Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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REVIVAL AT THE KIRK OF SHOTTS, IN SCOT- ' ta LAND, 1630, UNDER THE MINISTRY OF THE ! I REV. JOHN LIVINGSTON. si We have jus >eceived a work recently ^ published at E linburgb, entitled "History n of Rrvirals of Religion in the British Isles, sl especially in Scotland, by the author of the : a Memoir of the Rev. M. Bruen." It is a I volume of 402 pages. Wo extract from it a below the account of the revival of tbe a Kirk at Shotis.?Ch. Int. n KIRK AT SHOYTS. j S John Livingston, u ho was the immcdi- i | ate instrument of the awakening at Shotts,; preached bis first sermon six years before. j , He had the happiness of early religious train- j ^ ing, and the advantage of attending die ! ^ minisrv of many excellent men, such as j' Robert Bruce,and Pa'rick Simpson. I; is interesting :o observe tbe progress of his 1 mind. His own wish to study medicine, j and his father's wish that he should, for some poli ic reason, marry and settle early on his esta'e, bo b lost their influence, when { a desire to become a preacher of the Gosp -1 took possession of him. In great per- ' plexity of mind he retired to a cave on the | ^ south sid** of .Mousewater, to spend a day before God; a place endeared to him, doubt- j [ less, by .lie most deeply cherished associa- ' | tions, as be takes pleasure in describing j ' - - ?! *1? 1 . ! 1 ine S|>0' imuuieiy UIIVI uic Ui JW.IICJ. | After much tossing of mind,and confusion 1 and fear about the stale of his own soul, it j j seemed clearly his duty to preach Christ j ( Jesus. 44Upon this," he says, "I laid aside ; all thought of Franco, and medicine, and j ? 1 cl land, and betook mo to the study of divin. <y." . . ? Mr. Livingston, when a preacher, was 5 a flee, ioi lately called ov the people of Tor- ! ( phicben, but because of his non-conformity,' ^ was refused orlinatiou by the Bishop of St. j ^ Andrews. He was frequently engaged to . ^ prvacii there, as well as in the parish of j Shotis, w hich borders on it. Of his last \ ( Sabbath at Torphichen lie says, "it was the : j sweetes*, diougli sorrowful, that I had seen j there. The people >vere very desirous to j . hear die word, and the Lord furnished the ,' more to be preached to them." |4 In the memoir of his own life, Livings on 1 gi ves a brief account of the day at Shot's,! ' which we are now to record, but he omits ( some par.icuiars which are related by Gil- 1 lies, while the others are exactly the same; 1 we, therefore, cx:ract from Giliies* Collec- jc tions, rather than from the memoir. 1 y A C : . A 1 A L At... I it;w cin;ums iujcts coiineuieu wi.ii uic Kirk of Shoffs. previous to the memorable :( 2lstofJuue, 1630, will put us in possession c of the state of the parish and neighborhood, 1 and prove again, what lias been shown ever c of old, that when the Lord designs mercy f to his people, he awakens the spirit of prayer > so that their hearts roa^ oe prepared to re- 1 reive the blessing. It also proves that there i * Mis no rcstraintto the Lord to save by many or by few lor it was not an experienced ' servant of the church, nor a man possessing 1 weight in a worldly point of view, whom the !' Lord hoiiored i?: this affair; but a young j f preacher as will be seen, who was so intinii- is dated ?it the idea of addressing an audience ;1 which contained many experienced and {f prayerful members, that in the morning he 1 actually set out to absent himself from the 1 congregation, that he might escape the duty '1 imposed upon him. Gillies thus describes ' the parish and neighborhood. "As the Kirk of Shotts lies on the road * from the west to Edinburgh, and is distant i 1 from any convenient place of entertainment,1 J some ladies of rank, who baJ occasion to ' k pass that way, met at different times civilities from the minister at his house, which 1 was situated where the public inn is now. * Particularly ouce, when some misfortune u had befallen their chariot, they were obliged | ^ trt n?cc a niaht in the minister's house." P (This minister was Mr. Jno. Ilancc.) "They s observed that the house was much out of re- M pair, and very incommodiously situated, and used their influence to get a more conven- ! " ient house built for him in unother place. Af- s' ter receiving such a substantial favor, s! the minister waited on them to inquire if ? there was any thin?* in his power, by which 0 he might testify his graittude. They re- j * plied, tnut he would oblige them much by lJ inviting certain ministers, eminent in promo- i ting practical religion, to assist at his com- ' munion. It is said that Mr. Robert Bruce j J? was one of the number engaged by Mr. | ^ Hance in conequence of this request. The , report of this spreading far and noar, mul- v titudes of persons of different ranks attend- ! tl ed there, so that for several days before the n Sacrament, there was much time spent in tl social prayer. b "It was not usual, it seems, in those limes, j li to have ariv sermon on Mondav. afer dis- b pe using the Lord's Supper. But God had ! tc given s?* much of his gracious presence, ; rr and afforded iiis people so much comniu- n won with himselfoo the foregoing days of tl that solemnity, that they knew not how to tl pur: wirhout thanksgiving and praise. There e: had heen a v;ist confluence of choice Chris- | te tians. with several eminent ministers, from i ti almost nil corners of the land, who had tl been many of them together several days, j c: hearing and joining together in companies j w in prayer, praise, and spiritual conferences. : c; While their hear s were warm with the love si of God, the desire of a public service on the j n Monday became general. John Livingston, I tl chaplain to die Countess of Wigtoun, aged j tl 27, not ordained, was with much ado pre- 1 vailed upon to think of givmg the sermon, o He had spent the night before in prayer and 01 conference; but when he was alone iti the j tl fields, about eight or nine in the morning, . tt there came such a misgiving of heart upon (rr him, under a sense of unworihiness and un- ' rr fitness to speak before so many aged and j 01 worthy ministers and so many eminent and n< experienced Christians, that he was thinking In to have stolen quite away,?and was actu- j bi ally gone away to some distance. But when ! ai just about to lose sight of the Kirk of k< Shotts, these words, 'was I ever a barren w wilderness, or a land of darkness?' were w brought iuto his heart with such an over- T coming power, as cons:rained him to re-' ol turn and comply with the call to preach. ; h< "This he did with good assistance, for an lit hour and a half, on 'he coin's he Iw1 nr-dl- a: n? itccl, from Ezck. xxxvi. 26, 26, 'Then will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye ball be clean from all your fil'ltiiicss,?and -om all your idols I will cleanse you. A c\v heart also will I give you, and a new pirit will I put within jt>u, and I will take way the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you an heart of flesh.' As he was bout o close, a heavy shower made the udicnce hastily put on their cloaks and nantles. Hut ins'cad of hurrying to seek heifer, they remained where they were, nd the preacher began to address them to be following purpose : If a few drops of rain rom the clouds so ^discompose you. how liscomposed will you he,howfullof horror :nd despair, if God should deal with you s you deserve ? and thus he will deal with Jl the finally impendent. God might justly ain fire and brimstone upon us, as upon the ities of the plain. The Son of God, bv abernacling in our nature, and obeying itid suffering in it, is the only refuge and :oncrt from the s orm of divine wra'h due ? tt:_ , i:?.; Jale, so that many of the most eminent Christians of that country could date cither heir conversion or some remarkable conlrmation of their case from that day. It vasthe more remarkable, that one, after nuch reluctance, by a special and unsus> xjctod providence, was called to preach that iermon on the Monday, which was not then tsually practiced; and that the night before >y most of the Christians there, was spent n prayer; so that the work of that Monday niirlit !mnrl nc n nf\n\'lnrinrr rflurn o prayer." Dr. Gillies, with his usual caution, furlishes testimonials to the credibility of Mr. ^leming as a man of high integrity and >iety; and also s'ates that his opportuni ies ?f information with regard to the revival at Jhotts were not to be doubled. His miniserial life was passed at Cambuslang, within welve miles of this interesting spot, from 0.V2 to 1661, just twenty-three years af?rj and being a minister in the same Presytery, he must have enjoyed frequent opportunities of conversing with some of the objects of that refreshing visitation, and rith others who had opportunities of oberving their consistent Christian demeanor uring a course of years. As particular inrances' are more edifying than general latcments, we again are called upon to reret the absence of more ample details, both f the elTect of the sermon at the time it as preached and afterwards. However, ie evidence is indubitable that here, as in le revival at the city called Sychor, of old, je narrative of which is as brief, many were rought to "know that this is indeed the Ihrist, the Saviour of the world." "The following instances of sound concrsion are well attested, and were it proper ic persons could be named. On that relarkable Monday, three gay young genemen of Glasgow were travelling to Ed'nurgli, for the purpose of enjoying the pubc diversions there. They stopped to rcakfast at Shorts. One of them proposed > his associates to stay and hear the young ian who was to preach, while their horses . s:ed. And that they might not lose time, iey agreed to quit the worship at the end of le sermon, and not wait for the devotional xercises. But the power of God so arres;d them, that they could not quit the spot 11 all was over. When they returned to le public house to take their horses, they ailed for some refreshment; but when it as placed on the table, they all looked to ach other, no one durst touch it till a blesing was asked, and as it was not their maner formerly to be careful about such lings, one of them at last proposed?44 I link we should ask a blessing to our drink." 'he others readily agreed, and put it uj>on ne of the company to do it, which he at nee agreed to. When they had done, iey could not rise until ano:her should retrn thanks. They went on their way lore sober than usual, but none of them icntioned their inward concern to another, aly now and then they remarked,4Was it ot a great sermon we heard?' or, 4I never sard the like of it.' They went to Ed inurgh, but instead of plunging into light musements, as they had designed, they cpt their rooms great part of the two days hile they remained; and then being quite ( eary of Edinburgh, they returned home, 'hey still did not open their minds to each her on their way, and when they reached ' 3me they kept their apartments, and came tic abroad. At last one of them visited and vrcd 'rn whn* '!?>! us lor sin* jus men s uuu iuumiuwuu, ilone arc the screen from thatslorm, and lone but penitent believers shall have the Kjucfit of the shelter.' In these, and exiressions to this purpose, he was led on for ibout an hour after lie had done with what le had premeditated, in a strain of exhorta. ion and warning, wi h great enlargement md melting of heart.* In reviewing his life as a preacher, Mr. Jvingston says, "I was often much desert, d and cast down in preaching, and someimes tolerably assisted. I never preached i sermon that I would be earnest to see tgain in writ, but two. The one was at a lommunion on a Monday at the Kirk of Shotts, and the other on a Monday after a ommunion in Holywood, 'Ireland,' and >oth those times I had spent the whole night >eforein conference and prayer with some Christians, without any more -.ban ordinay preparation; otherwise my gift was suitid rather lo simnle common neonle. than to - - ' - I - I I? ' earned judicious auditors."*)" Fleming makes mention of the day at >hot:s in his own peculiar manner of solum joy and thanksgiving. "I must also nen.ion that solemn communion at the ivirk ofSliotts, at which time there waf so convincing an appearance ofGod, & down>ouring of the Spirit even in an extraordi. wry way, which did follow the ordinances, especially on Monday, '21st June, when there vas a strange unusual motion on the liear rs, who in a great multitude were there convened of divers ranks. It was known, is I can speak on sure ground, that near ive hundred had at that time a disccrnable :hangc wrought on them, of whom most iroved lively Christians afterwards. It vas the sowinir of a seed throush Clyddis had done for him at Shotts. The other w frankly owned the concern that he was v brought under at the same time. Both of it ! them went to the third, whom they found in \ the same case, and the three agreed directly v 10 begin a fellowship meeting. They con- p tinued to have a practice suitable to their f i professions as long as they lived, and some ? of them lived to an advanced age, and were it eminent and useful men in Glasgow." v "Another instance, still preserved, is that V ; of a poor man, a horse-hirer in Glasgow, t I who had been employed by a gentlewoman t i 10 carry her to Shotts. lie was engaged c i in pasturing ltis horse at a small distance c i from the tent, not concerning himself about c | the occasion of the meeting at all. In the 1 i latter part of the sermon, when the power < ; of God was so mucli felt, he apprehended s j that there was more than ordinary concern < among the people; his own mind was afTec- I J ted in a way that he could not account for; < ; he hastily rose up and ran into the congrc- t gation, where he was made a sharer of what t the Holy Spirit was distributing among ( ! them that day."? 