age, and our comforter in forrow, hath been feduced from duty, and led into practices which threaten to involve him in fhame and ruin. Recourfe hath been had, without fuccefs, to thofe means which in fuch cafes it is pradent to use. When, lo! fome fimple applica tion, which men of skill perhaps had fcorned, removes the difeafe which had baffled their art: fome circumftance, feemingly accidental, raifeth us to that independence which the perfevering efforts of industry have failed to bestow: fome change of fituation hath arrested the prodigal in his mad career, and disposed him "to arife, and to go to his father."

Sometimes again, God fheweth to his people" a token for good," in the feafon which he chufeth for the difpenfation of his mercy. "He is a prefent help in the very time of "need." That timidity and irrefolution which they have often betrayed, leave them in scenes of danger, and are fucceeded by a spirit of enterprize and boldnefs. Sources of confolation, formerly unknown or inacceffible, are opened in those moments, in which accumulated woes are about to plunge them in the horrors of defpair. Perhaps, when some spiritualTM trial hath been their portion; when they have been in danger of yielding to fome powerful temptation; when they have been deploring the coldness of their affections, and their unprofitableness in their Maker's fervice; or when they have been mourning, that it "is not with

"them

"them as in times paft;" that the light of God's countenance is with held, and that their adversary is exalted over them; they are directed to fome paffage of fcripture which fuits their cafe, or fome minister of religion is "en. "dowed with the tongue of the learned, to "fpeak a word in feafon to them that are "weary."

In a state of warfare, struggles and perils are to be expected. The righteous muft partake of the trouble to which man is born.. But if trouble hath impreffed them with a fenfe of their Maker's fovereignty, of his right to dispose of them, and of all that pertains to them; if trouble hath rendered them more humble than they have formerly been; if by exercise it hath invigorated their faith and their virtue; if it hath diminished their attachment to this changeable world, and led them to feek for a city which hath foundations; they may be confidered as having reafon even in it to obferve the presence and the glory of the Lord.

3dly, GOD manifests himself in his Word. The difcoveries which his works and his ways have made of him are fo clear, that those are justly faid to be fools, and to have no excufe, who fay "in their hearts, there is no "God." In addition, however, to thefe difcoveries, he hath favoured us with others of

a very important nature. From this pure fource only is derived full information of those

tender

tender mercies, without which his other perfections would fhine with a luftre too ftrong for guilty mortals to behold. The God of nature is a being in whofe goodness the innocent may truft, but poffeffed at the fame time of justice, which the workers of iniquity can neither corrupt nor appease, and of holinefs, before which they muft tremble to appear. But the God whom the gofpel reveals is not only reconcileable, but actually reconciled to

men.

"In the face of Jefus, the express iW mage of his perfon, his glory is beheld." In that wonderful difpenfation of which he is the author, we fee him fatisfying the demands. of offended juftice, and purchafing a right to confer pardon and grace on the chief of finners. The deftroying angel is removed from the gate of paradife; and a free communication between heaven and earth is opened. "A "new and living way is confecrated, by which "thofe who were afar off may be brought "nigh unto God." A channel is prepared for conveying good and perfect gifts to the children of men. Truths" which had been kept "fecret fince the world began,-truths which 66 many kings and prophets defired to know, "and were not permitted, are revealed unto "babes. The high and the lofty One who ❝ inhabiteth eternity, condefcendeth to dwell "with thofe who are of a humble and con"trite fpirit."

Such only as are of this defcription feel the full impreffion which his prefence and his glo

гу,

ry, as revealed in his word, are fitted to make. To fuperficial obfervers, and to wicked men, it is a dead letter, and a book that is fealed. But "the fecret of the Lord is with them that "fear him, and to them he manifefts his co"venant." He prefenteth in a strong light, the wonders of his law, and openeth their understandings to understand them diftinctly. He leads them to recognize himself, not only as highly exalted, but moreover as standing in a peculiar relation to themselves, as having "made peace with them by the blood of the "crofs, and as having fent into their hearts "the spirit of adoption." Having at times perhaps been furprised into thoughtleffness or defpondency, their eye is directed to fome paffage which recalls their attention, which awakes them from their flumber, and leads them to fay, "Surely the Lord is here, and "I knew it not." In a word, fomething occurs daily in the course of their fearch, to counteract the influence of temptation, and to redouble their anxiety about their everlasting concerns; fomething to confirm their wavering faith, and to reconcile their minds to the difpenfations of providence; fomething to quicken the growth of thofe fruits of righteousness which were ready to perifh; or fomething to give them clearer views of the permanent interest which their Redeemer's merits have fecured for them in the favour of God, and of the glorious triumph which is

to

to fucceed the ftruggles and the perils of their warfare.

4thly, GOD manifefts himself to his people in acts of Devotion.

The bustle of their ordinary affairs may dif fipate their attention, and prevent them from hearing that voice, in which he fpeaketh from heaven. But if they dedicate fome feafons to meditation and retirement, if in fecret they call upon him who feeth in fecret, he will "manifeft himself in a way in which he doth

not to the world." Prayer is an exercise by which the most intimate correspondence with him is maintained. Purified by faith, the foul mounteth up on wings as eagles, placeth itself before the throne of the Ancient of days, and obtaineth a view of the unveiled fplendor of the holy of holies. Oft have thofe who are now inheriting the promises prefented their fervent fupplications at the foot-ftool of the mercy-feat, and found reafon afterwards to praise the Hearer of prayer. And furely his hand is not shortened that it can"not ftill fave, nor hath his ear become hea86 that it will not hear." In every age, he vy "will be found of them that seek him," to give them lively impreffions of his strength and majefty, and grounds of thankfulnefs for his peculiar and diftinguifhing love to their fouls.

Again, public ordinances are means of improving our acquaintance with God, and of " tranflating