ther we grow in grace? To determine aright upon this question requires no fmall judgment, attention and impartiality, fince, through various caufes, we are prone to pafs a falfe verdict upon ourselves. This mistake we shall be in great danger of making, if either outward profperity, or fpiritual gifts, or the elevation of our paffions on certain occafions, are the criterions by which we judge. The prevailing temper of the heart fhould moft certainly be the grand object of enquiry. As, therefore, there are no difpofitions more ftrongly characteristic of a real Chriftian than humility, felf-diffidence, dread of fin, a conscientious regard to duty, indifference to the world, and zeal for the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and the interest of religion; fo our improvement in these graces will furnish the most fatisfactory answer to this important question. And if we do indeed profper in religion, we shall be fenfible that our profperity is owing to thofe divine influences, which have concurred with the means appointed to that end. Let us, therefore, make our humble and cheerful. acknowledgments to the Spirit of all grace, be careful to. walk worthy of our high calling, ftill prefs on towards perfection, and, amidst the many remaining infirmities which daily afflict our hearts, comfort ourselves with an affured hope, That he who bath begun a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jefus Chrift *.

*Phil. i, 6.

DIS

DISCOURSE XII.

IMPROVEMENT IN RELIGION THE FRUIT

OF A DIVINE INFLUENCE.

THE

great Author of nature hath fo framed mankind,

and fo difpofed the affairs of human life, as that, on the one hand, our dependence on him fhould not at all leffen our obligations to diligence; and that our diligence, on the other, fhould not preclude our regards to the influence of Divine providence. Were the husbandman to neglect tilling his land, because, not having the weather at his command, he cannot secure a fruitful crop; ́every one would pronounce his conduct as weak, as it would be unquestionably criminal. For he who doth not fow, will affuredly not reap; unless a miracle intervene, which it were the height of madness to expect. Whereas, he who does his duty, though he cannot be certain of a profperous event, may upon very reasonable confiderations hope for it. So that no inference is to be drawn from the belief of a providence, that is the leaft unfavourable to industry.

And on the other hand, he acts a part equally foolish and finful, who builds his future profpects wholly upon his own prudence and labour. For as it is an undoubted truth, that the concurrence of an external influence, which is not un

der

der our controul, is abfolutely neceffary to fecure fuccefs; fo a profane difregard and contempt of that influence, muft be highly provoking to God, and may justly occafion a fufpenfion of it. This sometimes happens. And in fuch case, all a man's toil proves fruitlefs, and he has the additional distress of having incurred guilt thereby. And though God does not always take advantage of the impiety of men, to withhold from their endeavours the concurrence of his providential influence; yet what they thus obtain, in defiance as it were of his power and goodness, is fure in the end to prove a curse instead of a blessing. Wherefore let a man be as industrious as he will, if he pays no regard to the providence of God, his conduct is as unreafonable and criminal, as if through a pretended reliance on that providence, he were to abandon himself to floth and indolence.

These observations may with good reafon be applied to the great concerns of religion. In vain do we profess faith in the influence and operations of the bleffed Spirit, while we live in the slothful neglect of appointed duties. And on the other hand, it will be to as little purpose, that we industriously apply ourselves to thofe means of improvement, which were recommended in the former difcourse; if at the fame time our eye is not directed to the mighty power and grace of God, who alone gives the increase. And it is no fmall encouragement to the Chriftian, amidst all the humble and painful labours of duty, that he who hath commanded him to grow in grace, hath also affured him, as in the text, that he will be as the dew unto Ifrael.

These words were indeed primarily addreffed to the Israelites, that is, to the ten tribes who were separated from Judah and Benjamin in the days of Rehoboam: yet they are not of private interpretation, but may be applied to all in fimilar circumftances. It will however be of use, for explaining the paffage and throwing ftill farther light on the general argument before us, to take a tranfient view of the character. and circumstances of this people at the time the

prophet

prophet thus addreffed them. They were the people of God in a fenfe peculiar to themselves and different from other nations; God having taken them under his fpecial government and protection, and been used by extraordinary means to defend and fave them. So that the idea of a providence was interwoven with their civil constitution, and a dependence upon it was the first expreffion of obedience required of them. Wherefore the putting their trust at any time in an arm of flesh, to which they were ever prone, was justly confidered as a breach of their allegiance to Godtheir king, and a forfeiture of his favour and protection : not to fay how it became the fource of every other impiety, and fo in the end drew after it very fatal confequences.

In the guilt of this fin, and the miferable effects of it, they were now plunged. The prophet Hofea therefore je ing fent to awaken them to repentance, puts them upon making fuch humble confeffions, and forming fuch new refolutions, as were fuited to the kind of guilt they had contracted. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord. Say unto him, take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, fo will we render the calves of our lips. Afbur, that is, the Affyrians with whom they had fought alliance, Shail not fave us; we will not ride upon horses, that is, trust in warlike preparations; neither will we fay any more to the work of our bands, pe are our Gols: for in thee the fatherlefs findeth mercy. To which acknowledgments he reprefents the bleffed God as immediately replying, I will heal their backfliding, I will love them freely for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unio Ifrael : be fhall grow as the lily, and caft forth his roots as Ļebanon. "Your infidelity, felf-confidence and impiety have "almost proved your ruin. They have defaced your beau"ty and glory, and reduced you to a languishing dying “state. But I will have mercy on you. That extraordi 66 nary providence which formerly interpofed in your favour, - fhall

#Ver. 2, 3°

:

366

Thall again make you profperous and happy. On you fhall the dews of my falvation defcend; and so shall this withered plant recover its ftrength and vigour, and again bring forth fruit to my glory."

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And how justly may this reafoning with the Ifraelites of old, be applied to the church of God under the prefent dispenfation, of which they were an eminent type! That confidence in divine Providence which was required of them, as an expreffion of their allegiance to Heaven in their civil capacity, was a distant but natural intimation of that faith which is required of us in Chrift our King and Saviour, and in the influences of the Holy Spirit, which he hath obtained for us. And as their failure in point of duty, to that extraordinary providence they were under, was the unhapcause of all their declenfions and miferies, fo ours, in re gard of that confidence we ought to place in the power and grace of God, is the fad fource of all the declenfions and miferies we at any time feel and lament as Chriftians. Wherefore, under thefe circumftances, the like acknowledgments are due from us, both in our individual and collective capacity, as from them. The first step we are to take, is to be deeply humbled for this great error, which is the caufe of all our wanderings from God, even confidence in ourselves, and a difregard to the influences of his Spirit. And, thus returning to him by prayer and repentance, we may hope for the fame favourable answer they received, I will heal your backfliding, I will love you freely, for mine anger is turned away. I will be as the dew unto Ifrael.

Now by the bleffing here promifed, we are to understand the influence of divine grace ;-that fecret, invisible, and powerful influence, whereby the word of God, his ordinances, and providences, are made effectual to promote our knowledge, happinefs, and purity ;-that influence which impreffes divine truths upon our minds, raifes our hearts andaffections to Heaven, cheers and refreshes our fainting fpirits, quickens and animates us to duty, forms us into the

likeness