D555 今 WHOLE WORKS OF THE REVEREND AND LEARNED MR JOHN WILLISON, LATE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT DUNDEE. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL III. CONTAINING I. THE BALM OF GILEAD, FOR II. SACRAMENTAL MEDITA- TIONS, &c. CHRISTIAN LAND, &c. &c. &c. DIRECTORY, Jc. Sc. St. EDINBURGH: = PRINTED BY J. MOIR, PATERSON's court, For J. DICKSON, J. FAIRBAIRN, J. OGLE, J. GUTHRIE, and S. CHEYNE, Edinburgh G. PEATTIE, Leith: M OGLE, Glasgow: G. MILNE, Dundee: A. BROWN, Aberdeen: Young & IMRAY, Inverness and J. FORSYTH, Elgin, ́ 10-230 Lu 4-8-1924 THE BALM OF GILEAD FOR HEALING A DISEASED LAND; WITH THE GLORY OF THE MINISTRATION · AND A SCRIPTURE PROPHECY of the Increase of Christ's Opened and applied in TWELVE SERMONS upon several Texts. Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. PREFACE. ALTHOUGH thefe Sermons were preached in Scotland, and have fome reference to the cafe of that church and land under her prefent divifions and backflidings; yet they are compofed in fuch a ftrain, as to be useful and applicable to any church under the like diftempers, which, alas! is the cafe of the most part. What remedies can be fo effectual to cure them of these evils, as those proposed in the following Difcourfes; to wit, the excellent Balm of Gilead, and the glorious miniftra tion of the Spirit? If it were the gracious will of God to difpofe all the bishops and minifters of Britain and Ireland, to make it their business to open up and recommend these noble remedies to their people, it would contribute greatly to heal their maladies, and increase the kingdom of Chrift in thefe lands. I cannot help thinking but those who are confecrated to fpiritual offices would be more fuitably and profitably employed in this work, than in attending courts, and purfuing fecular defigns. Seeing now the arm of the Lord is beginning to awake, and many are excited to run to and fro for increafing gospel knowledge, and labour to propagate the doctrine of falvation through the imputed righteousness of the flain Lamb of God: And, feeing the Lord is pleased, in fundry parts of the world, to give countenance to these endeavours by the out pouring of his Spirit, for awakening many fouls to an inquiry and fearch after true happiness through the bleffed Jefus,-It doth highly concern all gospel-minifters and preachers to con cur in helping forward the Lord's work, by proclaiming the faving doctrine and offers of free grace to the world, and to exert themselves for removing out of the way all letts and hinderances of the kingdom of Chrift, that fo his dominion may fpread from fea to fea, through all nations of the earth. In the following Sermons I have made fome inquiry into the times and feafons of the increafe of Chrift's kingdom and because this is greatly connected with A 2 the |