To this I would anfwer;-fpiritual life may be hid, even from the chriftian's own view, as well as from that of others. Defertions, temptations, and the prevailing corruptions of the heart may, for a time, fo becloud the mind, that the evidences of grace cannot be clearly difcerned. As the love of God to us may be concealed under a cloud of darkness, the fame may be faid with respect to our love to him. The principle may exift when the operation of it is not very apparent. You are afraid you do not love him whom you know to be worthy of your most ardent affection. But perhaps your judgment of yourself is not according to truth. Can you find no fpark of love amidst the ashes which furround it? Examine yourself carefully. Though you cannot, with full confidence "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee;" perhaps you can appeal to the Searcher of hearts, that you defire to love him. And can you fuppofe this to be the cafe with those who are entirely deftitute of spiritual life? If unregenerate finners fincerely defire to love God, and are difquieted, grieved, and diftreffed that they cannot love him as they ought, we will no longer affirm, that their minds are carnal, and enmity against their Maker and Sovereign. Inftead therefore of concluding, that you are entirely def

fay,

titute of the gracious principle of which we are speaking, earnestly and conftantly pray, that the holy flame of divine love may be so enkindled in your bosom, as to put the matter out of doubt refpecting its existence there. Let it be your daily request at the throne of grace, that the love of God may be shed abroad in your heart, by the Holy Ghoft given unto you.

But there is scarcely any end of the jealousies and fears of those who are weak in the faith. Methinks I hear one faying, You have not yet touched my fore; I am grievously afflicted in my own person, in my family, and in my circumftances; the hand of the Almighty is heavy upon me; if I am interested in his favour, why am I thus?' I would answer, in the words of the apostle, "Ye have forgotten the exhortation that speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not the chaftening of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chafteneth, and scourgeth every fon whom he receiveth." If fatherly chastisements are tokens of love, then great and heavy chastisements are tokens of great love. Health and prosperity are liberally granted to many who abuse them to the ruin of their fouls; they may, on the other hand, be denied to you in great mercy. The father

knows

....་་་ར་

knows what is good for his child, and what might do him harm, better than the child himfelf knows. A man in a raging fever earnestly longs for strong drink; but his attendant with-holds it from him, because he knows it would increafe his diforder, and perhaps endanger his life. The attendant denies what is requested, out of love to the afflicted man. God is our faithful keeper, and merciful preferver. He is infinitely wife to know what is best for us, and what would be to our hurt. As a proof of his favour, he often does us good, in fome fort, against our wills. It is a mercy to be fometimes refused what we eagerly wifh, rather than to have our fond defires gratified. Remember it is faid of the rebellious Ifraelites, who afked meat for their luft, "He gave them their requeft, but fent leanness into their fouls." This gift was a mark of displeasure, rather than of favour.

The laft cafe I fhall mention, is that of the tempted chriftian. If I am interested in the divine favour,' fays fuch a one, why am I hurried, and almost distracted with violent temptations from day to day? The powers of darkness seem to be let toose upon me; the enemy thrufts at me fore that I fhould fall, and comes against me like a roaring lion, ready to devour. My life is one continued conflict.'

No. XVIII. 1.

X

Have

Have you not read of a certain eminent faint, who had a thorn in the flesh, the meffenger of Satan to buffet him? Was this an indication that he had no interest in the divine favour? Just the contrary; there was given him a thorn in the flesh, left he should be exalted above measure. If the Lord fuffers you to be violently affaulted by temptation, it is neither for want of love to your perfon, nor for want of power to deliver you; but for wife ends and purposes. Perhaps you are thus exercifed to keep you humble, to make you more fenfible of your conftant need of him who is able to fuccour thofe that are tempted, to ftir you up to watchfulness and fervent prayer, to induce you to make ufe of the fhield of faith, whereby you fhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. one, to make the final conqueft the more glorious, and to render death more defirable, and heaven more welcome.

SECT. II.

Of Affurance of Intereft in the Favour of God.

A well-grounded, habitual persuasion of interest in the divine favour, is certainly a privilege which has been enjoyed by many, and which may still be experienced by real chriftians in our day. The Lord

......

Lord has been pleased to make provifion for the comfort of his people, in a matter of such vaft importance. Paul was perfuaded, that nothing could feparate him from the love of God which is in Chrift Jefus our Lord. Was this persuasion an appendage to his office, as an apoftle? The contrary, I think, is evident. This was a part of his experience as a chriftian; and it is a privilege which lies equally open to us. For we have the fame gospel, and the fame promises as he had. The efficacy of the teaching, fanctifying and comforting operations of the Holy Spirit, cannot be weakened by length of time; his power and grace are the fame they were in former ages.

Were the promises of God refpecting falvation conditional, they would not be a proper foundation for an affured expectation of receiving what is fo promised. But as these promises are absolute, they ascertain the poffeffion of that to which they relate; fince he that has made them is faithful, and has promised nothing but what he is able to perform. The tenor of fuch promises as have respect to eternal falvation is, I will, and they fhall; "I will be their God, and they fhall be my people." In their nature therefore, the promises are fuited to produce and support a holy confi. dence towards God.