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us with making use of any carnal weapons, or popish acts, in order to gain proselytes. We have no gowns nor bands, nor do we make use of any of the forms which belong to the establishment. We use no empty oratory, nor earthly logic; we have no pipers or trumpeters; no viols, harps, nor organs; no choristers nor opera singers. We always consider that the glory is departed wherever these are introduced, and view all converts to be carnal that are converted by such carnal means, far enough beneath our notice, and not worth a penny a dozen.

If any take offence and leave our ministry and community, we are not at all displeased at it, if God doth but make them manifest before they depart; for we consider ourselves as God's mouth when we take forth the vile from the precious, Jer. xv. 19. Nor do we ever send bumbailiffs after them, if the teeth of the threshing instrument have beat the mountains till the hills become chaff, so that the wind has taken them away and the whirlwind has scattered them, Isai. xli. 15. We are as well pleased at the departure of a hypocrite unmasked as we are at the admission of a saint in his court robes, knowing that, "We are a sweet savour unto God in them that are saved and in them that perish." Nor do we ever go after them. "Let them return unto thee," says God, "but return thou not unto them." And, althougn we are set forth by the evangelists as the offscouring of the earth, yet have we been honoured and

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highly favoured of God. God hath spoken to us, and he hath condescended to speak by us. He has spoken even to me as well as others. When he came first to allure me, he spake comfortably to me, bidding me leave the world and all my companions in it, and have no more to do with them, I did so. And, when he shone into my soul, and laid all my depravity open, it was with these words; "Believe that I am in you, and you in me." And before I had been many days in the horrible pit, he spoke these words to my heart: "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." And at my deliverance he bid me lay by my forms and pray to Jesus. I did so; and he delivered me, as before related. When an Arian had baffled and confused my judgment, respecting the glorious mystery of the Trinity, God bid me call upon him, and he would shew me great and mighty things which I knew not, Jer. xxxiii. 3. Soon after he fixed my mind by a vision in the open day. And when an artful Arminian had, under the devil's influence, been suffered to confuse me and bring me into bondage, so that I had nothing but pro and con, yea, yea, and nay, nay, for many days together, the Lord asked me, Do you not know that the scriptures say, No man can come to Christ except the Father draw them? I replied, I know it says so.' The answer was, 'If you can find a place where it is said that man can come, or has power to come, to Christ, you may prove the Bible false.' This brought my scale down full weight, when Arminian

ism, kicked the beam, and has appeared nothing but chaff and feathers ever since. When I worked in the coal barge, I laboured hard, and God knows I fared hard, really suffering want, when God spoke these words to my soul; "I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich." I was once complaining grievously in my spirit, having at that time a family and a horse to keep, and no money to procure food for either, when he spoke these words; "Thou shalt lend to many, but thou shalt not borrow." And I have lent to many, and some hundreds too, and to such as have never paid me again.

When God intended me to leave the country, and come to London, he bid me prophesy upon the thick boughs, which is now twenty-four years ago; and the boughs are still thick, notwithstanding all the labour of Satan and the evangelists against it.

When the famous wolf in sheep's clothing got into the fold, and God took his fan in hand in order to purge the floor, I had been three times running to him in prayer with many grievous complaints, when the Holy Spirit of God spake these words to my heart: "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him?" And he did avenge me, for not fewer than fourteen of them were dead in less than two years; and many others are withered branches to this day, and will never be green again. At another time, seeing several groups of them in

the streets, contending for and against me, I asked the Almighty what injury I had done to any of them. He answered me, "When they shall cease to deal treacherously, thou shalt deal treacherously with them," Isai. xxxiii. i. And I believe I shall, in being a savour of death unto death to them, and a swift witness against them at the bar of God, 2 Cor. ii. 16; Matt. xxiv. 14.

In the midst of our late wars I was much exercised in my mind, to know what part of the word of God was then fulfilling by those desolating judgments, and was grieved at my heart to think that there was not one among us to whom it was revealed. I knew that all things were to be fulfilled, as God had declared in days of old to his servants the prophets. But what part was then fulfilling none seemed to understand. I lay on my bed and grieved till I fell asleep, being much concerned for the welfare and safety of Zion; and the first moment I waked, a voice spoke to me, saying, 'This is the hour of temptation.' And an hour of temptation it was, when many were tempted to rebel both against God and against the powers that are ordained of God: but those who kept and obeyed the word of his patience were preserved from being carried away in that hour of temptation, Rev. iii. 10. Now, if I am become a fool in glorying, it is these evangelists that have compelled me, 2 Cor. xii. 11. "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory;" though I could come to visions and revelations of

the Lord, 2 Cor. xii. 1. But 1 forbear, having a desire not to know the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power: "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power," 1 Cor. iv. 19,

20.

What know they of the power of God's anger revealed in a broken law? What do they know of the supporting power of God in the horrible pit, under the rod, and in the furnace of affliction, which brings the elect of God through fire and through water, and out into a wealthy place, Psal. lxvi. 12.

Let them tell us how the arm of the Lord was revealed in them when they first believed the report; or when God fulfilled the good pleasure of his goodness in them, and the work of faith with power, 2 Thess. i. 11. And what that power of God is, and how it works, which he puts forth and displays in the salvation of men, upon sinners being enabled to believe on the Son of God. And let them tell us what power has attended their ministry, in bringing souls to communion and fellowship with Christ; for we think that all their workmanship falls short of this, seeing what they call a change of heart we call a reformation in life, whom they call real converts we call painted hypocrites, and what they call the old man and the new we call the law of heathens, thoughts and conscience accusing and excusing.

Let them likewise inform us what power or prevalence they have had with God in prayer,

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