of truth. Many professors are in the way of error, both as to doctrine and practice. What our church means by truth, may easily be gathered from her liturgy, articles, and homilies ; and how exactly these coincide with the oracles of God, has in some measure been shewn in the preceding pages. It becomes all her members to inquire, whether they are in the way of truth. All curious inquiries about speculative matters in religion are unbecoming and hurtful: they are unbecoming as they shew a desire to be wise beyond what is revealed; and they are hurtful, as they distract the mind from a due attention to those things, which are truly interesting and essential to its happiness. A person, running in a race,* in which an immensely valuable prize is to reward the successful candidate, is inexcusable, if he spend his time in any trifling investigation. A patient, who is sick of a mortal disease, would be ill employed, while making deep researches into anatomical or botanical subjects, instead of attending to the prescription of his Physician, and taking the medicines recommended. Our gracious Saviour says, enter ye in at the strait 'gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way ⚫ that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat because strait is the gate,

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:

* 1 Cor. ix. 24.

* and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.'* Dear reader, have you entered through this strait gate into the narrow way of eternal life? You have a soul to be saved; and therefore the question is of immense importance; insomuch that you ought to estimate every thing, as it bears a greater or less relation to it. Alas, how many live, like the beasts that perish! The human soul is naturally in a lost state; a state of sin and guilt and a state of sin and guilt is a state of impotence; so that it is impossible that man should be his own Saviour. The gate, through which a sinner must pass in the way from guilt and condemnation to pardon and acceptance, from sin to holiness, and from hell to heaven, is Jesus Christ, who is frequently styled a door' and a way :' by which metaphors the scriptures intimate continually, that Christ is the only medium of salvation to a sinner. A sinner must be justified, before he can be saved; but by the works of the law can no flesh be justified :'t a sinner must be sanctified, before he can be glorified; but Christ is our sanctification as well as our righteousness. So that He is the only gate, the only way that leadeth to life; and if you have not entered by this gate; and if you are not walking in this way, you are in the way of error, which leadeth + 1 Cor. i. 30.

* Matth. vii. 13, 14. + Gal. ii. 16.

None but the humble admittance by this O strive to enter

to destruction. The gate of life is strait, and the way of truth' is narrow; too strait to admit unhumbled Pharisees, worldly-minded Sadducees, and lovers of sin. contrite mourner can find gate, and walk in this way. in Anxiety and exertion are absolutely necessary. The time of admission will soon expire. Therefore begin directly and without delay: carry on the work with diligence; and continue in it with perseverance. You have the prayers of the church on your behalf, that God's good Spirit may lead you into the way of truth.'

We go on to intercede that those, who are in the way of truth,' may be enabled to hold the "faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and ⚫ in righteousness of life.' For the guidance and

governance of God's good Spirit are as necessary for the preservation of the saint, as they are for the conversion of the sinner. Since temptations abound, and many have apostatized, every humble disciple of Christ will be thankful that he enjoys the daily prayers of the Church for his continuance in the faith. And, since Satan's watch-word among his infernal emissaries is, • divide and rule ;* how proper it is that we should pray for all the members of the Church universal, that they may hold the faith in unity

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* Divide et impera.

of the Spirit in the bond of peace! And, since 'faith without works is dead, being alone;' that ⚫ righteousness of life' may evidence the truth of our profession. These are excellent petitions. May we see more of their beauty, and join in them with increasing fervor of soul !

Finally we commend to God's fatherly good'ness all those, who are any ways afflicted or 'distressed in mind, body, or estate.' Sin has metamorphosed the world into a vale of tears. Through this valley of Baca all must pass in their way to Zion.* Saints and sinners taste of the bitter cup. With respect to the former, we are expressly told, that it is through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of Calamity appears in a thousand It is needless to endeavour to enume

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God.'t

shapes.'

rate them

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our church has comprehended them all. It is meet that we should remember them, • which suffer adversity, as being ourselves also in the body.'‡ We are commanded to weep with those that weep,' as well as to rejoice with them that rejoice.' Our great High Priest sympathizes with His suffering members, being touched with a feeling of their infirmi⚫ties.' • In all their afflictions He is afflicted.' His people resemble Him, and feel for each other; so that, if one member suffer, all the memHeb. xiii. 3:

Ps. lxxxiv. 6. + Acts xiv. 22.

•bers suffer with it.'

And being unable to afford consolation and relief out of any stock, of which they are possessed; they carry their dear brethren in affliction to the throne of grace, praying that it may please God to comfort and re⚫lieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions.' God knows the sorrows of all His saints, and puts their tears into His bottle.* He can comfort in every trouble, relieve in every distress, and succour in every necessity. However great our sufferings, He can give patience under them ; and however heavy the pressure of our afflictions, He can give a happy issue out of them. And therefore as these are promised blessings, we beg' them for ourselves and our brethren humbly at His hands for Jesus Christ His sake.