DISCOURSE X.

PSAL. lxvi. 14.

O come hither and hearken, ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul.

AMIDST the various mercies which a penitent and convinced sinner is sensible of, there is not any thing which more frequently occupies his mind, or forms a more delightful subject for meditation, gratitude, and praise, than that which hath been done for his soul.

From the conviction of what hath been accomplished in the great work of redemption, and that which is still accomplishing and completing for the good of immortal souls, and that notwithstanding his unwor thiness, Christ hath invited him to participate in the high privileges purchased by his death; he does not hesitate to accept the

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gracious invitation, at the same time sear nestly inquiring, "Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do?" but in deep humility exclaims, "What can render unto him I for his inestimable benefits !sa not vismoVTS? The Holy Spirit then teacheth him all things, and bringeth all things to his remembrance, convincing him of his sins, and leading him to true and unfeigned repentance, and amendment of life. He then desires and prays more and more to be taught of God, that he may know himself even as he is known; and he searches the Scriptures daily, that he may understand the whole will of his Lord; and then doth he by faith see and receive the Saviour into his heart. Let us, then, my friends, seriously ask ourselves, Have we so received Christ? If we have, love and gratitude must, or ought to constrain us to serve truly, in sincerity of heart, all the days of our lives, our great benefactor and deliverer -the Saviour of our souls; and then may we have confidence towards God, if we do the things which he commandeth.

The true believer will also show his willingness' to bear the cross of his Lord, by

Ps. cx. 3. "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.' The blessed effects of

his eagerness to run the race that is set before him ; and he will be entirely devoted to this service, and endeavour to perform all which his Lord hath enjoined: he will pray fervently for sanctifying grace to be purified in the renewal of his mind and not only to be delivered from the guilt, but the power and dominion of sin :-he will constantly attend upon all the ordinances appointed as the means of grace, and will perform with strict fidelity every relative, social, and moral obligation to his family, to his friend, and to his neighbour; in which last is comprehended every human being, of all sects and denominations ;-and he will bear in mind, that the performance of these have no merit whatever in themselves, but are due to Christ, as the grateful

the gospel upon its publication are here foretold. The people of Christ are those given him by his Father, and gathered to him by the preachers of his word. The day of his power" is the season of their conversion; when the corruptions of nature can no longer hold out against the prevailing influences of grace-when the heart, will, and affections turn from the world to God; and they make, as the first disciples did, a free and voluntary offer of themselves and all they have to their Redeemer. Bishop Horne's Commentary on the Psalmsala adi

services of a faithful servant to his kind master: they are an indispensable part of his duty, and an evidence of that true faith, without which it is impossible to please God:-he will also pray for the divine influence of the Spirit to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, well knowing, "that without holiness no man can see the Lord." And his obedience, the fruit of faith, will induce him to order his whole life and conversation so as to adorn the gospel of God his Saviour in all things; and then to him will be shown, "the salvation of God;' and he will be telling of this great salvation from day to day. And as our Lord enjoined St. Peter, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren;" so will he feel an ardent desire to impart his own experience, his own hopes and views, to all around him, or to all with whom he may associate; and in the fervour of his feelings, and in the language of my text, he saith, "O come hither and hearken, ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul." I believe,' and therefore

I will put my trust in the Lord, and excite others to do the same, by declaring his works and dispensations.--Bishop Horne's Comm.

will I speak ;' I will declare his honour unto the heathen, and his wonders unto much people. O come thou with us, and we will do you good seek after God, and your soul shall live. Again, "I will declare thy name, (i. e.) thy power, unto my brethren; and in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."-"O let your songs be of him, and praise him; and let your talking' be of all his wondrous works." No one who has perused the Psalms but must have observed how frequently similar passages to these occur; and I consider it a most sacred obligation for us to give the Lord the honour due unto his name, and to make his

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Isaiah lxiii. 7. "I will mention the lovingkindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord."-Deut. xi. 18, 19. "Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, &c. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."-Deut. xxxii. 1. "Give ear, O earth, and I will speak;" verse 3, "Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness to our God."

"And as for my tongue it shall be talking of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long."-Ps. xxxv. 28.