in the king's chapel, Amos vii. 13; and Peter from the fishing boat to confound the Jewish doctors: and I was called from the coal-barge, to tell sinners that Jesus is risen indeed, and hath appeared to me. And this advocate for gypsies' wisdom was called, or ran from the apothecary's shop; but why he should use his pestle against my coal-sack, I know not; however, if men of supposed learning lift up their heels, and kick against God in the choice of his instruments, they may expect to be checked; for whosoever cries up the wisdom of this world in a pulpit, only exalteth folly; and God will visit it with a rod. He keeps "a whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back." I deny not but a man of gifts and learning may be of use to inform a person's judgment, or to explain the meaning of a text in the original language; but I never will believe a well without water, a cloud without rain, an instrument without life, or a lamp without oil, can convey what they have not got themselves. God uses not such instruments to convey the precious gifts of the Holy Ghost; the golden oil flows through the golden pipes, Zech. iv. 12. Our faith must not stand in man's wisdom; for God will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and make their understanding foolishness. And if the foundation be destroyed, we all know the superstructure must fall.

I did not think to have sent you so long a letter, but I know you will bear with me.

GRACE, mercy, and peace be with thee,

from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope. Yours I received, and must confess I have long had a secret thought of God's sending thee forth into his vineyard; yea, I have at times indulged this thought for these three or four years past, but thought it prudent to conceal it from you, lest, by spending my breath, I should puff you up.

However, I watched you narrowly, and the hand of God with you; and I soon discovered a sound judgment, light to see and life to feel the difference between the killing letter, and the quickening word; the bondage of the law, and the liberty of the gospel: may the Lord increase thy light, life, and knowledge, more and more. I also discovered the severe discipline which our divine

tutor used with thee; and I believe he has for some years instructed thee with a strong hand; which I trust you have, and ever will find to be for your soul's good, because it keeps us from saying a confederacy to every rotten preacher who says a confederacy; it likewise empties from vessel to vessel, so that we settle not upon our lees, or drop into fleshly ease in Zion. It keeps us in jeopardy every hour; makes us leave those things which are behind, and mind and walk in what we have obtained, and yet be pressing forward after those things that are before. It keeps our eyes fixed on the prize, and makes us daily seek after every characteristical mark of an high, holy, and heavenly calling; in short, by these trials we live; and in all these things is the life of our spirits: so God is pleased to revive us, and cause us to live by the faith of his dear Son.

And now, my son, what shall I say in answer to your request? You know I am no great judge of ministerial abilities, as to that part of them which pleases the world in general; I have never been at an academy myself; and indeed I should think it would be even tempting God if I were to attempt it. God can, and often doth, make a very unlikely tongue to be like the pen of a ready writer, without sending the quill to be cut at a college. I by no means approve of your going to the academy in Wales; if Jehovah the Spirit, called a cloven tongue of fire, abide on thee, thou hast no call to go so far to have thy tongue cleft. I have very narrowly

watched several who have gone thither; and, as far as I could discern, I saw some of them who went there, apparently with some degree of simplicity, humility, tenderness, watchfulness, and self-diffidence, have not returned till they had got rid of the greatest part of what they seemed to have. They have in general come back men of considerable consequence in their own esteem, and have expected more homage by far than ever Paul did. It is true they have appeared with better language, but less power; and you know the kingdom stands not in word but in power. I speak not this of all; no, there are some whose ministry, usefulness, and life, are known and read of all men ; but several whom I know, at their return, have appeared in the element of the Christian world, as clouds without water, just to please those who are weather-wise, who can look no farther than the face of the sky; but without any sanctuary showers for the parched ground, Jude 12. Yea, I have often observed, while they have been mimicking the scholar, the Spirit hath evidently withheld that assistance from them which he hath bountifully bestowed on the experimental, unaffected, honest illiterate blunderer. I stand not alone in my judgment; many who are blessed with a spiritual palate, will own with me, that much of the wine broached by many of them is too much tainted with the old bottle.

I could earnestly wish my son to tread in the

appear

steps of his unpolished father, without wanting to what he is not. If God calls a fool to preach, it is to display his own wisdom in that fool. If he sends a very weak instrument, it is that his strength may the more perfectly appear in his weakness. If he sends one, who has long appeared base in the eyes of the world, it is to display his sovereign, renewing, miraculous grace, to the confusion of the honourable. I believe I was made the father of near thirty souls before I could distinctly read any one chapter in the Bible. You are a living witness of this truth; the whole congregation to which you belong are all, two or three excepted, the seals of my ministry; therefore it is evident my want of human learning has been no impediment in the way of usefulness. Natural and acquired abilities have a tendency to lift such as you and me up; and wherever self is concerned in the building of mercy, it is at the expence of Christ's honour.

If we are deficient in the excellency of speech, it is that the cross of Christ may appear the more effectual, and to convince our hearers that their faith is not to stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. An experimental preacher is no more than a golden pipe through which the divine olive tree conveys the golden oil; or an instrument by which men believe, but have no dominion over their faith; because planting and watering are all in vain unless God gives the