of this Spirit are love, joy, and peace, holiness and happiness, a preparation for and an earnest of eternal life. Thus, notwithstanding all Satan's efforts to the contrary, the gofpel fhines unto them and they are enlightened by it, enlightened with the light of life," the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Chrift Jefus ;" and walking in the light, as he is in the light, they expect, in the way of univerfal holiness, an admiffion into those heavenly manfions, where the Lord will be their everlafting light, and their God their glory.

18. And now, my brethren, having pointed out unto you fome of thofe many devices, whereby Satan beguiles unwary fouls, let me befetch you to confider whether you are enfnared by him? Do not rafhly conclude you are not, till you have thoroughly examined yourselves as to all the particulars mentioned above. And remember, if that gofpel which you have heard has not proved the power of God unto your falvation from the guilt and dominion of fin; you are to this day, in one refpect or other, enfnared by him. Do you not ftumble at the very threshold, not being yet awakened to a true fenfe of the importance of falvation, nor deeply engaged in the pursuit of it, but wholly attached to and eagerly bent upon attaining the tranfitory vanities of this world? Alas! my Brethren, how hath the god of this world. blinded you! Surely while you expect to find happiness in earthly things, whether in riches, honours, or pleasures, you dream, as one obferves, "Of things impoffible, (could fleep do more ?) Of joy perpetual, in perpetual change,

Of ftable pleasure, on the toffing wave,
Eternal funfhine in the forms of life!"

Pray open your eyes! Stop! Confider! It is a phantom you purfue! You cannot grafp it. It

dues

does and always will elude your fond embrace. Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which profiteth not! Turn ye, turn ye, for why will you die? Think, Oh! think what will you be profited, fhould you gain even the whole world and lofe your foul? That immortal foul which Chrift hath redeemed with his most precious blood, and the value of which is above rubies?

But perhaps impreffed with a sense of this, you are already refolved to give all diligence to make your calling and election fure? But are you not delaying the important bufinefs to what you think a more convenient season ?

"All promife is poor dilatory man,

"And that through every stage!'

Perhaps you think, 'tis time enough yet. But is it not late enough? Have you not already ferved the world, the flesh, and the devil long enough? Have you not long enough rebelled against God, crucified his Son afresh, and grieved the Spirit of grace? Have you not been long enough unholy and un appy, a robber of GOD, and a murderer of your foul? Surely you have; yea too long. And why will you fuffer Satan to infatuate and make a prey of you any longer? Confider what condition you would be in, if the Lord fhould fay, "My Spirit fhall no longer strive with that man: He is wedded to his Idols, let him alone: Let him fill up the measure of his iniquities and ripen for a more aggravated destruction!" And are you fure he will not do this? May he not juftly do it? Surely he may, and you have caufe to wonder that it is not done already.-Befides, think, where you would be, should death, relentless death, step in between you and repentance, and arreft you in the midft of your delays? And have you any affurance

Ď 2

affurance to the contrary? You know you have not. You are fenfible you have no certainty of living a day, an hour, or a moment to an end. Wherefore delay no longer; but, as "now is the accepted time, now the day of falvation, fo, To day, while it is called, To day, hear his voice, and harden heart."

not your

19. And take heed you do not mistake the way. Remember Chrift hath faid, "I am the way, no man cometh unto the Father but by me." You are a finner, a guilty, helpless finner, and cannot therefore come to God with acceptance, but thro' his Son the only Mediator between him and us. Go not about then to establish your own righteousness, but fubmit yourself to the righteoufness of God. lieve on the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thou shalt be faved. Believe on Chrift, and thou shalt be justified by faith in Chrift:" yea Chrift will live in thee, and thou shalt live indeed, fhalt live a new life, hid with Chrift in God; and "when Chrift thy life shall appear, thou shalt appear with him in glory,"

Be

20. Once more. I beseech thee be not difcouraged. Be thy fins ever fo many, ever fo aggravated, yet ftill,ftagger not at the promise of God thro' unbelief," but be thou, like Abraham, "ftrong in faith giving glory to God, fully affured that what he hath promifed he alfo will perform.” Now he hath promised, that "those that confess, and forfake their fins fhall find mercy;" that "all manner of fins and blafphemies fhall be forgiven" unto penitent finners; that he will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their fins and iniquities he will remember no more." He hath promised to "cleanse them from all their filthiness and from all their idols, to give them a new heart and put within them a new spirit, yea to put his Spirit within them, that they may walk in his ftatutes and keep his cominandments." Therefore, Why

art

art thou fearful, O thou of little faith, Wherefore doft thou doubt? O, give no place to the Devil. Yield not to unbelief: but reft affured, in fpite of all the fuggeftions of Satan and the evil reafonings of fleth and blood, that notwithftanding thy guilt and weakness, he is faithful and just, both to forgive thee thy fins, and to cleanfe thee from all unrighteoufnefs." Putting thy whole truft, then, in his merits, who "was delivered for thy offences, raised for thy juftification" and who "ever liveth to make interceffion for thee" and to appear as thy advocate before the throne of the majesty on high; "come with boldness to the throne of grace, and thou shalt find mercy, and obtain grace to help in time of need." Thou shalt be juftified from all things, fhalt be regenerated and made a new creature: The Spirit of God and of glory fhall rest upon thee: and at laft being fanctified throughout, and filled with the fulness of God, thy fpirit, foul, and body, fhall be preferved blameless to his heavenly Kingdom!