swearer, the sabbath-breaker, lost his old peace and found it no more. No, poor sinners that would not submit, that would not hearken to the voice of God and conscience, that are still the same unregenerate creatures, wallowing in your own lusts, drunkenness, company-keeping, and other abominations, still aliens from God, without hope (I appeal to your own hearts) without the least hope in another world, heirs of hell, to which ye have been hastening these many years, though we should have believed you the happiest people in the whole earth, who were not for being melancholy, who have been wantoning over the mouth of the bottomless pit, like a mad man dancing upon the pinnacle of a tower, or a blind man that has lost his way, and is come to the edge of a cliff, with his foot lifted up to fall over upon the rocks that lie a thousand fathoms below. I say, you will hear no more his reproofs and persuasions by the terrors of the Lord. Ye may be at rest in your sins. Ye faithful souls, also, will hear no more his mouth explaining the gospel, and pouring in comfort upon you. Especially ye have lost, who were partakers of his private instructions. He can counsel, correct your mistakes, and give his tender advice no more. Be sensible of your loss; I too

desire to be sensible of mine.

II. How shall this loss be made your gain?

1. Be sensible you have had a prophet among you. 2. Humble yourselves in the thought, that ye have not improved under him, both the best and worst of you.

3. Plead the blood of Christ, and return under such a judgment.

4. Practice those things which ye have heard from him-Repentance towards God, and faith towards Christ, which were his support at last.

III. [Lastly I will add a few] cautions and motives [to repentance.]

1. Be not discouraged: your help standeth in God, not man. Therefore,

2. Be on your guard against sloth in prayer; and watch the first approaches of sin.

3. Do not let your love for this minister cause you to despise his successor.

4. Above all things mind the things which belong to your peace.

[The] motives to repentance through grace are— (1.) You must render an account of all you heard from this your minister.

(2.) Your time is drawing on: he warns you to follow him.

(3.) All your interests lie in the other world.

May the Lord make you all faithful, and grant you to see the salvation of God.

CHAPTER X.

PASTORAL ADVICE GIVEN BY MR. WALKER.

The wisdom and piety of his counsels.

WHAT has been already said of the character of Mr. Walker, will have naturally led to the expectation of some instances of his zeal and discretion, in confidential intercourse with those who appealed to him for pastoral advice. His scheme of private instruction has made us acquainted with the searching nature of his conversations with awakened persons, who were disposed to lay before him the state of their minds. During these interviews, he fully explained the scriptural doctrines of conviction of sin-of man's misery and helplessness-of a knowledge of Christ's sufficiency-of true faith and repentance-of the conflict between two opposite principles, grace and the remains of sin, in believers; and of a spiritual growth of the love of God in their souls. The remembrance of these interesting moments have, with both minister and people, passed into the oblivion of the grave; but there yet remain letters to his friends, containing valuable records of the discretion and piety of his secret counsels. The extracts from his correspondence, about to be given in the present chapter, will shew how well qualified he was to be the guide of such as

enjoyed the privilege of communicating with him on the momentous topics of Christian experience.

He wrote, in the following decisive terms, to a pious young man, whose religion had involved him in that great trial of Christian sincerity, parental opposition. "I am favoured with yours, and have communicated it to your good friend. We both approve the steps you have taken, and desire you to expect opposition and difficulties in the work you are about. To say the least, the various interests and views of people will make a diversity of judgments, and throw difficulties in our way. How far these may be concerned in the oppositions which meet you, is not very material, since at least no reasonable and religious motive hath been proposed, which had any ground to weigh, to the laying aside your purposes. You are most certainly to have an especial eye to salvation in every earthly transaction, much more in the general scheme of your worldly business; and in pursuit of this you are to be swayed by no destructive advice whatever. Perhaps you have not a greater trial to contend with, than the disapprobation of near and well affected relations. think the honour due to parents is not implicit and blind; it means submission to this one purpose, that children may be made the better children of God. Where therefore there is an interference herewith in parental injunctions, disobedience does not dishonour them; nay parents ought to be unattended to, even in much younger persons than one of twenty six. How far your views are religious and prudential withal, your conscience must determine for you; but be abundantly careful that whilst you judge for yourself, and differ

I

ently from your friends, you be actuated by a meek and filial disposition, shewing a more peculiar tenderness in all your expressions and carriage." After a few remarks on an affair of business, he proceeds, "I must wish you to be aware of impatience and resentment under the opposition you may meet with at this time; ; nor let the contention of others drive you to an over hastiness, to expedite that which demands much cool thought and attention. Pray let it be your nightly care to recal the workings of your heart in this view, with carnest prayer for direction and strength."

He offered this beautiful congratulation to a good man on the birth of his child :-"I certainly rejoice in all your joy, and pray that all your comforts and crosses may be sanctified to you. Your trust increases; see that your grace does also. Every child added, gives so much additional weight to the arguments of the world in the heart. There is a new idol to engage the affection, and a new care to solicit anxiety. Strive hard, my dear friend, as you do, to keep your heart unspotted from the world, and excuse the affectionate fear of one who is a friend, though he desires not to be accounted a father."

After receiving a complaint of deadness of religious frame, he wrote, "you complain of your frame. The fault is in your heart; and that not so much in the want of sensible affection (which having been much used to, and having found very pleasing to yourself, you know not how to be without) as in the unbelief, murmuring and unthankfulness that seem to have too much place in you. It is the hardest thing in the