sentiments, I observe, that many who speak in high terms concerning sincerity and candour, will, without hesitation condemn, as enthusiastical, such reliance on the promises, and this way of searching for truth; and it is plain they do not seek truth in that manner which they condemn in others. Many others perhaps slightly mention these matters, but they will not endure to be closely questioned: for, being conscious that they have not sought the truth in this manner, they evade such discourse as personal. Again, the writings of many professed inquirers after truth evidently show that they expect to find it, not by "trusting in the Lord with all their heart," or seeking it from the Scriptures, and by earnest prayer for the teaching of the Holy Spirit; but by "leaning to their own understanding;" resting the argument on philosophical reasonings, and the authority of this or that renowned name; and supporting their conclusions by bold and perplexing criticisms and interpretations of Scripture. Hence so many daring appeals from revelation to reason and philosophy! hence such and so many objections, brought against doctrines plainly revealed in God's word, if language hath any determinate meaning! and so many consequences charged upon these doctrines, with a design to invalidate their divine authority; as if the appearance of unreasonableness, imposed by every disingenuous art, were sufficient to prove the plainest revelation of God's Holy Spirit a falsehood! Hence such liberty in interpretation and criticism on the word of God, as the learned would never endure in interpreting or criticising Virgil or Horace ! These things prove that such persons are strangers to that earnest, hearty, sincere desire to know the truth, which brings the inquirer to an humble willingness to be taught of God, and, in submission of understanding, to seek wisdom from his word and Spirit. It is indeed most evident, that many who profess to be influenced by this sincere desire to know the truth, are not troubled with suspicions that they are, or can be wrong. They have made up their minds before they begin the inquiry; and you will not find them willing to make the least concession, but, in the management of the controversy, resolved to vindicate and contend for every tittle; and where arguments fail, to make use of the other arts of controversy, with which skill in the management of their weapons, and anger against their opponents, can supply them. Where a cause is thus maintained, you may easily know that there is none of that earnest desire of learning the truth, that anxious fear of mistaking it, that self-diffidence, and those doubts concerning the sentiments held at present, which constitute the godly sincerity that leads the inquirer to the word and Spirit of God for direction and teaching. These things taken together, will, on Scriptural grounds, cut off many confident pretenders to sincerity from their claims, as entirely, as they exclude Annas and Caiaphas, and the chief priests, Scribes and Pharisees, from being sincere inquirers into the truth of the Old Testament; when in support of their authority and reputation, and influenced by pride and anger, they, under colour of their law, put to death Him" of whom Moses and the prophets did write, even Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God." And as to men of another spirit, who appear sincere, humble, and willing to be taught of God in their inquiry after truth, but do not entirely agree with what has been laid down, I would only wish them to observe the distinction established between some and others of these doctrines. Such persons do not, I dare say, materially differ from that which has been mentioned as necessary to salvation : as, therefore, I allow them to have been in the main taught of God, so I only require the same allowance. Let it be supposed that the same God, who, according to his promise, hath led both, as far as is needful to salvation, in the same way, has in other things left us to differ, for the mutual exercise of candour and forbearance, till that time when we shall know even as we are known.

II. I would observe, that this change in my sentiments took place very gradually.

When any person suddenly changes his religious opinions for others very

THE FORCE OF TRUTH.

