there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."* His eternity and self-exist ence; "for he is the eternal God, and liveth for ever and ever."+ His holiness. "There is none holy as the Lord. He is the rock; his work is perfect; all his ways are judgment; a God of truth, and without iniquity; just and right is he." His immutability; for "he is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent. I am the Lord; I change not, therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." His omniscience; "His eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. All things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. He is light, and in him is no darkness at all."|| His omnipresence. "He filleth all in all. Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord."* His wisdom. "He is wise in heart, he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working; the only wise God."+ His power. "The Lord is mighty in strength, excellent in power; who is like unto him? There is nothing too hard for the Lord: power belongeth unto God. He is almighty, and can do every thing." His justice. "He is excellent in judgment, and in plenty of justice. He is righteous in all his works which he doeth. He is just, and the justifier of them that believe." His faithfulness. "He is the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments. He is faithful who hath promised. He keepeth truth for ever." His goodness. "He is good to all. The earth is full of his goodness. He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the "As a father pitieth his good." His mercy. children, so he pitieth them that fear him. His mercy endureth for ever. He will abundantly pardon,"* Is not such a glorious being as this then worthy of your regard? Can any thing be more reasonable, than that you should fear, love, and obey him? If the very heathen thought it proper to worship the objects in creation which were beneficial to them, how much more should you devote yourself to Him, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift? Consider that you have hitherto lived to little purpose, if you have not lived to Him. Let me intreat you, therefore, fervently to consider, that this is essentially necessary to your present and everlasting welfare. Go, then, and kneel before Him. Retire, and confess your transgressions. Implore his grace, and seek his blessing. He will hear your supplications; he will be merciful unto you; he will not suffer you to seek in vain. He hath said, "Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.† * Psalm ciii. 15. Psalm cxxxvi. Isaiah Iv. 7. † Matt. vii. 7. THE BIBLE. SHOULD you begin to feel some concern about your final state; should you lament your ignorance, and complain that you have had few advantages, and should you be desirous of instruction, then attend to a few hints I shall here suggest. You have heard, I suppose, of a book called the Bible; but perhaps you have never read it with any attention. Now, what is this book? Infidels and profligates would tell you, that it is a cunningly devised fable: because it does not countenance them in their licentiousness, they reject it. But, my reader, it is worthy of your perusal; for it has all the marks of divine authority upon it. Man being an ignorant, sinful creature, unable by his own power to find out the way to happiness, stood in need of a divine revelation. Without this, we can gain no information as to a future state; how we shall find acceptance with God; how our sins are to be expiated, or justice satisfied. Now, here we find all that is necessary to be known, in relation to these important points. Here we are informed that God is just, and . that, although we have broken his law and deserve his wrath, yet he is willing to forgive through the merits of his Son. So that, reader, you may take up this book with the highest joy, as containing what is of more importance than all things beside the delightful tidings of salvation to lost sinners. Though its style is sublime, its language majestic; yet there is a simplicity that runs through the whole, admirably adapted to our capacities. It was penned, indeed, at various times, by different writers, and in different places; yet there is no contradiction: one grand harmony pervades the whole. Its prophecies, doctrines, providences, precepts, history, promises; all tend to the same objectthe glory of God in the salvation of man. You need not suspect it, therefore, to be the production of designing and wicked men; since it opposes their system, condemns their practice, and proclaims their misery and destruction. That it is divinely inspired, is evident, if you consider how its prophecies have been accomplished; what miracles have been wrought in |