by which all the wonders of his grace are wrought. Miracles gave credibility to the testimony which Christ and his Apostles bore : but it was the testimony itself, as applied by the Holy Spirit to the soul, that wrought effectually upon the hearts of men. And in all ages it is the same word, either read or preached, that is effectual to convert them to God. Hence the Apostle reminds the Thessalonians that, notwithstanding they were from eternity chosen of God to salvation, they were " called" to the possession of it through the ministry of the Gospel which he had preached unto them.]
Wherever that word is received aright, it will operate effectually to the desired end —
[Thus it had wrought on the Thessalonians: it had " turned them from idols to serve the livinsr Godg." And thus it will work on all who cordially embrace ith. " It is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword1." " It is mighty to the pulling down of all the strong-holds of sin and SatanV "It invariably accomplishes that which God has pleased, and prospers in the thing whereunto he has sent it1." It is the instrument whereby God fulfils his eternal counsels in the conversion of men. When the time fixed by him for the bringing home of his wandering sheep is arrived, . " he apprehends them" by his wordm, and brings them home with power to his fold, constraining them by his grace, and " making them willing in the day of his power11." This is his invariable process towards them : " Whom he has pre- destinated, those he first calls, and then justifies, and then glorifies0:" he brings them not to the profession of the Gospel merely, but " to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ p."]
Address —
1. Those who have never yet obeyed " the Gospel call"—
[Who these are may be easily ascertained : they have been " called" to a" belief of the truth," even such a belief as should lead them to rely entirely upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation; " and to the sanctification of the Spirit," even such a sanctification as should progressively transform them into the Divine image in righteousness and true holiness
and, if you have not these marks upon you
you are the persons whom I now address.
Say not ye, ' I am not of God's elect, and therefore I cannot
g 1 Thess. i. 5, 9. h Col. i. 6. s Heb. iv. 12.
k 2 Cor. x. 4. * Isai. Iv. 10, 11. m Phil. hi. 12.
11 Ps. ex. 3. ° Rom. viii. 30. p Text.