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instead of strong consolation, and sted fast hope, they must be extremely disconsolate; knowing that they were every moment liable to fall away, and that, in the event of falling, they should not only crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, but must perish without remedy.

TROPHIMUS.

Thoughts on Proverbs xvii. 16.

IN

wisdom, when they do not and will not improve it? An answer to this inquiry will be my principal subject.

1. God doth this that he may make a display of his goodness, even to those who despise it. God delights in making a general display of his goodness; and he doth this many ways, both in the gifts of nature and providence. And by his common and general goodness, he enforces such a spirit and practice on us. He would have us imitate

Matt. v. 44, 45. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them who curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. And as God displays his common goodness by send

TN the scriptures of truth wick-him in his extensive goodness, ed men are stiled fools. In the book of Proverbs, fool is the usual character of the sinner. Is not this a just character? Will any call it in question? Certainly the highest folly is justly charged upon every wilful, impenitent sinner. But, a price is in the hands of such fools, to get wisdom. By a price here is meant an opportunity and special advantages to get wisdomto become savingly wise. Aing outward blessings to the price here means much the same that a talent imports in the gospel. By wisdom we are doubtless to understand true piety; agreeably to Psalm xc. 12, " So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." The folly of the fool appears, in that he has no heart to the price in his hand to get wisdom. He neglects the great salvation; despises the things of his peace. He has no heart, i. e. no will to improve his advantages. More may be intended than is here expressed, even that he is totally opposed to God, and the methods of his grace.

Wherefore then is it that God will bestow advantages upon men, and continue a rich price in their hands, to get saving VOL. VI. No. 1.

children of men; so he doth in bestowing spiritual advantages on foolish man, to teach him wisdom. How much is the goodness of God manifested in bestowing means of knowledge and grace on those who, he foresees, will abuse and misimprove them? He will be good, though man will be bad: He will be kind, though man will be unthankful and unfruitful. This may be a reason why there is a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom.

2. Another reason why the means of grace are granted and continued where there is no heart to improve them, may be, that those may be benefited, who do in some measure improve them. Were there none who improved C

them, perhaps they would have been taken from the world before this; but for the elect's sake they are continued. This is the state of this world; the tares and wheat must grow together; and as it is in the field of the husbandman, the tares will have the same seasons, rains and sunshine as the wheat; and they must grow together till the harvest, and be encompassed with the same common hedge; were it not for the wheat they would be trodden down. So, in this case, because saints and sinners live together, such as have no hearts to improve the means of grace, must have them in common with others, lest the servants of God should be injured. Severity to sinners might be of real disadvantage to the faithful and excellent in the earth. See this stated in the parable, Matt. xiii. 29, &c. But he said nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat also with them-let both grow together till the harvest, and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. As if the great Husbandman had said to his servants, beware what ye do, lest the wheat be hurt-I would rather lengthen out my patience a little longer, and let the sun shine upon the evil and unthankful, than that there should the least disadvantage accrue to my friends. But,

3. Sometimes God continues a price in the hands of such fools, as have no heart to it, in expectation that, at length, they will improve it, so as to get wisdom. Should God abandon all men to ruin upon their first re

fusal of the offer made them, how few would there be saved? But though men refuse the first offer, it may be they will not refuse for ever; but they may be induced most gladly to comply with articles of peace. And God knows this will be the case with some. By God's patience being lengthened out, how many fools have been won and made wise? Satan's kingdom has been destroyed in the heart, and that of Christ erected on its ruins.-All are not called in at the same hour of the day: some at the sixth, some at the ninth, &c. God will not fail to gather in all his elect, though he wait long. Christ will be sure to bring home all that the Father hath given him, though his patience be lengthened out to long suffering. This is abundantly evident from scripture declarations.

4. God is pleased to grant spiritual advantages to those who do not, and will not, improve them, to glorify his justice in their condemnation. God's justice will be glorified in all those who shall fall under the curses. of his law, whether they have been treated with or not about the common salvation. But how glorious will it appear, when men fall into its hands, after a long offer of peace, a day of grace, and much divine patience? How glorious will it be rendered, when in the presence of angels and men it will appear, that they had line upon line, and precept upon precept; had a valuable price in their hands, and were solicited to improve it, but had no heart to it, and turned a deaf ear to all the calls of mercy, obstinately refused compliance, and rejected the counsel of God

against themselves? Jesus wept over Jerusalem, because they had the things of their peace offered them, and they would not comply, but persisted in rejecting, Luke xix. 41, 42. In

of lies. Capernaum was elevated to heaven in privileges, but thrust down to hell for abuse of them. If persons are exalted to heaven in point of privileges they cannot safely conclude in their own favor barely on this account; if they have no better plea than this, they may not ex

a word, as all the means which are used with sinners to reclaim them, will aggravate their damnation, if they finally prove in-pect any part or lot in that mateffectual; so in the end they ter. The most wicked and awill advance the glory of divine bandoned in the whole gospel justice. Every Sabbath, every world may thus make out as sermon, every praying opportu- good a plea as they. Hence, nity, every motion of the good 2d. We infer the folly of men Spirit, and every awakening pro- not to have wisdom and resoluvidence, will all advance the glo- tion to improve their spiritual ry of God's justice in the con- advantages. Most men are wisdemnation of the sinner, who er for this world than the next; had no heart to improve the If they have a price in their price in his hand to get wisdom. hands to get worldly good things, These may be some of the they will not let it slip for want reasons why God puts a price of a little pains; but when calinto the hand of a fool to get led to the service of God and wisdom. their souls, the wheels drag May we not hence infer, 1st. heavily-slight excuses will turn From men's being continued un- them by-small difficulties will der special advantages for heav-divert and hinder them. Their en it does not follow, that they hearts are not set upon these are really profited by them.-things, though their own imThere are various false balances mortal souls are at stake. in which some men weigh themselves and their state: some may imagine they have the special favor of God, in that they enjoy a course of outward prosperity; but this is false reasoning. The rich man spoken of in the gospel had great prosperity; but when he died, in hell he lift up his eyes.

