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or the voice from heaven) said, "Escape!" the bird escaped: but when it said, "A dart!" the bird was taken. Then the rabbi said, “Even a bird is not taken without Heaven, how much less the life of man?"* 'A sparrow shall not fall on the ground without your Father," says our Lord; that is, without his knowledge, and will, or counsel.

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This is one of the most express texts in favour of the doctrine of a particular providence. The providence of God extends to the smallest, as well as to the greatest objects and concerns. "His kingdom ruleth over all.” Circumstances the most minute, and to us the most fortuitous, are all ordered by him. "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." It is not, then, that these smaller matters are comparatively overlooked in God's attention to the concerns of men; but when such is his care over less important creatures, surely, the certainty of his care over rational and immortal beings, and especially, his own people, must come home to the mind with very strong and delightful conviction. They are “of more value than many sparrows;" nay, one human soul is of more value than the whole irrational creation. Our Lord gives this further beautiful illustration of the doctrine in reference especially to his people, "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered:" that is, even the most inconsiderable and least regarded circumstances are all noted and cared for by the Lord. "There shall not a hair of their head fall to the ground," or perish, is a proverbial expression, often found in Scripture, and signifying that not even the slightest injury should befall the persons spoken of. Many hairs might drop from a man's head, and he never miss them; yet they are all numbered by God, and not one of them falls without him. It is difficult to conceive a stronger declaration of the particularity and kindness of his care over his people. The great God who "telleth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their names," numbereth also the hairs of his people's heads. But then, if the very hairs of their heads are numbered, much more the heads themselves, much more their lives, their souls, their most important concerns. He "numbers their steps"-observes all their movements. He is well aware of all their sorrows. He knows when their "sighs are many, and their heart is faint." "Thou tellest my wanderings," says David: "put thou my tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy book?" * Dr Clarke on Matt. x. 29. See Ps. civ. 27-30.

Now, this doctrine of a particular providence is not to be dealt with as a curious speculation; but it is to be lived on, as a doctrine of a most practical and consolatory tendency. Remembering that our success, and very life do actually depend on God, we ought to cultivate a spirit of constant dependence on him, looking to him in all things, and forming all our plans in reference to his disposal, saying, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." But the particular way in which our Lord, in this connexion, wished his disciples to improve the doctrine, was as a remedy against the fear of man, and an incitement to holy boldness. Not one sparrow is forgotten before God; but ye are of more value than many sparrows, and even the very hairs of your head are all numbered: "fear not, therefore." The consideration that God by his kind and particular providence would watch over them, and defend them from all evil, as long as he had any work for them to do, was well calculated to support the apostles, and to inspire them with courage to face all the dangers to which the faithful exercise of their ministry might expose them: and the same consideration, applied to themselves, is equally calculated to inspire all Christ's true disciples, in every age, with a holy boldness in discharging duty and supporting the Christian character, in whatever circumstances they may be placed. But we shall return to the application of this point, after noticing the 8th and 9th verses, which are intimately connected with it, and indeed, only represent it under a somewhat different aspect.

"Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: but he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God." The confessing of Christ, on the part of the apostles, implied the public preaching of Jesus as the Messiah, and the preaching of his doctrines in purity; for, Peter speaks of false teachers who should " privily bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction." And on the part, not only of the apostles, but of all his followers, it implied an acknowledgment of Christ as their Lord and Master, and openly speaking and acting so as to show that they adhered faithfully to him in whatever circumstances they were placed. We have said that it was very necessary to advert to this duty, as they were soon to be severely tried. The Jews passed a resolution that if any

