life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

From the view we have taken of the subject under consideration it is manifest that the change, essential to salvation, is a work of God. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth; but of God that showeth mercy. It is true salvation is promised to all who sincerely repent and believe; but repentance and faith are fruits of the Spirit. It is not correct to maintain that the Holy Spirit persuades sinners to make to themselves new hearts merely by enlightening their minds and presenting to them proper motives of action. This is not the scripture view of the subject, { nor does it correspond with genuine Christian experience. During a season of refreshing many are aroused from their slumbers-greatly excited, and enlightened; who do not become Christians. When the excitement experienced subsides they often become more opposed than ever to the peculiar truths of Christianity. There are but few, who deny that they are in any sense dependent on the Spirit of God for renovation of heart. But the principle is the same, whether we are more or less dependent for salvation. If it be inconsistent with our freedom of action to be dependent on God for grace to enable us to do our duty—or to be dependent on him for a new heart, then it is inconsistent with our freedom of action to be dependent on him at all. Every true Christian is ready to acknowledge that the change wrought in him was wrought by God. How can a good action be performed without a discernment

of spiritual things-that discernment, which is peculiar to the Christian? The discernment itself is not love, or faith, or repentance. It is a pre-requisite, possessed only by the new creature.

2. As it is manifest from the view we have taken of the subject under consideration that the conversion of sinners is a work of God, and that we are dependent on him for its accomplishment; so it is important that Christians feel that their own strength is weakness, and their wisdom folly-and that by earnest prayer they must look to God alone for success in all their labors for the salvation of men. Few men distinguished for their talents and learning are willing to humble themselves so much as to take their place in the dust, and to look to God alone for help. It is more gratifying to their pride to depend on some philosophical theory, or on some peculiar means, or instrumentality than on the Spirit of God. When God revives his work and sinners are pricked in their heart; they are convinced and feel that none but God can give them power to do his will. Create in me a clean heart, O God! is the cry of the condemned sinner, and renew a right spirit within me. great fault of Christians is that they have not a proper sense of their dependence on God. When successful they attribute it to some peculiar instrumentality—to some second cause or means, and not wholly to God. But when unsuccessful, they attribute this to some defect in the ministry, or to some other secondary cause. Often they censure one another-often he that ministers in holy things is censured, and dismissed, with the belief that another may be obtained who will be successful.

The

3. As help can be obtained only from God, so Christians should accustom themselves to meditate on those truths, which are best suited to humble them and to keep them humble. When we see Christians deeply humbled, weeping on account of their unfaithfulnesspleading with God as those, who feel their dependence on him; we can with a good degree of safety predict that a revival is at hand. The means best suited to keep Christians in a humble state are best suited to promote a revival of true religion.

4. The view taken of the subject, under consideration, is suited to alarm the fears of all the unrenewed. When any are awakened, nothing alarms and distresses them so much as to find that they are in the hands of God, whose law they have broken, and to whom they have made no proper returns for the many mercies received. To find that they are in the hands of an angry God, without any power to escape, and that they are dependent on his mere mercy for salvation produces that agony of soul, which cannot be described. This is the state of feeling to which every one must be brought before he can become a Christian. He must be divested of all dependence on himself, and feel his dependence on God alone for salvation. Does his dependence allow him to wait? Does the criminal condemned to die, who depends on the governor for pardon, refuse to ask for so great a favor?

Those, who persuade themselves that they can at any time become Christians, are always disposed to defer the commencement of that work, which demands immediate attention. So long as affectionate parents believe that a beloved and only child, danger

ously sick, may be restored to health by human instrumentality at their command, they experience some alleviation of their distress; but when convinced that their dependence is on God alone, then their solicitude and distress reach the highest degree. Let the sinner then make a full confession of his guilt and dependence. If we confess our sins, said the Apostle John, He, (i. e. God,) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrightAmen.

eousness.

DISCOURSE V.

THE REPENTANCE OF A SINNER A GREAT EVENT.

Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.-LUKE XV, 10.

THAT event must be great, which so deeply interests and affects a kingdom as to occasion general and public rejoicing. But an event of less importance may produce emotions of joy in the bosom of an individual. A poor woman loses a small piece of money, which on account of her necessities is to her a serious misfortune. She mourns and weeps; she searches dilgently and at length finds it. The degree of her joy is high in proportion to the depths of

her poverty. She calls together her neighbors, who on account of their low condition can sympathize with her, to participate in her joy. When we hear the sound of national rejoicing we know that some object has been obtained, or that some important event is commemorated. Now the difference between a poor woman and a whole nation is less than the difference between an earthly kingdom and the kingdom of heaven. How great then must be that event, which occasions joy in the presence of the angels of God! The number of them is ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. They do not rejoice without good cause. They are higher in dignity than any of the potentates of this world-their knowledge is more extensive than that of the most learned men that have ever lived. The intelligence which reaches them is correct. Nothing but the truth is received in heaven.

The inquiry may by some be made, can any event known in this world be worthy of the notice of holy angels and cause them to rejoice? We are assured in our text that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. The humble penitent can hardly realize that the angels of God feel interested in his welfare. But the repentance of the most obscure and illiterate individual occasions joy in the presence of the angels of God. How differ`ently is the event viewed in this world, and even by the church of Christ! A few Christians may mention it with some degree of interest. Much of the joy experienced may be occasioned by selfish considerations, or by mere sympathy. Those, whose joy is like that of the holy angels, rejoice with trembling, know