face, and lo! God hath showed me thy children also." "When the apostles had the sentence of death in themselves," God dispelled their fears, and preserved their lives, in spite of all the rage and cunning of their persecutors. And thus, "in the mount of the Lord" it hath often "been seen :" deliverance came when death was expected; or, according to the prophetic style of Zechariah, (chap. xiv. 7.) " at evening time:" when, according to the course of nature, nothing was looked for but deepening shades and increasing darkness, "light" hath suddenly sprung up, and the thick clouds have fled and vanished away. Here then is a solid ground of confidence and hope: He that careth for us, not only knoweth all things, but can do all things. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. "Fear not," saith he, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee, with the right hand of my righteousness." Have we not then the most powerful encouragement to cast our care, our whole care, upon God? And still more, when I add, detected and reproved his ignorance and pride, by answering him, "Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." And as the power of God is supreme, so is it likewise everlasting. "The Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary." 13 His arm is never shortened that it cannot save; neither age nor exercise can impair its vigor; what he did yesterday he can do to-day, and repeat it as often as his people have occasion for it. This was the foundation of that expostulatory address, (Isaiah li. 9.) "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art not thou it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?" To which God replied, "I, even Ĩ, am he that comforteth you: who art thou then that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the" for I am with thee: be not dismayed, son of man which shall be made as grass? and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor? I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waters roared the Lord of Hosts is my name." His power reacheth to the heart of man, to which no creature can have immediate access: even the hearts of kings are in his hand, and he turneth them as the rivers of water. Thus he promised to Jeremiah, "that he would cause the enemy to entreat him well in the day of evil." Who but the Lord of man's heart could have said unto Moab, and said it with efficacy, "Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler?" Thus, when it pleaseth him, he can open a sanctuary for his people in the midst of their foes, and make these very foes the protectors of his people. In short, "with God all things are possible." He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. This good old Jacob gratefully acknowledged, when he met with his darling son Joseph, whose supposed death he had long and bitterly lamented: 66 I had not thought to see thy 3dly. That he who is so wise in heart, and mighty in strength; so wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working; is likewise possessed of infinite goodness. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. "God is love," said the apostle John; and well might he say so, who was one of the heralds of that joyful proclamation, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.' Here then is a foundation that is able to carry all the weight a believer can lay upon it; for "if God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" What can he withhold from those upon whom he hath already bestowed his own dear Son, and enabled, by his Spirit, thankfully to receive him as the "unspeakable gift" of God to men. How firm then are the grounds of the believer's hope? With what humble, but triumphant confidence, may he cast his care upon God, whose wisdom knoweth all things, whose power hearts, and even fight against him with the fruits of his bounty? If you think coolly upon the matter, I am almost persuaded you will blush to ask it. can do all things, and whose unbounded | goodness doth constantly incline him to bestow every needful blessing upon his people? As I have made it my business, in every branch of the subject, to keep the persons How then are you to dispose of your in your eye to whom the exhortation is ad- cares?—What shall I say? I might tell dressed, it is almost unnecessary to remind you, that your anxiety will do you no you, in the conclusion, that the comfort of good; and therefore it were best to lay all I have said must be confined to those it aside, and take things as they happen, who are Christians indeed. None else are without murmuring. But this were only the objects of that peculiar care which the to amuse you; for the burden would still apostle speaks of; and therefore to them press you with its weight, and all my reaonly the privilege belongs of casting all soning would amount to nothing more than their care upon God. Permit me now to a cold, unavailing advice to struggle with add, that as it is their privilege, so it is it as you can. But if your cares be very likewise their duty; and they dishonor painful, though I cannot encourage you to themselves, and reproach their Father, go directly to God with them in your prewhen they give way to anxious, disquieting sent state, yet I shall suggest a hint which cares upon any account whatsoever. We by the blessing of God may be of use to may justly say to such, as Jonadab said you. It hath often been observed, that one to Amnon, "Why art thou, being the great care will swallow up many others of king's son, lean from day to day?" Carry smaller importance, and even banish them all your grievances to him who is both from the mind altogether. Thus, in a able and willing to redress them. Make use of thy birth-right, O Christian! and cast thy cares upon him that careth for thee. Your very reliance upon him, in the way of duty, your leaning upon his arm, if I may so express it, while you are using the appointed means, insures his protection according to that gracious promise, (Isaiah xxvi. 3.) "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon thee, because he trusteth in thee.' "} But what shall those do who are of an opposite character? May not they too cast their care upon God, as the God of nature, the Father of their spirits, and the former of their bodies, in whom they live and move? Doth not his providence extend to all the creatures he hath made? Doth he not clothe the lilies, and feed the ravens, and hear the lions when they cry to him for food? All this is true; and, in one sense, all men without exception are the objects of his care. But this can yield no comfort to impenitent, unbelieving sinners; for the same God who sustains them in life, and gives them what they possess, and most ungratefully abuse, hath express ly declared," that though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not pass