PREFACE.

THAT this book may be better understood, and prove a means of edifying every reader, let the following remarks be particularly attended to.

1. The petitions and the divine answers, which are to be found among the scripture texts in several of the titles, may be of admirable use to many. The questions generally run in the complaining, inquiring strain, for information and redress under the painful anxieties of a wounded conscience; and the answers are well calculated to relieve and inform the distressed soul. They generally consist of gracious promises of Scripture, which may easily be turned into petitions; and if relief does not immediately come, yet the soul gets ease by thus pouring out its complaints, and reminding the Lord of his promises: faith in the word is hereby strengthened, and the soul is led to see that trouble and anxiety must lead the way to rejoicing and triumph.

2. The distinction that is made in several parts of the book between bare morality and true Christianity, respecting the motives of actions, the principle from which they are done, and the degree and extent of them, may be also useful. Morality is not Christianity, though there can be no true Chris

tianity without morality: moral actions may be done from natural principles, and will certainly centre in self in some shape or other; but a truly Christian act must proceed from a gracious prin ciple in the heart. A moral man, and a true Christian, may both give something to the poor: the poor is relieved by each; but the benevolence of the one may proceed from a natural generosity of spirit, while that of the other springs from true love to God and men, and gratitude for mercy received. They may both join in the same ordinances, pray to the same supreme Being, and yet the one continue self-righteous and vainly confident, while the other is humbled, and lives upon divine grace: the principle within makes the difference between them; and they who are only moral would do weli to consider the difference.

3. In almost every page there are different portions of Scripture put together, which serve to throw a light on each other; so that what in one is obscure, is generally opened by its parallel, which will be found very useful, if diligently compared. This will serve to show the abundance, the superabundance of light, promises, privileges, and advantages there are in the word of God; and how they become "profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work," and, through the divine blessing upon him, be made "wise unto salvation."