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hated by most of the preachers, if not all, in L. I told them they wanted divisions, and should have them too, before ever there would be any real conversion to God. The poor creatures cannot hear any one that can touch their case, or describe their state; they have been long seeking water, but find none. Oh that the good Lord would condescend to send some waters into the wilderness, and cause streams to run in the desert, to give drink to his people, his chosen; for Zion is low, and in a low place. Ah, Mr. M. how highly is the city of London favoured! From L. we went direct to Cumberland, where we arrived safe, and found our friends as well as we could expect. My father is very well for an old man in his seventy-eighth year. There are a few sheep scattered up and down here that appear to love the Lord, and were very glad to see me; and all ask how the Doctor does. Last Sunday I spent mostly with my friend, who is very well, and I have no doubt, in my own mind, will be of that number who shall never draw back unto perdition, but of those that believe to the salvation of the soul. He made me laugh about Dr. M. Dean of C. As we were walking past his door the circumstance came fresh to his mind, which he related to me. He wrote a letter to the Dean, and sent him Barry on Election' to peruse, and told him he would call in a week. When he called, a servant in livery came to the door, and

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led him through a long passage into a drawingroom, into which he entered with his great ploughman's shoes on, and there was the Dean seated, and seemed much disappointed to see such a poor fellow as S. call upon him. He asked him if he was the author of the letter, and the person that sent the book. S. answered, Yes, Sir.' 'Well,' said the Dean, I have read the book you sent me; but where people get this election into their heads there is then an end of all good living; it leads them to licentiousness; they may then live as they list.' To which S, replied, What! are ye a master in Israel, and knows nea better than that? For if a child of God could live as he list, he would live to the glory and praise of God always, and never sin in thought, word, or deed, more. This vain fancy is contrary to all the word of God, as well as to the experience of every saint; for God's electing grace in them all teaches them to deny ungodliness, not to commit all uncleanness with greediness.' Remarks of this kind brought the Dean to wave all further discourse, saying he was going to dinner, and S. might call again. But he never went more, having seen enough of the blindness of human wisdom in the things of God. We went to hear a person lately come to C. in the evening, who attempted to prove, from the eighth chapter of Romans, what was meant by being predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ,

that he might be the first-born among many brethren. But I could not understand him further than I was sure that he could not explain his text; for I think I should have understood something of it, if he had given a real sound account of the image of God in man, as he appears in it when created anew in Christ Jesus. I have received four books of the Doctor's by the coach from London, the last published; but I do not know who sent me them. I once thought you; then I thought again that you would never do that without a few lines. The glorious accounts rejoice my heart; and the desire and prayer of my soul is, that Zion's cords may be lengthened more and more, and that there may be an abundant influx of poor sensible sinners to the feast of fat things, where they may find everlasting entertainment, peace and rest for their souls.

Remember me to the Doctor, who I hope is well. I go to Penrith to-morrow, God willing, for a letter I expect from Cheapside, and to meet an old lady who I have sometimes written and sent the Doctor's books to, but never saw her till last Tuesday. How are the people of God sifted up and down; yea, as corn is sifted in a sieve. But God's promise is that not one grain shall ever fall to the earth, so as to perish with the earthlyminded ones in the great day. But to be excluded the public means of God's appointment is a great trial to a thirsty soul. That the God of all grace

may be with and bless you and yours, water you · every moment, keep you night and day, be the strength of your heart, and your portion for ever, is the desire of,

Dear Sir,

Yours most affectionately in the best bonds,

C. GOULDING.

LETTER LIII.

To the Rey. J. JENKINS.

Paddington, March 5, 1796.

Dearly beloved in the Lord, true yokefellow, and companion in tribulation; grace and peace be with thee through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I MUST Confess that the works of God are wonderful, and as all things work together for good to them that love him, so all things work together for evil to them that hate him. I no sooner hear of a damnable heresy sent by a heretic to entangle the simple, but as soon as I find out what it is, my cruse springs like an overflowing fountain, and twenty texts flow in harmony against their confusion. Two scriptures have been on my mind through all the late scufflie, and against all the heap of penny-post squibs that have been sent to me upon the subjects of Arianism, Socinianism, and Sabellianisın. The first text convinced me

that the Holy Ghost had no hand in the writing of any of them, for he is not the author of confusion, and their letters are nothing else; and the second is, that the true light never once shined into them, for God's words are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge; there is nothing froward or perverse in them, Prov. viii. 8, 9.

These men serve to stir up the Lord's watchmen to vigilance and watchfulness; and their lies, under the teaching of God, drive us further into the truth, and the good Spirit of God shews the consistency of his teaching in the false mirror of their self-contradictions; and by these means draws forth gratitude and thankfulness to God for the little we do know, and for not leaving us thus to stumble and take offence at the greatest truths in the Bible. But so it is written, and so it must be; "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived," while "The path of the just shall shine more and more, even to perfect day;" but who makes us to differ? To God only wise be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever, amen. I have this testimony in my conscience, that I shall be a savour of death unto death, or of life unto life; but it is astonishing to see the pains they take to damn themselves and others; and the more success they have in seduction, the more increased will be their torment, until, as Milton says of the majesty of Satan, he is only 'supreme

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