to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God, (or the image of God) is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. iv. 22-24.

4. The new creature is with great propriety denominated a new man. In some respects it may be compared to a new sense, but this would not afford a perfect illustration of the subject. Should a man born blind be made to see-by a miracle-or by a new creation-he would have one new sense, and one new source of enjoyment. This would be confined to objects of sight. But the new creature or new man has as many spiritual senses or capacities as the natural man has natural senses. The scriptures notice them. "The work of the Spirit of God in regeneration is often in scripture" says President Edwards, "compared to the giving a new sense, giving eyes to see and ears to hear, unstopping the ears of the deaf, and opening the eyes of them that were born blind and turning from darkness to light. And because this spiritual sense is immensely the most noble and excellent, and that without which all other principles of perception and all our faculties are useless and vain; therefore the giving this new sense with the blessed fruits and effects of it in the soul, is compared to a raising the dead and to a new creation. This new spiritual sense, and the new dispositions that attend it, are no new faculties, but are new principles of nature."

Now to create is to bring into being something, which did not before exist. This is a work, which No one can suppose that

none but God can perform.

God creates exercises. The supposition is absurd.

God creates men with powers to put forth exercises. They are the agents, or authors-whose character gives character to their exercises and actions. As Adam was created in the image of God in righteousness and true holiness; so all, who are created in Christ unto good works are created in righteousness and true holiness. For, said the Apostle to the Ephesians, we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The warfare maintained by the new man with the old is described in the vii. chapter of the epistle to the Romans. For that, which I do, said the Apostle, I allow not: for what I would that do I not, but what I hate that do I.

If we admit the doctrine of native depravity, it must be manifest that nothing good can proceed from the unrenewed heart. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one. Can darkness produce light, or hatred love? Can the dead themselves awake and live? The new creature or new man has susceptibilities, or capacities totally different from any before possessed. His sight, his hearing, his tasting, his feelings and his power of action are all new. The power of motives cannot produce a radical change-a change of nature. We might as well expect to gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles by cultivation, as to effect a saving change in any one by the power of motives. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, Matthew vii. 18.

Those conversions, which do change of nature, are of no value.

not result from a

They are deceptive

and ruinous. They may be traced to the operation

of selfish considerations. Though the subjects may appear well outwardly; yet they often manifest more opposition to the peculiar doctrines of revelation than ever. Great is the change, experienced by every one, who becomes a true Christian. And he does not hesitate to acknowledge that it is the work of God.

II. The evidences of that new creation, which is essential to salvation.

1. The views of the new creature are different in kind from any he before had. They are spiritual and transforming. A man may be enlightened, he may admit the truth of the distinguishing doctrines of revelation-and may zealously defend them, and yet may have no spiritual discernment of their beauty--and may not love them. The light, which shines clearly and powerfully in the understanding may produce a strong belief of the truth-a belief also of its importance-and may occasion outward reformation and great exactness of moral conduct. There may be a great change in the views, feelings and life of an individual, which is not radical and saving. The Christian discovers a beauty in the holy character of God, which he cannot but love, whether saved or lost. More especially he beholds with delight the glory of God as it shines in the face of Jesus Christ. Many, it is feared, who have indulged a hope of salvation, have never discovered any beauty in the character of him, who saves from sin. Representations of Christ crucified try the feelings of the human heart more severely than exhibitions of the attributes of God, who is the Creator and Governor of the world. The serious infidel has no objection to discourses on the attributes of God. He does not disapprove the

precepts of the law of nature or the moral law, which is interwoven with the gospel. To the real convert the Scriptures, with which he had been familiar, appear to be a new book-every subject appears in a new light. The change in him causes an apparent change in every object he beholds, and every subject, on which he meditates. A new world is opened to his view-and a new class of truths is discovered in the volume of revelation. Those doctrines, to which the unrenewed are most opposed, appear most precious to the Christian. Without any additional instruction those truths, which once occasioned the greatest distress, now afford the greatest satisfaction and delight. To the unrenewed the church of Christ appears to be a root out of dry ground—and the most pious members the most unhappy; but to the sincere believer the church appears to be the perfection of beauty, and the most pious the most happy of all men. It grieves the Christian to see any live in disobedience to that law, which is holy, just and good, and to neglect the offers of mercy through faith in Jesus Christ. He views with pity and with tears those, who continue under sentence of death and exposed to the wrath of God. He mourns on account of the defects he discovers in the church and in himself; but still loves and endeavors to promote the cause of his Redeemer. To the unrenewed those benevolent institutions, the support of which requires some sacrifices of property, are viewed as real evils. Though they may be desirous of being praised for their liberality, they would be better pleased should there be no occasion for it. But to him, in whom dwelleth the spirit of Him, who though rich became poor for our sakes, to him, I say,

who feels his obligation to his Redeemer, and who is anxious to see an increase of the number of his disciples, every enterprise, the design of which is to enlarge his kingdom, appears to be honorable and worthy of approbation. The greater the number of the streams, whose waters refresh the kingdom of Christ, the more the Christian rejoices.

The worship of God, whether public or private, has no charms for the unregenerate. They may be constant, urged by their conscience, at the house of God on the Sabbath. They may be unwilling to expose themselves to contempt by treating with disrespect an institution generally approved. However exact a man may be in the performance of outward duties, if not influenced by love he cannot be accepted. The real Christian loves the house of God, and the duties required of him. One thing, said the Psalmist, have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Again. For a day spent in thy courts is better than a thousand: 1 had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. And the more distinguished any are for piety the more they delight in communion with God in secret.

One of the peculiarities of the views of a true convert is the general respect he has to all the truths and precepts of christianity. Those, who have indulged a false hope, are often found to be in some things very zealous, while other things are totally neglected, or, are treated with indifference. There is also a solemnity, which attends all the operations of the Holy Spirit,