A correspondence between Noctua Aurita, of the desert, and Philomela, of the King's dale. Published by William Huntington, S.S. ... 1799
Huntington, William
E. d, w_— - FW" = OR het W * 23 5. FA <A nee 1 W Rs UA „ 1 by 5 of Cha" LA 1 = t 18 ) to this; faith. However, in a few hours I. found my mind clouded again, and Satan was permitted to aſſault and ſuggeſt to my mind that it was not real, and that I was catching at ſomething I could not hold faſt. But theſe words ſettled and decided the matter, It is the voice, of my Beloved : be- hold, he cometh leaping on the mountains, and ſkipping on the hills.” And a ſweet peace 1 found in my ſoul. However, before the day was paſt, I felt my mind again beclouded, and my ſoul diſturbed, and Satan ſuggeſting that it was not real; but the above words were attended again, the ſecond time, with: power, and kept vi- brating through my very ſoul for, I believe, two hours; and the matter was made clear to me that I was. not deceived. On Tueſday morning the Lord met me again in prayer; and, I bleſs his name, he renewed the ſame over again, as he did the morning before; and ſweetly did he com- mune with my ſoul; and he has brought me to ſit at his feet, clothed, and in my right mind, and has told me, that he has made with me an everlaſting covenant, ordered in all things and ſure ;” and that he will lead me into the myſte- ries of it, for the half has not been told me; and never before did I feel ſuch contrition and godly ſorrow. It has killed me outright, | and, as you ſay in one of your letters, bleeds my very ſoul to death. O how much do I need your prayers, that 1 may be Kept near him, that I may not be FRY away ! ( 119 ) away ! for Satan will uſe all his efforts to get me again into his ſieve. I have communicated this to no ſoul living but yourſelf, thanking you for all favours. The King's Dale. PHILOMELA; | 14 LETTER ? 8 * wt F | 5 iy 4 , r FF? #81 ET IS n D - f LS CE ew 7 5 1 of 2 , FR TRE BRO 1 „ TY "4 . . 1 LS "CTY 2 a a 8 — Pate « ——_; - W 1 e ' * p * 4 > 8 4 N * 5 * 3 4 — a £ 8 - q 'T 4 r — 9. ä — r e 2 r jp FOLATE FFF , EL WS a eee A Le CST oh. od LES SEE XEY 2149 - a " n ** r Wy S „ ern n nnn r "45 12 ” 3 - i we % 4205 4 þ =. te — N e 1 18 EET al ( 120) LETTER XXV. To NOCTUA AURITA, in the Deſert. I nave been expecting a letter from you every day for this month paſt, and have felt much at your long filence. Satan has endea- voured to help the matter forward, and has ſug- geſted to me what, perhaps, never entered your head. But he is not worth ſpending any time about; ſo I will not ſay any thing more about him, but proceed to tell my dear friend that, ſince I wrote you laſt, I have experienced a ſweet gale from the ſouth wind, which, for a time, carried all that was not mortal within the veil, and left me nothing but the poor frail tabernacle here below, and even that felt the effects of it ſo much that it was hardly able to ſuſtain it. Indeed, my dear brother, I hardly knew, for ſome time, whether in the body, or out of the body; and, had it been the will of my God, glad ſhould I have been to have taken my eternal flight, and left mortality behind. But I am fully perſuaded that is not to take place yet; becauſe it is given me to believe that it is appointed for me to bear no ſmall part of the burden and heat of the day; and I am to 3 ſtand „5 Rand in many of the Lord's battles. But, how- ever weak I am, he will teach my hands to war, and my fingers to fight; and I truſt that no wea- pon that is formed againſt me ſhall proſper; be- cauſe I know all my enemies are his enemies. I | had, three nights ago, a very particular dream, which I well know came from God, and will, I have no doubt, have its accompliſhment ; and, as you are one of the parties concerned, I will make bold to trouble you with the relation of it. I dreamed I was ſtanding in an open road; you came up to me, and converſed with me for about a quarter of an hour, when you turned from me and went out of my fight. You was no ſooner gone than there came up to me a middle-aged woman, very comely in her appearance. She had on a long white robe; the had a ſoft, ſmooth, | ſmiling countenance; and very pleaſant did ſhe. look at me; but I ſaw the very devil under that robe. I trembled at her appearance till my very joints ſhook ; for I perceived ſhe had very evil de- ſigns againſt me. She very minutely ſurveyed me from head to foot. I therefore took my garments and girded them round me as tight as poſſibly I could, and ſtood trembling before her, as I thought her intention was to rob me. I had not ſtood long before you came to me. the ſecond time; 'which when ſhe ſaw, ſhe turned, and went out of my ſight. You converſed with me as