I know a person who says, that the word, if, implies, that it is impossible for any one to be a partaker of the above-mentioned privileges, and yet fall away, and perish for ever; but that assertion does not give me, nor several more who are desirous of knowing, satisfaction.

I rather think it is something similar to Luke viii. 13. “They on the rock are they, which when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Pray, explain to me the difference between the joy of the elect, and the joy of apostates, which is false joy; and the difference of their faith, for it is said they for a while believe; and how true faith operates on the elect, in distinction from false faith on hypocrites: for I want to know which of these I belong to; for I believe the end of the one to be glorious, and the end of the other to be miserable beyond conception; and so I think every one will find it that dies in such a state.

I have seen your writings, though I never heard you preach: and I find the Lord uses you as an instrument in his hand of bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, and of building up others already called; and I hope he will continue your usefulness. I assure you, sir, that I ask not this favour to gratify a vain curiosity; for there are several, as well as myself, who desire to know whether their experience be genuine or not. And, if you should think proper to send your

thoughts upon the above-mentioned passage, may the Lord be with you, and guide your thoughts and pen, and bless it to the comfort of our souls, that we may find it a word in due season. is the desire and prayer

of

Your willing Servant to obey,

This

Lingfield, June 30, 1790.

GEORGE CHAPMAN.

LETTER XI.

To Mr. CHAPMAN, Dorman's Land, Lingfield.

SIR,

I RECEIVED yours; and, in compliance with your request, I send you my thoughts on the subject: but at the same time, I must inform you, that none but God can give you an answer of peace. The priests lips are to keep knowledge; and we are to require the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts, Mal. ii. 7. Which great high-priest, prophet, and apostle of our profession, is the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we are

to go, and of whom we are to seek wisdom; who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not; and there is none that teacheth like him. Now for the

words;

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened." A man may be enlightened, as Balaam was, who saw the vision of the Almighty, fallen into a trance, but having his eyes open. The Lord came to him first at Pethor; and he afterwards saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. He' saw likewise the safety of Israel, under the blessing of God; the immutability of God and his. counsel, that he is not a changeable being. He saw that Israel should never be reckoned among the nations, but remain a distinct people, even when dispersed throughout the world. He saw the destruction of Amalek, &c. &c. and the blessed death of the righteous, and wished that his last end might be like his. The eye of a man's understanding is one thing, the eye of faith is another. By the former, the rich man in hell saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom; by the latter, the patriarchs saw the promises afar off, and embraced them, and applied them. By the former, a man sees the blessed state of others; by the latter, he sees his own state. Balaam saw God for others, but not for himself. Job says, "I shall see him for myself, and not for another." Balaam never saw the desperate evil that there is in sin; nor the spirituality of the law; nor the Lord as a

Saviour, but as an angry judge with a drawn sword, in which character every eye shall see him in the great day. The Lord shone into Balaam's head; he shone into Paul's heart: he opened the eyes of Balaam, but he opened the heart of Lydia. Balaam saw a sword; Paul saw an atonement. Balaam saw a judge; Paul saw a Saviour. Balaam and the Egyptians saw God for Israel; Job saw him for himself.

If thou art enlightened, thou hast seen sin; but hast thou ever seen and felt the killing evil of sin? Thou hast been enlightened to see the word, which is a light shining in a dark place; but has the daydawn and daystar arisen in thy heart? If enlightened, thou hast seen the spirituality of the law; but hast thou seen and felt the dreadful havock it makes, by working wrath in the conscience? and has the sight and sense of this made thee fly to Christ for refuge, in whose face we see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God? If the light of faith shines into a man's heart, whatever that man sees, he applies sooner or later. By faith he sees the promise, and by faith he applies it. By faith he comes to Christ, and by faith he receives him. He views the atonement, and pardon is the effect of the vision. Imputed righteousness is revealed, and peace is the fruit of it, as soon as applied. Eternal life is the gift of God, and by the gospel it is brought to light. God was, in Christ, reconciling the world to himself: faith applies the word of

reconciliation; while friendship, and fellowship, are felt and enjoyed.

"And have tasted of the heavenly gift:" By which is meant, not Christ, nor eternal life, nor the gift of faith, nor repentance, for these gifts and calls of God are without repentance; but I think a spiritual gift, such as the Corinthians were zealous of, 1 Cor. xiv. 12; is chiefly intended; a gift of prophecy, or a ministerial gift to preach, attended with a reformation, zeal, and a gift of utterance: which things have a relish in them to a carnal heart; yea, they taste a sweetness in them, because they procure much applause from men, which is the sweetest morsel that can be given to an unrenewed, unhumbled man. He delights in his gift, because it procures him the praise of men; he tastes the former, and fills his belly with the latter, for he loves the praise of men more than the praise of God; but this tasting differs widely from what is called eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ, which is peculiar to believers, and by which they live for ever.

"And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.' Not that the Holy Ghost ever took the possession of their hearts, so as to become a spring of living water there: for the above-mentioned persons were not partakers of eternal life; nor haa they received the firstfruits of the Spirit; nor his testimony in their conscience; nor his grace in their heart; nor the impression of his ratifying, confirming, sealing, power, by which the saints are

VOL. VI.