Stl, 
 
 M^ 
 

 LIBR^KY 
 
 
 OF 
 
 THE 
 
 Theologiea 
 
 1 Seminary, 
 
 Case^ 
 SheJf, 
 
 PRINCE1 
 
 rON, N. J. 
 
 ■ 
 
 Divisi 
 
 Section 
 
 
 
 Book, 
 
 
 
 No 
 
I 
 
r 
 
 m 
 
I 
 
/> I THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, | ^^> 
 j^ Princeton, N. J. -^ 
 
 ^^^ I -J 
 
 To-sEPH Humphreys's kT " (c 
 
 EXPERIENCE^ 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Work of Grace upon his Heart, 
 
 Pfal. Ixvi. 16. Cotne and hear all ye thai fear GoD, and 
 / Tv:'// declare ivhat he hath done f.r my foul, 
 
 cxvi. 10. / believed, therefore hanje /fpoken. 
 
 xxvi, 7. That I may publifli <i.mth the 'voice of 
 
 thatikfgi'Vifigy and tell of all thy wondrous Works. 
 
 ' ciii. 2, 3, 4. Blefs the Lord, O my foul y and for- 
 get not all hi i benefits. Who forgiveth nil thine iniqui' 
 ties: nxjho healeth all thy difeafes. IVho redeemeth 
 thy life f I am defrutlion: <vjho croWncth thee ^vith lov- 
 ihg'kindnefs ard lender mercies. 
 
 Bristol : Printed by Felix Farley, 
 
 And fold by y. Wilfon in Wine-freet, and zt Smith' s- 
 Hall: in Gloucefler by G. Harris : And in London by 
 y. Le^.visy in Bartbolome'w-Clofe 'y S. Mafon, in ffood- 
 fi-eet ; & at the Tabernacle near Moorfeldi. [Pjrice^. 
 
 M. DCC XLIL 
 
od's 
 
 ^^^ , Reader, ~ . •, 
 
 J Ha^e here ghen a plain account of G 
 
 dealings with my foul ^ from a child : moji of 
 which is an extract out of fome private me- 
 moirs, which I began to write down five or fix 
 years ago, and continued till lately, with no 
 ether defign hut for my own private advantage. 
 But knowing how the experiences .of others have 
 often been hlefi, and believing it to be my duty 
 to tell what the Lord hath done for my foul, 
 I thought it might not -be amifs to take this way 
 of publifoing tt : which pcradventure may be 
 ufeful to fome, and a fatisfa<^ion to others, I 
 count myfelf as yet but a very young babe /;; 
 Christ; and very unworthy even of that 
 fiame. But I know I have tafied of the grace 
 of the Lord. And Ifimply here declare my e x- 
 perience : endeavouring to fpeak neither more 
 nor lefs. I know it was my fault for a good 
 while, being usdto a certain let of phrafes by 
 education^ to fpeak of religion, and doSrines^ 
 and my own ft ate, rather by rote, and in other s 
 ■ words, and from what 1 heard others fay, thaji 
 from a real experience of my own* But I truft 
 this is not the cafe here : being ^ell fatisfied 
 that I have as plainly and as fimplyypo^^ what 
 1 have felt in my foul, as ever I fpoke in my 
 life-time what I felt in my body. And that it 
 may be bleft to thee. Reader, is the earnefi de^ 
 fire and prayer of the mofi unworthy of all God % 
 family, 
 
 Jofeph Humphreys. 
 
 Bristol, Sept, 17, 1742. 
 
^^. •:? * :• •:• •:• * -vt * •;• 'S'S ^ •:• •:• * * •:• ** •:• i> * •;• * -r -j 
 
 
 An Account, ©r. 
 
 Wa s born at Burford In Oxfordjhhe^ Oc- 
 tober 28, 1720. Where my /^^y/z^ir was 
 Minijier near thirty Years, to a Church 
 which he himfelf had been chiefly inftru- 
 mental of gathering and converting to 
 
 the Lord. Being blefs'd with a reli- 
 
 gious education^ I had fome very early impreflions upon 
 my foul: particularly when 1 was about /"t,'^ or Jix Tears 
 of age, reading in Janeivay^s 'Joken for Children, my 
 heart was much affeded, and I cry'd exceedingly, at the 
 ftory. of a certain young child's dying triumphantly in the 
 
 Lord. Another time, I remember, I dream d that 
 
 I was in the chambers of heaven, where I thought I 
 faw a little brother of mine then dead, and Jesus Ch rist 
 himfelf in the form of a grave, yet pleafant young man. 
 This imprefs'd me very much : and in the morning when 
 I came down. Mother, fays I, I Icve Jesus Christ. 
 j4h ! fays flie, 1 ivijh you did. Indeed, reply 'd I, I d9 
 lonje Jesus Christ : and I remember I was very much 
 grie-'v'd, becaufe {he feem'd to think otherwife of me. 
 Between ten and ele'ven, I was fent to a Grammar -School 
 at Fairford, where I fometimes lov'd Jin, and fometimes 
 lov'd to be good. There was a certain Schoolfello-w who 
 boarded at the fame houfe with me, with whom I was 
 fometimes y^r/cz/^, and fometimes i;«//r. Ohen we fnn'd, 
 
 and often we had con<vi^ions together. Once as I had 
 
 been hearing my Father preach at Byhury^ and returning 
 to Fairford by myfelf alone, 1 was very deeply penfi<ve 
 concerning my wickednefs. I had fuch thoughts as thefe : 
 What Jh all 1 do that 1 may be one of the Lo r d's people ? I 
 am not as I Jhould be. I hanje been nvicked and ^oile. I 
 have loved euil companions : and luith them I ha've had 
 notched anions and ^wicked talk, I am refclv^d to li've 
 A 2 otherivife 
 
£ 4 1 
 
 other^joife y and ivalk as my Father and other godly pea- 
 pie do. In order to bring this about, I folemnly made a 
 covenant with the Lor d J e hov a h , wrote it down in a 
 form, 2sA fuhfcrih^ d m.y name to it : promifmg therein /#. 
 take the Lord /or my God, and that lixoiddbe his child : 
 and therein I had done 'wickedly y I lAjould do fo no more. 
 Hereupon I was exceeding ftrifl, pray'd morning and 
 evening, read the fcriptures much, and would often me- 
 ditate upon them : infomuch that I now began to look 
 upon myfelf as con-uerted \ and it pleas'd me much to hear 
 others give me the charafter of a fober hoy. Yea, fuch. 
 an opinion did I begin to have of my own piety and 
 goodnefs, that, I well remember, how i would often Hand 
 before the looking-glafs in my chamber, beholding my- 
 felf, and admiring what a gra^ve countenance and /olid 
 look I now had. But this my goodnefs was as a morn- 
 ing cloud, and as the early dew it pafs'd away. My wr/V- 
 itn conjcnant foon witnefs'd againft me : and if I kept it^ 
 I thought it would witnefs againft me for ever : and if t 
 burnt it, I thought it would be fuch a notorious breaking 
 with God, that I fhould furely go to hell for it. Thus 
 I was brought to a perplexing dilemma. However, hav- 
 ing kept it fome time,. I found, it figniiied nothing, and 
 fo burnt it. 
 
 While I was at this School, I learnt and pradlis'd many, 
 evil things : particularly fome fliameful and pernicious ads 
 of tvantonne/s ?ind pri'vate uncle anne/s : for which I have 
 had reafon to be humbled ever fmce. And when I returned 
 home to my Fathet^s, I foon found out other companions, 
 with whom I made a further progrefs in the ways of fm. 
 However all this while I had the art of appearing very feri- 
 ous and grave before my parents and other good peopk : 
 infomuch that I had almoft every one's good word, and 
 their judgment was, that providence had certainly defign'd 
 tne for a Mini/er. And altho' I had no particular en- 
 couragement from either of my parexiis thus to think of 
 jnyfelf, yet I could not help even then conceiving that one 
 day or other the Lord would make me a Mini/er, tho' 
 as yet I was in the midft of my fins. 
 
 Soon after this, my Father died, March z, i-j^i-'^. 
 He. was uncommonly zealous in his day both for faith and 
 holinefs : on which account Ije was almoft univerfally de- 
 
 fpvd 
 
[ 5l 
 
 fpis'd, both by Chuteh-peopie and Diffente/s j being hate^^ 
 threatned, perfecuted, and bely'd, as is the common lot of 
 every faithfulmmi^tx. His death was the occafion of my 
 removing to London: being fent for thither by a cert am 
 kind Friendy who had had a very peculiar refpedl and 
 value for my Father : to whom I alj'o (hall always think 
 myfelf much oblig'd. This Friend v/as the inftrument 
 of getting me into a School^ where young men were train'd 
 up for the tninijlry : upon which Foundation I continued 
 feveral years, and had the chief part of my learning and 
 education. When I pafs'd examination m order for my 
 entrance upon this Foundation, I remember particularly 
 there was a clofe queilion put to me by the Re'v. Mr, 
 
 S n, fince deceasd : which was this ; What think yen 
 
 nvould become of your f:ul, fays he, fuppojtng you nvere to 
 die this -uerv nioment? Not without a confiderable flutter of 
 fpirit, I replied, ^2X I hofd 1 Jhoud be ja'ved. It was 
 then aflcM me, ^^vhat ground I had to hope that 1 fjould be 
 fanjed? lanfvver'd, becaufeIhop''dthatlhadfaithinthe 
 Lord Je.sus Christ, and had lately been ?nore affecied 
 both in prinjate prayer, and under hearing the ivcrdy 
 than 1 had us\i to be. Thefe were partly words of courfe, 
 and partly quibbling. For as to faith in Christ, I 
 knew not really what it meant : and as co my being more 
 than ordinarily afFedled in private prayer lately, at the 
 fame time that I fpoke the word, I was convi(Sted in my 
 confcience, that it had not been fo. So that, what with 
 this clofe queftion, and what with my quibbling anfwer, I 
 was upon the whole exceedingly hurried. I was vaftly 
 uneafy during the examination : and when it was over, I 
 was more fo. And as I was returning to my Friendh^ 
 where I lodg'd, 1 think I was never in a greater agony 
 of foul in all my life. I haften'd into a private place, 
 and fell down upon my knees : but could hardly utter any 
 thing for floods of tears. However being in diftrefs, I 
 earneftly beg'd of God, in general, to comfort me. This 
 was what 1 petitioned over and over again : O Lord, be 
 merciful to ?ue, and comfort ?ne. I was fenfible that I had 
 been a great flnner ; and what would become of me, if I 
 were to die, I knew not. In this condition, my fpirit 
 within me was full of difquietude ; neither had I any fa- 
 tisfaftion, except when at prayer. My thoughts were 
 A 3 wholly 
 
[6] 
 
 yifkoWy em ploy M in contemplating the danger of my 
 ftate. And to the bell of my remembrance, I fpent the 
 greateft part of one iveek almoil intirely in penfive medi- 
 tation, and flrong cryings, prayers and tears. X begg'd 
 of God Hill to give me the Cofuforter. And in fhort, 
 I could pray for little elfe, but the Coviforter: for as^ to- 
 Christ Jesus, and the way of falvation by Him, I 
 was as yet quite ignorant. Till at length I met with a 
 certain little Pamphlet, from which I had the firft glim- 
 Bering difcovery oi Christ Jesus. I had fomething 
 of a dawning view of Ch r i s t's righteoufntfs and rtierits : 
 and could perceive that tho' fmners nvere condemn'd and 
 curs'd by the /a^v, yet there might be hopes of falvation 
 ibr them from another quarter, namely, from the obedience 
 and merits of the Son of God, imputed to them, and fet 
 down to //?'^/> account. Looking upon Christ in this 
 view, I was much pleas'd : and began to think that tho^ 
 I wdiS guilty, and plainly condemn'd in my own confcience, 
 yet poflibly there might be hopes for me. The thoughts 
 of this cheer'd me, and took off much of that horror and 
 diflrefs that I had before. But here I rejied, where it is 
 to be fear'd many others do. l/aiv Christ's righte- 
 oufnefs, but llop'd fhort of an interefl in it. It was dif- 
 cover'd to my njieau, but I fat down contented without 
 receiving it, or having it experimentally imputed to me. 
 I thought now I had nothing elfe to do, but to mend my 
 life, and leave off, and ftridly watch againft my former 
 fins : and I had a confus*d notion that my paft guilt wou'd 
 all be remov'd for Ch rist's fake, and that his obedience 
 and merits would be imputed to me, if^QV the future I 
 Ibould live a holy, flri6t and blamelefs life. Thus did i 
 mix law and gofpel, and would be fav'd partly by the old 
 and partly by the ne^-w co'venant. Accordingly I fet about 
 a thorough reformation in every refpedl fo far as I knew : 
 and 1 remember how much 1 pleasM myfelf to think, that 
 when any of my country-men fhould come to tonxin, they 
 • would by one quarter of an hour\ converfation with me, 
 foon take notice o^ my firid piety, and apparent ad'vances 
 in bolinefs and religion. 
 
 I was now between tnvelnje and thirteen. And I had 
 a more than ordinary defire to be a Minif.er. Yea, I 
 diought, however men ftioald oppofe, ray heart was fully 
 
 beat 
 
[7] 
 
 bent and determln'd for that work : ( i .} that I might reforT^^ 
 finners. And (2.) becaufe I lo'v d to read and Jiudy tW^ 
 fcriptures. Whereupon I usM to write down fermons' of 
 my Qivn compofing, thundering exceedingly againft all 
 
 iinrepejitl^g fmners. About this time, I went to the 
 
 School before-mention'd, to learn the ia>iguages and read 
 the clajftcks. It was the cuftom of tViC pupils every even- 
 ing to take their turns in prayer : and indeed fome of 
 them pray'd fo well, that I look'd upon myfelf as highly 
 blefs'd to have my lot call with fuch pious, ferious youno- 
 men. One of them in particular pray'd lb clofe and fearch- 
 ing, that I us'd to think he meant me : and I began to 
 think that all of them had more in them than /had ; and 
 that I was but a hypocrite when compar*^d with thcTn.. 
 This made me fomething more thoughtful, and my rell- 
 kffnefs of mind began to return afrefli upon me : till at 
 length I perceiv'd that thcfe fame young men could allow 
 themfelves in certain things, which 1 thought J myfelf 
 could not : fuch as light and foolifi talking and jejlingy 
 playing at draughts, Ji'ves^ hlindmatisbuff^ hunt thefooe^ 
 and fuch like ludicrous games, quite unbecoming fuch 
 as profefs\l godlinefs ; and therefore the more hurtful and" 
 dangerous, as they were efteem'd only imiocent aud harm- 
 lefs diverfions. However I was eaiily carried down the 
 common ftream : and fuch ways as thefe were very agree- 
 able to ray nature. So that by degrees, partly by this con- 
 verfation, partly by the good opinion that others had of 
 me, and partly by my own natural love to the ways of 
 carnal fecurity, I was luU'd fi\ft afleep again : my con- 
 vidlions went off: my njjound njjas heaVd flightly, crying 
 peace, peace, where no true peace was ; and my tender 
 confcience began gradually to be fear'd, by my yielding 
 frjl to fmaller, and then to greater things ; firfi allowing 
 of thofe things that were judg'd harmlefs, afterwards 
 thofc things that were diredtly fmful : till at lall I fo far 
 departed from God, that I had like to have been utterly 
 dro-ivfPdin perdition-. The r^ that I^cw got, did not 
 flow from faith in the merits and death of Christ, but 
 from carnal means, and from a fenfekffnefs of my con- 
 dition, which by degrees had got the upper hand of me. 
 Happy is that perfon, ^.Ajho tvhen he is once aivaken\l, can 
 ne-ucr mare be eafy or at peace, in any condition or by ar."^ 
 means-, till he has eafe and peace from Christ Jesus 
 himfelfl What 
 
[8 ] 
 
 What pafsM in ray foul, all this while,- 1 kept to my- 
 ^If. Others efteem'd me a hopeful youth. But God 
 only knows what lengths of wickednefs 1 ran into, even 
 after all my light and convictions . For ihcfirjl quarter, 
 after I en t red the School, I was pretty //v^v'; Bbt after- 
 wards grew very loofc. I began to query, whether religion 
 was not all a cheats and it's pro/ej/hrs a company oi hypo- 
 crites. I diflik'd precifenej}, and could not abide to be 
 particular. I was determin'd to thifik freely fox myfelf, 
 and to have my judgment /z.'j<«yV by none others. I lik'd 
 the jJp9jI'e Paul, when he faid, Prcve all things: but I 
 regarded not his advice to hold faft that ^uAnch is good. 
 Thus I thought myfelf to be wife, but I became a fool. 
 Whether there was any God or no, truly now I was 
 dubious. As for Jesus Christ,. I thought he was but 
 a common man, if not an impojior. I kept company with 
 z young deifi, and lov'd to hear his 'u;/ A/ notions. I doubt- 
 ed whether as much could net be faid for Mahomet, as for 
 Christ. I verily believ'd in my heart that the O/^ 
 Tejiament \\?A no more reference to Christ, than the 
 writings of Homer or Xenophon : only as the JpofAes and 
 other men were pleas'd to give it a turn in favour of their 
 opinion. I hated to hear talk of experimental xt\\^\Q\\'. 
 to me it was ?i jargon of nonfence. I could remember no 
 fuch phrafe in the Ne^jj Tefiament, as experiencing ths 
 grace of God : and vvhen I look'd into m.y Dictionary , 
 neither there could I find out the meaning of it. I lik'd 
 to hear the Minijiers well enough, except when they treat- 
 ed on matters of experience. My heart had a particular 
 rifing againft that. Thus ignorant was I, and like a 
 heaji alfo before the Lord. For my ways at this 
 time were abominable. I was full of wantonnefs, and all 
 uncleannefs, beyond tnoji of my age. I incited others to fin. 
 And it is even a fhame to fpeak of thofe things which I 
 did in fecret. I could allov/ myfelf in gaming, card-play- 
 ing, zx\^ filthy talking, with little or no remorfe. And 
 how often have ]^ontri'v^d, and laid fchemes to commit 
 the worll and mm! fcandalous of fms, but was prevented 
 either by fome accident failing out, or elfe for lack of op- 
 portunity, or bccaufe my courage fail'd when 1 ^^a' oppor- 
 tunity. Thus was I almoft daily heaping up loads, of 
 ^uih upon my poor foul. Neverthelefs the Lo r d left not 
 
 himfelf 
 
C9 ] 
 
 iumrelflong without witnefs, but follow'd me wkh /re/l. 
 connjidions. One time in particular^ when I was alone 
 in my clofet, I ivcpt bitterly before the Lord. My fins 
 afiiided me, fo that I knew not what to do. I was con- 
 vjnc'd that I was the worll in the whole School : and f 
 thought what a dreadful thing it would be, \^ my friends 
 were to km^iv of all my wickednefs. Thefe things were 
 a weight and. burthen upon me almoft continually, more 
 
 or lefs. About this time, I wrote down my mind 
 
 in the following expreffions. For I then us'd to keep a 
 little ^/^ry. " May <^. 1735. My fms have been i'£';jy 
 ** great y and the burthen of them is too hea-vy for me to 
 *■* bear. Were it not for the guilt and load of fm, I think 
 ** I could go thro' this world chearfuily, and comfortably. 
 " 'Tis that which is the greatefl trouble and grievance I 
 '* meet with here on earth. The re-iterating of niy fins 
 ** fo often is what caufes great horror of fpirit to fall upon, 
 '* me." By thefe expreilions it appears that I was at 
 that time under great con^idions. 1 knew not where to^ 
 hide my head. I imagin'd any one might read hypocrijy 
 in my face. And for this reafon I was afham'd to talk 
 about y^// itual concerns. 
 
 About this time our Tutor was chang'd, and the School 
 was remov'd to Dcptford. I was now betn.veen 1 4 ajid 
 J ^ years of age. And I remember if any one talk'd to- 
 me about the flate of ray foul, I would always to them 
 make the bell of my condition. I was dreadfully afraid 
 for any one to knonv how bad I was. And whatever I 
 thought -or knew o( myjltlf\ I would not for the world lofe 
 my charafter with others. And indeed I was all along 
 much .upheld and comforted, rather from other people's 
 good opinion of me^ than from the fpirit and grace of 
 Jbsus Christ. No preachings t\qx prinjate cont'erfa- 
 tion fearch'd out my particular cafe. However ufeful it 
 was iq others, it was not ad^.pted to me, neither did it 
 reach me, I thought I wanted fome one to preach home to 
 my ccnfcience. But 1 could not meet with it according 
 to my defire. Tho' even at this time/^ lov'd the houfe 
 of God, efpecially for the fake. of the /«^%, which I 
 thought w^i heanjenl)'. I lik'd Minijiers, if they preach'd 
 x."^ particular duties, and. the ^'^yj of heaven. I look'd 
 upon ^w/j as the ac/y, ixi^ heaven as the f«^/. And I 
 
 thought 
 
[ 10 ] 
 
 thought the chief ufe oi b. ftanding minijiry was, to preach 
 iip the joys of hea-ven^ in order to excite people to ftricl- 
 nefs of duty, and to fupport them under the afflidions of 
 this world: 
 
 While I was at this Academy, I was fometimes wholly 
 under the power oi^carrialmind, and fometimes had ftrong^ 
 fpiritual imprejjtons upon me. Tho' upon the whole I 
 think I was worfe at the other School than I ever was at this. 
 ^here I finn'd more ^wilfully' : here more againji my nvill. 
 There I did not refolve fo much againil fm : here my refo- 
 lutions were fometimes exceeding flrong. Tho' even 
 here, the Lo r d knoweth,. I'was very fmful. Vajffion, pride ^ 
 Jelf conceit, luji, en^jy, a.nd a. certain four unforgi'vifjg tem- 
 per reign'd in m.e much. Very often, when I quarrel'd 
 with any of my fe//oiv-pupi/s, I would not fo much as 
 Jpea^ to them again for many days, or perhaps <vjeeks after. 
 When my temper was provoked, J fhould r^ige like a 
 mad thing. I had a very high opinion of myjelf, and of 
 my onvn parts and abilities : and could not bear to be 
 ri'vaPdhy others. With reg3^r^ to uncleannefs, Iftrove 
 againft it, but feldom could get the vidory. I was 
 brought fo far noijo, as generally to hate the thing that I 
 did; except juit In the inftant that the temptation came 
 upon me, and then I was ufually overcome: as alfo I 
 was in my fleep, with the fame. Othervvife I detefted the 
 thing, and the pradice became odious to me. But I was 
 unacquainted with the ftrength of the grace of Christ : 
 and I knew of no other Jirength againft fm, than my o<zvn 
 refol'ving zr\d Jiri<ving z^Sim^ it, confidering the evil con- 
 fequences of it, and meditating at the fame time upon the 
 certainty of deaths and t\icpleafures of heanjen. I imagin'd 
 if I could but always have death and the gra've in my 
 thoughts, it would be a means oi damping my lufts, and 
 fortifying me againft fm. But in vain did I look for help 
 from thefe things : for in the Lor d alone is there Ri o h- 
 TEousNEss and Strength. In this condition I la- 
 bour'd under the diftrefs and anguifh of 2Lfore confciefice 
 for fome years. No other fm wounded me, to compare 
 with that. I look'd upon m.y cafe as peculiar to myfelf. 
 I thought no one was like me. I could not conceive that 
 I fhould ever be fit for a Minifer. I thought one day or 
 other, I fhould certainly prove ?ifcandaItD my profeffion : 
 
 and 
 
[ " ] 
 
 and that aH my wickednefs would fhortly be kna^n to the 
 vvhole world; and then what a hypocrite (hould I appear ? 
 becaufe I had carried fuch 2. fair oiitfide, and had talk'd 
 as devoutly as the beft, but iniMurdly and fecreflj had been 
 y^ wicked. Wherefore, for a great while, I roll'd thefe 
 things about in my mind : and w tongue can tell what I 
 then/f//, efpecially at times. For very often I fhould be 
 fo light and fdolifh as if nothing was the matter with me. 
 But at other times, I fhould be in exceeding great dilhefs. 
 And O, what ways did I contrive to get eafel One while 
 I was determin'd to quit the Academy privately, and go 
 over into the Fopljh Countries : and I thought if I could 
 but get a falary for my life, I would be content always 
 to live in one of their Monajieries. 1 thought I could be 
 free to confefs my fins to them, becaufe I ihould be a 
 flranger there : and that they would receive me notwith- 
 ftanding, and be willing to give me ahfolution. But here 
 I was ftop'd again, thinking, how I could in confcience 
 conform to Popery. Here 1 replied within myfelf: 'They 
 are Chrifiians, as -^t^ellas ijoe : and "'tis all but one religion. 
 So I thought to fatisfy myfelf with this. And I had a 
 multitude of thoughts within me, about this fcheme. 
 Till at length I heard of a certain Mitiijlers fon, who, they 
 faid, was adlually turn'd P^-pify and was got into one of 
 the foreign Colleges, and fo had loft his characfter and got 
 a fcandalous name among his friends here in England; 
 and this, if I m.iftake not, was at once the means of knock- 
 ing all my contrivance on the head But then I had 
 
 another plot : and that was to make intereft privately, in 
 
 order to get upon one of the foundations at Oxford. 
 
 My view was, that I might have a nen.v fet of friends 
 and acquaintance, with whom I defign'd ;o turn over a 
 new leaf, and thenceforward to lead a viiiaous life. With 
 them I thought my charader would bt -ujhole : whereas 
 if I continued where I was, I was daily under fearful ap- 
 prehenjionsy that one time or other, all my fecret wicked- 
 nefs and hypocrify would be known to my former friends, 
 among whom I fhould thereby g?in an eternal blemifh. 
 I judg'd it proper therefore to extricate myfelf from this 
 danger, by privately removing to Oxford, where I tho't 
 all my pajl n,<ice would be hid, or at leaft, if ever difco- 
 ver'd, it would more eafily be pafs'd orer and forgot, 
 there than here, I 
 
[ 12 ] 
 
 1 had an acquaintance with one of the Felloivs of A/rr- 
 /c/7, who feem'd to have a peculiar refpe(^ for me ; to 
 "whom I inlended firil to apply : and indeed I belie\'e 
 I fhould have fucceeded in this, had not my heart un- 
 accountably faird me, when I began adlually to fet about 
 
 the thing. At laft when I could get eafe no other 
 
 way, I was refob/d tc take the freedom of opening my 
 cafe, as far as 1 could, to a certain ferious friend of mine 
 in Lojidon. Accordingly I did : and he told me, that un- 
 biliefw^s my chief fin, and at the hottcjn of the reft. Ml 
 thinks I, / itv/:^ / had no '^vorjc /;?;, than unbelief, to 
 anfiver for. For I knew not what he meant by the ex- 
 prelTion, neither could 1 conceive hov/ unbelief of all 
 things could have fuch an i>ifiuence over me as to make me 
 commit fm. However 1 thank'd him, and returned 
 home : but found little or no power againft fm after, any 
 more than before. Another of myy/-;>»fl'/, having fomc 
 'knowledge of my oafe, fent me MarfhaUh book, Upon 
 the gofpel-niyfei-y of faniJ if cation, adapted peculiarly to the 
 ■cafes of fuch as labour under the power q^ ind-ivcllijjg fn. 
 I read it ever, but underftcod nothing of it. The whole 
 iDook was indeed a mfcry to me, thro' the blindnefs of 
 my mind. 
 
 At this time, I belic/e indeed I was nncere, according 
 to my light ; and began to grow more and more ferious. 
 I likcwife began to have a higher thought of Jesus 
 Christ, than I once had : and to think that there was 
 more in religion, than I had been aware of. I remem- 
 ber in reading over 2. Cor. i. when i came to the 19th 
 verfe, I had an uncommon rc^y of light darted into my 
 mind, from thofe words, For the Sen of Got), Jesus 
 Christ, nxho ivas f reached atnong you, i^c. I imme- 
 <liately reflefled, Who is this Son of Gout Surely he is 
 fame extraordinary perfon. And from that time, I never 
 •more entertainM fuch a mean thought of Christ as be- 
 fore : tho' even then I was dubious of his eternal God- 
 head. However I thought that Jesus Christ's was a 
 very good religion : and I wanted very much for all its 
 frofejfors to be join'd in cne. For my own part, I lik'd 
 all that bore the name of Christ; my charity was 
 catholic for them alU and I thought it was a pity that 
 we j(hould differ for kffcr things, fmce we all held with 
 
 the 
 
[ 13 ] 
 
 fnt/ame Jesus, and were callM by his name. I was for 
 joining the Papijls, Church-people^ and Dijfenters of all 
 denominations in o?ie : I was for reconciling the Jriam, 
 Socinians^ Arminiansy and Cal'viniJ}: all together ; and 
 would have had them lay afide all dilpotable points, and 
 harmonize in thofe things wherein they were all agreed. 
 I lik'd thofe men who were for reducing the chrifaan ar- 
 ticles to a /?'-u/ ; and if any calPd the Pope Antichrijl^ I 
 ihought they were very ignorant and uncharitable. Thus, 
 being unacquainted with the life and poiver, I thought 
 X^ae/Gnn and name of Chrijiianity was enough. 
 
 Yet in my own foul I was all this while fecretly con- 
 vinc'd that I wanted fomething which I had not. At 
 this time, I think, I hated fin, but notfl//fm : I hated 
 it, but not as fm : I hated it, but not ahi-axs. More- 
 over I hated the cutnxard aS^ more than the iniuard 
 follution of the heart. Sins that I would not commit out- 
 nvardly^ I us'd to roll about with a fecret pleafure m 
 my mind. I believe I fpent hours together in forming 
 the fvueet ideas of fm. I thought there was no harm in 
 this, provided it went no farther: forgetting that God 
 would judge even the fecrets of men by Jesus Christ. 
 If I committed any knotvn fin,* I fhould have great un^ 
 eaftnefs for fome time after. If at any time I could ab- 
 llain from all knon.<:n fin for two or three days together, 
 I Ihould then \i2,vt peace of confcience : if a longer time, 
 I fhould then not only have peace, but joy and comfort 
 alfo : and if at any time I could abllain from it for two or 
 three weeks together, I fhould then have a full effu- 
 rance of going to heaven, die whenever I would. But 
 when 1 finn'd again, then down came all my peace, and 
 joy, and confdence at once: being built upon \\itfand^ and 
 not upon the rock. When I had any particular convic- 
 tions, the keennefs and llrength of them would foon wear 
 off by the diverfions of lating, and drinking, and fleep- 
 ing, and merry company, and ^vain con<verfation. So that 
 whatever convi6\ions of particular fins I had, the firjl 
 day would ahvays be the worft : when I wakM the next 
 morning, I Ihould be fomething eafier, but not much ; 
 the third day, I lliould feel ftill lefs of them : and the 
 fourth day perhaps little or nothing at all. This was u- 
 fually the cafe, except at extraordinary times. If any 
 ferious perfon tver told me of any ways that were not 
 B right 
 
[ H ] 
 
 right in me, I fhould perhaps excufe myfelf with my 
 mouth, but it wou'd generally have a great affe^. upon 
 my mind, and my confcience within me wou'd c\)' guilty % 
 and I fhould be io dreadfully uneafy as not to know what 
 to do with myfelf. This was the cafe 1 remember once 
 in particular, when in order to t€aze one of the pupils , 
 I feign'd fome Utters from a young gentlctvoman to him, 
 making him believe thatjhe nvas deeply in lo-ve n.uitb him. 
 At length, a Jerious young man finding it out, afl^M me 
 bo'w in confcience 1 could do fo? Immediately my heart 
 fmote me; and that affair, I remember, coft me very 
 dear : for tho'' I did it 'n\jeji^ God fet it home upon my 
 
 confcience in eamefi. Another time, to a room-full 
 
 of people, I mimick'd a ^aker" s ferrnon : and I remem- 
 ber I preachM fo long, that I even began to ihed tears 
 
 myfelf. Many fuch inflances of folly was I then guilty 
 
 of. But the light and convidions that I frequently had, 
 would not let me abide eafy in this ftate. At times, th(? 
 Lord foHow'd me very clofe. And I had no true reft 
 or peace in my poor foul. — Whenever I fell into the 
 company of good people, I thought there was fomethir^ 
 in them, which made me like them better ihan others : 
 tho' whatever com.pany I was in, I fhould always con- 
 form myfelf to them, provided the difcourfe was not di- 
 re(5lly wicked. I know not how to account for it, but 
 I always lov'd to Jiear people take notice of the degene- 
 racy of the times. I could remember fomething of my 
 Father* s holy life, and -iLealous preaching ; and the f^ridl- 
 nefs of his church. And methoughts I could fee but few 
 fuch Minifers or people : little elfe noiv but formality, 
 pride of life, and ccmformity to \hQ world. Moreover 
 I had heard and read how holy they were in the laft age: 
 and blind as I was then, I could plainly fee that this age 
 was not fa. Several of u?, I remember, at the Acadc7ny, 
 usM to take notice of thefe things. -In fliort, I found that 
 neither myfelf, nor other people, were as we ought to be. 
 When I was about fe-venteen years of age, I feem'd 
 more refolv'd for ferioufnefs than ever. For all this while 
 I feem'd to laboui: more zh^i Jtridnefs and holinefsy than 
 after Christ and his grace. My notions of him, as yet, 
 were but fmail. However I thought it might be good 
 10 receive the Sacrament of the Lo r d's f upper : for 1 un- 
 
 derltood 
 
[ 15 ] 
 
 flood that Jesus Christ had a way of conveying grace 
 to his people thro' thi\t oraindnce, to llreiigehen them 
 againfl temptations. Accordingly I was join'd to a con- 
 gregational Church in London*, about this timt: hoping 
 that thereby I fhould find rell to my foul. And indeed 
 I had a fort of fweetnefs and pleafure in the thing, efpe=- 
 cially at the firll. The P [alms that treated about Zion^ 
 and the tabernacles of God, were now peculiarly de- 
 lightful to me. The Lor d was beginning a work upon 
 my foul : bur. all this while I had not fcen my heart ; nei- 
 ther was the clear knowledge of Ch r r s t difcover'd to me. 
 
 The way q{ xh.^.Indtpendent Churches io hrft to examine 
 into the experiences, feniiments, and lives of the perfons 
 propos'd, before ever they are admitted as member*^. 
 This method is certainly very good, provided it wa^ but 
 conftantly ^vA JtriSlly obfery'd. But 'tis to be fear'd that 
 molt of thofe churches are now grown faiily lax and fu- 
 -perficial, in that point ; as well as almoft in the whole 
 of their rule and difcipline. Hardly any thing of that 
 ftridt order and government to be feen norv, which was 
 the glory of our fore-fathers. How are the ivalls oi 
 Jtiufalem broken down, and htr pates deftroy'd! Stran- 
 gers alfo are entered into the fanliuaries of the Lord's 
 houfe. Arife, O Lord, and have mercy upon Zion. 
 Reflore unto her judges as at the firft, and counfllors as 
 at the beginning : then fhall fhe be called the city of righ- 
 
 tcoufnefs, x\iQ faithful city.' 1 remember, juft after I 
 
 was admitted into this church, when I told a certain holy 
 •fiooman in the country of it : / do not knonv your church, 
 fays fiie; but I belicji th(j are not njtry ftrift as to ex- 
 amining and admitting their members. She judg'd thus 
 by my being admitted, Wiiether this refledion upon that 
 church was jull or not, fhall be left to their ferious confi- 
 deration. This I am fure of: her words wrought a fecret 
 conviction in me, which made me uneafy, under a fenfe 
 that I was deficient in fomething, tho' I hardly knew 
 'vjhat. 
 
 However, I believe I was in the hands of the Lor d, 
 who gradually and gently led me on from one thing to 
 another. ^ From John i. i6. I was enlightened in 
 
 * The Re^u. Dr. G fe's, njchom indeed I ha've aU- 
 
 muays had reafon to refped^ as a candid pajior, forae 
 
[ i6 ] 
 
 fome meafure to fee that Jesus Christ had a fulnefi 
 of grace treafur'd up in him, to be given forth, even in 
 thefe ages, to finners that (hould need it. I thought I 
 wanted this for.myfelf, but could find little or nothing 
 
 cf it. 1 likewife met with {orxit fermons of my Fa- 
 
 /her's, from Jo/jn iii. i6. which treated of Christ, 
 and the way of receiving him by Jaith, which gave me 
 fuch a light as I never had before. I thought I wanted 
 to exercife faith on Christ for myfelf: but I was igno- 
 jant, as yet, of theabfolute neceiEty of the^y^/n'A woz/f, 
 
 in order hereto. As for a general, hiftorical feith, 
 
 I had noiv enough of it, both from the books of contro'ver' 
 Jy which I had perus'd, and from i]\2itfcheme of orthodox 
 di'vinity which was trite among us. if any one afk'd me 
 twhat I belie'vd? I was a Cahiniji. Becaufe fo I had 
 been inftrufted : and the company that I kept, and the 
 friends that I had, ufually believ'd that fame way. So 
 that it would have been a piece of prefumption in me, 
 had I belicv'd otherwife, to have fpke otherwife. So 
 that I was found in all the doctrines, by rote. But if I 
 had had lejs in my head, and more in my heart, it might 
 have been better for me. What I wanted was, a li'ving 
 faith in my heart, and a union nxith Christ. 
 
 About this time I became acquainted with Mr. J , 
 
 W /, a gentleman from the Weji, who fome months^ 
 
 before had been remarkably converted. He lov*d me 
 exceedingly, had me frequently to his lodgings, related 
 to me his experiences of the grace of Ch rist, watch'd 
 narrowly over me, and was indeed a ufeful friend to me. 
 He conitantly teflified that he had had a vifion of the Lo r d 
 Jesus Christ, who forgave him all his fms, and 
 lov'd him freely. He kept up a daily and clofe commu- 
 nion with the Lord, and wreilled mightily with God 
 in private prayer, -particularly Jor me. While I was ac- 
 quainted with him, I found tiwt I had a more than ordi- 
 nary power againft fm. And one evening in particular, 
 he and I being together, I was fillM with a perfwafion 
 that both of us ihould be forever with the Lor d. Shortly- 
 after he wentyf;;/?, where I hope to/o/A-zu; having left 
 me a kind token of his unfeigned love, which was alfo a 
 proof that the Lord would never fuifer me to want any 
 good thing. 
 
 I believe 
 
[ 17] 
 
 I believe the grace of God had now dawnM upon my 
 foul, the' as yet I had no clear manifeilation of things. 
 According to my pri-vate tne7)toirs^ of March 25, 1738- 
 I began to have fomething of a glimmering difcovery of 
 7ny hearty and the mifery of my nature^ 1 began to fee 
 my helplefsnefs, and to fear that my ftate was not quite 
 as it fhould be. I think alfo I was enabled to draw near 
 to God in prayer, and to call myfelf upon that word : 
 my grace is fuficient for thee. 
 
 It was the cuftom of our Academy to have a ^jacaihn 
 eve^y year, at which time the pupi/s difpers'd into their 
 refpedi-je countries. Accordingly, the following y«wwfr, 
 I went into Oxford/hire to my nati<ve toivn. No minijler 
 being there, and^ I being defign'd for the minijiry, the 
 people infilled upon my preaching to them. I declined it 
 the ^x^fahhath-day^ but yielded to their importunity the 
 next: which was June 18, 1738. on which di?,y I 
 preach'd 7ny firjl fermon from Jer. i. 6, 7. * Then laid 
 
 * I, ah. Lord God, behold I cannot fpeak, for I am 
 
 * a child. But the Lord faid unto me, fay not I am 
 
 * a child : for thou fhalt go to all that I Ihall fend thee, 
 
 * and whatfoever I command thee, thou fhalt fpeak. 
 
 After this I difcours''d feveral times in a private houfe : 
 and when I was coming away, feveral, efpeciaily^oung 
 ones, tellified that they had received benefit. One young 
 <woman in particular was fo affeded, as Hie never had been 
 before. I defired them to give the glory to God, and 
 to take heed of lliiiing their convidlions. I told them 
 God never implanted any defires for grace, without a 
 dejlgn to fatisfy them. The awfulnefs of the minifierial 
 njuork began now to appear to me more than ever, and I 
 found that great Ikill was needful in dealing with wounded 
 
 fouls. The converfation of one Mrs. CI ke, an ex- 
 
 perimental ix'cman of that toi.vn, was fearching, and ufe- 
 ful to me. We had fweet communion together about the 
 *way of truth. And I remember a remarkable exprejjion 
 of mine to her at that time. 1 faid, I wanted to preach 
 to, and be among fuch congregations, as afterwards I 
 found thofe of the Methodijis to be. Tho' then when I 
 fpoke to her, I had never heard of the Methodijis, as I 
 know of. » 
 
 When 
 B 3 
 
[18] 
 
 When I returnM to the Academy, I foon got into a 
 Carnal frame of mind again. And I was, fadly againft 
 sny wil], carried away with the light, fooUJh^ j^P^g* 
 njain connjerfation of the reft. And I was afnam'd to think 
 Avhat different perfonages I wore. For in the country, I 
 Was all grave and fober : here I was trifling and frothy. 
 So that I found myfelf to be guilty of two different forts 
 ef behaviour j which I thought favoured of hypocrify : and 
 I was vexM with myfelf becaufe 1 was not all of a -piece, 
 I thought li my fchool-fello'ws had fecn me in the country , 
 they would have laugh*d at my hypocritical gravity : and 
 if my countrymen had feen me in the School they would 
 ^ot have thought I had been the fame perfon that the 
 other day they had heard preach fo feriou/Iy to them. 
 Thus at times, I was fadly afham'd, and in bondage a- 
 bout this thing. And I thought fuch difKjrent carriages 
 were not pretty for a minijier at all. Well, thinks I, / 
 am not a minijier yet, and fo it does Jtct fignifyfo much : 
 hut for half a year or a tnvel've-month before 1 enter upon 
 imy public k ofice, lam determined L 'will be gr^ve e<very 
 nvhere ; and my charaSfer Jhall be all of a piece at all 
 limes, and in all companies. Thus legal was 1 yet, and 
 Jo far unacquainted with the Sa^uiour. 
 
 1 was now near eighteen years of age, and my flruggles 
 lor the ne'w life feem'd to increafe : being convinc'd fome- 
 thing of the necefliiy of a fupernatural inivard principle, 
 ' Af-iend of mine once afk'd me, if I had ever been con- 
 'wiftc'd of my Vi?XMX2X alienation from the life of God, 
 This <^ucfiion was made of ufe to me. Tho' all the light 
 Wat I now had, comparatively fpeaking, was only like 
 feeing men as trees ^walking. However I began to en- 
 quire into matis fate by nature. I found many fcrip' 
 ■ tui es fpoke of a death in fin, and an ejirangement from 
 -God. But then I was puzzled, thinking that this only 
 li«long'd to the then heathen loorki, and not to us Chrif 
 iians. Neither was I ever quite clear in the do<5lrine of 
 the uni<verfal depravity of man's nature, till I came to 
 feel it in myfelf by the light and teaching of the holy fpi- 
 rit. Indeed in general i acknowledged, that without all 
 doubt, mankind was prodigioufly corrupted, and that this 
 camf: in v.y • ^dam. And thus I held original fin, as I was 
 •H&iight. And indeed, as was obferv*d befoie, I had a ge- 
 neral 
 
[ 19] 
 
 neral head- notion and hdief o{ all the common docHrlne!? 
 of the gofpel, from education , argumentation ^ hearing 
 others talk, and preach, 8cc. but when I became con- 
 vinc'd of thefe things by the Ho/y Ghoji in my own heart, 
 1 do ftill tejitfy, that it was as widely different from the 
 other, as light from darknefs. Juft as a man may read 
 latin, yea, and get it to fay by heart j but if he does not un- 
 derrtand it, he has then no idea of what he reads or repeats. 
 But if afterwards he learns to interpert it alfo, then the 
 fame latin will be quite different to him, becaufe he reads 
 it with an underftanding. So were the dcsflrines to me. 
 
 About this time, three or four of us, that were then 
 pudents together, us*d to meet one evening in a week to 
 p>-ay, and tell our experiences. At thefe opportunities, 
 / was uiually dumb : having a great weight of nature ly- 
 ing upon me, though then I knew not what was the mat- 
 ter with rae. We us'd alfo tojiudy fermons. And once 
 in particular, in ftudyirg \omz fermons from Ifaiah Iv, i , 
 I had much light into the gofpel communicated to me. 
 The words were, Ho, e^very one that thirjleth, come ye to 
 the tvaters, tfc. But v/hen fir^l I began to handle the; 
 text, thinks I, Ha-tv do I knoiv that thefe njjords ha^ve 
 any reference /o Christ I For I was not yet quite clear 
 that the old Teftament belonged to Christ. Particu- 
 larly, when I heard that a certain minifer expounded the 
 ftory of Jofeph as having a reference to Christ, I 
 thought he difcover'd great ^Lveaknefs in fo doing. Ano- 
 ther time, I remem.ber, I lik'd Calvin much, becaufe I 
 had been informed that he was not fo free in interpreting 
 fome of the Old Tefament fcriptures of Christ, as 
 others were. Ho'we'Vir, thinks I, if the prophet did not 
 mea?t Christ, // n/jill be no harm fare for me to apply 
 the ivords to him. So I began, and by thirfling I under- 
 ftood /wf/' coTiviSiions and uneafinefs of foul, as i myfelf 
 had once had : by \\\.Q>waters, I underftood 0:iq{^ fpi ritu- 
 al blefjings and benefts which were purchas'd by Ch R ist's 
 death. For I thought as there was a fuitablenefs in 
 water to a thirfly foul, fo there was a fuitablenefs in 
 Christ to the cafe of a guilty convifled firmer. I re- 
 member I was much pleased, when 1 had found out this. 
 Then ih^ prophet fays, buy and eat. This I thcught muft 
 mean ^ real-interefl in the benefits of Ch r Ist's death, 
 and 2^ fnfilk application of them, to the foul. J began to 
 
 mierv 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 query whetKer I had ever had this myfelf in a right man- 
 ner ; and I remember I wanted to fee fome inftances that 
 could tellify that they had. Upon the whole, I received 
 much light from the Lo r d about this time ; and began, 
 I believe, really to hunger and thirji after righteoujnefs. 
 Thofe words were inexprefiibly fweet to me, Come unto 
 me all ye that labour^ and are heavy-laden^ and I <vjill 
 ginje you rejl. I knew my fnis had been many and great, 
 but i had now a comfortable view of the riches of God's 
 grace, in finding out a n.vay whereby they could ht for- 
 ginjen^ in Ch rist^ blood. And tho' I did not know 
 pofitively that mine u.>jere forgiven ; yet I did not much 
 doubt but they ^ould : but honv^ or R>jhen, or in what 
 manner I fhould be apprehenfi've of it, this I knew not. 
 
 A little after this, one morning, March /^, 1738-9. 
 our bed-maker came into my chamber^ and told me that 
 a young woman was a dying o^ver the n.vay, as happy and 
 as joyful as fhe could be, I ran over to fee this young nvo- 
 man : whom [ndeed I found in a moft fweet frame. She 
 was aj/ur'd that Christ had lov'd her and died for her : 
 fhe was aflur'd that her Jlns <voere all forgi'ven : and flie 
 was aflur'd that fhe w^s going to be nvith Christ forever : 
 longing to be diflblv'd, and to be with her Lord. * 
 I had never obferv'd fuch an inftance before, or at leafl 
 none, that ever afteded me fo. Immediately her "flame 
 of love catch'd me. I came home, and thofe words were 
 applied to me with great power, There is noiv therefore 
 vo condemnation to them njjhich are in Christ Jesus. 
 It was the moft comfortable day I had ever fpent : and in 
 the evening I communicated at the table of the Lord, 
 where I was fiU'd with 2i\\joy and peace in belie-ving. I ne- 
 ver had fuch zfacrament before. My foul was melted down 
 with the love of the Lord: and I had an inward per- 
 
 fwafion that CviKiSTivas mine, and / ivas his. In 
 
 my pri'vate mt^ioirs, I could not help taking notice this 
 evening, why 1 was taken, when fo many others were 
 left. I began to admire eleding lome. 
 
 About this time, there was great talk of Mr. White- 
 field. Accordingly May 2, 1739, I went to hear him 
 on Kennington Common. I lik'd him becaufe he fo afFec* 
 tionately invited poor guilty fmners to come to Jesus 
 Ch R 1ST by faith: and becaufe his preaching \ws fo much 
 
 like 
 
[21 ] 
 
 like what I had juft before fludied from IJaiah Iv. i . Af- 
 wards I heard him fevera! times : I felt the power of the 
 Lo R D to be with him : and was much affeded to fee the 
 ferioufnefs and tears of many in the congregation. The 
 flocking of the multitudes to hear the word made me daily 
 think and fay, // '■Mas ne-ver fo feen in Ifrael. One even- 
 ing as I was coming home from hearing him, I wept ex- 
 ceedingly, thinking what a hearty pious minijler he was^ 
 tho' educated at fuch a wicked place as Oxford^ in com- 
 parifon of what any of us at our Academy were like to be, 
 I earneftly fought his acquaintance, and could not be 
 eafy till I had been in his company. Accordingly one 
 evening, in particular, I fupp'd with him, and Mr. Honxel 
 Harris of Wales ^ and feveral more brethreti^ at a pub lick- 
 houfe upon Black-heathy juft after his preaching to a moil 
 numerous congregation. T\\q publick-houfe feem'd to be 
 turn'd into a Church : and to me it was like heanjen upon- 
 earth. 
 
 One Sabbath-day evening, I think it was, j^une ^, as 
 we were fmging a Hymn^ together in the Academy^ I had 
 fuch a tafte of the dying love of Ch r ist as I never had 
 before. My heart was quite melted, and my eyes were 
 a fountain of tears. I could not refrain before the whole 
 company : tho' this was what I ihould have been exceed- 
 ingly afham'd of, another time. When I came forth, one 
 of the pupih afk'd me,. <ivhat njoas the matter ivith me? 
 I told him / ^as happy. When another enquired the 
 fame, I fignified that Ifelt more than I could expref?. X 
 retir'd and gave myfelf vent: for I was more full than I 
 could hold : and a favour of it abode upon me a good while 
 after. 
 
 yune^y J 739' 0\iT 'vacation covn'mg on, I went into 
 the country again. When I came to Oxford, the conver- 
 fation of Mrs. Fox, at whofe houfe the Society was kept^ 
 was much blefs^d to me. She related to me her experience 
 and temptations. She told me what an in-ivard po^-er (he 
 had lately felt againft fin, particularly anger, pajfwn, pride 
 and all enjil tetnpers. From this I had a clearer view than 
 ever that Christ by his death had not only purchas'd 
 pardon for believers, but alfo a real po'wer againft fm. 
 Accordingly at this time, knowing it to be my privilege, 
 I look'd up to Ch R 1ST for it, and was enabled to believe 
 
 on him 
 
[ 22 J 
 
 on Ixim and receive it. So that from this time lexperf- 
 encM and felt a fupernatur.al . fo^joer agiinft fin. And 
 when my ufual temptitions proposed themielves to me, 
 I was Toon enabled to flee to, and lay hold c^ VcA^Jlrengtb, 
 So that I was enabled now. to conquer all fin \.W.\i 1 then 
 kfieiv of, thus by the virtue'of the blood of tke Lainh. i 
 had now ^i" the fliield of faith : but not berag %vell fklU'd' 
 in making ufe of it, my enemy about a quartiv of a year 
 after ^ did in feme meafure, prevail agiiinlt me again. Bat 
 the LoR D took pity on me, as I Ihall relate afterward ;. 
 and not only^^-x'f me faith, but taught me how to exercifs 
 
 it^iro. 
 
 I was now with Mrs. CI h at Burford, Rsdeernhg 
 
 h<ve did daily affect ray heart. And I often felt mom 
 than I e'verfpoke to any one at that time. For I thought 
 if 1 had fuch a real wonderful change as I judgM I had,, 
 I would rather choofe that my life rfiould fpeak it than my 
 mouth. However in converfation, and efpecially at 
 fqmetimes, I could not help admiring //?<? rede7nption that 
 there was in Ch r i s t's blood, the forgi-venefs of fins. And 
 I remember whenever I utter'd the word redemption^ it- 
 was with a moft peculiar talle of fweetnefs. This 
 
 fummer alfo as I had laft, I preached to the country people \ 
 and teftified the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 to all that came. I found now alfo in ray fermonsy that 
 I>had liberty to enlarge more than I had wrote down. 
 For before, I us'd only to read, as the fafhionable mode, 
 was, in which we were train'd up. At length I laid 
 afide w^?/^ J entirely, and fpake as I had utterance given me.^ 
 And wonderful freedom I had indeed. Infomuch that I 
 took courage, and could not help faying, Blejfed fpirit, 
 as. thou haft once fwvoiir^d me nvith thy afftjlance, go on 
 to be gracious to me. Give me ahvays a 7nouth of utter- 
 ance y that T/iy lips ?;iay Jhenjo forth thy praije. I enjoy'd. 
 feveral delightful fahbaths here: -and fometimes the love- 
 of Ch R 1ST would flow from me as rivers of water. The 
 audience would be melted into tears. And fome then re- 
 ceiv'd the love and grace of Christ, which have fol- 
 
 lowM on to know the Lor d ever fince. This >va<:Z'^ 
 
 //o» L had ^one night's interview with Mr. Whit ef eld ^X. 
 Cirencejier : when Mr. Senvard and I alfo had moft fweet 
 
 communion. But now I muil return to tlit-j^cadeviy 
 
 again, to have my faith tried. Whea- 
 
[23 ] 
 
 "When I came to Deptford, I found people wonderfully 
 mov'd and itiri'd up, by Mr. IVlAiefelcVs preaching upon 
 Black-heath. I rejoyc'd to find it fo, and wanted nothing 
 more than the flame of love to continue. My mouth was 
 now open'd : and I had power in all companies to talk of 
 the things of God : which was what ahvays before I had 
 been iliy of. I had fuch freedom of fpeech in this refpec^, 
 that 1 was an allonilhment tamyfelf: as well as a won- 
 der to others which had known me before. Among a 
 'few of us, I propos'd the fetting up of a Society to fmg 
 and pray together, and keep one another n.t:a>jn in the 
 love of God. Several approv'd of it much. I thought 
 it proper to advifc with the Re^. Mr. Whitejield^ and dear 
 Mr. Seivatd, now dcceas'd^ about it, who alfo put it 
 forward. I likewife propos'd it to fomeof my felloiv-pu- 
 pilsy who at firft fell in with it, but afterwards declin'd it : 
 being apprehenfive it would make a ftir, and offend our 
 tutor : who indeed had intimated t-hat he fhould oppcfe 
 it with all his might. 
 
 However, Juguji %, 1739, after prayer for direflion, 
 the Society was let on foot. We had a hv^t du?icing- , 
 roomy convenient for the purpofe. Mr. Senxard was with 
 me. And feveral v^/ere prefent. We pray'd and fung 
 hpnns : and at iirft I only us'd to read Mr. WhittfieW^ 
 fennons to the people. But afterwards I could not help 
 giving >^ff;7 exhortations after xh^fermon. Till at length I 
 was conllrain'd to difccurfe freely to thera about the things 
 that concern'd the Lord Jesus. And many I believe 
 at that time felt the prefence and power of the Lord. 
 The number increased, till fe'veral hund eds us'd to at- 
 tend : and many were always oblig'd on a fahhath-day to 
 go away, that the rc^?//; cculd not contain. Wegeneraily 
 us'd to meet tix-ice a week j fometimes oflner. O^ie hun- 
 dred zndi forty men and women gave in their names ^ with 
 a dcfire to be of the Society ^ in order to be infuudted in 
 the ways of God. I had great encouragement, and my 
 
 tall feem'd clear. The cafe being this. Many poor 
 
 fouls were awaken'd fo far as to defre the milk of the 
 word. No one was inclin'd to difpenfe it to them but 
 myfelf. For Mr. IVhitefield \vz.% now gone. And 1 be- 
 ing defign'd for the fninijiry, and having an opportunity of 
 -doing good, even while I purfued myjiudies, only fpend- 
 
 ing 
 
1 24 ] 
 
 ■ing the fame time with the Society, as perhaps the other 
 Joung men did in their recreation : I judg'd that it abfo- 
 lutely lay upon w^ to do what I could for the advantage 
 •of thefe fouls. Accordingly I did, fo far as I had abi- 
 lity : infilling chiefly upon 2ipoor Jinners j unification be* 
 fore GoDy thro' the redeemer s merit i\ ihewing the na^ 
 turey necejfity, and blej/ednefs of it. But for this, I was 
 foon violently opposed. I became the butt of the com- 
 •mon people. J was ftngular in the School. T^hreatned 
 by my tutor. Dropt by mofl: oimy old friends. Dcem'd 
 befides myfelfhy (dm^: and at laft, Dec. 25, 1739, \^X.- 
 \(sx\y expeir d the Academy : for no other crime, I thank 
 •God, but this. 
 
 Whether, in this, the Oentlemenotlhlt foundation were 
 clear from a pe}fecuti7igfpirit, (hall be left to another day 
 to determine. Be'that as it will, I think myfelfhdwever 
 much oblig'd to them, for that ^part of my education 
 which they gave me'i which was from June 24, 1733. 
 to December 21^ y 1739- ^ ^^?^ ^^^ Lord will reward 
 them for the whole of their bounty. And 1 trult it is 
 nofmall pleafure and fatisfadion tothem, to find that their 
 iiefign is fully anfwered in this y that I now preach the very 
 fame doctrines , for which they educated me. 
 
 I was now thrown into the midll of a wide world. But 
 the Lord took me up. For I was joyful 'ivithin, and 
 foon pro-vided for v^ithout. For at'firlt I was inade wel- 
 come to a friend's houfe at Leivifyam : and afterwards 
 was enter'd upon a'nofher foundation at an Academy in 
 'London *, where I had liberty both to purfue my ftudies, 
 and to attend upon the methcdift fociefies likewife. Here 
 "I ftaid for near ^ixielve -months till the Lord's harveft 
 caird me to lay myfelf out intirefy in the labour of the 
 field. And 'I cannot help obftrving that I am a nk-itnefs, 
 that whofoever leaves houfe or land for the kingdom of 
 'God's fake, fhall receive manifold more, even in this 
 prefent time : as well as life everlafting hereafter. For I 
 Uefs God, to this day, I have never wanted any good 
 thing: but have had a conilant plenty of /oo^ and /-/»/- 
 ment, zx\d. friends^ and houjes: nothing indeed certain, 
 but all depending upon my heavenly /«/-^^r'i care from 
 
 * Mr. J.. Eameo's, /« Moor fields. 
 
 day 
 
[25] 
 
 Xday today: who has faithfully provided for me, without 
 ^\ fettled Jalary. So that if my Lord were to afk me, 
 ivhsn I fent thee 'without purfe or fcr'ip, lackedfi thou any 
 thing ? I might truly and thankfully fay, 'Nothings Lor d. 
 For the firft t<-wel<vejnonth while I continued following 
 m.y ftudies, I attended chiefly the Societies of Dept/ord, 
 and Green'wich, and Ratcliffe j where I was \>o^ preached 
 and printed againft * by the Clergy : and afterwards alfo 
 violently oppos'd by the rude mob, who us'd to treat both 
 me and the people in the mofl rough manner : haling us 
 about y thron.vir2g us upon the grcund, beating us i frequently 
 pelting us with ftones or brick-bats^ rotten eggs, ap' 
 pies, diingyjire-ivorks, and other fuch things : officers fend- 
 ing their men to prefsme: kcoted at along the Jireefs : 
 /pit upon: caWd names' : //^r<?«/,'7<?i/ beyond expreffion : noto- 
 rionfly re-viTd and belfd: hated of all, and counted the 
 filth of the n.vorld and the off scouring of all things. But 
 thefe things, wilh other trials that I had with them, 
 were good for my foul. This ufage at Deptford, as well 
 as my learning there, help d to train me up for the THinif- 
 Try. My graces, and particularly my faith was hereby 
 often exercis'd. For I was frequently in danger, not 
 only of having my eyes, but alfo my brains beat out, by 
 the hrge fiints that were continually flung upon the roof 
 of the barn J where I then preach'd. The fiints us'd to 
 fall upon the tiles ; and both fall in together among the 
 congregation: fo that the place v;ould frequently be al- 
 moft untiPd. But thro' our Lord's marvellous good- 
 refs, little hurt was done : except upon one of the fcoffers, 
 •who as he was one evening Handing in the midft of the 
 place, had like to have had kis full broke, by ■\ flint 
 coming juft upon his head. Ifl miilake rot, he was 
 taken up for dead: and cwn'd afte; wards, it was juftly 
 fent upon him. — Uis mif'hiej foall fall upon hisoavn head; 
 a}}dhis ^iolt-:t c-ralings fall c^me do^n upon his ouun pate, 
 — And tho' this vile treatment was fo trctcricusy yet it was 
 all wink'd at, if not encourag'd, by moll of the Jufiices 
 xf the Peace tliereabouts. Some indeed were our friends. 
 Particularly one^ who, I thiijk, granted a Warrant once 
 
 * In two pamphlets which were not worth readings 
 much lefs anf^ering. 
 
 C or 
 
- • [ 26 ] 
 
 or twice, to apprehend fome of the hafer firt^ and have 
 them before him. But he being as it were alone, it had 
 little or no effed. Till it pleas'd God to incline the 
 heart of Sir y. G-nf-n^ a.n eminent Magi/traie in Loudon, 
 to efpoufe our caufe, by fending a letter to one of the Juf- 
 tices of the County of Kent, giving him to underlland 
 that we had the laiu on our fides ; and that the Juftius 
 neglefting to fecure us, was what they could not iland by. 
 This ftruck an awe upon them : and from that time to 
 this, the tumult has been in a manner quite quell'd. I 
 was with this honourable Magiftrate two or three times, 
 who was exceeding affable, and treated me indeed with 
 uncofnmon civility and friendlinefs. For which I defire to 
 return him my publick thanks: and pray God that he 
 may find mercy of the Lor d in that day. 
 
 During one part of this interval, for near half a year, 
 I had a cloud upon my foul, which fometimes was very 
 thick indeed : tho' at other times I could rejoyce. Temp- 
 tations of various kinds befet me : 1 had in a meafure loil 
 my hold of Christ : and the blacknefs of my heart 
 began more than ever to appear to me. T began to find 
 my inherent pride, ennjy, malice, hatred, nvickednefs, 
 and ignorance. No fin had dominion over me fo far as 
 to be difcover'd by others : but I could plainly fee thefe 
 
 things in myfelf, From reading Dr. Goodwin upon 
 
 the Ephefians, I was convinced that there was fuch a 
 thing as the ivitnefs of the fpirit, and the feallng of the 
 fpirit : and I was puzzled to know what this meant; and 
 i began to be convinc'd that there was fomething more 
 in Chriftia7iity than I had ever yet experienc'd. There- 
 fore here I fet out again, as one that had every thing to 
 feek. About this time I got acquainted with fome of the 
 Mora'vian brethren and their friends. I heard fome of 
 them alfo fpeak of the nvitnefs of the Spirit-, and of their 
 having as clear an evidence of the Lord in their hearts, 
 as bf the heat of the fire, or light of the fun. The Mora- 
 ^vians themielvcs I found to be I'weet and tender : but fome 
 of their englifh friends feem'd then to be very unfkilful as 
 to dealing with fouls. When I told one of the Mora^iayis 
 my experience, he bid me keep on my nvay, and go to ]e- 
 sus Ch R I s T . But when 1 went to one of the others : he 
 told Jne, that / 'was ignoranf of Cukut Jesu§j that 
 - / 
 
[ 27 ] 
 
 Jnvas not horn again: that the enmity of my nature n.vxi 
 not Jlain : and that I njjas yet in jny Jifis. This fliing me 
 into confufion. I fpoke with fbme others, who told me, 
 that //"'Christ ^vcas in me, Ijhould cotnmit 710 fin neither 
 inivardly nor outivaidly. I told them I did not fee how 
 ^ich a freedom from fin was poiTible. ^ One replied, 
 Christ died to -pur chafe it : proving it by Rom. viii. 2. 
 T^he la-w of the fpirit of life in Ch R 1ST Jesus hath made 
 me free from the hsjj of fin and death : and feverai other 
 fcriptures. He told me moreover that not to belie-ve this, 
 was to make Chkist^ death a vain thing. However 
 unguarded this difcourfe of theirs might be, it hadyo far 
 a good eiFei^ upon me, as to make me feek more than 
 ever after a thorough reneijual of my heart, a certain C'vi- 
 dence of a real change. I now wanted Christ formed in 
 me^ as well as Christ given for me. Hereupon I began 
 to be awaken'd more and more daily to a fenfe of my 
 invoard bondage. 1 now groan'd after a ne^^j nature^ as 
 
 before I had after pardon. Yqx fix <voeeks I was in 
 
 great perplexity of foul : but afterwards was more calm: 
 my fpirit being brought to v/ait patiently upon the Lor d. 
 The good fpirit would fometimes fweetly viiit and refrefh 
 me, during this cloudy interval : but I could be at reft 
 no more, till I found a clear u n ion with the Lor d. 
 
 I had now got fomething of an intimate acquaintance 
 with the Rev. Mr. John and Charles Wefiey. I was firft 
 recommended to them by the Rev. Mr. Whitefield : and 
 I had heard them preach, and found great love to them. 
 In foroe points indeed I differ'd from them : but thought 
 that the difference was more about kvords^ then in fub- 
 fiance. However, at that time all contro'V.erfial points 
 were let alone : and Christ alone was preach'd. 
 
 Accordingly in Aprils if I miftake not; 1740. I 
 went to hear Mr. Charles Wefiey preach one evening at 
 Wapping. He was upon the parable of the creditor and 
 invo debtors. Luke vii. 42. He held forth Christ freely 
 to poor fmners, in a moft clear light indeed. The words 
 were, When they had nothing to pay^ he frankly forga've 
 them both. My poor weary foul that evening gladly em- 
 brac'^d Jesus Christ. I found I hzd nothing to pay, 
 and the Lord fhevv'd me that all W2iS frankly fcrgi-ven 
 me. I found that Christ bslong'd to ?ne, and nUfuclf 
 C 2 as 
 
[ 28 ] 
 
 as I was. I had an exceeding clear difcovery of It. I 
 had no doubt ; but could lay holdoi Christ, and belie've 
 en him with the utmoll freedom. The fpirit of God in 
 the word witnefs'd in my heart that Ch rist died for. me, 
 1. John V. lO. He that belie<veth on the fon of God ^ 
 hath the njoitnefs in him/elf. This I found to be true. 
 I clearly faw that the promife of forgivenefs in the blood 
 and death of Christ, belong'd to juft fuch guilty, felf- 
 condemn'd, poor, naked fmners, as I was. Accordingly 
 by faith I ventured to lay hold on the faviour/or f^yfelf 
 and to claim him as mine. The fpirit diredlly witnefs'd 
 to it. All my doubts and darknefs flew away in a mo- 
 ment. I faw clearly that Christ, who knew no fin, had 
 been made £\x\for fne; and that I was now made the righ- 
 teoufnefs of Go "D in him. I found that all ;/z>' guilt and 
 unworthinefs had been atcn'd for, by his death upon the 
 crofs. There by faith 1 could fee that he hung for me : 
 and that God had dealt with him as a fmner, and 
 punifh'd him as fuch, by reafon oi my fms, among others, 
 being imputed to him. I could now triumph over my 
 fms, becaufe the Lamb had carried them all away. I no 
 longer look'd upon my fins as mine j but as what Christ 
 was to anfwerfor. Christ was mine: and I found 
 myfelf perfe^ly righteous and fpotlefs before God thro' 
 his righteoufnefs. He was condemn'd for my guilt : and 
 I was juliified for his righteoufnefs. This I clearly expe- 
 rienc'd that night. And finding that I now had the Sa'vi- 
 eur h^ in my arms of a truth, 1 filently held him and 
 *would not lei him go. I was inwardly fill before the 
 Lord. I car'd not to talk much about it to others: but 
 having found this treafure of the kingdom of heaven, / 
 hid it, and for joy thereof went and fold all that I had ia 
 bu)«lthe field. Matt. xiii. 44, I made it my bufmefs /<? 
 fart nxith every thing, and ginje up every thing out of my 
 afFeftions, that my heart might entertain Christ alone, 
 and that he might be made abundantly ^velcofne there. I 
 trembled at the thoughts of loofing fight of him again. 
 If any one afk'd me honjj it <Tx-as ^vith my foul ? I 
 car'd to make no other reply than that Ch rist had died 
 forme. Here 1 kept: and found my foul daily to be 
 eftablifh'd upon that fure foundation, the death ofCn r ist. 
 "With regard to fn in my heart, 1 found now that I had 
 
 power 
 
[ 29 1 
 
 power to go from conquering to conquer. I faw by 
 faith that my whole old nature was nailM to the crols of 
 Ch r I ST . Wherefore the Lo r d took this opportunity 
 of fhewing me my hcait. Day after day, hour after hour , 
 I faw more and more of my heart than ever. The fpirit 
 led me into vCsfecret charnbers and deep recej/es. So that 
 I difcover'd things to be there, which I never apprehended 
 before. I may venture to fay that I faw ten thoufund 
 times more fin than ever: which fight of myfelf would 
 certainly have rlung me into hell, if I had not had at the 
 fame time a proportionable fight of Ch r ist. But hav- 
 ing him in my view all the while, this made the work. 
 that was nov^ going on in my foul a fweet and delightful 
 work. For the more I faw of my heart, the more I 
 could fee of Ch RIST. And I found that 1 had ^plaifier 
 more than equal to my nx:Qiind, be that as large as \i 
 would. 
 
