kingdom of God." "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." "Thus saith the High and Lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy. I dwell in the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." This cannot be said of any unrenewed man; for "they that are in the flesh, cannot please God." But repentance is pleasing to God. If the sinner, therefore, does truly repent previous to regeneration; then they that are in the flesh, can please God. They can do that to which salvation is promised. What then, is there to hinder them from being actually saved without regeneration?

3. If true repentance is antecedent to regeneration, then, every other Christian grace may exist in the unrenewed heart. The sinner can as well love God, and believe in Christ, as he can repent without a new heart. Regeneration is no more necessary to cause the sinner to love God, than it is to cause him to repent; for as we have seen, true repentance implies love to God. The sinner can no more repent aright previous to regeneration, than he can exercise evangelical faith. For that repentance which is without faith, is not acceptable to God. "Without faith it is impossible to please him." It is plain, therefore, that if true repentance may exist in the unrenewed heart, regeneration is unnecessary; which is contrary to the positive declaration of Christ.

4. That repentance does not precede regeneration, is evident from the nature of regeneration. The change in regeneration is thus described. "I will take

away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." Now the stony heart which God takes away in regeneration, is not a penitent heart. A penitent heart, is a broken and contrite heart. Such a heart God never takes away. On the contrary, it is the very heart of flesh, which he gives in regeneration. The new heart, therefore, which is the effect of the Spirit's agency in regeneration, is a penitent heart. Hence it is plain that true repentance does not precede regeneration.

Permit me here to remark, I have not asserted, that the sinner is not under obligation to repent, previous to regeneration. It is unquestionably the duty of every sinner immediately to repent. We are not considering now what is duty, but what is fact. It is the duty of sinners to do many things which they never have done, and which some of them never will do. It is their duty to stop sinning, and to love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength. So it is their duty to repent without delay. But they have not done it, and some of them never will.

By this time, some of my hearers will perceive a great difficulty in this subject. It is this. If sinners do not repent previous to regeneration, then you call on them to do what it requires almighty power to influence them to do. This difficulty is not peculiar to this subject. It runs through the whole system of evangelical truth.

There are many who think they see a great inconsistency in the preaching of ministers. "Ministers" they say, "contradict themselves-They say, and unsay-They tell us to do, and then tell us we cannot do-They call upon sinners to believe and repent, and

then tell them that faith and repentance are the gift of God--They call on them to come to Christ, and then tell them that they cannot come."

That some do preach in this manner, cannot be denied. I well recollect an instance. A celebrated preacher in one of his discourses, used this language. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” In another discourse, this same preacher said, "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." Now what think you, my hearers, of such peaching, and of such a preacher? What would you have said, had you been present and heard him? Would you have charged him with contradicting himself? This preacher, you will remember, was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. And I have no doubt that many ministers have followed his example, and been guilty of the same self-contradiction, if you call it such.

Now, my hearers, what will you say? Will you say, that the difficulty, so far as it relates to Christ's preaching, can be easily explained? If it can, it can also be explained in reference to the preaching of others; and there is no cause of complaint. Or will you boldly assert that Christ contradicted himself? If you take this ground, you turn infidels at once. Or will you say, that you believe Christ to be consistent with himself, whether you can explain the difficulty or not? If so, why not say the same in regard to the preaching of his ministers who preach in the same manner?

I wish you to remember that the difficulty complained of, existed in our Saviour's preaching. Nor is it confined to a few passages; but runs through the Bible. This I will now state more at large.

1. The Bible calls upon sinners to repent; and yet teaches that repentance is the gift of God.

John, the harbinger of Christ, came preaching and saying, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." "From that time, began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." And the Apostles "went out and preached that men should repent." Paul, preaching at Athens, said, “The times of this ignorance, God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent." And yet the Bible teaches us that repentance is the gift of God. “Him hath God exalted at his own right hand, to be a Prince and Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins." "In meekness instructing them that oppose themselves, if peradventure, God will give them repentance, to the acknowledging of the truth." "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." Again-The Bible calls on sinners to believe in Christ, and yet teaches that faith is the gift of God.

"This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." "Believe on

"He

the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." that believeth not is condemned already." And yet it is written, "By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Again--Sinners are called upon in the Bible to arise from the dead. "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." And yet we are taught that it is the work of God, to raise sinners from spiritual death to spiritual

life. "You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."

Again--It is written, "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed, and make you a new heart, and a new spirit." And yet it is also written, "A new heart will I give you, and a right spirit will I put within you."

Thus you see that the Bible does call upon sinners to do, what it requires the Almighty power of God, to influence them to do. Now whether I can explain this difficulty to your satisfaction or not, I wish you to remember that it is in the Bible. You have seen that God does command sinners to repent, to believe, and to make a new heart. And those ministers who do not call upon sinners to do the same, do not preach as God has commanded them. You have seen also, that repentance and faith, and a new heart, are represented as the gifts of God. And whoever does not attribute them wholly to the agency of the Holy Spirit, robs God of his glory, and does not preach the gospel. Whether I can explain this difficulty to your satisfaction or not, I wish you to bear in mind, that every minister, who would declare all the counsel of God, is bound to preach in this manner. I take it for granted, that you all will admit that ministers are under obligation to preach according to the teaching of the Bible.

But let us now see whether the difficulty can be explained. The question, it will be remembered, is, How is it consistent for God to command sinners to do, what it requires Almighty power to cause them to do? Many methods have been adopted to obviate this difficulty.