timony may be borne, all the more effective because so manifestly disinterested, by a Church which has renounced for herself the direct support of the State, on account of the conditions attached to that support. But how rarely are the powers of this world found willing to discharge their own duty and to keep their own place! How often has the patronage of earthly potentates proved a snare and an encumbrance to the Church, instead of being a source of strength and security! How often has it been proved that the Church, instead of being dependent for its efficiency on the favour of kings and rulers, may enjoy the truest prosperity when neglected and cast off, or even when persecuted and opposed by the powers of earth!

Further, the strength of the Church does not consist in the possession of ample revenues and endowments, or in having her rulers and office-bearers invested with temporal power and influence and distinction. It does not consist in the exercise of worldly prudence and sagacity, or in the following of that course of expediency which a time-serving policy would dictate. It does not consist in the grandeur of her ceremonial, the splendour of her edifices, the learning and eloquence of her defenders, the power and position, the wealth and the wisdom of her patrons.

It consists not in such things as these, but

What it is. in things more precious and trust-worthy.

In a word, it consists, not in the friendship of the world, but in the favour of God; not in the natural powers of man, but in the divine power of the Spirit; not in outward glory, but in inward grace.

Che Grace of God.

It is the free, rich, omnipotent grace of God that is the strength of the Church, because it is the strength of those individuals who compose it, whether their position in it be public or private; and it is only in the strength communicated to the souls of its members that the Church can be really strong. For each and all of them, whatever be their exigencies, strength is provided in this manifold grace. "My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in weakness." "God is able to make all grace abound toward you that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." And to each and all the invitation is addressed to put on this strength,-to lay hold on it, to avail themselves fully of it. "My son, be thou strong

in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." Out of the fulness that is in Christ Jesus may all receive, that strengthening grace may dwell in them, corresponding to the plenitude of grace that is treasured up in Him.

It is grace,—grace in the largest and widest acceptation of the term,—grace in all its forthgoings from the bosom of God, and all its workings in the soul of man,— this it is that forms the all-sufficient and exhaustless source of the Church's strength. This it is that imparts the strength of life to them that were dead, and "increaseth strength to them who have no might." This it is that constitutes that "river which maketh glad the city of our God:" and of the waters of that river of life all are invited to take freely.

But the source of these waters is unseen. The life of the Church is a hidden life-"hid with Christ in God." With God is the fountain of that spiritual life which is

the strength of the Church; and that fountain lies in the region of the invisible. None, therefore, can apprehend or appreciate the true strength of the Church but they who are spiritually minded. And even to them there is a profound and awful mystery in the gush and flow of that celestial fountain. It is unsearchable, unfathomable, inaccessible in its lone and lofty seclusion. It is high; we cannot attain unto it. We can but wonder and adore as we gaze on the bright stream that issues from that hidden source, and as we experience in our own souls the strengthening influence that flows to us through the appointed channel of communication between Heaven and Earth.

The source of this "river of God, which is so full of water," is like that of the fertilizing Nile. We can point to the mountains from whence it flows. We can "lift up our eyes to the hills from whence cometh our aid;" but no mortal foot has ever penetrated the recesses of that lofty region amidst which these waters take their rise. No mortal eye has ever looked on their first gushing forth. Or, perhaps, the source of this glorious river, in which the true God does really manifest and commu. nicate Himself to us, may be yet more fitly compared to that of the great Indian river which blind superstition adores as a god. Urging our upward way through the gorges of the Himalayan range, and lifting up our eyes to the summit of yon stupendous cliffs, we see, from a rent in their inaccessible and snow-crowned ridge, the waters of the infant Ganges burst forth, pure and sparkling and joyous. We have now seen the spot where they first emerge into view, but their actual origin is hidden from our eyes it lies far up among those un

trodden heights that soar to heaven in such awful majesty, and shine in such unsullied purity.

Thus, if the inquiry be made-Whence proceeds the strength of the Church? we can have no difficulty in tracing its origin, so far as is needful for practical purposes. We can point to those heavenly heights from whence flows the river of divine grace. We can point to those "manifestations of the Spirit which are given to profit withal." We can tell that "all is of God,”that "Christ is all and in all." But we cannot scale those sublime and sacred altitudes in which the waters

of the river of life take their rise. We cannot comprehend for ourselves, we cannot unfold to others, those unsearchable counsels in which the scheme of grace had its origin, and in accordance with which it is carried out. We cannot explain the mysterious effluence and influence of the unseen Spirit. We cannot anticipate or account for, however much we may admire, those "differences of administrations" and "diversities of operations" "all which worketh that one and self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will." It is enough for us to know that the stream of all-sufficient and strengthening grace flows from an unfailing and abounding source; that "with God is the residue of the Spirit," and that "He will give the Spirit to them that ask Him." It is enough that Christ hath promised to send to his people that Spirit "whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him, but whom they know, for He dwelleth with them and shall be in them."

And, while there are certain gifts which the free Spirit of God distributes, in His sovereignty, to parti

cular members of the Church, to qualify them for special functions and offices, He also as surely manifests Himself in those more ordinary operations, of which the entire body, and all its members, must be the subjects, in order that the Church may be strong. In various ways He communicates to the whole of the true Church that grace which is its strength. He is the Spirit of all grace, and the gospel Church is placed directly under His administration. But it is by diverse processes and operations that He ministers grace to the Church.

1. Grace in the Cruth. the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of

In the first place, He comes as

understanding, the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ." He causes "the grace of God to appear bringing salvation." He makes the Church to "know the grace of God in [the] truth." He gives to the Church "the word of God's grace,”—“the word of the truth of the gospel :" and He continues to testify to all the members of the Church that this gospel "is the true grace of God wherein they stand."

Thus, in the power of the truth, the Church is strong, -strong both to labour and to endure. The truth is her strength at once for defence and for aggression. In the might of the truth she stands unmoved amidst the blasts of persecution and temptation; by the force of the truth she subdues her enemies and wins over her opposers. "Wisdom and knowledge are the stability" of the Church, and imbue her with the "strength of salvation." By the influence of the truth her members are individually sanctified; by the light of the truth they are cheered and guided; by the contemplation of

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