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his Father would send the Holy Spirit for the guidance and protection of all who shewed their value of the blessing, by praying for it with earnestness, and making sa -right use of it. !...

Here then we may see a provision exactly suited to the nature of man-to his real wants and his reasonable wishes.

Feeling, as we must do, our weakness, we have the promise of that assistance, which will be bestowed exactly when, and where, and in the degree it is wanted. We shall find here no indiscreet friend to give us more than is required, and thus check our own exertions, and no grudging hand to deal out aid so sparingly as not to answer our purpose, but a wise and graci'ous Being, who, knowing better than ourselves what will be for our good, looks to our real advantage, refusing to indulge the inclinations of the present hour at the expence of our future peace.

We are brought into this world as a scene of trial; but how is our obedience to be effectually tried, unless we meet with some difficulties in our path? When every thing falls out according to his

wishes, who would not be pleased? The Christian virtues are then called to their fullest exercise, when we bear troubles with patience, when under affliction, we submit ourselves with resignation to God, and say, "Not my will, but thine be done.”

In the Bible, which is the word of God, our duty is laid plainly before us and they who will read that holy book with attention, or will listen with earnestness to the instructions it gives, and to the truths which are drawn from it, will find the law of Christ" a lamp to their feet and a light unto their paths"."

And, as example is always held to be the most useful kind of instruction, we behold our gracious Master, Jesus Christ, placed at different times under almost all the circumstances of life, which we can represent to ourselves, and we are taught by his conduct how to act both in public and private: to be diligent in the discharge of our daily duties, to prefer the welfare of others to our own ease and enjoyment, to be mild and gentle in conversation, to bear

Psalm cxix. 105,

rudeness and reproaches with calmness, and to miss no opportunity of doing good. When we behold him retiring for a while from the busy scenes of life to address his Father in prayer, how forcibly are we taught to follow his steps! If He, who had all nature at his command, still sought assistance from above, how necessary is it for us to throw ourselves upon the protection of the Being, "who has fashioned us behind and before, and laid his hand upon us; in whose books were all our members written, which day by day were formed, when as yet there was none of them."

What thought can be more cheering under doubts and difficulties than that we have an Adviser at hand, both able and willing to serve us, who knoweth our necessities before we ask, and invites us to fly to him for help in time of need? If we feel not this comfort, it is because we want faith, because we do not believe from the heart that Jesus Christ is eager to serve us, and only waits till he finds us as willing to receive as he is to bestow assistance.

Psalm cxxxix.

Now this willingness to receive assistance must be shewn, not by a few empty words carelessly thrown out from the lips, while the heart is turned to other objects, but by a constant endeavour to do his will; that inus" he may see of the travail of his soul," may find that his sufferings for us have not been in vain, "and be satisfied"."

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Do not, my brethren, count these for empty words: the truth of them has been felt by thousands and tens of thousands, in every age, to their lasting comfort: When the heart is smitten down and withered like grass, when all nature looks gloomy to the eye, when even the rays of the sun have for a time lost their power of calling forth cheerfulness, who is it that sheds over the heart, gently and by degrees, a healing calm? Who is it that quiets the pangs within, as the cries of an infant are hushed by his sinking into sleep? Who, but that Almighty Being, who arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still No truth in the whole volume of Scripture is more suited to our

present state of trial than the promise of assistance from above. This assistance is sometimes employed to remove from us the evils we dread, and sometimes to give us strength for our support, so that to us they really become less. Thus it is that "passing through the vale of misery," we sink not under our burthens, but go on, if not always with cheerfulness, at least with resignation and contentment.

And then breaks in that light from afar to cheer the fainting traveller while he journeys through this troublesome world. "There remaineth," we are assured by St. Paul, "a rest for the people of God." Though we have here no continuing city, there is a city, built without hands, where the faithful servant of Christ will be received and dwell for ever: and we are assured farther, that our light affliction, whatever it be, which lasteth but as it were for a moment, (for what are ages when compared with eternity,)" will work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory'," if we take our sufferings patiently,

k Heb. iv. 9.

12 Cor. iv. 17.