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COUNSEL TO CHRISTIANS.

GEORGE MULLER.

FOURTH EDITION.

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J. NIHBET & 00., BEBNUBB SlItBBT, W. JOHS *. BRAW & CO., |8, PATKHSOBTEB BOW) B.O.

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Awl through <& Boolaollare.

PREFACE

TO THE P3RST EDITION.

These addresses were takea down by reporters, and afterwards, by request, revised by me. As it pleased tiio Lord greatly to J\c?a them to many, not only at tho time when they were delivered, but also when read in periodicals, it has appeared well to me to give them now to the public in this form. May the Lord condescend to .et His blessing further rest upon thorn

April 15th, 187a.

GEOItGE MULLER. rcrmnueni Ad<h*«i, JIow OrpUua Hoiim*, No. 3,

AsiiiH* Down, Bbistoi.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

C0URHB13 10 COJITXBTS.

B.i.diT.0 «» Scriptureb—Con'ietion of «Ji-TiMt in Obiit-CprtehUiet.-l>eiijing onsodlilio.. - feyiM"tow -•Lmog CfciM - Omfcirioa »™l iorg.Tenee.~Confo.eing ami-Growth. ill Christ—Old enemies—Caurcn fellowship, fringe i; CHAPTER U.

OOrSBBia TO 00HTJBR7S (oonfaOBcd,) The manner of raujinetlo Word-Stiek loiHo Word of God-

TS-A .peei.l.l.en.^.^ii,, .fce Word pr Wully-An ilta.tri.lion of thie-MoSiCMe on lie Word-SfSe the mo Silulion ^oMul-Reid m bub-Be doer, of the •oru-Xb. .line- of thoiovwton gi.en In the WoyJ-Prnjer _l-aiih maul eomo Or.l-a>urr*e--aoi.Mjo-Temper.i.c. -Pationoo—OodlineM. ( .P ,1 S e '"'

CHAPTER HI.

COTTS8ELS TO COS-TORTS (continued.) A raojllulo—Poinl. already coneidorod—Brotherly kindnosd— CbSj-The r..o» of HuVF.n.t-Th. oormry re,nlt-ilake our calling ud elceuon.,.r.-Not ».tor.j6 round bearer-Dili-BMW-J «tand»M ontlaoco-iW ..rength-Put OB th. \ hole armour of God - Hand eg..r..l tile wilee of theIW ^ fflr

CHAPTER IV. COBSBBI& TO COXVSB1* (continued.)

Wo lt\U8l put on the wbolo armour of God—The Captain of our salvation—"Wherefore ulie unto you''-—"Be fif ynod courage" —That old serpent which ift tho devil—"Evil Jay "—The sleep of death—"And having done all to stand "—" Having jour loins girt about wilii truth "—The brcistplato of righteousness —The rif-htconaneea of Christ—" Tho preparation of the gospel of peace"—" Above all, taking the shield of faith "—" Fiety darts "—Temporal trials—An fllnsenrtioii—"And toko the helmet of salvation"—The s»ord of the Spiiii—Praying and watching, (pajjo 65)

CHAPTER T. oocsshls To COHVETITB (continued.) Marking answers to pPB-JflT —Reviewing answered prayers—Tho effects of thus reviewing answered prayers—Freedom from aniiety—"Wo buvo, however, such a. Friend—Iwan upon Him alone -Thefolly of neglecting this injunction—"Supplication" —"Thanksgiving''—The certain effcotof all this—" Strop your hearts," " (page 76)

CHAPTER VL coossexs i-o coirrstTS (continued.)

The consequences of sin—Self-nfcascmoiit-" JehovaU is my portion"—" Is God Himself jay portion ? "—Hoping and waiting—The conclusion of the matter. (pago SI)

CHAPTER VH. THE OOD 0» JESHOSHy.

Imputed righteousness—Saved by grace through fuilh— Oh, glorious gospel! — The Lord our portion — The Lord our strength—The Lord our deliverer -Trying c;rc-.:tt stances - The eternal God is onr refuge-" The eteraal God'*—" False views of Christianity "— What dots God want. ?—" The living aod is tbyrefiign"—TheDclivcrer— Jehovah sates— God's deliverances — Israel then shall dwell iu safety aloae "—Separate from tlie world—We ought to be a "marked people "-Fruitfnlneas— " Happy art then, 0 Tsrael ''—Never oUompt to carry your own burden— Cause for happiness.

CHAPTER Tilt. TITE snntRT OP PBUVMLIKC) MUTnB. SHan's power limited—" Prayer without ceasing"—Waiting for au answer-God's manner of lowering the prayer-Tb* unchan Ltable power of God—Too deliverance dec-ted-Failing faith—If we ask, let us be losing for the answer, (page lib)

CHAPTER TS. xaa Burn* o» oniiiST. The character of tho Book—Tlie names given to the church— The absent Bridegroom—Ho we belong to th*> spouse of Curat OT not ?_" A garden enclosed " - The believer » not his own ~ " A spring shut up "—" A fountain waled "—Joy ot Christ in Hfochuwh-A« illustration — Accepted service—Hearing the io Bcnittea of tho veak—Christ'). M'ti Mta of His bride—" A fountain of gardens"—" A well of living waters "—" Streams from Lebanon " -Strong in the unnour of God—Reciprocal delight -Gratify the heart of Jeans—The Lord's reapoase— The invitation. (W l37 >

CHAPTER X.

TH» WWOB OP THD K1SQ-

Onc with tho Kiag-Power io the King in our weairiws-

Rcvecence—Power—Righteousness—Judgment—The certainly of Christ's triumph.

CHAPTER It

THB XHOVJSJCVOB OB OHBIST.

Practical remits of mowing Christ—How to attain the knowledge of ChrisU

CHAPTER XII.

TKAOTFOHUbO If »[HD.

Sot doiug our own will—Progress in the divine life—Wtot wo are saved unto—Living to please God—Ixmcg *be Word of G«*l

—Confession of failure— Wbilly the Lord'.. (pago lfio)

COUNSELS TO CONVERTS.

N leaving home to preach the Word of lifo, as it jh may please God to give openings to mo ( I have il w specially on my heart to seek to. lend a helping hand to young believers, and to throw out points whereby, in the very outset of the Christian life, they may ho helped so to wait, that (rod may give them to enjoy peaceaud true happiness, and which may, by His blessing, cause them in the very beginning of their spiritual lifo to bear fruit to the praise, the honour, and glory of the Lord. I more especially Book to do so, beoause, for the first fonr years after my conversion, I made many mistakes shout the things of God, and was far from wallt-Lag in the road which leads to real joy and happiness in the Lord, and far from being in a posiiion to grow cither in grace or knowledge.

RRAEISG THE SCCtPTDr.E3.

Fonr years aficr I had known (ho Lord, through tlio helping hand of an oldor and moro experienced brother, I was led into a way whereby T increased more rapidly in knowledge and grace, and was consequently, iu some little measure, able to glorify the Lord and to be mure useful than before. The great mistake I made at the outset, was neglect of the divine Word,!i.ndin consequence of this many things were lacking. Therefore, it ia laid upon my heart to impress it upon my yonnger brethren and sisters, to go from the very ontset to the Word of God.

CONVICTION OF SIN.

I now speak more especially to bolievers; aad by this I do not understand those who at some time or other have had some religious impression*. These may lead to nothing, and therefore there rau~t be something more in order to be children of God. In order to be believers in tbe Lord Jeans Christ, wo mnst be rcgene-ratod. must he on the road to heaven, and have been "delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into tlio kingdom of His dear Son." For ail this, more is wanted than mere religions impressions. Many persons have these, and are brougbt no further; but there they remain. It is needful that we should have been brought in a greater or less degree to look upon ourselves an winners in need of a Saviour. And therefore I ask affectionately, Have we been convinced of this ?

I am not speaking of degree. With ten thousand different persons, God may work in ten thousand different ways. I myself had little of this serious, deep conviction of sin at the beginning of my new life, and yet was, I believe, really and truly couverted; and from the very beginning there was a marked difference in me. Yet I

TRUST IN CHRIST. 3 did sec I was a sinner deserving punishment and nothing olae. As to the degree of this sorrow, that is quite a different thing. We must, if we are children of God, have been convinced in the light of Ilia word, that we ore sinuora deserving of punishment, and that tbe Lord Jesus Christ alone can save. trust is cnmsT.

Then, again, we must bo led to bust in Him; for we may have been convinced of pin, and yet have gono no further. If so, we are not on the road to heaven yet. We must have pnt all our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our sonls.

And all the more do I mnke these remarks, my beloved friends, because at 3nch a time, when a wave of divine blessing has been passing through the land, and so many have been led to make a profession of faith, many may be trusting in a mere impression, perhaps a conviction, to some extent, of sin. All this is right as far as it goes, but not enoogh. Such are as yet in the state of which tbe Lord speaks—" Not fac from the kingdom of heaven," and yet not in it We must have passed from death unto life, ere we are the children of God, and there is no such thing as being a child of God without faith iu the Lord Jesus Christ.

This, then, is must important, that wo trust in Him, and in Him alone, for the salvation of our souls, and that we have uo other hope in the matter of our salvation, than tbe merits and the intercession of Him, who sits on the right hand of God.

If wo havo been convinced of sin, and have believed, UPRIGHTNESS. id Him, then, as it is said in Acta x- 43, we have received remission of sin. Then are we tho cliil-dtaa of God, as m Gal. ill 26. Anil, again, it is said that "was many as received" the Lord Jesus Christ, '* to them gave He power to become the sons of God." It is to these poor sioners who have trusted iu the Lord Jc3us for the salvation of their souls, that I desire particularly to speak. Those alone arc they who have the bright blessed prospect of heaven, and who know iu their own blessed vxperieuce, the joy of the latter part of Rom. viii., or have the glorious confidence of IMulippinue i. 6, that "lie who hath begun a good work will perform iU" To you, brother and sister in Christ, I de:iro to say a few words as lo the Christian life.

TIPnUHiTSKSS.

One of (he most deeply important points to the young believer—indeed to all believers—is, to aim after upright-ncas and honesty of heart. We may have a fair amount of prayerfulness, may read the word of God, may he frequently in a place of worship, nod yet, with all these things, we lack much, yea all, if wo have not uprightness of heart before God. My dear Christian friends, ask yourselves, as before God the Searcher of hearts, before Him who knows everything about you, how it is with you as to this point? Can you stand before Him, aud say in honest;, "Lord, Thou knowest all things. Thou knowest thoG 1 lovo Thee, and that my desiro is not to listen to sin and temptation, and not will* jngly to go ©n in anything contrary to Thy mind. 1 would have nothing that Thou hate«l i but. by Thy

UPRIGHTNESS. grace, I am engaged in a warfare against it. Thou knowest how Thy weak, erring child hatos the deeds of darkness, and desires to carry on a warfare daily against these powers."

Do we really seek to walk in this way? Then wc shall have part in the blessed wordB of the Lord Jesus (Halt xiii. 12}, " Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more nhiindance."

I desire these words to be fixed upon your hearts, because, iu looking back on tho past fifty years, during which I havo known tho Lord, I can see the faltering steps with which I began. How weak I was! How ignoraut! liven when preaching tho Word, how ignorant ! Although Christ was in me, the hope of glory, yet I failed again and again. Nevertheless, I made warfare against bid, and sought not to listen to Satan. 1 experienced, therefore, the truth of these words, "To Him that hath shall be given," and although it was by little and little, yet I did grow. So this evening 1 say to yon, " Whosoever hath, to him shall be eivou, and ho shall have more abundance."

But remember, it is added, " But whosoever hath not" —or only appears to have—"from him shall bo taknu away even that which he hath." Thus, those who do not maintain an upright heart, and who do not walk sincerely before God, shall, for the time, make no progress in the divine life, because the Holy Spirit does not work in such. Therefore it is deeply importaut to bo eiocere and honest before Him who kcoweth the heart; ' and then, although wc may be weak, yet we shall bo helped in the divine life.

I know how much this one thing helped me at the firat—honesfy and uprightness of heart. And I remein-lier one who was converted al the sdme time, aud whom I met yean after, and fouud ho was just the samo as at first—he had made no progress whatever; aud it was because he was not honest aud upright before God.

DKKYrae- UNGODLINBSS.

The next deeply important point is this, whatever at the very outset of tho divino life is hateful to God, must be given up. Whatever is offensive to ITim, must be forsaken. Some say this is only needful regarding glaring sins, but it must bo in ovorything. If the Holy Ghost says " JJo," the sin must be put aside at once. We must bo faitlifnl to Him. Tbis uufaithfulness, this dallying with sin, is hindering the spiri Lual life of many. X wish, to impress it on your hearts, time from tho very beginntn ,> you should seek to be out-and-out Christians.

With mauy who set out in the divine Jit'o, the question is. "How much of tho world can I keep, aud yet get to heaven?" "How much can Ionjoy of this world, and yet be saved?" There maybe such a thing as being saved uuder such circumstances; but it is being saved "as by firej " and none of God's children should be content to bo saved as by fire.

Bettor far that you and I were to be at once taken home to the Lord, than that we should be satisfied with bciug savod ourselves, and still seeking to enjoy the Jlnetin" pleasures of this world as much as possible j trying how moeh we can make of both worlds. This is the most wretched p-wsible thino- fiw us to do. Undtvr such eirm

/'XVIT/'C/LNSSS. 1 cumstancos yon will have jusl religion enough to make you a iutsornble Christians a happy Christian you can never ho while living so.

There are no happy children who are not also holy children. The Father says, ■• Lei Oat mind ho also found in yon which was found in nim." And what was the life of the Lord .Jesus ? '• Holy, harmless, unde Dled, and scperato from sinner*." His life was one single sacrifice to God. one single not of obedience to God. Now, we are left here to be representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ in this world. This great honour Ho has bestowed upon us here. He might bring us to know Him, and then take us away at once to he with Him, as with the thief od the cross; hut, as yon all know, this is not His ordinary way. He brings us to Himself, in order that wo may bnug honour to His name, and glorify Him on this earth; and also, that wo may practically and esperi-mentally he prepared for the glory that awaits ns above ; and that each of us may have the honour of winning souls for Him, and bo helpful to the children of God: in short, that we should bear fruit

WtUTm'LNESS. Well, this being the case—that we are left hero to bring glory to His name—our heavenly Father expect* us to live in separation from the world; und He does expect us not to go on in a sinful state, If wo seek it, He will help us to bo holy children, in order that we may be useful. Let ns all aim after this. We should net be satisfied without bearing fruit, but should seek lo be ont-and-out for Cod, There is such a thing as bearing much fruit—sixty or even a hundred-fold. Nor should yon and T be content with thirty-fold, without seeking to bring forth sixty or a hundred-fold. Ought we not in earnest longing to pray that we may be permitted to bear fruit to the praise, honour, and glory of God ?

But in order to this, there is nothing bailor than at once, in the very outset of the divine life, to aim after being out-and-out Christians. And Dover should any child of God harbour such a (bought as this, "How much can I enjoy this world, aud yet get to heaveu at last? Is it possible for me by going to a tall, and attending a concert, or going to the theatre now and then, at last to get to heaven?" Oh I wretched, miserable state for a child of (rod to be in. Away with it 1 Be it far from any of those whom God has left on earth aa witnesses for His glory.

I am here a pilgrim nnd a stranger, aud far bo it from mo so to 80t my heart on this earth. I am going to heaven; this is not my place. As a child of God, I know that no place is my place save that upon which I can ask my Father's blessing. How could I ask His blessing in tho theatre? How could I ask God to blesa me in the whirl of the ball-room, or at the card-table, or in the noisy tavern ? Away with all of them ; they are f he sinful pleasures of this evil world.

I-IVrs-O CHKI9T.

So, my beloved younger brethren and sisters in Christ at the very outlet of your spiritual life, say boldly, **I

LIVING CHRIST,

will be, by (lie grace of God, an out-aod-ont Christian, living for God. I will, by His grace, seek to bear fruit to Hi a glow "nd honour. 1 will, by His grace, seek to have done with this sinful world. I will, by His grace, strive so to live, that a line of demarcation shall be clearly seen between me and the world, and that the people of ibe world shall seek to have no intercourse with me, seeing that I do not belong to them, but that I belong to the kingdom of heaven."

