pots with water, and they filled them to the brim, and this water he turned into wine: now it does not at all follow, that there was more drank than was neceffary; neither would the LORD JESUS CHRIST have continued in the houfe if there had.. But we have an excellent leffon to learn from this miracle by the water-pots being empty, we may understand, the heart, of man being by nature deftitute of his grace, his speaking and commanding to fill them, fhews, that when CHRIST fpeaks, the heart that was empty of grace before, fhall be filled and the water-pots being filled to the brim, fhews, that CHRIST will fill believers hearts brim full of the Holy. Ghoft and from the Governor's obferving, that the last wine was the best, learn, that a believer's best comforts, shall be the last and greafeft, for they fhall come with the greatest power upon the foul, and continue longeft there: this, this my dear brethren, is the leffon we may learn from this miracle.

But one great inconfiftency I cannot avoid taking notice of in this late learned preacher. In the beginning of his fermon, he charges us with "laying heavy burthens upon people, "which they are not able to bear," in the latter part he charges us with being Antinomians, whofe tenets are, " So દ you fay you believe in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, you may "live the life of devils." Now, he charges us with being too ftrict, and by and by with being too loofe. Which fide,, my brethren, will you take? Thus you fee, when perfons forfake CHRIST, they make ftrange miftakes; for there can be no greater oppofition of fentiments than this letter-learned, writer has made as oppofite as light and darkness, good and evil, fweet and bitter. And, on this account, to find out these lettered-learned gentlemens notions of the new-birth, I put a paragraph in my Journal; and, bleffed be GOD, I have. obtained my defires, and have plainly perceived, that the perfons who have lately written concerning the new-birth, know. no more of it than a blind man does of colours, nor can they have any more notion of it, (by all their learning, falfely fo called) than the blind man, who was to give an account what the fun was, and, after a confiderable time allowed for study, he faid, "It was like the found of a trumpet." And till they are taught of GoD, they will be unacquainted with the newI 4. birth:

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birth: therefore, if you have a mind to know what the devil has to fay against us, read Dr. Trapp's fermons.

It is with grief I fpeak these things, and were not the welfare of your fouls, and my Redeemer's honour at stake, I would not now open my mouth, yea I would willingly die (GOD is my judge) for the perfon who wrote fuch bitter things against me, fo it would be a means of faving his foul. If he had only spoken against me, I would not have answered him; but, on his making my Redeemer a pattern of vice, if I was not to speak, the very stones would cry out; therefore, the honour of my Redeemer, and love to you, constrains me to fpeak. It is of neceffity that I speak, when the divinity of JESUS CHRIST is spoken againft, it is the duty of minifters to cry aloud, and spare not. I cannot forbear, come what will; for I know not what kind of divinity we have now among us: we must have a righteoufnefs of our own, and do our best endeavours, and then CHRIST will make up the deficiency; that is, you must be your own Saviour, in part. This is not the doctrine of the gofpel; this is not the doctrine of JESUS: no; CHRIST is all in all; JESUS CHRIST must be your whole. wisdom; JESUS CHRIST must be your whole righteousness, JESUS CHRIST must be your whole fanctification; or JESUS CHRIST will never be your eternal redemption and fanctification. Inward holiness is looked on, by fome, as the effect of enthusiasm and madness; and preachers of the neceffity of the new-birth, are esteemed as perfons fit for Bedlam. Our polite and fashionable doctrine, is, "That there is a fitness in man, " and that GOD, feeing you a good creature, bestows upon. "you his grace." GOD forbid, my dear brethren, you fhould thus learn JESUS CHRIST!

This is not the doctrine I preach to you: I fay, falvation is the free gift of GOD. It is God's free grace, I preach unto you, not of works, left any one fhould boaft. JESUS CHRIST juftifies the ungodly; JESUS CHRIST paffed by, and faw you polluted with your blood, and bid you live. It is not of works, it is of faith: we are not justified for our faith, for faith is the inftrument, but by your faith, the active as well as the paffive obedience of CHRIST, must be applied to you. JESUS CHRIST hath fulfilled the law, he hath made it honourable; JESUS CHRIST hath made fatisfaction to his

Father's

Father's juftice, full fatisfaction; and it is as compleat as it is' full, and GOD will not demand it again. JESUS CHRIST is the way; JESUS CHRIST is the truth; and JESUS CHRIST is the life. The righteoufnefs of JESUS CHRIST, my brethren, must be imputed to you, or you can never have any intereft in the blood of JESUS; your own works are but as filthy rags, for you are juftified before GOD, without any respect to your works paft, prefent, or to come. This doctrine is denyed by the learned rabbi's; but if they deny these truths of the gospel, they must not be offended, though a child dare fpeak to a doctor; and, in vindication of the cause of JESUS CHRIST, a child, a boy, by the Spirit of Gop, can speak to the learned clergy of this age.

If I had a voice fo great, and could speak fo loud, as that the whole world could hear me, I would cry, "Be not righte ous over-much," by bringing your righteoufnefs to CHRIST, and by being righteous in your own eyes. Man must be ábased, that God may be exalted.

