340 DIVINE HELP IN TROUBLE. Trouble anticipated.- "Trouble is near." Trouble is "Man that is born of a woman near to us as creatures. is of few days, and full of trouble." As we have inherited sin and depravity, so we have inherited their inseparable effects-affliction, sorrow, and death. Trouble is near to us as sinners. The impenitent and unbelieving are exposed to ten thousand dangers, and to wrath, curse, hell. If the life of the Christian is a warfare, how much more so is the life of the sinner; for he fights against God and against conscience. Trouble is near to us as Christians, If any imagine that their troubles will be ended when they become Christians, they will soon find out their mistake. The troubles are not ended, but they have grace and strength to bear them. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous." Weeping may endure for the night of time, but joy cometh in the morning of eternity. Divine help implored.-"Be not far from me." God is able to help us. He afflicts, but not willingly; he chastises, but it is for our profit; he tries us, but not more so than we are able to bear; and when our afflictions abound, our consolations much more abound. He is nigh to help. Christ hath brought divine help near to us. On the ground of his mediation alone can we expect God to look upon our affliction and help us; and as Christ is the only way to God and to heaven, we must either take this way or perish. This help we must seek by prayer. God has promised, but we must pray for the fulfilment of his promise. We must seek it, because he has commanded us, and because all good men in every age have sought and found, have prayed and prevailed, have used violence, and taken heaven by storm. Human aid discarded.- "There is none to help." We naturally cling to earth, to friends, and to physicians, and it is right for us to use all the means within our reach to get rid of our troubles, but it is wrong to be too anxious DIVINE HELP IN TROUBLE. 341 about means, or trust to them. Human aid is of no avail without the blessing of God; and unless that blessing is sought and expected, he is robbed of his glory, and our trouble will not be blessed to us. Our deliverance from trouble, and our soul's salvation, cannot be expected without disclaiming and renouncing dependence on human aid, except as a means to an end. Shall we depend, then, on God or man? Surely the Lord is my helper, and a very present help in trouble! JULY 27. The Time for Working. "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."-John, ix. 4. WHAT a picture of the devotedness of Christ, and how worthy of our imitation? Here is something to be done -opportunity allowed for doing it—and the reason for improving it. Something to be done." I must work the works of him that sent me." God has sent us into the world, not to be idle or indifferent, but to work. We must attend to the salvation of our souls. This is the one thing needful above all other things; and if we would have our souls safe, we must believe in Christ, and live under the influence of his love. We must give evidence that we are saved, by confessing Christ before men, by joining his church, by observing the sacraments, and by attending to the practical duties of religion. We must strive to save others. Our children, our neighbours, the world lying in the wicked one, must engage our attention, and call forth our efforts; for how is the world to be converted, but by the efforts, and contributions, and prayers of God's people? Opportunity allowed for doing it.- -"While it is day;" 342 THE TIME FOR WORKING. that is, during life. Life is short, and to be measured by days. Behold thou hast made my days as an handbreadth. How short, compared with the antediluvians! how short, compared with the duration of the sun, and moon, and stars! The day of life is uncertain. Men die at all ages; and if we measure the graves of the dead, we will find some little more than a span, and some six feet and more. day of life fixes every man's destiny for eternity. day, or this moment, may depend the welfare or misery of my soul for ever; and if ever there is to be a turningpoint in my soul's history, why not now? The On this The reason for improving it.-"The night cometh, when no man can work." The night of death is certain. Scripture proves it, observation proves it, and experience proves it. The night of death makes sure progress to us, and we make sure progress to it. It is often near, often sudden, and always solemn. "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death." Every day brings us nearer death, and every step we take brings us a step nearer the grave. The night of death ends our power of doing either for ourselves or others. "If the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall lie." How overwhelming will be the end of those who, having enjoyed space to repent, have yet repented not! JULY 28. Sinners Inexcusable. "How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not."-Luke, xiii. 34. THIS expostulation was addressed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enjoyed the personal ministry of Christ; but it is equally applicable to all unbelievers within reach. SINNERS INEXCUSABLE. 343 of the gospel. Here we have the objects of Christ's love -his frequent attempts to gather them-and their refusal. The objects of Christ's love." Thy children." They were sinners highly privileged. They had the lively oracles, the rites and ordinances of religion, and the teaching and miracles of Christ. And have not sinners in our day privileges as good and great? They were obstinate sinners; they were self-righteous; they refused instruction; and though they could not deny the miracles of Christ, they ascribed them to Satanic agency. How many still reject the counsel of God against themselves! They were sinners nigh destruction. Their cup of wrath was nearly full, and many of them would live to see their proud and cruel city levelled to the dust. How near to destruction are all unbelieving sinners! His frequent attempts to gather them.-"How often would I have gathered." He ardently desired to save them. He taught in their temple, and in their streets; he wrought miracles, numerous and convincing, to evidence his Messiahship; and he pleaded with them as a father doth with his children; and what more could he do for them? His love to them was strong and tender. He tried to gather them to himself, 66 as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings." She gathers them for rest when they are weary, she gathers them for comfort when they are cold, and she gathers them for safety when danger is near. And where can the sinner get rest, and comfort, and safety, but in Christ? He did this often. For three years and a half, Jesus laboured much in Jerusalem, and gave many opportunities and earnest calls. Reader, perhaps he has called thee a thousand times; may not this be the last? Their refusal.-"Ye would not." Well may Jesus say, It is your fault, not mine. All has been done that can be done. All things are ready. Why will ye die? "Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." It is 344 SINNERS INEXCUSABLE. your crime. Salvation is near, but ye will not have it. Ye are therefore inexcusable, and must bear all the blame. Surely unbelief is the greatest sin in the universe! Your punishment will be deserved. The immortal soul will be lost, but it will be your own fault. Your sin will find you out, perhaps in this life, certainly in the life to come; and your misery will be merited, dreadful, and eternal. JULY 29. The Great Company. "And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats."-Matt. XXV. 32. THE second coming of Christ will be glorious, and its great design will be to judge the world. Think of the Judgethe assembly convened-and the great separation. The Judge. He is the Son of God, the glorified Redeemer, who shall sit on the throne of his glory. Yes, the babe of Bethlehem shall sit on the throne of the universe. He who stood at the bar of Pilate shall have Pilate and all men standing before his bar. "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." For this office he is well qualified. He knows all hearts, he judges righteously and certainly, and he has ample power to carry all his decisions into effect. I must stand before his glorious throne, I must behold his glorious appearance, I must gaze on his glorious retinue, and I must be affected, for weal or for woe, by his great and solemn work of judgment. The assembly convened." Before him shall be gathered all nations." Men of all countries will be there, from the east and the west, the north and the south. Those who have the Bible, and those who have it not; those who have heard the gospel, and those who have heard it not— all must be there. Men of all ages will be there. Those |