no purpose to say that you intend to lead a Chriftian life.

And if through careleffnefs, prefumption, violent temptations, or the like, you happen to fall into any of these fins before-named, you must resolve, by God's grace, immediately to repent and forfake it, left you grow hardened, and careless of your foul, and drive the Spirit of God from you; for then you can never repent, never be forgiven.

Laftly. If it fhall please God to give you a fense of your miscarriages, and your fins have been fuch as have given offence to the church of God; do you refolve to give glory to God in a free confeffion of your fins, and after fuch a way as the Church and Ministers of Christ's kingdom here on earth fhall appoint?

It is neceffary that you should confider this, and be refolved what you will do in fuch a cafe; for as on the one hand fhame will be apt to make you endeavour to avoid fuch an open acknowledgment; (the unthinking world may be apt to perfuade you that such a formality is not neceffary, and the profane world will be apt to laugh at you;) fo on the other hand, you must know, that whoever despiseth the wholfome orders of the ministers of Chrift, defpifeth Chrift himself, and God that fent him.

Here then will be the trial of your obedience; and you ought to refolve beforehand, whether

whether shame, the cenfure of a foolish world, or any other confideration, fhall hinder you from doing that, without which your pardon, in all probability, will never be fealed in heaven.

To conclude this particular. If you can refolve in all these cafes to do what you believe will be moft pleafing to God, in hopes of being beloved and rewarded by him, then may you with fafety and good hopes renew your baptifmal vow, now and at all times:And the grace of God will most furely be with you, to affift and bless your good endeavours, without which your best purposes and most fober refolutions would all be in vain.

III. Which brings us to the third particular to be explained; namely, what affiftances you may depend on, to enable you to do what you piously refolve upon. And this is very neceffary to be confidered; for the word of God affures us, and by experience we find, that all our good purposes and defigns will come to nothing, unless the Spirit of God be with us, to encourage, to fupport, and to ftrengthen us.

And for this very reafon the Apostles of Christ (no doubt by his appointment) began this ufage in the church of God, that after perfons had by baptifm been received into the church and houfhold of faith, and had been made partakers of the covenant of grace, the apostles, and their fucceffors, fhould lay their hands upon them, affuring them by that fign

of

of God's favour and good-will towards them, that fuch a meafure of his Holy Spirit thall accompany them, as fhall be fufficient to guide, to fupport, and to defend them, from themselves, and their own deceitful hearts; from the world, and all its vain deceitful charms; from the devil, and all the powers of darkness; till they come to that everlasting kingdom of which they are heirs.

Now, if this be the way by which God will beftow a greater measure of his Holy Spirit, what fober perfon will neglect fuch means of grace? Who will dare to despise this ordinance?

that

But, as beneficial as this ordinance may be to all those who make ufe of it, it will fecure no man in the ways of holiness, but such as purpose to use their best endeavours to retain that Holy Spirit which is conferred upon them by impofition of hands. We pray, God defend with his heavenly grace. We fhew you, that God is ever ready to blefs his own holy appointments. We may convince you, that this is one of his ordinances, and as fuch you may earnestly defire to be partakers of it; and yet, after all, reap no benefit by it.

may

you

For you may neglect the gift bestowed upon you, forget your promifes and good purposes, and grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by which you are fealed unto the day of redemption.

God

God forbid it should be fo with any of you on whom I am now going to lay my hands. But fince it may be fo, it is fit you fhould have warning to be careful of your ways, and know how to value the grace of God fo as not to forfeit it.

And value it furely you will, if you confider the bleffing of being under the government of the Spirit of God: for then no temptation can overcome you; the devil cannot hurt you; for greater is he that is with you, than he that is against you. You will, by his affistance, learn to defpife this world, and fet your affections upon a much better. You will be enabled, by that fame Spirit, to mortify the deeds of the flesh, that you may live -live as free from fin as may be here, and for ever in heaven. For this good Spirit will enlighten your minds with faving truths; when you go aftray, will pull you back; when you grow careless, will awaken you; when you want help, will affift you; when you want comfort, will rejoice your heart; when you do well, will encourage you; and when you do amifs, will correct and chaften you; until he brings you to heaven, when all your trouble and danger will be over, and, for the short trials you have undergone in this life, you will be made happy for ever and ever.

IV. And now you will defire to know, By what means this good Spirit is to be fecured, you may attain the end of your faith and

bow

Chriftian

Chriftian profeffion; namely, the falvation of your fouls; which was the laft particular we proposed to speak to.

The holy Pfalmift fet himself (as he tells us*) this rule: I fet God always before me, therefore I fhall not fall. That is, he endeavoured to have these thoughts ever in his mind,That God faw all his actions, heard all his words, and knew the very thoughts of his heart,-that he might not offend God, he therefore took care of his thoughts, words, and actions. But if at any time he had the misfortune to fall, his way was not to continue in rebellion: I made hafte, faith he, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

And thus muft you do, if you hope for the continuance of God's grace.

You must strive to live in the fear of God, remembering his judgments upon wilful finners, frequently calling to mind the vows that are upon you, calling upon him in all your wants, and giving him thanks for every blefsing you receive.

By this means, the knowledge of God will be ever present with you, and the Spirit of God will delight in you, and lead you in the way wherein you should go:-And if at any time you go aftray, he will by the methods of his providence bring you back, that you may in the end be faved.

In the second place, be fure not to neglect any opportunities of improving yourselves in Christian

* Pf. xvi. 8,