the prophecies of Mr. Brothers with you; for this is a sure guide. But, as to the apocryphal books, I set no more store by them, nor place any more confidence in them, than I do in fane history; and for these reasons:

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1. In many places they plainly contradict the prophecies of God.

2. If they were extant in the days of Christ, it is plain that, although he quoted from almost, if not from every book of the Old Testament, yet he never referred to, nor confirmed any matter by them, therefore they had neither consecration nor sanction from him; and, if these books have been written since his days, it is plain that the whole canon of scripture was completed before them, and without them.

When I have considered Mr. Brothers's first book, sir, I shall send it out, and presume to send the first copy to you, that you may have an opportunity of examing mine, and replying to me: which, if you do, I will dissect Mr. Brothers's second performance, and consider your testimony of the authenticity of the prophecies of Mr. Brothers with it. This, I hope, will give no offence; as you seem so sensible of the strength of your arguments, by which you have supported your testimony; and that it is tolerably supported by reason and ingenuity, I will not deny: but the main column and top-stone are both wanting; I mean the yea and the amen of God. This appears from your first to your last page; and this I will

endeavour to prove. That kind Providence may be your guide, and the guide of all those who are earnestly inquiring after the mind and will of God, is the desire and prayer of,

THE LYING PROPHET

EXAMINED.

We expect when Christ, the great head of the WE E church, raises up a prophet under the New Testament dispensation, to have,

First, Some account of his call, faith, conversion, regeneration, and commission to his office. None are to speak in Christ's name except they believe; and the Spirit is promised to all that believe: and we are to try the spirits whether they be of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. By this rule the true apostles tried the false ones, and found them liars.

2. We expect the power of God, more or less, to be manifested in a prophet that Christ sends; he must be endued with power from on high: but Mr. Brothers gives us no account of any power put forth in him, nor are his writings either weighty or powerful; nor does any power through his instrumentality work in the hearts of any of God's

children; nor is he made manifest in the conscience of them who believe and know the truth. We do not want to know the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power.

3. We do not expect a New Testament prophet to assume to himself any secular titles; there are to be no rabbies in Christ's church; "Be not ye called Rabbi:" there are to be no masters but one, which is Christ; no lords over God's heritage: he that will be great is to be servant of all: no prince and prophet over the church but Jesus Christ, the prince of peace.

4. It is no sign of a true prophet to arrogate all knowledge to himself, as if all wisdom was to die with him; for all the Lord's children shall be taught of God: "They shall all know me, saith the Lord, from the least to the greatest of them:" to them it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; and when God's judgments are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants of the world, the Christian world, will learn righteousness as well as Mr. Brothers: his arrogating all the knowledge of the times to himself is no mark of a true prophet, but of a false one: it is not for him to know the time when the kingdom shall be restored to Israel. The apostles put this question to Christ, whose answer is, "It is not for you to know the times, or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power," Acts i. 6, 7.

5. A prophet of God is to speak as the oracles of God do; he is to say no other things than Moses