III. The Counsel of Elihu in the text is profitable to a sinking heart.

IV. Our duty in dark hours is here made plain.

FINALLY. EVERYTHING WHICH HAS BEEN SAID OF TRUST IN GOD IN TIMES OF DESPONDENCY, IS EMINENTLY TRUE OF FAITH IN THE SAVIOUR.

It is one proof of His equality with God that Christ said, "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me." An imposter might say this arrogantly; but none save a divine being could properly speak of himself in comparison with God. Despondency is never so much out of place as in coming to Christ. There it is sinful. God classes the fearful and unbelieving with all liars; and we know where they are to have their part. Afraid to trust yourself in those hands which were nailed to the cross for the sins of the whole world! The hands of Him who said, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth?" "All that the Father hath given Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out?" If confidence, if boldness, is proper at any

time, and in any, it is eminently so in a guilty creature coming to the Saviour of sinners. Let a trembling soul hear these words: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy." Paul says of Christ, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." To the Hebrews who saw the High Priest going alone once a year into the Holy of holies, he says, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus- let us draw near." John uses this astonishing expression: "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment."

Come then, one and all, and only believe. Believe and you shall be established. "He that believeth shall be saved." Begin with believing in Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. In every event of life, in trials, sorrows, losses, disappointments, remember this:

"With patience, then, the course of duty run:

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'God never does, nor suffers to be done,

"But thou would'st do thyself could'st thou but see

"The end of all events as well as He."

"Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed." Happy is he here and hereafter,

who can say, not as an intellectual, philosophical truth, but with the heart, "Lord, I KNOW that Thy judgments are right." Verily it will be said of such as of Israel, "He led them forth by the RIGHT way."

X.

THOU ART THE GUIDE OF MY YOUTH.

"Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?"-Jeremiah 3: 4.

HERE is nothing more wonderful than

THE

prayer. One would think that every child might agree to this. If asked to prove it, he would need only to point to the text. God invites the youngest to pray to Him. There can be nothing more wonderful than this. It is indeed astonishing that God should listen to prayer; much more, that He should invite us to pray; but a child may well say, that for God to wonder at him for not praying, thus apparently deeming a child's prayer of sufficient importance to be inquired into if neglected, almost exceeds belief. One who admits this truth, that God really pays attention to prayer, not only inviting but exhorting to it, will be prepared to appreciate the remark of Daniel Webster to a kinsman who spent a night at his house at Marsh

field, and related the conversation to me. He said "that of all the things which ever interested his mind this was chief: The personal relation of a soul to God." He explained, saying, that he perceived in the Scriptures that God recognized every man as accountable to Him for his conduct, even to his thoughts and words; that He took a personal interest in all that transpired within him, listening to his words of supplication, understanding his thoughts afar off, making him feel that he and every one has an individual relation to God which does not seem to be dependant on rank and endowments; but every soul is the handiwork of God. This appeared to Mr. Webster the chief subject of interest among the things which had ever engaged his thoughts.

God may be said to solicit our prayers. The

Old Testament seems to instruct us how men formerly walked by sight; the New Testament teaches us that now men are to walk by faith. Visions, voices, dreams, messages from God by His servants the prophets, are now withdrawn. But God has not changed; He is educating us to trust in Him, giving us His written Word instead of signs and wonders. It must have been of thrilling interest, when messages, instructions, promises passed from heaven to earth, some of them direct answers to prayer; and not to a man