do these things, he states, what is generally conceived to be a common, familiar, and well known fact, which would more probably have a better effect, and more readily carry conviction with it, "that whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," meaning that the actions, and conduct of the Galatians will, as they are found to be, make them holy or wicked; and in the last verse he says, "he that soweth to the flesh," or doeth those things which are specially named, "shall of the flesh reap corruption," that is, bring destruction upon himself hereafter; "but he that soweth to the Spirit," or bringeth forth the fruit of the Spirit, which is particularly described, "shall reap," or obtain, or receive "life everlasting." Words could not be written to shew more pointedly or distinctly the facts, which are here concluded from them; there is nothing equivocal, mysterious, or in any manner doubtful, but are express, plain, and explicit; and may be truly called a summary of the Gospel of Christ, as far as relates to the actions of man1; he is

1 The actions or conduct of life must be the ground or means whereby man's salvation will be effected, as far as relates to, or respects him; and to suppose those actions are impelled by the irresistible power of the Almighty, would be making man a mere machine, and render all the instructions, exhortations, and commands contained in the holy writings of Scripture of no effect; which inform us, that the tree is known from its fruits, so is man from his actions or works.

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first told what works will bring destruction upon him, he is afterwards shewn what those fruits, or works are whereby he will reap, or receive life everlasting. There is not one single word or expression in these words of St. Paul upon which the most distant supposition can be made, that the Apostle could intend faith alone should effect life everlasting; faith is a fruit of the same spirit which the other fruits mentioned are; faith hath no precedence, but is really placed the seventh in the enumeration, which gives six others the precedence and we know from another statement made by St. Paul in drawing a comparison of greatness, the Apostle has given charity, or love the precedence of faith. It may now surely be said, that further proof cannot be required to shew it was not St. Paul's intention to say, that faith alone is all-sufficient to effect justification; but upon a question of such serious concern, it will be the safer course to produce a superabundance of proofs, than fall one short, we will, therefore, in confirmation of those before quoted, bring forward one or two more proceeding from St. Paul.

1 Tim. iv. 8. "For bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

The first question which naturally suggests itself

upon these words is, what is scripturally a Christian's promise ? In a few words, it may be said to be that upon which all his hopes rest: and the promise here named extends not only to the present life, but to eternity: we would enquire the effect of these words, "having promise of the life that now is," which must be, that the godly man will have in this life, that serenity and peace of mind which the world cannot give nor take away: the remaining words, "and of that which is to come," must mean as to his future prospects after this life: he will from his godliness have and hold fast that sure and certain confidence of the truth of the hope, which he has through the promises of the Gospel", which cannot fail of being fulfilled in him, and, by its operating

m If we are desirous of knowing what the promises of the Gospel are, we could not be more highly gratified than by the following words of Christ, which are so perfectly applicable to shew, and at the same time so irresistibly convincing of the glorious and never-failing effects of good works for the sake of Christ and his Gospel.

Mark x. 29. "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the Gospel's,

Ibid. x. 30. "But he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

See also Matt. xix. 29.

with an irresistible power over his heart, his felicity in this life is perfected by a sure and certain hope of everlasting life in the next, as he knows, "that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself"." Godliness comprises much more than faith only, the latter is a part of the former, but godliness embraces or includes not only all the duties man owes to God his Creator, but also in an extended sense all piety, and holiness in his religious pursuits: after so many authorities shewing affirmatively that man must necessarily possess good works, and their performance by him is made a positive condition in obtaining eternal life, with promises and assurances often and repeatedly made, that they shall have their reward in the world to come; where can there be a ground to doubt whether they are not as necessary as faith in justification? They are a continued theme in Scripture; but would be wholly unnecessary did faith alone effect man's salvation: it may be said all these statements are only on the affirmative side of the question, and do not exclude faith only from having the same effect, that works and faith jointly may have; but how can such a position be supported? if works are indispensably necessary as well as faith for man to perform, faith only cannot effect justi

fication; but to make certainty more certain, we will state a quotation from St. Paul to prove no reliance can be placed upon faith alone to effect justification: and to some who are hard of belief, a case shewing a disregard to, or want of compliance with injunctions, or exhortations to perform good works, faith alone foundered may have a convincing effect: the case alluded to is where St. Paul was stating to Timothy the manner he, St. Paul, although he had been a blasphemer, had been put into the ministry, and having obtained an abundance of grace with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus, he was giving a charge to Timothy to become a preacher, having previously stateđ to him, not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than godly edifying, which is in faith, and stating that the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience; and of faith unfeigned: this he did that Timothy might war a good warfare, "holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck." Here we see that some having put away a good conscience concerning faith, had made shipwreck, that is, their faith profited them nothing as to their spiritual concerns, and were