love to things that are wrong, which at other times we hate and groan under, and I believe it is in consequence of having two natures; but the new nature being in us small, we feel so much flesh, that it is hard to settle that we are any thing but flesh; hence it is called a tasting that the Lord is good; a tasting that he is gracious; a desiring the sincere milk of the word, &c. all this is regeneration, and the beginnings of grace, for regeneration is this putting living principles into a person, which never were there before, and it is in all, an instantaneous work, "the wind bloweth," &c. John iii. Now when this is secretly done of God, in which he communicates life, he does not draw the grace forth into act and exercise alike in all, some he lets go on a long time with a little love to God and to his people, a little peace, a separating from the world and cleaving to Zion, as far as they believe who Zion is, but we are generally mistaken for some time: but as we go on, we increase in knowledge" many shall run to and fro" &c. now although this work appears small, yet it is genuine, because all God's works are perfect; such have an honest and good heart; and will tell just as they feel," Children that will not lie," not to say that they never, through temptation, tell a lie. No, but if you talk to them of the work of God, they never knowingly tell lies about it, Never, never, may we dare,' &c. But again in others it is more sudden, for being regenerated, or having these living principles put in the heart, God is pleased to try the work immediately, as in the Jailor, Paul, &c., and if all this is denied, I would ask the following questions. As for the first, from whence arises all that crop in the soul, though it is small: such as love to God and his family, holy desires, longings, thirstings, separating from the world, feeling at times a taste for the things of God, and a little peace; loving to hear good people October, 1845.]

tell their experience and wishing we were like them, liking to hear the gospel preached, and Christ exalted; I say, wherever these things are in the heart, surely all this, and much more arises from this good work, for their is a fear of God, and tenderness felt, although these things are small and short of duration; it must then of necessity be of God. But on the other hand, when people fall suddenly into soul-trouble; dreadful temptations come on; a deep discovery of their hearts and lives, and fear they shall lay violent hands on themselves, and sometimes go out of their mind through the violent feelings they labour under; if there were not then living principles in such a soul, what could hold them up so that they shall be brought safely through all. Flesh and blood never could endure. Hence the prophet says, "The lead is consumed in the fire," that is, it cannot endure, "how can their hearts endure," &c., from all which it is clear to a demonstration, that God's work is alike in all, as it respects the first implanting of grace, which he secretly does in his elect sooner or later; but the manifestations of it to the recipient of that grace are different, seeing that some go on slow and dull, and others very deep and clear. Slow and dull, say you. Yes. Hence Paul tells the Hebrews, that "for the time (being so long) they ought to be teachers," &c., “ they needed milk," &c.

But again, I have said, that God begins alike in all, and this I can prove, but then, mind, I only confine it to the implantation of grace; for although he secretly regenerates or puts all the living principles of grace into the heart of all alike, yet very shortly the effects of it differ, as I have showed. Some go on for many years, and can tell but very little; and yet they love Zion, and feel a liberal heart towards God's people. While others begin very shortly after regeneration with deep fiery trials, and are constantly tried

2 I

for which thank you. May God the Holy Ghost for Christ's sake strengthen you as promised, and may Christ ever be manifestly on your right to comfort and ward off, the unholy confederacies, thrusts; whilst I say in the midst of my prayers, in divine favour and assurance, that if you have not always the manifestation of Christ on your right hand, he is nevertheless there; yes, blessed be his gracious Majesty, he stands, saith the Holy Ghost, on the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that would condemn his soul, Ps. cix. 31. May the Father in God, and the Godbead for Christ's sake, give you wisdom to direct your steps, giving you as promised, and for which as filial obedient children, he says, we shall ask him for, day by day, every good gift, all needful temporals, and bodily supplies, as all perfect gifts of grace, by which in the spirit and blessing of the Holy Ghost, working faith, hope, and love, with holy zeal, you shall be more than conqueror, Rom. viii. 11, -34; James i. 17. And as I was moved to say in my last, you shall find in a more extensive sense, or in a smaller as the Godhead pleaseth, your enemies thrust out from before you; and at their destruction, you shall tread upon their high places ; Deut. xxxiii. 27. You have now dew, read, ver. 28, 29; All is well, my dear brother, I have, God knoweth, if not in bodily afflictions, endured from

