and events, which give an astonishing view of the amazing reach of divine Providence; and let men but believe in the foreordination of all things, in a train of connections, and they cannot feel, as though this cut off all encouragement to the use of means, but they will be convin

determined that it shall be cultivated; but if the proper season passes, and no preparations are made, we justly infer, he does not intend to till that field. So if we see parents faithful and unwearied, in impressing divine truths and duties on their families, we may be almost assured, that God intends salvation forced, that their salvation, and the more or less of them. But if salvation of their families, dechildren are left to themselves, pends on using them, and on and especially if they are educated under evil examples, and occasionally hear divine things spoken of with opposition, or contempt, we have great reason to fear, that God is giving them over to destruction.

If God gives much grace and faithfulness to his ministers, it is probably, because he intends a blessing in their congregations. Where there are artful deceivers, who plead the cause of li

centiousness, infidelity, error and irreligion, and are fit means to ruin men, and poison the minds of youth, and where such books are read, and evil company kept, there is reason to believe, that these destructive means will produce their ruinous effects.

their attending on them, with earnest seriousness. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

consists especially in the sufferings and death of Christ, will completely purge the conscience from dead works, and prepare the person, to whom it is applied, to serve the living God, is obviously the leading idea in this passage. By dead works we are undoubtedly to un

The connection which God has established between means and events, is a proper and so-derstand sinful works; but as lemn motive for all to be faithful in the use of means, both to provide food and raiment for the body, and to promote their own salvation, and that of others. If God had not decreed a connection between means and ends, it is not seen, that there would have been any encouragement, to use any means for soul or body..

Finally, it appears that under the supreme direction of God, there is a wonderful system, or combination of agencies, means VOL. V. No. 8.

conscience is not an active faculty of the mind, as it is the seat of neither sin nor holiness, a question naturally arises, in what sense it can be defiled with dead works, and why it is necessary. that it should be purged from them in order to serve the living God. To prepare the way for a discussion of this subject, some observations on the nature and office of conscience seem to be necessary.

By conscience we understand that branch of the human mind, M m

which distinguishes between amazingly pained, when it finds that the present bias of the heart is directly in opposition to its own dictates. This representation leads us very naturally, to see what it is for the conscience to be purged from dead works. It is, to be freed from those painful apprehensions, which arise from a view of guilt already contracted; and also from those distressing feelings, which arise from having its dictates opposed by the present inclination of the heart. And this is necessary to be done, to enable the guilty criminal to serve the living God. To illustrate this idea, it is necessary to be somewhat more particular.

right and wrong, and which applies the distinction between them to our own conduct; either justifying or condemning, according as the nature of our conduct appears to be right or wrong. Whether conscience is to be considered as a distinct faculty of the mind, or only a branch of the understanding, we shall not now undertake to as certain, because the subject of our present enquiry is entirely independent of a solution of this point. But be it which it may, it is not unfrequently in so imperfect and vitiated a state, that little dependence can be placed upon it. Sometimes it condemns that which it ought to justify; 1. The conscience must be and again, justifies that which it freed from those painful appreought to condemn: And some-hensions, which arise in view of times also its voice is totally sti-past contracted guilt. When fled, being "seared with a hot the conscience of a sinner is truiron." Hence the great God, ly enlightened by the coming of knowing that the light within the commandment, he looks back us is darkness," has been pleas- upon his past sins, and views ed to give us his word for a them in a most awful light.66. lamp to our feet and a light to Their number and their aggraour paths." Enlightened by this vations arise before him in the "heavenly ray," the conscience most painful and distressing often judges with propriety, and manner. His sins against a hopasses a just and righteous sen-ly and sovereign God, who has tence on him, in whose bosom always supported and provided it resides. And in this situa- for him; his sins against a comtion it is often greatly burdened passionate Saviour, who has diwith sin. For as we are all ed to atone for his transgresguilty criminals, and possess by sions; and his sins against the nature the disposition of rebels Holy Spirit, which has often against our rightful Sovereign, striven to convince him of his an enlightened conscience can-wretched state, and to induce not but pass a sentence of con-him to become reconciled: to demnation, both for the past, God; as well as his sins against and also for the present disposi- his fellow men, all stare him in tion of the mind: And for these the face, and fill him with most things it already anticipates the alarming apprehensions. He is righteous judgment of God. It conscious that he has sinned not is dreadfully alarmed, when it only in his conduct and words, but reflects on the guilt, which has also in the thoughts and desires been already contracted; and is of his heart. And so great does

or.

