conviction which exists in the mind, while the heart remains unsubdued, is properly called believing the word so far as it goes, I shall not dispute about terms, but shall at the same time insist, that it is not such believing as to denominate any person a believer. But, 2. P. insists that faith in Christ is something more than believing the divine testimony, that it is the soul's actual coming to Christ; now if so, though the word should be allowed to be instrumental in the renewal of the mind, yet that renewal must precede believing, or the soul's application to the SaviourSo that granting him all he can desire, it will not prove that regeneration follows upon believing in his sense of the word.

The great question between us is this, WHETHER THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS THE PROPER AND EFFICIENT CAUSE OF A SINNER'S BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST; OR WHETHER IT BE OWING TO HIS HOLY INFLUENCE, AND THAT ALONE, THAT ONE SINNER BELIEVES IN CHRIST RATHER THAN ANOTHER? If this were but allowed, we should be contented. If the first beginning of God's work upon the mind is by the word, let it but be granted that it is by the agency of the Holy Spirit, causing that word to be embraced by one person so as it is not by another, and so to become effectual, and we are satisfied. is but granted, it will amount to the same thing as that which we mean by regeneration preceding our coming to Christ, since the cause always precedes the effect.

If this

But if I rightly understand P. he leaves out the agency of the Holy Spirit in the act itself of believing, maintaining that the Spirit is not given till after we have believed. (22.) If there is any divine agency in the matter, it can be only a sort of grace which is given to men in common; and this can be no reason why any man believes rather than another, it is the man himself after all who is the proper cause of his own believing. It is owing to himself, it seems that the good work is begun, and then God promises to carry it on to the day of Jesus Christ.

I cannot but think this sentiment highly derogatory to the honour of the Holy Spirit, and contrary to the tenor of the sacred scriptures. In proof of this, let the following observations be duly considered.

I. The scriptures not only represent salvation as being through faith, but they ascribe faith itself to the operation of the Spirit of God-Those who come to Christ are described as having first heard and learned of the Father, and as being drawn by him; nor can any man come to him except it be given him of the Father. Nor can this learning be applied to the mere outward ministry of the word, for all who are thus taught of God do not come to Christ. Faith, as well as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, and goodness, is a fruit of the Spirit. We believe, according to the working of his mighty power; a power equal to that which raised our Lord from the dead. Faith is expressly said to be of the operation of God. We are not only saved by grace, through faith, but even THAT is not of ourselves, IT IS THE

GIFT OF GOD.

If regeneration is brought about by any exertion of ours, it is not only contrary to all ideas of generation, to which it undoubtedly alludes; but also to the express testimony of scripture, which declares that we are born, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.*

Those parts of scripture which speak of the instrumentality of the word in our sanctification, take care to ascribe all to the agency of the Holy Spirit. They who understand the gospel, and who are changed into the same image, are represented as so doing by the Spirit of God. Christ did not pray that the truth might sanctify men; but that God would sanctify them by his truth. If the word become effectual, it is when it comes not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. If it bring about the salvation of those who believe, it is because it is the power of GOD to that end.f

II. The scriptures represent all the great instances of conversion as effects of some peculiar out-pourings of the Spirit of God. We may instance in two periods; the time of the great conversions in the apostles days, and the time of latter-day glory, yet to come, Of the former of these periods, it was promised before-hand, The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion, rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing IN THE DAY OF THY

* John vi 44, 45, 65. Gal. v. 22. Eph. i. 19. Col. ii. 12. Eph. ii. 8. John i. 13.

† 2 Cor. iii. 18. John xvii. 17. 1 Thes. i. 5. Rom. i. 16.

POWER.

And again, In that day, I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jeru salem, the spirit of grace, and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn.—In that day there shall be a fountain opened, &c.*. These promises were gloriously accomplished soon after Christ's ascension, when thousands of those who had voted for the crucifixion of the Messiah, became captives to all-conquering grace!

The Lord Jesus himself preached. to these very people; yet, though he was the greatest of all preachers, he laboured in vain. They believed not his report. He was a root out of a dry ground in their eyes. How came they to believe the apostles rather than him? To what cause can it be imputed, but to the arm of the Lord being revealed? To what cause can we ascribe their superior success, not only in Judea, but throughout the Gentile world, except to the Spirit being poured down from on high, in consequence of Christ's ascension? Christ told his disciples that they should do the works that he did, and greater works than those, because, says he; I go unto my Father. Yes, hence it was that the Spirit of truth was sent, not only to comfort believers, but to convince the world of sin.†

The prayers of the apostles and primitive ministers shew that their hope-of success did not arise from

* Psal. cx. 2, 3. Zech. xii. 10. xiii. 1.

†Isai. liii. 1. xxxii. 15, John xiv. 12. xvi. 8.

the pliableness of men's tempers, or the suitableness of the gospel to their dispositions: but from the pow er of Almighty God attending their ministrations. The weapons of their warfare, however fitted for the purpose, were mighty THROUGH GOD to the pulling down of strong holds. To GOD they sent up their earnest and united petitions, before they opened their commission. Meeting in an upper room, they continued with one accord, in prayer and supplication. And afterwards we find the apostle Paul requesting his Thessalonian brethren to pray for him and his associates in the work of the ministry, that the word of the Lord might have free course and be glorified.*

The great accessions to the church of God in the latter-days, is ascribed to the same cause. In the 60th chapter of Isaiah, after abundance of rich promises of a large and glorious increase-after the multitudes of conversions to Christ had been rapturously resembled to a cloud, and the flockings of doves to their windows, the whole is thus concluded-" Thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever; the branch oF MY PLANTING, THE WORK OF MY HANDS, THAT I MAY BE GLORIFIED. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation; I THE LORD WILL HASTEN IT IN HIS TIME." When the seventh angel sounded, and voices were heard, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, the four and twenty elders immediately

* 2 Cor. x: 4. Acts i. 14. 2 Thes. iii. 1.