lefs, for this reason, genuine prayer, in the fcriptures, is called groanings; not merely the folitary figh, but, as the meaning of the word is, the ftrong, deep and unutterable complaint of the foul, as that of the death groan.

The blood of Abel is joined exprefsly with the blood of Zecharias, as being thed both in one cafe, Matth. xxiii. 35. which fupports this fenfe of the crying of the blood of Abel; for when Zechariah, being stoned, was expiring, he faid, Look, Lord, and require it.— And it may be concluded, that from the dying cry of Abel, and the Lord's appearing to make inquifition for his blood in answer to it, the glorious truth was firft proved and fhown, that Jehovah is a prayer hearing God.

In the days of Enos, began men to call upon the name of the Lord.-The war between the feed of the ferpent, and the feed of the woman grew hot; and the aspects of thefe oppofite principles appeared daily more and more irreconcilable, and exciting to the bloody conflict. It was fometime in the days of Enos, that the Lamech of Cain flourished.The elect of God found themselves killed all the day long, and accounted as Sheep for the Laughter; therefore, as they ever have done in like circumftances, they now resorted in good earnest to their only legitimate and all-conquering weapons, faith, patience and prayer.

Section 6. Men of Renown.

The ferpent having proved the ill-fuccefs of this outward and uncovered mode of warfare; and, at length, perceiving the peculiar nature of the elect establishment, more wifely conceived of the deeper measure of feduce ment; and which he adopted, by all the enticements of the flesh, the alurements of the eyes, and the indulgent charms, or heroic paflions of the pride of life.

Therefore, his blood-ftained weapons are laid aside-his every motion becomes conciliatory, and a profpect is now given of happy times. The daughters of men came forth, brilliant, in foft apparel, and ornaments of gold, with their lydian fongs and city addrefs, and fmiling with the airs and arts of pleafures. The fons of God, unwarily, fell into the fnare-they faw that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chofe.

The fruit of this union, of the form of god. linefs, with the civil establishment, (for more than the form of godlinefs can never be thus united) for a while was grand. The chil dren of this marriage became mighty men, which were of old, men of renown. But fi nally, this union produced the most fatal disorders-it erafed the impreffions and retraints of the civil character, made by the

hand of God, from the mind, and from the face of fociety; and, consequently, the earth was filled with violence.

This ever has been, and ever must be, the fruit of fuch an union; for the form of godlinefs, being of another nature, in union with the civil character, must complicate and mar it, and fo reduce its ftrength, like clay or droís mingled with the metals-which tendency, the experience of the world has shown; and that the more fimply the civil or any other inftitution is preferved, it will be the more effectual. This adulterating and corrupting tendency, therefore, in fuch a state, by degrees, muft weaken the civil compact, and finally, deftroy its influence. And the form of godlinefs, not being able to support itself, being the form only without the power, brittle and weak as drofs and miry clay, falls a dead weight upon the finking empire.

So that even this deep policy of fatan, avails him but for a fhort time; though fo defperate is his caufe, that he has recourfe to it over and over again, whilft, in the issue, it never fails to divide his own dominions, and bring nation upon nation, and kingdom upon kingdom, and even to divide the house and kingdom against itself,

Section 7. Enoch Prophefying. By the joining together of what God hath put afunder, things the moft oppofite in prin

ciple, and uncongenial in operation-by the mixing, adulterating, and fo corrupting of both the divine and civil establishments; pro ducing, as the natural fruit of fuch a com merce, men of renown-men seeking renown--all for being head men-for dividing and fubjugating, or warring upon alland at the fame time, opening wide the door for the exercise of this unbounded ambition, by obliterating the bond of civil fociety.Thefe things, I fay, taking place, what more evident figns could be fhown in the earth, of the approach of a general convulfion?

Wherefore Enoch alfo, the feventh from A dam, prophefied of thefe, faying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his faints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard fpeeches, which ungodly finners have spoken against him.

The ground bringing forth briars and thorns was an early indication of the judg ment of God, founded in the elect eftablifhment; and the added curfe, or new evil and delinquency of the earth, that Cain experienced after the death of Abel, together with the wounding and crippling felt and confefsed by Lamech, fhewed plainly, that the natural powers were weakening, and the hea venly powers were prevailing; but what was now taking place on every fide, proved that the foundations of the earth were fhaken, and were all out of course, and that nature awaited a fearful doom.

Enoch prophefied of thefe-the world, at this time, had convincing proof of the truth of his prophecy before their eyes; infomuch that he needed only to point to the popular and renowned characters of the age, in order to fhew it, faying, Behold, the Lord cometh!

The tranflation of Enoch, which followed, was the most folemn and weighty atteftation to the truth of his prophecy-it proved palpably, that there was another world; between which, and that world of the ungodly, there was an oppofition; and whofe powers were most active and wonderful; and which, with authority, could reach the earth, and protect its friends and confeffors; and therefore, doubtlefs, could execute the threatened judgment upon all ungodly men.

Section 8. Righteousness preached. Pilate hearing the word of truth, perfectly fpoken, faid, What is truth? and turned away directly from the fubject. What is righte cufnefs? is the fame question, often asked, but how rarely confidered! For, being of a nature hard to be believed, it is a question hard to be understood; yet, what is more unquestionable than the fact of the existence of an elect world, which is feen to refult neceffarily from the divine principle? which truth has been exhibited in every age; and with convincing evidence, that it is a kingdom of immortal ftrength and glory; and