unpunished." I appeal to yourselves, is it reasonable to expect, that God shall take the burden of your cares, while you deny him your storm at sea, the most covetous worldlings have been known to throw their most precious goods overboard with their own hands, when no other means could be found to keep the ship above water. This points out a remedy; and it is the only remedy that occurs to me. Were you awakened to a proper concern about the life of your souls, this would have a powerful influence to cure your anxiety about lesser things. Were you brought to cry out with the jailor, "What shall I do to be saved?" you would find neither leisure nor inclination to ask these disquieting, anxious questions, "What shall I eat? and what shall I drink? and wherewithal shall I be clothed ?" All these would be swallowed up in your concern for“ the one thing needful." And give me leave to add, that when this becomes your care, I shall then be at full liberty to invite you to cast it upon God; nay, I shall be able to assure you, that he will not only accept the charge, but likewise give you what yon care for, even a complete and everlasting salvation. O then " seek the Lord while he is to be found; call upon him while he is near." MAY God determine and enable you to take this course, and make your worldly cares the means of leading your hearts beyond and above this world, to seek rest and happiness in himself. Amen. SERMON XXXV. SUFFICIENCY OF GOD'S GRACE. 2 CORIN. XII. 9.-" He said unto me, MY grace is sufficient for thee." In the foregoing verses of this chapter, the apostle relates an extraordinary revelation he had been favored with, above fourteen years before the date of this epistle. He informs us, that "he was caught up into paradise," or "the third heaven (whether in the body, or out of the body, he could not tell), where he heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful," or possible, "for a man to utter." This probably happened soon after his conversion; and was graciously intended, either to remove those doubts and fears which the resemblance of his former conduct might naturally occasion, or rather to fortify his mind against the trials and sufferings he was afterwards to meet with in the course of his ministry. One should imagine, that such a glorious manifestation could not be liable to any abuse. When Satan would have tempted our Lord to worship him, it was by giving him a sight and offer of all the kingdoms of this world; and we readily admit, that such a temptation might prove very fatal to us. Earthly objects have indeed too powerful a tendency to inflame our sensual appetites, and to alienate our hearts from God; but surely no danger can be apprehended from a view of heaven. The glories of the upper world, a display of those things above upon which God himself hath commanded us to set our affection, cannot be supposed to have any bad effect. A rial for us to know. The words plainly import, that it was both violent and painful; and the effects it produced as evidently show, that it was appointed in mercy, and wisely calculated for his spiritual advantage. This eminent saint, who but a little before was caught up into paradise, now humbles himself as low as the dust. He falls down upon his knees, and earnestly implores deliverance from this trial. Once and again he repeats his supplication, but gets no answer. This could not fail to heighten his distress. messenger of Satan is sent to buffet him; and God, by his silence, seems deaf to his entreaties. But still this is made to work for his good: He becomes more and more sensible of his own weakness; he draws nearer to a throne of grace, and renews his suit with increasing fervor and importunity. "For this thing," says he, (verse 8.) "I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." At length the answer comes in the words of my text: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee. You will observe, that, after all his entreaties, the Lord did not grant him the precise thing he had asked; but he gave him what was better, and more suited to his condition. Paul needed an antidote against spiritual pride; and as the thorn in the flesh was necessary for that end, it would have been no act of kindness to have taken it away: and therefore our Lord, who knew his servant better than he knew himself, prolongs the trial, but at the same time assures him of grace to support him under it. This messenger of Satan must not be sent away, lest thou shouldst forget thy dependence upon me; but I will stand by thee, and strengthen thee to bear his assaults and buffetings; that, feeling thine own weakness, and the power of my grace, thy soul may be kept at an equal distance from presumption on the one hand, and from distrust on the other; both which extremes are utterly inconsistent with the duties of my service, and the happiness of my people. And no doubt this will be the case, when we shall be perfectly freed from all remainders of corruption. But we learn, from what follows, that in our present state of weakness and depravity, even a view of heaven might prove a snare to our souls. Holy Paul, as we read (verse 7.) | was in danger of being "exalted above measure through the abundance of the According to this view of the words, revelations; for which cause "there was I propose, in dependence upon divine aid, given to him a thorn in the flesh, the mes- I. To guard you against pride and selfsenger of Satan to buffet him." What confidence, by giving you a true representthis particular exercise was is not mate-ation of that weak and impotent state into which we are fallen by our apostasy from God; and, to do of his good pleasure?" Surely, my brethren, if we judge of the Scriptures by the same rules that we judge of any other books; nay, unless we suppose that they were artfully contrived to mislead II. For your encouragement, I shall lead your thoughts to that all-sufficient grace which is treasured up in Christ, whereby the weakest of his people are en-us; we must be sensible, that the absolute abled to endure the buffetings of Satan, and shall finally prevail against all their spiritual enemies. necessity of supernatural grace, is not only clearly asserted in Scripture, but that this doctrine is so intimately connected with all the other parts of divine revelation, that the whole must stand or fall with it. This is further confirmed by the con I. THAT I may guard you against pride and self-confidence, I shall lay before you a plain and scriptural account of that weak and impotent state into which we are fall-curring testimony of all the saints of whose en by our apostasy from God. It were easy to quote a variety of passages which expressly assert the corruption of human nature, and man's utter inability to do any thing that can be effectual for his own recovery: but I need only appeal to every man