fures, and lofe the friendship of fuch and fuch perfons.

The enemy infinuated, that it was better to defer being religious till I was farther advanced in life, and then I fhould not have these difficulties to encounter. The conteft was fometimes fharp and long, and I was frequently on the point of yielding to the enemy; but the Lord graciously interpofed and enabled me to refift the temptations.

In the month of May I joined the Society, and fet out in good earnell to feek the Lord, being fully refolved to give him my heart, and to live and die in his fervice. I was drawn by love, and enlightened to fee the propriety of living to God; being truly fenfible that this was the only way to real happiness. In Novem ber following, for the space of a week, I felt my mind burdened more than usual, and my foul ardently longed for the enjoyment of God. On the Saturday after, my diftrefs increased, and at night when I bowed my knees before the Lord, my full heart could only vent itfelf in fighs and groans. In a little time the Lord fhed his Love abroad in my heart, and I was inftantly filled with peace and joy. O how precious was Jefus to my foul! The fatisfaction I felt was unfpeakable. When I arofe on Sunday morning, I retained my peace and confidence. But the fubtle. enemy prevailed with me to enter into reafonings with him, and negle&ing to look unto the Lord in the hour of temptation, I loft my confidence. It was upwards of two years before I regained the light of God's countenance in a clear and fatisfactory manner; this unfpeakable mercy was reflored to me one time while I was engaged in carneft fupplication; the Lord manifefted his Love 10 my foul in an abundant measure, and filled me again with peace and joy, through faith in Chrift Jefus.

From that time, the work of falvation has been increasing in my foul, and I hope I make fome progrefs in the divine life. I am perfuaded that holiness is my privilege, and I feel strong defires to attain unto a full conformity to the whole will of God.When I first began to give a word of exhortation to the people, (which was about Christmas, 1787,) it was from a perfuafion that the Lord had called me to this duty; nevertheless, the consciousnefs of my inability for fuch a work, involved me in difcouraging reafonings and fears. After I had spoken once, I felt no great inclination to proceed, but was prevailed upon by the intreaties of friends to make a further trial. One evening I attempted to give an exhortation at Tregony, but was greatly embarraffed; which fo diftreffed me that I was ready to give up all thoughts of speaking in public. While I was reafoning in my mind, and almost refolved for the future to be filent, the following paffage of Scripture occurred, "Take the unprofitable fervant, and caf him into outer darkness." I felt in all the powers of my foul the weight of this reproof, and at length confented to take up my crofs and follow the leadings of Providence, and the Lord inftantly delivered me from the distress under which I laboured. Some time

after

after I ventured to take a text, and found great freedom; there was likewife fome good done. Mr. Moon, the affiftant of our circuit, inferted me in the local preachers plan, where I continued two years; and then I was appointed an itinerant preacher in Bath circuit. Since I have travelled, the Lord has been pleafed to blefs my labours to the conviction and converfion of fome finners, and to give me an internal evidence that I act in that station he would have me: My defire is at prefent, to spend and be spent in his fervice.

St. Aufle, July 14, 1794.

WILLIAM AVER.

Mr. MATHER's fecond Difcourfe on CHRISTIAN PERFECTION. Having these Promifes, dearly beloved, let us cleanfe ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and fpirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of GOD. 2 Cor. vii. 1.

IN

N the foregoing Difcourfe I have endeavoured to confider the three first propofitions deduced from the text, viz. 1. By pointing out the Apoftle's defign in the advice given, even our holiness: 2. The means we are to ufe in order to a speedy attainment of this important end, which is fo carnefly defired by all real believers: 3. The Argument employed by St. Paul, both to enforce the Duty, and encourage thofe who are engaged in the execution of it, againft the difficulties which may arife in their way I fhall now, in this fubfequent Difcourfe, endeavour to make fome application of the whole.

This I fhall do, 1. By advifing all to examine themselves, whether they be of the number of thofe, to whom the advice in the text is given, viz. Believers. 2dly. By intreating fuch to know their calling, or, in other words, the privileges to which i entitles them to be holy: to perfect holiness. 3dly. Endeavouring to fhew why fo few attain, or fo much as ever aim at attaining this hope of their calling. 4thly. By attempting to prefs all beJievers, not to ftop fhort of it: but to go on to perfection. Laftly, To encourage all who are doing this, to perfevere; yea, to expect the bleffing now, by faith in Chrift Jefus.