before, though I do not recollect any thing of the converſation, | | I ſecretly } / LE % £ I ſecretly wiſhed you not to leave me, as I knew the flatterer was at no great diſtance ; but I did not aſk'you. You turned and went out of my fight again; and no ſooner was you gone, but this woman came up to me again, but ſomewhat nearer. I felt the ſame ſenſations as before, and, as before, took my garments, and girt them round me with all the ſtrength I had, and ſtood trembling before her, expecting her to fall on me. I wiſhed: for you to come again; but you came no more. This was done three times; and ] believe with my trembling I awoke. What it all means I muſt leave to God and future diſcovery; but fure I am, by the repetitions of the dream, and by my ' ſtrange feelings under it, that ſome ſore trial awaits me. I know that the church of Rome, and all falſe churches, as well as the fooliſh vir- gins, are called women, and are ſet forth as very gaudy and gay in their dreſs, as this woman was; and I believe it is the buſineſs and delight of ſuch perſons to rob the children of God. But who can take away the garment of imputed righteouſ- neſs, or lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? My garment I wrapt cloſe: round me; and I believe it is faith that puts this robe on, and keeps it cloſe. However, ſuffer we muſt; and, „if we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo reign with him;“ for our tonſolations are as ſure as our ſufferings. The Lord promiſes ſtrength equal to the day; and, if ſo, I ſhall ſtand and withſtand. | | My ( 188 ) | My other three ſucceeding. epiſtles you told me drew. ſome ſecrets from your heart; and I; am ſure they did my ſoul good; and, as this is the third ſince. you wrote me, I-hope- theſe will do the ſame; again. I ſaw the herald: lab night, and he was as well as uſual. Hope this will meet you and your family well. Believe me to remain Your affectionate friend and ſiſter in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, The King's Dale. PHILOMELA. * LETTER XXVI. To PH IL OMELA, m the King's Date. Havins a little leiſure time upon my hands, I am inclined to write to thee, having = a deſire to know how thou doſt. But which way 3 to ſteer my courſe, ſo as to find thee, is the difficult 1 ; taſk that I have undertaken. In my former 1 epiſtles 8 (124 ) epiſtles I always went before thee by the ſpirit of - _ prophecy ; and, as thou cameſt after, thou didft ſet to thy ſeal that the word of the Lord was true. But, moving from my old habitation, and the _ troubles which have attended it, have ſo inter- rupted our correſpondence, that I know not where thou art. However, I will-purſue the footſteps of the flock; and I have no douht but J ſhall overtake thee, either in the- 5 or in the heights of Iſrael. To go back to the days of thy diſperſion, han thou waſt ſtumbling upon the dark mountains, muſt be altogether vain. The Shepherd's promiſe to thee in that ſtate hath been fulfilled : “ I Will ſeek my ſheep, and ſearch them out; and I will gather them out of all places whither they have been ſcattered in the cloudy and dark days.“ From theſe difmal and dark regions he hath put thee forth, and gone before thee, and cauſed thee to paſs under the rod, and to hear his voice; and he hath led thee into the bond of the covenant, that thou mighteſt be bound up in the bundle of fe with the chief Shepherd. This is the ſummit of all happineſs, the height of Zion's dignity, the high mountain and the eminent on which fo many have ſaid, I ſhall never be moved; thou. Lord, of thy goodneſs haſt made my hill ſo ſtrong.“ Upon this eminence he carries the lambs in his boſom, as well as leads gently thoſe that Are ( 14s )) are with young. The former feel the warmth of his heart, the latter the ſtrength of his arm. But it is vexatious, grievous, yea, and dangerous, coming down from this mount; becauſe the hor- rible pit and the miry clay are ſo near to the foot of it, one of old tumbled into it: I ſtick faſt; I am come no the deep waters, ſo that the floods overflow me.” This ſtiffened his joints, and re- laxed his nerves, and made him ſtagger and wad- dle in his walk. © I am ready to halt, and my ſorrows are continually before me.” This being put out of the boſom, and driven from the fuck- ling-houſe, and turned adrift to go behind, and only now and then allowed to hear the Shepherd's voice, and being bid to follow him inftead of rid- ing in the boſom, appears to be hard treatment. However, he always heals them that halt, binds up that which is broken, and feeds that which is faint: © The Lord is my ſhepherd, therefore; I ſhall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green paſtures; he leadeth me beſide the ſtill wa- ters; he reſtoreth my ſoul; he leadeth me in paths of righteouſneſs for his name's ſake.