described, as a little "leaven which was hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened." And as it produces these effects upon us, it administers every cup of consolation which we need for our nourishment. But we find no room to seek nourishment from any other source, because this divine principle of God governs every other spirit, and reduces it to subjection.

Again, "the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and sitteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." He had not received a manifestation from the Father to do this act. He was not about to do any thing of this kind on his own responsibility. Thus we ought not to indulge our natural feelings which would lead us to desire distinction, and to gain a name among men. Now here is a lesson which may be instructive; for here we see that he withstood the craft of the enemy, who was endeavouring to beget in him those dispositions which if indulged, must necessarily produce the most ruinous effects. Thus the enemy of man insinuated

that he had commissioned his angels to take charge of him; and in their hands to bear him up, lest at any time he should dash his foot against a stone. And I want us all to remember that it is necessary for us, not to tempt the Lord our God. Again, "the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then said Jesus unto him, get thee hence satan; for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Here it is, that this tempter which appeared unto Christ appears unto us also; and he not only pretends to preach, but he quotes scripture. But blessed be the name of Israel's God, that gospel which is essential to salvation, can never be preached by men nor devils-It is internal, and the medium through which it can be conveyed, is no secondary medium. For it proceeds immediately from God, and is communicated immediately to each of our spirits; and therefore, it is called "the power of God unto salvation, to every one who believes," whether Jew or Gentile. And those who believe that God has changed these privileges, deprive them

selves of this inestimable blessing-the enjoy

ment of the third heaven, where there are things heard which are not lawful to be uttered. But while we are pursuing the gratification of the external senses in the performance of outward rituals of preaching, praying, and singing, we are not in the enjoyment of that which is given us from God, but that which our own imaginations have formed. The evil is one of immense magnitude, and I want us to take pattern after him, in whom there was no sin, in order that we may come into the same state of righteousness, into the same divine and living unity, union, and communion with the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then shall we not only be raised above every thing of human contrivance, but we shall feel no disposition to feed on these things. We shall then have no wish to appear glorious among men, neither shall we seek to have dominion over others; and according to the declaration of Christ, we shall be enabled to adopt the language which he did-"It is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve;" and also to take the language which he afterwards added, "get thee behind me satan, for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." He was not desirous to set up himselfhe was not desirous to have a name among men

-he was not seeking for earthly power and dominion, but he was desirous to do the will of him that sent him: and hence it was, that he was anointed with the oil of gladness, above his fellows; and hence it was that the declaration was made, "Him hath God the Father sealed." Now my friends, and fellow professors of this holy name, I want you not to attend to the preaching of devils, although they quote scripture-and although they may appear to your vain imaginations, to be superlatively seeking the glory of God, if they bear not the stamp of the divinity, if they are not the workmanship of the finger of God, they will produce evil, pain, sorrow, trouble, and affliction. And as certainly, as the Mosaic law was written on tables of stone, and as certainly as that writing was the writing of God. himself, so are the laws, by which we are to be governed, if rightly governed, written upon the fleshly tables of the heart, by the same divine illimitable power. To which I desire to recommend you, and not to man, nor to any of his works; but "I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to save your souls, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

And, my friends, with respect to preaching, when we are thus met together for the solemn

purpose of divine worship; I want us all to attend individually, to what is passing in our own minds, and endeavour to receive instruction from the fountain of all good, unperverted by men or devils; for it will nourish up the soul, and enable us to distinguish between good and evil. It will prevent us from calling good evil, and evil good; and we shall no longer take light for darkness, and darkness for light, bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. And here shall we be enabled to offer ourselves up a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ.

And who, or what is Christ? We have been induced by perversion of the scriptures, by prejudice, education, and the tradition of men, to ascribe the whole of this to an human being; and, not looking through the humanity to the divinity, we have been ascribing the whole divinity to the man Christ Jesus. Here is another evil that has led to great confusion; and it will always lead to confusion, because, it has not its origin in God; but it has its origin in human in vention. It had its origin in the darkness of that night of apostacy which for ages overspread professing christendom. A great deal has been said about divisions and sub-divisions, about a Triune God, distinct persons, and I know not what.