., . -l u.. UmIiLu f ■ ■m SELECT REMAINS OF THE REV. JOHN BROWN, IATE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL Af HADDINCfOSj Who died June 19, 1787. Containing, I. Memoirs of his Life ; II. Letters to his Friends; III. Religious Tracts ; IV. Advices to his Children V. An account of some of his Dying Sayings ; and, VI. Dying Advices to his Congregation. In doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned. Tit. ii. 7, 8. Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversa- tion, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity 1 Tim. iv 12. 1 have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me atj that day. 2 Tim- iv. 7, 8, TO WHICH IS ADDED, ADDRESS TO STUDENTS OF DIVINITY. PITTSBURGH, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY CRAMER, SPEAR AND EICHBAUM, AT THE FRANKLIN HEAD BOOKSTORE, IN MARKET, BE- TWEEN FRONT AND SE- COND STREETS. 1810. I PREFACE . •*- ■ THAT the subjects of the following Papers are serious and interesting, we suppose, will be readily admitted. It is, however, judged neces- sary that we attest, that the Papers themselves are the genuine productions of our Father. 1. The Memoirs were in substance written by his own hand, two or three years before he died. It was his care to mark the singular dis- pensations of Providence towards him; and then prudently to declare them to his children, that they also might set their hope in God. 2. The Letters were sent by him to some intimate friends. We need scarce inform the reader, that the author never had the most re- mote thought of their being printed. Some of the persons who had them in possession, finding [ re. ] tlieir own hearts warmed with the truths which they contained, expressed a willingness to have them made publick, for the edification of others. 3. The Tracts were composed by him, and published at London ; some of them in the Gos- pel Magazine, and the rest in the Theological Miscellany, As comparatively few have seen them, in these treasures of divine knowledge, it Was thought, that by the reprinting of them in this collection, they would be of more general service. 4. The Advices to the children and to the congregation, were found among our father's pa- pers after his decease. He was convinced in his own mind, that Union to Christ, evidenced by conformity to him in holiness, " is the one thing needful;" this was the doctrine which, he taught whilst he lived; and he intended, that these advices should declare his sentiments on this subject, when he was dead. 5. The Dying Words were almost all wrote down when uttered; and, as the writer behoved to attend to the duties of his station, in a dis- tant part of the country, much of what was said t v. ] in his absence was forgotten. It will be admit- ted by all who were acquainted with the •de- ceased, that, although he had a peculiar plea- sure, in relating the well-attested accounts of the experiences of others, yet, with respect to his own, he was very reserved. If in the end of his life, he expressed his confidence in the strongest terms, it can only be imputed to the fulness of his inward persuasion. If at last he was free in mentioning God's gracious dealings with his soul, it will be remembered, that it was only among a circle of friends and acquaintances. But indeed his heart was so much filled with the admiration of the love of God, that " he eould not speak the things which he had seen and heard." No doubt the editors will be censured by some, as too partial to the memory of their de- ceased father, in offering these papers to the publick: we, however, flatter ourselves, that the pleasing hope of being instrumental in doing good to souls, will always more than overba- lance any uneasiness arising from reflections of this kind* c vi. i If some secure hypocrites are awakened, seme profane sinners are converted, some waver* ing Christians are established, and some dis- tressed souls are comforted; we have fully gain- ed our end in the publication. That the Lord may make the perusal of these Select Remains, effectual for accomplishing such valuable purposes on many is the prayer of their servants in the work of the gospel. JOHN BROWN, EBENEZER BROWN. Feb. 6, 1789. CONTENTS. w Page. Preface - ..-..- - - iii. fifemoirs of Mr. Brown's Life - - 9 A Dedication of himself to the Lord - - 18 Letters 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. TRACTS. I. Meditation upon Christ's being made of God to us Sanctifi cation - - - - 38 II. A Contrast of the Purchase and Application of Redemption - - - -44 III. Reflections of a Soul shut up to the Faith - 48 IV. Reflections of a Christian upon his spiritual Elevations and Dejections - - 52 V. Reflections of a Candidate for the Ministerial Office - ' ... 57 VI. Refections of one entered into the Pastoral Office 63 VII. Reflections of a Minister encouraging him- self in Christ - «» 69 VI11. CONTENTS. VIII. On conditional Electioruand Free-xvill - 75 IX. The Parliament dissolved - - - 79 4 SELECT REMAINS. 4 not thy heart at the thought of imbruing thy hands 4 in his blood ? Do not all thy inward powers cry 4 out, Was I a very Beelzebub, a prince of devils, in 4 Jesus's heart from everlasting, and shall I be there 4 to everlasting ? Were all his thoughts, thoughts of 4 love concerning me? Was all his heart inflamed 4 with love to me, and all inflamed with wrath on my 4 account? What shall I render to him for his kind- 4 ness ? Doth the eternal God give me full and ever- 4 lasting room in his blessed heart ? And shall not I 4 give him some, give him all the room in that stye, 4 that hidden hell of mine? Come in, thou blessed of * the Lord ; why standest thou without ? Fill the 4 house, my heart, with thy glory. Let my tongue 4 cleave to the roof of my mouth if I forget thee, O 4 Jesus, and do not prefer thee to my chiefest joy ! 4 O Jesus, go up higher and higher ; and, ye created 4 enjoyments, come down, and sit below his foot- \ stool*' I am yours, &c. LETTER Ilk Sir, Despise not the day of small things, I might say of good things. When you consider yourself, as one of the first-rate deservers of damnation, how may you admire the great kindness of God ! Compare your mercies, your visits, not with the wishes of your soul, but with the deserts of your sin ; and then a little one will appear as a thousand, and a small one as a strong nation of astonishing favours. Though we should get but one smile of hio countenance, and SELECT REMAINS. 25 hear but one word from his blessed lips, in a whole year, what a mercy to those, who deserve all the year, throughout to be tormented in the lowest hell ; Bless God for any transient blinks you enjoy ; but let the unchangeable Saviour be the only confidence of your soul. Frames as well as heart and flesh do fail ; but He will never fail you, nor forsake you. You ask me concerning marks of fellowship with our Lord Jesus. Alas, that I should know so little about that happi- ness ! How easy to talk about spiritual things when we feel not their power ; but, without doubt, our communion with Christ is real, if it make us to lie in the dust before him, and cause us to loathe and ab- hor ourselves before him. Isa. vi. 5. fc Then said I, woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the king, — the Lord of hosts.' O, what a kindly, a heart-humbling, a soul-shaming and pain- ing view of sin, particularly of inward enmity and un- belief, does the smile, the voice of God produce ! We cannot look on a God of redeeming love, without thinking ourselves unclean outrageous beasts and de- vils. Ps. lxxiii. 20, 21 ; and Rom. vii. 24. Real communion too, melts our hearts with love to God, and to his laws, ordinances^ and people ; and renders us vexed and ashamed that we cannot love him to purpose. 1 Cor. v. 14. But it is one thing to know these matters in our head, and another thing to feel them in our heart. Ah, how many of us called Christians are led like beasts by the head; and how few like saints indeed, are led by the heart I O, to hear his heart drawing voice ; O to see his soul-at- tracting countenance ! O, to be fast bound by the cords of his love, so that neither strong lusts within us, nor numerous devils, nor an evil world, may ever be able to loose us! The Christian Journal, I suppose, is now published. You may send for what copies you need, and, O, pray for its doing some C 2 26 SELECT REJUSttW, good ! No doubt it will be the favour of death, and a stumbling block, to some carnal and profane read- ers ; but, if Jesus render it useful to the serious, it is my business to bear patiently the scoffs of the pro- fane. Wishing that the eternal God, the dying Re- deemer, may be your all and in all, and the all and in, all of your seed. I am, yours, &c* LETTER IV. Dear Sir, I received* yours: — I would desire to join with you in prayer for your children. May God write on the afflicted little one his new name. I am glad to find, that you receive so many of the tender mercies of God in your afflictions. If you or I get a crumb from the master's table, what a wonder of sovereign mercy it is ! It is quite undeserved, nay, contrary to all desert. Often it is not desired, or ra- ther, is half forbidden. What else are our careless prayers, and our careless waiting on ordinances, but a courting the denial of mercies ! However, endless praise be to our liberal Jesus, who, seeing our needs, doth grant unto us his gracious presence ! His going forth is prepared as the morning ; and as the rain that waiteth not for a man, and tarrieth not for the sons of men. At our last sacramental solemnity, I thought that some drops of Heaven's dew fell on my soul. The views of that unmatched Jesus, as my all and in all, suiting all my sins, and all my troubles, and all that I could desire, and infinitely more than I could ask or think, were delightful to my heart. But, alas, such is my worse than infernal temper, that SELECT REMAINS. 27 when "at any time he begins to touch my heart, or to take me into his embrace, I struggle to get from him ; and scarcely are a few minutes past when I am often seven fold more like a child of hell than before, in respect of carnality, heart wanderings, and the like ! O that cursed heart of unbelief, that will forsake our own mercy ! Truly, Sir, when I compare the poor commenda- tions, which I give to the unmatched Immanuel, with the conduct of my soul, I am apt to say, O, what a dreadful compassing of God with lies and deceit is found in me! May the Lord have mercy on an inward blasphemer. Dear friend, pity me, and cry mightily to God in my behalf. It is shocking, if you knew it, to think what difference there is between my sermons and my own inward life. Oh, what astonishing grace and blood that must be, which can save such devils * I should say, such sin- ners worse than devils ! — Yet, O, to be distinguished debtors to free grace ! O happy, happy, to be drowned for ever in debt to redeeming love ! — Oh, to be set up here, and at the last day, and for ever, in the most publick place, as bankrupts that owed infinitely much to divine kindness, and that could not pay a farthing ! Yours, &c. 2% SELECT REMAINS LETTER V. Dear Friends, The repeated strokes on your little babes are very affecting ; but the words with which Jesus en- tertains your souls, give you reason to hope that the children are removed, to the immediate care of their better and more proper parents, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Now, view the matter in what light you will, you may see that the Lord is doing all things well. God had a better right to your chil- dren than you; why then should you grudge, or think that you are ill used, when he takes back his loan ? He can manage them better than you. It, no doubt, delighted you to see them walking about your hands, or dandled on your knees; but how much better is it to walk about the hands of a re- deeming God, and to enjoy him as their eternal all, and in all ! We cannot conceive the pleasure of Jehovah, in seeing the travail of a Redeemer's Soul: his children sitting like so many olive plants around his table ! It was pleasant to hear a Saviour say, 4 Suffer little children to cqme unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God ;' and to see him take them up in his arms and bless them: — but how much more pleasant to see him seat them with him- self upon his throne, and in his divine manner say, 44 Bt hold I and the children whom thou hast given 44 me!" — Methinks your babes, by their early death, are, as it were addressing you, u O, father and mo- 44 ther, make haste and come away — we are not lost, 44 but gone before ! O, do not reflect on the Lord — * 4 he does all things well ; all his ways are mercy and 44 truth." Beware of thinking that all these things are against you. The Lord's right way is in the sea, SELECT REMAINS. 29 and his path in the mighty waters. Though to you he is covering himself with a cloud of dark provi- dences, yet never fear, the rainbow of the new cove- nant is round about his head. God often loves them in a peculiar manner, whom he peculiarly afflicts. It is really strange, that we are all so fond of having the mark of bastards, viz. freedom from chastisements ! — but what better than opposition to God, can we think, will proceed from our carnal minds. I confess it is not to our honour that we need so many trials ; but, O, it is kind in God, either to draw or to drive us to himself! O friends, fill your bosom with pro- mises, since your babes are taken from you ; and, when you lie down without your children, take pro- mises to lie down and rise up with you. That single promise, Isa. xli. 10. or that Isa. xliii. 1 — 3. is sweeter than thousands of the sweetest babes. Me- thinks God is saying to you, 4 Parents, am I not bet- ter to you than ten sons ?' Let your hearts reply, 4 Yes, Lord, thou art better than a thousand. Whom 4 have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon 4 the earth whom I desire besides thee.' God's pro- mises are good bread for mourners ; and his words are refreshing to a sorrowful heart. Even now he is Saying to you, 4 Eat, O friends ; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved!' Many a lesson we have got, that all besides Christ is fc vanity of vanities ;' and that time is short, and eternity long and impor- tant ; but, ah ! we are dull scholars, who scarce learn a letter in a whole year ! Since God by troubles lets us know that it is night, and prevents us from sound sleep, let us, instead of keeping dead babes in our thoughts, think, when will it be morning? when will the Lamb in the midst of the throne feed us, and lead us by fountains of living waters? and when shall God himself wipe away all tears from our eyes? May God, that comforteth the cast-down, comfort you by the coming of Jesus. Yours, SvC. 36 SELECT REMAINS. LETTER VI. Dear Having heard some days ago of your illness, I have transmitted to you the few following hints* 1. Let your days of trouble be days of trying your own heart and way before God ; and, O, let your search be earnest, as you know not how soon death, and an appearance before the tribunal of Christ, may actually take place. Mind that it is not the having somewhat of a profession, but the having our soul united to Jesus Christ, and our being renewed in the spirit of our minds, that will stand as real re- ligion before God. 2. Think how much better it will be, to discern the mistakes relative to your state, or relative to your thoughts, words, and actions, now when sove- reign grace may rectify them, than to have them discovered when it is too late to obtain a happy change. 3. Ponder under what view Christ answers your case. He is made of God to you wisdom, righ- teousness, sanctification, and redemption ; and so is answerable to you as foolish and ignorant, naked and guilty, corrupted and defiled, imprisoned and in bondage. Think, I beseech you, hpw he suits you in his new covenant characters, and how great is your need of him in all these views. 4. Ponder carefully, that Christ, and all the ful- ness of God, is given unto you in the free promises, and offers of the gospel, such as Prov. i. 22, 23 — ix. 4, 5 — xxiii. 26. Isa. xlv. 22, 24 — xlvi. 12, 13 — lv. 1, 7 — xlii. 6, 7. John vi. 37. 2 Cor. v. 18, 21. Acts xiii. 26. Rev. xxii. 17. See that you do not merely look over and think over the scriptures, but try and apply them to your heart. SELECT REMAIN9* 31 5. Rather think too ill of your soul's case before God anjfcf your conduct in life, than too well. If they cannot stand the trial of such texts as these, Mat. v. 3, 8. Rom. viii. 2 — vii. 14, 15, 24. 2 Cor. v. 17. Gal. iv. 19 — v'U 15. Pet. ii. 7. John xxi. 17. all is naught. 6. Consider what pains God hath been at with you. His language in this rod is plainly, O that they were wise, that they understood this ! And see also John v. 6. Mat. xx. 32. Ezek. xxxiii. 11. Finally. Mind that all the instructions parents and others have given you, all the offers of salvation which have been made to you, and all the strivings of the Spirit with your conscience, will bear witness against you, if you make not the receiving of Christ and walking in him your most earnest study. * Now J my dear friend, 4 now is the accepted time, now is the day of your salvation.' Oh, harden not your heart, but fly for refuge to Jesus as the hope set be- fore you. May the Lord himself persuade you. Yours, &c. BETTER VII. Dear Sister hi Affliction, I am essaying to weep with you that weep. Yet let me beseech you, that you do not mourn as those that have no hope. 4 The Lord liveth, and 4 blessed be our rock, and let the God of our salva- 4 tion be exalted.'' Fret not at the inexpressible kindness of God to your husband. We have no reason to doubt, but that he is gone to Jesus which is far better. No more dim eyes nor feeble limbs 32 SELECT REMAINS. « now ! Nor will it be long, I suppose, till he and you meet, where ye shall for ever love one anlwier, and rejoice over one another, as the ransomed of the Lord/ There the kind relations of husband and wife will be quite swallowed up in the great rela- tions to God and the Lamb. The Lord hath now an opportunity of giving you an experience of him- self, as the widow's husband, the widow's judge, and the widow's stay. Stir up your soul, and cry, * I know that my Redeemer liveth ;' * my Lord and my God ;' yea, mine own God is he : — I hope, Jer. xlix. 21. ' Leave thy fatherless children, upon me, * I will preserve them alive, and let your widows * trust in me,' will be the security for you and yours. Fear not, only believe. Permit me to say a few things to the children. Remember your father hath often and solemnly devoted you to the Lord, O, for the Lord's sake, never give yourselves to Satan or to your own lusts ! If you cast yourselves on the God of your father, I dare foretel that God will take care of you all, both of soul and body. I my- self was thrown to the wide world when young, and yet to this moment I never was in a strait as to out- ward things, nor as to inward things either, unless when my own unbelieving heart was the cause. Your friends will, no doubt, point out what course you should take as to earthly business; but let me recommend to your consideration these scriptures, Jer. xxxiv. 19 — xlix. 11. Psal. lxix. 5 — cxivi. 9 — xxxiv. 3, 20 — xxxvii. 3, 5. Isa. xli. 10, 17, 18 — xliii. 2. Mat. vi. 33. Phil, iv, 19. I beseech, nay charge, every one of you, to read these scriptures, and to lay them up in your minds. Perhaps your father's illness disqualified him for giving you dy- ing advice ; if so, take these scriptures instead of them. O, if the grace of God would enable you to live according to the manifold directions which you have received ! See that y ou study to live, before SELECT REMAINS. 3S "God and men, in such a manner, as that you will be an honoutfto your deceased father, and a comfort to your distressed mother. Yours, &c. LETTER VIII.* Dear When I get an opportunity, I have some thoughts of making a trial of the medicine which you mention, though my hopes of being better by it are not very high. My life and health seem now to pass like a declining shadow, nor dare I repine at the matter. God hath in some measure satisfied me with old age ; I would therefore be longing to see his salvation. I observe several things relative to my family, which urge my carnal heart to wish con- tinuance ; but my death can make no vacancy in my family, and far less in the church, which Jesus can- not easily fill up. What I desire is, to have the pre- sence of God in my trouble, and to be enabled to act for his glory. I can hardly bear the thought of being consigned to be an useless weight on his earth. But I must not quarrel at his disposal ; — he cannot but do right, nor would I wish to attempt making straight what he has made crooked. Redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, is what I ever desire to en- joy ; and I wish to leave the circumstances of my de- • This and the three following letters were written by the author to his relations, when he was in distress. D 34 SELECT REMAINS. parture to his high sovereign will. If grace reigns through Jesus's righteousness to eternal iife to me and mine, I ask no more. I believe that I shall nev- er be perfectly well, till I be with the Lamb in the midst of the throne. In the mean time I earnestly desire to die as a wax taper, sending forth a sweet smell of him, whose garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia. I am yours, &c. LETTER IX. Dear I am at present in a weak and languishing con- dition ; but as it is the doing of the Lord, I desire to be resigned; and would gladly be content, whe- ther death or recovery be the issue. Indeed the de- sire of my heart is, that, if it be his will, I should depart and be with Christ, which is far better than being in this sinful world. But it would be impro- per for me to set up my ignorant and corrupt will, as a rule to the Most High. I wish to be at entire and cordial resignation to his will, who hath so gracious- ly performed all things for me. Let Him recover, or let Him kill me, as is most for his glory, I hope that it shall be in infinite love to my soul. I desire to take all kindly from his hand, and I hope that he will sweeten all with believing views of his everlasting love to me. To leave a multitude of kind relations, hearers and neighbours, on earth, is an easy matter, in order to depart and to be with Jesus Christ for ever. When I write perhaps my last letter to you, SELECT REMAINS. 35 that I could commend Him who is white and ruddy ; the chiefest among ten thousand, and altoge- ther lovely ! Rather, O that the Holy Ghost would enable you and your children to come and see him. 1 am sure that is a pleasant and enriching sight! May never one of you get rest in your minds till you obtain such a blessed discovery ! I give it, per- haps, as my last words to you and your children, that there is none like Christ, there is none like Christ, there is none like Christ ! Yours, affectionately, &c. LETTER X. Dear My weakness still continues, nor indeed is my mind anxious about this, but a Christ-glorifying death, and a being for ever with the Lord. My con- cern too is, that all my relations should have my place on earth delightfully supplied by the knowledge, care and fellowship of Jesus Christ: even He whom, not- withstanding all my present and now long- continued carelessness and wickedness. I still hold to be Jesus Christ my Lord, O, could my soul enter into the full meaning of these words as I would wish ! But I hope that I shall be allowed this attainment by and by. Already my poor soul, in a manner hovering between time and eternity, cries ' None like Christ r and ' None but Christ for me? And may I, and all my relations and friends, be his henceforth and for ever! It is no small comfort to have my relations on earth so kind and agreeable to me ; but my superla- tive desire, I think, is to be with Jesus and his ran- 36 SELECT REMAINS. somed millions above. That such a sinner, and origi- nally such a mean sinner, should be kindly treated by so many brethren and friends, doth and may amaze me ; but O, how sweetly doth Jesus and his spirit exceed them all ! Now I in some sweet measure feel and see, that there is no friendship like that of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This week my bodily appetite is no better ; but little matter, if God would ena- ble me to drink up a river of his redeeming blood, and to feed full on Jesus's flesh — on all the fulness ©f God. At the meeting of the Synod, let my weak- ness be represented to them ; and, if they judge that it has disqualified me for teaching the students, I heartily agree to be laid aside from this work, and that one more fit should be chosen. It is Jesus Christy whom I wish to have exalted ; and the best means for saving sinners, I wish to take place. I hope the brethren will take care to supply my congregation with sermons, as want of this would sink my spirits. I have been but a dry tree myself among them ; and O, it would rejoice my heart to hear of Jesus's pow- er being felt, and his glory seen by the ministry of my brethren helping me ! I do not wish to be a burden to them ; and, if Providence bring me back into any measure of strength, I shall inform the supplier. The longer I live, I see myself the less worthy of being regarded by any body. — Wishing all the blessings of time and eternity on your family, and that the Lord may render you and your brother, and all my pupils, more faithful, diligent, and successful in the ministry than I have been, fu, I remain yours, &c sEtEGT REMAINS* 57 LETTER XL I am, and have been since you went away, much as when you saw me. Still weak, but desiring to wait for the salvation of God, which I hope will make me strong in his due time : his afflicting hand lies very mercifully on me : how pleasantly his glori- fying hand, in a short time, will lie on me, I with hu- mility wish to know, as soon as it is for his glory, and my own and others' good. O, study early fel- lowship with Christ. It is sweet, in days of trouble, to look back to this. I hope that you will not grudge to preach for me another sabbath; and may that sweet Jesus Christ, and his Spirit, give you and me many days of sweet fellowship with them, which I am sure and glad they can give us. My allowed in- clination is to serve the Lord on earth, or to praise him in heaven, as he thinks most for his honour, for a time ; though, saving his will, I would cheerfully prefer the last. O, to be with Christ in heaven, ap- pears to me a double, a triple heaven for such a sin- ner! This, with my kind compliments; to all my brethren about you. Yours affectionately, &c. D 2 38 SELECT REMAINS/ TRACTS. TRACT L Meditation upon Christ's being made of God to us Sanctifi cation* OF his own infinite grace, God formed a perfectly holy manhood to his eternal Son, and in it a seed of holiness to millions unnumbered of the hu- man race. In him he re-planted humanity, a choice vine, wholly a right seed, that could never become a degenerate plant of a strange vine ; he made the root holy, that so also might be the branches. Thrice marvellous work ! Sacrifices and offerings God would not, but a body he prepared for his Son. The branch out of Jesse's root was formed, excellent and come- ly, that holy thing a sanctifier ; one with the sancti- fied ! The Spirit of the Lord rested on, and was given him without measure. God made his Son in our own nature, under the law, the immutable standard of holiness in heart or life. He exacted of him the whole requirements thereof, as it is a broken covenant ; and held him un- der it, till by enduring its whole penalty, and fulfill- ing its precepts, he had magnified it and made it ho- nourable. This law was in his heart ; he took de- light to do thy will, O God ! It became him to fulfil all righteousness, and to suffer ere he entered into SELECT REMAINS. 