But it is not in this speculative view only that the Christian regards the ability of God to supply his wants. In addition to exciting his admiration, it strengthens his trust, and increases his joy.

It strengthens his trust.-The Christian is one who has founded his hopes upon God. Every thing, therefore, that tends to make him more sensible of the fulness and power of the Almighty, tends to encourage a filial confidence; since he knows that power to be employed in promoting his welfare and safety. When, therefore, he feels his own weakness, how consoling is it to him to reflect that his Father which is in heaven is infinitely strong! When he thinks he has implored too much at the Throne of Mercy, what joy does it give him to remember, that God can do exceeding abundantly above all he asks, or even thinks!

Thus, in addition to strengthening the Christian's trust, it increases his joy.-This is, indeed, closely connected with the former; for the stronger and more genuine our faith, the more fixed and lively our spiritual enjoyment. It is true, indeed, that the Christian's fears arise oftener from a doubt of God's willingness than of his ability; but when he considers how great and aggravated have been his transgressions, he almost doubts whether the promises made in the Gospel can be applicable to himself, or

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whether one who has erred from God's ways so widely, and for so long a time, may find mercy at last. To such a one it is an important truth, that God is able, as well as willing, to hear and answer his prayers; able, not in point of mere power only, but consistently with all his attributes and perfections. His justice does not oppose his mercy. While sin uncancelled separated between man and God, how could our prayers be heard or accepted by that allrighteous Judge? But a Saviour having died, sin being pardoned, and the heart renewed, nothing remains to make it inconsistent with the Divine Majesty to grant our requests, being offered up through faith in Him who is the way of access to the Father.

Secondly, We are to consider the specimen and pledge which the Christian has of this Divine power in his own heart. St. Paul says, "According to the power that worketh in us."-The power of God was first exerted in raising us. from our original dust, in breathing into us the breath of life, and preserving us to the present moment from all the dangers that threatened our destruction. Each of these is a proof and pledge of the power of God in us, and demands our admiration and gratitude; but it is to a far greater exemplification of this power that the Apostle alludes. The philoso

pher, when he would discover more of the power of God, begins to examine more attentively the works of nature; but, in addition to this, the Christian can appeal to that power as exerted in raising him from the death of trespasses and sins. He has been born again, and created anew in Christ Jesus. When he compares his present desires and fears, his hopes and sorrows, his motives and enjoyments, with those which once influenced him, he finds himself transformed in the spirit of his mind. Being, therefore, strong in faith, he no longer doubts that God can do more than he can ask or think, since, if he had no other evidence, he might appeal, in numberless cases, to his own experience of the Divine love and power. Will my heavenly Parent, he argues, who has already done so much for me, forsake me at last? Will He, who has given his only Son for me, withhold any lesser blessing? Can He, who has so fully proved his power, be unable, or He, who has so uniformly proved his infinite love, be unwilling, to make me holy and happy? Every want, therefore, should remind me of Him who is ready to supply it. When weak, may I rely on Him who is all-powerful! when I most feel my ignorance, may I look to him who is allwise! when beset with dangers and with enemies, may I pray to him who is ever watchful! in a word, may every defect in myself teach me

increasingly to admire, to adore, and to repose in, the perfections of my God.

But, it may be asked, will not the contemplation of such privileges encourage a feeling of spiritual pride, and destroy that deep sense of humility and dependence which becomes a fallen and guilty creature? No; far from this being the case, the same text that teaches the Christian his privilege, reminds him of his dependence. Neither the power nor the glory is ascribed to us. It is the power of God that worketh in us, and therefore the Apostle infers, "TO HIM be glory." Which leads us,

Thirdly, To consider the return of glory due to God for his exertion of this power. It would be needless to prove generally, that we ought to feel gratitude to God, and ought to express it by rendering glory to his Name. This is not only a religious, but a natural and reasonable. service. We owe it to him as our Maker, our Preserver, and our Benefactor. But the particular nature, and the higher causes, of this glory, cannot be known but by the Gospel. St. Paul, in the words before us, mentions three very important circumstances relative to it; namely, the persons by whom it is paid, the church,-the Source from which it is derived, Christ Jesus,-and its perpetuity, world without end.

1. This glory is in the church.—That portion of Divine glory which is displayed by the works of nature and the dispensations of Providence, by the justice shewn in the punishment of fallen men and angels, and even by the eternal bliss of those who kept their first estate, is quite unnoticed by the Apostle. He hastens to a yet more wonderful theme of adoration. Forgetting, as it were, every other source of Divine glory, he speaks only of that derived from the redeemed church. Angels who never fell will praise their Creator for the vast blessings they enjoy; but the spirits of the just made perfect will have a theme of gratitude peculiar to themselves. For "I heard," said the Apostle John, "as it were a new song before the Throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from earth." Thus the church will add a new song of glory to God. The church also will doubtless be loudest in the general song of praise, on account of the contrast with their former state. When they view the height to which they are raised, they will look back, we may imagine, to the depth of misery into which they had fallen: when they feel conscious of unutterable felicity, they will doubtless remember that they were those