them in language more strong than their reproaches. It is so convincing an argument of his integrity that I cannot forbear quoting his very words, though they bear so strong a resemblance to those I have just given from the Psalmist :-" Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolation: suffer me that I may speak, and after that I have spoken, mock on! Mark me and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. Wherefore do the wicked become old; yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear; neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull gendereth and faileth not: their cow calveth and casteth not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice in the sound of the organ. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto Him?" What a contrast is such a picture to the condition of the pious Job-how different to the situation he was then in! Prosperity is not always a sign of God's favour, however much men may desire it; but adversity, correcting adversity, if we murmur not, is a far more sure indication of His love, because He best knows what is good for us. For, as Job says-"The good of the wicked is not in their own hand. How oft is their candle put out, and how oft cometh their destruction upon them: they are as stubble before the wind that the storm carrieth away:" and thus

the good man concludes his argument-" Behold I know your thoughts and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. How, then, comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?"

God forbid that we should judge our brother and set him at nought: we have all enough to do to judge ourselves, if we do it as we ought, strictly, and not after the manner of dissemblers with God. Oh, let us then be cautious how we venture to triumph over our weaker brother, lest God should make us a terror to ourselves and all around us. Far better is it for us to confess our sins before Him, in His congregation, than to be secretly or boastfully talking of our own righteousness. A good man is truly sorry for his own sins and for those of others around him he will amend himself and try to persuade others to do the like, never forgetting that it is through God's help only that he can walk uprightly. An honest penitent before God is never self-righteous, but always merciful. In this exposure of the wicked, I speak not without charity, ever remembering the first words of our duty, the declaration of wisdom :-" When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive." We preach not to judge or condemn you, but to point the way of salvation, to call every sinner who hears us to remember his ways before God, and to turn and be turned unto Him. On this account is it that we hold out Christ crucified-the atonement for the sinner who does not hypocritically but sincerely repent. A wicked man —that is, a wilfully persisting sinner-who loves sin,

who prefers sinful indulgencies which he knows to be contrary to the laws of God, cannot triumph long. In this life men behold him with direspect, they see his impiety, and they shudder to think what must become of him in the end. His triumph here is short: he may be in his own eyes a great man: wealth may give him power over others; but, oh! how ill at ease must his heart be! How dreadfully

of

must he be made to suffer even in this life if once he can see himself in his sins! "Even when I remember (says Job), I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh !"-so dreadful is the thought of the worm that dieth not, and the fire that is not quenched. Oh, think where wickedness ends-how soon does the triumph thereof cease; and tremble with me now I direct your thoughts—aye! the eye your mind-into that place where there is no loveno kind word of light ever spoken-no life, no joy, no comfort the place of the hypocrite. O! my soul, come not into their company! Partake not of their death. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment: it is but a moment between death and judgment! Then to have every idle word exposed to angels and to man-then to have the secret things of darkness brought to light! O! souls, souls, think of these things: aye! think with true and godly sorrow now; for if not justly beheld with deep regret and shame, and confusion of face and heart, dreadful, indeed, will be our condemnation hereafter! Short joy will it be to the hypocrite, then, to have taken up the name of the Lord and to have talked loudly against sin, corruption, and deformity of faith, love, and hope, if he himself was not, as he ought to have been, truly penitent and

humble. The hypocrite's joy is short because his repentance is not sincere: he returns like a dog to his own vomit, or a sow that is washed to her wallowing in the mire. O, let us be honest before the Lord our God-honest in our confession of all our sins-honest in our sorrow for them-honest in our faith-honest in our practice and duty. This is the good man's triumph, that the Lord his God knows his heart and the great work which has been wrought thereupon. Though his sins have been many, more than the hairs of his head, yet God knows how truly he abhors them and how earnestly he asks forgiveness through his crucified Saviour. There is a triumph in which a soul may rejoice with joy unspeakable: it is the triumph of faith over every obstacle: it is to behold your God in all things; but in nothing so much as His love to your soul. There is a triumph which no human efforts alone can obtain, but which God will give you if you love the appearing of His Son Jesus Christ. If this love be in you, oh, how are all things in this world beneath your feet! Oh, "Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly nor stood in the way of sinners; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law will he exercise himself day and night; and he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side, that will bring forth his fruit in due season." Seeing, then, that the triumph of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment, Oh! be not wicked, but repent every one of you, and turn unto the Lord your God. Seek whilst yet He may be found, and dissemble not your souls before Him. Seek not to hide your sins from your own selves, nor from God, but con

fess them candidly and pray to Him earnestly. Christ will come and triumph over every foe: your faith in Him will prove victorious, and, your sins blotted out and forgiven through His satisfactory atonement, you shall rejoice for ever. O, the joy of being a true penitent before God-of living in hope of that better world! Is there any triumph in this life equal to it? Is there anything that can be compared with it? It is like treasure found in a field, which a man, for joy, went and sold all that he had to purchase that field. Such is the knowledge of God in Christ-such the satisfaction, pleasure, real, unspeakable, and transporting comfort, that it makes the penitent sinner weep for joy to know the Lord his God and to walk with Him. Commune with Him in your heart, and in your chamber, and be still. Keep your lips that they speak no guile, and your tongues from evil, and follow the Lord your God in honesty and truth. O! let the sinner turn away from his unrighteousness that he has committed, that his sins may be no more mentioned unto him. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity-so shall he best afford proofs of his sincerity, and not be ranked among hypocrites.

May the Almighty grant us all such blessing through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Believe me, your

affectionate friend,

THE COMFORTER.