not make a man meet for heaven, a dead letter, or an arm of flesh, is not likely to accomplish it: and, if a man make the Saviour his enemy, it is not likely that Moses should be his friend; for he has already cursed those who blaspheme his master; and we know that he is noted for faithfulness, for he has ever accused those who have abused Christ, This man confirms what I have long observed, namely, that those who cleave to the law hate the Saviour; and such as trust in themselves are implacable enemies to the grace, Spirit, and children, of God. "He that is not with me is against me," says the Saviour; "and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." The ancient enemies of Christ cursed all his followers; "This people that know not the law, are cursed." And this man curses the things which they follow, I mean the things that make for peace.

If I am an Antinomian only because I cannot find a text in God's book that calls the law of Moses the believer's only rule of life, what must this man be? And, if enforcing the law be doing the work of an evangelist, he is the man, for he disputes for it, and the works of it, all the day long therefore he cannot be said to make it void; and, as he is a blasphemer of the faith, of the merit and satisfaction of Christ, how can he be said to establish the law? He cannot establish it by faith, because he curses the doctrine that teaches looking to Jesus: nor can cursing and swearing, getting in debt, and living in idleness, be called

establishing the law by works; for the law enforces labour, and sentences to death profane cursers and swearers.

up

I wish my sister would tell my accusers to take

their pen, and detect me: it would become a minister much better than puzzling and prejudicing the minds of weaker vessels. Women are not set in the front of the battle; and, if God honours them with faith, it is better to brace their minds with truth than drive them into disputings about the law, which are unprofitable and vain. However, it is plain to me that these contenders for the law of Moses are enemies to the law of truth; they never laid their sins to heart; nor do they give glory to God by being strong in his grace, and valiant for the law of faith; therefore I will turn the tables against them. "And now,

ye priests, this commandment is for you: if ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you; and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. And

ye

shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him, for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did

turn many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts," Mal. ii. 1- -8.

If all this be true, it is only those who know the plague of their own heart, and who are strong in faith, that give glory to God. He has cursed even the blessings of the priests who are strangers to this. The covenant of life and peace is here called the law of truth; and they who hold it are said to walk with God in peace and equity, and to turn many from iniquity; and the lips of the priests should keep this knowledge, and the people should seek this law of truth at their mouth; for such, and only such, are the messengers of the Lord of hosts for they who swerve from this are said to depart out of the way, and to cause many to stumble at the law, and to corrupt the covenant of Levi. This is the judgment of the Lord of hosts upon this matter, "Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, [which are the ways of life and peace] but have been partial in the law" of truth. If this be the case, Levi must have been an Antinomian as well as Mr. Huntington; and these priests, whose blessings are cursed of God, were of the same cast as those who now oppose me; and some of them begin to appear as base and contemptible as ever they did.

However, I hope I shall be satisfied with holding and enforcing this law of truth, and seeking the glory of him by whom grace and truth came. And I had much rather see my sister bedecked and furnished like Lemuel's virtuous woman, than find her contending for letter rules of action; and then I should hear something better from her than vain jangling, and something that never leads to licentiousness nor idleness. "Strength and honour are her cloathing, and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all," Prov. xxxi. 25-29. This is God's characteristic of a virtuous woman, and her actions; and it is the wisdom that is from above, and the law of kindness in Christ Jesus, that makes her act as she does. Yea, saith the Spirit; and so says the daily experience of

Thy humble servant to command,

WINCHESTER Row,

W. H.

Feb. 24, 1789.

TO MRS. R. J. AT B-N-D.

DEAR MADAM,

YOUR kind letter came to hand; and I am thankful that any attempt of mine should be either owned or honoured of God. You had no need to have taken any pains in describing the perplexing workings of your mind. You never got out of the reach of my experience of law terrors, rebellion, and legal pride; I know the road well; my eye pursued you through all the strange labyrinths which you passed; and I knew what cold entertainment you would meet with on that path. I know what it is to build towers to reach heaven without counting the cost: I have spent much time and toil in establishing my own righteousness, washing the Æthiopian white, and changing the leopard's spots; and I knew that your profits would arise to the same amount that mine did, namely, shame and confusion of face.

I never said that the law was not a rule of life to the unbelieving bond children; I believe it is Moses tells them that it shall be their righteousness if they observe to do all the

in

every sense.

things of this law.

shall be justified.

Paul says, The doer of the law

The prophets declare that, if a man doth them, he shall live in them. And Christ says, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep