"

ver called, which seems to be de ele i DI INA revered parkge He is long sufering a isvid way should perish, but that i modd some t monly, all those whom in his eternal purpose kach exempted from punishing, and accorddhould repent and be saved. Augns of mercy to any, he will ace to them, or them under the samus, a runaway servant, went eugite him under the ministry was converted, and reumendation,—“ which in but now profitable both

༞་ ་

thes vas sent to Cornelius to

speak unto him words whereby he might be saved. Where God has a work to do he will set up a gospel ministry, and introduce gospel ordinances.

3. Ministers should lay aside all prejudices and professions in dispensing the gospel, and preach it, not only to those who discover a readiness to receive it, but to those also who are most likely to oppose it. Thus Paul preached at Athens, and was ready to do the same at Rome also; and thus Christ" must needs go through Samaria." Not our passions, but the people's necessities; not our prejudices, but God's providences, should be the rule of our ministrations.

4. When Christ comes in the ministry of the word, we have reason to hope that some good is to be done; when God gives an open door, it is probable it may be an effectual one. Paul was forbidden to preach in Asia and Bythinia, but was commanded to stay at Corinth, because God had much people in that city. The removal of the gospel is a sore judgment, for where there is no vision the people perish; but the introduction of it is a great mercy, and so is the continuance of it. Outward supports, earthly blessings and enjoyments, are nothing to this. "He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation; and as for his judgments, they have not known them."

O let us pray that Christ and his gospel may never be divided, so that wherever his word is dispensed, he may have a seed to serve him that shall be accounted to him for a generation.

SERMON LV.

GOD LHE SUPREME DISPOSER OF HUMAN

AFFAIRS.

PSALM XXX. 15.

My times are in thy hand.

AND how could they be in a better hand? God's hand is a wise hand, a strong hand, a good hand, a steady hand. All his saints are in his hand, and none shall be able to pluck them out. All their concerns are in his hand, and he will manage them to the best advantage, both in time and to eternity. So their times are in his hand. Whatever might be David's particular view in this passage, the words themselves are capable of a general application, and may lead to the two following inquiries: What those times are which are in God's hand, and in what respects they are so. I. What those times are to which the words of my text may be applied.

1. The time of our birth, or entrance into life. This was absolutely appointed and ordained by the God of heaven. He fixes the time of our nativity, as well as the bounds of our habitation. Thus the birth of Josiah was foretold three hundred and sixty-five years before it happened; and the incarnation of the Son of God is said to be in the fulness of time; that is, the time appointed from all eternity, and foretold by the prophets of the Jewish church. As there is nothing more casual and accidental in itself than when this or the other man shall be born into the world, so there is

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nothing more certain with respect to God; and we who live in the present day are under everlasting obligations to bless his holy name that our lot is cast in a time of gospel light and liberty, when we enjoy privileges unknown to our ancestors; and those words may with propriety be applied to us, "Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear; for verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." Solomon tells us, there is a time to be born;" that is, a certain time appointed by God, which no human power can prevent or alter. It is therefore a foolish thing to wish we had been born at another time, and a wicked thing to wish we had never been born at all; for as it was not at our option when we should be born, so it was not in our own power whether we should be born or not. Thus Job acted a criminal part when he cursed the day of his birth; and in like manner Jeremiah forgot himself, when he said, "Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed."

2. The time of our new birth or conversion unto God. Not only this important change itself, but all the means conducing, and circumstances relative to it, are absolutely fixed, and wisely ordered by God. If we are made willing, it is in the day of his power. As he is Lord of his own grace, so also of the time when to dispense it. He opens the womb of conversion as well as the womb of nature. Thus, though the apostle Paul was born out of due time in his own apprehension, yet he was born at the precise time with respect to the appointment of God. Some are called into the vineyard at the third, others at the sixth, others at the ninth, and others again at the eleventh hour. Some are sanctified from the womb, like Jeremiah the prophet, and John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ; others are wrought upon in the decline of life, as Abraham,

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