DXCIV.

My dear Brother in Christ,

You know not what I felt at the sight of your letter when I came to these words, "I write to let you know that I am alive, and I trust spiritually so." I was fully persuaded that there was life before thy confession came; but I know it is not easily perceived, nor easily believed; but sure I am that the discoveries that are made in thy heart of the depravity of thy nature, and the reproofs and rebukes that are given for thy past follies, is not the light of nature, nor the light of the law only, nor the light of Balaam, or of any other hypocrite; but it is the light of life, because it is attended with the keenest sensations, fervent motions, spiritual hungerings and thirstings, tender feelings, and cordial affections. Though his divine love is not shed abroad in the heart to draw them forth, yet the flax will smoke till the live coal and cloven tongue set it all in a flame; then "his glory shall cover the heavens, and the earth shall be full of his

Convictions, fastened by the Spirit of God, will hold the rebel fast at the bar of the law and of his own conscience, as guilty and condemned, in spite of every "Lo here and lo there;" in spite of all plaisters, daubers, kerchiefs, and false cries of "Peace, peace," until the Advocate's all-prevailing plea is attended with the atonement, with the imputed righteousness of Jesus, and until a sense of his discriminating and dying love is heard; against these no accusations can be heard, therefore it is the application of these things that will release him and let him go. A deep sense of the need of these things is felt under the quickening operations of the Spirit. And the same Spirit works a hope and expectation of these things; produces earnest prayers, and helps our infirmities in supplicating for them. He enlightens our eyes to see them held forth in the scriptures, and raises all our hopes to expect them from Christ, and the enjoyment of them from the revelation of Christ; in hope of whose manifestation to our souls he keeps us longing and desiring, till the desire be accomplished, and the tree of life springs up in our souls. Now, as this is the Spirit's quickening work, the prophet asks, Wherefore doth a living man complain; a man for the

and possibility of hope appeared, and I confessed, begged, and sued hard, and put my mouth in the dust, to obtain it; and at length it was granted, and my side of the scale rested, unless at certain times, when a most dreadful blasphemous assault (to my appearance) moved it again. Next appeared to rise within me a firm expectation, grounded chiefly on what I felt within, and on the promises and invitations held forth in the book of God. At this the doors of the shadow of death began to close, and my thoughts were released from their terrible meditations. The snares of death began to slacken, and the pains of hell not to grind so hard. Here my scale came down apace, until I was persuaded that I should one day or other be delivered, though it might be on the day of my death. And these thingshope, expectation and persuasion-I never wholly lost until the great Deliverer came, and with him down came the balance in my favour, with earnests, foretastes, firstfruits, and the sure pledges of an eternal weight of glory.

To many professors, and to some of God's own children, these mysterious scraps would appear parables, and mere enthusiastic

will feel me out, and from whom these things are not hid; who is deep in this secret of the Lord, and who has heard God's voice in the secret place of thunder. The God of all grace, who has known my soul in adversity, is still with me, and has made the last sifting time work for my good. My dearest friends gave me 3007. and an old lady left me by will 2007. more; so that my chapel debt, which was an intolerable burden (blessed be God) is now paid off. Those who left us, and those we dismissed, are blasted, withered, and dried up like a potsherd. But those who in heart and soul are with me, and abide with us, do, and ever shall, abide in safeguard. I know who set me to work, and who keeps me at it.

Your brother is pretty well; he abides by his master's crib, among the rest of the young asses that love clean provender, which has been well winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. God bless thee, and keep thee, and lift up the light of his countenance upon thee, is, and ever will be, the earnest prayer of,

Dear Brother, yours in Christ Jesus,

DXCIV.

My dear Brother in Christ,

You know not what I felt at the sight of your letter when I came to these words, "I write to let you know that I am alive, and I trust spiritually so." I was fully persuaded that there was life before thy confession came; but I know it is not easily perceived, nor easily believed; but sure I am that the discoveries that are made in thy heart of the depravity of thy nature, and the reproofs and rebukes that are given for thy past follies, is not the light of nature, nor the light of the law only, nor the light of Balaam, or of any other hypocrite; but it is the light of life, because it is attended with the keenest sensations, fervent motions, spiritual hungerings and thirstings, tender feelings, and cordial affections. Though his divine love is not shed abroad in the heart to draw them forth, yet the flax will smoke till the live coal and cloven tongue set it all in a flame; then "his glory shall cover the heavens, and the earth shall be full of his