939.]
God, the work is his alone. " Paul may plant, and Apollos water ; but it is God that gives the increase"." To him must every thing be traced, as much as the creation itself; even to his will, which ordains it; and to his power, which executes it: so that to him must all the glory be ascribed by every soul, both in this world and the world to come.]
See now, from hence,
1. What a blessing the Gospel is —
[No one needs be told what a blessing showers are to the thirsty earth. Precisely such is the Gospel to the souls of men: " As the rain and the snow come down from above and water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give bread to the eater and seed to the sower ; so is the word which proceedeth from God," when accompanied by the Spirit from on high0. I would that this were duly understood. Per- sons form strange notions about the Gospel, as though it were of no use but to produce dissensions in families, and enthusiasm in the soul : but its real and true use, as we may see from what took place at the first publication of it on the day of Pentecost, is to " make glad the wilderness, and to transform a desert into the garden of the Lordp. Let the soul, that has experienced its effects, say, whether any other principles can equal it in power, or any other fruits bear a comparison with those produced by it ? Verily, " it bringeth forth fruit in all the world," and " is the power of God unto salvation to all them that believe."]
2. What is to be clone, on our part, to render it effectual —
[The earth is said to " open its mouth," to receive the early and the latter rain : and it puts forth all its powers to make a suitable return. Thus should we do : we should be looking up to God for the gift of his Holy Spirit ; and open our very souls to receive his gracious communications ; and then exert every faculty for a suitable improvement of the grace given. We are to " be workers together with God." We are not to be merely passive, in the receipt of his favours ; but active, in employing them to the ends for which they are be- stowed. What might we not hope for, if all our hearers came hither with such thirsting spirits, and went hence with such a determination to render unto God the fruits which he requires ! Be ye in earnest, Brethren ; and we shall see more and more, that, " as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to bring forth, so will the Lord God cause righteousness and peace to spring forth
n 1 Cor, iii. 6, 7. ° Isai. lv. 10, 11. p Isai. xxxv. 1, 2.