39 glory. Thrice noble and efficacious foundation of true holiness in us! (1.) Hereby the curse of the law, which is the strength of sin, which, as with al- mighty force, consigns over the subjected transgres- sors to spiritual death in trespasses and sins, to the dominion of sin, as a leading part of just punishment, is removed. Thus the gulph fixed between God and us is rendered passable. Being redeemed from. the curse, dead to the law by the body of Christ, sin cannot have dominion over us ; but, being made free from the law of sin and death, we bring forth fruit unto God. (2.) Hereby the legal favour of God was procured, his real favour vented, and established upon a legal footing. God being well pleased for his righteousness sake, which magnified the law and made it honourable, we are reconciled unto God by his death, that we may be saved by his life. Though once we were without God and without hope, and far off, we are brought nigh by his blood, that our enmity may be slain. God, who reconciled the world to himself, must be the Lord our God that sanctifieth us. Being our friend, our God of peace, he must rid us of sin, our principal plague, and be- stow upon us holiness, our chief happiness ; must sanctify us wholly, soul, body, and spirit. Being our reconciled God of peace, his wisdom must de- vise how to keep and deliver us from temptation ; his power must be perfected in our weakness, must subdue our iniquities, and work in us to will and to do of his good pleasure j his holiness must make us after its own image, its own likeness ; his justice must bestow upon us the spiritual life purchased for us by Christ our surety ; his goodness must do us good, make all things in us very good, and supply all our wants ; his truth must fulfil every exceeding great and precious promise, whereby we are made par* takers of the divine nature, having escaped the cor- ruption that is in the world through lust. If this 40 SELECT REMAINS* reconciled God of peace be our father, we must be begotten again into a conformity with him, and be made to perfect holiness in his fear. If he is our husband, he must adorn us for the eternal feast. If he is our portion, he must fill all things. If he is our master, he must command us of his household to walk in the way of the Lord, he must provide for and rule well his family. If he is our physician, he must heal our diseases, see our froward ways, and heal them. (3.) Hereby enough of communicable grace was purchased; redemption from all iniquity; zeal of good works ; redemption from a vain conver- sation; cleansing till one become without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; possession of life, and t\at more abundantly ; sanctification of the people, (4.) Hereby the broken law which gendereth to bondage, the galling yoke, which neither we nor our fathers could bear, is deprived of all its wrathful sanction ; and nothing is left for those under the law to Christ, but kind chastisements for their profit, to make them partakers of God's holiness. It is trans- formed into a perfect law of liberty, obedience to which founds no proper title to eternal happiness. It saith not, The man that doth these things shall live in them ; but, being delivered out of the hands of your enemies, serve God in holiness and righteous- ness before him all the days of your life. Having these promises, dearly beloved, cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. Having these hopes of the heavenly kingdom, as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, purify yourselves as God is pare. Since he is the Lord your God, have no other gods before him, &c. Walk in love, as Christ hath loved you. Be perfect, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. In this new form it doth not re- vive sin, nor is the strength of it; but inlaid in the promise, and impressed on the heart, it enstamps nolines on the soul, and creates purity and truth in SELECT REMAINS. 41 the inward part. (5.) In Jesus's fulfilment of the law is exhibited the most suitable, the most per- fect and engaging pattern of universal holiness. He therein left us an example, that we should walk in his steps ; that we might learn of him and follow him. How honourable this ! Being in the form of God, he took upon him the form of a servant, and was obedient unto death. How perfect ! He did al- ways the things that pleased his Father. How suit- able ! He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. How engaging ! We love him be- cause he first loved us. We walk in love, as Christ hath loved us, and given himself for us. It is at once the pattern of our brother, our husband, our Saviour, and our God. (6.) In his fulfilment of the law, the motives of holiness are rendered infinitely numerous, plain, and determining. The inexpressi- ble importance of holiness is marked in the service, the death of God. The purity and authority of the moral law is manifested in his magnifying and mak- ing it honourable. In his being made sin for us, the horrid nature of sin, as the murder of a God of infi- nite grace — the murder of a God in our nature- is displayed, more than is done in either, law, hell, or human heart. How constraining to gratitude is the giving, the dying love of God ! In it we have strength and reward secured. We shall be strength- ened in the Lord, and walk up and down in his name. Our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. The foundation of holiness thus laid, all the infi- nite stores of purchased grace were lodged in Christ, that they might be near, and sure, and sweet to pol- luted men. He received gifts for men. In him it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell ; that so, holding the head, the whole members might grow up with the increase of God. He is full of grace and truth, that out of his fulness we may receive 42 SELECT REMAINS. grace for grace ; and that God may supply all out wants out of his riches ; and wash off all our stains in him, who is the fountain opened — the fountain of gardens — well of living waters — and streams from Lebanon. Faithful to God that appointed him, he must bestow these gifts, this grace, upon men ; him- self, and his holy angels have no use for it. In respect of mediatorial person, office, and rela- tion, Christ is so fashioned, that there can be no spi- ritual connexion with him which is not of a sanctify- ing nature. If he is a Redeemer, it is from all ini- quity. If he comes to us, it is to turn away ungod- liness. If he is a Saviour, it is from sins ; he is ma- nifested to destroy the works of the devil. If he is a prophet, it is to teach to profit ; to teach to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. If he is a sacrifice, it is to purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God ; it is to finish trans- gressions and make an end of sin, and sanctify the people. If he is an advocate, it is to plead their sanctification, and to send down the Holy Spirit, to cause us to walk in his statutes, and keep his judge- ments. If he is a king, it is to command deliveran- ces for Jacob ; slay our enmity, and subdue our ini- quity ; and make his grace sufficient for us, and his strength perfect in our weakness. If he is our Fa- ther, it is to bepret us again to a lively and purifying hope, and to make his daughter all glorious within. If he is an head, it is to make us grow with the in- crease of God — to make us grow in grace. If he is an husband, he makes perfect through his comeli- ness put upon us. II* he is a shepherd, he must lead in paths of righteousness. If he is a leader, he must guide in a path that is right. If he is a way, it is a way of holiness. If he is a captain, we must be strong in the Lord to wrestle with spiritual wicked- SELECT REMAINS. 43 ness, and abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul : They that are his soldiers are new crea- tures, who have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts. If he is God's unspeakable gift, he must make room for God in our soul. If he is heard, we are made clean through his word, sanctified through his truth. If he is beheld, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord. If he is touched, healing virtue proceeds from him. In the manifestation of Christ in the gospel, God carries the external means of sanctification to the highest. An attention to the facts and mysteries relative to him discovers the law, the covenants, the nature of God, the evil and danger of sin, the beauty, necessity, and usefulness of holiness to the highest ; and, in fine, exhibits the strongest motives and most excellent means of holiness. By the introduction of Christ into our heart, and his continued inhabitation and agency therein, our sanctification is begun, increased, and perfected. By his entrance into our understanding as the light of life, sinful blindness and ignorance are expelled, and we are made light in the Lord, have the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of him. By his application of himself to our conscience, as Jehovah our righteousness, it is made good — is purged from dead works to serve the living God, and disposed to promote the end of the command- ment, and to avoid offence towards God and towards men. By his entrance into our will and affections, as the infinitely amiable and gracious gift of God, he opens our soul for God, and draws out our heart to- wards him ; — inflames our soul with love, which is the fulfilling of the law. 44 SELECT REMAINS. In these respects let him be made of God sanctifi- cation to me. Detested be all the schemes of dig- ging holiness out of myself. Let others, with the horrors of damnation attending every false step, or joys of heaven earned in the servile mode, promote their outside, their bastard piety ; let my life of ho- liness be by the faith of the Son of God ! Thus, my soul, exercise thyself unto godliness, that in grace, as well as in glory, Christ may be All and in All. TRACT II. A Contrast of the Purchase and Application of Redemption, REDEMPTION, thou eternal excellency, thou joy of many generations — return, return, that I may look upon thee ! How my heart is amazed, is ravished, with the view of what my adored Jesus hath done for«me in the purchase of redemption, and doth to me in the everlasting application of it to my soul. There, in the purchase, Jehovah found him out, and laid my help upon him who is mighty: Here, in the application, he is found of me that sought him not. There, he struck out my name from my debt-bond, the broken covenant — sad char- ter to infinite woe ! and inserts his own : Here, he makes with me an everlasting covenant, even the sure mercies of David. There, he made himself heir to my deserved threatenings of his Father's indigna- tion: Here, he bequeaths, he gives to me his ex- ceeding great and precious promises of eternal life. There, to be firmly connected with my guilt, my woe, he was made a priest with an oath : Here, that SELECT REMAINS, 45 I might have strong consolation, he swears that he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and that surely blessing he will bless me. There, in the purchase of redemption, he, who was in the form of God, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God, emptied himself of his glory : Here, in the application of it, he confers upon me an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The Lord is my everlasting light, and my God my glory. There, he was found in fashion as a man, a Son of man : Here, he makes me a son an heir of God, and joint heir with Christ. There, he was sent forth in the likeness of sinful flesh: Here, he makes meapartaker of the divine nature, and changes me into the divine image from glory to glory. There, he became a worm and no man : Here, he renders me equal to the angels of God in heaven. There, he the son of the father's love, was an out-cast, an exile : Here, I, a hateful, distant foe, am, through his blood, brought near unto God, even to his seat. There, he bare our infirmities, was weary and weak hearted : Here, he hath a fellow-feeling of our infirmities, is afflicted in all our afflictions, and perfects his -strength in my weakness. There, he made himself of no reputation, was a reproach of men, and despised of the peopie : Here, he gives me a new name, which the mouth of the Lord doth name : the ransomed of the Lord ; the holy one ; sought out, and not forsaken. There, he took upon him the yoke of the broken law ; the yoke of my transgressions was wreathed about his neck ; Here, he brings me into the glorious liberty of the sons of God ; puts on me his yoke, which is easy, and his burden, which is light. There, he bore the sins of many, he was made sin for us : Here, he makes me righteous, the righteousness of God in him. There, he was condemned, was made a curse for us : Here, he is a prince and Saviour, exalted to E 46 SELECT REMAINS, give repentance and remission of sins ; sent to bless me in turning me from mine iniquities ; set up to be blessings for evermore. There he was joined with thieves ; was numbered with transgressors : Here, he puts me among the children; joins me with thrones and dominions. And truly my fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. There, in the purchase of my redemption, he was oppressed with ignominious poverty ; had not where to lay his head: Here, in the application of it, through his poverty I become rich ; he gives me his unsearchable riches, the goodly heritage of the hosts of nations; fills me with all the fulness of God; gives me the most high for my habitation, my dwell- ing place in all generations. There, for hunger and thirst his soul fainted in him : Here, he satiates my soul with goodness; gives me his flesh, which is meat indeed, and his blood which is drink indeed: gives me bread of life, living water, an overflowing cup of salvation. There he hid not his face from shame and spitting; had his visage more marred than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: Here, he makes me lift up my face without spot unto God ; makes me shine as the sun in the kingdom of my Father. There, he was divinely de- serted ; his Father forsook him, and was far from the words of his roaring : Here, he lilts on me the light of Jehovah's countenance, and shall make me like him, by seeing him as he is ; for so shall I be for ever with the Lord. There, he gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities: Here, he is the Lord, my God, that healeth me ; that heakth all my diseases, and bindeth up my painful wounds ; and by his stripes am I healed. There, from the cross, he would not come down and save himself : SELECT REMAINS. 47 Here, from the throne, he comes down to love me from the pit of corruption, draw me out of many wa- ters, turn me from ungodliness, and save me from the lowest hell. There, he wore a crown of thorns : Here, he gives me a crown of life ; makes me a royal dia-lem in the hand of my God. There, he drank for me the baleful cup of infinite wrath : Here, he gives me the fountain of life, rivers of pleasure, wine and milk, without money and without price; and makes me drink water out of the wells of salvation. There, he was amazed and very heavy, exceeding sorrow- ful, even unto death : Here, he makes me obtain joy an.i gladness, go to God mine exceeding joy, and en- ter into the joy of my Lord. There, he poured out his soul unto death ; travailed in pain till he knew not what to say : Here, he is formed in my heart the hope of glory ; sees in me the travail of his soul, and is satisfied. There, he shed his blood for me : Here y he loves me, and washes me from my sins in his blood, and makes me a king and priest unto God, even the Father. There, he died for the ungodly ; Here, he hath quickened me, who was dead in tres- passes and sins ; because he lives, I shall live also ; my life is hid with Christ in God ; and when he appears I shall appear with him in glory. There, he was bu- ried, descended unto the lower parts of the earth: Here, raised up and alive for evermore, he raiseth me up together, and makes me sit together with him in heavenly places. What melting views are these ! How my heart heaves with joy, flames with love ! — would burst in praise, if wonder would allow ! A. B. 48 SELECT REMAINS. TRACT III. Rejections of a Soul shut up to the Faith. Look back, my soul, to the rock from whence thou wast hewn. Ponder the manner in which Jeho- vah loved and brought thee from the pit of corrup- tion. How the fiery law, with its dread mandates all pointed against my crimes, and its tremendous penali- ty turned every way, to stop my escape from the gra- ciously inviting God of infinite mercy ! — To what numerous, to what wretched shifts I betook myself to shun the Redeemer ! By a Christian education, God had shut me up from the more horrid abomi- nations, cursing, swearing, lewdness, intemperance, and neglect of the forms of religion. But, ah ! with what earnestness I indulged myself in sins not less* sriminal, though less open and infamous ! — When his dread law convinced my conscience, that my se- cret faults were set in the light of his countenance ; and that what is esteemed in the sight of men is an a* foomination to the Lord ; how eagerly I turned aside to seek righteousness, as it were by the works of the law ! When conscience upbraided me for neglect of former duties, particularly of acts of worship, how often have I redoubled, or even tripled the ordinary tale, in order to pay off my old debts ! How foolishly lny heart cried, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all ! Still my conscience, like the daughter of the horse-leech, cried, Give, give. The Lord, thundered into my soul, 4 As many as are of the 4 works of the law are under the curse ; for it is writ- ' ten, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all 4 things written in the book of the law to do them. — > 4 Cursed is he that trusteth in man, that maketh * flesh his arm, whose heart departeth from the liv- SELECT REMAINS* 49 ing God.' — While I, for many days compassed Sinai, going about to establish my own righteousness, toge- ther with, or more truly in opposition to, the righ- teousness of Christ, the thunder waxed louder and louder. How then was my moisture turned into the drought of summer, and I was wearied in the great- ness of my way ! How plainly I perceived all my at- tempts towards virtue, to be the mire and dirt, cast up from a troubled sea of inward rage and enmity a- gainst God — against the Redeemer ! How I trembled to feel myself reserved in chains of guilt, condemna- tion, and sinful pollution, to the judgement of the great day ! How oft my agonized soul sobbed forth, * My bones are dried; my hope is lost; and I am cut off for my part.' — Not all the flames of Sinai could melt my heart. I hardened myself in sorrow, and became more obstinate in inward rebellion against the Lord. I went on frowardly in the way of my heart. I loved idols, and after them I would go. But, thanks be to God, that stopt my career! .while I rolled and raged in my blood, without any eye to pity me, he passed by me, and looked upon me, and said unto me, when I was in my blood, my devil- ish rage against the Redeemer, live! And behold, my time was the time of love ! the day of power ! the day of espousals indeed! — Determined to make an uncommon stretch of almighty grace, he hedged me in. Before, behind, and on every side, I heard, I saw, I felt, not cherubims with flaming swords, but calls but cords — of everlasting love. Before me I saw, I heard God in Christ reconciling the world to him- self, saying to my heart, 1 1 am the Lord thy God.' To silence every doubt, he sware unto me, 4 Hear, O my people, and I will speak ; I will testify against thee. I am God, even thy God' — as really, as fully ,thine as I am God! — Behind I heard his voice, ' Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' I saw E 2 50 SELECT REMAINS, myself thus charged, with all the authority of hea- ven, to take God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in Christ, to be my God, and my all ; and that neither blasphemy, nor murder, nor any thing horrid, could be more aggravated rebellion against him, than my not believing that he was my God; and that all con- ception, all worship of him, under any other view, than as my God, was but the placing an idol in his room !— .How my heart was astonished to find, that the first and great commandments so charged me, the chief of sinners, a very prince of devils, to pos- sess what the Lord God givech me — to possess the infinite all, as in Christ, my own. — When, in humili- ty, produced from hell, I pled, that I was not worthy of him — that I could not believe— could not receive him — could not obey his sweet command— he took me by the arms, by the heart on every side, and said, 4 1 will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a * people. — I will say, It is my people j and they shall c say, The Lord is my God. Thus encompassed on every side, tell mc, ye sons of men, ye powers of darkness, what was I that I could withstand Godj Had all the enmity in hell been concentred in my heart, how could it have withstood such omnipotence of love ! how could I have escaped out of God's hands ! how could I have trodden on the exceedingly great and precious pro- mise and oath of God, confirmed with his blood ! how could I have trampled on the great, the kind commandment of infinite love! how could I have torn the bowels of an apprehending Saviour, a be- seeching God ! how could I have broke the arms of almighty grace, which grasped me hard! how could my heart, my soul, forbear to cry out, Amen y so be it. Lord-— to say of the Lord, 4 He is my refuge and my ' fortress j my Gad, in whom I will trust — my Lord SELECT REMAINS. 51 4 and my God — Lord, I believe, help thou mine un- • belief!' But will God indeed be mine, wholly mine ! for ever mine ! Is the giving word, the oath, gone out of his mouth, and sealed with his blood ; Cursed then be every disposition, every thought of my soul, that dis- sents. Let the mouth of these liars be stopped— Lord, persecute and destroy, from under these hea- vens, this evil heart of unbelief; thy curse unto it.— But what shall I render to the Lord for his infinite gift of himself 'to mil — Such as I am, Lord, I give myself to thee as my God. Myself as naked, as guil- ty, I give to thee, as my God, my righteousness — my God, that covereth with robes of righteousness and garments of salvation — my God, that justifieth the ungodly freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus — my God, unmatched in for- giving iniquity, transgression and sin. — Myself, as foolish and ignorant, I give to thee, as my God, my Redeemer, that teacheth to profit — my God, who hath compassion on the ignorant, and openeth the eyes of the blind, and maketh the heart of the rash to understand knowledge — to my Christ, as made of God to me wisdom. — Myself, as polluted, I give to thee, my God, that saveth from all uncleanness — to thee, my Redeemer, who art come to Zion to turn *way ungodliness from Jacob — who art a fountain opened for sin and uncleanness — who art made of God to mc sanctification. — Myself, as rebellious, I give to thee, m y God of peace, who slays the enmity by the blood of hu Son, and to thee, 6 Jesus, who hath received gifts to* men ; yea for the rebellious, that God the Lord may a ve ll among them, and daily load them with his benefits.-^Myself, as weak, in- sufficient to think any thing, to 4o any thing, spiri- tually good, I give to thee, my God,nho giveth pow- er to the faint, and increased* strength tg them that 52 SELECT REMAINS. have no might — to thee, the worker in and for me of thy good pleasure. — Myself, as poor and wretch* ed, as poverty and emptiness, itself, I give to thee, my God, my ally and in all — My God, who accounts it more blessed to give than to receive, that thou ma) est supply all my wants out of thy riches in glory by Christ Jesus. TRACT IV. Refections of a Christiaiiy upon his Spiritual Eleva- tions and Dejections. My life is indeed hid with Christ in God. My new covenant state is as mount Zion, which can nev- er be moved. But ah ! the instability of my spiri- tual condition ! How often God hath lifted me up and cast me down again ! Sometimes he hath lifted me up, in allowing me sweetly distinct views of divine truth, and of Jesus his Father therein. — In his light, I saw light, and walked, read, heard, and meditated, in the light of his countenance! O my pleasant insight w*" tne mystery of divine persons, and of divine perfections, as manifested in Christ!— -into the mystery of re- demption, in its rise, means, ma« er > an d end ! — and into my duty, with relation thereto, even in intricate circumstances! — Anon h* casts me down into deep and darksome caves. -^ h then, my ignorant, carnal, and misshapen app^hensions of divine things ! A- midst the best *ieans of instruction, all were like a sealed book & my soul. I groped as a blind man at SELECT REMAINS. £3 noon day, neither understanding what was exhibited, nor whence I had come, nor whither I should go. Sometimes God, by his word and Spirit, afforded me the most convincing assurance that he was my Saviour, my husband, my father, my friend, my phy- sician, my God, and my all and in all! and enabled me to claim him in every character, in every promise, without the least hesitation. — Anon he permitted me to fall into such darkness and doubts, that I could be persuaded of scarce any thing inspired. I doubted of, I disputed against, all his saving relations to me, all his promises of kindness to me. Even when he testified against me that he was God, even my God 5 I pleaded he was a liar. — >Ah shocking! resisted, re- belled against, and vexed his holy Spirit ! Sometimes God hath lifted me up to a sweet se* renity of soul. Like one beloved of the Lord, I dwelt in safety. No angry challenge from heaven, or from my conscience, disturbed my repose. Even amidst troubles, or in the views thereof, I rested in the Lord, and quietly waited for his salvation. — Anon he cast me into deep waters, where there was no standing. All his waves and billows went over me. Ah! how tossed with tempest, and not comforted! While heaven deserted and frowned, while the ar- rows of the Almighty stuck fast in me, and the poi- son thereof drunk up my spirit, Satan trod me under his feet, sheathed in me thousands of his fiery darts : my raging corruptions wrought and were tempes- tuous : the world hated, reproached, and persecuted me ! Scarce ought remained, but a fearful looking for of fiery indignation. Sometimes God hath lifted me up, in so plentifully shedding abroad his love in my heart, and so power- Hilly arresting my thoughts on divine things, that 54 select Remains. not all the temptations of Satan, or solicitations of this world, could draw it aside. My heart so burn- ed with love to him, that it could desire nothing, care for nothing, and converse with nothing, but himself.— Anon it became so loose, so unfixed, that I could not for my soul confine it a moment to a spi- ritual object in a spiritual manner j but whole armies of idle, ignorant, legal, unbelieving, blasphemous, proud, covetous, malicious, or wanton thoughts, crowded into my mind. Sometimes God, in lifting me up, hath inflamed my heart with the most ardent desire after himself. How my soul longed, thirsted, hungered, and panted for the Lord ! How she cried and followed hard af- ter him ! Nothing could divert, nothing could check, my ardour in pursuit of himself; and when I found him I held him as with a death grasp, and would not let him go. With what brokenness, what eagerness of heart, I wept, and made supplication to him ! A- non, by casting down, I could neither breathe after, nor pray for his visits. I neither knew nor cared, whether I found him or not. — Nay, rationally sensi- ble that my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone, a stupid unconcern overpowered my heart: I was almost content to have his room filled with sinful pleasures, and earthly enjoyments* Sometimes God hath so lifted me up, enabling me to live on Christ himself, above dependance on sensi- ble frames, that I rested on, and gloried in, his per- son, office, love, righteousness, intercession, power, and faithfulness, as the infallible security of my for- giveness, acceptance, sanctification, comfort, and e- ternal felicity, notwithstanding much felt guilt, temp- tation, and trouble. — Anon I have been so cast down, that my spiritual courage and hope altered, as my inward frames did. SELECT REMAINS. 