brace it wherever I found it, and whatever it might cost. No sooner had I begun the inquiry, than I was called upon to give proof of the sincerity of this resolution; and from a principle of conscience, though a mistaken one, I renounced my prospect of immediate preferment: and it would be uncandid to question my sincerity after it had been thus evidenced. Since that time I have also deliberately sacrificed my character, and hazarded the loss of all my former friends. Giving these proofs of integrity, I set off in dependence on those plain promises which I have mentioned; I have sought this desired knowledge of the truth, chiefly in reading the Holy Scriptures, and by prayer for the promised teaching of the Holy Ghost, in the manner which hath been related; and I am now led to conclusions diametrically opposite to what I expected! →Now lay all these things together, and attentively consider them; and then let your own consciences determine how far it is probable, that a person, in this manner seeking for the truth, should be "given over to a strong delusion" to believe a pernicious lie," If a son shall ask "bread of any of you that is a father, will he give "him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish

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give him a serpent? or if shall ask an egg, will "he give him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, "know how to give good gifts unto your children; "how much more shall your heavenly Father give "the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Can any man suppose that, after such repeated and continued pleadings of the express promises of the Lord to this effect, in earnest prayer according to his appointment, I should be delivered up to the

us,

teaching of the father of lies? Can any one make this conclusion, without an evident insinuation that God hath broken his promises? In short, you may make a jest of the narrative; you may throw by the book without giving any attention to an argument of this kind; you may say, what you never can prove, that it is all a contrived story; or you may argue, that these promises, though contained in the Bible, are not to be depended on by which is to give up the scriptures to be scoffed at by infidels and atheists, and to render them useless to the humble anxious inquirer after truth and salvation but by no other means, I am assured, can you account for this single circumstance, without allowing, that the substance of those doctrines, which I have now embraced, is indeed contained in the word of God; that they comprise "the truth as it is Jesus," and are not corrupted with any such delusion as can hazard the salvation of my soul, or the souls of those who by my ministry receive them. -On this supposition all difficulties vanish. The Lord had given me a sincere desire to know the saving doctrine of the gospel; and though I was exceedingly ignorant, obstinate, and prejudiced; yet, this desire, having, according to his direction, led me to the word of God, and influenced me to seek his teaching by prayer, he was faithful to his own promises, and it was an example of his own words, "Every one that asketh receiveth, and he "that seeketh findeth." My evident sincerity in seeking the truth was sufficient to convince any person, conversant and experienced in the things of God, that, as my friend foretold, thither would all my inquiries lead me; in that would they all

finally centre. And, could I be assured, beloved reader, whoever thou art, that thou wast as sincerely desirous to know the truth as I then was, and as heartily resolved to embrace it wherever thou mightest find it, and whatever it should cost thee; had I also assurance, that, in a believing dependence on these promises, thou wast diligently and from day to day, in the study of the word of God and prayer, seeking the accomplishment of them; I would as confidently foretel, that, as to those things which I now regard as essential to salvation, and, if thou hast the souls of others committed to thee, as to what is needful for thy usefulness in the ministry, thou wouldst be brought in time to these same conclusions, whatever thy present religious sentiments may be. May the Lord give thee true sincerity, and incline thine heart to try the experiment !

I am aware that many will object to what I have argued on this head, as being too confident; and as what is urged by men of contrary religious sentiments, cach in behalf of his own system; and, as I would not leave any material and plausible objection in force against what I have advanced, I hope the reader will excuse my obviating this beforehand. I would therefore intreat those, who object to the confidence with which this argument is brought forward, impartially and carefully to consider the limitations with which on every hand it is guarded: and then to inquire, whether in any other way, than that which hath been mentioned, they can account for the fact. That is, supposing this narrative true, (for which the appeal is to the heart-searching God,) and supposing the promises

mentioned to be proposed to us, that we may embrace them, depend on them, and plead them in prayer, considering the glory of the divine veracity as concerned in their accomplishment to every believer; let them try whether they can possibly evade one of these conclusions:-either that God hath failed of his promise; or that he hath in the main, and as far as is expressed, led the author by his holy Spirit to the knowledge and belief of the truth. As to the confidence of men of opposite sentiments, I observe, that many, who speak in high terms concerning sincerity and candour, will without hesitation condemn, as enthusiastical such reliance on the promises, and this way of searching for truth; and it is plain they do not seek truth in that manner which they condemn in others. Many others perhaps slightly mention these matters, but they will not endure to be closely questioned: for, being conscious that they have not sought the truth in this manner, they evade such discourse as personal. Again, the writings of many professed enquirèrs after truth evidently shew that they expect to find it, not by "trusting the Lord with all their "heart," or seeking it from the scriptures, and by earnest prayer for the teaching of the Holy Spirit ; but by "leaning to their own understanding ;" resting the argument on philosophical reasonings, and the authority of this or that renowned name; and supporting their conclusions by bold and perplexing criticisms and interpretations of scripture. Hence so many daring appeals from revelation to reason and philosophy! hence such and so many objections, brought against doctrines plainly revealed in God's word, if language hath any deter

nate meaning! and so many consequences charged upon these doctrines, with a design to invalidate their divine authority; as if the appearance of unreasonableness, imposed by every disingenuous art, were sufficient to prove the plainest revelation of God's Holy Spirit a falsehood! Hence such liberty in interpretation and criticism on the word of God, as the learned would never endure in interpreting or criticising Virgil or Horace! These things prove that such persons are strangers to that carnest, hearty, sincere desire to know the truth, which brings the inquirer to a humble willingness to be taught of God, and in submission of understanding to seek wisdom from his word and Spirit. It is indeed most evident, that many, who profess to be influenced by this sincere desire to know the truth, are not troubled with suspicions that they are, or can be, wrong. They have made up their minds before they begin the inquiry: and you will not find them willing to make the least concession, but, in the management of the controversy, resolved to vindicate and contend for every tittle; and, where arguments fail, to make use of the other arts of controversy, with which skill in the management of their weapons, and anger against their opponents, can supply them. Where a cause is thus maintained, you may easily know that there is none of that earnest desire of learning the truth, that anxious fear of mistaking it, that self-diffidence, and those doubts concerning the sentiments held at present, which constitute the godly sincerity, that leads the enquirer to the word and Spirit of God for direction and teaching. These things taken together, will, on scriptural grounds, cut off