who is so born, "hath the witness in himself," and also, that "every one that nameth the name of Christ departeth from iniquity." (2 Tim. ii. 19.) I shall just make one observation upon a manner of exercising judgment by this latter rule, which is very common, and very erroneous; and I make it in the hope that such as have been misguided by it may be set right. Many form their judgment of the regeneration of God's children by the degree of their apparent usefulness, and are inclined to determine what ought to be the measure of the work of each, by the measure of the work of some eminently gifted individual; and so if any fail to come up to that standard, he is regarded with suspicion, as being either an hypocrite, or a backslider. This is an exemplification of that want of wisdom, which Paul charges upon the Corinthian church; who, "comparing themselves among themselves, were not wise." (2 Cor. x. 12.) Each child of God is made equally alive in regeneration, but each is not appointed to the same work, nor endued with the same measure of spiritual gifts. To one is given, by the Spirit, activity of spirit; to another, retiredness. To one, by the Spirit, zeal in those things which give publicity to his character; to another, zeal in those things which are never known by man. Each has his peculiar station; he who is to human observation doing nothing in the kingdom, if he be indeed born again is doing that without which that kingdom could not be perfected.

If he be a member, he occupies his peculiar station, however in man's estimation insignificant it be. Only let every man take care that he exercise his gift "according as God hath dealt to every man,” in his kingdom, "the measure of faith.” (Rom. xii. 3.)

And now I would affectionately ask you, are you born again? Has this mighty revolution taken place in your views of God, of Christ, of sin, of time, of eternity, which characterizes the change wrought in the children of God? Has this change been produced in believing the Gospel of the grace of God? Have you the witness of God's Spirit, and are you manifesting whose you are, and whom you serve, by that transformation from worldly idolatries, wrought by the renewing of your mind? My dear friends, you are this moment either serving God, as children of his kingdom, or Satan, as his willing slaves. There is no middle state: there are but these two kingdoms, that of God, and that of Satan. Oh! what a solemn truth! You are, even now, while you are sitting here, listening to those momentous subjects, either decidedly a child of God, or a bond-slave to the god of this world. How shall you know it? Do you believe the Gospel? Are you persuaded that Christ Jesus, the Son of the Highest, the divinely-appointed substitute of the fallen church, gave his life a ransom for the ungodly? (Rom. v. 6) that he put away sin, by the sacrifice of himself? (Heb. ix. 26)—that he finished the work the Father gave him to do? (John xvii. 4.) If so, you are

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born again; and then relying, solely and exclusively, His all-sufficient work, for pardon and peace here, and for glory hereafter-you renounce all your own works as "filthy rags" (Isai. Ixiv. 6)-you confess that in your flesh dwelleth no good thing;" (Rom. vii. 18) and it is with you as it was with Paul, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal. vi. 14) you are walking, "not after the flesh, but after the Spirit;" (Rom. viii. 1) and are "followers of God, as dear children." (Eph. v. 1.) If the simple Gospel, which proclaims full, free, everlasting forgiveness, be not in simplicity received as the testimony of God-if you are going about to establish a righteousness of own," (Rom. x. 3) upon which to build a hope of eternal life-if you are still pursuing, as eagerly as ever, and as exclusively as ever, the things which the word of God pronounces abominable idolatries, there is not the smallest room for doubt—it is certain—you are yet in the number of those, concerning whom the Lord says, that before they can see or enter the kingdom of God, they must be born again. Verily, verily, ye must be born again. The Gospel, the glorious glad tidings which announce the making an end of sin and the bringing in everlasting righteousness by Jesus the Son of God, has been given to effect it; and whosoever believeth that the Gospel is the truth of God, is born again. May the Eternal Spirit, whose office it is to guide the mind into the perception of all truth, give

you a right understanding in all things, and cause the word to come with power, that such as have hitherto been strangers to the life of God, may by His energy be quickened; that they may be enabled to testify, how that they were blind, but now they see❞— that they were "dead, but are alive again." Amen. Amen.

THE

PREACHING OF THE CROSS.

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 COR. i. 18.

THAT God is no respecter of persons, the revelation which He has graciously vouchsafed for the purpose of declaring His real character to man, emphatically announces. But this same revelation, with emphasis as deep and solemn, informs us, that there is in the sight of God, a difference and distinction between the several inhabitants of this our world- a difference founded, not on the stations which men do respec