forth much consolation. "The winter is past, the rain is over and gone." God's converted people may be backsliders, but can never become unconverted. Once born again of the Spirit, and we are born for ever.

And though in experience it sometimes may seem, to a child of God, that he is worse than he was before conversion, yet this can never be the case. For before conversion he was wholly, and only carnal, but by regeneration he is made alive to God; is made a partaker of the Holy Ghost, and the Lord will "never forsake the work of his hands; his gifts and callings being without repentance." Before conversion he had in him nothing but sin, but now the Spirit of God dwells in his soul, who has wrought in his heart such a rooted abhorrence against all sin, as shall never be conquered, though it be opposed, but shall in the issue finally prevail. The winter is past, the state is changed, the heart renewed, the will subdued, the understanding savingly enlightened with the knowledge of God. So that such can say, We were once

darkness, but are now light in the Lord. And as the winter is past, so likewise the rain is over and gone. By which I should understand the storms of divine wrath, which will never burst, nor fall, nor overwhelm the believer; he being secured here from by the Lord Jesus Christ, who saves his people from the wrath to

come.

Again; these words may have respect to the spiritual revival of the work of grace upon the hearts of God's people after spiritual decays. For as it is in nature, so it comes to pass at times with truly gracious souls; that as mists and fogs arising from the earth darken the horizon, and intercept the light of the sun from shining upon us; so the mists and vapours of corruption which arise in and from the hearts of believers, hinder them from enjoying those comfortable sensations of divine love, which they have in times past experienced. And as the winter is removed and dispelled by the return of the sun nearer to us; so it is by the return of Christ the sun of righteousness, that the souls of God's

people are warmed, enlightened, and quickened.

the

Blessed be God, the pleasing spring of year is come, through the manifestation of Christ in the flesh, and by the preaching of the everlasting gospel, by which a spirit of holy freedom is enjoyed with God, and by which we have access unto him with cheerful confidence. And salvation from the Lord to wretched dying men is proclaimed by the ambassadors of peace: "God was in Christ re-, conciling the world (i. e. the elect) unto himself:" We were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son. So that the wrath of God can never return to deluge and overflow the people of God, for “he rests in his love, and joys over his people with singing."

"The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." The rainbow in the heavens is a token of the covenant between God and the earth. "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." And the

rainbow of the everlasting covenant round about the throne, is a full testification that all the storms of God's wrath due to his people for sin, are over and gone. In consequence of it they are blessed with the light of life. "God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined, and doth shine into the hearts of his faithful people; to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ." And the Sun of everlasting light and righteousness shining upon them, and the sacred Spirit breathing upon them; hence the souls of God's people become fruitful in bringing forth the fruits of righteousness. The flowers appear on the earth, in the church, the field which the Lord hath blessed; the flowers of faith, and hope, and love, appear. And, as in the spring-season, the fields and gardens are adorned with flowers, so, under the influences of Christ, and by his immediate presence in, and by his divine blessing upon, the word and ordinances, of his appointment, multitudes of souls are converted, who are as ornamental in the

church as flowers in a garden, and whe yield a precious odour unto God, being richly perfumed with the grace of Christ. "The time of the singing of birds is come;" this, in its mystical signification, I apprehend may be applied unto newly converted souls, who, being truly awakened and turned unto the Lord, begin to sing the Lord's song in his church below.

They rejoice in God, and yield unto him continual thanks and praise. When the church is blessed with a spring-tide of God's love, and the Spirit is poured out from on high, and this and the other person is born in her, then it is a time of singing indeed. The praises of God are warbled forth. Some in adoring thoughts, and devout transports, praise electing love and grace. Others, from the views they are favoured with of the Lamb that was slain, and who is now in the midst of the throne, are filled with love and gratitude to him who loved them, and

as hed them from their sins, in his own blood. Others, under discoveries of pardoning mercy, break forth, singing thus: "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that