T 0 SHE W Τ Η Ε Μ Book of Life, before the Foundation of the SIMILES typical of JESU's Blood; Never before Published. By JOHN CAVE, Glover, in BRECON. Wherein are Instructions for the Ignorant; Milk for Babes; stronger Meat for young Men and Fathers; B. R E CON, [Price Two SHILLINGS and Sux-PENCE.) 2 } RECOMMENDATION. OXFOCOLLEGE, Okt. 25th, 1779. The Rev. Mr. BODDILY, having first examined the Epistle to Gillingham, subscribed ; and lent a Recommendation of it to Bath. Afterwards it gained the following Approbation of other Ministers. WE whole Names are under written, have perused the Ep: Ale to Gillingham, do believe it to be the true Spirit of the Gospel, and the Genuine Experience of a true Believer; and as such recommend it, hoping and wishing it may be of general Advantage to the Interest of Religion, and the Souls of Mer in particular. BRISTOL, CALEB EVANS, Senior. Oct. 30th, 1779. EDM. CHISHULL, BATH, Nov. sth. 1 JOSEPH BARLOW. ST. HILLIER, FROME, Nov. 12th, JAMES RICHÁRDSON, BECKINGTON, } THOMAS HEWET. Dec. 3d. Have not perused all the Book, but what I have heard and seen, believe it to be orthodox and found, NORTH BRADEX} GEO. BATCHELOR. gth TROWBRIDGE, Dec. 16th. } . JOHN CLERK } T. HONYWILL. SALISBURY, Ja: 31st. JOHN ADAMS. Brecon, Mar. 5th. W, WILLIAMS. CARMARTHEN, Apr. 13th. P. WILLIAMS, Clerk. { {. NB. The Number of Subscribers to this EPISTLE con. fifteth of about Two Thousand: but it being so well attested by the above Divines; it is needless to insert their Names for a Recoinmendation, To the R E A D E R. its Way into the IVorld; my Readers might be anxious to know the eficient Cause of its being written: therefore I would wish to inform them, that I was born in Gillingham, in DorsetThire, brought up a Churchman, and by Occupation a IVhite Taruer and Glover : after which I commenced an Officer of Excise, and was oraered to Talgarth, in Breconshire; and having Trevecka under Survey, had frequent Opportunities of attending the Ministry.of Mr. Howell Harries, who lived there; under whose efficatious Doctrine I was convinced of Sin ; after which the Lord was graciously pleased to reveal himself unto me. Some Years after, I was favoured with an amiable IVife; and having now left the Excise, we judg’d it proper to go to Gillingham to settle': and being a Native of that Town, was received with much Affection, and lived exceeding happy for some Time : but seeing the People quite ignorant of the true Knowledge of God, was grieved for want of Christian Fellowship; I therefore endeavoured to exhort my Neighbours to seek the Lord, as they really flood in Need of fome one to teach them ; for on a Sabbath Day, as I was coming from Church, I heard some of them boasting to each other, saying " What a famous Scholar our Minister is, his Learning is so great, that we do not understand the Half that he says !” I asked them what Advantage his Learning was to them, if they did not understand him, and also how many knew their Sins forgiven in his Congregation? They all declared that in this Life there was no fuch Knowledge to be obtained. I then infifted upon the Neceffity of Men's knowing it; or at least to have a well grounded Hope, through , Grace: and that the constitutional Doctrine of the Church of England agreed thereunto. This new Opinion, as they called it, foon spread about, which caufed the Rev. Mr. Wesley's Society from Shaftsbury to come to see me. The Town by this Time began to be alarmed, at feeing so large a Company of Methodists, as they called them. Therefore when Preaching began, it being out of Doors, the Riot Act was read, and from that Time Persecution commenced against me through the whole Town; and the Minister every Sunday railed again the Methodists. And as my House was opened for all enlightened Ministers, therefore Satan's Revenge was the more against me, 'till at length the People withdrew all their Cuftom. After this I removed and came back to Wales; But have often wondered why the Lord suffered me to go to Gillingham to experience fo much Trouble; but as our Lord mul? needs go thro' Samaria, to talk to the Woman at Jacob's Well, who brought the whole City to hear and believe on him: so there was needs be for me to go to Gillingham, for a Foundation to write this Epistle; and I trust that more than the whole City of Samaria will see the Lord Jesus in it, and worship him no more on the Mountains of Ignorance, but worship God in Spirit and in Truth. |