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examples to this effect. He never read his Bible who knows not this; nor can any man, under any pretence whatever, make a jest of this great duty and privilege of a believer, without pouring contempt upon the Holy Scriptures, and insulting the brightest characters, there proposed to us as examples, not excepting the Lord Jesus himself. Let men therefore, under the profession of Christianity, be as irreligious and profane as they please, I shall not be ashamed to speak upon so unfashionable a topick: for if the word of God be true, he never knew any thing as he ought to know, never believed, never repented, never performed one duty aright in his life, who hath not sought all his wisdom, knowledge, faith, repentance, and sufficiency for obedience, from God, by fervent, instant, persevering prayer. Time was even, since I had souls committed to my care, that I lived in the neglect of this duty, and so, without God in the world; but since, through his forbearance and mercy, I have been in earnest about the salvation of my own soul, and the souls of other men-my conduct in this respect has been very different.

If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts "unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that

ask him;" and "if any man have not the Spirit of “Christ, he is none of his." As he is the Spirit of truth, it is his office to lead us into all truth, and to teach us all things, for he searches and reveals the deep things of God. It is expressly promised to the true church, that "all her children shall be taught of the Lord," (Is. liv. 13.) Referring to this, Christ hath

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declared that" none can come unto him, except he "be drawn of the Father," and "taught of God." (John vi. 44, 45.) And St. Paul declares, that "The natural man receiveth not the things of the

Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nei"ther can he know them, because they are spiritually "discerned." (1 Cor. ii. 14.) The natural man psychikos) is explained in Jude, by not having the Spirit; which is evidently the Apostle's meaning in this passage for in the preceding verse he declares that he preached the gospel, "not in words which man's "wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual." On these grounds I concluded that man's natural understanding could not spiritually or profitably receive the knowledge of revealed mysteries, unless it were enlightened by the Holy Spirit. I learned also, that our eyes may be blinded by Satan, the god and prince of this world; that our understandings may be closed, and a veil be upon our hearts, when we read the word of God; in which case the letter of the Scriptures, without the spirit, only killeth. Hence the need of the understanding being opened to understand the Scriptures;" for want of which, the plainest discourses of our Lord to his disciples, concerning his sufferings, death, and resurrection, were hidden from them, and they understood them not. The veil also must be taken from the heart, for want of which the Jews, in reading the Old Testament, cannot understand the plainest declarations of Moses and the prophets, concerning their promised Saviour.

The Scriptures also every where declare that true

wisdom is the gift of God, and must be asked of him by every one who would be wise unto salvation; "that the secret of the Lord is with them that fear “him;” and that those "who receive not the love of “the truth, that they may be saved, are given over "to a strong delusion to believe a lie; that they might "all be damned who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thes. ii. 10-12.) On these grounds, and depending upon the promises and invitations, so plentifully interspersed throughout the Scriptures; when I began to enquire after the truth, I was led also in some measure to cry unto the Lord for his guidance and teaching; and as my mind grew more engaged, and my difficulties, in extricating myself from the labyrinths of controversy, increased, I became more and more earnest, constant, and particular, in making my requests known unto God. My constant prayer to the Lord was, to be delivered from pride and prejudice, blindness of heart, contempt of the truth, obstinacy, enthusiasm, ignorance, and error: and that the Lord would give me wisdom and knowledge, guide me to the truth as it is in Jesus, open my understanding, take away the veil from my heart, and make known unto me the way of salvation which is revealed to sinners in his holy word. Thus waiting upon the Lord according to his own appointment, depending on him, and pleading his promises from day to day, I was led from one thing to another, until my view of religious truth was totally changed. This I most firmly believe to have been by the promised teaching of the Spirit of truth, powerfully enlightening my mind, opening the Scriptures, and by

dispelling the clouds of error and prejudice, enabling me to receive the truth in faith and love. I am conscious that I have no intention, in speaking thus publickly on such a subject, but to advance the glory of God in the salvation of souls. But, as in his presence, I must declare that I have prayed over many of the most interesting passages of scripture, chapter by chapter, and often verse by verse, with the most anxious dread of rejecting or mistaking the truth, or embracing a falsehood; and with the most earnest desire of knowing what that doctrine was, which Jesus and his apostles taught.-In the sight of God I am sensible, I have abundant cause to be humbled, and ashamed of my frequent remissness and the continual defilements of my prayers: but as surely as I believe his promises to be faithful, as surely as I believe him to be a God that heareth prayer; so surely do I believe that flesh and blood hath not revealed to me the doctrines I now preach, but God himself by his Holy Spirit.

Reader, whoever thou art, if thy conscience testify that thou hast hitherto lived in the neglect of this important duty, or in the formal, lifeless, unmeaning performance of it with thy lips, while thy heart hath been disengaged, and thy thoughts allowedly wandering to the ends of the earth; if thou hast not been accustomed by fervent prayer to seek wisdom from God by his teaching Spirit; if thou knowest not what it is to exercise faith upon the promises pointed out to thee, nor to plead them in prayer to a promise-keeping God; if all thy knowledge of divine things hath been acquired by leaning to thy own understanding;

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if in reading the Scriptures, thou hast looked more to learned criticks, commentators, and expositors, than to the illuminating Spirit of God: then be as sure, as the word of God is true, and as we are concerned in it, that the light which is in thee is darkness, and that thou knowest nothing yet as thou oughtest to know.— May the Lord effectually incline thine heart to take a contrary course, and to seek wisdom where alone it. cán be found, even from the Lord, "the Father of "lights, and the giver of every good and perfect gift," who hath invited and commanded thee to ask, that it may be given thee!

VI. I would observe that there is nothing in this narrative, which can reasonably be condemned as enthusiasm.

It is allowed that enthusiasm, properly so called, frequently accompanies religious zeal; that in some of its operations it is a grievous evil, and in all attend, ed with many inconveniencies; and that it ought very carefully to be guarded against by every religious professor and zealous preacher. It would also be in vain to pretend that the late revivals of religion, which have been indiscriminately stigmatized with the name of Methodism, have been, in opinion and practice, entirely free from this enthusiasm. For, what revivals of religion ever were free from scandals? Where the Lord sows his good seed, there the enemy will be sure to scatter his tares.-It must be confessed that some of the most eminent instruments in this work, whose names, when prejudice shall vanish, will be handed down with honour, as burning and shining lights, to the latest periods of the church, have, by the great

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