matters of Fact that its hard to discover the Truth without irritation and yet if I conceal the Truth I shall suffer strangers to be imposed upon to their hurt let the Reader therefore consider that we who have better occasion to understand the knowledge of younger and older of our own Communion than the Author we know him to be in a mistake and the mistake so gross that I can upon knowledge affirm that few Children amongst us of competent age want the Shorter Catechism by heart especially where Ministers are to examine them some yea many of them can give the Answers to many Questions of the Larger Catechism 2ly Nor one in five hundred retains it Ans Hath the Author examined five hundred of our Communion for he saith he hath found it by experience but it may be justly questioned if ever the Author was so officious or these of our Communion so obsequious as to give him occasion for examining one hundred of them 2. Albeit I am not obliged to gratifie the humour of such as slander us yet for undeceiving of strangers I do ingage to find within the Parish of Derry some hundreds of persons come to age able to give account of all our Shorter Catechism from the beginning to the end Page 83. Lastly after all it is imperfect of some of the principles of the Apostles Catechism being quit left out of it I mean laying on of hands Heb 6 2. Ans By what authority the Author calleth that Scripture the Apostles Catechism I understand not there are principles and foundations named there but that therefore it was the Apostles Catechism cannot be instructed and that a form of sound words should have no more or other words than these cannot be made appear and that which you call the Apostles Creed differeth far from these words 2. The Rite of laying on of hands was no foundation but the Doctrine signified by it therefore it s said in the Text The Doctrine of Baptism and of laying on of hands and tho the Rite be not named yet the doctrine is contained in our Catechism and the Rite it self mentioned in its due place of the Ordination of Ministers 3. Whatever this Foundation be yet it s not to be found in some other Catechisms which you prefer to ours since your own wants it condemn not others Page 83. But the most sad and deplorable defect of your performance of this Duty is your casting out the reading of the Word of God from most of your publick Assemblies directly contrary to Gods Institution and Ordinance for the Instruction of his Church insomuch that setting aside a verse or two for a text or quotation at the discretion of the Teacher the voyce of God is never publickly heard amongst Them this is a matter of Fact and undeniable and in all the Meetings of the North of Jreland in a whole Year perhaps there is not so much Scripture read as in one day in our Church by the strictest enquiry I could make Ans If this Libel were made out I admire he should ever call any of us his Brethren and Christians but hold to his old Opinion that Presbiterians belong not to the Catholick Church The remembrance of this maketh the Author's aspersions the more easie but I would willingly know from the Author 's mature thoughts what answer himself thinketh should be given to such Words would he have us to belie our selves and take with it or will he take it patiently if we say it 's false for he may as warrantably say that we have no Assemblies as that we have cast the Word of God out of them 2. In this also we appeal to thousands who for many years have been ear witnesses to the contrary 3. It s ordinary for Ministers of our Communion to Lecture on the Lords day before they preach and many of them to my certain knowledge read either a whole Chapter or a Psalm some others if a Chapter be long or have textual difficulties will divide a Chapter as they think fit for publick Edification We commonly every Lords-day sing the Words of God three or four times and ordinarly twice the number of verses that the Author nameth at each time Besides our text we quote and explain many Scriptures in our Sermons and for this we are condemned by some of another Perswasion who I can instruct have said you may know men have little matter to Preach when they quote many Scriptures and on that very account have disrelished our preaching Tho many Scriptures especially when they are explained are the very sinews of Preaching and one of the Proper means for convincing the Consciences of hearers as the Apostles Sermons do testifie which we find every where fortified with Scriptures tho they had the immediat assistance of God's Spirit I say not much at this time of other mens Sermons how often they are destitute of Scripture evidence and the loss that hearers thereby sustain But now let the candid Reader judge having laid before him the many ways we read and improve Scriptures in our publick Assemblies and that by the mercy of God we have now many Meeting-Houses in the North of Ireland and compare this with what the Author hath said That in all the Meetings of the North of Ireland in a whole year perhaps there is not so much Scripture read as in one day in our Church I am peswaded that every thinking and ingenuous person of the Author 's own perswasion will be surprised at these words Nay I can warrantably say that often in one of our meeting Houses on the Lords day there is as much Scripture first read by it self in a Lecture then singing with the words of David in Psalms then many quotations with explanation that altogether will I