that is, as I am under such daily variety of providences! your kindly acceptance of this, will make me a debtor for that.

The dedication hereof belongs to you on a double account; for as it had not been preached, but that love to your souls caused it; so it had much less been printed, but that your importunate desire procured it: and, therefore, what reception soever it meets with in the world, yet I hope I may expect you will welcome it, especially considering it was born under your roof, and therefore hopes to find favour in your eyes, and room in your hearts.

Accept it, I beseech you, as a public acknowl edgment of the engagements which your great,, and, I think I may say, unparalleled expressions of regard have laid me under, which I can no way compensate but by my prayers; and if you will take them for satisfaction, I do promise to be your remembrancer at the throne of grace, whilst I am MATTHEW MEAD.

READER,

TO THE READER.

'I KNOW how customary it is for men to ascend the public stage, with premised apologies for the weakness and unworthiness of their labours, which is an argument that their desires, (either for the sake of others profit, or their own credit, or both,) are stretched beyond the bounds of their abilities; and that they covet to commend themselves to the world's censure, in a better dress than common infirmity will allow: For my own part, I may truly say with Gideon, "Behold, my thousand is the meanest," my talent is the smallest, "and I am the least in my Father's house;" and therefore this appearance in publick is not the fruit of my own choice, which would rather have been on some other subject, wherein I stand in some sense indebted to the world; or else in somewhat more digested, and possibly better fitted for common acceptation; but this is but to consult the interest of a man's own name, which in matters of this concern, is no better than a "sowing to the flesh," and the harvest of such a seed's-time will be "in corruption."-(Gal. vi. 8.)

Thou hast here one of the saddest considerations imaginable presented to thee, and that is, "How far it is possible a man may go in a pro

fession of religion, and yet, after all, fall short of salvation; how far he may run, and yet not so run as to obtain." This, I say, is sad, but not so sad as true; for our Lord doth plainly attest: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

My design herein is, that the formal, sleepy professor may be awakened, and the close hyp bcrite discovered; but my fear is, that weak believers may be hereby discouraged; for as it is hard to shew how low a child of God may fall into sin, and yet have true grace, but that the sinner will be apt thereupon to presume; so it is hard to shew how high an hypocrite may rise in a profession, and yet have no grace, but that the believer will be apt there upon to despond. The prevention whereof I have carefully endeavoured, by shewing, that though a man may go thus far, and yet be but almost a Christian; yet a man may full short of this, and be a true Christian notwithstanding. Judge not, therefore, thy state by any one character thou findest laid down of a false professor; but read the whole, and then make a judgment: For I have cared, as not to "give" children's bread to dogs," so not to use the dog's whip to scare the children; yet this book would not have been composed, but with a view to such only as it chiefly concerns, those who have a name to live, and yet are dead;" being busy with the form of godliness, but stran gers to the power of it. These are the proper

subjects of this treatise: And the Lord follow it with his blessing wherever it comes, that it may be an awakening word to all such, and especially to that generation of profligate professors with which this age abounds; who if they keep to their church, bow the knee, talk out a few prayers, and at a good time receive the sacrament, think they do enough for heaven, and hereupon judge their condition safe, and their salvation sure; though there be a hell of sin in their hearts, "and the poison of asps is under their lips;" their minds being as yet carnal and unconverted, and their conversations filthy and unsanctified. If eternal life be of so easy attainment, and to be had at so cheap a rate, why did our Lord tell us, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it?" And why should the apostle perplex us with such a needless injunction, "To give diligence to make our calling and election sure?” tainly, therefore, it is no such easy thing to be saved, as many make it; and that thou wilt see plainly in the following discourse: I have been somewhat short in the application of it; and therefore let me here be thy remembrancer in five important duties.

Cer

First, "Take heed of resting in a form of godliness" as if a round of duties could confer grace: a lifeless formality is advanced to a very high esteem in the world, as a kab of dove's dung was sold in the famine of Samaria at a very dear rate.-(2 Kings vi, 25.) Alas! the