to maturity; blesses it with sunshines and showers; defends it from nipping frosts and scorching heat; and crowns the once-barren and stubborn soil with a rich harvest of fruit. It is grace that makes that wonderful change, so beautifully described in Isa. xxxv. 1–9. _The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them_: _and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose_: _it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing_.—_For in the wilderness shall waters break out_, _and streams in the desert_. _And the parched ground shall become a pool_, _and the thirsty land_, _springs of water_: in the _habitation of dragons_ (_fierce_, untamed, impoisoning lusts, that make a carnal mind to resemble the haunt of venomous beasts) _where each lay_, _shall be grass with reeds and rushes_. _And an highway shall be there_, _and a way_, _and it shall be called the way of Holiness_. Such is that gracious work which renews the soul, and makes it meet for a meeting with God; which makes all _old things pass away and every thing become new_; 2 Cor. v. 7; and without which, man is indisposed to the ways of righteousness, and unfit to perform any thing acceptable to God. O that you may be enabled to determine whether or not this work has been wrought in you! Trust not to poor, naked morality; that meagre, superficial thing, which unsanctified immoral Pharisees make their all. Morality only skins over the wound; but grace effects a radical cure. Morality strikes at outward branches; but grace alone can lay the axe to the root of corruption. Morality may give a specious white-washing to a sepulchre, or a gilded varnish to a statue; but grace alone can cleanse from inward foulness, turn rottenness and death into life and purity, and convert dead men’s bones into living members of Christ. Morality confines its attention only to the cleansing of the _streams_: but grace, like _Elisha’s_ wonder-working _cruse of salt_, goes up to the _springs of water_, and pours its primary, its salutary, influence _there_. 2 Kings, ii. 20, 21. Morality gives the _appearance_ only of that, of which grace makes the reality. Morality assumes the name of religion; but grace forms its nature. Morality may make an useful member of society, but grace alone can make a faithful member of Christ. Human power can accomplish a doctrinal speculatist, or constitute a pharisaical formalist; but God that made the world, must make a _Christian_. 2. The preparation requisite, is such, as demands the solemn and unreserved dedication of the heart and life to the service and honor of God; or such a devotion of all we have and are, to his glory, as bespeaks the purity of the principles by which we are to be governed; the power and sincerity of the motives, by which we are to be actuated; and the great importance of the _end_ we are to have in view.