say frequently amount to as much as the four Chapters mentioned by the Author And how his four Chapters will hold up with above fourty meeting Houses more let any man of common sense judge But the Author alledgeth our practice is contrary to Gods Institution because as he saith we make use but of a verse or two for a Text. Ans If we did cast the word of God out of our Assemblies as he saith then our practice were contrary to the Institution no doubt But seing the Author mentioneth Institution and thereupon immediatly chargeth us with reading too little in publick and thereby guilty of neglecting the Institution this giveth me occasion again to require the Author's shewing of that Institution how much to read at once or on one day I shall never dispute more against him or any man on that Head if this Institution can be made appear where shall we find it Shall this Institution for how much reading be gathered from that which Moses requireth Deut. 31 10. Which the Author quoteth but this was requird to be done at their Feasts of Tabernacles one of the Jews extraordinary Solemnities 2ly If the whole Law was then read is this the
persons in the place both Citizens and Strangers who were acquainted with calling on God long before they came into this distress these prayed without ceasing and the hearer of Prayer did graciously so far condescend unto some of them that during the whole Siege and in greatest extremities were comforted by the hope of deliverance in Gods due time and some of them being Ministers of what perswasion I shall not so much as name that all may joyn together in due praises not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake for when humane strength was gone then did the God of mercy appear and his own Arm brought Salvation sending food to the fainting remnant thorow the Fire of their Enemies on every side they gnashing their Teeth and melting away and thus by Divine Power and Mercy the place of Deaths was made a beginning of Reviving and Life to the whole Nation Who at this day out of their graves have it to say they came out of their graves as the remnant of Derry when this people were as if their bones had been scattered at the graves mouth who could have answered that question but God can these dry bones live who but he alone could put flesh sinews and skin upon them and breath Life into the dead making them to stand up as an Army so terrible that their besiegers were frighted from their Walls hastning far away when nothing pursued them but the Terrour of God Shall he remember us in our low estate and we forget him shall he to whom it 's a humbling of himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and earth look down and send from above drawing us out of these depths and we not so much as look up to the hand doing it Hath God appointed Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks when there was no strength to defend our walls of Stone and Clay shall it be said of this City thou hast forgotten the God of thy Salvation and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength Hath God frustrated and rejected the confident expectations of our enemies hath he given them wine of astonishment to drink and taken the cup of trembling out of our hand hath he amuzed and confounded them with his works of wonder for Derry insomuch that some of the besiegers being surprized that the gates were not opened unto them and afterward finding that the flower of their Army fell before these walls said God doth fight for Derry but blasphemously added God was not just in so doing this I can instruct by some of deserved reputation to whom it was spoken and yet alive Oh! that men would Praise the Lord for his Goodness and for his Wonderfull Works and not be as these who Sung his Praise but soon forgot his Works For Preventing of this Forgeting Chrysost on Math Homil. 25. Saith that great Mercies and Deliverances should not only be Carefully committed to the Memory but actual Praises Rendered to God for them every day and the same Author on Tit. Hom. 1. If Saith he we receive a Benefit from a Friend or if we but know he hath spoken a Seasonable Word for us with what Warmth of Love do we Remember him How much greater love should we have to God who hath delivered us from the greatest dangers It is great Mercy to be helped of God to understand the Depth of our Mercies for some are Preserved who were not ready to Die if by the Furnace we have been in our Dross be not Purged away and we become not a Refined People meet for the Master's Use we have reason yet to fear a Furnace more hot where God in his Justice may Melt and leave us Let us therefore fear him and his Goodness let us Live to him who made us Live in the Jaws of Death let us take Pleasure to speak of his Mighty Acts and testifie our Gratitude by an Holy Just and Exemplary Conversation provocking one another unto Love and good Works walking by the same Rule minding the same Thing as men of one heart and one way Our Gracious God hath not only Delivered but put severals of you in Places of greatest Trust and Honour in this City and as by the Grace of God ye have happily begun so go on in the strength of the Lord God by your Authority and Example to promove the Power of Godliness and the publick Good of the City Ministring Justice to all of all Perswasions Impartially which I know to be your Principle and to maintain by all Laudable Means Peace Love and Concord in the Place that so all the