or through the by-path of hypocrisy with pharisaical professors. Converted sinners, or believers, are either under the dispensation of the Father, under that of the Son, or under that of the Holy Ghost, according to the different progress they have made in spiritual things: and the faithful pastor is as perfectly acquainted with their various attainments as a diligent tutor is acquainted with the different abilities of his several pupils.

Believers, under the dispensation of the Father, are ordinarily surrounded with a night of uncertainty and doubt, though visited, at tines, with a few scattered rays of hope. Under the dispensation of the Son, the doubts of believers are dissipated, like those of the two disciples who journeyed to Emmaus, while they discover more clearly, and experience more powerfully, the truths of the Gospel. But under the dispensation of the Spirit, they, "walk in the light," and are led into all truth, by the spirit of truth; the anointing which they have received, abideth in them, and teaching them of all things" necessary to salvation.

A father of the church paraphrasing upon those words of the Apostle, "Lord save us; we perish"- apostrophizes thus with the doubting disciples: You have your Saviour with you, what danger can you fear? We are yet, they reply, but children, and have attained but to a small degree of strength: hence we are afraid. The descent of the Holy Spirit, that divine protector, which has been graciously promised, has not yet filled us with full assurance. This has been the cause of our unsteadiness hitherto: and hence, the Saviour so frequently reproaches us with the weakness of our faith.' Now, all those christians who have not yet received the spiritual baptism, so frequently mentioned in the New Testament, are shut up in this state of weakness and doubt. But so soon as they are born of the Spirit, they cry ont no longer with trembling fear, save us, we perish! but they cry out in transports of gratitude, "God, according to his mercy, hath saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he hath shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour!"

Under the dispensation of the Father, believers constantly experience the fear of God, and, in general, a much greater degree of fear than love. Under the economy of the Son, love begins to gain the ascendency over fear. But under the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, perfect love casteth out fear; because it is peculiarly the office of the Comforter, to deliver the soul from every thing that is liable to distress and torment it.

Under the economy of the Father, the believer is frequently heard to exclaim, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Under that of the Son, he gratefully cries out; I thank God, who hath effectually wrought this deliverance, through Jesus Christ our Lord: but under the perfect Gospel, which is the dispensation of the Spirit, all believers are enabled to say, with one voice; "We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and joint heirs with Christ."

St. Paul thus distinguishes the different states of advancement in the christian faith. "The heir, as long as he is a child, [and such Is the case with believers, under the dispensation of the Father] differeth nothing from a servant, though ne be Lord of all; but is un

der tutors and governors till the time appointed of his Father. Even so we were" once "in" a state of "bondage: but when the falness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of Sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore, thou art no more a servant but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God, through Christ by whom we have access into this grace, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Our Lord himself evidently pointed out the progressive state of the church, when turning to his disciples, he said; "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." Nevertheless, when their gracious Master held this language, he was at that time neither glorified, nor crucified: and it is well known, that the great glory of the Gospel was to follow his sufferings and his triumph.

The same subject is treated by St. Peter in his first epistle, where he speaks of that full salvation, which is to be considered, as the end or recompense of faith." Of which salvation," saith he, "the Prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: scarching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ, which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you, by them that have preached the Gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven, which things the Angels desire to look into. Happy are ye! for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. Ye are a chosen generation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”

Without an experimental knowledge of these several states, a minister can no more lead sinners to evangelical perfection, than an illiterate peasant can communicate sufficient intelligence to his rustic companions, to pass an examination for the highest degree in a university. It may here be necessary to mark out the grand truths, by which these dispensations are severally characterized.

The common language under the dispensation of the Father, is as follows: "God hath made of one blood all nations of men, and hath appointed the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. The grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared," in different degrees, " to all men; For the living God is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe. God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh unto God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."

Observe the language of the Son's dispensation. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men. I bring

you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. The hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent No man can come unto me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him: and every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life and he, that believeth not the Son, shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

The dispensation of the Spirit is again distinguished by the following peculiar language. "This is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel: In the last days," or under the last dispensations of my grace, "saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, upon my servants, and upon my hand-maidens: and they shall prophesy. Jesus, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, hath shed forth this " plenitude of grace, the effects of "which ye now see and hear. Repent,” therefore," and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

If at any time it is to be apprehended, that believers are still carnal, and unrenewed by the Spirit of God, the pastor, who is conversant with these different economies of grace, enquire with St. Paul; "Have ye received the Holy Ghost, since ye believed?" When others, among his flock, demonstrate both by their conversation and conduct, that they are influenced by the Spirit of Christ, he exhorts them in a manner suitable to the glorious dispensation under which they live. "Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost therefore glorify God, in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in your hearts unto the Lord. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks."

This language is too elevated for natural men, who understand it no more than illiterate persons comprehend the most abstruse parts of science. Hence it is necessary, that the faithful minister should acquaint himself with the different conditions and capacities of all his hearers, if he would happily accommodate spiritual things to spiritual men. Without this knowledge, he will, under every dispensation," run the hazard of refusing to advanced christians the solid nourishment they need, and of presenting to the natural man that celestial manna, which his very soul abhors.

THE DIFFERENT DISPENSATIONS ARE PRODUCED BY THAT LOVELY VARIETY, WITH WHICH THE ALMIGHTY IS PLEASED TO DISTRIBUTE HIS FAVOURS.

