assurance: he knows, if he has afflictions, that they are preparing him for his blessed estate. The "good part" he has "chosen" shall "never be taken away."

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2ndly. We are also instructed as to the position of Christianity: namely, the position in which Mary was found, sitting at her Master's feet. The Christian's place is to sit at the feet of Christ, and hear his word: he will never learn, or grow, so well as there. It is the first and safest place in the heavenly school. Whosoever," says our Lord, "shall not receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child, he shall not enter therein." Mark x. 15. To come, as a little child, to the feet of Jesus-to determine as Mary did, to abide there this is Christianity. The believer that is thus taught will not be content to hear, now and then, what the Lord has to say-just when opportunity may serve, and when no other concerns are in the way: he will be like the merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." He will be, like Mary, sittting down at Christ's feet.

And, let me ask, where should ignorance be found? What should be the position of a guilty creature-of a sinner? Should it not be that of a person made sensible (as every enlightened man is) that he is all want and necessity?

And here, again, appears to be the fault of many preachers, and of many books-they seem to be teachers of their Teacher. They talk of man's rational powers, &c., as if they were determined to talk diametrically opposite to the Scriptures. The Scriptures speak to man as helpless, as poor, as ignorant: they put man in his proper position: they bid him cast down all imaginations: and the work of the Holy Spirit not only enlightens, but makes a man willing to

cast them down: so that he desires to sit at his Master's feet, and learn. If God has brought any of your hearts to this, I must congratulate you, and call you blessed.

3rdly. This Scripture instructs us as to the justification which a Christian expects in following his Divine Master.-I do not now refer to the doctrine of justification, but the justification which Christ will make of a Christian's CHOICE. "I judge not mine own self," says the Apostle, "for I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord." 1 Cor. iv. 4.

Men, when they hear these truths, or any of the leading doctrines of the Gospel, begin to tell you what they "think," and also what this and that man "thinks." But this is nothing to the purpose. What does it signify what the criminal thinks? the point is, what the Judge says.

Let me suppose that these speculators were called together, and beheld the scene of this little historical anecdote. The crowd would look at the meanness of the house; the fastidious would complain of the style of things; the Jew would say, there was something new; the Greek would set it down as foolishness; the scornful would turn the whole into ridicule. Ah! well might the Apostle say, "Whom none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known him, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory." 1 Cor. ii. 8. But let us remember, that one single word from him who is to be our Judge, who is to pronounce sentence, who will not say to the world, What think ye?—one word from Him, will be infinitely more important than the opinion of all the wisest men that ever lived; nay, of the highest angels! "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto

thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Matt. xvi. 17. When Christ comes to judgment, how little then will the scoffs and opinions of the world weigh!

good part which shall not Who is it that saith this? Christ's word is the Chris

"Mary hath chosen that be taken away from her." Even our Lord himself. tian's security. You may find trials, temptations, difficulties; you may hear people accusing you of not being careful enough after the things of this world; you may meet with scoffers: you may have persecutions, and troubles, from every quarter; but see that your eye is steadfastly fixed upon Christ as your Object be found sitting in your place, at his feet, and taking his word for your security, and then you need fear nothing; you shall never be deprived of that "better part" which shall bring you everlasting peace and joy!

THE VIGOROUS NATURE OF TRUE GRACE.

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.-ACTS xix. 19, 20. [1805.]

"As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa. lv. 10, 11. This promise is confirmed

in the text by an historical fact; and even against the most powerful impediments. See the context: "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed;" i. e. notwithstanding the opposition of the world around.

There seems to be an allusion to a seed or plant; to a "grain of mustard seed." Matt. xiii. 3. A Christian is a plant planted by God's own hand: true religion is a progressive thing. Here is,

I. THE PLANTATION OF GRACE.

II. THE UNTOWARDNESS OF THE SOIL IN WHICH IT

WAS PLACED.

III. THE EVIDENCE OF ITS GROWTH.

The sending of the

I. THE PLANTATION OF GRACE. Gospel is the fulfilment of the promise, "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." "Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? that is, to bring Christ down from above: . . . the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is the word of faith which we preach." This is the setting up of the "Ensign" spoken of in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah. We are as ambassadors: "Behold," said the angels," we bring you tidings of great joy." God is stooping down to man, meeting his wants.

And, as to disputers of this world, God has appointed Christ "for the healing of the nations." Therefore the grace of the implantation of the Gospel is like the marriage of the king's son: Matt. xxii. Men totally mistake, if they think there is nothing set forth but a plan of reform. No doubt there is this; it is a part of religion; but there is more; there is the mercy granted to a felon. "To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ."

II. THE UNTOWARDNESS OF THE SOIL IN WHICH IT IS PLANTED.

Yet, wherever it is preached, it brings forth some fruit. In the passage before us, we see the various enemies; the idolaters,-verses 24 to 27. Yet, "so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed" in that very place. Can there be any thing more discouraging than the contemplation of the politician, the pleasuretaker, the formalist? Can the followers of Diana be the followers of Christ? There is every thing in the Gospel opposed to the carnal heart; but there is "a twoedged sword" of the Gospel, that penetrates. Another set of enemies are hypocrites. See chap. v. 11. “And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things;" i. e. when they saw the spirituality of the Gospel. "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

Nothing more invalidates the truth of the Gospel, than the assumptions of false professors; but the Gospel, like a plant of great vigor, will grow almost among stones. Thus have I seen it to grow among hypocrites, formalists, and worldlings: I have seen men, in this case, laying hold of it, however untoward the surrounding soil. "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

III. THE EVIDENCE OF ITS GROWTH.

Mark what is said, verse 17. "And fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." There is nothing but God's putting his fear into our hearts that will make religion grow there: then it is that we begin to feel our need of the Gospel. There is also an evidence of reality, in that it is said, "The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." "Every