d obligations are mutual. It is in
society as in the human body. There are many members, and every member
has its proper place, and its proper office. Let every soul be subject
to the higher powers [Rom. xiii. 1.].
I have thus given you my best advice respecting what you ought to do,
or to avoid. Permit me to invite your serious attention to what I have
written. Consider it carefully FOR YOUR OWN SAKES. It concerns your
PRESENT comfort. For though no works of ours, or what are called, moral
virtues, can possibly procure us the favour of God, (for our best
services are imperfect and defiled, and need forgiveness) yet that
knowledge and experience of the gospel, which I have explained
to you in the first part of this Address, (and of which I earnestly
pray you may be made partakers) must be accompanied by a correspondent
conduct, such as I have set before you in the second part. And
this knowledge and this conduct will always be attended, though not
always in the same degree, with an inward settled peace, whereby the
mind is reconciled to support crosses and afflictions, however great,
or of long continuance, with a degree of fortitude and resignation.
Persons under this influence will say, when they meet with troubles,
I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned
against him [Micah. vii. 9.]. Should it please God, to answer the earnest
desire of my soul, by giving you an experience of the gospel peace, you
will thank and praise him, even for bringing you hither; and you will see
and confess, that your heaviest afflictions have, in the event, proved to
be your greatest mercies.
Your FUTURE comfort and welfare in this world, depends upon this
knowledge. For though no one knows what may befal him in this life, yet
the real christian has the comfort of knowing, that however it may go
with the wicked, or whatever may happen to himself of a temporal
nature, or whatever may become of his body, he is sure (because God
has promised) that it shall be well with his soul at death. Ah! my
brethren, then, more especially then, believers will find the advantage
of having made the word of God the foundation of their hope, and the
rule of their life!
Several of you, some to my knowledge, have left affectionate, tender,
and serious friends, husbands, wives, parents, brothers, sisters, or
children, in your native country, to lament your misconduct, the
sufferings you have brought upon yourselves, and the disgrace in
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