of God and Christ, and to destroy the kingdom of sin and satan; though he (i. e. the devil) makes use of those sacred writings, often wresting them, and bringing them for evil uses, and for wrong purposes, as most certainly he doth, when he allegeth from them, that people cannot live otherwise than in sin.

"Then (as Matthew has it) he had our Lord to the pinnacle of the temple, and bid him cast himself down ; for, says satan, it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." Though he was once overcome, yet he has boldness to tempt again: as Christ overcame him by his power, making use of the holy scriptures, he now tries what he can do with the scriptures, he tempts Christ with them, that he might tempt his Father; and so he tempts poor mortals by the scriptures, to keep them in sin, by making a wrong use of them, and misapplying them; and if he can hold them in sin, he knows it is a ready way to cause the Almighty to be angry with them; and if they hold out in it to the end, to turn them at last into hell, where the wicked must be turned. And he begins his temptations with "If an, thou be the Son of God," though he knew very well that he was the Son of God; yet like some of his evil seed, or seed of evil doers, tempted him to shew a sign; but our Lord did not gratify either him or them, but rebuked them both, as they well deserved; and so by denial and resistance he overcame; and we also must the same way.

After this our Lord makes a true and right use of the scriptures, saying, "It is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." And truly, those who read the holy scriptures, and know how much they speak against sin, and for righteousness, and who yet notwithstanding live in sin and ungodliness, and plead for it even from these sacred writings, which were wrote on purpose to destroy sin, should seriously consider, whether they are not guilty of tempting of God, which Christ says it is written thou shalt not do. Oh! that people would turn away from sin and satan, and break off from

1

their sins by repentance, and their iniquities by amend ment of life, which is the way to have the days of their tranquility lengthened out in this world, and to be happy in that which is without end to come; for, as it is writ. ten, "The wicked do not live out half their days; which, according to my observation is a true general rule. How many have been taken off in their prime and strength, and in the flower of their years, who might, according to the course of nature, have lived many years, had they been sober and temperate, and lived in the fear of God? If it be asked, do not pious young people die also? Yes; but not so frequently as intemperate ones; I have had occasion to observe it in divers parts of the world; and besides, if pious young people leave this world, their exchange is glorious: whereas the wicked and ungodly make a sad and bitter exchange. And since life is so uncertain, and death so sure and certain to all, even to male and female, what care and fear ought there to be on all, of offending so merciful a God, and so sweet a Saviour, who overcame, to show us the way to overcome also; and died for sin, that we might die to the world, and the sinful part of it, and live to him, exhorting us to overcome, as he also did, and then promiseth to take us for his companions, with himself, and his Father, in his heavenly kingdom.

Satan repeats his temptation again a third time; for he is an unwearied enemy, and will tempt poor mortals over, and over, many times; but he is to be resisted as often as he tempts, if we will follow the counsel and example of Christ: and this was his last temptation for that conflict, as one of the evangelists observes, "He takes him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of it." A temptation which takes with abundance of souls; the glory, riches, and greatness of this world, ruin many they having it, and being swelled with pride therein some are destroying themselves to get it, and cannot attain it: and many would endeavour to create a belief of themselves; that they are greater, richer, and more noble than they really are; which is a

temptation

of the evil one; for we ought to think meanly of our. selves; and, if we will follow Christ's example, make ourselves of no reputation. And when satan would tempt us to be proud, or high of mind, we should then resist, as Christ did, who said to the devil, in his temptations, "Get thee behind me, satan, for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." If this holy rule was followed, as Christ instituted it, then we should overcome sin and satan: Christ's E institution is, that "The hour cometh, and now is, that those that worship the Father, must worship him in spirit and in truth." It is too much worship, or homage to fall down, or worship satan; but the duty of every christian is to worship the Lord God of heaven and earth; for he it is we should only (i. e. chiefly and mainly) serve and worship: and that not only in a formal way, but with hearts truly devoted to his will; we are to worship the Father in spirit and in truth, into which the devil can never come; though he may get into the form of it, he cannot overcome us, where the power of Christ is lived in; for by the power of God, which dwells in Christ, who overcame, by the same power, christians do and shall overcome: so the devil was forced to fly when Christ resisted him, and so he will when christians resist him in Christ: and when Christ had overcome, then the angels came and ministered unto him; likewise the guardian angel of God's presence will administer sweet comfort and pleasure to every true soul, who stands truly for the cause of God and Christ against sin and satan, sincerely endeavouring to pull down satan's kingdom, or sin, which upholds it, and faithfully desire to exalt the kingdom of God and his dear Son.

Now he or she that believes, and overcomes, (for with. out belief, it is imposible to overcome) is truly enti tled to all the above precious promises, and privileges, otherwise the wrath of God will be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, and against all those who hold the truth in self-righteousness, or unrighteousness. Again, "Tribulation and anguish

upon every soul of man that doth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the gentile; but glory, honour and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the gentile; for there is no respect of persons with God." Rom. ii. 9, 10, 11. Here the ways of God are equal, but the ways of man and satan are unequal; sin, iniquity and transgression, are of the devil, and of man in the fall; but righteousness, holiness, and truth, are of God, to which man is restored, through regeneration and reformation. Glory over all be given to God and the Lamb, forever. Amen.

SOME

CONSIDERATIONS

ON

'HE CALL, WORK, AND WAGES,

OF

THE MINISTERS OF CHRIST.

METHING hath been on my mind to write concern; the work of the ministry of the gospel of Christ, h a design of instruction to ministers in particular, 1 the benefit of others in general.

It is an unspeakable benefit to mankind, to be favourwith a powerful living ministry, which edifies the urch of God, and builds up the true believers in the >st holy faith (according to the word of God) in Christ us, who is the great minister of the true tabernacle 1 sanctuary, which God hath pitched and not man; 1 this great minister sent forth his ministers and serv. s, saying, "I send you forth as sheep among wolves, ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." did not send them forth as lords over his heritage, r as persecuting priests, or mercenary hirelings, but d to them, "Freely ye have received, freely give:" re is no compulsion nor force enjoined by Christ; but is plain, from his own doctrine and example, that his nistry is a free ministry, blessed be his holy name and ith forever: nor do we read or understand of any alteron thereof by Christ: indeed the ministers of antirist have made an alteration (contrary to this doctrine his) in their ministry; but the holy apostles, who af- Christ were the first planters of christianity in the rth, when it shone in its primitive beauty and glory, llowed the counsel of their Lord and Master, and minered freely: then was the power of Christ's ministry