affifted in forming your judgement, whether as yet, like St. Paul, you are under the effectual guidance of the Spirit of grace; whether you are at prefent authorised to hope, that you are one of thofe, to whom, as unto St. Paul, the Lord Jefus will give a crown of glory at the last day.

1807

SERMON V.

On the Nature and Efficacy of Divine
Grace.

2 COR. xii. 9.

And be faid unto me, My grace is fufficient "for thee: for my strength is made perfect "in weakness."

THE neceffity, and the univerfality, of

divine grace, the means by which it is to be obtained, and the fruits by which its influence is characterised, have already been laid before you. In pursuance, therefore of my original defign, I proceed to demonftrate, on fcriptural grounds, the truth of the concluding leffon which I ftated as deducible" from the text.

V. The Grace of Chrift is all-fufficient.

For the elucidation of this general propofition, let the leading particulars which it comprehends be diftinctly examined.

1. Divine grace is fufficient to supply ftrength to withstand temptation.

He who is Head over all things to his church, he who hath all power in earth and heaven, is able to fave to the uttermoft all that come unto God by him. He who has inftructed, who has commanded, his difciples to make deliverance from temptation one of the objects of their daily prayer, will not difregard the petition. He will not fuffer them to be tempted above that which they are able to endure; but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it. However attractive may be the allurement, however profound the deceit, however rugged the obftacle, however alarming the danger, by which fin may strive to feduce or to deter you from the way that leadeth unto life; He who knoweth whereof we are made, and remembereth that we are but duft, will open a path by which you may turn aside from the extremity of the trial :,and that path he will give you wisdom to difcern, and ftrength to pursue.

Are we then required, are we authorised, that we may put to the proof the bestowed

grace

upon

upon us, needlessly to expofe ourselves to the affaults of fin? God forbid! It is written, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God (a). If thou prayeft not to be led into temptation,plunge not thyfelf into temptation. Are we to defpife temptations which we cannot avoid? God forbid! Happy is the man who feareth always. Let him that thinketh he ftandeth, take heed left he fall (b). Are we to repofe, when tempted, with indolent fecurity on the fcriptural covenant of fupport? God forbid! He, who has promised to bestow food on man, requires that man fhould till the field and reap the harveft. Would you obtain, would you preferve, the affiftance of the Spirit of God? Employ the appointed means. To humility, to prayer, to dependence on God through Christ, Christ, add watchfulness, diligence, and exertion. Then will he, who fendeth the former and the latter rain upon the earth, fhower down his allfufficient grace upon thy heart.

But you are depreffed by fad experience of your inherent infirmity and corruption! Past failures and tranfgreffions croud upon your remembrance; and appal you with gloomy (a) Matt. iv. 7.. (b) Prov. xxviii. 14. 1 Cor. x. 12.

forebodings as to the event of future tempta tions. You are half prepared to conclude in the moment of defpondence, that you are by nature weaker than the weakeft; that the promifes of the gospel will always be preached to you in vain. If, in manifeft contradiction. to the unequivocal declarations of the gofpel, you will not believe that its promifés extend to you and to all men; if in direct oppofition to its plainct commandments, you are become weary of well-doing, and determined against exertion; if you will neither hold faft faith, nor labour after holiness: moft truly do you affirm that the word of life will in vain have been preached unto you. If you'refuse to follow the ftandard of the Lord Jefus; you will not be found among those to whom he is the captain of falvation. But if you reft with undoubting confidence on the fcriptural covenant of grace; if in fincerity of heart you are truly defirous of being refcued from the bondage of fin, and of living henceforth as the fervant of righteoufnefs; if you are ready to take up your cross, to fubmit to discipline, and to endure hardship as a good foldier of Jefus Chrift: turn to the fcriptures, and behold them recording for your fake the fulfilment of their own promifes. Turn to the fcriptures, and behold them recording for your encourage