1. Be not overmuch DEJECTED on account of your failure in duty; but humble yourfelves before God, and fly to the atoning blood of Chrift for pardon.

2. CONFESS before God, that it is he alone who giveth power to the faint, and to thofe who have no might, increaseth ftrength; and that therefore, without him ye can do nothing; and muft faint, if left by him to go without the fun. Profess to him that ye can find no peace nor fatisfaction in the creature apart from him, and that ye defire him, and him alone, as the portion of your fouls.

3. Give YOURSELVES anew to the Lord in the EXERCISE of a lively faith; caft yourselves afresh into the arms of your compaffionate Redeemer, and covenant God, and renew your covenant with him.

4. Perfevere in praying after the manner of David, Pf. li. 12, 66 Reftore unto me the joy of thy falvation, "and uphold me with thy free fpirit; make me to hear "joy and gladness, that the bones which thou haft bro"ken may rejoice." The Lord is a compassionate God; "he will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever. Though in a little wrath he may hide "his face from you for a moment, yet with everlasting loving kindness will he have mercy on you."

5. And when the Lord shall again reveal himself to your fouls, FOLLOW the example of the spouse, who, when she had found her beloved, would not let him go. In like manner, cleave to your Jefus, by faith; ply him with tears and fupplication, and honour him by a walk worthy of the grace you may have received: if God ever again fpeak peace to your fouls, be careful not to return again to folly.

But we have yet a word to you, believers, who ARE ESTABLISHED in the faith, and who EXPERI ENCE its peace, its joy and triumph.

Kk

4. The Lord defigns, by thefe dark of his providence, to KEEP YOU HUMBLE vent you from being lifted up in your i on account of the grace you may have re niceft pencil cannot paint the pride of heart, especially when it conceives tha feffion of a jewel of which others are d God will teach us, by his dealings with u enjoy, flows to us through the channel

5. God defigns, by leading his people ways, to TEACH them to PRIZE, in gree, and to endeavour more carefully the gracious experiences of his loving ki ever he may be pleased to reftore the place fo great a value on a thing, as once enjoyed it, we are again deprive

But whilft God has on his part fo fons for dealing thus with his peopl perhaps, arife from themselves: are th into fuch dark ways, because they do able improvement of the grace they h a humble and circumfpect walk, and charge of duty? Thofe who have of the Lord is gracious, are laid under tions: much having been given them, is required; much prudence, much ferve a holy peace of mind; much wea abftraction from the world. Now, if you very deficient in thefe duties, you need ftrange, if God manifefts his difpleasure ag remifsnefs, by leaving you for a feafon env darkness. And are you confcious to yourfel you have given him much reafon to deal th you? take the following directions:

How great is your happiness! how glorious your privileges? Ye, not only in common with your fellow Chriftians, have grace, but ftrong evidences that ye are the subjects of it. Ye are not only at peace with God, but ye hold sweet converfe with him, as your bofom friend; ye not only believe, but what is more, ye tafte that the Lord is gracious. Ye have begun already to enjoy heaven, even whilft ye are fojourning on earth. But ftill you are to keep in mind,

1. That to be led in this agreeable manner; to go thus on your way rejoicing, is not your DAILY BREAD. Thefe exercifes are generally not of long duration. God may foon change the ways he has been holding with you: his people do not always bask beneath the rays of the fun of profperity. David and other faints, in their own experience, have been witnesses of the truth we now advance. Therefore, believers, enjoy your good things, now, when no intervening cloud intercepts your believing views of your Redeemer; but, in the day of adverfity, confider that it is no ftrange or unusual thing with God, to diveft his people, at least for a season, of that peace, of thofe joys, and triumphs which you have expe

rienced.

2. Endeavour to EXCITE and to keep alive those delightful and comfortable frames, by the exercife of an habitual and friendly intercourse with God, especially in fecret; by counfelling with him; by confiding in him; and, above all, by conftantly making application to the Lord Jefus.- O, Christians, run to this tree of life; for here only can you pluck those heavenly fruits.

3. CONDUCT yourselves with PRUDENCE; make a proper ufe of those peculiar bleffings with which you are favoured; purfue your journey heaven

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ward, and evidence to the world, by a tender and holy walk in the fear of the Lord, that ye are indeed travelling thither. Are your privileges great? your obligations are also great. Be then on your guard against carelessnefs, lukewarmness, and floth: confider that Satan is never more engaged to entangle you in fin, than when ye have much of the divine presence. Ye are therefore never more loudly called to watchfulness, than at such a season.- Watch against the very first temptations to remifsnefs in the discharge of duty. Peace and holiness must always go hand in hand.

4. Let your TONGUES frequently CELEBRATE the praises of your God. Does he give you affurances of his having brought you out of darkness into his marvellous light? ftudy to display the honour of his name. Have ye the beft reasons to believe that ye are interested in the inheritance of the faints in light? give glory to God the Father, who hath made you meet to be partakers of this inheritance, and fing with the church, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my foul "Shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with "the robe of righteousness," Isaiah Ixi. 10. and with David, "I will fing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me," Pfal. xiii. 6. Let the praises of God be ever on your tongues and in your hearts.

5. Show to the world, THAT TO SERVE GOD IN CHRIST, IS ALWAYS PRODUCTIVE OF REAL JOY. Do you experience the joys of God's falvation internally? manifeft it in your external conduct; and thus remove the prejudices which the world conceives against the divine religion of Chrift, "that it makes "its votaries pass their days in gloomy melancholy:" on the contrary, let it appear by your words and actions, "that no joys are to be compared with those