None Receive Christ Until His Spiritual Quickening Voice Is Heard

“IF ANY MAN HEAR 3IY VOICE AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM.” Rev. 3: 20.

In the former chapters, Christ’s general invitation to sinners has been considered: we are now to consider the principal instrument by which the heart of a simier is opened to receive Christ; and that is not by the power of his own will, nor merely by the efficacy of the gospel preached, but by the voice of Jesus Christ, which opens the will, and makes the persuasions of the gospel effectual. “If any man hear my voice.”

Hearing is either external or internal; for the soul has its ear as well as the body. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” Rev. 2:17; that is, he that hath a spiritual ear, by which to perceive and judge the voice of the Spirit. It is a sore judgment when God denies such an ear to the soul. “Go and tell this people, hear ye indeed, but understand not.” Isa. 6:9. Spiritual hearing is the work of the inner man. And though we have many auditors, yet, in this sense, we have no more hearers than believers. Words of sense in Scripture describe affections. This hearing of Christ’s voice implies not only the receiving the sound of the gospel into the external organ, but the work of the understanding, which by the ear trieth words as the mouth tasteth meat, Job 12:11; and the work of the affections, which receive the truth in love. 2 Thess. 2:10. It also implies the obedience of the soul to what we hear. We cannot be said, in this sense, to hear what we obey not. Our minds may be delighted with the pleasant melody of the gospel, and yet it is as if we heard it not, when obedience does not follow hearing. “Thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not.” Ezek. 33: 32. But in this place it signifies the vital sound of Christ’s efficacious voice, which is the principle of spiritual life to the souls of dead sinners; according to his expression, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” John 5 -.25.

From hence the eighth doctrine will be,

No man’s will savingly and effectually ojpens to receive Christ until the spiritual and quickening voice of Christ be heard by the soid.

Now, concerning this almighty spiritual voice of Christ, by which the hearts of simiers are effectually opened, six things must be explained in order: the divers sorts and kinds of Christ’s voices; the general nature of this internal voice; the innate characters and special properties of it; the objects to whom it is directed; the motives inducing Christ to speak to one, and not to another; and the special effects wrought and sealed by it upon every soul that hears it.

I. We will speak of the divers sorts and kinds of Christ’s voices.

1. There is an external voice of Christ, which we may call his voice in the preaching of the gospel. The Scriptures are his word, and ministers his mouth. Jer. 15:19. He that heareth them, heareth Christ.

2. There is also an internal voice of Christ, consisting not in sound, but in power; and between these there are two remarkable differences. First, the external or ministerial voice of Christ is but the organ or instrument of conveying his internal and efficacious voice to the soul: in the former he speaks to the ear, and by that sound conveys his spiritual

Christ Knocking. 10 voice to the heart. Second, the external voice is inefiectual when it is not animated by the internal spiritual voice. It was marvellous to see the walls of Jericho falling to the ground at the sound of ram’s horns, Josh. 6: 20; there was certainly more than the force of an external blast to produce such an effect: but more marvellous it is, to see at the sound of the gospel not only the weapons of iniquity falling out of sinners’ hands, but the very enmity itself out of their hearts. Here you see is a voice in a voice, an internal efficacy in the external sound, without which the gospel makes no saving impression.

II. This spiritual voice of Christ must be considered in ITS GENERAL NATURE, which implies,

1. Ahnighty efficacy, to quicken and open the heart with a word. 0 what manner of voice is this, which carries such a vital power with it! In all the mighty works of Christ, his power was put forth in some voice, as at the resurrection of Lazarus. “He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth.” John 1 1: 43, 44. So in curing the deaf man, Mark 7: 34, “He saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened; and straightway his ears were opened.” Thus, in exerting his almighty power in quickening a soul spiritually dead, and opening the heart locked up by ignorance and unbelief, an internal almighty efficacy passes from Christ, along with the voice of the gospel, to effect this glorious work upon the soul; an emblem of which we have in Ezdk. 37: 9, 10: “Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind. Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, 0 breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” The animating vital breath which quickened the dead came with the four winds of heaven, as this almighty power of Christ does with the sound of the gospel; and before it the heart opens, and the will bows. Psalm 110: 3. Man can no longer oppose God; the power of man can repel that of a fellow-creature, but when the power of Christ comes with the voice of man, there is no more power to resist. This voice of Christ, of which the text speaks, is an impression made on the soul of a sinner from heaven, which is to that soul instead of a voice, and as fully expressive of God’s mind concerning it as any articulate voice can be. It is a beam of light shining immediately from the Spirit into the soul of a sinner, as plainly revealing both its danger and duty as if a voice from heaven had declared them. Thus it is said, Isa. 8:11, the Lord spake to Isaiah with a strong hand, that is, by a mighty impression upon his spirit, which was as a voice to him. Thus the Lord not only directs a suitable word to a sinner’s condition, but impresses it with such a strong hand upon his heart, as leaves no doubt but that it was the Lord himself that spoke to his soul. Tills is Christ’s way of speaking by his Spirit to the ear of the soul: not by audible voices, which I take to be but the imaginings of an overtroubled fancy, but by an efficacious impression upon the heart. In audible voices we may sooner meet satanical delusions than divine illuminations. The learned Gerson speaks of a good man who, being in prayer, seemed to hear such a voice as this: “I am come in person to visit thee, for thou art worthy.” But he justly suspecting a delusion of Satan, shut his eyes and said, “I will not see Christ here, it shall suffice me to see him in glory.” Christ’s voice in the written word is more sure than a voice from heaven. 2 Pet, 1:19. This spiritual impression is Christ’s effectual call from heaven, and is a voice without sound or syllable.