55 Sometimes I have been so lifted up, that I could with pleasure distinctly review my former noted en- joyments of Christ ; how, when and where, he ap- peared to my soul, loosed my bands, forgave my sins, quickened and feasted my soul. — Anon I have been so cast down, that I lost the impression of for- mer experiences ; could scarce discern whether they were from heaven, or of men ; from heaven, or from hell: and, alas, strangely careless what was their na- ture, source or tendency! Ah! how the promises, the words of grace, in which I had formerly tasted that the Lord is gracious, became as idle tales, as a well without water, and as flinty rocks ! Sometimes the zeal of his house, inflamed by the applications of redeeming love, and directed by his word and Spirit, hath eaten me up : I counted no- thing, no not life itself, dear unto me, if I might have Jesus exalted, his truths believed and maintained, and his people increased in the earth. Anon I have fallen under the power of so much selfishness, that, If I could get my own interest secured, I scarce re- garded the glory or the publick honours of Christ. } Sometimes God hath filled my mouth with his praise and honour all the day. I could not refrain from praise. I could not forbear commending him whom my soul loveth. I could not but, in a manner suited to my station, invite others to come* taste, and see, that God is good} could not but call such as ft ar- ed God to hear what he had done for my soul. Anon, a dumb devil hath taken possession of my heart ; sinful bashfulness, confusion, and carelessness, have quite disqualified me for conference on any spi- ritual subject: nay, I felt a strong inclination to deal in trifles and calumny. Sometimes God hath so feasted me, in his ordi- 56 SELECT REMAINS, nances, that the frequent return of sabbaths, sacra- mental occasions, opportunities of family, social or secret worship, was my delight. Often I had him pre- engaged to vouchsafe his presence, in this and that ordinance of his grace. Often the angel of the cove- nant restrained the winds of temptation and floods of corruption, while he sealed my soui to the day of redemption. O, how he brought me into the ban- quetting-house, and his banner over me was love !— How he stayed me with flagons, and conuorted me with apples, while I was sick of love ! — Anon ordi- nances became to me as dry beasts, and a miscarrying womb. Ah! their approach seemed a trifle, a bur- den, to my careless, carnal heart ! Neither before, nor in, nor after, did I enjoy the visits of Christ. In my attendance, levity, legality, and unconcern, car- ried all before them. How oit the voice, the gesture, the method, of the administrator, took that room in my heart, which pertained to Christ! — Often disap- pointed of the presence of God, ah ! how I sunk into mere formality, or doubts of my duty to attend !— and at last how often have I neglected worship alto- gether, if the hurry of the world seemed to call me to some other business. Sometimes God hath carried me up to mount Pisguh, and shewn me the celestial Canaan, and my irrevocable title thereto, till my whole soul was trans- ported with wonder, with desire, and delight ! How I desired to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better! How I groaned to be clothed upon, with my house which is from heaven! — Anon he held back the face of his throne, and spread his cloud over it. Heaven was forgotten : my interest therein was unseen. Nay, how often hell presented itself as the heritage appointed me by God ! Are thy frames, my soul, so changeable? Let me SELECT REMAINS. 57 charge thee to have no confidence in thyself: but live by faith on the Son of God, and his everlasting cove- nant, which are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Count all but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus thy Lord : count them but dung to win him, and to be found in him, not having thy own righteousness which is of the law, but the righteousness which is of God by faith. TRACT V. Reflections of a Candidate for the Ministerial Office. Dost thou, my soul, desire the office of a bishop of souls, a minister of Christ ? Examine with deep concern thy preparation for, thy call to, and thy end in offering thyself to this important work. Am I a real Christian ; or am I a devil — a dis- sembler with God and men — an entertainer of sin, of Satan, in my heart? Am I circumcised with the cir- cumcision of Christ, having my corrupt nature re- newed ; old things passed away, and all things be- come new ? Do I worship God in the spirit ; read, meditate, pray, converse, under the influence of the Holy Ghost ? Do I certainly know what Christ is to me ? Do I rejoice in what he is in himself, and what he • is to, and hath done for and in me ? Have I no confidence in the flesh — in my righteousness, my learning, my address ? Hath the Holy Ghost emptied me of self, in every form, till he hath made me poor in spirit, less than the least of all saints in my own sight ? Hath he with a strong hand instructed me, to F 58 SELECT REMAINS. count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus as my Lord, and to count them but dung to win him, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith i Do I earnestly desire to know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings — and press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus? — What furniture of gifts hath Christ bestowed on me ? what aptness to teach ? what know- ledge of the mysteries of the kingdom ? what skill to instruct others, bringing out of my treasure things new and old? what ability to make the deep things of God obvious to the weaker capacities ? what pro- per quickness of conception? what proper inclination to study, as one devoted to matters of infinite conse- quence? what peculiar fitness for the pulpit, qualify- ing me to commend myself to every man's con- science, preaching not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and with power? — With what stock of self-experience, texts, and principles of inspiration, am I entering on the tremendous office ? Of what truths, relative to the law of God and its threatenings ; relative to sin, to Satan, and to divine desertion ; hath my saddened soul felt the power, tasting the wormwood and the gall? — Of what declarations and promises of grace have I tasted, and seen that God is good? What cords of infinite love have caught and held my heart ? What oracles of heaven have I found and eaten ; and they have been to me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart? Of what truths, what texts, could I now say, 4 I believe, and therefore I speak.' 4 What I have * heard with the Father, what I have seen and heard, 4 and tasted, and handled of the word of life, that de- 4 clare I unto you.' Suppose my connexions with the great, my ad- SELECT REMAINS. 59 dress to the people, should ever so easily procure a license, a charge ; yet, if I run unsent of Christ, in my whole ministration I must act the part of a thief, a robber, a traitor to Christ, and a murderer of souls, not profiting them at all. If, without his commission, I enter the office, what direction, what support, what comfort, what acceptance, what reward, can I expect in and of my work ? Say then, my conscience, as thou shalt answer at the judgement-seat of God, am I taking this honour to myself; or am I called of God, as Aaron was ? Is Christ sending me, and laying a necessity upon me to preach the gospel ? While he determines me to follow providence, and take no ir- regular step towards thrusting myself into the office, is he breathing on my soul, and causing me to re- ceive the Holy Ghost? Is he endowing me with deep compassion to the souls of men ; and with a deep sense of my own unfitness, and earnest desire to be sanctified and made meet for the master's use ? In the progress of my education, am I going bound in the spirit, with the love of Christ burning in my heart, and constraining me ; rendering me cheerfully will- ing to suffer poverty, contempt and hatred of all men, for Christ's name's sake ; — willing, if possible, to risk my own salvation in winning others to Christ ? What scriptures have directed and encouraged me to this -work ? In what form doth Jesus seem to be giv- ing me my commission ? Whether 4 to open the eyes 4 of the Gentiles, and to turn them from darkness to 4 light, and from the power of Satan unto God; 4 that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an in- 4 heritance among them that are sanctified V or to 4 Go, make the heart of this people fat, and their ears 4 heavy, and shut their eyes ?' What promise of Christ's presence with, and assistance in, my work, have I received from above I What is mine end in my advances towards this 60 SELECT REMAINS* i work ? Dare I appeal to him that searcheth my heart, and trieth my reins — to him who will quickly be my *udge — that I seek not great things to myself; that covet no man's silver, gold, or apparel ; that I seek not theirs, but them ; that neither of men seek I glo- ry : that I look not on mine own things, but on the things of Christ ; that I seek not mine own honour, but the honour of him that sends me ? Have I considered diligently what is before me ; Or am I running blindfold on the tremendous charge ? Have I considered the nature and circumstances of the ministerial work, or that therein I am to be an ambassador for Christ, to beseech perishing souls, on the brink of hell, to be reconciled unto God ? — A steward of the mysteries and manifold grace of God j — that, at the infinite hazard of my soul, it is requir- ed of me to be faithful; — that in my ministrations I with all humility, and many tears, serve the Lord with my spirit, in the gospel of his son ; — keep back no part of the counsel of God — no instruction, no reproof, no encouragement ; that I testify repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; not moved with reproach, persecution, hun- ger, or nakedness ; nor even count my life dear unto me, if so I may finish my course with joy; — ready not only to be bound, but to die for the name of Je- sus : — willing rather to be ruined with Christ than to reign with emperors ; — that I labour with much fear and trembling, determined to know, to glory in, and to make known, nothing but Christ and him cruci- fied ; — not with enticing words of man's wisdom as a man-pleaser, but with great plainness of speech, in demonstration of the Spirit and with power ; — speak- ing the things freely given to me of God by his Spirit, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and having the mind SELECT REMAINS. 61 of Christ; — always triumphing in Christ, and mak- ing manifest the savour of his knowledge in every- place ;-being to God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish ; as of sinceri- ty, as of God in the sight of God, speaking in Christ ; through the mercy of God, not fainting, but renoun- cing the hidden things of dishonesty ; not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth to every man's conscience in the sight of God ; — not preaching my- self, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and myself a servant to the church for Jesus's sake ;— alwa\ s bearing about the dying of the Lord, that his life may be made ma- nifest in me. — Knowing the terror of the Lord, and his future judgement, I must persuade men, making myself manifest to God and to their conscience ; — constrained with the love of Christ, must change my voice, and turn myself every way, to bring sinners to the tree of life ; — jealous over them with a god- ly jealousy, and espousing them as chaste virgins to Christ ; — travailing in birth till Christ be form- ed in them ; — must take heed to my ministry which I have received in the Lord, that I fulfil it; give myself wholly to reading, exhortation, and doc- trine ; — taking heed to myself and doctrine, that I may save myself and them that hear me ; — watching for their souls as one that must give an account ; — rightly dividing the word of truth, and giving every man his portion in due season ; — faithfully warning every man and teaching every man, and labouring to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus ; — and warring, not after the flesh, nor with weapons of war- fare that are carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, and casting down of imaginations, and subduing every thought and affec- tion to the obedience of Christ. Having Christ Je- sus for the end of my conversation, and holding fast the form of sound words in faith and love, which is F 2 62 SELECT REMAINS. in him. — I must go forth without the camp, bearing his reproach, and feeding the flock of God, over which the Holy Ghost hath made me an overseer, and which God hath purchased with his own blood ; preaching to the Congregation sound doctrine in faith and verity ; — takingthe oversight thereof not by constraint, but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind ; neither as being a lord over God's he- ritage, but as an example to the flock — exercised unto godliness ; holy, just, and unblamable ; — an example to the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in purity ; — fleeing youthful lusts, and fol- lowing after righteousness,, peace, faith, charity; avoiding foolish and unlearned questions ; — not striv- ing, but being gentle to all men ; — in meekness in- structing those that oppose themselves ; fleeing from perverse disputings and worldiy-mindedness as most dangerous snares, and following after righte- ousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness ; — fighting the good fight of faith, and, laying hold on eternal life ; — preaching the word in season and out of season j reproving, rebuking, exhorting, with all long-suffering and doctrine ; — keeping the trust of gospel truth and office committed to me ; and com- mitting the same to faithful men, who may be able to teach others. And, in fine, to try false teachers; rebuke, before all, such as sin openly ; restore such as have been overtaken in a fault, in the spirit of meekness ; and r having compassion on them, to pull them out of the fire, hating the garment spotted by the flesh. SELECT REMAINS. 63 TRACT VI. Reflections of one entered into the Pastoral Office. Ponder, my soul, with solemn awe! — Am I without that God, that Christ, a stranger to that cove- nant of promise, which I preach to others ? While I commend Jesus from the pulpit, am I despiser of him in my heart? While I, in the name of God, re- quire others to receive him as the unspeakable gift of God, am I rejecting him mvself ? am I daily occu- pied in preparing the delicious gospel entertainment for others, while I refuse to taste it myself? If my ends are selfish, or if I am not hearty in my work, how cfan God be expected to bless my endeavours ? If in heart I am Satan's servant, how can I be true to Christ, or earnest for his honour? If I have not drunk deep of the terrors of the Lord, the bitterness of sin, the vanity of this world, the importance of eternity, and of the conscience-quieting and heart- captivating virtue of Christ, how can I be serious and hearty in preaching the gospel ? — If I am not in- fluenced by a predominant love to Christ; — If I live not to him ; if my heart is not fixed upon eternal things ; if it pant not after fellowship with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; and follow not eagerly holi- ness and peace, and prefer not the welfare of the church to my chiefest joy in this world ; how can I, without the most abominable treachery and dissimu- lation, declare to men their chief happiness, and the proper methods to obtain it ? If I am a graceless preacher, how terrible is my condition ! If I open my bible, the sentence of my double damnation flashes into my conscience from every page. If I compose my sermon, I but draw up 64 SELECT REMAINS. an awful indictment against myself. If I argue against men's sins, I but aggravate my own. If I mention hell with its insupportable and everlasting torments, I but enfeoff myself therein, as the just portion of my cup, and my inheritance appointed me by the almighty. If I speak of Jesus and his excel- lencies, it is but to tread him under my feet. If I take his new covenant and the fulness, the blessings therein contained, into my mouth, it is but to profane them, to cast them out to be trodden under foot of men. If I commend Jesus, and his Father, and blessed Spirit, is is but to stab them under the fifth rib, to betray them with a kiss ! While I hold up the glass of God's law, and of his gospel, to others, I turn its back to myself. My gospel is hid to me who am lost, in whom the god of this world hath blinded the mind of me who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine into my heart. If I know not the Alpha and Omega, the truth— what is all my knowledge but an accursed puffer up ! a murderer of my soul! Ah! how my table, my reading, my meditations, my sermons, my princi- ples, my prayers, as a trap and snare, take and bind me hand and foot, to cast me the unprofitable ser- vant, into utter darkness ; with all my bible, all my books, all my gifts, as it were inlaid in my con- science, like fuel, like oil, for ever, to enrage the flames of infinite wrath against my soul! Ah! am I set here, at the gate of heaven, as a candle to waste mvself in shewing others the way, in lighting up the Bridegroom's friends ; and must my lamp at the end go out in obscure darkness ! If I die unfaithful to Christ, in what a tremendous manner shall I for ever sink into the bottomless pit, under the weight of the blood of the Son of God, the Saviour of men — under the weight of murdered truths, murdered convic- SELECT REMAINS. 6& tions, murdered gifts, a murdered ministry, and murdered souls ! How for ever curse myself, that I did not rather choose to be a tinker, a chimney- sweeper, an executioner, than a pretended, a treach- erous, minister of Christ ! Vile, vile, accursed hy- pocrite, how shalt thou abide with devouring fire ! how shalt thou dwell with everlasting burnings ! Suppose I should know the grace of God in truth ; yet, if my graces are not kept lively — if my loins are not girt, and my lamp burning, all inflamed with Jesus's love constraining my heart — how careless, how carnal, how blasted, how accursed, must my ministrations be ! Ponder, my soul, the nature of thy work, as a dealing between the infinite God and the immortal, the perishing souls of men ! Ponder the extent of my duties, and the solemnity of my en- gagements ! Think how the honours and privileges of my office, and my relation to Christ therein, ought to instigate me to faithfulness ! — What self-denial, what pure regard to the honour of God, what pru- dence, what diligence, what humility, what zeal, what spirituality of heart and life, what noted de- pendence on Jesus by faith ; what order, what plain- ness, what just temperature of mildness and severi- ty, is necessary in thus dealing with the souls of But, ah ! while I stand in the courts of the Lord, and minister holy things in his name, how pollu- ted and abominable is my heart, my life ! Ah what lusts prevail! How dreadful the case of my hearers' souls, if it is like mine! What if I have less of the reality of religion than the weakest, the most unten- der saint of my charge! Ah ! how mv evil heart of unbelief departs from the living God ! Where, where is my faith in God! where is my burning of heart, while Jesus speaks to me and opens to me the scrip- 66 SELECT REMAINS* tures ! Where are my love-pantings, my languishing, my cries for the Lord ! Where is my habitual fel- lowship with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; — my sitting under Jesus's shadow with great delight, while his fruit is sweet to my taste ! Where is my constant travailing in birth till Christ be formed in the souls of men i Where are the agonies which my heart hath undergone, both in the night and in the day, while the saving, the sanctifying presence of God was denied to me, or to my flock i- -Nay, how often hath pride been almost all in all to me ! How often it hadi chosen my companions ! my dress ! my victuals! — hath chosen my text! my subject! my language! how often indited my thoughts ! and, to the reproach, the blasting of the gospel, hath decked my sermon with tawdry ornaments and fancies, as if it had been a stage-play ! how often it hath blunted Jesus's sharp arrows of truth with its swollen bom- bast, or silken smoothness ! In the pulpit, how often pride hath formed my looks, my tone, my action, and kindled me into earnestness ! How often it hath ren- dered me glad to hear my subsequent applause, and provoked with the news of my contempt! Ah! how much of my labour is owing to pride, spurred on by the fame of learning, diligence, or sanctity ! No won- der my labours, so much influenced by satanical mo- tives, do Satan's kingdom so little hurt! Think too, my soul, if my pride never made me envy or wound the characters oi such as differed from me or outshi- ned me ; — if it never made me reluctant to admit re- proof, especially from those of inferior stations ! — Think if pride is less inconsistent with reai Christia- nity than drunkenness, or whoredom ! — How much a factious spirit prevails with me! Did I never take up a religious principle in the way of factious conten- tion r Did I never undervalue the peace and unity of the church ? Have I been afflicted with Zion in all her afflictions, as if they had beenTny own ? By prov- SELEC'^ REMAINS. 67 ing my opponents in a controversy deceivers and blasphemers, have I never, in respect of manner or end, pleaded the cause of the devil ? Did I never in- cline to have any destitute of the ordinances or in- fluences of heaven, rather than my party should be dishonoured ? — Ah ! how slothful have I been in the work of the Lord ! in studying the matter of divine truths, and their connexion with Christ and with one another! or in delivering them to my hearers! How slothful in sympathising with and helping such as had no fixed gospel ministrations ; or in devising and carrying on projects for the honour of Jesus, and the welfare of souls ! How often carnal interest hath marred my zeal for the interest of Christ! Hence what temporizing with the laws and customs of the world! What shrinking from duties that required much labour or expense! What uncheerfulness in giving large alms! and backwardness to improve whatever I have, for the honour of Christ, and the welfare of men ! Awake, my conscience ! What meanest thou, O sleeper! Bestir thyself for thy God. Ah ! I tremble to think how my parents, who piously de-voted, who educated, me to this work of the Lord ; how the masters, the teachers, who prepared me for it ; how the seminaries of learning in which I was instructed, the years I have spent in study, the gifts which God hath bestowed on me, my voluntary undertaking of the work; — how all the thoughts, the words, the works, of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to promote our redemption; — how all the divine command- ments, promises, and threatenings, which inculcate my duty ; — all the examples of apostles, prophets, and faithful ministers ; how all the leaves of my bi- ble, all the books in my closet, all the sermons I preach, all the instructions and exhortations I tender ; all the discipline I exercise; all the maintainance I 68 SELECT REfcAIl receive : all the honours which I enjoy or expect ; all the testimonies I have given against the negli- gence of parents, masters, ministers, or magistrates ; all the vows, and resolutions I have made to reform ; and all the prayers I have presented to God for as- sistance or success ; shall rise up against me in the day of the Lord, if I do his work deceitfully : alas ! who shall live when the Lord doth this ? Think, my soul, as at the awful bar, did not the Ho- ly Ghost, who is ready to furnish me with everything necessary, did not God, put me into the ministry ? Was it that I might waste devoted time, that I might tear his church, mangle his truths, betray his honour, and murder the souls of men ! Is not my charge the Jiock of God, the flock of God purchased -with his own blood? Shall I destroy God's property — attempt to frustrate the end of his death? Hath Jesus died for souls ! Shall I then think any thing too hard to be done for their salvation ? Shall I not part with all, put up with all, to win men to Christ? Was he crucified for them, for me ! Shall I not crucify my selfishness, my pride, my sloth, my concupiscence, to save my- self, and them that hear me ? — How hard my work ! While my own salvation is at stake, how deeply con- nected with my diligence and faithfulness is the sal- vation of multitudes! How the powers of hell set themselves against me and my office, in order that they may triumph over Christ and his church m my fall! How many eyes of God, angels, and men, are upon me ! Why then conscience, do I speak of hea- ven or hell — of Jesus and his love — his blood — of the new covenant and its blessings — in so careless and sleepy a manner ! — When before, and on every side of my pu .pit, there are so many scores or hun- dreds of immortal souls suspended over hell by the frail thread of life, already in the hands of the devil, and gasping towards everlasting ruin — slain by the SELECT REMAHJ3. ©9 gospel of Christ ! Why do not tears of deep concern mingle themselves with every sentence I utter, when multitudes, just plunging into damnation, and per- haps hearing for the last time, are, in respect of need, crying, ^yith an exceeding bitter cry, Help, minister, I perish, I perish ; pluck the brond out of ! he burning ; help to escape from the wrath to come ! Hon should I spend a moment of my devoted time in idle chit-chart; in useless reading, in unnecessary sleep! What if, mean while, some one of my charge drop into h< u- fire, and commence his everlasting curses of me lor not doing more lor his salvation ! What shall I do if God riseth up to require their blood at my hand ! How accursed that knowledge which I do not im- prove lor the honour oi Christ, the bestower ! How accursed that ease which issues in the damnation of men! How accursed that conformity to the world which permits my hearers to sleep hellward in sin ! TRACT VII. Reflections of a Minister encouraging himself in Christ, Have I obtained mercy ? Hath the Son of God loved me, and given himself for me ? Hath he trans- lated me from darkness to his marvellous light ? Hath he called me, and furnished me with knowledge, with spiritual experiences, for my work? Let me shew forth the praises of him who hath called me. Why art thou cast down, my soul ? Still trust in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the help, the health, of my countenance, and my God. Hath he separa- ted me to the gospel qf the grace of God ?— counted G TO SELECT REMAINS. me faithful, putting me into the ministry, and giving me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace, that I should preach amongst the Gentiles the un- searchable riches of Christ ? r""Let me magnify mine office. He hath raised me from the dunghill, and exalted me above principali- ties and powers, thrones and dominions, to be a sta- ted preacher of Christ, a stated ambassador and her- ald of the Lord of hosts. How superlatively plea- sant my business— to survey, to tell out, the exceed- ing riches &f Christ — all my own ! — to publish ex- ceeding great and precious promises, all given to me ! to declare to niy Jbrethren the name that is as oint- ment poured forth T-^&proclaim redemption through the blood of God, even the forgiveness of sins, ac- cording to the riches of his grace ! — to be ever, with joy, drawing water out of the wells of salvation ; and have rivers of living waters flowing out of my belly, for the refreshment of others ! — to be God's unmuz- zled ox, treading out his corn, the finest of the wheat ! to be a worker together with God in the chiefest of all his ways, the salvation of men ! — to be like angels, always beholding the face of my Father which is in heaven ! — to be all the days of my life dwelling in the house of the Lord ; beholding his beauty, and in- quiring reverently in his temple ! — to be measuring the height, the length, the depth, the breadth, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, and to be filled with all the fulness of God ! Let me, therefore, be in nothing terrified by my adversaries, nor by the arduous nature of my work. In the full assurance that Jesus is mine, and hath called me, let distress, no persecution, no danger, move me. Jesus, the fore-runner, for me is entered. He, the breaker, is gone up before me : he hath bro- ken up, and passed through: he is on my head, and SELECT REMAINS? 