thought, yea I had not a doubt, but I was one of thofe that Chrift died for, because I now faw my-. felf a finner. On this ground I commenced a believer; and I came from under the fermon with light on the whole plan of falvation, and as firm a confidence of my own personal interest therein as a poor creature could have. For two nights I could not close my eyes, my joys did rise so high; and all the free invitations and unconditional promifes of the gospel kept flowing into my mind. I thought I was in a new world; the world was now nothing to me, and I wanted to die, that I might be out of it. I could not pay the leaft attention to any worldly affairs for three weeks. I once went to Mr. B, and told him how his ministry had been bleffed to me, and we rejoiced together; and my wonderful converfion was blazed abroad far and near. I fat under his ministry, I think, about fix years.

My joys at length were not quite fo high. After the time mentioned above they began to abate, which I thought to be strange; but I went to my father, and told him how it was with me, and he told me that all those who were walking in the ways of God found it so, and I should only maintain and keep my comfort in a way of religion. Indeed he was a good nurse to me, and very high I was in 'his esteem, but not more fo than he was in mine. I had no small share of joy, at seasons, for the space of a year and an half. About this

time these words were brought fuddenly to my mind, and that with power: "And I will caufe you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant." I was much perplexed at this, and thought what rod had I got to pass under? And I thought I was fafe enough in the bond of the covenant already. However, about fix months after this I was vifited with severe afflictions, which fo weakened my tabernacle, and the faculties of my foul, that at times I was incapable of thinking, contemplating, or any thing else. But this I conjectured to be the fulfilment of the first part of the foregoing promise which the Lord fent to me. From that time my joys declined; but my confidence still remained. unfhaken as to the reality of the work. At times I can recollect that there was fomething within me that would whisper that "all was not right at the bottom." But this voice was foon hushed and fmothered, by being attributed to other causes, viz. the devil and the power of unbelief, which I was taught to refift. Indeed, I had fo many to build me up in this my confidence, that it was no wonder I ftood my ground; and I had as high an opinion of myself as others had of me, which only fed my pride. Having fat under the aforefaid inftrument about fix years, he left his charge to take another; and in his ftead came the Rev. G T. He was (to my view) as found in the doctrines of the gospel as the other, and I much approved

approved of his miniftry, and fat under it, I think, about four years. At this time I married, and Providence fixed my habitation in this place, where I fat under the miniftry of J- M—, and was much delighted with the fame; as he was not inferior to him I left. After fome time I heard that Mr. Jenkins preached in a very fingular way; but, as I heard he preached the doctrines of the gofpel, I thought I would go and hear him; for I affure you from these I never deviated in judgment, for all my religion lay in the belief of them. But I now know that my religion would not ftand the fiery teft. But fure, if it had been God's genuine work, it could not have been overthrown; for what he does is done for ever. But a ftormy wind. has rent this wall; and when it fell there was not left fo much as one ftone upon another that was not thrown down. O Sir! to think how many that are called shepherds, and whole flocks under them, are refting fhort of the things that accompany falvation, is a fore trial to me. But I muft leave this part of the Saviour's government with him who is wonderful in counfel, and excellent in working; but cannot get rid of my feelings for thofe who are fo near to me. Adieu; and may

God reward your kindness to the chiefeft of all finners. So prays

Yours in the hope of the gospel,

The King's Dale.

PHILOMELA.

Το

To PHILOMELA, in the King's Dale.

DEAR SISTER IN CHRIST,

YOURS came fafe to hand; and I have confidered it, and I will by no means fay that the Lord God of Ifrael had no hand in the work described in your narrative. But this I must confefs, that evangelical repentance, which to my view is effential to falvation, is not in the account. The new wine was put into an old bottle; and, where this is the cafe, pride will burft the bottle, and the wine will run out, and the old bottle must perifh. I mean, that your joys were not received into an humble, broken, and contrite heart. God hath promised to give us a new heart; as well as a new spirit; and, when the new wine is put into a new bottle, both are preferved. However, the ftony heart fhall be taken away, and it fhall be deftroyed, as well as the other parts of the body of fins, for our old man was crucified with Chrift; and, under the operation of the Spirit's renewing power, the body of fins fhall be put off.

Repentance is two-fold, legal and evangelical. The former is extorted by fears, terror, and torment, and is always attended with hard thoughts of God, and felf-pity. This is all the repentance

that

that can be produced in us under the law, where we have nothing before our eyes but our own fins, and a fin-avenging God. Evangelical repentance is drawn forth and flows out under the sweet operations of pardoning love, and is attended with a believing view of him whom we have pierced, and with mourning for him; and this is accompanied with a juftifying of God, and sympathifing with and condoling a fuffering Saviour, and with felf-abhorrence: and fo it is written, "From all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you; a new heart will I give unto you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and then ye fhall remember your own evil ways, which were not good; and you fhall lothe yourselves in your own fight for your iniquities when I am pacified toward you." God appearing pacified, and we filled with felf-lothing, is the finishing work when God brings a foul into covenant with him. He accepts us in the Beloved; the atonement applied purges us from our filthinefs; and God fhines pacified, reconciled, and well pleased, in the face of Jefus Chrift. All repentance but this needs to be repented of, but this never does; for Chrift is exalted to give this repentance to Ifrael, and the forgiveness of fins; and this repentance is unto life, and is attended with purifying faith. The very text that was sent to you informed you that the humbling rod, and the bond of the covenant, were wanting in your experience. The rod of