ness of sins, is called disturbing the peace of the churches. Conversion, with many preachers, consists in nothing but a reformation of manners, external conformity, and a decent deportment. A natural assent to what such preachers say is called faith; conscience, hushed to sleep by a few dead works, goes for the peace of God; and to be enamoured and enraptured with the uncertain sound of such a trumpet, passes for pious zeal, lively frames, and the joy of the Lord. A demure or a smiling countenance under the word is called grace in the very face; tickling the fancy, and moving the passions, goes current for the operations of the Holy Spirit, and for a precious opportunity; while the honest rebukes and secret lashes of conscience are called the buffetings of Satan, the workings of the old man, and the trial of faith: and, when conscience gets brow-beaten, borne down, and silenced, by the false evidences of the preacher, this is called being blessed and set at liberty under the word; and such precious souls are called the seals of the preacher's ministry, which strengthens his hands, and serves to encourage him to be always abounding in the work of the Lord, as this is called.

This beating the air, this running at uncer tainty and labouring in vain, is almost universal in the present day; and it is not likely that these builders should ever want materials, who can use hay, straw, and stubble, seeing it is not the quality but quantity of the materials that is regarded.

When this assembly is collected together, the next step to be taken by such a deceiver is, to enshrine himself in their natural affections by constant and frequent visits; to lace them up, and keep them tight, in the contracted bands of bigotry; to arm them with prejudice against every experimental preacher; to cry down the power of God under the name of enthusiasm; to call all convictions madness, and all evangelical doctrine antinomianism; and this is called watching over the flock, and guarding it from wolves in sheep's cloathing. A seared conscience passes for solid peace, presumption for the full assurance of faith, and being without inward fears and outward fightings is walking comfortably. Sensible sinners, labouring under convictions, who are dissatisfied with the preachers they sit under, are called disturbers of the churches; while keeping quiet in carnal security is allowed to be keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Daily does God make manifest such preachers and professors as these; witness the men you mention in yours. I know that every man's work shall be tried with fire; the day shall declare it, for it shall be revealed by fire, which shall try every man's work, of what sort it is; "For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many." Blessed be God for ever for condescending to teach us what little we know. My kind respects

to your spouse, and to Mr. J. when you see him. Grace and peace be with you, Amen; while I

remain,

Yours, in Christ Jesus,

LETTER IX.

To the Rev. MR. HUNTINGTON.

W. H.

I

MY DEAR SIR,

MUCH doubt whether my writing to you will answer any good purpose. Your time is precious, and to attend to the prating of a fool that is now fallen, will be only wasting it. My mind is at seasons almost distracted, seeking rest and finding none. If the house is apparently swept and garnished, yet a secret lust may be concealed in some closet, which at last will make its appearance when the eye of justice begins to stare conscience in the face. Then the secreted devils will come out of their holes, and appear in the light of God's countenance as so many terrible sins, ready to tear the poor distracted soul into a thousand pieces. Then the hypocrite in Zion is roused,

my

and begins to cry, "Who shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" This I am much afraid is case. The Lord hath detected me. But, oh! is it not too late? Wherefore was I left so long, and to run such lengths, if I belonged to him? And how is it that I am not now delivered when brought to a sense of my misery, if he means my salvation? But how dare I ask such impious questions? He might have sent me to hell long ago. Yet many such are in my heart, and I think often on my tongue; and, if the Lord does not keep my mouth as it were with a bridle, far worse will come forth one day or other.

Never before did God suffer such an abominable wretch to live on his earth; especially when I consider what a place I presumed to occupy in his house! I had once some small measure of natural and acquired abilities, and from these my passions were often moved and elevated, which I fondly called the love of God. I had an insight of the scheme of salvation according to the letter of scripture, which I thought to be faith. I preached the doctrines of grace very high, and this I called the work of an evangelist. But now all seems to be taken from me, and given to them that have, Matt. xxv. 28. I have neither abilities, judgment, recollection, nor memory, left me. My outward frame is amazingly shattered, and I am persuaded, if the Lord does not soon appear, that I shall lose my rationality. I have some remem

brance of what you said in one of your sermons, that, 'When the soul is put into the fire, he will find that neither his strength, wisdom, or knowledge, will avail him; all will be burnt up.' Those two sermons much supported me for a short season, as I thought my experience was exhibited in them more minutely than I in my present state can possibly describe it; but it soon went off. I am often much supported when I conceive that I have found my path and experience in Job, David, or Jeremiah; but soon I begin to consider there is some similarity between a hypocrite roused and a saint in distress.

If for a day or two I have the comfort of hope, I soon find myself again in a quiet, indifferent, state of mind, neither delivered nor distressed. Then I begin to seek for my burden, knowing that it was not rightly lost; for I had rather live and die under it, intolerable as it is, than lose it without knowing what has taken it away: but when it comes again I am ready to cry, let me be rid of it on any account, let me have my life comfortable here if I must go to hell at last.

One morning, as I first awoke, the passage in the 18th psalm, verse 16, came to my mind, "He sent from above," &c.; but it was soon wrenched out of my hands; and, as it brought neither power nor comfort with it, I concluded it was not sent of God, though I found it very suitable:

yet it