71 at vo0 : right hand ; I shall not be moved : he sendeth nqpe a warfare upon his own charges: he hath said to my soul, Lo, I am with thee alway, even unto the end of the world. — As thy days are, so shall thy strength be. My presence shall go with thee, and f , will give thee rest. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Fear not, I am with thee : be not dismayed, I am thy God. Fear not, worm Jacob! I will help thee. — Behold, I will make thee a new sharp-threshing instrument, having teeth, and thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small ; and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the Holy One of Israel. I will be with thy mouth. — Be- hold, I have made thee a defenced city, and an iron pillar and a brazen wall, against the whole land. I am with thee, saith the Lord to deliver thee. I even I, am He that comforteth thee. Who art thou, that art afraid of a man ? I will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth. He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance. He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. When he is come he will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement. Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. To him that over- cometh will I give to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his throne. Bestir thyself, my soul ; let me walk in the light of the Lord? let me set my face like a flint ; let me give my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that pluck off the hair. I shall not be confounded ; for the Lord God will help me. Let me go forth in *2 SEXECT REMAINS- kim, as my might, to promote the salvation of souls* that they may be my hope, my reward, my joy, my glory, and crown of rejoicing in the dav of the Lord. Nay, though Israel be not gathered, I shall be glo- rious in the eyes of the Lord ; my judgement shall be with the Lord, and my work with my God. Is Jesus my surety, my sacrifice, my teacher, my Lord, my friend, my father, my husband, my saviour, my God, ray glory? Let me indite good matter, touch- ing the King. Let my tongue be as the pen of a ready writer. Let my closed lips be opened, and sing aloud of his righteousness and salvation all the day, as not knowing the numbers thereof. Let Je- sus be the end of all my ministrations. If I seek to please men, I cannot be the servant of Christ. If I chiefly rrgard my own honour, my humour, or my temporal advantage, how shall I hold up my face to Jesus, who loved rne, and gave himself for me ! If he is the beloved Son of God, full of grace and truth, for men, for me— and made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctiiication, and redemption — let it be my great aim to promote the glory of his grace, in the salvation of all around me ; and to be a good savour of Christ unto God in them that are saved, and in them that perish. Let Jesus, in his person, natures, offices, relations, works, and blessings, be the matter of my ministrations. Let me exhibit laws, doctrines, promises, and threatenings, in due connexion with him — the law as a covenant fulfilled and magnified by him, and driving men to him ; — the law as a rule, sweetened in his blood, founded on his atonement, and requiring the improvement of him as our all and in all. The promises as yea and amen in Christ Jesus — the New Testament in his blood. If I display the perfections of God, let it be, as they shine in the face of Jesus Christ. If I ex- ;.;k ;, ))! <; S } n g S of divine grace, let me represent ffecm as purchased with his blood, lodged in his SELECT REMAINS. 73 heart, and distributed by his bountiful hand — and as blessings wherewith the Father blesseth men in Christ Jesus. If I point forth the providences of God, let it be as the doing of my Lord, and marvel- lous in my eyes. If I proclaim the terrors of the Almighty, let them appear as the sore punishment appointed for such as trample Jesus under their feet, and count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing ; as the condemnation of the obstinate refusers of God's unspeakable gift. If I call men to repent, let it be in looking to Jesus, whom they have pierced. If I inculcate prayer, let it be as a coming boldly to the throne of grace, in the view of having a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God. If I recommend thanksgiving, let it be as chiefly for Christ, and ac- ceptable through him. If I press the duties of the law of any kind, let it be as part of Christ's purcha- sed salvation, as the fruits of faith living on Christ; as enforced by the authority, the love of Christ ; and produced under the influence of Christ, and his Spi- rit dwelling in us; as conducive to the glory of Christ; and acceptable only through the merits and intercession of Christ. Let every particular duty be enforced with some particular consideration of Christ, 1 Cor. vi. & — 11, 15. 2 Cor. viii. 9. Tit. ii. 7, 9. Rom. xiii. 14. Eph. iv. 22, 25, 32. Let my very style savour of Christ, manifesting great plainness and energy, extracted fromthe oracles of Christ. Since Jesus hath put me into this dignified office, and hath assured me of his assistance and reward, let me shew myself a workman that needeth not be a- shamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and giv- ing every one his meat in due season, in correspon- dence to their respective stations, conditions, and inclinations. Let me so preach the grace of the gos- pel, to promote an humble and universal dependance 9n Christ ; but mean while condemn the sluggish and G 2 74 SELECT REMAINS. careless professor. Let me labour to screw into every man's conscience the divine truths suited to his case. Let me distinctly explain and enforce par- ticular duties, and oppose particular lusts and vices. After searching my own heart, and much prudent pains to understand the spiritual condition of the va- rious persons of my charge, let me labour so to apply my doctrines, that every one may know himself and his circumstances before God: so as the ignorant may be instructed, scoffers and gainsayers convinced, the stupid and secure awakened, the slothful roused and excited, the legalist and moralist have his hopes slain, the hypocrite may feel his covering too narrow to wrap himself in, the afflicted may be comforted, the wanderer reclaimed, and the sincere asker of the way to Zion may be directed. In fine, holding fast the form of sound words, i in 4 faith and love which is in Christ Jesus' — and keep- ing that good thing, office, gifts, and grace, commit- ted to me 4 by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in me' — let me carefully lay the foundation, in a fre- quent and pointed explication of gospel truth relative to Jesus's person, righteousness, and sinners' union with him, and justification through his imputed a- tonement. Let me, in the most clear and convincing manner, point out the nature and circumstances of regeneration and turning to God — together with the real marks of a gracious state, and the difference be- tween spiritual and saving changes of the heart ef- fected by the Holy Ghost, and the counterfeits there- of. In nothing let me study more accuracy than in explaining the nature, progress, and circumstances of •gospel sanctificaticis SELECT REMAINS* 25' TRACT VIIL On Conditional Election and Freewill. Observing that our Arminian friends loudly insist that their scheme of conditional election, and of Christ's death for all men without distinction, and of men's ability to believe, and of the possibility of fall- ing from grace, is extremely adapted to promote the honour of the divine perfections and the comfort and holiness of men, I could not but enquire if these things were so ; and, upon the most unbiassed exa- mination, find them quite the reverse. Is that for the honour of the Deity, which supposeth him inca- pable to fix the plan of his whole work, relative to rational agents, before he commences it ? — that sup- poseth him incapable to fix any plan, but when a cre- ated freewill is his counsellor ; or to prosecute any plan but as freewill allows him her permission and as- sistance ? Is that scheme honourable to God, which supposeth him to have created a freewill in rational agents, which it is beyond his power to keep depen- dant upon himself, or manage for answering any fix- ed purpose ? Where is the immutability of God, if he be obliged to alter his schemes as the freewill of mankind shall please to deport itself? Is this the standing of his counsel and the doing of all his plea- sure ? Where is the boasted universality of his benev- olence, unless he hath provided a Saviour for devils as well as for men ; and given them, who are his creatures, and no less excellent, an equal throne for their, eternal salvation? Where was his wisdom or equity ; and where his love to his eternal Son, if he took pleasure to bruise him, to make his soul an offer- ing for the sin of all mankind ; — for the sin of those who, at the very time, were in hell, suffering the due reward of their deeds ; and for millions who, if om- 76 SELECT REMAINS; niscient, he foresaw would follow them thither in- due time ; or to make him throw away his life for men upon the improbable supposition, that such as were in the flesh, in their natural state, should please God with their faith and repentance ? Where is his wisdom or power, his kindness or candour towards us, if his choice of us to eternal life, if the death of his Son for us, if the striving of his Spirit with us, have their whole efficacy in our favours suspended upon this impossible condition — that our heart, de- ceitful above all things and desperately wicked, our carnal mind at enmity against God, and which is not subject to his law, neither indeed can be, shall gra- ciously convert itself, and lend its assistance to the Deity for the securing of our eternal happiness, and effectuating that which was too hard for the Lord ? Where, my Arminian friends, is the comfort, the blessedness for men, of which you speak ? If I am deeply sensible of the corruption of my heart, what comfort can it be to me, that God will fix his choice on me — will render the death of his Son the price of my eternal life — will render the striving of his Spirit prevalent to my eternal salvation, if I perform the (to me infinitely impossible) condition of faith and repentance, persevered in unto the end of my life ? What though Jehovah hath said to my soul, I have loved thee with an everlasting love ; his loving kind- ness may endure but for a moment, and the everlast- ing covenant of his peace be removed ! What, sup- pose he began to do me good, he may not be able or willing to finish it ! he may break his everlasting co- venant, ordered in all things and sure, and turn-away from doing me good! What, suppose he hath writ- ten my name in heaven, in the Lamb's book of life- it is less tenacious than my parish register : my name may be blotted out ere to-morrow. Suppose Christ hath loved me, and given himself to the death for me, SELECT REMAINS; It it is no more than he did for millions at that instant in hell, and for millions that shall be eternally damn- ed. His death can therefore be no more comfortable to me than my creation ; and yet perhaps it had been better for me that I had never been born. Suppose the striving of the Holy Spirit should, in some happy moment, have concurrence, or at least the permis* sion, of my freewill to change my nature, and im- plant in me gracious principles ; they are put into a bag with holes, and may be lost ere to-morrow ! Sup* pose I had taken my place on the celestial throne, perhaps, by an inadvertent slip of my freewill, I may be tumbled headlong into hell, as multitudes of an- gels once were ! As good methinks be a reprobate according to the Calvinist scheme, than an elected person according to the Arminiau ! According to the Calvinist, God will save no man but in consistency with his own .purpose. According to the Arminian, God neither will nor can save any man without the permission, the assistance, of the man's freewill ; or without our performance of an infinitely impossible condition of true faith and gospel repentance, produced from a carnal mind at enmity against God ! According to the Calvinist, the divine purpose lay no bar in the way of our freewiii's performing its du- ty ; and whosoever believeth shall be saved. Ac- cording to the Arminian, it is not one act of believ- ing, nor perhaps a thousand acts of faith, repentance, and sincere obedience, that will fix my state . ? Alas i miserable comforter, and physician of no value ! Doth the Arminian scheme promote the earnest study of true holiness i Let experience speak How many in Britain suppose themselves capable to re- pent and believe at pleasure, and that Christ died xor 79 Select remains. all ; at least, if they be sincere, and do the best they can ? yet, what students of holiness are these ? Let hell blush at the thought ! How many of them blaspheme as dev- ils, and tempt their fellows to abomination! How many riot in drunkenness, gluttony, and whoredom ! How many are ignorant of the first principles of out 4 holy religion, and cannot so much as rest in the lite- ral knowledge of the law ! How many live as brute beasts, unthoughtful whether they be possessed of immortal souls ! In what thousands of closets and families the stated worship of our Maker, is equally observed as in the stable or sty ! — Let reason shew her opinion. According to the Arminian scheme, God cannot help me much if he would. He cannot make me willing in the days of his power, or able to serve him in the beauties of holiness ; but can mere- ly strive with my conscience, and try to sooth my freewill into a good humour. The law of God indeed binds me to holiness, but that is the very case with devils, whose good works I suppose to be but few. What benefits I have reciev- ed from God, are so insignificant and common, that I scarce owe him distinguished thanks. His choice of me, the death of his Son for me, and the striving of his Spirit with me, and even his bestowal of grace upon me, do not avail, unless my freewill, take heed to herself; they cannot for a moment secure me from hell. What pleasure my freewill, if left to herself, can take in the ways of holiness, I cannot conceive. When my eternal life is in danger every moment, how can I draw near to God with a true heart in the full assurance of faith ? How can I be stedfast and immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that my labour shall not be in vain in the Lord ? If I attempt to give thanks, what if an en- trance into hell turn my song into howling ? If I owe my happiness more to the management of my own SE4ECT REMAIN*. 79 freewill than to God's election, Christ's death, and the striving of his Spirit, why should I deny myself, have no confidence in the flesh, but rejoice in Christ Jesus ? — In heaven I owe no more praise to God or the Lamb, than those in the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone. Let my song then be not, " Worthy is the Lamb, &c." but, " Worthy art *' thou, my freewill, to receive honour and glory, 44 and dominion and blessing, for thou hast taken " care, and hast redeemed me to God. Salvation 44 to our freewill that sitteth on the throne, and to 44 the Lamb!" 'f _ TRACT IX, The Parliament dissolved. Where strife and contention, are, there is con- fusion and every evil work. The late dissolution of parliament no way that I know of affects my private interest. Scarce any, such as I could have freedom to choose for my representative, viz. ' able men, 4 fearing God, and hating covetousness,' will be turn- ed out, and perhaps as few brought in, by the change. But when I consider the terrible scenes of deceit, bribery, drunkenness, ignorant and profane swearing or perjury, that will be thereby occasioned, it sinks my spirits, and I look on the dissolution as a means of hastening our ruin. Alas ! what numerous, what heavy curses of Jehovah, the King of nations, the wickedness committed in the electioneering work will draw down ! And what court, what kingdom, can prosper under so many fearful curses of almigh- ty God ! It is neither N. nor F. nor P. that I either $0 SELECT KEMAIKS. fear or trust, but a long provoked, and exceedingly angry God. Who may stand before him if once he be angry i Who knows the power of his wrath? If he be against us, who can be for us? Till our mad- ness and profligacy in diversions, elections, and many things else, and the fearful murder, deceit, and rob- ben , committed in our East-India trade, and our ha- tred and contempt of Christ and his gospel, be turn- ed into weeping, mourning, and girding with sack- cloth, I cannot expect other book hath, and by it your souls must be quickened and live, or you must be damned for ever ; and the more closely you press the words of the Bible to your own hearts, and pray, and think them over before God, you will find them the more powerful and pleasant. My soul hath found inexpressibly more sweetness and satisfaction, in a single line of the Bible, nay, in two such words as these, Thy God, and my God, than all the pleasures found in the things of the world, since the creation, could equal. 2d. Give yourselves to prayer ; Jesus hath said, 1 Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come * unto me : for such is the kingdom of heaven. I 1 love them that love me ; and those that seek me 4 early shall find me. — Remember now thy Crc c ' in the days of thy youth. The Lord is goo: ' them that seek him. lie is the hearer of pray* ; SELECT REMAINS. 117 * and therefore to him should all flesh come.'— The Lord, the father of the fatherless, takes an especial pleasure in hearing the prayers of the fatherless young ones. When I was left destitute of a father, and soon af- ter of a mother, the Lord dealt so with me ; and though I was too bent on childish diversions, the Lord on some occasions made prayer more pleasant to me than any of them. By prayer improve the Lord as your father, consulting him and asking his direction in all your ways ; and seeking his blessing on your learning, and on whatever you do agreeable to his wilL 3d. Study earnestly to love, honour and obey your mother, and to be a comfort to her. Much trouble hath she had in bringing you so far in the world, and much affection hath she shewed you. She hath now a .double charge and authority over you. The Lord now observes particularly what is done to *her.' ' Oh, for the Lord's sake, do not dishonour her, nor break her heart, by your disobedience and graceless walk ; otherwise the Lord's dreadful curse will light upon you, and ye will readily soon perish : for think what God hath said, Prov. xvii. 25. * A " foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to 4 her that bore him. Chapter xx. 20. 4 Whoso curs- * eth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put 4 out in obscure darkness.' See also Lev. xx. 3, 4. Deut. xxi. 18, 19. Prov. x. 1. xiii. 1. xv. 5, 20. xix. 13, 26. xxviii. 7, 24. xxx. 17* 4th. Avoid, as pi agues every light, frothy, and wick- ed companion. Be not a disgrace to me, and cause of damnation to yourselves, by keeping company with idle talkers, swearers, drunkards, tipplers, frothy or, lewd persons. Scarce any thing more infallibly L . 118 SELECT REMAINS. brings persons to misery in this world, or to hell in the next, than loose and trifling companions* Prov. xiii. 20. . * He that walketh with wise men shall be wise ; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.' * chap, xxviii. 7. ' Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son ; but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.' See also Prov. i, ii, v, vi, vii, and ix. and 1 Corinth, v. 9, 11. Never make any your compa- nions, with whom you would not wish to appear at the judgement seat of Christ, and with whom you would not wish to live for ever. 5th. Mind earnestly the infinitely important con- cerns of your eternal salvation. I hereby constitute these addresses, annexed to my shorter and larger Catechisms, a part of my dying directions to you. Oh, ponder and practise them ! Wo to you, if, by your carelessness and wickedness, you thrust the grace of God out from among my posterity ! Ah, my dear young children, shall I at the last day have to echo my Amen to Christ's sentence of your eternal damnation ! In order to stir up your concern about eternal things, let me beseech you to read Boston's Fourfold State, Pearce's Best Match, Rutherford's Letters, Guise's Sermons to Young People, Allen's Alarm, and Baxter's Call ; but beware of some legal direction.': in the last two. Read also the lives of Elisabeth Cairns, of Alexander Archibald, and espe- cially- the lives of Messrs. Thomas Halyburton, James Fra2er, and James Hog. Perhaps also my Journal may be useful to you; but, above all, read the Book of inspiration. 6th. Never affect conformity to the vain and vile fashions of this world : if you do, you disobey God, and hazard the ruin of your own souls. Rom. xii. 2. ' Be not conformed to this world, but be ye trans- c formed by the renewing of your mind. Jam. iv. 4. SELECT REMAINS. 119 5 Know ye not that the friendship of this world is 1 enmity with God ? whosoever, therefore, will be a 4 friend of the world, is the enemy of God.' See also 1 Cor. vii. si. l John ii. 15 r 17. iv. 5, 6. v. 4, 19. John vii. 7. xv. ie 7 iq. p bi d. xv. 4, cxxxix. 21. — cxix. 53, 115, 136, 158. 7th. Never marry, nor take one step toward mar- riage, without much serious and solemn consultation of God, and patient waiting for his direction. — By means of rash marriages was the old world defiled ; and it was partly on this account that it was drown- ed: Gen. vi. In consequence of these examples, Esau's posterity were cast out from the church of God to all generations : Gen. xxvi. 34, 35. Judah's family was disgraced and killed ; and it is to be fear- ed that his two sons perished : Gen. xxxviii. Not only Jehoshaphat's family, but even the kingdom of Judah, was almost ruined : 2 Chron. xxi, xxii. How dreadful for your own souls, and for those of your children, if you take into your bosom an unconvert- ed lump of wrath ! For the Lord's sake let no beauty, no affability, no wealth, decoy any of you into this dangerous snare, which may exclude the grace of God from your family, till the end of time. 1 Cor. vii. 39. Deut. vii. 3, 4. Ezra ix. 2, 3, 12, 14. 8th. If the Lord give you families and children, bring them up for God. I have essayed to point out your duty in this respect, in my two sermons at Whitburn and Innerkeithing, which were printed : I pray you seriously to peruse these, and to comply with the advices given in the same. 9th. Set the Lord always before you as your Sa- viour, witness, master, pattern, and future judge. David saith, Psalm xvi. 8. 4 I have set the Lord 120 SELECT REMAIN*. * always before me : because he is at my right hand c I shall not be moved/ It is the command of God, 1 Cor. x. 31. ' Whether therefore ye eat or drink, * or wltatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of Gcd. r loth- Adhere constantly,, cordially, and honestly, to the covenanted principles of the church of Scot- land, and to that testimony which hath been lifted up for them. I fear a generation is rising up, which will endeavour silently to let slip these matters, as if they were ashamed to hold them fast, or even to speak of them. May the Lord forb'pd, that any of you should ever enter into this confederacy against Je- sus Christ and his cause ! This from a dying fa- ther and minister, and a witness for Christ- JOHN BROWN. Narrative of the Author's Dying Words* For some years before Mr. Brown died, he was troubled with a weakness in his stomach. In the months of January and February, this weakness remarkably increased. His friends observed it with grief, and accordingly desired him. to desist at least i part of his publick work. Eager to warn sin- ners of their danger, and fond to commend his Lord, he told them, i I am determined to hold to Christ's work so long as I can. How can a dying man spend his last breath better than in preaching Christ V On the 25th of February, which was his last sabbath in the pulpit, he preached from Luke ii. 26. ' It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord's Christ.' — In the close of his sermon, he took a solemn farewell SELECT REMAINS. 121 of his own ^congregation; and plainly intimated, that in the pulpit they would see his face no more. Though now he was scarce able to support himself, yet he continued his evening sermon, and seemed to preach with more earnestness than ever. He preached his last sermon from Acts xiii. 26. ' To you is the word of this salvation sent.' As in the afternoon he had addressed the people immediately connected with himself, in the evening, he in a very affecting manner, bid adieu to his hearers, mostly members of the established church. March 2d. A friend observing that he ought to be more careful in the use of means for his recovery, he replied, * If Christ be magnified whether in my life or death, that is the great matter.' March 3d. One happening to talk in his presence about reading history, he remarked, ' Often we read history as atheists or deists, rather than as christians. To read of events without observing the hand of God in them, is to read as atheists : to read, and not ob- serve how all events conduce to carry on the work of redemption, is to read as deists.' In the evening, his spirits being apparently sunk, and his relations taking notice of it, he told them, ' A piece of history sometimes hath amused me, when my natural spirits were low, but now I find no pleasure except in medi- tating on the promises : I wish to begin with that in Genesis, " The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent," and to delight myself with it, and all the rest that follow, to the end of the Revelation of John.' March 4th. An acquaintance saying to him, that it was pleasant to see the great Mr. Hervey insisting so much on grace reigning through righteousness. * Yes,' replied he, * that is the doctrine which is good to live with, and good to die with.' L 2 122 SELECT REMAINS. This being sabbath he went out to hear a sermon. — After he returned to his house, he cried, * Oh r what a happy life a Christian might have, if he were always persuaded of the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord ! If there were such a thing as exchange of learning, I should willingly quit with all my acquaintance with languages, &c. to know ex- perimentally what that meaneth, " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." In the evening, being asked if he thought himself better ; he answered with a great deal of composure, * I am no worse : but I do not wish to have a will in that matter — only I would not desire to live, and yet not be able for Christ's work, though perhaps, were God so ordering it, he would enable me to bear that too.' March 6. He called his two eldest sons into his room ; and as they were about to leave him for a time he exhorted them, in the most earnest manner, to trust in the Lord, and to be doing good. ' No doubt, said he, ' I have met with trials as well as others; yet so kind hath God been to me, that I think, if God were to give me as many years as I have already lived in the world, I would not desire one single circumstance in my lot changed — except that I wish I had had less sin.' March 20th. He became much weaker than he was before. His memory was much impaired, but his judgement continued as entire as ever. He conversed like a man that quite overlooked earthly things, and seemed to have his affections almost wholly set on things above. Some of his expressions were as follow : SELECT REMAINS. 123 1 — I have often wondered at the favour which 4 men have shewed to me, but much more at the 4 favour of God to such a grievous sinner. 4 — Oh, to be with God, to see him as he is — to 4 know him even as he is known ; — it is worthy, not 4 merely of going for, but of dying for, to. see a 4 smiling God! 4 — About the year God said to my soul, I 4 have loved thee with an everlasting love j and oh, 4 how faithful he hath been to that since ! 