2. As this voice of Christ implies almighty efficacy, so it implies, in like manner, the facility of conversion unto Christ: he can do it easily with a word of his mouth, as in the bodily cures performed by him in the days of his flesh; how suddenly and easily did he effect them. “Speak the word only,” said the centurion, “and my servant shall be healed.” Thus, let the Spirit but speak to the dead soul and it lives. Elijah did but cast his mantle on Ehsha, as he was ploughing in the field, and he entreated the prophet to give him leave to go home and bid his friends farewell, and he would follow him. Thus it is here: let a beam of saving light shine from the Spirit into a man’s heart; let an effectual impression be made upon his soul, and he is at once made wilHng to quit and give up his dearest lusts and interests, and to embrace Christ upon the terms of the gospel. Conversion is too difficult a work for angels or men to effect, but Christ can do it with a word.

III. I shall endeavor to show the special properties of this spiritual voice of Christ, which must be heard, or there can be no opening the door of the heart to receive him.

1. It is a sec?’et and still voice, whereby somewhat is communicated to the soul, making a particular application of what is spoken to the ear, much like that of Nathan to David, “Thou art the man.” 2 Sam. 12:7. This still voice sounds through the whole soul, yet none hear it but the soul concerned in it. It is said, “The Lord had told Samuel in his ear, a day before,” 1 Sam. 9:15, that is, he whispered the secret into the prophet’s mind. So the Spirit of Christ whispers a word into the ear of a sinner, which makes his heart tremble, after this manner: “This is thy very condition; this is thy sin, which is now opened by the gospel in thine ears.” This is a voice without sound to others, but very intelligible to the soul to whom it is spoken. You read in 1 Kings, 19: 11, 12, that when Elijah stood upon the mount before the Lord, “a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not m the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when !EHjah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle.” So it is here: dreadful things are thundered against men by the voice of the law; the terrors of the Lord are made known, hell is set before the eyes of sinners; but until the Lord come in the still voice of his Spirit, and apply these things to the conscience, the sinner never covers his face with shame and confusion, nor goes aside to mourn and lament his misery. This voice of God sounds to the very centre of the soul. As for the outward voice of the gospel alone, it signifies little; in hearing, men hear not. Matt. 13: 13. They hear the voice of man, but not the voice of God; they hear the sound, but feel not the power of the word. What is spoken externally dies in the ear that hears it, but this still voice of the Spirit makes its way to the heart, and none knows what God speaks but the soul itself.

2. The spiritual voice of Christ is ‘personal, speaking distinctly and particularly to the state of the soul, as if by name. Ministers must speak in general; they draw the bow of the gospel at a venture, not knowing to whom God will direct the arrow; but the Spirit guides it to the mark. He apphes truth to particular persons, so that the soul to whom he directs it is fully convinced that the Lord intends and means him, in such a threatening expression. Oh, says the soul, has the Lord singled me out in particular? this is my very case. You read that Christ calleth his sheep by name. John 10:3. How does he do this, but by speaking directly and particularly to their condition, as if he called them by their particular names? He does not now in an extraordinary way, as of old, call, “Samuel, Samuel,” or, “Saul, Saul,” but he sends a beam of convincing light into the conscience, plainly showing this or that to be our sin, danger, or duty; and as to the effect, it is all one as if God named him. And truly, until it comes to this tlje word has no saving operation upon the soul. A man may hear ten thousand general truths and assent to them, and yet be no better for them. How quiet was David’s conscience, until Nathan struck the nail upon the head by a home personal application, and then his conscience startled. Thus God singles out one from a thousand in the congregation, speaks to the heart, and disturbs the secure conscience: the rest hear the same words, but feel not the same efficacy. And truly it is a choice mercy when God pleases thus to single out one person after this manner, to speak to his heart. As Christ said, in Luke 4: 25, 26, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, but to none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. So here, multitudes sat with you under the same prayer or sermon, but to none of them, at that time, was the Spirit sent to make a particular application thereof, but to thee. In this the peculiar goodness of God shines out, and should for ever be admired by that soul.

3. This spiritual voice of Christ is distill guishable by the soul that hears it from all other voices. The sheep know his voice. John 10: 4. As in the style of the Scriptures there is a weight and majesty which distinguish them from all human compositions, so in this voice of Christ there is a peculiar efficacy, a divine authority, by which the soul distinguishes it from all human voices. It was said of Christ in the days of his flesh, “Never man spake like this man.” John 7: 46. The same may be said of his spiritual voice: the soul never heard such a voice before; it seals the truth upon the heart so firmly that no objections are left against it.

There are two things in this inward voice of Christ, which distinguish it from all human voices. First, a marvellous light comes into the soul with it, which discovers all the secrets of the heart. God shines into the heart at the same time he speaks to it, 2 Cor. 4:6; and now the secrets of the heart are manifest, and God is acknowledged to be in the word of truth. 1 Cor. 14: 25. Second, a marvellous power accompanies this voice, to make a deep and firm impression of what is spoken on the soul; and this power is a character of the voice of God, whereby the soul receives it as his, with much assurance, as the apostle speaks in 1 Thess. 1:5: “Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.” They could not be more certain of any thing, than they were that it was the Lord who spoke to them in that word. It is true, at the first instant the soul may be amazed and at a loss, as Peter, when he was delivered out of prison, thought at first he had seen a vision; but when he was come to himself, he said, “Now, I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me.” Acts 12: 11. Thus it is with the soul: it is amazed, and doubts what manner of call or power this is; it never heard such a voice, nor felt any thing like this before. But the matter is quickly cleared up when the soul has reflected upon it, and finds such a wonderful change of the temper of the heart following upon it. I now speak not of those into whom grace is distilled in the way of godly education in their tender years, but of adult persons, and especially such as have been gross sinners.

