You fee now what every Christian has to expect and hope for from the Affiftance of the Spirit, and Interceffion of the Son of God. We all were Strangers to God, and Children of Difobedience; we are now reconciled to God, and can approach him as our loving Father. Having thus Access to the Father, our All depends on the Use we make of this great Privilege. By hav ing Access to God, we are not placed in a State of Security, but in a State of Probation: We are received as prodigal Sons come home; if we continue obedient, we may hope for the Inheritance; but, if we turn Prodigals again, our Cafe will be desperate. This is the Condition of Chriftians. The Scripture has told us what our present State is; but, as to our future State, that depends upon our obeying, or not obeying, the Commands of God. And thofe who look for further Security, and expect to be ascertained what their future State will be, do very much impose upon themfelves, and afcribe to the Holy Spirit an Office, of which God has the Scripture knows nothing. done, and will do, great Things for you; let not this make you vain and prefump→ tuous, but let it excite your Care, that the

Gift of God may not be bestowed on you in vain; and always bear in Mind the Apoftle's Advice, Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling, for it is, God that worketh in you both to will and to do. Some imagine, that God's working with us is a Reason why we fhould be confident and fecure of our Salvation: But you fee St. Paul was of another Mind. He writes to those who certainly had the Spirit; for he tells them, that God did work in them both to will and to do: But does he tell them that they were fafe and secure, and out of all Danger? No, he fays nothing like it; on the contrary, he calls upon them to fear and tremble, left, having received fo great Gift, they should by their Negligence, as thinking themselves fecure, forfeit all the Hopes of the Gofpel.

God fays, with respect to the old World, My Spirit fhall not always ftrive with Man: The Cafe is the fame under the Gospel. The Spirit of God works with us, but will not always ftrive with us; and therefore, whilst we may have the

Help of God's

Spirit, we must lay hold of the Opportunity, and work with him. And who

ever confiders this, will find he has great Reason to tremble and fear; for, if he loses the Opportunity of making the best Use of the Affistance of the Spirit when it is offered, he may lofe the Spirit, and himself, for ever. Let us therefore work whilft we have the Light, and continually pray in the Words of our Church, O Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE III.

EPHESIANS ii. 8.

For by Grace are ye faved, through Faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the Gift of God.

W

E have here, in few Words, the Argument which St. Paul always infifts on, when he has occafion to fet forth the Kindnefs of God towards Mankind.

Life and Immortality are the greatest Blef fings that we have any Notion of; and thefe were brought to light by the Gospel of Chrift: Him God gave for a Redeemer to the World, that whosoever believeth on bim should not die, but have eternal Life. And even that through Faith in him we are faved, is the Gift of God, for of ourfelves we are able to do nothing. These