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fear God; and, like Joseph, say how can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God. Gen. xxxix, 9. Now this will expel this sin out of the body and soul.

At some

certain times, I believe, when nothing else perhaps will not. Therefore, let us look to the Bleeding Lamb, and pray for repentance, mercy, and grace, so that we may be delivered from this great and sore evil before it be too late. Amen.

THE CRUELTY OF THE WICKED.

On behold what Satan, disobedience, and sin bath done, and how cruel it hath made the offspring of Adam. Now it appears that after the fall, that Eve conceived and bore Cain, and said I have gotten a man from the Lord. But perhaps she was not rightly aware what sin had done, and the sting which it had left in their offspring, and likely she thought that he would become their help, support, and joy, and comfort. But, alas! he become their grief, shame, and sorrow, and I say, as I have said in another place, we know not what enemy bangs at the breast of a mother; for we see that after Cain that Eve bare Abel his brother, and in process of time it came to pass that they brought their offerings unto the Lord, and the Lord had respect unto Abel, and his offering: but unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect, because his ways was not right in the sight of the Lord. And it appears that this filled his heart with hatred, envy, and malice against his righteous brother. But still, we see what fair conditions the Lord set before Cain concerning his acceptance. But it appears that all would not suffice nor assuage his wroth, and it is said, that Cain talked with Abel, his brother, and I am ready to think that he talked with him very unreasonable, unfair, and awkward. But again, methinks that on the other haud that Abel talked with him reasonable, fair, and right, and with

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good sense. But it appears that all would not suffice, for wwe see that with cruel hands and a sinful and malicious heart and spirit, how that he rose up and slow his righteous brother. A Cain, with cruel hands, thou didst destroy thy mother's love and father's joy, and the voice of Abel's blood cried unto the Lord from the ground, for he found no mercy from the hand of his brother upon the earth. Therefore, it appears that he cried unto the Lord that he might look upon it, and through Christ he himself found the mercies of heaven. But if the Lord had no more mercy on us than we sometimes have for one another, I say then if it were so, then we should be almost destitute of mercy. But bless the Lord it is not so, but his blood speaks better things than that of Abel's. Now, according to our laws, which appear to be just and right, I say by this law, man's blood seems to claim justice. But blest be the Lamb of God, for his blood claims mercy. And again, after the flood we see how pride, lust, wickedness, and cruelty began to spring up in the evil heart of man, for we read of the sodomites, and there we see that how lustful, wicked, and cruel they were; for methinks that they would have destroyed Lot with the two Angels of Heaven, had it lain in their power. But by the power of the Lord these blessed ones smote them with blindness, so that they could not hurt their precious souls. And, perhaps, these sodomites never saw no more at all, for it appears that in a little time they died by the fire of his vengeance, in misery, groans, and fears. Now, Lot had said to his sons-in-law which married his daughters, up get ye ont of this place for the Lord will destroy this city; but he seemed as one that 'mocked unto his sons-in-law. Oh, now what a lively figure is this of the punishment of the wicked in hell fire; how 'many there seemeth to be, it is to be lamented, who, when they are forwarned of the lake of fire and brimstone, make a mock of it and will not believe it, till, like the sous-in law of Lot, they come to feel the scorching heat as they did the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah. Therefore, my readers, these things are left upon record, for you and for me, for an example that we follow not their steps; and still here is in this subject something very remarkable, but 1 must omit. But one thing be ye aware of, and that is, see that ye fight not against the holy messengers of God. Gen, c. 19. And again, we also read of the cruelty of Pharaoli

