Isaac Watts, Stoke Newington, to Philip Doddridge, Northampton, 24 February 1742/3.

Newington, Feby 24th 1742/3.

Dear Sir,

         That Day ^on^ which I sent my last Letter to you, I was seized with something of a Paralytic Disorder. Tho it went off soon, yet has left various ^nervous^ disorders belind it, that I am confined to my Chamber till this Day.

         Your 2d part of ye Defence of Christianity &c I have not yet quite finished, My head being never well. I could allow your Excuses in a great Measure for ye Harangueing Method which your Adversary has chosen, if your printer had but favor’d us with running Contents in ye Margin; it is a very great loss to want them.

         I suppose you have wrote before this time to Dr Guyse or Mr Neal about giving Mr Brabant something as your assistant. 

         Your paraphrase on ye Scripture goes on I hope with success. But I have here one occasional Question to ask; T’other day I was vindicating and commending two Things particularly in your Academy: One is ye Method of Introduction of Young Students into pulpits, to repeat Sermons for a few Months before they begin to preach, which can only be done well in ye Country; & the other is, your Occasional Remarks on ye Scriptures of the Old Testament & ye New, as you read them in ye Family to your Domestic Pupills, This was done by my Tutor. This I have often said was practised by you, And I hope I am not mistaken: Such little short hints of what Doctrinal, Grammatical, or Chronological Controversy depends upon any Verse in ye Chapter, are always ready & easy to you, but of vast Advantage to your Students.

         May ye presence of God be with you in all your sacred Labors; and tho I decrease may you increase daily, and bring forth much fruit to ye Honor of God.

         I am glad you tell me Mr Sedgeley will make a Minister you hope. I am sorry for it, that we take in any such Students that I fear will not be usefull, either thro’ want of parts, or memory, or application, or seriousness. May ye Grace of God encourage & bless all our Thoughts & Labors on this Subject.

         I am your affectionate Bro

                     & humble Servt

                                 [signature cut out]

I should be glad to have an answer to my Question about your Domestic Exposition of Scripture as soon as you can.

Address: To | The Revd Dr Doddridge | at | Northamton

Postmark: illegible

Endorsed: none

Text: MA 514.12, Isaac Watts Letters, The Morgan Library, New York. The MS of this letter was not known to Nuttall; he cites the printed version that appeared in J. D. Humphreys, ed., Correspondence and Diary of Philip Doddridge (1829-31), vol. 4, p. 208.