lambs. So it was with the jailer, who, but a few hours before had thrust Paul and Silas into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks, yet, at the instant of his conver- sion, administers to them with all the tenderness of the most endeared brother. Thus it is, wherever the grace of God is received in truth. There is "a new creation s, a resurrection from the dead, like unto that which was effected in the Lord Jesus Christ, when he was raised from the dead, and exalted to the right hand of God, far above all the principalities and powers, whether of heaven or hellV Great wonder was ex- cited by the change wrought on this poor man ; yet was that but a very faint shadow of what is wrought on all, by the con- verting grace of God, through faith in the name of Christ.]
2. Its effects upon the heart and life —
[See this man, when begging an alms of Peter and John, a poor miserable suppliant for the smallest dole of charity ! Behold him, the very instant Peter stretched out the hand of faith and love to raise him up! See how upright he stands, how firmly he walks, how exultingly he leaps for joy ! See him enteiung with his benefactors into the temple of the Lord, pouring forth his praises and thanksgivings to God for the astonishing mercy vouchsafed unto him ! Nor will he let go his hold on those who had been the instruments of conveying this mercy to him. No : he would never lose sight of them more, if he could help it ; so ardent was his gratitude, so abundant his love. Now, then, this shews what the healing grace of God effects in the heart of man. O the joy which a sense of God's pardoning love kindles in the soul ! Once the man attended the house of God in a formal customary way, without any delight in the duties there performed : but now the ordinances of divine worship are sources of the sublimest enjoyment. His addresses to God now come from the heart : and he scarcely knows how to restrain his emotions ; such a fire is kindled within him, and such exquisite joy stimulates his whole frame. And to the instruments of his conversion he feels a love altogether different from any which mere nature had ever excited in his bosom. St. Paul says of the Galatian converts, that " they would have even plucked out their own eyes, and have given them to him." The whole life and con- versation is from that hour altogether changed. He begins to live, not to himself, as formerly, but unto God : and he desires to shew to the whole world what a Saviour Christ is ; so that in his deportment they may have an undeniable evidence of the excellency and blessedness of the Gospel salvation.]
See then, brethren,
s 2 Cor. v. 17. h Eph. i. 19—21.