214 Daniel Neal to John Leverett

    [London, August 6 1720]

    Reverend Sir:

    Yours of the 13th June is before me, and has peculiarly toucht me with a sense of your Affliction which I pray God to sanctify and support you under.1 If We believe that Jesus dyed and rose again (says the H. Apostle Paul) even so those also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Comfort Ye One another with these Words. The Glory of a Christian is not to despise the Chastnings of the Lord on the One hand, nor to Faint when He is rebuked of him, which I hope, my Dear Brother, God will enable You to express.

    By the few Advices I have as yet received from N. England, I am glad to find the History not altogether unacceptable, tho’ not without its Faults which I am waiting to be informed of; and shall be ready to correct upon a fair Conviction. In the mean time, I was pleased to understand by Conversation with my Cos. Hollis, that my Exhortation with Regard to the Library has not been without Effect, for He told me besides the Exhibitions which He has made, and designs yet further for the maintenance of young Scholars his Donation to the Library was owing entirely to that Paragraph in my Book. I thankt him for what He had done for you, and shall not fail to encourage him to goe on. I heartily wish a Catalogue of your Library was transcribed and made publick with the Editions of the several Books, that Gentlemen might know what Books You have and what not.2 I forbear making some other observations which perhaps I may open to You hereafter. The enclosed is what I writt about 4 Months agoe in defence of the Protestant Dissenters with whose particular Differences among themselves I meddle not.3 I heartily lament the State Divisions among You, and wish they may be heald, for N. England has more Enemies and fewer Friends on this side the water, than some People Imagine. I am dispos’d, I am sure, to doe all the good offices I can, to the Country, and especially to the University. I rejoyce on the Accounts I have of its Order and Increase under your wise and prudent Administration. I pray God continue You long a Blessing to your Country and the College. I am Reverend Sir, in hast at present, your most humble

    Servant and fellow Labourer in the Gospel

    Dan. Neal

    [Addressed:] To the Reverend Mr. John Leverett. accipi Feb. 20, 1720/21.

    College Papers, i. 53 (No. 114). Daniel Neal, pastor of a congregation of Dissenters in London, was a friend to New England and the College. His History of New England (London, 1720) had just been published; and for this, and his encouragement of gifts to the College from Hollis and others, he was given an honorary M.A. as of 1720. Part of this letter is quoted in Sibley, Sketches (Shipton), vi. 596.