persons; and whilst called to pass onward through them in steady perseverance, I am retarded by corruption within, heavy with unbelief, cast down because of these things. I hunger and thirst after thee, for grace to overcome, to press onward. Holy Spirit, apply these thy promises with power to my soul, I beseech thee, for thine own sake.

"If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day and the Lord shall guide thee continually." Lord, I do believe it; help thou mine unbelief! Remove from my judgment error and perplexity; soften my unkind temper; take away my impatient asperity; destroy my uncharitableness. Oh, give me meekness, humility, patience, forbearance, lowliness of mind, willing always to take the lowest place, that I be prepared to go forward in thy name, with increasing success in thy great work, seeking to bring sinners to thee! "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness," Isa. xli. 10. Lord, I have infinite support, peculiar and especial ground of certain hope, because I have not only faith in thy promises of truth as respects the future, but long years of past experience have proved my interest in thee, thy free favour, love, and grace to me. As to the present, nay, both present and continued grace, which I now desire, and need to be replenished with, it is sure, as this thy word tells : "Thou shalt increase my great

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ness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee, even thy truth, O my God, O thou Holy One of Israel," Psa. lxxi. 21, 22. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved," Psa. Iv. 22.

EXTRACTS FROM A

This promise, O Lord of prayer, and its fulfilment, is at this moment adapted to the circumstance to which thou appliest it. I embrace it with joy. "Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways," Job xxii. 27, 28.

"There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee," Acts xxvii. 23, 24. Here was an abundant recompence. Well might St. Paul be ever joyful and full of hope. Give me such support, I pray thee, O my Father.

Decision-Singleness of heart towards God, and independence on man in purpose and

actions.

"Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ," Col. iii. 23, 24.

Happy shall I be, O my God, to obtain grace of thee to carry forward this great principle in whatever I am called to undertake for thee.

Impart freely unto me that grace, I beseech thee. Ah, how I detest the hypocrisy, the fear of man, on the one hand, and the love of human favour on the other, which taint and corrupt what looks outwardly like good works. Wash, cleanse me, and cleanse all I do, both in purpose and in deed, I beseech thee, in thy precious blood. Give me that high principle, that strength of purpose, that independence on man for favour or approbation, and that power of love towards thee, which, coming from thee, will seek thy glory in doing thy will below, in patient hope and strong faith, until I enter on thy glorious work above, for Christ's sake.

Samuel was grieved at the falsehood of Saul, who, seeking to retain the name of a righteous man, was in heart clinging to the world. Saul did not obey the commandment of the Lord, but consulted his own heart. Such did not Samuel; he dealt with Agag, as I desire for grace to conquer and cut down every foe in my evil heart that would stand between me and my God.

When human judgment, prejudice, or any feeling, or motive, or principle would forbid my simple and strict observance of thy will, O my God, may I give it no quarter, no indulgence, but with unhesitating obedience follow thy commandment. When pretended and deceitful human feeling would say, This is unkind, and That is uncharitable, may it be regarded by me with deaf ear and resolute heart to turn away when thy word says the contrary to it, and, like Samuel, obey God rather than men. "Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the

bitterness of death is past. And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord," 1 Sam. xv. 32, 33.

A FUNERAL SERMON.*

JOB Xix. 25, 26.

"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God."

THIS blessed text presents truths to the believer, which are able to support his soul under any circumstances, whether they be the trials and difficulties of life, which in their own nature are productive of anxiety, disappointment, and distress; or in the most delightful moments, to chasten his joys below, to temper them with the thought of their connexion with eternity, and to help him to consider the importance of his present life, in relation to death and judgment.

The prisoners within these walls have had the first place in my concern and regard upon earth, next to that of my own soul's salvation, for twentyfour years. The congregation here on the Lord's day, was that with which the goodness of my Redeemer appointed me to worship him. On the first Lord's day of my leaving you, to adore him in the courts above, may he in mercy bless this sermon to your hearts, by inclining you to look

"To be read at the gaol, on the Sunday after my death, if a kind friend will perform that office.-S. MARTIN.' This sermon was read to the prisoners according to this request, by the Rev. J. E. Cox.