6. How clear is this, which we have fo evidently drawn out, and acted over in a Christian walk? For what else is the fpiritual converfation of fuch, thefe vifible effects and evidences of the grace of God, all along a Chriftian's way, but a visible convincing witness to the performance of the word? Hath not fuch a very audible echo and refound to that which is the great drift and fcope of the Scripture; where men may fee the Bible turned over into a practical hiftory, written forth, and acted on the heart and conversation of the faints, as on a ftage, or theatre: the word living, fpeaking, moving, and clearly diffufing itself through all the veins, as it were, and conduits of a Chriftian's life, fo that if the truth and reality of the grace of God, be a thing manifeft and unquestionable, we must also fee therein the real performance of the Scripture.

7. I shall add, we may clearly fee how one piece of the Scripture, is nothing else, but the punctual fulfilling and accomplishment of the other, how that which was fhadowed out by dark types, under the law, and held in a prophecy," through the Old Testament, is written before our eyes in a plain and real history, in the New Testament, and that the gospel is only a fulfilling of the law and the prophets.

IV. Though its very manifeft, and by undeniable proofs can be demonftrated, that the Scripture hath a real accomplishment, and doth certainly take place in the conftant course of providence, here in the world, that I am sure, if men do not darken themfelves, they can be no ftrangers to fuch a thing, yet we must fay, This truth which most nearly concerns us, is to the most of men, (even fuch who seem to give a large affent to the word) a mystery and a dark riddle. There are few who do but enquire if there be fuch a thing, if the promises and threatenings have indeed a certain outmaking, few do seriously ponder the providences of God in which the truth and faithfulness of the word fhineth forth, that they may thereby be further confirmed, we fee that to many, (alas to many) the great concernments of the law, and everlafting happiness, are a trivial and impertinent bufi

nefs, this is a truth the word doth pafs without regarding: fuch as sport at religion when they come to earnest here, dare not stand before this discovery, it concerneth them much to reconcile their principles with their practice, their fear begetteth hatred, and both put their wit and invention on the rack, how to difpute away any remainder of a con fcience, to imprifon their light, and under the pretext of reafon, run down godlinefs, and the abfolute neceffity there. of, yea befides, doth not fenfuality, wherein many wallow and steep themselves, fo dull and drown the foul, put fuch an interpofition of the earth betwixt them and this truth, as wholly darkens it? And, oh how fad! that many having a large profeffion to be Chriftians, fcarce ever knew, what it is to put the word to an effay and trial, in the concernments of their life, to have their light followed with experience, wherein the very truth and reality of religion lieth.

To clear this, I fhall hold forth fome things, which may. fhew how little this truth of the Scripture's accomplishment is known, or ftudied by the most of men.

1. The abounding of so much Atheism, that there are fo many, who not only disclaim the practice of that religion they feem to profefs, but do ftate themselves in most direc oppofition to the rules and principles thereof, these to whom the Scripture is but as a romance, yea, do only converse there with to prove their wit, and parts in impunging the fame; who avowedly mock at the judgments, and providences of God; I confefs, thefe may be reckoned monsters, a very prodigy in the time, wherein they live, though alas, it is not the least part of the world; and which is firange, we see the most horrid Atheists do usually abound, where the light of the gofpel hath most shined, the favage places of the earth bring forth no fuch monftrous births, as are hatcht within the visible church, for thus the judgment of God putteth a blacker dye on them than others; O what a terrible found, fhould the fulfilling of the Scripture have int men's ears, if they once came to have ferious thoughts thereof, fince they cannot admit this, but they must certainly.

read their own fentence of death, which a few days shall put in execution, and if the Scripture be true, they are then unfpeakably miferable.

2. That indifferency which we fee amongst men about religión, and the most concerning truths of Scripture doth, fhew how little this is known or laid to heart, whence there is fuch a generation who do not profeffedly deny the Scripture, yet can turn it over in a school problem, and wonders that men fhould engage fo far upon it; it is not that it is hid from them, but they truely choose to hide themselves from it, as more fuitable to that intereft they drive, that the truth of God, fhould be rather a matter of opinion than of faith, a thing which they would difpute, but not believe; but, O! what other thoughts would a clear fight of this caufe? that within so few days, the truths and threatenings of the word shall be fad earnest, the fulfilling whereof no sharpness of wit, nor fubtile arguments, will be able to evade.

