PREFACE.

CHRISTIAN READER,

I BEGAN the following letter with an intent to send it as an answer to a very polite one sent by an unknown friend to me: it came without a name, but I was to direct it to him with the initials of his name to a certain number. When I had written about thirty folio pages of manuscript, I felt an inclination rising in my mind to publish it; and as the gentleman informs me that he sometimes hears me, I thought it was sure to fall into his hands: and as he seems to be an earnest inquirer after truth, I see no cause why he should be offended at the publication of it, as I think it is an answer of truth, and seeing it may be useful to other inquirers as well as to him, if God's blessing should attend it.

I wish thee, Reader, to lay by all prejudice, and to settle thy faith in no man's wisdom, but in the power of God; and to do by this letter as God does with Zion; he lays judgment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, and sweeps away all refuges of lies, and deluges all the hiding places of hypocrites. And if thou wilt come to the light, if thou desirest to be sound in the faith, then cri

ticise and scrutinize this little piece over and over again, and lay it to the word of God, and try it soundly by that standard, and see whether this be Antinomianism, or whether it be the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, and judge accordingly. And when thou hast satisfied thyself on that head, then compare it with the tracts of those evangelists who make the killing letter the rule of life and when thou hast compared these together, and tried both by the word of God, then let the name of Antinomian be saddled upon the right ass. Give not up the good old way, though, according to prophecy, the way of truth be evil spoken of; but set thine heart to the highway, and turn not to the right hand, nor to the left, but run the race set before thee, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of faith.

And when thou hearest men in a pulpit begin to cut at others as Antinomians, without describing what they are, and dropping the subject of the gospel, saying, but we must do justice to the law, for it is the believer's only rule of life;" then watch their countenance, and observe the scripture proofs that they bring; and if their countenance falls, their tongue gets fettered, and no proof produced but a jumble of confusion, let it convince thee that they have not stood in God's council, therefore he has confounded them before thee. Wisdom is justified of her children, and her children are to stir up themselves against the hypocrite.

The Scriptures tell thee that the man who hath not the doctrine of Christ hath not God; and that those who bring not Christ's doctrine are not to be received and by the doctrine and spirit of Christ the children of God and the children of the devil are made manifest. But in our days matters are altered; the pure gospel is called Antinomianism: valour for truth, zeal for God, fervour in devotion, and earnestness in preaching, are called the effects of a bad spirit. But, twisting like the serpent, warping like the willow, shaping a conversation and a sermon to please all and offend none, except it be the experimental Christian; these are the effects or fruits of an excellent spirit; this is the quintessence of candour; this is doing the work of an evangelist, and making full proof of the ministry. These people will not be thy judges, Reader, in the great day; Christ is thy judge, and it is not what is called candour, that will acquit thee at his bar; it is the word and Spirit of truth that must make thee free, if thou wilt be free indeed; "the word that I have spoken," says Christ, "the same shall judge him in the last day."

Be not offended, Reader, at the title of this little piece: The Rule and the Riddle; or, an everlasting task for Blind Watchmen and Old Women. It is taken from real facts; from a synod that was convened, consisting of some watchmen and some old women; where counsel was taken against one that never took counsel against them. I call

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it an everlasting task, because I think the doctrines cannot be overthrown. It is not directed to any body; if every body be innocent, it can be applicable to none; no person has a right to make application unless he be concerned. The Rule and the Riddle both, with respect to application, are to those to whom they may belong, and for the use, information, or satisfaction of any that choose to try their skill. Reader, fare thee well, and forget not that it is by the testimony of God's word, of his Spirit, and of thy own conscience, that thou must stand or fall at the bar of God; therefore, love the truth and peace; while I rest and remain, with the little knowledge that God has been pleased to give me, thy servant in the truth, and for the truth's sake,

W. H.