That is what we have to aim after; and what would be tho result? Not only should we bo holy men and women, but also happy men and women, in whom God delights 4 , and we should also bo useful niu and women. The world ought to say of each of us, ,; li ever tkero was a Christian, it id surely that man or'that woman. 1 ' "Surely that man or woman has been with Jesus.'' If tho world does not say that of us, there is something wanting. We Aught to be ashamed, if any one is able to live three or four days in the house with us, withont finding out that we are not of tho world, but are born again.

And that ifi not tho only use of thus bearing testimony; it will also be very helpful to our brethren in the Lord.

Let me insist particularly, my beloved brethren and sisteis.bul especially you, my younger brethren and sisters, on this point—that of being out-and-out for God in tho very outset. We must bo opposed to the world, and the flesh, aud entirely for Christ. This is (he purpose for which we are left in the world. I do not say we are to give up our ordinary business. 1 have seen mnch of this} tliero is often too much readiness in giving up the earthly business, anil it i» often done hastily. I have <° LIVING CHRIST. found that men may greatly glorify God in their earthly business, and I do not say that they are to forsake tl,„, business ln ordw ,„ bec0 , lre om „„ clk ^ missioniu , iu[1 district v, s ,t„™, IRU ,t distributors, or the like. We raav serve and honour ITim well whilst occupied with the bni-ness of tlna life, if God does call „s, by all means K o at once, but do not go unless He calls. We require a ■pec.al call from God, aud oven when we think we hare received it, let us make it a matter of consideration. Let us prayerfully, quietly, „ ud colmI look to God M taking such a step.

But again, Isay, if .here be anything, whatever it may be, and however dear it may l„, which is contrary to the divincwill, let „s give it U p at once, and aim a fie. being out-and-out, and decided for God in every way B* result wiO bo increased happiness, joy, and holiness; und our usefulness will increase more and more.

In connection will, this, I would especially „t„t 0 that, though wo all ought to aim after conformity to the mind of Christ, yet we all moro or Ics. fail.

It is deeply important to mark, that all of us aro liable to sin, and do sin. If any man come to mo, and say, •• 1 do not sin," I would say, « My brother, you arc mistaken ; perhaps you do not kuow what sin is. or vou do not know your own state." All of u., though not living in sin, are yet liable to sius if not in acts, yet in words; or if not even in words, yet in feelings or desires. We are all apt to fall short of what we might be and of what we ought to be. What then? Well, we must make confession, and come afresh l« the blood of Jesus Christ, and have these sius washed away.

T

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS. It

CONFESSION ASP i'GUGlVSXESS.

Many children of God err here. A3, for instance, when I was first converted, I thought, when I siuued that now it was all over, as I could not boa Christian, or a child of God. Or, if rot ibis, there was at hxwt. a-feeling in mo, "Before you corae to God in prayer, yovi miiel suek to bo butter." What a great mistake! And yet many of God's dear children make this mistake, and if they fall in any way, in acting, speaking, thinking, or desiring, they feel that tbey cannot approach with confidence.

What ought they to do? Why, at once to make confession to God. They should seek to enter into thai gracious promise," K we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." This is deeply important to us all, because the Spirit of God will not work in onr hearts if there is guilt. There is therefore no practical power to resist sin, or to walk with God, as long as sin in not el eu used away. Aud as we are liable to err, more especially our younger brethren aud sisters, yet we must not think wo are not Christians because w« do so-and-so. Let us cast away this thought, and not entertain it for a moment. Ouly lot U3 bo stirred to go afresh to the Lord Jesus Chret, to have the sin put away.

This is where the words of tho Lord Jeaus come in. "He that is washed needcth not save to wash hie feci, but is clean every whit." Remember our position: we are not criminals; we were that, but such is not the case now. We are in the relationship of children. In this new relationship, however, we are apt to dcllle ourselves; just as a man who takes a bath in the morning, may requira '•*> wash bis hands or his face throughout the day.

CONFESSING CHKIST. are we, (hough apt to and yet Mis body is clcna. So defile oursolns, yet clam. But for tl.ia defilement we mnsl com0 „ f „ sh cegtacd theu Uwaibefeof D0Ber „„, oy "' B " we have a,nned, aud to wail n.uil we are better. Wo are ■0 come as we are. to obtain OTace „,,, joy in l||0 Uri

COXfBSSIKa CHJUSr.

r ?„ e T? 1 ?* I* 180 ^** Nx"*"* «»* it is, at the very outaet of the d.vioo life we must make a pkin, bold oon Wouof the Lord Jes „ s Cluisu Very few ?W™ are of 8raater , m p„rta„eo «,«, th& , Ti.oten.pt.Uoo wffl he, to kec,, your ne.v life ,„ y„ urseIf . ,., Mn fc wTrll " ? -"v ^ " *" "° * J™ » ~S3 ull remain weal, ft fa of t im Dartail ^ tho v.gonr of your own Christian life, ,„ mlto coofw ion and come out boldly for Chris, atoaol The reason fa Ah -people w.,1 ku „„. lhftt ,,„,, „„ „ n , hc ^ therefor.no lon-ertemotyoutoactotherwiao. They «,II no longer „ ( with invitations to tho Iheatro, or snch and such a ball, or corcpany, „f . , ^ "

Vou escape ail this by open confession. 5 tiey know you ,„c the Lord's, and see the line of demarcate between you and tho world, .hey will no. seek your company.

11 "member when I was convened, I w» a atudent in a large.un.ven.ity, where than, were twelve hnndred and ..xty studenLs. Amongst all these .here were only ,1™ who were known as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ-

CONFESSING CHRIST.

hut it was well known what they were; they were " marked men." I joined them. And became a " market man" instimtnneously. But we held out, and soon there were about half-a-dozen united together. We were called fanatics and mystics; and I used to be pointed at by my fellow-studeuts, " There goes the mystic." What of this? In tlirce or four weeks it was all over, aud they left roe alone, Before my conversion. I had been one of Ibo gayest among them, aud was continually at the theatre If there was a bull, I was there; and in tho tavern I wag ono of Uie noisiest. But now, looked on as a " marked man," they gave me up as a hopeless ease, and ceased to annoy mo. Thus I escaped a thousand temp Uitions to which I would otherwise have been exposed. If I had kept back the knowledge of my conversion, would I not hft-vc been continually tempted to sin ?

This is my own experience ; I know the blessed result of thus boldly confessing Christ, and would affectionately press it upon all my. brothers and sisters in Jesus. If any here have not yet made this bold confession of theii decision for Christ, oh, make it now 1 It will be oi inuueuse service to you.

Again, in doing so, we stand by the side of Christ, lie comes forward, and takes His stand by our side, saying, ; 'In weakness thou hast stood for file; now I wijl stand by thco;" and thus wo reap tho hctiefll in our own souls. We can never have grace and strength by keeping our religion to ourselves. You will never bo out-and-out Christians -uevtir he happy Christians—without this confession.

The will of the Lord i*. tlmt we shouldbe as cities set ona

U GROWTH IN CHRIST. hill, whicli cannot be bid ; or as lights, not placed nndera bushel, but sot on a lamp-stand, so as to be seeu. And. lot us aim &flor this, if it is not the case with us now; and let us be assured, that, when auy man aims at keeping hia religion to himself, he \i going the wrong road. People nrast know that we are (ha Lord's, and on His side; and we should not rest satisfied without this. Oor duty remember, is to win souls Tor Him; and how can we do [his, ir* we hide our light ? Although we are neither evangelists, missionaries, Sunday-school teachers, nor visitors, yet God will help us to win souls; therefore, we have to come out boldly (or Him.

GROWTH IN CHRIST.

Auother deeply important point is this; very frequently the dear chililron of Cod, at the very oulset of their new life, am immensely discouraged, because they do not fee] themselves imiktDg the progress they ought to make, or wish to make. They are afraid, because they do not moke thiri progress in knowledge or grace, that they are not Christians. Now, as an encouragement to the dear young brethren and sisters, I would say, be not over, discouraged by this. I do not mean to say wo are to rest content without making progress, 1 only warn you against one of Satan's devices—viz., that when wc are jailing in any way, he is apt to say to us that we are not Christians; that, after all we havo felt, we are on'.y deceiving ourselves. Now, every ouo of you know well t-Qoagh whether you are deceiving yourselves or not. You have all of you the witness within you, and you can look up and say, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou

GROWTH IN CHRIST. knowest that I love Thee." Wo may not have the bold tailh and triumphant assurance of Peter, or of Puul, but wo can say "We do love Thee." And while conscious of our weakness and uuworthinesa, yet we are also conscious of our faith.

Tou know very well, for instance, when the child is bom, it is not at once a young man. It is a bain- • a weak, helpless babe. When it is a week old, you do not expect it to run about. We all know how it takes week after week, and month after month, ere it can no run. So it is io the divine life ; yon do not at once become young meu or women in the Lord Jesus. And if any should come to me after being only three or four weeks in Christ, and complain that he is not full grown, I should Sity to liim, " My dear friend, you are greatly mistaken ; I do not expect to see you already become a young man, and far less a father in Christ." There is no auch thing as fits aud starts iu the divine lift!. As in the natural lifo it requires some time to attain to manhood, so in the spiritual lltej therefore let them not he discouraged that they have not yet become young men or young women in Christ, and far less that they have not become fathers and mothers in Him.

Let them, I say, not be discouraged, but steadily aud quietly go on, living according to the light God has given them. If they are thus walking, it will be nnto them according to the promise. * To him thatbath.it shall be given, and he shall have more abundance." For your encouragement. let me give you my own experience.

r

OLI> SKEMIKS.

OLD EKKMIK3.

CHURCIT FELLOWSHIP.

I was, at the beginuing of my new life, again and again

OVOrciu:;,: i:y i:ivol.1 U'UO.-:HUt>>, For IUe "...IIJC, I h:i u ! .,::! n habitual liar in former days, and could stand and look people in the face, and deliberately say things that wero not truo. If any of you have boon eo, my friends, you loiow what a tornblo thing it is. Well, after my conversion I stated twico things that were not truo; but tiiat waa a very dif Toront thing from, habitually tolling lies; for with sorrow of heart I oonfessed it before God, and owned before Him that such and snob was not the truth.

Again,I had been a habitual attendant at the theatre; and twice after my conversion, through circumstances, I was drawn in to go to the theatre; but, nevertheless, I was tramblcd before the Lord, and it was a very different tiling from my former habitual attendance.

Soon God delivered me from that also. Therefore I wish to say that no child of God who, by deeds, words, or thoughts, is carried away to sin against God, should give heed to the suggestion of the devil, " There is no reality in your conversion." Rather let us co>ue afresh to the blood of Jesus, which "taketh away all sin." He-inembtr that this blood not only washes away, but also gives ns more and more i>ower over sin. By coming frequently, we shall grow in grace and in oxporionce. I may say I have grown somewhat since those days, to which, for yoor encouragement, I have referred; and what one has done, others may do. cnrr Rcn fet.lowship.

Another important poinl fa, to seek at onco, or ns soon as possible, to unite onrselvis to somo dour children of God, or to some faithful ministry. Wherever von find Christians, with whom it would ho to your prolil to mingle, or a ministry likely lo feed your soul, go there; only get into some little baud ot God's children, or disciples, at once. Bemeinbor, it will be very helpful lo you in your new lite.

I am not referring to this or that particular placo, but wherever God has cast your lot, and wherever there are dear children of Ihe Lord, go there. Go where the gospel is faithfully set forth, and get united to thorn, tint tl.oy may help you as the younger brother or sister. You will (lnd such fellowship very helpful to you. I myself found it of the utmost value.

Shortly ufter my conversion, there were » few oilier students led to (he Lord, and we used to meet together regularly in my mom, and sought to help one another. It was very helpful. Bat, where practicable, I would advise you to sect out Ihe company of some older ami more experienced Christian—ono who is realty a living gospel Christian—to whom you can speak freelv, and from whom you can get much useful advice and counsel. All you older boliovers may lend a helping hand to your younger brothers and sisters, and thus be a groat help to one another.

I have often found that, when led astray by natural tendency, tho fellowship of my brother-students was exceedingly helpful, and often brought me into the light again. Especially wrald I say to all Christinas—not f R CHURCH FELLOWSHIP. merply the younger, but even the older—BCck to have some truly spiritual friend, lo whom you win rno and unbosom yourself, and take sweet counsel together; you will find it to be very helpful in the things of God.

I have much mom 10 say, but will continue the subject on Friday evening, when I will seek to bring before you many other important points.

T

COUNSELS TO CONVERTS.

J2.

r S mo.it of yon know already, the especial object of our meeting is, to continue the subject of last Tuesday evening, On that cvoning, I ^ sought to lend a helping hand to beloved te Christian friends, specially (he younger brothers and sisters, who arc setting out in the divine life.

As ouo who for fifty years has known the Loid, and has laboured in word and doctrine, 1 ought to be able, in some little measure, to lend a helping band to these younger believers. And, by the grace of God, I can say. I am able lo lend this helpiug hand ; that is, if God will only condescend to use my own failures, to which I Lave freely referred, aud my experience, as a help to others in walking on the rood to heaven, I trust that your coming here will not be in vain. As T already (old you, this was the xery purpose of my leaving home, that I might help those dear young brethren.

I have alrjaly referred lo seven different points, which apnea-ed to me to be of great moment. There still remain, however, tiomo other deeply important ones to bo considered.

THB mjkker of beam eg the word.

One of the most deeply important points is, that of attending to tho careful, prayerful reading of, and meditation on the word of God. I would ask your paiticulac attention to one vewe in the epistle of Peter (1 Peter ii. 2) where wo arc especially exhorted by the Holy Ghost, through the apostle, regarding this. For the sake of the connection, let os read the first verse, " Wherefore laying aside all malice, And all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, aa neiv oom babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

The particular point to which I refer is contained in the second and tliird verses, "as new-born babes, desire the sinew'"! milk of the Word." As growth in the natural life is attained by proper food, so in the spiritual life, if we desire to grow, this growth is only to bo attained through the inM.rumentH.lity of the word of God. It is not stated here, as some might bo very willing to say, u the reading of the Word may bo of importance under some circumstances." That yon may gain more by reading this tract, or this and that book, is not the statement here; it is " the Word," and nothing else, and, under all circumstances, STICK TO THE WORD OP GOD.

Yon say that the reading of this tract or that book often does you good. 1 do not question it at alL Nevertheless, the instrumentality which God has been pleased to appunl and use is that of (he Word itself; and COh'SECUTTVE READING. 51 just in the measure in which the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ attend to this, they will become strong in the Lord; and in so far as it is neglected, so far will they be weak. There is such a thing as babes being neglected, and what is the conseque Boe? They never become healthy men or women, because of that early neglcot.

Perhaps—and it is one of (be mos-t hurtful forms of this neglect—they obtain improper food, and therefore do not attain to (he full vigour of manhood or womanhood. So with regard to the divine life. It is a most deeply important point, that we obtain right spiritual food at the very beginning of that lifo. What is that food? It is "the sincere milk of the Word;" that is the proper nourishment for the strengthening of (he innor man. Listen, then, my dew brethren and sisters, to this advice with regard to the Word. consectttve ukading. First of all, it is of the utmost moment that we regularly road through the Scripture. We ought not to turn over the Bible, and pick out chapters as wo please hero and there, but to read ft regnlarly through. We should read carefully and regularly through tho Scriptures. I speak advisedly, and as one who has known the blessedness of thus reading the Word for tho last forty-six year?, I say fentysix years, because for the first four years of my Christian life I did not carefully read the word of God. I used to read a tracl, or an interesting book; but I knew nothing of (ho powor of the Word. I rend next to nothing of it, and the result was, that, though a preacher then, and though 1 bad preached in connection with the establishment Again ami again, yet [ made no progress in the divine life. And why? Just for this reason, lUat I neglected the word of God.

But it pleased God, thi*oogh the instrumentality of a beloved Christian brother, then labouring in this very city aud neighbourhood, with whom I became acquainted in Devonshire, to rouse iu me au earnestness about the Word, and ever since then I have been a lover of if.

