encouragement to pray, and adds, surely in the floods of great waters (perhaps he means this tempest of the passions I have been describing) they shall not come nigh unto him a. And however there was no sinful mixture of passion in that extraor dinary agitation our Saviour felt in the garden, yet it was by retiring from his disciples, and pouring out strong cries and tears unto his Father, that he composed himself to his sufferings b. O then be persuaded, Christian, to copy after his example.

Thus have I at large shewn you the regards we are required to pay to the interesting truths contained in this short but comprehensive sentence, I AM GOD. We are to know-to well weigh and consider them-to believe them, and so enter into the spirit of them-to endeavour to apply them to ourselves—and to pray earnestly to God to make them effectual for quieting our distressed minds.

And now, let me close what has been said with an address to all those who are under the frowns of Providence, and of whom these duties I have been describing are more immediately required. And,

1

1. As to such who make light of their afflictions, or, to use the words of Scripture, despise the chastening of the Lord c. Allow me, Sirs, to expostulate with you on your great folly and sin. That insensibility which you account your happiness, is not the stillness and composure which the text recommends. Nor is that daring resolution of which you may perhaps boast, of the same nature with the courage of a real Christian—a courage which is the effect of a becoming submission to the will of God, and a firm confidence in his power and goodness. It is indeed wrong to dwell incessantly on our afflictions, and to give an unreasonable indulgence to a wild and gloomy imagination. But will you say it is rational or manly, to be indifferent about events that are interesting and important-to stifle your sorrows by thoughtlessness and inconsideration-or to drown them in vain and unlawful pleasures? From these sources you may indeed derive some little present relief, but that relief you are purchasing at a very dear rate. Such a foolish dissipation of the mind renders you incapable of taking the fit and prudent b Heb. v. 7, 8.

a Psal. xxxii. 5, 6.

c Heb. xii. 5.

measures to extricate you out of your troubles. And it will in the end be followed with a sadness, which will greatly increase and aggravate your distress.

But the consideration chiefly to be regarded is the affront you hereby offer to God. It is his hand that is upon you. And think you that he will not resent such a contemptuous treatment of his providence? Who ever contended with him and prospered? Of Ahaz it is said, that in the time of his distress he trespassed yet more against the Lord: and à particular mark is set upon him-This is that king Ahaz a. God afflicts either in judgment or mercy: and there cannot be a more sad symptom of his judicial displeasure, than the not feeling our afflictions, or the being totally inattentive to the instruction and reproof, they are designed to convey. Those are alarming wordsEphraim is joined to idols: let him alone b. They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof: therefore shall they eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own de vices c.-In adversity, therefore, consider. Know the rod, and who hath appointed it. Eye attentively the hand of God. Inquire wherefore it is he contends with you. Be humbled at his feet. Implore the forgiveness of what is amiss. And rest not satisfied without feeling the salutary effect of your affliction, to imbitter sin to you, to wean your hearts from the world, and to raise your affections to heaven.

2. As to those who are apt to faint under the rebukes of Providence-a temper to which Christians are usually more prone than to that just described. With you, my friends, I most tenderly sympathise. The heart knows its own bitterness; and all proper allowance is to be made for the hasty and unguarded sallies of pungent grief. To bid you not feel your affliction, would be to heighten and aggravate your distress. And to blame you for pouring out your complaints to those around you, would be cruel and inhuman. Nature will have its course. The tide is not to be instantly turned. Yet your passions, though they are not to be immediately subdued, may be guided into their proper channel, and be assisted to some useful and important purposes. And who knows but the tempest may by and by subside, and a calm ensue?

a 2 Chron. xxviii. 22. VOL. I.

b Hos. iv. 17.

c Prov. i. 30, 31.

