their bane after them; but whether before or behind their iniquity cannot be hid from God.

In preaching, preach as contrary to him as God's word will allow you; and as far as you discover his error, set truth against it; and every text you handle, observe minutely every blessing or threatening that it contains; describe the sinner and the saint, and divide the word between them; if it be a new covenant blessing, trace it in its freeness from the fountain, I mean the purpose of God, founded on the sovereignty of that all-wise and absolute disposer of all men and things. Follow it from that fountain through the meritorious life and death of our blessed Saviour, and insist upon an application to the heart by God the Holy Ghost;

yea, insist upon the experience of it, the enjoy

ment of it, and the practice of it in life; and by these means the flock will soon see whose lamp burns the brightest; and search out the feelings of the flock, and appeal to scripture and to conscience, in God's sight, and let every sentence come forth from him: and if they laugh at feelings, they never were quickened at all; they have only a name to live, while they are dead.

If you set the Sun of Righteousness against that wandering star, your flock will soon see the true light from the false: "The light of the righteous rejoiceth, but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out," Prov. xiii. 9; Job xviii. 6; Matt. xxv. 8; but your lamp shall burn brighter and brighter, Psal. xviii. 28; Prov. iv. 18. The light that shines

in false preachers, is but darkness at best, Luke xi. 35: it is a lamp that comes out of the mouth of Satan, yea, every spark that a sinner kindles comes from the same quarter, Job xli. 19; Isaiah l. 11. But remember it is God that sends the deluder, though Satan furnisheth him with light, 2 Thess. ii. 11. "The Lord hath made all things for himself; yea even the wicked for the day of evil." No man dares to vend any infernal wares in God's market, till he has licence from God, 1 Kings xxii. 22. But, though God sends them, you must bear witness against them, to clear yourself of their blood, and to leave them to God's judgment without excuse; and likewise, you must feed the flock also, that they may have strength to perfect praise, to the glory of God, and to stop the mouths of these enemies and avengers of Satan's quarrel.

Does he preach up the full assurance of faith? It is a most blessed and comfortable grace; the choicest piece of silver of the ten, except love; but it may for a time be lost, I mean in a dark night; but the soul that has ever enjoyed it, will sweep the house, and seek diligently till he find it again; and we often hear of the joy of such. But as there is a counterfeit assurance, we must learn to know the image and superscription of the real. It is stamped on the soul by the Holy Ghost; and is the prevailing hand of the new man, and brings much comfort, peace and love with it: it is attended with diligence and hope, Heb. vi. 11; it is attended with a true heart and a purged conscience,

Heb. x. 22; and is attended with peace and quietness; this is to be its effects for ever, Isa. xxxii. 17.

If his assurance is not productive of these effects, it is the carnal confidence of a prating fool; and this confidence may be found in a man void of faith, and is no better than a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint, Próv. xxv. 19; yea, false confidence may lift him up to heaven in appearance, and his head may touch the clouds, yet all shall give up the ghost when he bows his head to the King of Terrors; and many simple souls, who have seen him on earth shall say, when they miss him at the general doom, where is he? If the assurance that he preaches destroys peace, unity, and love; if it divides and scatters the flock; if it condemns the broken and contrite heart, it is not the assurance of faith; it is presumption, and the preacher "is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."

Remember the private and public warnings I gave you, and the flock also, at my departure: and if you flinch from God's truth, let me never see your face again. N. is a man whom I love and judged favourably of; and, indeed, he has been a friend to me in many respects; but, I hope, by God's grace, to sacrifice his friendship, rather than give up one grain of truth to his error. We must pity and pray for their souls, but give no ground to the devil. If he calls on me, you may depend

upon it, by God's grace, I will withstand him to

the last.

Thy Father tells thee to be wise, and make his heart glad, that he may know how to answer them that reproach him, Prov. xxvii. 11. That sweet word has often melted my soul; the Lord is good indeed to unworthy me, bless his holy name; and thou shalt be more than conqueror through his love in Christ Jesus. If thou wield his sword valiantly, my prayer shall be in thy calamity; but it is our spiritual Aaron alone must stay thy hand if Amalek be defeated. However, fight boldly, and be sure to guard the rear rank; he began the battle at the feeblest of the host at first, and ever since has lain hottest at the heel; but God hath sworn that he will have war with him for ever. I hope to shout for the battle, but never to hear that the ark is taken. Fare thee well; faith and patience be with thee, while I remain

Affectionately thine,

W. H.

LETTER II.

Winchester Row.

Dear Brother and Fellow-Labourer,

LOVINGKINDNESS crown thee both

in thy study, and in the pulpit. Your's I gladly received, but shall return no thanks for the encomiums you have made on my experience, judgment, or penetration. If we experience life, it is the breath of the second Adam: if we have the light of knowledge, it is the gift of God, in which we discern and embrace his revealed mind and will concerning us; therefore to him be all the glory from everlasting to everlasting.

Let them feed on applause, and sing of merit, who are perfect in the flesh; but, for my part, I hope to live and die a believing sinner, and must remain a debtor to free grace and mercy to all eternity; and as such, can never join the chorus with any who sing that ancient God-dethroning, selfexalting, and soul-damning ditty of free-agency. This will be harped upon by many at the day of doom, Matt. xxv. 44; but will be condemned by the Judge of quick and dead. Sovereign mercy will rase it from the mind and memory of every songster in heaven; and retributive Justice will make conscience cry it down in hell: therefore,