which God has made in himself: for the changé which is made by regeneration is spiritual, by which a Christian is capacitated to form a judg ment both of himself and the world. "He that is spiritual judgeth all things."

Answ. This universal ignorance cannot be proved. Some hypocrites are allowed to have all knowledge; and we see evidently, that nine preachers out of ten currently pass for ministers of Christ and his gospel, who are nothing but carnal, unconverted men. And although a Christian may be enabled to form a judgment both of himself and the world, yet the arch hypocrite, who is an amphibious creature, between the saint and the worldling, which is the monstrous offspring of a mongrel minister, all head, and no heart; who speaks half Hebrew, and half Ashdod; which the Saviour calls a wolf in nature, but a sheep in appearance; will still puzzle and perplex the judgment of the truly simple soul. Judas deceived all the apostles; Ahithophel deceived David; Simon Magus deceived Peter; the foolish virgins deceived the wise; the Arminian, in his own righteousness, deceived all the guests at the feast, except the king himself; Jehu deceived Jonadab; Ananias and Sapphira deceived a whole church; Saul deceived Samuel; and the Author of the Christian's Looking-glass has deceived an hundred; and, if it were possible, such would deceive the very elect. Besides, Timothy's description of regeneration has not the least resemblance of the work itself; and

as for the change that he describes, it sets the soul down far short of the attainments and blazing figure of a profound hypocrite in Zion.

Quot. The desires of the heart are even felt in the language by those who have spiritual understanding; and such divine breathings are rarely so much as heard by Christians; but their efficacy is experienced by those who hear them.

Answ. Many have the bowels of natural affections stirred, and their passions moved, by the prayer, and preaching of a graceless orator; and they may be zealously affected, but not well. The Spirit of God came upon Saul and all his company, when they heard Samuel and the prophets prophesying, which quenched their thirst for David's blood, and set them all to preaching; which experience and change greatly exceed all that our friend Timothy describes.

Quot. For as iron sharpens iron, so these tend to rouse and quicken those who have experience. Grace, in exercise, is like some excellent perfumes; you cannot come near them, but you partake of their sweet flavour.

Answ. It should have been, their fragrance. Many are perfumed by the gospel, who were never cleansed; and many are embalmed, who will not be preserved. The soul must be washed, salted, suppled, and swaddled, if ever it be saved. This tasting, and partaking of sweet flavour, will not do. The lamb must be eaten, and the bitter herbs with it, before a soul can be either purged from

his sin, or assured of his life; "Except ye eat of the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you."

Quot. There can be no honest complaint, where there is no sense of want or pain; therefore, though a hypocrite may utter a prayer in words like the sincere soul, his heart goes not along with his words.

Answ. There may be a sense of want and pain too, where there is no faith; and the heart may go with the words, when faith never went with the heart. The foolish virgins were sensible of their want, when they said, "Lord! Lord! open to us;" and Esau's heart went with his words, when he sought the blessing carefully with tears.

Quot. It is evident, from universal experience, that grace is more certainly described by wants, desires, and complaints, than by the highest joys with which any of the children of God are favoured.

Answ. This will not be credited by many that are in want, complain, and desire deliverance. An awakened sinner, who is quickened to feel his guilt, and the plague of his heart; who is in bondage, under a sense of wrath, and bowed down and tormented with the fear of death, and the buffetings of Satan, is sensible enough of his wants, and is full of complaints and desires; but you will never make him believe that he is a partaker of grace, till perfect love casts out fear; till

his pardon is sensibly obtained, his liberty proclaimed, and his soul filled with joy and peace, in believing. The quickened sinner knows that he must be born again, and he will not rest contented 'till he is. Complaining and desiring belong to the labour, but joy and peace belong to the birth. The former are the snares of death, the latter the earnest of life.

Quot. David never gave such positive proof of his being a spiritual man, as he did in his deepest complaints.

Answ. If the scriptures had exhibited nothing of David but his deep complaints, we should be ready to doubt of his deliverance. I think David never gave a more positive proof of his being a partaker of the Spirit, than when he prevailed with God in prayer, obtained the remission of his sins, came up out of the horrible pit, had an open vision of Christ, was enabled to believe in him, found his heart fixed, saw for himself the path of life, and said, "Thou hast loosed my bonds.” "Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The man in whom these things are, is most surely a spiritual man; but there may be deep complaints where those things of the Spirit never were, nor will be.

Quot. A Christian, who humbly depends on the assistance of the Holy Spirit, will hold on his way to Zion, when many flaming professors will sink into oblivion.

Answ. Timothy tells us, that the Christian

that depends on the Spirit, will hold on his way to Zion. I think the sinner must come to Zion, and be made a fellow citizen of it, before he can experimentally know any thing of the Spirit, much less depend on him. Yea, he must come not only to Mount Zion, but to God, the judge of all; to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant; and to the blood of sprinkling also; before he can be ranked with the general assembly, or the church of the first-born. We hope our dear friend Timothy will never sink into oblivion, for he is by no means a flaming professor, for he emits neither light nor heat.

Quot. What is the reason persons, who differ so much from the world, cannot see that they are not of it? If they experienced joys as frequently as they feel their wants, they would have no fears about their state.

Answ. In page 67, friend Timothy informs us, that it is evident, from universal experience, that grace is more certainly described by wants, desires, and complaints, than by the highest joys with which any of the children of God are favoured.' But, in this last quotation, he is altered in his opinion; and tells us, that if they experienced joys as frequently as they feel their wants, they would have no fears about their state.'

Quot. Job does not seem to call in question his state.

Answ. Nor does Job seem to be far from it, when he said, "Thou destroyest the hope of man.'