Heaven in all its

happy than his lot! brightness is laid open to his view, his feet are placed upon the path which leads directly thither, and a guide, may I not say a companion, attends upon his steps, immeasurably more powerful, more kind, than ministering angels-even God himself, who will come and make his abode with him. Pause, and admire this wonderful, this heavenly change. If this is not to be born again, the expression is unmeaning, for a greater difference could not possibly exist between Lazarus, a dead and putrifying corpse, and Lazarus recalled to life and glorifying his Saviour; scarcely a greater between our entombed and our glorified bodies; than between fleshly unregenerated man, and man quickened, renewed, sanctified, by the in-dwelling spirit of the Lord. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit."

I need scarcely here exhort those who have heard me thus far to make the better choice between these different conditions: your own wishes at least, if not your fixed

resolutions, must have turned towards the more excellent way. Neither can it be necessary to recommend a careful searching of your own spirits; nor the continuing constant in prayer; nor the faithful attendance upon all Christian worship. You must be fully aware that thus only can you expect so great a change to be wrought in you. I will rather warn you against two mistakes which are not unfrequently made; both perhaps equally dishonourable to the gospel, and dangerous to the souls of men.

Do not, on the one hand, sit down inactive, in the expectation that the Holy Spirit will descend upon you and renew your hearts, without exertion on your own part, in a manner to be immediately felt and recognized: "The wind bloweth where it listeth; ye hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh nor whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the spirit." Its effects upon man's heart, in the ordinary course of divine providence, are gradual and silent; better and more truly discovered by improved subjection to

the whole will of God, than by any inward feeling. Of this too be assured, that at the period of baptism, every Christian receives the Holy Ghost; at that time he is born again of water and of the spirit, insomuch as the spirit is given by promise for each person in future to profit withal. It may, by after negligence, or sinful opposition, be more or less quenched; but it has been given, and until finally taken away, as a judgment upon hardened impenitence, it is there, upon the repentance of the sinner, to burn brighter and higher in proportion to the means which he takes

to cherish it.

On the other hand, beware of supposing that, because at baptism, you were born again unto righteousness, you have safely gained that blessed condition which I have mentioned. The spirit was given you to profit withal: have you profited? Examine well your own hearts: which have there the chief power, covetousness, lust, pride, anger, spiritual indolence; or love, holiness to the Lord, meekness, gentleness,

and hungering after righteousness? If these latter "be in you and abound," they testify the presence of Christ's spirit. But if you are satisfied with the advance already made in them, it is certain evidence that you are yet carnal. Strive, therefore, to "make your calling and election sure.”

SERMON VII.

NO JUSTIFICATION BUT BY CHRIST.

ROMANS, iv. 5.

To him that worketh not but believeth in him. that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness.

WHEN the spirit of the Father has drawn a man to the gospel of his Son Jesus, has renewed his heart, and, making his abode there, has gradually purified it from carnal corruptions, he does not at any time so completely purge away infirmity and unholiness as to render the Christian fit, by his own innocence and worthiness, to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. The scriptures teach--the faithful Christian knows by experience, and confesses without reluctance