consent. They in whom God works to will, and to do, are engaged, by that influence, (insensible to them, except in its effects,) to work out their own salvation.

That seems a strange word of Christ, to the man who had a withered hand, Stretch out thy hand for cure. The act argued a cure already received. So men reason now. We bid them seek God, and they object, they cannot: that the act implies a will already given; which gift they must therefore wait for. We bid them do. They reply, God must, first, work in them to do. Nay, but, O man, stretch forth thy hand. The paralytic might have reasoned like you; but he obeyed: and, in his own impotent attempt, the omnipotence of him who bade him wrought the act he aimed at. So it is now. God works all, in his working people. While others cavil, they obey; and they get on, and bring forth fruit to life eternal. "He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength :" and "they that wait upon the Lord" find it so. "They shall mount up with wings, as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." I can do all things, (saith one of them,) through Christ, which strengtheneth me.

From this subject we may draw a lesson of humiliation, and a lesson of encouragement.

1. A lesson of humiliation. How total is man's ruin! He cannot prepare himself, has no inclination towards anything that is spiritually good. Let man alone, and the whole tendency of his nature is to get away, more and more, from God, as all the history of Adam's family demonstrates. "The imagination of his heart is evil from his youth." Any spiritual revelation of God is speedily lost by man, and the grossest abominations, gradually, take its place. But look at men, even in the full light of the gospel day. They may be well instructed in its principles. The They may have pious relations, a spiritual ministry, bright examples of devotedness to God ever before their view, and, yet, themselves be as * senseless, as much without any spiritual feeling, or desire after God in Christ, as the very stones under their feet. The most to which men attain by nature, under such circumstances, is an improved morality, and correcter notions of the character of God.

But suppose even the wish created :—God has wrought in them to will. They are renewed in the spirit of their minds. Alas! they cannot serve him. "I know," (saith an apostle,) "that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. For to will is present with me: but, how to perform that which is good, I find not." This, sus observe, is the testimony of one who could say,

“I delight in the law of God, after the inward man," a regenerate person,-for, "the carnal mind... is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Rom. viii. 7.) Yet, even he, such was the prostration of his powers, through the innate corruption of them by sin, could not use them, as he fain would, in the service of his God! "O wretched man that I am!" saith he, "who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" God grant, this may be our cry, under the same miserable bondage. For we may gather from this subject, secondly,

2. A lesson of encouragement. Do you find in you, brethren, as find you will, if at all acquainted with yourselves, a natural disinclination of your soul to God and spiritual things? When you would work out your own salvation, does a will, renewed but in part, plead, with terrible force, for the sparing of some beloved lust? Blessed be God, yet there is hope.

If you be at all concerned for your souls, go at once to God, and tell him all the truth. Think not to overcome the corruption of your will by your own efforts. Tell him of perverse affections, of depraved appetites, of enmity against himself. Hide nothing from him. He will create all things new. He worketh in us to will: and as to will, so also to do. Wait then on him, and you shall renew your strength. This is his method of

ness.

working in us. Whatever he would have us do, that he himself will do in us, when, in a sense of our own insufficiency, we call in his aid, and seek that his strength may be perfected in our weakWhen, then, beloved brethren, this work of your salvation is heavy upon your hands, and this will often be, O remember there is help for you in God, and call it in. Fight the battle on your knees, in prayer to God; and, in this posture, he will so work in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure, that no enemies, no corruptions, shall prevail against you. In the confidence of this truth, you will live, always, upon him, to fulfil it in your experience; and in the expectation hereof, because "he is faithful who hath promised," you will be cheerful, diligent, laborious. Faith in his help, and love to his name, will make the hardest duty easy, the most self-denying duty pleasant. You will be ، stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

But, we may rest this encouragement, to the believer, to work out his own salvation, on yet higher ground. Consider, not only this truth, of God working in you, but see, further, the reason which the apostle assigns for his so doing. He does it, of his own good pleasure." These words suggest the delight which God has in

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the exercise of his sovereignty, for the accomplishment of this salvation in his people. Has God wrought in you this blessed disposition to his service, and given you, hitherto, some little ability for its fulfilment? Ever remember to what you are indebted for so vast a benefit. "Grace, grace unto it." It is " of his good pleasure." "Ye have not chosen me, saith Christ to his disciples, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain." This will be the grateful confession of every soul that is found among their number. Love, without any cause but in itself, found them in the depths of self-chosen ruin. Love looked upon them, and bid them live; subdued their reluctance, and, with sweet constraint, led them to choose him, and give themselves up to the willing service of him from whom they had been estranged. All was "of his good pleasure." This alone is the cause of any difference between them and others; the multitudes, on every side, who, with the same revelation in their hands, heed it not; with the same offer of spiritual blessings in Christ, have no wish for them; no heart, nor energy, for working out their own salvation. This is a consideration that, above all others, gives the soul of the believer a deeply affecting, an inexpressible sense of the mercy which he enjoys. Whence this amazing grace to me?