until the mind has past from death unto life;— nor, can there be the smallest advance in a conformity of the will, and of the affections to the image of God, while there is wanting in the soul, the very root of holiness. Faith is a purifying grace, but faith is only found in the heart "created anew in Christ Jesus." There must necessarily be the spiritual renewal of the whole man, before the soul can pass into an adopted, justified, and sanctified state. Reader, ponder seriously this solemn truth. It may probably aid us in arriving at a clearer and more accurate knowledge of the true nature of Regeneration, or the new birth, if we briefly look at the subject first, in a negative point of view.

Let it then be observed,-Regeneration is not an act of grace conferred upon an individual in the external rite or ordinance of baptism. An error so untenable on scriptural grounds, and so fatal to the spiritual interests of the soul, we could scarcely believe would find an advocate professing to be taught of the Spirit, in this gospelillumined age. And yet, from the pulpit, and from the press, both professing to be the guardians of evangelical truth, this doctrine is zealously propagated; and thousands receive it as a divinely revealed truth, and live and die in the fatal delusion. O, did every professed minister of Christ

E

but study the third chapter of John's Gospel, with earnest prayer for the teaching of the Spirit, before he attempted to expound to others the way of salvation, how soon would the heresy of baptismal regeneration be exploded from our pulpits, and be banished from the land. Let us endeavour to pour the light of divine truth upon this dark and fatal error.

We observe that, the application of water in any mode, as a sacramental rite, is utterly impotent in the production of this mighty change in man. It cannot impart spiritual life to a soul "dead in trespasses and in sins." The following are some of the strong and emphatic expressions, which the Word of God employs in describing the new birth. "Born again,' "Born of the Spirit," "Quickened by the Spirit,"

وو

وو

anew in Christ Jesus,' "Made alive,'

وو

"Created

creature." Now that, the external application of water, even as a sacred rite, could effect the great change implied in these phrases, is, to a spiritual and reflecting mind, utterly incredulous.

To regard the ordinance of baptism as a vehicle by which the Spirit of God operates on the heart, is equally unscriptural and dangerous. As a means of grace, it cannot be relied upon. If regeneration has not transpired in the soul before the act of baptism, we are no where in the Scriptures of

truth, authorised to believe that mere submission to the external ceremony confers spiritual life upon the subject. Both the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, are to be considered, as far as they relate to the receiver, but as mere sources of spiritual nourishment and comfort to the grace already implanted in the soul, through the omnipotent and effectual operation of the Spirit of God. The one, may more properly be regarded as a witness to the grace that is there,—the other, as a divinely instituted source of nourishment to that grace. If it were not so-if this setting aside the two ordinances of Christ's church as causes of spiritual life, were not scriptural and proper, then, it must follow that, all who have submitted to these external institutions, were actually regenerated; and so, in reference to the departure into eternity of the avowed unbeliever, on the ground that, baptismal regeneration be true, death was to him the birth-day of a glorious immortality! If this be not a most awful inference, properly and legitimately drawn from the error we have stated, we know not what is. The advocate of baptismal regeneration cannot evade it. It is a fair, legitimate, and logical conclusion deduced from his own premises. If all those who have ever been baptized were, in the act, made the subjects of renewing grace, then, thousands

are now shut up in the regions of hopeless despair, who ought not to be there. They were baptized, and yet they lived in open rebellion against God, and died, as the record of many testifies, with the "terrors of the Lord" already in their consciences. And, if baptism is a rite essential to salvation, it must follow that, vast numbers are now in glory, who, never having submitted to that institution, are admitted there on other grounds than the mere observance of an external ceremony. We cite from among many, the case of the thief upon the cross, as illustrating our idea. There is no record of his having received Christian baptism, either in the early part of his life, for he was a pagan, or at the period of his death. And yet, here is presented to us the wondrous spectacle of a heathen malefactor, passing from spiritual death unto spiritual life at the very extremity of his ignominious existence; and, without having washed in the laver of baptism, going from the cross, to receive a kingdom and a crown. If water baptism be essential to salvation, let the advocate of the doctrine explain to us the nature and the cause of this remarkable conversion, and this triumphant death.

Reader, your baptism, whether received in infancy or in riper years, will avail you nothing, if you are not a new creature. You may be bap

tized, and yet be lost;-you may not be baptized, and yet be saved. "In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision (and the same is true of baptism) availeth anything, but a new creature." Your baptism infused into you no principle of life, it conferred upon you no saving grace. You must be born again of the Spiritbe washed in the blood of Christ, and be clothed in his righteousness, before you can enter the kingdom of grace on earth, or be admitted within the kingdom of glory in heaven.

Again,-An outward reformation of habit constitutes not the spiritual change under investigation. The influence of education-early moral instruction-attendance upon an evangelical ministry, combined with the moral restraints of society, will go far in effecting an outward reformation of human character. There may be much unfolding itself, bearing a strong resemblance to the sweet flower of divine grace,―gentleness,— kindness,-amiability,-there may be the heart that pours forth its deep sympathies over the picture of human suffering,—the tear that falls upon the pallid cheek of sickness,—the arm that is nerved to shield the oppressed, -the hand that is extended to relieve the widow and the fatherless, and yet " repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" (the spring of all true