66

is a need be, and always " for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." By a wonderful conjunction of wisdom and love, he takes the sting out of afflictions, and makes them mercies, so that "all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies." As in a well mingled potion every ingredient joins to give virtue to the whole, that the salutary effect may be produced; so all things in the believer's lot are measured out with infinite propriety, and jointly work together for his good. As evil, there will always be a tincture of cruelty, and "a woman may forget her sucking child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb;" and some will always be found" without natural affection;" yet, in general, earthly parents will give good gifts to their children. God is good, and we may apply to him with the strongest confidence for all we need.

The reasoning here is most conclusive: if persons, with so much evil about them, know to give good gifts to their children, infinitely more will the Lord, who has not the shadow of these ills, give what is good to his people. "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry; he taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those who hope in his mercy." Every tender-hearted parent, and every loving and beloved child, must feel the force of this reasoning. The child knows with what love and unshaken confidence he applies to his father; and the father with what complacency he supplies his child.

3. Earthly parents, though evil, are moved by the helpless and needy situation of their children, and their

application for relief; much more will your Father be attentive to your fervent and importunate cries.

Children, when they come into this world, can do nothing for themselves; and without the care of others would perish. God has implanted strong affection in parents for the preservation of their offspring. The child, by looks, signs, and language, as soon as capable of them, expresses dependance on his parent, and every expression is a powerful claim on the Father's love, touches his heart, and makes him endeavour to supply the wants of his child. The parent's eye beholding the helpless situation of the child, affects the heart, and the cry for pity and relief moves his bowels.

Never did the sight of misery move the human heart so much, as God was moved by the foresight of the deplorable situation of his people from eternity. He thought on us in our low estate, and provided ample supply. In time, the sight of our actual misery has inclined him to supply our wants, and grant deliverance. Often he has said, "I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them." Believers, knowing this, have often prayed with David, "Look upon mine affliction, and my pain, and forgive all my sins; and look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto these that love thy

name."

If the sight of misery and want touches the heart of our Father in heaven; every cry of the believing soul is a strong claim upon him for deliverance. It is the cry of absolute need (I am poor and needy.)

It is the cry of hope rejecting every other quarter, and seeking relief from God alone. The godly are encouraged in this application, by his love, grace, and faithfulness pledged in his promises. While the Lord is ready to help, he has infinite complacency in the very prayers of his people, when they pour out their hearts before him. If then an earthly parent, though evil, is affected with the wants, and listens to the cries of his children, much more will God take notice of all the wants of his children, and answer their cries, especially as these cries are sent up in Christ's name, under the direction, and by the aid and influence of the Holy Spirit.

4. Other children apply for something to support the natural life; you apply for support to the spiritual. Earthly parents can only provide effectually for that life which may perish after the most suitable and abundant supply of bread or of fishes; and, at best, can only continue for a few years. No doubt all professing parents should, and some will, have a greater concern for the eternal than for the temporal welfare of their children; but Christ in this text has the natural life and its support chiefly in his eye. If earthly parents will make such vigorous exertions for a life which may come to an end in a moment, and, at most, can only be of short duration; much more will a God of grace make suitable provision for the spiritual life of his children, which is endless as eternity. Besides, the natural life may be spent in Satan's service; while the spiritual is glorifying to God in every stage here, and will bring a perfect revenue of glory to him hereafter. To hurt, or not promote as far as possible,

the natural life would prove the parent hard-hearted, and reflect on him for want of affection; but it would reflect infinitely more on the love, grace, and faithfulness of God not to perfect the good work which he has begun in the hearts of the saints. If God did not give every thing necessary for the hourly preservation, and daily increase of the life of grace, Satan, and other enemies, would say, that he had forsaken the work of his hands, either for want of love to his people, or because he was not able to introduce them into the Land of Promise. Earthly parents, if they could, would preserve the life of their children, and would prevent that bitter sorrow that arises from the death of a first-born. All that believe in Christ, and are the children of God, shall never die, and natural death, which is more properly a falling asleep in Jesus, brings them to that land where death never enters, and where life is in perfection. We have many and strong assurances that God will keep the believer every moment, preserve his soul in life, give every thing necessary for spiritual nourishment, and bring it to perfection at last: for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;" and we may say, "This God is our God, and our guide to death; and though flesh and heart fail, God is the strength of our heart and our portion for ever: thus the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that has clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger."

5. It is also eminently for the encouragement of the saints that they apply to one who is their heavenly Father. Children often apply to earthly parents in vain. The supply sought is above their power. The

young child sinking under the power of disease looks with wishful eye, and lisps out his complaint to his parent: but in vain. Gladly would the father break the force of the disease, administer immediate relief, and restore health; but he finds it beyond his reach. The disease baffles medicine, makes rapid progress, and threatens immediate dissolution. Every look of the dying child pierces the parent's heart, and makes his pain as pungent as if he himself laboured under the disease. Often has a parent seen his child pining away for want, and "asking bread, and no one breaking it unto him." To have afforded supply would have been the joy of his heart, but alas he could not. Ejected from her master's house, Hagar heard the cries of her child, whom she had cast under the shrubs to die. Unable to witness the painful sight, she turned away, removed to some distance, and wept aloud.

With God all things are possible. No strait is too great for him. He is able to supply all the wants of his children, and they can never apply to him in vain. He is in heaven, and does whatsoever pleases him. No possible title can prove a greater antidote to unbelieving fears, or a greater help to faith and hope than that of "heavenly Father." The term Father secures affection and good will; and the character heavenly proves his almighty power. Inimitably beautiful, and unspeakably comforting, are the words of the Psalmist, "A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widow, is God in his holy habitation." There is a conjunction of every thing encouraging to faith, or productive of comfort, in this title our heavenly Father. We are