“ Thus to lie down andi find reſt and ſatisfaction, encom- paſſed and ſupported by the lively oracles, or life-giving words of promiſe, and to be led by the ſtreams which flow from the river of divine plea- ſure, makes us fat and flouriſhing. But, alas theſe vanith again, and we loſe fight of theſe wa- ters: © I am a ſtranger with thee; hide not thy commandment ( 126 ) commandment from me. O, when wilt thou come and comfort me!“ Here the old man, and the ſheep's worſt enemy, entangle him; he is hung up: © Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord]; for he ſhall pluck my feet out of the net. The trou- bles of my heart are enlarged; O bring thou me out of my diſtreſſes! Out he comes again: [ will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou haſt conſidered my trouble; thou haſt known my ſoul in adverſities, and haſt not ſhut me up into the hand of the enemy. Thou haſt ſet my fcet in a large room.” But he ſoon wanders out of this into the deſert, and gets upon the barren moun- tains of Sinai, and here gets both blinded and im- poveriſhed: © I have gone aſtray like a loft ſheep; ſeek thy ſervant, for I do not forget thy com- mandments. What part of this path of tribula- tion my ſiſter is now on, or which of theſe foot- ſteps of the flock ſuits her preſent ſteps, T know not; but, when I ſaw her laſt) ſhe was ſhut up, and could not come forth; and, when I informed her of a future enlargement, her anſwer agreed with that of her ſiſter of old. Nay, thou man of God, do not he to thine handmaid;;” for I ſhall never be comfortable any more in this world. Has experience, from that time to this, proved that ſaying to be true? or did the Lord confirm the word of his ſervant, and mah the counſel of his meſſenger ? | Once more : Haſt thou found, in the bohrte of thy 0 127 Pe pilgrimage, any thing to confirm that com- mon ſaying of many, namely, that thoſe who, by the Spirit, are brought once into liberty, are neyer exerciſed with, nor entangled in, legal bondage again? or whether this bondage be not one ingredient in the cup of Zion's ſorrow, which all muſt drink of, more or leſs, who follow the Lamb whitherſoever he goeth? A ſolution of theſe matters will lay me under an obligation, which ſhall be acknowledged with that thankful- neſs which I hope will ever abound in Your affectionate friend and brother, From the Deſert,” 1: © NOCTUA AURITA. LETTER XXVII. * NOCTUA. AURITA, in the Defert I RECEIVED your kind letter, and am obliged to you for your kind inquiry after my ſpiritual welfare. Your letter found me in the footſteps of the flock ; though I muſt tell you it | did in ( ms } did not find me on the heights of Zion. I am got on the barren mountains of Sinai; and my ſoul is as the mountains of Gilboa, without either dew or rain : therefore theſe words of David ſuit me, &« T have gone aſtray like a loſt ſheep; ſeek thy ſervant :” for I can ſay alſo, with him, that I do not forget God's commandments. Since I wrote to you laſt, which is now more than four months, = - I have been led in a ſtrange path. If you recol- | lect, I wrote to you juſt before the Lord had | granted me that ſecond enlargement from the | bondage in which I had lain for five months. | — 1 hes 7 a - 1 * =_ = TFT SS. Gm. > * 1 1 „„ „ AE .ccrT LT = PI az („„ <XRE. 7 ESI i 1 e * hs EC = 92 — | þ "I by 4 \ \ 3 r 1 | . / Oo. oc ot I. — " — on * of — n = - A SIT e PFF ** FRETS iS | rn . * by To — * P „ E 1 . n This was a ſweet revival of the work. But, alas! gradually did thoſe ſweet ſenſations on my ſoul wither, and down from the mount I came before 3 I was aware; and for two months I had not the leaſt light on the path I was in; only I knew what I had loſt. Nor could I get any help from . | the ſanctuary, nor ſtrength out of Zion; and, for « = want of light, I could not deſcribe my ſtrange 0 feelings to any one; yet 1 was not in deep diftreſs 1 all this time, though I knew I was not comfort- | able. However, I was ſure it was a path I had | | not been in before. But, about a month ago, = under one of the orations of his Majeſty's herald, | the Lord was pleaſed to ſhine with a ray of light 1 while he was deſcribing a ſpeech of my great great 4 | grandmother's, recorded in the annals of antiquity; 4 where ſhe ſays, © I ſleep, but my heart waketh.” = In a moment I was given to ſee that I was in the | | 8 ſame ( 129 ) ſame caſe, and her prayer was that moment mine; and from my heart I could ſay, © Awake, O north wind, and come, thou ſouth ; blow upon my. gar- den, that the ſpices thereof may flow out.” Ever ſince the Lord brought me into the liberty of the goſpel, theſe