III. Consider farther, the simple, but powerful means, by which this glorious change was accomplished.—“ I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. The Lord, by his word, revealed His grace and glory to the Heathen. He sent forth his Apostles into all lands, bearing the glad tidings of salvation; proclaiming the knowledge of the true God, and of Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent; and inviting all, even the chief of sinners, to take refuge in the arms of a crucified Saviour. "Behold me, Behold.

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me;" "look unto me, and be ye saved;" "Come unto me, and I will give you rest;" believe on me, and live; was the substance of that gospel which was preached among all nations; and which, wherever it was preached, however weak it might seem to the carnal eye, became powerful through the spirit for pulling down the strong holds of satan, and for setting up the glorious kingdom of Christ. The doctrine of the cross, though to some a stumbling-block, and to others foolishness, yet proved itself, by its effects, to be both the wisdom and the power of God.

Such are the views set before us in the text, of the wretched State of the Gentiles, of their conversion to Christianity, and of the means, by which it was accomplished. Nor, let us suppose, that these are points in which we can feel but little interest. On the contrary, we are deeply concerned in them, and ought to regard them with feelings of the most lively gratitude. Let us remember, that however deplorable was the state of the Gentile world, before its Conversion to Christianity such was once the state of this Country, and of

those who lived in it: such, at this moment, would have been still their state, if God had not sent His light and truth among them; if, when they were as yet, a nation not called by His name, "without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no hope, and without God in the world," He had not said to them, by the preaching of the His word, "Behold Me, behold Me." Is He now sought where once He was not asked for? Is he found where once He was not sought? Are we not now bowing down before those dumb and senseless Idols, which our forefathers worshipped? Do we know the truth as it is in Jesus? Have we access with confidence, through his blood to a Mercy-seat? Are we blessed with the word of life, with the means of grace, with the hope of glory? Surely these are mercies which call for all our thankfulness: mercies in which we ought to feel the liveliest joy, and to take the deepest interest. Then let us lift up our hearts to God, in praise and prayer. Let us thankfully praise Him, for the glorious light which He has vouchsafed Let us earnestly pray to Him, that we may not receive this grace in vain. Nor let us feel only for ourselves. Let us feel for others also. Let us pity those nations, which yet lie in darkness and in the shadow of death. Let us long and labour for their Conversion. Let us pray that God would send forth among them His glorious light, till all the kingdoms of the earth shall see His salvation, and become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ.

unto us.

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But, my Brethren, there is another way of applying the text, in which we are still more deeply concerned. While this Prophecy receives its grand accomplishment, in the general Conversion of the Gentile nations, it is also fulfilled in the particular Conversion of every individual sinner. The preaching of the word is still the appointed instrument, which God usually blesses for bringing back sinners to himself and whenever this glorious work is done whenever the proud self-righteous Pharisee is brought to pray, Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do ?" whenever the unjust and worldly publican is led to smite upon his breast and cry for mercy whenever the dissolute and sensual Prodigal is prevailed on to confess bis sins, and to seek reconciliation with his offended Father whenever any oue of these instances occur, then is the prophecy again fulfilled. With respect to all such returning sinners, it may be truly said," God is sought of them that asked not for Him, he is found of them that sought him not." Blessed are those to whom the words can be thus applied! Blessed are those who are now seeking the Lord: though in times past they sought Him not; for they that seek shall find! But what shall we say of ourselves? Is this Blessedness ours? Can these words be thus applied to us? Can God say of us, "I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not?" In short, are we penitent, humbled, converted sinners? This is a point on which it concerns us to examine ourselves with seriousness and impartiality.

It is a great, an invaluable privilege, that we have been born in a country, where the true light shineth. VOL. II. 10

We have reason indeed to bless God, that he has con ferred this mercy ou us. But let us remember, that this privilege in itself is not enough. With all the outward splendour of the Gospel shining around us, we may be all darkness within. With respect to the actual condition of our souls, we may be in no better a state, than if we belonged to a country still sunk in heathenism and idolatry. Christians in name, we may yet be Gentiles in heart. No outward dispensation can of itself change the heart. By nature all are Gentiles.-Pride, selfishness, aversion to God and holiness, love of sensual gratifications, and an idolatrous attachment to the world, are dispositions which naturally reign in every child of Adam. But till these evil dispositions are broken, and in a measure subdued, there can be no true religion in the soul. The heathen, bow. ing down before his idols of wood and stone, is as near ⚫ to the kingdom of heaven, as the mercly nominal Christian, who though he call himself a servant of Christ, and attend on the ordinances of the Gospel, still keeps. his natural, carnal heart. For what is the difference between them? In their outward circumstances in- deed, they do not exactly agree; but in heart, they are the same. They both alike are ignorant of the true God they both alike love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil they both alike are under the dominion of selfish, sensual, covetous desires; they both alike are strangers to Christ, the hope of glory. In a word, they both are descended from the corrupt stock of Adam, and consequently both bear his image, and inherit his depraved and fallen nature.

Grace only can change the heart: and till a man undergo this change, let his name, his country, his profession, his privileges, be what they may, he is still but" in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." This is a truth extremely offensive to the carnal mind, and we may almost judge of our own slate, by the feelings with which we hear this truth asserted. The natural man listens with impatience to the spiritual doctrine of the renewal of the heart. It appears to him foolishness; and thus either excites his ridicule, or provokes his wrath. But it is a doctrine, to which the experience of all real Christians, without any exception, bears witness. In whatever other respects they may differ, in this one point they all agree. They all agree in declaring, that by the power of the grace God, working together with his word upon their hearts, they have been brought into a state very different from that in which they naturally were. They have now a spiritual discernment of those scriptural truths, which once appeared foolishness unto them; they feel the constraining influence of motives, to which they were formerly strangers: they experience hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, of which they once had no conception. What is the language of one? The time was 'when I knew nothing of Jesus Christ. I was careless of my soul. I thought not of eternity. Sunk in ig

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of

norance and vice, I was wholly given up to sensual

enjoyments. I had no pleasure, but in gratifying my fleshly lusts. I wrought the will of the Gentiles, and lived without God in the world. But the Lord in

'mercy, brought me to myself.-By his word and spirit