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of all fanctifving influences for the ufe of his members; and out of his fullness we must by faith receive those vital and quickening influences neceflary for promoting fanctification in us. And, O how much would it be for the credit and intereft of this and every Christian church, to be duly provided with fuch able minifters of the New Testament!

III. Let us be diligent in inftructing our people in the knowledge of the firft principles of Chriftianity, and efpecially in catechifing of the youth. The most famous of the ancient Fathers have gloried in their being catechifts. This is a moft neceffary part of our work: For, if the foundations of knowledge be not carefully laid among our people, our fuccefs must be marred; the best fermons will be loft upon them, if ignorance prevail among them. And, feeing youth is the moulding age, and the proper feafon for receiving inftruction, we ought to improve it well, by frequent and diligent catechifing. A veffel will long retain the fcent of that with which it is firft feafoned; fo perfons are more ready to retain good impreffions made upon them in the time of youth, than afterwards. Let us look upon the young as the feed of the next generation, as the lambs of the flock, towards whom a fpecial care and tendernefs is to be expreffed. The first charge Chrift gave to Peter, was, to feed his lambs,' the young and weak of the flock. This is the moft ufual feason of converfion, the time when the heart is fooneft melted, and the affections are the moft pliable; and, if ever we prevail with finners, youth is the moft likely time for it. And, therefore, let us have a tender care of the young in our congregations, and more efpecially at their firft admiffion to the Lord's table: This is the time of their renewing their baptifmal covenant, their becoming Chriftians by their own voluntary choice, as well as by their parents dedication; the time of their entering into the adult state of church-members; the time. of laying the foundation-ftone of their fpiritual build-: ing, their foul's falvation: And, therefore, it should be done with deliberation, holy fkill, and deep digging, by Lumiliation,

humiliation, repentance, self-searching, renouncing selfrighteousness, and removing all falfe foundations, till they win to the rock Chrift, and his moft perfect righteousness, as the only ground of their juftification and acceptance at God's bar. And this being fuch a criti. cal time for their fouls, we ought, according to the affembly's direction, diligently to inftruct them before their first admiffion to the Lord's Supper, particularly as to the covenant of grace, and the articles thereof; and take them folemnly engaged thereunto, and that in a more express way than we did their fathers at their baptifm. Let us put fuch questions to them as thefe, and wait for their answers :

1. 2. What fenfe have you of your mifery by nature, and while under the covenant of works?

2. 2. Do you fee the need you stand in of the Mediator's help to relieve you out of this state?

3. 2. Are you fenfible of your breaking your baptifmal engagements, by running away from Chrift your Captain, going over to the devil's camp, and ftanding long out aga aft Chrift's calls?

4. 2. Are you defirous to return unto the Lord, as penitent prodigals, and mourning backfliders, with your face Zion-wards, weeping as ye go, willing to renew your baptifmal vows, faying, Come, let us join ourfelves to the Lord in an everlafting covenant, never to be forgotten?'

5. 2. Are you content to break with the trinity of hell, and engage with the Trinity of heaven! i. e. Are you content to renounce the world, the devil, and the flesh; and to accept of God the father as your father, God the Son as your redeemer, and God the Holy Ghoft as your fanctifier, in whofe name ye are baptized?

6. 2. Do you admire redeeming love in the Son of God, his undertaking to be a furety and facrifice for the race of fallen Adam, when he paft by fallen angels ?

7. 2. Do you heartily approve of this excellent contrivance and gofpel-method of falvation thro' the furetyhip and fanctification of Jefus Chrift? Do ye think this a device worthy of God, and of infinite wifdom?

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8. 2. Are you therefore willing to renounce your own righteoufness and ftrength, as infufficient to answer the demands of the law, and to accept of a furety for both, and fay, in the Lord Jefus I have righteousness and strength;' I am willing to make ufe of a borrowed ftrength for my performing of duty, and of à borrowed righteoufnefs for my acceptance in duty?

9. 2 Are you willing to go in to this felf-denying method of falvation; and are you weil pleafed with it, as it tends to make you eternal debtors to free grace, excludes all glorying and boafting in the creature, and afcribes all the glory of your falvation to Chrift only; takes the crown off the head of felf, and puts it on the head of Chrift?

10. 2. Are you content to accept of Jefus Chrift, the mediator betwixt God and man, in all his offices; as a prophet, to inftruct and teach you; as a priest, to atone and intercede for you; and as a King, to rule in and over you?

