trolling principles govern the human mind? And is it not most likely that a master-spring within a new principle of life and holiness, would lead to the very success we now want? And may it not then be our wisest course to omit smaller matters of dispute, at least till the governing truths of the Gospel have more entirely filled our souls, and till in humble supplition we have implored with greater earnestness the illumination of the blessed Spirit of God? And are we not most likely to arrive at the grand and substantial principle, really involved in the great question under review, by this plain and practical method, in a matter which confessedly depends more on the state of the heart, than on the cold deductions of abstract reasoning? This conclusion may be strengthened by a reference to the state of the several flocks intrusted to our care. For does not the whole success of our ministry bear some proportion to our strong apprehension of the spiritual change of all the faculties of man? If we plainly call on those who are living in sin and neglect of serious piety, to repent and turn to God; if we tell them faithfully of the depravity of their nature, and of the necessity of an entire transformation into the image of Christ, and direct them to judge by the fruits of faith, love, and -other graces, whether they have been really regenerated and born of God, may we not hope that a divine efficacy will attend our ministry? Does not God bless these and other doctrines of his word, to the conversion of sinners? Are not men reformed by the means of them, from habits of vice and sensuality, of malice and pride, of vanity and worldliness, and brought to the love and service of Christ? May not the effect produced be justly represented as an awakening from sleep, a resurrection from the dead, a birth to spiritual life? Is not, in fact, what was in too many cases wanting, obviously wanting, in the effects of the baptismal ordinance, then, and then only, made up and supplied? On the contrary, does not a train of instruction, which, arising from inadequate views of this regeneration, addresses men indiscriminately as already true Christians, and exhorts them only to further degrees of amendment, leave them in a great measure careless and unimpressed? Do not the worldly and luxurious, the proud and covetous, the profane and prejudiced, those who are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, being flattered with high statements of their baptismal privileges, and hearing little of a broad division of men into righteous and wicked, those who serve God and those who serve him not," and being never plainly told what a stupendous thing a real change of nature is, nor directed to implore the regenerating influences of the Holy Ghost, but being treated as already born of God, and needing only further sanctification; and hearing besides frequent cautions against excess in religion, and the danger of enthusiasm will not, I say, such persons be insensibly led to conclude that their state is upon the whole good, and that, with a little reformation, they may, through the merits of Christ, fulfil the conditions of the Gospel covenant? Is it not then, to say the very least, the safest plan to adhere to the prominent and plain track of Scripture; and, leaving points of subordinate difficulty, to dwell in our own minds and in our instructions to others, on the main and intelligible features of the regeneration by God's Holy Spirit? Will not this give us the greatest security of discharging our duty in the best manner towards God and towards the souls of men? Will not all inferior questions sink into comparative insignificance, if we begin with plainly urging, in the first instance, on every child of Adam, whatever may be his external privileges, if he is living in irreligion and impiety, the indispensable necessity of a new and spiritual birth, of an actual and complete transformation of the whole man after the image of God? And will not a learned and enlightened clergy be then most likely at once to control the real disorders of enthusiasm, to bring down on their labours the blessing of the Holy Spirit, and to ۱ |