,the ,works of the ,rev4 ,john ,wesley1 ,m4,a4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,punctuation has been standardized4 ,most of the non-common abbreviations used to save space in printing have been expanded to the non-abbreviated form for easier reading4 ,the author has used an asterisk 7997 to indicate passages he considers most worthy of attention4 ,the text is very inconsistent in its usage of quotation marks4 ,the transcriber has attempted to make their use consistent throughout this work for improved readability4 ,characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps4 ,non-printable characteristics have been given the following ,italic text3 -- text emphasized text within italics -- text ,this book was written in a period when many words had not become standardized in their spelling4 ,words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in the text4 ,these have been left unchanged unless indicated with a ,transcriber's ,note4 ,the symbol #8' indicates the description in parenthesis has been added to an illustration4 ,this may be needed if there is no caption or if the caption does not describe the image adequately4 ,footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which they appear4 ,transcriber's ,notes are used when making corrections to the text or to provide additional information for the modern reader4 ,these notes are identified by symbols in the text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which they appear4 ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,the ,rev4 ,,john ,,wesley1 ,m4,a4 ,late ,fellow of ,lincoln-,college1 ,,oxford4 ,,volume ,,xiv4 ,,bristol3 ,printed by ,,william ,,pine1 in ,wine-,street4 ,,mdcclxxii4 ,,the ,,contents ,of the ,,fourteenth ,,volume4 ,extract of ,mrs4 ,l99999999's ,letters 7continued47 ,meditations upon some texts of ,scripture4 ,extracts from a ,little ,diary4 ,letters written by ,jane ,cooper4 ,some account of her life and death4 ,some account of the experience of ,e4 ,j4 ,an earnest ,appeal to ,men of ,reason and ,religion4 ,a farther ,appeal to ,men of ,reason and ,religion4 ,part ,i4 ,illustration3 7 decoration7 ,an ,,extract of ,,letters ,by ,mrs4 ,l999999994 ,continued4 ,to the ,rev4 ,mr4 999999994 ,sunday ,afternoon1 ,october #ac1 #aged4 ,my dear ,friend1 ,i ,,was this morning 7though unseen by you7 present at your sermon on the public worship of ,god1 and sat impatiently1 expecting and longing to hear that name mentioned1 by which alone cometh salvation4 ,surely1 thought ,i1 when all his heathen and moral motives are done1 ,i shall at last hear him urge that best and most prevailing motive to our joining together in the praise of ,god1 the exceeding riches of his mercy to us in ,jesus ,christ4 ,but alas6 ,how were my expectations frustrated8 ,and how did my heart sink when the sermon was ended6,if there is any faith to be given1 either to the words or behaviour of man1 you are a ,christian4 ,but what did you say here1 more than ,socrates might have said8 ,you will pardon my boldness2 ,god knows the sincerity of my heart1 when ,i protest1 that it is only from a motive of love to your soul1 and the souls of those which hear you1 that ,i write with such freedom4 ,give me leave then to ask1 ,have you1 for your own soul in particular1 found redemption through the blood of ,christ8 ,i have all the reason imaginable1 from your sweet conversation1 to believe that you have4 ,but how is it then that you could preach one such sermon as this8 ,oh search well into your own heart4 ,is there not some root of bitterness remaining1 some evil shame1 which renders you thus inconsistent8 ,had ,i not heard you myself1 ,i could not have thought it possible1 for you to have preached in this manner1 after the glorious things you have said to me4 ,you have called me friend4 ,take this letter as the highest proof of friendship ,i could possibly give you4 ,is it not so1 for your sake to run the hazard of being thought bold and assuming8 ,if you are offended1 tell me so plainly1 but at the same time freely forgive me2 and believe me1 with the sincerest wishes for your present usefulness and everlasting happiness1 ,your ever obliged and affectionate ,friend1 99999999 99 99 99 99 99 ,to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,w999999994 ,december #be1 #aged4 ,dear ,sir1 99,,may this blessed day in which the sun of righteousness first arose on our dark world1 bring a new accession of light1 and peace1 and joy to your precious soul6 ,may the power of ,god accompany every word you utter1 and give you this day to enlarge your conquests over the prince of darkness4 ,oh1 give my full heart leave to expand itself in praying for you1 in blessing you1 and in thanking you1 for your surprizing goodness to me4 ,no1 never shall you find me ungrateful2 that ,god in whom alone ,i trust for strength1 will preserve me from falling into this meanest of all crimes4,i shall not1 ,i fear1 have the delightful satisfaction of hearing you to-morrow1 and therefore could not forbear writing to-day2 besides1 ,i am by illness prevented attending the public worship of ,god1 so that ,i have need of this comfort4 ,every thing has succeeded here beyond my hopes1 your presence has greatly dispelled every cloud of prejudice1 and fear of man4 ,in short1 when ,i consider the goodness of ,god and my own absolute unworthiness1 ,i am lost in astonishment3 dear ,sir1 pray that ,i may make a proper improvement of all these blessings1 and particularly of that exceeding great blessing1 your friendship4 ,oh ,sir6 may ,i indeed say your friendship8 ,the ,lord ,jesus bless and reward you6 ,expression fails me1 when ,i would thank you as ,i ought1 and tell how much ,i am1 ,your ever obliged and affectionate1 99999999 99 99 99 99 99 ,dear ,sir1 ,,your answer to my question1 on what is the proper foundation of our rejoicing in temporal blessings1 is perfectly satisfactory1 and ,i thank you for it4 ,what you say of ,mr4 ,p4's tract is just what ,i wanted3 possibly some fit season may be given me to make a good use of it4 ,one would imagine that if singleness of eye1 and sincerity of heart were really found in all those of our ministers1 who in a measure preach the gospel1 there would scarce be room left even for the shadow of a dispute4 ,but this is only imagination2 for ,i cannot help observing of some1 for whose sincerity ,i would answer with my life1 that they are far from being consistent long together4 ,i have lately been attacked with a mighty pretty distinction 7and from my ignorance a new one to me7 in respect of the doctrine of assurance of forgiveness of sin4,mr4 99999999 says1 it is of the essence of faith2 but most of the old ,puritans1 together with a heap of great names 7of which ,i remember not one7 say1 it is of the fruits of faith4,a poor weak woman1 who has not learnt logic1 may be easily puzzled with the nicety of a logical distinction2 but still ,i could plainly see1 that let it be essence or fruits1 there was a manifest necessity for enforcing the doctrine3 because a tree which brings not forth its proper fruits1 is a barren tree4,a faith which brings not forth its proper fruits1 is a dead faith1 and consequently unprofitable4,the answer is1 8,a tree may be alive1 and yet not bring forth fruit immediately40,well1 but this makes nothing against the necessity there is that it should bring forth fruit1 in order to make it a profitable tree4,but then we have a homily to fly to38,the homily on salvation says #8nothing of assurance4'0,if the homily contradicts ,st4 ,paul1 the homily is nothing to me48,o1 you won't refer it to that1 #8because it makes against you4'0,i do not so much as know what is in it48,it only #8says a sure trust and confidence4'0,i think a sure confidence is nearly the same with assurance48,no1 they are very different40,now1 ,sir1 you must be so good to furnish me with two or three of your strong arguments1 to pull down this ,babel tower1 which our friends are building4 ,i should also be glad1 if you would tell me by what happy art you are always consistent in doctrine1 as well as practice3 for ,i can find no one else that is so4,difference of opinion ,i regard not2 ,i could enjoy fellowship of spirit with a truly sincere ,predestinarian1 ,papist1 or ,quaker4 ,inconsistency is the thing alone which hurts me4 ,when ,i find this in people whom ,i know to be in so much higher a state of grace than myself1 and whom ,i love and honour1 it disquiets me1 ,i own1 by far too much3 and my soul1 like ,noah's dove1 flies solitary about1 and finds no place of rest on the face of the whole earth3 till at last with one olive-leaf1 and only one1 she returns joyful to the ark,give me leave1 ,sir1 to intreat of you 7if you should have a little time to spare7 that you will just point out to me1 ,first1 ,what are the probable causes of this inconsistency1 in those who have truly sincerity of heart1 and singleness of eye4 ,secondly1 ,what is the most probable means of curing this distemper of the mind4 ,and1 ,thirdly1 ,how ,i may avoid falling into it myself1 and keep my soul from being disquieted1 when ,i find it in those whom ,i highly esteem4,i hope ,god continues to preserve to us your precious health1 and that your long journies may be a means of strengthening and establishing it4,i doubt not but the work of the ,lord prospers in your hands1 and that you will have much reason to rejoice in the fruit of your labours4 ,how happy are you to be always thus employed1 in such eminent service for your ,master8 ,you live almost the life of an unembodied spirit2 and ,i live nearly the life of a plant4 ,but thank ,god1 it is absolutely certain1 that this immortal spirit of mine1 which is thus pressed in on every side1 and weighed down with matter1 will some time burst its bonds1 and break the bars of its prison2 and then1 how it will soar6 ,nothing sure can equal the life1 the joy1 the glorious liberty1 which a spirit must feel1 when first delivered from its heavy clog6 ,farewel6 ,may our dear ,redeemer continually watch over you1 and bless you in every thought1 word1 and action6 ,i am1 c4 99999999 99 99 99 99 99 ,september #ag4 ,dear ,sir1 ,,how shall ,i find words to thank you for your sweet expressions of care and friendship for my soul8 ,ten thousand thousand blessings on your own for this kindness4,i hope ,i may in one sense say1 that my soul prospers1 because ,i desire nothing but that the will of ,god may be done in me and by me4 ,but ,i have not at present those overflowings of joy ,i have at some times experienced3 the cries of a sickly infant1 which touch all the finest springs of human nature1 cast a kind of heaviness over my soul3 and the perpetual and strict watch ,i am obliged to keep over my heart1 for fear the least murmuring or complaining thought should arise in it1 7which ,i would rather die than suffer7 seem rather to restrain my soul from the glorious freedom she once had1 of losing herself in the heights and depths of divine love4,oh blessed hours of abstraction from all creatures1 and joyful communion with the fountain and centre of all happiness1 when will ye return8 ,when it is the will of my heavenly ,father that you should return2 and in that divine will ,i rest contented1 willing1 nay pleased1 to suffer any thing1 every thing1 so ,i may be kept from sin4 ,i have lately had inward temptations1 buzzing about my mind1 like insects in a summer's day2 but1 by looking to ,jesus1 ,i as easily disperse them1 as the waving hand disperses those little troublesome animals3 and1 thanks to my ,redeemer's boundless mercy1 ,i still enjoy in my inmost soul1 a peace1 which ,i would not lose for millions of worlds4 ,but ,i greatly want constant recollection1 and a mortified humble spirit4 ,you know the weight your words have with me2 give me1 ,i beg of you1 some directions for obtaining this4 ,i cannot take my leave1 without thanking you again and again1 for enquiring after my soul3 ,oh how dearly do ,i love you for this goodness2 may the tender mercies of ,god be with you6 ,may the eternal ,comforter meet and bless you in every word of your tongue1 and in every thought of your heart6 ,your ever-grateful and affectionate1 99999999 99 99 99 99 99 ,february #bh4 ,i ,,shall not forget the great reason ,i had to be thankful both to ,god and you1 for our last conversation4 ,it seemed to me1 that ,i had more liberty of speaking to you than usual1 though a thousand things were yet left unsaid2 and you led me to make many observations1 which ,i hope will be of lasting benefit to my soul4 ,you have taught me to see the amazing wisdom and loving kindness of ,god in several instances1 which ,i should not else have thought of2 and ,i am fully satisfied with all his disposals3 knowing he orders all things well1 ,i chearfully submit2 and ,i trust that strength will be given me to walk on in the way set before me1 8though sorrowful1 yet 7in one sense7 always rejoicing40,is it not a great blessing that the thorns are mixed with roses8 ,this is infinitely more than ,i deserve4,how true is it1 that the higher satisfaction we have in any thing1 besides ,god1 the greater pain must necessarily attend it8 ,i have often been taught this lesson1 in various degrees1 each rising above the other2 and yet ,i have not learnt wisdom4 ,and who shall teach me this wisdom8 ,why you yourself can lay down most excellent rules1 but it is ,god alone who can give me power to practise them4 ,i plainly see the necessity of having every thought brought into subjection to ,christ3 it must be thus1 if ,i would attain settled peace and constant recollection4,in your extract from ,molinos1 the state of mind ,i am seeking1 is well described in these words3 8,the soul that is entered into the heaven of peace1 acknowledges itself full of ,god1 and his supernatural gifts2 because it lives grounded in pure love1 receiving equal pleasure in light and darkness1 in night and day1 in affliction and consolation3 through this holy and heavenly indifferency1 it never loses its peace in adversity1 nor its tranquility in tribulation1 but sees itself full of unspeakable enjoyments40,and again1 8,though the valley of the lower faculties of the soul1 is suffering tribulations1 combats1 martyrdoms1 and suggestions1 yet at the same time1 on the lofty mountain of the higher part of the soul1 the true sun casts its beams2 it enflames and inlightens it1 and so it becomes clear1 peaceable1 resplendent1 quiet1 serene1 being a mere ocean of joy40,but alas6 you will say1 8,how far are you from this state60 ,true1 ,i am far from it indeed4 ,and yet ,i have sometimes experienced some little glimmerings of it1 but they have been soon disturbed3 and then ,i have fondly said to myself1 ,well1 when this trial1 when this temptation1 or difficulty is over1 ,i shall return to my sweet peace1 and my soul will be wholly swallowed up in the love of ,god4 ,vain imagination6 ,i think ,i have now experimentally learnt a truth1 which before only floated in my brain1 8,that the peace of a ,christian does not consist in being free from temptations and difficulties1 but in stedfastly and calmly conquering them40,once more1 the ,lord preserve you6 ,could my prayers avail any thing1 what blessings would you receive1 in body1 soul1 and spirit6 ,oh farewel1 farewel6 ,and when your soul is most carried up to ,god1 remember to pray for1 ,your grateful and affectionate1 99999999 99 99 99 99 99 ,april #b4 ,dear ,sir1 ,i ,,return you many thanks for writing so soon1 and particularly for filling two sides of your paper4 ,my soul was as much enlivened by your letter1 as the earth1 the birds1 and flowers1 are by the rays of the sun1 after a long and heavy rain4 ,may your blessed ,master reward you for all your goodness to me6 ,i thank ,god1 ,i have in some measure learnt that grand lesson1 8,not as ,i will1 but as thou wilt20 and ,i continually pray that he may teach it me more and more4 ,the present idle and half-dying life ,i am obliged to lead1 greatly needs this temper of mind2 and it is all owing to the free mercy of my ,redeemer1 that ,i can now say1 his grace is sufficient for me4 ,in regard to temporal blessings1 ,i have now and then a little dispute with some of my religious friends1 and ,i want your authority to strengthen my arguments4,they say1 ,whatever temporal blessing ,god gives1 you are to rejoice and take a pleasure in it1 as his gift4 ,and ,i say1 ,whatever temporal blessing ,god bestows1 the motive for your rejoicing should be merely the will of ,god3 for if you rejoice in the blessing1 considered as a happiness in itself 7though referring it to ,god with a thankful heart7 you are building on the sand1 and your happiness will be shaken1 if not overturned1 by the first storm that beats upon it4 ,but if the will of ,god be the motive of your rejoicing1 you build your happiness on a foundation which never can be moved4 ,the present blessing1 indeed1 may vanish away1 but your cause of rejoicing still remaineth sure and stedfast1 in time and in eternity4,some people think the way ,i am in at present a prodigious happiness1 and the greatest of worldly blessings1 and will ask me1 8,are you not pleased80,i answer1 ,i am pleased with every thing which is the will of ,god2 and the answer is thought an odd one3 but ,i cannot help it1 ,i dare not make any other4 99,you want me to say something upon ,christian love ripened in eternity4 ,but this is a theme for angels2 my soul is too low1 too dull to attempt to write upon it2 ,i can only wish and pray to be a partaker of it4 ,farewel2 may the sweetest streams of redeeming love ever fill your soul4 ,i am unalterably your's1 99999999 99 99 99 99 99 ,july #ah4 99,dear ,sir1 ,i ,,can truly say1 that ,i would with joy devote all ,i have1 and all ,i am to ,god1 and gladly spend every hour in his service1 ,but the difficulties ,i find in the way are indeed insuperable to me1 though not so ,i think to every one1 at least if ,i may judge from some few instances ,i have seen since my acquaintance with you4,you yourself1 even outwardly1 appear to me to spend every hour to the glory of ,god2 and for this reason ,i look upon you to be the happiest of mankind4 ,when ,i see you spent with fatigue1 your eyes half closed1 and your outward man seeming to hasten to its dissolution1 though ,i would freely give my own life and strength to increase yours1 ,i almost envy you this glorious fatigue1 and say to myself1 ,how happy1 how blessed is this man1 thus to spend and be spent in the service of his ,redeemer6 ,think me not presumptuous when ,i say1 that ,i place you constantly before my mind1 as my living example4 ,outwardly it certainly is impossible for me to follow you1 but inwardly6,oh1 ,sir1 that ,i could in every faculty of my soul be a follower of you1 even as you are of ,christ6,you bid me love enough2 and doubtless if ,i could love enough1 ,i should 7as you say7 do enough1 for perfect love is perfect liberty1 liberty to conquer all sin1 and attain to all holiness4 ,this is the glorious privilege of the children of ,god2 and this my soul pants after4 ,but though ,i can sincerely say1 that ,i love ,god above all things1 yet it is very evident that ,i do not love enough1 because the fruits of this perfect love are not produced in my soul4 ,sometimes my enemies seem intirely conquered1 and my mind is smooth and calm1 as were the waters after ,christ had said to them1 ,peace1 be still4 ,but when ,i seem thus strong1 ,i am 7to my inexpressible shame and confusion7 found to be weakness itself3 some trifle1 which perhaps had appeared too contemptible even to be thought of1 will be the means of my inwardly falling4 ,but thanks be to ,god ,i have this given me1 8,quick as the apple of an eye1 ,the slightest touch of sin to feel40 ,to feel1 and immediately to fly to that blood of sprinkling which alone can cleanse me from this pollution4 ,but indeed1 ,sir1 ,i find every day more and more the truth of your words1 8that ,i have need to watch always40 ,i am set as it were in the midst of snares1 both friends and enemies conspiring together to keep me from that humility1 which is so necessary to one who wishes to be really a ,christian4 ,my enemies lead to pride1 by railing at me for what is1 and ought to be1 in one sense1 my glory2 and my friends1 by having too high an opinion of me4 ,i think there is none1 except yourself1 who does not in some measure hurt me3 and therefore1 though ,i dare not call you my friend1 as implying any particular attachment on your part1 you are in fact1 my truest and best friend4 ,praise ,i now dread as poison2 and yet my temper is such as makes some encouragement necessary4 ,your behaviour to me is exactly fitted to preserve the balance of my mind even2 a smile of approbation from you1 is that praise which encourages without endangering4 ,you will pardon my speaking so much of myself3 a patient1 you know1 must fully lay open his case to his physician2 and ,i have been emboldened even by you yourself1 to increase the length of my letters4 ,oh may your blessed ,master reward you for all your labours in his service1 and for all your goodness to1 ,your unworthy1 though ever-grateful and affectionate1 99999999 ,,meditations ,upon some ,,texts of ,,scripture4 ,the heart is deceitful above all things1 and desperately wicked4 ,o ,,my ,god1 how fatally do ,i experience the truth of this assertion6 ,my heart is indeed deceitful above all things4 ,and how great is my sorrow on the melancholy reflection8 ,lord1 ,i have by the deceitfulness and wickedness of my own heart1 justly forfeited my title to the joys of eternity1 incurred thy indignation1 and made myself obnoxious to that dreadful sentence1 ,depart ye cursed6 ,and how just is this sentence1 after the crimes my deceitful heart has betrayed me into2 after the many good resolutions ,i have broke2 after the sins of ingratitude1 presumption1 and repining1 with which ,i have defiled my soul6 ,how often have ,i resolved1 firmly resolved1 to keep a strict watch over my eyes and heart in the house of ,god2 and let no thought have entrance1 which could prevent my addressing my ,creator with the reverence ,i ought8 ,but1 merciful ,god6 ,how contrary have ,i acted to all this6 ,have not my eyes been amused by vanity1 and my heart so distracted by idle and ridiculous ideas1 that ,i have not known the words my lips pronounced8 ,nay1 have not even unclean and blasphemous thoughts attacked me at this sacred time1 and1 wretch that ,i am6 been indulged1 or but coldly rejected8 ,horrible proof1 that my heart is deceitful above all things1 and desperately wicked6 ,lord1 ,i abhor myself1 for having thus often1 and thus heinously offended thee6 ,i am utterly ashamed and confounded1 at my daring1 my monstrous impiety6 ,how shall ,i dare to hope for pardon of a sin so frequently repeated1 and with such aggravations8 ,when ,i consider the greatness of my guilt1 my astonished soul is ready to sink in black despair4 ,blessed ,god6 ,i sin against the clearest conviction1 against the checks of my conscience1 and the kind admonitions of thy holy ,spirit2 and1 strange perverseness6 against all the hopes ,i have of happiness2 sin against that ,god1 whom ,i love and adore from my soul1 and whose favour ,i would this moment lay down my life to procure4 ,the thoughts of immortality1 and the surprising goodness of the ,almighty1 in the works of creation and redemption1 fill my mind with gratitude and wonder2 ,i am lost in admiration1 and could dwell for ever on the delightful theme4 ,and yet1 inconsistent wretch that ,i am6 ,i go on to offend this divine author of my being1 by my careless1 supine1 and irreverent addresses2 and my wicked and fantastic thoughts4 ,my prayers are turned into sin3 and now is it not presumption1 the highest presumption1 to hope for pardon8 ,or rather1 would it not be a greater sin than ,i have yet committed1 to despair of it8 ,is not mercy the darling attribute of ,god8 ,it is2 and ,i embrace and adore that mercy3 that mercy which is so freely offered to the worst of sinners3 that mercy which is made sure to us by the blood of a crucified ,saviour4 ,oh my only refuge6 my dearest hope and everlasting confidence6 ,teach me words to express the sentiments ,i have of thee1 and the abhorrence ,i have of my guilt4 ,i detest myself1 hate my vile ingratitude1 and am fully convinced of my own weakness1 and the vanity of my best resolutions1 without thy assisting grace4 ,oh grant me that1 for the sake of my ,redeemer2 on that alone will ,i rely2 never more will ,i trust to the strength of my own reason4 ,i have found1 by dear experience1 that ,i am folly and inconstancy itself3 without thy aid ,i am worse than nothing1 but with the blessing ,i implore1 ,i shall be more than conqueror4 ,but is the sin ,i have now been lamenting1 the only instance of the wickedness and deceitfulness of my heart8 ,alas6 it is not3 ,i have innumerable proofs of its treachery2 every day1 every hour brings some1 and gives me new cause for grief and repentance4 ,i resolve frequently1 no more to repine at the misfortunes ,i lie under2 no more to look back with discontent1 or forwards with distrust4 ,and these resolutions ,i strengthen1 by reflections on the wisdom of ,god3 how much better he knows to chuse for me1 than ,i could for myself2 and how unavailing impatience is under ills1 ,i cannot prevent4 ,then ,i consider how small my punishment is1 in comparison of what ,i deserve1 and should suffer1 was not the ,almighty infinitely merciful2 and what blessings afflictions are productive of1 when received with humility and resignation4 99,and yet after all this1 how often do ,i catch my deceitful heart breathing an impious sigh1 and by this secret complaint accusing ,providence6 ,how often are my eyes lift up1 with a 8,lord6 why am ,i thus miserable8 ,why1 while ,i see all around me gay and prosperous1 must ,i alone be unfortunate1 and mourn1 without finding one to pity me8 ,what have ,i done to deserve the being disappointed in every thing ,i have set my affections on1 and deceived by every friend ,i have trusted80,with this surprising boldness have ,i dared to expostulate with my ,maker2 and yet his mercy still allows me life1 and time for repentance4 ,oh thou adorable ,being6 may ,i never more offend thee by a discontented word or thought3 but grant that every faculty of my soul1 may be in perfect resignation to thy will2 and by this resignation1 acquire that tranquillity and peace1 which all the delights of the earth are not able to give4 ,again4 ,i resolve every day to be perfectly easy under every little mortification ,i may meet in the common occurrences of life4 ,how weak 7,i cry7 is it to be affected by the folly or ill-nature of the world6 ,why should ,i regard the sneers of people1 whose low sentiments are only deserving pity8 ,can the unreasonable1 and unjust notions of another1 rob me of any real merit8 ,can an envious1 a malicious1 or a detracting speech1 do me any material injury1 unless ,i give it force myself1 by my impatience and want of temper8 ,no certainly3 nothing from without can hurt me1 but by my own fault4 ,a mind fortified with religion1 is proof against the darts of senseless tattle1 or ill-natured wit4 ,firm and collected within itself1 it smiles superior1 and looks down on the ignorant and the malicious with pity4,these reflections are just2 and ,oh that ,i could reduce them into practice6 ,but here ,i miserably fail4 99,after my soul has plumed herself with these fine notions1 and is ready to pronounce herself equal to every trial1 she sinks in the most shameful manner4 ,a word1 a look1 nay the very appearance of a slight1 throws me into the greatest uneasiness and confusion2 and though ,i can govern my temper enough to hide it from the world1 my heart is ready to burst with indignation4 ,strange weakness6,but why do ,i call it strange8 ,am ,i not too well acquainted with the fatal cause of this1 and almost every sin ,i am guilty of8 ',tis vanity1 that intolerable vanity1 which mixes itself with all ,i act1 or speak1 or think4 ,when ,i look strictly into my deceitful and wicked heart1 ,i find it so full of this abominable vice1 that ,i regard myself with horror and amazement2 and yet perhaps the next moment1 indulge in airy schemes and self-complacency4 ,sure there is not in the whole universe1 so vain and sinful a wretch as ,i am6 ,what can ,i hope for8 ,what can ,i expect8 ,will not eternal rejection from the presence of ,god be justly my portion8 ,oh1 thought of unutterable horror6 ,my ,god6 ,my only hope6 ,can ,i think of being for ever cast out from the light of thy countenance1 and live8 ,why does not the dreadful idea at once put an end to my being8 ,all the torments of damnation are summed up in these shocking words,eternal rejection from thy presence6,oh gracious and adorable being6 let me not be thus beyond imagination cursed4 ,in the name of my blessed ,saviour1 ,i implore thy pity6 ,oh look with compassion on a soul which pants for grace and forgiveness6 ,a soul sensible of her weak and polluted state1 and entirely relying on thy mercy4 ,o speak peace to this troubled sea1 and all shall be calm6 ,give me strength to resist those temptations ,i so often sink under6 ,but above all1 change this wicked and deceitful heart1 and give me a new heart and a new spirit4 ,mortify in me all proud thoughts and vain opinions of myself1 and let not the blessings thou hast bestowed upon me increase my condemnation1 by being made motives for pride and vainglory4 ,hear and grant my requests1 ,oh ever-merciful ,god1 for the sake of ,jesus ,christ1 our only ,mediator and ,redeemer4 ,amen4 #agdh4 8pollued0 replaced with 8polluted0 99 99 99 99 99 ,come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden1 and ,i will refresh you4 ,,these1 ,oh compassionate ,saviour1 were thy words2 this thy gracious call1 and ,i obey it4 ,i come unto thee1 ,oh thou light of the world6 for rest1 peace and everlasting refreshment4 ,wearied with treading the paths of folly and vanity2 wearied with deceitful hopes and idle fears1 and all the gay delusions of this world1 ,i come to thee for peace1 and with full assurance of obtaining it4 ,assurance founded on thy promises2 those promises which are truth itself3 merciful as thy own beneficent nature1 and unalterable as thy being4 ,heaven and earth shall pass away1 but thy word shall never fail4 ,encouraged by this word1 ,i come3 not even the reflection of my absolute unworthiness shall keep me from thee4 ',tis to sinners that this heavenly call is addressed2 sinners that labour under the heavy burden of their offence2 and such am ,i4 ,the miserable wretch who is chained to the oar1 is not more weary of his slavery1 than ,i am of my sins3 the sins which so easily beset me1 and so often conquer my best resolutions4 ,every hour ,i have new reason to lament my weakness1 and to confess that thy grace is my only refuge4 ,o let that grace1 which has kept me from all infamous crimes1 be also my preservative against those sins of the mind1 which1 though hid from the short-sighted world1 are all open to thee1 and render my soul equally odious to the eye of heaven4 ,oh save me from myself6 ,from my own proud thoughts and vain affections6 ,i come to thee1 blessed ,jesus1 that ,i may have rest3 ,oh give me that rest6 ,then shall all be perfect peace and harmony1 and my soul shall feel no emotions but those of joy and gratitude1 eternal gratitude to my gracious and ,almighty ,benefactor4 8beneficient0 replaced with 8beneficent0 99 99 99 99 99 ,this corruptible must put on incorruption1 and this mortal must put on immortality4 ,,oh glorious and ever transporting thought6 ,sure and never failing remedy for all the troubles and disappointments of life6,incorruption and immortality6,let me dwell on the charming words3 they carry peace and everlasting joy in the sound4 ,and yet how little can my soul understand of their full import1 clogged by the weight of flesh and blood8 ,darkened by this cloud of sin and error1 what true idea can she form of incorruption8 ,but if the faint shadow and distant prospect affords such delight1 what will the full enjoyment give8 ,imagination is lost in the dazzling reflection6 ,all the scenes of this lower world vanish as a mist before the sun3 and my elevated soul wholly absorbed in contemplation of those mighty blessings seems to soar above the stars1 and launch into the sea of eternity4 ,my ,god6 ,my everlasting hope6 ,great and adorable ,creator of all things6 ,where shall ,i find words expressive of my wonder1 my joy1 and gratitude8 ,thy mercy1 thy free1 and boundless mercy1 from nothing called me into being1 and made that being capable of an endless duration3 formed me for eternity6 ,and what raises the benefit infinitely higher1 for an eternity of happiness6 ,not the united power of men and devils can deprive me of this without my own consent3 and if ,i am miserable ,i have no one to blame1 except myself4 ,o merciful ,god6 ,i adore thee past all expression1 and the notions ,i have of thy divine attributes inspire me with an unbounded confidence4 ,unworthy as ,i am of the least of all thy mercies1 ,i cannot but hope for the greatest2 and in the midst of my continual offences1 ,i look up to thee1 as my friend1 my only refuge1 and constant benefactor4 ,when ,i grieve for my sins1 'tis not from fear of punishment1 but from the cutting reflection of my black ingratitude1 in offending my ,creator and ,preserver1 the ,god in whom ,i live1 and move1 and have my being2 the ,god to whom ,i owe infinitely more than ,i can conceive2 to whom ,i owe the glorious1 and the assured hopes of incorruption and immortality4 ,and here again1 ,o my soul1 take wing1 again lose thyself in the blissful prospect6 ,think on the joy thou wilt feel1 when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption2 when this companion 7which in spite of the miseries it betrays thee into1 is still dear and still too tenderly beloved7 shall become 7instead of a clog1 or a prison7 a vehicle pure and ethereal1 perfectly fitted for all the purposes of thy enlarged faculties1 and the completion of thy glory and happiness4 ,o blessed and desirable re-union6 ,state of permanent delight1 and never fading joy6 ,with what rapture does thy idea inspire my soul6 ,fired by thoughts like these1 ,i rise far above the most glorious prospects1 earth1 with all her boasted varieties1 can give4 ,pleasures1 riches1 honours1 what are ye all8 ,emptiness and nothing4,at the least glimpse of eternal day1 how ye vanish into soft air6 ,lost are all your shining toys2 your painted glories intirely lost6 ,and ,oh may their deluding shadows never return to darken my soul6 ,may the ,god whom ,i trust1 preserve me from all their temptations2 may his mercy ever protect and guide me1 and bring me in the end to that state of incorruption and immortality1 which ,i hope for through the merits and mediation of our blessed ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,then ,peter said1 ,now know ,i that ,god is no respecter of persons2 but in every nation1 he that feareth him and worketh righteousness1 is accepted of him4 ,,this text is so strong a proof of the unreasonableness and folly of national or religious prejudices1 that one would imagine it should intirely banish those odious and pernicious principles1 from the whole ,christian world4 ,but daily experience too plainly discovers the contrary2 and the very people who would be thought to have the greatest zeal for the good of souls1 are of all others the readiest to condemn those who dissent from them4 ',tis a common 7though false assertion7 of libertines1 that priests of all religions are the same4 ,but they might truly affirm1 that bigots of all religions are the same1 equally destructive of the peace of their fellow-creatures1 and the laws of civil society4 ,what wild havock1 what horrid scenes of blood and slaughter1 have been produced by mistaken zeal and blind prejudice8 ,the histories of former times abound with shocking instances of this kind2 and1 strange inconsistency6 the persecuted party have no sooner got the upper hand1 but they have1 with the power1 assumed the spirit of their persecutors1 and been guilty of the very acts of injustice they had so loudly exclaimed against4 ',tis true1 the degrees and kinds of persecution differ1 according to the particular notions of the sects1 or the particular law of the states where it is practised4 ,but persecution1 in whatever shape or degree1 is still persecution1 and proceeds from that spirit of prejudice and bigotry1 which make us look on ,god as a respecter of persons1 and on all those who differ from us as his enemies1 and consequently1 deserving nothing at our hands but contempt and cruelty4 ,thus the furious ,roman ,catholic brands with the name of heretic1 all who are without the pale of his church1 pursues them with fire and sword in this world1 and sentences them to eternal punishment in the next4 ,and the staunch1 sour ,protestant devoutly expatiates on the crying sin of idolatry1 never thinks of the ,pope without joining with him antichrist and the devil1 absolutely pronounces the church of ,rome to be the whore of ,babylon1 and expects 7with great ,christian charity7 that in a few ages more1 she and all her members will be swallowed up in the bottomless pit1 the lake of fire and brimstone4 ,nay1 the bigots of 7even7 the little trifling sects into which the reformed religion is subdivided1 all agree to damn each other1 and wholly to appropriate to those of their own denomination1 the title of ,god's church1 and ,god's chosen4,surprizing narrowness of soul6 ,worse than ,jewish stupidity6 ,they had some excuse for their arrogancy3 the particular manner in which ,providence had distinguished them from the rest of the world1 seemed to be some foundation for their pride to build on4 ,and 'tis not to be wondered1 that the dark shadow of the law should obscure the principle of universal benevolence4 ,but that people under the glorious dispensation of the gospel1 men who pretend to be followers of that ,jesus1 whose whole life was a scene of moderation and charity1 who laid down his life for his enemies1 and prayed for his murderers3 in a word1 that ,christians should despise1 hate1 and persecute their fellow ,christians1 is a consideration equally melancholly and amazing6 99,mistaken men6 ,is then the great ,creator of the universe1 the ,preserver of all his creatures1 the ,god of mercy1 who would not that any one should perish1 is this adorable ,being a respecter of persons8 ,is his justice to be biassed by your foolish distinctions8 ,or his mercy lessened by your uncharitable judgments8 ,in vain you would make the ,almighty a party in your quarrel1 and pretend to be fighting his cause6 ,he disclaims such furious champions2 nor will true religion allow of defenders1 who are destroying the most glorious part of her system1 that principle of universal charity1 which in the apostolical times was the distinguishing mark of ,christianity4 ,it was then said1 ,see how these ,christians love one another6 ,but now 7sad contrast67 see how these ,christians hate one another6 ,oh blessed and ever-merciful ,god6 look down with compassion on the deplorable state of the ,christian world6 ,see how thy church is laid waste and rent asunder1 by the fraud1 malice1 or blind zeal of particular men3 in one place1 over-run by superstition2 in another1 undermined by scepticism3 and every where robbed of her primitive peace and purity4 ,oh restore that purity6 ,restore that peace6 ,heal her breaches1 reform her superstitions1 and grant that we may1 with one heart and one mind1 with universal love and unbounded charity to our fellow-creatures1 and a firm and lively faith in our blessed ,redeemer1 adore thee the only true ,god2 and1 after a life of piety and virtue1 attain one of unalterable glory and happiness4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,o ,god1 thou art my ,god6 ,early will ,i seek thee4 ,,when we are deprived of all the joys of life1 betrayed by those we trusted1 forsaken by our friends1 triumphed over by our enemies1 and robbed of our dearest hopes1 where and to whom must we go for relief8 ,what comfort can be hoped in a condition so desperate4,will reflection on the past give us ease8,alas6 it makes our wounds still deeper2 and every remembrance of the treachery of our friends1 or the malice of our enemies1 draws a new sigh from the opprest and aching heart1 and a fresh tear from the sinking eye4,shall we look forwards8,all dark and gloomy is the prospect1 and the mind1 wearied with affliction1 and wholly deprest by grief and disappointments1 shudders at the thought of launching again into the sea of delusions1 of again trusting1 and being again deceived4 ,in circumstances so deplorable1 nothing can calm our grief1 nothing afford us one moment's peace1 but seeking early after ,god4 ,and happy6 ,thrice happy6 ,that soul1 which can say with the royal ,psalmist1 ,o ,god6 thou art my ,god1 my refuge in all my distresses1 my only hope1 and everlasting peace6,a man who can look up to the great ,author of nature1 with a confidence like this1 who can seek after ,god with full assurance of finding him1 and in him a sure relief for all the troubles and miseries of life1 is superior to all events1 and may be happy in the most terrible afflictions4 ,is he deprived of his estate1 reduced to a despised and unrelieved poverty8 ,he is still rich in the pleasing hopes1 that his ,god will one day bestow on him a glorious and never-failing inheritance4 ,is he by death robbed of his dearest friends8 ,his grief is immediately calmed1 by the thoughts of that eternal state to which he is every moment approaching1 and where he will meet those dear objects of his tenderness1 never1 never to be parted from them more4 ,is his reputation made a sacrifice to spite and calumny1 and himself condemned1 reviled1 and hated1 by his acquaintance8 ,still true to his principles1 and firm in his trust on the ,almighty1 he braves the storm1 and with joy he looks forward to that day1 when his accusers shall be covered with shame and confusion1 and his innocence declared in the sight of men and angels4 99,is he betrayed by those he trusted with an unbounded confidence1 by those who were dear to him as himself1 and for whose life he would freely have paid his own8 ,even in this affliction 7which is of all others grating to human nature7 he is still the most master of himself1 and possessing his soul in patience and resignation1 looks up to that friend who will never deceive him1 to that ,god who is truth itself4 ,convinced of the folly of placing his love and trust on creatures1 he fixes it wholly on the eternal ,creator1 and acknowledges with sincerity the mercy of ,god1 in thus graciously releasing his heart from those deluding ties1 which had so often drawn him from the centre of true happiness1 the end of his being4 ,thus blessed is he1 who can say with faith1 gratitude1 and humility1 ,o ,god1 thou art my ,god6,grant1 ,oh most adorable and omnipotent ,being6 ,grant me this glorious privilege6 ,i have nothing more to ask4 ,that thou art my ,god1 is a blessing infinitely greater than the whole creation can bestow2 infinitely beyond all ,i can ask or conceive4 ,possessed of this1 ,i can defy the combined malice of men and devils4 ,welcome distress1 poverty1 disappointment1 and affliction of all kinds1 even what ,i have most dreaded6 ,welcome all1 if it is the will of heaven6 ,what hurt are ye capable of doing me1 while ,i can say to the rock of ages1 8,thou art my ,god80 ,and certainly1 ,oh thou fountain of life1 and author of all good1 'tis thy gracious will that ,i should thus address thee2 else why this firm reliance on thee in all my afflictions8 ,why this entire confidence on thy mercy and goodness1 in the midst of my sufferings8 ,how often1 when my heart has been sinking under a load of sorrow1 have ,i found relief and comfort1 by applying to thee8 ,in troubles1 which ,i have thought impossible to be endured1 thou hast been my support2 and when at any time ,i have been tempted to discontent1 and dared to murmur and complain1 how quickly has thy grace inspired me with remorse for my impiety2 and enabled me to make a new act of resignation to thy ,providence6 ,sure and infallible proofs1 that thou art my ,god6 ,and ,oh may ,i never repay those instances of thy compassion and tender mercy with ingratitude6 ,never more distrust the power which has so often delivered me6 ,but grant1 ,almighty ,father1 that in all the trials thou hast allotted me in this mortal state1 ,i may seek thee early1 and in seeking thee1 find all the blessings thou hast promised1 peace and perfect tranquillity in this life1 and everlasting joy and happiness in the next6 ,these favours1 these blessings ,i implore in the name1 and for the sake of my merciful ,redeemer1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,,extract from a ,,little ,,diary4 99,,january #e1 #agede4 ,glory to the ,god of boundless mercy1 who has this day1 when sinking under great heaviness1 both of soul and body1 lifted up the light of his countenance upon me1 and made me drink deep of his redeeming love4,oh sweetest and most compassionate ,jesus6 ,how do thy tender mercies follow and support my soul6 ,and still ,i am ungrateful1 and still ,i am not as thou wouldst have me to be6 ,oh when wilt thou make a full end of sin1 and bring in thy perfect righteousness8 ,all things are possible to thee4 ,and do ,i not know1 do ,i not taste1 that thou art gracious6 ,o my sun1 my shield1 life of my life1 look into my heart2 ,i dare appeal to thine all-searching eye1 that there is nothing so dear to it1 but ,i would this moment part with it for thee6 ,and why then1 dearest ,lord1 wilt thou not form thy whole blessed image in my soul8 ,my unworthiness ,i know is greater than that of any other creature in the universe2 but this unworthiness will the more magnify thy mercy4 ,i have only my unworthiness to plead2 and ,i have no hope but in thy atoning blood3 ,oh let this blood1 which has bought my peace1 cleanse me also from every sin2 and let that blessed ,spirit1 who has sealed and witnessed this peace to my soul1 be now a spirit of burning1 to consume all my dross1 and to purify me even as,oh glorious prospect1 heart-enlivening hope1 let me sink into the dust before thee6 ,god of glory1 ,god of purity1 ,i am lost in self-abasement6 ,but hast thou not promised8 ,and wilt thou not fulfil thine own gracious word8 ,o give me then perfect sanctification of body1 soul1 and spirit2 and let this heavy cross1 which seems now coming upon me1 be1 by thy all-powerful grace1 turned into a means of forwarding thy blessed work in my soul4 ,let every bitter cup which thou permittest to be given me1 be joyfully received1 as serving in some degree to conform me to thy sufferings2 and let me in all things1 though ever so contrary to my corrupt nature1 give thanks1 and say continually1 ,lord1 not my will1 but thine be done4 ,amen4 ,,letters ,wrote by ,,jane ,,cooper3 ,to which is prefixt ,some ,account of her ,,life and ,,death4 ,the ,,preface4 #a4 ,,the good ,armelle has been heard of far and wide4 ,her life has been written at large1 containing several hundred pages1 translated into various languages1 and published almost in all parts of ,europe1 by persons of various persuasions4 ,her deep1 solid1 unaffected piety1 has recommended her to those of all denominations1 who regarded not mere opinions1 but the genuine work of ,god2 righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 #b4 ,but it is impossible to give so full an account of this good young woman1 whose station in life1 was the same for some years4 ,she had no such director of her conscience1 who was informed 7like those in the ,roman church7 of the minutest particulars1 relating either to her internal or external walking with ,god4 ,and she wrote no circumstantial account of herself4 ,we have only some hints occasionally written1 either for her own private use1 or the satisfaction of her friends4 ,and the greatest part even of her letters are lost3 particularly those of which she took the most pains in writing4 ,so that what follows are little more than fragments4 8,but though they're little1 they are golden sands40 ,in several respects not inferior to any thing in the life of ,armelle ,nicholas3 in others greatly superior thereto4 ,for first1 ,all here is genuine2 which ,i fear is not the case in the account given us of ,armelle4 ,for words are there put into her mouth1 which ,i think she could not possibly utter4 ,for instance4 ,she is made to say1 8,i had always such a sense of my sins1 that ,i never felt pride in my life40 ,could any one born of a woman say this8 ,is it not an embellishment added by her historian8 #c4 ,secondly1 ,all here is strong1 sterling sense1 strictly agreeable to sound reason4 ,here are no extravagant flights1 no mystic reveries1 no unscriptural enthusiasm4 ,the sentiments are all just and noble2 the result of a fine natural understanding1 cultivated by conversation1 thinking1 reading1 and true ,christian experience4 ,at the same time they shew an heart as well improved as the understanding2 truly devoted to ,god1 and filled in a very uncommon degree1 with the entire fruit of his ,spirit4 #d4 ,thirdly1 ,this strong genuine sense is expressed in such a stile1 as none would expect from a young servant maid3 a stile simple and artless in the highest degree1 but likewise clear1 lively1 proper3 every phrase1 every word being so well chosen1 yea1 and so well placed1 that it is not easy to mend it4 ,and such an inexpressible sweetness runs through the whole1 as art would in vain strive to imitate4 ,so ,,jane ,,cooper wrote1 and spoke1 and lived6 ,thou that readest1 go and do likewise6 ,,some ,,account ,,of ,,the ,,life ,,and ,,death ,,of ,,jane ,,cooper4 #a4 ,,jane ,,cooper was born at ,hingham1 in the county of ,norfolk1 in the year #agch4 ,her father died when she was very young1 and some time after1 her mother married again4 ,she was a daughter of affliction from her childhood2 her father-in-law meeting with many misfortunes3 ,but rather than be burdensome to any1 when she was about twenty years of age1 she chose to go out to service4 ,for this purpose she came to ,london1 and undertook to do all work in a small family4 ,what sweetened all her labour was1 that she had frequent opportunities of hearing what she believed to be the pure gospel4 ,but after some months1 she judged it best to leave this place1 though much against the desire of her master4 ,she then lived with a gentlewoman in ,pall-mall1 who for a considerable time1 used her more like a companion than a servant4 ,her mistress afterwards removing to ,brentford1 she remained with her till spring #agfb1 though exceedingly to the prejudice of her health1 which continually decayed4 ,when she quitted ,brentford1 finding her strength so entirely lost that she was no longer capable of service1 she hired a lodging in ,london1 by the advice of her friends1 designing to work plain-work3 but before she settled1 she took a journey into ,norfolk1 to visit her friends and relations4 ,part of the time she was in the country was spent at ,norwich1 where she indeed 8lived as an angel here below10 comforting the sick and afflicted1 supporting the weak1 lifting up the hands that hung down1 confirming the wavering1 and in every possible way ministering to the heirs of salvation4 #b4 ,of her spiritual experience during this time1 we have no account1 but in some of her letters1 and in her diary3 part of which runs thus3 7it is dated ,january #af1 #agfb47 8,i received peace in believing four years ago4 ,for some time after1 ,i felt no sin1 and thought ,i never should any more4 ,how far it was owing to my unfaithfulness1 ,i cannot tell2 but it was not long1 before ,i found my inward parts were very wickedness4 ,i was amazed to feel1 that notwithstanding this1 ,i loved him who died for me1 that ,i still retained my confidence in ,god1 and had the witness in myself1 that ,i was a child of ,god4 ,but with all ,i thought1 ,i should always have a carnal mind1 which would sometimes be at enmity with ,god4 8,in this belief ,i continued1 till about two years ago ,god brought me to hear the whole gospel4 ,not long after1 those words were continually on my mind1 ,once have ,i heard1 yea twice hath ,god spoken1 that power belongeth unto ,god2 and ,i was deeply convinced1 that ,i had in effect denied his power4 ,even after ,i had tasted his love1 ,i limitted the ,holy ,one of ,israel3 and from this time ,i began to plead the promises of sanctification2 but ,i still set them at a distance1 supposing the accomplishment of them to be afar off4 8,in ,march following ,i heard a letter read from one1 who had entered into the rest of the people of ,god4 ,it described a happiness in religion1 which ,i was a stranger to3 ,i was much stirred up to seek after it1 and was determined to wrestle with ,god till ,i prevailed4 ,one day in prayer1 that promise was applied1 ,the ,lord whom ye seek1 shall suddenly come to his temple4 ,from that time1 ,i expected him in every means ,i used1 to come and destroy the works of the devil4 ,i was agonizing with ,god in family prayer1 when he gave me power to venture upon ,jesus1 as of ,god made unto me wisdom1 and righteousness1 and sanctification1 and redemption4 ,he spoke into my heart1 #8,the ,lord1 even the king of ,israel1 is in the midst of thee2 and the enemies thou hast seen this day1 thou shalt see them no more for ever4' ,from this time ,i have rejoiced indeed1 and yet loathed myself in my own sight4 ,i feel no desire but to please him1 and know of nothing in me that is not subjected to ,jesus3 ,i depend upon him every moment1 as my advocate with the ,father3 ,i daily feel my coming short of what ,i would be1 yet without any condemnation4 ,the blood of sprinkling speaks me clean4 ,indeed if ,i could perform the obedience ,i desire1 ,i should still be ashamed before him40 #c4 ,in the midst of various outward trials1 her soul was now kept as a watered garden4 ,she was satisfied with the favour1 and full blessing of the ,lord3 she enjoyed deep communion with ,god1 and that without any interruption3 she sought for and found direction from him in every circumstance of life4 ,she truly proved him to be her counsellor1 who instructed her by his small still voice4 ,she walked continually in his presence1 and felt her soul always approved of him4 ,she used to say1 8,would ,jesus on this or the other occasion1 have acted or spoken thus80 ,and this rule she steadily copied after1 in all her life and conversation4 ,she knew a little of what our ,lord meant1 when he said1 ,the ,father which dwelleth in me1 he doth the works4 ,to his will she was entirely given up1 in sickness and health1 ease and pain4 #d4 ,in the beginning of ,november1 she seemed to have a foresight of what was coming upon her1 and used frequently to sing these words3 8,when pain o'er this weak flesh prevails1 ,with lamb-like patience arm my breast40 ,and when she sent to let me know she was ill1 she wrote in her note1 8,i suffer the will of ,jesus4 ,all he sends is sweetened by his love4 ,i am as happy as if ,i heard a voice say1 ,for me my elder brethren stay1 ,and angels beckon me away1 ,and ,jesus bids me come40 #e4 ,upon my telling her1 8,i can't chuse life or death for you10 she said1 8,i asked the ,lord1 that if it was his will1 ,i might die first2 and he told me1 you should survive me1 and that you should close my eyes40 ,when we perceived it was the small-pox1 ,i said to her1 8,my dear1 you won't be frighted1 if we tell you what is your distemper40 ,she said1 8,i can't be frighted at his will40 #f4 ,the distemper soon was very heavy upon her3 but so much the more was her faith strengthened4 ,tuesday1 ,november #af4 ,she said to me1 8,i have been worshipping with you before the throne in a glorious manner1 my soul was so let into ,god40 ,i said1 8,did the ,lord give you any particular promise80 8,no1 replied she2 it was all ,that sacred awe that dares not move1 ,and all the silent heaven of love40 #g4 ,wednesday #ag4 ,mrs4 ,c4 said to her1 8,is there any thing you think me particularly deficient in80 ,she answered1 8,no1 love4 ,he will guide you by his eye1 and be your only counsellor4 ,all around you is ,god and heaven4 ,you little know how dearly ,jesus loves you40 ,to ,mr4 ,m4 she said1 8,i thank ,god for your preaching4 ,you must still preach simple faith4 ,man will despise you1 but ,god will love you2 and yourself must believe40 ,on ,thursday1 upon my asking1 8,what have you to say to me80 ,she said1 8,nay1 nothing but what you know already2 ,god is love40 ,i asked1 8,have you any particular promise80 ,she replied1 8,i don't seem to want any4 ,i can live without4 ,i shall die a lump of deformity1 but shall meet you all glorious2 and mean time1 ,i shall still have fellowship with your spirit40 #h4 ,when ,mr4 ,m came again1 he asked1 8,what she thought the most excellent way to walk in1 and what were its chief hindrances80 ,she answered1 8,the greatest hindrance is generally from the natural constitution4 ,it was mine1 to be reserved1 to be very quiet1 to suffer much1 and to say little4 ,some may think one way more excellent1 and some another4 ,but the thing is1 to live in the will of ,god4 ,for some months past1 when ,i have been peculiarly devoted to this1 ,i have felt such a guidance of his ,spirit1 and the unction which ,i have received from the ,holy ,one1 has so taught me of all things1 that ,i needed not any man should teach me1 save as this anointing teacheth40 8,when you speak upon acquaintance with ,jesus1 it is food to the soul4 ,and when you preach of devotedness to ,god1 and living to him1 it is the joy of one's heart40 ,he asked1 8,have you any conviction you shall die80 ,she answered1 8,no3 only from the disorder4 ,but ,i feel his will so precious to me1 that it is impossible for me to chuse40 ,he said1 8,we leave you in our ,lord's hands40 ,she said1 8,we shall meet above4 ,i have no doubt of it40 #i4 ,on ,friday morning1 she said1 8,i believe ,i shall die40 ,she then sat up in her bed1 and said1 8,lord1 ,i bless thee1 that thou art ever with me1 and all thou hast is mine4 ,thy love is greater than my weakness1 greater than my helplessness1 greater than my unworthiness4 ,lord1 thou sayest to corruption1 thou art my sister6 ,and glory be to thee1 ,o ,jesus1 thou art my brother6 ,let me comprehend with all saints1 the length1 and breadth1 and depth1 and heighth of thy love6 ,bless these3 7some that were present7 ,let them be every moment exercised in all things1 as thou wouldst have them to be40 #aj4 ,some hours after1 it seemed as if the agonies of death were just coming upon her4 ,but her face was full of smiles of triumph1 and she clapped her hands for joy4 ,mrs4 ,c4 said1 8,my dear1 you are more than conqueror1 through the #8blood of the lamb'40 ,she answered1 8,yes1 ,o yes1 sweet ,jesus4 ,o death1 where is thy sting80 ,she then lay as in a doze for some time4 ,afterwards she strove to speak1 but could not4 ,however she testified her love1 by shaking hands with all in the room4 ,then she took ,miss ,m's hand1 with ,mrs4 ,c4 and ,mrs4 ,d's1 and put them to her heart4 #aa4 ,the apothecary soon came in4 ,she strove to speak to him1 but had not utterance4 ,one asked of the ,lord1 to give her power to speak2 and in a few moments she spoke distinctly4 ,immediately she exhorted him to believe4 ,he said1 8,i hope ,i do40 8,do you then1 replied she earnestly1 find in ,christ all you want8 ,you may4 ,and ,i want you to be happy now4 ,why won't you believe1 when ,christ has given all his divinity to save you80 ,he started1 and said1 8,i hope ,i shall40 8,hope6 said she1 that is not the thing4 ,the hope of the hypocrite shall perish4 ,indeed you are not an hypocrite4 ,yet unless you are on the rock1 when the winds and floods come1 your building will not stand40 99#ab4 ,mr4 ,w4 then came4 ,she said1 8,sir1 ,i did not know that ,i should live to see you4 ,but ,i am glad the ,lord has given me this opportunity1 and likewise power to speak to you4 ,i love you4 ,you have always preached the strictest doctrine4 ,and ,i loved to follow it4 ,do so still1 whoever is pleased or displeased40 ,he asked1 8,do you now believe you are saved from sin80 ,she said1 8,yes4 ,i have had no doubt of it for many months4 ,that ,i ever had1 was because ,i did not abide in the faith4 ,i now feel1 ,i have kept the faith3 and perfect love casteth out all fear40 ,mr4 ,w4 said1 8,loving faith is all40 ,she answered1 8,ah ,sir1 ,i never had a grain of faith but what brought love1 and ,i never had any love but by faith4 ,as to you1 the ,lord promised me1 your latter works should exceed your former1 though ,i do not live to see it40 ,he said1 8,perhaps the ,lord may restore you40 ,she said1 8,his will be done4 ,i have been a great ,enthusiast 7as they term it7 these six months2 but never lived so near the heart of ,christ in my life4 ,you1 ,sir1 desire to comfort the hearts of thousands4 ,comfort the hearts of hundreds1 by following that simplicity your soul loves40 #ac4 ,to one who received the love of ,god under her prayer1 she said1 8,i feel ,i have not followed a cunningly devised fable2 for ,i am as happy as ,i can live4 ,do you press on1 and stop not short of the mark40 ,to ,miss ,ms1 she said1 8,love ,christ1 he loves you4 ,i believe ,i shall see you at the right hand of ,god4 ,but as one star differs from another star in glory1 so shall it be in the resurrection4 ,i charge you1 in the presence of ,god1 meet me at that day all glorious within4 ,avoid all conformity to the world4 ,you are robbed of many of your privileges4 ,i know1 ,i shall be found blameless4 ,do you labour to be found of him in peace1 without spot40 #ad4 ,saturday morning1 she prayed nearly as follows4 8,i know1 ,lord1 my life is prolonged1 only to do thy will2 and though ,i should never eat or drink more1 7she had not swallowed any thing for near eight and twenty hours7 thy will be done4 ,i am willing to be kept so a twelve-month3 ,man liveth not by bread alone4 ,i praise thee1 that there is not a shadow of complaining in our streets4 ,in that sense we know not what sickness means4 ,indeed1 ,lord1 neither life1 nor death1 nor things present1 nor things to come1 no nor any creature shall separate us from thy love one moment4 ,bless these1 that there may be no lack in their souls4 ,i believe there shall not4 ,i pray in faith40 99,on ,sunday and ,monday she was light-headed1 but sensible at times4 ,it then plainly appeared her heart was still in heaven4 ,one said to her1 8,jesus is your mark40 ,she replied1 8,i have but one mark4 ,i am all spiritual40 ,miss ,m4 said to her1 8,you dwell in ,god40 ,she answered1 8,altogether40 ,a person asked her1 8,do you love me80 ,she said1 8,o1 ,i love ,christ3 ,i love my ,christ4 ,jesus is precious1 very precious indeed40 ,she said to ,miss ,m4 8,the ,lord is very good4 ,he keeps my soul above all40 ,for fifteen hours before she died1 she was in strong convulsions4 ,her sufferings were extreme4 ,one said1 8,you are made perfect through sufferings40 ,she said1 8,more and more so40 ,after lying quiet some time1 she said1 8,lord1 thou art strong60 ,then pausing a considerable space1 she uttered her last words1 8,my ,jesus is all in all to me3 glory be to him through time and eternity40 ,after this she lay still for about half an hour1 and then expired without a sigh or groan4 8conderable0 replaced with 8considerable0 ,,letters wrote by ,,jane ,,cooper4 ,,letters to ,mrs4 ,m4 ,m4 ,august #bi1 #ageg4 ,i ,,sincerely rejoice1 to find you are convinced of a most important1 but self-abasing truth1 that you are yourself utterly unable to work out your own salvation1 or to form so much as one good thought1 or one desire towards it4 ,rest not in this conviction1 but seek1 ask1 knock3 and you shall assuredly obtain that faith which is the gift of ,god4 ,give me leave to repeat1 that religion consists1 first1 in a true knowledge of our want of ,christ3 ,secondly1 in knowing him to be not only the ,saviour of the world1 but our ,saviour in particular2 in knowing him to have died for us1 that we might live through him4 ,there is a great difference between this scheme of religion1 and that we form to ourselves when we begin to desire eternal happiness4 ,i then thought ,i must refrain from evil works1 and be constant at church4 ,and ,i should doubtless go to heaven1 though ,i walked not in a narrow1 but much frequented way4 ,i saw not that ,christ alone was the way to heaven2 but though ,i could not but see my works were insufficient1 yet ,i hoped ,god would accept this patch-work obedience1 and supply what was wanting4 ,beware of building your hopes on this sandy foundation4 ,seek1 but seek forgiveness and acceptance with ,god1 through him who is the rock of ages4 ,let him not go until he bless you4 ,for there is no safety but in his friendship1 and no peace but in his favour4 ,may every blessing attend my dear friend4 ,wherever her abode is1 she has a place in my heart4 99 99 99 99 99 ,november #i4 99,,don',t you think me cruel1 that ,i can rejoice to see you under the cross8 ,i believe both our souls would wither1 did not the rough wind rise to blow away the dust from our branches4 ,when this is done1 how salutary is the rain of grace1 how refreshing the beams of love6 ,i am persuaded there is not one tree of the ,lord's planting1 but must be purged1 that it may bring forth much fruit4 ,if you have been on the mount with ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 remember that was not the only proof our ,lord gave them of his peculiar love3 they1 and they only were admitted to ,gethsemane4 ,think on this1 my dear friend1 when you are under the cross1 and wonder at the grace that calls1 and that enables you to drink of that cup1 and to have some fellowship with ,christ in his sufferings4 ,i believe your heart and mine have said1 8,no cross1 no suffering ,i decline3 ,only let all my heart be thine40 ,this was recorded in the courts above1 and is answered as we are able to bear4 ,look not so much at the trial1 as at the grace which keeps you from sinking under it4 ,you may be greatly oppressed3 but omnipotence shall undertake for you4 ,the enemy may thrust sore at you that you may fall3 but claim his help who can and will deliver you4 ,the floods of temptation may seem ready to overflow your soul4 ,but the ,lord sitteth above the water-floods1 and remaineth a ,king for ever4 ,he shall give strength to his people2 the ,lord shall give his people the blessing of peace4 ,fear not then1 thou worm in thine own eyes4 ,since thou hast been precious1 being bought with blood1 thou art fair in his sight1 who yet is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity4 ,therefore he sits as a refiner's fire1 and as fuller's soap1 on the souls of his people4 ,i feel ,jesus near3 he is better to me than ,i could ask or think4 ,may your spirit find him nigh at this hour1 and to the end of your warfare6 99 99 99 99 99 ,london4 99,,your letter came in an acceptable time3 ,i feared you would not write so soon1 and the thought pained me4 ,i found such union of heart with you last week1 as it is pleasing pain to experience4 ,i looked upon your's as an answer to prayer4 ,the ,lord generally causes me to ask for a letter before it comes3 how shall ,i speak his praise8 ,he is indeed ,immanuel3 and what can we ask more8 ,that we may each moment feel his power in our hearts1 and testify to all1 that ,god is with us4 ,but what are we1 that ,god should dwell on earth6 ,i am lost in the enquiry4 ,and will ,god make a sinner happy8 ,or what is the same thing1 will he make us holy8 ,he will1 our hearts cry out1 he will6 ,we shall be filled with the fulness of his love4 ,he knows ,i pant1 ,i thirst to prove this1 to know more fully the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 the ,lord lets me drink of the brook in the way1 before ,i reach the fountain-head4 ,and ,i feel love to you1 such love as only friendship knows1 animated by the love of ,god4 ,i am better in body1 but ,i believe the days of my appointed time are short4 ,o blessed prospect beyond the grave6 ,there ,i shall see him face to face6 ,help me by your prayers to keep the bright prize in view1 that ,i may be ever running toward the mark4 ,jesus direct us to aim aright1 and keep us from swerving aside into crooked paths6 ,let me recommend much prayer to you3 not only that praying frame of mind1 which a ,christian should continually possess1 but frequent acts of secret prayer4 ,and not only pray1 but wait and expect the answer4 ,i long1 ,i love to hear1 that you are sinking deeper in the knowledge of yourself1 and rising higher in the love of ,god4 ,if ,i had time ,i should give you a week's journal4 ,sunday se'nnight ,i received the sacrament from ,mr4 ,madan4 ,it was indeed the communion of the body and blood of ,christ4 ,his banner over me was love4 ,i was constrained to say1 ,how plentiful is thy goodness1 which thou hast laid up for the sons of men6 ,i hear frequent mention of persons who have great grace2 some of whom are called perfect4 ,i do not much like the term3 but ,i am persuaded1 the only way to overcome sin1 and to inherit all things1 is by enjoying uninterrupted communion with our ,god4 ,i found something of this on ,monday1 and was much refreshed with the presence of the ,lord4 ,but on ,tuesday ,i found my heart ready to depart from the living ,god4 ,yet ,i had reason to wonder and adore the grace that would not let me go4 ,on ,thursday ,i heard ,mr4 ,whitefield1 and had cause to rejoice with reverence4 ,on ,friday night a watch was kept at the ,foundery1 and ,i found the promise literally fulfilled1 ,they that trust in the ,lord shall renew their strength4 ,indeed his mercies are so oft repeated1 that if ,i had not the most ungrateful heart1 ,i should be always praising him4 ,but ,i often find such an inward contest with pride1 self-will1 impatience1 and all the legion which is contrary to the mind of ,christ1 that ,i groan being burthened3 ,yet ,i am persuaded1 he can save to the uttermost1 and believe he will save even me4 ,even now my soul rejoices in hope4 ,he will perfect what is lacking in either of our spirits4 ,o trust him with all your heart6 ,lean not to your own understanding4 ,believe the ,lord2 so shall you prosper4 ,be vigilant in all things2 so shall you disappoint our enemy1 and bring glory to our everlasting friend4 ,unto his protection ,i commit you1 until the day we meet to part no more4 99 99 99 99 99 ,may #f1 #agfj4 ,i ,,am glad you are so conscious of danger4 ,it is necessary to be exceedingly afraid of our hearts departing from the living ,god2 this never goes without correction3 and though these chastisements are proofs of his love1 yet beware you do not bring them upon yourself4 ,i look upon your being at that place1 as a very particular providence2 yet ,i feel for you4 ,i know many of nature's latent mazes will be discovered to you4 ,perhaps the cause and the effects will pain you4 ,and what shall ,i say to comfort my friend8 ,i cannot give the waters of consolation3 such power belongs unto ,god only4 ,o may he undertake for you in every hour of oppression6 ,you may this moment find relief1 by looking to an exalted ,redeemer4 ,i have been asking1 that we might drink deep into the spirit of a crucified ,saviour4 ,indeed ,i knew not the depth of what ,i asked3 ,lord1 make us strong1 to bear the answer of our request6 ,make us esteem it our greatest privilege1 to taste that cup of which thou drankest so largely6 ,only saying with thee1 ,if it may not pass from me1 ,father1 thy will be done4 ,it is his absolute promise1 ,from all your idols will ,i cleanse you2 and your heart hath said1 ,amen6 ,do you now retract your petition8 ,do you not rather say still1 in spite of nature's struggle1 8,let all my heart be thine80 ,is your ,isaac called for8 ,ascend the mount1 bid all things contrary to resignation stay behind4 ,have you endeavoured to do this1 and are you still interrupted by the birds of prey8 ,are you still molested1 when you would offer the sacrifice which ,god requires8 ,o watch and keep off those enemies to your peace6 ,and he that is your peace shall give you power4 ,yes1 8when your all of strength doth fail1 ,you shall with the ,god-man prevail40 ,he loves1 he pities you1 he requires your heart4 ,and he is worthy to have it4 ,o may he now reign therein1 the ,lord of every motion there6 ,jesus has not left me comfortless4 ,he still sustains me with his grace4 ,may he bring us through this wilderness1 to meet and part no more6 99 99 99 99 99 ,december #d4 ,i ,,know not whether the providence of ,god will ever permit me to see you again4 ,but ,i can leave it to him1 in sure hopes that ,i shall meet your happy spirit1 in the realms of endless day4 ,there we shall surely exult in a ,redeemer's presence4 ,we shall see him as he is4 ,and indeed when ,i have a view1 though a transient one1 of the glory which shall be revealed1 ,i am almost impatient of delay4 ,i am ready to cry out1 ,why are thy chariot wheels so long in coming8 ,i want leave to go hence1 and be no more seen as an inhabitant of the earth4 ,this has been for some time past my habitual desire4 ,i cannot help being glad at night1 that one day more of my allotted portion is past1 and eternity is nearer to me than when ,i first believed4 ,yet at the same time1 ,i have reason to be ashamed before the ,lord1 that ,i do not live to his glory4 ,i do not love him with all my heart and strength2 so far from it1 that ,i sometimes feel ,i never did one action with a single eye to his glory4 ,my own will has mixed1 ,and 8,pride1 that busy sin1 ,spoil'd all that ,i perform'd40 ',tis well for me1 that our high-priest bears the iniquity of my holy things4 ,indeed1 if the altar did not sanctify the gift1 ,i could not approach with one offering4 ,o may he purify the sacrifice which ,i have often made1 of all ,i have1 or can1 or am6 ,watch6 ,stand stedfast1 my dear friend1 and be strong in the ,lord6 ,remember1 the ,god of peace shall shortly bruise ,satan under your feet4 ,may he give you every thing that will forward your growth in grace6 99 99 99 99 99 ,norwich1 ,may #aa1 #agfb4 ,i ,,am but weak1 but my soul is kept in peace4 ,who can express the blessing of feeling ,christ our friend every moment8 ,indeed1 ,i see no other way to profit my soul1 but to come the present moment1 as ,i am1 to ,jesus3 ,he never sends me empty away4 ,if ,i wish any thing1 it is for more opportunity for private prayer4 ,between the sick1 the afflicted1 and those seeking the ,lord1 ,i have very little time to myself4 ,however1 ,i feel no desire1 but to do and suffer his will4 ,while ,i speak to you1 ,i taste his goodness1 above what words can describe4 ,he knoweth1 ,i desire to glorify him1 to be altogether his1 and to feel him all my own4 ,i know of nothing in my soul1 which is not given up to ,god4 ,pray him to examine and prove me1 and to supply what is lacking4 99 99 99 99 99 ,to ,mrs4 ,j4 ,c4 ,m4 ,november #bi1 #agfa4 ,i ,,know nothing of myself4 ,but ,i know and feel1 that ,god is love4 ,i feel1 ,i love him in a measure1 and long for full conformity to ,jesus4 ,my soul is happy in him2 and though ,i have not what ,i used to think was implied in the blessing which has been poured out upon many1 yet ,i have 7what ,i am not sufficiently thankful for7 a deeper union with the source of blessedness1 a constant sense of his unmerited love1 and a knowledge that ,i am less than the least of all saints4 ,i am persuaded1 nothing shall separate me from the ,lord ,jesus4 ,from him is my fruit found4 ,in him are the springs of consolation1 which revive and endue my soul with much strength4 ,i trust in him1 and know in whom ,i trust3 therefore life or death is equal4 ,labour still for all the ,spirit's peaceful fruit4 ,jesus will bless your attempts to glorify him4 ,he will make you unblameable in love before men1 and unreproveable before ,god4 ,know1 that the eye of earth and heaven is upon you4 ,many wait for your halting3 ,more1 ,i trust1 wish you success in the name of the ,lord3 ,i am sure ,i do1 and therefore write without reserve4 ,take heed of your own understanding4 ,do not suffer yourself to think of it1 but with abasement1 that you have made no better use of it4 ,excuse this freedom3 the motive is love unfeigned4 ,i find the fruit of the cross even while ,i write4 ,i sit under the shadow of my beloved1 and feel him sustaining my soul4 ,o ,jesus1 great is thy goodness6 great is thy mercy6 even toward the meanest1 me6 ,bless1 ,i pray thee1 the sister of my spirit4 ,let her 8,antedate the joys above3 ,ever feel her ,saviour's love40 ,i feel my insufficiency to speak of the goodness of ,god4 ,it is more than ,i can express4 ,he deals tenderly with me2 and if ,i follow the best pattern1 ,i shall be patient towards all4 ,i have felt much bodily weakness1 but no power to chuse its removal or continuance4 ,i seem to enjoy all ,i want1 while ,i pursue what ,i have not attained4 ,i am daily more sensible how little ,i am4 ,i think never one soul so utterly wanted a complete ,saviour4 99,i have taken the first opportunity to write1 in hopes of profiting by your answer4 ,i want to know the most effectual way to grow in grace2 how to improve by all things2 how to make good use of the dulness which often creeps upon my mind1 and makes my soul stupidly inactive4 ,i want to be all attention to ,god2 to have every faculty of my mind fixedly waiting upon him3 but ,i find myself beat off of this by weariness or listlessness4 ,i often seem to stand fast in the ,lord1 and am steddily looking unto him2 but 7,i suppose1 through unwatchfulness7 often lose the deep consciousness1 that1 8,god is here30 yet he does not condemn me2 but ,i abhor myself1 while ,i see the ,saviour graciously near4 ,my heart crieth without a voice1 8,come and mould thy passive clay4 ,keep my attention rightly exercised every moment40 ,and while ,i call1 my ,jesus answers4 ,o1 did ,i pray without fainting1 ,i should then be what ,i wish4 ,i praise the lover of your soul1 that he delights to bless you4 ,may you ever see his full sufficiency to save1 and live in the fountain-head of bliss6 99 99 99 99 99 ,january #bf1 #agfb4 ,,blessed be ,god1 ,i only seek his approbation1 and am content with that alone4 ,the night you wrote1 the ,lord spake to my heart1 8,all is your's40 ,i feel it true1 for ,christ is mine4 ,indeed he is precious to me4 ,my soul is satisfied with its portion4 ,yet 8eager ,i ask and pant for more40 ,but my wants do not discourage me4 ,i delight to feel them1 for ,i am persuaded out of his fulness ,i shall receive a supply4 ,even while ,i am receiving from him1 he makes me capable of more4 ,i am amazed at his grace4 8,i cannot praise him as ,i wou'd1 ,but he is merciful and good10 and does not despise the day of small things4 ,i know ,i have been unfaithful to the grace of ,god2 yet he pardons without upbraiding4 ,o that every future moment may prove1 ,i feel the time past sufficeth6 ,when ,i consider you as a younger scholar1 ,i am ashamed2 yet ,i rejoice the ,master loveth us both4 ,and though he may justly say to me1 8,o1 slow of heart to understand10 yet he teaches me1 as ,i am able to receive1 the lesson of his love4 ,i often meet your spirit1 when ,i go in secret before our ,lord4 ,he only knows1 how much ,i desire you may increase1 with all the increase of ,god4 ,may you follow the ,lamb in all things6 ,i praise him1 that he unites me to himself1 and to all whose fellowship is with him3 ,i thank him who gives us to drink into one spirit4 ,my heart feels ,god continually nigh4 ,my only wish is his will2 my only desire his glory4 8ye0 replaced with 8he0 99 99 99 99 99 ,good ,friday4 99,,it is given to you to suffer3 and happy are you1 if our ,lord counts you meet to be his companion in the garden4 ,i love his tempted followers above all3 and his peculiar care is towards such as drink of his cup4 ,i am thankful to him on behalf of your soul4 ,faithful is he that hath called you4 ,he will establish your heart1 and keep you from all evil1 unto his heavenly kingdom4 ,i always find a fight before a conquest4 ,i am generally warned of approaching trials1 and when ,i am most filled with the consolations of ,god1 ,i see how amiable it is to follow my ,captain1 who was made perfect through sufferings4 ,he is daily teaching me the lesson of his cross4 ,when it ceases to be necessary ,i shall suffer no more4 ,i am often sensible1 my own folly obliges him to put me to pain4 ,i know he never willingly afflicts1 but chastens in order to make us partakers of his holiness4 ,o praise our everlasting ,friend1 who never shews us a defect1 but in order to amend it3 my soul longeth to live to him4 ,i feel his mercies new every morning4 ,my spirit is so united to the ,lord ,jesus1 that ,i am persuaded nothing shall separate me from his love4 ,but ,i have no fruit of the ,spirit1 in the fulness ,i desire or expect4 ,i am sensible my privileges are far higher than my attainments3 and ,i want to be stirred up daily1 to take the kingdom which is before me by violence4 ,of late ,i have found private prayer the means which brought me nearest to ,god3 but this he often varies1 as his wisdom sees best4 ,my soul is more simple than it was3 ,i am learning to leave others to the care of our ,shepherd1 and desire only to hear and follow him4 ,let your soul delight itself in him3 learn to know how he hath loved you4 ,be very active in his cause1 and passive to his will4 ,my spirit is all peace4 ,may your's be preserved in ,christ ,jesus1 who hath called you to glory and immortality4 99 99 99 99 99 ,april #ba4 ,,peace be with your spirit6 ,the ,lord shall guide thee continually1 and satisfy thy soul in drought3 thou shalt be like a watered garden2 for the ,lord ,jesus is your well of salvation4 ,with joy may you draw from his fulness1 grace for every moment's want4 ,his design is still to do us good2 his delight is with the sons of men4 99,i find my fellowship with heaven is increased since ,i wrote last3 the ,king of eternity makes me capable of communing with him1 and though ,i tread but the outward borders of his sanctuary1 he causes me to hear his voice1 inviting me to come forward4 ,he assures me1 he will help me to overcome1 and gives me to inherit all things4 ,but at the same time1 he shews me my works are not perfect2 and that ,i must watch and strengthen the things that remain4 ,i find my safety and happiness depend1 upon my dependance on ,jesus4 ,i want every moment to begin afresh the life of faith2 to forget all things else1 and be 7as you said7 8a person of one business10 ,i have been much tempted lately1 but ,i count it all joy1 for it profiteth my soul4 ,i have gained more self-contempt1 and ,i love an empty spirit1 because then there is room for ,jesus4 8,o what are all our sorrows here1 ,if1 ,lord1 thou count us meet ,with that inraptur'd host t' appear1 ,and worship at thy feet80 ,it will soon be our employ4 ,o let us now live in eternity6 ,antedate the joys above1 by bringing all you have and are1 to his feet4 ,cast all you have before him1 and ascribe salvation to him1 who of a stone1 hath made a daughter of ,abraham4 ,i think the grace you want most is thankfulness4 ,stir me up to patience4 ,pray that ,i may be nothing1 8,mean and vile in my own eyes1 ,only in his wisdom wise40 99 99 99 99 99 ,norwich1 ,may #f4 ,,the ,lord hath of late kept me much from reasoning myself into perplexity4 ,when any thing occurs which ,i cannot understand1 ,i carry it to him1 who is a wonderful ,counsellor3 and he wipes away the tears from my eyes1 by assuring me he is all my own4 ,i feel a constant necessity of walking with the ,lord1 as ,i first received him3 and ,i retain peace1 as it was imparted1 by simple faith4 ,who knows the value of faith8 ,none but they who constantly exercise it1 to their own profit1 and the ,redeemer's glory4 99,i think your fears of deceiving the people1 are only the result of strong temptations4 ,we cannot see clearly in the time of a storm4 ,this is not a season to examine whether we be in the faith3 neither is reason alone sufficient to determine in spiritual matters4 ,one thing is needful in your present situation1 even to cast yourself upon the ,lord1 just as you are4 ,now come to him who waiteth to be gracious2 who saith concerning sin or infirmity1 8,i will cleanse the blood which ,i have not cleansed40 ,i fear1 you have reasoned with the enemy1 while you should have been looking unto ,jesus2 and by living a little beneath your privileges1 have been ready to give up your claim to them4 ,but ,jesus was present1 though your eyes were holden3 ,and1 8,round you and beneath are spread ,the everlasting arms40 99 99 99 99 99 ,sunday ,night4 ,,the ,lord who inclined your heart to write1 will reward your labour of love4 ,i find him faithful who hath promised1 ,my grace is sufficient for thee4 ,i feel a measure of that love1 which shall overcome by enduring3 all ,i have and am is but a small offering2 but this ,i can give up to ,jesus4 ,ever since ,i tasted his love1 ,i have been led in the way of the cross4 ,it is a royal way3 the ,king of kings walked in it3 and while ,i tread in his steps1 ,i experience the rugged way is pleasantness1 and the thorny path is peace4 ,since ,i have more than ever gone through evil report1 ,i have found more increase of faith and love4 ,i cannot sufficiently praise the friend who sticketh closer than a brother4 ,his banner over me is love1 and my soul confesses he doth all things well4 ,i praise him on your behalf also4 ,he rejoices over you to do you good4 ,o lean on your ,beloved with all your weight2 so shall you find a sure support4 ,if storms rise and winds blow1 they will only settle you on the rock which cannot be moved4 ,believe simply2 believe constantly2 so shall you love steddily and entirely4 ,i know no other way for the just to live1 but by faith2 and as we exercise faith it grows1 'till we can say in all circumstances1 ,this is the victory4 ,i bless my ,god1 ,i feel no desire to vindicate my conduct4 ,i know the light of heaven shone on my path1 and ,i am content to be approved of ,god alone4 ,i feel my heart is given up without reserve1 and see fresh cause to be daily more devoted to him4 ,blessed be ,god for ,jesus ,christ6 ,in him ,i enjoy all ,i want4 ,bear me on your heart before him1 and ask him to lead me to the thing and place he chuseth4 99 99 99 99 99 ,july #bb4 ,,your's came in a seasonable time1 as the return of prayer4 ,i felt some pain because ,i did not hear from you sooner4 ,but our ,god doth all things well2 he shall supply all your wants1 and make all grace to abound towards you4 ,he delights to complete the work he begins1 and happy is the soul that does not resist his will4 ,he will call for the corn and will increase it1 and will lay no famine upon you4 ,great is his faithfulness6 ,hearken diligently to the ,shepherd's voice4 ,he will teach us to profit by the present cross1 and keep us in the spirit of sacrifice4 ,i feel my need of patience4 ,i am closely and constantly exercised1 but his grace is sufficient even for me4 ,he generally teaches me by applying his word to my heart1 so that ,i have cause to esteem it more than fine gold4 ,i was greatly oppressed some nights ago1 and found immediate deliverance from these words1 ,as birds flying1 so will the ,lord of hosts defend ,jerusalem4 ,defending also he will deliver1 and passing over he will preserve it4 ,i find much union with you1 and believe you bear my burdens1 and abide in prayer for me4 ,i cannot forget you1 and our friend in heaven remembers you for good4 ,i can no longer refrain from saying1 ,be strong in the grace that is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,let none beguile you of your simplicity1 or the reward that attends it4 ,i believe your light is shining out of obscurity1 and will shine unto the perfect day4 ,you are coming unto the light that your deeds may be made manifest1 that they are wrought in ,god4 ,in his light you behold yourself of the circumcision1 who worship ,god in the ,spirit1 rejoice in ,christ ,jesus1 and have no confidence in the flesh4 99,they have great peace who love his law1 and nothing shall offend them2 he keeps us night and day4 ,i pleaded this promise last night1 and made it my own by believing4 ,he did keep my imagination1 while ,i slept1 subject to himself4 ,since ,i returned into the country1 ,i have been blest with peace1 which temptation of various kinds did not ruffle4 ,my determination to know nothing but ,jesus crucified1 is much strengthened4 ,this moment ,i can give up all for him1 and do all things through him strengthening me4 ,i have a testimony that ,i please him1 and count his dear reproach greater treasure than the wealth or praise of men4 ,be faithful in all things2 this is your privilege2 live up to it this moment4 ,you know the way1 walk therein1 and pray always for ,your affectionate sister1 ,and obliged friend4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,rejoice in the ,lord always2 again ,i say rejoice4 ,for he is become your everlasting light1 and the days of your mourning are ended4 ,i believe your sun shall no more go down1 but you shall dwell on high4 ,your place of defence is in the munition of rocks2 bread of life is given you2 your waters shall not fail4 ,your eyes see the ,king in his beauty1 and he will cause you to know him who was from the beginning4 ,i drink with you into one spirit4 ,help me to bless ,god for the consolation2 it increases by being mutual4 ,my soul seems lost in wonder1 love and praise1 and is melted into thankful tears4 ,every sensation of gratitude in earth or heaven is bought with thy blood1 ,o precious ,jesus6 the power to feel my obligations to him1 proceedeth from above1 and when we reach the top-stone1 we shall still shout 8,grace1 grace unto it40 99,i have all this day been in a disposition to cast my crown at his feet4 ,i cannot express how much ,i choose to give all the glory to ,christ my ,lord4 ,all within me acknowledges he is worthy to receive all glory4 ,my love to ,mrs4 4 ,tell her1 not one tittle shall fail of all the good things ,god hath spoken to her of4 ,only let her be strong1 and not stagger at any of the promises4 ,i believe1 ,i need not say1 pray always for ,your most affectionate sister in ,jesus4 99 99 99 99 99 ,to ,mrs4 ,e4 ,d4 ,my dear friend1 ,i ,know you will rejoice to hear1 ,god has gotten himself the victory1 in the most stubborn heart1 that ever submitted to ,jesus4 ,he is my king1 and makes me sit ,in willing bonds beneath his feet4 ,praise him1 ,o my soul1 praise him1 ,o my sister1 for still he is bringing lost sinners to ,god4 ,yea1 he has brought me to ,god4 ,i feel myself weak as helpless infancy2 but ,christ my strength is with me3 at last ,i am a fool for his sake4 99,when ,i left you on ,friday1 and had finished my business1 ,i sat down alone and in misery4 ,the ,lord directed me to those words3 be not affrighted3 ,i know whom ye seek2 ,jesus of ,nazareth3 he is not here1 he is risen1 and lo he goeth before you into ,galilee2 there shall you see him4 ,i believed ,i should1 and came home in peaceful expectation4 ,one who had seen his great salvation prayed1 that he would bless me also3 but my own wisdom opposed his coming1 and the conflict was great4 ,at length my vehement soul stood still1 and the mountains flowed down at his presence4 ,my heart was filled with holy shame and humble joy3 ,i was a little child4 ,i entered the kingdom2 we praised our ,king till morning1 and his praise is ever new and sweet4 ,the ,lord causes us to cease from our own works1 and he is glorified4 ,o pray for us6 ,pray for me1 who every moment need the merit of his death4 ,i can say no more1 but ,i do love ,christ1 and ,i love you better than ever4 99 99 99 99 99 ,my dear friend1 ,,truly ,god is loving unto ,israel1 even unto me3 nevertheless my feet had well nigh slipt1 for ,i was grieved at the wicked1 and pained by the good4 ,i have been more exercised in mind than ever ,i was before1 and the last conflict always felt severest3 but ,i begin to see that all these things work together for my good4 ,i never was so much saved from trusting in any creature2 ,jesus was never more lovely in my eyes2 ,i feel him only desirable2 ,i cannot repeat his compassions1 for they are endless4 ,i proved them to be sufficient for me1 when all besides failed me4 ,i doubt not but ,i made my cross heavier than love intended1 by my own folly3 but the teacher of ,israel rectifies mistakes with tenderness known only to himself4 ,at present my desire is1 to overcome by enduring4 ,i want to think and act under the eye of him who loves me1 and every moment to feel it upon me4 ,my soul longs for nearer acquaintance with ,god4 ,i know neither men nor devils need hinder my intercourse with ,jesus4 ,o that ,i were wise to improve what ,i receive1 and faithful to retain what his mercy gives6 ,use your interest for me at the throne of grace3 and go on through your croud of difficulties1 aiming at ,jesus4 ,he alone is worthy your pursuit6 ,we are forced to feel as well as see3 ,god alone is our support4 ,i have had much of his peaceful presence4 ,he is indeed greater than our fears1 and better than our hopes4 ,i was much tried on ,friday2 but since that ,i have had no painful emotion4 ,i feel for you in the tenderest manner my heart is capable4 ,i see ,jesus will vindicate his own1 and claim all your heart for himself4 ,he sees what wounds it1 and will give medicine to heal all its sickness4 ,i believe 8all you feel is mercy40 ,but are you strong enough to support the weight8 ,why should his blessings be insupportable1 through our softness of spirit8 ,o that my friend were less susceptible of those impressions6 ,o that a dull disciple might teach you to be in some matters more slow of understanding1 of a more insensible spirit6 ,i see the commandment is exceeding broad1 and this makes ,christ exceeding precious4 ,how valuable the advocate with the ,father6 ,my soul desires to know nothing but him crucified4 ,may you feel life1 abundant life in that knowledge6 ,o how much my ,saviour loves you8 ,i feel a little of the sounding of his bowels toward you1 and my heart cleaves to him1 for his goodness to you4 ,he counts you worthy to suffer4 ,o be thankful for this special mark of his love6 99 99 99 99 99 99,,all this week ,i have been tried1 but with intervals of rest4 ,god is a jealous ,god1 and will be loved alone3 ,jesus will convince us in time1 that he alone is worthy of every power of the soul4 ,i see a field of religion before me1 which ,i want to walk in4 ,i know ,i am called to make a perpetual offering of myself1 and every enjoyment1 to the will of ,god4 ,i do long to be a ,christian4 ,my heart goeth out after this3 when will it once be8 ,that promise is now brought to my mind1 ,they shalt grow as willows by the water-courses4 ',tis a mournful tree2 ,i think we shall be weeping willows1 'till we are taken into the paradise of ,god4 ,the peculiar privilege there is1 all tears shall be wiped away from our eyes4 ,o how little do ,i know the meaning of ,jesus8 ,surely 'tis mercy all4 ,even the minutest circumstance is by his order1 and under his inspection4 ,and he will suffer nothing to hurt the apple of his eye4 99,i am to-day very weak in body4 ,i feel the power of sympathizing with all in the house4 ,all are tried4 ,o ,adam1 what hast thou done8 ,o ,jesus1 what hast thou suffered8 ,how thou canst recover6 ,lord1 let us know thy utmost power to save6 ,,my heart feels pure union with yours4 ,i love you as disinterestedly as ,i think ,i can4 ,sure the ,lord is pouring upon you the spirit of sacrificing all to him4 ,i wish you good luck in his name6 ,go on1 my dear friend4 ,life is a noble thing1 while our employment is doing the will of ,god from the heart4 ,may you clearly see what it is concerning you4 ,i have at present1 peace inward and outward4 ,pray1 pray that ,i may 8,be thankful and humble1 ,but never stand still40 99,i ,,want your prayers and advice4 ,i feel myself daily weaker1 and more foolish than ever4 ,i am as a little child learning to walk1 and cannot go alone4 ,at present ,i am guided by ,jesus1 and feel his grace sufficient for me2 but there are depths of the ,deity ,i want to fathom4 ,i long to be lost in the immensity of his love6 ,my soul enjoys peace1 solid peace at bottom3 but its surface is filled with fights and fears4 ,i am afraid of being too outward2 ,i want grace to deepen in my soul4 ,blessed be ,god1 my every want shall be supplied1 from his fulness who filleth all4 ,,my dear friend gave me another proof of her tenderness1 by not upbraiding me with neglect4 ,i think you ought to go to the meetings on ,fridays by all means3 pray for those who speak not according to the law and the testimony4 ,you will feel more deeply the help that is done upon earth3 the ,lord doth it himself4 ,what is man that he is mindful of him6 ,what is ,god1 that he can be gracious to us6 ,o may our souls every moment know1 by a nearer acquaintance with him1 that he is love6 ,you are laid upon my heart to pray for3 sure ,god is faithful to his word1 he will hear and answer1 and endue your soul with much strength4 8,suffering faith shall brighter grow1 ,as gold when in the furnace tried40 99,i am persuaded your ,lord will be with you1 and make your weakness more than conquer4 ,he is wonderful in counsel2 he has a way in the whirlwind3 he cannot mean any thing but mercy to your soul3 for he has given himself and all that he counted dear to you6 ,what then would you with-hold from him8 ,methinks ,i hear you say1 8,nothing4 ,i would offer all ,i have or am to his will1 when ,i know it is his40 ,and can you doubt this8 ,is there an evil in the city1 and the ,lord hath not done it8 ,can a sparrow fall1 or ,shimei curse ,david without permission8 ,nay1 ,satan himself can do nothing without leave4 ,o my ,god1 shine on thy servant's heart1 that she may see thy hand of love holds the cup4 ,and if she is called 8,to bear the full anguish1 ,the uttermost load1 ,yet give her to languish ,and suffer like ,god60 ,my dear friend1 what shall ,i say1 to dissuade you from over much sorrow8 ,i can only love you1 and speak to ,jesus1 that he may order your conduct to his glory4 99 99 99 99 99 ,may1 #agfb4 ,norwich4 ,,join to praise the ,lord1 who still supports my feebleness of mind1 carries all my burdens1 and suffers me to desire nothing but his righteous1 glorious will4 ,i see infinite wisdom and unfathomable love1 in all his dispensations towards me3 ,i can now believe1 that all things shall work together for good3 ,i want words to tell you the sense ,i have of the goodness of ,god1 far better felt than described3 ,i find his consolations sufficient to support me under present difficulties1 and am persuaded his grace will be equal to every future trial4 ,i like your proposal1 but dare scarce form one plan4 ,may the ,lord do with me as is good in his sight6 99 99 99 99 99 ,to the ,reverend ,mr4 4 ,february #ba1 #agfa4 ,,your obliging request lays me under a happy necessity1 of calling to mind the past mercies of ,god4 ,may every review of them bring trust for future blessings1 and thankfulness for the present4 99,ever since ,i can remember1 ,i was desirous of happiness2 but ,i did not seek it in ,god4 ,i thought if ,i was religious1 ,i should go to heaven2 but ,i knew not the nature of true religion1 and ,i was unwilling to be under the restraint of that ,i did know3 yet so great a stranger was ,i to myself1 that ,i often thought1 if ,i knew what ,god required1 ,i would perform it4 ,at sixteen ,i was confirmed1 and made many resolutions2 but they soon wore off4 ,i had a strong impression on my mind1 that ,i should die when ,i was four and twenty4 ,i reflected on those who were put apprentice seven years to learn a trade1 and thought ,i ought to use like application1 to learn the business of eternity4 ,i went to the sacrament the day ,i was eighteen1 and found uncommon satisfaction3 ,i exhorted others to do the same1 thinking ,i had now done all that was commanded me1 and that if ,i continued in the same way1 ,i should be a very profitable servant4 ,soon after this ,i went to ,london1 for eight weeks1 where ,i heard ,mr4 ,jones 7of ,southwark7 preach1 and was affected at hearing of the sufferings of ,christ1 much as ,i used to be at seeing or reading of a tragedy4 ,i was afterwards asked to hear ,mr4 ,romaine4 ,i did so1 but could not understand him4 ,the night ,i left ,london1 some persons were debating about the ,millennium4 ,one of them repeated part of the #bjth chapter of the ,revelation4 ,i was struck at the awful words1 and thought if ,christ was then to come1 ,i was not prepared to meet him4 ,i went home very serious1 and began to search the scriptures1 and to be more strict than ever4 ,i was often troubled1 but knew not the cause1 and was ashamed to confess my fears4 ,my friends thought ,i had a fever on my spirits1 and ,i thought so too2 but as ,i read much1 ,i began to fear1 that with all my religion1 ,i was not converted4 ,i wanted to go to ,london1 that ,i might hear ,mr4 ,romaine4 ,a year after ,i went to ,london with my father-in-law4 ,at the inn where we lay1 ,i saw ,mr4 ,whitefield's sermons4 ,i read what ,i could1 and determined to hear him4 ,he was not in town2 but ,i was much affected with ,mr4 ,dyer's preaching4 ,afterwards ,i not only went to ,st4 ,dunstan's1 but to all the methodist places of worship ,i knew1 and one evening heard ,mr4 ,walsh1 at ,west-street4 ,he preached the necessity of that holiness1 without which none can see the ,lord4 ,his words were as arrows in my heart3 ,i found all my former righteousness deficient3 ,i knew this could not obtain mercy2 but ,i did not feel ,i deserved hell4 ,i wrote to ,mr4 ,romaine to know1 what ,i should do to be saved8 ,he desired to see me1 and told me1 two things were necessary1 to know my want of ,christ1 and my interest in him4 ,i went home with the greatest reluctance2 for ,i knew no ,christians in the town where ,i lived4 ,my former acquaintance thought me mad3 my mother was greatly alarmed4 ,not long after ,i went to ,norwich for a few days1 and found out ,mr4 ,mitchell4 ,he spoke to me of the peace which faith brings to the conscience4 ,i knew myself a stranger to this2 but would willingly have suffered the rack1 so ,i might attain it4 ,i went home1 and was1 for five or six weeks1 in a most unhappy situation4 ,before1 ,i was not bad enough to come to ,christ2 now1 ,i was too bad for him to receive2 yet the ,lord dealt tenderly with me1 and at different times brought many encouraging scriptures to my mind4 ,but still the stupidity and unbelief ,i felt caused me to mourn in secret4 ,still ,i was constrained to say1 8,scarce ,i begin my sad complaint1 ,when all my warmest wishes faint3 ,hardly ,i lift my weeping eye1 ,when all my kindling ardors die3 ,nor hopes nor fears my bosom move1 ,for still ,i cannot1 cannot love60 ,i could not rest thus1 though ,i concluded1 it would always be the case3 ,i expected to be miserable all my life1 and to perish at the last3 ,i found it as easy to reach heaven with my hand1 as to believe ,jesus died for me4 ,i felt1 no one can come to ,christ1 except the ,father draw him4 ,now ,i knew1 it was the work of ,god1 to believe on him whom he hath sent4 ,i prayed he would work faith in me1 but seemed as distant from ,god as hell from heaven3 ,i was cut off from all self-dependence3 ,i was a sinner stript of all4 ,i was on my knees striving to pray1 when ,i heard inwardly a voice say1 8,thy sins are forgiven thee40 ,i felt the truth of it in my heart1 and in a moment prayer was lost in praise4 ,i called upon the angels to join with me1 in blessing him who died for me6 ,he caused his goodness to pass before me1 and ,i rejoiced with joy unspeakable4 ,yet in a few hours after ,i began to fear ,i had deceived myself1 and all was delusive4 ,i was much distressed1 and had recourse to prayer1 and the ,lord repeated his mercies1 and impressed the same words on my mind1 more strongly than before4 ,i was more assured of his forgiving love1 and enjoyed much peace in believing4 ,i now thought1 ,i never could sin more4 ,my mind was taken up with ,god1 and ,i conversed with him as a man would with his friend4 ,my confidence in him was unshaken1 and my hope full of immortality4 ,i wanted others to rejoice with me2 but they were strangers to ,jesus1 and intermeddled not with my joy4 ,i lamented being alone4 ,my nearest friends thought ,i carried things too far4 ,my mother was more alarmed2 for ,i could not speak but on religious subjects4 ,a neighbouring clergyman advised her to confine me1 if ,i offered to hear the ,methodists4 ,this ,i did at all opportunities1 though none was nearer than four miles off4 ,her tenderness gave me much pain4 ,i was sorry to grieve her in any thing2 and yet ,i did not dare to oblige her1 by acting contrary to my conscience4 ,i could not play at cards1 nor join in trifling discourse1 though my refusal was deemed preciseness4 ,i was near two years at home after this4 ,then the ,lord fulfilled his promise3 ,he gave me the bread of adversity and the water of affliction2 but my eyes did see my teachers4 ,i was now more desirous than ever1 to be made conformable to the will of ,god3 but ,i thought1 to believe the doctrine of perfection1 was derogating from the priestly office of ,christ4 ,when ,i first saw you1 ,sir1 at ,norwich1 notwithstanding my prejudice to your opinions1 ,i found that reverence and esteem for you1 which have increased ever since4 ,my understanding was then better informed1 and my desires more fervent for all the grace ,god had in store for me4 ,i trust my soul is still alive to ,god1 and athirst for righteousness4 ,he has borne my manners in the wilderness1 and sustains me in my utter helplessness4 ,he continues to multiply his pardons1 and heap his benefits upon me4 ,every trial is sent in mercy2 every temptation is permitted for my good2 every cross has proved a blessing in disguise4 ,in his light ,i see this3 ,i believe he is able to keep me from falling1 and to make me perfect and entire1 lacking nothing4 ,my present situation requires more of every grace1 than any ,i have been in before3 but1 ,i trust1 he in whom all fulness dwells1 will supply my every want4 ,i would not have troubled you with so long a letter1 but indeed 8,i had not time to make it shorter40 ,and ,i am desirous to prove by every means1 that ,i regard your advice1 and on all occasions speak with freedom4 ,i am1 dear ,sir1 ,your obliged ,servant1 ,j4 ,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,april #ad1 #agfa4 ,reverend and dear ,sir1 ,,god has been more gracious to my soul than ,i could ask or think4 ,i find him as a place of broad waters1 deep and large1 and ,i feel my inability to fathom that depth of love4 ,in ,jesus are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid3 and he has begun to reveal them to the most ignorant soul4 ,but it is impossible to describe the goodness of ,god1 the great ,god1 to so unworthy an object6 ,from the last morning you preached1 ,i was stirred up to seek him more diligently than ever4 ,you then discovered my heart to me1 and what was wanting there4 ,i was kept in prayer1 and would have parted with all things1 so ,i might win ,christ4 ,i wanted to love him with all my heart2 but my own wisdom was his rival4 ,nothing less than ,omnipotence could destroy this3 and his own right hand got the victory4 ,i was made sensible how compleatly foolish1 and entirely helpless ,i was4 ,my vehement soul stood still2 and ,i saw ,jesus was all my salvation4 ,he was all my desire2 and ,i knew he was made unto me sanctification and redemption4 ,he appears as a priest1 upon the throne1 who shall bear the glory for ever4 ,i feel my continual need of him1 in all his offices4 ,he is truly precious to my soul2 but ,i want to know him more1 and the power of his resurrection4 ,i am happy in his love2 but ,i want more intimate acquaintance and a deeper union with him4 ,i see1 the just shall live by faith3 and unto me1 who am less than the least of all saints1 is this grace given4 ,if ,i were an archangel1 ,i should veil my face before him1 and let silence speak his praise6 99 99 99 99 99 ,may #b4 ,i ,,believe1 while memory remains in me1 gratitude will continue4 ,i know1 many are the troubles of the righteous3 but out of them all doth the ,lord deliver4 ,i have never desired to hide any distress or difficulty from you at any time4 ,is this any reason1 why you should tell me1 what those are which now surround you8 ,if ,i could remove the least of them by knowing it1 ,i should be importunate4 ,from the time you preached on ,galatians v4 #e4 ,i saw clearly the true state of my soul4 ,that sermon described my heart1 and what it wanted to be truly happy4 ,you read ,mr4 ,m4's letter1 and it described the religion which ,i desired4 ,from that time the prize appeared in view1 and ,i was enabled to follow hard after it4 ,i was kept watching unto prayer1 sometimes in much distress1 at others in patient expectation of the blessing4 ,for some days before you left ,london1 my soul was stayed on a promise ,i had applied to me in prayer1 ,the ,lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple4 ,i believed he would1 and that he would sit there as a refiner's fire4 ,the ,tuesday after you went1 ,i thought ,i could not sleep1 unless he fulfilled his word that night4 ,i never knew1 as ,i did then1 the force of these words1 ,be still1 and know that ,i am ,god4 ,i became nothing before him1 and enjoyed perfect calmness in my soul4 ,i knew not whether he had destroyed my sin2 but ,i desired to know1 that ,i might praise him4 ,yet ,i soon found the return of unbelief1 and groaned1 being burdened4 ,on ,wednesday ,i went to ,london1 and sought the ,lord without ceasing4 ,i promised1 if he would save me from sin1 ,i would praise him4 ,i could part with all things1 so ,i might win ,christ4 ,but ,i found all these pleas nothing worth1 and that if he saved me1 it must be freely for his own name's sake4 ,on ,thursday1 after ,i had been with ,s4 ,guildford1 and ,b4 ,dixon1 ,i was so much tempted1 that ,i thought of destroying myself1 or never conversing more with the people of ,god4 ,and yet ,i had no doubt of his pardoning love3 but 8'twas worse than death my ,god to love1 and not my ,god alone40 ,on ,friday my distress was deepened4 ,i