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writing, the thought of such a Friend brings such comfort to my heart, that I am well paid already for my labour.

This I say again is good news; which is what the old word Gospel signifies: but not more good than true.

Who then are those atheistical wretches, abroad and at home, who are seeking to destroy this Gospel, and rob you of your only help and comfort? What are they like but a pack of madmen or idiots, who, when they had set fire to your magazines and stores, pulled down your barracks and hospitals, and destroyed your arms, could not afterwards set up so much as a shed to cover you, give you a morsel of bread, or bring you a better weapon than a child's pop-gun for your defence? But, to return. The Gospel presents a FRIEND. Among other names he is called the CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION: Heb. ii. 10. He makes his Soldiers invincible, by putting upon them the whole Armour of God (Eph. vi. 13); and, having all power in Heaven and in Earth, he supplies all their wants out of his riches in glory.

When man, at the beginning, was enticed from his God, and fell among enemies and wants, this Deliverer was promised. He came, according to this promise. He lived and died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God: 1 Pet. iii. 18. Having taught us his Father's will, he laid down his life for our transgressions; and, in dying,

conquered our enemies; and, having made our peace with God, rose a conqueror, leading captivity captive, and receiving gifts for men: Eph. iv. 8.

"Oh," perhaps you answer, "I have heard of Jesus Christ, and don't doubt what you say of him; for I never was so wicked as to reject the Bible: but, somehow, I don't know how to get any help or comfort from him:-I am not religious. -What can a Soldier do?"

Whenever you can procure the life of the brave Col. Gardiner, read it; and you will see what a Soldier can do. In the mean time I will tell you, not a Fable, but a matter of Fact.

There was not, perhaps, a more wicked fellow in all the service than a soldier I am acquainted with. But, one day, while he was gone two or three miles from the troop, it rained so hard, that he was glad to take shelter in a farm-house.

Now it happened that a good man lived there, who soon began talking of what lay very near his heart, as you know we are all apt to do: and what should this be, but the inestimable Friend I have been recommending to you? And he talked thus:

"A friend in need is a friend indeed: and there are times in which every man feels the need of such a friend. But vainly do we hope to find him among men. Yet I know such a one may be found. Indeed all I have discovered to purpose is, that none but Jesus Christ can do me any good.

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Trouble was sent to preach my need of his help; but I was a good while before I knew what to do. At length, however, he, that had long called to me by his word, gave me ears to hear, and a heart to follow him. Well, at length, weary and heavy laden, I came for help to him, and I have found it, and all I want in it: and now I cannot help telling to others that there is no malady of the soul, but there is an infallible remedy for it in Jesus Christ; nor anything which we can want, but he is as willing as he is able to give it."

It still kept raining, and the soldier was kept hearing while several parts of scripture were compared; and he saw that the grand design of all scripture was to shew the Saviour to the Sinner, and bring the Sinner to the Saviour; and it peared that the good Samaritan (Luke x. 33—35),

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who bound up the wounds of the man who fell among thieves, took him to the inn and provided for him, was but a picture of this Friend.

At length, the weather cleared, and the Soldier went away; but not in the state of mind in which he had entered the house. He went (as he lately told me) with the farmer, on the next Sunday, to hear an eminent clergyman; and then God brought the truth home to his heart. He called at the house of an acquaintance of his, who told me how surprised he was to hear him say, after he had sat a few minutes, "Tom, I have been a mad

man all my life, and am but just recovered:" and then related what he had heard, and what he felt.

For, as a man wakes out of a dream, and recovers his right mind after the wild imaginations of the night are past, and tells the first person he meets of the disorder in which his spirits have been; so did this Soldier talk to his friend. He plainly saw how dreadfully he had been fighting against God and his own soul, by a course of swearing, drunkenness, debauchery, and unbelief. He now felt what a bad example, yea what a curse he had been to his fellow soldiers! what an awful evil sin is, with which he had sported! and what a depth of misery he must have fallen into had he been cut off in such a course! He also felt that he never could be sufficiently thankful for the repentance which God had now given him; and for the lively hope afforded him in those gracious promises made to returning sinners.

He did much more. Many talk of religion who have none; but this man proved his recovery by a new course of life; and he proved, that, when a man has a heart to serve God, he may serve him in any station of life. If some, from ignorance, scorned that change in him which he had formerly scorned in others, no man was so ready to forgive; for he felt no man owed so much to forgiveness. No man was so faithful to his trust or obedient in his station: for he served his God while he served

his King. No man bore up more nobly under difficulties; for he knew they were all appointed of his God, and were working together for his good. No man faced death with so firm a heart; for he knew, that, whether he stood or fell, he was secure of life everlasting, through the promise and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Besides which, I must tell you that he had and still has more courage than many, who only can stand the push of a battle. He calmly dared to confess his Friend before men; and to declare, upon every proper occasion, "I owe all that I am, and all that I hope to be, to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I again remind you that I have not invented this account, but tell you the real history of one who is still living to the honour of his FRIEND and the good of mankind.

If you have such a sense of sin as has been described, you will be apt to doubt whether his friend is willing to be yours. Remember the Enemies I told you of: one of them, at least, is at work; and one of the sins you have to repent of is this unbelief: for hath not the Friend of Sinners said, Him that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out? John vi. 37. Does he not also complain, Ye will not come to me that ye might have life? John iv. 40.

"But what," you may ask, " is coming to him?" I answer, it is trusting in him according

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