converfion and perfuafion which the fcriptures of the New Teftament declare to be the only effectual means; fo long as they have recourfe to human reafon and human learning ALONE, in which they will always find opponents very powerful. The Lord opened the heart of Lydia *, and then the attended to the things which were spoken of Paul. The Lord opens the HEARTS of all men at fome period of their lives; but the vanity of the world, the cares of gain, the pride of life, but them again, and reject the Holy Ghoft. It is the bufinefs of divines to difpofe those who are thus unfortunate and unwife, to be ready to receive the divine gueft, fhould he again knock at the door of their hearts; but in doing this, they must preach the true gospel, which is not a fyftem of mere morality or philofophy, but the sublime doctrine of grace+.

SECTION V.

The true and only convincing Evidence of the Religion of Chrift, or the Illumination of the Holy Ghost, is offered to ALL. Hiflorical Evidence and Argumentation adapted to few.

ROM the eternal Fountain of light, both natural

Hand fpiritual, there ftreams a light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world. Whoever loves that which is good, and just, and true, and defires to act a virtuous part in the place al

* Acts, xvi. 14.

It must be taught mediatè per verbum, IMMEDIATè per SPIRITUM.-Mediately by the Word; immediately by the Spirit.

lotted

lotted to him in this world, whether high or low, may be affured of the blessing of heaven, difplaying itfelf not perhaps in worldly riches or honours, but in fomething infinitely more valuable-a SECRET INFLUENCE upon his heart and understanding, to direct his conduct, to improve his nature, and to lead him, though in the lowly vale, yet along the path of peace.

.

The nature of all men was depraved by the fall of Adam. The affistance of God's Holy Spirit was withdrawn. Chrift came to restore that nature, and to bring down that affiftance, and leave it as a GIFT to all mankind at his departure *.

In Adam ALL die, fays St. Paul, but in Chrift fhall all be made alive. That is, in Adam all die a fpiritual death, or lofe the Paraclete, and the particle of the divine nature, which was bestowed. on man on his creation; and in Chrift all are made alive, spiritually alive, or rendered capable (if they do not voluntarily choofe darkness rather than light) of the divine illumination of the Holy Ghoft. The film is taken from the eyes of ALL; but let us remember that the eye lids remain, which may be CLOSED by voluntary connivance, or by wicked prefumption.

"I will pour out my SPIRIT upon ALL flesh†.” "The grace which bringeth falvation hath ap"peared unto ALL men.' "This is the light "which lighteth every man that cometh into the

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It does not appear (fays Bishop Clayton) either in the Old or New Teftament, that the LOGOs had any power over the Holy Spirit till after his Afcenfion. "When all power was given unto him, "both in heaven and earth." Matthew, xxviii. 18, 19. "The "Spirit was not yet given, because Jefus was not yet glorified." John, vii. 39. But the Holy Ghoft undoubtedly operated under God's direction, from the beginning.

↑ Joel, ii. 28.

"world."

"world."- "It is his will, that ALL men should "be faved, and come to the knowledge of the "truth."-" Chrift came to fave finners;" (and all men, both Jews and Gentiles, are under fin.)- "Come unto me ALL ye that labour "and are heavy laden."- "He has propitiated "for the fins of the WHOLE world. His grace has been openly offered to ALL men in the "gospel *."

Thefe paffagès, which no fophiftry can elude, are fufficient to prove that the internal EVIDENCE of the gofpel has a great advantage over the external, in the circumftance of its univerfality. All may be convinced by it who are willing t. But can this be faid of dry, logical, fyftematic teftimonies, which require learning, fagacity, and time, to be comprehended? Such teftimonies are fit for few, and appear unlikely to produce vital religion in any. They ferve men to talk about, they furnifh occafion for a war of words ; but they leave the heart unaffected. Neither Jefus Chrift nor his apoftles thought proper to address men systematically. And are critics, linguifts, and logicians wifer than the Author of their religion, and better informed than his apoftles?

The word of God is like a two-edged fword, invincible where it is properly used; but the word of man is comparatively a feeble weapon, without point or edge. The word of man alone, though adorned with all eloquence, learning, and logical

1 Tim. ii. 4. 1 Tim. i. 15. Rom. iii. 1 John, ii. 2. Tit. ii. 2.

9. Matth. ii. 28.

+ Η μεν γαρ χαρις εις ΠΑΝΤΑΣ εκκεχυται. CHRYSOSTO Joan. Hom. For grace indeed is poured out upon ALL.

in

"DISPUTATION," fays Bishop Taylor, " cures no vice, but kindles a great many; and though men efteem it learning, yet "it is the most useless learning in the world."

fubtilty,

fubtilty, will never diffeminate the true gofpel, or ftop the progress of unbelief. The word of God, righty explained, fo as to adminifter grace to the hearers and readers, will ftill preferve and extend Christianity, as it has hitherto done, notwithstanding all the oppofition of the world, and thofe unfeeling children of it, whofe hearts are hardened and understandings darkened by the pride of life. If, therefore, as St. James advifes, any of you lack WISDOM, let him afk of God, that giveth To ALL men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. The wisdom here meant is not worldly prudence, or oftentatious philosophy, but that which maketh wife unto falvation; and certainly cannot be found in the cold didactic writings of those who rely entirely on their own reafon, and deny or explain,away the doctrine of grace.

:

Grace is the living gofpel. Perishable paper, pens, ink, and printer's types, can never fuperfede the daily, hourly operation of the omnifcient and omnipotent Creator and Preferver of the universe.

Let us remember, " that to EVERY MAN is "given the manifeftation of the Spirit to profit "withal *;" but that to every man are by no means given genius and learning, or faculties to understand the proofs of Chriftianity, published by mathematicians, by logicians, and by deeply learned fpeculatifts in ethics and metaphyfics.

Mr. Paine, in his attack on Christianity, fums up all his objections at the clofe. The first and greatest is this, and I give it in his own words, though it is contrary to my practice, and opinion of propriety, often to cite the cavils of unbelievers; "The idea or belief of a word of God existing in "FRINT, or in WRITING, or in SPEECH, is incon

ith itself, for reafons already assigned. fons, among many others, are the univerfal language; the mutability of the errors to which translations are the poffibility of totally fuppreffing uch a word; the probability of altering it, or "of fabricating the whole, and impofing it upon "the world."

Now these objections cannot poffibly be made to the evidence of the Spirit of God, the manifeftation of the Spirit given to every man; because the Spirit fpeaks an univerfal language, addreffing itself to the feelings of the heart, which are nearly the fame in all countries, whatever founds are uttered by the tongue; because its language (thus spoken to the heart) is not subject to the mutability of human dialects; because it is far removed from the poffi·bility of misreprefentation by tranflators; because it cannot be totally fuppreffed; because it cannot be altered; becaufe it cannot be fabricated or imposed on the world; becaufe it is an EMANATION from the God of truth, the fame yesterday, to-day, and for ever. This evidence fheds its light all over the Christian world, and is feen, like the sun in the heavens, by all who use their vifual powers, unobstructed by felf-raifed clouds of anger, envy, pride, prejudice, vitious morals, and falfe philo fophy *

No man can be convinced, well and wifely, of the holy, bleffed, and undivided Trinity; but he that FEELS the mightiness of the FATHER begetting him to a new life, the wisdom of the Son building him up in a most holy faith, and the love of the Spirit of God making him to become like unto God. Bishop TAYLOR.