he causes a death-like silence, that HE may be heard. He strikes away our earthly hopes, and then holding out his own divine arm, he says, Lay hold upon that; lean hard, it will never give way. He withers our hopes, and spreads desolation around us. Then, showing us heaven, he says, There is a country; arise and depart hence, for this is not your rest. He destroys every drop of water in our vessels, in order that we may be compelled, either to perish of thirst, or to inquire after Him, the fountain of living water.

And, it is well if we remember him, and inquire, "Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?" Thus it was with Manasseh: in his affliction he sought the Lord God of his fathers, and he was found of him. It was thus with the prodigal, in the parable; when he began to be in want, he said, "I will arise, and go to my father." How many have done this since! What was it led them to the Saviour in the days of his flesh? Can you mention one instance, in which prosperity, or indulgence, ever led an individual to him? What was it then? It was distress. It was this that led the nobleman to him-this led the ruler-this led the Centurion-this led Martha and Mary to send to him, saying, "Lord, he whom thou lovest, is sick."Your soul is cast down; then remember his wisdomhe knows your soul in adversity-he knows what kind of discipline you require-he knows how to deliver the godly, and how to make all things work together for your good. When your soul is cast down within you, remember his GOODNESS; he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men: there is a needs be for these dispensations. Did your fathers chastise you for their pleasure, or your profit? If you question whether he withholds anything for want of disposition to indulge,

look at the cross; see what he has given you already; remember that "he spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all; and will he not with him also freely give us all things" that are necessary for our welfare, now that he takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants? When your soul is cast down, remember his

WORD:

"Had not thy word been my delight

When earthly joys were fled,

My soul oppress'd with sorrows' weight
Had sunk among the dead."

How many are there, that can truly say, "This is my comfort in my affliction; thy word hath quickened me,” Psalm cxix. 50. What provision you may find here! What promises do we find here! How suited to our own case! All-sufficient for our relief!-As your day is, so shall your strength be,-your feet shall be shod with iron and brass,-all these promises are yea, and amen in Christ Jesus.

When your soul is cast down within you, then remember His COVENANT, as David did in his personal, and especially in his relative afflictions. "Although my house be not so with God, yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow."

When your soul is cast down, then remember his PROVIDENCE. Think of him, "who is about your path, and about your bed, and acquainted with all your ways ;" who performeth all things for you. See him in the midst of your fears, as the manager, caring for you with infinite wisdom and kindness. Remember him without whom a "sparrow falls not to the ground," and who

"numbers the very hairs of your head." It was thus that David was enabled to act according to this resolution, "O my God, I will remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites," &c.; and did act when he came to Ziklag, and found his house burnt, his property destroyed, and his relations carried away by an infamous banditti. He lifted up his voice, and wept, although he was a brave man-(heroism is always tender). Some natural tears he shed, but soon wiped them away; and we have it immediately added—" David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." Well, said he, "He is my portion and my refuge in the land of the living; therefore will I hope in him." Thus you are to remember his power-his wisdom-his goodness-his word his covenant-and his providence.

Call to memory what God has done for you as the God of providence and grace, and let it teach you to say, "Amen," to all his dispensations. Christians having tried God's kindness, his faithfulness, and his power, ought, therefore, to be able to trust him. It shows us our duty, and our privilege-not only to notice God's appearances for us at the time, but also to treasure them up in our minds, that we may often recur to them. For they were intended not only for our immediate relief, but to be cordials against our future faintings;—and where is the christian that will not have some of these during his passage through the wilderness of this world? You will do well, then, to look back, to reflect on those seasons, wherein God has peculiarly appeared for you, or in which he has indulged you :

His love in time past forbids me to think,
He'll leave me at last in trouble to sink;

Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review,

Confirms his good pleasure to help me quite thro'.

Christians, then, will in God's light, see light. They will feel their obligations to him. They will know, and acknowledge from the heart, that all his ways have been mercy and truth to them. They will adore and praise HIM, who has saved their souls from death, and their feet from falling away. They may now say, my waiting days, my watching days, my weeping days, my praying days, will soon be past; but my desire is, that my days of praise may

ne'er be past,

While life, and thought, and being last,

Or immortality endures.

XXXII. Christians resemble those followers of Gideon, and subduers of the Amalekites, who are represented in scripture, as "Faint, yet pursuing !"

1. They faint. This is not surprising, for consider, First-The enemies they have to vanquish.

Bodily appetites-filthiness of spirit—a depraved nature—all sin and error-the present evil world—the Devil and his angels. Think of the qualities of these adversaries, also, their number-malignity-power-policy— success. Heroes, statesmen, princes, philosopers, divines ;—myriads have been enslaved, and destroyed by them. Who does not faint?

Then the length of the service-not for a season, but for life. There is to be no parley-no truce-no cessation of watching-praying-praising-abounding in the work of the Lord.

And lastly—the occasional difficulties—the road rough and thorny-the weather sultry and oppressive-refreshments interrupted, and sometimes wholly cut off. A wound from without, or an indisposition from within.

This is the case, more or less, with every christian. But,

2. They pursue. The life of the christian is a life of contrasts. Cast down, and not destroyed-dying, and behold he lives-faint, yet he pursues. There is much to perplex, but much to encourage him.

There is something in himself. There is a principle of divine grace implanted. That which is divine, is durable and invincible-that which is born of God, overcometh the world.

It is a

Angels

There is much to encourage him in his cause. good warfare. Conscience must approve it. applaud it. It is the cause of truth-of righteousness -of glory.

Then there is much in his leader and commander. It was said, that it was unbecoming in a Roman to fear, while Cæsar was alive. It is more unworthy of a christian soldier to fear, while Christ is alive. that is in us, than he that is against us. his wisdom-his power-his success.

Greater is he

O! think of

Nothing is

Again, there is the certainty of the issue. so doubtful as the result of a battle. But the christian enters the field under peculiar advantages. He fights not uncertainly with all his weakness, he wins the day, and is in all things more than conqueror. And what will be the result of success? The rewards of the world's warriors are poor and mean compared with it, He that overcometh, shall inherit ALL THINGS.

XXXIII. Soldiers of Christ, arise,

And gird your armour on ;

Engage your enemies,

Let ev'ry fear be gone :

Now take the field, the fight renew,
And never yield,-"tho' faint, pursue."