wrecked. No, that divine principle, which is the truth and the evidence of the faith which is the gift of God, and which worketh by love through grace, faileth not. A true believer may for a time lose it in degree and exercise. He may for a season leave his first love, and therefore may receive the rebukes and chastisements of his Lord; but the principle itself is immortal and incorruptible. We may accommodate to it the words of the blessed Jesus :-"The water that I shall give him shall be in him (to whom it is given) a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

2. Secondly, I argue that love never faileth, from the declarations of the beloved apostle John.

By this we know (says this apostle) that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. Here, love to our fellow Christians is spoken of as a direct and positive evidence that we have passed from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life. The possession of the principle that influences a Christian to love the brethren, is a mark of his being born again, and of his having implanted in him the incorruptible seed of God. This seed is sown in the souls of all the children of God in their regeneration, and this apostle tells us, that it remaineth in every one that is born of God. For what is his express language? "Whosoever is born of God

his seed remaineth in him." When a child is born into the world, he can never be unborn again, but he is created for immortality. So when a child of God is born again in spiritual regeneration, it is born to

Every

eternal life. But when we speak of regeneration, it is necessary that we distinguish between the supposition of its existence and the actual fact. baptized person is supposed to be elect and regenerate. He receives the outward part of regeneration in the administration of the ordinance of baptism, and is considered in the judgment of charity to receive, or to have received, the spiritual part, the regeneration of the Spirit likewise. But of this, God only is the judge. The visible church is a mixed society, represented as consisting of wheat and tares; respecting which it is the prerogative of the Saviour alone to make the discrimination between one and the other. Man can judge only externally. It does not belong to him to pluck up what he imagines to be the tares, and to leave only what he supposes to be the wheat. "The Lord only knoweth them that are his," who are born of his Spirit. A regenerate soul may backslide and fall into sin; but if he fall, he will rise again. An unregenerate one may apostatise from his faith and profession, and be lost for ever. But he who possesses the principle of love, is not only supposed as a professing Christian to be regenerate; but he is in reality so in the judgment of God himself-he is born of God-he has passed from death unto life, no more, blessed be God, to pass back again from life unto death.

"Love is the golden chain that binds

The happy souls above;

He is an heir of heaven who finds

His bosom glow with love."

3. One more argument that love never faileth, is the fact, that the principle is the special gift of God.

ance.

All christian graces are produced by the operation of the Holy Spirit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (or, as it here means, fidelity,) meekness, temperAt the head of these graces is placed love, which is as much the gift of God, as the faith from which it proceeds; or as regeneration, which is accomplished by the immediate agency of the Holy Spirit, and which is the commencement, the groundwork, the foundation of all true religion-the seed from which repentance, faith, holiness, and every other Christian principle springs and grows. Allow me then to ask, Do you love God? Do you love the Saviour? Do you love the brethren? If so, how came you to be possessed of the principle? The answer is, It is the gift of God, and the fruit and effect of your regeneration. You do not possess it naturally. By nature we are the children of wrath. But can we at the same time be the children of wrath and the lovers of God and his saints? Impossible! If, therefore, you possess the grace of love, it is because God has implanted it in you by his grace. The religion of some is nothing more than an earth-born, self-sprung thing. They have never been the subjects of a supernatural work of grace, nor have undergone that great change in the temper of their minds which all must experience who pass from the love of the world and of sin, to the love of God and his people. But when God bestows his

gifts of grace, he never resumes them; for the word of his truth expressly declares that "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."

Now brethren, suffer me to ask, as the application of the subject, have you the love of God and your fellow-creatures in your hearts? If all of you who have it not, were constrained to retire out of the church, is there not reason to fear that the congregation would be awfully thinned? It is presumed you cannot doubt that the audience would be divided into two classes. Allow me then to speak a few words to each separately.

1. Let me address those who are destitute of the principle of love.

My fellow sinners, if you die without experiencing a change by grace, you can never enter into heaven. Alas! what would you do there, with your disaffected hearts. Heaven to you, instead of being a home of rest and happiness, would be an enemy's country. What pleasure could you enjoy in the services, or the society of heaven! How could you mingle your praises or your employments with those of angels and saints? If it were possible that an unrenewed man could enter heaven as the place of the blessed, he would carry with him there, a hell in his own bosom. Hence our Lord says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see nor enter into the kingdom of God;" and again, "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." No one can go to heaven without the love of God. But if you are made par

maturity.

for whatsoever a man

takers of this principle, it must be in the present world. No new dispositions will be implanted in the soul, in heaven or in hell. But the seeds that are dow sown will spring up to Be not deceived; God is not mocked soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting." If therefore you would possess the

love of God, the present is the season to obtain it. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." Do you ask how this grace is to be obtained? I have repeatedly said, it is the gift of God. But there are means appointed in connexion with the reception of God's gifts. Pray therefore that the Holy Spirit would convince you of the sinfulness and danger of your present state, and lead you to Jesus Christ that you may be justified through faith in him. Flee for refuge to the Saviour, and lay hold on the hope set before you in the Gospel. Your faith in the Saviour, which will be the evidence of your regeneration, will manifest itself, and operate by love. The God of all Grace will shed abroad his love in your hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto you, and this will kindle in you the blessed principle of love to him and to your brethren for his sake. In this way, though now you may be enemies to God by wicked works, you may become his friends, and continue among his friends for ever. May He whose name is love (for GOD IS LOVE) grant that this may be your happiness and your portion!