J.ct mo, then, press upon you my first point, that of attending regularly to reading through the Scripture I do not suppose that you ail uei-d the oxtiortatton; many, I believe, have already done sn, but I speak for the benefit of those who Iiava not- To those I say, my dear friends, begin at once. Begin with tho Old Testament, and when you have read a chapter or two and aro about to leave off, pat a marls that you may know where you have-loft olF. I speak in all simplicity, for the benefit of those who may ho young in the divine life. The nest time you read, begin' the New Testament, and again put a mark where you leave off. And thus go on always, whether in the Old or New Testaments, putting in a mavk, and reading alternately the Old and tbc NewTestamouls. Thus, by Utile and little, you will read through the whole Bible; and when you have finished, just begin again at the beginning.

TUB COXSEC'jiOS OF SCRIPTURE.

Why is this so deeply important ? Simply that wo may see the connection between one book and another of tho Bible, and between one chapter and another. If wc do not 24 READING THE WORD PRAYERFULLY.

And another will say, "Let us read in the gospel according to Matthew." Very well, my brother; I can enjoy them all; and whether it be in tho Old Testament, or in the New Testament, whether in the prophets, tlm gospels, the Acts, or tho Epistles, I should welcome it, and be delighted lo welcome the reading and study of auy part of the divii:e Word. a smcrxr, mras Fir.

And this will be particularly of advantage to us, in case we should become labourers in Christ's vineyard -because, ia expounding the Word, wo shall be able to begin at the beginning. We shall equally enjoy the reading of the Word, whether of the Old or the Now Testament, and .shall never get tired of it, I have, as before stated, known the blessedness of this plan for forty-six years, and though I am now nearly seventy years of age, and though I have been for nearly fifty years in the divine life, I can say, by the grace of God, that I more than ever lore the word of God, and have greater delight (ban ever in reading it.

And this day, though I have rend the Word nearly a hundred times right through, I am us fond as ever of reading the Scripture ; I uever have got tired of rending it, and this is more especially through reading it regularly, consecutively day by day, and not merely rending a chapter here and there, as my own thoughts might have led me to do.

BEADING TUB WOSO FRATltKFin.T.T. Again, we should read tho Scripture prayerfully, never supposing tliat we are clevor enough, or wise enough, to BENEFIT OF CONSECUTIVE READING. read in this consecutive way, we lose a great part of what God has given lo instruct us. Moreover, if we are childron of God, we shuuld be well acquainted with the whole revealed will of God—tho whole of the Word. *' All Scrip!nre is given by inspiration, and is profitable."

Anil much may be gained by thus carefully reading through the whole will of God. Suppose a rich relative were to die, and leave us, perhaps, some laud, or houses, or money, should we be content with reading only the clauses that affected us particularly? No, we would bo careful to read the whole will right through. How-much more, then, in the will of God, ought we to be careful W) road it right through, aud not merely one and another of tho chapters or books.

BEHEF1T Of COKSnCIITIVB HEAPING.

And this careful reading of the word of God has this advantage, that it keeps us from makiug a system of doetriues of our owu, and from having our own particular favourite views, which is very pernicious. Wo often are apt lo lay too much strew on certain views of the trnth which affect us particularly. The will of the Lord is, that wo should know His whole mind- Again, variety in the things of God is of great moment. And God has been pleased to give us this variety in tho highest degree ; and the child of God, who follows out this plan, mil be able to take an interest in auy part of tho Word-Suppose one says," Let us read in Leviticus." Very well, my brother. Suppose another says, "Let U3 read in the prophecy of Isaiah." Very well, my brother.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF THIS. understand God's Word by our own wisdom. In all our rotuliu" of the Scriptures lot us seek carefully to have the help of" the Holy Spirit; let us ask, for Jesus' sake, that lie will enlighten 11s ; He is willing to do it.

I will tell you how it fared with me, 0* the very first; it may he for yonr encouragement. It war in tho year 1829, when I was liviug in Hackney, not far from here. My attention had been called to the teaching of the Spirit by a dear brother of experience. "WbIL* I said, "I will try tliis plan; and will give myself to the cartful reading and meditation of tho word of God after prayer, and I •will see how much the Spirit is willing to teach me in this way."

AX ILLrSTRATIOK OP T1IIS.

I weot accordingly to my room, aud locked my door, and putting the Bible on a chair, T went down on my keees at the chair. There I remained for several hours in prayer aud meditation over the word of God ; and I can toll you that I learned more in those throo hours which I spent in this way, than I had learned for many month? previously. I found the blessing was so great, that all the manuscripts, which I had written down from the lectures of the professors of Divinity in the vmiver-nty that I previously attended, I now Considered to bo of so little value, that when, soon afior, I moved into Devonshire, I did not think them worth the carriage. This was because I uow found the Holy Spirit to be a better teacher than professors of Divinity. I obtained the teaching of the divine Spirit, and I cannot toll you the blessedness it was to my owu souL I was praying i„ the Spiril, and pulling my least iu the power of the Spirit as 1 Lad never dyne before.

You cannot, therefore, be surprised at my earnestness in prating lllis upon you, when you havo beard how precious to my heart it was, and how much it helped mo.

WEPITAri! ON TUB WOHD.

But again, it is not enough Co have prayerful reading only, but we mint also meditate on tho Word. As in the instance 1 have jiul referred to, kneeling More tho chair, I meditated on the Word; no! simply reading it, not simply praying over it; all that, but, in addition, pondering over whatl had read. This is deeply important If you merely read Hie Bible, and no more, it is just like wator running in at one side and out at the other. In order to be really benefitted by it, we must meditate on It.

Sot all of us, of course, can speud many hours, or even one or two hours, each day thus. Our business demands onr allentioD. Yet, however short tho time you can afford, give it regularly to reading, prayer, and' meditation over tho Word, and you will find it well repaid.

MAKB THE MEDITATION riaSOXAI. In connection with this, we should always read and meditate over the word of God, with reforonce to ourselves and our own heart. Tills is deeply important, and I Cannot press it loo earnestly upon you. We are apt often to read tho Word with reference to others. Parents read it in reference to their children, children for iheir parents, evangelists read it for tlioir congregations, Suuday-schoo] teachers for their classes. Oh! (his

HEAD IN FAITH. ''

is a poor way of reading the Word; read so it wUI not profit I say it deliberately and advisedly, the sooner it is given up, the belter for your own souls. Bead the word of God always with reference to your own heart, and when you have received the blessing in your own bOOH, you will be ablo tu communicate it to others. Whether you labour as evangelists, as pastors, or as visitors, superintendents of Sunday schools, or teachers, tract distributors, or io whatever other capacity you may seek to labour for the lord, be careful to let the roudmg of tho Word be with distinct reference to your own heart. Ask yourselves. How does this suit me, cither forinstruc-tion (or correction, for exhortation, or for rebuke ? How docs this affect me ? If you thus read, and get the blessing in your own told, how soon will it How out to othora. rbad im rarrH. Another point. It is of the utmost moment in reading the word of God, thut the reading should be accompanied with faith. " The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." As with the preaching, so with the reading—it must be mixed with faith. Not simply reading it as you would rood ft story, which you may receive 01 not: not simply as a statement, which you may credit or not, or as an exhortation, to which yon may listen or not; hut as tho revealed wiU of the Lord : that is, receiving it with I .v. lb, Baceivo) thus, it will nourish us, and we shall really reap booelit. Only in this way will it benefit us; and we shall gain from it health and strength, in proportion as wo receive it with real faith.

L aS FVIA'ESS OF THE REVE1.ATI0N. bb noma on the woho. Lastly, if God does bless us in rending Tlis word, He aspects that we should he obedient children, and that we should accept the Word as His will, and carry it inio practice, if this be ncgloeted, you will find that the reading of the Word, even if accompanied by prayer, meditation, and faith, will do yon Utile good. God does expect us to be obedient children, and will havo us practice what He has taught us. The Lord Jesus Christ BftyS: "If ye know these tilings, huppy are ye if ye do them." And in the measure iu which we carry out what our Lord Jesus taught, so in measure are we happy children. And iu such measure only cau we honestly look for holp from the Father, oven as we seek to carry ont His will.

If there is one single point I would wish to hate spread oil over this country, and over the whole world, it is just this, that wo should seek, beloved Christian friends, not to bo hearers of the Word only, bul doers of the Word I doubt not that many of you have sought lo do this already, hut I speak particularly lo those younger brethren and sisters who may not yet havo learned the lull force of this. Oh, seek to attend earnestly lo this; it is of vast importance. Suton will seek with much earnestness lo put aside tho word of Cod; bnt let us seek to carry it out and lo act upon it Tho Word must be received as a legacy from God, which we hove by ihc Holy Ghost. the rmsnss oe tot kcvslathix airra H mu worm.

And remember Hist, to the faithful reader of ihis blessed Word, it reveals all that we need to know of PSA YER.

SQ tho Father—all that we need to know about Ihe Lord Jesus Christ, all aboul the power of the Spirit, all about tho world that licth in tho wicked one, all about tho road to heaven, and tho blessedness of tho world lo come. In this blessed book we have the whole gospel, and all rnles necessary for our Christian life and warfare. Lot ns see, then, Hint we study it with our whole heart, and with prayer, meditation, faith, and obedience.

PR lYRE.

The next point on which X will speak for a few momouts, has been mora or less referred to already; it is that of prayer. "You might read the Word and seem to understand it very fully, yet, if you are not in the hubil of waiting conliuually upou God, you will mako little progress in the divine life. We have not naturally in us any good thing, and cannot expect, save by the help of God, to please Him, Therefore, it is the will of the Lord, that we should always owo our dependence upon Him, and it becomes us to follow in prayer tlieearnestuesa of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That blessed One gave us an example In this particular, He gave whole nights to prayer, and we find Him on the lonely mountain engaged by night in prayer. And as in every way He is to be on example to us, so, in particular, on this point, He is also on example lo us. The old evil, corrupt nature is sliil in us, though we are born again; therefore we have lo come in prayer to God for help. Wo have to cling to the power of the Mighty One, Concerning every tiling we have to pray. Not sunply when gr-ut troubles come, when our y> rKA YEH. house is «n fire, or our beloved wife is on tho point of death, or our dorr children are laid down in sickness, not simply ut sur.lt limes, but also iu little things. From (be very early morning, let us make everything a matter of prayer, and let it be so tlironghoot the day, and throughout onr whole life.

A Christian lady said, lately, that thirty-fire years ago she beard me apeak on this subject in Devonshire ; aud that then I referred to praying about little things. I had said, tliat suppose a parcel came to us, and it should prove ditfleult to untie the knot, and you cannot out it; then you should ask God to holp yon, exen to untie the knot. I myself hud forgotten IllG wordH, hut she has remembered them, aud the reuiombrauce bus been a great help to her again and agaiu. So I would say (o you, my beloved friends, there is nothing too small for prayer. Tn the simplest things connected with our daily life and walk, we should give ourselves to prayer; and wo shall have tho living, loving Lord Jesus to holp us. Even iu the uigat trilling matlers I give myself to prayer, aud often in the morning, even ere I leave my room, T have two or three answers to prayer in this way.

Young believers, in the very outset of tho Divine life, learn, iu childlike simplicity, to wait upon God for everything 1 Treat tho Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Friend, able aud williog lo help you iu everything. How blessed it is to bo carried in His loving arms all the day long! I would say, lltuc the divine life of tho believer is made up of a vast number of little circuuista.ncos aud littlo things. Every day there come before us a variety of little (rials, aud if vie seek to put them aside iu our S»

COURAGE. it in our roem and sloaiL He has suffered for us. And now tho only ouo thing that Sod looks for from the sinner ie, that we should put our trust iu tho Lord Jesus Christ, aud in Him alone, for the salvation of our souls. Wo must look entirely to Himself ; we must look only to the blessed Lamb of (rod, who was nailed to the Cross. Whosoever trustcth in Him shall be saved. Let his sins be never so many, yet ho shall have forgiveness for all his transgressions. Ho is bora again—is regenerated, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He will ho modo « child of God, an heir of Clod, aud joint-heir with Christ. Thanks he to His name. " whobath delivored us from tho power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."

If we have believed iu the Lord Jeans, wc are, however, not to be satisfied with Ibis, but to seek to odd to our fnitli virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; aud to temperance patience; aud to patience godliness.

COT/BA0B, "Add to your faith virtue." «'Virtue" here mean9 fortitude, or courage; implying that tho very first thing after believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, is, to own our attachment to Him. You must stand boldly out and make confession of Him. Some dear children of God think we may koop our religion to ourselves; there is no use io briugiug it before our friends, companions, or relations—no use getting into trouble with them about ll vThat is the result! The Lord Jesus Christ will not stand on our side to strengthen ua, if wc will FAIT/1 MUST COME T/HST.

31 own strength and wisdom, we shall quickly find that we are confounded. But if, on the contrary, wo take everything to God, we shall be helped, and our way shall be made plain. Thus our life will bo a happy life 1

VAirU MUST COMH FIRST.

There are two passages iu the word of God of tho docpeet moment to Christiana, and I would therefore speak on them. Tho first is in 2 Peter i. 5: " Besides this, add to your faith virtue," etc. It is here supposed that we have faith in tho Lord Jesus Christ, because wo ate commanded ioaddto our faith virtue, and these other graces. Tho apostle Peter is addressing believers, and hero to-night 1 am supposing that I am speaking to believers. Yet, peradvcntnro, tliora may be some who are not believers. To you, if there be any such, I would say, you arc sinners. You may bo young in tins life, or vou may be ndvuncod in years; you may ho vory moral" or otherwise; but in the sight of God you are sinners. This yon must, if yon would bo saied, realize and understand that yon ure sinners, and not only so, but sinuers deserving punishment. You are lost, and have no power of your own to save yourselves. Tho world talks about turning over a new loaf, but that will not satisfy Divine justice. The record of your past sins stands uptinst you, attd most bo blotted out.

What then? You are sinners, and siuners desernng of punishment, uothing but punishment. You must either Buffer that eternal punishment yourselves, or obtain another to bear it. Well, the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to bear this punishment. Ho 1ms born.

KNOWLEDGE. not take our stand by Him. Weak we are, weak wo mnst remain, as long as we are in this stale. I do not say you will go to ItelL But yon are half-hearted, and the Master wants valiant soldiers. He looks for fortitude. He will have us let those around tie know whose wc ore, honestly aud openly. Therefore wo ought to bo decided for Christ; that is of the utmost moment. The more we come out from tho world, the belter it will be for us in the things of God. We shall bo strengthened, and the holder we are for Christ, the happier will it ho for ourselves. Let nte Impress this 00 tie hearts of my younger brethre.. and sistora iu Christ; aud if thoy have not already done so, lot them make cc~-fession of Christ.

KSOWXP-DOR.

"Add to jour faith, virtue, and to virtue, knowledge." Here, agait,,wo huve something to learn. I havo already spoken of tho importance of reading and meditating 01. God's word; but here oomes a special cihori'tuiu to add to your faith, knowledge. We are not, to be satisfied with knowing that wo ore sinners, and that Christ is SU1 Saviour, but wo must seek to make progress iu knowledge. Why is this 1 Became to increaso in knowledge, is to increase in Ihe knowledge of God. And as we increase in this knowledgo of Him, we learn mote and more of His love; and that it is tho very joy of His heart to do us good. We sea more and more what a lovely Being God is; and the result of thU aaiu is, that wo are satisfied with His dealings with us.

I have passed through vory many trials, some of tbem

T&MPERJWCE. of no ordinary character; yet T hare rejoiced in God. For nearly ten years—from 1S38 to 184S—I had (Ktlu-ulty upon difficulty, scarcely anything but difficulty. But I hud always tlio help of CM, and always was joyous, even in the darkest day, because I knew (hat all URDU from God, my Father. On that account I flay Iu you, seek to inureusu in knowledge ; and then although there may full upon you trial and affliction, even heavy trial, deep affliction, yet if yon can My, " It is from my Father, my loving Father; from Him who spared not His Son for me, and from Him who hath said tliat He will make all tilings work together for good; having freely given up Jesus for rae, lie will freely give me nil tilings; therefore this trial must be good for ma, else Ho would uot suffer it to befall me." Yoci can easily seo how in snch a state of mind, we can pus* through these trials; even in the midst of thorn we may have calmness and pence, and even holy heavenly jay. Thus we shall be ablo to meet them. Thai is the result of being really acquainted with God. And the ODly way to gel this knowledge is, by diligent study of the Word, and hy the teaching ol the Spirit from that Word. Lot up, therefore, aim after this knowledge, and not he palisfied with the simple belief that we shall got to heaven.

