Answ. Then Balaam was none of the wise men of this world. Nor the seventy elders of Israel; for they all saw the God of Israel; but upon these nobles he laid not his hand, Exod. xxiv. 10, 11; nor did any of them, except Joshua and Caleb, enter the promised land. All these had ability to discern spiritual objects, and the greatest of all objects, and yet appear to be nothing else but the wise men of this world. This is a wretched criterion, Timothy; and all the use it can be of, must be to encourage the daring and presumptuous, and to confirm and settle in carnal security the most accomplished hypocrites in Zion.

Quot. This gift is a peculiar favour, and wholly undeserved; and is a positive pledge of their having been everlastingly loved.

Answ. If this enlightened understanding is a positive pledge of a man's being loved with an everlasting love, how awfully mistaken, how supreme in seduction, and what a sea of blood will be required at the hands of Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles, who tells us, that though a man speak with the tongue of men and angels; and though he have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though he has all faith, so that he could remove mountains; yet, if he have not charity, he is nothing, 1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2. And yet Paul is so confident in his assertions, that he tells us to let him be accursed, whether man or angel, that shall preach

any other doctrine than that which he hath preached.

Quot. If all who are enlightened would more particularly consider the darkness they were once. in, they would be more sensible the change made in them could originate in none but God. This would be an effectual means to humble them, and prevent them from overlooking that infinite kindness which is manifested in bringing them from that darkness.

Answ. A man may be enlightened to see ten times more than ever Mr. Timothy Priestley saw, and yet be as ignorant, and as destitute of a saving change of heart, as Simon Magus himself; who, after his confession and profession, was manifested to be in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Paul will allow, that men may not only be enlightened, but taste of the heavenly gift; be made partakers of the Holy Ghost; taste the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; and yet fall away, so as never to be renewed to repentance, Heb. vi. 4-6. These persons are described as going a great many leagues farther than the Author of this Looking-glass ever went; and yet, it is allowed that such may be found without oil in the vessel. There may be tasting where there is no eating, and light in the head when there is no unction in the heart."The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.”

Quot. If all who are enlightened would con

sider the darkness they were once in, it would be an effectual means to humble them.

Answ. Paul says, no, it will not. He declares, that the light of knowledge carries the sinner quite the contrary way: "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." Timothy Priestley's effectual means of humbling is Paul's declarative means of puffing up. Paul the aged must be wrong, or our priestly Timothy cannot be right. For my own part, I choose to take side with the apostle. Jesus we know, and Paul we know; but as for this Timothy, we know not whence he is.

Quot. What evident proof do the wicked give of their darkness! The loudest calls do not alarm them; the most awful providences leave them as secure as ever; the kindest invitations are lost; neither the horrors of the damned, nor the crowns of the saved, will turn them from their sins.

Answ. Loud calls, awful providences, invitations, horrors, and crowns, are not God, though they may be of God, and from God: nor do the scriptures represent the above things as sufficientTM to turn men from their sins. It is Jesus, and he alone, who shall save his people from their sins. Nor will our Timothy's doctrine ever effectually turn any man from the power, love, or dominion, of sin. This poor wooden sword will neither cut Rahab, nor wound the Dragon. When Paul

was sent to turn sinners from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, it was to be done by faith which is in Christ: and for this work Paul. was armed with spiritual weapons, equipped with the whole armour of God, and furnished with the dispensation of the Spirit: and in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power, Paul approached, and attacked the rebel's conscience; and before this power the elected sinner could never stand, but was sure to fall before it. But what spirit, or power, is there in our Timothy's Looking-glass? Just as much as there is in my lady's powder-puff.

Quot. If he is brought to see all his righteousness as filthy rags, and led to depend wholly on that righteousness which is of God by faith;

Answ. The Christian must not only be brought to see all his righteousness as filthy rags, but to feel it. He must be quickened to feel, as well as enlightened to see; he must have life, as well as light. This head religion will never do, Timothy. The sinner must feel the insufficiency of his own righteousness, and the wrath and curse of God revealed against all his unrighteousness: yea, it must be seen by him, and felt in him. The commandment must come home, before he will hunger and thirst after righteousness, or cry for the balm of Gilead, and the physician there. Jesus says, "The whole need not the physician, but they that are sick." Christ was sent into the world to bind up the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to captives,

and to set at liberty those that are bound and bruised. The sinner must not only be 'led to depend wholly on that righteousness which is of God by faith,' but God's righteousness must be brought near to him, and be apprehended by him, and the righteousness of the law must be fulfilled in him, before he can have either justification toward God, or peace of conscience.

Quot. If his desires are now to walk in the Spirit, and not fulfil the lusts of the flesh;

Answ. Desires to walk in the Spirit, and not to fulfil the lusts of the flesh, will not satisfy the awakened sinner. It is not desires after Christ that will give satisfaction, any more than a desire for victuals will fill a hungry belly. The bread of life, and the fatted calf, must be brought forth, killed, and eaten; and the best robe brought out, in a more clear manner than this glass represents it; and be put on too, before the weary soul can find rest. It is not a desire to walk in the Spirit, but the witness and seal of the Spirit, that brings comfort to the troubled breast, and establishment to the wavering heart: "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul," but " hope deferred maketh the heart sick;" and "a wounded spirit, who can bear?" "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing." This doctrine is calculated to set poor sinners down short of the promised rest; and he that ends his days in it, will fail of the grace of God. Not one truth is opened up, or explained; not one doctrine cleared, or fairly stated; no sense