suffer with Christ, to bear the shame with equanimity, expecting to overcome through faith in his name: if so, endure chastening, for he chasteneth every son whom he receiveth; but if thou be without chastisement, thou art a bastard and no son. Heb. 12. For as soon as thou abandonest thy own will, and beginnest to follow thy master, Christ Jesus, desirous to learn of him, and obtain from him thy salvation, satan will not be remiss in employing his wiles against thee, making use of every means in his power to retain thee in darkness. Art thou young? then he will represent thy youth to thee, insinuating that thou canst not at this time live in this manner; for how is it possible for thee to forsake thy fine company, thy friends and relations, who would all look upon thee in this world as a fool and simpleton; therefore, delay a little while, God will not abandon thee on this account, for he is merciful and will have patience with thy youth. Thou hast, perhaps, received the ordinance of baptism; if so, he attempts to preach to thee faith in Christ, telling thee thou shalt not be so discouraged, for thou art baptised, goest to the Lord's table, and bearest the livery of Christ; wherefore be not so

dejected, thou shalt be saved by grace, and not by works. Yea, by many more such insidious suggestions he strives, if possible, to lull thee again to sleep; but, O man, resist the devil, and he will flee from thee; draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to thee; for it is said further, Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded; be afflicted, and mourn and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness; humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4. Ah, beloved man, let satan speak and oppose as he may, turn not thou from God; call upon Jesus, and consider him as thy only helper in time and in eternity. Although to the flesh his cross may appear heavy, yet to the soul it is easy and pleasant; therefore, bear all things patiently, and come after Christ, and thou shalt be his disciple, (Luke 14, 27.) and he will quicken thee, so that thou shalt be able to say from experience, O how easy is thy yoke, and how light is thy burden! Matt. 11, 30.

Therefore, my beloved fellow-man, if thou art desirous of becoming a man of God, I say with Paul, Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,

meekness; fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called (1 Tim. 6, 11. 12.); look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12, 2.

Now, afflicted sinner, reflect that Jesus has done and suffered all this for thy sake; therefore be not afraid, set satan and the world at defiance, and take up the cross for his sake, and consider what it shall profit thee if thou shalt gain the whole world and lose thy own soul; or what thou shalt give in exchange for thy soul. Mark. 8, 36. 37. Yea, consider: it is not thy friends and relations, thy parents, brothers or sisters that can render thee assistance in the hour of death; but it is Christ and his grace: he who commands thee to bear his cross, and testifies that the friendship of the world is enmity with God (James 4, 4.): and surely it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 10, 31.

Well then, sinner, if thou art willing to hazard it with Christ, and to go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his re

proach, (Heb. 13, 13,) stop thy spiritual or internal ear against the world, and the world's conversation; for as soon as thou openest thy mind to thy friends and relations, who live according to the will of the flesh, and disclosest to them thy determination to surrender thyself wholly unto Christ and embrace his doctrine, satan will instigate them to tempt thee, in an extremely dangerous manner, and with fond words and endearing accents, to dissuade thee from thy design, and rob thee of thy resolution. If thou belongest to some society, and makest known to them the condition of thy soul, telling them thou must change thy manner of life, or be forever ruined, they will perhaps reply, Thy life has not been so bad as thou thinkest; others live no better, and yet hope to be saved; only have faith in Jesus, for we must be saved by grace, and not by merit; we are all weak creatures; we cannot live so strict as the scripture enjoins it upon us to do; just think, if it was as thou supposest, all thy forefathers and friends must have perished: wherefore discard these melancholy thoughts, or thou wilt become distracted and lose the use of thy reason. These and similar discourses are tempta

tions of satan through the children of unbelief': but here be on thy guard, and suffer nothing to induce thee to turn from Christ; keep fast hold of him and his doctrine, for upon this depends thy eternal salvation: turn thy mind away from their discourse, and, like the man who was born blind, confess the Lord Jesus as far as he has manifested himself to thee. If thou doest these things and sufferest not thyself to be seduced from Christ, but confessest him according to his word, in opposition to the scribes and pharisees, thou wilt in a short time be cast out by them, and be compelled to hear: Thou wast born in sins, and teachest thou us? But be not terrified at this, for Christ will visit thee and manifest himself unto thee. When satan and the world find that they cannot impede thy progress by means of flattery, they try other methods; for the world begins to mock and calumniate, and endeavors to render thee despondent; thy best friends often become thy greatest enemies, as Christ has told us beforehand, Think not that I am come to give peace on earth, nay, but rather division: for from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two