endeavoured to pray1 and could not4 ,i went to ,mrs4 ,d4 who prayed for me1 and told me1 it was the death of nature4 ,i opened the bible on the fearful and unbelievingshall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone4 ,i could not bear it4 ,i opened it again on ,mark xvi4 #f1 #g4 ,be not affrighted3 ,ye seek ,jesus of ,nazareth4,go your way2 tell his disciples1 he goeth before you into ,galilee2 there shall ye see him4 ,i was encouraged1 and enabled to pray1 believing ,i should see ,jesus at home4 ,i returned that night1 and found ,mrs4 ,g4 ,she prayed for me3 and the ,predestinarian had no plea1 but1 8,lord1 thou art no respecter of persons40 ,he proved he was not1 by blessing me4 ,i was in a moment enabled to lay hold on ,jesus ,christ1 and found salvation by simple faith4 ,he assured me1 the ,lord1 the ,king was in the midst of me1 and that ,i should see evil no more4 ,i now blessed him1 who had visited and redeemed me1 and was become my wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption4 ,i saw ,jesus altogether lovely1 and knew he was mine in all his offices4 ,and glory be to him1 he now reigns in my heart without a rival4 ,i find no will but his4 ,i feel no pride1 nor any affection but what is placed upon him4 ,i know1 it is by faith ,i stand1 and that watching unto prayer must be the guard of faith4 ,i am happy in ,god this moment1 and ,i believe for the next4 ,i have often read the chapter you mention1 and compared my heart and life with it4 ,in so doing1 ,i find my short-comings1 and the need ,i have of the atoning blood4 ,yet ,i dare not say1 ,i do not feel a measure of the love there described1 though ,i am not all ,i shall be4 ,i desire to be lost in that love which passeth knowledge4 ,i wish for no joy1 but what increases love4 99 99 99 99 99 ,london1 ,september #bi1 #agfb4 ,reverend and dear ,sir1 ,i ,,thank you for another proof of your care for my soul1 in the enquiries you make4 ,i bless my ,lord1 his grace is sufficient to make me answer1 without hesitation1 every question you propose4 ,i have for many months enjoyed such a continuance of the presence of my beloved1 as makes me feel ,i am less than the least of his mercies4 ,the beholding of him1 who is fairer than the sons of men1 the sight of ,christ crucified1 prevents the touch of pride1 and makes me hate the garment spotted by the flesh4 ,the testimony that ,i desire is not from man1 and the approbation of ,god never makes me high-minded4 ,rather ,i rejoice to him with reverence4 ,he teaches me to delight myself in him3 and ,i feel1 ,i cannot be displeased with any thing that is his choice1 ,i know that ,i please him2 for he testifies of my works1 that they are wrought in him4 ,indeed ,jesus is unspeakably precious4 8,words are too mean to speak his worth1 ,too mean to set my ,saviour forth40 ,he daily makes to me new discoveries of his grace and power1 and every fresh manifestation more effectually unites my heart to him who is altogether lovely4 ,i love my friends in him3 he gives the affection ,i feel1 and it always leads to him4 ,i believe1 when ,i quit the inconveniencies of mortality1 ,i shall love with greater 8strength and elegance10 every friend to whom ,jesus has now united my soul4 ,and what we now know in part1 we shall prove in eternity1 ,god is love2 and whoso dwelleth in love1 dwelleth in ,god1 and ,god in him4 ,my desire for you is1 that you may increase with all the increase of ,god1 and return to us in the fulness of the gospel of peace4 ,i believe you will1 and that you will be a blessing to me and many4 ,i think ,mr4 ,bell is willing to take any advice you think proper to give him4 ,i repeat what ,i said before3 they that seek dissension1 are not friends to the work of ,god4 ,i trust you labour for peace1 and the ,god of peace shall be with you always4 ,i daily give up all to ,jesus1 and have no sacrifice to make1 which is not offered up already4 ,he gives me strength for all he calls me to bear3 and ,i find it easy for the love which believes1 to endure all things4 ,may the ,god whom you serve bless your labours with great success6 ,i wish you good luck in his name4 ,the weapons of your warfare are mighty through him3 you need not fight uncertainly1 as one that beateth the air1 but prove in every circumstance1 ,this is the victory1 even our faith4 ,continue to shew your care over me1 by reproving and advising me as you judge needful4 ,i am sensible of all my obligations to you1 and am1 ,dear ,sir1 ,your obliged and affectionate ,servant4 ,,some ,,account ,,of ,,the ,,experience ,,of ,e4 ,j4 #a4 ,,for many years ,i had a desire to love ,god1 and thought ,i could submit to be of any sect or denomination1 if this would bring me nearer to him3 only rejecting the name of a ,methodist4 ,for ,i thought them to be a deluded people1 and the off scouring of the earth4 ,i was in this temper1 when ,i heard a ,minister preach on ,all mine are thine1 and thine are mine4 ,it came to my heart1 and ,i found such a measure of happiness1 as ,i never had done before4 ,but having none to strengthen my hands1 or build me up1 it gradually died away4 #b4 ,after this1 a clergyman having been at prayers1 a gentlewoman asked me1 how ,i liked him8 ,i said1 8,very well3 he has had a liberal education1 and speaks in a graceful manner40 ,she said1 8,but man cannot reach the heart4 ,did you ever hear the small still voice1 whispering peace to your soul80 ,i felt something of prejudice rise at the question1 and replied1 8,i have lived a good life4 ,i have done no harm1 and ,i do not omit my duty4 ,i go to church every day40 ,she said1 8,i am sorry you have got no further40 ,i was surprised at her impertinence1 and rose up to go away4 ,she intreated me to stay a little1 saying1 8,i have but another word to speak4 ,if you are not delivered by a higher power than you have known yet1 you will never be saved40 ,the word higher power struck me to the heart1 and brought a ray of light1 which shewed me1 that notwithstanding all my works1 ,i was without ,god in the world4 ,i found a load of guilt which struck me with terror4 ,i saw my heart was as a cage of unclean birds4 ,i believed1 now ,i shall be a castaway1 and knew not where to hide me4 ,i could not speak1 but withdrew and retired to my closet1 and wrestled with ,god in mighty prayer4 ,i resolved not to let him go till he had blessed me3 crying1 8,i renounce all ,i am and all ,i have3 if thou hast any blessing for me1 bless me now60 ,thus ,i continued an hour1 when those words came with power1 ,abide in me and ,i in thee4 ,i cried out with much assurance1 8,my ,lord and my ,god6 ,what is this thou hast done for me80 ,in the twinkling of an eye my soul was quickened4 ,the seed of ,god was sown in my heart4 ,my sins were blotted out1 and ,i was raised from the dead1 by the word of reconciliation4 ,i felt virtue proceed from ,christ1 which took away my sins4 ,i now partook of ,angel's food1 and knew that ,i was born of ,god4 #c4 ,for three weeks ,i remained exceeding happy4 ,my lamp was lighted1 and ,i had oil in my vessel4 ,the scriptures were opened to me1 and were spirit and life3 in the ,lord's supper ,i found the peace that passeth all understanding4 ,none can express the excellency of the virtue which flows from the merits of ,christ4 ,i was grafted into the vine1 and thereby enabled to draw water out of the wells of salvation4 ,yet ,i found1 there was much in me contrary to the will of ,god4 ,i had not all the mind that was in ,christ4 ,nay1 there remained much of the carnal mind4 ,there was enmity1 and strife1 and vainglory1 which soon embittered my sweets4 ,my heart was bent to backsliding1 and continually ready to comply with the suggestions of ,satan4 ,i gave way to evil reasoning1 which caused peevishness and impatience3 and these ate the life of ,god out of my soul4 ,i could not endure hardness3 in every storm ,i was ready to give up my confidence4 ,i could not love ,god with an undivided heart4 ,it was my desire1 to praise him without ceasing3 but ,i could not perform it1 for some hindrance was still coming in the way4 ,the ,lord often refreshed me by the way3 but this did not satisfy4 ,what ,i wanted was1 to have my heart entirely devoted to him4 ,but ,i found there remained in me a root of bitterness1 a stubborn will1 and a diabolical nature1 capable of committing all manner of wickedness1 were it not for restraining grace4 ,yet ,i had no light into the scriptures1 so as to divide the word1 and make a distinction between the justifying and the sanctifying promises4 ,so ,i was content to be a babe1 if my inward corruptions would have let me be at peace4 ,yea1 ,i had in my heart an utter aversion to the doctrine of entire sanctification1 and found all the enmity in me rose against those who spoke of experiencing it4 ,one day hearing a preacher say1 we could not live many hours after we were sanctified1 my heart readily joined with him4 ,but presently ,i was struck with those words1 ,without holiness no man shall see the ,lord4 ,i fain would have stifled this conviction4 ,at least1 ,i cared not to think of it yet4 ,i thought1 ,why it is but thirteen months since ,i was justified4 ,and need ,i think of being sanctified already8 ,however1 if ever ,i should be1 none shall ever know it4 ,but the light increased more and more1 and my desires at the same time1 till ,i hungred and thirsted vehemently for something1 but ,i knew not what4 ,one day ,i was constrained to come unto the ,lord1 and was seized with an awful sense of his ,majesty4 ,i trembled1 and for some moments was as in a silent darkness4 ,i was ready to cry1 ,whither am ,i going8 ,for it seemed1 as if he was going to strike the blow1 and send me to everlasting destruction4 ,but ,i found a spark of light1 and cried1 8,where is my ,jesus8 ,he can save to the uttermost40 ,presently ,i cried1 8,lord1 come quickly60 ,yet ,i had a dread of his coming2 for it appeared1 as if something strange was going to happen to me4 ,but ,i said1 8,lord1 thou prayest for me3 ,o pray for me1 that ,i may now get the victory6 ,help now my unbelief6 ,renew me wholly in thy image and likeness6 ,give me faith1 and faith's increase1 that ,i may be wholly saved from sin40 ,i then found fresh strength1 and cried vehemently1 8,if thou hast any blessing for me1 bless me now6 ,unworthy as ,i am1 yet ,i claim1 in ,christ1 my full redemption4 ,i mean to take no denial4 ,give me all thou hast purchased4 ,loose me from myself1 that ,i may lie passive in thy hand4 ,lord1 if thou wilt1 thou canst make me clean60 ,but ,i found there was a dark cloud1 which still remained between ,god and my soul4 ,then ,i cried1 8,lord1 let me touch the scepter of thy righteousness4 ,i resign my life and my all4 ,make me now whole1 and take me to thyself40 ,while ,i thus pleaded1 ,i was in an agony between hope and despair1 till those words came as a mighty rushing wind1 ,a clean heart ,i give unto thee4 ,i received the word with gladness and in much assurance4 ,soon after came1 ,be not faithless1 but believing4 ,at these happy words every cloud was dispelled1 and ,i saw the light which shineth to the perfect day4 ,i found access to the holy of holies1 where ,i now see the ,trinity in ,unity4 ,the ,lord shineth unto me in perfect beauty3 ,i enjoy an inseparable union with him without intermission4 ,the little leaven has leavened the whole lump4 ,all my senses are now fully employed in spiritual exercise4 ,the love of ,god1 flaming in my heart as an unquenchable fire1 has burnt up all the dross1 and destroyed every plant which was not of his own planting4 ,i find that oneness with him1 being made one spirit with the ,lord1 which enables me to walk with him like ,enoch1 so that ,i converse with him by his ,spirit1 as familiarly as a man doth with his friend4 ,i find now no want1 no inward conflict1 but my soul dwells in a peaceable habitation4 ,i am enabled to walk as in the noon-day sun3 my heart is fixed1 and my soul is watered every moment4 ,yet the fear of the ,lord is ever before me1 lest ,i should grieve the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i watch and guard the sacred treasure in my heart1 not daring to give way to a word or thought1 without finding the approbation of the ,lord1 by the powerful operation of his ,spirit4 ,hereby ,i know and prove what is that good1 and acceptable1 and perfect will of ,god4 ,he manifests his strength in my weakness4 ,i am but a worm2 yet he delights to bless me1 and has made me perfect in his love1 so that nothing interrupts my joy4 ,he enables me1 not to lose a moment of time1 and to live but a moment at once4 ,my hope is full of immortality2 and ,i find no want of spiritual food1 no more than if ,i was in heaven already4 ,nothing in me opposes the will of ,god3 in nothing can ,i either wish or chuse4 ,for he hath given me to walk before him in all well-pleasing1 and to sit in heavenly places with ,christ ,jesus4 ,my loins are girt1 my lamp burning1 and my soul flourishing as the palm-tree4 8familiary0 replaced with 8familiarly0 #d4 ,for these ten years ,i have enjoyed this haven of rest4 ,it has been to me as a day without a cloud4 ,i never have had a tedious moment1 nor a murmuring thought4 ,i have been tempted in all things2 yet nothing obscures my light1 or obstructs my way2 but still ,i rejoice evermore1 pray without ceasing1 and in every thing give thanks4 ,my heart is prepared1 whenever my ,lord knocks1 to open to him immediately4 ,for grace has overcome death3 the thoughts of death are my glory and joy4 ,i know1 that ,i am every moment ready to be offered1 being made in ,christ unrebukeable1 without spot1 a spiritual sacrifice1 wholly devoted to ,god4 #e4 ,god now permitted the grace he had given to be tried4 ,i was not born to dwell on one spot of ground1 but was banished from all that was near and dear to me1 and driven from city to city4 ,i now proved the happy effects of faith4 ,when ,i was buffetted by ,satan1 his darts took no place in me3 ,i defied him1 and all his works4 ,when ,i am roughly treated by the world1 ,i stand still1 and see the salvation of ,god4 ,and the more ,i am tempted1 so much the more the pure flame revives2 and the love of ,god1 ever flaming in the heart1 keeps out every occasion of stumbling4 ,this enables me to rejoice in tribulation1 and glory in the cross3 for ,i find1 by his grace1 my soul is even as mount ,zion1 which cannot be moved4 ,i am freed from all anxious thoughts and painful fears4 ,i take no thought for the morrow4 ,i live to-day1 and have nothing to do but to die4 ,i know1 my soul is prepared to meet my ,god4 ,in nothing hitherto have ,i been ashamed1 with all boldness giving thanks unto the ,lord4 ,and now ,i ascribe all glory to him1 who hath made me a partaker of that holiness1 without which no man shall see the ,lord4 #f4 ,think it not strange1 that he should give this suddenly4 ,when he comes to justify1 he comes quickly4 ,and when he comes to sanctify1 he comes quickly4 ,this also is an instantaneous work4 ,and no man can love ,god with all his heart1 and grow up into ,christ in all things1 so as to enjoy all the mind that was in ,christ1 till he is sanctified throughout1 body1 soul1 and spirit4 #g4 ,as we were justified1 so are we sanctified by one single act of faith4 ,then is the soul made like a flame of fire1 and the heart is in one continual frame of praising ,god4 ,then the fulness of ,christ is brought into the soul2 even as much of the glory of ,god as this earthly tabernacle can bear4 ,then is our inbred sin destroyed4 ,this is the cause of all our transgressions1 and while any of this remains1 it is the believer's hell1 and makes him cry out1 ,who shall deliver me from the body of this death8 ,christ will deliver you4 ,he has purchased for you a full redemption4 ,he has regained paradise1 and restores the soul to that acquaintance with ,god which ,adam lost4 ,by faith1 ,i ever see him that is invisible1 and converse with him1 as it were1 face to face4 ,i stand naked before the ,lord1 and am not ashamed2 but rejoice in being sensible1 that he knows the secret thoughts of my heart4 ,i rejoice1 that he has taught me to put on the whole armour of ,god1 and has made it as easy to me1 to do and suffer the will of ,god1 as it is to the sparks to fly upward4 #h4 ,pull off then this veil of unbelief1 and trample sin and ,satan under your feet4 ,be you also a faithful witness of ,christ1 that he is able to save to the uttermost1 that he hath power even on earth to save from all sin1 from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit4 ,my experience will profit another nothing1 unless applied to the heart by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,and is not this the one thing needful for you1 to be filled with faith and with the ,holy ,ghost8 ,may the ,lord hasten the time1 when this faith shall cover the earth1 as the water covers the sea6 ,then shall they not need to teach this to one another3 ,for all shall know ,him1 from the least even to the greatest4 #i4 ,o that sinners would give up their own wisdom1 and become fools1 that they may be made wise6 ,cannot the ,lord do a great work in a little time8 ,in the hour that he convinced me of the necessity of it1 before that hour was expired1 ,i was justified4 ,thirteen months after 7as ,i before observed17 ,i was convinced of the necessity of full sanctification4 ,that night1 before ,i slept1 ,god gave me the blessing4 ,and is he a respecter of persons8 ,who then would not cry unto him8 ,who would not spend a few hours in fervent prayer8 ,o let your hearts yield6 ,draw near unto the ,lord1 and he will draw near unto you4 ,he will draw you after him by the cords of his love1 and you will begin to smell the sweet odour of his ointments4 ,then open your hearts to my beloved2 for his voice is sweet1 and his countenance comely4 ,let my beloved come into his garden1 and eat his pleasant fruit4 ,he says1 ,arise1 my love1 and come away6 ,i will chide thee no more for thy past follies4 ,only now give me thy heart4 ,thou shalt then find1 the winter is past1 the singing of birds is come1 and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land4 ,then will you get new eyes1 new hearts1 new delights1 and every thing will have a satisfying relish4 ,then will you chide yourselves1 for having been so long in pursuit of the things that perish in the using6 ,then will he give you the pearl that ,adam lost1 that heart-felt union with ,god1 whereby you shall steadily enjoy his immediate presence3 and his presence makes our paradise4 ,you shall walk in the light1 having his bright beams ever shining upon you4 ,so that ,not a cloud shall arise1 ,to darken the skies1 ,or hide for a moment the ,lord from your eyes4 ,an ,,earnest ,,appeal ,,to ,,men ,,of ,,reason and ,,religion4 ,,john vii4 #ea4 ,doth our law judge any man ,,before it ,,hear him1 and ,,know ,,what ,,he ,,doth8 ,,although it is with us a very small thing to be judged of you or of man's judgment1 seeing we know ,god will make our innocency as clear as the light1 and our just dealing as the noon-day2 yet are we ready to give any that are willing to hear1 a plain account1 both of our principles and actions3 as having renounced the hidden things of shame1 and desiring nothing more1 than by manifestation of the truth to commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of ,god4 99#b4 ,we see 7and who does not87 the numberless follies and miseries of our fellow-creatures4 ,we see on every side1 either men of no religion at all1 or men of a lifeless1 formal religion4 ,we are grieved at the sight1 and should greatly rejoice1 if by any means we might convince some1 that there is a better religion to be attained1 a religion worthy of ,god that gave it4 ,and this we conceive to be no other than love2 the love of ,god1 and of all mankind2 the loving ,god with all our heart and soul1 and strength1 as having first loved us1 as the fountain of all the good we have received1 and of all we ever hope to enjoy2 and the loving every soul which ,god hath made1 every man on earth1 as our own soul4 99#c4 ,this love we believe to be the medicine of life1 the never-failing remedy1 for all the evils of a disordered world1 for all the miseries and vices of men4 ,wherever this is1 there are virtue and happiness1 going hand in hand4 ,there is humbleness of mind1 gentleness1 long suffering1 the whole image of ,god1 and at the same time a peace that passeth all understanding1 and joy unspeakable and full of glory4 8,eternal sunshine of the spotless mind2 ,each pray'r accepted1 and each wish resign'd3 ,desires compos'd1 affections ever even1 ,tears that delight1 and sighs that waft to heav'n40 #d4 ,this religion we long to see established in the world1 a religion of love1 and joy1 and peace1 having its seat in the inmost soul1 but ever shewing itself by its fruits1 continually springing forth not only in all innocence1 7for love worketh no ill to his neighbour7 but likewise in every kind of beneficence1 spreading virtue and happiness all around it4 #e4 ,this religion have we been following after for many years1 as many know1 if they would testify3 but all this time1 seeking wisdom we found it not2 we were spending our strength in vain4 ,and being now under full conviction of this1 we declare it to all mankind3 for we desire not that others should wander out of the way1 as we have done before them2 but rather that they may profit by our loss1 that they may go 7tho' we did not1 having then no man to guide us7 the straight way to the religion of love1 even by faith4 99#f4 ,now faith 7supposing the scripture to be of ,god7 is 1 the demonstrative evidence of things unseen1 the supernatural evidence of things invisible1 not perceivable by eyes of flesh1 or by any of our natural senses or faculties4 ,faith is that divine evidence1 whereby the spiritual man discerneth ,god1 and the things of ,god4 ,it is with regard to the spiritual world1 what sense is with regard to the natural4 ,it is the spiritual sensation of every soul that is born of ,god4 8 0 replaced with 8 0 #g4 ,perhaps you have not considered it in this view2 ,i will then explain it a little further4 ,faith1 according to the scriptural account1 is the eye of the new-born soul4 ,hereby every true believer in ,god1 seeth him who is invisible4 ,hereby 7in a more particular manner1 since life and immortality have been brought to light by the gospel7 he seeth the light of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ2 and1 beholdeth what manner of love it is1 which the ,father hath bestowed upon us1 that we 7who are born of the ,spirit7 should be called the sons of ,god4 ,it is the ear of the soul1 whereby a sinner hears the voice of the ,son of ,god and lives2 even that voice which alone wakes the dead1 ,son1 thy sins are forgiven thee4 ,it is 7if ,i may be allowed the expression7 the palate of the soul3 for hereby a believer tastes the good word1 and the powers of the world to come2 and hereby he both tastes and sees that ,god is gracious1 yea1 and merciful to him a sinner4 ,it is the feeling of the soul1 whereby a believer perceives1 thro' the power of the ,highest over-shadowing him1 both the existence and the presence of him1 in whom he lives1 moves1 and has his being2 and indeed the whole invisible world1 the entire system of things eternal4 ,and hereby1 in particular1 he feels the love of ,god shed abroad in his heart4 99#h4 ,by this faith we are saved from all uneasiness of mind1 from the anguish of a wounded spirit1 from discontent1 from fear1 and sorrow of heart1 from that inexpressible listlessness and weariness1 both of the world and of ourselves1 which we had so helplessly laboured under for many years2 especially when we were out of the hurry of the world1 and sunk into calm reflection4 ,in this we find that love of ,god1 and of all mankind1 which we had elsewhere sought in vain4 ,this we know and feel1 and therefore cannot but declare1 saves every one that partakes of it1 both from sin and misery1 from every unhappy and every unholy temper4 8helplesly0 replaced with 8helplessly0 8,soft peace she brings1 wherever she arrives1 ,she builds our quiet1 as she forms our lives2 ,lays the rough paths of peevish nature even1 ,and opens in each breast a little heaven40 #i4 ,if you ask1 8,why then have not all men this faith8 ,all at least who conceive it to be so happy a thing8 ,why do they not believe immediately80 ,we answer1 7on the scripture hypothesis7 ,it is the gift of ,god4 ,no man is able to work it in himself4 ,it is a work of ,omnipotence4 ,it requires no less power thus to quicken a dead soul1 than to raise a body that lies in the grave4 ,it is a new creation2 and none can create a soul anew but he who at first created the heavens and the earth4 99#aj4 ,may not your own experience teach you this8 ,can you give yourself this faith8 ,is it now in your power to see1 or hear1 or taste1 or feel ,god8 ,have you already1 or can you raise in yourself any perception of ,god1 or of an invisible world8 ,i suppose you do not deny1 that there is an invisible world3 you will not charge it in poor old ,hesiod1 to ,christian prejudice of education1 when he says1 in those well known words1 ,millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth ,unseen1 whether we wake1 or if we sleep4 ,now1 is there any power in your soul1 whereby you discern either these1 or him that created them8 ,or1 can all your wisdom and strength open an intercourse between yourself and the world of spirits8 ,is it in your power to burst the veil that is on your heart1 and let in the light of eternity8 ,you know it is not4 ,you not only do not1 but cannot 7by your own strength7 thus believe4 ,the more you labour so to do1 the more you will be convinced1 it is the gift of ,god4 99#aa4 ,it is the free gift of ,god1 which he bestows not on those who are worthy of his favour1 not on such as are previously holy1 and so fit to be crowned with all the blessings of his goodness3 but on the ungodly and unholy2 on those who till that hour were fit only for everlasting destruction2 those in whom was no good thing1 and whose only plea was1 ,god1 be merciful to me a sinner4 ,no merit1 no goodness in man precedes the forgiving love of ,god4 ,his pardoning mercy supposes nothing in us but a sense of mere sin and misery3 and to all who see1 and feel1 and own their wants1 and their utter inability to remove them1 ,god freely gives faith1 for the sake of him in whom he is always well pleased4 #ab4 ,this is a short1 rude sketch of the doctrine we teach4 ,these are our fundamental principles3 and we spend our lives in confirming others herein1 and in a behaviour suitable to them4 ,now1 if you are a reasonable man1 although you do not believe the ,christian system to be of ,god1 lay your hand upon your breast1 and calmly consider1 what it is that you can here condemn8 ,what evil have we done to you1 that you should join the common cry against us8 ,why should you say1 ,away with such fellows from the earth3 it is not fit that they should live8 #ac4 ',tis true1 your judgment does not fall in with ours4 ,we believe the scripture to be of ,god4 ,this you do not believe4 ,and how do you defend yourselves against them who urge you with the guilt of unbelief8 ,do you not say1 8,every man must judge according to the light he has1 and that if he be true to this1 he ought not to be condemned80 ,keep then to this1 and turn the tables4 ,must not we also judge according to the light we have8 ,you can in no wise condemn us1 without involving yourselves in the same condemnation4 ,according to the light we have1 we cannot but believe the scripture is of ,god2 and1 while we believe this1 we dare not turn aside from it1 to the right hand1 or to the left4 99#ad4 ,let us consider this point a little farther4 ,you yourself believe there is a ,god4 ,you have the witness of this in your own breast4 ,perhaps sometimes you tremble before him4 ,you believe there is such a thing as right and wrong1 that there is a difference between moral good and evil4 ,of consequence1 you must allow1 there is such a thing as conscience2 ,i mean1 that every person1 capable of reflection1 is conscious to himself1 when he looks back on any thing he has done1 whether it be good or evil4 ,you must likewise allow1 that every man is to be guided by his own conscience1 not another's4 ,thus far1 doubtless1 you may go1 without any danger of being a volunteer in faith4 #ae4 ,now then1 be consistent with yourself4 ,if there be a ,god1 who being just and good1 7attributes inseparable from the very idea of ,god7 is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him1 ought we not to do whatever we believe will be acceptable to so good a ,master8 ,observe3 if we believe1 if we are fully persuaded of this in our mind1 ought we not thus to seek him8 ,and that with all diligence8 ,else1 how should we expect any reward at his hands8 #af4 ,again3 ,ought we not to do what we believe is morally good1 and to abstain from what we judge is evil8 ,by good ,i mean1 conducive to the good of mankind1 tending to advance peace1 and good-will among men1 promotive of the happiness of our fellow-creatures2 and by evil1 what is contrary thereto4 ,then surely you cannot condemn our endeavouring after our power1 to make mankind happy2 7,i now speak only with regard to the present world7 our striving1 as we can1 to lessen their sorrows1 and to teach them in whatsoever state they are1 therewith to be content4 #ag4 ,yet again4 ,are we to be guided by our own conscience1 or by that of other men8 ,you surely will not say1 that any man's conscience can preclude mine4 ,you1 at least1 will not plead for robbing us1 of what you strongly claim for yourselves4 ,i mean1 the right of private judgment1 which is indeed unalienable from reasonable creatures4 ,you well know1 that unless we faithfully follow the dictates of our own mind1 we cannot have a conscience void of offence toward ,god and towards man4 99#ah4 ,upon your own principles therefore you must allow us to be1 at least1 innocent4 ,do you find any difficulty in this8 ,you speak much of pre-possession and prejudice2 beware you are not entangled therein yourselves4 ,are you not prejudiced against us1 because we believe and strenuously defend that system of doctrines which you oppose8 ,are you not enemies to us1 because you take it for granted we are so to you8 ,nay1 ,god forbid6 ,i once saw one1 who1 from a plentiful fortune1 was reduced to the lowest extremity4 ,he was lying on a sick bed1 in violent pain1 without even convenient food1 or one friend to comfort him3 so that when his merciful landlord1 to compleat all1 sent one to take his bed from under him1 ,i was not surprized at his attempt to put an end to so miserable a life4 ,now1 when ,i saw that poor man1 weltering in his blood1 could ,i be angry at him8 ,surely no4 ,no more can ,i at you4 ,i can no more hate than ,i can envy you4 ,i can only lift up my heart to ,god for you 7as ,i did then for him7 and1 with silent tears1 beseech the ,father of mercies1 that he would look on you in your blood1 and say unto you1 ,live4 99#ai4 8,sir1 7said that unhappy man1 at my first interview with him7 ,i scorn to deceive you or any man4 ,you must not tell me of your bible2 for ,i don't believe one word of it4 ,i know there is a ,god1 and believe he is all in all1 the ,anima mundi1 the 8vastam ,mens agitans molem1 magno se corpore miscens40 8,but farther then this1 ,i believe not2 all is dark1 my thought is lost4 ,but ,i hear 7added he7 you preach to a great number of people every night and morning4 ,pray1 what would you do with them8 ,whither would you lead them8 ,what religion do you preach8 ,what is it good for80 ,i replied1 8,i do preach to as many as desire to hear1 every night and morning40 ,you ask1 8,what ,i would do with them80 ,i would make them virtuous and happy1 easy in themselves1 and useful to others4 8,whither would ,i lead them80 ,to heaven2 to ,god the ,judge1 the lover of all1 and to ,jesus the ,mediator of the new covenant4 8,what religion do ,i preach80 ,the religion of love2 the law of kindness brought to light by the gospel4 8,what is this good for80 ,to make all who receive it enjoy ,god and themselves3 ,to make them like ,god2 lovers of all2 contented in their lives2 and crying out at their death1 in calm assurance1 ,o grave where is thy victory6 thanks be unto ,god1 who giveth me the victory1 thro' my ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #bj4 ,will you object to such a religion as this2 that it is not reasonable8 ,is it not reasonable then to love ,god8 ,hath he not given you life1 and breath1 and all things8 ,does he not continue his love to you1 filling your heart with food and gladness8 ,what have you not received of him8 ,and does not love demand a return of love8 ,whether therefore you do love ,god or no1 you cannot but own it is reasonable so to do2 nay1 seeing he is the parent of all good1 to love him with all your heart4 #ba4 ,is it not reasonable also to love our neighbour8 ,every man whom ,god hath made8 ,are we not brethren8 ,the children of one father8 ,ought we not then to love one another8 ,and should we only love them that love us8 ,is that acting like our ,father which is in heaven8 ,he causeth his sun to shine on the evil and on the good1 and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust4 ,and can there be a more equitable rule 7the only adequate measure of brotherly love1 in all our words and actions7 ,whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you1 even so do unto them4 #bb4 ,is it not reasonable then1 that as we have opportunity1 we should do good unto all men8 ,not only friends but enemies1 not only to the deserving1 but likewise to the evil and unthankful4 ,is it not right that all our life should be one continued labour of love8 ,if a day passes without doing good1 may one not well say1 with ,titus1 ,amici1 diem perdidi6 ,and is it enough1 to feed the hungry1 to cloath the naked1 to visit those who are sick or in prison8 ,should we have no pity for those ,who sigh beneath guilt's horrid stain1 ,the worst confinement1 and the heaviest chain8 ,should we shut up our compassion toward those who are of all men most miserable1 because they are miserable by their own fault8 ,if we have found a medicine to heal even that sickness1 should we not1 as we have freely received it1 freely give8 ,should we not pluck them as brands out of the fire8 ,the fire of lust1 anger1 malice1 revenge8 ,your inmost soul answers1 ,it should be done2 it is reasonable in the highest degree4 ,well1 this is the sum of our preaching1 and of our lives1 our enemies themselves being the judges4 ,if therefore you allow1 that it is reasonable to love ,god1 to love mankind1 and to do good to all men1 you cannot but allow1 that religion which we preach and live1 to be agreeable to the highest reason4 ,my friends1 ,i have lost a day6 #bc4 ,perhaps 8all this you can bear4 ,it is tolerable enough3 and if we spoke only of being saved by love1 you should have no great objection3 but you do not comprehend what we say of being saved by faith40 ,i know you do not4 ,you do not in any degree comprehend what we mean by that expression2 have patience then1 and ,i will tell you yet again4 ,by those words1 we are saved by faith1 we mean1 that the moment a man receives that faith which is above described1 he is saved from doubt and fear1 and sorrow of heart1 by a peace that passes all understanding2 from the heaviness of a wounded spirit1 by joy unspeakable2 and from his sins1 of whatsoever kind they were2 from his vicious desires1 as well as words and actions1 by the love of ,god1 and of all mankind1 then shed abroad in his heart4 #bd4 ,we grant1 nothing is more unreasonable1 than to imagine that such mighty effects as these1 can be wrought by that poor1 empty1 insignificant thing1 which the world calls faith1 and you among them4 ,but supposing there be such a faith on the earth1 as that which the apostle speaks of1 such an intercourse between ,god and the soul1 what is too hard for such a faith8 ,you yourselves may conceive1 that all things are possible to him that thus believeth3 to him that thus walks with ,god1 that is now a citizen of heaven1 an inhabitant of eternity4 ,if therefore you will contend with us1 you must change the ground of your attack4 ,you must flatly deny there is any faith upon earth3 but perhaps this you might think too large step4 ,you cannot do this1 without a secret condemnation in your own breast4 ,o that you would at length cry to ,god for that heavenly gift6 ,whereby alone this truly reasonable religion1 this beneficent love of ,god and man1 can be planted in your heart4 #be4 ,if you say1 8,but those that profess this faith are the most unreasonable of all men20 ,i ask1 8,who are those that profess this faith80 ,perhaps you do not personally know such a man in the world4 ,who are they that so much as profess to have this evidence of things not seen8 ,that profess to see him that is invisible8 ,to hear the voice of ,god1 and to have his ,spirit ever witnessing with their spirits1 that they are the children of ,god8 ,i fear you will find few that even profess this faith1 among the large numbers of those who are called believers4 99#bf4 8,however1 there are enough that profess themselves ,christians40 ,yea1 too many1 ,god knoweth3 too many that confute their vain professions1 by the whole tenour of their lives4 ,i will allow all you can say on this head1 and perhaps more than all4 ',tis now some years since ,i was engaged unawares in a conversation with a strong reasoner1 who at first urged the wickedness of the ,american ,indians1 as a bar to our hope of converting them to ,christianity4 ,but when ,i mentioned their temperance1 justice1 and veracity1 7according to the accounts ,i had then received7 it was asked1 8,why1 if those ,heathens are such men as these1 what will they gain by being made ,christians8 ,what would they gain by being such ,christians as we see every where round about us80 ,i could not deny1 they would lose1 not gain1 by such a ,christianity as this4 ,upon which she added1 8,why1 what else do you mean by ,christianity80 ,my plain answer was1 ,what do you apprehend to be more valuable than good sense1 good nature1 and good manners8 ,all these are contained1 and that in the highest degree1 in what ,i mean by ,christianity4 ,good sense1 7so called7 is but a poor1 dim shadow of what ,christians call faith4 ,good nature is only a faint1 distant resemblance of ,christian charity4 ,and good manners1 if of the most finished kind that nature assisted by art can attain to1 is but a dead picture of that holiness of conversation1 which is the image of ,god visibly expressed4 ,all these put together by the art of ,god1 ,i call ,christianity4 8,sir1 if this be ,christianity1 7said my opponent in amaze7 ,i never saw a christian in my life40 #bg4 ,perhaps it is the same case with you4 ,if so1 ,i am grieved for you1 and can only wish1 'till you do see a living proof of this1 that you would not say1 you see a christian4 ,for this is scriptural christianity1 and this alone4 ,whenever therefore you see an unreasonable man1 you see one who perhaps calls himself by that name1 but is no more a christian than he is an angel4 ,so far as he departs from true1 genuine reason1 so far he departs from christianity4 ,do not say1 this is only asserted1 not proved4 ,it is undeniably proved by the original charter of christianity4 ,we appeal to this1 to the written word4 ,if any man's temper1 or words1 or actions are contradictory to right reason2 it is evident to a demonstration1 they are contradictory to this4 ,produce any possible or conceivable instance1 and you will find the fact is so4 ,the lives therefore of those who are called christians1 is no just objection to christianity4 #bh4 ,we join with you then in desiring a religion founded on reason1 and every way agreeable thereto4 ,but one question still remains to be asked1 what do you mean by reason8 ,i suppose you mean the eternal reason1 or1 the nature of things3 ,the nature of ,god1 and the nature of man1 with the relations necessarily subsisting between them4 ,why1 this is the very religion we preach3 a religion evidently founded on1 and every way agreeable to eternal reason1 to the essential nature of things4 ,its foundation stands on the nature of ,god and the nature of man1 together with their mutual relations4 ,and it is every way suitable thereto3 to the nature of ,god2 for it begins in knowing him2 and where but in the true knowledge of ,god1 can you conceive true religion to begin8 ,it goes on in loving him1 and all mankind1 7for you cannot but imitate whom you love37 ,it ends in serving him2 in doing his will2 in obeying him whom we know and love4 #bi4 ,it is every way suited to the nature of man2 for it begins in a man's knowing himself2 knowing himself to be what he really is1 foolish1 vicious1 miserable4 ,it goes on to point out the remedy for this1 to make him truly wise1 virtuous1 and happy2 as every thinking mind 7perhaps from some implicit remembrance of what it originally was7 longs to be4 ,it finishes all1 by restoring the due relations between ,god and man2 by uniting for ever the tender ,father1 and the grateful1 obedient ,son2 the great ,lord of all1 and the faithful servant1 doing not his own will1 but the will of him that sent him4 #cj4 ,but perhaps by reason you mean1 the faculty of reasoning1 of inferring one thing from another4 ,there are many1 it is confessed1 7particularly those who are stiled mystic divines7 that utterly decry the use of reason1 thus understood1 in religion3 nay1 that condemn all reasoning concerning the things of ,god1 as utterly destructive of true religion4 ,but we can in no wise agree with this4 ,we find no authority for it in holy writ4 ,so far from it1 that we find there both our ,lord and his apostles continually reasoning with their opposers4 ,neither do we know1 in all the productions of antient and modern times1 such a chain of reasoning or argumentation1 so close1 so solid1 so regularly connected1 as the epistle to the ,hebrews4 ,and the strongest reasoner whom we have ever observed1 7excepting only ,jesus of ,nazareth7 was that ,paul of ,tarsus2 the same who has left that plain direction for all christians1 ,in malice1 or wickedness1 be ye children2 but in understanding1 or reason1 be ye men4 #ca4 ,we therefore not only allow1 but earnestly exhort all who seek after true religion1 to use all the reason which ,god hath given them1 in searching out the things of ,god4 ,but your reasoning justly1 not only on this1 but on any subject whatsoever1 presupposes true judgments already formed1 whereon to ground your argumentation4 ,else1 you know1 you will stumble at every step3 because ex falso non sequitur verum4 ,it is impossible1 if your premisses are false1 to infer from them true conclusions4 #cb4 ,you know likewise1 that before it is possible for you to form a true judgment of them1 it is absolutely necessary1 that you have a clear apprehension of the things of ,god1 and that your ideas thereof be all fixed1 distinct1 and determinate4 ,and seeing our ideas are not innate1 but must all originally come from our senses2 it is certainly necessary that you have senses capable of discerning objects of this kind4 ,not those only which are called natural senses1 which in this respect profit nothing1 as being altogether incapable of discerning objects of a spiritual kind2 but spiritual senses1 exercised to discern spiritual good and evil4 ,it is necessary that you have the hearing ear1 and the seeing eye1 emphatically so called2 that you have a new class of senses opened in your soul1 not depending on organs of flesh and blood1 to be the evidence of things not seen1 as your bodily senses are of visible things2 to be the avenues to the invisible world1 to discern spiritual objects1 and to furnish you with ideas of what the outward eye hath not seen1 neither the ear heard4 #cc4 ,and till you have these internal senses1 till the eyes of your understanding are opened1 you can have no apprehension of divine things1 no idea of them at all4 ,nor consequently1 till then1 can you either judge truly1 or reason justly concerning them3 seeing your reason has no ground whereon to stand1 no materials to work upon4 #cd4 ,to use the trite instance4 ,as you cannot reason concerning colours1 if you have no natural sight1 because all the ideas received by your other senses are of a different kind2 so that neither your hearing1 nor any other sense1 can supply your want of sight1 or furnish your reason in this respect with matter to work upon3 ,so you cannot reason concerning spiritual things1 if you have no spiritual sight2 because all your ideas received by your outward senses are of a different kind4 ,yea1 far more different from those received by faith or internal sensation1 than the idea of colour from that of sound4 ,these are only different species of one genus1 namely1 sensible ideas1 received by external sensation3 whereas the ideas of faith differ toto genere from those of external sensation4 ,so that it is not conceivable1 that external sensation should supply the want of internal senses2 or furnish your reason in this respect with matter to work upon4 #ce4 ,what then will your reason do here8 ,how will it pass from things natural to spiritual8 ,from the things that are seen to those that are not seen8 ,from the visible to the invisible world8 ,what a gulph is here8 ,by what art will reason get over the immense chasm8 ,this cannot be1 till the ,almighty come in to your succour1 and give you that faith you have hitherto despised4 ,then upborn as it were on eagle's wings1 you shall soar away into the regions of eternity2 and your enlightened reason shall explore even the deep things of ,god1 ,god himself revealing them to you by his ,spirit4 #cf4 ,i expected to have received much light on this head1 from a treatise lately published1 and earnestly recommended to me1 ,i mean1 ,christianity not founded on argument4 ,but on a careful perusal of that piece1 notwithstanding my prejudice in its favour1 ,i could not but perceive1 that the great design uniformly pursued throughout the work1 was to render the whole of the christian institution both odious and contemptible4 ,in order to this1 the author gleans up1 with great care and diligence1 the most plausible of those many objections that have been raised against it by late writers1 and proposes them with the utmost strength of which he was capable4 ,to do this with the more effect1 he personates a christian3 he makes a shew of defending an avowed doctrine of christianity1 namely1 the supernatural influence of the ,spirit of ,god2 and often1 for several sentences together1 7indeed in the beginning of almost every paragraph7 speaks so like a christian1 that not a few have received him according to his wish4 ,mean while with all possible art and show of reason1 and in the most laboured language1 he pursues his point throughout1 which is to prove1 8that christianity is contrary to reason20 or1 8that no man acting according to the principles of reason1 can possibly be a christian40 #cg4 ,it is a wonderful proof of the power that smooth words may have even on serious minds1 that so many have mistook such a writer as this for a friend of christianity3 since almost every page of his tract is filled with gross falshood and broad blasphemy3 and these supported by such exploded fallacies1 and common-place sophistry1 that a person of two or three years standing in the university1 might give them a sufficient answer1 and make the author appear as irrational and contemptible as he labours to make ,christ and his apostles4 #ch4 ,i have hitherto spoken to those chiefly1 who do not receive the christian system as of ,god4 ,i would add a few words to another sort of men2 7though not so much with regard to our principles or practice1 as with regard to their own37 to you who do receive it1 who believe the scripture1 but yet do not take upon you the character of religious men4 ,i am therefore obliged to address myself to you likewise under the character of men of reason4 #ci4 ,i would only ask1 ,are you such indeed8 ,do you answer the character under which you appear8 ,if so1 you are consistent with yourselves4 ,your principles and practice agree together4 ,let us try whether this is so or not4 ,do you not take the name of ,god in vain8 ,do you remember the sabbath-day1 to keep it holy8 ,do you not speak evil of the ruler of your people8 ,are you not a drunkard1 or a glutton1 faring as sumptuously as you can every day8 ,making a ,god of your belly8 ,do you not avenge yourself8 ,are you not a whoremonger or adulterer8 ,answer plainly to your own heart1 before ,god the judge of all4 ,why then do you say1 you believe the scripture8 ,if the scripture is true1 you are lost4 ,you are in the broad way that leadeth to destruction4 ,your damnation slumbereth not4 ,you are heaping up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath1 and revelation of the righteous judgment of ,god4 ,doubtless1 if the scripture is true1 7and you remain thus7 it had been good for you if you had never been born4 #dj4 ,how is it that you call yourselves men of reason8 ,is reason inconsistent with itself8 ,you are the farthest of all men under the sun from any pretence to that character4 ,a common swearer1 a sabbath-breaker1 a whoremonger1 a drunkard1 who says he believes the scripture is of ,god1 is a monster upon earth1 the greatest contradiction to his own1 as well as to the reason of all mankind4 ,in the name of ,god1 7that worthy name whereby you are called1 and which you daily cause to be blasphemed7 turn either to the right hand or to the left4 ,either profess you are an infidel1 or be a christian4 ,halt no longer thus between two opinions4 ,either cast off the bible1 or your sins4 ,and in the mean time1 if you have any spark of your boasted reason left1 do not count us your enemies 7as ,i fear you have done hitherto1 and as thousands do wherever we have declared they who do such things shall not inherit eternal life7 because we tell you the truth3 seeing these are not our words1 but the words of him that sent us4 ,yea1 though in doing this1 we use great plainness of speech1 as becomes the ministry we have received4 ,for we are not as many who corrupt 7cauponize1 soften1 and thereby adulterate7 the word of ,god4 ,but as of sincerity1 but as of ,god1 in the sight of ,god1 speak we in ,christ4 99#da4 ,but1 it may be1 you are none of these4 ,you abstain from all such things4 ,you have an unspotted reputation4 ,you are a man of honour1 or a woman of virtue4 ,you scorn to do an unhandsome thing1 and are of an unblameable life and conversation4 ,you are harmless1 7if ,i understand you right7 and useless from morning to night4 ,you do no hurt1and no good to any one1 no more than a straw floating upon the water4 ,your life glides smoothly on from year to year2 and from one season to another1 having no occasion to work1 8,you waste away ,in gentle inactivity the day40 #db4 ,i will not now shock the easiness of your temper1 by talking about a future state4 ,but suffer me to ask you a question about present things4 ,are you now happy8 99,i have seen a large company of reasonable creatures1 called ,indians1 sitting in a row on the side of a river1 looking sometimes at one another1 sometimes at the sky1 and sometimes at the bubbles on the water4 ,and so they sat1 7unless in the time of war7 for a great part of the year1 from morning to night4 ,these were doubtless much at ease4 ,but can you think they were happy8,and how little happier are you than they8 99#dc4 ,you eat1 and drink1 and sleep1 and dress1 and dance1 and sit down to play4 ,you are carried abroad4 ,you are at the masquerade1 the theatre1 the opera-house1 the park1 the levee1 the drawing-room4 ,what do you do there8 ,why1 sometimes you talk2 sometimes you look at one another4 ,and what are you to do to-morrow8 ,the next day8 ,the next week8 ,the next year8 ,you are to eat1 and drink1 and sleep1 and dance1 and dress1 and play again4 ,and you are to be carried abroad again1 that you may again look at one another6 ,and is this all8 ,alas1 how little more happiness have you in this1 than the ,indians in looking at the sky or water6 99,ah poor1 dull round6 ,i do not wonder that ,colonel ,m 7or any man of reflection7 should prefer death itself1 even in the midst of his years1 to such a life as this6 ,and should frankly declare1 8that he chose to go out of the world1 because he found nothing in it worth living for40 #dd4 ,yet it is certain there is business to be done3 and many we find in all places 7not to speak of the vulgar1 the drudges of the earth7 who are continually employed therein4 ,are you of that number8 ,are you engaged in trade1 or some other reputable employment8 ,i suppose1 profitable too2 for you would not spend your time1 and labour1 and thought1 for nothing4 ,you are then making your fortune2 you are getting money4 ,true3 but money is not your ultimate end4 ,the treasuring up gold and silver1 for its own sake1 all men own1 is as foolish and absurd1 as grosly unreasonable1 as the treasuring up spiders1 or the wings of butterflies4 ,you consider this but as a means to some farther end4 ,and what is that8 ,why1 the enjoying yourself1 the being at ease1 the taking your pleasure1 the living like a gentleman4 ,that is plainly1 either the whole1 or some part of1 the happiness above described4 99,supposing then your end to be actually attained1 suppose you have your wish1 before you drop into eternity3 go and sit down with ,thleeanowhee and his companions1 on the river side4,after you have toiled for fifty years1 you are just as happy as they4 #de4 ,are you1 can you1 or any reasonable man1 be satisfied with this8 ,you are not4 ,it is not possible you should4 ,but what else can you do8 ,you would have something better to employ your time2 but you know not where to find it upon earth4 99,and indeed it is obvious1 that the earth1 as it is now constituted1 even with the help of all ,european arts1 does not find sufficient employment1 to take up half the waking hours of half its inhabitants4 99,what then can you do8 ,how can you employ the time that lies so heavy upon your hands8 ,this very thing which you seek1 declare we unto you4 ,the thing you want1 is the religion we preach4 ,that alone leaves no time upon our hands4 ,it fills up all the blank spaces of life4 ,it exactly takes up all the time we have to spare1 be it more or less3 so that he that hath much1 hath nothing over1 and he that has little1 has no lack4 #df4 ,once more4 ,can you 7or any man of reason7 think1 you was made for the life you now lead8 ,you cannot possibly think so1 at least1 not till you tread the bible under foot4 ,the oracles of ,god bear thee witness in every page1 7and thine own heart agreeth thereto7 that thou wast made in the image of ,god1 an incorruptible picture of the ,god of glory4 ,and what art thou even in thy present state8 ,an everlasting spirit1 going to ,god4 ,for what end then did he create thee1 but to dwell with him1 above this perishable world1 to know him1 to love him1 to do his will1 to enjoy him for ever and ever6 ,o look more deeply into thyself6 ,and into that