been admitted into the church, on an intelligent profes-" sion of faith; such as approved itself to the apostles and their coadjutors; and, when any individual acted inconsistently with this profession, he was excluded from the company, till he gave satisfactory evidence of true repentance. How different this from the modern christian church, even in our land! All, who do not openly renounce christianity, or join the dissenters, belong to the established church; whatever be their creed, or their conduct: and their children, being baptized, are so far regenerated, as well as others. Are then the whole bo. dy of such baptized persons, however educated, and whatever their character or avowed sentiments are, to be addressed as saints, as "faithful in Christ," as "the "elect of God, holy and beloved," according to the language used by the apostles, in writing to their beloved children; for whom they were bound to thank God "always, as it was meet; because that their faith grew "exceedingly, and the charity of every one of them all "to each other abounded, &c?"

Yet even, in writing to these select companies, the apostles frequently gave intimations, that, while they, by the judgment of charity, addressed them, according to their profession; they themselves must not take it for granted, that they were all true believers. "Examine "yourselves whether ye be in the faith: prove your own"selves. Know ye not that Christ Jesus is in you, ex

cept ye be reprobates." "I am afraid of you, lest I "have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” “My little," (or dear) "children, of whom I travail in birth again, till "Christ be formed in you." "I stand in doubt of "you."t "Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for "whatsoever a man soweth, that also shall he reap. "‡ They also speak of those, who had departed from them,

2 Cor. xiii. 5.

Gal. iv. 11. 19, 20.

+ Gal. vi. 7, 8

in language, which shows, that they considered them as having never belonged to them. "They went out from "us, because they were not of us." "We know that "whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is "begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that wicked "one toucheth him not."* The persons spoken of, as going out from the apostles, and sinning unto death; had, beyond all doubt, been baptized with water; but they had not been "born of God."

It is very uncommon, (if ever done,) to exhort, either baptized or unbaptized persons, to regenerate themselves: but ought we not to instruct men in general, that all need regeneration, and cannot be saved without it? Ought they not to be shown, the nature, and evidences, and effects of it?-Supposing, that the term regeneration, in this connexion, were disused, (which, according to the Scriptures, must not be done;) what ground do our opponents gain? They themselves allow; that a very large proportion of baptized persons lose sinfully their baptismal regeneration: and unless they supposc, that thay will nevertheless finally be saved, without recovering it, or any thing equivalent to it; (a species of final perseverence more antinomian, than perhaps any Calvinist ever held;) they must allow, that they differ nothing from the unregenerate, except in having once had, as the gift of God, what they have wickedly forfeited and lost; which certainly is nothing favourable in their case. We may therefore, by the allowance of of our opponents, address such persons, as those who need repentance and conversion; and may use every warning, exhortation, persuasion, and expostulation, that we can find in the whole Scripture, addressed to persons every character and nation; provided we do

of

• 1 John ii. 19.

but avoid the term regeneration, and others of similar import, which are prohibited to us.

If nothing appear, in the avowed sentiments, or open conduct, of professed christians, which is inconsistent with their profession; we certainly ought to address them, as the apostles did the primitive churches, as, "Saints in Christ Jesus," &c. But are adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, profane swearers, thieves, &c. &c., to be spoken of as saints, and "elect of God, holy and "beloved;" merely because of their external baptism? And do not a large proportion of baptized persons, even in this favoured nation, consist of such characters? I say, in this land; not to speak of other professed christian countries, in which, we are told, the standard of morals, and the characters of the inhabitants in general, are sunk immensely lower. Either these characters do, or they do not, form a part of our congregations. If they do not; it is in vain to preach, as if they were present: but if they do at any time attend, in what language ought we to address them? As saints? or, as unconverted sinners?

I almost feel a disposition to glory, as one of the evangelical clergy, so called, in this circumstance, that our style of preaching most certainly, brings forth numbers of these poor wretched sinners, to attend on our ministry. A variety of circumstances and motives may concur in occasioning this: but the fact cannot be denied. As the ministers of him, who "came not to call the righteous, "but sinners to repentance," we must rejoice in it; even though it subjects us to a reproach, not dissimilar to that cast on him, who was called " the friend of pub"licans and sinners." This circumstance, however, imposes on us, an obligation of addressing one part of our congregation, in a style, not suited to those, who, o d

VOL. I.

in a charitable judgment, may be considered as real christians. The author of these remarks was, for many years, chaplain to the Lock-Hospital, and twice every week, spoke to a number of patients, in the wards, who were in general, either prostitutes, or companions of prostitutes: yet they were, most of them baptized per sons. Now ought he to have addressed them as "saints "in Christ Jesus," as "born of God, and the children "of God;" or in the language, the strongest language of Scripture, used to the most profligate heathens, or most wicked Jews? He adopted the latter method: and he has no doubt, but a considerable number of this ap parently hopeless company, will bless God to all eternity, that he did so. Some, whom he knows, as 'taught by the grace of God, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and "godly in this present world, are his joy and crown," at present; and he has not the smallest doubt, but many more will be so in the day of Christ.

I feel an unwavering confidence, that if the bulk of the most abandoned persons, in this christian land, could be brought under the instruction of ministers, who addressed them exactly in the same style of instruction, reproof, warning, exhortation, expostulation, and persuasion, in which the prophets addressed the wicked Israelites, and the apostles addressed unconverted Jews and Gentiles; the most happy effects would follow, in respect of numbers among them. This might be done, even if the word regeneration were inhibited: yet the subject itself, the need, nature, source, evidences, and effects, of regeneration must be largely insisted on. And, it may be seriously apprehended, that, even in respect of the more virtuous among professed christians, keeping these topicks out of sight, or in the back ground, feeds their self-preference and self.

complacency; and leads them to trust in their compara. tive virtue, instead of relying on the mercy. and grace of God in Christ Jesus: and on what account are preachers among professed christians, to be restricted from declaring this most important, nay, essential, part of "the "whole counsel of God?"

"A second regen

P. xciii. l. 6. 6 To wait, &c.'* 'eration,' is a term never found in our sermons, or writings; we suppose ungodly baptized persons, unregenerate, and needing regeneration; as Stephen supposed the wicked Jews, though outwardly circumcised, to be yet "uncircumcised in heart," and still needing the circumcision of the heart to love the Lord. Sudden con. ' version,'' sensible operation,' 'instantaneous change' have repeatedly been considered. But does any Calvinist imagine a more instantaneous, or entire change, than that which his Lordship ascribes to baptism?†

The rest of the quotation contains excellent advice; except as the words, 'Let them thus renew their minds,' may seem liable to misconstruction; though the apostle said, "Be ye transformed in the renewing of your "mind."‡

P. xciii. 1. 21.

Regeneration, &c.' To make man

• To wait for a second regeneration-a sudden conversion-a sensible operation of the Holy Spirit effecting a total and instantaneous change in ⚫ their hearts and dispositions. Let them rather be admonished to take a se'rious, strict, and impartial review of their past lives; let them compare 'their conduct with the unerring rule of God's written commandments; let * them consider the folly and danger of continuing in sin; let them determine 'to abandon their wicked ways; let them earnestly and faithfully pray for 'spiritual aid; let them thus renew their minds, and they may rest assured that their pious resolutions and virtuous exertions will be strengthened and promoted by "power from on high."

§ 'Regeneration of those, who are already baptized, by the forcible opera'tion of the Spirit, is one of the doctrines, by which the weak credulity of ' unthinking persons is imposed upon in the present times. It is a danger. ⚫ous illusion, calculated to flatter the pride and indolence of our corupt