Autograph letter signed : Southampton, to Isaac Watts, 1700 Mar.

Encouraging him to publish his hymns; saying "there's therefore great need of a piece vigorous & lovely as yours to quicken & revive the dying devotion of the age, to which nothing can afford such assistance as poetry, contriv'd on purpose to elevate us even above our Selves;" adding "Yours now is the Old Truth strip't of its ragged ornam'ts and appears (if we may say so) younger by ages, in a new and fasionable dresse w'ch is comonly tempting. And as for those Modern Gentlemen who have lately exhibited their version of the Psalms : all of em I have not seen I confesse, and p'haps it would not be worth while to do it, unlesse I had a mind to play the Critick w'ch you know is not my talent, but those I have read confesse to me a vast deference to yours tho' they are done by persons of no mean credit. Dr. Patrick most certainly has the report of a very Learned man, and they say understands the Hebrew extremely well, which indeed capacitate him for a Translator, but is thereby ever the more enabled to versifie. Tate & Brady still keep neer the same pace, I know not what sober Boast they ride - (one that will be content to carry double) but I am sure tis no Pegasus; there's in them a mighty sufficiency of that life and soul, which is necessary to raise our fancies and kindle & fire our Passions : & something or other they have to all agree against the rest of Adventurers; but I have been persuaded a great while since, that were David to speak English he would choose to make use of your Style."