TEMPERANCE. The apatite next says, ndd to your faith temperance. Now this is not merely abslaiuiug from excels in driuking—though it does mean that; hut self-control generally is here the meaning of this word. That is, regarding everything, whether meat or drink, or any co Dirmss, the Father's eye is upon us, and that wo scelt to he guided and directed in everything by Him. Oh that wo might, take up the meaning of all this, and carry it into onr lives!

Now, my beloved OariatiaB friends is it yoir culm, quiet purpose to aim after all Ibis? If so, yon may bo certain that God will givo you more power to follow Him. God allows us, for His own wise purpose*, to httvo our lot in this life caat auiidst daikness in many respects. But think not of that; remember, wo are getting nearer the end. The day is drawing near when the Lord .Testis Christ willcome. I do not Bay by this that T can specify the time, or that it will bo such ft Bdancb a ditto; I know nothing of the precise time. But this is certain, wo are trotting nearer,—nearer the end. Nearer the day when the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in glory to call Ilia waiting saiuls to meet Him in the air.

How the thought ought to warm our hearts, and to All us with a longing to serve Him, and to bo like Hint. If others are cold', then let ns seek to warm llicui. If other* are foolifih.let us seek to teach them. If 11k belackingiuothers, let us. His servants, bo burning coals to set them on fire. Let n& remember, ihat it is more blessed to give than to receive. Oh, tho blesseduess of bearing much lovo to other?, instead of receiving it only; of wanning others instead of boiug wanned only [ of teaching others instead of being taught ourselves only Oh, therefore, beloved it Christ, let it be n matter of great moment to you, that you aim after godliness, living near to God iu »"is life, that we may enjoy the blessedness of being living wit-UM ses lor Him \ Let us seek that we may be made burn-

GODLINESS.

35 other thing, that we do not give way to Uio abuso of anything God hag given us. It is here used as regarding our temper, appetites, mid deportment generally. Because by the nay in Which we conduct ourselves, or beliave ourselves, do we glorify God or dishonour Him. Tho world is watching us, to see how so-and-so, who has bceomo a Christian, behaves himself. And if they see us walk inconsistently, then do they speak against our Master i while if, on the ether hand, they see us walk consistently, they are compelled to give honour to our God.

PATIEKOE.

"And to temperance, patience;" that is?, to be satisfied with the will of (lad. If we have this contentment, wo shall ho able to endure tribulation and suffering, and even bereavement and sickncs3, satisfied tuut it is for the best. If wc arc tho children of God, we are but strangers and pilgrims hero. This is not our home, we here have no abiding oily; therefore we heed not the troubles or difficulties by the way, they will 600U pass. Let us therefore aim after showing, by our quiet, patient demeanour, that we are satisfied with Ccd.

QODUNESa. Add to your faith godliness, that is, the habit oi referring everything to God. Tlint we pray aliout everything and do everything as seeing Him who is above; thai we walk as confident that God is our strength ; that we walk by day and by night, as in the sight of God; in short, that we walk in holy, precious fellowship with God; that we remember that He is before us, and with us; that

CODLMESS. «

fag coals; and if all the brethren and sisters here were thus set on fire, how soon should we set Mildmay Park OQflrc. Then, would it not extend to Hackney? And then it would light up London itself. In helping to bless others we shall be greatly blessed in our own souls; and tho fire thos kindled will burn in our own hearts. 1 tie passage which follows this contains so much that I wilt rather leave it for our next meeting.

COUNSELS TO COKYERTS.

IIL

g2f seeking to lend a helping hand to my below*! fellow-disciplow, especially (be youuger ones, I came, at our lust meeting, to a portion ot Scripture containing deeply important iostrne-(iou, iu connectiou with this subject. You will find it io 2 Pet. i., from the fifth verse. I will lust rend a few verses, for the Bake of the connection, up i*> the rer?c at which I loft off.

I suppose, of roiiPrO, that those whom I address are trusting- in the atoning blood of toe Lamb alone, for the salvation of their souls; but if any be present who know oot the Saviour, may God iu the riches of Hia grace stir them up » see the slate in which they are by nature. We are all sinners doser ng punishment, aud noiliiog but punishment, in the * -at© in which we are by nature ; and thu only way we can escape it, is by having

A BUllSTfTDTO

10 bear the punishment. This substitute God has provided in the person of Ilia only begotten Son, dosos Christ, who has been punished in our room and stead, ami whose perfect obedience unto deiiih, oven the dea.u of Iho

POINTS ALREADY CONSIDERED. Vt

erces,has been accepted in the room of sinners, who, by trusting in Him alone, can obtain the saltation oi then; oouls. All here piweD! who have not ycl trained iu Him, may east thorns** upon the mercy of God, bymoopliDg what Ho has provided in tho poison ana work ol Iho Lord Jesus. Thns tliey would become like us, who have obtained forgiveness would be delivered from in. power Of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of His dear Ron; would bo brought from amfawsHBM liHUt, and ohlaiu poaCe to their souls! would bo brought on the road to heaven, and made children of God, and jotot-heirs with Christ; and would bavo the bright, blessed ncv.pret of glory ; and, while on the road to their homo, would liave a part in tbo intercession of the Lord Jesus Chri.L.wbo is at tbo right hand of God, and who is coming again to receive us W Llimsoll, Out wbero Ho is, there we may be also.

POINTS ALBBADr COXSrOKRRD.

How, as I said before, I snppose that all present linvo believed on the Lord Jesus. Christ: then are you doing M Peter writes, "Add to your faith virtue?" Agaui I mention that this word " virtue" is used in the sense of courage or fortitude, particularly Implying that wo „ro to make confession of Christ, nod lo aland oat for Him, and boldly own Him before a wicked world.

Then, as I already unsolved, we are also to increase in knowledge, specially in the knowledge of the revelation which God has been pleased lo make of Himself and His dear Son in the Holy Scriptures. Tins precious book shows lo us tho vanity of this world, aud the blessedness ff

40 BRO TI1F.RL Y KINDNESS. and reality of heavenly thing** and the joys that await us in the Father's house, "And to knowledge, temperance." This means sclf-coutrol; not merely to abstain from excess iu drinking. It means far more, referring 10 our temper, way of life, our speech, aDd whole deportment; to be living in the world as becomes the children of God. And to this add patience; quietly waiting for God in the hour of trial aud deep affliction, aud expecting Him to deliver us.

And to this add godliness; that is, tho habit in which everything is brought to God, and referred to Him ; in which we seek to walk to tho praise aud honour and glory of God, and at all times and under all circumstances to make this our business—our especial business—to live for God aud uudc-r tbo oye of God; and that we do not turn away onr eyes from God. but that wo seek to go straight on, walking with God all the day long; living, ijujiking, acting for Him; cultivating the precious habit in which wo walk with and live for God, Thus far we proceeded on the hut erening. Now we come to BBOIflBALT KranKltsa; that is, "the love of tho brethren." That especially is to he aimed after, and if this is wanting, there is very much wanting. The heavenly Futbcr looks for love among His children, whom ITe has loved with an eternal aud unchangeable love. He would have ns love one another. And if we do not love the brethren, where is the proof Butt we love Ginf ? God duos specially look for this love, and He would have us add to all other gcacos, particu-Uuiy this grace—the love of the brethren, RESULT OF THIS—FRUIT. «1

And more, we arc to add to all this, cii Aiurr; that is, universal love. Sol merely arc we to love the children of God, but lo love those who wo not of us, and who do not love os. We aro to love those who do not care in the least for us. Wo are to love those who do noi walk wi'Ji ns on tho road lo heaven, and whom we have never even soon or heard of. We are to love every one of the human family; that is ihe will of our heavenly Father regarding us.

He would have the heart, of His children so large as to take iu all; and then we havo whal is commanded— universal love, which will manifest ilself in seeking to do good to all onr feltow-meu.

Wo shall seek lo do them s°°d in every possible way, but specially in Striving after the salvation of their souls. For this is what our heavenly Father teaches us, when Ho causes His snn lo shine on tho evil u» well as on the good, and when His rain desceads on the just and Ihe unjust By all this He would teach os to lovo everyone, oven our enemies themselves. " To brotherly kindness, therefore, add charity "—love to all.

TBX RH3ULT OP TUIS—ntLIT. Now comes the neit thing | what is the practical result of all Ibis! It is fruit. " For if these things be in yon and abound, thoy make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

If wo seek to " add to onr faith virtue, aud to virtu. knowledge, aud lo knowledgo temperance, aud lo temperance patience, and to paiieneo godliness, and lo godli-

THE CONTRA R Y RESULT. ness brot!iorly kindnea, and lo brotherly kindness charity"; then, if thae tliht be in n» and abound, « we shall neither he barren Dor unfruitful in the knowledge of OUT Lord Josus Christ,"

It is impossible to lead an idle life, if these things bo found in us j for we shall be seeking to bring glory to God, and it is impossible that we should not bear fruit. If these things bo found in us, it is uttpwutfle lo stand still in the divine life; we sludl Purely make proarsa to the pr.-iise and honour and glory of God. We shall bear fruit. And the result will be that wo nhivll not merely bear frail thirty-fold, not merely forty-fold, in-forty-fivefold, not even fifty, fifiy-fH-p, or sixty-fold only; but there ia the possibility, even in this Jailer part of the niaeteeoUi century, to bring forth fruit eighty or ninety-fold; and who shall tell us there is not even the possibility of bearing Emit a hundred-fold? But whether we do hear fruit to this extent or not, it should be our nim to benr frnit abundantly; and if wo nim at sixty or seventy-fold, wo may have a hundred-fold.

TOE CONTRARY RESULT.

But now notice;—"lie that laekeih those things is blind, and cannot see afar off. aod hath forgotten that he was pureed from his old suis." That is the state of tbe mau who dots noL seek* to add to his faith these graces. "Ho that lac Ueth these things" (that is, he that neglecteth these things) "cannot hoc afar off" fthut is, is dim-sighted).

It must be 90, ray brethren. He may have good natural sight, needing no spectacles; he may have clear

F

44

THE CONTRARY RESULT.

Remember, then, that" he that laa Heth those things U blind." He has not the mind of God j lie has more or less tbe mind of the world ; and if you bring certain things before him, such as the importance of prayer, that man will probably say you are too religious, too pions; he etinnot understand you. Why is all this? Why should a man who hue been forgiven and plucod on the mad to ue&vea, whose eyes have been opeaed to spiritual things, become thus blind ? It is by neglecting to add to his faith these graces, he has become dim-sighted concerning the heavenly realities, ho has been spiritually blinded, and has forgotten the state from which lie was delivered. How deeply important, therefore, that we should cultivate these graces I Vary many Of the dear children of God, who, at the commencement of their divine lifo saw clearly their state, that they were sinner-, am! deserving puuishmeul, and who, through the blood of lUv Lord Jesus Christ, by fnilh iu liim, had pence, and had known the enjoyment and blessedness of fellowship with God, by getting careless and worldly-minded, and by living to a greater or less degree under the influence of this world, have at last forgotten that their sins were all forgiven, aod tho* they are the children of God.

Thus they lose all tbe blessed enjoyment of their position, as children of God and heirs of heaven ; and what is the result of all this? Tliey more aod more settle down in this world, and become less and less spiritually-iniuded, and become more and more lovers of this world.

What a sad state is this, and oh! my beloved brethren, I

THE CONTRARY RESULT. 43 judgment >boat busman mailers, and a thoroughly deal- judgment o( all temporal manors of lliis life; yet, if lie Joes not seek to add to Ilia faith all these things, he ia aim-sighted, ha has not spiritual juigo Mnt or discernment, and all his worldly wisdom ia nothing. IIo becomes n hindrance to his follow disciples instead of a helper; and instead of n counsellor to bis yoonger brethren in Christ, he becomes a darkencr of counsel. How deeply important, not to get into such a slate, and therefore, my young brethren and sisters iu Christ, I beseech you not to allow yourselves to become spiritually blind.

" And hath forgotten that lie was purged from hia old sins." What a sad thing it", niter all that God has done Tor vou, in bringing you to see lhat yon are by nature sinners, in holping you lo believe on Ihe Lord Jena Christ, so that your sins havo been forgiven, and you have beon delivered from the powers of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son,—how if, after all this, you become blind, or dim-sighted, and your heavenly visiou becomes obscured I

If onr now light were lo he darkoned—those eyes which, by the power of the Spirit, have been enlightened—how s»d it would be 1 H by reason of carelessness or worldly-mindeduoss, we should lose this spiritual sight, oh, how great the dnrltnoss would he! God's saints are all to danger of this. Not only until wo havo been believers ten, twenty, or thirty years, hut as long as we are in the body, ihero is this dauger. How deeply important, then, for us to take measures lo bu kept from this spiritual blindness]

MAKE OUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE. ,S

may God keep us all from falling into it. Therefore it b that I do desire lo warn you age.nst ceasing to add* vour faith all those graces: viruie knowledge temperance, patience, godliness, brolhorly-k.udncss, aod chanty. All thae things are to bs added.

And now, " Wherefore, the rather." That >s, because of nil that has boon said, we are to aim after » giving all iiligeuce, lo

MAiru ooo caixrra asu axcraa erare." novo we all done this? Is it true of you nil, my Moved brothers »ud sis.ers in Christ, lhat you havo made your calling and election sure? J. ft a. certain with jou all, thai rou will go to heaven, as if you were XuC-say.-howeanwedothis?- Justby ..tending to the point, brought before us in the previous verses. For if we atiend to oil Ihesc things, .hen we Saks our culling and electa*.sure. We shai have the assurance in onr own soul, that wo are the child en of God; lhat we havo received the forgiveuM. of snu, and that our Father loves us ; .hat we are on tho road .0 heaven, and that w. have before us the bright and Mossed p-specl of glory, and are Mj gstttog "n«rer home" l and that we shall most assuredly reach heaven at ""tn order to have this blessed assurance, let ns, my beloved brc.hr™, aim alter all these things, that we ma, moko our calling and election sure. ,,...,„

There is such a thing as doing this. I should be doing dishonour to my Gcd, and foiling in my duty, if I did

NOT A STONY-GROUND HEARER,

DILIGENCE.

47 not bear witness to-day thai I have mnd? my calling and election sure. After having been about fifty years a lieliever, T bear testimony that I know I am a child of God, that I hare been forgiven, and that I am on the road to heaven. And although, in myself, nothing bet a poor, weak, miserable sinner, and though if T had only committed the lUiioth part of tho sins I have been guilty of, I know X should deserve punishment—nothing but punishment; yet, notwithstanding all this, I am as certain of going to heaven as if I were there already.

Why, why in all this certainty ? Because God, by His Spirit, declares. "Whosoever boliovoth in the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish,' but have everlasting life." I take God at His word, in childlike simplicity, uud honeo I have the enjoyment of His promise.

And although I am but a poor, miserable sinner, deserving punishment, yet I know I shall have everlasting life through Christ, and not only shall have everlasting life, but I. have it even now. Therefore I have made my calling and election sure.

Moreover, 1 know by the grace of God that I am not a slouy-grouud hearer. Why do 1 know this? Because, having heard the Word I received it, and the cares of ihi world have not choked it; the persecutions of this world havo not dried it up; in the hour of temptation I still had the word of God in my heart, and did not take my eye away from the cross; and therefore I know I am SOT A STOST-GROuSn HI A BEE.

I am not a hearer only, but a doer, in some little measure, of the Word; and though I am weak, 1 can say that I know I have made my calling and election sure. If, after all Ibis, my beloved brethren, you are not aorc of it, oh, be not satisfied till the matter is ecttled.

