faith of these future realities is strong, it will promote resignation, serenity, and patience, under the various trials which believers experience.

Are they visited with long-continued pain, with bodily languor, or with growing weakness? These come from the Lord, who in mercy wounds, and in mercy heals; who thus prepares his children for future glory, by keeping them from those snares which the tempter had laid for their destruction ; by increasing their admiration of that matchless Redeemer, who endured such agonizing sufferings for their salvation; and by increasing their longing for the heavenly Zion, where the inhabitants shall never say they

are sick.

Is poverty, and the prospect of hardships, the peculiar trial of the righteous in Christ This their indigence may perhaps lessen them in the opinion of the prosperous or arrogant, but not so in the estimation of that compassionate God who feeds the hungry with good things, who chooses for himself a poor and amicted people, condescends to men of low estate, preaches glad tidings to the poor, and wonderfully enables his afflicted children

ta

to rejoice in the God of their salvation, even when there is no flock in the fold, no herds in the stall, and no fruit in the field. Well may they be glad, even amidst such outward calamities; God himself is their all-sufficient portion; to them belong the unsearchable riches of Christ, and their dwelling shall be in their Father's house, where there is bread enough and to spare; where they shall hunger no more, nor thirst any more; for the Lamb in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them to fountains of living waters, and wipe all tears for ever from their eyes.

Are they tried, like Job, with the agonizing remembrance of a desolated family, and with the mournful bereavement of their dearest earthly comforts; while they bitterly lament the loss they have sustained, and recall to mind the happiness they formerly enjoyed, the pleasing hopes they had entertained, and the many embittering circumstances which accompany their trial? While these painful thoughts prey upon their mind, and evidently tend to depress their spirit, Jesus, the consolation of Israel, says to them in the language of authority and love,

Peace,

Peace, be still; it is I. He reminds then that their Redeemer lives, and will be their portion for ever ; he opens to them delightful prospects of re-union with departed Christian friends, and soothes their sorrows with the lively hope of soon being brought to the land of their kindred, to their Father's house, and to the innumerable multitude who have come out of great tribulation, and are now before the throne.

Lastly, Do they suspect that their own dissolution fast approaches ? and does it appear to them a most solemn thing, to think of being separated from every friend on earth, from all the means of instruction and grace, and from every opportunity of usefulness? The everlasting Saviour can calm these gloomy fears, by faithfully declaring that he will redeem them from death, and ransom them from the

grave;

that

corruption will put on incorruption, and this mortal be exchanged for immortality ; that not one of his countless followers will be left behind, for he will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Keep not back; and that, at his sovereign command, they shall come from north, south, cast, and west,

and

and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of his heavenly Father.

Wherefore, beloved, comfort one another with these hopes, and comfort your own souls with these certain and joyful prospects. Amen.

SERMON

SERMON VII.

ON RESIGNATION.

2 Sam. xv. 25. 26.

And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the

ark of God into the city : If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it and his habitation. But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee : behold, here am I; let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

UBMISSION to the divine will implies, not only bearing the trials of life without murmuring or despondency, but the habitual exercise of those graces which are suited to a suffering state; namely, our justifying God in his most trying dispensations ; our cleaving to him even when he smites us; our loving him supremely as an all-sufficient portion;

Our