enduring the worm that never dies and the fire that never will be quenched: "for whatever," says a certain author, "is added to your life by regard to your own will and way, must either become food for the worm that never dies, or be torn from you with the acutest pain."

Once more, here is in the passage before us,

III. CONSOLATION TO EVERY PIOUS MAN WHO UNDERTAKES THE REFORMATION OF HIS FAMILY.

God was with Jacob, while he walked in this way; and, whatever he had to fear from man, the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them. The path of duty is the path of safety. If God be for us, who can be against us? He, that spared not his Own Son, but freely gave him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? God pledges himself, in that act, that he will withhold nothing that is good. He knows our wants, occasions, and necessities: he knows what we have to meet with in his way, and for his name's sake. You may depend on being specially protected, while working the work of God. You cannot expect too much, with respect to his assistance and protection in his way. Leave the event to him: that is not your affair. But, if you go out of his way, you take events upon your own shoulders; you must bear consequences: and who can bear consequences? Fear nothing in a right pursuit : in a wrong one, you have every thing to fear.

There is a fine example, in the case of Moses, of consolation in a difficult duty. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child: and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. "You shall put the child to death," says the king. "We see," say the parents, "it is a proper child; and we will fear God, and obey God, rather than man: therefore we will hide the child. We will leave the case to God:

he is able to protect him, to take up, and to carry him through, notwithstanding the dangerous circumstances in which he is born." And I would ask, What became of that child?-This was their faith:-By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

The

Them that honour God, he will honour. terror of God was upon the inhabitants of the cities of the plain: not a man went out to revenge, the outrage of Jacob's sons, though as great a one as ever was committed.

No doubt but every man would feel cause of terror presented to his eye and ear, when the sons of Belial rise up, saying, Our tongues are our own! who shall be lord over us? I will overtake: I will destroy: my hand shall divide the spoil! We are not to wonder, if Israel cried out in such a case as this. The sight of terror is overwhelming. But let us remember the case of Peter: he looked at the waves, and he sunk : and he, that looks only at the waves and storms of life, must sink; for sense will bring reports that will overwhelm us. Nothing can then support us but seeing him that is invisible; and considering that creatures are all in his hand, and moved by him at his pleasure.

A secret terror was upon the inhabitants of these cities. Brethren! this is many times the case, when we see nothing of it. The tongues of men are restrained, when we cannot account for the restraint. Deep laid schemes are broken to pieces, when we are surprised to hear that it is so. Malicious plans prove abortive, because God is concerned in thwarting them; and more concerned than we are. The terror of God was the reason that none of the inhabi

tants of these cities pursued after Jacob: but they would not have known it, if God had not made it known to them. Men love to know the causes of things: the Holy Spirit here tells us plainly what was, in this case, the cause: the terror of God was upon them.

I

My dear hearers, this same ever-working God is still at the head of all things. He sitteth King above the water-floods, as much in this day as in that day: and he hath taught us to put out trust in him, while the dreadful speeches, and threats, and arts of ungodly men are abroad; and has promised us, that in pursuing our way, he will give us lessons of consolation in difficult duties; and that, when we have borne the burden and heat of the day, we shall come to dwell in Bethel-a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. "I go," says our Lord, "to prepare a place for you: and if I go and prepare a place for you, will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you; but, because it is so, I tell you of it." All other families will have their failings, embarrassments, and sorrows-But!- -There is a family, where nothing of the kind shall ever enter! There is a house that shall not fail! And I hope there are many here present, whom I shall accompany to that blessed state, where all distress and anguish, sorrow and sighing, shall flee away. Therefore I say, with St. Paul, For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would support you in the path of duty which he calls you to enter that you may take up the cross, bear the burden and heat of the day, and remember that he is faithful who hath promised, and that he hath consolations for such of you, as well as trials for you to bear. Let us therefore do his work for the day, and in the day; and wait for

the evening, when he shall say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! thou hast borne the burden, endured the cross, despised the shame, and proved thyself a real disciple of my crucified Son: and now enter into my joy."

That we may enter into that blessed state, and all come to the inheritance of the saints in light, may God grant to us of his infinite mercy!

SERMON II.

THE DYING SAINT'S CONSOLATION.

2 SAMUEL, xxIII, 5.

Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure: for this is all my salvation and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

WE are told, in the context, that these were the last words of David; probably not the last words which he spake, but the last remarkable words. And he said, the Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue; for, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me. He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. This was exemplified in David himself, but it much more immediately refers to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth; even a morning without clouds: as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. These words were put into David's mouth, inasmuch as it was the character of himself. But, while David received the Spirit, and ruled over Israel in the sight of God, according to the gracious promises made to him, yet, when he came to consider how the matter actually stood at home; "Although," said he, my house be not so, not right with God; not so as I would wish it; not so as it ought to be; not so as I might expect it to be, considering the instruction which it has received: still the promise holds good! It is

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