The Scripture Method of attaining Purity of Heart and conftant Union with God.

EVERY Sinner, who turns from Darkness to Light, and

from the power of Satan unto GOD, receives thro' faith in Chrift, the forgivenefs of fins. He is adopted into the. family of Heaven, and has a title to all the great and precious promises and privileges of the Gofpel. So long as he continues to walk in the Light, as Chrift is in the Light, he en. joys a comfortable fenfe of the divine Peace and Favour; and the bent of his foul is to be holy in all outward conver fation, and inwardly free from every impure affection, and unreasonable appetite and temper. This is the experience of every child of God. But alas, how many depart from their firft love; and lofe not only their defires for full conformity to the mind of Chrift, but likewife the witnefs of their juftification and adoption. When this is the cafe, it is no wonder if the Enemy furnishes them with ten thoufand arguments against holiness, and ten thoufand pleas in favour of indwelling fin. They are embarrassed in a thorney labyrinth; the further they wander from the Truth, and the greater their perplexities and temptations. Sometimes they turn again to the LORD, and he encourages them with gracious promifes, and the foftening influences of his holy Spirit: but they are apt to miftake thefe divine drawings for the compleat Liberty of God's people; and as their comfort is foon interrupted by fatannic fuggeftions, and the motions of unmortified corruptions, they confole themselves by endeavouring to bring down the Scripture ftandard of Chriftian experience to that of their own. Too often they pervert the true fenfe of Scripture, and wreft many paffages from their proper meaning and defign. When they are overcome by fudden paroxyfms of anger, and intemperate zeal, they produce the cafe of Peter, in his rafh conduct towards the Servant of the High Prieft; but generally they fhelter themselves under the ftandard of Solomon, during his fad apoftafy; or that of David, when he was plunged into the depth of horrible wickednefs. But as every deviation from the right way is attended with unhappiness, and as they are not willing to acknowledge themfelves unconverted, they reluct antly yield, to be "carnal, fold under fin!" and are content to cry out, "O wretched man that I am; who fhall deliver "me from the body of this death?" The defcription which the Apoftle gives in the 7th of the Romans, of an unregenerate Jew, and which was his own experience before he was brought to the knowledge of Chrift, they grofsly mistake for the character of a child of God under the Gofpel. This miftake is attended with fatal confequences not only to many backfliders

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backfliders, but alfo to perfons who are half-awakened. Too often they rest in darknefs, bondage, and wretchedness, and yet efteem themfelves the regenerate children of GOD!

But as the Almighty can take no pleasure in the mifery of penitent finners, his good Spirit will both enlighten and ftrengthen them, if they will only be obedient to the Gofpel. He will bring them out of the horrible pit, and revive them with the joyous manifeftations of his love and favour. And if they continue to yield up themselves to the teachings of the holy Spirit, he will lead them into all Truth; he will dif cover unto them the Nature, the Importance, and the Bleffednefs of Purity of Heart; and he will ftrengthen them to feek and obtain that glorious privilege of his children. Our LORD fays, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me, fhall be loved of my FATHER, and I will love him, and will manifeft myfelf unto him." And again: "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John xiv.

21,-23.

If therefore, we defire to attain and enjoy that Purity and Fellowship which the Gofpel propofes, we muft embrace every opportunity for folemn prayer and meditation, keeping the door of our fenfes fhut againft all vanity, and our reafon and understanding clofed to all images and impreffions from paffing objects; the affections must be difengaged from earthly attachments, and anxious care for the things of this life. Having thus collected together the powers of the Soul, they muft be turned towards the Sovereign and only GooD, and center there, We must confign ourselves to GOD, in an entire re fignation to his holy Will, keeping our mental eye upon him, and receiving every blefling as coming from his immediate hand. And even when we have not fuch a fight of the Glory of GOD, as transforms our fouls into the Image of Chrift, we muft not reft fatisfied with this deprivation; but re-assemble all our inward ftrength, in order to feek after GOD, even though it fhould be a hundred times in a day. This is that work of Faith which we must learn, and although it is painful and difficult at firft, yet through the divine affiftance, it will become habitual, and then we fhall find it easier to stay our fouls on GOD, than it was before to be diffipated and fcattered among a multitude of objects.

The foul of man is placed between time and eternity; if it turns towards the things of time, it forgets in fome degree, eter, nity; and then the concerns of eternity appear little and at a diffance; as an object of the greateft magnitude appears fmall when we behold it afar off. In this world the body is in its own country, furrounded with natural conveniencies, which

are

are its friends, and by whom it is continually ferved, as food and raiment, and all terreftrial things. But the foul is here, as in a prifon, its friends have their refidence in Heaven. Wherefore the body must be kept under, and its appetites brought into due fubordination by mortification, through watching and prayer. If we defire the attainment of a pure and divine life, let us difpofe ourselves as though we were to die each moment. Let us imagine our fouls are already feparated from the body, and united to GOD for all eternity. This will fhew the emptinefs of lower things. Endeavour, by the exertion of our fuperior faculties, to remain always with GOD, whilft with the inferior we fubmit to the neceffary employments of this life, finking into our own proper nothingnefs in profound humility; and ufing temporal things only from neceffity, and with the view, that they may lead us to that happy eternity, which fhould be the end we propofe in every thing we do.

Shun needlefs employments and converfation, and every attachment to the creatures that would interrupt our union with GOD. This is an affair that requires great attention. We fhall frequently Experience difappointment, if not falsehood and unfaithfulnefs, even in thofe from whom we expected to receive much comfort. If we really defire to make a progress in the Chriftian Life, contract no familiarity with those who do not fear GOD. Make fhort work with all fuch connec tions; answer them with kindnefs, in a few words; and if this behaviour caufe fome to be offended, and fpeak evil of us, let us endeavour, through Grace, to bear it without fretfulness or murmuring. It is better to have GOD for our Friend, and Protector against all men, than to have all the creatures on our fide, and GOD, on that account, to be against us.