4. This spiritual voice of Christ is a &urprisi7ig voice, altogether unexpected by the soul that hears it: “I am found of them that sought me not.” Isa. 65:1. Little do we foresee the designs God has in bringing us to such a place, and under such a sermon, at such a time; even as little as Saul thought of a kingdom when he was seeking his father’s asses. It is much with us as it was with the apostles when Christ called them: little did Matthew think when he sat at the receipt of customs, or Saul when hastmg to Damascus upon the devil’s errand, that Christ and salvation were so near them. Some have come to deride the messengers and truths of God; others to gratify their curiosity; and many not knowing where else, with peace or reputation, to spend that hour. But God’s thoughts were not theirs; the time of mercy was now come, and whatever sinful ends brought them thither, the Lord’s design was then and there to manifest himself to them. It is with such souls, in some respects, as it was with the spouse, Sol. Song, 6: 12: “Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Ammi-nadib.” I went to the congregation for company; I was sitting under the word with a careless wandering heart, as at other times; when lo, an arrow of conviction was suddenly shot into my conscience, which so wounded and disquieted it, that it is now beyond the power of any but Christ to settle and satisfy it.

5. This spiritual internal voice of Christ is energetical; mighty in power, piercing the heart, cleaving, as it were, the very reins; full of efficacy to the soul that hears it. The power of God comes along with his voice. “The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow.” Heb. 4:12.

Now this efficacy is not inherent in the word itself, or all would feel this power who come within the sound of it. No, this comes from the Spirit of Christ, speakmg in it to the sinner’s conscience; when it is the administration of the Spirit, it becomes efficacious. You read, in Psalm 29: 4-9, of the wonderful efficacy of God’s voice: The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty; it breaketh the cedars, divideth the flames of fire, shaketh the wilderness, maketh the hinds to calve. This the providential voice of God, in the winds, thunders, and lightnings, can do; but what is this to the efficacy of his spiritual voice? What is the breaking of the cedars of

Lebanon to the breaking of the heart of a sinner? What is the shaking of the trees in the wilderness to the fears of wrath to come, which shake the souls of convinced sinners, and make their hearts tremble? Acts 16:29. What is the dividing of flames of fire, to the dividing a soul from its beloved lusts? “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10: 4, 5. Here are the glorious effects of this voice, which plainly show from whom it comes. The voice of God is no less to be admired in its effects in the new creation, than in the first creation, with which the apostle compares it. “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts.” 2 Cor. 4:6. It was marvellous to see, at the word of Christ, Lazarus, who was dead in his grave, come forth bound in his grave-clothes, John 11: 44; and no less to see a soul dead in sin, at a word of Christ, come forth with spiritual life. “The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.” John 5:25.

6. This spiritual voice of Christ is convictive to the conscience of a sinner, so that it puts a final end to all evasions. While man only spoke, the soul had a thousand means to evade what was spoken; but now all debates are at an end — no more subterfuges and cunning evasions now. The Spirit, when he cometh, shall convince the world of sin. John 16:8. The word signifies to convince by demonstration, and to show that a thing cannot possibly be otherwise than we represent it to be. Formerly, when the terrors of God were threatened against sin, the heart was wont to say, This concerns me no more than another; if it go ill with me, it will go ill with thousands as well as me. It is true, this is my evil; and who is without sin? I 10^ have some evils in me, but I have some good too. But no sooner does the Spirit speak conviction to the conscience, than all these pleas are dismissed. It may be, the state of the sinner’s soul was doubtful to him before; but it is not so now. It had some fears of hell, but they were balanced with some vain hopes of heaven; but now the great question is determined. Whatever I am or have, whatever duties I have done, and whatever sins I have avoided, I see I am not regenerated, I am in my natural, Christless state; and except I am changed, I must be lost. This was the efiect of Christ’s voice to Paul: “I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” Rom. 7: 9. He had read the law many a time, and had the literal knowledge of it; but his vain hopes lived and flourished, until the spiritual sense of the law came home to his heart by the voice of the Spirit, and then his vain hopes died, and his guilt stared in the face of his conscience.

7. The voice of Christ is generally conveyed to the souls of men through the tvorcl preached, which is the chosen instrument of its conveyance. We cannot affirm that Christ always speaks to men in this way; but certainly this is his ordinary course: “Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost.” 1 Thess. 1:5. Our gospel, because preached by us; but had that been all, it had come to you in word only, as it does to many thousands of others, who feel nothing in it more than what is human. But unto you it came in power and in the Holy Ghost; that is, our words were the vehicle through which the vital power of the Spirit was conveyed into your souls. Providences have their voice as well as the word; and sometimes the voice of Christ has accompanied the voice of providence, to the conversion of men’s souls; but this is unusual. The established way of Christ’s speaking to the hearts of sinners is by the word, and especially the word preached, which on that account is called “the power of God unto salvation.” Rom. 1: 16, This instrument the Lord generally honors for the conveyance of spiritual life into the souls of men, though it is despised and contemned in the world. “The. preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; / but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God,” 1 Cor. 1:18; that is, the instrument by which the saving power of God communicates itself to the souls of men. And although God may exert his saving power through providences, we seldom find he does so where the word may be had, but is neglected. Herein God consults our peace and satisfaction; for if he should make use of another medium, as a voice from heaven, and after calling, which is an usual case, the called soul should question. How do I know but all this may be a delusion? may not Satan impose upon mortals, and this voice be a counterfeit? my eternal estate depends upon it, and I need to be sure it was the voice of God himself: in such a case, it would be hard to give such distinguishing characters as might be to the satisfaction of the soul. But when God makes the word his instrument in this matter, it yields abundantly more satisfaction. We have a more sure word of prophecy, surer than a voice from heaven. 2 Pet. 1:19. And though Paul was converted by a voice from heaven, yet the Lord sends him to Ananias, who should preach the gospel to him. Acts 9: 17. The Lord will honor his word. Providence may prepare the heart, but the word is the instrument by which the Lord ordinarily puts forth his power to salvation.