1 ? Mr. Andrew Gray, ofChrystoun, nncmi- '* ncntiy pious gentleman, whose name has I j descended in a sweet memorial even to this < day, states the following particulars of the more diffused effects of this period of 1 awakening, which we select from some oth- I ers. 5 "Two springs of the revival of religion in I this corner were the famous sermon .at Kirk ! of Shotts, and the lal>ors of Mr. Robert Bruce. As at the sermon at Shotts, a good number of people were by grace* made acquainted with the life and power of religion, *i so several of them were eminently good j men, and remarkable not only for pious and inoffensive behavior, but also for their abounding in all those good fruits which pure and undefiled religion enables its sincere followers to produce. This made them not only esteemed and revered by many of their neighbors, but also produced some respect for religion itself, from which they procured many advantages, its followers being readier to do them all kind of good offices than other people. Among other good fruits, you cannot doubt a strong I inclination to promote the spiritual good of others was a principal one. As tho laborers were then few in this part of God's l? A I A UMS.A ? ? - ? ? -J 4 1> AnA , < vuit:>u.ru, iiu sutriuuu iu nuvc mspircu incsu private Christians with an uncommon degree of love to the souls of men, inciting them to labor by all the proper methods, to bring others acquainted with that grace which had produced such blessed effects on themselves; and their labors were not with- i out a considerable effect. They were cal-1 led the Puritans of the Muir of Bothwell, perhaps by way of reproach, by those who were ill affected towards them." . Gillies' Collections. tLife of Livingston, p. 62. i J Fleming's Fulfilment of the Scriptures. |IGil!ies' Collections, vol. i p. 314. ^Gillies' Collections, vol. i. p 310, 311, The following is the greater part of a pasI toral letter addressed by the Rutland, (Vi.) ! Association, to the Churches under their ! care. O' ' From the Hartford Watchman. 1. This at the present time is specially ! necessary, because it has been specially neglected, For some time past the strong bias of Christian feeling and effort has been towards the outward and active duties of religion. The era in which we live is often : spoken of, almost in the language of vain. 1 glorious exultation as, * the age of activity.' And we often hear of the * spirit of the age,' and the " spirit of the times," pointing us to the visible movements which are making in the Christian world, as that which is sup. posed to constitute the identity and glory of our times. Now, this certainly has had til* effect in an alarming degree to call off the attention of individual Christians from the previous and all-important inquiry into i the affections and exercises of the heart; 1 and from that self-examination and watch- * fulness which is necessary to the production ( of deep and ardent internal piety. 1 he i0 : style and matter of Christian conversation , s in the social interview, in the conference, ' in die prayer-meeting; and even the gen- q | eral nature of communications from the I sacred desk have been greatly changed 1 n 1 within the memory of even our youth ; and a while we rejoice to believe that in some re- j ? spects the change is auspicious, in others, 11 it is to us truly alarming. Formerly, Chris- j r j tian experience, the travail of the soul, the j [J ' affections and exercises of the heart, as j I1 ! called forth and tested by the truths and \11 ' providences of God, constituted the bufden, js ] perhaps too exclusively so, of Christian con- I jj venation. But now, Christian enterprise, " is the all engrossing topic, and compara- j ^ tively, little is heard concerning the hidden ? man of the heart. The dangers and diffi- " culties within, are at least comparatively e overlooked. And the importance of that deep and rich piety of soul which none but J! | God can see, and which in his sight is of * ( in uuii?t;i ui ui-iug iui?JUllcLlj r while the attention is chiefly directed to the ^ duty of "serving God," of" working for e ! God," and* laboring for the conversion of a sinners."?All these so far as the human ^ mind can trace them, amount to no more, tc at most, than a doubtful evidence of piety within. Wo would not be understood to intimate that outward activity in the service c of God is of little account. The Gospel re- a quires far greater activity, and greater sac- P riflccs on the part of the church than she ; 0 has ever put forth. But when such activi-! u ; ty is made the chief test of Christian char- c : actor, when it usurps, almost exclusively the 0 attention, and becomes so prominent as to be looked upon as religion itself, the great w end to be sought, there is substantial reason ' pi to fear it then proves the occasion of ruin : s< to many. It is then time the attention of la every Christian should he called home. oi 2. Again, the importance of the cultiva- s< tion of inward piety is impressed by the c! thought that religion consists in the heart.? ; si We do not mean to say that it exists partly n< or chiefly in the heart and outward conduct, o! be it ever so pure,is only a temporary mode ft of s mn'!"fesv?t?on. The ''hang'' !"