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eousness; and upon the thoughtless and negligent, to strive to enter in at the strait gate. He would unite with the Spirit and the bride in saying, "Whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely." This be would do from a sense of duty to God his Saviour, from a warm affection and most tender compassion to his fellow creatures, and also from a consciousness of awful responsibility, lest the blood of his hearers should be required at his hands. Then the venerable Doctor would not be so greatly concerned to proselyte his hearers and readers to his theological system, as he would be to watch for their souls as one that must give an account.

• Matt. vi. 33.

+ Matt. vii. 13.

Rev. xxii. 17.

|| Ezek. iii. 18.

SECTION V.

Doctor Hawker defective in his Exhibitions of the Christian character and duties.

In the present state we know very little of the causes and nature even of those things with which we are the most familiar. Our judgment of them is generally formed by their effects, which are evident and demonstrable. To this rule of judgment we are often directed by the divine word.

Of the manner in which the Holy Spirit operates in the regeneration of a sinner, and becomes the efficient cause of the christian character, we are ignorant; and can decide on its reality and nature only by its results. "The wind," saith our Lord, "bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit."*

* John iii. 8.

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The christian religion gives the fullest evidence of its divine origin. Its professed design is to destroy the works of the devil,* by securing the recovery and the complete salvation of man, in connexion with the glory of God, so that it is preparatory to, and the commencement of, the heavenly state: we may therefore most reasonably conclude that its effects on the human character will be evident, decisive, gracious, and holy; and that they will not only be congenial with the system of christianity, but, also, will constitute a part of the salvation which it reveals. This just expectation is fully confirmed by the holy scriptures, which exhibit believers in our Lord Jesus Christ as new creatures;t as having passed from death unto life; as delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of the Son of God || as created after the divine image in righteousness and true holiness;§ as created in Christ Jesus unto

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* 1 John iii. 8. + 2 Cor. v. 17.

Acts xxvi 18.

John v. 24.

§ Eph. iv. 24.

good works; as the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the lights of the world, and the salt of the earth;† as the disciples of Christ, his servants and friends, who do whatsoever he commands. them,‡ and trust, and love, and follow him; as those who know, love, and serve God ;|| as those that are led by the Spirit and walk in the spirit ;§ as the children and heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; as bearing the fruits of the spirit in all goodness, righteous. ness, and truth;** as called to be saints ;tt as faithful brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling as those who are of the truth, in whom the truth dwelleth, and who walk in the truth.

In all their various relations and characters, the word of God presupposes corresponding obligations, and to them also applies and enforces suitable and appropriate duties: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things

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which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God." "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of the light, proving what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." These obligations and duties involve "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise," they are to "think on these things."+

These passages of scripture exhibit a specimen of the character, the obligations, and duties of the children of God, for whom Doctor Hawker professes the highest esteem. Of them and to them he continually writes. With their exclusive privileges he is enraptured. On their relation to God in his everlasting and electing love, in his sovereign purposes and acts, he expatiates in terms peculiarly his own. They were,' says

* Col. iii. 1.

+ Rom. xii. 2.

Phil. iv. 8.

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