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man should confess that Jesus was the Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue; and we read that many of the Jews who believed on him as the Messiah, "would not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." We have already observed, too, that the opposers of the gospel proceeded to still greater extremities against those who embraced it. The martyrs were called confessors, by way of eminence. As an encouragement to his followers to a faithful confession of him, whatever it might cost them, Jesus declared that he would confess them; that is, openly acknowledge them as his own, "before the angels of God," or, as in Matthew, "before his Father who is in heaven,' referring to the day of judgment, when, in the presence of his Father and of the angels, and of an assembled universe, he should openly acquit them and own them, and address to them the applauding words, "Well done, good and faithful servants; enter ye into the joy of your Lord."- Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." On the other hand, he declared that whoever should deny him before men—that is, should either expressly deny and abjure, or oppose him, in words, or virtually deny him by apostasy, or wilful sin, (for we read of some who know God, but in works deny him)-should be denied by him before the angels of God— should be disowned, condemned, and disgraced, at the judgment-day. He elsewhere informs us that he will then say to such persons, "I tell you I know you not whence ye are: depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." It is not, indeed, every denial of Christ that will necessarily bring with it a denial by him at last; for we read of Peter denying him in a most impious manner, and yet obtaining forgiveness; but it is the denial which is persevered in, not repented of, and not pardoned. Neither, on the other hand, is it every confession of Christ that will necessarily bring with it a confession by him at the last; for not every one that saith unto him, "Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven:" it is not the unmeaning, or hypocritical, or temporary confession, but it is the sincere and habitual, verbal and practical confession, which is the result of true faith; it is the confession of which the apostle thus speaks: "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt

believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." What an encouragement to such a confession the assurance of being confessed! and what an argument against such a denial the assurance of being denied, by the Judge of all before an assembled universe!

But let me conclude this lecture with addressing to you at once, an earnest dissuasive from sinful fear, and an earnest exhortation to Christian courage. Courage is a virtue which is either active or passive, and which stands opposed both to fear and to shame; and the courageous Christian is one who is neither afraid nor ashamed, to be, to say, to do, or to suffer, whatever faithfulness to his Lord and Master requires.

Consider here, in the first place, some of the many occasions which call for the exercise of this grace, and then some directions which will be useful to preserve your courage, and thus keep you from sinful fear.

It requires courage, then, to be able to withstand persecution for conscience' sake. By the kindness of providence, we are preserved from the violent kinds of persecution; but should these assail us, (and who can say that such revolutions as might bring them upon us are impossible?) a great trial of our principles and courage would be made, and we should be no Christians if we did not withstand them, though they were even unto death. But, though we are free from such, we cannot escape other kinds of persecution, if we are faithful; for we are assured that "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

You will need courage, then, to bear reproach for Christ's sake. It is quite impossible that you should altogether escape this, if you act a faithful part. You must endeavour, then, to bear it unmoved, at least unmoved from your stedfastness, though you may feel it deeply. "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation."-" If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. Let none of you suffer as

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" evil doer:"-" yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

You will need courage to act up to your convictions of duty in your own family, and in the world at large. How much good that might be done in families, is neglected for want of proper courage in their heads! Offences are tolerated, which ought to be checked; and duties are omitted, which ought to be performed. To mention only one of these duties-in how many cases is the duty of family prayer neglected because of a sinful fear and false shame in those who ought to take the lead! Be exhorted, you to whom this idea applies, to rise above this hindrance: fear God more, and man less; and the difficulty will vanish. In society, too, you will need much courage to conduct yourselves aright. You are not, indeed, to be ostentatious; but it would ill become Christ's people to be either afraid, or ashamed, to be thought pious. You ought to witness, in your conversation and your conduct, a good confession before all the witnesses, however many they may be; and you should so demean yourselves, that men may "take knowledge of you that have been with Jesus." your guard, when unavoidably in company with the worldly and profane, that you comply not with their sinful customs, and that you, in no way, deny your Master. Let me recommend this to the serious attention of the young, more especially. Hitherto, it may be, that while you were with your own connexions they have encouraged you to all that was good; but now you will have to mix with those who may seek to jeer you out of your piety and exemplariness of conduct. Lay your account with trials of this kind, act consistently and resolutely, and continue to confess Christ before men.

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You will need courage to resist temptation. Satan will tempt you; the world will tempt you; and, if you have not care, your own hearts will entice and betray you. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."- "When sinners entice you, consent not."-"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."-" Watch ye, stand fast in the faith; quit you like men: be strong."

Courage is necessary to confess Christ in the presence of the rich and powerful, and of all who are exalted above you in station and influence. "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings," said David," and will not be ashamed."

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