an improper time, but as a guest, who may rest assured of a hearty welcome. And if the door is not immediately opened, take the staff of the promises, and make a noise with it at his palace gate. Say, "Lord, thou hast said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you; I entreat thee for this addition." Say, "Lord, here is one, who is much more than the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, and shall he hunger and remain unclothed?" Say, “Father, it is not a raven that cries for bread, but a member of thy dear Son!" Say, "Thou hast said unto us, Cast all your care upon me, for I care for you! Care, therefore, O Father!" With this staff of the promises, make a tumult at his gate, and help and deliverance will soon be granted thee. He will assuredly give thee, and if he did not do it from love, he would do it as the friend mentioned in the Gospel, because of thy shameless importunity.

Be of good cheer, therefore, my brethren in the Lord, happy are ye! You never can nor ever shall want any good thing. No, "Goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life." The whole treasury of heaven stands open to you in Christ. All is yours; all, all. Therefore, rejoice evermore, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your hearts. Amen.

9*

VI.

THE SHUNAMMITE.

Ir is really so, my friends; the way to life is a path of affliction, a thorny road. The Scriptures by no means conceal this from us. The Saviour himself said to one who was eager to follow him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." And what is Paul's inscription on the standard of Israel? "It is through much tribulation that we must enter the kingdon of God." Let no one, however, be deterred by this from joining us on our march. It is nevertheless a glorious, wonderful, and blissful road which leads to Jerusalem, except that what the prophet says has also reference to it: "upon all the glory there shall be a covering." (Luther's version.) When the covering is at length removed, we shall experience a joyful surprise.

The path of a child of God is glorious, even from his cradle. Certainly, when first it sees the light, there is apparently nothing very particular in the babe; a naked worm lies before us, which has been conceived in sin, a child as other children are. But we lift the veil, and behold what? an Esau? No, a Jacob. A Cain? No, an Abel, a Jedidjah. Smiling angels stand around the young stranger, and a voice whispers at his cradle, the same which was heard at Solomon's, saying, "I have loved thee!" And if we listen more attentively, it is added, "with an everlasting love;" and a blessing is pronounced upon the child, a

blessing which extends itself even into eternity. The little babe is brought to the baptismal font, and there also nothing more is done to it than to other Christian children. But we take away the covering, and behold the Lord Jesus himself baptizing the child; his baptism is a real pledge and seal. All the blessings and privileges of the new covenant are solemnly promised to the new-born babe, without any provision or conditions. Its name is written in indelible characters in the heavenly book, and its blessed mother rocks the son of a king, a joint heir with Christ, upon her arm. When the highly-favoured infant grows up, there is again nothing discoverable of what is uncom, mon in its exterior. It acts as other children do. But looking at it with a spiritual eye, what dost thou perceive? a wondrous plan of heavenly wisdom and love overruling the life of the child, and a tender, divine, and parental hand manifested in all its training and guidance. Every thing is so regulated in the existence of the individual, as shall best promote his salvation. Every thing occurs just as it ought to occur; and this afterwards becomes sufficiently apparent. Even as the Lord said unto Moses, "When I take away my hand, thou shalt see my back-parts."

The blessed citizen of the heavenly kingdom does not yet bear the signature of his high rank upon his forehead. He still belongs to the sheep which are not of the good Shepherd's fold, but must first be brought into it. The hour arrives when he wakes to newness of life. What dost thou now see? Anything particular? By no means. Thou seest a weeping individual, a sighing creature, one that languishes after grace and mercy. But remove the veil. What is now revealed? The Holy Spirit is seen personally taking up his abode in the dark world of the poor sinner's heart, selecting the sphere of his operations, calling a new

life and being into existence; and the angels of God are seen tuning their harps, and there is joy in heaven over the penitent, and a garden of God springs up in his soul. The man now walks the narrow path, and again he seems to be walking only like a thousand others, except that his road appears more solitary and gloomy-nay, often like the path of one that is forsaken and proscribed. But I remove the nightly envelopment, and consider with the eye of faith, the mean-looking pilgrim and his path. What wonders, what glories present themselves to my view! 1 find the solitary pilgrim in the most delightful society. About him, wherever he goes, the keeper of Israel, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. Above him, like an inextinguishable star, the paternal eye of Deity, full of tenderness and faithfulness. Beneath him, eagles' wings and angels' hands, bearing up through life the apparently tottering mortal, lest he dash his foot against a stone. I do not see him take a single step in his wanderings, without being drawn by the cords of eternal love. If this leads him through the waters, Jesus is the pilot of his vessel, and the dove sits on the mast with the olivebranch of comfort. If his path conducts him through the fires, the spectacle of the burning fiery furnace is only again renewed; the flames do not kindle upon him, for God is with him. If he falls into distress and embarrassment, a host of angels immediately stand before the face of the Eternal, and inquire, saying, "Father, in what way shall he be delivered?" If he slumbers, wings of mercy gently overshadow him. If he wakes, many gracious eyes wake with him. If he weeps, his tears are numbered in heaven, and are collected into an urn. If he prays, his ejaculations soar through the clouds; and how welcome are they in the courts above, how gladly seen! If he fights, not only do invisible hands