need of Joy for an Evidence of what is already confirmed by a much better Witnefs. I therefore conclude, that as the Scripture no where makes, and as the Reason and Order of Things no Way allows, Joy and Comfort to be Evidences of our juftified State, we fhould fee to it, that we clear up our Title to the divine Favour by better Evidence. And what other can we poffibly find, but what I am now pleading for? This, the Apottle affures us, is the proper Evidence, by which the Children of God are manifeft, and the Children of the Devil. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin; and wbofoever doth not Righteousness, is not of God. I Joh. iii. 9, 10. They therefore who reject this Evidence, would do well to confider whofe Children they be, according to this Determination ofthe Apostle.

Upon the whole then, our Union to Chrift is fo far from affording the leaft Plea for Licentioufnels, that it should be confidered as the strongest Argument, and the most powerful Incentive to an humble penitent, watchful, holy and heavenly Life.--Are we united to Chrift? Are we Members of his Body, of his Flesh and of his Bones? Surely then we muft derive vital Influences from fuch a Fountain of spiritual Life; and be Partakers of his Holiness. If we find not this bleffed Effect in fome good Degree, in vain are our Pretences to an interest in Chrift, or Union to him.-Are we united to Christ and thereby made Partakers of his inestimable Benefits? Surely then it concerns us to endeavour to live answerable to fo high a Dignity, and fuch an honourable Relation. Surely it concerns us to testify our Giatutide to fuch an infinite Benefactor, by living to the praife of the Glory of his Grace and Love. With what Abhorrence therefore fhould fuch licen, tious Thoughts as you have fuggefted, be enterKk 3 tained

1

tained by all the true Difciples of the holy Jefus, as not fit to be so much as once named among Saints!

If you can have Patience with me, I would brieffy offer one Argument more in Favour of the Doctrine I have infifted upon; which must recommend it as infinitely preferable in Point of Safety, to either of the contrary Extreams.—By acting up to these Principles of mine, you can be in no Danger, as to the future and final Event, fince you will be built upon Chrift Jefus the fure Foundation of Hope, and by Grace derived from him, bring forth those Fruits of Holiness and Righteousness, which must end in eternal Life. If the Arminians are right, you also are right. For you have the fame Sincerity, the fame good Works, which any of them may have to depend upon for Juftification and Salvation. And it can be no Prejudice to your Salvation, that you ob. tained thefe in a Way of Dependence upon Chrift only, as well as in a way of diligent Activity.-I the Antinomians are right, you also are right. For you depend only upon Chrift for Righteoufnefs and Strength, as well as they; and it can no Ways be injurious to you, that you have infifted upon the Neceffity of Holinefs, as the Way leading to eternal Life. But now, to turn the Tables, if they who plead for Juftification by Works are at last found in a Miftake; and instead of building upon Chrift Jefus and the fovereign Grace of God in him, are built upon the Sand: Or if they who disclaim the Neceffity of Holiness ate too late found in aMistake, and forted among the Workers of Iniquity, what will become of their Hopes! How dreadful will their Difappointments be!

www

That you may be found united to Christ, and may be built up in Faith and Holiness, with Peace and

Comfort,

Comfort, unto God's heavenly Kingdom, is the ear neft Defire and Prayer of,

SIR,

Your, &c.

LETTER XIX. Containing particularAdvices and Directions, for a clofe and comfortable Walk with GOD.

SIR,

Yo

YOU juftly obferve, that," according to my "former Letters, a religious Life must be a "Course of serious, earnest, and affiduous Applica❝tion." And you have therefore good Reafon to be "folicitous in your Inquiry, How you must give "diligence to make your Calling and Election fure;

and how you shall find that Peace and Pleasure I "fpeak of, in your Walk with God?-But there is no Caufe at all of any Apprehenfion, that you fhall

weary me out, with the continual burdenfome "Tasks you are impofing upon me."-Indeed, Sir, you can no Way gratify me more, than by putting it in my Power to be any Way ferviceable to your beft Intereít -I fincerely thank you, that you are now giving me the Satisfaction, of propofing" fome "Directions for a clofe Walk with God."-'Tis an Affair of the utmoft Confequence to my felf, as well as to you; An Affair too little confidered, even by thote of whom we must hope the better Things that accompany Salvation; And an Affair, in which I have Caule with Shame to confefs, that my Remitsnets has turned to my un(peakable Difadvantage-Let us then, as in the Prefence of God, refolve, by the Assistance of his Spirit and Grace, not

only

only to confult, but to practife fuch Methods of Piety, as may be likely Means to fweeten the Fatigues of Life, prepare us to encounter the laft Enemy, and give us a refreshing Profpect of our future Inheritance.

I fhall endeavour (according to your Defire) to be plain, famíliar, and practical, in the Directions and Counfels which I am now to lay before you. And here my Advice to you is,

1. That you endeavour to obtain and maintain a deep Impreffion of this important Truth, that you have but one Bufinefs to do; and that every Affair and Conduct of human Life mult be calculated for, and fubfervient to that one great End of your Being. God has made us for himself, to glorify and enjoy Him. We are but Pilgrims and Strangers upon Earth; and have here no continuing City. There is another State before us, a State of our everlasting Refidence, a State where we must be unspeakably and inconceivably happy or miserable, to all Eternity.* Our whole Work therefore is, to be preffing towards the Mark for the Prize of our high Calling; to be looking to, and preparing for, another and' better Country, even an heavenly.This, I fay, is our whole business ; and therefore not to be enterprised as a fecondary Concern: not to be crowded into a Corner, to make Room for more agreeable Entertainments; nor to be attended only at our vacant Hours, when disencumbered from our worldly Bufinefs, and fenfual Gratifications. To fear God and keep his Commandments, is the whole of Man.You will not fo far misunderstand me, as, to fuppofe, that I am inculcating the Neceffity of a reclufe Life, wholly taken up in Devotion, wholly separated from the common Business and Society of the World. No! I am only recommending to you and to my felf, a due Senfe, that we are under Obligati

ons,

ons, in Point of Duty and Intereft, to ferve God, and thereby to promote our eternal Welfare, as well at one Time as another; and as much in one Bufi nefs of Life, as another; as much in our fecular Affairs, domeftic Concerns, Company, and Di. verfions, as in the fpecial Duties of Religion and Devotion. Though these call for the more folemn Engagement of the whole Soul in their Performance, being immediately directed to God himself; yet the other alfo are to be done in Obedience to God, and with an Eye to his Glory. So that we have but one Bufinefs; though we have a great many Duties of various Kinds belonging to it.

Resolve then, to engage in, and to endeavour to manage every Affair of common Life, out of Duty to God, with a spiritual Frame of Soul, and with a héarty Defire therein to fhew your felf approved unto God. Whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the Glory of God.

-Confider

therefore, that you have the fame God to deal with, the fame omnifcient Eye to obferve and remember your Thoughts, Views, Affections, Frames, Language and Behaviour, while converfant in the common Affairs of Life, as when upon your Knees in your Closet, or Family, or in the publick Worship of God's Houfe: And that the fame upright Views the fame holy Defires, the fame Faith in Chrift, are neceffary in the one, as in the other, if you would' have them acceptable to God.-This Confideration, duly impreffed, is the true Philofopher's Stone, that turns all to Gold.- -This will make every Thing ferve as a fresh Gale to waft us forward to our de fired Harbour.

2. Be folemnly careful to attend all the Or upon dinances of God, without any Referye.- -The Duties and Ordinances of Religion belong to the Way which God has appointed us to walk in, in order

to