in, will iffue in a good understanding of the fpiritual ftate, and a reftlefs ardent defire of, and endeavour after, a more precious benefit, viz. pardon, peace, and heavenly joys: On the commencing of which, forrow for fin, will be happily fucceeded with joy, by deliverance from it. 9. And let those who deal in the externals of religion; the ceremonies and outward services of it, inquifitively inquire, whether their profeffion and prac tice be the effect of the HOLY GHOST, working their heart to a liking of, and delight in religious things? Or whether it refult from education, or cuftom, or be taken up to serve a purpose in gaining a name, or ofteem amongst men, or to merit the favour of God and his kingdom, or for any other reafon, wherein confcience as a motive to, and far a breach of duty, is unconcerned. If religious practices flow not from principle; the knowledge and fear and love of GoD, they are but the form without the power, and ferve rather to deceive than fave. Being a labour which has the appearance of religion, it is taken for the fubtance; and, generally by perfons converfant in it, is as much confided in, as though it was CHRIST in them the hope of glory. Such, being righteous in their own eyes, have no need, as they fuppofe, of any righteousness but their own. These are they who juftify themselves, but were never "juftified by the "fpirit of GoD*;" and know no more of accept ance with GOD, through his Son, than as though it had no being. And having a deceitful heart, (though they know it not) they are felf-deceived, the defufion is in and from themfelves; "For thinking "themselves *I. Cor. vi. 11. "themselves to be fomething, when they are nothing, they deceive themfelvest." 10. The Saviour says, "without me ye can do nothing:" but thefe, who have not CHRIST, profefs to do all things. Or if they fail in point of performance, they attribute it not to want of ability, being confident of the goodness of their heart. That is taken for granted, though if they were asked how they came by it, poffibly could give no better account, than that they were born with it; not knowing that a good heart is the gift of GOD, and not of nature. The fcripture afcribes a holy state of mind to CHRIST as the meritorious, and to the HOIY GHOST as the efficient caufe of it; but felf-righteous perfons are ignorant of these things. They were never yet fo apprehenfively loft as to want a Saviour; nor fo unholy as tó need a fanctifier. Though all have finned, and, without shedding of blood there is no remiffion; (only the blood of JESUS CHRIST clean fes from all fin) yet these feem determined to run the risk, to venture all on their own righteoufnefs. They will not renounce that, and depend wholly on his merit. It is too humbling to their pride to commence beggars. They will rather with the Pharifee commend, than with the Publican accuse them felves. Such, diffent from him, who fays, "there is falvation in none" but CHRIST; and, in effect, give him the lie, by fetting up themselves as Saviours. 11. If these could be induced to take their measures of religion from the unerring ftandard, "The spirit " and its fruits," it is probable their delufion would t + be detected. They would then fee, that mere outside performances, without a new nature, is like fewing a piece of new cloth on an old garment. What evidence then has the Pharifee of having the fpirit? Has he been convinced of the fin of his heart, and life? If not, he his wanting in the firft work of it. Has he feen the infufficiency of his works to juftify him bes fore GOD? If this knowledge never had a place in his heart, 'tis a fure proof of his not having the fpirit. Has he known the want of a Saviour, of pardon through his name, of grace to renew his heart, and to help in time of need. Where these wants never, appeared, 'tis too plain to be denied, or even difputed, the holy fpirit has no place. And, if in the prefent time he has no evidence of acceptance with God, of being his adopted child, and of having a title to heaven, it is as clear as the fun, that he is not born of the fpirit; and, confequently is no christian, no fervant of GOD, no heir of glory. The formalift then has the name, but not the nature of a chriftian; and feems wholly infenfible of what conftitutes a chriftian. Instead of coming to Go D, by his fon, (for CHRIST is the way) he depends wholly on his own doings; not knowing, that all the good works in the world (if he had them) without a renewed heart, could not. fave him from hell. To thefe, the gofpel way of falvation, is yet a miftery. JESUS CHRIST, redemp-.. tion through his blood, the gift of the HOLY GHOST, &c. are things incompatible with the condition of those who know not their wickedness and wants. In a word, felf-fufficiency fets them above the merit and spirit of a Saviour. So having embark. ed on their own bottom, they muft defend themfelves, as well as they can, against the storms of God's wrath due due to all out of CHRIST; but to all fuch he is a confuming fire. But wifdom, the instructor of the foolish, says, know thyfelf; know thy infufficiency, and the want of a Saviour. Renounce thy own righteoufnefs, and be found in that which is of God by faith. Get cleansed by CHRIST's blood, and renewed by his fpirit, and abound in the fruits of it, and no law fhall lie against thee. 12. Let fuch as have been awakened, afk, whether the knowledge of fin iffued in the knowledge of the forgiveness of it? If a guilty confcience ends in any thing but this, it ends where it began, in darkness and death; and the laft end of that man is worse that the firft. These render abortive a good beginning, and destroy themselves by difobedience. Miferable fouls! 13. And let those who have been faved from their guilty fears, examine whether their proficiency in the grace of GoD, runs parallel with the time of their being in CHRIST? Whether babes in CHRIST are advanced to the ftate of young men, in whom every inward evil is reduced, and the graces of the spirit proportionably increased; which gives a power to command the thoughts and various workings of the heart, widely different from what is in the state of fpiritual infancy? Happy fouls who are thus renewed in the fpirit of their mind, and are ftrong through the Lord and the power of his might! 14. But greater things remain to be received. Let it then be inquired whether the foul be wholly fanctified, whether the root of rebellious nature be intirely eradicated, and the fpotlefs image of JESUS CHRIST, univerfal univerfal holiness, be wrought into the conftitution of the foul? Bleffed are the pure in heart; for they shall fee GOD. 15. If any be thus pure, then let a fcrutiny pafs touching the fruit of the fpirit in affection, temper, word, and work. Whether they be obedient in all things in the measure and manner that they may? For, let it be obferved, that fanctification exempts not from the danger of coming fhort in point of performance, and in confequence thereof, of falling into condemnation. Angels and Adam fell, and JESUS CHRIST was tempted; and who knows whether his fafety did not depend on úfing the means prefcribed by himself, for the fafety of others in fimilar cafes, viz. watching, and prayer, and univerfal obedience? Happy are the fouls who abound in good works, who do the will of their heavenly Father on earth, as angels do in heaven! Their reward is fure, for they lay up treafure above, where moths cannot corrupt, and where thieves cannot break through and fteal. Thefe, continuing faithful until death, will be finally faved. And may this be the falvation of us all, through our Loid JESUS CHRIST. Amen. 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