Why am I taken, while others like me, less vile

than I was, are left?

Why was I made to hear his voice,

And enter while there's room?

While thousands make a wretched choice,

And rather starve than come.

'Twas the same love which spread the feast,
That kindly forced me in;
Else I had still refused to taste,
And perished in my sin.

And he who first wrought this will in the soul, of his good pleasure, carries on his grace, in the same sovereignty of love and power. He sweetly refreshes the soul that is faint and weary, revives its languid graces, enlarges its views, and confirms its hold of divine truth; he calls into exercise the spiritual powers with which he has endowed his people, and sustains them, therein, to the bringing glory to his name, and a rich treasure, to them, of present enjoyment, and future recompence. Hence, the apostle, desiring the complete salvation of his brethren, prays for it under this special view, (and a most cheering view it is,) as the Lord's accomplishment of his own good pleasure in their hearts. "Wherefore, also, we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power." (2 Thess. i. 11.)

Blessed be his glorious name, for such a view of that great work that needs to be perfected in our souls! It is the Lord's own work; his own. good pleasure. His delight is, thus to exercise his sovereignty, in goodness, towards wretched sinners. He began, he carries on his salvation, Text ab not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy." The sacrifice of the well-beloved of his soul shows how his heart is set upon it. The exaltation of Jesus to his mediatorial throne, as "Head over all things for the church," has no other object than the accomplishment of it. "The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." This is the reason, Christian brethren, if you and I are, at this moment, in the enjoyment of one spiritual blessing: if we have any disposition towards God, or ability to perform one act of service, acceptable to him;— even the good hand of our God upon us, who

changes not, therefore we are not consumed;" and who says to us, by "the Amen, the faithful and true witness," "Fear not, little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Learn thus to contemplate the sovereignty of God, as it is his delight to exert it for his people. Find in it, and not in yourselves, an all-prevailing argument for grace to help in every time of need. Lord, for thine own sake, for thy good pleasure in goodness, perfect that which concerneth me. By this you stand and in the faith

:

of it, O let your joy and gratitude to a God unsearchable in goodness, abound always. "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy."

And now, beloved, how may I better dismiss the whole subject, than by commending both writer and reader to this good pleasure of a covenant God in Christ Jesus? May it please him to bless this humble exhibition of the riches of his grace in the gospel, to the help and profit of his people! May he condescend to enlarge, hereby, their understanding of his covenant, and establish their faith in all its free, full, sure, and everlasting blessings! May he refresh our souls with the plentiful supplies of its grace in time, and bring us, together, to that world, where grace is exchanged for glory, faith for sight, prayers for praises, hope, and desire, and labour, for full salvation, satisfying blessedness, uninterrupted rest!

AMEN!

NOTES.

NOTE 1.-p. 5.

"GOD, (says Witsius) by this covenant acquires no new right over man. But man, upon his accepting the covenant, and performing the condition, does acquire some right to demand of God the promise. For God has, by his promises, made himself a debtor to man. Or, to speak in a manner more becoming God, he was pleased to make his performing his promises a debt due to himself, to his goodness, justice, and veracity. And to man, in covenant, and continuing stedfast to it, he granted the right of expecting, and requiring, that God should satisfy the demands of his goodness, justice, and truth, by the performance of the promises. And thus to man astipulating, or consenting to the covenant, God says, that he will be his God. (Deut. xxvi. 17.) That is, he will give him full liberty to glory in God as his God, and to expect from him that he will become, to man in covenant with him, what he is to himself, even a fountain of consummate happiness."-Sec Witsius' Economy of the Covenants, by Crookshank, book 1. chap. 1. sect. xiv.

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