the duty of Christians to labor to discern the signs of the times, for want of which our Saviour blames and sharply reproves those, Matt. xvi. 3. "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" Luke xii. 56. "But how is it that ye do not discern this time?" That was the time of the Messiah and his coming; of which there were special signs by which they might have apprehended and understood it, had they been wise and diligent to have marked the same. "The signs of any times they are those visible appearances of God's providence whereby God leads us to discern that which is more inward as to his purposes, intentions and expectations." By these signs we may be led to observe or understand what God intends with, or to a people in such or such a time, which way the providence of God is at present working, or like to work toward such a people, what God is doing with or among them. Now the Spirit of God in the pouring out or withdrawing of it, being a special eminent and remarkable sign of the times, by a wise and prudent observation of the motions and workings of that, we may be signally led to this discerning of the times. And therefore let all Christ's disciples take due notice and observation of this matter. And consider particularly,

1. What movings of the Spirit there are in the souls of men and women in these times. What solemn awakenings and sound convictions wrought by the Spirit in the hearts of sinners: what wooings and allurings to draw their souls unto God: What noise there is, rushing and shaking caused by the wind of the Spirit among the dry bones. Do we see them coming together bone to his bone, and standing up on their feet from the dead? Is the Spirit of God striving, mightily shaking, powerfully and irresistibly working upon the hearts of secure sinners? Does it force them to cry out of their sin and misery, wretched and woeful condition? Does it terrify them from persisting in, or meddling with iniquity? Does it humble and make them look about them with the greatest care and solicitude how they may do to escape the wrath of God and to obtain salvation? Are these workings of the Spirit upon the hearts of sinners in these times? Speak, you who still remain unregenerate! Is the Spirit of God still dealing with you by awakening, warning and not letting you alone to go on in sin, and alluring you by love to Jesus Christ? Or hath it done striving with you in that solemn manner, and moving upon you in that winning way, which formerly it hath done, whereby it made you sometimes to listen to its motions? Have you got the mastery of the Spirit by frequent resistance, that now you will not be jogged or moved by it? Or hath the Spirit never thus moved upon you? Will you let us know how it is with you in this matter, that we may the better understand what God is doing or about to do? If

there be these movings, awakenings and allurings of the Spirit in the souls of men and women in any considerable measure among us, it is a good sign: But if not, it is surely bad.

2. Consider, what presence of God is with his word in the dispensation of it, and what workings of the word there are upon and in the hearts of hearers. What impression the word of the gospel labored in, takes: Whether it tends to hardening or softening; whether it be a seed sown upon good ground, or as seed thrown by the way side, or hath only some lighter impressions. Particularly,

(1.) What subduing of hearts and wills is wrought by it. What strong holds pulled down, what vain refuges discovered, what sinful pleas taken off thereby? Do we see those that are enemies to Christ falling down before him when he rides forth conquering and to conquer by his word? "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion." Ps. cx. 2. "The preaching of the gospel, accompanied with the mighty working of the Spirit of Christ, is the rod of strength, or the strong sceptre whereby Christ doth mightily subdue and govern his people." Jacks. in loc. And where there is a presence of the Spirit accompanying the dispensation of the word, it will subdue hearts.

(2.) What heart-breakings and soul-meltings there are under the word of God. How does the hammer of God's word wielded by the Spirit break the rock in pieces? "Is not my word like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" Jer. xxiii. 29. Does the word divide betwixt the joints and the marrow, pierce to the discerning of the inward thoughts and intents of the heart? Do men and women sit trembling under the hearing of God's word? Are their souls plainly and wholly laid open to be wounded and healed by the word of God? Does the word move and work kindly and sweetly upon the heart to persuade, to draw, to instruct, to correct, to awe, to unite the heart to God? Does it fully unravel our own woven webs, kindly humble us and make us fall all to pieces as in ourselves, that we have no kind of thing to take to; and does it sweetly allure and work up our hearts to an earnest, hearty and thankful devolving the whole weight and concernment of our restless, helpless souls upon the everlasting arms of a tender and gracious Father in Christ Jesus? Does it bring us to clasp about a strong, gracious and faithful Redeemer and Saviour, as who will hold there and not let him go, because else we shall perish? Or is it so that the heat of God's word dispensed will not thaw or melt our frozen hearts, how oft soever they are held to this fire? "Is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord?"

(3.) What affection there is to the word of God. What love to, longing for and desire after it. Is it the delight, joy and

when shall I come and "My soul longeth, yea, Ps. lxxxiv. 2. “I was go into the house of the affected to, and our hearts

rejoicing of persons to be hearing, reading and practising according to the holy word of God? Is it as it was with David? "Oh, how love I thy law!" Ps. cxix. 97. "As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; appear before God?" Ps. xlii. 1, 2. even fainteth for the courts of the Lord." glad when they said unto me; Let us Lord." Ps. cxxii. 1. Or are we little little drawn out after the word of God? 3. Consider, what tenderness of heart and heart-smiting for sin there is among us. Where there is much of the grace of the Spirit the heart will be tender, and such a man's heart will smite him upon every offence against God, and upon every appearance of his anger. As Josiah's heart was tender and he humbled himself before the Lord upon the hearing of what God spake against Judah, 2 Kings, xxii. 19. And David's heart smote him upon his inconsiderate rash actions, 1 Sam. xxiv. 5. and 2 Sam. xxiv. 10. Now what of this heart-tenderness, and grief, and mourning for sin and God's anger is there among us? Does the least transgression or miscarriage wound and grieve the soul? Is a vain thought a trouble? Is an hypocritical frame or inclination a grief? Any appearance of evil disquieting, that the least corruption cannot be borne without crying to God for deliverance? Or can persons bear away with lighter and lesser evils, and it may be grosser miscarriages also? Let sin go without lamenting, or bewailing it, or being much concerned about it? be loose in their lives and ungirt in their religion, and yet full of peace?

