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SERMON IV.

LUKE XI. 13.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Spirit to them that ask him?

We can never look into the sacred page, but we will find encouragement to the chief of sinners, and consolation to the least of saints. Dreadful as the malady of sin is, the Scriptures exhibit an adequate remedy. Christ, the eternal Son of God, is there set forth crucified before us. He is offered to all, and it “is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save the chief of sinners." The Gospel is still what it was proclaimed to be at the incarnation of the Saviour, "Glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Christ is able to save to the uttermost: and the vilest miscreant that ever applied to him was not rejected. The divine word is replete with consolation to every saint. It proclaims, as with a loud voice, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people!" Time cannot unfold, nor eternity exhaust, the strong consolation provided for believers. While many texts are filled with consolation, words can scarcely convey greater grounds of joy than these in this, "If ye then, being evil,

know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Spirit to them that ask him?" They convey ideas congenial to the human heart; and we can scarcely hear the sound without feeling the force of the sentiment.

Having said something concerning that importunity in prayer which will be successful, we have already entered upon the encouragement to fervent prayer offered in the text. It was divided into two branches. The text is filled with encouragement, considered both as the words of Christ to his disciples, and as they contain, in themselves, a gracious assurance of success, when saints apply for the Holy Spirit to their heavenly Father. Having discussed the first of these, we now proceed to the second; and we will find the most convincing arguments, that, if we seek the Holy Spirit, we shall not seek him in vain.

The following are a specimen of the grounds of faith contained in the text, which, when believed, will produce consolation.

1. Other children are supplied by their father, and your Father will surely supply you. The relation between the father and the child is one of the most endearing, and the dependance of the child upon his father is natural. Depraved as human nature is, there are comparatively few instances of cruelty in a parent to his own offspring; but there are many instances of an excess of fondness leading to improper indulgence. It will commonly be found that the heart of the father inclines him to do all he can to provide for his children, and make them as easy and comfortable as possible. The Lord often uses

this figure to express his love and care, and encourage our faith and trust; and seems to delight in it. By creation the whole human race are his offspring, and with infinite propriety is he called the Father of spirits. He is the Father of saints in a more noble and excellent sense. They receive Christ, and are adopted into God's family; for " as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." This is a most dignified relation, and "is an act of God's grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God." And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." They are his children too, as they are espoused to Christ, and "born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Except they were born anew, they could by no means enter into the kingdom of God; but they are begotten again unto a lively hope, and are all born of water and of the Spirit.

No creature, not the highest angel, is related to God in such a near and noble sense. The relative change in adoption, and the real in regeneration, are both produced in a wonderful manner, and at vast expense. Seen in a proper light, they fill the heart with wonder, and make the saint exclaim, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God!" Supposing an earthly parent, possessed of all the qualifications which can be found in fallen man, or even of all created excellence; still he would be only a faint emblem of the goodness of our heavenly Father. If

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a child, actuated by his own, and persuaded of his father's affection, applies to him for what he needs, without hesitation or doubt, much more may the Christian believe that his "God shall supply all his wants." That astonishing love which moved God to constitute the relation through the death of his own Son, will, without controversy, make all his conduct to the saints such as becomes the most tender-hearted father. "The young lions may lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing."

2. Other parents are evil, and yet know how to give good gifts to their children; your Father is infinitely remote from all evil, and is goodness itself, and therefore will give the Spirit to them that ask him. Earthly parents in their natural state have nothing spiritually good, and yet, from affection, supply their children. The holiest saints, while in this world, have much remaining evil about them, and yet make strong exertions to perform every relative duty, and especially to provide for their children. That evil which is in men, as it is total or partial, makes them in proportion blind, and ignorant of what is good; but, in the language of the context, they can still distinguish between bread and a stone, a fish and a serpent, nourishing food and powerful poison. Infinitely more will Divine wisdom perfectly discern what would be beneficial or baneful to the saints, and dispose God to bestow the one, and preserve from the other. As evil, earthly parents are possessed of a selfish disposition, and sometimes do, and are always liable to, fail in parental duty. The sluggard prefers his own ease

to the happiness of his child, and, not providing for his own, often reduces them to beggary. Where either the life of a parent or his child is in the balance, sometimes the parent prefers his own life to that of his child. We have heard that "the hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children to be meat,” in an awful calamity. Selfishness is infinitely distant from God, and it would be blasphemy to ascribe it to him in the least degree. Without solicitation, and from all eternity, his thoughts were occupied about providing for his own. He chose them in Christ, and secured their happiness in his glorious purpose. He parted with what was dearest to him that they might be saved. The eternal Son came from the bosom of the Father, and the sword of justice was sheathed in his bowels, that they might touch the sceptre of mercy. In the great impending calamity of divine wrath, his life went for theirs. As God spared not his Son, neither does he spare any pains that they may be brought to Christ, and their spiritual happiness promoted. From eternity he prepared mansions for them in heaven, which, after their momentary afflictions are ended, they shall inhabit to all eternity. As evil, men may do wrong, rather than right, and may act from improper motives. They may caress when they should correct, and "chasten after their own pleasure," without a single eye to the benefit of the child. God always acts from motives worthy of himself. He never errs either about mercy or trial. He never mistakes the one for the other, or sends a disproportionate measure of either. He never afflicts willingly, and only when there

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