deliverances, for early inftruction, for providential warnings. And if God, by his Spirit, has raised convictions in your minds, or earnestly pleaded with you in his gofpel, in what a terrifying light will all this defpifed goodness appear, when you come to the brink of that gulf which feparates you from an eternal world, but, above all, when you appear before God in an unembodied ftate? It is my duty to fet this before you with plainnefs and fidelity; it is your prefent privilege, that you hear the things that belong to your everlasting peace. May God himfelf write them upon your hearts, and constrain you to flee, by faith, to the blood of sprinkling, which fpeaketh better things than the blood of Abel. 2dly, Let me alfo befeech every serious perfon, who now hears me, to confider how far he hath finned against God and his own comfort, by forgetting the goodness of God, both in common and special mercies. It is furprifing to think how little we make confcience of this duty, and even when it is remembred in fome measure, in what a lifeless, heartlefs manner it is performed. How little proportion is there between the prayers of diftrefs, and the fongs of deliverance? how little fenfe upon our minds of the many gracious interpofitions of divine providence in our favour? If he hath invited us to communion with himself; if he hath brought us into the fecret chambers, and made his banner over us to be love, how foon is it forgotten? how little defire of its continuance? what faint endeavours to recover it? how little concern to improve it? Strange, indeed, that fome, after tafting of the heavenly manna, fhould feel fo unfeemly a longing after the flesh-pots of Egypt. But do you not fin as much against interest and comfort, as your duty?. To forget a mercy, is to lofe it; to give thanks for it, is to preserve and to increase it. It is a very common mistake for ferious perfons to fit brooding over their forrows, and, by that means, at once, to increase their fufferrings, and to prevent their deliverance. I do not know a more ufeful direction to melancholy or de-jected Christians, than by a deliberate effort of mind, from a fenfe of duty, to recollect, and give praise to God for the many mercies which he hath beftowed on them. This may be a happy mean of filencing their complaints, of turning the tide of their af-fections, and giving them beauty for afhes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the fpirit of heavinefs.' Is not thankfulness the improvement of mercies? and hath not God faid, to him that hath fhall be given, and he shall have more a'bundantly; and from him that hath not shall be • taken away even that which he feemeth to have?' 3dly, I fhall conclude, with offering the three following directions to those who are truly fenfible of the goodnefs of God. 1. Be circumfpect and watchful; though a thankful frame of spirit is of great advantage, both for your fanctification and peace, yet it is not out of the reach of temptation; let it not produce pride, fecurity, or felf-fufficiency. It is an excellent direction given by the Pfalmift to men in high ftation and pro fperity, Pfal. ii. 11. Serve the Lord with fear, and ' rejoice with trembling.' Take heed alfo, left it degenerate into carnal and fenfual joy, making you rest with complacency in the creature, instead of being led by it to place your delight and happiness in the unchangeable Creator. 2. Be publick-fpirited and useful; if the Lord hath dealt bountifully with you, commend his service, and fpeak to his praise. This was often the resolution and practice of the pfalmift David, Pfal. lxvi. 16. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will de'clare what he hath done for my foul. Pfal. cxlv. '5, 6, 7. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy " majefty, and of thy wondrous works; and men ' shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatnefs. They shall abundant ly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and 'fhall fing of thy righteoufnefs.' Let me recommend this particularly to Chriftians of age and experience. It gives religion a very difcouraging afpect to younger perfons, when fuch have nothing to utter but complaints. On the contrary, where can we behold a more edifying fight, than an aged perfon ready to bear teftimony to the peace and comfort of true religion, dying by neceffity to the plea fures and gaieties of time, but living above them on the earnest of his future inheritance; and, instead of a fretful fpirit arifing from the frailties of a tottering frame, preferving a chearfulness and ferenity of mind, in the hope of a bleffed refurrection.-I imagine I hear fome fay, nothing is more true; but, alas! I am not the perfon: I fee nothing in me, but caufes of complaint, or grounds of fear. I believe it is fo with all; but you have mistaken, or perverted the meaning of the exhortation. I did not advise you to boast of yourfelf, but to speak to the praife of God. I believe it is good, in most cafes, to refift defponding fears, as so many temptations, and fend them away, as hinderers of your duty, without a reply. Or, may I not justly fay, admitting the truth of all that you can advance against yourselves, is it not but fo much the more reasonable, that you should say, with Jacob, Gen. xxxii. 10. 'I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, • that thou haft fhewed unto thy fervant.' 3. Be frequent and diligent in fecret prayer. This is the way to preserve your watchfulness, and to increase your usefulness. The more you converse with God in fecret, you will fpeak with the more judgment and profit to men in publick. This is the way to difpofe of your complaints. What fignifies repeating them to men, who may defpife you, and, at best, can only pity you, when you may carry them to God, who can effectually help you? Speak as much ill of yourfelves to him as you please; but be fo just as to speak honourably of him, and his fervice, to others who converse with you.-Now, may the Lord fupply all your wants, from his riches in glory, by Christ Jefus. May he give you the fanctified use of every step of his providence, whether of mercy or of trial. 'May the God of peace, Heb. brought again from the dead our • xiii. 20, 21. that |