4. Consider, what lively vehement outgoings of soul to God in prayer there are among us. What of humble and holy access, freedom and familiarity with God in seeking him. Do persons (even Christians) freely, easily and as it were naturally pour out their souls to God? Can they by faith take hold of God, and wrestle it out with him, and not let him go till he bless them? The spirit of grace is a spirit of supplication also, Zech. xii. 10. Or is it so, that many neglect calling upon God wholly, others do it in hypocrisy, many in mere formality, and even Christians themselves find it exceeding difficult to get up their hearts at any time to any earnestness, or suitableness in this duty?

5. Consider, what concernment of soul there is for the glory and work of God among us. Are we deeply engaged in, heartily taken up about, and diligently laboring in the promoting of God's work, and procuring of his glory? Is it our chief care and principal endeavor that the work of Christ may be upheld, continued, and transmitted to posterity? Is every one in his place and capacity thoughtful and careful about this in good earnest, that it

may be done? Or are we no whit or little concerned about the glory and work of God among us? Are not our own concernments minded more? If we can look to ourselves, let Christ look to himself and his work, as the apostle complains. "All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." Phil. ii. 21. Are there few upon whose hearts doth rest the care and solicitude, what will become of the Lord's work? It is the property of such as inherit any good measure of a true gospel spirit to seek the glory of God.

These are some of the motions and operations of the Spirit which we are to observe in ourselves and others, and by which we may be directed to discern the times, what God is doing or about to do, and what is like to become of us. When these things shall be, we may look for good times: If there be much of these things there is good hope: if little, little hope: if none, no hope: Only we must here, as always elsewhere, reserve to God his absolute sovereignty in working. Be we never so bad, he may of his sovereign grace save, or at least spare us : Or be we never so good, he may of his sovereign power and dominion, and in perfect justice also, hold us under affliction in this life. But according to ordinary dispensation we may expect that he will be with us as we be with him. As the working of his Spirit is in us, so the presence of his mercies and blessings will be with us; his presence or absence will be much according as our spirits are working towards or from him. "The Lord is with you, while ye be with him and if ye seek him, he will be found of you but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you." 2 Chron. xv. 2. So Ps. xviii. 25-27.

If any shall say; Then (setting aside what God in his sovereignty may do) we hope it will go well with us, it is probable it will so; for there are sure these workings of the Spirit among us. In answer hereto I shall only add that it will be needful to 'consider these things further.

(1.) Whether these workings of the Spirit, supposed among us, may in any sense be said to be general. That there are some few, here and there one that keep themselves close to God and have a good measure of the Spirit breathing in them, for whose sakes we fare the better, is I suppose beyond question. But whether there be a sufficient number to obtain the sparing or saving such a place of light and means as New-England is, at least without the feeling of more sorrow first, may yet be a question. For I am ready to take this for granted, that the same number of righteous persons that might save a sinning Sodom, would yet not be enough to save a sinning Israel. And that because of what the Lord says, Amos iii. 2. "You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."

(2.) Whether these workings of the Spirit that appear among us be for the most part effectual and saving. Whether they be not mostly or in great part common and ineffectual, and so issue only in formalities. It is the inward, saving and effectual operation of the Spirit that gives us grounded hope of the expectation of sure mercies and blessings.

(3.) Whether the breathings and workings of God's Spirit are more or less among us than when we were first set under a dispensation of judgment. If they be less, yea if they be not more, there is little likelihood that we should be delivered from under that judgment. For it is not probable that that should remove anger, which was not sufficient to keep it off. If the want of such and such graces and fruits of the Spirit hath brought us under the Lord's displeasure, the same defect will sure be like to continue us there. This therefore must not escape our consideration, what difference there is betwixt us then, and now. That there is more sin, and that iniquity abounds more, since God's hand hath been out against us, I think is the general observation of all that take notice of any thing: According to that, Zeph. iii. 7. "I punished them: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings."

(4.) Whether the workings of the Spirit are now growing or decaying among us. If there be more and more of this gracious work of the Spirit breaking forth daily, it is well: But if it grow more rare, and less and less, and the loss of good men and women, in whom the Spirit of God eminently was, is not in some good measure made up by the resting of the same Spirit upon others rising up in their stead, our case looks threatening. But I shall say no more in this matter. "Who is wise and he shall understand these things? prudent and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein." Hos. xiv. 9.

Use 5. Of Exhortation.-1. To all such among us as have any interest at the throne of grace, earnestly to pray that God would pour out of his Spirit upon us from on high. Let God's favorites among us be earnest in crying unto God in this matter. If there be any strength for wrestling with God left, improve all the interest you have with God and with his Son that you may prevail for this blessing.

For Motive, consider,-Mot. 1. It is the manner of, and is becoming to God's people to supplicate and wait upon him for all their mercies. It is meet we should receive all our special blessings from God upon our knees. Thus God's servants have done. "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us." Ps. cxxiii. 1, 2. We must not expect to