difficulties and trials among his good things: for without them, we should become like Jeshurun.

xxxii. 15.

See Deut.

God does not grant any place upon the whole earth for a believer to set his foot upon, so as to say, "Here will I rest:" but says to him as He did to Abraham, "Get thee out of thy country, into a land that I will shew thee."

"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises." Our depraved nature wants an easier way. It cries, "Shew me an easier path:" rather cry, "Shew me a safe path." There never was a character who disliked the old way of going to heaven by faith and patience-by the way of the cross-and found out a smoother road, but matter of fact soon proved it was the wrong way. Infirmities may sometimes make us travel slowly, but we must take heed of travelling slothfully.

Christian Patience, or the grace of patience, is an ability to suffer hard things, or heavy things, according to the will of God-and in this respect differs Patience the christian grace, from Patience the moral virtue. 1 Peter iv. 19. "Let them that suffer according to the will of God,"—that is, who exercise patience as God would have them-" commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."

The fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost will enable a man to encounter great difficulties, and bring him through dangerous temptations. See the history of Joseph, Gen. xxxix. 9.

Past deliverances should sound loudly in our ears in present trouble.

God sometimes suffers his enemies to make great preparation, and then shews them their folly, and dis

appoints their pride and malice; and that often by the easiest and most simple methods. Paul was let down. by a basket over a wall. The providence of God was as much concerned in this as in the miracle by which Peter was released from prison. God appoints the bounds of our habitation: the house from whence Paul was let down, was on the town wall: the safety of Rahab depended eventually on her house being on the wall. See Joshua ii. 15.

As believers, we should ask a blessing on every change of place and circumstances: much may depend thereon which may affect us to the end of our lives. We should accustom ourselves to connect God with every thing, both spiritual and temporal: we then enter into the blessed legacy left us by our master, "My peace I give unto you.'

A Christian, when things have gone wrong in his heart, and with the creature, and with his God, often gets into greater darkness and difficulty by endeavouring first to settle matters with the former, whereas he should first go to God, and then every thing else would soon get into its right place.

It is one of the highest lessons in the school of Christ to learn to deny the reports of sense. Christians are sufferers, to teach them to look to the end, and to give God glory by the way.

There is scarcely any earthly joy which we have tasted, and paid dearly for too, that has not left a sting, and cause for repentance. On the contrary, we shall go to the end of our lives praising God for things at which our hearts have recoiled, and under which we have trembled. What a contrast is this to the sorrow of the world which worketh death!

True religion is a blessed remedy which cures all

disorders, and which sanctifies both prosperity and adversity. A good man in affliction is a patient under cure; and we can but congratulate him though the operation may be very severe. That is best for a man which keeps his soul near to God, and teaches him his need of watchfulness, and the necessity of keeping his

armour on.

This should be written on the forehead of him that has to go through life, "There is a sanctuary in the order of providence." When the sea is raging, wait for a calm: act thus through all the vicissitudes that are constantly occurring things are stronger than we.

:

We are called to wait through our dispensation: we must have the night as well as the morning; and it is the business of the Christian to go and state the circumstances of the night to Christ. We may tell him how difficult it is to call up our belief, and trust simply to his promises: we can tell him how hard the combat is with our corruptions, and how apt we are to limit and narrow the plan of God with respect to his operations.

Oh that faith could tell him these things, as though we saw him standing at the grave of Lazarus weeping! and as if we saw his tears drop;—remembering they did so!

If faith and patience can send to Christ, and wait for him, he can no more refuse to come to the believer's help, than he can break his own sacred word.

We may comfort a poor afflicted creature who is sitting in darkness, but we cannot give him light: we cannot do Christ's work.

Do we ever think of afflictions as a kind grant? A Christian should take care how he gets out of God's way to escape pain. See the consequences of such an

attempt in Jonah; and when we act like him, God will arrest us as truants in his school, or else he will deal more awfully with us, and say, "Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone."

When we are in the path of duty, difficulties, so far from discouraging us, ought to be considered as the trial of our faith.

Under any confusion and disorder of mind, we should beg of God that as he did once order and methodise chaos, so he would settle and quiet our minds. He that trusts a deceitful heart, and a deceitful world, is near ruin: but he that is able to trust the firm word of Christ, shall be established.

It is founded upon experience, that the Christian flourishes most in storms and trials. Every believer is ready to acknowledge the danger, and often the loss, of a long-continued calm. I never talked to any godly man, who did not prize the lessons which he had received, and the enjoyments which had been granted to him, under the severest trials; and who did not consider them, as some of the choicest moments of his life.

ON THE DANGER OF GOING OUT OF THE PATH OF DUTY.

WHAT we call taking steps in life, is a most serious thing, especially if there be in the motive any portion of ambition. "Wherefore gaddest thou about to change thy way? Though all things work together for good to true believers, yet God will visit their transgressions with a rod. "Thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions." There may be things occur in our lives, for which we shall smart all our lives.

It is easy to master an arrow and set it right ere the string be drawn; but when once it is shot in the air, and the flight is begun, the power to command it is lost.

We should take heed of calling every thing providential sometimes things come before us as a temptation. See Jonah i. 3. We should not build upon success, but rather take a rule of right and duty. There is neither safety nor comfort for a man, but in the path of duty.

We must take care not to mistake our own will for the permission of God. Presumption often has the appearance of faith: it will often attempt the same things. The event will prove its false pretences.

All our actions take their value from their conformity to the will of God.