spiritual frame, deny itself, act faith in the promises, renounce the devil and flesh, forgive injuries, and do acts of charity with readiness and pleasure. Some persons find their minds lie a great way off, and averse from spiritual and holy exercises: they must argue with themselves a great while before they can prevail. The christian has frequently hard work to do. He must chide himself again and again, before his backward spirit will comply. On the other hand, when spiritual work is become natural and easy to the soul, there is undoubtedly improvement and growth in grace. There may be growth indeed where there is some difficulty in getting the heart into a spiritual frame; but then that grace cannot be so remarkable, or greater; though the essence of it cannot be denied, yet the strength and vigour of it must. This is an evidence that grace is weak, though it may be true. may be said to grow in grace, when we are more steady, constant, and regular in the exercise of it, and are still reaching forward to the greatest perfection.

We

5. The soul is growing when the fruits of grace appear eminently upon it. The tree that bears good fruit certainly grows. "God is able," says the Apostle, to make all grace abound towards you, that they always

1

having sufficiency in all things may abound. to every good work." When christians are called out to any special duty, or service, they shew they had their hearts fitted for that service, by a readiness to engage in it, and a skilful performance of it to the glory of God. This is a glorious sufficiency. When an earthly mind becomes heavenly, and a vain mind becomes serious; when a narrow spirit becomes generous; and one that was slothful and inactive in the service of God, becomes one of excellent usefulness, full of good works, and brings forth fruit-this is growth in grace. In any or all of these instances there may be growth.

6. Enquire whether you grow in humble and mean thoughts of yourselves. To these God has made the promise, that he will give more grace e: "he resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Humbling yourselves is the way to be exalted, both in grace and in the divine favour. The tree that shoots its roots furthest downwards, rises highest upward with its branches, and stands the fastest with all its height. They who have stood fast in the rank of God's worthies, have commonly had the least and lowest thoughts of themselves. "I count not myself to have apprehended," was the language of that eminent apostle St. Paul. "Not as

sensual fleshly lusts, and set your hearts too eagerly on the world;-if you indulge the passions of envy, pride, or uncharitableness, or live in the neglect of duty to God or man, and make no conscience of a true reformation; it is not any inquiries after signs of grace, that will help you to assurance. You may complain long enough before you have ease while such a thorn is in your foot. Conscience must be better used before it speaks a word of sound well-grounded peace. But when you set yourselves, with all your care and skill, to do your duty, and please your Lord, he will not let you labour in vain; he will take care of your peace and comfort, while you take care of your duty; and in this way you may safely trust him.

Compassionate Address to the fearful and dejected Christian.

My dear fellow Christians, whose souls are taken up with the anxious thoughts of attaining to, and preserving your peace with God; who are vile in your own eyes, and value the blood, and spirit, and word of your Redeemer, and the hope of heaven, before all the vanities of the world; and resolve to give up yourselves to his conduct, who is

become the author of eternal salvation to all those that obey him: your merciful and heavenly Father has, by his beloved Son, sent you this joyful message, that God is love; that like as a father pities his own children, so the Lord pities you; he commands us by his word to tell you, that he takes notice of your sorrows; he stands by, when you see him not, and are ready to think he has forsaken you: he minds you with the greatest tenderness when you say he has forgotten you; he numbereth your sighs; he bottles up your tears; he takes it unkind that you are so suspicious of him; and that all that he hath done for you in the work of redemption, and all the gracious workings of his Spirit on your souls, and all your own experience of his goodness, can raise you to no higher a sense of his love. Do you not see, and hear, and taste his mercy and love? Do you live wholly upon it, and yet doubt of it? God takes not this well: but yet he knoweth your frame, and remembers that you are dust: he knows that the flesh will war against the spirit; he knows that sin will breed sorrows and fears; and that man's understanding is narrow, and that all his conceptions of God are extremely low; and that we are so far from God as creatures, and so much further from him as sinners, that

we shall sometimes draw back and look at God afar off. But, my friends, it is not the will of your Father, that you should always keep at the distance of a servant, or a slave, he wishes you to enjoy the privileges of children, to cry Abba, Father and to win your hearts, you are told, "That God so loved the world, as to send his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Hear the gracious invitations of this merciful Saviour; "Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' And is not this gracious invitation addressed to all? And are you excluded? Are not you the weary and heavy laden? Here, is that rest and peace offered which you want; remember, when you are upon your knees, that your Heavenly Father stands by beseeching you to accept of what you are beseeching him to grant. Do you wish for pardon, life, and salvation? you have only to receive it in the gospel way. Are you distressed with fears, troubles, and uncertain whether Christ and salvation is yours?-Suppose you have never accepted of Christ, nor given up yourselves to him-but is he not now ready to accept you? "Now is the accepted time: now is the day of salvation!" Behold he stands at the door and knocks! and will

you not