the one hand, fuppofe that the everlasting joys of heaven are fo poor and mean, that they cannot compenfate for a limited state of fuffering; or on the other hand, admit that Judas will be eternally excluded from heaven with all its enjoy ments. There is no arguing fuccefsfully againft matters of fact. The plain illiterate Chriftian may be perplexed by the fophiftical methods of reasoning ufed in defence of the doctrine which I oppose: But let him remember, that however specious or plaufible they may appear, they must be falfe, because they exprefsly contradict the teftimony of Chrift in the cafe of Judas. Many who read this paper may perhaps not be able to detect and expofe the fallacy of fuch pretended reafonings; But they may be fatisfied with the perfuafion that the Bible can never contradict itself. And I am fure that if they are earneftly and fincerely feeking after truth, they will receive the teftimony of Jefus Chrift in preference to that of any fallible mortal whatsoever. May they, and all who profefs to receive the Gospel, daily pray for true fpiritual wisdom; that while they adore the Son of God as the righteous governor of the univerfe, whofe decifions are all founded in equity and truth, they may alfo rejoice in him as the author and finisher of their falvation. IMLAH. MY A WORD TO THE YOUNG. Y dear brethren and fifters! My foul longs for your falvation! What can I do to promote it? I fee the dangers to which you are expofed in this evil world: What can I do to preserve you from shame and ruin? I tenderly feel for you. I earnestly pray for you. I beg of God to bless you, and to fave your fouls. But this is not enough. You must pray for yourselves; and you must watch for yourselves. I therefore advife you in the most affectionate manner, to pray frequently and fervently for the Spirit of God to guide you; to enlighten you; to make you wife and happy; to fanclify your nature; to overcome your pride; to make you humble; to fill you with a holy fear of doing the leaft evil; to make you watchful over your thoughts, your defires, your words, and all your actions, and to preferve you from the fnares of evil company and evil example. Remember, the eye of God is ever upon you. Think much of death, of judgment, and eternity. Think often on the fufferings of Jefus Chrift, and delight yourselves with the profpect of eternal joys in God's kingdom. T. A AGAINST UNBELIEVING FEARS. T the present time, when many entertain a ferious apprehenfion of a foreign invasion, and timorous people are very ready to paint to their imaginations all its attendant calamities in the darkest colours, it is not to be wondered at, if the enemy of fouls fhould fuggeft to the minds of weak believers the most diftreffing ideas on this occafion. Knowing this to be the cafe in feveral inftances, I beg leave to call upon them to fortify their minds against every poffible event by the confideration of their fafety from real evil. You fear the Lord in the moft proper fenfe, and have therefore nothing elfe to fear. What can the most enraged adverfaries do but kill the body? They cannot deftroy the Christian's peace with God, nor fet afide his eternal hopes : They are built on too firm a bafis to be affected by the united force of earth and hell. With respect to the time and manner of believers leaving the present state, it is all appointed in the unalterable councels of their God. As a fparrow falls not to the ground without their Father's permiffion, furely he will not permit them to fall by the hand of violence, or in any other way, but as the effect of infinite love and faithfulnefs. If the Lord takes fuch care of his people as to exprefs it in language like this, "Even the very hairs of your head are numbered;" and if his tenderness towards them is defcribed to be like that of a father towards his helpless but beloved children; we cannot fuppofe that they fhall want protection, aid, or confolation in the hour of diftrefs. Let this then be the triumphant language of the believer, "The Lord is my light and my falvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the ftrength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" "Should all the hofts of death I fhall be fafe, for Christ displays Superior pow'r and guardian grace." Go then, timorous Chriftian, commit thyfelf and all thy dear concerns by faith and prayer into the hands of thy great and good Shepherd; live near to him; but do not diftrefs thyfelf about what may never happen, or, although it should come to pafs, can do thee no real harm. DIACONUS. Disconsolate Sinners encouraged to believe in Christ to the saving of their souls. MY Y dear fellow-finners, the time is happily arrived, when you are no longer wife in your own eyes, nor prudent in your own fight. You are become fools, that ye may be wife for evermore. In times past, like Saul before his converfion, ye were alive without the law; but now, the commandment is come, and your confcience tells you that ye have been altogether in the wrong. You will acknowledge that you have thought yourselves fecure and feared no danger, not because there was none, but only because you faw none. You will now confefs that the God of this world blinded your eyes and took you captive at his will; and you are now afraid, that to fuffer with him and his angels for ever, fhould prove your melancholly portion. But, let me tell you, it is the fame old enemy who foothed your vain hopes before, that encourages your prefent defponding fears. Yours is a clear cafe and affords the very best encouragement. That God, who is light and love, hath fhined into your hearts by his word and fpirit; hence, in fome meafure, you perceive the finfulness of your hearts and lives; of course, you conclude, that if you be rewarded according to the works you have done, you must endure the bitter pains of eternal death. You have begun to fear, and, as fuch, you wish to flee from the wrath to come. Behold there is a