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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

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that he has by no means done all that is commanded; and that if he had he would be but "an unprofitable servant.' Happy the disciple who falls but "seven times a day!" But though he offended less frequently, whence comes it that he at all offends?-from the power of sin yet lingering even in the sanctified chambers of his heart; yet belonging to his nature, and, though kept under by grace, ready at any unwatchful hour to recover its dark dominion over his soul. When the disciple of Jesus Christ, feelingly sensible of this fact, looks forward, from the bed of death, to the unseen world from which but a few gasps of breath detains him, his whole soul is filled, even to trembling, with an overpowering conviction of his awful holiness, his unchangeable justice, who fills the heaven of heavens with the majesty of his presence. From this prospect he naturally turns his thoughts inward upon his own condition: how is he prepared-what fitness discovers he in himself to meet face to face that most Holy One, "who is too pure to behold iniquity?"

He is fully

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