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tween the economy of human labour, and the descent of the rain and the snow, which give fertility to the earth, and the expected reward to the husbandman. "For 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 shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."*

Has God then commanded his people "in the morning to sow the seed, and in the evening not to withhold their hand?" to "break up the fallow ground, and sow in righteousness?" and will he withhold those influences, which "drop as the rain and distil as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass?" No-it cannot be. They shall not labour in vain, nor spend their strength for nought or in vain." The seed corn may be cast upon the waters, and seem to be lost; but it shall return after many days. "They may sow in tears, but they shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Here, as in the ordinary affairs of life it will be found" he that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully." The harvest will correspond with the preparation and the seed

*Isaiah lv. 10, 11.

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time; the influence will never fail to be in full proportion to the dependence which is placed upon it, and to the labour which that dependence calls forth. The return will not be scanty-" like the grass upon the house-tops, which withereth afore it groweth up; wherewith the mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom." No; Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."*

3. I observe in the third place, that the certainty of this influence seems fully ascertained by the promises of God. If we can discover their meaning and design to be consonant with the sentiments which have been expressed, we may dispense with all hypothetical reasoning in their support. One direct assurance of God himself, is worth more than all the ingenious arguments, which can be adduced in support of any religious proposition. I say this, not because I doubt the force, or validity of the preceding reasonings; but because I am aware that their force will operate differently on different minds; and that a plain declaration of the divine intention will pro

*Isaiah lv. 12, 13.

duce on many a more powerful effect than all that has yet been brought forward.

The promises of the Word of God respecting the success of the Gospel, are very numerous and diversified. The command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, brought along with it the promise, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." Christ's presence is only another form of presenting the promise of spiritual success. For it is only in as far as his servants feel the power of Christ sustaining their labours, and commanding success, that they feel the enjoyment of that presence. It plainly intimates, that wherever the Gospel is preached, the presence of Christ will be found, and his presence cannot be without a blessing.

When Paul received his commission to go unto the Gentiles, the divine engagement to render his labours effectual, is actually identified with his execution of the work. He is represented as sent to do that, which could only be done, by God working with him. "Rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is

in me."* "To open the eyes of men, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God," is undoubtedly the work of the Almighty; yet is Paul represented as sent to do this, because God solemnly engaged that this effect would certainly follow on his faithfully executing the trust committed to him.

Sometimes the promise appears in the form of a distinct engagement to answer prayer. Thus, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."+ Here it is remarkable that our Lord engages, that whatsoever his disciples should ask in his name, should be given, in connexion with their bringing forth permanent fruit; or, with their being useful to their fellow men. That is, as they exerted themselves for this purpose, should their prayers be acceptable to God, and bring down increasing blessing on themselves and others. Thus also it is said, "When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer."-" Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock."§

Often the promises of spiritual influence and

*Acts xxvi. 16-18.

+ John xv. 16. § Ezek. xxxvi. 37.

Psalm cii. 16, 17.

success appear in the most absolute and unrestricted form. Thus "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.-There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.”* Thus also, "I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”+ Passages of this description are so numerous, that it is unnecessary to quote them.

Considering the nature of the divine promises of spiritual influence in connexion with the spreading of the Gospel, I feel myself justified in offering the two following remarks to your

attention:

In the first place, they invariably suppose the operation of efforts to diffuse the knowledge, with which divine influence is connected. Whether those promises are addressed to individuals, to encourage them; or to the church of God as a whole, to excite and comfort it; or are annexed

Psalm lxxii. 6, 16.

+ Isaiah xli. 18-20.

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