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they convey no spiritual light : they impart no spiri- tual energy : they carry with them neither conviction, nor consolation : whether read or preached, they are equally without effect. Paul was conversant with the Scriptures before his conversion ; but could not see in them that Jesus was the Christ ; nor could he learn from them the temper and disposition of a child of God. The ministry of Christ was attended with but small success: nor did the number of those who were converted by the Apostles, bear any proportion to that of those who rejected their message : and, in the instances wherein they did succeed, the success was " not owing to Paul who planted, or to Apollos who watered, but to God who gave the increase*1." The word then only came with any beneficial influ- ence, when it came, not in word only, " but in the Holy Ghost r," and " in demonstration of the Spirit's power8:" and Lydia would have remained as uncon- cerned as others, if " the Lord had not opened her heart to attend to the things that were spoken1."
But there is yet another reason why the Scriptures are called the sword of the Spirit ; namely, that by them he has wrought the most stupendous miracles in the conversion of men. They are indeed, " the rod of his strength11;" and have effected far greater miracles than ever the rod of Moses did. By them he has changed the hearts of men instantaneously, thoroughly, abidingly. By them, in the space of one hour, he transformed three thousand murderers into the very image of their God*. In his hands, "the word was quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword : it pierced even to the dividing of the joints and marrow : it laid open the inmost thoughts of meny:" and " through God it is still mighty to destroy the strong-holds" of sin and Satan2: and when "it shall have free course and be glorified in the world3," when he shall " gird it on his thigh, and ride on prosperously" in his career, it
i 1 Cor. iii. C>. I 1 Thess. i. 5. * 1 Cor. ii. 4.
1 Acts xvi. 14. u Ps. ex. 2. x Acts ii. 41.
y Heb. iv. 12. * 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. * 2 Thess. iii. 1.