was in the cleft of a rock at Horeb, when God shewed him his back parts; which rock certainly was a type of Christ; and we will endeavour for a while to give credit to what God says in his word; as it is written, "In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan, the piercing serpent, even Leviathan, that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea." Now we will suppose that this prophecy means destroying the works of the devil in the elect by Christ Jesus, which it certainly does; "In that day sing ye unto her, a vineyard of red wine; I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. mark that, fury is not in me,

Fury is not in me,”

Isaiah xxvii. 1—4.

But we still proceed to view the back parts of God while we are in the cleft of the rock Christ, and let us hear what God says to us in this situation; "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands; forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty;" without a surety, Exodus xxxiv. 6, 7; who is Christ, the end of the law for righteousness. Now what do you think of the back parts of God? Why,' say you, blessed be his holy name, he is better to follow than to meet.' Why then "be ye therefore followers of God as dear children," Eph. v. 1;

and you shall not see Peniel, the face of God, till the corrupted veil of mortality shall be swallowed up, and then thou wilt not want to shun that transporting sight. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Again, brethren, if you view God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing your trespasses unto you; but sending his Son to bless you, by turning every one of you from your evil ways; and that the flame of God's wrath is quenched in the Saviour's blood; his sword of justice sheathed in the body and soul of a dear Redeemer; and the law disarmed of its dreadful curse; death disarmed of his sting; the devil himself dethroned and cast down; death plagued ; the grave destroyed; the gates of hell barred against every believer, and the doors of heaven displayed to all that ask, seek, and knock. Surely these things are sufficient to support a hoping soul; especially if we consider that our reconciled God is now our most propitious Father; yea the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort; our husband; also our friend; a present help; our strong hold; our unchangeable lover; our God, guide, and guard: yea, our rich provider, the strength of our heart, our justifier, our Saviour, the shield of our help, and our portion for ever. Well, what dost thou now think of the ever-blessed God? Blessed be his name!' say you, he seems altogether sweet and lovely, as those scriptures represent him which you have quoted.' The word

of God bears me out in all that I have said. And he is that blessed one to thee, if you view him reconciled in the mediator, and come to him by Christ. View him as I have represented him from his own word, and thou wilt find him the perfection of beauty, and the best of friends; and this will disarm your souls of that slavish fear and torment; and sweetly soften, dissolve, and attract your affections to love him as the greatest of names, and the fountain of infinite happiness.

But some may say What is all this long harangue, and strict scrutiny, about love for?' Because the apostle says, "Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity," or love; and this charity, or love, never faileth. Beside, if all thy religion springs entirely from the fear of hell, without any hatred to sin, thirst for holiness, love to God, or desire after his favour, all your religion is eye service: it is with you according to the Kentish proverb, No longer pipe, no longer dance.' I mean, you move on in your religion no longer than while conscience spurs you, vengeance drives you, or carnal gain or human applause allure you. You are an eye servant; you cannot work but while the whip is upon your back. The very moment that your Master Moses lays by the lash of scorpions, you are gone to the ale-house, card-table, ball-room, rout, play-house, or some idle amusement or other. And as soon as Moses comes in, then you set off to the sanctuary again, to offer to

God a silly dove without a heart, Hos. vii. 11; or else to mock him with a dry form of prayer; and every time you perform that task you offer thirty lies to God; and then you wipe your mouth like the whore in the Proverbs, and say "This day have I paid my vows." But, if you live and die in that state, God will requite you with the greater damnation.

Let me now appeal to your conscience in the sight of God. If you hear a preacher who enforces the Spirit's work on the soul; that preaches down human merit, will, and power, and insists on the application of truth, the love of the truth, the experience of truth, the enjoyment of the truth, the practice of the truth, or a walk in the truth; who treats much of the life of faith, the joy of hope, the liberty of the Spirit, the enjoyment of love, an heart-felt union with Christ, peace of conscience, and a tender regard for the honour of God; don't you despise and rail against such preachers and preachings? If conscience is to be umpire or arbitrator, will she not say, Yes? As the Lord God of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, if you live and die a stranger to all that I have said upon these points, you cannot escape the damna

tion of hell.

But again; I will come with another appeal to conscience. Are you not fond of hearing a thundering law preacher, who deals chiefly in the vengeance of heaven, and fetches all his artillery from the fiery law of God? And don't you find that

discourse is most descriptive of your legal feelings that savours most of death, judgment, destruction, damnation, and the very flames of hell? Yes,' say you, while this storm is going over my head I am all religion; and while it is preaching I think in my own mind, Oh! how will I watch, and work, and pray, and perform my task, &c. when I get home again!' Ay; but before you get your feet over the threshold of your own door the sound of the thunder is gone out of your ears, and all your blind zeal that was awakened, and the working frame that was communicated to your spirit, are gone; and you are immediately taken captive by the devil, and led into some besetting sin; and by that secret sin you are held a prisoner all the year round. This you know is truth; let conscience do her office. I cannot deny,' say you,

but this is the case; and how you find it out I know not.' No, nor are you like to know: but this I tell you, in the church of God there are both servants and sons, "The servant [says the Saviour] abideth not in the house for ever, but the son abideth ever; if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." If you are a servant you will stick to the rod of Moses, till your spirit and conscience will be hardened like a blacksmith's anvil: but, if thou art a son of God by faith in Christ Jesus, the undeserved love of the Father, and the dying love of the dear Redeemer, when preached, applied, and enjoyed, will make thy soul like melting wax before the