and others, more than you have yet; and except the Lord God had been my strength and righteousness and all, they would have destroyed me, and my family, and cause. Oh my brother, mark ye these words of an old soldier and watchman, that you are in your place, in his army against the devils and his seed, who are at enmity with us! Gen. iii. 15. The wrath of them all shall praise God; And without repentance they will go to everlasting destruction; ah my brother it is now with joy I inform you that when and his

confederacy, in the working of Satan first began the war, I did for a long time in all my prayers to God, fear I should go deranged and die in the dark; but in the midst of all those fears and distresses and dread, blessed be the Lord Jesus, he stood at my right hand to save me, and I found in the divine counsel of the inabiding influential Comforter, the Holy Ghost, who strengthened me, that the Lord Jesus was my Advocate with the Father in glory, as he was also the propitiation for my sins, 1 John ii. 1, 2;

that whilst by devils pushing, and as also by my sinful infirmities, I found by doubting, fearing, dreading, I found them all liars, and that neither sin, death, devils, or men could hurt me; therefore after, in the Spirit of adoption, I was mightily strengthened, and had in his blessing sung unto the Father, in and through Christ, a song before the devils, and to my relations, and all foes and friends, saying, "The Lord Jehovah is my strength and song. Isa. xiii, then, in the Holy One, I was sent to challenge them all, and certain of being a conqueror, so as to minister grace and truth for their repentance or condemnation. This is my present position; my joy and confidence in Zion's walls, as in this cause and battle field, for you know, my brother, we have various orders in our Immanuel's blessing. But there is one blessing above all, that is, the Holy Ghost keeps me daily on my face for a certain time, and times worshipping at the feet of Immanuel, saying, what saith my Lord unto his servant? and for ever blessed be his glorious Majesty, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost is one God, he directeth me. It is my desire, beloved brother, God willing, that you write no more at present to the confederacy, but as you preached recently, the substance of which one sermon was read to me, “Stand ye still, and see the salvation of God." You know that after my weighing your

case, and asking counsel of God, I was inclined to advise you to circulate your letters and wait, and so is my present counsel. Wait, watch, and pray; not waiting for any other impression than the present trouble; if we are not aware, the devil will seduce us unto too much justification, as in Job's case, and into too much condemnation of our foes. May God preserve, direct, provide, and enable us to do his pleasure. Amen. There is no doubt in my mind, God's will is your present position, as my position has been, and is now. In this confidence we are more than a match for devils or men. "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Now, I pray you remember, let devils or men say what they may, I am your friend; fear no man, or party of men, the Lord tod being your shield. He it is that strengthens my weak hand, and confirms my feeble knees, which devils, nor enlightened reprobate men know anything of, much less of our full assurance of God being our exceeding great reward. You will yet have, my brother soldier, many fears, after battles, and gaining of victories, but then the Holy Ghost keeps us to sigh to the Father, in and through Christ; thus the glorious Three-One is honoured and glorified, we abased, the devil's heads bruised, and human reprobates checked. For my part, I have an affection in my old age to a single combat, or to fight an host. All is well. Rev. xvii. 14. Let us, in the divine blessing, and according to the military divine order, view the all-glorious Leader, Commander, Judge, Lawgiver, and King, Rev. xix. 13, 16, and let us look forward and see our enemies at our feet, Rev. xix. 19, 20, 21. In these views devils and men are like dust to our sword, and driven stubble to our bow. Isa. xli. 2. God, I pray, abundantly bless you and yours, and your pasto ral charge. Amen. If, in God's pleasure, you are enabled to take my advice, preaching peace as you have

