interpret a text of scripture, suddenly fuggested to their minds, or any strong impreffion made on them, as an immediate meffage from God, to be directly applied to themfelves: Others, in oppofition to this, as enthufiaftical and vifionary, feem to give up every expectation of being able to fay with the Pfalmift, I bless the Lord who hath < given me counsel, my reins alfo inftruct me in

the night feafon.' I beg, therefore, that you may obferve, that the fuggeftion of a paffage of, fcripture, of itself gives no title to the immediate application of it, because the great deceiver may undoubtedly fuggeft fcripture, as we find he could reafon from it in our Saviour's temptation. We are, in every fuch case, to confider the tenor of it, if it be a promife of encouragement, that is, how and in what manner it may be fafely applied. If any thing happens to be suggested that expreffly fuits our prefent condition, either by setting home the obligation of duty, with particular evidence upon the confcience, or pointing out the grounds of comfort, it ought to be thankfully acknowledged as from the fpirit of God. For example, if a perfon, under the power of a spirit of bondage, and fear of Divine wrath, hath fuggefted to him any of the extenfive gracious affurances of mercy to the chief of finners, it is his duty to lay hold of it. It is directly fuited to his condition, and would be the wife and judicious paftor to him for his relief.

very thing that a would recommend He may therefore without

without hefitation, blefs God for it, if it is brought with power and efficacy upon his heart. In the fame manner, if a perfon under trouble hath fuggefted to him any of the promises of fupport under it, furely he ought, in the discharge of his duty, firmly to rely on the accomplishment of that part of the word of God. But in the reflex examination of a perfon's character or ftate to apply the fudden fuggeftion of a promise or privilege, perhaps of a conditional nature, is certanly both finful and dangerous. ́ ́ ́ ́Sinful, becaufe without warrant; and dangerous, because leading to delufion.

2. From what hath been faid, you may fee what it is that we ought to feek for with the greatest earnestnefs, and may hope to obtain with the greatest confidence. Recollect, I beseech you, the order in which I have mentioned the promifes of God as the objects of truft and reliance. First of all the promifes of falvation, deliverance from the guilt of fin, and a right to everlasting life; next, whatever is neceffary to the prefervation and improvement of the fpiritual life; and then, in the third place, proper accommodation, and fuitable provifion in our paffage through the prefent world. "They are here ranked according to their value in themfelves, and the value which we thould put upon them. Let us, therefore, take care that we never violate this order, which is neceffary, not only because of their comparative value, but because of their mu

tual

me,

༢ ར་

tual influence one upon another. It is in vain for us to expect to attain to the habit or practice of holiness, till we are united to God by faith in Jefus Chrift. All the promises of the gospel are ratified in him. All the divine fulness is treafured up in him. Every divine gift is difpenfed by him. Therefore, he fays, John xv. 4. Abide in and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no 6 more can ye, except ye abide in me.' Apostle Paul, Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with 'Chrift; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but 'Chrift liveth in me; and the life which I now ' live in the flesh,, I live by the faith of the Son ' of God, who loved me, and gave himself for ' me.'

And the

In the fame manner nothing can be more prepofterous, than to fix our affections upon temporal mercies, or our attention upon the promifes that relate to them, fo as to lofe view of our intereft in God's favour, and the progress of our fanctification. All the temporal promifes in fcripture are made to the children of God as fuch, and for carrying on the purposes of his grace in them. Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. There is no promife in the whole volume of inspiration to the wicked and impenitent. There is no peace, faith my God,

to the wicked.' He will either rebuke them in his wrath and chaften them in his hot difpleasure, or give them up to a curfed, hardening, ftupify

S

ing profperity, than which, no ftate on earth i more to be dreaded.Chriftian! never suffer an anxiety about your outward state to fupplant or go before, or even to be separated from a concern, that you may not be found wanting when weighed in the balance of the fanctuary...

3. Let me befeech you to adore the wisdom, justice and mercy of God, in the order he hath eftablished, according to the different nature of the promises. That which is of most, nay, properly fpeaking, of unfpeakable value, and radically contains all the reft, is placed first in order, and offered in the moft free and gracious manner, without money and without price. Salvation is preached to the chief of finners, and a Saviour held forth as able to fave to the uttermoft all that come to God by him. Many ufes might be made of this, but the fingle ufe I intend to make of it at prefent, as connected with the duty of truft, is -to filence the complaints of envy and impatience. How prone are many to look with an evil eye Upon the more extenfive poffeffions, and greater apparent outward comfort which others, enjoy! Docs it not astonish your to think how much unbelief and ingratitude there is in thofe repining thoughts? Meannefs of rank, and poverty of ftate, are no hindrance at all to an intereft in Chrift, and a right to everlafting life. Nay, the Gofpel is preached to the poor.-Many a Lazarus has been carried by the angels to Abraham's bofom, while the rich and luxurious have lifted

1

up

up

their eyes in torments. Will you, can you, dare you then complain? Will you envy the man of the world, his stately palace, his elegant furniture, and his fumptuous fare? What is the ampleft portion in the prefent life compared with the fure mercies of David? What child of God would exchange with any wicked man a prifon for a palace, or a foaffold for a throne Brei

I beseech you to add to all this, that even with regard to prefent peace or comfort, there is no comparison between a good man and a bad. A 'man's life doth not confift in the abundance of

the things which he poffeffes? This is a truth not only often repeated in the facred oracles, but written in the clearest and moft legible characters in the history of Providence.-Nay, even independently of virtue or religion itself, every human calamity, whether arifing from fickness, reproach, contention, fear, or ungratified defire, rages with greater violence in the higher, than in the lower ftations of lifer Avain and conceited monarch once fent to ask at an heathen oracle, who was the happiest man on earth? and met with a deferved disappointment in the reply. If we fhould putica queftion much more profitable as well as much more eafily refolved, in what rank of life the most exquifite human mifery has been found? I have no doubt but it ought to be answered, upon a throne. Experiences will always ratify the wife man's obfervation : Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a ftalled ox and hatred C therewith'

N. 2