cious and more understanding) I should be above the reach of the rude and ignorant, whose advantage I have mainly, if not only, consulted: I have likewise studied brevity in every thing, so far as I conceived it to be consistent with plainness and perspicuity; knowing that the persons to whom I address myself herein have neither much money to spend upon books, nor much time to spare upon reading. If thou be a rigid critic, I know thou mayest meet with several things to carp at; yet assure thyself that I had no design to offend thee, neither will thy single approbation satisfy me; it is thy edification I intend, together with the incitement of some others more expert and experienced in this excellent subject, to handle the same at greater length, which I have more briefly hinted at, who Am thy servant in the Work of the gospel, AN EPISTLE COMMENDATORY From a Christian Friend, giving an account of his thoughts upon perusal of this book. CHRISTIAN FRIEND, I HAVE sent you by the bearer this book, which by providence came to my hand, and a blessed providence it was to me: for I hope the same mercy that brought it to my hand hath brought by it the Saviour to my heart. Upon perusal of it, I find such a blessed and happy connection betwixt the gifts and the graces of the spirit, such an holy and humble condescension to my plain capacity, such a serious handling of serious truths, that the language of my heart upon perusal of it was somewhat like that of the woman of Canaan, John iv. 29. "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did;" or rather, all that God hath done in me, and for me. He that hath waded much in the water of foul trouble, may here behold a lively description of the spirit of bondage in all its terrors and troubles: and he who is got out of these, and is sunning his soul in the light of God's countenance, may here behold the light side of the cloud; I mean the spirit of adoption, in all its beautiful colours. The first part of this book sets forth the soul in a storm, when the law comes thundering to the conscience; the last leads it into a calm of sweet peace and serenity, when the spirit of God comes to a troubled soul, as the Son of God once came to the troubled sea, with a "Peace, be still," Matth. xiv. 29. But if it should not be thus, the believer is here directed to be willing to want what God is not willing to give; and to know he is wise to give when he will, what he will, and how he will. I find now, that peace is sown for the righteous, Psal. lxvii. 11. But all do not reap the crop till they come into Immanuel's land, Isaiah viii. 8. There our joy as well as our light, shall be clear, and our love perfect. And if there be any more concerned in this piece than others, (though it deals forth its bread to all its young men and young converts,) the latter may here behold, as in a map or mirror, the several providences, and various workings of the blessed spirit, that have all concurred in bringing them home to God; and may take notice of all the inducements and remoras they met with in the way. As Moses was to write a history of the children of Israel passing through the wilderness, Numb. xxxiii. 2. so doth this book, with a holy kind of elegancy, describe the spirit's leading the soul out of its bewildered estate into the spiritual Canaan, never leaving it till it come to the mountain of spices, Song viii. 14. out of Satan's gun-shot, where his habitation shall be the munition of rocks, Isaiah xxxvi. 17. Neither is there one path omitted, so far as I could ever read, or gather from my own or other experience; so that it may not unfitly be termed, "a spiritual daybook of all the passages between the spirit of God and the soul, in its regeneration work;" which is no less profitable than delightful for the believer to be reading over the records of God's love manifested in the gospel: what care and cost he took with him to recover him out of the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity; for trial brings truth to light, and those things which, through many clouds intercepting, may have lost their remembrance in the soul, are here clearly discovered that they have been; although for the present, the believer cries out, how is the gold become dim! how is the fine gold changed; and the looking over past experiences brings a renewed savour, and a spiritual relish, of all those things upon the heart to them who have thus tasted that the Lord is good; at least supports the soul under the want of sensible feeling, whilst it calls to remembrance the days of old, the years of his right hand. But I have done, and yet methinks I can never write enough of the excellency and utility of this piece. The Lord make it is so profitable to others as it hath been to me. To his blessing I leave both you and it, and remain, Your true Christian friend, G. B. THE CHRISTIAN'S GREAT INTEREST. INTRODUCTION. SINCE there be so many people living under the ordinances, pretending, without ground, to a special interest in Christ, and to his favour and salvation, as is clear, Matt. vii. 22, 23. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. xxv. 11, 12. "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; but he answered and said, verily I say unto you, I know ye not," Luke viii. 24. "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." And since many, who have good ground of claim to Christ, are not established in the confidence of his favour, but |