Introduction.

denial. For my soul, I hope, leaving this earthen vessel to be dashed against the shores of death, will behold with cheerfulness a reconciled Father, and, I trust, that He will behold her in her wedding-apparel -the garment of my Saviour's righteousness. For I believe that I shall take possession of the promised inheritance, till that glorious morning of a blessed resurrection, when the Lord Jesus, who came once in great humility to redeem my soul from the slavery of sin and dominion of Satan, shall come again with powerful majesty and triumphal glory, and shall raise and repair this my body out of its ruins. And when this

mortal shall have put on immortality, death shall be swallowed up in victory; and my soul and body, reassuming one another, shall never part again, but shall enjoy the beatifical presence of God to all eternity.

I

GOD had brought me to a sight and sense of my sins, with their circumstances of aggravation. have looked into the perfect law of God, and have seen that I am, by nature a wretched, miserable, and condemned creature. My conscience has been tormented with the view of the sins that I have committed, and with the apprehension that wrath would be inflicted. My stubborn and proud heart, as if overcharged with my inward affliction, arising from the powerful conviction of God's Holy Spirit, has broken out: "Oh! that I had never sinned, or might never sin more! What will become of me should I yet live? Will the Lord ever be merciful to me? Can he, will he pardon such a sinner as I am ?"-I have even lain prostrate on the ground, and there, with much confu sion of thought, and with great fear, have I spread all my sins before my God. Then have I cried out, as in an agony, for pardon: "Mercy, Lord! Mercy! Mercy! Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst! And O that thou wouldst give me the least hope! Is there no balm in Gilead? No phycisian there? No mercy-seat?"Thus hath God caused me to discern the exceeding sinfulness of my life, past and present. I can never sufficiently bewail my sin. It is always the matter of my humiliation, and the subject of my mortification.

I have looked also into the foul nature of sin, and have perceived that it doth not only defile, but wound, and that even to death, and that it is entirely contrary to God's most pure nature. Moreover, I am affected and grieved under the burden of my daily wants and corruptions. And truly I have not sorrowed so much for fear of punishment, as because by my sins I have dishonoured such a gracious and loving Father,

Estimation of the Saviour.

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as God hath been to me. My sorrow has caused a more vehement desire of deliverance from my sins, than from any cross, calamity, or all the troubles in

the world.

The grounds of this Evidence are- Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted: Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of."

SECOND EVIDENCE.

Estimation of the Saviour.

THE Holy Ghost, by putting an efficacy into the law of God, and making it powerful to work on my heart, hath brought me from the terrors of Mount Sinai, where I had been long at school, to those sweet "waters of Shiloah, that go softly." Here I have learned comfortable lessons of grace; for I have understood that there is a Saviour, what a Saviour he is, what he hath done, and for whom. The Spirit of God hath enabled me to read the gospel, and the dear lines of love and life which are written in it.. I have been convinced that my God hath freely given me an escape from the hideous curses of the law by the precious blood of Jesus; that He hath commanded me to believe in his name; yea, that He even beseeches me to be reconciled to him: Yes, me, who had never thought of reconciliation, though I had offended, and who cannot live without him.

Oh! what comfort springs from such grace !-Now did my soul conceive hope of mercy. Now did I earnestly seek, yea, hunger and thirst, for Christ's righteousness. Nothing but Christ could satisfy my restless soul.

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Improvement of Opportunities.

I can sincerely say with the Apostle-"What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." I am infinitely more desirous to be sure of Christ, than to enjoy the whole world.

The grounds of this Evidence are "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink: I will give to him that is athirst, of the fountain of the water of life freely. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price."

THIRD EVIDENCE.

Improvement of Opportunities.

I HAVE an earnest desire after the means of my salvation, and a conscientious endeavour to make a due improvement of them. Now the end and the means are inseperable in the decree of God, and they that carefully use the one, may be assured that they shall obtain the other.

The hearing of God's word is the chief means of our conversion, being made effectual by the inward operation of God's Holy Spirit. And as by this I was begotten unto God, so also it is this bread of life, which nourishes and strengthens my soul in all spiritual graces.

The ground of this Evidence is-" My sheep hear my voice." Thus David approved himself: "Lord," says he "I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth: O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day."

FOURTH EVIDENCE.

Sincere Obedience.

I AM very desirous of an entire reformation of life. I earnestly endeavour to keep all the commandments. It is my hearty and unfeigned wish to serve the Lord with a sincere and upright heart, and to approve my ways to him. I am often exclaiming with David, "O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments."

Now the obedience I am speaking of, is not that exact obedience which the law requires, (for by that no man living can have any assurance of salvation ;) but it is an evangelical obedience, which consists in an holy desire, and an earnest endeavour, to keep all the divine precepts. This is that righteousness, which is accepted by our God, who spareth us, "as a man spareth his son that serveth him; and measures therefore our obedience, not by our actions, but by our affections, accepting the will for the deed.

The grounds of this Evidence are" He that doeth the will of God, abideth forever: He that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

I AM unfeignedly desirous to avoid all sins, and not some particular ones only. There is no transgression, that I know myself prone to commit, but I desire as heartily to shun it, as that God may never impute it

to me.

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