But is he not to gather the lambs with his arms, and to carry them in his bofom? Yes: but, after they are one year old, they are not called lambs, but sheep.

"The rams of Nebaioth muft minifter unto him." When he puts forth his own sheep he goes before them, and they must hearken to his voice, and follow him. But those that are ewes, great with young, muft rely on his power, and hang by his hand; for he leads those. But the lambs, which are under a year old, are, in the general, put in the bofom, under the fhepherd's cloke, while the love of the fhepherd's heart keeps them warm, and the girdle of faithfulness and truth bears them up. But after this they are put among the rest of the flock, and taken to the fold, upon the heights of Ifrael, where their fold is to be.

A man newly married, according to the old law, was to cheer up his wife for one year, and not to be charged with war. But, after this, war and bufinefs must be followed, and other young virgins must enjoy their efpoufals. But O how shall I endure to fee the younger daughters espoused, and enjoying their heavenly nuptials, if I should be left to ferve, without a fmile, without one propitious look, from that Sweet One, who hath left me like a filly dove without a heart! Love-fickness would bring me to my grave, and jealousy would fcorch me in the injured lover's

flames.

flames. I, who have been as a tabret, and banquetted in the wine-cellar fo long, fhall I ever come, in my love-ficknefs, to beg a drop or an apple of the young daughters of Zion? or to fay, "Stay me with flagons, for I am fick of love?" It all lies in the following prophecy: "For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forfaken and grieved in fpirit, and a wife of youth, when thou waft refused, faith thy God. For a fmall moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee." When this comes to pass, rebellion, jealoufy, rage, &c. with every other corruption, will rife up and fhew themselves with seven heads and ten horns. Ay, fays Philomela; but I hope in all this thou wilt be a falfe prophet. Amen and amen, fays

Thine in the Lord Jefus Chrift,

In the Defert.

NOCTUA AURITA.

LETTER

LETTER VIII.

To NOCTUA AURITA, in the Defert.

But

SINCE Philomela received your last favour her foul has been vexed within her, and fhe muft fhew it to you, because you are made manifeft in my confcience to be a true prophet of the Lord. You prophefied, in your last, that my scent must be changed; and that, as my garments. had finelled of myrrh, the next time I came to you you fhould difcern the bitter aloes alfo. I knew you would not prove a falfe prophet to me. I wish to put the evil day far from me; and therefore faid I would not believe it till it came upon me. However, Satan laid a fnare for me. He knew I had been for fome time in the banquetinghouse, feafting on the feaft of fat things, and wines on the lees, fuch as he never had a tafte of, nor ever will. The dear fouls in the dale, who are on my heart to live and die with them, feeing my happiness, and I can keep nothing from them, for freely I receive, and therefore freely I muft give, knowing, by experience, that "there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth," and I believe Satan knew that their fouls got fome good,

becaufe

because they covet my company; and therefore he came to me in this manner: he infinuated that my being fo open and free to tell them how God dealt with me fprung from nothing but pride, because they should think highly of me; and that, instead of their eyes looking to Christ, they were looking to a creature. I thought I could appeal to conscience it was otherwife; for I knew that, if it were fo, it would bring the rod of God upon me in such a manner as they might fee what they were trufting to. For a few days I found it a great burden; it made me hate myself. However, I made a resolution that, if my tongue cleaved to the roof of my mouth, I would no more speak to them of what the Lord had done, or was doing, on my foul. This was laft Thurfday week. On Saturday last one, named Q in the corner, came to fee me: fhe has attended the orations of our herald for fome time; and I have often thought there was a weight on her mind, but never could get her to be open. But now fhe could hold in no longer. She told me the had read several proclamations lately; and fhe had also observed a particular alteration in my countenance of late. I was filent, which was enough for her; and she said, there was no one she could open her mind to. She enjoined fecrecy; but I could make no promifes. She gave me fuch a description of her cafe, and put fuch queftions to me, that I quite forgot the refolution

I had made of not opening my mouth any more. She dragged every thing out of me that God had done on my foul, from the time I was first wounded, till the Lord broke my fetters. feemed to be raised to a degree of

And her foul

hope, at least

that there might be mercy for her. A deep work it is; not the work of a day, a month, or a year; though God has permitted it to be kept fecret, and she is not aware that any foul knows it but myself. She had written two letters to our watchman, but burnt them both. However, I ran with the tidings to him as foon as I could. She cannot keep it much longer from him. After this, it came to my mind that I had paffed the bounds of my promife. However, I promised to do fo no more. And now you shall know how God dealt with me on Thursday evening after. As foon as the herald had finifhed his oration, fhe came to me at Bethel, with fuch a countenance as I fhall never forget. She was too full to fpeak. My confcience told me he was cut deeper, under the alarm and warning of the watchman of the night, than ever she was before. But I faid in my heart I would not speak to her. I only afked her if she was not well; and fhe went from me. But my confcience fmote me, and cut me in a manner I cannot defcribe. I went home and to bed; but fuch a night's lodging I had! The devil and confcience made fine work with me, because I had kept my mouth fhut to her when I knew fhe came to me