that having "subscribed to the articles, homilies, and liturgy five separate times, he did so from principle; that he did not believe them, because he subscribed them, but subscribed them, because he believed them." How strange, and lamentable, that it should ever, and especially that it should so often be otherwise, among men, professing to believe, and teach the religion of eternal truth! Nay, how amazing, and how deplorable is it, that so many should outrage all truth, and all decency, by presuming to enter on the work of the holy ministry, with a consciousness of violating the very first principles of common honesty, if not of common sense!

Mr. Toplady, having subscribed to the doctrines of the church of England, ex animo, was prepared to preach them with a degree of zeal and earnestness, corresponding to his firm conviction of their intrinsic truth, and their eternal importance. He had the opportunity of giving practical proof of this, almost immediately after entering into holy orders. The living of Blagdon in Somersetshire, having become vacant, he was inducted into it, in consequence of the application of some friends on his behalf. They had procured it for him in the same way, in which such livings are often obtained. Of the method adopted by them, it would seem, that he was not, for some time, aware. But when, at length, he made the discovery, his tender conscience was troubled, and he never felt easy, till he had resigned his charge.

It would, indeed, have been an awful affliction to himself, and a serious injury to the church, if the injudicious kindness of his friends had obliged him to be silent in his Master's service. But on relinquishing one cure, which he could not hold with a good conscience, he obtained another, in which he laboured with pleasure, because he believed that his way to it was opened by the providence of God t.

See Diary, p. 42.

In the year 1768 he became vicar of Broad-Hembury, near Honiton in Devonshire. In this comparatively sequestered situation, his spiritual labours were abundant, while his temporal reward was small. His exactions, indeed, were always beneath what the law entitled him to demand; and the clear produce of his living never amounted to the sum of £80 a year. On money however, he set little value: nor did he ever seek after that preferment, to which his talents and attainments might so well have encouraged him to aspire. It was, while the humble vicar of BroadHembury, that he composed most of those writings which would have done credit to the highest Dignitary of the establishment, and which, as a very competent judge has remarked, "will ever render service to the church, and do honour to his memory, while truth and learning shall be esteemed valuable among men

It has frequently been the practice of men of distinguished piety to keep a written record of their religious history and experience; a plan which has been found well calculated to maintain warm impressions of gratitude for the past, and to excite pious resolutions to diligence for the future. When such private and personal records have been written, (as was the case with those of Wesley and some others) with an ultimate view to public inspection; they can be regarded as affording but a very dubious test of character. The Diary, however, which was meant to meet no eye but that of the writer, may well be supposed faithfully to exhibit the feelings of his heart, to show the man as he is; and, at any rate, the idea of deception must be precluded, because, in the case supposed, there could be no temptation to deceive. Of this latter kind, unquestionably was the private Diary, which Mr. Toplady began to write, some short

* Wilks' Biographical Dictionary.

time before he left Blagdon. Had it begun at an earlier, and been continued to a later period of life, though voluminous, it would have been invaluable, as furnishing the best means of producing an extended Memoir, which few could have read without shame, and which many must have read with advantage.

As it is, his Diary is indeed a precious record. It was found, after his death, among a variety of other manuscripts, and is entitled: "Short Memorials of God's gracious Dealings with my Soul in a Way of spiritual Experience from Dec. 6th, 1767." There is prefixed this motto: "Bethel visits ought to be remembered."-This Diary shall now be given, in the words of the writer; and it will be found to afford ample proof, alike of his ardent piety as a man, and of his laborious diligence as a

minister.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 1767. In the morning, read prayers and preached, here at Fen-Ottery, to a very attentive congregation. In the afternoon, the congregation at Harpford was exceeding numerous; and God enabled me to preach with great enlargement of mind, and fervour. The doctrine did indeed seem to descend as the dew, and to be welcome as refreshing showers to the grass. O my Lord, let not my ministry be approved only, or tend to no more than conciliating the esteem and affections of my people to thy unworthy messenger; but do the work of thy grace upon their hearts: call in thy chosen; seal and edify thy regenerate; and command thy everlasting blessing on their souls! Save me from selfopinion, and from self-seeking; and may they cease from man, and look solely to thee!

Monday, 7. Received a letter from Mr. Luce, and answered it. Gracious God, dispose of the event, to which it relates, as seemeth best to thee! Choose thou my heritage and my lot! Let it be thy doing, not mine!

This afternoon, I received a letter from my honoured mother, and my chest from London. It is a satisfaction to receive these presents and pledges of an earthly parent's love: but all the relations, and all the good things of this life, are less than nothing, and vanity, when compared with the love of Christ that passeth knowledge, and with one glimpse of thy special favour, O thou gracious Father of spirits.

Tuesday, 8. Was much refreshed, and sensibly comforted in the evening, while reading Dr. Gill's Sermon on the Death of Mr. Fall.

Wednesday, 9. A good deal of company dined here. How unprofitable are worldly interviews! Spent the evening much more advantageously in reading Dr. Gill's sermon on "The Watchman's Answer," and that great man's Tract on Final Perseverance. Lord, grant me more and clearer evidences of my interest in that everlasting covenant, which is ordered in all things, and sure!

Thursday, 10: Heard that Mr. Duke has had a relapse into his fever. Pity, that so amiable a person, in other respects, should want the one thing needful! How much has he suffered, since I knew him, by drinking too freely, and how many narrow escapes has he had of his life. Yet, I fear, he goes on still, as an ox to the slaughter. "It hath set him on fire round about, yet he knows it not: it burneth him, yet he lays it not to heart." I bless God, who has enabled me to be faithful to the soul of my friend; and put it into my mind to write him that letter of remonstrance, from London, above a twelvemonth ago. But, alas! I have only delivered my own soul. Neither experience of present evils, nor the remonstrances of friends, will or can have any true effect on a sinner's heart, except thou, O Almighty Spirit, vouchsafe to reveal the arm of thy grace, and quicken the dead in sin, by the effectual

working of thy glorious power. As overseer of this parish, I went down, in the morning, to view two of the poor-houses, and see what repair they want. Lord, what am I, that thou hast cast my lot in fairer ground, and given me a more goodly heritage! Surely, in a way of providence, no less than in a way of grace, thou hast made me to differ; and I have nothing which I did not receive from thee.

is

In the evening, wrote to my mother. Some particulars, in her last letters to me, obliged me, in my answer, to make the following observations, among others: "God has fulfilled his promises to me, so often, and so many ways, that I think, if we could not trust his faithfulness and power, we should be doubly inexcusable. That he works by means, certain; and I hope to try all that he puts into my hands. In the mean while, let us cast our care on him; and remember that he that believeth, shall not make haste. There is one thing that pleases me much, about Broad-Hembury, and makes me hope for a blessing on the event, viz. that it was not, from first to last, of my own seeking: and every door, without any application of mine, has hitherto flown open, and all seems to point that way. As a good man somewhere says, "A believer never yet carved for himself, but he cut his own fingers."The all-wise God, whose never failing providence ordereth every event, usually makes what we set our hearts upon unsatisfactory; and sweetens what we feared: bringing real evil, out of seeming good: and real good, out of seeming evil: to show us what short-sighted creatures we are, and to teach us to live by faith upon his blessed self. If I should really exchange my present living, for Broad-Hembury, it will, I believe, be soon after Christmas. In the mean while, add your prayers, that God himself would be pleased to choose my heritage and fix my lot; command his gracious blessing on the event;