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LIVING TESTIMONIES;

OR

SPIRITUAL LETTERS

ON

DIVINE SUBJECTS.

IN TWO PARTS.

PART II.

YE ARE OUR EPISTLE, WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS, KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN.

2 COR. III. 2.

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LIVING TESTIMONIES,

&c. &c.

LETTER I.

To the Rev. Mr. HUNTINGTON,

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

As I called upon you when I was sinking in the horrible pit, I thought it but meet and right, now the Lord hath proclaimed my enlargement, to inform you of it; and as I am persuaded you love to hear of the works of the Lord, and of the power and glory of his kingdom, I am encouraged to write the following account,

I was born of dissenting parents, who brought me up, as it is commonly called, in a religious way, therefore I kept close to my meeting from my youth up. When I came to the age of eighteen, I began to be very desirous of understanding the doctrines I had formerly heard preached when I

was in the country: and being now an apprentice in London, I had an opportunity of hearing various preachers, and generally went to hear those that were called sound Calvinists, believing such to be the ministers of Christ; but I was often confused in my judgment by some who were not clear, for I could see no harmony in their doctrines.

About three years ago, by the good providence of God, I was brought under you, where I soon got clear views of the doctrines of the gospel: but I found your preaching to be very contrary to flesh and blood; however, as it was agreeable to divine revelation, I know it was right.

About this time it pleased God to impress my mind with a full persuasion that I must be born again, and that if I died in my present state I could not be saved; this caused me to seek much to God in prayer, that he would bring about this good work. I was convinced of the vanity of my natural religion, and made sensible of my blindness and ignorance, and that all my knowledge of the doctrines of the gospel, without the power, was vain. I wished to be a weary and heavy laden sinner; for then, I thought, there might be great hopes of my salvation: but vainly thought that I had not been wicked enough ever to be loaded with guilt and bondage as some are.

I understood by your preaching, that I must pass under the rod before I could be brought into the bond of the covenant; from hence I expected

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