Besides, the means they will hereafter enjoy, will not differ at all in their nature, from the means they have heretofore enjoyed; and no reason will ever exist, arising from the nature of the means God will employ with them for time to come, that will have any effect, to make them choose otherwise, than they have chosen all their life before. Indeed, it is altogether probable, that whatever influence there may be supposed to be in means, will be less and less felt by them, as they go on, from day to day, in a course of voluntary impenitency. There was never any obstacle in the way of their choosing salvation, that will bear at all upon their character and condition of responsibility, besides the enmity of their carnal mind against God. He was always willing to save them. This he has repeatedly, and most affectionately told them. He has thrown himself upon their path to ruin, both in the attitude of wrath and love. He asks them through the mighty Sufferer of Calvary," Why will ye die?" He invites, exhorts, entreats, threatens, and all to bring them to submit ; but all in vain. They will take their own chosen way, and in that way, they will inevitably perish, if he stretch not out his sovereign arm to save.

II. THEIR COMPANIONS IN IMPENITENCY CANNOT SAVE THEM. Their fellow sinners could do nothing for them, even if they were inclined. They could act in no other way, under any circumstances, than as instruments: But the instrumental way, or way of means, they voluntarily resist. If other means of God's appointment have proved ineffectual, we cannot suppose, that the efforts of their fellow sinners will

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be attended with success, where God has failed, when he has not accompanied the means of his appointment with his own. divine energy. Sinners never feel such a desire for each other's salvation, as to move them to effort. They are altogether inclined to an opposite course. They countenance each other in impenitency. They join hand in hand, to strengthen each other in sin. It cannot be supposed, that those who will make no efforts to save themselves, will ever feel a tender solicitude, or labour seriously, for the salvation of others.

III. CHRISTIANS CANNOT SAVE SINNERS.

Although Christians pray for sinners, and the ministers of Christ entreat them, yet they remain unmoved. The tender solicitude of parents, accompanied with tearful supplication, produces no effect. Their hearts are so hard, their wills are so perverse and unyielding, that the richest and tenderest, the most solemn and awful means, that God has ever employed, have been wholly ineffectual, but as they have been accompanied with the sovereign energy of his grace.

No man ever spoke as Christ did; no man was ever capable of speaking as he did; yet sinners turned their eyes, and ears, and hearts from him, and his preaching was attended with comparatively little success. Here we see illustrated, in a most striking manner, the inefficacy of means, when unattended with divine influence. In themselves, they are as ineffectual, as the clay would have been, which Christ used to open the blind man's eyes, to restore the power of vision, unaccompanied with the energy of the Almighty Agent who applied it.

The necessity of means, their inefficacy, by reason of the voluntary obstinacy of the human heart, to the contrary notwithstanding, is evident. Men must be taught what God is ; they must know something of his character, and of what he requires, to be able to exercise suitable feelings toward him. They must also possess a knowledge of their own character; must see the native depravity of their hearts, and their alienation from God, to enable them to exercise such penitential feelings for their sins, as he will approve. The knowledge thus necessary, comes to them, through the means which God has instituted. It is the design of God, through their instrumentality, to convict, alarm, persuade, and melt the obdurate heart. But sinners are never effectually impressed, with at conviction of their guilt, and danger; nor excited to gratitude, and obedience, until moved by the power of the Holy Ghost. They do not hate God, because they do not know, that they ought to love him. They do not harden their hearts, because they are insensible of the obligations they are under, to yield obedience to his will. No, it is because they do not desire the knowledge of his ways; it is because they take no delight in his character; it is because they are supremely selfish, and prefer their own gratification, to the honour and glory of him who created them. Under this state of feeling, all the prayers, and entreaties of Christians, without sovereign grace, are utterly unavailing. If either a saint, or a sinner should come from the grave, and preach of heaven and of hell, they would not repent. Christ has said, "If they hear not Moses, and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from

the dead." The benevolent energy of all the created holiness of heaven and earth combined, cannot awaken, for a transient moment, the slumbering soul of sin : Nor will the obstinate impenitent ever submit, until God speaks to the heart, and so touches the seat of opposition, as to make all give way.

IV. ANGELS CANNOT SAVE SINNERS.

We have abundant evidence, that angels are deeply interested in the salvation of sinners. They rejoice when one sinner is brought to repentance. The Lord Jesus employs them, as "ministering spirits to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation." But all that is efficacious in their ministry, is derived from the sovereign influences of the Holy Spirit. Were their whole splendid retinue, to become the heralds of salvation, they would be no more successful in their labours, than the ministers of Christ now are, nor than Christ himself was, when he was on earth. The obdurate heart of sin, resists all means, until God graciously takes the work of subduing it, into his own hands. The highest, and brightest created intelligence in the universe, will expend his energies in vain, upon the soul that is under the controling influence of sin. God alone, can fix truth upon the conscience, and melt the heart.-That men are wholly dependent on the sovereignty of God for salvation is confirmed,

V. BY THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S EXPERIENCE FOR SIX

THOUSAND YEARS,

All that God has said in his word; all that he has wrought in his providence; all the preaching of his prophets and apostles; and his voice coming from heaven, through the

ministrations of our Lord Jesus Christ, has not, without the sovereign agency of the Holy Ghost, brought one sinner to bow, in melting penitency, at his feet. Those, in every age, who have indulged the hope of pardon, have ascribed it, with high, and holy triumph of feeling, altogether, to the infinitely gracious sovereignty of God; and we are taught that the holy, ransomed throng, shall shout eternally, "Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."—Our proposition is confirmed also

VI. BY EXPRESS DECLARATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES.

The text itself is directly in point, "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy." 'Tis his will alone, that determines him to show mercy at all; and what, besides his will, can determine who shall be the objects of mercy? The Apostle James, when speaking of the source of our salvation, declares it to be the will of God, "Of his own will begat he us." This truth is very clearly exhibited in Paul's letters to the churches at Rome, and Ephesus. He closes the eleventh chapter of his letter to the Romans, with an elevated expression of feeling, in view of the interesting truths of which he had been treating: "O the depths of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him are all things; to whom be glory for ever."