Lord waters the earth with a profufion worthy of his magnificence and bounty, and does not confine his rain to cultivated foils, fo the good feed of his word often fails upon the highway, upon the rocks, and among thorns; but is only productive upon the good ground of an honest and good heart. Not that any human heart is truly good by nature, but fome are prepared for the reception of the truth. And this preparation is the firft effect of the word, when it brings forth fruit unto life eternal. It undeceives those who were for a time deluded with vain hopes, and convinces them that they are poor, and blind, and wretched and helpless. Then they gladly accept the gospel of peace, and the meffage is to them as life from the dead.

The paffage in the prophet Ifaiah, from which my text is quoted, is very animated and defcriptive. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings? Imagine a diftreffed people, at the will and difpofal of a conqueror, who was justly offended with them, and under an anxious trembling uncertainty how he would treat them. If an authorized meffenger *Luke viii. 13-15. + Ifa. lii. 7.

fhould

fhould inform them, that, inftead of the punishment they deserved, the king vouchfafed them a free pardon, was ready to receive them with favour, and to bestow honours and poffeffions upon all who applied to him, without excepting the most guilty, even the ringleaders in rebellion: how welcome would this meffenger be to them! This, indeed, is beyond the manner of men. No earthly monarch has either magnanimity to make, or power to make good, fo gracious and unlimited a proclamation to a whole nation of rebels. But this is the manner of the great God. Such an act of grace is the gofpel. An act of grace to finners, yet founded in righteousness, and displaying the glory of his juftice equally with the riches of mercy. For it is founded on the mediation of the Son of his love, and procured by his blood. The meffengers of this grace are thus welcomed and honoured by those who believe their report: and are efteemed very bigbly in love for their works fake *. We may obferve,

I. The meffage of the gospel is glad tidings of peace and good things.

II. The meffengers, or preachers, find ample reward in their fuccefs and acceptance.

I. According to the Hebrew idiom, (which frequently obtains in the New Testament) all good things are comprized in the term peace. They are eminently comprized in the peace of the gofpel, for it is the peace of God which paffeth understanding. It brings a bleffed affurance, that MESSIAH has made peace by the blood of his crofs. They who believe this good report, derive from it peace of conscience; and are enabled to fay, Tho' thou wert justly angry, thine anger is turned away *. *. It difpels their fears and forebodings, and inspires them with liberty to come to God as children; confequently, on their parts, alienation and enmity cease, They no longer conceive of him as an avenging judge, or a hard mafter. They no longer dispute his authority, nor repine at his appointments. They become a willing people. They yield themselves to him. They cultivate peace in all their connections. The forgiveness and bounty they have received, teaches them likewife to forgive, and be kind, as they have opportunity. They pof

* Ifa. xii. I.

fefs

fefs fuch good things, as the world can neither give nor take away. Communion with God, grace, wisdom, and power. They ferve him with their all, and are fupported by his good Spirit in every trying circumftance. And they have a good hope, which enables them to rejoice in tribulation, and to fmile in death.

If the wickedness and obftinacy of mankind were not fo ftrongly described and exemplified in the Bible, and if we could forget that this obftinate perverseness was once our own character, we fhould find it difficult to conceive, after we understand the nature and design of the gospel, upon what grounds, a fcheme fo wifely and completely adapted to relieve men from mifery, to promote their prefent comfort, and to fecure their future. happiness, should, instead of being received with thankfulness, generally excite contempt and oppofition. Can the world afford a peace, which fhall abide and cheer the heart, under all the changing circumftances incident to us in this mortal ftate? Can it propose any good, any honours, profit, or pleafures, worthy of being compared with the honour which cometh from God only, the

light of his countenance, and the riches of glory? Can the influence of the world preserve us from trouble, or support us under it, or deliver us out of it? Has it any charms capable of foothing the anguish of a wounded confcience? Can it obviate the ftroke, or overcome the fear of death? Or can it inspire the foul with confidence and joy, in the contemplation of that approaching day, when we must all appear before the tribunal of the fupreme Judge? That the world, if we poffeffed the whole of it, cannot do these things for us, is acknowledged by many, and felt by all. The gospel propofes a cordial for every care, a balm for every wound; and none who make the experiment of its efficacy are disappointed. In other cafes, they who have received great obligations, may speak highly of their benefactor; and they, who beyond hope, have been recovered from a dangerous malady, may commend the skill and care of their physician, to those who are labouring under the fame disease, without giving offence. But if they who have obtained life and peace by believing in Jefus, proclaim his goodnefs, and point him out to their fellow-finners, as the only phyfician

and