By faith's applying the revealed word, we are begotten of God; and by the operation of the Holy Ghoft, Chrift is formed in us, as furely as he was in the Virgin's womb. All other hopes are as dead as the finner, and will give up the ghost when he dies; but this hope has to do with the general refurrection, and anchors in God within the vail of Christ's flesh, and holds every veffel of mercy fast, in all the storms of life: fuch fouls expect the glory that is to be revealed at the appearing of the great God and our Saviour, whom Paul calls that bleffed hope.

Some hope in the law; others in a set of principles in the head, without any change of heart; others hope in an external form, or fhew of religion; others in a reformation brought about under a preacher, who deals more in the letter than in the fpirit; but Chrift revealed in the word is the faint's ground of hope; and the spirit of faith revealing and applying Chrift to the foul, as his only atonement and righteoufnefs, is a moft fure and bleffed hope.

When our own name or character is reproached, we may act the part of the Dove; but when any falfe preacher, mounted on the spirit of error, comes among us, to invade God's honour, we must be Dans-ferpents in their way, and adders in their path, and bite their horfes heels, till their riders fall backward. Such preachers had better fall alone, than take legions with them; but most of them fend their errors in many fouls beforehand to judgment,

judgment, and leave fome to propagate, and bring their bane after them; but whether before or behind their iniquity cannot be hid from God.

In preaching, preach as contrary to him as God's word will allow you; and as far as you discover his error, fet truth against it; and every text you handle, obferve minutely every bleffing or threatening that it contains; defcribe the finner and the faint, and divide the word between them; if it be a new covenant bleffing, trace it in its freenefs from the fountain-I mean the purpose of GOD, founded on the fovereignty of that all-wife and abfolute disposer of all men and things: Follow it from that fountain through the meritorious life and death of our bleffed Saviour, and infift upon an application to the heart by GOD the Holy Ghoft; yea, infift upon the experience of it, the enjoyment of it, and the practice of it in life; and by these means the flock will soon see whose lamp burns the brightest; and search out the feelings of the flock, and appeal to fcripture and to confcience, in God's fight, and let every sentence come forth from him: and if they laugh at feelings, they never were quickened at all; they have only a name to live, while they are dead.

If you fet the Sun of Righteousness against that wandering ftar, your flock will foon fee the true light from the falfe: the light of the righteous rejoiceth, when the lamp of the wicked shall be put out, Prov. xiii. 9; Job xviii. 6; Matt. xxv. 8; but your lamp shall burn brighter and brighter, Pfalm xviii. 28; Prov. iv. 18. The light that fhines in falfe preachers, is

but

but darkness at beft, Luke xi. 35: 'tis a lamp that comes out of the mouth of Satan, yea, every fpark that a finner kindles comes from the fame quarter, Job xli. 19; Ifai. 1. 11. But remember it is God that fends the deluder, though Satan furnisheth him with light, 2 Theff. ii. 11. God made all things for bimfelf; yea even the wicked for the day of evil. No man dares to vend any infernal wares in God's market, till he has licence from God, 1 Kings xxii. 22. But, though God fends them, you must bear witness against them, to clear yourself of their blood, and to leave them to God's judgment without excuse; and likewise, you must feed the flock alfo, that they may have ftrength to perfect praife, to the glory of God, and to ftop the mouths of these enemies and avengers of Satan's quarrel.

Does he preach up the full affurance of faith? It is a most blessed and comfortable grace-the choicest piece of filver of the ten, except love; but it may for a time be loft, I mean in a dark night; but the foul that has ever enjoyed it, will fweep the house, and feek diligently till he find it again;-and we often hear of the joy of fuch. But as there is a counterfeit affurance, we must learn to know the image and fuperfcription of the real. It is ftamped on the foul by the Holy Ghost, 2 Theff. 1.5; and is the prevailing hand of the new man, and brings much comfort, peace and love with it: it is attended with diligence and hope, Heb. vi. 11; it is attended with a true heart and a purged confcience, Heb. x. 22; and is attended with peace and quietnefs this is to be its effects for ever, Ifaiah xxxii. 17.

I f

If his affurance is not productive of these effects, it is the carnal confidence of a prating fool; and this confidence may be found in a man void of faith, and is no better than a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint, Prov. xxv. 19; yea, false confidence may lift him up to heaven in appearance, and his head may touch the clouds, yet all fhall give up the ghost when he bows his head to the King of Terrors; and many fimple fouls, who have feen him on earth fhall fay, (when they miss him at the general doom) where is he? Job. xviii. 14. and xx. 6, 7. If the affurance that he preaches destroys peace, unity, and love; if it divides and scatters the flock; if it condemns the broken and contrite heart, it is not the affurance of faith; it is prefumption, and the preacher is earthly, fenfual, and devilish: for where divifions, ftrife, and envy is, there is every evil work.

Remember the private and public warnings I gave you, and the flock alfo, at my departure: and if you flinch from God's truth, let me never fee your face again. N. is a man whom I love and judged favourably of; and, indeed, he has been a friend to me in many respects; but, I hope, by God's grace, to facrifice his friendship, rather than give up one grain of truth to his error. We must pity and pray for their fouls, but give no ground to the devil. If he calls on me, you may depend upon it, by God's grace, I will withstand him to the last.

Thy Father tells thee to be wife, and make his heart glad, that he may know how to answer them that reproach him, Prov. xxvii. 11. That fweet word has often

melted

melted my foul-the Lord is good indeed to unworthy me, bless his holy name; and thou shalt be more than conqueror through his love in Christ Jefus. If thou wield his fword valiantly, my prayer shall be in thy calamity; but it is our spiritual Aaron alone must stay thy hand if Amalek be defeated. However, fight boldly, and be fure to guard the rear rank; he began the battle at the feebleft of the hoft at first, and ever fince has lain hottest at the heel; but God hath fworn that he will have war with him for ever. I hope to fhout for the battle, but never to hear that the ark is taken. Fare thee well; faith and patience be with thee, while I remain

Affectionately thine,

W. H.