“How comfortably might Christians go through life did they walk with God in their daily business and occupations, carefully observing the leadings of Providence, cautiously avoiding either running before or lagging behind; but in all things making their requests known to God; at all times committing their way to him, being careful about nothing, but to use with diligence the means of grace, and also the means of acquiring the good things of life, leaving the issues of both to God, in the full assurance that what is good the Lord will give.  ’Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.’  In spirituals and in temporals, ’the hand of the diligent maketh rich.’  Be ’not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.’

“Lord, teach me thy law graciously, in all its perfection, its extent, order, beauty, and harmony, and grant me all the assistance provided to enable a lost, depraved, corrupted child of Adam, to set out in thy good ways, to go forward, and to finish in the same course; and all the consolation, joy, and peace which thou hast provided to be enjoyed in a measure even here, and to be perfected in the world to come.  Amen.

“’O Israel, return unto the Lord, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.’  Hos. 14.  Yes, fallen, O how fallen from God the only good, the fountain of happiness.  Lost his image, which was the glory of man in paradise.  Lost that sweet complacency and delight in his perfections and attributes which innocence enjoyed.  Lost rectitude of reason and judgment.  No longer can we judge of excellence, no longer love what God loves.  Our wills no longer straight with his will, but crooked, opposing God, and choosing evil instead of good.  ’O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.’  Amen, says my soul, in thee is my help.”

“NEW YORK, October 3, 1793.

“’One shall say, I am the Lord’s, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.’  Isaiah 44:5.

“I, as one, subscribe to the truth of all that God has said:  I, as one, subscribe my assent to all he has done.  I set my amen to his well-ordered covenant, well-ordered in all things, and sure.  And this is the covenant, even Christ, the sum and substance, for he hath given him to be a covenant of the people.  The whole and every part of it is God’s covenant.  To me it must be a testament, the new testament in Christ’s blood.  To me it must be a covenant of gifts and promises.  I can be no party, having nothing to give; nothing with which to covenant.  He hath said, ’Thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.’  Amen.  Be my help, my deliverer.

“’Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be saved; for I am God, and there is none else.’  I do look unto thee alone for salvation.  Thou art God; there is none else:  besides thee there is no Saviour.