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laid in Zion, and to conclude the fafety of our own state from a serious and deliberate examination of ourselves by the rules laid down In the holy fcriptures. In this way only is the moft folid, fettled, and lafting peace to be obtained.

Perhaps fome will be ready to fay, Do you then condemn in general all regard to impreffrons that may be fenfibly felt upon the mind, or all fecret and powerful fuggeftions of paffages of fcripture? Does the Holy Ghoft the comforter never in this manner enlighten or refresh these fouls in whom he dwells, according to his promife?" I will dwell in them, and "walk in them; and I will be their God, and "they fhall be my people *." No, far from it; I have no defign of denying the real operation or gracious presence of the Spirit of God, which is certainly one of the most effential and one of the most comfortable doctrines of the

glorious gofpel;" but at the fame time, from the love I bear to it, I would guard it against miftakes and abuse. When any truth, or any paffage of fcripture, is fuggefted to the mind, which particularly and ftrongly points out the duty proper to our present state and circumstances; when this is backed with a powerful fenfe of its obligation, and by that means a deceitful or flothful

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heart is revived and quickened; this is thankfully to be acknowledged, and readily complied with. When a doubtful, dejected, or defponding mind is relieved, by a strong and affecting view of fome encouraging promise or gracious invitation to the weary finner, or the contrite fpirit; when, in fuch a cafe, the mind is led to a discovery of the rich mercy and free grace of God to the guilty and miferable, it ought to be embraced and improved; and in many fuch instances, serious perfons harraffed by temptation, have had cause to say with David, "I will blefs the Lord, who hath given me counfel; my reins alfo inftruct me in the night season *.”

This is no more than the neceffary confequence of the conftant over-ruling providence of God, which, as it extends to the difpofal and direction of the moft minute circumftances in the course of nature, cannot fail to be particularly exercised about the holiness and peace of his own children. They obey what appears to be their duty, or an argument against fin; they trust the divine faithfulness in what concerns their com• fort; and adore the divine wisdom and goodness in the propriety and feafonablenefs of either or both. But for any perfon, from the sudden fuggeftion of a paffage of fcripture, ("I am thy "God" for example; or, "I have called thee

* Pfal. xvi. 7.

"by

"by thy name, thou art mine") without any examination of his temper and difpofition, to conclude the fafety of his ftaté, is furely a piece of prefumption without ground.

Neither is it lefs foolish than prefumptuous; for all fuch muft be liable to be caft down by other and contrary fuggeftions. We know very well, and have an inftance of it in our Saviour's temptation, that fatan can suggest passages of fcripture; nay, and speak piously and plausibly upon them: but their conclufions must be tried by other feriptures. To all who are inclined to the above deluding practice, I would fay with the apoftle John, " Beloved, believe not every spirit, "but try the fpirits, whether they are of God *.” Or with the prophet Ifaiah, "To the law and "to the teftimony, if they fpeak not according "to this word, it is because there is no light "in them t." There is alfo a very proper advice, mixed with caution, given by the fame prophet, in the following words; "Who is among

you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darknefs and hath no light; let him trust in "the name of the Lord, and ftay upon his "God. Behold all ye that kindle a fire, all "that compafs yourfelves about with fparks, walk in the light of your fires, and in the fparks

1 John iv. 1.

H 2

+ If. viii. 20.

"that

"that ye have kindled; this fhall ye have of "mine hand, ye fhall lie down in sorrow *.

2. I must also obferve, that many serious perfons feem to defire, and even to expect, affurance in fuch a measure and degree, as is not fuited to our present ftate. They would have faith and hope to be the fame with fenfe. They would have heaven and earth to be the fame, and would put on their crown before they have finished their courfe. I am perfuaded, many deprive themfelves of that comfort to which they have an undoubted title, and which they might easily poffefs, by aiming at that which is beyond their reach. They do not remember, that it is true in this refpect as well as in many others, what the apoftle fays, "Now "we fee through a glafs darkly, but then face

to face; now I know in part, but then shall "I know even as also I am known +." Would you but reflect upon yourselves, Christians, you would be ashamed of your complaints. You would be ashamed that you should fo much as lay claim to fo high a degree of comfort, when you are so careless in your duty. Your improvement in the fpiritual life is but very gradual, and therefore it is no wonder your hope fhould be but in proportion to it.

* If. 1 10. 11.

t. Cor. xiii, 12,

It

It is of the greatest confequence in religion, to diftinguish carefully between that hope and comfort which arifes directly from the promises of God in fcripture, and that which arifes from a reflex observation of the change that has taken place in our own temper and practice. To entertain and encourage doubts in the former cafe, is directly contrary both to our duty and intereft; but in the other, perhaps fufpicion and diffidence is most becoming the Chriftian temper, and most conducive to the advancement of the Chriftian life. Is there any perfon perufing this treatise, who is incommoded and diftreffed with anxiety and fear? Take heed that you be not doubting as much of the certainty of God's word, as you are jealous of your own ftate. Is it not more than fufficient that you have so many gracious invitations, fo many full, free, and unlimited offers of mercy, through a Redeemer, to the chief of finners? Does it not give repofe to the mind, and rest to the confcience, when, by direct acts of faith, you receive and rely on Chrift alone for falvation; feeing him to be fingle in this undertaking, and all-fufficient for its accomplishment, and therefore cleaving to him as your Lord and your God, and your all. I would not chufe to affirm, that affurance, in the ordinary fenfe of that word, is effential to faith, or that its proper defcription is, to believe

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