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fpiritual blindness, in which I am fuppofing you may be. Your fpiritual eyes are partly opened; your fpirtual ears are partly unclosed; your fpiritual feeling is yet very imperfect; your fpiritual understandings has only begun to dawn. So far from it being difficult for you to be deceived, it is the most easy thing in the world; as eafy as for the young beginners in any science, if they are proud, conceited, and felf-willed, to fancy their attainments far more than they really are. It is as eafy as for fhipwrecked mariners, in danger of perishing, to mistake a diftant cloud for land. "They may eafily do this; (obferved a pious "friend) but let them once fet their feet on the "firm ground, and we never hear of their miftak

ing that for a cloud." Juft fo it is with respect to faith in Chrift. Many imagine that they have it, when they have it not; but when they feel its power, they can never then imagine themselves in a state of unbelief. Beware then, oh! beware of this moft dangerous delufion!

But, this is not all; for Satan will again feek to involve us in the cares and pleasures of this world. How fine and delicate will be now the nets by which he feeks to entangle our unwary feet! A fubject is now about to be loft to him, perhaps for ever. All his emiffaries, among the finner's friends, relations, neighbours, all whom the fiend has yet under his controul, will be fet to work to ftop his progrefs*. Reproof,

Our bleffed Saviour, foreseeing this diverfity of fentianent which would arise in families, &c. defcribes the

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Reproof, flattery, indulgence, will all be called in aid. The lofs of character in the world, the dread of an opprobrious name, the danger of carrying things too far, with ten thoufand other chimæras, will all be placed in battle array, to bar his entrance into the heavenly Canaan. The waters of the fpiritual river Jordan will be reprcfented as moft terrible to pass, as carrying multitudes into the dead fea of gloomy enthusiasm and defpair. The wildernefs he is quitting will be pourtrayed as bloffoming like the rofe. The land which he is about to enter, like the earthly Canaan, will be defcribed, as inhabited by giants dreadful to behold. How will the tempter now, by all the means within his power, endeavour to paint religion as a gloomy fervice! How will he now ftrive to occafion diftrefs of mind, and trouble of foul, charging it all on that religion fo lately embraced! But if, notwithstanding all, fupported by the Spirit of the infinitely loving God, the finner but make an hearty attempt, as it were, to place his foot within the obftructing ftream, how will

effects of his coming as follows:

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Suppofe ye that I

am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, nay, but "rather division: for, from henceforth, there shall be five in one houfe divided, three against two, and two against three. The father ihall be divided against the ion, and the fon against the father; the mother againft "the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the "mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."-Luke xii.51,&c. See Mat. x. 34, &c, John vii. 5. Mark iii. 21.

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will the waters then give way, which feemed to oppofe an almost infurmountable barrier to his paffage. Like Ifrael of old bearing the ark of God *, he will pass through the waves, as on dry ground, and gain a joyful entrance into that fpiritual Canaan flowing with milk and honey.

How will his foul now exult, that he has thus wonderfully been fupported through the wildernefs, and carried through the water-floods! How will he rejoice that he was not prevailed on to continue with the world lying in the wicked one, in the full power of Satan; dwelling in the defert! How will he call on his relations, friends, and neighbours; all who are near and dear to him! "Come, and hear; (he will fay) all ye that fear "God, and I will declare what he hath done for "my foul t."" In the Lord have I righteoufnefs, "and ftrength." There is, there is a reft to the people of God; and his reft is moft glorious. God,. an infinitely loving and gracious "God, hath fent. "forth the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit of adop

tion" and grace," into my heart," even mine. This glorious, this divine " Spirit beareth witness "with my fpirit (unworthy as I am) that I am a child

of God," a dear forgiven beloved child," and "if a child, then an heir of God, and a joint heir "with Chrift," Moft joyfully therefore will I " fuf"fer with him, that I may be glorified together with "him

How will he delight in his "pearl of 56 great price," his once neglected treafure! How aftonifhed

**Joshua iii. 14, &c. Rom. viii. 15, to 18.

Pfa. lxvi. 16.
Gal. iv. 4, 5, & 64

aftonished will he be that fo few of those whom he invites know how to estimate its value! He will forget that the divine "manna" is "hidden," that the name written on the white ftone is known to no one, except to him that receiveth it * "

Still however Satan will exert himfelf for his deftruction. While there is joy in heaven over his converfion, there will be forrow among the fpirits of darkness, in confequence of his escape. Seven other fpirits will perhaps now unite their power against him; that "the latter end may be

made worfe with him than the beginning t." Yes, these are their triumphs, indeed! if they can but gain a child of God, though only a babe in Chrift; if they can but caufe him to "draw back "unto perdition, inftead of continuing to believe

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the faving of his fout!" To this end all their efforts are directed. Now, while the tender offspring of divine grace has need of milk, and cannot digest strong meat f. But how will they now carry on their attacks? Will they feek to perfuade him that all he feels is delufion, the mere effect of a warm imagination? Oh! no, they are too well convinced that it is a glorious reality; and would as foon endeavour to perfuade him out of the fenfe of hearing or feeing. Such a weak attempt as this they leave to filly mortals, who will not allow another to truft his feelings, because different from their own. But, the plan of their mafter Satan

✦ Rev. ii. 17.

2 Pet. ii 20.

Heb. x. 39. Heb. v. 12.

Satan is far more artful. He would willingly now incicafe the joy, and mix as much of carnal corrupt nature with it as poffible. "Oh! what a favourite "of Heaven are you become, he will infinuate ! "Surely never mortal man before received fuch "marks of divine love! Happy, thrice happy "foul, to have the conteft with fin and Satan fo foon "ended: all thy corruption fo foon vanquished, and "100ted out!" And, in this he will have a double purpofe; to infpire vain confidence and careless cafe at the time; and at a future period when thefe comforts and joys abate, he indulges a hope, that the contraft will be fo ftriking, as to allow him to make an artful advantage of it.

And, oh! if he can but lead the enraptured foul to exclaim with David, "I fhall never be remov"ed; thou, Lord, of thy goodnefs, haft made my "hill fo ftrong;" if he can but thus betray into careleffnefs and inattention, with a neglect of conftant watchfulnefs and prayer: and if God, in confequence," turn his face from the young con→ "vert, and he become troubled *;" then the tempter's aim will be fo far gained. But here a different mode of affault again becomes requifite. Now he will perhaps hint, that all may poffibly have been imagination and delufion. Now the fins, which begin to fhew their heads, only a little bruifed, within the heart, will be magnified by him into certain figns of carnal unregenerate nature. 66 If "ever you were renewed (he will fuggeft) you $6 are now fallen, perhaps paft recovery."

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