divine revelation: if so, what kind of spirit must those professors be of who deem the special and minute interference of Providence worthy only of their public scorn and contempt? Such men are rebuked even by the brute creation; for "the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib," but the carnal professor knoweth not the God of his mercies; and, although he loves the crib, yet he doth not consider, who it is that keeps his crib full.

Some bought my book on purpose to laugh at it, and then lent it to others for them to do the same, to whom God blessed it; and who, instead of laughing at it, wept over it, and had their faith encouraged by it. Those gentlemen acted the part of the pharisees in the Saviour's days, who would not accept of his grace themselves, yet were made instrumental in bringing the poor adulterous woman to him. And, when such persons called on those to whom they lent my book, and told them how they approved of it, they, like the pharisees, sneaked away as soon as conscience had done her office. . Wisdom's children will justify their venerable mother, and disdain to slight the breasts that have afforded them perpetual nourishment, or to accuse a poor preacher for endeavouring to encourage the faith of his poor brethren, by displaying the parental care, tender regard, and narrow inspection, of God in his universal providence. I know the word of God bears me out in it, and much farther than I have

not be under the necessity of walking home in the cold winter nights. A daughter of mine in the faith gave me a looking-glass for my chapel study. Another friend gave me my pulpit cushion, and a book-case for my study. Another gave me a book-case for the vestry. And my good friend Mr. E. seemed to level all his displeasure at the devil; for he was in hopes I should be enabled, through the gracious arm of the Lord, to cut Rahab in pieces; therefore he furnished me with a sword of the Spirit, a new Bible, with Morocco binding and silver clasps. Perhaps too he had his eyes fixed on the rams' horns and silver trumpets that sounded the destruction of Jericho, which some say typified two sorts of ministers, the illiterate and the learned; the illiterate was represented by the rams' horns, and the learned by the silver trumpets; so, according to this our blessed Lord, who spake as never man spake, and all his apostles, are jumbled in among the rams' horns. But I think, as a ram's horn has a very rough unpleasing sound, it rather typified the legal ministry under the law, where so many rams were offered; and the silver trumpets, having a more pleasing sound, held forth the evangelical ministry under the dispensation of the Spirit; which exceeds the old economy in glory as much as the sound of a silver trumpet does that of a ram's horn. The Revelation of St. John holds forth every sound from the death of Christ to the general judgment to be by seven trumpets, not horns. I think we

may speak thus without offering any violence to the scriptures, and without nursing the pride or pedantry of a scholar.

A certain gentleman some time ago preached from Pharaoh's vision of the seven fat and seven lean kine. The lean kine he made out to be poor, mean, illiterate people; and, as he had a great many rich dressy hearers, he made out the fat kine and well-favoured to hold forth the rich, honourable, and learned of the earth; though God says it is the rich that grind the face of the poor, and eat up his people as they would eat bread; but I never read in all the Bible that the

poor eat up the rich; for I think every poor man in England will hold with me in this particular, that the rich are agreed to keep that person poor who is poor. But I shall return to my subject, and leave these men-pleasers to themselves; as they serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies; and with fair speeches and feigned words make merchandise of souls.

But I shall shew that I have yet to speak on the behalf of Providence, which was so conspicuous in furnishing me with money necessary for building the chapel. I never went to one person to borrow money for the building who denied me. God so opened their hearts, that I was amazed at his providence and their kindness towards me. As for my friend Mr. Lloyd, by his cheap way of going to work, I believe he saved me two or three hundred pounds at least; which I should not have

desired him to have done had I been a man of property; for I think it is the duty of every man, who is able, to encourage trade, it being the strength of a nation: and it appears to me that those who make it their business to shake that pillar are sure to pull down the house about their own ears. "Seek the peace of the city, for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”

Some time after these things, God seemed wholly to withdraw his conspicuous providential acts; and I began to lay aside my watchfulness and daily dependance on his bounties, as my stated income began to be tolerable. However, it is the safest and sweetest way to live from hand to mouth, as say those who speak in proverbs; for it is impossible that men should be so grateful to God when they have a stock in hand, as when they receive a daily supply from a never failing stock in God's hand. After some little time I was forced to look to him again for temporals as well as spirituals; for as my income increased, my family increased also; so that I was shortly brought into as great straits as ever: money began to run short, and clothes were wanting. But God, who fainteth not, neither is weary, was pleased to appear in a way of providence again; and after this manner shewed he himself.

I had been doing a little work in my flower garden; and finding that it wanted a few additional roots, I went to a garden at a little distance from my house to look over a few things. While I was

walking about by myself among the flowers, a welldressed motherly-looking woman stepped up to me, and, supposing me to be the gardener, for my appearance was more like the slave than the prelate, she thus addressed me in a free and jocose manner; 'Now, Mr. Gardener, if you please, I want a root to put in my pot; and it must be a root that will last.' I looked up very seriously at the lady, and replied, 'Well, I believe I can tell you where you may get such a root.' At this answer she smilingly asked, 'Where?' I answered, ' In the book of Job; for he says, "The root of the matter is found in me." And, if you can get that root into your pot, the root and the pot both will last for ever.' She then asked, And pray have you got that root in you?' I answered her, I verily believe I have.' Upon which she replied, 'It is well with you, and it is very true what you have said.' I then told her that I was not the gardener, but that she would find him at the bottom of the garden, attending some ladies and gentlemen. She dropped a curtsy, and departed with a smile. I thought, by her pertinent reply, that she was not altogether ignorant of that wisdom which dwells with prudence, and finds out knowledge of witty inventions, Prov. viii. 12. And I secretly wished that the words which I had spoken might dwell on her mind until the root of gospel love struck. an everlasting fibre in her heart.

I believe the lady above mentioned inquired of the gardener who I was; for soon after both