 One day in particular, I Jh all ne^ver forget it^ I had fuch . 
 a RAY of the eternal God beaming into my foul, as I 
 never had before or fince. It was at w/W-a'^j, and indeed 
 it was a light iliining above that of the fun. It lafled but. 
 two or three moments: but fo awful was it, that 1 durft. 
 not fpeak for fometime after. Little did I think that I 
 had been in the prefence o^ fuch a God all the days of m/ 
 life. I was aiionidi'd how fuch a holy and pure God had . 
 borne fo long with fuch a fmful worm as I was. For I had 
 
 then a greater fight of my finfulnefs than ever. 1 haue 
 
 heard of thee ky the hearing of the ear, but non.u mine eye 
 feeth thee : -jcherefore 1 abhor myfelf, and repent in duji . 
 and ajhes. . 
 
 I now found th\t I had a life in my foul difti-ncl frofji^ 
 the life-ufthe body : a Cpiritual as well as nn animalWh". 
 a life which was to be -"ourifn'd v/ith bread from heajfn,, 
 as my oiht.- v/as to be iupport u by natural bread. I ex* 
 perienc'i morec -c: that I \vli5 mn-i.i partaker of the di- 
 fvine n'\fur c. The old man was crucihed with Christ, 
 that the body of fin might be deuroy'd : and the ne^u men' 
 began to live and trke pl.i^e in me. I had a clear dif- 
 cerning in me betweer*. the eld and the »f-xy nature. And. 
 as to the old^ tljo' it was in me, and T had a ftghi of it,, 
 yet I was in r.o bondage by it : for as the Jeivs could tri- 
 umph over Christ when he was crucified, fo could T 
 C 3 triumph 
 
[30] 
 
 triumph over my old man, knowing that it was Crucified 
 with Christ. Rom.v'i. 6. 
 
 I could now read the viith and the vliith of the Ro- 
 mansy with a dear underftanding. And in (hort, almoft 
 the nA:ho!e fcriptures came in fuch a light to me, as they 
 never had before. The Lo r. u open'd my under jlanding 
 to underfland them in a wonderful mcafure, 1 now clearly 
 faw that the whole old tejiament had a reference to 
 Christ: and the vail being taken from my heart, I 
 could find both Mcfes, and the prophets, and the pfalms 
 to be full of Him. Often it would feem to me as if I 
 had never read my bible before. 
 
 Such light alfo was I now bro't into, that I could plainly 
 perceive Christ to be the Alpha and the Omega of all 
 things : that all things were made by him, ^nd /or hi/n : 
 and that God had rais'd up the fahrick of the uni'verfe^ 
 for this great end, to be like a /iage to {hew forth Ch r ist 
 upon. One afternoon in particular, I was marvelloufly 
 let into the knowledge of the myjlery of Christ. So 
 that by the Holy Ghojl I was taught [more in an hour or 
 t^uoj than I had learn'd my whole life-time before, by 
 all the /ermons, con'ver/ation, or books, that I had ever 
 ' heard or read. The Son reveal'd the Father: and the 
 Spirit reveal'd both the Father and the Son to me. I faw 
 clearly Ch rist's eternal godhead : and that he was both 
 God and 7nan in one perfon. It feem'd as if I had only 
 heard of Christ before, but now \ fa^ him: and 
 indeed I beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begot- 
 ten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 
 
 In fhort, I was brought as it were into a nenv tvorld. 
 Old things were pafs'd away ; behold all things were be- 
 come «^w. Christ was r//^;z indeed, zr\d appear'' d in 
 my foul. I found myfelf b^rn again ; not of blood, nor 
 of the will of the flefh, nor of the will of man, but of 
 God. 
 
 The fpirit continually bore <vjitnefs with my fpirit that 
 I was a child of God. And if there was but the leaft 
 withdrawment of this ^-W fpirit for ever fo little a while, 
 I fhould immediately fenftbly feel \t. One enjening as. I 
 was crofling Moor-fields, I found a fenfible withdraw- 
 ment. It lafted I think for above t'vjo hours. I began 
 to be in a great agony, and wonder'd why it was thus with 
 
 me. 
 
[ 31 ] 
 
 me. Before I lay down, I remember, I lifted up my 
 hands to the Lo r d, and in the diftrefs of my foul cali'd 
 upon him moft earneilly : and he had pity upon me, and 
 P^one in upon my foul afrejh, A day or two after, as I 
 was pafling the Jireet, I found a withdrawment again for 
 t'lvo or three minutes. I immediately felt it and was 
 rejilefs : but did not put myfelf in a hurry, but waited 
 inwardly with humility and refignation of foul : and in 
 a few moments, my foul was fit at liberty again. JVhofo 
 readeth, let him untierjland. For this is Ilrange language 
 
 to ?i Tiatural man. After this, 1 think, I had a con- 
 
 ftant uninterrupted communion with the ho kd far fe-ve- 
 ral 'weeks, if not months ; I don't know that I found the 
 lealt withdrawment for fo much as a fmgle moment. The 
 fpirit had its free courfe in me : it was a ^ue// of water 
 //fringing up into everlafting life. The love of Christ 
 moft evidently flow'd like a continual ftream into my foul. 
 As foon as I wak'd in a morning, the Lord was with 
 me. I could fee Christ every where, and in every 
 thing. I was in Christ, and Christ in me. At 
 that day, I knew that he was in the Father, and / in 
 him, and he in me. John xiv. 20. I am unworthy to 
 declare what an inexprefTible union my foul had with God 
 
 in Christ. As for my e'vil tempers, they were all 
 
 vanilh'd. I was naturally vtxy fretful and peeqjifh, crofs 
 and four. But now the law of lo've was wrote upon 
 my heart. Naturally I cou'd not bear to be contradidled ; 
 without being angry and contradifling again. But now 
 I could endure contradidlion, and was ne<ver angry with 
 any perfon or thing, but fm. Naturally I was \try felf- 
 nx:Hrd : but now I could feel that my o-xvn uuill was broke 
 all to pieces. Infomuch that had it been for the glory 
 of God, and to ferve the intereft of Christ, 1 was 
 equally as willing to be a fhoe-cleaner about the freets 
 as to be a minifter of the gofpel. Naturally I hated the 
 crofs: but now I lo^v^d it for Christ's fake, and in 
 every inftance was glad to take it up, and found that my 
 foul gre^w moft when I was under it. I was ready to en- 
 dure all hardnefs that could be proposed to me, as a good 
 foldier of Jesus Ch r ist. Moreover all creature-lo^ve 
 was out of my afFeclions. I lov'd the creature only in 
 the creator, The luf of the fiejh, the lufi of the eyes, and 
 
 the 
 
[3^ J; 
 
 the pride of life ^ were now all nail'd faft to the crofs. And 
 whereas before I had yielded my members as inftruments 
 of unrighteoufnefs unto fm : I now yielded myfelf unto 
 God, as one that was alive from the dead ;. and my mem- 
 bers as inftruments of righteoufnels unto God. The 
 Lord alone was exalted in that day. And Christ 
 was my only kifjg. And fnojl njjillingly did I. embrace 
 and ferve him as fuch. My only buiinefs all day long 
 was to know his will : vnd when 1 had opportunity to 
 do any fmall matter for my Lord, I was much oblig'd 
 to him for letting me do it. He alfo was my head, from, 
 whom I continually derived frefh fupplies of grace. By 
 virtue of the unio7i that I had with him, whenever I want- 
 ed any thing, it was but going to him and faying as it 
 were, Sanjiour^ I nx:ani fuch a things n/jhicb I believe 
 thou hajl purchas''d for me : and immediately I had it. 
 With joy could I dra^v water out of the wells of falva- 
 tion. Thus if I wanted more y?/f;^^/>6, or lo^je, or Joy ^ I 
 laid ray wants before my faviour : and fhouid receive 
 cut of his falnefs, and grace for grace. Sometimes I iTiOu'd 
 be loft and overwhelm'd in the love of Ch r ist : I fhou'd 
 be like one f^mming in the ocean of love. The Love 
 of God was fied abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghojl 
 Vihich was given unto me. All my defires were after 
 God : and the more I cnjofdo^ him, the more I breathed 
 after him. So that I never felty^.';:,^ a frottg and 'vehe- 
 ment hungring and thir/iing after him in all my life be- 
 fore. In fhort, I npw found fuch a change in my heart, 
 as I was never confcious of before. My eye was fingle to 
 the glory of God : or at leall: if I knew any thing to be 
 cthern.vife, I would not do it for the world. My conti- 
 nual fteady aim was to do e'very thing in the name of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and to the glory of God the 
 Father. I now ceas'd from man as my teacher : for I 
 found Christ to be my prophet: and his fpirit to be 
 my teacher, ii^^ led me into all /^/at/ truth, wliich made 
 me free indeed. At times I fhouid have difr.:S( uiico- 
 veries and oianifeilations. Thus fometimes, Christ's 
 lo<ve would be reveal'd to me particularly : fometimes the 
 Father'' s love^ diilincl from thn.t of the Sov, John xiv. 
 21, 23. Sometimes I fnou'd Ted the Spirit'' s work par- 
 ticularly ; convincing me oi fecref hidden pride ^nAflf 
 
 righieoufnefs 
 
[33 1 
 
 righteoufnefs, and difcovering to me the old man in fuch a 
 manner as no natural man can conceive. Sometimes I 
 had a diftind and clear view of Chr isr's glorious andtl- 
 fufficient right eoufncfs, as it is the fole matter of owr jujii- 
 feat ion : and which in the Romans is calTd the nghte- 
 oufnefs of God. Sometimes I ftiould go to mount Cal- 
 ^vary by faith, and there view my a ucified Qon : feel- 
 ing at the fame time in my own heart what it was to eat 
 ^Christ's Jlt/h, and drink of his blood. Sometimes 
 the refurreSiiony ajcenjion^ and interceffion of Christ 
 at the right hando/GoUy would h^/et home with a par- 
 ticular power upon my foul. And by faith I could fee 
 myfelf w/V/:* and in Christ in heavfn, y^/- aho've ail 
 principalities and powers : being quickened at/M him, and 
 rifen ivith him from the de:id ; afcended alfo luith him 
 in his afcenfion ; and fitting down nvith him in his ever- 
 lailing reft and glory. Yea, I could fee that all my fal- 
 wation had been eternally fecurd in QnKiST Jesus, he- 
 fore e<ver the foundations of the n;jorld njoere laid. I faw 
 that nothing therefore could feperate me from the love of 
 Christ : or divide me finally from God, any more 
 than Ch r ist himfelf could be feperated from his father, 
 or puli'd down from his throne. IVho fyall condefnn ? 
 It is Christ that diedy yea rather, is rifen again: 
 n.vho alfo ftteth at the right hand of God. Th^fe things 
 I was learn'd not of man, but of God : who zUofeaPd 
 me by his Spirit with that promife, Tit. i, 2. In hope 
 
 of eternal life, njohich GoD THAT CANNOT LIE, PRO- 
 MISED BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN. I found myfelf 
 
 day after day, morning after morning, as it were chained 
 and lock'd into the e^u.erlafiing lonje of God mofl poiKerfully 
 and irreffably by this promife : which I can hardly ever 
 jead or think of now, but it comes with a fort of a frcjh 
 poifjer upon my foul. 
 
 I experienc'd now that I h^d receiv'd the Holy Ghofy 
 even the Spirit of God, whofe oiRce I found to be as 
 follows. {\)\t. was a Spirit that difcover'd to me myfelf 
 and made me aflinm'd of, and ilee from my oivn felf. Ke 
 fhew'd me how odious my old nature was in the fight of 
 God. And in the light of this Spirit, I Hood as it were 
 at a diftance from myfelf beholding and loathing the in- 
 exprefTible depths of my pride, inward covetoulnefs and 
 
 luft. 
 
[34] 
 
 luH, felf-righteoufnefs, hypocrify, unbelief, &c. Thus 
 emptying me of myfelf, and caufmg me to have no con- 
 liderice in the flefli. (2) It was a Spirit that glorified the 
 Lord Jesus: for he receiv'd of Christ's, and {hevvH 
 it unto me. He gwe me fuch a glorious and unutterable 
 view of Jesus, as 1 thought was never polTible to have 
 on this fide eternity. He ihew'd me Ch r ist's Godhead; 
 that great myllery of godlinefs, God manifest in 
 THE flesh. He ihew'd me moreover his hlood, righ" 
 ieoufnefs^ death, crofs, &c. in a manner that all ye, who- 
 are fpiritual, do well know, better than I can exprefs. 
 Truly my foul was brought into marvellous light. And 
 this has made me, ever fmce, tejlify of Jesus as the chief 
 among ten thoujand and altogether lo-vely. Thus did the 
 SpiNt zs it were preach Christ in my heart, without 
 which all outward means and human teaching is but as a 
 dead letter, (3) It was a Spirit that did not thwart or 
 contradict the Jcriptures in any wife, but did wonderfully 
 open and reveal their meaning. Many obfcure texts and 
 paiTages of fcripture were thereby illuitrated. For the 
 Spirit of God fearcheth '11 things, yea, the deep things 
 of God. I. Cor. ii. 10. (4) It was a Spirit of prayer and 
 fupplication, often fending me upon my knees, perpetu- 
 ally making interceffion within me, and fometimes with 
 fuch groanings as could not be utter'd. This inzvard in- 
 terceffion of the Spirit I found to be exadlly anfwering to 
 the hca^jenly inter cejjion of Ch R 1ST at the right hand of 
 the mnjefty above : and both of them always exaBly agree- 
 ahle to the will of God. Ram. viii. 26. 27. (5) It was 
 a Spirit that confinually excited me to good works, felf- 
 denial, diligence in bufmels, mortification of the deeds of 
 the body, temperance, zeal, watchfulnefs, hz. (6) It was a 
 Spirit that fet me above t\\<^ Jlavijh^ fpareful fear of 
 mian ; but taught me to carry it refpeBful to all. (7) It 
 was a. Spirit that taught me the leiTons of humility, love, 
 meeknefs, patience, tendernefs, fympathy, fpirituality, 
 heavenly-mindednefs, contentment, rcfignation to the di- 
 vine will, thankfulnefs, &c. (8) It was a Spirit of judg- 
 ment, enabling me to difcern the vvoful ftaie of mankind in 
 general, and fometimes alfo of particular perfons. I found 
 there were two ways of coming at the knowledge of 
 people: either ift, by their outward fruits; or 2dly, by 
 the confeflion of their mouths. I pretended to no imme- 
 
(35] 
 
 dhte dr/eernittgof men's hearts, only as they diicoverd 
 themfelves by fome outward fign or token. Then I took 
 no pleafure in judging them, any farther than when, 
 according to my light, I faw people reft in any thing 
 Ihort of Ch R IS T himfelf, I thought it my duty to tell 
 them of it in love and compaffion, that I might both 
 
 fave myfelf and them. Many other things did this 
 
 good Spirit work for me and in me. But from what has 
 been faid, let any one judge, ivas not ihis the fpirit of 
 
 ChR 1ST ? 
 
 Upon the whole, I had now found him, of whom Mo- 
 fes in the /^ay and the prophets did write, Jesus of Na- 
 zarethf the fon of yofeph. And as a confequence hereof 
 J could not help more than ever inviting others to come 
 and Jee him whom my foul loved. I longed for poor 
 fmners every where to be acquainted with Ch r ist : and 
 I had greater power than ever in difpcnfing the nvord of 
 life publickly : infomuch that many, 1 believe, in v.-^rious 
 places, were convinced by my word : and feveral were ena- 
 bled thro' grace to believe on the Lord Jesus Chr ist 
 for life and falvation. My talent chiefly l?.y in enligh- 
 tening the underfianding^ con'vincing cj Jin, Jhe<wing the 
 lo-ve c/" Ch r I s T, and his readinefs to receive fmners, and 
 comforting the children of God. 
 
 At fome peculiar times, the Spirit would make my 
 word exceeding quick 2.x\di po'vjerful, Jharper than a t--'j:0' 
 edgd fjoord : inlomuch that finners were often m -de to 
 tremble. Their whole frames would be Jhcok, and they 
 were made to cry out exceedingly. At Deptford, Aug. 6^ 
 I 740, while I was difccurfmg, M — . M — . a young per- 
 fon in the congregation was feiz'd in a ^violent agony both 
 of mind AViA body. She faid that (he had never leen her- 
 felf to be a wretched undone fmner before then : and that 
 the fi^ht of her mifery was the occafion of her body's be- 
 ing fo ^^^-'i?^^, and as it were, con^viiWd. Jug, 13. 
 
 Four more were feiz'd in the fame manner, namely A. H. 
 J—. B—, M—. P — . M—. K — . Another evening 
 eight were feiz'd thus. And others at feveral cime>. Their 
 bodies were ftrangely agitated ; their bones would fome- 
 times feem to be out of joint : their llomachs and brtafts 
 would heave prodigioufly, as if fomething were alive 
 within them : fome would bite, tear, and beat themfelves ; 
 and do mifchief to others alfo, unlefs they were forcibly 
 
 held 
 
[36] 
 
 held down by feveral flrong perfons. Some would roarhidc- 
 oufly, crying out that the devil was coining to fetch them, 
 or to torment them : then they would be Hill for a while j 
 then cry out again, as if they adiually faw feme one com- 
 ing to torment them. Their bodies were uiually very 
 fore after thefe convulfiont. and inward tortures. ■ That 
 it was no feign' d thing, at le-.fi: in mofi of them, is moll 
 certain : for, after ibid examinaiicn, -I could -ivitnefs to 
 the contrary. It would hold them for hcurs together. 
 One young man, I rememberi v/as oblig'd to keep his 
 
 bed for dajs after. That it was occafionM in fome by 
 
 fy?npathy, I will not deny. But 1 do really believe that 
 in others, it was occafionM by a difco-very of their undone 
 condition: and foilow'd by a true converfion to the Lord. 
 If any one aHcs what fcripture there is ro prove chat the 
 Lord ever thus works, I would defire tliem to read and 
 conlider Heb. iv. i 2. There the word of God is faid tQ 
 pierce even to the di^jiding a/under not only of/ouldiXi^J'pi- 
 riiy but hub of the%j 1 n t s and marrow. I own that the 
 cafe: of fome that were thus aff'eSied, were fo unaccoun- 
 table, that to this day I am at a ftand to determine honv 
 or nxjhat it was. For what I know, th^y might be torn 
 by th' de'vil. God might fuller fatan to be let hofe up- 
 on them for a feafcn : ger.era'ly however it was fo anvful, 
 that the beholders durlT not make g?.me. 1 only re- 
 late matterf of faft ? and any one may perceive that I do 
 r.ot pretenu toi::v cba: all were renenjJ'd ox con^verted, who 
 were thus afirfled : for I believe no fuch thing, but the 
 contrary. Neither could I ever look upon thefe things 
 as /^ :j, granted from heaven, for the ellrblilliment or 
 confirmation of any particular dodrine. I am rather apt 
 to rhink that oftentimes the cnje nvas this: The word of 
 God wcu'd com J with a coiivinr'ng light and power into 
 the confcicnces of carn.il finnen^, whereby they were Jo 
 far awaken'd, as to be feiz'd with dreadful terrors : the 
 re!> ilion of their natures v^'ould be raisM : the peace of 
 ■the ftrong man artnd would be difturb'd : hell within 
 wcuid begin to roar : the devil that before, being unmo- 
 Icflcd, lay quicc in theii hearts, v/ould now be ilii'r'd up, 
 and be moil outrageoufly angry, becaufe of this convinc- 
 i'jg light and power of the v/ord. Hence I believe pro-- 
 cecded fome of thofe rigonies of body. And all this might 
 
 be, 
 
[37] 
 
 fcfe, and perhaps frequently was, without any real change 
 
 of heart or genuine work of reneixing grace. Foi" 
 
 I depend upon no fuch things as proofs of a perfon's con- 
 verfion to God. Rather let this be difcover'd and made 
 manifeft by the fVuits of righteoufnefs, in all gracious tem- 
 pers, and holy converGtion, with perfeverance therein 
 unto the end. 
 
 One part of this time, Brother Ho^Mel Hm-^is was with 
 ipe in London. He wa^ made very ufeful to me in many- 
 things. I remember we had moft fweet and intimate 
 communion together. We lov'd one another for the 
 truth'' s fake, which dwelt in us, and, I trull, fhall ^be 
 with us for ever. Our union of heart and foul was fo 
 great, that very often, while we were converfing together 
 about the things of God, it v.ould feem as tho' he were" 
 in 7ne and / in him^ and both of us in the Spirit, and the 
 Spirit in us. ——I truft, we ihall always be faithrjl/^//o>-zu- 
 foldiersy and lahourers together here : and both of us at 
 laft be counted worthy to ftand before the throne, with 
 
 crowns of glory and immortality hereafter. May our 
 
 God grant this^ for the fake of Christ's broken bmiy 
 and blood/hcdding. Amen. 
 
 September i, i 740. I began to preach at the Foundery 
 in London^ to Mr. Wefiey\ congregation. And many a 
 powerful opportunity there was. In the pri'vate Society 
 alfo we had m^iny fveet meetings. I had a peculiar love 
 to the fouls of many of thofe people: and iliould have 
 been glad to have ierv'd them in the go/pel to this day, 
 had the door been continued open. At this time alfo I 
 had a very great intimacy with the Rev. Mr. fohn Wefley, 
 We were together almoil, continually night and day. 
 There were many things very exemplary in him : vyorthy 
 indeed of tvty:y minifers and every chriftian\ imitation. 
 But on the account of fome peculiar, and, as I think, im- 
 portant do^rines of grace, wherein we difier'd, I Was af- 
 terwards Jpril 25, 1741. oblig'd to feperate from him : 
 fearing left if I had continued with him, 1 fhould from the 
 refpcdl I had to his perfon, be influenced to fpeak any thing 
 touching thofe points, contrary to the real fentiments of 
 my own mind. I found this had been foitiewhat of a 
 fnare to me, and therefore 1 thought it my duty to ex- 
 tricate myfelf.-— ^«--But of thefe things I have publifh'd 
 D <y 
 
[ 38 ] 
 
 a. fuller account elfewhere *. -For my converilng fo 
 
 freely with him as I did, I very much incurred the dif- 
 pleafure of mod of my dijfcjiting brethren. My mother'' s 
 children ixoere at this time angry 'vAth me: forae L am 
 afraid out of a fpirit of bitternefs, and others I really, 
 believe from a fpirit of love and tender concern, which 
 they had for m.e : for which, and their m-^wy pri^atd 
 prayers which I believe thefe latter put up on my behalf, 
 I think myfelf much oblig'd to them, and defire to be 
 truly thankful. They were jealous over me on two ac* 
 counts : (i) left I fhould fwerve from certain truths of the 
 gofpel ; and (2) left I fhould depart from the dipnting 
 interejl. As to the former, I truft they are nonv fully 
 Satisfied. And as to the latter, I have thefe thing.=; to fay. 
 (i) It is certain that by birth and education I am a dij/enter 
 from.»the church of England. Yet neverthelefs, (2) i 
 rememBer when I read over both NeaPs Hijlory of the 
 Puritans, and Piercers Vindication of the DiJ/enters^ I 
 thought, had I been in their places, who iirft feperated" 
 from the church, my way in fo doing would not have 
 feem'd fo clear before me, as they judg'd theirs to be. 
 Whether I ftiould think thus flill, were I 7iot.k} to read 
 over thofe'books again, I am not certain. This however 
 fii^as my opinion then. (3) Whether the fiyji dijfenters 
 were in all things right or not, this at leaft is certain, that 
 they bid a great deal jnore fair for being the people of 
 God, than thofe on the other fide did: if for no other 
 reafon, yet for this ; 7/^^;' wtxz x\\t perfecuted, the others 
 
 were the psrfecuting fide,— That part of the dijfenters 
 
 indeed, ^h\zh.\VcisZd\V(i prejhyterian , has been charged with 
 a tyrannising fpirit, when in their power ; but as I am 
 Xioprejiyterian myfelf, and have no concern with them, as 
 
 ftich, I have nothing to fay to that ; fee they to //. The 
 
 congregational churches, 1 really believe, have been a 
 peculiar people of the Lord Jesus, and in times pafs'd 
 much favoured with his prefence and power: but lately 
 
 * See Lewis's Weekh Hijlory. No. 4. — See alfo my Let- 
 ter to the Religious Societies, in tejiimony agcinjl the errors 
 c/X^niverfal Redemption ^«^ Sinlefs Perfection. Printed 
 /?/ Briftol, I 741. njohich 7nay he had, if enauird for, at 
 the fame places ixhere this Account is fold, 
 
 they 
 
[59] 
 
 they h.ive certainly been under very confiderable decUnftomi, 
 and much in the lame ftate, as fonie of thofe churches in 
 the Re-uelation are defcribM to have been. And of this, 
 the more ferious part of them themfelves, are not at all 
 infeniible. They will not therefore be offended at my 
 taking notice of this: but rather, with me, heartily la- 
 ment, and humbly pray God to re-vinje his ivork in the 
 midjl of the years y and to remember his fortner loving-kind- 
 tiejjes to this part of his Zion, which has been, and I truft 
 vnWyet be, his peculiar treafure. (4) Not without reafcn do 
 I give it as my opinion, that there are many diJTenters even 
 to this day, who are much more zealous for the in.ereft of 
 dij/entiiig, than they are for the inter ejl of j E s u s Christ. 
 Out of a kind of party-zeal, they will abundantly more 
 beftir themfelves in the external propagation of that caufe^ 
 than ever they did in all their life-time for the promotion 
 of real vital religion or the power of godh'nefs, either in 
 their own fouls or the fouls of others. (5) For my own 
 part, if it were pofTible, I would fhun every other 7z^w^ of 
 diJlinSlion^ befide:> that of a chrijlian^ or difciple of Jesus. 
 1 have often reflecfled with pleafure upon an anfwer which 
 jny parents once made me, when 1 afk'd them, ^jjhat njjas 
 the name of their religion? becaufe I faw they were diffe- 
 rent from all other people. They replied, that they ^were 
 chrijlians, and ivould ackno^vledge no other natne ^vhate<v€r. 
 Therefore, (6) like my Father before me, I declare 
 myfelf to diffent from all the ungodly q^ 2\\ denominations, 
 and to join 'ujith all the godly of whatever denomination 
 they are. 1 defire, with him, to feperate from all the 
 profane, igfiorant, 2^^^ formal world around me : and to 
 have union and communion in fpirit with all that worfhip 
 the Father in fpirit and truth.* But, (7) if I muft declare 
 myfelf of fome ^particular outward profejfon or denofni* 
 7iation^ this I have to fay ; that if the providence 
 
 * See a pamphlet <?/' his entitled. The Validity of fcrip- 
 .tural Ordination, and Invalidity of any other: in anfnjuer 
 to Mr. Thomas Ainfworth; by x^iher Humphreys. Printed 
 <3/ London 1719- Which piece is univerfally oivnd to 
 be Hjery fmart-y and for the moji part it is exa^Iy agreeable 
 to ?m fentimer.ts. 
 
 D 2 of 
 
[ 40 ] 
 
 cf God were to give me fcope to exerclfe myfelf in 
 a way of cburch-difcipline , according to the dictates of 
 niy own mind, I verily believe, by the grace of God, 
 I Ihould make a truer dijjfentery and a firlder Indepen- 
 dent, by far, than moft of thofe, who perhaps have been 
 much more violent againft conforming to the church, 
 than ever they were againft conforming to the njoorld or 
 fin in the whole courfe of their lives. — — But I return to the 
 matters relating to my own experience. 
 
 When I was brought into this liberty of foul, I was 
 enabled mightily to encourage other drooping fmners who 
 were waiting for the kingdom of God. I was from m/ 
 own experience a witnefs, that God was a God hearing 
 of prayer: and that every true and humble feeker fhould 
 moft furely find. I made it my daily bufmefs to jpeak 
 unto fouls, to find out their condition, and to order my 
 fpeech to them accordingly. The love of a dear Jesus, 
 and the precioufnefs of immortal foals, conftrain'd me fo 
 to do. For I found that I had nothing elie to do in the 
 world, but to love Christ myfelf^ and to labour to bring 
 others to feel his lovealfo. For this reafcn,' bef^des my 
 private Converfation, and publick preaching at the Fouri- 
 dery and Deptfiord, Ididalfo labour almoft daily for a 
 tujelve-month together at various Societies in different parts 
 cf xkiS-tonjon: as at Wapping, Grey-hound-lane, Rofemary' 
 iane, Spittle- fields , Redriffe, Long- lane in Southtvark^ 
 and at Shor/^s garden, the other end of the toivn. Be- 
 fides this alfo, I fometimes vifited Oxfordfijirc, and fome 
 parts of Gloucefierjhire, where numbers us'd to attend iri 
 the fields ; and fome, I believe, were really caught, * 
 who I truft will be a cro^n ofi rejoycing to me at the day 
 cf the Lord. I likewife in this interval vifited Mr. 
 
 * Particularly a young man ofi C\it<i\\on\i, 7iam'*d John 
 J^eal ; the ne^jos ofii.vhofie death n^jas Irought to 7ne, even 
 l^nce I have been ^ucrifing this Account. I ofiten hadfiojeet 
 converfe iviih him. He apfeard indeed both to me and 
 Others to be a Bncere lamb ofi Christ . I doubt not but 
 he is nonv nvith the Lor D : nxhofe grace 'zvasfi^rfi reveal'' d 
 to him, as he him frlfi ofiten tefiified, vihile I n.vas dificourfi- 
 hijg on the prodigal fon id u field at Arlington, near 
 Bybi^y. 
 
 Wcfufiz 
 
[41 ] 
 
 WeJIey*s congregations at Brijiol and Kingftvood twice, 
 where I iirft beciime acquainted with Brother Cennick, 
 
 with whom I had fweet communion. In Ihort my 
 
 whole delight was in the ways of the Lo r d. I could not 
 endure to be idle for a minute. It was a pain to m^, 
 AVhen I had nothing particular before me to do, my eyes 
 were to my maf.er, who would foon fuggeil into my mind 
 
 fome fervice that might be ufeful and acceptable. It 
 
 iliay be aCi'd perhaps, had 1 no temptations or trials all 
 this "x^hile ? Yes, indeed. Various. One in particular 
 from a woman at Deptford, fomething like the french 
 propheiejfes, who. had a moil peculiar and unaccountable 
 power over me for eight days. Her tongue was made ufe 
 of, in a flrange way, to utter certain expreflions, fome 
 of which were remarkable. I amfure fhe herfelf had no 
 dejign in the thing. I believe {he was as pajjt^e in it, as 
 i myfelf was. But I am wellperfvvaded that fome invi- 
 Jihle fpirit was at the bottom ,of it. However what fpirit 
 fbever fhe was mov'd by, this I am fure of, that my foul 
 v/as in fore diftrefs, efpecially one part of the time: and 
 never were my eyes fo open'd before to behold the mifera- 
 ble ftate of the whole world out of Christ, or the moll 
 deplorable effefls of the fall of Adam from God, as dur- 
 ing ihofe eight days. I knoW I have been counted weak 
 by fome, and ridicui'd by others, for ever taking the leaft 
 notice of her. It was put into xS\t public k papers ^, that 
 fhe was pregnant of feveral devils^ and that I went to de- 
 li'ver her. But however I was expos'd hereby, thi? upon 
 the whole, I caji h.y ; I would not have been without the 
 temptation for a good deal. Another day perhaps, the 
 thing may be accounted for otherwiie than it is now. It 
 is oblervable that whatever words kere carried from this 
 tvoman to other people, it would ufually make a ftrange 
 impreflion upon them alfo. One woman I remember was 
 feiz'd by this means, as if flie had been pojfefs'd of a de- 
 t'il; for a certain voung wonian h>id convey 'd fome of the 
 other's words to her : whom when I went to iee, a relati- 
 cn of hers, as I fuppofe, imagining that / had been this 
 inllrument of it, firft in a violent rage fent for a Jcnif to 
 
 § Particularly the Gentleman'^ Magazine. 
 
 I> 3 ■ ftabu. 
 
[ 42 ] 
 
 ilab me : and afterwards, finding that I did not fear nor 
 inind that, then fent for the conjlabhs to take me up. But 
 they not being at home, I mifs'd their hands alio. How- 
 ever, prayer, I remember, being made, the woman be- 
 came more quiet r.nd ilill ; and foon after, fhe came to 
 herfelf again. 
 
 I had afterwards alfo many temptations from the cor- 
 ruptions of my own heart, aud from fevera! other-quarters. 
 All was to convince me that my ftrength was not in my- 
 felf ; and that by my own power, I could no more ftand 
 when in Ch rist, than at firft I could com.e to him. 
 
 The divifion between Mr. Whitcfuld and Mr. Wef^ey^ 
 was a fore trial to me. I lov'd them both^ but for a 
 while thought of joining with «f///>'^r ; becaufe I feem/'d 
 to think there were extremes on both fides. However af- 
 terwards I had by much the greateft fatisfadion on Mr. 
 WhitefeWs fide, with whom I openly join'd in the 
 work of the gofpel, at the beginning of May^ 1741 . At 
 which time, Ifiril preach'd in the Bo~zv/i/:g-gyeef2 at Brijlol^ 
 for a while ; to a congregation diftin6l ijom that of Mr. 
 We/ley's: afterwards at the Tabernacle in London^ and 
 at Deptford again. Then Brother Hoivel Harris com- 
 ing up in my room there, I return'd thro' Oxfordjhire to 
 Brificl Jug. 6. 1741. where I have continued chiefly ever 
 fmce , which is now upwards of a t^xiehvemonth. Only 
 fometimes I have vifited Wiltjhire, Gluucejierjhire, my 
 own country, and the city of Gloucefter itfelf, where in- 
 deed I have had remarkable times of refrefhing. Once I 
 yifited London^ 2indi Deptford, at the beginning of ^ri/, 
 1742. Som.etim.es alfo the brethren in Wales., Other- 
 wife my abode has been in and ?iear to Brijlol, as at Kings- 
 ^jjood, Conham, &c. where I have daily expounded, and 
 teftify'd the kingdom of God: efpecially in the city^ 
 where we have, a large convenient place, call'd S/nith's 
 Hall, formerly a pop-Jh chappel: and to all that come, 
 both morning and evening, I preach and teach thofe things 
 which concern the Lo r d Jesus Christ, with all con- 
 fidence, no man forbidding mc. 
 
 I blefs God fince I have been here, I have for the mod 
 part walk'd in the comforts of the holy ghoft. Sometimes 
 indeed I have had inward conjiicis, partly thro' the re- 
 maining ftrength of corruption, and partly thro' a certain 
 
 liard- 
 
[43 ] 
 
 hardnefs of heart and load of nature, which I have fome- 
 times been left to labour under for hours, fometimes day3 
 together; when the Lord Jesus, with regard to his 
 immediate prefence, has been withdrawn from me. At 
 thefe times I have had no paiticular _^?//// upon my foul: 
 neither perhaps any contejl with any particular luit. But 
 my beloved was pleas'd to hide himielf, and as it were 
 Hand behind the wall. But the more ftraighten'd I have 
 been in my foul at tli€fe times, generally fpeaking, the 
 more glorious refrefhings and enlargements I have had 
 afterwards. I have both known what it is to have the 
 Lo R D withdraw becaufe of fome frejh guilt contradled : 
 and alfo what it is to have him withdraw in this kind of 
 zfo-verdgn way. And I know there is a difference. 
 
 For the general; this, thro' grace, I can fay, that 
 I have either had the actual immediate breathings of the 
 Spirit of God upon my foul, or elfe have been fadly un- 
 eafy and rejilefs till I have h-^.d them.. But to fay that I 
 have always been in that fame enjoyment and fenfible pof- 
 feffion of God, the Fathe< , Son, and Holy Ghcjl, as I 
 was upwards of two years ago, is more than I can do. 
 That was nxyjirjl lo've, and as it were the day of my efpou- 
 fals : and tho' 1 expeft a greater eitablifhment in Ch r i st 
 than I had then, yet I query whether I fhall ever on this 
 fide eternity have the fuine continual feelings, uninterrup- 
 ted from moment to moment, except in fleep, as I had 
 then. Yea, fometim.es in my fleep I lliould be full of God. 
 I know that God is able to do more than we can afk or 
 think: and his promifes to be fure are full and copious: 
 and every one that knows our Sanjiour, knows that his 
 heart is large and generous. So that tho' 1 do not expeft 
 fo have any experience in all points exn:dlly like that again, 
 yet I do exped to have liill a further growth both in 
 grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, than I 
 h^wQ e-veryet had. 'Tis a great grace that the Lord- 
 gives me, even to this day moft earneftly to hunger and 
 thirrt, and pant and breathe, afrer him, and his nature, 
 righteoufnefs, prefence and fpirit. Infomuch that I am 
 richly fupplied with grace, even while 1 hunger moft af- 
 ter it. But the more I have, the more I defire. I can- 
 not bear the thoughts of refing ovftting donjjn contented : 
 but I am ftill for Ch r i st anev/, as iho' I had never had 
 
 any 
 
[ 44 3 
 
 any thing of him before. For notwithftanding all my 
 pail experience, I do Itill confefs and feel my fel fa moll 
 vile and unworthy finner: and I have as much need to 
 beg of God pardon and mercy thro' Christ's blood 
 nonjo as e^'oer. And tho' the fpirit of God does even at 
 this hour bear witnels with my fpidt that I am a child of 
 God : yet I count not myfelf to have attained, or to be 
 already /if^y^tf?; but this one thing I do, forgetting thofe 
 things which are behind, and reaching forth unlo thofe 
 things which are before, I prefs towards the mark. Being 
 in \\iQjihool of Ch RisT, I hope to learn more and more 
 daily. 1 know there is enough in Christ to employ the 
 foul moll largely both in time and to all eternity.' — Perhaps 
 I have related fome things here, which many may not be 
 able to account for ; if fo, I intreat of fuch at leail to ufe 
 candour in judging. It may be I may be wrong in fome 
 things: but if I am hcnefl and fmcere, I trull I fhall be 
 borne with. Many things I fee no^j, which formerly I did 
 not : many things 1 hope to fee hereafter , which now I 
 do not. All in cin^from the fame Christ. We read 
 of (bme that are e^er learnings and never able to come ;o 
 the knowledge of the truth. I defire to be one of thofe, 
 who ax&firjl brought to the knowledge of the truth, and 
 afterwards are e'ver learning in that fame truth. I know 
 I have found out that Crkh^t, in whom are hid all the 
 treafures of-vvifdom and knowledge. And tho' I defire to 
 know more and more of him, yet I defire to know no- 
 thing but him : eftceming all other knowledge and all other 
 . things as dung, when compar'd with the excellency of the 
 ''knowledgeof Christ Jesus my Lord. In whom, my 
 foul, thro' grace, has found it's center. And there- 
 fore — 1ha7iks he unto God for his wtfpeakable gift. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
DISCOURSE 
 
 O N 
 
 The Parable or Story 
 
 O F 
 
 Dives and Lazarus. 
 
 Dellver'd (in Subftance) 
 
 At the Tabernacle in London, at Smiths 
 Hall in Bristol, and at feveral Coun- 
 try-Places. 
 
 DefignM for thofe who are convinced of the Way of 
 Truth, to lend or give to fuch of their unconvinc'd 
 Friends or Relations who will not come to hear the 
 Word of Life. 
 
 By J. HUMPHREYS, 
 
 An unworthy Preacher of Christ. 
 
 BRISTOL: 
 
 Printed by Felix Farley, Mdccxliv. 
 
The Parable or Story of Dives 
 and Lazarus. 
 
 Luke xvi. 19. to the end. 
 
 There was a certain rich man^ &c. 
 
 OUR Lord here defcribes the chii- 
 rader and end of two different 
 forts of perfons. The one, a luxurious 
 rich man, who was a child of the devil : 
 the other, a poor beggar, who yet was a 
 child of God. 
 
 FirJI^. Iiere is the characfler of the 
 rich man, who is commonly call'd Dives, 
 And here it is obferveable, he is charg'd 
 with no open grofs immorality. All that 
 is faid of him, is this : He was a rich 
 vian^ he was clothed in purple and fine 
 linen ^ and he fared Jiimptuoujly every day. 
 We do not read that he was a murderer, 
 adulterer, liar, thief, or unjuft perfon. 
 All that our Lord fays of him, feems to 
 be coniiftent with a common moral cha- 
 rader. Yet who will deny notwithrtand- 
 ing all this, but what Dives was a child 
 of the devil. He was all this while in a 
 ftate of damnation, tho', as we know of^ 
 he was guilty of no outward notorious 
 crime. Hence then learn, my dear htar- 
 A 2 ers,. 
 
(4) 
 
 ers, that a freedom from all grofs fcanda- 
 lous fins does in no- wife prove that you 
 are in a fafe and good ftate. You, like 
 Dives^ may be in the high road to de- 
 ftrudtion, tho* you are no murderer, adul- 
 terer, fwearer, thief, or un'juft perfon. 
 The Pharifee could thank God that he 
 was not as other men, extortioners, un- 
 juft, adulterers, or even as the poor Pub- 
 lic aji : and yet for all this, the Pharifee 
 was never the nearer to falvation. Per- 
 haps this may be fome of your cafes : 
 you truft you Ihall be faved, becaufe you 
 are not fuch ill- livers, as many are. But 
 indeed this is not fufficient. Many have 
 been deceived in fuch vain confidence as 
 this. Particularly remember Dives^ who 
 was no grofs ill-liver, as many are : and 
 yet he is now burning in hell. 
 
 If this was the cafe then, you will fay. 
 How came Dives to be damn d^ 
 
 To which it may be replied, that tho* 
 Dives was no notorious ill-liver, as we 
 know of; yet, no doubt, there was rea- 
 fon enough, why the righteous judge of 
 all the earth fhould thus awfully deal 
 with him. For in our Lord's account of 
 his charafter, tho' there is but little ex- 
 prefs'd, yet there is a great deal implied. 
 For, I. He 
 
( 5) 
 
 1. He feems to have been an idle un- 
 profitable man upon the earth. We do. 
 not indeed read of his doing much mif- 
 chief to others : but then he did no good. 
 He was of no publick fpirit, it feems i 
 but a lover of his own/elf. And fo that 
 his own carcafe was but nourifh'd, he 
 took no care for others. We read nothing 
 of his being a father to the poor, a huf- 
 band to the widow, or a dealer of his 
 bread to the hungry : and as far as we 
 can find, he was ad:ive in nothing, ex- 
 cept in eating. For he fared furaptuouf-^ 
 ly every day. Thus he feems to have 
 fpent his life, in an eafy, idle, ufelefs 
 manner. And you know what the Lord 
 fays concerning fuch wicked and flothful 
 men : Cajiye the unprofitable y^T'UJ/zr i?ito 
 outer darknefs^ there Jball be ^weeping and 
 gnajhing of teeth. Matt. xxv. 30. So 
 that not only the ill-livers, but the un- 
 profitable livers alfo, are to be damn'd. 
 
 2. It feems plain that Dives took care 
 of his body, to the intire negledl of his 
 foul. And what ihall it profit a man, 
 if he gain the whole world, and lofe his 
 own fouL We read of Dives's being 
 
 A 7 rich. 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 rich, with regard to his earthly fubftance^ 
 but nothing of his being rich towards 
 God. His body, we find, was clothed 
 in purple and fine linen : but his poor 
 foul was naked. He had taken no care 
 to have that clothed with the clean, white, 
 and fine linen, which is the righteoufiiefs 
 of the laints. His outward robe was pur- 
 ple, but his fpiritual robe he had never 
 wadi'd in the blood of the Lamb, His 
 outward man fared fumptuoufly every 
 day, while his foul was ftarving \ having 
 never fed upon the body, nor drank of 
 th£ blood of Jefus ClTriJl by faith. 
 
 3. Hence it follows, that whatever 
 Dives might be, with regard to outward 
 morality, he was one of no inward, 
 experimental or prad:ical religion. We 
 read not one word of his being under con- 
 vidions, or of his mourning or weeping 
 for fin. He feems to have been one that 
 had never any ferious impreflions upon 
 his mind, about eternity. Very likely 
 he hardly ever thought of heaven or hell 
 at all : or if he did, it was in fo general 
 and fuperficial a manner, that he conclu- 
 ded himfelf, no doubt, to be interefted In 
 
 the kingdom of heaven. If any one 
 
 had 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 had Iiv*d with him, they would have ob- 
 ferv'd no prayer going forward, either in 
 private, or in the family : no godly con- 
 verfation ; and perhaps the bible laid afide 
 as a ufelefs book. Inftead of this *tis very 
 probable, there was laughing and gaming 
 enough : jefting and drinking to excefs. 
 Thefe were fome of his ways, that led 
 him down to hell, and the chambers of 
 death. 
 
 4. He was one that conformed to this 
 world, being fwallow'd up in the luft of 
 the flefh, as he was a glutton ; in the luft 
 of the eye, and in the pride of life, as 
 he was was one that affedled rich and 
 gaudy apparel. Thus it is plain that the 
 love of the Father was not in him : for 
 being a friend of this w^orld, he was an 
 enemy to God. Accordingly we never 
 read of Dives walking with God, or of 
 his havidg the love of God fhed abroad in 
 his heart, or of his living a life of com- 
 munion with God. He liv'd without 
 God in the world : and feems to have 
 been one of thofe whofe God was his 
 belly; and whofe end accordingly was 
 deftrudion. 
 
 5. He 
 
(8). 
 
 5- He was one who being an unbe- 
 liever, had no part nor intereft in Chriji. 
 His brethren, we find, had Mojes and the 
 prophets : and we may fuppole that he 
 had too. And tho* thefe teftify fo plainly 
 of Je/us Chrijiy yet he believed not wdth 
 all his heart their report. For if he had, 
 he would not afterwards have come into 
 that place of torments. This his unbelief 
 therefore was a damnable fin. For how- 
 ever feemingly good and righteous a man 
 is, if he has not an intereft in Chrifi: by 
 faith, he is not in a ftate of falvation. 
 As the fcripture fays : He that hath the 
 Sojty hath life : ajid he -that hath not the 
 Son of God, hath not life, 
 
 6. It feems alfo that Dives was an ig- 
 norant, felf-confident man. For tho' he 
 was in a ftate of death, he knew it not 5 
 and very likely all along hoped that it was 
 otherwife. If any one had gone to DiveSy 
 and teftified to him the danger of his 
 ftate, perhaps he v/ould have been angry 5 
 or however replied, / douit not but my 
 ftate is as good as yours : and that If jail 
 go to heaveji die whenever I will.. Far 
 God is merciful: and we mufl not think 
 
 that 
 
(9 ) 
 
 that he tsfuch a cruel beings as to danm 
 people^ &c. Thus he went blindfold to 
 hell, and knew not that he was going 
 there, till he awak'd with his eyes in 
 torments. Unfaithful miniflers perhaps 
 might be welcome to his houfe, but 
 in all probability he could not endure the 
 fight of fuch, who warn'd him to flee 
 from the wrath to come. He was like 
 a man fail afleep, and could not abide to 
 be awak'd. If Dhes had known his own 
 condition, and on what a landy foundati- 
 on he built, no doubt but he would have 
 fought after life and falvation in ^efus 
 Chriji, But his ignorance and his falfe 
 hopes were the means of his ruin. 
 
 7. Another thing obferveable in the 
 rich man is, as his. negled: and abufe of 
 his talents in general, fo efpecially of that 
 of riches, where-with he was entrufted, 
 and in regard to which he was notori- 
 oufly unfaithful : for he us'd none of it, 
 as we find, in the promoting of the intereft 
 of Chriji, And of his' crimes, furely this 
 was none of the leaft. Juftly therefore 
 might the Lord fay to him at the great 
 day. '' Thou wicked fervant, I gave 
 " thee in the world the talent of riches : 
 
 " now 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 " now therefore give an account of thy 
 " ftewardfliip. The money that thou 
 " hadft was my money : I only lent it to 
 " thee, and entrufted thee with it for a 
 " feafon for certain ufes. But inftead of 
 " fpending it to the mailer's ufe, thou^ 
 " didft only fpend it to the gratifying of 
 '' the luft of the flefh, the luft of the 
 ** eye, and the pride of life. Thou hadft 
 " no regard for the building up of my 
 *** church, or the propagating of my inte- 
 *' reft among men. The talent therefore 
 ** is now taken from thee: and thou thy-^ 
 " felf fhalt be caft into outer darknefs. " 
 Hear this, ye rich men :. and fear and 
 tremble : for you are concern'd in this, 
 ftory. . God has given you the talent of 
 riches, whereby you are in a capxity of 
 doing much: good in the church of J^fus 
 Cbrijl,. And if you negled the great 
 opportunity that is hereby put into your 
 hands, you will certainly hear of it again 
 to your awful furprize another day. For 
 befides feeding Chriji's poor, you may be 
 means of fcattering many bibles and reli- 
 gious books and J'ermons among the com- 
 mon people, tending to the advancement 
 of the knowledge of the Lord. You 
 may fet forward the building or procuring 
 
 of 
 
( II ) 
 
 of places convenient for the flocks of 
 Chrijl to aflemble in. You, by your 
 open purfes, may mightily encourage the 
 training up oi youth ^ in true chriftian edu- 
 cation, even in the nurture, and admo- 
 nition of the Lord. And if any of thefe 
 things are fet on foot, 'tis your duty, like 
 Joby the caufe that you know not^ to fear ch 
 outy and to make inquiry in the cities and 
 countries round about, where any pub- 
 lick good is going forward, and where 
 your talent is requir'd: and there to affifl: 
 as much as in you lies. Confider, your 
 money is not your own : you are only 
 fervants. And a fervant muft not fpend 
 his mailer's money upon himfelf : but to 
 his mailer's ufe. Look to it therefore, 
 ye rich men, that ye fall not into the 
 condemnation of Dhes ; for if you are 
 backward to every good work, inilead 
 of being forward; and part with what 
 you do to the Lord's ufe grudgingly, and 
 not with a willing mind, you certainly 
 come very nigh to his charafter. 
 
 8. Particularly he feems to have been 
 unkind to Lazarus, Juilly therefore 
 might the Lord fay to him at the judg- 
 ment. '* Foraimuch as thou didil it not 
 
 " unto 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 ^^ unto one of thie leaft of thefe my bre- 
 *^ thren, thou didft it not unto me. " 
 Very likely Dives was one that was more 
 kind to his dogs^ than he was to poor 
 Lazarus : having, no doubt, a greater 
 value for them^ than he had for him. 
 And perhaps his dogs too had more pity 
 on Lazarus y than their m after had : for 
 we read of their coming to lick his fores, 
 but never of his doing any thing to heal 
 them. To be fure Dives had mean and 
 defpicable thoughts of this beggar that 
 lay at his gate : little did he imagine that 
 fuch a corrupt, filthy, putrified creature, 
 was a dear child of God, and an heir of 
 his everlafting kingdom. Perhaps he 
 w^ould hardly look at him, as he v/as 
 coming out from, or going into his houfe. 
 However it's plain there was no room for 
 Lazarus in the parlour, or fo much as 
 in the kitchin of Dives, For he was laid 
 at his gate. And fuch ufage our Lord 
 takes, as if he himfelf were ferv'd fo. 
 He that fhuts a difciple of Chri/i out of 
 doors, fhuts Chriji himfelf out of doors. 
 And fo our Lord will one day interpret it. 
 
 Thefe are fome of the things which 
 evidently contributed to Dives's milery. 
 
 Thus 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 Thus he liv'd, and thus he died, deferv- 
 ing hell : tho' he was guilty of no cut- 
 ward grofs crime. And is not this ex- 
 actly the character of many in our days, 
 who call themfelves chriftians^ and think 
 all is well, and blefs themfelves in the 
 imagin'd fafety of their ftate, and doubt 
 not but they Ihall go to heaven, die when- 
 ever they will? May the Lord himfelf 
 make an application of this to all, whom 
 it concerns. 
 
 Let us next confider the charafter of 
 Lazarus : who, we may obferve in the 
 firft place, is here faid to be a beggar. — 
 No difparagement, if he was an heir of 
 God's everlafting kingdom.— For if he was 
 poor in tliis world, he was rich in faith. 
 Gold and filver he had not, but grace in 
 abundance : and tho' his body might be 
 cloth'd with raes, ■ his foul was drefs'd 
 fine in Chrift's righteoufnefs, that beft 
 robe. — No doubt but it was a blefling to 
 Lazarus, that he was thus poor and af- 
 flidted : for had he been rich like Dives ^ 
 he might like him alfo have forgot God.. 
 But his outward poverty very likely was 
 fanctined as a n^ieans to bring him to God, 
 and to an inquiry after the true riches. — 
 
 B You 
 
( H) 
 
 You that are poor in this world fhould 
 confider this. God fees that riches and 
 weahh would hurt you, and that poverty 
 is heft for you : and therefore he deprives 
 you of outward bleffings, perhaps witli 
 this very view, to blefs you with all fpi- 
 ritual bleffings in Chrijl Jefus. 
 
 Moreover Lazarus was full of fores : 
 afflid:ed in his perfon, as well as in his 
 circumftances. Like Job^ who was not 
 only impoverifli'd with regard to his fub- 
 ftance, but fmitten aljb ^with fore boyls 
 171 his body^ from the fole of his foot imfo 
 Ms crown, — Shewing us that the afflidli- 
 ons of the righteous may be many : but 
 all things (hall work together for good to 
 them that love God. — Any one that 
 had feen Lazarus in this condition, 
 might perhaps gather : '' Surely this is 
 a wicked ma7i^ or elfe God would 7iot thus 
 punijhhim^ a7id r7iake hi77i fuch afpediacky 
 But we fee that a judgment of perfon s 
 cannot be form'd from God's common 
 providential dealings with them. For 
 whom he loves, he chaftizes : and cor- 
 rects every fcn whom he receiveth. — In a 
 word, the afflidion of Lazarus was no 
 more a proof of his being under the 
 wrath of God, than the profperity of 
 
 Dives 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 Dives was a proof of his being in the fa- 
 vour and fpecial love of God. Ecckf. ix. 
 1,2. No man knoweth either love or ha- 
 tred^ by all that is before them. — There is 
 one event to the righteous and to the wicked. 
 We find alfo that Lazarus defir'd to 
 be fed with the crumbs w^hich fell from 
 the rich man's table : intimating that he 
 had known experimentally the pungent 
 pain of hunger, and was glad to be fa- 
 tisfied with the mean fragments of Dives. 
 He defir'd not the rich dainteous provifi- 
 on ; but only to be fed with the crumbs, 
 which perhaps fell from the table as meat 
 for the dogs, — Here three things are ob- 
 ferveable. i. A child of God may fuf- 
 fer hunger. The Apoftles themfelves 
 did. I. Cor/iw, 1 1. — But it may be faid 
 then. How is this confident with the 
 promifes of God, who hath faid, I imll 
 never leave thee nor forfake thee ? To 
 which it may be replied, that when God 
 permits any. of his children to fufFer in 
 this refpedl, it is either for fome w^fe end 
 with refped: to themfelves, or elfe he fo 
 fupports them under the trial with his in- 
 ward grace atid comfort, that they are 
 made to difregard the pungency of their 
 hunger. 2. A child of God ought to be 
 B 2 con- 
 
( i6 ) • 
 
 contented with a little, and by no means 
 defirous of fuperfluities. Poor Lazarus 
 defir'd only the crumbs. He had Chriji 
 m his heart, and a fmall matter would 
 do for his body. — An example to all be- 
 lievers, who fhould not luft after rich 
 provifion, left they ihould nourifh their 
 hearts as in a day of flaughter. 3. A 
 child of God may partake of the food of 
 dogs^ and the food of a?igels at the fame 
 time. So did Lazarus, in all likelihood. 
 He defir'd however to be fed with thofe 
 crumbs, which to be fure were the por- 
 tion of the dogs ; while his foul was in- 
 wardly feeding on fpiritual tnanna, the 
 bread of God that came down from heaven. 
 No one can tell what fecret difcoveries of 
 God and Chrift Lazarus wiis favour 'd with, 
 while he was outwardly in this defpicable 
 condition. We may fuppofe that J ejus 
 was looking dow^n from heaven upon him, 
 all the v/hile that he lay at the rich man's 
 gate. While others pafs'd to and fro, 
 and never minded , him ; the compaf- 
 fionate "J ejus had pity on him, took great 
 notice of him, reveaPd to him his love, 
 and conveyed the riches of his grace fe- 
 cretly into his heart. While others were 
 hard hearted towards him, the bowels of 
 
 the 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 the tender J ejus yearn'd over him. And 
 while by faith he was fenfible of this, 
 how happy, think ye, was Lazarus I 
 This fliould be a comfort to all fuch be- 
 lievers, as are perhaps rejected and flighted 
 by almoft every man in the world. For 
 as a father pitietb his children^ Jo the 
 Lord pitieth them that fear him. 
 
 It may not be amifs to confider what 
 fweet refledions Lazarus might make, 
 during this his abjed: condition. — ** IVell^ 
 thinks he, if crumbs are f?iy portion here, 
 I have a Father above, in whofe houfe is 
 bread enough 'and to [pare. If I lie at the 
 gate here, I have yonder a blefjed vianfi07i 
 in the realms of heaven. If dogs are my 
 compaimns here, angels and the fpirits of 
 the juf fl.mli be ?ny companions hereafter. 
 If the rich man dif regards me iio^iv, 7ny 
 jefus will make fnuch of me when I enter 
 the other world. If I cannot ftp with 
 Dives here, Ifiallfup with the La?nbfor 
 ever : ajid that will be far better. If I 
 am full of fores in my body, I blefs the Lord, 
 he has heal' d my foul. And if the meji of 
 this world do not love ?ne, there is one, 
 even Jefus ?ny incarnate God, who ,has 
 lovdme, and given him/elf for me. Others 
 nia\' grudge to fend me a 7norfel f meat^ 
 B 3 ■' .but 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 hut this blejjed friend has not Jl;unrl to 
 give me his oivnfejhfor my meat^ and his 
 cwn blood for my drink, O 'Jefiis^ the 
 more I am depriv d of outward good things y 
 the more clearly do I fee thee by the eye of 
 faith : and the want of other efijoyfnents 
 does the more endear thee to my foul ^ O thou 
 beloved and precious Saviour ^ the chief eft 
 among ten thoufand and all-together love- 
 ly T Thus we may imagine what hidden 
 communion with God d^nAChrift this poor 
 beggar had, amidft all his outward trouble. 
 And would not you, 7ny brethren^ be 
 glad to have fuch a bleffed experience, 
 tho' it were at the expence of all your 
 temporal enjoyments? 
 
 We will now confider the end of La- 
 zarus, For if we mark the upright m.an, 
 and behold the juft, we Ihall find, that 
 the end of that man is peace. // came to 
 fafs that the beggar died^ it is faid, and 
 was carried by the angels into Abraham'^ 
 hofo7n. Here was an end of all the good 
 man's trouble at once. No doubt, but 
 he had often long'd to be with his dear 
 Loi-I, and had patiently waited : and 
 now at length the happy hour was come. 
 — And was Lazarus afraid of death, 
 
 think 
 
think ye ? Did he look upon it as his 
 dreadful enemy ? — Or rather did he not 
 embrace it as his friend ? For he had, for 
 certain, confidence in the Lord, and in 
 all probability earneftly breath'd after his 
 dilTolution, defiring to be with Chriji. He 
 knew whither he was going, and there- 
 fore it was no hard tafk for him to quit 
 the body. He could joyfully bid farewel 
 to this world, and to all things vifible ; 
 fince he was well affar'd that he ihould 
 immediately awake in the full fruition of 
 God, and the joys of a better world. He 
 was now to refl from his labours and from 
 his fufferings. Wherefore a guard of 
 Aiigeh was fent to condud: him. As 
 probably all that die in the Lord are thus 
 favour'd. God would not fuffer his for- 
 lorn child to be deftitute of agreeable com- 
 pany any longer. The Lord look'd upon 
 the low eftate of his fervant, and would 
 no longer have him continue a ftranger 
 in a ftrange land, but fends for him home, 
 that where he was, there he might be. 
 And tho' perhaps no one might take care 
 oi Lazarus' s body, fo m.uch as decently 
 to bury it; yet what glorious attendants 
 had his foul ! What an abundant entrance 
 had he miniftred unto him into the ever- 
 
 lafting 
 
V 20 ) 
 
 lafting kingdom of his Lord ^nd Saviour I 
 For he was now no longer a beggar^ but 
 a king. When he died, he began to live. 
 And O, how blefled, yea more than blef- 
 fed was Lazarus now ! One hour's en- 
 joyment of God made ample amends for 
 all his fafferings in this life. He was 
 carried y it is faid, i?2fo Abraham's bojbm : 
 implying, as I fuppofe, that he was 
 reckoned among the number of the faith- 
 ful, and had his portion among the blef- 
 fed children of faithful Abraham, — And 
 is it not the defire of every one here pre- 
 fent to die the death of Lazarus^ and to 
 have your latter end like his ? Then mur- 
 mur not, if your life, either more or lefs, 
 is like his. Learn to be content in thofe 
 circumftances wherein God has plac'd 
 you ; and quietly wait, and you alfo 
 fhall fee the falvation of God. Only fee 
 to it that you are a fullower of him in his 
 faith and patience, who now inherits the 
 promifes. And fliortly you fliall be car- 
 ried into Abraham 'i^ bofom likewife. 
 
 But now hear the doleful end of Dives. 
 Concerning whom it is faid, that the rich 
 man alfo died. For his riches fould not 
 £ive him from death. And he was buried, 
 
 Litimating 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 Intimating that his friends took care of 
 his body, however they had negkded his 
 foul. The former had a pompous fune- 
 ral, while the latter was dragging away 
 by infernal fpirits. jlnd in bell be lift up 
 his eyes ; as tho' he was much furpriz'd 
 to find himfelf there : having very likely 
 been buoy'd up all along both by his 
 own heart, and by all his friends, with 
 the vain conceit that he was going fafe to 
 heaven. Little did he exped: therefore 
 to have found himfelf in hell. And per- 
 haps moft of thofe that awake in hell, 
 are as much furpriz'd as this man was : 
 for people generally will not be perfwaded 
 that they are going thither, till they adtu- 
 ally lift up their eyes there. God grant 
 this may not be the cafe of any here.— 
 Being in torments^ it is faid:- for nothing 
 could awaken his dead foul in this world, 
 till he came to feel the miferies of ano- 
 ther. Now therefore he finds himfelf a 
 flillen, loft, unhappy fpirit. Being ftrip'd 
 of all his outward enjoyments, and hav- 
 ing no interefl in Chrijl, his woe comes 
 in as a deluge upon him. His ftate was 
 really bad while he was alive: but hav- 
 ing a variety of things daily and hourly to 
 divert him from the confideration of it, 
 
 he 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 he never felt his condition, till it was too 
 late. And now he was everlaftingly fhut 
 out from the enjoyment of God and Chrijl ; 
 and had a long eternity before him to 
 make keen reflexions upon himfelf, and 
 upon thofe perfons and things that had 
 forwarded his ruin. His worm began to 
 gnaw, and his unquenchable fire to burn» 
 As for Abi'aham^ he faw him afar off. 
 From whence I would obferve two things. 
 I. That the mifery of the damn'd will 
 partly confift in having a diftant fight of 
 the happinefs of the blefled. 2. That if 
 one in hell could know one in heaven, 
 then to be fure there will be a perfonal 
 individual knowledge of each other in 
 heaven. — Yox Dives kn^v^ Lazarus alfo: 
 he faw him m Abrahams bofom. This 
 was an aggravation of his woe. Little 
 did he think ever to fee fuch a change as 
 this : himfelf abas' d^ and the poor beggar 
 fo highly exalted. However this put him 
 upon a fcheme, in order to attempt the 
 getting of fome relief for himfelf. And 
 hecrf'dandfaid^ jp^/^i^^r Abraham, have 
 mercy on me^ and fend Lazarus t-hat he 
 may dip the tip of his finger in water ^ 
 and cool my tongue : for I am tormented 
 in this fame. Here it is obferveable, i. 
 
 That 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 That this Is the firft time that we ever 
 read of Dives's crying or praying. Per- 
 haps he was one who in his hfe-time 
 would have made game at any one cry- 
 ing for fin. But well might it have been 
 for him, if he himfelf had cried bitterly 
 under a fenfe of fin, and pray'd earneffly 
 to the Lord for pardon and grace. He 
 might peradventure then have obtained 
 mercy. But he was fenfelefs, ftupid, 
 and unconcerned all his life-time: and 
 never cry'd, till the door was fhut, and his 
 doom paft. 2. When he did pray, he 
 durft not pray to, or approach the ma- 
 jefty of God. He only made application 
 to Abraham his father. For in hell there 
 is no accefs to any throne of grace. The 
 death and blood of Chriji is of no ufe 
 there. The condemn'd are too thorough- 
 ly convinced of the juft and implacable 
 anger of God, ever to attempt the di- 
 
 redting of prayer to him. However he 
 
 thought he had fome intereft in Abraham \ 
 who being his father, might pofTibly be 
 mov'd with compaffion towarcfs him. 
 But this prov'd of no advantage to him ; 
 as we fhall find in the fequel. 3. Dives ^ 
 amidfl: all his diftrefs in hell, 'tis to be 
 obferv'd, did not feek after an intereft in 
 
 ChriJi, 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 Chrijl^ only an alleviation of his torments. 
 For I believe in that place there is no fuch 
 thing as a genuine hungring and thirfting 
 after righteoufnefs, only a general deiire 
 after eafe arlling from felfifh motives. 
 4. He would now be glad to have that 
 very Lazarus pay him a vifit here, whom 
 he us'd to {hut out of doors in his life- 
 time. See how the tables were turn'd. 
 Lazarush become the rich man now, and 
 Dives the beggar. And he only defires 
 a drop from his finger, who us'd to defire 
 the crumbs from his table. 5. Learn 
 from hence the exquifite anguifh of hell. 
 What a to-do does this unhappy fpirit 
 make for a moment's eafe : a drop of 
 water to cool his tongue. The love of 
 Chriil paffes all knowlege ; and fo does 
 the wrath oi the Lamb 2\to, This ought 
 to make a deep and awful impreffion up- 
 on every foul. 
 
