I have wrote several folios, but there is more divinity in it than them all."

It soon became a favourite in Germany. The reverend and pious Mr. Koelman translated it into Low Dutch; and it was early to be found also in the French language. The piety and truly Christian benevolence of the Honourable Robert Boyle, it is said, effected its translation into some eastern languages and we trust that such a gem will be found in the breast of every one who 'can read and appreciate such a masterly and heart-searching production.

The value of this excellent Treatise is admirably set forth in the following Letter from a Christian Friend, giving an account of his thoughts on a perusal of the work, with which we shall close our account of Mr. Guthrie's life.

I HAVE sent you by the bearer this book, which by Providence came to my hand, and a blessed providence it was to me: for I hope the same mercy that brought it to my hand hath brought by it the Saviour to my heart.

Upon the perusal of it, I find such a blessed and happy connection betwixt the gifts and the graces of the Spirit, such a holy and humble condescension to my plain capacity, such a serious handling of serious truths, that the language of my heart upon perusal of it was somewhat like that of the woman of Canaan, "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did;" or rather, all that God hath done in me, and for me. He that hath waded.

much in the water of soul-trouble, may here behold a lively description of the spirit of bondage in all its terrors and troubles; and he who is got out of these, and is sunning his soul in the light of God's countenance, may here behold the light side of the cloud; I mean the spirit of adoption, in all its beautiful colours.

The first part of this book sets forth the soul in a storm, when the law comes thundering to the conscience; the last leads it into a calm of sweet peace and serenity, when the Spirit of God comes to a troubled soul, as the Son of God once came to the troubled sea, with a "Peace, be still." But if it should not be thus, the believer is here directed to be willing to want what God is not willing to give; and to know he is wise to give when he will, what he will, and how he will. I find now, that "peace is sown for the righteous." But all do not reap the crop till they come into Immanuel's land. There our joy, as well as our light, shall be clear, and our love perfect...,

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And if there be any more concerned in this piece than others, (though it deals forth its bread to all its young men and young converts,) the latter may here behold, as in a map or mirror, the several providences, and various workings, of the blessed Spirit, that have all concurred in bringing them home to God; and may take notice of all the inducements and remoras they meet with in the way. As Moses was to write a history of the children of Israel "passing through the wilderness," so doth this book, with a holy kind of elegance, describe the Spirit's leading the soul out of its bewildered estate

into the spiritual Canaan, never leaving it till it come to "the mountain of spices," out of Satan's reach, where his habitation shall be the "munition of rocks." Neither is there one path omitted, so far as I could ever read, or gather from my own or other experience; so that it may not unfitly be termed, "A spiritual day-book of all the passages between the Spirit of God and the soul, in its work of regeneration;" which is no less profitable than delightful for the believer to be reading over the records of God's love manifested in the gospel; what care and cost he took with him to recover him out of the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity: for trial brings truth to light, and those things which, through many clouds intercepting, may have lost their remembrance in the soul, are here clearly discovered that they have been; although for the present the believer cries out, "How is the gold become dim! how is the fine gold changed!" And the looking over past experiences brings a renewed savour, and a spiritual relish, of all those things upon the heart to them who have thus tasted that the Lord is good; at least supports the soul under the want of sensible feeling, whilst it calls to "remembrance the days of old, the years of his right hand." But I have done, and yet methinks I can never write enough of the excellence and utility of this piece. The Lord make it so profitable to others as it hath been to me. To his blessing I leave both you and it, and remain, Your true Christian Friend,

G. B

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THE READER.

CHRISTIAN READER,

WHILE the generality of men, especially in these days, by their eager pursuit after low and base interests, have proclaimed, as upon the house-tops, how much they have forgotten to make choice of that better part, which, if chosen, should never be taken from them; I have made an attempt, such as it is, in the following Treatise, to take thee off from this unprofitable, though painful pursuit, by proposing the chiefest of interests, even the "Christian's Great Interest," to be seriously pondered, and constantly pursued, by thee. Thou mayest think it strange to see any thing in print from my pen, as it is indeed a surprise to myself: but necessity hath made me for this once to offer so much violence to my own inclination, because that some, without my knowledge, have lately published some imperfect notes of a few of my sermons, most confusedly thrown together, prefixing withal this vain title, as displeasing to myself as the publishing of the thing, "A clear, attractive, warming Beam," &c. On this account I was prevailed with to publish this little piece, wherein I have purposely used

a most homely and plain style, lest otherwise (though when I have stretched myself to the utmost, I am below the judicious and more understanding) I should be above the reach of the rude and ignorant, whose advantage I have mainly, if not only, consulted. I have likewise studied brevity in every thing, so far as I conceived it to be consistent with plainness and perspicuity; knowing that the persons to whom I address myself, have neither much money to spend upon books, nor much time to spare upon reading. If thou be a rigid critic, I know thou mayest meet with several things to carp at; yet assure thyself that I had no design to offend thee, neither will thy single approbation satisfy me; it is thy edification I intend, together with the hope of inciting others more expert and experienced in this excellent subject, to handle at greater length, what I have more briefly hinted at, who am

Thy servant in the

Work of the Gospel,

WILLIAM GUTHRIE.