June 26, 1702

Philip Doddridge (June 26, 1702  to October 26, 1751), was an English protestant, of the stripe called non-conformist, which meant they stressed a simplicity in their conduct of Christianity. He wrote hymns, and books on religion, and was an educator as well as having a church he was responsible for. Himself an orphan whose guardian had wasted his inheritance, he organized education for children who could not otherwise afford it.

His most popular book, we read, was Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul: Illustrated in a Course of Serious and Practical Addresses, Suited to Persons of Every Character and Circumstance with a Devout Meditation, Or Prayer, Subjoined to Each Chapter. The first edition was about 1745. We will just quote a brief part of this book, to get a sense of the man, and the times, different though they be from our own. Here is a summary of Chapter 24, titled: THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIAN UNDER THE HIDINGS OF GOD'S FACE.

1. The phrase scriptural [The hidings of God's face] .—2. It signifies the withdrawing the tokens of the divine favor.—3. Chiefly as to spiritual considerations.—4. This may become the case of any Christian.—5. And will be found a very sorrowful one.—6. The following directions, therefore, are given to those who suppose it to be their own. To inquire whether it be indeed a case of spiritual distress, or whether a disconsolate frame may not proceed from indisposition of body.—7. Or difficulties as to worldly circumstances.—8,... If it be found to be indeed such as the title of the chapter proposes, be advised to consider it as a merciful dispensation of God to awaken and bestir the soul, and excite to a strict examination of conscience, and reformation of what has been amiss.—10. To be humble and patient while the trial continues.—11. To go on steadily in the way of duty. ...

Philip Doddridge became very famous during his lifetime. Afterwards many books remember or quote him. Memoirs of the Life, Character and Writings of Philip Doddridge (1766) by Job Orton, is a biography. In another of the many books about Doddridge we find a telling detail about this kind and brilliant man. Charles Stanford published Philip Doddridge in 1880, and includes a chapter about his family life. Neither he nor his wife were without health problems, but when his wife had to stay at Bath (renowned for its salubrious air) for months, for her health, (they had a total of 9 children) they exchanged many letters which reveal a loving family. He, to allay her concerns about him in her absence, wrote:

"It may seem strange to say it, but really so it is, I hardly feel that I want anything. I often think of you and pray for you, and bless God on your account, and please myself with the hope of many comfortable days with you; yet I am not at all anxious about your return, nor indeed about anything else. And the reason, the great and sufficient reason is, that I have more of the presence of God with me than I remember ever to have enjoyed in any one month of my life. He enables me to live for Him, and to live with Him. When I awake in the morning, which is always before it is light, I address myself to Him, and converse with Him; speak to Him when I am lighting my candle and putting on my clothes; and have often more delight in coming out of my chamber, though it be hardly a quarter of an hour after my awakening, than I have enjoyed for whole days, or perhaps weeks, of my life. He meets me in my study, in secret, in family devotions. It is pleasant to read, pleasant to compose, pleasant to converse with my friends at home, pleasant to visit those abroad—the poor, the sick; pleasant to write letters of necessary business, by which any good can be done; pleasant to go out and preach the gospel to poor souls who are thirsting for it, and others dying without it; pleasant in the week-day to think how near Sabbath is; — but oh! much, much more pleasant to think how near eternity is, and how short the journey through this wilderness, and that it is but a step from earth to heaven."

Such language I include because it shows what god unhiding his face means, but then as now, it could confuse others. His wife was alarmed, after reading the above, and so, on the 22nd of December, 1742, he wrote a letter with sentiments such as: "Everybody wonders at my stoutness." In fact neither of them would be alive a decade later. Five of their children survived to adulthood. And one last way he cheered up his wife, according to Sanford, was with news about their children, and even, he mentioned their cat, Gritty, who had had kittens.