been with His Church wherever there has been believing prayer and effort. It is this that is lacking: not prayer and effort, but believing prayer and effort. It is unbelief that shortens God's hand, and it only (Matt. xiii. 58). (a) II. TO COMFORT THE PEOPLE OF GOD. 1. In seasons of providential trial. Such seasons are common. But God has engaged to support or deliver His people whatever may be the nature of the trial through which they are passing. He is equal to every emergency. Rely upon the promises of God. He has sustained, comforted, and delivered, and He will. Faith argues from the past to the present and the future (1 Sam. xvii. 34-37; Ps. lxiii. 7; 2 Cor. i. 8-10; 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18). "Walk on the waters of trial by a living faith, and you shall find them solid as marble beneath your feet. Hang upon the simple power and providence of God, and you shall never be confounded." 2. In seasons of doubt and fear in relation to their final salvation. God's people are sometimes doubtful and desponding respecting their eternal safety. When they contemplate the difficulties and dangers, the temptations and the snares that beset their path, heaven seems to be an uncertain inheritance, and they are ready to conclude they shall never reach its happiness and glory. Opposed to them. stands the power of Satan; the allurements of the world, the forces of evil within, the cares and afflictions of life, &c. But we have promises and examples that are calculated to dissipate every doubt and to banish every fear that we shall not eventually triumph. Abraham, Job, David, Paul, &c. Divine grace has been, and still is, all-sufficient (H. E. I. 1066, 23632377). III. TO ENCOURAGE THE ANXIOUS INQUIRER. Though desirous to be saved, many are full of doubts and difficulties and questionings. There is nothing that appears so difficult to a convinced sinner as his own salvation. But the question is not whether you can save yourself, but whether GOD can save you. You know He can. Every moral difficulty has been removed by His infinite love in the gift of His Son, &c. True, you have broken the divine law, &c., but Christ has honoured and fulfilled it, as your substitute and representative, &c. Therefore the forgiveness of sin is consonant with God's righteousness as well as His mercy (Rom. iii. 24-26). Nor can there be any effectual opposition made by Satan to the sinner's rescue. He is mighty, but Christ is almighty-" Able to save to the uttermost, &c."-Alfred Tucker. (a) There is nothing too hard for God. When we look at the human side of the question, difficulties and obstacles rise on every hand, and hedge our way and hinder our progress; and if our view is only a human view, we sink discouraged and dismayed. But if, on the other hand, we will take a look at the Divine side of the question, how soon our fears vanish, and our difficulties disperse! With God all things are possible, and the faith that takes hold upon His arın partakes of His omnipotence. There are many things which men have done that seemed impossible at the first. The power of mechanical or chemical forces, directed by scientific intelligence, exceeds by far the bounds of ordinary belief; but when we pass from this sphere into that upper realm where the Almighty rules and presides, surely nothing is beyond the reach of His almighty hand! Hence, in estimating possibilities or probabilities of success in any course, it is for us to inquire first of all, What is the will of God concerning the matter? Does He undertake the cause? Is He upon the side of its success? Are we doing His will rather than our own? If the work we undertake is His work, and if He has appointed us to do it, we may move on in all the calmness of a living faith, without one doubt or fear, knowing that He "who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" cau give us victory. The thing which God wishes to be done can be done, and, if we will be workers with Him, shall be done, for neither men nor devils can restrain the arm of our wonder-working God. Let us, then, have courage, and banish fear. Let us work the works of God, confident that our labour will not be fruitless, and that our victory is assured by Him before the fight begins.—A. T. THE POWER OF GOD. 1. 2, 3. Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, &c. There are other declarations of like purport in the prophecies of Isaiah (ch. li. 9, 10, 15, lxiii. 11-13). They speak to us of Divine power. The mighty works referred to could not be performed by any false god. The deliverance of God's ancient people from Egypt was attended with such amazing miracles, and with such a sudden destruction of their foes, that none but an Almighty Being could have performed it. I. Let us attempt with reverent humility to form some conception of the nature of God's power (H. E. I. 2269-2274). 