 But Abraham y^^/V, SoUy remember that 
 thou in thy life-time receivedjl thy good 
 things ; and likewife Lazarus evil things : 
 but now he is comforted^ and thou art 
 tormented. He acknowledges him for 
 his fon, but little good does that do him 
 now. This was poor comfort to Dives : 
 who tho' he was related to Abraham^ 
 
 yet 
 
( 25) 
 
 yet Abraham in his anfwer fliews no rc- 
 Ipeft or pity to him on that account. 
 Shewing us, that in heaven there is no 
 knowledge of perfons after the flefh : that 
 is, 'tis no unhappinefs or matter of grief 
 to the blefled faints to fee their Chrijllefs 
 relations, tho' they were perhaps near to 
 them in this world, for ever miferable 
 and punifh'd in that to come. — The moft 
 that Abraham does is to put him in mind 
 of the equity of God's judgment upon 
 him, and to acquaint him with the im- 
 ppffibility of his receiving any fuccour 
 from him, or indeed from any of the in- 
 habitants of heaven. For fays he, Be- 
 fides all this^ between us and you there is 
 a great gulf fixed : even the unalterable 
 decree of God. So that they which would 
 pafs from hence to you cannot : neither 
 can they pajs to us that would come fnan 
 thence, A full refutation of that irratio- 
 nal, unfcriptural, ftupid and dangerous 
 notion of miiverfalfalvation^ which main- 
 tains either that none will go to hell at 
 all ; or that if any do go there, they will 
 all be released again after a certain fpace 
 of time ! 
 
 Then Di'-ces faid, I pray thee therefore 
 father^ that thou would/t fend him to my 
 
 C father s 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 father's houfe. He was now for having 
 Lazarus omain'd and lent as a preacher : 
 whereas in his life- time to be fure he 
 would have difdain'd him for fuch an of- 
 fice. Rather however than his relations 
 fhould be damn'd, he was willing for a 
 lay -man to preach, whether he had learn- 
 ing, education or no. He judg'd that if 
 his ftyle iliould not be fo correB^ nor his 
 fermons fo metkcdicah, he would how- 
 ever fpeak to the purpofe, having a ful- 
 nefs of matter and experience, which he 
 now look'd on as the moft important 
 thing in fuch a meifage. For^ fays he, 
 I have Jive brethren^ that he may tejiify 
 unto them^ lejl they alfo come i?2to this 
 place of tormefit. His natural affection it 
 ieems was ftrong; fo that he was not 
 willing for them to be tormented with 
 himfelf. Yet it is a queftion whether he 
 had any defire for their real renovation or 
 converfion, any farther than that they 
 might juft efcape hell. And in this perhaps, 
 he might have as much or rather more a 
 refped to himfelf than to them. Becaufe 
 their coming thither would no doubt ag- 
 gravate his torment 5 they having been all 
 companions together in fin. Abraham y2z:/V/6 
 unto him^ They have Mofes and the pro- 
 phets y 
 i 
 
{ 27 ) 
 
 phets ; let them hear them. For they are 
 full of tellimonies concerning y^/i^i Ch'iji^ 
 and the way of falvation by him. And 
 he faid^ Nay father Abraham : but if 
 one went unto them from the dcad^ they 
 will repent. Judging that the folemnity 
 of a ghofl would likely have a greater af- 
 fe6t upon them, than the written word 
 of God : being ignorant of the abfolute 
 neceffity of the fpirit to make either cf- 
 fecftual. He had not yet dropt his old 
 notion of man's natural free-will and abi- 
 lity to repent and convert himfelf. He 
 thought this was a work they could do at 
 any time, efpecially if they were frightened 
 into it by an apparition from the dead. 
 But to this Abraham replies, as a clofe lo 
 the whole matter, If they hear ?iot Mofes 
 and the prophets, neither will they be per- 
 J'waded^ though one rofe from the dead. 
 Implying that with relpedt to means, 
 there was a fufficiency in thefe books : 
 and that the refurredion of a dead perfon, 
 in itfelf, would have no more influence 
 towards faving converfion than Mofes and 
 xh.^ prophets, who tho' they were dead, 
 yet did fpeak. An apparition might ter- 
 rify and alarm for a feafon, but would 
 leave the heart the fame as it found it, 
 C 2 There 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 There muft be a ftroke of omnipotence 
 to change that. And where the power 
 of the Lord is prefent, one means may 
 do as well as another : but without that, 
 all means will be in vain. 
 
 I vj'iW now leave Dives and Lazarus 
 in their refpeftive ftates, as the ftory here 
 does. My bufinefs now is to fpeak a few 
 words to your hearts, who are here pre- 
 fent. 
 
 And in the firft place, I would addrefs 
 myfelf to thofe of you, who hitherto 
 have liv'd without God in the world : 
 having perhaps been lovers of pleafure 
 more than lovers of God ; and have 
 never regarded or fought aright your ever- 
 lafting concern. I know fuch as you are 
 for fpeaking peace, peace, to your foals ; 
 when there is no true, well-grounded 
 peace. You do not love to have your 
 cafes examined into, or at all meddled 
 with. You had rather live and die in an 
 unawaken'd ftate: concluding fuch to 
 be your enemies, and the wicked dif- 
 turbers of your peace, who would fain 
 warn you to flee from the wrath to come. 
 But, my dear friends, bear with me, 
 
 while 
 
( 29) 
 
 while I dilcourfe to you a little about 
 your prefent danger. Very likely you 
 may think yourfelves fafe : fo did the rich 
 man think all his life time. But was 
 he ever the fafer for this? Was not 
 fuch a conclufion ruinous to him ? And 
 may it not be fo to you alfo ? If you 
 were call'd to ftand before God now^ 
 where is your righteoufnefs ? Your own 
 will not do : and are you cloath'd with 
 Chrift's ? You cannot fay you are inno- 
 cent and linlefs in yourfelves: can you 
 then fay that Chrift has wafh'd you from 
 your fins in his own blood ? Have you 
 a fure and certain intereil; in him ? And 
 if you are neither guiltlefs in yourfelves, 
 nor thro* the merits of Chriil, where- 
 withal then would you appear before God ? 
 Do not your own hearts condemn you ? 
 Is there not a fecret cry within, faying^ 
 guilty, guilty ? —If fo, O let me in the 
 next place, befeech you to apply your- 
 felves to that Saviour, whom hitherto you 
 have neglected and flighted. When con- 
 fcience is fore, then is the time to come to 
 the healing phyfician. Who can tell but the 
 Lord has now alarm'd you, on purpolc 
 to bring you home to himfelf. If Dhe^ 
 had been ever truly awaken d in his life- 
 C 3 time. 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 time, no doubt but he would have come 
 to J ejus Chrijl for falvation. And this I 
 have to tell you for your comfort, that 
 none are more welcome to Chrifl: than 
 felj-condemn' d iinners. He is very glad 
 to fee fuch. Their faces are comely and 
 delightful to him, and their voices are 
 pleafant. He would think it no trouble 
 to have thoufands of fuch daily coming 
 round about his throne of grace. He has 
 a fulnefs in himfelf, largely to fatisfy all 
 the various needs of fuch. He does not 
 grudge to difpenfe his pardons to return- 
 ing prodigals. And if he had had a mind 
 that you fliould perifli, he would not 
 have left this parable upon record, nor 
 have permitted me this day to open it 
 unto you. For who can tell but he has 
 defign'd this very i:elation concerningD/^'^j 
 to be the power of God to the awakening 
 of your dead fouls, that fo, fleeing to him, 
 you might efcape the damnation of hell. 
 — For as Chrift himfelf was not given 
 for the condemnation of the world, fo 
 neither was any part of his gofpel : but 
 that the world thro' it might be iaved. — 
 Confider, O finners. Dives in hell has 
 now got no overture of mercy, pardon or 
 fiilvation. There remaineth for him no 
 
 more 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 more facrihce for fins : but a certain fear- 
 ful feeling of judgment, and fiery indig- 
 nation, which devours the adverfaries. 
 But this is not the cafe with you. You 
 are yet on this fide eternity. There is a fa- 
 crifice remaining for fuch as you, even the 
 flaughter'd Latnh : in whofe blood there 
 is redemption, even theforgivenefs of fins. 
 And tho' your fins have been heinous in 
 their nature, and as many as the hairs of 
 your head, or as the fands upon the fea- 
 fhore for number, yet if you are now 
 this day weary and heavy-laden with 
 them ; the language of the blefled yefus 
 to you, is : Come now let it r reafon together*, 
 for tho' your fins are as fear let ^ they f jail 
 become as wool : tho' they are red like 
 crimfon^ they jlmll he as white asfnow. 
 For tho' I fhewd no mercy to Dives who 
 livd and died in unbelief and in the love 
 of fitful pie af lire ^ re jelling me ^ and choo- 
 Jing rather y for a portion^ earthly enjoy- 
 ment s^ than that right eoifnefs^ and peace ^ 
 and joy in the holy ghojl^ which is the 
 confequence of believing in me : yet I will 
 Jljew mercy to you^ guilty finners, if 
 you are now fck ofyourfns^ if you want 
 fahation in tny bloody tf you hunger and 
 thirjl after my righteoifnejs^ if your poor 
 
 confciences 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 €0nfcience5 are burde7id and dijlrefs'dy and 
 nothing will eafe or fatisfy you but an 
 interejl in fne. Tour paji fms Jhall not 
 Jeparate between me ajidyou. They pall be 
 as thd they had not been. For behold^ I eve7i 
 lam he that blotteth out your Jins^ and will 
 remember your iiiiquities no more, I have 
 died for you : and for your peace and faU 
 nation have JJoed mine own blood. Be- 
 hold me : behold me. Look unto me^ all 
 ye ends of the ea?'th , and be ye faved. Have 
 IlovdyoUyfo as to die for you : and do 
 ye think that I will not receive you^ and 
 have mercy upon you now^ if you come imto 
 me^ and crave for givenefsy thro' my blood? 
 As I live^ I have ?io pleafure in the death 
 of the finyier^ but rather that the fmner 
 Jhould turn from his evil way unto me^, 
 and live. Come then, poor finners ; mf 
 heart, w.y arms are open to embrace you, 
 I have been waiting long to be gracious to 
 you. Now is the accepted time : lo f 
 now is the day of falvation. Seek 7?ie,. 
 while I may he found : call upon me,, 
 while I afn near. Let the wicked for- 
 fake his way, a?id the unrighteous man his 
 thoughts: and let him return unto me,, 
 and 1 will have inercy upon him, yea,. 
 I will abundantly pardon. For with me 
 
 there 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 there is forgivenefs that IJhould be fear' d^ 
 and plenteous redemption thatjinfiersjhoidd 
 hope in my mercy. So that iv here your Jins 
 have abounded, 7ny grace Jhall much more 
 abound. My love and good-will to men 
 is beyond all heigth and depth, and length 
 and breadth, Inhere is no meafuring, no 
 fathoming of it. It is a boundlefs ocean. 
 Lift up your heads then, ye felf -condemn' d 
 defpairing finners. Believe what I am : 
 believe what there is in me: believe my 
 promifes : believe my grace : believe me to 
 be juji fuch a Saviour as you want ; an 
 able, a willing, a wife, a tender, a faith ^ 
 ful Saviour, Above all, believe me to be 
 one, who zvill in ?io wife caji you cut, upon 
 applyiftg youif elves to me. Come therefore 
 unto me, all ye that labour arid are heavy 
 laden, and I will give you peace of con- 
 fcience, and ye Jhall f fid reji to your fouls. 
 For this is the will of him that fent me^ 
 that every one that feeth the fon, and be- 
 lieveth on him, may have everlafting life. 
 So that t ho' you have been fornicators, ido- 
 laters, adulterers, effeminate, abufers 
 of yourf elves with mankind, thieves, co- 
 vetous, drunkards, revilers, or extorti- 
 oners : yet of all thefe, if any one be- 
 lieve th on tne, verily, verily I fay unto you ^ 
 
 every 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 every fuch one Jloall have everlajiing life, 
 andjhall not come into condetnnation^ but 
 Jhall pafs from death to life!* Such are 
 the words, fuch is the language of the 
 friend of finners, to all thofe who are 
 waiting to fee his lalvation. Let this thea 
 encourage every one to apply to him, to 
 wait upon him, and never to reft, till 
 you have afuredly obtain'd mercy from 
 him. Be thankful to the Lord that you 
 are not yet in the woful condition of 
 Dives. Look upon this as a token for 
 good. And if the Lord by what you have 
 heard, has akrm'd you, and prick'd you 
 to the heart, yet be not difcourag'd. Per- 
 haps fome of you are rich, and have been 
 carelefs pleafure-taking men : fo that your 
 character a'nfwers to that of Dives, as^ 
 face anfwers to face in the glafs : and you 
 may be apt to conclude againft yourfelves, 
 Surely then your end alfo will be like his. 
 But this does in no wife follow of necef- 
 fity. For we are told that God will have 
 all men to be fav'd : that is. Kings as 
 well as beggars, rich as well as poor, S^c, 
 Tho' indeed the poor are remarkably 
 chofen, and not 7?iany rich are call'd. 
 Yet bleffed be God, fome are. Who 
 can tell then, O man, but this is the 
 
 day 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 day of thy calling ? The hearing of the 
 ruin of Dives may be the means of thy 
 falvation. For if thou art now brought 
 in earneft to cry out. What muft I do to be 
 favd. The anfwer is : Believe on the 
 Lord J ejus ^ and thou Jhall be Jav d : to- 
 gether with happy Lazarus^ and all the 
 general affembly and church of the firft- 
 born, who have been wafhed from their 
 fins in the blood of the Lamb : 
 
 To whom with the Father and the 
 Holy GhofI: be all honour and gloryj 
 world without end, Amen, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
Advertisement. 
 
 IT // the Author^ ^ejign, Godivilling, Jhortly topuhlijb 
 fame more Difcourfes on feveral Subjefts, nvhich together 
 rwith a general title-page, and preface by the Re'v. Mr, \ 
 Whitfield, 'which njoill he ginjen out ivith the laji difcourfe, ■ 
 may be proper to be bound up 'with this in one Volume, 
 
 This Day is publijh'dy 
 
 AN A N S W E R to the Firft Part of an Anonimous 
 Pamphlet, entituled, Ohfernjatiom on the ConduSl 
 tind Beha'viour of a Se^ ufually dijiinguijhed by the "Name of 
 Methodists; in a Letter to the Bifhop of London, and 
 the feveral other Bilhops concerned in the Publication 
 thereof. 
 
 Alfo a brief Account of the Occafion, Procefs, and If- 
 fue of a late Trial at the Aflize held at Gloucefter on the 
 3d of this Inftant March, between fome of the People 
 called Methodifts, Plaintiffs, and certain Perfons of the 
 Town of Minching-Hampton, in the County aforefaid. 
 Defendants ; in a Letter to a Friend. 
 
 By George White F I ELD, A,B, 
 
 Late of Pembroke-College, Oxford. 
 Sold by J. Wilfon, and T. CadeU, Bookfellers, in- 
 Wine-ftreet, Briftol. 
 
 ^here is likenjoife jufl publifyd, 
 
 AN Anfwer to every Man that afketh a Reafon of the 
 Hope that is in us. 
 
 The fecond Edition, 
 
 By Joseph Humphreys. 
 
 Sold by J. Wilfon, and T, CadeU Bookfellers in Wine- 
 Street, Bristol. 
 
f 
 
 Our Lord's Grace 
 
 TO THE 
 
 THIEF UPON THE CROSS: 
 
 Confider'd in a 
 
 SERMON 
 
 On L U KE XXIII. 43. 
 
 Pfeach'd (In Subflance) 
 
 To the Colliers in Kings wood, and at 
 Smiths-Hall^ in Bristol, onLoRD's- 
 Day, March 4, 1743-4. 
 
 And now publifh'd for a Pattern of Mercy to the chief 
 of Sinners t and t{^tc\2i\\y condemn d Malefactors, who 
 ftiail hereafter believe on Jefus Chrifi to Life ever- 
 ialling. 
 
 By J. HUMPHREYS, 
 
 An unworthy Preacher of the Gospel. 
 
 BRISTOL: 
 Printed by Felix Farley, Mdccxliv, 
 
Our LoRD'i" Grace to the Thief 
 upon the Cross. 
 
 Luke xxiii. 43. 
 
 And Jefiis /aid unto him. Verily I fay 
 unto thee^ To day JJjalt thou be with me 
 in paradife. 
 
 THESE words were fpoken by the 
 Son of God, while he was hang- 
 ing on the crofs, to one of the malefac- 
 tors that was crucified with him. They 
 are full of grace, and ferve to teftify in 
 all ages what a tender compaffionate heart 
 the bleffed Jefus has towards poor guilty 
 finners. 
 
 In difcourfing on them, I wouIJ, by 
 the help of the fpirit, make fome obfer- 
 vatlons, 
 
 1. Relating to the perfon who fpeaks 
 them. 
 
 2. Regarding the perfon to whom they 
 are fpoke. And, 
 
 D 2 3. Ref. 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 3. Refpeding the fubftance of the 
 words themfelves. 
 
 For the jirjl : It may be obferv'd, 
 they were fpoken by one, who was God 
 as well as man-, who therefore might 
 have condemned the thief if he had 
 pleased : and in order thereto might have 
 fet all his fins in array before him, his 
 fecret fins in the light of his countenance. 
 He might have upbraided him with his 
 original and adual fins, with the fins of 
 his youth as well as thofe of his riper 
 years, with his private as well as his open 
 iins. As he was God, he might have 
 brought to his remembrance his former 
 forgotten fins, and fet them home upon 
 his confcience with an intolerable weight. 
 Efpecially he might have judg'd him for 
 his late theft, for which he was now ex- 
 ecuted. For yejus was one that knew 
 the whole heart, and the whole life of 
 the thief: and inftead of lliewing mercy 
 to him, he might have taken this oppor- 
 tunity of awakening his dead foul to a 
 quick and lively {^nCc of all his guilt, 
 and might have fent him into the other 
 world with a mind full of deep horror 
 
 and 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 and wrecking defpair. He might have 
 mark'd his iniquities, and dealt with 
 him according to his fins : and then how 
 would the thief ever have been able to have 
 ftood before him ?~But this was not the er- 
 rand of the bleiled 'Jefus into the world. 
 He had not the heart to condemn finners 
 in his life-time : and much lefs would 
 he do it now at his death. For he came 
 not to condemn the worlds but that the 
 
 world thro' him might befavd. So that 
 
 tho' our Saviour is a flrid and a holy 
 God, yet he is faid alfo to 'lyQ full of grace. 
 And Chriji's being God, which one would 
 have thought was an article that v/oiild 
 have made againft the thief, was the very 
 thing that turn'd out in his favour. For 
 none but God himfelf either would or 
 could have fliown fuch mercy to him. 
 For had he ftood at the maxy of men, they 
 would have condemned him to the woril 
 of deaths ^ and accordingly we find they 
 did, without fparing him in the leaft. But 
 when our Saviour comes to deal with 
 him, he lays afide fe verity, and exercifes 
 mercy and grace. A kind of dealing quite 
 diflferent from that of men ! Therefore 
 'tis faid, Ifaiahh. 7, 8. Let the wicked 
 return unto the Lord, and he uoill have 
 D 3 mercj 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 mtrcy upon him 3 and to our God^ for he 
 will abundantly pardon. And becaufe 
 God knew that fuch good and merciful 
 ufage was not like m^.n's doings : there- 
 fore he immediately adds ; For my thoughts 
 are not your thoughts^ neither are your 
 ways my ways ^ faith the Lord, For as 
 the heavens are higher than the earthy 
 Jo are my ways higher than your ways^ 
 and my thoughts than your thoughts. If 
 the woman taken in adultery had been 
 to have received her judgment from men, 
 they no doubt would have dealt with her 
 according to flridl juftice ; and would 
 have fton'd her perhaps, or done fome— 
 thing woife to her. But when the <S?- 
 viour meets with her, he tells her, I do 
 not condemn thee : go thy way, and Jin no 
 
 more, If ihtjinjier that came to Simon 
 
 tht Pharijee's houfe had flood at the bar 
 
 .of .men, ^e would certainly have been 
 
 condemn'd: but Jefus being God, and 
 
 not mere man, fays unto her, Thy fins 
 
 are forgiven, If the Samaritans who 
 
 ungratefully refus'd to receive the Lord of 
 life had fell into the hands of even fo good 
 men as "James and John, they would 
 have been confum'd by fire coming down 
 from heaven : but the reply of the of- 
 fended 
 
(43 ) 
 
 fended Jefus is only thus much, The fofi 
 of man is not come to dejiroy men's lives ^ 
 but to fave them. Forbearance and good- 
 nefs that could be found in none but 
 God ! — If we were to have been the judges 
 of the crucijiers of our Lord, to be fure 
 ^t leaft we ihould have been for crucify- 
 ing them in return : but our Lord him.- 
 felf being of an infinitely better mind, 
 prayd his Father to forgive them^ as they 
 
 knew not what they were doing, If we 
 
 in our days were to meet with fuch a vi- 
 olent perfecutor, as Saul once was, and 
 had him in our power ; very likely we 
 fliould be for imprifoning him, or putting 
 him to death here, and judging him to 
 hell for ever hereafter : but Jejus meets 
 with him as he was going to Damafcus^ 
 and inftead of ftr iking him dead or fend- 
 ing him to hell, only fays, Sauly Saul^ 
 why perfecuteji thou me ? gives him a 
 gentle rebuke, pardons his fins, and fends 
 
 him away in peace. So we have an 
 
 eminent inftance of the fame in the thief 
 upon the crofs, now under confideration : 
 who, tho' he found no mercy from men, 
 yet obtained mercy from the Lord ; be- 
 caufe he was the Lord God, merciful 
 and gracious, forgiving iniquity, tranf- 
 
 gt eifiOQ 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 greffion, and fin. His woful (entence 
 
 from men was, This day thou fialt be , 
 hajigd upon the crofs : his bleffed fentence j 
 from Chriji was, ms day JJjalt thou be \ 
 with me in paradife, 
 
 2. I would confider fome things con- 
 cerning the perfon to whom thefe words 
 were fpoken. And here, not to mention 
 his being a finner in common with the 
 reft of the children of Adam^ 'tis obferv- 
 able in particular- (i,) That he was a 
 man of a profligate, abandoned character : 
 for he is caird in fcripture a malefaBor 
 and a thief-, one that deferv'd death by 
 the law. And you know what fort of 
 people thieves geiierally are. For theft is 
 a fin that feldom goes alone. They that 
 are thieves are ufually withal drunkards, 
 liars, fwearers, whore-mongei-s, and fome- 
 times murderers: and indeed whatnot? 
 And 'tis not at all unlikely that this thief 
 was guilty of more crimes than one. For 
 very probably he ftole from others in or- 
 der to have wherewithal himfelf to grati- 
 fy his own lafcivious deiires and wanton 
 •lufts: and in order to harden himfelf for 
 the adion of theft very likely he would 
 drink to excefs before-hand > and then lye 
 
 and 
 
(45 ) 
 
 and fwear afterwards in denying it. In a 
 word, his being a thief implies a compli- 
 cation of fin. As for inftance, in the (2.) 
 place, 'tis certain, he was an evil company 
 keeper: having one however, if not more 
 evil companions, namely the other thief 
 who died with him. So that he was one 
 who when he faw a thief confented with 
 him, and was a companion of deftroyers. It 
 might_have been happy for him if he had 
 rejected at once the firft temptation 
 of fuch company. Peradventure then 
 he might never have come to that igno- 
 minious end. And this by the way 
 
 iliould be an example to all, efpecially 
 young people, to take early care what 
 .company they afibciate with, left they 
 /hould unawares be led into the path of 
 deftrudtion. (3.) He was one who in 
 all probability finn'd againft great light : 
 being in a land where the will of God 
 concerning moral adions was univerfally 
 known. And the more light, the greater 
 is the aggravation of the fin. And I believe 
 it will be doing no injuftice to the, cha- 
 racter of this thief, to fay that he finn'd 
 with a high hand againft the convidions 
 of his own mind : v/hich proved him ftill 
 to be the greater finner. (4.) He was 
 
 one 
 
(46 ) 
 
 one that was fpiritually blind, and igno- 
 rant of Jefus Chrifi whom God had fent. 
 Little did he think that that Jefia with 
 whom he was going to be crucified, was 
 the &;^, and the Chrijl of God. Very 
 likely, till he was better enlighten'd af- 
 terwards, he took Jefus to be fome 
 fuch a malefador as himfelf. For in the 
 (5.) place, it isfaid he revil'd the Son of 
 God, and caft the fame in his teeth as 
 fhe wicked yews and pj'iejis did. The 
 cvangelift Luke indeed does not relate 
 this, but feems rather to contradidt fuch 
 an account of him : for he fays that this 
 thief rebuk'd the other for railing on 
 Chriji^ fo far was he from railing himfelf. 
 But this is to be underftood I believe of the 
 time, when the Lord had touch'd his heart 
 with grace, which was not till afterwards. 
 For at firft I believe it is certain that he 
 rail'd with the other. For Matthew fays 
 poiitively that the thieves which were 
 crucified with Chrifi^ (meaning both of 
 them) cafl the Ja?ne in his teeth. And 
 Marji aflerts the fame, faying, And they 
 that were crucified with him^ revild him, 
 They^ that is, the two thieves -, for none 
 other were crucified with him : each of 
 them therefore revil'd our Lord. For if 
 
 one 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 one only had done it, it could not be faid 
 they revil'd him. The word they having 
 an undoubted reference to more than one. 
 Thele feeming different accounts of the 
 evangelijis therefore are I think to be 
 reconcil'd thus ; and I don't fee how 
 they can be eafily reconcil'd any other 
 way. At firj} they both revil'd 5 after- 
 wards this one repented and began to 
 check and rebuke his fellow. And if 
 this be fo, then this proves my firft af- 
 fertion : namely, that the poor thief who 
 was afterwards converted, was at firft a 
 fcoffer and derider of the Son of God, 
 becaufe he knew him not. And if he 
 was fo, this crime was certainly as heinous 
 as his theft : and all the difference is, the 
 one was a fin againft God, and the other 
 againftman. — Upon the whole however, 
 the thief is now prov'd to have been a 
 very great finner : and to be fure he had 
 guilt, like a mountain, upon his foul. 
 But when all his fins are put together, 
 did they, or could they hinder the Son of 
 God having mercy upon him ? Was all 
 his unworthinefs a fufficient obftacle to 
 prevent the love and compaffion of Chrijl 
 towards him ? No, for we find in him 
 an inftance that where fin abounded 
 
 grace 
 
(48 ) 
 
 grace did much more abound : that like 
 as fin had reign'd in this thief unto death 
 temporal, even fo grace fliould reign thro' 
 the righteoufnefs of Chnji unto his eter- 
 nal life by J ejus Chriji our Lord. 
 
 And this leads me in the 3d place, to 
 confider the fubftance of thefe words that 
 OUT Lord fpeaks to him, Ferily I fay 
 unto thee^ To day palt thou be with me 
 in paradife, 
 
 Thefe words plainly imply that the 
 thief's fins were now all forgiven him. He 
 had hitherto been a child of wrath, an 
 heir of condemnation. The guilt of his 
 fins had lain upon him : and the wrath of 
 God had hung over him. But now his 
 death was aboliih'd, and life and immor- 
 tality was brought to his light. The fun 
 of righteoufnefs arofe upon him with 
 healing under his wings. The Saviour 
 was difcover'd to him as bearing his fins 
 
 in his own body upon the tree. 1 take 
 
 it for granted that this thief was a hater 
 of Chriji at the firft : and fo would have 
 continued, if Chrift had not prevented 
 him by his grace. But it feems as tho* 
 Qur Saviour y having h^d thoughts of love 
 
 towards 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 towards him from eternity, was now de- 
 termined to make him a monument of his 
 mercy : and therefore in the firft place /(?- 
 cretly touches his heart with grace. This 
 appears evident from the manner of the 
 relation. For firft we are given to undcr- 
 ftand that he was a reviler. Then next 
 we find that he could not bear to hear 
 his feliow faiferer rail at Cbrijl, Here then 
 was the beginning of his change. From a 
 reviler^ he became a reprover. A pkun to- 
 ken that our Lordv^2i^ at work upon him ! 
 Very likely the other's jeers and feoffs 
 were fo notorious, that this man, having 
 now by the grace of our Saviour an 
 awful fenfe upon his heart of that God 
 before whom he v/as about to appear, 
 could not refrain from even rebuking 
 
 him. 1 hope none will be fo bare-fac'd 
 
 as to afciibe this beginning of the thief's 
 change to his own felf : for v/hat good 
 thing could there be in him, tilf it was 
 put into him ; or what good fruit co.ild 
 hebrins; forth, till he himielf in his mea- 
 fure was made good ? However, v/hal- 
 sver others may do, I dare fay the thief 
 (limfelf does now affribe all his falvatioa 
 from firil" to laft to the free grace of God, 
 without taking the leaft (liare to himfelf. 
 E —After 
 
( so ) 
 
 After our Lord then had touched his 
 
 heart, we find that he talks like a man 
 of fome ferious thought. For, fays he 
 to the other, Dojt not thou fear God, fee- 
 ing that thou art in the fame condemnati- 
 on ? And we indeed jifld)\ for we receive 
 the due reward of our deeds, but this man 
 hath done nothing amifs. We may ob- 
 ferve here what a notion the thief now 
 had of himfelf : and how far alfo he goes 
 in his notion of "Jefus Chriji. i . With re- 
 gard to himfelf, he looks upon himfelf as a 
 very ill defer ving finner, and as one who 
 was now juftly punifh'd for his crimes. 
 He feems alfo to have the dread of God 
 upon his fpirit. Very likely as he was - 
 drawing nigh to eternity, things pre- 
 fen ted themfelves before him in another 
 view to what they us'd to do. As the 
 guilt of his own fins came heavier and 
 heavier upon him, fo he found but little 
 heart to upbraid any other : neither for 
 the fame reafon could he bear to hear his 
 fellow fufferer do fo, who he knew was 
 under the fame juft condemnation with 
 himfelf. 2. With regard to his notion 
 of Jefus Chrifi, he was now already con- 
 vinc'd that he was an inyiocent man how- 
 ever, whatever he might be more. This ''■ 
 
 man 
 
( 51 ) 
 
 man^ fays he, hath done nothing amifs. 
 But he does not ftand flill here ; as fome 
 do, who when they have own'd Chriji 
 to be a good innocent man, will go no 
 farther. But the thief was one that grew 
 in the knowledge of Jefus Chriji tlie Sa- 
 viour. Therefore it is not long before 
 we find him calling him hord : which 
 title implies dominion and fupremacy. 
 For indeed J ejus Chriji is the fupreme 
 potentate of the whole univerfe. Lord^ 
 fays he, remember me "when thou comeji 
 into thy kingdom. Which petition im- 
 phes feveral things: i. That the thief 
 was now convinced he ihould be loft for 
 ever, if J ejus Chriji had not mercy upon 
 him. He finds himfelf in a perifhing 
 ftate. He had been a finner all his life- 
 time : and death and judgmeiu were now 
 approaching. And little opportunity had 
 he now for amending his life, being 
 faften'd to the crofs, where he was to die 
 the death : fo that he could have but 
 fmall hopes of ever getting to heaven thro' 
 his own new obedience. Wherefore in 
 this plight what muft he do? His body 
 was dying : and therefore certainly it was 
 his higheft prudence to apply to 'J ejus for 
 the lalvation of his foul. This was his 
 E 2 only 
 
I 52 ; 
 
 only refuge. He was lure of penfl:iifigj 
 if he did not betake himfelf hither : and 
 perhaps he thought he could but periih, 
 if he did. Therefore, fays he to J ejus : 
 Lor J remember me. 
 
 2. This petition implies that the thief 
 now belie v'd that "jej'us Chriji was God 
 as well as 7na}2. For without this belief, 
 h'ttle would It have fi^nified for him to 
 
 have applied himfelf to hirn. What an 
 
 alteration is there nov/ ! A fcofter turn'd 
 to be a believer ! This teaches us what 
 the grace of God can do. At firft view, 
 very likely this malefactor took Chriji to 
 be fuch 2i fellow as himfelf: but nov/ his 
 eyes being marvelloufly enlighten'd, he 
 beholds his glory, the glory as of the only 
 begotten of the Father, What veneration, 
 think you, did this view work in the 
 heart of the thief? And how afliam'd 
 was he now to find that that very perfon 
 whom he had been deriding was- none 
 other than his Lord, and his God, 
 
 3. Confequently he believed Chriji to 
 be an able Saviour : one that had it in his 
 power to fave him in particular. As tho' 
 he had faid : " Lord, I perceive thou art 
 ** now crucified in weaknefs ; but I be- 
 *' lieve thou wiltberaifed aojain in power, 
 
 " and 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 *' and that all power in heaven, and in 
 *' earth will be given unto thee, and that 
 " thoLi wilt have a kingdom which fhall 
 *' be everlafting, and a dominion, where- 
 *' of there ihall be no end. Men do with 
 *^ thee as they lift now, but fhortly thou 
 ** {h:At reign over all, as God blefled for 
 " evermore. And tho' thou feemeft to 
 " have no power to fave thyfelf now, yet 
 ** I firmly believe thou wilt fl o tly have 
 ** power to fave both me and whomfo- 
 " ever thou wilt. Therefore LorJ^ r^- 
 " member me when thou comefl into thy 
 " kingdom, 
 
 4, Which implies alfo that the thief 
 believ'd our Saviours willingnefs and 
 readinefs to hearken to his petition. He 
 guefs'd that he had now met with one 
 who was full of grace. Men had ihew'd 
 him no mercy : but he had now found a 
 dying Saviour^ from whom he could not 
 help having expeftations of grace. Here 
 was one hanging upon the crofs by him, 
 whofe body w^as broken, and whofe 
 blood was nov/ (liedding, for the remiffi- 
 on of the fins of many : who himfelf was 
 now condemn'd, that the world through 
 him might be faved. Now was the time 
 then for the thief to fue for mercy: grace 
 E 7 was 
 
( 54) 
 
 was pouring down from heaven, and he 
 puts in for a fhare. Redemption was 
 now plenty : and the wells of falvation, 
 even the wounds of yefus^ were fet freely 
 open. And now is the time for the 
 thirfty thief to come and draw water. It 
 rains blood, and the thief fets himfelf to 
 catch a drop. The fountain is open, and 
 he muft needs go in and wafh — Here was 
 a day of grace indeed, to the poor thief ! 
 And he does not let it flip, but cries for 
 himfelf, Lord remanber me. 
 
 And here Jet it be obferv'd that if the 
 thief did hunger and thirft after righteouf- 
 nefs, and pant after an intereft in the 
 Ij)rd\ mercy, yet flill it was the grace 
 of the Lord that made him to do fo. In 
 the point of his falvation, he was not 
 bsfore-hand with the Lord, For the 
 Lord put it into his heart to pray this pe- 
 tition. He had a mercy to bellow upon 
 him, and he would give it to him in a 
 way of feeking. For our Z/(?r J feems to take 
 tc\ delight in encouraging feeking. And he 
 never engages any one's heart to feek, but 
 with a real defign to anfwer. Hence 
 there is iuch an infallible connedion be- 
 tween yi*^/'/;?^ zvA findings ajking and re- 
 €evoing^ knocking and having it opend 
 
 unto 
 
 I 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 unto us, Becaufe wherever any one^s 
 
 heart is thoroughly engag'd to pant after 
 
 |!the Lor J, this itfelf being the Z^r^/'s work, 
 
 'the Lord will take care to fatisfy thofe 
 
 defires which he himfelf has implanted. 
 
 Thus the Lord dealt with the thief. He 
 
 engag'd his heart towards himfelf, and 
 
 would not afterwards difappoint him in 
 
 his expectations. For our Saviour does 
 
 ' not ufe to win people's hearts with a view 
 
 I to deceive them. He is thoroughly in 
 
 earneft with regard to his overtures of 
 
 mercy to poor needy iinners. 
 
 Very likely as our Saviour was hanging 
 upon the crofs by this poor man, he took 
 oppor^ftities of talking to him ; and 
 hereby let him know who he was : (the 
 Spirit at the fame time inwardly con- 
 vincing him.) Our Saviour might let 
 him into the defign of his coming into the 
 world, and might alfo open his under- 
 ftanding to underftand the Jcrifitures, He 
 might acquaint him with his hearty af- 
 fedtion towards Iinners in general, and 
 himfelf in particular : and in a word, in 
 this interval, might reveal unto him the 
 whole myftery of man's redemption by 
 his blood. " Precious fouly might Jefus 
 £iy to him, thou art now going into eter- 
 nity 
 
( 56 ) 
 
 nity to appear before God the judge of all. 
 And if thou dieji with the guilt of all thy 
 fins upon thee^ the load will fink thee low^ 
 er than Tophet, But I will not fpeak to 
 condemn thee : for behold I bring thee 
 glad tidi?igs of great joy, God hath fb lov^ 
 ed the world that he hath given his only 
 begotten fon^ that finners who believe might 
 not perijjjy but have everlafiing life. And 
 lo ! I that fpeak unto thee am he, God 
 my father hath laid upon me the iniqui^ 
 ties of ally for whom I undertook. Here 
 1 die a jufl perfon^ in the room and Jiead 
 ofjuch as are unjufi, I bear the fins of 
 many, I am lifted up upon this crofs as 
 an offering and a propitiation, I mn the 
 lamb of Gody fain as a jacrifice^ to atone 
 for the fins of the worlds and to make re- 
 conciliation p or the people. And tho I am 
 now fuffering this ignorniiiious^ paiitful^ and 
 curj'ed deaths yet I am the fir/i arid the 
 lafiy the prince of the kings of the earthy 
 who love poor guilty finners y tofuch a de^ 
 gree^ that rather than fin fall be their 
 ruin^ I will wajh them from it in my own 
 blood. It is not long before I /hall enter 
 my kingdom^ and then by the holy ghofi I 
 will fprinkle my blood upon all nations^ 
 and I will Jhew mercy unto thoufands. '* 
 
 Where- 
 
(57) 
 
 Whereupon the thief underflanding th!s> 
 immediately puts up a petition for him- 
 felf; faying, Lord^ remember me in par- 
 ticular^ I pray thee^ whe?i thou comeji 
 into thy kingdom. O, thinks he, how 
 happy am I to fee Jiich a day as this ! 
 What a bleffed death am I like to be 
 brought to ! ' The crofs, ^hich I thought 
 cur fed, will, I trujl, prove a blejjed crofs 
 to me. Little did I think that 7ny theft 
 would be over-ruV d fo as to be a means of 
 bringing 7ne to the happy fght of the 
 Christ of Got>, the Saviour of the 
 world. And now if I can but, get an in- 
 terefl in his precious blood, how more than 
 happy fhall I be to all eternity ! The Sa- 
 viours, reply to him was wonderful. This 
 day, fays he, Jl:alt thou be with me in pa- 
 radife. At which moft gracious words, 
 no doubt, the poor thief's heart within 
 him leap'd for joy. His fears were nov/ 
 all entirely fcatter'd : his guilt clearly re- 
 mov'd : and his foul was made perfedly 
 whole by this one word from the Saviour, 
 A precious promife, that was worth more 
 to the thief than thoufands of gold and 
 filver ! If all the world had been offered 
 to him, it would have been nothing in 
 comparifon of this. Yea, a pardon from 
 
 his 
 
( ss ) 
 
 his temporal death and execution would by 
 no means have been fo welcome to him as 
 this one word from the mouth of his dear 
 Lord, He had now his heart's defire. 
 The poor foul was fully fatisfied. In his 
 life-time he had been robbing others, 
 feeking the goodly treafures of this world: 
 but now he had found the treafure of 
 the kingdom, and the pearl of great price. 
 And fo was he filPd with joy and peace, 
 and ftrong confolation in believing the 
 word of Jefus^ that very likely, he might 
 alrrioft forget the anguifh and pains of his 
 body, which was now nail'd to the crofs : 
 and utterly difregard his prefent fufferings, 
 which he found but light when compared 
 with that far more exceeding and eternal 
 weight of glory, which now begun to be 
 
 reveal'd in him. O the bleffednefs of 
 
 this thief ! He was now one of thofe, 
 whofe fins were forgiven, whofe iniqui- 
 ties, were covered, and unto whom the 
 Lord would not impute fin. 
 
 And as his fins were forgiven, fo he 
 had a fenfe of it too. He was ajfur'd 
 that he had found mercy from the Lord» 
 Our Saviour told him fo, and he believ- 
 ed the report. So that if any one had 
 gone to the thief, and afk'd him, faying. 
 
 Friend 
 
{ 59 ) 
 
 Friend^ are your Jt?2S forgiven ? He might 
 very juftly have anfw^er'd, Thro' grace 
 they are allforgive?2^ and this day I Jhall 
 go to heaven. Many carnal felf-righteous 
 people, no doubt, w^ould have been angry 
 and fill'd with envy at fuch an anfvver. 
 And if any fuch had been there, and had 
 heard him exprefs himfelf in fuch a ftrong 
 manner, they v^ould in all probability 
 have bid him hold his tongue, and not 
 talk fo prefumptuoufly. — As if they were 
 to have faid : Friend^ take care what you 
 fay. Fray how can you be fure of goi?jg 
 to heaven? Confder^ you have liv'd a 
 very wicked life. You have been guilty 
 of a great manyfim, Tou ought therefore 
 to be humble^ ajid ?20t to talk in fuch a 
 confident way^ as thd you were afjurd of 
 falvation. It looks like blafphemy for you 
 to fpeakfo, — If indeed you hadliv'd all 
 your life time a fober^ virtuous and reli- 
 gious life^ you might then have good hopes 
 of being favd. But as the cafe fiands 
 now^ it is far otherwife : therefore you 
 Jhould be cautious as to what you Jay, But 
 fuch counfel as this would not have hin- 
 dred the pardon'd thief from telling what 
 the Lord had done for his foul. For if 
 he had been a great finner, the grace of 
 
 Chriji 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 Chriji would be fo much the more mag- 
 nified in his being forgiven. Thofe peo- 
 ple have very poor notions of our Lord's^ 
 grace, who think it cannot extend to the^ 
 chief of iinners. Whereas indeed, more 
 glory is brought to him when he pardons 
 and receives fuch, than when he is graci- 
 ous to others. — And muft the happy 
 thief hold his tongue, and be filent whea 
 he had found redemption in Chrijf^ blood, 
 the remiffion of all his fins? Rather, 
 fhould not he have the liberty of publifh- 
 ing with the voice of thankfgiving, and 
 telling of all God's wondrous works ? — 
 And may not every one alfo, who has 
 found mercy from the Lord, with hum- 
 ble and prudent boldnefs, taker the fame 
 liberty ? 
 
 And now, my brethren, let us behold 
 what a goodly and bleifed profped: the be- 
 lieving thief had before him: as it were a 
 feaft of fat things, of wine on the lees well 
 refin'd ? The tv/elve difciples had had the 
 favour of eating the holy fupper with our 
 Lord, They had the fign : bat this hap- 
 pier thief had the thing fignifed, even 
 the fubftance itfelf. He had a crucified 
 Chrift prefented both to the eyes of his 
 mindj and to the eyes of his body at the 
 
 fame 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 fame time. And while he was outward- 
 ly gazing upon the Saviour^ whole body 
 was now hanging upon a crofs of wood 
 next to him, how, think ye, did he in- 
 wardly feed upon the flefh of Chrijl by 
 faith ? What large draughts of falvation 
 did he drink from that precious blood 
 that was flowing juft by him ? The thief 
 had now bread enough, and to fpare : 
 and a hearty welcome, no doubt, from 
 Cbriji himfelf, faying, Eaf^ O my friend % 
 drinky yea drink abundantly^ O my beloved. 
 For my Jlefi is meat indeed^ and my blood 
 is drink indeed, — Now and then perhaps a 
 thought might come into the poor thief's 
 mind concerning his paft fins, and the de- 
 vil might offer to diftrefs him hereby : but 
 if ever this happen'd, he had a full Sa~ 
 viour^ a bleeding Saviour^ to whom he 
 might immediately betake himfelf, and 
 find peace and comfort again. In fuch a 
 refpedt he had the outward evidence of 
 his eyes and the inward evidence of the 
 Spirit to fatisfy him.—" If I have 
 broke the law^ thinks he^ here is one by 
 me^ who has obefd it perfeBly : and this 
 I believe was in my room. If ?ny fms 
 have defer ved God's wrath and ever laf ling 
 ^•nifjment^ behold! my great furety is 
 Bering it in my Jiead. If I have no 
 F righteouf" 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 right eon fiufs of my owntojuftify me before 
 God, behold he is near that juflifieth me^ 
 and //^^ L o R D //i^' R I G H T E o u s N E s s /V 
 reveal' d here^ even Chriji^ who is evident- 
 ly Jet forth to 7ny vieWy crucified before 
 vie. If I do not deferve heaven^ my fuf- 
 fering Jefus pur chafes it for me. If I in 
 tnyfelf am a black finncr^ in Ch'ifl I am 
 comely. Ajid thd God 7nay behold ini- 
 quity enough in me^ if he ivere ftridi to 
 inark it -, yet looki?2g upon me in Chrifiy 
 he does thro' grace behold me asfpotlefs and 
 as righteous^ as if I had never fm?id 
 againft him at all. So that if I am con- 
 demn d^ it is enough for me that Chrift is 
 here a dying. And for a confirmation of 
 all this to my foul^ wit?iefs the crofs, the 
 wouJids, the blood, the groans, the promife^ 
 of this my incarnate God who is now hang- 
 ing by me upon the crofs, and who has gra- 
 cioufiy afurd me that Ifioall be with him 
 this day in paradife.'' By fuch faith as 
 this, the thief might be able to quench 
 all the fiery darts of the devil : and for 
 certain at laft he overcame him by the 
 blood of the Lamb, Tho* it is very like- 
 ly indeed that he had fome ftrong contefts ; 
 firft, efpecially perhaps during that time 
 of darknefs from the fixth hour to the; 
 
 ninth,, 
 
( 63 ) 
 
 ninth, at the laft of which hours oar 6^/- 
 viour cried out, 7?iy God, my God, ivhy 
 haji thou forjaken 7ne, This folemn com- 
 plaint of our Lord's might perhaps, not 
 a little, furprize this poor man, and try 
 his faith to fome purpofe. He might, 
 'tis likely, begin to think, (and Satan, 
 no doubt, ready to prompt him to the 
 fame) Ah, where am I now ? This Jefus 
 that promifed me paradife a little while 
 ago, is no%v forfaken of God himfelf: and 
 to be jure the?! he is not able to fulfil his 
 engage?ne?it with refpeB to me. But fuch 
 trials and combats are often good for be- 
 lievers. For their heavenly Father fees 
 that they have frequently got a great deal 
 of felf-confidence and felf-righteoufnefs 
 and felf-conceit mix'd with their faith, 
 of which they have great need to be flrip'd : 
 and therefore he permits trials and tempta- 
 tions, which fift them, and convince 
 them what they ftill are when left to 
 themfelves. Thus peradventure it might 
 be with this thief. He had had great 
 communications of grace from the Lord^ 
 and it might not be amifs for him, in 
 his meafure, to be baptized alfo with the 
 baptifm, wherewith his Lord was bap- 
 tized. Be this as it will, with regard to 
 F 2 inward 
 
(64) 
 
 inward temptations, 'tis certain however 
 that he flmr'd in the fame bodily fufferings 
 and the fame bodily death as our Lord, In 
 this refped: therefore he had a fellowfhip 
 with Chriji in his fufferings, being made 
 conformable unto his death: for he was 
 crucified together with our Lo7'd, And 
 this might make him love Chrifl the bet- 
 ter, becaufe he knew fomewhat experi- 
 mentally how great the fufferings oi Chriji 
 mufl needs be for him. For indeed fuf- 
 ferings in general anfwer thefe two glo- 
 rious ends, when they are fandlified. i. 
 They empty us of ourfelves. And 2. 
 They endear Cbrifi to us; as we do, in 
 them, tafte fomething of his cup. And 
 the more we know of what he fuifered 
 for us, the mcx-e we fhall know of his love 
 to us. 
 
 But think now, my brethren, upon the 
 whole, what wonderful fellowfliip pafs'd 
 and repafs^d between thefe two perfons 
 upon their crolTes, Chrifl and the thief. 
 No doubt but there was much fweet con- 
 verfation between them, which we have 
 not recorded. And Chrift^ who had 
 been a friend of finners in his life-time, 
 was now eminently fo at his death. For 
 I am apt to think it is impoiiible to con- 
 ceive 
 
( 65 ) 
 
 ceive what love and grace flow'd from 
 the heart of Chrijt to the poor beheving 
 finner : and on the other hand what ftrong 
 returns of love flow'd from him to Chrift 
 again. I doubt not but our Saviour had 
 a peculiar regard to this thief, as he was one 
 who was a prejent reward to his fufFer- 
 ings. His righteous foul was in travail. 
 And the iflue of it is, a thief becomes a 
 faint. As I fuppofe, he was the firfl- 
 fruits of our Saviours paffion: and in 
 him the Lord faw of the travail of his 
 foul, and was fatisfied. And as the child 
 is pecuHarly dear to its mother, who has 
 endured fuch agonies in the bearing 
 of it: fo was this thief to Chrift, And 
 in allprobability, he was the firft whom 
 our Lord welcomed into paradife, after 
 
 his bitter fuflTerings were ended. Our 
 
 Lord dies firft, as we may gather from 
 the ilory ; and goes immediately to para- 
 dife. For when the foldiers came to 
 break their legs, 'tis faid, they brake not 
 the legs of Jejus^ becaufe he was dead 
 already : implying that he was furvived by 
 the two thieves, a little however ^ and 
 ft.that he gave up the ghoft firft. But 
 anfvhere did his departing Spirit go ? He 
 mfelf fays, Father ijito thy hands Icom- 
 F 3 mend 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 mefid myfpirit. And again : he tells the 
 thief, To day thou jh alt be with me in pa- 
 radife, — As tho' he had faid, To day I 
 jhall be rn paradife myjelf^ and thou fialt 
 be with me there too. But where is this 
 paradife ? — The ^poftle Paul intimates 
 to us, that it is the fame as the third 
 heaven. For fays he, 2. Cor, xii. 2, 3, 
 4. I knew a man in Chrift above four-- 
 teen years ago^ — -fiich an one caught up to 
 the third heaven. And further he ex- 
 plains himfelf thus: Atid I knew fuch a 
 man. — how that he was caught up intopa^ 
 radife. So that paradife^ it feems, and 
 the third heaven are the fame. Here it 
 was then that our Saviour went, and the 
 thief foon follow'd him. He ftaid in no 
 purgatory by the way. There was no 
 occafion for thatj iince he had already 
 been thoroughly wafh'd from all fin in 
 the blood of Jefus. Neither did he ft ay 
 in any intermediate ftate whatfoever 5 but 
 went diredtly to heaven, even the third 
 heaven. For fome make a diftin(5lion 
 between heaven and paradife : as tho' the 
 latter were a lower ftate for the firft recep- 
 tion of fouls, and the former a more per- 
 fe(ft one for the farther reception of fou-^^ 
 afterwards : But I can fee no foundati(^e 
 for this in the fcripture, any more tha 
 
 fc 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 for the dodrine of purgatory, to which 
 this feems fomewhat akin.— However 
 let paradife be where it will, or what it 
 will, it was where ^^ immediate pre fence 
 of Chriji fhould be t, and this was enough 
 for the poor thief: who no doubt could 
 fay, Whom have I in heaven but thee O 
 Lord, and there is none upon earth that I 
 defire befides thee. Thou fhalt be itnth 
 ?ne, fays ChriJI to him. This made the 
 thief happy fo long as he was in this 
 world, being hereby deliver'd from the 
 fear of death and of hell : and the fulfil- 
 ment of it made him happy in the other 
 world. His communion with Chriji was 
 begun here, and perfedled above. And 
 fo it muft be with all who ever hope to 
 fee the face of the Lord w^ith comfort. 
 There muft be a participation of Chriji 
 here : or elfe no enjoyment of him for 
 ever hereafter. For in vain do thofe 
 people look for heaven, who have 
 no intereft in Chriji, nor fo much as feek 
 for it. He fays, / am the way : and no 
 man cometh to the Father but by me. You 
 may well be afraid of death, and of going 
 flic hell afterwards, if you have never fp.i- 
 anfv^lly known the fon of God, nor had 
 1 reveal'd in you. But it was not fo 
 
 with 
 
(68 ) 
 
 with the hlefled thief. He had a furc 
 and certain intereft in Chrijt, So that 
 he triumphed in his Saviour here, and 
 with him in heaven. His fellowship 
 and faving acquaintance with Chriji be- 
 gan upon the crofs, and lafts to all eterni- 
 ty. What a world of love and blifsfal 
 enjoyment is this redeemed thief now in. 
 Compafs*d in the fweet arms of his Sa^ 
 viotir^ and refting in his bofom for ever ! 
 Before the throne of God, bleffing and 
 praifing the eleding love of the Father, 
 and the dying redeeming love of the (on 
 
 to all eternity ! Thus, my brethren, 
 
 is his happy foul employ'd even at this 
 hour. — And, O, methinks, if he were 
 for a little feafon to come down now, 
 and preach among you ; how would he 
 make application of the ti'uths you have 
 been hearing concerning himfelf to your 
 hearts in an efpecial manner at this time. 
 How would he exhort you all, that are 
 dii'refs'd with guilt, to come and prove 
 the fame loving &wWr, who wasfo abun- 
 dantly griicious to him. O come^ might 
 he fay, tafce and fee how good the Lord is. 
 I have found him to be Jo of a truths t^ 
 J am ind'^ed the chief of Jinners: butx- 
 grace of our Lord was exceeding abunddO: 
 
{ 69 ) 
 
 And lam a 'witnefs that Chrift Jefiis came 
 into the world to fave fmners. And for 
 this caiife I obtained mercy that in me 
 jirjl Jefus Chrift might Jhew forth all 
 long- fiiffering^ for a patter 71 to them which 
 fiotild hereafter believe on him to life 
 everlajling. 
 
 Well then, my dear friends, if this be 
 fo, permit me a little to addrefs you in 
 fuch language as I fuppofe the bleffed thief 
 himfelf would, were he here to preach to 
 you now. And in the 
 
 Firjl place : From what you have 
 heard may be gathered glad tidings of 
 great joy and comfort to the worft of 
 finners. Particularly, if there were any 
 condemned malefadlors here, what a blef- 
 fed door of mercy is there fet open to 
 fuch. The condemned thief did but aik, 
 and in his diftrefs call upon the Lord^ 
 faying, Remember 772e when thou comejt 
 into thy ki7igdom : and the Lord imme- 
 diately did for him more than he afk'd. 
 He not only heard him, and granted his 
 requeft, but alfo exceeded all that he 
 could think or exped:. He only defir'd 
 to be remember d by the Lord when he 
 fliould enter his kingdom : and the Lords 
 anfwer implied, that he would not only 
 
 remem^ 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 remember him, but more than that, he 
 fhould be with him there 3 that as he had 
 now a fight of him in hisdeepeft humili- 
 ation, he might aifo behold him in his 
 glorious exaltation, and fee him as he 
 really was. — ^Let this then encourage you 
 to call upon the name of the fame Lord ' 
 Jejus. Put him in mind of his mercy 
 to the loft undone thief. Say unto him, 
 Lord remember me^ now thou art in thy 
 kingdom. Haft thou not ojie blejjing in 
 Jiore for me^ even for me alfo ? Believe 
 it, the Lord did not give away all his 
 grace to the thief, fo as to leave none for 
 thee, O guilty finner. For bleffings are 
 not fo fcarce with Jefus^ as they were 
 with Ifaac, He could afford but one 
 that fignified much : but Jefus keepeth 
 mercy for thoufands. Believe then, O 
 linner, O guilty criminal, whoever thou 
 art, that there is grace enough in Ch?^iji 
 for thee alfo. 
 
 Tes, you will fay perhaps, but how 
 flmll I co?ne at it ? If I were fo near to 
 Chf^iji's crofs as the thief was, I might ; 
 then have hopes. But I am at a great 
 diftance from Chrift now. He is in hea- 
 ven y and I am upon earth. And if I do 
 pray to bim^ how (hall I know whether he 
 
 hears 
 
4 ( 7x ) 
 
 Tfcars me or no : or^ if he hears^ perhaps 
 that unll be all : he will not anfki)er : or 
 if he J}:ould atifwer^ how f^all I know^ or 
 iindcrftand what his anfwer is. Mufl I 
 expeB a voice from heaven ? No, there is 
 no occafion for that. The Lord now 
 fpeaks by his fpirit in the heart. He 
 fpeaks peace, pardon and comfort into 
 heavy-laden mourning fouls. His vari- 
 ous and precious promifes are upon re- 
 cord. The fpirit takes thefe, and ap- 
 plies them with a fupernatural, irrefiftable, 
 and divine power to the hearts of believ- 
 ing finners. This is the peculiar office 
 of the fpirit of God. He is come into 
 the world to anfwer the end of Chrifs 
 perfonal appearance and miniftry here. 
 But the world knows him not and owns 
 him not, no more than they knew or 
 own'd Je/iis himfelf And the gracious 
 words that Jtfus us'd to fpeak with his 
 mouth, the fame does the holy ghoji re- 
 peat fpiritually even to the end of the 
 world. And this fpirit thou flialt have, 
 if thou with all thine heart alkeft him of 
 God. And if thou art in diftrefs by rea- 
 fon of thy fins, he iliall witnefs the fame 
 peace and ftrong confolation in thy heart, 
 as the gracious lips of our Saviour did to 
 
 the 
 
( 72) 
 
 the thief upon the crofs. Fear not there- 
 fore j if thou art as great a (inner as he 
 was, there is the fame Jefus^ the fame 
 blood, the fame righteoufnefs, fet before 
 thee as was before him. — And bleifed are 
 they that have not feen, and yet beUeve. 
 
 2. From what has been faid, we may 
 gather a pregnant proof both of God's 
 fovereign ele6lion and free juftification. 
 For in the thief we have an inftance of 
 both. For his being taken and the other 
 left, was a proof of eleftion : and his be- 
 ing accepted, without any previous good 
 works or merits, is a proof of God's free- 
 ly juftifying him. How fovereign is the 
 Lord! Who might fay unto him, what 
 doft thou ? He had two heinous finners 
 before him. He a{ks counfel of none, 
 how he fhall deal with them. Accord- 
 ing to his own pleafure he might have 
 taken both, or either, or neither. For 
 he does as he pleafes in the armies of 
 heaven, and among the inhabitants of 
 this world. , However to fhew his fove- 
 reignty, he takes one of the thieves, and 
 leaves the other. He dealt unjuftly with 
 neither : but fhews mercy to one. So that 
 one remains a fcoffer, while the other is 
 turn'd to be a believer. This fhould teach 
 
 every 
 
(73 ) 
 
 ^very one to bow down to Cbrij}^ who 
 h.as power to kill and power to make alive : 
 power to fave and power to deftroy. 
 
 3. Notwithftandiog this, whofoever 
 truly Cometh to Chrift fhall in no wife 
 be cafl out c even tho* it be at the eleventh 
 hour. There is hopes for finners even 
 on their death-bed. The thief was jutl 
 going out of the world, yet it was not too 
 late for him to obtain mercy. And as has 
 been often obferv'd, we have one inftance 
 of this^ kind, that no late penitent might 
 defpair: and ^z/if one, that fo none might 
 prefume, from a nation, that if they put 
 ■oil repentance and faith to a death-bed, 
 there would be grace and me^xy enough 
 for them then. 
 
 4. From what has been faid, you may 
 learn what it is that will make a perfon re- 
 ally to hateand forfake fin: even the grace 
 oi Chrift, Nothing fhort of this, will do to 
 purpofe. If ever io many perfwafions or 
 threatnings had been made ufe of in order 
 to change the thief's heart, all would have 
 been ineflfecflual without thegrace oiChriJi. 
 ■But when that was difcover'd to him, 
 "when the riches of Chriji'% love were 
 made known to him, when our Lord 
 iiad given him the affurance of paradife 
 .and of the enjoyment of himfelf there, 
 
 G the 
 
(74) 
 
 the thief had thenfomewhat clfe to defire 
 and love, befides fm. For when once his 
 lieart was engaged to Chrift^ he grew fick 
 of iin. So that if he had been left to his 
 choice and liberty, he would not have re- 
 turn'd again to his evil courfe of thieving. 
 He had now the treafure of the kingdom, 
 and therefore had no occafion to fteal the 
 little trifles of this world. And fo it is, 
 that the poffeffion oiChrift, and his grace, 
 does in all refpefts bring about the cure 
 of the love of fin in the heart. 'Tis true, 
 that where fm abounds, grace does much 
 moreabouxnd: but then 'tis equally true, 
 that where grace abounds, an utter aver- 
 fion to all fin abounds alfo. For the fame 
 fpirit that feals pardon to a finner, does 
 always add therewithal : Go thy way^ and 
 Iin no ??iore, 
 
 5. In the lafi: place: From this inflance 
 of the redeemed thief, compared with 
 fome Other fcripture-accounts, we -may 
 gather, v/hat fort of people m.any of the 
 inhabitants of heaven will be made up 
 
 of^ even of fome of thofe that were>the 
 mofl: notorious finners in this world. 
 
 •Multitudes -that are -now glorified faints 
 in heaven, ^who are ftanding befoixthe 
 
 4hpone oPGod^ flfining in perfect .holinefs, 
 
 .and full -iof 4:hc enjoyment of ^-Gpd .and 
 .. ■ Chrilt 
 
'i 75 ) 
 Clitift, were once, before their conver- 
 Con here on earth, no doubt, fome of the 
 •vileft of all mankind. Yonder ftands one 
 blelling and praihng God now, who once 
 ufed to rob and pilfer. There ftands an- 
 other, \v\k) was a fornicator. There an- 
 other, who was an adulterer. There an- 
 other, who abus'd himfelf withmankind. 
 Yonder ftands a number of thofe, 
 •who were once drunkards ; there a num- 
 ber, who were once covetous .: and there, 
 >fuch as were once idolaters, effeminate, 
 •revilers, and extortioners, i Cor. vi. 9^ 
 JO, II. Look upon thefe in the two 
 •different views, namely, what they once 
 were, and what they are now; and the 
 confideration becomes very ftriking .and 
 ^affeding. To view the glorified faints in 
 iieaven, who would think -that they had 
 '-ever been fuch vile finners Jiere on earth.: 
 and to view vile finners here on earth, 
 who would think they fhould ever be 
 -made fuch glorified faints in heaven ! And 
 yet fo it is. And much glory is hereby 
 xbrought to tlie abounding grace of God, 
 and to the meritorious -blood of the Lamb. 
 -For creatures {o vile to become creatures 
 £0 glorious is worthy of the wifdom, good- 
 
 nefs, and pawer ofaninfiijite God. 
 
 ietihis'tliought'enc^artige«-nGne "to coa- 
 
{ 76 ) 
 
 tinue in fin : for to fuch there remains 
 nothing but a fearful expe<ftation of 
 wrath. But let it rather encourage poo^ 
 returning, repenting linnei'Sj who are 
 heartily willing to part with all fin 
 that they might gain Chrift^ hy no 
 means to defpair of the boundlefs mercy 
 of God in Chrift Jefus. For yet there is 
 roofii. And let fuch a finner think with- 
 in himfelf : ^ If thert are Jo many now in 
 -ieaven^ who were ance{as untikely as I?20w 
 am\ *who knows then but I may have a 
 jhare among thofe blefj'ed faints aljb. Be 
 of good cheer th^n^ O my foul ^ and hum- 
 bly and fatiently wait^ till mercy s gate 
 fdall be open d unto thee likewi/h And 
 then thd thou artmle^ and unworthy now^ 
 thou Jhalt forever be reckoned amongft the 
 -redeemed of the Lord^ and have an eter- 
 7ial inheritance among all them that art 
 fanBifed^ ' 
 
 Which, may God grant to us all for 
 Chrift Jefus's fake, to whom with thf, 
 Father and the Holy Ghoft be all honour 
 ^nd glory throughout all ages, work; 
 without end. Amen, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 1 
 
A N 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 T O 
 
 EVERY MAN 
 
 That afketh a 
 
 R E A S O N 
 
 Of the Hope that is in us. 
 
 Which things ive /peak, not in the "words "which man's 
 nvifdom teacheth, but 'which the Holy Ghoji teacheth, 
 I Cor. ii. 13. 
 
 The Second Edition. 
 Written by 
 
 JOSEPH HUMPHRETS. 
 BRISTOL: 
 
 Printed by Felix Farley, in Caftle-Green, »744- 
 And Sold by J, Wilfon, and T. Cadell, in Wine Street i 
 and at the tabernacle in London. 
 
Preface by the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, ] 
 
 TH E Apoftle tells us there are dijferent Gifts, but the \ 
 fame Spirit. And it is <voith no fmall Pleafure that 1 
 freque7itly conjider --uohat a holy Variety there is, as to their \ 
 Gifts, among thofe -a:ho by the World in Contempt are called 
 IV'lethodill Preachers i and to nvhom lam in an cfpecial 
 Ma7iner conneded. Some may be properly filed Sons of 
 Thunder, ivkile others of the?n feem more peculiarly to, 
 claim the Title p/'Sons of Coniblation. One has got the 
 Gift of Exhortation, ^a'hile another is more enabled to open, 
 properly the Scriptures of Truth. Mr. Humphreys, the] 
 Author of the folloiving ^efiofis and Anfvjers, feems to 
 excell in the latter. I truji they n.vill be blefd to many. 
 They are plain and fi7nple. I think they need no Recommen- 
 dation, Read and judge for your- fives, into nvhofe Hands 
 this little Manual fnay cofne, a7td then I doubt not but you 
 Huill be like minded, in this RefpeSi, nvith 
 
 Your Soul's Well-wifher, ! 
 
 G. W .■ 
 
 The AuTHOR^s Preface. 
 
 MY defgn in pub lifting this is to bri7ig a fenjj of t ho ft 
 i7nportant fcriptures to notice, ^ivhich are ge7ierally 
 c^er-look d, or at leaf but little 77iinded by the common people; 
 They are plac'' d in the follo'wing method, that by theblef 
 fngofGod, they may frike the greater conuidlion into tki 
 hea7-ts of thofe that read them. 
 
 A thing of this kind might u7idoubtedly be done by an ablet 
 ha7id. But i7ifead of a better, let this take place. A7ti, 
 let all that love Xion, pray the Lo7d ]esvs to blefs it, for 
 the fpreading his glorious na7ne and go fp el in this cloudy atta 
 dark day.~ 
 
 If it be o'Wii'd to this purpofe, perhaps I may be ew 
 couraged thereby to attempt fome-thing another time of thi 
 fame 7iature. In the mean nvhile Ifubfcribe myfelf cou7-teoui 
 reader, thy friend and fervent , for JESis'sfak^, 
 
 Chcdworth, J^ H. 
 
 Dec. 10, 1743. -^^ 
 
[3 ] 
 
 jin Anfhjoer to every Man that ajketb, &:c. 
 
 j^T Am glad to fee you : pray how do you do ? 
 
