PREFACE.

BELOVED FRIEND,

HAVING feen and read moft, if not all, the letters which have paffed between you and my dear fifter, it is my opinion that they would be of great use to many if they were made public. When I confider and reflect upon the light, fupport, and help, which I received when in my trouble from many of the Epiftles of Faith, as well as from your other writings; and the many accounts I have fince had of the usefulness of the Living Teftimonies to many fouls that were in diftress, darkness, and bondage; it is my requeft, fhould it meet with your approbation, that you would publish them. I am fully perfuaded that the matter they contain leads to the true and living way. The bulk of profeffors, in our day, as far as I am able

to

to judge, are entire ftrangers to the path of regeneration. There are but a few who walk in the narrow path of life, and who experience the love of God therein; and fewer ftill who can caft up this way before others, and whose ministry is that of the Spirit, and not of the letter. And, as I believe there are fome, in many dark corners of the country, ready to perifh for lack of knowledge, who are fecking the truth, but, for want of fome one to guide them, they are kept in ignorance of it, who knows but that Providence may fend thefe letters (as I am certain, from my own knowledge, he has many of your other writings) into their hands; which, under God, may give them light on their ftate. I think there are in these letters fome things new and fingular. I feel a defire to fee them in print. I have been acquainted with my friend now for fome years. When I first knew her fhe flood very high in her confidence, fuch as it was; but, when the Almighty wounded me, and made me fpeak out of the abundance of my own heart, her confidence was foon fapped; and I believe the found her confidence had ever been in her own tabernacle; and, when it was rooted up, the king of terrors

Jaid hold of her, as he will one day of many who, like her, think themfelves now very fecure and ftrong. But the firft-born of death will foon devour that fort of frength; and hunger-bitten they are already. I have been an eye-witness of her distress under the fpirit of bondage, in which fhe continued two or three years; and likewise, as you well know, of her happy enlargement, which The enjoyed for a long time. And I have narrowly watched her descent from the mount of transfiguration. She has been now for fome time in the furnace; and I believe in my heart fhe will endure the fire, and come forth as gold. At prefent fhe walks 'very fteady, humble, meck, and lowly, and appears to quit herself like one that feeth him who is invifible. She is the firft fruit of Achaia unto the Lord; at leaft fhe was the firft that publicly returned to give glory to God; and she was a ftranger; and cleanfed fhe is I verily believe. And, as there are many profeffors now ftanding where the once ftood, and others in darkness and diftrefs through legal bondage, I am in hopes that making the letters public will be a means to awaken fome of the former, and encourage the latter. That they may be a caution to feme,

firength

ftrength and encouragement to others, ftir up jealoufy in many, and be bleffed to comfort the weak and infant race, is, in this request, the view, and, when published, will be the earnest wish and prayer of

Your truly fincere lover and friend,

VESPERTILIO TUMULIS.

PRELIMINARY

MAY I not fay, of Hail! highly favoured, blefféd art thou among women, when he that is mighty hath done fo great things for thee, in remembrance of his mercy, as he promised to our forefathers in the faith, to Abraham, and to his feed for ever?"

It is jubilee with thee; the days of the Son of man are come, days of good things. And would it not be commendable in thee to act the part of the poor lepers in the fiege of Samaria; that is, to inform the King's household of it? Doft thou well to feaft at the banquet thyfelf, and to go and hide all the reft? If the Lord forms a perfon for himself, it is that he may fhew forth his praise.

The poor woman with her iffue obtained virtue from the Covenant Head privately, and was going to withdraw, in hope of escaping the cen