4 — There would not have been more grace 4 shewn in the redemption of the chief of devils, than 4 in saving me ; the same price would have ransom- 4 ed them — the same strivings would have overcome 4 them. 4 — Men may talk of the sovereignty of redeeming 4 love as they will ; but had it not been sovereign, 4 infinitely sovereign, I had been as surely damned, 4 as if I were in hell already. 4 — Were it not that God foresaw our sins and 4 provocations from eternity, he never could have 4 continued his love to me, the grievous sinner — the 4 arrant rebel : yet I think he is now preparing me 4 for being ever with himself. Oh, what is that ! — I 4 have done all that lies in my power to damn my- 4 self; and, though I will not say, that God hath * done all that he could to save me, yet I am sure he 4 hath done a great deal. 4 If angels and men knew the raging enmity of 4 my heart, what would they think of redeeming 4 love, which hath pitched on me ! 4 O, what a miracle to see me, the arrant rebel, 4 sitting on the throne with Jesus ; and I hope I shall 4 be seen there What cannot J emu do ! 124 SELECT REMAINS. • O, how these words, " He loved me y and gave c himself for we" once penetrated into my heart, and * made me cry, u Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 4 let all that is within me, be stirred up to bless his * holy name." A friend asking him if he had any appetite for his supper, he replied, 4 Yes, Oh, if I had but as good 4 an appetite for the fulness of God, as I have for 4 earthly victuals !' One observing to him, that under all his weakness, his mind seemed to be very composed : he answered, 4 Indeed I am composed ; God hath put a bridle in 4 my mouth ; and though I have been a most per- 4 verse wretch, yet he hath strangely restrained me : 4 and, Oh, how amazing ! he hath done this chiefly 4 by loving kindnesses and tender mercies ; and is 4 not that a strange bridle for such an imp of hell as 4 I have been? 4 I cannot say that I have found God's words and 1 eaten them ; but truly his words have found me, * and have been given to me, and have been to me * the joy and rejoicing of my heart. 4 Oh that is a sweet little sentence, " We shall be 4 for ever with the Lord !"— -Oh, how sweet ! — for 4 ever with the Lord I And that which makes the 4 wonder is this, that it is we that are to enjoy this 4 happiness ; we pitiful wretches are to be for ever 4 with God our Saviour, God in our nature ! 4 How amazing the mystery of redemption, in * which the rich deservants of hell are exalted to the 4 throne of God, and that by the blood oi our Lord 4 Jesus Christ! 4 Oh, to be brought to this point, SELECT REMAINS. 125 Then will I to God's altar go, To God my chtefest joy; Yea, God, my God, thy name to praise My harp I will employ. Psalm xliii, 4. * I desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better: and though I have lived sixty years ve- ry comfortably in this world, yet I would gladly turn my back on you all, to be with Christ. I am sure Christ may say of me, u These sixty years this wretch hath grieved me." March 21st. In the preceding evening, when he fell asleep, he seemingly left his heart with Christ; and, if we might guess his meditation by his words, this morning when he awakened, he was still with him : among the first words which he spoke were these ; 4 Oh, it is pleasant to enjoy fellowship with 4 Christ! Any small acquaintance I have had of him * convinceth me of this. And Oh, how much more * pleasure might I have had, had it not been for my 4 own folly and wickedness ! * I think now that I could willingly die to see him, 4 who is white and ruddy, the chief among ten * thousand/ When at breakfast, he expressed himself thus.— 4 How amazing that a rich deservant of hell should 4 get such a meal ! how much more that a rich de- * servant of hell should get a Christ ! Addressing himself to his two sons in the minis- try he said, with peculiar earnestness, 4 Oh labour, 4 labour for Christ while ye have strength ; I now 4 repent that I have been so lazy and so slothful in * his service. Oh, commend Jesus! I have been 4 looking at him for these many years, and never yet 4 could find a fault in him, but what was of my own 4 making; though he hath seen ten thousand thou- 126 SELECT REMAINS. 1 sand faults in me. Many a comely person I have 4 seen, but none so comely as Christ ; many a kind 4 friend I have had, but none like Christ in loving 4 kindnesses and tender mercies. 9 Some short time after he said unto them, ' I know 4 not whether ever I shall see you together again or 1 not ; but, Oh, labour, labour to win souls to Christ ; 4 — there is none like Christ — there is none like 4 Christ — there is none like Christ! — I am sure a * poor worthless wretch he hath had of me; but a 1 precious, superlatively precious Christ I have had 4 of him. Never grudge either purse or person for 4 Christ ; I can say this, that I never was a loser by * any time spent, or by any money given, for him.' 1 Oh, the pains which God has been at to save me, 4 and the pains which I have been at to destroy my- 4 self! but he hath partly gained, and I hope that he 4 will completely gain, the victory.' After taking a ride in a chaise, when he came into his house he observed, 4 Reading tires me, walking * tires me, riding tires me; but, were I once with 4 Jesus, fellowship with him will never tire: 44 so 4 shall We be for ever with the Lord !" In the afternoon he lay down on his bed ; and being asked, after he awaked, how he was, he replied, 4 I am no worse ; I am just a monument of mercy, 4 and that is a great deal for such a sinner, especially 4 when I add, that I am hoping for redemption 4 through Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of * my sins, according to the riches of his grace.' 4 If doubting, disputing, and trampling on his ' kindness could have made him change his love, it 4 had never been continued towards me. Though I SELECT REMAINS. 127 have not been left to commit gross crimes, yet He and I know the outrageous wickedness of my heart : — such wickedness as would have provoked any, but a God of infinite love, to have cast me into hell: yet, lo, instead of casting me there, he taketh me into his bosom and tells me, I have loved thee -with an everlasting love, and with loving kind- ness have I drawn thee, I will heal their backslid- ingSy and I will love them freely* \ Oh, how the Lord hath borne and carried me ! He hath indeed given me my stripes, but never except when I richly deserved them.' u Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works towards the children of 4 I was young when left by my parents ; yet their 4 instructions, accompanied with God's dealings, 4 made such impressions on my heart, as I hope will • continue with me to all eternity. I have served 4 many masters, but none so kind as Christ ; I have 4 dealt with many honest men, but no creditor like * Christ ; had I ten thousand hearts, they should all 4 be given to Christ ; and had I ten thousand bodies, 4 they should all be employed in labouring for his 4 honour.' Seeing two or three persons of his acquaintance sitting round him, he said. 4 — Now, sirs, I have 4 sinned longer, and in more aggravated forms, than 4 any of you; but what sins cannot the blood of 4 Christ wash out what cannot mercy forgive 1 44 The Lord passed by and proclaimed his name ; 4 the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, 4 long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and in 4 truth." Oh how astonishing, that the Spirit of God ♦ should enter into our vile hearts, contrary to our 128 SELECT REMAINS* 4 strivings! Even so it seemeth good in his sight. * X.et praise flow, for ever flow!' March 22d. He had no sooner sat down to break- fast, than, like a man enraptured with the views of glory, he gave vent to his heart, in the mention of the following lines : They with the fatness of thy house Shall be well satisfied : From rivers of thy pleasures thou Wilt drink to them provide. Psalm xxxvi. 8, He repeated these lines thrice, changing the words they and them into we and us, after which, he added, * Oh, how strange, that rivers of pleasure should be * provided for the murderers of God's Son, and the * contemners of his word!' One of his sons alledging to him, that he seemed to be quite indifferent about things here : he replied, 1 Indeed I am so ; only I would wish you my sons, 4 my friends, my congregation, the church, and all 4 the world, so far as is consistent with the decree of 4 God, were with Christ; — from all other things 1 my mind is weaned : yet, if the influence of God's 4 Spirit were to be withdrawn for a moment, Oh, 4 how horridly my heart would blaspheme!' To one of his hearers, whose father was an emi- nent Christian, he tendered the following advice, 4 Well — mind these words, " Thou art my God ; 4 I will prepare thee an habitation ; my father's 4 God ; I will exalt thee." We should reckon him 4 a madman that would throw away a father's estate, 4 but he is much more foolish who throws away a 4 father's God, Being told that the day was cold, and therefore his taking a ride would perhaps hurt him j he said, SELECT REMAINS* 129 4 Oh, to win to the everlasting day of fellowship with 1 Christ! — then shall we reflect with pleasure on all '' our cold and sorrowful days here.' 4 For a poor man, a dying man, a man that hath 1 much to do, there is no friend like Christ.' Washing his face in the water, he said, 4 Oh, to be 4 washed in the water of life!' One remarking that he looked better than he did, 4 It may be,' replied hu ; • however, when I am conformed to the image ot Christ, I shall look far better still.' This last he uttered with a pleasant smile. Stepping into the chaise to take his ride, and find- ing iiis inability to do it himself without assistance, h J. sired his friends to look and see the propriety of that advice, u Lei not the wise man glory in his wis- dom ; neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches ; but let him that giorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which cxerci- seth loving kindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth." Upon his return from his ride, being asked how he was ; he answered, ' Well, well for such a sinner!' To another, who inquired if he felt himself any easier ; he replied, 4 I cannot say that I am, but I am 4 just as well as my heart couid wish, if I were but 4 free of sin.' When a third acquaintance proposed a similar question; he observed, 'I am well; for it is with 4 both body and soul as it pleaseth God ; and what 4 pleaseth him as a new covenant God, I desire to * say, pleaseth me too.' Reading to him a saying of Dr. Evans's, shewing his resignation to the rod; 4 Well,' said he, 4 that is just what I would have 4 been at too : Oh what kindness God has heaped M 130 SELECT REMAINS. 4 upon me since the year . . . . ! what kind strug- 4 glings ! what kind smilings ! what kind overlookings * of my outrageous wickedness ! but he hath shew- * ed himself to be God and not man in his dealings 4 with me. 4 — In my mad attempts he hath often stopped 4 me ; my mad wishes he hath refused to grant ; and 4 my mad words he hath often seemed to overlook.' Being asked if he remembered of his preaching on this text, Psalm lxxiii. 22 — u So foolish was I and ignorant, and as a beast before thee:" he replied, 4 Yes, I remember it very well; and I remember 4 too, that when I described the beast, I drew the 4 picture from my own heart. But Oh, amazing 4 consideration! u Nevertheless, I am continually 4 with God, and he holdeth me by my right hand !" When the evening was come, and a friend propo- sed that his clothes should be taken off; he said, * Very well — I w T ould not wish to be a man of strife, 4 on the borders of eternity ; and especially when I * am as sure that the redeeming God is mine own,, * as that there is an eternity.' March 23d. Conversing with him about a sermon which he once preached on these words, Isa. xlvi. 4. " Even to your old age I am He" he observed, that he remembered discoursing on this text; and then added, with a sort of cheerfulness, 4 I must say, that 4 I never yet found God to break his word in this ; 4 no, notwithstanding all the provocations of which J 4 have given him.' Walking in the Grass Park, which is contiguous to his house, and finding that he was scarce able to move forward, by reason of a boisterous wind, hte said to a relation, who attended him, w I find that I am but weak— but. SELECT REMAINS. 131 Soon may the storms of trouble beat The house of bondage down, And let the prisoner fly — Watts. When he had taken his rest in the afternoon, he awakened with these words, 4 Oh what a wonder 4 that I have not slept into eternal life ! rather, Oh, ' what a wonder if I should thus sweetly sleep into 1 eternal life! Oh, what is this!' Having sat down to tea, he seemed to be so much under the constraining influence of the Holy Ghost, that he could not forbear making mention of the mercies of the Lord ; — c Oh,' cried he, * God is love, * there is no enmity in him at all! — Again, there are V three things which are very sweet ; — the sovereign- 4 ty, the freeness, and the fulness of grace.' In a short time after, he broke out in the following expressions, 4 Oh, wonderful, wonderful subject, 4 grace! Oh, wonderful, wonderful means, by which * it vents, the righteousness of Christ! and wonder- 4 ful, wonderful issue, eternal life /' An acquaintance asking him if he really wished to be strong; he replied, ' I rather wonder that I have 4 so much health and strength as I have: many 4 of my fellow sinners, and many less sinners than I, * are now roaring in the place of torment, without 4 any hopes of deliverance, while my body is easy, 4 and my heart is in some measure filled with his 4 p*aise. The strength which I wish now, is strength 4 to walk up and down in the name of the Lord.' March 24th. At breakfast, seeing his friends sitting around, he said, 4 Oh, sirs! when shall I take 4 the last Christian meal with you? I am not weary 4 of your company, nor have I any cause ; but I 4 would fain be at that, 4< I will go to God's altar, 4 even unto God my exceeding joy." 132 SELECT REMAINS* One of his little children coming to inquire for his welfare, he desired her to come near ; and, putting his hand upon her head, he spake to her in the following ■ manner: — 4 Now, my little dear, Oh, mind to pray 4 unto God: — your father must soon leave you ; but * cry unto Jesus — " Thou art my father, and the 4 guide of my youth ;" — and then, though you will not 4 have a room like this, to come and see your father 4 in, you will be taken to a far better Father's room.' Being told that his eldest son was gone home, he took occasion to remark, how happy he should be, if the time of his departure into the eternal world were arrived. — 4 Oh,' said he, 4 that I were ready forgoing 4 home to j .'—-About the year these words were • sweet to my soul — cc T ftere remaineth a rest for the 4 people of God." oil not willing, sir,' (said one) 4 to live and preach Christ V He answered, 4 I 4 would love to preach Christ, if I live ; but, as to my 4 life, I have no will in that matter ; I wish to have 4 my inclinations subordinate to the will of God.' A friend observing that the gospel was said to be spreading in the established Church of England — 4 Oh,' said he, 4 well, well may it spread: the gospel 4 is the source of my comfort, and every sinner is as 4 welcome to this source as I. — And Oh, how plea- 4 sant, that neither great sins, nor great troubles, do 4 alter these consolations ! — These words were once 4 sweetly impressed upon my heart, Where sin a- 4 bounded, grace did 44 much more abound." Oh, 4 how it delighted me, to see God taking the. advan- 4 tage of my great sinfulness, to shew his great 4 grace!' 4 Oh the sovereignty of God ! I think that he hath 1 used more means, to bring down the enmity and c rebellion of my heart, than he hath used for an hun- * dred beside* SELECT REMAINS. 133 Receiving a glass of wine, he observed, 4 How c astonishing that God's Son should get gall and 4 vinegar to drink, when his thirst was great ; and ' yet that I should have such wine, when my thirst * is by no means excessive !' — Afterwards, on a sim- ilar occasion, he expressed himself to this purpose, 4 I long to drink of the new wine in my father's. L kingdom, which will neither hurt head nor heart* 4 Oh, that I had all the world around me, that I *■ might tell them of Christ !' A friend reminding him that through his instru- mentality, as a teacher of divinity, about sixty or se- venty ministers were engaged in preaching Christ : he replied, 4 Had I ten thousand tongues, and ten thou- 4 sand hearts, and were I employing them all in * commendation of Christ, I could not do for his * honour as he hath deserved, considering his kind- When at tea, he gave vent to his grateful heart in the following words : 4 1 am much obliged to you all, 4 and particularly to you, (addressing his wife,) for 4 your kindness to me : yet I must go back to this> 44 Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is 4 none upon earth that I desire besides thee." 44 He hateth putting away :" 4 I am sure I have * found that ; for, oh ! the provocations which I have 4 given to God to cast me off; and yet to this day he 4 crowneth me with loving kindnesses ! — How aston- 4 ishing the necessity of the love of the Son of God I 4 Once I thought that I got a ravishing sight of the 4 necessity of his loving me, the sinner; he said, 44 Other sheep I have ; them I must bring." 4 — Oh, his kindness, his kindness ! I have shared of his frowns, as well as of his smiles : -little M 2 134 SELECT REMAINS. 4 frowns in comparison of what I deserved! — yet 4 when I even abused these frowns, as well as his * smiles, he hath often overcome me with tender To some, who asked him if he was any worse, he made this reply : 4 I am weak, but I am well, con- * sidering that I am such a sinner. I may say, 44 Goodness and mercy have followed me all the 4 days of my life;" and I hope to " dwell in the 4 house of God for ever." Speaking to him about his supper, he cried out, 4 Oh, to be there, where they "hunger no more, nor 4 thirst any more ; but are filled with the fatness of * God's house !" One of his younger children he exhorted in this form ; 4 Now cry to God, Thou art my Father : I do 4 not think that I was much older than you, when 4 God caused me to claim him ; and Oh, God hath 4 been good to me ! It is long since he said, " Leave 4 thy fatherless children upon me, and I will pre- 4 serve them alive, and let thy widows trust in me." — 4 As I know not but I am dying of this distress, 4 I have essayed to cast you on the Lord ; see that 4 you cast yourself on him.' March 25th. 4 Long ago I thought to have known * by experience what is meant by u dying in the 4 Lord ;" that is a lesson, however, which I have 4 no yet learned, but I will not quit hopes of learning 4 it still. 4 Were it not that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, damnation would be my lot ; but " in him I have redemption through his blood, accord- ing to the riches of his grace," And if Christ be SELECT REMAINS. 135 4 glorified to the highest, and I ashamed to the 4 lowest, I am content. 4 These words were 6nc5e sweet to my soul, I am xi less than the least of his mercies." ' I that thought * that I was not worthy of the smallest favour, yet I * aimed to apprehend the greatest gift. — Oh, amaz- 4 ing scheme, redemption ! Amazing contrivance of ' it by God the Father ! — Amazing work of the Sort 4 purchasing it ! — Amazing application of it by the 1 Holy Ghost! — and amazing possession of it by * men! 4 It is now many years since God put me into the *■ state, that I could not totally apostatize from him ; * though no thanks to me, for I have done my utmost * against him, and yet he hath held me ; I know not * if there ever was a sinner, such a perverse wretch 4 as I.' One asking him if he remembered who it was that said on his death-bed, that God had fulfilled all the promises in the 91st Psalm to him but the last, " His eyes shall see my salvation," and now he was going to* receive the accomplishment of that P He said 4 No ;' and added, raising his voice, 4 But I know a man to 4 whom almost all the lines of that Psalm have been * sweet : — I think, if ever God touched my heart, he 4 went through that Psalm with me.' March 26th. Being asked how he had slept, he replied in his common style, 4 Good rest for such a 4 sinner.' — Said the friend, 4 You know that he giv- 4 eth his beloved sleep.' — 4 It is true,' replied he, but 4 sure God hath no cause to love me.' 4 Long ago Jehovah silenced me with this, 4 Is there any thing too hard for the Lord V and to this day 136 SELECT REMAINS* c I have never found out the thing, though perhaps * I have resisted his Spirit more than ever a sin- 4 nerdid.' r I wish to be at that point, " He hath put to me 4 the everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and * sure ; . " for this is all my salvation, and all my * desire." Expressing his resignation in this manner, 4 I am * entirely at the Lord's will ;' an acquaintance re- marked to him, that 4 such resignation was not the 4 attainment of every Christian :' he answered * This is rather what I would be at than what I have c attained.' Happening to speak about the students of divinityv who had been under his charge; he said, 4 I wish 4 them all more serious and diligent than ever I have 4 been j I hope, however, that God will not cast me 4 off as a slothful and wicked servant : I am sure * that he 44 hateth putting away." A friend observing, that 4 It is an unspeakable 4 mercy, that God does not deal with us according * to our works ;' he replied — 4 Ah, if God were to * deal with men that way (I will not except the apos- 4 tie Paul) the hottest place in hell would be the lot 4 of us ministers !' 4 I think the early death of my father and mother, 4 the death of a wife, and of children, in a remarka- 4 ble manner, wrought for my good. I could not but 4 notice, that when God took away these, he always 4 supplied their room v/ith himself: — May he deal 4 thus with you when I die ! 4 My mind is now so wavering, that I have little * remembrance of what is past, little apprehension SELECT REMAINS. 137 k of what is present, and little foresight of what is 4 future: but, Oh what a mercy, that when once the 4 everlasting arms of Jesus are underneath he will 4 not lose his gripe. — u Israel shall be saved in the 4 Lord with an everlasting salvation." 4 Here is a wonder — a sinner saved by the bloo4 * of God's Son ! There are wonders in heaven, and * wonders in the earth ; but the least part of redemp- 4 tion work is more wonderful than them all.' March 27th. When some of his relations express- 4 ed their wishes for his recovery ; — c I wish,' said he, 4 that God may do what is most for his glory, and 4 for the good of my soul. Were it left to me, whe- 4 ther I would choose life or death, I would not turn 4 a straw for either, but would refer it wholly to God 4 himself. All my days I have been rebelling 4 against, and vexing, his Holy Spirit ; yet I may 4 say, this has been the sum of his conduct toward ; me — 44 He wrought for his name's sake, that it 1 should not be polluted." 4 Oh, how God hath exemplified that law in his 1 conduct toward me; 44 if thine enemy hunger, 4 feed him ; if he thirst, give him to drink ;" and in 4 so doing I hope he hath heaped hot melting coals 4 of fire upon my head.' One of his brethren in the ministry coming in to see him, he addressed him to this purpose : — c Now 4 I am obliged to you for your kindness ; but, Oh 4 entreat Christ to pay me a visit: I do you no 4 wrong when I say, that I would not give half an 4 hour's visit of Christ, for days, or months, or years, * of yours. * Any thing that I know about religion is this, that 138 SELECT REMAINS. * I have found weakness and wickedness about my- * self j and grace, mercy, and loveliness about Jesus/ When a friend observed to him, that we must run. deeper and deeper in grace's debt ; he replied — 4 Oh * yes; and God is a good creditor; he never seeks * back the principal sum, and indeed puts up with a * poor annual rent.' A number of his acquaintances sitting round him while he dined, he broke out with these words: 4 Well, sirs, may we at last all meet at the table * above, and enjoy a feast there : — no pain, no com- 4 plaining, no trouble, there ; but there is everlasting * joy and peace. 4 Oh, how strangely Christ hath stuck to me ! per- * haps not one in hell ever gave more opposition ; 4 his cords of love, which he threw about m^, I cast 4 away ; the words which he spake to me I contemn- 4 ed ; yet I think he hath made me to yield. * I never deserved another word but this, 4 Depart 1 from me ye cursed into everlasting fire :' but Christ - ; hath spoken far other words to me ; and, Oh, how * enlightening, melting, and healing, their influence % hath been! 4 What a mercy that God himself enableth us to 4 believe ; for that unbelief of our hearts would call * all the promises rank lies, if God did not stop its 4 mouth.' Asking if this was Saturday,' he was told, No, it was Tuesday, and that he seemed to long for the sabbath : 4 I do,' replied he, l weary for the sabbath ; 4 and I would fain be at wearying for the everlasting 1 sabbath ; then shall I have no need of the assist- * ance of preachers ; nor will I even need the blessed SELEGT REMAINS. $$& Bible itself: God's face will serve me for preachers and Bible too.' March 28th. * Oh, that is a strange text, * God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but hive everlasting life." — This declara- tion would set our hearts all on fire, if they were not infernally frozen; and, indeed, closely applied u Hpiy Ghost, it would set them on fire, even a infernaiiy frozen. He once applied it with such lower to my soul, that i think the application would have iaftamed the heart of a devil, had it been so spoken to him/ To his sons in the ministry, he repeated the exhor- tations which he gave ..h m before. — 4 Oh labour, 4 labour to win solus to Christ; I will say this for 4 your encouragement, that, when the Lord led me 4 out to be most earnest in this way, he poured in 4 most comfort into my own heart ; so that he gave 4 me my reward in my bosom: and when I have 4 tried to help vacancies, the Loru hath repaid. me 4 well with glimpses of his glory. Wt re ihe Lord 4 to make me young again, I think that I should 4 study to devise other means for the gaining of souls 4 than those which I have used, and to prosecute 4 them with more activity than ever I did.' To an acquaintance, that inquired about his wel- fare, he gave this account : 4 I am but weak ; but 4 it is delightful to find one's self weak in everlasting 4 arms : Oh, how much do I owe my Lord! 4 What a mercy, that once within the covenant, * there is no getting out of it again : now I find my 4 faculties much impaired.' His relations answer- ing that it was omy his memory which seemed to be 149 SELECT REMAINS, 4 affected with his distress: — ' Well,' said he, *Oh f ■ 1 how marvellous that God hath continued my ' judgement, considering how much I have abused 4 it ; and continued my hope of eternal life, though 4 I have misimproved it! " But where sin hath 4 reigned unto death, grace, hath reigned through 4 righteousness, unto eternal life, by Christ Jesus * our Lord." * My memory is much failed ; but, were death 4 once over, I will remember God's heaping of nier- 4 cits, and my multiplied provocations : and when I 4 view the first on one side, and the last on the other, 4 on a new covenant footing, I will sing thanksgiv- 4 ings to God for ever.' Speaking about sermons, he remarked, 4 So far as * ever I observed God's dealings with my soul, the 4 flights of preachers sometimes entertained me ; but 4 it was scripture expressions which did penetrate 4 my heart, and that in a way peculiar to themselves.' To one, who alleged, that if he were not happy afterwards, many had reason to be afraid, he gave a reply to the following purpose : — w i have no other 4 ground to be happy, than what is by redemption 4 through the blood oi Christ, and that is suited to 4 you as well as to me.' Expressing his resignation to the will of God, one of his relations observed, c that he seemed to sway to one side, and his friends to another:' * I own,' said he, * that I do sway to one side, for I desire to de- 4 part, and to be with Jesus, which is far better, and 4 you selfishly wish me to live with you.' — The rela- tion answering, that he hoped it was not wholly sel- fishness with them ; perhaps it was for the good of the church, that they desired his life prolonged; — he 8EXECT REMAINS. 