the CROWN, but are frightened at the CROSS. Was the Sword of Perfecution to be unfheathed again, alas! what an Alteration would it make in the Appearance of the prefent religious World? but God's Cause ever did, and ever must subsist, a few now, as well as then, would nobly dare to give in their Names to CHRIST, and with the Hope of Salvation for an Helmet, and the Sword of the Spirit in their Hands, force their Way through all Oppofition, fighting the good Fight of Faith, that they might lay hold on eternal Life.

Though public Perfecution has ceased, there are fome, I doubt not, who meet with Oppofition in a private Way. A Man's Foes may be thofe of his own Household. It ftill remains as true as ever, that through much Tribulation we must enter the Kingdom of GOD. It is the appointed Way, and if we have it not by one Means, we shall by another: the Powers of Darknefs will oppose our Paffage, Flesh and Blood, Principalities and Powers, the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, fpiritual Wickednefs in high Places, all are against us: We have given in our Names, by affuming a Profeffion of CHRIST, and fhall be branded eternally for fearful

and

and unbelieving, if we do not fight our Way

through.

"Stand then in his great Might,

"With all his Strength endu'd:

"And take, to Arm you for the Fight,

"The Panoply of God:

"That having all Things done,

"And all your Dangers paft,

"Ye may o'ercome through CHRIST alone,
"And ftand entire at laft.”

What an awful, what a folemn Scene enfues! the DARK-ROOM, and the Man in the IRON-CAGE, are powerful Calls to Watchfulness and Prayer. Hearken to the Account this Man gives of himself: he was once a fair and flourishing Profeffor, both in his own Eyes, and the Eyes of others: thought himself going to Heaven, and had Joy at the Thoughts of getting thither: but was now fhut up in deep Defpair. Oh, let us Fear, left we feem to come short of the Promife. Good GOD! what Changes may take place before we die! but how may fuch an awful Change take place? alas! may the LORD put his Fear in our Hearts, that we may not depart from him: May we watch against all Declenfions from the Ways of GOD, left our Hearts be hardened

through

through the Deceitfulness of Sin, and GOD fhut us up for our Folly in the fad Reflections of our own Guilt.

"The keen Vibration of bright Truth is Hell."

Lufts, Pleasures,, and Profits of the, World, what Mischiefs are ye capable of producing! we know the Beginning of Sin, but GOD only knows the End of it.

Is there no Hope for fuch? to themselves there feems to be none. The Language of the Man in the CAGE intimates the Judg-ment a Perfon in fuch a Condition forms of his own State: especially fuch as have imbibed that comfortless Doctrine, that Soul-tormenting Lie, of the Day of Grace being past before the Day of Life: We know, however, that God can beal Backfliders, and love them freely: nevertheless he may shut them up in this CAGE for a long Time, as a Punishment to themselves, and a Warning to others. Let us then be watchful against a backfliding Heart, left we find it a fearful Thing to fall into the Hands of the living GOD..

While we take Warning, let us be careful of reading Judgments where God has not wrote them. Awful Defpair is not. always

"

always the Confequence of Guilt and Backfliding. I have known, fome to speak the Language of this Man, who were not guilty of Declenfion from the Ways of Gop: lownefs of Spirits, arifing from bodily Dif order, great Temptations, and great Tendernefs of Confcience concerning Sin, have made them for a Season, think their Cafe to be desperate, and they have accordingly refused all Comfort: but the LORD has afterward brought them out of Prison and made them to rejoice.

The laft Scene was awful, yet as we have fhewn, not hopeless: but fhould that be realized in us, which the Man DREAMED was his Cafe, it will indeed be awful and hopeless too for the Day of Judgment to come, and we not be ready; how fhall we -ftand the Terrors of that Day? The LORD • Shall be revealed from Heaven, in all that dreadful Pomp and Majefty which the Scriptures have mentioned: let us then anticipate the Time, and remember the Account we have to give. How fhall we feel, to see the Angels gather up the Elect, and leave us behind for the Pit to open its Mouth near us for our Confciences to afflict us for the Judge, with indignant Countenance, to fix his Eye upon us :-Oh

2

GOD!

-GOD! the Idea is infupportable! what then will the Reality be? may a frequent Meditation of the Solemnity and Certainty of that Day induce us to labour, that we may be accepted of our Judge: that this may be the Lot of SYNTYCHE and himself; is the prayer of

ANDRONICUS.

IMI

LETTER VI.

MPRESSED with Hope and Fear, each of which have their proper Ufe in a Chriftian's Experience; let us attend our Pilgrim in his Way: and may the COMFORTER be always with us, to guide us right.

When our Hearts are penetrated by Divine Truths, we endeavour to run the Way of Gon's Commandments, yet, while Sin hangs heavy on the Soul, it will be with fome Difficulty; but when God enlarges the Heart, we run without Weariness and I walk without fainting.

Salvation will GOD appoint for Walls and Bulwarks. Whether therefore, we hold on our Way, with Wearinefs, or Alacrity, the LORD is our Defence on the Right Hand

and