us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved.)" Eph. 9. 4, 5. "Not by works of righteousness, which we have done; but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Titus 3. 5. These passages fully establish the doctrine under discussion. It appears that God the Holy Ghost is the agent in the regeneration of man. And it is plain that he must be a sovereign agent. As the wind bloweth where it listeth, so the Holy Spirit works where, and in the hearts of whom he pleases. While he leaves some to live and die in an unregenerate state, he renews others, and makes them a willing people in the day of his power. While he acts as a sovereign, he also works by means in renewing the heart of man. "Of his own will," says the apostle, "begat he us with the word of truth." James 1. 18. God, if he pleased, could, without controversy, change the heart, and sanctify the affections of a heathen, without favouring him "with the word of truth." But this does not appear to be his plan of operation. If he designs to save an individual, who is living in heathenish darkness, he either brings him in his providence to a land of light, or sends him the gospel. It is undoubtedly a general truth, that "Faith cometh by hearing, and hear. ing by the word of God." Rom. 10. 17. The Lord acts as a sovereign in affording to some the means of regeneration, while he leaves others des

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titute. It is at his pleasure also to render the word effectual to our salvation, or to leave it to harden us, and to prove a savour of death unto death. Not all who hear the gospel are born again. Our times are in God's hand. He renews whom he will. Sometimes afflictions are instrumental of awaking sinners from the stupor of earthly pursuits, and directing their attention to the word of truth. But if afflictions are sanctified, so as to prove the means of conversion to any one; it is God who has made them effectual to this end, and the praise is due to him alone. Whatever be the instrument employed to accomplish our salvation, God is the universal agent. To his operation, every saint will, through eternity, attribute his spiritual birth. It becomes us to be fully convinced of this truth, that from a deep sense of our helpless, dependent state, we may be induced to throw ourselves, without reserve, upon the mercy of God, and be excited to embrace, in faith, the word of truth, the gospel of salvation.

IV. Our times are in God's hand, as it respects the period of our death, with all its circumstances. There is a time to die," as well as "a time to be born." It is evident, from scripture, that a certain term of life is appointed to man which he cannot exceed. This is fixed by God himself: See Job 14. 5, which is fully to our purpose. "Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his

bounds that he cannot pass." Paul, in reasoning with the Athenians about the providence of God, declares, that "in him we live, and move, and have our being; and that he hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of our habitation." Acts 17. 26. It is the voice of reason also, that he who creates man on the earth and appoints the place of his residence, should likewise determine the length of his life, and the period of his death. God is styled "our life" and "the length of our days." And as his providence is conversant about all the affairs of men, so that the very hairs of their head are numbered, it is plain that the duration of their existence must also be under his control. It is sometimes asserted, that if the bonds of human life are fixed, means for its preservation are unnecessary. This inference, however, does not follow, because the means are a part of God's plan of operation, as well as the end. If he has determined that we shall live to a certain age, he has also determined to give us the supports of life, and to prevent every thing that might destroy it. If any are cut down by some violent disease, or killed by what the world calls an accident, that disease, or that accident was determined as a means to bring life to a close. If some bring upon themselves, by their vices, premature death; those vices God determined to permit, and he knew their fatal effects; so that he was not disappointed as to the number of their months. They came to,

but did not pass the bounds of their habitation which he had fixed. Their times were in his hand.

Very different as to length, is the term of life assigned to different individuals. With multitudes, life is emphatically short. "They come forth as a flower and are cut down; flee also as a shadow, and continue not." Almost as soon as they have opened their eyes on the things of time, they close them in eternity. Others are cut down in the bloom and vigour of youth. Some are called away in the meridian of life. Others live to be old, and are gathered to their graves, like stocks of corn fully ripe in their season. Sometimes the wretched are suffered to prolong the time of their miseries; while the successful are cut off in the midst of their career. The sickly often carry the robust and healthy to the grave; and not unfrequently do parents build the tombs of their children. Some depart, when just on the point of accomplishing an object, long pursued: just when they are beginning to think of enjoying the fruit of their labours. Some of all ages and conditions, are swept away without distinction. The young just entering upon active life, with many flattering prospects before them, are cut down by the great destroyer. The father is called away in the midst of his usefulness from the embraces of a beloved family; and the man of the world is forced to leave his schemes of earthly aggrandizement unaccomplished. Thus various

are the circumstances attending the deaths of different individuals; yet they are all under the control of divine providence.

Again our times are in God's hand, as it respects our having, or not having particular notice of death's approach.

Some have long and repeated warnings. They consume away with some lingering disease; they are favoured with the full exercise of their reason, and are constantly admonished to prepare for their dissolution. Others have no particular notice that life is near its close. Death comes in an unexpect

ed moment. They are overtaken as by a thief in the night. For man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them."

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Again the manner of death's approach is not at our disposal. The king of terrors wears a thousand forms. Some perish by what are called the accidents of life; others by the sudden shock of some acute distemper. Some are for years dying and wasting away. Earth, air and sea are leagued with death, and oft perform his work.— Our very food, the sustenance of life, sometimes becomes the instrument of death. But at whatever period of life, in whatever way, and by whatever means, we are brought down to the grave, the providence of God is to be acknowledged. He is