8. The voice of Christ leaves abidi?ig effects on the soul that hears it. The words of men are scattered to the wind, but the effects of Christ’s voice are durable: “I will never forget thy precepts; for with them thou hast quickened me.” Psa. 119: 93. How many hundred sermons have we heard, and all vanished away as a dream I Oh, but if ever thou heardst Christ speaking to thy heart in any sermon or prayer, that will remain with thee for ever. His words are sealed upon the soul for ever; they are written in. the heart. Jer. 31: 33. What Joh wished concerning his word, is really performed in the words of Christ: “They are written as in the rock for ever.” Job 19: 23. We have slippery memories, but the weakest memory must retain the words c Christ, spoken to the heart by his Spirit; for “He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.” Job 33: 16.

IV. I shall next speak of the person to whom Christ ORDINARILY DIRECTS his efficacious and saving voice. And though it be true that the Spirit of Christ is a free agent, and calls whom he will, according to John 3:8, “The wind bloweth where it listeth;” and it is true, in fact, that Christ has made some of all ranks of men to hear his voice; it is seldom that he directs this saving voice to the great and wise of this world: “Ye see your calUng, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.” 1 Cor. 1: 26. He saith not any, but many. Christ does call some, “lest,” as one says, “the world should think that Christians were deceived through their simplicity and weakness.” One rich Joseph of Arimathea; one honorable Nicodemus, but not many. Men of the greatest renown in the world have been the fiercest enemies against Christ: Galen, the chief physician; Porphyry, the chief Aristotelian; Plotinus, the chief Platonist; Libanius and Lucian, the chief orators, were all professed enemies of Christ. Two things make a man great in the eyes of the world: the external endowments of Providence, heaping riches and honors upon him; and endowments of the mind, as strong reason, sharpness of wit, etc. When both these meet in the same person, they make him great in the eyes of the world, and usually in his own; yea, too great to stoop to the simplicity of the gospel, and its humbling, self-denying terms. These the Lord usually passes by, and directs his voice to the poor; the poor receive the gospel; God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. James 2: 5. And this choice of God Christ blesses him for: “I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so. Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.” Matt. 11: 25, 26. And indeed, the wisdom of God deserves our admiration in this dispensation: For

1. Hereby the freeness of his grace is vindicated. None can pretend that any earthly excellence commends any man to God, or that the favor of heaven is secured by the same means that the respects of the world are. For you see the truth of that scripture before your eyes. Job 34: 19: He “accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of his hands.” Earthly riches and honors, empty as they are, are yet much idolized by men: what would they be, could they procure our favor and acceptance with the Lord?

2. By such a choice as this, the Lord plainly shows that religion needs not worldly props to support it. As at first it was spread, by the power of God in the world, by poor and despised men, so it is still upheld without human policy or riches. The church is called the congregation of the poor. Psa. 74: 19. The Lord will have us know, that he is able to maintain and carry on his counsels in the world without the wealth of rich men, the authority of great men, or the policies of wise men; he needs them not.

3. By this choice he pours contempt upon the things tnost admired among men. So he tells us: “God hath chosen the foolish thmgs of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” 1 Cor. 1: 27. And certainly, shame and confusion of face will cover the great ones of this world, when they shall see the poor Christians whom they scorned on earth, as not worthy to come into their presence, so infinitely preferred before them in the favor of God. In a word, this efficacious spiritual voice of Christ is directed but to a few, even of the many that sit within the call of the gospel: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Matt. 22: 14. Christ’s flock is a little flock. There are many birds of prey to one bird of paradise — many common pebbles to one sapphire or diamond. It is not for us to dispute as to the reason, but to adore the sovereignty of God in this matter. And of those few whom he calls, the greatest part is of the humbler classes of men. The glitter and dazzle of this world blind the eyes of the greatest; extremity of want diverts the mind of the lowest; but between these two extremes there is a third sort of persons whom the Lord most usually calls.

V. If it be inquired why the voice and call of Christ

SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THIS PERSON RATHER THAN TO THAT,

certainly it is not from any excellence that Christ sees in one rather than another; for all are shut up under the common sin and misery of the fall; and therefore the apostle told the Ephesians, who had heard and answered the voice of Christ, that they “were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Eph. 2: 3. If it were not so, man would have something to glory in before God; but Christ resolves this whole dispensation into its proper cause, the good pleasure of the divine will: “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.” Matt. 11: 26. This good pleasure of the will of God sometimes causes those to hear the voice of his Son who seem to stand at a far greater distance and improbability to hear it than others do. It is said of the Ephesians, that they were far ofl, Eph. 2:13; yet they heard the voice of Christ when that discreet scribe who was not far from the kingdom of God, Mark 12: 34, and Agrippa, who was almost persuaded to be a Christian, Acts 26: 28, never heard it; therefore it is said, “Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness.” Matt. 8:11, 12. 0 marvellous dispensation! many a soul under the greatest disadvantages, a poor servant who has but little time and many incumbrances, is called effectually by this voice of Christ; when those who enjoy multitudes of opportunities, and have abundance of time on their hands which they know not what to do with, and who have the choicest books at command, amidst all these advantages hear and feel nothing to any purpose: all this is to be resolved into the good pleasure of the will of God.

VI. Let us now view the effects of this voice of Christ upon the souls of men, and we shall find divers remarkable effects wrought upon the heart by it.

