wisdom; the best and most aufpicious entrance upon every endeavour to obtain it. Whoever is once poffeffed of this neceffary groundwork of all Religion, will of course take every opportunity of enquiring what the will of his God is; will fearch Him out in thofe facred writings, by which He hath revealed himfelf to mankind; and for a clearer understanding of what he reads in those writings, will likewife diligently avail himself of their labours, whofe more immediate province is the acquifition and diffusion of divine knowledge.

This man feeks after truth" as for a hid treasure:" He therefore does not come to hear out of mere curiofity, fashion, or amusement; but for real advantage; to be inftructed in, at least to be put in remembrance of, what is of the greatest moment for him to know and to confider. And though difficulties

M 4

ties come across him, refpecting either his belief or practice; fome doctrines which are above his comprehenfion, and fome duties which are feemingly above his strength, yet does he not turn back with that pretended apology of unstable minds" This is a hard faying, who can bear it ?" It's appearing upon the fullest and most unexceptionable testimony to be the word of God, is with him fufficient to filence every objection. Rationally convinced of that fingle point, he believes with humility, and refolves upon obedience.

There is moreover a certain aptitude in a due esteem for God's word, to promote the apprehenfion of it. Whilft by mufing and meditating we apply the facred fuel to a well-prepared heart, the fire kindles; our affections are warmed, and our understandings opened. And therefore the Apostles St. Peter and St.

James

James exhort men to lay afide all filthiness and all malice, in order that they may desire, may have a proper relish for, the fincere milk of the word; which, when received with meekness, is able to nourish and to fave their fouls; and if fuffered to have it's perfect work, will effectually do so, through an increase of faith in them working by love.

Secondly, As a previous good difpofition, an earnest defire to know the will of God, is a neceffary qualification toward a profitable hearing of his word; fo is likewife a fincere refolution to act conformably to the divine will when known and understood.

Christian affemblies are feminaries of faith and godlinefs; in which the word of God read and expounded must not only, like the feed on ftony ground, be received with joy; but like that which fell on the good ground, must also take

deep

deep root in the heart, in order to a plentiful harvest; the product of a virtuous life and a happy immortality.

The end both of hearing and believing is doubtless to regulate our manners and converfation. In vain fhall we inform our minds, if we do not correct our practice. To be hearers of the word and not doers, is, according to St. James, to deceive our own felves. And true it is, if we be not refolute to make our religious knowledge the guide of our steps, during this probationary pilgrimage of life, either the cares, the riches, or pleafures of the world, as we may happen to be differently engaged, will quickly efface the faint impreffions it may have once made upon our fpirits. When having no steady faith in the word of God to oppose to these importunate adverfaries, we fhall be liable to be taken captive by them at will.

That

That extraordinary infight into God and ourselves which we derive from Revelation, is to enable us to refist the evil of fin, fo evidently fubverfive of our peace and happiness here and for ever. We have no natural powers fufficient to break it's affaults. The fenfes are always on it's fide; and Reason unaffifted is but too easily bribed and betrayed by the paffions. But by virtue of that spiritual armour which Christianity fupplies, the fhield of Faith-the helmet of Salvation-the fword of the Spiriti. e. the divine promises and threatenings, which are the fanctions of the gospel covenant, firmly believed and duly applied, we may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Such indeed and fo glorious are the rewards entailed on virtue in another life; and withal fo horrible the punishments which await finners in that everlasting state; that nothing can be wanting, but a fe