truths of the gofpel, the loft condemned fate of man by nature, and the neceffity of pardon through the righteouf nefs, and renovation by the Spirit of Chrift. This would make a far greater number of those who call themfelves by the name of Chrift, Christians indeed. And the vifible efficacy of his doctrine, would be a fenfible demonftration of its truth and divine original. If thefe truths are not contradicted, it may be fafely faid, that they are by many kept more out of view than formerly. And furely we have no great cause to boaft of our improvements in the preaching art, if its goodness is to be determined, like that of a tree, not by its bloffoms, but its fruits.

There is one obfervation which may fatisfy us, that the preaching of the cross of Chrift will moft effectually promote real reformation. It is, that thofe preachers who (to say no more) approach nearest to making our own merit and obedience the ground of our acceptance with God, very feldom, if ever, give any alarm to the confciences of their hearers. Let them recommend ever fo pure and high a standard of morals, they are heard without fear, and, if they preach elegantly, with pleasure, even by the most profligate. To fuch preachers, all vain worldly-minded people, ufually attach themfelves, where they have not caft off the very form of religion; but most part of serious Chriftians, together with profeffing hypocrites, who cannot eafily be diftinguifhed in this world, always follow preachers of another ftrain. It is eafy to fee the reafon of this from what hath been faid above; there are none who fet the ftrictness and obligation of the law, the holi nefs and justice of God, in fo awful a light, as thofe who believe there is no fhelter from the fanction of the law, and the wrath of an offended God, but in the blood of Christ. Perhaps, I am already enfnared and expofed to cenfure, by affirming, that there are among us preachers of different ftrains. But it is fo certain a truth, that I cannot deny it; and fo important, that I will not dif guife it.

Upon the whole, as the prefent aspect of public affairs, as the state of the world, and character of the age, loudly call upon all of every station to exert themfelves with di

ligence for the fupport and revival of truth and righteoufnefs: I hope the minifters of the gospel will promote this end, by zealously laboring to bring men to the faving knowledge of Chrift, " the way, and the truth, and the "life-the foundation-the tried ftone-the precious corner ftone," the strength and fecurity of the building. To deny, explain away, or neglect to impart the truths of the everlasting gospel, is the way to leave the world in wickedness; but, by preaching them in purity, and with fimplicity, which, we have reafon to think, will be accompa nied with "the demonstration of the Spirit," finners are reconciled unto God, the power of fin is broken in them, the divine image is formed in them, and upon these truths their hopes of eternal life muft reft and depend. Let us be ever ready to fay with the apostle Paul," God forbid "that I fhould glory, fave in the crofs of our Lord Jefus "Chrift."* And let us quicken our diligence, and animate our endeavors, by expreffing, with the pfalmift David, our faith in the perpetuity of his kingdom. "His "name fhall endure for ever: his name fhall be continued as long as the fun; and men fhall be bleffed in him; "all nations fhall call him bleffed. Bleffed be the Lord "God, the God of Ifrael, who only doth wonderous things. "And bleffed be his glorious name for ever; and let the "whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and

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"Amen."+

* Gal. vi. 14. + Pfal. Ixxii. 17, 18, 19.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

THE

INTRODUCTION.

HE condition on which ministers of the gospel hold their office, is extremely awful. They must ren“der an account unto God" of their fidelity to the fouls committed to their charge. Their duty and danger, as fervants of God, are jointly and strongly expreffed in the commission given to the prophet Ezekiel. "Son of man, "I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Ifrael, therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I fay unto the wicked, thou "fhalt furely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor fpeakeft to warn the wicked from his wicked way to "fave his life; the fame wicked man fhall die in his ini"quity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet, "if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wick❝ednefs, nor from his wicked way, he fhall die in his ini"quity but thou haft delivered thy foul."*

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It is natural for us, in such a situation, to be often revolving in our minds this great and weighty truft. It is at once our duty and intereft, to confider with all poffible care, in what way we may have the easiest and most effectual access to the hearts of finners: what views of divine truth will be moft convincing; what forms of address will make the strongest and most lafting impreffion; in one word, how we may acquit ourselves of our miniftry, so as to be a "favour of life unto life," to many of those who hear us, and to "deliver our own fouls" from the blood of thofe that perish.

Such, indeed, is the undeniable moment and importance of the truths of the gospel, that I am often ready to think, it will be eafy to fet them in fo clear and convincing a light, as no person of common understanding fhall be able to refift. I am often ready to fay within myself, Surely, if they be warned, they will no more dare to rush on the thick bosses of the Almighty's buckler; furely, the boldest finner must tremble at the thoughts of death, judgment and eternity, faft approaching, and from which it is impoffible to fly. But when we fee how many are able to fit unmoved under the moft awful threatenings from the word of God, how many continue unchanged under the most alarming difpenfations of Providence, our thoughts are immediately carried to the unfearchable depth of the divine counfels; and we must say with our blessed Saviour, "Even fo, Father, for fo it feemed good in thy fight;"* or with the apostle Paul," But if our gofpel be hid, it is "hid to them that are loft: in whom the god of this world "hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, left the "light of the glorious gofpel of Chrift, who is the image of "God, fhould fhine unto them."+

The fecret counsel of the moft High, however, though we must adore with reverence, it is impoffible for us to comprehend. What influence this has upon the final ftate of particular perfons, no man in the prefent life is, and probably no created being fhall ever be, able fully to explain. This only we know, that it is not fuch as to † 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4.

*Luke x. 21.

take away the guilt of fin, or destroy the efficacy of means. A fense of duty therefore constrains us to refume the arduous and difficult task, intreating the affiftance and bleffing of God, under a firm perfuafion that he will hear the prayer of faith, and make his own word "quick and powerful, fharper than any two-edged fword, piercing even to the "dividing alunder of foul and fpirit, and of the joints and "the marrow, and a difcerner of the thoughts and intents "of the heart."

The fubject I have made choice of, and intend to handle in the enfuing treatife, immediately regards the fubftance of religion, and is happily as little entangled in controversy as any that could be named. We are told that "except a man be born again, he cannot see the "kingdom of God." In this all parties, every profeffion and denomination of Chriftians, do or ought to agree. By whatever name you are called, whatsoever leader you profefs to follow, whatever ordinances you enjoy, if you are not " born again," you fhall not enter into the kingof God.

That manner of preaching the gofpel, explaining or recommending divine truth, appears to me moft profi. table, which brings ofteneft into view, or, rather, never lofes view of the great and effential difference between believers and unbelievers, faints and finners, heirs of glory and heirs of hell. Thefe are mixed together on earth. They have common privileges as men and citizens. They cannot be certainly diftinguifhed by human obfervation; for though the image of God fhines in a bright and fenfible manner in fome on the one hand, and fome bear very plain and deadly fymptoms on the other, whofe ftate may be determined with little hazard of mistake; yet, in the intermediate degrees, there are multitudes whofe real character is known only to God. What then can be faid more awakening, and at the fame time, more certainly true, than that every hearer of the gofpel, and every reader of fuch a treatife as this, is either reconciled to God and the object of his love, or at enmity with God, having "neither part nor portion" in his favor; and as many as die in this laft condition, fhall be the everlasting monu