into the New Jerusalem above, where the smiles of Zion's King will abundantly outweigh all the difficulties and hardships that are known in this vale of tears.

Now, my friend, as, through the mercy of God, I have had some little experience of the wiles and mysterious workings of the adversary of souls; and also have known a being preserved from being destroyed by his wicked designs; and as I have no doubt that he is at times busying himself in laying snares for thy immortal soul, to cause thee to fall short of the prize which is at the end of the race, and to be received by those only who hold out to the end, and faint not by the way; I earnestly desire that thou mayst be preserved in the innocent life of pure and undefiled truth and righteousness, wherein, as thou abidest, thou wilt be enabled to see, and avoid all the snares of the wicked one, however subtilely he may lay them to catch the unwary. Sometimes, perhaps, he may persuade thee, that there is no true religion among a people, who are so precise about outward things, as it may seem to thee, that some are. This is a kind of reasoning, whereby he hath stumbled many, and some wellminded persons. Oh! be thou on thy guard against it. Remember thou hast yet had but small experience of what may be required. And although some things which others clearly see the necessity of, may not yet be made so clear to thee, yet the same power which has shown thee some things, can show thee many more, if he pleases. Therefore, be careful, and not be too hasty in judging that things are unnecessary, because thou hast not yet seen them; or else, thou mayst condemn the living experience of many who have known far more of the love of God, and of his requirings, than thyself. And now in particular, respecting rising, or not rising, to join the prayers of those who can appoint a time to preach and pray, and go to the place, and begin immediately, without waiting for any help from above; if I may be allowed to have any knowledge of the will and ways of the great Teacher, I must say, I have as sensibly been constrained to bear testimony against such will-worship, as against almost any thing else, though I believe some have not fully seen into the spiritual idolatry of such preaching and praying. Will it sound harsh to thee, if I say, I am confirmed, it is offensive to

him who will be waited upon by all who truly worship him aright. Nay, let it sound as it may, I am fully satisfied that a great part of that kind of devotion is no better than solemn mockery, and no more acceptable with God, than worshipping images. For when a person imagines something or another, without knowing whether it be right or wrong, good or bad, what is that but an image in the mind? Yea, they have imagined so many abominations, that it is enough to make any sober inquirer afraid to trust to any thing they say, without knowing it to be true. For, alas! what have they not preached, in one age or another, as gospel truths? Yea, the very worst of blasphemies. And all this for want of waiting for the commission and command of him who knows what is truth, and ought to be said. And even in our days, they proclaim from the pulpit, things absolutely contrary to the doctrines of Christ. Who would have thought, that after Christ had so fully forbidden revenge and war, and commanded to love enemie

uy should dare pretend to be a preacher of the gospel, and yet preach up these things which Christ forbid. Surely this is for want of knowing, and waiting to hear the Shepherd's voice. Another abominable doctrine is this: that God has ordained millions of immortal souls to everlasting misery; with many other false doctrines, under pretence of God's mind and will.

Oh! lamentable! lamentable! mine eyes have seen so much of the nature of such work, that I dare not in the least give it any countenance. My conscience would condemn me, if I should; and yet I have charity to believe there are some among them, and some who join them, that are sincere, and act according to what they know; but that is no excuse for those who have seen the nature of these things. The prophets of old cried, "wo," against such will-worshippers, and the "wo" still remains. And shall those who know it does, stifle the testimony which ought to be borne against such practices. He that joins, may be numbered among those who bid them God speed; which an apostle forbids. See the second Epistle of John, ver. 10.

Now, my friend, think it not strange, that I am thus severe against this sort of preaching. I believe many who once would have thought this hard judging, are now fully convinced that it

is strictly true; and thou may yet think so too, in time, though now it may be hid from thee. Keep near him who has the key of David; who opens, and none can shut, and shuts, and none can open. Have a care of carnal reasoning about spiritual matters; they are not to be understood without the help of that key. Think not hard of those who are desirous that thou shouldst be rightly brought forward on thy way; lest thou think hard of thy best friends. For be assured, there are some who heartily wish thy present and everlasting happiness; of which number I am one, and one who is not a little concerned that thou mayst be kept in patience, humility, and tenderness, through all trials that may attend thee here, and dwell forever with the Lamb and his followers, hereafter. Farewell.

JOB SCOTT.

To William Turpin.

Providence, 20th of 9th month, 1778.