141 *eptted, # Indeed it may be selfishness with us both ; *' I confess it may be selfishness in me to wish to be * with Christ ; but Oh, that God had never seen any * other selfishness in me than that !' ♦ Oh, what must Christ be in himself, when he "• sweetens heaven, sweetens scriptures, sweetens or- * dinances, sweetens earth, and even sweetens trials ! * Oh, what must that Christ be in himself!* * Oh, to have all our troubles sanctified to us ! and 4 then, when in the eternal world, we will with plea- * sure look back and see, that through fire and water, 4 he brought us to the wealthy place.* One of his children saying to him, i Father, we 4 would fain have you to live f he answered, ' Well, 4 I believe so, but I would fain be with Christ.'-— 4 But would you not wish to take us with you.'' said the other. He replied, — c It is not I, but Christ, 4 who must do that: — however, as to my departure, 4 I will not set the time of it to God ; he is wise, and 4 I am a fool.' Being told that he done much good to souls since the year 1764, when he said he wished to be gone ; he observed, 4 Oh, how strange, that God 4 should make use of one so sinful as I to do good to 4 others ! But I believe that he was wiser than me - f 4 and I shall see this more clearly when in the eter- 4 nal state.' Reading to him Mr. Erskine's poem, which is calkd The Work and Contention of Heaven, he remarked, 4 Well, though I should never wish to 4 see contention in the church on earth, yet I should 4 be willing to join in Ralph's contention above. 4 Were I once in heaven, I think that I would con- 4 tend with the best of them ; and I know that our * contentions there will not raise heats, but excite '• love to one another.' When he received a glass of wine, he with a smile addressed his friends ■ ■ N 142 SELECT REMAINS, « Now, sirs, I wish you all new wine in the kingdom of the Father at last, and new wine from the king- dom of the Father, while you are on the way to At supper, with his usual cheerfulness, he men* tioned these lines : " They with the fatness of thy bouse " Shall be well satisfied:" &c. and then added, 4 If earth transformed, partly by the ' instrumentality of men, is so delicious, Oh, what * must the fatness of God's house be, the flesh and * blood of the Son of God ? March 29th. Among the first words which he tittered were these ; i Oh, what a rebellious child I 4 have been to God ! and Oh, what a kind Father he * hath been to me ! I need not go farther than myself, *~ to see " that God is love," lor ever in my trouble 4 he treats me as a mother doth her only sucking < child.' A friend happening to say, ' I suppose you make •* not your labours for the good of the church, the * ground of your comfort ;' he, with a sort of un- common earnestness, replied, — l No, no, no ! it is * the FINISHED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST which *- is the only foundation of my hope : I have no more * dependance on my labours than on my sins. I ra- * ther reckon it a wonder of mercy, that God took 4 any of my labours off my hand : '* Righteousness * belongeth unto him, but unto me shame and con- 4 fusion of face," If the Lord were to render unto 4 me according to my works, the hottest place in 4 hell would be my reward ; yet by Christ's works 4 eternal life to the most worthless wretch, is but a 4 suitable recompense*' SELECT REMAINS, 14& Taking a walk through the house, as he stepped along, he cheerfully repeated these lines in the 89th Psalm : "In brightness of thy face, O Lord, " They ever on shall go ; " They in thy name shall all the day " Rejoice exceedingly ; •* And in thy righteousness shall they " Exalted be on high." * Oh that will be sweet, when the redeemed df 4 the Lord shall walk thus in heaven,' said he ; and then added, with tears in his eyes, ' And I am sure, r that I may think shame to appear among them ; * but the more shame and disgrace I deserve, the r more glory God will get. Oh what strange 4 things God hath done to save me ! By afflictions * on my own body, by the deaths of my parents, by * bringing me to ordinances, by reproofs of consci- •• ence, he hath striven with me for my salvation.* Walking out to the grass park, and happening to apeak about the A ■ r meeting house, which is at a small distance from it, he could not forbear shew- ing his zeal for the good of souls. ' I would be 4 happy,' said he, 4 if my A r brother had ten * for my one, as crowns of joy at the last day ; though 4 I must say, that I would wish to have as many as 4 possible ; but Oh, it will be a strange honour for 4 such a wretch as I, to have half a dozen.' March 30th. To one who inquired about his welfare, he said, * I sit here an instance of human * frailty ; and, I would fain add, an amazing instance 4 of God's kindness in redemption.' — Some persons speaking about an ill bargain in his hearing, he took occasion to remark, 4 Oh how happy to have an in- 4 terest in Christ ! that is a bargain which will never * break ; and by that, we, though naturally heirs of 144 SELECT REMAINS 4 hell, are entitled unto eternal life.'— Often he cried out, « I find that I am not strong ; but, Oh, it is a * wonder that I am not damned ! — I bless God, that 1 at least I know thus much about religion, I am 4 convinced that I am as a beast before God.' March 31st. 'I remember that about the year— 4 I was breathing out slaughter against the Lord c Jesus ; but that was always the turn of the tale, " Yet I obtained mercy." If I were offered the * crown of Britain, instead of the fellowship with 4 Christ, which I then enjoyed, I would not hesitate 1 * a moment about choosing the latter.' 4 Oh the debt of grace is a strange kind of debt ! 4 Were I even now, two or three hundred pounds in 1 debt to any man, it would considerably distress 4 me ; but the views of my debt to free grace, re- 4 markubly refresh my heart.' April 1st. 4 Were I once in heaven* a look of 4 Christ will cure my broken memory, and all my 4 other weaknesses. There I shall not need wine* 4 nor spirits to recruit me ; no, nor shall I mind 4 them, but as Christ was through them kind to me.* Seeing the fire stirred, he said, ' Oh to have my 4 heart stirred, and set in an eternal flame o( love to 4 that dear Son of God, of whom I think I can say, 44 he loved me, and gave himself for me ;" and I am sure, in point of worthlessness, he 4 might as well 4 have loved Beelzebub himself.' April 3d. Sitting down in the park, and the sun shining bright upon his face, he cried out in a kind of transport, 4 Oh, how pleasant to be forever behold- 4 ing the Sun of Righteousness in heaven, and how * pleasant even in time to see him by faith £ SELECT REMAINS. 14$ . One of his brethren in the ministry paying him a visit, and saying, among other things, c Sir, we could 4 not well want you :' he replied, 4 Oh yes, you 4 could easily want me, and I would wish to be with 4 Jesus ; mean time I am wholly at the Lord's dis- 4 posal. If the Lord would make me useful in the * church, I have no objections against living ; but if 4 not, I would rather die.' Upon his friend observ- ing that the Lord seemed to be very kind to him j he said, 4 Yes, God hath been heaping favours upon * the sinner, these forty years past ; and I will s-ay to c his honour, that he hath made my days of affliction 4 always the happiest; indeed I think that I have 4 seldom had very sweet days, except when I have 4 met with affliction one way or another.' Being asked by his brother, if he felt no uneasiness at leav- ing his family and congregation, he answered, 4 1 can- 1 not say that I feel any such uneasiness ; not but 4 that I regard them ; but I know that a God ia 4 Christ can infinitely more than supply my room. 4 I might be spared, and be of little use to them ; but 4 God will be infinitely useful. My parents were 4 taken from me when I was young, and God hath 4 been far better to me since, than they could have 4 been.' 4 What think you,' said the friend, 4 of the 4 present state of the church V He replied, 4 The 4 church at present is in a very poor condition, but 4 the Lord can revive her : I have often found, that 4 when wicked lusts and wicked devils, have caused 4 great disorder in my heart, the Lord hath brought * order out of confusion. This partly encourages * me to believe, that though wicked men and wicked 4 devils cause disorder in the church, yet the Lord 4 will make all things to work together for good, to 4 his own elect. I do not expect to see it ; yet it is 4 the joy of my heart, that the time is coming, when 4 the kingdoms of this world shall become the king- 4 doms of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;—- N 2 146 SELECT REMAIN*. < Dead churches shall yet be quickened ; apostate * churches shall yet be recovered; and churches c shall be planted where there were none before.' April 4th. Finding himself very feeble, he ob- * served, ' My legs are of little use, my head is of 4 little use, and my hands are of little use j but my c God in Christ is the same to me now as ever.' Speaking about the synod, which was to meet in the month of May, he said he believed he should not be able to attend ; and then added, u Oh, if the Spirit of God would bring me to the general synod of the church of the first-born, that would be far better ; no idle words, no angry speeches, no sinful ignorance, no haughty pride there ! After all, it is a mercy that Jesus, the great manager of the church, can overrule even our contentions here for his own glory.' April 5th. When he took his walk in the park, he pointed to several spots, where he said, that his soul had been ravished with the views of free grace: * Yea,' said he, 4 on certain occasions, my soul has 4 been so transported there, that as the apostle speaks, " Whether I was in the body or out of the body, I 4t could scarce tell:" and perhaps it is superstitious 4 in me, but I confess that I have a peculiafclove to * these very spots/ After he came into his house, and found himself tired with his walk, he expressed the wish of his heart in these words ; ' Oh, that will be a pleasant 4 journey, " The ransomed of the Lord shall return, " and come to Z:on with songs and everlasting joy 44 upon their heads ; they shall obtain joy and glad- *•* ness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.' SELECT REMAINS. 147 Talking about mercy, he observed, ' I could wish * to live and die a deep, deep debtor to mercy; and * that none of my works should ever be mentioned, 4 but as manifestations of mercy, in enabling such a 4 sinner to do any thing for the honour of the God * of mercy, and for promoting the work of mercy io 4 the welfare oi others.' To an acquaintance, who came to ask for his wel- fare, he spake in the following manner : — 4 Well, * you see I am a prisoner here in my own house ; but, * Oh, that is a happy (I do not choose to call it an * imprisonment, but a) sort of confinement, in 4 a Redeemer's arms, and in the covenant of grace.* April 6th. 4 How true is that saying, " Man in " in his best state is altogether vanity !" I am not * one of the oldest, yet I find myself exceedingly 4 feeble; — however, although I am weak, I have * reason to be thankful I am not damned.' * Oh the sovereignty of God in permitting some, * both of angels and of men, to fall into misery ; * while it secures the happiness of the rest to all eter- 4 nity!' As an evidence of the tenderness of his conscience^ he frejfuendy gave this hint to his consort: 4 I hope 4 you will take care, when I am speaking to any * acquaintance, that I do not say anything trifling to 4 them : it is not my honour that I mind in this, but * I should be vexed, now that I am a dying man, if I 4 should say any thing to the dishonour of Christ, to 4 the grief of the godly, or to be a stumbling block to 4 the wicked ; indeed it would be ill on my part to 4 act thus.' April 9th# Being asked how he was now, he 148 SELECT REMAINS, replied, * I am weak ; but the motto of each of my 4 days is, " He hath not dealt with us as we have 4 sinned, neither rewarded us according to our ini- 4 quities." Sitting down in the park, and finding his eyes una- ble to bear the bright shining of the su.?, he remarked, 4 Oh how pleasant to be in that place, where they 4 are so overcome with the glory of the Sun of 4 Righteousness, that they have to cover their faces 4 with their wings !' Having occasion to converse about young meu coming out to the ministry, he observed, ' Well, 4 though pride prevails much in my heart, yet I think, 4 I would trample it thus far under my feet, as that 4 I would be glad to see all my students, and not only 4 they, but all the faithful ministers of Jesus, bring- 4 ing hundreds or thousands of souls with them into 4 heaven, though I should have but five or six.' Taking him into his meeting house, he looked round him and said, 4 Now, weak as I am, I would 4 try to preach yet, if I had none to preach an my stead. 4 Oh, what sweet fellowship with Christ I have had 4 here ! and that pulpit hath been the best place in 4 all the house to me.' t A young surgeon paying him a visit he thought it proper to tender some advices to him ; among other things he observed, that persons in this profession- had excellent opportunities of conversing with dying sinners about their eternal state ; that their patients would probably pay more attention to religious hints from them, than from some others ; — that while they gave cures to others, they should never forget to ap- ply to Christ for spiritual healing themselves. As he was evidently turning hoarse with speaking, one SELECT REMAINS. 149 of his relations reminded him, that he was exhaus- ting himself, and begged him to forbear for a little* He made this reply — ' Well, I shall say no more evew 1 now j but, Oh, to be at that, — " My meuth the praxes of the Lord «' To publish cease fjull never; " Let all flesh bless hi* holy name •' For ever and for ever." Ps. c*lv. 21. May 6th. Lying on his back in the bed, and 1 being exceedingly faint, he observed, with a low tone of voice, ■ Here is a lecture on that text, " Vanity of * vanities ; all that cometh is vanity and vexation of 4 spirit j" for what a poor useless creature am I now ! 4 But Oh, what a mercy that Christ can raise glory * to himself out of mere vanity V In uttering these last words, his heart seemed to be quite overcome* When a friend alledged to him, that he appeared to be sunk in his spirits j he replied, — l I am so ; but * it is not in the least through any terror, but just * through weakness.' Being asked if he was not afraid to enter into a world of spirits, he answered, 4 No ; a persuasion 4 that Christ is mine, makes me think, that when I 4 appear in that world, as a new incomer, all the * spirits there will use me well on Christ's account. It being remarked by an acquaintance, that consi- dering him as a dying man, he seemed to be as easy as he well could be ; l Yes,' said he, *I really 4 am so ; for in my body 1 am not much pained, and! * as to my mind, it is composed, or rather cheerful: 8 I mean not that I have what the world call mirth, 4 but I possess a sort of cheerfulness which ariseth t from views of certain texts of scripture*' ft 150 SELECT REMAINS, May 7th. ' As I have had fulness all my days, I w believe that I could nSt now easily bear with pinch- ' ing want; yet I think to publish the gospel of Je- * sus, I could willingly meet with want or any thing 4 else.' Riding in the chaise, and observing how pleasant- ly the corn and the grass, were growing, he cried out* * Oh, I think that I should love to see that promise * accomplished, u The wilderness, and the solitary * place, shall be glad for them ; and the desert shall * rejoice and blossom as the rose : it shall blossom *• abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. 4 The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it ; the * excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the * glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God." * — Oh, I should love to see all this ere I die, * though I would wish that it may not be long till * the event take place. I should love when I depart 4 to heaven, to be able to tell this news to the re- 4 deemed millions, that the Holy Ghost had been * remarkably poured out in East Lothian, and that 4 there was not now a family, in which the worship 4 of God was not observed. I dare say it delights 4 the redeemed above, to hear of Christ's glory being 4 displayed, and of souls being saved, on earth.' When he observed the concern which his wife shewed about his welfare, he said, 4 Now, no doubt, 4 you do not wish to hear about my departure ; but 4 thy " Maker is thy husband ; the Lord of hosts is * his name :" he can infinitely more than supply the * want of me.' May 8th. Passing by the door of his study, and looking into it, one observed, 4 Sir, you never go in 4 there now :' he answered, 4 No ; the closet I wish f now is the place of God's immediate presence; SELECT REMAINS. lH * there the face of God will serve me instead of all * my books.' Addressing himself to one of his sons, he said, 4 Now I am easy, whether ever you or any of my >• family be. what the world call rich, but I should 1 wish you all to be fearers of God. Next to seeing 1 Christ as he is, I think that I would desire to see • you, and hundreds at your back, all debtors to frte • grace. Oh, I would be happy to say, u Lord, • here am I, and the children which thou hast giv- 4 Ever since God dealt properly with my heart, I never had any comfort in a thought that my sins were little, but in the belief that the virtue of Christ's blood was infinite — U Blood that cleanseth from all sin ;" and in the consideration of God's mercy being higher than the heavens. * I once thought that text, " I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy," had just been made lor me ; and that it was so full of grace, just that it might suit my condition. Were it possible for his majesty and I to become young again ; and were it left to my choice, whether I would have his lot or my own, I wp,uld, without hesitation, choose my own : if I have'not got such grand entertainment for the body, I have got feasts on texts of scripture, the like of which perhaps he never obtained : — " Goodness and mercy have followed me." Talking about death, he observed, * It might be written on my coffin, — " Here lies one of the cares of Providence, who early wanted both father and mother, and yet never missed them." May 9th. Speaking about submission to the rod % * *52 SELECT REMAINS, of God, he made the following remarks : • I woulfl * not wish that foolish question ever put to me, * Would you go to hell if that were the Lord's will? ' for it is God's promise, securing my salvation, that * has much influence in making me resigned. God 4 said to me, " I am the Lord thy God ;" and * and if he were not to be mine for ever, he would 4 forfeit his word, which is impossible.' Being desired by a friend, to give an assignation of his right to his books, for the good of his family, he replied, — 4 No, no ; I would not wish that ever * there should be the least appearance of avarice of the * world in me j I can trust my family to Providence j * and if, when I am in heaven, it appear that there * was one converted by means of any thing that ever * I wrote, I will mark down an hundred pounds ; if * there should be two, I will say there is two hun- 4 dred pounds ; and if twenty, there is something of 4 more value than two thousand pounds ; — that is the * reward which I wish.' Two young ladies coming in to see him, he asked how they n <. ft ; upon their answering, Very well, he Said, u It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed ;" and, Oh, never say that you are very well to your own consciences, until you have good evidence of your interest in Christ. ;Be earnest to have acquaintance with Jesus ; no connexion so glorious as union with Christ ; no pleasure like that which is enjoyed in fellowship with him.' To one, who observed, that some who saw him thought that he was rather better, he replied, l All * my wish is, that if God spare me, I may have gitts 4 to serve him while I live ; and, if I die, I wish to 4 praise hiiu while I have any being.' SELECT REMAIN?. 153 May 10th. Hearing some talk about the endor- sing of a bill, he said, 4 Oh, how pleasant ! the bills of * God's promises are my heritage. I have often for- 4 gotten them ; but I am sure that Jehovah minds 1 them, and 1 know too, that the Spirit of God will * never deceive me.' Talking concerning his weakness, he observed, 4 God deals so tenderly with me in my affliction, that *, indeed I think the strokes, as it were, go nearer his 4 heart than they do mine.' May 11th. The command is " Owe no man any 4 thing." What a mercy that there is no such pre- 1 cept as this, Owe a Saviour nothing ; or even this, 4 Study to owe him as little as possible. 4 I confess that I would not love to stand at our 4 town cross, with a paper on my breast, declaring 4 that I was a bankrupt to men ; but, Oh, I think that 4 I should love to stand in the most publick place of 4 heaven, having all the redeemed pointing to me as 4 the greatest sinner that ever was saved ; yea,I think 4 their very staring at me, as the chief debtor to free 4 grace, would, rejoice my heart.' May 14th. When one observed to him, that his memory seemed to be much failed, he replied, — 4 It 4 is so ;' and then shutting his eyes, he, in a devout manner presented this prayer : — 44 Lord, I am a 4 stranger on this earth, hide not thy commandments 4 from me." Some alledging, that he would not get out in his chair, on account of the wetness of the day ; 4 Well,' said he 4 if God would send his new cove- 4 nant chariot, death, and transport me to heaven ere 4 night, I should be happy, let the day be what it will. '* Oh what a mercy, that my admission into eternal O 154 SELECT REMAINS. * life, does not in the least depend on my ability for 4 any thing ; but I, as a poor sinner will win in lean- 1 ing on Christ as the Lord my righteousness ; on 4 Christ, "made of God unto me righteousness, 4 sanctification, and redemption !" I have nothing to * sink my spirits but my sins ; and these need not 4 sink me either, since the great God is my Saviour.' To one that inquired for his welfare, he said, I am * sitting here, trying to wait for the salvation of 4 God. I should love that my departure was nearer 4 than perhaps you would wish; — but I will not Taking a walk from one room to another, he, in a sort of transport cried, 4 Oh it will {>e pleasant to 4 enter into Christ's light room above ! Sure when 4 I am there, and when I reflect on the opportu- 4 nities which I enjoyed in this world, I shall won- 4 der at myself as a fool in the misimprovement of 4 them ; but what shall I say ? when Christ is the 4 way to heaven, " a wayfaring man, though a fool, 44 cannot err therein." Advising a young man to honour his father and mother, and being told by a friend that the persons which he named were dead, he took occasion to make the following remark : 4 Oh, what a mercy, 4 that you can never tell me that my friend Jesus is 4 dead, when so many of my earthly acquaintances 4 are gone ; if you say of him that he was dead, I 4 can answer but now he " is alive, and lives for 44 evermore ; and hath the keys of hell and of 44 death." June 4th, When he heard the bells ring, he ask- ed what they meant ; and upon being informed that it was the king's birth-day, he said, 4 Oh when will SELECT REMAINS. 155 4 that glorious solemnity arrive, when all the artil- * lery of heaven shall be let off : that day of Jesus, 4 when angels and saints shall join in a general shout 4 to his honour. Then fires shall be in the heavens, 4 and fires on the earth ; " the heavens shall pass 44 away with a great noise, and the elements shall 44 melt with fervent heat : the earth also, and the 44 works that are therein shall be burnt up." Sometime after, observing the bells continuing to ring, 4 Oh,' said he, 4 blessed be God that we have a 4 better king's birth-day to celebrate ! — u Unto us 44 was born, in the city of David, a Saviour, who i$ 44 Christ the Lord." On account of that event, the 4 gospel bells have keen sounding for ages past, and 4 they will ring louder and louder still. Oh, a Savi- 4 our ! the Son of God our Saviour ! Oh, his kind- 4 ness .' his kindness ! a Saviour ! a Husband to sin- 4 ners, and to me f Conversing about the manner in which the gospel call is addressed to men, he observed, 4 It has been 4 my comfort these twenty years, that not only sen- ' sible sinners, but the most stupid, are made wel- 4 come to believe in Christ.' Throwing up his victuals to a great degree, as soon as he was able to speak, he said, 4 Well, I am sure 4 that God will not kill me, till my work is done ; and * when that is over, I would not wish to live any 4 longer. But, Oh, to have my soul filled with 4 Christ's new wine in the kingdom of heaven, I * know that I would not throw up that !' When he lay down on his bed, one asked him how he was now ; he answered, « I lie here in the 4 everlasting arms of a gracious God.' — 4 Are you 4 not afraid,' said the friend, fc to appear at the tribu- 156 SELECT REMAINS. * nal of God V — He replied, l Were I looking to ' give the account in my own person, considering my ' sins, indeed I might be terrified : but then I view c Christ the judge as my advocate and my accompt- * ant, and I know that I do not owe more debt than 1 he has paid.' June 5th. An acquaintance going to leave him, and saying that probably he would soon see some of his brethren in the ministry ; — l Tell them,' said he, * that it is my desire that they may labour to win 1 souls to Christ, for now I am not able, tho' ever * so willing : meantime you must say, that Christ * hath been a kind master to mr . Many a visit he 1 hath given to me already, and I expect to be with * him in heaven by and by. Tell them too, that I * desire their prayers, that, with submission to the ' divine will, I may depart to be with Christ, which ' is far better.' Being urged to take his breakfast, ' I will eat,* said he, ' as much as I am able ; the food is very 4 good in itself, and it is a memorial of my spiritual * provision, and I love it not the worse on that ac- When he coughed sore, and a relation expressed his grief to see him in that distress ; • Why not 4 cough ?' replied he, * Oh it would be happy, if each 4 of these coughs and throwings, would hasten me to God as my exceeding joy.' One remarking to him, that his tongue seemed to be very foul; he answered, ' It may be so, but what 4 a mercy that it is not tormented in flames ! Oh, fc the power of free grace, that can make a tongue, 4 which is a world of iniquity, an everlasting praiser * of Christ in heaven ! But what need I say, u for SELECT REMAINS. 157 " the heart is deceitful above all things, and despe- 44 rately wicked," and yet it is made an eternal habi- € tation of God and the Lamb !' When he came in from his ride, he was scarce set down, when he began expressing his admiration of the love of God ; * Oh the sovereignty of grace ! * How strange that I, a poor cottager's son, should * have a chaise to ride in ; and what is far more won- * derful, I think God hath often given me rides in * the chariot of the aew covenant : in the former * case, he hath raised me from the dunghill, and set 1 me with great men ; but in the latter, he hath ex- * alted the man, sinful as a devil, and made him to 4 sit with the Prince of the kings of the earth. Oh, * astonishing ! astonishing \ astonishing !' Being offered a little wine, he objected against taking it j 4 For,' said he, * I am afraid that it will 4 hurt me, and I would not wish to hurt that head, * which, as well as my heart, is Christ's ; let him do 4 with it as he pleaseth, but I would not wish to have 4 any hand in hurting it myself. 