And what is the result of all ibis? The beggarly elements of this world affect me very little, because I have heavenly joy iu my heart. I do not enre for The money, the rank, or the honour of this evjl world, and oil its other allurements which attract many. I have something better—better far. Tho heavenly things am tho best lever to lift your minds out of this world into heaven. Therefore aim after this certainty as to heaven, and it will raise you above the things of this life.

It is deeply important, my beloved younger brethren and sisters, to make a good beginning in this* way, and to continue time, and lima your joy and assurance will increase more and mom. Your path will be as thai of the just, which u sbiueth more and more unto the perfect day." Why should it not he so ? We ought to increase. Yon and I are neither prophets nor apostles, yet oar path ought, na that of the jusl, to "shine more and moro ODtO the perfect day."

Dii.ru Evon. In order that it may be thus, let us give heed to tM», "Wherefore, the rather, brethren, give diligence" (mark that word M diligence ") " to make your calling and election sure." Why so? "Per if ye do these things, ye shall never full." If you go on in this way, the world Will not be able to say, "Look afi the drunkard, who calis himself a Christian I Look at that thief who calls himself ft Christian! or that idle, slothful man, BM how be behaves tobis wifp; or see how she neglects her family and husband, and yet calls herself a Christian woman."

"None .*hall be nblu to say such things of the child of God, so lung as he continues to walk in these ways of which 1 b*va Wen speaking ; and thus reproach shall no* be brought upon the name of the Lord, and " if ye do these things, you shall never fall." And you shall never bring dishonour, but rather honour and glory to God.

AH ABCXDANT ESTltANCB.

" For so an entrance shall be ministered unto yon abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesns Christ." We shall he like ve-scls under fall sail, entering the port. That is what we should aim after, " an abumhmt ouuuuce." Not like a house on fipB, from which there is the possibility of bringing out perhaps a chair or a table, snatched, as it were, from the lire; "a brand plucked from the burning."

In this way some children of God escape at the last content if they simply gel ioto heaven and no moro Bet this ought not to be the case with yon and me. We should be liko vessels in full sail entering the port, having an abundant entrance. Let us aim after this, calmly and quietly bidding adiou to this evil world, joyously waiting for tho coming of the Lord, rejoicing in the Lord iibundnntly.

Alter this we must also aim, so to live as that we may oot have to look back in deep sorrow that we have loved the world. Let os keep this before us, and especially you, my beloved younger brethreu and sisters in Christ, while the midcilo-agod and the aged ought to remember

AN ABUNDANT ENTRANCE. 49 it too; that you havo but one brief life to spend for God, nud surety this one briof lito ought to be spent to the honour, and praise, and glory ol God.

T have ono moro passage, full of deeply important matter to which I wish to direct your attention, by the help of God. You will find it in Kph. vi., and this, for the present, will be the last portion lo which I shall direct your attention, except the Lord on Friday evening should lead me to anything else. I shall now only outer upon it, and shall not be able to finish it to-night; but will continue it 00 Friday evening.

The portion it» verses 10 to 18 of chapter vi. This passage, for the first four or livo years after my conversion, was one from which, when I come to read it, there was a kind of shrinking in my uiiud; because I read it merely as a commandment, and found myself reproved by it; therefore 1 shrank from it.

One Lorda-day, about forty-five years ago, T awoke early in the morning, about five o'clock. I fnlt tired—very tired, having had a great deal to do on the day previous. I felt T should liko to spend another hour in bed; but il came to my mind, "This is the LordVday, and there can be nothing belter than lo rise and give myself to prayer aud meditation." 1 did so, and in the course of my reading 1 ctmeto this sixth chapter of Ephcsians. I began reading; I soon saw that it was full of the gospel —blessedly full of the gospel. It pleased God to bless it greatly 10 my soul that day, and, eversince, thia portion has been particularly dear to my heart

I desire now, as God may help mo, to bring hefore you what the Holy Ghost would teach us in these verses.

TRUE STRENGTH.

" Finally," tho apostle says, as if he meant, Now, after 11 have said, let us sum it up iu the following verses ■ My brethren." This word "brethren" ia to be tpccially noticed. Aa if he meant to say, this is a word x beliovors, and specialty for them. " Be strong in the ord, uud in the power of His might," TRUE STOCMOTn.

The firat point here is, for the beloved fellow-disciples never for a moment to suppose that they have, or can have, any strength of their own. And, because they are converted, and are not now dead in treapareefl and sins, and bnve boon brought from death unto life, yet they are not to suppose that they have any strength of their own. 41 Be strong in the Lord." In ourselves we are utterly wealt, and in ourselves we remain weak as wo are by nature. Our strength is in Lho Lord ; and by looking to God, through the Lord Jesua Christ, we receive wi Bdoin, strength, help, and, in short, everything we can possibly need as we pass through this vale of tears.

Therefore do we especially need this exhortation, * Be stroog in the Lord." We caunol light, we can do nothing of ourselves ; we have no might nor strength of our own. And if any one should say he thinks ho has any strength or power iu himself, T would say, " My brother, you are mistaken ; you have no such thing."

And this wo have to remember to the very last moment of our life. I desire day by day, and hour by hour, to remember this, and I request all of you to remember it, that you may never suppose you have aDy strength or wisdom of your own. If you do so, you are THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. 51 neglecting the resources laid up in Jesus Christ j and moreover if you do so, you will not make use of the wisdom, power, and strength which God has laid up for us in the hour of our weakness, iu the person of His beloved Son, tho Lord Jesus Christ Therefore is this exhortation much needed, " Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HU might." " Put on the wholo armour of God, that yo may be able to stand against the wiles of the deviL"

The next time we shall ecu, if the Lord will, the deep importance of this exhortation to put on the wU'.e armour of God. But now 1 with you to notice that it is of great moment that we should POI OH THE WJIOLG AHMOUR 01' OOD.

Nut simply the breastplate; not simply the helmet; not simply taking the shield; but tho whole armour of God. And these words, "put on" the whole armour, are to indicate to os, to in alee use of the armour. It is to be " put on." It ia ono tiling to know the armour which God has provided. We may know all about it very intimately, hut U is a different thing to put it on. Yot, God has provided this armour, in order that wo may put it on. and thus be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

If we do not put it on, then it will profit us nothing. Just as it IS with lho gospel. God provides it for us; Ho has made this provision in order that wo may oscape punishment: and Christ says that they who believe shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Yet if poor siuuers do not receive Christ, if they reject Him, and go ou trusting in self, or liviug ia carelessness and utter

THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. indifference as to tho things of God, then all this I provision for them, through tho sufferings and work 0: the Lord Jssna Christ, will profit them nothing. They must appropriate it, by God's grace, to themselves.^

Now, it i* precisely so with the saints. Thoy will not profit hy tho armour, unless they put it on. But ono says, " I am so weak." What then ? You stand all the more in need of it; cry," Oh, my Father, I am Thy weak child; help me to put on Thy armour." God will accept thy cry, and He will help the weak one who 80 cries.

There is an apparent contradiction between, on the one hand, the sovereignty of God, which ia plainly revealed, and on the other hand, the * will of man." Wo have no power of our own, and yet wo aro responsible persons. We are commanded distinctly to receive and obey the gospel; and if. we do not, yet we are responsible.

If, however, we foci our own utter iuability, then let us "o to Cod, uud say to Him, " I am weak and sinful, and tsuiuot receive the gospel. Help Thou mo." If wo do this, we shall be helped, as God is willing to do *o, and willing to blew us, if we only seek Him.

So it is with the armour of God. If we are weak, let ns say, " Father, see Thy weak child. Yet I wish to put on this armour. Help thou me." You will find that Ho is willing to help us.

But why is it so important that wo put ou the wholo armour of God, and not a part only? For this very reason, that we should bo able to ST&SV AOATBST TETR WTLBB Or THE DEVJL.

There ore mauy vi those who say, with the ungodly

THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. 53 world, that there is 00 such person as the devil. Bnt the Hoh Ghost reveals the fact that there is such a person. I am as thoroughly convinced of this in my inmost tool, as I am convinced of the reality of the person and work of the Lord Jesns Christ; and of the existence of the Father of our Lord Jrsus Christ, and of tho salvation of ull those who believe in the Lord Jesua Christ.

Bui while it is true that there is such a person, and whUe it is true that he who is against na ia mighly,-Tery mighty, y« this is also true that Ho that is for us is still more mighty; and that in lho riches of His grace He has created and provided for His poor weak children the whole armour, whereby they may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. And as long as we muLe use of this whole armour, we shall find how ready He is to help OS iu all our weakness and helplessness- "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but •gainst principalities and powers; against the rulers of the darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness in high places." We have a conflict, hut it is not a con-filet of this world. It is not according to the ideas of Ibis world. As, for instance, when in au earthly conflict ■oldier wrestles against soldier, flesh and blood against flesh and blood. Sotthusisourwarfare. It is of a spiritual ehoracter.ano altogether against spiritual forces; « against principalities and against powers, against the rulos of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." In a word, against the power of the evil one.

Hero we stop, and from this, if God will, we shall go

THE WILES OP THE DEVIL. on next Friday evening to consider the whole armour of God. And those who come here, I affectionately advise io consider it before yon come Rend the passage, and seek to meditate upon it with reference to your own heart, and Iry 10 see how far you understand these verse* Thus oar meditations, when we come together, will be all the mora prolitable. I hav* it particularly laid on my heart to flay a word on this portion of Scripture, whieh 1 have found repeatedly to be food to iny own soul, and which I trust uiuy he also made profilabla to others* m&ffl&

COUSSKl£ TO CONVERTS.

[ HE portion Eroin whicli I have it laid on my heart to speak a few words of rouusel and rc advice, especially to the younger brvlliron and ■ eUlerain Christ, yon till BndinEph. vi. 10-18. I Lave already observed ll>e deep inporunes of never, in Ihe last degree, relying on oar own powor nnd energy, or upon our p«»t experience, or upon what wo think «acanMOomplidl in the thingaof God ; but ralher throughout 10 distrust ourselves, even to the very close of our earthly pilgrimage, and only to rely upon the power and wisdom of God Himself, so that in His power and might wo may go forward in the battle. we Knar POT OS Tns wuoix AltHOtm Of ood; ana regarding this, we have observed the deep importance of putting on the triofe armour of Cod. Evtry pan of Ihe armour whieh God Himself has been pleased to provide for His children, is absolutely required, in order that wa may be fully furnished for the conflict. And for this very purpose has the armour been provided, that wo may be able to stand against tho wiles of the devil. That adversary is very subtle and crafty, and he is ever watching that ho may get an advance over os. In order to lay still

L " WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU? greater .stress on this, tho apontlo, by the girnlance of the Holy Ghost, proceeds to say, " For we wrestla not against flesh and blood." The battle is not that of army against army, or man against man, as in this world, " but against principalities, itguin>t powers, against the riders of tho darkness of Uiis world, ugaiiist spiritual wickedness in high places."

Hero I observe particularly, the deep importance of ever keeping before tis, thnt we have really and truly to fight against the powers of darkness. And if at any lime any of us should, through ilio subtlety of Satan, yield to the temptation that there is oo such thing as a real personal devil, let them be aware that that is just one of his chief divines, in order to throw the child of God off his guard, so diai he may the mora easily get power over him.

TUB CAPTAIN Or OUR SALVATION.

Verily, there is such a being as the devil. And he fa mighty, ns well as oapprienccd. But also, for our comfort, let us keep this before as, that greater is lie that is for us than oil thai can be against us. And therefore with courage wo may go forth against the powers of darkness aud spirit nol wickedness in high places. As long as we recogniso our own weakness and unpnfenoy, and depend upon God, we shall be helped even against these powers.

Thns far we hare already proceeded. Now, " WIIIlREFOnE TAKlt UNTO TOU."

Wherefore; that is toSRy, because tho conflict fa what it is, and hecanse it is what hits been described, because wo do not fitfht against niau, or against ilesh and blood, bus ngninat the powers of darkness, and against

THAT OLD SERPENT WHICH IS THE DEVIL. 57 spiritual evil powers, " Take unto you tho wholo armour of God, that ye may bo abb to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." For this very purpose tho armour is provided for us, that we may be able to withstand and finally to overcome.

Now lot not any dear child of God snppose, as there is at. times a danger of supposing, that because the conflict is what it is—because it is spiritual, and because our enemies are so many and bo mighty, that, therefore, it is utterly useless to nttompt to fight against the powers of darkness. Hot ao. Let us go with goad courage to the conflict. The will of the Lord is that we should " BH OP GOOI> codraoe "; and under whatever circumstances of danger, perplexity, or of trial, the child of God may be placed, let him always be of " good courage." Who ahull harm us, if God is for list If ne is on our side, who shall then withstand usf

But let us never trust in self, else we shall quickly find how weak wc are. Especially let us never begin to reason with the devil; he *v too much for us. The will of God fa, never, never, never, under any circumstance, to reason with the tempter. Ho who bogius to reason, is certain to fall; because wc have ever to keep before us who the devilis, and what power he baa; and,therefore, if we begin to reason, we ate Mure to be overcome.

THATOJ-D SBWEirr WHICH IS Tlltt DBYX&.

We know not h.iw long tho chief of tho evil spirits has been in existence ; but wo know that he was in existence at the creation of the world, and was the originator of evil.

'THE EVIL DAY."

Therefore, from (ho tiuio ho deceived our first parents, ho has reasoned with a great number of people, aud has thus gaincdavast experience. Thinkofnll this vast experience, and of all the wiles he has learned, and you will see how absurd it is to attempt lo reason with J*utaa. God's blessed Word is enough, aud (hat is (he only thing he cuuuo Ulnnd against. But if you begin to reasou With the devil, it ia certain that you caiwot stand.

Never, then, attempt to reason; especially you, my younger brethren and sisters in Christ. Learn at tho outset of tho divine life that you must not reason, aud that, if you do, you will fall. When tempted, take the blessed book, and say, " My Lord says so-and-so, and I believe it; " end in child-like simplicity rest upon it. Satan cannot stand against tliflt. u Take unto you tho whole armour of God, that ye may he able to withsluud in the evil day, aud having done all to stand."

Notice further that word

"EVIL DAY."

W hat is particularly meant U the day of temptation; tlut is the evil day. And on that day we are totake comfort in the knowledge that God b our helper. Kut in a certain sense the whole of this life is au ovil day, because of tho power of Satan, and because of the world which surrounds us. The devil is ever on iho watch to get at us, and therefore in a ceriain sense the whole time wo are in the body is the evil day. Tho whole armour of God is given to ns, not to ho usud on this particular day, or thai, but to bo worn during the wholo pilgrimage of THE SLEEP OF DEATH. 59 this life. We may have fought very successfully for a time, but still we arc to keep it on.

In the armies of this world, you all know how it is— battle after battle lias been fought, and success has been gained. What then P The armour ia put off and now, the soldier* rest. But not thus with tho armour of God. The whole pilgrimage is a time of war ; the conflict cease3 not, hut must he maintained throughout life.

1I1E BLEEP OtfUKATB.

Hut to you who nro not alive spiritually, who are dead in trespasses and sins and have no conflict, I any, affectionately, it is tho slumber of death which is upon yon. Tho life which you now live will bo terminated, unlosa you are awakened, in eternal spiritual death. Therefore if you are not awakened, seek with all earnestness of purpose to bo made to know your own state, aud to seek to becomo alive through Jesus Christ.

The gospel is yet preached to you—tho loor of mercy is still open wide. The very fact that you ire here to-day shows, that the gospel door is open yet. Oh, wess into the door—believe the gospel—obey the commandment to receive tho gospel, aud trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, aud in Hun alone, for the salvation of your souls I

Then, if you do so, you will, iu the riches of God's grace, receivo the forgiveness of your sins; you will be regenerated, aud, although you weredcad in trespasses ami sius, you will instantaneously bo made a child of God, aa heir of God, joint-heir with Christ; be brought ou thu road to heaven, and have tho bright aud blessed prospect of everlasting lite before you. Then, and oaly then, yon will 60 •* HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND." know something practically and experiment/illy of the conflict against the powers of darkness.