different from them, it is no inconsiderable evidence of a changeable and fickle disposition. It gives cause to suspect that he was not well established in his former sentiments; and that he had taken them upon trust, and was a stranger to the arguments by which they might be defended, and to the objections which might be urged against them. If worldly interest, reputation, or conveniency seem to favour the change, there is room for a presumtion, that these had an undue influence upon him: if not, it may be insinuated that he was deluded with specious appearances; that he did not allow himself time to weigh the arguments on each side; and that he had only changed one set of notions for another, without having duly considered either of them. Such objections may reasonably be made, and the consequences of precipitate changes too often justify them. But though I was always, and still am, of an headlong impetuous spirit in other things, and when once I have purposed, can have no rest from incessant agitation of mind, till I have accomplished my design; yet in this particular I acted in direct opposition to my natural temper. Indeed at first I did in some instances too much betray my impetuosity: but at that time I acted not in the character of an inquirer, but in full confidence that I was pleading the cause of truth, and had no more thought of becoming what the world call a Methodist, than of turning Mahometan. But after that first hurry was over, though commonly in earnest, and sometimes in considerable perturbation of mind, I was outwardly calm and satisfied; being generally enabled to believe that, if I were in any thing at present mistaken, I should sometime be guided to the truth. My determination to set about this inquiry proceeded not so much from anxious fears about my own soul, as from a deep sense impressed upon my heart of the importance of my ministry, the worth of the souls committed to my charge, and the awful account to be given of them; and as I all along bestowed some pains in instructing my people in what I believed to be the truth, I was preserved from any discomposing fears or undue disquietude of mind. I sat down very coolly to search for the truth; I proceeded very gradually, and with extreme caution; I took no one opinion upon trust; I gave up none of my sentiments, until the arguments by which I learned to defend them were satisfactorily answered; nor did I admit any new articles into my creed, till either every objection was obviated, or I was pressed on the other hand with such as were still more unanswerable. Much, very much prayer and meditation preceded every change of sentiment; and I was nearly three years, from the beginning of my inquiry, before I came to a determination what was truth. So long, deliberately, and step by step, I examined the premises, before I finally proceeded to draw my conclusion. I perceive much cause to be ashamed of my unteachable temper: for with such opportunities as were afforded me, if I had improved them, I might have attained to the knowledge and belief of the same truths in much less time. But the Lord, I trust, led me in this way, and left me thus far to my own natural pride of heart; that it might more evidently appear that I received not my doctrines from man, but that indeed, in the first instance, I learned them from the word and Spirit of God.

III. I would observe, that I changed my religious views without any teaching from the persons to whose sentiments I have now acceded. For a considerable time after the commencement of my inquiries, I would not so much as read what they had to urge in their own behalf. I entered indeed into a correspondence with Mr N.; my intention, however, was not to learn from him, but to dispute with him; and when he waved controversy, I dropt the correspondence, and utterly neglected his letters. From that time I avoided his company, and all the while I declined hearing him preach. I would not be understood to insinuate, that Mr N. has not been useful to me: he has been, and continues to be, eminently so; and I continually see great cause to bless God for giving me such a friend, to be so near at hand on all occasions. But this I assuredly believe, that had I never seen him,

at least from the time that his example had put me upon considering my conduct, I should have arrived at the same views of evangelical truth which I now have. His usefulness to me has all along been in those matters in which we were in some measure agreed, not in those in which we differed; for as to these, my proud heart scorned to have him for a teacher.

At the same time, though I had the offer of several books written by Dissenters and Methodists, I declined it; and did not, for nearly two years, peruse any of them with sufficient attention to recollect any thing of consequence which they contained. I say not this as slighting these books; for justice requires me to acknowledge, that many, which then I ignorantly despised, contain as solid, judicious, and excellent divinity, as hath been penned since the days of the apostles. But I did not get my system from them; for that was nearly complete before I was prevailed upon to read them. My studies, besides the Bible, were chiefly confined to authors of allowed reputation in the church of England, several of which I have mentioned. When they differed from each other, (as certainly Tillotson and Hooker, Jortin and Beveridge, Bull and Hall do differ very much indeed,) I endeavoured to judge for myself, comparing all of them with the word of God, and with the articles, homilies, and liturgy of the Church of England; and from such authors thus compared, as far as the writings of uninspired men have been instrumental to this change, I have received the greatest part of my present opinions.

