before God in the ways of his commandments, and in the works of his calling, with all good conscience." God has, indeed, made many gracious promises in his Word of blessings temporal and eternal; but they that tempt God shall not find the comfort of them. God's goodness is to be seen and tasted in the ways of faith and obedience. God hath promised the guard of his angels to his people while they keep themselves in their ways: if, therefore, thou wouldst have this protection, thou must keep thyself in those ways that God would have thee walk in. The same may be said of every promise. Peter tells Simon Magus he had no part with them in the gifts of the Spirit whilst his heart retained a purpose to live in sin. Break off, therefore, thy course of sin, and inure thyself to the practice of obedience, so shall God's promises be sweet unto thy heart; but if thou dost lay hold on sin, the comfort of the world shall depart from thee.

4. The wicked tempt God when the delay of God's judgments emboldens them in a career of sin.

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil. These shall find that a reprieve is no pardon, and that punishment delayed is only calamity heightened. Judgment overtakes these men in an unlooked-for hour. He that being often reproved &c. shall be suddenly cut off without remedy. Judas was suddenly cut off. Pharaoh, at last, was suddenly ingulfed. Ananias and Sapphira grievously tempted God by their hypocrisy : How is it that ye have agreed to tempt the Lord? They were suddenly cut off, and buried in the same grave. Babylon's doom was preceded by long presumption, and heightened by the suddenness of her overthrow.

II. TO OFFER SOME HINTS WHICH MAY SERVE AS A SAFEGUARD UNDER THE VARIOUS TEMPTATIONS OF HUMAN LIFE.

1. Study closely the word of God.

Our Lord met Satan with the words, "It is written;" and he exhibited the word of God as the proper antagonist of the words of the devil, to teach us that this weapon, wielded by the hand of faith, is sufficient to vanquish and overcome all our spiritual foes. He that would triumph in the spiritual conflict must arm himself from this magazine, and take the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. The "smooth stones" by which even a stripling may pierce

the forehead of the giant-enemy of God's people, must be collected from this brook: By the words of thy lip I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

2. Carefully avoid rushing uncalled into the vortex of temptation.

Our Lord himself was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. He, though now possessing the spirit without measure, did not rashly place his foot within the snare.

It is an excellent rule, “I never go anywhere where I do not hope to do good or to get good." I never engage in anything on which I cannot ask God's blessing before I and for which I do not hope to give him thanks when I come away.

go,

True, temptations meet us everywhere; but it is one thing for temptation to meet us, and quite another for us to thrust ourselves into uncalled temptation. There are some who tempt the devil to tempt them.

Parents and heads of families will do well to watch with wise solicitude over the moral welfare of their children, especially in the selections of a situation in life; and, where they have a choice, to let their religious and moral interests weigh something in the scale of their preferences. Lot was faulty in this: he led his family to the wellwatered plain, regardless of the danger to their morals from the corrupt example of the cities of the plain. Jacob appears to have erred in this respect at Shechem. "One would think," says Fuller, "if he had had a proper sense of things, he could not have continued so long to expose a family of young persons to the contagious influence of a heathen city." He remarks also of Dinah, that she went out to see the daughters of the land, and to be seen of them; but could Dinah have gone without the consent or connivance of her parents, at least one of them? We should think she could not. I fear Leah was not clear in this matter. It is significantly said, Dinah, the daughter of Leah,

went out.

3. Contemplate the power and grace of Christ, the conqueror of Satan.

4. Temptation resisted is happiness begun. Angels ministered, &c.

5. Temptation is but for a season-" the hour of temptation."

LI.

NOBLE CHARACTERS.

HEB. XI. 32.

EXAMPLE goes before precept; and in the Bible we have the first and grandest exhibition of noble characters, serving to demonstrate what is attainable and practicable, as to faith and holiness, or true piety.

It becomes every man to seek his Maker, by prayer, by hearing, and by searching the scriptures. Seek him in all the works of his hand, and in all the ordinances of his appointment. We should seek him in the bloom of youth, in the vigour of manhood, and in declining age. Å man who seeks God truly will add wisdom to his mind, vigour to his soul, and joy to his heart. Seeking God will plant no man's dying pillow with thorns; neglect of him will. A man may, by the grace of Jesus Christ, attend diligently to his business, his family, and the common duties of life, and yet seek his God.

