"own doing: that is, that you go on with "all kinds of uncertainties and without any "kind of conftant peace. Return, then a"gain hither; bring this foundation-work 66 to a bleffed iffue in the blood of Chrift; "and when that is done, up and be doing."

It is greatly to be feared, that the distinction fo judiciously pointed out in the preceding quotation, is but little known or attended to; even by many who are serious and in earnest in their profeffion of religion. And it is undeniably plain, that there are great numbers that call themselves chriftians; who, as they know nothing in reality concerning Chrift; fo, in their practices, they are more like devils incarnate, than real faints. Nor are there a few, who pique themselves on a religious profeffion; and in performing a round of duties very exactly; who, notwithstanding are far from poffeffing that holiness, and performing those good works, which are effential to a real christian, in the fight of God and man. View them in their respective places of worship, and in the performance of devotional duties; you will fee them affume a ferious air; as though they were greatly concerned about their everlafting welfare. See them in their families and about their common business, there alas! they appear full of levity; foolish and corrupt in their converfation. Perhaps alfo, fome of these very religious folks, will at

* Dr Owen on the 130 Pfal. p. 307, 308,

tend

tend the playhoufe, and every amufement of this licentious age, according to their rank and circumstances in the world.

You fee them vain and extravagant and immay modeft in drefs and fhow, while their poor christian neighbours of the fame religious community, with all their industry, are hardly able to get raiment, fit to appear in ; and yet these pretenders to religion will put them off with a, Be ye warmed.* They will be lavish enough at their own tables, while their poor brother is ready to famish by their fide, for want of necessary food; and (fuch is their love to Chrift and his members) they will think it a great piece of condefcenfion and respect, if they vouchsafe to vifit him, and fay, Be thou filled. § Or, if these pretenders to piety, be naturally of a more grave and ferious difpofition; view them in their fhops, in their trade and bufinefs, and there you will find them griping, oppreffive and covetous; making it their chief aim to lay up great fortunes, and raise their family in the world. These, like their forefathers, for a pretence make long prayers; when at the fame time, by ufury, extortion, and oppreffion, they grind the faces of the poor, and devour widows houfes : they lay up that in their coffers, which of right belongs to the poor who labour under them; the ruft of which fhall be a fwift witness against them another day, and fhall eat their flesh as it were fire. Does not our land groan.

* James ii, 15. 16 § Matt, xxiii, 14. Ifa.iii. 15. James

. 3

groan under fuch profeffors, fuch fanctified ones, as these? Such perfons, whether more light in their difpofition, or more grave, are alike the children of the devil, and the flaves of fin; on a level in the fight of God, with the most prophane: and, notwithstanding, the blufter they may at any time make, about the neceffity of good works, they are intirely destitute of every degree of real holinefs, and are in the broad way to deftruction. For, though the abfolute freeness of Christ, as held forth in the gospel to the worst of finners, must be maintained earnestly, yet as constantly are we bound to affirm, that he who pretends to faith in Jefus, and does not habitually live under the influences of the love of God, and the love of his brother for the truth's fake; * that he, who does not manifeft this heavenly affection by a fuitable conduct towards God in the exercises of religion, and towards his diftreffed brother, by affifting him, according to his ability; has no right to call himself a chriftian, nor ought to be acknowledged as fuch, by any one.

**

2 John i, 2

CHAP.

СНАР.

IX.

Of PERSEVERANCE in the Faith to eternal Glory.

FR

ROM the preceding chapters it appears, that both the relative and real ftate of believers, in their juftification, adoption, and fanctification, is highly exalted; and that the privileges attending it, are of incomparable excellency and worth. In every one of these things, it has also been proved, that grace reigns; that the exceeding riches of grace are manifested. Notwithstanding, the believing finner who knows himself, will still folicitoufly enquire, "How fhall I perfevere "in this ftate? and by what means fhall I "attain the defired end? What provision has "the God of all grace made, that after all, "I may not come fhort? Grace, I thank

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fully acknowledge, has done great things "for me; to reigning grace I own myself "unfpeakably indebted. But if grace, as a fovereign, does not ftill exert its power, "I not only poffibly may, but certainly fhall, finally mifcarry." Thus must every believer conclude, when he confiders the number and power; the malice and fubtilty of his foes; compared with his spiritual inherent strength to refift them. For the

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world

world, the flesh, and the devil, are combined against him. Thefe, in their several ways, affault his peace and feek his ruin. Thefe

feek, in various forms, to cause him to wallow in fenfuality, as the filthiest brute; or to puff him up with pride, as lucifer. By infinuating wiles, or open affaults; with the craft of the ferpent, or the rage of the lion; they make their attacks upon him. And alas! how fmall his ftrength, as he is in himself, to refift and overcome. Add to this the corruption of nature, which, ftill remains even in the regenerate, renders the believer's defires after that which is good, too often very languid; and enervates all his moral His frames are fickle and uncerpowers. tain; nor can he place any confidence in them, when he confiders himself aright. See this most remarkably exemplified in the cafe of Peter. He faid with confidence, Though all men deny thee yet will not I; though I fhould die for thee. But alas! in a very little while his frame of mind is altered; his courage fails; his pious refolutions and fteadieft purposes hang their enfeebled heads; fo that, notwithstanding his boafted fideli

ty,

he cannot watch fo much as one hour with Chrift; though there be the greatest neceffity for it. He is brought to the trial; and like Sampson, his locks are fhorn; his fuppofed ftrength is gone; he trembles as the fhaking of a leaf; and, fhocking to think! he denies his Lord and mafter for the fake of faving himself from fuffering, with oaths and curfes. Such are the inherent abilities of

thofe