knows what is good for his child, and what might do him harm, better than the child himfelf knows. A man in a raging fever earnestly longs for strong drink; but his attendant with-holds it from him, because he knows it would increafe his diforder, and perhaps endanger his life. The attendant denies what is requefted, out of love to the afflicted man. God is our faithful keeper, and merciful preferver. He is infinitely wife to know what is beft for us, and what would be to our hurt. As a proof of his favour, he often does us good, in fome fort, against our wills. It is a mercy to be fometimes refused what we eagerly wish, rather than to have our fond defires gratified. Remember it is faid of the rebellious Ifraelites, who asked meat for their luft, "He gave them their requeft, but fent leannefs into their fouls." This gift was a mark of displeasure, rather than of favour.

The laft cafe I fhall mention, is that of the tempted chriftian. If I am interested in the divine favour,' fays fuch a one, why am I hurried, and almost distracted with violent temptations from day to day? The powers of darkness seem to be let loofe upon me; the enemy thrufts at me fore that I fhould fall, and comes again ft me like a roaring lion, ready to devour. My life is one continued conflict.'

No. XVIII. 1.

X

Have

....4..4..

Have you not read of a certain eminent faint, who had a thorn in the flesh, the meffenger of Satan to buffet him? Was this an indication that he had no intereft in the divine favour? Juft the contrary; there was given him a thorn in the flesh, left he should be exalted above measure. If the Lord fuffers you to be violently assaulted by temptation, it is neither for want of love to your person, nor for want of power to deliver you; but for wife ends and purposes. Perhaps you are thus exercised to keep you humble, to make you more fenfible of your conftant need of him who is able to fuccour thofe that are tempted, to ftir you up to watchfulness and fervent prayer, to induce you to make use of the fhield of faith, whereby you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, to make the final conqueft the more glorious, and to render death more defirable, and heaven. more welcome.

SECT. II.

Of Affurance of Intereft in the Favour of God.

A well-grounded, habitual persuasion of interest in the divine favour, is certainly a privilege which has been enjoyed by many, and which may ftill be experienced by real christians in our day. The

Lord

.........

Lord has been pleased to make provifion for the comfort of his people, in a matter of such vast importance. Paul was perfuaded, that nothing could feparate him from the love of God which is in Chrift Jefus our Lord. Was this persuasion an appendage to his office, as an apostle? The contrary, I think, is evident. This was a part of his experience as a chriftian; and it is a privilege which lies equally open to us. For we have the fame gospel, and the fame promises as he had. The efficacy of the teaching, fanctifying and comforting operations of the Holy Spirit, cannot be weakened by length of time; his power and grace are the fame they were in former ages.

Were the promises of God refpecting falvation conditional, they would not be a proper foundation for an affured expectation of receiving what is fo promised. But as thefe promifes are abfolute, they afcertain the poffeffion of that to which they relate; fince he that has made them is faithful, and has promifed nothing but what he is able to perform. The tenor of fuch promises as have respect to eternal falvation is, I will, and they fhall; "I will be their God, and they fhall be my people." In their nature therefore, the promises are fuited to produce and fupport a holy confi. dence towards God.

....4.4.

The Almighty has confirmed these promises by an oath, for this exprefs purpose, that those who have fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before them, might have ftrong confolation; this confolation arises from the two immutable things in which it is impoffible for God to lie, the promise and the oath of Jehovah, giving them affurance of his favour, and of their security in confequence of it.

The witneffing and fealing of the Holy Spirit may ferve to convince us, that thofe to whom he bears witness of their being the children of God, and those whom he feals to the day of redemption, must be affured of their interest in the divine favour. Sealing is consequent on believing; " After that ye believed, ye were fealed." It is likewife the office of the Holy Spirit, to dwell in real chriftians as the Spirit of adoption, enabling them to addrefs God as their Father, through Jefus Chrift, with boldness, liberty, and confidence.

There have been many, in all ages, who have witneffed what we are now speaking of, who have been well affured, on folid grounds, of their intereft in the favour of their Maker. They have been able to adopt, with propriety, the language of his people recorded in the facred scriptures, and to rejoice in the glorious benefits flowing from the

foun.

fountain of redeeming love. They have faid, "The. Lord is my light, and my falvation; I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my ftrength and my fong; he alfo is become my falvation. He loved me, and gave himself for me. We have known and believed the love that God hath unto us. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him!"

If many profeffors of religion in the present day fall fhort of this privilege, there is certainly a cause for it, and that cause lies at their own door. This privilege is not to be enjoyed without the diligent ufe of those means, which God hath appointed for our increase and growth in grace. It is not to be enjoyed without felf-denial, watchfulnefs and circumfpection. It is never experienced, in any comfortable degree, but in the affiduous practice of religious duties; fuch as prayer, reading the word of God, meditation, felf-examination, and a conftant attendance on the worship of God. Those who expect to enjoy the privilege in queftion, in the neglect of these means, do but deceive themselves. They may exclaim, if they please, against remarks of this kind, as favouring of legality; we know that God has been pleased to connect the end with the means; and what he has joined together, let no man think to put afun