 X A. fiy grace I can fay, that not only my body 
 prolpers and is in health, biA my Ibul ahb profpers, 
 3 "John ii. 
 
 ^ How fpiritual you talk ! what, you are one of 
 this 7/^-zc '-.vay, are you ? 
 
 A. This 1 confefs, that after the way which men call 
 herefy, fo worihip I'the God of my Withers, believing 
 all things which are written in the law and the pro- 
 phets. Ads xxiv. 1 4. 
 
 ^ You are a Methodijl then, I fuppofe ? 
 
 A. I truf: I am one of thofe that are called the chil- 
 dren of the living God, Rojn. ix. 26. 
 
 21^ Whl none then be fav'd, think you, befide your- 
 felves ? 
 
 A. God forbid ! For Jesus] was flain, and hath re- 
 deemed Svmers to God by his blood, out of every kin- 
 dred, and tongue, and people, and nation ; and hatli 
 made them kings and priefts unto God, Re^j. v. 9, 10. 
 
 ^ But I fuppofe, v.'hatever becomes of others, you 
 do not doubt but you Hiall be faved ? 
 
 A. We do indeed live in hope of eternal life, which 
 God that cannot lie promis'd before the world began, 
 T/V. i. 2. 
 
 ^ What have you to ground your hope upon ? 
 ^ A. Clirill is, in u?, the hope of glory, CoL'i. 27. 
 
 ^ Have you got Chriil: then ? 
 
 A. My Beloved is mine, and I am His, Cant. ii. 16. 
 
 J^ You not only hope then, but you are furc of be- 
 ing faved through Chriil: ? 
 
 A. I know that my Redeemer liveth ; and though 
 after my fkin, worms dellroy this body, yet in my flefli 
 ihall I fee God, Job x\x. 25, 26. 
 
 i^ And do you indeed knoiv that you are a child of 
 God ? 
 
 A. The Spirit itfelf beareth witnefs with my fpirit 
 that I am a child of God, i^^w. viii. 16. 
 
 A 2 ^ How 
 
[4] 
 
 j^ How came you by this affurance ? 
 
 J. By grace through faith, Eph. ii. 8. We have 
 
 receiv'd the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba 
 Father y Rom. viii. 15. 
 
 ^ May I have this gift ? 
 
 A. Alk, and it lliall be given you, Mat. vii. 7. Who- 
 foever calleth upon the name of the Lord fhall be fav-. 
 ed, A^s ii. 21. And if we being evil, know how to 
 give good gifts to our children, how much more fhall 
 our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that 
 alk him ? Luke xi. 1 1. 
 
 ^ I Ihou'd like to be one of you, but you are a 
 people fo ^very particular. 
 
 A. We are indeed a peculiar people, i Pet. ii. 9. a 
 foolifh nation, by whom the Lord provokes many 
 others to jealoufy and anger, Rom, x. 19. 
 
 ^ I have heard great talk of the methodiji minifters : 
 what are they ? 
 
 A. They are arnbaiTadors for Chrift, as though God 
 did befeech finners by them, they pray them in Chriil's 
 ftead to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. v. 20. 
 
 ^ But why do they preach in fields and barns, and 
 fuch-like places ? 
 
 A. I . Becaufe they are pat out of the fynagogues, 
 John xvi. 2. 
 
 2. Becaufe the Moft High dwelleth not in temples 
 made with hands. Ads vii. 48. But the hour is now 
 come, when the true worfhippers do worfhip the Father 
 in fpirit, J oh. iv. 23. 
 
 3 . Becaufe Chrift and his Apoftles preached without 
 doors as well as within, Mat. v. i. A5is XTi. 13. 
 
 4. Becaufe where two or three are gathered together 
 in the name of Chrift, there is he in the midft. Mat. 
 xviii. 20. 
 
 ^ But- why do they go about preaching ? 
 
 A. Becaufe God, by them, would now command all 
 men every where to repent, ASis xviii. 30. They fee 
 the whole world lying in wickednefs, i John v. 19. 
 And therefore knowing the terrors of the Lord, they 
 perfuade men, 2 Cor. v. 1 1 . They would preach the 
 gofpcl to every creature, Mark xvi. 15. Like Jefus 
 
 him' 
 
[5] 
 
 himfelf, who went about all the cities and villages 
 teaching and preaching. Mat. ix. 35. 
 
 ^ But I am told they do miichief about the countrv, 
 caufing diviiions in families and churches. 
 
 A. Think not that Chrift came to fend peace on 
 earth : I came not to fend peace, fays he, but a fword 
 (i. e. My gofpel ^':ill prcrjc in the e'vent to be the occajion 
 cfmucb di^vifion.) For I am come to let a man at va- 
 riance againll his father, and tiie daughter againll her 
 mother, and the daughter-in-law againft her mother- 
 in-law : and a man's foes fhall be thofe of his own 
 houfhold, Mat.x. 34, 3 V 
 
 ^ I underftand they are very young men. 
 
 A. Yea: have ye never read, Out of the mouth of 
 babes and fucklings thou hall perfected praife? Mat. 
 xxi. 16, 
 
 j^ I hear alfo they are weak and unlearned men. 
 
 A. God hath chofen the foolifli things of the world 
 to confound the wife, and the weak things of the world 
 to confound the things which are mighty, and bafe 
 things of the world, and things which are defpis'd hath 
 God chofen. i Coi-. i. 27. z'i. 
 
 ^ But 'tis objeded alfo, that they do not preach 
 exaifl and regular. 
 
 A. They come not with excellency of fpccch or of 
 wifdoiii. For their fpeech and their preaching is not 
 with enticing words of mans wifdom : but in demonftra- 
 tion of the fpirit and of power, i Cor. ii. i : 4. 
 
 ^ But furely if they were good niinillers, they 
 would not be fo univerfally defpifed as they are. 
 
 A. They, like the primitive miniRers of Chrift, are 
 made as the filth of the world, and are the oft'-fcouring 
 of all things unto thit> day, i Cor. iv. 13. Yea, like 
 Chrill hirafelf, they are rejected of the builders, Luke 
 XX. 17. 
 
 Q^ But what became of people before thefe arofe : 
 furely they did not all go to hell ? 
 
 A. Secret things belong unto the Lord our God, 
 Veut. xxix. ^9. Who at no time hath left himfelf 
 without vvitnefs, ASis xiv. 17. And if there have been 
 limes of ignorance, he hath winked at them : but twn.x3 
 commandeth all men every where to repent. Ads xvii. 
 30. A3 i^ Pray 
 
[6] 
 
 J^ Pray tell me, what do thefe Minifters preach? 
 A. They preach, i . That there is none righteous, 
 no not one, Rom, iii. lo. 
 
 2. That no man cometh to the Father, but by Chrill, 
 "John xiv. 6. 
 
 3. That Jesus Chrill fhed his blood for many, for 
 the remilTion of fms, M«/. xxvi. 28, And 
 
 4. That through his name, whofoever believeth in 
 him, fhall recei've remiflion of fins, A^s x. 43. 
 
 ^ I find thefe minifters have not fo great a variety 
 in their fermons as other minifters have. 
 
 J. Becaufe they are determin'd not to know any 
 thing among the people, fave Jefus Chrift, and him 
 crucified, i Cor. ii. 2. 
 
 ^ But are there not fbme wicked men that go about 
 in their name ? 
 
 A, Such are falfe apoftles, deceitful workers, trans- 
 forming themfelves into the apoftles of Chrift, 2 Cor^ 
 xi. 13. 
 
 ^ You mention'd juft now the remij/ton of fins. Pray 
 tell me, is there fuch a thing as having our fins forgiven ? 
 
 A. There is forgivenefs with God, Pfat. cxxx. 4. 
 In Chrift we ha've redemption through his blood, the 
 forgivenefs of fins, Eph. i» 6. As far as the eaft is 
 from the weft, fo far hath the Lord removed our tranf- 
 greffions from us, Ffal. ciii. 12. 
 
 ^ I own this is very happy for diofe who experi- 
 ence it. 
 
 A Even as Da'vid fays, BlefTed are they whofe ini- 
 quities we forginjen, and whofe fms ar£ covered, Rom. 
 
 ^ But perhaps this was a privilege belonging only 
 to holy men of old, and not to any in thefe days. 
 
 A. We belie\'e that through the •grace of the Lord 
 Jefiis Chrift, we fhall be faved even as they, ASs xv, 
 1 1 . For the fame Lord over all is rich unto aU that 
 call upon him, Rom.x. 12. 
 
 ^ How may we attain to the forgivenefs of our fins? 
 
 A. The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive 
 fms, 7ffe. ix. 6. Come unto me th«-efore, fays Chrift, 
 all ye that labour nnd arc heary -laden, und I v/ill give 
 3=oiIrei% Mat.ix. i;b\ ^. But 
 
[?] 
 
 ^ But he is now in heaven, and how can we come 
 at him there ? 
 
 A. You are to underfland that the Lord is nigh unto 
 all them that call upon him in truth, Pf. cxlv. i8. And 
 tho' he is now in heaven, yet his hand is not fhortned 
 that it cannot fave, neither is his ear heavy that it can- 
 not hear. If a. lix. i, 
 
 ^ Perhaps if a very vile linner does go to him, he 
 may yet mifs of mercy. 
 
 A. Him that cometh to me, fays Chrill, I will in 
 no wife call out, Jvhn vi. 37. 
 
 ^ Surely this Lord Chrill is very gracious. 
 
 A. Indeed he is gracious, and full of compaffion, Ff, 
 cxlv. 8. For as the heaven is high above the earth, fo 
 great is his mercy towards them that fear him, Ffalm 
 ciii. II. 
 
 ^ I Ihould be glad to hear fomething farther of this 
 Chrift: for to me he feems to be no common perfon. 
 
 A. Indeed he is none other than God himfelf manifefi 
 in the Flejh, i Tim. iii. 16. 
 
 ^ Did the almighty God then become a man ? 
 
 A. The Word was God, John i. i, and the Word 
 was made fieih, and dwelt among us, 14th verfe. 
 
 ^ How came he to condefcend thus .? 
 
 A^ Though he was rich, yet for our fakes he became 
 poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich, 
 2 Cor. viii. 9. 
 
 ^ This was great humility. 
 
 A. Yes indeed was it. For though he was in the 
 foim of God, and thou^t it not robbery to be -equal 
 with God, yet he made himfelf of no reputation, and 
 took upon him the form of a fervant,and was made in 
 the likenefs of men, Phil. ii. 6, 7. 
 
 ^ And was this the fame that died upon the crofs ? 
 
 A. Yes. For being found in fashion as a man, he 
 humbled himfelf, and became obedient unto death, even 
 the death of the crofs, ibid 8. 
 
 ^ Did God then die ? 
 
 A. Hereby perceive we the love of God, becaufe he 
 laid down his life for us, i John iii. 16, 
 
 ^ This is very ftrange dodrine, 
 
 jL With^ 
 
[ 8 ] 
 
 A. Without conti'overfy great is the myftery of god 
 iinefs I Tim. iii. i6. 
 
 ^ Are we bound to believe that Chrift is God ? 
 
 J, If ye believe not that I AM^ (ori lyeo uut) 
 fays Chrifi, Ye fhall die in your fins, John viii. 24. 
 
 ^ Is the name / AM given to none but God ? 
 
 A. Mofts laid unto God, behold, when I come unto 
 the children of Ifrael, and fay unto them, The God of 
 your fatiicrs hath fent me unto you, and they Ihall fay 
 to me^ What is his name ? What fhall I iay unto them ? 
 And God faid untc Mo/es, Thus {halt thou fay unto 
 them, I AM (tTHH f/om n\-\ theja77ie as niH f^°^^ 
 *iuhence comes iWTV^ that iiicotmnunicahle name of Gody 
 mjhich is gi^ven to none but himjelf) hath lent me unto 
 yoM, Exod. III. 13, 14. 
 
 ^ But is it certain that this fame title belongs to 
 •Chrill? 
 
 A, Jefus faid unto the Jenvsy Verily, Verily I fay 
 •'unto you, Bt^ove Abraham vjd.s, I AM^ John vm. 58. 
 
 ^ I thought Chrifl was the Son of God, and not 
 God himfelf. 
 
 A. Ciiriil: and his Father are one, John x. 30. 
 
 ^ But if Ciirill: was fuch a divine perfon, how came 
 he to fuffer io much as he did ? ■ 
 
 A. He fuffer'd for fms, i Pet. iii. 18. 
 
 ^ For whofe iins ? 
 
 A. He was wounded for our trahfgreflions. i/«. liii» 5. 
 
 ^ V/hat, then he who was innocent, fuffer'd in our 
 room who were guilty ? 
 
 ^. Yes verily : he fuffer'd the jufl for the unjull, 
 iPet. iii. 18. 
 
 ^ But what was this for ? 
 
 A. 7'hat he might bring us to God, ibid. 
 
 ^ I fuppofe then that we fhould never hiive come to 
 God, if Chriil: had not died for us. 
 
 ^. Without fhedding of blood is no remifTion, Heb, 
 ix. 2 2 . 
 
 ^ So then, though we are finners, we can be faved 
 now by Chrift ? , 
 
 A. This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all accep- 
 tation, that Chriil Jefus came into the world to fave fin- 
 ners, I Tim, i. 15, -^ Are 
 
[9] 
 
 ^ Are all mankind fmners ? 
 
 A. All have finned, and are come fhort of the glory 
 of God, Rom. iii. 23. 
 
 J^ How came all to be fmners ? 
 
 A. By one man's difobedience, many were made fm- 
 ners, Rom. V. 19. 
 
 ^ What is the evil confequence of being a fmner ? 
 
 A. Curfed is every one that continueth not in all 
 things which are written in the book of the law to do 
 them. Gal. iii. lo. 
 
 ^ But fure a man is not curfed, if he is but a very 
 little fmner ? 
 
 A. Whoever ihall keep the whole law, and yet offend 
 in one point, he is guilty of all, James ii. 10. 
 
 ^ If this be fo, then both I and all mankind are in 
 a niiferable ftate. 
 
 A. Tis true : men are very apt to fay, they are rich, 
 and increafed with goods, and have need of nothing : 
 and know not that they are wretched and miferable, and 
 poor, and blind, and naked, Re^.'iii. 17. 
 
 ^ What then muft a perfon do to be faved ? 
 
 A. Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thou (halt 
 be faved. Ads xvi. 31. 
 
 ^ But are we not to amend our lives, and do all the 
 good we can, and fo expeft to be fav'd ? 
 
 A. By the deeds of the law there fhall no flelh be 
 juftify'd in God's fight, Rom. iii. 20. But to him that 
 worketh not, but believeth on him that jullifieth the un- 
 godly, his faith is counted for righteoufnefs, Rom. iv. 5.' 
 
 ^ Then we may live as we will, if we do but be- 
 lieve ? 
 
 A. As the body without the fpirit is dead , fo faith 
 without works is dead alfo, James ii. 20. 
 
 ^ Pray what is faith ? 
 
 A. Faith is the fubftance of things hoped for, the evi- 
 dence of things not feen, Heb. xi. i. 
 
 ^ So then I find if we have faith, Chrift is even now 
 as evidently prefent to the fpiritual fenfes of our fouls, 
 as if we had been perfonally prefent with him here on 
 earth ? 
 
 A. Yes indeed. Chrift dwells in our hearts by faith, 
 Efj/iiu 17. ^ So 
 
[ 10 ] 
 
 ^ So then you have fellowfhip with an unfeen 
 Chrill ? 
 
 A, Truiy our fellowfhip is with the Father and with 
 his Son Jefus Chrift, i John i. 3. 
 
 j^ And do you love him, tho' }'ou have not feen 
 him ? 
 
 A. Whom having not feen, we love : in whom, tho' 
 now we fee him not, yet believing, we rejoice with Joy 
 unfpeakable and full of glory, i Pet. i. 8. 
 
 ^ Methinks I iliould love him very much, and be- 
 lieve in him too, if I were to fee him. 
 
 A. BlelTed are they that have not feen, and yet have 
 believed, John xx. 29: 
 
 i^ Pray tell me, why do you love him, and rejoice 
 in him fo much ? 
 
 A. Becaiife he has loved us, and waihed us from our 
 fius in his own blood, Re-o. \. 5 . 
 
 ^ Kow has he done av^ay our fms ? 
 
 A. Chriil hath redeemed us from the curfe of the law, 
 being made a curfe for us. Gal. iii. i 3. 
 
 i>, V/as Chrifi then curfed ? 
 
 A. It is written, Curfed is every one that hangeth on 
 a tree, ihid. 
 
 J^ I thought jufl now you faid that we fmners were 
 curfed, and not Chrift. 
 
 A. All we like fheep have gone afiray, and the Lord 
 hath laid on him the iniquity of us all, Ifa. liii. 6. 
 
 ^ But why was he punifh'd, and not vjs? 
 
 A. It pleafed the Lord to bruife hi7ny Ifa. liii. 10. 
 
 J^ Were ChrilVs fufFerings veiy great ? 
 
 A. So great, that his foul was exceeding forrowful, 
 even unto death. Matt. xxvi. 38. 
 
 ^ Then I find all we muft have perillied, if Chriil 
 had not died. 
 
 A. 'Tis true indeed, that Jefus hath delivered us from 
 the wrath to come, 1 T^hef. i. 10. 
 
 ^ Since then Chrift hath died, I fuppofe none will 
 periih now. 
 
 A. He that believeth not, fhall be damned, Mark 
 xvi. 1 6. 
 
 ^ Very true : Bat we ought to hope charitably of 
 people ; we hope that we all do believe. 
 
[ II ] 
 
 A. All men have not faith, 2 ^hef. iii. 2. 
 
 ^ But if all have not, I hope the moft part have ? 
 
 A. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that 
 Icadeth unto life, and/^ou there be that find it. Matt. 
 vii. 14. 
 
 ^ This is an hard faying, who can hear it ? 
 
 A. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear, Matt, 
 xi. 15. 
 
 i^ But who can be fav'd then ? 
 
 A. God fo loved the world, that he gave his only 
 begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him, fhould 
 .not periih, but have everlafting life, John iii. 16. 
 
 ^ I find then that tho' the gate is ftrait, yet there 
 is a door of mercy open notwithftanding, 
 
 A. Yes indeed, the Lord keepeth mercy for thou- 
 fands, Exod. xxxiv. 7. 
 
 ^ Then I need not defpair. 
 
 A. It is good that a man fhould both hope, and qui- 
 etly wait for tlie falvation of the Lord, Lam, iii. 26. 
 
 i^ Pray tell me, have you obtain'd mercy ? 
 
 A. For this caufe I obtain'd mercy, that in me Jefus 
 Chrill might fhew forth all long fuifering, i Tim, 
 I. 16. 
 
 ^ Are your fms all forgiven ? 
 
 A. God hath forgiven me all trefpafTes, CoL ii. 13. 
 
 ^ Pray who are you, that Chriit fhould love you, 
 and forgive you all trefpafTes > 
 
 A. Of fmners I am the chief, i TVw. i . 1 5 . 
 
 ^ How dare you then to think that Chrifl regards 
 you? /:ibo :::n. 
 
 A. Becaufe he receiveth fmners-, Luke^^.^.^'^ ■■• 
 
 .^.But why do- you think that he receiveth you in 
 particular : fure he never told you fo ? 
 
 A. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the 
 witnefs in himfelf, \John.\. lo. 
 
 ^ What is this witnefs ? ' 
 
 A. It is the Spirit that beareth witnefs, i John, V. 6. 
 
 ^ I wifh it is not all delufion. 
 
 A. The Spirit is truth : And if we receive the wit- 
 neftofmen, the witnefs -of God is greater, i Johiv, 
 6.9. 
 
 ^ But 
 
[ 12 ] ^ 
 
 J^ But do not many pretend to the Spirit, who yet 
 are falfe, hypocrites ? 
 
 A, The Lord Ihall cut fuch afunder, and appoint 
 them their portion with the hypocrites, Matt. xxiv. 5 1 . 
 
 ^ How may a perfon know whether he has the 
 true fpirit, or whether he be in a delufion ? 
 
 A, Let a man examine himfelf, i Cor. xi. 28. 
 
 ^ What are the marks of the Spirit ? 
 
 A. The fruit of the fpirit is love, joy, peace, long- 
 fuffering, gentlenefs, goodnefs, faith, meeknefs, tem- 
 perance ; - — and they that are Chrift's have crucified 
 the fleih with the aiFedions and lulls. Gal. v. 22, 24. 
 
 J^ I do not hear our learned minifters talk fo much 
 of the Spirit : 
 
 A. God hath hid thefe things from the wife and pru- 
 dent. Matt, xi. 25. 
 
 ^ We us*d to call them fakers, who pretend fo 
 much to the Spirit. 
 
 A. If any man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is 
 none of his. Rom. viii. 9. 
 
 j^ To whom is this Spirit given ? 
 
 A. The promife is unto you, and to all that are afar 
 off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call, ASls 
 ii. 39. 
 
 j^ And who are they that do aflually receive the 
 Spirit ? 
 
 A. He that believeth on Chrift, as the Scripture 
 hath faid, out of his belly fhall flow rivers of living 
 water. This fpoke Chrift of the Spirit, which they 
 that believe on him, fhould receive, John vii. 38. 39. 
 
 ^. Then I find it is the privilege of every true be- 
 liever to have the Spirit. This is brave indeed. Al- 
 moft thou perfuadeft me to be a chriftian. 
 
 A. I would to God that not only thou, but all that 
 read this, were both almoft, and altogether fuch as I 
 am, Aas xxvi. 29. Only without that fm that dwel- 
 leth in me, Rom. vii. 20. 
 
 ^ Lord, I believe ; help thou my unbelief. 
 
 A. I fay unto you. There is Joy in the prefence of 
 the angels of God, over one fmner that repenteth, Luke 
 XV. 10. Amen, Amen. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
FOUR 
 
 LETTERS, &c. 
 
 Taken from the 
 
 London Weekly Hiftory 
 
 OF T HE 
 
 PROGRESS of the GOSPEL: 
 
 WITH A LARGE 
 
 POSTSCRIPT, 
 
 OccafioneJ hf 
 
 The Reading of cKefc LETTERS, 
 
 Vindicating from feveral Objectioi^s 
 
 The late Revival of Real CHRISTIANITY, 
 and thf Promoters thereof. 
 
 _ — ■ I ■ ■ I ■ III < I !■ 
 
 EDINBURGH, 
 
 Printed by Thomas Lumisdem and John Robertson^ 
 and fold by John Traill in the Parliamm-ilofri 
 
 M.DCC.XLIIL 
 
{ 3 ) 
 
 Some Letters, b'r. 
 
 JFrom the Reverend Mr, Jofiah Smith Mi- 
 nifteroftheGofpelin Charkstovvn, South- 
 Carolina ; to the Reverend Mr. William 
 Cooper in Bofton, New-England, 
 
 Irom the Pennfylvania Journal. 
 
 June 5. 1743- 
 
 V^VAvS-atel}, tomygreatSatisfaaion, vifited the 
 
 i I orphan-houfe in Georgia, I believe it will not be 
 
 I 1 difagreeable to you to have my Sentiments of it 
 thus communicated to the World. 
 I can fecurely refer youforP^r^i^^/^^^tothel^^-^r your 
 Son William wrote you from Bethefda, Jan.'i. I74i-i» 
 %7hich was printed in the Bofton Gaz^etteApnl 13- 1742;, as 
 ti fair and impartial Reprefentation of Things as they llood 
 then ; nor have we obferv'd any material Alterations fince 
 fave only that their Number is fomewhat dirmnilbed, by 
 being put to Flight v/hen the Colony was invaded, and their 
 difcharging fome hired white Servants who too much m. 
 creas'd their Expences.--! was wonderfully pleas d with 
 the Situation and admirable Comrivance of ihtHoufe, with 
 the many Accommodations within,and Improvements withj 
 out : But it really requires fome Mafter of Defcription and 
 much llronger Language than mine, to convey a full Idea 
 of the Oeconomy and^ehgious Rules and Government ot 
 the Family.-- It confifts at prefent of V^/erfons. 1 he 
 Gentleman who fuperintends the fecular Affairs of it feem 
 excellently qualified for his Province, and fpares no Fams 
 or Fatigue in his Management orProvifion ; animated with 
 aSenfe of Duty, andinfpiredwi:h aPrmcipleof tru^ Ch^^^^ 
 
 ilian Charity. The other Gentleman, who officiates as 
 
 ■ ^ ^ ;, Preacher 7 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 Preachsr, and has the religious Concerns of the Houfe pe- 
 culiarly committed to him, is, I think, a moft feriousand 
 fpiritual Man, much experienced in the Divine Life, and 
 iudious to promote it in others ; and the happy Fruits of 
 his Care, Diligence, and fervent Prayers, are undeniably 
 vifible, efpecially in fome late Awaknings among them.— 
 1 fpeak it without Prejudice, I never to my Knowledge, 
 in any Society whatever, have feen more of the Face of 
 Rehgion. Order, Decorum, and Regularity reign here. 
 
 Solemn Devotion, and focial Harmony, are Two of 
 
 its great Beauties. Thefe, with the plealing Appearances 
 of Health and Contentment, would tempt metofpendmy 
 ivhole I^ife among them., did not Providence and Duty 
 point me out another Courfe. 
 
 I know, dear Sir, fome among you have reprefented 
 our dear Mr. Whitefield as an importunate Beggar : ■ 
 In this they have unwarily done him Honour ; for who can 
 be too importunate in begging for an Houfe of Met c^? — 
 Such this has been to the Souls and Bodies of many already ; 
 and, fmce Ihave/e^» it, 1 think it my Duty to tuxxiBeggar 
 too, and upon this Occafion to recommend it to Chriltians 
 of every Denomination, as one Objed:!; of their Care and 
 
 Charity. This, I'm fure, is to vifit the Fatherlefs in 
 
 their Afflidion. • This makes us Eyes to the Bhnd, and 
 Feet to the Lame. — Nor do I call him aChrifiian, who 
 eats his Morfel alone, and is not glad of every fuch Oppor- 
 tunity to honour the Lord v/ith his Subftance. Not to be 
 further tedious, I can heartily recommend this Houfe, as a 
 Semjnary of true Piety and good Order; and am not with- 
 out Hopes, that Providence is here laying the Foundation 
 of human Literature -xKo, andthatP^j^fmy, if notweour- 
 felves, will fee an Academy^ arife in Georgia out of an Or-^ 
 fhan-houfe. With my bell Wiflies for its Profperity, I con^ 
 dude. Reverend Sir, 
 
 your unworthy Brother 
 
 in the Gofpel, 
 
 JosiAH Smith. 
 
 ON Tuefday Morning, about a Quarter of an Hour 
 after Twelve, (piiober 4. 1743.) the Wife of the 
 Reverend Mr. Whitefield was brought to Bed of a 
 Son; which he brought on the Sabbath Evening following 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 to be bftptir'd ^t xhtTabemacle, being the firft Infant that 
 •was bapilz d there. The Congregation was very nume- 
 rous, and '^ any Tears were (lied, and much of the Prefence 
 of Godfeli, whiHl Mr. H^/7ire/f/^ gave an Account of fomc 
 Promifes that had been given him concerning the Child, 
 which had hitherto been fulfilled to a Tittle. — After he 
 had baptiz'd it in the Name of the Father, Son and 
 Holy Ghost, he held the Child in his Arms, and in the 
 moll awful Manner di ciahiied all Right and Title to it, and 
 gave it wholly to JESUS CHRIST, and blelTed itfolemn- 
 ly in his Great Name, to which all the People gave an hearty 
 jlMEN, hke that which wasufed to be among the primi- 
 tive Chriftians. Immediately after this, the following 
 
 Lines were fung by the Congregation in the moft hear;;y 
 Manner, both for the Child and Parents. 
 
 I. 
 
 (pOOR helplefiBabe! Bear little Child ! 
 *■ John he thy Name, thy Nature mild; 
 Great may'fi thou be ;'» JesuV Sight y 
 A Babe in whom He takes Delight. 
 
 II. 
 
 'Be thou made holy from the Wo'inb, 
 By Him who fav'd thee from the * Tomb ; 
 Jn Jesu'; Arms fiill may'fi thou, refi. 
 While fucking at thy Mother s Breafi. 
 
 III. 
 
 Blefl be the Parents with the Son ! 
 JBlefi be the God that gave you one ! 
 Well magnify the hoi^D with you! 
 share in your Joy, we're fur e we do, 
 
 IV. 
 
 Omay you both he taught of GOD, 
 
 To teach this Child his Sayiovk' s Blood : 
 
 That Thoufands in your Blifs may fimre, 
 
 Jn anfwer to united Prayr. And 
 
 * Alluding to the remarkable Deliverance that his Father and 
 Mother had fome few Ueeks before his Mother was delitier'd, as 
 fie and her Husband were rrding in a Chaife, they were throwvt 
 into a Ditch full Ten Fc.f deep, and received tw Harm, 
 
( <J > 
 
 V. 
 
 '^Ani may the Lamb, yo«r Master, grants 
 This Grace, that you may never want 
 A Child to Jiand before his Face, 
 To preach his Love, his Sov reign Grace f 
 
 After this the Congregation join'd in folemn Prayer and 
 Thankfgiving ; and went away rejoicing for all that they 
 had heard and feen that Nigh.t.-Glory be to God in the Highefi ! 
 
 The Copy of a Letter from Mr. A — — /// 
 StafFordlhlre, to the Rev. Mr. Whitefield. 
 
 Rev. Sir, Aug. 30. 1743. 
 
 MAny People in thefe Parts would be glad to hear you, 
 Several have read your Sermons, and Hke them very 
 well. One of my Friends before I came down in the 
 Country was much againft the Methodifts, but is now become 
 a Fool for CHRIST'S Sake. We now have a Society at his 
 Houfe. One who has beenalmoft inDefpair, has been, I 
 truft, truly brought home to God by reading one of your 
 Sermons ; he now labours hard, and thinks nothing too 
 dear to part with for Chrift's Sake. Many would gladly 
 join with us, but fear the Ridicule of the World, — Many, 
 that were doubting about the Dodrine of Eledion, came to 
 me to ask Advice ; I referred them to the Scripture, efpeci* 
 ally the Eighth and Ninth Chapters to the Romans, and the 
 Seventeenth Chapter of John, bidding them ask of God for 
 further Inftrudions. One Perfon, who, I believe, is near 
 Fifty Years of Age, told me that he had been feeking the 
 Kingdom of God ever fince he was Fifteen, and never 
 could tell where to place his Hopes, till I had helped him 
 tofome of your Sermons, though he had apply'd to many 
 Clergymen; — he thought hemuftdo fomething toward his 
 Salvation, but could not tell what ; he has always been dili- 
 gent in the Ufe of Means, and trufted too much in them, 
 thinldng to be accepted for his Work's Sake ; he is a Man of 
 good Learning and great Sienfe. — I am now going to teach 
 School among the Colliers at a Place called Norton, in hopes 
 of making fome Reformation among their Children. I go 
 with a v/iiling Mind. — 1 beg a few Lines of Inftrudion re- 
 lating to what I have writ. From, Sir, your humble Ser- 
 vian t, W * tn A » 
 
 Teach 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 Teach htm yet 7nore of thy blefi Ways, 
 Thou fl aught erd LAMB of GOD y 
 
 And fix and root him m thyGrace^ 
 So dearly bought with Blood, 
 
 O tell him often of each Wound, -v 
 Of evry Smart and Pain ; 
 
 And let his Heart with Joy confefs. 
 From thence comes all his Gain, 
 
 From the Reverend Mr, Hammond, to the 
 Rev. Mr. Whitefield. 
 
 Dear sir, Shelford, Sept. 9. 1743. 
 
 ISuppofe you will think me negligent in not writing to 
 you fooner ; but what (hall I fay ? the more you know 
 of me, the lefs you will wonder at me. The Evening 
 after I faw you I came fafe to Cambridge. The Coach was 
 overturn'd, but by the Providence of God the Paffengers 
 were all got out fome Minutes before. 
 
 The Lord profpers me here beyond Expectation. The 
 Door opens wider and wider ; I am indu'd with uncommon 
 Courage, and fometimes think myfelf in Danger of being 
 lifted up. I have preached conftantly at Barnvjell jult by 
 Cambridge ; only lalt Week I was at Bitton and Tulhurn ; 
 and Yefterday I came hither, and fpoke in the Lord's Name, 
 lam to preach here again this Evening. To-morrow I go 
 to Cambridge : Will you come down and help us ? What 
 fay you? If you will, now is your Time. Many will 
 be glad to fee you, and I beHeve you will meet with a fa- 
 vourable Reception. We have thought of taking a Place 
 in the Town which was built for a Play-houfe; it is large 
 and commodious, and the Rent is Seven Pounds per annum. 
 This Point is now in Agitation, and our Friends are very 
 forward for it. We purpofe hiring it for one Year : Will 
 any of your Preachers fupply it inmy Abfence, /. e. while 
 I am at Oulncy, where I have engaged to be fome Time this 
 Month or next } Will it be neceffary to have the Place li- 
 cens'd ? But you had better come and fee us. I cannot but 
 think your coming here would be blefs'd. Lay it before the 
 Lord. Remember me to aii Friends. — Farewell. Yours in 
 Chrift, WiLiiAM Hammond. 
 
 Trom 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 From the fame to Mr. G n in London. 
 
 Camhridge, Sept. 13.1743. 
 
 IReceiv'd yours, and thank you for the Contents. Things 
 go on fweetly here. I have been much exalted by our 
 dear Saviour fince I have been in this Place; and much 
 humbled within thele few Days pall. I doubt not it wad 
 our Saviour's Will I fhould come here. The Students hear 
 with unexpec1:ed Serioufnefs and Attention. The Door, 
 opens gradually, but hopeful. I think, if Mr. Whitefield 
 would come here, there would be a great and effedlual 
 Door opened. Ilive^ bleffed be God, becaufe Chriji lives. 
 lam a vile Sinner, but am fure CHRIST isJWy SAVIOUR. 
 Remember me to Mr. Whitefield. Write to me in Cambridge. 
 I am. yours, in the Bowels of the tender-hearted and loving 
 JESUS, William Hammond. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 I Am not to write much concerning the foregoing Let- 
 ters, but Obfervations that arife on reading them ; 
 and which therefore if you read, you ought firft 
 to read the Letters ; And therefore what fol- 
 lows is fit for a Poftfcript, and not for a Preface. I 
 have feveral Times been obliged to pafs over a Pre- 
 face till I read the Book, without which the Preface could 
 not be underftood. If I had call'd this a Preface and placed 
 it firft, yet you ought to have read it laft, and fo made it 
 a Poftfcript; and I prefentit to you in the Order you ought 
 to read it, and therefore under its proper Name. 
 
 Thefe Letters, making fome Pages of tjie London Weekly 
 Hiftory, were fent detached from the reft fome Days ftnce by 
 certain very honeft Men at London to a Friend or two of theirs 
 in this Town of Edinburgh, and for the Entertainment only 
 of thefe Friends, and fuch as they might fliew them to. 
 
 But they are reprinted here, to undeceive honeft People, 
 whom with unwearied Eagernefs fome ftrive to impofe upon 
 concerning the blefs'd Revival of real Chriftianity in Britain^, 
 and the Britiflj Dominions ; and for that End, concerning 
 Mr. whitefMd an eminent Inftrument of the Lord in that 
 glorious Work, 
 
 Let 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 "Let me vindicate the Man for the Work's Sake, and be- 
 Caufe he is injur'd ; and the Work for its own Sake, for tlic 
 Glory of the Lord, and for the Sake of your Soul. Yet 1 
 am not at prefent to attempt to vindicate either that happy 
 Work or him at large, but to confine myfclf to what arifcs 
 from thefe Letters, the reading whereof put it in my Mindj 
 and was the Occafion of inclining me to write, when I 
 was very far from having any fuch Intention. But I may 
 go fomcthing farther, if, in writing of thefe, any Oppor- 
 tunity offers of fetting in a cl'ear Light fome Thing^i that 
 feem to have been miftaken concerning that joyful Revi- 
 val, or to fet fome feafonable Truths and Duties before 
 Peoples Eyes. May they be fet home on their Hearts and 
 Confciences ! 
 
 May the Lord keep me from the Sin o^ Job's three Friends^ 
 ■who tho- they feem to have been at Bottom honefl Men,' 
 and m.uch acquainted with fuch Matters, and to have had 
 a Concern for the Glory of God, yet his W. ath was kindled 
 againft them, becaufe they had not fpoken of him the Thing 
 that is right, as his Servant ^^^ had, Job xlii. 7. Right in 
 Matter, and right in the Manner ! An awful Scriptu-Cj and 
 which (liould never be off the Heart of every one attemp- 
 ting in publick or private to write or fpeak of Godj and 
 the Things of God. And lince Writers and Speakers are 
 liable to this, fo mull Readers and Hearers be, if they do 
 not obfcrve and judge, receive or refufe, what is wrote 
 or fpoken, as it is right or wrong. The Awe of God, the 
 Love of God and our Neighbour, and juft Care of our- 
 felves, do neceifarily require this. O that the Lod may 
 give me to write, and you to read, with the juft Uvely 
 Impreffion of this on our Hearts ! 
 
 It is a ftrong and prevailing Prejudice againft any Work 
 ■whatfoever, that a remarkable Inftrument in it is a Knave, 
 or a Fool, or a brain- ftck Perfon. And for that Reafon great 
 Pains have been taken to make Mr. Whitefield pafs for a 
 Cheat, who, under the Pretext of Zeal for Faith and Cha-^ 
 rJty, rook'd well-meaning People of their Money for his 
 own private Advantage ; or that he was a liliy giddy-headed 
 Fellow, and a Biggot or an Enthufiaft. His worthy Brethren, 
 whom in this Country the Lord employed in this blefled 
 • Revival of theGofpel of JefusChrift, have not efcaped the 
 other Reproaches ; but, fo far as I know, that of hypocri- 
 tically tricking for Money is referved to Mr. Whitefield alone. 
 
 It was at tirft aifertedwiih great Confidence, Tliat there ■ 
 v.'.is no fuch Place as ih^ Orphan-honfe inGcorgiafoi which 
 
 B ■ be- 
 
^ lo ; 
 
 lie colte<5led Money : And Evidence for this was pretended? 
 W'hich foon appeared to be falfe Evidence, and the Lie was 
 too grofs to laft long. 
 
 Then it was as confidently affirmed, That this Settlement 
 was a poor mean Thing, almoit deferted, and that never 
 could come to lignify for any valuable Purpofe. The Evi- 
 dence for this was as naughty as that which had been pre- 
 tended for the other. And the Evidence brought before 
 one of the Houfes of Parhament, in a Complaint of fome 
 Georgians, (hewed that this and the Saltzburg Settlement 
 were by far the beil of that Colony, and better cultivated 
 than any other in it : Yet Hill this Untruth continued in 
 Whifpers, when it could no longer be openly proclaimed. 
 For the fliorteil Way to prove that Mr. Whitefield did not 
 apply his Colkd:ions to the Orphan-houfcy was to Qiew that 
 there was no fuch Place, or that it was not luch a Settle- 
 ment whereon fuch Sums had been, or could, or ought to 
 be bellowed. 
 
 Georgia was invaded by the Spainiardsy and thofe at the 
 Orphan-houfe (which is called Eff^f/^^j retir'd for their Safe- 
 ty to the next Britijh Province, South-Carolina, Then — 'Tis 
 fallen no more to rife — cried thofe who had never ahow'd 
 it to have Hood. And tho' now it is certain that the Place 
 ivas foon returned unto by its former Inhabitants, and is 
 again flourifl-iing, they either deny it, or fpeak of it with 
 Doubtfulnefs (not indeed with Fears) and throw out Su- 
 fpicions and httle trifling Objeftions. 
 
 The Correfpondence between Scotland and the Southern 
 'Britijii Plantations does not at prefent in any 5e:o^; Place, that 
 I know of, afford WitneiTes who fmce the Orphans return'd 
 have been in Georgia ; but fuch have been at London, and 
 Letters by Eye-witnefies from thefe Countries, and from 
 :Sethefda itfelf, which (hew the FaKhood of the Invectives 
 publickly talked, or more covertly furmifed againll: it here. 
 Such is the firft of the foregoing Letters from Mr. Jojiah 
 Smith Miniller of the Capital of the next Colony, Charles- 
 toan in South-Carolina, to Mr. Cooper Mim^tx of Bofion in 
 New-England; and the Charaders of ^oth are publickly 
 known to be too good for the one to write and the o- 
 ther to entertain a Lie, which in thofe Places muft have 
 been known by almoll every Body to be a Lie, if it had 
 indeed been one. 
 
 The Letter is recent the 5th of June laft, andwasw^ote 
 by Mr. Smith foon after he had been at Bethefda ; and there- 
 fore it is as proper a Vojicher of the prcfeni Condition and 
 
 Sta:tc 
 
( II ) 
 
 State of it as could well be expefted in this Country. It 
 was quickly printed in PcnnCylvania. one of the belt and 
 moft populous of the Britilh Plantations, and the Place in 
 the World where the greatell: Latitude is allowed to the o- 
 pen unrellrained Profcllion and Pradlice of different Reli- 
 gions (not excluding even Deifm) and therefore it would be 
 the worft chofen Place in the World in which to publilh 
 a religious Lie : And very lately it was printed and publi- 
 flied at London, 
 
 The Account this Letter gives of the Orphan-bonfe can- 
 not but dehght the Heart of a true Chriilian, and of every 
 Perfon of Humanity. How well is it contrived, how ex- 
 cellently is it managed for the valuable Ends of fjch an 
 Eilablilhment ? What Care is taken to render the poor young 
 Ones real Chrillians, and ufeful Members of human So- 
 ciety ^ Can you really bear a Grudge to this happy Place, 
 which you have endeavoured to annihilate, if Words could 
 have done it ? None without Bkilhing can own it. And 
 is your Spleen againft Mr. Whitefield fo great, that you wiOi 
 the Ruin of an Eflablifliment io worthy, becaufe he has 
 been the Inftrament of projecl:ing, founding and carrying 
 it on to the Pitch it is arrived at ^ What he has done is 
 fo good, that he merits your Approbation, he deferves 
 your Praife for it. Thefe are due to every one who does 
 a Thing fo beneficial to his Councry, to Virtue, and to Re- 
 ligion ; and Virtue and Religion require you to love fuch 
 a' one. Your Blame mull: therefore be great^ who have la- 
 boured to turn his worthy Deed to his Reproach. 
 
 But on whom, I pray you, (liould the Reproach ly, when 
 we fee that all you have faid and infmuated has been talfe, 
 and that you have had fufficient Reafon to beheve, or at 
 leall tofufpecl: ftrongly, that it was falfe, and yet ihut your 
 Eyes and Ears, and your Mind and Confcience, to that 
 Reafon, and went on frowardly, entertaming Calumnies, 
 and calumniating.'* If you lay to Heart the Truths of Re- 
 velation, and even of com.mon Morality, your Confcience 
 mult in this convicft you of heinous Sin. I fpeak not juft 
 now of Mr. Wh efield as a rouling, conviruring, perfwa- 
 ding, alluring and lively Preacher of our ever bleifed Lord 
 Jefus Vv'ith Succefs uncommon in our Days : I fpeak of him 
 as the Inllrument of thi5 good Elfablifnment, which has 
 been the Subject of your Slander, and which your Pvcafon 
 rnuft tell you deferves your Apptaufe. But can your En- 
 Riity to fuch a Preacher of the Gofpel vindicate yourabu- 
 hve Treatment of the immediate Author of fuch a good 
 B X ■ Ell^' 
 
( I^ ) 
 
 EftAblifl-imcnt ? If the Author of it had been a Man of the 
 World, guiky of many Vices, when any of them were 
 mentioned, you would have been ready to anfwer, Ay, 
 but this excellent Orphan-koufe is ovving to him. You do 
 the reverfe here. To Mr. WhitefieU this excellent Houfe 
 is owing, Ay, but he is fuch a Preacher of the GofpeL 
 This good Settlement, which would m.ake you overlook 
 many Vices for its Sake, cannot for the Sake of it induce 
 you to overlook Mr. Whitefield's great Offence, That he is 
 fuch a Preacher. 
 
 Various Motives may incline different Sorts of People 
 to this Conduct, which here I have not Room to fpeak of 
 particularly : Bur, whatever they be, the Conducft is very 
 ■bad, not only on the Principles of lincere Chriflianity, but 
 alfo by the common Rules of proceeding in the World a- 
 mpng all who are not abandon'd to Corruption. 
 
 B.it you fay, " This Hofpital was only a Pretext for 
 *' Whttefield hypocritically to cant People out of their 
 " Money, and to make Wives rob their Husbands to give 
 *' to him ; And how do we know that he applied it faith- 
 *' fully for the Purpofe he pretended } That we were poor, 
 *' and that he did this in a Time of uncommon Scarcity. 
 *' That it is well if w^e can fupply chai itable Ufes at Home. 
 " That bis Geor^M;?Hofpital was at beft but a whimilcal Pro- 
 ^' jed; Why, a Hofpital in aDefert.^ That the firilCare 
 " in a new Colony fliould be to get Inhabitants, and to 
 ^' bring in and cultivate Land, and begin Commerce : But 
 *=' that i'Vh'ue/ieUTs was to maintain thofe he could bring 
 " thither in Idlenefs, to be train'd and made fubfervieiit 
 " to his own Enthuiiaim." 
 
 The iiril and lall: Part of this Objedion are pretty incon- 
 fiftent. AnEnthufraft is often a Fool, but not a Knave. A 
 Hypocrite is a Knave and a Cheat, even when doing that 
 which in itfelf is right; but one, really En thuliadick, is in 
 earnell and fincere, tho' doing that v/hich in itfelf is wrong. 
 And it is true, that a Hypocrite ip.ay feign Enthufiafm as 
 well as found Religion, when it ferves his Turn. If Mr. 
 Whhcfidd pocketeJ the Money he gathered for Bethefda, 
 lie is a hypocritical Knave and a Cheat, but nor an Enthu- 
 fiall. If he feings Enthuiiaim, ftill he mull: be a Knave. 
 But his exceffive Labour in preaching and praying, conver- 
 fmg with liiofe who flock to him for Advice andRefohi- 
 tion of their Cafes, reading and anfvvering Letters, remark- 
 ing and recording obiervable Providences and Operations 
 of the Holy Spirit and other ThingSj fearching the Scri- 
 
 pttU'^'S^ 
 
( 13 ; 
 
 ptures, O-'c. and not by Starts and Fits, but every Day of 
 ins Life, for a Tradl of Years, '\n England, Scotland, and in 
 America, from New-England Southwards on xo Georgia in- 
 clufively, cannot be accounted for by Knavery and Hypo- 
 crify. He mull either be a real Chiiftian, fervent in Spi- 
 rit ferving the Lord, or indeed an Enthulialt : And there- 
 fore he does not pocket the Money he coUedts for the Or- 
 fhan-houfe. 
 
 Next, He keeps clear exad Accounts of his Receipts and 
 Depurfements for it, and they are ope« and patent to all; 
 ?jid he prints them and difperfes them everywhere. If 
 you have not Opportunity, or would not bellow Time 
 and Pains to examine them, that is not a fufficicnt Realbn 
 for you to deny their being jufl. The moil you can in- 
 fer from it is, that it is not a fufficient Reafon for you to 
 believe that they indeed are jull. Yet it is a ftrong Prefump- 
 tion for it. And, if you do not fay he is a great Fool as 
 well as a Hypocrite, you cannot give a Reafon why the 
 Rogue (as you would have him to be) printed and pubh- 
 ibed his Accounts Voluntarily. The Contributers, and 
 thofe who were employed, or who fold Things, for Bethcfda^ 
 mull, on peruiing them, have difcovered Roguery, had it 
 been in them. — And what could Mr.Whitefield have done 
 more to lay himielf open to the World, which he very- 
 well knew v/ould have been glad to convid: him of Dii5- 
 honefty ? 
 
 Thele .Reafons might vindicate him from the Afperlion 
 of Pocketing, tho' his Project had failed, and that Houles 
 built and furnifned, Lands brought in and cultivated, and 
 proper Servants of all Kinds and Orphans entertained, were 
 not extant to (hew to every one's Eye who goes thither 
 that the Money had been beflowed on it. But the Fadl is, 
 that all thefe have been there, and have increafed from 
 lefs to m.ore under diverfe Accidents retarding thelncreafc, 
 from the Beginning of that Settlement till now ; and there 
 are many hvmg WitnelTes of all. — Now, let an Objedor of 
 the greatell Ability, Penetration and Accuracy enquire im- 
 partially and Itricftly into the Expcnce of fuch Buildings, 
 of bringing in and cultivating inch Lands, of maintainmg 
 and educating fuch Numbers of People young and older for 
 fuch a Space of Time, in that Country, under fuch Circum- 
 flances, and into the C oft of Remittances, ctt. and then 
 let him be particular in his Objecfdons, and fupport them 
 with tolerable Evidence and Reafons if he can. General 
 ^d loofc Siiarlings 2iXii Maybe s are little worth. I defire 
 
 nothing 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 nothing for Mr. WhitefieU in this Matter, but that you would 
 proceed with him as Men of common Senfe and Ingenuity 
 proceed with one another in fuch Affairs. This is ftrong 
 Evidence in hisBehah^, and next to a Demonftration. 
 
 But there is yet aPrefamption of Weight for Mr. H^^^/Ve- 
 fM in this Matter. He is ftill a poor Man, and has not 
 whereupon to maintain himfelf, and uves on the Bounty 
 of Chriilians : And he is not expenfive. But, tho' he is fo 
 poor, his Orphan-hoiife flouriflies. If Bethefda decayed and 
 he profpered in worldly Eflate, he might be hable to the 
 Cenl'ure of the poor Steward of an oppulent Fortune, who 
 turn'd rich as his Mailer turn'd poor, without another vi- 
 able Caufe for it ; or of the poor Managers of the pubHck. 
 Revenue, who heaped up Wealth beyond the Opportuni- 
 rles they had to make it lawfully, while thePubhck turn'd 
 Bankrupt. But the Cafe here is quite other wife. 
 
 That we are poor, and the Times flrait, is Fadl, but Fad: 
 exaggerated and badly argued from. And to mention chari- 
 table Ufes at Home, inExclufion of fo worthy an Ufe of 
 Charity in zBritiJh Colony, isunjult and unchriftian. ScotJ- 
 3rae» in all thefe Colonies, und^i Bethefda, enjoy all Advan- 
 tages and Privileges that the £"»^/i//; do ; and many Scots are 
 there claiming and poifeiTrng them, and more are going 
 daily. Yet will the Scots bear none of the Burdens, not lb 
 much as in Charity ? Fo? Shame drop this Objedion. And 
 what was the mighty Sum collefted in Scotland for the 
 Georgian Orphan-houie ^ not more than 900 X. Sterling, 
 Poor we are indeed, if in the ilraitelt Times fo pitiful a Sum, 
 collected from Thoafands of Hands, in the Space of tv»'o 
 Years (to wit, both the Times Mr. Whitefield was in Scotland) 
 could not be lent to the Lord for his prefent and future 
 People in the Britifi Colcny of Georgia. And the Town of 
 Charelfloun z\one\:. South-Carolina contributed 600 L. 5?fr- 
 Img for Bethefda, Not very many Years back, the Collections 
 in Scotland, for our perfecuted Proteltant Brethren at Thorn 
 in Poland, amounted to about 4000 L. Sterling ; and we 
 were fo far from grudging, tha (I fear too vainly) we gloried 
 in it. The Money was no doubt worthily beftow^ed, tho' 
 it went quite away from all BritijJj Places ; which the Money 
 fent to Bethefda does not, but improves a Colony that in 
 Time may fend rich Returns to us in Trade. Our Senti- 
 ments muft have alter'd, and our Charity waxed cold, very 
 much lince that Time. 
 
 But tho' you would exclude Bethefda from our Charity 
 by fetting it in Coiripetition with our more domeifick Cha- 
 rities 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 iities, Mr. Whhefield forgot not the loft that he might get 
 the more for his Orphan-houfe. He afted for pecuhar 
 Scots Ufes in the Midlt of his gathering for this Hofpital. 
 Witnefs the Orphan-hofpital at Edinburgh, and the Colleaion 
 hefuccesfully made (andthefirft of the Kind that ever was 
 made) for the poor Highland Reapers, who at that Seafon 
 flock about Edinburgh, as the poor Country Hay-makers 
 do about Lojzdon in their Hay-harveft. And thefe Reapers 
 were ftarving, till feafonably rehev'd with the faithful Diftri- 
 butionof thisColledion by the Reverend Mr. Nfi/Af*Fic^r 
 Minifler of the Weft-kirk, into whofc Hands it was put by 
 his Friend Mr. Whitefield for that Purpofe. But fo much Cha- 
 rity, fo earneftly gone about, in behalf of any Places or 
 Perfons whatfoever, frets and frightens narrow fordid Souls, 
 who therefore are ready from. Heart-grudging to quarrel 
 direcfdy or covertly thofe whom the Lord fars up to carry it 
 on. From all it appears, that nothing can be fo juilly in- 
 fer'd from this Part of the Objedion, '!^xh^t^\i.V/hitefield 
 has a more large, charitable Heart than you, and is under a 
 deep Senfe of the Excellency and indifpenfible Obligation of 
 Charity, which feems to move you very little. 
 
 And, bieffed be the Lord, the charitable FounJationsin this 
 Town of Edinburgh go Hill on. And, I humbly believe, 
 they vv'ill thrive the more, the more our Hearts are enlarged 
 withdifcreetLiberaliry towards the Lord's Poor, and other 
 Ufes, far off as wch as near at Hand. But let not the Epi- 
 thet, difcreet, reduce Liberahty from cheerful Bounty to 
 grudging Covetoufnefs. SeeiC<?r.ix. 5, 8, i^c. 
 
 Ti^e happy Succefs which the Lord himfelf has ./or none 
 elfe could' have) given to this Orphar.-hopsfe, Hiews that it 
 was not a whimiical P -ojedl. It never was fuch in the Eye 
 of Faith; anEye which many have not at all, and in others 
 is very dim. Here is a bleiled Encouragement to Faith ! 
 May it give Courage to many to truft in our Lord Jeius, as 
 they, according to his Counfel, undertake and go on with 
 any good Thing, making Mention of his Righteoufnefs and 
 Merit, even of his only ! The Numbers a' Bethefda, tho* 
 lately diminilhed to 72, (liew how vain the Objedion is, that 
 it is a Hofpital in a Defert. 
 
 That People old or young are maintain'd there in Idle- 
 nefs is as falfe and ridiculous as any Thing ever objcftcd to it. 
 Such Things as are there could never have been done, and 
 could as little be kept up and advanced, but by great Labour ; 
 and there are no Hands for it but thofe mainrain'd in the 
 Houfe. The Orphans are not brought up idly, but in learn- 
 ing 
 
I 10 ; 
 
 ing the Works fit for their feveral Sexes, and in actual worlc-^ 
 ing according to their feveral Abihties. It is but of late that 
 this good Way was introduced into 5t<j^^ Hofpitals and Cha- 
 rity-Schools, to make thofe work who are maintained or 
 taught in them, and to breed young ones, not only in Re- 
 ligion, Reading, Writing, ctt. but alfo to ufeful, honeft 
 Employments. Such has always been the Way at Bethefda ; 
 and to take great Care to breed up the Orphans to be of 
 Chrift'specular People, zealous of honelt Trades; asfome 
 read or interpret Tit. ii. 4. 
 
 Nor is fuch a Hofpital more needful anywhere than in a 
 young Colony. The People are at firll poor, and tied down 
 to fore Labour, and liable to Misfortunes and Calamities ; 
 and hence there are foon poor Orphans among them. This 
 difcourages many to venture into fuch a Colony, it being to 
 venture on hard Labour and Danger, and leaving their Chil- 
 dren to flarve. Hence fuch a Houfe muft hearten them, 
 for they fee it an adual Relief to the poor diftrelTed Chil- 
 dren of Planters and Labourers. Thus the Colony fupplies 
 the Hofpital with proper Obj eds of Charity, and the Hofpi- 
 tal fends them back in due Time to the Colony, and, by 
 the good Education they have received, more ufeful 
 Hands to it than their Parents were. 
 
 But it is objected, That they are bred to IVhltefield^s Cant 
 and Enthuiiafm. Pray let me examine this both with re- 
 gard to Religion and the Affairs of the World ; And let it 
 not offend you that I defire you to examine it too, and ra- 
 tionally rather than ludicroufly . If a Jell fometimes expofes 
 grave Nonfenfe, we fee it oftner fuccesfid in making un- 
 reafonable Stuff pafs for Wit, and a mere Witticifm for a 
 good Argument. 
 
 That after the Way which perhaps yoii call Enthuiiafm 
 theywoi^iip theGoa of their Fathers, is true. But let me 
 tell you what it is. 
 
 Their Religion is the fame with the Thirty nine Ar- 
 ticles of the Church of England, as they were wrote and 
 meant by the Compilers of them, and underilood and taken 
 ordinarily in that Church, till about Bifliop Laud's Time, 
 that fome tried to explain away certain of them into a 
 different Senfe : and many have lince owned that they lign'd 
 them without believing them ; And with the Shorter Cate- 
 chifm of the Affembly of Divines at Weflw'mjier, received 
 in the Church of Scotland. Such is their Dortrine. And, 
 whether you approve of it or not, the World has fo long 
 been acquainted with it, that only a Bigot will now reckon 
 
 a 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 s Peifon or Society unfufFerable for maintaining it. There 
 are fo many abroad and at home who ftiU aflert tjiis Doftrine, 
 that one would fcarcely imagine the F'ounder and Promo.er 
 of Bcthef^U is become remarkable for adhering to it. But 
 he adheres to it not only in Prmciple but in moral and fpiri- 
 tual Practice, as a Chriltian, and as a Miniiler of the Gofpel ; 
 in which Station he is very uncommonly laborious and alli- 
 duous ; and his Succefs is hkewife uncommon. And hence 
 the Alarm was taken; hence he is become remarkable, and 
 talked of everywhere ; and hence it is that he is call'd an 
 Enthuliaft. And no doubt he is the more remarked and 
 fpoken againft, becaufe not only fo great. Numbers pro- 
 felTing to be of the Church of England , have long lince 
 forfiken this her original Dodrine by which die {prevailed 
 over Popery, but of late not a few of the Englijh 
 Diifenters of all Denominations (ibme fay one Half of 
 the whole Body) have fallen off from this Doctrine ; and 
 fome of them have gone farther ftill. And as the Church 
 has had ^T)o(kor Samuel Clark, a DodorS — kcs, aBiQiop 
 
 of • a Whljion ; fo the Diirt;nters have had a Doctor 
 
 Pierce, an Emelyn, a Wr> t of Nor — ch, &c. 
 
 The Dodtrines which he ordinarily inculcates with great 
 Earneltnefs everywhere, and no doubt at Bethefda among 
 the other Places, are. The excelTive Depravity, Corrupticii 
 andPerverinefs of Man by the Fall of our iirft Parents ; fo" 
 that we are by Nature capable of all Evil, under the Power o£ 
 Satan, at Enmity v/ith God, and uncapable of any real 
 Good, and under the Wrath andCurfe of God, and alto- 
 gether unable of ourfelves to turn from Sm to God, The 
 Neceiiity of our Nature's being renewed, of Converfion, 
 Regeneration, effe<5tual CalHng, by a fupernatural Work 
 of the Holy Spirit. Juftification not by Works, but by the 
 Imputation to us of the PJghteoufnefs and Merit of Chriftji 
 who fulfilled all Righteoufnefs, and fufFered the Miferies 
 of this Life, and Death itfelf, for us, and in our Head ; 
 having offered up himfelf a compleat and proper Sacrifice 
 for us, whereby our Sin is pardoned, and we are accepted 
 as righteous without Spot or BlemiQi, and reconciled to 
 God, and reftorei to his infinite Favour and Love, and to 
 Fellov/fhip and Communion with him, to Peace of Con- 
 fcience, and Joy unfpcakable of the Holy Gnofl: and fall 
 of Glory. Our partaking of this only by Faith in Jefus 
 Chriit, receiving and relying on him alone for Salvation 
 and all Things, as he is offered to us freely in the Gofpel^ 
 our Prophet, Prieft, aad King, our ^Ider Brother, our 
 
 G Slead 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 Head and Husband, the Lord our Righteoufnefs and 
 Strength, in whom we can do all Things, and without him 
 nothing but Sin ; he that provides for, and will never al- 
 low us to want any Thing really good for us, and will even 
 in Love and tender Mercy affli6t and cliaftife us feverely, 
 and fuppon us under his Rod. The abfolute Neceffity of 
 mortifying all Sin in Heart and Life, and dying thereto 
 more and more, renouncing and forfaking entirely the De- 
 vil, the World, andtheFlefh, and all the Lulls, Vices and 
 Vanities thereof ; and of Sandification, and itricfl univerfal 
 conftant Gofpel-hohnefs, in Body, Soul and Spirit ; and all 
 by the Grace that is in Chriit Jefus, and the Operation of 
 the Holy Ghoft, growing daily in Grace, and preffing after 
 the full AfTurance of Faith, and going on in the dihgent 
 Ufe of all tlie Means of Grace, Hearing and Reading the 
 Word of God, Prayer, Meditation, Self-examination, the 
 Sacraments, Chriftian Conference and Society and mutual 
 Edification, ct'c. abhorring all Idlenefs, but working dili- 
 gently with Hands or Head according to the honeft and 
 ufeful Calling and Bufmefs we are in, and as much as in 
 us hes doing Good to all Men according to our feveral Sta- 
 tions and Relations, and efpecially to the Houfliold of Faith. 
 In (hort, the Dodlrine he unweariedly, and I may fay in,- 
 celTantly, urges, is that which has long been known under 
 the Name of 'the Doftrine of Grace ; with that fervent 
 Love of God and our Brethren, that Purity, thatHohnefs, 
 that Truft and Reliance on God in Chrift Jefus, that being 
 led by and walking in the Spirit, and entertaining and 
 doing nothing but according to the Scripture our only 
 Rule ; and whoever fpeaks not according to that Word 
 (be it on Pretence of the Spirit, or of any Thing elfe) it is 
 becaufe there is no Light in him ; that affiduous and ear- 
 neft Diligence; all which are neceffarily and infeparably 
 connected with theDodrine of free Grace: And whoever 
 minds not thefe Things, does in vain pretend to Grace, for 
 the Wrath of God abides upon him. 
 
 None can be more for the Communion of Saints, nor 
 more averfe to reftricft the Saints, and Communion with 
 them, to any Party or Denomination whatfoever. Mr. 
 Whitefield and his Friends are very far from being uncon- 
 cerned about any of the Truths of the Gofpel, whether 
 thofe called great, or thofe called fmall ; and believe ever/ 
 Soul bound to receive every Truth as difcovered to them, 
 and to ufe their beft Endeavours, in Dependence on the 
 Loid, to diicover them. But in whomfoever they fee the 
 
 Wor^ 
 
C ip ) 
 
 Work of Grace, Heart-humiliation for Sin, and Hatred of 
 it, receiving and refting on Jefus alone, as offered in the 
 Gofpel for Salvation from Sin and Mifery, and, in con- 
 sequence thereof, conftantearneft Endeavours after univer- 
 fal Holinefs ; fuch they gladly join in Communion with, 
 tho' labouring under much Weaknefs, and many great 
 Miftakes, and even fome dangerous Ones. And tho' their 
 Language and Ways of fpeaking, and. their Manner of ex^ 
 plaining fome Truths, may be different from theirs ; yet 
 they exercife Chriflian Forbearance towards them, when 
 they fee that they indeed hold the Root, and may have 
 the Root of the Matter in them. 
 
 To adhere to every Truth, and to contend earn^flly for 
 the Faith once delivered to the Saints, is moft certainly our 
 Rule as to ALL Truths. But that is not the Queftionas to 
 keeping Communion with fuch as hold the Root, and may 
 have the Root ot the Matter in them, and yet are in great 
 Miftakes concerning many Truths. Thefe are two diilindt 
 Things, and concerning which the Lord has prescribed to 
 us diftindl Rules of Condudl, "viz. concerning our main- 
 taining all Truth, and our keeping Communion zvith mi' 
 Jiaking Saints. And the jumbhng of thefe together has done 
 muchMifchief on both Hands. The fame Spirit of God, 
 who by the Pen of his Servant Jude (v. 3.) gave us the 
 forefaid Rule as to his Truths, gave us the Rule as to Com- 
 munion with his Saints who fee not all his Truths, by the 
 Pen of his Servant Paul, Phil. iii. 15, 16. Let us therefore, 
 as many as be ferfe6f, be thus minded : And if in any Thing 
 ye be otherwife minded, God fhall reveal even this unto you. 
 Neverthelefs, whereto we have already attained, let us vjalk 
 by the fame Rule, let us mind the fame Thing. We mi:ll 
 not on account of the mofl eminent Saints defert any 
 Truth, but contend even againft Saints in the Spirit of the 
 Gofpel of Peace and of the meek and lowly Jefus, for 
 
 every Truth, as Paul withftood Peter, Gai.\\\. 11, 14. 
 
 But neither are w^e on account of the meaneft Saint's Mi - 
 ftakes concerning fome Truths, to forfake Communion with 
 him. If your Zeal for Truth be fo fiery as to make you 
 break Communion with your miftaken Brother, who yet 
 holds the Root, and may have the Root of the Matter in 
 him, it is a Zeal not guided by the Rule given us by the 
 Holy Ghoft. The Gofpel-rules for your particular Manage-^ 
 ment of this Communion, both with refpecl to yourfelf 
 and others in fuch Cafes, are not my preient Bullnefs to 
 write of; but fuch Rules the Gofpel affords us, and ought 
 to be carefully ftudied. Let 
 
{ 20 ) 
 
 Let me further defire you to confider impartially on this 
 Head, Rom. n\.tor.^ xv. i, — 7. and the Importance and 
 Weighr of the Matters there mentioried, concernmg which 
 the Saints had then fo various Opinions. I mull alfo in- 
 treat you to confider, what is vifible to the Eyes of all Men, 
 whoknovv thofeyouare in 'Communion with, of whatever 
 Sert or Denomination you be, and who know Mr. White- 
 /^/i and his Friends, viz. whether as to Communion in holy 
 Things you or they be the greateft Latitudinarians (a Name 
 you fling at them in Reproach) '^ou as to the Immoralities 
 and N^gled of Gofpel-duties and Ordinances of them you 
 hold Communion with, and whom you even advance to 
 Offices in your Churches; or they as to the different Opi- 
 nions of them they keep Communion with ? The Vices 
 of the firft undoubredly exclude from all Memberfliip and 
 Communion with the invilible Church; and yet you re- 
 ceive and carefs them in yours which you call a viiible 
 Church. Should not a vifible Church be vifibly holy, as the 
 in vifible Church really is ? Different Opinions of thofe hold- 
 ing the Root, and having the Root of the Matter in them, 
 do not exclude from Memberfhip and the Communion of 
 the invifible Church ; and yet you giievoufly cenfure Mr. 
 Whitefidd and his Friends for not excluding them from their 
 Communion. Thefeare indeed Saints under all their Mi- 
 Hakes, yet you will not hold Communion with them; the 
 other are open Sinners, butbecaufe profeffmgto agree with 
 you in Opinions, you do hold Communion v/ith them» 
 And this you call the ComAmnion of Saints, and an Article 
 of your Creed ! Wonder , O ye Heavens, that the Earth 
 fees this, and is not alloni(hed ! 
 
