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given under Heaven but that, whereby men may be saved, and for that reason has he been pleased to say, "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they, which testify of me."* Every word of God most deservedly demands our assent to its truth; but as some, who have not much leisure, may imagine it will require a great length of time to read and understand the whole Bible, it is proper to observe that, the Faith, which is made necessary to salvation, may be attained by the most unlearned, and that he, who, because of his humble station, is obliged to gain his bread by the sweat of his brow, cannot fail of knowing the truth, if he will only pay as much attention to it, as to the common concerns of life. "What shall I do to be saved?" said one, upon a certain occasion, to Paul and Timothy; to whom they returned this short answer,"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."+ Do thou the same, whether learned or unlearned, and a similar blessing shall attend thee. But you will say, perhaps, Is this all that is required of us? This is no more than what the very devils believe, and yet who will allow them to be in a state of salvation? There is certainly good ground for this inquiry. Hear, therefore, what is written in

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the 10th chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. "The righteousness, which is of faith," that is God's method of justifying sinners only through faith in Jesus Christ, speaketh on this wise, "Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into Heaven, that is, to bring down Christ from above, or who shall descend into the deep, that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead? But, what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is the word of faith, which we preach, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved; for, with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation; for the Scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed; for there is no difference between the Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him; for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." We may collect from hence, that the Christian faith consists in receiving Jesus as our Saviour, in trusting in him, and in proclaiming his name, as the sole foun dation of our hope. Whoever does this cannot fail of being desirous of becoming acquainted with the nature of his work, of partaking of his

spirit, and of walking in his steps. "Henceforth," will such a person say, "I am determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified; gladly will I suffer with him here, that I may reign with him hereafter, and never will I be ashamed of the gospel of Christ; because I know it to be the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Now, my brethren, examine and prove yourselves, whether ye be in this faith, and that ye may do so in an advantageous manner, I shall, as I proposed,

2nd. Lay down some rules for self examination. At the head of these it is proper to mention, that you must determine upon the work. Serious reflection, to a person unaccustomed to it, must at first occasion trouble and pain, and there are few, who can be persuaded to withdraw their thoughts from scenes of pleasure, and from worldly schemes, to ruminate on things pertaining to a future and eternal state. The prospect, bright as it is to many, presents to their eyes nothing but gloominess; so they will turn away from it, and endeavour totally to forget it. But, not so the man, who can lay claim to prudence. He will reflect, will observe the things that are passing around him, and mark the shifting scene of which he is the constant spectator. "In the course of a few years," will

he say to himself, "how many of my relations, friends, and neighbours, have been carried to the silent grave; the young, as well as the old, the strong, as well as the weak, and several of them in the very midst of business, with the prospect of living as many years as I conceive it may be my lot to enjoy! But, whither are they gone? Will no one come back to tell me what they are doing beyond the grave, and whether they are happy or miserable? No;tidings of this kind are not likely to reach my years; yet, with all this uncertainty, I must follow them, and I know not how soon. Here my place, which I have occupied but, as it were, for a moment, shall contain me no more for ever. There I shall be, perhaps, in a vast world, amidst innumerable spirits; but in what condition? In Heaven, of which I have heard, enjoying uninterrupted bliss, or in Hell, of which I have also heard, agonizing in the most exquisite torments?" Oh! that you would be wise, and entertain such thoughts, as they would lead you, most probably, to embrace that faith, which saveth the soul. Now, examine yourselves whether ye be in that faith; and this I would advise you to do.

1. By inquiring whence you have derived it. In a country, where the Christian is the established religion, people are apt to content

themselves with some general notions of God and their duty, without examining particularly into the nature of their profession, and to be satisfied, if they believe, as many others do, though the persons, whose faith they follow, may never have taken any pains to understand what is the condition cf their souls, and after what manner their God, who is angry with the wicked, can, agreeably to the rules of equity and justice, pass by the transgression of the sinner, and admit him to a place among the Saints in the kingdom of Heaven. Hence it comes to pass, that those Ministers, and other pious people, who, with a view to the everlasting welfare of their friends and neighbours, have at any time asked them to give a reason of the hope that is in them, have frequently been shocked at discovering their ignorance, and perceived that they were not only without the knowledge of the truth, but entertained notions contrary to truth, notions reflecting dishonour upon the character of God, and highly prejudicial to the happiness of their own souls. This being too commonly the case, I think it proper to ask-Do you embrace the faith, which you call your religion, as the opinion of other persons, born and educated in this Christian country, or do you receive it as that system of divine truth, which is given in

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