SERMON XI.

It was an unparalleled, wonderful, and incredible method, in reference to which it is impossible to find language sufficiently glorifying to God, that king Jehoshaphat employed, when he went forth to war, and gained the victory; on which occasion it pleased God to manifest his glory in such an extremely striking manner, as we read in 2 Chron. xx.

In the enemy's great superiority of power, which constrained Jehoshaphat to confess and say, "We have no might against this great company that cometh against us; and which placed him in such a dilemma that he exclaimed, "Neither know we what to do;" and which urged him to call upon God, saying, “Our eyes are upon thee; " we see, at the same time, the object of all the afflictions through which we

are called to pass. We are by them to be rendered lowly, little, nothing, impotent, and helpless, and to give God the glory; even as Jehoshaphat said, Wilt thou not judge them?" How desirable, that we should also be brought, from heartfelt conviction, to say, We have no might; and be enabled at the same time to lift up our eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh our help. How admirable is the power of faith! Its basis is the promise, 66 Thus saith the Lord." Its object is God: "The battle is not yours, but God's." Its effect is peace and composure: "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you!" It also produces deep humility. The king prostrates himself with his whole people. It excites to thanksgiving and praise, and the ground of thankfulness is this, "His mercy endureth for ever." It terminates in complete victory. Behold what power God can give to those, in whom there is no might, and who know not what they ought to do. He can enable them still to believe in the Lord, and to feel safe, when everything appears against them; and can cause them to thank and praise

"with a loud voice on high," not merely after having obtained the victory, but even before the commencement of the fight; for the Lord is wonderful in his believing people, and glorious in his saints.

Oh, if we could only believe, and do nothing else but believe! For all things are possible to him that believeth. But this is only learnt in those paths in which Jehoshaphat learned it : "Not in us, but in thy hand is the might and the power." In this manner the Patriarch Jacob also learned it.

GENESIS XXXII. 30, 31.

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Peniel, the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

THE Lord had blessed Jacob; therefore he now let him go. He inwardly felt, that though the Lord might visibly disappear from him, yet he remained with him and in him. Such was

also the case with the disciples at the ascension of Jesus. He departed from them bodily, but spiritually and essentially he remained with them, and continues with us even to the end of the world. And of this we are conscious from his Spirit, which he hath given us; and from the peace, joy, and power, which operate

in us.

The whole affair with Jacob deserved a memorial. He instituted this, by giving a new name to the place where this remarkable event occurred. Nature presented him with an emblem of it-the rising sun; and he had a memento of it in his own body—he was lame.

The Son of God had given Jacob a new name. The Patriarch could not apply a new name to God in return, since his goodness is every morning new, ever alike fresh and lovely. He therefore gave the place a new and suitable name, by calling it Peniel—that is, the face of God. He explained what he meant by this new name, by adding, "I have seen God face to face ;" and the effect of this was, "My life is preserved." But God himself instituted a memorial of the event, which shall last as long as the world stands, by causing it to be recorded

by His servant Moses, and to be called to mind by the Prophet Hosea. But what am I saying?

-as long as the world stands? To all eternity will Jacob himself be a memorial of this event; and even as he was so here by his lameness, so he will be there by his glory.

Peniel. This world possesses many uncommonly glorious places. The natural man finds those the most remarkable, where Nature manifests herself in peculiar splendour and majesty ; where lofty mountains yield delightful prospects, and smiling plains exhibit the blessings of heaven; where majestic rivers roll along, or the wide ocean expands itself like an eternity before the eye, which seeks in vain its limit. The scientific man lingers with pleasure on the monuments of ancient and modern art; he gazes with admiration at the enormous dome which ancient times reared heavenwards, or is ravished with the productions of the painter or the statuary, which animate, as it were, the lifeless canvas and the solid marble. He admires the magnificence and beauty of princely palaces, and lingers astonished at the works of art. The historian loses himself in reflection, when visiting the scene of former important events;