[" Behold the heavens dropping down fatness upon the earth, and the skies pouring down righteousness :" Behold, at the same time, " the earth opening" to receive the benefits, and " righteousness and salvation springing up together." Behold this, I say, in the field of nature ; what a change is wrought, almost instantaneously on the face ot the earth! Behold it, also, in the field of grace. Behold a place thus visited: how blessed the change that takes place in the ordinances of religion, in the habits of the people, and in the different institutions which immediately spring up for the advancement of the Re- deemer's kingdom in the world ! Behold a soul thus highly favoured : formerly it had not a disposition or desire but to- wards the things of time and sense : God, and all the wonders of redeeming love were out of sight ; and eternity had but a slender influence on its decisions. But now the thoughts go forth with devout affection towards heavenly objects : prayer and praise, which formerly were no more than a mere outward form, are the sweet, I had almost said the natural, exercises of the mind. To fulfil the will of God, and to promote his glory ; to enjoy his presence and to taste his love ; to grow up into his image, and be made meet for his inheritance ; these are now the great ends for which the soul desires to live, and the constant object of its pursuit; and all its tempers, dispositions, and habits, are brought into accordance with these new desires. Let any one, looking back upon his former life, compare with it his state since he has received the grace of God; and he will find, that his soul is become, comparatively, " like a well- watered garden ;" and that the fruits of righteousness, of which it once was destitute, are springing up continually, to the praise and glory of his God. The union of the two is inseparable : wherever fruitfulness is, there has previously been the grace of God : and wherever the grace of God descends into the soul, there will immediately spring up the fruits of righteousness, as indications and evidences of its power. " Truth will assuredly spring out of the earth, when righteousness looks down from heaven V]
3. The true source and origin of all their efficacy —
[In my text it is said, " I the Lord have created it." In the material world, all is of God, and of God alone. The whole universe combined could not make one shower, or give fertility to a sandy desert : nor can any power but God's effect the renovation of fallen man. Hence it is said of the regenerate soul, " We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them m." Whatever be the means used by
1 Ps. lxxxv. 11. m Eph. ii. 10. and iv. 24.