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3. That there is fo much barren theory of divine truths in the world, with fo little ferious Chriftian diligence, doth it not fadly witness how small acquaintance men have with this truth? Whence we fee fo great a part of these who feffedly acknowledge the word, and are daily converfing with it, yet can give no other account thereof but report, fo many that can fatisfyingly difcourfe of the Scripture, could never put their feal to it, that God is true therein. Whence are so many great school divines, and able minifters for parts, fuch vifible Atheists in their way and practice? Is it not; they really judge divinity and religion rather a science, and matter of fpeculation, than a matter of fenfe and feeling, which men should more live than speak, and cannot be known without experience, the true end of knowledge; but O this cannot be found in books, men will not meet with it in a throng of choiceft notions, it confoundeth the wife, and difputer of this world, whilft the meanest, and most fimple Chriftian oft knoweth more than thefe of greatest parts.

4. The great hypocrify which is in the world, I mean within the visible church, doth too clearly fhew that this truth is little thought on, or laid to heart; for what is that false fhew, and appearance (which we may fay is not a fin, but the very finfulness of fin,) Is it not the height of Atheifm? and a real contradiction in their practice to this, that the Scripture of God is true, and will have an unquestionable accomplishment: O could any be fo monftroufly irrational, to drive this poor plot, how to appear that which they are not, to be at such pains to act the part handsomely of a ferious Christian, to perfonate his tears and grief, his spiritual frame, his zeal for God, if he did think gravely on this truth, and did believe the threatenings of the word; that they will furely take place and be within a little no complement, but fad earnest, and that he is every hour standing under that Scripture-woe against hypocrites? I am sure it would make his very hair stand upright, his joints loofe; and his thighs fmite upon one another, could he but seriously think upon this.

5. Thefe unwarrantable ways, which in a time of trial,: men take for their efcape, may witness this, that the word they do not judge a fure ground to adventure on: Whence is there hesitation in fuffering times? From that day many taking their leave of Chrift, who have rather choofed fin than affliction; O! is it not? They judge the teftimony of the God of truth is not fufficient fecurity to carry them through such a strait, and are not fully perfuaded that it must come to pafs what he hath promifed; for if this were, they should reckon it their greatest fafety, to embark their intereft on so sure a ground, and with much quietnefs repose their foul, and disburden their care, by putting it over on, the word.

6. What doth the frequent difcouragement and uncomfortable walk of the people of God fpeak forth? Doth it not witness how little they are in earneft with this great truth of the Scripture's accomplishment, or eftablifht thereanent? What meaneth thefe diftruftful fears and perplexed com-,

plaints! If their eyes be but open to know, they have fuch a well as the promise of God at their hand: How is it that the smallest straits are fo puzling, and ready to out-wit them, that they fo ufually ftumble at the crofs? and as things from without do appear, their encouragement made to ebb and flow: Is not here the caufe? that they stagger at the promise, whilft probabilities in fome vifible way, do not go along for its performance: Its truely eafy to have fome fweet notions of faith at a distance, but whilft the trial comes near, upon fuch a close approach, that there is not another way, but to put the whole ftrefs of their particular intereft on the word, and on it alone, many are then at a stand, because they are not thoroughly affured, that though the earth fhould be overturned, there is an abfolute neceffity for the promise of God to take place.

Now from these things, may it not appear, that this grave truth of the Scripture's accomplishment is but little known or ftudied? I confefs we may think on it with astonishment, how a matter so nearly concerning is not more our work; there are indeed many things worthy to be known, but our fhort life can scarce allow time, or give leifure for the study thereof, but O! this, though we had only two days to live, I think might require the one, to be fure and perfuaded anent the truth of that whereon our heaven and eternal bleffedness lieth, to which we muft lay the dead-grip, when we are in the paffage, at that strange step betwixt time and eternity. O! what a wonder, how rational fouls, who walk on the border of the greatest hope and fear imaginable, can yet be fo unconcerned thereanent; fuch ferious thoughts might force men to retire, and go fit alone; and truely these things, gravely confidered, may seem strange and hard to

reconcile.

1. That there is fuch a thing as the very word and teftimony of God, this day upon record, wherewith we have for much to do, which doth offer itself to men's trial and exactest search, and yet we put it fo little to that touchstone, that we may know it upon another account, than report or hearfay.