Some may be ready to conclude in their own favor, because they enjoy great and special spiritual advantages; so had the Jews of old; but they were broken off through unbelief.They cried, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord; and in that they trusted; but their refuge proved but a refuge

The great design of God in granting these advantages is, that they should be improved. How many are there in the world, who would rejoice at such a price to get wisdom, as those enjoy who have the gospel in their hands, and hear it statedly dispensed? How would many in infant settlements rejoice might they be favored with such a privilege? But many who have a fulness of such external advantages unfeelingly reject and despise them! Yea, how many are there now in misery who, if they had the world at command, would give it, might they have the golden sceptre of mercy held out to them but for one hour? With

what folly then are those charge- | prove it? We are taught that

able who enjoy these glad ti- they who know their Lord's dings, if they refuse compliance will, and do it not, shall be beaten now? for shortly, persisting in with many stripes. All the means their present temper, their state and advantages which such have will be hopeless. Hence, 3d. We enjoyed will come fresh into infer that those whom we have their minds. In the world they been describing, are under a sore found no heart to mourn for their judgment. Of all the judg-sins; but now they will mourn ments which light on men in under wrath. They would not this world, those which are spir-shed a tear for all their abominaitual are the most awful, and to tions of heart and life; but now be deprecated. These strike at they must spend an eternity in the root of all good and blessed- wailing. Here they have no ness; especially, judicial hard-heart to exert themselves to es

ness.

How sore a judgment must it be considered, to have means, advantages and talents, and yet no heart to improve them? And with how many is this the case? And numbers we have reason to fear are thus highly favored, who never will improve the price in their hand to any good purpose; their heart is fully set in them to do evil. How awful and great must be human depravity! And how marvellous divine goodness and forbearance, that God should continue a price in the hand of such wretched rebels!!

Israel, it seems, had means used with them, after they were given up to judicial blindness and hardness, Isa. vi. 9, 10. And he said, go and tell this people, hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not; make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Hence, 4th. How miserable must those be eventually, who have all their lives had a price in their hands to get wisdom, and yet misim

cape hell; and hereafter there will be an utter impossibility of it. There they must make their abode till they have paid the uttermost farthing of their debt of ten thousand talents to divine justice, Oh, who can dwell in devouring flames, where hope never comes! Let all therefore carefully search their own hearts, and see how they have improved this price in their hands. Have we valued, highly prized, and faithfully improved it? Or is it our unhappy case still, that we have no heart to it? It may be that we have attempted something, but if so, have we not contented ourselves with the bare form of godliness? External performances will never avail to recommend us to God; it is the heart that he looks at and requires; his demand (with which he will not dispense) is, My son give me thy heart. How can we be reconciled to ourselves, to remain without a heart, to those things which are matters of infinite moment and concern? Let all lament it before God, that they have had so little heart to this price. "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things; but if our heart condemn us not,

(being well informed) then have | And for any one to become a tru we confidence towards God."

ly religious man, is expressed in scripture by being born of the Spirit.

Indeed, the Holy Spirit is re

A View of the following Apostolic presented as being the great

Benediction.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all."

2 Cor. xiii. 14.

NE great and distinguishing excellence of Christianity consists in the peculiar nature of that friendship which it dictates and inspires between Christians. The most obvious distinction by which they are to be known from the rest of mankind, is marked by this tender, kind, and mutual affection.

Hence the Divine Author of

on

blessing which Christ purchased for his redeemed people, and which is bestowed them; and if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, we are assured, he is none of his.†

As the precious and abiding influences of the Holy Spirit are common to all Christians, and are the distinguishing marks of their discipleship; so these are described in the holy scriptures, as their common privilege, by which they are connected with each other, and distinguished from the world, and by which they have sweet communion among themselves.

This communion consists in Christianity left this parting ad-their joint participation in one

dress with his disciples, viz. "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."*

and the same good. As all Christians are born of the Spirit, led by it, and walk in it, this constitutes their common character and felicity.

The Holy Spirit being truly divine, and possessing all divine perfections, and dwelling in true Christians as a principle of divine life and action, produceth in them a spiritual taste for holy and divine objects and enjoy

The love of Christians is, in many respects, different from the friendships of this world and the men of this world. And the holy scriptures abundantly teachments. From this source arise that it is produced in them by the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit.Hence, to be in the Spirit, and to be led by the Spirit, and walk by the Spirit, are usual expressions of the holy scriptures, to denote the true grace of God, or that the subject is a true disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ.

* John xiii. 34, 35.

all their love to God and divine things; all their repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ; all their humility, weanedness from the world, and heavenly mindedness; all their reverence to God and good will to men; and, from hence arise all their experimental and practical religion,

+ Rom. viii. 9.

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