2. Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke xiv. 33.

1. Christ is desirous that his friends, whether few or many, should be sincere.-2. In order to try our sincerity, he applies the only effectual test.

And must I part with all I have,

My dearest Lord, for thee?
It is but right, since thou hast done
Much more than this for me.

3. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world. 2 Cor. i. 12.

1. The ground of a clear conscience.-2. The joy of a clear conscience.

I choose the path of heavenly truth,
And glory in my choice;

Not all the riches of the earth

Could make me so rejoice.

4. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isa. liv. 13.

1. A promise of spiritual illumination.-2. A promise of spiritual comfort.

Bless'd are the souls that hear and know

The gospel's joyful sound;

Peace shall attend the paths they go,

And light their steps surround.

5. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Isa. lvii. 21.

1. Because their corruptions are unmortified,2. Because their consciences are unpacified.

No peace the wicked e'er can know,
While hastening to their place below?
But trouble must with sin remain,
Sad earnest of eternal pain.

6. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isa. lix. 19.

1. Alarming evil anticipated.-2. Effectual re sistance promised.

My foes repel; my fears suppress;
Direct my way, and hold me up;
Teach me, in times of deep distress,
To trust thy word, and wait in hope.

7. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Isa. xl. 1.

1. God has a people in the world.-2. Such are their trials that they often need to be comforted.3. It is God's will that they should be comforted.4. He therefore makes it the duty of his ministers to do what they can to comfort them.

Daughter of Zion, awake from thy sadness;

Awake, for thy foes shall oppress thee no more: Bright o'er thy hills dawns the day-star of gladness; Arise, for the night of thy sorrow is o'er.

8. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isa. xl. 8.

1. The frailty and brevity of earthly good.2. The validity and perpetuity of God's word.

The withering grass, the fading flower
Are emblems true of earthly power;
Here, here alone I rest secure;
This is thy word, and must endure.

9. Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isa. xli. 10.

1. Fear suppressed.-2. Hope encouraged.

Fear not; I am with thee; oh be not dismayed!
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to
stand,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

10. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord. Isa. xliii. 10.

1. Then let us realize our responsibility.-2. Then let us honestly testify.

Inspire my soul with life Divine,

And make me truly bold;

Let knowledge, faith, and meekness shine,
Nor love nor zeal grow cold.

11. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John xiv. 23.

1. The proof of love to Christ.-2. The blessed results.

Oh let the visits of thy love

My inmost soul be made to share,
Till every grace combine to prove

That God has fixed his dwelling there.

12. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. Lam. i. 12.

1. The bitter consequences of backsliding experi enced.-2. Sympathy implored.-3. Admonition implied.

Is there no friend to cheer

In times of deep distress?
No sympathy to help me bear,
Or make the burden less?

13. The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment.

Lam. i. 18.

1. God justified.-2. Self condemned.-3. Guilt acknowledged.

My lips, with shame, my sins confess,
Against thy law, against thy grace;
Lord, should thy judgments grow severe,
I am condemned, but thou art clear.

14. The Lord will not cast off forever. Lam. iii. 31.

1. Though the Lord cast down his people, yet he will not cast off.-2. Though he suspend his comforts, yet the suspension is not perpetual.

O Thou whose mercy guides my way,
Though now it seems severe,
Forbid my unbelief to say

There is no mercy here.

15. Though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. Lam. iii. 32.

1. God has compassions in store for those whom he chastens.-2. When he returns to deal graciously with them, it will not be for their merits, but according to his own abundant goodness.

How gentle was the rod

That chastened us for sin!
How soon we found a smiling God
Where deep distress had been.

16. O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Isa. xii. 1.

1. A great change experienced.-2. God acknowledged and praised as the author of the change.

The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confess;

My tongue broke out in unknown strains,
And sung surprising grace.