then another text contradicted it, that he was to stay where he was. He mentioned to me the fearful ftate that he had been in, and the temptations that he had to fuicide, and of the people that were gathered together about him in this his diftrefs, and of the fudden deliverance, from mifery to laughter, by the application of a paffage of fcripture, which I now forget, and which first fet him off in a profeffion, as one that had obtained mercy; and of his joining himself to a church in the country; and, after some time, that one of my pamphlets fell into his hands, and of his reading it; and of this paffage coming into his mind, "I went up to Jerufalem to fee Peter." This he looked upon as an order from God to come to London to fee me; and he came, but could not find me, and therefore went back again; and, if I mistake not, he came again, and found me not. However, the fame text followed him, and he came the third time, if I mistake not, but not fucceeding, was returning home; but, fecing a road across the fields which led to Hampstead, fome paffage occurred to his mind directing him to go there; and thither he went, and inquired of a fhoemaker if he knew me : he answered, he did, and gave him a fhilling, and fent him to another person in Hampstead, who knew where I lived; he gave him a direction to me, and put fixpence more into his hand. This appeared a kind Providence, for he had no money in his pocket; it P ferved ferved alfo to confirm him that he was right in feeking me. At first I could make nothing of him, but thought him deranged, and gave him a trifle. However, he kept coming to me; for, Providence thus appearing for him confirmed him more and more that he was to go and fee his fupposed Peter; but, when he began to fink, and found his hopes give way, and madness come on, he was much astonished that he could be thus deceived, but was forced to own that the whole was nothing but the works of the devil; and, indeed, felf-abhorrence, godly forrow, evangelical repentance flowing from pardoning love, tenderness, meekness, and an abiding fenfe of his infufficiency for the great work, never appeared in him. I once knew a gracious woman who laboured long under heavy perfecution both from her hufband and his friends, and who was long kept in fears and diftrefs by the following text: "He will furely violently turn and tofs thee like a ball into a large country: there fhalt thou die." Ifa. xxii. 18. It is fpoken of Shebna's captivity, who was fteward and treasurer of the king's household; and the devil applied it to this poor woman, and fhe conftrued it to mean that perfecution was coming on the church, and that the fhould be banished into a strange country for her religion. And true enough fhe was, for foon after fhe died, and made a moft glorious end; nor was there any violent turnings or toffings in her death, for fhe was taken ill, and died in less than ten hours after. Thus the devil can apply fcripture when it will ferve his own turn, and promote his own intereft. His aims with the children of God are to difcourage them, to raise doubts in the mind, and to stir up unbelief; to call the truth of God, and the work of God on their fouls, into question, that they may murmur, rebel, be discontented with their state, and unthankful to God for what they have. And here he often prevails by damping their affections, and fo robs God of his praife and glory, by tempting the believer that he has no grace to thank God for; and this he partially believes, and fo holds back the Lord's revenue. This is a temptation, it is plain, because every visitation of God difproves it, and expels it. By applying fcripture the devil encourages the prefumptuous, and blows them up with pride and vain confidence, to dream of the goodness of their ftate, without any fight or fenfe of the heinoufness of fin, or any humility under it, or forrow on the account of it, and even to expect the great reward of inheritance without either pardon, righteoufnefs, or holiness, by the Holy Ghoft, which alone can give us right unto it, and meetnefs for it. Under thefe delufions the confciences of fome are feared, fo that they have no bands in their death; and the prefumptuous, he goes on till his hope expires with him: "Their hope fhall be as the giving up of the ghoft." Job xi. 20. In short, every believer is confcious to himself that he has a claim upon God, as his covenant God, and an intereft in him. This is made manifeft to him by the Spirit's work, and by the witness which the Spirit bears with our fpirits; and fuch fouls do expect to be dealt with as fons, not as flaves or criminals; and that the promifes are yea and amen in Chrift, and the reward fare to all the feed; a daily crofs, and an ever-abiding Comforter; prosperity and adverfity; purging the branch with trials, and making it more fruitful by fresh indulgences, and with union and communion with the living Vine. Thus the sheep, which enter by the right door, go in and out, and find pafture. When God fpeaks to his children his word never contradicts, but always agrees with that teaching which the holy anointing teacheth. Sometimes God fpeaks to encourage hope and expectation, as to Habakkuk: "The vifion is for an appointed time; wait for it." Sometimes to fupport and fortify: "Fear none of thofe things which thou shalt fuffer: behold, the devil fhall caft fome of you into prison, that ye may be tried; ye shall have tribulation ten days." Sometimes he speaks to fiir up diligence: "Seek ye my face." And fometimes to encourage to prayer; "Let me fee thy countenance, let me hear thy voice." But either power, life, peace, mercy, or love, always attend his voice to thofe that love and his name. But fure I am that he never will send a word to the hearts of his children to make them mourn after his prefence all their days, and yet mourn in vain. No: they that mourn fhall be comforted: "This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise." And all real praise must spring from his fenfible prefence, not his abfence; from his goodness, not his anger. Therefore expect the fulfilment of his promises: "I will bear them from the womb, and to your old age I am he; and to hoary hairs will I carry you; even I will bear, and I will deliver you." Dear fifter, adieu, Ever yours in faith and affection, The Defert. NOCTUA AURITA P3 LETTER |