11. 2. Are you content to take Chrift as a King to govern you by his laws, as well as a priest to fave you by his blood? Are you derous he should come in as a king to execute his kingly office in your foul, to fet up his throne in your heart, and fubdue all indwelling fin, and to conquer all your lufts and corruptions?

12. 2. Do you look on your fins as the enemies and crucifiers of Chrift? And do you refolve, through his grace, to throw out every one of them, and to harbour none of thefe murderers; and to give no houferoom nor heart-room to the leaft nail or thorn that pierced Chrift?

13. 2. Are you willing to cut off every right hand, and pluck out every right eye for Chrift, and not to count any fin too dear to part with for Jefus Christ?

14. 2. Do you defire to come to Chrift for fanctification as well as for juftification; for holiness as well as for happiness; for conformity and likeness to God, as well as for accefs to dwell with God?

15. 2. Do you come willingly, as a volunteer, at the found of the gofpel-trumpet, to lift yourfeif under Chrift's banner, refolving to forfake the devil's camp,

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and swear allegiance to King Jefus; to take up arms for him, and fight against his enemies, the devil, the world, and the flesh, all the days of your life?

16. 2. Do you accept of all God's ordinances, his word, facraments, prayers, &c. as neceffary helps to heaven, and means of conveying grace, which you will efteem and make ufe of with care and diligence?

17. 2. Do you acept of Chrift's people, thofe who bear his image, as your beloved friends, your fellowtravellers; firmly refolving to join with Chrift's little flock, his praying flock, his fin-hating flock, his flock that fear an oath, and that notwithstanding of the reproach of fingularity?

18. 2 Do you, through his grace, purpose never to follow the multitude to do evil, or join with them in common fins; but ftedfaftly to avoid and refift all the temptations and fnares of evil company, and say with David to them, 'Depart from me, ye evil doers, for I will keep the commandments of my God?'

19. 2. Are you willing to accept of the rod and difcipline of Chrift's houfe; to welcome his convictions and reproofs, as well as his comforts and fmiles; to take Chrift with his crofs as well as Chrift with his crown; to fuffer the world's hatreds and fcoffs, and other perfecutions, for Chrift?

20. 2. Are you refolved, through grace, that no temptation or difcouragement fhall make you prove runaways or deferters from the Captain of your falvation; but that you will adhere to him, and abide by his standard all the days of your life?

21. 2. As you are content to accept of Chrift, and all that belongs to him, are you not alfo willing to give up and furrender yourself to the Lord, and all that belongs unto you, to be difpofed of by him at his pleafure; all that you are, foul and body, heart, mind, will, confcience, memory, and all that you have, time, talents, relations, enjoyments, &c.

22. 2. When Chrift and the devil are ftriving for your heart, and each of them faying, My fon, give me thy heart;' and when Chrift is putting it to your choice, in the days of youth, faying, Chufe whom you

will yield unto, chufe whom you will ferve; What doth your heart anfwer unto him?

23. 2. Is it your purpose to engage to all the articles of the covenant in borrowed ftrength, wholly dif rrufting your own strength and refolutions; and refolving to truft, not in your promife to Chrift, but in Chrift's promife to you, that he will never leave you nor forfake you?'

24. 2. Do you refolve to live a life of prayer and acquaintance with Chrift all your days, that you will always run to God, and confult him in all cafes ?

25. Q. Are you refolved also to live a life of faith and dependence daily on the Son of God, for his righteousness to cover guilt, for his ftrength to perform duty, conquer fin, refift temptation, bear croffes and afflictions?

26. Q. Are you refolved to make ordinances always tryfting places betwixt Chrift and you, and to look ftill for a meeting with him in every one of them, and to count every fabbath and fermon as loft, wherein you mifs his prefence?

27. Q. Are you refolved to engage to all thefe artieles in a fecret tranfaction and perfonal covenant with God, before you come to his table; and then to come in a folemn way to feal and ratify this bargain and covenant before men and angels at his table?

Thus let minifters take pains to inftruct young folk in the nature and articles of the covenant of grace, and to take them engaged, with fome folemnity, to own and adhere to them, at their firft admiffion to the Lord's fupper; and let them, with folemn and fervent prayer, recommend and give up thefe young communicants unto the Lord: Such a courfe hath been found, by experience, very much to contribute to the welfare and profperity of the church.

4thly, It would be for the honour and intereft of the church, to have our fermons to the people flowing from the heart, i. e. for us to be fuitably affected and impreffed with the truths we deliver to them. A fpecufative preacher, that preacheth merely from ftrength 002

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