glass darkly. This, my son, is the hope set before thee; "He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and will give him the morning star," the harbinger of endless glory. Then, my son, shall old things pass away, and all things shall become new. The Spirit shall bring all things to your remembrance that the Lord hath spoken to thee and done for thee; and the quickening power put forth in thy present experience, will be a guide to thee in a thousand future difficulties, called by the prophet, "A voice behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left." When once the Lord makes darkness light before thee, he will make thy present crooked things straight; then the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the now sensible prisoner shall shew himself, and the light of his countenance, as well as the words of his mouth, shall proclaim the triumphs of his soul: the inward glory of grace will appear to gild the whole creation. When every thing is viewed in the light of the Lord, his glory will visibly cover the heavens, and the earth will be full of his praise, and thy heart in concert (when tuned with love) will be in the chorus. Pay no regard to those that watch for thy halting, nor to those that make thee an offender for a word, for all that watch for iniquity shall be cut off; and for your present shame you shall have double, double joy; and for

your present confusion you shall, in future, rejoice in your portion; in this land thou shalt possess double, everlasting joy shall be upon thee, Isai. lxi. 7. Thou art not the first that scorners have derided, saying, "Where is the word of the Lord, let it come now;" but there is a wo to them that laugh now, for they shall weep. The Lord's countenance is already lifted up, and that was the light of it which thou sawest at a distance, and it will ere long reflect gracious smiles, much peace, joy, and reconciliation; it will disperse the vail, the dismal gloom and horrible cloud of displeasure, and bring life and immortality to light; and then thou wilt say, "Thou wast angry with me, but thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me." 66 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

Bless God for every refreshing season, for every respite, and every token for good; and as for those vain thoughts about future greatness, confess them as evil, as the root of pride, and pray God to subdue them by his grace; and if the Lord gives thee eyes to see them hateful and humbling dispensations, they will wither when the Spirit of God blows upon thee: All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field; the grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it." It is this, my dear brother, and not legal strivings, that will blast vain ̧ thoughts, wither human glory, and make all the

comeliness of the brightest saint turn into corruption.

God hath two ways of shining upon his people: the one is, when he comforts their hearts, and gives them the light of his knowledge in the face of Jesus, attended with the faith of interest; the other is, when he shines into our hearts to discover our imperfections; and vails his throne with a cloud; then, Why is light given to them that are in bitterness? The former view will make thee appear not a whit behind the chiefest saint, and the latter will make thee appear the chief of sinners; and thus, "His eye-lids try the children of men."

I have no doubt but thy aims are right, for I am sure that that preacher that exposes the vileness of human nature, and preaches the purity, and spirituality, and unlimited demands of the law; that sets forth the sinner's need of a Saviour, the suitableness, the worth of him; and that debases the creature to the level of criminals in chains; and who enforces the necessity of regeneration, spiritual fruitfulness, spiritual service, and a life and walk in faith; shall not err in these things: "The wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err in this way." Whatever encouragement you may have received from the instrumentality of thy poor servant in Christ, thou art indebted to Christ, for, and to him all glory, praise, and thanksgiving is due, and to another he will never grant it; and, for my part, I am the greatest

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debtor to him, and therefore ought to be the last that should ever attempt to rob him.

Tender my kind love to Mr. Morris and family, and to all that love the altogether lovely, not forgetting your former host and family.

The Lord be with thee. Amen and amen.

W. H. S. S.

LETTER XLVII.

To the Rev. Mr. JENKINS.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

You know not with what heart-felt satisfaction I beheld you last; thy meditations of terror are nearly exhausted, the horrible pit will soon be exchanged for the Rock, and thou wilt quit the dark cells and the dismal regions. TeH me, did not the good Shepherd give thee a token for good the last visit at M.? was it not a Bethel? did he not almost break thy yoke, and burst thy bands? When these are gone, thy health shall spring up speedily; thy mind is reclining and resting on the discoveries and manifestations of dying love, hope abounds, and thy heart enlarges; budding hope terminates in open love: "Israel shall bud and blossom as the rose, and fill the face of the world with fruit."

You see, my dear brother, the fruits and effects of your present ministry. Some of the Hebrews are crawling out of their holes, some have broken forth, and others are come to the birth, but want the strength of all-subduing love; but, "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?" No, saith the Lord, "as soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children." A spirit of jealousy will be spread at the report of Zion's delivery, which will provoke very many, and add fervour to their prayers, so that thou wilt see the spirit of the living creature in the wheels, as well as in the cherub; for jealousy is one part of the coals of fire which go up and down among the wheels, the wheels, "The Lord shall stir up jealousy like a man of war;" and under these burning influences, every one that is truly affected will be catching at the skirt of the Jew.

I believe in my heart that there hath been more power displayed, and more execution done, in that part of the world within these two years, than hath been done for the space of thirty years before; and what seems very remarkable is, that those who are brought forth, and those who are still labouring, are, to an individual, those that have been daubed up with untempered morter, and healed slightly by a cry of, Peace, Peace. O! the goodness of God in undeceiving them, and stripping them of the sheep-skin; but no rival, no enemy to the bridegroom, shall ever finally seduce the objects of his love. "Judgment