that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge" to Jesus. Thy faith should run parallel with this promise, and should safely trust as far as it warrants thee: now it gives thee sufficient reason to conclude, that thy state before God is immutable, and that he has determined thou shalt not fall away and perish: for observe,

Secondly, his design in the covenant. He knew thy frame, thine infirmities, and thy temptations; and therefore he provided the covenant, and promised the blessings of it upon oath, for thy sake-to end ALL strife in thy conscience-and to give thee strong consolation. This was his mind and will. He revealed it for thee, to settle thy heart in believing, and to administer to thee great comfort. Weigh attentively each of these particulars, and then say, what more could have been done to satisfy thee of thine immutable persevering?

But thou thinkest, "Such trials as thine are uncommon, and perhaps not provided

for in the covenant, and therefore it can be no disparagement to the divine faithfulness if thou shouldst fall away." How can this be, since the everlasting covenant is ORDERED IN ALL THINGS, and on the part of God is absolutely SURE-nothing that concerns thee is left out of it-not a single hair of thy head-thy trials are all appointed and ordered, and the end also which they are to

answer.

Perhaps, from the clear evidence of the divine record, thou art convinced of the covenant of God to save the heirs of promise, and of his engaging to keep them that they shall never perish; but thou art afraid thou art not in the covenant, nor an heir of promise. From whence arise thy fears? From scripture? No: all scripture is on thy side.Hast thou not fled, as a poor sinner to Jesus for refuge? Hast thou not acknowledged his divine nature, and his all-sufficient work? And though thou art now tempted to doubt, yet some faith is still fighting against unbelief? These are covenant blessings. O look up then to Jesus-why not THY Jesus?

But, however, look to him-keep looking on --and he will give thee reason to be ashamed of thy doubts and fears.

DOING THEE GOOD.

But the Lord hides himself from me, and therefore I fear I am not in his favour.— This objection is answered in the charter of grace: I WILL NOT TURN AWAY FROM He has hidden his face, and thou art troubled this trouble is for good. It should put thee upon inquiring into the reason for God's hiding himself. It should humble thee, and should exercise thy faith upon such a scripture as this: "For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart: I have seen his ways and will heal him; I will lead him also, and will restore comforts to him and to his mourners."Although he hid himself, yet he had love to his people: although he smote them, yet it was with a fatherly correction. But,

Thou fearest God not only hides his face, but has also quite forsaken thee: he may, as to thy sense and feeling, but not as to his

own purpose, which changeth not. Hear how he speaks to thee, and silences thy doubts: "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." How gracious is thy' God! What infinite mercy is it, that he should give thee such promises, so suited to the trials of thy faith, to preserve thee under them, and to bring thee out of them! Read carefully, over and over again, these promises; and may every reading of them disperse the cloud of unbelief, until thy soul be enlivened with the light of the Lord's loving countenance.

But perhaps thou art in a worse case, as to thine own apprehension: Thou thinkest, "God is incensed against me, and justly— he has cast me off, and I can expect no more favour at his hand: once indeed, I thought he loved me, but I have fallen into a great sin-an old besetting sin-my conscience accuses me of committing it against light and

conviction-it is a foul black spot, such as is not to be found upon the children of God."

Thou art fallen: and wilt thou lie there, and not be raised up again? Thou art under guilt and wilt thou nurse it, and add sin to sin? Aggravate the sinfulness of thy fall as much as thou wilt, yet thou canst not be truly humbled for it, but by returning to God, and by trusting in the plenteous redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Then thy heart will be softened and melted into love, for grace will have its due honour, and thou wilt see what the scripture says of thy case, in its divine truth and majesty. Thou wilt feel thyself exactly what the word of God says of thee—a fallen, sinful creature: in thee, (that is, in thy flesh,) dwelleth no good thing; so that there is not any sin but thou art capable of falling into it, through the strength of temptation. So long as thou art in the body, the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh in this conflict thou mayest fall, but the covenant secures thee