scripture1 which thou professest to receive as the word of ,god1 as right concerning all things4 ,there thou wilt find a nobler1 happier state described1 than it ever yet entered into thy heart to conceive4 ,but ,god hath now revealed it to all those who rejoice evermore1 and pray without ceasing1 and in every thing give thanks1 and do his will on earth as it is done in heaven4 ,for this thou wast made4 ,hereunto also thou art called4 ,o be not disobedient to the heavenly calling6 ,at least1 be not angry with those who would fain bring thee to be a living witness of that religion1 whose ways are indeed ways of pleasantness1 and all her paths peace4 #dg4 ,do you say in your heart1 8,i know all this already4 ,i am not barely a man of reason4 ,i am a religious man2 for ,i not only avoid evil and do good1 but use all the means of grace4 ,i am constantly at church1 and at the sacrament too4 ,i say my prayers every day4 ,i read many good books4 ,i fastevery thirtieth of ,january1 and ,good-friday40 ,do you indeed8 ,do you do all this6 ,this you may do2 you may go thus far1 and yet have no religion at all2 no such religion as avails before ,god3 nay1 much farther than this1 than you have ever gone yet1 or so much as thought of going4 ,for you may give all your goods to feed the poor1 yea1 your body to be burned1 and yet very possibly1 if ,st4 ,paul be a judge1 have no charity1 no true religion4 #dh4 ,this religion1 which alone is of value before ,god1 is the very thing you want4 ,you want 7and in wanting this1 you want all7 the religion of love4 ,you do not love your neighbour as yourself1 no more than you love ,god with all your heart4 ,ask your own heart now1 if it be not so8 ',tis plain you do not love ,god4 ,if you did1 you would be happy in him4 ,but you know1 you are not happy4 ,your formal religion no more makes you happy1 than your neighbour's gay religion does him4 ,o how much have you suffered for want of plain-dealing6 ,can you now bear to hear the naked truth8 ,you have the form of godliness1 but not the power4 ,you are a mere whited wall4 ,before the ,lord your ,god ,i ask you1 are you not8 ,too sure4 ,for your inward parts are very wickedness4 ,you love the creature more than the ,creator4 ,you are a lover of pleasure more than a lover of ,god4 ,a lover of ,god6 ,you do not love ,god at all1 no more than you love a stone4 ,you love the world2 therefore the love of the ,father is not in you4 #di4 ,you are on the brink of the pit1 ready to be plunged into everlasting perdition4 ,indeed you have a zeal for ,god3 but not according to knowledge4 ,o how terribly have you been deceived6 ,posting to hell1 and fancying it was heaven4 ,see1 at length1 that outward religion without inward1 is nothing2 is far worse than nothing1 being indeed no other than a solemn mockery of ,god4 ,and inward religion you have not4 ,you have not the faith that worketh by love4 ,your faith 7so called7 is no living1 saving principle4 ,it is not the apostle's faith1 the substance 7or subsistence7 of things hoped for1 the evidence of things not seen4 ,so far from it1 that this faith is the very thing which you call enthusiasm4 ,you are not content with being without it1 unless you blaspheme it too4 ,you even revile that life which is hid with ,christ in ,god2 all seeing1 tasting1 hearing1 feeling ,god4 ,these things are foolishness unto you4 ,no marvel2 for they are spiritually discerned4 #ej4 ,oh6 no longer shut your eyes against the light4 ,know you have a name that you live1 but are dead4 ,your soul is utterly dead in sin2 dead in pride1 in vanity1 in self-will1 in sensuality1 in love of the world4 ,you are utterly dead to ,god4 ,there is no intercourse between your soul and ,god4 ,you have neither seen him 7by faith1 as our ,lord witnessed against them of old time7 nor heard his voice at any time4 ,you have no spiritual senses exercised to discern spiritual good and evil4 ,you are angry at infidels1 and are all the while as mere an infidel before ,god as they4 ,you have eyes that see not1 and ears that hear not4 ,you have a callous1 unfeeling heart4 #ea4 ,bear with me a little longer3 my soul is distrest for you4 ,the ,god of this world hath blinded your eyes1 and you are seeking death in the error of your life4 ,because you do not commit gross sin1 because you give alms1 and go to the church and sacrament1 you imagine that you are serving ,god2 yet in very deed you are serving the devil4 ,for you are doing still your own will1 not the will of ,god your ,saviour4 ,you are pleasing yourself in all you do4 ,pride1 vanity1 and self-will1 7the genuine fruits of an earthly1 sensual1 devilish heart7 pollute all your words and actions4 ,you are in darkness1 in the shadow of death4 ,oh6 ,that ,god would say to you in thunder1 ,awake thou that sleepest1 and arise from the dead1 and ,christ shall give thee light4 #eb4 ,but blessed be ,god6 ,he hath not yet left himself without witness6 8,all are not lost6 ,there be1 who faith prefer1 ,tho' few1 and piety to ,god60 ,who know the power of faith1 and are no strangers to that inward1 vital religion1 the mind that was in ,christ1 righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,of you who have tasted the good word of ,god1 and the powers of the world to come1 ,i would be glad to learn if we have erred from the faith1 or walked contrary to the truth as it is in ,jesus4 ,let the righteous smite me friendly1 and reprove me2 if haply that which is amiss may be done away1 and what is wanting supplied1 till we all come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ4 #ec4 ,perhaps the first thing that now occurs to your mind1 relates to the doctrine which we teach4 ,you have heard1 that we say1 8,men may live without sin40 ,and have you not heard that the scripture says the same8 7,we mean without committing sin47 ,does not ,st4 ,paul say plainly1 that those who believe1 do not continue in sin8,that they cannot live any longer therein8 ,romans vi4 #a1 #b4 ,does not ,st4 ,peter say1 ,he that hath suffered in the flesh1 hath ceased from sin8that he no longer should liveto the desires of men1 but to the will of ,god1 #a ,peter iv4 #a1 #b4 ,and does not ,st4 ,john say expressly1 ,he that committeth sin is of the devil4,for this purpose the ,son of ,god was manifested1 that he might destroy the works of the devil4 ,whosoever is born of ,god1 doth not commit sin3 for his seed remaineth in him1 and he cannot commit sin1 because he is born of ,god1 #a ,john iii4 #h4 c4 ,and again1 ,we know that whatsoever is born of ,god sinneth not1 chapter v4 #ah4 #ed4 ,you see then1 it is not we that say this1 but the ,lord4 ,these are not our words1 but his1 ,and who is he that replieth against ,god8 ,who is able to make ,god a liar8 ,surely he will be justified in his saying1 and clear when he is judged6 ,can you deny it8 ,have you not often felt a secret check1 when you was contradicting this great truth8 ,and how often have you wished for what you was taught to deny8 ,nay1 can you help wishing for it at this moment8 ,do you not now earnestly desire1 to cease from sin8 ,to commit it no more8 ,does not your soul pant after this glorious liberty of the sons of ,god8 ,and what strong reason have you to expect it8 ,have you not had a foretaste of it already8 ,do you not remember the time when ,god first lifted up the light of his countenance upon you8 ,can it ever be forgotten8 ,the day when the candle of the ,lord first shone upon your head8 8,butter and honey did you eat1 ,and lifted up on high1 ,you saw the clouds beneath your feet1 ,and rode upon the sky4 8,far1 far above all earthly things ,triumphantly you rode2 ,you soar'd to heav'n on eagle's wings1 ,and found1 and talk'd with ,god40 ,you then had power not to commit sin4 ,you found the apostle's words strictly true1 he that is begotten of ,god keepeth himself1 and that wicked one toucheth him not4 ,but those whom you took to be experienced ,christians1 telling you1 8,this was only the time of your espousals2 this could not last always3 you must come down from the mount10 and the like1 shook your faith4 ,you looked at men more than ,god1 and so became weak1 and like another man4 ,whereas1 had you then had any to guide you according to the truth of ,god1 had you then heard the doctrine which now you blame1 you had never fallen from your stedfastness3 but had found1 that in this sense also1 the gifts and calling of ,god are without repentance4 #ee4 ,have you not another objection nearly allied to this1 namely1 that we preach perfection8 ,true2 but what perfection8 ,the term you cannot object to2 because it is scriptural4 ,all the difficulty is1 to fix the meaning of it1 according to the word of ,god4 ,and this we have done again and again1 declaring to all the world1 that ,christian perfection does not imply an exemption1 from ignorance1 or mistake1 or infirmities1 or temptations3 but that it does imply1 the being so crucified with ,christ1 as to be able to testify1 ,i live not1 but ,christ liveth in me1 7,galatians ii4 #bc47 and hath purified my heart by faith1 7,acts xv4 #i47 ,it does imply1 the casting down every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of ,god1 and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of ,christ4 ,it does imply1 the being holy1 as he that hath called us is holy1 in all manner of conversation1 7#b ,corinthians x4 #e4 #a ,peter i4 #ae47 ,and1 in a word1 the loving the ,lord our ,god with all our heart1 and serving him with all our strength4 #ef4 ,now1 is it possible for any who believe the scripture1 to deny one tittle of this8 ,you cannot4 ,you dare not4 ,you would not for the world4 ,you know it is the pure word of ,god4 ,and this is the whole of what we preach2 this is the height and depth of what we 7with ,st4 ,paul7 call perfection3 a state of soul devoutly to be wished1 by all who have tasted of the love of ,god4 ,o pray for it without ceasing4 ,it is the one thing you want4 ,come with boldness to the throne of grace1 and be assured that when you ask this of ,god1 you shall have the petition you ask of him4 ,we know indeed that to man1 to the natural man1 this is impossible4 ,but we know also1 that as no word is impossible with ,god1 so all things are possible to him that believeth4 #eg4 ,for we are saved by faith4 ,but have you not heard this urged as another objection against us1 that we preach salvation by faith alone6 ,and does not ,st4 ,paul do the same thing8 ,by grace1 saith he1 ye are saved through faith4 ,can any words be more express8 ,and elsewhere1 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved1 ,acts xvi4 #ca4 ,what we mean by this 7if it has not been sufficiently explained already7 is1 that we are saved from our sins1 only by a confidence in the love of ,god4 ,as soon as we behold what manner of love it is which the ,father hath bestowed upon us1 we love him1 7as the apostle observes7 because he first loved us4 ,and then is that commandment written in our heart1 that he who loveth ,god love his brother also3 from which love of ,god and man1 meekness1 humbleness of mind1 and all holy tempers1 spring4 ,now these are the very essence of salvation1 of ,christian salvation1 salvation from sin4 ,and from these1 outward salvation flows1 that is1 holiness of life and conversation4 ,well1 and are not these things so8 ,if you know in whom you have believed1 you need no further witnesses4 #eh4 ,but perhaps you doubt1 whether that faith whereby we are thus saved1 implies such a trust and confidence in ,god as we describe4 8,you cannot think faith implies assurance3 an assurance of the love of ,god to our souls1 of his being now reconciled to us1 and having forgiven all our sins40 ,and this we freely confess1 that if number of voices is to decide the question1 we must give it up at once2 for you have on your side1 not only some who desire to be ,christians indeed1 but all nominal ,christians in every place1 and the ,romish church1 one and all4 ,nay1 these last are so vehement in your defence1 that in the famed council of ,trent1 they have decreed1 8,if any man hold 7fiduicam7 trust1 confidence1 or assurance of pardon to be essential to faith1 let him be accursed40 word missed in typeset 8or0 #ei4 ,thus does that council anathematize the church of ,england4 ,for she is convicted hereof1 by her own confession4 ,the very words in the ,homily on ,salvation are1 8,even the devils believe1 that ,christ was born of a virgin2 that he wrought all kind of miracles1 declaring himself very ,god2 that for our sakes he suffered a most painful death1 to redeem us from death everlasting4 ,these articles of our faith the devils believe2 and so they believe all that is written in the ,old and ,new ,testament4 ,and yet for all this faith1 they be but devils4 ,they remain still in their damnable estate1 lacking the very true1 ,christian faith40 8,the right and true ,christian faith is1 not only to believe the holy scriptures1 and the articles of our faith1 are true2 but also to have a sure trust and confidence1 to be saved from everlasting damnation through ,christ40 ,or1 7as it is exprest a little after47 8,a sure trust and confidence which a man hath in ,god1 that by the merits of ,christ his sins are forgiven1 and he reconciled to the favour of ,god40 #fj4 ,indeed the bishop of ,rome saith1 8,if any man hold this1 let him be an ,anathema ,maranatha40 ,but 'tis to be hoped1 ,papal ,anathemas do not move you4 ,you are a member of the church of ,england4 ,are you8 ,then the controversy is at an end4 ,then hear the church4 ,faith is a sure trust which a man hath in ,god1 that his sins are forgiven4 ,or if you are not1 whether you hear our church or no1 at least hear the scriptures4 ,hear believing ,job1 declaring his faith1 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth4 ,hear ,thomas1 7when having seen1 he believed7 crying out1 ,my ,lord and my ,god6 ,hear ,st4 ,paul clearly describing the nature of his faith1 ,the life ,i now live1 ,i live by faith in the ,son of ,god1 who loved me1 and gave himself for me4 ,hear 7to mention no more7 all the believers who were with ,paul1 when he wrote to the ,colossians1 bearing witness1 ,we give thanks unto the ,father1 who hath delivered us from the power of darkness1 and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear ,son3 in whom we have redemption thro' his blood1 even the forgiveness of sins1 ,colossians i4 verses #ab1 #ac1 #ad4 #fa4 ,but what need have we of distant witnesses8 ,you have a witness in our own breast4 ,for am ,i not speaking to one that loves ,god8 ,how came you then to love him at first8 ,was it not1 because you knew that he loved you8 ,did you1 could you love ,god at all1 'till you tasted and saw that he was gracious8 ,that he was merciful to you a sinner8 ,what avails then controversy1 or strife of words8 ,out of thy own mouth6 ,you own1 you had no love to ,god1 'till you was sensible of his love to you4 ,and whatever expressions any sinner who loves ,god uses1 to denote ,god's love to him1 you will always upon examination1 find1 that1 they directly or indirectly imply forgiveness4 ,pardoning love is still at the root of all4 ,he who was offended is now reconciled4 ,the new song which ,god puts in every mouth1 is always to that effect1 ,o ,lord1 ,i will praise thee3 tho' thou wast angry with me1 thine anger is turned away4 ,behold1 ,god is my salvation4 ,i will trust and not be afraid2 for the ,lord ,jehovah is my strength and my song3 he is also become my salvation1 ,isaiah xii4 #a1 #b4 #fb4 ,a confidence then in a pardoning ,god1 is essential to saving faith4 ,the forgiveness of sins is one of the first of those unseen things1 whereof faith is the evidence4 ,and if you are sensible of this1 will you quarrel with us concerning an indifferent circumstance of it8 ,will you think it an important objection that we assert1 that this faith is usually given in a moment8 ,first1 let me intreat you to read over that authentic account of ,god's dealings with men1 the ,acts of the apostles4 ,in this treatise you will find1 how he wrought from the beginning on those who received remission of sins by faith4 ,and can you find one of these1 7except perhaps ,st4 ,paul7 who did not receive it in a moment8 ,but abundance you find of those who did1 besides ,cornelius and the three thousand1 and to this also agrees the experience or those who now receive the heavenly gift4 ,three or four exceptions only have ,i found in the course of several years1 7perhaps you yourself may be added to that number1 and one or two more whom you have known47 ,but all the rest of those1 who from time to time among us have believed in the ,lord ,jesus1 were in a moment brought from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god4 #fc4 ,and why should it seem a thing incredible to you1 who have known the power of ,god unto salvation2 7whether he hath wrought thus in your soul or no2 for there are diversities of operations1 but the same ,spirit7 that the dead should hear the voice of the ,son of ,god1 and in that moment live8 ,thus he useth to act1 to shew that when he willeth1 to do is present with him4 ,let there be light1 said ,god1 and there was light4 ,he spoke the word1 and it was done4 ,thus the heavens and the earth were created1 and all the hosts of them4 ,and this manner of acting in the present case1 highly suits both his power and love4 ,there is therefore no hindrance on ,god's part2 since as his majesty is1 so is his mercy4 ,and whatever hindrance there is on the part of man1 when ,god speaketh1 it is not4 ,only ask then1 ,o sinner1 and it shall be given thee1 even the faith that brings salvation3 and that1 without any merit or good work of thine2 for it is not of works1 lest any man should boast4 ,no2 it is of grace1 of grace alone4 ,for unto him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is counted to him for righteousness4 #fd4 8,but by talking thus you encourage sinners40 ,i do encourage themto repent3 and do not you8 ,do not you know how many heap sin upon sin1 purely for want of such encouragement8 ,because they think1 8they can never be forgiven3 there is no place for repentance left80 ,does not your heart also bleed for them8 ,what would you think too dear to part with8 ,what would you not do8 ,what would you not suffer1 to bring one such sinner to repentance8 ,could not your love endure all things for them8 8,yesif you believed it would do them good2 if you had any hope that they would be better40 ,why do you not believe it would do them good8 ,why have you not a hope that they will be better8 ,plainly1 because you do not love them enough2 because you have not that charity1 which not only endureth1 but at the same time believeth and hopeth all things4 #fe4 ,but that you may see the whole strength of this objection1 ,i will shew you without any disguise or reserve1 how ,i encourage the chief of sinners3 my usual language to them runs thus3 ,o ye that deny the ,lord that bought you1 yet hear the word of the ,lord4 ,you seek rest1 but find none4 ,even in laughter your heart is in heaviness4 ,how long spend ye your labour for that which is not bread1 and your strength for that which satisfieth not8 ,you know1 your soul is not satisfied4 ,it is still an aking void4 ,sometimes you find 7in spite of your principles7 a sense of guilt1 an awakened conscience4 ,that grisly phantom1 religion1 7so you describe her7 will now and then haunt you still4 ,righteousness looking down from heaven1 is indeed to us no unpleasing sight4 ,but how does it appear to you8 ,horribili super aspectu mortalibus astans8 ,how often are you in fear of the very things you deny8 ,how often in racking suspense8 8,what if there be an hereafter8 ,a judgment to come8 ,an unhappy eternity80 ,do you not start at the thoughts8 ,can you be content to be always thus8 ,shall it be said of you also1 8,here lies a dicer1 long in doubt ,if death could kill the soul1 or not8 ,here ends his doubtfulness2 at last ,convinc'd4,but1 ,o the die is cast60 ,or1 are you already convinced1 there is no hereafter8 ,what a poor state then are you in now8 ,taking a few more dull turns upon earth1 and then dropping into nothing6 ,what kind of spirit must you be of1 if you can sustain yourself under the thought6 ,under the expectation of being in a few moments swept away by the stream of time1 and then for ever 8swallow'd up1 and lost ,in the wide womb of uncreated night60 ,but neither indeed are you certain of this2 nor of any thing else4 8,it may be so2 it may not4 ,a vast scene is behind4 ,but clouds and darkness rest upon it40 ,all is doubt and uncertainty4 ,you are continually tossed to and fro1 and have no firm ground for the sole of your foot4 ,o let not the poor wisdom of man any longer exalt itself against the wisdom of ,god4 ,you have fled from him long enough3 at length suffer your eyes to be opened by him that made them4 ,you want rest to your soul4 ,ask it of him1 who giveth to all men liberally1 and upbraideth not6 ,you are now a mere riddle to yourself1 and your condition full of darkness and perplexity4 ,you are one among many restless inhabitants of a miserable1 disordered world1 walking in a vain shadow1 and disquieting yourself in vain4 ,but the light of ,god will speedily disperse the anxiety of your vain conjectures4 ,by adding heaven to earth1 and eternity to time2 it will open such a glorious view of things1 as will lead you1 even in the present world1 to a peace which passeth all understanding4 duplicate word 8of0 removed #ff4 ,o ye gross1 vile1 scandalous sinners1 hear ye the word of the ,lord4 ,turn ye1 turn ye from your evil ways2 so iniquity shall not be your ruin4 ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord1 ,i have no pleasure in the death of a sinner1 but rather that he should turn and live4 ,o make haste2 delay not the time4 ,come1 and let us reason together4 ,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be white as snow2 though they be red as crimson1 they shall be as wool4,who is this that cometh from ,edom1 with dyed garments1 red in his apparel8 ,it is he on whom the ,lord hath laid the iniquities of us all6 ,behold1 behold the ,lamb of ,god1 that taketh away thy sins6 ,see the only begotten ,son of the ,father1 full of grace and truth6 ,he loveth thee4 ,he gave himself for thee4 ,now1 his bowels of compassion yearn over thee6 ,o believe in the ,lord ,jesus1 and thou shalt be saved6 ,go in peace1 sin no more6 #fg4 ,now cannot you join in all this8 ,is it not the very language of your heart8 ,o when will you take knowledge1 that our whole concern1 our constant labour is1 to bring all the world to the religion which you feel1 to solid1 inward1 vital religion6 ,what power is it then that keeps us asunder8 ,is thine heart right1 as my heart is with thy heart8 ,if it be1 give me thy hand4 ,come with me and see1 and rejoice in my zeal for the ,lord4 ,no difference between us 7if thou art a child of ,god7 can be so considerable as our agreement is4 ,if we differ in smaller things1 we agree in that which is greatest of all4 ,how is it possible then that you should be induced1 to think or speak evil of us8 ,how could it ever come into your mind1 to oppose us1 or weaken our hands8 ,how long shall we complain of the wounds which we receive in the house of our friends8 ,surely the children of this world are still wiser in their generation than the children of light4 ,satan is not divided against himself3 ,why are they who are on the ,lord's side against us8 ,how is it that wisdom is not justified of her own children8 #fh4 ,is it1 because you have heard1 8,that we only make religion a cloak for covetousness8 ,and because you have heard abundance of particulars alleged in support of that general charge80 ',tis probable1 you may also have heard1 8,how much we have gained by preaching already30 and1 to crown all1 8,that we are only papists in disguise1 who are undermining and destroying the church80 #fi4 8,you have heard this40 ,well3 and can you believe it8 ,have you then never heard the fifth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew8 ,i would to ,god you could believe it4 ,what is written there8 ,how readest thou8 ,blessed are ye when men shall revile you1 and persecute you1 and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake4 ,rejoice and be exceeding glad2 for great is your reward in heaven3 for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you3 namely1 by reviling them1 and saying all manner of evil of them falsely4 ,do not you know1 that this 7as well as all other scriptures7 must needs be fulfilled8 ,if so1 take knowledge1 that this day also it is fulfilled in your ears4 ,for our ,lord's sake1 and for the sake of his gospel which we preach1 men do revile us and persecute us1 and 7blessed be ,god1 who giveth us to rejoice therein7 say all manner of evil of us falsely4 ,and how can it be otherwise8 ,the disciple is not above his master4 ,it is enough for the disciple1 that he be as his master1 and the servant as his ,lord4 ,if they have called the master of the house ,beelzebub1 how much more shall they call them of his houshold8 #gj4 ,this only we confess1 that 8we preach inward salvation1 now attainable by faith40 ,and for preaching this1 7for no other crime was then so much as pretended7 we were forbid to preach any more in those churches1 where1 till then1 we were gladly received4 ,this is a notorious fact4 ,being thus hindered from preaching in the places we should first have chosen1 we now declare the grace of ,god which bringeth salvation1 in all places of his dominion3 as well knowing1 that ,god dwelleth not only in temples made with hands4 ,this is the real1 and it is the only real ground of complaint against us4 ,and this we avow before all mankind1 we do preach this salvation by faith4 ,and not being suffered to preach it in the usual places1 we declare it wherever a door is opened1 either on a mountain1 or a plain1 or by a river side1 7for all which we conceive we have sufficient precedent7 or in prison1 or1 as it were1 in the house of ,justus1 or the school of one ,tyrannus4 ,nor dare we refrain4 ,a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me2 and woe is me1 if ,i preach not the gospel4 8whereever0 replaced with 8wherever0 #ga4 ,here we allow the fact1 but deny the guilt4 ,but in every other point alleged1 we deny the fact1 and call upon the world to prove it1 if they can4 ,more especially we call upon those who for many years saw our manner of life at ,oxford4 ,these well know1 that after the straitest sect of our religion1 we lived ,pharisees3 and that the grand objection to us for all those years1 was the being righteous overmuch3 the reading1 fasting1 praying1 denying ourselves2 the going to church1 to the ,lord's table2 the relieving the poor1 visiting those that were sick and in prison2 instructing the ignorant1 and labouring to reclaim the wicked1more than was necessary for salvation4 ,these were our open1 flagrant crimes1 from the year #agbi to the year #agcg2 touching which our ,lord shall judge in that day4 #gb4 ,but waving the things that are past3 which of you now convinceth us of sin8 ,which of you 7,i here more especially appeal to my brethren1 the clergy7 can personally convict us of any ungodliness or unholiness of conversation8 ,ye know in your own hearts1 7all that are candid men1 all that are not utterly blinded with prejudice7 that we labour to have a conscience void of offence both toward ,god and toward man4 ,brethren1 ,i would to ,god that in this ye were even as we4 ,but indeed 7with grief ,i speak it7 ye are not4 ,there are among yourselves ungodly and unholy men2 openly1 undeniably such3 drunkards1 gluttons1 returners of evil for evil1 liars1 swearers1 prophaners of the day of the ,lord4 ,proof hereof is not wanting1 if ye require it4 ,where then is your zeal against these8 ,a clergyman1 so drunk he can scarce stand or speak1 may1 in the presence of a thousand people1 set upon another clergyman of the same church1 both with abusive words and open violence4 ,and what follows8 ,why1 the one is still allowed to dispense the sacred signs of the body and blood of ,christ4 ,but the other is not allowed to receive them4,because he is a field preacher4 ,at ,epworth1 in ,lincolnshire4 #gc4 ,o ye pillars and fathers of the church1 are these things well-pleasing to him1 who hath made you overseers over that flock which he hath purchased with his own blood8 ,o that ye would suffer me to boast myself a little6 ,is there not a cause8 ,have ye not compelled me8 ,which of your clergy are more unspotted in their lives1 which more unwearied in their labours1 than those whose names ye cast out as evil1 whom ye count as the filth and off-scouring of the world8 ,which of them is more zealous to spend and be spent1 for the lost sheep of the house of ,israel8 ,or1 who among them is more ready to be offered up for their flock upon the sacrifice and service of their faith8 #gd4 ,will ye say1 7as the historian of ,catiline7 ,si sic pro patria6 ,if this were done in defence of the church1 and not in order to undermine and destroy it6 ,that is the very proposition ,i undertake to prove1 ,that 8we are now defending the church1 even the church of ,england1 in opposition to all those who either secretly undermine1 or more openly attempt to destroy it40 #ge4 ,that we are ,papists1 7we1 who are daily and hourly preaching that very doctrine which is so solemnly anathematized by the whole church of ,rome7 is such a charge1 that ,i dare not waste my time in industriously confuting it4 ,let any man of common sense only look on the title pages of the sermons we have lately preached at ,oxford1 and he will need nothing more to shew him the weight of this senseless1 shameless accusation2unless he can suppose the governors both of ,christ-,church and ,lincoln-,college1 nay1 and all the university1 to be ,papists too4 #gf4 ,you yourself can easily acquit us of this2 but not of the other part of the charge4 ,you still think we are secretly undermining1 if not openly destroying the church4 ,what do you mean by the church8 ,a visible church 7as our article defines it7 is1 ,a company of faithful 7or believing7 people3 ctus credentium4 ,this is the essence of a church3 and the properties thereof are1 7as they are described in the words that follow7 ,among whom the pure word of ,god is preached1 and the sacraments duly administered4 ,now then 7according to this authentic account7 what is ,the church of ,england8 ,what is it indeed1 but the faithful people1 the true believers in ,england8 ,it is true1 if these are scattered abroad1 they come under another consideration4 ,but when they are visibly joined1 by assembling together to hear the pure word of ,god preached1 and to eat of one bread1 and drink of one cup1 they are then properly the visible church of ,england4 #gg4 ,it were well if this were a little more considered by those1 who so vehemently cry out1 ,the church6 the church6 7as those of old1 ,the temple of the ,lord6 the temple of the ,lord67 not knowing what they speak1 nor whereof they affirm4 ,a provincial or national church1 according to our article1 is1 the true believers of that province or nation4 ,if these are dispersed up and down1 they are only a part of the invisible church of ,christ4 ,but if they are visibly joined by assembling together to hear his word and partake of his supper1 they are then a visible church1 such as the church of ,england1 ,france1 or any other4 #gh4 ,this being premised1 ,i ask1 ,how do we undermine or destroy the church8 ,the provincial1 visible church of ,england8 ,the article mentions three things as essential to a visible church3 #ast1 ,living faith1 without which indeed there can be no church at all1 neither visible nor invisible3 #b;dly1 ,preaching 7and consequently hearing7 the pure word of ,god1 else that faith would languish and die3 and1 #c;dly1 ,a due administration of the sacraments1 the ordinary means whereby ,god increaseth faith4 ,now come close to the question3 in which of these points do we undermine or destroy the church8 ,do we shut the door of faith8 ,do we lessen the number of believing people in ,england8 ,only remember what faith is1 according to our homilies1 7viz4 8,a sure trust and confidence in ,god1 that through the merits of ,christ my sins are forgiven1 and ,i reconciled to the favour of ,god107 ,and we appeal to all mankind1 do we destroy this faith1 which is the life and soul of the church8 ,is there1 in fact1 less of this faith1 in ,england1 than there was before we went forth6 ,i think1 this is an assertion1 which the father of lies himself will scarce dare to utter or maintain4 ,with regard then to this first point1 it is undeniable1 we neither undermine nor destroy the church4 ,the second thing is1 the preaching the pure word of ,god4 ,and do we hinder this8 ,do we hinder any minister from preaching the pure word of ,god8 ,if any preach not at all1 or not the pure word of ,god1 is the hindrance in us or in themselves8 ,or1 do we lessen the number of those that hear the pure word of ,god8 ,are then the hearers thereof 7whether read or preached7 fewer than they were in times past8 ,are the usual places of public worship less frequented by means of our preaching8 ,wheresoever our lot has been cast for any time1 are the churches emptier than they were before8 ,surely1 none that has any regard left either for truth or modesty1 will say1 that in this point we are enemies to1 or destroyers of1 the church4 ,the third thing requisite 7if not to the being1 at least7 to the well being of a church1 is the due administration of the sacraments1 particularly that of the ,lord's supper4 ,and are we1 in this respect1 underminers or destroyers of the church8 ,do we either by our example or advice1 draw men away from the ,lord's table8 ,where we have labour'd most1 are there the fewest communicants8 ,how does the fact stand in ,london1 ,bristol1 ,newcastle8 ,o that you would no longer shut your eyes against the broad light which encompasses you on every side6 #gi4 ,i believe you are sensible by this time1 not only how weak this objection is1 but likewise how easy it would be1 terribly to retort every branch of it upon most of those that make it3 whether we speak of true living faith1 of preaching the pure word of ,god1 or of the due administration of the sacraments1 both of baptism and the ,lord's supper4 ,but ,i spare you4 ,it sufficeth that our ,god knoweth1 and will make manifest in that day1 whether it be by reason of us or you1 that men abhor the offering of the ,lord4 #hj4 ,others object1 8,that we do not observe the laws of the church1 and thereby undermine it40 ,what laws8 ,the rubricks or canons8 ,in every parish where ,i have been curate yet1 ,i have observed the rubricks with a scrupulous exactness1 not for wrath1 but for conscience sake4 ,and this1 so far as belongs to an unbeneficed minister1 or to a private member of the church1 ,i do now4 ,i will just mention a few of them1 and leave you to consider1 which of us has observed1 or does observe them most4 #a4 ,days of fasting or abstinence to be observ'd3 ,the forty days of ,lent1 ,the ,ember days at the four seasons1 ,the three ,rogation days1 ,all ,fridays in the year1 except ,christmas-day4 #b4 8,so many as intend to be partakers of the holy communion1 shall signify their names to the curate1 at least some time the day before3 8,and if any of these be an open and notorious evil liver1the curate shall advertise him1 that in any wise he presume not to come to the ,lord's table1 until he hath openly declared himself to have truly repented4 #c4 8,then 7after the ,nicene creed7 the curate shall declare unto the people1 what holidays1 or fasting-days1 are in the week following to be observed4 #d4 8,the minister shall first receive the communion in both kinds himself1 and then proceed to deliver the same to the bishops1 priests1 and deacons1 in like manner1 if any be present1 and after that1 to the people4 #e4 8,in cathedral and collegiate churches1 and colleges1 where there are many priests and deacons1 they shall all receive the communion with the priest1 every ,sunday at the least4 #f4 8,the children to be baptized must be ready at the font1 immediately after the last lesson4 #g4 8,the curates of every parish shall warn the people1 that without great necessity1 they procure not their children to be baptized at home in their houses4 #h4 8,the curate of every parish shall diligently upon ,sundays and ,holydays1 after the second lesson at evening prayer1 openly in the church1 instruct and examine so many children as he shall think convenient1 in some part of the catechism4 #i4 8,whensoever the bishop shall give notice for children to be brought unto him for their confirmation1 the curate of every parish1 shall either bring or send in writing1 with his hand subscribed thereunto1 the names of all such persons within his parish1 as he shall think fit to be presented to the bishop40 #ha4 ,now the question is not1 whether these rubrics ought to be observed1 7you take this for granted in making the objection7 but whether in fact they have been observed by you1 or me1 most8 ,many can witness1 ,i have observed them punctually1 yea1 sometimes at the hazard of my life3 and as many1 ,i fear1 that you1 have not observed them at all1 and that several of them you never pretended to observe4 ,and is it you that are accusing me1 for not observing the rubrics of the church8 ,what grimace is this6 ,o tell it not in ,gath6 ,publish not in the streets of ,askelon6 #hb4 ,with regard to the canons1 ,i would in the first place desire you to consider1 two or three plain questions4 #ast4 ,have you ever read them over8 #b;dly4 ,how can these be called1 8,the canons of the church of ,england80 ,seeing they were never legally established by the church8 ,never regularly confirmed in any full convocation8 #c;dly4 ,by what right am ,i required to observe such canons as were never legally established8 ,and then ,i will join issue with you on one question more1 viz4 ,whether you or ,i have observed them most8 ,to instance only in a few4 ,canon #bi4 ,no person shall be admitted godfather or godmother to any child1before the said person hath received the holy communion4 ,canon #ei4 ,every parson1 vicar1 or curate1 upon every ,sunday and ,holiday1 before evening prayer1 shall1 for half an hour1 or more1 examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish4 ,canon #fd4 ,every parson1 vicar1 or curate1 shall declare to the people every ,sunday1 whether there be any holidays or fasting-days the week following4 ,canon #fh4 ,no minister shall refuse or delay to christen any child that is brought to the church to him upon ,sundays or holidays to be christened1 or bury any corps that is brought to the church or church-yard4 7,n4 ,b4 ,inability to pay fees does not alter the case47 ,canon #ge4 ,no ecclesiastical persons shall spend their time idly1 by day or by night1 playing at dice1 cards1 or tables4 ,now let the clergyman who has observed only these five canons for one year last past1 and who has read over all the canons in his congregation2 7as the king's ratification straitly enjoins him to do once every year7 let him1 ,i say1 cast the first stone at us1 for not observing the canons 7so called7 of the church of ,england4 #hc4 8,however we cannot be 7it is said7 friends to the church1 because we do not obey the governors of it1 and submit ourselves 7as at our ordination we promised to do7 to all their godly admonitions and injunctions40 ,i answer1 in every individual point of an indifferent nature1 ,we do and will 7by the grace of ,god7 obey the governors of the church4 ,but the testifying the gospel of the grace of ,god1 is not a point of an indifferent nature4 ,the ministry which we have received of the ,lord ,jesus1 we are at all hazards to fulfil4 ,it is the burthen of the ,lord which is laid upon us here2 and we are to obey ,god rather than man4 ,nor yet do we in any ways violate the promise which each of us made1 when it was said unto him1 8,take thou authority to preach the word of ,god1 in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,we then promised to submit 7mark the words7 to the godly admonitions and injunctions of our ordinary4 ,but we did not1 could not promise to obey such injunctions1 as we know are contrary to the word of ,god4 ,the author of a tract just published at ,newcastle1 7entitled1 ,the notions of the ,methodists fully disproved1 in a letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley7 much insists upon this objection4 ,i have read1 and believe it quite needless to take any further notice of this performance3 the writer being so utterly unacquainted with the merits of the cause2 and shewing himself so perfectly a stranger1 both to my life1 preaching1 and writing2 and to the word of ,god1 and to the articles and homilies of the church of ,england4 #hd4 8,but why then 7say some7 do you leave the church80 ,leave the church6 ,what can you mean8 ,do we leave so much as the church walls8 ,your own eyes tell you1 we do not4 ,do we leave the ordinances of the church8 ,you daily see and know the contrary4 ,do we leave the fundamental doctrine of the church1 namely1 ,salvation by faith8 ,it is our constant theme1 in public1 in private1 in writing1 in conversation4 ,do we leave the practice of the church1 the standard whereof are the ten commandments8 ,which are so essentially in-wrought in her constitution1 7as little as you may apprehend it7 that whosoever breaks one of the least of these1 is no member of the church of ,england4 ,i believe you do not care to put the cause on this issue4 ,neither do you mean this1 by leaving the church4 ,in truth1 ,i cannot conceive what you mean4 ,i doubt you cannot conceive yourself4 ,you have retailed a sentence from somebody else1 which you no more understand than he4 ,and no marvel2 for it is a true observation1 8,nonsense is never to be understood40 #he4 ,nearly related to this is that other objection1 that we divide the church4 ,remember the church is1 ,the faithful people1 or true believers4 ,now how do we divide these8 8,why1 by our societies40 ,very good4 ,now the case is plain4 8,we divide them 7you say7 by uniting them together40 ,truly1 a very uncommon way of dividing4 8,o1 but we divide those who are thus united with each other1 from the rest of the church40 ,by no means4 ,many of them were before joined to all their brethren of the church of ,england 7and many were not1 until they knew us7 by assembling themselves together1 to hear the word of ,god1 and to eat of one bread1 and drink of one cup4 ,and do they now forsake that assembling themselves together8 ,you cannot1 you dare not say it4 ,you know they are more diligent therein than ever2 it being one of the fixed rules of our societies1 8,that every member attend the ordinances of ,god40 i4 e4 do not divide from the church4 ,and if any member of the church does thus divide from or leave it1 he hath no more place among us4 #hf4 ,i have considered this objection the more at large1 because it is of most weight with sincere minds4 ,and to all these1 if they have fairly and impartially weighed the answer as well as the objection1 ,i believe it clearly appears1 that we are neither undermining nor destroying1 neither dividing nor leaving the church4 ,so far from it1 that we have great heaviness1 on her account1 yea1 continual sorrow in our hearts4 ,and our prayer to ,god is1 that he would repair the breaches of ,sion1 and build the walls of ,jerusalem1 that this our desolate church may flourish again1 and be the praise of the whole earth4 #hg4 ,but perhaps you have heard1 that 8we in truth regard no church at all3 that gain is the true spring of all our actions3 that ,i1 in particular1 am well paid for my work1 having thirteen hundred pounds a year 7as a reverend author accurately computes it7 at the ,foundery alone1 over and above what ,i receive from ,bristol1 ,kingswood1 ,newcastle1 and other places3 and that whoever survives me1 will see ,i have made good use of my time2 for ,i shall not die a beggar40 #hh4 ,i freely own1 this is one of the best devised objections1 which has ever yet been made2 because it not only puts us upon proving a negative1 7which is seldom an easy task7 but also one of such a kind as scarce admits of any demonstrative proof at all4 ,but for such proof as the nature of the thing allows1 ,i appeal to my manner of life which hath been from the beginning4 ,ye who have seen it 7and not with a friendly eye7 for these twelve or fourteen years last past1 or for any part of that time1 ,have ye ever seen any thing like the love of gain therein8 ,did ,i not continually remember the words of the ,lord ,jesus1 8,it is more blessed to give than to receive80 ,ye of ,oxford1 ,do ye not know these things are so8 ,what gain did ,i seek among you8 ,of whom did ,i take any thing8 ,from whom did ,i covet silver1 or gold1 or apparel8 ,to whom did ,i deny any thing which ,i had1 even to the hour that ,i departed from you8,ye of ,epworth and ,wroote1 among whom ,i ministered for 7nearly7 the space of three years1 what gain did ,i seek among you8 ,or of whom did ,i take or covet any thing8,ye of ,savannah and ,frederica1 among whom ,god afterwards proved me1 and shewed me what was in my heart1 what gain did ,i seek among you8 ,of whom did ,i take any thing8 ,or whose food or apparel did ,i covet 7for silver or gold had ye none1 no more than ,i myself for many months7 even when ,i was in hunger and nakedness8 ,ye yourselves1 and the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 know that ,i lie not4 #hi4 8,but 7it is said7 things are fairly altered now4 ,now ,i can't complain of wanting any thing2 having the yearly income of a bishop in ,london1 over and above what ,i gain at other places40 ,at what other places1 my friend8 ,inform yourself a little better1 and you will find1 that both at ,newcastle1 ,bristol1 and ,kingswood1 and all other places1 where any collection is made7 the money collected is both received and expended by the stewards of those several societies1 and never comes into my hands at all1 neither first nor last4 ,and you1 or any who desire it1 shall read over the accounts kept by any of those stewards1 and see with your own eyes1 that by all these societies ,i gain just as much as you do4 #ij4 ,the case in ,london stands thus4 ,in ,november #agci1 two gentlemen1 then unknown to me 7,mr4 ,ball and ,mr4 ,watkins7 came and desired me once and again1 to preach in a place called the ,foundery near ,moorfields4 ,with much reluctance ,i at length complied4 ,i was soon after pressed to take that place into my own hands4 ,those who were most earnest therein1 lent me the purchase-money1 which was #aael4 ,mr4 ,watkins and ,mr4 ,ball then delivered me the names of several subscribers1 who offered to pay1 some four1 or six1 some ten shillings a year towards the repayment of the purchase-money1 and the putting the buildings into repair4 ,this amounted one year to near #bjjl4 the second to about #adj1 and so to the last4 #ia4 ,the united society began a little after1 whose weekly contribution 7for the poor7 is received1 and expended by the stewards1 and comes not into my hands at all4 ,but there is also a quarterly subscription of many of the society1 which is nearly equal to that above mentioned4 #ib4 ,the uses to which these subscriptions have been hitherto applied1 are1 #ast1 the payment of that #aael4 #b;dly4 ,the repairing 7,i might almost say rebuilding7 that vast1 uncouth heap of ruins at the ,foundery2 #c;dly4 ,the building galleries both for men and women2 #dthly4 ,the enlarging the society room to near thrice its first bigness4 ,all taxes and occasional expences are likewise defrayed out of this fund4 ,and it has been hitherto so far from yielding any overplus1 that it has never sufficed for these purposes4 ,so far from it1 that ,i am still in debt1 on these accounts1 near #cjjl4 ,so much have ,i hitherto gained by preaching the gospel6 ,besides a debt of #aejl4 still remaining on account of the school built at ,bristol2 and another of above #bjjl4 on account of that now building at ,newcastle4 ,i desire any reasonable man would now sit down and lay these things together1 and let him see1 whether1 allowing me a grain of common sense1 7if not of common honesty7 he can possibly conceive1 that a view of gain would induce me to act in this manner4 #ic4 ,you can never reconcile it with any degree of common sense1 that a man who wants nothing1 who has already all the necessaries1 all the conveniencies1 nay1 and many of the superfluities of life1 and these not only independent on any one1 but less liable to contingencies than even a gentleman's freehold estate1 that such an one should calmly and deliberately throw up his ease1 most of his friends1 his reputation1 and that way of life1 which of all others is most agreeable both to his nature1 temper1 and education3 that he should toil day and night1 spend all his time and strength1 knowingly destroy a firm constitution1 and hasten into weakness1 pain1 diseases1 death1to gain a debt of six or seven hundred pounds4 #id4 ,but suppose the ballance on the other side1 let me ask you one plain question4 ,for what gain 7setting conscience aside7 will you be obliged to act thus8 ,to live exactly as ,i do8 ,for what price will you preach 7and that with all your might1 not in an easy1 indolent1 fashionable way7 eighteen or nineteen times every week8 ,and this throughout the year8 ,what shall ,i give you1 to travel seven or eight hundred miles1 in all weathers1 every two or three months8 ,for what salary will you abstain from all other diversions1 than the doing good1 and the praising ,god8 ,i am mistaken if you would not prefer strangling to such a life1 even with thousands of gold and silver4 #ie4 ,and what is the comfort you have found out for me in these circumstances8 ,why1 that 8,i shall not die a beggar40 ,so now ,i am supposed to be heaping up riches18that ,i may leave them behind me40 ,leave them behind me6 ,for whom8 ,my wife and children8 ,who are they8 ,they are yet unborn4 ,unless thou meanest the children of faith whom ,god hath given me4 ,but my heavenly ,father feedeth them4 ,indeed if ,i lay up riches at all1 it must be to leave behind me3 7seeing my fellowship is a provision for life47 ,but ,i cannot understand this4 ,what comfort would it be to my soul1 now launched into eternity1 that ,i had left behind me gold as the dust1 and silver as the sand of the sea8 ,will it follow me over the great gulph8 ,or can ,i go back to it8 ,thou that liftest up thy eyes in hell1 what do thy riches profit thee now8 ,will all thou once hadst under the sun1 gain thee a drop of water to cool thy tongue8 ,o the comfort of riches left behind to one who is tormented in that flame6,you put me in mind of those celebrated lines 7which ,i once exceedingly admired7 addressed by way of consolation to the soul of a poor self-murderer3 8,yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest1 ,and the green turf lie light upon thy breast6 ,here shall the year its earliest beauties shew3 ,here the first roses of the spring shall blow3 ,while angels with their silver wings o'er shade ,the place now sacred by thy relics made40 #if4 ,i will now simply tell you my sense of these matters1 whether you will hear1 or whether you will forbear4 ,food and raiment ,i have2 such food as ,i chuse to eat1 and such raiment as ,i chuse to put on4 ,i have a place where to lay my head4 ,i have what is needful for life and godliness4 ,and ,i apprehend this is all the world can afford4 ,the kings of the earth can give me no more4 ,for as to gold and silver ,i count it dung and dross2 ,i trample it under my feet4 ,i 7yet not ,i1 but by the grace of ,god that is in me7 esteem it just as the mire in the streets4 ,i desire it not3 ,i seek it not2 ,i only fear lest any of it should cleave to me and ,i should not be able to shake it off1 before my spirit returns to ,god4 ,it must indeed pass through my hands2 but ,i will take care 7,god being my helper7 that the mammon of unrighteousness shall only pass through2 it shall not rest there4 ,none of the accursed thing shall be found in my tents1 when the ,lord calleth me hence4 ,and hear ye this1 all you who have discovered the treasures which ,i am to leave behind me4 ,if ,i leave behind me ten pounds 7above my debts1 and my books2 or what may happen to be due on account of them7 you and all mankind bear witness against me1 8that ,i lived and died a thief and a robber40 #ig4 ,before ,i conclude1 ,i cannot but intreat you who know ,god1 to review the whole matter from the foundation4 ,call to mind what the state of religion was in our nation a few years since4 ,in whom did you find the holy tempers that were in ,christ8 ,bowels of mercies1 lowliness1 meekness1 gentleness1 contempt of the world1 patience1 temperance1 long-suffering8 ,a burning love to ,god1 rejoicing evermore and in every thing giving thanks2 and a tender love to all mankind1 covering1 believing1 hoping1 enduring all things8 ,perhaps you did not know one such man in the world4 ,but how many1 that had all unholy tempers8 ,what vanity and pride1 what stubbornness and self-will1 what anger1 fretfulness1 discontent1 what suspicion and resentment1 what inordinate affections1 what irregular passions1 what foolish and hurtful desires might you find1 in those who were called the best of men8 ,in those who made the strictest profession of religion8 ,and how few did you know who went so far as the profession of religion1 who had even the form of godliness8 ,did you not frequently bewail1 wherever your lot was cast1 the general want even of outward religion8 ,how few were seen at the public worship of ,god8 ,how much fewer at the ,lord's table8 ,and was even this little flock zealous of good works1 careful as they had time1 to do good to all men8 ,on the other hand1 did you not with grief observe1 outward irreligion in every place8 ,where could you be for one week1 without being an eye or an ear-witness1 of cursing1 swearing1 or prophaneness1 of sabbath-breaking or drunkenness1 of quarrelling or brawling1 of revenge or obscenity8 ,were these things done in a corner8 ,did not gross iniquity of all kinds overspread our land as a flood8 ,yea1 and daily increase1 in spite of all the opposition which the children of ,god did or could make against it4 #ih4 ,if you had been then told1 that the jealous ,god would soon arise and maintain his own cause2 that he would pour down his ,spirit from on high1 and renew the face of the earth2 that he would shed abroad his love in the hearts of the outcasts of men1 producing all holy and heavenly tempers1 expelling anger1 and pride1 and evil desire1 and all unholy and earthly tempers2 causing outward religion1 the work of faith1 the patience of hope1 the labour of love1 to flourish and abound2 and wherever it spread1 abolishing outward-irreligion1 destroying all the works of the devil3 if you had been told1 that this living knowledge of the ,lord would in a short space of time overspread our land2 yea1 and daily increase1 in spite of all the opposition which the devil and his children did or could make against it3 ,would you not have vehemently desired to see that day1 that you might bless ,god and rejoice therein8 #ii4 ,behold the day of the ,lord is come4 ,he is again visiting and redeeming his people4 ,having eyes1 see ye not8 ,having ears1 do ye not hear8 ,neither understand with your hearts8 ,at this hour the ,lord is rolling away our reproach4 ,already his standard is set up4 ,his spirit is poured forth on the outcasts of men1 and his love shed abroad in their hearts4 ,love of all mankind1 meekness1 gentleness1 humbleness of mind1 holy and heavenly affections1 do take place of hate1 anger1 pride1 revenge1 and vain affections4 ,hence wherever the power of the ,lord spreads1 springs outward religion in all its forms4 ,the houses of ,god are filled2 the table of the ,lord is thronged on every side4 ,and those who thus shew their love of ,god1 shew they love their neighbour also1 by being careful to maintain good works1 by doing all manner of good1 as they have time1 to all men4 ,they are likewise careful to abstain from all evil4 ,cursing1 sabbath-breaking1 drunkenness1 with all other 7however fashionable7 works of the devil1 are not once named among them4 ,all this is plain demonstrable fact4 ,for this also is not done in a corner4 ,now1 do you acknowledge the day of your visitation8 ,do you bless ,god and rejoice therein8 #ajj4 ,what hinders8 ,is it this1 that men say all manner of evil of those whom ,god is pleased to use as instruments in his work8 ,o ye fools1 did ye suppose the devil was dead8 ,or that he would not fight for his kingdom8 ,and what weapons shall he fight with1 if not with lies8 ,is he not a liar1 and the father of it8 ,suffer ye then thus far4 ,let the devil and his children say all manner of evil of us4 ,and let them go on deceiving each other1 and being deceived4 ,but ye need not be deceived also4,or if you are1 if you will believe all they say3 be it so1 that we are weak1 silly1 wicked men2 without sense1 without learning1 without even a desire or design of doing good3 yet ,i insist upon the fact4 ,christ is preached and sinners are converted to ,god4 ,this none but a madman can deny4 ,we are ready to prove it by a cloud of witnesses4 ,neither therefore can the inference be denied1 that ,god is now visiting his people4 ,o that all men may know in this their day1 the things that make for their peace6 #aja4 ,upon the whole1 to men of the world ,i would still recommend the known advice of ,gamaliel3 ,refrain from these men1 and let them alone2 for if this work be of men1 it will come to nought2 but if it be of ,god1 ye cannot overthrow it1 lest haply ye be found even to fight against ,god4 ,but unto you whom ,god hath chosen out of the world1 ,i say ye are our brethren1 and of our father's house1 it behoveth you1 in whatsoever manner ye are able1 to strengthen our hands in ,god4 ,and this ye are all able to do2 to wish us good luck in the name of the ,lord1 and1 to pray continually1 that none of these things may move us1 and that we may not count our lives dear unto ourselves1 so that we may finish our course with joy1 and the ministry which we have received of the ,lord ,jesus6 ,written in the year #agdd4 99 99 99 99 99 ,primitive ,christianity4 #a ,,happy the souls who first believ'd1 ,to ,jesus1 and each other cleav'd1 ,join'd by the unction from above1 ,in mystic fellowship of love4 #b ,meek1 simple followers of the ,lamb1 ,they liv'd1 and spake1 and thought the same1 ,brake the commemorative bread1 ,and drank the ,spirit of their head4 #c ,on ,god they cast their every care1 ,wrestling with ,god in mighty prayer1 ,they claim'd the grace1 thro' ,jesus given3 ,by prayer1 they shut1 and open'd heaven4 #d ,to ,jesus they perform'd their vows1 ,a little church in every house2 ,they joyfully conspir'd to raise ,their ceaseless sacrifice of praise4 #e ,propriety was there unknown1 ,none call'd what he possess'd his own2 ,where all the common blessings share1 ,no selfish happiness was there4 #f ,with grace abundantly endu'd1 ,a pure1 believing multitude2 ,they all were of one heart and soul1 ,and only love inspir'd the whole4 #g ,o what an age of golden days6 ,o what a choice1 peculiar race6 ,wash'd in the ,lamb's all-cleansing blood1 ,anointed kings1 and priests to ,god4 #h ,where shall ,i wander now to find ,the successors they left behind8 ,the faithful1 whom ,i seek in vain1 ,are minish'd from the sons of men4 #i ,ye different sects1 who all declare1 ,lo6 here is ,christ1 or ,christ is there6 ,your stronger proofs divinely give1 ,and shew me where the ,christians live4 #aj ,your claim1 alas6 ye cannot prove1 ,ye want the genuine mark of love3 ,thou only1 ,lord1 thine own canst shew1 ,for sure thou hast a church below4 #aa ,the gates of hell cannot prevail1 ,the church on earth can never fail3 ,ah6 join me to thy secret ones1 ,ah6 gather all thy living stones4 #ab ,scatter'd o'er all the earth they lie1 ',till ,thou collect them with thine eye1 ,draw by the music of thy name1 ,and charm into a beauteous frame4 #ac ,for this the pleading ,spirit groans1 ,and cries in all thy banish'd ones3 ,greatest of gifts1 thy love impart1 ,and make us of one mind and heart4 #ad ,join every soul that looks to thee1 ,in bonds of perfect charity3 ,now1 ,lord1 the glorious fulness give1 ,and all in all for ever live4 ,,part ,,ii4 #a ,,jesus1 from whom all blessings flow1 ,great builder of thy church below1 ,if now thy spirit moves my breast1 ,hear1 and fulfil thy own request4 #b ,the few that truly call thee ,lord1 ,and wait thy sanctifying word2 ,and thee their utmost ,saviour own1 ,unite1 and perfect them in one4 #c ,gather them in on every side1 ,and in thy tabernacle hide2 ,give them a resting place to find1 ,a covert from the storm and wind4 #d ,o find them out some calm recess1 ,some unfrequented wilderness6 ,thou1 ,lord1 the secret place prepare1 ,and hide and feed the woman there4 #e ,thither collect thy little flock1 ,under the shadow of their rock3 ,the holy seed1 the royal race1 ,the standing monuments of thy grace8 #f ,o let them all thy mind express1 ,stand forth thy chosen witnesses6 ,thy power unto salvation shew1 ,and perfect holiness below4 #g ,the fulness of thy grace receive1 ,and simply to thy glory live2 ,strongly reflect the light divine1 ,and in a land of darkness shine4 #h ,in them let all mankind behold1 ,how ,christians liv'd in days of old2 7,mighty their envious foes to move1 ,a proverb of reproachand love47 #i ,o make them of one soul and heart1 ,the all-conforming mind impart2 ,spirit of peace and unity1 ,the sinless mind that was in thee4 #aj ,call them into thy wond'rous light1 ,worthy to walk with thee in white2 ,make up thy jewels1 ,lord1 and shew1 ,the glorious1 spotless church below4 #aa ,from every sinful wrinkle free1 ,redeem'd from all iniquity3 ,the fellowship of saints make known2 ,and ,o my ,god1 might ,i be one6 #ab ,o might my lot be cast with these1 ,the least of ,jesu's witnesses6 ,o that my ,lord would count me meet ,to wash his dear disciples feet6 #ac ,this only thing do ,i require1 ,thou know'st 'tis all my heart's desire1 ,freely what ,i receive to give1 ,the servant of thy church to live3 #ad ,after my lowly ,lord to go1 ,and wait upon the saints below1 ,enjoy the grace to angels given1 ,and serve the royal heirs of heaven4 #ae ,lord1 if ,i now thy drawings feel1 ,and ask according to thy will1 ,confirm the prayer1 the zeal impart1 ,and speak the answer to my heart4 #af ,tell me 7or thou shalt never go7 8,thy prayer is heard1 it shall be so0 ,the word hath pass'd thy lipsand ,i ,shall with thy people live and die4 ,a farther ,,appeal ,to ,,men of ,,reason and ,,religion4 ,let the righteous smite me friendly and reprove me4 ,psalms ,,cxli4 #e4 ,,part ,i4 ,,in a former treatise ,i declared1 in the plainest manner ,i could1 both my principles and practice2 and answered some of the most important1 as well as the most common objections to each4 ,but ,i have not yet delivered my own soul4 ,i believe it is still incumbent upon me to answer other objections1 particularly such as have been urged by those who are esteemed religious or reasonable men4 ,these partly relate to the doctrines ,i teach1 partly to my manner of teaching them1 and partly to the effects which are supposed to follow from teaching these doctrines in this manner4 ,i4 #a4 ,i will briefly mention what those doctrines are1 before ,i consider the objections against them4 ,now all ,i teach respects either the nature and condition of justification1 the nature and condition of salvation1 the nature of justifying and saving faith1 or the ,author of faith and salvation4 #b4 ,first1 ,the nature of justification4 ,it sometimes means1 our acquittal at the last day4 ,but this is altogether out of the present question3 that justification whereof our articles and homilies speak1 meaning present forgiveness1 pardon of sins1 and consequently acceptance with ,god3 who therein1 declares his righteousness or mercy1 by or for the remission of the sins that are past1 saying1 ,i will be merciful to thy unrighteousness1 and thine iniquities ,i will remember no more4 ,matthew xii4 #cg4 ,romans iii4 #be4 ,i believe1 the condition of this1 is faith3 ,i mean1 not only1 that without faith1 we cannot be justified2 but also1 that as soon as any one has true faith1 in that moment he is justified4 ,romans iv4 #e4 c4 ,good works follow this faith1 but cannot go before it3 much less can sanctification1 which implies1 a continued course of good works1 springing from holiness of heart4 99,but it is allowed1 that entire sanctification goes before our justification at the last day4 ,luke vi4 #dc4 ,hebrews xii4 #ad4 99,it is allowed also1 that repentance and fruits meet for repentance1 go before faith4 ,repentance absolutely must go before faith3 fruits meet for it1 if there be opportunity4 ,by repentance1 ,i mean1 conviction of sin1 producing real desires and sincere resolutions of amendment3 and by fruits meet for repentance1 forgiving our brother1 ceasing from evil1 doing good1 using the ordinances of ,god1 and in general obeying him according to the measure of grace which we have received4 ,but these1 ,i cannot as yet1 term good works2 because they do not spring from faith and the love of ,god4 ,mark i4 #ae4 ,matthew iii4 #h4 ,matthew vi4 #ad1 #ae4 ,luke iii4 #d1 #i4 c4 ,matthew vii4 #g4 ,matthew xxv4 #bi4 #c4 ,by salvation ,i mean1 not barely1 according to the vulgar notion1 deliverance from hell1 or going to heaven3 but a present deliverance from sin1 a restoration of the soul to its primitive health1 its original purity2 a recovery of the divine nature2 the renewal of our souls after the image of ,god1 in righteousness and true holiness1 in justice1 mercy1 and truth4 ,this implies all holy and heavenly tempers1 and by consequence all holiness of conversation4 ,now1 if by salvation we mean1 a present salvation from sin1 we cannot say1 holiness is the condition of it4 ,for it is the thing itself4 ,salvation1 in this sense1 and holiness are synonymous terms4 ,we must therefore say1 ,we are saved by faith4 ,faith is the sole condition of this salvation4 ,for without faith we cannot be thus saved4 ,but whosoever believeth1 is saved already4 99,without faith we cannot be thus saved4 ,for we cannot rightly serve ,god1 unless we love him4 ,and we cannot love him1 unless we know him2 neither can we know ,god1 unless by faith4 ,therefore salvation by faith1 is only in other words1 the love of ,god by the knowledge of ,god3 or1 the recovery of the image of ,god1 by a true spiritual acquaintance with him4 #d4 ,faith1 in general1 is1 a divine1 supernatural of things not seen1 not discoverable by our bodily senses1 as being either past1 future or spiritual4 ,justifying faith implies1 not only a divine 1 that ,god was in ,christ1 reconciling the world unto himself1 but a sure trust and confidence1 that ,christ died for my sins1 that he loved me and gave himself for me4 ,and the moment a penitent sinner believes this1 ,god pardons and absolves him4 ,evidence1 or ,conviction4 ,and as soon as his pardon or justification is witnessed to him by the ,holy ,ghost1 he is saved4 ,he loves ,god and all mankind4 ,he has the mind that was in ,christ1 and power to walk as he also walked4 ,from that time 7unless he make shipwreck of the faith7 salvation gradually increases in his soul4 ,for so is the kingdom of ,god1 as if a man should cast seed into the ground4,and it springeth up1 first the blade1 then the ear1 after that the full corn in the ear4 #e4 ,the first sowing of this seed1 ,i cannot conceive to be other than instantaneous3 whether ,i consider experience1 or the word of ,god1 or the very nature of the thinghowever ,i contend not for a circumstance1 but the substance2 if you can attain it another way1 do4 ,only see that you do attain it2 for if you fall short1 you perish everlastingly4 99,this beginning of that vast1 inward change1 is usually termed ,the new birth4 ,baptism is the outward sign of this inward grace1 which is supposed by our church1 to be given with1 and through that sign to all infants1 and to those of riper years1 if they repent and believe the gospel4 ,but how extremely idle are the common disputes on this head8 ,i tell a sinner1 8,you must be born again40 8,no1 say you1 he was born again in baptism4 ,therefore he cannot be born again now40 ,alas6 ,what trifling is this8 ,what if he was then a child of ,god8 ,he is now manifestly a child of the devil4 ,for the works of his father he doth4 ,therefore do not play upon words4 ,he must go through an entire change of heart4 ,in one not yet baptized1 you yourself would call that change1 the new birth4 ,in him1 call it what you will2 but remember mean time1 that if either he or you die without it1 your baptism will be so far from profiting you1 that it will greatly increase your damnation4 #f4 ,the author of faith and salvation is ,god alone4 ,it is he that works in us both to will and to do4 ,he is the sole giver of every good gift1 and the sole author of every good work4 ,there is no more of power than of merit in man2 but as all merit is in the ,son of ,god1 in what he has done and suffered for us1 so all power is in the ,spirit of ,god4 ,and therefore every man1 in order to believe unto salvation1 must receive the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this is essentially necessary to every ,christian1 not in order to his working miracles1 but in order to faith1 peace1 joy1 and love1 the ordinary fruits of the ,spirit4 ,although no man on earth can explain the particular manner1 wherein the ,spirit of ,god works on the soul1 yet whosoever has these fruits1 cannot but know and feel that ,god has wrought them in his heart4 ,sometimes1 he acts more particularly on the understanding1 opening or inlightening it1 7as the scripture speaks7 and revealing1 unveiling1 discovering to us the deep things of ,god4 ,sometimes he acts on the wills and affections of men2 withdrawing them from evil1 inclining them to good1 inspiring1 7breathing as it were7 good thoughts into them3 so it has frequently been exprest1 by an easy1 natural metaphor1 strictly analogous to 1 1 spiritus1 and the words used in most modern tongues also1 to denote the third person in the ever-blessed ,trinity4 ,but however it be exprest1 it is certain1 all true faith1 and the whole work of salvation1 every good thought1 word and work1 is altogether by the operation of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,i come now to consider the principal objections1 which have lately been made against these doctrines4 ,i know nothing material which has been objected1 as to the nature of justification3 but many persons seem to be very confused1 in their thoughts1 concerning it1 and speak as if they had never heard of any justification1 antecedent to that of the last day4 ,to clear up this1 there needs only a closer inspection of our articles and homilies2 wherein justification is always taken1 for the present remission of our sins4 ,but many are the objections which have been warmly urged1 against the condition of justification1 faith alone3 particularly in two treatises1 the former intitled1 ,the notions of the ,methodists fully disproved3 the second1 ,the notions of the ,methodists farther disproved4 ,in both of which it is vehemently affirmed1 #a4 ,that this is not a scriptural doctrine4 #b4 ,that it is not the doctrine of the church of ,england4 ,it will not be needful to name the former of these any more2 seeing there is neither one text produced therein1 to prove this doctrine unscriptural1 nor one sentence from the articles or homilies1 to prove it contrary to the doctrine of the church4 ,but so much of the latter as relates to the merits of the cause1 ,i will endeavour to consider calmly4 ,as to what is personal1 ,i leave it as it is4 ,god be merciful to me1 a sinner6 #b4 ,to prove this doctrine unscriptural1 ,that 8,faith alone is the condition of justification10 you alledge1 ,that 8,sanctification1 according to scripture1 must go before it30 ,to evince which1 you quote the following texts1 which ,i leave as ,i find them3 ,go1 disciple all nationsteaching them to observe all things1 whatsoever ,i have commanded them4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved4 ,preach repentance and remission of sins4 ,repent and be baptized every one of you1 for the remission of sins4 ,repent and be converted1 that your sins may be blotted out4 ,by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified4 ,you add1 8,st4 ,paul taught ,repentance toward ,god1 and faith toward our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and calls ,repentance from dead works1 and faith toward ,god1 first principles40 ,matthew xxviii4 #ai1 #bj4 ,mark xvi4 #af4 ,luke xxiv4 #dg4 ,acts ii4 #ch4 ,acts iii4 #ai4 ,hebrews x4 #ad4 ,acts xx4 #ba4 ,hebrews vi4 #a4 8,c40 replaced with 8,acts0 ,you subjoin1 8,but ye are washed1 says he1 but ye are sanctified1 but ye are justified4 ,by washed is meant their baptism2 and by their baptism is meant1 first their sanctification1 and then their justification40 ,this is a flat begging the question2 you take for granted1 the very point which you ought to prove4 8,st4 ,peter also1 you say1 affirms1 ,that baptism doth save us or justify us40 ,again1 you beg the question3 you take for granted what ,i utterly deny1 viz4 ,that save and justify are here synonymous terms4 ',till this is proved1 you can draw no inference at all2 for you have no foundation whereon to build4 ,i conceive these and all the scriptures which can be quoted to prove sanctification antecedent to justification1 7if they do not relate to our final justification7 prove only 7what ,i have never denied7 that repentance1 or conviction of sin1 and fruits meet for repentance1 precede that faith1 whereby we are justified3 but by no means1 that the love of ,god1 or any branch of true holiness1 must or can precede faith4 #c4 ,it is objected1 ,secondly1 ,that justification by faith alone1 is not the doctrine of the church of ,england4 8,you believe1 says the writer above-mentioned1 that no good work can be previous to justification1 nor consequently a condition of it4 ,but ,god be praised1 our church has no where delivered such abominable doctrine40 ,page #ad4 8,the clergy contend for inward holiness1 as previous to the first justificationthis is the doctrine they universally inculcate1 and which you cannot oppose without contradicting the doctrine of our church40 ,page #bf4 8,all your strongest persuasives to the love of ,god1 will not blanch over the deformity of that doctrine1 that men may be justifiedby faith alone,unless you publicly recant this horrid doctrine1 your faith is vain40 ,page #bg4 8,if you will vouchsafe to purge out this venomous part of your principles1 in which the wide1 essential1 fundamental1 irreconcileable difference1 as you very justly term it1 mainly consists1 then there will be found so far no disagreement between you and the clergy of the church of ,england40 ibid4 #d4 ,in order to be clearly and fully satisfied1 what the doctrine of the church of ,england is1 7as it stands opposite to the doctrine of the ,antinomians1 on the one hand1 and to that of justification by works on the other7 ,i will simply set down what occurs on this head1 either in her ,liturgy1 ,articles or ,homilies4 8,spare thou them1 ,o ,god1 which confess their faults3 restore thou them that are penitent1 according to thy promises declared unto mankind in ,christ ,jesu our ,lord40 8,he pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel40 8,almighty ,god1 who dost forgive the sins of them that are penitent1 create and make in us new and contrite hearts2 that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness1 may obtain of thee perfect remission and forgiveness1 thro' ,jesus ,christ our ,lord40 ,collect for ,ash-,wednesday4 8,almighty ,godhath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him40 ,communion office4 8,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ hath left power to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him40 ,visitation of the sick4 8,give him unfeigned repentance and stedfast faith1 that his sins may be blotted out40 ibid4 8,he is a merciful receiver of all true1 penitent sinners1 and is ready to pardon us1 if we come unto him with faithful repentance40 ,commination office4 ,infants indeed our church supposes to be justified in baptism1 altho' they cannot then either believe or repent4 ,but she expresly requires both repentance and faith1 in those who come to be baptized when they are of riper years4 99,as earnestly therefore as our church inculcates justification by faith alone1 she nevertheless supposes repentance to be previous to faith1 and fruits meet for repentance3 yea1 and universal holiness to be previous to final justification1 as evidently appears from the following words3 998,let us beseech himthat the rest of our life may be pure and holy1 so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy40 ,absolution4 8,may we seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom here1 which may in the end bring us to life everlasting40 ,visitation of the sick4 8,raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness1that at the last day we may be found acceptable in thy sight40 ,burial office4 8,if we from henceforth walk in his ways1seeking always his glory1 ,christ will set us on his right hand40 ,commination office4 #e4 ,we come next to the articles of our church3 the former part of the ninth runs thus3 ,of ,original or ,birth-,sin4 8,original sinis the fault and corruption of the nature of every manwhereby man is very far gone from original righteousness1 and is of his own nature inclined to evil1 so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit3 and therefore in every person born into this world1 it deserveth ,god's wrath and damnation40 ,,article ,x4 ,of ,free-,will4 8,the condition of man after the fall of ,adam is such1 that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon ,god4 ,wherefore we have no power to do good works1 pleasant and acceptable to ,god1 without the grace of ,god by ,christ preventing us1 that we may have a good will1 and working with us when we have that good will40 ,,article ,,xi4 ,of the ,justification of ,man4 8,we are accounted righteous before ,god1 only for the merit of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ by faith1 and not for our own works or deservings4 ,wherefore that we are justified by faith only1 is a most wholesome doctrine1 and very full of comfort1 as more largely is expressed in the homily of justification40 ,i believe this article relates to the meritorious cause of justification1 rather than to the condition of it4 ,on this therefore ,i do not build any thing concerning it1 but on those that follow4 ,,article ,,xii4 ,of ,good ,works4 8,albeit that good works which are the fruits of faith and follow after justification1 cannot put away our sinsyet are they pleasing and acceptable to ,god in ,christ1 and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith3 insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known1 as a tree may be known by the fruit40 ,we are taught here1 #a4 ,that good works in general1 follow after justification4 #b4 ,that they spring out of a true and lively faith1 that faith whereby we are justified3 #c4 ,that true1 justifying faith may be as evidently known by them1 as a tree discerned by the fruit4 ,does it not follow1 that the supposing any good work to go before justification1 is full as absurd as the supposing an apple or any other fruit to grow before the tree8 ,but let us hear the church1 speaking yet more plainly4 ,,article ,,xiii4 ,of ,works done before ,justification4 8,works done before the grace of ,christ1 and the inspiration of his ,spirit1 7i4 e4 before justification1 as the title expresses it7 are not pleasant to ,god1 forasmuch as they spring not of faith in ,jesu ,christ,yea rather1 for that they are not done as ,god hath willed and commanded them to be done1 we doubt not they have the nature of sin40 ,now1 if all works done before justification1 have the nature of sin1 7both because they spring not of faith in ,christ1 and because they are not done as ,god hath willed and commanded them to be done7 what becomes of sanctification previous to justification8 ,it is utterly excluded3 seeing whatever is previous to justification1 is not good or holy1 but evil and sinful4 99,altho' therefore our church does frequently assert1 that we ought to repent and bring forth fruits meet for repentance1 if ever we would attain to that faith1 whereby alone we are justified3 yet she never asserts 7and here the hinge of the question turns7 that these are good works1 so long as they are previous to justification4 ,nay she expressly asserts the direct contrary1 viz4 ,that they have all the nature of sin4 ,so that this 8,horrid1 scandalous1 wicked1 abominable1 venomous1 blasphemous doctrine10 is nevertheless the doctrine of the church of ,england4 #f4 ,it remains1 to consider what occurs in the homilies1 first with regard to the meritorious cause of our justification1 agreeable to the #aath1 and then with regard to the condition of it1 agreeable to the #abth and #acth articles4 8,these things must go together in our justification2 upon ,god's part1 his great mercy and grace2 upon ,christ's part1 the satisfaction of ,god's justice2 and upon our part1 true and lively faith in the merits of ,jesus ,christ40 ,homily on salvation1 part ,i4 8,so that the grace of ,god doth not shut out the justice 7or righteousness7 of ,god in our justification2 but only shutteth out the righteousness of manas to deserving our justification40 8our0 replaced with 8out0 8,and therefore ,st4 ,paul declareth nothing on the behalf of man1 concerning his justification but only a true faith40 998,and yet that faith doth not shut out repentance1 hope1 love1 to be join'd with faith 7that is1 afterwards2 see below7 in every man that is justifiedneither doth faith shut out the righteousness of our good works1 necessarily to be done afterwards4 ,but it excludeth them so1 that we may not do them to this intent to be made just 7or1 to be justified7 by doing them40 8,that we are justified by faith alone1 is spoken1 to take away clearly all merit1 of our works1 and wholly to ascribe the merit and deserving of our justification unto ,christ only40 ibid4 ,part ,,ii4 8,the true meaning of this saying1 we be justified by faith only1 is this1 we be justified by the merits of ,christ only1 and not of our own works40 ibid4 ,part ,,iii4 #g4 ,thus far touching the meritorious cause of our justification2 referred to in the #aath article4 ,the #abth and #acth are a summary of what now follows1 with regard to the condition of it4 8,of 7justifying7 true faith1 three things are specially to be noted1 #a4 ,that it bringeth forth good works4 #b4 ,that without it1 can no good works be done4 #c4 ,what good works it doth bring forth40 ,sermon on faith4 ,part ,i4 8,without faith can no good work be done1 accepted and pleasant unto ,god4 ,for as a branch cannot bear fruit of itself1 saith our ,saviour ,christ1 except it abide in the vine1 so cannot you1 except you abide in me4 ,faith giveth life to the soul2 and they be as much dead to ,god that lack faith1 as they be to the world1 whose bodies lack souls4 ,without faith all that is done of us1 is but dead before ,god4 ,even as a picture is but a dead representation of the thing itself1 so be the works of all unfaithful 7unbelieving7 persons before ,god4 ,they be but shadows of lively and good things1 and not good things indeed4 ,for true faith doth give life to the works1 and without faith no work is good before ,god40 ibid4 ,part ,,iii4 8,we must set no good works before faith1 nor think that before faith a man may do any good works4 ,for such works are as the course of an horse that runneth out of the way1 which taketh great labour1 but to no purpose40 ibid4 8,without faith we have no virtues1 but only the shadows of them4 ,all the life of them that lack the true faith is sin40 ibid4 8,as men first have life1 and after be nourished1 so must our faith go before1 and after be nourished with good works4 ,and life may be without nourishment1 but nourishment cannot be without life40 ,homily of works annexed to faith4 ,part ,i4 8,i can shew a man1 that by faith without works lived and came to heaven4 ,but without faith never man had life4 ,the thief on the cross only believed1 and the most merciful ,god justified him4 ,truth it is1 if he had lived and not regarded faith and the works thereof1 he should have lost his salvation again4 ,but this ,i say1 faith by itself saved him4 ,but works by themselves never justified any man40 8,good works go not before1 in him which shall afterwards be justified4 ,but good works do follow after1 when a man is first justified40 ,homily on fasting4 ,part ,i4 #h4 ,from the whole tenor then of her liturgy1 articles and homilies1 the doctrine of the church of ,england appears to be this3 #a4 ,that no good work properly so called1 can go before justification3 #b4 ,that no degree of true sanctification can be previous to it4 #c4 ,that as the meritorious cause of justification is1 the life and death of ,christ2 so the condition of it1 is faith4 ,faith alone2 and #d4 ,that both inward and outward holiness1 are consequent on this faith1 and are the ordinary1 stated condition1 of final justification4 #i4 ,and what more can you desire1 who have hitherto opposed justification by faith alone1 merely upon a principle of conscience2 because you was zealous for holiness and good works8 ,do ,i not effectually secure these from contempt1 at the same time that ,i defend the doctrines of the church8 ,i not only allow1 but vehemently contend1 that none shall ever enter into glory1 who is not holy on earth1 as well in heart1 as in all manner of conversation4 ,i cry aloud1 ,let all that have believed1 be careful to maintain good works3 and1 ,let every one that nameth the name of ,christ1 depart from all iniquity4 ,i exhort even those who are conscious they do not believe1 ,cease to do evil1 learn to do well3 the kingdom of heaven is at hand2 therefore repent1 and bring forth fruits meet for repentance4 ,are not these directions the very same in substance1 which you yourself would give to persons so circumstanced8 ,what means then this endless strife of words8 ,or1 what doth your arguing prove8 #aj4 ,many of those who are perhaps as zealous of good works1 as you1 think ,i have allowed you too much4,nay1 my brethren1 but how can we help allowing it1 if we allow the scriptures to be from ,god8 ,for is it not written1 and do not you yourselves believe1 ,without holiness no man shall see the ,lord8 ,and how then1 without fighting about words1 can we deny1 that holiness is a condition of final acceptance8 ,and1 as to the first acceptance or pardon1 does not all experience as well as scripture prove1 that no man ever yet truly believed the gospel1 who did not first repent8 ,that none was ever yet truly convinced of righteousness1 who was not first convinced of sin8 ,repentance therefore in this sense1 we cannot deny to be necessarily previous to faith4 ,is it not equally undeniable1 that the running back into known1 wilful sin1 7suppose it were drunkenness or uncleanness7 stifles that repentance or conviction8 ,and can that repentance come to any good issue in his soul1 who resolves not to forgive his brother8 ,or who obstinately refrains from what ,god convinces him is right1 whether it be prayer or hearing his word8 ,would you scruple yourself to tell one of these1 8,why1 if you will thus drink away all conviction1 how should you ever truly know your want of ,christ8 ,or consequently1 believe in him8,if you will not forgive your brother his trespasses1 neither will your heavenly ,father forgive you your trespasses,if you will not ask1 how can you expect to receive8,if you will not hear1 how can faith come by hearing8 ,it is plain1 you grieve the ,spirit of ,god2 you will not have him to reign over you4 ,take care that he does not utterly depart from you4 ,for unto him that hath1 shall be given3 but from him that hath not1 i4 e4 uses it not1 shall be taken away1 even that which he hath40 ,would you scruple1 on a proper occasion to say this8 ,you could not scruple it1 if you believe the bible4 ,but in saying this1 you allow all which ,i have said1 viz4 ,that previous to justifying faith1 there must be repentance1 and if opportunity permit1 ,fruits meet for repentance4 99#aa4 ,and yet ,i allow you this1 that altho' both repentance and the fruits thereof are in some sense necessary before justification1 yet neither the one nor the other is necessary in the same sense1 or in the same degree with faith4 ,not in the same degree4 ,for in whatever moment a man believes 7in the ,christian sense of the word7 he is justified1 his sins are blotted out1 his faith is counted to him for righteousness4 ,but it is not so1 at whatever moment he repents1 or brings forth any1 or all the fruits of repentance4 ,faith alone therefore justifies2 which repentance alone does not2 much less any outward work4 ,and consequently1 none of these are necessary to justification1 in the same degree with faith4 99,nor in the same sense4 ,for none of these has so direct1 immediate a relation to justification as faith4 ,this is proximately necessary thereto2 repentance1 remotely1 as it is necessary to the increase or continuance of faith4 ,and even in this sense1 these are only necessary1 on suppositionif there be time and opportunity for them3 for in many instances there is not3 but ,god cuts short his work1 and faith prevents the fruits of repentance4 ,so that the general proportion is not overthrown1 but clearly established by these concessions2 and we conclude still1 both on the authority of scripture and the church1 that faith alone is the proximate condition of justification4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,i was once inclined to believe that none would openly object1 against what ,i had any where said of the nature of salvation4 ,how greatly then was ,i surprised some months ago1 when ,i was shewn a kind of circular letter1 which one of those whom the ,holy ,ghost hath made overseers of his church1 ,i was informed1 had sent to all the clergy of his diocese6 ,the 7then7 ,archbishop of ,york4 ,part of it ran 7nearly1 if not exactly7 thus3 8,there is great indiscretion in preaching up a sort of religion1 as the true and only ,christianity1 which in their own account of it1 consists in an enthusiastic ardor1 to be understood or attained by very few1 and not to be practised without breaking in upon the common duties of life40 ,o my ,lord1 what manner of words are these6 ,supposing candour and love out of the question1 are they the words of truth8 ,i dare stake my life upon it1 there is not one true clause in all this paragraph4 ,the propositions contained therein1 are these3 #a4 ,that the religion ,i preach1 consists in enthusiastic ardor3 #b4 ,that it can be attained by very few3 #c4 ,that it can be understood by very few3 #d4 ,that it cannot be practised without breaking in upon the common duties of life4 #e4 ,and that all this may be proved by my own account of it4 ,i earnestly intreat your grace1 to review my own account of it1 as it stands in any of my former writings2 or to consider the short account which is given in this4 ,and if you can thence make good any one of those propositions1 ,i do hereby promise before ,god and the world1 that ,i will never preach more4 ,at present ,i do not well understand what your grace means by 8,an enthusiastic ardor40 ,surely you do not mean1 the love of ,god6 ,no1 not though a poor1 pardoned sinner should carry it so far1 as to love the ,lord his ,god1 with all his heart1 and with all his soul1 and with all his strength6 ,but this alone is the ardor which ,i preach up1 as the foundation of the true and only ,christianity4 ,i pray ,god so to fill your whole heart therewith1 that you may praise him for ever and ever4 ,but why should your grace believe1 that the love of ,god1 can be attained by very few8 ,or1 that it can be understood by very few8 ,all who attain it1 understand it well4 ,and did not he who is loving to every man design1 that every man should attain true love8 ,o that all would know in this their day1 the things that make for their peace6 ,and cannot the love both of ,god and our neighbour be practised1 without breaking in upon the common duties of life8 ,nay1 can any of the common duties of life1 be rightly practised without them8 ,i apprehend not4 ,i apprehend ,i am then laying the true1 the only foundation for all those duties1 when ,i preach ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and thy neighbour as thyself4 #b4 ,with this letter was sent 7,i believe to every clergyman in the diocese7 the pamphlet intitled1 ,observations on the conduct and behaviour of a certain sect1 usually distinguished by the name of ,methodists4 ,it has been generally supposed to be wrote by a person1 who is every way my superior4 ,perhaps one reason why he did not inscribe his name was1 that his greatness might not make me afraid3 and that ,i might have liberty to stand1 as it were1 on even ground1 while ,i answer for myself4 ,in considering1 therefore1 such parts of these observations1 as naturally fall in my way1 ,i will take that method which1 ,i believe1 the author desires1 using no ceremony at all3 but speaking as to an equal1 that it may the more easily be discerned1 where the truth lies4 ,the first query relating to doctrine1 is this4 8,whether notions in religion may not be heightened to such extremes1 as to lead some into a disregard of religion itself1 through despair of attaining such exalted heights8 ,and whether others who have imbibed those notions1 may not be led by them1 into a disregard and disesteem of the common duties and offices of life8 ,to such a degree1 at least1 as is inconsistent with that attention to them1 and that diligence in them1 which ,providence has made necessary to the well-being of private families and public societies1 and which christianity does not only require in all stations1 and in all conditions1 but declares at the same time1 that the performance even of the lowest offices in life1 as unto ,god1 7whose providence has placed people in their several stations7 is truly a serving of ,christ1 and will not fail of its reward in the next world80 ,you have interwoven so many particulars in this general question1 that ,i must divide and answer them one by one4 ,q4 #a4 ,whether notions in religion may not be heightened to such extremes as to lead some into a disregard of religion itself8 ,a4 ,they may4 ,but that ,i have so heightened them1 it lies upon you to prove4 ,q4 #b4 ,whether others may not be led into a disregard of religion1 through despair of attaining such exalted heights8 ,a4 ,what heights8 ,the loving ,,god with all our heart8 ,i believe1 this is the most exalted height in man or angel4 ,but ,i have not heard1 that any have been led into a disregard of religion1 through despair of attaining this4 ,q4 #c4 ,whether others who have imbibed these notions1 may not be led by them1 into a disregard and disesteem1 of the common duties and offices of life8 ,a4 ,my notions are1 8,true religion is the loving ,god with all our heart1 and our neighbour as ourselves2 and in that love abstaining from all evil1 and doing all possible good to all men40 ,now1 it is not possible in the nature of things1 that any should be led by these notions1 into either a disregard or disesteem of the common duties and offices of life4 ,q4 #d4 ,but may they not be led by them into such a degree at least1 of disregard for the common duties of life1 as is inconsistent with that attention to them1 and diligence in them1 which ,providence has made necessary8 ,a4 ,no4 ,quite the reverse4 ,they lead men to discharge all those duties with the strictest diligence and closest attention4 ,q4 #e4 ,does not christianity require this attention and diligence in all stations and in all conditions8 ,a4 ,yes4 ,q4 #f4 ,does it not declare1 that the performance even of the lowest offices of life1 as unto ,god1 is truly a serving of ,christ8 and will not fail of its reward in the next world8 ,a4 ,it does4 ,but whom are you confuting8 ,not me4 ,for this is the doctrine ,i preach continually4 #c4 ,query the second4 8,whether the enemy of christianity may not find his account1 in carrying christianity1 which was designed for a rule to all stations and all conditions1 to such heights as make it fairly practicable by a very few1 in comparison1 or rather by none80 ,i answer1 #a4 ,the height to which we carry christianity 7as was but now observed7 is this1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and thy neighbour as thyself4 #b4 ,the enemy of christianity cannot find his account1 in our carrying it to this height4 #c4 ,you will not say on reflection1 that christianity1 even in this height1 is practicable by very few1 or rather by none3 ,you yourself will confess1 this is a rule 7as ,god designed it should7 for all stations1 and all conditions4 ,query the third4 8,whether1 in particular1 the carrying the doctrine of justification by faith alone to such a height1 as not to allow that a sincere and careful observance of moral duties is so much as a condition of our acceptance with ,god1 and of our being justified in his sight3 ,whether this1 ,i say1 does not naturally lead people to a disregard of those duties1 and a low esteem of them2 or rather to think them no part of the christian religion80 ,i trust justification by faith alone1 has been so explained above1 as to secure1 not only a high esteem1 but also a careful and sincere observance of all moral duties4 #d4 ,query the fourth4 8,whether a due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion1 paid by good men in a serious and composed way1 does not answer the true ends of devotion1 and is not a better evidence of the co-operation of the ,holy ,spirit1 than those sudden agonies1 roarings1 screamings1 tremblings1 droppings down1 ravings1 and madnesses1 into which their hearers have been cast80 ,i must answer this query likewise part by part4 8querry0 replaced with 8query0 ,q4 #a4 ,whether a due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion1 paid in a serious and composed way1 by good i4 e4 well meaning men1 does not answer the true ends of devotion8 ,a4 ,i suppose by devotion you mean public worship2 by the true ends of it1 the love of ,god and man3 and by a due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion1 paid in a serious and composed way1 the going as often as we have opportunity to our parish church1 and to the sacrament there administred4 ,if so1 the question is1 8,whether this attendance on those offices1 does not produce the love of ,god and man80 ,i answer1 sometimes it does2 and sometimes it does not4 ,i myself thus attended them for many years2 and yet am conscious to myself1 that during that whole time1 ,i had no more of the love of ,god than a stone4 ,and ,i know many hundreds1 perhaps thousands of serious persons1 who are ready to testify the same thing4 ,q4 #b4 ,but is not this a better evidence of the co-operation of the ,holy ,spirit1 than those sudden agonies8 ,a4 ,all these persons1 as well as ,i1 can testify also1 that this is no evidence at all of the co-operation of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,for some years ,i attended these public offices1 because ,i would not be punished for non-attendance4 ,and many of these attended them1 because their parents did before them1 or because they would not lose their character4 ,many more1 because they confounded the means with the end1 and fancied this opus operatum would bring them to heaven4 ,how many thousands are now under this strong delusion8 ,beware1 you bring not their blood on your own head8 ,q4 #c4 ,however1 does not this attendance better answer those ends1 than those roarings1 screamings1 c48 ,i suppose you mean1 8,better than an attendance on that preaching1 which has often been accompanied with these40 ,i answer4 #a4 ,there is no manner of need to set the one in opposition to the other3 ,seeing we continually exhort all who attend on our preaching1 to attend the offices of the church4 ,and they do pay a more regular attendance there1 than ever they did before4 #b4 ,their attending the church did not1 in fact answer those ends at all1 'till they attended this preaching also4 #c4 ,it is the preaching of remission of sins through ,jesus ,christ1 which alone answers the true ends of devotion4 ,and this will always be accompanied with the co-operation of the ,holy ,spirit2 tho' not always with sudden agonies1 roarings1 screamings1 tremblings1 or droppings down4 ,indeed if ,god is pleased at any time to permit any of these1 ,i cannot hinder it4 ,neither can this hinder the work of his ,spirit in the soul3 which may be carried on either with or without them4 ,but #d4 ,i cannot apprehend it to be any reasonable proof1 ,that 8this is not the work of ,god10 that a convinced sinner should fall into an extreme agony1 both of body and soul1 7,journal #c4 page #bf47 ,that another should roar for the disquietness of her heart1 7page #dj47 that others should scream or cry with a loud and bitter cry1 8,what must we do to be saved80 7page #ej47 that others should exceedingly tremble and quake1 7page #eh47 ,and others1 in a deep sense of the majesty of ,god1 should fall prostrate upon the ground4 7page #ei47 ,indeed by picking out one single word from a sentence1 and then putting together what you had gleaned in sixty or seventy pages1 you have drawn a terrible groupe1 for them who look no farther than those two lines in the observations4 ,but the bare addition of half a line to each word1 just as it stands in the place from which you quoted it1 reconciles all both to scripture and reason1 and the spectre-form vanishes away4 ,you have taken into your account1 ravings1 and madnesses too4 ,as instances of the former1 you refer to the case of ,john ,haydon1 page #dd4 and of ,thomas ,maxfield1 page #ej4 ,i wish you would calmly consider1 his reasoning on that head1 who is not prejudiced in my favour4 8,what influence sudden and sharp awakenings may have upon the body1 ,i pretend not to explain4 ,but ,i make no question ,satan1 so far as he gets power may exert himself on such occasions1 partly to hinder the good work in the persons who are thus touched with the sharp arrows of conviction1 and partly to disparage the work of ,god1 as if it tended to lead people to distraction40 ,for instances of madness you refer to pages #hh1 #ij1 #ia1 #ib1 #ic4 ,the words in page #hh4 are these3 8,i could not but be under some concern1 with regard to one or two persons1 who were tormented in an unaccountable manner1 and seemed to be indeed lunatic as well as sore vexed,soon after ,i was sent for to one of these1 who was so strangely torn of the devil1 that ,i almost wondered her relations did not say1 much religion hath made thee mad4 ,we prayed ,god to bruise ,satan under her feet4 ,immediately we had the petition we asked of him4 ,she cried out vehemently #8,he is gone1 he is gone1' and was filled with the ,spirit of love1 and of a sound mind4 ,i have seen her many times since1 strong in the ,lord4 ,when ,i asked abruptly1 #8,what do you desire now8' ,she answered1 #8,heaven4' ,i asked1 #8,what is in your heart8' ,she replied1 #8,god4' ,i asked1 #8,but how is your heart when any thing provokes you8' ,she said1 #8,by the grace of ,god1 ,i am not provoked at any thing4 ,all the things of this world pass by me as shadows4' ,are these the words of one that is beside herself8 ,let any man of reason judge60 ,your next instance1 page #ij4 stands thus3 8,about noon ,i came to ,usk1 where ,i preached to a small company of poor people1 on1 ,the ,son of man is come1 to save that which is lost4 ,one grey-headed man wept and trembled exceedingly3 and another who was there 7,i have since heard7 as well as two or three who were at the ,devauden1 are gone quite distracted2 that is 7my express words that immediately follow1 specifying what it was which some accounted distraction7 #8,they mourn and refuse to be comforted1 until they have redemption through his blood4'0 ,if you think the case mentioned1 pages #ib1 #ic4 to be another instance of madness1 ,i contend not4 ,it was because ,i did not understand that uncommon case1 that ,i prefaced it with this reflection1 8,the fact ,i nakedly relate1 and leave every man to his own judgment upon it40 ,only be pleased to observe1 that this madness1 if such it was1 is no more chargeable upon me than upon you4 ,for the subject of it had no relation to1 or commerce with me1 nor had ,i ever seen her before that hour4 #e4 ,query the fifth4 8,whether those exalted strains in religion1 and an imagination of being already in a state of perfection1 are not apt to lead men to spiritual pride1 and to a contempt of their fellow christians2 while they consider them as only going on in what they call the low and imperfect way1 7i4 e4 as growing in grace and goodness only by degrees7 even though it appear by the lives of those who are considered by them as in that low and imperfect way1 that they are persons who are gradually working out their salvation1 by their own honest endeavours1 and through the ordinary assistances of ,god's grace2 with an humble reliance upon the merits of ,christ for the pardon of their sins1 and the acceptance of their sincere1 though imperfect services80 ,i must divide this query too1 but first permit me to ask1 ,what do you mean by those exalted strains in religion8 ,i have said again and again1 ,i know of no more exalted strain1 than 8,i will love thee1 ,o ,lord1 my ,god30 ,especially according to the propriety of ,david's expression 4 ,ex intimis visceribus diligam te1 ,domine4 ,this premised1 let us go on step by step4 ,q4 #a4 ,whether the preaching of 8loving ,god from our inmost bowels10 is not apt to lead men to spiritual pride1 and to a contempt of their fellow ,christians8 ,a4 ,no3 ,but so far as it takes place1 it will humble them to the dust4 ,q4 #b4 ,whether an imagination of being already in a state of perfection1 is not apt to lead men into spiritual pride4 ,a4 #a4 ,if it be a false imagination1 it is spiritual pride4 #b4 ,but true ,christian perfection is no other than humble love4 ,q4 #c4 ,do not men who imagine they have attained this1 despise others1 as only going on in what they account the low and imperfect way1 i4 e4 as growing in grace and goodness by degrees4 ,a4 #a4 ,men who only imagine they have attained this1 may probably despise those that are going in any way4 #b4 ,but the growing in grace and goodness by degrees1 is no mark of a low and imperfect way4 ,those who are fathers in ,christ1 grow in grace by degrees1 as well as the newborn babes4 ,q4 #d4 ,do they not despise those who are working out their salvation1 with an humble reliance upon the merits of ,christ for the pardon of their sins1 and the acceptance of their sincere1 tho' imperfect services8 ,a4 #a4 ,they who really love ,god1 despise no man4 ,but #b4 they grieve to hear many talk of thus relying on ,christ1 who1 though perhaps they are grave1 honest1 moral men1 yet by their own words1 appear1 not to love ,god at all2 whose souls cleave to the dust1 who love the world2 who have no part of the mind that was in ,christ4 #f4 ,query the sixth4 8,whether the same exalted strains and notions1 do not tend to weaken the natural and civil relations among men1 by leading the inferiors into whose heads those notions are infused to a disesteem of their superiors2 while they consider them as in a much lower dispensation than themselves2 though those superiors are otherwise sober and good men1 and regular attendants on the ordinances of religion80 ,i have mentioned before1 ,what those exalted notions are3 these do not tend to weaken either the natural or civil relations among men2 or to lead inferiors to a disesteem of their superiors1 even where those superiors are neither good nor sober men4 ,query the seventh4 8,whether a gradual improvement in grace and goodness is not a better foundation of comfort1 and of an assurance of a gospel new-birth1 than that which is founded on the doctrine of a sudden and instantaneous change2 which1 if there be any such thing1 is not so easily distinguished from fancy and imagination2 the workings whereof we may well suppose to be more strong and powerful1 while the person considers himself in the state of one who is admitted as a candidate for such a change1 and is taught in due time to expect it80 8canditate0 replaced with 8candidate0 ,let us go one step at a time4 ,q4 #a4 ,whether a gradual improvement in grace and goodness1 is not a good foundation of comfort8 ,a4 ,doubtless it is1 if by grace and goodness be meant the knowledge and love of ,god through ,christ4 ,q4 #b4 ,whether it be not a good foundation of an assurance of a gospel new-birth8 ,a4 ,if we daily grow in this knowledge and love1 it is a good proof that we are born of the ,spirit4 ,but this does in no wise supersede the previous witness of ,god's ,spirit with ours1 that we are the children of ,god4 ,and this is properly the foundation of the assurance of faith4 ,q4 #c4 ,whether this improvement is not a better foundation of comfort1 and of an assurance of a gospel new-birth1 than that which is founded on the doctrine of a sudden and instantaneous change8 ,a4 ,a better foundation than that,that6 ,what8 ,to what substantive does this refer8 ,according to the rules of grammar1 7for all the other substantives are in the genitive case1 and consequently to be considered as only parts of that which governs them7 you must mean1 8,a better foundation than that foundation which is founded on this doctrine40 ,as soon as ,i understand the question1 ,i will endeavour to answer it4 ,q4 #d4 ,can that sudden and instantaneous change be easily distinguished from fancy and imagination8 ,a4 ,just as easily as light from darkness3 seeing it brings with it a peace that passeth all understanding1 a joy unspeakable1 full of glory1 the love of ,god and all mankind filling the heart1 and power over all sin4 ,q4 #e4 ,may we not well suppose the workings of imagination to be more strong and powerful in one who is taught