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though persecuted, not forsaken; though cast down, not destroyed." They would have been delivered from their heart-trouble, just in the degree in which they complied with the wise and kind commands of their Lord, "Believe in God, believe also in me."

(3.) How faith in God and in Christ is fitted to relieve the heart-trouble of Christians in every country and age.

Trouble of heart is a mental disorder to which the disciples of Christ in all countries and in all ages are liable. When they become Christians, they do not cease to be men. It is true of them, as of mankind generally, that they are "born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward;" they are "of few days, and full of trouble."" Poverty, reproach, sickness, disappointment, bereavement, sorrow, pain, and death, are the lot of the saint as well as the sinner. In many cases, a larger proportion of suffering than ordinary seems to fall to the lot of the children of God. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Besides the afflictions which are common to saints as men, there are others which are peculiar to them as Christians. They are exposed to suffering from "the world lying under the wicked one," and they are exposed to suffering from "the wicked one" himself. In the world, from the world, they have tribulation; and their enemy, the devil, is constantly, directly or indirectly, making attempts to alarm or allure them. They mourn the absence of their Lord; and "groan, being burdened"—often with a frail, suffering, mortal body-always with the body of sin and death. These afflictions, when peculiarly severe and complicated, produce "trouble of heart;" and, owing to the weakness of the Christian's faith, this trouble of heart is not only very painful, but materially interferes with the enjoyments and the duties both of religion and of ordinary life. Besides, the

1 2 Cor. iv. 9.

2 Job v. 7; xiv. 1.

3 Prov. iii. 12.

Christian, being a man of public spirit—a citizen of Zion, and a citizen of the world-takes a deep interest in everything that concerns the welfare of the church and of the world; and when events occur, as they often do, which seem to bring into hazard the cause of truth and righteousness-events which he cannot prevent or control-his heart is sometimes like to fail him " for fear, and for looking for the things which are coming on the earth."

It is the will of our "kindly-affectioned" Lord that his people should not be thus troubled. To all such he says, as his apostle, "I would have you without carefulness,"1 painful anxiety, distressing fear-"Let not your heart be troubled;" and the grand means for the prevention and removal of this undue anxiety and trouble of heart is faith-faith in God, faith in Christ. There is that in the faith of the truth. about God and Christ-faith in the promises made by the Father and the Son-which is fitted to secure the Christian from this trouble of heart in all its forms. Why should the Christian be troubled, when God his Father who is infinitely powerful, and wise, and good—who knows what is really good for him-who is equally disposed and able to secure it for him, and who cannot lie,—has said, "There shall no evil happen to the just ;" and, "all things shall work together for good to them that love God?" And how can the Christian who really believes this, whatever be his circumstances, be overwhelmed with anxiety or fear? Will he not, if he believe in God, be disposed to say, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble: Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is

2

11 Cor. vii. 32.

VOL. III.

? Prov. xii. 21. Rom. viii. 28.

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the health of my countenance, and my God." Why should he be troubled, when Christ his Saviour, has, by the shedding of his precious blood, made atonement for his sins; and, ever living to make intercession, is able to save him to the uttermost, coming to God through him; and has declared that his sheep shall never perish, but shall be raised up at the last day, and be with him where he is, beholding his glory? and how can he, if he really believe this, be much or permanently troubled in heart? Will he not, firmly believing these things, adopt the apostle's language, "If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord?" 2

It would occupy more time than we can at present devote to it, but it will be found a very pleasant and a very profitable employment for some of your retired hours (and every Christian, at whatever expense, should have his retired hours), to verify the general proposition, that in the faith of the truth respecting God and Christ, a Christian may find what will prevent or cure distressing trouble of mind, from

1 Psal. xlvi. 1-3; xliii. 5.

2 Rom. viii. 31-39.

whatever source it may arise, by thinking of the various causes of heart-trouble, whether from within or without, and then of the particular truths respecting God and Christ, and the exceeding great and precious promises made by them that exactly meet the exigence.' Afflicted Christians must believe if they would not faint; and they will not faint, however much their hearts be troubled, if they only believe. "I had fainted," says a saint who was greatly afflicted, "I had fainted, unless I had believed." But he believed, and having thus received mercy, he fainted not. There is not one case of heart-trouble, however extreme, to which the prescription "Believe in God, believe also in me," will not be found applicable,—not one case in which, if attended to, it will not be followed by the storm being turned into a calm, and "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keeping the mind by Christ Jesus."

Be

There are not a few in this congregation whose hearts are now troubled by the loss of near and dear relatives. Jesus is saying to them, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." If you do so, you must be comforted. Is the living God dead?-can he die? Is the immutable Saviour changed? -can he change? Say then, in the full assurance of faith, "The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock;" "Jesus is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." lieve the Divine sovereignty, wisdom, power, kindness, and faithfulness. Believe the efficacy of the Saviour's atonement, the prevalence of his intercession, the omnipotence of his power, the tenderness of his compassion. Believe God when he says, "I will never leave thee." Believe Christ when he says, "I am the resurrection and the life;" "Thy brother shall rise again." Be not slow of heart to believe all things which are said of the Father and Son-all things which the Father and Son have said-and you will find how true is

Psal. xxvii. 13.

2 Psal. xviii. 46. Heb. xiii. 8.

the Saviour's declaration, "In the world ye shall have tribulation," but " in me ye shall have peace." 1

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Happy is that well-instructed Christian who is anxious about nothing, because, knowing the name of God his Father, and of his Saviour Jesus Christ, he puts his trust in them, and finds their name "a high tower," to which, in all seasons of alarm, from whatever cause, he can flee, and be and feel safe. Happy is he who thus "dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, and abideth under the shadow of the Almighty; and says of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my fortress my God; in him will I trust." Happy is he who, by the faith of the truth, finds in the man Christ Jesus "a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." 3

The words before us were addressed only to the eleven disciples, all of whom were clean through the word of God, which had been spoken to and believed by them; and they are, in all the extent of their meaning, applicable, and the consolation they impart available, only to those who, like them, have "fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us." But the God whose nature and name is love, who loves men-the Saviour who died for men when they were sinners, enemies-looks with pity even on the impenitent and unbelieving, whose hearts are troubled, often fearfully troubled, with worldly-guilty-anxieties and perplexities. Even to them the Saviour proclaims, " Come to me, all ye that are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." "Believe in God, believe also in me." The faith which makes you acquainted with the truth respecting the character of God and the mediation of Christ, will introduce you into a new world, the powers of which will so overpower the influences of this world, as in a great measure to neutralise their power very strongly to agitate your mind, either with desire and satisfaction, or with fear and sorrow. 1 Heb. xiii. 5. John xi. 23, 25; xvi. 33. 2 Psal. xci. 1, 2. 3 Isa. xxxii. 2.