Y

To these ends, let me remind you again, of what I have already particularly discoursed-There is a God-That God governs the world-He has a right to govern it-He is most wise, just and good-The measures he pursues, are all directed to some valuable and important object—He does not willingly afflict the children of men-You are not to conclude from your present feelings that he is your enemy-Others have been deeply afflicted as well as you-Jesus, the Captain of your salvation, was made perfect through sufferings-He knows how to pity you-And his sorrows have sufficient efficacy in them to convert yours into real blessings. Spend a thought on these things, O ye that are afflicted, tossed with tempests, and hitherto nɔt comforted a. They are considerations which will, however, hold you up from despair, and prevent your uttering rash censures on the ways of God." But, ah! your minds are in such confusion, and you are so perplexed with doubts as to your interest in the divine favour, that you can take little comfort from these considerations." It may be so. Let me, however, intreat you to turn your attention for a while, if that is possible, from your affliction; to think with yourselves how much worse your condition might be, it would have been, if God had treated you according to your deserts; to consider the mercies you still enjoy; to reflect on your past experience of the Divine goodness; to make your Bible your companion in these sad hours of grief and melancholy; to give your Christian friends a patient hearing, while they attempt to comfort you; and above all, to take sanctuary at the throne of grace, and there pour out your tears of sorrow to him who hath an ear to hear, and a heart to pity the afflicted.

3. As to those who are enabled to practise the great duties I have been describing;-how great, my friends, is your mercy! You may well glory in your infirmities, as the apostle expresses it, since the power of Christ thus rests upon you. An end, an important end, is already attained by your having been afflicted. O! let patience have its perfect work. Look to yourselves that ye lose not those things which ye have wrought, but that ye receive your reward. Still confide in the power, goodness and faithfulness of God. Still rely on the mediation, advocacy and

a Isa, liv. 11.

grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. And still expect those aids and supports from the blessed Spirit which you may yet need. And comfort yourselves with this animating consideration, that the trial of your faith, which is much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, will be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ a.

A FIT motto this for the arms the Christian soldier bears-descriptive at once of the fatigue he endures in the course of his warfare, and of his resolution, notwithstanding, to persevere. The words, I am sensible, relate to quite another matter; yet they may, without any impropriety, be accommodated to the great purpose of animating us to the duties of our Christian profession, which is the object of the present discourse. But, before I proceed to this improvement of them, it will be proper to give you a general view of the story to which they refer.

The Israelites, having sinned against God, were delivered into the hand of the Midianites, who grievously oppressed them for seven years. In these circumstances, feeling the sad effects of their folly and disobedience, they called upon God. God in his great mercy heard them, and having first sent a prophet to expostulate with them upon their ungrateful and rebellious conduct, raised them up a Saviour. This saviour was Gideon, a person of little note, being of a family, as he himself says, poor in Manasseh, and the least in his father's house. To him the

a 1 Pet. i. 7.

Lord appeared, and commanded him to go in his might and save Israel; at the same time giving him a sign, and afterwards at his request another, to confirm his faith in the promise of success. Gideon, endued with the Spirit of God, sets himself to the work he had undertaken. The altar of Baal he boldly attacks, destroys it, and cuts down the grove that was by it. At this the Midianites were highly incensed, as apprehending a general revolt to be intended. Wherefore they, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, gathered themselves together, in prodigious numbers, to subdue this rebellion of the Israelites. Upon which Gideon blew the trumpet, and assembled about thirty-two thousand men to battle. But by the command of God, this army, though inconsiderable when compared with the Midianitish host, was reduced to three hundred: for the honour of the victory God was resolved to secure to himself. Before, however, any thing is attempted, Gideon receives direction to repair in disguise to the camp of the enemy; for he should there meet with a circumstance, which should fully satisfy him of the success of the enterprise he was presently going upon. To the camp he accordingly goes, and mingling himself with the soldiers, he hears one of them relate a dream, which another immediately interprets of the victory which the sword of Gideon was quickly to gain over them. Assured therefore of success he immediately returns, and prepares for the engagement. His three hundred men he divides into three companies, and puts a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. So he marches, in the midst of the night, to the outside of the camp; when on a sudden, at the word of command, his men break their pitchers, blow their trumpets, and cry, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon! This strikes such a terror into the Midianitish host, that, imagining themselves betrayed, every man's sword is turned against his fellow, the consequence of which is a general slaughter throughout the camp. No less than an hundred and twenty thousand are slain; and fifteen thousand only make their escape. These, with their princes at their head, make the best of their way towards the country beyond Jordan; which Gideon perceiving, gives orders to the Ephraimites to take the waters, that is, to pass the fords before them. So he and his three hundred men