SERMON IV.

On the Nature and Efficacy of Divine Grace.

2 COR. xii. 9.

And he faid unto me:

My Grace is fufficient

"for thee: for my ftrength is made perfect in weakness."

Na former difcourfe on this paffage, when

I had explained to you the occafion on which the words of Chrift, as quoted in the text, were spoken; and the particular fenfe in which they referred to the existing situation of St. Paul: I endeavoured to fhew that the inftruction which they conveyed was applicable to all men. I laid open to you, first, the evidence which the fcriptures furnish of the indifpenfable neceffity of divine grace to falvation: fecondly, the unbounded mercy with which God offers his grace to every man, and bestows on every man the moral

power

of

accepting

accepting it: and thirdly, the means by the proper ufe of which this fanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit may affuredly be obtained. Regarding therefore the obfervations which were flated under thofe three branches of the general fubject, as in an adequate measure present to your recollection; I now proceed, in humble dependence on the bleffing of God, to unfold to you the marks by which you may judge, every man for himself, whether your hearts are under the government of the Holy Spirit. I truft to be enabled, on a future occafion, to execute the remainder of my plan as originally ftated, by manifefting the complete and certain fufficiency of divine grace for every purpofe for which it can be defired or beftowed; and by a general application of the whole fubject to perfons' of different defcriptions.

IV. I propose to fet before you the tefts and proofs by which the effectual acquifition of divine grace is afcertained.

A tree is known by its fruits. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: neither can a corrupt tree, bring forth good fruit. If your difpofitions and your conduct are characterised by the fruits of the Holy Spirit; you may humbly confide that you are under

his effectual guidance. If your hearts and lives do not habitually display those demonftrations of his prevailing influence; you are not authorised to draw that conclufion.

What then are the fruits of the Spirit? All good and perfect gifts; for every good and perfect gift is from above: all the graces of the Christian character; for every one of those graces is a plant foreign to the corrupt foil of the human heart, and can flourish there only in confequence of being fown and nurtured by the foftering care of the Spirit of God. In the facred writings, thefe fruits or gifts of the Holy Ghoft are fometimes mentioned fingly; accordingly as the inspired penman was led by his immediate fubject to delineate fome particular feature of true religion: fometimes, when the train of his argument carried him into a wider range of defcription, feveral of them are noticed at once, and exhibited in one view. To collect from the word of God the various fruits of the Holy Spirit into one glorious affemblage; to illuftrate the nature of each; and to trace the precife course of enquiry neceffary to qualify you to estimate the degree, in which they are feverally produced' in yourfelf; this would be a task which would demand, in addition

to

to other requifites, the compafs of many difcourfes. On the prefent occafion, therefore, I must content myself with calling your attention to fome few of thofe fruits, and with felecting fuch as are of prime importance.

To this man will I look, faith the Lord; even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Bleffed are the poor in fpirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Thus faith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whofe name is holy: I dwell with him that is of a contrite and bumble spirit (a). Have thefe fruits of the Holy Ghoft, humility, and repentance, been wrought in you? Are you thoroughly penetrated with the conviction of the inherent heinoufnefs of fin? Do you acknowledge that every tranfgreffion of the divine law is treafon against the fovereign of the universe : ingratitude to your most bounteous benefactor: abomination in the fight of a God of holinefs: a forfeiture of the whole of that future reward, which was promifed only to perfect obedience: and a just ground for the punishment denounced against all, who after receiving, as all men have received, ability

(a) Isaiah, livi. 2. Matt. v. 3. Ifaiah, Ivii, 15.

to

to perform their duty, fhall be found guilty of any act of rebellion? Are you convinced, that by wilful tranfgreffion you have proved yourself rebellious? Are you convinced, by contemplating the depravity of the nature common to all men, and by the refult of your perfonal experience, that you must despair, if abandoned to yourself, of refifting the future allurements of fin? Do you feel an abhorrence of fin becaufe of its finfulness? Are you earnestly folicitous to be delivered from fin, not merely on account of the penalty which it entails, but on account of its native deformity, its offenfivenefs in the fight of God? Do you begin to fee the beauty and excellence of holinefs? Are you fubmiffively.. willing to be rescued from guilt and its confequences, and to be reconciled to God, by fuch methods, whatever they may be, as he in his wifdom fhall ordain ? Then bath God granted unto you the grace of repentance! Then hath he wrought in you by his Spirit that felf-abafement, which is the foundation of justifying faith in the Lord Jefus !

The just shall live by faith and faith is the fruit of the spirit (b). Is that fruit manifested in you? Do you receive with reverent ac

(b) Habb. ii. 4. Rom.i. 17. Gal. iii, 1. v. 22