him, without being distracted with fearful apprehensions, that his services will not be acceptable. His conscience is now purged from the burden of contracted guilt, and in this view he has now 66 no more conscience of sin." He does not feel, as tho' he had never transgressed; on the contrary, the very idea, that his heavenly Father has forgiven him, fills him with most a

ness, and disposes him to lie in the dust before him. Having all his transgressions, however forgiven him, he is no longer con

his guilt appear to be, that he sees nothing before him but "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish." He trembles, while he reads the holy law of God, armed with the sentence of death against the transgressHe trembles, while he contemplates a holy and almighty God, clothed with vengeance against the workers of iniquity; and he trembles, also, when he considers, that the compassion-basing thoughts of his own vileate Saviour whom he has rejected, and whose blood he has trampled under his feet, is to be his final Judge. Where can he fly? To whom can he go for protect-scious of that fearful distance beion? In every direction guilt tween him and an offended Sovstares him in the face, and fills ereign, which formerly distresshim with most alarming appre-ed his mind, and which was an hensions of deserved punish- insuperable bar in the way of ment. What can he do? If he his serving him with cheerfulattempts to pray, he asks withness and tranquillity... Now the painful solicitude, will a holy only way, in which a sinner can God hear the prayers of such a obtain evidence that his sins are guilty wretch? Will he accept forgiven, is by obtaining eviof any service at my hands? He dence that he is united to Christ, dares not answer these enquir- who has atoned for them by his ies in the affirmative; and his own death. While his fears are heart, borne down with the pres-all alarmed by painful appresure of guilt, breaks out in lan-hensions of divine wrath, he finds guage like this: "Oh! for nothing, except the blood of the some token of forgiving love! eternal Son of God, from which Some cheering word like this; a single ray of hope can be dethy sins are forgiven thee!". rived. How can God consistentAnd till this is the case, he finds ly forgive such an awful transno humble boldness in address-gressor, as I have been? is a ing the throne of divine grace-question, for which he can find no courage in attempting the no answer till by faith he beholds discharge of any duty. Like a the Lamb of God. External child, that has lost its parents' ceremonies appear empty; his favor, he mourns in secret, and own righteousness totally insufscarcely dares look up to his officent, and at the same time the fended God. But when once he divine perfections appear to deis assured, that God hath forgiv--mand his condemnation. "How en him, and hath passed by his transgressions, his feelings are instantly changed. With humble boldness he can now approach his throne, and serve

can the justice of God be supported if I go free? How can his truth be maintained, if I am not condemned? How can his holiness shine without obscurity,

of the heart. An enlightened conscience looks not only at the past, but also at the present. It not only estimates and feels the weight of guilt already contracted, but examines also the pres

