assured of their interest; and which things accompany salvation; and are so many foretastes, pledges, and earnests, of future glory. They are made partakers of the Holy Ghost in no other sense than Balaam or Saul was: the Spirit of God came upon both, and they both prophesied. This is a spiritual gift; and there are divers gifts, but all of the Holy Spirit. It is he that divides them to every man severally as he will; he gave utterance both to Saul and Balaam; and it was by him they spoke, or prophesied, 1 Cor. chap. xii.

"And have tasted the good word of God." As Herod, who heard John gladly; and the Jews, who rejoiced in his light for a season; and the way-side hearers, who heard the word, and anon with joy received it. They were pleased with the sound, amazed at the light and understanding of the preacher, admired the fluency of his speech, and were charmed with the heavenly tidings that were brought forth; and all this time they found no opposition, either from the law, conscience, Satan, or the carnal enmity of their own hearts against these things: therefore they received the word with joy, and sprung up into a warm, zealous, joyful profession; but, when temptation and persecution came because of the word, they withered away as suddenly as they sprung up; which fulfils the saying of the wise man, "An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed." It is not enough to taste the good word of

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God, Ezekiel eat the roll; John eat the little book; Jeremiah found the word and eat it, and it was to him the rejoicing of his heart. My word," says Christ, "is spirit, and my word is life;" but he says of the Jews, "I know you that my word hath no place in you;" it is not in your heart, affections, or conscience. They did not receive the truth in the love of it, nor the love of the truth, and therefore it is no wonder if strong delusions were sent, and they were given up to believe a lie. In short, these persons could have no more than a natural faith; and as to their joy, it sprang from natural affections; for as to the love of God, the root of the matter, they had not: it was for want of this root that they withered

away.

"And the powers of the world to come. By which I understand the power of working miracles. There were in those days numbers of persons who had spiritual gifts; such as gifts of heal ing, working miracles, speaking with tongues, &c. &c. And the Saviour owns, that many will say to him in that day, "We have prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and done many wonderful works," whom he will never own for his people: for it is not what the man does for God that saves him, but what God does for the man; not man's wonderful works, but God's free grace. This power of working miracles may be called the powers of the world to come, because it is a divine power sent from

heaven, and that from God himself, who displays his power and glory there; and by these wonderful works he displays the same, in a measure, on earth. These miracles produce amazement, astonishment, and wonder, in the beholders that see them performed: on which account they may be called the powers of the world to come: for in that world every thing will appear miraculous, wonderful, and astonishing, beyond all conception. Moreover, it was common among the Jews in days of old, to call the days of the Messiah the world to come; and Isaiah foretelling many wonderful things of a miraculous nature that were to be performed by him, such as making the lame leap like an hart, and the tongue of the dumb to sing, &c. These miraculous operations were, by the Jews, called The powers of the world to come; and these miracles were wrought by many that will not be saved, as hath been shewn.

True joy springs from the manifestation of Christ to the heart: "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." This manifestation produces pardon and peace, the experience of which worketh hope; and such a soul rejoices in hope of the glory of God. "And hope maketh not ashamed

because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart;" which is the root of all real joy. Did you ever know what it is to abhor yourself in dust and ashes? Did you ever mourn in private

under a sense of your lost estate, and the wrath to which sin hath exposed you? And was you ever bowed down under the intolerable burden of guilt, and the fear of death? If this ever was your case, to whom did you apply? how did you get rid of your troubles, or where did you leave your burden? Christ says, "I will give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." If this is your experience, your joy is the joy of the

Lord.

The faith of those who for a while believed sprang from a conviction in the mind of the supernatural power of Christ displayed in his miracles: "When they saw the miracles that he did, many believed on him;" but, when these performances were over, their natural convictions sunk; and, as persecution attended their profession, their natural confidence failed, and they fell away. The faith of God's elect purifies the heart, by bringing the atonement home: it lays hold of the righteousness of Christ, and puts it on; it leads the soul to Jesus, and works by love to him; it attends prayer, and brings answers from God; it is very busy under a sermon; it mixes faith with the word; and applies the promises; while God fills the soul with joy and peace in believing. In short, if thou art a real believer, thou hast had a share of persecution and temptation to try thy faith as well as they; and if these have not

withered thy profession, it is a plain proof that thy faith is not natural. Farewell. While I remain

Thy willing Servant,

LETTER XII.

To Mr. J. B.

W. H.

DEAR FRIEND,

You need not have made any apology in yours, as the troubled minds of sensible sinners are my peculiar province. I am authorized and commissioned by the God of heaven to transact business and negotiate affairs between the King of kings and self-condemned rebels; and to recommend the great physician, and hold forth the balm of Gilead to wounded spirits; and it is both my delight and my food to see the king and the rebel, the father and the prodigal, the physician and the patient, meet, close in, and unite together.

Whatever use a birth from Christian parents, or a religious education, may be of, it by no means secures salvation, nor gives us any right or