domeftic Happiness to fecure their cternal Interefts; they that are after the Fleh will perfecute those that are after the Spirit.

EVANGELIST'S Converfation with, and Counsel to the Man, point out what ought to be the Conduct of Minifters of the Gofpel, towards Perfons under Concern of Soul: and in proportion as love to CHRIST, and the Souls of Men, fills their Hearts, they will attend to this Duty, and endeavour to bring the Sinner to the Knowledge of a SAVIOUR. Let us, my dear Friend, attend to the several Parts of the Work of an EVANGELIST, as marked in the Allegory.

First, to fingle out Perfons under Diftrefs of Soul, and with an affectionate Courtesy to encourage them to open their diftreffed Hearts, and by pertinent Interrogatories, affift them in laying open their Condition.

Secondly, to urge upon them the neceffity of going forward, and guard them against stopping fhort of real Converfion; Conviction is not Converfion; and though all faving Conviction leads to real Converfion, all Conviction does not do fo. Felix trembled, but put off Conversion to a more convenient Seafon. Minifters fhould manage with Prudence the Compaffion of

their own Hearts, and not be hafty in opening the Confolations of the Gospel, till they fee that nothing but a Saviour will fatisfy the Sinner: Till then they must be warned, as by Authority from God, to flee from the Wrath to come.

Thirdly, when the Sinner anxiously asks where he must fly, and what he must do to be faved, he is to be directed to CHRIST, as the only Saviour, because there is no other Name given amongst Men, whereby we can be Javed. And, no Man can come to the Father, that is, in Reconcilement and Peace, but by him: But because the coming Sinner's Ideas of the SAVIOUR, and the Nature of his Salvation, are often very confused and imperfect, he is to be taught to look to, and ftudy the Scripture Account of these Things.

This SAVIOUR, who calls himself the Door, and the ftrait Gate; our Author reprefents by a little WICKET placed at the Head of the Way that leads to Mount Zion, through which the Man must pass to get into that Way, and where he must receive Inftructions concerning it, to fhew that by CHRIST alone we are introduced into a State of Grace, and must receive

from

from him, all the Laws and Ordinances of that State. To obtain Faith in this SAVIOUR, the Word must be regarded as a Lamp to the Feet, and a Light to the Path, and taken heed to, and credited as a fure Word, which will caufe the Day to dawn, and the Dayftar to arife in the Heart.

The Man now begins to run: his Flight, and what followed upon it, fhall be the Subject of my next Letter.

The Things we have been confidering, my dear SYNTYCHE, defcribe the Ground you have paffed over in your Experience: fo far at leaft as relates to Conviction of Sin by the Law or Commandment, as preparing the Soul for the Reception of JESUS CHRIST. You will blefs him because he hath opened your Eyes: born of, and brought up in a godly Family, your Calling and Conversion did not make you a Wonder, and a Gazingstock to them: How great your Cause of Thankfulness for this circumftantial Difference, as it has faved you from Trials which would have. been bitter to your Soul. May JESUS guide you to the End. So prays

ANDRONICUS.

LET

W

LETTER II.

HEN the Light of Truth fhining

in the Confcience, induces a Perfon to make an open Profeffion of the Ways of CHRIST, his carnal Friends and Relatives become seriously alarmed for the Confequences. In BUNYAN'S Days, these Confequences were great; a good Name, Reputation, Efteem, and the Friendship of the Neighbourhood, were fure to be loft: perhaps Trade, and worldly Circumstances greatly fuffered; for there has been thofe who would not employ, or buy, and fell, with any that had not the Mark of the Beast, or the Number of his Name. Fines and Imprisonments were also often the Confequences of fuch a Profeffion. No Wonder CHRISTIAN'S Wife and Children cried after him to return. Carnal Relatives are in earnest to diffuade, because fuch Confequences must affect their worldly Comforts; and feeing no Want of CHRIST, they can have no Motive to lofe any Thing for him. What Strength of Resolution is neceffary, B

to

to determine a Man to withstand the Solicitations of the Wife of his Bofom, and the Children of his Bowels? the Entreaties and Remonftrances of affectionate Parents, and Brethren and Sifters? and to ftand as the Butt of their unceafing Refentment, and continual Upbraidings? yet this is the Law of the King of Zion: If any Man come to me, and hate not his Father and Mother, and Wife, and Children, and Breihren and Sifters, yea, and his own Life alfo, he cannot be my Difciple. A Perfon thus circumftanced, muft, like CHRISTIAN, flop his Ears against the Pleadings of Flesh and Blood, and remember ETERNAL LIFE is at Stake. See, my SYNTYCHE, how much it has coft fome, to be good Soldiers of JESUS CHRIST, and what Hardships they have endured.

In the Characters of OBSTINATE and PLIABLE, we fee, that though natural Men may differ much in Temper and Difpofition, they all agree in Ignorance and Diflike of the Truth. By OBSTINATE, is manifeft, that while the Love of the World rules in the Heart, no Examples or Arguments, will prevail with a Man to feek a better Inheritance. Difpute with them in their own Way, and they will weary you