undertaking to prove the unlawfulness of them the Christian can always reply, When I was a child I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things. He once found his pleasure in such things, and was very unwilling to be deprived of them, but since he has become a new creature, he has lost all taste and relish for them, and can now be satisfied only with divine and spiritual enjoyments.

Another circumstance worthy of observation, is the manner in which we treat the sins of others. There are some sins, which, in the opinion of some, are less injurious to society than others, such as intoxication, impurity. A Α natural man hearing of instances of these in others, not thinking or caring what view God has of these things, will either make a matter of mirth of them, or at least smile at what he hears of this nature, as if it rather amused than grieved him. Thus, with an outward conduct, correct possibly and unblamable, he betrays the wickedness and unregeneration of his heart, by smiling at that at which God frowns,

The really good man, besides possessing a quick sensibility for God's honor, is endued with a similarity of sentiment with the Deity, and can therefore take no pleasure in that which offends God, and subjects his fellow creatures to everlasting misery.

Examine, then, your ownselves brethren; prove your ownselves. Review the text and ask, are ye new creatures? If the question

no

appear strange to you-if the whole idea of the thing seem novel, or as it is to some ludicrous, you need not reply; you have manifestly not experienced the new creation. On what then do you ground your hopes of salvation? You say that you discharge your relative duties-doing as you would be done bygiving to all their due-that you are extortioner, no adulterer, no slanderer-having failings, but not worse in general than others; but all this is of no consequence in the present inquiry; therefore the question recurs, are ye new creatures? What though you are kind parents, dutiful children, faithful friends, charitable neighbors, honorable in mercantile concerns, in short, entirely correct in all social and relative duties: nay, that you wait upon God in public and private, and are regular at his house and table; of what use will it all be in the matter of your salvation, if there be not something more, if there be not a a new creation of your hearts? In Christ Jesus, says St. Paul, neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Neither is the necessity of this change to be found in the Epistles alone, of the obscurity of which some are pleased to complain who have no inclination to study them; our Savior Christ himself has set forth the same things with equal strictness, when he said to Nicodemus, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. And, Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must

be born again. And where is this change to be wrought on us except on this side the grave? Death cannot itself alter the habitual temper, nor will God exert his power on the soul which has lost the opportunities which were offered in this world! As the tree falleth, so it lieth. He that is unjust let him be unjust still; he that is filthy let him be filthy still. If a man die, not born again, let him not expect to rise a new creature from the grave.

Then be persuaded of your danger my dear brethren. Awake from delusion and turn your thoughts inward. Deceive not yourselves with supposing that morality is holiness, or that a reformation in the life is equivalent to a divine transformation of the heart. If you would follow the saints of God, you must with them enter in at the straight gate, and walk the narrow road, and experience with them, the heart renewing energies of the Holy Ghost. Let not the pleasures of this world tempt you to defer the consideration of it to another season: for it may be that on your death bed this passage shall recur, and you will then regret that you had not earlier yielded to the convictions which it must have produced. If any with reasonable alarm are inquiring what is to be done? the answer is, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; for since the new creation of the soul is the effect of our being in Christ, the first step in the way of salvation is to apply to him: and happy is it for us, that

to warrant us to expect his grace no previous merit is necessary. The way is open, the gift is free, the invitation is couched in terms of unbounded fulness. Wait not till your hearts are better, but apply at once to the Savior and you shall be created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that you should walk in them. As the scyon, engrafted on the stock receives sap from it, and then brings forth fruit, so you, by your union with Christ, shall be holy in heart and life.

There are not wanting in this assembly some who have pondered this portion of the word of God-have been actually giving themselves to seek of God the new creation of their hearts, and have in consequence become partakers of a divine nature. Let them not be discouraged if they find not such evident appearances of a change as they desire; for though the renovating energy extends universally through all the faculties, and the change is proportionate through this life, yet there will remain to the end of life much of the original corruption, which will indeed be a source of disquiet in proportion to its activity, but need not, while opposed, be an occasion of serious alarm, because the image of God thus drawn anew on the soul, shall never again be defaced: this second image restored in Christ, being superior to that lost in Adam in this respect; that whereas the former exhibited the colors

more bright and orient, this shall prove them more lasting and durable. In future days a new scene will be unfolded which will be more congenial to our renewed nature, for he that sitteth upon the throne saith, Behold, I make all things new. New employments, new thoughts, a new society-joys ever varying, and ever new shall engage the new created soul, and give new scope to its renovated powers, when this world and all that belongs to it shall have passed away.

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