1ft. Then, I advife all to examine themfelves, whether they be of the number of those to whom the advice in the text is given. This I think effentially neceffary on all occafions; but particularly when any Chriftian duty is enjoined, or Chriflian privilege declared. 1. Because, as the privilege can belong to none but true believers, fo none but fuch are qualified for the performance of the duty. For instance, it is the privilege of the Believer to inherit all in and with Chrift; and, as fuch, to love him, and keep his commandments. But how many are there, who lay claim to the privilege, who yet are utterly incapable of doing the duty, even while they own it fhould be done: they fly to a variety of fubterfuges,

P 2

fubterfuges, greatly depreciating the pure Gofpel of Chrift, to fecure if poffible, their right to the privilege, with an exemption from performing the duty. 2. I judge this the more requifite, because without this diftinction, the standard of Chriftian duty is loft, and no proper difference is kept up between the Penitent's (did I fay ?) no, nor even between the Formalift's and the Believer's duty and privileges. Without this, they are alike common to all, who on flight grounds gain the name of ferious perfons! Oh! what trifling with immortal fouls. "Serious perfons!" Who are they? Perhaps one might define their character in general, and fay," a ferious perfon is one who is not in jeft, but really means what he fpeaks who is hearty in what he profeffes, and in earnest about what he does: determined to pufh his point as far as it can, or will go:" If this be ferioufnefs, are all thofe who obtain this appellation really fo? Are they all heartily engaged for God? and détermined to push their point in religious matters as far as they can? as it will go?

Who that fees the tenor of their behaviour can have charity enough to think fo? their general levity of fpirit? trifling, not to fay, vain converfation? there want of relish for, and backwardnefs, not merely to introduce, but even to fecond, or any way to aid religious converfation in companies where they are providentially caft: their readiness to push it out, by bringing in fomething elfe? their general conformity to the fpirit, cuftoms, and manners of the world, as far as thefe can be carried? added to thefe, their backwardnefs to private prayer; their neglect of it, and even of family prayer?

On this view of things, who can account fuch perfons ferious? And one would wonder how they even proceeded as far as this: unless a small degree of knowledge of fpiritual things, or of Gospel light, (as it is called in our day,) was fubftituted for the true fpirit of bondage; a very partial reformation for true regeneration; and fo the form, or rather a part of the form of godlinefs, put in the place of the power!

However, it matters not how they obtained their title; they are judged ferious perfons, and, as fuch, led to fuppofe themselves interested in Chrift, and entitled to all the privileges of the people of God. But, when put to the trial, they are utterly incapable of doing any of the real fpiritual duties of the relation which they in vain pretend to. To love their enemies, blefs their perfecutors, do good to thofe that hate them, and to maintain spiritual converfe with God, are things quite out of their way. They fay

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we are poor helpless creatures; in us dwelleth no good thing; when we would do good, evil is prefent with us. The good we would, we do not; and the evil we would not, that we do: It is well for us that falvation is by Grace: that all our righteousness is in another that it is not of works, but by Grace we are faved, &c. &c." Thus the form of godlinefs is oppofed to the power of it; and the above-mentioned diftin&tion is loft: the way of truth

evil-fpoken of; and the real ftandard of felf-examination, "whether Christ be in you," is thrown down, and trodden under foot; and they, who would repair and raife it, traduced as "legalifts, trufting in themfelves, depending upon their frames and feelings:" as if they produced fome ftrange heretical doctrine, becaufe after Chrift, they urge, "The kingdom of God is within you," confifting faith St Paul, of "righteoufnefs, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft;" which whofoever hath, muft feel. Therefore the fame Apoftle makes his appeal, "Know ye not your ownselves. that Chrift is in you, except ye be reprobates," i. e, unapproved of God!

