These are questions which one after another rise in the minds of those who have effectually heard of Jesus. For, however slightly persons living in the darkness of error may estimate these subjects, when the light of the Spirit of God comes into the soul, when sin is revealed to them the consequence of sin, its guilt, its horror, its misery-these questions agitate the heart: how they can be accepted with God? how they can live to his praise? how they shall be hereafter? and they come to the Lord Jesus to have these questions solved; and he, like Solomon to the Queen of Sheba, tells them all their desire. Thus to the first he says, Come unto me for acceptance: I have performed this work of justifying you with God. In my precious blood I have washed away the sins of all that believe on me; and for them I have provided a robe of spotless righteousness: I have finished the work.' For this was the work which, as the Redeemer of sinners, the Father gave him to do: he sent him" to lay down his life a ransom for many;" to "suffer, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." For" he hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him*."-To the second he

1 Pet. iii. 18; 2 Cor. v. 21.

says, "I will send the Comforter unto you;" "I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh*:" and thus, what nature never could perform, grace shall accomplish.-To the third he says, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die;" or shall not die eternally. "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also †."

Thus his questions are answered, his doubts removed: he hears from the lips of Him in whom are "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" the most satisfactory answers to his questions. It is not a servant who tells him: it is the King, the King of glory, the King who comes down from heaven to make these declarations, and who has confirmed the truth of them by his death, his resurrection, and his ascension to the right hand of the Majesty on high.

I trust that here, again, many who are present

* John xvi. 7; Jer. xxxi. 26. ↑ John xi. 25, 26; xiv. 2, 3.

may refer to their own experience. You have been brought to a state of inquiry upon religious subjects. The preaching of Jesus has led you to see that religion was not merely a set of forms and ceremonies: that it was a reality, that it was reconciliation with God, communion with him through his Son, and "walking even as he walked." In this state, anxious fears disturbed you. Perhaps you told them not to your friends: but in the silent watches of the night, when lying wakeful on your bed, or in involuntary thoughts which followed you into scenes of pleasure or of business, you revolved in your mind how you might make your peace with God; how you might change your course of life; how you might be eternally happy.-Say, who resolved your doubts? Was it one who advised you to drink deeper into pleasure, to drown these melancholy thoughts? Was it one who told you that your life had been good, and that so innocent a person as you need not fear? Or was it one who said that 'God was merciful, and did not require of us imperfect creatures that strict life that some led; that you were now under a remedial law; and that, having done your best, God was willing to pass by your venial sins?' Was it by such persons, my friends, or any one of them, that these hard questions were solved? No:

it was by coming to Jesus: he told you by his word, accompanied by his Spirit, how you might be accepted; how a new principle might be formed in you; how you might overcome the fear of death; and how you might attain eternal glory.

My friends, let me request you to reflect upon these seasons of his love. Recollect the circumstances in which truth entered your mind; when doubt after doubt vanished; and when you knew the way, and found grace to walk therein. The recollection of this will lead you better forward to the third event in this history, illustrative of the progress of a Christian,- her admiration of the King after her hard questions were answered.

III. It is said that Solomon "told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king which he told her not." After this it is added," When she had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers and their apparel, and his cup-bearers, and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her."

Whilst her questions were unresolved, her own doubts so occupied her mind that she did

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not so much regard the glory of the king of Israel; but when she had obtained relief, and saw the wisdom of Solomon, and the objects of grandeur by which he was surrounded, then her heart was led out of itself, and with admiration of him she said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit, I did not believe the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard."

Thus it is, my friends, in the experience of a true Christian. Whilst the hard questions of which we have been speaking remain unresolved, his religion is in a considerable degree selfish he is saying, How may I stand before the Lord? how may my heart be softened? how may I be partaker of a joyful resurrection?' But when he has come to the Saviour and told him all that is in his heart, and He has resolved his questions by the teaching of his word and Spirit, then he begins to admire his Lord. He fixes his eye upon his person-upon his wisdom and power and grace and love, upon his character and offices-and, in doing this, there remains" no more spirit" in him. His high thoughts of himself are put away; he feels his own nothingness and unworthiness; and his