Inhabitants may find you a Blessing from God and that the whole City now raised from it's Ruines and Desolations may Flourish in all Godliness Righteousness and Felicity is the Prayer of Much Honoured Your Servant in the Gospel ROB. CRAGHEAD London derry April 18 1694. The BOOK now under Consideration Is Intituled A DISCOURSE Concerning the Inventions of Men in the VVorship of GOD But after Perusal appeareth A Discourse for the Inventions of Men in the Worship of GOD. THE whole Scope being a Tenacious Defence of such Inventions and Commandments of Men in the Worship of God as he hath no where prescribed in his Word nor are warrantable by the general Rules of Scripture and such Acts of Worship maintained as are forbidden by the Word of God and these only accused as guilty whose conscientious abstaining from such Inventions hath occasioned their sufferings for many years By this Araignment the Author hath cast himself into some Labyrinths out of which the Egress may not be so easie as the Ingress nor so pleasing to his Friends as if he had imployed his Pen some other way since by his Discourse Dissenters are necessarily engaged to discover the firm Foundation of their Principles and practice in the Worship of God and the infirmness of all the Author's Arguments said against them Whereby some by a more explicite knowledge may be fully fixed and determined to the Communion whereof they are now Members INTRODUCTION THE Author beginneth his work with a Scripture so awful and apposite that it would have been a singular help to his memory if the same had been written on top of every Page before his Book had been filled up the words are Mark 7. 7. In vain do they worship me Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men this obligeth every man who hath a concern for his Soul to examine the Worship he offers to God whether it be such as God hath instituted c. Ans All this is good and necessary wanting nothing but due observation for all of us should testifie the veneration we owe to so important warning from the Mouth of Christ. Let us come then to a fair Tryal who are most guilty of teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men and what he offereth according to reason shall be admitted whether it breath a Spirit of
prayer to the Admiration of others and yet all this but natural acquisition and no special gift of the Spirit of Christ 3. Besides these improvements of nature our Saviour Christ having received gifts for men and bestowing them on whom he will for the good of his Church thereby many have been endued with common gifts of the Spirit of Christ whereby others are edified but not themselves they being still destitute of the special Sanctifying Grace of the Spirit and such as Christ will say unto at the last depart I know you not tho' their partaking of these common gifts was the occasion of their concluding themselves in a State of favour with God mistaking those common gifts for such as are special and Sanctifying such persons never being converted to God and truely Sanctified may notwithstanding of all their common gifts be lewd and Scandalous in their practice 5. Whatever judgment we may pass upon our selves yet we are not so much concern'd to judge by what gifts other men do pray or if they have the grace of prayer together with the gift is not our part to search tho' it be certain that where the conversation is ordinarly ungodly and vicious whatever gift a man hath yet he wanteth the Grace of prayer 6 When such immoral persons are endued with a common gift of the Spirit enabling them to speak pertinently in prayer sure it is not that gift which maketh them Immoral and Scandalous nor is the Gift of Christ to be despised on that account for common gifts sanctifie no man tho such as God hath honoured with them are the more guilty for profaning of his mercies and their ingratitude to God 7. Only Believers in Christ Jesus who are sanctified by the Spirit of Grace partake of the grace of Prayer and as the Giver of this Grace pleaseth to imploy any of them in his service for the good of others so he bestoweth the gift also in what measure he pleaseth As for persons who are dejected for want of a Gift of Prayer they have need of sound and skilful advice for the meer want of such Elocution as others have should not discourage them tho all should covet the best Gifts But 2. If persons have no Inclination nor help by the Spirit of God to pray unto him there is just cause for fear but not despair I say just cause for fear and grief of heart because all the Children of God have the Spirit of Prayer in some measure yet no cause for despairing because Christ hath promised the Holy Ghost to them who ask him 3. To direct such persons only to the words of a Form will never prove a cure to their Souls For if any man have not the Spirit of Christ they are none of his therefore such persons should be exhorted to cry unto God for the Spirit of grace and supplications Page 63. The Author once more urgeth the use of forms in Prayer A great part of the world cannot do it without a form Children and ignorant persons are at a loss for words Ans As for young and very ignorant people we allow them the use of forms until God enable them more but withal exhort them to further progress lest if they should still rest upon forms they should be satisfied with a form of Godliness only But Page 64. He saith As for Children and ignorant people of our perswasion he is well assured