2d Conclusion, That for the success of all means, and the effecting this happy change of the new Birth, our reliance must be on GOD, and him alone.

We must make the best use we can, of all outward helps and advantages, but we must not trust to these: 'Tis Gon alone that can give a principle of new life; (concerning which I have spoken very fully in the beginning of this discourse); and therefore we should take care to fix all our hope on him. Grace is the gift of GOD, as well as glory; and should be sought for and esteemed as a gift, in what way soever it may be bestowed. If any means had been sufficient of themselves, to work such a change in men, it must have been the preaching and miracles of JESUS CHRIST, when he was here upon earth: and yet we find, those that allowed him to speak as never man spake; and were sensible that he proved his words, by sth works as never man did, notwithstanding such convictions, turned away and forsook him. But afterwards, when God sent his Spirit to work upon the hearts of men, in and with the preaching of the gospel, we read of thousands converted at a time. Yea, those very administrations, which men of wit and learning have scorned and derided, have yet by the mighty power of God, produced such effects as the wisest and greatest might be glad

to own.

To sum up all therefore in a little; we are taught to pray, Turn us, O Lord! and then we shall be turned, for thou art the Lord our God. And the more I Lam. v. 21. am convinced, that this change is of God; the

more earnestly, and importunately, should I cry unto him that performeth all things for me.

I

Here, reader! stay a while; review the heads of what thou hast been reading; and say, if thou can'st, that this doctrine of the new Birth is a doctrine not to be understood. am very sensible indeed, that after all my care to explain it, in the most orderly and affecting manner I could; yet if the good Spirit of GOD is not pleased to give thee a discerning mind, and

*

if he does not open thine eyes to see the evidence and importance of what has been suggested to thee, it will be of very little service. But if God does graciously concur with these endeavours, he can render them as useful to thee, as they have been to some others: And however inconsiderable they may seem in themselves, this will stamp a value upon them.

"Thus may it please thee, O Father of lights! to enlighten "those that sit in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of "death: Give them the knowledge of salvation, for the remis"sion of their sins, and so let the day spring from on high vis"it their souls. One ray from thee, blessed GOD! would make "day in the most benighted breast. Be thou, therefore, the "teacher of those that are yet ignorant of thee, and of their 66 way to thee; and bring them out of their natural and sinful "darkness, into thy marvellous light."

CHAP. II.

Wherein it is proved, that to be Born again is necessary to Salvation.

I HAD thought, after the explaining of this change

which our SAVIOUR calls our being born again, to have added next the means of attaining it: But when I considered, how little agreeable what is advanced would be to the taste of the present age; and that, in preaching on this subject, I had met with a very cold reception, from such as I was particularly desirous to have made some good impressions upon; it then appeared highly requisite, immediately to prove the importance and necessity of this doctrine of the new birth.

And could I now speak with a voice that should reach the whole world, I would proclaim it,..........." That whatever na❝tion men are of, or whatever party they belong to, and what

ever

their figure or characters may be here on earth, Excel "they be born again, they shall not see the kingdom of God.' It is at thy peril, man! whoever thou art, that hearest or readest these words, if thou darest to shew s disgust, or even a disregard to them. This text stands in thy Bible, as with a hand pointing to it; and a double seal, [verily, verily,] set upon it; that declares it one of the unalterable edicts of heaven. Let the profaneness of the world, or the vain religion of the world suggest what they will, if thou art not born again, thou art not in a state of salvation.

Our SAVIOUR'S words are very positive, and they are very plain too.

Seeing and enjoying God, seeing and entering into his kingdom, are in scripture language the same thing. And the kingdom of God, you know, is frequently to be understood of the Gospel state, or the kingdom of grace; and also of the heavenly state, or the kingdom of glory. So that the full meaning of our Lord's assertion must be this ;.........Except a man be born again, he cannot be accounted a true christian in this world,...... nor be admitted into the society of the blessed spirits above.

