letter e to assist them. Thus hath infinite wisdom bounded the ability of that unruly member, which so many call their own. I found that I had awfully transgressed the military laws, and betrayed my trust; therefore I confessed my just deserts, and rather chose to aggravate my crimes than to lessen them. I had three punishments proposed, and the freedom of choice allowed me; whether I would be laid under stoppages, be picquetted, or whipped at the royal standard. I chose the latter; and told them I would sooner receive five hundred at the royal standard than be under stoppages one week; for I knew there was safety at the standard, and the banner over me would be love, let me suffer what I might. And when I was led up I found, by the humbling sensations of my mind, that I had made the best choice; for I received but three dozen, and they were very light: but it was all owing to the singular clemency of my Sovereign, or else I might have lost my life. Thus, my Lord, I have related the circumstance exactly as it was; how I was deceived by a false uniform, beguiled of my watchword, led to betray my trust, and leave my station, even at the peril of my life; while the deceiver, devil like, beguiled me with the borrowed phrase, relieve. The prisoner at the bar is the man, my Lord, the very man; I could swear to his voice as well as his person. Then said Mr. Valiant, Here are above an hundred more witnesses in the court.' The Judge replied, We have heard enough of his blasphemy, and have no further need of witnesses.' THE JUDGE'S SPEECH. Judge. Gentlemen of the Jury, you have heard the indictment of the prisoner at the bar, and the testimony these spiritual men have borne against him. I do not pretend to a greater knowledge of the just laws of the celestial realm than yourselves; but "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;" therefore I chose to shew my judgment on the matter; and so I leave the decisive verdict to that unerring Spirit that is with you. You find he has operated on the souls of some thousands, as a favourer of, and contender for, the basest of mortals; such as Cain, Judas, Ahab, Esau, Ishmael, &c. &c. has armed them with indignation against those who submit to the secret decrees of the Most High, and contend for election, particular redemption, free justification by faith in an imputed righteousness; for peace and pardon by faith in Christ's atonement; for final perseverance in the promised strength of the Lord; and a safe arrival in glory through everlasting love in Christ. I say, he has called such obedient subjects children of the devil, and the laws they adhere to, listening to Satan; and that such have a narrow contracted spirit, and are opposed, contradicted, reprobated, and cast out: But those who are taught to fight against God's elect are the only people possessed with the Holy Ghost; whereas the Holy Ghost does not contend for apostates, nor reprobate the obedient, but makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God, not contrary to it: he leads into all truth, but teaches none to deny it. You hear also that thousands have been ensnared by this prisoner, and many finally deceived. But will God pity and contend for traitors, when he comes to judge the world in righteousness? Surely not; he will laugh at the calamity of the wicked, and mock when their fear cometh, Prov. i. 26. And though Christ, as a man, wept over Jerusalem, having natural affections as we have, to bear our griefs, yet, after the flesh, we know him so no more, 2 Cor. v. 16; for, as God, he is clad with zeal as with a cloak; the day of vengeance is in his heart, Isaiah lix. 17, and he will dash the children of the bond-woman in pieces like a potter's vessel. Nor will the Holy Ghost favour them; for such as contend for self-righteousness, sinless perfection, freewill, and human power, he will surely abhor: he shall not always strive with such, seeing they are children of the flesh, Gen. vi. 3; nor will this spirit of universal charity be found in any of the elect angels; they say, It is time to reap the world; they will put in their sickle, and gather out the tares with cheerfulness, and bind them in bundles to burn, as you read; not one ever put up his sword, till commanded of God, when sent to execute vengeance on the wicked, 2 Sam. xxiv. 16. Nor will this spirit of Universal Charity be found in any of the redeemed of the Lord, even when filled with all the fulness of God, and fashioned like the glorious body of Christ. They will, in that great day, say to every free-will monger, "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength;" and to every foolish virgin, Go and buy oil for yourselves; and will laugh at all who began to build at their own expense, because they had not where with to finish, Luke xiv. 30. Yea, when the decisive sentence is passed, and the irrevocable doom of millions for ever fixed, they will acquiesce in it, and sing Hallelujah to it, Rev. xix. 1, 2, 3, 4; " and when the wicked perish there is shouting," Prov. xi. 10. Therefore, gentlemen of the jury, weigh well the matter; consider how many are and have been deceived; how those established in predestination have been staggered for a time after their first settlement; how those in liberty have been falsely imprisoned for a time, and the queen-royal herself staggered in the faith of her husband's constancy. I dismiss you, therefore, with this weighty and solemn charge, given by him that never errs: when the wicked and the righteous come together to judgment, you shall condemn the wicked to bring his wickedness upon his own head, but shall justify the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness, 1 Kings viii. 32. Do you choose to bring in your personal verdicts, or that one should be speaker or foreman for all? They answered, One shall speak for all. They answered, David the penitent. Judge. Gentlemen, I dismiss you; and may he that sitteth among the congregation of the gods be with you; seeing you are, in these matters, in God's stead. I shall be on the judgment-seat tomorrow at twelve o'clock. So the jury withdrew, in order to draw up their verdict. THE JURY'S CONSULTATION. Paul the Aged. The prisoner is altogether carnal; and the carnal mind is enmity against God; it is not subject to his law, nor can be; and this he has shewed by fighting against his sovereignty; yea, he has wholly contradicted that doctrine which I received as a revelation from heaven; therefore, as he has taught and laboured to maintain another doctrine, in plain contradiction to mine, whether he be Universal Charity or an angel from heaven, I say, Let him be accursed, Gal. i. 8; yea, let him be anathema maranatha, 1 Cor. xvi. 22. John the Divine. I agree with Paul in judgment; for, whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God, 2 John |