us, that nothing is required of us, but what is abfolutely neceffary for our Good and Happinefs, by helping our good. Endeavours, and defending us against the Malice and Power of evil Spirits-by fetting home upon our Hearts the Joys and Happiness that are propofed to us, and the dreadful Mifery which will be the Portion of fuch as defpife them: -All which that Holy Spirit doth perform in us by a fure, tho' an invifible Power.

Ind. How can we be fure of this, fince you fay he is not to be feen?'

Mill. Can you see the Wind?

Ind. No.

Miff. How can you be fure there is fuch a thing?

Ind. Becaufe I hear the Sound of it, and feel the Force of it upon myfelf."

Miff. Are you fure, that you have a Soul or Spirit within you, which governs all your Actions?

Ind. I cannot but be fenfible and fure of that, becaufe I feel fomething within me, fometimes accufing, fometimes excufing, according as I do what is good, or other• wife.'

Mill. Yet you never faw that Power; you are fure of it only by its Effects. Ind. Pray make that plain to me.' Milf. Do not you know a Tree by the Fruit it bears?-Doth not a good Tree bring

H 4

forth

forth good Fruit?-Doth not a corrupt Tree bring forth bad Fruit*?-Just so, when a good Spirit governs any Perfon, you see it plainly by his Life and Conversation ;-as alfo, when you fee any Man lead an evil Life, you may be fure he is governed by an evil Spirit.

Ind. I understand you very well;-and i would be thankful, if you would let me know what are the Fruits which distinguish, a good Spirit from one that is evil?'

Milf. The fure Signs, that the Holy Spirit of God governs any Man, are thefe following Fruits: A Love of God, and of Men for This fake-Living in Peace, as much as poffible, with all others;-Forgiving those that have injured us, as we hope to be forgiven our many Offences against God;-A Readinefs to do good to all Men ;-A conftant Endeavour to mortify our corrupt Affections, our Lufts, and evil Defires;-Being content with our Condition;-being humble, meek, and temperate;-And in all Improvements in Knowlege, Faith, Holinefs and Obedience, 'making an humble Acknowlegement of our Unworthinefs, giving Chrift the Glory of our Salvation, and the Holy Spirit the Honour of our Improvement in these things: Thefe, and fuch as thefe, are fure Signs, that Matt. vii. 17.

+ Gal. v. 22.

a Man

a Man is governed by the Holy Spirit of God*

On the other hand, the fure Signs of a Man's not being under the Influence of the good Spirit, are fuch evil Fruits as thefe following: Adultery, Fornication, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Envy, Hatred, and Malice; a Difpofition to Revenge and Murder, Drunkenness, Revellings, Hardnefs of Heart, Unbelief, and Contempt of the Gospel, and such Sins as thefe;-God having exprefly declared, that they who do fuch things fhall never be happy, but shall have their Portion with thofe evil Spirits, by whofe wicked Suggeftions they had been feduced to commit them.

Ind. One would think that fuch as know the dreadful Punishment denounced against Wickedness, would never perfift in it, but immediately endeavour to efcape from fo dangerous a Condition,?

180

Mill. They certainly would do fo-but, having wilfully forfaken the Ways of God, they have grieved the Holy Spirit, and forced him to depart from them, and to leave them to themselves;-fo that their Hearts are hardened, and their Minds are void of UnderAtanding

a

Ind. If I remember well, you told me, ⚫ that all Men are subject to Sin, even ChriRem. vii, 14.

⚫ftians,

stians, as well as others, tho' they have re⚫ceived that Holy Spirit for a Principle of a new Life.'

Miff. I told you so, and I told you nothing but the Truth; for fo they are, until, by the Influence of that good Spirit, they are made completely holy, which is not to be expected till we die, and go to Heaven. I told you alfo another Truth:-That a Christian is not one who has no Failings;-but he is one, who, by the Power and Favour of that Holy Spirit, watches and ftrives against the Corruption of his Nature continually, fo as never to live in any known Sin whatever.

Ind. I remember you told me fo before; ⚫ and I am convinced of the Truths you have now explained to me. And I must beg of you, at your Leifure, to let me know, what ⚫ will be required of me in order to my being baptized, and made a Member of that So⚫ciety, to which you have convinced me fo many Bleffings have been promifed by the Great God."

-In

Milf. That I will very willingly endeavour to do the next time you come to me.the mean time, forget not to beg of Godto give his Bieffing and Succefs to fuch as defire and strive to inftruct you in the Ways of Life and Happiness, and to give you Grace to follow their godly Inftructions and Admonitions, in Words to the following Purpose.

The

The PRAYER.

Merciful God, and Lover of Souls, blefs the pious Endeavours of fuch as are appointed to inftruct me in the Ways of Truth and Godlinefs:-Leave me not to my own Choice, but give me a Heart always open to receive the Truth, and a conftant Refolution to observe and obey it: And that I may remember thee my Creator all my Days, chearfully embrace Salvation by thy Son our Lord, and fubmit to his Government,let thy HOLY SPIRIT ever accompany me, and infpire me with found Principles of Virtue, Religion, and Holiness, for thy Mercy's Sake in Chrift Jefus. Amen.

DIALOGUE IX,

Being an Abstract of the former Dialogues and Inftructions.

K

Indian.

IND Sir, I am come to put you in mind of your Promife to inftruct me, how I may become a Member of that "Society, to which you told me fo many Bleffing's • do belong?

Miffion