CHAPTER XXIII.

LETTERS TO REV. T. THOMASON-VARIOUS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE JEWS-FORMATION OF A JEWS' SOCIETY AT CAMBRIDGE -TO MISS GURNEY ON THE DEATH OF HER SISTER-TO REV. J. W. CUNNINGHAM RESPECTING DR. CHALMERS-ON CLERGYMEN ATTENDING TO SECULAR CONCERNS-TO REV. E. B. ELLIOTT ON RECEIVING TWO VASES-TO HIS GODSON AT HAILEYBURY ON THE COLLEGE REPORTS-TO REV. T. THOMASON ON THE ENJOYMENT MERCIES-SENDING HIM AN ASSISTANT-RETURN OF HIS SON TO INDIA-MEMORANDUM ON RECEIVING INJURIOUS TREATMENT.

OF

1821.

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

To the Rev. T. THOMASON.

'My beloved Brother,

"K. C., Jan. 31, 1821.

"Your report has come to hand, and cheap as dirt: the former was charged £10. 5s., and this only £7. Your friends are not so considerate as might be wished; but I consider for them, and keep my money in my pocket, till the Post Office come down to my terms. I was filled with wonder by the last; and doubt not but that this, when it comes to hand, will warm my heart with gratitude and praise.

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Through the tender mercy of our God the Jewish cause is prospering. I will just mention, in few words, what the last fortnight has produced. We have established a College, or Seminary, for our Missionaries.

We have an excellent (a pious and learned)

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man for the President and we have four students, very hopeful ones, already there. The Bishop of Gloucester, Mr. Way, &c., and myself, drew up for them a course of study, and there is to be a kind of public examination at Midsummer. Thus they

will have an appropriate education; and I hope that in a year three of them will go forth. We could have a great number of others, but must wait for funds to enable us to proceed on a larger scale.

"I am going soon, anonymously, to give prizes for the best tracts on Jewish Questions. I have fixed two questions for this year; but I must first draw the public mind to the subject by some Papers in the Expositor. I hope by this to interest the Public in the general question, and to get the best tracts composed for the Jews. You know the great results of Dr. Buchanan's prizes, and I hope there will be the blessing of God on these also.

"On the 18th and 25th of February I am to preach (D.V.) before the University, on the Jewish Question. My Sermons will be printed; and I propose to send you some. If I live till May, I shall have a Public Meeting at Cambridge; and if my Sermons shall have prepared the way, I hope that many will join themselves to your unworthy but most affectionate Brother, "C. S."

To the SAME :—

"We have just established a Jews' Society in the University, and had a Public Meeting. Indeed such is the state of the University now, that multitudes are ready to come forward in every good work. It is no little mercy to have lived to see such a day as this. When I was an Undergraduate myself, I

could not find one who feared God; now we can find many, who through the mercy of God are burning and shining lights."

To Miss GURNEY, on the death of her Sister. "My dear Madam,

"March 30, 1821.

"I often think that my mind is very peculiarly constructed in this respect, that the death of those who are dear to me is in many cases a real source of joy, from the realizing view which I have of their happiness. But a few days ago, a relation of Mr. Scott was regretting that he was drawing near his closing scene: and so far was I from sympathizing with him in his regret, that I could not refrain from congratulating the departing saint on his prospects. say the same in reference to dear Priscilla. Had

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she been restored to health and usefulness in the Church, I should have regarded that as a ground of unspeakable joy. But to have her kept here in a state of extreme languor, without any prospect of ever rendering any further services to the Church, would have been in my mind rather a matter of submission, than of desire. Of her preparation for glory no one can entertain a shadow of a doubt; why then keep her from it? Why not rejoice in her full possession of it? Why not consider her as just gone a stage before us, and redouble our own speed to enjoy her society again as soon as we may be per

mitted to arrive at those blest abodes? Yet whilst I say this, I mean not that the feelings of nature should be suppressed; but sanctified, and elevated to a heavenly refinement. And I feel assured that such will be the one sentiment that will pervade you all, when assembled on the mournful occasion of

committing her mortal remains to the tomb. I even now taste the spirit of you all: I seem to be one with you all I think I understand you all and understand me. I love the gathering into stillness,'

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the sweet sorrow, and the adoring joy.

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you

also

"But I must restrain my pen; lest I should appear to forget that Jesus wept.' Yet methinks, if I know a little what it is to rejoice with trembling,' I know also what it is to be melted with love, and to rejoice with weeping.

Present my tender regards to your whole circle, and especially to my ever dear friends Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Gurney, and believe me, my dear Madam, most affectionately yours, "C. SIMEON."

To the Rev. J. W. CUNNINGHAM.

"K. C., Oct. 22, 1821.

"My very dear and honoured Friend,

"Your person, work, and circumstances, find a deep interest in my heart; and I have much joy in the conviction that they are all indelibly engraven on the breastplate of our Great High Priest, who is touched with the feeling of all our wants and all our infirmities. I trust that your supports and consolations abound above all your afflictions; for our God giveth good measure, pressed down, and running over.

"I have seen with much satisfaction the review of Dr. Chalmers' Works. I have received a letter from himself this very day, and not having time to answer it, have conveyed to him an oral reply, carrying my whole heart along with it. Truly I consider him. as raised up by God for a great and peculiar work. His depth of thought, originality in illustrating

and strength in stating, are unrivalled in the present day and I think he is somewhat less turgid, and intricate, and careless in his language than he was at first. . . .

"In another respect he is too sanguine. He does not sufficiently see, that a Chalmers is necessary to carry into effect the plans of Chalmers. But he has a noble aim; and I think will do great good. If we cannot all follow him closely, we may yet tread in his steps; and I trust that many will make the attempt.

"I think also he carries too far the complaint about Government making use of Ministers in secular matters. Dr. C. and half a score of others may find it a serious inconvenience. The great mass of Ministers, I fear, throughout the united kingdom would not engage one atom more in spiritual exercises, or in ministerial labours, if they were to be exempted from all temporal matters to-morrow. Still, if some things are overstrained, (and who ever rode a favourite hobby without going now and then a little too fast ?) many things are nobly stated, and come with great power to the mind; and I rejoice exceedingly that you are calling the attention of the Public to them. Such a measure was wanted. Religious people are apt to overlook secular matters, instead of giving them a due measure of attention, forgetting that motto, 'Nihil humani a me alienum puto.'.

My province is just to attend to the little things that are before me. Were I to attempt to execute Dr. C.'s plans, my folly would soon appear unto all men. I have often thought that, as sapientia prima est stultitia caruisse; so secunda est, to know, quid valeant humeri, quid ferre recusent; and however defective in the first, I have studied carefully, and to