means that evil is remedied. And, if at any time they get over this barrier, and grow secure, he rouses them by rebukes and chastisements; which stir them up again to diligence: and thus he preserves them from falling away. The means and end are inseparable in reality, and should never be separated in speculation.-If it were possible for God so to leave a true saint, that he should entirely cease to watch and pray, to read, and meditate, and hear the word, and be entirely secure in sin and carnality, and live and die in such a state; it would be possible for such an one to perish: yea, it would be impossible that he should not. But this God will never do. He will by the influences of his Spirit, and the chastisements of his rod, bring him to repentance, and incline his heart to continue in a course of religion habitually and perseveringly to the end. And he that endureth to the end shall be saved. The rest were stony ground or thorny ground hearers.

"But now when a person has no heart to watch, pray, hear, read, meditate, examine himself, believe, obey; and yet pretends to trust in God's engagement that true saints shall persevere, he perversely counteracts God's method; takes' for granted the very thing which wants proof, by assuming himself to be a true saint without evidence, and even against evidence; thinks himself something, when probably he is nothing, thus deceiving his own soul; and, should there be any grace in his heart, (which is extremely unlikely,) he takes the very method the devil would have him take for continuing in this awful situation, by shutting out that fear which God puts into the hearts of

his people to bring them back from their declensions.

"This again, well considered, is the best answer to another objection against this doctrine, as if it rendered watchfulness unnecessary. It is not designed to comfort even true Christians in sloth and lukewarmness; it being much better for them in such a state to be put in great fear: but to cheer the diligent, active, thriving Christian in his conflict with Satan and the corruptions of his own heart; that, while fighting, animated by the assurance of victory, he may fight manfully, when otherwise he would be discouraged by fears lest all should be in vain. And, if Satan and wicked men abuse this doctrine, as they do every other good gift of God, this should only teach the servants of God to protest against such abuses, not to deny the doctrine of God's word, and offend against the generation of his children.

CASES OF DECLENSION AND INCONSISTENCY.

"AND here I would propose it to the serious consideration of pious ministers, whether in some cases an improper and prejudicial method is not adopted in dealing with our people. When persons who have appeared for some time to be sincere Christians fall into any particular fault, though a considerable one; or when there are many infirmities which call for ministerial reproof; I readily allow that it is best to treat with them as Christians,-not much admitting the contrary supposition. But, when such persons repeatedly bring

scandals on the cause of Christ; or habitually live an unfruitful, inconsistent life: or have greatly declined in zeal and liveliness-I mean zeal for and liveliness in the great and substantial parts of religion: I am of opinion that the supposition ought not only to be put, but to be urged home upon their consciences, that they have only deceived themselves and others, and are not real Christians at all.-I deem it abundantly proved that no mere man can certainly know any other man to be a true Christian, and ought not to judge by any thing but his fruits: and therefore it seems to me that a minister who sees no good fruit in a man's life, and yet judges him a true Christian, and deals with him accordingly, exceeds his commission......This I propose to the serious attention of my brethren in the ministry. I have no intention to dictate, as I have no right; but simply I propose my sentiments about an important part of our office, in the performance of which every one who feels its weight, and knows its difficulty, will be glad of all the light he can get from any quarter. Let it be candidly examined by those who love Christ and the souls of men; and may the Lord give us a right understanding in all things!"

SCANDALS.

WITH the observations just recited is connected a discussion of the case of notorious misconduct in professedly religious persons, proceeding precisely on the same principles with certain papers

which have been already inserted in this volume; and which, as exhibiting the author's sentiments at a maturer period of his life, supersede the necessity of introducing any thing more of what he had here written, than the following concluding remarks:

"Characters really unsound, as well as discreditable, being encouraged in religious societies, open the mouths of opposers; quiet the consciences of those who are brought under concern about their souls; give awakened persons wrong notions of religion; as if it were no more than a set of notions and a peculiar language, and not holiness of heart and life; grieve and mislead true Christians; and every way produce infinite mischief to the cause of God and the souls of men. As mortified limbs, the body cannot be in health till they be cut off: as unfruitful branches, the vine will not thrive till they are pruned away.—But such persons have no higher principle than self-love; nor higher aim than to be comfortable: nor higher notion of comfort than being encouraged in the hope of going to heaven at last. The glory of God, the credit of religion, the good of souls, the excellency of holiness, the joy of communion with God, are nothing to them. All therefore that you say on these subjects they hear with perfect indifference. They will even bear to be reproved for their faults, and be willing that you should treat them as a poor sort of Christians, (some of them at least will bear this-for self-love works in different ways,) if only you will encourage them to hope that they are Christians, and shall not go to hell—which is all they care for. So that the only

way of coming at them, either to undeceive them for their own good, or to detect them for the good of others, is by telling them plainly, that they who do so and so, and are of such a character, are not Christians-by addressing them in St. Paul's language, Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap: This ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

THE AUTHOR'S OWN VIEW OF HIS WORK.

"I BY no means pretend to have laid down an exact and complete system of evangelical truth. Possibly many things may have been omitted or mistated, or be redundant. I can only say that I have stated them as they appeared to me, after a careful examination of the word of God; much consideration of what is going on in the church and in the world, as far as my contracted observation extends, and of what has passed in my own experience; with many earnest prayers to God to enlighten my understanding in the truth as it is in Jesus. Nor have I made one wilful omission, alteration, or addition; but, as far as conciseness admitted, have simply declared my views of divine truth, in such a manner as most effectually to undermine several sorts of doctrine which appear to me to dim the glory, corrupt the purity, and obstruct the efficacy of the gospel, and to harden men in opposing or abusing it, according as best suits their corrupt inclinations.