then, is the extent in which I believe conversion to be necessary; allowing the possibility of a rare exception here and there. I doubt not that it is necessary to all the rest, even to baptized and professed Christians, as much as to mere heathens and unbelievers.

It remains now only to state, by what agent this great change is to be effected. Enquire of the unconverted man, and whatever he may think or answer, he will unquestionably find by experience, that he is utterly inadequate to the work by his own strength. He cannot renew himself unto holiness; his sins have taken such hold upon him, that his own struggles, however violent, will never prevail to shake them off. The purity of the gospel is so perfect, that his sinful heart can never of itself be truly disposed to acquire it. He may entertain wishes, and form resolutions, and they may seem at first to bear some promise of success; but if he depends on himself, they will be invariably disappointed, and come to nothing.

This is the certain result of the ineffectual

strivings of unassisted man. Beset with temptations, and naturally so sinful and feeble, exposed in the midst of his enemies, and having a treacherous and deceitful heart within, he fights against fearful odds, and soon learns his pre

sumption by his failure. Engure of the Scriptures, which lay open the nature and charac ter of man more clearly than he perceives them himself, and they declare the same truth. “Without me,” saith Christ "ye can do nothing.” It is God." saith St. Paul "that worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure." It is through the Spirit that we must “mortify the deeds of the body:" it is the Spirit that "convinces the world of sin." that helpeth our infirmities,” that produces, as its fruits, all graces and virtues of the Christian character : it is for the gift of the Holy Spirit that our Saviour particularly commands us to pray, knowing that

the

we are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but that our sufficiency is of God." I need not multiply quotations; you will find throughout the New Testament scarcely any subject of prayer ever mentioned, except the influence of the Holy Spirit. We are to "pray continually, and without ceasing." For what then? For spiritual gifts, for conversion, for repentance, for faith, for strength, for holiness, for the love of God, for pure affections, for obedient wills, for all the support that our hearts so greatly need to subdue our evil inclinations, to resist the temptations of the world around us, and to conform our whole souls to the holy image

of the Son of God. If we are Christians, it is "by the grace of God that we are what we are; if we are not, it is by the same grace alone that we can become so; and this very thing should be the object of our constant prayers, and industrious study. This is the great end of my preaching and of your hearing; and if at any time I seem to stop short of it, it is only in order to exhort you to a diligent use of the means whereby that end may be obtained.

May we all frequently and fervently pray for this divine teaching, that so among the discordant opinions of the world, we may be guarded against any important error, and having, by God's help, "come to the knowledge of the truth," may we ever be enabled to hold it, not in unrighteousness, nor in vain strife and contention, but in purity of heart, holiness of life, and meekness of spirit, displaying its power in all godliness and charity, through the merits and satisfaction of him, who is truth itself, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

SERMON XXIV.

THE LORD'S SUPPER.

1 COR. xi. 23.

Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

I CANNOT but venture to hope, that the address which was read to you on Sunday last, has induced you all, in the course of the week which has since elapsed, to bestow some thoughts on the subject of that solemn ordinance of our religion, which is to be this day celebrated-the holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper. These thoughts have, doubtless (as is usual with a multitude) led you to very opposite conclusions. Some of you have resolved that you will participate in that sacred feast-but many more, I fear, have determined that you will not do so.

then, is the extent in which I believe conversion to be necessary; allowing the possibility of a rare exception here and there. I doubt not that it is necessary to all the rest, even to baptized and professed Christians, as much as to mere heathens and unbelievers.

It remains now only to state, by what agent this great change is to be effected. Enquire of the unconverted man, and whatever he may think or answer, he will unquestionably find by experience, that he is utterly inadequate to the work by his own strength. He cannot renew himself unto holiness; his sins have taken such hold upon him, that his own struggles, however violent, will never prevail to shake them off. The purity of the gospel is so perfect, that his sinful heart can never of itself be truly disposed to acquire it. He may entertain wishes, and form resolutions, and they may seem at first to bear some promise of success; but if he depends on himself, they will be invariably disappointed, and come to nothing.

This is the certain result of the ineffectual strivings of unassisted man. Beset with temptations, and naturally so sinful and feeble, exposed in the midst of his enemies, and having a treacherous and deceitful heart within, he fights against fearful odds, and soon learns his pre