should be disappointed. And Christian hearers feel no lack, though they pass the whole remainder of the year, without ever being reminded of the truth of which my text speaks ; i.e. of the necessity of having the Holy Ghost imparted to us in order to our final salvation. Nay, even " Masters of Israel," of whom better things might be hoped, are yet ignorant of these things ; and, when told that they must be born again of the Spirit, too often reply, with Nicodemus, "How can these things bed?" In fact, we of the Church of England, having a season consecrated to the special consideration of this subject, have, from this very circumstance, our guilt greatly aggravated. We have heard, from year to year, the declaration in my text ; and yet perhaps have never once put the question to ourselves, " Have I received the Holy Ghost ? have I the Spirit of Christ dwelling in me ? have I ever sought this gift, and earnestly implored of God to bestow it on me ? have I, in the course of my whole life, so much as once felt any solicitude about it ?" Let this whole assembly put these questions to themselves ; and then let them see in what a perilous state they are, and with what a disposition of mind they ought to come to the further consideration of this all-important subject. Indeed, indeed, I must declare, from Almighty God, that, whatever any man may think of his attainments or his virtues, he is not a Christian truly, if his soul be not a temple of the Holy Ghost. He may have many amiable qualities, but he does not belong to Christ ; nor can he ever dwell with Christ in the eternal world, if Christ do not dwell in him, and abide with him, in this world. Whence the necessity for this heavenly gift arises will be opened in our next. But I must, in the mean time, warn all, that the subject is a matter of life and death. It is not to be listened to with mere curiosity, but as a point which at our peril we must understand, and at our peril must experience. If it is of import- ance whether we belong to Christ or not, it is of importance to ascertain whether we have this evidence
11 John iii. 9, 10.