and which secure the only happiness to man worth the name! Place all the beauties of nature before the eyes of one born blind, and however grand and sublime, they will not be less uninteresting to him, than the beauties of Redemption to one whose mind is blinded by unbelief.

But, addressing a word to you, who bewail the remains of unbelief; how greatly injurious is it to you, as it respects those spiritual enjoyments of which it robs you. True it is, that what interferes with God's honour, interferes with our happiness: God has wisely and kindly ordered that it should be so. Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God. Psalm 1. 23. In how many instances has this evil principle deprived you of your wonted enjoyments at a throne of grace, and when approaching your heavenly Father in any of his ordinances! How mistrustful has it made you as to the providence of God, fearing that you should not be provided for, that God would overlook you, that you should come to want and poverty! How often have you been more ready to trust God with your soul, than to leave him to choose your present inheritance for you! How does this lead you to fear as to days of affliction, suffering, and death! How does it deprive you of the comfort to be obtained by faith from

the doctrines of God's everlasting love, the certain perseverance of the saints, and of all things we meet with here working together for our good! What gracious assurances has our God given as to these things! Yet how apt is unbelief to represent things certain as doubtful! For if faith be the substance* of things hoped for, and if it be the evidence of things not seen; Heb. xi. 1. or if, as WATTS says, it "brings distant "prospects nigh;" then the contrary must be affirmed of unbelief, viz. that it is a distrust of things promised; and that by placing things at a distance, which God's promise brings near, it renders (as to our view of it) every thing doubtful and precarious. Surely then we cannot have too impressive an idea of the heinous nature of this sin.

'Oh, unbelief, injurious bar!

"Source of tormenting, fruitless fear, "Why dost thou yet reply?"

To know it then in the greatness of its evil, to feel our hatred to it drawn forth from a tender regard to the glory of our God, because it so contemns our dear Immanuel, this will be indeed an important step towards its downfall; especially when we can thus crucify it at the cross of Christ.

* Or, confidence. Margin.

II. Be intent upon attaining to clear views of gospel truth. Ignorance of the gospel has greatly subserved the cause of infidelity; and while the grossest misconception of divine truth has influenced the pen of the infidel, it has insinuated the deadliest poison into the minds of the unwary. But we may be assured of this, that while many have ably defended the gospel, who have known it only in its letter, no one has ever written a syllable against it who has had a just view of it, or who has in the least known its sanctifying influence. However infidels may vaunt and pique themselves, as if reason and literature were exclusively their boon, we know, that in opposing the gospel, they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 1 Tim. i. 7. Let those who are unsettled in their views of the gospel, and who may be in danger of being beguiled from its simplicity, take heed and beware, how they take of the soporific draught presented in the cup of infidelity. Adapting, therefore, Solomon's language on another subject to this, I would say, Look not thou upon the wine when it is red; when it giveth his colour in the cup; when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Prov. xxiii. 31, 32. If spoken of infidelity, the description could not have been more apposite, the counsel

more to purpose. Rather let such take the holy Book in their hands again, and looking up to him who alone can teach the truth as it is in Jesus, read the sacred pages with a mind open to conviction, and we have no doubt their contents will appear to be in value above rubies. For where else shall we find a light to guide our way into immortality? 2 Tim. i. 10..

But why is it that those, who believe the scriptures to be the word of God, attain to so little comfort from them? Paul speaks of some, who are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. "But they are "tossed about with every gale of doctrine, and "never able to attain any fixed and steady prin"ciples." (DODDRIDGE.) Such a wavering state of mind must be very unfriendly to our peace and comfort in the scriptures; for how can the mind be established in the faith of that about which it fluctuates? And if we diligently pursue the inquiry, why the truths of the gospel which especially concern our salvation, are not most readily and cordially embraced and lived upon, and why they do not administer to our establishment daily; the cause may be traced to unbelief, which produces hesitation, and throws difficulties in our way. How long have some poor souls by unbelief been detained in bondage, who, not clearly understanding the covenant of grace, in

reference to their warrant of approach unto Christ, have been waiting to find some better dispositions in themselves, without which they cannot think they have any right to venture to him! Thus making their own worthiness their warrant, instead of the promises of grace.

How many have been exposed to all the bitter. pangs of soul distress, who in times of spiritual desertion have been writing bitter things against themselves, as though God did no longer love them, had for ever withdrawn, and would be fa vourable no more! Thus making him as changeable as ourselves: whereas he is the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Heb. xiii. 8. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself. 2 Tim. ii. 13. How often are believers more intent upon the time to be necessarily taken up in the private, and even public duties of religion, than in having the heart wholly raised to God during that time! Doubtless, at the most we give too little of our time to God, but we know that it is the heart which God demands above all.

How many Providences are apparently lost, as to any good derived from them! Yea, perhaps we say, All these things are against me. Whereas we are told, that all things work together for good to them that love God, and are the called according to his purpose. Rom.