Year: 1868




it's power to the will All that II pre-
sents lives before us-we feel that 1t
is real. Hence, men who will admit
the abstract ideas of God of infinite
holiness and goodness, of virtue and
its reward, of sin and its punishment,
of hell and heaven, and even love to
exercise their reason and taste and
critical skill upon them, will shrink
back with dislike and alarm from the
living personal energy with which
these ideas are clothed in the Bible.
1t is like the abstract idea OF patriot
ism an1 integrity contrasted
with the living voice of a Reg
ulus, raised alone in the senate
of his country, against the hum
bling propositions of Carthage, which
would have restored him to liberty,
and which for that single reason had
almost gained an acquiesence. A
multitude of abstract descriptions
and precepts could not have a power
upon the will like that series of NIGH
ty acts which God wrought in behalf
of Israel-the deliverance from Egypt,
the giving of the law, the passage
through the wilderness, and the Jor-
dan.


So also of the great facts of the
New Testament. The concrete en-
bodiment of Divine love in the an
nouncement, "God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten son."
the living example of the Savior. ''who
loved US and gave himself for u.s."
the actual scenes of the judgment Hall,
Gethsemane, and calvary, have more
power to touch the heart, and move
b e will tha an all else
beside. And now in this view of the
adaptation OF the word of God to
move the will through the appropri-
ate channels of the intellect, the con-
science. and the heart, we see a Won
derful manifestation of its power:


Y. In ats adaptation to change and
control the sOhOIe character Of man.


Character lies in the will. And
how difficult this work, to turn back
the rushing flood ofpassion. ignorance,
and perverted affections! Well is it
represented as a work of omnipotent
power-a new creation. 1t is more
than creation; it is a recreation, re-
newal of already perverted powers.
But the word of God has this power,
and is adapted to do this work 1t is
true that for sinner to see distinct
" the right, and then actually to
choose and pursue it are two very diff
ferent things Still, it is no less true
that if perverted will is to be chang
ed and restored, it must be by means
adapted to its nature. 1t must oe Ill
the line of motive nationally and i'm
peritlvely presented.


And nothing certainly promise so
much in the use of means as Revealed
truth, for nothing is so adapted to the
nature of the will. This then is the
sword of the Spirit, "quick and pow
erful" it is indeed the fire and the
hammer which shall break the rock in
pieces. He who becomes acquainted
with the terrors of the Lord rannot
live in neglect of God and + gion
with impunity. The path of dlsobe-
dience is obstructed, if not rendered
impossible. Wherever he turns his
eyes he beholds the sword of Divine
justice stretched out to intercept his
passage. Guilt is appalled,, con-
science is alarmed. and the fruits of
sin are embittered to his taste. Ev-
cry obstacle possible is placed in the
path to ruin; the image of death
meets him at every turn; he cannot
persist in his course without tread
ing upon briers and scorpions he is
set at war with himself. And then
attured by the invitations of mercy
reminded of a better state attainable,
and better destiny reserved-he be-
thinks himself. and fies to the true
refuge.


The word of God is perpetual
counterpoise to the force of depravi-
ty. "The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul. The testimony
of the Lord is sure making wise the
simple. The commandment of the
Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, endu-
ring forever" And now our idea of
the power of the word of God is inten-
sified if we consider


! VI. That 1t IS adapted, not only to
change the character, but to control 1t
.fOreUer.


The effects of Revealed truth upon
the human soul are not like the morn
ing cloud and the early dew, epheme-
raj and transient. They are not con-
fined merely to this life, but on the
contrary reach their greatest magni-
tude beyond the grave. Here from
the beginning, it is adapted to the pro-
foundest elements of our nature, and
thus adapted to the change and con-
troll of the whole character. But
think you that this agent, when once
it has gained an entrance to the soul
by the Divine Spirit, and has begun
to work onward in its adaptations
spreading light, impressiug duty, and
awakening love, will ever cease its op-
GRAFTON ? Think you that the indi-
vidual will, once under its control, and
moved by its power, will ever break
from that control by the highest pow
er of vicious motives, and reverse its
action? that the character, the inner
nature of the man, once changed, will
| ever lose the nattern Of this new Gre