DISCOURSE X. 281 described, and does thus hesrtily commit his soul to Christ, shall in no wise be east out, and can never miscarry; but by repeated exercises of this faith, and humble watchfulness in walking with God, he shall grow rich in experience, and shall learn to say with triumph, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able, &c. H. We may infer from this discourse, the value of a solid and regular knowledge of the personof Christ, and his gospel : It lays a good foundation for our first faith, and afterwards for its growth to a steady assurance. When we well know whom we havebelieved, we believe with a firmer confidence,and withbold- ness we commit our infinite concerns into the hands of a person of whose ability and faithfulness weare well persuaded ; at first, by a distinct knowledge of his gospel, and afterwards by an ex- perimental acquaintance with hispower and grace. Our hope in his salvation is hereby better established, and our hearts grow fearless. Such a hope is an anchor that loses not its hold in the wildest storms, and makes the vessel ride in safety. What is the reasonof the perpetual doubts and desponden- cies of some christians, that have made a long profession of the gospel? Whence is itthat they are alarmed at every turn, and tremble, as though all were lost ? Howcomes it to pass, that these hurries of mind should return so often, and almost overwhelm some pious souls, that walk watchfully and humbly with God t Is it not because their faith has been too muchbuilt upon sudden and warm affections, without so solid aground of regular know- ledge ? When persons of a weaker mind have felt a strong and divine impression from some particular scripture, or from some bright sentence in a sermon, which hath displayedthe grace and salvation of Christ, they have made this inward sensation the groundof their hope ; they have fed still upon this cordial, and lived upon this support. And whensoever these warm impres- sions return, they trust in Christ afresh, and rejoice sensibly in his salvation : But they can hardly give a rational accountwhat their faith is, or why they believe; and when these extraordinary supplies fail them, they sink, and tremble, and die. I confess, ifthis faith changetheir natures, purify their hearts from the love of sin, and make them walk in holiness, far be it from me to suspect the truth of it. But this I must say, that such souls are in danger of perpetual disquietudes, ready to be shaken by everywind, and exposed to every gloomy temptation : When tfia Rashes of light are gone, they are all darkness and terror, becausethey cannot render a reason of thehope that was in them, from a distinct acquaintance with the person in whom they had fixed their hope, or from his rich ability to save. It is not a piece of wisdom in natural things, to trust a man With affairs of importance before we know him; or if we do,
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