the sea, and the trees, may be hurt thereby; and much hurt and damage have they done already in our valley of vision.

Query, What are the hurtful winds that are blowing at this day, or in this period of the church? for some tell us that the church of Christ in this land, was never in a better condition. I answer, Whatever some may imagine, yet I am of the mind, and many others with me, that the church of Christ was never in a more dangerous condition since our reformation from Popery. God seems to have given a commission to the four angels to loose the four winds, to hurt the inhabitants of the land. And here I will tell you of several hurtful winds, which, like the pestilence, are walking through the land, and hurting many, both professors and others at this day.

1. The hurtful wind of Infidelity, or Deism, is blowing which strikes at the roots, and denies all supernatural revelation, or at least discards all the supernatural mysteries of the Christian religion, which depraved reason is not able to comprehend, such as the doctrine of the incarnation of the Son of God, and of his satisfaction to justice, of the necessity of regeneration, of justification by his imputed righteousness, of sanctification by his Spirit: these, and the like supernatural doctrines of our holy religion, I say, are exploded by many in our day, insomuch that through many places of Scotland, instead of the gospel of Christ, nothing is is to be heard, but the dry sapless harangues of heathenish morality. And what must become of those poor souls that are daily entertained with such food? Why, Solomon answers the question, when he tells us, "Where no vision is, the people perish." The hurtful wind of Arian heresy has been travelling through the land, and appeared before the bar of the Assembly without any becoming censure. The doctrine of self-love, also, by which the creature is exalted above the glorious Creator. We have been long taught, that the chief end of man is, to glorify God, and that "whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do," we ought to "do all to the glory of God." And, to be sure, that which is the chief end of man, ought also to be the leading and chief motive of all his moral and religious actions. But now it is a doctrine sustained by the National Assembly, that our own delight, pleasure, and satisfaction in glorifying God, is the chief motive of all virtuous and religious actions; by which the creature's happiness is preferred to the glory of God, who "made all things for himself." And I cannot shun to observe, that God, in a way of righteous judgment, is answering many according to this idol of jealousy setup in the temple of God, by letting them adopt, and embrace a religion that lies all in internal feelings, pleasure, and satisfaction to themselves; while the declarative glory of God, and the honour of the Redeemer's crown and kingdom in the world, is none of their concern; yea, it torments them to hear of a testimony against the indignities done to him in the land in which we live. I might here also insist on the injuries done to the doctrines of the grace of God, in the acts of Assembly, 1720 and 1722, with relation to the Marrow of Modern Divinity, by which a bundle of precious truths are condemned and lie under the rubbish ever since, which I hope shall yet be brought forth unto victory."

2. The hurtful wind of church tyranny and abused discipline, has been for a long time blowing in the church of Scotland, by which the erroneous have been screened, and ministers of Christ cast out of ministerial communion, and deposed for bearing testimony to the truth, in opposition to the present current of apostacy and backsliding. And how has the boar of ecclesiastical tyranny laid waste, and scattered the flock of Christ up and down the land, through violent intrusions that have been made upon Christian congregations, imposing men upon them, contrary to that "liberty wherewith Christ has made them free?"

3. I might, among other pernicious winds, take notice of the public affront done to the Mediator's crown as the alone King of Zion, when by reading of the act respecting Porteus, ministers changed their holding of Christ, and prostituted his sovereignty, and dipped their hands in that innocent blood shed at the execution of Wilson, by not testifying against him as a bloody murderer condemned in law, when they read that act.

4. How has the wind of profanity and open impiety blown upon all ranks in the land, and hurt many, both in soul, and bodily estate? What heaven-daring impiety abounds, insomuch that the land groans under our provocations against the holy One of Israel? The very abominations of the heathen are perpetrated among us Christians, like those, Rom. i., at the close.

5. There is another wind that God is suffering to blow at this day, by which both many ministers and people are staggered, and cast down; and that is the noisy wind that the known foreigner of the Prelatic communion of the church of England has brought along with him to this land. I know, indeed, that some deny any connexion between him, and that work which we have now among us; but it is in vain to deny this, when it visibly follows him through the world, whereever he goes, and is received into communion as a minister of Jesus Christ.

Query, How does it appear that this is one of the hurtful

winds that God has; by the ministry of angels, whether good or bad, loosed upon the church of Scotland? for many call it, and are very confident of it, that it is a heavenly wind. Answ. I cannot stay upon it at present; only, notwithstanding of all the fine things I have read and heard about it, I cannot help thinking, that it is one of the most hurtful winds that ever blew in this covenanted land, and that for these reasons. It appears to me, and many others, to be a hurtful and pernicious wind, by observing, (1.) Whence it comes; (2.) Whither it blows; (3.) What are its effects.

1st, Let us notice whence it comes. It comes from the Prelatic superstitious church of England; and he that has brought it, owns himself to be still of the communion of that church, abjured by this church in her national covenant, and by the three nations in the solemn league; one who has sworn the oath of supremacy, and so renounced the alone headship of Christ in his church, and, in consequence of this, denies the binding obligation of our solemn covenants. And his own account of his conversion appears to be an evident delusion of the devil.

