ment which is here spoken of, there is no exercise of saving faith; unless one may have saving faith without knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ.

Whence, then, is it, that a person who once believed not to the salvation of the soul, now believes, so as to inherit everlasting life? The answer is given in the scriptures. He has become a spiritual man by the introduction of the Holy Spirit into his mind, who, in taking possession of him for the Redeemer, quickens him, and both enables and persuades him to act under divine influence. The act of faith on the Lord Jesus is an effect. It must have an adequate cause, or else the first axiom of all our reasoning is annihilated. This adequate cause is not found in the natural man; but so scon as the Spirit of truth enters into him, the fruits of the Spirit, among which faith is enumerated, may be expected to appear, for he is thenceforth a spir itual, a new man in Christ Jesus.

This is the doctrine of our Saviour, for he teaches us that without him we can do nothing, and that we are without him until the Spirit takes up his abode in us. JESUS is indeed the author and finisher of our faith; but then he becomes so by his Spirit. No man can, indeed, come to Christ, or believe on him, except the FATHER draw him; but the Father draws men by the agency of the Holy Ghost: so that our faith has its origin

in the Father, Son and Spirit. Hence it is said to be THE GIFT OF GOD. Hence it is written that your faith does not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Christ came to his own and his own received him not. Subsequently, nevertheless, some of his own to whom he came received him ; and in accounting for this, Christ informs us, by his servant John, that as many as believed on his name, did so, because to them gave he POWER to become the sons of God, by causing them to be born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. In other words, they believed because they were regenerated; and yet no man is regenerated but by the Holy Spirit, for "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." "It is the Spirit that quickeneth ;” or that makes alive to divine things, by the work of regeneration. Until this work be performed, a sinner is dead in trespasses and sins, and has no more power to believe on the Lord Jesus and thereby become a child of God, than Adam would have had power to receive mercy had no mercy been proffered by his Maker. If then, like a dead man, the sinner is without any spiritual ability to please God by the performance of any good action, he is unable to believe to the salvation of his soul, until the Spirit of God come unto him, and take up his abode in his heart. All our ability to come to Christ, to receive him, to

accredit his testimony concerning salvation, and to rest upon him, is from the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, abiding in us. For this reason he is called, in the text, the SPIRIT OF FAITH; and for this reason Paul ascribes our faith to our HAVING the same Spirit.

IN CONCLUDING THE DISCOURSE, let me address the renewed and the unrenewed, in the language of inspiration. "So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

CHRISTIANS, in God you live, move, and have your being, in a spiritual sense. You are Christians because God has made you so, by taking possession of you for himself. You are the temples of the Holy Ghost. He is the supernatural principle of divine life in your minds. Cherish then his instructions. Comply constantly with the prescribed means of growing in grace, which you know he will bless. Grieve not the Holy Spirit, by whom

you are sanctified, by negligent and prayerless. lives; or by ascribing to him ignorance, bigotry, superstition, fanaticism, and idolatry. Be careful to distinguish his work, and acknowledge it with gratitude. If you have been brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; to repentance, love, and purity of heart; give him the praise. Continue to commit your minds to his guidance, and ask his blessing, that you may be able to try the spirits which demand your attention, by the holy Bible. Yes, bring the Holy Ghost himself, in his operations, to this test, that you may know that he is the Spirit of God; and that you may ascribe to him his own performances. Strive to keep your whole body, soul, and spirit in a state of holiness, that he may abide in you with joy.

ALAS! MY IMPENITENT HEARERS, the Holy Spirit has no place in your minds. When you have heard the gospel, Jesus Christ has freely offered to send his Spirit into your bodies and spirits, as the Spirit of conviction, illumination, and consolation; but you would not accede to his proposals. He never has required that you should merit, or procure the indwelling of the Holy One, but simply that you should receive Him. Yet you have rejected him, and said, "we love our sins: we have no desire to be holy."

Let me affectionately warn you, that unless the Spirit of Christ be sent into your hearts,

it is impossible that you should be regenerated; for God makes us new creatures only by communicating to us the Holy Ghost. It is the Spirit alone who quickens a sinner, dead in trespasses, and the work of quickening, or of regeneration, is simultaneous with the entering of the Spirit into our minds. Except, therefore, you be born again, except there be in you a new principle of life, by the introduction of the Spirit of God, you cannot become alive to God, so as to know him, believe on the Lord Jesus, love holy beings, and enjoy the society and business of heaven.

Upon the introduction of the Holy Ghost into your minds depends your power to become sons of God. And on your becoming sons of God by regeneration depends your ability to enjoy God in glory. You see, therefore, that the introduction of the Spirit of Faith is absolutely essential to the commencement of a holy life in you, to the perfection of the work of sanctification, and to an entrance into heaven.

Yet you have refused, lightly esteemed, and even abused this Holy Spirit. You have slighted his word, and all the means by which he communicates the richest grace of Christ, At all the exhortations, instructions, and entreaties of the Lord, that you should be reconciled by receiving his Spirit, you have been unmoved. You will tell me, that you cannot admit the Spirit. I answer, that you