words have perplexed me, why the venerable ſpouſe ſhould wiſh to awake the north wind. But I believe I know the ſecret now ; for I had rather be under the influence of that gale than to he wind-bound, which is my caſe at pre- ſent. But, upon this diſcovery of my ftate, my beloved ſeemed to put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. This ſeemed, in a meaſure, to rouſe me from my fpiritual lethargy, and a little fervour was commu- nicated to my ſpirit, which enabled me to ariſe and open to my beloved. But, as it fared with her of old, ſo it does with me; for my beloved has withdrawn himſelf, and is gone; I ſought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no anſwer; and, ſince that time, I have loſt that little fervour I then found on my ſpirit, ſo that I have no heart to ſeek him. But the light which diſcovers where I am remains ſtill with me. This is my preſent” ſtate; and how long Þ am to lie at anchor I know not ; but I do not, at preſent, feel the leaſt breeze from the ever- laſting hills to fill the ſails. I feel this a ſad caſe indeed, and can find no acceſs to God ; no faith in exerciſe to plead his word of promiſe at a throne K of > „ N j mn -' __ _ Wo { % = : £ of grace. Therefore, if you he my beloved, tel] him that I am fick of love. The queſtions you aſk a ſolution of are not (1 am ſure) for your own information; but, what- ever your motive may be, I am bound, from a grateful ſenſe of my obligations to you, to anſwer any queſtion you'ſhall aſk, 2f it lies in my power; and I hope I ſhall ever bear my teftimony againſt ſuch a lie as that, viz. that the believer, after be- ing once brought into the liberty of the goſpel, is never entangled again in legal bondage ; my own experience is point blank againſt it. Therefore | know that thoſe who aſſert ſuch things know not what they ſay, nor whereof they affirm. For! am ſure this is the third time that I have been in legal bondage fince the Lord was pleaſed to pro- claim liberty to my ſoul, which is but two years come next week; and I think my wanderings have been ſomething ſimilar to thoſe of the pro- phet Elijah, when he went a day's journey in the wilderneſs, ' I have always been made to expe- rienee the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, be- fore I. have been favoured with the ſtill ſmall voice which has brought me back again; and have been made as bitter in my ſpirit as was the prophet, when he ſat under the juniper-tree, and requeſted of the Lord that he might die, though he knew it was contrary to God's will. More- over, lam in a ſtrait to know what this can be. I know it is the effect of legal bondage; and I 6 have 0 have ſelt it as keen and as galling ſince my deli- verance as I did before, only with this difference (as you obſerved to me in a former letter), © that unappeaſed wrath, and unatoned guilt, are not mixed with it.” But I muſt conclude with thank- ing you kindly for all favours, and begging a continuance of them, attended with an intereſt in your prayers for me, that I may be kept from every ſnare that Satan may ſpread for my feet, and that the Lord would condefcend to viſit me again, and reſtore to me the jays of his ſalvation, and uphold me with his free Spirit, that the wilder- neſs and the ſolitary place may be made glad and flouriſh, and the deſert bloſſom as the roſe. Then Joy and gladneſs will be found therein, thankſgiv- ing and the voice of melody, and, not till then. My partner joins. in kind reſpects. Believe me tq remain, as much as ever, 5 3 Jour affectionate friend and ſiſter in the Lord Jeſus, The King's Dale. PHILOMELA * ” 13. . FL $3 K 2 © LETTER gi _ - o oy EC S,. 1 * . _ TL ET LS 4 a 3 * 8 = „ OL ado e Lig 1 — 1 A 8 9 8 * * * 3 — | © "3 8 _ = "x - be LA FR La FT Fc} Hy TY Thc — LF A? _- n _ l 1 NS T 1 —_ | : _ AAS 1 i = 4 1 0 oy _ * bo =: 3 3 a Ul Ay <a bj a-. * * 8 K "HS ER. n <= "3; wn X —_—_— G p EXT A, 5" Y _ LY Af > Ta. . l hy 9 a n | , — iſ ty = * * 1 * : Z 0 <4 1 K — you = a _ j e A = i a . JE 2 ul . ' Tg * = 9 Id ant l " "i l N ” = uo; _ 1 Fo P £ 5 N n \ n * * 2 Sata — * 4 wh, - , — 7 - _ — Th IT \ l a 5 4 bs K «= 1 4 5 : Tis 2 * 0 2 C . . 7 : e . - "© \ —_ * N þ I > : 0 A 5 - YZ 2 q a a q i. \ n ae 2 * 4 * "Ts 4 þ+ u - = - _— — oe ws * * > *. % 2 4 * 1 g 5 0 _ - bY — nod — —— - * 0 — = — - : 5 ” 5 a * LETTER XXVII. 