claring what the Lord has done for their souls. The relation awakens in them desires after him which are not disappointed, for he is rich enough to satisfy all who seek to him. So the Samaritans, whose expectations were first raised by the woman's declaration, "Come and see a man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?" had soon a more convincing testimony, and could say, "Now we believe, "not because of thy word, but we have heard him our"selves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the "Saviour of the world."

To a few, the first impulses of divine grace come suddenly and unthought of, when their hearts and hands. are engaged quite another way: as Saul, who was seeking his father's asscs, received the unexpected news of a kingdom. A ray of truth pierces their minds like lightning, and disposes them to leave their schemes unfinished, to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness only. Thus our Lord passed by the sons of Zebedee when mending their nets, and Matthew while busied at the receipt of custom. He only said, "low me;" he used no arguments, he proposed no rewards; but he spoke to their hearts, and, by the constraining power of his love, engaged them to a cheerful and immediate obedience.

P

"Fol

Afflictions likewise are now, no less than formerly, a happy means to bring many to Jesus. He prepares them for heavenly blessings by imbittering or removing their creature-comforts. Had they continued in prosperity, they would not have thought on him; but the loss of health, or friends, or substance, disappointments in life, or a near prospect of death, constrain them in

"John, iv. 29. 42.

Mark, i. 16-19.

P Mark. ii. 14.

good earnest to seek for one able to deliver them. In the time of their distress they say, Arise and save us. Not that afflictions in themselves can produce this turn of thought. Too many in such circumstances toss like a wild bull in a net; but when he sends afflictions for this purpose, they accomplish that which he pleases. Thus, when he was upon earth, many who came or were brought to him for the relief of bodily disorders, experienced a double cure. He healed their diseases,

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9

I

and pardoned their sins. At the same time that he restored the blind to sight, he opened the eyes of their minds. He sometimes made the afflictions of one, the means to bring a whole family to the knowledge of his grace. A considerable part of his followers were such as these, whom he had graciously relieved from distresses incurable by any hand but his. Some had been long and grievously tormented, had essayed every means, but found themselves worse and worse till they applied to him; and having known the happy effects of his power and compassion, they would leave him no more.

Lastly, we sometimes meet with instances of his mercy and ability to save even to the uttermost, in the unhoped-for conversion of desperate and hardened sinners, who have gone on with a high hand, regardless of mercies, warnings, and judgements, till they scemed past conviction, and given up to a reprobate mind. Their state resembles that of the demoniac, Luke, viii. They are so entirely under the power of the devil (though perhaps they vainly boast of freedom) that no arguments, no motives, no resolutions, can restrain them within bounds; but they break through every tie of nature, conscience, and reason, and are restless drudges in the

9 Mark, ii. 9.

John, ix. 7-36-38.

$ John, iv. 53.

service of sin, though they feel themselves miserable at present, and see inevitable ruin before their eyes. Yet even this case is not too hard for him on whom the sinner's help is laid. He can dispossess the legion with a word, he can take the prey from the mighty, and deliver the lawful captive, bind the strong one armed, and divide his spoil. Happy change, when the power of grace not only sets the soul at liberty from sin and Satan, but puts it in possession of what were lately the instruments of its slavery! when all the powers and faculties of body and mind are redeemed to the Lord's use, and the experience of past evil is made conducive to future comfort and advantage! Such an instance was that great sinner, that penitent, believing, happy soul, of whom it is emphatically remarked, "She loved much, because "much had been forgiven her." Sometimes the deliverance is deferred till near the period of life. The poor wretch, labouring under the pangs or dread of death, and trembling at the apprehension of falling into the hands of the living God, is snatched as a brand out of the fire; he receives faith in a suffering Saviour, and feels the power of atoning blood; his terrors cease, and joy succeeds, a joy unspeakable and full of glory. Thus the expiring malefactor" was converted upon the cross, and received an infallible assurance of salvation.

Thirdly. The characters of our Lord's disciples, with the account we have of their defects and failings, may farther illustrate the history of his church and Gospel, and afford an apology for the blemishes which, through human infirmity, do, more or less, attend the prevalence of his doctrines.

Luke, vii. 47.

"Luke, xxiii. 43.

The grace of God has a real influence upon the whole man. It enlightens the understanding, directs the will, purifies the affection, regulates the passions, and corrects the different excesses to which different persons are by constitution or habit inclined. Yet it seldom wholly changes the complexion or temper of the animal frame. It does not impart any new natural powers, though it teaches the use and improvement of those we have received. It will dispose us to seek instruction, make us open to conviction, and willing to part with our prejudices, so far and so soon as we discover them, but it will not totally and instantaneously remove them. Hence there are a great variety of characters in the Christian life; and the several graces of the Spirit, as zeal, love, meekness, faith, appear with peculiar advantage in different subjects; yet so, that every commendable property is subject to its particular inconvenience. Perfection cannot be found in fallen man. The best are sometimes blamable, and the wisest often mistaken. Warm and active tempers, though influenced, in the main, by the noble ambition of pleasing God in all things, are apt to overshoot themselves, and to discover a resentment and keenness of spirit which cannot be wholly justified. Others of a more fixed and sedate temper, though less subject to this extreme, are prone to its opposite; their gentleness degenerates into indolence, their caution into cowardice. The principle of self, likewise, which, though subdued, is not eradicated, will in some instances appear. Add to this, the unknown access and influence which the evil spirits have upon our minds; the sudden and new emergences which surprise us into action before we have had time to deliberate, with many other considerations of a like nature; and it will be no wonder

that some things are always amiss", in the best and most successful attempts to promote the glory of God and the good of souls. And it is farther to be noted, that some individuals will be found, who, though seemingly engaged in the same good work, and, for a time, pretending to much zeal, are essentially defective in their hearts and views; and when, at length, their true characters are exposed, the world, who either cannot or will not distinguish, charge the faults of a few upon a whole profession; as, in the former case, they wound the character of a good man for unavoidable and involuntary mistakes. We shall therefore show, that either the exceptions made, and so loudly reverberated in our ears against the Gospel doctrine, on these accounts, are unjust, or that there was sufficient cause to reject and condemn our Lord and his apostles for the same

reasons.

The character of Peter is marked with admirable propriety and consistence by the evangelists. He every where appears like himself. Earnestly devoted to his Master's person, and breathing an honest warmth for his service, he was, in a manner, the eye, the hand, the mouth, of the apostles. He was the first to ask, to answer, to propose, and to execute. He made a noble confession, for which our Lord honoured him with a peculiar commendation. He waited but for a command to walk to him upon the water. He was not

w A lukewarm, cautious spirit, can easily avoid and readily censure the mistakes and faults of those, who, fired with an honest warmth for the honour of God and the good of souls, are sometimes transported beyond the bounds of strict prudence. But though the best intention cannot make that right which is wrong lf, yet the zeal, diligence, and disinterested aim of such persons thy of our esteem.