It is to those, then, who are believers, and who know what theconflietU, that X speak this evening. Aud to you beloved brethren aud .-istcis in Christ, but especially the younger brethren and sisters, T say, never allow yourselves to 1)0 at ease with regard to the conflict.

It is written here, " AKD HAVING nONE AM. TO STAND."* Oh, how deeply impoiiaut it is to notice Unit we must be prepared to stand firm. Again and again do we see tho child of God who has set out well, and who lias continued 1 for a lime to run well, and who bos given np the world, with its habitt and customs, it* passions and pursuits; has renounced all these, and has rejoiced the heart of the I/ird Jeans Christ, as well as the hearts of God's dear children ; his gone oa for a year or two, and tKen he begins to hanker after this world ; then he begins to take his ease in the conflict.; another year or two, and he is as much in tho world as ever he was.

What a sad, sad, sid case is this ; yet how frequently do wo see it occur. To avoid it, if I may be permitted to use my experience, ■ sa y to the beloved children of God, Jle satisfied with nothing short of this, that you are going on in the self-sauic decided way for God as you did at tho beginning. Continue to keep on the armour of God, aud say, l?y His grace I will stand.

Let it never be said of yon, That man began well, and has not gone on well. Let it he so that any who knew us in 1S30, and now sees us in 1SV5, can say of us, Well, "HAVING YOUR LOINS GIST WITH TRUTH." 6» after forty-five years havo passed away, that man is as decided as ever.

I ask myMU, and answer it as before God, and I ask you, my brethren also, to answer before God, How is it with ds? Arc you as decided as at the beginning* If not, there a something wrong. Having been very decided for God is not enough; wo must be so still, oven continually; ever resisting the powers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places.

Lot m[ then, never settle down at ease to enjoy tho victory. That «• never the esse in this world. There ia no permanent victory here ; it is far off m yonder world, in the bright blessed etornily which is awaiting us. We sliall have victory and rest there, but here, in this life, we have to fight— fight on in the conflict uf lite.

Now lot us consider the armour itself.

HAVING TOOK L01HS UIRT ifiOVT WITH TOOTH."

To most of yon, my dear Christian friend?, I scarcely need to sav, that we have here to keep before us, not the common English soldier with his firearms aud modem equipment, but soldiers as they were in those early days, end especially the Roman soldiers. The nature of their armour aud warfare we have to keep before ns.

Now at that time it was a matter of great importance to the soldiers to have a girdle to gird thomsolves. By means of this giidle the soldier braced himself for the march aud the conflict. The clothes were thu* lied close to the body, in order that tho soldier might not be hindered ia Ins marching, nor in his fighting, as the fighting often consists in one man fighting against another man.

6a THE BREASTPLA TE OF RIGHTE OUSNESS.

Now, in the spiritual conflict, what have we for a girdle ? It is the truth of God. This brings before us Ihe fact, that, just in the measure in which we hold the blessed truths of God'sword, so in measure, and onlysoin measure, are we ready for the conflict.

Every particle of error hinders us iu oar spiritual conflict. We arc helped in the measure in which we adhere to the truth of GoJ. And while (he temptation in the case of the young disciple may be to soy," I know I am n child of God, and that Jesus Christ has savod me, therefore what does it matter whether I understand this or that particular truth or Out, or this or that particular doctrine or not," yet it is a matter of great moment. Tfecause, in such udegt'ooas we understand ihe truth, so shall we be able to sliuid in the hour of conflict, and so much the loss shall we be hindered in this onr conflict.

We ought to hold the truth iu all its parts —every particle of the truth us revealed to us ; and we ought uot to have our favourite parts, and only those of God's word to which we pay particular attention, to the neglect of other equally important parts. And just in proportion as we seek to knoiv the whole wealed truth, so shall we be strengthened, us with a girdle, for tho conflict.

TT11C BHDAIHTLATE OP RlGIITEOrSSBSfc

This part of the armour of n Roman soldier was generally made of a piece of iron or brass, and which particularly covered and protected the vital parts, such as the heart, lungs, and liver. A veiy important thing, then, was the "breast plate," or piece of iron or brass, covering, as it did, the vital parts of the Roman soldier. Wow, wo have THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.

63 to atk ourselves, in connection with this, "What is this* What have we for a breast-plate to protect us?

One or another says, we must live a righteous life. True, welmvo to seek (o live a righteous lifei but this is not tho point here. It is this, that wo seek continually, as \ms weak sinners, 10 hide ourselves in the righteousness of the I-ord Jeana Christ

Iu ibis spiritual conflict there is nothing so important} a* that from the very beginning of the spiritual course, wo begin as poor miserable sinners, trusting alone in the righteousness of Christ, —the righteousness which the fclessod One has wronght out for siuuers, the righteousness in which alone we trust before God. This the only ground on which we expert God to help na, to answer our prayers, and doliver us from the difficulties with which we meet in our spiritual conflict.

Tim BIGT!TtW>D3SR98 or CHRIST.

It is, then, deeply important to *eo that we ore poor sinners, miserable aud weak in ourselves, but that Jesus is our all and in all; not only thus at tho beginning, but thus we most go on ; not only two or tlirce years, not even five, ten, or twenty years, and then trust in our own merits, but that we continue as loug as wo live to depend BOloly on the rightcousuess of Christ- It is not only at our conversion that this is so deeply important, when wo are mado new creatures and enter upon this warfare; bnt it ia equally important at all times in our spiritual life. So thnt when tho devil says—as he will say—" DoyOu expect to get, to heaven, you miserable sinner? You do not aoservB it; luok at what yon have dono! Ko such thing; 64 THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. you need not expect it. you will not get there." When he says that, what is the answer to be ? u It is true that I have sinned ; yet for Christ Jesus' sake—poor miserable sinner as I am—in His righteousness, I shall yet bo in heaven." What is !he result of this ? You rise 1

The devil seams to luive you down, and seeks lo give you your death blow; yet you rise 1 1 Ie seems to have ub Utined the mastery over you, and yet you rise again, because you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and not in self, aud yon stand before God uot iu yourself, hut in Christ. And though a poor miserable sioner, yet through Jesus, who mases you clem in His blood, you know you will get to heaven at last.

When you thus go to Christ, and take refuge in Bis righteousness, tho devil is outwitted. Therefore remember particularly to have on this breastplate.

If tli" Roman soldier had not put ou his breastplate, how easily he would have been cut down wheu his breast was nnprotccted. So it is with us; it is important thai we should put on " the breastplate of righteousness."

KEKT SHOD WITH TTIK TTiffPAKATlON 0? TDB ooernL op phage,"

What fa the meaning of this ? I invited you last Tuesday evening, to meditate on these verses; you may have considered it, but now consider it again with me. What is the meaning uf this—" your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" ?

These soldiers, of whom we have been speaking, did not go baro-fOOtttl into the battle; for if so, and it were man wraitliDg agaiu&t man, how easily they might slip and fall

THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 65 dowu while lighting ouo against tho other. Neither did they wear sandals, which would uot have afforded full p Election to the fecL The common thing amongst these , add tore was to wear strong boots. ilauy of my friends may remember the name of one of ihe itoraan empcrora, Caligula, which mentis, " ii Ltle boot." lie was called thus because he became u soUKee when very young, and liis feet were so small tliat none of tho ordinary soldiers' boots would suit him, and he had to have liltle bouts mode ou purpose for him. I simply rouiiud you of this to show that the common practice among*t the soldiers was to wear boots, in oidor that ihey might be the better helped wilh regard to their warfare. ifciots also were of especial importauce, ou account of marching. Tho roads at thnt time were rough and rugged, aud thuti these bouts were of great service in the war, as they bad !•) march in rank uguintit ihe enemy. Ami BO our spirit Hid boots protect us wheu ou the rough march of life, as also in the lwiu-of coutliet. Wo, who are the cliildren of God, h.ive a provision made for us in this respect, and it is tho giipol of ponce which God has provided for us, that we may be able to march homewards through the rough paths of hie, aod even to stand in the hour of conJIicL

Wbatis this preparation of tho gospel of peace? It moans, we are the children of God, and we arc no longer at emuity with God, but are at peace with Him. Our sins are for-given in the Lord Jesus ClirisL God is well plan-\ 1 with us for Christ, Hia dear Sun's sake; aod we, having uo longer any four, are at peace wilh God.

That is the preparation of the gospel of peace, with regard lo our eciritual conflict and alw with regard to our 66 THE PRBPASANON OF THE COSFEL OF PEACE. liomoirnrfl march. Hold il Ext -, altlwnjli thou Bit a i«or, miwmMe ciiuigr, yol lUou irt forgivou for Christ's Nkfc 'Thronj,' 1 ' "horn wo lnve the lorgiva Msi of sios, occnrd-mglo Uio riekffl of Ilia grant" Tlioughl am a poor m'nernW sinner, yol lira hart of the Fi.thor Lww tuc, and t urn on the rood to hwno, whore I shall certainly be at Inst, ].ct the child of God hold fast this hope, and 11ns persuasion of his seenrity, as given in the simple statement oi the gospel, and by this he »U1 be able to pursue his march heavenwards, and in the hnnr of conflict ho will bo able to stand muu Mly.

All this by having the preparation of the gospel of pence! How deeply important, then, to have clear views oi God's papd, and Out ire shonld receireit simply as the gospel, and not ill any way mis it up with oar own doings or experience. Some would seem to net an if they are to"do what they can, and, what they cannot, the Lord will do. Far be it from in tn havo such thoughts. He mid He nlons must do all for us. Dy His atoning death on the cross, Ho has home the punishment due to u> for our sins, tins which deserved piml-h-ment—and Dotting but punishment- and has taugM us to this Wesscil hope uud trust that all our sins are forgiven; that Cod is well pleased with us for Christ's sate, and that, sinners though we are, yet Jle now delights in us for His dear Son's sake, and He is willing to help us in aU our wn Hica for Christ's sake. Thus we experience that joy and penco. which will help ns on iho march to kMmn, and in the hour of spiritual conflict. So then let ns mots milch of this preparation of the gospel of peace, which is THE SHIELD OF FAITH. spiritually the protection of our feci, even as the old Booms soldiers won protected by their strong boots. "ABOVE ALL, TaKWQ XUli BIUEI.D OK FAITH, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked," As the words stand hern io our translation, oneor the other might suppose that those words "above all" Judicata that it it of tlioji-st unportanee to have this shield of failh, Now I do not ut all undervalue this shield of faith, but only to poiut out that this ll above all" does not mean that it is of more importance than the other parts of the armour. The moaning of it is, " in mUition u> all; " that is, not leaving il out

Wo have already observed the importance of faith, but this ngaiu briugs before us thy deep iinportanceof exercising faith: aud this not ouly on ibis particular point, or on the oiher particular poiut, but our faith should be exercised on thewhoto revealed truth of God, In regard to nil that He has said as to this world, or the world to come, as well as tint first point, lhat of believing on ITis dear you, whom lie hath Scut iuto iho world, Wo have to aim nt'ier this, that we should increasingly aud truly, and with child-liko simplicity, seek to take God at His Word, That 19 exercising faith, which is hem called the "shield of faith."

Now in Uto case of the Roman soldiers, it was deeply Important to be protected by iho shield. You all know how important this shield was to ward off dangers, such as arrows aud blows of the sword, But it was also of great service iu warding off darfs. So in the spiritual conflict lh'a shield of faith is given, that the child of God should he able ut Bland against the fiery darts of the wicked—that is the wicked una—the darts of Satan.

» "FIEftY DARTS."

They arc called fiery darts, because they are so painful and so pernicious. Wo all fcnow, Li our own experience, the ex-' eecdingly painful nature of these fiery darts, a/id the only way toovcrcome them is by using the shield of faith. Exceedingly great temptations are often met with, which tend to make nsdisuVUBt the love arid power of our Father; aud the only mean* of meeting these is by faith. The best way to illustrate the meaning of faith, ins applied to these temptations, i* just to give one or two instances.

Forinstance, here is a child of God: suppose that he has been regenerated, and fur 6Gme time hn3 fought manfully against the evil uue, aad the. allurements of this world. ISut after a time, perhaps two or three yours, ho begins to be less watchful. What rhsn ? He goes back again, and begins GO love this present world, and soon the tetnptation comes. " Well, 1 am afraid I sdinll not; he successful, and after all I shall lose the battle," You jdl know that a cliildof God may thus be tempted, and how wretched he will bo, till be uses the shield of faiih to quench this fiery dtut of doubt and mistrust. How shall we use Iho shield oE faith ? It is stated regarding "he children of ^iod, " X will never leave thee nor forsake thee." This is true regarding all the children of God ; and it is true Regarding yon. How quickly, when litis is used willi child-ike simplicity, does i" quench 'hat fiery dart.

Or in the temptation which soiuetiims comes to the child oi God, when he is tempted io thluk that he may, alter all, he lost; how does the word of God suit 'liU ? Simply by believing what it declares, " Noue shall be able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." I am one of Ills

A.V ILLUSTRATION,

64 fire-op. and therefore 1 cannot bo lost. How thi? will quench the fiery darts of the devil, and give us joy instead of sorrow!

TEMPO!) * t, TRIALS.

Now mic or (wo points regarding temporal matters, where faith is also of deep importance. Suppose one who has all his life earned his bread by toil. He gets on towards sixty, and presently will be past it. Now Satau begins to trouble him. aud says, " Yon are getting old now ; soon there will bo nothing remaining for you hut the union or (he workhouse."

How wretched and miserable a child of God is made by this ; hut by using the shield of faith lie will be able to quench it. " If my Father has eared for me when youn«, surely He will continuo to cure for me when old, aud when sick, even as in the past. OrasHefinysmthe Word,'J will never leave thee nor forsake thee.'" How quickly this temptation will be quenched. I have soon many of God's dear children who were thus troubled.

AN ILLUSTRATION. One instance \ remember distinctly, although it occurred many years ago. It was Hint of kji aged widow, a child or ':■-!. who hud lived very consistently. Shi; had worked hard with her hands in youth, and now in her old age she began msay, 1 shall have to go to the workli Oit6, She had some money winch she had say od of her past earnings, mid she raid," When this is gone I ran eftru uo more; aud 1 shall have to go to fli.- union." T sought io comfort her; I rtiminded her how God had cared for her iu the past, and how He had promised never to leave her nor forsake yo THE HELMET OF SALVATION. her; and that as surely as she was a child of God, m surely would He care for her; and that even somo of His own children would be led to assist her.

But still the temptation continued, and what was the end of it ? Her joy was marred completely for years ; she was in deep (rouble, simply by this one thought. Yet see how it came to pass at Inst One by one tho sovereigns were used, and at length it came to tho hist sovereign; one shilliug of it was speut, when the Lord dok her to Himself, and there was for her uo such thing as tlio workhouse.

But sec how she was losing her spiritual joy, and how her life nnd her communion with God were marred by this 0:10 fiery dart: whereas, if the shield of faith had been used, the devil would have been confounded, and her last days would have been in peace. Thereloru. let us use this shield of faith, with the revelation God has been pleased tomato of Himself, and we shall scon see the fiery darts of the devil quenched, and have joy.

"AND TAHB THK HK1.MKT OK SALVATION." In ihe parallel passage in 1 TT.csealoninns v. ft, it is, '• for an helmet, the hone of salvation." So we have to understand it here, it is tho hope of our Salvation tlmt U to ho our hfllmtt.

All thcsopartsof the armour wore of great importance to the Roman soldier; the girdle to bind, the breastplate to defend the vital parts, the boots to protect tho feet, and enable them to march firmly, tho shield to wnrd oH'bloivs ; but although he had all these, llioffl was yut wanting one thing—the iron helmet. Without it, how scou would lib

THE If £ 1MB T OE SA L 7A TION. 7' head,the most exposed and most tender pari, of his body,havo been injured or hurt, Therefore, the Komnn soldier was also protcetod iu this part , his head was projected by the iron helmet.

