7. It is said many who are zealous for a season, back, and become worse than before.

turn

Answer. True. And so it was in the time of Christ. "Many went back and walked no more with him." Does this prove that Christ had no true disciples? It was so likewise in the days of the apostles. John says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would, no doubt, have continued with us."

That the objection may be valid, it must be shown that all who profess to be the subjects of revivals, There are apostatize. But this cannot be shown. precious fruits that abide.

8. The question is sometimes asked, if revivals are the work of God, why do they not exist among other denominations, and why am not I taken ?

Answer. This objection lies with equal force against the Christian religion. Not more than one-fifth part of the world is evangelized. Jews, Mohamedans, and Pagans might say, if yours is the true religion, why does not God convince us of its truth?

But revivals do exist in other denominations. All evangelical denominations have been favored with them in a greater or less degree.

If I were to find serious, praying people generally opposed to revivals, and all the impenitent and profane in favor of them, it would alter the case. But praying people pray for them, and rejoice in them.

They are doubtless the work of God, or the work of the devil. If they are the work of the devil, I believe all will acknowledge that there is more praying, and more apparent religion in the devil's kingdom, than

here is out of it.

To all who oppose revivals, I would say, beware lest you be found fighting against God.

On Professing Religion.

Objection. I know it is my duty, but I have many fears that my hope is not well founded, and what shall I do?

Answer. It is your duty so to live, that you will not doubt. Your difficulty is a common one. We know how to feel for you, but we must be plain. culty is occasioned by your sin.

Your diffi

Objection. I am afraid that I shall do wrong-that I shall eat and drink unworthily.

Answer. It may be so. But is it not strange that any one should have conscientious scruples against obeying a plain command of Christ? Are you afraid to obey the Saviour? If you are really conscientious, you might well say, I am afraid I shall do wrong if I neglect to confess Christ before men. This you ought to say and to feel. You cannot neglect a known duty and be innocent. Is it not astonishing to see persons who are seriously disposed, making a righteousness of their disobedience to the command of God? They hope that they are Christians, and yet refuse to obey a plain command, lest they should sin.

Objection. My relatives oppose my making a profession, and threaten to turn me out of doors; and what shall I do?

Answer. You have a good opportunity to try your heart, and to ascertain whether you are willing to give up all for Christ.

The duty of being tender of the character of ministers.

A minister's usefulness depends very much on the good opinion that his hearers entertain of him at the time of his preaching or conversation. Prejudice is an effectual bar to conviction. If this cannot be removed, the heart is inaccessible. What cannot be answered by argument, will be repelled by prejudice. Hence the miracles of our Saviour instead of producing conviction, drew upon him the foulest reproach. In the case of Stephen's hearers, although they could not resist the Spirit and wisdom by which he spake, they could accuse him of blasphemy. If they could not answer his arguments, they could assert that they knew him to be a very bad man.

Resolved, with repect to my brethren in the ministry, in regular standing, I will be careful not to say, or insinuate any thing which may tend to destroy their usefulness among their hearers; but will use my influence to make them respected and beloved by them.

My feelings have often been wounded by the complaints of people about their minister; and I have been much pleased and gratified, when I have seen persons take the part of their pastor.

Decrees of God.

Objection. The decrees of God destroy man's free agency.

Answer. The reverse is true.

God has decreed

that man shall be a free moral agent. Is not man a

free agent? Yes, you will say. How came he to be a free agent, unless God decreed that he should be so? If you are a free agent, God has made you such, and if he has made you such, he decreed to make you such. You are a free agent of necessity, and you cannot help being free. You can no more cease to be a free agent, than you can annihilate your soul. You are obliged to act as you please, and you cannot act in any other way. If you do not believe it, make the experiment. Try, try hard for five minutes, to do something which you do not choose or wish to do.

If you say this destroys freedom, then you adopt the sentiment that you cannot be free, unless you have the power of choosing to do something which you do not wish to do.

The doctrine of Election.

Although there may be difficulties in admitting this doctrine, there are greater difficulties in denying it.

If it is not true, then Christians make themselves to differ from sinners. There is certainly a difference; and if Christians make themselves to differ, then a new heart is not the gift of God. But if God makes the difference, he determined or decreed to do it from eternity; for all his determinations are eternal. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. What he once chooses, he always chose. We cannot ascribe the difference to God, without attributing it to his eternal purpose. And what objection can there be to this? If God has changed your heart, he determined to do it, and why not determine to do it from eternity, as well as the moment before it was done? If it was a good

determination, what difference does it make to you, whether it was formed in time or in eternity?

If this doctrine is not true, then we may say to sinners, why have you not become Christians? God has done as much for you as he has for others. If you had been as faithful as I have, the Christian may say, you might have been Christians long ago. By your own confession, you have not done as much as that vile. wretch who never did any thing, till a short time before his conversion.

Objection. If I believed this doctrine, I should be an infidel. I had rather be an infidel than believe it.

Answer. What kind of argument is this? What does your dislike prove? Do not sinners hate the truth? Is not the carnal mind enmity against God? If you hate it, as you say, then you have reason to think that your prejudice will prevent you from examining with candor whether it is true. It seems, indeed, that according to your own confession, you are determined not to believe it, whatever evidence there may be of its truth. It is not for want of evidence that this doctrine is contained in the Bible, that any reject it. One half of the evidence would be sufficient, were not the heart set against it.

Objection. But if I am not elected, I cannot be saved. How can I?

Answer. 1. What then will become of you if the doctrine is not true? If it is not true, you are not elected of course. If it is not true, none are elected. Is it any evidence that the doctrine is not true, that you cannot be saved without it? But continues the objector, if I am not elected, I cannot be saved. How can I?