tures, they are led to establish theirs also; and, if he be a deceiver, they have a right to condemn him as such: but, if he has the Spirit of God, they will approve of him, and contend for the testimony of his faith. Thus Wisdom submits to the tribunal of her offspring; as it is written, "Wisdom is justified of all her children," Luke vii. 35.

When a minister does this he appears with honour, and ought to be feared as a messenger of the Most High, Mal. ii. 7; or as the ambassador of God, Eph. vi. 20. And the inquiry ought to be, "What saith my Lord unto his servant?" or "What hath the Lord spoken?" or "Comest thou peaceably?" or "Is it peace?"

Thus a minister convinces us that his doctrine is not after man, neither of man's invention; for he proves to us that he learned it not of man, nor was he taught it at the schools, but that it came "by the revelation of Jesus Christ," Gal. i. 12.

A man's informing us from the pulpit that he was ordained by my Lord Bishop of-nobody knows what, ought to have no weight with us; for God tells us in his word that there shall be no lords over his heritage, 1 Pet. v. 3; but that "Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all," Mark x. 44. And, if he tells us that he has been ten, twenty, or thirty years in orders, we must pay no regard to that circum

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stance; for we read that the devil himself pears in holy orders; yea, he assumes the order of angels, who are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation," Heb. i. 14. As it is written, "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light," 2 Cor. xi. 14.

And it is plain, from scripture, that the devil sends many ministers in the garb of holy orders; yea, he sent some in mock orders even to mimic the apostles themselves; as it is written, “for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, trans'forming themselves into the apostles of Christ; and no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed, &c. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works," 2 Cor. xi. 13-15. The Jewish Sanhedrim sent many scribes and rulers in their days, who knew nothing of Christ; as it is written, "Have any of the rulers believed on him?" John vii. 48. The pope of Rome has sent his thousands, and the devil ordained and sent the pope; as it is written, " And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority," Rev. xiii. 2. Jezebel, the witch, sent many prophets in her days; as you read, "Now therefore send and gather to me all Israel up to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the

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four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table," 1 Kings xviii. 19. Yea, and the devil appeared in the mouths of four hundred prophets at one time, to oppose good old Micaiah, the prophet of God; as you read, "Now, therefore, behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets," 1 Kings xxii. 23. You have their number in the 6th verse.

If a man shall tell us he came from Oxford, or from Cambridge, it is not sufficient. Many have declared, at their ordination, that they were inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, who knew no more about that Holy Spirit than Nicodemus did, when he thought a spiritual birth consisted in re-entering his mother's womb. Hence the Saviour's challenge, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" John iii. 10. If the master was such a novice, what must the pupils be? There are many who have run from colleges and from academies, whom God never sent at all; and this they have loudly proclaimed, both by their lives and doctrine. Nay, a man may be sent out by a true church, as many are in our days, and yet never be sent of God; as it is written, "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration," Acts vi. 1. The apostles commanded them to look out among themselves

seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost (mark that!)-full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; and among the seven they chose Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch, Acts vi. 3, 5. The corrupt doctrines of Nicolas, and the corrupt lives of his followers, are left upon record in Rev. ii. 6 and 15:-" so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."

It appears plain to me, from scripture, that every peace officer must be a son of peace."Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you," John xiv. 27.-" And into whatsoever house ye enter first say, Peace be to this house," Luke x. 5. If he be an ambassador, he ought to shew his commission; and, as a messenger, he ought to tell us where he got his message.

It is manifest that the Holy Ghost has left it on record, who commissioned the prophets and apostles from the first to the last. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, the first public prophet, Jude 14, is said to walk with God, which shews his union with him by the Spirit! and it is declared, that "before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God," Heb. xi. 5. Peter tells us that the Spirit of Jesus in Noah preached to the souls of the antediluvians"the spirits that are now in [the] prison [of hell,] "which sometime were disobedient, when once

the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah," 1 Pet. iii. 19. until the patience of the Lord was tired out; and then God tells Noah My Spirit shall not always strive with man,' Gen. vi. 3. The scriptures tell us of God's call to Abraham, and of God himself declaring him a prophet to Abimelech, Gen. xx. 7. Moses tells us how God appeared to him at the bush; how he revealed himself and his name to him; the orders he gave him, and the success he had in executing those orders. Samuel tells us how the Lord made himself known to him at Shiloh by his word, 1 Sam. iii. 21; and made it known to all Israel that Samuel was established a prophet of the Lord, 1 Sam. iii. 20. You have also an account of Elisha's call from the plough tail, and of the Lord's giving him a double portion of his Spirit to rest upon him. Isaiah likewise informs you how he saw the Lord high and lifted up; and of the dreadful view he had of himself, when he cried, "I am a man of unclean lips," Isai. vi. 5; how the life-giving coal from off the altar was laid on his tongue, to inspire it, and to take away his iniquity, and to purge him from guilt; how the Lord instructed him with a strong hand; how he sent him to preach, and what his message was, Isa. vi. 9, 10. And the same prophet declares that all God's children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be their peace, Isa. liv. 13. Ezekiel, chap. i. & ii, tells you, also, how