reject us for ever, when he spared not his own Son for us? In the Circumftances that we are under the Gofpel, Prefumption is an Evil to which (methinks) we fhould be more probably tempted, than Defpair (though both of them are most unreasonable and abominable:) Because such Illuftrious Goodnefs, fuch unparalell'd Mercy is difplay'd in this Evangelical Oeconomy; fuch Peace on Earth, and good will towards Men, Luke ii. 14. as is enough for ever to filence all the fad Complaints of defponding Sinners; and to comfort, and encourage the moft guilty Soul to true and unfeigned Repentance.

When the Devil therefore at any time. tempts thee to defpair of God's Mercy, and to think that thou art eternally wretched, or haft committed the unpardonable Sin, fhew him the Gofpel, oppose to his Temptations the glorious Myftery of Man's Redemption by Jefus Chrift: Set before him the noble Defign, and the most generous Overture of the Gospel: And that will be a means to aggravate his Defpair; but to comfort and fupport thee, who art within that Covenant which he is not. Christ came into the World to fave thee: He died to fatisfy the Juftice of God for thee. He rofe again for our Juftification, Rom. iv. 25. He is gone into Heaven,

to

to intercede with God continually in thy Behalf, and to procure all manner of Good for thee. He is God all-powerful, all-fufficient, and moft merciful. What an Affront then is it to fucha Redeemer, to yield to black and defpairing Thoughts? What a Reproach caft upon his Merit and Satisfaction? And a cowardly, and pufillanimous difowning of his Power and Goodness, and a Diffidence in his Veracity, and the Authentickness of his gracious Promifes?

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V. The Application of the Sweet and precious Promifes contained in the Word of God, is alfo a proper Expedient against this kind of evil Thoughts. As the Scripture contains terrible and fevere Threatnings, to deter Secure and Stubborn Sinners, fo it is a Treasure of moft comfortable Promises, for the Support and Stay of Mournful, and Timerous Souls. out which (indeed) it would be sometimes an hard matter for poor Chriftians to bear up under the Thoughts of an approaching Eternity, and to refift the furious Affaults, and the fiery Darts of the Devil. Almighty God hath therefore engag'd his Veracity, that if we fear him, and keep his Commandments, live according to the plain Rules of the Gofpel, and believe, we fhall be affuredly happy and bleffed. In

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order to which, he hath alfo liberally promifed all fuch Supplies of Grace and Af fiftance as we fhall at any time need. These Promises therefore we fhould firmly believe, and lay hold on, and apply to ourfelves, when we are at any time haunted with fuch defperate Injections as we are speaking of. In vain have Christians this Spiritual Armory and Magazine, if they let these Weapons of War lie unus❜d.

Ah! but fays the Difconfolate and Drooping Soul, I am fatisfy'd of the Goodnefs of God; of the Infinite Merit of Jefus Chrift; that he was an Incftimable Oblation for Sin, and a Sacrifice of tranfcendent Value: But Oh! I fear that the Vertue of that great Sacrifice belongs not to me. But hear what comfortable Words our Saviour Chrift faith, unto all them that truly turn to him: Come unto me all ye that are weary, and heavy laden with the Burden of your Sins, and I will refresh you, John iii. 16. So God loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the End that all that believe in him should not perise, but have everlasting Life.

I believe alfo (faith the Defponding Soul) the exceeding great and precious Promifes: am fully perfuaded that in Chrift all the Promifes of God are Yea and Amen; and

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that Heaven and Earth fhall pass away, but not one Tittle of God's Word fball pass away: But thefe Promises do not appertain to me. I have forfeited all Title and Claim to them; and therefore, Oh! am certainly loft and undone for ever. But let me befcech thee (whoever thou art, that art depreffed with fuch Thoughts as thefe) to beware, and confider, That this is a bold and a peremptory Sentence, which thou paffeft on thyfelf: Such a Sentence as none of all the created Beings can af firm. 'Tis the Suggeftion of the most deIperate Being, the Enemy of our Souls; and what finite Being can, without the height of Presumption, pafs fuch a Sentence upon any Perfon? Which (too) is fo far from being true, that it is utterly falfe.

For the gracious Promises of the Gofpel are offered to all whatsoever; none are excepted. And every one that will lay hold of them, hath a Title to them: Provided he comes up to the Conditions on which they are establish'd. And therefore, in God's Name, hearken no longer to fuch terrifying Thoughts; but let this ftill the boisterous and troubled Sea, fpread a Calm over thy Mind, and stir thee up to a devout Application of the Bleffed Promifes of God, to thy own finful Soul.

VI.

VI. Conftant and devout Prayer is here alfo abfolutely neceffary. Pray we therefore that God would quiet, and still our hurried and affrighted Spirits: That he would (in Mercy) be pleas'd to give us a right Understanding of ourselves, his Promifes, and Threatnings; that we may not caft away our Confidence in him; nor place it any where but in him. That God would vouchfafe to deliver us from the Terrors of Satan; who is by St. Peter fil'd A roaring Lion, walking about, feeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. v. 8. That he would fcatter thefe black Clouds and I Mifts, which overfpread our Souls, with the Light of his Countenance, and fhine in upon our drooping, forrowful, and fick Souls. That the Sun of Righteousness may arife upon us, with Healing in his Wings; and that the Lord would grant us that inward Joy, and Peace of Confcience, which the World cannot give, and which paffeth all Underftanding. That he would no longer hide his Face from us; but fhew us fome Glimpfe of his Favour, which is better than the Life itself: That he would heal all the Difcafes and Infirmities both of our Souls and Bodies; that the Bones which he hath broken may rejoice. Is any among you afflicted (faith St. James Ch.v. ver. 13.) let him pray. Then efpecially is a proper Time to

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