Tims with the child of God; ho has protection for his spiritually Weak parts, and it is just (his—the hopeof salvation. Whiloon email, wo go toiluig amidst difficulties, and trials, and temptations. Often all things seem to be ngain-t us, and uot only tho world, but sometimes even the children of God tnrn their backs 00 lis, and we are loft alone, comparatively speaking. Yet, iu the midst of it all, there is something unspeakably comforting iu this, (hat makes the heart joyous. What is it ? It is " the hope of salvation,'* tho joy of looking forward, and knowing that wo shall be in heaven at last.

It is this that keeps us up. The way at times may be tcry dark, but then it is always a pUgrinMBO, which is day by day getting shorter as I got nearer home. XIih journey is over towards home—nearer, nearer home. It is this bright, blessed prospect of home, home, home— of complete deliverance from sin nnd t.mijiUi.tion, through the blood of Christ Jesus, which strength enetti us at such times.

To know tliat wo shall be delivered from the old evil nature, to he brought iuto a state in which (he will of God is carried out by us continually, that the mind of God shall be found in ufl, and that wo shad be with the Lord .lesus Christ, who is now at tho right hand of God, and shall he like Him—these are some of the bright, blessed prospects of the state to whieh we are going. llierefore, my beloved brethren and Bisters, wpcciiilbj

73 THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. the younger ones, when temptation, trial, or difficulty come, and when all seems going agninst os here, remember that, this is not our home, and (bat we must not expect to enjoy this present evil world. Then lhiukof the Father's IlOtlse, where there are many mansions, and tho bright, bluAMvLwul glorious prospect we have of tlmt Father's homo, mid you will find there is not a better lever to lift us above tills world than just to contemplate heaven. Ob, make much of it I make much of it!

For fifty years 1 have known the Lord, and asgrcy hnirs multiply, and as, little by Utile, I pet nearer and nearer, tho prospect becomes brighter and brighter; and durin* imuiy veaiv of Hire conflict, trial, and affliction, this has cheered mo exceedingly: " I t-hnll soon he home—won be with my Lord/-' Therefore, make much of (his hope, that, even ai the helmet protected the Komnn soldier, so the hope of Bfllvation may protect you by the way.

Ifow the last part of the armour:

"AND TUK SWOED Oi' THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS TTTH WORD OK GOD."

All the other parte to which we havo referred, were in order to protect m 'rom assaults; dial is, of a defonsivo oharnotor, Now, here is something to muke an attack will) a weapon of mi offensive oliftraebsr, with which to march against the euoaiy, and to make imoids on tho powcM of darkness.

?Cot only as the children of God are we to know otir weakness, we arc nlotoknow and to act as thwe who havo God ou our tide. One who is both able and willing (o help us in time of need s and we should go right among the

TRAYING AND WATCHING.''

n enemies, that we may pluck brands out of the Gre, to tho praise, and honour, nnd glory of God.

Beloved fellow Christians, it is the will of tho Lord, that we shoold not only defend oitrtclvcs, hut that we shonid aUo resolutely sock to win souls, and rescue poor sinners from the snare* of the devd, and bring them to the Lord Josos Christ. For both of these ends (here is notliing like the weapon nsed by our Saviour llijnsetf when tempted, "It is written"; that is, Uio use ol the wo:d of GaL

And in order that we may bo ablo to use it to good purpose, we must study it, as I observed hut weak, regularly and paiyccfully, with mcdiulon, am! with simple faith, and with self-application. Do not let us reason, but learn ever to take God at His word with child-like simpli.-iiyj and when occasion orisos bring it out against the devil. Then ho will nut be able to stood.

This word, the word of God is alsu to be used that we may wiu souls for Christ; and not only with reference to them, but with reference to onr fellow-discip'es, tliat we iu ,y strengthen their hands, and eiu-ouragc their hearts against the powers of darkness. We can ne'er make loo much of tho word of God, which must be in our hands as A sharp sword, " piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul mid spirit," It is the spiritual sword for the spiritual conflict.

"PHAYttm AND WATCHING."

Lastly "Praying always, with all prayer and supplicaiain in the spirit, aud watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for. all saints ; aud for rue, that ultenuice may be giren unto me. that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel." It is uot necessary to dwell ou this last port, as I have-spoken on ii. again and again. Only Ibis will I obicrre, that while all the other points wliicli havo bu-cu referred to we deeply important, ret thoy will not be successful unless they nro coupled with prayer, constant ami bclieviog prayerj for if wo should attend to oil the other things, and put on the whole armour which Goil lira provided for us, and yet not pray, we shall find how weak and helpless we are.

Why Is this ? Though we are the children of God we are ifi ourselves weak, and God will have us to recognisa our holplessuoss in regard to Himself. Therefore, as opportunity and timo allow, lei us give ourselves to prayer. Jt is most important la havo statud times for prayer, and not to leave it to certain impressions. If wo leave it to fooling*, yon will find that you will be less aud Jess iuelimxl to prayer, and soon will be altogether without it; or, in other words, a poor miserable sinner, without help in tho conflict. Havooorlain times for secret closet prayer, when by ourselves we puur oat our souls before God.

In connect ion with this, let us, a? heads of families, have regular family prayer, so that God shall be recognised in the family. As children of God we should also seek to meet with other children of God in prayer, such as prayer uiccliugs. We ought to seek more and more opportunities of fellowship in prayer, aa, for instance, in the daily prayer meeting in connection with Ihis hull, where wo have met day by day to spread out our wants before Him. and to seek Hisblcssmg on our united efforts for the Lord.

B PRA Vf.VG AND WATCHING."

7$

Now, my dear fellow helievors, attend to these matters which we havo boon considering, putting on tho whole armour of God, accompanied by prayer, and corbnin 1 am that you will be happy Christians, holy Christians, and useful Christians. That is what I would desire with ngard to all my beloved brethren nnd sisters in Christ, that thoy all should be happy Christians; and that they cannot be, except they eeok to aut according to tko mind of God. But acting thus, they will he holy children, and if (hey walk in His ways and walk with Him, they will iilso be useful children, as they will be living witnesses for God.

Not only m, bullet them aim after being fruitful, bearing fruit thirty, forty, or fifty-fold, tuid, it may be, sixty-fold. Having attained to this, bo not satisfied, but aim after sixty-five, or scvcuty-fold, ami then it might be, and there is no reason that it should not be, a himdrcd-fold.

May God help us so to live as to bring praise, huuour, «nd g'ory to Ilia name while lit'o w eoiitinued to us.

REVIEWING ANSWERED PRAYERS.

rr

v.

WISH, my "beloved Christian friends, lo direct your attention to two passages in connection with prayer. Tho first yon will find iu tho commencement of Psalm cxvi., "1 love tho Lord, because He hath heard tuyyoicound my supplications. Because He hath inclined His oar unto me. therefore will T call upon Uiui ae loog as 1 live."

MA.KKISG ANSWERS 'i'O PRAYER,

The Psalmist states, that be loves Jehovah, because ITa hatli heard his voice and bis supplication*. Now this oanuot be tho caao with us, except we mark tho hand of God.and except we observe that He bath heard our soppli-cations, and that he hath answered our prayers. The Psalmist had marked tho hand of God, and he wiys, " I love Jehovalti heeouse He hath heard my voice."

Very few of God's dear children are aware how much thi£ marking of the hand of Gud. with regard to answers to prayer, bus tu do with increased love to their heavenly Father. We are so apt to kave uuuotiood tho hand of God, and tu pass over what God has been pleased to do in answer to our prayer.

I would particularly advise all, but especially the younger believers, W use a little book, iu which they may noi« down on th« one side the requests which they bring before Gol. There are certain matters which God has laid on our hearts, aud we should note them down. It would be helulu! to us to write, At sucb-aud-such a timo X began to pray for such-aiid-such a thing; aud then to continue to pray with regard to this matter. If we do so, wo shall find that sooner or later the prayer will ho answered ; aud then let us mark ou the opposite side, that it has, at such a time, pleased God to uuawer that prayer.

RJtVIKWi.va ASSWUR1SD PRAYERS.

After some time, read over the memorandum hook, and yon will Jim! how ugnin and again it has pleased God to auswer your prayers; and perhaps regarding matter* about which y iu Utile expected thy answer to come ; and -»cou you will Jjnd the wondrons effect of thi* on your heart, in increasing your love niifl gratitude to Our heavenly Father. The more careful you are in marking what you ask, aud what Gud has given, the more distinctly you will bo able to trace bow again and again it pleased God to answer your prayer.-, and more, you will be drawn out to God in love and gratitude. You will find precisely us the pBuimh* found it wllOO he says, " I love Uio Lord, because He Lath heaid my voice and my application*.''

Till!. Bl'l'uurs 01' ruts i:i'.vii;wi Hii asswriui* PIWTBBB.

We ought to love God, even though we have uot answers to our prayer* ; but all this will greatly increase our love ;

I

FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY.

OUR HEAVENLY FRIEND.

79 iitu! \t is not only once, "but if we mark the hand of God. we shall soon find that wo have scores and hundreds of answers to prayer. And thus we shall he led to love Kim more and more for all lie 1ms done. And aa wo murk liow we havo been helped, and how gracious and bountiful our lather has keen, mid how He takes pleasure in listening to the supplications of His children; the heart will be filled increasingly with love and gratitude co Him.

Another effect of all this on tho Psalmist we find in the second vera?, '* Because He hath'iuL-Iiued His ear unto ine, therefore will 1 tall upon Him as Ion* as t live." The more evidence w& have of His power, and of Hia wiHiBgneBB to kelp ue, tlio more our hearts should be determined to call upon the Lord. The more our prayers have Iseeu answered, the morn should wo be stirred up with new determination to ask yet greater things. We should be encouraged to eonm again and again, in order that He may incline His ear unto us.

In this, my beloved friends, the case with us ? Are those two paints found in us, and can we say with tho PsBhnigt, •' I lovo JcfiOvaA, because He hath heard my Toice and my supplications?" And do our hearts say, " because He hath iuelinrd His ear unto me, therefore will 1 <iill upon Him as long as I live ?" Verily it should be so with uh, if we are believers, PRBBDOM I'nOM AKTCrETY.

The second passage to which T desire to direct your attention you will find in the episllo to the l'htlipnions. the fourth chanter, and in the sixth and seventh verses, " Be careful lor nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests bo made known unto God. And the peace of God, whick passeth understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

lie careful for nothing.* Tin? by no means signifies that we may be careless, thoughtless, or unconcerned a hoi it everything. That is not tho meaning of it. Tha uicuu-ing is, not toko anxious about auyiliiug. Utisisouoof tho privileges of the childr.-n of God, that they aw permitted, and not only permitted but invited, and not only invited, but commanded, to bring all their 061*0, sorrows, trials, and wants to thou* heavenly Father. To roll all their burdens upon God; to cast all their cares upon Him.

And because they are permitted, yea, commanded so to do, they have no need to be anxious about any thing. However many or varied our difficulties or necessities, we Shopld commit them all in believiug prayer to God; but we should not be anxious. And why not ? Because it is impossible to lie anxious without dishonouring God.

If tho men of the world see that we Christians are anxious like tkcnis-elves, ihey will have ground for saying, that our profession of having an Almighty Friend and Jlwlper iu heaven is only a profession ; and, therefore, WO dishonour God by not trusting iu nim iu tko hour of need.

1IT. HAVE, HOWPVT.lt, SPCH A THINND. and Ho Is willing and able to help us and to deliver us in His own time and way. This is the very reason we need nol be anxious about anything.

Hut yon say, how erm I, a wife with a husband givtn to «> LEAN UPON h/At ALONE, drinking, not be anxious? No. T s.iy, my sister in Christ, you are w pray for your hit-band; you are to pray for that, husband very earnestly. , But remember to look out for an answer to your prayer; and it is tho will of our heavenly Father that you are not to he anxious oven in such droiiui Ptttneea, You are earnestly seeking that he shoidd be converted, that is right and proi>Ci; bul still, he not anxious even iu such divmmumees. If yon roll thcbiailni upon God. and cast all your cure upon Ilim, you will bu free from anxiety eveu regarding tkL.

And thus with every matter; regarding our children, for instance, who are unconverted, we have to be careful to train them in the fear of God, to *ct a holy, godly example before them, to pray much for them, and, at suitable times, to briug the truth before them; but even regarding ih.im. we are not to be anxious. We are to roll the harden—tho whole burden—upon God, and He will carry the burden for us.

So—literally—Ibis is to be taken, Ro anxious about OOthing, And thus we shall walk iu holy confidence. Trust in tout heavenly Father, looking to Hun, colliding in Nim, knowing thai Ho will help in Hia own time and way.

But, while the cumtnnndmeot is not to be anxious about ttnvtli.li;:, a; the 6umu time, wears exhorted io briny:everything l«!ure tied. It is not to make us careless, but w teach its to rjt»r oroK dim al Ose. We are here exhorted to bririfr. the matter before Gi»L v lu everything, by prayer and supplication, with Uiaotoi-(rivjug, let your request* he made known unto God."

FOLLY OF NRGLECT/A'G THIS INJUNCTION. 8l

especially the word " everything." It is not simply great matters we are to bring Imfbre God, aot simply small things, hut " everything." Therefore, ell .our affaire—tuui|K>ral or spiritual—lot us briug them before God, And this lor (lie simple reason, that life b made up of lilt lo things. If we attempt to stand in oar own strength i under little trials, we shall find them too heavy fur us, and we shall full, which U (Ushououriug to God.

TTIB FOLLV OH K1I0LE0T1NG T11IS INJUNCTION.

Let me see a Christian man who attempts to carry the Utile burdens in his own strength, and I know that he will mm dishonour God. For we have not a particle of strength u> carry any burdens, little or great; and, therefore, we must bring them all to God. And if we attempt to carry them, we shall find that they will increase in weight.

To speak after the manner of meu, God puts a pound weight of trial upon us, and if we lake it np and lay it on the shoulders of our heavenly Father, it fa gone ; bat if, ou the other hand, we attempt to carry it ourselves, what is tha result ? Soon it will increase to leu pounds, and if wc still try to carry it, it will increase to a hundredweight, and if we try siill to stagger under it in our own strength, it will increase still more, in order to lead us to east il upou God.

How our wisdom w just this, when we have any littU-burdens, let us tell our heavenly Father, "I have n<> strength for this weight, I cannot carry the burden." Weil, our heavenly Father is ready to do this for us ; He has fjouuuauded us to roll all our cares on Him, aud nut to "SUPPLICATION" AND '•THANKSGIVING.''

KEEP YOUR HEARTS."

ttfumipt to carry Iheni in otir own strength. Let r Iiioi cast all our caies and burdens ujwn Gtxl, and lie will carry thum for us.

801'PLIC AT10S."

Therefore it is so deeply important "hi everything. by prayer and supplication, to let your requests be made known to God." Willi prayer; and not only with prayer, but with eupp Hcaliuu ; that is, with earnestness and with entreaty, just as the beggars sometimes act. They ask for alms ; well, yon scorn not to listen uud puss ou, but ilioy go after you; purluips twenty steps, and sometimes oven a hundred yards or more. They follow you, still askiug, until they obtain the alms they desire.

Now this is what we have (o do; not simply to mention onr request before God, but topo on Bating again and ncain, with earnest prayer and supplication, until we receive. Just ask as a beggar would do; and will notour huavculy Father give it to us, awing that lie hath bestowed His greatest gift, even Ills Sou upon us ?

"•mMSamaa."

Again, we have specially to notice that prayer and supplication is coupled with thanksgiving. That is, if I may day so r that we should lay the foundation in the way of thanksgiving, and upon that, placo (he superstructure of prayer and supplication. We should praise the Jwd for what He has given ns already ; while asking Him for more blessing.

Wearcfreqnemly very remiss- in this; we forget to render p.mrt' for the mer Ciea ulrtiady received from our J'0»venly Father. TlU should not ho so.

THE CEHTAIS EKPBCT OT ATA. THIS.

In the next verse we have the precious result of all this, "Tlii; peace of God," what a precious result of Mich a way of aering 1* this; our hearts are at ponoo, instead of hurrying liiiher and thither, us men beside themselves, and mislead of great exciieuiout. Instead of all this, the result of prayer and praise will be, Our hearts will be at peace.

