in our lawful occupations. This is the pray our Lord enjoined to his disciples, that they enter into temptation. Many awakened so suffered great loss, and made for themselve wilderness, by consulting with those who much at a loss as themselves, and going learned man to another to seek that withou can only be found within. The kingdom said Christ, is within you, his constant refer to this: his constant aim, to turn men from dence upon the ceremonies of religion to th of it. When we are so far convinced of th truths as to give up ourselves wholly to can say with sincerity, Thy will, and not done;' then we shall enjoy that heavenly co I which constitutes the happiness of the bless Narrow prejudices will no longer exist, our expand with love to our fellow-creatures, an consider all mankind as branches of the san having one common Father. We shall f interest in the happiness of all within our and endeavour to promote it to the utm power. These are the effects which wou duced by submitting to the operation Grace in the heart. We shall then expe know that God is good.' We shall be q taste and see how gracious he is, by his

པསཔབཔ་་

བ་ པཔསབད ་་

How

irradiate its understanding, rectify its will, purify its passions, and enliven all the powers of man. happy is an intellectual being, who by prayer and meditation, by virtue and good works, opens this communication between God and his own soul! Though the whole creation frowns upon him, and all nature looks black about him, he has his light and suppor within him, that are able to cheer his mind and bea him up in the midst of all those horrors which en compass him. He knows that his helper is at hand and is always nearer to him than any thing else car be which is capable of annoying or terrifying him In the midst of calumny or contempt, he attends t that Being who whispers better things within his soul and whom he looks upon as his defender, his glory and the lifter up of his head. In his deepest solitud and retirement, he knows that he is in company with the greatest of Beings; and perceives within himsel such real sensations of his presence, as are more de lightful than any thing that can be met with in th conversation of his creatures. Even in the hour o death, he considers the pains of his dissolution to b nothing else but the breaking down of that partition which stands betwixt his soul and the sight of the Being who is always present with him, and is abou to manifest himself to him in fulness of joy.* If w duly ponder these things, fellow-traveller, and giv up our hearts to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, th end of our journey will be the beginning of a new ex istence, inconceivably glorious, and eternally happy

* Collection of papers from the Spectator.

JOURNAL OF JOB SCO

I AM renewedly confirmed in a sentimen long been settled in; which is, that there ne and never will be, but one true religion in the to wit, The work of the Spirit of God in the mankind;' that some of all denominations ha thing of this True Religion, even though them, through the prejudice of education, ma low it in profession: and that no man has religion but what he comes to the knowle experience of, through the influence of th Spirit. This it is that begins and carries on th this it is that, by its own divine influence, o in the minds of mankind, reveals Christ in th hope of glory;'* or so operates from time to reading the Scriptures, or other good books, ing the gospel preached, on meditating on th of Creation and Providence, on God's judg the earth, or his dealings with themselves,

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portunities and things would be utterly in vain, as t salvation, and never able to produce the least degre of true religion or sanctification in the soul. So that though there are many opinions, many creeds, pro fessions and denominations, and some truly religiou persons in them all; yet there is and can be but on true religion: all true religion is of one kind; a springs from one source. And, blessed and adore for ever be the Lord, in order that all men may, if the will, be benefitted experimentally by this one true re ligion, the manifestion of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.* He that rightly profits there by, and continues so to do, will live in the exercis of the one true faith, will witness the one true Chris tian baptism, will know and obey the one living Lord, will by the Holy Ghost, in word and deed, ac knowlege and call him Lord, and so will be saved by an everlasting salvation. And on the other hand seeing a measure of the Holy Spirit is given to every man; seeing the grace of God, that bringeth salva tion hath appeared unto all men,'t seeing the light and life of the Holy Word which in the beginning wa with God and was God, hath enlightened every ma that cometh into the world; and seeing moreover Christ Jesus has tasted death for every man's how shall we escape if we neglect and reject so great sal vation? How great must be the condemnation o every soul, thus highly favoured, which yet stands ou and rejects the strivings of the Spirit, the teachings of Grace, the shinings and convictions of the Divine

• Cor. xii. 7. † Tit. ii. 11. † John i. 9. § Heb. ii. 9.

Light! Now, this Light, Grace, and Spirit of is all one under different appellations. It is Spirit, because it is quick, lively, and operativ quickens the soul to a sensibility of its state an dition; it is called Grace, because it is the fi merited gift of God; and it is called Light, it makes manifest; as, whatsoever doth mak fest, is Light,* say the Scriptures. And as th or light is attended to, it will bring the sou state of grace and favour with God. Well, th might the Apostle, with holy reverence, bre in these expressions, Thanks be unto God unspeakable gift!' And all who obey the li be brought out of darkness into his marvellous for though the hearts of fallen men are gross ened, yet the light shineth in their dark hear though the darkness comprehendeth it not, if ken heed unto, it will shine more and more perfect day; even until the whole body be full But those who rebel against the Light, w darker and darker, until they know not the wa of, nor understand the paths thereof; and beco in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts come darkened; having loved darkness rat light, because their deeds were evil.