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that waters is nothing-nothing in himself; the very first stroke of conviction, which is introductive to the whole work of conversion, is justly ascribed to the Spirit. John 16:9. The Spirit when he cometh shall convince the world of sin. He is the Lord of all sanctifying and gracious influences. Ordinances are but as the sails of a ship, ministers as the seamen that manage those sails; the anchor may be weighed, the sails spread, but when all this is done, there is no sailing till a wind come. We preach and pray, and you hear; but there is no motion Christward, until the Spirit of God, compared to the wind, John 3:8, blow upon them. Until he illuminates the understanding with divine light, and bows the will by an almighty power, there can be no spiritual motion heavenward. Now the Spirit of the Lord is a free agent, not tied to means, times, or instruments; but, as at a certain time an angel came down upon the waters of Bethesda, and put a healing virtue into them, so it is here therefore never come to any gospel ordinance without an eye to the Spirit, on whom all the blessings and efficacy depend. O lift up your hearts for his blessing upon the means, as ever you expect saving benefits from them.

2. The instrument by which this blessed design is accomplished in the world, is the gospel ministry. "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed?" 1 Cor. 35. This is the ordinary method of producing faith; and though God has not bound himself to this or that minister, time, or place, he has bound us to a diligent and constant attendance upon the means of grace: "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher ?" Rom. 10:14. I confess, it seems a very unlikely means, a weak and foolish method, according to human wisdom; yet by the foolishness of preaching, it

pleases God to save them that believe. 1 Cor. 1: 21. That which the wisdom of men derides, God makes effectual unto salvation. And O how many are there that will have cause to bless God to all eternity, for gifting and sending ministers among them, whose doctrine the Lord blessed to the conversion of their souls.

IV. Consider THE GREAT DESIGN for which these instruments are employed; there are no great designs in the world but aim at some end to be accomplished by them. Now there are two things in this design which are worthy of it.

1. The exaltation of divine grace and the riches of his goodness before angels and men to all eternity. The name of God is never made so glorious in this world, as it is by bringing the hearts of men to believe. God reaps more glory from the faith of a sinner that comes to Christ empty and weary, than from all other works of his hands. He has not like glory from the sun, moon, and stars as from creatures whose hearts open to Jesus Christ under the gospel call. Thus they are fitted to manifest the glory of his grace. Eph. 1:5, 6. God will have his rich and glorious grace praised and admired by angels and men for evermore; and every converted soul is a monument erected unto the praise of his grace. Heaven will ring with praises for ever, that the great God would humble himself to come into the heart of a vile sinner, and dwell and walk therein, as the expression is, 2 Cor. 6:16. This is admirable, that the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, will take up his dwellingplace in a poor contrite sinner, that trembles at his word. Isa. 57: 15.

2. The eternal salvation and blessedness of the soul so opened to Christ, is also the design of this work of opening the heart. When the soul of Zaccheus was opened by faith, Christ said, "This day is salvation come to this house." Luke 19:9. You do not only believe to the glory of God, but to the salvation of your own soul. Heb. 10:39. The

opening of our hearts to Christ now,

is in order to the opening of heaven to us hereafter; this is both the end of the work and the intention of the worker. "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1 Cor. 1:21. It at once puts them into a state of salvation, though they be not yet actually and completely saved. There is a necessary connection between conversion and salvation. Though between conversion and complete salvation there may be many groaning hours and sad days and nights, yet full deliverance from sin and misery is secured to the soul in the work of faith. Christ in you is the hope of glory. Col. 1:27.

Thus you see this great design projected and accomplished; and that this is the very scope, aim, and intention of the whole gospel, even the opening the hearts of sinners unto Christ by faith, will evidently appear by considering the several parts of the gospel which have a direct aspect upon this design, and the declared intention of the Spirit, who is sent forth to make it effectual to this very purpose.

(1.) To this the commands of the gospel look; it lies full in the eye of the preceptive part of the gospel. "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John, 3:23. It is a very great encouragement, if rightly considered, that faith is constituted a duty by a plain gospel precept; for this cuts off the pretence and plea of presumption. What, such a vile wretch as thou, saith Satan, presume to believe in Christ? But here is a command from the highest Sovereign, the contempt of which men shall answer at their peril.

(2.) This also is the declared intention of the gospel promises and threatenings, whereby the souls of sinners are assaulted on both sides. As for promises, how are all the sacred pages of the Bible adorned with them as the firmament with radiant stars. Among which that in the text

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come in to him." Like unto which is this: "I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst; him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:35, 37. Such rich encouragements to faith had never been put into the promises, but for faith's sake. And then for gospel threatenings, though they have a dreadful sound, yet they have a gracious design. What a terrible thunder-clap is this: "He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36. To which another threatening echoes with a like terrible voice: "He that believeth not, shall be damned." Mark 16:16. There are dreadful things, you see, threatened in the gospel against unbelievers; but what is the design of those threatenings, but to rouse men by fear out of their unbelief and security, and guide them to Christ? Thus both the promises and the threatenings, though of far different natures, conspire and meet in the selfsame design, even to open the heart to Christ by faith.

(3.) For the sake of this design, all gospel ordinances and officers are instituted and continued in the world to this day. Why did Christ at his triumphant ascension shed forth such a variety of gifts upon men, but that God might dwell among them? "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." Psalm 68:18. The whole frame of gospel ordinances is set up to bring men to Christ, and build them up in him. Eph. 4:12.

(4.) All the scripture records of converted sinners, whose hearts God hath in any age opened, were made to encourage other souls by their example to believe in or open unto Christ as they did. For this purpose the memorable conversion of Paul was graciously recorded. "Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ

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might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them that should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." 1 Tim. 1:16. Never was any man's heart bolted and made fast with stronger prejudices against Christ than this man's was; yet the Spirit of the Lord opened it. O how flexible became his will: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6. This gives great encouragement to other sinners to come to Christ as he did; and therefore when men see other sinners receiving Christ, and themselves continue unbelieving, the examples which God has set before their eyes are a dreadful aggravation of their unbelief. 'John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him; and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterwards, that ye might believe him." Matt. 21:32. Though you saw publicans, reputed the worst of men, and harlots, the worst of women, convinced, humbled, and brought to faith, these sights affected not your souls; you never had one such reflection as this: Lord, have not I as much need to flee from the wrath to come, and seek the salvation of my soul, as these? Will it not be a dreadful aggravation of my misery, that such as these should obtain Christ and heaven, and I be shut out?

(5.) The opening of the heart to Christ is the very end and errand of the Spirit of God, upon whose concurrence and blessing the success of all ordinances depends; upon this design he is sent expressly from heaven to open the understanding and consciences of sinners by conviction. John 16:9. For it is not in the power of the word alone to produce this effect; thousands of excellent sermons may be preached, and not one heart opened by conviction.

What remains is the application of this doctrine.

INFERENCE 1. If the opening of the heart to Christ be the direct intention of the gospel, how are they deceived who are satisfied in the attainment of some lesser end, while the

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