PREFACE. WHEN the Writer took in hand the following little work, he had two things in view. The first was the spiritual employment of his own mind. Being laid aside from the public ministry, and living in solitude, with rather an active mind, prone to wander after a thousand vanities, he found it necessary to fix on some interesting subject to engage his attention, and profit his soul. Every man that thinks at all seriously is well aware, that the right employment of our thoughts is of immense consequence : for by our habitual mode of thinking, our character is formed. Whatever we statedly think upon with delight, our hearts are transformed into the same image. Let a man constantly feed his mind on earthly things, he will soon have an earthly heart and the man that meditates day and night on spiritual subjects and everlasting concerns, his heart is spiritualized and drawn heavenwards. Feeling myself, as I now do, standing on the brink of the eternal world, where I must shortly appear (for a man in the eighty-second year of his age can have no long time to live)-I felt a desire to meditate with increasing seriousness on the great salvation, with the view of keeping my wandering heart more at home with God, where alone true rest can be found. I trust that the plan has been in some measure useful; yet I find that without great care, we shall write on the most sublime and spiritual subjects in a secular frame of mind. What constant need have we of the gracious influences of the Holy Ghost to teach, to controul, and to guide our foolish hearts! The more we know of ourselves, the less confidence we shall have in the flesh; but the more we know of Christ, the more we shall confide in him. Our fears and backwardness to rest on the Saviour, proceed from our ignorance of his real character. The Lord increase our faith and love. My other object in writing on this subject, was to assist the children of grace to take correct views of the doctrine of assurance of salvation, and how to obtain this assurance. All thoughtful Christians are very anxious to know that they are such Christians as shall be eternally saved. And for want of this knowledge, a great number are deeply distressed. As soon as they begin to seek the Lord in earnest, they expect to find full assurance of their salvation; and after they have spent a few years in a doubtful state of mind, they wonder how this can be, and are quite disappointed. Many are more anxious to be satisfied that they are safe, than to live and act as Christians. Live by faith on the Saviour and serve your God faithfully, and this will gradually lead you to all the assurance necessary to your comfort in this life. See that you sustain the character of a man of God, then you may rest assured of final salvation, for no real Christian shall be excluded from the kingdom of heaven, and none else can enter in. Whatever blemishes or defects may be found in this small volume, they are all my own, for I have not consulted any authors while writing it. And as it was written but once over, owing to my infirmities, doubtless it will be found very incorrect and defective. The critical reader will be displeased with the fre quent repetition of a few texts of Scripture; but they wno read only for profit, will overlook this impropriety. |