1. The first effect of the voice of Christ is conviction on the conscience — conviction both of sin and misery. John 16:8. The Spirit when he cometh shall convince the world of sin. This is a voice of terror, and strikes dead the vain hopes of a sinner. Horn. 7:9. The soul that was before secure becomes the seat of anxiety. There was a general conviction of sin before; he knew that all are sinners, he denied not that. But alas, this general conviction is quite another thing from what the soul feels now; now it can waive the matter no longer. This voice of Christ “showeth them their work and their trangressions, that they have exceeded,” Job 36: 9 — exceeded in number, and exceeded in heinousness of aggravation. A general conviction of sin affects a man no more than the sight of a painted lion on a sign-post; but when a particular conviction is set home on the conscience by this special voice of Christ, sin is like a living hon, meeting a man in the way and roaring dreadfully upon him. This first effect of Christ’s voice is introductory to,

2. Humiliation and contrition of heart for sin. Those threats of Scripture against sin and sinners which were wont to be shghted, are now trembled at; those Jews to whose hearts Christ spoke in Peter’s sermon, as soon as they heard his voice sounding conviction in their consciences, were pricked at the heart, Acts 2: 37: no sword can make such a wound, and put a man into such pain, as a sight of sin will; therefore they are said to mourn for Christ as for an only son. Zech. 12: 10. Now this is the glorious prerogative of Jesus Christ, to reach and wound the heart with a word. The voice of man cannot do it; but the spirit of a man lies open both to be wounded and healed by a word from the mouth of Christ. No sooner has a sinner heard the awful voice of conviction spoken to his conscience by the Lord Jesus, but he feels himself sick at heart; he goes home from that sermon by which Christ spoke effectual conviction to him, crying. My soul is distressed because of sin. There is a great difference in the degrees of this contrition and humiliation; it penetrates deeper into some hearts than others, and holds them longer under it; but whoever has heard the convincing voice of Christ, feels so much sorrow for sin as for ever separates him from the love of it.

3. This voice of Christ aivakeiis, the careless mind to solicitude for deliverance from the danger that hangs over it. Trembling and astonished, the jailer cried out, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16: 29, 30. Ail the powers of the soul are engaged for deliverance. You generally observe, in convinced and humbled sinners, three signs of extraordinary solicitude about salvation. First, there is a strong intentness of their minds and thoughts, they stand night and day like a bow at its full bent; their thoughts are ever poring upon this matter, their sleep departs, for their sin and danger are ever before them. Second, it appears by their searching inquisitiveness about the way of escape; the question they carry with them wherever they meet with any whom they judge able to direct them is. What course shall I take? “What shall I do? Is there any hope for such a one as I? Did you ever know a soul in my condition? Third, it appears by the little notice they take of their outward afflictions, which, it may be, are strong and sharp enough to overwhelm them at another time; but now they take little notice of them. Sin lies so heavy that it makes heavy afflictions lie light.

4. A fourth effect of the voice of Christ is encourageonent and hope, putting the soul on the use of means in order to the attainment of Christ and salvation; for it is an inviting as well as a convicting voice: and this is a remarkable difference between the voice of Christ and the voice of Satan, with respect to sm. Satan labors to cut off all hope and strike the soul dead under despair of mercy; well knowing, that if he can cut off hope, all endeavors of the soul after Christ are effectually stopped. But how much terror soever there may be in the voice of Christ, there is always something left behind it on the heart to breed and support hope. And truly the soul, amidst these sad circumstances, has great need of some encouragement; but the Lord usually, after sharp convictions, sets home upon the soul such a word as this: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out: for I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6: 37, 38. Here Christ offers the most rational satisfaction, and greatest encouragement that a convinced sinner, if he be willing, shall certainly find a hearty welcome with Christ. For mark how he argues it on purpose for the satisfaction of such souls: “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” The force of the encouragement lies here, “I and my Father are one,” John 10: 30 — one in will and one in design; our wills never can jar one with the other, on account of the perfect unity that is between us. Now, saith he, I came down from heaven, not only to do mine own will, which must necessarily be supposed to be strongly inclined to receive and save all convinced and willing sinners,, this being the very end of my incarnation and death, but also to do the will of my Father, who hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted and anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek. Isa. 61: 1. And therefore no such soul can rationally doubt of a welcome reception with me. And because the fears of a convinced conscience are great and many, and Satan seeks to aggravate them beyond the hope of mercy, it is usual with the Lord to direct the trembling sinner to such a scripture as that in Heb. 7: 25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him;” making the fulness of Christ’s saving power shine with a cheerful beam into the dark and distressed soul of a sinner, from such a word as that.

5. A fifth effect of Christ’s powerful voice is an attractive efficacij or sweet alluring of the soul to Christ by that power which it communicates to the soul. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” “Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” John 6: 44, 45. Mark it, this voice speedily puts the soul into motion after Christ; coming follows hearing: when once the soul has heard the voice of God, away it comes from all sinful engagements in the world; all ties between the soul and sin break asunder and give way; nothing can hold it from Christ. There is a strange restlessness in the spirit of man, and none but Christ can quiet it.

6. And then the effect of Christ’s voice is rest and consolation to the inner man. When once the soul is come home to Christ by the efficacy of his heavenly call or voice, it enters into peace. “We which have believed, do enter into rest,” Heb. 4: 3 — not only shall, but do enter into rest. As the first effect of Christ’s voice was terror to the soul, so the last effect is peace; it puts the ‘soul into the most excellent position for comfort and joy; it never stood upon such ground before; for this vocation stands between predestination and glorification: “Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Rom. 8: 30. See here into what a blessed mount of vision the voice of Christ calls the souls of sinners. Let the soul look backward or forward from eternity to eternity, there is nothing but a vision of peace before its eyes. This call of God points backward to God’s eternal choice, which by this very call it is now manifest he made of that soul before the world was; and it points forward to that eternal glory unto which God is leading it. These are the effects of this almighty voice of Christ, and these the special instructions sealed by it upon the hearts of men.

But this voice of Christ is not heard at all times, but in some special hour — as Christ calls it, “The hour when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God.” John 5: 25. And elsewhere, by the apostle, it is called th accepted time, the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 6: 2. The conjunction of the Spirit of Christ with the word, ordinances, or providences of God, but especially the word, makes this blessed hour. The word alone, though never so well preached, conduces no more to the conviction and salvation of a sinner, than the waters of Bethesda did to healing when the angel came not down to trouble them. John 5: 4. But when the Lord pours out his Spirit with the word, according to the promise, “I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you,” Prov. 1: 23, then Christ speaks to the heart; this great conjunction of the word and Spirit makes that blessed season of salvation the time of love and of life. Now the voice of Christ is heard with effect, and the ordinances have a convincing and converting efficacy. There was an abundant effusion of the Spirit in the first age of Christianity, and then the voice of Christ was heard by multitufles of souls at once. There has since been a restraint of the Spirit, comparatively speaking; whereas three thousand souls were then converted at one sermon, possibly three thousand sermons have since been preached, and not one soul effectually called. This has made the church like a wilderness, a land of drought; and so it is likely to remain, “until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field,” according to the promise, Isa. 32: 15. And such a time we expect; Lord, hasten it, when the waters of the ordinances shall be healed, and “every thing that liveth. which moveth whithersoever the river shall come, shall live. And fishers shall stand upon it, from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many,” Ezek. 47: 9, 10. Then ministers shall no longer fish with angles, catching now one and then another; but shall spread forth their nets and inclose multitudes of converts.

