In dependence on him [Without this, all the endeavours of his people will be vain They can do nothing but by ftrength derived from him ¶--Nor can they obtain falvation except through faith in him-They muft continually truft in his righteoufnefs for acceptance And on the communications of his grace for fupport -] But the Chriftian's duty is alfo III. His privilege Whilft he is studying to approve himself to his Lord, it is his privilege to walk Firmly [The office of a root is to, keep the tree firm, while it tranfmits nutriment to the branches By means of that the tree fuccefsfully refifts the ftormThe Chriftian experiences many forms of temptation and perfecution His faith alfo and hope are often affaulted But it is his privilege to be "rooted in Christ "— And to be “established " immovably "in the faith" of the gofpel The ftorms fhall caufe him to ftrike his roots more deeply [A building is carried on in order to its completion- Care indeed fhould be taken refpecting the quality of the matérials 2 a But, if they be good, we cannot "build” too high-} Triumphantly [Doubtlefs the Chriftian has frequent caufe for forrowBut his grounds for joy and gratitude are alfo “ abundant"He thould ever reflect on what has been, and shall be, done In the view of this he fhould give "thanks" [for himHis daily walk fhould be triumphant, though in the midft of troubles As he grows in grace, he will experience this -] APPLICATION APPLICATION [Let us enquire whether we have received Chrift aright? -- If we have not, let us not deceive our own fouls d. If we have, let us not continue in a low and drooping ftate Let us endeavour to walk fuitably to our profeffion—~—} 1 John v. 12. © Col. i. 10. XCVII. THE FRUITS OF GOD'S FAVOUR. Hof. xiv. 5-7. I will be as the dew to Ifrael: he shall grow as the lily, and caft forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches fhall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his Amell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they hall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the fcent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. THERE are inftances of beautiful imagery in the Scriptures equal to any that can be found in the works of the moft renowned authors They are enhanced too by the importance of the fubjects they contain— In both refpects the paffage before us deferves peculiar attention Imagination cannot conceive a richer difplay of divine bleffings than God here vouchfafes to his church and people I. The favour which God will fhew his people The metaphor of "dew" is at once fimple and fublime [The benefits of the dew are but little known in this climateBut in Judea the metaphor would appear very fignifi canta For fome time after the creation, dew fupplied the place of rain b And, after rain was given, it ftill remained of great ufe + The • Where the rains are periodical, and the climate hot, the dews are more abundant. b Gen. ii. 6. The Scriptures fpeak of it as an important bleffing They reprefent the withholding of it as a calamity and curfed-] The communications of God to his people are fitly compared to it [It diftils filently and almoft imperceptibly on the ground Yet it infinuates itfelf into the plants on which it falls In the fame manner God's vifits to his people are fecret- He cheers and revives their fainting fpirits And thus he fulfils to them his own mott gracious pro mife-] Were his communications refreshing only, and not influential on the conduct, we might be afraid of enthufiafm But his favour invariably difcovers itself by II. Its fruits and effects The effects of the dew are feen by the progress of vegetation The defcent of God's Spirit on the foul produces [The "lily" fprings up fpeedily, but is of fhort dura tion The cedars of "Lebanon caft forth their roots" to a great extent Thus the foul that is refreshed with divine communications The quickness of its growth often excites admiration- 66 While it fpreads its branches," and difplays its vigour in every good word and work-] Beauty [There is peculiar grace and "beauty in the olive-tree"And fuch is there in the foul that communes much with God What See Gen. xxvii. 28, 39. and Deut. xxxiii. 13. d 2 Sam. i. 21 He comes not in the wind, the earth quake, or the fire, but in the fmall ftill voice, 1 Kings xix. 11, 12. 2 Cor, vi. 16. Ifai. lviii. 11. What a luftre was there on the face of Mofes, when he came from the mount ! And how is the lively Chriftian "beautified with falvation?" His outward conduct is rendered amiable in every partHis inward difpofitions of humility and love are ornaments which even God himself admires1 He is transformed into the very image of his God *— t [Lebanon was no lefs famous for its odoriferous vines than for its lofty cedars And does not the Chriftian diffufe a favour all around him? How animated his difcourfe when God is with him! How refreshing and delightful to those who enjoy his converfation⚫! How pleafing is it alfo to his God and Saviour? !— In proportion as he lives near to God, he fulfils that duty 1-] Fruitfulness [The" corn and the vine" are juft emblems of a Chriftian's fruitfulness- They often wear the most unpromising appearance Yet are they "revived" by the genial influences of the fun and rain Thus the Chriftian may be reduced to a drooping or defponding state But the renewed influences of God's Spirit will revive himThey make him "fruitful in all the fruits of righteoufnefs" They too, who " dwell under his fhadow," and are most nearly connected with him, will participate his bleffings '—] INFER 1. How honourable and bleffed is the Chriftian's ftate! Exod. xxxiv. 30. ! 1 Pet. iii. 4. [Often Eph. iv, 23, 24. i Pf. i. 3. The olive, as an evergreen, retains its beauty; and in this respect also is a fit emblem of the true Christian. This is twice mentioned in the text, and therefore deferves peculiar notice. 2 Cor. ii. 14. • See him before the fun has exhaled the dew, or the world abated the fervour of his affections; and how does he verify that faying! Prov. xvi. 24. » 'Mal. iii. 16. Cant. iv, 16. ? Col. iv. 6. If he be a mafter, a parent, and especially a minifter, the benefit of his revivals will extend to many, [Often is he favoured with vifits from above*— And glorious are the effects produced by God upon himThe whole creation fcarcely affords images whereby his bleffednefs may be adequately reprefented Who then is fo honourable? who fo happy? Let all endeavour to maintain a fenfe of their high pri vileges And to "walk worthy of the calling wherewith they are called "-] 2. How hopeful is the state of those who wait on God! [The promises in the text were given as an anfwer to prayer And they are made to all, who, "like Ifrael," plead with God If the dew be withheld from others, it fhall defcend on them 1 Its defcent fhall accomplish the utmoft wishes of their fouls They shall foon experience the fulfiment of that word "-] • John xiv. 23. Judges vi. 37, 38. u Ifai. xl. 31. XCVIII. GOD'S APPEAL TO MAN'S DECISION. Ifai. v. 3-5. O inhabitants of Jerufalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. MERCIES are obligations to obedience, and aggravations of the guilt of difobedience This is declared under the fimilitude of an unfruitful vineyard The parable in the text foretold the captivity of the Jews in Babylon Our Lord applied it in reference to the approaching diffolution of their ecclefiaftical and civil polity by the Romans Matt. xxi. 33, 41, 45, It |