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-No fooner are their comforts withdrawn, than they are filled with perplexity, difquieted with fears, and ready to count all their former experience mere delufion. Affurance grows, and is established by repeated conflicts, and by renewed experimental proofs of God's power to fave and deliver us. When we have been brought low, and helped by his gracious hand; forely wounded, and healed again; caft down, and raised up; when we have given up all hope, and been fuddenly fnatched from danger, and exalted to a place of safety;when we have experienced these troubles and reliefs a thousand times over, we learn to trust simply to the word and power of God, in every state and condition. This truft, this hope, when habitual and ftrong, becomes like an anchor of the foul, fure and ftedfaft, in all the ftorms of life. It bears, when thus confirmed, the name of affurance. But in this holy confidence there are many degrees.

This affurance is built upon a foundation that cannot be shaken, though it is often much affaulted. It does not depend on occafional and changeable frames of mind, nor upon any thing precarious; but upon the word of infallible truth, and an agreement and correfpondence in the chriftian's experience with that word. Nor does this agreement

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depend altogether on a train of laboured arguments and deductions, but is felf-evident to the gracious mind. For "he that believeth hath the witness in himfelf." The moft fimple and unlearned may be the subjects of it, in a way as extensive and fatisfactory, as the most wife and learned.

This holy confidence may be maintained in a believer, even under darkness, and the hidings of God's face. He that walketh in darknefs, and hath, comparatively, no light of divine comfort, is encouraged, and even commanded to trust in the name of the Lord, and stay himself upon his God. He is to do this when the cheering rays of the Sun of righteousness do not fhine upon his mind, fo as to afford him the refreshing light of extraordinary confolation and joy. Hereby, the foul of a christian is preserved tranquil and composed, though it hath not that degree of pleasure, which springs from the affecting manifeftations of divine love.

This holy confidence carries the mind above the afflictive and diftreffing things of this world. As it swims not upon a torrent of terrestrial pleafures, so it is not deeply depreffed by the heavy weight of worldly forrows. He who is well fatisfied respecting his interest in the divine favour, is not elevated by the most flattering things which may attend him in this mortal ftate; neither is he,.

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like other men, greatly difquieted when he is deprived of earthly enjoyments; for he knows that in God's favour there is life. His language therefore is, Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither fhall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive fhall fail, and the fields fhall yield no meat; the flock fhall be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the ftall; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my falvation." In profperity he is kept humble and modeft; in affliction, fubmiffive and patient; because he is perfuaded, "that all things work together for good to them that love God, and are the called according to his purpose." He glories in tribulation, fince "tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not afhamed, because the love of God is fhed abroad in his heart, by the Holy Ghost."

SECT. III.

The Duty and Privilege of those who are fatisfied refpelling their Intereft in the Divine Favour.

IT certainly becomes those who are satisfied, on good grounds, refpecting their intereft in the favour of God, to be very thankful. You ought to prize the privilege very highly, and to adore the

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Author of peace and confolation, for having brought you into this fafe and happy flate. You had no natural right to this distinguishing bleffing, neither could you poffibly have procured it by any meritorious actions of your own. If Mephibofheth

was fo affected with the kindness of David to him, that he exclaimed, "What is thy fervant, that thou shouldest look on fuch a dead dog as I am!" How fhould the kindness and love of God affe&t your heart, and inflame your gratitude? Surely, it becometh the just to be thankful, and to exprefs their thankfulness in fongs of praise. "Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me, bleís his holy name; who forgiveth all thy fins, and healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercy."

It becomes you to keep in memory the various inftances of God's goodness to you, and to endeavour to improve them in the best manner you are. able. When Mary, the mother of Jefus, received gracious meffages from heaven, fhe kept them in remembrance, and pondered them in her heart. Go you, and do likewife. Let not the tokens of divine love be forgotten. Walk worthy of the exalted privileges you enjoy. In all your words, works and ways, be afraid of offending your gra

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cious Benefactor. Seek conftantly to please him, by doing his will from the heart. After you have received the sweetest pledges of his love, you are fill in danger of grieving the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are fealed to the day of redemption. Keep therefore a jealous eye over your own heart; watch and pray that you enter not into temptation.

It becomes you to improve the distinguishing kindness of God to you, for the benefit of others. Say, with the Pfalmift, "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my foul." When a feasonable opportunity offers, speak to your children, your fervants, your companions, and your chriftian brethren, concerning the pleasantness and the peace which are to be found in wifdóm's ways. Say to them, "O tafte and fee that the Lord is good; bleffed is the man that trufteth in him!" Recommend his fervice from your own experience; affuring them that his commands are not grievous, but that his yoke is eafy, and his burden light. good reafon to fpeak well of his name,

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telling of his falvation from day to day. Be fervent and conftant in prayer and fupplication to God, for the converfion of finners, and the revival of his work among his profeffing people. As you have obtained mercy, and have the sweet en

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