we must say to our blessed Lord, " Other lords beside thee have had dominion over me, but henceforth I will regard none but thee :" ' I will search out thy will, as it is revealed unto men ; I will take it in all things as a light unto my feet ; and I will labour, through grace, to have even the thoughts of my heart brought into an unreserved obedience to it.']
Whilst we regard this work of divine grace as a model for our imitation, let us behold it,
III. As an example for our encouragement —
In this view it was particularly designed of God ; as St. Paul himself informs us : " For this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them who shall hereafter believe on him to life everlasting6." Truly in the conversion of this bitter persecutor we see,
1. How far the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ can reach —
[We can scarcely conceive a state more desperate than that of Saul, when " breathing out threatenings and slaughter" against the saints of God : yet to him was mercy vouchsafed, and that too unsought, and unsolicited. Who then has any reason to despair ? Who can say, My iniquities are too great to be forgiven ? Let the weary and heavy-laden sinner, who is ready to say, " There is no hope," take courage, and lift up his soul to God in fervent prayer: for the blood of Christ is as effectual to cleanse from sin, as ever it was ; and its virtue shall extend as far as ever, even to the very chief of sinners. " Where sin has abounded, grace shall much more abound;" and " sins of a scarlet or a crimson dye" shall yet be washed away, so that the offender shall be made " white as snow."]
2. What great things the grace of Christ can effect —
[This man, who, previous to his conversion, was the bitterest enemy both of God and man, was transformed into a most distinguished friend of both. Of all the Apostles, not one excelled him in piety, or equalled him in laborious exertions for the cause of Christ. His besetting sins were all subdued, and his virtues were brought to the highest perfection. This change in him was, as it were, instantaneous; so that in him was fully and at once, verified that description of sound con- version, " Old things passed away, and all things became new."
* 1 Tim. i. 16.
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Who then shall hereafter think himself enslaved beyond a possibility of redemption ? Is not that grace which wrought effectually in Paul, sufficient for us? Can any thing be too hard for the Lord ? Let not any then despond, under an idea that his corruptions are too deep and inveterate ever to be eradicated : for that same Jesus is yet possessed of all power in heaven and in earth, and is still " able to save to the utter- most all that come unto God by him."]
Application —
[Let me, in conclusion, remind you all, that by nature you are " alienated from God," and " enemies to him in your minds by wicked works ;" and more especially are you adverse to the humiliating doctrines of the Gospel. But Jesus now speaks to each of you by name, as he did to the Apostle Paul, " Why despisest thou me ? Why turnest thou away from me? " On you he looks with the same compassion as he did on him, and warns you, that " it is in vain to kick against the pricks." The greater part of sinners, it is true, are unconscious that they are fighting against the Lord Jesus Christ: in many things they do, they really think themselves acting inoffen- sively, or perhaps agreeably to the will of God : but a neglect of the Gospel, no less than direct opposition to it, is an act of hostility to the Lord Jesus Christ, and must finally issue in our destruction. Listen then to his still small voice, and accept his gracious invitations : and if those around you are regardless of his call, let your minds at least be humbled, if peradventure you may be distinguished by him as chosen vessels of his mercy, and happy monuments of his grace.]