the pressure of want in common with others. If trade and commerce fail, they must, from the general state of things, experience the common difficulties. They are liable to similar accidents and diseases; and, in short, to the same troubles and afflictions as others. It cannot be otherwise, unless we suppose a continued chain of miraculous interpositions in their favour, which is inconsistent with his declarations and designs. Their situation is indeed much better than those of others, as it respects spiritual privileges; such as promises, consolation, divine support and direction, &c. In other respects, while they remain in the body, they must expect the common lot. They should not, however, complain; for if the continued calamities of the world arise from continued transgression, then their own offences, while they lived without God, and were destitute of a well-founded hope, may be the cause of their own sufferings and those of others. David sinned, and, though forgiven, the consequences of his sin were attended not only with great trouble to himself and family, but with great and distressing calamities to his subjects. Besides, if we consider how often we offend, even after the illumination of our minds, and our conversion to God, in ways which may affect both ourselves and others, we may justly expect chastisement in some form or other. "As many as I love (says the Lord Jesus) I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and repent." Forasmuch then as this probationary state exposes all to severe trials, more or less, the people of God must not expect freedom from them, till they obtain the rest that is prepared for them in heaven.

7. It may be intended as a lesson to the ungodly.-In times of severe persecutions the distresses of the church of God have been so great, that had they not been extraordinarily supported by him, and cheered by the prospect of neverending felicity, they would have been "of all men the most miserable:" and as they may be called to heavy afflictions, when Jehovah's bridle is in the lips of persecutors, what ought wicked men to infer from this? Ought they not to reflect, and say, 'And does God thus afflict his childron

whom he loves? Does he give them so largely of the cup of sorrow, and cause them to taste so many bitters? What will be our lot at the last? If he spare not them, can we hope to escape? If those who are the objects of his love, and the faithful subjects of his righteous government, are thus dealt with, then dreadful, most dreadful will be the punishments of the workers of iniquity. And thus the apostle reasons, "The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Supposing that there is an allusion here to the judgments which were coming upon the unbelieving Jews, the same thing applies to all who are living in their sins, in a fuller and more dreadful sense, as it respects the righteous judgments of God in a future state. If he chastises his children here, he will undoubtedly punish his enemies hereafter.

8. To render the heavenly state more desirable.-When we compare time with eternity, and consider the shortness of the one, and the length of the other, it does not appear of so much concern what our portion is while we remain below, as what our state will be in eternity. Man's life is transient, as the grass which in the morning "flourisheth and groweth up, and in the evening is cut down and withereth;" but a future state is a state of endless duration. If then it be our lot to labour and sorrow, to be tempted and variously exercised, we should remember how soon it will be gone; and our hearts should be constantly set upon that more perfect state of being where none of these evils will ever be felt, and where the smallest temptation to evil will never be known. What the port is to the sea-beaten and fatigued warrior, or repose after labour to the wearied husbandman, that, and much more than that, is heaven to the tempted and tried christian. This then may be designed by our heavenly Father in the troubles which come upon us, that we should be more content to quit the present world, that we may enter with

earnest longings into his presence, where there is fulness of joy, and may drink of the river of his pleasures eternally. This appears to have been the state of mind in which the primitive followers of the Lamb lived in the midst of their great temptations and afflictions. "We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven-that mortality may be swallowed up of life:" and adds, "Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God;" it being the work of God's Spirit thus powerfully to turn our hearts towards the heavenly state. When, therefore, our trials have this tendency, they help us forward to that glorious world where we shall praise God for grace, comfort, and trials, for ever. From hence it appears that several reasons may be assigned why God permits his children to be tried and variously exercised without any design on his part of leading them into sin. This being premised, let us now consider

THE CAUSES OF BACKSLIDING.

As men may fall from their steadfastness in different ways, according to the situations in which they are placed, and the temptations by which they are surrounded, no particular description can be given, I shall therefore endeavour to represent it in general terms, and begin with

1. Unwatchfulness.-Nothing tends so much to backsliding from God as this, because we no sooner give way to any thing of which our conscience disapproves than its tendency is to weaken and discourage us. It is therefore of the utmost importance to watch against evil in all its forms, and against temptations in all their varieties, that we may not have our confidence in God weakened, nor our souls diverted from pursuing that way which the Lord hath marked out for us."Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation," belongs to all the disciples of the Lord Jesus. Our

spiritual enemies or their agents are ever ready to take us by surprise; and if they cannot wholly destroy, they will rob us of our comforts and hinder us in our heavenly journey. What numbers have fallen through not being upon their guard; some into one evil, others into another, according to their situation in life, their besetting sin, or the peculiar temptation to which they happen to be exposed! It is therefore of the utmost importance in the christian life for all to be constantly upon their guard against evil, without which backsliding from God is certain.

Indeed we must not only watch against outward evils, but we must watch over our own hearts. "Take heed, brethren, (said the apostle) lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." The imagination, that "chamber of imagery," must be carefully watched, or we shall be carried away from our centre, and our sinful thoughts will soon fill the mind, to its great detriment, and the dishonour of him who tries the reins and heart. In like manner we must watch the senses, or they will assuredly betray us; and whatever is in danger of delivering us into the power of our spiritual enemies must be kept under the controul of reason, as reason must under the spirit of truth and wisdom. He that does not thus watch, will fall by little and little, either into dead formality or gross immorality.

And as we should thus guard against evil, and keep our hearts with all diligence, so we should have our eyes in holy watchfulness to God, expecting help and the fulfilment of his promises in the time of trouble and temptation, as said the psalmist, "My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning;" for if the earnest expectation of good cease in the soul, it will soon fall into the snare, and sink again under the power of evil.

2. Instability.-Resolution is needful for the accomplishment of any work or purpose among men, and nothing is more likely to frustrate our attempts than irresolution and unsteadiness. The same is true in the divine as in common

at those who are truly following the Lord Jesus. There are, however, many who profess religion who do not act as they ought, and others who once did it, cease to do it now; that is, have left the service of their great Master, to serve sin and Satan. When, therefore, we see any deficient in the christian character and temper, or guilty of any kind of immorality, we should pity and pray for them; but we ought not to think the worse of religion for their sakes, much less to follow any of their irregularities. We have set before us the most perfect pattern of piety and holiness in the person of Christ, and it is to him that we should look, and it is his excellencies we should copy. "Be ye followers of God as dear children," said St. Paul. If this direction were truly followed, none need ever be turned aside by the misconduct of others. It was on this account that he proposed himself and his fellow-labourers as patterns to the Philippians: “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an example;" for they trod in the Redeemer's steps, while many, professing themselves his followers, were enemies to his cross, and minded earthly things. The world expects that such as profess religion should act accordingly, and the people of God have an undoubted right to expect the same one of another. But if any act contrary to their religious profession, it is not to be wondered at, from the present state of things; however, what improprieties soever appear in professedly religious characters, no one ought to take offence or stumble at them, while the Lord of life and glory and the nature of religion continue the same. Yet it is to be feared that, because "iniquity thus abounds, the love of many waxes cold." But surely we should not do evil because others do it, or follow them when they go astray. This would be acting the part of silly and headstrong sheep, who follow their daring leader into any destruction into which their haste may plunge them.

What has already been spoken under this head has been chiefly in reference to the professors of religion; but it is greatly to be feared that many who once ran well have been