1. The power of God is that ability or strength, whereby He can do whatever He pleases-whatever His infinite wisdom directs, and the perfect purity of His will resolves (ch. xlvi. 10; Ps. cxv. 3). It is almost superfluous to say that the Almighty cannot do anything which implies or involves a contradiction, nor anything repugnant to His own perfections, either in relation to Himself or to His creatures, &c. 2. The power of God gives activity to all the other perfections of His nature. "God hath a powerful wisdom to attain His ends without interrup tion, a powerful mercy to remove our misery, a powerful justice to punish offenders, a powerful truth to perform all His promises." 3. This power is originally and essentially in His nature-underived. "Power belongeth to God." "He is the Source, Centre, Assemblage of all the might that is; containing in Himself the unfathomable depths of Omnipotence, as of Being." 4. It follows that the power of God is infinite. Nothing can be too difficult for the Divine power to effect (Gen. xviii. 14). A power which cannot be opposed (Dan. iv. 35). II. Let us view with reverent astonishment the manifestations of God's power. duals, systems, worlds beyond worlds, scattered in boundless profusion through the wide realm of space. They sprang forth at His voice, and they are sustained by the hand of God. All are 'vouchers of Omnipotence!'" (Gen. i. 3; Ps. viii. 34; Isa. xlii. 5, 8, &c.) Pythagoras called. those fools, who denied the power of God. 2. In the government of the world. (1.) In natural government, or preservation. God is the great Father of the universe, to nourish as well as create it (Ps. xxxvi. 6). He keeps all the strings of nature in tune, &c. (2.) In moral government-restraining the malice of Satan and the wickedness of man, &c. (3.) In His gracious government-delivering His Church, effecting His great and glorious purposes by the simplest means, &c. 2 A 3. In the miracles recorded in the Scriptures, and in suspending or reversing the usual laws of nature on special occasions. These are the hidings of God's power. Submissive nature yields and obeys (Ps. cxiv. 5-7). 4. In the work of our redemption by Jesus Christ. Our Saviour is called "the power of God." His incarnation, miracles, resurrection, &c.; the publication of redemption by such feeble instruments; the wonderful success of their ministry. 5. In the conviction and conversion of sinners, the perseverance of His people amidst all the temptations and afflictions to which they are exposed. III. Let us consider with prayerful concern the practical lessons which this subject teaches. 1. The fear of God (Jer. v. 22, &c.) If God be against us, it matters not who they be that are for us. "Fear Him," therefore, "who hath power to cast into hell." "On this ground, as well as on the ground of His other perfections, we should bow before Him. with lowly reverence, and while we 365 tremble to place ourselves in an attitude of antagonism to Him, we should seek His favour, protection, and blessing." Confidence in God amid all the conflicts and afflictions of this probationary state. All needful assistance and comfort, &c., will be Vouchsafed (2 Cor. ix. 8; Eph. iii. 20). 1. 2, 3. 2. The assurance that all His plans and purposes will be finally accomplished (Ps. xxxvii. 5). "Engraved as in eternal brass, The mighty promise shines; -Alfred Tucker. THE APPEAL OF ALMIGHTY POWER Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? &c. Review the circumstances under which this appeal was addressed to sinful Israel of old. The principles of Divine truth and religion the same under all dispensations. L. The Lord comes and calls sinners to repentance, but they do not regard Him. 1. He does this in manifold ways. (1.) By the voice of conscience. Representative of the supreme law inward monitor, &c., ever urging the abandonment of the sinful and the adoption of the true and pure, &c. (2.) By the events of Providence. The whole system of Providence is in operation for none other than religious ends and purposes. Mercies are sent to allure, judgments to alarm (H. E. I. 56-59, 66-70). (3.) By His Word. The Bible is God speaking to man, &c. Everywhere it calls to repentance, &c. (4.) By His ministers. He speaks to man, by man. Samuel thought it was only the voice of Eli that called him, but it was God's voice. The true minister is God's ambassador (2 Cor. v. 18-20). (5.) By His Son. "His servant "the Saviour, so often