but is designed to answer some purpose in the chain of events; and it is reasonable to consider the less important events as ordered in reference to the more important ;—the one sustaining to the other the relation of means to an end; though it must be acknowledged that if particular events are viewed in relation to the whole system of Providence, our views are too limited to enable us to judge of their comparative importance. Now it will readily be acknowledged that no event ever occurs in the life of an individual so important to him as his conversion; the change of his character -from being a subject of pollution to a subject of holiness; and of his destiny-from being an heir of misery to an heir of glory. It is reasonable therefore to suppose that many events in his life which, taken by themselves, may seem of little moment, may nevertheless be designed by Providence to lead to this wonderful change. And if I mistake not, every Christian, especially every one whose first experience has been strongly marked, will find, on review, that he was led to the fountain of atoning blood by a path which he knew not; that God was working by circumstances of which, at the time, he himself made no account, to prepare him to come out of darkness into marvellous light. Perhaps his serious impressions originated in what seemed an accidental conversation with some friend; a conversation which he did not court, and which would have been avoided if he had happened to walk on the opposite side of the street; or perhaps he was brought to reflection by some discourse which he had gone to listen to from mere curiosity; or possibly some circumstance may have occurred where he would least have looked for it-in connection with his amusements or his excesses, which God has overruled as a means of stopping him in his career of guilt. I doubt not that there are those among you, Christian

friends, who may, at this moment, be going back in your thoughts to some event which, at the time, you scarcely noticed, as having marked the era of your first setting your face towards heaven; and now that you can look at that event in some of its more remote influences, you are ready in devout thanksgiving to the providence of God, to connect with it all the joy that you have in believing in Jesus, and in the hope of hereafter seeing him as he is.

Now if it is right to consider God as ordering the events of his providence with reference to the conversion of a single individual, it is certainly safe to form the same conclusion in respect to the conversion of many individuals; in other words, in regard to a revival of religion. There may be obstacles to be removed which seem to lie beyond all human power; but these God not unfrequently puts aside by an agency so silent and simple that men do not even observe it; while in other cases, though more rarely, he accomplishes the same end by some signal dispensation which almost bears the aspect of a miracle-waking up even the careless mind to the reflection, "What hath God wrought !" Sometimes by the death of an individual, there is an organized and efficient opposition to the gospel put down; and sometimes by an individual changing his residence, there is a large accession of religious influence to some community; and the means of grace are multiplied; and a revival of religion succeeds. There may be some alarming dispensation of providence to arouse many simultaneously to reflection; or some one whose influence is extensively felt may become the subject of renewing grace, and may be a kind of central point from which good influences shall extend in every direction. It is fully believed that, in all ordinary cases in which a revival takes place, it would be no difficult thing to mark a distinct providential agency preparatory to it; and especially where the cause of religion has

greatly languished, and the means of religion are but partially enjoyed, this agency is sometimes so manifest as to constitute of itself a distinct and solemn call to sinners to awake out of sleep.. But

II. There is also an agency of the Spirit. This we proceed now to contemplate.

Of those general facts in relation to this subject, which are clearly matter of revelation and experience, we may mention the following:

1. The fact that the Spirit actually does operate in the whole work of man's sanctification. Hear the Spirit's own testimony on this subject:-"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; even to them that believe on his name. Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through the sanctification of the Holy Ghost." "A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

But beside many passages of scripture, of which those now recited are a specimen, in which the doctrine of the Spirit's agency is clearly taught, there are many facts recorded in the Bible, by which the same truth is abundantly confirmed. How will you account for it, for instance, that the preaching of the Son of God produced so little effect, and the preaching of his apostles so much? How was it that multitudes were aroused, and pricked to the heart, and actually converted under the preaching of Peter, who had sat with indifference, or rather been excited to opposition, under the preaching of Him who spake as never man spake? Whence was

it that the jailer, who had doubtless often heard the Apostle before the night of his conversion, remained indifferent till that time; and then evinced so much anxiety and alarm, and finally a disposition to own Jesus as his Saviour and his Master, and to walk in his steps? And in general, whence was it that such marvellous success attended the ministry of the apostles; that by preaching a doctrine which enlisted against it the strongest prejudices and worst passions of the heart, they undermined the thrones of Paganism, and caused tens of thousands to gather around the standard of the cross? Here is a problem that has always been too hard for the jeering infidel to solve; and which most infidels have manifested little disposition to encounter. There is no solution of it except in the fact that God works in the hearts of men by his Spirit; and that he dispenses it in the sovereignty of his wisdom.

2. Another fact in relation to this subject, of which we have the fullest evidence, is, that the Spirit, in performing his work upon the hearts of men, has respect to the laws of their moral nature.

God has made man what he is a voluntary, accountable agent. He has given him the power not only of distin guishing, but of choosing between good and evil, has constituted him in such a manner that he is susceptible of the influence of motives; and every one must perceive that this involves responsibility. Inasmuch then, as this constitution of our nature is derived from God, it were to be expected that whatever influence he should exert upon the mind would be consistent with it; in other words, that he should not contradict his own works. It would do little honor to infinite wisdom to suppose that he should have formed man with such a naturé that he could not have access to it, without violating the laws he had himself established.

But the conclusion to which we should arrive on this

subject from the perfections of God, is abundantly corroborated by the testimony of his word. Says Joshua to the people of Israel," Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." And again, our Saviour says, "Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." Indeed, what are all the exhortations, and promises, and threatenings, of the Bible, but a mass of evidence that God operates upon the hearts of men as moral agents; that he takes for granted that they are to be active in the work of their sanctification, notwithstanding he is himself the efficient cause of it? Admit that men are operated upon as mere machines, and then read any part of the Bible, and see what meaning you can find in it.

And I may add that the experience of Christians on this subject is in exact correspondence with the teachings of God's word. Let the Christian who is just entering heaven, give himself to the work of reviewing his own experience; let him look back to the hour when he first trembled under a conviction of his guilt; or to the time when he first felt the preciousness of the Saviour's love; or to his subsequent conflicts with corruption and temptation; or to any or every part of his progress in holiness; and while he will acknowledge with gratitude and delight that the Spirit has been active in it all, and deserves all the glory, he will be completely satisfied that there has never been the least interruption of his moral agency. He will find that he has been working out his salvation with fear and trembling, while God has wrought within him both to will and to do.

3. Another fact on this subject, which is ascertained to us by the best evidence, is, that the Spirit operates by means of the truth. It is partly in reference to this that