Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? And a visible title to the blessings of the covenant? And to be "no more strangers, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the church or household of God;" and if they die, to be rendered capable of life eternal; and thus to be regenerated, and, from being "children of wrath, to become children of grace:" all which are the benefits of baptism?

P. Have you any more to say to me on this subject?

M. Yes: I must let you know in what manner this covenant must be made. If you will be a Christian indeed, and have the benefit of it, you must consent to the whole covenant of God, and not to some part only. You must be devoted to your Creator, your Redeemer, and your Sanctifier: you must take him for your Lord, your Ruler, and your Saviour: you must be willing to be sanctified as well as pardoned, and to be saved from sin, and not only from punishment.

You must be ready to take up the cross, and deny yourself for Christ. You must take God and Heaven for your portion, and resolve to cleave to God, if you meet with ever so much tribulation in the world.

You must enter into covenant with God absolutely, without any secret exception or reserve. If you secretly keep a reserve in your heart, that you will come to Christ but upon trial; and that you will be religious as far as will consist with your prosperity and safety in this world; if you secretly except either honour, estate, or life, resolving not to lay it down though Christ require it; you then play the hypocrite, and will lose all.

Lastly; you must, without delay, give up your

self to God, and not profess that you will do it some time hereafter. If you only consent to repent and be converted at some distant period, this is no repentance, conversion, nor true covenant with God. All this you must understand and do. And now I will give you time to learn and resolve on all that I have said to you. Read over and over the exposition which I have given you, and ask the meaning of what you do not understand: and when you have done all, come to me and tell me your resolution.

Prayer suited to the Condition of a Penitent Christian.

(In the Language of the Book of Common Prayer.)

O Almighty God and Heavenly Father, who hast purchased to thyself an universal church, by the precious blood of thy dear Son; I heartily thank thee, that by baptism I have been admitted into this thy family, and called into a state of salvation. But, O merciful Father, I have erred and strayed from thy ways. I have done the things which I ought not to have done, and have left unlone the things which I ought to have done; and here is no health in me. In thought, in word, and in deed, I have most grievously offended thy divine Majesty; and have justly provoked thy wrath and indignation against me. But, O Lord, who art a merciful God, full of compassion, longsuffering, and of great pity; who sparest when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy; spare me, good Lord, spare me;

Grant

enter not into judgment with me a miserable sinner. Saviour of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed me, save me and help me. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant me thy peace. Christ, have mercy upon me. Lord, have mercy upon me. O most merciful God, who dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more; impute not unto me my former sins; for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake, forgive me all that is past; and strengthen me with thy blessed Spirit, that I may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life. that I may both perceive and know what things I ought to do, and may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same. Lord of all power and might, of thee only it cometh, that I can render unto thee true and laudable service; let thy grace always direct and follow me, that my heart and all my members being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, I may in all things obey thy blessed will; may truly and faithfully serve thee; and thus keeping thy commandments both in will and deed, may finally obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partaker of thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

DIALOGUE III.

THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTED AND CONFIRMED IN HIS FAITH AND HOLY RESOLUTIONS; in a Dialogue between a Minister and his Parishioner.

Minister. WELCOME, neighbour, you have been longer away than I expected. What hath been your condition since I saw you?

Parishioner. I went home, convinced that your words were true, and that I must become a convert or be undone. And I considered again and again my baptismal covenant, and the articles of the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments. I studied the meaning of them, with that exposition which you gave me. My ignorance had so darkened my mind, that all seemed strange and new to me, though I used to repeat them by rote in the Church from time to time. And being very unskilful in such matters myself, I went oft to my neighbour Theophilus, as you advised me, and I thank him, he gladly helped me to understand the words and things which were too hard for me. But when I had done all this, my worldly business took up so great a share of my thoughts, and the cares of my family were so much at my heart, and my old companions so often tempted me, and my flesh was so loath to part with all my sin

ful pleasures, and matters of religion were so strange to me, that I delayed my resolution, and continued still purposing that I would shortly turn to God. But while I was purposing and delaying, a fever took me; and having, as I thought, received the sentence of death, God by his terrors awakened me out of my delays.

M. You see, then, what an unreasonable thing it is to delay when you are once convinced. What! delay to come out of the bondage of Satan? out of the guilt of sin? out of the wrath of God? If death take us in an unconverted state, we are lost for ever. Do you not know that every sin, and every delay, and every resistance of the Spirit, tends to the greater hardening of your heart, and making your conversion less hopeful and more difficult? Do you hope for pardon and mercy from God? If you do, is it ingenuous to desire to commit more of that sin, of which you mean to repent, and which you mean to beg of God to forgive? Dare you say in your heart, "Lord, I have abused thee, and thy Son, and Spirit, and mercy, long; I will abuse thee yet a little longer, and then I will repent and ask forgiveness?" Do you propose to love and honour your Saviour afterward and for ever, and yet would you a little longer despise and injure him? Do you ever expect to find conversion an easier work than now? Do you know how much more you will have to do when you are converted? What greater knowledge, faith, hope, assurance, patience, and comfort, you must obtain ? many temptations you will have to overcome, and how many duties to perform, and what a work it is to prepare for immortality? And are you afraid of having too much time, and of beginning so great

How