of heart and life. Not a chauge | powers of men, or in the means of of conduct, or of sentiment only, divine grace, or in the reasonablebut also of the disposition and ness and excellence of the subject frame of the mind :—a radical and itself. In the sinner's return to total change of the heart and life. God, every thing is involved that It consists in a conviction of sin, is of the first importance to him. as the greatest evil both in its na- self, and that is most honorable to ture and consequences; deep hu- his Creator, Governor, and Judge. miliation and self-abhorrence, on Yet men, in their natural state, disaccount of it; sorrows which are cern not these things of the spirit, characterized by brokenness of they are foolishness unto them; heart, and contrition of spirit; a indeed, they are at such decided distaste, amounting to utter hatred enmity with God, that their ma of all iniquity; a forsaking every lice has never been more excited false way, and by faith in our Lord than by his proposals of reconcili Jesus Christ, with all bumility and ation. They will not come unto earnestness, seeking an interest in Him, that they may have life; the merciful favour of God, and they say unto God, Depart from an entire conformity to his will, us, for we desire not a knowledge in the ways of his appointment. of thy ways. "A deceived heart It is holy principle in prevalent hath turned them aside, that they operation. Faith, hope, and love, cannot deliver their soul, nor say, are as really in exercise in the Is there not a lie in my right commencement of the religious life, hand?" It will be readily conif not so eminently, as they are ceded, that men, as transgressors, in its after stages. By our breth- are in a state of entire alienation, ren on both sides the question, it forfeiture, and exposure; that they will be allowed that these things possess no rights; that all the proare essential to genuine repentance visions of repentance and converand turning to God. That men sion are exclusively of the good have all physical and intellectual pleasure of God; and that these powers, necessary to repentance provisions are exbibited in the gosand conversion, is certain; there pel, to all men, as the most suitais no additional faculty of mind ble, free, and ample. The obstacle, required. Nor is there, in the then, if not the only one, the great, ministration of the gospel, any the chief obstacle, to men's repentdestitution of the means of re- ance and turning to God, is the pentance and turning to God. We sinful frame of their mind, their have all necessary information of evil disposition, the corrupt state our depravity, criminality, and of their hearts. "They do not danger; and of the abounding mer-like to retain God in their know cy of our offended God. The way ledge." Whilst this obstacle reof reconciliation by faith in Christ, mains, reconciliation is hopeless, is plainly laid open before us; "all it is impossible; the carnal mind things are now ready." We are is not subject to the law of God, directed, invited, and besought, in "neither indeed can be." To rea manner most kind and pressing, pent and be reconciled to God, to be reconciled to God. The men must have a different dispo strongest assurances are given that sition, an opposite frame of mind, whosoever comes shall in nowise a new heart; they must become be cast out. There is no deficiency 66 'new creatures." "Old things in either the physical or intellectual must be passed away, and all things

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must become new." Without ho-sical nor intellectual, any farther liness no man can be at one with than it is under the control of God. Destitute of a holy disposi- moral and spiritual power. Nor tion, men cannot possibly hate and is it the moral and spiritual power renounce sin ; or know, or turn to, which is exercised by the regeneor love, or serve the Lord. Light rate, for which they plead; but it and darkness, fire and water, may is the moral and spiritual power be as easily united, as a cor- of unregenerate and ungodly, of rupt and unrenewed heart, with wicked and depraved men to reHim "who is of purer eyes than pent and turn to God, which they to behold iniquity; in whose sight so earnestly maintain, as affording the heavens are not clean, and considerations of the first importwho chargeth his angels with ance in our religious affairs. folly."

But have men power of them. selves to effect this change, to repent and turn to God?