refuge for you: There is a Saviour of God's providing. Satan wishes to have you to himself, and is unwilling for you to look to that Deliverer, who will shortly bruise his head. Per haps he now fuggefts, that fuch is the multitude and magnitude of your offences, as even to exceed the ability or willingnefs of Chrift to fave. Believe not this father of lies. Be affured that your prefent fears and diffidence are just as groundless as your former prefumption and confidence. Hark! how the Gofpel trumpet founds. It is indeed a joyful found. It proclaims a mighty Saviour for the vileft finner His name is Jesus: A name inclufive of all you need or VOL. I. Aa can defire: A name precious as ointment poured forth, and befides which, there is no other under heaven given among men, whereby we can be faved. There needs no other. This is all-fufficient. Jefus is Jehovah. To Jefus, not only the name Jehovah, but like wife all the titles, perfections, attributes, and works of Jehovah, are abundantly afcribed in the facred oracles. His name is called Wonderful, Counfellor, the Mighty God. By the beloved Apostle John, he is called the true God; and St. Paul calls him the great and the only wise God. We alfo read that he was in the beginning; that he is the first and the laft, the Almighty; yefterday, to-day, and for ever the fame: That he laid the foundation of the earth, and that the heavens are the works of his hands. While on earth he gave many proofs of infinite power: Winds and waves, difeafes, death and devils obey. ed his word. Surely nothing is too hard for him to perform, which he fhall think proper to undertake! Then let your forrowful hearts rejoice, for he has most kindly and mercifully undertaken to fave just such as you are. It is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jefus Chrift came into the world to fave finners. Yes, he left his Father's bofom, with the glory he had with him before the world was, and came to feek and to fave that which was loft. He came to minister and to give his life a ranfom. He undertook your great concern. He became furety for you, and engaged to do all that law and juftice could demand of you. They required death, as the punishment due for fin, and a perfect righteoufnefs for a title to eternal life. Well, Jefus your Surety fulfilled the law for you. He brought in an everlasting righteousness, and is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. He also bore your fins in his own body on the tree. He died the just for the unjuft, that he might bring finners to God. He made it his meat and drink to accomplish what he had undertaken. It is well known he met with very great oppofition, but the aftonishing love which brought him into the world, carried him through all difficulties. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. He left no part of his great work unfinished. Behold the place where he now is, and confider the benefits he has to bestow. He is paffed into the heavens, and fitteth on the right hand of the Father Almighty. There he ever liveth to make interceffion for them that come unto God by him. He has for you all the bleffings you can defire of him. There is that which has fatisfied divine juftice, and muft pacify your confcience. There is pardon for the guilty, and cleanfing for the filthy; health for the fick, and ftrength for the weak. He has food for the hungry, drink for the thirfty, reft for the weary, and clothing for the naked. In a word he is made of God both wifdom, righteoufnefs, fanctification, and redemption. In the Lord Jefus, you have both prophet, priest, and king. He is the tender fhepherd, the skilful phyfician, and the kindeft friend. In him ali fullnefs dwells. Come then, and receive out of his fulness grace for grace. Confider for your further encouragement to come to him, that he will make you heartily welcome. His gracious words to the weary and heavy-laden are, Come unto me, and I will give you reft: Ye fhall find reft unto your fouls. He fays to the thirsty, Come unto me and drink: Yea, whofoever will, let him take of the water of life freely: Him that cometh to me I will in no wife east out. Such, my difconfolate fellow-finners, is the fweet and endearing language of your merciful and compaffionate Redeemer. You have no reafon to call in question his fincerity. There is no one instance to be found in which he has been worse than his word. His grace, mercy, and love, have not only exceeded the fears, but unfpeakably furpassed the most fanguine hopes and. expectations of all, who in his appointed way have made their application to him. Numberlefs millions of finners have washed their robes, and made them white in his blood. That fountain is now open for your fin and uncleannefs. Jefus is this moment as willing and ready to receive and fave you, as he was to pardon the perfecuting Saul of Tarfus, the impure Magdalene, the thief on the crofs, or any others. He is Jefus Chrift, the fame. His precious blood has not loft its efficacy: It ftill cleanfeth from all fin. He ftill receiveth finners, and will not reject you. As one fays, "If he yielded himself into the hands of them that fought his life, will he hide himself from the hearts of them that feek his mercy? If he was willing to be taken by the hands of violence, can he be unwilling to be taken by the hands of faith?" Poor trembling finners, come and try: Venture on him, venture wholly, and ye fhall be faved. Finally, forget not that your prefent deep concern is the beginning of your great falvation. The enemy of your fouls has not convinced you of your fins. No, it is the good Spirit, whofe office it is fo to do; and he will take of the things of Christ and show them unto you. He has wrought all the fitness your Saviour requires, which is to feel your need of him. The good work then is begun, and fhall be finished in due time. Conclude not bitter things against yourfelves, as Manoah once did, but rather argue like his wife |