in fome incident questions, not uncurious, there is fufficient evidence of his penetration, and what may be very agreeable and taking to them who set up for Jomething above what is vulgar.

There is nothing in it mean, or unworthy of a grave, judi. cious, and learned author: if any thing look that way, it is where the neceffity of the matter, and capacity of thofe he dealt with, required it, becoming all things to all men; particularly when dealing with children, it was fit to do it as near their own terms as poffible: for to fuit matter to the defigns we have, and to the conditions of those we deal with, is no argument of the want, but of the strength of judgment.

He was excellently fitted and enriched with talents, for every poft Providence called him to, having filled and adorned the Dottor's chair, as Professor of Divinity, as well as the pulpit, while paftor to a Chriftian flock.

But though there had been lefs to fay for the author, the Contents of the book deferve a fair hearing, and a serious perufal; why? it is the GREAT CONCERN, it is not a triflè, it is not an amusement: no, it is of the last confequence to us to know these things. Many live unconcerned, and love to do fo; it may be, the very title fhall be with such an argument against reading; there is little hope of fixing fuch fo long as to read the book, or fo deep as to do it fericuny, and with due concern: and no wonder, when those fo indifferent about the great concerns of eternity, and their precious fouls, fuffer the fcripture-oracles to lie by them, without due, frequent, and ferious inquiry into them.

Here is prefented to the view of Chriftians, and those who Twould indeed be fuch, what, by the bleffing of God, may be very entertaining, edifying, and useful.

The firft fruits of his labours, in the fermon next after his ordination, printed as an introduction to the book, fhews how much his work was at heart, and under what concern he was, to prepare the people for entertaining and improving his miniftry and message, and to approve himself to God, in the discharge and delivery thereof.

In the First Part, the state of nature is reprefented as a ftate of fin, mifery, and wrath, in the most pungent, affecting, and convincing terms imaginable; where the guilty finner is clofely pursued into all the turns and stages of

Life, and convicted of fin: in each and all of them, fin is represented as odious and abominable, as exceeding finful.

It is laid open in fuch glaffes, and with fuch aggravations, as it is hard to avoid the convictions of it, but where natural hardness is increased, by the malignant influence of Satan, whofe great design and ftrength lies in keeping all in peace.

The divine refentments against fin, wrath and judgment, upon finners, are likewife fet forth in such a manner, as cannot cafily mifs to raise terror in the confciences of the guilty: prefent wrath in the direful effects of it, wrath to come in the extent and extremity of it, are held forth in fuch a lively manner, as must raife the gratitude of thofe happily delivered from it, and bids very fair to alarm and awaken thofe yet under it, to efcape and flee for their lives.

Then, upon fuppofition of conviction of fin and guilt, in the Second Part, the exercifes of the convinced finner are opened up moft diftinctly and judiciously, in their nature, rife, workings, and degrees, and in fuch a feeling manner as may eafily persuade one, that he has, in this matter, copied over his own experience: and it is fome degree of fatisfadion to one in this condition, to have one going before them, and to think that their guide has trodden the fame path.

With what tenderness and compassion doth he touch the cafes of the diftreffed! while yet, with faithfulness and freedom, he opens up the mistakes and deceits, both in the workings and illue of convictions, approving himself an interpreter, one among a thousand. Those who by the Spirit are convinced of fin, will know how to put a value upɔn a piece fo fuitable to their cafe; and thofe awakened and convinced are led by a skilful hand, to the centre of rest for "wearied fouls, by the way of faith, and believing in the Lord Jefus Chrift, which gives occafion for opening up the mystery of faith, in its nature, acts, and properties, concommitants, and confequences, which will be found very useful for informing the lefs knowing, confirming the weak, and comforting the frong believer.

And what can be of greater importance for us to know than the only way of escaping wrath to come, and being delivered from the curfe and condemnation of the law, of being united to Chrift, and being found in him, upon which

he

he becomes our righteousness and strength, whereby we are entitled to the great falvation?

Of which falvation the author treats as the great en couragement of believing; and this is the one thing neceffary: for, What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lofe his own foul? This falvation is fet forth in fcripture-light, accounted for in its parts and properties, at a good length: and as this is of the last confequence to all, fo it must be the delight of thofe that have it at heart..

If thou art convinced and awakened, and brought to a concern about falvation, if brought to the jailor's cafe, thou wilt become the help here offered, and readily attend to the anfwer of the apofile to his quefiion: for what can be more proper and pertinent to the cafe of Juch, than the true way to efcape the mifery of a natural flate, and attain the felicity of a gracious one? Thefe, as they will not fpare, fo they will not repent, the pains of reading thefe Sheets.

Such as are by grace engaged to believe in the Lord Jefus Christ, and are a people faved of the Lord, will have it at heart, what to do for God; they will fet themfelves, in the Brength of grace, to all the duties of religion, whereby God may be glorified, and their faith juftified, and their be gun falvation promoted: all which good defigns are answered in the Third Part of the book.

And this gives an account of perfonal religion, of the fer vice of God, how we must enter into it, and perfevere in it; and what more useful piece of knowledge is there, than how we may do fervice to, and keep up our communion with God? Here our firft tranfactions and after walk are pointedly and piously directed.

Here alfo family-religion is opened in its parts, the foundations of it fixed, and the practice of it enforced with paw erful arguments, and suitable directions for people's walking in their house, and the proper duties of the feveral relatives in a family; which, if duly obferved, would turn boufes into churches and this is very necessary, when family-devation is declining, and like to wear out.

A public religion comes also under confideration in this Part, ar a public fpirit; whence the thing is recommended, and yet cautioned with great wifdam and judgment, to prevent people's going out of their Sphere, and beyond their line.

Th

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The order, fubordination, and mutual dependencies and relations of perfonal, domeftic, and public religion, are nicely stated, and judiciously difcovered, and proper caveats entered against beginning at the wrong end, as feldom miffing to ena either in apoftacy or division: which cannot be but very useful in the present juncture, when divifions fo much abound, and dividing inclinations are fo much aloft.

In a word, there is no part of the book but what is of high importance and great usefulness; which, joined with the eftablifed character and reputation of the author, intitles it to a kind reception, and due perufal.

As thefe were the main prompters of the publishing the book, fo they may be reckoned fufficient arguments for a careful reading and improvement of it, now when published.

It comes out with very little alteration, even as to words, as they stood in the manuscript, partly because it did not much need it, and partly out of veneration for the author, whose pulpit fkill and ftyle was fo generally acceptable; yet it is not to be Suppofed, but if it had received a finishing stroke from his own hand, for the prefs, it might have appeared more beautiful; though even under this want, it will be found, that neither method nor ftyle is dijagreeable, though popular, and just as prepared and delivered to his people.

May all that have encouraged the defign of publishing the book, meet with the double reward of edification to their own fouls, and feeing it do much good to others. We live in a time when all helps and advantages need to be improved, for awakening fecure finners, and bringing them under foul-uptaking inquiries about falvation, and stirring up Chriftians to the univerfal practice of piety and godliness. And as the book has a plain tendency to thefe ends, go on and read it, and digeft and apply it, begging that God may effectually blefs and prosper it to thofe good ends for which it is defigned.