from the tumult of contending passions, and the wretchedness and imbecility of an unsteady purpose. "Peace I leave with you," saith our Saviour, "my peace I give unto you 1." To have purity of heart, and habitual piety and uprightness, are such sources of happiness, and such preservatives of a calm and tranquil joy, that, were Christian men but as careful as they should be, to maintain that trust in God which is both the source and the result of true religion, and to extend that confidence in God to all the affairs of this life, as well as to the concerns of their immortal souls, it would be a very needless effort to demonstrate that which was open to every man's observation, and confirmed by universal experience. Our business therefore, as followers of Christ and members of His Church, is, to trust God altogether and in every thing, and to avoid whatever can possibly interrupt our communion with Him; and then, the peaceful composure of our lives, the cheerfulness and serenity of our tempers, and our calm and tranquil recollection at the approach of death, will be infinitely stronger and more prevailing arguments, than any discourse from the pulpit, to convince mankind, that to rely on God and to serve Him, is to possess a depth and solidity of happiness, which it is vain to seek for in any other way, and to which the servants of sin and the children of this world are fully conscious that they are and must be strangers. Happiness cannot consist with an unnatural state of being. We feel compassion for the disordered intellect that is tormented by unreasonable fears and imaginary dangers. We pity the maniac that dreads an enemy in his most constant friend, and puts some sinister construction upon the truest act of kindness and affection. But surely the most unnatural of all frenzies is this, to distrust the wisdom and the goodness of the wisest and best of beings. It is plainly impossible that a man can be happy whose mind is in a condition so contrary to nature. Now faith in God sets all our disordered propensities to rights. It dispels the delusion which has presented Him to our minds in any other than His true character. It convinces us, that He is love, and that all the requirements of His law and the dispensations of his providence must be constantly coincident with our happiness and our interest. For the soul to turn from the fountain of life and peace is surely asunnatural as for the babe to loathe its mother's breast. On the other hand, to trust in God is to possess the perfection of our nature; and, for this reason, the highest degree of happiness and enjoyment. For certainly, true peace can only dwell in a mind which confides in God, and is on that account submitted and resigned to His will. Such a soul is happy, if only in its freedom from tormenting anxieties and restless insatiable cravings after external and unsubstantial good: still more happy, in its anticipations of the everlasting gratification and repose, which it is destined and qualified to enjoy. Purity of conscience will secure peace of mind to any man who is not afflicted with have the express promise of God, "Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them 1" "The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance for ever 2" And again," Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee." True faith is not a negative, but a positive habit of the mind. It is not merely a distrust of every thing but God; it is this, but it is much more. It is a confident reliance, a bold and courageous dependence, which gives a high and cheerful spring and elasticity to the soul. It is not afraid to avow its conviction of His truth and never-dying love. It is the faith of Abraham, that hoped against hope. It believes that what God hath promised, He is able also to perform. It is not deterred by any false humility from saying, "The Lord will provide." If this be not happiness, I know not what happiness is. Truly, my brethren, there is a positive en 1 Ps. cxix. 165. 2 Isa. xxxii. 17. joyment, a real and inexpressible delight in casting all our cares and concerns upon God, and feeling that He is caring for us. It is impossible to maintain such a state of mind long, without having all our conceptions of the power and wisdom and goodness of our heavenly Father, enlarged, exalted, purified. Such a soul has its conversation in heaven. It is connected in its most inward thoughts with the source and fountain of all blessedness, and has a conviction, which no sophistry can move, and which no argument can make more firm, of the truth and nearness of its relation to God, of the love of Christ, of the patience and power of the Holy Spirit, and of the security and infallible certainty of a happy termination to every event which can happen to them that love God, in a changing and disappointing world. "Then shall we know," saith the Prophet, "if we follow on to know the Lord." Pursue this path, and you must ultimately arrive at a delighting in God, in His presence, and in His |