to which it is owing, that, instead of walking in the way of truth, of wisdom, of holiness, of virtue, and of peace, we have a prevailing tendency to "walk according to the course of this present evil world; to fulfil the desires of the flesh, and of the mind;" to become "the children of disobedience;" to gratify our inordinate passions, and inclinations; to be ensnared, and delighted, with all the vain allurements of time, and sense; and to sacrifice the riches, the pleasures, and the honours, which are unseen, and eternal, for those which are visible, and transitory.

To controvert this, upon any specious and evasive principles whatever, would be,

ceit-Envy-Hatred-Hypocrisy-Injustice-Intemperance-Lying-Malice-Oppression-Revenge-Slander

-Suicide-Vain-glory-Violence-and such like: all which have a direct tendency to the total subversion of every social, moral, and christian Virtue. Such however is the undisguised character of the human Heart. Jer. xvii. 9. Mat. xv. 19. The Son of Sirach seems to have taken a peep into this Cabinet, when he said, "Pride was not made for Man."

to controvert a fact, which is established by the testimony of universal History, and Experience*. And, to this moral Depravity must be ascribed, as an inevitable consequence, that moral Weakness, and insufficiency, which renders us incompetent to the performance, or business, of our own Salvation; which utterly incapacitates us for every thing of that kind; however active and ingenious we may be found in those pursuits, whether

*To those, who chuse to reason and philosophize on the subject, rather than to listen to the voice of Fact, and Experience, we recommend an invaluable work on “original Sin," by the late President Edwards: a Work, which professes, not only to elucidate and establish that doctrine-but, fairly to meet all the Objections, with which it has been attacked. As an uncommon specimen of profound and acute reasoning, it merits great attention. -The same thing indeed is represented with greater simplicity, conciseness, and decision, in Rom. iii. 10-19. If such clear assertions are not believed, the utmost strength of argument will avail nothing. As to any purpose of abiding impression, you might as well be employed in laying stripes on the sea. Why indeed should they regard the powers of Logic, or Learning, who slight the plainest dictates of heavenly Truth?

civil, social, political, or literary, which especially relate to the affairs of this life. Sad to say, in concerns of an infinitely higher order, and nature, the Scriptures have declared, that we are feebleness and impotency itself: their own phraseology is, that "we are without Strength; we can do nothing--no manner of thing that is good*." How then is it possible for us to engage in so arduous an Undertaking, as that of saving Ourselves? of redeeming

* Those, who acknowledge the divine Original of these Scriptures, and yet are so inconsistent, as to maintain the moral Ability of fallen Man, and the sufficiency of human Reason, are called upon ingenuously to weigh the true import of such phrases; and not to sacrifice the Sacredness of Truth, at the shrine of their own Vanity, and Selfconceit." Say I these things, as a Man? or, saith not The Scripture the same also?" To that, I appeal. Jerem. xiii. 23. Matt. xix. 25, 26. John i. 13... xv. 4, 5. Rom. viil. 7, 8... 1 Cor. ii. 14. . . 2 Cor. iii. 5. We must be utterly impenetrable to every thing like christian Zeal, not to be shocked at the deliberate manner, in which those authorities are continually insulted, both from the Pulpit, and the Press. They are absolutely set at nought, by many, whose Office, and Profession it is, to establish them. Diruunt, mutant quadrata rotundis !

ourselves from the bondage of Corruption

-from the curse of the Law-from the Wrath to come! The very Attempt, were it seriously made, might indeed have this valuable effect-to convince us of its folly, and madness; and so lead us, eventually, to Him, who is both "the Author, and the Finisher, of our Salvation."

For the more effectual establishment of this point-respecting our natural Inability to save ourselves-it should be observed, that, instead of having any constitutional propensity, to seek, or to desire, the blessings of Salvation, we are very strangely, very irrationally, very ungratefully, disposed to neglect them! we do actually, determinately, and perseveringly turn away our thoughts, our attention, our minds, our hearts, from them, to pursuits, possessions, and enjoyments, of an inexpressibly lower, and, in some instances, of the vilest, consideration-which we should blush to own. We are disinclined, to “seek first the kingdom of GOD, and his

Righteousness:" we do not like, to "labour for the meat, that endureth unto everlasting life :" we do not chuse, to "set our affections on things above, and not on things in the earth*." And, with all these moral Aversions from our supreme Wisdom, our true Excellence, and our chief Good, shall we still be so blind, so absurd, so infatuated, as to imagine, that we can save ourselves? Surely, nothing but the most pitiable ignorance, or, something worse, can ever indulge so delusive a chimera. No mathematical Axiom can be more incontestible, upon the principles of The christian Faith, than this-that, Mankind are not their own Saviours.

*This is no matter of speculative Theory, or sceptical Philosophy; but, of universal, unexceptionable Experience: and there never was a Person, who understood the nature of genuine Christianity, or that really knew himself, who would dispute it. But, Mankind do not know themselves, for this sole reason-because, they will not study themselves in the only undeceiving mirrour, "The Word of Truth." Rom. vii. 9-14. Those, who do not prefer to read themselves in the holy Scriptures, may consult a very useful little treatise on Self-knowledge, by Mason.