As faith is fuch a perfuafion of the heart, and fuch a reception of CHRIST, it affures the foul of falvation by its own act; antecedent to all reflection on its fruits or effects, on marks or evidences.It affures the foul of acquittance from guilt, and reconciliation to GOD; of a title to the everlasting inheritance, and of grace fufficient for every cafe of need. By the exercise of this faith, and the enjoyment of these bleffings, we are fanctified; confcience is pacified, and the heart purified; we are delivered from the dominion of fin, difpofed to holy tempers, and furnished for an holy practice.

Here, I apprehend, our author will appear fingular, this is the place in which he feems to go quite out of the common road. The generality of serious people look upon thefe unfpeakable bleffings as the reward of holiness; to be received, after we have fincerely practifed universal holinefs; not as neceffary, previously neceffary to perform any act of true holinefs. This is the ftumbling block, which our legal minds, dim with prejudice, and fwollen with pride, will hardly get over. However, these endowments of our new ftate are, in our author's opinion, the effectual, and the only effectual expedient, to produce fanctification. They are the very method which the eternal SPIRIT has ordained, for our bringing forth those fruits of righteousness, which " are by JESUS CHRIST unto the glory and praise • of GOD *.'—Whereas, if there be any appearan

"habitually difpofes and inclines our hearts to a right performance of this most important act.--This manner of speaking is ufed, I imagine for two reafons: To point out the first and chief work which we are to be doing, inceffantly and affiduously, till our LORD come: To remind us, that we must not expect to have faith wrought in us, by fome fatality of fupernatural ope ration, without any application or endeavour of our own; but that we must make it our diligent endeavour, and our daily bu- . finefs, to believe in CHRIST. We must labour to enter into " this reft, and fhew all diligence to the full affurance of hope.' *Phil. i. II.

ces of virtue, or any efforts of obedience, which fpring not from these motives and means of practice, Mr. MARSHALL treats them as "" reprobate "filver." He cannot allow them the character of gofpel-holiness.

This is the plan, and these are the leading fentiments, of the enfuing treatise. To eftablish or defend them, is not my aim. This is attempted, and, I think, executed, in the work itself. My aim is, only to exhibit the moft diftinguishing principles, in one short sketch, and clear point of view; that the reader may the more easily remember them, and, by this key, enter the more perfectly into the writer's meaning. Let him that is spiritual * judge; and reject or admit, as each tenet fhall appear to correfpond or disagree with the infallible word. Only let candour, not rigour, fill the chair; and interpret an unguarded expreffion, or a feemingly inconfiftent fentence, by the general tenor of the difcourfe.

We are not to expect much pathos of addrefs, or any delicacy of compofition. Here the gofpel-diamond is fet, not in gold, but in fteel; not where it may difplay the most sprightly beam, or. pour a flood of brilliancy; but where it may do the most fignal fervice, and afford a fund of usefulness.Neither is this book fo particularly calculated for careless infenfible finners, as for those who are awakened into a folicitous attention to their everlasting interefts; who are earnestly inquiring, with the Philippian jailor, What fhall I do to be faved +?' or paffionately crying, in the language of the apoftle, O wretched man that I am! who fhall deliv

er me from the body of this death? If there be any fuch, as no doubt there are many, in the Christian world, I would fay, with regard to them, as the Ifraelitish captive faid concerning her illuftrious but afflicted mafter, Would GOD my mafter 1 Cor. ii. 15. † Acts xvi. 30. Rom. vii. 24.

*

'were with the prophet that is in Samaria; for he 'would recover him of his leprofy *. O that fuch perfons were acquainted with the doctrines, and influenced by the directions contained in this treatife! they would, under the divine blessing, recover them from their distress, and reftore them to tranquility; they would comfort their hearts, and thereby establish them in every good word and 'work +.'

But I am going to anticipate what the following extract fpeaks. I fhall therefore only add my hearty wishes, that you may meet with encouragement and fuccefs in the publication of this truly valuable piece. Since there is, in this inftance, an evident connection between your private interest and the general good, I think you may promise yourself the approbation and acceptance of the public; as you will affuredly have all the support and assistance that can be given, by,

This extract, or the recommendation given of this excellent book, entitled, The gofpel-mystery of fanctification, is to be found in our author's works, Vol. ii. p. 398. note.

The End of the FOURTH VOLUME.