When we speak of the physical powers of men, our attention is directed to the construction of their animal frames; when of their It is worthy of particular re-intellectual powers, to the capacity mark, that with our brethren who and cultivation of their minds; but maintain the affirmative of this, when we treat of morals, religion, the question is not, do men by their and spirituality, we uniformly re own independent exertions repent fer to the disposition of their and turn to God? So far are they hearts. It is this that gives the from asserting that men do this of moral and religious character to themselves, they acknowledge, that persons, to thoughts, desires, in every instance of real repent- words, and actions." A good man, ance and conversion, the change out of the good treasure of his in the sinner's heart and life is heart, bringeth forth good things; effected solely by the spirit and and an evil man, out of the evil gracious dispensations of God, treasure of his heart, bringeth that "without the operations of forth evil things." the spirit, no man ever did repent, 'The term power, which primarily or ever will." They argue, of and generally conveys the idea of course, for a power that is inert; superiority and authority, and frea latent power, that is never quently even of dominion, is, in brought into action and never my estimation, both improperly effects its purpose. But a power and unhappily adopted by our that is not known by its effects, brethren in this controversy. It is in its existence of an extremely is by repentance and turning to doubtful nature. Power in its God, that we participate of gospel effects is like a tree known by its blessings; were this participation fruits. A power that never ope- obtained by the performance of rates to the accomplishment of its ritual services, I could more professed end, certainly possesses easily understand them. But as no claims to our most respectful the whole transaction is purely regard, especially when there is mental, in which we feel and conanother acknowledged power that fess sins, sorrows, necessities, and in all instances" is absolutely ne- unworthiness; and every blessing cessary, and certainly effectual." of which we partake is received But of what class or nature by us on the footing of sovereign is the power in man for which mercy, it appears to me, that our brethren contend? Not phy-shame and confusion of face only

belong to us, and that every tion attach to indisposition to comthing, which with any propriety ply with obligations.

can be designated power, belongs If, however exceptionable, the to God alone. We are not accus-term power must be employed, tomed to ascribe power to crimi-and that be power without which nals under the sentence of con- a certain end cannot by any posdemnation; nor to culprits, in their sibility be accomplished, and with feelings of remorse and solicita- which its accomplishment is absotions for pardon; nor to beggars, lutely certain, I hesitate not to who are ready to perish; nor to affirm, that men, whilst in a state the diseased, who are pining away of carnality, which is a state of under their maladies; yet these enmity to God, have not power to circumstances of guilt, destitution, repent of their sins, and turn and wretchedness, are in strict themselves to him. They have accordance with the state and feel- no disposition of heart even to inings of repenting sinners when cline them to it; they are in love returning to their offended and with iniquity, and are haters of just, yet merciful and gracious, God. God. A heart rightly disposed Power does not, like obligation, towards the God of holiness, is the invariably involve duties; and only thing wanting to men's rewere the obligations of men in pentance and conversion; and this question, there is not any one to is of such absolute necessity, that whom I would give place, as it the end cannot possibly be accomrelates to either number or, extent. plished in its absence, and in But in my estimate of obligation, whomsoever it exists, repentance most certainly, I should not join and turning to God is invariably those who would erect its standard produced. If I may so express on the ability or power of a dissi- myself, the intellectual faculties pated and fraudulent debtor. I are the material, and the disposhould raise it on the rights and sition of the heart is the impetus claims of his injured and just or power, by which the whole creditor. By his crimes the machinery is put and kept in debtor might ruin his health, waste his property, and debase his mind, so as to render himself both unable and indisposed to make restitution. But would his obligations be annihilated also by his crimes? Would not these abide in all their force, aggravated by wicked violations? Ability is generally destroyed by crime, but obligations are never cancelled by transgression, and they are always increased by the manifestations of mercy.

There are instances, in which a want of power exists so far apart from criminality, that it excites only our sympathy and pity; but in the estimation of God and man guilt and censure without excep

motion to moral good or evil. The means of repentance and conversion are either neglected, abused, or improved, according to the frame of the mind: as are the dispositions of the heart, such will be the tendencies of the life. We do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles; evil trees do not bring forth good fruit, nor do corrupt fountains send forth pure water. Darkness does not produce light, nor does water kindle fire, but these things may as well occur in nature, as in morals and religion for those whose hearts are under a sinful bias, to repent and turn to God. The wicked will do wickedly, for the fruit of the wicked tendeth to sin." Iu

