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HEREFORE PREACH NOT OF IT AT ALL； OR IF YOU DO； YET SO MINCE IT； AS TO MAKE WAY FOR YOUR OWN ESCAPE； LEST INSTEAD OF AWAKENING OTHERS； YOU LAY THAT GUILT UPON YOUR OWN SOUL； THAT YOU WILL NEVER GET FROM UNDER。
295。 But I thank the Lord； I have been kept from consenting to these so horrid suggestions； and have rather； as Sampson； bowed myself with all my might； to condemn sin and transgression； wherever I found it； yea； though therein also I did bring guilt upon my own conscience： LET ME DIE （thought I）； WITH THE PHILISTINES； Judges xvi。 29； 30； rather than deal corruptly with the blessed word of God。 THOU THAT TEACHEST ANOTHER； TEACHEST THOU NOT THYSELF？ It is far better that thou do judge thyself； even by preaching plainly unto others； than that thou； to save thyself； imprison the truth in righteousness。 Blessed be God for His help also in this。
296。 I have also； while found in this blessed work of Christ； been often tempted to pride and liftings up of heart： and though I dare not say； I have not been affected with this； yet truly the Lord of His precious mercy； hath so carried it towards me； that for the most part I have had but small joy to give way to such a thing： for it hath been my every day's portion to be let into the evil of my own heart； and still made to see such a multitude of corruptions and infirmities therein； that it hath caused hanging down of the head under all my gifts and attainments； I have felt this thorn in the flesh； 2 Cor。 xii。 8； 9； the very mercy of God to me。
297。 I have also had； together with this； some notable place or other of the word presented before me； which word hath contained in it some sharp and piercing sentence concerning the perishing of the soul； notwithstanding gifts and parts： as； for instance； that hath been of great use to me： THOUGH I SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN AND ANGELS； AND HAVE NOT CHARITY； I AM BECOME AS SOUNDING BRASS； AND A TINKLING CYMBAL。 1 Cor。 xiii。 1； 2。
298。 A tinkling cymbal is an instrument of music； with which a skilful player can make such melodious and heart…inflaming music； that all who hear him play； can scarcely hold from dancing； and yet behold the cymbal hath not life； neither comes the music from it； but because of the art of him that plays therewith； so then the instrument at last may come to nought and perish； though in times past such music hath been made upon it。
299。 Just thus I saw it was； and will be； with them who have gifts； but want saving grace； they are in the hand of Christ； as the cymbal in the hand of DAVID： and as DAVID could with the cymbal make that mirth in the service of God； as to elevate the hearts of the worshippers； so Christ can use these gifted men； as with them to affect the souls of His people in His church； yet when He hath done all； hang them by； as lifeless； though sounding cymbals。
300。 This consideration therefore； together with some others； were for the most part； as a maul on the head of pride； and desire of vain…glory。 What； thought I； shall I be proud because I am a sounding brass？ Is it so much to be a fiddle？ hath not the least creature that hath life； more of God in it than these？ Besides； I knew 'twas love should never die； but these must cease and vanish： so I concluded； a little grace； a little love； a little of the true fear of God； is better than all the gifts： yea； and I am fully convinced of it； that it is possible for souls that can scarce give a man an answer； but with great confusion as to method； I say； it is possible for them to have a thousand times more grace； and so to be more in the love and favour of the Lord； than some who by the virtue of the gift of knowledge； can deliver themselves like angels。
301。 Thus therefore I came to perceive that； though gifts in themselves were good； to the thing for which they are designed； to wit； the edification of others； yet empty； and without power to save the soul of him that hath them； if they be ALONE： neither are they； as so； any sign of a man's state to be happy； being only a dispensation of God to some； of whose improvement； or non… improvement； they must when a little love more is over； give an account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead。
302。 This showed me too； that gifts being alone； were dangerous； not in themselves； but because of those evils that attend them that have them； to wit； pride； desire of vain glory； self…conceit； etc。； all which were easily blown up at the applause and commendation of every unadvised Christian； to the endangering of a poor creature to fall into the condemnation of the devil。
303。 I saw therefore that he that hath gifts； had need be let into a sight of the nature of them； to wit； that they come short of making of him to be in a truly saved condition； lest he rest in them； and so fall short of the grace of God。
304。 He hath cause also to walk humbly with God and be little in his own eyes； and to remember withal； that his gifts are not his own； but the churches； and that by them he is made a servant to the church； and he must also give at last an account of his stewardship unto the Lord Jesus； and to give a good account will be a blessed thing。
305。 Let all men therefore prize a little with the fear of the Lord （gifts indeed are desirable）； but yet great grace and small gifts are better than great gifts and no grace。 It doth not say； the Lord gives gifts and glory； but the Lord gives grace and glory； and blessed is such an one； to whom the Lord gives grace； true grace； for that is a certain forerunner of glory。
306。 But when Satan perceived that his thus tempting and assaulting of me； would not answer his design； to wit； to overthrow the ministry； and make it ineffectual； as to the ends thereof： then he tried another way； which was； to stir up the minds of the ignorant and malicious to load me with slanders and reproaches： now therefore I may say； that what the devil could devise； and his instruments invent； was whirled up and down the country against me； thinking； as I said； that by that means they should make my ministry to be abandoned。
307。 It began therefore to be rumoured up and down among the people； that I was a witch； a Jesuit； a highwayman； and the like。
308。 To all which； I shall only say； God knows that I am innocent。 But as for mine accusers； let them provide themselves to meet me before the tribunal of the Son of God； there to answer for all these things （with all the rest of their iniquities） unless God shall give them repentance for them； for the which I pray with all my heart。
309。 But that which was reported with the boldest confidence； was； that I had my MISSES； my WHORES； my BASTARDS； yea； TWO WIVES at once； and the like。 Now these slanders （with the others） I glory in； because but slanders； foolish or knavish lies； and falsehoods cast upon me by the devil and his seed； and； should I not be dealt with thus wickedly by the world； I should want one sign of a saint； and a child of God。 BLESSED ARE YE （said the Lord Jesus） WHEN MEN SHALL REVILE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU； AND SHALL SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU F