to appear, it would be universally esteemed a miracle. The truth is, that they who are so strenuous for this opinion, have invariably but very low notions of original sin. It is their low sense of their disease that leads them to rest in such a remedy. But, as " the fault and corruption of their nature is such as deserves God's wrath and damnation0,'' they must have a new nature given to them by the operation of the Holy Ghost : they must be renewed, not externally, or partially, but inwardly, and in all the powers of their souls : they must " be renewed in the spirit of their minds?" their whole dispositions being changed from earthly and carnal to spiritual and heavenly : in a word, they must be created anew in Christ Jesus q, and be- come altogether "new creatures, old things passing away, and all things becoming new1." The change may not unfitly be compared with a river where the tide comes : one while it flows with great rapidity from the fountain-head to the ocean : a few hours afterwards it flows with equal rapidity back again to- wards the fountain-head : and this change is wrought by the invisible, yet undisputed, influence of the moon. In like manner does the soul of every truly regenerate man flow back towards God, from whom but lately, with all its faculties and powers, it receded : and this change is effected by the invisible, but real and undoubted, operation of the Spirit of God : and till this change is effected, we remain under the wrath of Almighty God. O consider the wrath of God : how terrible the thought ! To all eternity it will be " the wrath to come.'" May God stir us all up to flee from it, and, in newness of heart and life, to "lay hold on eternal life !"
2. In what a happy condition are they who have been brought from a state of nature to a state of grace —
[Such, whilst they humbly acknowledge that they " were children of wrath," may with adoring gratitude assure them- selves, that they are so no longer. But let them never forget what they were, or what obligations they owe to that grace of God which has delivered them. Hear how strongly St. Paul inculcates this on those to whom our text was addressed : " We were by nature children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, of his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ" . . . . " Wherefore remember," (O beloved brethren, remember,) " that at that time ye were without Christ, (O, think of that !) being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world : but now in Christ Jesus
° See the Ninth Article of our Church. p Eph. iv. 23.
i ver. 10. r 2 Cor. v. 17.
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ye who sometimes were afar oft" are made nigh by the blood of Christs." Dear brethren, remember this transition; and let every syllable that records it fill your souls with gratitude to your almighty Saviour and Deliverer.]
3. What attention should be shewn to the welfare of the rising generation —
[They are " all by nature children of wrath." And should they be left in that awful state ? Should no means be used to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God ?
O parents, look at your dear offspring ; and whilst fondling them in your arms, or delighting in their progress, remember what they are, and cry mightily to God for them night and day. Be not contented with their advancement in bodily strength, or intellectual power, or temporal condition ; but seek above all things to behold them turning to God, and growing in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let all your plans for them have respect to this one point, the changing of them from children of wrath to children of the living God.