to expect such a change8 ,a4 ,perhaps we may,but still the tree is known by its fruits4 ,and such fruits as those above-mentioned imagination was never yet strong enough to produce1 nor any power1 save that of the ,almighty4 #g4 ,there is only one clause in the eighth query which falls under our present enquiry4 8,they make it their principal employ1 wherever they go1 to instil into people a few favorite tenets of their own2 and this with such diligence and zeal as if the whole of ,christianity depended upon them1 and all efforts toward the true ,christian life1 without a belief of those tenets1 were vain and ineffectual40 ,i plead guilty to this charge4 ,i do make it my principal1 nay1 my whole employ1 and that wherever ,i go1 to instil into the people1 a few favourite tenets4 7,only be it observed1 they are not my own1 but his that sent me47 ,and it is undoubtedly true1 that this ,i do1 7tho' deeply conscious of my want1 both of zeal and diligence7 as if the whole of ,christianity depended upon them1 and all efforts without them were void and vain4 ,i frequently sum them all up in one1 in ,christ ,jesus1 7i4 e4 according to his gospel7 neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision1 but faith which worketh by love4 ,but many times ,i instil them one by one1 under these1 or the like expressions4 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy mind1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy strength1 thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself2 as thy own soul2 as ,christ loved us4 ,god is love3 and he that dwelleth in love1 dwelleth in ,god1 and ,god in him4 ,love worketh no ill to his neighbour3 therefore love is the fulfilling of the law4 ,while we have time let us do good unto all men2 especially unto them that are of the houshold of faith4 ,whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you1 even so do unto them4 ,these are my favourite tenets1 and have been for many years4 ,o that ,i could instil them into every soul throughout the land6 ,ought they not to be instilled with such diligence and zeal1 as if the whole of ,christianity depended upon them8 ,for who can deny1 that all efforts toward a ,christian life1 without more than a bare belief1 without a thorough experience and practice of these1 are utterly vain and ineffectual8 99#h4 ,part of your ninth query is to the same effect3 8,a few young heads set up their own schemes1 as the great standard of ,christianity3 and indulge their own notions to such a degree1 as to perplex1 unhinge1 terrify and distract the minds of multitudes of people1 who have lived from their infancy under a gospel-ministry1 and in the regular exercise of a gospel-worship4 ,and all this1 by persuading them1 that they neither are1 nor can be true ,christians1 but by adhering to their doctrines40 ,what do you mean by their own schemes8 ,their own notions8 ,their doctrines8 ,are they not yours too8 ,are they not the schemes1 the notions1 the doctrines of ,jesus ,christ8 ,the great1 fundamental truths of his gospel8 ,can you deny one of them1 without denying the bible8,it is hard for you to kick against the pricks6 8,they persuade 7you say7 multitudes of people1 that they cannot be true ,christians1 but by adhering to their doctrines40 ,why1 who says they can8 ,whosoever he be1 ,i will prove him to be an infidel4 ,do you say1 that any man can be a true ,christian1 without loving ,god and his neighbour8 ,surely you have not so learned ,christ6 ,it is your doctrine1 as well as mine1 and ,st4 ,paul's1 ,though ,i speak with the tongue of men and angels1 though ,i have all knowledge1 and all faith2 though ,i give all my goods to feed the poor1 yea1 my body to be burned1 and have not love1 ,i am nothing4 ,whatever public worship1 therefore1 people may have attended1 or whatever ministry they have lived under from their infancy1 they must1 at all hazards1 be convinced of this1 or they perish for ever3 yea1 though that conviction at first unhinge them ever so much2 though it should in a manner1 distract them for a season4 ,for it is better they should be perplexed and terrified now1 than that they should sleep on and awake in hell4 #i4 ,in the #aj1 #ab1 and #acth queries ,i am not concerned4 ,but you include me also1 when you say in the #aath1 8,they absolutely deny1 that recreations of any kind1 considered as such1 are1 or can be innocent40 ,i cannot find any such assertion of mine1 either in the place you refer to1 or any other4 ,but what kinds of recreation are innocent1 it is easy to determine by that plain rule1 ,whether ye eat or drink1 or whatever ye do1 do all to the glory of ,god4 ,i am now to take my leave of you for the present4 ,but first ,i would earnestly intreat you1 to acquaint yourself what our doctrines are1 before you make any farther observations upon them4 ,surely1 touching the nature of salvation we agree1 ,that pure religion and undefiled is this1 to visit the fatherless and widow in their affliction1 to do all possible good1 from a principle of love to ,god and man3 and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world1 inwardly and outwardly to abstain from all evil4 99#aj4 ,with regard to the condition of salvation1 it may be remembered1 that ,i allow1 not only faith1 but likewise holiness or universal obedience1 to be the ordinary condition of final salvation3 and that when ,i say1 faith alone is the condition of present salvation1 what ,i would assert is this2 #a4 ,that without faith no man can be saved from his sins1 can be either inwardly or outwardly holy4 ,and #b4 ,that at what time soever faith is given1 holiness commences in the soul4 ,for that instant1 the love of ,god1 7which is the source of holiness7 is shed abroad in the heart4 ,but it is objected by the author of 8,the ,notions of the ,methodists disproved10 8,st4 ,james says1 ,can faith save him80 ,i answer1 such a faith as is without works cannot bring a man to heaven4 ,but this is quite beside the present question4 ,you object1 #b4 8,st4 ,paul says1 that faith made perfect by love1 ,st4 ,james1 that faith made perfect by works1 is the condition of salvation40 ,you mean final salvation4 ,i say so too3 but this also is beside the question4 ,you object1 #c4 ,that the belief of the gospel1 is called the obedience of faith1 ,romans i4 #e4 ,and #d4 ,that what ,isaiah terms believing1 ,st4 ,paul terms obeying4 ,suppose ,i grant you both the one and the other1 what will you infer8 ,you object1 #e4 ,that in one scripture our ,lord is stiled ,the ,saviour of them that believe3 and in another1 ,the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him4 #f4 ,that to the ,galatians ,st4 ,paul writes1 ,neither circumcision availeth any thing1 nor uncircumcision1 but faith which worketh by love3 and to the ,corinthians1 circumcision is nothing1 and uncircumcision is nothing1 but the keeping the commandments of ,god4 ,and hence you conclude1 8,there are several texts of scripture1 wherein unbelief and disobedience are equivalently used40 ,very true3 but can you conclude from thence1 that we are not saved by faith alone8 #aa4 ,you proceed to answer some texts which ,i had quoted4 ,the first is ,ephesians ii4 #h4 ,by grace ye are saved1 through faith4 8,but 7say you7 faith does not mean here1 that grace especially so called1 but includes also obedience40 ,but how do you prove this8 ,that circumstance you had forgot3 and so run off with a comment upon the context2 to which ,i have no other objection1 than that it is nothing at all to the question4 ,indeed some time after you add1 8,it is plain then that good works are always1 in ,st4 ,paul's judgment1 joined with faith40 7,so undoubtedly they are1 that is1 as an effect is always joined with its cause7 8,and therefore we are not saved by faith alone40 ,i cannot possibly allow the consequence4 ,you afterwards cite two more texts1 and add1 8,you see mere faith cannot be a condition of justification40 ,you are out of your way4 ,we are no more talking now of justification than of final salvation4 ,in considering ,acts xvi4 #ca4 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus and thou shalt be saved4 ,you say again1 8,here the word believe does not signify faith only4,faith necessarily produces charity and repentance2 therefore1 these are expressed by the word believe40 i4 e4 ,faith necessarily produces holiness4 ,therefore holiness is a condition of holiness4 ,i want farther proof4 ,that ,paul and ,silas spake unto him the word of the ,lord2 and that his faith did in the same hour work by love1 ,i take to be no proof at all4 ,you then undertake to shew1 that confessing our sins1 is a condition of justification1 and that a confidence in the love of ,god1 is not a condition4 ,some of your words are1 8,this1 good ,sir1 give me leave to say1 is the greatest nonsense and contradiction possible4 ,it is impossible you can understand this jargon yourself1 and therefore you labour in vain to make it intelligible to others4 ,you soar aloft on eagle's wings1 and leave the poor people to gape and stare after you40 8it0 replaced with 8is0 ,this is very pretty1 and very lively4 ,but it is nothing to the purpose4 ,for we are not now speaking of justification3 neither have ,i said one word of 8the condition of justification0 in the whole tract to which you here refer4 8,in the next place 7say you7 if we are saved 7finally you mean7 only by a confidence in the love of ,god40,here ,i must stop you again2 you are now running beside the question1 on the other hand4 ,the sole position which ,i here advance is this3 true believers are saved from inward and outward sin by faith4 ,by faith alone the love of ,god and all mankind is shed abroad in their hearts1 bringing with it the mind that was in ,christ1 and producing all holiness of conversation4 ,,iv4 #a4 ,i am now to consider1 what has been lately objected1 with regard to the nature of saving faith4 ,the author last mentioned 8cannot understand how those texts of ,st4 ,john are at all to the purpose40 #a ,john iii4 #a4 ,behold what manner of love the ,father hath bestowed upon us1 that we should be called the sons of ,god4 ,and chapter iv4 #ai4 ,we love him1 because he first loved us4 ,i answer #a4 ,these texts were not produced in the appeal1 by way of proof1 but of illustration only4 ,but #b4 ,i apprehend they may be produced as a proof1 both that ,christian faith implies a confidence in the love of ,god1 and that such a confidence has a direct tendency to salvation1 to holiness both of heart and life4 ,behold what manner of love the ,father hath bestowed upon us1 that we should be called the sons of ,god6 ,are not these words an expression of ,christian faith8 ,as direct an one as can well be conceived8 ,and ,i appeal to every man1 whether they do not express the strongest confidence of the love of ,god8 ,your own comment puts this beyond dispute4 8,let us consider attentively and with grateful hearts1 the great love and mercy of ,god1 in calling us to be his sons1 and bestowing on us the privileges belonging to such40 ,do you not perceive1 that you have given up the cause8 ,you have yourself taught us1 that these words imply 8a sense of the great love and mercy of ,god1 in bestowing upon us the privileges belonging to his sons40 ,the apostle adds1 ,beloved1 now are we the sons of ,god2 and it doth not yet appear what we shall be3 but we know that when he shall appear1 we shall be like him2 for we shall see him as he is4 ,i suppose no one will say1 either that these words are not expressive of ,christian faith2 or1 that they do not imply the strongest confidence in the love of ,god4 ,it follows1 ,and every man that hath this hope in him1 purifieth himself even as he is pure4 ,hence it appears1 that this faith is a saving faith1 that there is the closest connexion between this faith and holiness4 ,this text therefore is directly to the purpose1 in respect of both the propositions to be proved4 ,the other is1 ,we love him1 because he first loved us4 ,and here also1 for fear ,i should fail in the proof1 you have drawn it up ready to my hands4 8,god sent his only sonto redeem us from sin1 by purchasing for us grace and salvation4 ,by which grace wethro' faith and repentance have our sins pardonedand therefore we are bound to return the tribute of our love and gratitude1 and to obey him faithfully as long as we live40 ,now1 that we have our sins pardoned1 if we do not know they are pardoned1 cannot bind us either to love or obedience4 ,but if we do know it1 and by that very knowledge1 or confidence in the pardoning love of ,god1 are both bound and enabled to love and obey him1 this is the whole of what ,i contend for4 #b4 ,you afterwards object against some other text which ,i had cited1 to illustrate the nature of saving faith4 ,my words were1 8,hear believing ,job1 declaring his faith1 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth40 ,i here affirm two things1 #a4 ,that ,job was then a believer4 #b4 ,that he declared his faith in these words4 ,and all ,i affirm1 you allow4 ,your own words are1 8,god was pleased to bestow upon him a strong assurance of his favourto inspire him with a prophecy of the resurrection1 and that he should have a share in it40 ,i went on1 8,hear ,thomas1 when having seen he believed1 crying out my ,lord and my ,god40 ,hereon you comment thus1 8,the meaning of which is that ,st4 ,thomas makes a confession1 both of his faith and repentance40 ,i agree with you4 ,but you add1 8in ,st4 ,thomas's confession there is not implied an assurance of pardon10 you cannot agree with yourself in this2 but immediately subjoin1 8,if it did imply such an assurance1 he might well have it1 since he had an immediate revelation of it from ,god himself40 ,yet a little before you endeavoured to prove that one who was not a whit behind the very chief apostles had not such an assurance3 where1 in order to shew that faith does not imply this1 you said1 ,st4 ,paul methinks has fully determined this point 7#a ,corinthians iv4 #d47 ,i know nothing by myself1 says he1 yet am ,i not hereby justified48,and if an apostle so illuminated1 don't think himself justified0,then ,i grant1 he has fully determined the point4 ,but before you absolutely fix upon that conclusion1 be pleased to remember your own comment that follows1 on those other words of ,st4 ,paul1 the life ,i now live1 ,i live by faith in the ,son of ,god1 who loved me and gave himself for me4 ,your words are1 8,and no question a person indowed with such extraordinary gifts1 might arrive at a very eminent degree of assurance40,so he did arrive at a very eminent degree of assurance1 tho' he did not think himself justified6 ,i can scarce think you have read over that chapter to the ,colossians3 else surely you would not assert1 that those words on which the stress lies1 7viz4 ,who hath delivered us from the power of darkness1 and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear ,son3 ,in whom we have redemption thro' his blood1 even the forgiveness of sins7 do not relate to ,paul and ,timothy who wrote the epistle1 but to the ,colossians1 to whom they wrote1 ,i need be at no pains to answer this2 for presently after your own words are1 8he hath made us1 meaning the ,colossians1 as well as himself1 meet to be inheritors40 #c4 ,you may easily observe1 that ,i quoted the council of ,trent by memory1 not having the book then by me4 ,i own1 and thank you for correcting my mistake3 but in correcting one1 you make another4 ,for the decrees of the sixth session were not 8published on the #acth of ,january30 but the session itself began on that day4 ,i cannot help reciting your next words1 although they are not exactly to the present question4 8,the words of the #abth canon of the council of ,trent are10 8,if any man shall say that justifying faith is nothing else but a confidence in the divine mercy1 remitting sins for ,christ's sake1 and that this confidence is that alone by which we are justified1 let him be accursed40 ,you add1 8,this ,sir1 ,i am sure is true doctrine1 and perfectly agreeable to the doctrine of our church4 ,and so you are not only anathematized by the council of ,trent1 but also condemned by our own church40 8,our church holds no such scandalous and disgraceful opinion40 ,according to our church1 no man can have 8the true faith1 who has not a loving heart40,therefore faith is not a confidence that any man's sins are actually forgiven1 and he reconciled to ,god40 7,what have the premisses to do with the conclusion67 #d4 ,to decide this1 let our church speak for herself4 ,whether she does not suppose and teach1 that every particular believer knows that his sins are forgiven1 and he himself is reconciled to ,god4 ,first then1 our church supposes and teaches every particular believer1 to say concerning himself1 8,in my baptism ,i was made a member of ,christ1 a child of ,god1 and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven4 ,and ,i thank ,god who hath called me to that state of salvation4 ,and ,i pray to ,god that ,i may continue in the same to my life's end40 ,now does this person know what he says to be true8 ,if not1 it is the grossest hypocrisy4 ,but if he does1 then he knows1 that he in particular is reconciled to ,god4 ,the next words ,i shall quote may be a comment on these3 ,may ,god write them in our hearts6 8,a true christian man is not afraid to die1 who is the very member of ,christ1 the temple of the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,son of ,god1 and the very inheritor of the everlasting kingdom of heaven4 ,but plainly contrary1 he not only puts away the fear of death1 but wishes1 desires and longs heartily for it4 ,sermon against the fear of death40 ,i4 part4 ,can this be1 unless he has a sure confidence that he1 in particular1 is reconciled to ,god8 8,men commonly fear death1 first because of leaving their worldly goods and pleasures4 #b4 ,for fear of the pains of death2 and #c4 ,for fear of perpetual damnation4 ,but none of these causes trouble good men1 because they stay themselves by true faith1 perfect charity1 and sure hope of endless joy and bliss everlasting40 ibid4 ,,ii4 part4 8,all these therefore have great cause to be full of joy1 and not to fear death nor everlasting damnation4 ,for death cannot deprive them of ,jesus ,christ1 death cannot take him from us1 nor us from him4 ,death not only cannot harm us1 but also shall profit us and join us to ,god more perfectly4 ,and thereof a christian heart may be surely certified4 ,it is ,god1 saith ,st4 ,paul1 which hath given us an earnest of his ,spirit4 ,as long as we be in the body1 we are in a strange country4 ,but we have a desire rather to be at home with ,god40 ibid4 ,he that runneth may read in all these words1 the confidence which our church supposes1 every particular believer to have1 that he himself is reconciled to ,god4 ,to proceed1 8,the only instrument of salvation required on our parts is faith1 that is1 a sure trust and confidence1 that ,god both hath and will forgive our sins1 that he hath accepted us again into his favour1 for the merits of ,christ's death and passion40 ,second sermon on the passion4 8,but here1 we must take heed that we do not halt with ,god through an unconstant1 wavering faith4 ,peter coming to ,christ upon the water1 because he fainted in faith was in danger of drowning4 ,so we1 if we begin to waver or doubt1 it is to be feared lest we should sink as ,peter did3 not into the water1 but into the bottomless pit of hell-fire4 ,therefore ,i say unto you1 that we must apprehend the merits of ,christ's death by faith1 and that with a strong and stedfast faith2 nothing doubting1 but that ,christ by his own oblation hath taken away our sins1 and hath restored us again to ,god's favour40 ibid4 #e4 ,if it be still said1 that the church speaks only of men in general1 but not of the confidence of this or that particular person3 even this last1 poor subterfuge1 is utterly cut off by the following words3 8,thou1 ,o man1 hast received the body of ,christ which was once broken1 and his blood which was shed for the remission of thy sin4 ,thou hast received his body to have within thee the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 for to endow thee with grace1 and to comfort thee with their presence4 ,thou hast received his body1 to endow thee with everlasting righteousness1 and to assure thee of everlasting bliss40 ,sermon on the resurrection4 ,i shall add but one passage more1 from the first part of the sermon on the sacrament4 8,have a sure and constant faith1 not only that the death of ,christ is available for all the world1 but that he hath made a full and sufficient sacrifice for thee1 a perfect cleansing of thy sins1 so that thou mayst say with the apostle1 he loved thee and gave himself for thee4 ,for this is to make ,christ thine own1 and to apply his merits unto thyself40 ,let every reasonable man now judge for himself1 what is the sense of our church as to the nature of saving faith4 ,does it not abundantly appear1 that the church of ,england supposes every particular believer1 to have a sure confidence1 that his sins are forgiven1 and he himself reconciled to ,god8 ,yea1 and how can the absolute necessity of this faith1 this unwavering confidence1 be more strongly or peremptorily asserted1 than it is in those words3 8,if we begin to waver or doubt1 it is to be feared1 lest we sink as ,peter did3 ,not into the water2 but into the bottomless pit of hell-fire80 #f4 ,i would willingly dismiss this writer here4 ,i had said in the earnest appeal 7what ,i am daily more and more confirmed in7 that this faith is usually given in a moment4 ,this you greatly dislike4 ,your argument against it1 if put into form1 will run thus3 8,they who first apprehend the meaning of the words delivered1 then gave their assent to them1 then had confidence in the promises to which they assented1 and lastly1 loved ,god1 did not receive faith in a moment40 ,but the believers mentioned in the ,acts1 first apprehended the meaning of the words1 then gave their assent1 then had confidence in the promises1 and lastly1 loved ,god3 ,therefore 8,the believers mentioned in the ,acts1 did not receive faith in a moment40 ,i deny the major4 ,they might first apprehend1 then assent1 then confide1 then love1 and yet receive faith in a moment3 ,in that moment1 wherein their general confidence became particular1 so that each could say1 8,my ,lord1 and my ,god40 ,one paragraph more ,i will be at the pains to transcribe4 8,you insinuate1 that the sacraments are only requisite to the well-being of a visible church3 ,whereas the church declares1 that the due administration of them1 is an essential property thereof4 ,i suppose you hinted this to gratify your loving disciples the ,quakers40 ,this is flat and plain4 ,here is a fact positively averred3 and a reason also assigned for it4 ,now do you take yourself to be a man of candor1 ,i had almost said1 of common honesty8 ,my very words in the place referred to1 are1 8,a visible church is a company of faithful people4 ,this is the essence of it4 ,and the properties thereof are1 ,that the pure word of ,god be preached therein1 and the sacraments duly administered40 #g4 ,before ,i take my leave1 ,i cannot but recommend to you that advice of a wise and good man1 8,be calm in arguing2 for fierceness makes ,error a fault1 and truth discourtesy40 ,i am grieved at your extreme warmth3 ,you are in a thorough ill-humour from the very beginning of your book to the end4 ,this cannot hurt me4 ,but it may yourself4 ,and it does not at all help your cause4 ,if you denounce against me all the curses from ,genesis to the ,revelation1 they will not amount to one argument4 ,i am willing 7so far as ,i know myself7 to be reproved either by you or any other4 ,but whatever you do let it be done in love1 in patience1 in meekness of wisdom4 ,v4 #a4 ,with regard to the author of faith and salvation1 abundance of objections have been made3 ,it being a current opinion1 that 8,christians are not now to receive the ,holy ,ghost40 ,accordingly1 whenever we speak of the ,spirit of ,god1 of his operations on the souls of men1 of his revealing unto us the things of ,god1 or inspiring us with good desires or tempers3 whenever we mention the feeling his mighty power1 working in us1 according to his good pleasure3 ,the general answer we have to expect is1 8,this is rank enthusiasm4 ,so it was with the apostles and first christians4 ,but only enthusiasts pretend to this now40 ,thus all the scriptures1 abundance of which might be produced1 are set aside at one stroke4 ,and whoever cites them1 as belonging to all ,christians1 is set down for an enthusiast4 ,the first tract ,i have seen1 wrote expresly on this head1 is remarkably intitled1 8,the operations of the ,holy ,spirit imperceptible1 and how men may know1 when they are under the guidance and influence of the ,spirit40 ,you begin1 8,as we have some among us who pretend1 to a more than ordinary guidance by the ,spirit7indeed ,i do not3 ,i pretend to no other guidance1 than is ordinarily given to all ,christians7 it may not be improper to discourse1 on the operation of ,god's ,holy ,spirit40 8,to this end be thou pleased1 ,o gracious fountain of truth1 to assist me with thy heavenly direction in speaking of thee40 ,alas1 ,sir1 what need have you to speak any more8 ,you have already granted all ,i desire1 viz4 ,that 8we may all now enjoy1 and know that we do enjoy1 the heavenly direction of ,god's ,spirit40 ,however1 you go on1 and observe that the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost1 were granted to the first ,christians only1 but his ordinary graces to all ,christians in all ages3 ,both which you then attempt to enumerate3 ,only suspending your discourse a little1 when 8some conceited enthusiasts0 come in your way4 #b4 ,you next enquire1 8,after what manner these graces are raised in our souls80 ,and answer1 8,how to distinguish these heavenly motions1 from the natural operations of our minds1 we have no light to discover4 ,the scripturesdeclaring that the operations of the ,holy ,spirit1 are not subject to any sensible feelings or perceptions4 ,for what communication can there be between feelings1 which are properties peculiar to matter1 and the suggestions of the ,spirit8,all reasonable ,christians believe1 that he works his graces in us in an imperceptible manner2 and that there is no sensible difference between his and the natural operations of our minds40 ,i conceive this to be the strength of your cause4 ,to support that conclusion1 that the operations of the ,spirit are imperceptible1 you here alledge1 #a4 8,that all reasonable ,christians believe this40 ,so you say4 ,but ,i want proof4 #b4 8,that there can be no communications 7,i fear1 you mistook the word7 between the suggestions of the ,spirit1 and feelings which are properties peculiar to matter40 ,how6 ,are the feelings now in question1 properties peculiar to matter8 ,the feeling of peace1 joy1 love8 ,or any feelings at all8 ,i can no more understand the philosophy than the divinity of this4 #c4 8,that the scriptures declare1 the operations of the ,spirit are not subject to any sensible feelings40 ,you are here disproving1 as you suppose1 a proposition of mine4 ,but are you sure you understand it8 ,by feeling1 ,i mean1 being inwardly conscious of4 ,by the operations of the ,spirit1 ,i do not mean the manner in which he operates1 but the graces which he operates in a ,christian4 ,now be pleased to produce those ,scriptures which declare1 8,that a ,christian cannot feel or perceive these operations40 #c4 ,are you not convinced1 ,sir1 that you have laid to my charge things which ,i know not8 ,i do not gravely tell you 7as much an enthusiast as you over and over affirm me to be7 8,that ,i sensibly feel 7in your sense7 the motions of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,much less do ,i 8make this1 any more than convulsions1 agonies1 howlings1 roarings1 and violent contorsions of the body10 either 8,certain signs of mens being in a state of salvation10 or 8necessary in order thereunto40 ,you might with equal justice and truth inform the world1 and the worshipful the magistrates of ,newcastle1 that ,i make seeing the wind1 or feeling the light1 necessary to salvation4 ,neither do ,i 8confound the extraordinary with the ordinary operations of the ,spirit40 ,and as to your last enquiry1 8,what is the best proof of our being led by the ,spirit80 ,i have no exception to that just and scriptural answer1 which you yourself have given1 8,a thorough change and renovation of mind and heart1 and the leading a new and holy life40 #d4 8,that ,i confound the extraordinary with the ordinary operations of the ,spirit1 and therefore am an enthusiast10 is also strongly urged1 in a charge delivered to his clergy1 and lately published by the ,lord ,bishop of ,litchfield and ,coventry4 ,an extract of the former part of this1 ,i subjoin1 in his ,lordship's words4 8,i cannot think it improper to obviate the contagion1 of those enthusiastical pretensions1 that have lately betrayed whole multitudes1 either into presumption or melancholy4 ,enthusiasm indeed when detected1 is apt to create infidelity2 and infidelity is so shocking a thing1 that many rather run into the other extreme1 and take refuge in enthusiasm4 ,but infidelity and enthusiasm seem now to act in concert against our established religion4 ,as infidelity has been sufficiently opposed1 ,i shall now lay before you the weakness of those enthusiastical pretensions40 page #a1 #b4 ,now to confute effectually1 and strike at the root of those enthusiastical pretensions1 8,first1 ,i shall shew1 that it is necessary to lay down some method for distinguishing real from pretended inspiration40 page #c1 #e4 8,many expressions occur in the new ,testament1 concerning the operations of the holy ,spirit4 ,but men of an enthusiastical temper1 have confounded passages of a quite different nature1 and have jumbled together those that relate to the extraordinary operations of the ,spirit1 with those that relate only to his ordinary influences4 ,it is therefore necessary to use some method for separating those passages1 relating to the operations of the ,spirit1 that have been so misapplied to the service of enthusiastical pretenders40 ,page #e1 #f1 #g4 8,i proceed therefore to shew1 8,secondly1 ,that a distinction is to be made between those passages of scripture about the blessed ,spirit that peculiarly belong to the primitive church1 and those that relate to ,christians in all ages40 ,page #g4 8,the exigencies of the apostolical age required the miraculous gifts of the ,spirit4 ,but these soon ceased4 ,when therefore we meet in the scripture with an account of those extraordinary gifts1 and likewise with an account of his ordinary operations1 we must distinguish the one from the other4 ,and that not only for our own satisfaction1 but as a means to stop the growth of enthusiasm40 ,page #h1 #i1 #aj4 8,and such a distinction ought to be made1 by the best methods of interpreting the scriptures3 which most certainly are an attentive consideration of the occasion and scope of those passages1 in concurrence with the general sense of the primitive church40 page #aa4 8,i propose1 ,thirdly1 to specify some of the chief passages of scripture1 that are misapplied by modern ,enthusiasts1 and to shew that they are to be interpreted chiefly1 if not only1 of the apostolical church2 and that they very little1 if at all relate1 to the present state of ,christians40 page #ab4 8,i begin1 says your ,lordship1 with the original promise of the ,spirit1 as made by our ,lord a little before he left the world40 ,i must take the liberty to stop your ,lordship on the threshold4 ,i deny this original promise of the ,spirit4 ,i expect his assistance1 in virtue of many promises1 some hundred years prior to this4 ,if you say1 8,however this is the original or first promise of the ,spirit1 in the new ,testament40 ,no1 my ,lord2 those words were spoken long before3 he shall baptize you with the ,holy ,ghost1 and with fire4 ,will you reply8 8,well1 but this is the original promise made by our ,lord40 ,i answer1 not so neither1 for it was before this1 ,jesus himself stood and cried1 ,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me and drink1 he that believeth on me1 as the scripture hath said1 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water4 ,and this he spake of the ,spirit1 which they should receive who believed on him 7 74 ,if ,i mistake not1 this may more justly be termed1 our ,lord's original promise of the ,spirit4 ,and who will assert1 that this is to be interpreted chiefly1 if not only of the apostolical church80 8 0 replaced with 8 0 #f4 ,your ,lordship proceeds3 8,it occurs in the #adth and #afth chapters of ,st4 ,john's gospel2 in which he uses these words0in what verses1 my ,lord8 ,why is not this specified8 ,unless to furnish your ,lordship with an opportunity of doing the very things whereof you before complained1 of 8confounding passages of a quite contrary nature1 and jumbling together those that relate to the extraordinary operations of the ,spirit1 with those that relate to his ordinary influences80 ,i take it for granted1 that the citation of texts in the margin1 which is totally wrong1 is a blunder of the printer's4 8extraordinory0 replaced with 8extraordinary0 ,you cite the words thus2 ,when the ,spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth1 and he will shew you things to come4 7,these are nearly the words that occur1 chapter xvi4 verse #ac47 8,and again1 ,the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you4 ,these words occur in the #adth chapter1 at the #bfth verse40 ,but my ,lord1 ,i want the original promise still2 the original 7,i mean7 of those made in this very discourse4 ,indeed your margin tells us1 where it is1 7chapter xiv4 verse #af47 but the words appear not4 ,taken together with the context they run thus3 ,if ye love me1 keep my commandments4 ,and ,i will pray the ,father1 and he will give you another ,comforter1 that he may abide with you for ever3 ,even the ,spirit of truth1 whom the world cannot receive1 because it seeth him not1 neither knowest him4 ,chapter xiv4 verses #ae1 #af1 #ag4 ,my ,lord1 suffer me to enquire1 why you slipt over this text8 ,was it not 7,i appeal to the ,searcher of your heart67 because you was conscious to yourself1 that it would necessarily drive you to that unhappy dilemma1 either to assert that for ever1 1 meant only sixty or seventy years2 or to allow1 that the text must be interpreted of the ordinary operations of the ,spirit1 in all future ages of the church4 ,and indeed that the promise in this text belongs to all ,christians1 evidently appears1 not only from your ,lordship's own concession1 and from the text itself1 7for who can deny1 that this ,comforter or paraclete is now given to all them that believe87 but also from the preceding1 as well as following1 words4 ,the preceding are1 ,if ye love me1 keep my commandments4 ,and ,i will pray the ,fathernone surely can doubt1 but these belong to all ,christians in all ages4 ,the following words are1 ,even the ,spirit of truth1 whom the world cannot receive4 ,true2 the world cannot2 but all ,christians can1 and will receive him for ever4 #f4 ,the second promise of the ,comforter1 made in this chapter1 together with its context1 stands thus3 ,judas saith unto him 7not ,iscariot7 ,lord1 how is it that thou will manifest thyself unto us1 and not unto the world8 ,verse #bb4 ,jesus answered and said unto him1 if any man love me1 he will keep my word4 ,and my ,father will love him1 and we will come unto him1 and make our abode with him4 ,verse #bc4 ,he that loveth me not1 keepeth not my word3 and the word which ye hear is not mine1 but the ,father's which sent me4 ,verse #bd4 ,these things have ,i spoken unto you1 being yet with you4 ,verse #be4 ,but the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he will teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you4 ,verse #bf4 ,now1 ,how does your ,lordship prove that this promise belongs only to the primitive church8 ,why1 #a4 ,you say1 8,it is very clear from the bare recital of the words40 ,i apprehend not4 ,but this is the very question1 which is not to be begged1 but proved4 #b4 ,you say1 8,the ,spirit's bringing all things to their remembrance1 whatsoever he had said unto them1 cannot possibly be applied to any other persons but the apostles40 8,cannot be applied60 ,this is a flat begging the question again1 which ,i cannot give up without better reasons4 #c4 8,the gifts of prophecy and of being guided into all truth1 and taught all things1 can be applied only to the apostles1 and those of that age who were immediately inspired40 ,here your ,lordship1 in order the more plausibly to beg the question again1 8,jumbles together the extraordinary with the ordinary operations of the ,spirit40 ,the gift of prophecy1 we know1 is one of his extraordinary operations2 but there is not a word of it in this text3 nor1 therefore ought it to be 8confounded with his ordinary operations10 such as the being guided into all truth1 7all that is necessary to salvation7 and taught all 7necessary7 things1 in a due use of the means he hath ordained4 ,verse #bf4 ,in the same manner1 namely1 in a serious and constant use of proper means1 ,i believe the assistance of the ,holy ,ghost is given to all ,christians1 to bring all things needful to their remembrance1 whatsoever ,christ hath spoken to them in his word4 ,so that ,i see no occasion to grant1 without some kind of proof1 7especially considering the occasion of this1 and the scope of the preceding verses7 that even 8this promise cannot possibly be applied to any other persons but the apostles40 #g4 ,in the same discourse of our ,lord we have a third promise of the ,comforter1 the whole clause runs thus3 ,if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you2 but if ,i go1 ,i will send him unto you4 ,chapter xvi4 verse #g4 ,and when he is come1 he will reprove 7or convince7 the world of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment4 ,verse #h4 ,of sin1 because they believe not on me2 ,of righteousness1 because ,i go to my ,father1 and ye see me no more3 ,of judgment1 because the prince of this world is judged2 verses #i1 #aj1 #aa4 ,i have yet many things to say unto you2 but ye cannot bear them now3 7,verse #ab47 but when he shall come1 the ,spirit of truth1 he will guide you into all truth,and he will shew you things to come4 ,verse #ac4 ,there is only one sentence here which has not already been considered1 ,he will shew you things to come4 ,and this1 it is granted1 relates to the gift of prophecy1 one of the extraordinary operations of the ,spirit4 ,the general conclusion which your ,lordship draws1 is exprest in these words4 8,consequently all pretensions to the ,spirit1 in the proper sense of the words of this promise 7i4 e4 of these several texts of ,st4 ,john7 are vain and insignificant1 as they are claimed by modern ,enthusiasts40 ,and in the end of the same paragraph you add1 8,none but the ordinary operations of the ,spirit are to be now expected1 since those that are of a miraculous 7or extraordinary7 kind are ,,not ,,pretended ,,to1 even by modern ,enthusiasts40 ,my ,lord1 this is surprizing4 ,i read it over and over1 before ,i could credit my own eyes4 ,i verily believe this one clause1 with unprejudiced persons1 will be an answer to the whole book4 ,you have been vehemently crying out all along against those enthusiastical pretenders2 nay1 the very design of your book1 as you openly declare1 8was to stop the growth of their ,enthusiasm2 who have had the assurance 7as you positively affirm1 page #f17 to claim to themselves the extraordinary operations of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,and here you as positively affirm1 that those extraordinary operations 8are not pretended to by them at all60 #h4 ,yet your ,lordship proceeds1 8,the next passage of scripture1 ,i shall mention as peculiarly belonging to the primitive times1 though misapplied to the present state of ,christians by modern ,enthusiasts1 is what relates to the testimony of the ,spirit1 and praying by the ,spirit1 in the #hth chapter of the epistle to the ,romans40 ,page #af4 ,i believe it incumbent upon me thoroughly to weigh the force of your ,lordship's reasoning on this head4 ,you begin1 8,after ,st4 ,paul had treated of that spiritual principle in ,christians1 which enables them to mortify the deeds of the bodyhe says1 if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of his4 ,this makes the distinction of a true ,christian1 particularly in opposition to the ,jews40 ,i apprehend it is just here1 that your ,lordship turns out of the way1 when you say1 8particularly in opposition to the ,jews40 ,such a particular opposition ,i cannot allow1 till some stronger proof is produced1 than ,st4 ,paul's occasionally mentioning six verses before1 8the imperfection of the ,jewish law40 8you0 replaced with 8your0 ,yet your ,lordship's mind is so full of this1 that after repeating the #adth and #aeth verses 7as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 they are the sons of ,god3 for ye have not received the ,spirit of bondage again to fear3 but ye have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father67 you add1 8in the former part of this verse1 the apostle shews again the imperfection of the ,jewish law40 ,this also calls for proof3 otherwise1 it will not be allowed1 that he here speaks of the ,jewish law at all3 not1 tho' we grant that 8the ,jews were subject to the fear of death1 and lived in consequence of it1 in a state of bondage40 ,for are not all unbelievers1 as well as the ,jews1 more or less1 in the same fear and bondage8 8will0 replaced with 8well0 ,your ,lordship goes on1 8,in the latter part of the verse he shews the superiority of the ,christian law to that of the ,jews40 ,page #ah4 ,where is the proof1 my ,lord8 ,how does it appear1 that he is speaking either of the ,christian or ,jewish law1 in those words1 ,ye have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father8 ,however you infer1 8,christians then are the adopted sons of ,god1 in contradistinction to the ,jews1 as the former had the gifts of the ,holy ,ghost1 which none of the latter had at that time3 and the body of the ,jews never had40 ,no1 nor the body of the ,christians neither4 ,so that if this be a proof against the ,jews1 it is the very same against the ,christians4 8poof0 replaced with 8proof0 ,i must observe farther on the preceding words1 #a4 ,that your ,lordship begins here1 to take the word ,christians in a new and peculiar sense1 for the whole body of the then ,christian ,church3 #b4 ,that it is a bad inference1 8as1 or because they had the gifts of the ,holy ,ghost1 therefore they were the sons of ,god40 ,on the one hand1 if they were the children of ,god1 it was not1 because they had gifts4 ,on the other1 a man may have all those gifts1 and yet be a child of the devil4 #i4 ,i conceive1 not only that your ,lordship has proved nothing hitherto1 not one point that has any relation to the question3 but that1 strictly speaking1 you have not attempted to prove any thing1 having taken for granted whatever came in your way4 ,in the same manner you proceed1 8,the apostle goes on1 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god4 ,this passage1 as it is connected with the preceding one1 relates to the general adoption of ,christians1 or their becoming the sons of ,god instead of the ,jews408,this passage relates0,how is that proved8 ,by its connexion with the preceding8 ,in no wise1 unless it be good arguing to prove ,ignotum per ignotius4 ,it has not yet been proved1 that the preceeding passage itself has any relation to this matter4 ,your ,lordship adds1 8,but what was the ground of this preference that was given to ,christians8 ,it was plainly the 7miraculous7 gifts of the ,spirit1 which they had1 and which the ,jews had not40 ,this preference given to ,christians1 was just before exprest by their becoming the sons of ,god instead of the ,jews4 ,were the gifts of the ,spirit then the ground of this preference8 ,the ground of their becoming the sons of ,god8 ,what an assertion is this6 ,and how little is it mended1 though ,i allow1 that 8these miraculous gifts of the ,spirit1 were a testimony that ,god acknowledged the ,christians to be his people and not the ,jews3 7since the ,christians who worked miracles1 did it not by the works of the law1 but by the hearing of faith807 ,your ,lordship concludes1 8,from these passages of ,st4 ,paul1 compared together1 it clearly follows1 that the fore-mentioned testimony of the ,spirit1 was the public testimony of miraculous giftsand1 consequently1 the witness of the ,spirit that we are the children of ,god1 cannot possibly be applied1 to the private testimony of the ,spirit given to our own consciences1 as is pretended by modern enthusiasts40 ,page #bj4 ,if your conclusion1 my ,lord1 will stand without the premisses it may3 but that it has no manner of connection with them1 ,i trust does partly1 and will more fully appear1 when we view the whole passage to which you refer4 ,and ,i believe that passage1 with very little comment1 will prove1 in direct opposition to that conclusion1 that the testimony of the ,spirit there mentioned1 is not the public testimony of miraculous gifts1 but must be applied to the private testimony of the ,spirit1 given to our own consciences4 #aj4 ,st4 ,paul begins the #hth chapter of his ,epistle to the ,romans1 with the great privilege of every ,christian believer1 7whether ,jew or ,gentile before7 ,there is now no condemnation for them that are in ,christ ,jesus1 engrafted into him by faith1 who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 ,for now every one of them may truly say1 ,the law 7or power7 of the ,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus 7given unto me for his sake7 hath made me free from the law 7or power7 of sin and death4 ,for that which the law could not do1 in that it was weak through the flesh1 ,god sending his own ,son1 in the likeness of sinful flesh1 and for sin1 did2 when he condemned1 7crucified1 put to death1 destroyed7 sin in the flesh3 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us1 who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 ,for they that are after the flesh1 mind the things of the flesh2 but they that are after the ,spirit1 the things of the ,spirit4 ,verse #ae4 ,is it not evident1 that the apostle is here describing a true ,christian1 a holy believer8 ,in opposition1 not particularly to a ,jew1 much less to the ,jewish law1 but to every unholy man1 to all1 whether ,jews or ,gentiles1 who walk after the flesh8 ,he goes on ,for1 to be carnally-minded is death2 but to be spiritually-minded is life and peace4 ,because the carnal mind is enmity against ,god3 for it is not subject to the law of ,god2 neither indeed can be4 ,so then they that are in the flesh1 cannot please ,god4 ,verses #f1 #g1 #h4 ,the opposition between a holy and unholy man1 is still glaring and undeniable4 ,but can any man discern1 the least glimmering of opposition1 between the ,christian and the ,jewish ,,law4 ,the apostle goes on1 ,but ye are not in the flesh1 but in the ,spirit1 if so be that the ,spirit of ,god dwell in you4 ,now if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of his4 ,but if ,christ be in you1 the body is dead1 because of sin1 but the spirit is life because of righteousness4 ,but if the ,spirit of him that raised up ,jesus from the dead dwell in you1 he that raised up ,christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his ,spirit which dwelleth in you4 ,therefore1 brethren1 we are debtors1 not to the flesh1 to live after the flesh4 ,for if ye live after the flesh ye shall die2 but if ye1 through the ,spirit1 do mortify the deeds of the body1 ye shall live4 ,for as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 they are the sons of ,god4 ,verse #iad4 ,is there one word here1 is there any the least intimation of miraculous gifts1 or of the ,jewish law8 ,it follows1 ,for ye have not received the spirit of bondage again1 to fear 7such as all sinners have1 when they at first stirred up to seek ,god1 and begin to serve him from a slavish fear of punishment7 ,but ye have received the spirit of adoption 7of free love7 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,the ,spirit itself 7which ,god hath sent forth into our hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father17 beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god4 ,verse #ae1 #af4 ,i am now willing to leave it1 without farther comment1 to the judgment of every impartial reader1 whether it does not appear from the whole scope and tenor of the text and context taken together1 that this passage does not refer to the ,jewish law1 nor to the public testimony of miracles3 neither of which can be dragged in1 without putting the utmost force on the natural meaning of the words4 ,and if so1 it will follow1 that this witness of the ,spirit is the private testimony given to our own consciences3 which1 consequently1 all sober ,christians may claim1 without any danger of enthusiasm4 #aa4 8,but ,i go on 7says your ,lordship1 page #ba47 to the consideration of the other passages in the same chapter1 relating to our praying by the ,spirit1 namely at verse #bf and #bg1 which runs thus1 ,likewise the ,spirit also helpeth our infirmities3 for we know not what we should pray for as we ought2 but the ,spirit itself maketh intercession for us1 with groanings which cannot be uttered4 ,and he that searcheth the hearts1 knoweth what is the mind of the spirit1 because he maketh intercession for the saints1 according to the will of ,god40 ,here is a circumstance highly needful to be observed1 before we enter upon this question4 ,your ,lordship undertakes to fix the meaning of an expression used by ,st4 ,paul1 in the #adth chapter of his first epistle to the ,corinthians4 ,and in order thereto1 you laboriously explain part of the #hth chapter of the ,romans4 ,my ,lord1 how is this8 ,will it be said1 ,why this is often alledged to prove the wrong sense of that scripture8 ,i conceive1 this will not salve the matter at all4 ,your ,lordship had before laid down a particular method1 as the only sure one whereby to distinguish what scriptures belong to all ,christians1 and what do not4 ,this method is1 the considering the occasion and scope of those passages1 by comparing the text and context together4 ,you then propose1 by the use of this method1 to shew1 that several texts have been misapplied by ,enthusiasts4 ,one of these is the #aeth verse of the #adth chapter of the first epistle to the ,corinthians4 ,and to shew1 that ,enthusiasts have misapplied this1 you comment on the #hth chapter to the ,romans6 ,however1 let us weigh the comment itself4 ,the material part of it begins thus3 7page #bb47 8,now he adds another proof of the truth of ,christianity3 ,likewise the ,spirit helpeth our infirmities 7or our distresses1 for signifies both40 ,i doubt that3 ,i require authority for it47 8,and then he mentions1 in what instances he does so1 viz4 ,in prayers to ,god about afflictions07,in nothing else1 my ,lord8 ,did he help their infirmities1 in no other instance than this87 8,we know not1 says he1 what we should pray for as we ought4 ,that is1 whether it be best for us to bear afflictions1 or to be delivered from them4 ,but the ,spirit1 ,,or the gift of the ,spirit1 instructs us how to pray in a manner agreeable to the will of ,god40 ,the ,spirit1 ,,or the gift of the ,spirit6 ,what marvellous reasoning is this8 ,if these 8are often put for each other10 what then8 ,how is that evinced to be the case here8 80 replaced with 80 #ab4 8,the apostle goes on1 ,the ,spirit itself 7page #bc7 maketh intercession for us1 with groanings which cannot be uttered3 ,that is1 the spiritual or inspired person prayed in that capacity for the whole assembly40 8,that is60 ,nay1 that is again the very point to be proved1 else we get not one step farther4 8,the apostle goes on thus1 verse #bg4 ,and he that 7page #bd7 searcheth the hearts1 knoweth what is the mind of the spirit1 7that is1 of the spiritual or inspired person7 because he maketh intercession for the saints1 according to the will of ,god4 ,that is1 ,god knows the intention of the spiritual person1 who has the gift of prayer1 which he uses for the benefit of the whole assembly2 he1 ,i say1 leaves it entirely to ,god1 whether it be best that they should suffer afflictions1 or be delivered from them40 ,page #be4 ,my ,lord1 this is more astonishing than all the rest6 ,i was expecting all along in reading the preceding pages 7and so ,i suppose1 was every thinking reader7 when your ,lordship would mention1 that the person miraculously inspired for that intent1 and praying either for the support or deliverance of the people1 should have the very petition which he asked of him4 ,whereas you intended no such thing6 ,but shut up the whole with that lame and impotent conclusion1 8,he leaves it to ,god1 whether it be best they should suffer afflictions1 or be delivered from them40 ,had he then that miraculous gift of ,god1 that he might do what any common ,christian might have done without it8 ,why1 any person in the congregation might have prayed thus3 nay1 could not pray otherwise1 if he had the ordinary grace of ,god3 8,leaving it to ,god1 whether he should suffer afflictions still1 or be delivered from them40 ,was it only in the apostolical age1 that 8the ,spirit instructed ,christians thus to pray80 ,cannot a man pray thus1 either for himself or others1 unless he has the miraculous gift of prayer6,so1 according to your ,lordship's judgment1 8,to pray in such a manner1 as in the event to leave the continuance of our sufferings1 or our deliverance from them1 with a due submission1 to the good pleasure of ,god10 is one of those 8extraordinary operations of the ,spirit10 which none now pretend to but 8modern enthusiasts60 ,i beseech your ,lordship to consider4 ,can you cooly maintain1 that 8the praying with a due submission to the will of ,god10 even in heavy affliction1 is a miraculous gift8 ,an extraordinary operation of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,is this peculiar to the primitive times8 ,is it what none but enthusiasts now pretend to8 ,if not1 then your ,lordship's own account of praying by the ,spirit indisputably proves1 that this is one of the ordinary privileges of all ,christians1 to the end of the world4 #ac4 8,i go on 7your ,lordship adds7 to another passage of scripture1 that has been entirely 7page #bg47 misapplied by modern enthusiasts4 #a ,corinthians ii4 #d1 #e4 ,and my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom1 but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power2 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man1 but in the power of ,god40 ,page #bi4 8,it is only necessary to evince1 that by the demonstration of the spirit and power is meant the demonstration of the truth of ,christianity1 that arises from the prophesies of the ,old ,testament1 and the miracles of ,christ and his apostles40 ,yes1 it is necessary farther to evince1 that