4 No doubt I would love to be at my publick work 4 again ; and had it been any other than God that 4 had restrained me, I would not have taken it well, ? but as it is the Lord, I desire to submit. 4 Were God to present me with the dukedom of 4 Argyle on the one hand, and the being a minister 4 of the gospel, with the. stipend which I have had 4 on the other, so pleasant hath the ministry been to 4 me, notwithstanding all my weakness and fears of * little success, that I would instantly prefer the last.' To some acquaintances who came to visit him, he said, i Here, sirs, take warning that ye must die.— O 2 158 SELECT REMAINS. 4 Now I think it is come to dying work with me 7 4 but, if Jesus hold me up, though I die, all is well : " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." A minister asking him what was the best method a person could take, when a consideration of his own sinfulness terrified him in preaching ? He made this reply, — 4 Attempt to believe, — just as a sinner, — as 4 the chief of sinners* These promises have been 4 sweetest to me which extend to men, if they are ' but out of hell. " It is a faithful saying, and 44 worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came 44 into the world to save sinners, of whom I am 44 chief." Once these words were sweet to my soul ; 4 I thought, ill as I was, I could not be worse than * the chief of sinners : conscience said, that I was 4 the most wicked wretch that ever breathed ; and 4 that I had shewed my self to be such, especially by 4 rebelling against convictions, and by trampelling 4 on Christ's alluring words : yet since Christ came 4 to save sinners, even the chief, why, thought I, 4 should I except myself.' When he rose to take a walk through the house, he found himself so feeble, that he was in danger of falling almost at every step ; however he comforted himself and his friends in this manner : c I am now 4 very weak ; but were I in heaven, " I shall renew 44 my strength ; there shall I mount up with wings 44 as an^eagle : I shall run, and not weary j I shall 44 walk, and not faint." No staggerings there.' After family worship in the evening, he observed, 4 Oh, it would be pleasant if our experiences in ordi- 4 nances were such here, as that they would fit us 4 for the exercises of heaven ; our prayers here, a 4 stretching forth of our desires for the enjoyment of 4 God, and of the Lamb ^ and our praises here a 4 tUiiing of our hearts for the songs above.* SELECT REMAINS. 159 June Gth. One asking him this question, ■ Sir, 1 does it not strike you with fear, when you think of 4 being confined in a grave V He answered, 4 No ; * such is my esteem of Christ, that I think I am easy, 4 though they should bury me in a dunghill, if my * soul were but with him.* • But,' said the other r 4 are you not sorry to part with all your family ?' He replied, ' I must own, that I have a concern about 4 my wife and children ; but when my heart enters 4 properly into these words, u Be with the Lord,?' c the leaving of them diminishes into a very small 4 point ; and although natural affection for them is * as strong as ever, I hope that when I am away, 4 Christ will far more than supply my room to them, * and then, you see, we shall be better on all hands.' Seeing his relatives assisting him under his weak- ness, he often said, ' I really wonder at the kindness 4 of men to me : but especially I am amazed, when* 4 I reflect that it is ail the kindness of my God 4 through them. 7 When on any occasion his little children were ga- thered around him, he used to commend his Lord in such words as these : 4 There is none so glorious 4 as Christ ! — he is altogether lovely ; — if you could 4 put all the gold and silver into one he%p, the glory 4 of Christ would far exceed all : I say this, having, 4 I think, seen Jesus ; but as yet, I have only seen 4 him through a glass darkly j after this I hope to 4 see him face to face.' To one of his sons in the ministry he gave the fol- lowing advice : 4 Oh, try to run as deep in Christ's 4 debt as possible, and take his own way of paying, 4 viz. by acknowledging his kindness ; and when you 4 mind your own debt, remember your father's debt 4 too : say 44 Thou art my God I will praise thee ; \60 SELECT REMAINS. 4 my father's God, I will exalt thee." Again, Oh * labour, labour to win souls to Christ ; souls are * well worth the winning ; and Christ is far more 4 worthy of winning them too. It gives me plea- ' sure now, to think that I did not indulge myself in * idleness in my Master's service ; not but that I was 4 idle, only I do. not remember of indulging myself 4 in it.* June 15th. A friend saying to him, 4 You are not * now travelling to Stow sacrament, as you used to 4 do about this time of the year :' he replied to this purpose : c No I wish to be travelling to God, as my 4 exceeding joy ; in the mean time I must say, that 4 at Stow I have had such sweet hours, that neither 4 Christ nor I shall ever forget.' Being asked what he thought o£ free grace> after Hving so many years a minister, i I,' said he, 4 have 4 altered my mind about many things; but I am now 4 of the same mind that ever I was, as to grace and 4 salvation through Christ. 4 Where are now all your anxieties about the 4 church?' said one; he replied, 4 I have left my *i anxiety about it, and about every thing else, on the « Lord ; and indeed, were it not for a God in my i nature, X would reckon the present case of the <. church very hopeless ; but in the view of Christ, I c am persuaded that she will yet remarkably revive i on earth.' June 17th. He was now= become extremely weak ; but, as the outward man decayed j so the inward man was strengthened day by day. frying on his bed, and scarce able to speak, he looked up to one of his brethren in the ministry, and SELECT REMAINS. 161 said, with a smile, * O Mr. , "the Lord is my 4 strength and my song ; and he also is become my 4 salvation." June 18th. Seeing him much distressed with the failing of nature, a friend said to him, 4 Sir, I hope ' the Lord is not forsaking you now f he answered, * No ; God is an unchanging Rock.' Being asked by another how he was, he replied, f Oh, it is strange that the Lord Jesus encourageth 1 us to pray even at the last! Fixing his eyes on two or three of his relations at his bedside, he addressed them in the most affect- ing manner : 4 Oh, sirs ! dying work is serious ! se- 4 rious work indeed! and that you will soon find, 4 as strong as you are.' June 19th. He seemed to be frequently engaged in speaking ; but, owing to the change of his voice, it was only a very few of his words which could be understood. Upon a friend saying to him, i Sir, you seem to be 4 sore distressed,' it was thought that he made this answer : 4 The Lord hath his own way of carrying on 4 his own work.' The last words which he was heard to utter were these: my christ! About four hours after he fell asleep in Jesus, June 19th, 1807. 44 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; "for the. end of that man is peace" 162 SELECT REMAINS. THE AVTHOR'S DYING ADVICE TO HIS CONGREGATION AND OTHER HEARERS. MY SEAS HEAHERSy Having, through the patience and mercy of God, long laboured among you, not as I ought, — far, very far from it, but as I could, I must now leave you, to appear before the judgement seat of Christ, to give an account of my stewardship. You cannot say that I ever appeared to covet any man's silver or gold, or apparel, or ever uttered one murmur about what you gave me ; or that I sought yours, not you. You cannot charge me with idling away my devoted time in vain chat, either with you or others, or with spending it in worldly business, reading of plays, romances, or the like. If I had, what an awful appearance should I soon have before my all-seeing Judge. You cannot pretend that I spared either body or mind in the service of your souls ; or that I put you off with airy conceits of man's wisdom, or any thing else than the truths of God. Though I was not ashamed, as I thought Providence called me, to give you hints of the truths presently injured, and the support of which is the declared end of the Secession, yet I laboured chiefly to show and inculcate upon your consciences the most important truths concern- ing your sinfulness and misery, and the way of sal- vation from both through Christ ; and laboured to hunt you out of all your lying refuges, and give your consciences no rest but in Christ, and him crucified. The delight of my soul was to commend him and his free and great salvation to your souls, and to direct SELECT REMAINS. 163 and encourage you to receive and walk in him. I call heaven and earth to record against you this day, that I laboured to set death and life, blessing and cursing, before you, and to persuade you to choose life, that ye might live. By the grace of God I have endea- voured (however poorly) to live holy, justly, and unblameably, among you. And now I leave all these discourses, exhortations, instructions, and ex- amples, as a testimony for the Lord against you, if you lay not your eternal salvation to heart as the one thing needful, the better part that shall not be taken from you. But I have no confidence in any of these things before God as my judge. I see such weakness, such deficiency, such unfaithfulness, such imprudence^ such, unfervency and unconcern, such selfishness, in all that I have done as a minister or a Christian, as richly deserves the deepest damnation of hell. I have no hope of eternal happiness but in Jesus's blood, which cleanseth from all sin ; — in redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of his grace. It is the ever- lasting covenant of God's free grace, well ordered in all things and sure, that is all my salvation and all my desire. Now I die firmly persuaded of the truth of these things which I preached unto you. I never preached unto you any other way of salvation than I essayed to use for myself. I now, when dying, set to my seal that God is true. After all that I have said of the sinfulness of your hearts, I have not represented to you the ten thousandth part of their vileness and guilt. Knowing, in some measure, the terrors of the Lord, I endeavoured to persuade you that it was a fearful thing to fall into the hands of his wrath : but who knows the power of his wrath ! Knowing, in 164 SELECT REMAINS, some measure, the deceitfulness of sin and devices of Satan, I laboured to warn you of them. But what especially delighted my heart was to set before you the excellencies, the love, the labours, of our Re- deemer, and God in him, giving himself, and apply- ing himself to sinful men ; and to represent to you the work of God on the heart in the day of his power, and the exercise of the heart in its diversified frames* What I saw, and tasted, and handled, both of the bit- ter and the sweet in religion, delivered I unto you. Little as I am acquainted with the Lord, I will leave it as my dying testimony, that there is none like Christ ; there is nothing like fellowship with Christ. I dare aver before God, angels, and men, that I would not exchange the pleasures of religion which I have enjoyed, especially in the days of my youth, for all the pleasures, profits, and honours, of this world, since the creation till this present moment, ten thou- sand times told. For what then would I exchange my entrance into the joy of my Lord, and being for ever with him ? Truly God hath been good to a soul that but poorly sought him. Oh, what would he be to j^ours, if you would earnestly seek him ! with what heart-ravishing power and grace he hath testified a- gainst my wicked and unbelieving heart that he is God, even my God? And now whom have I in heaven but him ? nor is there any on earth whom I desire besides him. My heart and flesh fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Left early by both father and mother, God hath taken me up, and been the orphan's stay. He hath given me the heritage of those that fear him. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. I have a goodly heritage. God is the portion of mint- in- heritance, and of my cup; he maintaineth my lot: yea, mine own God is he j my God that doth me save. SELECT REMAINS. 165 Had I ten thousand worlds in my offer, and these secured to me for ever, they should be utterly con- temned. Doubtless, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord ; and I do count them but dung to win him, not having mine own righteousness, which is oi the law, but the righteousness of God, which is through faith. Now, when I go to give my account to God, think what it must be ! Alas ! must it be that, in too great conformity to your careless neighbours, some did not attend the means of grace at examinations, meetings for prayer and spiritual conference, as ye ought ? — Must it be that, after labouring so many years among you, I left less lively religion in the congregation than I found in it at first ? Must it be that ye were called, but ye made light of the marriage with Christ, and of his great salvation ? Must it be that ye con- tented yourselves with a form of godliness, without knowing the power of it ? Must it be that some few trampeliing on their most solemn engagements, for- sook me, having loved this present world ? Must it be that others were not careful to train up their seed for the Lord ? Must it be that ye often heard the most searching sermons, or the most delightful, and went away quite unaffected ? Or must it be that ye were awakened ; that your souls looked to Jesus, and were enlightened ; that ye believed with your heart unto salvation ; that ye harrowed in the seed of the truth, which I sowed upon you, by serious meditation and fervent prayer ; that ye laboured to win souls to Christ? — Alas! I fear manv of you will go down to hell with a lie in your right hand ; go down to hell with all the gospel sermons and ex- hortations you ever heard in your conscience to as- sist it to upbraid, gnaw, and torment you! My dearly beloved hearers, shall I see you next in ever- P 166 SELECT REMAINS. lasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels ? Shall I see these faces all in flames at the last day, and these eyes, which often looked at me, looking lively bright horror at the judgement-seat of Christ ? Must I hear that Redeemer bid you depart from him, as cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels ? And must I, who have so often prayed for your salvation, and preached for your sal- vation, add my hearty Amen to the sentence of your eternal damnation ? God forbid ! Let me then beseech you now, without a moment's delay, to consider your ways. Oh, listen to the Lord's invitations ! believe his self-giving declara- tions and promises, which times without number have, with some measure of earnestness, been sound- ed in your ears ! For the Lord's sake dare not, at your infinite peril, to see me again in your sins, and refusers of my glorious Redeemer and Master ! Oh, give him your hearts, — give him your hearts ! I ne- ver complained of your giving me too little. Nay, I thought myself happier than most of my brethren as to all outward matters. But I always thought and complained that you did not use my master Christ as I wished, in your hearts, lives, and houses. And now I ask nothing for myself, or any of my family, but make this my dying request, that you would now receive my master Christ into your hearts and houses. Could my soul speak back to you from the eternal state : could all my rotting bones and sinews, and every bit of my body, speak back to you from the grave ; they should all cry, Oh that ye were wise ! that ye understood this ! that ye w T ould consider your latter end ! Oh, that ye would give my master Christ these ignorant, guilty, polluted, and enslaved, hearts of yours! that he, as made of God to you wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, might enter in and fill them for ever SELECT REMAINS. 167 with his grace and truth ! Oh say not to a dying, a dead minister, — rather, Oh say not to a living Re- deemer, and to his Father, and to his blessed Spirit — Nay. Dearly beloved, whom I wish to be my joy and crown in the day of the Lord, suffer me to speak from the dead to you. Let me exhort you, by all your inexpressible sinfulness and misery ; by all the perfections, words, and works of God ; by all the excellencies, offices, relations, labours, sufferings, glory, and fulness of Christ ; by all the joys of heaven and horrors of hell ; now to make serious work of the eternal salvation of your souls. Try what improve- ments you have made of all my ministrations. Call to mind what of my texts, sermons, or other instruc- tions, you can ; and pray them over before the Lord, applying them closely to your own conscience and heart. Wash yourselves thoroughly, in the blood qf Jesus Christ, from all the sins of holy things since you and I met together. I recommend to you, young persons, my two Ad- dresses annexed to my Catechisms ; and to you, pa- rents and masters, my Address in the Awakening- call, and my Sermons on the raising up children to Christ, as a part of my dying words to you. They will rise up in judgement against you if you contemn them. With respect to your obtaining another minister — let me beseech you by much fervent prayer to get him first from the Lord. And let it be your care to call one whose sermons you find to touch your con- sciences. May the Lord preserve you from such as aim chiefly to tickle your fancy, and seek themselves rather than Jesus Christ the Lord. Let there be no strife among you in calling him. And when you get 168 SELECT REMAINS. him, labour at his entrance to receive his message from Christ with great greediness. Let your vacan- cy make you hungry and thirsty for the gospel. And let all hands and hearts be intent on raising up a seed for Christ in poor withered and wicked East Lothian. Oh, how it would delight my soul to be informed, in the manner of the eternal state, that Christ had come along with my successor, conquering and to conquer ! How gladly should I see you and him by hundreds at the right hand of Christ at the great day, though I should scarcely have my ten ! Oh, if Christ were so exalted, so remembered, among you, as to make, me scarcely thought of, I desire to decrease, that he may increase ! Now, unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his blood, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through Christ, be ho- nour, and glory, and dominion, and blessing, for ever and ever! This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta- tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. Your once affectionate Pastor, JOHN BROWN* THE END OF SELECT REMAINS, ADDRESS TO Students of Divinity, MY DEAR PUPILS, FOi< my assistance in instructing you, this Compendious View of Natural and Revealed Religion* was formed. To gratify a number of you it is now published. Being formed, not to make you read, but to make you think much, it must now appear dry and meagre, as stript of its additional remarks : — and no doubt some of its expressions admit of a sense which I never intended. To render you mighty in the scriptures, readily able to support the several articles of our holy religion by the sell-evidencing and consci- ence-commanding testimony of the Holy Ghost, and accustomed to express the things of God in his own language, multitudes of texts are ordinarily quoted, which I have laboured to lodge in your memories. To manifest the extensive connection of divine truths, some leading articles relative to the perfec- tions of God, the person of Christ, &c. are traced through many others, in a manner which will perhaps be accounted a digression. Few insignificant, local, or dormant controversies, have been brought on the field : Nor, that I know, have the enemies of the * The Address to Students of Divinity is introductory to our author's " Compendious View of Natural and Revealed Reli- gion" P 2 170 Address to Students of Divinity. truth been unfairly represented or indiscreetly an- swered, in others. The deceit or wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. While I have been occupied in instructing you, your consciences must bear me witness, that my principal concern was to impress your minds with the great things of God. Now when I am gradu- ally stepping into the eternal state, to appear before the judgement-seat of Christ, permit me to beseech you, as you wish to promote his honour, and the eternal salvation of your own and your hearers souls, 1. See that ye be real Christians yourselves. I now more and more see, that nothing less than real, real Christianity is fit to die with, and make an appearance before God. Are ye then indeed born again, born from above, born of the Spirit f created in Christ Jesus unto good works f — new creatures in Christ Jesus, having all old things passed away, and all things become new f Are ye indeed the cir- cumcision which worship God in the Spirit, habitually reading, meditating, praying, preaching, conversing with your hearts, under the influence of the Holy Ghost? Have you no confidence in the flesh, no confi- dence in your self-righteousness, your learning, your address, your care and diligence, your gifts and graces; — but being emptied of self in every form, are poor in spirit, less than the least of all saints, and the least of all God's mercies ; nay, the very chief of sinners in your own sight ? Has it pleased God to reveal his Son in you ? and to instruct you with a strong hand, to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ as your Lord, and to count them but dung, that you may win him, and be found in him, not having your own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith, — and to know the po'.rer of his resur- Address to Students of Divinity, 171 rection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,-!— and to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, John iii. 3, 5, 6. Eph. ii. 10. 2 Cor. v. 17. Gal. vi. 15. Phil. iii. 3. Matth. v. 3. xvi. 24. Eph. iii. 8. Gen. xxxii. 10. 1 Tim. i. 15. Gal. i. 15, 16. Phil. iii. 7,-14. If you be, or become, either graceless preachers or ministers of the gospel, how terrible is your condi- tion ! If you open your Bible, the sentence of your redoubled damnation flashes into your conscience from every page. When you compose your sermon, you but draw up a tremendous indictment against yourselves. If you argue against, or reprove other men's sins, you but aggravate your own. When you publish the holy law of God, you but add to your rebellion against it, and make it an awful witness against your treacherous dissimulation. If you an- nounce its threatenings, and mention heiiwith all its in- supportable torments, you but in feoff yourselves in it, and serve yourselves heirs to it as the inheritance appointed you by the Almighty. When you speak of Christ and his excellencies, fulness, love, and labours, it is but to trample him under your feet. If you take his covenant and gospel into your mouth, it is but to profane them, and cast them forth to be trodden under foot of men. If you talk of spiritual experiences, you but do despite to the Spirit of grace. When you com- mend the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and in- vite sinners to new-covenant fellowship with them, you but treacherously stab them under the fifth rib, betray them with a kiss, and from your heart cry, This is the heir, the God, come let us kill him. — While you hold up the glass of God's law or gospel to others, you turn its back to yourselves. The gos- pel, which ye preach to others, is hid, — is a savour of death unto death to you, the vail remaining on your hearts, and the God of this world having blinded your minds. — Without the saving, the heart- 1T2 Address to Students of Divinity. transforming knowledge of Christ and him crucified, all your knowledge is but an accursed puffer up, and the murderer of your own souls. And unless the grace of God make an uncommon stretch to save you, how desperate is your condition ! Perhaps no person under heaven bids more unlikely to be saved, than a graceless Seceding minister ; — his conscience is so overcharged with guilt, so seared as with an hot iron, and his heart so hardened by the abuse of the gospel. Alas ! my dear pupils, must all my instructions, all the strivings of the Holy Ghost, all your reading, all your meditations, all your sermons, all your evangel- ical principles, all your profession, all your prayers, as traps and snares, take and bind any of you, hand and foot, that, as unprofitable servants, you may be cast into utter darkness, with all the contents of your Bible and other books, — all your gilts and apparent- like graces, as it were, inlaid in your consciences, that, like fuel or oil, they may forever feed the flames of God's wrath upon your souls ! After being set for a time at the gate of heaven, to point others into it, after prophesying in Christ's name, and wasting yourselves to shew others the way of salvation, and to light up the friends of our Redeemer to their hea- venly rest, — must your own lamp go out in ever- lasting darkness, and ye be bidden, Depart from me, I never knexv you, ye zvorkers of iniquity ! — Must I, — must all the churches behold you at last brought forth and condemned as arch-traitors to our Redeemer? Must you, in the most tremendous man- ner, for ever sink into the bottomless pit, under the weight of the blood of the great God, o\& Saviour, under the weight of murdered truths, murdered con- victions, murdered gifts, murdertd ministrations of the gospel, and murdered souls of men ! 2. Ponder much, as before God, what proper fur- niture you have for the ministerial work, and labour to increase it. To him that hath shall be given. — Address to Students of Divinity, 1 73 Has Jesus bestowed on you the Holy Ghost? What distinct knowledge have you of the mysteries of tha kingdom ? What aptness have you to teach, bring- ing qut of the good treasure of your own heart things new and old? What ability to make the deep mys- teries of the gospel plain to persons of weak capaci- ties, and to represent things delightful or terrible in a proper and affecting manner ? What proper quick- ness in conceiving divine things ; and what rooted inclination to study them, as persons devoted to mat- ters of infinite importance? What peculiar fitness have you for the pulpit, qualifying you, in a plain, serious, orderly, and earnest manner, to screw the truths of the God into the consciences of your hear- ers ? With what stock of self-experienced truths and texts of inspiration did, or do you enter on the min- isterial work ? Of what truths, relative to the law of God, — or relative to sin, Satan, or the desertions and terrors of God, has your soul not only seen the evi- dence, but felt the power ? What declarations, pro- mises, offers, and invitations, of the glorious gospel, have ye, with joy and rejoicing of heart, found and eaten, and therein tasted and seen that God is good? Of what inspired truths and texts can you say, Even so we have believed, and therefore we speak : what we have seen and heard with the Father, and tasted and handled of the word oflife, that we declare unto you. Thrice happy preacher, whose deeply-experi- enced heart is, next to his Bi>le, his principal note- book ! John xx. 22. Matth. xiii. 22, 12, 52. 1 Tim. iii. 2. Tit. i. 9. 2 Tim. ii. 2. Isa. 1. 4. xlix. 2. Jer. xv. 16. 2 Cor. iv. 13. 1 John i. 1, 3. John viii. 34. 3. Take heed that your call from Christ and his Spirit to your ministerial work be not only real, but evident* Without this you can neither be duly exci- ted or encouraged to your work ; nor hope, nor pray for divine success in it ; nor bear up aright under the difficulties you must encounter, if you attempt to be 174 Address to Students of Divinity* faithful. If you run unsent by Jesus Christ and his Spirit, notwithstanding the. utmost external regularity in your license, call, and ordination, you, in the whole of your ministrations, must act the part of a sacrile- gious thief and robber, a pretended and treacherous ambassador for Christ and his Father, and a mur- derer of men's souls, not profiting them at all.