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we must say to our blessed Lord, "Other lords beside thee have had dominion over me, but henceforth I will regard none but thee:" I will search out thy will, as it is revealed unto men; I will take it in all things as a light unto my feet; and I will labour, through grace, to have even the thoughts of my heart brought into an unreserved obedience to it."]

Whilst we regard this work of divine grace as a model for our imitation, let us behold it,

III. As an example for our encouragement

In this view it was particularly designed of God; as St. Paul himself informs us: "For this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them who shall hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." Truly in the conversion of this bitter persecutor we

see,

1. How far the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ can reach

[We can scarcely conceive a state more desperate than that of Saul, when "breathing out threatenings and slaughter" against the saints of God: yet to him was mercy vouchsafed, and that too unsought, and unsolicited. Who then has any reason to despair? Who can say, My iniquities are too great to be forgiven? Let the weary and heavy-laden sinner, who is ready to say, "There is no hope," take courage, and lift up his soul to God in fervent prayer: for the blood of Christ is as effectual to cleanse from sin, as ever it was; and its virtue shall extend as far as ever, even to the very chief of sinners. "Where sin has abounded, grace shall much more abound;" and "sins of a scarlet or a crimson dye" shall yet be washed away, so that the offender shall be made "white as snow."]

2. What great things the grace of Christ can effect

[This man, who, previous to his conversion, was the bitterest enemy both of God and man, was transformed into a most distinguished friend of both. Of all the Apostles, not one excelled him in piety, or equalled him in laborious exertions for the cause of Christ. His besetting sins were all subdued, and his virtues were brought to the highest perfection. This change in him was, as it were, instantaneous; so that in him was fully and at once, verified that description of sound conversion, "Old things passed away, and all things became new."

e 1 Tim. i. 16.

Who then shall hereafter think himself enslaved beyond a possibility of redemption? Is not that grace which wrought effectually in Paul, sufficient for us? Can any thing be too hard for the Lord? Let not any then despond, under an idea that his corruptions are too deep and inveterate ever to be eradicated for that same Jesus is yet possessed of all power in heaven and in earth, and is still "able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.”]

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APPLICATION

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[Let me, in conclusion, remind you all, that by nature you are alienated from God," and "enemies to him in your minds by wicked works;" and more especially are you adverse to the humiliating doctrines of the Gospel. But Jesus now speaks to each of you by name, as he did to the Apostle Paul, Why despisest thou me? Why turnest thou away from me?" On you he looks with the same compassion as he did on him, and warns you, that "it is in vain to kick against the pricks." The greater part of sinners, it is true, are unconscious that they are fighting against the Lord Jesus Christ: in many things they do, they really think themselves acting inoffensively, or perhaps agreeably to the will of God: but a neglect of the Gospel, no less than direct opposition to it, is an act of hostility to the Lord Jesus Christ, and must finally issue in our destruction. Listen then to his still small voice, and accept his gracious invitations: and if those around you are regardless of his call, let your minds at least be humbled, if peradventure you may be distinguished by him as chosen vessels of his mercy, and happy monuments of his grace.]

MDCCLXIII.

SAUL'S PRAYER.

Acts ix. 11. Behold, he prayeth.

WHEN we speak of the grace of God as the free and only source of good to man, we are often misunderstood, as though we affirmed that man is wholly passive in the work of salvation: whereas, the truth is, that though, in the first instance, God puts into his heart the good desire, that desire immediately exerts itself in voluntary and earnest efforts for the attainment of the thing desired. This is discoverable in the conversion of Saul: in the first instance, God stopped him in his career of sin, and discovered to

him his guilt and danger; but from that moment Saul gave himself to fasting and prayer, that by those means he might obtain yet further blessings from God and God, as though he would shew us in the most striking manner the necessity of our own personal exertions, expressly pointed out to Ananias the reason of his communicating further blessings to Saul through his instrumentality; “Go, and inquire for one called Saul of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth."

We will endeavour to point out,

I. What there was in that prayer which attracted the Divine notice

We cannot doubt but that Saul, who was " touching the righteousness of the law blameless," had often bowed his knees before God in prayer: but he had never prayed aright till now. In this prayer of his was, 1. Humility

[He never could have prayed with true humility before, because he was unconscious of his lost estate. He was ignorant of the spirituality of the law, and, consequently, of his multiplied transgressions against it: he even thought himself "alive," as having never given to God any just cause to condemn him. What then must his prayers have been, but, like those of the Pharisee, "I thank thee, O God, that I am not as other men are?" But contrition is the very essence of prayer: it is" the broken and contrite heart, which God will not despise." To "smite upon our breasts," as guilty selfcondemning sinners, and to cry for mercy," like the poor Publican, is more acceptable to God than all the sacrifices and burnt-offerings that ever were offered.]

