only. The law wounds, but the Gospel heals: Therefore Peter, in his firft fermon at Jerufalem, charged his hearers with the heinous fin of murder, even with crucifying the Lord of glory: And when the LORD appeared to Paul, before his converfion, he first charged him with being a bloody perfecutor; and he himself afterwards faith; I had not known fin, but by the law. Thus the law is the inftrument, but the Spirit is the Author of conviction of fin.-On the other hand; by the Gospel, and not by the law, (for the law killeth, but the Gospel giveth life) he convinces the finner of righteoufnefs; even the righteoufnefs of God, which he himself hath provided for, and promised unto all them that believe in Jesus Chrift: But 'tis manifeft, that no man can believe this divine truth, nor truft therein, but by the Holy Ghoft.-It is therefore a great error to fuppofe that faith cometh by the preaching of the law; as alfo to urge, and call upon dead finners to believe on JESUS, without plainly fignifying, or declaring that faith is the gift of GOD, and work of his Spirit: Helplefs Sinners should be made fenfible that they can do nothing, as well as merit nothing. Here many preachers of Christ feem to have been greatly mistaken; and misleading, they diftrefs their hearers.It is true thou oughtest to use means to believe, which is the reading, and hearing of God's word; which if thou art convinced is true, then (holding faft what

Rom. vii. 7.

thou

thou haft) follow its directions, and obey its voice; praying, as he counfels and directs thee, for the Holy Spirit, to teach thee according to the word, and to lead thee into all truth: And depend upon it that in fo doing, he will increase thy faith and confolation thro' Chrift Jefus, for his own glory, and thy foul's profit. Wherefore he faith, every one that afketh, receiveth; and be that feeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened: for if ye, 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* ?—But attempt nothing of this in thy own ftrength, for thou art blind and helpless: And if thou haft by grace received a little light, and strength; yet thou mayeft not expect the leaft increase according to godliness, except thou feek, and ask for it of GOD, thro' Chrift, by the Spirit: And if alfo thou art not fincere in thy request to GoD, and thy words be not the very language of thine heart, he will not hear thee. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things; but if our heart condemn us not, then have wè confidence towards God.

But fome people make not God's word the rule of their faith, and conduct; and hence they are fuffered to fall into many strange delufions, and led

U 4

* Luke xi. 13.

away

away with fancies, imaginary revelations, vifions, and dreams, which are not from the Spirit of GOD for the Spirit of God is holy, and true, caufing all that are led by him to be clothed with humility, and to glory only in the Lord Jesus Christ. And fome perhaps expect to be heard of GOD, when they afk amifs, or retain their idol and bofom lufts in their hearts; but God will not be mocked; his name is holy, a jealous God, and a confuming fire.-Others again are afraid that GoD doth not hear them, because they are not immediately anfwered, in the way and manner that they wifh, and expect; altho' GoD is probably, at the fame time, leading them forth by a right way; humbling, and teaching them how to poffefs their fouls in patience: But this is a way unpleasant to flesh and blood; and therefore the Chriftian, at first, is very unwilling to walk

in it.

3. No man is able effectually to refift fin and Satan, but by the Holy Ghost.For it is the Spirit that ftrengthens our inner man in believing, and leads us to Chrift; that, by the power of his might, we may be able to withstand, in the evil day, and to overcome the wicked one.-The word of truth directs us to refift the Devil, and ftand ftedfaft in the faith; and affures us, that in this way, we fhall

quench

quench all his fiery darts, and caufe him to flee from us: But no Chriftian ever did this by any might of his own; but by the faith of Chrift, thro' the power of the Holy Spirit only. In like manner we overcome the world by the Spirit of Chrift, thro' faith in his blood; wherefore to his difciples he faith, be of good chear, I have overcome the world. By the fame Spirit alfo, our own corruptions are fubdued, and mortified: as it is written; if ye live after the flesh, ye fhall die: but if thro' the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live: For, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the fons of God.

ye

As then we may expect nothing from God, without Chrift; fo neither can we receive any thing from GOD thro' Chrift, or do any thing well pleafing in his fight, without the Spirit: and as he that denieth the Son, hath not the Father; fo be that denieth the Holy Spirit, hath not Chrift dwelling in his heart by faith.

4.The Spirit, by his divine power, makes his own work and operation in the heart manifeft; and thereby witneffes with our fpirits that we are the children of God.

-When he openeth our eyes, we know it.-1 was once blind, faith the Chriftian, but now I fee: Ye

+ Eph. vi. 16.-Pet. v. 3.-James iv. 7.

Rom. viii. 13, 14.

Ye were fometime darkness, but are now light in the LORD.When he leads us to Chrift, working faith in our hearts, we know it.-I once trusted in myself, and looked for falvation from my own works, either in part, or in whole; but now I trust in Chrift for righteousness, and look for falvation thro' his name only.

I once loved the world, and placed my happiness in the enjoyment, and poffeffion of it; but now my happiness lies in the enjoyment of God, and of Chrift; and I count all things but drofs that I may win Chrift ||, and be found in him.

I once counted religion a dull and unpleasant fervice; but now I find joy and felicity in drawing nigh to GOD, bungering and thirsting after righte oufness.

Once the people of GOD were as fools in my esteem, and their converfation was a burden to me; but now my foul is knit to them in love for Chrift's fake, and I count them the excellent of the earth, in whom is all my delight.

Once I had no peace of confcience, because of my fin; but now I find, in some measure at least, joy and peace in believing; altho' for a time it may be interrupted by my backfliding, and fore temptations.Once I could only behold GoD as an enemy; but now as a reconciled Father in Christ.

Phil. iii. 8.

And