introduced in these prophecies with dramatic directness, as speaking in His own name (Matt. xxi. 37; John i. 10, 11; Acts iii. 13; Heb. i. 1). (6.) By His Spirit. Speaking to the ear of the inner man by the ministries of friendship, or the incidents and intercourse of common life; by sickness, &c., stirring up an unwonted anxiety about the things which belong to our peace. Though He has been treated so shamefully, He still speaks, strives, pleads, &c. 2. But sinners do not regard Him. As of old, they heed not the Divine calls, they slight His gracious offers, they reject the messages sent, &c., as unworthy their regard, &c. II. The Lord gives astonishing proof of His ability and willingness to save, yet sinners do not believe it, and trust in Him. 'Behold, at my rebuke," &c. He who by His mere threatening word has dried up the sea, and turned rivers into a hard and barren soil, so that the fishes putrefy for want of water, and eclipsed the lights of heaven, can with infinite ease come with a gospel of deliverance from sin and punishment. He can perform stupendous miracles of grace-save sinners to the "uttermost." No limit can be set to His omnipotent grace. very Like Yet sinners will not believe it. a condemned criminal who will not believe even when he sees the Queen's pardon. If sinners will not believe God's Gospel, how can they be saved? We may as well expect a man to be fed by bread that he will not eat, or to be cured by medicine that he will not take, as expect a man to be saved by a Gospel that he will not believe. Or they neglect it. Like the old miser who is so busy with his ledgers and gold bags that he does not heed the alarm of fire, and therefore perishes. So with the worldling. We tell them of danger and of salvation, but they are so busy, &c., they Or they despise it. Like a poor but Like a poor but proud man who despises relief when offered, because he must go and receive it as a gift. If sinners could take their little, petty, paltry doings and buy God's salvation, they would have it, but because they must have it as a gift, they will not receive it. III The Lord justly complains that He is thus disregarded and doubted. "Wherefore," &c. Not ? the language of anger, but sorrowful lament, wounded friendship, grieved love, &c. As a faithful father, &c. A just complaint. Such conduct is manifestly unreasonable, shamefully ungrateful, exceedingly sinful, imminently dangerous, &c. (Prov. i. 26). It keeps back the blessings which God is ready to confer. It is highly dishonouring to God. It disputes the Divine Word, rejects the clearest evidence, limits the Omnipotent One, &c. Think of this. Hear and obey the Divine call. "Repent and believe the Gospel." If you reject it, the responsibility rests upon you, and you must give account to God.-Alfred Tucker. THE SOLAR ECLIPSE 1. 3. I clothe the heavens with blackness, &c. If there be sermons in stones, there must be a great sermon in the sun; and if there be books in the running brooks, no doubt there is many a huge volume to be found in a sun suffering eclipse. All things teach us, if we have but a mind to learn. Let us see whether this may not lead us into a train of thought which may, under God's blessing, be something far better to us than the seeing of an eclipse. I. Eclipses of every kind are part of God's way of governing the world. In olden times the ignorant people in England were frightened at an eclipse; they could not understand what it meant. They were quite sure that there was about to be a war, or a famine, or a terrible fire, &c. So it still is in the East. By many an eclipse is looked upon as something contrary to the general law of nature. But eclipses are as much a part of nature's laws as the regular sunshine; an eclipse is a necessary consequence of the natural motion of the moon and the earth around the sun, &c. Other eclipses happen in God's providence and in God's grace. Here, as in nature, an eclipse is part of God's plan, and is in fact involved in it. 1. Let me invite your attention to providence at large. How many times have we seen providence itself eclipsed with regard to the whole race sends a flood, famine, war, plague, &c. It is just the same with you in your own private concerns. When you were rejoicing in the brightness of your light, on a sudden a mid-day midnight has fallen upon you; to your horror and dismay you are made to say, "Whence does all this evil come upon me? Is this also sent of God?" Most assuredly it is. Your penury, sickness, bereavement, contempt, all these things are as much ordained for you, and settled in the path of providence, as your wealth, comfort, and joy. Think not that God has changed. It involves no change of the sun when an eclipse overshadows it. Troubles must come; afflictions must befall; it must needs be that for a season ye should be in heaviness through manifold temptations. 