whatever was called for was given up with all rea dinefs: this being all I could then do. As to performing religious duties, I had them all to learn, though I had been trained up from my infancy in a strict religious way by godly parents. But the very beft outward helps, and the moft confiftent fet of religious principles, only profeffed, cannot at all enrich the foul with heavenly grace.

By carefully enquiring as above, I foon clearly perceived my bufinefs was to watch and pray continually; to commune with mine own heart, or the Witness of God therein, that I might receive fresh inftruction and help as I had need. Selfdenial, and taking up the cross daily, was to be my conftant employ; in the doing whereof I had much inward peace and comfort, and a wellgrounded hope that I fhould thereby find, in the Lord's time, the body of fin fo weakened, as that the yoke of Chrift would become eafy, and his burthen light.

In order to a happy progrefs in the life of religion, the great thing is, by abiding in the Divine Light, to preferve a clear and diftinguishing fenfibility between the flesh and the Spirit. There is no doing this without great care and steady attention of mind upon the Divine Gift. If the eye goes from this, it is blinded by the darkness; then the man is liable to be mifled by a counterfeit light, and various resemblances, which Satan will cast in way for guidance and inftruction, perfuading him all is well and right. To be fo mifled, and therein established, is a truly deplorable state; it

his

being very unlikely fuch should ever be perfuaded to believe they are mistaken, as they often deride whatever appears doubtful concerning their religion and worship. This was evidently the cafe with a fet of profeffors of uncommon outward fanctity and punctual exactness in the exteriors of their religion, in the time of our Saviour's perfonal appearance upon earth; notwithstanding which, these very people appeared to be the most inveterate enemies he had amongst mankind. Seeing therefore frail mortals are liable to fuch dangerous mistakes, how exceedingly circumfpect and watchful ough all to be! and what frequent and ftrict fcrutinies ought they to make into the state of their own hearts! which can be known no otherwise by any, but as the Lord is pleased to fend forth his heart-fearching light. This is a high favour, which none receive but those who are turned from the darkness, and are fervently concerned to put away all the works thereof. Very grofs is the deception of those, who imagine the work of their converfion to be an inftantaneous work. This can be nothing elfe but a delufion of Satan, to fettle people at reft in a state of felffecurity as foon as he can. Oh! what a length of time it takes, to work out that rebellious, ftiffnecked, backfliding nature, which was born in Egypt, before the new generation is raifed up, that is fit to enter the promised land!

From what is before hinted, it may be underftood, that the Good Seed, or Heavenly Principle, arifing into afcendancy in us over the evil feed or principle,

principle, and leavening the three measures of meal into its own nature, is effentially a being born again, or with water and the Spirit, or being baptized with the Holy Ghoft and fire; or man'senduring the operation of the refiner's fire, fuller's foap, and being purified as filver; all which metaphors fignify to us, in a very inftructive manner, the different operations of the Holy Spirit; which is to the willing soul sometimes as water, to wash and bathe in, and alfo to drink of freely; at other times as a refiner's fire, to purge away the filth and drofs, that man may be as pure gold, prepared to receive the image and fuperscription of the King of Heaven; that fo, where-ever he goes, or whatever he doth, all who have their eyes opened may see whofe fubject he is.

It is very obfervable, that the prophet Malachi, when he had elegantly fet forth the nature of the new birth, breaks out in the fourth verfe of the third chapter on this wife: Then fhall the of

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ferings of Judah and Jerufalem be pleasant “unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in "former years;" which clearly implies man's unacceptable state with his Maker in any religious performances, until he hath previously known the cleanfing and refining operations before-mentioned. What then will become of those who have intruded themselves into religious fervices, and amongst his faithful followers, not having on the weddinggarment! who would pass for his people, yet cannot find, by examining the state of their minds refpecting religion, that they have trod the path of

rege

regeneration, nor paffed through the many and various pangs of the new birth.

When man hath, through the powerful prevalence of the Divine Principle, obtained victory in a good degree over evil, his foul abounds with evidence and tokens of his happy attainments, through the Lord Jefus Chrift; to whom with the Father, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, praise, adoration, and thanksgiving, are offered up as incense with acceptance; he enjoys an abundant flow of heavenly love, to those especially of the fame lineage, begotten of the fame Everlasting Father, agreeable to 1 John iii. 14. "We know

that we have paffed from death unto life, be"caufe we love the brethren." It is then become as his meat and drink to do the will of God; he looks with indifference upon worldly enjoyment, when compared with religion and the weighty concerns thereof; his body, foul, and outward fubstance are offered up to the Great Giver; being given up to spend and to be spent for the promotion of truth, according to the degree of its requirings; careful that all he doth may tend to God's glory. Thefe particulars, and much more 'than I can fet forth, are done from a mature re, fult of a well-informed underftanding and found judgment, which cannot fail of producing great peace and heavenly folace, whereby he is mightily encouraged to persevere.

Oh! that mankind would but come clearly to fee the neceffity of beginning in the Spirit, and walking therein, agreeable to the advice and prac

tice

tice of the primitive Chriftians! then they would not fulfil the lufts of the flesh. The spirit that lufteth to envy, and seeks vengeance, would be flain. Here outward wars and fightings would cease of course; the caufe being taken away, the effect would be no more. A selfish covetous fpirit, which feeks undue advantage to the injury of others, would be purged out. Here we fhould have power to love our neighbours as ourselves, and to do unto all as we fhould be done unto, were we in their fituation. All these, and many more good fruits, would fpring up naturally from the new creation in Chrift Jefus our Lord. But those who have not the ground-work in themselves, and lack the virtues of the Holy Spirit, which are fet forth in the scriptures of truth, are blind, and cannot see that it is poffible to attain those exalted Christian virtues now as it was in the apostles days; and therefore imaginations, dreams, and conjectures abound amongst outfide Chriftians (who are numerous) concerning the way and means of -obtaining that falvation which comes only by being born from above. Some fay, Lo! here is Chrift! Others fay, Lo! he is there! but ftill evade the cross. If that did not stick in the way, they would furely embrace the right thing, as it is fo fully fet forth and defcribed in the holy fcrip

tures.

The testimonies thereof have enforced, however, an affent to the truth of the doctrine of the new birth, both in Papifts and Proteftants. But alas! their apprehenfions concerning its nature are exceedingly

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