We sh.il! have the peace which passeth all understanding. Anl that peaceful culm whioh is so precious, and which 1.0 wOrda Can deseribej auii which is culled " the peace of God " shall be in our hearts. '"The peace of God, which passe th understutiding, shall keep your hearts and minds iluttugb Christ Jesus."

" kubp roua HEaBTB."

Tho idea of a garrison, is in that word " keep." And tho meauing is that our heaits shall be kept by the peace of God, as by an uecupyim; garrison.

There is much in these verses j and whilst the men of this world, and even some children of God who know not these troths, and do not ask thus, are wretched, and anxious, and hurryiug about like people Wside themselves, when trouble or excitement come; we, the children of God, who know these pTeeious truths, are able calmly to wait on the Lord, and to leave ourselves quietly in the hands of God. Thus tho peace which passed! uuderstaodiug will rule ia our hearts aud minds, aud We shall not merely liud help, but we shall be kept from false ways, and bring honour to God before the world, ami shall thus comfort greatly the children of God, in the troa Sse arjd honour and glory of His name.

THE CONSEQUENCES OP SIN.

85

COUNSELS TO OOXYERTS.

jS the Lord may help us, we will meditate thfe afternoon on a few verses in the third chapter of the Laments i*>'i* a* Jeremiah, from the 22nd verse: "His of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions (Head on to the close of verse 26.) On these verses we will meditate this afternoon. I never undertake, according to ray own judgment to cliOOBO a subject for meditation. When I have tho prospect of preaching, I wait on God, and ask Him to direct me to a subject. S« I have asked Him repeatedly for a portion for this afternoon, and this is the portion to which I felt directed. And now, may the Lord grant us a blessing .

We have particularly, in the first place, to consider the circumstances under which Jeremiah wrote these words "It is of the Lord'? (Jehovah's) mercies we are not consumed." We have to consider the state iu which, as a nation, tho Israelites then were.

TIIB C0NSBQL*ESUE9 C»r sw.

Almost all the Jews had fallen victims either to the war, or to famine, or to peotuWe, or had been tarried wnf "' captives lo Babylon. Only llio poorest pmrpi were loft in the laud, mi* eveo *•" were in vei 7 .mail numbers. In order that the whole land might not be desolate, the king of Babylon gave orders thai . few men should ho Ml behind.

Further, JeraMjem was burned und destroyed. The wall, had boon broken down round about the city, and tho Temple was burnod. Under theso circumstances tho prophet says, "II is of the Lord's mercies that ire nro not consumed, because His compassions fail not." lie meant to say, if wo had what » dosorvo, wo should be utterly destroyed. Not a single man would be left alive ; not a single house in the country but it would be destroyed. And if any should lie left, they deseree no longer to be taken np by Jehovah. Hurt is what we deserve on account of our sins. Tho prophet tods that all this has come upon them in consequence of their sin.

Now, in order to make this practical to ourselves, let ns »<k If we had what wo deserve, what would it be ? We could expect nothing but entire destruction. If wo wore treated in the way of justice and judgment, and not according to mercy and grace, what could there be but desrxueuon for us?

ask you to put tho quoslion each one to himself, with regard to this: Have I been convinced that I urn a linner—and such a sinner aa to deserve punishment, nothing hot. punishment? If you have never been convinced of tliis— that yoo are a sinner, and that, as a sinner, you deserve nothing but punishment, then I ask yon affectionately to consider il now ; aud lo consider the only ground of salvation, and whether you have yet

Stf

THE CONSEQUENCES OPSIN.

SELF-ABASEMENT. wen that your punishment has been laid on the Lord Jesus Christ. Aud if you are thus a Burner, and deserving of punishment (whether yon see it or uot, it is a fact, revealed by the Holy Chose), then consider thai God, in morcy, that you might not he punished, has sent Christ, His ouTy-bogotton Hon, to hoar the punishment in our room aud stead, as our Substitute.

Gud, in the riches of His grace did that, iu order that wc might escape the punishment and destructiou due to ns, which punishment must have been visited m» us, unless Ho had done lhi*». Therefore was the Lord Jc*m visited with stripes, aud it was that which nailed Him to the accursed tree, iu order that Ho might beur tie punishment, and that we might be saved, eternally saved; thut we might be happy, eternally happy.

Mow do wc all too Ibis ? And if not, I n?h you, prayerfully to read the first three chapters of the Epistle to the Itomaus. There it is plainly staled, what we are by naturo and what we merit. And if you do see this truth, then I especially aak you to entreat God to help yon to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; for thus, and thus alone, you can escape the punishment. If you trust in Him, you shall not be punished; for through Him do we obtain mercy, even " the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of TTis grace;" and if we believe, we become the children of God; "and if children, then hairs, heirs of God, and joint heirs wi.b>Clu'i&t, n Through believing tho gospel, we ate " delivered from the powttf of durknea, and trans-lated into the kingdom of God's dea_- Son." Aud thut) there is before ns the bright and b'icsscd pi aspect of eternal joy and happiness, through the Lord Jeaua Christ.

SELF-ABASEMliXr. Notice particularly also here, ihat the prophet doM not say, it is of the Lord's mercies that these wicked Jews are not consumed, but »thai ws are not consumed." In this he includes himself. This fa particularly to he noticed, for Jeremiah was one of the holiest men then living; and yet he includes Mmsulf when he says, it fe of Jehovah's mercies that we are not consumed—ibat ' among them am not consumed.

So it ia with those that fear God, and are believers in the Hernial); whether believing in the Messiah which was to come, as in Jeremiah's d,vys, or as now, in looking back to the Messiah as having come. The more the* know of God, tbfl more tbey Bee their own corrupt nature, their own siufuloess and shortcomings. And, instead of having a proud, haughty spirit towards fellow sinners, wo include ourselves with them, and say, with the prophet, * it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.'*

The heart of God was still towards the descendants of Abraham ; the compassionate heart of Jehovah was still towards the literal seed of Abraham, and the blessings which had been promised to that seed wore not forgotten ? go that the prophet could say," new every morning."

This is the language of all who really know God, of alt who arc acquainted with God, and who have watched His hand in any small degree. Daily do they say that the companions of Jehovah are indeed new every moruiug, and that great is His failhfnlueas. And if it were not thus, what would become of ua who have known the Lord Jems Christ? We should soon fall back, if left to oursclver We should soon fall into that corrupt state

*S HOPING IN GOD,

from which wo were delivered, if left to ourselves. It ts by God's grace that wo are what we are ; just because Ho ifl faithful to us. Although we should be unfaithful for a time, yet He abides faithful to His people. How blessed is it to know this I

Again," Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore twill I hope iu Him." This comforted the prophot in the midst of tho sorrows which surrounded him. The people were almost all slain by U10 sword, or had pemhed by famine or pestilence; aud the few who were left were for the most part carried away captive. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Temple burned.

Very few of us can enter into tho full 30rrow of the prophet under these circumstances; but this is certain, that it was an immense trial to him, especially the last circumstance, that tho Temple was destroyed. Yet mark, he is not overwhelmed; there is yet hope. Hope iu what ? Hope in the living God: "Jehovah is my portion, therefore will I hope iu Him." Tho living God remains to me. Though tho people are destroyed, though Jerusalem is destroyed, aud .he walls thereof broken down, and though the Temple is burned, yet God is my portion. That is the special point of our meditation— "jbhovah nt my portion."

God was all to him, aud thut is particularly my message to all my fellow disciple? this afternoon. How is it with us regarding this? IsUielivingGodourportiou ? Do we find Him lo be our all ? Ts the living God our portion and our hopei 1 Kemeuiber, whalovor else we have. Tie must be our portion. Suppose for a moment that all our friends turned their backs on us, yet if God Himself he ours,

"JEHOVAH IS MY PORTION." Sa

how rich aro wo ? If we were possessed of much wealth and proporty, u"d were to lose it all. yet with God Himself us our portion, we should bo rich. Aud if we were lo spend live remainder of our lives ill a dungeon, yet if God remains with 119 anil goes with us there, we con bo unspeakably happy. What are all these things if wo havo God ? Havo wo, my dear friends, nim for our portion 1 I do not ask you now, are yon religions people? I suppose )'°" arc > because you are here lo-day. 1 do not ask if you read the Bihle; I suppose thai you da I do not n«k if you go to a place of worship; I suppose that. I do not ask if you uow and then pray; 1 suppose you d". I do not aak if yon give a little money to Iho cause of God; I suppose that. But, I ask more than all Ihis, far, far more than all this, Do you find in God Himself your all ? I ask you nothing short of this, that you nsk yourself now, as before God: Is iny wife my portion'/ I, my husband my portion ? If 80, then a poor portion you have. It is right to have natural affection towards your wife or your husband. It is right and proper Cor parcuts to love their children, sad for children 10 love their parents; otherwise il would be sinful in the highest degree. But, none of these relatives are to be our portion as the children of God 1 Jehovah Himself most he that. He would have us saiislicd with nothing short of Himself. I ask you whether this is the case with you? With some, the treasures of this world are their portion—wlial a poor miserable poruoul You will find ouctl ure unhappy, and'have guilty consciences. You will never be satislied by the treasures of this world—never.

But others make their business their portion. They are very euro est in atteudiug to their business. Quite right hi Us place this. I <lo not wish at alt w encourage idleness in any wny in reference to this; for Christiana should attend carefully and attentively to their business i if they do noi, they will not have God's Westing on their business. Bat yut, if the business is our portion, if money-making, or rank, or standing in life, or anything ia Hub world be our portion, or what wo seek to find satisfaction in, then I say it is a poor, miserable portion, by whatever name it may be called... Bnt if, on the contrary, we have Gwl for our portion,^ if in Him wo seek to find eatidfaotion, and in noihing else, then have wo a rich portion indeed. Is He only oar joy, our hope, onr happiness? Are. our hearts in Him? onr hopes in Hiiu ? onr everything in Him? Have we all this ? Let us be honest hoforo Cod. Let us be beiKBt! with ourselves. Uave we one tiling we care about, and is that God Himself? Or, havo wo two things, or ten tilings that wo enra about ? There ia om thing only that should be uppermost in onr hearts, and that is God Himself; oiu thing that should be onr portion, and that ia God Himself. The prophet Jeremiah had this portion, and therefore could never be miserable,, pour, or forsaken. All is right, so long as the living God Himself is onr portion. As was the case with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself when on this earth, He had only one object, and that was, to live for, aud serve God, His Father, to do His work. "My meat is to do the will of liim that sent me." And so it should be with us, that everything w© do should be done- "IS GOD HIMSELF MY PORTION* " 91 for Ihe praise, and honour, and glory of God. This ihould be our ruling motive. All our thought* should be ocenpiod with God, either directly or indirectly; even our coming together to meet our frionds should be with reference to God—even our euting and drinking should be with reference to Hun. Do we seek strength to live and labour for God, and do we spend the strength for Him, which we may have obtained ? Let us then ask oaredves the question, " 19 GOD HIMSllLB Mr PORTION ?"

I do not ask ynu, without asking myself the question, What is my portion, my happiness, my aUf Is it God Himself, or the things of this world? I aUWer for myself, I could not he satisfied with anything short of this, thai God, aud God alone, should be my portion, day by dny, and week by week, and mouth by month, and year by year. Oh, beloved friends, slop short of nothing tnl yon come to this, that God Himself is your only portion. The consequent of having Him for your portion will be, that whatever be the circumstance in which ynu are placed, whether there be war, or famine, or pestilence, or whatever be the circumstances couueclcd with your present life, »tiU you can bu happy in the midst of them all. Let it' bo sickness, or danger, or eve* the prospect of death itseir, God is yours, and you will yet ho happy; but if God Himself be not your portion, you are dependent on, and affected by circumstances, and you will be more or less miserable in accordance with the things which surround you. But if you can say " Jehovah is my portion," you can look forward to brighter and happier days. Jeremiah had this hope, and he looked

02

"IS COO HIMSELF My PORTION}"

forward expecting that the people would be brought back again, that Jerusalem would he built again, and that the Temple would ho restored. Anil so it wu?, after about seventy years. Because the promises were from the living God Himself to the desceudants of Abraham, therefore he could say, "The Lord is my portion, therefore will I hope in Him."

Bnt peoplo will say, this was very well in the days of the prophets and the apostles, but now, in the latter part of the nineteenth century, we cannot expect BUCb thing*. I believe no such thing. Why should not the peoplo of God lw as happy in their God, as ever the prophets or apostles were ? Why not ? Is not He the same God P Is His power not (he sumo ? Is Hi.' love to His children not as great as ever it was ? Is His willingness to help His children not as great as ever it was ? Certainly it in. The blessed Book remains with us; the predOBS promises are still there; and therefore we ought to remember, that to trust completely in the Lord, and to be happy in Him, is yet as possible as it was to the children of God in the middle of the first, or the beginning of the second century. Why not ? There is nothing at all to hinder. You and I arc certainly not apostles or prophets, but the blessing of peace, nnd joy in the Holy Ghost, aud of the. blessed promises, wu may enjoy now in the nineteenth century as much as these believers of old; and, together with the prophet, we may aay, " Jehovah is my portion, saith my soal; therefore will I hope in Him."

Agiuu," The Lord is good unto thorn that wait for Him." What an especial eucourageiiiunt this is with regard to the trials aud difficulties Of life. All of us havo sooner

'•IS GOD HIMSKLP MY PORTION!' Q$

or Intor to pass through difficulties and trials, our path is not always smooth. Yet, in those circumstances, let us lay hold on such a word as this, " Jehovah is good unto them that wait for Him." To all that wait for Him, He is very good. Let us go and make k oown our requesta to Him, nnd seek His help, and wait till it comes. For the promise 38, " Jehovah is good unto them that wait for Hiiu." There is something to be had by waiting on the Lord. He is good to them that seek Him. This is especial encouragement to auy who may Ik here who know not the Lord, who are not yet believers in Him. Here is tbe promise i " The Lord is good to tho soul that seekelh Him." What they have to do is, just lo ask God to have mercy upon them. And thoy will find that He is good to the sonl that seekelh Him. To any inquiring shout the things of God, I would say, the sonl that necks Him will have blessing.

And especially is this comforting to lis, the believets in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whatever our trials, perplexities, and difficulties there is the promise, * Tim Lord is good to them that wait for Him, to tho soul that seekctr, Him.' There is nosnch thing asseekiog God in vain; the seeking sonl shall find. Ho will cot seek blessing, comfort, instruction, powor over natural evil teu-dencies from the Lord in vniu. Whether we seek power over our temper, or pride, or high-uiindedness, or wilfulness, or whatever may be in ufl, contrary to tho mind of God, let ua Just bring the case with childlike simplicity before the Lord, and we shall find that it is not in vain to seek the Lord, but that " He is good to them that wait for Him, to the soul thut seeketh Hire."

W HOPING AND WAITING.

2iow w© coino to the bit versa upon which wo will DietlititU' at present. " It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."

HOPING- AMI WAITING. la the first plucc, "It is good that a umii should hope for the salvation ol •Jehovah.'* Kegurding (he word sal-x'alinu here, it is to he understood as it is generally used in the Old Testament, not merely deliverance from sin mid p-.mishinimu M it is generally used in the New Testament, hut iu the wider tense of the word, deliverance generally. Thus ii does not here nieuo only deliverance (or the mhi] —though that is not excluded—hut it means deliverance generally from trial, temptation, Borrow and difficulty. For this flBJraiioa or deliverance, it is good for us to hope in the Lord, AH of us at times find ourselves under circumstances from which wo need deliverance; then it is good to hope for salvation from Jehovah. Are we doing so ? It is the will of the Lord regarding TO. It is here s'ated that it is good to do so • and you will find it is good—practically and experimentally you will find it to be good in your own soul The devil's aim, what trial and affliction come, is to whisper to your heart—"Ah, this may last for over!" " 1 shall never get out of this." Ton arc looking forward anticipating' a Life-luag burden. Listen (o Jesus, " Sufficient unt'i the day is the evil thereof." Leave every-ing in the hands of Cod. Aim at heing in such a position, that you can look to Him, nnd seek from Him, grace for the present day ; and He will give it. A? for 'u-moiruw, if it comes, the Lord will give grace lor it also.

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