February 24

“I will cause the shower (<> come dovm in his spascn- there ahaV he showers of blc.ssiii;/.” — Ezekiel xxxiv. 2P

PEKE is sovereign mercy — “I will give them the 8howcr in its season.” Is it not sovereign, divine mercy? — for who can say, “I will give them showers,” except God? There is only one voice which can speak to the clouds, and bid them beget the rain. Who sendeth down the rain upon the earth? Who scattereth the showers upon the green herb? Do not T, the Lord? So grace is the gift of God, and is not to be created by man. It is also needed grace. What would the ground do without showers? You may break the clods, you may sow 30ur seeds, but what can you do without the rain? As absolutely needful is the divin* blessing. In vain you labor, until God the plenteous showej bestows, and sends salvation down. Then, it is plenteous grace “I will send them showers.” It does not say, “I will send them drops,” but “showers.” So it is with grace. If God gives a blessing. He usually gives it in such a measure that there is not room enough to receive it. Plenteous grace! Ah I we want plenteous grace to keep us humble, to make us prayerful, to make ns holy; plenteous grace to make us zealous, to preserve us through this life, and at last to land us in heaven. We cannot do without saturating showers of grace. Again, it is seasonable grace. “I will cause the shower to come down in his season.’’ AVhat is thy season this morning? Is it the season of drought? Then that is the seaiwu for showers. Is H a season of great heaviness and black clouds? Then that is the season for showers. “As thy day, so shall thy strength be.” And here is a varied blessing. “I will give thee showers of blessing.” Tbe word is in the plural. All kinds of blessingiJ God will send. All God’s blessings go together, like links in a golden chain. If He gives converting grace, He will also give comforbing grace. He will send “showers of blessing.” Look up to-day, 0 parched plant, and open thy leaves and flowers for a heavenly watering.