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garments, the promises are all poured upon Christ, and descend only to His members. "To Abraham and his Seed were the promises made; He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of One, and to thy Seed, which is Christ." " that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." "that the Gentiles should be -partakers of His promise in Christ." "All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen," -in Him who was given "for a covenant of the ple." "The Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."* How then can any promise reach those who are out of Christ? The promise chiefly contended for is one that shall ensure to the unregenerate an answer to their prayers: But if such prayers are answered it must be without the influence of Christ; of course they might have been answered if Christ had never died. Why then did He die? If one prayer of a sinner could ascend to God without going through Christ, a whole soul might, and if one soul might, a whole world might. If in one act a sinner can be accepted without a Saviour, he may be so accepted in his general conduct; and if one may, a whole world may: why then was a Saviour provided? But far from us be such a thought. Infinite Purity cannot commune

* Isai. xlii. 6. 2 Cor. i. 20. and v. 17. Gal. iii. 14, 16, 22. Eph. iii. 6. 1 John v. 1.

with pollution, (no not in a single instance,) nor look upon a sinner except through a Mediator. What mean you to contend for the privilege of going to God without a Mediator? to contend for the privilege of being pagans? Hope a prayer may reach the mercy seat without going through Christ! -if this is not self-righteousness expunge the word from the language. Further, a promise implies a reward. Now if the unregenerate are rewarded they are rewarded before they are pardoned. They receive tokens of favour while they remain objects of wrath. And for what are they rewarded? Not for the merits of Christ, for they have no part in Him; but for their own works,-works too which are indifferent or sinful. This is " confusion worse confounded." But charge not this upon the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation no such promise is found. "Ask and ye shall receive," is indeed said to all; but when you inquire the meaning of that condition, the answer is, 66 ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING.” It is said indeed that "the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force;" but if you have yet to learn what violence is meant, an OldTestament saint shall tell you: "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee, so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures ;

then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." In short all the promises addressed to the unregenerate are summed up in either of the following texts: "Ye shall seek me and find me, when ye shall search for me WITH ALL YOUR HEART." "If-thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him if thou seek Him WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL."*

Deut. iv. 29.

xvi. 24.

Prov. ii. 1-5. Jer. xxix. 13. Mat. xi. 12. John

James i. 6.

LECTURE VI.

REGENERATION SUPERNATURAL.

PSALM CX. 3.

THY PEOPLE SHALL BE WILLING IN THE DAY OF THY POWER.

THIS promise to Christ respecting His future kingdom is very emphatick. It can scarcely be tortured into any other meaning than that His power should be effectually exerted to render His people willing to submit to His empire; not indirectly by presenting to their view His miracles and the destruction of His enemies, and leaving the event to the casual operation of their self-determining power; but by a conquest of their wills or hearts through the efficacious influence of His Spirit.

In the last Lecture it was proved that Regeneration is an instantaneous change, from exclusive attachment to the creature, from supreme selfishness, from enmity against God, to universal love which fixes the heart supremely on Him; that there is no previous abatement of the enmity or approximation towards a right temper, the heart being