blessed Lord; and their hands were yet reeking with the Saviour's blood. But as soon as the grace of God reached their hearts, they were humbled for their sins, they believed in Christ as their only Saviour, they addicted themselves to the ministry of the Apostles, they felt the most cordial affec- tion towards all the despised followers of Jesus, they sold all their possessions for the support of his Church and people, and they found all their happiness in the exercises of devotion, and the service of their Goda.
The Apostle Paul is another instance of a most astonishing recovery. He had been filled with such a murderous zeal against the followers of Christ, that he " breathed out nothing but threatenings and slaughter against them." But when he was stopped in his career, he became the most zealous and active of all the Apostles. No trials could deter him from prosecuting his Master's work : he counted not his life dear unto him ; yea, " if he should be offered upon the sacrifice and service of his brethren's faith," and pour out his blood as a libation for the Church, he considered it as a ground of most exalted joy and thanksgiving b.]
3. From these instances we may learn, I say, what a state of recovery is —
[It consists, first of all, in turning to the Lord Jesus Christ, with deep humiliation, and with lively faith. It con- sists, next, in mortifying all those corruptions which formerly led us captive, and in devoting all our powers to the service of our God. In a word, it consists in following the steps of our adorable Emmanuel, in being " pure as he was pure," and " perfect as he was perfect." And to this it is the earnest de- sire of our God to bring us : " Wilt thou not be made clean ?" says he ; " O when shall it once be0?"]
Now, if God really desire to bring us to this happy state, we should,
II. Inquire, Whence it is that we do not already enjoy it ?
It is not for want of adequate provision for us on
the part of God —
[God himself appeals to us respecting this: " Is there not balm in Gilead ; is there not a Physician there ? " Has not God sent us a Physician from heaven, even his only dear Son, who perfectly knows the extent of our disorders, and is able to prescribe a remedy for them ? Other physicians find their
a Acts ii. 41—47. b Phil. ii. 17, 18. c Jer. xiii. 27.