 There are fome People m. Scotland mighty earnefl: to 
 know the Opinions and Pradlices of our firft Reformers 
 from Popery, and of the great Divines we had afterwards 
 in the Days they call our bell reforming Times ; and 
 they build much on their Authority. And thefe Reformers 
 and Divines were very eminent in real Chriftianity ; tho* 
 others, as eminent in real Chrifcianity, differed from their 
 Opinions and Pradices in many Things; but all agreed as 
 to real lively Chriftianity. Yet fucli is the Refpe6l they bear 
 to thefe great and indeed good Men among our PredeceiTors, 
 that tho' one fliouid even be as eminent or more eminent 
 than they in true lively Faith and all the Fruits of the Spi- 
 rit (Gal. v. zi. to the End) yet, if he approve not their o- 
 ther Opinions and Pradlices, they cannot think well of him ; 
 and fome hardly will, and others by no means will, hold 
 Communion with him. There 
 
( al ) 
 
 There are in England learned Men very earneft to knoW 
 the Opinions andPradices of the primitive Chriftians, and 
 clpecially in the three firft Centuries v^^hcn the Church was 
 pureft and holieft. In thofe happy (tho' by Pcrfecution 
 dangerous and afflidled) Times, real Chriftians were not 
 rare, but Multitudes did fliine in Grace fo brightly, that in 
 fubfequent Ages it Avas harder to find two or three fuch, 
 than then to find Hundreds. And all Setts of Chriftians 
 in the World agree in juftly applauding the ftrong lively 
 Faith and Hohnefs of thofe Days, and all fay they wifli to • 
 fee fuch again. But they differ as to what were the Opi- 
 nions andPradices in other Things of thefeholy Men, and 
 of their Churches flouriftiing under the Crofs. The laft has 
 been much Itudied, and Heaps of very learned Books are 
 wrote on it; and learned Men after all do not agree about 
 it in many Points. Well, but fince all agree as to the other, 
 to wit, the ftrong and hvely Faith and Holinefs of thefe 
 primitive Times, Differences about the other Opinions and 
 Pradices will not fiirely make good and learned Men fall 
 out, but they will concur and bend their joint Labours to 
 reftore that bleffed Faith and Hohnefs. Alas it is quite con- 
 trary ! Tho' you were as eminent in Faith and Hohnefs 
 as the greateft primitive Saint, yet if you differ in Judg- 
 ment from thefe learned Men as to fome of the primitive O- 
 pinions and Pradlices, they will not hold Communion with 
 you, but tell you that you are not within the Pale of the 
 Church, nor within the Covenant of Grace, and that there- 
 fore there is not one Promife made to you in Scripture, and 
 that the molt they can fay for you is, that they leave you 
 to the uncovenanted Mercies of God. And feverals in 
 Scotland fay the fame. But if you agree with them as to 
 what thefe other primitive Opinions and Pradices were, 
 they will receive you into their Communion, tho' in Faith 
 and Holinefs you be no more like a primitive Saint than 
 in Modelly and Chailiry Polly Peachum on the Stage was 
 like a Virgin in the primitive Church. 
 
 Thus both in North and South JBr/V/jw there are very zea- 
 lous Men for their feveral Parties ; and I am far from deny- 
 ing that there are really good and chriftian Men among them. 
 Butfo much the more wonderful is their Condudl. They 
 agree as to the fuperior Excellency of real Chrillianity, lively 
 Faith and Holinefs ; and that this is the great Defign and 
 End of the Gofpel. But they differ as to the Way of pre- 
 fcrving and propagating this great, this fuperior Excellency ; 
 md they differ as to Manner, Modes, and Circumftances. 
 
 If 
 
( " ) 
 
 If you make this great End, the End and Bufinefs and 
 Care of your whole Life, but differ from them about the 
 others, they will not have Fellov/ftiip with you. But if 
 you agree with them as to thefe, they will receive you as 
 a Brother, tho' you vifibly difregard the great and fuper- 
 excellent End ; and at leaft (in this I fpeak of Scotland) if 
 you are not openly fcandalous. And you may plainly enough 
 be not a good Chrifiian nor eftetmed fuch^ and yet not be 
 what they call openly fcandalous. In England it is worfe^ 
 . He muft be very much a Stranger, and have taken httle 
 fcrious Notice of the Churches of both Parts of Britain^ who 
 knows not all this to be true, and who could not mention 
 fure Proofs of it. 
 
 Bur let iv.t not be miftaken. Let it not be imagined that 
 I throw them all off as corrupt and quite abominable. No, 
 <jod forbid. Thefe Abominations are certainly in them, 
 and among fome lefs and fome more. And feveral Things 
 I have laid are meant, and almoft only applicable, to fome 
 Highfliers on both Sides. But there are excellent Men who 
 mourn for and flriveagainft thefe bad Things, and correft 
 them as far as they can. And the Lord now, as in former 
 Ages, is Long-fuffering, and full of Compaffion and tender 
 Mercy to his Churches; and hisPrefence andPov/er is ftill 
 feen and felt in his Britlflj Churches. But none of them 
 will take it ill that I fay, what I'm fure excellent Men among 
 themfelves fay and have long faid. That, if a Spirit of Re- 
 pentance and Amendment be not pour'd out on them 
 from on High, the Lord will chaftife them feverely. 
 
 Now, who is the canting Enthufiall, w-ho is the Bigot? 
 he who lays to Heart and purfues the great End and Delign 
 of the Gofpel, maore than any Mode, Circumllance, Way 
 of fpeaking or explaining, or external Adminillration what- 
 foever ? or he who does the contrary ? and even tho' he 
 iiegleds not altogether the great End and Defign of the Go- 
 fpel, yet will not, on account thereof, reckon one to be 
 his Brother in Chrift Jefus who has it at Heart, except he 
 agrees with him in the other Things too ,> and will join in 
 Communion with thofe who do agree with him in the 
 others, tho' carelefs of the great End and Defign of the 
 Gofpel } Is he the canting Bigot, v/ho has primitive Faith 
 and Hohncfs more at Heart than primitive Epifcopacy i or 
 he who excludes you the Pr.le of the Church for not own- 
 ing tliis Epifcopacy, tho' by believing in the Lord Jefus 
 Chrifty and walking in him, it appears you are of the Mouf- 
 hold of Faith ? He who will not allow you Churcb-Frivi. 
 
 leges. 
 
( i3 ) 
 
 leges, tho* wkhin the Bond of the Covenant of Grace, 
 except you alfo own the Solemn League and Covenant ? 
 or he who will receive you on account of the Covenant 
 of Grace only ? 
 
 But there are many who go not fo far on either Side, 
 and yet hhmt Mr. Whitejield and his Friends for Enthufiafm 
 and Bigotry. What moves them to it ? I anfwer. That 
 fome who go not fo far, yet have a Tindure, and fome- 
 times a pretty large Tind:ure, of thofe high Ecclefiaftical 
 Flights, which gives a deep Dye to their Thoughts and 
 Procedure. Next, Many are too cold and indifferent in 
 the Things of Jefus Chriii, to like the great Earneflners and 
 incelTant Aihduity of thefe Men : They find it not in them- 
 felves; they fee no need of it. I ipeak not of the more 
 Lewd and Gracelefs, of the Worldlings or Luxurious, or of 
 thofe who have Icarcely any Senfe of Religion at aU, and 
 mind it not. The Reafon of their reckoning it Enthufiafm, 
 or Bigotry, or Hypocriiy, or any bad Thing, is obvious. 
 And this Clafs, I fear, includes the greateit Fart of Man- 
 kind But I fpeak of the more Sober and Serious, who 
 fliew fome Regard toRdigion, and the Duties it requires. 
 They have a Regard for Decency, and not to be liable to 
 the Cenfure of the common World as irreligious. Nor 
 would their own Minds be fatisfied if they did not in fome 
 Meafure mind Religion ; but a fmall Meafure fatisfiesthem : 
 And if Duty be doiie, it hes not much on their Spirits 
 iiow heartily it be done. They do it not in grofs Kypo- 
 crify, but from fome Convidun that they ought to do it. 
 But this is all. And either they love to be eafy, or to 
 kave as much Pleafure in the World as their cold' or luke- 
 warm Concern for Religion and outward Decency can 
 allow. If they be Mimilers, they are afraid that the warm 
 Earneftnefs of fuchMen, fliould make themfelves be little 
 thought of, and lofe their Influence among the People ; and 
 that the People, being render'd earneil too, come to naufeatc 
 their Dulneis. On this Account you v.ill hear them mis- 
 apply Texts of Scripture, and good Confiderations. They'll 
 tell you of itching Ears^ and heaping up Teachers to ^our- 
 [elves', of defpifmg and wearying of your own Clergy, 
 andlothing your own fpiritual Food. Thus a Nigard hates 
 that any in his Family (hould now and then eat a plain Meal 
 abroad, left he (hould be more feniible of the fcrimp and 
 fcarcely wholefom, or little nounfhing and enlivening Pro- 
 vifion at home. And they will tell you of your Danger 
 of being led about by every Wind of Dodrine, and every 
 
 canting 
 
{ 24 ; 
 
 canting cunning Deceiver. And on fuch Topicks they 
 will cant (may I not for once ufe their own Word ? ) and 
 hold forth to you long enough, tho' their general Topicks 
 apply not to the particular Cafe, as certainly they do not 
 to rhis Cafe. And any one who obferves the Turn of thefe 
 Mens Minds, the Principles they move by, their Manner 
 of proceedmg, and what thereby appears to bemoftattheir 
 Hearts, and moft to fatisfy or delight them, will eafilyfee 
 through all their Pretexts. The hard Iron they have got to 
 hammer, mull rather continue cold, and never be on the 
 Anvil, than be heated in any other Forge than their own, 
 or than any but themfelves (hould kindle the Fire or blow 
 the Bellows. Their Mailer's Work muft rather ly undone, 
 than be done by any other Hand bat theirs, where they are 
 (and as they fancy not only chiefly, but alone) appointed 
 to do it, and imagine themfelves capable enough of it. 
 And if fuch Men get among their People, they muft turn 
 fpiritualtoo, they muft turn earneft and affiduous, they muft 
 turn acquainted with Cafes, they muft live ftridand really 
 holy, they muft no more be proud and fancy, they mull 
 in Humihty and Earneltnefs travel among their People, not 
 only in a formal cuftomary Round, but in good Earneft to 
 gain and perfwade ; they muft apply to every Temper and 
 Capacity, inftrucft, exhort, get them into Societies, con- 
 fer and pray with them, hear their Experiences, and guide 
 them ; they muft preach privately and publickly, in Seiifon 
 and out of Seafon ; or elfe they muft be difcovered, and 
 put to Shame. And they find it better to keep at a Diftance 
 from thefe Men fo earneft and fo unwearied in the Work 
 of the Gofpel, and rather to fpeak againft them, than be 
 put out of their own Way, and be fo harrafs'd. Such 
 Watchmen, going about the City, do not hke to be teaz'd 
 with fuch Queftions as, Saw you him whom my Soul loveth ? 
 Song iii. 3. and perhaps cannot anfwer it, being unacquain- 
 ted with him, and perceiving no fuch Beauty nor Lovcli- 
 nefs in him why he (hould be defired ; or if they think 
 his Picfture pretty, yet to them it is but a Picture, and 
 touches not inflames not the Heart. How then can they 
 endure Preachers who are the Inftruments of fuch Love, 
 and of raifing fuch Queftions } It is better for fuch to take 
 away thefe- Mens Vails from them, as Vails of Hypocri- 
 fy, or of Nonfenfe, Enthuiiafm and Madnefs. 
 
 Some are habituaiiy' thus, and never knew better. Others 
 have been acquainted with better Things, but are under a 
 Decay and Languilhmenr. They perhaps figh, but go 
 
I, ( 25 J 
 
 I backwards ; or do but little, if any thins:, and but by 
 I Starts fet forward. They have put ojf their Coats y how fhnll 
 ' they put them on ? They have ivajljcd their Feet, how Jljall 
 I they defile them? Song v. 3. And it may be the Lord has 
 ftruck in and roufed them. Their Hearts have been pierced, 
 their Bowels have been moved, they have begun to run, 
 they alio would do as the affiduous warm and earnelt 
 Men, and rocky Hearts would alfo flow and melt down 
 at their Voice, as it may be they have done at fume for- 
 mer Times. But they found not prefently that Siiccefs. 
 They found even fuch of whom they expelled better, not 
 to anfwcr their Call. They are left almoll alone ; but they 
 are furrounded with the Profane, or fuch as I lafkfpoke of; 
 and they are in the Midll of chilling, deadm'ng Tempta- 
 tions and Difcouragements, and perhaps do not well per- 
 ceive them. They diverted a little to other Things in 
 themfelves not fintul, and for which they had plaufible 
 Pretences. The Flame is down, and but Smoke remains ; 
 the Fire is again covered with Aflies. My Eye runs down in 
 fccret for fuch. A-w.ike, O North-wind, and come thotc 
 South, blow upon their Gardens, that the Spices thereof may 
 f.ow out ! Song iv, 16. 
 
 But to return to thofe I formerly fpoke of, no Wonder 
 that they reckon Mr. Whitefield and his Friends Enthufiafts 
 and Bigots. Bigots, becaufe of their Zeal, tho' not for 
 fmall, but the greaieft, the moll folid, eilential and necef- 
 fary Things ; and therefore not Bigots, the Definition of 
 ■whom is theReverfe of this. Enthufiafts, becaufe inflam'd 
 with fuch ftrong Love to Jeius and his Kingdom, fuch ftrong 
 Faith, as makes them fet a very low Value on every Thing 
 elfe, and prize this as the one Thing neceflary, the one 
 Thing good, great and glorious, all their Happinefs, all 
 their Dehght, all their Joy, and more than their neceffary 
 Food, and all Things elfe but Lofs and Dung, andDrofs, 
 The Love of Chrift does fo conftrain them, theRecom- 
 pence of Reward is fo great, fo aliurmg, fo charming in 
 their Souls, that thro' his own Strength, and the Grace 
 that is in him, they weary not, they never give over, exer- 
 ting themfelves for this glorious, this lovely Jefus, thisAu- 
 thor and Finirtier of their Faith, this bleffed Rewarder of 
 them that diligently feek him. Thote who have not this 
 internal Principle, who feel not this fweet conftraining 
 Power in their Hearts, carrying them on through all Dif- 
 ficulties, Hazards and Loifes by the good Hand of the 
 Lord upon them, and who fancy that their own carelefs 
 
c 20 ; 
 
 negligent Way is enough to the full ; How can they but 
 think fuch Men as thefe mad or enthufiaftical ? They ad; 
 on Principles, they are conftrain'd by fweet Power, they 
 have inward Support and Joy, which the Objedors to theni 
 know little or rather nothing of; and fuch Objedors think 
 it all foreign to Reafon and good Scnfe, all to be a Dream, 
 the mere Fancy of an over-heated Brain, which no doubt 
 is Enthufiafm. And this would indeed be Enthuliafm, if 
 what thefe warm earneft Men build upon, what they feel 
 of inward Divine Power and Support, were not real and 
 Fa6l, and not Fancy and mere Conceit. And whether it 
 be the one or the other, is the Point whereon depends the 
 fohd Determination, whether thefe Men be Enthufiafts, or 
 the Objedors very fuperficial Chriftians, or not deferving 
 to be at all reckon'd real Chriftians. This Queftion can 
 only be refolved folidly by the Word of God, lo which 
 I appeal ; and from which, thro' the Lord's Strength, I 
 could irrefragably prove all that is needful in Reafon to 
 evince, that thefe Things are indeed fo as thofe they call En- 
 thufiafts do alfert ; and therefore that they are not Enthu- 
 fiafts, but folid, fenfible, real and lively Chriftians. But I 
 have not Time for it at prefent. 
 
 Thofe bred at Bethefda will indeed be under one Tempta- 
 tion to wliat the Objedors call Enthufiafm. The Eftablifh- 
 ment they belong to, and profit fo much by, is vifibly 
 the Work of Divine Providence, which it has wrought by 
 a Hand unlikely to have carried it an. This may occa- 
 lion them, through all their Lives, to have aCaft of Mind 
 towards eying in all Things, and depending on that God 
 in Chrift Jefus whom there they were bred to beheve in, 
 and truft unto; and to worfnip, ferve, love and adore him, 
 ■with all their Heart and Soul, Strength and Mind. I hope 
 you do not think the Colony of Georgia, or any Part of^ 
 the Earth, will be hurt by fuch being fent forth in it. 
 
 And they cannot, under the Lord's Guidance and Bleffing, 
 but be beneficial, even on a Civil Account and in allhoneft 
 worldly Affairs, to every Place where they fiiall refide or 
 fojourn. Real Chriftianity, received and rooted in the Heart 
 and Soul, is a forcible and lafting Principle of Adlion. And 
 'tis own'd that even Enthufialm moves to great Things 
 with Diligence and Perfeverance. And what may we fo 
 much expedl that either their Rehgion or Enthufiafm will 
 move them to, as to that which they are bred up to value 
 as neceftary Duty to their Lord and Mafter, and as good 
 for themielves and all theirs, and which they have been 
 
 inm'd 
 
( ^7 ) 
 
 inuT'd to the Pradice of from their younger Years ? And 
 that is, to flee all Idlenefs as a dreadful Sin, to labour for their 
 own Bread, for that he who will not work fiould not eat ; to 
 be quiet and not bufy Bodies nor Tatlers, but to do their 
 ownBufinefs, and not to be high-minded, but to be meek 
 and humble, providing Things honeft for themfelves and 
 theirs in the Sight of all Men, and to befober, and as much 
 as in them Kes to do good to all Men, and therefore to their 
 Country, and efpecially to the HouQiold of Faith, that is, 
 to honeit worthy Chriltians indeed. If you tell me that 
 thefe are juft the plain Precepts of Chriftianity, and why 
 lliould Bethefda claim them as if her peculiar Statutes ? I 
 anfwer, Bethefda claims them only asbemg of the common 
 Chriftianity, and not as hers farther than the Lord gives 
 Grace and Strength to adhere ft ridlly and diligently to them 
 as her Statutes. O that every Hofpital and Charity-fettle- 
 mentin Britain and its Dominions may do it more! And 
 for ever bleft"ed be the Lord for the Meafure he has given 
 Bethefda to attain unto. And it muft be allowed that two or 
 three fuch young ones, in any Bufinefs or Place, are more fub- 
 ftantially ufeful, even on a worldly Account, than a Score 
 of others. And they are not taught thefe only as good 
 human Advices, but as Part of their Religion, the Commands 
 of their God and Saviour, whom they cannot be acceptable 
 to without Obedience. And if you will aver ftill, that they 
 are to be Enthufiafts of Mr. Whitefield^ Caft, may their En- 
 thuftafm produce as fubftantial good Things as his has done 
 in this Hofpital ! The Enthufiafm cannot ftop them more 
 than it did him. 
 
 I (hall add but one Thing more on the Head of Enthufi- 
 afm, ^c. which is, That Mr. White field and the Friends 
 and Promoters of this bleifed Revival of real Chriftianity 
 are not bringing in any new Religion. They preach and 
 urge none but the Docftrine of the Reformation, and no re- 
 ligious Exercifes but fuch as all good Men of the reformed 
 Churches have always approved of and prefled. You can 
 hardly tell me of any Enthuftafts who did not contend, and 
 moft of them contended chiefly, for Ibme Novelties of 
 rheir own in Do<flrine or Praftice. But thefe Men only prefs 
 you to be in good earneft in the old Dodrine, and approved 
 religious Exercifes. They urge you only to be real lively 
 Chriftians, and to no Novelty, no Singularity, but to be 
 lingularly good in this very corrupt and perverfe World. 
 They fet not up a new Party by any Badge or Diftindion 
 Whatfoevcr, except that of lively Faith and Holinefs; 
 D 1 aai 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 and they meddle not with the particular Debates between the 
 diiferent Parties already among us. Thofe of the Church 
 of England, thofe of the Church of Scotland, and of the 
 feveral Denominations of Diilenters, they treat as their 
 Dear Brethren inChrift, if they appear in the Judgment of 
 ChrilHan Charity to be really and indeed Chriilians ; and 
 every one as he thinks bed continues in the Church he was 
 of before. And moft of them are for keeping Communion 
 •with any Chriftian Church that holds to the Root ; except 
 any Church requires of them, in order to admit them into 
 her Communion, not only to bear with but to own fome- 
 thing they think wrong, or to pradife any Thing they think 
 a Sin of Commiliion orOmilTion. None of thefe can be 
 done on any Account or Pretence whatfoever. Why (hould 
 the World be alarmed or dread any Harm from fuchMen ? 
 They incroach on none, they diiturb none, they pretend 
 to no Power, they meddle not direftly nor indiredly with 
 Affairs of State. They think it a Sin to mix rehgious Affairs 
 and the political Affairs of the World. What they are fub- 
 jed to by the Law, they wilUngly fubmit to. What Rights 
 and Privileges they by Law are entitled unto, they quietly 
 make ufe of and defend. And tho' they do this in a Chri- 
 ftian Manner, yet they keep all thefe Things feparate from 
 religious Matters. Thus w^e eat and drink our common 
 Meals for the Glory of God, i Cor. x. 31. yet the eating 
 and drinking our common Meals is not a Part of ourReHgi- 
 on. If our feveral Parties called religious had always en- 
 tertained fuch Sentiments, and had had fuch Pradice, what 
 Devaftations, what Blood would have been fpar'd in Bri- 
 tain! what Tranquility, what Peace, would have reign'd, 
 "where Animofity and Wrath has tyrannized ! If fuch the 
 Pretenders to Rehgion had always been, we had never heard 
 the Exclamation from an atheifcical Lucretius, 
 
 Tantum religio potuit fuadere malorum ! 
 
 I know they are complained of as being diforderly, and 
 breaking the Order of the very Churches they profefs to be 
 of and ftill join with. This Objedtion requires a more 
 particular DifculTion than I could at prefent finifli; and 
 therefore I let it alone at this Time. Better not to touch 
 than to handle it fuperiicially. And I haften to remove 
 two or three Objedions more common, and that feem more 
 ready to millead People in this PlacCv 
 
 I 
 
( ^'9 ) 
 
 1 mil not overlook the Objection, That Wives robbed 
 then- Husbands to give to Mr. Whitefield's Bethefda. I never 
 heard an Inftancc of this pretended to be given but one ; and 
 not being told the Names of the Perfons, 1 am flill in the Dark 
 about it. But the Thing may be true, and there may be more 
 Inftances tho' they never reached my Ears. It is confefled by 
 my Informers, that in this Inftance, when the Husband told 
 ?vlr. Whitcfield his Wife had given more than fit for their 
 (-^ircumftances, Mr. Whitefield did immediately reftore the 
 Money. And he certainly did right in relloring it : For 
 whatever Wife gives away her Husband's Money without 
 his Allowance, either diredl or implied in what he ordinarily 
 allows her to do, flie ads both foohlMy and fmfully by it. 
 It is to difpofe of what is not hers, and (lie has no Right 
 at all to difpofe of; and therefore it is of the Nature of 
 Theft, tho' they fay the Law gives it a fofter Name. It 
 is a Breach of the Eighth Commandment, whatever be the 
 Purpofe you give it for. You mull not Ileal to give in 
 Charity. And by taking fuch undue Freedoms, you pro- 
 voke your Husband againll yourfelf, and tempt him to 
 quarrel with Religion for your Sake, and to difcourage you 
 in your rehgious Courfe, and to think it a Snare to you, 
 and aLofs, and not an Advantage to him and to his Fa- 
 mily. No well-inllrudled and really Chrillian Wife will, 
 on confidering this, venture again on a PraClice fo dange- 
 rous and fmful. But very hkely the Woman who did it 
 had not this View of it, but did it with a good Intention, 
 and now repents for her Fault. And I mull beg leave 
 to fay, that her Husband (perhaps he and (lie may read this) 
 mull' be a furly unkindly Man, which is a vile Charadler, 
 if he does not heartily forgive her, and love her as much 
 as ever, and if he keeps any Grudge at her for it, or ever 
 calls it up to her, I wifh he may have as good Intentions, 
 and as v/arm a Heart to what is really good, and for the 
 Lord's Service, as perhaps his millaken Wife had. And if 
 he has it not, his Sin is not fmall. 
 
 I think there is no Doubt that a Colledor of Charity 
 fliould be very cautious in receiving any from a Wife, ex- 
 cept he knov/s well that her Husband allows her, or that 
 flie has a feparate Ellate at her own free Difpo.al without 
 her Husband, which is a rare Cafe in Scotland. But I hope 
 Mr. Whitefield thought it fo in this Cafe. Yet if he did 
 not advert to it, you cannot call it a criminal Overfight in 
 •a young Man, unacquainted with the World, and never 
 married, as he was not at that Tims, And I willij^ly be- 
 
 Hevc 
 
( 30 ) . 
 
 Heve (why (Viould you be averfe to believe on the chari- 
 table Side of a charitable Man ? ) that Experience has now 
 render'd him more wary. 
 
 But this leads to another ObjeAion, which I fee is much 
 noticed by many, and therefore (hould be the more partis., 
 culariy anfwered. And I tmiwer all thefeObjedions, not 
 only for the Sake of Mr, WhitefieUy but becaufe of Cafes 
 of the like Nature that may afterwards occur, in which 
 Mr. Whitefield may probably have no Concern. 
 
 The Objediion is. That he preached Sermons purpofely, 
 and having eameftly and movingly urged his charitable 
 Colledion, he immediately fell to collecting; and thus 
 having raifed People's Humours by his perfwafive Way, 
 made them in effed rob themfelves. And therefore it has 
 httvi faid, that a Minifter fliould only propofe a Colledrion 
 to his People, and then leave them cool to give or not to 
 give, and what to give, as they (hould be difpofed. 
 
 Who on hearing this Objection but would thin]^, that 
 we are the moft liberal free-hearted People on Earth, need- 
 ing a Bridle and not a Spur in Charity, left we undo our-r 
 felves by our Bounty .-^ And would you not imagine by it, 
 that Mr. Whitefield drain'd us of fcveral Thoufands for Beth- 
 efda ? But we are not fo rafh ; and what we gave to Beth- 
 €fda you have feen above. And I humbly hope the Lord 
 touched more Hearts in Scotland by Vir. White field's Miniftry, 
 than there were Half-crown Pieces in all his Colledtions 
 imong us. Hence the Objection flows not from excef- 
 five giving, but from the Worldly-mindednefs and Cold-r 
 nefs of the Charity of theObjedors. And it is pregnant 
 of pernicious Miftakes, and more than I hope fome who 
 make it are aware of. 
 
 The firft is, That Charity is not to be urged on People, 
 left they give too much ! But are they not apter to give 
 too htrle, after all that can be faid to them ^ Is it pofTible 
 that you can make this Objedion, and yet beheve that 
 bountiful Charity is indifpenfibly required and eameftly 
 urged in the Gofpel ^ No Man who reads the New Tefta- 
 ment can doubt that it is. Nor can any who know Man- 
 kind doubt, that it is hard to perfwade them to part with 
 their Money, except to farisfy fome other Luft ; and that 
 even fober People who are not among the Gracelefs, are 
 readier to fall (hort than to exceed in their Charity. Yet 
 muft not this indifpenfible and necefl*ary Gofpel-duty , and fo 
 beneficial to Society and the human Race, be prelTed home, 
 but People be left to the cold nigardly Covetoufnefs of their 
 
 own 
 
( 51 ) 
 
 evfn Hearts ?. And why are you not as well agalnft urging 
 People to other Gofpel-duties, not more indifpenfible than 
 Charity, nor more contrary to the Corruption of their 
 Hearts ? for there may be an Excels in thefe too. I can- 
 not guefs a Reafon, or rather an Inducement, for you, un- 
 kfs it be that Covetoufnels is your Predominant, and that 
 you would part with other fmful Pleafures, rather than your 
 Sin of loving Money too much ; and of loving it lb as :o 
 incline you to keep it, when the Lord calls you to bcflow 
 it in his Service. And giving in Charity, is giving in the 
 Lord's Service ; and he condefcends to call it Lending to 
 himfelf, to whom all Things belong ; for he will repay 
 you richly. And even when it is like cafting your Bread 
 (not your Superfluities, but your very Bread) on the Waters, 
 he will make you find it, tho' it fhouid be after many Days, 
 Eccl. xi. 1,2. Would you rather keep your Money ufelefs, 
 or truft it in a Debitor's Hand at Intereft, relying on the Se- 
 curity he gives you ; than truft it with the Lord who gave 
 it to you, relying on his Promife, his Faithfulnefs and 
 Truth .'* Is this what you are afraid to have urged on you,, 
 leit you exceed in it ^ But have you not known one have 
 in his Pocket a Guinea, or Crown or Half-Crown Piece, he 
 could fpare, and yet not give Sixpence when never lb warm- 
 ly prefs'd to give to fome moft worthy Charity .'* And have 
 not you been the Man ? O Ccnfcience, do your Duty ! If you 
 introduce this Coldnefs in preach. ng Gofpel-duties, it muft 
 take place in all Preaching; for Men will be confequential 
 to themfelves in Coldnefs. What a trifling Thing m'.ft that 
 become which then will be called Preaching of the Gofpel ? 
 Then indeed the filly fuperficial Gingling of Words, hke the 
 Declamations of a School-boy, and which keeps far away 
 from the Heart and AfFedlions, will defervedly be efteem'd 
 the beft Preaching. 
 
 But you allow perhaps to prefs Charity in general as warm - 
 ly as can be, but not in asking it on a particular Occafion. 
 This truly is agreeable to your Scheme; for let your Heart 
 be never fo much moved with general Docfbrine, it may 
 cool before the particular Occafion, and fo your Pocket is 
 fafe. But it agrees not with the Defign of the Gofpel, 
 which is adtual giving. Some fay that Fra?ickius never asked 
 from any in particular for his v;onderfully eredled Houfe 
 7X Hall in Germ any, butleft it all to Providence, which fent 
 as was needed. I do not remember whether or not, and 
 have not now Time to enquire. But it may well be fo, 
 and the Lord thus Ihewed his Power the more, and the more 
 
 COUR' 
 
\ { 3^ ) 
 
 ^oatitenanced his worthy Servant Mr. Tranck. Yet this \^ 
 not the only Way ; and to ask is often Duty; and was the 
 Way that the Apoftle Paul took under the adlual Infpira- 
 tion of the Holy Spirit, and for a particular Ufe and Occa- 
 lion ; and not only to ask, but to ask and urge earneftly by 
 many Arguments and Motives, and giving particular Di- 
 rections. Ktd,ARo?n. XV. 25, — -18, 31. I Cor. xvi. i, — 6. 
 2 Cor. ix. per tot. In the 7th Verfe of that laft Chapter, 
 every Man is to give as he propofeth in his Heart ; for none 
 is to be compelled in any Senfc. His Confcience is the on- 
 ly Compulfion. And this is the Compulfion you feem fo 
 much afraid of ; and you would not have your Heart fo 
 put to it, and compelled by an awakned fpeaking Confci- 
 ence ; and therefore would not have a Minifter to awaken 
 you to Duty, and roufe you from fmful Nigardhnefs and 
 Love of Money, by Arguments and Motives, and earnell 
 prefimg of them. And you are angry -nthh. Whit ejield for 
 having done fo, and wiih he may not come back left he 
 fhould do it again. But you cannot but fee that he follow- 
 ed a good Example in doing fo, even the infpired Apoftle 
 Paul ading and writing under Infpiration. Thofe he wrote 
 to, knew he had acted, and did write on this, by Infpira- 
 tion. What could be more forcible ^ And the Arguments 
 and Motives he was infpired with, are forcible in them- 
 felves, and moving ; for they are tJie Arguments and Mo- 
 tives of that God who made the Hearts of Men, and as 
 Rivers of Water can turn them whitherfoever he pleafeth. 
 So he does with the Hearts of Kings, Prov. xxi. i. Why 
 not with yours .^ General Preaching, without fpecial Ap- 
 phcation, ufed to be much complained of by honeft Peo- 
 ple in the Days I have feen. Now even fome ProfefTors of 
 Jefus complain of the contrary. How ftrangely are vv'e in 
 this Refped changed to the v/orfe ? 
 
 It is true that fome may indifcreetly give more than is 
 fit for them ; and it is their Sin. So hkewife it is indifcreet 
 and finfai, to give more of their Tnne to immediate Ex- 
 ercifes and A6ts of Devotion than can be fpared from their 
 needful worldly Buftnefs : For God has ordained us to at- 
 tend both carefully. BiitgonottotheotherExtremxC. Yon 
 are commanded to be diligent in your honeft worldly Af- 
 fairs, and to provide Things needful for yourfelves and Fa* 
 milies in this Life. You are alfo commianded to be earneft 
 and afuduous in the immediate Exercifes and Ads of Re- 
 ligion, and to be hberal according to your Ability to the 
 Poor, and for whofeUie you are alfo commanded to la- 
 bour. 
 
Bour, and not for yoiirieir and Family only, Eph. iv. 28. 
 How much Time and how much Money you ^e to be- 
 ftow on each, depending on your particular Circuinflanccr, 
 cannot be defined; and therefore ic is left to y our Chriltian 
 Difcretion and judgment, in applying to your own Gale 
 the Rules and Principles eftablill^ied in the'Word of God. 
 AndWifdom, even the Wifdom from above, is profitable 
 to dired, Eccl. x. 10. If you err in the Apphcation on 
 either Side, it is your own Fault, neither chargeable on Re- 
 ligion, nor on the Minirter who warmly prelfed you to ad: 
 religioufly, and did not lead you into your Error on either 
 Side, nor connive at it. Don't blame him for your own 
 Mifapplication. But I beg leave to tell you my poor Op- 
 pinion on comparing thele oppofi'e Errors. To err on 
 either Side is a Sin, but to err on the niggardly Side is the 
 greateil. For it is to grudge and refufe to God his own, 
 which he trailed you with for his Service; to provide for 
 yourfelf in his Service in the firft Place, and then to diftri- 
 bute the reil in other Parts of his Service. And the nig- 
 gardly Error proceeds from loving the World more than 
 God.' How will you part joyfully with all for Chrift, when 
 you will not part with whai you have to fpare over the need- 
 ful Provilion of you and yours .^ And pray don't ftretch 
 the Word — Needful — to Superfluom. And in feme Cafes 
 you may be cabled to part even with what feems medfuL 
 Before I leave this Head, let me once more fliew how 
 fliamefuHy unreafonable you are in murmuring at theCol- 
 lec'lion for Bethefda as fo extraordinary. Do you join with 
 the Church of Scotland ? Then how far do you fail (hort 
 of others in Gharity for what they think pious Uies ? The 
 Seceders from yourfelves, and the Epifcopalians, who about 
 Queen -^>2?2^'s Reign began fo generally to leave their old 
 Way and take up that of the Church of England^ are as 
 liable for the legal Stipends of your Minifters, as you are 
 yourfelves. Yet they alfo maintain their own Minifters, 
 and hire or build Meeting-houies for their Congregations ; 
 whereof the Seceders have lately built feveral, and are l\ill 
 building more. Yet there are very few among the Seced- 
 ers but Farmers and Country People, and but few Of the 
 toppmg BurgeiTes, and not Half-a-dozen of the Gentry that 
 I hear of in all Scotland. It is true, their Colledions go 
 not out of Scotland ; but they go out out of their Pockets, 
 and fo tend to impoverifh and Ihaiten theffl,- a;s much as 
 you can pretend that what you gave to Bethefda did you. 
 And if you farther fay, that they bellow tliis for what thev 
 E tAk$ 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 take to be a fettled Miniftry, and the daily and weekly Ad- 
 miniftr.V-ion of the Ordinances, a more necetfary Purpofe 
 than the Endowment of any Stranger-hofpital. I anfwer. 
 That fo it is ; yet they are not richer, nor moft of them 
 near fo rich as you, and for all that they find wherewithal 
 to do this, and do not noifely grudge it. And if the Ufe you 
 gather'd for was not fo necelfary as theirs is in their own 
 Opinions, neither was that for wliich the Apoftle Paul made 
 the Colledion above-mentioned. Yet both were good, 
 and necelfary for them to make who had any Thing to fpare. 
 And it was fo according to what mult be the unprejudiced 
 Judgment of all the World. Neither is Charity to be re- 
 ilri<fied to the higheit and moft necelfary Ufes only. There- 
 fore in this noify Grudging you fall below our other Par-*' 
 ties, whom you do yet reckon yourfelves far fuperior un- 
 to. And remember likewife, that you colleded only a 
 Sum, and their Collections are annual. 
 
 Another pernicious Miltake plainly impUed in the Ob- 
 jeftion is, That all the perfwafive moving Earneftnefs ufed 
 for Mr. Whhefield's Collections was mere human Art and 
 Contrivance. This fuppofes him to be an artful, fly, can- 
 ting Hypocrite, under the Shew of Simphcity and Zeal, 
 dexterouily applying himfelf to the Pallions of Mankind, 
 and ftirring them up for his own Ends. But I have above 
 fliew'd, to impartial unprejudiced Reafon, that he faithfully 
 apphed all he got to the Ufes he colleCled it for, and not 
 to his private Advantage. How then can he be fufpeCled 
 as an artful hypocritical Knave ^ I faid fo much of this a- 
 bove, that I need add nothing to it. No fair-dealing Per- 
 fon who confiders it will adhere to this Sufpicion, which is 
 a Calumny. 
 
 But it ftrikesnot only ^tMr.Whitefield ^ but at the Work 
 of the Holy Spirit. That Power on Hearts which accom- 
 panied the Word of God he preached, and blelTed be the 
 Lord accompanies it Hill when preached by not a few others, 
 may all have been at this Rate theEffedof human Art and 
 Contrivance. If in this Cafe, why not in the relt ? But 
 that it was and is the Work of the Holy Ghoft, appears 
 from the bleffed Fruits of it. This is the Mark which our 
 
 Lord himfelf gives, Aiat. vii. 15, 13. &: xii. 33. and 
 
 I humbly appeal to it. And you may fee it largely evin- 
 ced in the Books above referred unto. Why is not this al- 
 lowed to have come from the fame bleffed Caufe ? Why ? Be- 
 caufe it runs crofs to a darling Sin that you are not willing 
 to part with. If any ufes thisObjediou who pretends to 
 
 fav our 
 
{ 35 ) 
 
 )favour the late blefTed Revival of real lively Chriftianity, 
 -and attributes it to the Outpouring of the Holy Gholl: on 
 ; great Numbers of Perfons, How dares he now attribute 
 /any Part of it to the Cunning and Art of hypocritical Men ? 
 How dares he venture to bring in anObjec1:ion here, that 
 f may be carried on againft the Whole ? Was your own Con- 
 verfion, whether lately or formerly, by the Cunning and 
 Art of Knaves who impofcd on your Weaknefs ? Are you 
 alfo to join in blafpheming the Work of the Holy Ghoft? 
 Many among the Seceders do it ignorantly. But you are 
 not ignorant. They are led away by Prejudices aiifing 
 from fome Things they beheve good. But your Prejudices 
 feem to arife from inordinate Love of Lucre, covered over 
 ilightly with cob-web Pretences. Have you been only a mere 
 Spectator of what the Lord has lately wrought among us, 
 of thefe Doings of the Lord which are marvelous and glori- 
 ous in our Eyes ^ I almoft hope fo for your Sake, that your 
 Guilt may be the lefs aggravated. But if you have felt fome 
 of that blelTed heavenly Power fall on your own Heart, 
 alas how mull that Heart of yours be now led away by 
 the Deceitfulnels of Sin, that allows you to venture on af- 
 fronting that heavenly Power ^ You may next be fuccef- 
 fuUy tempted to run down all Preaching accompanied by 
 the Power of the Spirit of God, againft Sins from whence 
 your Lucre arifes. The Profit of many Trades and Branches 
 of Commerce will be diminiflied to the Tradefmen and 
 Dealers, (but the National Profit and Riches will not be 
 diminifhed) if fome Sins be curbed. Running of Goods ; 
 Excefs in theMeafure and Dehcacy of Meat and Drink; 
 Profufenefs in Apparel and Drefs, Houfes and Houftiold- 
 furniture. Equipage, Gardens and Parks for mere Pleafure 
 only, cjrc. When the Spirit of the Lord comes with Power 
 (as he will come) in his Ordinances, and drives down 
 thefe great Sins, will you, becaufe aTradefman or Dealer 
 in the Materials of them, dare to refill:, and diredly or 
 indiredlly fpeak againft, that blelTed Power .'^ — Perhaps yoi^ 
 have done it already ! — O fearch and try your Ways, and, 
 return Unto the Lord ! 
 
 The fame very Motives ftirred up the Heathens to op- 
 pofe the Gofpel, and the Preachers and Promoters of it, 
 A^s xvi. 1 6, &:c. & xix. 2,3, &:c. Pray how do you like your 
 Company ? KnAyour Sin is much of the [ame kind with^- 
 nanias's and Sapphira*s. They could not but know of the 
 Outpouring of the Holy Ghoft, and the wonderful Power 
 of God that accompanied the Preaching and Miuiftration 
 E 2, of 
 
( 3S ) 
 
 of the Apoflles. And if they had felt none of it, then 
 Example, and to be efieem'd among their Neighbours, 
 mull have had great Influence on them, fmce they alfo ■ 
 fold their Poffeffions to lay down the Price at the Feet of 
 the Apoflles. But Love of that very World of which they 
 were parting with fo much, and which they might have 
 kept altogether, did fo blind them, that they thought to 
 cheat the Holy Ghoft, and to retain Part of what they pro- 
 feis'd to give up wholly. Do youprofefs Subjecflion to the 
 Gofpel, and to be ready to part with all Sin, and with all 
 Things elfe for Jefus ^ yet will you not part with what 
 you can fpare for the Lord's Ufe ? Would you not confent 
 and affifl: to beat down fuch Sins from whence worldly Pro- 
 fit arifes to you in your Bufmefs ^ Here then you are keep- 
 ing back from the Lord as well as Ananias and Sapphira did, 
 •what you profefs to give up to him. And on the Matter- 
 you do the fame, when profelhng to give what you can 
 fpare in Charity, you give very much lefs. And there is 
 but this Difference materially between your Cafe and theirs, 
 that they might have kept their Poffeffions without dired 
 Sin ; but you cannot fo keep back what you can fpare to 
 the Lord's Ufes ; you cannot but part with Profits arifmg 
 from the Sins of others when the Lord is curbing them ; 
 you cannot a6l fo but with great Sin. In this indeed thefe 
 unhappy Perfons feem to be more guilty than you, that 
 their Guilt was obvious without being argued, and they 
 had feen much more of the Lord's Power than I fuppofe 
 you have done. 
 
 Let not this fret and irritate you, and make you cry, 
 This is harfh, and to puth Things too far. But fearch the 
 Scriptures where this Dodrine is contain'd, which there- 
 fore you are bound at your Peril to receive and fubmit un- 
 to. And fearch your own Hearts, which I cannot know- 
 but by outward Signs and Conjeclures. But yourfelves may 
 know them by inward Feehng, as you know your own 
 Skins by outward Touch ; and the Lord will difcover to 
 you the Deceits thereof, if you ask it in Chrifl: Jefus. If 
 you find you are guilty, be angry at yourfelf, and not at 
 the Inftrumcnts of your difcoverin^ it. You owe them 
 your brotherly Love and Prayers for it. If you are not 
 guilty, they wail with you blefs the Lord for it joyfully. 
 Bur fince this Orpha?7~hoHfe is fo worthy a Thing, and fq 
 much at Mr. Whkefield's Heart, why does he negledt it fo 
 long ^ why has he not gone to it, as he faid he was imme- 
 ' ' ' ■ diately 
 
( ^7 ) 
 
 diately to do when he left Scotland about Twelvemonths 
 ago :• 
 
 It is certain, that not long thereafter he took leave of his 
 Friends 2X. London and ellewhere,. and he and his Wife went 
 to Bnfiol, and put their Things aboard a :bhip of a near 
 Relation of his, ready to fail to America. Something in- 
 terveen'd which obliged them to delay their Voyage till 
 aiiother Occafion, and their Things were brought afliore 
 back from the Ship. Hefaidto many, that he did not yet 
 underftand this Providence, whereby he mifs'd fo good an 
 Opportunity of going to a Place he was obhged to be at. 
 The Ship fail'd in Company with feveral others, all which 
 foon after at Sea were fcattered by a violent Storm ; fome 
 (if I right remember) peri(hed, and the reft got back to 
 Land ; and among them his Friend's Ship he was to have 
 fail'd in, but in a Tery (battered Condition. 
 
 Itisalfo certain by the blelTed Evert, that ever fince that 
 Time the Lord has made great Ufe of him \n Old-England, 
 Witnefs the City of Gloacefier, and its Neighbourhood. 
 Witnefs the City of Exeter, and the adjacent Villages. 
 Witnels South-lVales, the Tabernacle at London, &c. Sec. 
 And hov/ much he is delired in other Places, you fee by 
 t^ie other three Letters taken from the Weekly Hijiory. Ma- 
 ny more could be produced for all I have faid, and to 
 ihew the blefs'd Progreis of real Chriliianity in England 
 and Wales. But it is not mvpreientBulinefs.' From this I 
 anfwer the Objeffion diredly. 
 
 It is without Controverfy that Mr. 7/hkefield has been 
 the Lord's Inftrument in founding and advancing that ex- 
 cellent Settlement at Bethefda. But that is not the only 
 Place at wliich the Lord has called him to labour fuccefs- 
 fully, and be the Inllrument of great Good. Such he was 
 before he had been in Georgia, and fuch he has been fince 
 in very many Places, and fuch he has been particularly in 
 -Scotland. And the Lord has provided fit Inftruments in his 
 Ablence from Bet he fxi a, both for the temporal and fpiritual 
 Concerns thereof, as you fee in Ish.^ojiah Smith'sLetttx. 
 And why fliould not the Lord Hill employ his Servant, 
 where and how he pleafes ? And furcly it is the Servant's 
 puty to follow his Mafter's Calls, to whatever Place and 
 •Service he calls him. It is his Duty to apply himfelf to 
 what he takes to be his Call at the Time, and to Hop or al- 
 ter his Courfe as the Lord by his Providence or otherwifc 
 difcovers his Mind to him. ' You cannot deny but this is 
 Mr. WhitejUld 's Duty. Why then do you cenfure him for 
 
 fol- 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 following it ? But you feem to be jealous that he only makes 
 this a Pretext. Now this is again to fufped one to be a 
 hypocritical Knave, whom you have all the Reafon in the 
 World to beheve an honeit Man. And you have in vain en- 
 deavoured thefe many Years to prove him a Knave, and I 
 have (hewed your Proofs or rather Surmifes to be naugh- 
 ty. Muft he publifli his Reafons for every Step of his Con- 
 dud, or fall under your Cenfure, tho' you know them not ? 
 The Prefumption is always for every other honeit Man ; 
 but is it againft him ? Is this reafonable, is it juft ? 
 
 But perhaps there are fome ftirred up againft him by En- 
 vy, _ Whoever are fo, do greatly fm; tho' it be the Sin of 
 a Miriam and an Aaron. And tho' they feem'd to have an 
 Argument againft Mofes^ yet the Lord heard them in An- 
 ger, and their murmuring proud Queition; Hath the Lord 
 indeed fpoken only by Mojes ? hath he not fpoken alfo by 
 us } And the Lord, who knew beft by whom he had fpo- 
 ken, gave an Anfwer to their envyful proud Queftion, 
 which (liewcd their Folly and Sin. And their Puniihment 
 fhould be remembred. Numb. xii. pr tot. Deut. xxiv. 9. 
 Why (liould you envy, why (hould you grudge that his and 
 your bleiled Mafter employs him more univerfally and more 
 abundantly ^ May not your Lord employ whom he plea- 
 fes, and in what Meafure he pleafes ? Does he not know 
 what is fitteft, and does he not do it ? Then do not repine 
 at what he does for your Brother, but blefs him for it. And 
 blefs him for what he does for yourfelf : And be it much or 
 little, you owe it all to free Grace, and not to your Merit, 
 whoever you be. To repine is Heart-rebellion againft 
 Chrift, the Head of the Church, the fovereign Lord of the 
 Univerfe ; and it proceeds from mean, malignant, felfill^ 
 Pride, Emulation and Envy. 
 
 But I forefee that my anfwering thefe Objections againft 
 Mr. V/hitefield, will bring Objedlions againft myfelf. And 
 if anfwering them might not tend to vindicate better 
 Things and Perfons than I, I think I would not trouble 
 you with any Anfwer to them at all. 
 
 It will be faid. Why all this ado about Whitefield? 
 Does he Hefcrvs it } Can you really think him fo faultlefs, 
 aad a fine Man } Don't you know him to be a filly Fellow 
 of poor Endowments, fetup by the Giddinefsof the igno- 
 rant deluded Mob ^ And what can you mean by writing 
 fo much about him .^ Do you intend he fliould come back 
 to Scotland and fleece us again ? I anfwer. 
 
 Why fo much ado to calumniate and fpread Lies and 
 
 Falf«^ 
 
( i9 ^ 
 
 Falflioodsagainft him, and his moft worthy Undertakings, 
 particularly ztBethefda ; and tho' the Lord has crowned his 
 Labours with Succefs ? It was great Sin in you to ilander 
 him, and for Things wherein he was not only guiltlefs but 
 commendable. And to vindicate rcproach'd Innocence, 
 and mifreprelented Truth, is a Moral and a Chriftian Vir- 
 tue. And I would gladly contribute to recover you from 
 your Sin, and to prevent others from falling into it. 
 
 As to my Opinion of him perfonally, it is enough for me 
 at prefentthat he has been traduced, tho' he had Ten thou- 
 sand Faults, and was a very filly Fellow. Every one, and 
 the meaneft, is entitled to Truth and Juftice. I am far from 
 thinking him faultlefs. I have known feveral excellent Per- 
 fons, but never one faultlefs ; and fome of them had great 
 Faults. I know feveral. Faults in Mr. Whitefield, and I doubt 
 not but he has more which I never had Accefs to know ; and 
 I pray tbe Lord to difcover them to himfelf, and by the 
 Holy Spirit of Grace to humble him for them, and to root 
 them out. But all this is very confiltent with my writing to 
 defend hi magainft unjuft Afperlions. And you fee above, 
 that I have not endeavour'd to vindicate him where he may 
 have been to blame, yet to fliew the Injuftice of puftiing 
 even this Blame againft him farther than it can reafonably be 
 carried. 
 
 And tho' the Queftion, — whether I take him to be a fine 
 Man, or of poor Endowments, — is not much more to the 
 Purpofc, than whether I take him to be faultlefs ; yet in 
 Juftice to him, and becaufe it may perhaps have Influence on 
 fome with reipedl to the Caufe he appears in fo much, I'll 
 as frankly tell you my Thoughts of it. I have known 
 many, who, in my humble Opinion, are far better entitled 
 to the Charader of what is called a fine Man than Mr. 
 Whitefield is, and of much larger Endowments. Yet I am 
 very far from thinking him a mean hlly Fellow ; I'm fure he 
 is not. And 1 know feveral valuable and excellent Quahties 
 he is polTeiTed of in a very large Meafure ; and I fee that 
 through Grace he makes a moft worthy Ufe of them ; and 
 that the Lord has made him one of the moft ufefulMen 
 in the Work of the Gofpel I ever knew. And thefe are 
 vaftly preferable to all other the iineft Qualifications that 
 any mere human Creature can be endowed with. And on 
 this Account I freely own I love and honour Mr. Whitefield, 
 more than I do or ought to value many of thofe fine Men 
 with all their fine Endowments. I am required lo do foby 
 R«afoti and good Senfe, not debauch'd by Vanity and 
 
 Cuftom, 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 Ciiflom, but judging of Men and Things by their real 
 Worth and Uiefuhiels to what is foHdly belt. 
 
 Farther^ tho' his perfonal Quah.lications were much in- 
 ferior to what they are, I believe I may rejoice (not only 
 in my own, but alfo) in the Inlirmities and WeaknefTes of 
 others, as Paul gloried in his own, when I fee the Power of 
 Chrift reding on them, and his Strength made perfed in 
 their Weaknefs. See i Cor. xii. 9, 10, 11. And it muft re- 
 joice the Heart of a Chriftian to perceive the Faith of his- , 
 People not Handing in the Wifdom of Men but in the Power' 
 of God; not produced by the enticing Words of Man's 
 Wifdom, but in the Demonilration of the Spirit and of 
 Power. This iuflly advances the Glory of the Lord, and 
 abafes human Pride and Vain-glory. And tliis is a pradical 
 Demonilration that the Gofpel is fupernatural and from the 
 Lord himfelf. 
 
 After what I have faid, it may at fitft hearing found like a 
 Paradox to tell you, that I have Reafon to think Mr. White- 
 field (and very m.any much inferior to him) will one Day, 
 which moll certainly is to come, be a much liner Man, and 
 of finer Endowments, than many of thofel juil now pre- 
 fer'd to him on thefe Accounts. The Reafon is not hard to 
 find. Go into a School and converfe with the Boys, you'll 
 find fome of them much brighter and finer Boys than the 
 reft, and you cannot but be pleafed with their Parts, Learn- 
 ing and Quicknefs, and even with their lovely Temper. Yet, 
 if you obferve them judicioufiy, you will fee that their 
 pretty Quahfications, and what they are hketo grov/ up in- 
 to, do better fuit with their prefent Age and Condition, than 
 they would do with full-grown Manhood. And thence you 
 cannot but conclude, that thefe fine Boys will not be fine 
 Men, except they get an other Call and other Qualifications. 
 At the fame Time you'll obferve among the other Boys, 
 fome not near fo bright and but little noticed, who ye^ on 
 connderingtheni more you'll find in them the Root of the!' 
 Quahties befitting a fine Man, and will conclude thefe Boys 
 will make fine Men, when tlie others will make a poor Fi- 
 gure. Experience every Day confirms this Obfervatior. 
 The Childhood mull lead to Manhood, if Death do not 
 interveen. The Childhood and School is in this Life, and 
 the State of Manliood is in the next; and the two are ne- 
 celfarily connected, and Death cannot keep the Child from 
 Manhood, for it makes him a Man. He who is childilhly 
 bright in this Life, and has not in him the Root or Seeds of 
 what befits the State of Manhood in tkc next, will whejt 
 
 there 
 
{ 4r ) 
 
 there be a wofiil Creature ; and the Child who at Schoo! was 
 the reveife, will be a fine Man of noble Endowments. 
 
 I ov;n this Confideration pleafes me, and I think it of 
 great Ufc, and a juft Encouragement to the Saints to pei- 
 feverein thedefpiledWaysof Jeiiis, and no more to value 
 Contempt from this World, than the Mockery of pert fancy 
 School-bovs at a Man of real Worth, which they under- 
 hand not and can never attain to, but miill grow up to 
 deferved lafting Contempt. 
 
 In this Light fliould Mr. Whitefield and every one of the 
 Lord's Children betaken, when diminutively and difpara- 
 gingly compared with the fine Men of this World. Com- 
 pare not their Characters, nor judge of their Endowments, 
 as in this vain filly tranfitory Life, but as they will be in 
 the next, which is real and excellent, and abides for ev^r 
 and ever. And the Scripture aiTures us how they will then 
 be. He who received one Pound and improved it to Ten 
 Pounds for the Mailer's Behoof (hall rule Ten Cities. He 
 who made nothing for the Mailer of the Pound he received, 
 but mifconllructed him and cavil'd with hitn, llrall bepuni- 
 Ihed like a Scoundrel, with all the fine Accomplifliments, 
 and ail his bright Parts, and the fine Reafonings, which he 
 and others fancied he was Mailer of. Then he mull appear 
 a Fool, an ignorant mil-judging felf-iufficient Coxcomb, 
 who hardcn'dhimielf agamft his Mailer, or in a Denial of 
 him, and in the Preference of this Life to the next, by ig- 
 norant Sophillry and QuibbUng. SeeZ-^/.'^ xix. 11--27. No- 
 thing in this Life can be truly valuable, but as it can help 
 on to a happy State in the next, and will abide with us 
 there. We are certain, becaufe the Scripture tells us fo, 
 that vv'hen they who ileep in the Dud of the Earth (l^a.I 
 awake, fome to eveiiailing Life, and fome to Shame a -d 
 cverlalling Contempt ; they who turn many to Righteo.f- 
 nefsfhall Ihine as the Si ars for ever and ever, Ban.yAX. z, •' 
 The Perfon who Ihines fo, and on inch an Account, w.il 
 be a fine Man indeed. Compare with him the finelt Man in 
 the World, who with all his Accomph(hments has not laid 
 himfelf out with Earnellnefs to turn any (nor himfelf ) to 
 Righteoufnefs. Can there be a greater Odds ! And all the 
 Lord's People will then fiiine moil glorioufly. Tho' here 
 they are no lefs than the Sons cf God, yet it doth not appear 
 what they Ihall be (and hence their Perlbns and Chai afters 
 are httle accounted of in the blind unbelieving World) but 
 they know that when he appears they fljall be like ^/«z,for they 
 ihall fee him as he is I i John. '\\\, z. When iheuGod and 
 
 F Saviour 
 
^ 4^ ; 
 
 Saviour Jefus Chrifl comes from Heaven, he will change 
 their vile Bodies that they may be fafhioned Hke unto his 
 glorious Body, according to the Working whereby he is 
 abletofubdue all Things tohimfelf, Phil. iii. 20,21. Even 
 in this Life, Eye hath not feen, nor Ear heard, neither have 
 entred into the Heart of Man the Things which God hath 
 prepared for thefe that love him, when he meets them that 
 rejoice and work Righteoufnefs, i Cor. ii. 9. Ifa. Ixiv. 4, 5, 
 Even here they all with open Face, beholding as inaGlafs 
 the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame Image, 
 from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, 
 1 Cor. iii. iS. And lince for all this they know but in Part 
 here, v^^hat'fliallthey notbe, and how qualified and endow'd, 
 when that which is in Part (hall be done away, and that 
 'which is Perfed is come? Now they fee through a Glafs 
 darkly, but then Face to Face, and fliall know as they alfo 
 are known, i Or. xiii. 9, — 12. What {hall not their Glory 
 be, when Jefus fliall confefs their Names before the Father and 
 his Angels ; when they walk by the pure River of the Water 
 of Life proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the 
 Lamb, and on either Side of it the Tree of Life ; when 
 they (liall fee the Lord's Face, and his Name fhall be written 
 in their Foreheads; when he (hall give them Light, and 
 they (hall reign for ever and ever ; Jefus, glorious Jefus, 
 granting to them to fit with him in his Throne, even as he 
 himfelf is fet down with the Father in his Throne ! Rev. xxi. 
 1,-5. &iii. 5, 21. What Appearance then will your fine 
 Men make .? All the Fowls that fly in the Midfl: of Heaven 
 {hall be called to eat their Flefh, Rev. xix. 17, 18. The 
 Lord Jefus being then revealed from Heaven with his mighty 
 Angels, in flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them (even 
 on our fins Men) who know not God and obey not this 
 Gofpel ; they fliall be punifl:ied with everlafl:ing Defi:rud:ion 
 from thePrefence of the Lord and from the Glory of his 
 Power; they fliall befentas curfed into the everlafting Fire 
 prepared for the Devil and his Angels, becaufe they op- 
 prelfed and hurt even theleaft of Jefus's defpifed little ones ; 
 in whom at that Time Chrift-himfelf {hall come to be glori- 
 fied, and even to be admired in all them that beheve, as 
 the leaft of his little ones do ! 2 Thejf. i. 7,-10. Matth. xxv, 
 41, — 46. What on Earth is to be named with thefe ? And 
 all is true and certain, for the Almighty God of Truth has 
 alfured us of it. 
 
 But I have a more weighty and important Reafon Hill for 
 vindicating Mr. Whitefidd,. which is> That by vindicating 
 
 the 
 
V 43 ; . 
 
 i the Man I may remove Prejudices againll the Caufe he has 
 been and is fo much employed in ; the Caufe for the Sake of 
 Vv-hichI efteem, love and horwur him, and that is, the Re- 
 vival of real Chriftianity with Life and Power in Britain. 
 and the Britifi Dominions, and particularly m Scotland. This 
 hdng the laft Thing I am to trouble you with at prefent, 
 and the End for which all the reft has been wrote, allow me 
 to lay before you (and but briefly for fo copious Subjeds) 
 how it was with us in this Country before this Revival be^ 
 gan ; what it has already produced among us ; and in what 
 Manner and how far Mr. Wbitefield has been the Lord's In^ 
 ftrument in it. 
 
 Mr. WhitefieU was the Lord's Inftrument m hegmning it 
 in Scotland. And the Seceders make this one Objcdion to 
 it, he being of the Church of England^ which they fpeak 
 of as the Jews did of Galilee, Can there come any good 
 out of it.^ If their Obje<flion wasfufficient (or as we fpeak 
 in Scotland relevant) it would be unanfwerable, for it is un- 
 ' deniablytrue inFacd:. And no Body can teUwhen or where 
 elfe it began ; and every one can tell that they faw or heard 
 of it very foon after he lirft preached in Scotland, and at the 
 places where he preached. It began and increaied with great 
 Power almoft wherever he preached. And many from other 
 Places did always attend his Miniftrations wherever he was. 
 Very many wereawakned, and many were really brought 
 intoChrift, and many who languiflied were quicloied, and 
 many who had backfliden were recovered. 
 
 Single Inftances of thefe were turn'd rare ; and to find 
 Numbers of them at once in any Place, was beyond the 
 Memory of the younger Sort ; and hence the Report of 
 the more advanced in Years, of what they had feen of this 
 kind in their Youth, was fcarcely believed. Severals did 
 ftill talk of preaching, not with enticing Words of Man's 
 Wifdom, but in Demonftration of the Spnit, and of Power, 
 (i Cor. ii. 4, 5.) And I believe that more retain'd aRefped 
 for it than ventured to fpeak out, for fear of being laughed 
 at. And blcffed be our Lord, he had never kfc himfelf 
 without aWitnefs among us of this Demonitratiun of the 
 Spirit and of Power. But the Inftances ot it were become 
 too unfrequent, and the Effects of it too weak, to be ob- 
 fervedby the Publick, and fo to be much noticed, and far 
 lefs to command the Attention of the Generality, and to 
 Itrike the Minds of many. 
 
 Hence the prevaihng Deifm in our neighbour Countries, 
 
 prevail'd among us alfo. And there was itill a greater Num- 
 
 F % bcr 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 ber who tlio' they did not quite reject the Scripture, ye!: 
 did even from thence pretend to draw a Religion they cal- 
 led Chriftianity, which only improved natural Religion, 
 with fome fcriptural Notions and Arguments. But being ' 
 oaly in the Spirit and Genius of natural Religion, and not '.. 
 of Chriitianity as revealed in the Word of God ; not in the 
 Spirit and Genius of that Goipel which with the Holy Gholl 
 was fent down from Heaven, and which the Angels defire 1 
 to look into (i Pet. i. ii.) and unto whom, tiio' in hea- - 
 venly Places, is made known by the Church the manifold ^ 
 Wifdom of God, in the Fellowfhip of the Myftery which 
 from the Beginning of the World had been hid in God, 
 (Eph. iii. 9, 10.) not being, I fay, in the Spirit and Genius 
 of this Gofpel, it was not effentially beyond Deifm. This 
 nominal Chriftianity was argued for in Convenation, and 
 the Preachers of it v/ere diitinguiflied with the Name of 
 bright Men ; and thofe who preached the old Gofpel, were 
 <:alled ftupid canting Creatures, weak Men of no Learning 
 or fine Parts. And fuch as adhered to that Gofpel, were 
 looked on as filly unlearned Enthuiiails. Bur if any of 
 them were too well known in the World to foil under this 
 Reproach, then they were virulently traduced by the bright 
 Men, and more than by the openly Irreligious, ascunnmg 
 hypocritical Fellows, driving on fome feliifti Deligns under 
 this Mask. 
 
 This nominal Chriftianity feem'd agreeable enough al- 
 jnoil to all, but to two very different Sorts of People. 
 Real Chriftians could not poffibly be pleafed with this, which 
 they knew from Scripture, and felt in their Souls, to be an 
 overturning Perverlion of the Gofpel, and indeed another 
 Gofpel, and which would bring a Cune on the Preachers 
 of it. Gal. i. 6, — 10. And tlie atheifcical, the profane, 
 and the lev/d abandoned Debauchees, hated vv'hatever own'd 
 a God at ail. It was the more agreeable to all but thofe two 
 contrary Setts of Men, becaefe it gave no great Dillurbance 
 to them, and yetfatisfied a natural Confcience : For it had 
 as little Power and Efficacy on the Minds and Hearts, Lips 
 and Lives of Men, as this kind of Dodlrinehas had in all 
 Nations through former Ages. Nor can it be otherwife, , 
 for it goes not to the Bottom neither of Sin nor of Righ- 
 teoufnefs, to wit, the extreme Depravity, Corruption and 
 iPerverfnefs of human Nature, and the fputkfs meritorious 
 Rigiiteoufnefs of JefusChriit, received by that Faith in him 
 >vhivh the Holy Ghoft works in all whom the F^^ther draws 
 
 TO 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 to Jefus. This and this only has been effectual to bring 
 Man from Sin to God, and noRehgion clic ever can do it. 
 
 This falutary Rehgion was out of Fafhion, and wearing 
 out of the Elteem and Hearts of moil: People, and all the 
 bleiied Gofpel-truths conneded with it. And it is con- 
 fe!s'd by all and every Sort, that every Day increafed among 
 us, Vanity, Luxury, Love of Pleafures, and frequent 
 higher and lower Diverfions in a continued Round, indul- 
 ging the Fleih and flelhly Mind, Contempt of Regularity 
 and Decency, and of ail Rcftraint and Serioufnefs, but af- 
 fedling light and ludicrous Converfation, a woful impudent 
 Preference of fordid SelHfl-inefs to publick Spirit and focial 
 Virtue, and laughing at all who did not fo as old-fafhion'd 
 whimlical Fools, and a Sett of Maxims iuitable to thefe 
 and all other Vices. Attending publick Wordiip began to 
 be rare at Edinburgh as it had been at London among thofe 
 -who, by a ftrange and perverle Figure of Speech, are cal- 
 led the better Sort. The Worfliip of God in Families was 
 wearing out among all Ranks. Meetings for Chriftian Con- 
 verfation, Prayer, and other Acts andExercifes of mutual 
 Edification, were decayed in moft Places, and not to be 
 found at all in diverfe Places where ihey had long flourifli'd 
 with much good Fruit. And how was it with many of 
 cur Clergy, efpecially of the younger of t-hem, and what 
 Sort of Youths M^ere mofi; of the Students of Divinity, in 
 Principle and Pradice, and in the Exercife of their holy 
 molt important Fun6lion, and preparing for it } Alas ! — 
 There have been bad Things, and bad Men in all Ages, no 
 doubt. But as an honeflMan complaining of theBadnefs 
 of his Times, being anfvvered that there had been as ma- 
 ny Rogues in the former Age, he replied. Ay, but then 
 the honell Men had the Lead, and now the Loons are in the 
 Coach-box : So was it in the Days 1 fpeak of. And 1 do 
 not know that any Times in Scotland were ever fo bad, 
 for Infidelity and Unbelief of God and his Word, and for 
 the Errors and Vices above pointed at. Hypocrify indeed 
 cannot be charged on them ; for this Infidelity, this throw- 
 ing off pubUck Spirit, thefe bad Maxims and Vices, were 
 gloried in, and had the Laugh on their Side againft real 
 Chriftianity and Virtue. 
 
