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nefs and his infirmities overwhelmed him with defpondence. Who am I, he replied, that I should go unto Pharaoh; and that I fhould bring the children of Ifracl out of Egypt? O my Lord! I am not eloquent: I am flow of Speech and of a flow tongue. Behold! I am of uncircumcifed lips; and how fhall Pharaoh bearken unto me? The children of Ifrael will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice. What was the reply of the Almighty? Certainly, I will be with thee. Who hath made man's mouth: or who maketh the dumb, or the deaf, or the feeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt fay. See, I have made thee a God unto Pharaoh. The children of Ifrael fhall hearken unto thy voice (n). Were not these promises fulfilled to the uttermoft? Was not God with Mofes? Did not Pharaoh tremble at his prefence? Did not the Ifraelites believe him? Were they not delivered from Egyptian bondage by his hand? Additional testimonies crowd upon you. Look to the example of the apostle, whose words we are applying to our edification. Look to the support which he received from divine grace under that very thorn in the flesh, to which they allude. Hear his own expref

(n) Exod. iii. 11, 12, 18. iv. 1. 10–12. vi. 30. vii. 1. 8

fions

fions in the verses immediately subsequent to the text. I take pleasure in infirmities for Chrift's fake: for when I am weak, then am I frong. In nothing am I behind the very chiefeft apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the figns of an apoftle were wrought among you in all patience, in figns, and wonders, and mighty deeds (o). Hear his language on the fame fubject to the Galatians. My temptation which was in my flesh ye defpifed not nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Chrift Jefus. Ibear you record that, if it had been poffible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them unto me (p). Did not the grace of Chrift here prove itself all-fufficient? Did it not prove itself all-fufficient, when it enabled the apoftles, twelve obfcure and helpless individuals, deftitute of human attainments, of human ftrength, fo fuccefsfully to preach Chriftianity, a religion equally odious to the Jews and to the Gentiles; that in the face of univerfal opposition, it speedily numbered thoufands and tens of thousands under its banners in almost every region of the known world? Did it not prove it felf all-fufficient, when it enabled the feed of the gospel, though planted in a barren and degenerated foil; though to (0) 2 Cor. xii. 10-12. (p) Gal. iv. 14, 15.

appearance

appearance inconfiderable as a grain of muf tard feed, the smallest of all herbs; so speedily to bring forth to millions the peaceable fruits of righteousness: fo fpeedily to affume the form of that mighty tree whofe branchesfhall overspread the earth? Ye know in all your hearts, and in all your fouls, that not one thing bath failed of all the good thingswhich the Lord your God pake concerning you. All are come to pass-unto you: and not one thing bath failed thereof (q): Judge from the past to the future. Know that He, who has hitherto proved himself true, will felf a God of truth for ever.

grace for your acceptance.

prove him

He offers his He pronounces

bis grace all-fufficient. Be affured that, whatfoever ye do, his grace is ready to enable you to do it to the glory of God, that God may in all things be glorified through Jefus Chrift (r).

3. The grace of Chrift is fufficient to give comfort under afflictions, and to convert them into means of improvement in faith and holiness.

Whom the Lord loveth, he chafteneth; and Scourgeth every fon whom he receiveth. It is good for me that I have been afflicted. I was afflicted I went aftray; but now

Before

have I

(9) Jofhua, xxiii. 14,

(r) 1 Cor. x. 31. 1 Pet. iv. 11.

kept

kept thy word. Tribulation worketh patience ; and patience experience; and experience hope. Nevertheless, God comforteth those that are caft down (s). By whom? By the Holy Ghoft, the Comforter. Did not God abundantly comfort in ancient days that pattern of afflic tion, Job? Did not the Lord accept Job, and give unto Fob twice as much as he had before? Did not he fanctify the afflictions of Job to the welfare of his foul; teaching him by falutary discipline to abhor himself, and to repent in duft and afhes? And does not the language of St. Paul, in the bitterest season of his forrows, demonftrate that he welcomed affliction as a bleffing fent from a wife and merciful Father; that he rejoiced inftrument of growth in grace? Hear him addreffing the elders of Ephefus: Now, bebold, I go bound in the fpirit unto Jerufalem; not knowing the things that shall befal me there fave that the Holy Ghoft witneffeth in every city, faying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of thefe things move me: neither count I my life dear unto myself; so that I might finish my courfe with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jefus. Nay, as he adds on other occafions, in all

in it as an

() Hebr. xii. 6. Pfalm cxix. 67. 71. Rom. v. 3, 4. 2 Cor. vii. 6.

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these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. I am filled with comfort; I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. Bleffed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation. For, as the fufferings of Chrift abound in us, fo our confolation alfo aboundeth by Chrift (t). Are not here the fruits of allfufficient grace? Sanctify then, in all your fufferings, the Lord God in your hearts. By prayer, by patience, by felf-examination, by unremitting endeavours to correct and amend in yourself whatever offendeth the eyes of your heavenly Father, ftrive to forward his gracious purpose. So fhall the peace of God which paffeth knowledge be poured by the Holy Ghoft the Comforter into your heart. So fhall your light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!

4. The grace of Chrift is fufficient for fal-.

vation.

It is the grace of God wherein ye ftand. It is the grace of God which bringeth falvation. It is the Holy Spirit of God, fent forth by Chrift Jefus, that he may abide with men for ever,

(t) Acts, xx. 22-24. Rom. viii. 37, vii. 4.

2 Cor. i. 35•

whereby

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