is of God by faith, Philip. iii. 8, 9. Thus the elect, who sought not after righteousness by the law, have attained to it. But hypocrites are said to be stout-hearted, and far from this righteousness; as it is written, "Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness; I bring near my righteousness," Isa. xlvi. 12, 13. They refuse this righteousness; as it is written, "For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth," Rom. x. 3, 4. The elect are said to attain to this righteousness, and they that seek it by the works of the law are blinded; as it is written, "What shall we say, then?-that the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith: But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law; for they stumbled at that stumbling stone," Rom. ix. 30-32. And this is the stone that the Arminians have stumbled at to this day. They are denying and ridiculing the righteousness of the Son of God, and laying their own boasted merit at the bottom of the building; "but on whom

soever it [this stone] shall fall, it will grind him to powder," Matt. xxi. 44. God declares "their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works," Isa. lix. 6.

Ninthly, The Spirit of God humbles the sinner; and brings him not only to own, but also to submit to, the sovereignty of his maker; and to close in with the doctrine of eternal election, Acts xxii. 14. Thus God appears just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus, Rom. iii. 26. But carnal convictions will stir up a man impiously to reply against God; as it is written,

66

Why doth he yet find fault?" The Spirit's answer to such is; "Nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it, Why hast thou formed me thus?" Rom. ix. 19, 20. Such wage war against God's sovereignty, and his revealed doctrines of election and predestination; as all Arminians do at this day, and even strive against God himself: but they shall never prevail; for God says, "Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker," Isa. xlv. 9. God has laid a secret snare for mystical Babylon, and all meritmongers; as it is written, "I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware; thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the Lord," Jer. 1. 24.

Thus, courteous reader, I have gone a little out of my intended way, in order to answer thy supposed question; and I hope God will enable thee to make a comfortable use of it. But to return:

I had been at Kingston about seven or eight months in the distressed condition which I have before mentioned; having just strength enough to move about and attend my work, and that was all. Being at that time sorely tried with the cruel mockings of my fellow workmen, I longed much to leave that place. It so fell out that the foreman came to me one day and informed me that a gentleman at Sunbury wanted a gardener; telling me at the same time that the gentleman's gardener had cut his throat, after having embezzled some of his master's money. I went immediately after the place, and was accordingly hired. In a few days after I went to my servitude; and my guilt, fear, horror, and temptations, accompanied me. At that time my wife went to see her relations in Dorsetshire, and continued with them ten or twelve weeks. I was now got into a strange place, and my only companion had left me: the family that I served was in London; and, as they had lately bought the house, they did not intend coming into it till it was fitted up, and the gardens put in proper order. An old woman was also kept to

take care of the house, until it was fitted up and furnished for the reception of the family.

My curiosity prompted me to inquire strictly of the housekeeper the cause of the gardener having cut his throat. She accordingly informed me that he had received money from his master to buy some clothes with; but, instead of that, he had spent it all; and that soon after a letter was found, which he had unguardedly dropped, that had come from a gentleman of the faculty, containing a large bill for curing him of the venereal disease, and many threatenings for having neglected to discharge it. She added, that it was supposed he had obtained this money under the pretext of buying clothes, while he meant to pay this bill; but, getting into company, he had spent the whole; which people conjectured was the cause of the violent attempt he had made on his life.

I then asked in what manner he had done it; she answered, that the gardener came home about four o'clock in the morning, went up stairs, and cut his throat with a razor; but, finding he had not done it effectually, he stopped the wound with his handkerchief, lest he should bleed on the stairs, while he went into the kitchen to fetch his pruning knife, with which he cut it again; and, again stopping the wound with his handkerchief, went into the street, and walked

on the road till he dropped down with the loss of blood. Some people soon after found him, and alarmed the neighbourhood. He was brought home, and a surgeon sent for to close the wound, which was thought to be mortal, as the throat was deeply cut; however the wound was closed; but, under the operation, and with the loss of blood, he had violent fits; and, being a strong bony man, it was as much as five or six men could do to hold him; and no wonder that the devil afforded him such aid, when he had brought him so near an awful end. However, he was sent to an hospital; and, whether he lived or died, I cannot inform my reader. I then desired to see the room where he had committed this violent act. She accordingly shewed me the room, and where the blood had run on the boards, which they had endeavoured to plane out; but, the boards being old, they could not get the stain out. I then asked her how he behaved when they had sewed up the wound, and whether he could speak? She replied, 'Yes, just to be understood;' for the people asked him how he could be guilty of so rash an action: and he said, 'It was that black man who stands in the corner of the room; he told me to do it, and he tempted me to it.' The relation of these circumstances was like fresh fuel to feed the flame of wrath that was already kindled in my heart; and, to complete all, she told me that was the bed I was