[Footnote 53: Vide DR. DODDRIDGE's eight Sermons on Regeneration, a most valuable compilation; and McLAURIN's Essay on Divine Grace.] [Footnote 54: Rom. iv. 5.] [Footnote 55: Ibid. v. 6-8.] [Footnote 56: The Writer trusts he cannot be misunderstood to mean that any, continuing sinners and ungodly, can, by believing, be accepted or finally saved. The following chapter, particularly the latter part of it, (Section vi.) would abundantly vindicate him from any such misconstruction. Meanwhile, he will only remark, that true faith (in which repentance is considered as involved) is in Scripture regarded as _the radical principle of holiness_. If the root exist, the proper fruits will be brought forth. An attention to this consideration would have easily explained and reconciled those passages of St. Paul's and St. James's Epistles, which have furnished so much matter of argument and criticism. St. James, it may be observed, all along speaks of a man, not who _has_ faith, but who _says_ that he has faith. Vide James ii. 14. &c. &c.] [Footnote 57: Vide Note Ch. iv. Sect. vi.] [Footnote 58: Gal. vi. 14.] [Footnote 59: I Cor. i. 30.] [Footnote 60: Rev. i. 5.] [Footnote 61: John, vi. 29.] [Footnote 62: 1 John, iii. 23.] [Footnote 63: Nec Deus intersit, &c.] [Footnote 64: Vide Heb. ii. 1, &c.] [Footnote 65: Any one who wishes to investigate this subject will do well to study attentively McLAURIN's Essay on Prejudices against the Gospel.--It may not be amiss here to direct the reader's attention to a few leading arguments, many of them those of the work just recommended. Let him maturely estimate the force of those terms, whereby the Apostle in the following passages designates and characterizes the whole of the Christian system. "We preach Christ crucified"--"We determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." The value of this argument will be acknowledged by all who consider, that a system is never designated by an immaterial or an inferior part of it, but by that which constitutes its prime consideration and essential distinction. The conclusion suggested by this remark is confirmed by the Lord's Supper being the rite by which our Saviour himself commanded his Disciples to keep him in remembrance; and indeed a similar lesson is taught by the Sacrament of Baptism, which shadows out our souls being washed and purified by the blood of Christ. Observe next the frequency with which our Saviour's death and sufferings are introduced, and how often they are urged as practical motives.