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to be the grand distinction between a standing and a falling church.

Yet we should also observe, that "the truth" itself may be "held in unrighteousness:" and they who receive this doctrine into a proud and carnal heart, by a dead faith, awfully deceive themselves, and quiet their consciences in an impenitent unjustified state; and likewise bring a reproach upon the truth, and fatally prejudice the minds of men against it, of which they will have a dreadful account to give at the last day. For did all, whọ profess, and argue for this "doctrine of GOD our

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Saviour," adorn it by such a conduct, as it is suited to produce; Pharisees, sceptics, and infidels, would be deprived of their best weapons, and must fight against the gospel at a vast disadvantage. May the LORD give us all that "faith "which worketh by love," that " by works our "faith may be made perfect;" as the grafted tree is in its most perfect state, when every branch is loaded with valuable fruit.'

'Gal. v. 6. James ii. 17—26.

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On Regeneration.

HEN the apostle had reminded the Ephesians, that "they were saved by grace, through "faith;" he added, "and that not of yourselves; "it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man "should boast."" Hence we learn, that faith itself, the sole recipient of all the blessings of salvation, is the effect of a divine influence upon the soul; that all real good works are the effect of a new creation; and that it is the Lord's express design, by these means effectually to exclude boasting, “that no flesh should glory in his pre"sence." This gracious operation of a divine power in changing the heart is represented in Scripture under several metaphors, of which Regeneration, (or being "born again," "born of God," and "born of the Spirit,") is the most frequent and remarkable; and the present Essay will be appropriated to the discussion of this interesting subject.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a Scribe, and a member of the Jewish sanhedrim, came to our Lord by Eph. ii. 8-10.

night: for, notwithstanding his conviction that Jesus was a Teacher sent from God, he was probably afraid or ashamed of being known to consult him, concerning the doctrine that he came to inculcate. The state of his mind accorded to the darkness which prevailed at the season of this interview; and he seems to have expected some instructions coincident with the traditions of the Pharisees, and their ideas of religion and of the Messiah's kingdom, which they supposed to consist in external forms and advantages. But our Lord, with a two-fold most solemn asseveration, used by none besides himself, and by him only on the most important occasions, abruptly assured him, that "Except a man were born again, he "could not see the kingdom of God;" or discern its real nature and excellency. And, when Nicodemus expressed his astonishment at this assertion, in language aptly illustrating the apostle's meaning, where he says "The things of the spirit of God

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are foolishness to the natural man ;"" our Lord answered with the same solemnity, that "Except a man were born of water and of the Spirit, he "could not enter into the kingdom of God." Water had been used in divers ways, as an external emblem of internal purification; and the use of it was to be continued, in the ordinance of baptism, under the new dispensation: it was therefore proper to mention it as the outward sign of that

1 Cor. ii. 14.

change, which could only be effected by the power of the Holy Spirit.-Our Lord next showed the indispensable necessity of this new birth. "That

"which is born of the flesh," or derived by natural generation from fallen Adam, "is flesh," or carnal in its propensities and inclinations: "and "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," or spiritual, holy, and heavenly, like its divine author. He then told Nicodemus not to wonder at his declaration, that even Jews, Pharisees, and Scribes, "must be born again ;" and he illustrated the subject by the wind, the precise cause of which, in all its variations, cannot easily be ascertained, nor its emotions and energy altered or abated; but which is very manifest in its powerful effects. And when Nicodemus still enquired "how "these things could be?" he in return expressed his surprise, that a teacher of Israel should be at a loss upon such a subject, and concluded by representing this part of his instructions as "earthly "things," when compared with the deep mysteries of his Person and Redemption, which he afterwards declared to him as "heavenly things." For this change takes place on earth continually, even as often as sinners are turned from their evil ways, and become truly pious and holy persons; it may very aptly be illustrated by the most common concerns of life: it lies as level to our capacities, (if our minds were unprejudiced,) as almost

'Rom. viii. 1-16.

any of the works of God with which we are surrounded and the necessity of it may be proved by as cogent and conclusive arguments, as any thing of a worldly nature can be.-The question then is 'What did our Lord mean by being born again, or born of the Spirit? To this I shall en, deavour to give a plain and particular answer; subjoining a compendious review of the argu ments, by which the necessity of regeneration hath been often proved; and concluding with some observations and inferences of a practical nature and tendency.

It hardly need be said, that the ordinance of baptism, however administered, is not "regene "ration by the Spirit." They who resolve all that is said in Scripture on this head, into the ob, servance of an external rite, must suppose, that none can enter Christ's church on earth, or his kingdom in heaven, or even understand the real nature of them, unless they have been baptized with water, whatever be their character or the cause of the omission: nay they must likewise consider all baptized persons as truly illuminated, real Christians, and heirs of heaven; for all who are born of God are his children and heirs. doubt, baptism is (as circumcision was,) the outward sign of regeneration: but they, who are satisfied with the outward sign without the inward and spiritual grace, should return to school or to the nursery, and learn over again a part of their

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