parrots have conned the words of them, they doubt not but they are fufficiently instructed in all the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Many of the more learned, if they can but difpute about Chrift, imagine themselves to be grown great proficients in the fchool of Christ.

The greatest part of the world, learned or unlearned, think that there is no need of purifying their hearts for the right knowledge of Chrift: but though their lives be never fo wicked, their hearts never so foul, yet they may know Chrift fufficiently out of their Syftems and Bodies of Divinity; although our Saviour prescribeth his disciples another method to come to the knowledge of divine truths, by doing of God's will. He that will do my Father's will (faith he,) fhall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. He is a Chriftian indeed, not that is only Book-taught, but he that is God-taught; he that hath an Unction from the Holy One, that teacheth him all things; he that hath the Spirit of Chrift within him, fearcheth out the deep things of God.

Cold Maxims and dry Difputes, could never yet of themfelves beget the leaft glimpse of true heavenly light; the leaft fap of faving knowledge in any heart. All this is but the groping of the poor dark fpirit of a man after truth, to find it out with his own endeavours, and feel it with his own cold. and benummed hands. A Painter that would draw a Rofe, though he may flourish fome likeness of it in figure, and colour, yet can never paint the scent and fragrancy; or if he would draw a Flame, he cannot put heat into his colours: he cannot make his pencil drop a found. All the fkill of cunning Artizans cannot put a principle of life into a Statue of their own making, neither are we able to inclofe in words and letters, the life, foul and effence of any fpiritual Truths, and as it were to incorporate it in them.

There is a fpirit in man that giveth wisdom; and the infpiration of the Almighty giveth understanding. But we shall not

meet with this fpirit any where but in the way of obedience: the knowledge of Chrift, and the keeping of his command-. ments, muft always go together.

Hereby we know that we know him ments. He that faith I know him,

if we keep his commandand keepeth not his com

mandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

I shall not need to force any thing from these words: I shall only take notice of fome few observations which drop from them of their own accord, and then conclude with an application.

First then, If this be the right way of difcovering our knowledge of Christ, viz. by our keeping his commandments; then we may fafely draw conclufions concerning our state from the conformity of our lives to the will of Christ.

Would we know whether we know Chrift aright, let us confider whether the life of Chrift be in us: he that hath not the life of Chrift in him, hath nothing but a fancy of Christ, not the fubftance of him. He only that builds his house upon Chrift dwelling and living in his heart, buildeth it upon a rock; and when the floods come, and the winds blow, and the rains defcend and beat upon it, it shall stand impreg nable. But he that builds his comfort upon a persuasion that God from all eternity hath decreed him to life, and seeketh not for God really dwelling in his foul; builds upon a quickfand, which shall fuddenly fink and be swallowed up: His hope fhall be cut off, and his truft shall be a spider's web; he Shall lean upon his houfe, but it shall not fland, he shall hold it faft, but it fhall not endure,

We are no where commanded to pry into these secrets, but to make our calling and election fure. We have no warrant in fcripture to peep into these hidden Rolls and Volumes of Eternity, and to persuade ourselves that we are elected to everlasting happiness before we see the Image of God ftamped upon our hearts. God's everlafting decree is too dazling an object for us to fet our eye upon. It is far easier for us to

look

look upon the rays of his goodnefs and holiness, as they are reflected in our hearts, and there to read the mild and gentle characters of God's love to us, in our love to him, and our hearty compliance to his heavenly will: as it is fafer for us, if we would fee the fun, to look upon it here below in a pail of water, than to caft our eyes upon the body of the fun itfelf, which is too radiant for us. The beft affurance that any one can have of his intereft in God, is doubtless the con formity of his foul to him. Those divine purposes, whatfo ever they be, are alogether unknowable by us, they lie wrapt up in everlasting darkness and covered in a deep abyss: who is able to fathom the bottom of them?

[To be continued.]

[The writings of Capt. Williams, both in Profe and Verfe, are fo perfectly original, that I cannot doubt but they will be acceptable to many Readers, were it only for their Novelty. But to others, the Piety which they breathe throughout, will be a ftronger recommendation.]

T

SION's prevalent PRAYER.

