who has been in these fires can delineate the troubled soul, come home to his conscience, be acquainted with all his feelings, and will ever appear before the awakened mind as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Pay no regard to the letters that are sent you by ministers from London. The work is not yours, but God's; and what he has appointed for you to do, that you shall do, and no other shall. Your line is already chalked out, and your warfare is before you; and blessed be he that enlargeth Gad, and wo to him that straiteneth him.

Stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved; be valiant for truth; declare the whole counsel of God; and fear the face of no man.

Ever thine,

Adieu.

W. H.

LETTER XVII.

To the Rev. Mr. HUNTINGTON.

DEARLY BELOVED AND EVER HONOURED FATHER IN THE LORD;

FOR SO, I believe, I must call you henceforth; as I trust the Lord, by your instrumentality, has begotten me to a lively hope; and, though it amounts not to an assurance, yet it wonderfully

supports my soul in her conflicts with unbelief and the powers of darkness. Having discovered, under your ministry, that the blessed Spirit has begun the work of faith in my heart, gives rise to a strong confidence, at times, that he will go on with it to the day of Jesus Christ. But still I feel such bondage and darkness that exceedingly tries me; and, when I have had a hard and dark season, I am ready to give all up; that I will neither preach nor wait any longer: and yet I cannot but hope somehow, and at seasons feel comfort and joy rising up in my soul for what the Lord has done for me, and for what I have in expectation. But, after all, I remain in bondage, and bowed down under fear and doubts; the Bible shut up, and so blind and ignorant that I can see nothing; and never, I think, did I see and feel so much of it.

I am led, somehow, from preaching so much of the law and the terrors of it as I used to do, that I can speak of nothing but about faith and hope; and am at a loss too to get at these from the scriptures, so as clearly to describe them. My heart and the Bible are still mysteries to me, and I know not when I shall be able to understand them. But, after all, it astonishes me, more than any thing, that the ever-blessed Lord has condescended to look to, and work upon, such a filthy brute; that he brought me from such an awful state of sin and darkness; kept me from going down to the pit, when I was so much like

those that go there: that he hath delivered me from the dreadful terrors of a guilty conscience, and an accusing law, and awful blasphemies against his holy name, by bringing me to hope in his word; which I trust, he will fulfil in his good and appointed time. And I hope you will never cease praying that the Lord would make me feel the power of his divine love; for I think, if this was the case, I should never cease praising his name while I have breath, for my debt is im

mense.

The friends at Lewes salute you most affectionately, and wish, above all things to see you again. Their hearts have been refreshed, and we have all been strengthened. They have been confirmed that I was right, and that my preaching was not in vain; and I am confirmed that the Lord works on many. I could not depend on my own judgment, nor could they, perhaps, so much as on yours. I can see some begin to look out of obscurity, others strengthened in hope; some sinking deeper; and the mouths of many of our adversaries stopt in a great measure.

Many of those who had left me begin to drop back. Mrs. S. sends her grateful remembrance to you. She received light to see the work on her heart, and begins to creep out of her hole. She had been in a profession for a number of years and, when I began to preach the state of man in sin, and the bondage of the law, she could follow me, having been in great legal distress for

ground. I know light and power have gone with the truth that I have been enabled of late to deliver, whatever becomes of me; and I am afraid some rebel against it with full purpose of heart.

To bear the reproaches and scourges of these tongues is not an easy work to flesh and blood: it grieves my very heart, and makes me often wish that I had never spoken a word. The tabernacles of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagarenes, they all help the children of Lot. Letters are sent from ministers in London to Lewes, to caution the people from receiving my errors, and to endeavour to prejudice their minds against me. Will not the Lord do unto these as unto the Midianites, as to Sisera and Jabin? What have I done? O that I was sure of my interest in the truths that I see, and in some measure am enabled to speak! then I would not care for any of them: but that I myself, after all, may be a cast-away, discourages me.

The Bible is often as if it had been locked up, and not one ray of light opening in it; and my heart fretting against God, and the temptation following me to the pulpit, that I shall not have a word to speak, and that I have neither lot nor portion in the matter. And yet, in general, when I open my mouth, I have such boldness to speak, and am constrained by such power, that I am astonished at myself; and, when I have come down, I have been ashamed, and wished I had not spoken as I did. I know not what will become

of me. The Lord bless your soul, and prosper your labours. I hope, with the Lord's leave, soon to see you. Let me know if you have any intended journey in the country, that I may not miss you. I believe you do not forget me; and my sincere but poor wishes are for your prosperity; while I remain,

Ever sincerely yours,

J. JENKINS.

LETTER XVI.

To the Rev. J. JENKINS.

My dearly beloved brother in Christ; my true yokefellow and companion in travail, and in the kingdom and patience of Christ: grace and peace be multiplied.

EVERY letter of thine confirms me more and more of the good work begun in thee. Thou art full of power, by the Spirit of God, to shew to Jacob his transgressions, and to Israel his sins. Thou art now a servant of Christ, and wilt never more be able to preach to please men. The offence of the cross has not ceased with thee now, but is revived. God Almighty bless thee, my dear Go on, thou mighty man of valour, like

brother.