by "the father of lies;" and that the united efforts of the whole world would never be able to produce a single drop of rain, a single flake of snow. It is God who forms the clouds with his mighty hand, and, when he pleases, condenses their moisture, and causes it to descend in copious streams to nourish and fertilize the earth; and to him alone must our acknowledgments be paid for every refreshing shower that falls.

Of this truth, we are frequently reminded in the sacred writings; and the gods of the heathen are challenged, if they can, to exert a similar power, and thus prove their divinity, and establish their right to the honours ascribed to them by their infatuated votaries. "Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain; or can the heavens give showers? Art not thou he, O Lord our God?"

In like manner the word of the Gospel comes down from heaven; for it is said in the text, it "goeth forth out of God's mouth." It proceeded from God originally, as St. Peter observes; "Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." And though we had not this express testimony of an inspired writer, no reasonable doubt could be entertained on this point, did we consider how minutely a vast variety of Scripture prophecies have been accomplished, even many ages after their delivery; and reflect on the utter incapacity of the human mind to pry into the hidden events of futurity. But it is not only the prophetical part of the sacred volume that is of divine origin, but also all the rest; as we learn from St. Paul's second Epistle to Timothy, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." By which we may understand, that the sacred penmen wrote the whole of them under his

immediate superintendance and direction: his Holy Spirit enlightening their understanding, "calling all things to their remembrance, and guiding them into all truth," and wholly precluding the possibility of error.

As the Gospel came in this manner from God originally, even so, when faithfully preached, it is at this very time also from God. It is he who instructs his servants, qualifies them to declare his truth, and authorizes them to make known his gracious purposes of mercy towards fallen man. He teaches every faithful preacher what to say, and affords him every necessary assistance in the delivery of his message. As an ambassador of God, he speaks in the name of his divine Master, and beseeches sinners "to be reconciled unto him." this character, he is warranted in addressing each of his auditors in the words of Ehud to Eglon, the King of Moab; "I have a message from God to thee"-a message whose purport is " peace on earth, good will towards men," eternal salvation to all who believe in the Lord Jesus. This leads to the consideration of the next particular, in which the resemblance between the word of God and rain or snow is yet more strongly marked, viz.

In

The

II. In their operation. earth owes all its fertility to the moisture which it receives from the bountiful hand of God-to" the rain and snow which watereth it, and maketh it to bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater." In this happy temperate clime, we have but a comparatively slight specimen of the destructive consequences arising from long continued drought: but were we to visit the parched plains of the torrid regions during a season of dryness, what a fearful spectacle should we behold-" the heaven over head like brass, the ground under our feet like iron:" the kindly fruits

our

of the earth destroyed by the scorching blast; famine and despair depicted in every countenance! Then should we be able to comprehend the force of the prophet's description-"Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languisheth: they are black unto the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. And the nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty, they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the ploughmen were ashamed, and covered their heads: yea the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it because there was no grass." Yet, even in our own land, we occasionally experience such a scarcity of rain as sufficiently teaches us its inestimable value. If it be withheld but for a few weeks in summer time, what calamitous consequences frequently But when it descends in genial streams to refresh the thirsty earth, her prolific powers are revived, and abundance of vegetable produce for the sustenance of man and beast rapidly springs from her humid bosom; affording, not only "bread for the eater,' an ample supply of food for present consumption, but also a sufficiency of "seed for the sower," in order to the production of a future crop. The bounty of the Lord in sending his rain, and its fertilizing effects upon the earth, are beautifully described by the royal Psalmist: "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water; thou preparest them corn when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly; thou settlest the furrows thereof; thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof: thou crownest the

ensue!

year with thy goodness, and thy paths drop fatness."

As God thus gives fertility to the earth by means of the rain and snow; so likewise, by the instrumentality of his word, does he fructify the souls of men, and cause them to bring forth the fruits of righteousness and peace. By the agency of his divine word, he accomplishes many gracious ends. Sometimes he sends it to quicken the dead, those who are dead in trespasses and sins; and then, accompanied by the influences of his Holy Spirit, it animates even those who are as void of spiritual life as the dry bones seen by Ezekiel in the valley. Again, he sends it to comfort the afflicted penitent, whose spirit is bowed to the earth by a sense of his transgressions; and it performs this gracious errand, by descending into his soul like the dew and the small rain upon the tender herb. It is poured into the broken heart like precious balm, and is effectual in extracting the agonizing sting from the wounded conscience. So efficacious is this sovereign remedy, that the most distressed cannot withstand its energy. When the believer is tossed by the tempestuous ocean of trouble, and the billows of affliction roll like mountains over his head, then let him cry unto the Lord, and he will save him from his distress; he will send his word and deliver him from despair. At other times, he sends his holy word to sanctify the polluted sinner, spotted all over with the leprosy of