"

fave from fin, to cure our curse, to hand us home to heaven, celeftial Grace defcends on all, 1 Cor. xii. 7; and deigns to dwell with every praying mortal, Mark xi. 24. The high-price blessings, bought with blood-divine, are graciously conferred on finners, on thefe eafy terms; and yet how few wifely inherit glory!" How few will pray life's moment, to obtain "a never-fading crown!" How few will have a prefent and eternal heaven, only for afking! Too high, or too low, or too lazy are moft men to pray, and fooner will perish than be at the pains, or rather have the pleafure of praying. Too happy alfo are many below, to afk for

a throne

a throne in the fkies. Could I, faid one, (while wine went round) poffefs my earthly joys, I afk no other heaven! But Godhead heard the earth-born Epicure! and death was dif patched to drive this fon of Adam out of houfe and home! O cruel parent! Source of all our forrows! Thou first and worft of fenfualifts! How has the pleafing of thy fenfes, poifoned thy fin-born posterity! Pfa. li. 5. O that the "fecond Adam" would repair the ruins of the firft! And fave furviving fons of pleasure from eternal pain!

See! Mighty Maker! fee a ruined race!

Sinking to hell! for want of--promis'd grace?

This feems to lay on the Creator the lofs of his creatures, and is an argument of prayer feldom ufed. To fay, The world finks, because God will not fave, feems a daring affertion indeed! but to fay that he cannot, is more fo! That the Almighty will not-yet, is certain; but that he cannot verify his word, "The world's wide kingdoms are become our Lord's," is blafphemy to speak or think! fince "the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken it." Therefore the facred enquiry,

"What more fhall Godhead do?

Say, how must Deity the earth renew?"

fpeaks neither more, nor less than the language of Faith, in the abfolute promise of heaven, which attributes-divine are bound to perform. "The Lord increase our praying-faith," to haften earth's millennium! is ftill the request of the Redeemer's difciples. "The Spirit and the Bride fay, Come! Make hafte, O Beloved! to bring in Jew and Gentile! For Sion's fake we cannot hold our peace, for Jerufalem's fake we will not reft, till the righteoufnefs thereof go forth as brightnefs, and its glory as a lamp that burneth," Ifa. Ixii. 1, 2, This is the righteous refolve of fupplicants ftill-feeing "All

things now are ready." Seeing the gospel is ready to be "preached to all people :" the means are prepared to conquer the world: the minifters of grace, mortal and immortal! are ready to forward the work of their Lord. These wait the word, "Go;" and they hate through all lands; their words to the ends of the world-inftrumental under God, in converting nations of fouls now loft in their fins. Will then one bleft word from the throne work fuch wonders on earth, and will not the Majefly of heaven "fend forth the command?" Pfa. xlviii. 15. Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? "Avenge us of our adverfary quickly?" Will not the Moft High yet fubmit to the cry, of millions of martyrs in heaven, (Rev. vi. 10.) and men of God on earth, who for numbers. of ages have been afking, "How long?" Will "the Father, of Mercies" feem more flow to fhew mercy, than the judge (most unjust!) whom the widow's entreaties fubdued? Luke xviii. 1. 8. Will "the God that heareth the prayer," hear numberless prayers (moft importunate!) and fill leave them unanswered-ruined regions unrenewed-and "oracles divine" unconfirmed? Will "the God of truth" affirm, "Behold I do a new thing: now fhall it fpring forth; fhall ye not know it?" and yearly poftpone his prefent engagements? Ifa. xliii. 19. Will the God of all grace" reveal this "new thing, and monthly refufe to impart what fcripture gives now? Will "the Holy One of Ifrael" fay, "Now fhall it fpring forth," and weekly with-hold, the fulfilment of his promife-the grace a world wants--the claim of God in man? Will not infinite compaffion now be conquered? will not boundless love now yield? Will not Almighty goodness now be overcome, by worlds of woe! by profeffing prayer! by arguments almighty? Can "Deity deny himfelf" (2 Tim. ii. 13.) by keeping till to-morrow, what mercy, juflice, holiness, grace, truth demand "to-day?Not fo! fay reason, faith, and all that's good, within, without, below, above. Sooner fhall all creation crumble back to chaos, than fpotlefs Purity

be