that, this life being ended, we may live with Him for ever '." The above, Christian brethren, is an exhortation both sober and true, grounded and rooted in God's Holy word, the which to know is peace and assurance here, and in the world to come life everlasting. In truth, our calling and vocation here is to religion and piety. We are, so to say, in a transition state. Our present is a state of trial and probation. And then, the work of God, and the proper work of our several callings, are quite compatible the one with the other, when faith is at the helm, and, through faith, as "it is in Jesus," we have wise and understanding hearts. This too is a gift. The same Spirit that giveth to an honest and good heart a right judgment in all things is not wanting here. The result is the conviction of all good men of all ages, namely, that they never serve their Maker better than when they do so in that situation of life in the which it hath pleased God to place them. Their "help standeth in the Lord," and for this very reason they the better help themselves, knowing that He is "their helper and defender." been in vain, that God would "endue them with the grace of his Holy Spirit to amend their lives according to his Holy Word." With a holy fear, combined with love, they confess that "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." And, under this per 'Jer. Taylor. Their prayer has not suasion, they "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling," knowing that "it is God which worketh in them both to will and to do of his good pleasure 2." Such a state of mind as this we call a religious state, the meet, right, and bounden duty of a Christian man. To be thus minded is to be wise, and in scripture phrase, religion and wisdom are one. Hence, in the same chapter from which the text is taken, we find the wisest of men thus expressing himself. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the mer 66 chandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her "." This record, under the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, hath Solomon left for our instruction, himself too, taught of God. For he had said, O Lord my God-"Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad. And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing," and He gave him a "wise and understanding heart," and 2 Phil. ii. 12, 13. more also, as you will read in the first book of Kings'. After this introduction, let me proceed to consider the words of the text. May the Holy Spirit be our guide! "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." 8 Now, as was before hinted at, none but the most High can stablish us. Of ourselves we are very weak, very wayward, very sinful. All our "fresh springs" must be in him. In the day of trial we shall all find what St. Paul says to be true," When I am weak then am I strong." Our "strength is made perfect in weakness," when the power of Christ rests upon us. As he says elsewhere, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me "." To the unwise and to the unlearned this will, no doubt, appear contradictory. How, one will say, can a man be strong when he is weak? The answer, Christian brethren, is to be sought out of the repository of God's word. He that entereth into the sanctuary of God shall understand these matters. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,"-that is the way to attain to a sure confidence. To distrust the arm of flesh, and, whilst labouring hard, to discern the arm of the Lord revealed, is the direct road to victory. When an irreligious man has attained his ends, he marvels at his own power, his own resources, his own cunning, with no notion of his inherent weakness. Not so the Christian. He "leans not to his own understanding." On the contrary, in the midst of success, after every nerve and sinew has been strained, his exclamation is," Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ"." So true is that saying, "The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety (margin, 'victory') is of the Lord'." "With his own right hand, and with his holy arm, he hath gotten himself the victory"" Of David let us learn both thanksgiving and prayer. "Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel, our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven, and in the earth, is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name3." O! how excellent is that petition of the Church which we put up on a sad and a solemn day! "Grant that neither the splendour of any thing that is great, nor the conceit of any thing that is good in us, may 1 Cor. xv. 57. 2 Ps..xcviii. 2. 1 Prov. xxi. 31. 31 Chron. xxix. 10-13. withdraw our eyes from looking upon ourselves as sinful dust and ashes!" Such we are, and to such we shall return! They alone that trust in the Lord with all their heart shall awake from the dust of the earth to everlasting life," many to shame and everlasting contempt 5!" But this is the end thereof, and "the end is not yet." The text, it may be, refers rather to this present life. And how find we the case to be with them who are used to trust alway in themselves? As was above said, it is ill with them. "This is their foolishness," to put their trust in anything but God. All hopes not grounded in heaven, and "within the veil," will crumble into dust and nothingness," the Lord hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them "." Observe, for example, what betides these faithless ones, when sorrow and adversity overtake them, and the "arrows of the Almighty stick fast in them." What comfort is there for them when the things of earth are passing away, and the staff on which they leant is snapping, and, like a drop, falling from beneath their feet? Alas! they have set at nought their real strength and trust,despair is their inheritance, and hope is fled. Suppose, again, that death is busy amongst us, and the grave unsatisfied. Suppose the "mourners going about the streets"-the old departed, and the young 4 Evening Service for King Charles the Martyr. |