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sion, or speaks well of the minister that was sent with the first, tidings of peace to thy soul. The Devil has introduced many a child of his with this compliment of the season; and it has served as a key to pick the pockets of the simple in the end. If a man live near to God, and is alive to him, and enjoys a good conscience before him, his feelings, under the influence of the Spirit, will be tender; and such are more discerning, more acute, and more susceptible, than those whose joys are withered, and whose love is cold. Nor will God let such souls, who depend hourly upon him, make a covenant, like the princes of Israel, with every pretended pilgrim that comes with his old sacks, clouted shoes, and mouldy bread, under the pretence of being foreign ambassadors, and coming because of the name of the Lord our God, Josh. ix. 4, 5, 7; when they were only hypocrites, with lies in their mouths, came to save their lives; and took God's name in their lips to cover their guile; and were cursed, and set to the drudgery of hewing of wood and drawing of water for their pains. It is no wonder the princes were deceived, when they asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

If thou livest in communion and fellowship with the Lord, he will both keep thee and guide thee; he will bar thy heart against those whose hearts are barred against him, and draw thine affections forth to those that love him; and often turn a pretender inside out before thee, and so

exhibit him, as thou wilt see through him as through a glass lanthorn. Like Simon Magus, he shall bolt out something that will be sufficient to convince thee he is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Thus, my friends, have I complied with your request; and, that the publication and perusal of this Epistle may be a blessing to you, and to thousands, is the desire and prayer of,

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THE Almighty is a Sovereign, and will do as he pleases with his own. He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and he will have com

passion upon whom he will have compassion. His grace is free, and freely bestowed; and all who have been, or ever will be saved, are saved by it: and that not of themselves; salvation is the gift of God. If he sets his love upon man, opens the door of faith, and calls him by his grace, his gifts and callings are without repentance. He calls, justifies, and glorifies, without respect to any worth or good disposition, as procuring causes, in us; the whole is of sovereign bounty, in Christ Jesus.

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Despise not the day of small things." Saints grow from babes to children, from children to young men, and from young men to fathers. There is a growth in grace as well as in nature. The Lord will, in due time, reveal himself to thee in a clearer manner, resolve thy doubts, enlighten thy mind, and make thy way plain, and thy interest clear. He hath promised that all his children shall be taught of him; and that they shall all know him, from the least even to the greatest of them. Remember the awful state thou wast in; and be thankful to him that hath made the difference; and thou wilt find him to be the best of fathers, and the Saviour the best of friends. To the Almighty the weakest are as precious as the strongest: the Saviour carries such in his bosom; for it is not our heavenly Father's will that one of his little ones should perish. Commit every step of thy way to the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

"In all thy ways

acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy steps;" and let thy requests be made known unto him. Sighing, groaning, hungering and thirsting, desiring and holy longing, are all accounted prayer in the word of God, and will most surely prevail when Christ is the object longed for. Rest in no attainment, but seek him perpetually; and press forward to attain every mark that has the promise annexed to it, that secures the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, such as, faith that worketh by love, the pardon of sin, the witness of the Spirit, the testimony of a good conscience, love to God, a good hope through grace, and poverty of spirit. These are the marks which secure the prize; especially the last, namely, poverty of spirit: "Blessed are the poor in spirit," that is the mark, "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven;" that is the prize. However, all the above marks lie in the promise, and the promise contains the prize. It is the fault of too many to rest in an empty profession, and to be satisfied with hearing the word without hearing to profit. By perpetually hearing of every preacher, and helping to support various places, many expect to be saved, though still settled on their old bottom; and only make use of the means of grace to manufacture dead works; and so clothe with a covering that is not of God's Spirit, and add sin to sin. How many will cry out in that great day, when once the master is risen up,, and hath shut the door, saying, Lord, Lord! open to us! And he

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shall answer and say unto them, I know you not whence ye are. Then shall they begin to say, We have eaten and drank in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity! Luke xiii. 25-27. Hearing the gospel, and partaking of the Lord's supper, was all they trusted in, We have eaten in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets: and, as they had trusted in hearing, instead of the object preached; and in eating the Lord's supper, instead of spiritually eating his flesh and drinking his blood by faith; and used the means of grace to work out a legal covering, taking his new cloth to patch their old garment; the rent is made worse, Matt. ix. 16. And they are justly styled workers of iniquity, being nothing but wolves in sheep's clothing. But I am persuaded better things of thee; and therefore, as my beloved daughter, I warn thee, that thou mayest not come short of the rest that remains to the people of God. Seek to the Lord to remove every burden, and thou wilt find rest to thy soul; and, while one doubt, scruple, or gainsaying voice, remains in the court of conscience, besiege thou the throne of grace; get God, and scripture, and conscience, and the Spirit's testimony, on thy side; and thou wilt then make straight paths for thy feet. Importunity in prayer takes the kingdom by force; and, as it suffereth violence, give thy soul no rest till God send forth his righteousness

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