* he th Tought is a change of tl>c heart. That diich God looks upon as of great price has s scat in the heart, and exists alone there. Ve believe we do not affirm too much when re say, God is more glorified and better leased by the silent incense of one deeply iious hearty than he could be by all the xerc outward services of a universe. " God 3 a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." " The ungdom of God comelh not wiih observaion ; neither shall they say, lo here ! or lo here! for behold the kingdom (the reign) >f God is within you." The duties of life lepend on religion; but religion does not lepend on them. Piety will exist; it will >c the same in kind as new ; it will glorify jod, when faith and hope and prayer, and self-denial, and efforts to save sinners have leased, and all the scenes of earth's duties lave nassed a way forever.?We uree this consideration, not to throw into the shade he duties of holy living, nor to disparage he highest efforts that can be made for Sod ; but to call your attention to the cullivation of piety itself in the heart where done it exists. If piety languishes in the iieart, even the most correctly ordered course of life is but a hypocritical show. While then, brethren, you look to the life for he fruits of piety, let it be first in order,and first in importance to see to the existence md growth of piety itself in the soul.* 3. But again, the greatest care in the cul:ivation of inward piety is necessary, because deep and vivid piety of heart alone, can sustain the Christian in the continued md arduous efforts which he is called to tnake. Unless tliere is a deep and perennial fountain within, the efforts of the Chrislinn will be fitful and feeble. By magnifying outward service at the cost of inward piety, not only is the substance of religion sacrificed to its fruits, but those fruits themselves are rendered uncertain, sickly, and ivorthlcss. We often at the present day hear the sentiment expressed in no equivocal language, that the time and labor which is expended on the cultivation of heart religion. is so much dead loss to the cause if Christ; because it withdraws just so much from that outward activity which is supposed to be the grand desideratum of :he times. And where this sentiment is riot expressly avowed, or knowingly chershed, still the current of public feeling lias "? *? a /tnvanr Ckwiniinn 4a 1 dliuug icuucuujr IU i/uii j mv VIII louuii iu* wards the practical results of such a belief. \ greater error could not be committed. Were tenfold more time spent by Christians generally in their own hearts, in examining ind keeping them, and in cultivating a deep toned piety within, so far from diminishing, it would greatly enhance both the amount tind the value of Christian activity. Where there is a deep and abiding piety of heart, the life of the Christian will be a life oi uniform obedience. It will be as a shining light, thatshineth more and more, until the perfect day. Such a Christian will follow Christ through evil as well as through good report; fie will follow him at the sacrifice ol jarth and self; he will, if need be, watch with lim alone when all other eyes are heavy. His piety and his faithfulness depend not on external accidents. But when the Chris;ian is occasionally aroused to visible effort lot by the deep tones of piety within, but ly some extraneous call, his life will be like the nountain torrent, with no reservoir of stand, ng waters, now swollen to madness by the )urstingofa cloud, and anon dried away hrough the heat of the sun. The Chrisian's conduct will never be guaged right mtil it flow from within, out of the abunlance of a holy heart. 4. There is at the present day, a strong endency to rely on associated effort?assoiuted religion. This will arise from a defect of inward piety; and a quickened atten. ion to the cultivation of religion in individual hearts, alone can cure it. When the nind of an individual or of a church is somevhat awakened to a sense of the prostraion of religious interest around them, it is Kit too common that the first and chief atention is directed to Christians in their as. ociated, their collective capacity. Ail are: cnsible that the church is in a low state. Ml unite in their wishes to see the Church irouscd to her duties. And all arc looking n ertmo n t ensin Ifirl offnrf tr? CfimC MmhtnP.fi <J QVillV (ItfyWHHVVI ry V? ?V vw?.