 But the Comparifon of Times is not very much to the 
 prefent Cafe. Such was our Cafe when Mr. Whitefield c^mo. 
 to Scotland ; and the farther back it was fo, the worfe for us. 
 He firft had an Invitation to come from the Seceders who 
 retracted it, fulpeding (what they might have known be^ 
 
 fore 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 fore as well as all who knew him did know) that he would 
 not be for their Purpofe. But he had alfo the Invitation 
 of feveral worthy Minifters and People who were far from 
 retracing ; and he came following the Lord's Call, which 
 tlie Event (hews he had. 
 
 He began among us with the fame earneft Affiduity, in 
 joreaching publickly, and privately preffing in Converfa- 
 tion, the great Truths of the Gofpel (which I have above 
 hmted at) that he had ufed before in England and America, 
 and continued always to do among us, and ftill does whi- 
 therfoever he is fent. He urged not thefe Dodrines in a ge- 
 neral Way only, but fo as to carry them home on the Con- 
 fcience of every Perfon, and to lead all Perfons to enter 
 into their own Hearts and fee what was there ; whether they 
 were converted and made new Creatures, whether they 
 had yet been made to receive Jefus Chrift as freely offered 
 in the Gofpel, whether Chrift was formed in them, and his 
 Love conftrained them to all Holinefs of Heart and Life, 
 and to quit all Sin and their vain Converfation ? This was 
 accompanied with Power, and another Call than the 
 Preacher's was heard and felt ; fo that Awaknings, Con-r 
 virions, Convcdlons, Revivings, and Returnings were 
 foon oblerved in many, and not confined to one Place or a 
 few Places ; for with this MeiTage and Power he was fent, 
 within the Space of a fev/ Months, to many Places, South, 
 North and Weft from Edinburgh ; and many from diftant 
 Places went and heard him at thefe ; and feverals carried back 
 to their own Refidences, Sparks of the holy Fire which had 
 fallen upon themfelves. 
 
 This bleffed Fire which the Lord kindled by Mr. White-, 
 field did not go out when he went from us back to England, 
 becaufe the Spirit of God left us not, but, to the eternal 
 Praife of his glorious Grace, was farther poured out. A 
 good while after Mr. Whitefield was gone, and before he re- 
 turn'd to us next Summer, it broke out in Places where he 
 had never been. The Report of what the Lord wrought 
 by him had reached them, and fome few of the People 
 had heard him elfe where ; but exceeding few in fome of 
 the Places where it broke out moft fignally. And People 
 had heard him from other Places, where it had no difcer- 
 nible Effed:. The Lord works when, and where, and how, 
 by whom, and on whom, he pleafes. Of the firft Sort 
 were Cambujlang and Kilfyth, and feveral Pari(hes near, as 
 alfo in fome pretty diftant from them. And indeed it broke 
 out 2XCambtiJla7ig mdKilfyth, o'c. with greater Force and 
 
 Effed 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 Effeft than had been obferved at any of the Places Mr. 
 Whicefield ^f reached at, even when he was there. An Ac- 
 count of Ca-mbiiflangy Kilfyth, Cy'c. you have better thaa 
 I can give you, in what has been pubUfhed by Mr. Robe, 
 Mr. Webfler^ ^c. and what I hope will be publiflied by Mr. 
 William M^Culloch Minifter of Cambujlang. 
 
 With Cambujlang and Kilfyth (the firfl: in Clydfdale, and 
 the other on the Weftern Confines of the Shire of Stirling) 
 I might with great Reafon join Muthil in the Shire of Perth, 
 on the Borders of the HighUjids, and 25 Miles or 26 
 N. by E. of Kilfyth. But tho' I have fcrongE\idencethat 
 the Lord has wrought Wonders of Grace in that and fome 
 adjacent Places, I am not fo particularly informed about 
 it, and therefore I forbear. But bleffed be God I have fure 
 Proof, that the Prefence and Power of the Lord is in di- 
 verfe Places now felt in his Ordinances with much Efficacy. 
 Let Heaven and Earth, and all the Worlds he has made, 
 and every Thing therein, join in praifing, magnifying and 
 bleffing him, with loving and joyful Hearts through all 
 Eternity. Amen! Amen! 
 
 That in the Manner and Order above fet forth, the blef^ 
 fed Revival of real Chriftianity with Life and Power did 
 lately begin and proceed in Scotland, has not been, and 
 cannot be, denied by any ingenuous and impartial Obferver 
 and Relator of it. Hi'ftorical Truth requires to narrate 
 Things jiift as they palTed. And Love to the Caufe re- 
 quires it no lefs. Tlie Reafon ftands on an infalhble Prin- 
 ciple. The Way that the Lord takes in Working is furely 
 the beft, and therefore is the moil eafily defended foHdly ; 
 for it is the Contrivance and Effect of infinite Wifdom and 
 Grace. And therefore, if I (hould endeavour to mince the 
 Matter with refpe (ft to Perfons or Things, in hopes to avoid 
 the Objedions of Oppofers, I (hould ad fooliihly and 
 iinfuUy. 
 
 Before I end, I beg leave to examine another very odd 
 Objedion made againft this blelTed Work and the Promo- 
 ters of it by fome virulent Oppofers. Soon after their firft 
 Oppofition they called it En thufiafm, on Pretences filly in 
 themfelves, and inconfiftent with the former Profeffion of 
 their whole Lives. But finding this to be a Foundation too 
 weak for fuch a Work, they next attributed it to the Power 
 of the Devil, to mere Enchantment and Satanical influence. 
 Alas for the Men who prefume to fpeak fo ! But then this 
 very Objection fuppofes and owns, that there is a Power 
 accompanying the Work beyond Nature, The Queftion 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 then is only, Whether this fupernatural Power is from God 
 or the Devil? If it is not from the Devi], it muH: be from 
 the Lord. That it is not from the Devil, but from the Lord, 
 has been proved by Mr. Robe^ Mr. Webfter, cjrc. beyond 
 what the Oppoiers have anfvvered, or ever can anfwer in 
 good Senfe and on Chrillian Grounds. 
 
 Our bleffcd Lord Jelus, who endur'd fuch Contradi(5lion 
 of Sinners againft himfdf (Heb, xii. 2.) has left to us his 
 own Vindication from this foul and falfe Alperfion ; and 
 to the End of the World it will ftand good to vindicate his 
 true Servants from the like. Pray confider impartially Mat. 
 
 ix. 34. & X. 2.4, 25, 16. & xii. 14, 32. Mark iii. 
 
 22, 30. Luke xii. 10. In this Age the Devil in this 
 
 Refpedl has wrought varioufly. He has brought it to be 
 fafhionable to deny his own Exiftence and Operations, be- 
 caufe teilified of in the Scriptures, and that Men might be 
 the lefs aware of him. Yet he and his Influence is too vi- 
 fible in the Wickednefs of very many. Others who deny 
 not his Exiftence and Operations, attribute thereto blafphe- 
 moufly the bleffed Working of the Holy Ghoil. But Satan 
 will never be really againit himfelf. He may concur to 
 reheve one from a bodily diabohcalPoffeffion ; but will not 
 concur to enter the ftrong Man's Houfe, and bind him, and 
 then fpoil his Houfe and Goods. The firit may be where 
 tliere is not Grace, and therefore the Man dehvercd from 
 the bodily Poffeffion may ftillbe under the Power of Satan, 
 But in the other he is really taken from the Devil, and 
 brought under the Power of the Lord. This the Devil will 
 never concur with. Now he is bound, and his Houfe and 
 Goods fpoil'd, in many Hundreds and Hundreds of Souls 
 brought into Chriil", and therefore not by a diaboUcal Spi- 
 rit, but by the Power of God. 
 
 It was lately preached among the Oppofers, that Mr. 
 Whitefield was an Enchanter and a Sorcerer, having been 
 bred at the Univerlity of Oxford^ where \ht Black Art and 
 Balaam ?> Magick were publickly taught. This is too grofly 
 ridiculous to be confuted. Yet it imprelTes the Minds of 
 ignorant Country People, and even of others who might 
 be thought incapable to liften, in the fmallelt Degree of 
 Doubtfulneis, to fo notorious and filly a Lie. I have good 
 AlTurance of the following Fa dts from fome who are well 
 acquainted with them. — In the darkeft Ages of Popery, 
 tMagick was never permitted to be taught in any Univerfity 
 or School. — And Hill magical Books are excepted jji the 
 Licences given by the Pope and his Mimllers to read Books 
 
 pro- 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 promiicuoufly. — The Humour of our Day, and partial- 
 laaly in England, is to laugh at Magick, and every Thing 
 fceming beyond the ordinary Courle of Things ; How then 
 can it be pubhckly taught 2t Oxford? — And that it is not 
 neither n Oxford nor Cambridge, is as notorioufly known 
 over z\\ England J and to very many in Scotland who have 
 been, and have fome Interelt, there, and over all Europe^ 
 (iox thefe two Univerfities are famous in every Place where 
 there is Learning) as it is notorious in this Town rhat Magick 
 i^ not publickly taught in the Univerlity of Edinburgh^ or 
 that the Steeple of the Trone-church does not Hand on the 
 Top of Arthur s Seat. 
 
 If now this Aflertion be reftridted to private Teaching, 
 it affords no Manner of Objecl:ion. None but the foolifli 
 wicked Teachers or Learners of Magick, or theConnivers 
 at it, or fuch who know but cannot prove it, or are not able 
 to profecute, and therefore hold their Peace, can know where 
 it is privately taught. It may be taught privately in the 
 Places where there are Seceding Meeting-houfes. But if it 
 were proved to be fo adually, it would not be a goodOb- 
 jedion againft the Sscedmg Minifters and Preachers at ihefe 
 Places, nor prove that they are Students or Praditioners 
 in Balaams, Magick. You might as well lay they are private 
 Whoremongers, Adulterers, Drunkards, Thieves, ctt. be- 
 caufe where they p^-each there are fuch Perfons. Why thea 
 is it made anObjcdlion loMx. White field ox any of hisBie- 
 thren ? There is not any Shadow of Proof pretended that 
 he ever ftudied or pradliled Magick. The only Thmg al- 
 leJged for a Reafon is, that he lb powerfully perfwades 
 and moves the People, that it mull be by Enchantment and 
 Sorcery. But the Effefts and Pruits of it prove it to be by 
 the holy and blelTed Spnit of the Lord. This brings us 
 back to the fure and genuine Marks of aWork of the Spuit of 
 God, for which I again ref jr you to the Scriptures and Books 
 above-quoted; and fo thisObjedtions comes to nothing. 
 
 But I cannot difmifs it without earneft Intreaties to thofe 
 who infill: on it. Lay the Texts above-quoted to Heart, 
 \wii\\ASii V. 34. to the End. Stand in holy reverend Awe 
 of the Majelly of God. Dread to refill or grieve the Holy 
 Spirit of God, or to affront and blafpheme him. And tho' 
 you do none of thefe from Mahce againft God, yet to 
 be led into them by Prejudice againft any of his Servants 
 with whom you are forced to acknowledge there is a fu- 
 pernaturai Power, is a dreadful Thing. Beware of your 
 own Diinger. You may be left to yoarfelves, aad the De- 
 C lulioa 
 
( 50 ) 
 
 luiion you fo liberally charge on others. Beware of the 
 unpardonable Sin. Be not more venturoully prefumptuous 
 than the Jew'ijh Doctor Gamaliel was. And, fo far as I re- 
 member, I never heard nor read of any who fo obftinately 
 continued to attribute to the Devil a Work that has fo much 
 of the Appearance, at leaft, and diftinguiftiing Marks of 
 the Holy Ghoft (after all the Objecftions you have made to 
 it) and that only on account of fuch Differences as are be- 
 tween you and fome Minillers employed to begin and carry 
 on this Work. 
 
 That you will not unprejudicedly inform yourfelves of 
 the Fafts, which you have eafy Accefs to do, and will hardly 
 believe what you cannot but fee and hear, ftrange as it is, 
 yet is not new. Neither is it new to put perverfe Gloffes 
 on what you fee and hear, that you may not be conftrain'd 
 either to own the Truth or your Sin in oppofing it. We fee 
 all this in the Jews we read of John ix. tot. And in vain 
 muft you Ih'ive to impofe on happy Souls that have been 
 effedually wrought on ; for the Anfwer given to the Jews 
 by the Man born blind and brought to fee, v. 9. and what 
 is hid John x. 20, 21. will apply to their Cafe, and defend 
 fhem againft all your Cavils. Nor is it new for Men 
 who have been in Repute for Rehgion, to turn real Ene- 
 mies to it, if not delignedly, yet by being led thereto by 
 a Train of Accidents and Circumftances, and by Unwatch- 
 fulnefs, too flight Obfervation and Judging of their own 
 Hearts, and too high Conceit of their Attainments and La- 
 bours, and of themfelves on account thereof. And there- 
 fore what our Lord Jefusfiiid, John ix. 39,40, 41. ismoft 
 ferioufly to be laid to Heart with great Humility and Im- 
 partiality. — Pray read thefe Words, and remember whofe 
 they are. 
 
 Atter all this, I beheve it would be very fit to conlider 
 more particularly what is the State of Religion and real 
 Chriilianity among us at prefent, and how that various 
 Sorts of People Hand affedted towards it : What the Pro- 
 fellbrs of it, and particularly fuch as have felt this bleffed 
 Revival, fhould fpecially beware of, and what they are 
 fpecialiy call'd unto at this Time. But I have not now 
 Time to write of thefe Things. Yet they are of great Im- 
 portance; and if not confider'd in Time, we may find 
 ourfelves gone back, and the Shadows of the Evening, 
 ftretched over us, before we are feufible of it. May there-^- 
 fore my dear Brothers and Sifters in our God and Saviour 
 Jefus lay them to Heart, ^nd by -the Word and Spirit re- 
 
 "^ ceive 
 
( SI ) 
 
 ceive Light and Guidance what the Ifrael of God in Great 
 Britain ought now to do. 
 
 In the mean Time, let me humbly beg to recal a few 
 Things to their Confideration. 
 
 You are called forih to tellify in this Age for Jefus, for 
 Chriftianity ; not nommal, but real ; not for tiie Name 
 which none denies to be, bur for the Thing itfelf, which 
 Deifts deny, and which nommal Chrillians do not own in 
 the Reahty thereof, becaufe not in the Life and Power of 
 it : And therefore to teiiify for the Reahty of the Effefts 
 thereof, the Work of Grace in the Soul of Man, and the 
 Lord's Communications to the Soul, and the G.Tpcl-holi- 
 nefs flowing from thence in all manner of Converlation. 
 The Wickednefs of very many teftifies that they have not 
 Faith. And many fay that there is indeed no fuch Thing 
 as you call Faith, but that all is Fancy and Dream. And 
 they cannot be pradically convinced that fuch a Thing 
 really exifts, but by real Initances of Perfons in whom it is 
 adually and really feen. It will not avail to tell them, that 
 fuch Perfons were in former Ages of the World, it fuch 
 are not in it ftilL For, if not in it now, the Lord's Pro- 
 mife muft have fail'd, — Lo, I am with '^ou alway, even un- 
 to the End of the World, Mat. xxviii 20. and the Gates of 
 fiell muft have prevailed againft his Church, Mat. xv. 18. 
 The Lord's Power or Mercy or Wifdom to carry on thefe 
 blelFed Effedls, muft be fhortned, which is impoflible in 
 God. And therefore either Jefus, the Author and Finiflier 
 of that Faith from whence proceed all thefe blelTed Effedls, 
 is not God ; or thefe EfFeds are not the Works of God, and 
 Chriftianity muft therefore be a Chimera, and an u?iopera- 
 five Religion good for nothing but empty Talk, which is 
 nothing, a mere Cheat. But there being real Inftances of 
 all this, really and aftually feen in many Perfons, turns all 
 the quite contrary Way, and renders fuch Inftances viftble 
 Evidences and Proofs of Chriftianity, liable to the Obfer- 
 vation of everyone, high and low, rich and poor, learned 
 and unlearned, and every one is capable to perceive and 
 feel the Force thereof. 
 
 You are thefe Perfons ! By you the Teftimony of Jefus 
 is kept up in this Age, and handed down to the next I 
 The more Faith and Holinefs ihine in your Life, the more 
 that the Fruits of the Spirit ripen and abound m you, you 
 are the more perceptible and convincing, the ftronger and 
 the clearer Evidence for your Lord Jefus, and the more 
 Q 2, joy- 
 
( 51 ) 
 
 joyful Reafon have you with Truth to ling triumphant!)*. 
 
 We are thy living Witnejfes, 
 
 who teftify that thou 
 Art Sinnen K'lghteoufnefs and Peace ; 
 
 For ive have prov'd thee fo ! 
 (Hymns for reHgious Societies, c^c. Hym. 9. Lond.if^i.) 
 
 This isthegreateft mofl important Service and the highefl 
 Honour which you can be called and promoted to on 
 Earth. And your Rejoicing that you are called forth be- 
 fore Angels and Men thus to witnefs for Jefiis, could not 
 be, if you had not Ground to rejoice that your Names are 
 written in Heaven, Lukex.io. This is a Witneffing for the 
 Lord that cannot be feparated from true Charity, (i Cor, 
 xiii. 3.) and which is not a farther Gift than Beheving, (Phil, 
 i. Z9.) but is included in, and necelTarily flows from, Be- 
 hevmg, in whatever Situation you be, and whether in a 
 calm or fuffering State, 
 
 Kowy my dear Friends, would you not only brighten 
 your own Evidences for eternal Glory, but the Evidence 
 that youifeives are in behalf of Jefus the Lord of Glory, 
 what manner of Perfons ought you to be, in ftrong work- 
 ing Faith and confiant univerfal Hohnefs? Every Thing 
 that weakens the Proof of the Reality of your Faith and 
 Holiners, weakens the Proof they afford for Jefus Chrift ; 
 as vrhatever makes them more illuftrious, renders that 
 Proof more firm and fliining. If you draw back, you re- 
 duce them both to very little. And if you fall off, both 
 are gone. And all Sorts of Oppofers will turn you to an 
 Objection againft all that you had been a Proof of to this 
 Age and to fucceeding Ages, if you had perfevered and 
 been iledfaft and immoveable, always abounding in the 
 Work of the Lord. Can your Heartburn with dear Love 
 to Jefus your God and Saviour, and bear the Thought, that, 
 withprelent and future Deills, and nominal Chriftians, you 
 youiielf are to be an Objecftion againft him, and the Reali- 
 ty and Power of his Grace ^ And among theSeceders you 
 are to be an Objedion againft the Truth and Reality of the 
 Jate blelTed Revival. AH is for your Sake to be reprefen- 
 ted as Fancy, as Enthuliafm, as Diabolical. By %ou muft 
 fuch Offence come. Op your account muft thofe dear 
 Souls, who have really and truly embraced Jefus Chrift by 
 the effedtual working of the Holy Ghoft, be laughed at, 
 ilander'd, malign'd, and run down, as Knaves or Fools, as 
 
 Fn- 
 
( Si ) 
 
 Enthufiafts, or given up to ftrong Delufion, nnd believing 
 a Lie, And to the Power of 5<ir^», to whofe Operation the 
 Work of the Holy Ghoft will bhfphemoufly be attributed. 
 Have you any Love to Jelus ? Does no Horror ftrike your 
 Heart at his being oppofed and the Work of his Spirit ? 
 What then muftfeize you at your own felf's being the Rea- 
 fon of it ? 
 
 The Seceders deny not Jefus nor his Grace in general. 
 But lell a vifible unaniwerable Proof fliould ftrike the Eyes 
 and Minds of ailagainft their Seceflion from the Church of 
 Scotland, from which they faid the Holy Ghoft had depar- 
 ted, they were wofully induced to deny this late great and 
 glorious Outpouring of the blelfed Spirit on fuch Numbers 
 in that Church. And thereby they labour to take from Je- 
 fus Chrift, and from the Work of his Grace, all thefe Wit- 
 nelTes, and to deprive this Age and fucceeding Ages of the 
 Proof they afford. And, in attempting this, they have 
 ufed hard Speeches (fuch Speeches are mentioned, Jude^ 
 'u. 15.) And not indeed hard but very foft, yet their beft. 
 Arguments, againft this Work of God, equally appHcable 
 to all blelfed and glorious Outpourings of the Holy Ghoft 
 that ever have been among us formerly or lately; and which 
 (info far confequential tothemfelves) they objedalfotothc 
 Lord's Work in England, Wales ^nd America, and fo join 
 Hands with fuch Men they formerly feem'd moft averfc 
 from; but moil inconfequential to, and inconfiftent with, 
 what themfelves feem'd to be, before they were wofully 
 induced thus to change in the greateft Things for the Sake 
 of the fmaller, for the Sake as they groundlefly imagined 
 of the fmaller; for not a few v/ho with Aftonirfiment hear 
 what they now iay of this Work of the Lord, do well 
 remember what they faid of the Ukc Things formerly, 
 what they afferted and argued for, how they preached and 
 how they prayed. And are you, even you, by drawing 
 back or falling off, to rniniiler a new Handle to them to 
 hurt themfelvts and miflead others, and ftill to re^ift the 
 Work of God ? O that none of you may be of them who 
 draw back unto Perdition, but of them that believe to the 
 faving of the Soul ! Heb. x. 39. 
 
 Some other Things I humbly beg to put them alfo in Re- 
 membrance of in the mean Time. 
 
 All who have felt, and all who have aflifted in, this blelfed 
 Work, are embarked in the fame Veflel. One and the lame 
 Caufe is the Cauie of every one of them. And m this Re- 
 fpeel they mtift fmk or fwim together, or elfe defert the Caufe 
 
( ^4 )^ ^ 
 
 and fo make Shipwreck of the Faith. The Caufe is no oth§r 
 than real genuine Chriftianity in the Life and Power of it, 
 and not any Party whatfoever. Hence it neceffarily follows, 
 that they muft adhere to one another, in adhering clofly to 
 their glorious Head Jefus. And the Scripture is fo full and 
 .plain on this, that I need not enforce it. But this Union is 
 endanger'd many Ways. May I prefume to point at fome 
 of them ^ 
 
 Some who defervedly get a Vogue and much Approbati- 
 on, may fometimes turn too obftinate in following their 
 own Minds and Wills on particular Occaiions. • And fome- 
 times others, for Want of as clear Apprehenfion and Senfe 
 of Duty, and of prefent Duty, and perhaps of the Duty 
 particularly incumbent on that Perfon, m.ay bbm.e him on 
 this Head when he deferves it not, or m^ore than he deferves. 
 This creates a fecret Grudge on both Sides, and flackens 
 their Earnellnefs in joint and mutual Affiftance, and breeds 
 Complaints, which if vented in publick or infinuated, do 
 great Hurt. And if it makes not a Breach orDivifion, yet 
 it tends towards it; and it introduces firft a Contentednefs, 
 and then a Delire that they may not meet, nor be particular- 
 ]y concerned with one another, but to be better fatisfied with 
 ,a Sort of general Correfpondence, that does not interefl 
 them in one another's Concerns. Love then is at a low Ebb, 
 and will run off quite if the Lord do not interpofe. 
 
 If for Fear of Reproach, or from any fecret Difgufl, you 
 wrongfully drav/ back from fuchas the Lord employs in his 
 Work, or flight them, or turn captious ; then the fame Cor- 
 ruption of Heart, the fame Inducements that lead you to 
 this, do prepare your Heart and lead you to turn flack as to 
 the Work itfelf, and to retire gradually from it. Beware of 
 bad Beginnings ! 
 
 Imprudences and Mifconduds in fpeaking or a(?ling, Par- 
 tiality with refpecfl to Perfons one converfes with more 
 than with others, and perhaps for filly Reafons, and alfo 
 laying it much to Heart or being uneafy at it on the other 
 Hand, and many fuch httle Things, too many only to men- 
 lion here, have been found to have great and bad EfFefts. 
 How filly Creatures are we Men and Women 1 And by what 
 Trifles are we moved ! 
 
 Too high a Value fet on any Perfon or Perfons is a great 
 and fcolifh Sin. I have feen fome never appear fo perfectly 
 pleafed, as when fpeaking of their Favourites, and fpeaking 
 of them fo as if the efteeming them were the Mark of a 
 Chriltian, and as if one of their Ends in religious Difcourfe 
 
 was 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 was to praifethem, or fome Things they had faid or done. 
 This is not to exprefs juft Love, Elleem and Regard for 
 worthy ufefulPerfons, but it is a filly Fondnefs hke a young 
 Girl's to her Lover whom (he loves. And it does Hurt to 
 others ; and often it fares the worfe with the Pcrfon over- 
 doated on, that you are fo fond of him. This is often to be • 
 {Q(^n among all Parties and Setts of Men ; and I know not 
 which could caft the firll Stone. 
 
 We mull not countenance the Sins and Faults, nor approve 
 
 the WeaknelTes and Infirmities, of any Perfons v/hoibever, 
 
 be they otherwife never fo worthy and ufeful. Nor yet are 
 
 we to run down, cry out againfi:, and revile, or fpread, or 
 
 receive, Surmifes againlt worthy People for them. Thefe 
 
 are Tranfgreiiions which I beg Pardon to fay are fcandaloufly 
 
 common, even among thofe who feem to be of the Good 
 
 in all Setts. And when talked to on this Subjecfl, their 
 
 Thoughts are fo general and fo little diredled to Praftice, 
 
 that they feem to want a particular Diredion. I'll tell you 
 
 mine ; I wifli it may be good for you. When therefore 
 
 good People's Sins, Faults and Infirmities are on the Carpet, 
 
 how are you, how ought you to be, affeded towards 
 
 them ? You do not deny nor palliate them in your own 
 
 Heart, nor yet do you exaggerate them, nor delight to 
 
 dwell on them, nor have you an Itch to fpeak of them to 
 
 others, nor do you fpeak of them but in fo far as it is Duty 
 
 and may do good. Thus it goes in your Heart, and thus 
 
 you do, // you be right. And how then fliould you fpeak 
 
 of them ^ Why, in the Manner ihat you think of them, 
 
 if you be right difpofed. You fee they are true, and you do 
 
 not lelTen nor magnify them in your Heart beyond the 
 
 Truth, with all their Extenuations or Aggravations ; you 
 
 pafs a jull Judgment on them in Compaffion and Love, and 
 
 you efteem refped and love the Perfons notwithflanding. 
 
 Your Converfation (hould be a Tranfcript of your Heart;, 
 
 let it be fo here, and if your Heart be right fo will your 
 
 Converfation be. 
 
 But the Heart is wrong, and hence fo much Sin with the 
 Tongue in fpeaking of fuch Perfons Sins and Failings. 
 Therefore beware of misjudging. Take heed that your 
 Cenfure proceeds not from your own Millakesin Religion,, 
 or from your Miitakes in Fa^. Take heed that you carry 
 not your Cenfure too far, or that you draw not wrong 
 Confequences from it, and make undue Ufeof ity even 
 when it is in itfelf well founded. Beware that you have 
 liot taken- a Difguft at the Perfon, and that your Difguft 
 
 fl0W5 
 
( 5<J ) 
 
 flows not from a fecret Prejudice taken at fomething jullly 
 faid or done, that may tend to leffen your outward Profit, 
 Pleafure or fancied Honour, or to crofs fome favourite No- 
 tion, Conceit or Defign of yours. Hence your Heart may 
 entertain Cenfure and Difguil at the Perfon, to lefTen his 
 Credit with others, Miiich is a Satisfadlion to your Refent- 
 ment, and may keep his Sentiments from fpreading; or to 
 lelfen his Credit with yourfelf, that his Arguments and Ad- 
 monitions, fo troublefom to your reludlant Mind, may give 
 you the lefs Difturbance, or be baniflied from it. If you 
 are acquainted with your own Heart, you know it can 
 thus infinuate Prejudices upon you, and even when it dares 
 not ovjn it diredly to yourfelf! efpecially when under 
 Temptation. And when are we not .•* how rarely free 
 from it in one or other Degree orMeafure.-* And/^ii is a 
 Temptation. 
 
 If you tell me, that moll of all thefe are but common 
 Obfervations ; why repeat them } I anfwer, Becaufe you 
 do not obferve them, and have great need to conliderthem 
 better than you have done. If they are common, and yet 
 you have not well underftood nor obferved them, the grea- 
 ter is your Shame and Sin, Pray learn and do better hence- 
 forth. 
 
 The Account of the Baptifm of M\\ White field's, Child, 
 was with the foregoing Letters when fent from London^ 
 and in the Order all are placed above. I beheved it would 
 be agreeable and edifying to fome; as I hope an Account 
 of the ferious and folemn Performance of that Sacrament 
 will always be. And the gracious Providence briefly rela- 
 ted on the Margin, is noticeable ; and fuch Inflances have 
 often been bleffed to encourage and ftrengthen the Faith 
 of others, as well as of the immediate Obje6ls of the Mer- 
 cy. May the pubhlTiing of this have that EfFedl abun- 
 dantly with very many ! I was not to have laid a Word 
 of this Baptifm ; but a Chriftian Friend tells me it is alfo be- 
 come a Subjedl of Cenfure and Reproach, becaufe Mr. 
 Whitefieldy lay they, is lb conceited of himfelf, that he 
 would not employ another Minifter to perform it. Thofe 
 who fay fo, I fuppoie have as httle particular Information 
 about this Baptifm as I have, which is none at all but what 
 you have above. And I may more fafely anfwer than 
 they can cenfure at a Venture. None will wonder that he 
 diufed to have his Son baptized among his own Friends and 
 People at the Tabernacle. And 'tis very probable there was 
 not in London at the Time another Minifter belonging to it. 
 
 Ths 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 The reft of tne ordained Minifters keep much m the Conn- 
 try. I really do not know whether it be ufuaJ in England 
 for a Minilter to baptize his own Child. Bur there is no In- 
 congruity in it; and it isealytodo it among them, whcie 
 the Cuftom is, that the Child is delivered to the Miniftei 
 "ivho is to baptize it, and he holding it in one Arm pours 
 on the Water with his other Hand. And the Father's bap- 
 tizing his own Child cannot look odd there ; for in the 
 Church of England when two or three Minifters are pre- 
 fent at the Celebration of the other Sacrament, the Lord's 
 Supper, tho' it were eaiy for the one of them to admini- 
 fter it to the other, yet theMinifter chiefly concern'd firft 
 takes it to himfelf, and then gives it to the other Minifter 
 Or Minifters, and then all join in giving it to the People. 
 But I own that it is too trifling a Subject for tlie Prefs, to 
 anfwer fuch a httle Cenfure. 
 
 After I had begun to write this Poftfcript, a worthy Friend 
 let me fee the Copy of a Letter from Bet he fd a to Mr. White-^ 
 field o^ a later Date than Mr. 5^7^^^^ Smith's, whereof it is a 
 Confirmation, and gives a further Account of tliat Place. 
 And therefore it is hereto fubjoined, w'ith a Note that was 
 wrote on it by Mx.WhitefieUVs own Hand. The Obje(5ti- 
 ons that may be made to the religious Concern taken Notice 
 of in it are the fame that have been made to the like here, 
 and are anfwered in the Books oftner than once referred unto 
 above. Nor without any Anfwer will they ftumble thofe 
 who underftand and feel the Force of fuch Scriptures as thefe, 
 P//?/.xxxii. 3,4. Scxxxviii. S.&cxix. 131. -4<^jii. 37.& xvi, 
 ^9> 3o» 31. & xxiv. 24, 25. Song ii. 5. & v. 4, 6. & vi. 
 II. I Pet. i. 8. I John i. 4. and who are acquainted with 
 the Experiences of the Lord's People in antient and modern 
 Times, or indeed with human Nature. 
 
 It has been none of my Ends in Writing either to pleafe 
 or to difpleafe any Perlon or Party whatfoever. My ear-' 
 neftWilh andDefire has been, to do feafonai?le Good. And 
 I have, in Dependence on Jefus Chrift, endeavoured to. 
 write under thelmpreffion of that Text in Job I fpoke of 
 at the Beginning, Job xlii. 7, 8. Wherein 1 have failed 
 or tranfgrefl'ed, O may the Lord pardon it, and prevent 
 any Hurt that may thence arife ! If what I have wrote 
 do any real Good, I defire not your Praife, (but blefs the 
 Lord) and I fear not your Ceniure and Reproach. The 
 Efteem and Praife of Men is as agreeable and fvveettothe 
 Corruption of my Heart as it is to yours. But I'm afraid 
 of it, left 1 (liould love the Praife of Men more than the 
 Praife of God; and thence (hould be induced not to con- 
 H fef? 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 fefs Jefus my God and Saviour, and his righteous Ways, 
 '^ohn xii. 42, 43. And our blelTed Lord himfelf put this 
 ftrong and piercing Queftion, containing the exprefs Denial 
 of what is asked, "^ohn v. 44. How can yoa believe, who 
 receive Honour one of another, and feek not the Honour 
 that Cometh from God only ? But on this Score I think I am 
 pretty fafe. I exped no Praife ; and I am well enough 
 acquainted with the World to know, that to write on fuch 
 Subjedls, and m the Manner, and with fuch Sentiments as 
 I have done, is very far from the Road to Praife ; but is 
 the highV/ay to be laughed at, contemned and reproached. 
 I humbly believe I know pretty well all that can be laid 
 againft me on this Account byDeifts, nominal Chriftians, 
 or other Oppofers ; and know it in good Reafon to be of 
 no Value. I have plainly told my own Thoughts and Sen* 
 timents, and the Reafons that convince and perfwade my- 
 ielf. If without returning a folid Anfwer, requiring a fohd 
 Reply, you return Scoffs and Revihngs, then I'll fay no 
 more than Job (xxi. 3.) intended to fay to fuch after he 
 fliould have fpoken, — Mock on. 
 
 Copy of two L ET T E R S from Mr. Bar- 
 ber^ Superintendent of the Spiritual Af- 
 fairs at the Orfhan-'hottfe in Georgia^ to 
 the Reverend Mr. George pVhitefield. 
 
 Bethefda, May 31. 1 743. 
 My dearly beloved Brother, 
 
 YOUR very unexpedled Letter of March ift'came to 
 us laft Week, but three Days after we had received 
 thofe of January lad. And what can I fay, my 
 dear Brother, about your long Abfence from us ? Shall I 
 judge you ? God forbid ! The very Thought even breal^ 
 my Heart, and melts me into a Flood of Tears: Surely it 
 becomes me to fay. It is the Lord, and let him do what 
 feemeth him good. His Will is always good. I believe the 
 Lord has kept you fo long ; yea, and he will keep you 
 till you have fulfilled your Miniftry : Then m.ay you be 
 reftored to us again, by the Will of God, in theFulnefs of 
 the Bleffing of the Gofpcl of Chrift ; for we long to fee 
 you, and embrace you in the Arms of Love. God has 
 already, I trull, over-ruled not only your Stay, but many 
 other Trials we have met with in your Abfence, to his 
 own Glory, and our Good. We have indeed had a blef- 
 
 fed 
 
( S9 ) 
 
 fed Time of it at Bethefda. This Spring many can join 
 with me, and fay, Lo ! theV/hitcr ts pjfi^ the Rain is over 
 and goncy the Flozvcrs appear on the Earthy the Time of the 
 Singing of Birds is come^ and the Voice of the Turtle is heard 
 in our Land, even in Bethefda. Methinks I hear you fay 
 again and again, Blcfs the Lord, O my Souly and all that is 
 Vjithin me, blefs his holy Name: Blcfs the Lord, O ?nySoul, 
 and forget not all his Benefits to me, and my dear Family. 
 Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my Houfe, that than 
 haft brought me hitherto? Indeed, my dear Man, I think I 
 never wanted to fee you here half fo much for any I'hing, 
 as that you might fee the Glory of the Lord in this Houfe 
 of Mercy, may I not fay, in this Houle of Glory ? and 
 that you might join with us, as well as excite us, to exalt 
 the Name of the Lord alone in this the Day of his Power. 
 I have often faid to you in my Heart, as you did in one 
 of your Letters from Scotland; "Was you here, you 
 " would be in a Strait whether to go to Heaven, or to Hay 
 ** and fee the Kingdom of Heaven come down upon 
 " Earth." BlefTed be the Lord for what your Eyes have 
 feen in that Land; for what he has done for you and by 
 you. May the Blefling of many Souls ready to perilli reit 
 upon you, and they be your eternal Crown of Rejoicing. 
 Amen. But I am perfwaded, now you have heard that the 
 Lord has been working among us, you will expedl of me 
 that I fhall give you a particular Account thereof; but I 
 fhould much exceed the Bounds of a Letter, if I fliould 
 write the one Half of what I could tell you were you here. 
 I perceived an uncommon Concern among our Girls the 
 greatell Part of laft Winter, and did frequently meet with 
 them privately to pray with and teach them ; and they 
 were much affeded with a Senfe of their loH and perifhhig 
 Condition by Nature. Bur, on one Lord's Day in F^^rw.r- 
 ry lalt, the Work of the Lord began to appear more pu- 
 bhckly and evidently among us : In the Tim.e of pubhck 
 Service, one of the Girls v/as ftruck by the Word, and 
 cried out bitterly till the pubhck Worihip was ended ; but 
 her Cries did not end here : No ; but ilic coniinaed crying 
 Day and Night the greatell: Parr of the Week; and it was 
 not long before Tne had others to join with her. Never 
 did I fee any Souls that appeared to be more dillrelTed, or 
 more earnelt in leeking the Lord ; they feemed indeed a;; 
 if they would take the Kingdom of Heaven by Force ; 
 they had very hvely and awful Appreheniions of Hell, 
 and were not'only convinced that they jufilydefervedtobc 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 fent there for their Sins, but feem'd, for fome confiderable 
 Time, to think that they fliould really be tormented in Hell 
 for their Sins to all Eternity ; they cried till they could cry 
 no longer, being very weak in Body, and convinced that 
 they could not poffibly with all their Cries help themfelves. 
 The Work of God was very clear in bringing them to a 
 Refignation, or in working a Work of Humiliation in them ; 
 fome of them were a longer and fome a fliorter Time in this 
 Condition, before the Divine Light broke in upon their 
 dark and benighted Souls. (Thus the moft flout-hearied 
 Sinners will find themfelves obliged to fall under God, 
 when his (harp Arrows come to ftick fait in their Hearts ; ) 
 but tho' they ceafed crying for fome Time, yetjuft before 
 the Lord came to deliver them from the Power of Dark- 
 nefs, and to tranflate them into the Kingdom of his dear 
 Son, they were made to cry more earnelily to the Lord 
 than ever, and the Lord enabled me to cry very earneftly 
 to him for them. My Soul was greatly diftreffcd for them ; 
 I could not reft, nor give the Lord any Reft, till he was 
 gracioufly pleaied to give Reft to their Souls. On Friday 
 (iSth of February) the Lord was pleafed to open the Heart 
 of one of the Girls, and to fpeak Peace to her diftrelTed 
 Soul: And, as foon asflie was converted, (lie began to call 
 upon others to come to Chiift. The Lord continued to 
 work very powerfully among us from that Time; and, be- 
 fore the Middle of March, I truft that Vive or Six more 
 of the Girls belonging to the Fair.ily were converted, one 
 Boy, and a young Man and Woman that we have hired to 
 work for us. Many more of the Children were at Times 
 greatly affecled, and cried very earneftly after the Lord; 
 and one of our labouring Men (a poor 6Vo^5, Highlander) 
 has been labouring under the Burden of Sin, and heavy 
 l^dcn therewith, fome Months : He was fo greatly diftrelTed 
 in Soul, and weak in Body, for fome Weeks, that he was 
 obliged to ceafe from common Labour : He complains 
 much of himfeif, and of Satan, that he holds him, and 
 will not let him go. His long Bondage is a Trial for our 
 Faith. — I hope the Lord has given us Faith for him ; and 
 that we Ihall yet fee a great Drunkard praifing the Lord. 
 God has indeed anfwered many of our Prayers : Prayer, I 
 think, has been the chief Means that God has worked by ; 
 moft of the Children were dehvercd in Time of, or juii 
 afrer. Prayer : And we could no more doubt (as to fome 
 efpeciajly) of their being raifed from the Death of Sin, 
 than if we had fees the dead Bodies near us riling out ot 
 
 the 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 the Grave. As we ftood round about, and faw them rifing 
 fuddenly from their Beds, and praifmg the Lord, we were 
 all amazed, and ready to fay. We never faw it on this 
 Fafljion. Only one of the Girls was converted while (lie 
 was reading the Scriptures ; that was the young Dutch 
 \Voman we had hired for a few Months. Many Things 
 refpedling her were worthy of Notice. Tho' (he had no 
 real Concern about her Soul when (l^e came here, yet (lie 
 was very defirous of coming, andrcfufed to go elfewhere, 
 tho' (he might have had greater Wages, as flie faid. Her 
 Friends had nothing to objedl againil her coming to live 
 with us, only our Religion, which 1 beheve they know 
 little of ; for they made her promife not to join with our 
 Religion : And for fome Months (he cared little about it; 
 and thought the Time we fpent at Prayers, might be better 
 fpent at Work : And, after (he began to be concerned, (he 
 was much afraid that her Friends would hear of it. Her 
 Father was here, who had heard fome of the Girls crying 
 out ; he ltri(flly examined her whether (he had cried out ; 
 but die had not then : He told her, (he might go to Meet- 
 ing or Church, and read her Teftament ; but, if (lie cried 
 out* he would be avenged on her, tho' he fpilt her Blood. 
 But, notwithftanding all that could be faid unto her, it was 
 not long before (he cried out as the reft has done ; and 
 continued crying fome Days and Nights. One Day one 
 of the Girls that was converted a little before, was com- 
 forted by reading a Text of Scripture ; and (lie hearing of 
 it, called her to come to her ; and, when (he came, (he 
 fhewed her the Text in a French Teltament, and (he found 
 it mX\it EngliJJj ', the Words wqre thefe, i C^r. iii.i. I have 
 fed 'SOU vAth Milky and not vjith Meat ; for hitherto ye were 
 not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Immediate- 
 ly upon her reading of it, one of the little Giils came run- 
 ning into my Room, and laid, OMr. Barber ! Maryhy:^ 
 *' She feels fo glad, that ihe cannot be lorry for her Life.'' 
 When I went into the Chamber, (lie was m the Midft of 
 the Room praifmg the Lord, l;\ying, "O praife the Lord, 
 " praife the Lord every Body, praife the Lord for me! 
 " Why (hould I be lorry ? the Lord has had Mercy on 
 " a great Sinner, a poor v;retched Sinner." I asked her 
 about the Text of bciipture, what (he faw in it. She faid, 
 *' She faw (lie was a little Baby of the Lord Jefus's, and 
 " that he was feeding of her with Milk. She faid, When 
 " they told her before how good Chrift w^as, (he could 
 "■' jiot believe it; bin miv^ Why won't every Body come 
 
 " to. 
 
f 6^ ) 
 
 " toChrift? there is Room enough." And (he fpake parti- 
 cularly to one of our Labourers that was concerned, and 
 faid, ^^O\\john! come to Chrift, come to Chrift, there is 
 " Room enough, there is R.oom enough ; Oh he is gracious 
 *' and merciful! " After a while (he fat down and fpake 
 fweetly, faying, " Oh the Lord is come to Bethefdaf the 
 ** Lord is building up his Tabernacle at Bethefda ; The 
 ** Lord has loved me with an everlafting Love, and he 
 " will love me to all Eternity." Yea, fhe fpake much 
 more than I can relate. And thus, while God was bringing 
 in fome, he did greatly revive and comfort other Souls a- 
 mong us; for many Weeks together, many did rejoice in 
 the Lord exceedingly ; and I truft the Name of the Lord 
 has been exalted among us, tho' not fo highly as it ought. 
 Oh ! when (hall we praife him as he would, and as he de- 
 ferves ? Eternal Ages will be little enough to praife him in 
 for what he has done for us. Oh praife him for us, all ye 
 heavenly Hofts ! Praife him, my dear Brother, and call us 
 all around you to join in this dehghtful Service. Amen 
 and Amxcn. 
 
 ^une 11. 1743, 
 
 TH E above was wrote a few Days after Brother Ha- 
 berjham znd Grants &c. went to Charleflou7iy from 
 whom you will hear ; but as yet I have had no Opportu- 
 nity of fending to you. They are now returned richly 
 laden with Provifion for our Bodies ; bleffed be the Lord, 
 who continues to fupply our daily Wants. I am fome- 
 times a(hamed to think how little Faith I had of God's 
 providing for us here in the Wildernefs, when I firft came 
 to Georg'tay even tho' our Stores were then filled: Surely 
 Godlinefs is profitable unto all Things y having Promije of the 
 Life that now iy and of that which is to come. Bleffed, 
 thrice bleffed and happy are they v/ho feek firft the King- 
 dom of God and his Righteoufnefs. God will give Grace 
 and Glory, and withhold no good Thing from them that 
 walk uprightly. AU Things (hall work together for Good 
 to them that love God, to the called according to hisPur- 
 pofe : No Weapon formed againft them (liall profper. 
 God will caufe even the very Wrath of his Enemies to 
 praife him. I beheve the Lord h^s got himfelf Glory, by 
 fufFering our Enemies to rout us laft Summer t Methinks I 
 could be willing to be drove out again from our now 
 peaceable and pleafant Habitation, that our Happinefs might 
 increafe as it has done the iaft Year; but the Lord knows' 
 
 v^'hat 
 
( ^3 ) 
 
 \vhat is bed for us. Bethefda has indeed been much more 
 pleafant to my Soul than ever ; What can't our God do for 
 lis ? yea, what will he not do in his own Time for them 
 that wait and look for him ? Wait for the Lord, wait for 
 the Lord, O my Soul, and hope in his Word ; God will 
 hailen his own Work in its Time, therefore fliould we 
 not make hafte, but beheve, and wait patiently, and cry 
 earneilly. I hope and trull the Lord enables you to pof- 
 fefs your Soul in Patience ; and that as your Work and 
 Tribulations do increafe, fo your Strength and Coniblations 
 do increafe much more. " The eternal God is your Re-^ 
 ** fuge, and underneath are the everlafling Arms ; and he 
 ** flrall thruft out the Enemy from before thee : Surely 
 " there is none Hke unto your God, who rideth upon the 
 *' Heaven in thy Help, and in his Excellency on the Sky. 
 ** Happy art thou, O Whitefield ! The Lord blefs you, the 
 " Lord will blefs the Houfe of Aaron." The poor Scot- 
 t'ljl) Highlander, of whom I fpake before, was in a few 
 Days after brought out of Darknefs into marvellous Light, 
 to our abundant Joy and Satisfaction, having greatly long'd 
 for hisConverfion. He fpake out God's everlafling Love 
 to his Soul very clearly, w'hen the Lord had fpoken Peace 
 to him, and fhed abroad his Love in his Heart. The 
 Light broke in very gradually upon him, to what it has 
 done upon fome others : But, the fecond and third Day 
 after the Lord had fpoken Peace to him, he was even fil- 
 led with Light, Love and Joy ; he ran about from one to 
 another, telling v/hat the Lord had done for him ; he ex- 
 prefs'd his Joy in fuch a Manner, as I fhould not have won- 
 dered if Strangers to God, and the Joys of the Holy Gholl, 
 had accounted him mad. He has had fome Darknefs fince, 
 and Diftrefs of Soul, but holds his Confidence bravely : 
 May the Lord grant he may do it ftedfailly to the End ! 
 He has Hved with your Family ever fince they have been 
 TXBethefda, and now blelTes God for it: It has been a Ju- 
 bilee to his Soul ; and he fays he is willing, -with all his 
 Heart and Soul, to have his Ear nailed to the Door-poft 
 of your Houfe. Bethefda has indeed been a Houfe of 
 Mercy, efpecially to the poor ignorant Scots People that 
 have come here ; May the Lord grant it may be more fo 
 llill, as well as unto all others that come here ! We have 
 lately taken in Seven or Eight Children more into our Fa- 
 mily, which, I beheve, are proper Objedls of Charity ; 
 Two of them are blind Boys: Tho' the Lord does not 
 open the Eyes of their Bodies, yet he may in Time open 
 
 the 
 
( <?4 ) 
 
 the Eyes of their Underftanding. I can't defpair of any 
 by reafon of their Ignorance who come here ; becaufe the 
 Boy that was converted laft (as I have Reafon to hope) 
 was very much like an Idiot, can imderftand but httle 
 Englifl), and has not a Capacity to learn to read, much 
 Pains having been taken with him for fome Years. 
 
 I am, Sec. Jo. Barber. 
 
 Exeter, 06iober 29. 1 743. 
 Bear Sir, 
 
 TH E above Letters came to Hand fmce I wrote you, 
 be pleafed to communicate them to Friends ; I am 
 perfwaded they will give them Pleafure ; I hear there 
 are many more fweet Letters from Georgia, but as yet they 
 are not fent me. I am looking up ferioufly toJefusChrift 
 for Direction how to ad. Some Friends fay, Go to Georgia ; 
 others, Stay in England longer : I want to know what Jefus 
 Chriltfays. Continue, Dear Sir, to pray for 
 
 ToHr very affe6iionate Friend and Servant, 
 G. W d. 
 
 N. B. The Author of the Poflfcript ohferving, that by Over- 
 fight he had not direclly anfwer'd a ^juejiion in the Ob- 
 je5iion propofed P. 38. viz. Do you intend he ('jWr. White- 
 field^ fijould come back to Scotland and fleece us again ? 
 He ajfures his Readers, that he had neither feen yior heard 
 jrom J\^r. Whiteiield /or a good many Months, farther 
 than that a common Friend prefented Mr. Whitefield'; 
 Service to him : And that he never was at all in Concert 
 with MY. Whitejfield concerning his 'journeys or Voyages, 
 or any Thing whatfoever ; nor ever was asked or ojfered 
 him any Advice. And that, except what he fees here in 
 bis own Note fubjoind to Mr. BarberV Letters, he knows 
 nothing particularly about the Time Mr. Whitt^ field in- 
 tends to go ?^ Georgia, or to any other Place. And that 
 he has not heard the leafi Surmife of his returning to Scot- 
 land ^e/i?r^/7f^o^j /o Georgia, nor does the Author, who 
 would be glad to fee him her$ again, think that he intends 
 it. 
 
N A A M A N Ckanfed : 
 
 Being the 
 
 SUBSTANCE 
 
 O F A 
 
 SE RMON 
 
 Preach'd at 
 
 Smiths-Hall, Bristol. 
 
 By JOHN CENNICK, 
 
 Late of Reading, in Berk/hire, 
 
 My Father^ if the Prophet had bid Thee do fo?tie 
 great Things wouldeji Thou not have done it ? 
 How much rather then when He faith to Thee^ wajh 
 and be clean f 2 Kings v. 13. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by John Lewis in Barthokme%&' 
 Clofe, 1743, 
 
To the READER. 
 
 J Have read the following Sermoif^ and like it 
 much. — // was preached by a young JVitnefs^ 
 not indeed as yet fent out by Impofttion of Hands 
 from Man^ but I am perfuaded^ taught^ and 
 fent out by God, — ^'This Sermon is one Proof of 
 it, — / could give a thoufand more^ and rejoice 
 in this Opportunity of publickly acknowledging 
 the Preacher of it to be a dear Servant ofjefus 
 Chrift, — May the Lord blefs what he has writ- 
 tin to thy Soul,, O Reader, whoever thou art^ 
 Mud incline thee to pray for him^ and thy Friend 
 &nd Servant inJESlJS^ ■ 
 
 London, March ii, G. Wmit^TIELD. 
 
 1742-3.. 
 
N A AM AN Clean fed. 
 
 2 Kl N GS V. 
 
 13 
 
 My Father^ if the Prophet had bid 'Thee do 
 fome great "Things wouldeft Thou not 
 have done it ? How much rather then 
 when he faith to Thee^ wafo and be 
 clean ? 
 
 H E S E Words were Tpoken by the 
 Sen^ants of Naa?nan the AJfyrian Cap- 
 tain, when he was defpifing the Mearis 
 GOD (by Elifha) had otder'd him to 
 life for the Healing of his Lepro fy. 
 The whole Hiflory of his Cure and Converfion is io 
 very inftruftive, that I would paraphrafe upon it a- 
 while ; and then declare the Freenefs of the Grace 
 of our Saviour to poor leprous Sinners, and the Way 
 in which all muft come to his Kingdom. 
 
 Benhadad the King of Syria had often fent out his 
 Soldiers by Companies againft the Children of Ifracly 
 and had taken among the Captives a little Maid, 
 and Ihe v/aited on Naa7nans Wife, who when i^ic 
 faw that her Mafter had the Difeafe of Leprofy, and 
 had known in her own Country, how many were 
 heard of the Lord by the Hands oi Elijha^ fhe faid 
 in the Houfe, Woud to GOD^ my Lord was with 
 the Prophet that is in Samaria, for he would receiver 
 him of his Leprofy. After this Manner fhe ceafcd not 
 to fpeak, 'till one told it to Naaman \ faying, Thus 
 A 2 ' " and 
 
[ 4 ] 
 
 end thus Ja'id the Maid that Is of the Hebrews. It 
 might be the Girl had been an Eye-wltnefs of fome 
 of the great Things done by Elljha^ or had known 
 fome of her Neighbours that had been recover'd by 
 Him, and had heard the Fame of the Man ofGOD^ 
 how he did not refufe any who came to him, and 
 therefore was more earneft to have her Mafler go and 
 try. After fome Time, what the Maid fpake came 
 to the Ears of King Benhadad ; and becaufe Naaman 
 was bclov'd by Him, and was a great Man in the 
 Army, and efleem'd on Account of the many Vic- 
 tories the Lord had given by him to the AJjynans^ 
 the King immediately haften'd Naaman forward in 
 his Way to Samaria. He was one who worfhipped 
 the Gods of the Heathens, and not knowing the 
 free Gift of the GOD oi'Jacoh^ he thought to pleafe 
 Him, and to get an Interefl in his Favour, by of- 
 fering his Prophet a great Prefent. Wherefore he 
 izwt ten Talents of Silver, fix thoufand Pieces of 
 Gold, and ten Changes of Raiment ; and wrote a 
 Letter to the King of Ifrael^ to defire him to get 
 his Servant healed of his Leprofy. 
 
 Now the King of Ifrael thought he only meant 
 hereby to pick a Qiiarrel with him, and therefore 
 rent his Cloaths -, faying, J?n I GOD, to kill or ts 
 make alive, that this Man hath fent to me to heal his 
 Servant ? Elijha hearing of this, fent to the King, 
 faying, TVhy hajl Thou rent thy Cloath's ? Let the Man 
 coine now to me, and he fiall know that there is a Pro- 
 phet in Ifrael. So Naaman came with his Horfes, 
 and with his Chariot, and food at the Doo7^ of Elifha. 
 It is remarkable, he did not come like a poor, filthy, 
 difcaii'd Leper as he was, but he was array'd in fine 
 . IJnaen, in Piirplvj and Scarlet : He was accom- 
 pany'd with a very great Retinue ; with hisPrefents 
 of Gold, Silver, iind coflly Apparel, We don't 
 
 read 
 
I 5] _ 
 
 read that he came down out of his Chariot, and fell 
 on his Knees before EUfoa^ Door, and uncovered 
 his loathfome Body, and fpread open all his Wants 
 before the Prophet. No ! he came with his Reward 
 in his Hand, (as it were) and fat ftlll in his Robes 
 in his Chariot, and thought thus to recommend him- 
 felf to the Clemency and Pity of the Man of GOD, 
 I dare fay. He boldly bid his Page, Knock at the 
 Door, a7id fay. My Lord Naaman is here, and offers 
 Thee all this great Riches, thefe Changes of Raiment^ 
 Gold and Silver in abundance. Come Thou therefore, 
 and heal him of his Leprofy. I fuppofe the Captain 
 would not fuffer a dubious Thought if he fliould be 
 accepted, or not. Had any Body met him, and afk'd 
 him, How canji Thou, who art an Enemy to the He- 
 brews, look for Mercy at the Hands of their GOD ? 
 or at the Hands of his Prophet ? Doubtlefs he would 
 have anfwered, True, I am at Variance with the 
 Seed ^ Jacob, and have formerly done Harm to the 
 Houfe of Ifrael, hut fee, I make Amends fo far as I 
 have Power, and will f idly fatisfy the Prophet for 
 all his Trouble, when he Jh^all have healed me. 
 
 Well, he waited ?itEliJha^sT>oov, and expelled, 
 as appears by the Story, that the Prophet himfelf 
 would come out to Him, and pray to the Lord 
 G O D of Ifrael, and then ftrike his Hand over the 
 fore Place, and by a Miracle recover Him. But in- 
 ftead of this, the Prophet took no Notice at all of 
 his being a great Man, or of his Prefents, or of his 
 pompous Coming, but abode ftill in his Houfe, and 
 fent out Gehazi his Servant to tell him. Go iva/h in 
 Jordan feven Twies, and thy Flefi Jhall come again to 
 Tljce, and Thou Jhalt be clean. This fo provok'd Him, 
 tliat without much regarding what Gehazi faid. He 
 bid his Chariot Driver turn away ! and in Anger 
 breath'd out the Language of his Heart, and faid, / 
 A 3 thought. 
 
[6] 
 
 th9Ughty He will furely come out to me^ and Jl and and 
 call on the Name of the Lord his GO D^ and Jirike 
 his Hand over the Place ^ and recover the Leper. What 
 (thought he) hcrue I wtdertaken fo vaji a yourney^ 
 and come fo far only to hear that Fellow bid me go and 
 wajh In Jordan ? If wajhing would have done away 
 the Leprofy^ I needed not to have come Into Ifrael for 
 Water. Abana and Pharpar, Rivers ^Damafcus, 
 (ire not they better than all the Waters ^Ifrael ? A^ay 
 I not waft) In the'ni^ and he clean ? and he turned away 
 in a Rage. 
 
 When he had heard the Means of his Recovery, 
 fee how he flighted it. Becaufe he did not know 
 how the Lord chufes the Things that are weak^ and 
 bafe^ and Things that are defpifed to do His Will, he 
 rcafon'd within himfelf and thought, If Water could 
 take away the Leprofy^ woidd not fo 7nany learned and 
 wife Men as have been In the World have found out 
 that Remedy before now ? or might not the Man (If 
 Water woidd cure me) have f aid to me^ Go<y and bathe 
 thyfelf hi thine own excellent Rivers at Hofne^ a?id 
 Thou Jhalt he healed F And while he thus thought, 
 his Servants came near to the Side of the Chariot, 
 and befought Him, faying. My Father, If the Pro^- 
 fhet had hid Tloee do fome great Tlnng, go fome long 
 fourneyy and dip thyfelf In fome foreign Spring, or do 
 fome hard Work, or give fome great Portion of thy 
 Subjlance away for the Spices, and 01 fitment of the 
 Apothecary or Merchant, or hid Thee buy li ivlth a 
 great Sum of Money, would' Jl Thou not have done It f 
 woukTJl Thou 7iot have gladly comply d and taken his Ad- 
 vice? And Naaman thought in his Heart, and anfwer-: 
 ed , / would. If he had bid me do any Thing, If he had 
 feud by Works thou may'Jl be healed \ by Faftlng, 
 Prayer, Almfglvlng, or any Work more hard to be 
 rf'V'', I would hirce obeyed. Then faid his Servants, 
 
 How 
 
[7] 
 
 Htrw much rather then when he fatth to Tljee-y wajh 
 end be clean ? Thefe Words the Lord gracioufly fct 
 home upon his Heart, and he repented of his Pride, 
 and Self-Wifdom, and inftead of offering rich Pre- 
 fents, arraying himfelf delicately, l^c. he pull'd off" 
 all his Garments, and went down into 'Jordan juft 
 as he was, a poor, ftinking filthy Leper ; and he no 
 fooncr obeyed the Voice of the Lord, by plunging 
 himfelf feven Times in the Waters, but he was 
 chang'd ; he found he was healed, and his Flcfh 
 came again like the Flefh of a little Child : Imme- 
 diately he believed in the GO D of Ifraely and re- 
 turned to the Door of El'ijha^ Houfe, he and all his 
 Company, and flood before El'ijha^ and faid, Behold y 
 now I know that there is no GOD in all the Earthy 
 but in Ifrael ; thy Servant will henceforth offer ?ieither 
 Burnt Offerings^ nor Sacrifice unto other Gods, but uniQ 
 the Lord, How happy was it for Naaman^ that he 
 hearkened to the Voice of the Lord by his Sen^ant ? 
 He not only was wafhed from the Leprofy of his 
 Body, but from the Unbelief and Sin of his Soul. 
 He could then truly adore Free Grace alone : He 
 was convinc'd it was not of his own Will, for he 
 would have went home to Damascus in a Rage, but 
 the Lord freely putit into the little Maid's Heart firfl 
 to wifh. Would to GOD my Lord was with the Pro- 
 phet in Ifrael, for he would heal him of his Leprofy. 
 And when he had rejected the Way appointed to be 
 healed, as if the Lord had faid of him as He did of 
 Ephraim^ How J})all I give thee up ? He yet put it 
 into the Heart of his Servants to go and fpeak mildly 
 to him to flop him from returning home, by faying 
 to him, Nay^ my Father^ if the Prophet had hid thee 
 do fome great Things woulcTJi thou tiot have done it F 
 how much rather then when he only faith ts thee, waJJj 
 and be clean ? 
 
 A 4 It 
 
^8I 
 
 It may be mofl of you who are here, may tliink 
 within yourfelves that this Story has no reference to 
 you j but indeed it has, for you have on a more 
 dreadful Leprofy than that which clave to Naaman^ 
 alas ! my dear, dear Brethren, ye have got the Le- 
 profy of Sin. I am To-day forced to fay to you as 
 the little Maid to Naamcm^' Would to GOD you were 
 with the Prophet that is in Ifrael, / ?nean the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, He would heal you of your Leprofy, 
 I need not bid my dear Hearers go wafh feven* 
 Times, the Merit of the feven Streams of Jesus 
 are all one : And whofoever once wafhes there, needs 
 710 more Sacrifice for Sin^ Heb. x. i8. 
 
 The Leprofy was a Difeafe of all others the mofl: 
 to be feared, for other Difeafes were frequently cu- 
 red, but this feldom ; for which Caufe the People of 
 Ifrael were ufed to put out their Lepers from them 
 into defart Places, and feed them there, left they 
 fliould infe6l others, Lcv» xiii. 46. And the Lord 
 forbad thofe that had this Diftemper to come into 
 His Congregation, Numb, v. 3. It was a Difeafe 
 that at firft broke out in a little white Scab, and if 
 not prevented or heal'd, overfpread the whole Body, 
 and made them as if a white Scurf was upon them. 
 How well doth this Defcription ferve to fet out Sin ? 
 It broke out firft in Jdam in one Sin, like the Scab of 
 the Leprofy, and. not being ftopp'd, it increafed 'till 
 he was altogether corrupt and infected, 'till GOD . 
 caft him as it were out of his Prefence into the Earth. 
 Of him were we all, and every one of us have from 
 .">ur Birth, had this curfed Difeafe, as it is written in 
 lkruid\ Pfalms, Behold I wasfoapen in Lniquiiy^ and - . 
 n S!n did my Mother conceive me^ Pfal. li. 5. I don't 
 ' ioubt but fome of you can anfwer and fay, we know 
 ve have this Difeafe of Sin, we have felt it often rife 
 ti our Nature, and fpread itfclf, that the longer we 
 
 live. 
 
t9.] 
 
 live, inilead of growing better, we grow worfe and 
 worfe j we commit more and more Sin every Day. 
 O my Brethren, it will fpread farther flill, 'till it 
 has ruin'd you Body and Soul, if you can't flop it ! 
 fVould to GOD you were ivitb ibe Prophet Jesus, he 
 ivould heal you, he tuould tnake your Crimfon Sins like 
 JVool, and your Sins that ha've. been like Scarlet , zvhiter . 
 than Snowi Ifaiah i. iB. Men are naturally like 
 Naa?nan, and think that they muft bring Prefents to 
 the Lord, and do a great deal of Good before he 
 will heal them ; and this makes fome poor Souls go 
 bow'd down Day after Day, and mourn, and v/ill 
 not be comforted. . Their Language is, .0 / I am 
 afraid rjhall never be faved ! I ircmble to think what 
 will hecGine of me ifljhould die ! I ha\je been a Drunk- 
 ard, an unpfi Perfon ; I have lived in Fornication, 
 Unclcan'ncfs, and Lies ; / have been a Sinner all my 
 Life, even, from ?7iy h fancy ', What Jljall I do to be 
 faved? O ! that fuch would come to the Lord ! He 
 would receive them, He would in 7io wife cafl the?n 
 out : But fay they. I. am worfe than any Body, there 
 is not one good Thing in me ; I am nothing but Sin 
 for my Part. Well then, you have the m^oft Need of 
 coming to the Son of GOD, he will give you a new 
 Heart and a nev/ Spirit ! but fay they, I have no- 
 thing to bring to the Lord ; I can't fo much as 
 truly repent for Sin ; my Heart is as hard as the 
 nether Millftone ; I cannot pray, I can do nothing. 
 Have you not heard how Kaaman with all he brought 
 was not accepted, nor made clean, 'till he ftripp'd 
 himfelf of all, and renouncing his own Wifdom, 
 went down into the River Jcrdan naked ? So muft 
 t^ou, O Sinner, go to the Lord, poor, and mi [era- 
 ble, and blind, and naked. 'Tis written in the Scrip- 
 ture, ll'ljcn they had nothing to pay he frankly forgave 
 them all, Luke vii. 42. 
 
 If 
 
[ 10] 
 
 If thou hadft lived in all Form of Godlinefs to this 
 Day, and not mifled going to Church, Sacraments, 
 Prayers, Failings, i^c. once when thou hadft Oppor- 
 tunity, in ail thy Life, yet this would not recom- 
 mend thee to the Lord, any more than all thePre- 
 fents which Naaman brought to Elijha j thou muft 
 leave all thou haft, and come ftripp'd and poor to 
 Christ, or thou canft not be his Difciple. 
 
 Some when they do Good (as they call it) and do 
 not do much Harm, but are kind to the Poor, and 
 do Juftice, and refrain from outward grofs Sins, like 
 Publicans and Harlots^ can go boldly to GOD, and 
 not fear their going to Heaven. Juft fo did Naaman 
 go to the Houfe of the Prophet j but all his good 
 Things did not make the Man of GOD fo much as 
 come out to him ; but on the contrary, he fent out a 
 poor Servant to tell him, Gojlrip thy f elf -^ and go wajh 
 in Jordan, and thou Jhalt he clean, Juft fo I come 
 To-day, to tell you, it is not your Self-righteoufnefs, 
 your long Roll of good Deeds done, will make you 
 to be accepted with my Mafter. Publicans and Har- 
 kts enter into the Kingdo?nofGOD before felf-righteous 
 Pharifees^ Mat. xxi. 31. Not becaufe they were 
 ;fuch, but becaufe thefe ^re the more eafily convinced 
 ©f their own Poverty of Spirit, and having no 
 Righteoufnefs of their own to truft on, the more 
 jfladly embrace and truft on the Righteoufnefs of the 
 [Lord Jesus : Thefe alfo knowing they have much 
 'forgiven them^ will love the more. You muft come to 
 ;»ur Saviour poor as you are, in your Sins and in 
 jour Blood. Don't defire to cover your Sin with 
 jthc Fig-leaves of your own Goodnefs, for fo did our 
 firft Parents when they had fmn'd in Eden^ and yet 
 jefcap'd not theCurfe. And fo alfo did Naaman : But 
 if you would be faved, go and fall down by the 
 )b)crc!(!y ^V'ounds of Jesus, and there fhew all your 
 
 fecret 
 
fccret Iniquity, Luft, Pride, Covctoufnefs, Anger, 
 and Unbelief, the Chief of all, and wafli in that 
 Stream, and you fhall be clean. Be ye aflurM it is no 
 Works that you have done, or can do, that will re- - 
 commend you to the Favour of GOD, as faith the i 
 Apoftle, Noi by Works lej} any Man boafl^ Eph. ii. 9. 
 i, e. leafl: any glory, and fay, I have done well^ I have 
 lived a good Life^ therefore I om accepted of GOD, 
 No: All boajiiyig is excluded, Rom. iii. 27. 
 
