no light or trivial thing, when we ask men to give up technical words or phrases, which have, by long use, acquired sacredness in their esteem; and which to them are the very tests and symbols of orthodoxy. The abandonment of the term might seem, or might ultimately prove to them, the dereliction of the doctrine; for so close is the association between words and the ideas or things they represent, that there might be room to fear lest the injudicious term and the wholesome truth should be given up together; or, at the least, it might lead to an unkind suspicion of waning orthodoxy among their fellows. With these then, who hold substantially the scriptural truth, in a phraseology which needs and receives accompanying explanation, I am not disposed very earnestly to contend, nor should they be either indignant or suspicious if we decline to pronounce their shibboleth, even though virtually engaged in the same hallowed cause. The truth is in danger from neither, nor is either in danger from the other. But the common danger, the danger to vital and efficient Christianity, is from a different quarter: from the proud assertors of the dignity of human nature-the boastful advocates of its incorruptness and moral sufficiency. These are they who harp upon a string with which the pride and deceitfulness of the natural heart will always vibrate in unison; who sing a Syren song which it will ever be soothing and

delightful to hear. All hope of efficiency to the preaching of the "truth as it is in Jesus," and of safety to the souls of men, requires that the fact of entailed, universal, and deep corruption, should stand out prominently to the notice of every eye, and fall in solemn startling, oft-repeated accents, upon every ear. Preach it with all godly fidelity, with all solemn and affectionate earnestness, with unshrinking boldness and untiring perseverance, ye servants of the living God, ye "ambassadors for Christ," ye messengers of the Churches, ye "watchers for souls!" It is the secret of all your success, and has an inseparable connexion with the responsibilities and the rewards of your heaven-appointed office. Dissipate, if possible, that day-dream of folly, that night-vision of delusion, the chimera of native birth-right innocence, that men may come down to the waking, sober, humbling views of Gospel truth. "Sweep away the refuge of lies," that they may "flee for refuge to the hope set before them in the Gospel," "the house of defence which God hath set very high." Show to them that human worthiness is but a foundation of sand, that they may build upon Christ," the rock of ages." Make manifest to them their disease, that they may in time repair to the Great Physician. Let them be constrained to see and to feel the corruption that reigns by nature, that they may seek and obtain the sanctification that is of grace!

By no other mode can we drive the sceptic from his doubts, and the amiable moralist from his false dependances, and the worldling from his idols of earth and his indifference to God, and the Pelagian from his self-sufficiency, and the abandoned sinner from his sins, and bring them all unto Christ, with sorrow in their hearts, tears in their eyes, and the cry upon their lips, "Lord, save us, or we perish."

Parents, guardians! instill this doctrine of innate depravity into the tender minds of your youthful charge. Let it be among " the elements, the first principles of the doctrine of Christ,' which they imbibe. Show to them the proofs of it in their first risings of wrath and passion, in their daily little offences against each other, against you, against their Father in heaven, in the ease with which they learn "to do ill," and the difficulty with which they "learn to do well." Avoid the too common phraseology which addresses them as though they were good, or had the elements and means of good in their own constitution, and in their own power. Persuade them not to childish excellence, by flattering appeals to the pride or vanity of their little hearts. All these things lead them to false conclusions and dangerous results, and must, with much pains, be unlearned (if haply they can be unlearned,) in after years. Rather endeavour to convince them that they also were "born in sins," and are sinners by

practice, and consequently need both a Saviour and a Sanctifier. Stir them up to gratitude for having been "washed in the laver of regeneration:" and kindle within them, if possible, an anxiety for that "baptism of the Holy Ghost," which will make them clean within, " clean every whit." So shall you enshrine wholesome truth in the sanctuary of their hearts, give it a practical bearing upon the developement of childish character, the formation of youthful habit, and upon the best interests of "the life that now is," and of" that which is to come."

Yes, my readers, to all, we say, receive, profess, proclaim, and improve the doctrine of the natural depravity of the heart. But hold it in "truth and soberness." Let us take care to have facts and experience with us, rather than against us; and to adventure no further in assertion than the warranty of Scripture will bear us out. "The wisdom of God is wiser than men ;" it were vain then to endeavour to be "wise above what is written." Human depravity, declared of God, exhibited and witnessed of man, is a fact. The degree of it is a question. To debate the question were profitless; to decide it, difficult, if not impossible. To believe and act upon the fact, is important to our present and our eternal destiny.

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CHAPTER VI.

THE EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF.

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief."

"So we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief."

THERE is nothing, perhaps, from which the natural mind more revolts, or against which the natural heart more commonly rebels, than the appointment of FAITH, as the GREAT ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION. "It is a hard saying, who can bear it?" is the universal cry. That for the simple fact of unbelief, men should be excluded from the kingdom of heaven, is a regulation viewed at least with a suspicious and evil eye, if not actually regarded as an arbitrary act of legislation-a virtual assumption on the part of the Creator, and a direct infringement upon the liberty of the intelligent creature. Men delight to view opinion, like property, as absolutely and entirely their own, and at their own disposal; to be acquired and changed, when, and as they list; as a thing with which not man alone, but even God has no