Isaiah, God says of his Church, " For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him : I hid me, and was wroth ; and yet he went on frowardly in the way of his heart." Now, what might we expect to follow this ? What, but some heavy denunciation of his wrath ? Yet, behold, he adds, " I have seen his ways, and will heal him, and will restore comfort to him and to his mourners p." It was in this sovereign way that Saul was "made a chosen vessel to the Lord:" and I doubt not but that every individual amongst you, who has ever experienced conversion in his own soul, will trace it altogether to the same source, and say, " By the grace of God I am what I ami."]
2. How mysterious are his dealings with the chil- dren of men —
[Sheep, when undergoing the process referred to in my text, are usually full of fear and terror, expecting nothing but evil, whilst their shepherd designs them nothing but good. So it is also, most generally, with the children of men, at their first awakening : they apprehend nothing but vengeance at the hands of an offended God ; and regard the rod as held over them only for their ruin. But at no distant period their fears are turned into joy : and it is delightful to contemplate what shall soon be the issue of those convictions which perhaps at this time may be filling the souls of some amongst you with terror and dismay. Could you but see what is really passing in reference to you at this moment, you would behold, perhaps, your heavenly Shepherd standing over you, and by his word and Spirit marking you for his own. O, beloved, lift up your hearts to him in earnest prayer, and say, " Take me, Lord, even me, the least and meanest of thy flock!" and learn to regard all his dispensations as means to this blessed end.]
3. How you may best answer all the purposes of his grace —
[You have heard what God's gracious purpose is towards all the objects of his love : he seeks " to bring them into the bond of his covenant." Trouble not then yourselves about the abstruse doctrines of election ; but seek to have the ends of electing love accomplished in you. Lay hold on God's covenant ; embrace the salvation there offered you ; go to the Mediator of the New Covenant, the Lord Jesus Christ; and seek all the blessings of it, in and through him. Then shall you have in yourselves an evidence of that, which you never can discover but by its fruits. It was " from their works of faith, and labours of love, and patience of hope," that St. Paul knew the election of his Thessalonian converts1 : and from our laying
p Isai. lvii. 17, 18. (i 1 Cor. xv. 10. r 1 Thess. i. 3, 4.
1109.1 jews' restoration, and man's conversion. 403
hold of God's covenant, we may assuredly ascertain that he has " chosen us to salvation," and loved us with an everlasting love. Again, therefore, I say, perplex not yourselves about what no man can know, except from its effects ; but do that which will at once ensure all the blessings of salvation, and demonstrate that God is your God for ever and ever.]