and labour, and, by employing the measure of your strength, and by exercising those which God hath given you, powers to resist temptation to the very utmost, and to ponder in your minds the great motives to religion. But while you engage in its cause, be not high minded, nor trust to yourselves for success. Let every fresh discovery of the truth in the text effectually tend, not only to weaken your self-confidence, but to lower your selfadmiration. Let it teach you to prize more highly, and seek more earnestly, the help that is promised you in the Bible, that you may be more deeply humbled, and so may in due time be more eminently exalted; that you may experience the truth of the Apostle's words, "When I am weak, then am I strong." This leads me,

2dly, To mention another important lesson, which the truth contained in the text is designed and calculated to teach, viz. a humble dependence upon, and confidence in, the grace and strength of Almighty God.

Religion is neither so difficult nor so easy, as some would affect to represent

it. It is by no means so easy as to allow us to be heedless and vain-confident; nor is it, on the other hand, so hard as to lead us to melancholy and despair. When the demands of Christianity, the weakness of our natrue, and the vigilance and power of our enemies are considered, well may we exclaim, "Who is sufficient " for these things?" or say, in the words of the text, "It is not in man to direct "his steps." But when we consider, my fellow Christians, that God is with us, and that heaven is before us, the dread of these difficulties will vanish. Christianity is indeed a state of warfare; but we have constant and very powerful allies, to whom our interests are equally dear and precious as they are to ourselves. And if God be for us, "who " can be against us ?" or, in opposing us, who can hurt us? By the defence and assistance of the Almighty, we shall not only stand upright, but go forward with successful steps on the way to heaven and to happiness.

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In a dependence on this divine help and protection, what numberless exam

ples might be mentioned of those of old, who, under the strongest temptations, stood fast in the faith, and persevered in the profession of the despised and persecuted truth? Like Moses, they " chose " rather to suffer affliction with the peo"ple of God, than to enjoy the pleasures "of sin." Look, my friends, to the eminent examples of the efficacy of divine grace, presented to your view in the catalogue of distinguished worthies recorded in the 11th chapter of the Hebrews,

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your encouragement and consolation. Look to the Apostles of our Lord, twelve obscure and helpless individuals, destitute of worldly attainments and power, yet boldly standing before kings, and speaking" with a mouth and wisdom, which all "the adversaries were not able to gainsay "or resist ;"unsupported by the influence of wealth or authority, yet successfully preaching Christianity in opposition to the pride, prejudice and passions of mankind; despised, reviled, persecuted, yet eventually triumphing over every foe, and erecting the banners of the Cross on the ruins of paganism and idolatry!

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"The time would fail me," to tell of the many examples of the strength of Christ made perfect in human weakness, exhibited by the primitive Christians, who "strengthened with all might " according to his glorious power, unto "all patience and long suffering, with joyfulness, endured a great fight of af"fliction, and rejoiced when they were "accounted worthy to suffer shame for "his sake;"or of the noble army of the saints of latter ages, who, in spite of all the terrors and tortures which bigotry, and superstition, and rancorous hatred and revenge could invent, would not be tempted to renounce their religion. Reposing their faith and hope in God, they were raised above the fears of death in its most frightful forms; were enabled to despise or pity the impotence of persecuting rage, and to pray for their enemies and murderers. Sustained by a

stedfast trust in their Saviour and their God, they were enabled to witness a good confession, and sealed their testimony with their blood.

Whence this patience and fortitude,this heroic magnanimity? Did it belong

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to them by nature? Far from it: It was the work of the Holy Spirit of God,the fruit of strengthening grace. Consider, then, I beseech you, brethren, that as it was with them, so shall it be most assuredly with you; the same grace which sustained the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, the martyrs, is ready, is engaged to sustain you if you implore it in the way and through the means appointed. Know that the power and the gracious promises of God are ever the same, and that he is still able to "en"large your hearts, that you may run "the race of his commandments.'

Though thou art, O man! in thyself weak and helpless, surrounded with many enemies, exposed to many trials, and engaged in many conflicts, still fear not. The Lord will be thy strength. There is no advocate too powerful, no work too difficult for him who relies on the Omnipotent. Not any thing can be required from the weakest of his creatures, that he cannot enable them to perform. St Paul acknowledges, that of himself he could not even think a good thought; and yet from experience he