recompence all the pains, the care, and caution of the ftrictest enquirer: how unconceivable and unfullied are the joys promised to obedience; and we shall think no pains or ftudy too great on our parts, in order to be fully fatisfied how we are to conduct ourselves fo as to obtain blifs and happiness in the future life. It behoves every one that profeffes Chriftianity, and wishes to enjoy the ferene pleasures of a pious life, and to inherit the gracious promises annexed to that profeffion, diligently to peruse and comprehend the conditions upon which they are propofed, and to be careful to understand the whole gospel covenant. And this knowledge is to be acquired by a regular attendance on the fervice of God: for now and then hearing a fermon as it were by chance, does not answer the end to edify and inftruct; or at least in that way which every confiderate perfon wishes to be inftructed. Having fo many helps and encouragements to fearch and feek after future happiness, let us not faint or grow remifs in that progress which hereafter will abundantly recompence our labour. Let us study the word of God with affiduity and diligence; not carelessly or negligently, but after fuch a manner as the importance of the subject demands; and let us proceed with chearfulness and vigour in the concern

of

of futurity; and, by the help of God's grace, may we be able to folve every feeming difficulty that obftructs our proficiency therein. Let us seriously call to mind the folemn things that will fhortly be prefented to our view; that whenever the awful time arrives, we may give up our accounts with joy, and receive the reward which God has promised to them that ferve and obey him.

CHAPTER II.

Of the certainty of God's existence.

A

S a flight observance and contemplation of the things in this vifible world fufficiently proves the being of God; and as there are but few either hardy enough or fo deftitute of reafon as to deny it; there is therefore but little occasion to say much concerning a truth univerfally acknowledged: and what is here offered from reason and fcripture is more by way of reminding than convincing.

Ift. In the 14th Pfalm, 1ft verse, the Pfalmift obferves, The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. And furely if a perfon is capable of obfervation and reflec

tion

tion, he muft, in the outward frame of the world, fee evident marks of a Supreme Being displayed.

This belief, which is the foundation of all religion, does not, like fome obftruse points, require deep and intense application to convince and fatisfy; for we are affured and reminded of it every hour of our lives; and fometimes in an extraordinary manner by tremendous occurrences of nature, How can we do otherwise than confess and acknowledge the existence of God, when we conftantly experience the viciffitude and change of day and night, winter and fummer, fpring-time and harveft? or when we contemplate the rifing and fetting of the fun, moon, and stars; thefe fignify unto us, not only that God is, but likewise his power and wisdom. The Pfalmift confeffes this in the 19th Pfalm: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work. And the wife Cicero in confidering these things, exclaimed, What can be fo clear and perfpicuous, when we view the heavens and contemplate things cæleftial, as that there is a Deity of great perfection by which they are governed and preferved.

The beauty, elegance, and uniformity of the fkies, are particularly inftructive of it's

powerful

powerful Architect. It is God who commands the fun to run his course, and the moon to perform her feveral revolutions round the world; who causes the clouds to pour down the rain, and the earth to produce it's fruits for the ufe and fervice of

man.

The animal and vegetable creation yield manifeft atteftations of the Creator's exiftence, his power, and goodnefs; nay, we need go no farther than ourselves for proof of a Deity. Wherefore the Pfalmift cried out, I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works, and that my foul knoweth right well.

We are fituated in the midst of so many and manifest evidences of this truth, that it is impoffible we can be void of this belief, which is the foundation of religion, viz. that God is.

2dly. Let us confider what the holy fcriptures teach concerning this:

When Mofes wrote his hiftory of the creation, he did not pretend this particular; because they did not in the leaft doubt of God's existence, having heard his voice in a tremendous ftorm of thunder and lightning, in the delivery of their law, at Mount Sinai. Moreover having the account of the flood, the preservation of Noah and his fa

C.

mily

mily in the ark; and the deftruction of So dom and Gomorrhah, which happened but a few years before, and were delivered down to them by tradition. Indeed the Jews experienced fo many miracles, and were favoured with fo many mercies of God; being more particularly under his guidance and protection, that they could not be otherwife than always fully poffeffed with a belief of his being. But I will forbear, at this time, to fay more in confirmation of a truth univerfally allowed. Let us confider how much the belief of God's existence fhould influence our words and actions, and make us attentive and careful to do that which is pleafing in his fight. If we are affured that there is a God who made us, and still preferves and governs us, let us not offend him by wantonly taking his name in vain, and in a haughty, foolish manner, invoking the dreadful Majefty of heaven and earth: a crime often committed by the unthinking and the vulgar; the magnitude of which I have described in another place.

Be affured, in the mean time, that God will not be mocked, for he both hears and fees all we fay and do; no privacy or retirement can exclude him who knows all things, even our very thoughts and intentions. Remember that a contempt of the laws God has given to man, will be extremely

dangerous;