But let it be observed, that the further these streams are traced upward towards the fountain of the blessed reformation, the purer they flow, according to my present judgment: and it may easily and undeniably be proved, that there is nothing material preached by many regular clergymen of the establishment, under the scandal of Methodistical, which was not expressly taught by those excellent persons, who, having laid the foundation of our church, gave their bodies to be burned in confirmation of their doctrine. It is greatly to be wished, that their lives and discourses, living and dying, and their remaining writings, were more generally known among us, and did not remain locked up from the world in large folios in the learned languages, and in books out of print, or exceedingly scarce. In consequence of this, the members of our national church are in general utterly ignorant of its standard-doctrines, and ignorantly brand those as Methodists and Enthusiasts, who preach zealously the very doctrines of the first Reformers.

IV. I would observe the great influence which the study of the Scriptures had in producing this change.

We are all too apt, without careful examination, to take things for granted, especially in respect of religion. We often collect our scheme of divinity from other authors, or from our own reasonings and imaginations; and only seek for a few detached texts which appear to countenance our preconceived opinions; neglecting, or very slightly considering such parts of the word of God as seem incapable of being made use of to our purpose. We are likewise too prone, in availing ourselves of the labours of critics and expositors, to resign up ourselves implicitly to their guidance, and to imagine that we have proof enough of our doctrines, if we can produce the sanction of some great name that has espoused and maintained them, without carefully examining whether they be right or wrong: but this is to pay that deference to the human interpretation, which is only due to the divine book commented on. We, ministers especially, though at ordination we solemnly promise to turn all our studies, as much as may be, into this channel, are very apt to suffer our time and thoughts to be engrossed with such studies and employments, as are foreign to our profession, and interfere with it, and which leave at most but a secondary attention for the study of the word of God. And who can deny, that many do not bestow so much pains in meditating upon the Bible, and in comparing spiritual things with spiritual; or one part of Scripture with another, and every part with what they experience in their own hearts, and what they hear and see in the world around them, as they

do about matters of far less consequence? So that probably, should they at any time sit down to diligent examination of the whole word of God, they would find it a very different book than they expected. Thus at least it has been with me, and possibly it may be so with many others.

The word of God informs us that true wisdom, the saving, practical, and experimental knowledge of divine things, is not to be acquired without earnest and diligent seeking: "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding: if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." Prov. ii. 1-6. If then our wisdom has been acquired without any of that eagerness and painful diligence with which the covetous man desires and seeks for his riches, it is a shrewd conjecture, that it is not of the genuine sort. Once I had in my own esteem a sort of wisdom, which seemed to offer itself to me spontaneously, and to be found with little seeking. But now I am persuaded it was a mere counterfeit, a fair-seeming pernicious foolishness.

That which I now esteem to be true wisdom, if I could but attain to it, is not to be acquired in so easy a manner. When I first began to desire and seek this wisdom, I set out with the assurance that it was to be found in the Holy Scriptures, and no where else; they alone being able to make us wise unto salvation. I therefore consider myself engaged to make them my study: and as the whole was "given by inspiration from God," and was all declared to be profitable, according to the various ends which the Holy Spirit designed in it, I made the whole my study. Thus I learned to look upon the Bible as my book of instructions, given me along with the ministerial office by my Lord and Master; that from thence I might deduce all my doctrines, instructions, and admonitions, warnings, examples, encouragements, rules of duty, and motives to duty: and I also considered it to be the believer's charter of privileges, containing exceedingly great and precious promises, and the whole of that which God saw fit to reveal concerning those unspeakable and inconceivable good things which he hath of his infinite mercy prepared for them that love him. In order therefore faithfully to declare my message from the Lord Almighty to the souls of men, I found it indispensably needful to be well acquainted with every part, and to take the word of God myself, as well as propose it to others, as "the lantern of my feet, and the light of my paths:" not only attending to the letter, but also to the true meaning, the mind of the Spirit of God in it. This I found to be a work that required much time, great diligence, mature consideration, and an unbiassed, unprejudiced mind.

