the waters here did, many being added to it daily. The grace of the Spirit, where it is true, is growing.

And, from the prophet's following the stream, and frequently fording it, we may learn in like manner, that it is good for us to keep close to the waters of the fanctuary, to attend the gofpel, and observe its progrefs and fuccefs; to be often searching into the things of God, and not take up with the furface, but endeavour, as far as we can, to go to the bottom.

Some things are plain and easy to be underftood, as the waters that were but to the ancles others require a deeper fearch, more pains and study to be intimately acquainted with them: as the waters to the knees or loins: but there are fome quite beyond our reach, not to be fathomed or comprehended; which therefore we are to believe and humbly adore. In the fcriptures, like as in these waters, there are fome places fuch as a lamb may wade through; tho' there are others fo deep that an elephant may fwim in them.

3. We may obferve, that these waters not only grew deep, but ran and spread far, verse 8. Thefe waters ifue out towards the east country, and до down into the defart, and go into the fea. This was in part accomplished when the gospel was preached with fuccefs, throughout all the regions of Judea and Samaria, Acts viii. 1. and more fully fince the joyful founds going forth through all the earth, and reaching the ends of the world.

· 4. We may obferve the different effect of thefe waters, as they are duly received, and have a free courfe, or are otherwife received.

1. Where they come, and are duly received, they heal, verfes 8, 9. which being brought forth into the fea, i. e. the dead fea of Sodom, the waters fhall be healed, become fweet, useful and wholfome; and every thing hall live, whitherfoever the rivers fhall come.

There is what anfwers to these waters in the gofpel, and the grace that goes along with it. Such as are dead in trefpaffes and fins, are made alive by it, and of children of wrath, become the children of God. This is the great and happy change produced, where the gofpel comes in its power, and obtains its end: dead finners are quickened, and living fouls made more lively, fruitful and flourishing.

2. But the places, or perfons, that will not rightly receive, and fo be healed by the waters of the fanctuary, but remain unchanged, are left under the most awful doom. This we have fet before us in the words of the text, But the miry places thereof, and the marishes thereof, fhall not be healed, they shall be given to falt.

By the miry places and marishes, understand finners remaining unchanged under the gospel, refufing to be healed by the waters of the fanctuary; the means fent to that end; thofe that are fo fettled in the mire of fin, that they will not be healed, and think they have no need of healing.

That which makes a miry place, is the ftop the water meets with, its not having a free

paffage,

paffage, and mixing with the earth on which it lies: Upon which accounts, obftinate finners under the gospel, are fitly compared to fuch places, as the truths they hear are stopt and not fuffered to have a free courfe; as notwithstanding these, they retain their corruption, and under all their calls and helps to holiness, continue workers of iniquity. Where it is thus, the more plentiful the means of grace are that are vouchfafed, and yet abused, the more vile they grow; like as miry places, that have much water poured upon them, become only the more fo. And this being their cafe, it is faid, they fhall not be healed. The waters of the fanctuary that prove healing to others, fhall not be fo to them They fhall not be washed and cleanfed, quickned and cured: But fhall be given to falt, that is, bear no fruit, no more than ground fown. with falt, which is the fame with being doomed to perpetual barrennefs, (Deut. xxix. 23.) and to be set up as a monument to feafon and inftruct others.

In the words we may take notice,

1. Of the finners fpoken of, fuch as continue unchanged and barren under the gofpel, as miry places and marifhes, however washed, remain fuch Still.

2. The doom they are liable to, viz. to have it faid concerning them, They fhall not be healed, but be given to falt, i. e. to remain unfruitful for ever.

Doct. Such as continue in fin, and obftinate and

unfruitful under the gospel, may provoke God

to

to give them up to the fearful judgment, not to be healed, but to remain unfruitful for ever. He may fay, Let him that is filthy, be filthy ftill They are barren, notwithstanding all the methods and means used to work a cure; henceforth, never fruit grow on them more. Here the things I fhall confider are,

I. That the gospel has not the fame healing savfaving effect on all where it comes.

II. The great fin of those who continue unchanged and fruitless under it.

III. The dreadfulness of the judgment for God to fay of any, They fhall not be healed, but be left to perpetual barrenness.

IV. The steps by which he ufually proceeds to this.

V. The Ufe to be made of these.

I. The gospel has not the fame healing effect on all where it comes.

The waters of the fanctuary, upon fome grounds fpread the face of paradife, making them fruitful and flourishing: Others remain miry and marshy, barren and fruitlefs ftill, as unpleafant and unprofitable as ever. Under the miniftration of the fame word, fome are faved, others perish. To fome, through the power of divine grace, it proves the favour of life unto life: To others, from the prevalency of their own

cor

ruption, the favour of death unto death, 2 Cor. ii. 16. Some, like the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, bring forth herbs meet for him by whom they are dreffed, and fo receive bleffing from him: Others bear no

I

thing

thing but thorns and briars, and fo are rejected, and nigh unto curfing, whofe end is to be burned, Heb. vi. 7, 8.

It is too fadly evident to need any proof, that the gospel has not the fame healing faving effect on all where it comes. Nay, on the contrary, what reafon is there to take up the prophet's complaint, and say, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Many that are advanced to heaven in respect of external advantages and means of grace, are likely after all to come fhort, and fink the lower into the place of torment; and may dread this, as they continue dark in the midst of light, dead under the means of life, enemies to God when he beseeches them to be reconciled, and in love with the present world, though he calls to unconceivably higher enjoyments in another.

It is fuppofed the gofpel may be hid, and multitudes loft to whom it is preached, because so many shut their eyes, and harden their hearts against it, and continue doing fo, till their day is over, and their opportunities loft, no more to be recalled for ever. And with what seriousness should every one of us put the queftion as we go along, Am not I of that number? Has the gospel come unto me, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much affurance, and effectually wrought to the turning me from vain idols to the living and true God? Thef. i. 5.

Thus is does in all that are faved: But O, to how many does it prove an empty found, and who remain the fame perfons that they were

before