God had set before him an open door; or that "a great door and effectual was opened" to him for a preached gospel, though he had many adversaries. The expression was used in reference to the same subject in the Second Epistle of the 2nd chapter to Corinthians; and thus we have the phrase that is used here, as signifying the employment of, and opportunity of employing, means of grace as privileges to the servants of God. Now, I would suggest that he has a control over them; that it is he that opens the door, and no man can shut it.

And first, it is his prerogative to give favourable seasons for receiving or doing good. If there be one time more auspicious than another; if there be a time of opportunity; if there be a peculiar occasion and facilities for the people of God to combine together; if there be circumstances that induce them to seek such combination; if there be a determination in the hearts of some to seek such combination-it is He that has opened the great and effectual door; it is he that has cast the lot of his people in such pleasant places, and that has drawn the lines of their habitations in such a heritage. It is of the Lord's goodness that we can associate as beloved friends; that we can peacefully separate ourselves from the occupations of the world; that none dare to enter our sanctuary to interrupt our devotions, or make us afraid. It is of the Lord's goodness that there is such

community of feeling and disposition to co-operate amongst the people of God in this sanctuary and congregation; that one and another may work, and the feeblest may work as well as the strong, and the youngest may work, and the most aged may work, and the poorest as well as the most wealthy may work in doing good, in communicating the blessings of salvation.

He gives the favourable seasons for receiving or doing good and especially if that season be characterized by the communication of the divine influences; if the Spirit be poured out from on high; if the wilderness that once was parched, become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest; it is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

But I mark again, that it is he and he only that gives ability to declare the gospel to those employed in such a work: he gives freedom of utterance; he gives utterance with that emphasis which tells upon the minds of the people; he enables the speaker so to order his words as that they may awaken sympathy in the hearer, and be understood. Nay, he, more than this, affects the heart and melts the affections with tenderness of him that speaks, so that he pleads as for God, for eternity, for immortal souls, and as one that must give account. If he be wise to win if he have determined

souls, his wisdom is from above; to make Christ Jesus, and him only, the theme of

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his ministration; if he be ready to exclaim, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ;"-it is the Spirit of God that has wrought this high and generous impulse in the heart of such a speaker.

You may enter into places where an assembly wait to receive the truth from a man's lips, and you may hear sentiments that are well chosen, and expressions that for chastened elegance and beauty are well selected, and an utterance of those expressions such as you would seek to imitate, were you called to give utterance to such sentiments; but they fall listlessly upon your own mind, and they produce not the impression which you think they ought to produce. It may be that the preacher sings a very lovely song, or that he is as one that plays well upon an instrument; but the melody touches not your ear, thrills not your heart, excites not your sympathies, brings you not into union with the speaker. Why is it? It is the divine prerogative to open the door; and, therefore,

I mark again, that he gives access to the heart, for the truth in its demonstration and power, that it may be received in the love of it. He brings down the high thoughts; he subdues the lofty imaginations; he makes the people willing in the day of his power; he melts the heart by his love, so that in the conviction produced of the exercise of his grace

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in saving you, his truth may be received and cordially embraced. Not by the will of the flesh: he opens the heart by his sovereign love and divine grace. Lord opened the heart of Lydia that she gave heed to the words that were spoken by the apostle Paul. Not a poor sinner ever yet cordially embraced the truth of Jesus Christ, but had his heart opened by the gracious, the blessed Spirit, who worketh both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Take care do not therefore say, Why, then, I must wait till the Spirit open my heart. The language is not, You have to wait. Ask the Spirit to open your heart now; ask Jesus to give his Spirit to open your heart now; ask, and shall receive. Still he opens; it is the prerogative of God to do this work of love and goodness. I cannot do it; no man can open the heart of his fellow man.

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But I observe, that when the heart is opened and the truth is received, it is he that gives admission to a visible Church, and calls his chosen ones to the bonds and fellowship of a hallowed and refreshing communion. He says, "Come out from among them and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters.” They are his peculiar people, his royal priesthood, his holy nation. It is by his commandment that his people who have given themselves to the Lord are required

to give themselves to one another. And when two or three are met together in his name, they are but doing his will and obeying his ordinance; when they show forth his death, when they commemorate his love, it is because he has given the communion of saints. It is he that has given sanctuary privileges and the consolations of worship; it is he that has promised to be in the midst of them that wait on God, and by the manifestations of his presence to kindle a joy in their hearts, and diffuse a peace in their minds, which the world cannot give and which the world cannot take away.

And when anyone is invited, is welcomed, to the bosom of the Christian Church, they that invite and they that welcome only do the will of their Lord. Yet none have a right to exclude from the fellowship of God's people those whom God has received, just as none have a right to cast back into the darkness of midnight, or the gloom of a dungeon, the virtuous and faithful citizen, upon whom the bright sun sheds his cheering rays; or to prevent his enjoyment of a freely circulated atmosphere, that is the common element of life to man and to beast.

But still further, we are taught that it is his prerogative to give translation to the heavenly kingdom in all its glory. Yes, it is he has opened those gates to welcome the Zion-bound traveller at the close of his career, when he has finished his course, having