confidence in God in reference to his own salvation-living in the exercise of that grace from day to day: "Now the just shall live by faith." 2. His faith gave him victory over the world: "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith." How important for him who starts out without "purse and scrip," or stipulation for bodily support, that he exercise abiding confidence in a munificent Providence! Was it not to call forth such confidence on the part of the disciples, that Christ, in their presence, fed such multitudes with a few loaves and fishes, and that he pointed to the fowls of the air and the lilies of the vale, as objects of Providential care? 3. His faith enabled him to resist and overcome the wicked one: "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked." 4. It enabled him fully to rely on the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway." His was a faith in Him who alone can succeed the most pious efforts. Saith an inspired apostle, "I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." Who can forego the privations, endure the labors, meet the frowns, and discharge, faithfully, all the duties of the minister of Christ, without a faith like that of Moses, which enabled him to "endure, as seeing him that is invisible?"

II. HIS SUCCESS: "Much people was added to the Lord."

He not only had cause to rejoice in witnessing the effects of divine grace, in the conversion of Grecians, at Antioch, through the instrumentality of his countrymen, but his own labors, it would seem, were blessed in the salvation of many more: "Much people was added," not merely proselyted to an opinion, creed, or sect, but "to the Lord." Convicted for sin-converted from the error of their ways, they joined the band of young converts, or the first-named "Christians" in that city. Though they had been “aliens

from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenant of promise, without God and hope in the world," and sometime thus far off, they were now "made nigh by the blood of Christ". '—" fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God"-" sons and daughters of the Lord almighty." O, blessed union!-not only servants but sons. Thus this man of God run not in vain: he went not a warfare at his own charges. The Holy Ghost, who had called, qualified, and separated him from worldly avocations, accompanied the word, through him, with power from on high, so that many sinners were saved, and "added to the Lord." So extensive was this work, that it became necessary to have more laborers. Barnabas, therefore, goes in quest of Saul, to Tarsus, and brings him to Antioch, with whom he unites in preaching the word, and building the young converts, for a whole year. It is easy working where the Lord works; and how Scriptural the old Wesleyan plan-where the Lord's work revives, send the more laborers!

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By this narrative, the minister of the Gospel is encouraged to labor to win souls to Christ. His work is to teach men to live well, and to die happy. His praying, reading, studying, searching for knowledge-knowledge of menof the world-of science-his correct thinking and speaking—all—all should point to this end. The multitude are yet in the "broad way "-in the "region and shadow of death," hurrying to the gulf of endless woe: "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men ;” “The love of Christ constrains us,"

"With cries, entreaties, tears, to save

To snatch them from the gaping grave."

How awfully responsible the place occupied by the minister of the Gospel" the blood of souls required at his hands!" About to give an account of his stewardship, let him, as a son of thunder, "cry aloud, and spare not." A3

a son of consolation, let him blend in his exhortations the sweet scheme of a Savior's love. What a principle, here, by which to be actuated! What a motive to stimulate!

Well might Paul say, "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified”—“to count all things but loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord," and to glory in nothing save the cross of Christ.

Man of God, hast thou assumed this awfully responsible position? Take care that the love of souls is near thy heart. O rest not satisfied till thou art wise in winning souls! Then, what woe prevented, what bliss secured! "Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

This subject gives infallible direction, touching the moral qualities requisite to be instrumental in the salvation of immortal souls-the heart imbued with all that appertains to goodness, filled with every virtue-every grace. "Add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity: for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." This subject, also, assures the minister that it is his privilege to have the abiding presence, indwelling witness, comfort, assistance, direction, unction, and agency of the Divine Spirit, to cheer his heart, strengthen his hands, and to succeed his efforts to evangelize the world-not in a sense opposed to man's moral agency; for, as the word did not profit ancient Israel, "not being mixed with faith in them that heard it," so it may be in his ministrations. It is said that the Savior, in his own country, did not many miracles, because of their unbelief.

Lastly, this subject teaches us the importance of having the heart inspired with living faith: no self-confidence, but faith in God-in his omnipotent power, to defend, support, and help, in time of need-faith in his infallible wisdom to counsel and direct-faith in his justice to vindicate and avenge our wrongs, to maintain our cause, and to reward our labors of love, and sincere endeavors to do good in the world-faith in all his infinite perfections; for all are pledged to make the good man blessed in time, and to all eternity. "There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the Gospel's, but he shall receive - a hundred-fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life."

To the angel of the Church of Smyrna it is said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Consider, dear brethren, the importance of your work; follow this example of piety and usefulness; then shall it be said of you, whether you possess one, two, or five talents, if not in life, yet after you have gone to your reward, as of Barnabas, "He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith; and much people was added unto the Lord."

SERMON XXX.

BY REV. ELIJAH H. FIELD.

THE NEW BIRTH.

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again," John iii, 7.

SOME doctrines of Christianity are of fundamental importance-bearing a similar relation to the system, to that

sustained by the foundation to the building-remove the foundation, the building falls: invalidate the doctrine, the system cannot stand.

Among the more important doctrines of the Bible, that which is taught in our text holds a conspicuous place.

Its importance may be gathered from the consideration, that, without an experience of the change contemplated in it, no man can “see, or enter into the kingdom of God;" and, consequently, cannot be happy-unless he be independent of God. A knowledge of the doctrine, therefore, sufficient to lead us to such experience, is indispensable to our salvation.

In discussing the subject, four particulars invite attention: I. THE GROUNDS OF THIS DOCTRINE; OR, THE REASON

WHY WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

II. THE NATURE OF THE CHANGE INDICATED IN THE

TEXT.

III. THE AGENCY BY WHICH THE CHANGE IS EFFECTED. IV. THE EVIDENCES INVARIABLY ACCOMPANYING IT. May the Holy Spirit direct us in the inquiry,

I. Why we must be born again!

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To all who, with Nicodemus, admit that Christ is " teacher come from God," his simple declaration is a sufficient reason to command our belief. To such as might be tempted to think the declaration arbitrary, and who wish to understand why it must be so, our Lord gives a clue in verses 5 and 6, where he says, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

This language authorizes the assertion that man, “born of the flesh," that is, of his earthly parents, is not thereby, or in virtue thereof, in, or a subject of, "the kingdom of God." If it be objected, “Christ says, Mark x, 14, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not;