empty sound of swelling words. Neither the graceless heart of a foolish virgin, nor the arrogance of them that talk of liberty while they are the servants of corruption, are hid from him-though he is fast "bound in affliction and iron." He is a strange creature both to himself and others. He speaks a language that few understand; and it is a language that he cannot explain. He is always in action, acting a part that astonishes himself. He sucks his sweets from bitterness, (Prov. xxvii. 7,) and cleaves to the rod that beats him. By affliction he lives, and in the shadow of death he finds the most life. He gets health in his sickness, and healing in his wounds; satisfaction in sorrow; life in death; faith in severity; hope in heaviness; and expectation in selfdespair. His burden is more than he can bear, yet he dreads the thought of losing it. He is completely miserable, yet he hates ease. And, though his life hang in doubt, he trembles at the thoughts of security. And that which he is most afraid of is that which he seeks most after. None work so hard

as he, and none so great an enemy to works. To secure himself is all his concern, and yet he hates himself more than he hates the devil.

Beloved, farewell; be of good comfort, follow peace, and the God of truth and peace shall be with thee. I add no more at this time, but my poor petitions, and subscribe myself,

Yours in Him,

W. HUNTINGTON.

LETTER VIII.

TO THE REV. J. JENKINS, AT THE NEW VICARAGE, NEAR THE DEANERY, LEWES, SUSsex.

To his Excellency the Welch Ambassador his friend sendeth greeting.

AMBASSADORS personate their sovereigns, and are as their mouth in foreign courts; and are, or should be, respected according to their wisdom and faithfulness, and according to the greatness, dignity, and formidability of their royal

masters. But, O, my beloved, what an honour is it to be an ambassador of the King of kings! called and commissioned, owned and honoured, by him; and to be in a pardoned and justified state; in union, in fellowship, and in peace with him and therefore ambassadors of peace, bearers of good tidings, publishers of salvation, and that say unto Zion, "Thy God reigneth !" Such are the chariots of the Lord of hosts, in which he rides, and by which he bears his name among the Gentiles; out of which he shines, and from whom he sends out his line into all the earth, and his words to the end of the world Infinite condescension is this. And when we consider what we were; how mean! how low! how poor! how despicable! But he hath chosen the poor, the weak, the foolish, and the base, that he may stain the pride of human glory, and bring into contempt the honourable of the earth. "Now he which establisheth us in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God: who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts," 2 Cor. i.

21, 22. Upon this delightful subject I shall yet proceed.

11. The Holy Spirit is to aid and assist the true worshippers of God in every branch of religious worship; and the saints must serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." God requires worship suitable to his nature "God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth; for God seeketh such to worship him." Worship in the spirit is opposed to all carnal worship with a dead form, in which the body only is engaged; and therefore called bodily exercise, which profiteth little. Worshipping God in truth is opposed to all false, deceitful, and hypocritical worship, when the heart and soul are altogether disengaged: "In order to this true worship we must be purged and purified, justified and sanctined, and influenced with the Holy Spirit of God. God requires a pure offering, and an offering in righteousness, or offerings offered up by persons in a justified state. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold

and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years," Mal. iii. 3, 4. The days of old, and the ancient times spoken of, are the days of Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Melchizedek, Isaac, and Jacob, &c.; of whom, and of whose worship, we have no fault; but they obtained "good report through faith." Now God promises that, under the gospel, the same acceptable worship shall be performed; and therefore he promises to influence and guide us in every branch of it"For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them," Isaiah lxi. 8. And the Lord directs us in all our works by his Holy Spirit, and more especially in prayer; "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.