Hence, my advice is the more neceffary for all who would not deceive their own fouls, any more than give occafion to the enemies of God to say, "Alas! where is now their God! We fee no difference!" No, it is impoffible that this difference should be perceived in the unregenerate. How can the corrupt tree bring forth the good fruit of a Chriftian life? Let the tree be made good by regeneration, and then that fruit will appear, but not otherwife, though all the art of man be engaged to produce it. Therefore it is, that Chrift fo ftrongly infifts upon converfion, "Except ye be converted, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God!" and upon regeneration, "Except a man (every man) be born again, he fhall not fee the kingdom of God!" And none but those who believe, are, or can be, born of God. Therefore I advise you to fee to it, that you be believers: that you be really united to Chrift by living faith; truly ingrafted into him by believing. So fhall ye bring forth fruit unto God; unto holiness and become proper fubjects for the work in my text of the num ber of thofe to whom I may with propriety addrefs my

ad. Point, by intreating you, as believers, to know your calling, and the privileges, to which it entitles you; viz. To be holy; to perfect holiness.

That this is your calling, dearly beloved, is clear, 1. From all the diffuafives (if I may fo fpeak) ufed in the Bible. 2. From all the perfuafives, or exhortations, in the fame bleffed book: To which I must add, thofe of good and holy men in every age, from the beginning of the world to this prefent day. And you will forgive me, if I here for once attempt to magnify my office to you for whom this little plain labour is chiefly defigned. You, my brethren, the Methodists of every defcription. And, to fay the truth, fcarcely ever was more labour and pains bestowed upon any people, than by our late worthy and ever to be remembered Friend and Father in Chrift, upon you, to make you fee you were indeed called to be a holy people, in all manner of converfation and godliness. Oh! what pains, what labour did he bestow, from the pulpit and the prefs, in public and in private, to make you a holy people to perfect you in holinefs. How did he travel as in the birth for you, that Chrift might thus be formed in you! that he

might prefent you without fpot and blameless, before Him at his appearing!

And what can any one fay unto you, to demonftrate that this is your calling, the privilege, the great, the glorious Gospel privilege, to which you are entitled as believers in Chrift, which Ite has not faid, who being dead yet fpeaketh unto you, by his living, his dying labours. To them I refer you. To regard them, I charge you, for Chrift's fake, and for your own fouls' fake. As you will meet him before the Judge of quick and dead, fee that ye be holy that you perfect holiness: that you ftop not short of that perfection in holinefs, which he has fet fo clearly before you, in his fermons and other works above referred to, all which were compiled and publifhed for your fake's.

O my Brethren, my companions (fome of you for more than forty years, as fellow-members of the fame defpifed Society; others for nearly the fame time in an itinerant capacity): for us was his mouth thus opened, his heart fo enlarged! We were indeed not ftraitened in him, and fhall we be fo in our own bowels ? God forbid! No; for a recompenfe of the fame fpirit, let our mouths be opened, and our hearts enlarged: that we may declare, and with all our powers enforce the fame bleffed privilege upon all to whom God fends us; and let us never be afhamed of this part of the Gofpel of Chrift, but may our hearts be fo enlarged after it, that we may feelingly fing,

"Our fouls break out in ftrong defire

This perfect blifs to prove ;

Our longing fouls are all on fire

To be diffolv'd in love."

So fhall the Lord whom we fo feck, fuddenly come to his temple; and enable us to fay boldly of this alfo, "The things we have feen, the things we have heard, and that our hands have handled of this word of life, declare we unto you, that your fellowfhip berein may be with us, (who are fo renewed through Grace in the image of Him who created us) whofe fellowship is Funinterrupted] with the Father and the Son;" thus my very dear friends and beloved brethren, fhall we indeed be the falt of the earth, and the light of the world, while we are in it; and we fhall be his crown of rejoicing, (who led us this way,) on that bleffed day, when we fhall greet each other on the happy fhore, and join the innumerable choir in giving glory to HIM, who loved us, and washed us from our fins in his own Blood; and to the Father, for ever. Even fo, AMEN.

Being thus like-minded with our elder brethren, yea, with our Lord, we fhall fhew to all believers, that they are called, not to uncleanness, but to holinefs: that the will of God is their fanctification, their entire fanétification; that they fhould be perfect as their Father which is in Heaven is perfect, feeing they are called to be a chofen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a pecu