doctrine, that means are never instrumental to the renovation of the mind, are legitimate, they must necessarily carry him to similar conclusions respecting the illumination and conviction of men. He must, to be consistent, deny that means ever "enlighten the understanding," or "impress the conscience," as well as that they ever "change the heart." In fact, to avoid inconsistency, he must draw the same conclusion respecting the influence of truth after regeneration; as there is no more evidence of its efficacy on the mind subsequently to that event, than at the time when that change takes place.

His doctrine thus virtually involves the denial alike, that there are any means of sanctification, conviction, or even illumination, as well as regeneration, and refers all these effects to the "immediate" agency of God.

Such are some of the difficulties in which the author of the Dissertation is involved, in inculcating the doctrine of physical regeneration. It were easy to point out many others, scarcely less important; but the conclusions, to which they must carry us respecting its character, are already too apparent to leave any further discussion respecting them necessary.

It is affecting to reflect, that a doctrine so fraught with error, is thus mistaken for a doctrine of God, and inculcated as an inspired message that is able to make us wise unto salvation. How unlike is it to that revelation, the gift of his infinite knowledge, rectitude, and benevolence, sent down to call forth our reverence, confidence, and love, and win us to his kingdom.

No

And how unlike, in all these respects, to the doctrine to which it stands opposed, that the Holy Spirit renews the mind, through the instrumentality of moral means. such difficulties embarrass the inculcation of that. On the contrary, it is sustained by the direct testimony of the scriptures, as is seen by the quotations which have already been made. It is consistent with all the other passages of the sacred word which have any relation to the subject. It accords with all that we learn from consciousness, observation, or the volume of divine truth, respecting the constitution, attributes, and operations of the mind; and thus, at once, consistently recognises our obligations, vindicates the rectitude of the divine government, and presents the strongest inducements to obedience, and the highest encouragements to labour for the salvation of our fellow

men.

Which then,-ministers of the gospel,-will you take on yourselves the responsibility of offering to your people, as the doctrine of God, and rely on as his appointed instrument to call forth to himself their' submission and love ?--that which, alike contradicting the decisions of revelation and common sense, exhibits him as "an hard master, reaping where he has not sown, and gathering where he has not strawed"-impeaching the rectitude of his administration-subversive of the obligations of men, and fruitful of temptations to rebellion, rather than inducements to obedience?—or the opposite doctrine, which entangles you in no such difficulties,-in which you are sanctioned by the clear voice of revelation,-by which, in assailing the conscience and heart, you are sustained by the consciousness

that you are using means adapted to the end, and appointed and employed by God for that purpose; and finally, in the inculcation of which you may-and to be consistent must, as far as that can influence you-preach the gospel as it is, in its simplicity, as apostles, and prophets, and the Son of God himself, preached it?-doctrines as unlike-as "science falsely so called" and christianity—as pernicious error and the most salutary truth? How momentous the responsibilities and results of your choice. May that revealing and renewing Spirit, the knowledge of whose word and agency you seek, preside over your decisions, and guide you into the truth,

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE'S

DOCTRINE OF DEPRAVITY.

THE reviewer of Professor FITCH's Discourses in the Christian Advocate, has advanced several statements and arguments, on the subject of human depravity, which call for consideration.

Were regard had only to their deserts, neither the knowledge which they exhibit, nor the spirit by which they are characterised, could entitle them to notice. When prejudice and vanity unite their clamours, and attempt by mere abuse and dogmatism to overpower the voice of truth, it is ordinarily the part of dignity and wisdom to pass them in silence. It is only-as in the present instance-when a factitious reputation, the medium through which they are presented to the public, or other circumstances, threaten to give them influence, that it can become worth while to make them objects of serious animadversion.

In the reviewer's estimation-it would seem from the confidence with which he asserts his views and denounces

those of others--the subject has long been settled with all enlightened minds beyond controversy, Ignorance, weakness, and presumption, alone continue to doubt and disbelieve. There are some, however, who are not able to concur with him, and who regard themselves as entitled to the privilege of withholding their assent to his decisions, until they discover some evidences of their truth. I, for one, am so little satisfied with his views as seriously to doubt whether he is himself fully aware of their nature and the results to which they are adapted to carry him; and shall, therefore, make it the object of the present work to exhibit their import, and point out some of the difficulties with which they seem to me to be embarrassed.

He is then-as is seen from the following passages-an undisguised assertor of the doctrine of physical depravity, as defined in the earlier numbers of this work, and ascribed to the churches of this country and Europe.

"The single point in debate is, whether that nature of the soul, from which a continual succession of evil thoughts proceeds, is sinful? Here he denies and we affirm."

"Where there is a uniform failure of those exercises of love which the law requires, not only is there a fault in the deficiency of holy acts, but in that state or nature of the soul, which is the cause of this defect. And as we understand the scriptures, this corruption of heart, which is antecedent to its acts, and is the source of their evil, is often spoken of in the word of God."

"It is so generally admitted that a succession of thoughts or volitions, good or evil, must have a principle, or source from which they originate, that it is commonly assumed as a self-evident truth."

"What we assert, and what Professor F. denies, is, that the causes of sinful choices, which exist in the disposition, or temper of the soul itself, are sinful.” "The common belief of men is, that the cause of evil choices is a moral corruption existing in the soul."

“We admit, indeed, that sin in the heart previously to action, is la