7 PHILOMELA, of the King's Dale. I gave paid ſeveral viſits this week, both to you on the hill, and to thoſe in the valley, only I was abſent in body; ſo that my appearance was imperceptible ; ſomewhat like that of the be- loved ſtanding behind the wall, and ſhewing | him- ſelf through the lattice, Whether any troubles have happened to either of your families, I know not ; but you have been much on my mind when I have been ſecretly engaged in that greateſt, beſt, moſt bleſſed, and moſt glorious privilege that ever periſhing ſinners were favoured with. Private prayer is my court viſits to my God, the life and breath of my ſoul; it is the aſcenſion of the ſoul to the Almighty, and its returns are the deſcenſion of Chriſt to the ſoul's help. It is the aſſuaſion of grief, the eaſement of a burdened heart, and the vent of a joyful one. It is the rich favour of myſtical incenſe, the overflowings of a living fountain, an all-prevailing facrifice, the delight of the Almighty, and a raniſhung charm to the heavenly bridegroom. 4 3 (133) Prayer has made the Sun of Righteouſneſs to ſtand ſtill in his firmament, though diſcharged from the lips of a blind beggar. It has brought the Ancient of Days to dwell in a buſh ; and even a worm, by this ſimple mean, has held the King of kings in the galleries; yea, Omnipotence itſelf has been conſtrained to ſay, © Let me go, for the day breaketh.” But duſt and aſhes replied, “ I will not, except thou bleſs me.” And he bleſſed him there, and allowed that himſelf had been conquered, and ſtyled his antagoniſt a prevailer with God. Thus Judah's Lion was overcome, and the lame duck waddled off with the victory. Prayer is a defence againſt the ſpirit of this world, and a guard againſt the inroads of vanity; it is a maul upon the head of the old man, and a laſh of ſcorpions for the devil. Prayer is a bridle in the jaws of a perſecutur, a ſpell to a voracious enemy, a dagger at the heart of a heretic, a key to parables and dark ſayings, and a battering-ram on the walls of ſalvation. * The kingdom of heaven ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.“ Prayer opens the bountiful hand of God, opens the door of mercy, keeps Chrift in the throne of our affections, and covers every rival and uſurper with ſhame and confuſion of face. Prayer is my royal-exchange,. where I have brought thouſands. of cares, burdens, ſnares, trou- bles, vexations, temptations, doubts, fears, miſgiv- - ings 184) ings of heart, ſorrows of mind, fainting fits, un. beheving fits, fits of love- ſickneſs, fits of carnal and ſpiritual jealouſy, hardneſs of heart, rebellion of heart, and ingratitude of heart; together with every other diſorder, as the leproſy, the evil of the heart, the plague of the heart, and the plague of the head; together with deaf ears, blind eyes, feeble knees, languid hands, halting feet, and a {iff neck; with many oppoſitions, perſecutions, falſe charges, ſlanderous accuſations, and vile re- Proaches; and have, by this ſimple mean, got rid of them all at times. I have gone to this change with all ſorts of devils, as an unclean devil, a falſe Preaching devil, a blaſphemous devil, a reforming devil, a furious devil, a fawning devil, and a fleepy devil, and have left them in the hands of him that could manage them, when my ſtrength has been all gone, and ſelf-deſpair has ſeized me. All theſe, and thouſands more, have I taken to this royal-exchange; and you know that one of the names of a believer is that of an exchanger (Matt. xxv. 27); and I have received in return - thouſands of kiſſes, bleſſings, mercies, and deli- verances; many refreſhings, renewings, revivals, reſtorations, and returns' of comfort, peace, love, and joy; together with freſh diſcoveries, love to- kens, wholeſome truths, profound myſteries, glo- rious glimpſes, bright proſpects, terreſtrial views, undoubted evidences, infallible proofs, heavenly leſſons, confirming viſits, conſpicuous deliverances, | earneſts, ( 5 Y | earneſts, pledges, and foretaſtes, reviving cordials, precious promiſes, or bank notes, payable this day, and every day through life, and even to millions of ages after date, figned, ſealed, and delivered, by Jehovah himſelf: and God knows, and con- ſcience too, that I lie not. Prayer has ſcattered many confederate enemies of my ſoul, marred the ſchemes of Jacobins; fruſ- trated the tokens of hars, and made diviners mad. It counteracts the deſigns of Satan and his dear children; it hath made me the enemy of the world, the rival of impoſtors, the envy of hypo- crites, an eyeſore to the devil, an admiration to periſhing ſinners, a ſpectacle to the world, and a 7 wonder to myſelf. He that prays to his Father, that ſeeth in ſecret, ſhall be rewarded openly.“ Buy prayer the poor come up from the duſt, and the beggar from the dunghill, and get a feat among the princes of God's people, and an inhe- ritance in the throne of glory. Mental prayer hath brought me from ſleeping in a barn to a com- fortable lodging, from a lodging to a cottage, from a cottage to a houſe, and from a houſe to a little farm; it hath brought food for my need, apparel for my uſe, furniture for my dwelling, fuel to my hearth, money to my pocket, and faithful friends to my heart, and hath kept my pot boiling almoſt thirty years. For all theſe things I will be inquired of by the houſe of Iſrael, that I may do theſe nne for them.” Ezek. xxxvi. 