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both instances, the cause and the by their own confession never has effect are of equal certainty. The been, is not, and never will be, Ethiopian will change his skin and successfully exerted. It is a the leopard his spots, when those, power that never demonstrates whose hearts are deceitful above itself in the lives of men. nor is all things and desperately wicked, once directly stated in the Word of shall, by their own independent God. An inferential and metapower, repent and turn to God. physical power, a mere hypothesis, The corrupt heart produces that may afford very suitable ground only which is evil. For from for the display of reasoning talent; within, out of the heart of men, but it is not human might or proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, power, but that of the Spirit of fornications, murders, thefts, co. | God alone, which in this instance vetousness, wickedness, deceit, is known in experience, and that lasciviousness, an evil eye, blas- claims our regards in revelation. phemy, pride, foolishness; all If, in repentance and conversion, these things come from within God does no more for guilty and and defile the man. Can any bu-depraved men, than they have man power purify such hearts as power to do for themselves, the these, or can hearts so vile purify work must necessarily be of a very themselves? It is the prerogative inferior order, and by no means of the Almighty alone, " to bring in accordance with the Apostle's a clean thing out of an unclean." representations, who speaks of it In either nature or morals, the as the quickening the dead, as a effect will invariably be in accord. new creation, and as effected by ance with the cause. The tree" the exceeding greatness of the must be first made good, in order power of God, according to the to its bearing good fruit. The working of his mighty power which heart must be renewed by the he wrought in Christ when he Holy Spirit before the sinner will raised him from the dead." And enter upon godly consideration, | who says, in reference to this work, and genuine repentance. The that God, who commanded Lord opened the heart of Lydia, the light to shine out of darkness, and then she attended to, or con- | hath shined in our hearts, to give sidered, the things which were spoken of Paul.*

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the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Both the nature of the case, and Christ.” In contemplating these divine authority assure us, that ex- and many other scriptural statecept a man be born again he can- ments of the same character, I not see the kingdom of God, and am overwhelmed with a sense of that the good work is both begun, divine favour, and of human obliand perfected in us, by God him-gation; and in the presence of such self. The effects of an evil, or a exhibitions of almighty and grawell-disposed mind, are generally | cious energies, I should be really perceived; and the state of the heart, whence they proceed; is as generally condemned or approved: but it requires no ordinary degree of discrimination even to conceive of the power for which our brethren contend, a power consisting in means, a power which

both ashamed and afraid to assert, that sinful and feeble men possess power of themselves to repent and turn to God, independent of the operations of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, I could as readily conceive of the guilty making an atonement for their transgressions, as for the

corrupt in heart creating them- | fraternity have rising families, selves after the divine image, in whom they would fain instruct in righteousness and true holiness. sacred knowledge.

That from all these privileges he is in a great measure excluded, by the prevalent practice of families sending their dinners to the baker's oven on the sabbath, by which he is necessarily employed during the whole of the morning, and leaves his work hot and weary, at an hour almost too late for him to prepare for attending an afternoon service; consequently,his privileges are restricted to the evening, at which time there is not in all places, an opportunity of attending public worship.

N. B. No remonstrance is here offered on the subject of baking rolls or muffins on a Sunday, as that is not practised by master bakers who profess any

rest; nor are customers for these articles to be found among the class of persons to whom this remonstrance is addressed, viz. Christian heads of families.

SHEWETH, That the employ-regard for that day of sacred ment in which your petitioner is engaged, is one of great bodily labour and fatigue through the week, requiring many hours of exertion, at a time when persons in general are enjoying the sweets of repose, and that, consequently, your petitioner stands in especial need of the merciful provision of the sabbath..

That your petitioner conceives he possesses an immortal soul, of equal value with those of his fellow. creatures, and which stands in equal need of the instructions and consolations of religion.

Your petitioner humbly requests that the premises may be taken into your serious and benevolent consideration, and that you will adopt such measures for his relief, and that of his brethren, as to your wisdom and equity may seem fit and practicable.

Your petitioner is well aware of the pleas urged on behalf of this practice. Such as (1), through the That having, as he trusts, been various engagements of families made a partaker of divine grace during the week, and in many through the gospel, he conceives cases through inability to procure it his duty, as it would be his de- it, Sunday is the only day in light, according to his humble which the whole family can sit ability, to extend the knowledge down to the enjoyment of a comof that blessed gospel, by assisting |fortable meal: (2), that by the emin the work of Sunday-school in- ployment of two or three persons struction, and other suitable means in attending to a baker's oven and that might present themselves: in carrying out dinners, the servants, addition to this, he would remark, or other active persons of thirty that though himself, but an uncon- or forty families, may be set at nected individual, many of his liberty to attend public worship :