true dignity and happiness of man. They know themselves; they fee and feel that they are fuch creatures as the Bible defcribes them to be, weak, depraved, and vile. Of course, they fee the folly of attempting to recommend themselves to God, and can no longer place any dependence on what they once accounted their wifdom, power, or righteoufnefs; and therefore they fee the abfolute neceffity of a Saviour. They fee, likewife, and approve the method of falvation propofed by the gofpel, as worthy of the wisdom and juftice of God, and every way adapted to the exigencies of their fins, wants, and fears. They fee and admire the excellence, dignity, and fufficiency of him, on whom their help is laid. His power and authority engage their confidence, his love captivates and fixes their hearts. They fee the vanity of the prefent ftate, and the vast importance of eternity. In thefe refpects they have all of them a good understanding, however inferior in natural capacity, or acquired knowledge, to the wife men of the world.

2. Their knowledge, fo far as they have attained, is not merely fpeculative, cold, and indiftinct, like the light of the moon. The Sun of Righteoufnefs has fhined into their hearts. The light they enjoy is vital, cheering, and effective. Becaufe they thus fee, they hear likewife. They were once deaf to the voice of God, whether he spoke by his word or his providence; whether in the language of mercy or judgment. But now their deaf ears are unftopped. They are now attentive, fubmiffive, and willing to receive his instructions, and to obey his commands. With them, one Thus faith the Lord, has the force of a thousand arguments. They defire no farther proot of a doctrine, no other warrant for their prac tice, no other reafon for any difpenfation, than Thus the Lord has faid, This he requires, and This is his appointment. Thus their wills are brought in

to

to subjection; and they so understand, as to believe and obey.

3. Farther, with their fight and hearing they re. ceive power and activity. Once, they were tied and bound in the chain of their fins, or like a man benumbed with a dead palfy, unable to move. If they fometimes feemed to express defires that might be called good with refpect to their object, they were faint and ineffectual. But now their fetters are broken, the health and strength of their fouls is restored, and God has wrought in them not only to will, but alfo to do according to his good pleasure It is not more wonderful that a cripple fhould fuddenly recover the use of his limbs, than that a perfon, who has long been fettered in finful habits, should be enabled to move and act with alacrity in the service of God. But in the day of divine power, finners are made both willing and able. How burdenfome was that which they once accounted their religion ! how little comfort did it yield them! how little did it affift them against their paffions, or against their fears? But all things are become new, fince they have attained to a life of faith in the Son of God. Their religious fervice is now pleasant, and their warfare against fin and the world, victorious. Their obligations, motives, refources, encouragements, and profpects, infpire them with a holy vigour, to run, with patience and perfeverance, the race that is fet before them.

4. Having their fight and hearing thus restored, and their hearts enlarged to walk at liberty in the ways of wisdom; they are no longer dumb, filent, and fullen, but, out of the abundance of their hearts, their mouths fpeak the language of gratitude, praise, and joy. For though most people have the faculty of fpeech, and can ufe, or rather abuse, their tongues fluently; though we are fufficiently expert

* Phil. ii. 13.

expert from our childhood, in the dialects of falfehood, profanenefs, and folly; yet, by nature, we are dumb with refpect to the language that becomes us, as the creatures of God, and as thofe who have finned against him, and yet are invited to feek his mercy. But when grace teaches the heart, then the heart teaches the mouth *. When we believe, then we speak, yea, we fing and greatly rejoice; as it is written, In that day I will praise thee; though thou waft angry, thine anger is turned away t. And again, The voice of joy and thanksgivin is in the tabernacles of the righteous t Let the redeemed of the Lord fay, That he is good, and his mercy endureth for ever §.

