"This is a judicious performance, it rightly divides the word "of truth, and lays the line, with a masterly hand, between "the presumptuous Legalist, and the licentious Antinomian.” This excellent man died May 1716, aged 74. During his life-time, he published a sermon in the morning exercise, on 1 Tim. iv. 16. in answer to the question, By what Means may Ministers best win Souls to Christ, 1682; afterwards, Thirteen Sermons on the Throne of Grace, Heb. iv. 16.; and Sixteen Sermons on the Lord's Prayer, John xvii. 24.; after his death was published a volume, entitled, Stedfast Adherence to the Profession of our Faith, from Heb. x. 23. This is prefaced and recommended by the Rev. Messrs. Tong, Nisbet, and Clarke, eminent ministers in London. In 1778 and 1779, was published another volume, transcribed from Mr Traill's MSS. eleven of these are from 1 Pet. i. 1-4. and six on Gal. ii. 21. He also wrote a short account of the Rev. William Guthrie, author of a small but excellent tract, The Trial of a Saving Interest in Christ; and a recommendation of Marshall on Sanctification. As a number of Mr Traill's writings have been so long before the public, and have met with the universal approbation of the judicious and serious, it will be unnecessary to say much in their recommendation. They breathe that spirit of piety for which the author was so distinguished. The subjects of which they treat are intimately connected with the Christian life here, in prospect of future glory; while they exhibit the supernatural doctrines and privileges of the gospel to faith; they are improved for the excitement of believers to duty, to conformity to Jesus, for their establishment in grace and abundant comfort in the world. Matter so solid, evangelical, and heavenly, treated in a manner so practical and savoury, is fit for edifying every class of Christians, and cannot fail to be acceptable to all who have a relish for the things of the Spirit of God. They are indeed void of superfluous and gaudy ornaments. The reader of modern taste will not find in them that laboured elegance, or pomp of words, the artificial structure of sentences, or the dry reasoning, the affected declamation, or the vehement pathos of address, which may be met with in so many works on religious topics, written at a more late period. But those who have some higher end in view in reading, than to amuse themselves with words, or the trifling gratification of a refined taste, will find precious truths, conveyed in a manner more becoming the simplicity of the gospel, and more adapted to general instruction. Of all the qualities requisite in discourses from the pulpit, or for the use of people at large, plainness of language, and perspicuity of manner, are among the principal and most needful these characters are apparent in every part of these discourses. Considering the time in which they were composed, they are remarkably free of any thing, either in style or method, that might make them appear intricate, obscure, or offensive to Christian readers, even in this present refined age. The ministers of the New Testament, as the apostles were, are debtors both to the Greek and to the Barbarian, to the learned and unlearned; and are bound, no less than they were, to use great plainness of speech, without employing veils of any kind to conceal the revealed mystery and glory of the gospel,that so light might be imparted to the understanding, and the truth at the same time brought home to the hearts and consciences of men. Thus did this faithful confessor and labourer in the vineyard of the Lord;-whose printed works, since his death, have been useful to many, and through a more extensive circulation, by the divine blessing, may still edify many more. The relations of Mr Traill, in Scotland, still possess several volumes of his notes; it is also supposed, there may be in London some MSS. sermons of this excellent author in the libraries of the religious. It would be highly gratifying, were these sought out, and delivered to those, who would actively engage in their publication. It is intended to publish a vo lume of these, if encouragement be given. WHAT is in this book offered to your reading, was, some years since, preached, in the ordinary course of my ministry, on a week-day, with no more thought (that is, none at all) of printing it, than I had of publishing this way any thing I have preached these seven and twenty years, wherein I have been exercised in the ministry of the word, save one single sermon extorted from me about fourteen years ago *. The publishing of such plain discourses, is singly owing to the importunity of some of the hearers, and to the assistance they gave me, by getting what I spake transcribed from two short-hand writers: without which I could not have published it; my own notes being only little scraps of heads of doctrine, and scriptures confirming them. In the same way I had brought to me what I spake from Heb. x. 23, 24. and have it lying by me ; which may also see the light, if the Lord will that I livet: and if this be accepted of such whose testimony I only value; I mean such as are sound in the faith, and exercised in the life of faith. I know no true religion but Christianity; no true Christianity but the doctrine of Christ; of his divine person, (the image of the invisible God, Col. i. 15.); of his divine office, (the Mediator betwixt God and men, 1 Tim. ii. 5.); of his divine righteousness, (he is the Lord our Righteousness, Jer. xxiii. 6.; which name is also called upon his church, chap. xxxiii. 16.); and of his divine Spirit, (which all that are his receive, Rom. viii. 9.) I know no true ministers of Christ, but such as make it their business, in their calling, to commend Jesus Christ, in his saving fulness of grace and glory, to the faith and love of men; no true This sermon is inserted in this volume, immediately after the sermons on the Throne of Grace. †These sermons were published after the author's death. The book is intitled, A Stedfast Adherence to the Profession of our Faith. B Christian, but one united to Christ by faith, and abiding in him by faith and love, unto the glorifying of the name of Jesus Christ, in the beauties of gospelholiness. Ministers and Christians of this spirit, have for many years been my brethren and companions, and, I hope, shall ever be, whithersoever the hand of God shall lead me. Through the Lord's mercy to me, (as to many in London), I have often heard what is far more worthy of the press, than any thing I can publish. I have not been negligent in desiring such able ministers of the New Testament, to let their light shine this way; but have little prevailed. It may be this mean essay may provoke them more to that good work. Whatever you may think of my way of managing this subject, (and indeed there is nothing in that, either as designed or expected by me, or that in itself deserveth any great regard); yet the theme itself, all must judge, who have spiritual senses, is of great im portance, and always seasonable. It is concerning the throne of God's saving grace, reared up in Jesus Christ, and revealed unto men in the gospel; with the application all should make to that throne, the great blessings to be reaped by that application, and mens great need of those blessings. This greatest of subjects is meanly, but honestly, handled in the same order in which it was preached, and mostly in the same words. Some few passages out of history are inserted, which were not spoken. May the Lord of the harvest, who ministered this seed to the sower, make it bread to the eater, and accompany it with his blessing on some that are called to inherit a blessing, and I have my end and desire; the reader shall have the benefit; and the Lord the glory; for of him, and through bim, and to him, are all things. to whom be glory for ever. Amen.. LONDON, March 25, 1696. S ROBERT TRAILL. SERMONS CONCERNING THE THRONE OF GRACE. SERMON I. HEBREWS iv. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace, to help in time of need. THE main drift of the blessed apostle, the Holy Ghost's penman, in this excellent epistle, is to set forth the pre-eminence of our Lord Jesus Christ, first, in his divine person, far above all angels, who are bid worship him, even when dwelling in man's nature. If the god-head of our Lord Jesus Christ be hid from the readers of this epistle, it must be a special power of the God of this world on their unbelieving minds, 2 Cor. iv. 8, 4. Will blinded men forbear to call the Son God, when the Father speaks so? chap. i. 8. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. Then the apostle speaks of his incarnation, chap. ii. 11, &c. And therewith speaks of his priesthood, chap. iii. The apostle compares Christ with, and prefers him above Moses, chap. ii.; then above Aaron as a priest, chap. vii.; and compares him with Melchizedec, an eminent type of Christ. By this epistle we may know what Paul's reasonings with the Jews were, Acts ix. 22. and xvii. 2, 3. and what is the right way of dealing with the Jews at B |