SERMON XXII.

THE STORY OF GIDEON CONTINUED.

JUDGES vi. 34.

But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, and Abi-ezer was gathered after him.

WE E have seen Gideon, in the last discourse, by degrees trained and fitted for the great work for which the Lord designed him. He was comforted with unequivocal promises and encouraging views of the Divine mercy: then employed, under the generous and grateful influence of those consolations, in a lesser work, upon a smaller scale,-to throw down the altar of Baal and his grove; do by day, he did by night. This work was, notwithstanding, graciously accepted of his God, as are all the works of his people done in true faith and love, whatever unallowed imperfections attend them-though, let it be marked, not one of the actions of the unconverted is accepted with him.

which fearing to

In all this I see a lovely image of the Lord's dealings with his real people in all ages; for he is the same gracious Lord, and his doings

are of a piece, and by the manner and purport of them may be known to be his, in all ages. He first comforts his sorrowful ones, with views of his love in Christ and the forgiveness of sins; then, in this joy, he sends them out to work in his service,—that is, to work from life received, not to work for life, in order to purchase it. So the Apostle prays for the Thessalonians: "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." (2 Thess. ii. 16, 17.) God would be served by us with a rejoicing spirit: he would have us know our misery indeed, and sinfulness, and be humbled under the sense of it all our days; but he would have us take up our pardon with the joy of faith; and then, receiving the Holy Ghost through faith, proceed to do his work, and go on performing it, and by experience and growth in grace be fitted more and more to glorify him.

A great mistake is commonly made here. Nature's religion teaches a man first to conquer his sins, and then to rejoice in God; so building his faith in God upon his good works. Not so the Gospel, whether set forth in all its clearness in the New, or wrapped up in types and histories in the Old Testament. None are so fitted to serve God, as those who first trust in his mercy and rejoice in his salvation. And

this is to build good works upon faith, the true order of things, the true principle of serving God. Not, I will do what is good, and for doing it God will accept me; but, I will trust in his mercy in Christ for my full acceptance, vile as I am; and the love of Christ shall constrain me to serve my God in all holiness of living. And there never was any true holiness in the world but on this ground. -I beseech you, brethren, to mark this, for it is not easily learnt. Our nature and the 'devil are all against it. The Bible is full of it; but we have no eyes to see it right, nor hearts to receive it, except as it is taught us from above; but a little of the spirit of it is infinitely precious, and is happiness itself to the soul: whereas the other plan, a self-righteous one, needs no explanation, no enforcing; it is born with us, presents itself obviously and naturally: it founded Popery; it founded all religions but that of the Bible: but it is accursed even in its most specious garb, and leads no souls to holiness or to heaven. A plain image you may see of the Lord's way of proceeding in all ages, in Gideon's case. Why is he first so much comforted, encouraged, attended by a gracious God with more than motherly tenderness, as was seen in the last discourse? He was called to a great work, to conquer the Midianites; a work which he was to discharge in the Lord's strength, and by faith in him. How could he accomplish this, if he had no

endearing, animating views of the Lord's presence with him, and particularly of his forgiving love? Gideon knew and felt he was a sinner, and needed the joy of the Lord to be his strength. Just so the man who means in earnest to fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, the Midianites that murder souls, must begin with forgiveness of his sins, with peace in God, with a believing view of Jesus, to encourage his soul: that is, he must first win the laurel, and then begin the fight in some sense. He will make poor work in religion who does not so. Alas! with all the cordials of Divine love, much has a gracious God to do with us to support us in his warfare and service, so lazy, unbelieving, and fainthearted we naturally are.

Behold, then, the Midianites invade the land; " and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, and Abi-ezer was gathered after him." The expression is remarkable: "the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon." Has this blessed Spirit, think you, come upon our generals, admirals, and great men of the land, of all parties and descriptions? I fear not. Those who feel his influence, find it too holy, too comfortable, too blessed, to think light of it. Know, then, for our contempt of the Holy Spirit the Lord is quarrelling with us. We look not for the Spirit of God, either in temporal or spiritual things. I fear we ridicule it in both, spe

cially in the latter. Our own wisdom, such and such measures and means, are to accomplish our undertakings; and thus we worry each other; but who looks to the Lord? The truth is, the Holy Ghost is despised among us to a dreadful degree, in that God is despised; and if he give us up to be devoured by our enemies, surely it were just and righteous.

Gideon was a man of valour and understanding, there is high reason to apprehend; yet an influence, a quickening influence, he now receives from the Lord for his military business. Ye who know Christ, pray for, expect, and reverently receive the same Holy Ghost to guide you: I do not mean only in religious concerns-it is a great mistake to limit the Holy Spirit to them-but in all your ways: so shall you have good success. Oh that we were duly impressed with the Lord's gift of his Spirit! It were happy for the nation, it were happy for individuals, were this the case! And Christ died to procure the Holy Spirit for us.

And now, when Gideon blows the trumpet, “Abi-ezer gathers after him." And thus in all ages (specially in the preaching of the Gospel), when any men are peculiarly led out by the Spirit of God, he carries them victorious over difficulties, and makes others also sensible of his hand, and to follow the leaders of his own appointing.

But Gideon's faith wants strength still; and