dience to God at all. But when the Christian is devoted to God, ready at his call, and equally difpofed to any employment affigned him in providence, he then may be faid indeed to do his will. 3. A third character of obedience is, that it be univerfal, without any exception. Saul, and the children of Ifrael, had complied fo far with the order given them, that the greatest part both of the people and substance of Amalek was deftroyed; but he stopped fhort, and knowingly left unfinished what had been injoined him by the fame authority.

2. From what hath been said on this subject, you may fee, that the true notion of obedience is inconfiftent with the notion of merit, as if we could lay our maker under fome fort of ob. ligation. This is as fatal and dangerous an error as any whatever, to think we may merit at the hand of God, and yet very common. Nay, it seems to be natural to us all, with great difficulty restrained, and never in this life wholly oYou fee how Saul juftified himself,.

vercome.

and faid, Yea, but I have obeyed the voice of "the Lord." But, in the judgement of God, there was no confideration had of what he had done, but a fevere fentence of condemnation upon him for what he had neglected. True obedience is always confidered, in this light, as a debt due to God, for the performance of which nothing can be claimed, but for the neglect of which a penalty is incurred. I wish this were

properly

properly attended to. The guilt of tranfgref fion is plainly inconfiftent with the merit of obedience. If we are liable to punishment for not obeying, the right of our maker to our fervice must be complete, there is no room to plead a ny merit in compliance, and the reward muft be of grace, and not of debt. Thus, I think it is always felt by good men; and the more that they are devoted to God, they are the less difpofed to avail themselves of any thing they have done, and the more inclined to ask forgive-nefs for what hath been either.omitted, or ill done.

3. From what hath been said, you may learn: the great defects of our obedience in general. If we confider the characters of true obedience, implicit, impartial, and univerfal, we must be fenfible what great blemishes attend every act of duty to God which we perform. We fhall aiways find fomething amifs, either in its extent,. its principle, or its end. What reafon this for humiliation? what a powerful argument to every Chriftian to live a life of continual depend-ence on divine ftrength to enable him to obey,. and divine mercy to accept of his imperfect obedience? Nothing but great ignorance of themfelves, or great inattention to what paffes in their own hearts, can embolden men to put confi dence in themselves. And indeed their doing ; fo is commonly attended with very mortifying effects. When God leaves them, in fatherly dif pleasure, to prove and try them, or when boz VOL. I. F. f Icavess

leaves finners to themselves, to fill up the meafure of their iniquities, it foon affords a fatisfying proof, that in us, that is, in our flesh, dwelleth no good thing. To will may be present with us, but to do that which is good, we find not.

4. In the last place, Suffer me earnestly to exhort you to make it your daily study, not only to keep the commandments of God, but to take particular notice from what principle your obe. dience flows. See how much there is in it of self. denial, of devotednefs to God, of fubjection to his providence. One act of filent fubmission, or a quiet application to thofe duties that are immediately neceffary, though neither eafy nor ho nourable, is of much more value, than a long tract of activity and zeal in a public and visible fphere of action, fweetened by reputation and applaufe. As the fubmiffive Chriftian lives upon the Creator alone, independent of the creature; fo the obedient Chriftian ferves his God and Redeemer alone, without paying any regard to the esteem or approbation of his fellow-finners. In this way only is your obedience given to God, and in this way only will you find it pleasant or profitable to yourselves. If you keep clearly and clofely to the command of God, and have not fo much as any other defire, or inclination, than to know what it is, you will hardly ever be miflaken. But if you allow other motives to have place, if you take upon you to judge of what is moft proper or expedient, or even practicable, you will pollute every part of

your

your duty, and find yourselves often involved in impenetrable darkness. If what is duty be the inquiry, and interest set aside, if duty be the ob ject of your attention, and events left to God,. you will find unspeakable confolation from it in the mean time, as well as the fuccefs more effectually fecured than it could poffibly have been. by any anxiety or forefight of your own. Let God then have the unadulterated obedience of all his creatures; and let us afk of him, accor ding to his promife, "to work in us to will and "to do of his good pleasure."

The End of the FIRST VOLUME,

additions, in 2 vols, price 6 s. and fold by Meff. KINCAID & BELL, and by W. GRAY,

Essays on important subjects, viz.

Volume I.

Effay on the connection between the doctrine of Juftification by the Imputed Righteousness of Chrift, and Holiness of life.

The abfolute neceffity of falvation through Christ. The trial of Religious Truth by its Moral Influence. The charge of fedition and faction against good men, efpecially faithful minifters, confidered, and accounted for.

Prayer for national profperity, and for the revival of religion, infeparably connected.

The nature and extent of Vifible Religion.

Volume II.

A ferious inquiry into the nature and effects of the Stage.

Ecclefiaftical Characteristics; or, The Arcana of Church-Policy. Being an humble attempt to open the mystery of Moderation.

A Serious Apology for the Ecclefiaftical Characte

riftics.

An inquiry into the fcripture-meaning of Charity; and particularly, whether it implies a favourable opinion of the state and fentiments of those who differ from us in judgement.

A practical treatife on Regeneration. 3 s.

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Theological Differtations. Containing,

1. The nature of the Sinai covenant.

2. The character and privileges of the Apoftolic Churches, with an examination of Dr Taylor's Key to the Epiftles.

3. The nature of Saving Faith.

4. The Law of Nature fufficiently promulgated to the Heathens.

5. An attempt to promote the frequent difpenfing of the Lord's Supper.