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Does the unbeliever derive any argument to countenance him in this matter, from the death, and interment of the body? Then may the husbandman conclude that he has lost his grain, because he has thrown it into the furrows of his field. Then may we despair of seeing any more vegetation, when winter freezes the ground; when the trees present their leafless branches; and the fields look pale with death. Then may we say the serpents race is extinct, for each individual is frozen like a stick. If we need revelation to settle our minds with respect to the soul, and its immortality, the world of nature cries out of the possibility and probability, of the doctrine.

But if the sinner do not dispute the existence of a soul, he is still in an error relative to the state of it, relative to his own moral character. His iniquities are bound up; his sin is hidden. His justification of himself may be set down for condemnation. Should he say, that he is no liar; he might be told that a denial of Jesus as the Christ constitutes a man a liar of the first stamp. Should he plead that he is no thief; he might be asked whether he has not robbed God? Should he contend, that he is no murderer; it might be replied, that he is, if he hates any brother in Adam's family. Should he boast, that he is not an adulterer, he might be inquired of, whether he has made a covenant with his eyes? Should he plead, in a word, a general conformity to the law; its spirituality might be shown him; and he might be notified, that the first commandment requires all the heart to be given to God; and, that the second is like it, requiring us to love others as we love ourselves.

Can any one bring the state of society under observation, and account for its disorders, without admitting sin to be the great operating evil? Can any one look at his own heart, and say, that God made man such as he now finds himself? As well might the traveller, peeping through the openings in the lava, that covers Herculaneum; maintain, that the city was always covered with its present crust! Moral ruins are more widely spread through the world than those which are natural. Every country exhibits them; every town; every family; every person; every day; every ac

tion; every thought. No language was ever yet employed too strong to describe sin.

The sinner is farther in an error, with regard to his idea of faith. Instead of the first place, it has the last place, or rather no place in his estimation. To believe is the whole work which we have to do, if we can depend upon him, from whom we received the law of heaven. The way to know the worth of faith, is to watch its motions, and trace its work. The faith that does not move, that does not work cannot be undervalued; but the faith of that is genuine, is of more worth than can be told. If the assent of the understanding, be faith, surely there are better things than faith. But if faith brings God into view, and eternity; shews man how much he has to hope, and to fear; if it regulates the heart, governs the tongue, and orders the life, then is it to the heart what the lungs are to the body.

The sinner is in an error, in not giving credit to the scriptures, as divine communications. Their history is the candle of the Lord; and the only light that shines on antiquity. Their doctrines are such as eclipse all that was ever taught in the schools of human wisdom. The prophecies which they contain, are many of them, astonishingly clear, and particular. The law which runs through the whole is holy; and just, and good. The miracles are well attested, and must have been wrought by power infinite. Time would fail even to name the evidences, upon which the claim of the scriptures to a divine origin is founded.

It ought never to be forgotten, that the scriptures have produced wonderful alterations in persons, of different grades; characters; and tempers. By their influence David was brought out of the obscurity where he had handled the crook, and the pipe of the shepherd, and qualified to sit upon a throne; and to tune the harp in praise of Israel's God. By their influence Saul of Tarsus was divested of his furious passions; stripped of the pride which much learning had rendered excessive; and his lofty looks were humbled at the sight of the cross. By their influence fishermen of Galilee became deeply versed in divine things; and could communicate their ideas in languages which they never studied. By their influence on the mind worldly

treasures have, in numberless instances, lost their value; and have been accounted vile as dross, and dung. How erroneous must he be who denies that divine power by which such mighty effects have been produced! But the error of the sinner cannot be traced through all its windings and variations.

Secondly, The sinner must be converted. If the picture now drawn is, so far as it goes, in any measure just; this is as certain as any unavoidable inference from premises laid down. At any rate, the doctrine of conversion runs as the life blood of the scriptures. It is not said, except you leave off lying; swearing; cheating; stealing; but except you be converted, and become as little children; you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. External reformation, though essentially necessary, is not sufficient of itself; nor of any consequence in the business of salvation, without conversion.