him who so loved his church that he gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. And thus is he rendered a meet partaker of that holy place, where nothing "that defileth" can ever enter. Finally, by the various operations of his word, God determines to save the lost, to rescue miserable sinners from eternal ruin―to ransom their souls from justly-merited perdition. To effect this mighty work, it went "forth from his mouth," and behold it stops not short of his purpose, but accomplishes that which he pleases, and prospers in the thing whereto he sent it." In no instance was it ever known to fail; but, when cordially believed, becomes the power of God unto salvation". "a lamp to our feet, and a lantern to our path," which will guide us into the way of everlasting life.

In one respect, however, there is a difference between the effects of the word of God, and those produced by the rain and snow. Though the latter may water the earth, and cause it so to bring forth and bud as to promise an abundant harvest, yet an easterly wind, the destructive insects, or some other cause, may in a short time counteract all its beneficial effect; the tender crop is blighted, and the sanguine hopes of the husbandman totally overthrown. But it is far otherwise with the word of God. Weak as it may appear when it is delivered by sinful man, it is nevertheless quick and powerful; sharper than any two-edged sword-piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit;" it "casts down" every thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; the heart that would resist its power, it renders obedient unto Christ; and though all the

The three following useful lessons may be learned from this beautiful comparison. The importance of attending the preached word.-The danger of despising it. -The benefit of praying over it.

1. We learn the importance of attending the preaching of God's word. However faithfully this. word may be preached, it will never produce any saving effect until God sends it home to the heart by the power of his Holy Spirit. Therefore, as we know not when it may please him thus to impress our hearts with the importance of his word, we should always be found waiting upon him in the way of his appointment. Let us remember the declaration of the Apostle, that "faith_cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God;" that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved: how then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Let us imitate the conduct of the impotent man who was healed by our blessed Lord at the Pool of Bethesda. He had for many years attended that place in expectation of a cure; and though annually disappointed, in consequence of his forlorn situation, his patience was not exhausted-he still hoped to obtain what he sought, and still

continued to visit the pool. But often as he had attended, it would have been all in vain if he had been absent on the day that Jesus came to the place; as he would, in that case, have missed the blessing which he received from him, and had so long expected from the miraculous power of the waters. However long, therefore, we may have attended at the house of God, apparently in vain, it becomes us still to tarry the Lord's leisure, and patiently expect the showers of his grace in due season. For our further encouragement, it is recorded in his word, that " they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles: they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint," for "blessed are all they that wait upon him."

2. We learn the danger of despising the word of God. The text, though often interpreted as comprehending God's judicial purposes, does not properly relate to them; for as the rain is not spoken of as deluging the earth, but only rendering it fruitful, so the parallel between the Gospel and the rain should be drawn only as relating to mercies, and not to judgments. Nevertheless, we may notice in this place, that as God sent his miracles to harden Pharaoh's heart, so he may and often does send his word to blind and harden the hearts of proud opposers. This was the end of the commission given to Isaiah, when the Lord said to him, "Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and convert, and be healed." And although it was not the primary intent of Christ, when he preached to the people in parables, yet we learn from his own declara

tion, that it constituted a part of his design in relation to the proud, cavilling, and incorrigible Pharisees; and upon several occasions he quoted the above prophecy, and applied it to his own conduct. And, though not primarily intended, the same end is accomplished in respect to thousands of infidels in every age. They despise and reject that word which is sent to soften, to renovate and fertilize the heart, and therefore it becomes their condemnation. In it, God speaks from the throne of his awful majesty; and all who refuse to hearken, do so at the peril of their souls. If the ancient Israelites, who despised the word of Moses, died without mercy, of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who, by despising the word of God, despise God himself, trample upon his eternal Son, "and count the 'blood of the covenant an unholy thing?" Let all such beware, lest God take them in their own craftiness: for whether they receive his word or not, it will not go forth in vain: if it be not a savour of life unto life, it will prove a savour of death unto death."

66

In

3. Lastly, We learn the benefit of praying over this holy word. It is not in the power of man to command a blessing on the word of God, and to make it profitable to his soul; this can be effected by Him alone who sent it forth. vain, therefore, does a Paul preach or an Apollos water, except He give the increase; for, "neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God, that giveth the increase." But if we pray to God, he will send us such a word as shall be suited to ussuited to all our wants and spiritual necessities; such a word as shall make us ready to think, that the minister has received private information respecting us; and make us almost ready to exclaim with the Samaritan woman, “Come,