not revoke it but will encourage to holiness: how consolatory, &c.* Let us pray for sinners

Swift may thy mercy, Lord, arise,

Ere justice stops their breath;
And lighten those deluded eyes,

That sleep the sleep of death.

* No doubt, Mr. Spencer enlarged here in the delivery of this Discourse, as was his custom in the improvement of his subjects.

SERMON XVI.

PREACHED FEBRUARY 11, 1810.

66

EPHESIANS III. 20, 21.

NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US; UNTO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH BY CHRIST JESUS, THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, WORLD WITHOUT End. AMEN.

THERE certainly cannot be a more astonishing subject for human or angelic contemplation, than the love of Christ. It is, indeed, immense and unsearchable,-vast in extent,-without any commencement,-enduring to eternity,-unfathomable in its depths, and superlative in its heights: it challenges the most enlarged powers fully to comprehend it. All the ideas that may be entertained of it by men or angels are infinitely surpassed, since no stretch of thought can embrace its nature, or the grand manifestations that have been given of it. And yet, mysterious as this subject is, God has thought fit to enlighten the minds of a favoured few, in every age of the world, so that they are

enabled to understand, at least somewhat of that divine theme, the full excellence of which cannot be told.

Hence the great apostle of the Gentiles is emboldened to ask for the believing Ephesians no small boon; but to beg the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to make them able to comprehend, as far as a human mind can, the love of Christ; that they might feel its virtue, power, and sweetness, and be favoured with a delightful view of its boundless riches. And when he had asked this great, and apparently to many, hard thing, lest they should suppose for a moment, that they ought not to dare to expect such a favour, or that it was too much for God to grant, he intimates that even this, and more than this, can be accomplished for us by the God of all grace; and therefore, to raise their expectations and confirm their faith, he says, "Now unto him who (I can tell you, if you think this a great request) is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us; unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

In proposing this text for your contemplation, I remark, that it gives us an insight into Jehovah's ability to bestow the greatest blessings on his saints, the proof that he has already given of it,— and the honour that should be ascribed to him on account of it. Hoping that our reflections will be made useful to strike us with admiration of the

exceeding riches of grace, we will, in the first place, indulge a few thoughts on,

I. Jehovah's ability to bestow the greatest blessings on his saints.

"He is able," says my text, "to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." And who (may some say) can doubt it? Do we not all know that he is God all-mighty? Have we not often heard, that nothing is too hard for the Lord? Do you think that any of us doubt that with God all things are possible? But, O believers, have you always faith in this? Does your experience and your conduct show, that you always believingly rest your soul upon the divine omnipotence? Rather do you not, by your needless fears, frequently give us reason to suppose that you do not believe in the power of the arm of God? This being the case, let your minds be stirred up by way of remembrance, that you may be encouraged to trust in the Lord Jehovah, by beholding, that "in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." We are not now called to dwell upon Jehovah's creating power, or to see how easily he can dash a world to pieces. It is not the power of his anger, which solicits your attention now. It is not what he can do to beautify and bless angels, or to torment with eternal anguish the lost spirits in hell; but it is what he can do in your behalf; what he can accomplish for you, who are, without his assistance, helpless as the new-born infant, or weaker than the feeble worm. And let

us observe, that he is able to fulfil and to exceed the most enlarged prayer of faith,—or the most vast desire of the heart. Our text shows us that he can exceed,

1. The most enlarged prayer of faith. "He is able," says my text, "to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask." In our petitions at the throne of the heavenly Majesty, we never need be afraid to ask too much. "Open thy mouth wide," says the Lord of all, "and I will fill it;" be not scanty in your desires. Ask what I shall give thee, and for the sake of Jesus it shall be all bestowed. Is any grievous trial before you? O, display the same faith in the power of God, that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did, when they said, "Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king." Are you fearing that the Redeemer's interest will not succeed in the world, when you plead the cause of Zion? Recollect that he is able, of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham. Are you afraid that you shall one day fall into the hand of your enemy, or backslide from the Lord that bought you, when you pray for persevering grace? Remember, that "he is able to make you stand." Are the stores of the divine bounty exhausted? Is there not a perfect fulness of grace in the Saviour? Cannot our God supply all our need " according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus?"

Ask then for spiritual blessings in heavenly