[17] I beg leave to remark, the appearance of spirits in this lower world has been the subject of much controversy. Some believe it, others do not. Some ask the question, how can a spirit be seen? I ask another question, how were angels seen by the people of God in old times?—Read Job, iv. 12 to 18, and doubt the subject if you can. I refer you to Dr. Watts on Separate Spirits, and the great Ambrose on the Ministration of Angels.[33] I should not have related this simple tale, but for a reason which you will find in the Second Part of my History, of the dealings of God with my soul in spiritual experience.[51] An account of the present state of this school will be given in a subsequent number.[86] Of an external nature, but the blind pharisees who wrote them forget their own hearts; I beg such to read Matthew xv. from 1st to 20th verse.[90] Not sacrament money, as hundreds know I have nothing to do with that; though my accuser has, as I am informed.[91] With a motley group of —.[106] See Poem on Spiritual Birth, by Mr. Huntington.[110] In the printed book this page is numbered 112, but is on the back of page 109, so the page number has been corrected in this transcription.—DP.[114] Numbers, xxii, 29.[117] Of Moses—Acts, xxi 20, to the end.[124] And, of course, illegally.[127] History of Little Faith.[128] This reminds as of “Non mi ricordo!”[164] I am well pleased to see an exposure of some of the errors in the “Whole Duty of Man,” inserted in the “Gospel Magazine,” vol. 8, new series; a book, the writer remarks, that has gone through more impressions than any other work, the Bible and Common Prayer excepted—The “Whole Duty of Man,” “New Week’s Preparation,” “Companion to the Altar,” &c. are books forming no part of my small library: for of such books and their admirers, it may be truly said—“They are blind leaders of the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” For, as Mr. Huntington solemnly remarks—“If he is cursed of God, that causeth the blind to wander out of the way, to what a curse must that man be entitled, that gives him his hand to lead him into the ditch.” The author of that miserable performance says, of parents’ duty to children “a duty that belongs to their souls, is their bringing them to the sacrament of baptism, whereby to procure them early right to all those precious advantages which that sacrament conveys to them.” This is a duty the parents ought not to delay, it being most reasonable that they who have been instruments to convey the stain and pollution of sin to the poor infant, should be very earnest and industrious to have it washed off as soon as may be. Yea, Mr. John Wesley says—“that he lost all the grace that was given to him in his baptism, by then he was ten years old.” And who can doubt it? On the Lord’s Supper, the above author says—“When thou art about to receive the consecrated bread and wine, remember that God now offers to seal to thee that new covenant made with mankind, in his Son; but then remember that this is all upon condition that thou performest thy part of the new covenant.” On alms-giving it is stated, “that the motive is to be the hope of that eternal reward promised to this performance—to gain a title to endless felicities, and to be sure to make this our sole aim.” On the mercy of the gift of Christ to man, we have a curious account. Speaking of the Son of God, “who came to make known to us the whole will of the Father, in the performance of which we shall be sure to be accepted and rewarded by him.” Reader, what mercy to be better taught![169] One quotation more from the old “Whole Duty of Man.” That blind author tells us, “Christ came to enable, or give us strength to do what God requires of us; this he doth by taking off from the hardness of the law given to Adam (which was never to commit the least sin, on pain of damnation) and requiring of us only an honest and hearty endeavour to do what we are able, and where we fail, to accept of sincere repentance.”

How directly contrary to the gospel method of salvation, as laid down in the Holy Scriptures, and clearly stated in the Prayer Book of the Church of England, is the above statement of the grand errand of Christ? “From all blindness of heart, from all false doctrine, and contempt of thy Word—Good Lord deliver us.”[200] The printer lost count of the letter numbering here and this and the following are all out but as in the book.—DP.[229] Mr. Toplady.[239] He that listens, the listener.[270] In the book this page is clearly numbered 297, and has page 269 on the reverse. It has therefore been renumbered to 270 in this transcription.—DP.