them which should hereafter believe to life everlasting." Instead of disputing about grace, he cries out, "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" No effect can rise higher than its cause. We preach not merely the notions, but the power and spirit of religion; namely, the union of the branch to the vine; that power which puts a man upon being a living martyr. Nature can fight no battles; can win no victories: but grace can. But while grace does all this, it lays the sinner low. "No flesh shall glory in his presence." Even St. Paul, a star of the first magnitude, shall not open his mouth to boast; but he shall declare, to all ages, that he obtained mercy "for this cause," that the grace of Christ might be magnified in his conversion. "That in me first," says he, that is, in me emphatically, principally, the grace of our Lord might appear to be exceedingly abundant.

Now, in the mighty operation of this grace, we see the greatest miracle performed. To call Saul the persecutor "from darkness to light," was a greater miracle than to call Lazarus from his grave: and it is by this grace that the same thing is still effected. A man cannot say, I am what I ought to be: yet he may say, "By the grace of God, I am what I am." If I can only offer a poor distracted prayer, yet it is by grace that I can offer any. This participation of Divine grace makes a most important distinction of character. It is this that forms a union between Christians. All the rest is a cabal. Notion is not enough: there must be fruit: the apostle did not merely say that he had obtained mercy; but he proved, by his whole course, that he was essentially different from what he was before his conversion. But the text leads me to speak,

III. OF THE GOVERNMENT, OR providence oF CHRIST.

He knows all our wants, and the way to meet them. Here we find an extraordinary character arrested in his course, struck blind; to all intents, a prisoner. He thinks over the miraculous occurrence: he prays, he waits in darkness: he knows not what is the process which Christ designs: he is without food three days; for probably his mind was too much agitated to allow him to eat or drink. But Christ, who watched over him, knew all this; and therefore he employs a certain disciple, named Ananias; to whom said the Lord in a vision, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one Saul, of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth." I see him prostrate before me, praying for the instruction I am about to give him.

My dear hearers, we cannot get on but as we lift up our hearts to God for his help: we must pray, Lord, this day-this hour-this moment-afford me aid! Whenever God teaches a man to pray, he always answers his prayer, by raising up suitable helps. While Saul was praying, God was working: q. d. He shall not pray, and I not hear: the proud Pharisee is become the praying penitent.

Saul's mind was now prepared for Divine teaching. God had showed him, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Ananias was afraid, and said, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem." Ananias here showed his frailty: we never do so well as when we do as we are bid.

But the Lord, having begun the work, would go through with it. "The Lord said unto him, Go thy

way for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." Mark here how the Lord makes his providence concur with his designs of mercy. A good man may doubt about another good man: he may be backward to receive him as a Christian brother; but when the Lord works, he makes every thing concur with his designs he knows where to find us helps, and he knows how to send them; and he has promised to send them. How did he send Peter to Cornelius; removing all his scruples! Well therefore may a Christian say with David, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want."

The text leads us to consider the kingdom of Christ set up in the world. For in the conversion of eminent opposers, there is a light set up to demonstrate to all what good old Simeon declared, when he embraced the infant Saviour in his arms: "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Here, as if Christ had said, Here is my glory! not in the glory of earthly courts, and the childish show of worldly pomp: here is my glory, "Behold, he prayeth !" Here is a pattern here is an act of almighty power; Behold it! Yea, he will soon preach the Gospel, and love me more zealously than before he persecuted me!

But whence had this torch such power and splendor? He shall tell us himself. "When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood." This is the glory of Christ! this is the encouragement of the Church! She is sure of acceptance in the beloved! "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee." Isa. xliii. 4.

Let me therefore call upon every young person that may feel a religious impression, to cherish and to nourish it; and endeavor to pray. If you have been enabled to say, Lord help me! cherish such a serious desire. Depend upon it, the man that prays shall prosper, for time and eternity. You cannot be too much impressed with how little a man can do for himself. We depend upon God for the hour, the day, for every thing; all is in the hand of Christ. The first symptom of your prosperity will be, that you look up to Christ. A spiritual sigh is a blessed token from God: beware of those things that have a tendency to put out this fire.

And remember, he breaketh not the bruised reed. Perhaps you, like St. Paul, are in darkness; and no Ananias appears to succor or comfort you. It is because the time is not yet come. But the time is come when you may pray. Ananias did not come before Saul prayed; for it was said to him of Saul, “Behold, he prayeth." Prayer comes before good things; and it is a token of them. Do not despair; Christ is able, and willing to perform the same miracles still; and the same are continually taking place. Let us therefore seek this evidence of conversion in our own case, and then we shall experience all its blessed effects. St. Paul was soon taught to glory in the reproach of Christ, and to acknowledge him in the midst of a scoffing world; and this will be the case with all who are really taught of God.

A Christian will ever be a paradox to the world; because, while he renounces all things, he gains the Whatever St. Paul did after his conversion,

this was ever his motto: "Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." This is walking with God.

"I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."

THE CHRISTIAN SENTINEL.

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.-HAB. ii. 1—3. [1805.]

NOTHING SO much degrades a rational man as a want of reflection. There are many who pass through life without ever asking, What am I? where am I? and whither am I going?-In the text we have an example of a conduct every way contrary to this. No man would be destitute of instruction if he had only this book of the Prophet Habakkuk. It contains much of the intercourse between a gracious God and a gracious soul. The prophet lived in times very like ours. See the first chapter, where he complains to God of the violence done by the abuse of the sword among his own people, and the hardships thereby incurred by others;-God answers him, vers. 6 to 12, showing what will be the result of his abused patience and long-suffering so that the desolations of Israel would become a spectacle to the world; and would be typical of the destruction to be brought upon all the despisers of Christ and his Gospel. St. Paul, in Acts xiii. 41, alludes to these threatened judgments, brought upon the land of Judah by the Chaldeans. In the 12th verse we have the prophet's answer, wherein he draws com