done by Jesus Christ, declaring him Lord of all, Acts x. 34, 35, expecting daily letters to try you, then the devils and men shall be astonished to see you stand, and your church enjoying milk, wine, honey, oil, nay all the promised blessings. Blessed David, we find, although in the Father, in the Son, and in the Holy Ghost, living and moving in the one God the Godhead, Acts xvii. 28, needed an Hushai, 2 Sam. xvii, and Paul wanted a captain Lysias in his troubles by unholy conspiracy. I have had all these things in my short campaigne, which some day, God willing, I will shew you more particularly. But the scriptures are the best manifesting glass, Acts xxiii. 2, 12. Nay, Paul wanted his sisters son for aid, and so did others, to you and me, see 16th verse, and follow Paul to Rome to die sword in hand, 2 Tim. iv. 6, 8. All is well, my dear brother, God's fire is proceeding out of our mouths as fear; our Jesus in all nations, deyouring our enemies, Rev. xi. 5. Cheer up my dear brother, and mind this, leave not B-- until Immanuel command. Take heed of pretended friends, as well as open foes. Beware, the devil hath permitted power to tempt by friends and foes. Stand still, for God taketh care for oxen; labour ye in his blessing as an ox, and he has bound himself to give provender. Fight as a soldier, and he has bound himself to give you victory, and all supplies, and at last the crown; let carnal reason, friends, or foes say what they will. Blessed be his glorious majesty, I have found him to me all I say, and ten thousaud times more. All is well. Now let us, my dear brother, indulge a little time in a visit to the ox and the soldier John in the Isle of Patmos, put there by the cruel, bloody Emperor Domitian, in order to starve him to death. But that was not God's mind or order. No, no; it was there John should labour in the Holy Ghost in prayer unto the Father in

and through Christ, and find his promise fulfilled, as you and I have, namely, be assured of his blessing, and of his curse on his foes, and find God his provider, as in these words, Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord, he is our help and shield." Psm. xxxiii. 18, 20. Finally, my brother, I say you are in a proper place, and I pray you may abide there to the end of the vision, God willing, whilst I pray for you, always rejoicing, thanking, and bless ing God for his goodness to you and yours, as to me and mine, and all his Israel. 1 Thess. v. 17, 18. All things, I find, work together for good to us and all his ransomed Israel.' Rom. viii. 28. Blessed be his glorious majesty, that he has not let me have my own way. The substance of this last sentence to my own exceeds rubies.

Ever yours to serve in given faith fulness, and truth,

E. G.

SPIRITUAL CORRESPONDENCE.

My very dear friends in the Lord, whom I love and esteem, for Christ's sake, grace mercy and peace be with you. Having been privileged to go in and out among you for two years past, (unworthy as I am) speaking in his precious name, none other than what I have tasted, and handled, in my own soul, of the good word of life.

Some of you were present with me the first time our dear Lord was pleased to open my mouth to speak in his blessed name, and have continued to the present day, and have borne with me in my weakness, and have encouraged me in the arduous work, in which I have been engaged. Many have been my sighs and groans at a throne of grace on your behalf,

He

and I trust not in vain; we have been abundantly refreshed together under the divine and blessed unction of God the Holy Ghost; this you are witnesses of, and can we not say, have not our hearts burned within us, while he talked with us by the way, yes, notwithstanding losses, crosses, doubts, fears, darkness, temptations, fightings without and within. (bless his gracious name) has been faithful to his promise, and hath stood in our midst, and many have been our seasons of refreshing while in his' earthly courts, the blessed waters from the wells of salvation, have been sweet and cheering, and we have known what it is to sing experimentally with one of old,

"My willing soul would stay, In such a frame as this.'

"

I bless his precious name, that ever he was pleased to make use of one so unworthy, yea, one so vile as I am, to stand forth amongst you in defence of that blessed gospel, which is aimost every where contaminated in these perilous times. My dearest friends bless his precious name who has given you eyes to see and ears to hear, and not to cease to pray for poor unworthy me, that I may at all times be brought up before you, laden with rich treasures of covenant blessings from its blessed fountain, the Father's electing love, the Son's cleansing blood, made known and applied, by that blessed Comforter, the Holy Ghost in the day of his power; this. is a blessed theme, its equal cannot be found. These blessed truths are received and savoured by you, they' are the life of your soul, they have a place in your heart, they have engrossed your affections, and although you are often cast down, you cannot be destroyed. Some of you, dear doubting lambs, will ere long know what I have often told you, is eternal truth, namely, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled."