the comprehenfion of our present faculties; which nevertheless demand our asfent unto them with reverence and awe; becaufe delivered by One demonstrated to be fent from God, through the miracles, wonders and figns, which God did by Him.- St. Paul, who was a chofen veffel of the Lord, and favoured with the abundance of Revelation, yet obferved that extent of wisdom in the fcheme of the gospel, as to esteem it above his reach. And the things thereof, we are informed, the Angels themselves defire to look into. It is therefore not to be imagined that by our strictest enquiries we shall be able to fathom the whole mystery of godliness. He, who shut up the fea with doors, and faid, "hitherto fhalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be staid,” hath fixed as determined bounds to the understanding of man, which he shall not pass. Neither is fuch a degree of knowledge in any wife to be expected from the kindest influences of the Holy Ghost. A fond opinion which, if encouraged, would go a great way to turn Religion into Enthusiasm. -What then I would here be understood to mean is only this, that they who worship God with meekness and fincerity, making it their study to know, and their business to do, his will, fhall through his guidance and direction be secured from all fatal mistakes in Religion, shall neither grofsly err, nor greatly fall. And thus much may be relied on, because we have it under the fanction of his promise who cannot deny himself. "He will fhew his Covenant unto them that fear Him," faith the Pfalmift And "his Secret is with the righteous," faith Solomon. We have too the words of our Bleffed Saviour "He that followeth me fhall not walk in darkness, but fhall have the light of life." And again" If any man will do God's God's will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God"-if he be but honeft in his intentions, he fhall be endued with grace fufficient, whereby to perceive the fitness of thofe heavenly precepts to promote the purity and happiness of mankind; and be abundantly fatisfied that the Author of them is divine. And many other texts are there both in the Old and New Teftament plainly confirming the fame comfortable truth, that fo much infight into facred wisdom, both as to matters of faith and practice, as fhall be neceffary to speak peace to the conscience, and ensure eternal life, will never be wanting to the humble and fincere. Not that either the best or the most learned men are fufficient of themselves to find out the Almighty to perfection; but their sufficiency is of Him: Who will fend the Comforter unto them, even the Spirit of Truth; who fhall open their understandings, standings, bless their searches into holy things, and accompany their studies and meditations with a profperous apprehenfion of whatever it is neceffary for them to know.-An excellent encouragement this to work out our falvation with fear; to be fober and honeft in all our enquiries into the secrets of Revelation; and willing and active in the obfervance of it's laws Since, if thus difpofed, we have the Lord on our fide; fo that we cannot fall into any grofs and dangerous mistakes. But no manner of countenance from hence to the fanciful pretences of enthufiaftick perfons; who, laying the foundation of their religious wisdom in pride and felf-conceit, are much more likely to be infatuated by the juft judgment of God, than to be favoured with any fupernatural illuminations. And this brings me to my Second Propofition; namely, that as many as do not properly fear God, nor obferve obferve his ordinances, are in great danger of being disabled from ever coming to the knowledge of the Truth, and Faith in Him. 2. That the will and affections have a mighty sway over the understanding, experience and obfervation cannot but convince us; it frequently happening that the fame things appear differently to the fame men in different tempers. It is then no wonder if vicious inclinations have a fatal influence upon the judgment. Reason cannot stand against prejudice; and even confcience muft truckle to the unwilling mind. 'Tis fincerity that is a better introduction to heavenly wisdom than the knowledge of arts and sciences: And the honest heart only is that good ground, upon which the feed of the word fown brings forth abundantly. For let us enquire a little: Who they were that rejected and cruci |