the ministry concerning Chrift, they are most sweet of all. Oh how fweet were these words to the poor man-Thy fins are forgiven thee-Do you think they went not to his heart? The best difcovery of a true affection to Chrift, and of a true state in grace, is from our affection to the word of Chrift. Wherever there is an interest in Christ, there is an high respect to the word." A believer trusting to these helps, and making a diligent use of these means, in reading the charter of grace, will find such a faith frequently defcribed and required, as relies on the truth of God without doubt or wavering, as depends on his faithfulness to his promifes, with the fullest confidence of the heart, and waits on his fulfilling them, stedfastly perfuaded, that he has has spoken nothing with his mouth but what he will infallibly make good with his arm. All the gifts and graces of God come to us in his promises, and cannot be received or enjoyed, but in the way of believing. What then can be a greater encouragement not to stagger at any promife through unbelief, than that God has declared it is a service well pleasing and acceptable to him. It is high worship, to be strong in faith, giving glory to God: For it is a gift of his love, and a grace of his Spirit, and his own special work in the hearts of his people. In the day of his power he makes them willing, and he enables them to set to their seal, that God is true. So we read" By faith in Chrift, Enoch walked with God, and he had this teftimony, that he pleased and pleased God, but without this faith it is impoffible to please him:" Therefore Enoch's ftate, his walk, and his tranflation, were all by faith. Now we know, that the judgment of God is according to truth, and he has declared in the word of truth, that whatfoever is not of faith is fin. So that it is impofible it should pleate a most holy God; who has magnified his word above all his name, and who delights to fee his people do the fame, magnifying it, by giving it the fullest credit of their hearts, and the most perfect dependence of their lives. He has also required this by his express command: This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jetus Christ, who has faid, "Ye believe in God, believe also in me," me," with the fame faith, and with the fame worship: And when the jailor enquired of Paul and Silas, Sirs, what must I do to be faved? They answeredBelieve on the Lord Jesus Chrift, and thou shalt be saved. And this belief is commanded in very trying circumstances, when the outward fupports of faith feem to fail, and the inward comforts are at a very low ebb: "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his fervant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light: Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God,"-his God still. That relation is always the fame: And so are the blessings which are included in it, and which he cannot fail to bestow upon them who who honour his word in fuch trials of their faith, that against hope they believe in hope: For bleffed are all they who put their truft in him. For the farther confirmation of their faith, he has strengthened his commands, with the most encouraging promifes of grace to help in every time of need. Afk, and ye shall have: For he giveth to all askers liberally, and upbraideth not, come they ever so often, or ask ever so much: yea, our heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him: And his influence goes as far as any promife, for he is the mighty power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Whatever is promised, he is almighty to fulfil. So we read when our Lord cursed the barren fig tree, the : |