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EPISTLE

TO THE

Inhabitants of Gillingham,

In the County of Dorfet:

WHEREIN

I S

A LOOKING-GLASS for the Faithful,

ΤΟ SHE W

THEM

Their NAMES were written in the LAMB's
Book of Life, before the Foundation of the
World:

WITH A VARIETY O.F

SIMILES typical of JESU's Blood;

Never before Published.

By JOHN CAVE, Glover, in BRECON.

Wherein are Inftructions for the Ignorant; Milk for
Babes; ftronger Meat for young Men and Fathers
and a Death Warrant for the formal Profeffor, and
careless Sinner. Begun Nov. 19th, 1752, in Gil-
lingham, my native Town, owing to a hot Perfecu-
tion for receiving Minifters to my Houfe, and finifh-
ed lately in Brecon. And has been much approved
of by many eminent Divines, who for feveral Years
have frequented my Houfe there.

BRE CON,

Printed for the AUTHOR, by E. EVANS. 1781.
[Price Two SHILLINGS and SIX-PENCE.]

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RECOMMENDATION.

OXFOCOREGE, Oɛt. 25th, 1779.

The Rev. Mr. BODDILY, having first examined the Epiftle to Gillingham, fubfcribed; and fent a Recommendation of it to Bath: Afterwards it gained the following Approbation of other Ministers.

WE E whofe Names are under written, have perused the Epiftle to Gillingham, do believe it to be the true Spirit of the Gofpel, and the Genuine Experience of a true Believer; and as fuch recommend it, hoping and wishing it may be of general Advantage to the Intereft of Religion, and the Souls of Men in particular.

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Have not perufed all the Book, but what I have heard and feen, believe it to be orthodox and found.

NORTH BRADLY
Dec. 9th.

TROWBRIDGE, }

Dec. 16th.

MILKSHAM, Jan. 5th, 1780,

}

SALISBURY, Ja. 31st,

BRECON, Mar. 5th.

CARMARTHEN, Apr. 13th.

GEO. BATCHELOR.

JOHN CLERK.

T. HONYWILL.

JOHN ADAMS.

W. WILLIAMS.

P. WILLIAMS, Clerk.

N. B. The Number of Subscribers to this EPISTLE confifteth of about Two Thousand: but it being fo well attefted by the above DIVINES; it is needlefs to infert their Names for a Recommendation.

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Το the READER. WE Hereas, by the Providence of God, this Epiftle hath made its Way into the World; my Readers might be anxious to know the efficient Caufe of its being written: therefore I would wish to inform them, that I was born in Gillingham, in Dorsetfhire, brought up a Churchman, and by Occupation a White Tarver and Glover: after which I commenced an Officer of Excife, and was ordered to Talgarth, in Breconfhire; and having Trevecka under Survey, had frequent Opportunities of attending the Minifry of Mr. Howell Harries, who lived there; under whofe effica tious Doctrine I was convinced of Sin; after which the Lord was graciously pleafed to reveal himself unto me. Some Years after, I was favoured with an amiable Vife; and having now left the Excife, we judg'd it proper to go to Gillingham to fettle: and being a Native of that Town, was received with much Affection, and lived exceeding happy for fome Time: but feeing the People quite ignorant of the true Knowledge of God, was grieved for want of Chriftian Fellowship; I therefore endeavoured to exhort my Neighbours to feek 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 fome of them boasting to each other, faying "What a famous Scholar our Minifter is, his Learning is fo great, that we do not understand the Half that he fays!" I asked them what Advantage his Learning was to them, if they did not understand him, and alfo 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 conftitutional Doctrine of the Church of England agreed thereunto. This new Opinion, as they called it, foon fpread about, which caused the Rev. Mr. Welley's Society from Shaftsbury to come to fee me. The Town by this Time began to be alarmed, at feeing fo 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 Perfecution commenced against me through the whole Town; and the Minifter every Sunday railed against the Methodists. And as my Houfe was opened for all enlightened Minifters, therefor eSatan'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 fuffered me to go to Gillingham to experience fo much Trouble; but as our Lord must needs go thro' Samaria, to talk to the Woman at Jacob's Well, who brought the whole City to hear and believe on him: fo there was a needs be for me to go to Gillingham, for a Foundation to write this Epiftle; and I trust that more than the whole City of Samaria will fee the Lord Jefus in it, and worship him no more on the Mountains of Ignorance, but worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

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