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lings he hath ordained praise," let it be to the praise of the glory of his grace;" he hath done it "to still the enemy and the avenger;" let us not wrest this precociousness in grace, this miracle of goodness, from its legitimate end, or use it against the grace which it so magnifies!

None, then, are by nature so pure and amiable as to be beyond the need of spiritual renewal.* Such is the sure teaching of God's bless

Against this universality, it may be urged that it would necessarily include infants; and that, as they are confessedly incapable of receiving a moral change, it would therefore militate against the supposition of their salvation. The same objection might be urged against the doctrine of their native depravity, of original or birth sin; and, therefore, if valid, would drive us from the scriptural ground that we are "born in sins, the children of wrath." The truth is, that the Gospel scheme of grace and mercy was meant for those who were born in sins; and as it may save those who are capable of faith and repentance, on the conditions of faith and repentance, so has it a salvation for those who are incapable of them, independently of their exercise. The salvation of infants dying in infancy is matter of direct revelation; or, at least, is to be fairly inferred from the declaration, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven," and some other kindred assertions. Yet it will not be contended that they are saved by right of native inherent innocence, but only through the blood of atonement through the merits of Christ, availing to them, although they knew him not. A change, then, is admitted in the supposed removal of original sin-in their being" washed" in "the blood of the Lamb." It involves no greater inconsistency to suppose that they are cleansed from the defilement attaching to our fallen nature, by such operation of the Spirit as may be adapted to their age and state. If "the blood of Christ can avail to their justification," although, "by reason of their tender age," they cannot believe, why may not the Spirit breathe upon them, and give them meetness for heaven? the change produced being such only as their state required, as their development allowed, and such, moreover, as involved no active operation of the moral powers, no positive decision of the will. To such a theory we see no reasonable objection. We must either go the

ed Word; and our hearts, however reluctantly, are compelled to acknowledge its correctness. Who of us would be willing, in his natural, unchanged state, to stand before the throne of Him. who "is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity?" Who could think with complacency of carrying earthly affections and earthly pollutions into the realms of light and life? Who would be fit for heaven in his state of nature and to whom, in that state, would heaven be blissful? To speak, then, of a spiritual transformation, is not to utter the language of folly or enthusiasm. As well might we expect to carry these unchanged bodies, with all their pollutions and infirmities, into the abode of saints and angels, and of the mighty God, as to have these souls "presented faultless before him," in all their native vileness and corruption! And if there must be a change before we can be meet for the kingdom of heaven, be it remembered, it must be here experienced. It is written, that "as the tree falleth, so shall it lie;" that "there is no work, nor device, nor repentance, in the grave." He who, when surprised by death, is "unholy, shall be unholy still." There is no alchemy in death, to transmute the whole length of asserting native sinlessness, or suppose that sinfulness can find admission in heaven, or else we must admit some theory substantially the same with that here sketched. But, at all events, the necessity of a spiritual change is a truth of revelation; the salvation of infants is also revealed; and we would, therefore, hold and proclaim them both, even though to our limited apprehension they might seem to conflict, and although we knew not how they could be made to harmonize.

baseness and the dross of the soul into "the pure gold," that shall be " as a vessel unto honour, meet for the Master's use;" nor is there to the soul in its intermediate, disimbodied state, any flame to purify, distinct from the flame of wrath that" is not quenched.".

Have you, then, reader, been the subject of this great and gracious change? Have you so believed in Christ as to have "faith accounted to you for righteousness?" so that, “being justified by faith, you have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ?" Have you become " a new creature," through the aid of God's efficient grace? The questions here asked ought to be self-addressed by you with all earnestness and solemnity, and should be selfanswered "in all godly sincerity." You cannot be at a loss to answer them. By "the fruits of the Spirit" you are to judge of the presence and influence of the Spirit; and that Spirit himself has given you the catalogue of these fruits.* "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts." Is it thus with you? Have you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness? Have you new and spiritualized affections? Have you Christian graces? Do you live the Christian life? If these questions, even in their humblest and most restricted import, can be affirmatively an

* Galatians, v., 22, 23; "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.".

swered, then, however distant from perfection, you may rejoice in the conviction that you are "renewed in the spirit of your mind," but if not, oh, seek this earnestly, with your whole heart. This renewal is not a thing to be waited for, but to be sought, to be implored by fervent prayer. No man, it is true, can change his own heart; but every man who perceives and laments his sinfulness, and feels his own impotency, can take up the language of the Psalmist, and say, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me;" or again, "Turn thou me, and so shall I be turned; cleanse thou me, and so shall I be clean;" and to such a prayer, uttered in sincerity and truth, there is ground to hope for "an answer of peace" from Him who hath said, by the Son of his love, "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him." And let those who profess to have received this renewal, give the evidence of its reality. The claim, unsupported by the vouchers of the life, nay, disproved by the conduct, refutes itself, and brings shame and contempt to him by whom it is advanced, and discredit upon the Gospel cause. Assertions, especially the assertions of our own lips, cannot be evidence to others. They ask for facts. Worth a thousand arguments is a changed life. This is an irrefragable proof. It is DEMONSTRATION.

· CHAPTER VII.

THE NEW MAN MATURING FOR HEAVEN.

"They go from strength to strength."

"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

"But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."

"But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

THE believer has. now fairly entered upon his course. As a new man, with a new heart, and a lightened spirit, he begins a better and a spiritual life. Truly can he now say, "I am .crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Now commences his progressive sanctification; a sanctification which, if he fall not from grace, will be more and more complete until it is merged in the glorification of a better world. It has already been briefly hinted that this sanctification was not to be confounded with that one great change by which he became a new creature. The distinction between them is obvious and marked, and may here, perhaps, with propriety, be more fully illustrated.