not but every day will be his laft in this world; and though his trouble for the present is great, yet he is afraid that death would only be a paffage into torments infinitely more dreadful-If you afk for proof of this, the fcripture abounds with inftances to this purpose: what can be more pertinent, than that account of the poor delinquent in Eden's blooming garden: after he had put forth his hand to the interdicted fruit, his great legiflator called, Adam, where art thou? The answer fully indicates the horror that had feized the criminal's troubled breaft, And he faid, I heard thy voice in the garden and I was AFRAID, because I was naked, Gen. iii. 10. Again; If you'll take time to read that wonderful narrative in the ii. chap. of the Acts of the Apoftles, where Peter charges the murder of CHRIST upon his hearers; ver. 29. informs us, that, When they heard these things they were pricked in their heart, and faid unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren. what Shall we do? If you look to chap. xvi. of the fame divine hiftory, you find that when Paul and Silas were fet at liberty by an earthquake, the jailor comes trembling and cries out, Sirs, what must I do to be faved? Once more. A paffage occurs, which I must not omit, the xi. of Heb. ver. 7. By faith, Noah being warned of God of things not yet feen, moved with FEAR, &c. Obferve, Noab has a divine warning of God's purpofe to deluge the whole univerfe, Noah believes God's declaration-fears to be a partaker in the general deftruction, and therefore according to direction, begins to prepare, with all hafte, be

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gins to prepare an ark for the faving of himself and family.

Thus will it be with him that believes God, he will be afraid left vengeance fall on him, because of his multiplied tranfgreffions.

2d, Another evidence that will follow upon believing in God-The believer will be humbled before God on account of his fhameful mifdoings in his fight: he will remember how he has prated against the truth-walked contrary to it-fet his heart against God-followed the wicked inclinations of his corrupt heart-abused the kindness of a good, and long-suffering benefactor-neglected the ordinances of the LORD, and fhamefully devoted the members of his body, and the powers of his mind, to the fervice of fin and fatan; and has murdered perhaps great part of his precious time, in making himself fit fuel for everlasting burnings. On the account of these things, the fenfible finner will unfeignedly, and with felf-loathing, adopt the language of felf-abafed Job, Behold I am vile! what fhall I answer thee, I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken, yea twice, but I will proceed no further, for I have heard of thee by the bearing of the ear, but now mine eye feeth thee. Wherefore I abbor myself and repent in duft and afbes. Job. xl. 4, 5. and xlii, 5, 6. This exactly agrees with those predictions, and the accomplishment of them, which refpected Ifrael's return out of captivity. The prophet told them from God, Ez. xx. that they fhould loath themselves in their own eyes, when they were brought to fee all their abominations

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of which they had been guilty; and whoever confiders the books of Ezra, and Nehemiah, will fee the people returning according to what was faid, with weeping, wailing, and fupplication and this will ever be the cafe with the finner that fees the nature, and believes the law of God. He will freely own, that he is the chief of finners, and unworthy of any favour.

3d, Another evidence of believing in God, is when a perfon fincerely feeks a fenfe of the Loving-kindness of the LORD in the means which he hath appointed. He begins to hear, for God hath unftopped his deaf ears; and he thinks it no fmall disappointment, if he can't get to hear the word of life but more of this by and by. Thofe that believe God, begin to pray with their whole heart, as is faid of Paul, Behold he prayeth. The pharifees were great men for praying, but their hearts were gone after other things, and they fought chiefly, to be feen, and heard of men; and therefore, a public place in the Temple, or fome corner in the street, answered their purpose better than their closet: like too many in our day, who will pray loudly at church in their pews, whilft they have a large quarto common-prayer-book, large letter, fair paper and good print before them; but as to fecret, Spiritual prayer, though undefired gray hairs have covered their aged heads, and unwelcome old age has enervated their withered limbs, yet, they are as great strangers to that kind of prayer, as the half favage Hottentots are to the politeness of a polished french courtier. Not so the perfon that believes, for this is his prayer; (viz.)

defire

defire converted into words, or the breathings of his heart put into form: and thus he waits, thus he feeks, nor fhall he do it in vain. That fpirit that has opened his eyes to fee, hath done it, not with a design to deftroy, but in order that the believer's most fanguine expectations may all be anfwered, according to the good pleasure of Jebovah's goodness.

4th, The person that believes, will have this evidence as a witnefs for him alfo: he will place his whole dependence on the finished work of CHRIST JESUS for his acceptance before a Juft God. He reads, that By the deeds of the law Shall no flesh be justified, Rom. iii. 19. he believes it, he fees 'tis impoffible. He reads, or hears, That CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth, Rom. x. 4. he believes this alfo: he is fully perfuaded, that the righteousness which God has fet forth is unto all, and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference. He in heart and word exclaims against every other plea before a holy God; he fees that this is the foundation which the Almighty has laid in Zion; and though this ftone was defpifed and rejected by foolish builders, fcribe and prieft, yet he fees that it is The Rock, the foundation which is tried, precious, chofen of God, and eternally stable. And though perhaps for the prefent, he is with grief of heart doubting whether he is on that foundation, or whether

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There is a very wide difference between doubting of the truth of God's Word; and doubting whether we have an interest in

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whether he be fafe in the hands of CHRIST: notwithstanding, he makes no doubt but this is God's way, according to his word, of saving finners; and he never expects to be faved by any other means; but is well fatisfied, that (whether he be faved, or damned) the way is honourable; and will bring eternal glory to the author. The Apostle was fo ftruck with the excellencies of CHRIST and his righteousness, that he esteemed all elfe but lofs, and drofs, and dung, compared with this, Phil. iii. 7, 8. And thus the believer will in his heart turn to that strong-hold, that everlasting name which is above every name among men or angels. Try, try my friends whether this be your cafe; for, Unto you therefore which believe he is precious, 1 Pet. ii. 7.

5th, Another proof of our believing in God, is our following him as dear children in the

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way

the promise of life. I think the former, when it is a fettled de nial of the truth, may very juftly be called, UNBELIEF, the latter is not called fo in any part of facred writ. Sin committed, or violently oppofing the law of the Chriftian's mind, often caufes the children of God to doubt whether they be fuch; for, the evidences of Christianity, or of our belonging to CHRIST being eclipfed, will ever bring doubts, fears, and diftreffes upon a ferious foul but this feems to be neither unbelief, nor its effects; but the refult of a steady conviction, that the fcriptures truly describe the real chriftian, and that the word of God will certainly ftand. Many are anxious to work themselves up into a thorough perfuafion, that they are pardoned Saints, &c. I have been pained at my heart, when I have met with fome, who were full of this perfuafion, but had nothing to offer as a fcriptural reafon for that imaginary confidence, I do not know but the devil has a great hand in perfuading fome to conclude that they are Saints, whom the word of God would confront to their faces. It therefore appears neither finful, nor hurtful, to be jealous over ourfelves with a godly jealousy.