But God, who is rich in mercy, was pleased not to leave them in their state of sin, and treat them according to their deservings. Instead of casting them off utterly, and executing upon them the penalty of the law, he was pleased to provide and open a way in which he could put them and their posterity on a new and better trial, and afford them another opportunity of securing everlasting life. And this is the trial on which the human family are now placed, and on the issues of which is depending the eternal destiny of their souls.

OF PROBATION

CHAPTER III.

IN GENERAL, AND THE PROBA

TION OF MAN UNDER THE GOSPEL.

A STATE of probation differs from one of settled and confirmed character, not in this, that in the former state only, persons are free moral agents; for without doubt, saints in heaven, and sinners in hell, are as really free agents as they ever were. They must be so, or they cannot sustain any moral character at all.* But the difference between the two states lies principally here: a state of probation for holy beings is necessarily one of temptation and change-one of liability and exposure to error and to sin. Such was the state of the angels for a season after their creation; and the state of our first parents before their fall. A state of trial for sinful beings is one of hope, and not of despair; one of restraint, and not of abandonment; one in which trans

* See Appendix. Note A.

the

gressors are not left, unchecked, to fill up measure of their guilt, but have the opportunity, and ability, and all suitable motives, to turn from their sins and live. Such is the state in which the human family are now living, under the dispensation of the gospel.

In some important respects, our probation differs from that of our first parents before the fall. It differs as to its foundation. They were on trial on the ground of their own merits. They needed no other foundation than this. They had done nothing to forfeit the favor of God; and if they persevered as they then were, they would receive eternal life as the reward of their own deeds. But the ground of our trial is altogether the atonement of the Saviour. We have failed on the ground of our own performances. We have forfeited the favor of God, and exposed ourselves to his just displeasure. And it is only on the ground of the atonement of Christ, that God can so much as favor us with another trialthat he can consistently open to us a way of life, and furnish us with the opportunity and means of securing the salvation of our souls.

Our probation is also of a peculiar charac

1

ter, differing from that of our first parents before the fall, and of all other holy beings,

as to the nature of the question to be decided.

Our first parents were on trial, to see if they would persevere in holiness; but we are on trial, to see if we will turn from our sins. They were on trial, to see if, in a world of temptation, they would hold on their way, maintain their integrity, and secure eternal life as the reward of their deeds; but we are on trial, to see if we will repent, and turn to God, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance, and thus secure forgiveness and salvation on the ground of the atonement. Their trial was adapted to their circumstances, as perfectly holy beings, who had done nothing to forfeit the Divine favor and blessing. Ours is adapted to our circumstances, as entirely depraved and guilty beings, who must be renewed, sanctified, and saved, through the mercy of God in Christ, or who must perish

forever.

4

CHAPTER IV.

THE STATE OF MAN ON EARTH ADAPTED TO

BE ONE OF PROBATION.

THE peculiarities of man's probation, as a sinner under a dispensation of grace, were described in the last chapter. It is proposed now to show, that the world in which we live, the influences which here beset us, the changes which pass over us, and the means and privileges which we enjoy, are all adapted to the circumstances of beings on probation, and on just such a probation as has been described.

In showing this, it may be remarked, in the general, that our abode on earth is short. We are here but a little while, before the stroke of death arrests us, and we are summoned into the eternal state. In this respect, our condition is fitted to be one of trial. A state of trial is never a permanent state. Nor is it ordinarily one of long continuance.

We

sometimes take things into our possession on