June 6

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree. - Isaiah 55:13.

TWO general remarks are suggested by the character of the moral transformation as thus expressed. First, That naturally there is no difference between men as to their state. Whatever diversities and inequalities may characterise their duties, and however varied may be their sins, there is no difference as to their state. “All we like sheep have gone astray;” although we may “turn every one of us to his own way.” All are descendants of a fallen or iginal, all are streams of a polluted and infected fountain, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” and are unfit for his presence and his service, without a change. Therefore our Saviour said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This extends to the people of God themselves; and Paul, addressing the Ephesian Church, says, “Ye were by nature children of wrath, even as others.”

Secondly, Grace makes a difference. It never leaves us as it finds us. It never finds us near to God, and never leaves us far from him. It never finds us in love with holiness, and never leaves us in love with sin. It never finds us with our conversation in heaven, and never leaves us walking according to the course of this world. This change is figuratively expressed. What a difference is there now between the “thorn” and the “fir tree!” How unsightly, how worthless, and how injurious the one! How lovely in appearance, how valuable in trade, how profitable in use the other! Such, and nothing less than this, is the difference in man viewed in his natural state, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Take such a man; he was once a profane wretch, see him now. The swearer has learned to fear an oath; the drunkard has become sober; the Sabbath-breaker now calls “the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honourable.” See that man: he was once avaricious. See him now-his “conversation is without covetousness,” “he deviseth liberal things.” See that man: he was once a proud boaster, trusting to himself that he is righteous, and despising others. Where is he now? at the foot of the cross. What is he saying? “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Look at Manasseh, who had sinned away all the advantages of a pious education, had become a worshipper of Baal, and a murderer, but “in his affliction Manasseh sought the Lord, and was found of him.” Behold Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor, a blasphemer, and injurious! Where is he now? Oh, he is no more; but here is something instead of him- instead of a blasphemer, here is an adorer at the feet of Jesus, saying, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”- instead of a persecutor, here is a disciple, a preacher of the faith which he once destroyed-here is a martyr, “not counting his life dear unto him, so that he might finish his course with joy” in his service.

Then look at the character of the Corinthians, as given by Paul. Could hell itself either have made or wished them worse than they were? and yet, says he, “Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” Oh, what surprise such changes have produced! “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree.” Some have said, “This is he; “others have said, “He is like him;” but he has said, “I am he,” and yet not he; the same, yet not the same; physically the same, spiritually another;

“While the wide world esteem it strange,

Graze and admire, and hate the change.”

It is needful, however, to observe, that every conversion is not equally remarkable. There are some who, before were decent, and moral, and amiable. They continue to avoid the same sins, to perform the same duties, and to attend to the same means and ordinances as before, only now with new views, principles, motives, and with new feelings. In such there is an invisible agency at work, to which they were strangers before. Nor is this transformation always accomplished suddenly; but whether the work be sudden or more slow, whether it be in consequence of the “thunder,” or the “still small voice,” still, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new;” there is a change not only in his state, but in his character, not only in his condition, but in his very nature.