operations of the soul, would turn; the heart of the wicked, swelled with intolerable pangs of fear, and that of the righteous, dilated by overwhelming transports of joy, would instantly burst. God therefore says, "No man can see my face," without some dimming veil," and live." Hence arose likewise the grateful exclamations of Manoah and others, when the Lord had manifested himself to them concealed under human appearance, We have seen God, and live! We have beheld him and are not consumed!

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8. This may, perhaps, help us to account why the Lord still hides his face from some of his sincere seekers. They sit begging by the way side of his ordinances, and yet he does not pass by, so as to restore to them their spiritual sight, that they might knowhim. In all probability he designs them such a bright manifestation, as they are not yet able to bear. When their hearts are strengthened for the heavenly vision, it shall speak. Let them only wait for it. Bet patience have its perfect work, and faith in the word be tried to the uttermost; and he that cometh, will come and will not tarry. He will bring his reward with him, and a moment of his presence will make them abundant amends for the waiting of an age.

love. Hence we learn, that God's way and time are best, and that we are to leave both to his gracious wisdom; using the means, in which he has promised to manifest himself to those who diligently seek him.

VI. What those means are, is what I come in the last place to consider. The agent or author of every divine manifestation is the eternal God, one in three, and three in one. The Father reveals the Son freely, the Son freely discovers himself, and the Holy Ghost freely testifies of him. Nevertheless, the Scriptures, in general attribute this wonder of grace to the blessed Spirit."No Spirit. "No man can," experimentally say, that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost." It is his peculiar office to convince the world of righteousness, by giving us to know savingly the Lord our righteousness. "He shall glorify me," says Christ, "for he shall take of mine, and show it unto you." And this he does, without any merit of ours, in the means which God hath appointed, and which he enables us to use aright.

These means are both outward and inward. The outward are what our church. calls "the means of grace;" particularly hearing or reading the word, partaking of the sacraments, and praying together with

and superstitious do; remembering, that when we are cut off from all outward means, it is our privilege to wait for the immediate display of God's arm, in the use of the inward means...

Of these the first is a believing there will be a performance of the Lord's promise, and that he is willing and able to manifest himself to us as he does not to the world: this is the very root of prayer, fervency, hope, and expectation. Without the actings of this preparatory faith, the soul droops, and becomes an easy prey to despondency, vanity, or sloth. Where this talent is buried, the Lord seldom works. Believest thou, that I am able to do this for thee? is generally the first question, that he puts to the seeker's heart. If it is answered in the negative, he can do no great miracle, because of this unbelief. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged, that St. Paul was blessed with the revelation of the Son of God, without any previous desire or expectation of it. In him, and others was this scripture fulfilled, "I was found of them that sought me not, I was manifested to them that asked not after me."* But,

* In confirmation, let the reader read the wonder. fal providential life of the late Rev. John Newton. A more interesting life of the kind is not to he found