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And now let me ask, on a fair review of the two cases, and in the very nature of things, which bids best for true peace of mind, and likewise most to exalt the wisdom, power, and goodness of God-he, who doth all the good within the sphere of his calling and abilities, on a principle of obedience to the precepts of the Gospel, and in imitation of the divine Author of it; and attributes the will and means to the influence of the divine aid, operating on his mind, and reducing his depraved reason to a just standard and sound judgment; who disclaims all personal merit, and ascribes all the power to the gracious Author and Finisher of his faith-or he, who continues to practise all ungodliness with greediness, and yet hopes to be saved at last by a stubborn belief, that if Christ hath died for the very worst of sinners, he may be included in the list, taking hold of the letter of the expression, without considering the pure sense of it, which indisputably affects only those who have repented and are converted, however grievously they had offended; not those who CONTINUE in sin, that grace may abound.

One can but shudder at such an excess of error; and yet many live and confide in it, and even maintain that it magnifies the extensive power and mercy of the Redeemer. But this we may assert, without pronouncing further against them, that they are among those who

do not live in the fear of God; who, though in the riches of his goodness he would have all men to be saved, yet to none, or any where, is this promise made until they have arrived to the knowledge of the truth.-But respecting the subject of repentance, perhaps some further consolation may be required, by the humble and wounded penitent.

Now, supposing the weak believer to be occasionally oppressed with doubts; is there any wonder at this? We do not generally and immediately arrive at perfection in grace and faith, any more than in any thing else. Were it otherwise, it would be as great a miracle, as if a man were to arrive at manhood, without going through the stages of childhood and youth. We may well be astonished at the rich mercy of God towards unworthy sinners, when conscience reproaches us with deserving very different treatment. But we must not be discouraged that we are any how, or in any degree, convinced and converted, must assist our humble confidence that God will not leave unfinished the work he has begun, if we faint not; and are faithful in using the means of grace he has vouchsafed to afford us. But perhaps you are beset with many evil thoughts and discomforting perplexities, and which would persuade you, that the good Spirit of God can never dwell where these intrude, Be not cast down: remember, that,

while in a state of trial and a weak body, you must be subject to all the natural evils attending your condition.-Besides, it behoves us well to consider, that our bitter enemy is not the less at work because we have made some steps towards reformation, and true faith in Christ. His arts should not alarm us, or damp our trust in God, but rather occasion our watchfulness, and stimulate our utmost exertions towards improvement in all good works. You should seriously reflect, that, when once you have turned from the broad way that leadeth to destruction, your spiritual enemy has a harder part to play, in order to accomplish your ruin, and therefore you must expect severer conflicts than before. When men are running the way of the multitude to evil, they are doing the devil's work themselves, for him; his utmost subtlety and malice is not so necessary to destroy them: but when they are once sensible of their error, they cannot avoid being terrified at the danger past, and grateful for their escape: they will then necessarily find some difficulty in walking in a narrower way to which they were never before accustomed. And here the great enemy mankind employs his last and most terrific battery, suggesting unbelief and doubts of their security, and sometimes absolute despair.

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Again, he has often this alarming circumstance in his favour, during these assaults:

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namely, the unhappy polluted taints which sinful habits have left upon the mind, and general frame; but here the trial to which the Captain of our salvation himself was subject, presents a GLORIOUS CONSOLATION. If the immaculate Jesus submitted to the artifices of the tempter, it was to set us an example with what weapons we might assure the victory.-If Satan presumed to tamper with the Son of God, well may he hope to seduce weak flesh and blood; grown weaker still, and more assailable, by its own depraved indulgences: for, when a person has long trodden in the paths of wickedness, and been inured to the various pollutions of vicious appetite, it is not possible, without a positive miracle, but that evil imaginations will intrude occasionally, and discompose his new pursuits. (so different in their nature). These the foe is doubly busy to introduce on every opportunity, hoping to check the better work from going on. -These may be truly called his fiery darts, and the penitent convert's severest conflicts. But grace and faith are abundantly qualified to quench their most furious efforts. Get thee behind me, Satan, should ever be the rebuke at band to make the evil spirit flee; and though he continues still to tempt us on more suspicious ground, our perseverance to serve and please the Lord alone, will finally defeat his very worst attacks. Nay, they may be improved to our

advantage; for whenever such discouraging thoughts present themselves, we should make this use of the sad remembrance-to raise a greater hatred against sin, and to exalt our gratitude for being spared at all, and not cut off in the gross indulgence of former crimes, which first begat infectious habits: in which case, our state must have been past remedy. We must not then despond at these relics of our former malady, for barely threatening a return, but apply every means to prevent their future influence. If we do not dwell upon them, and favour their contaminating effects, by free consent to their admittance, they will not be suffered to do us material injury, but rather act as centinels to guard us from future falling. In short, while they are not wilfully excited and indulged, they will effect no further actual injury, than the body receives under a state of convalescence, from unavoidably reverting to the danger of the symptoms that threatened its dissolution. But as, if after a violent fever, a man were wantonly to expose himself by such conduct as might hazard a relapse, the last state of that man would be worse than the first, in that he would incur more danger from the power of the returning disorder in his state of weakness; so is it exactly with regard to the soul, and our victory over evil habits. If we play with, instead of opposing our foes-if we

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