The plain meaning of these words is this, GOD has given you the earnest of his Holy Spirit into your hearts, by which you have been taught your duty; by which you have inclination to perform it; and by which, also, if you persevere, you will be secured against all dangers, and enabled to resist all temptations, until you arrive in heaven, where all dangers will be over. Take good heed, therefore, that you do not abuse this great blessing, by making yourselves unfit for the Spirit of God to dwell in your hearts; lest he should at last leave you; a loss which this world, and all that it contains, can never repair. But, that you may be more sensible of this, I will lay before you a few additional considerations, which demand all your thought and attentions: First, what your condition is, while you continue under the government and protection of GOD's Holy Spirit-secondly, what your condition will be, if you are so unhappy as to drive that Holy Spirit from you: thirdly, what those things are which do most offend and grieve him and what that conduct is, which, by God's good blessing, will secure you his favour here, and happiness hereafter.

First, then, whilst you continue under the government and protection of the Holy Spirit," you are reconciled to GOD by the

death of his Son:" and no temptation shall so far get the dominion over you, as to separate you from CHRIST. from CHRIST. "If," as the apostle speaks, "GOD has sent his spirit "into your hearts, whereby you may call upon Gon as a father;" then you know how tenderly concerned a father is for the welfare of his children; and cannot doubt of GOD's will, as well as power, to protect you. Whilst you continue under the government of the Holy Spirit, you are safe from the power of that great enemy of mankind-the Devil; who cannot have the power to injure you; for "greater is He that is in you, that "is, the Holy Spirit, than he that is in the "world, that is, the Devil." This leads to the consideration of another great advantage which the earnest of God's good spirit secures to you. "Man is born to trouble,

as the sparks fly upward." Afflictions, distempers of body and mind, great crosses, unavoidable calamities, befal ail sorts and conditions of men. But, although afflictions certainly happen to all, yet they produce very different effects on different persons, accordingly as they are piously or wickedly disposed. When afflictions happen to a man whose heart is governed by the Spirit of GCD, he receives them thankfully, as fatherly corrections; and being con

fident that they are designed for his good, he is in reality a gainer by what the world calls misfortunes. On the contrary, when afflictions befal a man, from whom the Spirit of GOD is absent; he is impatient under them, ascribing all he suffers to the fault of others, to an ill-governed nature, to chance, or to any thing but the true cause; and therefore, is so far from being benefited by these visitations, that he increases his sin and suffering, by murmurs, vexations, and repinings. 1 need not point out to you, my friends, which case is the most desirable of these two; your own common sense will immediately perceive the amazing difference.

Let us, however, consider, in the second place, what your condition will be, if you should be so unhappy as to grieve the Holy Spirit, and drive him from you. When the Spirit of GOD forsakes us, the enemy of mankind immediately takes possession of our heart; overturns every good resolution; and changes all its thoughts and wishes. Instances of this may be seen every day. Do you not see people of the same church, under the same pastors and teachers, having the same advantages of learning and parts; and yet some live orderly, and as good christians; whilst others run wild; as if they had been bred amongst infidels! What is the

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reason of these strange differences? It is this-they that suffer themselves to be governed by the Spirit of GoD, continue to be the children of GOD, and his Holy Spirit watches over them for good; whereas, they who grieve and drive him away, become like their father the Devil, and "his work they will do." GOD puts into our minds good thoughts, and inspires us with holy purposes. He shews us the way we should take; checks us, when we go wrong; corrects us, if we be disobedient; in a word, GOD" speaks once, perceiveth it not." GOD bears with us.

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yea twice; yet man Thus far the Spirit of But, when once men begin to wish that their consciences would be quiet; and when they actually strive to quiet them, by running from small into greater crimes; shutting their ears to the small, still voice of the Holy Spirit of GOD; then is that Spirit said to be "grieved:" and as a person forsakes the thing that offends him, so the Spirit of GOD at length gives up the obstinate sinner to a repro"bate mind; that is, to a mind void of grace, judgment, and the power of pleasing GOD. The Holy Scripture speaks of wicked men in these terms: "they have not GoD "before their eyes; they have not God in "their thoughts; they live without God in

"the world:" expressions, from which we may learn this awful truth, that, when once a person begins to live and act, without frequently enquiring of himself whether his life and actions are likely to be pleasing to GOD, he is in the direct road to ruin; the Holy Spirit is grieved, and has left him; and nothing stands between him and destruction. To prevent this, let me, thirdly, lay before you a method of living, which, by GoD's good blessing, may secure to you the comfort and continuance of his Holy Spirit.

And first, my friends, let me earnestly request you to pray constantly to God for his direction, guidance, and blessing; for it is as impossible for a man to lead a good life without prayer, as it is to live long without food. It was a wise saying of a great man, that, either prayer will make a person leave off sinning, or, sinning will make a man leave off prayer; from which you may easily understand, that the habitual neglect of prayer must be attended with the greatest risk to your souls.

Let me beseech you, in the second place, to observe "strictly the LORD's Day, to keep it holy." He that makes a point of attending regularly and seriously to the duties of the Sabbath, will, by this means, be brought to himself and to his GoD, at