2. There is a proportion of fitness and suitableness. Divine strength made over in the promise is wonderfully adapted to the necessities of the Christian. When the soul receives and improves it, duties become congenial to the heart. Nothing can be more unsuitable to the unrenewed heart than the performance of duties in a proper manner; but grace changes the heart, casts it into the mould of the Gospel, and produces a fitness for every duty: and the more grace the believer receives from the fulness of Christ, his heart is filled in proportion. Grace makes him delight in calling upon God, and stirs him up to be fervent and importunate in this exercise. It fits him for reading or hearing the Lord's word. It opens the heart to receive Divine instruction, and gives it an abiding influence. It makes the arduous duty of selfexamination pleasant. It opens up the secrets of the heart, and enables the conscience to act with propriety, and judge without partiality. In meditation, it fixes the attention, and kindles the sacred flame. So suitable is the strength in the promise to duties, that it makes them the Christian's element, and it is his meat and his drink to do the will of his heavenly Father. It equally fits him to encounter every enemy. It arms him for the battle, inspires him with courage, and makes him valiant in the fight. Though his enemies compass him like bees, in this strength he destroys them. While human sagacity could never discover the plots and wiles of his enemies, grace apprises of the danger, and either makes a way to escape, or points out sufficient aid. This strength is so suited for making the believer oppose his

enemies, that it may at once be called his armour, and ability to wield it. It fits him for bearing afflictions. It comforts his heart under them, makes them sit easy and light upon him, and causes them to promote his best interest. It makes the hottest fire refining, the deepest waters healing, and the waters of Marah sweet.

3. There is a proportion of duration. No man can promise upon the continuance of outward strength for a single moment. What he can now perform with ease, may soon be entirely beyond his power. It is quite otherwise with the believer. With the greatest safety, he may promise upon spiritual strength to his dying hour, and ought to do it. He has the best warrant for this in the Lord's promise. Duties will continue in constant succession while he lives, and he ought to die in obedience to the will of God, "so doing." Temptations and afflictions too will be his lot while in this world; but he shall have strength to bear the one, and oppose the other. Many are the promises which secure continued strength and support. God hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. And we may be confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ-for this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” The promise is always equally replete with strength, and the saint has equal access to it every hour.

What an unfailing spring of consolation and encouragement are those gracious words, Isai. liv. 10, "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee!" That strength which conducted the saint through this waste and howling wilderness, will also support him in the swellings of Jordan, and administer an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

While the believer's strength continues as long as he has any need, it is dispensed by the Lord with wonderful propriety, and in the best season. He waits that he may be gracious. Often the season in which the saint receives strength discovers the watchful care of God over him, and, as well as the strength, becomes matter of praise. It is never given till necessary, and never delayed beyond the best time. Often God bestows it when the believer is brought very low; and every saint is well acquainted with these words, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble: God shall help, and that right early."

4. It is a proportion eminently glorifying to God. Every thing respecting the saints proclaims his glory. This is the great end for which they were redeemed. The Lord says, "This people have I for myself; they shall show forth my praise." He receives a remarkable revenue of glory from the proportion between their trials and their strength. Angels now take particular notice of the heirs of salvation, nar

rowly inspect them in every part of the Christian warfare, and praise God for that proportion. So far as the saints know it, they also praise him. In heaven they will understand it perfectly, and give him complete and endless praise. It is eminently for the honour of his wisdom to adjust every circumstance in their lives, and make their strength exactly correspond to their wants. He knows all their trials, and the exact proportion of strength which they need. It is also for the honour of his love, care, and pity. He pitieth them under every trial; and the more they are tried, the more are they the objects of his care and pity. His power too will be glorified in giving such strength to his people as enables them to bear their greatest and sharpest conflicts. Nothing short of Divine power could either support them in or deliver them from trials. When a weak instrument performs mighty actions, it glorifies the hand that holds it. When believers have outward fightings and inward fears, when they labour under bodily affliction, wrestle against principalities and powers, and bear all this accumulation of distress without fainting, or even much complaining, it glorifies the unseen hand which supports them.

5. This proportion is absolutely certain. God has pledged his word and oath that his people shall have the strength which they need. His simple word is infinitely sure, but that we might have a strong consolation he has added his oath. These are two immutable things; and heaven and earth shall sooner pass away than believers meet with trials above that they are able to bear. Having such grounds to go

upon, we should believe this proportion, and take the comfort of it, even before we have fully experienced it. We should trust in the Lord, and this would be the way to have our hearts helped. The better we bode at God's hand, and the more we trust his promises, the surer will our help be, and the sooner it will come.

We shall only add, that the saints in every age have borne honourable testimony to this truth, that God did not suffer them to be tempted above what they were able to bear. Under the Old Testament, they sung, "I was brought low, and the Lord helped me." Under their heaviest trials, they had reason to say, when "my foot slippeth, thy mercy, O Lord, held me up: in the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul." Many of them endured the heaviest trials. "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins, and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." Under the New Testament, the saints began to praise the Lord for this strength, saying, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." They too endured extreme sufferings, and gloried in tribulation. Since the canon of Scripture was completed they have borne testimony to the same truth on death-beds and gibbets. They have finished their course with joy, proclaiming to the praise of God and the comfort of others," that not one thing hath failed which the Lord their God spake concerning them; all are come