37. | K 4 Ns Prayer ( 286 ) Prayer brought me from the coal-barge to a pulpit, from being a ſervant of ſervants to be a ruler in the Lord's houſehold ; it delivered my hands from the ſhovel, and my ſhoulders from the ſacks. | | Yea, earneſt deſires hath raiſed four houſes of prayer for God, and brought the preſence of God into the houſes; it hath brought living waters to my well, oil to my cruſe, joy to my heart, and a bleſſing to many ſouls. And what ſhall I fay more ? Why, prayer hath brought little animals to my fields, living creatures to my yard, a horſe for my uſe, when the King's buſineſs requires haſte, and a vehicle at my command in inclement weather. This has cauſed the very abjects to ga- ther together about me, and the eyes of; the en- vious to look on me, who have ſeen it, and griev- ed, grudged, and gnaſhed, and wandered up and down, and gone round the walls of my dwelling grinning like a dog. No good thing will I with- hold from them that walk uprightly. “ Prayer hath brought the ſouls of ſome, when departed, back into their bodies again. It engages the Almighty on the ſide of the ſuppliant, and eſtabliſhes an alliance with God. It hath ſtopped the bottles of heaven for three years and fix months, and opened them again at the expiration of that term; yea, and brought a miraculous plenty into the houſe of a poor widow, while deſtruction and famine were riding all around in univerſal triumph. (197 0% triumph. © All things are poſſible to him that believeth;“ © and W ye aſk in prayer, be- lieving, ye ſhall receive.“ Prayer hath brought health to the Gi hearing to the deaf, ſpeech to the dumb, eyes to the blind, life to the dead, ſalvation to the loſt; and even driven the devil himſelf from the heart of many, and brought the God of heaven to dwell in his room. Prayer is pouring out the ſoul before God, and ſhewing him our troubles ; it is caſting our cares upon him that careth for us, and our burdens upon him in whom we are to ſay we have righte- ouſneſs and ſtrength ; it is opening to our well beloved, opening our minds, our hearts, and our mouths, to him who tells us to let him hear our voice, and ſee our faces, the one being ſweet, and the other comely. This is befieging an everlaſt- ing kingdom, moving the throne of grace, and coming with a treble rat-tat at the door of mercy. In prayer we muſt take no denial, if 'we have but a feeling ſenſe of our wants, a ſcriptural warrant to go upon, or one promiſe to plead ; we muſt ſue, argue, reaſon, plead, ſupplicate, intercede, confeſs, acknowledge, thank, bleſs, praiſe, adore, repeat, importune, obſerye, take hold of, and turn every thing that we can to our own advantage, fo as we can but get ſomething for the ſoul. Senſible ſin- ners, that are poor and needy, have gotten many invitations, encouragements, precedents, promiſes, | the ( 138 ) the covenant, the oath of God, the merits of Chrift, and all his covenant engagements, undertakings, and performances ; the covenant characters that he ſuſtains, his incarnation, and near relationſhip to us; together with all the glorious train of divine perfections found in the proclamation of the name of God to Moſes; for they all harmonize and ſhine in Chriſt crucified. Thus far I had written in this ſecond epiſtle, my dear ſiſter, when your laſt let. ter came to hand. I ſee where you are, and will endeavour to point it out to you. | And now obſerve: when God the Father is about to bring us, as his choſen children, to his dearly beloved Son, that we may be openly and experimentally eſpouſed to him, he comes near to us in a broken law, as it is written, „ Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt, O Lord, and teacheſt him out of thy law, that thou mayeſt give him reſt from the days of adverſity, till the pit be digged up for the wicked.” This reſt from the days of adverſity is to be found only in Chriſt Je- ſus. He is our reſt and our refreſhing; and this reſt Chriſt promiſes to them that are weary and heavy laden. This lading is ſin, guilt, and wrath; and this labouring, and being weary of it, is our fruitleſs toil under the legal yoke ; for the law works wrath and death in us, and this is truly hard labour; and, as we have no ſucceſs in it, we faint, and get weary of it. This, my ſiſter, is our 0 Father's * ; and ſo ſaith the | Saviour, ( 139 ) Saviour, © It is written, And they ſhall all be taught of God. Every one, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me; and he that cometh unto me I will in no wiſe caſt out.” When Chriſt eſpouſeth us, he doth five things for us; but, antecedent to this, God, by the application of the law, makes us feel our need of them all. When the law comes home, the | Firſt thing that it does is to diſcover our filthi- neſs. © By the law is the knowledge of fin;" and fin by the law becomes exceeding ſinful. 