vealed in Scripture, and thy way of salvation in Christ Jesus, that he may be brought more and more to a saving knowledge of himself and of thee, with penitence, and faith, and submission. Set before him his works and transgressions, and open his ears unto discipline; enlighten his understanding to see the truth, and soften and strengthen his heart that he may receive the truth, and love and follow it. Grant that he may be so abased with a sense of his sinfulness, so humbled in repentance, and so comforted with true faith in Christ crucified, whose blood cleanseth from all sin, that being duly exercised by this chastening, he may be patient in tribulation, abound in the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and become partaker of thy holiness here, and of thy happiness hereafter, through the power of the Holy Ghost, and the merits of Jesus Christ. Amen.

ADDRESS II.

The Uses to be made of Affliction.

THE object of the former Address which I read to you, was to shew you from Scripture, and thus lead you seriously to consider, that your present affliction is a fatherly correction from the Almighty, sent in mercy for your spiritual good. It behoves you further to consider the uses which you yourself are required to make of this affliction, that the good intended may be accomplished to your soul; for every chastening of the Lord requires a suitable conduct on our part to render it effectual. And since afflictions are designed to bring us nearer to God, with repentance, faith, pa

tience, and devotedness, through a right knowledge of ourselves and of Him; our especial duties in the season of affliction are, with prayer for the enlightening and sanctifying power of the Spirit, to examine ourselves, and to consider the truths made known in Scripture relating to God, to our own case, and the way in which we may be saved: for this will tend, through the working of the Spirit, to humble with repentance, to strengthen with faith, and dispose to patience, submission, and devotedness. I will therefore read to you some passages from Scripture, which refer to these duties of your present state; first, however, imploring the blessing of God's spirit to accompany the reading of His word. Let us pray.-(Prayer as before.)

Hear now what is written in holy Scripture.

Eccles. vii. 14.-In the day of adversity consider.

Haggai i. 5. Thus saith the Lord, consider your ways.

2 Cor. xiii. 5.-Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your ownselves.

Ps. iv. 4.-Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Lam. iii. 40.-Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

Deut. iv. 39.-Consider in thine heart

that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath. 1 Sam. xii. 24.-Consider how great things the Lord hath done for thee. John v. 39.-Search the Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

2 Tim. iii. 16.-All scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness.

Gal. iii. 22. The Scripture hath concluded all under sin.

Rom. vi. 23.-The wages of sin is death.

Deut. x. 17.-The Lord is a great God, a mighty and a terrible.

Exod. xv. 11.-Glorious in holiness, fearful in praises.

1 Sam. ii. 3.-The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

1 Chron. xxviii. 9.-The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. Eccles. xii. 14.-God will bring into judgment every secret thing.

Josh. xxiv. 19.-He is a holy God, a jealous God.

Habak. i. 13.-Of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look upon iniquity.

Job xv. 15.-The heavens are not clean in his sight.

Job iv. 18. He chargeth even his angels with folly.

Ps. lxxxix. 4.-Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne. Ezra viii. 22.-God's power, and his wrath, is against them that forsake him.