adequate knowledge of it can ever be attained in this life. Let the day of judgment reveal it.

Do not look for that which is extraordinary in religion. Some who do not profit as they ought, or would desire, instead of humbly waiting upon God, and praying to be led by the Spirit, are looking for something out of the ordinary course to set them right, and to give them fresh earnestness. They expect, for instance, to be assured, in some way, rather than by what God has said in his word, of the pardon of sin; or to feel some powerful impression in respect to their state in the sight of God. Or, as soon as they enter on a profession, they would at once pass into all that light and knowledge, and comfort, and rejoicing of hope, which can only be attained in proportion as they grow in other gifts and graces of the Spirit. Nothing is so safe, so conducive to spiritual profit, as a state of simple dependence on God, and a life of faith in the Son of God.

Cherish a growing inward conformity to the will of God: "Not by might, nor by power, but by мy Spirit saith the Lord of hosts." It is here that the force and application of our text seems to meet us, and to plead for that child-like, humble waiting upon God, in which his power for our salvation is peculiarly felt: "Be still, and know that I am God." "In returning and in rest shall ye be saved, and in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." "Not by might, nor by power."

Take the comfort of those evidences, which you possess, of the power of the Holy Spirit. Every christian may say of himself spiritually, what the Psalmist has said probably with the same meaning: “I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well." "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit:" is the strongest possible assurance God can give us of the efficacy of his works of grace; and if this be the character he gives of his operations, shall any might or power stand in the way of your salvation? If the Lord work, who shall hinder it? If God be for us, who can be against us? Seek an interest in these things, and then you may say: "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

66

SERMON VIII.

CHRIST THE SPIRITUAL ROCK.

I COR. X. 4.

They drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ.

In the conclusion of the former chapter we hear the Apostle declaring, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away." Here was the kind of feeling which he wished to communicate to the minds of the Corinthians. They were elated by their spiritual gifts, and valued themselves more upon these than upon the evidences of the power of the gospel

in their hearts and lives. St. Paul therefore takes occasion, by confessing his own individual care to mortify the flesh with its carnal appetites, to suggest to them, that there was need of the same anxious care on their part; and, by expressing his own individual fear and jealousy, to prepare them for receiving without offence his admonitions, which follow in the next chapter.

The foundation on which he rests these admo

nitions, is this: That no church privileges could exempt them from caution. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." He reminds them, that the Israelites were as much distinguished by outward marks of the divine favour as they were but that this did not screen them from heavy displeasure, or prevent the fall of some to their ruin. "Moreover, brethren," says he, in the beginning of the tenth chapter, "I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." Their protection and guidance under the cloud of glory, and their safe passage through the Red Sea, were to them as decisive tokens and pledges of the divine favour, as any ordinances were to the church of Christ. Indeed, their passage through the sea may be considered as having a typical correspondence with christian baptism.

And not only so, but he adds, they “did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink." God in a miraculous manner supplied them with food from heaven, and water from the rock, as tokens of his love and free compassion. A spiritual intent and purpose was evidently included in these bounties, and therefore they are called spiritual meat and spiritual drink. "They drank of that spiritual rock that followed them;" they had this constant proof of God's fatherly care over them, inasmuch as this miraculous supply of water followed them in all their journeyings. And