obvious. Indeed the direct tendency of faith, according to the express language of Saint Paul, is to remove from us all occasion of boasting. "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by the law of faith." "Therefore," he observes in another place, "it is of faith that it might be by grace," that is, that it might be by mere favour-imparted as a free gift. Thus our point is again established, and I trust we are all disposed to acknowledge with the Apostle, that faith is the gift of God.

A few positive declarations of Scripture shall conclude our present arguments. The exercise of faith is a coming unto Christ for the blessings of salvation. But we read in Saint John, chap. 6, verse 65, the following declaration of our Lord to the Jews; "Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." Saint Paul thus writes to the Corinthians-"To one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit*. Saint James informs us, that "Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." If however every good gift is from above, doubtless that excellent gift of faith is so too.

* Corinthians, chap. xii. verses 8 and 9.

We might proceed in advancing quotations of this nature; but I am persuaded it is unnecessary. I cannot but hope that your minds are fully convinced of the truth of the doctrine to which we have been attending. Taking this for granted I shall attempt,

II. To improve this important doctrine.

The preceding remarks have proved that faith is the gift of God. Now if we would improve this truth to our own advantage, it becomes us to learn from it where we are to apply in order to obtain the inestimable blessing of faith. If it be the gift of God, it is certainly our duty to make application to him for it. But here an important inquiry seems necessary. It is this are any of you, my brethren, destitute of this important grace? Would to God, that I had no reason to entertain any suspicions on this point! But, ah, the general conduct of many, bespeaks their want of true, genuine, gospel-faith! The Saviour is in no degree precious--the world is not overcome-the heart is not purified from the love and dominion of sin-present things and not the Author of all our mercies, have a supreme ascendency over the affections. These are awful marks, and shew, that in whomsoever they are found, there is no real faith. Nevertheless these marks, my brethren, are perhaps to be found in some of you. Is it really so? Are any of you, yet

strangers to the effects of saving faith upon your minds and in your conduct? If you are, alas, what an awful and pitiable condition you are in! For, without this faith, the precious Redeemer is not your Redeemer, to the blessings which he died to purchase, you have no claim; in his imputed obedience, and his atoning blood, you have as yet no interest. And can you bear the thought, that our Imanuel should have become a curse for sinners-should have endured their heavy punishment should have stooped from heaven to die-and drunk the bitter dregs of his father's wrath, to rescue them from never-ending woe, and to secure for them a place in the realms of bliss can you, I say, bear the thought, that God's only Son should have done all this; and yet that you must never be admitted to his blissful presence; but must die in your sins, and be thrust down to hell? The mere apprehension of this seems insupportable. And yet, unpleasant as it is to my feelings, I am constrained to say, that thus it will be, if shall remain satisfied without the life-giving principle of faith in your souls. The word is gone out of his mouth, and the decree is unalterably fixed in the court of heaven, that "He who believeth not in the Son of God shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him*."

* John, ch. iii. ver. 36,

you

But why do I bring forward these solemn considerations? It is out of love to your souls. It is to convince you, if possible, of the great importance and necessity of obtaining faith. Will my end be answered? Have the weighty reflections excited an anxiety in your breasts to become partakers of this grace? If they have, I would give you encouragement. We learn from our subject, where faith is to be obtained. It is the gift of God. Come then, my fellow-sinners, let me direct you to him, as the source from whence it proceeds. Let me point you to the Father of lights, from whom comes this inestimable blessing, and remember he gives it freely. He is ready to bestow it, on all those who seek it from him. What then should hinder you from immediately praying to him for it? Oh, begin without delay, and cry mightily to God! Give him no rest; nor let slumber close your eyes, till he has granted the desirable blessing. "Ask and ye shall have; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you."

Further, as faith is the gift of God, it concerns those who partake of it, to render unto him all the praise of it. I am addressing, I trust, not a few of this pleasing description. The hearts of many before me, I doubt not, bear testimony to their being under the influence of a divine faith. What cause have you, my dear brethren, for gratitude to God! If feel the blessed effects of a saving you

faith in your souls, and manifest the fruits of it in your daily conduct.-If you have been led, through the influence of this invaluable grace, to appropriate the Saviour to yourselves, to admire his transcendent excellencies, to feel your hearts purified, and to obtain an interest in eternal blessings ;Oh, how much are you indebted to the Father of all our mercies! Bear in mind, I entreat you, from whence this operative principle proceeds. It proceeds from God. It is his gift. Give then to him all the glory. Let not spiritual pride, nor carnal indifference, rob him of that honour which is due to his name. Rather let expressions of gratitude ever flow from your hearts; and let your future lives, be lives of constant praise. Since he has done so much for you, the warmest emotions of gratitude, and the most zealous obedience to his precepts, will fall far short of what is justly due to him. May then every part of your conduct hereafter evidence, that the language of your hearts is, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" of faith!

Lastly, since faith is the gift of God, it concerns believers never to think highly, but humbly of themselves. This is a lesson which it is of great importance to learn. Faith being a divine gift, cannot merit any thing from God. As, however, some persons seem to consider it to be the cause of the benefits