convey the idea of feebleness. Thus, Isa. xl. 11. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." Can language more strikingly and more touchingly unfold the feebleness and often burthened state of God's dear saints? Again, xlii. 3. "A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench." Had it been described as a "reed" only, that had been deeply expressive of its weakness, but a "bruised reed," seems to unfold the very lowest degree of feebleness. Had this gracious work been compared to "flax" merely, we should have thought it small indeed, but, "smoking flax," seems to represent it as "ready to die." And still both are the product of the Eternal Spirit; and never shall the "bruised reed" be quite broken, nor the "smoking flax" be quite extinguished;-the Lord will tenderly bind up and strengthen the one, and will carefully watch over and nourish the other. How many of the Lord's beloved ones, the children of godly parents, brought up in the ways of God, are at a loss, in reviewing the map of the pilgrimage, to point out the starting point of their spiritual life. They well know that, they left the city of destruction—that by a strong and a mighty arm they were brought out of Egypt; but so gently, so

imperceptibly, so softly, and so gradually were they led-first a thought, then a desire, then a prayer"-that they could no more discover when the first dawning of divine light took place in their soul, than they could tell the instant when natural light first broke upon chaos. Still it is real. It is no fancy that he has inherited an evil principle in the heart, it is no fancy that that principle grace has subdued. It is no fancy that he was once a child of darkness, it is no fancy that he is now a child of light. He may mourn in secret, over his little advance, his tardy progress, his weak faith, his small grace, his strong corruption, his many infirmities, his startings aside like “ broken bow," yet he can say, "though I am the 'chief of sinners,' and the 'least of all saints;' though I see within, so much to abase me, and without, so much to mourn over, yet, this 'one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.' I see that which I never saw before, -a hatefulness in sin and a beauty in holiness; I see a vileness and emptiness in myself, and a preciousness and fulness in Jesus." Forget not then, dear reader, that feeble grace is yet real grace. If it but "hungers and thirsts," if it "touches but the hem," it shall be saved.

We must also remark the sovereignty of the Spirit's operations in the production of this work:

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There is a sovereignty in all the works and dealings of God. If it be asked, what God's own definition of his sovereignty is, we refer the enquirer to his words, "I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy." Here is the Sovereign! How like himself he speaks! He carries forward his gracious purposes of infinite wisdom and love-chooses or rejects-reveals or withholds, "working all things after the counsel of his own will,” and "giving no account," either to angels or to men, "of any of his matters." Now, mark the unfolding of sovereignty in the operations of the blessed Spirit. Thus did Christ declare it. John iii. 8. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Here is his sovereignty. Mark how striking is the figure. The wind bids defiance to man's governing power. It is as irresistible in its influence, as it is mighty in its strength. We cannot command it, nor can we control it. It is alike out of our power to summon, as it is to soothe it. It comes, we know not from whence, it goes, we know not where. "So is every one that is born of the Spirit." We do not say that the Spirit is not resisted- it is resisted, strongly and perseveringly. But it is not overpowered. All the enmity and carnality of the

heart, rises in direct opposition to it; but, when bent upon a mission of love; when, in accordance with the eternal purpose, he comes to save, not all the powers on earth or in hell, can effectually resist him. Like the mighty element, he bears down all opposition, sweeps away every barrier, overcomes every difficulty, and the sinner, "made willing in the day of his power," is brought to the feet of Jesus, there meekly and gratefully to sit, "clothed and in his right mind." His power, who can withstand? Whether he speaks in the "still small voice" of tender, persuasive love; or whether he comes in the "mighty rushing wind" of deep and overwhelming conviction, his influence is quenchless, his power is irresistible. He effectually worketh in them that believe.

But his operation is as sovereign as it is mighty. He comes, to whom he will: He comes, when he will: He comes, in the mode he will. We cannot bring him by an effort of our own will, nor can we by an effort of our will compel him to depart. He bloweth where he listeth, we hear the sound, we see the effects, but how he works, why he works, and why, in a particular way he works, he revealeth not to mortals. Even so, O thou blessed and Eternal Spirit, for so it seemeth good in thy sight.

We will not expand this part of the subject, by

citing the numerous examples of this truth, which abound in the scriptures of truth. The reader may refer to them at his leisure, if they do not spontaneously recur to his recollection at this moment. We would merely now urge him to examine the cases of Jacob and Esau-the Publican and Pharisee-Saul of Tarsus, and the men who journeyed with him-the two thieves upon the cross. And mark, if the sovereignty of the divine choice, and operation of the Eternal Spirit, is not written out in their histories, as with a sunbeam.

Is the reader a child of God? Then we will not confine him to the word of divine truth. We summon him as a witness to the sovereignty of the blessed Spirit's operation. "Ye are my witnesses, saith God." Who and what made you to differ? You have been taken out of your family, your kindred, your friends, your companions. From this circle, you alone have been selected, called, and made a child of grace, an heir of glory. The others, where are they?-Still dead in trespasses and sins. Where are they?-Living in the world and to the world,-lovers of pleasure, lovers of self, lovers of sin, hating God, rejecting Christ, and warring against the Spirit, speaking to them in the word, through providences, and by the conscience. Where are they? Bursting through