*-?.?v ? lovement; to scenes and places where many re, or may be brought together, for the igns of better times Now, such vague mpression of guilt, such vague looking for ecovery is worse than idle. The surgeon nay weep over the collected misery of a ospital, but unless he enters in, and probes ^dividual wounds, and treats individual caos, his sympathy is vain. The first sympDm of a revival is when some individual is roken down by a sense of his own sins, tnd the good work goes on, when one and nother repents of his wickedness, sayig, "What have I done ?" The associate fforts of Christians may often produce visi- ] Irt mntinn <v. 7wnl onri Hisnlnv. whf>r#? thprtf* j very little deep and humbling heart work. Jut with such sacrifices God is not well leased. "The sacrifices of God are a roken spirit and a contrite heart." Let very Christian then, before he hopes for ny good from associated effort, examine iitiself\ and break his own heart, and turn > God, not feignedly. Let him see to it lat God is enthroned in his own heart, and lat the incense of ardent piety is burning ontinually on the altar within. And then, ssociated or unassociated, he will have ower with God. But the bringing together f cold hearts, or of those heated with an nholy warmth, in any possible combination, annot be expected te result in an increase f holiness. 5. Again, there is a strong temptation j ith Christians of the present day, to -be | artial and selfish in their religion. Such slfishness and partiality is the result of a inguid internal piety, and can be removed oly by raising the tone of religion in the >ul.?For some time past the minds and Sorts of Christians have been most excluvely occupied about the conversion of sincrs. Little is thought of glorifying God, ['doing duty, except in connection with ef-1 >rts for the conversion of sinners. Now i" Christian should feel great sv,]hdt?;do upon ibis point. But if his piety be all. pervading and ardent, be has a much mon general and disinterested object; to glorifi God with his body and spirit. Instrumcn taliiy in the conversion of men, is only on< among many modes in which he wishes tc glorify God. For though Israel be no gathered, yet will he be glorious in the eyes of the Lord. Great solicitude for the con version of men may often arise from verj imperfect piety ; and even in no small de gree from selfishness and unhallowed mo> tive. A wis!) for the conversion of friend; as such ; a wish to see them, and especial ly the more exposed, armed by religiou: principle, as a safeguard against dissipatioi and worldly ruin ; a desire for the pros|?eri ty of favorite churches, for the success o favorite means, for the respectability c places, and a mere party desire of triumph All tl?eso, it is believed, enter largely int< the compound motion, denominated anxiet; for the conversion of sinners. Wher ic in finr /lnrrrr>#? nn iinc?inr?tifir?d_ nn LIH'llS III UIIJ V?V^ I VV, ? undue desire of this sort, the Christian be comes partial and selfish in his prayers an his efforts. He is willing to pray for th object which lies near his selfish heart, an he is willing to engage in those specific el forts which are supposed to have a dircc and exclusive bearing on the favorite objec while all his other duties lie in miserabl prostration and neglect. Hence the reaso ! why it is so much easier to arouse men t i those efforts which have come to be regard ed as specifics in the supposed art of cor verting sinners, than to lead them to consistent course of holy living. But b not deceived; God is not mocked. Yo cannot flatter blessings from God in thi manner. See to it that your whole soul are pervaded with piety to God, and thi every sinister motive is dislodged. Be a ready to obey and glorify God in a distal quarter, as in that very direction frot vftn r>vnwt fhn mnsf r.hprish'*d rf ?J -suits. And be persuaded that one mod of piety has as much bearing on the cod version of men as another. The dee toned piety of the heart, the exercises c the closet, the consistent every day walli have, in themselves, as important a bearin; on the conversion of men as the most di rect effort. " Delight thyself in the Lore and He shall give thee the desires of th; heart." 