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fet before him ?They are fet before you likewise. Compare then his frame of mind with your own. Compare the proofs, which he gave, of acting stedfaftly under the influence of divine grace, with the proofs which you confcience may be able to produce, that you are acting in your station of life in obe→ dience to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Examine whether, like St. Paul, with an humble and penitent heart, you have difcovered and acknowledged, that by the deeds of the law, by human works, by perional righteousness no flesh shall be justified in the fight of God. Examine whether, like him, you have fought for falvation folely through the blood of the Crofs. Examine whether, like him, you have looked for fanctification folely by the grace of Chrift: whether, like him, you attribute to that grace alone whatever measure of holinefs you enjoy. Examine whether, like him, you love God and your Redeemer with all your foul, Examine whether, like him, you love your neighbour as yourself without diffimulation, with charity unfeigned, with a pure heart, fervently. Examine whether, like him, you keep under body, and bring it into fubjection. Thus may you be powerfully affifted in forming your judge.

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your

judgement, whether as yet, like St. Paul, you are under the effectual guidance of the Spirit of grace; whether you are at prefent authorised to hope, that you are one of thofe, to whom, as unto St. Paul, the Lord Jefus will give a crown of glory at the last day.

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2 COR. Xii. 9.

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And be faid unto me, My grace is fufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect "in weakness."

'HE neceffity, and the univerfality, of

THE

divine grace, the means by which it is to be obtained, and the fruits by which its influence is characterised, have already been laid before you. In pursuance, therefore, of my original defign, I proceed to demonftrate on fcriptural grounds the truth of the concluding leffon, which I ftated as deducible from the text.

V. The grace of Chrift is all-fufficient.

VOL. I.

H

1

For

For the elucidation of this general propofition, let the leading particulars which it comprehends be distinctly examined.

1. Divine grace is fufficient to supply ftrength to withstand temptation.

He who is Head over all things to his church, he who hath all power in earth and heaven, is able to fave to the uttermoft all that come unto God by him. He who has inftructed, who has commanded, his difciples to make deliverance from temptation one of the objects of their daily prayer, will not disregard the petition. He will not fuffer them to be tempted above that which they are able to endure; but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it. However attractive may be the allurement, however profound the deceit, however rugged the obftacle, however alarming the danger, by which fin may strive to feduce or to deter you from the way that leadeth unto life; He who knoweth whereof we are made, and remembereth that we are but duft, will open a path by which you may turn aside from the extremity of the trial: and that path he will give you wisdom to discern, and strength to pursue.

Are we then required, are we authorised, that we may put to the proof the grace bestowed

upon

upon us, needlefsly to expofe ourselves to
the affaults of fin? God forbid! It is
written, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy
God (a).
If thou prayeft not to be led into
temptation, plunge not thyself into temptation.
Are we to despise temptations which we can-
not avoid? God forbid! Happy is the man
who feareth always. Let him that thinketh he
ftandeth, take heed left he fall (b). Are we to
repose, when tempted, with indolent fecurity
on the fcriptural covenant of fupport? God
forbid! He who has promised to bestow
food on man, requires that man should till the
field and reap the harvest. Wouldst thou ob-
tain, wouldst thou preserve, the affistance
of the Spirit of God? Employ the appoint-
ed means. To humility, to prayer, to de-
pendence on God through Christ, add
watchfulness, diligence, and exertion. Then
will he, who fendeth the former and the lat-
ter rain upon the earth, fhower down his all-
fufficient grace upon thy heart.

But you are depreffed by fad experience of your inherent infirmity and corruption! Paft failures and tranfgreffions crowd upon your remembrance; and appal you with gloomy

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