many of them never bow their knees to God Ans This is not the first of the Author's mistakes that we have seen for we have occasion to know what they do in the service of God better than he and I am well assured of the contrary of that he asserts he affirmeth not knowing what they do and I affirm upon knowledge that commonly our Children so soon as capable are helped with some easie and short forms and that many of them dayly bow their knees to their Maker and are chastised if it be neglected The Author cometh often over this our Teaching the unlawfulness of forms which is imposing upon his Reader for none of us Teach any such Doctrine Page 65. There remains yet the third Opinion of Dissenters which they advance against us in this matter of Prayer to be examined that the Minister is the mouth of the Congregation and that the people have nothing to do but to join with him in their hearts an opinion far from any authority of Scripture which expresly requires us Rom 15. 6. with one mind and one mouth to glorifie God Ans It 's not long since we saw this under the Author's hand Page 36. That generally there is no more necessarie but that the people joyn in their hearts except it be on some occasions and when these occasions appear we will consider his Opinion 2 In all Gospel publick Worship recorded in the New Testament we find no more either required or practised but the peoples joining in their hearts 3 What is said Rom ✚ 15 6 is performed in our way of Worship using one mouth and not many But the Conclusion must stand whether the Premisses will or not that the Authors way of Worship is agreeable to the Commandments of God let the Reader judge by the Answers if every one of his Probations hath not failed him I do ingeniously declare That I have not so much as found difficulty in any of his Arguments wherewith he chargeth us as guilty of the Inventions of men in the Worship of God but I question if ever amongst Protestants a Book was published wherein moe of the inventions of men hath appeared or a wider Door opened for all manner of humane Inventions than by the Discourse now under consideration CHAP. 3. Of Hearing SECT 1. PAge 68. one great design of our Christian Assemblies is hearing and that which is to be heard is the word of God First then God hath positively commanded us to read his word in our publick Assemblies so Deut. 31. 10. In the feast of Tabernacles when all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place where the Lord shall choose thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing so Josh 8. 35. Neither was this confined to their solemn Assemblies at Jerusalem it was likewise a constant part of their sabbath service in their synagogues as we may learn from Acts 13. 14. Ans 1. That the word of God should be read in our publick Assemblies we are agreed for Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word 2. To read the whole Law of God at once in our Assemblies is not practicable 3. Some conjecture what was read in the synagogues but tho' it were sure can be no rule to us Page 69. This reading of the Law was the great and most effectual means God provided for preserving the knowledge of himself amongst his People and the best reformation began and was carried on by restoring this ordinance thus it 's observed of Josiah 2. Chr. 34. 29. The
Private reading of Scriptures hath been signally blessed of God as to the Bereans who daily searched the Scriptures that they might understand what they heard in publick and know whether it were the truth of God or not this their private diligence was so blessed of God that there is a remark put upon it by the Holy Ghost Acts 17. 11. therefore many of them believed Page 88. It is therefore a great temptation to the people to be negligent and a great want of care in a Church to leave so material a thing as the reading of the word of God to private diligence Ans It 's great want of care in a Church when people are not exhorted to read Scriptures in private and to tell them as the Author doth Page 180 of his Book that some parcels of the Book of Common Prayer is as full and proper a service as any Master of a Family can desire to offer to God and no exhortation to read any portion of the Scriptures as immediatly Dictated by him But 2ly This is no pretence of ours against publick reading the Author misseth his mark He addeth That many of the common people of our perswasion are ignorant of the very History of the Bible Ans The Lord in mercy grant the people both of your perswasion and ours more true knowledge but some times there is a beam in a mans own eye when he challengeth a mote in anothers For the 2d pretence Page 89. That copies of the Bible are now common and easie to be had and most Families have some in them that can read Ans We have great reason to give thanks to God that it is so and the greater fault it is to neglect reading of Scriptures in Families seing God hath dealt so bountifully with us Page 90. And to rely upon peoples procuring and reading copies of the Bible privatly is to leave Gods way and presumptuously depend on that which has no promise annexed to it Ans If privat reading of the Scriptures have no promise annexed to it then what profit is it for any man to read the Scripture if no blessing be promised his labour is lost if I had not read this expression in the Author's Book it would been hard believing any report that such dangerous unwarrantable words could have dropt from