2dly. The curſe of the law, and the wrath of God, pierce through the poor breaſtplate of all ſelf-righteouſneſs, which convinces us that we are unrighteous in the ſight of God. | 3dly. It diſcovers and ſtirs up our carnal enmity, © The carnal mind is enmity againſt God; it is not ſubject to the law of God, nor indeed can ey” © Athly. The law ills u us with ſing and torment, and leaves us in bondage to it. And, Sthly, It diſcovers our blindneſs and our igno- rance, and makes the old yeil that is upon our hearts a darkneſs that may be felt. Such a ſoul, and no other, is a fit object for Chriſt to embrace; and, under theſe circumſtances, God leads us ta him, as he did Eve to the firſt Adam; and Chriſt receives us, at his hand, as his gift. The firſt thing that Chriſt does for us is to cleanſg, ( 140 ) cleanſe us from our filth, which the law has diſco- yered to us: From all your filthineſs, and from all your idols, will I cleanſe you.” The ſecond thing is to bring forth the beſt robe, and put it upon us. This is the wedding-garment: -« The Lord (ſays Zion) hath clothed me with the garments of ſalvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteouſneſs, as a bridegroom decketh himſelf with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herſelf with her jewels.” Now the filthy garments of ſelf-righteouſneſs, diſcovered by the law, are put off, and this change of raiment is put on. 3dly. The ring of everlaſting love is brought forth to adorn the hand. This ring of divine love ſubdues the carnal enmity diſcovered and ſtirred up by the law. 4thly, The next thing 1s, the ſhoes are brought forth for the feet; which ſhoes are peace with God through Chriſt, and peace with our own con- ſcience through the application of the atonement : « Having your feet ſhod with the preparation of the goſpel of peace.” Theſe ſhoes much charm the heavenly wooer; © How beautiful are thy feet with ſhoes, O princeſs daughter!“ The fifih thing 1s, the Sun of Righteouſneſs now ſhines upon us with healing in his beams. He views us with approbation, complacency, and delight. This is the ſaving manifeſtation of him- ſelf to us, and to all — the Father hath given him. ( 141 ) him. This removes the old veil from the heart; which hung ſo heavy upon us under the law: the face being turned to the Lord, and we embol- dened and encouraged to look up, the veil is taken away. All this work is done, in a greater or lefs degree, on the day of our eſpouſals, and on the day of the gladneſs of the bridegroom's heart. And now let me ſhew thee the hand that faith, as an inſtrument, hath in all this. Firſt. Chriſt is the fountain open that cleanſes from all fin, and faith applies the atonement : God purifies our hearts by faith. 2dly. The Lord Jeſus © is the end of the law for righteouſneſs to every one that belieyeth;” and faith lays hold of his righteouſneſs, and puts it on. Hence it is ſaid that “ the righteouſneſs of Chriſt is to all and upon all that believe.“ 3dly. Now, as faith has the honour of being the hand of the ſoul, which hand appropriates all theſe things to us; ſo faith, as the hand of the ſoul, is honoured with wearing this ring; which is the eternal love of God: “ Faith worketh by love.” And, as a wedding-ring 1 is an emblem of love, and, when put on the proper finger, is a ſure token from a huſband to a woman of her wedlock with him; ſo the love of God ſhed abroad in the heart by the Spirit of God is a ſure token of our eſpouſals to Chriſt, and of eternal union with him, -and of God the Father's love to us in him. And, as there is, at times, in an affectionate young — woman 1 =] * i 2 1 ( 142 ) woman wooed; doubts and fears whether her in- tended will prove faithful at laſt or not, which will not be removed until ſhe is eſpouſed with a ring ; ſo here the match will not appear clear to the ſoul; nor will doubts; fears, miſgivings of heart, and torment, be caſt out; till perfect love takes place, or until we are made perfect in love, or until this ring be put on the hand of faith; the greateſt, the hardeſt, and moſt difficult work of faith being this, to perſuade the ſoul that Chrift loves it with an everlaſting love; and even faith's perſuaſion muſt be attended with a feeling ſenſe of this love too, or elſe the ſoul cannot reſt ſatis- fied. But, when this is done, the match is made, and is indiſſoluble, and the ſoul is more than ſure of it. And now, „„ mo 4thly, Faith puts on the ſhoes. “Being juſti- fied by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ;” and © Let the Peace of God rule in your hearts.” 