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nestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof*.

Romans, xiii. 11, 12, 13, 14.

SERMON XIX.

THE GRACE OF CHRIST SUFFICIENT FOR HIS

PEOPLE.

II CORINTHIANS, XII. 9.

My Grace is sufficient for thee.

IN arduous undertakings, hope of success is one of the most powerful incentives to exertion and perseverance. The stronger is the probability of obtaining the object in view, the greater will be the zeal and activity in the pursuit of it; while nothing more effectually tends to damp the spirit of enterprize, than the chilling apprehension of defeat and final disappointment. If this remark be true with respect to temporal concerns, it is equally just as to those of a spiritual nature. Hope of victory is the cordial which invigorates the Christian warrior. Remove this hope; his ardour cools, his energy is relaxed. Dispirited by the uncertainty which envelopes his future prospects, and doubtful whether even his most

strenuous labours will be ultimately successful, he is less capable of contending with the numerous enemies of his salvation. Hence he is exhorted to put on hope as a helmet, which may cover his head in the day of battle. Hence the most animating promises are employed to sustain his drooping spirits, and to inspire him with the assurance of a favourable issue.

Among these promises, the declaration of Christ himself in the text claims a distinguished place. The words were originally addressed to St. Paul. The Lord, foreseeing that the apostle was in danger of being exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations vouchsafed to him, was mercifully pleased to counteract this tendency bygiving to him a thorn in the flesh. What was the particular nature of this trial we are not expressly told. But probably it consisted in a consciousness of some personal defect, which he was apprehensive might obstruct his future usefulness. Under this apprehension, he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him. Did the Lord grant the pe. tition? No. He saw not fit to remove the affliction but he added a most consolatory promise, which would render the removal unnecessary. He said to his afflicted servant, My grace is sufficient for thee.

"Be not

"afraid.

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Thou shalt not sink under the "burden. I will sustain thee. None of the ❝evil consequences, which thou fearest, shall ensue: for my strength is made perfect in (thy) weakness. Weak in thyself, and "wholly inadequate to the work assigned, "thou shalt be strong in me, and in the 66 power of my might." Observe the influence of this cheering promise on the apostle's mind. His fears are dispelled. His hope revives. No longer dejected at the thought of his own insufficiency, he exclaims, Most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Such was the occasion on which these words were originally spoken. But the promise which they contain is not to be confined to the apostle. Doubtless it was intended for the comfort and the encouragement of numbers in all ages. Jesus Christ is still the same: the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever*. His tender and watchful solicitude over his people, his power and willingness to succour and sustain them, are still the same. Still then may they be exhorted to confide in the assurance that His grace is sufficient for them.

In this application of the subject, and with the view to a suitable improvement, I purpose,

*Heb. xiii. 8.

1. To illustrate the Tendency and Meaning of the Promise.

II. To point out the Persons to whom the Promise belongs.

I. My grace is sufficient for thee. The grace of Christ, in the language of Scripture, most usually denotes either that rich and unmerited love, which prompted him to undertake the work of our redemption; or that invincible power, which, through the agency of the Spirit, He exerts for accomplishing this glorious undertaking. It is in the latter of these senses that the expression is to be understood in the text. Christ is to his People the Fountain of all spiritual life and strength. By his grace they are quickened and supported. By his grace they are restrained, directed, comforted. Should this source on any occasion fail them; should its supplies be withdrawn or intercepted; should they prove either in measure or in force deficient: the inevitable consequences must be defeat, shame, and apostacy, For ever then to preclude all ideas of such a failure, effectually to obviate every apprehension of such consequences, is the evident tendency of the promise in the text. It declares, that the Grace of Christ is sufficient for his People. It implies, that in every possible emergency, under all possible circumstances, his power shall be adequate to his People's wants; his strength shall be made

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