Ufe we should make of them in Hearing. The Preaching of the Law has its Use, in fhewing what is Sin; in declaring the Wrath of God against it; and thereby deftroying the Sinner's falfe Peace, and false Hopes. But all beyond this Effect, is Enmity and Horror, for the Law worketh. Wrath, and Transgression abounds by Means of the Commandment. Do you ask how this is? One who has felt it, can describe it without Difficulty.

Let us make a Similitude. A Man is convicted in his Mind, that he has bafely affronted and injured another; he is told, and his own Heart believes it true, that the offended Party highly resents, and has Power to make his Refentments to be feverely felt. What are the Difpofitions of the Man in this Cafe? they are Hatred, they are Hoftile, they are disposed to every Thing that may thwart the offended Party ftill more: this is natural. But fhould the offended Party come forward with Difpofitions of Peace inftead of Wrath, and confer Benefits instead of taking Vengeance; bad as Mankind are by Nature, there are few Hearts that would not be melted by fuch a Conduct, at leaft for the prefent Moment.

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The Word of Truth has taught us, this is the Way to conquer our Enemies: the Preaching of the Gofpel is fimilar to this in its Effects: it holds forth Peace and Reconcilation to the Sinner through the Blood of CHRIST: fets before him forgivenefs of Sin, and the Gift of eternal Life: and affures him of the good Will and Kindness of GOD towards him-this destroys the Enmity caused by the Law of Commandment, and conciliates the Sinner's Affections to the Service of GoD-this Change is natural and rational, according to the Order of Cause and Effect; but it is the Grace of GOD, that makes it permanent and saving.

""Tis Love that makes our chearful Feet

"In fwift Obedience move:

"The Devils know, and tremble too:

"But Satan cannot love."

Let us, my dear SYNTYCHE, make a wife Ufe of both thefe Parts of the public Miniftry, by hearing them with Difcretion.

Turn not away from hearing the Law, as if it was an Enemy: It will be your Friend, if you use it lawfully: it will remind you of what you was: it will tell you what you are, and what you should be.

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the Law, in doing this; to allude to our Author's Metaphor, fhould raife a Duft in the Parlour of the Heart; you may depend upon it, that it wants fweeping: have recourse to the Blood of Sprinkling; that it may be fwept and cleanfed with Pleasure.

Hearken to the Gofpel, not as an Opiate to still the Irritation of Conviction by the Law, but as the Source of your Sanctification, coming with its fweet and precious Influence, to difpofe your Heart to have Refpect to all GOD's Commandments; thus rightly dividing, and fuitably applying both Law and Gospel, you will profit by both.

Let your Converfation be without Covetousnefs, and be content with fuch Things as ye have: for he hath faid, I will never leave thee nor forfake thee. What a profitable Exhortation, and what a sweet Promise to enforce it! Will GoD never leave nor forfake us? we ought then to be content with what he gives us now, though it be but little the heavenly Inheritance will make amends for all. Promifs are made to encourage Faith; and we walk by Faith, and not by Sight. Now among the Trials Faith meets with, are, diftreffing Providences, and difcouraging Profpects as to the Things C

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of this Life; these seem peculiarly defigned to exercise our Patience. The Children of God, would be glad to have good Things now, and could relish them as well as others do; but their heavenly Father fees fit to deny most of them this Indulgence: for what Reasons, we will not now confider: but it is a Mark of heavenly Wisdom to be patient under Sufferings and Trials, and wait for our good Things till the LORD shall be revealed from Heaven.

In your Patience poffefs ye vour Souls, is the Advice of JESUs. How fublime in Wisdom! how extensive in Meaning! Mr. BUNYAN, however has aptly expreffed its Import, by us, fhewing a Child fitting quietly in his Chair, because his Governor would have him wait till the Beginning of next Year for his best Things.

This is defcribing Matters as they ought to be, not as they moft frequently are. Formerly indeed it was faid, We look not at the Things which are feen, but at thofe Things which are not feen; for the Things which are feen, are temporal, but the Things which are not feen, are eternal. Alas! how dif ferent the Cafe of many Profeffors now! they would not indeed have all their Portion in this World, but they are exceeding wretched,

wretched, because they have so little. Far from poffeffing their Souls in Patience; they lofe the Government of their Temper, through the Adverfities of Providence : they dare not indeed, directly quarrel with GOD, but fall dreadfully foul of Perfons, and Things, which, as fecond Causes, have produced their Difficulties. I cannot confider fuch a Difpofition, but as blamable, as well as unhappy; and the Conduct resulting from it, in a Measure finful. Right is right, and wrong is wrong, undoubtedly; and we cannot help fpeaking of Things as we know them to be: but a Chriftian fhould look above, to a fuperior directing Hand. Gon will take from us what he pleafes, and our Duty is to bless a taking, as well as a giving God.

You, dear SYNTYCHE, are as yet young, and probably have much of Life before you; what your Lot will be as to Temporals, God has hid with himself. My Wish and Prayer for you is, that you learn to exercife Chriftian Patience: If your Pittance of worldly good is fmall, remember what is laid up for you in Heaven. Be quiet, and hope for the LORD.

The worst Lot of God's People, is infinitely better than the best Lot of the Men of C 2

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