5thly. Faith now looks through the val, nnd ſees him that is inviſible; yea, ſhe ſees. the pro- miſed ſeed, and embraces him. | ” Ne (18 } « None,” ſaith the Bridegroom, © ſhall - pluck them out of my hand;” and adds, My Father is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.” Thus God holds her, apd claims her as his daughter, and Chriſt holds her and claims her as his ſpouſe, and as his Father's choice and gift to him. And, indeed, it was our heavenly. Father that decreed, propoſed, and made this match. Thus have I ſhewed thee how we become dead to the law that we may be married to another, even to him that is raiſed from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit unto God, even as the branch in the vine brings forth grapes. | But now obſerve what the Saviour ſays : I am the vine, and ye are the branches; and my Father is the huſbandman; every branch in me that beareth fruit my Father purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.“ After we have enjoyed the dearly beloved of our fouls for a few months, our love, our ſimplicity, meekneſs, contrition, tendernefs, filial fear, &c. abate in their exerciſe ; and we begin to creep into ſelf, wax proud, get ſecure and careleſs; dream of eaſe all the way, and are very nice, and rather dainty; nothing but the beſt wine of the kingdom, and the very mar- row of the feaſt, will do for us; we mult ſhew ourſelves, ſeck admiration and applauſe, and ap- Pear to be ſomething. But, when the Father ſees this, he takes us in hand again; he viſits our fins with 6 with the rod, and our iniquities with ſcourges, as he ſays he will do; he turns us looſe on the bar- ren mountains of Sinai, he exerciſes us with legal bondage again. This ſtirs up every inbred cor- ruption, which aſtoniſhes us; this convinces us of the need of diligence and watchfulneſs, and that we have not much to be proud of, ſeeing the root of every fin is ſtill in us, though guilt is purged and fin is ſubdued by grace. And here our be- loved withdraws himſelf, and is gone. He is not to be found at Horeb, but at Zion. From this mount we get nothing but barrenneſs, dryneſs, and deadneſs of foul. - Theſe things falling upon us, bring us to rue our pride, ſecurity, lightneſs, and folly ; and, though we come no more under the curſe, nor under vindictive wrath nor unpar- doned guilt, yet it is a grievous yoke to an heaven- born foul, and not a little mortifying to one of the ſpouſe's dignity. Bitter reflections, | cruel jea- louſies, and humbling mortifications, attend this purging rod. L . Whereas CERES pa ” — r . e y 822 28 * 2 : bas n > : FPS I= 2 #5 ö 4 877 :; y 8 > 2 3 * Ty i. oy KY x . . 2 - . 5 5 6 * * —— * 1 5 3 ren = . 4 — 3 ; r / . oo: We" r r * — 7 2 Mr Fr 0 8. Ly 9 LA '»” U F N E o 17 9 1 k 4 AG e T SS ar l 5 wo. - - * 3 F y (as is 2 = FRA A r EY TITTY SG Wa ao F * ay nd oy CF * * 8 1 E ad "Os -P Oy * = — ö 1 war "PR RT _ a GP Lt. $i, e i _— N. r. h —_— J a N 8 bl 18 eee. enn 1 0 =") 1; : EY £ 44 bay G | ( 16) | Whereas the wrath of God in the law, which ſtirs up our enmity, is the ſpirit of bondage to fear; and, as it brings a cold chill on our love, and much fear and trembling, it is therefore called the north wind. Hence Solomon, knowing that bondage always precedes liberty, the one bring- ing grief and the other joy, ſays, In the day of proſperity be joyful, and in the day of adverſity conſider; for God hath fet the one againſt the other.” Proſperity is the time when our Lord embraces us; but our adverſity is the time when the Lord refrains from embracing. Hence Solo- mon repreſents the ſpouſe as being diffatisfied with her carnal eaſe, and dead, indifferent ſtate ; and that, to fuch a hungry ſoul, the bitterneſs of legal bondage would be ſweeter than fuch a dead frame. He ſets forth the fpouſe as praying thus: c Awake, O north wind, and come, thou fouth : blow upon my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out;” knowing that there would be no divine embraces till humbling trials had taken place. In this way is the behever purged. Take notice further, that, as ſome ſouls are called fer- vants, and are under the law, in bondage to it, and ſtrangers to grace; fo gracious ſouls, though often humbled, and exerciſed with the bondage of the law, are ſtill under grace : the former be- ing a corrupt tree in its natural ſtate, and the other a good tree, purged, and made good by the grace of God. Solomon repreſents. 