Let us hang upon an Almighty arm, and we shall be borne up. We should embrace every opportunity of acknowledging our Great Leader. Wherever others look, let us say, with Jehoshaphat, "Our eyes are upon thee." Let us look back through the past year, and see how many mistakes we have made, and yet how we have been mercifully delivered. Let us be encouraged to pass through the present year with the same Guide and Helper. Let us look to Him to rule our rulers, and lead our leaders. Let each of us say, I will put my soul, my affairs, my enemies into thy hands: only, do thou, "for thy name's sake, lead me and guide me." If God is gathering one after another, if bright and glorious stars are taken away*-if friends, if ministers are removed, say with the poetess, "Thou dost but take the dying lamp away, To bless me with thine own unclouded day." Oh put thyself into the place, and then take what thou wilt thou canst answer all my necessities: mine eyes are upon thee! If we have faith thus to act, we shall not only acknowledge our Guide, but glorify him; and he will enable us to say with the Psalmist, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." Instead of having lost my Guide, he will be there, to lead me through the dark valley to an inheritance that fadeth not away; and enable me, like Stephen, to look up steadfastly into heaven, and see the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And soon shall we be entering into a state where the sun and moon shall no * This refers to the death of Mr. Romaine, as appears in Mrs. Cecil's notes of the Sermon. more withdraw their shining: for the Lord shall be our everlasting light, and prayer shall be exchanged for praise! That this may be your happy case, and mine, may God of his infinite mercy grant, for Christ's sake! CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth.-ACTs ix. 12. [1791] THE account of St. Paul's conversion is short. The chapter begins with informing us that "Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ?" It is scarcely possible to conceive what a mighty change-what a moral revolution-took place in Saul's mind after this spiritual illumination of his understanding, and conversion of his heart. The very first words which he utters are all emphatical. "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord,-what-wilt thouhave me to do?" Much of the substance of true religion is contained in these words; which express a desire to be instructed of God. Wherever this teachable spirit is divinely imparted, the Lord will always answer the inquiry. "And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” The use I shall make of this history is to call your attention- I. TO THE POWER OF CHRIST; III. TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CHRIST, in his kingdom of providence. "I I. THE POWER OF CHRIST. "Though," saith the apostle, "he was crucified in weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God." He has ascended into heaven, but his most glorious miracles are still wrought on earth and one of them is now before us. A persecutor is now become a man of prayer; and this is a much greater miracle than the raising of a dead body. If you hesitate for a moment in regarding this as a moral miracle, consider only what else but Divine power could have effected this? What could argument have done? Could you have given him eyes to see, and the hearing ear? Brethren, the grandest of all miracles is the resurrection of a dead soul! pray thee, send him to my father's house," says Dives: for if one went from the dead, they might receive a shock; they might have thoughts of repenting in future. But the question is, would they have experienced any change of heart? Who can change the heart but He that made it? The conversion of a spirit is a Divine operation. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost:" the seat of this change is in the heart, and will. Men may contend for certain doctrines without any real religion. And with respect to the necessity of such a change of heart, our Saviour says, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Here is exemplified the power of Christ. We must distinguish this from a mere shock given to the mind, and also from a mere change of creed. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." A man may join a sect: but God would have him forsake the idols of his heart; which he cannot do until he has experienced a change of heart. Conversion may be distinguished in the idea from regeneration, but can never be separated from it, any more than a traveller disposed to go in a certain road, and one actually going in it. John iii. 9, 10. We must learn from this, that if we would have any thing effectually done in our hearts, we must beg of Christ to exercise his power, and renew them by the effectual operation of his Spirit. Let us next consider, II. THE GRACE OF CHRIST. 66 It is very encouraging when we compare the doctrine of the word with the history of the Church. 'Howbeit," says St. Paul, "for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering, for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." Now, let us consider this grace of Christ, as set forth and displayed in the case of St. Paul: "Behold, he prayeth." Depend upon it, that when there is a gracious influence, a man will begin to pray in a new manner: he will pray with the heart. And God, in his providence, will bring about events, so that a man may be arrested in his course and the mode in which this arrest shall take place, may be very mortifying and disappointing, as it may quite give another turn to his intended course. And this change of circumstances will lead to prayer. It is in this way men are taught to pray. Isa. xxvi. 16. "Lord, in trouble have they visited thee: they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them." A man in his religious profession must be thus arrested, and made to pray in earnest. Such a spirit of prayer is promised, Zech. xii. 10. "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications:" I will work this mighty miracle. There is no question but St. Paul had frequently prayed before, and yet it is here mentioned as a new thing. This will always be an evidence to a man's own soul, that he has tasted that the Lord is gracious; he will cry for help, for recovery, for life: and he will be taught, more and more, his need of grace: the Spirit shall take of the things of Christ and show them unto him. This is the work of God: and we may easily suppose what sort of prayer such a man, in such circumstances, would put up! Nor let us forget that the cause, the true source of all this, was the grace of Christ. If any man for a moment should doubt whether this is a fair account of the case, let him take St. Paul's own account of the matter: "By the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain." What is the meaning of the word grace, in this verse, but free favor; pure sovereign mercy? He means to say, The Lord by his free favor having made me what I am, has imparted his influence, by which I labor more than all "yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." So that it is first a free favor of selection, and secondly, an influential effect imparted. St. Paul's own testimony is, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." But I ́obtained mercy, and I stand forth "as a pattern to : |