 Every one that is faved, {hall confefs, to theGlo- 
 ry of Jesus Christ, Not by Works of Righteoufnefi 
 that I HAVE DONE, but according to his Mercy he fa- 
 ved fne, by the %vajhing of Regmeration^ and renewing 
 of the Holy Ghost, Tit. iii. 5. Not unto mey 
 Lord, not unto 7ne^ but unto thy Name give Glory ^ 
 Pfal. cxv. I. Yea in Heaven no Mention is made 
 of w^hat they did, wrho are arrived there, but of w^hat 
 Christ did for them. The Blood of the Lamb,: 
 which is our only Salvation, is there glorified and 
 praifed. This is that for dan, where I would be- 
 feech my dear Brethren (who feel the Leprofy of 
 Sin is on them) to come and wafh. Believing in the 
 Lord, is waihing. Only believe, and thou fljalt be 
 faved, A6ls xvi. 31. Only wafh and thou flialt be 
 clean. 
 
 Many here are ready (it maybe) to turn away 
 in a Rage, and fay, What is this all I come to hear f 
 Believe, and be faved ? O ! Fll never be convinced thh 
 is true f Do you think that all the Good I have dorx^ 
 and all my Prayers and Cries will avail nothing ? Ifi^ 
 go conflantly to Church, and receive the bleffcd Sacra- 
 jnent, and believe the Scriptures, and pray every Morn- 
 ing and Evening, and do all the Good I can, may I no, 
 he fure of going to Heaven ? No : There is no othet , 
 Name given under Heaven whereby Men can be faved. 
 kut the Name of Jesus Christ, J^s vi. 12, 
 
 Thai 
 
[ 12 3 
 
 That Language which is aJmoft in every one's 
 Mouth is the fame with that of Naamaris, What 
 (faith he) are not Abana and Pharpar Rivers of Da- 
 mafcus better than all the Waters of K^did} May I not 
 vjajh In them and he clean? So fay many of you, Are 
 not good TVorksy a fober^ honeji^ and religious Life^ 
 mough to fave tfs P May we not wajh in thefe^ and be 
 'lean P The Lord points out the only Way, faying, 
 [ AM THE Way, John xiv. 6. And again,' T7;zi 
 s the Way^ walk in it^ Ifa. xxx» 2 1 . And one wifely 
 aid of Christ, He is fo narrow a Way^ fojlrait a 
 Ooor^ that except you pull off all your Cloaths you cant 
 et in. Our Saviour wants none of your Righte- 
 vufnefs. It is all in His pure Sight but painted Ini- 
 quity; it is h\xt filthy Rags, Ifa. Ixiv. 6* 
 
 He calls you then who are poor. To this Man 
 'jill I look, faith the Lord, even to him that is poor^ 
 fa. Ixvi. 2. Yea, except you can reckon yourfelves 
 pon a Level with the woril Sinners, Murderers, 
 hitves. Publicans, you have not feen your Nature. 
 ^ou don't know yourfelves, and 'till you do, you 
 nn by no Means fee the Want of the dear Re- 
 eemer's Blood. You will be always ftriving to 
 lake yourfelves clean, and when you have ftrove 
 • 1 your Life, find that true which was fpoken of 
 ie Children of Ifrael, They followed after Righte- 
 fnefs, hut have ?iot attained Right eoufnefs, hecaufe 
 ^\ey fought it not by Faith, hut (as it were) by Works, 
 Jom. ix. 31, 32. 
 
 .But again, I befeech you hear the Words of the 
 ORD, Your Right eoifnefs is of Me. And again, 
 
 }me to me, and I %v ill give you reft for your Soul, 
 
 tat. xi. 28. And again, I counfel Thee to buy of Me 
 <:iment, that the Shame of thy Nakednefs do not ap- 
 j7r, Rev. iii. 18. Buy of Me freely without Money, 
 dvAthout Price, i. e. for Nothing, Ifa. Iv. i. 
 
 3 PAUL, 
 
[ 13 ] 
 
 PAUL^ who was born a Jew^ gloried as much in 
 
 this as you do in your being born Chrljiia/is \ but by 
 
 and by, he found. That he was not a Jew, who ztwi 
 
 ene outwardly^ or did like Jews in outward Things^ 
 
 but he (faith He) Is a Jew ^uho is one inwardly ^ Rom. 
 
 ii. 28, 29. If you are not Chrij}ia7is inwardly, ir 
 
 vain do you make Profeflion of Christ outwardly ; 
 
 and unlefs you are inwardly wafli'd with the Blood o 
 
 Jesus, by the Holy Ghost, Baptifm of Wate: 
 
 is nothing. So except you inwardly live by the Me 
 
 rit of the Wounds of the Body of our Saviour, u 
 
 vain do you eat and drink in His Prepuce Bread am 
 
 Wine. The Apoftle was of the Seed of Abraham 
 
 (to whom the Promifes were made) of the Tribe c 
 
 Benjamin, and lived as touching the Right eoufnefs 
 
 the Law blamelefsy ^om.. xi. i. Phil. iii. 5,6. Ye 
 
 he was not only religious as were others of the flric 
 
 Se61: of the Pharifces^ hut more exceedingly zealous tha 
 
 many of his Equals in his'own Nation and at Jert 
 
 falem. Gal. i. 14. But yet ail this was notenoug 
 
 to bring him to Heaven ; all woulA not do : When \ 
 
 was convinced of his Sin, as he^as riding to Di 
 
 mafcus, he cried out in the Bitternefs of his Sou 
 
 Lord, luhat ivilt thou have me to do ? A6I3 ix. ( 
 
 Neither did he reft from crying, neither would he e 
 
 or drink 'till Ananias brought him that glorioi 
 
 Mefiage, (which I now bring you) Why tarrii 
 
 Thou ? arife and he baptized^ and wajh away thy Si 
 
 calling on the Name of the'LoKiy ! A^s xxii. 16. i 
 
 alfo it is written of Jojhua die Higly-Pricji^ th 
 
 when he ftood before the Lord in his own Righteot 
 
 nefs, it was as filthy Garments; but when the Laa . 
 
 of GOD had faid to him. Behold I have caifed tin 
 
 Iniquity to pafs away^ he had on Change of Raimer 
 
 ,/. e. The Right eoufnefs o/' Christ, and then he v 
 
 no more before the Lord as unclean, hut-clean 
 
 a Wo 
 
tH.1 
 
 ; a Wonder ! So as the Angel own'd of him, and his 
 j Fellow Saints, Te are Men to be wondered at ! Zech. 
 f iii. His Covering was then the Covering of the Spi~ 
 I rit of the Lord, Ifa. xxx. i. O may you be co- 
 . vered with this holy Veftment, this Robe wafhed 
 .white in the Blood of the Lamb, Rev. vii. 14. 
 
 When Naamans Anger was a little appeas'd, his 
 
 [Sei-vants reafon'd with him, as I do now with you. 
 
 .The Lord grant my Words may have the like Ef- 
 
 ■;fe6t with his ! I mean, to win you to come and try 
 
 Jthe Virtue of this blefTed Bethefda^ the Blood of ]l.- 
 
 •sus, this true for dan. Be not offended my dear 
 
 friends, if the Lord don't appear in any miraculous 
 
 fWay ; but hear, if he fpeaks by unworthy me, or 
 
 (ends me to you as Elijha fent Gehaxi to Naanwn^ to 
 
 tell you, ye muft wajh and be clean. Don't anfwer, 
 
 fVhat is this Stripling ? or hew comeji thou to be rights 
 
 when fo many wife Men and learned Men^ after thy 
 
 Sayings^ are wrong ? My dear Friends, The IVifdom 
 
 'if this World is Foolijhnefs with GOD., and the 
 
 Thoughts of the wifefl Men before the Lord are vain^ 
 
 I Cor. i. 20. And GOD often chufes to let wife 
 
 Men err in their own Prudence, when he reveals his 
 
 Fruth to Babes, Lukex. 21. Then let not your dear 
 
 pouls turn away in a Rage ; but O ! be intreated to 
 
 ^o down to the Jordan of Christ's Blood It is 
 
 better than all the Rf\'ers o( Damafcus. All the Cries 
 f,nd Tears of every Saint in the World, can't wafh 
 'way one Sin ; but O ! one Drop of tlie Blood of 
 ^e Lamb, will cleanfe you of Ail, if you have ten 
 fhoufand Thoufands, yea, if every Sin that have 
 |een committed by all the Children of Adam., fmce 
 'jie Foundation of the World, (faving the Blafphemv 
 '^inft the Holy Ghost) were to becharg'd upon 
 ';iy one of you, and I knew it, I would yet fay t® 
 ou, Ccme., waJh and be clean ! there is fill Room f 
 2 Luke 
 
[^5] 
 
 Luke xiv. 12. The Door of the Lord's Wounds 
 are ftlll open, efcape liither for your Life, my dear 
 Brethren. 
 
 I don't doubt but many of you are willing to be 
 faved, and if the Lord had bidden you do foms 
 great Thing, would you not have done it ? Methinka 
 I hear you fay, I would, if I knew what the Will 
 of the Lord was, / would do ity tho' I went through 
 Hell for a Timey fo that I might but be faved. O 
 poor "Brethren ! you may be faved freely. He oaly 
 faith to you, TVaJh and be dean. 
 
 No fooner had Naaman put ofF all that fine Appa- 
 rel (which he thought would have moved the Prophet 
 to look upon him) and enter'd the River, but hh 
 Flejh returned like the Fle/I) of a little Child t he found 
 his Diftemper was taken away, and he came up out 
 of the Water whole, and rejoicing. So if you could 
 be prevail'd upon to put off your own Righteoufneis, 
 Jay down your own Wifdom, and come to the Lord 
 Jesus, wretched and undone as you are ; if you 
 could wholly truil the Merits of his blefTed Blood, 
 •and believe on his Name, you would find your Sin, 
 that hateful Leprofy, wafhed away, and yourfelves 
 converted, and made like little Children. Mat. xviii.3. 
 If any of you feel yourfelves impure, burthen 'd, yea, 
 nothing but Sin and Uncleannefs, flay not away ? 
 Why do you doubt your Right to wafh in this Blood, 
 when you may read upon the Fountain-Head, This 
 Fountain was open for Sin and for Unclea?mefs. Zech. 
 xiii. I. If you have furely feen your Sin, fu rely you 
 may fee the Lamb of GOD invites you compafiion- 
 ately to come uato him. The Spirit knocks at 
 your Heart, faying, Come : The Church, the Peo- 
 ple of G O D, the La m b 's Wife faith^ Come. Yea , 
 faith the Lord, let him that heareth cojifent^ a?id fay^ 
 Ckrne^ my Soul^ (ome, Whefoever will let him come., 
 
 and 
 
[ i6] 
 
 and take of the Water freely ! Rev. xxii. 17. At this 
 Spring poor weary Sinners may drink, and wafh 
 them too \ here you may put away tlie Evil of your 
 Doings, and make yourfelves white as Snow. O be 
 entreated ! {I hefeech you in Christ's Stead) and 
 come, and try the Virtues of this healing Spring. 
 You cannot, I know you cannot make yourfelves 
 clean 3 the Lord faith, /r^;« all your Filthinefs^ and 
 from all your Idols vj til I cleanfe you^ Ezek. xxxvi.25. 
 When happy Naa7nan was cleanfed, he would 
 have been glad if the Whole World could have (like 
 him) proved the Power of the GOD of Ifraeh So 
 the Woman of Sa?7icina{-\v\\Gn flie had found Jesus 
 the Fountain of livifig Waters) left her Water-Pot 
 by the Side of the Well, and was for having all the 
 City come, and draw Water out of this Well, 
 Christ. So you (v/hen you have known what it 
 is to have the Love of GOD filed abroad in your 
 Hearts) will be of the fame Mind. O, you will be 
 for telling all your Friends and Neighbours, what 
 great Things the Lord hath done for your Souls, 
 and how the Lord hath had Compaflion upon you. 
 Then (as Naafnan after his Cure v/anted to make 
 Elijha amends) you will defire and long to praife 
 the Lord our Saviour^ and to live to his Glory in 
 Tim.e and in Eternity ! O that ye may indeed be- 
 lieve, and prove the Things I now hy are true ! 
 May you never, never reft till you can fay trium- 
 phantly, I am wafhed, I am fanftified, I am jufti- 
 lied, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the 
 Spirit of our GOD ! i Cor. vi. 11. To him, even 
 the Lamb, GOD, Me^td for ever f be Glory and 
 Thank fgiving, World without End ! Jmcn, 
 
 F I N I s. 
 
7he Bloody Iffue Healed : 
 
 , ■.■■111"" 
 
 Being the 
 
 SUBSTANCE 
 
 O F A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd at the 
 
 Tabernacle in London, 
 
 On Thurfday-Evening, Oi^^^. lo, 1743. 
 By JOHN CENNICK, 
 
 Late of Readings in Berk/hire. 
 
 Daughter^ be of good Comfort : thy Faith hath made 
 thee whole j go in Peace, Luke viii. 48. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by John Ljwis in Barfholemm^ 
 
, Preface to the Reader, 
 
 I 
 
 , / Have read ever the; following Sermon^ 
 and think it plain and fcriftumU and 
 fweetly adapted to the Capacities of the Poor^ 
 ! for whofe Benefit it was preached^ and is now 
 . fuhlijhed. Surely the Spirit of the Lord is 
 :. upon the Author^ and the Lord has indeed 
 \, anointed him to preach the Gofpel to the Poor. 
 ^ / cayinot therefore hut own and honour him, 
 \ tho* not fent forth by E:^ternal Impofition of 
 I Hands : And I truji all our young Preachers 
 ^ will be enabled to publifh fome of their I)if- 
 J courfes for aTefiimony to the prefent^ and Benefit 
 .^ of future Ages, fhey will judge more impar- 
 \ iially, and greedily embrace what many of the 
 rprefent Generation will reje^» I am^ 
 I 
 
 Courteous Reader, 
 ; Thy Soul's Friend and Well-wiHier, 
 
 i' Brmkworth, Dec. ^^ -^^r 
 
 J 19, 1742, G. Whitefield, 
 
The Bloody Iffue Healed. 
 
 Mark v. 34. 
 
 'Daughter^ thy Faith hath made thee 
 whole 'y go in Peace ^ and be whole of 
 ^thy Plague. 
 
 N the preceding Verfes the Evan- 
 gelift gives an Account of a 
 certain Woman, who having 
 been forely difeafed of a bloody 
 IfTue, and getting no Cure elfe- 
 where, at length hearing of "Je- 
 fusy came and was healed by 
 him ; to whom, after fhe was healed, the Lord 
 fpake thefe Words, Daughter ^ thy Faith hath made 
 thee whoky &c. Of thefe Words, and of the 
 Manner of her Cure, I purpofe to fpeak in par- 
 ticular. 
 
 The Scripture faith, A certain JVoynan (perhaps 
 mtimating thereby that ilie was noted in that 
 CountryJ being difeafed ivith an Iffue of Blood 
 tzvehe Tears^ came behind him. She was a remark- 
 able Woman becaufe of her Difeafe ; and the 
 more fo, becaufe fhe had been twelve Years in 
 that Cafe, and could get no Cure. Doubtlefs fhe 
 was almofl, or quite out of Hope, of ever being 
 helped ; for fhe might confider, how Difcafes of a 
 few Days Contraction were eafily cured, but old 
 A 2 ones 
 
[4] 
 
 ones are fcarce ever removed ; they generally accom- 
 pany People to their Graves : I iay, Ihe might 
 juftly fo think, and efpecially w^hen fhe had (as we 
 are told) fpeiit all her Liv'mg upon Phyficians^ and 
 was nothing the better^ but rather the wcrfe. Her 
 Days were miferable thro' her Malady, and fhe 
 could have no Comfort, becaufe fhe was without 
 Hope of obtaining a Cure. She had (I fuppofe) 
 went to all the Phyficians who were famous for 
 doing Cures, and (it is faid) fhe had given them 
 all her Subflance : It may be, fhe had even parted 
 with her good Apparel, and had nothing but Rags 
 to cover her naked and difeafed Body ; and we 
 may rcafonably imagine, that thro' the continual 
 Kunning of her Iffue, thofe Rags fhe might have, 
 were fo very oflFenfive and loathfome, that no one 
 could look on her but as an Obje<Si: of the greatefl 
 Pity. If Friends had given her clean Rayment, it 
 would foon have become unclean and nafly ; for 
 her IfTue kept running, and polluted every Thing 
 fhe put on : But we do not hear fhe had anyFriends, 
 nor clean Apparel, nor Money, nor any Thing 
 left ; but was a poor, difeafed, unhappy Woman ; 
 the very Emblem of a Sinner, whofe Eyes the 
 Lord hath opened to fee his fearful E{l:ate ; 
 and her filthy Rags were the perfect Pi6lure 
 of Self-Righteoufnefs. In this fad Condition 
 fne heard of Jefus : Where it may be ob- 
 ferved, that few rich People ever came to Jefus 
 to be healed, or enquired after him; the Reafon 
 was, they had Money enough to pay Phyficians, 
 and fo they thought they could do without him : 
 loo many think fo, I fear, among us. When 
 the Woman herfelf had a Living, a good Eftate, 
 isc. fhe (we don't hear) looked after our Saviour 
 no more than others ; but when her All was 
 
 fpent, 
 
[ 5 ] 
 
 rpent, and fhe had heard how Jefus had healed 
 People freely, and how he loved the Poor, and 
 turned none away, fhe was encouraged to go to 
 him, and try what he could do for her : So fhe 
 came. The Lord often makes Affliction and Po- 
 verty the Means of bringing us to himfelf. He 
 oftentimes ftrips us of all the Idols we have lov'd, 
 and then we are forced to look to him ; fo he dealt 
 with the poor Woman : He let her go on in her 
 own Way a good while, even 'till Ihe had no 
 more to give to Phyficians, but was reduced to 
 Want and Penury, and then the Fame of Jefus 
 founded fweet in her Ears. Had any one told her 
 of the Lamb of God while fhe had Money and 
 Goods, ^c. perhaps fhe would have anfwered, It 
 is well thai there is fo great a Friend to the Poor who 
 want^ but as for me^ I have enough to pay 7ny Phyfi- 
 cians withy I dan do without him. It is very likely 
 flie had heard of "Jefus and his Miracles before ; 
 but fhe beard, as many hear in our Days ; they 
 fit under Sermons, and hear Precept upon Precept^ 
 and Line upon Liyie^ but are never the better : 
 They hear one fay what God has done for him ; 
 and another tells in his hearing, how his Sins are 
 pardoned, and how he found the ^un of Right eouf 
 nefs arife upon him with healing in his fFings ', but 
 all is like Water fpilt upon Sand : The Carnal on- 
 ly defpife the News, and think the Witnefles are 
 mad, or in Delufion ; or if they can believe and 
 think it true, it may be, their Anfwer is a faint, 
 I wijh I could fay fo too ; or, it may be, / thank 
 God I have no need of fee king after fefus as you : 1 
 have lived a fober Life^ and do all the Good I can, 
 and am not like other wicked Men : I am not in 
 much Care about my future State : If I Jhall not go to 
 Hcav^n^ who will? Alas! thcfe don't know their 
 A 3 Difeafe, 
 
[ 6 ] 
 
 D'Teafe, and fo don't want a Cure : Thefe are 
 they of whom 'Jefus fpake, faying, / am 7iot come 
 to call the Righteous^ for they are whole^ a?id think 
 they need vM a Phyfma?i ; but I am come to call Sin- 
 Tiers to Repentance^ and to heal the broken-hearted. 
 
 When theWoman came to Chrj/l, fhe was in the 
 utmofl Neceflity ; fhe had been aiUng twelve long 
 Years, and fo long'd for one that could heal her 
 Difeafe ; fo that I dare fay, when fhe heard of 
 JefuSf her Heart leaped for Joy : Tho' when flie 
 came, fhe did not run up to him, as if he was 
 bound to heal her ; no, fhe went behind him, a- 
 IhamM of her bloody flinking Rags, and was a- 
 fraid fo much as to afk him for Mercy ; but yet 
 followed, believing if Jhe coidd but touch the Border 
 of his Gar?nent pe Jhoidd be made whole ; and as the 
 Multitude throng'd him, fhe caught him by the 
 Hem of his Garment, and as foon as fhe touched 
 him fhe felt in herfelf fhe was healed. Hearken, 
 my dear Brethren, and come (as many as want to 
 be healed) and touch the Lord fefus too. How did 
 fhe rejoice when the liTue of her Blood ftanch'd ! 
 How did her Heart flow with Thankfulnefs, and 
 Praifes, and BleiTmg, when fhe perceived whom 
 fhe had touch'd : She knew he was more than mere 
 Man ; furely fhe knew he was the MeJJiah that 
 fnould come into the World. But fcarce had fhe re- 
 ceived fo great Mercy, but the Lord fefus turnM 
 him about in the Prefs, and afked, IVho touched 
 ?ne F The Enemy then flepp'd in, and hurried the 
 poor Soul, and tempted her, perfuading her flie 
 had no Right to touch fefus^ and might now juflly 
 look for Damnation, becaufe fhe had prefumptu- 
 oufly touched the Border of fo holy a Garment 
 vv'ifh unhallcw'd Hands, and flolen a Cure, think- 
 ing fhe could do it witlwut his Knowledge. What 
 
 Horror 
 
[7 ] 
 
 iiorror leiztJ hor at this Time ! She did not knov/ 
 what to do ! And where could (he fly from him 
 who was :evcry where ? So the I Voman fearing and 
 tremblings knoiving what was done in hcr^ came and 
 fell down before him^ and told Imn all the Truth. She 
 told liim, how fhe had been a long Time in that 
 bad Way, and how fhe believed If fhe could but >; 
 touch his Garment fhe fhould be cured, and fo ' 
 had ventured, and found hcrfelf made whole of her 
 Ifliie of Blood. But fee and admire the Love of 
 ^Jifus I So foon as fhe had ended her Confcllion, 
 to eafc her of lier Fears, and to Ihew her how he 
 is not angry at People's coming to him, he faid to 
 her, Daughter s be of good Comfort y thy Faith hath 
 faved 'thee ; go in Peace. G that the fame Saviour 
 may fay fo to every poor Sinner here To-day : Ma- 
 ny followed the Lord Jefus as well as the Woman ; 
 for the Apoflle faith, the Multitude thronged Jefus ; 
 but we bear of no other that there found any Vir- 
 tue from him, Hive the Woman : She touch'd 
 him in Taith, and was made whole ; he therefore 
 faith, thy Faith hath faved thee., go in Feace, But 
 of this I purpofe to fpeak more particularly here- 
 after. Let us apply what has been faid already. 
 
 Many that are here, may have read this Account 
 over and over ; and yet 'have fccn nothing in it but 
 a Relation of a ftrange Miracle, wrought by our 
 Siwiaur on a poor wretched Woman. Others, I 
 fuppofe, have thought while I have been fpeaking, 
 O I a?n convinced I am di feus' d like the JVoman.^ I 
 have an Iffue of Bloody an Jffue of Sin in my Hearty 
 and have had it more than twelve Tears, I have 
 had it ever fime •/ caine into the World. I wifn I 
 could he diretiled what to do to be faved. O my Bre- 
 thcen, my dear Brethren, I wifh all of you knew 
 ^ what need you are in of the Lord J'fus Chrljl, 
 
 A 4 There 
 
[ 8 ] 
 
 There is not one of you but have this IfTue by 
 Nature. Exekiel^ when he defcribes the State of 
 Man, as he is brought forth into the World, 
 faith, the Lord looked on him in his Blood (mean- 
 ing his Sin) all polluted and unclean, Ezek. xvi. 
 So the Lord looks upon you now, and tho' many 
 of you are quite infenfible of your loft Eftate, and 
 Mifery, yet he fees your Sin, pities you, and 
 fends me to tell you to Day, where is one who 
 will make you whole. Hearken therefore every 
 one of you : When you came into the World 
 you were born in Sin, corrupt and abominable, 
 and the Iflue, or Fountain of Sin was open'd in 
 your Heart, and began running, when you began 
 breathing. Many I believe, can fay with myfelf, 
 JVe are IVitneJfes by fad Experience that thefe Things 
 are Jo. Many here, I doubt not, have found Sin 
 like a bloody IfTue, and have Day after Day, and 
 Year after Year ftrove to ftop it, and could not, 
 and when you had fpent all your Strength and 
 Power in going to Phyjicians, were ftill no bet- 
 ter, but rather worfe ; it can be faid of you, 
 that you have tried all Means, and fpent all your 
 Living. You have gone to Friends and told 
 them your Trouble, and they fent you to take 
 Pleafure, to fmg Songs, to play at Cards, to drink, 
 "to ride out, and keep Company, ^c. and many 
 have feem'd to get Eafe this Way. Such fort of 
 Phyficians have been commended by many ; but 
 ' O, they only fkin over the Wound for a Seafon, 
 ' by and by the Place will break out again, and 
 'the laft State will be worfe than the firft. I be- 
 .. lieve many are in Hell now, that found fuch Help 
 in fuch miferable Comforters, and bad Phyficians, 
 and are now lamenting how they fooled away 
 their own Souls : But do not I hear fome fay, / 
 
 hav0 
 
[ 9] 
 
 have tried Pkajure and Pafiime, md Company^ 
 but O, / am never the better ^ I have look'd to 
 MofeSy and Jlrove to do all he bid jne, I have 
 Jafled and prayed Night amljDayy I have gone 
 to Churchy given to the Peor^ read much, and 
 ivept and for rowed, but yet I av2 overco?ne by 
 Sin, it ftill runs upon all my Duties, and defiles 
 them, it fiains all my Right eoufnefs, it 7ningles 
 in all my bejf Works, pollutes my mnft holy Ser- 
 vices, and inftead oj getting the ViBory over it^ 
 I grow worfe amd --worfe. I Jlrive, and refolve^ 
 and make Vows, and I break all. Books and 
 Sermons, and Scripture afford me no Comfort, I 
 fear my Wound is incurable, my Pain is perpetuah 
 I have no Reft Day nor Night, and my Moijfure 
 is like the Drought in Summer. If I feem to 
 he ,a little fweet, and Sin does not rule for a Sea- 
 fon it is only like a Torrent flem'd up, which 
 anon breaketh down with greater Fiolence, and 
 carries all bejore it. I am ready to Jay there is 
 no Help for me in my God, and 1 have no Reft 
 becaufe of ?ny Sin. Who art thou that fo criefl. 
 Is there no Bab?! in Gilead? Is there no Phyfician 
 there ? Jefus came to bring Salvation to a diftrefied 
 People. Draw nigh to Mount Golgotha, and take a 
 View of the Lord Jefus dying there for thee ! There 
 He pays the Price of thy Soul, and flieds down that 
 rich Blood, that has heal'd all the Spirits of juffc 
 Men made perfe6l i-n Heaven, and may heal thee. 
 But methinks I hear thee anfwer, O I am the worji 
 of Sinners, I am the very chief eji of all : I am par- 
 ticularly f.nful, and difeas d. So was the poor 
 Woman I have been fpeaking of, ftie was very 
 bad, but not too bad to be heal'd. But thou 
 fay'fl:, If any could hut fee my Sin^ and my rebellious 
 Hearty they lUQidd he of my Mindy and fay there is 
 
^ [10] 
 
 no Mercy, Thou judgeft right, for with Men it 
 is impoffible to fave, or cure a Sinner, that finds 
 he has no whole Part in him^ but is full of Wounds^ 
 and Brulfes^ and putrifying Sores ; but the Thoughts 
 of God are higher than our Thoughts^ aud his Ways 
 above our JVays^ and nothing is impoflible with 
 him : Is a?ry thing too hard for the Lord? But yet 
 again methinks I hear thee fay, / am old in Sin. I 
 fear I am nozu harden dy and given over to a repro- 
 bate Mind, If I had went to Jejus when I was 
 youngs or a good while ago had I apply d to him^ then 
 I might have found Mercy ; but then I was one of them 
 that went to other Phyficians, and thought I could get 
 to Heaven by my own Rigbteoufiefs-y and turn^ and 
 f«ve ?nyfelf when I zuould ; beftde^ I remember fome 
 time ago-i I had ConviSiions of Sin ^ and was drawn 
 by the Father^ hut I luent on^ finned again/} Lights 
 and now I fear I have committed the Sin againj} the 
 Holy Ghoji; and what confirms me in my TljoughtSy 
 of being out of the reach of Mercy ^ is, becaufe my 
 Sin has been of fo long Duration^ I have had the 
 Jl inking^ filthy^ and loath fome Iffue more than 12 Yean. 
 My dear Fellow-finner, what I have been fpeaking 
 as the Language of thy Heart, was a few Years 
 ago the Language of my own, and I did then 
 think I was confign'd over to everlafting Perdition. 
 I could have as much Hope* and more iovfudas^EfaUy 
 Francis Spira, Sec. than for myfelf, I fought to other 
 Phyficians indeed, viz. DeHghts, Plays, ^c. to 
 divert my Grief ; I then attempted by long Fafts, 
 and Abftinence, and Prayers, and Tears, and Alms, 
 and going twice a Day to Church, and praying all 
 Day long in private, to ftanch my IfTue of Sin, but, 
 alas ! I flrove in vain. I was more and more led 
 Captive by the Devily and more and more con- 
 vinced th^t without Chrijiy I could do nothing. Yet 
 
 Ibe- 
 
[ " ] 
 
 believed like the Woman, that if I could teuch 
 the Hem of the Lord's Garment by Faith, I fhould 
 he made whole ; and having been enabled to do fo, 
 I bear Witnefs he is the fame Ycflerday, to-day, 
 and for ever, and will heal poor Sinners of what- 
 <;ver Difeafe they have, wlien they fly to him for 
 •Pardon. I know you believe he is able to heal 
 vou : Methinks I hear you fay, O that 1 could hut .. 
 touch the Lord's Garment (his Righteoufnefs is his 
 Garment) / fmukl he made whole ^ hut I douht his 
 IFill', If I did 'hut know he loved me^ I vjould give 
 tcji thoufand tVorlds. Sayft thou {o ? O come then to 
 ^Jefus^ and tho' thou haft defpis'd him, and re- 
 je61:ed his kind Offers and Calls, and haft let him 
 pafs by thee, yet follow on, and thou mayft yet , 
 know the Lord, The difeafed poor Woman did 
 not meet, did not cry to Jefus when he pafs'd 
 by, but came behind and followed him, and fhe 
 tlid not follow in vain. Here, O poor Sinner, 
 thou mayft learn, that if thou haft let our Saviour 
 call thee, and court thee in vain before now, and 
 futFer'd him to pafs by, and refus'd to go with 
 him, yet thou mayft go after him, and have him 
 turn back, and give thee a gracious Anfwer to all , 
 thy Prayers. So did the Spoufe in the Canticles^ 
 when fhe had long refusM her Beloved Entrance 
 into her Chamber, and by vain Excufes caufed 
 him to withdraw, fhe rofe and fought him by 
 Night, and found him. Up then, thou that haft 
 (like me) often refus'd our Saviour room in thy 
 Heart, go behind him weeping, and follow on, 
 fhewing thy wretched Eftate, and he will foon con- 
 vince Thee he changeth not, but is the fame 
 Yefterday, to-day, and for ever ; you will find him ' 
 turn to your Complainings, and ready to anfwer 
 to your carncft Prayers. I daie fay, when fhe 
 
 followed 
 
t" ] 
 
 followed Jefm^ and faw what a Multitude fur- 
 rounded him, and how hard it was to get at him, 
 Ihe reafoned within herfelf, and might fay, / may as 
 well go back^ as forward^ for lo I there is no tuay 
 to him for me. But ftill ihe went on, and as fhe 
 could, got in among the Crowd, and then, ac- 
 cording to her Faith, was fhe healed by touching 
 the Hem of the Redeemers Garment. Your 
 Thoughts, ye Publicans^ ye Sinners^ may be like 
 hers, you may think whenever I go to pray, I 
 have fuch a Company of evil Thoughts, and fuch 
 a Multitude of Temptations between me and Je- 
 fusy that I am often tempted to ftrive no more. 
 O my Brother, my Sifter, whofoever thou art, 
 be not difcouraged : Follow after Jefus^ and fay. 
 If I perijh^ I will perijh at the King's Feet. But 
 perhaps thou feeft that thy bloody IfTue of Sin 
 hath made all thy beft Deeds but an Abomination, 
 and that thy very Appearance is an evil Savour in 
 the Noftrils of the moft pure God^ arid fo becaufe 
 thou art fo bad, and unworthy, thou canft not 
 venture to come. Dear Heart ! This, no doubt, 
 was the cafe of this poor Woman, ftie thought 
 her IfTue was fo filthy and unclean, that it would 
 offend the Noftrils of the Son of God, therefore 
 came behind him. But fhe did venture at laft, fhe 
 came, fhe touched, and was made whole. Let 
 this encourage thee then to come behind fefusy 
 and to believe that his Righteoufnefs may be 
 touch'd by unworthy thee. None but the ungodly 
 are juftify'd by it, none but the loft, perilhing 
 Souls lay hold on it ; who knows ? this Day the 
 Righteoufnefs of jfefus may be revealed in thine 
 Heart, and all thy Sins wafh'd away^ by a crucified 
 Saviour's Blood ? 
 
 My 
 
[ 13 ] ' 
 
 My Brethren, if any of you could now be- 
 lieve in the Lord^y and by Faith draw nigh, and 
 touch the Hem of his Garment, you fhall be 
 healed, and have the Comfort of knowing it alfo. 
 Some indeed teach that we may be forgiven, and 
 yet not know it ; and healed, and yet we not be 
 fenfible of it ; but fuch Do£lrine is dangerous, and 
 tends to make Men eafy where they are, and 
 cry Peace, Peace to the?nfelves, when there is w# 
 Peace. Do not you fo learn Chr'ift. Let 
 none here reft till they know they have 
 clos'd with 'J ejus, till you can fay, with full 
 AfTurance of Faith, That you have touched him ; 
 and till Jefus bears witnefs in your Hearts, that 
 Virtue is gone out of his Wound, to heal you. 
 This Woman felt in her Body that Jhe was healed 
 •f her Plague, So you may know and feel in 
 yourfelves, even while you are in thefe Bodies^ 
 that your Souls are healed of the Plague of Sin. So 
 foon as fhe touched our Saviour, her Illue's 
 bleeding fbnch'd. So likewife when you believe 
 in yefus, you fhall find the Power of Sin ceafe, 
 and dry up. Sin fhall not reign any more in your 
 mortal Bodies. You fhall be more than Conqueror^ 
 through Him that loved you, and reign over Sin, and 
 the World, and the Devil with him, and be as 
 Kings in the Earth, You fhall then, from Expe- 
 rience, believe Jefus to be God bleiled for ever- 
 more ! and become his blefTed, and happy Wit- 
 nefTes, World without End. 
 
 But, it may be, you can fay, / believs I was horn 
 of God at fuch a ti?ne ; I then could call Jefus 
 Chrifl fny Saviour, and was fure my Sins were for- 
 given, but now I doubt, and am afraid : Come 
 then fearing and trembling to Jefus, and fall down 
 at his dear Feet, and fhew him all that is done. 
 Tell him you are troubled, left you have pre- 
 
 furnptoailv 
 
[ H] 
 
 fumptoully touch'd him without Preparation, and 
 I know his Anfwer will be, Son^ he of good Cheer, 
 Daughter^ he of good Coinfori^ thy Faith hath faved 
 thee i thy Faith hath made thee whole ; go hi Peace, 
 Too many think they muft do a good deal be- 
 fore they can be cured j they think they muft 
 live good Lives, and be very ^nSi in their Du- 
 ty, l^c, ere they can know their Sin is forgiven ; but 
 fuch err^ not knozuing the Scriptures^ neither the 
 Power of God, Jefus receiveth Sinners, He 
 jujiifieth the Ungodly^ by imputing his Rigliteouf- 
 nefs to them, znd whofcever believeth in him (Bond 
 or free, Male or Female, Jetv or Greek) fhall 
 receive RemiiSon of their Sins. Jefus Chrijl 
 wants no other Preparation to come to him, 
 but that we be convinced that we are poor, needy. 
 loft, pcrifhing Sinners without him. The Woman 
 in the Text had nothing to recommend her to the 
 Lord's Pity, but her Wretchednefs and Sin, and 
 yet is fhe (I don't doubt) at this time a Witnefs 
 of his Free-Grace in the Kingdom of Heaven. 
 She, when Ihe came, had no good Works to pleads 
 that merited Companion or Favour ; but ihe came 
 quite flrip'd, afhamed, and very miferable ; and 
 wliat did fhe meet with ? Why ? with free 
 rich Grace, revealed thro' Faith in the Lord Je- 
 fus Chrijh Thy Faith hath Javed thec^ faith our 
 Saviour^ not thy Works, not thy own good 
 Deeds. No, hut thy Faith hath faved thee^ go in 
 Peace. O come hither, and hearken, ye foolifh, 
 and learn Wifdom. It is by Faith only in "Jefus 
 Chrifi^ poor Sinners get to the Redemption which 
 is in him, even the P'orgivenefs of all their 
 Sins. By Faith alone are the Unrighteous brought 
 to Gody and by Faith only made whole- If 
 any afk how ? I anfwer, Faith is like a Plaifter 
 
 fpreai 
 
1 15] 
 
 I'pread Avith the Blood of Chrijl which heals every 
 JDifeafe. Faith in good Works, laid to a wounded 
 Sinner's Confdence, only puts him to more Pain. It 
 is hke an improper Medicine laid to a Sore, the 
 Patient is at no reft till it is taken away. Many 
 Sinners defpair, and are unhappy, and diftracled, 
 and miferable, becaufe they believe in others befide 
 Jf^fus. Cruel Phyficians tell them, you muft not 
 think to be faved merely by believing in Chrijiy 
 you muft live a good Life, and keep the Com- 
 mandments before you can be heal'd ; and de- 
 luded Souls believe it true ; and fo while they 
 are looking after Righteoufnefs, and Salvation 
 by the Works of the Law, they are always in 
 Bondage, and are not heal'd. O that God may 
 give you to make Jefus Chri/i the Obje6l of your 
 Faith, and believe none other can do you good, 
 believe no good Work can be done, neither will 
 you be anything the better, but worfe and worfe, 
 till you can truft your Souls in the Lord Jefus 
 ChrijV s Arms, and fly for Refuge, Redemption, 
 and Deliverance only in his precious Blood. Who- 
 ever believes in his pierced Body, nail'd to the 
 Crofs for Sin, and bruifed for his Iniquity, and 
 can look to his Blood, and Name, as to the Foun- 
 tain open'd for his Sin, and for his Uncleannefs, 
 fhall by his Stripes be healed. Many have a dead 
 Faith in yefus that profits not, but few have that 
 Faith which faveth the Soul : I mean a living Faith, 
 dipped in the Blood oljefus : A Faith apprehending 
 Chrijiy and laying hold on the Hem of his Garment. 
 O my Brethren, ftrive for this Faithy luhich was 
 once delivered to the Saints : Reft not, but follow 
 after Jefus, and ceafe not to cry, Lord^ help mine 
 Unbelief y till you can fay with Joy (the Holy 
 Ghoft bearing you Witnefs in your Confcience) 
 
 I 
 
/ believe : Yea, the Life I now live in the Plejh^ 1 
 live by Faith in the Son of Gody who loved me and 
 gave himfelf for me. Sit not down 'till you have 
 found Virtue come out of Jtfus to heal you : I 
 mean Merit from his pierced Body to make vou 
 whole of your Plague. When you are made clean, 
 and healed by Faith in the Blood of Chriji^ you 
 need not defire to be taught of Man if you are 
 right or not ; the Anointing that you have received 
 will teach you, and the Spirit will be your Witnefs 
 that you arc made whole. You will find the Power 
 and Dominion of Sin ftanch, and you will fhew to 
 the World then that you have been with fefus ; by 
 the Virtue you have received, you will walk as 
 Chriji alfo walk'd in the midjl of this finful and 
 perverfe Generation^ among whom-, by your, gooJ 
 IVorks^ ycu will fi)ine as Lights in the IVorld. Your- 
 felves being affured alfo of yout Part in Chrijly 
 fhall pafs fweetly the Refidue of your Days in Ho~ 
 linefs and Rigbtecufe-eff without Fear ; and wait 
 happy at the Feet of the Lamb, 'till he fhall fend 
 for you to the joyful Number upon the Mount 
 Sion ; where you fhall tune your Song to the 
 Harpers Harps, and to the Praife of the Free 
 Grace and Mercy of our dear Saviour, you fhali 
 fmg of his Salvation for ever and ever. Amen, 
 
 F I N I S. 
 
A Short 
 
 A C C O U NT 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 EXPERIENCE 
 
 O F 
 
 Mrs. Anne Beaker^ 
 LITTLETON, 
 
 (A Village on the Borders of 
 Wiltshire) 
 
 From the Time of her Conversion, 
 
 which was in the Beginning of the Year 
 1740, to the Time of her Death, which 
 happen*d in the Clofe of the Year 1 743. 
 
 Written by 
 
 JOHN C E NN IC K, 
 
 Late of Reading in Berk/hire, 
 
 Many Daughters have done virtuoufly, hut thou 
 excellejl them all. Favour is deceitful^ and 
 Beauty is vain, hut a Woman thatfeareth the 
 Lord Jhejhall he praifed, Prov. xxxi. 29, 30, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the Author : And Sold by J. Le^ns, m Bar- 
 tholome^dc -Clofe ^ and at the Tabernacle. Where may be 
 had, A POEM on the fame Occafion, By Mt, Cervick. 
 
 M DCC XL IV, . 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 /Nas much as I bieiv the Perfon 'welh'whofe Ex- 
 perience I have here written 5 and ivas an Eye 
 and an EarWitnefs to mariy notable Graces that \ 
 Jhe'-jocd forth the'Loo.-D JESUS in her ^ and be- ' 
 caufe the Per/on s ivho attended on her at the T'ii'ne ' 
 of her Tieparture-, and "were in the Houfe ninth 
 Jper Jlnceher happy Ccnverjion, almofi continually^ 
 are Juch i^^hoje Praije is in the Church j and are 
 iv'ell reported of by all the Brethren , / thought 
 rnyf elf bound to the Difciples of the Lord JESUS, 
 to pubUfofomefnall Account of the Lord's Deal- 
 ings nx'ith her Soul 5 believing^ that as it has been 
 hkjs^d by our Saviour to foine-, ix^hen toM by 
 Word cj Mouth 3 fo it alfo ivill be blejs'd to others, 
 into nvhofe Hands theljO-R d pall direcf the fame ^ 
 as it is here ^written. I only ivifi that allnxho read 
 thiSy may befo highly javoured of the Lord Jelbs 
 Chrift, as to be made Partaker of like precious 
 Faith ivith her-, nxho (I doubt not) is noiv among 
 the hundred andjorty and four thoufand ivhofol- 
 lew Jesus, harping on their Harps upon the Mount 
 Sion ; and iioho are cafting do'-jcn their Crc-ivns to 
 the Ground before the Throne, crying out Alleluia! 
 
[ 3 ] 
 
 A Short 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 EXPERIENCE 
 
 O F 
 
 iMrs. Anne Beaker, &:c. 
 
 OPwards of twenty Years (lie lived an en- 
 tire Stranger to the Lord, nor knew 
 any thing of the Want of the Blood and 
 Righteoufnefs of the Son of GOD ; but 
 pent her Time in (what the "IVorld calls) Innocent 
 Mirth, Company, Dreffing, Singing Songs, and in 
 11 the Gaiety of this prefent Life. Thus fhe was 
 ecommended to the Efteem and Favour of many 
 n the Country where flie lived ; and with this, to- 
 ether with a natural Swcetnefs of Temper, and 
 hearfulnefs of Difpontion, being alfo a Stranger to 
 !are, fhe feem'd to make herfelf happy in the 
 Vorld, and anfwered truly that Charadter in Jfaiah, 
 d JVonian carelefs and at Eafe in Sion. 
 
 When I firft preached in the Street at Caftle-Coom 
 
 i\ JFiltJhirey out of Novelty (with fome thoufands 
 
 A 2 from 
 
[4] 
 
 from all Parts) flie came to hear, and before fhc 
 went av/ay the Lord prick'd her to the Heart, 
 and fhe was awaken'd to fee her loft Eftate, ; 
 and her miferable Condition without Christ, j 
 She v/as full of Care to know what jQie muft do to j 
 be faved, and went home with a heavy Heart; o 
 and got to Prayers in Secret, weeping often, 
 and wailing over a pierced Saviouk. I remem- 
 ber I went to the fame Town for fome Time, once 
 in a Fortnight ; and fhe always after attended, and 
 was obfervM to be much afFe<3:ed every Time. 
 Not long after fhe was convinced of Sin, I was 
 defired by her and her Mother, to come to Lit- 
 tleton^ where I began to be acquainted with her, 
 and faw more evidently every Time I came the 
 Marks of a poor Sinner in her. She always be- 
 haved with the utmoft Sobriety and Modefty ; 
 and, like a Servant, always chofe to wait upon 
 the Brethren and Strangers ; and was often fo at- 
 tentive to hear what was fpoken by me, or other 
 Friends, at Table, dff^. that fhe forgot, when a- 
 ny thing was afk'd for, to fetch it. I have feen 
 her often weep much in Publick and Private ; and 
 let fall fome Words at Times that betray'd her 
 great Longing to know Jesus Christ, and her • 
 Sorrow that fhe had been fo long without GOD 
 in the World, 
 
 As her Hungering and Thirfting for Christ 
 increafed, fhe ufed herfelf to go to Places where 
 was Preaching at many Miles Diftance ; and was 
 never fo happy as when in the Company of fome 
 who knezv tlie LORD. Thus fhe continued 
 feeking for fome Months, and in that Time endured 
 many Conflicts with the Enemy, and underwent 
 many fore Trials of Doubts and Fears till a little 
 after the next Chrijlmafs^ when (while fhe was 
 
 waiting 
 
[5] 
 
 waiting upon the LORD) He remembcr'd the 
 low Eftate of His Hand-maiden, and revealed 
 Himfelf to her. While fhe doubted, the Holy 
 Spirit brought thofe Words witli Power upon 
 her Soul, Reach hither thy Finger^ and behold my 
 Hands^ and reach hither thy Hand^ and thru/} it 
 into my Side^ and be not faithlefs^ but believing. 
 While this Scripture was thus fet on her Mind, 
 the Lord JESUS quieted her, and fpake Peace 
 to her Soul -, and fhe receiv'd an AfTurance that 
 her Sins were all forgiven ; and in an holy Extafy 
 file abode two Days , in great Triumph crying 
 out, My Lord^ arid my God ! She now could no 
 longer hide her uncommon Joy from thofe of the 
 Family, but told all what the Lord had done for 
 her Soul ; and how He had revealed His Love in 
 her Heart by the Holy Ghost. 
 
 In this Light fhe walk'd continually, and doubt- 
 ed not any more till fhe iinifh'd her Courfe. A- 
 bout the Time of her Converfion, feveral Socie- 
 ties were begun to be fet up higher in the Coun- 
 try, and fhe (as often as fhe could) was there. 
 Her Manner of Life in all thofe Parts, was not 
 unknown ; She being like a City fet on an Hill. 
 Her Behaviour was always becoming a Woman 
 profeffing Godlinefs. She was the mofl ready to 
 reprove for the leaft idle Word of any I had known, 
 and made the Subje6l of her Converfation Jesus 
 Christ continually. She was truly a Fellow- 
 helper to the Miniilers, and labcur'a much in the 
 Lord, both to bring Souls to a faving Acquaint- 
 ance with our Saviour, and to build up thofe 
 that were His. She was prefent often at the Meet- 
 ings of People of feveral Denominations, but was 
 prevented from joining with any becaufe of the 
 Barrennefs of the Members, and the dead State 
 A3 in 
 
[ 6 ] 
 
 in which they preached, and heard. For thi^ 
 Reafon flie was therefore often at Tetherton^ 
 Br'mkworth^ and Longley^ and fometimes at Kings^ 
 wood and BriJiol\ at all which Places fhe certain- 
 ly was made a Pattern of Sobriety and Godlinefs ; 
 and many are hef Witnefles how much her Walk 
 has been blefs'd to them there. 
 
 On Sunday-, OSfober the 30th5 fhe went down 
 to BriftoU to the Preaching, and ftaid there fe- 
 veral Days with fome Chriftlan-Friends, among 
 whom, as fhe was converfing of the Things of the 
 Kingdom, fhe faid, / believe I Jhall not he long here\ 
 and rejoiced at the Thoughts of a quick Return 
 out of the World. After fhe had vifited the 
 Brethren there, fhe came back to Littleton with 
 Mr. Lewis^ and with a * Sifler of Segery ; and ap- 
 peared wonderfully pleas'd all the Way, and when 
 file came home ; faying often, / wou^d not have 
 been ivithout this yourney for all the World. Hoiv 
 has the Lord fill' d me continually with his Love ever 
 ftnce I went cut ! I can^ t forbear prayings Let him 
 kifs me with the Kijfes of his Mouth ; for his Love 
 is better than JVine I Methinks I behold the Angeh 
 in Heaven rejUcing over me I To them of the . 
 Houfe fhe faid, / kmzu the Lord is preparing me 
 for fome great Trials I have fo much of His Pre- 
 fence. I am fo happy., that I thinks if my dear SA- 
 VIOUR fooidd withdraw himfelf but one Moment ^ I 
 Jhould break 7ny Heart. 
 
 On tjie Sunday after her Mother went to Lo7ig' 
 Aj, to the Society, on Horfeback ; but fhe went 
 on Foot, in hopes to take fome Company with her 
 from Durdy^ but difappointed, fhe went without 
 any body with her all the Way, which is about • 
 fevcn Miles : Her Mother feeing her come alone, 
 afii'd her, if Jhc had no Company ? She fmilingly 
 
 intimated 
 * Mrs. Jane Bryant. 
 
[?] 
 
 intimated, that (he had the beft of Company, and 
 faid, / am not alone. After the Sermon was end- 
 ed fhe went to Tcthertoriy where the Brethren had 
 a Feaji of Charity.^ and was very much refrefhed 
 in her own Soul. The Monday ftie returned 
 home, and on the next Day {he was taken ill ; 
 and on Wednejday (her Sicknefs increafmg) her Mo- 
 ther was fent for, who perceiving her Diftemper 
 was the Small-Pox, and was dangerous, fhev/'d 
 fome Signs of Grief, to whom (he fmil'd, and faid. 
 You ?nuft give me up^ Mother^ I am 7tot yours now, 
 lam the Lord^s, Her Mother yet feemingly moved 
 at the Things (he fufFered from her Difeafe, fpake 
 a little of her Concern ; to whom fhe anfwered, 
 IVJoat Matter is it hoiv tnuch this Lump of Cor^ 
 ruption goes thro' ! My Soul is the Lord's* 
 
 In fome Part of the Day (he defired one of the 
 Sifters from Dunly^ about a Mile and a half from 
 thence, might be fent for, whom (when (he was 
 come) (he defired to abide with her, faying. If 
 you go from me^ it will he the great eft Crofs lean have. 
 WhefM:he Small-Pox was come out, (he feem'd to 
 all Appearance nigh her End. She groan'd deeply, 
 and fhew'd all Signs of a fudden Change. One of 
 her Relations call'd her, but (he took no Notice, 
 but as (he difturbed her, by (baking her (lie reco- 
 ver 'd, and as (he gather' d Breath, (lie wept ex- 
 ceedingly, faying, JVhy did you difturh me ? You 
 have hindered ?ne .from goings in a Breath or two 
 more I had been in Glory. I felt no Pain^ he^ 
 caufe of the Joy that I was entering upon. After this 
 fhe lay ftill a little, and being quite refign'd, Ihc 
 faid, / believe it is the Lord's Will that T Jhrndd he 
 revivd^ that I may /peak of his Love. And fit- 
 ting up in the Bed, (he break out with Joy, and 
 faid, Death is nothing to me-, for ]zs\j% hath taken 
 
[ 8] 
 
 cway the Sting \ and thenfpake of the Lord till fhe 
 could not be heard, and then ceas'd till fhe got 
 Breath to fpeak again, and then fhe went on, 
 faying, The Lord hath Jhewn me the State of the 
 * Churches^ and hath given me Faith and Power to 
 pray for them^ and for the Minijlers^ and for the 
 Churches in Wiltfhire efpecially. 
 
 On the Monday after, her Brother, with Sifler 
 How el of Brijiol^ came to vifit her ; fhe feem'd 
 greatly pleas 'd to fee them, and began to eafe her 
 Mind to them about many Things that had lain 
 with no fmall Weight on her Spirits, faying, / be- 
 lieve I am ripening for Glory. I have had many 
 Temptations^ and yet glorious Manifejlations of the 
 Lord J ESiJS. I think I have been favour d like the 
 Beloved John : Our Saviour hath taken me up as itito 
 the third Heaven.^ and fiew^ d me his Glory, and how 
 it is the Blindnefs of our own Nature^ that keeps us 
 from having continual Fellowjhip with God', and 
 why he fuffers us to be tried and tempted. And 
 would have proceeded, but overcome with the 
 Senfe of the Love of Jefus Chrijl^ fhe cried out, 
 O, / canU exprefs what I have feen and known ! I 
 am lojl in Love ! Why did the Lord love fo poor a 
 Creature ? 
 
 On the next Day in the Morning, a few of 
 thofe Friends from Brijlol with others, joined in 
 Prayer, and the Lord was wonderfully among 
 them, file rejoicing greatly, faying. My Beloved 
 is mi?ie, and I am his. And would have fang with 
 them, but becaufe of the Weaknefs of her Body, 
 and the Violence of her Diftemper, they prevail'd 
 on her to forbear to fmg outwardly 3 then fhe 
 break out, faying, 
 
 < O how 
 
 * The Societies* 
 
[91 
 
 « O how favoured of the Lanib 
 
 * Am I the Sinners Chief? 
 « I the Lord's Difciple am ! 
 
 < Redeemed from Unbelief: 
 
 < I am furely born of G O D ! 
 
 « Am feal'd t'inherit endlefs Blifs : 
 
 * r?n a Chrijiian^ Jesu's Blood 
 
 ' Hath feal'd me one of his. 
 
 Thus Ihe continued breathing out Bleflings and 
 Praifes, and fhewing the utmoft Signs of Joy ima- 
 ginable, as her Breath and Strength would permit, 
 and then lay quiet till {he had recruited her 
 Strength, and began again, 
 
 < I am borne on Eagles Wings, 
 
 < On high behold I foar : 
 
 * All the World and earthly Things, 
 
 < I wifh for now no more : 
 
 * I partake of Angel's Food ! 
 
 * Their Prince my Mediator is ; 
 « Pm a Chr'ijiian^ Jesu's Blood 
 
 * Hath feal'd me one of his. 
 
 Now and then fhe faid. None know but cur 
 Saviour what Pain I go thro' : Yet how does the 
 Lord favour me f ^ And how little do I love him P 
 Hozv ?nuch hath he done for ?ne P And how little 
 have I done for him P And then fhe faid, / will 
 fpeak of Jes\js while I have Breath, 
 
 « While on the Bofom of the Lamb 
 
 < My favour'd Soul may lean, 
 
 < ril fing the Merits of his Name 
 
 ^ Before the Sons of Men. 
 
 ' Freedom 
 
[ 10 ] 
 
 « Freedom too great to be exprefsM, 
 
 ' In him behold I prove : 
 ^I enter now his People's Reft, 
 
 ' And tafte eternal Love ! 
 
 * Well might the Saint (when truly free) 
 
 * Amaz'd this Mercy fhare ! 
 ^ And call it glorious Liberty : 
 
 ' For oh ! 'tis paft compare ! i^c. 
 
 After fhe had ceas'd repeating the Hymns, ftie 
 faid, AI/ this do I experience in myfelfjiow. Some- 
 times, for a little Space, thro' the Greatnefs of her 
 Pain, Ihe was fcarce fenfible, and left fhe fhould . 
 drop a Word then that might not be of Ufe, fhe 
 pray'd the Lord to keep her, and defired Sifter 
 Howell to watch her, and if flie fhould fpeak 
 foolifh, to check her. Tho' in a Letter I re- 
 ceiv'd from the above-mention'd j^oung Woman, 
 fhe faith, " fhe behav'd hke a Lamb in all her 
 " Pain, meek and lov/ly, and with all her AfTu- 
 *' ranee, was humbled under a deep Senfe of her 
 *' own Unworthinefs, which made her often cry 
 '« out, WJjat has the Lord done for me'\f 
 
 After a Time of Silence, fhe faid. How does 
 every me talk of the Thifigs of the World P And 
 how little is fpoken for the Lord Jesus? 1 cayit 
 hear to have my Mafier flighted fo. And at Times, 
 Pain and lack of Breath ftopp'd her from faying 
 any Thing, for- which Reafon, they of her Ac- 
 quaintance, feveral Times would have had her 
 ceas'd from fpeaking at all, but in vain, fhe ftill 
 infifting that fhe would fpeak of him with her laft 
 Breath. One faid to her, / believe your Death 
 will be a Lofs ts the Church, No (faid fhe) / Jhall 
 
 bring 
 
[ p ] 
 
 Bring more Glory to God in my Death 
 When the Diftemper turn'd, they 
 worji was paji, and 7iow (they faid) we believe you 
 willUv£\ to which fhe meekly anfwer'd, Andmujl 
 J come back into this najly World again, where my 
 Majier^s Name is not named once in a Day ! No ! 
 it cannot be. But if it Jhould be fo, it will be for 
 fome great End. But afterwards the Fever in- 
 creafing, and they perceiving fhe was not far from 
 dying, one afk'd her, if fhe was willing to live ? 
 She anfwer'd, 7 have no Will of my own. 
 
 The Night before fhe died me appeared in much 
 Pain, and was refllefs, and groan'd as one very 
 much opprefs'd ; and then fhe cry'd aloud, / am 
 opprefs'd! 'Lq'S.'d thou haji died for me I From this 
 Time fhe recover'd great Spiritual Strength, and 
 fpake of her having had fome fore Confli<Sts with 
 the Enemy, but triumphed over him, faying, 
 Thou Devil, thou canjl not hurt me ! Thou old 
 Devil, thou darejl not touch me ! for I am the 
 lord's, and thou darefi not touch one of His 
 Anointed! The Seed of the Woman Jhall break thy 
 Head. My Master is the KING of Kings, 
 and LORD of Lords, and None Jhall pluck me out 
 of His Hand! I Jhall die the Death of the Righ- 
 teous, and ?ny latter End Jhall be like His. Thou 
 know eft 7ny Beloved is mine, and I am His ! 
 
 Oh, 1 ajn exceeding happy ! Jidy Soul is full ! O 
 what Love hathfESUS for poor Sinners! O 
 how did the Lord co?ne down from His Father'^ 
 Throne to die for ??ie the chief ejl of Sinners ! O a- 
 ?nazing Grace ! that the Lord of Glory Jhoud die for 
 fuch an one as me I I, that have liv din Sin twenty- 
 four Tears, and have done nothing but Sin againft 
 the Lord! O Free-Grace I How free is his Love 
 ts Sinners/ 
 
 As 
 
Freed 
 
 or 
 
 [ 12 ] 
 
 In :ow^// perceived fhe was going, and 
 cj enf^ain of Body, fhe wept; which Si- 
 fter Beaker finding, cry'd out, Dear Stfier^ don't 
 you remember that when you and I were ^/Briilol, how 
 we leaned on each other's Breafts^ atid faid^ Why is 
 His Chariot fo long in coming ? Why tarry the Wheels 
 cf His Chariot ? And now do youjhrink at the Sound 
 of His Coming ? This, indeed, my Sijler, is but mock- 
 ing of &od. She anfwer'd, / wept not hecaufe of 
 your going, hut hecaufe of your Pain, when I can do 
 nothing fpr you. She again anfwer'd, I wonder how 
 you can do fo much for me. Hew good is the Lord to 
 me I IVloat am 1 that the Lcrd Jhoidd favour me thus ? 
 After fhe had laboured under exceffive Pain, and 
 was faint and worn out with her Difeafe, in the 
 full -Aflurance of Faith, about Six in the Morn- 
 ing, the 23^ Day oi Nov ember y 1743. when her 
 Speech was very low, Ihe whifper'd, / have over- 
 come. And without the leaft Groan, fell afleep in 
 the LORD, 
 
 Some Time before fhe fickened, fhe was fo em- 
 ploy'd in holy Meditation, and fo fill'd with a 
 Senfe of the Love of God, that fhe was fcarce able 
 to mind the Bufmefs of the Houfe. And I remem- 
 ber that a few Weeks ago (which was the lafl 
 Time I was in her Company) I was riding with 
 her to Kingfduood, and was relating much of her 
 Experience , and faying how happy fhe was fmce 
 fhe knew the Lord. JVJjen you came firft to our 
 Houfe (fays fhe) and I was a little awakened, 1 
 Jhew^d you Bijhop KennV Hy?nn, andafk'd you, if it 
 wasnot fweet'i you f aid Tes ; but thofe two Lines e- 
 fpecially, 
 
 «' Lord, to my Soul 'tis Hell to be 
 «' Though but a Moment void of thee. 
 I CGudnot fee anything then in them, but fmce I fee 
 it plain, Icoud not live, if I was not to live with 
 Him, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
LETTER 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Little Children, 
 
 Efpeclally to Thofe 
 
 Who want to know how to go to 
 Heaven. 
 
 Jefus faith^ fuffer little Children to come to me^ and 
 forbid them not^ for of fuch is the Kingdom of 
 God^ Luke xviii. i6. 
 
 nofe that feek me early Jhall find me^ Prov. viii. j 7, 
 
 
 
 By JOHN CENNICK. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the A u t h o r, and Sold by J. Lewis 
 in Bartholomew-Clofe, nezr IVeJl-Smithfield. 
 
 MDCCXLIV. 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 
 —r^'i'^ V ^-- -^ .- -^v<>.x„^^v~ .■'■i-;nri»rr^/1> 
 
 LETTER 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Little Children, &c. 
 
 when 
 
 Dear little Children^ 
 
 Ecaufe our Saviour loves you, and becaufe I . 
 love you, I write you a Letter, to tell you ' 
 how you fhall be faved. Some of you think ■ 
 it is Time enough for you to begin to leek , 
 CO go to Heaven when you arc older, and ; 
 ; ou i^.vjw up to be Men and Women, then you 
 Ihall underlland the Matter of Religion better ; and that 
 Jefus Chr'ijl don't make himfelf known to fuch little • 
 Children as you ; That is the Devil makes you think fo, , 
 and it is becaufe you don't love our Saviour, you give 
 Way to fuch Thoughts. For if you loved "Jejus Chriji, 
 you would be glad to know him now, and would not 
 want to ilay longer, before you fought after him. "1 he 
 Devil tells People it is Time enough to be good hereaf- 
 ter,' when they can read better, and v.hen they are old, 
 or when they arc fick and going fo die, and when Peo- 
 ple beheve him, they will not hear of Chrift, but take 
 his Name in vain, fmg Songs, and fwear and ileal, and 
 
 tell Lies, and live V/ithout onr g.nvir.ur In fhp;r_LLianiL-liiI 
 
(4) 
 
 they are old or Tick ; and then the Devil perfuades them 
 'tis too late now, and fo they go into Defpair, and, may 
 be, go to Hell at laft, and wifh they had remember'd 
 their Creator in the Days of their Youth ; and feme, 
 when they come to die, are frighten'd, and feek to re- 
 pent, and they can't, becaufe their Heart is harden'd, 
 and the Day of Salvation is over. Becaufe it may not 
 be fo Vv'ith you, I will let you know fomewhat about the 
 State of your Souls, and what our dear Saviour has done 
 for you, and then I will invite you to come to him and 
 be faved. 
 