6. But again, the cultivation of arder internal piety is the only safeguard againi \?a i nAcc lilt; lllliucut'v wi nui luimwgi The spirit of worldliness is the great of posite of true religion. u The friendship o the world is enmity with God." u If an man love the world the love of the father i not in him." This has ever been the fac i in all ages. But the temptation to worldli , ness is, in our own age and country peci f liarly strong and insidious. The worl ; comes out with all its enticements againi i the Church in our times. The facilitie for acquiring wealth arc almost unboundec I opportunities are afTorded of applying it t f suit the taste of the wildest and most multi i plied diversity of human character, and th Xiurrent of popular feeling and pursuit set so strongly for gain-seeking, that there i great danger of its bearing away the Churd ; upon its bosom, Professing Christians ar already, to an alarming extent, and with in creasing rapidity borne away by its force The prevalence and tendency of this spiri must be checked, or the days of our reli gious prosperity are numbered. The ns cending ratio of worldly feeling, and toe de scending ratio of spiritual prosperity areco ncident and can never be reversed. Nov the only way to check this spirit, and sav< the Church from going down in the vorte: of worldlincss is for individual Christians t< see to it that their itearts are filled with for and piety to God. To attempt to shot ou worldliness in any other way is worse thai idle. The heart will be filled ; the aflTec tions will be occupied and exercised. An* unless they are given, and except so far ai j they arc given to God, in spite of man thej will be given to the world. Many Christians fail egregiously here in standing merely ot the defensive. Many waste their best en J ergies in painful and idle efforts to shut ou | the world from a hollow heart. A vacan ! heart would not be worth keeping. Anc I even if it were, it would be impossible tc preserve it from becoming an easy prey tc insiduous worldly desires. As a safe-guard, then, against that worldliness which is youi greatest spiritual enemy, see to it brethren, that your hearts arc wholly occupied with | pious and holy affections. i 7. But once more, deep-toned piety o; I heart is your only security against^thc j adoption of a multitude of errors in prtlci. ! pie and practice. So far as a person^ ! heart is right with God, he may in some j humble sense appropriate to himself that ex : pression 01 mm 111 v*nuui was uu guuc. i" The devil cometh, and hath nothing ir | me." Unsoundness of heart constitutes the ! inlet of all that flood of evils which deluge the church. The habit of explaining awaj the doctrine of human depravity; of depreciating the immediate and pararaouni agency of the Divine Spirit; of magnifying human ability and human means; of de. nouncing, not in the spirit of meekness, al who differ from them in opinion; and ol overlooking as a ground of trust, for the conversion of men, the blessing of God on the ordinary means of grace, and on the | consistent every-day piety of his chifdren ; i all these savor of an earthly policy, and il is confidently believed spring from the remains of unsanctified nature. And again, a dispesiu'on to be more zealous against wrong than anxious to do right; to make the blind zeal of others ah excuse for doing nothing; to abuse thedoctrine ol regeneration by the agency of God's spirit; in making it a license to Christian idleness, and an opiate to the consciences of the un< godly; all tliesc spring from the same un. hallowed source, an evil, or partially 'sanctified heart. Let the hearts of Christians be imbued a rich and all-pervading piety and the evils of each of these courses, and those which are engendered by the coHisioc of the two will die away. Christians wil sec eve to eye in doctriuc, and go hand ir hand in prnc'cf*. Tlio>r? . which have lorig been the reproach of. the i Chris.ian profession, and the mightiest oh* I stacle to the conversion of men, will cense. . There will then be among Christians, a ? genera! and consistent style of holy living, > and devotional feeling, on which God can t constantly smile in the effusions of h?? i grace, and to which be will set the seal of . bis approbation by the continued enlarge* f mcnt of Zion. Contribute, tlien, dear . brethren, we beseech you, as much as in . you lies to these glorious results, by sec* 5 ing to It that your inmost souls are baptized . with the spirit of heaven, and filled with pi* s ety to God. i THINGS THAT ARE NOT REGENERATION. f 1. For the better understanding of the nature of regeneration, take this along with you in the first place; that as then* 0 are false conceptions in nature, so there y are also in grace; and by these many are e deluded, mistaking some partial changes d made upon them, for this great aiyl thorough change. To remove such mistakes let d these few things be considered. (1.) Many e call the church their mother, whom God d will not own to he his children: Cant. i. 6. r_ n \t.. /: _ i .J. " .'i v uiuuici o i/iinuicii ^i. u, ihibb urvut* :t ren) were angry with me." All that are t> baptized, are not born again? Simon e Magus was baptized, yet still " in the gall n of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity," 0 Acts viii. 13, 23. Where Christianity is !