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behaviour yesterday and to-day . Yesterday you expressly assured me that you loved me as well as I did you , which you know is to a very uncommon degree ; and that it grieved you that you had given me so much uneasiness ; adding , you would take care to avoid it for the time to come . To-day you have been telling me , that you could not bear the thought of not being so rich as your sister ; that you do not know why you may not expect a good man , with a good estate ! " I leave you to judge whether it be possible I should hear this remark without uneasiness . And if it be not , whether it were fit for you to make it . Consider , Madam , I am a rational creature ; and though too much transported with love , yet , blessed be God , not absolutely distracted ! How , then , do you imagine I can put my confidence in the assurances you give me of your love , when you are so continually contradicting them ? For do you not contradict them when you talk of discarding me for the sake of money ?
< c I always thought , my dear creature , you had been remarkable ~ both for good sense and religion . But I own I do not see how it is reconcileable with either , to throw aside those entertainments of a rational , a friendly , and a religious nature , which you yourself think you may find in me , merely that you may eat and drink more sumptuously , and wear better clothes , with some of those people whom the word of God already brands as fools . " Madam , I must presume so far as to say , that it is neither the part of a
Christian , nor a friend , to keep one in such a continual uneasiness . You unfit me for business , devotion , or company , and , in short , make my very life burthensome by the inconsistency of your behaviour . Let me , therefore , most earnestly entreat you—not entirely to dismiss me , which God forbid , but resolutely to remember your promises , and not to allow yourself those unbounded liberties of saying every thing that the vanity of your own dear excellent heart may sometimes prompt you to utter , without considering how I am able to bear it .
" As for what you said at parting , that I have ' a relish for the vanities of life , ' I own that I regard them too much . But , I bless God , such is not the governing temper of my mind , and that I can say , with a full assurance , that I know how to postpone them , not only to my duty to God , but to my affection for you . And I think you may easily believe it , when I now give it under my hand , as you had it yesterday from my mouth , that I will willingly and thankfully take you , with what your father and mother will give you , if by any means there be a prospect of the necessary comforts of life . " I remain , &c . "—Vol . II p . 47 .
The next letter which we shall extract , if sent into the world anonymously , would , we think , be instantly and universally referred to the right author . The name of Doddridge would rise to the lips of every reader .
" To Mr . Saunders . " December " 2 , 1727 . ** I here inclose the hints you desire , which I drew up yesterday morning ; and , on the review , I see so many defects and improprieties , that were I not so well acquainted with your candour , and did I not attend to your instructions rather than my own advantage , I should not send them .
* How was it possible for you to write such a letter as I received last night ? You are always kind and good , and always more partial in favour of my character than any other person I know in the world ; and , to tell you the plain truth , I would have you continue to be so ; for , if it were not for that happy partiality , you would hardly think me worthy your friendship . You can never displease me with expressions of tenderness , for I love you so well , that I would have as much of your heart as one creature ought to have of another ' s ; and I look upon your fond regard as my glory . But , my dear friend , you must forbear these expressions of unreasonable esteem , for really-, Mr . Saundere , I think the cluuse Is it possible you should think as you say ? .... Can so wise u man be so much deceived ? Seriously
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22 Doddridge ' s Correspondence and Diary .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1830, page 22, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2580/page/22/
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