that we can press on, it may be "in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling," yet still with a hopeful trust, through the trials, and difficulties, and dangers of our Christian course.

Life is an awful thing-viewed in its real aspect—and relations—and resultsscarcely less awful than death itself; and the thoughtful mind would often sink under an oppressive sense of its utter helplessness, if it were not encouraged by God himself to lean on the strength of an Almighty Arm.

"Thou hast heard my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing-at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not." "Fear not, for I am with thee and will bless thee."

"Be strong and of a good courage; fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the

Lord thy God he it is that will go with thee, he will not fail thee nor forsake thee."

"O our God, we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee. Thus saith the Lord unto you; Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's."

"I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."

"Only be thou strong, and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses, my servant, commanded thee; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is

written therein, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong, and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest."

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

This rest, however, is often rather the result of support under affliction, than of exemption from sorrow; for we are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord our God giveth In every scene the monitory voice will often fall on our startled 66 ears, Arise and depart, for this is not our rest; it is polluted."

us.

To say nothing of "the sins which follow us," often in their consequences, often

in poignant and unavailing regrets-lying heavy on our hearts, even when we hope they are forgiven--how numerous are the sources from which waters of bitterness must continue to flow as long as we sojourn in a fallen world! The peace of the Christian is often found only in the depths of a submissive and confiding spirit; like the tranquillity of the ocean in its abysses, while its surface is agitated by tumultuous waves.

If we would pass our time in such a measure of rest and quietness as is compatible with the nature of this unquiet scene, we must set onrselves to do and to suffer, in a Christian spirit, whatever God shall appoint.

"They labour in vain who have a predominant desire to be happy, and to choose their own happiness. They are perpetually wounded on some side, which

they have laid bare to the arrows of life. The treacherous reed is ever running up into the hand which leans upon it. They are giving hostages, as it were, to this changeful world, and ever losing their dearest pledges, and so they toil on, trying to rear up a happiness around them, which is ever dropping piece-meal, and at last is swept away by some chastening stroke; and then, no wiser than before, they set themselves, with a bruised and chafing heart, to weave the same entanglement again."

"And if to be useful in our generation simply, be our main object, our happiness cannot but greatly depend on outward circumstances. Our own weakened health, the failure of our faculties, the decay of our worldly prosperity, the state of other men's minds, and the condition of public affairs, may at any time cripple our useful