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The case of Zaccheus is to the point. Curiosity inclined him to see Jesus as he passed by. Jesus saw him; and instead of charging him, as he might have done, with dishonest gain-instead of condemning him for extortion and oppression, he said unto him, "Zaccheus, make haste, come down, for to-day I must abide at thy house." Here was the gentleness of the Son of God, the riches of Divine goodness; and what was its effect? It led the sinner to repentance: it conquered the obduracy of his heart: it humbled him in unfeigned penitence; and the sincerity of his contrition was proved by the most unequivocal result-he brought forth "fruit meet for repentance." And no sooner was this perceived, than favour still more abundant was bestowed; goodness the most munificent was displayed: "This day is salvation come to this house.".

The example of Peter also is full of instruction and encouragement. He denied his Lord and Master with circumstances of peculiar aggravation; but behold the goodness of his offended Lord! "He turned, and looked upon Peter." That look was big with expression, replete with tenderness and love. Peter felt its meaning: he fell under its power: "he went out and wept bitterly!" Was it not the goodness of his God and Saviour which produced this effect?

In sacred history we read of the whirlwind, the earthquake, and the fire; but the Lord was not in these. It was the "still small voice" that breathed Divinity, that arrested the prophet's ear, and moved his heart. In like manner, terrors may alarm the ungodly, but a soul of gracious sensibility is most affected by the manifestations of love: he melts under "the tender mercies of the Lord."

To conclude: does not this subject remind you of the hardness of the human heart? The design of Divine Goodness is apparent; its true tendency is most beneficial; but how is it perverted and abused! The humbling sentiment applies to many in all its force; and, with some limitation, it may be adopted by each of us :

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Though woo'd and aw'd, bless'd and chastis'd,
A flagrant rebel still."

And shall we continue to rebel? God forbid! From this time, let us awake to serious reflection; let us evince that our penitence is true; and with weeping and supplication, with holy desire and resolution, let us return unto the Lord.

But forget not the necessity of the grace of the Holy Spirit to produce this change. He it is who works repentance, by impressing the heart with a sense of Divine Goodness; by giving the transgressor to see the evil of his sin, as opposed to Infinite Purity; and to feel the attractions of heavenly love, as displayed in the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit, remember, is promised to them who ask; and is not the desire of his sacred influence yours? Cherish it with care. Present it fervently to God, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth."

And since the necessity of the work of the Spirit is so urgent, and the promise of his grace so free, will you not take encouragement, and become importunate? That man is most dangerously deluding himself who imagines, that because he cannot change his own heart, or produce a penitent disposition, he may sit still and indulge impenitency. A right conviction of your own weakness will rouse you to im

plore Divine strength; nor will you rest till it is obtained. Growing experience of your own nothingness, will but endear the Saviour, who is "all in all," and bind you more closely to the all-sufficiency of his grace. "Work out your own salvation ;" but what is your encouragement to do so? Where lies your ability to accomplish this great concern? "It is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

How touching is that appeal to the feelings of a parent's heart, to the kindness of a father's hand! "If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him!"

SERMON XIII.

ABRAHAM THE FRIEND OF GOD.

JAMES ii. 23.

And he was called, the friend of God.

SUCH was Abraham. Much that is honourable is recorded of him in the holy Scriptures, but nothing equal to this. He was a man of extensive possessions a venerable patriarch, the founder of two powerful nations, the ancestor of a double race of kings, the father of the faithful; but as his highest destinction -" he was called, the friend of God."

Jehoshaphat king of Judah, in a time of national distress, stood and pleaded thus before the Lord: "Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend?" Jehovah himself comes forward, and by the prophet bears this high testimony to his character: "Thou art Israel my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend*.

The meaning of this honourable appellation is illustrated, and the justness of its application is confirm.

* 2 Chron. xx. 7; Isa. xli. 8.

ed, both in the disposition and conduct of God towards Abraham, and in Abraham's disposition and conduct towards God. While we contemplate these, the most useful instruction and encouragement may be derived to ourselves.

I. THE DISPOSITION AND CONDUCT OF GOD TOWARDS ABRAHAM.

He distinguished him as his friend by,

1. His large munificence.

It is not perhaps too much to affirm, that God gave to Abraham more than he ever gave to any man beside. He gave him not only "exceeding great and precious promises," but the actual fulfilment of them in all their variety and extent, either to himself or his posterity. The grant of Jehovah to this patriarch included a son in his old age, and that his descendants should inherit the fertile land of Canaan; that he should become the father of many and mighty nations, and especially that in him all the families of the earth should be blessed. This last promise points to the Messiah, the Saviour of sinful men, and the best blessing of Heaven to a guilty world. The bestowment of such a Saviour was a singular mark of munificence to Abraham, "of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.'

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And what does he give to others whom he designates his friends? He gives-it is not possible to say how much :-" He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings"-inestimable is the worth of these, and unspeakably better adapted to

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