ed.

the conditions whereof, if we can be per fuaded that we have been enabled to fulfil them, we may be equally affured of eternal life, and that we are in a state of salvation. For inftance; be that believeth, repenteth, is converted and born of God, shall be sav-"This is the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is "in his Son: He that hath the Son, hath "life; and he that hath not the Son, hath "not life; but the wrath of GoD abideth " on him." If, therefore, I have obtained a rational affurance, that I have believed, or received the Son of God by faith; that I have repented, and am truly regenerated and born again of the Spirit, I am equally affured of eternal life.

9. The fcriptures abound with marks and characters of true believers and real converts. E. g. This is the love of

GOD, that ye keep his commandments. "We know that we have paffed from death "unto life, because we love the brethren. "The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, ઠંડ peace, &c. and they that are Chrift's, "have crucified the fefh, with its lufts. "There is, therefore, now no condemna*tion to them that are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the

Spirit. To be fpiritually minded is lifet

and peace. As many as are led by the Spirit of GOD, they are the Sons of GOD.

Every man, who hath this hope in him. felf, purifyeth himself, as GOD is pure, "&c." Now, if we are rationally and upon good grounds perfuaded that we have thefe marks and characters, we may be equally affured of fpiritual life in poffeffion, and eternal life in reverfion..

10. The witnefs of the Spirit may alfo concur with and fhine. upon this evidence, and give us an irrefiftible perfuafion, that this is indeed our happy case.*

11. The following things feem neceffaryto this affurance: (1.) There must be pro mises of life and falvation revealed, as ob jects of our faith.-(2.) There must be marks and characters revealed, as a rule whereby we may examine and try ourselves, and know. our ftate.(3.) These marks and evidences of grace muft be discovered, in an ordinary way, by frequent, diligent, and impartial self-examination, which is the only rational expedient on our part to come at self-knowledge.—(4.) It is necesfary, that we should discern in ourselves thefe marks and evidences, to which the promises of falvation are made: And, (5.) In order to remove all doubt and uncertain, ty, it feems neceffary, in moft cafes, that the Spirit fhould fhine upon his own work, and give his concurring testimony; and for this we should earneftly pray, while we

examine.

* Rom. V. I,§." -viii, 15, -17%

12. There is an extraordinary witness of the Spirit, which feems diftinct from this, and which is much more rare and uncommon; wherein, without any felf-examination, reflecting or reafoning, the Spirit of GOD immediately shines on the soul,. with fuch an irresistible and overpowering light, and with fuch fenfible first-fruits of heavenly glory, as puts the persons thus, highly favored, infinitely above all doubt of the fafety of their ftate. This often happens to eminently holy men, upon the near approach of death.

13. The very loweft degree of this asfurance is not to be expected without true faith, and a confcientious regard to GOD's commandments, accompanied with felf-examination, and careful, ferious reflections on our temper, frame and actions, compared with the word of GOD.

14. It is the duty of every chriftian, to labor to obtain this comfortable affurance of the fafety and happiness of his state, for the following reafons: (1.) Without it he can have no rational hope, or joy in the Ho-. Ghoft. (2.) He cannot, with truth and fincerity, bear an honorable teftimony to religion, or encourage and comfort others from his own experience. (3.) He cannot praise GOD or rejoice in him, as he ought nor be fa cheerful in his fervice, or fo ex-emplary in his own life, as he otherwife

might. (4.) His death cannot be honorable to christianity, nor edifying to faints or finners; as he must go down to the grave, in a state of doubt and hesitancy.

15. To obtain this comfortable affurance, is, for ordinary, a work which requires much labor, diligence and perfeverance; but when obtained, it will abundantly recompence the labor of a whole lifetime.

ESSAY XVIII.

The IMMORTALITY of the SOUL. 1. THE doctrine of the foul's immortality is of great importance in religion: For, if the foul perifhed with the body, selfdenial, mortification, and extreme sufferings in the caufe of virtue, would be absurd;-and the beft chriftians would, as the Apostle fuggefts, be of all men the moft miferable.

2. By the foul's being immortal, we do not mean that it is impoffible for him who made it to deffroy it; or that it is, in its own nature, immortal, independently on GOD; but that it doth not perifh or die with, or like the body, nor can be destroyed? by any creature; but is appointed by GoD for an endless exiftence, and fitted and qua-lified for this deathlefs exiftence in its own nature..

3. Reafon does not affureus, that thought and consciousness are inseparable and essential properties of human fouls: For aught we know, they may be, and exift without continued thought, confcioufnefs. and reflection, though the contrary opinion is highly probable, and feems to be coun-tenanced by fcripture.

4. We know of but two kinds of fub-ftances in the univerfe, matter and spirit.. And these we conceive of as entirely different and diftinct from one another. GoD, we are fure, is a pure spirit; immaterial,. without body or bodily parts: But we are not equally certain that created fpirits, either angels or human souls, are spirits of the fame nature with God, or wholly immaterial. Though their being called spirits, and being faid to be made after the image of GOD, and to be his offspring, is a strong presumption that they are immaterial.

5. If it could be certainly proved that our fouls are wholly immaterial, as Gon is, it would be a ftrong argument in favor of their immortality: Becaufe, it would hence follow, that they are incapable of dissolution; that they could not perish with the body, and that none but Go» could destroy them. But we have abundant arguments to prove the soul's immortality, laying afide the confideration of its being immaterial.