gospel; and though I was exceedingly ignorant, obstinate, and prejudiced, yet this desire, having, by his providential direction, led me to the word of God, and influenced me to seek his teaching by prayer; God was faithful to his own promises, and it was an example of his own words; "that every one that asketh, receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth." My sincerity in seeking the truth, evidenced by the sacrifice I made to my conscience, was sufficient to convince any person, who is conversant and experienced in the things of God, that as my friend foretold, thither would all my inquiries lead me,in that would they all finally centre. And could I be assured, beloved reader, whoever thou art, that thou wast as sincerely desirous to know the truth, as I then was, and as heartily resolved to embrace it wherever thou didst find it, and whatever it should cost thee; had I also assurance, that in a believing dependence on these promises, thou wast dilligently, and from day to day, in the study of the word of God and prayer, seeking the accomplish. ment thereof unto thy soul; I would

as confidently foretel, that, as to those things, which I now regard, as essential to salvation, and, if thou hast the souls of others committed to thee, as to what is needful for thy usefulness in the ministry, thou wouldst be brought in time to the same conclusions, whatever thy present religious sentiments may be. May the Lord give thee true sincerity, and incline thine heart to try the experiment!

I am aware, that many will object to what I have urged under this head, as being too confident; and as urged by men of contrary religious sentiments, eac hin behalf of his own system; and as I would neither wish by vain con. troversy to be detained from more profitable employments, nor yet to leave any material and plausible objection in force against what I have asserted; I hope the reader will excuse my obviating this beforehand. In answer, therefore, to those who may deem me too confident in this argument, I would only entreat them impartially and carefully to consider the limitations with which on every hand it is guarded, and

then to inquire whether, in any other way than that which hath been mentioned, he can account for this circumstance; that is, supposing this narrative truc, for which the appeal is to the heartsearching God; and supposing the promises mentioned, to be proposed to us, that we might embrace, depend on, and plead them in prayer; considering the glory of the divine veracity, as concerned in their accomplishment to every believer, and then try, whether you possibly can evade one of the following conclusions. 1. Either God hath failed of his promise, Or, 2. God hath in the main, and as far as is expressed, led the author by his Holy Spirit to the knowledge and belief of the truth. To the 2dargument, taken from experience, I answer, 1. That it is not fact: many pretenders to sincerity and candor will, without hesitation, condemn, as enthusiastical, such a reliance on, and confidence in these promises, and this way of searching for truth; and it is plain, they do not seek truth in that manner, which they condemn in others. ny others, perhaps, slightly mention

Ma.

these matters, but they will not endure to be closely questioned: they are conscious, that they have not sought the truth in this manner, and therefore they evade such discourse as personal. 2. I answer, that the writings of many pretended inquirers after truth evidently show, that they expect to find it, not by trusting the Lord with all their heart, asking wisdom of him, or seeking in the word of God and by prayer, to be taught of him; but by leaning to their own understanding, by resting the ar gument on philosophical reasonings, by backing it with the authority of this or that renowned name, and supporting their conclusions by bold and perplexing criticisms, and interpretations of Scripture. Hence so many daring appeals from revelation, to reason and philosophy; hence such, and so many ob jections brought against doctrines plainly revealed in God's word; (if language hath any determinate meaning,) and so many consequences charged upon these doctrines, with a design to invalidate their divine authority; as if being made by every art of ingenuity, to have the

shew of unreasonableness, was sufficient to prove the plainest revelation of God's holy Spirit a falsehood; hence such lib. erty, in interpretation and criticism, taken with the word of God, as the learned would never endure in interpreting, or criticising upon Horace or Virgil. These things prove, that such persons are strangers to that earnest, hearty, sincere desire to know the truth, which brings the inquirer to an humble willingness to be taught of God, and in submission of understanding to seek wisdom from his word and Spirit. And 3. It is evident, that many pretenders to this sincere desire to know the truth, are not troubled with suspicions, that they are, or can be wrong. They have made up their minds, before they begin their inquiries; and therefore you will not find them willing to make the least concession, but, in the management of the controversy, resolved to vindicate, and contend for every tittle,wading through thick and thin, (as it is said,) to make good their cause; and where arguments fail, to make use of the other arts of controversy, with which skill in the