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disposed, employed, to produce the ultimate and inconceivable felicity of his faithful servants. Our part is exceedingly plain and simple: to pray, to watch, to put our trust in Him; to study and to do his will; to live under the constant sense and protecting shadow of his providence; to have a growing love of his goodness, and a cheerful confidence in his unfailing care and kindness; to be the willing instruments of his power, yielded up in every faculty to his directing influence. Thus, our regards fixed on the Redeemer, may we walk with an even step along the rough and twilight paths of life; neither dazzled with the vanities, nor dismayed by the dangers that surround us. Thus shall we be enabled to receive and to survey the changeful events of this world with an heavenly tranquillity; sharing, indeed, its labours, tasting its satisfactions, and sympathising with every sorrow, yet spiritual, cheerful, and serene. And thus, after a few years of mingled joy and suffering, shall we arrive at that land where fear and conflict, where doubt and disappointment, shall be no more: "into which no enemy enters, and from which no friend departs."

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ON HOPE.

1813.

WHEN Alexander was about to undertake the conquest of Asia, he distributed his possessions among his friends. Some one, observing the magnificence of his presents, asked him what he intended to retain for himself. He replied, Hope. The servants of Christ, though in general little resembling, and little anxious to imitate, the lords of this world, may justly adopt the language of the Grecian hero. They have engaged in an enterprize so great, they aspire to a kingdom so rich and glorious, that they can well afford to abandon to others the ordinary honours and gratifications of life. Hope is their portion; a hope "full of immortality." How should they exchange it for any worldly possessions, or even consent to share it with transient and perishable pleasures! "Opes, honores, et universum vitæ ambitum, ad majora nati, non contemnunt, sed relinquunt sæculo ? *”

There is, perhaps, no Christian grace which is more characteristic of the religion to which it be longs, than that which has just been mentioned.

*See Epitaph on Isaac Barrow.

Hope is the natural support of those who are for a time subjected to trials, and whose success depends upon their perseverance. It necessarily supposes a fixed and entire preference of some state of things which is expected, over that which is possessed. And it has the peculiar power of so realizing to the fancy what is removed from the senses, and borrow ing, as it were, a happiness from futurity, that where it is lively and vigorous, it can shed a light on the most obscure path, can soften every sorrow, and make every labour light. Thus it seems to point out, in a single word, the nature of the Christian Pilgrimage in this world; the views and expectations best fitted to supply refreshment in our journey; and the temper and disposition of mind to which both should give birth;a temper at once serious and cheerful; prepared for the trials of religion, and sensible of its consolations; collected, but not gloomy; and joyful without levity and with

out excess.

I have often thought that the goodness of God is, if possible, more distinctly marked in the injunctions which he has imposed on us, than even in the promises which he has given us, or the evidences of bounty and beneficence scattered through the natural creation. He has so identified our duty with our happiness, he has selected with such profound wisdom and unspeakable mercy the sources of our perfection and only lasting good, as the proper evi dences of our allegiance, that I know not how any one who has been accustomed to consider human

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nature attentively, can fail to discover in this beautiful arrangement the stamp of a Divine original. This truth can hardly be better illustrated than by the Christian grace which we are now considering. Had Hope been left unnoticed by the inspired writers, had it been wholly omitted in the circle of Christian duties, is it not plain that every good man must secretly have cherished the blessed sentiment for his consolation, strength, and joy? Must he not have sought, in its cheering influence, a light in this land of shadows; and clung to it as an anchor on which to ride in safety amid the temptations and sufferings of this stormy region! How gratefully then should we receive, how diligently cherish, that blessed provision which the bounty of our Maker has furnished! How deeply adore the gracious Father who has encouraged and enjoined us, in imitation of our Redeemer, to "look unto the joy that .is set before us;" "to endure the cross and despise the shame," " having respect unto the recompense of the reward."

"Henceforth I learn that to obey is best

And love with fear the only God. *"

It happens, I imagine, not unfrequently, that Christians, especially in their early acquaintance with religion, feel some surprise at the exalted station which St. Paul has assigned to Hope, among the chief graces of the Gospel, supported by Faith

Par. Lost. Lib. 12.

on the one side and heavenly Charity on the other. It appears singular, at a first glance, that a feeling which seems to be almost instinctive, with little of a moral nature attached to it, and as we should judge, inseparable from the anticipation of future happiness, should not only be reckoned among the duties, but even ranked with the highest attainments of the Christian life. But this difficulty, with many others, disappears as we become better acquainted with religion;-like a speck floating before the eyes, it is the imperfection of our senses, not a defect in the object we contemplate. It is too plain that the hope which St. Paul has so highly exalted is no vulgar or ordinary affection. Look on the world around, and survey the conduct and characters of men. Can the largest charity believe that the hope of a Christian is among the common principles of action? Are worldly persons in any visible or effectual measure animated by a lively and joyful expectation of the glory which shall be revealed?" I fear there is little doubt, that if the. hearts of our fellow creatures were laid open, none would appear to be deeply affected with the hopes of the Gospel, but those who love its precepts. Let us then consider some of the peculiar features which belong to the Christian Hope, that we may the more justly appreciate its excellence.

The Hope of the Gospel is founded on the promises of the Gospel. It has its roots therefore in faith. It is among the fairest and most delightful fruits of that parent stock of all Christian excel

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