There are some happy seasons wherein Christ utters his almighty voice in the word, but their time is unknown to man; we cannot say when it will come, but are to wait for it as the man did at the pool of Bethesda. Ministers must preach in hope, and wait in hope, if at any time God will give the people repentance. 2 Tim. 2: 25. We are often mistaken in our conjectures: when we have made the best preparations, and have a more than ordinary enlargement of spirit, we are apt to conclude this is the blessed hour wherein Christ will speak to the heart as we do to the ear; but Ave often find ourselves mistaken; yet we must wait in hope, and so must our people. Such a happy time may come, and when it doth it will be a day for ever to be remembered, because then the first actual application of Christ will be made to your souls; without which all that the Father has done in election, and the Son in his redemption, would be of no advantage to your souls. And therefore you shall find that this work of the Spirit stands between those works, and makes them effectual to our salvation. 1 Pet. 1: 2. This is the hour upon which our eternal blessedness depends; it will be celebrated for ever in your praises, in the world to come. 0 what an influence has this hour to all eternity I The hearing of this voice of Christ opens the councils of heaven, and brings to light the eternal counsels of God concerning you: “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost.” 1 Thess. 1:4,5. This gives greater assurance of the eternal love of God to a man’s soul, than the sweetest smile of providence or any voice from heaven could do. This is the day of our spiritual resurrection, John 5: 25 — a greater and more glorious resurrection by far than that of your bodies at the last day; so much greater, as the value of your souls is above that of your bodies: as also, because the blessedness of your bodily resurrection depends on this your spiritual resurrection by the voice of Christ. Dreadful will the voice of Christ be at the resurrection of your bodies, except you first hear this vital voice of Christ quickening your souls with spiritual life. To conclude, this is the great era from which you are to date all your spiritual mercies; for as the Lord said unto the Jews, “From this day will I bless you,” Hag. 2: 19; so saith the Lord to you, From this hour wherein you have heard and obeyed the voice of Christ, will I bless you for ever with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in him. Inference 1. This point presents us with abundant matter of lamentation over multitudes who sit under the sound of the gospel, yet, as Christ speaks of the Jews, John 5: 37, have not heard the voice of God at any time. The ministerial voice of Christ they hear daily; but this efficacious internal voice, which makes the ministerial voice the word of life and power, they have not heard. The gospel,

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to most of our hearers, is but an empty sound: this is a sad symptom. “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not.” 2 Cor. 4: 3, 4. This hiding of the gospel is not opposed to the external ministration of it, nor to the understanding of the true sense and meaning of the truths delivered by it; but to that internal efficacy which is here called hearing Christ’s voice. Our hearers are generally satisfied when they have heard a sermon, much more if they can remember something of it, though the Lord has not spoken one truth they have heard home to their hearts. This is a sad case, and God grant it be not that very judgment threatened, Isa. 6:9,” Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.” Hearing the voice of man without feeling the power of God, is all one as if we heard not. Reflect upon this, you that are as unconcerned under the word as the seats you sit upon. God speaketh once, yea, twice, but man perceiveth it not. The eternal decrees and counsels of God are now executing upon the souls of men under the gospel. As many as are ordained to eternal life shall believe and feel the power of God’s truth upon their hearts. Acts 13: 48. Andmethinks it should be of startling consideration, when you see others struck to the heart, cast into fear and tremblings by the same word that does not in the least touch your hearts. It may be you think this is but fancy and melancholy, but that very thought is an artifice of Satan to blind your eyes. Christ made another use of it when he told the secure and self-righteous Jews, “John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward that ye might believe him.” Matt. 21: 32. As though he had said, What did you do to quiet your consciences, when you saw other sinners humbled and brought to faith under John’s ministry? It is strange there should be no reflections in your consciences upon your own state and condition; but thus it must be, one shall be taken and another left; to some the gospel shall be the savor of life unto life, and to others the savor of death unto death. Who can look over so great a part of a congregation without tender compassion, considering that unto this day the Lord has not given them eyes to see, nor ears to hear? They have heard multitudes of sermons; and they have also heard what efiects these have had upon other men’s hearts; but they have none upon theirs, 0 that such souls would cry to the Lord Jesus in such language as that in Sol. Song 13:13: “The companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.” Lord, let me not sit under the word any longer deaf to the voice of thy Spirit in it. Open the ears of my soul, that I may hear thy voice and feel thy power; otherwise the Voice of the ministry will be ineffectual to my salvation; it will but quiet my conscience for a little while, and prove a dreadful aggravation of my misery in the end.

