would be well content to have these things laid to my charge, did I maintain such propositions, on my own unsupported authority, or my own single testibut whilst that I have the Word of God on mony; the one hand, and the experience of His Children on the other, I need not shrink from the pleasing office, nor fear being able to realize those expectations, which by the grace of God, I would fain excite. May then the blessing of Him, whose words, full of mercy, love, and truth, I proceed to unfold, be abundantly manifested in me who write, and in those who read; or, if this be too much to ask, I would that, by my instrumentality, even one afflicted soul, one mourner in Zion, might add his grateful testimony, and set to his seal, that the Word of the Lord is true, and giveth peace, even "perfect peace," to the mourning and disquieted spirit.

The words which I now set before you, are the words of assurance, confirmed and strengthened by experience: although they cannot, with precision, be called a promise, yet they are, with strictness, and in truth, equivalent to one: it is as sure, as if we saw written, 'I the Lord will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on me, because he trusteth in me.' In this surely there is comfort and encouragement, worthy the Divine Giver of so glorious a promise, and which so far exceeds all that we could dare to ask or think. We read the heathen poet's expression, 'in utrumque paratus,' (prepared for either fate) to which I only allude, for the purpose of illustrating that promise of which we are speaking.

If your minds be resting and staying upon God, upon His faithfulness, as your hope, as the anchor of your soul, in prosperity you shall be kept in "perfect peace," not too much elated, neither anxious, nor disquieted about the continuance of your blessings, because God is your Father, and the most High, He is your refuge: again, if your mind be resting and staying upon God, in affliction you shall be kept in "perfect peace," because you shall be taught that "whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth," and "though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies."+ And again, when in a state of doubtful uncertainty respecting the issue of any important plan, or expected source of happiness, if your mind be resting and staying upon God, and upon His faithfulness, you shall be kept in "perfect peace," because you shall be assured, yea, devoutly persuaded, that “all things work together for good to them that love God.”‡

All this shall be the portion of the true believer, in whatever state he may be placed, to whatever trial he may be called, if only he trust in God, through Jesus Christ, by the aid of the Holy Spirit: this is the way of access into that grace wherein he shall stand, by which he may rejoice in hope, and be patient in tribulation.§ Oh! what a stay and support is this in the doubtful hours of suspense and anxiety! whatever be the issue, "perfect peace” shall

*Heb. xii. 6.

+ Lam. iii, 32. Rom. viii. 28. § Ephes. ii. 18. Rom. v. 2; xii. 12.

be the Christian's privilege and portion; there is no hazard in the die; all, all is certain! and is all certain? is peace the fruit of confidence? is faith the source "of quietness and assurance?" Why therefore, shouldest thou be cast down, and why disquieted within thee, afflicted brother? in the words of the Holy Ghost, I bid thee, "trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."* The verse preceding this, I said, implies a promise, this contains a suitable direction founded on that promise. "Trust in the Lord," it is an antidote against a perturbed spirit; "trust in Him for ever!" When? in prosperity, in affliction, in doubt, in despair! Why? "for in the Lord Jehovah is ever

*Isa. xxvi. 4.

Have we not need to pray unto God to keep us, in prosperity, as well as in adversity? Have we not need to trust in Him in the time of wealth, as much as in poverty? Truly we have "lest we be full and deny Him, and say, Who is the Lord?" Prov. xxx. 9. lest we boast of our strength, and glory in our possessions, and thus like the rich fool in the Parable, provoke the anger of the Lord! This lesson our Church teaches us, when she enjoins us, in the Litany, to pray thus, 'In all time of our tribulation, IN ALL TIME OF OUR WEALTH,-Good Lord deliver us.' This sounds but strangely in the ears of those, whose hearts are fixed on the unrighteous mammon, in whom the god of this world hath blinded their eyes, so that they fancy they see salvation in their gold, and strength in their riches! It is recorded, that a member of the Rev. John Newton's Church, on inheriting an unexpected property, thus wisely began his career, by desiring the public intercession of his fellow-Christians in the usual manner, in words like the following; 'A young man lately come into the possession of much wealth, desires the prayers of the congregation.'

lasting strength?" Are you therefore weak? Be strong and of good courage, for here is One who hath strength, yea, everlasting strength, freely to give you; for "to them that have no might, He increaseth strength."* Come only in perfect faith, and you shall have "perfect peace;" only come "trusting in the name of the Lord, and staying upon your God,"+ and be assured, for I speak by God's grace, that I do know, your trust shall not, yea, cannot be misplaced. God cannot deny Himself; His Word has gone forth, and having received increasing confirmation through successive ages, it must, it will, it cannot but accomplish His gracious purpose in sending it. He need not have promised peace on this side eternity, but having done so, may I not say, with becoming humility and veneration, He stands pledged to bestow it? For indeed, "God is not a man, that He should lie, He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?" But we must remember whose the promises are; they belong to those only, who trust in His mercy, through Christ Jesus; to those only who submit themselves to Him in filial confidence, and unfeigned resignation: in this then, be confident, "be of good cheer, for I believe God, that it shall be, even as it is told us."§

nor the son of man, that

Isaiah xl. 29.

Isaiah 1. 10.

§ Acts. xxvii. 25.

Numbers xxiii. 19.

II.

JUDGES VIII. 4.

FAINT, YET PURSUING.

These words, in their original application, refer to Gideon and his band of three hundred men, in pursuit of the Midianites. The circumstances attending this event are highly interesting and instructive. We read, in the sixth chapter, that the Lord appeared to Gideon, to send him with deliverance, on behalf of the Israelites, against Midian: God, in this to shew His power and the strength of His arm, and that the people of Israel might not "vaunt themselves against Him, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me," ordered Gideon to reduce his army of thirty-two thousand men to the small band of three hundred; with this band he put to flight the hosts of "the Midianites and Amalekites, and all the children of the East, which lay along in the valley, like grasshoppers, for multitude;" then "came Gideon to Jordan, he and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them;" wear