My dear friend, William Turpin,

As I may not see thy face so often as heretofore, I feel an engagement to communicate somewhat of the desires that have often attended my mind on thy account. I have desired that into whatever corner of the earth thy course may be steered, it may be thy constant and careful engagement to labour for the bread that perisheth not, and the waters that endure. Be it thy peculiar care to strive to enter in at the strait gate. Be it thy unremitted solicitude of mind to witness communion with the God who gives thee life, breath, and being. This cannot be fully known but through the wrestlings of the seed, in the silence of all flesh; every roving thought and idle imagination being subjected to the obedience of the cross of Christ. Then, when this is known, "Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it," will be understood by thy poor (and otherwise miserable) soul. If thou wilt reign with Christ, thou must suffer with him. No cross, no crown, are words of truth and righteousness. And I'll

tell thee what an ancient and experienced servant of Christ said, a little before his departure from this scene of probation; speaking of the holy spirit which he felt, he says, "It never rejoices but through suffering; for with the world's joy it is murdered." Have a care, my dearly beloved, of "the world's joys," the world's friendships. Enmity with God is written upon them, and thou canst not erase it. The worldly part, the changeable part, must die. Thou must be buried with Christ, by baptism into death, or have no part in the first resurrection. Be not ashamed of the heart-tendering work of him who is, at times, drawing near thee for thy refinement. Bear his reproach. Go with him to the cross, to Pilate, and the world. Die with him to every other satisfaction, than what arises from union and communion with him who was made perfect through sufferings. This is close doctrine; but I can testify, it leads to joys unspeakable that the world knows not of; to a foretaste in this life of those rivers of pleasures which are at God's right hand. Lose not sight, my friend, of the light, thy leader; nor of the necessity of a life of self-denial, and the daily cross. This I earnestly press, as the way to eternal glory: 'tis the path the ancients ever trod to blessedness; by Jesus recommended, as well as walked in. Follow thou him in it, and thy feet shall not slide, nor thy recompense fail.

And now, with a heart full of good-will, and not void of tenderness, and sympathetic compassion, wishing thee the enjoy ment of that presence which is life to the soul; wishing thou mayst lead a life of pilgrimage, and be a standard-bearer through this scene of sorrows, this vale of tears; and at last witness a happy admittance among the sons of consolation, around the throne of God, I bid thee farewell. Forget not, by no means forget, that it must be through tribulation, if at all, that thy garments must be washed white, and thou admitted to the joys I have mentioned.

I am thy unfeigned, affectionate, unshaken friend, in the travail of my soul, that Christ may be completely formed in thee.

JOB SCOTT.

To J. C.

Respected cousin,

Providence, 7th of 9th month, 1781.

I have often had thee in remembrance, since last I saw thee, and now believe it best to write the feelings of my mind; and I desire to speak to that in thee, which can savour words, and which has long been visited, and yet continues long in bondage. May I query, why is it so? Dear cousin, why is it so? Answer, because Pharoah's heart is hardened, so that he will not let the true Israelitish seed go forth to do sacrifice to the Lord, the everlasting God. Know thou, that plagues and tribulations will attend that hardened heart, unless it submits. And unless there is a giving up to the holy influence of that fire, which burns as an oven, (inwardly,) thy lot, I think, will be to drag out a miserable life of emptiness and desolation of soul; when, at the same time, I am as fully satisfied, that by a full surrender, thou might come to feed upon the bread of life, and drink of the new wine, with Christ in his Father's kingdom.

I have been discouraged about writing; for, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice within, in vain might one rise even from the dead, to invite thee. Take this not as rough language. It is in the breathings of my soul for thy welfare, that I am engaged thus to call upon thee to make no longer delay, lest the night overtake thee; but improve the present time. Now is the accepted time. Now is the visitation continued. How long ere it may be too late, we know not. Great is the consequence to thy immortal soul. Oh! I entreat thee stand out no longer. Resist no longer the offers of God's loving-kindness to thee! What satisfaction canst thou have in the thoughts of spending all thy days in thraldom, in Egyptian bondage? Or what reason hast thou to think it will ever be easier than now, to make a full revolt from under the government of the king of tyrants? Let thy comrades laugh: and let deists argue as they please. He who knows not the peace of God that passeth mere human understanding, notwithstanding all his wit, and all his cunning, is, as to the inward state of his soul, in a land of emptiness,