if such a vile sinner, as I have been, am not for ever excluded from his presence?" These are questions for which he can find no answer. Not a ray of hope presents itself, while he seems to be encircled with all the ter-ent temper and disposition of rors of the Almighty. But when the heart, and anticipates that once the eye of faith presents which is to come. It is preparto him a Saviour, bearing the ed, either to approve or disapsins of the world, while hanging prove of every action and feeling on the accursed tree, he at once as it arises to view. If, theresees that God can be just, and at fore, the heart be at present sinthe same time, justify him that ful, the conscience disapproves believeth on Jesus. In the atone- and condemns. If dead works ment of Christ he sees, that at present occupy the mind, the mercy and peace have met to- dictates of conscience are opposgether, and that righteousnessed thereby. In this state of and truth have kissed each other; mind it declares, that every perand the moment he obtains évi-formance is essentially wrong.— dence that he is united to Christ, It testifies, that God can never that moment those mountains of be pleased with performances, guilt, which had before separat- which totally disagree with the ed him from his God, are re-true spirit of his requirements. moved. He feels the efficacy of It declares, that the subject of that blood, which cleanseth from this sinful temper is altogether all sin; and being purged by unfit to have communion with this most precious sacrifice, he the Father of lights; and, that has no more conscience of sin, every action, thus performed, is as interposing an insuperable but adding to the weight of dibar between him and his God. vine wrath. And how distressing He can now in the name of his at times is this opposition beRedeemer, approach with hum- tween the heart and conscience! ble boldness, and plead with his If any duty be attempted in this Maker, as a child would plead state of mind, conscience remonwith a tender forgiving parent. strates, and says; "cursed is His obedience is no longer re- the man that doeth the work of strained by a fear of offending; the Lord deceitfully, or that for though he is conscious, that bringeth his sacrifice with a he comes short in every duty, wicked mind." The heart howyet he believes, that in the heav- ever replies; "I cannot serve ens he has a most powerful ad- the Lord in any other manner, vocate with the Father. Thus for I have no inclination for any the blood of Christ purges the other kind of service." Conconscience from that weight of science, however, is not silenced guilt, which dead works con- by this plea, but thunders in his tract. ears the awful language of the 2. The conscience must be law; "cursed art thou for not freed in some degree from the continuing in all things written pain of having its dictates op- in the book of the law to do posed by the present inclination I them." So that turn which way

66

of yourself offer no sacrifice suf ficient to atone for your aggra vated sins? And despairing of help in yourself, have you taken the sacrifice, which was offered by Christ, and presenting it, as it were, on the altar of your own heart, addressed the Father of all mercies in language like this: "Here is the blood of thy Son which thou didst provide. This I offer to atone for my sins, and on this alone do I depend for for giveness, for justification and for complete redemption?" And in connection with this offering of faith, have you found your heart so purified from evil affections; as to have the "testimony of your conscience, that in simpli city and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, you have your conversation in the world?" If you thus bear witness to the purifying in

he will, he is still terrified with those dreadful sanctions, with which God has clothed his holy law. Where in this state of mind can the sinner fly? What can he do to silence this accuser, which God has placed in his breast? How can he in this state of mind serve the living God? How does he present to him a sacrifice, which, his own heart tells him, must be an abomination? He reads these words of the apostle; Brethren, if our own hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things," and in view of them trembles. But when once his sinful temper is taken away, and his own spirit testifies, that the love of God, as an active principle, is implanted in his heart, the conscience instantly harmonizes, and goes hand in hand with the desires of the mind. It at once lays aside all that forbid-fluence of the blood of your Re ding austerity, which it had before assumed, and those painful feelings, which arose from the temper of the heart being opposed to its dictates. With sweet composure of mind he can now walk in the ways of the divine commandments, and serve his God without distraction. Thus the blood of Christ removes every obstacle in the way of a sinner's serving God, thus it purges the conscience from dead works,

deemer, you may well rejoice in the "assurance of hope." If not, has not Christ, as to you, died in vain.

EUBULUS.

Letter from the Directors of the
London Missionary Society to
the Trustees of the Missionary
Society of Connecticut.

DEAR BRETHREN IN THE LORD!

You

Reader Hast thou thus experienced the efficacy of the pre-VOUR friendly communicacious blood of the Son of God? tions of May 4th afforded Has your conscience ever been us much satisfaction. To maingreatly burdened with a sense of tain a correspondence with our guilt? Have your sins appeared brethren, though separated by to render you so abominable, the wide Atlantic, yet united that you had no confidence in with us in Spirit and engaged in doing any thing acceptably be- the same delightful work of fore your Maker? Have you spreading the gospel, is exbeen conscious, that you could tremely grateful to our minds,