Keep the outward man in tranquility, and the inward in purity; for purity and innocency afford more real knowledge and ufeful wifdom, than great learning and intenfe ftudy. If difagreeable accidents happen, or afflicting difpenfations, be not anxious to come out of trouble. For he who makes hafte to get from under trouble, will not find that fuccour and fupport which he expects. "Let the dead bury their dead." But if we faithfully truft in the LORD, he will provide all that is neceffary for us.

If we defire that perfect Union with GOD, which his children are capable of enjoying through Chrift, we must cast away all carnal cares, and fenfual delights. If we expect that GOD will take up his conftant refidence in our hearts, they must first be emptied of all unbelief, and evil reafonings; for thefe things afford fhelter both to fatannic temptations, and tempers. Keep that armour bright, by conftant exercife, which is, "mighty through GOD, to the pulling down of

strong

trong holds, cafting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought (or faculty of the mind) to the obedience of Chrift."

Be not careful what derifion and scorn we may meet with; or what perfecution we may fuffer. But preferve, in fimpli city, the prefence of GOD in the heart. And if at any time there is reafon to apprehend that we have loft the divine prefence, all the powers of the foul must be united, and all our frength exerted, to remove the obftacles, in order to prepare the way for the heavenly influences to return again into the foul. Those who are efpoused to Chrift, ought rather to fuffer death, than voluntarily do any thing which may difplease him. As often as a man turns his heart towards GOD in humble confidence, fo often, though fometimes infenfibly, does he receive through the affiftance of the Holy Spirit, a fresh fupply of Grace. Do not lofe time in running hither and thither, in complaining of this or the other hardship, in making piteous outcries on account of the difficulties occurring in the chriftian warfare. This, indeed, is the manner of fome profeffors, but in general, they have little good in them. Their intention is to excite the compaffion of their brethren, and they have their reward. But let them not expect much pity from Gop, until they chearfully take up their crofs, put on the whole armour of righteousness, and manfully fight the good fight of Faith. This is the fcriptural path of falvation; and it is fo plain, that a way-faring man, though a fool, need not err therein. It is a moft defirable Bleffing, to have our garments wafhed and made white in the Blood of the LAMB; to be cleanfed from every spot of guilt, and thoroughly purified, both in heart and life, from all filthinefs and roots of bitternefs; fo that we may "increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men ; and have our hearts eftablished unblameable in holinefs before GOD," 1 Theff. ii. 12, 13. This is the glorious Privilege of true Believers, and they have, through Chrift, as fure a Right to it, as to the light of the day: Let them, therefore, affert their claim, defend their right, and lay hold upon all the Bleffings of the Covenant of Grace, To be weak, is to be miferable. The people of Ifrael would never have been terrified and deftroyed by vile reptiles, if they had not made themfelves more vile, by their cowardly fears, and bafe murmurings: first they fuffered themfelves to be difcouraged becaufe of the difficulties. in the way; then they entertained hard thoughts against GOD. The punithinent that followed was juft and righteous. These things were written for examples to us, 1 Cor. x. 1. Let us, therefore, be frong in faith, giving glory to GOD.

Anecdotes

Anecdotes of the Rev. JOHN THORPE, Of Mafbo rough, near Rotherham, York fhire.

THE Town of Rotherham, and its environs, had, for a

confiderable time, been ranked by ferious people, among thofe parts of Yorkshire, which were leaft inclined to favour the spread of evangelical Religion; and when Meffrs. White field, Welley, and others, attempted to diffeminate divine knowledge in that neighbourhood, their perfons and message were treated in general, with the greatest contempt. The propagation of malicious falfehoods was encouraged, with defign to counteract the good effects of their ministry. Mr. Thorpe ranged under the ftandard of their most virulent oppofers; and not content with personal infult, added private ridicule to public interruption. Ale-houfes became theatres, where the fate of religious opinions was to be determined.

It was at one of these convivial reforts, that Mr. Thorpe and three of his affociates, to enliven the company, undertook to mimic the Methodist preachers. The proposition was highly gratifying to all the parties prefent, and a wager agreed upon, to infpire each individual with a defire of excelling in this impious attempt. That their jovial auditors might adjudge the prize to the most adroit performer, it was concluded that each fhould open the Bible, and hold forth from the firft text that should prefent itself to his eye. Accordingly three in their turn mounted the table, and entertained their wicked companions, at the expence of every thing facred. When they had exhausted their little flock of buffoonery, it devolved on Mr. Thorpe to close this very irreverent fcene. Much elated, and confident of fuccefs, he exclaimed as he afcended the table, "I fhall beat you all!"

When the Bible was handed to him, he had not the flighteft preconception, what part of the Scripture he fhould nake the fubject of his banter. However, by the guidance of Providence, it opened at that remarkable paffage, Luke, xiii. 3. "Except ye repent, ye fhall all likewife perifh.' No fooner had he uttered the words, than his mind was affected in a very extraordinary manner. The fharpeft pangs of con. viction now fcized him, and confcience denounced tremendous vengeance upon his foul. In a moment, he had a clear view of his fubject, and divided his difcourfe more like a divine, who had been accustomed to speak on portions of Scripture, than like one who never fo much as thought on religious topics, except for the purpofe of ridicule! He found no deficiency of matter, nor want of utterance, and he has often declared, "If ever I preached in my life, by the affiftance of the SpiFit of God, it was at that time." The impreffion that the

fubject