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of

ren." Now, "conversion" there, could not be a change of nature, for Peter had experienced what the New Testament calls "regeneration" before that. Once more, from the Apostle James. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." Now, observe the apostle says, "If any you do err from the truth, and one convert him." A man cannot err from the truth unless he is in it, and when in it, if he errs from it, he may be converted to truth-" then let him know that he that converteth the sinner has saved his soul. from death." Observe, one who has been in the truth, and has erred from it, may stand in need of truth-may stand in need of conversion; but being restored to truth again, what does this do? Why it saves his soul from death, that is, the death of sin.

My brethren, to improve our subject to advantage, let us all remember that we are by nature such beings as God would have us; and that all the sin that attaches to us, results from the misapplication of the abilities and faculties that God gave us. I would encourage you in this, because I would not have natural society so much disgraced, as to have it supposed that mankind while blessed with reason and understanding, though in a state of simple nature, are not able to do right. If this error is removed from your minds, what is to prevent you from following the religion of Jesus? But how awful is it to believe that we are all by nature opposed to God, and God to us, and that we are incapacitated to do the will of our heavenly Father! It would be as wrong to say this, as for me to come into your families and teach your children that it

was not in their power to do your pleasure; as if I should tell your little ones, "Children you are in an awful situation! It is not in your power to do one thing to please your parents unless you are made over again! Your parents are full of wrath and vengeance, and if they find you in your present condition, they will destroy you in a moment." Oh! horrible! It would be beyond description horrible. It is doubly horrible to teach the great family of mankind, that we never can do any thing to please our Father in heaven. And, my hearers, I beseech you to banish from your thoughts such a belief, from the present moment, and always remember that all God requires of you, is, "To deal justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly before him.”

SERMON VI.

1 THESSALONIANS III. 10.

AND MIGHT PERFECT THAT WHICH IS LACKING IN YOUR

FAITH.

The apostle expressed a fervent desire to be present with his brethren, to whom he wrote this epistle, that he might perform this kind office for them, namely, to perfect what was lacking in their faith. Our text supposes, that those to whom he wrote, had received the true faith of the gospel, but at the same time, that they had not the benefit of this faith in its perfection-they had attained it only in a degree; and it was necessary for them to pursue their studies and contemplations regarding that faith which they possessed in the gospel; as it is necessary for people to pay strict attention to the study of any science in order to become perfected in it. Our text by no means allows the common, vulgar notion among certain Christians, that a person becomes perfected in the faith of the gospel all in a moment, and knows as much as he is ever to know by one instantaneous act which they call conversion. All knowledge is obtained by degrees -all wisdom is obtained by close application, and there is a growth in grace also, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is as improper for a professor of Christianity to suppose, that, because he has entered the school of Jesus Christ, he is perfected in the divine science of the religion of

our Saviour, as it would be for a child sent to school the moment he enters that school, to fancy he knows as much as the preceptor. Yet, my friendly hearers, you will often find it to be the case in Christian churches, that when one joins the church, he joins it, full grown in size: he knows all that he is ever to be taught; he knows the creed, or says he knows it, and that is all he is to know; because he is never allowed to know more. The confession of faith laid, before the catechumen, contains the truth and nothing but the truth; and nothing more is he allowed to learn but what is contained in that. He knows as much, the first day, as he is to know for ever; and I name these things because they are directly opposed to my text. My text supposes that Christians may be imperfect in their faith, and stand in need of this office being done them, namely, to perfect them in their faith.. Another observation seems to be necessary here, namely, that it is not charitable for us to condemn one another, because we do not all exactly agree in the knowledge we have: for this condemnation prevents the enjoyment of the privilege of learning; and if scholars were treated in this way in schools, because they did not all know as much as the schoolmaster, and if the schoolmaster should turn your dear little children out of his school because they did not know as much as he did, when would they learn? They were sent there to learn; but if they are treated in this way, they never will learn. But how often is it that the Christian brethren will hold no communion with a person unless he holds all the dogmas they do. Perhaps he will, if they give him time to learn, but how is he to do it without? Throw away all these partialities, my friendly hearers, and consider you are all the child

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ren of God, and as many as wish to learn in the school of the blessed Redeemer, go to school together, and have Christ, not man, for your master, and then you will all advance in knowledge together. Having made these introductory remarks, shall proceed to show, that, according to some particulars, there is such a thing as real believers not believing all that is necessary for them to believe.-There is such a thing as christians' coming very far short of that knowledge necessary for them. And the first particular case which I shall mention is that of St. Peter. I have not time to say much with regard to the character of Peter, but it is evident that before the death of his master, he had obtained a knowledge of Christ, and of the religion of Christ, yet there were some things which Peter did not believe at that time, which he certainly believed afterwards. You will recollect our Saviour indicates that all his apostles or diciples had followed him in the regeneration-these are his words," You who have followed me in the regeneration," &c. Now you must perceive that those who followed him in the regeneration did not believe that he would die upon the cross, though he told them he should.They did not believe he would die and rise again though he told them so; and when the event took place, they all forsook him, and they expected all their hopes were gone forever. After the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, he did not abandon them -he did not excommunicate his apostles or his diciples because they did not sooner exercise faith in what he had told them; but he went directly to them and gave them ocular demonstration of the truth of what he had said. If we would treat our brethren in this way, it would be much better for But what do we do instead? If one will not

us.