This was the great man, the author of this small book, and it is all that he ever published. Some small scraps of some of his sermons I have seen in print, published many years after his death by some honest but injudicious hand, that declare little of the true spirit of the author. This much I have said at a slender desire of the re-printer of the book, as judging it both my duty and my honour to declare what I have seen and heard of this excellent person. And if any think strange that I, who am none of the oldest of men, can so freely give a character of a person who hath been near forty years dead, I can tell them, that besides the commonness of this same judgment of him with thousands in the West of Scotland to this day (of whom many will censure this account as very lame and defective,) I have on record by me in writing, for several years, some singular things concerning him, which I forbear to publish. RO. TRAIL.

London, Jan. 30, 1704-5.

TO THE READER.

CHRISTIAN READER,

WHILE the generality of men, especially in these days, by their eager pursuit after low and base interests, have proclaimed, as upon the house tops, how much they have forgotten to make choice of that better part, which, if chosen, should never be taken from them; I have made an essay, such as it is, in the following treatise, to take thee off from this unprofitable, though painful pursuit, by proposing the chiefest of interests, even, The Christian's Great Interest, to be seriously pondered, and constantly pursued by thee. Thou mayest think it strange to see any thing in print from my pen, as it is indeed a surprise to myself: but necessity hath made me for this once to offer so much violence to my own inclination, in regard that some, without my knowledge, have lately published some imperfect notes of a few of my sermons, most confusedly cast together, prefixing withal this vain title, as displeasing to myself as the publishing of the thing, A clear attractive warming beam, &c. Upon this occasion was I prevailed with to publish this little piece, wherein I have purposely used a most homely and plain style, lest otherwise (though when I have stretched myself to the utmost, 1 am below the judi

cious and more understanding) I should be above the reach of the rude and ignorant, whose advantage I have mainly, if not only, consulted: I have likewise studied brevity in every thing, so far as I conceived it to be consistent with plainness and perspicuity; knowing that the persons to whom I address myself herein have neither much money to spend upon books, nor much time to spare upon reading. If thou be a rigid critic, I know thou mayest meet with several things to carp at; yet assure thyself that I had no design to offend thee, neither will thy single approbation satisfy me; it is thy edification I intend, together with the incitement of some others more expert and experienced in this excellent subject, to handle the same at greater length, which I have more briefly hinted at, who Am thy servant in the Work of the gospel, WILLIAM GUTHRIE.

AN

EPISTLE COMMENDATORY

From a Christian Friend, giving an account of his thoughts upon perusal of this book.

CHRISTIAN FRIEND,

I HAVE sent you by the bearer this book, which by providence came to my hand, and a blessed providence it was to me: for I hope the same mercy that brought it to my hand hath brought by it the Saviour to my heart.

Upon perusal of it, I find such a blessed and happy connection betwixt the gifts and the graces of the spirit, such an holy and humble condescension to my plain capacity, such a serious handling of serious truths, that the language of my heart upon perusal of it was somewhat like that of the woman of Canaan, John iv. 29. "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did;" or rather, all that God hath done in me, and for me. He that hath waded much in the water of foul trouble, may here behold a lively description of the spirit of bondage in all its terrors and troubles: and he who is got out of these, and is sunning his soul in the light of God's countenance, may here behold the light side of the cloud; I mean the spirit of adoption, in all its beautiful colours.

The first part of this book sets forth the soul in a storm, when the law comes thundering to the conscience; the last leads it into a calm of sweet peace and serenity, when the spirit of God comes to a troubled soul, as the Son of God once came to the troubled sea, with a "Peace, be still," Matth. xiv. 29. But if it should not be thus, the believer is here directed to be willing to want what God is not willing to give; and to know he is wise to give when he will, what he will, and how he will. I find now, that peace is sown for the righteous, Psal. lxvii. 11. But all do not reap the crop till they come into Immanuel's land, Isaiah viii. 8. There our joy as well as our light, shall be clear, and our love perfect.

And if there be any more concerned in this piece than others, (though it deals forth its bread to all its young men and young converts,) the latter may here behold, as in a map or mirror, the several providences, and various workings of the blessed spirit, that have all concurred in bringing them home to God; and may take notice of all the inducements and remoras they met with in the way. As Moses was to write a history of the children of Israel passing through the wilderness, Numb. xxxiii. 2. so doth this book, with a holy kind of elegancy, describe the spirit's leading the soul out of its bewildered estate into the spiritual Canaan, never leaving it till it come to the mountain of spices, Song viii. 14. out of Satan's gun-shot, where his habitation shall be the munition of rocks, Isaiah xxxvi. 17. Neither is there one