But he labours and prays, that in the conflict with the world, he may continue faithful to the Captain of his salvation, and stand unmoved at his post. He will not unnecessarily provoke the hostility of the idle and the wicked, by assuming on all occasions a gloomy countenance. In his intercourse with mankind, he will remember the Saviour's injunction: Cast not your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Matt. vii. 6.) But if the world hate him for no other reason than because he is devoted to the service of God, loves his Bible, cherishes a spirit of devotion, and, through divine grace, is labouring to work out his salvation, (Phil. ii. 12.) he will not shrink from their hostility. On the contrary, relying on the power of God, he is prepared for any tempest they may raise against him. Strong in the Lord, he is steadfast as a rock in the ocean, nor can all the rage of this world's storms destroy his peace of mind. He knows in whom he has believed, and that he is suffering in the cause of that Almighty Being who is able to deliver him out of all danger. He calls to mind the conquest of his Redeemer over that world with which he is now contending, and draws from the fact that encouragement which Jesus Christ meant His disciples to derive from the contemplation of His victory. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;

I have overcome the world. (John xvi. 33.) These meditations tend to keep the Christian's mind in perfect peace, in the midst of hostility from without. He pities, he prays for his enemies, but they cannot disturb the serenity of his bosom.

He is also at peace, even when remembering all his past sins. To others this is incomprehensible. Who can tell what fears haunt the impenitent sinner's conscience, when reflecting on his evil course of life? They are utterly indescribable, insupportable! He cannot bear to take a retrospect of his ways. He shudders to look at himself. His only relief is to forget, if possible, his past iniquities, which he endeavours to do by plunging into dissipation and still more vicious excesses. But the Christian has no need of such wretched expedients to relieve his conscience of its load of guilt. For he knows that God is love, that He has given His own Son to die for the salvation of mankind, and that, in Christ Jesus, all will find pardon who seek it with humility, contrition, and faith. He sees,

therefore, that he has nothing to dread from the past, and his mind is kept in perfect peace as to the future, through Him on whom were laid the iniquities of us all.

The Christian's mind is at peace under the spiritual darkness that occasionally overhangs his soul, and intercepts his prospect of heaven. It is not always that he can realize that comforting view of the love of God in Christ Jesus, and that

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assured hope of his own interest therein, which sometimes sooth and cheer his spirit. Occasionally he seems to pray in vain, and feels tempted to complain of the Lord as Jeremiah did, when he cried, Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. (Lam. iii. 44.) But though the sun of righteousness seem to be hidden from his eyes, His beams are not wholly obscured. A light ariseth upon the Christian even while walking in the darkness which his doubts have raised. It is his privilege to believe, and there are seasons when he can derive consolation from the belief, that God must be true to His word, and to His covenant engagement with His Son. He sometimes remembers with refreshing satisfaction, the Scripture which declares that with the Father of lights there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. (James i. 17.) Though, through the infirmities of his heart, he himself may change, yet often does his soul rise to a holy confidence of this very thing, that He which hath begun the work of grace in him, will not leave it unfinished, but will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. i. 6.) He is assured, that no fluctuation of his feelings, though for the time distressing to his mind, shall deprive him of ultimate peace; and therefore he can sing unto God a song of praise, even in the night of affliction.

With respect to the future world, his mind is at peace. And here also how greatly has he the

advantage of those who neither know, nor love, nor fear the Lord. What have the wicked to give them peace in the prospect of death? What other thoughts can they have of eternity, than those of trembling alarm? What must be their apprehension when they reflect, that in the unseen world which is opening upon them, they will be haled to the judge, to render a full account of all the deeds done in the body, and to receive the punishment due to their crimes? So frightful are such thoughts, that seldom do you find the man, how regardless soever of all moral and sacred duties, that permits them to lodge in his mind. He will endeavour to avert the tormenting fears to which they give rise, by persuading himself that the threats of the Almighty against the wicked are too dreadful to be executed; that God is too merciful a Being ever to call frail mortals to account with such severity. What a deceitful, what a miserable refuge this, from the horrors of a guilty conscience. The prophet describes it correctly, when he calls it a refuge of lies; for it involves the conclusion, that the God of righteousness can act unjustly. If the judge of all the earth fail to punish the impenitent, how can He be a righteous judge?

Very different are the sentiments that compose the Christian's mind in the prospect of eternity. He confesses his sins indeed, with all their aggravations and deformities. He makes no attempt to extenuate his faults, but freely acknowledges

how justly he merits punishment. But he knows the Judge, believes Him to be his Saviour, relies upon Him for deliverance from death, has a good hope through grace, of entire justification from all his sins; and hence, in the full prospect of eternity, he has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

How extensive then, how perfect is that peace of mind which God bestows on His children?

We are now prepared to consider the means of its attainment. It is faith in God-Because he trusteth in Thee.

In every instance, the peace enjoyed by the Christian is to be attributed instrumentally to this principle, his trust in God. For what purpose would it answer to know that Jehovah is the fountain of wisdom, uuless we confided in that wisdom to direct all our affairs, and to control every event for our good? A mere knowledge of the fact, that God is infinitely wise, could give no peace to the mind, unless we felt assured that His wisdom was exercised in our behalf.

So likewise with respect to the love, the power, the mercy, the truth, and other perfections of Jehovah; and also to the sufficiency of Jesu's atonement to take away sin, and ransom the soul from death. To be acquainted with all these truths is one thing, so to apply them to the heart as to derive peace therefrom, is another. Satan knows as well as we do, that these attri