To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne. Rev. iii. 21.

He that overcometh, shall inherit all things. Rev. xxi. 7. Consider then, courteous reader, I pray thee, what was all this language of the spirit, all these words of God, and all these commands, exhortations, and glorious promises for? What is the end and tendency of them?

If the Almighty commands things that cannot be done, what will that make of him? If his servants labour and exhort us to things not to be done, where will those absurdities land? Surely it must centre in the mouth of the unprofitable servant, and such as charge God foolishly. And are all those fine and glorious promises made to put us on to fight against sin and satan, without a possibility of overcoming? God forbid; and may he, christian reader, forbid also that thou shouldst believe such a gross and palpable mistake and error.

Oh! that the Almighty Lord may send forth more and more his holy light and truth, and that thereby he might lead and guide the inhabitants of the earth; so that they might not give up the cause of Christ, but manfully resist, even to death, that at last they might have a crown of life.

T. CHALKLEY.

CHRIST'S KINGDOM EXALTED,

&c. &c.

In the christian world, it is too generally believed, that people on this side the grave cannot be free from sin; which principle, or belief, is a great let and hindrance to the glorious work of reformation, and mightily obstructs people in their way to eternal glory, and tends to uphold the kingdom of satan, which every good christian (with St. Paul) should be for pulling down; and, in order to do this, should make use of the weapons which he did, that is, the armour of light; which weapons were, and are, "The preparation of the gospel of peace, the girdle of truth, helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, and sword of the spirit, which is the word of God." This is indeed a holy war, to war against sin and satan; and the armour of light is also heavenly armour; and this holy apostle was a valiant soldier, who was also victorious in this war: Oh! who would but list themselves under Christ's banner, and fight this fight of faith, with courage, and true christian valour. Then would they witness the truth of that saying of the apostle, "That the weapons of this warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God to the pulling down the strong holds of sin and satan." Oh! down with those strong holds, down with them; let every lover of Jesus Christ say, and pray, that the kingdom of God, and his Christ, may be exalted forever. Sin is the chief support of satan's kingdom, which Christ came to destroy and put an end to, and to bring in righteousness, actual righteousness, as well as imputative; he came to save his people from their sins, not only by imputation, but by holy action also; as his holy doctrine in his excellent sermon on the mount, and his many other divine expressions, do plainly and abundantly manifest. Now considering the great evil of this dangerous principle, I have been deeply

affected on account of poor mankind, to whose utter ruin and eternal destruction it most certainly tends. If we were to reason as men and rational beings, with what spirit and courage should we undertake any business, journey, or concern, if before-hand we were grounded in a belief that we could not perform our undertaking? Or what nation or people in the world would have any courage to engage their common enemies, if at the same time they did believe they should never overcome them, would not this abundantly dispirit and discourage them in their engage. ments, let any rational soul judge? Oh! this belief of sinning to the end of our days, is a mighty engine of satan, in order to support his kingdom and a wonderful prop to uphold it. Pray what signifies all the preaching and writing in the world against sin, though ever so elegantly or scholastically written or delivered by the greatest of orators or ministers, if at the same time, this doctrine be upheld and maintained in pulpits, prints, and otherwise, &c. and received and believed by the people? Let truth and right reason in this matter bear rule and be judge, and the cause will be determined against sin and satan: but the "Kingdom of Christ is an everlasting kingdom, and of his dominion there shall never be an end." This is a word of encouragement to the followers of Christ to be faithful to the commands of Christ.

Though the devil is a great king, and a mighty prince, though he is a king over all the children of pride and disobedience, and prince of the power of the air; yet "the Lamb and his followers will have the victory" over sin and him, although sometimes it may fare with them as with their Lord, who obtained it through suffer. ings; and let it be remembered by them, "That they shall in the end reign with him ;" also, "Fear not little flock, (says Christ) for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom." By which words, when received in faith, the soul is inspired with courage, and holy boldness, to resist the tempter; though we may have the disadvantage of being but few, and satan and his followers many, who support his kingdom with this sinful principle and doctrine above mentioned. One

at and wily way which he useth to uphold his kingn, is to wrest and abuse the holy scriptures, and strain m to his evil purposes, as he served our Lord, the tain of our salvation, as will be shewn hereafter: indeed when he makes use of any of the words of d, it is for an evil end, and that end must needs be ked, which is to keep people in sin, or to create a ief that we cannot live without it in this world; the ich, if he can obtain, and cause people to believe, he ows he hath a great advantage over them: for how uld clay, or dust and ashes, overcome sin, who confess y are, and believe they always shall be sinners? herefore let us examine and see what use he makes of se scriptures, which he brings to support people in sin, by which he makes them believe they can never live hout it; some of which are as follows, viz. First, ginning with that saying of our Lord Jesus Christ, to oung man who asked him, "What good thing he uld do to inherit eternal life," calling him good masMat. xix. 17. Our Saviour replies, "Why callthou me good, there is none who is good, but one, t is God." The young man thought he was speaking a mortal man; and it seems to have been the will of rist, by this remark, both to caution his disciples inst the use of vain compliments, and to let them know t the young man, had not true faith in him, as he was Son of God: and it is most certainly true, that in ness and perfection, there is no man good, compared th God; but comparing men with men, there are od men, women, and children, who fear God and do ily love Christ, and there have been a few such in all es, and will be some such, to the end of the world. > construe Christ's words otherwise, would be to abuse e holy scriptures, which satan makes a common prace of doing.

2d. Another is that expression of Solomon, "There is > man that sinneth not." 1 Kings viii. 46. The learned y, this should be interpreted, and who may not sin. ut though it may truly be said of men, in one part of eir lives or other, or in the state of man in the fall, or

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