---

I. OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION IS INTIMATELY KNOWN TO THE DIVINE FATHER. He knows the strong and the faint alike. As a wise Shepherd, He is acquainted with the state of His entire flock.

1. There is our inherent antagonism to evangelical truth. Man is prone to self-leaning. When we leave the Cross we faint; while we glory in its Sufferer we are armed with irresistible might!

2. There is the seductive influence of worldly association.

3. There is the fierce battle for daily bread.

4. There is our ever-recurring unbelief.

II. MORAL FAINTNESS DOES NOT INVALIDATE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. Were all the "faint" to be excluded, how many of you would remain as children of God? Does the parent cast off the crippled child? It will be necessary, however, to guard this assurance with two explanations —

1. It contains no encouragement to moral indolence. You are not to exonerate yourselves from the stern duties oF life on the plea that you are "faint." The toiler grows strong; exercise develops muscle.

2. It affords no palliation for inconsistency. We are never allowed to plead weakness as a reason for sin.

III. INFINITE POWER IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE MORALLY FEEBLE.

1. God never communicates surplus power. "As thy days so shall thy strength be."

2. God's method of communicating power teaches the dependence of humanity. God's alone is original; but it is enough for man if he can shine with radiance borrowed from the Fount of uncreated light.

3. God's willingness to communicate power fearfully increases the responsibility of the Church. What power we might have! I regard the declaration in the following aspects(1) As the sublimest encouragement to the Church. "He giveth power to the faint." Who is this Being represented, in the pronoun?

(2) As the tenderest assurance to the penitent. "The bruised reed He will not break, the smoking flax He will not quench."(3) As the highest tribute to the work of Christ.

(4) As a glorious pledge of God's interest in humanity.

(5) As a presumptive proof of man's immortality. But how so? Can they who faint be immortal? Why all this feeding like a shepherd? Why this gentle tending — this inspiration of life — this sustaining of vigour — this communication of power? Is the mysterious process undertaken when God has determined that all shall end in dust? Does the Divine Being sustain merely that earthly life shall be prolonged? Why should Jehovah stoop to impart power to the faint, when He knows that in a few brief years the faint one will have crumbled to dust?

(J. Parker, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

WEB: He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.