Numb. xxvii. 3; but they have entailed the sins and destruction of thousands on the score of their own souls; having shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; not entering themselves, nor suffering others to enter.

I have seen erroneous men in such a light as can never be described: but the great day will reveal it: the whole mystery of iniquity shall be discovered by the brightness of the Lord's rising, and be consumed with the breath of his lips.

Cushi. However, this is a comfort, that though it be said, "if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect;" yet that little if is worth a thousand worlds; for it renders it an impossibility for a chosen vessel to be finally deceived; and surely Prodigalis is a living witness of this truth; and this trial of his cured his ears of their itching, and convinced him of the need of studying and sticking close to the book of God. He found that error, as well as the least transgression, made sad breaches in his comfortable union and communion with his ever blessed Saviour; which is the life and soul of all real religion. And indeed he found it no easy work to obtain it again; which when obtained made him prize it the more, and made him the more fearful to offend.

Ahimaaz. For my part I have not a doubt but these things were made useful to him in his future ministry: for, as he had sensibly felt the bondage and confusion of error, it must serve as

a spur to his future zeal in opposing error with the force of truth, because his own soul had felt the wretched effects of it.

Cushi. Indeed "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." But Christ tells us to take heed how we hear; and Prodigalis has seen that text in its true meaning, and obediently took the caution; and is effectually convinced, that nothing less than an heart-felt experience of the truth, the teachings of the Holy Ghost, and the Lord's supporting hand, could ever keep a man sound in the faith when strongly opposed either by the devil or his agents.

Ahimaaz. And was the latter part of his life smooth and even? Did he continue stedfast in his testimony, and industrious in the ministry of the word?

Cushi. He continues stedfast for aught I know, to this day; but as for an even path, I believe that seldom lasts long with such an one as he. When a man has been desperately wicked from his youth, and accustomed to many evil practices; if such an one be called by grace, he has his old besetting sins to struggle with; they will pursue him; and although the goodness of God is so great as to keep him by his mighty power, through faith unto salvation, yet his old habitual customs the devil often brings strongly to his mind; and if these are indulged, even but in thought, divine comforts are oft abated. Against these he long

prayed, and at times thought he greatly prevailed: but to his sorrow he still feels, that when he would do good, evil is present with him. He often envied those who had been kept from the vices and follies of childhood and youth; judging that they had not such habitual customs of evil to grapple with as those that have run with the reins on their own necks into an open course of wickedness. He always said, that the best antidote against the troublesome thoughts of vanity was, labouring in the ministry, private study, private meditation, private prayer, private communion with God, and spiritual conversation with sound and lively Christians. In these things he delighted as in his most pleasing element. But he was very cautious not to stand in the way of sinners; nor yet, in any dispute with the wicked or erroneous, give up one single article of the testimony that God had applied to his heart; finding it so consistent with the unerring word of God, which must ever be our rule. Prodigalis knew that the prudent were crowned with knowledge; and that crown we must not give up. "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown," says the Saviour.

Ahimaaz. Those souls that are kept in their youth from an open course of wickedness, have not those cutting and bitter reflections, when brought under convictions, that the vile and vicious have; yet I have often observed, that their former legality has stuck as close to their souls

of

to keep them in bondage, as the bad practices of others do to bring them into sin. I myself was kept very upright and moral through all the days my natural state, to outward appearance; but, alas! "the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart," 1Sam. xvi. 7; and so I found it, for my self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, and legal pride: these heart sins were as detestable in the eyes of the Lord as the open profanity even of Prodigalis himself. And although his arraignment and trial was dreadful to pass through, yet his wonderful deliverance afforded as strong a consolation as the other did a grievous affliction.

Besides, my brother, you know that none but the elect are called: Whom he did predestinate, these he also called. And the elect are all known of God: Whom he did foreknow, them he did predestinate. This being the case, the bounds of their habitation, the place and time of their conversion, yea, the manner how, and even the mouth made choice of, Acts xv. 7, in order to convey the word of life to their conversion, is all fore-appointed, and immutably fixed in the eternal decree. Therefore, whether their life, in their unconverted state, be openly wicked, or legally upright, it is according to divine permission.

The apostle Paul was a chosen vessel, although he went such a singular length in persecuting the saints even unto death. God permitted him to go thus far, that in the conversion of such a man

it might be proclaimed to the world what free and irresistible grace could do: “Howbeit, for. this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting," 1 Tim. i. 16.

Cushi. All those things are true; yet for my part I would rather have been kept from open vice in my natural state, than have been permitted to fall into it. Our Lord takes notice of this in Peter, who according to his own account had "walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries,' 1 Pet. iv. 3. I say the Lord takes notice of this; and well he might: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, [Peter,] when thou wast young thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but, when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not," John xxi. 18. Such poor miserable sinners as Peter, Prodigalis, and myself, have a deal to suffer; and though God doth abundantly pardon, Isa. lv. 7, yet such cannot forgive themselves; the thoughts of their wretched wicked life, and of the abuse of God's long-suffering mercy, is cause of much mourning in secret. But eternal election to life sweetens all. For such can often look back and see that the afflicting hand of God hath often been upon them, and his preventing or delivering hand hath often been with them, even from the cradle. I led