Joseph Parker, Stoke Newington, to Philip Doddridge, Northampton, 22 November 1748.

Stoke Newington Novr 22d 1748.

Revd Sr

         I recd yrs from Kettering Yesterday in ye afternoon, when I had actually finished a Letter to you, except ye filling up a blank, which I left to insert the hour and ye manner of my Master’s dissolution, apprehending he could not survive many hour’s, for I concluded from the great and long intimacy and cordial affection that has so many Years subsisted between you and him, that it might not be improper to inform you (heavy and melancholly as ye Tydings would be) of his Death, And I did not know what leisure I might have, or Capacity of doing it immediately after such a Solemn and Alarming Event.

         Several of the last weeks of his Life were intermingled with much pain of Body, which was reduced to a State of great Weekness & feebleness indeed. He has been confined to his chamber almost 3 weeks, but has been able to rise for ye most part every day and to sit up 3 or four hours. He wanted much to get up Yesterday Morning and accordingly we gratify’d him, but one hour tired him, & we put him to bed again for ye last time. Dr Clark his Physician was with him abt two, & told us he was going off apace, tho’t he could not possibly survive 48 hours, & might go off in a few. Thro the goodness of God he lay tollerably easy & quiet, fell into a sleepy dozy way in which he spent ye night, would not receive any Cordial but once or twice half a spoonfull, took no notice of any body, yet ansd rationally when any Question was asked. I fulfilled yr request last night at five o’clock he took notice of it, but in such broken Language, that I cannot inform you in what manner. I never knew his Mind any other than Calm and Peacefull and so it ^will^ remains ^I tryd^ to ye time of his Departure which happen’d ^we think^ must take place in a few hours at least before tis possible this ^can reach your hands^ and I doubt not ^he’ll have^ a triumphant Entrance into ye Heavenly Kingdom of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Ct. After almost 50 yrs of painfull yet Delightfull & Successful Labors in ye Gospell of Christ & in ye 75th of his Age, And now while we are at ye footstool, hold before ye Throne of God joining in ye worshiop of Angels and ye Spirits of just Men made perfect. May we be followers of him as he was of Christ.

         I can say no more, only I would add, That as a Lettr fro[m] you to my Lady, who cannot but be much affected, as we all are, upon this melancholly occasion, tho nothing more is come upon us than what we have long expected, would be very seasonable, so I am sure it would be very kindly taken & I should be thankfull if you would put up one petition for me who am ^so soon to be^ bereaved of one of the best of Master’s and kindest Friends, whom I have served upwards of 21 Years and have it now to bewail that I have improved no more, by such an uncommon favor of providence.

         Lady Abney pays you & Mrs Doddridge her Complimts. I rejoice, to hear you have so much reason to sing of Mercy as well as judgment in ye [paper torn] Circumstances of yr Family. I am Hond Sr

                                 Yr Afflicted Servt

                                             Joseph Parker

Tuesday 10 o’Clock in ye Evening

I will give you a line by ye next post

Text: MA 514.23, Isaac Watts Letters, The Morgan Library, New York. The following letter by Parker, dated 22 December 1748, was attached to this letter and apparently both were sent at one time. 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. 5, p. 80.