and in their natures as ruined by the fall are alike unclean. The law hath pronounced an eternal curse upon all Adam's posterity. Who then can be saved? None. No, not one, by any power, will, or act of their own. This is a truth which shines as clear as the sun throughout the written word of the Most High. Faith is the gift of God, and it cannot be received without the mighty operation of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is pleased to give divine evidence of this in the hearts of all whom he awakens. He quickens their souls as the Spirit of life from Christ, with life in Christ. He shews them what sin is, and what is done in them, and for them. He gives them to see its nature, guilt, and filth. He makes them acquainted with its power and dominion causes them to fall down in their own view as dead, and damned at the sight he gives them of it, and of themselves as the subjects of it. By which means they see with their own eyes, experience in their own souls, feel in their own hearts, and acknowledge before the Lord, how justly they deserve the dam

nation of hell. Hereby they feel their need of pardoning mercy, apprehend their need of Jesus and his salvation. His blood and righteousness become precious to them; and to be informed that he is Almighty to save, that he saves freely, fully, completely, every sinner who trusts in him, this is gospel indeed. A joyful sound, harmonious to the ear! The name of Jesus is exhilirating, which yields joy to the heart which is unspeakable. This is a brief account of the Holy Spirit's work in the souls of men, and the method he makes use of, to the intent that they, feeling their want of Jesus and his salvation, he may become inestimably precious unto them, as made known to them in his word, and revealed by it in their hearts. In his own good pleasure, and at the time when it will make most for his glory, he leads the poor, convinced, self-emptied sinner to Christ, takes of his things, and shews them to him, and so effectually, and divinely enlightens the mind with the saving knowledge of Christ from the word of the gospel, and so opens the heart to re

ceive Christ by it, that there is through the mighty power of the Lord the Spirit a real closing between the sinner and Jesus, most truly effected. This is by the inward revelation of Jesus Christ, by which the soul apprehends the virtue of Christ's blood as effectually sufficient to cleanse from every spot and stain of sin before the Lord, and that for ever; and has a sight of Christ's righteousness, so as to have the heart taken with it, and drawn to pray to be found clothed therein, living, dying, and before God's tribunal. So that such are believers, who see by faith, salvation in Christ, are drawn by the Father through the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, under the attractive, and omnipotent sweetness of everlasting love, to the Lord Jesus for pardon, life, and salvation. Such an one is a believer who takes Christ's word for his warrant, and by faith in it rests himself on the person, blood, and righteousness of Immanuel, for present, spiritual, and everlasting salvation. Nor shall such be ashamed, or confounded, world without end. But are all in this congregation

such as believe in Christ to the saving of the soul? Though without all doubt, each of you cannot be styled believers in Christ Jesus, yet ye are all sinners, and ye need Christ, and dying without faith in him ye are everlastingly undone. The gospel, which is the charter of salvation, contains a free, full and perfect pardon, to each and every sinner, be he who, or what he may, who comes to Christ for it. I stand here with one foot on time, the other on eternity, to inform you that Christ himself, who is truth itself, from whom pardon is freely dispensed expressly saith, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." no objection against thee, O sinner, though thou hast been living in sin and unbelief all thy days to the present moment. If thy sins and guilt are as infinite as sins and guilt ever were; if thine exceed all that are actually in hell; yet upon this general word of Christ thou mayest hope. And if through the power of the Holy Ghost working by it in thy soul, thou art enabled to believe the word which Jesus hath spoken, and

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comest to Christ, putting thy whole trust in him, thou wilt find the blood of Christ effectual, and that it cleanseth thee from all sin, and that his all-sufficient righteousness will hide all thy deformity from view. If thou art brought to renounce all self-dependence, to come in the exercise of simple dependence on Christ's blood and righteousness to God for salvation, he will be pleased to pronounce thee a pardoned person, saying and speaking from his word, and by his Spirit to thee, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Oh! that God may accompany this with an effectual blessing to you to-day, and send his Spirit into your hearts that ye may cry, Abba, Father. Believers in Christ are interested in every blessing which he obtained by the sweat of his brow, the travail of his soul, the triumphs and victories of his cross; so that it belongs unto them, and it highly becomes them to say in views of death and the grave, "But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through