Not to be sensible of a present perilous season, is that security which the Scripture so condemns- and I will leave it with you, in short, under these three things--- 1. It is that frame of heart which, of all others, God doth most detest and abhor. Nothing is more hateful to God than a secure frame in perilous days. 2. I will not fear to say this, and go with it, as to my sense, to the day of judgment- A secure person, in perilous seasons, is assuredly under the power of some predominant lust, whether it appears or not.

Carnal reason is the most desperate enemy to faith of all other principles in man. For until faith be wrought, it is the most supreme principle- but then faith deposeth and subjecteth it, and afterwards doth often contradict it- yea, excludes it, as unskilful in its matters, from being of its counsel. And so deep and desperate is this enmity against faith, that look, what is the most especial work and business of faith, which is to alter our estates before God, and put us into a -state of justification and to assure us of it, therein it shews a more peculiar enmity against faith, by opposing it in that work of it more than in any other.

Since the fall, our hearts of themselves are nothing but darkness,-and therefore no wonder if when God but draws the curtains, and-shuts up the light from us, that our hearts should engender and-conceive such horrid fears and doubts. Thus, in 2 Cor. 4-6, the-Apostle compareth this native darkness of our hearts unto that-chaos and lump of darkness which, at the first creation, covered the-face of the deep, when he says that 'God, who commanded light to-shine out of darkness,

How Satan and our hearts increase this darkness by false-conclusions from the Spirit's work, illustrated by the like in the-illumination of temporaries.-The Spirit's work in both compared

Those in darkness are apt to stumble at everything. So-Isa. 59-10- one effect of darkness, mentioned there, is to 'stumble at-noon-day.' So take a soul that is left in darkness, and it will stumble-at all it hears out of the word, either in conference or at sermons- all-it reads, all promises it meets with, it is more discouraged by them.-Oh, think they, that there should be such glorious promises, and not-belong to us- Such a one misapplies and misinterprets all God's-dealings and the Scriptures against himself, and 'refuseth comfort,'-as Ps. 77-2- yea, and, as at the 3d verse, when he 'remembers God,-he is troubled.

The main proposition and subject of this discourse thence deduced--That a child of God may walk in darkness.-That thereby distress of-conscience, and desertion in the want of assurance of justification,-is meant, proved. THIS to be the meaning of the words will more fully appear in opening the several propositions to be delivered out of them, whereof the first and principally intended is this- That one who-truly fears God, and is obedient to him, may be in a condition of darkness, and have no light- and he may walk many days and years-in that condition.

Shewing why Grace in the heart is better then unnecessary Disputes in the head, together with rules how to manage Disputes and Controversies without prejudice to Grace.SERMON LII. That there is a work of God upon a mans heart, which is called Grace- And why inward holinesse is called Grace.SERMON LIII. Characters and Properties of a Gracious man

Spiritual refining- or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, -c

We are arrived, then, to the sum of this safeguarding duty, of this condition of freedom from the power of temptation--He that, having a due acquaintance with the gospel in its excellencies, as to him a word of mercy, holiness, liberty, and consolation, values it, in all its concernments, as his choicest and only treasure,-makes it his business and the work of his life to give himself up unto it in universal obedience, then especially when opposition and apostasy put the patience of Christ to the utmost,-he shall be preserved from the hour of temptation.

I HAVE perused the following short Narrative, and can attest the facts contained in it- partly from personal knowledge, partly from the most credible informations- but think it a loss that it is not more full. I have seen a larger paper compiled by different hands- which, besides the facts related in this, contains several useful reasonings, tending to prove that the favourable judgment formed by many, and even by some, who, through want of due information, hesitated at first about this work, is supported by all that kind of evidence that things of this nature are capable of in such a space of time. And, consequently, that there is good ground to hope that, by the Divine blessing, the confirmation arising from perseverance will be daily increasing as hitherto it has been, William McCulloch