these words have no other meaning4 ,but first1 ,how will you evince1 that they bear this8 ,in order thereto1 your ,lordship argues thus3 8,the former seems to be the demonstration of the ,spirit1 with regard to the prophetical testimonies of him4,and the demonstration of power1 must signify the power of ,god1 exerted in miracles40 7page #cj47 8,must20 ,why so8 ,that often signifies miraculous power1 is allowed,but what follows8 ,that it must mean so in this place8 ,that still remains to be proved4 ,indeed your ,lordship says1 this 8appears from the following verse1 in which is assigned the reason for using this method of proving ,christianity to be true1 viz4 ,that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man1 but in the power of ,god4 ,by the power of ,god therefore must necessarily be understood1 the miracles performed by ,christ and his apostles40 ,by the illative particle1 therefore1 this proposition should be an inference from some other3 but what other ,i cannot yet discern4 ,so that1 for the present1 ,i can only look upon it1 as a fresh instance of begging the question4 8,he goes on in the #gth1 #ajth and following verses1 to explain this demonstration of the spirit and of power40 ,but he does not say one syllable therein1 either of the ancient prophecies1 or of miracles4 ,nor will it be easily proved1 that he speaks either of one or the other1 from the beginning of the chapter to the end4 ,after transcribing the #acth verse1 which things also we speak1 not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth1 but which the ,holy ,ghost teacheth1 comparing spiritual things with spiritual1 your ,lordship adds1 8,from which last passage it appears1 that the words which the ,holy ,ghost is said to teach1 must be the prophetical revelations of the ,old ,testament1 which were discovered to the apostles by the same ,spirit40 ,i cannot apprehend1 how this appears4 ,i cannot as yet see any connection at all between the premisses and the conclusion4 ,upon the whole1 ,i desire any calm and serious man1 to read over this whole chapter2 and then he will easily judge1 what is the natural meaning of the words in question3 and whether 7although it be allowed1 that they were peculiarly fulfilled in the apostles1 yet7 they do not manifestly belong1 in a lower sense1 to every true minister of ,christ8 ,for what can be more undeniable than this1 that our preaching also is vain1 unless it be attended with the power of that ,spirit1 who alone pierceth the heart8 ,and that your hearing is vain1 unless the same power be present to heal your soul1 and to give you a faith which standeth not in the wisdom of man1 but in the power of ,god8 #ad4 8,another passage that 7your ,lordship thinks7 has been misapplied by enthusiasts1 but was really peculiar to the times of the apostles1 is #a ,john ii4 #bj4 and #bg4 7page #ce47 ,ye have an unction from the ,holy ,one1 and ye know all things4,but the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you3 ,and ye need not that any man teach you1 but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things1 and is truth1 and is no lie4 ,and even as it hath taught you1 ye shall abide in him40 8,here the apostle arms the true ,christians against seducers1 by an argument drawn from the unction from the ,holy ,one1 that was in or rather among them3 that is1 from the immediate inspiration of some of their teachers40 page #cg4 8again0 replaced with 8against0 ,here it rests upon your lordship1 to prove 7as well as affirm7 #a4 ,that should be translated among3 #b4 ,that this unction from the ,holy ,one means1 8,the inspiration of some of their teachers40 ,the latter your lordship attempts to prove thus3 8,the inspired teachers of old were set apart for that office1 by an extraordinary effusion of the ,holy ,ghost3 ,therefore page #ch4 ,the unction from the ,holy ,one here1 means such an effusion40 ,i deny the consequence2 so the question is still to be proved4 ,printer incorrectly started a new paragraph here4 ,your lordship's second argument is drawn from the #bfth verse of the #adth chapter of ,st4 ,john's gospel1 ,proposed in form1 it will stand thus3 8,if those words1 ,he shall teach you all things1 relate only to a miraculous gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 then these words1 ,the same anointing teacheth you of all things1 relate to the miraculous gift3 8,but those words relate only to a miraculous gift3 8,therefore these relate to the same40 ,i conceive1 it will not be very easy to make good the consequence in the first proposition4 ,but ,i deny the minor also3 the contradictory whereto1 ,i trust1 has appeared to be true4 ,i grant indeed1 that these words were more eminently fulfilled1 in the age of the apostles4 ,but this is altogether consistent with their belonging in a lower sense1 to all ,christians in all ages3 ,seeing they have all need of an unction from the ,holy ,one1 a supernatural assistance from the ,holy ,ghost1 that they may know in the due use of all proper means1 all things needful for their souls health4 ,therefore it is no enthusiasm1 to teach that the unction from the ,holy ,one1 belongs to all ,christians in all ages4 #ae4 ,there is one topic of your lordship's yet untouched2 that is authority3 ,one you have very frequently made use of1 and wherein1 probably1 the generality of readers suppose your lordship's great strength lies4 ,and indeed when your lordship first mentioned1 7page #aa47 8,the general sense of the primitive church10 ,i presumed you would have produced so numerous authorities1 that ,i should not easily be able to consult them all4 ,but ,i soon found my mistake2 your lordship naming only ,chrysostom1 ,jerome1 ,origen1 and ,athanasius4 ,however1 though these four can no more be termed the primitive church1 than the church universal1 yet ,i consent to abide by their suffrage4 ,nay1 ,i will go a step farther still4 ,if any two of these affirm1 that those seven texts belong only to the apostolical age1 and not to the ,christians of succeeding times1 ,i will give up the whole cause4 ,but let it be observed3 ,if they should affirm1 that these primarily belong to the ,christians of the apostolical age1 that does not prove the point1 because they may in a secondary sense belong to others notwithstanding3 ,nor does any of them speak home to the question1 unless he maintain in express terms1 that these texts refer only to the miraculous gifts of the ,spirit1 and not at all to the state of ordinary ,christians4 8,christans0 replaced with 8,christians0 #af4 ,concerning those three texts1 ,john xiv4 verse #af4 and the #bf4 and ,john xvi4 verse #ac4 8,i could easily add 7says your lordship17 the authorities of ,chrysostom and the other antient commentators40 ,st4 ,chrysostom's authority ,i will consider now1 and that of the others1 when they are produced4 ,page #ae4 ,it is granted1 that he interprets not only ,john xvi4 #ac4 but also both the passages in the #adth chapter1 as primarily belonging to the apostles4 ,yet part of his comment on the #bfth verse1 is as follows4 8,such is that grace 7of the ,comforter7 that if it finds sadness it takes it away2 if evil desire1 it consumes it4 ,it casts out fear1 and suffers him that receives it to be a man no longer1 but translates him1 as it were1 into heaven4 ,hence none of them counted any thing his own1 but continued in prayer1 with gladness and singleness of heart4 ,for this chiefly is there need of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,for the fruit of the ,spirit is joy1 peace1 faith1 meekness4 ,indeed spiritual men often grieve2 but that grief is sweeter than joy4 ,for whatever is of the ,spirit1 is the greatest gain1 as whatever is of the world1 is the greatest loss4 ,let us therefore in keeping the commandments0 7according to our ,lord's exhortation1 verse #ae47 8secure the unconquerable assistance of the ,spirit1 and we shall be nothing inferior to angels40 ,st4 ,chrysostom here1 after he had shewn1 that the promise of the ,comforter primarily belonged to the apostles3 ,and who ever questioned it8 undeniably teaches1 ,that in a secondary sense1 it belongs to all ,christians3 ,to all spiritual men1 all who keep the commandments4 ,i appeal therefore to all mankind1 whether his authority1 touching the promise of our ,lord in those texts1 does not overthrow the proposition it was cited to prove8 ,although your lordship names no other author here1 yet page #db4 you say1 8,the assigned sense of these passages was confirmed by the authority of ,origen40 ,it is needful therefore to add1 what occurs in his works1 with regard to the present question4 ,he occasionally mentions this promise of our ,lord1 in four several places4 ,but it is in one only that he speaks pertinently to the point in hand1 7,volume ,,ii4 page #djc4 ,edition ,benedictine47 where his words are these3 ,when the ,spirit of truth is come1 he will guide you into all truth1 and he will teach you all things4 8,the sum of all good things consists in this1 that a man be found worthy to receive the grace of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,otherwise1 nothing will be accounted perfect in him1 who hath not the ,holy ,spirit40 ,do these words confirm that 8sense of those passages that your lordship had assigned80 ,rather do they not utterly overturn it8 ,and prove1 7as above7 that although this promise of our ,lord1 primarily belongs to the apostles1 yet in the secondary sense1 it belongs 7according to ,origen's judgment7 to all ,christians in all ages8 #ag4 ,the fourth text mentioned as belonging to the first ,christians only1 is ,romans viii4 #ae1 #af3 and page #bf4 it is said1 8,this interpretation is confirmed by the authority of the most eminent fathers40 ,the reader is particularly referred to ,origen and ,jerom in locum4 ,but here seems to be a mistake of the name4 ,jerom in locum should mean1 ,jerom upon the place1 upon ,romans viii4 #ae1 #af4 ,but ,i cannot perceive that there is one word upon that place1 in all ,st4 ,jerom's works4 ,nor indeed has ,origen commented upon it any more than ,jerom4 ,but he occasionally mentions it in these words3 8,he is a babe who is fed with milkbut if he seeks the things that are abovewithout doubt he will be of the number of those1 who receive not the ,spirit of bondage again unto fear1 but the spirit of adoption1 through whom they cry1 ,abba ,father40 ,volume ,i4 page #gi4 ,again1 8,the fulness of time is comewhen they who are willing1 receive the adoption1 as ,paul teaches in these words1 ,ye have not received the ,spirit of bondage again unto fear2 but ye have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father6 ,and it is written in the gospel according to ,st4 ,john1 ,to as many as received him1 to them gave he power to become the sons of ,god1 even to them that believe in his name40 ,volume ,i4 page #bca1 #bcb4 ,yet again1 8,every one that is born of ,god1 and doth not commit sin1 by his very actions saith1 ,our ,father which art in heaven1 the ,spirit itself bearing witness with their spirit1 that they are the children of ,god40 ibid4 ,according to ,origen therefore1 this testimony of the ,spirit1 is not any publick testimony by miracles1 peculiar to the first times1 but an inward testimony1 belonging in common to all that are born of ,god4 ,and consequently the authority of ,origen does not 8confirm that interpretation0 neither2 but absolutely destroys it4 #ah4 ,the last authority your ,lordship appeals to on this text is1 8that of the great ,john ,chrysostom1 who reckons the testimony of the spirit of adoption by which we cry ,abba1 ,father6 among the miraculous gifts of the ,spirit40 8,i rather chuse 7your ,lordship adds1 page #bf47 to refer you to the words of ,st4 ,chrysostom1 than to transcribe them here1 as having almost translated them in the present account of the testimony of the ,spirit40 ,however1 ,i believe it will not be labour lost to transcribe a few of those words4 ,it is his comment on the #adth verse1 that he first mentions1 ,st4 ,paul's comparison between a ,jew and a ,christian4 ,how fairly your ,lordship has represented this1 let every reader judge4 ,as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 they are the sons of ,god48,whereas the same title had been given of old to the ,jews also1he shews in the sequel1 how great a difference there is1 between that honour and this4 ,for though1 says he1 the titles are the same1 yet the things are not4 ,and he plainly proves it1 by comparing both what they had received1 and what they looked for4 ,and first he shews what they had received1 viz4 ,a ,spirit of bondage4 ,therefore he adds1 ,ye have not received the ,spirit of bondage again unto fear3 but ye have received the ,spirit of adoption4 ,what means the spirit of fear899,observe their whole life1 and you will know clearly4 ,for punishments were at their heels1 and much fear was on every side1 and before their face4,but with us it is not so4 ,for our mind and conscience are cleansed1 so that we do all things well1 not for fear of present punishment1 but through our love of ,god1 and an habit of virtue4 ,they therefore1 though they were called sons1 yet were as slaves2 but we1 being made free1 have received the adoption1 and look not for a land of milk and honey1 but for heaven40 998,he brings also another proof1 that we have the ,spirit of adoption1 by which1 says he1 we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4,this is the first word we utter 1 3 after those amazing throes 7or birth-pangs7 and that strange and wonderful manner of bringing forth40 8,he brings yet another proof of the superiority of those who had this ,spirit of adoption4 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of ,god4 ,i prove this1 says he1 not only from the voice itself1 but also from the cause whence that voice proceeds4 ,for the ,spirit suggests the words while we thus speak1 which he hath elsewhere exprest more plainly1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into our hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father6 ,but what is1 ,the ,spirit beareth witness with our spirit8 ,he means1 the paraclete by the gift given unto us40 7,but that this was an extraordinary gift1 we have no intimation at all1 neither before nor after7 998,and when the ,spirit beareth witness1 what doubt is left8 ,if a man or an angel spake1 some might doubt4 ,but when the ,most ,high beareth witness to us1 who can doubt any longer80 ,now let any reasonable man judge how far your ,lordship has 8translated the words of ,st4 ,chrysostom8 ,and whether he reckons the testimony of the ,spirit among the miraculous gifts of the ,holy ,ghost80 ,or among those ordinary gifts of the ,spirit of ,christ1 which if a man have not1 he is none of his8 #ai4 ,the fifth text your ,lordship quotes1 as describing a miraculous gift of the ,spirit1 is #a ,corinthians xiv4 #ae4 ,to prove which1 you comment on the #hth chapter to the ,romans1 particularly the #bfth verse3 and here again it is said1 8,that the interpretation assigned1 is confirmed by several of the most eminent fathers1 more especially the great ,john ,chrysostom1 as well as by ,origen and ,jerome upon the place40 ,i cannot find ,st4 ,jerome to have writ one line upon the place4 ,and it is obvious1 that ,st4 ,chrysostom supposes1 the whole context from the #agth to the #beth verse1 to relate to all ,christians in all ages4 ,how this can be said to 8confirm the interpretation assigned10 ,i cannot conjecture4 ,nay1 it is remarkable1 that he expounds the former part of the #bfth verse1 as describing the ordinary privilege of all ,christians4 ,thus far1 therefore1 he does not confirm1 but overthrow 8the interpretation before assigned40 ,but in the middle of the verse he breaks off1 and expounds the latter part1 as describing one of the miraculous gifts4 ,yet ,i must do the justice to this venerable man to observe1 he does not suppose that a miraculous gift was given1 only that the inspired might do what any ordinary ,christian might have done without it4 7,this interpretation1 even of the latter part of the verse1 he does in no wise confirm47 ,but that he might ask in every particular circumstance1 the determinate thing which it was the will of ,god to give4 #bj4 ,the third father by whom it is said this interpretation is confirmed is ,origen4 ,the first passage of his1 which relates to ,romans viii4 #bf4 runs thus3 7volume ,i4 page #aii47 8,paul perceiving how far he was1 after all these things1 from knowing to pray for what he ought1 as he ought10 says1 ,we know not what we should pray for as we ought4 ,but he adds1 whence1 what is wanting may be had by one who indeed does not know1 but labours to be found worthy of having the defect supplied4 ,for he says ,likewise the ,spirit also helpeth our infirmities4 8,for we know not what we should pray for as we ought4 ,but the ,spirit itself maketh intercession for us1 with groanings which cannot be uttered4 ,and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit2 because he maketh intercession for the saints1 according to the will of ,god4 ,the ,spirit which crieth ,abba1 ,father1 in the hearts of the saints1 knowing well our groanings in this tabernacle1 maketh intercession for us to ,god1 with groanings which cannot be uttered4 ,to the same effect is that scripture1 #a ,corinthians xiv4 #ae4 ,i will pray with the ,spirit1 ,i will pray with the understanding also4 ,for our understanding 7or mind 7 cannot pray1 if the ,spirit do not pray before it1 and the understanding1 as it were1 listen to it40 8 0 replaced with 8 0 99,again 7,volume ,,ii4 page #adf47 8,i would know1 how the saints cry to ,god without a voice4 ,the apostle shews1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of his son into our hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father6 ,and he adds1 the ,spirit itself maketh intercession for us1 with groanings which cannot be uttered4 ,and again1 he that searcheth the hearts1 knoweth what is the mind of the spirit1 because he maketh intercession for the saints1 according to the will of ,god4 ,thus therefore1 the ,spirit making intercession for us with ,god1 the cry of the saints is heard without a voice40 ,once more in his ,homily on ,joshua1 7volume ,,ii4 page #dai47 8,jesus1 our ,lord1 doth not forsake us2 but although when we would pray1 we know not what to pray for as we ought1 yet the ,spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered4 ,now the ,lord is that ,spirit3 ,the ,spirit assists our prayers1 and offers them to ,god with groanings which we cannot express in words40 ,i believe all rational men will observe from hence1 that ,origen is so far from confirming1 that he quite overturns your ,lordship's interpretation of the #afth as well as the #bfth verse of this chapter3 seeing1 in his judgment1 both that testimony of the spirit and this prayer belong to all ,christians in all ages4 #ba4 ,the sixth scripture which your ,lordship has undertaken to shew1 8relates only to the apostolical times10 is #a ,corinthians ii4 #d1 #e4 ,and 8this interpretation also1 7it is said7 is confirmed by the authority of ,chrysostom1 ,origen1 and other ancient writers40 7page #cc7 ,with those other 8antient writers0 ,i have no concern yet4 ,st4 ,chrysostom so far confirms this interpretation1 as to explain that whole phrase the demonstration of the spirit and of power1 of 8the power of the ,spirit shewn by miracles40 ,but he says not one word1 of any 8proof of the ,christian religion1 arising from the types and prophecies of the old ,testament40 ,origen has these words 7,volume ,i4 page #cba47 8,our word has a certain peculiar demonstration1 more divine than the ,grecian1 logical demonstration4 ,this the apostle terms1 ,the demonstration of the ,spirit and of power3 of the ,spirit because of the prophecies1 sufficient to convince any one1 especially of the things that relate to ,christ2 of power1 because of the miraculous powers1 some footsteps of which still remain40 ,hence we may doubtless infer1 that ,origen judged this text to relate1 in its primary sense to the apostles3 but can we thence infer1 that he did not judge it to belong1 in a lower sense1 to all true ministers of ,christ8 8thas0 replaced with 8that0 ,let us hear him speaking for himself in the same treatise 7page #cgg47 8,and my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom1 but in demonstration of the ,spirit and of power3 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,god4 99,those who hear the word preached with power1 are themselves filled with power10 7,n4 ,b4 ,not the power of working miracles7 which they demonstrate both in their disposition1 and in their life1 and in their striving for the truth unto death4 ,but some although they profess to believe1 have not this power of ,god in them1 but are empty thereof40 7,did ,origen then believe1 that the power mentioned in this text1 belonged only to the apostolical age87 8,see the force of the word1 conquering believers by a persuasiveness attended with the power of ,god6 ,i speak this to shew the meaning of him that said1 ,and my speech and my preaching were not with the enticing words of man's wisdom1 but in demonstration of the ,spirit and of power2 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,god4 ,this divine saying means1 that what is spoken is not sufficient of itself 7although it be true and most worthy to be believed7 to pierce a man's soul1 if there be not also a certain power from ,god given to the speaker1 and grace bloom upon what is spoken1 and this grace cannot be but from ,god40 ,after observing1 that this is the very passage which your ,lordship mentions at the close of the other 7but does not cite7 ,i desire every unprejudiced person to judge1 whether ,origen does not clearly determine1 that the power1 spoken of in this text1 is in some measure given to all true ministers in all ages8 #bb4 ,the last scripture which your ,lordship affirms 8to be peculiar to the times of the apostles10 is that in the first epistle of ,st4 ,john1 concerning the unction of the ,holy ,one4 ,to confirm this interpretation1 we are referred to the authority of ,origen and ,chrysostom1 on the parallel passages in ,st4 ,john's gospel10 7page #db47 ,but it has appeared1 that both these fathers suppose those passages to belong to all ,christians4 ,and consequently their authority 7if these are parallel passages7 stands full against this interpretation4 ,your ,lordship subjoins1 8,i shall here only add that of the great ,athanasius1 who 7in his epistle to ,serapion7 interprets ,the unction from the ,holy ,one1 not merely of divine grace1 but of the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,nay1 it is enough1 if he interprets it at all of ordinary grace1 such as is common to all ,christians4 ,and this your ,lordship allows he does4 ,but ,i cannot allow that he interprets it of any thing else4 ,i cannot perceive1 that he interprets it at all1 8of the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,his words are1 8,the ,holy ,spirit is called1 and is1 the unction and the seal4 ,for ,john writes1 ,the anointing which ye have received of him1 abideth in you2 and ye need not that any man should teach you1 but as his anointing1 his ,spirit1 teacheth you of all things4 ,again1 it is written in the prophet ,isaiah1 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 because he hath anointed me4 ,and ,paul writes thus2 ,in whom also ye were sealed4 ,and again1 ,grieve not the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption4 ,this anointing is the breath of the ,son1 so that he who hath the ,spirit may say1 ,we are the sweet-smelling savour of ,christ4 ,because we are partakers of the ,holy ,spirit1 we have the ,son3 ,and having the ,son1 we have the ,spirit1 crying in our hearts1 ,abba1 ,father40 ,and so1 in his oration against the ,arians4 998,he sendeth the ,spirit of his ,son into our hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,his ,son in us1 invoking the ,father1 makes him to be called our ,father4 ,certainly ,god cannot be called their ,father1 who have not the ,son in their hearts40 ,is it not easy to be observed here1 #a4 ,that ,athanasius makes that testimony of the ,spirit common to all the children of ,god3 #b4 ,that he joins the anointing of the ,holy ,one1 with that seal of the ,spirit wherewith all that persevere are sealed to the day of redemption3 ,and #c4 ,that he does not1 throughout this passage1 speak of the extraordinary gifts at all8 ,therefore1 upon the whole1 the sense of the primitive church1 so far as it can be gathered from the authors above cited1 is1 ,that 8although some of the scriptures primarily refer1 to those extraordinary gifts of the ,spirit1 which were given to the apostles1 and a few other persons in the apostolical age3 yet they refer also1 in a secondary sense1 to those ordinary operations of the ,holy ,spirit1 which all the children of ,god do and will experience1 even to the end of the world40 #bc4 ,what ,i mean by ,the ordinary operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 ,i sum up in the words of a modern writer3 8,sanctification being opposed to our corruption1 and answering fully to the latitude thereof1 whatsoever of holiness and perfection is wanting in our nature1 must be supplied by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,wherefore being by nature we are totally void of all saving truth1 and under an impossibility of knowing the will of ,god2 this ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 even the deep things of ,god1 and revealeth them unto the sons of men1 so that thereby the darkness of their understanding is expelled1 and they are enlightened with the knowledge of ,god4 ,the same ,spirit which revealeth the object of faith generally to the universal church1 doth also illuminate the understanding of such as believe1 that they may receive the truth4 ,for faith is the gift of ,god1 not only in the object1 but also in the act4 ,and this gift is a gift of the ,holy ,ghost working within us,and as the increase of perfection1 so the original of faith is from the ,spirit of ,god1 by an internal illumination of the soul40 8,the second part of the office of the ,holy ,ghost is1 the renewing of man in all the parts and faculties of his soul4 ,for our natural corruption consisting in an aversion of our wills1 and a depravation of our affections1 and inclination of them to the will of ,god1 is wrought within us by the ,spirit of ,god40 8,the third part of this office is1 ,to lead1 direct and govern us in our actions and conversations4 ,if we live in the ,spirit1 quickened by his renovation1 we must also walk in the ,spirit1 following his direction1 led by his manuduction4 ,we are also animated and acted by the ,spirit of ,god1 who giveth both to will and to do3 ,and as many as are thus led by the ,spirit of ,god1 are the sons of ,god4 ,moreover1 that this direction may prove more effectual1 we are guided in our prayers by the same ,spirit3 according to the promise1 ,i will pour upon the house of ,david1 and upon the inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 the spirit of grace and supplication4 7,zechariah xii4 #aj47 ,whereas then this is the confidence which we have in him1 that if we ask any thing according to his will1 he heareth us3 and whereas we know not what we should pray for as we ought1 the ,spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered3 ,and he that searcheth the hearts1 knoweth what is the mind of the spirit1 because he maketh intercession for the saints1 according to the will of ,god4 ,from which intercession0 7made for all true ,christians7 8he hath the name of the ,paraclete given him by ,christ1 who said1 ,i will pray the ,father1 and he will give you another ,paraclete4 ,for if any man sin1 we have a ,paraclete with the ,father1 ,jesus ,christ the righteous1 saith ,st4 ,john3 ,who maketh intercession for us1 saith ,st4 ,paul1 7,romans viii4 #cd47 ,and we have another ,paraclete1 saith our ,saviour3 ,which also maketh intercession for us1 saith ,st4 ,paul4 ,a ,paraclete then1 in the notion of the scriptures1 is an intercessor40 ,romans viii4 #ad4 ,verse #bf4 ,verse #bf4 ,john xiv4 #af1 #bf4 ,john xiv4 #af4 ,romans viii4 #bg4 8,it is also the office of the ,holy ,ghost1 to assure us of the adoption of sons1 to create in us a sense of the paternal love of ,god towards us1 to give us an earnest of our everlasting inheritance4 ,the love of ,god shed abroad in our hearts1 by the ,holy ,ghost which is given unto us4 ,for as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 they are the sons of ,god4 ,and because we are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into our hearts1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,for we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear1 but we have received the spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father3 the ,spirit itself bearing witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god40 ,verses #ae1 #af4 8,as therefore we are born again by the ,spirit1 and receive from him our regeneration1 so we are also by the same ,spirit assured of our adoption4 ,because being sons we are also heirs1 heirs of ,god1 and joint-heirs with ,christ1 by the same ,spirit we have the pledge1 or rather the earnest of our inheritance4 ,for he which establisheth us in ,christ1 and hath anointed us is ,god2 who hath also sealed us1 and hath given us the earnest of his ,spirit in our hearts3 ,so that we are sealed with that ,holy ,spirit of promise1 which is the earnest of our inheritance4 ,the ,spirit of ,god1 as given unto us in this life1 is to be looked upon as an earnest1 being part of that reward which is promised1 and1 upon performance of the covenant which ,god hath made with us1 certainly to be received40 ,your ,lordship observed1 that 8the interpretation of those passages1 which relate to the ,unction from the ,holy ,one1 depends on the sense of those other passages of holy scripture1 particularly1 those in ,st4 ,john's gospel40 ,now if so1 then these words fix the sense of six out of the seven texts in question3 and every one of them1 in the judgment of this writer1 describes the ordinary gifts bestowed on all ,christians4 ,it now rests with your ,lordship1 to take your choice2 either to condemn or to acquit both4 ,either your ,lordship must condemn ,bishop ,pearson for an enthusiast1 7a man no ways inferior to ,bishop ,chrysostom37 or you must acquit me3 for ,i have his express authority on my side1 concerning every text which ,i affirm to belong to all ,christians4 #bd4 ,but ,i have greater authority than his1 and such as ,i reverence1 only less than that of the oracles of ,god4 ,i mean1 that of our own church4 ,i shall close this head1 by setting down what occurs in her authentic records1 concerning either our receiving the ,holy ,ghost1 or his ordinary operations in all true ,christians4 ,in her daily service1 she teaches us all to beseech ,god1 to grant us his ,holy ,spirit1 that those things may please him which we do at this present1 and that the rest of our life may be pure and holy3 ,to pray for our ,sovereign ,lord the ,king1 that ,god would replenish him with the grace of his ,holy ,spirit2 for all the ,royal ,family1 that they may be endued with his ,holy ,spirit1 and enriched with his heavenly grace3 for all the clergy and people1 that he would send down upon them the healthful ,spirit of his grace3 for the ,catholick ,church1 that it may be guided and governed by his good ,spirit3 and for all therein who at any time make their common supplication unto him1 that the fellowship or communication of the ,holy ,ghost may be with them all evermore4 ,her collects are full of petitions to the same effect3 8,grant that we may daily be renewed by thy ,holy ,spirit4,grant that in all our sufferings here1 for the testimony of thy truth1 we may by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed1 and being filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 may love and bless our persecutors4 ,send thy ,holy ,ghost and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity4 ,o ,lord1 from whom all good things do come1 grant to us thy humble servants1 that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good1 and by thy merciful guidance may perform the same4 ,grant us by the same ,spirit to have a right judgment in all things1 and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort4 7,n4 ,b4 ,the church here teaches all ,christians to claim the ,comforter1 in virtue of the promise made ,john xiv47 ,grant us1 ,lord1 we beseech thee1 the ,spirit1 to think and do always such things as be rightful4 ,o ,god1 forasmuch as without thee1 we are not able to please thee1 merciful grant that thy ,holy ,spirit1 may in all things direct and rule our hearts4 ,cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy ,holy ,spirit1 that we may perfectly love thee1 and worthily magnify thy holy name40 ,collect for ,christmas-,day4 ,st4 ,stephen's ,day4 ,quinquagesima ,sunday4 #eth ,sunday after ,easter4 ,sunday after ,ascension ,day4 #ith ,sunday after ,trinity4 #aith ,sunday after ,trinity4 ,communion ,office4 8,give thy ,holy ,spirit to this infant 7or this person7 that he may be born again4,give thy ,holy ,spirit to these persons 7,n4 ,b4 already baptized7 that they may continue thy servants40 8,almighty ,god1 who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these persons by water and the ,holy ,ghost,strengthen them with the ,holy ,ghost the ,comforter1 and daily increase in them the manifold gifts of thy grace40 ,office of ,confirmation4 ,from these passages it may sufficiently appear1 for what purposes every ,christian1 according to the doctrine of the church of ,england1 does now receive the ,holy ,ghost4 ,but this will be still more clear from those that follow3 wherein the reader may likewise observe1 a plain1 rational sense of ,god's revealing himself to us1 of the inspiration of the ,holy ,ghost1 and of a believer's feeling in himself the mighty working of the ,spirit of ,christ4 #be4 8,god gave them of old grace to be his children1 as he doth us now4 ,but now1 by the coming of our ,saviour ,christ1 we have received more abundantly the ,spirit of ,god in our hearts40 ,homily on ,faith4 ,part ,,ii4 8,he died to destroy the rule of the devil in us1 and he rose again to send down his ,holy ,spirit1 to rule in our hearts40 ,homily on the ,resurrection4 8,we have the ,holy ,spirit in our hearts1 as a seal and pledge of our everlasting inheritance40 ibid4 8,the ,holy ,ghost sat upon each of them1 like as it had been cloven tongues of fire3 to teach1 that it is he which giveth eloquence and utterance in preaching the gospel2 which engendereth a burning zeal towards ,god's word1 and giveth all men a tongue1 yea1 a fiery tongue40 7,n4 ,b4 ,whatever occurs in any of the journals1 of ,god's 8giving me utterance10 or 8enabling me to speak with power10 cannot therefore be quoted as enthusiasm1 without wounding the church through my side7 8,so that if any man be a dumb ,christian1 not professing his faith openly1 he giveth men occasion to doubt1 least he have not the grace of the ,holy ,ghost within him40 ,homily on ,whitsunday4 ,part ,i4 8,it is the office of the ,holy ,ghost to sanctify2 which the more it is hid from our understanding0 7i4 e4 the particular manner of his working7 8the more it ought to move all men1 to wonder at the secret and mighty workings of ,god's ,holy ,spirit which is within us1 for it is the ,holy ,ghost that doth quicken the minds of men1 stirring up godly motions in their hearts4 ,neither doth he think it sufficient inwardly to work the new birth of man1 unless he do also dwell and abide in him4 ,know ye not1 saith ,st4 ,paul1 that ye are the temple of ,god1 and that his ,spirit dwelleth in you8 ,know ye not that your bodies are the temple of the ,holy ,ghost which is in you8 ,again he saith1 ,ye are not in the flesh but in the ,spirit1 ,for why8 ,the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in you4 ,to this agreeth ,st4 ,john4 ,the anointing which ye have received 7he meaneth the ,holy ,ghost7 abideth in you4 ,and ,st4 ,peter saith the same1 ,the ,spirit of glory and of ,god resteth upon you4 ,o what comfort is this to the heart of a true ,christian1 to think that the ,holy ,ghost dwelleth in him6 ,if ,god be with us1 as the apostle saith1 who can be against us8 ,he giveth patience and joyfulness of heart1 in temptation and affliction1 and is therefore worthily called the ,comforter4 ,he doth instruct the hearts of the simple1 in the knowledge of ,god and his word2 therefore he is justly termed ,the ,spirit of truth4 ,and where the ,holy ,ghost doth instruct and teach1 there is no delay at all in learning40 ibid4 #a ,john ii4 #bg4 ,john xiv4 #af4 ,john xvi4 #ac4 7,from this passage ,i learn1 #a4 ,that every true ,christian now receives the ,holy ,ghost1 as the ,paraclete or ,comforter promised by our ,lord1 ,john xiv4 #ac4 ,secondly1 that every ,christian receives him as the ,spirit of truth 7promised ,john xvi47 to teach him all things3 and #c4 ,that the anointing mentioned in the first epistle of ,st4 ,john1 abides in every ,christian47 #bf4 8,in reading of ,god's word1 he profiteth most1 that is most inspired with the ,holy ,ghost40 ,homily on reading the scripture4 ,part ,i4 8,human and worldly wisdom is not needful to the understanding of scripture1 but the revelation of the ,holy ,ghost1 who inspireth the true meaning unto them that with humility and diligence search for it40 ibid4 ,part ,,ii4 8,make him know and feel1 that there is no other name under heaven given unto men1 whereby we can be saved40 8,if we feel our conscience at peace with ,god1 through remission of our sin1all is of ,god40 ,homily on ,rogation week4 ,part ,,iii4 8,if you feel such a faith in you1 rejoice in it1 and let it be daily increasing by well-working40 ,homily on faith4 ,part ,,iii4 8,the faithful may feel wrought tranquility of conscience1 the increase of faith and hope1 with many other graces of ,god40 ,homily on the sacrament4 ,part ,i4 8,godly men feel inwardly ,god's ,holy ,spirit1 inflaming their hearts with love40 ,homily on certain places of scripture4 ,part ,i4 8,god give us grace1 to know these things1 and to feel them in our hearts6 ,this knowledge and feeling is not of ourselves4 ,let us therefore meekly call upon the bountiful ,spirit1 the ,holy ,ghost1 to inspire us with his presence1 that we may be able to hear the goodness of ,god to our salvation4 ,for without his lively inspiration1 can we not so much as speak the name of the ,mediator4 ,no man can say that ,jesus is the ,lord1 but by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,much less should we be able to believe and know these great mysteries that be opened to us by ,christ4 ,but we have received saith ,st4 ,paul1 not the spirit of the world1 but the ,spirit which is of ,god2 for this purpose1 that we may know the things which are freely given to us of ,god4 ,in the power of the ,holy ,ghost resteth all ability to know ,god and to please him4 ,it is he that purifieth the mind by his secret working4 ,he enlighteneth the heart1 to conceive worthy thoughts of ,almighty ,god4 ,he sitteth in the tongue of man1 to stir him to speak his honour4 ,he only ministreth spiritual strength to the powers of the soul and body4 ,and if we have any gift1 whereby we may profit our neighbour1 all is wrought by this one and the self-same ,spirit40 ,homily for ,rogation week4 ,part ,,iii4 #bg4 ,every proposition which ,i have any where advanced1 concerning those operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 which ,i believe are common to all ,christians in all ages1 is here clearly maintained by our own church4 ,under a full sense of this1 ,i could not well understand for many years1 how it was1 that on the mentioning any of these great truths1 even among men of education1 the cry1 immediately arose1 8,an ,enthusiast1 an ,enthusiast60 ,but ,i now plainly perceive1 this is only an old fallacy in a new shape4 ,to object ,enthusiasm to any person or doctrine1 is but a decent method of begging the question4 ,it generally spares the objector the trouble of reasoning1 and is a shorter and easier way of carrying his cause4 ,for instance1 ,i assert that 8till a man receives the ,holy ,ghost1 he is without ,god in the world2 that he cannot know the things of ,god1 unless ,god reveal them unto him by the ,spirit3 no1 nor have even one holy or heavenly temper1 without the inspiration of the ,holy ,one40 ,now should one who is conscious to himself1 that he has experienced none of these things1 attempt to confute these propositions1 either from scripture or antiquity1 it might prove a difficult task4 ,what then shall he do8 ,why1 cry out1 8,enthusiasm6 ,enthusiasm60 ,and the work is done4 8experinced0 replaced with 8experienced0 ,but what does he mean by ,enthusiasm8 ,perhaps nothing at all3 few have any distinct ideas of its meaning4 ,perhaps1 8something very bad10 or1 8something ,i never experienced and do not understand40 ,shall ,i tell you then1 what that 8terrible something0 is8 ,i believe1 thinking men mean by ,enthusiasm1 a sort of religious madness2 a false imagination of being inspired by ,god3 and by an ,enthusiast1 one that fancies himself under the influence of the ,holy ,ghost1 when in fact he is not4 ,let him prove me guilty of this1 who can4 ,i will tell you once more the whole of my belief on these heads4 ,and if any man will shew me 7by arguments1 not hard names7 what is wrong1 ,i will thank ,god and him4 #bh4 ,every good gift is from ,god1 and is given to man by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,by nature there is in us no good thing4 ,and there can be none1 but so far as it is wrought in us by that good ,spirit4 ,have we any true knowledge of what is good8 ,this is not the result of our natural understanding4 ,the natural man discerneth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god3 so that we never can discern them1 until ,god reveals them unto us by his ,spirit4 ,reveals1 that is unveils1 uncovers2 gives us to know what we did not know before4 ,have we love8 ,it is shed abroad in our hearts1 by the ,holy ,ghost which is given unto us4 ,he inspires1 breathes1 infuses into our soul1 what of ourselves we could not have4 ,does our ,spirit rejoice in ,god our ,saviour8 ,it is joy in 7or by7 the ,holy ,ghost4 ,have we true inward peace8 ,it is the peace of ,god1 wrought in us by the same ,spirit4 ,faith1 peace1 joy1 love1 are all his fruits4 ,and as we are figuratively said1 to see the light of faith1 so by a like figure of speech we are said to feel1 this peace and joy and love3 that is1 we have an inward experience of them1 which we cannot find any fitter word to express4 99,the reasons why in speaking of these things ,i use those terms1 7inspiration particularly7 are1 #a4 ,because they are scriptural4 #b4 ,because they are used by our church4 #c4 ,because ,i know none better4 ,the word 8influence of the ,holy ,ghost10 which ,i suppose you use1 is both a far stronger and a less natural term than inspiration4 ,it is far stronger2 even as far as 8flowing into the soul0 is a stronger expression than 8breathing upon it30 and less natural2 as breathing bears a near relation to ,spirit2 to which flowing in has only a distant relation4 8,but you thought ,i had meant immediate inspiration40 ,so ,i do1 or ,i mean nothing at all4 ,not indeed such inspiration as is sine mediis4 ,but all inspiration1 tho' by means1 is immediate4 ,suppose1 for instance1 you are employed in private prayer1 and ,god pours his love into your heart4 ,god then acts immediately on your soul3 and the love of him which you then experience1 is as immediately breathed into you by the ,holy ,ghost1 as if you had lived #agjj years ago4 ,change the term4 ,say1 8,god then assists you to love him80 ,well1 and is not this immediate assistance8 ,say1 8,his ,spirit concurs with yours40 ,you gain no ground4 ,it is immediate concurrence or none at all4 ,god1 a ,spirit acts upon your ,spirit4 ,make it out any otherwise if you can4 99,i cannot conceive1 how that harmless word immediate1 came to be such a bugbear in the world3 8,why1 ,i thought you meant such inspiration as the apostles had2 and such a receiving the ,holy ,ghost as that was at the day of ,pentecost40 ,i do1 in part3 indeed ,i do not mean1 that ,christians now receive the ,holy ,ghost1 in order to work miracles3 but they do doubtless now receive1 yea1 are filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 in order to be filled with the fruits of that blessed ,spirit4 ,and he inspires into all true believers now1 a degree of the same peace and joy and love1 which the apostles felt in themselves on that day1 when they were first filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 #bi4 ,i have now considered the most material objections ,i know1 which have been lately made against the great doctrines ,i teach4 ,i have produced1 so far as in me lay1 the strength of those objections1 and then answered them1 ,i hope1 in the ,spirit of meekness4 ,and now ,i trust it appears1 that these doctrines are no other than the doctrines of ,jesus ,christ3 that they are all evidently contained in the word of ,god1 by which alone ,i desire to stand or fall2 and that they are fundamentally the same with the doctrines of the church of ,england1 of which ,i do1 and ever did profess myself a member4 ,but there remains one objection1 which though relating to the head of doctrine1 yet is independent on all that went before4 ,and that is1 8,you cannot agree in your doctrines among yourselves4 ,one holds one thing1 and one another4 ,mr4 ,whitefield anathematizes ,mr4 ,wesley2 and ,mr4 ,wesley anathematizes ,mr4 ,whitefield4 ,and yet each pretends to be led by the ,holy ,ghost1 by the infallible ,spirit of ,god6 ,every reasonable man must conclude from hence1 that neither one nor the other is led by that ,spirit40 ,i need not say1 how continually this has been urged1 both in common conversation and from the press3 7,i am grieved to add1 and from the pulpit too3 for1 if the argument were good1 it would overturn the bible47 ,nor1 how great stress has been continually laid upon it3 whoever proposes it1 proposes it as demonstration1 and generally claps his wings1 as being quite assured1 it will admit of no answer4 ,and indeed ,i am in doubt1 whether it does admit 7,i am sure1 it does not require7 any other answer1 than that course one of the countryman to the ,romish champion1 8,bellarmine1 ,thou liest40 ,for every proposition contained herein1 is grossly1 shamelessly false4 #a4 8,you cannot agree in your doctrines among yourselves40,who told you so8 ,all our fundamental doctrines1 ,i have recited above4 ,and in every one of these we do and have agreed for several years4 ,in these we hold one and the same thing4 ,in smaller points1 each of us thinks1 and lets think4 #b4 8,mr4 ,whitefield anathematizes ,mr4 ,wesley40 ,another shameless untruth4 ,let any one read what ,mr4 ,whitefield wrote1 even in the heat of controversy1 and he will be convinced of the contrary4 #c4 8,and ,mr4 ,wesley anathematizes ,mr4 ,whitefield40 ,this is equally false and scandalous4 ,i reverence ,mr4 ,whitefield1 both as a child of ,god1 and a true minister of ,jesus ,christ4 #d4 8,and yet each pretends to be led by the ,holy ,ghost1 by the infallible ,spirit of ,god40 ,not in our private opinions3 nor does either of us pretend to be any farther led by the ,spirit of ,god1 than every ,christian must pretend to be1 unless he will deny the bible4 ,for only as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 are the sons of ,god4 ,therefore1 if you do not pretend to be led by him too1 yea1 if it be not so in fact1 you are none of his4 ,and now1 what is become of your demonstration8 ,leave it to the car-men and porters1 its just proprietors3 to the zealous apple-women that cry after me in the street1 8,this is he that rails at the ,whole ,dutyful of ,man40 ,but let every one that pretends to learning or reason1 be ashamed to mention it any more4 #cj4 ,the first inference1 easily deduced from what has been said1 is1 8,that we are not false prophets40 ,in one sense of the word1 we are no prophets at all2 for we do not foretel things to come4 ,but in another 7wherein every minister is a prophet7 we are4 ,for we do speak in the name of ,god4 ,now a false prophet 7in this sense of the word7 is one1 who declares as the will of ,god1 what is not so4 ,but we declare 7as has been shewn at large7 nothing else as the will of ,god1 but what is evidently contained in his written word1 as explained by our own church4 ,therefore1 unless you can prove the bible to be a false book1 you cannot possibly prove us to be false prophets4 ,the text which is generally cited on this occasion1 is ,matthew vii4 verse #ae4 ,but how unhappily chosen6 ,in the preceeding chapters1 our ,lord had been describing1 that righteousness which exceeds the righteousness of the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 and without which we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven3 ,even the life of ,god in the soul2 holiness of heart1 producing all holiness of conversation4 ,in this1 he closes that rule which sums up the whole1 with those solemn words1 ,enter ye in at the strait gate3 7such indeed is that of universal holiness7 ,for wide is the gate1 and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction4 ,the gate of hell is wide as the whole earth2 the way of unholiness is broad as the great deep4 ,and many there be which go in thereat2 yea1 and excuse themselves in so doing1 ,because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life1 and few there be that find it4 ,it follows1 ,beware of false prophets2 of those who speak as from ,god1 what ,god hath not spoken2 those who shew you any other way to life1 than that which ,i have now shewn4 ,so that the false prophets1 here spoken of1 are those who point out any other way to heaven than this2 who teach men to find a wider gate1 a broader way1 than that described in the foregoing chapters4 ,but it has been abundantly shewn1 that we do not4 ,therefore 7whatever we are beside7 we are not false prophets4 ,neither are we 7as has been frequently and vehemently affirmed7 deceivers of the people4 ,if we teach the truth as it is in ,jesus1 if we speak as the oracles of ,god1 it follows1 that we do not deceive those that hear1 though they should believe whatever we speak4 ,let ,god be true and every man a liar3 every man that contradicts his truth4 ,but he will be justified in his saying1 and clear when he is judged4 ,one thing more ,i infer1 8,that we are not enthusiasts40 ,this accusation has been considered at large2 and the main arguments hitherto brought to support it1 have been weighed in the balance and found wanting3 ,particularly this1 8,that none but enthusiasts suppose either that promise of the ,comforter or the witness of the ,spirit1 or that unutterable prayer1 or the unction from the ,holy ,one1 to belong1 in common1 to all ,christians40 ,o my ,lord1 how deeply have you condemned the generation of ,god's children6 ,whom you have represented as rank1 dreaming enthusiasts8 ,as either deluded or designing men8 ,not only bishop ,pearson1 a man hitherto accounted both sound in heart1 and of good understanding3 but likewise archbishop ,cranmer1 bishop ,ridley1 bishop ,latimer1 bishop ,hooper6 and all the venerable compilers of our liturgy and homilies3 ,all the members of both the houses of convocation1 by whom they were revised and approved3 ,yea1 king ,edward1 and all his lords and commons together1 by whose authority they were established6 ,and1 with these modern enthusiasts1 ,origen1 ,chrysostom1 and ,athanasius are comprehended in the same censure6 ,john xiv4 #af1 #bf4 xvi4 #ac4 ,romans viii4 #ae1 #af4 ,romans viii4 #bf1 #bg4 #a ,john ii4 #bj1 #bg4 ,i grant a deist might rank both us and them1 in the number of religious madmen3 ,nay1 ought so to do1 on his supposition1 that the gospel is but a cunningly-devised fable4 ,and on this ground1 some of them have done so in fact4 ,one of them was asking me1 some years since1 8,what6 are you one of the knight-errants8 ,how1 ,i pray1 got this quixotism into your head8 ,you want nothing3 you have a good provision for life2 and are in a fair way of preferment4 ,and must you leave all1 to fight windmills2 to convert savages in ,america80 ,i could only reply1 8,sir1 if the bible is a lie1 ,i am as very a madman as you can conceive4 ,but if it be true1 ,i am in my senses4 ,i am neither a madman nor enthusiast4 ,for there is no man who hath left father1 or mother1 or wife1 or house1 or land1 for the gospel's sake2 but he shall receive an hundred fold1 in this world1 with persecutions1 and in the world to come1 eternal life40 ,nominal1 outside ,christians too1 men of form1 may pass the same judgment4 ,for we give up all our pretensions to what they account happiness1 for what they 7with the deists7 believe to be a mere dream4 ,we expect1 therefore1 to pass for enthusiasts1 with these also4 ,but wisdom is justified of all her children4 #cb4 ,i cannot conclude this head without one obvious remark4 ,suppose we really were enthusiasts2 suppose our doctrines were false and unsupported either by reason1 scripture1 or authority3 ,then why hath not some one1 who is a wise man1 and endued with knowledge among you1 attempted at least1 to shew us our fault in love and meekness of wisdom8 ,brethren1 if ye have bitter zeal in your hearts1 your wisdom descendeth not from above4 ,the wisdom that is from above1 is pure1 peaceable1 gentle1 easy to be intreated1 full of mercy or pity4 ,does this spirit appear in one single tract of all those which have been published against us8 ,is there one writer that has reproved us in love8 ,bring it to a single point4 ,love hopeth all things4 ,if you had loved us in any degree1 you would have hoped1 that ,god would some time give us the knowledge of his truth4 ,but where shall we find even this slender instance of love8 ,has not every one who has wrote at all 7,i do not remember so much as one exception7 treated us as incorrigible8 ,brethren1 how is this8 ,why do ye labour to teach us an evil lesson against yourselves8 ,o may ,god never suffer others to deal with you1 as ye have dealt with us6 ,,vi4 #a4 ,before ,i enter upon the consideration of those objections1 which have been made to the manner of our preaching1 ,i believe it may be satisfactory to some readers1 if ,i relate how ,i began to preach in this manner4 ,i was ordained deacon in #agbe1 and priest in the year following4 ,but it was many years after this1 before ,i was convinced of the great truths above recited4 ,during all that time ,i was utterly ignorant of the nature and condition of justification4 ,sometimes ,i confounded it with sanctification 7particularly when ,i was in ,georgia47 ,at other times ,i had some confused notion about the forgiveness of sins3 but then ,i took it for granted1 the time of this must be1 either the hour of death1 or the day of judgment4 ,i was equally ignorant of the nature of saving faith2 apprehending it to mean no more1 than a 8firm assent to all the propositions contained in