was fresh in me!" Lay this epiftle by thee, and read it over seven years hence; and then fend me word how many lying predictions are found in this fcribble of thine

The Defert.

Affectionate friend and fervant,

NOCTUA AURITA.

LETTER X.

T。 NOCTUA AURITA, in the Defert.

WAS I perfect in the language of

Canaan, I could convey to your mind the fenfations of love and gratitude I feel in my heart to you for the unparalleled kindness you fhew to me in your work of faith and labour of love, in the Lord Jefus, to my foul. You never will know, till we fit down in glory together, what an inftrument the Lord makes you of confirming and eftablishing his work on my foul. However, fure I am that this kindness of yours fhall in no wife lofe its reward. I think that his Majesty's herald and yourself were both born into this world on

purpose to be useful to me. I received a letter from you last Wednesday, which prophefied of fome dark and cloudy days. Sure I am that my old man will procure me a large share of fatherly chastisement. Butto, the hungry foul every bitter thing is sweet." To be put and kept at a distance from him whom my foul loves, must be a hell upon earth; and I think will be more feverely felt by me now, fince I have been indulged with fuch manifeftations of his love to my foul as I have been lately. But there will be a sweetness in it when he shall turn again; for it is but for a small moment he will hide his face; and at that time there will be nothing of that bitter ingredient in it called vindictive wrath. I know you never yet fent me one lying prediction, and I am fure that you never will; for every epiftle you have fent me came under the feal of the Spirit of God; and precious they are to my foul, and a valuable treafure I efteem them. Their price is far above rubies, more defirable than fine gold, "sweeter alfo than the honey and the honeycomb." I must now dismiss your first letter, though I could fay much more about it, and the effects of it on my mind. But I have much to fay about your fecond letter, which I received on Saturday evening. It caused sleep to depart from my eyes, and flumber from my eyelids; and I was full of toffings to and fro until the dawning of the day. And, had I had the wings of a dove, I fhould have been at

Paddington

Paddington as early on fabbath-day morning as Mary was at the fepulchre of her dear Lord. The first page of it is a mystery to me. I have not wisdom to understand thefe words of the wife, and his dark faying, "The bee that came to your hive with the wax and honey." I cannot make it out. But it is the "feeling of the wind shaking the cottage," which you think is haftening your arrival at the better houfe, which filled my heart with forrow. It made my heart tremble for the ark of God. My mind got a little cómposed from the Lord's dealings with Ifrael when he was about to take away Elijah. He did not do it till he had anointed another prophet in his room. As there are fo few watchmen that God hath fet on the walls of our Zion who can detect an enemy, and give the time of the night, I hope the Lord is not about to leave the city of our affemblies in the hands of blind watchmen, who cannot underftand; because he fays that" our teachers fhall not be moved into a corner any more." From what you fay next, in one of yours, I gather that you have fome more enemies to encounter. Perhaps you are in perils, according to custom, among falfe brethren. You speak of many loathing the manna, and calling it light food. This certainly calls for divine judgment. But, as you observe, your crown is fure, because your reward is with your God. Whoever they are that fight against the truth, and the power of it, fight against God.

But

But I can tell you that the thought of your being in trouble drew forth all the fympathetic powers of my foul; and I am fure my feelings have been mingled with yours ever fince; and, if it is not too great a favour, may I ask thee to lend me thy key, that I may open this lock, that my mind may be eased; and I fhould be obliged to you for it as foon as you can. I muft fpeak of the contents of the other part of one of your letters. The fecond time I read it I cannot defcribe the sweet ray of light, from God's Spirit, which came on my mind, accompanied with a fweet, melting, humbling frame, which brought me to the feet of Jefus. I found I had the key to that which was my own experience. I could go with you to the end of your letter. You have brought forth all the operations of the love of God on my foul. The effects it produces, and the foul-melting fenfations of the poor finner under it; the crucifixion of him to the world, which takes place as the confequence of it; was greatly bleffed to me, as it defcribed my own feelings far better than I could myfelf. I can with confidence fay, that I am planted together in the likeness of Chrift's death, and likewife in the likenefs of his refurrection. The world and I am well agreed; I am crucified to that, and that is crucified to me; for, as you obferve, Jefus has taken with him my heart, affections, thoughts, defires, wifhes, and all that is not mortal, and I am now a "ftranger and a fojourner

here, as all my fathers in the faith were. And I have need of much patience to wait my appointed

time till my change come.

and give you much of his

The Lord bless you,

prefence, and of the

enjoyment of his eternal love. So prays

Your very fincere and affectionate friend and

fifter in the bonds of the gofpel of Christ,

The King's Dale.

PHILOMELA,

LETTER XI.

To PHILOMELA, in the King's Dale, or elsewhere.

LONG looked-for is come at laft: "They that fow fhall reap." But I thought it was almoft four months before the expected harveft came on. Banqueting times take up all the attention; and we know the memory is treacherThe woman at the well forgot her pitcher; Peter talked he knew not what; and Paul forgot whether his body was in the company or out of it

ous.