our blessed Redeemer? Are they not of great consideration with all those who love him, and keep covenant with him? Suffer me, then, dear brethren, to plead with you, the honour of God, of your Saviour, his glorious example, the honour and advancement of Christianity, the encouragement, edification, and comfort of your brethren in Christ, and the conviction and salvation of those who believe not, that ye walk unto all well pleasing. Suffer me to plead with you all the solemn and weighty considerations suggested in these papers, on covenanting, and keeping Covenant with God.

And what shall I say more? Shall I plead with you the happy effect which this would have upon the churches? That it would cause them to look forth as the morning, make them beautiful as Tirzah, and comely as Jerusalem? That this would engage the presence of God with them, to comfort, edify, and protect them? That when the spices of the church's garden flow out, then their Beloved will come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruit? That then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord? That then his going forth will be prepared as the morn- ~ ing, and that he will come unto us as the

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rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth? That he will give us great refreshment in his ordinances, secret, private, and public? Shall I mention how, in this way, you will assure your hearts before God? The light, peace, and triumph, it will give you in the hour of death?

Shall I plead with you the degeneracy of the times? That error is coming in like a flood? That iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxeth cold? The necessity which there is of good people's arising and standin the gap, and making up the hedge? Of holding fast the form of sound words which have been delivered unto us, and of contending earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints? The special duty of all Christians acting in character, as the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, to prevent total corruption and darkness? Shall I plead with you, the peculiar honour of faithfulness to God and our covenant engagements, in times of great and general corruption? Shall I name unto you, Enoch, Noah, Lot, and Elijah, Daniel and the three children, as your examples? Who walked with God in times. of great and general wickedness; and whom he delivered and honoured above all the men,

who have lived upon the earth? Shall I mention Phinehas, who was zealous for the Lord, and to suppress the wickedness of his peo ple, and how it was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for ever more? (Psal. cvi. 30, 31.)

May it not be pleaded, that God hath not only set these examples before us for our encouragement and imitation in the worst times; but that he hath made exceedingly great and precious promises to all those who will walk with him in those dark and evil days? That to those who feared him and thought upon his name, at a time of uncommon infidelity and licentiousness, among his ancient people, he promised, That a book of remembrance should be written before him for them? That they should be unto him as his peculiar treasure, and that he would spare them in the day when he shall make up his jewels, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him? (Malachi iii. 16, 17.) That he promised unto the few names in Sardis, who had not defiled their garments, that they should walk with him in white; and that he declared them to be worthy? (Rev. iii. 4.)*

These are some of those weighty considerations, some of those endearing and forcible

motives and examples which God hath set before us to engage our fidelity in his service. By these he commands us, pleads with, and presseth us to keep covenant with him. And do not our hearts, in contemplation of them, burn within us? Is not our zeal enkindled, and are not our resolutions invigorated? Shall we not, deeply impressed and impelled by their united energy, lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race which is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith? As we have received him, shall we not walk in him, rooted and established in the faith, as we have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving? Shall we not watch and pray always; praying with all prayer and supplication, in the spirit, with all perseverance and supplication for all saints? Shall we not wrestle with God, that the Spirit of primitive Christianity may be poured out upon all our churches, and upon their pastors? That we and all our brethren may maintain a more close and humble walk with God? That this -address might be succeeded to this happy effect on ourselves and others? Shall we not strive to grow more and more in grace, and

in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?-To excel in the religion of the closet, of the family, and of the house of God; and in the constant, cheerful discharge of all relative duties? Shall we not exhort one another daily, and consider one another to provoke unto love and good works? "Shall we not do these duties so much the more as time flies away, and as we see the day of death and judgment approaching? Shall we not, from this time, shake off all slothfulness, and be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord?

Dear brethren, if there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercies, let us, I beseech you, fulfil the joy of the apostles and of all good men, by being like minded, to perform these duties, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, observing all things, whatsoever Jesus hath commanded us. Amen.