Creatures, in declaring to us the Dignity and Power of the Perfons in whom we are to truft; than he would have done, had he required of us the fame Faith and Reliance on thofe Perfons, without declaring to us how able and powerful they are to help us. If therefore it be reafonable for God to fave the World, by redeeming it by his Son, by fanctifying it by his Holy Spirit, it cannot be unreafonable for him to make known his Son and his Spirit to the World, that all Men every where may by the one Spirit of God, and through the only Son of God, approach to the Father. And this fhews how foolishly Men charge God, when they complain of the heavy Impofition laid upon their Faith and their Understanding by the Gofpel Doctrines concerning the Son and the Holy Spirit. God has revealed this for our Sakes only, not for Matter of Speculation, or for the enlarging of our Knowledge; but that, having a reasonable Ground of Affurance and Hope in him, we may, through Faith, and patient Abiding, inherit the Promifes.

You

You see now what every Christian has to expect and hope for from the Affiftance of the Spirit, and Interceffion of the Son of God. We all were Strangers to God, and Children of Difobedience; we are now reconciled to God, and can approach him as our loving Father. Having thus Accefs to the Father, our All depends on the Ufe we make of this great Privilege. By having Access to God, we are not placed in a State of Security, but in a State of Probation: We are received as prodigal Sons come home; if we continue obedient, we may hope for the Inheritance; but, if we turh Prodigals again, our Cafe will be desperate. This is the Condition of Chriftians. The Scripture has told us what our present State is; but, as to our future State, that depends upon our obeying, or not obeying, the Commands of God. And thofe who look for further Security, and expect to be afcertained what their future State will be, do very much impofe upon themfelves, and afcribe to the Holy Spirit an Office, of which the Scripture knows nothing. God has done, and will do, great Things for you; let not this make you vain and prefumptuous, but let it excite your Care, that the

Gift of God may not be bestowed on you in vain; and always bear in Mind the Apostle's Advice, Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do. Some imagine, that God's working with us is a Reason why we should be confident and secure of our Salvation: But you fee St. Paul was of another Mind. He writes to those who certainly had the Spirit; for he tells them, that God did work in them both to will and to do: But does he tell them that they were fafe and secure, and out of all Danger? No, he fays nothing like it; on the contrary, he calls upon them to fear and tremble, left, having received fo great a Gift, they should by their Negligence, as thinking themselves fecure, forfeit all the Hopes of the Gospel.

God fays, with respect to the old World, My Spirit fhall not always ftrive with Man: The Cafe is the fame under the Gospel. The Spirit of God works with us, but will not always ftrive with us; and therefore, whilft we may have the Help of God's Spirit, we must lay hold of the Opportunity, and work with him. And whoeyer confiders this, will find he has great

Reason

Reason to tremble and fear; for, if he lofes the Opportunity of making the best Use of the Affistance of the Spirit when it is offered, he may lofe the Spirit, and himfelf, for ever. Let us therefore work whilst we have the Light, and continually pray in the Words of our Church, O Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

DISCOURSE