gospel, as at that time. From the fulness of his soul, he pours out that amazing prayer which introduces my text. He begs the Ephesians, in the 13th verse, to give themselves no uneasiness about his afflictions, but rather to glory in them; and assures them that he could freely and daily unbosom his soul to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; that he looked upon all the people of God, at Ephesus and Rome, in prosperity or in prisons, in heaven or earth, as only one great family, differently disposed and differently employed, by the same infinitely wise and glorious Head; that the great thing which lay nearest his heart, was, that they and all his friends might have their souls invigorated by large supplies of the Holy Spirit; that the blessed Redeemer, as their Saviour and Lord, might habitually hold the supreme place in their hearts and affections; that the grace of divine love might strike its roots, like a flourishing plant, down into the very foundations of their minds; that that great instance of redeeming and saving grace, which no human. mind could possibly comprehend, might be the object of their daily, adoring contemplation; and that they might be blessed with such large and inspiring views of the perfections and providence and promises of God, that their hearts might be a sort of habitation of the

indwelling Deity," filled with all the fulness. of God." And then, unable to say any thing higher, or farther, he bursts out into a kind of glorious extravagance, in expressing the sense he has of the obligations of himself and the whole church, to such a being; and seems to feel as if even eternity would not be long enough fully to celebrate the favour his church had received from him, and the immense expectations which it had still to entertain."Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church, by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

It is utterly impossible for me to keep up the grandeur and spirit of this lofty passage, as it lies here therefore what I shall attempt, will be to illustrate this simple sentiment, as arising from it; namely, THAT THE OMNIPOTENT GOD IS THE

JOY AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS.

Here then let us,

First, Meditate a little on that great perfection, the Divine Omnipotence.-Now, what do we mean, when we speak of the omnipotence of God? Why, we mean that he has a natural power to do every thing that is possible. I say,

whatever is possible; because, whatever is in its own nature impossible, or implies a contradiction, is not an object of power at all: such as that a creature should be all a tree and all a man, at the same moment; or that the sun should be all darkness and all light, at the same moment: there is a flat contradiction in the nature of things, in this; and therefore it is not an object of power at all. So that omnipotence is a natural power of doing every thing that from the nature of things can be done. But perhaps you will say, How can God be almighty, when it is expressly said that there are some things he cannot do that he cannot lie, cannot do wickedly? Why, you are to observe, this does not mean, that he has not a natural power to do wickedly, or lie; but that he has not a moral power to do so. The holiness of his nature controls his power, and prevents it from doing any thing wrong. If I see a large sum of money in a private room, that does not belong to me, and yet leave that money untouched, that is no proof that I had not a natural power to put out my hand and take it; but that I was influenced by moral principles, that I would not do it: so, though God has a moral power to do nothing but what is right, yet he has a natural power to do every thing

that can be done and herein consists his

omnipotence. But then, you will ask farther, How do we know that God is almighty, that he has a power to do every thing? Why, if there is a God, there never was a time when he began to be, he is self-existent, his being is infinite and boundless, and every thing great arises out of his very nature; and he that is the great spring of existence, must be able to do every thing that can be done in existence : he that is all in all, must be able to do all. Again, take another view of it: he must be almighty, because he has already done that which appears to us a greater act of power than any thing else that could be done he has created, brought something out of nothing an effect so inconceivably vast, that a being who could do that, can do every thing. If a being can create something of nothing, what is there he cannot do with that something? And then, farther: we see, in what God has done in his works, marks of a power that appears absolutely boundless. Who, that looks into the world with an intelligent eye, that sees the trees and the fields and the animals, looks at the vast face of the globe, sails upon the immense ocean, observes the astonishing strength of the winds and the waves, the lightnings and thunder, inundations and earthquakes; who, that looks up at the sun and stars, and

knows any thing of their vast extent, their surprising magnitude, their regular motions; who, I say, can set bounds to the power that formed all things? And then, the sacred scriptures most solemnly ascribe omnipotence to God. "I am the Almighty God." "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" "I know that thou canst do every thing." "Who is a strong Lord, like unto thee?" "Thou hast a mighty arm." To mention but one more, which takes in all"With God all things are possible." Remark,

Secondly, That this great perfection, the omnipotence of God, is employed for his church and people. This is implied in the text: "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think," &c.-implying, All this power is employed for us, therefore let us adore him. All the creatures of God, from the meanest clod in the fields to the noblest archangel, are the subjects of God's power; and all his rational creatures, more or less, experience the gracious exertions of his power. But there is only one description of persons who can depend upon it, who have any authority to conceive of the omnipotence of God as engaged for them; and these are humble, dependent, holy souls; because all unrenewed souls are in a state of war with the holiness,