nor can he think without the highest complacency, of the dignity to which he shall be advanced, when he shall fully be transformed into it.

With regard to Providence. Not only in God's visible and magnificent works, which gloriously display to him the divine wisdom and power; nor, again, in those tremendous and mysterious ways by which God hath directed all things, from generation to generation; not only in these general manifestations doth he acknowledge God, but with a peculiar and submissive regard doth he observe God in the particular and fatherly government which is exercised towards himself. He owns his hand in the visitations both of chastisement and prosperity, seeing love in them both. He is convinced, that his soul is God's especial care; while, with grateful wonder, he reflects upon God's forbearance and gentleness towards him; the wise and strange means and contrivances God hath used with him; the kind disappointments, and most inviting encouragements, he hath met with from him; in a word, the long and watchful discipline, which an affectionate Providence hath exercised upon him.

With regard to death. He reverences it, because it is the sentence of the Most High against a rebellious world; and yet he acquiesces in it, as the messenger of life and liberty. He pays a SOlemn and steadfast attention to it; neither seeing it advancing upon him with fright nor unconcern. The thought of it is near, and abides with deep imHe wishes to be more repression upon his mind.

conciled to it; yea, even to long for its approach.

Meantime, he lives in the sight and expectation of this decisive event, advised of its uncertainty, but assured that by and by he shall be brought to "the house appointed for all living." As every advancing day brings it nearer, he feels the impression more interesting, important, and abiding; he feels time grow more valuable, and life becoming continually more vain.

"Blessed region !"

With regard to heaven. all his soul cries within him; "Peaceful dwelling! where all the family of love meet and abide; where God, the tender Father reigns, pleased at the joy and happiness he gives to his sons and daughters; where Christ, the well-beloved Son, the kindest master, the dearest brother, delights himself in his elect; where ever-faithful angels worship; and saints, saved and restored, for ever sing their grateful praises. Eternal house! which time shall not destroy; whose foundations are the immoveable perfections of the God that changeth not! Valuable treasure! which neither moth can corPleasure satisfying to the rupt, nor thief steal! fullest tides of joy, and yet delighting still, as if never tasted!" Thus he cries, in the views of heaven; and all else, with him, is avowed vanity. Defect, decay, uncertainty, and unfitness, are evidently stamped upon all earthly grandeur, wealth, and pleasure, in his apprehensions of them; since he is grown ambitious of a perfect, enduring, uninterrupted, noble, and reasonable happiness, which God hath in store for them that love him.

With regard to hell also. Hell, the place pro

vided by infinite justice for sinners; the punishment, which a righteous vengeance hath prepared; the wages of sin, and the very consequence of it! This state of darkness and misery he regards with a continual and confirmed abhorrence, and learns, from the sight he has of its horrors, more devoutly to hate that sin, which forces the Father of mercies so fearfully to correct, so infinitely to punish his own creatures. He sees it, and suspects his steps, lest they have any tendency towards it; he views giddy multitudes dancing gaily upon the brink of it, and trembles at the horrible view.

Finally, with regard to eternity. What wondrous depths of being doth he find in this one word! Ten thousand ages are just nothing in comparison; and when exerting all his powers to reach after it, he adds ten million more, and doubles and redoubles the account: still he finds that he advances not, and sinks under the vast and cumbrous, thought. Full of this impression, he is either pleased or trembles, as he sees or suspects his title to happiness therein; the days of man are shrunk into the abidance of a moment, into the remembrance of yesterday that is past; and with a pilgrim's hasty unaffected eye, he regards the things of this life.

Such as these are the apprehensions of the new creature about these important things: in this manner he judges of them. Possibly thou hast never made such reflections upon thyself, and many of these thoughts may be new to thee: but, if heartily thou dost consent to them, now they are told thee; if it be in this humble way that thou judgest of the con

cerns of God and thy soul, as far as thou knowest them, this is the proof that thou art the new creature. Apply this description of the renewed understanding to thy heart; and if thou canst answer, "Thus and thus I judge; you have opened to me views with which I readily agree; they correspond with the temper and tone of my soul, which relishes, and is in harmony with such kind of apprehending;" trouble yourself no farther; it is well with your soul. Neither the formal nor the careless can join with you in any, the least of all these things.

Say, ye formal professors, who seem to be the servants of God, and are not; whose attendance upon hours and places of devotion with scrupulous diligence, bespeaks, it were to be imagined, the deepest impression of these spiritual things abiding upon your souls: say, do you judge in this manner? Alas! all your apprehensions are but speculative and curious; a knowledge puffing you up; a judgment light and unsettled, and which bears no prevailing influence in the heart. Your views of all these things are without due reverence; and you set up a title to them which is not founded in humiliation, but pride. You know Jesus to be the Son of God; that he came forth from the bosom of his Father, and is gone unto him again: but you regard, you speak, you think of him with an heart unacquainted with the endearments of gratitude, and unsubdued by the profusion of his redeeming love. You know that he was upon earth, and is now in heaven; but judging not that your sins have brought ruin upon your head, which you cannot escape but by betaking

yourself to his protection, you read of him with indifference, and hold no daily intercourse with him, as the very life and food of your soul.-You will be talking, I know, of grace, and sanctification through the Spirit; will be taking up the words of the new creature; and entreating, as it would seem, that the grace of God might be with you always; that God would not withhold or take the Holy Spirit from you. However you have not discovered the corruption of your own heart; how far removed your soul is from God and holiness; you know not therefore your wants and your weakness: ready in your own strength to encounter all opposition, because you are ignorant of the power of sin, which dwells and reigns within you; and therefore you do but call upon the Spirit, to give you the strength which you do not perceive you need, to heal the diseases of your soul, which you do not complain, nor feel the pain and the burden of. And see then, what vain and unsettled apprehensions you have of this divine Author and Giver of all light, and love, and comfort. And how is it you judge of sin? You disdain scandalous vices; cannot endure knavery, drunkenness, or lewdBut even these you abhor but from custom, and the judgment of the world. Do you hate sin, because God doth; because of the dishonour it brings upon his government; because of its ingratitude and real filthiness, in the presence of a gracious Father, and pure God? Do you hate every sin? the pride, stubbornness, and unbelief of your own heart, as well as the gross sins of others you are so continually crying out upon? Alas! all Alas! all your judg

ness.