on them a moral power, arising from the change which is effected in their own hearts and character. It gives unto them as well, power with God. There is a reference to this in the preceding verses. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much-has much power with God. Elijah, when desirous of converting Israel to God, prayed for drought, and God granted it; how much more likely is he to give, at your earnest effectual prayer, the Holy Spirit to those, in whose conversion you interest yourselves.

3. From the history of the Church.

Myriads of sinners have been converted in every agesinners of every character, and age, and nation. And by whom has their conversion been instrumentally effected? The only answer is-by human agency. Such agency was employed at Pentecost, when, if ever, it was not at all wanted. Human agency was employed with Saul of Tarsus, although, in the first instance, arrested by direct interference from heaven. So it has been in each succeeding age; and so, we argue, it will continue to the end of time.

III. SOME POWERFUL MOTIVES TO PERSEVERING ZEAL. 1. He that converteth a sinner, saveth a soul from death. Who can estimate the value of a soul? Contemplate it in its origin-in its capacity-in its redemption-in its immortality. Now in the conversion of a sinner, the soul is saved from spiritual death; unconverted, it is dead-dead in sinseparated from God. In the conversion of a sinner the soul is saved from eternal death; from blackness and darkness; from tribulation and wrath; from fire and brimstone; from the worm that dieth not; from weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

2. He shall hide a multitude of sins.

Every sinner is guilty of a multitude of sins; but when conversion takes place, all these are blotted out. Every sinner leads others to commit a multitude of sins; but if he is converted, his influence receives another direction. Every sinner when converted is saved from committing a multitude of sins. In these and other ways the conversion of a sinner hides a multitude of sins.

Y.

XCIII.

BELIEVERS' SAFETY.

I PETER i. 5.-" Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."

All the people of God are partakers of most exalted privileges; theirs is the adoption, adoption into the family of God. They are temples of the Holy Spirit-the dwellingplace of the Most High. The people of God are surrounded by dangers, but they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

I. WHAT ARE THEY KEPT FROM?

1. They are not kept from persecution.

The people of God in all ages have been exposed to this: they that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution." Its form may be varied, but they will have the

thing.

2. They are not kept from affliction and death..

These the righteous are as subject to as the wicked. Here there is no difference in their lot. All the ills that flesh is heir to, come alike on the believer and the unbeliever.

3. They are not kept from temptation.

Satan is permitted to harass the people of God; he exerts all his wiles to destroy them, by drawing them into sin. The devil goeth about, seeking to devour. And the believer is not ignorant of his devices; but knows that he has to wrestle not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness in high places.

The believer, though not preserved from these things, is, nevertheless, kept in them; watched over by God, strengthened by his spirit; so long as they retain their faith in the Saviour they are kept; kept in peace-in joy-in love. II. HOW ARE THEY KEPT ?

1. By the power of God.

The believer who is acquainted with his own character, feels that he is weak,

"Weaker than a bruised reed,

Help I every moment need."

But here is the source of strength. Is he assaulted by the enemy of human souls?-he is strengthened by the power of God to resist the devil. Is he beset by the allurements of the world?—the same power enables him to "touch not, taste not, handle not." Is he the subject of personal affliction?then the grace of God is proved to be sufficient for him, while he adds his testimony to that of the apostle-" when I am weak, then I am strong." They are kept by the promises of God. Unto them are left exceeding great and precious promises, that, by two immutable things, they might have strong consolation. They are kept by the covenant of God. The covenant ordered in all things and sure. The gift of the covenant is the Lord Jesus, who is a partaker of human nature, that he may succour all that are tempted, who in virtue of his meritorious sacrifice, is able to save unto the uttermost.

2. Through faith.

This is the instrumental cause of the believer's security. Faith in the promises of God, a firm reliance on his word, a full persuasion that he will do that which he has promised. How great things are spoken of this faith! See it illustrated in the case of Abraham, the father of the faithful— look at it as it was exercised by the three. Hebrew children— see its importance as implied in the address of our Lord to Peter. "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” III. WHAT ARE THEY KEPT FOR?

They are kept so are the wicked reserved until the day of judgment and of wrath, but the people of God are kept unto salvation. They have already experienced a partial deliverance from sin-they are kept for a total, entire, eternal deliverance. They have already had some of the joys of salvation-they are kept that they may possess fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. They are already in possession of some privileges, they are kept that they may be put in possession of privileges much greater; kept to share the glories, and partake of the inheritance, and to be with the Saviour.

XCIV.

GOD'S CARE OF HIS PEOPLE.

1 PETER V. 7.-" He careth for you."

These words are employed by the apostle as a motive to cast our care upon God. They contain a great truth, in which all the people of God have an interest.

I. NOTICE THEM IN THEIR APPLICATION.

There is a sense in which God careth for all his people, animate and inanimate. He covers the fields with abundance. He crowns the year with his goodness.

He taketh care of sparrows. He clothes the grass of the field. But he especially cares for man. Him God has made capable of knowing and loving himself-and to him he has made known his richest mercy in providing for him eternal life through his well-beloved Son. But, alas, although God thus careth for man, there are many that are thoughtlessly unconcerned about Him. The persons to whom reference is more especially made in the text, are described in a preceding part of the epistle, as called out of darkness into light;" as being born again;" as "elect according to the foreknowledge of God." These are they to whom these words have a special application.

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Notice these words,

II. IN THEIR TRUTHFULNESS.

"The

This is not a subject involving the least uncertainty. The concern of God for and his care of his people, are placed before us in the Scriptures in the most explicit terms. eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers." Not only is this the doctrine of Scripture, it is also the teaching of experience. We who are the saved of the Lord" have had to record many facts illustrative of the truth before us.

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1. He careth for our wants.

However limited may be our daily supply from his hands, yet he takes care that it is sufficient. However diversified may be our necessities, they are all supplied by his hand. He knoweth our dangers, and he careth for our deliverance.

2. He careth for our families.

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The mercy of the Lord is upon them that fear him, from one generation unto another.” "Leave thy fatherless children and widows unto me." David bears this testimony:"I never saw the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

3. He careth for your bodies.

"The very hairs of your head are all numbered." Pain and sickness may waste you, and death may consign you to the tomb, but "in all your afflictions he is afflicted.' Your sleeping dust he will take care of-not one particle thereof will be lost, and he will raise it up at the last day.

4. Especially he careth for your souls.

Its high destination stamps the soul with incalculable worth; and its spiritual condition makes it an object of pity. Yesterday we were not-but now we live, and must live for ever. God careth for the soul for He has redeemed it. All his other care of us is subservient to this.

How many of you have the character of those who are the objects of his care? If you are conscious of no change in your condition-of no change in your nature-then you are not the persons referred to in the text-but you may become

so now.

F.

XCV.

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST CLEANSETH FROM ALL

SIN.

1 JOHN i. 7.-"The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth from all sin."

There is not an individual attendant on a gospel ministry, who is not on some occasions, however regardless he may be at others, desirous of being reconciled to God. Under some powerful application of the truth by the Spirit of God, his conscience is roused, his fears awakened, and he is very anxious to obtain forgiveness of his sins. Such gradually,