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fectionately and earnestly intreat you, also, to watch for me, for yourselves, and for one another.

I fellowship you all,

In the bonds of love,

Peace, and good will,

ELIJAH BAILEY.

SERMON.

THE following is the substance of a Sermon delivered at one of our Annual Conferences, held at Manlius, in the year of our Lord A. D. 1822. By the author of the foregoing work. Reing requested to pen and exhibit to the public view, some of the leading principles of that discourse, I hereby comply with their requests by collecting together some of the leading views which I had on that subject at that time, and which I endeav ored to exhibit from the following Text.

The Acts of the Apostles 3d Chapter and the 19, 20 and 21st verses which are as follows:

"Repent ye, therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the, times of refreshing shall come from the presence of he Lord.

"And he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preachert unto you. "Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began."

THIS subject unquestionably must be considered as one of the most weighty and sublime subjects which is contained in the sacred oracles of God, as it was delivered on one of the most important occasions, and contains many of the most weighty points of man's redemption; and almost all things necessary for us to know concerning salvation. Consequently, it cannot be expected that every point in the text, will be delineated in its full length; and possibly, some points which may be considered to be contained in it, may be omitted and left untouched. All I intend from this subject is, to give some leading views of some of the most important and weighty points which are the most immediately connected with our present and eternal salvation. And by reviewing the subject, I can discover no particular

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advantage in dividing, or subdividing the subject; conseqently shall take notice of the most obvious points, contained in the subject, as they most naturally present themselves to our view.

The first thing we shall take notice of is the doctrine of repentance. This doctrine is as frequently inculcated and taught in the most plain and pathetic manner, as any point in the Scriptures of truth. And although it cannot be termed meritorious in its nature, yet it may be considered absolutely necessary to man's salvation Therefore to exhibit right views on the doctrine and importance of repentance, is one of those points which may be considered momentous and weighty to preachers and people.

Repentance implies a wrong done by us, or those to whom this command is enjoined, and if it implies a wrong, it is evident there must be a retraction of that wrong, so far, as it is in our power to repair the injury done by us.

Secondly, in order for us to exercise rational repentance, there must be a conviction in the understanding, of the wrongs aud the evils which we have done, and not only a willingness to forsake the evil and choose the good but a full determination to carry those desires into effect, to the utmost of our power.

But should we vainly imagine that sin and iniquity will finally terminate in the highest good, that is, for God's greatest glory and our highest happiness, and salvation, then in this case, there can be no ground for rational repentance, for whatever will ultimately produce the highest good, must be esteemed by the rational mind good and valuable, so far as it is calculated to produce that excellent end and object. But should it be contended, that sin has been the procuring cause of the greatest good; I answer, this we may term a plea in favor of sin, rather than an argument against it, and to show the fallacy of this argument, we shall take notice of a few passages of Scripture, which some have supposed may be advance in support of the idea, that sin is the procuring cause of the highest good.

The first passage we shall notice, is found in Paul's epistle to the Romans, chap. 5, verse 20, and 21. "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound, but when sin abounded, grace did much more abound; that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteous. ness, unto eternal life by Jesus Christ." Our Lord remarks, first I think it will appear to the rational and candid observe: that in this passage the apostle has given no countenance to sin; neither has he informed us that sin was in any sense the procuring cause of these inestimable blessings, viz. grace and eternal life; but quite to the reverse. For the apostle has informed us that grace hath reigned through righteousness

by Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore we may safely conclude that sin was in no sense the first, second or in any sense the procuring cause of eternal life, or happiness. The next passage we shall notice, is found in Romans, 6, 17. "But God be

thanked, that ye were the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart, that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

When we take a cautious survey of this subject, viewing the text, in the light of the context, we may plainly discover, that it was not sin, which the apostle thanked God, not for their obedience to sin, but it seems he wished to inform his brethren, that he was truly thankful toGod,that whereas,they were once strangers to God, and holiness, that now they had become obedient to those divine and holy precepts, which were delivered to them in the Gospel of Christ. And I think the most learned Divines will acknowledge that the word, Whereas, might be inserted in the Text without deviating from the sense of the original, and then the text would read as follows, "But God be thanked, that Whereas, ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." This seems to be the sense which the apostle wished to exhibit to his brethren through this chapter, which was to rivet the most rational convictions on the mind, of the evil nature of sin, and its most fatal consequences; and to inflame their hearts with divine love and gratitude, to the Father, and son, who had made such rich displays of grace towards them, in bringing them to the knowledge of the truth by the gospel, and saving them from that state of wretchedness and misery, in which they were involved, and continually exposed to.

The next passage we shall take notice of, on this subject is, found recorded in saint Luke, the 7th, beginning at the 37th verse, I shall transcribe this passage at full length, that we may have a more full and perfect view of the subject; for there is no one passage in the sacred scriptures which can be quoted, which would seem to favor the idea that sin is the procuring cause of the greatest good, than the one now under consideration ; The passage is as follows:

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And, behold a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she saw that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.

"And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

"Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him, saw it, he

spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner

"And Jesus answering, said unto him Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, master say on.

"There was a certain creditor which had two debtors; the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

“And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

"Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he torgave most. And he said unto him, thou hast rightly judged. "And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

"Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet

"My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."

Remark first-We frankly acknowledge we are indebted to God, according to the riches of his grace displayed towards us; and by the same rule, if God has frankly forgiven a debt of five hundred pence, we owe to God a greater debt of love, and gratitude, than we should have done, if he had forgiven us but fifty. And if our hearts are rightly exercised by grace, we surely shall love God with a greater fervour, for this display of his goodness towards us, in forgiving us this great debt.

And for First-It

Notwithstanding, when we take a survey of God's universal goodness, we may discover that sin is not the procuring cause of good; nor the foundation of our love to God; neither will it terminate in our highest felicity and happiness. these assertions, I shall offer two particular reasons. is by grace we are preserved from sin, every moment; and to illustrate this idea, let me ask the candid christian, whether he would not esteem it a greater act of divine grace, for God to preserve him in the sweet enjoyment of love and grace to his dying moment, than he would if he should fall into sin, and live in that wretched state till his last moments, and then receive a pardon for his crimes? I think the candid christian will not be at a loss one moment, on this question, but will frankly acknowledge himself the most indebted to God, for his divine

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