removed; all my corruptions and lusts were subdued; and I felt love, joy, peace, humbleness of mind, and meekness, spring up, and I had a meek and quiet spirit given to me, for I had not a doubt of my interest in Christ. The fear of death and judgment, hell and damnation, all died away, while the Spirit. bore witness with my spirit that I was a child of God. I found what we used to say at church to be true, that God filleth the hungry with good things, and sendeth the rich empty away. I could thank and bless God with all my soul for what he had done for me, and I was very happy for a few weeks, and did sweetly feed on your discourses; but, alas! my comforts went away again and troubles came. I felt great doubtings and fearings; my corruptions and lusts got very strong and powerful, and my heart very hard, and I was both peevish and fretful. If I read the Bible, I was as though I should give God the lie; and, in prayer, as though I should blaspheme and die. I conceived myself to be under a delusion, and that it was presumption I had got under you: I fancied the dear Lord had left me, as he did Saul; and it was suggested to me, 'Are you sure that your minister is right, does he really feel what he preaches?' I was in this state for some weeks, and thought that the workings of these evils could not be for my good, or for the glory of God, and was thereby brought very low. Afterwards it pleased God that you should preach from this text, "God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of

You

his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." gave such a description of the trial I was in, the temptations I was exercised with, and our being called to the fellowship of Christ, that it pleased God to own, bless, and apply the word with power, so that the devil was obliged to be off with his fiery darts, and I went home in sweet peace. Truly, I can say, God is faithful, and will not forsake the work of his own hands, nor suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear. By these trials I find out the two principles, the new man and the old; and I would not commit another sin against God, if it was his blessed will, for all the world; yet I find a principle, that lives in me, that loves sin as well, if not better, than ever it did, and can feast upon nothing else but sin; and the sins that I used to indulge myself the most in, are they which I now find my greatest plagues. Dear Sir, I lost all fear of death when you preached from this text; "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe." The language of my soul was, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. You said there were some that were waiting for the second appearing of Christ Jesus; and, blessed be God, I found myself to be one of that number, though so vile, that I am not worthy of the least of all God's mercies, for I deserve nothing at his hands but everlasting destruction.

I hate and abhor myself: this I now speak and feel, for God has given me a humble heart; it is

the goodness of God that has led me to repentance, and it has led me to God, and not from him. Bless his most holy name, I love him because he first loved me, and gave himself for me, the chief of all sinners, for my sins have been against light and love. Dear Sir, I fear I shall weary you, but I love to be speaking of these things when I can, for it is all my delight, and all my happiness; for every thing short of Christ I count vanity, and it is no more to me than the drop of a bucket.

I was much blessed when you spoke from these words: "Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God, who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." O how I was comforted and established! I went home rejoicing in God, having no confidence in the flesh. I found myself firm on the rock, which is Christ Jesus; and I believe that you was chosen in him, before the world was, to bring me to Christ. I love to hear you on the life of the soul, for this is my comfort in my affliction; the word of the Lord hath quickened me. That little book of yours hath been a blessed book to me, I mean, The Destruction of Death by the Fountain of Life.' Dear Sir, I am a witness that God speaks to the heart of his people by you; Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but God must give the increase, for the excellency of power is of God, and not of man. Do excuse, dear Sir, the freedom I take with you; for I think there never was a son in the flesh that did love a father as I love you in

the spirit, because God is in you. These words have been sweet to me, when you have said, Christ

in you the hope of Glory, for glory is what I am hoping for; and, instead of being afraid of death, I often wish for it, for I am a stranger and a pilgrim in this world. I am crucified to the world, and the world to me, and my delight is in the ways of God; he has got my heart, and where my heart is there must my treasure be also. The ever-blessed God is my portion, and in him do I trust; I only want to enjoy more of his love, but bless him for ever for what I have. There is one thing I cannot submit to, and that is for you to die. May the Almighty and ever-blessed God abundantly bless you, both in soul and body, and give you a door of utterance, and grant you long life, and many days for his and his church's sake! so prays the least of all saints. And if you count me worthy of your notice, pray for me, and please to answer this, to let me know whether it is right or wrong my writing to you, for I have been much exercised about it. Sir, I have sent you the plain truth; learning I have none, but what I have felt that have I written.

WILLIAM WOOD.

LETTER LII.

To Mr. WILLIAM WOOD.

MY DEAR SON,

YOURS came to hand, and I thank you for it, and I have thanked my God for the pleasing contents. God has, as far as I can judge, led thee to the rock that is higher than thou; thou art upon the foundation that God hath laid in Zion; a living stone upon the life-giving rock, hewn out of the quarry of nature, squared by afflictions, smoothed by pardon and repentance, and cemented by love, which constrains him to adhere to us and we to him. You are a living witness, that what is called stinking antinomianism is the gospel of the grace of God, and those styled men of a bad spirit are the ambassadors of peace; and I have ` no doubt but you have found many, who call themselves evangelists, loaded with chains, and in their ministry the sons of death. But God has shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? By doing justly thou wilt keep a conscience void of offence, and have rejoicing in thyself alone and not in another. You read in Isaiah that God's everlasting covenant is the sure mercies of David; and this the prophet explains to be God's Spirit