2. Eclipses also occur in grace. Man was originally pure and holy; that is what God's grace will make him at last. Some of you are in the eclipse to-day. I hear you crying, "O that it were with me as in months past," &c. You are apt to say, "Is this a part of God's plan with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven?" Yes, it is even so. In God's great plan of grace to the world, it is just the same. Sometimes we see a mighty reformation in the Church. God raises up men who lead the van of the armies of Jehovah. A few more years and these reformers are dead, and their mantle has not fallen upon any, &c. Think not that eclipses of our holy religion, or the failure of great men in the midst of us, or the decline of piety, is at all apart from God's plan; it is involved in it, and as God's great purpose, moving in the circle, to bring forth another gracious purpose on earth must be accomplished, so an eclipse must necessarily follow, being involved in God's very way of governing the world in His grace. II. Everything that God does has a design. When God creates light or darkness He has a reason for it. He does not always tell us His reason. We call Him a sovereign God, because sometimes He acts from reasons which are beyond our knowledge, but He is never an unreasoning God. I cannot tell you what is God's design in eclipsing the sun; I do not know of what use it is to the world. It may be, &c. However, we are not left in any darkness about other kinds of eclipses; we are quite certain that providential eclipses, and gracious eclipses, have both of them their reasons. When God sends a providential eclipse He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men for nought. It is to draw our attention to Himself. Doubtless, we should entirely forget God, if it were not for some of those eclipses which now and then happen. Sometimes troublous times tend to prepare the world for something better afterwards. War is an awful thing; but, I doubt not, it purges the moral atmosphere, just as a hurricane sweeps away a pestilence. It is a fearful thing to hear of famine or plague; but each of these things has some effect upon the human race. And evil generally goes to make room for a greater good. God has sent thee providential trouble. He has a gracious design in it. Many men are brought to Christ by trouble. Eclipses of grace have also their end and design. Why has God hidden His face from you? It is that you may begin to search yourself, and say, "Show me wherefore Thou contendest with me" (H. E. I. 1644-1648). God's people are afflicted in order that they may not go astray (H. E. I. 66-70, 190-194). III. As all things that God has created, whether they be light or whether they be dark, have a sermon for us, no doubt there are some sermons to be found in this eclipse. What is it that hides the sun from us during an eclipse? during an eclipse? It is the moon. She has borrowed all her light from the sun month after month; she would be a black blot if the sun did not shine upon her, and now she goes before his face, and prevents his light from shining upon us. Do you know anything at all like that in your own history? Have you not a great many comforts which you enjoy upon earth that are just like the moon? They borrow all their light from the sun, &c. Oh, how ungrateful we are when we let our comforts get before our God! No wonder that we get an eclipse then. 1. Let the Christian recollect another sermon. The sun is always the same, and God is unchangeable. "My soul through many changes goes, His love no variation knows." 2. A total eclipse is one of the most terrific and grand sights that ever will be seen. If on a sudden the sun should set in tenfold darkness, and never should rise again, what a horrid world this would be! And then the thought strikes me-Are not there some men, and are there not some here, who will one day have a total eclipse of all their comforts? Whatever eclipse happens to a Christian, it is never a total eclipse: there is always a crescent of love and mercy to shine upon him. But mark thee, sinner, when thou comest to die, bright though thy joys be now, and fair thy prospects, thou wilt suffer a total eclipse. Can you guess what the Saviour meant, when He said "outer darkness, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth?" Hear me while I tell thee the way of salvation.-C. H. Spurgeon: The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, No. 183. |