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God and the goodness of the law, ignorant and insensible of his own wickedness, ever believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. In order to obey the gos

Without a knowl

edge of our own depravity, we shall be unhumbled and selfrighteous in all our religious performances. And with such a spirit neither our persons nor our services can any more be accepted before God than Cain or the Pharisee. Now every person, who has the smallest degree of discernment or reflection on religious subjects. must be sensible that it is of the greatest importance for every one to perform the duties of the gospel. But it appears to be of no less

in condemning and punishing sinners. The depravity of mankind, therefore, shows the nature and necessity of the atoning sac-pel and to perform auy religious rifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. services, that can be accepted, It also shows the nature and it is necessary that a person necessity of the moral renova- should know the plague of his tion of sinners by the power own heart. and grace of the Holy Spirit. With the doctrine of human depravity is closely connected the doctrine of divine sovereignty in the sanctification and salvation of sinners according to the good pleasure of God. Indeed all the doctrines of grace, which are the very essence of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, are inseparably connected with the doctrine of human depravity. So far as any persons depart from the truth respecting the total depravity of mankind by nature, they err respecting the whole system of re-importance that every human ligious instruction, that is taught being should be sensible of his in the holy scriptures. They, own depravity. For no one evwho are not truly taught their er performed, or even truly per own depravity, have no correct ceived what God requires of sinknowledge of the gospel. It is ners in the gospel, while he was therefore as important that man ignorant and insensible of his kind should be taught and should own sinful character. believe, the doctrine of total depravity, as it is that they should understand the gospel of the grace of God.

3. It is necessary that mankind should be sensible of their own depravity, that they may receive the blessings of the gos

All the blessings of the gospel are offered to sinful and guilty creatures, who deserve the wrath of God and the curse of the law for ever. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. No person can ever be saved from endless misery through Je

2. That mankind may per-pel. form the duties of the gospel, it is necessary that they should be sensible of their own depravity. Repentance towards God and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ are essential duties of the gospel. And these are the first duties which God requires of sinners. But no one can ever see the nature and importance of repentance, unless he have a knowledge of his own deprav-sus Christ, unless he be so sinful ity. Nor will any one, who is and guilty that he deserves the

passage.

endless torments of hell. No, to him, in such a manner, that person can ever enter into hea- the understandings of those who ven and receive eternal blessed-united with him might be enness and glory through Jesus lightened, and receive the benChrist, unless he deserve to suf-efit which divine truth was calfer the pains of endless death.culated to afford. This appears The Lord Jesus Christ died to to be rather an artificial consave the guilty and not the in-struction of this declaration of nocent. And all the blessings the Apostle. It is at least a he has procured by his death are construction, rather than the for sinful and guilty creatures. | plain and natural import of the Before any person can receive Other expositors, of these blessings, he must be sen- good judgment, understand it sible of his wickedness and ill- in a manner more natural, and desert. Without a knowledge as would seem, more instructive of their own depravity no per- and important. sons will ever understand the ces of religion, I will exercise doctrines, perform the duties, or my understanding." In the dureceive the blessings of the gos- ties of prayer and praise, in all pel. It is, therefore, of the ut- approaches to God, in every most importance that mankind consideration of divine truth, should be sensible of their own the Apostle would exercise the wickedness and ill-desert. Noth-intellectual powers which God ing is effectually done for the salvation of sinners, if they are not taught their own total depravity. SERAIAH.

For the Magazine.

"In the servi

had given him; he would act according to the perceptions of his own mind, in view of those truths which God has been pleased to reveal. This acceptation of the words before us, renders them clear and important, conformable to the connection in which they are found, and to

Worshipping God with the Un- many other passages of scrip

derstanding.

ture. Most of the Christians of that day were converts from Gentilism, or from the religion of the Jews. These two descriptions of persons had been much used to seeing religious worship performed in an unknown tongue. The pagan rites always sought obscurity, and consisted, principally, in unintelligible forms and expressions,

THE HE Apostle Paul observes, in reference to the performance of his religious services, I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Many expositors of note have supposed the Apostle to refer, in this passage, to the understand-calculated to make an imposing ing of others, of those who are impression on the senses of behearers while he performs the holders, while their understand part of a public Instructor.-ings were wholly uninstructed. That he would deliver the truths With the Jews, their religious of God, and make his addresses worship was performed, mostly, VOL. VI. NO. 10. Y y

ings and sacrifices. The love of God is of no worth, unless it be with some correct intellectual views of his perfections, that the understanding may know what the affections approve. A more forcible description of true and false worship was never given than in the words of Christ to the woman of Samaria: Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship. True worshippers have a distinct object in view to which they would direct their devotions; while false worshippers may perform some formal ceremony, and may have their affections highly excited, but they know not for what purpose. The Apostle assures the Colossians that his constant prayer to God for them is, that they might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. The

in the Hebrew language, which, at that day, was the vernacular tongue of but a small part of that people. Yet from the force of early prejudice and the habits of education, many of the early Christians were much addicted to the performance of religious services in an unknown tongue. This, according to the manner in which they would practise, consisted in a repetition of certain set and familiar forms, alike uninstructive to others and unprofitable to themselves. In this formal service the understanding was uninterested and unimproved. Against such a practice, the Apostle forcibly remonstrates. While he would always depend on the assistance of God's Spirit for the acceptable performance of all religious service, he would improve his own intellectual gifts for his worship and praise. For the acceptable perform-consequence of such a knowledge ance of divine worship, the un- of divine truth is then mentionderstanding must be principally ed: That ye might walk worthy employed. It is said by the of the Lord unto all pleasing, Psalmist, For God is the King of being fruitful in every good work, all the earth, sing ye praises with and increasing in the knowledge understanding. Our praises of God. The wicked have the should arise to God from a just understanding darkened, and of sense of his character and his course are alienated from the life truth. The divine promise to of God. Israel, on condition of their repentance is, And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. The prophet assures them that they shall be enabled to offer unto God an acceptable worship; and, for this purpose, they shall be enlightened in understanding and knowledge. The scribe who answered Christ discreetly, says, To love God with all the heart, and with all the understanding,-is more than all whole burnt-offer

