of affliction so full, but that it may hold one drop more; there is no blow so severe, but that one yet heavier may be impending: if then you suffer your soul to faint, and your knees to wax feeble, how can you stand when much greater is required? If your faith be little now, will it increase by yielding, or grow stronger by defeat ? Surely "the worm Jacob" shall not "thresh the mountains, "+ if you be faithless and dispirited, when you should be strong and courageous; if you be declining, when, by Divine aid, you should be claiming and enjoying the victory! Think of David's rashness; He " said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; and there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand." This was a hasty conclusion; God had so often interposed in his behalf, that we might reasonably suppose his faith would trust Him yet again, and that he would expect the very reverse of that which he so despondingly anticipated. Consider also Jonah's impious wish when his gourd was

*Much to the purpose is the following extract from Newton. "We know not what is before us: Perhaps we may meet greater difficulties by and by, than we have ever yet seen: but if we keep in mind, who delivered us from the Lion and the Bear, we may face the Philistine also without terror. God will be with us, and strengthen us with strength in our souls. Only it is our wisdom to keep close to Him, that when the day comes we may have confidence before Him in all our troubles."

+ See Isaiah xli. 14, 15.

1 Samuel xxvii. 1.

taken from him and he thought that he had need of it for a shadow from the sun; "he wished in himself to die, and said 'It is better for me to die than to live." He forgot Him, who is "a refuge from the storm, and a shadow from the heat."+ Oh! the forbearance of God displayed towards these rebellious servants! Take heed, repining sufferer, lest He spare not thee.

This however I would have you remember, for your everlasting consolation: as a wave of the raging sea, when once gone by, shall not again return to threaten the anxious crew, so, one affliction gone, you shall see its face no more, it is one taken away from the appointed number. And bear this in mind, the Lord rebuked Jeremiah, but He rebuked him in mercy, and kindly admonished him: thus also, from His infinite love and mercy towards you, in Christ Jesus, He has your benefit in view in every chastening: by each He would bring you more closely and devotedly to Himself; ‡ and if this desirable end be answered, by the means of trials and bereavements, you will, if you be of that happy number, some time or other,

"Look back and smile

On things that bitterest seem'd erewhile;"

and be enabled, with joyful lips to say, "The Lord has done all things well."

"No one of God's dealings towards His chosen hath any other source or spring, but that of Love; it is Love that sends

D.

IV.

ISAIAH VII. 9.

IF YE WILL NOT BELIEVE, SURELY YE SHALL NOT BE

ESTABLISHED.

CONSIDER the Apostle's definition of faith: he describes it to be the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;"* that is, it must be to us instead of sight, as if we saw and possessed in prospect, the blessings for which we pray. Now what else do the above words of the Most High signify, if by them He does not plainly declare, that our faith in His assurances must be unfeigned, and our confidence in His word firm unto the end and unshaken? Shall our unquiet spirit be settled, our disordered thoughts established, if we be not willing to take God's word; if our hearts faint within us,

His severest chastisements, as well as His sweetest encouragements. His smiles and frowns both proceed from the same love; the opposite to this, even His wrath, hath never yet been endured by any one of His justified children." Sermon on 1 Cor. ii. 12; by the Rev. H. B. BULTEEL.

*Heb. xi. 1.

and our eyes fail with looking upwards, because the answer of prayer, or the fulfilment of promise, is not speedy? Can we think to weary God? or shall we, having once put our trust in Him, dare to distrust Him? Observe the manner in which the Saviour of mankind, (He who said, "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you."*) observe how He wrought His Miracles: The impotent man had faith to be healed, and he was healed;† the distressed parent "believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, (Thy son liveth) and he went his way." To the leper who said, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean;" Jesus answered, "I will, be thou clean."S But at Nazareth, "He did not many mighty works, because of their unbelief."|| Remember also the reply of Christ to the doubting Martha; "Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" The grace of faith, therefore, we surely conclude to be needful. Beware then lest through diffidence or unbelief, dear Reader, you account the words of God, negatively at least, as the words of deceit! Will you esteem His promises, His, who is faithful and true, as the promises of man? No indeed; this does not become the Christian worshipper; you, by making known your requests, have pledged your faith and affiance in the power and love of God to hear and answer them.

*Matt, vii. 7.

Matt. xii. 13.

† John iv. 50.

§ Luke v. 12, 13. || Matt. xiii. 58.

John xi. 40.

Be cautious then of distrust, or of drawing back your confidence, as though you repented having placed it in His mercy; do not believe as though you believed not; do not ask as though you asked not, for you shall not, nay, you cannot receive. Let not unbelief be your hindrance; Jesus Christ interceeds only for the faithful; to whom he says, "if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."* Do you long for the quieting and composing of your mind, amidst the enemies of your peace? this then I bid you, "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established."+

* Mark ix. 23.

+ 2 Chron. xx. 20.