please him. We cannot do this, without denying ourselves in many things which we are very fond of. We fhall want an especial grace to do this, for of ourselves we are not able. To this end Jefus Chrift has obtained for us this fignal privilege, that we may call God Our Father, a favour which no people ever had before the coming of Chrift. So that we may go to God with an affurance of being heard, as a child goes to his father.

If we make use of this privilege, and pray to God in the fincerity of our fouls, and a fenfe of our misery, he will hear us, and for his Son's fake, he will justify us, will change all our difpofitions, and we fhall love him, and his Son Jefus Chrift, as our only good and our portion for ever.

Now, unto him that loved us, and washed us from our fins in his own blood; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. And may grace be with all them that love the Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity: Amen.

THE CHRISTIAN's ARMOUR.

EPHES. vi. 10-19.

Finally, my Brethren, be ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to ftand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth, and having on the Breaftplate of Righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gofpel of Peace: above all, taking the Shield of Faith, wherewith ye fhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: praying always with all prayer and fupplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and fupplication for all faints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gofpel.

TH

a

HERE are three things, which are the ruin of too many Christians. ft. A confident prefuming upon

ftrength.

a See 2 Cor. iii. 5. I Pet. v. 1, 9. 21ft Sunday after Trinity.

their own

1 John v. 4. Epiftle for the

2dly. An

2dly. An utter ignorance of the enemies they have to deal with.

3dly. A wilful neglect of the means which God affords them for overcoming those enemies.

Christians have warning of these things given them betimes. One of the first things they are taught is, that of themselves they are not able to keep the commandments of God, or to ferve him without his fpecial grace. They have at their baptifm renounced the devil, who is the declared enemy of God and of all good men; and they have been put into poffeffion of the means of working out their falvation. And yet people perish, because they will not lay thefe things to heart.

The portion of fcripture which I have now read to you will be very proper to put you in mind of these things. You will fee, in the first place, how neceffary it is to distrust ourfelves, as we hope to be fafe. Then you will fee what great reason we have to be upon our guard, on account of the enemies we have to deal with. And lastly; you will see what provifion our gracious God has made for our defence against all the affaults of our adverfaries. These are matters of great importance, and I pray you will confider them along with me.

Brethren, (faith the apostle) be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; that is,

depend

depend not upon yourselves, but on God's afsistance, who is mighty to fave.

Learn, in the first place, to diftrust yourfelves; acknowledge your own poverty and weakness; renounce all pretence to wisdom. and self-government; and remember, that it is much better to be made fenfible of our own frailty, by giving credit to God's word, (which tells us that of ourselves we are nothing) than to feel it fadly, by being permitted, by the just judgment of God, to fall into fome grievous, fhameful, or destructive crime, to convince us of the folly of depending upon ourselves.

In one word; men are naturally proud, selfconceited, have too good opinion of their own reafon, of their own refolutions, and of their own ftrength; fo that God is forced to leave them often to themselves, to make them fee their error.

Was not this the cafe of St. Peter? Our Lord had told all his difciples, Without me ye can do nothing. St. Peter, forgetful of this, and finding himself disposed to stand by his mafter even to death, confidently declares, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee in any wife. And we all know how this

ended.

And be affured, good Chriftians, thus it will be with every man living, who shall truft in himself, and not in God alone. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Get an entire confidence in God, by confidering

his power, his wisdom, and his goodness; that he knows all our weakness, and our wants; that nothing is impoffible with God; and that he is fo infinitely good, that he defires our happiness more than we ourselves do. He had compaffion upon us, even when we were enemies and finners; he has delivered us out of the kingdom and slavery of the devil, and put us under the government of his only Son our Lord Chrift, who governs us by his laws and by his spirit, and will infallibly bring us to heaven, if, denying our own wills and defires, we depend upon the goodness, grace, and power of God, to defend us against our enemies. For, faith the text, we wrestle not only against flesh and blood, that is, with men like ourfelves, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against fpiritual wickedness in high places.

These are the enemies we have to wrestle with; namely, against the devil and his angels; who, in oppofition to God, hath set up kingdom in this world; whofe fubjects are wicked men and unbelievers, who, by the power of evil fpirits, are kept in darkness, neither feeing nor fearing the danger they are in.

In which fad condition, and flavery, we and all mankind had continued to this day, had not the most high God fet up a kingdom and power mightier than that of Satan, even the kingdom of his Son our Lord Jefus Chrift; who hath called us out of darkness unto the