and open,if they are made confcious of their need of him, fo as to open their hearts by the prayer of faith, he will come in, and feaft them with his gracious prefence, and the delicious fruits of his bleffed Spirit. Therefore the most extraordinary of all the revelations, that of St. John in Patmos, not only fhews, that the manifeftations of Chrift run parallel to the canon of fcripture, but alfo gives a peculiar fanction to the ordinary revelations of him, for which I contend.

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Having thus led you from Genefis to Revelation, I conclude by two inferences, which appear to me deniable. The firft, that it is evident our Lord, before his incarnation, during his ftay on earth, and after his afcenfion into heaven, hath been pleased, in a variety of manners, to manifeft himself to the children of men, both for the benefit of the Church in general, and for the converfion of finners and the establishment of faints in particular. Secondly, that the doctrine, I maintain, is as old as Adam, as modern as St. John, the laft of the infpired writers, and as fcriptural as the Old and New Teftament, which is what I wanted to demonftrate. I am, Sir, &c.

FRAGMENTS.

FIRST FRAGMENT.

ON SERIOUSNESS,

NOTHING is fo contrary to godliness as levity. Serioufnefs confifts in the matter of what is fpoken, in the manner of speaking, in dignity of behaviour, and in weighty, not trifling actions. Some people are ferious by nature, fome by policy, and for felfish ends, and fome by, grace, and from a fenfe of duty.

Jefting and raillery, lightness of behaviour, ufelefs Occupations, joy without trembling and awe of God, an affectation of vivacity and fprightlinefs, are all contrary to the Spirit of God. A fool laughs loud, faith Solomon but a wife man fcarce fmiles a little.

Levity is contrary to contrition and felf-knowledge; to watching and prayer,; frequently to charity; and to common fenfe, when death is at our heels.

Levity is alfo destructive of all devotion-in our own heart and in that of others, by unfitting the company for receiving good, and bringing a fufpicion of hypocrify upon all.

Serioufnefs is useful to prevent the foregoing mifcarriages, to keep grace, to recommend piety and a fenfe of God's prefence to leave room for the Spirit to work and to check levity and fin in others.

And have we not motives fufficient to feriousness? Are we not priests and kings to God-temples of the Holy Ghoft? Are we not walking in the prefence of God on the verge of the grave, and in fight of eternity?

All who walk with God are ferious, taking their Lord for their example, and walking by, fcripture precepts and warnings.

But, are we to renounce innocent mirth? Our fouls are difeafed. Are we to be dull and melancho

ly? Serioufnefs and folid happinefs are infeparable. Is there not a time for all things? There is no time for fin and folly.

SECOND FRAGMENT.

ON PLEASURE.

DYING to pleafure, even the most innocent, we fhall live to God. Of pleafures there are four forts. Senfual pleafures of the eye, ear, tafte, fmell, eafe, indulgence, &c. Pleasures of the heart-attachments, entanglements, creature love, unmortified friendships. Pleafures of the mind-curious books, deep refearches, fpeculations, hankering after news-wit-fine language. The Pleafures of the imagination-fchemes, fancies, fuppofitions.

God requires, that we fhould deny ourfelves in all thefe refpects, becaufe 1. God will have the heart, which he cannot have, if pleasure hath it: and God is a jealous God. 2. There is no folid union with God, until, in a chriftian fense, we are dead to creature comforts. Pleafure is the Gordian knot. 3. God is purity-hankering after pleafure is the caufe of almost all our fins the bait of temptation. 4. God calls us to fhew our faith and love by a spirit of facrifice. Pleasure is Ifaac. 5. Denying ourselves, hating our life, dying daily, crucifying the flesh, putting off the old man, are gofpel precepts-fo is cutting off the right hand, plucking out the right eye, and forfaking all to follow Chrift. 6. God makes no exceptions. All the offending members must be cut off, every leak must be ftopt; or the corrupting pleafure fpared gets more afcendant. 7. Pleafures render the foul incapable of the operations of the Spirit, and obftruct diyine confolations.