Tuesday in Easter-Week.

BELIEVING WITHOUT SEEING.-(PART II.)

ST. JOHN XX. 29.

JESUS saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

IN the sermon for Monday in Easter-Week, we remarked upon the gracious manner in which the apparent superiority of advantages enjoyed by the Apostles, and first believers, over ourselves, has been compensated for by our LORD. And, wherein those persons were more highly favoured than we are, it was suggested that the promise which we enjoy of blessedness in believing without having seen, becomes in itself a most precious inheritance, and one which is altogether our own. We also spoke of Faith under Persecution, and of Faith in our LORD'S Resurrection from Death. Let us pursue this line of thought, and take notice how fruitful it is in edification. And first,-what of Faith in Prayer?

Now, it is plain that when Daniel beheld the man Gabriel fly swiftly, and felt his touch about

the time of the evening oblation, he had sufficient reason to believe, or rather to see that his prayer had been heard. . . . . When Cornelius received the message of the Angel, assuring him that his prayers and his alms had come up as a memorial before GOD,-he believed, of course, that God had heard his prayer. He could not but believe it, because he saw.

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But our SAVIOUR pronounces that man blessed who, without seeing, yet believes the man who, in his necessity, cries earnestly to GOD, and casts all his burthen upon Him. Is some matter too difficult? Then, let it be brought before One with whom nothing is impossible. Is some

want too severe ? Then, bring it under the notice of One who hath promised that His yoke shall be found easy, and His burthen light. Is some doubt too harassing? some anxiety too perplexing? some sorrow too grievous? The man is blessed' who looks for no Angel to 'relieve him from his distress: nay, far more than that; who looks for nothing but the sense of support which the HOLY SPIRIT is certain to bestow; and, leaning his whole weight on that strong stay, lives on contented; can even look up and smile; can be calm and cheerful. And why? Because he can believe, though he cannot

see, that all things are working together for good: that God is even now, in some mysterious and most marvellous way, contriving his blessedness; his blessedness in the very matter of his prayer. He cannot see any thing; but he can believe all things. Very blessed is he therefore; for Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.'

So again, in respect of the ministration of the holy Angels to the sons of men :—what wonder if Abraham believed? or Jacob? or Joshua ? They could not help believing. They saw Angels; -talked,―reasoned,-wrestled with them. They heard the sound of their voices, or experienced some sensible mark of their Love or their Power. The same is true of David and of Daniel, of the Twelve Apostles, and of so many more.

But it is our Blessedness to believe without seeing. Do any water their pillow with bitter, yet virtuous tears? They know that Angels bend above their heads; sorrow with them, and for them. Does loneliness sink on the spirit like a weight? No one, surely, is alone! The Angels of GOD unseen bear us company. Do any tremble for the fate of the absent child, or parent? the husband, while away, for the wife of his bosom? the friend for the friend?

No need to tremble! All may be sure that Angels encamp about those whom God loves; go

with them, guard them, sustain them, watch over them sleeping and waking. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation ?'

Once more: when Balaam heard the dumb ass speak, and saw the Angel with a drawn sword standing in the way to slay him,-what wonder if he believed that an accident (as men speak) is sometimes sent to protect us from danger, or it may be from Death? He saw the danger he saw his escape. He had been convinced, as no one probably ever was before or after, that the obstinacy of a dumb animal may be an instrument in GoD's Hand to awaken self-recollection; to cause a change of purpose. In short, because he saw, he believed.

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But how blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed!' Little checks; little hindrances thrown in the way; the reproof of dumb creatures, (as one may describe the matter;) the obstinacy of things without life-all these become instruments of blessedness to those who are not as Balaam was. Blessed, surely, are they who are not wholly insensible to such guidance; who have never seen weapons of Death in

angelic hands, but have been willing to believe that so it might be; and have desisted accordingly,—desisted, (of course we mean,) only when the voice of Conscience spoke loud and clear, and warned them not to persist in what they were doing a moment ago. To all such, Almighty GOD says, 'I will guide thee with Mine eye. Be not ye like horse and mule which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held with bit and bridlea.'. . . . In all such guidance, how blessed are they, who, not having seen, yet have believed.

Only one example more. When Sarah's maid espied the fountain of water, and the widow of Zarephath saw the barrel of meal visibly filled from day to day:-when ravens brought Elijah meat, and manna was seen on the ground in the days of Israel's wanderings-when water was made wine, visibly; and five loaves grew into food for as many thousands :-how easy then was the office of Faith in God's care for the bodily wants of His children! The multitudes,the disciples, prophets,-widows,-bondsmen ; -they saw, they saw the bountiful Hand of the CREATOR, employed in behalf of His creatures. There was no effort of Faith here: Faith in God's

a Ps. xxxii. 9.