the free grace of God, who hath kept us from drinking of that deadly poison.

2. The second branch of the apology that Discontent makes, is the impiety of the times. "I live and converse among the profane. O that I had wings like a dove, that I might fly away and be at rest," Psal. Ív. 6.

ANSW. It is indeed sad to be mixed with the wicked.* David beheld the transgressors, and was grieved, (Psal. cxix. 119, 158.) and Lot, who was a bright star in a dark night, was vexed; or, as the word in the original may bear, wearied out with the unclean conversation of tha wicked, 2 Pet. ii. 7. He made the sins of Sodom spears to pierce his own soul. We ought, if there be any spark of divine love in us, to be very sensible of the sins of others, and to have our hearts bleed for them; yet, let us not break forth in murmuring or discontent, knowing that God, in his providence, hath permitted it; and, surely, not without some reasons. For

*It is certainly a difficulty which every truly pious Christian has to surmout, viz:-to live in the midst of wicked and ungodly men ; and yet to be separate from them in heart, and we need the strictest watchfulness and earnest prayers to God, lest we should mingle among them, and learn their ways; and let us remember it is a duty incumbent upon us by our good examples and Godly conversation, to induce the wicked to forsake their ways, and the unrighteous men their thoughts, and turn unto the Lord and he will have mercy on them, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon us. Isai. 55-7.

1. The Lord makes the wicked an hedge to defend the godly: the wise God often makes those who are wicked and peaceable, a means to safeguard his people from those who are wicked and cruel. The King of Babylon kept Jeremiah, and gave special order for his looking to, that he did want nothing, Jer. xxxix. 11, 12. God sometimes makes brazen sinners to be brazen walls to defend his people.

2. God doth interline and mingle the wicked with the godly, that the godly may be a means to save the wicked. Such is the beauty of holiness, that it hath a magnetical force in it, to allure and draw even the wicked. Sometimes God makes a believing husband a means to convert an unbelieving wife; and, on the other hand-What knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 1 Cor. vii. 16. The godly, living among the wicked, by their prudent advice and pious example, have won them to the embracing of religion. If there were not some godly among the wicked, how in a probable way, without a miracle, can we imagine that the wicked should be converted? Those who are now shining saints in heaven, sometimes served divers lusts, Tit. iii. 3. Paul, once a persecutor; Augustine, once a manichee; Luther, once a mouk; but, by the severe and holy carriage of the godly, were converted to the faith.

SECT. X.

The tenth Apology answered.

The next apology that Discontent makes, is-Lowness of parts and gifts.

"I cannot," saith the Christian, "discourse with that fluency, nor pray with that elegancy, as others."

ANSW. 1. Grace is beyond gifts. Thou comparest thy grace with another's giftsthere is a vast difference. Grace, without gifts, is infinitely better than gifts without grace. In religion, the vitals are best: gifts are extrinsical, and wicked men are sometimes under the common influence of the spirit; but grace is a more distinguishing work, and is a jewel hung only upon the righteous. Hast thou the seed of God, the holy anointing? Be content.

1. Thou sayest thou canst not discourse with that flueney as others.

ANSW. Experiments in religion are above notions, and impressions beyond expressions. Judas, no doubt, could make a learned discourse of Christ; but well fare the woman in the Gospel, that felt virtue coming out of him, Luke, viii. 47. A sanctified heart is better than a silver tongue. There is as much difference between gifts and grace, as

between a tulip painted on the wall and one growing in the garden.

2. Thou sayest, thou canst not pray with that elegancy as others.

ANSW. Prayer is a matter more of the heart than the head. In prayer, it is not so much fluency prevails as fervency, (Jam. v. 16.) nor is God so much taken with elegancy of speech, as the efficacy of the Spirit. Humility is better than arrogance: here the mourner is the orator; sighs and groans are the best rhetoric.

2. Be not discontented: for God doth usually proportion a man's parts to the place where he calls him; some are set in a higher sphere and function, their place requires more parts and abilities; but the most inferior member is useful in its place, and shall have a power delegated for the discharge of its peculiar office.

SECT. XI.

The eleventh Apology answered.

The next Apology is-The troubles of the Church. "Alas! my disquiet and discontent is not so much for myself, as the public. The Church of God suffers."

ANSW. I confess it is sad; and we ought for this to hang our harp upon the willow, Psal. cxxxvii. He is a wooden leg in Christ's

body, that is not sensible of the state of the body. As a Christian must not be proud flesh, so neither dead flesh. When the Church of God suffers, he must sympathize: Jeremiah wept for the virgin daughter of Sion. Psal. ii. 11. We must feel our brethren's hard cords through our soft beds in music, if one string be touched, all the rest sound. When God strikes upon our brethren, our bowels must sound as an harp, (Isai. xvi. 11.) be sensible, but do not give way to discontent. For consider

1. God sits at the stern of his Church, Psa. xlvi. 5. Sometimes it is as a ship tossed upon the waves-0 thou afflicted and tossed! Isai. liv. 11. But cannot God bring this ship to heaven, though it meet with a storm upon the sea? The ship in the Gospel was tossed, because sin was in it; but it was not overwhelmed, because Christ was in it. Christ is in the ship of his Church, fear not sinking the Church's anchor is cast in heaven. Do not we think God loves his Church, and takes as much care of it as we can? The names of the Twelve Tribes were on Aaron's breast; signifying how near to God's heart his people are. They are his portion, (Deut. xxxii. 9.) and shall that be lost? His glory, (Isai. xlvi. 13.) and shall that be finally eclipsed? No, certainly. God can deliver his Church not only from, but by, opposition. The Church's pangs shall help forward her deliverance.