is easy, and his burden is light, Matt. xi. 30.-Peace he leaves with his disciples; his peace he gives unto them, and this in a manner which the world cannot give, John xiv. 27. And the apostle represents christians, as rejoicing in Christ Jesus, without confidence in the flesh, Phil. iii. 3, and as having “the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, who is given unto them." Now, what doubt can remain in the heart of a christian, of the truth and faithfulness of these promises, when he feels them actually fulfilled unto him; when he sensibly feels, that Christ does not leave him comfortless, but manifests himself to him, so as he doth not unto the world; and when he joyfully feels the Spirit of God witnessing with his spirit, that he is a child of God?

You may perhaps esteem this to be all cant and delusion, enthusiasm, or heated imagination: but is it reasonable in a man that was born blind, to conclude, that because he himself has no idea of light and colours, therefore no man ever saw the sun; but all pretences of delight, from the beautiful appearances of the creation, are mere chicanery and deceit ?

I hope, sir, you will quickly be led forward by the Spirit of God into these blessed paths of joy and peace; and then you will need no other argument, to convince you of these glorious truths, than your own happy experience. Then, with surprising delight, you will be able to feel the exercise of faith in the Son of God; and to apply the gracious promise, that he who comes to Christ he will in no wise cast out. Then you will feel a most humbling and soul-abasing sense of your own vileness and unworthiness; and, with sacred rapture, admire, adore, and praise the riches of that sovereign grace by which you are plucked out of the hands of sin and infidelity, and out of the jaws of

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death and hell, and become accepted in the Beloved. Then a ray of before unexperienced light will break into your soul, and give you such a spiritual view of the Divine perfections as you never before had, such a discovery of redeeming love as will fill you with wonder and praise. Then the world, with all its empty pageantry, will vanish out of sight; and you will be no longer emulous of the riches and grandeur of the greatest men in the world, nor of the pleasures of the most luxurious or happiest epicure. Your soul will then be solaced with more pure and substantial joys, with delights more answerable to its desires, and more satisfying to its taste, than it is possible it should find from any of the vain amusements of time and sense. Then you will obtain such a sensible and affecting discovery of the future glory, as will put your soul upon the wing; and excite your most ardent desires after the more intimate and eternal enjoyment of that blessed hope. In a word, then the light will shine out of darkness, and give you "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ." And if you are favoured with a happy sight of him, when you come to encounter the king of terrors, you will be able to stand the shock with courage, with comfort, and joy, (as I have seen many do,) from a delightful prospect of your future inheritance; and breathe out your last breath with that triumphant song, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

It is true, this is not always the happy frame of every sincere christian. We are here in a militant state, and must often meet with sore conflicts from our spiritual enemies, as was before observed? but when these more exalted joys and comforts are wanting, believers have yet "meat to eat which the world

knows not of." The promises will still prove an anchor for their souls, to keep them sure and stedfast, in the most tempestuous seasons. They will find delight and comfort from the ordinances of God; and at least find occasional returns of sensible communion with him, which will make them rejoice more than when corn, and wine, and oil increase. And often, in the midst of their greatest darkness, they will have sudden and surprising gleams of light and joy break into their souls. At least they will be able to look unto Jesus as the author and finisher of their faith; and comfort themselves by committing their souls to him, and venturing their eternal interests in his hand.

The scriptures speak much of these sealings of the Spirit, the earnest of our future inheritance. The Spirit of God helps his children to sensible experience of their undoubted truth and reality; whereby they are established in the faith, strengthened for their spiritual encounters, and supported under all the difficulties and trials they meet with, in their way to the future inheritance.

Fourthly. I may yet add another instance, wherein the truth of christianity is made matter of experience, namely, the manner in which the great change is wrought and carried on in the heart of every sincere christian. There is, I confess, a vast difference, with respect to a variety of incidental circumstances, in the methods of the Divine operation, in turning sinners from the power of Satan to God: and yet the scripture account of this change, as to the substance of it, is always found to be exactly verified in all those who, at adult years, are the happy subjects of God's converting grace. This has been continually confirmed, by the blessed experience of the children of God in all the successive ages of the church.

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How agreeably are we surprised, to see a careless and secure sinner, who was going on in the pursuit of his lusts, hardened against all the solemn warnings which he had continually received from the word, ordinances, and providences of God, and deaf to all the pathetic admonitions of his godly friends—to see such a one, I say, at once, by some ordinary passage in a sermon, in a book, or in conversation, thoroughly awakened out of his security, and put upon a serious and lasting inquiry, “ What shall I do to be saved." His conscience can no more now, as at other times, wear off the impression; nor dare he return to his mirth and jollity, to his sensual and worldly pursuits. He can no more speak peace to his soul, from his general hopes, or his good designs, nor rest in any thing short of an interest in Christ. Thus we see the promise verified, that Christ would send the Comforter, to convince the world of sin; and find it most evidently true, that the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. We see a change made, that no means, no endeavours could ever effect, till a Divine power was exerted to bring it about.

How constantly does the thoroughly awakened sinner find, by experience, the deficiency of all his legal attempts to quiet his conscience, and to establish his hopes of the favour of God! He sees his sins too great and numerous to be expiated by his imperfect performances. He feels his corrupt affections, appetites, and passions, too strong for his good purposes and resolutions. He is deeply sensible of so much defect and impurity in the best of his religious duties, as render them utterly unworthy the acceptance of an infinitely pure and holy God. He feels his heart so hard, and his affections so dead and carnal, that no

thing but an almighty power can quicken them. He knows by experience, that he lies at mercy; and that all his own refuges, and all endeavours in his own strength to relieve his distressed soul, are fruitless and vain. He finds it indeed the case of fallen man, that nothing but coming to Christ, with faith in him, and dependence upon him for righteousness and strength, can give rest to his labouring and weary soul. True it is, there are some convinced sinners that wear off their religious impressions, and stop short of these effects, which I have now described; but these consequences are always found in all those whose convictions are abiding and effectual. By these they are always necessitated to fly for refuge to Christ, and to look to him for that life and peace which they can find no where else. You will readily allow that my station puts me under the advantage of a particular acquaintance with the circumstances of distressed souls and having conversed with very many under convictions, from time to time, I have always found the above observations exactly verified.

How surprising is the change made in convinced sinners, when a ray of Divine light shines into their souls, and enables them to act faith in Christ, and to "behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!" Now these " mourners in Zion have appointed unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness." From this time, they become indeed new creatures, in all spiritual respects. Their discovery of the excellence and sufficiency of Christ, whereby they were enabled cheerfully to trust their eternal interests in his hands, proves a continued source of love to God and man, and a principle that constantly inclines them "to live soberly,