promises and faithfulness. His faithfulness is expressed, which must imply his promises. The saint when tried can never take encouragement from himself. He is weak, and his enemies are many and strong, deceitful and malicious. Like David he encourages himself in the Lord, and especially in his promises. Every thing about these evinces that they are both designed, and calculated for his encouragement. They were given without any solicitation, and of God's good-will recorded in the word. They are numerous, and suited to every condition. They are the strong man's meat, and cordials to the sick. They are the condemned sinner's pardon, and the justified person's passport to the far country. The greater part of them are expressly addressed to the tried and tempted soul; and none can apply unto them without finding them suitable to his own case, whether he be afflicted, tempted of Satan, or deserted of God.

Divine faithfulness is engaged for the performance of all these promises, and is particularly encouraging to the tried saint. God hath spoken in his holiness, and all the promises are yea and amen in Christ, and ratified by his blood. The sins of his people did not prevent his giving the promises, though he knew them then as well as after they are committed; and they never can hinder the accomplishment of them in their due time and order. God is able to accomplish all his promises; and he is of one mind and changes not.

Thus, though hills should be cast into the midst of the sea; though Providence should wear a frowning

aspect: and the world seem to go to wreck; the believer has sufficient encouragement that he shall be safe here; and hereafter see the desired haven : for faithful is he that hath promised, and there will be an accomplishment of the things spoken by the Lord. Therefore, in every hurricane and tempest, the believing soul should fix the eye of faith in the Divine promise, cast another within the vail, and weather out the storm. The Divine promise and faithfulness supported Abraham in that great trial of his faith, Rom. iv. 18-21, " Against hope he believed in hope, and being not weak in faith, he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. The cloud of witnesses mentioned Heb. xi. performed the arduous work, and endured the severe trials there recorded, "in and by faith." They derived all their encouragement and support from the faithfulness of God pledged in his promises.

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6. All the trials of believers, without a single exception, have one common measure, which they never did and never shall exceed, which is what they are able to bear. Many may have less than they could bear; but never one had more. Many under their trials have feared or apprehended that they would not be able to bear them; but never one actually fainted or gave up. In the beautiful language of Isaiah, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even

the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." A wise and merciful Lord proportions the trials to the strength, and the strength to the trials. He fits the shoulders for the burden, and, as the great burden bearer, he carries both the person and his burden. If either outward afflictions or inward fear, the wrath of men or devils, should at any time border on being too much for the Christian, the Lord interposes. He does with trials of every kind, as Asaph says concerning the wrath of man, Psal. lxxvi. 10,

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."

If Christians would desire to know what proportion of trials they could bear, or how much; we shall only make the two following answers at present. They can bear little, very little or nothing, far below their expectation, if they take the burden on themselves: they can bear much, very much, far above their expectation, if they cast their burden on the Lord, and are supported by the everlasting arms underneath them. Experience shows that the believer often bears the heaviest trial best; because he sees at once that it is above his own strength, and directly employs Christ. Many instances of this might be adduced; but we shall only say that often the very thoughts of death before hand have made the Christian tremble more than the great change itself.

What a source of comfort in every situation is that precious promise, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be!"

verance.

7. Believers shall at last all share in the same common deliverance. "God will make a way to escape.' Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. The Lord works gradual and often very great deliverances for them in this world, according to his precious promise, Isai. lvii. 16, "For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made." And at death he gives them full and complete deliIt will be said hereafter of tried saints without exception, "These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them into living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. vii. 14.

That all believers without exception shall escape, is the universal doctrine of Scripture. Christ himself expressly asserts it, John x. 28, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and none

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is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." In heavy trials Christians would faint if they did not believe; but Christ prays for them that their faith may not fail. His intercession secures strength and support under every pressure, and final deliverance. The Spirit of Christ dwells in them as a well of living water springing up to everlasting life, and as he supplies them in the way, he will bring them at last to God, the fountain of living waters. We have the universal testimony of the saints themselves. They all agree in asserting, that none perish who put their trust in God. In the Christian warfare, as Christ has conquered in his person, he must and will be victorious in his members. He must have the honour of a complete victory, and Satan and every enemy must be completely defeated.

We shall only add, that believers should hold on in the great common cause without decline, despondency, or dismay. Whatever their trials may be, they ought never to decline. By turning back, matters may be worse, but never can be better. If they are ready to faint, they should believe. Faith always inclines to hold on in the Christian course, and never to turn back. If they find their strength failing, they have only to look to him in whom all fulness dwells, and it shall be renewed. They should not despond. They have always reason to say, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God: yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time, and in the night his song shall be