2. Earnestness

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[It is a sense of need that must make us earnest: and, as Saul was insensible of his danger, he could not till now plead with that importunity that became him. But now he was like the manslayer fleeing from the avenger of blood. Now, like his Lord and Saviour, he "made prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears:" and, like the patriarch Jacob, he wrestled with God, saying, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Instantly therefore did God

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fulfil to him that promise which Jesus has left us for the encouragement of all his people-]

3. Faith

[The prayers which Saul had offered in former times could not have had respect to a Saviour, because he had not felt his need of a Saviour. But now he saw that there was no hope of mercy, but through that very Jesus whom he had persecuted: now he thankfully embraced the salvation that Jesus offered him he no longer "went about to establish a righteousness of his own, but gladly submitted to the righteousness of God" revealed in the Gospel. When he said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" he cordially received Christ as "his wisdom, his righteousness, his sanctification, and redemption:" and no sooner did he thus desire to make Christ his all, than God expressed his acceptance of his prayers, "Behold he prayeth!" God would not suffer the prayer of faith to go forth in vain.]

We propose, in the next place, to shew,

II. What we may learn from the notice which God took of it

This fact is very instructive: it shews us,

1. That God is observant of our frame and conduct

["The eye of God is in every place, beholding the evil and the good." But more especially does he look upon the humble suppliant: he himself declares, "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my wordd." Behold, when a holy purpose was formed in the heart of Ephraim, how attentive God was to it; "Ephraim saith, What have I to do any more with idols?" Surely, saith God, "I have heard him, and observed him." And when the same penitent laid his transgressions more deeply to heart, God quite exulted over him, if we may so speak: "Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus " -And then, with a complacent regard to him, God appealed, as it were, to the whole universe; "Is not Ephraim my dear son? is he not a pleasant child?"— — —]

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2. That mere formal services are not accounted prayer in God's sight

[All the petitions which Saul had offered in former times were a mere lip-service which God did not accept. "God is a

c Matt. vii. 7, 8.

d Isai. lxvi. 2. f Jer. xxxi. 18-20.

e Hos. xiv. 8.

Spirit; and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth:" the heart must accompany the lips, or else the worship is hypocritical and vains. This is strongly marked by the Prophet Jeremiah, who tells us that then, and then only, shall God be found, when we seek for him with our whole heart.]

3. That humble and believing prayer shall never go forth in vain

[God may see fit to suspend his answer for a time: even in the case before us, he did not answer till Saul had continued in prayer three whole days and nights. But "though he tarry, he will come at last:" he has assured us, in the parable of the Importunate Widow, that the prayer of faith shall never be in vaini: and in very many instances he fulfils to men that promise which he has given us by the Prophet Isaiah, “It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."]

ADDRESS

1. To those who never pray at all

[Alas! how many are there of whom the All-seeing God must say, 'Behold he rises from his bed without prayer: he goes through the day, and retires to rest again, without prayer: this is his constant habit: the sins he commits, excite in him no compunction: and the mercies he receives, call forth no gratitude he lives without God in the world: ungrateful wretch that he is, he never calls upon my name: never once in all his life could I truly say of him, "Behold, he prayeth."' Brethren, do you know that all this neglect is recorded in the book of God's remembrance, and that it must be accounted for at last? Do not deceive yourselves with an idea that your formal heartless services are accepted of him; for, if he that wavereth in his mind through unbelieving fears shall receive nothing of the Lord, much less shall he receive any thing who never asks with any real desire to obtain the blessings he asks for1.]

2. To those who do pray

[It is a great mercy if our minds have been so far awakened to a sense of our guilt and danger, that we have been constrained to cry to God for deliverance. But we are ever prone to relapse into coldness and formality: indeed there is nothing more difficult than to keep up a spirit of prayer, and to live nigh to God, in a state of habitual fellowship with him. i Luke xviii. 7.

g Matt. xv. 8, 9. k Isai. lxv. 24.

h Jer. xxix. 13, 14.
1 Jam. i. 6, 7.

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