- the religion of the country, many will be ' called by tl?e name of Christ, who have no a more of him, but tlie name : and no woo0 : der, seeing the devil had his goats among ,u ! Christ's sliecp, in those places where bat ls | few professed the Christian religion# 1 John 's I ii. 19. " They went out from us, but they u j were not of us." (2.) Good oriacOtion ^ is not regeneration. Education may chain 1( up men's lusts, but cannot change their n hearts. A wolf is still a raveooqs beast, though it be in chains. Joash was very e devout during the life of his good tutor '* Jehoiada; but afterwards lie quickly shew. P ed what spirit he was of, by his sudden apostacv, 2 Chron. xxiv. 2,17,18. Good [? example is of mighty influence to change o the outward man; but that change often goes off, when one changes his company; '? of which ihc world affords many sad Y j instances. (3.) A turning from open profanity, to civility and sobriety, falls.short of it I this saving change. Some ace. for a it while, very loose, especially in tlieir younger years; but at length they rcfora, and ? leave their profane curses. Here is a ?f change, yet but such an one as may be y found in men utterly void of the grace qf s God, and whose righteousness is so far t from exceeding, that it do h not come up to the righteousness of the Scribes and > Pharisees. (4.) One may engage in all d the outward duties of religion, and jet not tt be born again. Though lead be cast in'o & various shapes, it remains still but a base I; metal. Men may escape the pollutions of o the world, and yet be but dogs and swine, i- O 11 OA OO A ft ftiA PTtminl ns?Ja nf ? t <WW| ** ? v.kiv/a ? e religion arc witliin the compass of natural s abilities. Yea. hypocrites may hayo tjie s counterfeit of all the graces of die spirit: li for we read of true holiness, ?ph. iv.S8, e and faith unfeigned, 1 Tim. i, 5, which - shews us, that there is a counterfeit fob*, i. ness, and a feigned faith. (5.) Men may t advance to a great deal of strict riesS in I- their own way of religion; and yet be u strangers to the new birth, Acts wri, 6. . 44 After the most straitest sect of our refcg. ion, I lived a Pharisee.** Nature 'fcat^ts v own unsanctified stricWessin religion.*? 2 The Pharisees had so much of it, that they t looked upon Christ as little better than a 3 mere libertine. A man whose conscience e hath been awakened, and who lives under t the felt influence of the covenant of works, i what will he not do, that is within tb^com pass of nntural abilities? It was 4 trgjh, 1 tliough it came out of a hellish mtffeh, s that44 skin for skin; all that a man hath r will he give for his life," Job ii. 4. (5.) j One may have sharp soul-exercises and ) pangs, and yet die in the birth. Mfey have been in pain, that have but as h were t brought forth wind. TTiere may be sore t pangs and throes of conscience, wWbh I turn to nothing at last. Pharaoh wad 8i> mon Magus had such conviction*, as > them desire the prayers of others for them. , Judas repented himself; and under terrors r of conscience gave bock his iHgottep pieces ? of silver. All is not gold that glitters, i Trees may blossom fairly in the spring, on which no fruit is to bo found in we f harvest: and some have sharp soul-exfer; cises, which are nothing but foretaste* of . hell. ; The new birth, however in appeariMce ; hopefully begun, may be marred two ways. First, some like Zarah, Gen. xxxviii. 28,29, , I are brought to the birth, but go back again, i They have sharp convictions foe a while; > but these go off, and tiiey turn as careless 5 about their salvation, as profane wever; r and usually worse than ever:' '"Their last state is worse timo their first,9* Matth. xii. t 45. They get awakening grace,bpt no r converting grace; aad that. goea off by . degrees, as the light of the decliniogKday, I till it issue in midnight darkneess* Seeood. f ly, some, like Ishmad, come forth too soon; they arc born before the tyne^of the i promise, Gen. xvi. 1, 2, cora&re Gal. iv, i 22, and downward, liioytake up with a ; mere law work, and stay not till the lima : of the promise of the Gospel. They snatch at consolation, not waitH^ till it be given them; and foolishly draw their com. fort from the Law that* wounded them. ; They anply the healing plaister to ihem? selves, before their wound be sufficiently f searched. The law, that rigorous bus. ; band, severely beats them, and throws in , curses and vengeance upon their -Mis; . then they fall a reforming, proving, mcwrn. ing, promising and vowing till this ghost . be laid : which done, they foil asfeep again { in the anus of the Law; but they wre twver , shaken out of themselves uihJ I righteousness, nor brought fofward to i Jesus Christ. Lastly, There may be a 1 wonderful moving of the affections, in i! souls that are not at all ioucbc<L)rith re;i oropo?*n4if!{j jjraee,?ftos'nn.