miracles they were enabled to perform, that they made such multitudes of converts. The people saw that God was with them, and that therefore every thing they taught must be true.

Bishop Porteus.

The persons whom our Lord chose for his partners and companions in establishing the Gospel were of the lowest class, as well in station as in abilities. Such persons were in many respects most difficult to be dealt with, but no unfit instruments for the purpose for which they were then designed; namely, to testify what they had so often seen and heard; and on all accounts most proper to afford the best and most unexceptionable evidence to futurity. They were persons who could by no means be supposed able either to conceive a scheme so great as that of reforming the world, of altering all its customs and opinions; or to entertain the least hope of accomplishing it, whenever suggested to them: persons who wanted both courage and conduct to attempt this vast and truly original design, with any prospect of success: persons, too, who were to be suffered often to doubt and dispute with our Lord; to distrust, desert, and even deny Him; in order to convince after-ages that they were such as could not, with the least show of reason, be suspected of having at first concerted all this of themselves, or carried it on afterwards among themselves, or effected what they did of it by any methods merely human.

With such as these did Christ hold conversation during the whole course of his ministry, affectionately complying with their weakness, patiently enduring their perverseness, in order to cure them both; to strengthen and increase their faith by degrees, and free them from all superstitious fears; to open their eyes and enlarge their understandings so far, that at length they might even of themselves judge what was right, and teach the same to others. To these, and by them to the world, he sets a perfect pattern of true heroism, namely, humility aud resignation to the will of God; of meekness and the most extensive benevolence to man; demonstrating to what a height virtue may be carried under the most disadvantageous circumstances, and showing the practicableness of each part of our duty, in the greatest difficulties. Bishop Law.

The word of God, which grew from very unpromising beginnings so mightily, and prevailed so speedily over the unbelieving world, was manifestly propagated in opposition to the united force and cunning of men and devils, by a power eminently superior to both, and therefore most certainly divine. This wonderful propagation of the Gospel, with such incredible success, and by methods so very extraordinary and peculiar, should ever be contemplated with just wonder, and ought always to be esteemed a most illustrious proof of the truth of Christianity; so that, if no other miracle had been wrought in support of it, this alone would have been sufficient to establish its truth. For, that a doctrine so unacceptable to flesh and blood, so irreconcileable with the secular interest, as well as the corrupt inclinations of mankind, so violently opposed by all the force and malice of men, should irresistibly persuade both Jew and Gentile, and draw the whole world after it by cords so strong, and yet so easy, without any outward compulsion, or prospect of advantage or reward, except what was future and invisible, but with the present and visible terror of the greatest hardships and sufferings; this, if all other tokens had been wanting, must have been owned to be the effect of a power truly divine. And hereby the Christian Religion stands remarkably distinguished from all religious impostures, whose rise and growth have always manifestly been owing to the plausibility and agreeableness of the doctrines taught, or to the subtlety and artifice of the teachers, or to the last and strongest argument of a bad cause, menace and coaction. Such was the introduction of Mahometism into the world, which is a scheme of religion compounded out of all other religions, that it might recommend itself to some of all, and it is dressed up with a good deal of art and cunning, and admirably suited to the palate of the most sensual, and yet with all those plausible coverings, it was forced to hew out its way with the sword, and it is supported to this day by the same method of violence. Whereas the Christian Religion, stripped of all these advantages and aids, and clogged with all possible disadvantages and impediments, found a way unforced, and prevailed by its own native efficacy, and even by suffering; baffled and subdued all the boisterous rage and cruelty of its most inveterate

enemies, so that we may well believe it, what it has distinguished itself to be-the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Again, since the Gospel has from the beginning prevailed so mightily, and triumphed so remarkably over all opposition, we rely upon the same divine power and wisdom, by which it hath been hitherto supported, that it will still prevail, still increase and advance, conquering and to conquer! for we may comfort ourselves in this, that the Christian faith hath already been engaged in all sorts of conflicts and trials, but has always risen superior: hath been opposed (but always in vain) by arts and arguments, and artillery of all sorts, so that no modern engine can now be played upon us, no subtle stratagem invented, but what have been anciently used, and often baffled. Dr. Moss.

the

The glorious Gospel of the blessed God is given to us, to teach us way of salvation through a Mediator. Well may it be called "glad tidings of great joy;" for it reveals a glorious Saviour, proclaims salvation to a lost world, and sets before us a new and living way to the Father! It opens a door of life to the dead, and a door of hope to despairing sinners; it invites the greatest sinner to return, and offers grace and glory. The Gospel informs us, that redemption's work is done, and salvation finished. All things are ready, and God waiteth to be gracious. Sinners are invited to drink of the waters of life freely; and whosoever cometh unto Jesus, he will in no wise cast out; but will give unto all that receive him, "power to become the sons of God." Such is the language of the Gospel. Jones.

