3. What an awful responsibility attaches to those who hear the Gospel ! —
[Surely every one of us should inquire, What blessings have I received from the ministration of the word ? What know I of this fulness of light and liberty, of peace and joy, of growth and stability, which the Gospel is sent on purpose to communicate ? Brethren, has it " come to you as yet in word only, and not in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance ? " Unhappy people, if this be the case ! Have you never read those words of the Apostle, " The earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receive th blessing from God : but that which beareth briers and thorns, is re- jected, and is nigh unto cursing ; whose end is to be burned"? " O fearful curse ! O, " who shall dwell with everlasting burn- ings?" Be persuaded, beloved brethren, to pray mightily to
1 Luke iv. 21. u Prov. xi. 30. * lleb. vi. 7, 8.
God for his blessing on the word. It would be to no purpose that even " Paul should plant, or Apollos water, unless God himself give the increase." Look up to God, then, to make the word effectual for your good ; and, when you are hearing it, pray to him to apply it with power to your hearts. Before you come up to the ordinances, go to the God of ordinances, and entreat of him to visit you with his salvation : and then say with yourselves, ' Now I am going to meet my God, who is coming to " bless me with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus :" Lord, " I am not straitened in thee ; let me not be straitened in my own bowels :" come to me " in all the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ," and let me this day be "filled with all the fulness of God V" To this prayer, in reference to every one of you, we most cordially add, " Amen and Amen."]
y Eph. iii. 19.