The imputed righteoufnefs of JESUS CHRIST is a comfortable doctrine, to all real chriftians; and you finners, who afk what muft do to be faved?. how uncomfortable would it you be, to tell you by good works, when, perhaps, you have never done one good work in all your life: this would be driving you to defpair, indeed: no;" Believe in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and you fhall be faved:" therefore none of you need go away defpairing. Come to the LORD JESUS by faith, and he fhall receive you. You have no righteousness of your own to depend on. If you are faved, it is by the righteousnefs of CHRIST, through his atonement, his making a facrifice for fin his righteousness must be imputed to you, otherwife you cannot be faved. There is no difference between you, by nature, and the greatest malefactor that ever was executed at Tyburn: the difference made, is all owing to the free, the rich, the undeferved grace of God; this has made the difference. It is true, talking at this rate, will offend the pharifees, who do not like this levelling doctrine, (as they call it); but if ever you are brought to JESUS CHRIST by faith, you will experience the truth of it. Come by faith to JESUS CHRIST; do not come, pharifee-like, telling God' what you have done, how often you have gone to church,

how

how often you have received the facrament, fafted, prayed, or the like: no; come to CHRIST as poor, loft, undone, damned finners; come to him in this manner, and he will accept of you do not be rich in fpirit, proud and exalted, for there is no bleffing attends fuch; but be ye poor in fpirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God; they shall be made members of his myftical body here, and shall be so of the church triumphant hereafter. Acknowledge yourselves as nothing at all, and when you have done all, fay, "You are unprofitable fervants." There is no falvation but by JESUS CHRIST; there is no other name given under heaven amongst men, whereby we may be faved, but that of the LORD Jesus. GOD, out of CHRIST, is a confuming fire; therefore strive for an intereft in his Son the LORD JESUS CHRIST; take him on the terms offered to you in the gospel; accept of him' in God's own way, lay hold on him by faith.

Do not think you are chriftians; do not flatter yourselves with being righteous enough, and good enough, because you lead moral decent lives, do no one any harm, go to church, and attend upon the outward means of grace; no, my brethren, you may do this, and a great deal more, and yet be very far from having a faving, experimental knowledge of JESUS CHRIST.

Beg of CHRIST to ftrike home upon your hearts, that you may feel the power of religion. Indeed, you muft feel the power of God here, or the wrath of GOD hereafter. These are truths of the utmost confequence; therefore, do not go contradicting, do not go blafpheming away. Bleffed be God, you are not fuch cowards to run away for a little rain. I hope good things of you; I hope you have felt the power of GOD; and if GOD fhould bring any of you to himself through this foolishness of preaching, you will have no reason to complain it was done by a youth, by a child: no; if I could be made an inftrument to bring you to GOD, they may call me novice, enthufiaft, or what they please, I fhould rejoice; yea, and I would rejoice.

O that fome finner might be brought to JESUS CHRIST! Do not fay I preach despair: I defpair of no one, when I confider GOD had mercy on fuch a wretch as I, who was running in a full career to hell; I was hafting thither, but JESUS

CHRIST paffed by and stopped me; JESUS CHRIST paffed by me while I was in my blood, when I was polluted with filth; he paffed by me, and bid me live. Thus I am a monument of GOD's free grace; and therefore, my brethren, I despair of none of you, when I confider, I fay, what a wretch I was. I am not speaking now out of a falfe humility, a pretended fanctity, as the pharifees call it: no, the truth in CHRIST I fpeak, and therefore, men and devils do your worst; I have a gracious Mafter will protect me; it is his work I am engaged in, and JESUS CHRIST will carry me above their rage.

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Those who are come here this night out of curiofity to hear what the babbler fays; thofe who come to fpend an idle hour to find fomething for an evening-converfation at a coffeehouse of you who have ftopped in your coaches as you paffed by, remember that you have had JESUS CHRIST offered to you; I offer JESUS CHRIST to every one of you: perhaps you may not regard it because it is in a field. But JESUS CHRIST is wherever his people meet in fincerity and truth to worship him he is not confined to church walls: he has met us here; many, very many of you know he has ; and therefore you may believe on him with greater confidence.

Can you bear to think of a bleeding, panting, dying JESUS, offering himself up for finners, and you will not accept of him? Do not fay, you are poor, and therefore are afhamed to go to church, for GOD has fent the gofpel out unto you. Do not harden your hearts; oppofe not the will of Jesus.

O that I could fpeak to your hearts, that my words would centre there. My heart is full of love to you. I would speak, till I could speak no more, so I could but bring you to CHRIST. I may never meet you all, perhaps, any more. The cloud of GOD's providence seems to be moving. GOD calls me by his providence away from you, for a while. for a while. GOD knows whether we shall ever see each other in the flesh. At the day of judgment we shall all meet again. I earnestly defire your prayers. Pray that I may not only begin, Jehu-like, in the spirit, but that I may continue in it. Pray that I may not fall away, that I may not decline fuffering for you, if I should be called to it. Be earneft, O be earnest with God in my behalf, that while I am preaching to others, I may not be a caft-away. Put up your prayers for me, I beseech you. Go

not