The Gospel takes man where it finds him, in a state of sin and ruin; condemned by the law of God to final perdition, and incapable of justification by his own righteousness. In this situation it announces to him a Saviour, divinely great and glorious, divinely excellent and lovely; assuming his nature, to become an expiation for his sins; revealing to him the way of reconciliation to God, and inviting him to enter it and be saved. The acceptance of this expiation it announces from the mouth of God himself. The terms on which we may be reconciled, it discloses with exact precision and

perfect clearness; so that he who runs may read; so that beggars and children may understand and accept them. Faith in the Redeemer, repentance towards God, and holiness of character, involve them all. They are terms reasonable in themselves, easy to us, and productive of incomprehensible good to all who embrace them. To overcome the stubbornness of our hearts, Christ has commissioned the Spirit of grace to sanctify us for himself, to draw us with the cords of his love, to guide us with his wisdom, to uphold us with his power, and to conduct us under his kind providence to the heavens. In this scheme is contained all that we need, and all that we can rationally desire. The way of salvation is here become a highway, and wayfaring men, though fools, need not err therein.

Dr. Dwight.

The revelation made of Christ, in the blessed Gospel, is far more glorious, more excellent, and more filled with rays of divine wisdom and goodness, than the whole creation, and the justest comprehension of it attainable, can contain or afford. Without the knowledge hereof, the mind of man, however priding itself in other inventions and discoveries, is wrapped up in darkness and confusion.

Dr. Owen.

The Gospel glory is, that it is the ministration of the Spirit. The great privilege of believers is, that the Lord manifests himself to them as he doth not to the world; when he manifests his authority in the command, it is then powerful; when he manifests his goodness and truth in his promise, it is full of sweetness; when he manifests his wrath in the threatenings, it awes the soul; when he manifests his glory in the face of Christ, it is ravishing, reforming, attracting! Halyburton.

It does not demand the sword of the magistrate, the aid of philosophy, the charms of eloquence, in what its adversaries term, "the foolishness of preaching." Some of the ministers employed in dispensing the Gospel, are indeed eminent in gifts and graces com pared with their fellow-men; they are not inferior, either in natural or acquired abilities, to the most respectable characters; but, compared with the greatness and importance of their office, the most

eminent among them are mere "earthen vessels," and very soon broken, worn out, or laid aside. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels," says the Apostle," that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Had God employed angels, or men of first-rate abilities only, to dispense the Gospel, we should have been in danger of attributing its efficacy to the instruments: He there fore commits the dispensation of the Gospel to men of like passions with ourselves; and often makes those who possess but a moderate share of abilities the most effectual means of converting and edifying the souls of men. Hereby God puts a divine honour on the Gospel, shows that its energy and influence are independent of human aid; and secures to himself the unrivalled glory of all its admirable effects. O happy earthen vessels! glory in that ye were only dust and ashes! Your weakness, brittleness, and nothingness, display a thousand times more the glory of the great Master who employed you, than the greatest dignity would have displayed it; more than if ye had been golden vessels, angels or cherubim, dominions or thrones. Denton.

The gospel is a sovereign plaister; but Christ's own hand must make it stick. Manton,

Though many, in their private reading the Scriptures, do feel some sweet blasts of the Holy Spirit; yet in the public ministry of the Word, the Spirit oftentimes cometh down in a more plentiful measure, and worketh more powerfully and effectually. Acts x. 44. it is expressly noted, that while Peter was preaching, the Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the word: and doubtless, for one who hath been converted by the private reading of the Scriptures, thousands have been turned from their sins unto God by the public preaching of the word: the reason whereof is, not any excellency that is in the ministers of the Gospel, for certainly there is much more worth and excellency in the Word of God than any sermon preached by men ; but because the Lord hath ordained and appointed preaching to be the ordinary means of salvation. Dr. Gouge. The Gospel is a box of most precious ointment; by preaching it, the box is broken and the fragrance diffused.

Romaine.