1. Let every man, whatever his station be, receive the gospel revelation with a firm unshaken faith as the very truth of God, and the way of bringing men to eternal life, which God himself hath devised. Abhor the impious cavils of infidels against it, and receive gospel truths with warm love and affection. Love and bless God, who, in his infinite love and wisdom, contrived this scheme of salvation, and Jesus Christ that executed it, by shedding his blood on the cross. Let each one by faith, put his finger in the print of the nails, and cry with Thomas, "He is my Lord, and my God."

2. Let every man study to recommend this excellent religion to the world, by conforming its practice to its rules, and adorning his life with shining holiness and virtue; and by guarding against all injustice and dishonesty, pride, passion, revenge, evil speaking, and every thing that may stumble and beget prejudices in men against christianity, who are too apt to impute the faults of its professors to the religion itself. If every professed christian would contribute, by personal reformation, to mend one, then we should all be mended, and the increase of Christ's kingdom would be glorious.

3. Let every one be searching diligently into the time prefixed for the church's being in sackcloth; viz. the 1260 years. And when (like

Daniel) we understand by books, that the time of finishing them is near, let us with him, Dan. ix. 2, 3. set our faces unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, that he may remove all hindrances, and hasten the time of the church's liberty and increase.

If you can do no

more for it, pour out earnest prayers to God for fulfilling his promises of the downfall of Antichrist and Mahomet, the inbringing of the Jews, with the fulness of the Gentiles: And that he would pour out a spirit of mourning and repentance upon the church of Scotland, and other reformed churches, for their decays and backslidings, put a stop to infidelity and error, maintain purity of doctrine and worship, remove the causes of division and contention, heal breaches, and restore peace: And that God may grant a spirit of reformation, and of zeal for Christ's kingdom to all men of power and influence, that they may exert themselves for the enlargement of Christ's dominions, and the dimi nishing of Satan's and that he would send a large effusion of his Holy Spirit to qualify instruments for spreading his gospel through the world.

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We are apt to be discouraged, when we see not likely instruments to carry on the Lord's work. and bring about the glorious things he hath promised; and to cry," By whom shall

Jacob arise?" Not minding that God can raise up children from stones, and instruments to serve him where they were not expected. Though we be oft at our wit's end, we should never be at our faith's end. God can never be at a loss to carry on his work, while he hath enough of clay and spirit to form instruments for his purpose, when the arm of the Lord doth once awake for his church, no impediment can stop him; he makes out that pleasant word in Psalm Ixviii. 11. The Lord gave the word, great was the company of those that published it." The pouring out of God's spirit from on high, doth answer all objections, overcome difficulties, provide supplies, and afford remedies in the most desperate cases.

O how desperate-like was Luther's attempt în the year 1517, when he a poor monk, set himself against the torrent of idolatry and corruption that prevailed under Antichrist at that time! It seemed as ridiculous, as if a man had set his shoulder to a great mountain on purpose to remove it. And so it was in the reckoning of the wisest in that age; and hence, when Luther opened his designs to a great doctor, who disapproved of the Romish corruption as well as he, he bade Luther retire to his cell, and pray Lord have mercy on us; as if there was no remedy. Yet how wonderfully did the purity of

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doctrine and worship break forth and prevail to amazement, among sundry nations, so as to shake the foundation of Antichrist's throne, and give him a deadly wound, under which he hath been languishing ever since! There had been several attempts for reformation made by others long before Luther, as by 'Wickliffe, Huss, and Jerome of Prague; but all were ineffectual, because God's time of reformation was not then come. But we see when once that time cometh no man is able to hinder it, more than stop the sun from breaking out under a cloud. It becomes, then, all the Lord's servants and people, to keep in the way of duty, and wait patiently till his set time to favour Zion doth come.

How patiently did Joshua and the priests wait for the downfall of Jericho! Amidst the insults of enemies, they continued in their dutiful obedience to God, encompassing the city every day, and blowing with trumpets of rams horns, carrying the ark still along with them. Thus they did six days, once every day; and seven times upon the seventh day. All the six days the walls stood firm, not a stone moved, nor a pinning in it loosed: ; nor was there any alteration for the most part of the seventh day, until the evening, when God's set time was come; and then without difficulty, all came tumbling down at once. In like manner let us persevere with pa

tience in the way of duty, looking to God, and blowing with the gospel trumpet, which by many is despised as the sound of a ram's horn: but if we hold on, carrying Christ (the blest antitype of the ark) along with us, we shall come off with triumph at last. One thing is sure, Antichrist must decrease, and Christ must increase. Jericho must fall, and Zion must be built up. And however dark and cloudy the present time be, we are well assured from Psalm cii. 16. "When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory." The Lord in'mercy hasten that time in Scotland, and all parts of the earth, for Christ's sake Amen. Even so come Lord

Jesus. Amen and Amen.