tinguished by eminence of situation or talents, that the glory may not be imputable to creatures, and that the ercellency of the power, thus committed to earthen vessels, may appear, both in cause and effect, to be all his own." This appears to be the sense of the Church of England in her twenty-sixth article, in which she states, that the efficacy of the word and sacraments does not depend entirely upon the administration of ministers, but that even evil men, performing divine offices, may be blessed to others, though not blessed in themselves. The most learned and successful of all the Apostles hath most fully expatiated upon this important truth, in many parts of his epistles to the Churches.

§20. As a matter of fact, it is also confirmed by various examples. To point out a few of them may suffice.

The first sermon after our Lord's ascension, when the Holy Ghost was poured forth from on high, was preached by St. Peter. We find in it no display of argument, no flourish. of rhetoric, no affectation of language, manner, or method; but one plain and simple detail of facts, foretold by ancient prophecies which are quoted, and followed up by an ex-. hortation to every one present to repent and be baptized, with an assurance of the remission of sins and of the gift of the Holy Ghost, grounded upon the Prophecy or Promise - unto them and to their children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. His

exhortation was general, and even

universal. There was no limitation

scribed, by him; because the publication of the Gospel was ordained by the Lord himself to go abroad

into all the world. But the success, the particular appropriation, remained with God; and this is plainly signi fied by those remarkable words, which place no restriction but in his own hands;-even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Accordingly,

we find, that, out of the multitude come together, three thousand souls gladly received the word, and were baptized; and that, immediately afterwards, upon the farther preaching of the Gospel, THE LORD ADDED to the hurch daily such as should be saved. It is evident, that the Apostle, inspired as he was, knew not, when he was declaring the counsel of God, who would receive or who reject that counsel. Nor was it his office to know it; though it became the subsequent matter of his joy. His commission was faithfully and constantly to preach, to testify, and to exhort; and, when this was done,

all was done, that could be done by him. The issue was with God, whose Holy Spirit selected the heirs of salbation, carried the word with power to their hearts, induced repentance unto life, renewed them in the spirit of their minds, translated them from the kingdom of darkness into his own; instilled new affections, a new understanding, new hopes, into their souls; made them new creatures, of a new creation, in Christ Jesus, and brought them (in a word) into the state of grace from the state of nature, and into union and fellowship with the Father and the Son, with power over sin, with love of holiness and truth, and all the other things and circumstances which accompany salvation. In short, the converts under that memorable sermon, as well as real converts under all subsequent sermons, were such as the same Apos tle deecribes them to be in his first

general

general epistle to the Church - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus they are primarily chosen, then effectually called, and at length eternally consecrated, as vessels of mercy, for the heavenly Master's use, and for the glory of all the divine attributes and perfections*.

§ 21.

I am not much charmed with a phrase, which I suppose to be modern, applied to the infinite and indescribable Being, who inhabiteth eternity, namely, "The character of God."The word character, limited as it is in its sense; and frequently employed to describe men and beasts whether good or bad, appears too low and familiar, and therefore far less decent and reverential than the more solemn term attributes, heretofore used by divines to convey their humble sense of the unutterable perfections of the Most HIGH. If it be said, that the word xapaxing's

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character,