and zeal, that very faith, which he denied before, and we find him labouring more abundantly than all the apostles, and glorying only in his master's cross, while he testifies in his epistle to the Philippians, What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousnes, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith; that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.' Phil. iii. 7-11. After such an illustration, such a testimony, shall we, my brethren, think anything too hard for the Lord? Shall we look on any man as hopeless, and too far off to be brought into the kingdom of heaven? Or shall we regard any spiritual attainments as too high for those who are really the subjects of divine grace? Oh, no ! But we shall confess with the prophet,- Thou, O Lord art our father, we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work of thy hand.' Isaiah lxiv. 8.

III. To apply, however, this subject in coN

M

CLUSION, I would remark, that if the grace of God can alone effect such a wonderful change in the souls of sinners, it becomes us who would be saved, to seek a blessing so essential to our salvation. It becomes us to seek it early; because it is dangerous to neglect so great a benefit, lest the day of salvation, lest the accepted time should pass away, and return no more,-lest the summer should be over and gone, without our being saved. Wherefore we should listen to the exhortation by the prophet,- Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.' Isaiah lv. 6, 7. Earnestly, too, let us seek this blessing; for the Lord will never behold in mercy those who come not to Him in sincerity, depending upon Christ as their only refuge, their only hope. Thus, then, we must especially seek it in and through the Saviour; for although God will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, we are assured by the Mediator

himself, that ́he alone is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no man cometh unto the Father but by he adds in another place,

him.'

John xiv. 6. While

Verily, verily, I say

unto you, my name, he will give it you. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.' John xvi. 23,

whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in

24. Moreover what great encouragement for all the Lord's people, is to be derived from the conviction, that all these things, of which we have been speaking, are thus possible with God; and who shall despair of being brought to such a state of advancement in religion, even to the perfect stature of the spiritual man, even to the matured knowledge of the Father in Christ, under the assurance that the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear?' Is. lix. 1. While the faithful minister of Christ is also animated in proclaiming the Gospel fully, in spite of opposition; and is strengthened in the work, from the believing conviction, that God can soften the hardest heart, can bless the word preached, to the awakening of the most stupid, to the impressing of the most indifferent, and shew that he is able out of the very stocks and stones, to raise up children unto Abraham.

Finally then, my brethren, let us, one and all, in our different vocations and circumstances of life, in our various proficiencies in the kingdom of grace; whether too we are engaged in leading others to Christ or are coming to him ourselves; whether we are discouraged by difficulties, which seem ever opposing our attempts, while we question the fact of our own acceptance with God; whatever be our lot, whatever our hopes or fears, our comforts, trials, victories, or perplexities; still let us lean upon the Almighty arm of

Jehovah, still let our minds be stayed upon THE OMNIPOTENT THREE IN ONE, who hath said, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' 2 Cor. xii. 9. While we learn to trust in the LORD for ever, for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.'

SERMON XI.

STREAMS IN THE DESERT,

OR,

REFRESHING WATERS PROVIDED BY GOD IN CHRIST, FOR THE SPIRITUAL THIRSTINGS OF HIS people.

ISAIAH XLVIII. 21.

And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.'

to a

THESE words are immediately subjoined to proclamation of liberty, addressed by the mouth of the Holy Prophet to the Jews as foreseen in captivity, Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing, declare ye, Tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.' Then follows the language of the text, intended, it would seem, to remind the people of