2. It also follows from the subject, that we have this day before our eyes a great confirmation of the truth of the Scriptures. No miracles can seal it firmer than the events which are visible to all that will observe them. What you read in the word you may see every day fulfilled before your eyes. “We are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savor of death unto death, and to the other the savor of life unto life.” 2 Cor. 2: 15, 16. And again. Acts 28: 24, when Paul in his lodgings had expounded and testified the kingdom of God to the people, and persuaded them to believe from morning till evening, it is observed, that “some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” Here you see the contrary efiects of the preaching of the gospel, according to the scripture account of it: it quickens some and kills others; brings some to faith, and leaves others still in unbelief. Compare this account with what is daily before you: do you not see souls influenced to contrary effects under the same word; one melting and tender, another hardened and wholly unconcerned? Tell me, you that are apt to ascribe all to nature, how comes it to pass in men exercising reason alike, men that have the same inbred fears and hopes of things eternal, who have the same passions and affections, and are in the selfsame condition with others; yet one man’s heart is wounded, and goes away trembling from under the selfsame word which affects the other no more than if it had been preached among the tombs to the dead that lie there? Say not that some have more courage than others, or clearer understandings; for the word has convinced as rational and courageous persons as those upon whom it has had no such effect. I doubt not but that the jailer who was filled with such trembling and astonishment. Acts 16: 27-30, was as stout and rugged a person as any to whom Paul usually preached; his very office bespoke him such a man. Wonder not what it is that makes men alarmed at such a sound, which you hear as well as they, but it affects you not. The Lord speaks in that voice to their hearts, but not to yours; and so it must be, according to the account the Scriptures give us of the contrary effects of the gospel on them that hear it; which is, I say, a firm seal of the truth of the Scriptures, and highly worth the ob-’ servation of all.

3. What dignity has God stamped on gospel ordinances, in making them the medium through which Christ speaks life to dead souls. This greatly exalts the dignity of the gospel, and deservedly endears it to our souls. I deny not but God can convey spiritual life without them; but though he hath not restricted himself, yet he hath enjoined on us a diligent attendance upon them, and that with the deepest respect and reverence. “He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.” Luke 10: 16.

Behold how this sin is aggravated to the height of sinfulness. The contempt of the gospel runs much higher than men are aware of. We think it no great matter to neglect and contemn a messenger of Jesus Christ; but that contempt flies in the very face and authority of Christ, who gave them their commissions — yea, in the very face of God the Father, who gave Christ his commission. Christ speaks by his ministers, they are his mouth. Jer. 15: 19. Moreover, the sin strikes at our own souls, and we injure them as well as Christ. For the word preached is his appointed instrument to convey spiritual life, the best of blessings, to our souls. Upon which account it is called “the word of life,” and “the power of God unto salvation.” We militate against our life and salvation when we despise and neglect the ordinances of God. It is good for men continually to wait on them; who knows when the Spirit of God will breathe life to your souls through them? What if you have yet found no such benefit from them? The very next opportunity may be the appointed season of your salvation. Bring your ungodly relatives with you, as men did their diseased friends when Christ was on earth, laying them in the way he was to pass. Christ will honor his ordinances; see that you do not despise them.

4. What a fearful judgment is the loss of the gospel, seeing that by it Christ speaketh life to the souls of men. The Spirit and the word of God usually come and go together; when therefore these are gone, no more conversions are to be expected: dreadful is the case of that people. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Prov. 29: 18. Those are direful menaces in Isaiah 8: 16, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples;” and Rev. 2: 5, “I will remove thy candlestick out of his place.” Better the sun were taken out of heaven than the gospel out of the church. Think not God has made such a settlement of the gospel that it shall never be removed, however you use it.

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Your Advocate in heaven has obtained it for you for a time upon trial; if you bring forth fruit, well; you and the generations to come shall be happy in it; if not, this blessed tree, which has brought forth so many mercies to you and yours, must and will be cut down. Yea, and even now is the axe laid at the root of the tree. Matt. 3:10. It is an allusion to a carpenter that throws down the axe and the saw at the root of the tree he intends to cut down. The only ground of hope which remains with us is, that there are some buds appearing, some fruits putting forth; and if there be a blessing in the bud, the Lord will spare it, according to Isa. 65: 8. But these hopes are balanced with many sad symptoms, which may make us tremble to think what God is about to do with such a sinful people.

5. Those who have heard Christ’s voice in the gospel have no reason to he discouraged from going to Christ in faith. Christ’s call is a sufficient warrant to believe. Many are staggered in their work of faith by the fear of presumption, an objection which they know not how to clear themselves of; but certainly this, above all other considerations, destroys the objection of presumption. Men presume when they act without a call or warrant; but if Christ has spoken to our hearts by the voice of his Spirit, you have the best warrant in the world to go to him. “What though you know not the issue, your obedience is due to his call.” By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knovsdng whither he went.” Heb. 11:8. So must you. It is not necessary to your going to Christ, that you must know beforehand what the result thereof shall be. Your believing is an act of obedience to Christ who calls you. When therefore Satan shall object, “What, such a wretched soul as thou go to Christ? Canst thou imagine to find favor with him, whom thou hast so deeply wronged? Thy answer should be, It is true, I have been a vile wretch.

and deeply w-onged the Lord Jesus; but lie has spoken to my heart, he hath called me, and therefore it can be no presumption in me to go at his call; but contrariwise, it would be jflat rebellion against his sovereign command to refuse to believe, and come unto him; yea, it would be a greater sin than any of my former sins have been. Besides, had the Lord Jesus no intention of mercy towards my soul, he would never have spoken to my heart by conviction and persuasion, as he has done.

6. If no soul opens to Christ until it hear his powerful, spiritual voice, then the change made in men by conversion is siqjer natural. The rise of faith is from this power of Christ, not from the nature of man. John 1:13. Proud nature arrogates this honor to itself, but without any ground; for though some things may be done by men in their natural state, which have a remote tendency to conversion and spiritual life, yet the soul never opens to Christ savingly, without a power communicated from himself. Nature produces no such effect as this. The Scriptures speak plainly: “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2: 14. “By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Eph. 2:8. “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:7. “How can ye, being evil, speak good things.” Matt. 12: 34. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” 2 Cor. 3: 5. How fallen then is man, who can neither believe nor obey, speak a good word nor thinlt a good thought, without power from on high.

