wisdom, grace, spirit, or any good thing soever. Only since I was upon this subject, I thought a little to touch upon things in this order, for the enlarging of thy thoughts, for the conviction of thy spirit, for the stirring of thee up to God, and for showing thee the good signs of grace, where it is, where it is abused, and where any are seeking after it.

CHAPTER V.

CONCLUSIONS TOUCHING THESE PERSONS.

AND now I come to draw some inferences from this point also, as I have already done from those going before it.

You see that I have now been speaking to you of the man that cometh to God, both with respect to the way he comes, as also with respect to the manner of spirit in which he comes. And hence I may well infer,

First, that he is no fool (no fool according to the best judgment) that cometh to God by Christ. The world, indeed, will count him one: for the things that be of the Spirit of God are foolishness to them. But, indeed, and in the verdict of true judgment, he is not so. For he now seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. He has chosen to be con

cerned with the very head and fountain of wisdom. For Christ is the wisdom of God; and the way to the Father by Christ is the greatest of mysteries; and to choose to walk in that way, the fruit of the most sage advice. Wherefore he

is not a fool that thus concerns himself.

It is not a sign of foolishness, timely to prevent ruin, is it? They are the prudent men that foresee an evil and hide themselves, and the fools that go on and are punished. Why, this man foresees an evil, the greatest evil, sin, and the punishment of the soul for sin in hell, and flies to Christ, who is the refuge that God has provided for penitent sinners; and is this a sign of a fool? God make me such a fool, and thee that readest these lines such a fool! and then we shall be wiser than all men that are counted wise by the wisdom of this world.

Is it a sign of a fool to agree with one's adversary, while

we are in the way with him, even before he delivereth us to the judge? nay, it is a piece of the highest wisdom.

Is he a fool that chooseth for himself long lasters, or he whose best things will rot in a day? Sinners, "before your pot can feel the thorns (before you can see where you are) God shall take you away with a whirlwind, both living and in his wrath." But this man has provided for things: like the tortoise, he has got the shell on his back, so strong and sound, that he fears not to suffer a loaded cart go over him. The Lord is his rock, his defence, his refuge, his high tower, unto which he doth continually resort.

Was the unjust steward a fool in providing for himself for hereafter? for providing friends to receive him to harbor, when others should turn him out of their doors? No more is he that gets another house for his harbor, before death shall turn him out of doors here.

Again, as he that cometh to God by Christ is no fool, so he is no little-spirited fellow. There is a generation of men in this world, that count themselves men of the largest capacities, when yet the greatest of their desires lift themselves no higher than to things below. If they can, with their net of craft and policy, encompass a bulky lump of earth, oh! what a treasure have they engrossed to themselves! Meanwhile, the man in the text has laid siege to heaven; has found out the way to get into the city; and is resolved, in and by God's help, to make that his own. Earth is a drossy thing in this man's account; earthly greatness and splendors are but like vanishing bubbles in this man's esteem; none but God, as the end of his desires, none but Christ, as the means to accomplish this his end, are the things counted great by this man. No company now is acceptable to this man, but the Spirit of God; Christ, and angels, and saints, as fellow heirs with himself. All other men and things he deals with as strangers and pilgrims are wont to do. This man's mind soars higher than the eagle or stork of the

heavens. He is for musing about things that are above, and their glory, and for thinking what shall come to pass hereafter.

But as I have showed you what he is not; so now let me, by a few words, tell you plainly what he is.

He is a man concerned for his soul, for his immortal soul. The soul is a thing, though of most worth, least minded by most. The souls of most lie waste, while all other things are enclosed. But this man has got it by the end, that his soul is of more value than the world; wherefore he is concerned for his soul. Soul concerns are concerns of the highest nature, and concerns that arise from thoughts most deep and ponderous. He never yet knew what belonged to great and deep thoughts that is a stranger to soul concerns. Now, the man that comes to God by Christ, is a man that is engaged in soul concerns.

He is also a man whose spirit is subjected in love to spiritual things. For a carnal mind cannot suit with, and be delighted with these things. "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." This is the man that God has tamed, and keeps tame by himself, while all others run wild, as the asses upon the mountains. If birds could speak, surely they would tell, that those that are kept in the cage have with them another temper than they that range the air, and fly in the fields and woods. Yea, and could those kept tame express themselves to the rest, they would tell that they have white bread, and milk, and sugar; while those without make a life of maggots and worms. They are also in a place where there are better things, and their companions are the children of men. Besides, they learn such notes, and can whistle such tunes, as other birds are strangers to. Oh! the man whose spirit is subjected to God, betwixt whom and God there is a reconciliation, not only as to a difference made up, but also as to a oneness of heart-none knows what lumps of sugar God

gives that man, nor what notes and tunes God learns that man. “He hath put a new song in my mouth," saith David, "" even praises to our God: many shall see it, and fear, and trust in the Lord."

Secondly, Is there a man that comes to God by Christ? Thence I infer, that there is a man that believes there is a world to come.

No man looks after that, which he yet believes is not. Faith must be, before coming to Christ will be: coming is the fruit of faith. He that comes must believe, antecedent to his coming wherefore it is said, "We walk by faith;" that is, we come to God, through Christ, by faith. And hence I learn two things: 1. That faith is of a strong and forcible quality. 2. That they who come not to God by Christ, have no faith.

1. Faith is of a strong and forcible quality, and that whether it be true or false.

A false faith has done great things; it has made men believe lies, plead for them, and stand to them, to the damnation of their souls. "God shall send them strong delusion that they shall believe a lie," to their damnation. Hence it said, men make lies their refuge. Why? Because they will trust in a lie. A lie, if believed-if a man has faith in it, it will do great things, because faith is of a forcible quality. Suppose thyself to be twenty miles from home, and there some man comes and possesses thee, that thy house, thy wife and children, are all burned with the fire: if thou believest it, though indeed there should be nothing of truth in what thou hast heard, yet will this lie drink up thy spirit, even as if the tidings were true. How many are there in the world, whose heart Satan hath filled with a belief that their state and condition for another world is good? and these are made to live by lying hope that all should be well with them; and so are kept from seeking for that which will make them happy indeed. Man is naturally apt