tural necessity that he should do so, arising from the geographical situation of the place; there was also a moral necessity, arising out of the circumstance that one of his chosen, nay, that several of his chosen, were that day to be called, that the Eternal Father's will as to the objects of his choice might be accomplished. "He would go forth into Galilee. And he findeth Philip, and saith unto him,-Follow me.” We then read, that "Philip found Nathaniel," to whom he addressed the words of the text. He made Philip the instrument in his hands of calling another. He said unto him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." He calls him "Jesus of Nazareth," though he well knew that the Messiah was to come out of Bethlehem: but he uses a mode of expression which was well understood by the person whom he addressed. His words are expressive of astonishment and delight; he speaks of having found Christ as something of the highest value and importance; and his language is expressive not only of his own admiration, but of the power and grace of God, which had thus induced him to come to Christ, and to cast all his dependence upon him as the promised, the true Messiah.

This history plainly teaches us, that the first motion of grace in the heart of any individual comes immediately and directly from the Lord, and that it comes unsought, and unsolicited, and, in most cases, unexpected. Thus fufilling that very remarkable declaration of Jehovah by his prophet, "I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name." By persons who were ignorant of him, whose hearts were distant from him, and who had no desire for the manifestations of his love, was he found as a Saviour and a God. This proves that the first working of grace in the heart is immediately and directly from God. The same idea is expressed by the Apostle when writing to the Galatians:- "After that ye have known God." He then seems to correct himself, and says, rather are known of God;" evidently showing that the work began with him, that it originated entirely with him, let the circumstances under which it was introduced be what they might.

66 or

Several important things are suggested to our minds by the words of the text. For instance, to select a few of

them, we may observe.

First, That every one who finds Christ,-who comes to Christ in spirit and in truth, finds a Saviour. We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write-Jesus"-a Saviour. This, my beloved, is very important. If God have given us a law, and if that law have a penalty; if we have broken that law, and exposed ourselves to that penalty; and if by that penalty we are placed under a curse,-under a curse the most heavy and dreadful; surely we must greatly stand in need of a Saviour. And such is the fact. God has given us a law; and that law as surely and certainly condemns us for an improper, and impure, and unholy thought, as it does for an improper word, or for any improper action of our lives. Every evil thought which is engendered in our minds brings us under the curse, and exposes us to spiritual and to everlasting death. And do not persons so exposed stand in need of a Saviour? We need a Saviour, not only because we are guilty, and exposed to wrath, but because we cannot possibly relieve ourselves. Though we are guilty-though we are in a state of condemnation-though we have exposed ourselves to a curse; -yet, if it were in our power to relieve ourselves, our case, after all, would not be so bad. But we are weakness itself. We are as helpless as we are condemned. Our condition, therefore, in ourselves, is truly deplorable. It is well illustrated by one of the prophets who speaks of the children of Israel as being cast into a deep pit in which there is no water;-as such persons, if not relieved, must perish and die, all hope of delivering themselves being cut off; so must sinners perish and die, if left to themselves. They need a Saviour, therefore.

"We have found him," said Philip, "of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write." And how did "MOSES in the law" write of him? As the Messiah-as a SAVIOUR. All the various sacrifices and institutions of the ritual which Moses was directed to arrange and establish, pointed to Jesus Christ; and they all pointed to him as the Saviour of men. Every sacrifice which was presented

on the Jewish altars, cried out, in effect,—“ Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" And what did the prophets write of him? "The testimony of Jesus," says the Apostle, "is the spirit of prophecy" or, as the words have been rendered, “To testify of Jesus is the very spirit of prophecy. To him give all the prophets witness." They all testify of his allsufficiency-of his suitableness-of his willingness—of his ability, as a Saviour.

