the Son of God-"I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.' However low we may be sunk in our own apprehension, however deep in debt, however despairing; though we are far off from God, like the prodigal, though rebels and traitors, though every sin be working within, and we feel nothing but envy, wrath, malice, hatred, and strife in our minds, hardness of heart, and dejection of spirit; feeling almost led captive by the devil at his will -though we are in all this evil and ten thousand times worse the word still stands, as we read, firm as the everlasting hills-"MIGHTY TO SAVE;" and what an unspeakable and overwhelming mercy that we ever should be led in any degree, however small, to see that there is hope for us in God!

Stepney, April 10th, 1834.

I think it must be nearly seven years since it pleased the Almighty to give me the first sensible answer to my petitions. It was as I was returning from chapel one Sunday evening under a sense of my lost and undone condition. I was led out all at once to an unusual spirit of prayer, and to plead that the Almighty would make manifest that night, by His own Word on my conscience, on what side I was; for I had been favoured that day under the word with great encouragement; a new light had shone upon the whole, very different to what I had ever felt before; but when it was over I thought,-Suppose this should all be a delusion! But while I was supplicating, these words dropt upon my spirit, "You hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins," to a lively hope of His glory,—which was immediately backed with these-I believe as a confirmation that it was God's work-" Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear;" and I could set to my seal that God is true; and to this day, though manifold doubts and fears have arisen and I have sometimes almost disputed myself out of it (such is the base unbelief of my heart), yet I have proved—"Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever."

SERMONS.

SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 26, 1873.

"O Lord I have heard Thy speech and was afraid. O Lord revive Thy work in the midst of the years; in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."-HABAKKUK iii. 2.

Ir is very evident that Habakkuk had a solemn consciousness of God's hand in the things that had taken place in the time in which he lived; and he was one of those tremblers who are marked of God. "When I heard, my belly trembled; rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the days of trouble." What a state to feel himself in as a prophet of God! It is probable, but I do not know, that he was one of those captives who hanged their harps on the willows and wept. But if he could not feel at liberty to "sing the Lord's song in a strange land," yet he found access to God. His songs were turned into prayer, and the Holy Ghost helped his infirmities though He did not tune his songs. It is well to observe how it was with the saints of old, and to consider how it is in our own cases, and concerning Zion. The testimony of God concerning her is that she is "beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." But there are times when she is under contempt. "Is this Zion whom no man seeketh after?" Yet "of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her." It is said of them that feared the Lord, that "a book of remembrance was written before Him for them, and they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels;" though they that work wickedness are set up

B

and may plan their destruction, yet, "if God be for us who can be against us?" It is this book of life they are written in, and whosoever is not found written here shall be cast into the lake of fire. "Surely it shall be well with them that fear God, but it shall not be well with the wicked." Here is the line drawn: "The Lord shall count that this was born there." Do you and I know anything of this new birth-of the pangs of being born again of water and of the Spirit?"The Lord is known by the judgment that He executeth." When His "judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." Where was the prophet brought under these things? To stand upon his watchtower. It was the voice of God he was waiting for. If I am willing to hear what my Father says I am willing to be actuated by it whether it be pleasing to me or not. Without this we are rebelling against Him. Until the spirit be brought down I expect nothing but rebuke; not perhaps reproof from the lips, but there will be a manifest rejection of the Word of God. The Lord draws a line between those who are brought to listen to His judgments and those who ride over them. Many say, "Prophesy unto us smooth things. Don't wake us out of our slumber." Hence many are sewing pillows; many are daubing with untempered mortar. But all this must come down, the wall must fall. "Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder." There will be a solemn consciousness to such of this grinding to all eternity. All that is now said against eternal punishment won't yield them any comfort then. Blessed be God, I was taught that truth near fifty years ago. Oh, to be found amongst those who are born in Zion! Some have felt it a favour to be amongst Zion's dust, Zion's stones, for when God shall gather them together they shall unite in testifying, "The just shall live by faith," being united with that holy One, that just One. "Behold," this is God's standard, "The soul that is lifted up is not upright in Him."

Habakkuk begins his prayer, "O Lord, I have heard

Thy speech and was afraid." Do you know anything of trembling at His word-not only at His threatenings, but trembling, because He is a holy God; trembling not only at the judgments but at the mercies of God, His precious promises, and desiring to have an interest in them? "Am I interested in them?" says the soul.

"Would my heart so hard remain

If I knew a God of love ?"

And then begging of God to decide it: "Lord, decide the doubtful case.' If there's the trembling we shall prove the sooner or later the Lord's regard to us; so that we shall feelingly say, "Oh, Lord, revive Thy work!" No doubt the people had seen the Lord's work in building up Jerusalem; but now, what a state of desolation she was in! her gates sunk into the ground! But it is when in such a case that the Lord "gathered together the outcasts of Israel." Then, "O Lord revive Thy work." But let us come closer home. If you and I are the subjects of God's work the things which lay it low will be afflicting to us. Mark! It is Thy work. He loveth the gates of Zion that it may be a monument set up, a visible heap, a candle set on a candlestick. "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise." Has He formed us? Do we know anything of being formed out of the quarry ?-of the grafting into the good olive tree? If God has ever wrought on you He has made you to feel you are in His hand, and cannot get out of His hand; and His design is to make you willing, and to pray that you never may get out of His hand. I tell you that if you are under this His work you will never be satisfied (any more than God will) that you should be without more of His Spirit. "Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom,"-" having separated himself" from all that is deceitful, vain, and unprofitable. You may as well expect to live without food as to be strong without labour, or to prosper without this separation. In all labour there is profit." To use another simile," a garden inclosed, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed." Then, "Let my Beloved come into

His garden and eat His pleasant fruits." Here is "Revive thy work." "I am come into my garden." I have revived my work, I have gathered my fruits, and now, my friends, I welcome you to eat. "Eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." Again, the Lord says of His people they are "the branch of My planting, the work of My hands." "This people have I formed for Myself, they shall show forth My praise." "Then," say you, " that point is all sure; He hates putting away." But, how about your experience of these things? how about the glory of God? Though you may be brought into painful discipline, how about being brought to God, to drink His cup? When Jesus was about to feel the sword of justice, and God had pursued Him sore, He said, "The cup which My Father giveth Me to drink, shall I not drink it ?" Don't suppose that the clay is to dictate to the potter, or the metal to the refiner. This must come down; we must be brought to say

"Under Thy forming hands, my God,

Give me that frame that Thou likest best."

God only knows what tests we may be brought to; we may want banishing long, as it is said, "Ye have lien among the pots." God knows the means. It may be that the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap." Such expressions as chastening, purging, punishing, are almost obsolete now in the professing Church, but not so in God's dealings. Beware of rejecting-beware of despising the testimony or the ordinances of God. We have reason to fear. Look at Daniel; look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Oh, say some, we must conform in this or that small matter, only just to bow the knee! It would have been easy for Daniel to move to another part of the room to pray; a small matter for that Mordecai just to bend the neck. But where is the fear of God? "If any man will live godly in this present life he shall suffer persecution." O, says wisdom, "Let