respects the power with which he accompanies his own institutions for the conversion of his chosen people, and for building them up in holiness through faith unto salvation.

In this important work, the king of the church appears with all the gentleness and meekness connected with his character as a Saviour. The cause in support of which he appears, is the cause of meekness, of truth, and of righteousness. His appearance itself is sweetened with meekness. He is meek and bringing salvation. But his coming in the gospel dispensation is also with all the majesty of a mighty warrior. Ps. lv. 3, 4.

1. He subdues sinners to himself by his word, accompanied with the power of his Spirit. The season of this spiritual conquest, as it regards individuals, is the period fixed in God's eternal purpose, for their translation from a state of nature into a state of grace. When this period arrives, they are sought and not forsaken, and the means of grace which are to be rendered effectual for their conversion, are either sent to them, or they are brought to the means. The good shepherd seeks out his sheep, and gathers them from all places where they have been scatter

ed in the cloudy and dark day, and brings them into his own fold.

2. The change of the sinner's state, as well as of his heart, is ascribed to our Lord's administration as a king. He is "exalted a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Acts v. 31. The same observation applies to adoption, another relative change. Formally considered, adoption is the act of God as a Father; but Christ is said to give power to become the sons of God, when he implants faith in the heart, and enables us to realize the blessing of adoption and its rich fruits as offered in the gospel. 66 As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John i. 12.

3. Having called and justified, he governs them by his laws, and carries forward a work of sanctification in their souls. Believers are dead to the law as a covenant, but they are not without law to God, but under the law to Christ. They have not this law as a written rule merely, in common with others, but as engraven on their hearts. "They are the epistle of Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables

of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart." Their duty is their delight. They find themselves bound to obey, not only as creatures depending on God for existence and daily preservation, but from the consideration of their election of grace, their redemption through the blood of Christ, and their effectual vocation. The authority of Christ is sweetened by his love, which constrains them to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience. They are his subjects not merely in name but in truth, and from choice. The kingdom of God is within them-that kingdom which is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Christ sits enthroned in their hearts, and all the powers of their minds are brought under his subjection.

4. He orders and disposes of every circumstance in their lot, so as to make it subservient to the advancement of their spiritual interests. See 1 Cor. vii. 20-26; and Heb. xii. 3-12; and Rom. viii. 28.

SECTION XV.

OUR LORD'S ADMINISTRATION AS IT EXTENDS TO ALL THINGS FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS CHURCH.

We have seen already that our Lord executes his office as a king in the church, by his word, ordinances, and laws, accompanied with the power of his Spirit. But he does not govern his subsidiary kingdom by ordinances and office-bearers, distinct or different from the established laws of nature and the ordinary instruments of providence; but by giving these a supernatural direction for the benefit of the church. In both cases however, power is put forth by the immediate agency of the Spirit, as the Spirit of Christ, to render the means and instruments effectual for the supernatural ends proposed by them. The same Spirit who gives effect to the ordinances of his grace in the church for the salvation of sinners, directs the laws of nature and the instruments of providence in the moral world, beyond, as well as within her pale, for her benefit. Thus, in Ezekiel's vision of the cherub, the four living creatures, the symbols of the ministers of religion, and the wheels, the symbols of the in

struments of God's moral government in the world, though, in their nature distinct, run parallel, and both contribute in their own way, so far as relates to the church, to promote one common end; and the reason assigned is, that the same Spirit who animates the living creatures, regulates the motion of the wheels. "And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels." Ezek. i. 19, 20.

1. In exercising this power, our Lord so disposes of nations and their governments, as to remove those physical and political obstructions out of the way, which tend to retard the progress of his Gospel in the world. Even so early as the original division of the earth, we find provision made, by mediatory interference for the future settlement of the church. in Abraham's family, in the land of Canaan. "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people,