3. And of course, as the apostle shows, the state of those who are baptized is totally inconsistent with a sinful life. Let us use the utmost caution not to fall into that most pernicious error, that because "being by nature born in sin and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace,” we may safely continue in sin, presuming that grace will abound. The Lord abominates such abuse of his mercies, and in his word it is every where condemned. And yet this is an error which very easily besets us. We naturally fall into a notion that our profession goes far to secure our salvation; that the sacraments we receive, and the prayers we offer up, will atone for our transgressions; that because we call Christ Lord, and prophesy, and do wonderful works in his name, we are entitled to his promise. Some think that the inward and spiritual grace of the sacrament, or the thing signified, is inseparably connected with "the outward, visible sign;" that they who are born of water, are of course born of the Spirit; that what is chiefly necessary is, that the sacraments be administered by those who are regularly ordained to that sacred office. But this error the scriptures in many places most clearly condemn. And the church, as a faithful witness no less clearly tells you, that the "sacraments have a wholesome effect or operation in such only as worthily receive them."

Let us endeavour to acquire and preserve right views of this highly important subject. The more enlightened our minds are with the doctrine of baptism," the more holy will be our lives and the more ardent our zeal to honour our Saviour and be conformed to his image; we shall rejoice to walk in

that newness of life, which baptism represents. Let us endeavour to realize "what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God," and be made partakers of such inestimable privileges. Then what cold Christians talk of as duties, and view as self-denial, will be esteemed as blessings and favours. What blessings, what privileges can be greater than prayer, by which we obtain the best things, and the richest blessings; or the Lord's supper, in which we receive that heavenly food, which is strength and life to the soul? Or is it a burden to break off from our sins; from those wicked deeds which are a shame to us; which nailed our Saviour to the cross; and which, if persevered in, will make us everlastingly wretched? Well does an apostle demand of Christians, "What fruit had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death." By the sacrament which admitted us into the fellowship of Christ's religion, we profess to be crucified to the world, and the world to us; we are supposed to be dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness. How then shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein? That love which the Father hath bestowed upon us, constrains us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and "to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." If we truly love the Saviour, we shall keep his commandments. A grateful sense of God's mercy in Jesus Christ, is the very essence of virtue and goodness. Well does the poet say:

"Talk they of morals? O thou bleeding love,
Thou maker of true morals to mankind,

The grand morality is love to thee."

Let the love of Christ be well established in our hearts, and we shall have laid the surest foundation of all virtue and godliness of living." The ways of God's commandments will then be ways of pleasantness, and the paths of pure and undefiled religion, will be paths of peace. If you have been buried with Christ by baptism; if through the Lord's merciful goodness you have received this sacramental sign and seal of your ingrafting into his holy church, and partaking of the benefits of his meritorious death, consider it not as your duty only, but as your privilege, and let it be your joy and pleasure, to walk in newness of life. Rejoice in being delivered from the bondage of those sins which enslave the unrenewed heart. It is your prerogative, and be it your joy and glory, to be the disciples of a divine Master, and to follow his steps in doing your heavenly Father's will. It is an invaluable privilege that you may "cry Abba," and call God your Father; that you are ingrafted into the body of his church, and made his children by adoption; that you may address him as a kind parent, and ask for the things that you need. For what earthly consideration would a believer in Christ be debarred of these favours?

May we all then duly appreciate our religious privileges; may we, who have been baptized, "lead the rest of our lives according to that beginning;" may we make such improvement of the gospel light and the means of grace, which we enjoy, that God, "according to his merey, may save us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" to whom, with the Father and the Son, be eternal praise.

SERMON XIV.

REGENERATION AND RENOVATION.

Titus iii. 5.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

THE knowledge of God, and of the way of salvation which he has revealed in Jesus Christ, must in the view of every Christian, certainly be the most excellent and the most necessary of all knowledge; without this knowledge, our faith must be weak, our zeal blind, and our works imperfect. To obtain this knowledge, we must understand the language in which it is written for our learning." Words and language can be of no use, except they convey to our minds distinct ideas, and some definite sense. When used carelessly, they "darken counsel. Words without knowledge," like other things without life, except they give a distinction in the sounds," give us no information. "If the trumpet give an

uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise you, (says an apostle,) except ye utter by the tongue, words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air." Not a little of what is said on the subject of religion, is thus spoken to the air. Partly indeed, from the discordant systems of theologians, but in no small degree from a negligent use of theological terms, religious disputes are sometimes but strifes of words.

Such has been particularly the case of the words used in our present text. The apostle here declares, that the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, are the instruments of divine "mercy," by which God saves us. Salvation is not the reward of our merits; it is "not by works of righteousness which we have done;" neither did the Jews under the law, nor do we under the gospel, live so righteously as to render God obligated to save our souls; but according to his mercy, he saves us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

It is intended, with divine permission, to show, according to the wisdom given me, what we are to understand by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. And also, how it is that by them God saves us.

I. What we ought precisely to understand by the word regeneration, has been of late years much controverted. Literally, it signifies a begetting again, or a new birth. In its primary scriptural use, it signifies the resurrection to a new and future state, or