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me fomething by it, and supported me through it, and did keep me when Satan, that old ferpent, and his accurfed crew, did compass me about like bees, when I was in fuch a fituation that I could neither cry nor call on my God for help. He did then go to the utmost length of his chain, and would, I have no doubt, if he had been permitted, have torn me to pieces, foul and body. What God is like unto our God? O that I could be affured that I fhould never more entertain onehard thought of him refpecting any of his difpenfations towards me! But I muft conclude, which I do with wishing you profperity both of foul and body, with much of his prefence who is the health of both; and believe me to remain

Your affectionate friend and fifter

in the Lord,

The King's Dale.

PHILOMELA.

LETTER

LETTER XLII.

To PHILOMELA, in the King's Dale.

THINE epiftle afforded me much

joy. "Bleffed are they that endure temptation, for when they are tried they fhall receive the crown of life," which he hath promised to them that love him. Thou didst say, (0 thou of little faith!) "I fhall not fee him;" yet judgment was before him, and he hath brought thee forth to the light, and thou haft beheld his righteousness. How fweet and endearing are his vifits after his long abfence! How welcome are his returns after our fouls have fat folitary, as a woman forfaken and grieved in spirit, as a wife of youth refused · and deferted! But he foon makes us forget the fhame of our youth, and the reproach of our widowhood; and the adversary that faluteth us with a "Where is now thy God?" fees it, and vanishes, inflamed with rage. But he only departs for a feafon. Nevertheless the armour of God is fufficient to repel the force of all his artillery. God hath planted his fear in our hearts that we may not depart from him. He hath renewed, enlightened, inftructed, and influenced our confciences

.

fciences by his Spirit, that he may check and reproach us for all that is wrong, and approve of all that is right; and we must exercise ourselves day and night not to offend him. We are favoured with the witness, feal, and first-fruits, of the Spirit, and are commanded not to vex or grieve him, left he fufpend his freedom, his confolations, and his much-needed affiftance, in prayer. The Redeemer has left us alfo his laft legacy, I mean peace; and we have the promise of the enjoyment of it, unless we make to ourselves crooked paths. We have the promise of his presence, and of the light of his countenance likewife, unless our fins hide his face. from us, or caufe him to return to his place, till we acknowledge our offences, and feek him early. We have also that faith that is of the operation of the Spirit of God; and nothing can unfettle, weaken, damp, or deaden the vigorous actings of faith like our mifconduct. Befides these things, we have the helmet of hope, the fhield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the fword of the Spirit, and all forts of prayer; and these things are more mighty bulwarks against Satan than all the fears of death and wrath, yea, than all the horrors, terrors, threatenings, and curfes, of a broken law, which the difciples of Mofes pride themselves fo much upon. Let dear fifter pay my due attention to these things which accompany falvation, and fhe fhall have rejoicing in herfelf alone, and not in another, and fhall praife her

God

God with joyful lips.

Moreover, as God hath reftored her again to the joys of his falvation, let me admonish her not to act the part of a hawking pedlar, left they get weary of her; but let her entertain her beloved with praifes and thankfgivings, as he entertains her with the difcoveries of his love. My kind love to the good man of the house, and tell him I have remembrance of him in my poor prayers. Excufe hafte, as I am a vant to many. Dear fifter, adieu.

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Ever thine in the brotherly covenant,

fer

The Defert.

NOCTUA AURITA.

THE END.

Printed by T. BENSLEY, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, London.

(3)

A

SERIES OF LETTERS

ON

DIVINE SUBJECTS.

By CHRISTOPHER GOULDING,

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." MATTHEW V. 16.

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels."

MARK Viij. 38,

LONDON:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY T. BENSLEY,

Bolt Court, Fleet Street;

Sold also at Providence Chapel, Gray's-Inn Lane; at Jireh Chapel, Lewes, Sussex; Salem Chapel, Leicester; by Thomas Barston, Market Place, Grantham, Lincolnshire; S. Turner, Sunderland; J. Jameson, Penrith, Cumberland; and at Providence Chapel, Cranbrook, Kent.

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