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THE Views in Theology will continue to be published semi-annually, in May and November, and be devoted chiefly, as heretofore, to discussion on the Doctrines of Religion. Four numbers will form a volume. Those who desire the work, will please to give notice to the publisher, at 148 Nassau-street. Ministers and theological students, of whatever denomination, who apply for it, will receive it without charge.

TRUTHS

THROUGH WHICH

THE SPIRIT CONVICTS AND SANCTIFIES.

IT was the object of several pages of the last number, to show that the ground of the mind's choices lies in its perceptions and emotions; and that it is through the determination of them accordingly, or the communication of appropriate apprehensions of divine things, that the Spirit turns it to obedience.

These views, intelligently adopted, are obviously suited to exert a propitious influence on the teachers of religion. They naturally prompt the inquiry:-what are the truths which are distinguished by this momentous instrumentality? What are the views of himself, his purposes, his will, his government; of our condition, character, and destiny, and of the method of salvation through Christ, which God has made known by revelation, for the purpose of exciting us to obedience? What are the apprehensions which the Spirit, in fact, conveys to the mind in regeneration, and makes the means of turning it from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God; and under the promptings of which, the renovated exhibit their obedient affections, and experience the joys of the divine favor?

These questions, thus immediately suggested by that view of our agency, will naturally, if rightly determined, lay a foundation for a just exhibition and enforcement of the gospel.

The answer to them, is obviously to be sought chiefly from the page of revelation; subordinately from the history of the church, and the record of christian experience. A full enumeration of those truths, the limits of this article will not allow me to undertake; I shall aim only at a brief outline of such of them as are the most essential. They respect the being and character of God, his purposes and agency, his rights and claims with respect to mankind, and the requirements and sanctions of his government, and allotments of his providence in which they are asserted and exercised; the relations, obligations, and character of men, the work of redemption, the conditions of pardon, the principles on which God proceeds in the gift of salvation, the agency he employs to bring its subjects to accept it, and the destiny which awaits those who continue in impenitence.

1. God is self-existent, independent, eternal, almighty, omniscient, and infinite in wisdom, rectitude, and benevolence, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and these boundless perfections are displayed in all his works, and characterize all his agency; and are preeminently the ground of his right to the supreme homage of his intelligent creatures. This awful being, incomprehensible in nature, ineffable in glory, is he whom we are to fear and adore; on whose attributes we are to repose our confidence and hope, and whose excellence, not in the abstract, or regarded irrespectively of the modes in which it is exhibited, but as manifested in his works, and especially in his moral and providential administration over us, we are to love.

2. He from eternity determined on a system of agency that is to continue for ever, and involve a display of his infinite excellence, and in the fulfilment of that purpose, gave and continues existence to the universe, and its intelligent inhabitants; extends his providential agency to all the events that transpire in his empire, and causes them all by their natural instrumentality, or the overruling sway of his government, to contribute to the aims of his wisdom and goodness.

3. He claims on the ground of his character, relations and agency, their supreme homage from all his intelligent creatures; has established over them a moral government, in which he prescribes the modes in which they are to exhibit that regard, requiring them to acknowledge him as their creator, preserver, and the giver of all their blessings, to love him with all their hearts, to submit cheerfully to all the appointments of his providence, and to glorify him by obedience to all his will. These laws, which are holy, just and good, embody a most important portion of the truths which are the instrument of conviction and conversion.

4. He claims and exercises the right of placing his moral creatures on probation; of appointing their condition here ; of subjecting them to such trials as to lead them to a definitive choice between holiness and sin; between the good which is attended with his favor, and that which is followed by his frown; and finally of making their condition of happiness or misery throughout their future existence-which is to continue forever-to depend on their conduct under these trials.

5. In his delineation of their character or agency under this administration, he exhibits them as sinning universally while left without his renovating influence; as rejecting him,

trampling on his rights, disregarding his will, perverting his bounty, slighting his love, and contemning his displeasure; the slaves of their corporeal appetites, and devoted to those species of pleasure, which are furnished by the beings and objects around them, to which they sustain but a transient relation, or which can prove sources, at the longest, of enjoyment only during this life.

6. He exhibits them as forfeiting all worthiness of his favor by this rejection of him and his service, and preference of sinful pleasures, and meriting to be debarred forever from his presence, cut off from his gifts, and consigned, on their removal from this scene of existence, to a world where no provision is made for their welfare, there to suffer throughout their endless being, the burning sting of a condemning conscience, and devouring fire of unsatisfied want.

7. He exhibits their guilt as such, that nothing short of the death of the divine Redeemer as a vicarious sacrifice to manifest his unchangeable rectitude and aversion to sin, could render it consistent in him to restore to them his favor, sanctify, pardon and save them :-and their alienation from him as such, that no agency short of the renovating influence of the Holy Spirit is adequate to recall them from rebellion and lead them to holiness.

8. The Son of God accordingly became incarnate, and offered himself a ransom for the whole race, the just for the unjust, that he might bring them unto God. On the ground of that expiation, pardon and salvation are offered to all who will accept them by faith in him and obedience to his authority and all are required to repent and believe, and thereby flee from the wrath to

come..

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