Does he not call for a phyfician, does he not alk his advice, does he not follow his directions, and, if one medicine is unfuccefsful, does he not make the experiment of another, while there remains a poffibility of his restoration to health? Is not the promife to the diligent use of means as abfolute in things fpiritual as in things natural? Is it more pofitively declared, the hand of the diligent maketh rich, than it is declared every one that afketh receiveth; Faith cometh by hearing: It pleafes God by the foolishness of preaching to fave them that believe; On the mountains of Zion, that is, in the gofpel church, the Lord commandeth the blessing, even life forevermore? Why then are we encouraged by a mere peradventure in things which concern the prefent life, and not in things which concern the life to come? It can only be afcribed to the abfolute blindness of the human mind; it is not impreffed with the importance of things fpiritual and eternal; and to the enmity of the heart against God; it fpurns the idea of fubmiffion to his authority. To the finner roufed from his fecurity, and impreffed with the importance of his everlasting concerns, the confideration that his falvation must be of God is the very reafon why he will attend on thofe ordinances in which falvation may be expected; this will render him more earneft in waiting where the prefence of Jehovah is promised, and more afraid of provoking him to depart; If we are unable to believe, or repent, ought we not more

As

entirely to depend on that adorable Spirit who is the author of faith and repentance, and who is graciously promifed to them that afk him. you regard your peace in time, and your happinefs forever, grieve not the fpirit of God by whom alone you are fealed to the day of redemption, but earnestly comply with all his entreaties. Does he proclaim, Now is the accepted time: now is the day of falvation, dare not to poftpone the all important work another hour, but feek and fecure FIRST the kingdom of God and the rightcoufnefs thereof; take no fleep to your eyes, not cafe, no contentment to your minds until you obtain reconciliation with Jehovah through our Lord Jefus Chrift; with the Lord there is merey, and with him is plenteous redemption, endeavour to make this redemption your own by a particular appropriating faith: Does the Holy Ghoft teftify that, there is no falvation in any other than Jefus Chrift, and that if ye believe not on him ye muft die in your fins, renounce immediately every other refuge; cleave to his facrifice, his righteoufnefs, his covenant, his promifes as your only confidence. Thus faith the Lord God, behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a ftone, a tried fione, a fure foundation, and whofoever believeth on him fhall not be ashamed. Does the Holy Ghost exhort, to ftrive that ye may enter in at the firait gate; to give all diligence to make your calling and election fure; it becomes you to fhake off without delay your fpi

ritual floth; to ftir up your fouls and all within you to feek the Lord, and attend with the utmoft earneftnefs every ordinance which he has appointed for your inftruction and falvation; does the Holy Ghost affert that a man is not profited, fhould he gain the world and lofe his foul, be admonished then to confider your falvation as the great bufinefs of life, as entitled to your earliest thoughts in the morning, and your lateft thoughts in the evening; let the impreffion reign fupreme in your minds that if your fouls are loft, your all is loft, and that forever. While you attend the various means of falvation be importunate in fupplicating the blessing of this divinely gracious Agent. Are you ignorant, he is the fpirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Chrift, and can effectually enlighten your darkness; are you without ftrength, he is the spirit of power and of might, and can therefore easily give strength to the weak and life to the dead; Have you been wilfully enemies to God, and thus forfeited every claim to his bleffing, he is RICH in mercy to all that call upon him; his grace has appeared exceeding abundant in calling blafphemers, and perfecutors, and injurious perfons; Have you again, and again, refifted his most gracious entreaties, he yet waits to be gracious, his arm is not fhortened that it cannot fave, plead therefore that it may be made bare for your falvation; his ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, pray mightily that he would arife

and have mercy on you ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thoufands have been washed and fanctified, and juftified in the name of the Lord Jefus and by the spirit of our God, and the promises are yet as free, the covenant is yet as full, the door of mercy is yet as open as in generations paft.

I CANNOT conclude this exercife in language more appropriate, or more affectionate than that of the great apoftle: That the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the father of glory may give you the fpirit of wisdom, and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the faints. AMEN, and AMEN.

The Chriftian's certain Progrefs to Perfection.

JOB, xvii. 9.

THE RIGHTEOUS ALSO SHALL HOLD ON HIS WAY.

AN inheritance, however valuable, if held by a precarious title, affords little happiness to the poffeffor. The apprehenfion that it may be fuddenly wrested from him is often preying upon his mind, and tends to diminish the enjoyment, even while it remains in his poffeffion. But it is the chriftian's confolation and glory, that whatever he holds, he holds it unalienably and everlaftingly. This is the record that God hath given. to us eternal life, and this life is in his fon: With him as their truftee it is depofited and fecured, without even the poffibility of being loft. The believer's inheritance is referved in heaven for him, and he, although on earth, is fafely kept for this inheritance; he poffeffes a written charter for all his privileges, and this charter is drawn up by one who will not deceive; by one upon whofe wisdom no artifice can impofe, and whose defigns no malice can defeat. He is kept by the power of God through faith unto falvation. The chriftian, although feeble in himself; although encompaffed by innumerable adverfaries, both