obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ. He will pour his fury upon the nations and upon the families that call not on his name. He will turn all nations into hell that forget God. Jer. x. 25. Psalm ix. 17. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we let them slip; for if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward, how shall we escape? Heb. ii. 1, 2, 3. Has not the law received in the sufferings of Christ the most awful sanction ? Though he was personally innocent and immaculately pure, see how the sword of justice smote Him when standing our surety. If the Almighty supporter of all things groaned beneath the pressure of the law's curse, when he stood the substitute of all believers, where would that curse crush feeble reptiles? If such things were done on the green tree, what will become of the dry? Verily those who fall even upon the Rock of Salvation shall be broken, but those upon whom he falls in terrible vengeance, he will grind them to powder. Did the law thunder in its promulgation at Sinai?-how terrible must its sanction be when it shall be executed in all its terrors upon sinners at the last day? This will be peculiarly terrible to those who have known, or had a gos. pel opportunity to know its principles. Hebrews x, 26: "If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful

looking for fof judgment, and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God," &c. To cast light upon the sanction of the law, the heavens and the earth shall yet burn in awful blaze, when the wrathful torch shall be put to the funeral pile of nature. 2 Pet. iii. 7. "For the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men: v. 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. v. 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? v. 12. Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved," &c. Yes, let us hasten for he comes to every one of us quickly. Rev. xxii. 12. "Behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be. Then shall we see this saying verified. v. 14. "BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in, through the gates, into the city."

PART IV.

The subjects and mode of Christian Baptism.

CHAP. I.

IN the discussion of this topic, we must, in the first place, remember that the Saviour of the Church is the Sovereign of the Church. Such therefore as are his servants and stewards must conduct the affairs of his house accordiag to his pleasure. In the second place, what is his pleasure must be learned from his own word.

There is no doubt but infinite wisdom, and perfect propriety mark all his arrangements. The modes of worship which he has prescribed, and modes of communicating his mind to his subjects, which he has adopted, do not form any exceptions. If the device of salvation, as a whole, could never have been conceived by any finite mind, it certainly ill becomes mortals to criticise upon its parts. The business of reason is, to draw fair conclusions from known and acknowledged facts. She is certainly, therefore, very much out of her place, when she says, another way would be better than that which revelation enjoins.

The scripture is not, formally, a confession of our faith; nor yet a specific directory of our worship: yet it will be granted by all humble and pious disciples of Jesus Christ that it contains the

only proper elements of both. Men are addres sed as reasonable creatures, and ought, therefore, to consider carefully what is revealed to them for a rule of faith and practice. Men are addressed as rational creatures in the seriptures. 1 Cor.

x. 15.

"I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say." 1 Cor. xi. 13, 14. “Judge in yourselves'; is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not nature itself teach you"? Our great solicitude, therefore, in this matter and in all ordinances of worship should be to know and do the Master's revealed will.

It will in this as in every thing else be pleasant to know the reason of things, but stiil we must know that he is not bound to give us an account of his high deings and holy ways. Where rea son, therefore, cannot clearly see, let her humbly adore. In her own province, i. e. where there is no specific direction given, and when the matter is cognizable by her powers, let reason preside. "Let every thing be done decently and in order." The Apostle directed the Christians at Phillipi to employ the principles of right reason, and taste to religious order. Phil. iv. 8. Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever shings are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Attention to these prinples of scripture, is necessary to keep us clear of extremes. On one side stands the Scylla of

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formality; on the other the Charibdis of fanaticism Against the danger of splitting on either of these rocks we must look out, if we would steer clear, and arrive safe in the harbor of Truth.

With regard to the character of adults who should be baptised, there will be little controversy between Reformers and Regular Baptists. We always opposed the practice of indiscriminate administration of ordinances, and the practice of the half way covenant, now very justly, and very generally exploded. It is necessary that adult applicants for baptism should be examined with regard to their knowledge of the system of grace and salvation generally. Those who are obviously yet in the kingdom of darkness, cannot, with propriety, be admitted into the kingdom of Christ by the badge of a religious profession. In allusion to this principle the baptism of adults used to be called by the Greeks, photismes, illumination; and Paul, from whose eyes the scales of ignorance fell, before his baptism, calls baptised persons, "once enlightened." Heb. vi. 4. They must give evidence, that they cordially believe those truths which they intelligently know. Philip first instruets the eunuch, and then he says, "If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest." Acts viii. 36. It is very desirable to see those, who apply for baptism, moved with humble penitence, and holy contrition: "When they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apos