the old and new ,testament40 #b4 ,as soon as1 by the great blessing of ,god1 ,i had a clearer view of these things1 ,i began to declare them to others also4 ,i believed1 and therefore ,i spake4 ,wherever ,i was now desired to preach1 salvation by faith was my only theme4 ,my constant subjects were1 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,him hath ,god exalted to be a ,prince and a ,saviour1 to give repentance and remission of sins4 ,these ,i explained and inforced with all my might1 both in every church where ,i was asked to preach1 and occasionally in the religious societies of ,london and ,westminster2 to some or other of which ,i was continually pressed to go1 by the stewards or other members of them4 ,things were in this posture1 when ,i was told1 8,i must preach no more in this1 and this1 and another church30 ,the reason was usually added without reserve1 8,because you preach such doctrines40 ,so much the more those who could not hear me there1 flocked together when ,i was at any of the societies2 where ,i spoke more or less1 though with much inconvenience1 to as many as the room ,i was in would contain4 #c4 ,but after a time1 finding those rooms could not contain a tenth part of the people that were earnest to hear1 ,i determined to do the same thing in ,england1 which ,i had often done in a warmer climate3 namely1 when the house would not contain the congregation1 to preach in the open air4 ,this ,i accordingly did1 first at ,bristol1 where the society rooms were exceeding small1 and at ,kingswood1 where we had no room at all2 afterwards in or near ,london4 ,and ,i cannot say1 ,i have ever seen a more awful sight1 than when on ,rose-green1 or the top of ,hanham-mount1 some thousands of people were calmly joined together in solemn waiting upon ,god1 while 8,they stood and under open air adored ,the ,god who made both air1 earth1 heaven and sky40 ,and whether they were listning to his word1 with attention still as night2 or were lifting up their voice in praise1 as the sound of many waters2 many a time have ,i been constrained to say in my heart1 ,how dreadful is this place6 ,this also is no other than the house of ,god6 ,this is the gate of heaven6 99,be pleased to observe4 #a4 ,that ,i was forbidden1 as by a general consent1 to preach in any church 7though not by any judicial sentence7 8for preaching such doctrine40 ,this was the open1 avowed cause3 there was at that time no other1 either real or pretended2 7except that the people crouded so37 #b4 ,that ,i had no desire or design to preach in the open air1 till after this prohibition2 #c4 ,that when ,i did1 as it was no matter of choice1 so neither of premeditation4 ,there was no scheme at all previously formed1 which was to be supported thereby2 nor had ,i any other end in view than this1 to save as many souls as ,i could4 #d4 ,field-preaching was therefore a sudden expedient1 a thing submitted to1 rather than chosen1 and therefore submitted to because ,i thought preaching even thus1 better than not preaching at all3 ,first1 in regard to my own soul1 because a dispensation of the gospel being committed to me1 ,i did not dare1 ,not to preach the gospel2 ,secondly1 in regard to the souls of others1 whom ,i every where saw1 seeking death in the error of their life4 #d4 ,but the author of the observations and of the case of the ,methodists briefly stated1 more particularly in the point of field-preaching1 thinks field-preaching worse than not preaching at all1 8because it is illegal40 ,your argument1 in form1 runs thus3 8,that preaching which is contrary to the laws of the land1 is worse than not preaching at all3 8,but field preaching is contrary to the laws of the land3 8,therefore1 it is worse than not preaching at all40 99,the first proposition is not self-evident1 nor indeed universally true4 ,for the preaching of all the primitive ,christians was contrary to the whole tenor of the ,roman law2 the worship of the devil-gods being established by the strongest laws then in being4 ,nor is it ever true1 but on supposition1 that the preaching in question is an indifferent thing4 ,but waving this1 ,i deny the second proposition2 ,i deny that field-preaching is contrary to the laws of our land4 8waveing0 replaced with 8waving0 for consistency ,to prove which1 you begin thus1 8,it does not appear1 that any of the preachers among the ,methodists1 have qualified themselves and the places of their assembling1 according to the act of toleration40 99,i answer1 #a4 ,that act grants toleration to those who dissent from the established church4 ,but we do not dissent from it4 ,therefore we cannot make use of that act4 #b4 ,that act exempts dissenters from penalties consequent on their breach of preceding laws4 ,but we are not conscious of breaking any law at all4 ,therefore we need not make use of it4 ,in the next section you say1 8,they have broken through all these provisions1 in open defiance of government3 and have met1 not only in houses1 but in the fields1 notwithstanding the statute 7#bb ,charles ,,ii4 chapter #a47 which forbids this by name40 99,i answer1 #a4 ,we do nothing in defiance of government4 ,we reverence magistrates1 as the ministers of ,god4 #b4 ,although we have met in the fields1 yet we do not conceive that statute at all affects us3 not only because that act points wholly at dissenters2 whereas we are members of the established church2 but also because 7they are your own words7 it was evidently intended to suppress and prevent sedition3 whereas no sedition1 nor any the least approach thereto1 can with any colour be laid to our charge4 ,in your third section you affirm1 8,that the act of toleration itself cannot secure us in field-preaching1 from the penalties of former laws40 ,we have no desire it should2 as not apprehending ourselves to be condemned by any former law whatever4 ,nor does what you add1 8,that the act of toleration forbids any assembly of persons dissenting from the church of ,england1 to meet with the doors locked10 affect us at all2 because we do not dissent from it4 #e4 ,in the case of the ,methodists briefly stated1 your first observation is1 8,the act of toleration leaves them liable to the penalties of several statutes made against unlawful assemblies40 ,i suppose then these several statutes specify what those unlawful assemblies are2 and whether unlawful1 as being condemned by previous laws1 or made unlawful by those statutes4 ,and it still remains to be proved1 that our assemblies are unlawful1 in one or other of these senses4 ,you next observe1 that1 8the dissenters of all denominations1 qualify themselves according to the act of toleration3 otherwise1 they are liable to the penalties of all the laws recited in this act40 ,i answer1 as before1 all this strikes wide4 ,it relates wholly to 8persons dissenting from the church40 ,but we are not the men4 ,we do not dissent from the church4 ,whoever affirms it1 we put him to the proof4 ,you go on1 8,one of those laws so recited 7viz4 #bb ,charles ,,ii4 chapter #a47 is that which forbids field-preaching by name2 and was evidently intended1 not only to suppress1 but also to prevent sedition4 ,as the title of the act declares1 and as the preamble expresses it1 to provide farther and more speedy remedies against it40 99,was this then1 in your own judgment1 the evident intention of that act1 viz4 ,to provide remedies against sedition8 ,does the very title of the act declare this8 ,and the preamble also express it8 ,with what justice then1 with what ingenuity or candor1 with what shadow of truth or reason1 can any man cite this act against us8 ,whom you yourself no more suspect of a design to raise sedition 7,i appeal to your own conscience in the sight of ,god7 than of a design to blow up the city of ,london4 #f4 ,hitherto therefore it hath not been made to appear1 that field-preaching is contrary to any law in being4 ,however1 8,it is dangerous40 ,this you strongly insist on4 8,it may be attended with mischievous consequences4 ,it may give advantages to the enemies of the established government4 ,it is big with mischief40 7,observations1 ,section ,i4 and ,,ii47 ,with what mischief8 ,why1 8evil-minded men1 by meeting together in the fields1 under pretence of religion1 may raise riots and tumults2 or by meeting secretly1 may carry on private cabals against the state40 7,case of the ,methodists1 page #b47 8,and if the ,methodists themselves are a harmless and loyal people1 it is nothing to the point in hand4 ,for disloyal and seditious persons1 may use such an opportunity of getting together1 in order to execute any private design4 ,mr4 ,whitefield says1 #cj1 #ej or #hj1jjj have attended his preaching at once4 ,now1 #a4 ,he cannot know one tenth part of such a congregation4 #b4 ,all people may come and carry on what designs they will3 ,therefore #c4 ,this is a great opportunity put into the hands of seditious persons to raise disturbances4 8,with what safety to the public these field-preachings may be continued1 let the world judge40 7,ibid4 page #b1 #c1 #d474 99,may ,i speak without offence8 ,i cannot think you are in earnest4 ,you do not mean what you say4 ,do you believe1 ,mr4 ,whitefield had eighty thousand hearers at once8 ,no more that you believe he had eighty millions4 ,is not all this talk of danger1 mere finesse8 ,thrown in purely ad movendam invidiam8 ,you know governments generally are suspicious2 especially in time of war3 and therefore apply1 as you suppose1 to their weak side2 in hopes1 if possible1 to deliver over these hereticks to the secular arm4 ,however1 ,i will answer1 as if you spoke from your heart4 ,for ,i am in earnest1 if you are not4 ,first1 8,the preacher cannot know a tenth part of his congregation40 ,let us come to the present state of things4 ,the largest congregation that now attend the preaching of any ,methodist1 are those 7,god be merciful to me67 that attend mine4 ,and cannot ,i know a tenth part of one of these congregations1 either at ,bristol1 ,kingswood1 ,newcastle1 or ,london8 ,as strange as it may seem1 ,i generally know two-thirds of the congregation in every place1 even on ,sunday evening1 and nine in ten of those who attend at most other times4 #b4 8,all people may come and carry on what designs they will40 ,not so4 ,all field-preaching is now in the open day4 ,and were only ten persons1 to come to such an assembly with arms1 it would soon be inquired1 with what design they came4 ,this is therefore1 #c4 ,no 8great opportunity put into the hands of seditious persons to raise disturbances40 ,and if ever any disturbance has been raised1 it was quite of another kind4 ,the public then is entirely safe1 if it be in no other danger than arises from field-preaching4 #g4 ,there is one other sentence belonging to this head1 in the eighth section of the observations4 8,the religious societies1 you say1 in ,london and ,westminster1 for many years past1 have received no discouragements1 but on the contrary have been countenanced and incouraged both by the bishops and clergy40 ,how is this8 ,have they then 8qualified themselves and places of their assembling1 according to the act of toleration80 ,have they 8embraced the protection which that act might give them1 in case they complied with the conditions of it80 ,if not1 are they not all 8liable to the penalties of the several statutes made before that time against unlawful assemblies80 ,how can they escape8 ,have they 8qualified themselves for holding these separate assemblies1 according to the tenor of that act08 8,have then the several members thereof taken the oaths to the government80 ,and are the 8doors of the places wherein they meet1 always open at the time of such meeting80 ,i presume1 you know they are not3 and that neither 8the persons nor places are so qualified as that act directs40 ,how then come 8the bishops and clergy1 to countenance and encourage0 unlawful assemblies8 ,if it be said1 8,they meet in a private1 inoffensive way20 that is nothing to the point in hand4 ,if those meetings are unlawful in themselves1 all their inoffensiveness will not make them lawful4 8,o1 but they behave with modesty and decency40 ,very well2 but the law6 ,what is that to the law8 ,there can be no solid defence but this3 ,they are not dissenters from the church2 therefore they cannot use1 and they do not need the act of toleration4 ,and their meetings are not seditious2 therefore the statute against seditious meetings does not affect them4 ,the application is obvious4 ,if our meetings are illegal1 so are theirs also4 ,but if this plea be good 7as doubtless it is7 in the one case1 it is good in the other also4 #i4 ,you propose another objection to our manner of preaching1 in the second part of the observations4 ,the substance of it ,i will repeat1 and answer as briefly as ,i can4 8,they run up and down from place to place1 and from county to county30 that is1 they preach in several places4 ,this is undoubtedly true4 8,they draw after them confused multitudes of people30 that is1 8,many come to hear them40 ,this is true also4 8,but they would do well to remember1 ,god is not the author of confusion or of tumult1 but of peace40 ,i trust we do3 nor is there any confusion or tumult at all1 in our largest congregations2 unless at some rare times when the sons of ,belial mix therewith1 on purpose to disturb the peaceable worshippers of ,god4 8,but our church has provided against this preaching up and down1 in the ordination of a priest1 by expressly limiting the exercise of the powers then conferred upon him1 to the congregation where he shall be lawfully appointed thereunto40 ,i answer1 #a4 ,your argument proves too much4 ,if it be allowed just as you propose it1 it proves1 ,that no priest has authority1 either to preach or minister the sacraments1 in any other than his own congregation4 #b4 ,had the powers conferred been so limited when ,i was ordained priest1 my ordination would have signified just nothing4 ,for ,i was not appointed to any congregation at all3 but was ordained as a member of that 8,college of divines10 7so our statutes express it7 8founded to overturn all heresies2 and defend the ,catholic faith40 #c4 ,for many years after ,i was ordained priest1 this limitation was never heard of4 ,i heard not one syllable of it1 by way of objection1 to my preaching up and down in ,oxford or ,london1 or the parts adjacent1 in ,gloucestershire1 or ,worcestershire2 ,lancashire1 ,yorkshire or ,lincolnshire4 ,nor did the strictest disciplinarian scruple suffering me to exercise those powers wherever ,i came4 #d4 ,and in fact1 ,is it not universally allowed1 that every priest1 as such1 has a power1 in virtue of his ordination1 either to preach or to administer the sacraments1 in any congregation1 wherever the rector or curate desires his assistance8 ,does not every one then1 see through this thin pretence8 8whereever0 replaced with 8wherever0 #aj4 8,the bishops and universities indeed have power to grant licences to ,itinerants4 ,but the church has provided in that case2 ,they are not to preach in any church 7,canon #ej47 till they shew their licence40 ,the church has well provided in that case4 ,but what has that case to do with the case of common clergymen8 ,only so much as to shew1 how grossly this canon has been abused1 at ,islington in particular3 where the churchwardens were instructed to hinder1 by main force1 the priest whom the vicar himself had appointed1 from preaching1 and to quote this canon2 which1 as you plainly shew1 belongs to quite another thing4 ,in the note you add1 8,mr4 ,wesley being asked1 ,by what authority he preached1 replied1 ,by the authority of ,jesus ,christ conveyed to me by the 7now7 archbishop of ,canterbury1 when he laid his hands upon me and said1 ,take thou authority to preach the gospel4 ,in this reply he thought fit1 for a plain reason1 to leave out this latter part of the commission3 for that would have shewn his reader1 the restraint and limitation1 under which the exercise of the power is granted40 ,nay1 ,i did not print the latter part of the words1 for a plainer reason1 because ,i did not speak them4 ,and ,i did not speak them then1 because they did not come into my mind4 ,tho' probably if they had1 ,i should not have spoken them3 it being my only concern1 to answer the question proposed1 in as few words as ,i could4 ,but before those words1 which you suppose to imply such a restraint1 as would condemn all the bishops and clergy in the nation1 were those spoken without any restraint or limitation at all1 which ,i apprehend to convey an indelible character1 8,receive the ,holy ,ghost1 for the office and work of a priest in the church of ,god1 now committed unto thee1 by the imposition of our hands4 ,whose sins thou dost forgive1 they are forgiven1 and whose sins thou dost retain1 they are retained4 ,and be thou a faithful dispenser of the word of ,god1 and of his ,holy sacraments1 in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,you proceed1 8,in the same journal he declares1 that he looks upon all the world as his parish1 and explains his meaning as follows2 #8,in whatever part of it ,i am1 ,i judge it meet1 right1 and my bounden duty1 to declare unto all that are willing to hear1 the glad tidings of salvation4 ,this is the work which ,i know ,god hath called me to4' ,namely1 by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery3 which directs me how to obey that general command1 while we have time1 let us do good unto all men40 #aa4 ,you object farther1 8,that the methodists do not observe the rubrick before the communion service2 which directs1 so many as desire to partake of the holy communion1 to signify their names to the curate the day before40 ,what curate desires they should8 ,whenever any minister will give but one week's notice of this1 ,i undertake1 all that have any relation to me1 shall signify their names within the time appointed4 ,you object also1 that they break through the twenty-eighth canon1 which requires1 8,that if strangers come often to any church from other parishes1 they should be remitted to their own churches1 there to receive the communion with their neighbours40 ,but what if there be no communion there8 ,then this canon does not touch the case2 nor does any one break it1 by coming to another church purely because there is no communion at his own4 ,as to your next advice1 8,to have a greater regard to the rules and orders of the church10 ,i cannot2 for ,i now regard them1 next to the word of ,god4 ,and as to your last1 8,to renounce communion with the church10 ,i dare not4 ,nay but let them thrust us out4 ,we will not leave the ship3 if you cast us out of it1 then our ,lord will take us up4 #ab4 ,to the same head may be referred the objection some time urged1 by a friendly and candid man1 viz4 8,that it was unlawful to use extemporary prayer1 because there was a canon against it40 ,it was not quite clear to me1 that the canon he cited was against extemporary prayer4 ,but supposing it were1 my plain answer would be1 8,that the canon ,i dare not obey3 because the law of man binds only so far as it is consistent with the word of ,god40 ,the same person objected1 my not obeying the bishops and governors of the church4 ,i answer1 ,i both do and will obey them1 in whatsoever ,i can with a clear conscience4 ,so that there is no just ground for that charge1 that ,i despise either the rules1 or the governors of the church4 ,i obey them in all things where ,i do not apprehend there is some particular law of ,god to the contrary4 ,even in that case1 ,i shew all the deference ,i can2 ,i endeavour to act as inoffensively as possible3 and am ready to submit to any penalty1 which can by law be inflicted upon me4 ,would to ,god every minister and member of the church1 were herein altogether as ,i am6 ,,vii4 #a4 ,i have considered the chief objections that have lately been urged against the doctrines ,i teach4 ,the main arguments brought against this manner of teaching1 have been considered also4 ,it remains1 to examine the most current objections1 concerning the effects of this teaching4 ,many affirm1 8,that it does abundance of hurt3 that it has had very bad effects2 insomuch that if any good at all has been done1 yet it bears no proportion to the evil40 ,but to come to particulars1 8,first then1 you are disturbers of the public peace40 ,what1 do we either teach or raise sedition8 ,do we speak evil of the ruler of our people8 ,or do we stir them up against any of those that are put in authority under him8 ,do we directly or indirectly promote faction1 mutiny1 or rebellion8 ,i have not found any man in his senses yet1 that would affirm this4 8,but it is plain1 peace is broke and disturbances do arise1 in consequence of your preaching40 ,i grant it4 ,but what would you infer8 ,have you never read the bible8 ,have you not read1 that the ,prince of peace himself was1 in this sense1 a disturber of the public peace8 ,when he came into ,jerusalem1 7,matthew xxi4 #aj47 all the city was moved1 77 shaken as with an earthquake4 ,and the disturbance arose higher and higher1 till the whole multitude cried out together1 ,away with him1 away with him2 crucify him1 crucify him1 and ,pilate gave sentence1 it should be done4 ,such another disturber of the public peace1 was that ,stephen1 even from the time he began disputing with the ,libertines and ,cyrenians1 till the people stopped their ears1 and ran upon him with one accord1 and cast him out of the city and stoned him4 ,such disturbers of the peace were all those ringleaders of the sect of the ,nazarenes1 7commonly called apostles7 who wherever they came1 turned the world upside down4 ,and above all the rest1 that ,paul of ,tarsius1 who occasioned so much disturbance at ,damascus1 7,acts ix47 at ,antioch of ,pisidia 7chapter xiii47 at ,iconium 7chapter xiv47 at ,lystra 7verse #ai47 at ,philippi 7chapter xvi47 at ,thessalonica 7chapter xvii47 and particularly at ,ephesus4 ,the consequence of his preaching there was1 ,that the whole city was filled with confusion4 ,and they all ran together with one accord1 some crying one thing1 some another3 inasmuch as the greater part of them knew not wherefore they were come together4 99#b4 ,and can we expect it to be any otherwise now8 ,although what we preach is the gospel of peace1 yet if you will violently and illegally hinder our preaching1 must not this create disturbance8 ,but observe1 the disturbance begins on your part4 ,all is peace1 till you raise that disturbance4 ,and then you very modestly impute it to us1 and lay your own riot at our door6 ,but of all this1 our ,lord hath told us before4 ,think not that ,i am come to send peace upon earth3 that this will be the immediate effect1 wherever my gospel is preached with power4 ,i am not come to send peace1 but a sword3 this 7so far as the wisdom of ,god permits1 by whom the hairs of your head are all numbred7 will be the first consequence of my coming1 whenever my word turns sinners from darkness to light1 from the power of ,satan unto ,god4 ,i would wish all you who see this scripture fulfilled1 by disturbance following the preaching the gospel1 to remember the behaviour of that wise magistrate at ,ephesus on the like occasion4 ,he did not lay the disturbance to the preacher's charge1 but beckoned to the multitude and said1 ye men of ,ephesus,ye ought to be quiet1 and to do nothing rashly4 ,for ye have brought these men1 who are neither robbers of temples1 nor yet blasphemers of your goddess3 7not convicted of any such notorious crime1 as can at all excuse this lawless violence47 ,but if ,demetrius hath a matter against any1 the law is open1 and there are deputies 7or proconsuls1 capable of hearing and deciding the cause7 let them implead one another4 ,but if ye enquire any thing concerning other things1 it shall be determined in a lawful assembly4 #c4 8,but you create divisions in private families40 ,accidentally1 we do4 ,for instance1 suppose an entire family to have the form but not the power of godliness2 or to have neither the form nor the power2 in either case1 they may in some sort agree together4 ,but suppose1 when these hear the plain word of ,god1 one or two of them are convinced1 8,this is the truth4 ,and ,i have been all this time in the broad way that leadeth to destruction30 ,these then will begin to mourn after ,god2 while the rest remain as they were4 ,will they not therefore of consequence divide1 and form themselves into separate parties8 ,must it not be so1 in the very nature of things8 ,and how exactly does this agree with the words of our ,lord8 ,suppose ye that ,i came to send peace upon earth8 ,i tell you nay3 ,but rather division4 ,for from henceforth there shall be five divided in one house1 three against two1 and two against three4 ,the father shall be divided against the son1 and the son against the father3 the mother against her daughter1 and the daughter against the mother2 the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law1 and the daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law4 7,luke xii4 #ea1 #eb1 #ec47 ,and the foes of a man1 shall be they of his own houshold4 7,matthew x4 #cf47 ,thus it was from the very beginning4 ,for is it to be supposed1 that a ,heathen parent1 would long endure a ,christian child8 ,or1 that a ,heathen husband would agree with a ,christian wife8 ,unless either the believing wife could gain her husband2 or the unbelieving husband prevailed on the wife to renounce her way of worshipping ,god3 at least1 unless she would obey him in going no more to those societies or conventicles1 77 as they termed the ,christian assemblies4 99#d4 ,do you think now1 ,i have an eye to your case8 ,doubtless ,i have2 for ,i do not fight as one that beateth the air4 8,why have not ,i a right to hinder my own wife or child1 from going to a conventicle8 ,and is it not the duty of wives to obey their husbands8 ,and of children to obey their parents80 ,only set the case seventeen hundred years back1 and your own conscience gives you the answer4 ,what would ,st4 ,paul have said to one whose husband forbade her1 to follow this way any more8 ,what directions would our ,saviour have given to him whose father enjoined him1 not to hear the gospel8 ,his words are extant still1 ,he that loveth father or mother more than me1 is not worthy of me4 ,and he that loveth son or daughter more than me1 is not worthy of me4 7,matthew x4 #cg1 #ch47 ,nay more1 ,if any man cometh to me1 and hateth not 7in comparison of me7 his father1 and mother1 and wife1 and children1 yea and his own life1 he cannot be my disciple4 7,luke xiv4 #bf47 998,o1 but this is not a parallel case4 ,for they were ,heathens2 but ,i am a ,christian40 ,a ,christian6 ,are you so8 ,do you understand the word8 ,do you know what a ,christian is8 ,if you are a ,christian1 you have the mind that was in ,christ2 and you so walk as he also walked4 ,you are holy as he is holy1 both in heart1 and in all manner of conversation4 ,have you then the mind that was in ,christ8 ,and do you walk as ,christ walked8 ,are you inwardly and outwardly holy8 ,i fear1 not even outwardly4 ,no2 you live in known sin4 ,alas6 ,how then are you a ,christian8 ,what a railer1 a ,christian8 ,a common swearer1 a ,christian8 ,a sabbath-breaker1 a ,christian8 ,a drunkard or whoremonger1 a ,christian8 ,thou art a ,heathen barefaced2 the wrath of ,god is on thy head1 and the curse of ,god upon thy back4 ,thy damnation slumbereth not4 ,by reason of such ,christians it is that the holy name of ,christ is blasphemed4 ,such as thou they are1 that cause the very savages in the ,indian woods to cry out1 8,christian much drunk1 ,christian beat men1 ,christian tell lies1 ,devil-,christian6 ,me no ,christian40 99,and so thou wilt direct thy wife and children in the way of salvation6,woe unto thee1 thou ,devil-,christian6 ,woe unto thee thou blind leader of the blind6 ,what wilt thou make them8 ,two-fold more the children of hell than thyself8 ,be ashamed1 blush1 if thou canst blush4 ,hide thy face4 ,lay thee in the dust4 ,out of the deep cry unto ,god1 if haply he may hear thy voice4 ,instantly smite upon thy breast4 ,who knoweth but ,god may take thee out of the belly of hell8 99#e4 8,but you are not one of these4 ,you fear ,god1 and labour to have a conscience void of offence4 ,and it is from a principle of conscience1 that you restrain your wife and children from hearing false doctrine40 ,but how do you know it is false doctrine8 ,have you heard for yourself8 ,or1 if you have not heard1 have you carefully read what we have occasionally answered for ourselves8 ,a man of conscience cannot condemn any one unheard4 ,this is not common humanity4 ,nor will he refrain from hearing what may be the truth1 for no better reason than fear of his reputation4 ,pray observe1 ,i do not say1 every man 7or any man7 is obliged in conscience to hear us4 ,but ,i do say1 every man in ,england who condemns us1 is obliged to hear us first4 ,this is only common justice1 such as is not denied to a thief or a murderer4 ,take your choice therefore4 ,either hear us1 or condemn us not4 ,either speak nothing at all1 or hear before you speak4 ,but suppose you have both read and heard more than you like3 ,did you read and hear fairly8 ,was not you loaden with prejudice8 ,did you not read or hear1 expecting no good2 perhaps desiring to find fault8 ,if so1 what wonder you judge as you do8 ,what a poor mock-trial is this8 ,you had decided the cause in your own breast1 before you heard one word of the evidence4 ,and still do you talk of acting out of conscience8 ,yea1 a conscience void of offence8 99,we will put the case farther yet4 ,suppose your censure was just1 and this was actually false doctrine4 ,still every one must give an account of himself to ,god3 and you cannot force the conscience of any one4 ,you cannot compel another1 to see as you see4 ,you ought not to attempt it4 ,reason and persuasion are the only weapons you ought to use1 even toward your own wife and children4 ,nay1 and it is impossible to starve them into conviction1 or to beat even truth into their head1 ,you may destroy them1 in this way1 but cannot convert them4 ,remember what our own poet has said1 8,by force beasts act and are by force restrain'd2 ,the human mind by gentle means is gain'd4 ,thou canst not take1 what ,i refuse to yield3 ,nor reap the harvest1 tho' thou spoilst the field40 #f4 ,every reasonable man is convinced of this4 ,and perhaps you do not concern yourself so much about the doctrine1 but the mischief that is done1 8,how many poor families are starved1 ruined1 brought to beggary60 ,by what8 ,not by contributing a penny a week 7the usual contribution in our societies7 and letting that alone1 when they please1 when there is any shadow of reason to suppose they cannot afford it4 ,you will not say1 any are brought to beggary by this4 ,not by gifts to me3 for ,i receive none2 save 7sometimes7 the food ,i eat4 ,and publick collections are nothing to me4 ,that it may evidently appear they are not1 when any such collection is made1 to cloathe the poor1 or for any other determinate purpose1 the money is both received and expended before many witnesses1 without ever going through my hands at all4 ,and then likewise all possible regard is had1 to the circumstances of those who contribute any thing4 ,and they are told over and over1 if there be a willing mind1 it is accepted according to that a man hath4 ,but where are all these families that have been brought to beggary8 ,how is it1 that none of them is forth-coming8 ,are they all1 out of town8 ,then indeed ,i am in no danger of clearing myself from their indictment4 ,it is the easiest thing of a thousand1 for one at ,newcastle to say1 that ,i have beggared him and all his kindred4 ,if one of the long-bearded men on ,tyne-bridge1 were to say so just now1 ,i could not readily confute him4 ,but why will you not bring a few of these to tell me so to my face8 ,i have not found one that would do this yet4 ,they pray1 you would have them excused4 ,i remember a man coming to me with a doleful countenance1 putting himself into many lamentable postures1 gaping as wide as he could1 and pointing to his mouth1 as tho' he would say1 8he could not speak40 ,i enquired of his companion1 what was the matter8 ,and was informed1 8he had fallen into the hands of the ,turks1 who had used him in a barbarous manner1 and cut out his tongue by the roots40 ,i believed him4 ,but when the man had had a chearful cup1 he could find his tongue as well as another4 ,i reflected1 how is it that ,i could so readily believe that tale8 ,the answer was easy1 8because it was told of a ,turk40 ,my friend1 take knowledge of your own case4 ,if you had not first took me for a ,turk1 or something equally bad1 you could not so readily have believed that tale6 #g4 8,but can it be1 that there is no ground at all for a report1 which is in every ones mouth80 ,i will simply tell you1 all the ground which ,i can conceive4 ,i believe many of those who attend on my ministry1 have less of this world's goods than they had before1 or at least1 might have had if they did not attend it4 ,this fact ,i allow2 and it may be easily accounted for1 in one or other of the following ways4 ,first1 ,i frequently preach on such texts as these3 ,having food and raiment1 let us be content therewith4 ,they who desire to be rich1 fall into temptation and a snare1 and many foolish and hurtful lusts1 which drown men in destruction and perdition4 ,lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth1 where the rust and moth doth corrupt1 and where thieves break thro' and steal4 ,but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven1 where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt1 and where thieves do not break thro' and steal4 ,now should any of those who are labouring by all possible means1 to lay up treasure upon earth1 feel these words1 they would not inlarge their desires as hell2 but be content with such things as they had4 ,they then probably might not heap up so much for their heirs1 as otherwise they would have done4 ,these would therefore have less than if they had not heard me3 because they would grasp at less4 ,secondly1 wherever the gospel takes effect1 the foes of a man will be those of his own houshold4 ,by this means then some who hear and receive it with joy1 will be poorer then they were before4 ,their domestic foes will1 in many cases1 hinder1 embroil1 and disturb the course of their affairs4 ,and their relations1 who assisted them before1 or promised at least so to do1 will probably withdraw or deny that assistance1 unless they will be advised by them4 ,perhaps their nearest relations3 it being no new thing1 for parents to disown their children1 if after the way which they call heresy1 these worship the ,god of their fathers4 ,hence therefore some have less1 of this world's goods then they had in times past1 either because they earn less1 or because they receive less1 from them on whom they depend4 ,thirdly1 ,it is written1 that those who received not the mark of the beast1 either on their fore-heads1 or in their right hands1 either openly or secretly were not permitted to buy or sell any more4 ,now whatever the mystery contained herein may be1 ,i apprehend the plain mark of the beast is wickedness2 inward and outward unholiness1 whatever is secretly or openly contrary to justice1 mercy or truth4 ,and certain it is1 the time is well nigh come1 when those who have not this mark1 can neither buy nor sell1 can scarce follow any profession1 so as to gain a subsistence thereby4 ,therefore1 many of those who attend on my ministry1 are by this means poorer than before4 ,they will not receive the mark of the beast1 either on their forehead or in their hand3 or if they had received it1 before1 they rid themselves of it as soon as possible4 ,some cannot follow their former way of life at all2 7as pawnbrokers1 smugglers1 buyers or sellers of uncustomed goods7 others cannot follow it as they did before4 ,for they cannot oppress1 cheat or defraud their neighbour3 they cannot lie1 or say what they do not mean2 they must now speak the truth from their heart4 ,on all these accounts1 they have less of this world's goods2 because they gain less than they did before4 8will0 replaced with 8well0 ,fourthly1 all that will live godly in ,christ ,jesus shall suffer persecution3 ,if in no other way1 yet at least in this1 that men will by revilings persecute them2 and say all manner of evil against them falsly1 for his sake4 ,one unavoidable effect of this will be1 that men whose subsistence depends on their daily labour1 will be often in want1 for few will care to employ those of so bad a character4 ,and even those who did employ them before1 perhaps for many years1 will employ them no more2 so that hereby some may indeed be brought to beggary4 99#h4 ,what does this touch you8 ,are you one of those1 8who will have nothing to do with those scandalous wretches80 ,perhaps you will say1 8,and who can blame me for it3 may ,i not employ whom ,i please80 ,we will weigh this4 ,you employed ,a4 ,b4 for several years4 ,by your own account1 he was an honest1 diligent man4 ,you had no objection to him but his following this way4 ,for this reason you turn him off4 ,in a short time1 having spent his little all1 and having no supply1 he wants bread4 ,so does his family too as well as himself4 ,before he can get into other business to procure it1 thro' want of convenient food to eat1 and raiment to put on1 he sickens and dies4 ,this is not an imaginary scene4 ,i have known the case2 tho' too late to remedy it4 8,and what then80 ,what then you are a murderer4 ,o earth1 cover not thou his blood6 ,no it doth not4 ,the cry thereof hath entered into the ears of the ,lord ,god of sabbaoth4 ,and ,god requireth it at your hands3 and will require it in an hour when you think not4 ,for you have as effectually murdered that man1 as if you had stabbed him to the heart4 ,it is not ,i then who ruin and starve that family2 it is you2 you who call yourself a protestant6 ,you who cry out against the persecuting spirit of the ,papists6 ,ye fools and blind6 ,what are ye better then they8 ,why1 ,edmund ,bonner would have starved the hereticks in prison3 whereas you starve them in their own houses4 99,and all this time you talk of liberty of conscience6 ,yes1 liberty for such a conscience as your own3 a conscience past feeling2 7for sure it had some once7 a conscience seared with a hot iron4 ,liberty to serve the devil1 according to your poor1 hardened conscience1 you allow2 but not liberty to serve ,god4 99,nay1 and what marvel8 ,whosoever thou art that readest this1 and feelest in thy heart a real desire to serve ,god1 ,i warn thee1 expect no liberty for thy conscience1 from him that hath no conscience at all4 ,all ungodly1 unthankful1 unholy men2 all villains of whatever denomination1 will have liberty indeed all the world over1 as long as their master is ,god of this world4 ,but expect not liberty to worship ,god in spirit and in truth1 to practise pure and undefiled religion 7unless the ,lord should work a new thing in the earth7 from any but those who themselves love and serve ,god4 #i4 8,however1 'tis plain1 you make men idle4 ,and this tends to beggar their families40 ,this objection having been continually urged for some years1 ,i will trace it from the foundation4 ,two or three years after my return from ,america1 one ,captain ,robert ,williams of ,bristol1 made affidavit before the 7then7 mayor of the city1 that 8it was a common report in ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,wesley took people off from their work and made them idle1 by preaching so much40 ,the fact stood thus3 at my first coming to ,savannah1 the generality of the people rose at seven or eight in the morning4 ,and that part of them who were accustomed to work1 usually worked till six in the evening4 ,a few of them sometimes worked till seven2 which is the time of sun-set there at ,midsummer4 ,i immediately began reading prayers and expounded the second lesson1 both in the morning and evening4 ,the morning service began at five1 and ended at1 or before six3 the evening service began at seven4 ,now supposing all the grown persons in the town1 had been present every morning and evening1 would this have made them idle8 ,would they hereby have had less1 or considerably more time for working8 #aj4 ,the same rule ,i follow now1 both at ,london1 ,bristol and ,newcastle-upon-,tyne3 concluding the service at every place1 winter and summer1 before six in the morning3 and not ordinarily beginning to preach1 till near seven in the evening4 ,now do you1 who make this objection1 work longer1 throughout the year1 than from six to six8 ,do you desire1 that the generality of people should8 ,or1 can you count them idle1 that work so long8 ,some few are indeed accustomed to work longer4 ,these ,i advise1 not to come on weekdays4 ,and it is apparent1 that they take this advice1 unless on some rare and extraordinary occasion4 ,but ,i hope1 none of you who turn them out of their employment1 have the confidence to talk of my making them idle6 ,do you 7as the homely phrase is7 cry wh first8 ,i admire your cunning2 but not your modesty4 ,so far am ,i from either causing or encouraging idleness1 that an idle person1 known to be such1 is not suffered to remain in any of our societies2 we drive him out1 as we would a thief or a murderer4 8,to shew all possible diligence10 7as well as frugality7 is one of our standing rules3 and one1 concerning the observance of which1 we continually make the strictest enquiry4 #aa4 8,but you drive them out of their senses4 ,you make them mad40 ,nay1 then they are idle with a vengeance4 ,this objection therefore being of the utmost importance1 deserves our deepest consideration4 ,and first1 ,i grant1 it is my earnest desire to drive all the world1 into what you probably call madness3 7,i mean1 inward religion7 to make them just as mad1 as ,paul was when he was so accounted by ,festus4 ,the counting all things on earth but dung and dross1 so we may win ,christ2 the trampling under foot all the pleasures of the world1 the seeking no treasure but in heaven2 the having no desire of the praise of men1 a good character1 a fair reputation2 the being exceeding glad when men revile us1 and persecute us1 and say all manner of evil against us falsely2 the giving ,god thanks1 when our father and mother forsake us1 when we have neither food to eat1 nor raiment to put on1 nor a friend but what shoots out bitter words1 nor a place where to lay our head3 this is utter distraction in your account2 but in ,god's it is sober1 rational religion3 the genuine fruit1 not of a distempered brain1 not of a sickly imagination1 but of the power of ,god in the heart1 of victorious love1 and of a sound mind4 8trampleing0 replaced with 8trampling0 #ab4 ,i grant1 secondly1 ,it is my endeavour to drive all ,i can1 into what you may term another species of madness1 which is usually preparatory to this1 and which ,i term repentance or conviction4 ,i cannot describe this better than a writer of our own has done4 ,i will therefore transcribe his words4 8,when men feel in themselves the heavy burden of sin1 see damnation to be the reward of it1 and behold with the eye of their mind the horror of hell2 they tremble1 they quake1 and are inwardly touched with sorrowfulness of heart1 and cannot but accuse themselves1 and open their grief unto ,almighty ,god1 and call unto him for mercy4 ,this being done seriously1 their mind is so occupied1 partly with sorrow and heaviness1 partly with an earnest desire to be delivered from this danger of hell and damnation1 that all desire of meat and drink is laid apart1 and loathsomeness 7or loathing7 of all worldly things and pleasure cometh in place4 ,so that nothing then liketh them1 more than to weep1 to lament1 to mourn1 and both with words and behaviour of body to shew themselves weary of life40 ,now what if your wife1 or daughter1 or acquaintance1 after hearing one of these field-preachers1 should come and tell you1 that they saw damnation before them1 and beheld with the eye of their mind the horror of hell8 ,what if they should tremble and quake1 and be so taken up partly with sorrow and heaviness1 partly with an earnest desire to be delivered from this danger of hell and damnation1 as to weep1 to lament1 to mourn1 and both with words and behaviour to shew themselves weary of life2 would you scruple to say1 that they were stark mad8 ,that these fellows had driven them out of their senses8 ,and that whatever writer it was1 that talked at this rate1 he was fitter for ,bedlam than any other place8 ,you have overshot yourself now to some purpose4 ,these are the very words of our own church4 ,you may read them1 if you are so inclined1 in the first part of the homily on fasting4 ,and consequently1 what you have peremptorily determined to be mere lunacy and destruction1 is that repentance unto life1 which1 in the judgment both of the church and of ,st4 ,paul1 is never to be repented of4 #ac4 ,i grant1 thirdly1 that extraordinary circumstances have attended this conviction in some instances4 ,a particular account of these ,i have frequently given4 ,while the word of ,god was preached1 some persons have dropped down as dead2 some have been1 as it were1 in strong convulsions2 some roared aloud1 though not with an articulate voice2 and others spoke the anguish of their souls4 8articlute0 replaced with 8articulate0 ,this1 ,i suppose1 you believe to be perfect madness4 ,but it is easily accounted for1 either on principles of reason or scripture4 ,first1 on principles of reason4 ,for how easy is it to suppose1 that a strong1 lively and sudden apprehension of the heinousness of sin1 the wrath of ,god1 and the bitter pains of eternal death1 should affect the body as well as the soul1 during the present laws of vital union2 should interrupt or disturb the ordinary circulations1 and put nature out of its course8 ,yea1 we may question1 whether while this union subsists1 it be possible for the mind to be affected1 in so violent a degree1 without some or other of those bodily symptoms following8 ,it is likewise easy to account for these things1 on principles of scripture4 ,for when we take a view of them in this light1 we are to add to the consideration of natural causes1 the agency of those spirits who still excel in strength1 and as far as they have leave from ,god1 will not fail to torment whom they cannot destroy2 to tear those that are coming to ,christ4 ,it is also remarkable1 that there is plain scripture precedent of every symptom which has lately appeared4 ,so that we cannot allow even the conviction attended with these to be madness1 without giving up both reason and scripture4 99#ad4 ,i grant1 fourthly1 ,that touches of extravagance1 bordering on madness may sometime attend severe conviction4 ,and this also is easy to be accounted for1 by the present laws of the animal conomy4 ,for we know1 fear or grief1 from a temporal cause1 may occasion a fever and thereby a delirium4 ,it is not strange then that some1 while under strong impressions of grief or fear1 from a sense of the wrath of ,god1 should for a season forget almost all things else1 and scarce be able to answer a common question3 that some should fancy they see the flames of hell1 or the devil and his angels around them3 or that others1 for a space1 should be afraid1 like ,cain1 whosoever meeteth me will slay me4 ,all these1 and whatever less common effects may sometimes accompany this conviction1 are easily known from the natural distemper of madness1 were it only by this one circumstance1 that whenever the person convinced tastes the pardoning love of ,god1 they all vanish away in a moment4 ,lastly1 ,i have seen one instance 7,i pray ,god ,i may see no more such67 of real1 lasting madness4 ,two or three years since1 ,i took one with me to ,bristol1 who was under deep convictions2 but of as sound an understanding in all respects1 as ever he had been in his life4 ,i went a short journey1 and when ,i came to ,bristol again1 found him really distracted4 ,i enquired particularly1 at what time and place1 and in what manner this disorder began8 ,and ,i believe there are1 at least1 threescore witnesses1 alive1 and ready to testify what follows4 ,when ,i went from ,bristol1 he contracted an acquaintance with some persons1 who were not of the same judgment with me4 ,he was soon prejudiced against me3 quickly after1 when our society were met together in ,kingswood-house1 he began a vehement invective both against my person and doctrines4 ,in the midst of this1 he was struck raving mad4 ,and so he continued till his friends put him into bedlam3 and probably1 laid his madness too to my charge4 #ae4 ,i fear1 there may also be some instances of real madness1 proceeding from a different cause4 ,suppose1 for instance1 a person1 hearing me1 is strongly convinced1 that a liar cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,he comes home1 and relates this to his parents or friends1 and appears to be very uneasy4 ,these good ,christians are disturbed at this1 and afraid he is running mad too4 ,they are resolved1 he shall never hear any of those fellows more2 and keep to it in spite of all his intreaties4 ,they will not suffer him1 when at home1 to be alone1 for fear he should read or pray4 ,and perhaps in a while they will constrain him1 at least by repeated importunities1 to do again the very thing1 for which he was convinced the wrath of ,god cometh upon the children of disobedience4 ,what is the event of this8 ,sometimes the ,spirit of ,god is quenched and departs from him4 ,now you have carried the point4 ,the man is easy as ever1 and sins on without any remorse4 ,but in other instances1 where those convictions sink deep1 and the arrows of the ,almighty stick fast in the soul1 you will drive the person into real1 settled madness1 before you can quench the ,spirit of ,god4 ,i am afraid1 there have been several instances of this4 ,you have forced the man's conscience1 till he is stark mad4 ,but then1 pray do not impute that madness to me4 ,had you left him to my direction1 or rather to the direction of the ,spirit of ,god1 he would have been filled with love and a sound mind4 ,but you have taken the matter out of ,god's hand4 ,and now you have brought it to a fair conclusion6 #af4 ,how frequent this case may be1 ,i know not4 ,but doubtless most of those who make this objection1 of our driving men mad1 have never met with such an instance in their lives4 ,the common cry is occasioned1 either by those who are convinced of sin1 or those who are inwardly converted to ,god3 mere madness both 7as was observed before7 to those who are without ,god in the world4 ,yet ,i do not deny1 but you may have seen one in bedlam1 who said he had followed me4 ,but observe1 a madman's saying this1 is no proof of the fact3 nay1 and if he really had1 it should be farther considered1 that his being in bedlam1 is no sure proof of his being mad4 ,witness the well-known case of ,mr4 ,periam2 and ,i doubt more such are to be found4 ,yea1 it is well if some have not been sent thither1 for no other reason1 but because they followed me3 their kind relations either concluding1 that they must be distracted1 before they could do this3 or1 perhaps hoping1 that bedlam would make them mad1 if it did not find them so4 99#ag4 ,and it must be owned1 a confinement of such a sort1 is as fit to cause as to cure distraction4 ,for what scene of distress is to be compared to it8 ,to be separated at once from all who are near and dear to you2 to be cut off from all reasonable conversation1 to be secluded from all business1 from all reading1 from every innocent entertainment of the mind1 which is left to prey wholly upon itself1 and day and night to pore over your misfortunes3 to be shut up day by day in a gloomy cell1 with only the walls to employ your heavy eyes1 in the midst either of melancholy silence1 or horrid cries1 groans and laughter intermixt3 to be forced by the main strength of those 8,who laugh at human nature and compassion10 to take drenches of nauseous1 perhaps torturing medicines1 which you know you have no need of now1 but know not how soon you may1 possibly by the operation of these very drugs on a weak and tender constitution3 here is distress6 ,it is an astonishing thing1 a signal proof of the power of ,god1 if any creature who has his senses when the confinement begins1 does not lose them1 before it is at an end6 ,how must it heighten the distress1 if such a poor wretch1 being deeply convinced of sin1 and growing worse and worse 7as he probably will1 seeing there is no medicine here for his sickness1 no such physician as his case requires7 be soon placed among the incurables6 ,can imagination itself paint such a hell upon earth8 ,where even 8hope never comes1 that comes to all60,for what remedy8 ,if a man of sense and humanity1 should happen to visit that house of woe1 would he give the hearing to a madman's tale8 ,or if he did1 would he credit it8 8,do we not know1 might he say1 how well any of these will talk in their lucid intervals80 ,so that a thousand to one he would concern himself no more about it1 but leave the weary to wait for rest in the grave6 #ah4 ,i have now answered most of the current objections1 particularly such as have appeared of weight to religious or reasonable men4 ,i have endeavoured to shew1 first1 ,that the doctrines ,i teach are no other than the great truths of the gospel4 #b4 ,that though ,i teach them1 not as ,i would1 but as ,i can1 yet it is in a manner not contrary to law3 ,and #c4 ,that the effects of thus preaching the gospel1 have not been such as was weakly or wickedly reported3 those reports being mere artifices of the devil1 to hinder the work of ,god4 ,whosoever therefore ye are1 who look for ,god to revive his work in the midst of the years1 cry aloud1 that he may finish it nevertheless1 may cut it short in righteousness4 ,cry to ,messiah the ,prince1 that he may soon end the transgression1 that he may lift up his standard upon earth1 sending by whom he will send1 and working his own work1 when he pleaseth1 and as he pleaseth1 till all the kindreds of the people worship before him1 and the earth be full of the knowledge of the glory of the ,lord6 ,december #bb1 #agdd4 99 99 99 99 99 ,an ,,act of ,,devotion4 #a ,,behold the servant of the ,lord6 ,i wait thy guiding eye to feel1 ,to hear1 and keep thine every word1 ,to prove1 and do thy perfect will3 ,joyful from all my works to cease1 ,glad to fulfil all righteousness4 #b ,me if thy grace vouchsafe to use1 ,meanest of all thy creatures me1 ,the deed1 the time1 the manner chuse2 ,let all my fruit be found of thee2 ,let all my works in thee be wrought1 ,by thee to full perfection brought4 #c ,my every weak1 though good design1 ,o'er-rule1 or change as seems thee meet2 ,jesus1 let all the work be thine2 ,thy work1 ,o ,lord1 is all-compleat1 ,and pleasing in thy ,father's sight2 ,thou only hast done all things right4 #d ,here then to thee thine own ,i leave1 ,mould as thou wilt the passive clay2 ,but let me all thy stamp receive1 ,but let me all thy words obey2 ,serve with a single heart and eye1 ,and to thy glory live and die4 ,the ,end of the ,fourteenth ,volume4