are fignified all the Difobedient and Impenitent, who would not believe, and obey the Gospel.

Thus from the Beginning of the World to the End of it, there are only two Sorts of People.

After Chrift (the promised Meffiah) came into the World, and his Gofpel was preached! they who were convinced by it, and believed on the Holy Jefus, and accepted of him as their Saviour and Prince, were called Believers.

By this Title they were denoted in Ats v. 14. Where it is faid, and Believers were the more added to the Lord, Multitudes both of Men and Women.

Thus alfo in 1 Tim. iv. 12. where the Apoftle fays to him, Be thou an Example of the Believers.

And the Believers were called Chriftians, first at Antioch. (A&ts xi. 26.) and from that Time they who profeffed the Gofpel were denominated by the fame Name. But it must be said that not all, who call themselves Chriftians are fuch in Truth.

They who live in wilful Difobedience to the Rules of his Gospel are not Chrift's Difciples indeed.

The Apostle James fays, Even fo Faith, if it bath not Works, is dead; (James ii. 17.) that is, it is as useless as a Body without Life.

No Sorts of wilful Sinners are ferious Chriftians; Know ye not that the Unrighteous fhall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor Abufers of themselves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners fhall inherit the Kingdom of God. (1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.) Therefore none of those forts of People are to be reckoned serious Chriftians,

But that we may better understand, who are truly Religious or fincere Chriftians, to whom the Predictions of Bleffings do belong, Bleffings intended

intended for their Happiness, Comfort and Joy; I fhall confider fome of the Characters by which they are defcribed, or diftinguished from others in the Holy Scriptures; and likewife fome of the Bleffings promised to them.

Thefe Things I propofe to give an Account of, not in the Words, which Man's Wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghoft 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 Gospel; although they, who do fo, call themselves Chriftians.

Can I with Reason 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 uses, nor understands the Language of the Gospel, thofe Words which the Holy Ghoft teacheth?

It is a bold Undertaking in any Person 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 bim the Plagues that are written in this Book. And if any Man fhall take away from the Words of the Book of this Prophefy, God fhall 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. xxx. 5, 6. it is faid, Every Word of God is pure, he is a Shield unto them that put their Trust in him: Add thou not unto his Words, left be reprove thee and thou be found a Liar.

In Deut. iv. 2. it is written, Yefhall 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 muft not use any others; for the Use of other Words is very needful in preaching the Gofpel, 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 use 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, Syllabies 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 Ghoft teacheth.

If what I have faid concerning the Words of the Holy Ghost, 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 Disuse 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 Apostle 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 Christ, as appears from the Context; and for the fame Reasons we are to believe all Things that are written concerning Chrift by the Apostles 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 should be a Man; that is, that he should 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, his 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 should 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 Jesus himself fays, No Man bath afcended up to Heaven, but he that

came