Further, we learn from the passage before us, that as those who find him, find him as a Saviour, so they are found of him long before they seek him, and before they have any desire to seek him. Long before any feeling of love to him sprang up in their hearts,-long before any feeling of his love to them was experienced by them,--were they chosen of him. When the work of grace first commences in the heart of a sinner, he is altogether passive. At that moment he is a captive, a willing captive, in the power of the prince of darkness. He is bound by chains, as fast and as strong, perhaps, as those by which the lost will be confined at the last day. If, then, they be delivered from the power of the strong man armed, it must be by the interference of one who is stronger than he. A Saviour who has omnipotence for one of his essential attributes, even Jesus Christ, must come upon the strong man and spoil his goods, before the captive can be delivered. Other means may be employed for the deliverance of the sinner; but they are all subordinate, and, in themselves, utterly inefficient. No man, no minister, however enlightened, whatever his powers, can renew the soul of a sinner, any more than he could create a world. But more: men are not only tied and bound by sin; they are said to be dead; and no man has power to restore a dead sinner to spiritual life, than he has to restore to life one who is laid in the grave. Wherever this change takes place, it is by the working of a powerful, an Almighty Agent. That Agent condescends to work by means; the grand means which he employs is his own precious Word. Hence believers are said to be begotten again of the will of God, "with the Word of Truth." But a number of subordinate means, also, are employed for this great work, in consequence

bear this in mind-in consequence of the love which the eternal Father has placed upon them from all eternity, making them the objects of his choice. O beloved, there is great power and sweetness in those words upon which we have so often dwelt, and from which we have so often derived refreshment and consolation, and by which we have so frequently been exhilirated and cheered, namely, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love-therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." "Thou hast been from eternity in the arm of my affection; therefore— in consequence of that-though thou thyself knowest nothing about it-therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." Before the foundations of this world were laid was the covenant of grace formed, and then were these persons laid hold of by God. Then, let us rest assured, that such as have been thus laid hold of by the eternal Father, and by the Son, the Saviour, shall never be forgotten, shall never be lost. The Father lays hold of them in the arms of his affection, and none will ever be able to pluck them out of his hands. No. It is true that they are ignorant; they know nothing as they ought to know; darkness has spread itself like a thick veil over their minds, but he is the true Light; he is the great Teacher; he can impart to them all necessary instruction. "I," says he, 66 am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit. I will guide thee with mine eye; I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shouldst go." And they are weak as well as ignorant, very weak and insufficient. But He is Omnipotent; He is Almighty. He can do for them every thing that is necessary. Whatever be the influence of the powers of darkness-whatever the corruptions of their own hearts-he can conquer, and deliver, and save. It is true, also, that they have been very ungrateful-very forgetful of his mercies towards them. Who must not confess that this has been the case? Who must not accuse himself of baseness, of ingratitude, of rebellion, of murmuring, of unbelief? But to all this we may apply the language of the Apostle, "Shall our unbelief make the faithfulness of God of none effect?" Shall our ingratitude turn him from his purpose, and induce him to forsake the objects of his special choice? No. "Let God be true, and

every man a liar." What was the language of Jehovah, in reference to his people of old? "I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. But for my own praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? And I will not give my glory to another." The Apostle Paul, also, speaking in reference to the work of grace in the hearts of God's people, evidently regards it as a thing fully decided; "We are confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun the good work in you, will perform it unto the day of Christ."

Further, we may observe, that every one whom Jehovah hath chosen as a vessel of his mercy in the covenant of grace, and whom he hath given to Christ to be savedevery such vessel of mercy shall be called-shall be wrought upon by his grace—and shall eventually be brought to enjoy all the glory of the Saviour. Did their salvation-did their effectual calling-did their perseverance depend upon themselves-it might fail. But it is not so. They are in his hands. As he has laid hold upon them in his covenant from eternity, so he will not fail to call them by his grace, and save them to the day of everlasting life. As Moses said to Pharaoh, in reference to the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt, "Not a hoof shall be left behind;" so God says, in effect, in reference to every member of his elect family. He has given them into the hands of Jesus Christ by name; their names are written in the book of life; their names are engraven upon the palms of his hands. He has given them to Christ by number also; he knows them all; he knows every individual of them. "This is the Father's will which hath sent me," said Christ; "that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." And again,“ All that the Father hath given me, shall surely come unto me." Whoever contemplates the glorious plans of Jehovah, will see that they are as complete as to their accomplishment, as they are merciful and gracious as to their design. Have you this token for good, that God has called you by his grace that he has made you partakers of his love-that he has brought you to know and to seek his face? Then