 When God Almighty made Ada?n^ he made his Soul 
 in the Image of God, and Adam lived by the Spirit of 
 God and he knew the Lord, and the Lord walked with 
 him in Paradife, a great Garden full of all Fruit-Trees, 
 and every good Thing, and all the Birds and Beafts were 
 round about among the Trees of the Garden. Then 
 there was no Harm in Lions and Tygel-s, i\oi any Poifon in 
 any green Herbs, nor any Sting in Adders, Dragons, or 
 Serpents, but all was well and pleafant, and Adam was 
 Righteous, and pleafed God, and our Saviour loved him, 
 and he loved our Saviour, and there was no fuch Thing 
 as Evil, or Sin in the World. Now God bid Adam not 
 eat of one Tree in the Middle of the Garden, but faid, 
 if he did, he fliould furcly die ; that is, he fhould lofe 
 his divine Life, which he had in his Soul, and become a 
 poor Mortal. But tho' God fo charged Adam^ his Wife 
 and he did eat, for the Devil that tempts People to be 
 wicked, tempted them to go and eat, and perfuaded 
 them that they Ihould not furcly die, and fo they were 
 deceived. And fo foon as thcv had finned, God would 
 not let them flay in Paradife with bim any longer, but 
 banifhcd them into this World Vv'here we live, and 
 cuvCad Adam and his Wife, and all their Children, and 
 was very angry, and he v/ould have fent them and us, 
 and every Body elfe to Hcll-iire, but our Saviour then, 
 becaufe he loved us, tho' we had done fo bad, went and 
 defired his Father not to deflroy us, but fpare us, and To 
 he came down from Heaven, and was born of the Virgin 
 
 '^M^iry in our Fljilij like ether litde Children j and v/hen 
 
 . 1 t.^ 
 
( 5) 
 he came into this wicked World, People turn'd him and 
 his Mother into a Stable, and there fhe laid our Saviour 
 in the Manger, and as he grew up he was hated, and 
 made Game of, and no Body hardly loved him, and fo 
 they ufed him very ill, and the Devil tempted him; and 
 made wicked People kill him, fo when he was dying on 
 the Crofs, he bore all our Sins, and all our bad Works, 
 and every Thing that made God angry, and fo he by 
 dying, and bleeding for us, made God and us Friends a- 
 gain, and all his Anger was turned away ; and when our 
 Saviour rofe from the Dead, he went to Heaven, and all 
 the Angels worfhipped him, and he went and fat down 
 at the Right Hand of God, and there is to ftay and pray 
 for us till the Day of Judgment. Ever fmce he has been 
 dead, his Spirit, which is the Holy Ghoft, moves Mi- 
 nifters to go and tell the People v/hat he hath done to re- 
 deem them, and how he died for them, and how he loves 
 little Children fhould come to him, and for this Reafon> 
 that little Children might believe he loves them as weli 
 as old People, (v/hile he v.' as alive in the World) he 
 took up the Children into his Arms, and blcfled them, 
 and v/hen his Difciples forbid thofe who brought the 
 Children, and wanted them not to bring their little 
 ones to Chrift, he was not plcas'd, but faid. Forbid 
 them noty for of fuch^ little ChilJren, is the Kingdom oj 
 God. And at another Time, when he was riding into 
 yerufalem upon an Afs, he gave his Holy Spirit to the 
 little Children, and they ran before him, and praifed 
 fefus^ and cried in the Temple Hofanna to him, and 
 when they wanted Jiim to flop them, he would not, but 
 let them fing to him, for he loves to hear little Chil- 
 dren pray to him, and fmg to hiin very much. So, be- 
 caufe I am fure that nov/, as well as former] v, our Sa- 
 viour will make himfelf known to little Children, and 
 Ihew them his Love, I well tell you how ro come to 
 Chrift. All the good Things that you can do, v/ill not 
 make him think you good, but you muli: believe in him: 
 You muil believe he died for you, and wafhcd away 
 your Sins in ^ his own Blood, when he fweat a bloody 
 died upon th.e Crofs. if you don't know 
 
( 6) 
 
 J ejus Ghrijt is m your Heart, then you have no Faith, 
 And if you have not got the Spirit of Chrijl in your 
 Soul, you are one of the World, and you don't love 
 "Jefusy for if you loved him, and believed in him, you 
 would find his Spirit in you, and you wo\x\<\ know that 
 Gur Saviour had forgi\Tn you all your Sins. And now you 
 may alk me, what is Faith ? A-ly dear little Children, it 
 is fcmewhat given of God, whereby we know Chrijiy 
 and if you pray to our Saviour to give you Faith, he will 
 furely give it to you, and you will be juftified by that 
 Faith ; I mean, your Sins will be forgiven, and our Sa- 
 viour will give you his Righteoufnefs to cover your Soul, 
 and he will love you, and fave you, and he will incline 
 you, and make you willing to do all Good Works, fuch as 
 going to hear Sermons, tell the Truth, love your very 
 Enemies, and do every Thing that is right in his Sight ; 
 you will then love to pray, whenever you can get by 
 yourfelf, and you will know you fliall go to Heaven 
 when you die. Some People tell their Children, if they 
 do good and go to Church, and don't tell Lies, but pray, 
 they will be faved ; but that is not enough, they muffc 
 have Faith in ChrijFs Blood, they mufl: believe Chriji 
 died for their Sins, and they muft have the Spirit of Jeftis 
 Chrijl in tlicm., or elfe they will never be faved. Take 
 your Telhunent, and look into the 8th Chapter of the 
 Romans^ and in the 9th Verfe, and there you will 
 read how. If (wy Man hath 'not the Spirit of Chriji^ he 
 don't belong to our Saviour, for he is none of His. Go 
 : then, my dear little Children, and get by yourfelf, and 
 pray, and beg our Saviour to give you his Spirit, and this 
 precious Faith, and he will give it. You may read what 
 he faith himfv^lf, in the 7th Chapter oi St., Matthew^ and 
 ' the nth Verfe, Tour hcavenh Father will give his Holy 
 Spirit to them that ajk him. Don't reft till you know 
 our S.i\'i()ur Icves you, for if you fi^ould die before you 
 . are born again of the Spirit, and before you have this 
 Faith, you won't go to Heaven: Some little Children 
 : of five, fix, or feven Years old, have been converted 
 ■ and believed in fejus Chrijl^ and fo they lived very hap- 
 py in the World ; and v/hen ether Children v/ere play- 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 ing fooliflily in the Streets, and telling lying Stories, and 
 were rude, they would be by thcmfelvcs, talking to our 
 i^aviour in Prayer, and reading the Bible, and waiting 
 upon God. So they continued till they came to die, and 
 then they were not afraid of Death. Little Children that 
 don't love Jefus Chriji^ and who have not got Faith, are 
 afraid to die ; but fuch as thefc are glad to die, for then 
 they go to live with our Saviour, and to kifs him, and 
 to put on long white Robes, and Crowns of Gold, and to 
 fit in the Kingdom of God, and to be beloved by Jcfusy 
 and to have all the holy Angels wait on them for ever and 
 ever. O my dear little Lambs, be intreated to be wife, 
 and to chufe Jefus Chrijl^ and to believe in his Blood, 
 and in his Name. Read about him always, and when 
 you cannot underftand what you read, pray to our Sa- 
 viour, and he will make you underftand. He will reveal 
 the Meaning in your Hearts by his Ploly Spirit. Don't 
 think, I will do good, I will go to hear Sermons, and 
 pray, and obey my Parents, and love my Brothers and 
 Sifters, and not be angry and wicked, and then our Sa- 
 viour will love me. But know that he don't love People 
 for their Works, but believe he will love them freely, 
 and that he now loves you, and think that all that you 
 can do will not merit his Kingdom, but you will have it 
 for Chrift's Sake ; and when you do all the Good you 
 can, tell our Saviour and fay. Lord, I am an unprofita- 
 ble Servant, I can do nothing to pleafe thee as I ought, 
 but forgive me all my Sins for Jefus Chrijih Sake, and 
 give me thy Holy Spirit in my Heart, and then I will 
 ferve thee better. Yea, my dear Children, pray that 
 God would teach you how to pray right, for your beft 
 Prayers are but bad in his Sigh.t, and muff be wafhed in 
 Jefus Chrrji's Blood, and then your Prayers will be heard. 
 And when it fhall pleafe our dear Saviour to give you his 
 Spirit, and to fhed al}road his Love in your Heart, then 
 you will not be afraid of dying, nor of the Day of Judg- 
 ment, but you will go to Heaven die when you will. 
 The Devil then cannot pluck you out of the Hands of 
 our Saviour, but you will be fived among the Saints and 
 Angels for evermore ! May be now if cnc v/as to afk you 
 
what would become of you, if you were to die as you 
 are ? You would not know what to anfwer, but be afraid, 
 and cry at the Thoughts of Death ; but then, when you 
 know ChriJ}, you will be very glad to go to him, and 
 leave all your dear Friends, and Father and Mother, and 
 every Body, to go to Heaven. Be fure don't you think 
 vou are true Chriftians till you have Chriji, and while 
 you pray for yourfelves, I will pray for you, and Chriji 
 v/ill pray for you. Even fo Lord Jcfus^ Amen and Amen. 
 
 And now, oh my dear Mafter Jcfus Chriji^ I take this 
 Letter, and befeech thee to blefs it, and bid it Goy 
 and profper. Sprinkle it with thy precious Blood, 
 and give this Letter to all the little Children, as it 
 Ihall pleafe thee, and grant them Underftanding, 
 that they may read and believe on thee and be faved, 
 and thou fhall have all the Praife from them and me. 
 Evenfo, Amen, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
A E R I L F 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 O F 
 
 God's Dealings 
 
 WITH 
 
 EDWARD GODWIN. 
 
 % 
 
 Written by Himfelf. 
 
 WITH 
 
 A Letter from Mr. John Cennicic, 
 
 AND 
 
 Another from the Author, 
 
 By Way of Preface. 
 
 The Lord hath done Great Things for me, <vohereof I 
 am glad ! 
 
 The Second Edition, correfted. 
 
 'BRISTOL: 
 
 Printed by Felix Farley, M.d.cc.xliv. 
 
TO THE 
 
 SOCIETY 
 
 AT THE 
 
 TABERNACLE-. 
 
 Charles's Square, Ocl. 20, 1743. 
 
 Dear Brethren, 
 
 HAVE read the follonjoing Verfrs, 
 the Experience of one of the Mof la- 
 ments of our Saviour's Lo^oe, and 
 I recommend it to yoi^ and do mo/l 
 heartily ^-j//^-, the Lamb of God 
 may hlejs the Reading of it to you, 
 and gi<ve as many as hear of the Mer- 
 cy Jhen.vn to this young Brother^ to be- 
 come WitneJJes together ifjith him of the fame Grace, and 
 glorious Saltation. 
 
 I knouj the Accounts ivhich hat'e been gi-vejz already in 
 the World of fame n'jho have tejiifed of the Lord's M^orl:^ 
 faying, thus hath Gon done for my Soul, hath been bif- 
 fed to me, and not to me only, but to nje^y many of thofe v:ho 
 efeem themfelves Strangers a-ad Pilgrims in the World, and 
 
 their Wc 
 
 ^y 
 
 tonjoard the Mount Sion : Tits 
 - mada 
 
[iv J 
 
 ■made me tihe more readily confent fivhen my yuclgetmnt if<2J 
 i^fk'd) to let this ccme vito the Hands of the Puhlick. I 
 dont at all doubt hut many ivill think it offo indifferent a 
 SuhjeSl, that it is not <worth their nvhile to read it. And 
 ethers if they iveigh the Stile, or Poetry, <vjill defpife it \ 
 hut I truji ye ha've not fo learned Christ. I 'would ad'vife 
 /?ll ivho look into if, to readit fmply, and rejoice that our 
 Brother that nvas dead, is alive again, and that he n.i-ho 
 nvas loft, is no^v found. 
 
 ^£he hcly Angels ^^ve kno<tv rejcice in fZ'^ Holy-Ghost, 
 tmd the <zvhole Crympany cf the Sai?its are 7nerry above over 
 o'fie Si?2ner that Repejiteth, atidfjoii'd 7iot ^cve be ungrateful 
 and unkind to our dear Saviour, if v:eJhou dhefou7td f- 
 lent, or remaining unmcv d ivith foy, 'ivhen nve hear of 
 cny cue call" d out cf theWorld, and brought Jiigh to God, 
 iy the precious Bleed cy^ Jesus ? tnethinks I hear you fay ^ 
 We ought to be glad when any return to God, and of 
 this we rejoice, yea and will rejoice. 
 
 /nd 'novo I have Opportunity to fpeak to you, O dear 
 Conoregaiion cf Believers, I pray you fee that ye vjalk vjor- 
 thy of the Vocation nx!herev:ith you arc called, and be ye not 
 onh ready to give an Anjvjer to every ojie that afeth a Rea- 
 fon cf the Hope that is in you n.vith Meeknefs, and Fear, 
 Jya^^ingfarMifed the Lord God in your Hearts, but f^e'iu 
 all Men by your chaff e Ccnverfation, a?id humble PJ'alk at all 
 ^i7nes vihofeycu are,foas to force the Heathen World to foy 
 cfyou, Thefe Men have been with Jesus, their Speech 
 betray eth tht^. So ixhile you are reportifig the Truth as 
 it is in Jesus, and Men que flion your Teftimony, you f jail 
 (lop the Mouths of all Gainfayers, vjhen ye pall anf^ver 
 We are Witnefles of thefe Things ; and your Behaviour 
 Jlsall prevent them frc?n C07itradi6iing, having no Occajton, 
 or Reafon, or Roo7n. 
 
 To you alfo 1 vjculd [ay fotnevjhat vjho have not knovm 
 our Saviour, but re7nain ig7iorant of him, and of his 
 Right eoufnefs, and vjho never yet nvere concern d vjh ether 
 you are going to Heaven or Hell. I think, yea, I knovj 
 you cannot be happy vohile ye fo continue. There is no 
 Peace fruth my God to the Wicked, but they are like 
 a troubled Sea that cannot reft, whofe Waves cafl up 
 
 Mire 
 
iMire and Dirt. O dmr Sw.-^ers, judge y nxihat ^ujoulS he- 
 come of you y n,vere you to cite as you are, and nvhy <^jjiilye 
 pcrijh? Mercy is holden out to Sinners, even to the Chief ej}^ 
 of all. Jesus died to fave Sinners fro?n the WratJ? to 
 cotfie : Is ^villing to reveal him/elf in the Hearts of fhofe 
 nvho come to Him, as a Wiinefs of iheir Pardon and Tor- 
 givenefs. O think not the Greatncfs of your SinSy or yr.ur 
 long Continuance in them ^lvHI be your Hindrance, "xohen ye 
 feek to him for Mercy. He is loving to evety Man that 
 comes to hi?n, and tho"" their Sins have been openly, and •■wil- 
 fully committed agaifiji him, yet he freely ^vajhes all av:ay, 
 and forgives all n;jhcn they look to him, forry that they 
 have pierced ki?n, and ^vi I ling to be his noiv, voholly, for 
 ever. Mary Magdalen vjas a Harlot ftisfupposdj and 
 all her Lije finned againjl Jesus, and yet Jhe is pardon d 
 novj, and vjas the fir ft to vjhom our Saviour appeared 
 after he arofe from the Dead. Zaccheus alfo, the Chief 
 of the Publicans, fund fee Mercy, and is now a Pillar 
 in the Temple of my God. The MahfaBor alfo, ivho 
 ivas crucified n.i:lth our Saviour, tho'' he had all his 
 Days been an Enemy to GoD, and vjas upon the ver->; 
 Brink of Hill, under Condemnation, ivhen he afi:''d, found 
 the Mercy I vAjh to you. Tea, all the vafi Company i.vhy 
 t^ire noiv on the jhining Shores £/" Canaan, v:ere poor Sin- 
 ners, once like yoit and /, but have 7/jTy obtained Mercy, 
 and are founding forth the Praife of Jesus, and his frdc 
 Salvation, round the Throne, having wafhed their Rob?s 
 in the Blood of the Lamb. Many are the living IVit- 
 nejfcs of our SaviourV Love to the Sons of Men, even to 
 the Ungodl) and Rebdliaus. I and he that vjrote tkefi 
 follovjing Lines are of the ^mpany -ci-ho can tefiify. Ht; 
 is not willing that any (hould periih, but come to the 
 Knowledge of Repentance, and be faved. His coming 
 into the World is a Jufiicicnt Proof hoiv much he loved us. 
 May you and I be fund ahvays looking to his Death and 
 Blood, and thro"" him find the Kin^doni of God. O.-.v 
 Reafcn v:hy Injjrotefo wich by vjay of Preface -ivas, ~<:ith 
 this Hope, that perad'-jenture fome~Lvhat I have vjritttn 
 may he a Means of plucking fi-rn-t out of the Fire, and if 
 he H<jhe nadj cfcapcs the Profc, J trufi. vsill be c<Tig ht ;> 
 
the Poetry | fo hcped * One nvhofe Shoes hatchet I am not 
 'ZA or thy to ftoop do'wn and unloofe, 'when he /aid, 
 
 " A Verfe may find him who a Sermon flies. *' 
 
 That it may fo happen, is the Prayer of one ivho ^jjifhes 
 'wel! to all the poor Sinners in the World, and ivha is 
 your Brother, and Servant in JESUS, 
 
 * Herbert. 
 
 J. Cennick. 
 
 T O 
 
m^ 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 SOCIETY 
 
 A T T H E 
 
 TABERNACLE. 
 
 My Brethren and Sifters in the Lord, 
 
 ^^^^5W^^M<^S I have been requeued by many 
 Iw/S^/A^^RJH^ of my Acquaintance among you, to 
 print the Hymn intitled, A)i In-vi- 
 tation to the 'vileft : Or, The nxion- 
 droiis Po^ver of Free-Grace ; think- 
 ing a more particular Relation of 
 God's gracious Dealings with my 
 Soul might not only be acceptable, 
 but more ufeful ; I choofe to prefix what I have here 
 written, under the Title of my Experience. I think I 
 do it, with a View of promotmg the Glory of my, dear 
 Saviour, that the Name of Jesus may be honoured by 
 me, throughout the World. But what a brief Sketch 
 of the Wonders of the Lord is this I here fet before 
 you ! O could I tell you a ten thoufandth Part of what 
 he has done for my Soul, net only in Converfion, but be- 
 fore, and fmce, you would acknowledge his Work mar- 
 vellous 
 
L « J 
 
 vellous In your Eyes, fuch providential Prefervations 
 before, to keep me in Being till my Time ixjas the Time 
 of Lo'vcy and fuch glorious Provifion for my Soul fmce, 
 as I believe I may fay, few ever knew. Quickly after 
 the Lord made known himfelf to me, he ufed every 
 Morning for fome Time to refrelh me with thefe 
 Words, My Grace is fufficient for you. This forbid any 
 Doubts to arife in my Soul ; and with no lefs Power 
 has the Lord told my hungry, thirfty Soul, BleJJed 
 are they 'which do hunger and thirji after Right eovjnefs, 
 for theyjhall be filled. And often has my Soul not only fed 
 on many glorious Promifes, but fweetly too on prefent 
 Affurances ; thus for near ''two Days I could fay little 
 but, The Lord is my Shepherd, and I think Da^id could 
 not fmg his xxiii Pjalm more joyfully than I. And at 
 another Time, for many Hours together, this was Food 
 for my Soul, The Lord is my Portion fays my Sou/y 
 and again for longer Time, My Beloved is mine^ and I 
 am his. And many other fweet Affurancss ; fo that my 
 Soul has been fome Time fofill'd, that I could hardly 
 contain myfelf ; yet for all, all this, I could now open 
 to you another View in the Sight of Man almoft equally 
 as boundlefs (I mean that of my own Corruptions) but 
 that I leave, chuiing rather to fpeak of that, that is 
 indeed boundlefs ( f mean the Love of my Redeemer) this 
 pafleth all Knowledge, and infinitely tranfcends all the 
 Conceptions of Men, it is. All in Jll. Many Waters 
 cannot quench this Love., neither can the Floods drotvn it. 
 No! not all the raging Floods of Sin ; here is an Abyfs 
 v/ill fvvallow up all ! Let us then always adore the Free- 
 nefs of this Love. One of the Brethren told me, he 
 thought Things n^ere too plainly exprejs'^d in this, tofet 
 before the natural World', but it is m.y Opinion, the 
 Creature cannot be too much debafed, at leaft, I am 
 fure the vilefl: of Creatures cannot: that much Glory 
 may redound to the Friend of dinners, the Lord Jesus. 
 
 I ivould noiv fpeak to you ivho are yet Unconverted. 
 
 Are you tempted to think your Sins of fo deep a D;/e, 
 fo aggravating a Nature, that God either cannot or will 
 
 not 
 
[9] 
 
 not forgive them ? look to the Freenefs of* God's Love 
 to Me, for for this Caufe I obtained Mercy ^ that in me 
 Jesus Christ tnight Jhe~M forth all long Sujfering, for a 
 Pattern to thetn 'which fh cut d hereafter believe on him, to 
 Life e'ver la (ling. What kind of Sinners are you? Are 
 you unclean Perfons ? fo was I. Are you Drunkards? 
 fo was I. Are you Liars ? fo was I. Are you Idola- 
 ters ? fo was I. Are you Sabbath-breakers? fo was I. 
 Are you difobedient, undutifal and rebellious ? fo was L 
 Are you unjuft ? fo was I. Are you ML.rde;ers ? I ha- 
 ted my Brother, and whofoever hateth his Brother is a 
 Murderer. 
 
 Thus you fee all the Mountains of Sin are nothing 
 before our great Zcrubbabil, nothing can liop the Fret- 
 nefs of his Love. Be not flow of Heart then to believe. 
 Believe but on Him, and you lliall feel the Guilt of 
 your Sins inftantly remov'd, and the Power of them 
 iiibdued. 1 know this Saving Faith is not in yourfelves, 
 ■ that you cannot fo much as think a good Thought, but 
 go and throw yourfelves before the Lord with the Fa- 
 ther of the poiTefied Child, and cry. Lord, / believe, 
 help Thou my Unbelief till thou doelt away all my Un- 
 belief, and I am enabled to fee thee as my Saviour 
 dying for my Sins, I will not let thee go. Then the 
 Lord will fay unto you. Son, Daughter, be of good 
 Cheer, thy Si^s are forgiven thee. 
 
 And to you nxiho kno^v the Lord, 
 
 Doth Unbelief ftop the Senfe of the Freenefs of 
 God's Love to Unav/akened Sinners, then how aggra- 
 vating mufl: this Sin be to Jesus in thofe to whom he 
 hath revealed himfelf ? Pray, what do you doubt of? 
 it cannot be the Power of God : That you have already 
 experienced to be almighty ; neither can it be his Love, 
 that you have experienced is free, and boundlefs ; and 
 on this, and this alone, you know depends your Salva- 
 tion. Then wherefore d&yow go mourning all your 
 Days ? Oh fay each of you unto your Souls, Why art 
 thou caji donjjn, O my Soul? ^hy art thou difquieted 
 i^ithin me? Rejoice in the Lord, yea, rejoice evermore 
 
 in. 
 
[ lo J 
 
 in God 7Ky Sahatlon. Then will Glory redound to the 
 Name of Jesus, and he will continue his Prefence Vvith 
 you for ever, and ever j which I pray God you and I 
 may always enjoy, through Jesus our Redeemer; 
 even fo, till we enter into the fall Enjoyment of him 
 in thofe Manfions purchaied by his Blood at the Right 
 Hand of God the Father, Jmen. 
 
 Tours in the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 
 E. Godwin, 
 

 EXPERIENCE. 
 
 O E S any weary Soul thro' Sin defpair ? 
 Lilkn while I my faithful Witnefs bear : 
 I was more finful far, more vile than you, 
 And greater Wickednefs by much I knew, 
 
 II. 
 
 In infant Days, did all my Anions tell. 
 My thoughtlefs Soul was near of Kin to Hell : 
 So ftubborn, fo perverfe, and full of Sin, 
 As fure, the vileil Child had never been, 
 
 III. 
 
 My tender Parents, very early fought, 
 I might Religion's pleafant Ways be taught: 
 But giddy I (averfe to ev'ry Good) 
 Delighted rather in the Sinners Road, 
 
 IV. 
 
 Early, as ever I can call to Mind, 
 I was to ev'ry vicious Way inclin'd ; 
 Malice, and bitter Envy fill'd my Heart, 
 Revenge and Paffion reign'd in ev'ry Parr. 
 
 V. 
 
 My Tongue unbridl'd was to Falfhood prone, 
 So great a Lyar never fure was known,- 
 Each Member fubjed was to ev'ry Sin, 
 And ready Itill to let the Tempter in. 
 
 As 
 
12 EXPERIENCE. 
 
 VI. 
 
 As in my Years, in ev'ry Vice I grew. 
 
 And nearer daily to Deftru6lion drew : 
 
 Lull (the whole Subjed of each paffing Thought) 
 
 My reftlefs Soul, in fettled Slavery brought. 
 
 VII. 
 
 To gratify my Will, to pleafe my Mind, 
 
 Ten Thoufand different Ways my Soul wouM find ; 
 
 So that in Time, I quite forgot my God, 
 
 Nor fear'd to tread the Rebel Jtheiji'o Road ! 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Yet Hill, in fpite of all my Pow'r, or Boafty 
 SomeTimesthis troubling Thought my BreatlJias crofsM, 
 There is a G 03, and I Jhall furely feel 
 The racking Torments of Eternal Hell. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Sometimes I then have made Attempts to pray. 
 Till fome bafe Luft, came mighty in my Way, 
 And bore me fiercely down its rapid Stream ; 
 Whence only Pow'r almighty cou'd redeem. 
 
 X. 
 
 Amidft this Conteft often did I fear, 
 
 I never Ihou'd our Saviour's Mercy ihare; 
 
 But as I farther on my Life fliou'd go. 
 
 My vile AfFedions ihou'd more pow'rful grow. 
 
 XI. 
 
 So thought, 'twas bell to make myfelf at Eafe, 
 Endeav'ring no one but myfelf to pleafe. 
 Since this below my only Heav'n ihou'd be, 
 I'd leave the Lord, and his Felicity. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Soon Learning then, my eager Soul purfu'd. 
 Till weary'd of the School, I left that Road, 
 And then to Trades my wand'ring Genius fought, 
 But thefe no reai Satisfaction brought. 
 
 Next 
 
EXPERIENCE. 13 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Next on the Seas I plac'd my reftlefs Mind, 
 (No lefs unliable than the w.iv'ring Wind) 
 Here was I almoft ripened for the Flame, 
 A Slave to Senfe and Sin, but void of Shame. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Stupid and brutifh, like a Beaft I liv'd. 
 Nor once, iincerely for my Conduift grievM : 
 But in the bafeft AcHis of Sin I trod. 
 Daring the Vengeance of Almighty God. 
 
 XV. 
 
 But when m' expenfive Vices brought me lov.-, 
 And Want forbad me, farther yet to go : 
 Defpair my Spirits feiz'd and rack'd my MI id, 
 ; Nor cou'd I Eafe or any Comfort find. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 J thought my pleafant Days were now blown o'er, 
 And wifh'd that Time itfelfwou'd be no more: 
 When to my troubled Mind was quickly brought 
 A Precept I in Jell had often taught : 
 
 XVII. 
 
 That ^Hu 77iy fleeting Life -was hurd'* tied here, 
 I tuou'd not long he kept a Sla-ve hy Care : 
 But hy foine Means Ifoon my Soul xvould free y 
 And daunt lefs launch into Eternity. 
 
 xvin. 
 
 I wou'd have foon obeyM the rafh Advice, 
 My Hands were ready for the Sacrifice : 
 But when 1 try'd, the S wiour's Hand, unfeen, 
 Held back my Hand, and made the EiFort vain. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Then thought my trembling Soul, h(nv hlejl are they. 
 Who 'jxhen difirefs'' d like me., and dri-v'n to pray. 
 Can kno'cv a tender GoD 'vouchfafes to hear. 
 And anfojers evryfecret Sigh and Tear ? 
 
 B . The 
 
14 EXPERIENCE. 
 
 XX. 
 
 The Thought was cloath'd with fuch almighty Pow'r 
 My wond'ring Soul had never felt before 3 
 My Self I faw deferving endlefs Hell, 
 And felt a Sorrow inexprefTible. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 My Pen aflay'd in vain, my Griefs to fhew. 
 To * One who witnefs'd of the Lamb he knew : 
 A Friend of Sinners, as his Master was, 
 A Comforter to ail, who bear his Crofs. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 That Night beneath his Word I mournful fa*-. 
 He fhew'd how Jesus at the Sinners Gate, 
 For Entrance knock'd, and till they open'd, flood. 
 Ready to make their Heart his dear Abode. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 As thus the Preacher fpake, he bade draw near 
 The burd'ned Souls, the Slaves of Guilt and Fear : 
 Whoever finds his Will to Christ inclined, 
 Altho'in brazen Chains of Sin confined. 
 
 XXIV. 
 And, faid he, can't you open now the Door, 
 Ye Souls convinc'd ye have no Strength nor Pow'r r 
 Then tell the Lord, but fimply tell him fo. 
 And he the ftubborn Lock will foon undoe . 
 
 XXV. 
 He has a Key will fuit with ev'iy Ward, 
 And Pow'r to break the Door that's ftrongly barr'd; 
 Then cry aloud to him, and he'll come in. 
 And free you from the Fetters of vour Sin. 
 
 * The Reverend Mr. Whit EFiELD, who the fame 
 Night {Felf. 4. 1742-3.) preach'd on 7?^>x;. iii. 20. Be- 
 hold I Jl and at the Door and knock, &c. 
 
 This 
 
EXPERIENCE. i^ 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 This ftruck my Soul, and inilantly I cry'd, 
 
 thou who pour'dil: Salvation from thy Side : 
 Thou know'll Vm willing, O my Saviour come. 
 And make my Heart, thine own eternal Home. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Unlock my boked Door, Thou know'ft the Wav, 
 Thy gracious Promife, Jesus, is the Key: 
 Force Thou thine Entrance into me my Lord, 
 There dwell, and rule, and reign, and be ador'd. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 BowM down with bafe Defpair, with Horror full. 
 To find fome Eafe for my diiirefTed Soul, 
 
 1 fought again to him, from whom before, 
 I heard the Gofpel offer' d to the Poor. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 He faw me fearful come, and faid. What Jl ill 
 Doubt yen his Lo-je, 7:or yet believe his Will? 
 It njoas returning Prodigals he fought , 
 And by his precious Bleedingy them he bought. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Ten Thoufand Thoufand Times more ^mllin^ s he 
 Than your deceitful Heart can e-ver be : 
 Tour Sins (he added) cannot be fo great. 
 That he your dearly ranforn d Soul fhould hate, 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 I left him then, and earnefl begg'd the Lord, 
 Wou'd now fulnl his everlafting Word : 
 And enter in and fup with worthlefs me. 
 That I might feall with him eternally. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Jn fecret Groans, and Tears, and Sighs, and Pray'r 
 I fought, but knew not if the Lord wouM hear: 
 Thus greatly was my burd'ned Soul opprefs'd. 
 As yet a Sranger to the purchas'd Rell. 
 
 B 2 Some- 
 
i6 EXPERIENCE. 
 
 xxxiir. 
 
 Sometimes amldfl my many Miferies, 
 This cheerful Thought wou'd in my Heart arife, 
 What ir our Sa\ louR fuch a Worm fhou'd love. 
 And worthlefs I his purchas'd Right jfhou'd prove ? 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 But Toon did Unbelief forbid the Thought, 
 At which my longing Soul fo eager caught : 
 What (urgM the Tempter) can the Lord love thee ? 
 Then prithee who his Wrath are doom'd to fee ? 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 "* One told me, while fuch Mufmg made me fad. 
 He found much Freedom as for me he pray'd : 
 And that the Lord indeed my Soul did love. 
 And I his gracious Kindnefs foon ihou'd prove. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 What love me. Lord (my longing Soul reply M) 
 For fuch a bafe born Rebel haft thou dyM ? 
 But quickly Unbelief again o'erpowiM 
 My feeble Hope, and kept me from the Lord. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Ah (thought I) I opprefs'd with Grief, and Woe, 
 Before I Jesu's loving Mind may know. 
 Mull mourn and weep, and then in Years to come, 
 Hi3 Bofom may afford his Servant room. 
 
 XXXVIIL 
 
 Such Soul diilrefling Thoughts now rackM me ^o, 
 \ knew not what to think, or fay, or do; ^ 
 
 Yet groaning own'd 'twas juft and right, fhouM Gov* 
 Sink down my Soul to Hellj beneath my Load. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 But ftill in fecret, fare my Soul wouM fay, 
 Who know's, the Lcrd may take my Sin away : 
 
 * The Rev. Mr. Whitefield. • 
 
 He 
 
EXPERIENCE. 
 
 He lov'd the Thief, a Magdahn, and Paul, 
 There may be Mercy, tho' I'm worle than all. 
 
 XL. 
 
 The Sinner's Death, he fvvears, he doth not chufe. 
 
 Nor will he any (who Ihall come) refufe: 
 
 But promifes that every Soul fhall find, 
 
 Who feeks the Savjour, with a willing Mind, 
 
 XLI. 
 
 I well believ'd his Promifes were true. 
 
 That what his Word had faid his Pow'r wou'd do \ 
 
 And now with Joy my Soul began to fee. 
 
 That, all of them were made to fuch as me. 
 
 XLII. 
 
 A little Light my fainting Soul received, 
 A little my defpairing Heart reviv'd : 
 But prefent all in Darknefs difappear'd, 
 I doubted yet again, again I fear'd. 
 
 XLIIL 
 
 The Morning then return'd, dill Night with ir.e. 
 
 The better Lig;ht of Life I fought to fee ; 
 
 I rofe, and as I forrowing proilrate hy, 
 
 I pray'd the Lord to Ihew the brighter Da)-. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 Thus tofsM, my Soul refolv'd at lafl to wait. 
 Devoid of Strength beneath the Saviour's Feet. 
 AfTurM Salvation was not found elfewhere, 
 I faid, I'll perilli ,(if I perifh) here. 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Then though Temptations did my Soul farround, 
 I pray'dfor Help, and inftant Help I found: 
 And fearful watch 'd my flippery Feet, lell I 
 Should grieve the Lord by my Iniquity. 
 
 XLVL 
 
 My Frame wris low, and Darknefs me o'erfpread. 
 While every Spark of Ardency was fkd; 
 
 B 3 T^ 
 
i8 EXPERIENCE. 
 
 'Tclw then before the Lord I ftupid lay, 
 Lifelefs, and ufelefs as a Lump of Clay. 
 
 XLVIL 
 
 In this fad State 1 was ; when Light broke in, 
 1 felt the heavy Burden of my Sin 
 Immediate leave me, like a loofen'd Load, 
 And Faith was giv'n me in the Saviour's Blood. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 Now I believe, my new born Spirit cry'd, 
 That thou, O Jesus, for my Sin haft dy'd; 
 Yes, Lord, I do believe, again I fung, 
 I know, I feel, I now to Thee belong. 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Then fuch exceeding Joy to me was giv'n, 
 As wrapt up my enamour'd Soul in Heav'n', 
 My thankful Tongue was filPd with heav'nly Lays, 
 And only chanted my Redeemer ^ Praife. 
 
 L. 
 
 The Slavifh Fear of Death and Hell was gone, 
 I trod Defpair, and cruel Bondage down : 
 I knevv' the Sting of Death was took away, 
 And I no more was EeWs expelled Prey. 
 
 LL 
 
 While as on Eagle's Wings I rode, I thought. 
 How know I if this Work's of God or not : 
 \t may be only ftrong delufive Pow'r, 
 Or juil a Flafh of Joy that will be o'er. 
 
 LH. 
 
 But God who keeps the trembling Sinner up, 
 Reviv'd with mighty Pow'r my fainting Hope : 
 For turning to a * facred Book I faw. 
 For me the Saviour fatisfy'd the Law. 
 
 * Mr. Cennick's Third Hymn-Book, the two £rll 
 Verfes of the wz^"^ Page. 
 
 Since 
 
EXPERIENCE. 19 
 
 LIII. 
 
 Since this my Soul enjoys Almighty Love, 
 Such as the Lord's Difciples only prove: 
 And fometimes I on Pifgah's Mount afcend. 
 And view the Purchafe of the Lamb my Friend. 
 
 LIV. 
 
 Or if the gloomy Valley is my Walk, 
 I humbly there with my Redeemer talk : 
 And in the darkell Times , I clearly fee. 
 And know my Saviour liv'd and dy'd for me. 
 
 LV. 
 
 And now I dare not of his Grace defpair. 
 His Spirit does a faithful Witnefs bear : 
 That Christ is mine, and I am ever his. 
 Am born to fhare with him eternal Blifs. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 Can you then doubt the Freenefs of his Grace ? 
 Are you refolv'd my Saviour to difpleafe ? 
 No Reafon for Defpair can any give. 
 Since he has promis'd, ajk and you II recei've. 
 
 LVIL 
 
 Then come poor Sinners, with me boldly iing, 
 I know that my Redeemer is my King : 
 Who by his precious "Blood redeemed me 
 To reign a King and Priefl eternally. 
 
 Lvin. 
 
 Thus flrong in faving Faith, your God adore, 
 And you fhall tafte his Goodnefs more, and more ; 
 Hope when your Reafon can no Hope perceive. 
 And firmly, 'midft your many Woes believe. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 Thus has he taught my fimple Soul to fee. 
 That ev'ry Thing Ihall work for Good to me: 
 And fo, when dark delponding Clouds furround, 
 To wait, alTur'd he will again be found. . , 
 
 And 
 
20 EXPERIENCE. 
 
 LX. 
 
 And if lie long his Prefence flioiiM deny, 
 (The Father's Will be done my Soul can cry) 
 Love is the only Spring, the Caufe I know. 
 My Heart's unfathom'd Wickednefs to Ihow. 
 
 LXL 
 
 Which more and more corrupt I daily feel. 
 
 So vile, none can the Myfteries reveal ; 
 
 The monftrous Depths of Self, and Sin, and Pride, 
 
 That lurking th' re in Secret ftill abide. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 But that great God that has begun I know. 
 By Pow'r almighty will conduft me thro' ;' 
 Till I the Day of Jesus Christ fhall fee. 
 The happy Day of perfe6l Liberty. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 Why then defpairing Sinners, tell me why, 
 Can't you on this great Saviour's Strength rely: 
 You cannot fear Almighty Pow'r will fail. 
 And your Corruptions over it prevail. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 No ! he will keep the kindled Spark alive. 
 To cherifh it, his gracious Oyl he'll give ; 
 And tho' your Sins are like to Mountains high. 
 The Mountains fhrink in Plains when ChriJI is nigh. 
 
 LXV. 
 
 Soon Ihall each ranfom'd Sinner hiappy fit. 
 Above Corruption at his Saviour's Feet, 
 Peyond the Reach of bafe infernal Pow'rs, 
 Array 'd in Righteoufnefs as Conquerors. 
 
 LXVL 
 
 T'hen come ye Ranfom''d let's together join, 
 To Praife our Saviour's Love in Hymns divine: 
 .He wko has all thefe glorious Bleffrngs bought, 
 Aiid fox us fuch a perfeft Veftmcnt wrought. 
 
 i^t 
 
.iSli^PBKSlI^ 
 
 A N 
 
An Invx. _ 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 Wondrous Power of Free-Grace. 
 I. 
 
 E fenfelefs Sons o^ Jdam hear. 
 Ye vilell Sinners all draw near ; 
 And Hand amaz'd to hear me tell, 
 How Grace has fnatch'd my Soul from 
 Hell. 
 
 II. 
 
 Tho' I blafphem'd th' Almighty God, 
 And dar'd the Vengeance of his Rod : 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has fnatch'd my Soul from Hell. 
 
 III. 
 
 Tho, I to ev'ry Sin was prone. 
 And took Delight in ev'ry one: 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace h2iSf &c. 
 
 His 
 
An HYMN. 23 
 
 IV. 
 
 His ten Cofnmands I all had broke. 
 To them preferrmg Satan's Yoke; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell^ 
 ivv^ G;-rtr<^ has, &c. 
 
 V. 
 
 Riches and Pleafure were my God, 
 Thofe I preferred, to them I bow'd ; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has, &c. 
 
 VI. 
 
 His awful Name I dar'd prophane, 
 I often took God's Name in vain; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has, &c. 
 
 VII. 
 
 His Sabbath-Day I ne'er eileem'd. 
 But like the reft, I that prophan'd ; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has. Sec. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 My Parents I no Honour fhow'd. 
 But trod in the rebellious Road ; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has, &c» 
 
 IX. 
 
 Murderous Thoughts oft fiU'd my Head, 
 And once the Adl I almoft did ; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has, &c. 
 
 X. ' 
 
 In Luft and Sin I took Delight, 
 Adult'ry cou'd not me affright; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has, &c. 
 
 Thiev 
 
24 An hymn; 
 
 XI. 
 
 Theiving I often did commit, . 
 Feeling no true Remorfe for it ; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell. 
 Free -Grace has, &:c. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Againft my Friend, I have declar'd. 
 Things that my Confcience never heard; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell. 
 Free Grace has, &c. 
 
 xrii. 
 
 With longing Eyes I did behold. 
 My Neighbour's Wife, my Neighbour's Gold; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has, &c. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Then come ye Sinners, thirfthig come. 
 My fellow Sinners there is Room ; 
 Soon fhall your Tongues in Raptures tell, 
 Free-Grace has fnatch'd your Souls from Hell. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Ye Magdalens, Manajfehs, hear. 
 
 Ye vileft Sinners all draw near ; 
 
 Soon fliall your Tongues in Raptures tell, 
 
 Free-Grace has fnatch'd your Souls from Hell. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 I was as vile as you can be 
 Deeper than you in Mifery ; 
 Yet can my Tongue in Raptures tell. 
 Free Grace has, &c, 
 
 XVII. 
 
 All ye who to Christ Church belong. 
 Come join your Voices in my Song : 
 Free-Grace^ Free Grace is all I fmg, 
 7 he Merits of my bleedwg King. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
A 
 
 LETTER 
 
 FROM 
 
 Mr. Haberjham^ 
 
 (Super-Intendent of Temporal Affairs 
 at the Orphan- Roufe ia Georgia,) 
 
 To the Reverend 
 
 Mr. JVhite field: 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A particular Account of the Spiritual 
 and Temporal State thereof. 
 
 Dated March 2, 1744, and fent with 
 others, bearing Date June 7. 
 
 Pubiifh'd at the Requeft of his Friends. 
 
 L N D N: 
 
 Printed by J. Lev.' is, in Barthoh7nnv-Chfe \ and 
 Sold by J, SyPvIS in Irojunrmger-Rciv^ ne.ir St . 
 ^Luke's Church In OL-Strcci ; anc at the 
 Tabernacle J 1744. 
 
(To le £ontinu'd every Seven Weeks, at the 
 Price of Four-pence, the Firjl Number 
 cf the Sixth Volume, of) 
 
 THE Chriftian Hiftory: Or, A General 
 Account of the Progrefs of the Gofpel, 
 in England, Wales, Scotland^ and America : 
 So far as the Rev. Mr. White field, his 
 Fellow-Labourers and Affiftants are concerned. 
 
 "V 
 
 Behold I brin^ you good Tidings of great Joy^ ijuhkh 'K 
 Jkallhe to all Peop!e, Luke ii. lo. 
 
 London : Printed and Sold by y. Le^-is in Bartholome'w* 
 Cloje^ near Weft Smithfiiii \ and alfo Sold by Mr. 
 ^vns in Ironmonger- Roiv, near St. Zj/i/'s Church, 
 Oldflreet ; and at the Tabernacle. Where the former 
 Volumes may he had^ or anf odd Numbers to complete 
 Sets i alfo all the Rev. Mr. Whitefield'/ Works. 
 
 1JK)( ^o 3?figwyrlT i)*! 
 
LETTER 
 
 F R O \I 
 
 Mr. Haherfiam 
 
 To the Reverend 
 
 Mr. JVhite field, &c.. 
 
 Savannah^ March 2, I74|-. 
 JHy very dear Friend and Brother <i 
 
 GLAD was I (a few Days ago) to receive 
 your very fwcet Letter, dated Novem- 
 ber II, from Biddeford, But (if it had" 
 been the Lord's Will) I fhould have 
 much more rejoiced to fee your dear Self— I have 
 for Months pafl expe£led you, which occafioii''d 
 my not writing ; and I muft own the Thoughts 
 of your longer Stay in England is feme Trial, 
 tho' it becomes me quietly and thankfully to fub- 
 mit to the \V^ill of our heavenly Counfellor ; 
 efpecially as he is pleafed to own your Labours 
 with fuch remarkable Succefs. — Glory be to his 
 Name ! Sometimes^ this Confideration makes mo 
 think, I could be willing never to fee your Face 
 more in this Vale of Tears, fo our Lord's Work 
 might be carried on, and th.en, I am perfuaded 
 nothing lefs vvou'd detain you from U3— At ether 
 Times my many Prelllircs and Burdens mr.kos 
 
 the Thou2:hts of your longer Abfcjice vcrv afflict- 
 p ■ • 
 
( ^ ) 
 
 ( 4 3 vto // wa^ «£' a* 
 
 i]Tg\I»i^I^>2fm wlilmg you fliould kfiow nVy^verf 
 gi'^at Weakncls, that you and others may be 
 liir-r'4 up to pit}'' and pray for me.— I often cry 
 <MJ1;-^OlioW happy (hall I be, when I have rea/'y 
 iii:)' Will of my own, I long for. that happy Time, 
 wten my Soul will be all Submillion, all Obe- 
 dience 1 Surely I can witnefs it is miferable in- 
 ^€ed, when God leaves me to my foolifli Self, 
 and it -is never better with me, than v/hen I cart 
 heartily fay, thy Will be done on Earth, as in 
 Heaven, 
 
 But I long to tell you what great and glorious 
 Things our dear Redeemer has done for us, and 
 tim led to think with yourfelf, " That what has 
 »' been already done at the Orphan Houfe, is but 
 «' as the Dawning of the Day before the Rifmg 
 ** of the Sun.'* I cannot better inform you, 
 than by tranfcribing two Letters I this Day re- 
 iceiv'd from dear Brother Barber and my WifeiJ 
 
 Mr, Barber's LETTER.,,,:, j. 
 
 Bethefdo^ March 2, t*^^. 
 My dear Brother Haberfham *, 
 
 ARE you ftill in Heavinefs ? I truft what you 
 will now hear, v/ill make your dear Soul to 
 rejoice and blefs God's holy Name again. — For 
 truly, this Springs the Fruits appear, the Time 
 of the Singing of Birds is once more come again 
 —How melodious is the Seng ?— Metliinks I can 
 fhy, as others do, there was never the like in 
 Btthefda before. — Don't you long to hear partr- 
 
 * Mr. Haberfham was at this Time at Sa'vannahy a 
 Town about \z Miles from the Orphan Houfe, where 
 h« is engig'd in fome Bufinefs, as you will read of a 
 htik farther in his Letter. 
 
 cularly 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 cularly what the Lord has done ? I will tell you 
 in as few Words as I can. 
 
 - At Evening Prayer, laft Night, I read a Paf- 
 fage or two in Brother D 's Letter, parti- 
 cularly where he fent a Meflage to the uncon- 
 verted among us. — The Lord gave me fome 
 Freedom to enlarge upon the Texts of Scripture 
 he mentioned — Some cried, being under Con- 
 cern, others began to be glad and rejoice. . But 
 jkfter publick Prayers, then the Spark broke out 
 into a Flame— Many Souls were fill'd with -the 
 Love of God, and prais'd our dear Redeemer. 
 
 I think none were more fill'd than your dear 
 §i\^tx Becky— 'Soon after thev chiefly gather' d-^to- 
 gether at the Dodlor's Houfe. — I wtnt ove? to 
 them, and found fome praifmg the Lord, others 
 crying in great Dilirefs of Soul —I pray'd as the 
 Lord enabled me— Others joined vi'ith me.- — ^nn^e 
 Calache was in great Diftr^fF, and continued fo 
 from between 8 or 9 o'Qock 'till 1 1. — 'i hen the 
 Lord was pleas'd to deliver her, and raife her dead 
 Soul to Life. — I hops when Cbe returns Flome, 
 IheXord Will enable her to give fufHcienrEvi- 
 dence of her fav ng Converfion, and make her 
 
 a greater Bleffing than ever Sometime after, 
 
 Peggy Antrohus was converted— alfo^^^^wi^i Gaia^ht^j 
 and Fanny^ the FrenchX3\i\. — Their Con v erf: pns 
 jwere all vtry clear.. . I cannot nov/ paxticukriy 
 lelate what they {cX^.-^Betty Woodroffe and Bajy 
 IVarren were greatly- dii>refs'd. 1 think thsJ 
 Devil has tormented -^^//5' TVoodroffe more than 
 any of the reft, and fhe cryM there was no 
 Mercy for her. They went to Bed without be^ 
 ing delivered. — This Morning I got up late, and 
 ~had publick Prayers, and fmce God fee ms to 
 come down more wonderfully than laft Night. — 
 "I cannot tell you all the Souls that are iilkd with 
 4 to tnai *U'« ijoy es ,cbiii^i2^^.i-.i ^ii i- cJ^S'^s -^ |3fe 
 
(6) 
 
 the hove of God. — But T muft acquaint you, youf 
 ileal Wife is as full as her Heart can hold.— She 
 fays, " Chrift is a mighty Conqueror," and fo 
 he is — you wou'd be amaz'd, if you was here. — 
 Jufb now the Lord was pleas'd to grant Deliver* 
 jari"c6 \to J^etty Warren^ and her Heart fhe fays is 
 'glarf.'^Wiien I call'd to Betfy JVoodroffe to be- 
 boid^ttie Lamb of God.— Bet jy Warren faid with 
 Ittikh Joy ^ file beheld him, and bid the other to 
 foc^Y "-Dear Bttfy JVoodroffe is ftill diftrefs'd^ 
 *' arid fays there is no Mercy for her." — God 
 kiiovys— 1 hope the Time of her Deliverance will 
 come.— Lord grant it for thy Name Sake. 
 
 Some of the little Children are crying bitterly 
 —if you could leave your Bufniefs this Evening 
 '— l:ow glad fhould I be to fee you.— The Lord 
 ^'■:t€t you. — The Lord blefs you. He only knows 
 ^ovv much I love and efteem you. — The Lord 
 help me to bear your Burdens. — Let us caft them 
 Upon the Lord, he will fufbain us. — My Soul was 
 in great Diftrefs the former Part of the Week — - 
 The Lord feeds me now as he fees fit —May yout 
 Soul be richly itd with the heavenly Manna — ; 
 May youslj'ink your Fill of the new Wine, now 
 the Water-pots are full, brimfuh— I fhould be 
 ghd if the Lord would fend me to carry fome to 
 you an3 the reft of my Friends at Savannah^ i 
 could not go there this Week, the Lord hofW 
 lets me fee the Reafon.— Let Mr. Woodroffe fee 
 what I have written. If I had time wou'd write 
 to him'.— I fhould be glad to fee him here. My! 
 Love to him.— Brother Hunter and Sifter,— Mrs.^ 
 Fanderplank and Mr. RuJJe I. —Acetyl the fame 
 from me and all the dear Souls at Bethefda,^^! 
 ■am your loving Brother in Chrift, ;> 
 
 Jon, Barber, 
 
 Mr. 
 
( 7 ) 
 *^'^m. Habersham'/ LETT.BR.,. X 
 
 ^i\i ■,..,,. V 
 
 ^j, Bethefday March% ^jXl' 
 
 .. My dear Love^ ' " /,' ,.t 
 
 BY dear Mr. Barber*s Letter, you'll hear whit 
 the Lord was doing among us laft Night. ,1 
 wiih you had been here to have feen and feft 
 his blefTed Work. — — Sarely my Dear, you 
 would have callM upon your Sou), as of .late you 
 did, to blefs the Lord, and all that is within you 
 to praife his holy Name ; indeed it was a Night 
 of great Power. O my dear Love ! how would 
 it have rejoiced your dear Heart, to have feen the 
 dear Lord Jefus riding in Triumph, getting him- 
 felf the Victory in diftrefs'd Sinners Hearts, and 
 comforting his dear Children. I believe I may 
 fafely fay, there was fcarce one Child of God> 
 but what was reviv'd. — I was fo dead juft before, 
 that I thought I could not be worfe, and there- 
 fore went up among the thickeft of them. But 
 bleffed be the Lord, I foon felt his Power upon 
 my Heart, and at Times was much drawn out 
 to pray for thofe who lay in Diftrefs, crying ^fter 
 the Lord Jefus. — Since I wrote the ab'oy^, the 
 Lord has brought poor Betty War r eh out. -r As I, 
 was fitting Writing, fhe ran into the Room.'-— X 
 was much furpf te*d at flrft, and could not tell 
 what to tliink, but jfhe foon difcovered what was 
 the Matter, upon which I found the Powder oi" 
 the Lord came again upon my Soul. O I long^ 
 for a Heart to praife hirfi more and more. — Lord 
 enlarge my ftraitncd Heart, that I may magnify 
 thy Name for evermore. O does not your Soi:l 
 by this Time rejoice ! I cou'd wifli if it could be, 
 that you were among us to fee the King of Glory 
 clad with Strength, riding from concjutring to 
 conquer.— Dear Silter Becky has had a glorior.' 
 
( 8 ) 
 Time fince Yefterday Evening. — I truft we may . 
 {sLy, the Lord has took us two of a Family and 
 brought us to Ziofi. 
 
 Poor Bjetfy Woodroffe lies in great Diftrefs at 
 prefent. — The Devil rages horribly in her. Lord 
 cut fhort his Reign ! I doubt not but your Heart.^, 
 will join in thefe Words— -^ 
 
 Bring it to pafs^ O Blejfed ! ._ 
 
 Jbove zuhat tVords can tell-, ^ 
 
 And fee us all releafed^ f.; 
 
 From Sin^ and Deaths and Hell. < 
 
 I am with Love to all Friends, 
 Yours whilft 
 
 Al(iry Haberjham, 
 Methinks I fee you at the reading of thi&> ■ 
 meekly bowing your Heart and Head, and - 
 humbly and thankfully adoring Father, So%,. 
 and Holy Ghoft, for their equal unparallell'dLoveVv 
 fajing. Holy and Reverend be the Name of the 
 thrice Holy God. O that we with you may be 
 enabled truly to exalt him alone in this Day of 
 his Power ! I think we have Reafon to believQ 
 th^t twenty three Souls have been converted in 
 the Orphan-Houfe fmce you laft left us, befides 
 feme of our Dutch Neighbours, and other tran,- ^ 
 iknt , Vi(£lories.— y^ w Galache (mentioned i^rr 
 Brother Bar^TS Letter) is a Servant to Mr^j^ 
 f^an4erplat:k. About 10 Days ago, upon hea^-?^. 
 ing of the Converfion of one of her Countryt^v 
 men, (a Frenchman^ Spry ant at the Orphaajv 
 Houfe)— fhe defired to go there, and told Mci'.^ 
 B,arbcr ^^ fhe was Qome to ^^^ Jefus Chrift."— 
 I fappofe he was puzzled to anfwer her.— But 
 fo. It was, and flie is now return'd to her Mi-,:^. 
 li:refs again, not only (I hope) <•' as a Servant j^p 
 *' ^vX above a Servant ; a Sifter beloved — two 
 cf the others converted, are J believe, unknown 
 to you, ;t6 irvleed are m*iny more of cur Chit- ,. 
 -.-■vf dren. 
 
dren, who were taken in fince you have heeiVlfi \ 
 England. — The Girl named Fanny was indeed a ' 
 miferable Objedl — She was a Servant at Pwip * 
 burgh in' a French Family, was there taken fick, 
 and becaufe not capable of doing Service, waiy 
 either much neglected or turn'd out— upon being 
 acquaintea with her Condition, I fcnt for her. 
 —She then had a Fever, and hardly able to move 
 about, almoft eaten up with Dirt and Naftinefs 
 (her Skin our People fay, was fkaley like a 
 Fifties Back. She has been at Bethefda {juftly 
 called t Houfe of Mercy) about three or four 
 Months, and I truft is perfectly well in Body and 
 Soul. From the fame Place we have taken two 
 
 Boys totally blind They both have been made to 
 
 cry after Jefus Chrift, to open their Underfland- 
 ings.— If they ftiould be converted, it may be 
 truly faid, " that the blind fee." — We have 
 fome more Children from the faid Place, that 
 were truly Objects of Ccmpaflion. — Two of 
 them were converted laft Spring, and are very 
 remarkable Inftances of God's Power and Good- 
 nefs both to their Bodies and Souls. — They came ' 
 much in the fame Condition as the abovenam'd 
 Fanny very infirm, weak, and forlorn. — Our' 
 Doctor did not expect they would live long.-:- 
 But behold they fhall live for ever. One of 
 them is a perfeft Ideot, as to his natural Under- 
 ftanding, and the other is lame— well' rtiay W6 
 fay, " The Lame ftjall leap as an Hart, aVid the 
 Fool is made wife/' 
 
 It's remarkable and our Enemies are made to 
 confefs:, that our Children and v.'hole Family are 
 wonderfully heahhy. We have not had one 
 Soul, but a little Baby, died naturally * fincc we 
 
 •One or two Boys died, having lomc Ki.r^h' falling 
 intijon them as they were in a Pu— *as I havfe iieard. - 
 
 went 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 \ycajt t«> d^ell ^tBethefda» — An Inftance hardly? 
 known in thefe Parts of A?7ierica^ out of fo great 
 a Number of People. — But this is the Lord's do- 
 in^, and it is. marvellous in our jEyes. — It is aifo 
 ^ \vonderfulj how amazingly we have been 
 uipported.— It is wonderful to us, much more to 
 many around us, who expelled, nay, faid — 
 " They cannot fubfift long." But God, our 
 Godj has provided for and fuftain'd us, not- 
 withftanding ours, as well as many of our dear 
 Friends Fears, and hitherto difappointed the 
 wick<^d infulting Expectations of many, who 
 waited with Impatience to triumph in our down^ 
 fall.-O how great and gracious is our Lord ! 
 mighcy in Vv^ord, and Deed ! Faithful and true \\ 
 who will never, never, never, leave nor for-<. 
 fake them, that put their Truft in him.— To tell 
 you by Letter, or indeed by Word, what un- 
 thought-of Ways the Lord has took to fupport 
 us, IS indeed a Tafk to hard for me. — God only, 
 knows, who perfectly knows and underflands 
 every Thing.— In Heaven perhaps this may be 
 part of our Imployment, fully to know and fpeak 
 of the unfearchable myfterious Steps of divine 
 Providence towards us thro' this Wildernei^. 
 State. — However, I hope, if the Lord is pleased. 
 to bring us Face to Face in this World, we fhali. 
 Ipend many precious Moments in recounting of»- 
 and praifmg him for his many unmerited, uiw* 
 common Favours. zi 
 
 I fuppofe ycu would be glad to hear of the 
 pxefent State and Number of your Family-^ 
 I fliall therefore acquaint you briefly— We are in 
 all 67, among whom are 49 Children, three of 
 which were born in the Orphan-Houfi, namely . 
 to Brother ^^^r^rr— Brother J^eriam-, and my- 
 
 -M,- 
 
L " ] 
 
 ielf, each one —The remaining arc aH employ M 
 in its Service — I need not acquaint you in what 
 Capacity— Brother Barber and his Wife, Brother 
 Periam^ his Wife, and Brother Edmmds ferve> 
 who have the intire Care and Charge of all the 
 Children— Brother Grant is Mafter of a Schooner, 
 belonging to dear Mr. Harris and me-— He fome- 
 times earns 4, 5, 6 and 7 /. Sterling />^r Month, 
 which he voluntary puts in the common Stock — 
 His Wife (to fave feperate Charges) continues at 
 the Orphan Houfe, as alfo does mine, and makes 
 Apparel for t e Children, as well as helps in 
 walhing — One Woman, and a hired Man-Ser- 
 vant are kept in the Kitchen, and iflue out the 
 Stores. Another Woman has the Charge of the 
 Laundry and wafhing, makes Soap, Candles, and 
 does other needful Offices. Two hired Men- 
 Servants (lately converted) work in the Planta- 
 tion, go in Boats, ^V.— One hir'd Man, a Shoe- 
 maker, and old Mr. Antrohus^ who is very fer- 
 viceable, as a Carpenter, in doing many needful 
 Jobs — I had almoft forgot George Gear^ who 
 was in the Year I740 taken by the Spaniards in 
 a Schooner, laden with Bark and Provifions, for 
 the Orphan Houfe. — He was a Prifoner at the 
 Havannah three Years, but got his Difcharge 
 about fix Months ago, when an Exchange of 
 Prifoners was made by the Charles-Town People 
 —He is now fenfible that he is in the Prifon of 
 Sin, and under great Diftrefs thereby.— Alfo we 
 have a Woman, not capable of doing any Thing, 
 that we took in by the Defire of the Magiftratcs 
 oi Savannah— A^ to myfelf I am chiefly at -^a-- 
 vannah, or cKewhere abroad, as my Bufmefs calk 
 rrte.— I muft not omit remarking the particular^ 
 Providence of God in difpofihg of rrt^ here--* 
 Wlien our dear faithful Friend Mr. J— left this 
 
 Province> 
 
C 12] 
 
 Province, (whofe Heart God had fo fignalJy in- 
 clined to help me both with Cafh and Provifions 
 when here)— I began to think what Means God 
 wou'd take to fupply fuch a great Number of 
 People/ now all vifible Ways feem'd to difap- 
 pear. — But here again, as many Times hcfcre and 
 fmcey he rebuked my Fears and Doubts with his 
 Goodnefs, and fhew'd me his Hand was not 
 ihortned, nor his Heart ftraitned. Accordingly 
 God put in the Heart of a dear Friend above- 
 named to lend Mr. Harris and me a large Suni 
 of Money, not only to purchafe a good Stock of 
 Provifions and Goods, fui table to this Place, but 
 alfo to buy the VefTel Brother Grant is Mafter 
 of, which, ferves the Orphan Houfe (without any 
 Charge) as well as our Bufmefs— She ufmg 
 chiefly the Carolina Trade, gives ••ir dear 
 Friends there an Opportunity of conveying what 
 God may incline their Hearts to give to -lie 'Or- 
 phan Houfe. — I hope, as our Trade is : oiifider- 
 able, if God is pleas'd to profper us, our Profits 
 will be very well, and that Part of it, which 
 may arife to me, I purpofe for the Orphan 
 Houfe, and upon the Credit of whichj I have 
 already took up NecefTaries for its Subfiftance— I 
 have alfo an Opportunity of getting Credit, as Well 
 as fupplying the Orphan Houfe much cheaper 
 with what it calls for, than ever I did. — In this 
 Way we have liv'd for many Montlis. I think I 
 have not received lo /. Sterling in Cafh, as a Giftj 
 and but little Provifion? for the Orphan Hou^ 
 this fix Months paft.— I have been thus particu- 
 lar for your Satisfaction. — Indeed I am often 
 amazed at the Goodnefs of God to me. — ■! am 
 now launched out into a great deal of worldly 
 Bufinefs aeain, which 1 did not think of-^Yoii 
 ,lee how,! am led by a Way I k^pw not of.— 
 
 ID aUiitpiVa ' :• IL'OI "-V'JSo^ 
 
1^3 3 
 
 How myftcrious are the Steps of divine V^c^'Vi-^ 
 dence I Mighty is our God in working, and cxr 
 cellent in Counfel ! O Blefs the Lord O my Saul,h 
 and all that is within me fraifc his holy^pincj. 
 Blefs the Lord my Soul^ and forget 7iot al^his^ 
 Benefits I This whole Pfahn has been made ver^ 
 fweet to me, read it, pray own it, and blc5 
 God with it. ,, ,, ■ ;, .) 
 
 We have long thought it needful to keqp as^ifw 
 People as poffiblc. — But cannot do with lefs than 
 we have.— Our Situation requires them..^A pub* 
 lick Inftitution in a Wildernefs, and a City, a new 
 fettled Country, and an old one, are under very 
 different Circumftances. — None can truly know, 
 but thofe that have experienced, the many Ex- 
 pences both as to Provifions, and Labour, which 
 cannot be avoided here, tho' might elfewhere^ 
 where every Thing may be had, and done, to 
 the beft Advantage— we are as careful as poiTible 
 in improving to the befl Ufes, what God is 
 pleas'd to fend us from time to time, and are 
 willing ( I truft) not only to impart ourfelves, 
 but our Lives in the Caufe we are engaged in.— 
 But it is in vain for us to try to pleafe unreafon- 
 
 able Men. 1 have wrote this in hopes God 
 
 may hereby ftir up the Hearts of fome to praife 
 him, and to pray for, and help us, if it may be 
 in their Power, and I hope, notvvithftanding all 
 that has been induftrioufly faid to difparage us, 
 that God will evidently fulfil, what he brought 
 yv^armly upon my Heart, A^w. 31, 1741. when 
 under many Perflures and Burdens frorn a 
 
 calumniating World. ■ PfaL 37. ver. 6. 
 
 ^' And he Jhall bring forth thy Right ecu fnejs as 
 *' ^he Light, and thy Judgment as the Kaonr 
 
 ^^daj." Your laft Letter was a Means of 
 
 ftrengthening my Faith in this Scripture, and in 
 
 many 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 many 'other Things, which It contained 1 
 
 thank the Lord, and you heartily for it. 
 
 March 7. 
 
 La ft Sabbath I was at Bethefda many dear 
 
 Souls were rejoicing in God. Their Cup of 
 
 Comfort did even overflow. Juft now I receiv'd 
 a Letter from dear Brother Barber^ whofe faith- 
 ful and fleady Behaviour demands much of your 
 Love — I fhall iniert a Paragraph oV two. 
 
 ' The Night before laft was a Night of Power — 
 many rejoiced in the Lord — others cry'd bitterly. 
 — The Lord will haften his Work in his Time. 
 It becomes us humbly to wait as well as earncftly 
 to wifii and pray for it. 
 
 Our Wheat Flower is out, and the Beef juft 
 gone. — I knovv^ not what we fhall do— the Lord 
 dire£l you, and provide for us in his own Way 
 and Time.' 
 
 When I open'd this Letter, I read it to a poor 
 Widow, and told her I knew not how or where 
 
 to get them any Provifions. Poor Creatures ! 
 
 (he faid, they muft not ftarve. <' If I have got 
 " as much Money, I'll buy them two Barrels 
 " of Flour." Her Kindnefs was very aifecS^ing, 
 
 tho' I cannot let her do it. Blefied be God he 
 
 is pleas'd to keep me from difrrelling Thoughts at 
 prefent. — This has been many, many Times my 
 Cafe J yet God always gave us what was needful 
 in his own Time and Way, and fo he will now. — 
 My Eyes are to him. — What ftiou'd I now do 
 without a God \ If I was to judge by outward 
 Appearance, I muftjoin with many, who have 
 faid, we cannot long fubiift \ But here will I 
 ftay myfelf, even upon Jch&'vah yhch.— lt may 
 be needful to acquaint you, what Progrefs we 
 have this Spring made in Cultivation, and' the in- - 
 tended Manufa(3;ure. of this Proyince,- Silk an^i^^wl 
 . ,.: 2 ... Wine. 
 
( '5 ) 
 
 Wme. Laft Spring we planted out about 8<m> ;; 
 Vines in an Inclofure fronting the great Houfe^;^.^ 
 and thofe that arc Judges fay, they throve the 
 beft of any in the Province, which encouraged 
 us (notwithftanding the great Expence in cultik/> ■? 
 vating them in the Manner we are advifed to) to- J 
 augment them this Spring to near 300. — Laft 
 Year by way of Experiment we made about two . - 
 Pound and a half, of Silk Balls, but could not 1 
 make more for want of Mulberry-Leaves, and 
 are of Opinion, this Article may be very bene- '\ 
 ficial to our Inftitution, efpecially as we have fo 
 many Children, who can do the chief, if not 
 the whole of the Work, with a little Infpedlion, 
 it confifting principally in gathering the Leaves to 
 feed the Worms-*-accordingly laft Year, we 
 planted upwards of 200 Trees, and have this 
 Spring encreas'd them to 1200 — we are induced 
 hereto, to convince All that zuill fee^ that we 
 think it our Duty to encourage Induftry, as well 
 as to promote Religion in its Life and Power, and 
 for the Encouragement as well as Example of the 
 Children, their Matters at their vacant Hours 
 from School, employ themfelves in cutting Fire 
 Wood, drefling the Ground, and planting, and 
 other laborious Services with them. — It's a re- 
 ceiv'jd Maxim among both Sexes, that none are 
 fit to %e employ'd in the Orphan Houfe, that 
 think a^y. Work too mean — we have planted as 
 many Potatoes, as we judge will fcrve us to eat, 
 whilft they are good. — For two or three Seafons 
 paft, we have been obliged to fell 100 Bufhel per 
 Year, becaufc they are with much Difficulty pre- 
 ferved good more than three or four Months, after U 
 they are dug out of the Earth. — We have fow'd a id 
 little Corn, Fcafe,* Rice, and fome Engl'ijh Graih-j'''*id 
 for Fk)dder for Cows, Fowls, and Horf<.^s. WebirjJ 
 -;:i/' C have 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 have a great deal of clearM Ground^ which w? 
 muft leave for Pafture, Labourers being fo very 
 extravagant in their Demands, the Produce will 
 by no Means pay the Expcnce in railing it. It 
 v/ould, doubtlefs, be very eafy to raife as much 
 Prcvifions, as we want of fuch as the Country 
 affords, could we have Labour reafonable ; which 
 we expert the honourable Truftees are now en- 
 deavouring to bring about. Our Garden is very 
 flourifhing, and fupplies us with many comfortable 
 NecefTaries, and we have Plenty of Fruit Trees 
 fui table to this Climate. I believe was you at 
 Bethefday the Profpeil of the Garden, and other 
 Improvements now .in their Pride and Beauty 
 wou'd afford you a pleafmg Entertainment. —But 
 efpecially to hearand feemanyof your dear Lambs 
 — To ufe the Words of another — «' As fo many 
 " fweet Birds of Paradife, chirping out their de- 
 '* lightful Notes, and melodious Songs (on the 
 *' Boughs of Free-Grace) the Lamb that was 
 " flain, but now lives for ever and ever." 
 
 I think it's Time I ihould now conclude this 
 long Letter. — I did not mention Brother and Sifter 
 Hunter among the Number of our Family, be- 
 caufe they live v/holly in this Place, entirely in^ 
 dependent of the Orphan Houfe ; and what be 
 does ferve us in his Bufmefs, he does Gratis^ that 
 he is really of more Service to us than ever ; and 
 at the fame Time fupports himfelf and Family. — 
 With much Love to your dear Self, your dear 
 Wife —Brother Grace^Sy?nSy and all that pray for, 
 and promote the Peace and Profperity of Zion — I 
 conclude yours and theirs in our Common Lord. 
 
 JAMES HABERSHAM. 
 
I 
 
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