standard shall it be estimated, in what language can it be expressed? There is nothing with which it can be compared; the boldest imagination cannot grasp it. It is a depth, into which angelic spirits look adoringly down, but cannot fathom; an height, to which the thoughts of a seraphim cannot attain. As he himself has been loved by the Father from all eternity, in the same measure and degree does he love all who are the objects of his regard. No mind can comprehend, no imagination conceive, the love of Christ; it surpasses all knowledge and all thought. And his power, like his love, is boundless, unsearchable, incomprehensible. Obedient to his will, the waves of the Red Sea mounted into a heap like a wall of crystal; at his command the solid rock became a fountain of waters; the impregnable walls of Jericho fell down at the sound of a trumpet, and the sun stood still in the firmament; with a word he restored life to corruption, and called the dead out of their graves: and this was but a small display of his power, a trifle for his gigantic arm. Did he he not call a world into existence out of nothing, and command that to be which was not, and it stood forth? Did not his arm plant Orion in the heavens, and group the Pleiades? And yet we have seen but a shadow of his power! He can create and do his pleasure; as the Scriptures declare,' All power is given him, in heaven and on earth.' Oh who can measure the power his arm? His arm is like his heart, his power like his love. We have attempted a faint description of them, but the thunder of his power who can understand?

of

And who are the recipients of this love, and for whom is this mighty power revealed? In general it is simi

larity of taste or disposition that attracts men to each other, and forms the bond of union between them. But the love of Jesus is guided by other rules. It was not the angels and cherubim, who were the exclusive objects of his love: He took not on him the nature of angels,' says St. Paul; it was not the just, the virtuous, the noble, the wise, the mighty, and the great, after the flesh, that he sought to bear them on his heart; for his love is the love of sinners, and his arm is stretched forth to the miserable. It was for us, the children of death, that the bowels of his mercy yearned from all eternity, and for whom his heart burned with infinite tenderness. How wondrous that love, which could impel the Sovereign of the universe to lay aside his glory, and in the form of sinful flesh to descend into this dark valley of tears! A love which prompted him to assume our griefs, the whole weight and curse of our iniquities! A love, which moved Him to become the most despised and vile amongst the children of men, to humble himself even unto death, and to shed his blood upon the cross! What an amazing love! And yet it was a love

It was not for angels,

for sinners, and for sinners only. but for thee and me, my dear brethren, that he submitted to be thus straightened. The poor sinner is the object of his love, the curse-stricken earth the theatre of its display, and the deadened heart the subject on which it operates. And wherever he has revealed himself in the world, he has revealed himself as one compassionating the miserable, reclaiming the wanderer, and as the sinner's friend. Such is the heart of Jesus and his arm, his power, is wielded by this heart, by this love of sinners. He has ever acted and governed in the world,

:

as if he possessed his power solely for the deliverance, the salvation of sinners. For them he vanquished hell, and trampled Satan under his feet. For them he conquered death, and burst the bands of the grave; and all that he has done, or is daily performing, is designed to accomplish the salvation of sinners. What do we need more? His heart is for us; his power is for us. He lives not for himself, he lives for sinners. In this we rejoice!

But there is one peculiarity in his love, at the thought of which we should humble ourselves in the dust, and devoutly adore. In what manner, under what conditions, and at what period, do you imagine it to be, that he receives the sinner to his love? Some of Some of you, perhaps, may be ready to reply; When the sinner begins to think about a reformation, then Jesus also begins to love. But I say, No; He loves him before. But, perhaps, it commences when the sinner sincerely begins to inquire after and seek the way of life? No!-long before these sincere desires arise in the sinner, he has been loved by Him who both imparts the will and perfects the good within him. Behold the Lord sets the sinner as a seal upon his heart, as a seal upon his arm ! and this is something unspeakably great! What is a seal? It is the clear, perfect impression of a figure engraven upon a seal, or signet ring. When therefore it is said, that the Lord Jesus sets the sinner as a seal upon his heart, it can only mean, that he takes a true and perfect impression of the sinner. He takes his true figure as a ruined, lost creature, with all the marks of sin broadly and clearly impressed upon him; and when it is further said, he sets him as a seal upon his arm, it

means, that, before any good is in the sinner, the arm of the Lord is promised, and extended for his relief; that for his salvation, the power and love of Jesus are united. And thus it really is! Yes, believe it, before a spark of the new life had been kindled within you, before the smallest change had taken place, you were already received to the love of Jesus; for how had you otherwise become converted and believing, had not the sustaining love of Him who is the author and finisher of faith, been previously imparted to you? For that you have not converted yourself, you are perfectly convinced. Every one, who has undergone this change, confesses with deep humiliation: I have not chosen thee, but thou hast chosen me. When you were still in your iniquities, and entertained not the most distant thought of

submitting your heart to
love had sought you out.
upon his heart-that is, you had become the object of
his merciful love; your image, with all the stains of
sin upon it, was impressed upon his heart; and when
you really were converted to the Lord, then his arm
executed in you the eternal counsels of his love.
Yes,
on every one who is born again, the words of our Lord
are fulfilled: "I have loved thee-not from the moment
of thy conversion-but I have loved thee with an ever-
lasting love; therefore with loving kindness have I
drawn thee.' In thine iniquities have I loved thee; as a
sinner wert thou engraven on my heart. I set thee as
a seal upon my heart, as a seal upon my arm; before
thou calledst, I heard and answered thee. Behold this

God, even then the Savior's
He had placed you as a seal

is the great, the free love of our Surety!

II.—And in the same degree that this love is great, free, and unconditional, it is likewise strong and powerful. But how strong? Strong, says the Shulamite, as death, What a striking similitude! Yes, strong as death-we have ourselves experienced it. Who can withstand death? With invincible power he wields his sceptre over all flesh-the strongest he casts to the earth, the most mighty become his prey.

6

And who can resist the love of Christ, when it goes forth towards the sinner, and casts its net around him? A Saul tried, but found it vain to kick against the pricks; the Samaritan woman was not long able to strive against, and to evade it; and Nathaniel, in spite of his conviction that nothing good could come out of Nazareth, was soon obliged to confess: Rabbi, Thou art the son of God; Thou art the King of Israel!' The jailer likewise, with his heart subdued, fell down, and anxiously sighed: What must I do to be saved?' And the heathen centurion was constrained to exclaim:. Truly this was the son of God.' Yes, strong as death is the love that seeks sinners, who can resist it! It pursues the sinner, who is its object, through all his devious courses; it follows him into the stillness of the closet, into the bustle of the world, in the midst of dissipation, and on the seat of the scorner; it presses upon him in every way, till his heart is vanquished, and he is rescued from the paths of death. How long, my brethren, did we not strive against its assaults, and seek to escape the net; how long did not we close our ears against its call, and, as it were, struggle not to be overcome. But behold, has it not been too strong for us? Has it not at last subdued and made us captive? Yes,