King of Egypt, who knew not God; and how he commanded the midwives to kill the dear infants of Israel as soon as they was delivered from their mother's womb, even in the time of their sharp travail, pain and sorrow. But still the Lord had mercy upon them, and at his good he took away the king's life. Exod. ii, 23. And again, we see how cruel the Philistines was to put out the eyes of Samson, or bored out his eyes, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the p ison house. Judges, xvi, 21. Ah, Samson, was not thine heart enticed by a woman, and did not not she deceive thee, and cause thy strength to fail, and brought thee into bondage and shortened thy days. But again, we also read that some of the Kings of Israel was very cruel and wicked in their days, even Saul the first King of Israel, for we see and read how that he slew the Priests of the Lord. At that time when he pursued after David to take away his life, for we read and see how that David in the time of his distress came to Nob to the Priest, whose name was Ahimelech and requested some relief, aud by David's subtile and fair speech Animelech in the integ my of his heart, it appears, supplied his necessary wants, And Saul, David's enemy, bearing of it was wroth with Ahimelech, and would not hear his cause. But commanded and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a lineu ephod. He slew those which he had no command to slay, and he spared some of them which the Lord bad commanded him to slay. See 1 Sam. xv. 9. But it appears that Doeg was the informer or instigator to this wicked act, and it appears that David speaks of it in the 52 Psalin. But notwithstanding there may be something of the just judgment of God in this. See i Sam, ii 29 to 31; ii. 11. But nevertheless it appears that Saul was very cruel and wicked in doing of it, for it is said that be smole Nob the city of the priest with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and the dumb animals thereof, saute be with the edge of the sword. Sam. xxii. 18, 19. But it came to pass, after this, that his own sword departed not from him, tor in the day of battle he was sore wounded by the archers, and he commanded lus armourbearer to slay him, but he would not; therefore Saul took a sword and fell upon it, and so he ended his

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days. He was cruel to others, and at last he became cruel to himself. 1 Sam. xxxi. 4. And again, we see that A bab, King of Israel, was very cruel and wicked in his reign, and so was Jezebel his wife, for they was so worldly minded and so covetous and so cruel that they brought in a false accusation of blasphemy against Naboth, and took away his life to the intent of taking possession of his field. 1 Kings, xxi.

13. But observe, my brethren, it was in the days of old as it is now, that is to say, sometimes we see in this life that the innocent are condemned and loose their lives, and the guilty go free. But this denotes that there is a judgment day to be, and the Lord by the mouth of Elijah denounceth judgment against Abab and Jezebel his wife, and this was their end in this life. Ahab was wounded in the battle and he died, and the dogs licked up his blood, 1 Kings, xxii, 88. And Jezebel, Ahab's wife was thrown down out of a window and the dogs eat up her flesh. 2 Kings, ix, 33, 34, 35. According to the word of the Lord which he spake by Elijah the Prophet. 1 Kings, xxi, 23, 24. See my little Book called "The Power of God against the Wicked." And we see and read that many of the Kings of Israel and Judah were very wicked and cruel in their days, such as Manasseh, and many more, and see how this grieved the spirit of the holy one. But many a time was the Lord mer ciful unto them and to save them out of the hands of their enemies, and would not stir up all his wrath. O how many times he sent unto them his messengers of love because he had compassion upon his people, and on his dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy. 2 Chron. xxxvi, 16. And the City of Jerusalem was besieged until there was uo bread, and the city was broken up and the King of Babylon took the city and burned it with fire, and he was so cruel that he took the King Zedekiah and his sons, and they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon. 2 Kings, xxv, 7. See Jer. xxxix, 6. But again, we see how that the King of Babylon had the mastery of the children of Israel, and carried them away captive, but not becanse he was righteous,

but because they was wicked, therefore the Lord delivered them into his hands. And we read also in the Book of Daniel of his idolatry, pride, and cruelty. For it is said, that he made an image of gold, whose heighth was threescore cubits and the breadth thereof six cubits, and he commanded that all his people, nations & lauganges, should fall down and worship his image which he had made, and, being so full of pride and cruelty, commanded that those that worshiped it uot, should the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Dan. iii, 6. Aud

at that time the Children of Israel was in bondage as it were, and lay under his mercy as he thought, but at the same time there was, as it appears, a few righteous souls among them, of whom was Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and these men, it is said, regarded not the king's decree, they served not his Gods, nor worshipped his golden image, which he had set up? Dan iii, 12. Then the king to shew his pride and power was so cruel that he com manded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, aud Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace, Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace, v. 23. But the Lord was with them there, and delivered their righteous souls, so that they received no hurt, v. 27. And it appears to me that Nebuchadnezzar the King would have made something like a hell for the righteous, but hell itself was never made for the righteous, neither shall they endure it although the earth may be set on fire. 2 Peter, iii, 10, 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. it is true, I suppose, that some have been burnt at the stake, and that for the cause of holy religion. But surely this was suffered of God, and that to be for some wise pur.

But