submit to Ills instructions, he will leave them to wander further and further from the right way. He will " take the wise in their own craftiness'"," and "reveal to babes what he hides from the wise and prudent"."]
Nor will he suffer us to use the appointed means in vain —
[Frequent are the assurances which God has given us respecting this". And he has made distinct promises to each of the foregoing means. Are we sincere? he will open our eyes''. Are we diligent? he will reveal himself to us "J. Are we importunate in prayer? he will give us liberally, and without upbraiding''. No want of learning, no weakness of intellect, shall be any obstacle to him, or deprive us of the benefits which we seek^ On the contrary, he will make use of the weakest and most contemptible of men to confound the wise and mighty*.]
Infer —
1. How highly should we value a preached Gospel!
[Men spend much time and money in acquiring human knowledge, and are glad to avail themselves of all lectures, public or private, whereby they may gain instruction. But a frequent ministration of divine ordinances, and a faithful dis- pensation of God's word, are deemed worthy of censure rather than of approbation ; and the very persons for whose benefit the w'ord is preached, can scarcely be prevailed upon to lend an ear to the instruction that is freely offered. Little do they think what it is that they thus despise. The ordinances are appointed of God for the express purpose of " converting souls, and making wise the simple"," How many are there now in heaven, who would have " perished for lack of knowledge," if the voice of God in his ministers had not reached their hearts, and " brought them out of darkness into marvellous light''!" Let all then improve the ordinances with diligence, and pray that by means of them they may be " made wise vmto salvation y."]
2. How precious should the Scriptures be in our siirht !