Who can think, that the person needs not to be converted, whose every sentiment is erroneous? The understanding must be set right. Those objects which present themselves under false colors, must be brought up in their true light. The disorder of the heart however, being the cause of the misconceptions of the mind, the heart must experience a thorough change. When a person believes, it is with the heart. When the heart goes after God, there is no want of evidence relative to his being, and perfections. Man's immortal existence is clearly proved, when the heart says let it be so; and every doctrine is made plain, where the heart has ceased its opposition.

The conversion of the sinner is the work of that God who is the maker of us all. He who hung the sun in the firmament, to give light to the natural, world, must bring man out of his native darkness, or he will have no light. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. To create is the prerogative of God.

It has been thought that science would so meliorate the heart, as to answer man's purposes. But facts refute this theory. The Greeks and Romans tried this polish. Yet they were a rough and barbarous people; voracious as wolves, and cruel as the fell tiger. Who but a savage cau

find amusement in beholding the bloody arena; or clap his hands when he sees the vanquished die! Had there been less science in France, or had the existing quantum been more equally diffused, the guillotine might have been an edge tool never known among the people; and the sucking boat might have never been employed to carry cargoes of men to the bottom of the sea!

Lamentable have been the effects of science on manners, and morals; that is of science falsely so called. This proud Usurper has laid nations under contribution; and boasting of new discoveries, and holding forth a new, and undefinable vocabulary, under pretence of vindicating the rights of man, has turned every right into a wrong.

As books of human origin cannot give right principles to the heart, so neither will a speculative acquaintance with the scriptures accomplish the purpose. The scribes and the pharisees sit in Moses seat; All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but do ye not after their works, for they say and do not. A person may embrace the error of the sinner, and yet speak in some things the language of the saint; just as the parrot may be instructed to talk about things of which he has no understanding.

It appears then, that man requires not only to be altered but to be wholly renewed. Are the sills of your house rotten; is the foundation giving way; do the clap-boards hang by one end; are the windows broken to pieces; can you count the stars through the roof; is the chimney falling down; in a word, does the light zephyr make the building tremble; and will you think of repairing it! Will you not rather say, rase it, rase it; and let me not be buried under its ruins!

Thirdly. Though man must be converted, and though God must convert him; yet there is ample room for the employment of human instruments, and means. God is the author of nature, and of all its operations. Still the sun shines, and the rain descends, to bring forward vegetation; and according to the ordination of heaven, they are essential to its existence, The earth is suited to various harvests, but the husbandman must plow; sow; and reap. God nour

ishes and brings us up as children. He however supplies us with parents, so needful to our helpless years. An order of men was appointed to officiate among the Jews, as priests, though God was the actual teacher. So also when the dispensation of the gospel commenced Jesus himself baptised not, but his disciples; and though he taught much, he commissioned men to continue the work, and to spread the tidings of salvation. Paul speaks not in assuming language when he mentions his fellow laborers.

All that appears of religion in the ordinances of public worship, and in the service of those who wait at the altar, would be without a meaning, had instruments, and means, no place in the work of God. Those who have risen above ordinances, and the labors of the public teacher; and depend upon impulses, and immediate suggestions of the Spirit, may be called upon for their warrant to justify the course which they pursue.

It is granted, that there is no efficacy in man. But was there any healing quality in the waters of Jordan's stream? Was the multitude fed upon the substance inherent in the five barley loaves, and the two small fishes? The fragments of the entertainment, made a much greater quantity. Does not clay appear calculated rather to put out a man's eyes, than to restore a blind man to sight? When the man of God stretches himself upon the dead child, what connexion is there between that action and returning life? Even the staff of the prophet in the hand of Gehazi, might have brought back the departed spirit, had such been the appointed method of heaven. Is there death in the pot; it is enough to cry, circumstances being favorable, Then bring meal.

When our reasoning is coincident with facts, and founded upon them, or upon commands, it is always fair and conclusive. If men by divine assistance have wrought miracles, though there is no causality in them, there is instrumentality, and consequently use for them. If Paul had any spiritual children, and Timothy he calls by name as one, he surely had an under agency in the work of conversion.

Fourthly. Whoever is an instrument of converting another shall save a soul from death. Mark well the lan

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