which was figured forth by the Offerings and Shadows under that Difpenfation. Now we find the Difpenfation of Angels to Noah, Abraham, and Lot, agreeing with the Prophets that came after; for unto Abraham was promised the Bleffing of all Nations: Likewife opening the true and fpiritual Meaning of Ifraels Travels, after their being delivered from Pharaoh's Power and Thraldom, and fhewing by the Spirit, that these Things in the Hiftory have a Meaning to Believers in the Mystery, such as their Going through the Red Sea, and being purfued by the Power of Egypt, and their Deliverance by an Almighty Arm, which overturned their Enemies; and their being proved by want of Bread and Water, as alfo their grofs Mistake in fetting up the Egyptian Idol, the Golden Calf, and dancing before it, with this Acclamation of Joy, Thefe be thy gods O Ifrael! &c. Now I fay, all thefe Things that happened to Ifrael in Egypt, through the Red Sea, and in the Wilderness, have a true Refemblance of Believers travelling from fpiritual Sodom and Egypt, fo called; which is no other than coming from a State of fallen Nature in the first Adam, in which all are dead, and Strangers to God, being in the Enmity, are Children of Wrath, unto a State of Grace and Life through Jefus Chrift, our fpiritual Moles, being reconciled to God through him who is the fecond Adam, the Lord from Heaven, who never fell. And thus as we are opened by the Spirit, in the

Ministry

19, 20.

Miniftry of the Letter, to hold forth the true Meaning of the Spirit, therein we may be instrumentual to bring many Souls out of the Enmity and Wrath, to be reconciled to God through Jefus Christ. And this Miniftry is called the Word of Reconciliation. Now then we are Ambassadors for Chrift, as 2 Cor. v. though God did befeech you by us: We pray you in Chrift's ftead, be ye reconciled to God. Now I fay, a Minifter ought firft to experience the Veil, that is in the Hiftory of the Letter, taken away by the Operation of Chrift's Spirit in his own Heart, and the Substance of the Figures under the Law, given to him in Experience, and this will give him Boldness to declare what God has done for his Soul, as faid the Apoftle; Knowing therefore, the Terrors of the Lord, we perfwade Men; viz. 11. we Labour to turn Men from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan (the spiritual Pharaoh) unto God, &c.. And as is before obferved, the Sense of these Terrors may be fo acute and sharp upon the Spirits of our young Preachers, that they may with more Charity be excused that Warmth of Zeal in warning, and fore-warning others to forfake thofe Evils for which they have so lately and feverely fmarted: I fay, they may be born with, and Charity fhou'd be uppermoft in our Minds towards fuch, where this is the Truth of the Cafe.

Now all these afore-named Openings of the Spirit, in any of the aforefaid Methods,

as

2 Cor. v.

as we are conducted therein by the Word of Life, are of great Ufe and Service in the Church, to beget Faith in Unbelievers, and to build up and confirm them that have had fome Tafte and Feeling of the Heavenly Gift; and this may fo affect fome, that have obtained Part of the fame Ministry, that they may be in danger of Borrowing one of another, and endeavouring to imitate the fame; but not having the fame Virtue and Power attending, the Nakedness of fuch will foon appear: But the Danger of Borrowing may lie as near, refpecting the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, with any other Books that may affect our Minds, as what we have heard delivered in the Openings of Life. For it is no more lawful for us to preach what we have read, because we have read it, than it is for us to preach what we have heard, because we have heard it. Nay, I may further add (what thou wilt find by Experience true in due Time) that it is not lawful for thee to repeat thy own Experience, and former Openings, meerly in thy own Strength of Memory and Will; for if thou doft treasure up and furnish thyself this Way, thou wilt be greatly disappointed, and thy Doctrine will be like the Manna kept out of Seafon; Worms bred in it, and it ftank. Now a fpiritual Minifter is, and ought every Day to be like Blank Paper, when he comes into the Affembly of the Lord's People, not depending on any former Openings or Experience, either of his own or others, that

2

he

he hath heard or read; but his only and fole Dependence must be on the Gift of the Spirit, to give, and bring to his Understanding Matter fuitable to the prefent State of the Affembly before him. Thus will thy Words be fitly spoken, and like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver, and thou wilt appear as the Oracle of God, miniftring out of that Ability which God gives, and under his Conduct thou wilt be fafe; thy Words being full of Spirit and Life, will edifie the Hearers, and thy own Heart will be full of Comfort and Peace, the Comfort of the holy Spirit; which will bring thee great Honour and Refpect from thy Brethren, which ought with great Care to be received; and the more thou haft hereof, the more Humble and Circumfpect ought'ft thou to be in rendring the Honour where due, viz. To thy Lord and Mafter, the Lord Jefus Chrift, the great Minifter, and Apostle of our Profeffion.

Having brought our young Minifters thus far, we will confider them fitted for other Services in Travelling, which fhall be the Subject of the next Chapter.

CHA P.

CHA P. V.

Advices to a cautious Conduct and Deportment in their Travels in the Work of the MINISTRY.

W E will now confider our young Mi

nifter, as having an Enlargement of both Understanding and Love, engaging his Mind to labour for the Good of others; and this can't be confined to thy own Meeting, Church, or County, where thou haft thy Refidence; but the constraining Power of Love, arising from the Operation of the Gift in thy own Mind, may bring thee under a weighty Concern to Vifit the Churches Abroad, in which Work there generally is a gradual Beginning; first, in Vifiting thy neighbouring Meetings; and in this Work, as thou keep'ft thy Place, thou wilt gain Experience, and thereby come to be more fit to undertake weightier Service.

First then, Be not over-forward to Vifit Friends Abroad, left thou should't bring thyfelf under a Sufpicion of running too faft; neither be too backward, left thou should'st hurt thy felf by hindering thy Growth in that Love which wou'd enlarge thy Mind for the edifying of the Church, and thy own Comfort:

In