the means of salvation, except those," who were recon"ciled to God by the death of his Son?" The means of salvation are afforded to all, who have the word of God sent to them. They who believe, with a penitent obedient faith, "pass from death to life," from condemnation to justification; they are reconciled to God, and adopted as his children, and are "made heirs according to "the hope of eternal life." Thus, "They are called "and saved with an holy calling." But others "put" "the word of salvation" "from them, and judge them"selves unworthy of everlasting life."¶ As, however, the latter may not finally persevere in unbelief; so, I. would not, in this place, assume, that the former always persevere in obedient faith. Our general sentiments on this subject are well known; though many things relating to particulars are lamentably misunderstood: but this is not the proper place for discussing the subject, The language, in these scriptures, taken from the epistles, is exactly similar to that of our Lord. "Verily, verily, I "say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth "on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but hath passed from death "unto life." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that "believeth on me hath everlasting life." "Whoso cat"eth my flesh, and drinketh my blood hath everlasting "life."** "And I give them eternal life, and they shall "never perish."†† And to that of John Baptist: "He, "that believeth on the Son of God, hath everlasting "life." It must strike any impartial man, as very re but being" reconciled to God by the death of his Son," they had now the 'means of salvation, of which they could not fail but through their own : neglect. • Acts xiii. 26. Acts xiii. 46. ## John iii. 36. † Johan v. 24. || John v. 24. markable, that so many passages of scripture, on this subject, should, evidently by design, be put either in the present or past tense; when the future seems so much more suitable, in the judgment of our numerous and learned opponents. P. xl. 1. 2. The gospel is called in scripture," "the "way which leadeth unto life," a new and living way, 'and the way of salvation.'-Whether Christ himself, "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life," rather than the gospel, be not meant, in the second of these texts, the reader will determine. P. xl. l. 9. 'In this quotation, &c.'* There is some doubt, what quotations are here referred to; for the latter does not occur, within four preceding pages. It is not, however, the opinion of modern Calvinists, that "being "saved by grace," is at all inconsistent with "working "out our own salvation;" or that "the grace of God "does in any wise 'force them to be saved:" "for it is "God, that worketh in us, both to will and to do of his 'good pleasure:" "The grace of God in Christ prevent'ing us, that we may have a good will and working 'with us when we have that good will.'+-'Grace,' or undeserved mercy, concurred, so to speak, with infinite wisdom, in forming the glorious plan of salvation. Grace promised the Saviour to fallen man: grace sent the divine Saviour, and "delivered him up," as a will In this quotation, St. Paul says, "by grace ye are saved," and in the 'preceding he commanded the converts to "work out their salvation:" "In this, says Dr. Jortin, there is no inconsistency. Men are saved by "grace, because without God's favourable assistance and acceptance of their "imperfect endeavours, they could not of themselves acquire eternal life; "and at the same time it is no less true that they work out their salvation, "because unless they exert their own powers, the grace of God alone will "in no wise force them to be saved. Thus God's working in or with us, and our working together with God, are easily reconciled ་་ † Art. x. ing Sacrifice, "for us all:" grace raised the Saviour from the dead, and placed him on the mediatorial throne: grace sent us "the word of the truth of the gospel;' "God hath not dealt thus with every nation:" grace quickened us, when dead in sin: "we are justified freely "by the grace of God:" by grace we are sanctified: and grace will put every heir of God in full possession of his eternal inheritance. Is there one link, (so to speak) in this chain, which any man will deliberately ascribe to human merit, or human efforts, or to any thing, except the unmerited mercy and favour of God alone? P. xl. 1.-23. 'The Spirit, &c.'t. It is evident, that the apostle is not here speaking of unconverted men; but of himself and his fellow-christians. Though by nature "without strength;" by grace they had some strength, but this was attended with many infirmities, by reason of "sin, which dwelt in them." But the Spirit helped them against these infirmities. "That "which is born of the Spirit," is spirit; and with "that "which is born of God," the Holy Spirit co-operates, to render it victorious: but not with the unrenewed hearts of sinners, or with the flesh, which will never concur and co-operate in its own crucifixion. To the quotation from Doddridge, I shall add another quotation more fully to show his meaning.