has himself told us, That this is eternal Life, to know the only true God, and Jefus Chrift whom he has fent.

When we were to be put under the Conduct of the Spirit, and all our Hopes depended upon our Obedience to, and Compliance with, his holy Motions; was it not neceffary to inform us who this Spirit is? to let us know, that he is, fufficient to the Office allotted him; that, knowing perfectly the Mind of God, even as the Spirit of a Man knoweth the Things of a Man, he is able fully to inftruct us and to direct us in the Ways of God; that, being infinite, and unconfined in Time or Place, he is equal to the extenfive Charge committed to his Care, and can be ready at all Times, and in all Places, to fuccour the faithful Servants of God; that, being the Spirit of Power and of Might, he is able to rescue us out of all Dangers, and protect us against all the Powers and Principalities of the Kingdom of Darknefs? It may be hard perhaps to human Reafon to conceive, that this Holy Spirit is the eternal Spirit of God, and fo intimately united with God, as to know the Mind of God 3 perfectly, as the Spirit

of

of a Man which is in him knoweth the Mind of Man; but it would be harder

ftill to believe, that the Spirit could do what is afcribed to him in Scripture, without believing him to be this great and glorious Perfon. It is a more rational Act of Faith, to expect from the eternal Spirit of God the Sanctification of our Souls and Bodies, Spiritual Aid and Affiftance in all our Trials and Temptations, and whatever elfe is neceffary to our Salvation; than it would be to expect the fame Things from any other Spirit, of whofe Power and Attributes we knew nothing. The Power and Mightinefs of the Spirit, made known to us by God, is a reasonable, a just Foundation for the Hope and Confidence we have in him; but, were we ignorant of his Power, our Trust in him would be without Ground; and we should lose this Boafting, which is now the Glory of our Faith, That we know in whom we have believed. Since therefore, by the determinate Counfel of God, the Redemption of the World was to be the Work of his Son; and the Sanctification of it, the Work of his Spirit; he has dealt with us more like reasonable Creatures, in declaring to us the Dignity D 3

and

and Power of the Perfons in whom we are to truft; than he would have done, had he required of us the fame Faith and Reliance on those Perfons, without declaring to us how able and powerful they are to help us. If therefore it be reafonable for God to fave the World, by redeeming it by his Son, by fanctifying it by his Holy Spirit, it cannot be unreasonable for him to make known his Son and his Spirit to the World, that all Men every-where may by the one Spirit of God, and through the only Son of God, approach to the Father. And this fhews how foolishly Men charge God, when they complain of the heavy Impofition laid upon their Faith and their Understanding by the Gospel Doctrines concerning the Son and the Holy Spirit. God has revealed this for our Sakes only, not for Matter of Speculation, or for the enlarging of our Knowledge; but that, having a reasonable Ground of Affurance and Hope in him, we may, through Faith, and patient Abiding, inherit the Promises.

You fee now what every Christian has to expect and hope for from the Affistance

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of the Spirit, and Interceffion of the Son of God. We all were Strangers to God, and Children of Difobedience; we are now reconciled to God, and can approach him as our loving Father. Having thus Access to the Father, our All depends on the Use we make of this great Privilege. By having Access to God, we are not placed in a State of Security, but in a State of Probation: We are received as prodigal Sons come home; if we continue obedient, we may hope for the Inheritance; but, if we turn Prodigals again, our Cafe will be desperate. This is the Condition of Chriftians. The Scripture has told us what our present State is; but, as to our future State, that depends upon our obeying, or not obeying, the Commands of God. And those who look for farther Security, and expect to be ascertained what their future State will be, do

very much impose upon themselves, and ascribe to the Holy Spirit an Office, of which the Scripture knows nothing. God has done, and will do, great Things for you; let not this make you vain and prefumptuous, but let it excite your Care, that the Gift of God may not be bestowed on you in

vain; and always bear in Mind the Apostle's Advice, Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling, for it is God that worketh in both to will and to do. Some imagine, you that God's working with us is a Reason why we should be confident and fecure of our Salvation: But you fee St. Paul was of another Mind. He writes to thofe who certainly had the Spirit; for he tells them, that God did work in them both to will and to do: But does he tell them that they were fafe and fecure, and out of all Danger? No, he fays nothing like it; on the contrary, he calls upon them to fear and tremble, left, having received fo great a Gift, they fhould by their Negligence, as thinking themselves fecure, forfeit all the Hopes of the Gospel.

God fays, with refpect to the old World, My Spirit fhall not always ftrive with Man: The Cafe is the fame under the Gospel. The Spirit of God works with us, but will not always strive with us; and therefore, whilst we may have the Help of God's Spirit, we muft lay hold of the Opportunity, and work with him. And whoever confiders this, will find he has great Reafon

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