I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprighteousness 1 Chron. xxix 17. He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly, Prov. ii. 7. The Lord looks on the heart, 1. Sam. xvi. 7.

As God fearches the heart and tries the reïns,

he cannot be deceived by outward form; we ought not therefore to deceive ourfelves in this particular. It is no certain proof of a real converfion to God, if we only reform the groffer fins of our former lives, much less if we only abstain from fuch things as by nature we are not fo much inclined to indulge: but if our hearts are fo renewed by the grace of the Holy Spirit, as to be firmly and habitually opposed to our most beloved luft, we have a good evidence of a real converfion. For thefe inward capital enemies, the Lord and all his upright followers attack moft, before all the reft. If we would give over that which is dearest to us, we must first know and believe that Chrift is both able and willing to help us, and has lovingly engaged his word, that none fhall feek his face in vain. Let us keep this thought ever in our minds, and it will ftir up faith, and encourage diligence in feeking after falvation.

Miftaken fouls! that dream of heav'n,

boaft

And make their empty I
Of inward joys and fins forgiv'n,
While they are flaves to luft.

Vain are our fancies, airy flights,
If faith be cold and dead;
None but a living pow'r unites
To Chrift the living Head.

'Tis faith that changes all the heart
'Tis faith that works by love;
That bids all finful joys depart,
And lifts the thoughts above.

Taith muft obey her father's will,
As well as trüft his grace;
A pard'ning God is jealous ítill,
For his own holiness.

Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Heb. iii, 13.

DOTH

OTH fin prefent itself, turn away from it with loathing and prayer. Give it not a look, left it infnare thee. If thou commiteft fin, dieft without repentance, thy foul is loft, and thy redemption ceaseth for ever; or if thou committeft fin and doft repent, yet expect chidings of God's face, and breakings of bones, as David felt for

his coft. Oh! what bitter pangs! what painful throes! what fhadows of death! what terrors of hell may feize upon thee, before thou canst make thy peace, or fettle thine affurance! Wilt thou give way to fin, because it is delightful, or because it is pardonable? Who loves poifon because it is fweet? or who drinks poifon because he may have an antidote? feeing it will work to his trouble, if it work not out of his life! I have a precious foul, fhall I lofe it for a luft? I have a gracious God, fhall I venture him for a fin? No, Lord, give me grace to refift fin, give me victory over it; let me always reject that, for the indulgence of which I am fure to lofe my peace, and endanger the lofs of my immortal foul.

A tender confcience give me, Lord,
And put my feet within;

That I may tremble at thy word,
And 'fcape the fnares of fin.

FINIS