to damp a godly zeal, and to perplex thy mind with intricate and endless doubts.

2. Happy is that meekness and poverty of fpirit, which induftriously declines the rugged thorny paths of controverfy and captious difputes; and walks in the plain fmooth way of duty and practical religion; which studies God's commands, and labours to understand things of a fize with its own capacity, without troubling itself about his doings and decrees.

3. Too many inftances there are of daring men, who, by prefuming to found the deep things of religion, have cavilled and argued themselves out of all religion. These men miftake their business: for the thing required of a christian, is not penetration, and fubtilty of wit, nice diftinction, or fublime notions, but victorious faith, and an honest holy life; fobriety, and temperance, and chastity, justice and charity, piety and devotion.

4. Thefe doubts are not always finful, nor always from themselves, but frequently owing to the temptations of the devil, and induftriously scattered by him, with wicked artifice and malicious defign. Be not therefore too anxious upon thefe occafions. Trouble

not

not thyself to argue nicely, nor employ thy thoughts upon the matter, nor hold thyfelf concerned to be able to answer every cavil, which he puts into thy head: but keep close to fcripture, and do thy duty; and the enemy will foon retreat when he finds thee neglect his attempts.

5. Think not thefe inward distractions a fign that thou art forfaken of God. They are rather on the contrary, a mark of grace. God fuffers them to exercife thy patience, to try thy conftancy, to promote thy fpiritual advantage. Proceed then in thy chriftian course with refolution and patience, and still frequent the facrament with stedfast faith, and humble reverence.

6. Whatever there thou findest to exceed thy understanding, put it to God's account; and leave him to make it good, tho' thou canst not conceive how it fhould be done. He will not deceive thee; but they, who rely upon their own understanding, are fure to deceive themfelves. For,

7. Remember, God hath faid, that he walks and dwells with the humble, and fhews his ways to the meek; that be reveals himself to babes; that

he

he opens the eyes of the honeft and fincere; but hides his grace and knowledge from the proud and wife in their own fight. Human reafon may both deceive and be deceived: but faith hath God for its foundation, and cannot err; becaufe depending upon one who is truth itself, incapable of mistaking, or of impofing upon others.

8. 'Tis therefore highly fit, and in matters of religion, abiolutely neceffary, that these two principles fhould know their order, and respective stations; and each contain itsel£ within its proper fphere. Faith (which fuppofes a revelation received and acknowledged) challenges the highest place; and reafon ought to keep her distance, to ferve and follow after, not to fet bounds to, or affume, and encroach, and ufurp over the other. For,

9. Faith and charity are the two pillars, upon which chriftianity ftands; the two governing principles of a good man's opinions and actions. And their authority and influence are, in no one inftance, more confiderable, than in this of the bleffed facrament. God is infinite and eternal, his power un. bounded, and incomprehenfible, he does whatfoever plea feth him in heaven and earth: and who

can

can understand his council, or find out all his methods?

10. If the works of God were fuch, as human reafon could penetrate with ease, they would lose great part of their glory. We fhould foon abate of our awe and veneration for their author, if his dealings were not above the power of our tongues to exprefs, and the utmost extent of our imaginations to conceive. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and confefs the wonders that he doth for the children of men! for great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God almighty; how unSearchable are thy judgments, and thy ways paft finding out? Pfalm cvii. Rev. xv. Rom. xi.

A prayer of thanksgiving, in our retirement, after we are returned home, from the Lord's table.

Behold thou art made whole, fin no more, left a worse thing come unto thee. John v. 14.

Lord my God! I acknowledge with all thankfulness of heart thy great mercy and goodness, in giving me an opportunity of approaching thy holy table, in difpofing my mind to commemorate the infinite love of my crucified Saviour, to render him thanks and praise for laying down his life as a facrifice for the fins of the world, and to represent unto

thee

thee that facrifice as a full fatisfaction for them; whereby thou doft incline me humbly to hope for all the benefits of his death and paffion. But,

What thanks, moft gracious God, can I return unto thy divine majefty, for impreffing a fenfe of my duty upon my mind; and for that ftrength and power, whereby thou haft, in fome measure, enabled me to perform it? I will praise and magnify thy great and glorious name, and I will entirely devote myself to thy fervice, as long as I have any being.

Bleffed be thy name for those fresh fupplies of grace I have received; grant that they may make me run the way of thy commandments with delight and pleasure, that I may never more faint, or droop, or tire in my duty. Bleffed be thy name for those comfortable affurances thou haft given me of pardon and forgiveness.

Let this thy compaffionate goodness be a perpetual obligation to love and gratitude. Let it put me upon my guard, that I may watch over all my ways, and do always that which is well-pleafing in thy fight.

Bleffed be thy name, for that peace and quiet thou haft reftored to my foul; for those refolutions thou haft wrought in me to perfe