till September, 1712, when he was seized with a fever of such vio- lence, that it brought a debility upon his nerves, for which time afforded no remedy, and which entirely laid hint aside from the exercise of his ministry more than four years. How inscrutable are the dispensations of providence, when men who, for disseminating the doctrines of the cross, possess the first qualifications, are laid aside or cut oft' in the flower of their age, while others, far belowmediocrity, live till they become useless and burdensome 1 Of the affectionate solicitude ofhis peoplefor the restoration of bis health hewas honoured with the best evidence by their unceasingprayers to God for him in this season oftrouble. Particular days were set apart for this purpose, in which many of his brethren in the ministry united as mendeeply impressed with theimportanceof his life ; and their prayers were answered. Mr. Price, his assistant, was now, at Mr, Watts's own desire, elected to bejoint pastor with him ; and he was accordingly ordainedto this office, March 3, 1713. Between these two fellow-labourers there subsisted, till death, an inviolable friendship. Theamiable subject of our memoirs speaks of Mr. Price as his faithful friend and companion in the ministry ; and mentions a legacy that he leaves him, " as only a small testimony of his great affection for him, on account of his services of love during the many harmonious years- of their fellowship in the work of the gospel." When the preachers of religion, whether they sustain such immediate relationship or not, thus live superior to the meanness and guilt of depreciatingand envying each others reputation, talents, and services in the church ; when the despicable spiritof competition, and variance, of cold civility, and jealousy is absorbed in 'brotherly love, and in generous exertions the the just honour of each other, then they will furnish an effectual confutation to the ignorant clamours of infidelity against priest- craft, and as was the case with these two excellent men, the friendship they exercise will return seven-fold intò their own bosoms. The afflicting state to which Mr. Watts was reduced by this sickness, in- spired his friendswith a tender and beceming sympathy, and particularly engaged the benevolent attention of Sir Thos. Abney, at that time an alder- manof London, and afterwards one of its representatives in parliament: A man of eminent piety and zeal, á blessing to his ,country and the church of God. He died in the year 1722, deeply regretted by all the friends who were contemporary with him and acquainted with his worth, and no less re- spectfully remembered wherever the works of Dr. Watts arc read, by the monuments of his friendship for the author ; a friendship pureand uniform, without the usual pride ofpatronage, or the obsequiousness .of timid submis-
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