ore is intended than acting sincerely,
according to the light imparted. Perfect obedience is not attainable
by imperfect creatures--cannot therefore be here intended by the
apostle. His evident meaning is, that sincerity is accepted of God,
and rewarded with the rewards of grace, and equally of the Gentile, as
of the Jew; _for there is no respect of persons with God_.

Adults, privileged with gospel light, must believe and obey the
gospel. To them is that declaration addressed--"He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned." This hath no relation to those who have not the means of
faith. "What the law saith, it saith to those who are under it." The
same is true of the gospel.

The equal justice of God in giving to every one according to his
works, or to his improvement of talents, is the spirit of the text and
context, and of many other scriptures. Yea, this one of those great
truths which are borne on the face of revelation--"If ye call on the
Father, who, _without respect of persons_, judgeth every man according
to his works, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear."

Some objections to the preceding definition of divine impartiality are
subjoined, with very brief replies.

It is said "We must be born again or we cannot see the kingdom of
God," and regeneration is the work of God, or effect of divine
influence.

That necessary change, is indeed the work of God, but not to the
exclusion of human cooperation. The holy spirit strives with all who
have the means of grace. None are wholly destitute of supernal
influences--of awakenings and convictions, or devoid of power to
cherish or to resist them. This is intimated in the warnings to beware
of grieving or quenching the spirit. Could men only oppose divine
influence in renovation, they would never be exhorted of God "to make
themselves new hearts, and turn themselves that they may live." *

* Ezekiel xviii. 31.

But natural men are said to be "dead in sin"--and can the dead do
aught which tends to their own resurrection?

The renewed are said to be "dead to sin"--Can they do nothing which
tends to wickedness?+ Metaphors must be understood with latitude. We
should involve ourselves in many absurdities, by always adhering to
the literal sense of those used in scripture. Were we to adhere in all
cases to the literal sense, we should believe Christ to be a rock, a
door, a vine, and receive the Romish doctrine of