ship of this mystery, and what the riches of the glory of this inheritance in the saints;" but they would likewise see what are the deceptions and damnable delusions of Timothy's glass also,

If Timothy's pupil goes by the light of fancy, he will act just as his tutor does; for he himself has no other light than what is reflected either from the devil, or his own imagination, neither of which can be called the true light which now shineth for the darkness, according to this glass, is by no means past; but rather the shadows of the evening are stretched out. This glass reflects a wonderful composition. By the Author's setting aside the lawful use of the law, an ingredient of Antinomianism appears. By his directing the sinner's mind to lay hold of an invisible God, an ingredient of Deism is exhibited. By his allowing the Christian no more than a sight of spiritual objects, one would think Swedenborgianism was intended. And as the Christian of this glass has neither feeling nor application described, one would think that Sandemanianism was aimed at. And by the safety of those who are of little knowledge, one would think Popery, or Ignorance, the mother of devotion, was to be established. as great knowledge lays the soul low, one would be led to conclude that the kingdom of God in word, not in power, is to be exalted and established by this wonderful mirror. If the Author of this Looking-glass be not an unenlightened, unconverted, unregenerated, uninstructed, uninspi

But

This

red, and unrenewed professor; and if he be not an uncommissioned, uncalled, unsent, unqualified minister; let him, for his own honour, and for the glory of God, publish a reason of his hope, and an account of his call to the office he holds: for I must confess that I stand in doubt of him. is commanded by the King of kings, and is what the laws of Zion allow; "Give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you;" "The Spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets;" We are to "try the spirits, whether they are of God." And to try them which say they are apostles; and to prove them liars, if they are not. These things being a divine grant, I call upon thee, Timothy, for a reason of thy hope, and for thy commission from God as a guide to the timorous. I am warranted, by the word of the Lord, to call for this; and as a citizen of Zion, I use my liberty, assert my rights, and call for thy confession.

Having spent 64 pages in poring upon the understanding, and seen nothing; and having toiled all the night, and taken nothing: we are going now to let our light shine, and to let down our net for a draught. You shall now see us hammering and mauling our second general head.

Quot. Having taken notice of the change made in the understanding by regeneration, I would, secondly, shew how those who are born of the Spirit are said to be made partakers of the divine nature. This is not by a participation of the

divine essence, which is incommunicable to any

creature.

Answ. In this last quotation, Reader, you may see the devil, and Timothy too. Take notice here, the Christian is allowed to be a partaker of the divine nature, but not of the divine essence. Here is a difference made between divine nature and divine essence: the former we may have; the latter is incommunicable. The scriptures declare,. that we are made partakers of Christ, and partakers of the Holy Ghost. Timothy seems, to me, to deny the Saviour and the Holy Ghost to be essentially God, because the saints are not partakers of the divine essence. One would think that the essence and quintessence of deity must be holiness; and Paul says, God chastens us for our profit, "that we might be partakers of his holiness." By this clause Timothy unintentionally gives us to understand that nothing divine has ever yet been communicated to him, which is what I firmly believe both in my heart and conscience, I should be glad for Tim, to shew what he means by divine essence, and the difference between what he calls divine nature and divine essence. Peter's meaning is, that the Holy Ghost is promised in the word of God; and, when we embrace the promise in faith, the Spirit comes as a comforter into the heart; "We receive the promise of the Spirit. through faith." This doctrine seems to be calculated to deceive and entangle those who received not the truth in the love of it; who are given up

to believe a lie, that they might be damned. Those who are thus given up of God, I expect not to undeceive: it is for the sake of elect sinners, who may be deceived by this glass, that I take this work in hand. In the two last quotations, Reader, are three scraps of the damnable delusions of Doctor Priestley. This Timothy is a snake in the grass; he is rotten at bottom, and empty throughout: but, by the help of God, I will uncase him, and expose his secret treasures of darkness,

Quot. Nor is it by a personal union with the divine nature.

Answ. I don't read the word personal in the Bible. We may well content ourselves with speaking as the oracles of God. The head and the members, the vine and the branch, the foundation and the building, the king and his subjects, the lamb and his wife, are in union; which is an union of persons, if not a personal union, And these two are one; two are one flesh. "We are of his flesh, and of his bone.

This is a great

Christ and the

mystery, but I speak concerning church." "He that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are both of one." "He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit." This is Bible language. And again, "He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." "I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one." These . things declare a blessed oneness, and a glorious union. We have fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ; and we have communion

with the Holy Ghost. And how we can have communion with the Holy Ghost, without any union, is a mystery that I cannot find out, and a mystery that Timothy's glass can never explain. If the Holy Ghost dwells in the believer, one would think there must be a union with him, and a close union too. Paul says, we are partakers of and declares, that the Holy Ghost is Jehovah: "Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

the Holy Ghost;

Quot. But those who were by nature children of wrath, and might be said to be of their father the devil, on account of their natures, by this change are renewed in the spirit of their

minds.

Answ. That which has been all along called a light in the understanding, is now called a renewing in the spirit of the mind. The aforesaid light, and the aforesaid understanding, which now appear to be a renewing in the mind, is introduced and held forth instead of spiritual, vital, and heartfelt, union with the Lord. Let the devil alone for this: he knows what he is at, though Timothy

does not.

Quot. And by the Holy Spirit they have put upon them the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness; therefore may be said to be partakers of a divine

nature.

Answ. This quotation requires some degree of