of man's free will, do fully accord in the work of regeneration; for the freedom of the will doth not consist in its indifference to act or not to act; either to love or fear God, or not to love or fear Him; for, otherwise, the saints and angels in heaven that are under that blessed necessity, that they cannot but love God, and would not love Him freely?

the liberty of the will consists in the will's acting upon rational grounds, which, by how much stronger the grounds and reasons are that the will acts by, so much the more do they necessitate the will to act. Though an infinite power in regenerating and converting a soul is manifest, yet He useth no violence: He subdueth the will, but doth not compel it. This is that victorious grace that doth no more overcome a sinner's resistance than it doth his prejudices by its attractive touches; so that when a sinner is brought to God, he apprehends by the Holy Spirit, that it is his chief happiness and joy to do so.

This is the nature of regenerating grace; and this same drawing sweetness preserves the regenerate : for through the constant supply of this grace they can do and suffer all things without apostatizing; yet their own freedom is such, that they may, if they will; but how can they will it, if the will is inclined to that which is the most good? and nothing is to the satisfied soul so desirable as the glorious prospect of being favoured with the approbation and presence of the Supreme Ruler of the universe; and the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Whatcoat was a living likeness of all he taught others. To sinners he gave direction," cease to do evil, learn to do well; hear, read, and think of your latter end." Sinners ought to pray that their sins might be forgiven, that means were certain con

ditions in the occasioning of the Gospel, that all who would receive, must follow those directions of the Redeemer; that no one was to expect the peace of God in any other way, but by looking in the perfect law of liberty, and continuing therein-not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; no excuse will do before the Judge. The Antinomians will find fault with God's law, as requiring impossibilities; they likewise object to the conditions of the Gospel, as if they should say, that Christ has no yoke, because it is easy, and so think it not worth while taking up; but the Gospel requireth it to be taken up, therefore it must be borne, and that daily, by all that wish to find rest to their souls.

Such as refuse the conditions of the Gospel are fitly styled the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose glory is their shame; and by taking out license they suit sin to the Antinomian office, and venture to sin against the law of liberty, as also against the moral law; of course their liberty must be of a devilish sort.

The Lord would, that men should have divine liberty in divine ways. Many are without Christian liberty, because they refuse to give themselves to prayer and meditation; reasoning, because they feel not a spirit of devotion, they think it unprofitable and useless. Such are like him that is afflicted with cold, and will not come to the fire, except he be first warm; or like one ready to perish with hunger, and will not ask bread, except he were first satisfied.

Why does a person pray or meditate, but that he may be warmed with the fire of divine love, and be filled with the gifts and grace of the Holy Spirit? Men are mistaken who think the time lost in prayer and meditation, if they are not presently watered with a shower of devotion; if they strive as much as

in them lieth, and do their duty, and are in war continually against their own evil besetments, and are displeased because they depart not, nor suffer themselves to be composed till they find all-sufficient grace given them to prevail. "I will not let thee go, except thou blessest me with a token." Such men are more acceptable than if the heat of devotion had come on them suddenly, and without any such conflict; because they go to warfare for God at their own expense, and inasmuch as they serve Him with greater pain and labour.

Then sit not still with a discontented mind, while comforts grow before your eyes; but prevail on God by steady fervent prayer. Christ has his yoke easy, and a burden, though light; people must come to Him weary and heavy laden, and take His yoke upon them, or never find rest to their souls If the positive law be not attended to, it must needs follow that every one be lead by his own lust, and the calls of carnal pleasure, to the entire neglect of all that is right, honest, and just, and so despise the rule of life; and being without fear, and having forsaken the truth, which is in Jesus Christ, because it requireth fidelity; such heap to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of Christ. Whereas every child of the kingdom hath promised to be faithful to the interest of the King of Kings, who hath graciously assured them protection, and that they should lack no good thing who walked uprightly. In this Whatcoat was a bright sample, in doctrine and daily conversation.

"If that which is deepest in the heart is most generally in the mouth; and that which aboundeth within, rolls most upon the tongue,”-Christ's innocency, his patience, his passion, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his ever living to make inter

cession for man, was what he preached of and talked of, duly appreciating each part, so as to raise the idea of mercy to the highest possible degree of love and praise. God gave his Son to the world, and for the world. To the world as a pattern and sample for the world a ransom; ye are bought with a price;" the redemption of the soul is precious; the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world-the Gospel preached to the world-the atonement; a kingdom established among men; the call of Christ for their obedience, a just demand; and the sure way to make the redemption safe, to comply giving, on the part of the exalted Prince, and receiving on the part of man is necessary, in order to make the election and calling sure. Christ did not make atonement for the finally impenitent sinner, nor to exempt such from punishment who would not have the Lord to rule over them. The willing and obedient are to eat the good of the land, and to justify the ways of God to man; to conquer the murmurs and false accusations laid against the throne of God, even by those indecorous spirits who charge their own folly on Infinite Goodness. But Christ will exonerate the sacred throne from all unjust charges by the saints, as it is written in St. Paul,

the saints shall judge the world;" to the intent that unto the principalities and powers in heaven might be made known the manifold wisdom of God." The Gospel is the power of God to salvation; and by the least in the kingdom, and by the patience of Christ, the power and wisdom of the Supreme Ruler of the universe is made known; for, as all the conquests and victories of the Old-Testament saints were miraculous, so is the life of every one who daily overcometh the world by faith in Jesus Christ; His wisdom is manifest, by making wise the simple, His

holiness by giving a habit of righteousness to those who had been accustomed to do evil,-for the hand of Moses was leprous before it wrought miraclesJericho fell by the sound of a ram's horn-Goliah was slain by a boy-so God doth show the power and certainty of Christ's resurrection, by raising men from a death of sin to a life of righteousness, and by analogy, to raise the body from the grave after a lapse of four thousand years, as after the lapse of four days; and that He will, in the presence of devils and men, to all his enemies show, (what they affect to deny) that free spirits did obey and serve God with superior delight. The Church of Christ will prove this to the angels that kept not their first estate, but transgressed by refusing to comply with Heaven's just demand;"Let all the angels of God worship Him;""sit thou on my right hand :" to refuse to comply with supreme command is rebellion.

The

spirit of rebellion came from the serpent, and infected the first man born in the world: his hatred to the image of righteousness was demonstrated; he slew his brother because his deeds were righteous; so all who are of the wicked one hate without a cause, and rebel for rebellion's sake: God's saints obey, because they believe and love. Therefore the saint shall judge the angels, and approve well the the final sentence ;- "Go, ye cursed, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." The wicked cannot be annihilated; there is no place to receive them but hell.

Such were the doctrines preached by this worthy presbyter; it might be expected that truth, urged, from day to day, by one so deeply devoted to God, would be very successful.

The eighteenth century was marked with many wonderful events; empires rose as in a day. "Gems