of God; and to suppose that a believer is again liable and responsible for the debt discharged by his covenant head, is not only a gross misrepresentation of Scripture, but an insult to the work of the great Redeemer, and a shameful dishonour done to his name. If a man of known respectability had but given his pledge to become responsible for the debt of another, it would be considered an indignity to refuse his assurance; but here is not a promise, not a pledge, but the condition of the law actually fulfilled by the Son of God, the debt liquidated to the last fraction, and the 'handwriting blotted out,' that no remembrance of the ordinance might remain ; -and yet there are persons who will charge believers with the debt,-which they persist in maintaining is unpaid! Now I can account for this infatuation only in one of two ways;-either such persons never were enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and consequently cannot possess spiritual discernment; or they know little of their own heart, and are therefore not aware of its habitual tendency, to the last, to find something in self which is to be added to the work of Christ to render their salvation more secure. If such persons actually (though but in part) saw themselves as they are, and felt the plague of their own hearts, instead of talking of "the degree

of perfection to be attained in the flesh;" of "sincerity of obedience;" and of "purity of motive;" they would gladly cry out, blessed indeed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered! Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.' But as they cannot be satisfied with the measure of the Apostle Paul's experience, ‘I am carnal, sold under sin; what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do; for I know that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing,'-they resolve, with a pertinacity that is really wonderful, that as for them they will find something good in the flesh; that they will not come to the discovery that they are carnal, sold under sin; and as to being justified fully and freely by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, they do not altogether need it, for they can assist in their own justification. I am persuaded that they are not aware of the dishonour they do to the great ransom provided. The notion of sharing the work with the Saviour is so absurd and so weak, that one could almost smile over the strange folly and ridiculous pride of poor human nature! But when we come to look at the Saviour's all-sufficient atonement, to know that every point of the law was fulfilled to the last iota, that He drank the cup of His Father's wrath to

the very dregs, and that His precious blood flowed for the guilt of all who ever had believed in Him, or ever should believe; then, I say, we cannot but wonder, and sigh, and from our very soul lament, that beings beloved by such a Saviour, and redeemed at such a cost, should so pour contempt on his blessed name. Oh, my dear brother, it is a lamentable thought; it is a disgrace to professors; it is enough to call for heavy judgments upon us."

Mr. Forbes said he could not see the subject in the same light with the Rector, he saw the precept and the promise perpetually joined together, implying that, sinful and prone to evil as man undoubtedly was, obedience was unquestionably required of him.

"Yes, my dear Sir, the promise and the precept do certainly go together, but not in the order too frequently stated; the promise takes the lead, the precept follows as the natural and unfailing consequent of the promise. And where this order is inverted, there is the mingling of law and gospel, an error pregnant with the worst consequences. But let us keep them separate; give the promise fully, freely, and then take up the apostle's plan, who invariably exhorts to holiness as the effect of faith, and the result of a sense of adoption. Having there

fore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'"

"Ah! there, my dear Sir, is not the apostle still preaching the law? What is holiness, and what is the exhortation against filthiness of the flesh, but a part of the moral law ?”

"A part of the moral law, assuredly; but not the law as a covenant, or as having any claim on a believer with regard to his justification or condemnation. You could not surely imagine that any one enlightened by the Spirit would deny that the law is a rule of life to the believer! It is not only written on his heart, but it is constantly brought forward in scripture, as a standard for the regulation of his conduct."

"Well, then, my dear Sir, is not this admitting that he is under its influence?"

"He is under its influence as a standard of excellence, as a transcript of his Father's will, but he is not under its influence as a covenant, by the obeying or disobeying of which he secures or loses heaven."

"Then we come to this conclusion, as I said before, that, upon your plan, sin as he may, he cannot lose heaven, and that however holily he lives, he cannot improve his state."

"If a man really be regenerate, and really trust in Christ, the scriptures assure us he shall never fall away :- -"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out:' and 'no man shall pluck them out of my hands.' It is upon the certain conviction of the reality and infallibility of these assurances, that the believer has a motive sufficiently strong to urge him to diligence in his walk; and the preacher who would employ the most powerful means of incitement, must use the apostle's arguments, and exhort his people 'by the mercies of God,' to present their bodies

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a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable service.' Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are His.' And, in speaking of the temptations which are common to man, he must add, 'But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able to bear,-therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.' For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ́ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth,' &c. Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;