-'We are surrounded Zech. iv. 6-9. "The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought;" the Spirit helps, but does not compel us; it supplies 'the deficiency of our natural strength, by suggesting what is right, and by 'assisting our weakness in performing it. The Greek word vurtiqubavota, 'expresses the co-operation for which we contend, more clearly than the English word "helpeth." "It literally expresses, says Doddridge, the ac"tion of one who helps another to bear a burden, by taking hold of it on one "side, and lifting or bearing it with him; and so it seems to intimate the "obligation on us to exert our little strength, feeble as it is, in concurrence "with his Almighty aid." " + Rom. v. 6. 'with so much ignorance and prejudice, that in many 'instances, "we do not know what to pray for as we ought;" because we know not, on the whole, what may be best for us. But the Spirit itself manages all 'these affairs for us, guiding our minds to suitable peti'tions, and exciting in them correspondent affections; ' and sometimes inspiring us with that ardour of holy 'desire, which no words can express, but must there'fore vent themselves in unutterable groanings.'* For 'ever adored be the divine goodness, in sending down 'his Spirit on such sinful creatures, to help our infirm'ities, to implant and excite graces in our hearts, to be a 'source of perfect delights, and our eternal happiness.'† Some exhortations are next adduced; to which very many more might be added, which prove, that 'some ap'proach towards God on the part of men, some exer'tion of their own will, is necessary to obtain the effect'ual assistance' of God. I trust, that the Evangelical clergy are not remarkably deficient in enforcing these exhortations: nay, I must confidently aver, that they, as a body, abound above others in doing this: and that, they would not be so generally disapproved, did they not thus "testify of the world," (though called christian, as our Lord did of the world, as called Jews,) that the "works of it are evil;"‡ and did they not, by such addresses to the consciences of their hearers, with a plainness which often offends, shew, that the profession of christianity will never save from eternal damnation those, who refuse to comply with these exhortations. P. xli. 1. 27. The purification, &c." "Ye have Dod. Par. on Rom. viii. 26. + John vii. 7. † Dod. Improvement on Rom. viii. 'The purification of the souls of these christians was in part owing to 'their own act in obeying the truth, through the assistance of the Spirit.' "purified your souls."* This was, not only in part, but entirely, their own act. The act of the Holy Spirit consisted, in 'enlightening their minds, stiring up their wills, and aiding and prospering their endeavours.' If any, whether Calvinists or others, suppose, that the influence of the Holy Spirit supersedes our own labour, they doubtless have unscriptural views on the subject. P. xlii. l. 13. The same apostle, &c.'t The original word, rendered communion,‡ signifies participation, or copartnership, joint communication, or mutual interIn none of the texts referred to, does the idea of co-operation, in the sense here intended, at all appear; the original words, which are uniformly employed to convey that idea, are ve, and ¶ The word course. See on 33 Refutation. Jam. iv. 8. 1 Pet. i. 22. The same apostle prays for "the communion of the Holy Ghost;" ⚫ and both the Greek and English words imply the most intimate co-opera❝tion, and signify that the graces and virtues, on which salvation depends, 'are the joint or common operation of the supernatural power of the Holy 'Ghost, and of the natural power of man; that the Holy Ghost acts with * men, in such manner that their separate or respective parts cannot be per''ceived or distinguished.' + 2 Cor. xiii. 14. § Kolvavid (a noivos) Communio, communitas, consortium, societas, communicatio, participatio.—Officium charitatis. (Hederic.) In Acts ii. 42. 1 Cor. i. 9. Gal. ii. 9. Phil. i. 5. ii. 1. iii. 19. 1 John, i. 3. 6, 7, it is translated fellowship. In Rom. xv. 26, contribution. Heb. xiii. 16, to communicate.-Korvavos. Cui est communitas, socius, particeps. (Hederic.) Luke v. 7-10. 2 Cor. viii. 23. Philem. 17. Partner, or, partners.-Matt. xxiii. 30. 1 Cor. x. 18. 2 Cor. i. 7. Phil. i. 7. 1 Pet. v. 1. 2 Pet. i. 4. Partakers. Philem. 6, communication. Heb. x. 33, companions.—Kowave. In commune venio, commune aliquid habeo, particeps sum, communico: consentio cum aliquo: sacræ cœnæ par ticeps fio. (Hederic.) Rom. xii. 13. Gal. vi. 6. Phil. iv. 15. Communicate, Rom. xv. 27, made partakers. 1 Tim. v. 22, be partaker. Heb. ii. 14. 1 Pet. iv. 13, are partakers. 2 John 11, is partaker.—Evyxovavos, Rom. xi. 17. 1 Cor. ix. 23. Phil. i. 7. Rev. i. 9, partakers. Eynovec, Rev. xviii. 4, be partakers. Eph. v. 11, have fellowship.—Koravios, 1 Tim. vi. 18, willing to communicate. Η Συνερη και. Mark xvi. 20. Rom. viii. 28. 1 Cor. xvi. 16. 2 Cor. vi. 1. Jam. ii. 22. Gr. Everyor, Rom. xvi. 3 9. translated helpers and helper. 21, work-fellow. 1 Cor. iii. 9, labourers together. 2 Cor. i. 24, helpers. viii. 23, |