stances, we might still be left to inquire, Who will shew us any good? But if He once lift up the light of his countenance upon us, our whole state undergoes a complete alteration. The evils which threatened us are suddenly withdrawn and disappear, while the Sun of righteousness arises and shines gloriously upon us with healing in his wings.

Such was the blessed experience of Hannah. She made her journey to Shiloh as a woman of a sorrowful spirit. There she sought the Lord with many tears, and under peculiar anguish of soul: but it is observed, and with a more than ordinary degree of emphasis, that, on quitting the place where prayer was wont to be made, her countenance was no more sad. And what was it that produced so sudden and so desirable a change? It was assuredly nothing less, my brethren, than a sensible communication of that peace of God which passeth all understanding. She went up to hear what the Lord God would say concerning her: and there, beneath the shadow of Jehovah's wings, she found a sacred refuge from all her troubles. He bade her go in peace; giving her, at the

same time, a secret assurance, that the angel of his presence should go with her, and give her rest. This was amply sufficient, not only to dismiss all her painful apprehensions, but to satisfy all her largest desires. So she went away, leaving all her cares behind her, and carrying with her a humble confidence, that the Lord God of Israel would be her guide, her guardian, and her portion, through all the remaining stages of her course.

Lo, thus shall the man be blessed, who feareth the Lord! The Lord out of heaven shall so bless thee, whosoever thou art, that thou shalt shortly discover nothing, on the right hand or the left, before or behind, but causes of satisfaction and joy-till that promised day of consummation arrive, which shall place thee beyond the reach of every annoyance, and number thee with the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven.

SERMON XIX.

DEUT. VI. 4.

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.

WHEN we undertake to speak of the Supreme Being, by way of explication, we undertake a task infinitely above our best ability. Who, by searching, can find out God? Neither men nor angels are qualified for the full investigation of this profound and awful subject—It is high as heaven, what canst thou do? it is deeper than hell, what canst thou know? the measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. But while it is wholly impossible to obtain just and adequate views of the great God, by our own exertions; many important particulars are revealed to us, in the holy Scriptures, concerning his unsearchable perfections and his righteous government: among which nothing is made known to us with greater certainty and assurance than the unbroken Unity of the Divine Nature. This doctrine

same time, a secret assurance, that the angel of his presence should go with her, and give her rest. This was amply sufficient, not only to dismiss all her painful apprehensions, but to satisfy all her largest desires. So she went away, leaving all her cares behind her, and carrying with her a humble confidence, that the Lord God of Israel would be her guide, her guardian, and her portion, through all the remaining stages of her course.

Lo, thus shall the man be blessed, who feareth the Lord! The Lord out of heaven shall so bless thee, whosoever thou art, that thou shalt shortly discover nothing, on the right hand or the left, before or behind, but causes of satisfaction and joy-till that promised day of consummation arrive, which shall place thee beyond the reach of every annoyance, and number thee with the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven.

SERMON XIX.

DEUT. VI. 4.

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.

WHEN we undertake to speak of the Supreme Being, by way of explication, we undertake a task infinitely above our best ability. Who, by searching, can find out God? Neither men nor angels are qualified for the full investigation of this profound and awful subject—It is high as heaven, what canst thou do? it is deeper than hell, what canst thou know? the measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. But while it is wholly impossible to obtain just and adequate views of the great God, by our own exertions; many important particulars are revealed to us, in the holy Scriptures, concerning his unsearchable perfections and his righteous government: among which nothing is made known to us with greater certainty and assurance than the unbroken Unity of the Divine Nature. This doctrine