not enjoined to "work out your own galvation with fear and trembling," that is to attend with all diligence every means of divine appointment, to exercise a holy fear lest you come short of so great salvation, with this positive assurance, "it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." He ordinarily breathes upon the soul in its humble, earnest, uniform attendance upon his own institutions, imparting spiritual and immortal life; these ordinances he often accompanies with almighty energy, convincing the unconvinced, converting the unconverted, and preparing the subjects of his grace for the possession of glory. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Therefore, as thy soul is precious, as an eternal redemption is provided, and as the Lord has ordained his own word to be the great means of applying this redemption, lose no opportu nity of reading or hearing it. It was by an occasional, what the world would pronounce, an accidental attendance on the ministry of our Lord that Zaccheus received salvation to his soul and his house; it was by an occasional hearing of the apostles that the Lord "opened the heart of Lydia," ena bling her "to attend to the things that were spoken;" it was by an occasional reading and hearing of the word that the Ethiopian Eunuch was savingly instructed and enabled "to go on his way rejoicing."

With the most diligent use of the word,

whether read or preached, I would urge upon thee devoutly and explicitly to covenant with the Lord Jesus; endeavor to make the most solemn, particular, unreserved application of him as thine own Saviour and portion; thine own wisdom for all saving instruction; thine own righteousness for complete reconciliation; thine own sanctification for beginning and perfecting a work of holiness in the inner man ; thine own redemption for delivering thy soul at death and thy body at the resurrection from all their bondage, from all that dominion to sin, and satan, and the grave, to which they were exposed. O reader, be instant, be earnest in coming to Jesus, in closing with Jesus as thine all both NOW AND FOR EVER. Perhaps the moment in which thou art reading this page may be the last moment of mercy to thee; perhaps the entreaty, which in God's name is now solemnly presented, may be the last voice of mercy which shall ever salute thine ears: for ought I know, or thou knowest, thy breath may instantly depart, thy body become a lifeless mass, and thy soul be summoned to the tribunal of its Judge. Under this impression, and with an earnestness, a solemnity becoming one that must perish eternally without an interest in Christ, approach him and expostulate with him in the following manner. Lord Jesus, I am a lost, perishing sinner, I have wilfully destroyed myself by adding to my original guilt many actual crimes; I have grieved

thy most blessed Spirit by not yielding to his admonitions; I have wasted my merci ful day by a most shameful indifference; I now appear before thee in my sins, as one of the most poor, blind, naked, miserable wretches out of hell, but I am willing to receive all as a free gift at thy hand, and be an eternal debtor to the riches of thy mercy; I cannot believe, but, O blessed Saviour, “I look to thee as the author and finisher of faith;" I cannot repent, but art "thou not exalted to give repentance and remission of sins?" my guilt is truly great, mine iniquities are more in number than the hairs upon my head, and each enough to sink a soul to hell, but thou art God, and therefore MIGHTY, ALL-MIGHTY to save; "there is redemption in thy most precious blood for the ve ry chief of sinners." THOU ONLY HOPE of perishing sinners, do not cast me off; I cannot go away without thy blessing; I cannot bear the thought of being an eternal outcast from thy presence; I cannot dwell with devils, I cannot lie down a prey to devour ing flames; only let me touch the borders of thy garment, give me the lowest station in thy service on earth, and the lowest mansion in thy glory above, I am willing to stand as a chief monument of mercy to the eternal astonishment of angels and of the universe." Thus cast yourself at the Saviour's feet; imitate him who "wept and made supplication, resolving, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Let the

kingdom of heaven be suffering violence through thine importunity, and let the violent take it by force. Ask in faith," in the full persuasion that Jesus is both able and willing to receive thee. I will now take my leave of the reader, reminding him with all affection of the weighty admonitions of our Lord to Martha, ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, infinitely NEEDFUL; if this is secured, thine all, comparatively, is secured; if this is neglected thine all is neglected, thine all is lost, and that to all eternity. Thou mayst enjoy all that temporal happiness which thy carnal heart can desire, or thy carnal imagination paint; thou mayst treasure up gold “like the stones of the brook," and climb to the very summit of earthly greatness, but if the good part is wanting, thou art laboring in vain thou art only preparing a more splendid entrance into the blackness of darkness: none probably drop deeper into perdition than those who slip from the heights of human affluence and honor; to none will the torments of hell be more intolerable than to those "who put far away the evil day; who lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches; who eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall. Who chant to the sound of the viol, that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointment, but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph;" they are not duly exercised a bout their own salvation. AMEN. P 2

VOL. 4.