of sinners. Confess that he is in the right, when he sets before thee thy unbelief, thy wretchedness, and and thy unworthiness; and set his word before him, 'Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' When he was an infant, he was wrapped in swaddling clothes; and his promises are now the cords of love by which we may hold him fast. And the best of all is, he holds us fast; otherwise timid Jacob would have taken to flight at the first attack. O how lovely! he was afraid of his brother Esau, but not of the Son of God, even when he dislocated his thigh.

'Let me go.' How wonderful, that he declared himself vanquished at the very moment when Jacob was unable to do any thing more! As long as Jacob, resting on his feet, was able to defend himself, his antagonist also did his best against him. But no sooner are his feet no longer of any use to him, and Jesus must be alone and entirely his support, than he becomes so wholly and solely; and Jacob, when unable to do any thing more, can now do all things through Christ, who strengthens him; in whom he has righteousness and strength, and who himself deprived him of his own strength.

In the Divine life the same thing is wont to occur. At the commencement, we are generally able to do many things; we form noble resolutions, and expect to fulfil them faithfully, in which we succeed to a tolerable extent. We arm ourselves with a multitude of laudable maxims and noble motives. We hear and read the word of God with unction and devotion. We

pray much, and with fervor. If we commit a fault, we repent of it bitterly, and renew our good resolutions.

But what generally happens afterwards? The fervor in prayer expires, and the oppressed heart can scarcely relieve itself by sighs and ejaculations; it can seldom shed a tear, and must experience, to its sorrow, that the Word is in the right to speak of' stony hearts.' Gladly would the individual feel the right kind of sorrow at it; but he seems to himself to be hardened. And if he prays, where is the fervor? where the faith? And yet no prayer is heard, unless it be offered in faith. Where is devotion? when even the reception of the holy sacrament itself cannot restrain the wandering mind, however much he may strive to occupy himself only with good thoughts.

He

And the good resolutions? Oh, he no longer knows himself, whether they are altogether sincere! feels, indeed, self-love, unbelief, and hardness of heart; but how to alter it, unless the Holy Spirit does it; and how to obtain Him, when he prays so wretchedly, is then the question.

The Christian then feels like Jacob did, when his hip was out of joint. He supposes he must irrecoverably fall a prey to the wretchedness which he fears. If Jesus does not accomplish the work entirely; if he be not the beginning, middle, and end; if we are not saved by grace alone; there is at least nothing more for him to hope for. The name of Jesus alone, and the word grace, sustains him in some measure, while every other support gives way.

:

But how does the faithful Shepherd act under these

circumstances? This is the real time of mercy. what does the poor man now perceive! His Savior and his Gospel. He recognizes his supreme faithfulness in having humbled him, although he thought his Lord and Master acted strangely, and intended evil towards him. He now finds that the Lord permitted him to succeed in nothing, although he could not conceive before why he did not listen to his anxious supplication. He now understands that the Lord hedged up his way with thorns, to make him take the right one; and led him into the desert, that he might speak kindly to him.

After having suffered the loss of his own strength, he now succeeds in the very same way in which Jacob succeeded, whilst casting himself entirely upon Him who is all to us.

Let me go. This is like the sporting of Eternal Wisdom in the 'habitable parts of the earth,' which she often repeats, in order to have her delights with the good conduct of the children of men

6

A similar circumstance is mentioned concerning Moses, in Exod. xxxii. This man of God remained a long time upon Mount Sinai, on which God had given his law. At length the people said, We know not what is become of the man ;' and induced the brother of Moses to make them a golden calf. He did so, and they honored it as their God-ate and drank, played and danced, around it. The Lord informed Moses of it and said to him, I see that this is a stiff-necked people ; now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them; and

Without the con

I will make of thee a great nation." sent of his servant, the Lord would do nothing; and Moses so adroitly took advantage of this condescension, that he took the forgiveness of the people's sin with him from the Mount, And how ably did he oppose the Lord with his own weapons ! He confesses the wickedness of the people, but pleads with him also his word, his oath, and the honor of his name: and binds his arm, as it were, although already lifted up to pun- . ish. For God always acts only in accordance with

his word.

The Syrophenician woman is also a remarkable instance of this. It was assuredly only to help her, that the Savior took a long journey to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. But just as if he would have nothing more to do with helping and delivering, he went into a house, and would not that any one should know he was there; but, fortunately, he could not continue hid. His arrival became known; and, happily, a poor afflicted Canaanitish woman heard of it. She besought him, pitiably, to help her; but Jesus did not even look back, much less answer her a word. He let her cry on, and walked unmercifully forward. But could his

heart have been seen, it would have been evident how it melted with compassion. The disciples, highly astonished at the extraordinary behavior of their Master, intercede for the poor woman; but they are repulsed, and that in a manner which would have deprived even the distressed mother of all courage, had not the Lord continued secretly to impart fresh courage to her; 'I am not sent,' said he, but to the lost sheep of the

take the chil

'Yea, Lord,'

house of Israel;' and not to people like this woman. But she will not take a refusal; she blocks up his path, falls at his feet, and exclaims, Lord, help me!' She had even now to sustain the severest test, and is told in reply, 'It is not meet to dren's bread, and to give it unto dogs.' answered she, it is certainly not right; do not treat me therefore as a child, but as a dog, to which the crumbs are given which fall from the table.' Jesus is now overcome; 'O woman,' he exclaims, 'great is thy faith! Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.'

After his resurrection, he joined himself to the two disciples going to Emmaus. He spake to them in such a manner, that their hearts began to burn with love and joy whilst he expounded the Scriptures to them. He holds their eyes, and they walk forwards with him, and listen to him, without knowing who he is. At length, towards evening, they arrive at the inn. His love is too great for him to leave them, and yet he wishes to have the pleasure of being invited by them. He makes therefore as if he would go further, whilst rendering it impossible for them to let him go. urged him to remain, or more properly, they compelled him; which gratified him much. He remained therefore. Whilst breaking the bread, their eyes were opened. They knew him, and the same moment he vanished. . Their joy was too much for them alone: they hastened back to Jerusalem, and there all was joy, animation, and triumph. He was risen indeed.

They

Lazarus, his friend, dies; although he is informed of his sickness, and sends word that it is not unto death.