midst, because Daniel's God, with his mighty host, was there. Then Satan, with all his emissaries, may be combined against your eternal welfare, yet if God be for you, they shall fall powerless at your feet, and you shall come off a perfect conqueror !

LECTURE V.

THE GIFT OF HEAVEN AND QUALIFICATIONS TO

SECURE IT.

Rom. 8:32. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things."

THE apostle thus reasons consistently and forcibly. He argues, that, if God so loved his chosen people, as to give his only-begotten Son to be the ransom for them, He would not fail to give them all the qualifications necessary to the completion of the object which Christ came to secure for the redeemed of the Lord. He would not only qualify them to receive the Savior of sinners by regeneration and forgiveness of sins, but He would give them grace and strength to hold on their way even unto the end, and finally introduce them into that kingdom of glory, which he promises to give unto all his sanctified children.

The devout Psalmist felt this assurance in his own soul when he penned the following sentiment: "The Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

The Lord our God well knows the frailty and sinfulness of human nature. And he has, therefore, so arranged the affairs of his moral government, that he can secure the final perseverance of the saints, with

out at all interfering with their free agency: and so as to cause them to work out their eternal salvation with fear and trembling, and yet in it all to acknowledge God the author of their holy affections.

The apostle James informs us, that "Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." This text plainly indicates, that, whatever gifts the Lord bestows are permanently secured to the receiver. For the Lord varies not in the least degree. There is not even a shadow of turning with him. in the next verse adds, Of his own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

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The apostle

The Scriptures abound in testimony of the fact that heaven is given to his sanctified people. And surely, what the unchangeable God gives to the subjects of his own choice, He takes not away. Christ,` as the good Shepherd, declares to his sheep, who invariably mean the righteous, "I give unto them eternal life." "Fear not, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure, to give you the kingdom." Paul assures us also, that "The gift of God is eternal life.” These words of the Holy Spirit are too plain to be mistaken in their meaning and import. They settle the point that heaven is not merited by anything that we can do. A whole life of uninterrupted faithfulness could not secure it. God will have the whole glory of our salvation. And if we are so fortunate as to escape the corruption that is in this world, and become partakers of the Divine spiritual nature in the world to come, we shall find that not only heaven

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is the gift of God, but every qualification which has made us fit for its blessedness, has also been given unto us by Him. The Lord has not left himself without inspired witnesses to prove that He gives to his people repentance, faith, and all the Christian graces by which they shall "hold on their way" and "be faithful unto death," in order to receive "the crown of life" worn by Jesus Christ, and "the kingdom of heaven prepared for them from the foundation of the world," which our Savior would complete for them by going to his Father, that where He is they should be also. The Lord gives repentance. Acts 5: 31— "Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and the forgiveness of sins." Ch. 11: 18-" Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." 2 Tim. 2: 25-" If God, peradventure, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.”

These portions of Scripture forcibly teach that this repentance is not only the gift of God, but that it is a repentance which needeth not to be repented of. "It is a repentance which stops not short of eternal life.” It is here called," a repentance unto the forgiveness of sins," a repentance unto life," a repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth." In short, it is genuine repentance, for God can give no other kind. By God giving repentance is meant that he gives the sinner to see and feel the necessity of it, and a disposition to practice it.

He gives faith. John 1: 12, 13—“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the

flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Ch. 6 : 65— "And Christ said, No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." Eph. 2:8"For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Phil. 1: 29"For unto you it is given, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe, but also to suffer for his sake."

These texts declare the fact, that faith is the gift of God. Other portions of Scripture show the means employed by God to lead men to exercise faith to the saving of their souls. For instance, Paul speaks, in Gal. 3: 2, 5, of "the hearing of faith," and in Rom. 10: 16, 17, he explains it thus, "But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report.' So, then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." And in verses 14, 15, he inquires, "How, then, shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except they be sent?" Here we see the well-connected chain. God must send the preacher to preach the glad tidings of the Gospel of Christ, that the people may hear what relates to their eternal salvation, that they may have something to believe, and that the Holy Spirit may work in their hearts to will and to do according to his good pleasure. This whole arrangement is in keeping with the Divine commission of our Lord to his ministers: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel unto every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned. And, lo! I am with you always,