when they experience an hard and unrelenting frame of heart, than to begin immediately to draw the most gloomy conclusions; as if this difficulty was never to be removed, and that they should never experience a happier frame to their dying moments: whereas the frame itself, if understood, would make a man expect a more agreeable season. Why complain of such a frame?

Answ. An hard and unrelenting frame of heart is easily understood by those who are plagued with it: nor can a poor awakened sinner see ground to expect a better season; for he knows that God "hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." Therefore there is just cause to complain of such a frame. A meek and lowly Saviour, and an hard and unrelenting heart, can enjoy no union or communion. Besides, such a sinner knows, that to be given up to hardness of heart is the infallible mark of a reprobate; that, except they repent, they must perish; and that those who are brought into the bond of the covenant, have the stony heart removed, and an heart of flesh given; yea, a new heart and a new spirit: and, till this is done, they can have no assurance of their life. This is the cause of their complaint, Timothy; and for a minister to endeavour to set a sinner down contented with an hard impenitent heart, is assisting the father of lies, and doing the work of a devil.

Quot. The reason why persons give way to such suspicions, is not on account of their want

of love to religion, but ignorance of the nature of it.

Answ. I think, the reason that such souls give way to such suspicions is the want of love to real religion; for love "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth." While this love to religion is enjoyed, there is no room for groundless suspicions. But Timothy tells us, that it is being ignorant of the nature of love that makes the sinner suspect. Love, whether to religion or a carnal object, is so predominant a passion, that there are none that are smitten with it who areignorant of the nature of it. The first divine impression that is ever made on a soul within the bond of the covenant, is pardoning love; nor can a sinner ever be persuaded that his state is good, till this be enjoyed: for they know that the elect are loved with an everlasting love, and with lovingkindness they are drawn to Christ; and until union with Christ takes place, they are in their sin, and without Christ in the world. The former quotation was intended to set the sinner down contented with an impenitent heart; and this latter is to settle him in a cold one. Pay no regard to this blind Timothy, reader. A cold heart is a bad sign: "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." Timothy may settle thee, swaddle thee, plaster thee, and bolster thee, as much as he will, in thy luke

warm state, and thou mayest love to have it so: "Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee," saith the Lord Jesus Christ, "because thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. This text looks hard at Jewin Street; and if that candlestick stands commendable before God, with such a light as Timothy in its socket, the Lord hath never spoken by me. If the eye of the preacher be evil, the whole body that he preaches to must be full of darkness. Quot. We never desire to live under the influences of the Holy Spirit, till our natures are renewed.

The

Answ. This is another false evidence. foolish virgins desired, begged, and sought, the anointing unction of the Holy Spirit, when they were as far from being renewed as our friend himself. Every convinced and convicted sinner, who sits under the gospel, desires this; and yet he is not renewed till after regeneration is passed on him. Paul places renewing after regeneration; "but according to his mercy, he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," Tit. iii. 5.

Quot. Therefore it is evident, when no kind of natural amusements will yield content, and nothing but spiritual pleasures are sought after, such persons must have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Answ. This is another false evidence. The profoundest hypocrites on the frontiers of hell have gone five steps farther than this evidence: they who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; and yet fall away, so as not to be renewed again unto repentance, Heb. vi 4-6. A man that is starving with hunger, or famishing with thirst, cannot be kept from perishing by tasting; he must eat, swallow down, digest, and concoct, or die: so tasting will not save the soul. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." Christ must be eaten, and lived upon, as the only food, nourishment, and life, of the soul. The atoning blood of Christ is a glorious balm and banquet for a wounded conscience; the fulness of his grace a choice entertainment for a starving mind; and his everlasting righteousness as sweet a morsel to a self-condemned soul: and that those poor sinners know, who have been long spending money for that which is not bread, and their labour for that which satisfieth not, Isa. lv. 2. Witness those who buy Timothy's books.

Quot. Satan understands better how to perplex and distress the Christian, than the believer knows how to defend himself. The old proverb is repeatedly verified, 'He will distress where he cannot destroy.' And, being a cunning adversary,

he understands where, and in what part, to attack

the unwary soul.

Answ. This witness is true. And surely there never was a more stupendous exhibition of the cunning of Satan, than in the performance now under consideration. The title-page, A Looking-glass for Christians, and a guide for timorous souls; is as complete a net as could possibly be set at the mouth of the hole, to excite the unwary to crawl into the burrow. Many weak and unwary souls understand something of Satan's violent rage, and fiery darts. But, when he is transformed into an angel of light, the poor soul has little or no suspicion of him: and, when he appears in a minister, transformed into the likeness of a minister of righteousness, Satan is less suspected still; and when he publishes to the church at large a guide for timorous souls, it appears an impossibility that the devil should deal in what are called Christian evidences. This is an attack upon the unwary, where Satan would never be once suspected. Nevertheless, even this branch of manufactory is carried on by the father of lies; for I will insist upon it, that there is not one real, sound, true evidence, fairly stated, cleared, or proved, in both the volumes. Any person is at full liberty to take up his pen, and prove me a liar, if he can: I shall never be at a loss to defend my assertion, while I can read the bible.

Quot. But how much does the true Christian differ from these? Because he enjoys not that com