The relucence of gofpel-light has been the choice mean, bleffed by the Lord, for the effectuating of great things, in the several periods of the church, fince that fight brake up in paradife, after our firft fin and fall: and ever fince, the balance hath fwayed, and will fway, according to the better or worse state of matters in that important regard. When gofpel-light is clear, and attended with power, Satan's kingdom cannot ftand before it: the prince and powers of darkness must fall as lightning from heaven. And, upon the contrary, according to receffions from thence, Chriftian churches went off, by degrees, from the only foundation, even from the rock Chrift, until the man of fin, the great Antichrift, did mount the throne. Nevertheless, while the world is wondering after the beaft, behold! evangelical light breaks forth in the midft of Papal darkness; and hereupon Antichrift's throne fhakes, and is at the point of falling; yet his wounds are cured, and he recovers new ftrength and fpirits, thro' a darkning of the glorious gofpel, and perverfion thereof, by anti-evangelical errors and herefies.

That the tares of fuch errors are fown in the reformed churches, and by men who profefs reformed faith, is beyond debate; and thefe who lay to heart the purity of the gofpel-doctrine. Such dregs of Antichriftianifm do yet remain, or are brought in amongst us. Herein the words of the apoftle are verified, viz. Of your · own felves shall men arife, fpeaking perverse things,

to draw away disciples after them:' and as this renders the effays for a further diffufion of evangelical light the more neceffary and feasonable; fo there is ground to hope, that in these ways the churches of Christ will gradually get the afcendent over their enemies, until the great Antichrift shall fall, as a trophy before a gofpel-difpenfation. For the Lord will deftroy him by the breath of his mouth, and with the brightnels ' of his coming.' That this excellent and fpiritual piece may be bleffed to the reader, is the prayer of, Their fincere well wifher and fervant

Charnock Dec. 3.

1717.

in the work of the gospel, JA. HOG.

COLONEL JOHN DOWNES, Esq;

One of the Members of the Honourable Houfe of Commons in Parliament, Justice of Peace, and one of the Deputy-Lieutenants of the County of Suffex, and Auditor to the Prince his Highness of the Dutchy of Cornwall, E. F. wifheth the true knowledge of GoD in JESUS CHRIST.

MOST HONOURED SIR,

ALTHO' I do obferve, that new editions,

accompanied with new additions, are fometimes published with new dedications; yet fo long as he who formerly owned the fubject doth yet live, and hath the fame affections towards it, I conceive there is no need of a new patron, but of a new epistle.

Be pleased then, most honoured fir, to give me leave to tell you, that your eminency of place did fomewhat induce me, both now and before, to make choice of you for its patron; but your endowments with grace did invite me to it, God having beftowed upon you fpecial fpiritual bleffings in heavenly things in Chrift: for it hath been declared unto me by them that knew you, when you was but a youth, how Chrift met with you then; and, by fending his Spirit into your heart; First, Convinced you of fin; as was manifeft by thofe conflicts, which your foul then had, both with Satan and itself,

whilst you did not believe in Chrift. Secondly,

Of righteoufnefs; as was manifeft by the

peace and comfort which you afterwards had by

believing that Chrift was gone to the Father,

and appeared in his prefence as your advocate

and furety, that had, undertaken for you.

Thirdly, Of judgment; as hath been manifeft

ever fince, in that you have been careful, with

the true godly man, Pfal. cxii. 5. to guide your

affairs with judgment, in walking according to

the mind of Chrift.

I have not forgotten what defires you have ex-

preffed to know the true difference between the

covenant of works, and the covenant of grace;

and experimentally to be acquainted with the

doctrine of free grace, the mysteries of Christ,

and the life of faith. Witnefs not only your

high approving of fome heads of a fermon,

which I once heard a godly minifter preach, and

repeated in your hearing, of the life of faith;

but also your earneft request to me, to write

them out fair, and fend them to you into the

country; yea, witness your highly approving of

this Dialogue, when I first acquainted you with

the Contents thereof, encouraging me to ex-

pedite it to the prefs, and your kind acceptance,

together with your cordial thanks for my love,

manifefted in dedicating it to your honoured

name.

Sith then, worthy fir, it hath pleased the

Lord to enable me both to amend and enlarge

it, I hope your affection will also be enlarged

towards the matter therein contained, confider-

ing that it tends to the clearing of those fore-

pamed truths, and thro' the bleffing of God,

may

may be a means to root them more deeply in your heart. And truly, fir, I am confident, the more they grow and flourish in any man's heart, the more will all heart-corruptions wither and decay. Oh! fir, if the truths contained in this Dialogue were but as much in my heart, as they are in my head, I were a happy man; for then fhould I be more free from pride, vainglory, wrath, anger, felf-love, and love of the world, than I am; and then fhould I have more humility, meeknefs, and love both to God and man, than I have: O! then fhould I be content with Christ alone, and live above all things in the world; then fhould I experimentally know, both how to abound, and how to want; and then I fhould be fit for any condition, nothing could come amifs unto me. Oh that the Lord would be pleased to write them in our hearts by his blessed Spirit!

And fo, moft humbly befeeching you fill to pardon my boldness, and vouchfafe to take it into your patronage and protection; I humbly take my leave of you, and remain,

TO ALL SUCH

HUMBLE-HEARTED READERS,

any need to learn, either to know themfelves, or God in Chrift.

LOVING CHRISTIANS,

Co

Onfider, I pray you, that as the first Adam did, as a common perfon, enter into covenant with God for all mankind, and brake it, whereby theybecame finful and guilty of everlasting death and damnation: even fo Jefus Chrift, the fecond Adam, did as a common perfon, enter into covenant with God his Father, for all the elect (a), that is to fay, all thofe that have, or shall believe on his name (6), and for them kept it (c); whereby they become righteous, and heirs of everlasting life and falvation (d): and therefore it is our greatest wisdom, and ought to be our greatest care and endeavour, to come out(e), and from the firft Adam, unto, and into, the fecond Adam (f); that fo we may have life through his name, John xx. 31.

And

(b) See Chap. II. Sect. note (g) fig. 2.

.3.

(c) Namely, by doing and dying for them,viz.the elect.

(d) Thus the impetration or purchase of redemption, and the application of it,are taught to be of the fame extent; even as Adam's reprefentation, and the ruins by his fall,are: the former extending to the elect, as the latter unto all mankind. (e) of. (Uniting with Chrift by faith.