miracles now; which brings to my mind what some persons very ignorantly object to Ministers of the Gospel, "Work miracles, and then we will believe what you say. ""Would you indeed? Assuredly you would not if you will not hear what we tell you out of Moses and the prophets; if God's word set before you gains not your assent." assent." While you put this word from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, neither would you be persuaded, though one rose from the dead, and told you how unspeakably miserable all those are who have died without an interest in Christ, as all their righteousness. In truth, the fault lies in your heart, not in your head. Pray for Divine illumination, as the Scripture itself directs you, otherwise you do not use it in the way that it directs you to use it. Be concerned for your souls, and seek, that you may find. All who have used this method will bear witness to the sufficiency of the Scriptures to make a man wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. Lastly, let believers be patient under the scorn and contempt, the afflictions and evils of this frail life. Let them be diligently employed in the Lord's work, looking forward to the things not seen: "they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away." Who so wretched as Lazarus outwardly? Yet who more happy within! Christ in the heart is heaven in the heart, however disagreeable outward things may be to the flesh. Hold on your way, strong in the grace of the Lord: for," the ransomed of the Lord shall at length return to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads." SERMON XX. DUTY OF DRAWING NIGH TO GOD, and James iv. 7, 8. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. THE Scriptures continually represent to us, that there are two opposite interests and kingdoms in the world; that of God, and that of the devil; which never can be reconciled: The one advancing goodness, happiness, and truth; the other aiming only at the production of wickedness, misery, and error. The whole world in which we live having fallen from God, by the first transgression, lies dead in trespasses and sins, and we are all children of wrath by nature insomuch that Satan is called in one place" the god of this world," in another the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." And "for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." For this he lived; he died; he rose again; ascended into heaven; now intercedes for us at the right hand of God; and sheds forth the sweet and strong influence of his own Spirit on the Church. His intention and desire is, to have every member conformed to himself; separated from this evil world; and partaker of his divine nature, with eternal glory. The devil's kingdom and cause is the very contrary of all this. As Christ dwells and walks in his people by a real, powerful union, so the devil dwells and walks in his people, that is, in all the unconverted who remain in a state of nature. We are not so much affected with this thought, as we ought; else how would it stir up every one seriously to reflect, "I am either under the ruling influence of God, or of Satan." 66 Let men's fruits prove to their consciences how it is with them. There are no middle characters, for we cannot serve God and mammon.' Just as goodness, or wickedness; heavenly things, or earthly, have the predominancy in our hearts, so are we the servants of God, or the servants of the devil. Indeed, the servants of God have flesh as well as spirit; but they do "not walk after the flesh." Their practice is heavenly; because, "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them." The text gives us a very weighty exhortation, formed upon this doctrine. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you: draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." It may be conceived as addressed to the converted, or to the unconverted. For as men begin, so must they continue to walk with God and the rules, for recovery after backsliding, are the same as for first conversion. I shall therefore handle the subject in a way adapted to both. Nor need we be solicitous to know exactly in all cases, when we are tempted by Satan: for he worketh in the "children of disobedience," and to the "children of God" he has access by the flesh. As then "he that committeth sin is of the devil," to resist him and to resist evil is the same thing, in effect. We are invited to "draw nigh to God; to cultivate acquaintance with him, in the gospel way, by all means; and are assured, in that case," he will draw nigh to us;" will show himself gracious, will bless us. And because Satan will fight against us, especially if he see us draw nigh to God, we are commanded to resist him; and mighty though he be, and we poor worms, we are assured, he shall flee from us. Though he may tempt again; fleeing from us only for a season, as from our Lord; yet he shall flee from us again. For HE is strong that executeth his word. Glorious, precious encouragements these! to come near to the best of beings, and be enabled to resist the worst.-Son of God! bless what we have now before us! Oh! that we may prove both parts to be true, by our own experience, Oh! that we may be thoroughly persuaded to obey, in faith, thy directions, and bring thee eternal honour by our success. And here I would, 1st, consider the motives which should induce us to draw nigh to God, and to resist the devil—and, 2d, give some instances of this practice. The motives I shall mention are four. Let the first be drawn from the opposite character of God and the devil. It is a certain truth, that God is the most glorious and best of beings; whose goodness and compassion are as infinite as his power and wisdom. Nothing but good ever proceeded, or will proceed from him. Creation and providence are daily multiplying innumerable instances of the ex cellence of his law, and the beauty of his holiness, as set forth in the Bible. Were there no other proof, these would demonstrate the perfect character of the Supreme Being; that he "loveth righteousness and hateth iniquity." And the foul falsehood of those who despise the Bible, is fully proved by this circumstance: that to a man all such persons make light account of HIM. The Bible manifests the glorious character of God its author, by being always on the side of true goodness. No man can show his hatred of the Scriptures, but he is sure to show a hatred of true goodness at the same time. There is, there is such a being as the devil; the enemy of God; " "the spirit" that worketh in the children of disobedience! What do all his temptations lead to; especially those of them which would draw the soul from Scripture truth? Do they not lead to one thing; to make men careless how they live, and to indulge sin? On the other side, christians, and all who know any thing of a divine work on their hearts, can bear witness, that holy Scripture tends to one thing; to real godliness; practical goodness, and virtue; not of this and that sort only, but of every kind. I will suppose a man solicited, in his soul, two ways-no uncommon case-I would scorn to represent things different from what they are. There is no such thing as any man's falling, all at once, into the full belief, and determined reception of the gospel. I say, a creature corrupt as man is, may be solicited, by Satan on one side, to continue easy in sin, and live as others do who are careless of hereafter. He may also be drawn, by the Spirit of God, to the |