The epistle to the Hebrews is greatly interesting; the more we read and consider it the better. In this epistle we are commanded not to be slothful. Alas! many are so in the matters of religion; the soul and God are awfully neglected. God assigns to every man his work; and if that work be not done, the severity of God's reprimand is like to drive him to despair. "Thou wicked and slothful servant,' will sound as a peal of thunder in his ears.

Much depends on the company we keep, and the persons we follow. Pious company is always improving; but evil communications corrupt good manners. True believers are men of God, subjects of grace, and heirs of glory.

I will now take a brief survey of some ancient worthies, whose names are recorded with honour, and who may be regarded as models of excellence.

1. Abel. He was a man of God-a subject of grace. He served God, not in form only, but in faith and holiness. He remembered his Creator in the days of his youth, when so many forget him. He cleansed his way by taking heed thereto according to his word—the word of God, heard from

his penitent and pious father, Adam. His person and services were accepted through faith; faith in our blessed Mediator, Jesus Christ. They who would walk with God should take the first step early. Samuel listened to the voice of God when a child.

Abel, in imitation of his pious father, made an offering to God. It is no small blessing to have a pious father, and for a child to tread in his steps. Prov. iii. 1, 6. Cain had his religion, but his was a shadow; that of Abel was a substance. By faith," not by fancy, or mere custom,"Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.' A mere form, a heartless religion, is unacceptable; it will be rejected. Isa. i. 10, 16.

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2. Joseph. This man was a prince of characters. He is much to be admired. He was hated of his brethren, no doubt for reproving their faults. They abused him, sold him, and he was carried away into Egypt. But, observe, God was eminently "with him."

Good men are sometimes brought into great trouble. This is for the trial of their faith and patience, and to brighten every virtue which grace has inspired. "The Lord scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." God is always with the righteous, let their lot be cast where it may. This is their consolation: He, their God, will never leave them nor forsake them. "I will not leave you orphans," said the Saviour.

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Joseph was a man of prayer, so are all good men. Joseph was highly favoured; God gave him wisdom, and he managed all his affairs as a prudent man. He was a faithful man. For awhile he sunk under a false and wicked accusation, as many beside have done; but he rose again as the sun after the horrors of a stormy night, and long did he shine with unusual splendour. From him let us learn submission in adversity, to return good for evil, and the duty that children owe to their parents.

3. MOSES. This man was one of the greatest recorded in the Old Testament: a man whom we can hardly name without emotions of reverence and awe. He was a man

singularly honoured of God. Saved as by a miracle, he was educated in all the known wisdom of the empire; and what is far more, he was taught of God. A good education is no small blessing. We should labour to acquire sound

wisdom and understanding. Whatever knowledge we attain, and in whatever way, we should seek to have it sanctified, and use it to glorify God. The Lord raised up Moses and furnished him with talents whereby he might become the deliverer of his injured people. He armed him with the thunder of heaven; and Moses made the land of Egypt to tremble. The monarch and his nobles fainted at the presence of a man so dignified and formidable. It was this man who instituted that eminent type of Christ, the passover, and foretold of his coming to work a far greater deliverance for the world. Moses led the people through the Red Sea, dividing Asia from Africa; and great indeed was the triumph.

4. Aaron. He was a fine character, and emphatically styled "the saint of the Lord," intimating a peculiar degree of sanctity. He was the first great official high priest. Herein he was an eminent type of Jesus Christ, our blessed High Priest. Aaron was a tried man, and suffered by the untowardness of his children, who sinned against God in direct opposition to the good counsel of Aaron. Every father should be an Aaron in his own family, read the Scriptures, and take the lead in the devotional exercises of the day.

5. Abraham. A man of faith, and the father of the faithful. His love and obedience to God are recorded for an example to us, to tread in his steps, and in this way to prove we are his spiritual offspring: for all they who are of faith are the seed of Abraham, and shall be blessed with his children.

6. Lot. He was nephew to Abraham, and possessed like precious faith with him. He was eminently devoted to God, and was called "righteous Lot." He sighed and cried for the abominations of the place in which he dwelt. He reproved and rebuked with all authority and long-suffering, but all in vain. Wrath came upon them to the uttermost. God destroyed them with a singular destruction. He saved and secured Lot, his servant: the rebels perished under his indignation and wrath. Ah! 'tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! The heavens frown with awful vengeance when he is pleased to stir up all his wrath. What a fearful thing is sin! How offensive to God-how ruinous to man!