his Pen. 2ly God hath commanded privat reading of the Scriptures as expresly as he hath commanded publick reading whereby it becometh the Ordinance of God no less than publick reading let the Reader observe what God speaketh Deut. 6. from verse 6. and downward The Laws of God were to be written on the very posts of their houses that they might read them frequently 3ly Seing then this privat reading of the Word of God is his Ordinance no less than publick reading by what warrand can the Author say there is no promise annexed to it But besides this 4ly I will prove from the Word of God that promises are annexed to the People of God's privat Diligence in reading the Scriptures Let the Reader observe Deut 6. verse 3 where we have these words Hear therefore O Israel and observe to do it that it may be well with thee and that ye may increase mightily as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee in the Land that floweth with milk and honey Here is a comprehensive promise containing many blessings That it may be well with thee and next the qualifications of the persons to whom this Promise belongeth followeth verse 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart Verse 6. and these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and verse 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house And verse 9 Thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house and one thy gates By which Scripture its evident that such as diligently make use of the Word of God in their Houses have the promise of God that it shall be well with them Let the Author find out a more express promise made to publick reading than is here to privat reading then it s no presumption to depend on this promise annexed to privat reading Ibid There are still many families even amongst Protestants that can neither compass a Bible or get any to read it Ans Blessed be God that even poor people among us will pinch themselves rather than want a Bible and such as are so very poor that they cannot procure one it were charity in the Author who is able to provide some Bibles for such indigent persons As for these who cannot read where God giveth a heart for it they take help of their Neighbours who can read 2. The Author injuriously supposeth them to be deprived of all publick reading of the Word of God which I have proved already to be an unjust imputation ibid and there are at this day too many of all parties that neither read themselves nor hear one Chapter read in a whole year except at Church Ans And no great wonder if they never be exhorted to privat reading in their Families and withal told that there is no promise annexed to privat reading which is not only comfortless and discouraging Doctrine if they have no promise of God to be bettered by their reading but pernitious to the souls of men Page 92. The Author saith That the word of God cannot be presumed to have the same efficacy when read privatly as it hath when read in the Assemblies of Christians since he has given us a peculiar promise to be present in such Assemblies Ans The promise of this peculiar presence is Matth. 18. 20. Where two or three are met together in my name c. The presence promised in this Scripture belongeth not only to publick Assemblies but even to two or three meeting in Christs Name for his Worship then a privat Family if they were but two if they meet together for his Worship agreeing together to ask of God according to the Command of God these few Christians thus met together have the promise of Christs presence no less secured unto them than if the Assembly were greater Christs own words prove this to be undenyable Page 92. The third pretence alledged is that reading takes up too much time and is a hinderance to the more profitable Duty of what you commonly call preaching Ans It s tedious to be always put to declare that not one of these pretences are ours The Author may debate against himself if he will yet Page 93. The Author giveth a new Concession which is in my opinion too ample and more than we desire or resolve to practise when he saith Suppose that upon some extraordinary occasion it may be lawful to omit reading of Gods Word in our Assemblies that we may have the more time to manage a Discourse for the instruction of the people Ans If there be time to manage a Discourse I do
no where prescribed to us such a rule Therefore mens reading much cannot be the reason why they are nearest the rule if there be any such rule make it appear and if there be no rule prescribing how much with what colour can it be said you come nearest the rule for it 's yet under debate but that less reading and expounding what is read to edification will be found nearer the rule than much reading where no help is given for peoples understanding the Scriptures 6ly These come not nearest the rule who read too much and more than God hath given direction to read as any part of his Service or Worship but you know who read Apocrypha in God's publick Service which he hath given no rule for therefore such come not nearest the rule 7ly These cannot be said to come nearest the rule who read too little or may be never that which God hath prescribed to be read but you know who lay aside a considerable part of the Scriptures from their publick Service Worship and then those who do so are not nearest the rule If it be said that no Scriptures are left out but such as are less proper and profitable for ordinary Assemblies yet the