With this view of the matter partly obtained, and continually more and more unfolding itself, I studied the word of God; and having now for nearly four years thus employed a very considerable part of my time, neither rejecting, nor yet greatly depending on the assistance of interpreters. I sincerely desired to know the truth, and for that end I read the Scriptures, "not as the word of man, but as the word of God." And though there have been seasons of remissness, when other employments and studies too much interfered with this main business; and though at first I was very far from an unbiassed mind, being blindly and obstinately prejudiced against those doctrines which I now believe to be the true gospel of Jesus Christ; yet in that space, I have read the Bible many times over, in every part with the strictest attention of which I have been capable. There are very few passages which relate to doctrine, that I have not repeatedly and diligently examined, comparing one with another, with all the care and consideration I could; and I seldom ever ceased meditating on any portion of Scripture, until I had attained to some satisfying conclusion concerning its true meaning, and its agreement with other Scriptures. I may truly say, I have filled reams of paper with religious discussions, with sermons, expositions and let

ters; in all which I ransacked the Bible to bring as much Scriptural evidence for my direction as possible. For these last two years I have scarcely opened a book except upon religious subjects, and from morning till night, nearly every day, all this while, my thoughts incessantly have been employed in meditation upon the great truths of the gospel. Every difficulty and objection, (and difficulties and objections, both from my own meditations and in the course of my reading, continually crowded upon my mind,) sent me to the word of God, and increased my care and attention in examining and weighing every text of Scripture, respecting the point in question, before I exchanged my old opinion for a new one.

Thus, I may truly say, I have sought in the word of God, (that field in which alone this precious treasure lies hid,) "for wisdom," for the saving knowledge of divine things, "as for silver, and searched for her as for hid treasure." And though I am sensible that my knowledge is still comparatively superficial, the knowledge of a child, of a novice in the school of Christ; yet, I trust that, as far as relates to the leading truths of the gospel, according to the promise, I am brought " to understand the fear of the Lord, and have found the knowledge of God."

Permit me now, beloved reader, to put thee in remembrance, that until thou hast, with some good measure of this diligence, studied the whole word of God, thou runnest very great hazards in passing judgment upon men and doctrines. Be cautious what thou doest; let these men quite alone, until thou hast imitated the conduct of the noble Bereans, and thoroughly, and with unbiassed mind, examined and meditated upon the whole word of God, to see whether the things they believe and teach be so or not: lest otherwise it should come to pass, (as probably it will,) that, in opposing and condemning them, thou shouldst be found to fight against God. Oh! that the Lord would hear and grant my request, and by his Holy Spirit powerfully incline the hearts of all who read these sheets, according to their leisure, station in life, obligations and opportunities, thus attentively to read their Bibles; not as the word of man, but as the word of God himself, speaking from heaven unto them, and concerning the everlasting interests of their precious and immortal souls! Be the adviser what he will, despised and deserving to be despised, the advice is undoubtedly good:-advice he will have no occasion to repent having thus given, at the solemn hour of death, and the awful day of judgment; advice which, at those approaching seasons, none will repent having followed, though it should divert them from more amusing, and at this day, more reputable studies; or engross that time which they have been accustomed to devote to more pleasurable and fashionable employments; but which, neglected, will be an additional sting in every conscience through all the countless ages of eternity.

And, Oh! that they to whom the chief Shepherd hath committed the care of precious souls, and at whose hands he will assuredly require every one that perishes through their default, would take in good part this expression of the very affectionate desire of my soul, both in behalf of them and of their flocks, in dropping these hints concerning their peculiar obligations, to devote much of their time to the attentive unbiassed study of the word of God, that infinitely best, but often least studied, of all books! What avails it, that the ministers of the everlasting gospel should be learned classical scholars, profound philosophers, metaphysicians and mathematicians, expert logicians, or adorned with the knowledge of the politer sciences, if they are unacquainted, or but superficially acquainted, with the sacred Scriptures? These other branches of literature may amuse and entertain them, may procure them preferment, reputation, respect and favour; but the knowledge of the Bible alone can enable them, in such a manner, to "take heed to themselves, and to their doctrine," as shall issue in the everlasting salvation of their own souls, and the souls committed to their care. Far be it from me to presume to lay down my opinions as the standard of doctrine, or a rule for the faith and preaching of my brethren in the sacred ministry! but