These things, I shall set myself distinctly to prove. O that I might hope for such success in this attempt, as that none, who read or hear what I have to say, might deceive themselves with a false name, or a false hope; that is, calling themselves Christians, or expecting the happiness of such, whilst they are strangers to this new Birth.

I. I shall establish the truth of this assertion,....... That no man can be a real christian, except he be thus changed and renewed. For,

1. Without this, there cannot be an accepting of JESUS CHRIST, as our teacher and instuctor.

'Tis mockery to call him our master or leader, if we are not willing to be taught by him. And 'tis in vain that we profess to receive some things from him, if we do not subscribe to the whole of his instructions and revelations. Now then, consider it,....our SAVIOUR insists upon this as the first thing to be learnt and understood by Nicodemus, when he addressed him as a teacher come from God. It is a matter of such importance, in our professing christianity, to be born again, that 'tis necessary to prepare us for the reception of all the other doctrines of the gospel. If the natural pride, sensuality, and hardness of our hearts be not removed, we shall never be brought to a right understanding of the method of salvation by a Redeemer; nor to a due submission to the disposals of providence; nor indeed to any regular submission to the Father of Spirits, so as to have a just and prevailing sense of our obligations to him. However, therefore, men may compliment CHRIST, by calling him MasTER and LORD; or rather think to do honour to themselves, by professing to be his followers and disciples: yet in truth and reality they reject him, when they disregard a doctrine that he has made the leading and principal one in his religion. What is this, but in effect to make void the whole gospel; and to weaken the force of every other doctrine, so as to hinder its proper influence upon us?

To this, undoubtedly to this, is owing the unsuccessfulness of preaching, in a great measure at this day. Though the other doctrines of the gospel may be set in the clearest light; though holiness, in its several branches, may be pressed with great warmth and seriousness, and with those arguments that one would think irresistible; yet we find, that the knowledge of men, and their strongest convictions, in many cases serve ́only to condemn, not to sanctify or reform them. How many are there, who can readily rehearse the several articles of their Creed; and are convinced, it is their duty to observe God's commandments; who, for all this, live, and act just as men would do, that believed and acknowledged no such things? Whereas if men were thoroughly instructed concerning the ne- cessity of their being born again; and were taught to conceive

aright of a principle of new life being derived from above; and would be persuaded, in the first and chief place, to seek for the renewing converting influences of the blessed SPIRIT; all other matters both of faith and practice, would then become intelligible, affecting, and easy: And the whole scheme of Christianity would appear a quite different thing, to what 'tis generally esteemed. But without this, we cannot be said to receive CHRIST as our Prophet and Teacher: and therefore in vain call ourselves by his name, or to pretend to be his disciples.

2. Except a man be born again, he cannot be interested in the death of Christ, as making atonement and satisfaction for him.

II.

We are told, that for this end CHRIST both died and rose again.......that he might be a PATTERN to us of dying to sin, and being made alive unto God: Rom. vi. ro, Or according to another way of expression, that our old man might be crucified with him; and that we might be raised with him to walk in newness of life. But now this design of our SAVIOUR'S death is lost, if we be not in such a sense conformed to him.

Rom. vi. 4. &

6. compared.

Yea, if we consider his death as a PROPITIATION for sin, it will be unavailable to our souls, except we are thus renewed. According to that common distinction, CHRIST died to save us from our sins, not in them. And his death, without us, will not avail us, if there be not also this work of the SPIRIT within us. 'Tis not enough, that satisfaction is made for sin; if we are not also delivered by almighty grace from the reigning power of it. What would it signify to a condemned criminal, to have a pardon procured for him, if at the same time he was sick of a mortal distemper? Except his disease be healed, as well as the sentence of death taken away, 'tis in vain to promise him life. So, notwithstanding the purchase of pardon by JESUS CHRIST, if the distemper of which we are a-dying be not also removed, we are undone for ever. Let the value of a Re