latter end of fuch is worse than the beginning. Or elfe, the awakened hearer either takes up with a proud dependance upon a mistaken, external, and pharifaical righteousness; or, not being by his teacher led to Chrift, he proceeds not, fettles not; but abiding long under the doubtful concern, is wearied with it, weary of it, and comes to nothing; which seems to be the thought in Hofea ; * Ephraim is an unwife fon; he should not flay long in the place of the breaking forth of children." Or laftly, if any are truly converted under fuch miniftry, it is very ufual that they are forced to defert it, to find richer and sweeter pasture for their fouls. Some of their hearers inay poffibly prefer this ftrain of preaching; but it does not thence follow that they are the better for it. To illuftrate this remark, I will recite a paragraph out of "Remarkable paffages in the life of a private gentleman." Spiritual fearching difcourfes I did not fo much favour as mere moral doctrines; though too immoral myself. The hopes I had 'conceived of the ftrength of my good refolutions ' rendered them grateful. SENECA's Morals I read with great pleasure. Mr. BAXTER'S Saint's Reft frighted me; fo after reading a few 6 'paffages, I threw it by.'-Thus with regret he tells us what little profit he had in that way, of his fondnefs for which he was afhamed, when he came to be of Paul's mind, to count all drofs and dung, that he might win Christ. 5. 2. The putting of a thought in feveral diftinct views and lights, for different purposes and defigns. The facred writers are herein our pattern, and that not by chance, but for wife reafons. One view is defigned to raise one affection; another view, to excite another of a different fort. And, finally, one of the views is defigned as an antidote against the poifon which the corruption of men's hearts might draw out of the other. § 6. For instance, the terms and way of our juftification and falvation are frequently ftated thus: That we must be found in Chrift, having on the righteousness which is of God by faith," and "we must be made the righteousness of God in him.”+ And this view is exquifitely adapted to humble us, to draw forth love and gratitude, and encourage our hopes and dependance. But left this phraseology, if used alone, fhould beget fecurity, at other times we are told, that "by works a man is juftified, and not by faith only; and that faith without works is dead ;" and that the * Phil. iii. 9. + 2 Cor. v. 21. Jam. ii. 24, 26. the inquiry at the laft day fhall be, Who has "fed the hungry, cloathed the naked ?" &c.'* 7. And most commonly these two views are united in the fame paragraph; that one may prevent the ill confequences man's perverfenefs would draw from the other. As physicians, finding some dangerous effect likely to follow from a drug of fovereign virtue, mix fome other with it, to prevent the fatal confequences. So we are faid to be "elect, according to the foreknowledge of God, through fanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus."+ Again we are told, that " by grace we are faved through faith, the gift of God, not of works; for we are his workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works." §. 8. I may give another inftance, in the different ways the fcripture speaks of power and duty. Sometimes we are told, that "we cannot come to Christ except the Father draw us."§ That "without Christ we can do nothing." That" if we live, it is not we, but Chrift that liveth in us." |||| Now thefe views tend to hide pride from man, to create a diffidence of ourselves, and to centre our hopes and dependance on Chrift. But left the flothful and G 3 + 1 Pet. i. 2. Eph. ii. 8-10. Gal. ii, 20. Matt. xxv. and wicked fervant fhould make his impotence his excufe; we are called upon to "turn and make us new hearts," exhorted to "afk and we shall receive," and are affured "God will give the Spirit to them that ask him."* And how happily are these two views united in this paffage, "Work out your own falvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do.”+ 9. Now, lefs fkilful dividers of the word deal entirely in one of these views, and neglect the other; and while they are labouring to excite one good affection, they raise another of a bad tendency together with it. To this in part it is owing that there are so many low or diftempered chriftians. Nor is this partiality more happy at effecting the real converfion of finners, who generally, under fuch management, are either left afleep, and fettled in a fond conceit of their own righteousness, or elfe ftumble at the rock of offence, (in a different manner indeed from what the Jews did) thinking to find by Chrift a way to heaven, without holiness or moral honefty. § 10. 3. Diftin&tly explaining and enforcing particular duties, and opposing particular fins. It is true, the whole scheme of gospel duty is dedu. cible from the general heads of faith and love; but, alas! *Luke xi. 9, 13. † Phil. ii. 12, 13. alas! moft men's minds are flow, confused, and erroneous in long deductions; and it is our bufi. nefs to lead them on in every step, and to fhew what particular duties to God, our neighbour, and ourselves, will flow from thefe principles, and are necessary to make the man of God perfect. We muft particularly teach them to " add to their faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity," if we would not leave them blind, and unfruitful.* And we fhould, in a particular manner, speak of "the fruits of the Spirit, as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meeknefs, and temperance;" and at proper seasons explain and enforce each of them. We should apply the lamp of the word to detect and difgrace all the particular" works of darkness," and to make manifeft" the fruits of the flesh; fuch as adultery, lafciviousness, wrath, ftrife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and fuch like."+ § 11. If I fhould read to a fick perfon a learned lecture on the benefit of health, and exhort him to take care to recover it, but never inquire into the nature of his disease, or prescribe proper methods and medicines for the cure, he would hardly acquiefce 2 Pet, i. 7. + Gal, v. 22, 23. Gal. v. 19, 21. |