2dly, Let us also observe, whither, and for what, this noisy wind blows. It is evident, that it blows up every where through the world, and particularly in this land, for filthy lucre, worldly gain and advantage; the cry of it every where is, Who will show us any of this world's good? Another quarter toward which it blows, is, toleration of all sects, plainly founded upon the principle of Catholic love and communion, so much applauded by that foreigner, and all that patronise him and his work. And hence the natural tendency of it is, to overthrow the hedge of government, and to cast down the walls and fortifications of Zion, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail.

3dly, Let us notice what are the fruits and effects of this noisy wind. I know, indeed, that some talk of great and good effects of it, in the conviction, conversion, and consolation of many; but I much doubt if this will stand the trial of the word, which is the light by which all spirits, and works, must be tried: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to these, it is because there is no light in them." An imaginary conviction produces an imaginary conversion, and an imaginary conversion produces but an imaginary consolation. I will only tell you of two or three fruits of it, that I know, and can document.

(1.) A [determined] enmity and bitterness of spirit against a covenanted work of reformation, and all that bear up or own a testimony for it at this day, notwithstanding of their Catholic love.

(2.) A striking men blind, and deaf, and dumb, as to all the public affronts done to Christ, or injuries done to his mystical body. I dare appeal to themselves, if at their most solemn occasions, where they say there was most of the Lord, any thing was spoken for God's declarative glory, in opposition to the bloodshed, perjury, covenant-breaking, or the violent intrusions and [violences] committed upon the spouse of Christ, or the profaning of Christ's crown, his sabbaths, and the ministerial character, by reading of Porteus's act. Nay, so far from this, that that spirit goes along with intruders, act readers, and the like, as well as others; but not one word of their professing repentance for their evil deeds.

(3.) Another fruit of this work, is the palliating of all the public defections of the church, and so fostering and hardening men in their evil ways. Hence they wipe their mouths, and cry they are innocent, God is with us, and he has forsaken those that pretend to witness against us and our ways. I have heard with my ears, and read little less in some of their writings, Where is the God of the Seceders? he is not owning their ministry as he is owning us. I shall only say with David, when this profane jeer was passed upon him in his affliction and distress, Psal. xlii. 10: "It is as a sword in our bones, while the enemy says daily to us, Where is your God?" But we desire to follow David's example, and say with him in the words following these now quoted, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." This puts me in mind of a passage I have read in Baxter's Life. A certain faithful minister of Christ, being ordered to a prison at some distance, under the custody of soldiers; by the way they halted at the house of a malignant lady, who, when she saw the minister in the hands of his enemies, said, Where is the God of the Whigs now? Upon which he desired a sight of her Bible, which she brought with a taunt; he takes the Bible, and casts up the following text, which I shall read also to those who upbraid us after the same manner; the text you have, Mic. vii. 8-10: "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the Lord thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets." As this scripture, upon the reading of it, struck that woman with a damp and confusion, so may it do those whose language is the same with hers. Now these, I say, are some of the hurtful winds that blow at this day.

Use second shall be by way of Trial and Examination. Seeing it is so that there are such hurtful winds blowing in the church of Christ, it concerns us to try whether we be among the number of these servants of God, who are secured against any real hurt from those pernicious winds, by having the seal of the living God set upon us.

Query, How shall I know if I be among that happy number? In answer to this question, I shall offer you the few following marks of the faithful servants of our God, who have this seal set upon them.

1. All God's faithful servants have had their bands loosed: Psal. cxvi. 16: "Oh Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid: thou hast loosed my bands." All are by nature held fast in the gall of bitterness, and bonds of iniquity; they are lawful captives. Now, has the Lord in a day of power loosed your bands, and proclaimed liberty to you, and made you free indeed?

2. All God's servants have seen their master's glory, beauty, and excellency; 2 Cor. iv. 6: "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into your hearts," &c. Have you seen the Father in the Son? and has the sight transformed you into his image?

3. The first-born of the family will be very dear to you, " more glorious than all the mountains of prey;" and that will be the language of your heart, " My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand."

4. They are all very sensible of their inability to serve him as they ought; yea, they are ready to acknowledge, that without him they can do nothing; they will not brag of their services, as the proud Pharisee, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men," &c.

5. They have all a great regard for his authority, and will obey God rather than man, as the apostles of Christ, Daniel, and the three children, &c. Every one of them is ready to say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Give strength to obey, and command what thou wilt.

6. They are all for the standing of their Master's house, and stand up for their Master's honour. It goes nearer the hearts of his faithful servants, to see him injured, or his crown profaned, than any private interest of their own; it grieves them to see their master's house invaded by thieves and robbers; and they will not take them by the hand, but bear faithful testimony against them. They cannot part with the least hoof that pertains to their great Master.