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and engage no further in any of them than is con

In the midst of all

sistent with the spirit of it. your other concerns, you will still make religion the centre of your hopes, and the consummation of your wishes. An ordinary mechanic devotes more of his time to the labour of his hands than to any other concern; but it is not his laborious employment that interests his heart: it is his desire of procuring subsistence, and of warding off the inconveniences of poverty and want.

Finally, brethren, let each of us examine ourselves whether we be in the faith or not; let us not shrink from the severest test to which conscience and the word of God can put us. If we be, indeed, found sincere, after thus searching our hearts, our faith will grow more firm, and our consolations more steady; or, if it appear that we have been hitherto deceiving and deceived, (awful idea!) we shall at least have an opportunity of once more lifting up our eyes for mercy, and of reading our danger in our sin, not in our punishment. But we hope better things of you, brethren, and things which accompany salvation. We hope that you have fled from the wrath to come, and have laid hold on eternal life; and we rejoice in the prospect of meeting you in a much larger assembly, at the great day, when you shall have washed your robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Then, brought out of much tribulation, and redeemed from every nation, and tongue, and people, his elect shall be gathered, he shall give up the

kingdom to his God, and God shall be all in all. Alas! the voice of individual praise is weak and feeble; but how will our hearts swell with adoration and delight, when, while we are praising him, he shall receive from millions of beings, and millions of worlds, the same incense!

ON THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

THE

CIRCULAR LETTER

FROM THE

MINISTERS AND MESSENGERS OF THE SEVERAL

BAPTIST CHURCHES

OF THE

Northamptonshire Association.

[WRITTEN IN 1809.]

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