that we will not keep it as a secret. If it had been only said, hold fast your faith or your hope, we might have kept the secret of God with us.

But holding fast a profession, is continuing to be as open as we begun. There is a faith that we may have to ourselves before God; Rom. xiv. 22, but there is one of another nature. The apostle could no longer forbear, but sent to the Thessalonians to know their faith. 1 Thes. iii. 5.

Ministers are set up as lights in the world, and none, but men of ill designs, will put them into a dark lanthern. All Christians are to hold forth the word of life. Phil. ii. 16. I own that expression signifies, their doing it in things, but it certainly includes their doing it in words. We have believed, and therefore have we spoken, is an inference, that no honest man can deny. But, I have so largely considered the nature of this duty, the necessity that is always upon us to observe it, and answered the angry arguments, the railing accusations that are brought against it, that I must refer you to the 28 Sermons upon that subject.

6. Holding fast this profession, calls us to defend it; both the doctrine itself that we believe, and the practice of making it known to others. They that labour in the word and doctrine, are to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. ii. 3. He that comes into the ministry, and forgets that he is in a field of battle, has mistaken his errand, and deceived himself. You do not see in your preachers, men clothed in soft raiment. Such

are only to be found in king's houses. But we are, or ought to be warriors, that do not entangle themselves with the affairs of this life, that they may please him who has chosen them to be soldiers. 2 Tim. ii. 4.

Why do they give themselves to reading and exhortation? What are all the pains they take, to have their minds furnished with learning? Why do they turn over so many volumes? Is it only to say, how much they have done, and not to care, how little they have got? Are all the arguments they lay up, from antiquity, criticism, observation, and reasoning, to lie by, like so much rusty armour, that is only to be looked at? No, no. If they are faithful, they will have occasion for it all. And so will all the people of God. There is not any believer, but as he has the instruction of the Spirit for his own establishment, so he is in some measure, qualified to plead the cause of his great Redeemer. God has or dained strength out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, to still the enemy and the avenger. Ps. viii. 2.

Human learning is very useful, and it has been wonderfully blessed, to the securing of this fundamental truth. My heart is towards those great men in Israel, who have willingly offered themselves among the people. But still the success has sometimes gone along, by demonstration of the Spirit and power. The story is so frequently told, that it must be commonly known, of a cunning philosopher, who had baffled some of the greatest doctors

in Christianity, until a plain illiterate man attacked him. Then, as himself tells the matter, says he, "I could oppose reason to reason, "learning to learning, and authority to au"thority; but now as I could oppose nothing "to the Spirit, I yielded to him at once."

You are not called, to dispute about the cognoscitive and volitive powers of God; about three conscious minds; about a numerical or specifical identity; or indeed about any thing, which neither you nor the adversary can understand. But I trust you are established, and have many Scriptures within reach to maintain, namely, that

There is but one living and true God: That this great name, and the works peculiar to it, are equally affirmed of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: that there are as properly, three persons as there is one; that I need no other arguments that the Son and Holy Ghost are persons, than those which are owned, to prove the Father so. If the question is, whether these things are to be explained? Tell them no. It is impious to attempt it. If the question is, whether they are revealed? Tell them yes. It is impious to deny it.

7. In holding fast your profession, you preserve an union with the people of God; not only in your own age and country, but in all those afar off, either as to place or time; nay, with them that come after. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Heb. xiii. 8. The opposition now made to the truth, and the shuffling arts that are used against it, are

what they have met with, who were of old time before us. Men have tried their several ways, to embarrass this doctrine, and not one of them with any other pretence, than to give clear and distinct ideas, and to secure the unity of the Godhead. But still after these troubled waters have cast forth all their mire and dirt, the truth has refined and settled, just in the

same way.

The faith we contend for, is not a thing yet unknown; a futurity, a reserve for some politer age, and some inquisitive genius; but it is once delivered to the saints. The word ära signifies, both that it is delivered already, and at once. We have not this doctrine, as some others, like the light of the morning, shining more and more; but the Spirit gave it in perfect day. The Church of Christ has got no farther in this article, than they did at the beginning, and I hope never will. Therefore for persons to be pleased with imagina tions of some discoveries that are yet to come, looks as if they thought the secret of God was with them, and they had restrained wisdom to themselves. May I never deliver any thing, but what you have heard from the beginning. We write no other things to you than what you read and acknowledge, and I trust shall acknowledge to the end. 1 Cor. i. 13.

I observed, that the word profession quyi signifies a speaking together. It would be all confusion, for every one to have a psalm, every one a doctrine; so to do reflects on the Scripture as imperfect, and on the Holy Spirit as

deficient in his work. But what God has done shall be for ever; no man can put to it, nor any man take from it. There is nothing, that the Holy Ghost has expressed more of his contempt against, than the humour of those who would be thought the wise, the scribes, the disputers of this world, 1 Cor. i. 20. or the inquirers oviral, who are always doting about questions. 1 Tim. vi. 4.

And because there are some, who value themselves upon an inquisitive searching humour, let me only put you in mind of what the scripture itself has said, against those who seek out many inventions. "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." 2 Tim. ii. 2. We read of some, who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with'sins, and led away with divers lusts: ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now, as Iannes and Iambres did resist Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, and reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no farther, for their folly shall be manifest. But thou, says the apostle to Timothy, hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, &c. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Tim. iii. 614. If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel than that we have preached, let him be accursed. As we said before, so

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