because they covet my company; and therefore he came to me in this manner: he infinuated that my being fo open and free to tell them how God dealt with me fprung from nothing but pride, because they should think highly of me; and that, inftead of their eyes looking to Christ, they were looking to a creature. I thought I could appeal to confcience it was otherwife; for I knew that, if it were fo, it would bring the rod of God upon me in fuch a manner as they might see what they were trusting to. For a few days I found it a great burden; it made me hate myself. However, I made a refolution that, if my tongue cleaved to the roof of my mouth, I would no more speak to them of what the Lord had done, or was doing, on my foul. This was laft Thurfday week. On Saturday laft one, named Q in the corner, came to fee me: fhe has attended the orations of our herald for some time; and I have often thought there was a weight on her mind, but never could get her to be open. But now she could hold in no longer. She told me the had read feveral proclamations lately; and the had also obferved a particular alteration in my countenance of late. I was filent, which was enough for her; and fhe faid, there was no one fhe could open her mind to. She enjoined fecrecy; but I could make no promises. She gave me fuch a description of her cafe, and put fuch questions to me, that I quite forgot the refolution

I had made of not opening my mouth any more. She dragged every thing out of me that God had done on my foul, from the time I was firft wounded, till the Lord broke my fetters. feemed to be raised to a degree of

And her foul

hope, at least

A deep work

that there might be mercy for her. it is; not the work of a day, a month, or a year; though God has permitted it to be kept secret, and she is not aware that any foul knows it but myself. She had written two letters to our watchman, but burnt them both. However, I ran with the tidings to him as foon as I could. She cannot keep it much longer from him. After this, it came to my mind that I had paffed the bounds of my promise. However, I promised to do fo no more. And now you fhall know how God dealt with me on Thursday evening after. As foon as the herald had finifhed his oration, fhe came to me at Bethel, with fuch a countenance as I shall never forget. She was too full to speak. My confcience told me fhe was cut deeper, under the alarm and warning of the watchman of the night, than ever fhe was before. But I faid in my heart I would not speak to her. I only afked her if fhe was not well; and fhe went from me. But my confcience fmote me, and cut me in a manner I cannot defcribe. I went home and to bed; but fuch a night's lodging I had! The devil and confcience made fine work with me, because I had kept my mouth fhut to her when I knew fhe came to me

for fympathy. I think I would have given fifty pounds if I could have got up in the night and gone to her; but he was too far off. However,

I found my mind at liberty in the morning to write her a letter, which I did, and fent it her directly. On the feast day at even she came to me again at Bethel, with these words: "I thank you, I thank you; I do not deferve it. O what fhall I do! Never was any thing fo feasonable. If I could have spoke to you on Thursday night I must have told you that I was fure of being damned. O that I was one of the marked ones!" My heart was ready to burft, and I cried to her, "You are one, you are one of them."-" O," fays fhe to me," you fhall hear from me; indeed you fhall." My very bowels go out after her. Surely Satan will get the worst of it. May I " re"member the battle, and do no more." Job xli. 8. I know it will rejoice your heart to hear of this poor finner. I think her deliverance is not far off. I find I have filled my paper, therefore can only fay, I have found the peace I had loft. I believe you know that I was born again to be troublesome to you. Hope you are well. Pray let me hear from you as foon as you can. I have not faid one half I wifhed to fay. The Lord blefs you with the beft of bleffings. So prays

Your affectionate fifter in the Lord Jefus,

The King's Dale.

PHILOMELA.

LETTER

LETTER IX.

T. PHILOMELA, in the King's Dale, or

elsewhere.

THINE epiftle came fafe to hand,

and favours a little of the bitter ingredients mentioned in my laft. This article is known to all the family, and to them only; nor doth the ftranger intermeddle with its oppofite. In my laft I fhewed thee a little of what would befall thee in thy latter days, left, when these things come on thee, that thou fhouldeft think fome ftrange thing had happened unto thee; and, if they should continue long, that thou shouldest weary and faint in thy mind. penfation, as I hinted before,

grow Under the old dif

every one that had

built a new house, planted a new vineyard, or that was lately married, was to be free at home, and not to be charged with, nor to be engaged in, any war for one whole year. Thou art now building in the temple of the Lord, and waft lately tranfplanted into the living vine, and newly married to the foul's beft husband, and thy year of jubilee is out about next Chriftmas; near about which time thou mayeft expect, either within or without, the alarms of war. When the captain

of our falvation takes the young recruits into the banqueting-house he hangs the banner of love over their heads, while he unfurls it in their hearts; which feems defigned to let them know that, when their bounty is spent, they must prepare for the field of action. Therefore let me advife thee now, whilft thou art in the prefencechamber, and the door of hope is fhut about thee; while his throne is acceffible, and he is fhewing thee his love; while all his fecret myfterics are brought to light, his fecret treasures opened and brought forth, and his heavenly riches communicated; now, while his ear, his heart, and hand, are all open; now, while the days of his efpoufals, and the days of the gladness of his heart, continue; and while the bridegroom is with thee, and he tells thee to open thy mouth wide and he will fill it, faying, "What is thy petition, and what is thy requeft, and it shall be granted thee, even to the whole of the kingdom?" Now, I fay, is the time to covet earnestly the best gifts. Seck every love token, afk every needful grace, every bleffing, and every gift, that accompanies falvation. Follow after charity, wifdom, righteousness, peace, in all thy petitions; and crave all the promifes, in the power of them, which his liberal heart can afford, with refpect to future help, need, and preservation; for I must tell thee again, as I have told thee in time paft, that "the time will come when ye fhall desire to see