word of God saith all Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable for Doctrine reproof c. Again if it be said that Ministers are allowed to read all the Scriptures in publick and yet if men be tasked every Lords day and Holy day they must hold by their Task Page 78 For the more Solemnity of these readings our Church joyns with each of them Praises Thanksgivings or Confessiones according to what we find practiced in the Holy Scriptures Ans If what they joyn to these readings be not Instituted of God then let the Author conscientiously mind his second position Page 3. That the Holy Scriptures contain the Revelations of God's Will concerning his Worship and beware of adding or joyning what is not prescribed by these Scriptures Page 79 It 's ordered in our Church that the Ministers shall explain some part of the Holy Scriptures every Lords day and exhort their Congregations in a Sermon Ans If there be no more Scripture explained but the Text before a Sermon your hearers are at a great loss tho' you should read twenty Chapters every Lords day and explain nothing but a Text. SECT 3. Page 82. The Author chargeth dissenters with the neglect of teaching the principles of Religion saying That tho' a man frequent your meetings all his life yet he has no security or hardly possibility of Learning from your publick teachings all the great mysteries of his Religion or the necessary principles of his Faith And hence it happens that hardly any one man in his life ever goes through the necessary articles of Faith or of practice in his publick Sermons and for the truth of this I appeal to your selves Ans The Reader who is a stranger to us may readily think how can this be false being asserted by a person of such Note and with such confidence appealing also to our selves for it's truth and seing he hath appealed to our selves I declare upon certain knowledge that what he hath asserted is a most unjust imputation for which he hath cause to ask forgiveness of God and I do appeal to many thousand now living who are ordinarly witnessess to the contrary and many of the Authors own perswasion know the contrair with what peace of conscience can any man thus impose upon strangers And impress future generations with that which is so far from truth it being publickly known that we ordinarly and orderly go through all the Heads of our Christian Faith in our publick Sermons Page 82. You have no Summary of principles injoyned either to be read or taught in your publick Assemblies tâ— aâ— Catechism you have but neither your directory nor practice make it any part of your Lords-days-Service and besides your Catechism is such that it no wayes answers the design of a Form of sound words I have already shewed that such a Form should contain only the first and necessary principles of the Oracles of God in such words and methods as may make it easily apprehended and retained by the weak and unlearned which make up the bulk of the people but your Catechism is full of hard words School Terms and abstruse notions no wise necessary to be known by the generality of Christians c. Ans Our Catechism is above the Authors censure and men of as great Authority and abilities as he of his own perswasion have still spoken of that Book with regard and recommended it to others as sound and profitable he doth but lessen himself by his Reflections against that Composure let the Reader judge what mean arguments he hath against it only he sheweth what Spirit he is of 2ly Whereas it 's not injoyned as any part of our Lords-days-Service Ans Tho' our Catechism be a sound and full Summary of Christian principles yet we know it to be but a humane Composure and therefore make it no part of our worship if by Service he understandeth worship as he frequently useth these words Service and worship Promiscuously we must have Institution for what we offer to God in his Service yet these principles are frequently explained on the Lords day and that not only occasionally but in order according to the method of our Catechism 3ly But the Author hath shewed that such a Catechism should contain only c. Ans The Author hath said but not shewed to his Reader that it should be as he saith except all he saith must be taken for demonstration 4. But our Catechism is full of hard words Ans It s good the Author hath no worse to say otherways we should hear of it 2. But why doth he not give instances of these hard words Some who have read our Catechism say They find not such a hard word in it all as god father and god-mother nor such words as God the Son hath redeemed me and all mankind 3. It was necessary our Catechism should have words significant and expressive of the matter and if any of these words be less obvious to the capacity of young or ignorant people we are at pains to explain such words 5ly But our Catechism is too long Ans And what if the Catechism of some others be too short give instances of what is redundant or superfluous we would think our Catechism very defective if it wanted the Doctrine of the Creation and of Mans Fall from God the Attributes of God the Natures of Christ and his Offices the nature of Justifying Faith and Sanctification c. Page 83. Besides all this it is so long and intricat even the shorter that not one Child in ten ever gets it by heart nor one in five hundred retains it as I have found by experience Ans I would gladly be acted by the Spirit of meekness but the Author's words are so provocking even in