who reads the sacred oracles with seriousness and impartiality, whether this doth not appear to be a Scriptural doctrine from the very face of the revelation, and the uniform strain of the word of God. experiences, in the spiritual life, we have Doth not the method of salvation by Jesus Christ necessarily suppose the whole human race to be in a state of guilt, pollution, and weakness? Do not the promises of taking away the heart of stone," Create in me a clean heart, O God, and and giving a heart of flesh, plainly imply, renew a right spirit within me." But lest that these works are peculiar to God, and any should be so injurious as to suspect that man is unable to do such great things that David might have spoken after this for himself? Would God command us to manner, to apologize for his criminal conpray to him for these inestimable bless- duct in the matter of Uriah, which gave ings, if we were able to procure them by occasion to that psalm; let us hear what our own wisdom and strength? nay, would the apostle Paul saith of himself, whose it not be a mocking of God to apply to character is not liable to any such objechim for that which we are already pos- tion, (Rom. vii. 18. et seq.) "I know, that sessed of, or may acquire when we choose, in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no without his interposition or aid? Besides, good thing; for to will is present with me; are we not told, that " every good and but how to perform that which is good, Í perfect gift is from above, and cometh find not.-I find then a law, that when I down from the Father of lights? Is would do good, evil is present with me. not our sanctification every where attri- For I delight in the law of God, after the buted to the Spirit of God? and are not inward man. But I see another law in my the saints denominated "God's workman- members, warring against the law of my ship, created in Christ Jesus unto good mind, and bringing me into captivity to works, which God hath before ordained, the law of sin, which is in my members." that they should walk in them?" Are Upon which he cries out, O wretched not "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gen-man that I am, who shall deliver me from tleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," expressly said to be "the fruits of the Spirit?" nay, are we not told, that it is God who worketh in us "to will and the body of this death!" Here then is one who was not behind the very chief apostles; who, before his conversion, lived a Pharisee, and afterwards could say at the bar of the Jewish Sanhedrim, "I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day;" who, conscious of the grace he had received, expressed himself thus in the presence of Agrippa, “I would to God, that not only thou, but all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." Yet this chosen vessel ingenuously confesseth his natural depravity, mourns over the remainders of a body of sin, and ascribes those eminent gifts and graces with which his soul was so remarkably enriched, to God, and to him alone, saying, (1 Cor. xv. 10.) "By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Now what should have induced Paul to speak after this manner if it had not been true? Surely this was not the way to make a figure in the world. Had that been his aim, it would have answered his purpose far better to have represented his high attainments as the fruit of his own labor and diligence, rather than a mere alms to which he had no previous title. Surely nothing but a regard to truth could have drawn from him such humble, repeated acknowledgments; and therefore his testimony is altogether beyond exception. And when I add, that he wrote under the immediate direction and influence of the Spirit of God, we are furnished with the most convincing evidence of the absolute necessity of divine grace, for beginning and carrying forward a work of sanctification in the soul of an apostate creature. They whose religion lies wholly in speculation, who have acquired a refined system of opinions, but never tried in good earnest to reduce them to practice, may dispute against this doctrine, and flatter themselves into a vain conceit of the vigor and sufficiency of the natural powers they possess. But all who are exercised to godliness, who have put their strength to the trial, (and they only are competent judges in a question of this nature) know the truth of what I have been proving, and will be ready to attest it from their own experience. Nevertheless, as pride is the last part of the old man that dies, it will be profitable even for such persons to "be put in remembrance of these things, though they know them, and be established in the present truth." Have you experienced the power of divine grace? have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good? then surely it is meet that your souls should bless him. But, O be humble! and give check to any self-exalting thoughts. Consider both where and what you are. You are still upon earth, part of the wilderness lieth before you, and you must pass through the valley and shadow of death before you can enter into the promised land. Many seeds of corruption still lodge in your nature; many enemies beset you, both within and without; the fiery darts of the wicked one fly thick on every side: and nothing less than Omnipotence can protect and sustain you, and carry you forward in safety to the end of your journey. If you trust in any measure to yourselves, if you depend upon the grace you have already received, as if that would be sufficient for the time to come, you shall soon get a proof of your ignorance and folly. You need daily grace as much as daily bread; for, separated from Christ, you can do nothing. Beware, O Christians! of undertaking any thing in your own strength; for that which is begun in self-confidence will most assuredly end in shame and disappointment. Go forth in the name of the Lord of hosts, saying, with good king Jehoshaphat, (2 Chron. xx. 21.)" O Lord, we know not what to do, but our eyes are towards thee." And for your encouragement, I shall now, II. In the second place, Lead your thoughts to that all-sufficient grace which is treasured up in Christ; whereby the weakest of his people are enabled to endure the buffetings of Satan, and shall finally be made to triumph over all their spiritual enemies. This is a most comfortable doctrine, and cannot fail to beget joy and confidence in every believing soul. How completely wretched would the discovery of our weakness make us, had we no knowledge where help is to be found, or no hope that help would be granted to us! But, blessed be God, neither of these is the case. For, 1st. An overflowing fountain of grace is set open to our view. "The Word was made flesh," saith the apostle John," and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, |