— What direction, what support, what assistance, what encouragement, what reward, can you then expect ? — Ponder, therefore, as before God : Have you taken this honour to yourselves ? or, Were ye called of God as was Aaron ? Has Jesus Christ sent you to preach the gospel, and laid upon you a delightful and awful necessity to preach it ? While he powerfully deter- mined you to follow providence, and avoid every selfish and irregular step towards entrance into the office, as a mean of eating- a piece of bread, or enjoy- ingcarnalease or honour, did he breathe on you, and cause you to receive the Holy Ghost, — filling you with deep compassion to the perishing souls of men, and a deep sense of your own unfitness for such ar- duous work, and fervent desire, that if the Lord were willing to use you as instruments of winning souls, he would sanctify you, and make you meet for his work ? — Perhaps, providentially shut out from other callings, to which you or your parents inclined, did you, in your education, go up bound in the Spirit by the love of Christ burning in your hearts, and constraining you cheerfully to surrender yourselves to povertv, reproach, and hatred of men, for promo- ting his name and honour, and the salvation of men in the world ? — What oracles of God, powerfully impressed on your soul, have directed and encou- raged you to his work ? — Know you in what form Jesus Christ gave you your commission ? Whether to open the eyes of the Gentiles, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God>—that they may receive forgiveness ofsins y and Address to Students of Divinity. 175 an inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith in him : — Or to go make the heart of this people fat, their ears heavy, and to shut their eyes ? Jer. xxiii. 21, 22,32. Isa. xlix. 1,2. Jer. i. Ezek. ii; iii ; xxxiii. Matth. x. Luke vi ; x. John x. Acts i. Heb. v. 4. Rom. x. 15. 1 Cor. i. 17. ix. 16. Acts xxvi. 17, 18. Isa. vi. 8, 9. 4. See that your end in entering into, or executing your office, be single and disinterested. Dare you appeal to him, whose eyes are as a fame of fre, and who searcheth the hearts and tryeth the reins, to give to every man according to his works, that you never inclined to be put into the priest's office, that yau might eat a piece of bread, and look every one for his gain from his quarter ; that ye seek not great things for yourselves ; that ye covet no man*s silver, gold, or apparel; that ye seek not men's property, but them- selves, that you may win them to Christ for their eternal welfare ; that ye seek not your own honour, ease, or temporal advantage, but the things of Christ and his people ; that ye seek not honour or glory of men, but the honour of Christ and his Father, in the eternal salvation of souls ; and have determined to prosecute this end, through whatever distress or danger the Lord may be pleased to lay in your way ? Jer. xlv. 5. 1 Sam. xii. 3. Acts xx. S3. Isa. lvi. 11. 2 Tim. iv. 19. 1 Cor. ix. 12, 16. 2 Cor. vii. 2. xi. 9. xii. 13, 14, vi. 4, — 19. Phil. ii. 21. 1 Thess. ii. 4, 9. John vii. 18. 5. See that your minds be deeply impressed with the nature, extent, and importance of your ministerial work, — that therein it is required of you, as ambas- sadors for Christ as stewards of the mysteries and manifold grace of God, — to be faithful ; — to serve the Lord with your spirit, and with much humility in the gospel of his son ; — to testify repentance tow- 176 Address to Students of Divinity. ards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, not keeping back, or shunning to declare every part of the counsel of God, or any profitable instruction, reproof, or encouragement; and, not moved with any reproach, persecution, hunger, or nakedness,-— to be ready, not only to be bound but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus, in order to finish your course with joy. Bearing with the infirmities of the weak, and striving together in praytr, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, and your messages provided by God, and made ac- ceptable to your hearers, you must labour with much fear and trembling, determined to know, to glory in, and make known, nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified, — preaching the gospel, not zvith enticing •words of man's wisdom, as men pleasers, but with great plainness of speech, in demonstration of the Spirit, and with power, — speaking the things which tare freely given you by God, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but in words which the Holy Ghost teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiri- tual, — as having the mind of Christ, always triumph- ing iwhim, — and making manifest the savour of the knowledge of him in every place, that you may be a sweet savour of Christ in them who are saved, and in them who perish ; — as of sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God speaking in Christ, and through the mercy of God, not fainting, but renouncing the hid- den things of dishonesty ; — not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, or corrupt- ing the truth, but manifesting the truth to every man's conscience, as in the sight of God: — not preaching yourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and yourselves servants to the church for his sake, always bearing about his dying, that his life may be manifested in you; — and knowing the terror of the Lord, and deeply impressed with the account which you and your hearers must give to him of your Address to Students of Divinity. 717 whole conduct in the day of judgement, — awed by his infinite authority, constrained and inflamed by his love, you must persuade men, beseeching them to be reconciled unto God, and making yourselves manifest to God, and to their conscience, — and, as their edification requires, changing your voice, and turning yourselves every way, and becoming all things to all men, in order to gain them to Christ, — jealous over them with a godly jealousy, in order to espouse them to him, as chaste virgins, — travelling in birth, till he be formed in their hearts. You must take heed to your ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfil it; — stir up the gifts which were given you, — give yourselves wholly to reading, exhortation, and doctrine ; — and persever- ingly take heed to yourselves, and to the doctrine which you preach, that you may save yourselves and them that hear you ; — watching for their souls, as they who do and must give an account for them to God, — rightly dividing the word of truth, and giving every man his portion in due season, faithfully warn- ing every man with tears, night and day, teaching every man, particularly young ones, and labouring to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, — and war- ring, not after the flesh, nor with carnal weapons, but with such as are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, and casting down imaginations, and subduing every thought and affection to the obe- dience of Christ. Having him for the end of your conversation, and holding fast the form of sound words in faith in, and love to him, — not entangling yourselves with the affairs of this life, nor ashamed of the Lord or of his cause or prisoners, but ready to endure hardships as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, and to endure all things for the elects sake, that they may obtain salvation with eternal glory ; — ye must go forth without the camp, bearing his rep»- • h and, exposed as spectacles of sufferings to angels and men, 176 Address to Students of Divinity. must not faint under your tribulations, but feed the flock of God which he has purchased with his own blood, and over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, — preaching the word in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with all long-suffering and doctrine, — taking the oversight oi your people, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre of worldly gain, or larger stipends, but of a ready mind, — neither as being lords over God's heritage, but as examples to the flock, — exer- cising yourselves to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man, — having a good conscience, willing in all things to live honestly, — exercised to godliness, — kindly affectioned, disinter- ested, holy, just, and unblameable, prudent exam- ples of the believers in conversation, in charity, in Kiith and purity, — fleeing youthful lusts, and follow- ing after righteousness, peace, faith, charity, — not striving, but being gentle unto all men, — in meek- ness, instructing them who oppose themselves,—— avoiding foolish and unlearned questions, and old wives fables, — fleeing from perverse disputings and wordly mindedness, as most dangerous snares ; and following after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness ; — fighting the good fight of faith, and laying hold on eternal life, — keeping your trust of gospel truth and ministerial office, and without partiality or precipitancy, committing the same to faithful men, who may be able to teach others ; and, in fine, faithfully labouring, in the Lord, to try and confute, and censure false teachers, publicly r rebuke or exccinmunicate open transgressors, restore such as have been overtaken in a fault in the spirit of meekness, — and having compassion on them, to pull them out of the tire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh, and never conniving at, or partaking with any in their sins. Who is sufficient for these things ? May your sufficiency be of God ; and as Address to Students of Divinity, 179 your days are, so may your strength be, E2ek.iL 7. iii. 9, 17, — 21. xxxiii'. 7, — 9. Isa, Iviii. 1, Jer. i. 17, 18. xv. 19, 20. Mic. iii. 8. Mai. ii. 6, 7. Matth. x. 16^—39. xix. 23,29. xx. 25, — 28. xxiii. 3, — 12. xxtv. 42,51. xxviii. 18, — 20. Acts xviii. 24, — 28. xx. 18, — 35. xxiv. 16. xxvi. 16, — 23. 1 Cor. ii. 1, — 5, 9, 12, 13. i, — v; ix: xii, — xiv. 2 Cor. ii, — vi; x, — xiii. Rom. i. 9, 16. ix. 1,2, x. 1- xii; xv. Gal. i. 8, — 16. iv. 19. Eph. iii. 7, 8, 9, iv. 11, — 15. vi. 19, 20. Col. iv. 7, 17. i. 23, — 29. ii. 1,2. 1 Thess. ii; iii; v. 12. 1 Tim. iii, — vi. 2 Tim. i, — iii. Heb. xiii. 7, 17, 18. 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11. v. 1,-4. Jude 22, 23. Rev. ii ; iii; xi. 3, — 7. xiv. 6, — 11. 6. See that ye take heed to your spirits, that ye deal not treacherously with the Lord. In approach- ing to, or executing the ministerial office, keep your hearts with all diligence ; for out of it are the issues of eternal life, or death to yourselves and others. — Building up yourselves in your most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. If you do not ardently love Christ, how can you faithfully and diligently feed his lambs — his sheep ? Alas! how many precious sermons, exhortations and instructions are quite marred and poisoned by coming through the cold, carnal, and careless heart of the preacher, and being attended with his imprudent, untender, and lukewarm life } . If yo;i have not a deep felt experience of the terrors of the Lord, — of the bitterness of sin, vanity of this world, and importance of eternity, — and of the conscience- quieting and heart-captivating virtue of Jesus's bleed- ing love, how can you be duly serious and hearty in preaching the gospel? If, all influenced by a predo- minate love to Christ, your heart be not fixed on everlasting things, and powerfully animated to an eager following of peace and holiness, how can you, *8<* Address to Students of Divinity* without the most abominable treachery, declare to men their chief happiness, and the true method of obtaining it ? If your graces be not kept lively, your loins girt, and your lamps burning, all enkindled by the heart-constraining love of Christ, how cold, how earn*!, and blasted must your sacred ministrations be I If your work, as ambassadors of Christ, be to transact matters of everlasting importance between, an infinite God and immortal, but perishing, souls of men ; if the honours and privileges of it be so inva- luable, what inexpressible need have you of habitual dependence on Christ by a lively faith? What self- denial, what ardent love to Christ and his Father, what disinterested regard to his honour, what com- passion to souls, what prudence, what faithfulness and diligence, what humility and holy zeal, what spirituality of mind and conversation, what order ft what plainness, what fervour, what just temperature" of mildness and severity, — is necessary in every part of it ! — If, while you minister in holy things, your lusts prevail and are indulged, you have less of real or lively Christianity than the most weak and uncir- cumspect saints under your charge ; — if your evil heart of unbelief fearfully carry you off from the living God, and you can live unconcerned while the powerful and sanctifying presence of God is withheld from yourselves or your flocks, — haw sad is your and their case ! — If your indwelling pride be allowed to choose your company, your dress, your victuals, nay, your text, your subject, your order, your language ; if it be allowed to indite your thoughts, and, to the reproach and blasting of the gospel of Christ, to deck your sermon with tawdry ornaments and fancies, as if it were a stage-play, and to blunt and muffle up his sharp arrows with silken smoothness and swollen bombast ; — if it be allowed to kindle your fervour, and form your looks, your tone, your action ; — or to render you enraptured or self- conceited, because of Address to Students of Divinity. 181 subsequent applause ; — or sad and provoked, because your labours are contemned, how dreadful is your danger and that of your hearers ! How can minis- terial labours, originating in pride, spurred on by the fame of learning, diligence, or holiness, — hurt the interests of Satan, from whose influence they pro- ceed : — If pride be allowed to cause you to envy or wound the characters of such as differ from, or out- shine you, or to make you reluctant to Christian reproof from your inferiours, how fearful is your guilt and danger ! Pride indulged is no more consistent with a Christian character, than drunkenness and whoredom. — If you take up or cleave to any princi- ple or practice in religion, in the way of factious con- tention, how abominable to God is the sower of dis- cord among brethren ! If you undervalue the peace and prosperity of the church of Christ, and are not afflicted with her in all her afflictions, how cruel and unchrist-like your conduct! If, in justly proving your opponents deceivers and plasphemers, vou, by your angry manner, plead the cause of the devil, will God accept it as an offering at your hands ? If you are slothful in studying or declaring the truths of Christ, — if to save labour or expense, you are inac- tive or averse to help such as have no fixed ministry tions, or to contrive and prosecute projects for ad- vancing the kingdom of Christ, and promoting the salvation of men, how great is your baseness, how dreadful your hazard? — Think, as before God, did Jesus Christ furnish you for, and put you into the ministry, that you might idle away, or prostitute your devoted time, tear his church, conceal or man- gle his truths, betray his interests, or starve and murder the souls of men ? Are not your people the flock of God, which he purchased with his own blood? Will you then dare to destroy his peculiar property and portion, and attempt to frustate the end of his death? Did Jesus die for men's souk ? And will vou 1 82 Address to Students of Divinity* grudge a small labour or expense to promote his honour in their eternal salvation I If the Son of God was crucified for men, — crucified for you, will you refuse, through his Spirit, to crucify your selfishness, your pride, your sloth, your worldly and covetous disposition, in order to save yourselves, and them that hear you. — While your own salvation, and the salvation of multitudes, are so deeply connected with your faithfulness and diligence, — while the powers of lit 11 and earth so set themselves in opposition to your work, that, in your fails, they may triumph over Christ, your Master, and his church, — while so many eyes of God, angels, and men are upon you, •\\ hy Jo you ever think or speak of eternal things, of heaven and hell, of Jcsus's persen, offices, righte- pi ^ness, love, and free salvation, without the most serious and deep impression of their importance ? While perhaps you preach yourlast sermon, andliave before you and on every hand of you, hundreds or scores of perishing souls suspended over hell by the frail thread of mortal life, not knowing what a day or an hour may bring forth, — souls already in the hands of the devil, and, as it were, just departing to be with him in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, — souls already slain by the gospel of our salvation blasted and cursed to them, partly by your mean^ why do not tears of deep concern mingle themselves with every point you study, every sen- tence you publish in the name of Christ? — When multitudes of your hearers, some of them never to hear you more, and just leaping off into the depths Ol hell, are, in respect of their needs, crying with an exceeding bitter cry, Minister, help, help, we pe* rhh, — xve utterly perish*— pluck the brand out of the fieri; furnace, — why spend your devoted time in idle visits, in unedhVmg converse, useless reading, or unnecessary sleep \ — What, if while you are so em- ployed, some of your hearers drop into eternal Address to Students of Divinity, 182 flames, and begin their everlasting cursing of you for not doing more to promote their salvation ? W 1 Jesus arises to require their blood at your hand, how accursed will that knowledge appear, which was not improved for his honour who bestowed it ? — that ease, which issued in the damnation of multitudes ! — that conformity to the world which permitted, or that unedifying converse which encouraged your hearers to sleep into hell in their sins ! — that pride or luxury which restrained your charity, or disgracefully plung- ed you into debt ! — Since, my dear pupils, all the truths of God, all the ordinances and privileges of his church, — the eternal salvation of multitudes, and the infinitely precious honour of Jesus Christ and his Father, as connected with the present and future ages of time, are intrusted to you, how necessary, that, like Jesus, your Master, you should be faithful in all things to him who appointed you ? — If you do the work of our Lord deceitfully, — 4n what tremen- dous manner shall your parents, who devoted and educated you for it, — your teachers. who prepared you for it,— the seminaries of learning in which you received your instruction, — the years which you spent in your studies, — all the gifts which were be- stowed upon you, — all the thoughts, words, and works of God in the redemption of men, — all the the oracles, commands, promises, and threatenings of God, which direct, inculcate, or enforce your duty, — all the examples of Jesus Christ, and all his apostles, prophets, and faithful ministers, all the leaves of your Bible, — all the books of your closet, — all the engagements you have come under, — all the ser- mons which you preach, — all the instructions which you tender to others, — all the discipline which you exercise, — all the maintenance which you receive, — all the honours which you enjoy or expect,- — all the testimonies which you give against the negligence of parents, masters, ministers, or magistrates, — all the 184 Address to Students of Divinity. vows and resolutions which you have made to re- form,-- and all the prayers which you have presented to God for assistance or success, — rise up against you as witnesses, in the day of the Lord ! 7. See that ye, as workmen who need not be ashamed, earnestly labour rightly to divide the word of truth, according to the capacities, necessities, and particular occasions of your hearers, giving every one of them their portion in due season. Never make your own ease, your inclination or honour, but the need of souls, and the glory of Christ, the regu- lator in your choice of subjects. Labour chiefly on the principal points of religion, to bring down the fundamental mysteries of the gospel to the capacities of your hearers, and inculcate on their consciences the great points of union to and fellowship with Christ, regeneration, justification, and sanctification, these will require all your grace, learning and labour. Never aim at tickling the ears or pleasing the fancies of your hearers ; but at convincing their consciences, enlightening their minds, attracting their affections, and renewing their wills, that they may be persuaded and enabled to embrace and improve Jesus Christ as freely offered to them in the gospel, for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. La- bour to preach the law as a broken covenant, — the gospel of salvation, — and the law as a rule of life,— . not only in their extensive matter, but also in their proper order and connection. It is only when they are properly connected, that the precious truths of God appear in their true lustre and glory. It is at your infinite hazard, and the infinite hazard of them that hear you, if you, even by negligence, either blend or put asunder that law and gospel which Jesus Christ has so delightfully joined together. No where is it more necessary to take heed, than in preaching up the duties of holiness. Let all be founded in union Addrrss to Students of Divinity. 18S to and communion with Christ, all enforced by the pattern, love, righteousness, and benefits of Christ, J£ph. iv; v; vi. Col. iii; iv. 1 Pet. iii; iv. See Diction, art. Gospel and Sabbath Journal. 8. You have stated yourselves publick witnesses for Jesus Christ, who profess to adhere to, and pro- pagate his injured truths, — and to commemorate with thankfulness the remarkable mercies which he has bestowed on our church and nation, — and to tes- tify against, and mourn over our own and our fathers* fearful backslidings from that covenanted work of reformation once attained in our land. See that ye be judicious, upright, constant, and faithful in your profession.. I now approach death, heartily satisfied with our excellent Westminster Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Form of church government, — and cordially adhering to these Covenants, by which our fathers solemnly bound themselves and their posterity to profess the doctrines, and practise the duties therein contained. I look upon the Seces- sion as indeed the cause of God, but sadly misman- aged and dishonoured by myself and others. Alas ! for that pride, passion, selfishness, and unconcern fgr the glory of Christ, and spiritual edification of souls, which has so often prevailed ! — -Alas ! for our want of due meekness, gentleness, holy zeal, self denial, hearty grief for sin, compassion to souls in immedi- ate connection with us, or left in the established church, which became distinguished witnesses for Christ. Alas ! that we did not chiefly strive to pray better, preach better, and live better than our neigh- bours., — Study to see every thing with your own eyes, but never indulge an itch after novelties : most of those, which are now esteemed such, are nothing but old errors^ which were long ago justly refuted, varnished over with some new expressions. Never, by your peevishness, contentions, eagerness about 186 Address to Students of Divinity, wordly things, or the like, make others think lightly of the cause of God among your hands. If I mis- take not, the churches are entering into a fearful cloud of apostacy and trouble. But he that endures to the end shall be saved. Be ye faithful unto the death, and Christ shall give you a crown of life. — But if any man draw back, God's soul shall have no pleasure in him. 9. Always improve and live on that blessed en- couragement which is off-red to you as Christians and ministers in the gospel. Let all your wants be on Christ. My God shall supply all your need accord- ing to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus, Cast all your cares on him, for he careth for you. Cast all your burdens on him, and he will sustain you. If your holy services, through your mismanagement, occasion your uncommon guilt, his blood cleanseth from all sin. You have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for your sins. If you be often difficulted how to act, he hath said, The meek will he guide in judge- ment: the meek will he teach his way, — I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye set upon thee. I will lead the blind in a way which they know not. — If you be much discouraged because of your rough way and your want of strength, he has said, When the poor and needy seek -water and there is none, and their tongue fail eth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, 1 the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places. Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God. F will strengthen thee : Tea, I will help thee : I xvill uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Fear not, worm Jacob,— I will help thee, saiih the Lord thy redeemer. I will make thee a new sharp threshing-- instrument, — and thou shalt thresh the mountains* Address to Students of Divinity. 187 My^ grace shall be sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. As thy days are, so shall thy strength be. — if your troubles be many, he hath said, When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee ;— the rivers shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, nor shall the fame kindle upon thee.— If your incomes be small and pinching, Te knoxv the grace of our Lord ferns Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich. He shall see his seed— the travail of his soul, and be satisfied:— and he has promised, / xvill abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy her poor with bread. I xvill satiate the soul of her priests with fatness. A sa- lary of remarkable fellowship with Christ, and of success in winning souls, is the most delightful and enriching.— If your labours appear to have little suc- cess, be the more diligent and dependent on Christ. Never mourn as they that have no hope. Let not the eunuch say lam a dry tree. Jesus hath said, I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and foods on the dry ground. I xvill pour my Spirit on thy seed, and my blessing on thine offspring. A seed shall serve him. The xvhole earth shall be filled with his glory. The kingdoms of this xvorld shall become the king- doms of our Lord and his Christ. Believe it on the testimony of God himself: believe it on the testimo- ny of all his faithful servants ; and, if mine were of any avail, I should add it, that there is no Master so kind as Christ ; no service so pleasant and profitable as that of Christ ; and no reward so full, satisfying, and permanent as that of Christ. Let us therefore begin all things from Christ; carry on all things xvith and through Christ ; and let all things aim at and end in Christ. fijyis: Cramer, Spear & Eichbaum HAVE PUBLISHED, AT THE FRANKLIN- HEAD BOOKSTORE, BROWN'S DICTIONARY OF THE HO- LY BIBLE, containing an historical account of the persons ; a geographical and historical account of the places ; a literal, critical, and systematical description of other objects, whether natural, artificial, civil, reli- gious, or military: and the explication of the appel- lative terms, mentioned in the writings of the Old and New Testaments. 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PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR PUBLISHING BY SUBSCRIPTION, THE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL; or Com- mon Incidents, Spiritual Instructors. By the Rev. John Brown, late minister of the gospel at Had- dington. To be spiritually minded, to be habitually dispo- sed, with pleasure and attention, to think of, and de- sire after spiritual objects, is life and peace. — In eve- ry creature we discover a Maker, a Saviour's perfec- tion ; we hear his voice that our souls may live.— Detesting the romantick, the too fashionable amuse- ment of folly, of lewdness and blasphemy, we re- create ourselves with contemplations, which neither defile for the present, nor sting for the future ; and have our conversation in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour. Brown's Preface. 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