lation to you.

who stands in the nearest and dearest re"Whosoever shall do the will of God," says he to his disciples, "the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."* Let this thought cheer you, Jesus is present with his people in all the trials they undergo for his sake.' And whatever losses or crosses you meet with in his service, he will both enable you to bear them now, and will abundantly recompence them hereafter. "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be." "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on His throne."†

My

Thus much for your comfort. advice is Avoid needless singularity. Give no unnecessary offence. Indulge over-scrupulous conscience.

not an

Mark iii. 35. + John xii. 26-Rev. ii. 10; iii. 21.

Where essentials are not concerned, be accommodating and conciliatory. "Let not your good be evil spoken of.""Avoid even the appearance of evil." Bear meekly, patiently, and, if possible, cheerfully, whatever scoffs, or reproach, or opposition you may meet with in the path of duty. "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Act consistently. Walk humbly. Endeavour by "well-doing" to silence objections, refute cavils, and recommend your principles. Be watchful over your hearts, your tempers, your words. Let no occasion be found against you, except it be concerning the law of your God. At the same time guard against sinful compliances. Let no consideration induce you to compromise your duty to God and violate a good conscience. Grieve not the Spirit. Deny not "the Lord that bought you." But beware how you confide in your

• Dan vi. 5.

own strength.

Remember Peter's fall. Your safety lies in prayer. Live near to God, and draw continual supplies of grace and strength from the fulness that is in Christ, your living Head. "Walk by faith, and not by sight.

"This is the

victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."*. Faith realizes things unseen, and raises the soul above the trials and temptations of this sinful world. Especially dwell much upon believing views of the Cross of Christ. Faith is never more efficacious than when exercised towards a dying Saviour. As the wounded Israelites obtained health by looking at the Serpent on the pole, so the Christian obtains strength against sin, and victory over the world, by looking, with the eye of faith, at his Saviour on the Cross. Well might St. Paul say, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," when he could add,

by

1 John v. 4.

whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."* Let his determination, brethren, be your's, and your's also shall be his experience.

Gal. vi. 14.

SERMON VII.

CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE.

1 JOHN II. 19-21.

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

ONE of the most important questions, surely, which a man can ask himself is this, Am I accepted of God?' and no reflecting person, one would think, could rest contented without a satisfactory answer to this question. The issue is so momentous; the alternative so tremendous- if I am not accepted, what then will become of me? and whither should if I were to die this night?'

I

go