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so fully revealed this doctrine of a minute and overruling Providence, so certain is it, that men might have surmised it by a little calm reflection. For, let us look back upon our past lives, and behold how often the most untoward events have been made the instruments of blessings. How many ills have we escaped by the intervention of circumstances, which at the time we fancied to be misfortunes! How often have we been rescued from danger without our knowledge! and how frequently have apprehended trials been changed into actual good! "This is the

Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes." (Psalm cxviii. 23.) Perceiving so much, we must believe, because it is expressly declared, that "all things work together for good to them that love God." (Rom. viii. 28.) And, if there is any comfort in human friendship (and a real friend is one of the choicest gifts of God), what truer friend, what more powerful protector, could we possibly desire than the Most High? If "the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" If "the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid ?” (Psalm xxvii. 1.)

But let none suppose that these effects, which I have endeavoured to describe, are merely plausible in theory they hold good in practice; the Scriptures relating the deeds of many saints of old, who by their faith were enabled to endure the deepest tribulation. For example, in Heb. xi., we read of their faith, whose deeds have been recorded for our

imitation; and of whom it may be said, in the words of St. Paul, they were "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." (2 Cor. iv. 8, 9.) They possessed that true religion, or Gospel-hope, which, "as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast," enabled them to bear up against the roughest storms of the world, until it was the will of God to lead them into that haven of rest to which they had faithfully looked forward.

Let us now consider, as I proposed, the nature of that religion which accomplished so much of old. Like its Author and Finisher, it is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever."

In what does that religion consist, which imparts "great peace?" The Psalmist declares that it consists mainly in a love of God's holy law: "Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." By nature, before Divine grace has had any influence upon the heart, we do not relish those commands which were first delivered from Mount Sinai, amidst thunders and lightnings and earthquakes; and there is a time of sorrowful conviction of guilt in the life of every sinner, when he would wish the law of God blotted out of the universe, or at least exchanged for one more indulgent to his evil inclinations; for, being all by nature carnally-minded, and therefore at enmity with God, we tremble, as did the Israelites, when God speaks,

and are afraid of such tokens of holiness and majesty and power. Such dread indeed, such dislike of the law, such fear of bitter consequences, may lead us far into the path of outward obedience; but such service can avail nothing at the last. The Christian does not act in the bondage of servile terror, but in "the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Rom. viii. 15.) This Spirit of adoption completely changes the character of our obedience: "old things are passed away; all things are become new ;" and what before was fear and torment, now becomes liberty and love.

It may be asked by an anxious disciple, "How can this change be wrought? for the more closely that law is examined, and the more thoroughly it is understood, the more extended and awful it appears. How can a believer be made to love that which speaks of condemnation ?" Yes; the believer, by the operations of grace, is soon taught to take delight in the testimonies of the Lord, and to love them exceedingly; for the Holy Spirit so purifies his heart, as to enable him to see their spirituality, and to admire their holiness-the length and breadth, the height and depth of their surpassing purity. This inclines him to long for greater intimacy with those precepts; and then the Holy Spirit teaches him to adore that all-sufficient Redeemer, whose righteousness is perfect, and who can secure for him all the benefits of a full obedience, to which he daily sees himself to have been by nature more and more

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unfitted. Delighting in the law, which yet he can-
not fulfil, he loves the Saviour, whose service is ac-
cepted in his stead; and, while he longs to be in
heaven, because all things there are holy, he loves
the way which leads to it the better, because it is
also holy.
"In sure and certain hope of the resur-
rection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus
Christ," he looks with stedfast eye to the happy
consummation of the prayer so beautifully expressed
in a well-known hymn-

"Oh! for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heav'nly frame;

A light to shine upon the road

That leads me to the Lamb!"

Beloved, if we desire to feel the truth of these precious promises, we must become Christians, not merely in name, but "in spirit and in truth." We must embrace and hold fast the religion which the Gospel inculcates; not coldly, as too many seem to do, but as "the one thing needful," which alone can reconcile us to God, and obtain for us that peace which has been destroyed by sin. It is not indeed an easy or trifling task to overcome so completely our evil nature as by choice to avoid what is evil, and to follow what is good. It can be done only by faithful and patient application to Him from whom cometh every good and perfect gift, and who alone can incline our hearts to godly sorrow and unfeigned belief. Those who seek, it is promised, shall surely

find; and therefore, on the high authority of our Redeemer, we cannot hesitate to affirm that they who seek everlasting peace in the proper way, shall doubtless find all that their state requires. They

shall soon discover, even in the midst of worldly warfare, of suffering and self-denial, the pleasures of religion to be far greater than its pains, and that “great peace have they which love God's law, and nothing shall offend them.”

“WHEN darkness once, by God's command,
Enveloped haughty Egypt's land,
Throughout that long and fearful night
In Israel's dwellings all was light.

"So to the righteous light shall rise,
Tho' clouds and tempests wrap the skies,
And faith triumphant mock the gloom
That gathers round the silent tomb.

“Then grant us, Lord, while here we rove,
Thy will to know, Thy ways to love,
the riches of Thy grace,
And share the brightness of Thy face;

To prove

«Till, guided thus in all our way,
And cheered by Thy celestial ray,
We reach at last that heav'nly height,
Where all is peace, and joy, and light."

Wertheim and Macintosh, 24, Paternoster-row, London.

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