hath any one sinned as I have done, you will reckon it a mercy that you are not now in torments, and therefore you will be content.

For a third rule, be thankful; apt, willing, eager to give thanks unto the Giver of all good things. Look therefore at the bright side of your condition. Some things in it are grievous, and these you have richly deserved. But in some things surely you have met with favour. And who has deserved these? Surely not you. Are you not born in a country, the only one in the world, where the law has made certain provision that no one need perish for mere want? Have not the poor here more help in their poverty, and the wealthy more security in their wealth, the sick more aid of medicine, the ignorant more opportunity of instruction? Is not the Gospel here more purely, more freely, more fully preached? And does not your own Conscience testify that both in these things, d in many others known only to your, God has been gracious to you, forwhen you have most provoked

his wrath, and striving with you by his grace when you have most resisted it? Be thankful that you now live to hear his word. Be thankful that you have still hope to make your peace with Him through Christ. Be thankful, Be thankful, and you cannot fail

to be content.

Lastly, seek earnestly for a lively hope, for a sober assurance of faith, for a joyful conviction that your sins are forgiven, your forehead sealed for mercy, your name written in the book of life. There is an assurance which is no better than pride and presumption. There is an assurance also which is tempered with humility, and which yields not rash confidence but calm contentment. Such was St. Paul's feeling when he wrote thus to the Corinthians, "We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Cor. 5.1.) Such was the persuasion which he exhorts the Hebrews (10. 22.) to cherish, "Let us draw near with a true heart in

But far otherwise do they appear to the eye of faith, beholding in sickness the chastisement of a father; in suffering, a resemblance to the cross of Christ; and in death, the gate of a better life, to live with Christ for ever. Oh who that hopes there to converse with the spirits of just men made perfect; who that hopes there to meet the dearest friends whom he has lost on earth; who that hopes there to behold the presence of Christ in glory, to wake up after his likeness, and to be satisfied with it; who that hath this hope in him and remember it should be the lively hope of every Christian: who that hath this hope in him, would grudge to lose the few short years he may have reckoned yet to live; who but must be well content when death most formidably threatens, content only so much the more to look for and to haste unto the coming of the day of God! (See 2 Pet. 3. 12.)

Thus may we do all things, thus may we be content in all things, even in whatsoever state we are, through Christ strengthening us. For remember it is the gift of

God. Contentment is a Christian grace. It is a disposition of heart and soul which no purpose of your own can work in you, but only God's great power and goodness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Take therefore for the very first and chief rule towards contentment, that you pray heartily for this grace as the gift of God. Often as you repeat "Thy will be done," desire fervently that it may be so, and that whatsoever God's will is you may yourselves rejoice either to do or bear.

Take for the second rule I have to give towards contentment, that you be humble. Then though your estate be low, your heart is lower, and therefore you are content. Then though you be of small esteem in others' eyes, you are less in your own, and therefore you are content. Then instead of looking for more comforts, you will bethink you often of the words of the prophet; (Jer. 5.25;)" Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you." Instead of saying, Never hath any one suf

hath any one sinned as I have done, you will reckon it a mercy that you are not now in torments, and therefore you will be content.

For a third rule, be thankful; apt, willing, eager to give thanks unto the Giver of all good things. Look therefore at the bright side of your condition. Some things in it are grievous, and these you have richly deserved. But in some things surely you have met with favour. And who has deserved these? Surely not you. Are you not born in a country, the only one in the world, where the law has made certain provision that no one need perish for mere want? Have not the poor here more help in their poverty, and the wealthy more security in their wealth, the sick more aid of medicine, the ignorant more opportunity of instruction? Is not the Gospel here more purely, more freely, more fully preached? And does not your own conscience testify that both in these things, and in many others known only to yourselves, God has been gracious to you, forbearing when you have most provoked