ought to know, never believed, never repented, never performed one duty aright in his life, who hath not sought all his wisdom, knowledge, faith, repentance, and sufficiency for obedience, from God, by fervent, instant, and persevering prayer. Time was, even since I had souls committed to my care, that I lived in the neglect of this duty, and so without God in the world; but since, through his forbearance and mercy, I have been in earnest about the salvation of my own soul and theirs, I have not been left to do so. However, it is not my intent to speak any farther on this subject, than relates to the matter on hand.

The word of God promises the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. He is the Spirit of truth, leads into all truth, teaches, and searches, and reveals the deep things of God. The leading promise to the church is, (Isaiah c. liv. v. 13.) "That all her children shall be taught of the Lord." (John c. vi. v. 44, 48.) Re ferring thereto, Christ hath declared, that none can come unto him, except he be drawn of the Father, and taught of .God. And St. Pau! adds, (1 Cor. c. ii.

v. 14.) "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." The natural man is explained in Jude, by not having the Spirit, which is evidently the preceding

he declares, that the Apostle's meaning in this passage; for in preaching the gospel, not"in words, which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual," On these grounds I concluded, that man's natural understanding could not spiritually or profitably receive the knowledge of revealed mysteries, unless it be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. I learned also, that our eyes may be blinded by Satan, the god and prince of this world; and our understandings closed, and a veil upon our hearts, when we read the word of God; in which case the letter of the Scriptures, without the Spirit, only killeth. Hence the need of our understandings being opened, to un derstand the Scriptures; (for want of which the plainest discourses of our Lord to his disciples concerning his sufferings,

death, and resurrection, were hid from them, and they understood them not,) and of the veil being taken from our hearts; for want of which the Jews, in reading the Old Testament cannot understand the plainest declarations of Moses, and the Prophets, concerning their promised Savior. I was taught also,that true wisdom was the gift of God, and to be asked of him, by every one, who would be wise unto salvation; that "the secret of the Lord is with them, that fear him ;" and that those, who receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, are given over to a strong delusion to believe a lie, that they might all be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thes. c. 5. v. 10—12.)

On these grounds, and depending up. on the promises and invitations so plentifully interspersed through the Scriptures, when I began to inquire after the truth, I began also to cry unto the Lord for his guidance therein; and, as my mind became more and more engaged, and my difficulties, in extricating myself from the labyrinths of controversy,

increased, I became more and more earnest, and constant, and particular in making my request known unto God. My constant prayer to the Lord was, to be delivered from pride and prejudice, blindness of heart, contempt of the truth, obstinacy, enthusiasm, ignorance, and error; that the Lord would give me wisdom and knowledge, guide me to truth, as it is in Jesus, open my understanding, take away the veil from my heart, and make known unto me the way of salva tion, which is revealed to sinners in his holy Word. Thus waiting upon the Lord, according to his own appointment, depending upon, and pleading his promises from day to day, I was led from one thing to another, until my view of relig ious truth was totally changed. This I most firmly believe to have been by the promised teaching of the Spirit of truth, powerfully enlightening my mind, opening the Scriptures, and by dispelling the clouds of error and prejudices, enabling me to receive the truth therein contain ed.

But, though I am not ashamed of declaring my desire of living a life of prayer

and communion with God; yet I have no intention in speaking thus publicly on such a subject, but to advance his glory, and forward the salvation of souls. As in his presence I declare, that I have prayed over many of the most interesting passages of the Scriptures, chapter by chapter, and often verse by verse, with the most anxious apprehensions of rejecting, or mistaking the truth or embracing a falsehood; and with the most earnest desire of knowing what that doctrine was, which Jesus and his apostles taught. In the sight of God I am sensible I have abundant cause to be humbled and ashamed of my frequent remisness in, and the continual defilements of my prayers; but as surely as I believe his promise to be faithful, as surely I believe him to be a God, that heareth prayers; so surely do I believe that flesh and blood hath not revealed to me the doctrines, I now preach, but God himself by his Holy Spirit.

Reader, whoever thou art, if thy conscience testify that thou hast hitherto lived in the neglect of this important du. ty, or in the formal, lifeless, and un