did I fee so clearly as now the meaning of the former and latter rain, mentioned Hofea vi. 3, James v. 7. The former fhower, at converfion, I understand, when the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, took place; when righteousness, joy, peace, and praise, sprung up. This purged from guilt and filth, and a wonderful crop of the fruits of the Spirit fucceeded. But the latter rain, at death, which is to root up and purge off the very inbeing of fin, must be a moft ftupendous work! The work of regeneration, and that of changing our vile bodies, and fashioning them like unto the glorious body of Chrift, cannot be greater than this. But this is the thing that he hath spoken to us of; and then there fhall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hofts. And I must tell thee that, at times, it is much on my mind, according to what I do now and then feel, that the latter rain is not far from me. "O then fhall the fruit of the earth be excellent and comely, when he that laid the foundation of the earth fhall plant the heavens!" Ifa. li. 16. "Then shall there be no more treading down, trouble, nor perplexity, in the valley of vifion." Ifa. xxii. 5. In this confidence I subscribe myself

In the Defert.

Yours to ferve in the kingdom

and patience of Christ,

NOCTUA AURITA.

LETTER

LETTER XXXI.

To NOCTUA AURITA, in the Defert.

I CANNOT exprefs how much I feel myself indebted to you for your foul-ftrengthening and foul-establishing epiftle; for fuch it is indeed to me; though one part of it caufed me forrow of heart; and it will caufe the fame forrow to thousands after the Lord takes you from us. But you have borne the burden and heat of the day, and the Lord has appointed the period when you are to reft from your labours. But, O how few labourers there are in the vineyard, though the harvest is truly great! It rejoiced my heart to hear of those sweet vifits the Lord has favoured you with. I know fomething of them, though but in a small measure. I have been favoured with but few of them of late. I seem to be called to sharp conflicts. It gave me great fatisfaction to find you acknowledge I am led in the fame path with yourself; by which I think you mean the path of tribulation. Indeed, my dear brother, I am led to see more and more that it is the only way to the kingdom. My present standing greatly differs from what it was fome time back.

back. I am not led in the expectation of much fenfible enjoyment while in this wilderness; though I know that it is only the comfortable. prefence of the dear Redeemer which makes an heaven upon earth. But the inheritance is not to be enjoyed here, but only the earneft. I think you will not misunderstand me (but I know I am very blundering at conveying my ideas) in thinking I speak too flightly of those visits. But I am fure I was long seeking them as the only food I was to live on. But I fee now that the juft are to live by faith; and a daily crofs is appointed for me. And I think that the Lord fhewed me this fome time before I was brought to fubmit to put my fhoulders under the burden. But now I am convinced there is no growing in the divine life without trials. Never did I fee, as I do now, the meaning of those words of Hezekiah, when he faid,

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By these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my fpirit; fo wilt thou revive me, and cause me to live." I can fee now that the sharpest trials I have been exercised with have proved the greatest bleffing to my foul. I thought, when I was on the mount Tabor fo many months, I was furely in a place of fafety. But, oh! I am well convinced it was a flippery place. Indeed I have not a wish to be placed there again. And, when I have perused the letters you sent me at that time, I am astonished they did not bring me down. But God had appointed the inftrument that was

to

to effect that. I may well fay that it is owing to my having obtained help of God that I continue to this moment. I believe I shall never be finally left; he will put me in a thousand fires before he will fuffer me to get from under his hand. I muft tell you, that the fubject of one part of your letter was entirely new to me, which is the latter rain at death. I thank you kindly for it. I believe the hand of God is in it, as it hath taken, in a great measure, a burden off my mind, which has been a matter of great perplexity, and which I never did communicate to any one; and that is with respect to the temporal death of the body. You cannot conceive the diftreffing fears I have lived in on account of this thing; how I fhould be in the pains of death; and fearing the affaults of Satan; and left I should be, at that time, bereft of my senses, and fo be left to difhonour God by fpeaking unadvisedly with my lips. And this has diftreffed my mind much. But thofe fears have not in the least abated fince the fting of death has been taken away. Satan has, at times, been permitted to fuggeft to me, in times of desertion, that, if the work was genuine, thofe fears would not exift in my mind. But I cannot express what a fenfible relief I felt when I read that part of your letter. I hope it will not return again. I know it is very difhonouring to God. If you should find your mind at liberty to enlarge on the subject, I fhall take it as a favour; for the subject is

much

much on my mind. I hope the Lord is confirming your bodily health, that you may not be confined from your labours. Mr. H

much

wishes he could write to you, but fays he is fo dead and stupid it is out of his power; but thanks you for your letters, and fhall be always glad to hear from you, begging an interest in your prayers. I remain

BELOVED fifter in the Lord Jefus,

and fellow-traveller in the path of tribulation, grace and peace be multiplied. Your kind epistle came fafe to hand; and I thank you for your love in the Lord, and the refpect you have fhewn to me as a poor fervant of his. Am at present better in