in this view, utterly unable to become good, by reason of his actual wickedness, until he finds all the bottom springs and principles of action within him, are entirely wrong. That he does not so much as intend to do his duty, as duty, and never did. That he does not mean well, in any thing he does. This makes him see that his plowing is sin, and that all his most painful religious duties must be an abomination to him who looketh on the heart, and knows what they all spring from. He sees he has no regard for God's glory, cares nothing what becomes of it, if he could but be safe and happy himself. He sees he is dead, and all his works are dead works; and that he must be created anew, or he shall never do any thing as he ought.— But does this view of his deadness make him loose sight of his sinfulness and guilt? Does he now feel himself excused and free from blame, because his heart is so totally depraved, so opposite to God and all that is good? No. Sin revives just as fast as he dies. His deadness is seen to be nothing but the very life and soul of sin. His having such a heart, his being of such a temper, that he can do nothing,, can delight in nothing but sin, he sees is the very thing that God's law condemns him to everlasting burnings for, and that most justly. If such a disposition as he finds himself now to be of, would extenuate a creature's guilt, there is not a devil in hell that could ever be damned.When a sinner once sees what he really is, his help. lessness and his sin are seen to be quite consistent; and one just as great as the other. For, indeed, they are one and the same thing.

5. From what has been said, it may be easily seen, that there is no want of directions proper to be given to sinners, but that all the difficulty is, they are not in a disposition to regard and follow them. People are

always ready to ask, "But after all, what shall sinners do? Can you give them any directions how to get out of this helpless condition? Is there any thing for them to do, or is there not?" Now this, however common it is, is certainly very impertinent. If it is a settled point, that the case with sinners is, they have no heart to do any thing that is good, people must strangely forget themselves who ask, "Is there any thing for them to do?" As if all the difficulty lay in answering this question, or in pointing out duty to them! Surely there is enough to be done, if they would but do it.It is easy to direct them to the course they ought to take; and it would be easy to put them in a way in which they might have great reason to hope for salva tion, if they thought it a matter worth taking pains about, and were of a teachable spirit and willing to follow good advice. It is much easier to say what they should do, than it is to make them willing to do it.They should become serious and thoughtful about eternal things. They should "amend their ways and their doings." which are not good. They should search the scriptures, take every method, and improve every opportunity in their power, to acquaint themselves with God and Jesus Christ-the law-the gospel-and with their own character and state. They should

cry after knowledge, and lift up their voice for understanding." They should "seek it as silver, and search for it as hid treasure." They should lie open to conviction, be willing to know the truth, and to embrace it when discovered. They should not cover their sins, but be sensible of, humbly confess, and heartily forsake them. They should "return unto the Lord," their Maker and rightful Sovereign, subiitting to his authority, owning his justice, and accepting his grace

through the Mediator Or, in other words, they SHOULD repent and believe the gospel.

But if they will not follow these, nor any good directions that can be given them, who can help it? If they will set at nought all the counsel of wisdom, what good can the best counsel do them? If they do not hearken to the calls of the gospel, will not come unto Christ that they might have life, will do nothing proper to be done by persons in their circumstances, there is, absolutely no help for them, unless God himself interpose, "and work in them to will and to do of his own good pleasure."

6. According to what has been said, there can be no reasonable objection against God's giving no encouragement of salvation on lower terms than an actual compliance with the gospel. Many are ready to say, if there are no promises to any thing short of saving faith, God is not in earnest in his proposals to sinners, and does not treat them well, but rather trifles with and mocks them in their misery; for he knows that no unregenerate sinner can come up to such terms, any more than he can make a world. But according to what has been said, if sinners were but in earnest themselves about their salvation; if they were disposed to treat God well, and not to mock and trifle with him, there would be no difficulty in the case. There were indeed infinitely great difficulties in the way of our obtaining salvation. By sin, we had cast such dishonour upon the holy law and government of God, as it was not in the power of creatures to wipe off. And until this was done, it seems not to have been consistent with the honour of God's character and the rights of his government to show favour to the sinner. But Christ has removed every difficulty of this kind. By his all-sufficient sacrifice he has made full atonement

for sin, and opened a way for the honourable exercise of grace. By his obedience unto death he has wrought out an all-perfect righteousness, for the sake of which God is well pleased, and stands ready to justify every sinner who is willing to submit to this righteousness, and consents to forsake his sins and be saved in this way. And now he can say, and has actually said, "All things are ready:" "Ask, and it shall be given you : seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened." Past sins are no bar in the way; for there is" a fountain set open," not only "for Judah and Jerusalem," but for all the world "to wash in, from sin and from uncleanness." The greatest unworthiness is no objection; for the invitation is, "Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come buy and eat, yea, come buy wine and milk, without money and without price. Whosoever will, let him come, and take the water of life freely." Sinners, you have really as fair an opportunity for life, according to the gospel, as probationers can possibly have; as full a price in your hands, as your hearts can possibly desire. There is nothing on earth; there is nothing in all the decrees of heaven; there is nothing in all the malice and power of hell, that can hinder your salvation, if you do not hinder it yourselves. Nor need you be discouraged by reason of any bad disposition brought upon you by Adam, which you are heartily sorry for, and would be glad to get rid of, but cannot. For the second Adam is able to help you in this as well as in other respects; and will do it in a moment if you in the least degree really desire it. The very thing he came for was to save from

sin, the power as well as the guilt* of it; and to save whoever desires to be thus saved. Nor need you imagine, that you must lay out all your own strength first, and do all that can reasonably be required of one under your circumstances; and then may have just an encouragement of being saved by grace after a life of such perfection. This is the most reproachful idea of the God of all grace, that you can possibly entertain. No: If you do so well that it would be hard for God to refuse you salvation, he will consider himself as under obligation to save you, and will never desire you should pretend to think there is any grace in it. But he will receive you graciously and love you freely, if you desire it, though you have not done so very well. He means to exercise as much grace, as he would have the honour of, and not to be eternally praised for what is not his real due. He is willing to save you in as gracious a manner as ever you thought of, or can wish for. Only weigh the matter, and say whether you choose to be saved. Enter into the nature of gospel-salvation; attend to the character and laws of Christ. say, whether you will have him and be his; whether you are willing and would really choose to exchange the servitude of satan, for that liberty wherewith Christ makes his followers free; or whether you must plainly say, you love your old master and your lusts, and choose rather, to have your ear bored, and be a servant for ever. But however, be sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you ;" and if you refuse to have any part or lot in it, be assured, that when the wicked are turned into hell, with all the nations that forget

And then

* The word "guilt" is used by the author as synonymous with punishment, as many respectable divines have done before him, but we think not happily.

N. Y. Publisher.