stability of the Gospel had been tried in every way, and the patience of his servants had had "its perfect work," then he delivered his Church from all its enemies, and brought it forth into a place of liberty. In like manner we doubt not, but firmly believe, that though the difficulties of the present time are neither imaginary nor few, though a large portion of our people here at home is in a state apparently little better than that of the beasts which perish, and though abroad we have to contend, as it were single handed, against all the idolatries of the world, and though among ourselves there be much dissension and controversy, much coldness and faintness of heart, and though we are not sufficient for these things; yet God is true, and his Gospel waxes not old, but is as strong now as it was in former ages: and when he has tried his Church and proved it, he will assuredly visit it, and bless it, and stablish it, and multiply it; and, as aforetime, he made it to be universal throughout the Roman empire, so he will do to it again and more also, among all the nations and languages, which in these latter days he has committed to our keeping. And this may he do, for his Name's sake!

THE EFFECT PRODUCED UPON JEWS AND GENTILES BY THE EVIDENCE OF THE MIRACLES.

JOHN XIV. 12.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

THE rapid progress made by our holy religion in the first ages of its promulgation is a historical fact, as I observed in my last lecture, which stands above all dispute and it was deservedly placed, by the ancient apologists, in the foremost rank of the evidences. Not that the success of a doctrine is always, and under all circumstances, to be taken as an infallible proof of its truth. With the thoughtless multitude, success is everything: it will often carry persuasion, where more solid reasons are disregarded. But when impartially examined by the light of history and experience, the argument from success, taken by itself, is found to conclude nothing for certain. Many forms of religious belief, as we know, have prevailed extensively, and do still prevail, concerning which we are sure that they are not of God. They have been

successful, yet they are not true: and when we inquire into the matter, we find that their good fortune has been owing to certain external circumstances. But in the case of Christianity, external circumstances were adverse to its growth. Upon its humble birth the smiles of human authority and patronage, of science and learning, were not bestowed; and as it increased in strength, and proceeded on its march through the world, it had to quench the fiery darts with which it was assailed by the jealousy, the prejudice, and the depravity of mankind. In such a case, success may well be adduced as a proof of internal life and power. The continued progress of a doctrine, in spite of all that man could do to oppose it, is without a parallel, and admits of no explanation, except we confess that the doctrine was instinct with divine energy and truth.

This explanation, I am sure, will not be questioned by those who hear me; and it is not my purpose further to insist upon it. I do not propose now to argue from the success of the Christian dispensation up to its divine origin; but, supposing this to be done, I proceed to descend as it were from the source, and to consider the means, so far as they are open to our observation, by which God

was pleased to effect the establishment of his Gospel; we shall analyze the favourable or adverse circumstances, the propelling or retarding forces, which were concerned in that great result. That our review must of necessity be incomplete, is at once apparent, when we call to mind that all-pervading powerful influence, of which we can neither discern the operation nor measure the effect, I mean the grace of God's Holy Spirit, by which the hearts of men are in the first instance disposed to receive the Gospel, and afterwards enabled to obey it. Never let us forget the presence of that divine Advocate, pleading with men, and beseeching them to be reconciled to God through Christ. His godly motions are as hidden from our view, as the thought of our soul is from our bodily eye. What we are able to observe, is the machinery by which he acts; the agencies and appliances, the proofs and evidences, which he employs according to his good pleasure. These are, indeed, all intimately blended and combined; and in their union lies a great portion of their strength. For practical purposes, we should not rely on any one of them singly, to the exclusion of the rest. This would be to tempt God, and to lose sight of the "proportion of the

faith." Yet it is possible, and it may be instructive, to separate for a moment the several means which God employed for the propagation of his Gospel; to view each one apart, and trace its distinct operation and effect.

The first subject which engages our attention is the great apparatus of miracles, which accompanied the promulgation of the Christian faith. What influence, we ask, had those signs and wonders, either at the time they were exhibited, or subsequently, in the conversion of mankind?-How much of this result may be referred to their agency? We shall do no more than approximate to a solution of this question. Still, let us not be deterred from entertaining it; for even if we should fail of obtaining any definite answer, we shall surely meet with much instruction in the course of our inquiry.

We begin therefore with the ministry of our blessed Lord; we endeavour to follow him as he went about doing good, healing all manner of diseases, feeding the hungry, casting out devils, walking on the waves, rebuking the winds, reading the secret thoughts of men, restoring the dead to life. Doubtless these mighty works are to be regarded as the tokens of his boundless love and compas