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darkness or to be even darkness itself; "Ye once "were darkness but now are ye light in the Lord:" and in this state, Christ says to his church, and consequently to every individual who composes that church," Arise, shine, for thy light is come, "and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. "For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and "thick darkness the people: but the Lord shall "arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon "thee," Isaiah Ix. 1, 2. 3d. They are compared to an inanimate and stupid lump of clay which has no life, no motion, and can only act as it is acted upon. Thus the church says to Christ," But 66 now, O Lord, thou art our Father: we are the clay, thou art the potter, and we are all the "work of thine hand," Isaiah lxiv. 8. To which the apostle adds, " Nay but, O man, who art thou "that repliest against God? Shall the thing "formed, say unto him that formed it, Why hast "thou made me thus? Hath not the potter, power over the clay, of the same lump, to make "one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor. "What if God-endured with much long-suffering "the veselss of wrath fitted for destruction. And "that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he hath afore "prepared unto glory. Even us whom he hath called," Rom. ix. 20 to 24. And thus also we are chosen by the power of God's Spirit; "Elect "according to the fore-knowledge of God the Fa

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ther, through sanctification of the Spirit," 1

Peter i. 2.

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4th. Only the elect can come to God.

"No man (says Christ) can come unto me, except the Father draw him," John vi. 44. "All "that the Father giveth me shall come unto me, " and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise "cast out," John vi. 37.

And in this drawing, there is a need of the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, "Except "a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, "he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," John iii. 5. Man has by nature, neither will nor power to turn to God. Man may boast of the freedom of his will, but what is it? Only to do evil. And how employed? Only in the service of the devil. We are all by nature children of wrath, and must remain so, till by God's Spirit, we are drawn to come unto him. And when God hath in his choice fixed upon any, then he ordains that they shall be led by his Spirit, to embrace that way of life and salvation, which he hath laid open in Christ Jesus, for the benefit of all God's chosen people. I speak not of election as if no choice was made in the mind of God, till the subjects to be saved are arrived at a suitable age, in this world. Election is an eternal purpose and fore-knowledge of God: in correspondence with which, we hear also of his love being eternal. Effectual calling is the act, by which those who are thus eternally chosen, are brought

forward to the new birth, and born again for the heavenly kingdom. I cannot help adding a fifth remark, as the hinge on which the election of God's people turns, and is safe, viz.

5th. Our election arises out of the election of Christ as our living head. Christ was chosen of the Father from all eternity, to be the Saviour of man, when he should fall. Are we members of Christ's mystical body? He is chosen to be our head. Are we streams? He is chosen to be the fountain. Are we a chosen seed? He is the choice vine, in whom alone we can bear fruit to the glory of God.

Further, the Necessity of Regeneration may enforced,

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4th. From its being the only way by which we can enter the kingdom of God. Need there be any dispute in this matter, when the scriptures are so express on the subject, when it is declared of “the "testimony of Jesus," that it" is the spirit of prophecy:" when facts every hour confirm it, in the multitudes dying around us, dying as they have lived, some blaspheming God, others sighing with the very last grasp for a little more of this world, some groaning with the fear of torture, cursing the mo. ment when they were born, or begging for a respite that they might have space to repent. What are the expectations of those who die in their sins? Some few indeed hope in God's mercy, which as they have abused even past salvation, consistently

with the honor of God, they perish with a lie in their right hand: the greater part feelingly expect approaching horror, and inwardly confess the reality of torments, which in life they dared to deny. We turn to the regenerate. Behold their death-bed! A solemn scene! Behold them feelingly alive to the frailties, transgression, infirmities and sins of a life begun, and maintained in enmity with God, in which state they must have continued to the last, but for the preventing and regenerating grace of God.-Further, behold them feelingly lamenting the awful backslidings of their hearts after the æra of their spiritual birth, after they had begun their militant state here below. Here were a subject for despair indeed, more dreadful even than what the wicked feel and with this have God's chosen people been dreadfully harassed for a little season, before they gained a final conflict? But everlasting grace prevents despair's duration. The scene

brightens-evil seen to the bottom, and acknowledged in all its enormity, danger beheld in the jaws of death, confessed as a just demerit for sin, brings the warrior to the foot of the cross. There he lays his earthly laurels down, and confesses, Lord I

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was unworthy to wear them,' to fight under thy banners, and in thy name contend for victory :' yet he lays them down in hopes of exchanging them. for brighter laurels given by his conquering Lord : he disclaims their merits, and cries out, Lord thou art worthy, for thou hast redeemed me to

"God by thy dear blood. And then is he dead? Hath he departed with a fluttering yet firm hope, with a lively though imperfect faith, with an ardent though sometimes interrupted love? Now these failings and interruptions are no more: whilst a voice from Heaven proclaims, " Write, blessed are "the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth. "Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from "their labors; and their works do follow them," Rev. xiv. 13.

And thus far on the Necessity of Regeneration. The nature of it remains to be considered.

12th. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John iii. 5.

The nature of regeneration is here comprehended in a few words: not thereby to express that regeneration is a slight and easy thing, but that there is a oneness of operation in the heart of God's elect people, whereby they are brought out of darkness into God's marvellous light. Nor is the work difficult with God with whom all things are possible; but with men who have, added to all their other sins, an evil heart of unbelief, tempting them to depart from the living God. Whatsoever is flesh is opposed to whatsoever is Spirit. And there is no compromise, between an actual enmity, such as exists in all by nature, and an actual friendship, such as subsists only in the heart of God's chosen. Tak

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