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eeffitous. But though I should give all my goods to feed the poor and have not charity, I am nothing. One man is perfuaded of his interest in God's favour, because he every day offers up many prayers, and attends to other religious duties. But the hypocritical pharifees made long prayers; and Saul, before his converfion, thought himself blame. lefs touching the righteousness which is of the law. Another concludes it is well with him, because he finds pleasure and joy in religious exercises. But let him read with ferious attention the parable of the fower. A certain clafs of profeffors are there described, who heard the word with joy, but hav ing no root in themselves, their profeffion came to nothing. From all these hints it is plain, that a man may easily flatter himself into a mistaken confidence of his being in the favour of God, and think himself something when in fact he is nothing, and fo deceive his own foul.

Many of the things which I have mentioned are in themselves good and commendable; but they are not fufficient evidences of God's special favour. More fubftantial and fatisfying grounds fhould be inquired after, according to the word of God. There is no case in which men are more liable to deception than that which is now under our confideration;

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deration; nor is there any cafe in which a decep tion is attended with greater danger..

The prophet Micah had to do with a self-flattering race of men in his day, who faid, “Is not the Lord among us? No evil can come unto us." Alas! poor finners; it is not your bold and unshaken confidence of safety, but fcriptural evidence, that is to be regarded, in this weighty concern. It is awful to hear deluded finners speak of their elevated hopes of being in God's favour, while it is evident from the temper of their minds, and the whole conduct of their lives, that they have neither part nor lot in this matter, but are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.. Can you be in God's favour who never experienced a real change from nature to grace? You who were never delivered from the power of darkness, never translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son? You who never knew what evangelical repentance means; who never had your hearts purified by faith in the divine Saviour?·

Can you imagine yourselves to be in God's favour, who never devoted yourselves to him, to be governed, ruled and guided by him? You who are fatisfied with the mere form of godliness without its power? You who take pleasure in fecret fins, live in them, and are unwilling to part with them? Have you

you never read, never seriously confidered, the words of the pious Pfalmift, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer.”

The world may flatter you; if you feek the praise of men, you may have your reward. Even good men, in the judgment of charity, may be difpofed to think well of you. You may have quietnefs in your own confciences, and lull yourselves to fleep on the bed of fecurity, and ftill be in a state of the greatest danger. Like the foolish virgins, you may come to a fhut door at laft, when he from within will fay unto you, "Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquity." O that you may fee your danger before it be too late! Read with feriousness the parable just referred to, I mean that of the ten virgins. The foolish ones faw their error when, alas! it could not be rectified. They applied indeed to the wife, but their application was fruitlefs. In vain they cried, Lord, Lord, open to us." The door of mercy was shut for ever, and the workers of iniquity utterly and finally difowned.. "Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of falvation." But to those who trifle the golden moments away in folly and delufion, there will remain nothing but the blackness of darkness for ever.

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O death, thou king of terrors! dreadful name? What tongue can e'er describe, what pencil draw The scenes of horror which furround thy throne? Olet me then, arous'd, reflect in time,

And make this awful, this important theme
Familiar to my thoughts! Awake, my foul,
Nor, careless, flumber on the brink of fate.
"Midst constant warnings, calls and admonitions,
Can I be unconcern'd?-At length mine eyes,
Long held in mifts, blinded with vifions false,
Begin to open on the scene before me.
Let idly-active fancy now no more

Spread her deluding colours to my view.

O may I feek, while mercy points the way, A firm, clear title to those bleft abodes

Prepar'd for holy fouls, beyond the stars!

That when this tott'ring tabernacle fails,

This house of clay, which shakes with ev'ry wind,
Shall be diffolv'd, and fall to duft and ruin,

My happy foul, renew'd by grace divine,
And wash'd in my Redeemer's blood, may rise

To dwell with him in heav'n! Then fhall I know
That in the favour of my God is life.

CHAP

CHAP. IX.

The Subject farther improved by Way of Conviction.

WE

E have already obferved that the special favour of God is manifeftly diftinct from the common bleffings and bounties of his indulgent providence. These latter inftances of favour are too often abused, by those on whom they are liberally bestowed. They certainly ought to be improved fo as to humble us under a sense of our fins, and to lead us to repentance of them. To this purpose the apostle Paul writes to the Romans.

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Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-fuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" These filken cords of kindness fhould draw our hearts nearer to God. His goodness should attract our affections to himself.

Had you received a thoufandth part of the kindness from men, which you daily receive from the Almighty, you would be affected by it, and think yourselves under great obligations to those who had fhewn you fuch kindness. And fhall all the kindness of your Maker be loft upon you? Where, in this case, is your gratitude, your ingenuousness M

No. VIII. 1.

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