Ir the light of the Gospel had been due from God to every individual sinner; if he had not been left entirely free in every sense of the word, to impart it to whom, at what time, and in what degree soever was most pleasing to himself; his impartial justice would then have engaged him equally to illuminate all mankind, and he must have caused the Sun of righteousness, immediately after the fall, to have shone out in its meridian brightness. In such case, there would have been but one dispensation of grace; and the light of the Gospel would not have proceeded to its highest glory, by such just gradations, as are observable in all the productions of nature.

But the Almighty has proceeded in the work of our redemption, according to the dictates of his own unerring wisdom, and not upon the plans of our pretended sages. The day of the Gospel, whether it be considered as enlightening the world in general, or the heart in particular, rises, like the natural day, from one degree of brightness to another, till all its glories are fully manifested.

The confusion which many divines have spread over this part of theology, makes it necessary to go into particulars, that we may place in a just point of view, both the gradations and the harmony of those three dispensations, which collectively form the glorious Gospel of God.

If some naturalists were determined to confine their observations upon the rainbow to those lines in it that are manifestly red; if naturalists of another class were as obstinate in contemplating those of an orange hue; and if others were as resolutely bent in singling out those of a blue colour; they would contradict and dispute with each other in as ridiculous a manner, as many ignorant worshippers of the triune God are observed to do at this day. Thus deists dispute for the honour of God the Creator; and while some christians pay all their homage to God the Redeemer, others are as wholly taken up! with God the Sanctifier. Amid all the confusion of these jarring sentiments, the prudent pastor admits, in their proper place, the various dispensations of Evangelical light, conducting his followers from faith to faith, till he beholds them illuminated with all the truths, and experiencing all the power of the christian religion.

We acknowledge that God is just, though the light of the natural sun approaches us only in a gradual manner, producing a constant variety both in our days and seasons. We do not accuse the supreme Being of injustice, because he is not pleased to bring the fruits of the earth, in an instant to their highest maturity; or because the same species of fruit, which is esteemed for its delicious flavour in one climate, is found worthless and insipid in another. And if the Sovereign of the world is not expected to ripen on a sudden, either the reason of individuals, or the knowledge of nations, it should not be matter of surprize to observe him acting in his usual manner, with respect to things of a spiritual nature. His plans are all equally wise: but it is impossible for man to form a perfect judgment of them, unless the creature could stand for a moment in the place of the CREATOR, and take one comprehensive view of earth and heaven, time and eternity. If," one day

is with the Lord as a thousand years," when he is pleased in an unexpected manner, to fulfil his grand designs: " and a thousand years as one day, when he sees good to accomplish his purposes in a more gradual way; why should it so strangely afflict and amaze us, that he has left the human race in a state of suspense, with regard to his unsearchable counsels, for near six thousand years ? The time is coming when he will discover to us that stupendous plan, which, in our present circumstances, we contemplate with every disadvantage; and just as an animalcule, whose life is limited to six hours, would contemplate the plan of an immense palace, which a skilful architect had promised to complete in as many years. Supposing such an insect endued with reason, and coming into existence during the night, should blindly crawl among the loose materials of which the intended edifice was to be constructed; what opinion could it form either of the architect, or his plan? Would not this insignificant creature be led to judge of these matters, as the pretended philosopher inconsiderately judges of that mysterious plan, upon which the Almighty is erecting the temple of truth, and creating an incorruptible world? If the Creator thought it necessary to employ six days in completing the beauties of the material world; and if the Redeemer judges it expedient progressively to perfect the more lasting beauties of a spiritual world, during six of his more ample days; how little reason have we to despise the comprehensive design; especially, when we consider six thousand years are far more inconsiderable in comparison of eternity, than six atoms in comparison with this terrestrial globe.

Now, if such a plan is not only reasonable, but has been evidently adopted by him, who "giveth not account of any of his matters," it is undoubtedly true, that those who have lived in different periods of time, have not been permitted to enjoy all the various truths, which God has successively revealed to man. Nevertheless, it is equally certain, that every man, in what period of time, and in what peculiar circumstances soever he found himself placed, has received sufficient light to discover, as well as sufficient power to perform, what God has been pleased to require at his hands.

The day of evangelical truth is graciously allowed to all mankind, that they may thereby be assisted to discover, to love, and to obey their celestial Parent: and, finally, that they may reach the mark of their high destination, which is the enjoyment of those different degrees of blessedness, which are reserved for the different classes of the faithful. Let us consider the morning of this sacred day. When the first man had extinguished in his heart the light of truth and the fire of charity; when he became sufficiently stupid to think of concealing himself from his God among the trees of the garden, and sufficiently impious to throw the blame of his offence upon his companion in transgression, instead of confessing his disobedience with all its aggravations it is evident, that man was then without Christ, i. e. without a Saviour, without "hope, and without God in the world." In that night of error, of confusion, and, probably, of despair, the promise of a powerful Redeemer was given to our first parents, whence certain beams of hope were produced, which formed the earliest twilight of the Gospel-day.

The tradition of this gracious promise, which was made to Adam and confirmed to Noah; the natural law, which is nothing less than the remains of the Creator's image in the human heart; and the secret grace of the Redeemer, which is more or less operative in every man ; VOL. II. 5 H