That God would have his people serve him with the understanding, is evident from the manner in which he has made himself known to men. A very important object, certainly, for which God has revealed himself so clearly to intelligent beings, is that they may serve him in a proper manner. The divine light which is given us, is addressed to the understandings of men. They are required to reflect on the truth thus communicated, thus forming their conceptions

I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. He had received that help from God, he had had that experience of the divine goodness and truth, he had that knowledge of his excellency, that he must say, in every discouragement, "O my soul, Hope thou in God." From the perception of God and his truth by the understanding, perceived by a clearness of evidence which is satisfactory, the heart is affected, and those affections which are distinctive of the Christian character naturally arise. Isaiah had a view of God's glory. It was an intellectual view. The majesty of Jehovah was in some degree exhibited to his mind. His heart was immediately affected with emotions unutterable. Fear, ter ror, humility, joy, filled his soul. On the mount of transfiguration, Peter saw his Lord assume some

of God, and determining the du- | in me? Hope thou in God: for ties which they owe to him. Jehovah differs from false gods, principally, in the realities of his character. The divinities of the heathen are unknown, undefined beings, who always seek concealment from intellectual scrutiny. Every view of the true God presents an increased exhibition of his excellency, and adds to his glory. It is generally held, and with great propriety, that the manifestation of the divine perfections must have been the principal object of the Most High in the work of creation. But this manifestation must be made to intelligent beings. Man was made, therefore, principally, that, with his understanding, he might behold, admire and praise God his Creator.-God must be served with the understanding, because it is through this medium that his truth reaches the heart. It is admitted that the affections are of the first importance in re-thing of his divine glories; he ligion, and that a great part of religion consists in holy affections. Love, fear, joy, hope, desire, confidence, are affections which glow in the hearts of the faithful friends of Christ. Yet, these affections must be subjected to some rule, they must be directed to some proper object, or they are of no value. The 1. We may consider the imChristian must know what he portance of religious instruction. loves, he must know what he If God must be worshipped with fears, he must know why he re- the understanding, the underjoices and hopes, he must view standing must be enlightened by some object which awakes his his truth. The means of indesire, or these affections are struction which God has apblind and uncertain, indetermin-pointed, his word and ordinanate of character, and nothing ac- ces, the exertions and example ceptable in the view of God.-of his people, and, especially, The language of the Psalmist is, Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted

heard a celestial interview between him and the perfected spirits of departed saints. He heard, he saw, his heart was ravished at the scene, and he could not forbear to exclaim, Lord, it is good for us to be here.

From these observations a few remarks obviously occur,

a

preached gospel, are the only means by which we can expect divine truth eyer to be success

fully communicated. While the ministry of the gospel is committed to feeble instruments, it is to such an instrumentality as is constituted by infinite wisdom, and it cannot fail of the designed effect. The human understand ing is dark, and through the corruptions of the heart easily led into error. The gospel of the Sun of righteousness rises for its illumination, that it may become the joyful abode of heavenly truth.

understanding. The prayers recorded in the scriptures, are the sentiments of the understanding, enlightened by reflection and a careful attention to divine truth. On the most solemn occasion in which a speaker ever addressed an audience, Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost, and informed the trembling thousands, that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had crucified, was risen from the dead, that he was Lord and Christ, that in hisname 2. The true nature of reli- was preached remission of sins, gious instruction may be easily and those who with repentance ascertained. Divine truth is to believed in him should be saved. be presented to the understand- No other address ever had such ing. The plain truths of God's an effect. A principal reason word are to be taught, just as why Christ spoke as never man they are, with the evidence and spake, was that he always delivsanctions which he has given, in- ered the most important truths, cluding the whole of the divine and delivered them in the plaintestimony, and nothing more. est manner. These authorities Few errors in religion are more must be the rule for religious incommon than a persuasion that struction. Divine truth must religious instruction is to be ad- be presented to the understanddressed, principally, to the affec-ing, just as it is, and left for its tions and passions of men, and own effect. To excite the pasthat the moving of the feelings sions any farther than they may is the principal object to be ef- be moved by light brought to fected. Such a sentiment de- the understanding, is of no avail. rives no authority from the Natural affections may be scriptures. The divine precepts strongly moved by artificial are addressed to the understand-means, but these are not the afings of men, in the plainest man- fections of grace, they are not ner, without any additional mat- the longing of the soul for God. ter to move the affections. Under the influence of strong narratives of the most interest-feeling, the mind is easily mising events that ever occurred lead, and readily falls into erare unrivalled in simplicity. If ror. the inspired writers would describe the machinations of wick-divine truth depend on the soveedness, the temporary successes reign grace of God. Personal of crime, the sufferings of virtue, religion has its principal seat in the patience of faith, or the tri- the heart. The means of grace umph of hope, the simple fact is which God has appointed, are all that we learn, without any il-designed to enlighten the underlusion of metaphor, without any standing. Their effect upon the pomp of language to mislead the heart must depend on the migh

The

3. The efficacy and success of

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