and, as I could not pray with her, she told them I was so spiritually proud that I would not join with her in prayer. It was not, however, my pride, but her sin, that stopped the mouth of prayer; for how can a person pray with people one minute, and quarrel with them the next? Whatever Christian or minister called at the house was sure (after having a little conference with her) to come to me at the wharf, saying, So, my friend, you preach, I am informed; take heed you do not run before you are sent,' &c. Others would come to me, saying, 'Beware of pride, my friend; pride is dangerous.' And others would tell me of the importance of the ministerial work, without telling me wherein my sufficiency lay.

I had these things sounded in my ears till my soul was bowed down within me. These cautions were out of season to me; for I had run away once from the work already, and had suffered severely for it; therefore I knew it came from my mistress, not from God. Nor was I much in danger of pride, while carnal professors were harassing my soul all the day long, and a poor family wanting bread at home; bowed down with hard labour for ten shillings per week; and no clothes to preach in except a fustian frock, an old pair of leather breeches, yarn stockings, and clouted shoes. A God-fearing person, thus equipped, who has the galling yoke of an

hypocrite upon his neck, and who is daily fighting against the peace of his conscience and the comfort of his soul, will not find much to lift him up with pride.

At last, however, I began to answer these gentlemen's cautions from the word of God, which stopped their mouths. For, when they cautioned me to take care, I told them my taking care would not do, we must cast our care upon the Lord, who careth for us, 1 Pet. v. 7. And again, "Who are kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation," 1 Pet. i. 5. And, when they have told me to beware of pride, I answered, that the same Christ, who had redeemed me from the curse of the, law, had redeemed me also from deceit and violence, Psal. lxxii. 14; and from all other evil, Gen. xlviii. 16. When they have talked of the wisdom that was required in a minister, I replied, Christ was made of God unto us wisdom; that Christ had promised to give me "a mouth and wisdom which all mine enemies shall not be able to gainsay nor resist,". Luke xxi. 15; and that he had given me faith to believe that he certainly would accomplish it. I found that a few evangelical answers were sufficient to stop the mouths of such legal advisers, who lead our minds from the Saviour, instead of leading us to him, without whom we can do nothing, John xv. 5.

My mistress used to watch me all the day

long; and if, at my meal-times, she saw me go into any of the out offices, she would suspect I was gone to prayer, and would follow me, desiring that I would let her join with me, and that I would pray for her. Instead of which, my business was to pray to God to deliver me from her. Finding that I made use of a little place by the Thames side for prayer and reading of an evening, after I had left work, she locked it up, though it was of no other use. In short, I could compare her to none but the enemies of St. Stephen; of whom it is said, that, when his face shone before the council like the face of an angel, his adversaries gnashed their teeth at him.

Reader, art thou a young Christian? Take heed of these comfort-killers; who carry a lance in their mouths, to let out the very power and life of godliness; and only envy thy happiness, and grudge because they themselves are not satisfied with it. They would rather make thee as dead as themselves, than feel the flames of jealousy. Keep close to Christ; balance thy accounts between him and conscience two or three times a day; and expect your daily penny from him, and your expectation shall not be cut off. Real religion consists in a pure and heavenly mind; a purged and peaceable conscience; and gospel affections, going out after the dear Redeemer. These thou canst not enjoy, unless thou

maintainest a close union and communion with Christ, which communion is kept up by living faith and fervent prayer. There is much head and tongue religion in the world, while there is but little of this vital religion. I have been amazed at times to think how such hardened hypocrites could sit under the gospel. But the scriptures convinced me that it was always so; for the very devils appeared among the angels in heaven before they were cast out; Cain got into the first church, Canaan into the second, Ishmael into the third, Esau into the fourth, Saul among the prophets, 'Judas among the apostles, Nicholas among the deacons, and Ananias and Sapphira among the primitive saints. Thus, says the Saviour, Let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest. I know the language of my soul was, Lord, shall I pluck them up? But the Lord says, No, "Let both grow toge ther until the harvest," Matt. xiii. 30, I believe David had an itching finger against these tares, when he says, "Who will rise up with me against the evil doers?" "I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord," Psal. ci. 8. However, David could not destroy all the hypocrites; for, when he had got rid of Saul, Ahithophel found him out, and got to his very table, cabinet, and conscience; he was his counsellor, his guide, and his familiar friend.

I was once in a stage coach with two gentlemen, who were speaking to each other about rogues. One was mentioning how he had been taken in by a swindler; when the other observed; If there is a simple fool in the world, a villain will find him out.' This witness is true.

If such a man as David could not escape such hypocrites, how shall we? The dear Redeemer travelled in this path also. If a woman, moved with pity, would anoint Jesus in faith to his burial, Judas wants the unction turned into cash, with a pretence to relieve the poor. If the Saviour hungered or thirsted, he might beg water of the woman at the well; and, if he would feed his followers, he might work miracles to do it. Judas bore the bag, and loved that which was put therein, for he was a thief. If the Lord makes a supper, Judas is there; while he is taking his mournful leave, Judas is selling his blood: and when he is in the greatest agonies in the garden, Judas comes, as a general of Satan's army, at the front, with a kiss; the chief captains in the centre; and poor ignorant souls, armed with the weapons of indignation, in the rear. Thus the dear Redeemer travelled this path also; he was pestered with an hypocrite as well as we. However he left his heavenly father to pluck Judas up; and we must leave Christ to pluck our tares up also.

Notwithstanding all my endeavours to keep