intended for their Happinefs, Comfort and Joy; I fhall confider fome of the Characters by which they are described, or distinguished from others in the Holy Scriptures; and likewife fome of the Bleffings promifed to them.

Thefe Things I propofe to give an Account of, not in the Words, which Man's Wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: Comparing Spiritual Things with Spiritual. (1 Cor. ii. 13.) Doubtless God knows what Words and Expreffions are fitteft to convey to our Minds the Ideas, and Thoughts he would have us to entertain.

And therefore we are not to lay them afide in Speaking of our Spiritual Concerns, and of the Doctrines he has revealed, or of the Ordinances, and Laws he has enjoined us.

It is a Duty, and a very weighty Duty, to retain and use the Language of the Holy Scriptures; for the Laying afide the Ufe of the Words, and Expreffions of God, which we find in his Sacred Revelation contained in our Bible, is a Throwing into Oblivion, and a Lofing those important Thoughts and Ideas, which they defcribe and exprefs; and indeed it is Rejecting fo much of the Gospel as is contained in them.

It introduces different Ideas and Notions; and fo far another Religion, or Gofpel; although they, who do fo, call themselves Chriftians.

Can I with Reafon believe that Man to have been born and lived in England, who neither uses, nor understands the English Language? And have I more Reafon to think that Man a real Chriftian, who neither ufes, nor understands the Language of the Gofpel, thofe Words which the Holy Ghoft teacheth?

It is a bold Undertaking in any Perfon to alter the Language of the Holy Spirit, or to bring into Difufe thofe Words and Phrafes by which he

expreffes

expreffes the Doctrines of the Gospel, and the Things which concern our Salvation.

In Rev. xxii. 18, 19. it is faid, If any Man fball add unto thefe Things, God fhall, add to him the Plagues that are written in this Book. And if any Man fhall take away from the Words of the Book of this Prophesy, God shall take away his Part out of the Book of Life.

It is a heinous Sin to add any Thing unto, or to take away from the Words of any other Book of the Holy Scriptures.

In Prov. xxxvi. 5, 6. it is faid, Every Word of God is pure, he is a Shield unto them that put their Truft in him: Add thou not unto his Words, left he reprove thee and thou be found a Liar.

In Deut. iv. 2. it is written, Tefhall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it.

My Soul trembles at the Thoughts of Laying afide the Language of the facred Scriptures, and fubftituting other Expreffions in the Stead of it.

St. Paul fays, But though we, or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel (that is, other Doctrines about Chrift and Salvation by him,) than that which we have preached to you, let him be accurfed. See Gal. i. 8, 9, 10.

;

By using the Expreffions of the Sacred Scriptures, the Words which the Holy Ghoft teacheth, I do not mean that we must not use any others for the Ufe of other Words is very needful in preaching the Gospel, and expounding the Scriptures, and in catechifing and inftructing Children and Youth, and in difcourfing on the feveral Parts of Divine Revelation.

But we must not difufe the Scripture Language, nor ufe Terms which convey Ideas, or Thoughts different from, and repugnant to it.

In every Language, into which the Holy Scriptures have been tranflated from the Hebrew and Greek, the Words are different as to the Letters, Syllables and Sound; but as the Words in the feveral Tranflations fignify and exprefs the fame. Thoughts, and Ideas, which are conveyed to the Mind by the Words in the Original Language, the Words in every Tranflation, may fo far be esteemed the Words, which the Holy Ghost teacheth.

If what I have faid concerning the Words of the Holy Ghoft, and of the Importance of continuing the Ufe of them, be a Difgreffion, it is a neceffary One, and needs no Apology in this Age, wherein many are fallen into a Diflike and Difufe of them.

I fhall now confider fome Parts of the Holy Scriptures, by which it may be known who are real Chriftians, to whom the Predictions of Bleffings do relate, and who may be much comforted by them.

The Character of real Chriftians in general, includes a Believing thofe Things, which are written concerning Christ.

The Apoftle Paul in Defence of himself before Felix, fays, This I confefs unto thee, that after the Way which they call Herefy, fo worship I the God of my Fathers; believing all Things which are written in the Law, and the Prophets. (Acts xxiv. 14.) That is, all the Things written concerning Chrift, as appears from the Context; and for the fame Reasons we are to believe all Things that are written concerning Chrift by the Apoftles in the New Teftament.

I fhall therefore mention fome of thofe Things which are written in the Sacred Scriptures concerning Chrift, and which we are to believe.

It is plainly evident from what is written in the Holy Scriptures, that the promised Meffiah, (the Redeemer of Ifrael, and the Saviour of the Gentiles, as well as of the Jews,) was a Perfon of tranfcendent Excellency, Majefty, Authority, Power and Goodness.

It was revealed that he fhould be a Man; that is, that he fhould have an human Nature, confifting of an human Soul, and Body. This appears from its being declared, That he should be a Child, born of a Virgin. (Ifa. vii. 14.)

For every Child, every Son that is born of a Woman hath an human Soul, and an human Body.

And of the Virgin Mary it is faid, that She was found with Child of the Holy Ghoft. (Matt. i. 18.) And when he brought forth her first born Son, bis Name was called Jefus, according to the Appointment of God his Father. (ver. 25.) and in (1 Tim. ii. 5.) he is called The Man Christ Jesus.

But it is alfo revealed that the Meffiah, our bleffed Redeemer is GoD, as well as Man: For thofe Things are affirmed of him, which cannot be applied to any meer Creature.

It is teftified that when the Meffiah fhould come, he fhould be Immanuel, that is, God with us. (Ifa. vii. 14.) and afterwards, that He is the Mighty God. (Ifa. ix. 6.)

And in (John i. 1, 3.) it is revealed that, In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All Things were. made by him, and without him was not any Thing made that was made.

And in (ver. 14.) it is faid, And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us.

In (John iii. 13.) the bleffed Jefus himself says, No Man bath afcended up to Heaven, but he that

came

came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which is in Heaven.

This fhews that the Son of Man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, had another Nature befides the Human; a Nature Omniprefent, which was in Heaven, at the fame Time it was prefent with him, while he was on Earth, talking with Nicodemus.

Hereby Chrift made it known that his human Nature was united to the Divine; and that he is both God, and Man, in one Perfon, and may well be called Wonderful.

Of this glorious Perfon, the Prophet (in Ifa. ix. 6, 7.) said, Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the Government fhall be upon his Shoulders, and his Name fhall be called Wonderful, Counfeller, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the Increase of his Government, (which implies it would be small at firft) and Peace, there fhall be no End. Upon the Throne of David, and upon his Kingdoms, to order and to eftablish it with Judgment, and with Justice, from benceforth even for ever: The Zcal of the LORD of Hofts will perform this.

And (in Ifa. xlix. 5, 6.) Now faith the Lord; (that is, to his promifed Meffiah) I will also give thee for a Light to the Gentiles, that thou mayeft be my Salvation to the Ends of the Earth.

He is declared to be A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of his People Ifrael. (Luke ii. 32.)

He is called The Defire of all Nations. (Hag ii. 7.)

And all Nations ought to defire him, on the Account of his Divine Excellencies; his Majefty, and Power, and Honour, and Glory; and on the Account of his redeeming Love; his great Compaffion for all Sorts of People, in a State of Sin

C

and