It is of great importance to examine ourselves by this teft, and not to be fatisfied with our knowledge of the gofpel, any farther than our confciences bear us witness, that it has produced a real, moral, change in our tempers, conduct, and purfuits. For there is a knowledge which is falfely fo called. It puffeth up, but edifieth not. Our Lord's declaration deserves our most ferious attention. For judgment I am come into this world; that they which fee not, may fee; and that they which fee, might be made blind. It is very poffible, yea, very easy, by the help of books, fermons, and converfe, to acquire an orderly and fyftematic knowledge of divine truths; it may be learnt thus, like any other branch of human fcience, and the head be well ftored with orthodox fentiments; and there may be an ability to prove and defend them, in a way of argumentation, while the heart is utterly a ftranger to their falutary influence. Such characters are too common. None make a greater parade and boast of seeing, than these persons. None are more fatally blinded. They fmile, with difdain, when they speak of a self-righte

oufnefs

Pfal. cxviii. 15.

oufnefs founded upon prayers, alms-deeds, and facraments; but are not aware that they themselves live in the very fpirit of the Pharifees, fo clearly defcribed, and to exprefsly condemned, in the N. w Teitament. Their fuppofed knowledge of the doctrines which they mifunderstand and abufe, is the righteoufnefs on which they build their hopes; and trusting to this, they defpife all thofe who are stricter in practice than themtelves, as ignorant and legal; and difcover almoft as great diflike to close and faithful preaching, as they could do to poison. Though the doctrines of the gofpel, when rightly received, are productive of godlinefs, it is to be feared, there are people who efpoufe and plead for them, to quiet their confciences, by furnishing them with excufes for the fins they are unwilling to forfake It is not furprifing, that they who are difpleafed with the yoke of our Lord's precepts, fhould feem friendly to the idea of falvation without the works of the law. The notion of the final perfeverance of believers, may afford a pillow for those to reit on, who being at present destitute of all feeling of fpiritual life, labour to perfuade themselves that they are Chriftians, because they had fome ferious thoughts, and made fome profeffion of the truth, many years ago. So likewife, in what the Scriptures teach, of the total inability of fallen man, they think they have a plea to justify their negligence and floth, and therefore are not difpofed to contradict the testimony. The invitation and command to wait, and watch, and strive, in the ways and means of the Lord's appointment, they evade, as they think, with impunity, by confeffing the charge, and faying, I am a poor creature indeed, I can do nothing of myself aright, and therefore to what purpose fhould I attempt to do any thing? A minister may preach upon these points, in general terms, and obtain

Luke xviii. 2.

tain their good word. But if he speaks plainly and faithfully to confcience; if he bears teftimony not only against dead works, but against a dead faith; againft fpiritual pride, evil tempers, evil fpeaking, love of the world, and finful compliances; if he infifts that the branches of the true vine fhould bear grapes, and not the fame fruit as the bramble; hearers of this ftamp will think they do God fervice, by cenfuring all he can fay, as low and legal trash. How awful! that people fhould be blinded by the very truths which they profefs to believe! Yet I fear fuch cases are too frequent. God grant a delufion of this kind may never be found amongst us! For if the falt itself fhould lofe its favour, wherewith fall it be falted? May we come fimply to the light, with a defire of seeing more of ourselves, and more of our Saviour; that we may be more humble and fpiritual, more afraid of fin, more watchful and fuccessful in striving against it; and, in our whole converfation, more conformable to our glorious Head! But to return. From what has been offered upon this fubject, we may obferve,

1. That true Chriftianity is friendly to fociety, and to the common interefts of mankind. It is the fource of peace, tenderness, benevolence, and every humane temper. It is calculated to foothe the fierce difpofition, to enlarge the selfish spirit, and to trans form the lion into the lamb. What then must we think of those pretended friends to liberty and free enquiry, whofe unhappy zeal is employed to rob us of the only light and balm of life? who, by their misreprefentations and cavils, endeavour to perfuade others, though they cannot effectually perfuade themselves, that the gofpel, a fcheme fo wife in its conftitution, fo falutary in its defign, fo powerful in its effects, is no better than an impofition, the contrivance of fuperftitious or artful men! Why

Matt. v. 13.

fhould