Say not it is against reason for God to require men to do what they cannot do, and then eternally punish them for not doing it. For, first, though man has lost his ability to obey,

God has not lost his right to command. For then any man might shake off the yoke of God’s sovereignty by disabhng himself through his own sin for the duties of obedience. Second, though man has not sufficient power, yet there is in him an intolerable pride, which fills him with a conceit that he has what he has not, and can do what he cannot. The command is therefore of great use to check this pride, and to convince man of his weakness. Rev. 3:17. Third, every man can do more than he does towards his conversion. And therefore it is good for men to be urged by commands to all the duties in the use of which Christ comes into the soul by a supernatural power.

7. This doctrine furnishes a powerful incentive to all within the sound of the gospel, especially to such as feel some power accompanying the word to their hearts, diligently to hearken to the voice of Christ, and obey his call without further delay. “He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.” E.ev. 2:7. It is a dreadful and dangerous thing to turn away the ear from him that speaks from heaven: “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.” Heb. 12: 25. See that ye refuse not. The caution implies the matter to be very weighty, and a neglect or refusal to be highly dangerous. Turn not away your ear, be not guilty of neglect in so important a concern.

Truly this caution is no more than is needful; for Satan is never more busy with the souls of men than when Christ first effectually calls them to himself. 0 what a thick succession of discouragements impetuously assault the soul at this time! Art thou young? then he insinuates that it is too soon for thee to mind the serious things of religion; that this will extinguish all thy pleasure in a dull melancholy; that thou mayest have time enough hereafter to mind these matters. This temptation Augustine confesses kept him off many years from Christ. But certainly, if thou art old enough to be lost, thou art not too young to receive Christ and salvation. There are graves just of thy length, and young as well as old arc found in eternal perdition. Besides, all those godly youth who turned to the Lord betimes, as Josiah, Abijah, Timothy, and many more, will be your judges, and condemn you in the great day. None ever repented that they opened to Christ too soon: thousands have repented that they kept him out so long. Art thou old? then he alarms thee with the manifold sins of thy youth, and places them as obstructions in thy way to Christ. And whether young or old, he will present the sufferings and persecutions of godliness, to discourage thee from hearkening to the voice of Christ. But what are the sufferings for Christ here, to the sufferings from Christ hereafter? “What are the pains of mortification to the pains of damnation? Besides, all the promises of Christ, promises of strength, comfort, and success, go with the command of Christ to believe, and shall surely be performed to the obedient soul. See, therefore, that thou refuse not his voice.

But you will say. All that hear this voice of Christ are said to live. John 5: 25. Now I am much in the dark whether this vital voice of Christ has sounded into my soul. Alas, I feel little, if any thing, of the spiritual life in my soul. I am dead and dark. Let us then improve the doctrine by way of trial.

Question. By ivliat signs does the life of Christ show itself in the souls of men?

Answer. There are diverse signs of spiritual life, and blessed is the. soul that finds them.

(1.) There is a spiritual feeling accompanying the spiritual life. I speak not only of the sense of comfort, for many a soul in Christ feels little of that; but there is a

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sense and feeling of the burden of sin. Rom. 7: 24. And it is well that we can feel that; for there are multitudes in the world that are past feeling. Isa. 6: 9, 10. It is a sign Christ has spoken to thy heart, if sorrow for sin begins to load it.

(2.) Spiritual motions towards Christ are a sign of spiritual life; at least, that God is about that quickening work of faith upon thy soul: “Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” John 6: 45. The efiectual voice of God sets the soul in motion towards Christ; the will is moving after him; the desires are panting for him. The voice of God makes the soul that hears it restless. As for others, their wills are fixed, there is no moving them. John 5: 40. Now consider how it is with thee, reader. Art thou weighing and pondering the terms of the gospel, struggling through discouragements and temptations to come to Christ upon his own terms, lifting up thy heart to him for power to believe, crying with the spouse. Draw me, we will run after thee? Sol. Song 1: 4. This is a comfortable sign that Christ has spoken to thy heart.

(3.) A spirit of iJrayer is an evidence of spiritual life, as the effect of Christ’s voice to thy soul. As soon as Christ had spoken effectually to Paul’s heart, the first effect that appeared in him as a sign of spiritual life, was the breath of prayer. Behold, he prayeth I Acts 9:11. God has no still-born children. Measure thyself by this rule; time was when thou couldst say a prayer, and wast very well satisfied with it, whether thou hadst any communion with God in it or no; but is it so still? Is there not a holy restlessness of spirit after God, since the time that his word came home to thy heart? Surely thou canst remember when it was not with thee as it is now.

(4.) There is a spiritual relish resulting from the spiritual life, which is also an evidence of it. If God has spoken life to thy soul, there will be in it an agreeable pleasure and delight in spiritual things: “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness.” Psa. 63: 5. Now thy thoughts can feed with pleasure upon spiritual things which they disliked before.

(5.) Spiritual aversions as well as spiritual in€li?iatio7is indicate a spiritual life. Every creature has an aversion to what is destructive to it. Now there is nothing so destructive to spiritual life as sin; that is the deadly poison which the renewed soul dreads. “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins.” Psa. 19: 13. It cries out as a man who finds himself upon the brink of a pit, or the edge of a precipice: “Keep back thy servant.” Such aversion to sin, and trembling under temptations tending to sin, are comfortable signs that Christ has spoken life to thy soul.

(6.) Heavenly tendencies and longings after God are excellent signs that thy soul has heard his voice, and been quickened with spiritual life by it. Sanctification is a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4: 14. If thou hast seen the beauty, felt the power, and heard the voice of Christ, thy soul, like a body which has lost its centre, will still be gravitating and inclining Christward. When thou hast once heard the effectual call. Come unto me, Matt. 11: 28, thy soul will continually echo the voice of holy love: “And the Spirit and the bride say. Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.” Rev. 22: 17. Thou wilt say in reply, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22: 20, A sweeter sign of hearing Christ’s voice can hardly be fomid in a soul, than a longing to be with Christ in the state of perfect freedom from sin, and full fruition of the beloved and blessed Jesus.