he has been pleased to issue particular assurances with regard to the hour of suffering. "I will be with thee in trouble." "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Herein his conduct forms a contrast with the friendship of others. A friend is born for adversity: but he oftener raises expectations than realizes them. And Solomon tells us, that "confidence in an unfaithful man, in the time of trouble, is like a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint." These are more than useless. You attempt to use them, and they not only fail, but make you writhe with pain. "To him that is afflicted, pity should be shewed of his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty." Job found it so, and said, "My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks that pass away." Paul found it so: and though the brethren came to meet him, when he was going to Rome, to appeal unto Cæsar, as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns, he complains, "At my first answer no man stood by me, but all men forsook me." But he adds, "Notwithstanding the Lord stood by me and strengthened me." He is true, whoever is treacherous : whoever fails, he is faithful. To this Latimer testified in his last moments. Being fastened to the stake and the fire just about to be kindled, he turned a heavenly countenance towards his fellow-sufferer, and said, "God is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able"-While Ridley answered, "Yes, be of good cheer, brother: he will abate the fury of the flames, or give us strength to abide them." Spilsbury had suffered for conscience' sake, and had been released from his confinement. But when apprehended a second time, he said, seeing his wife and children weeping, "I am not afraid to go to prison now-I found God there the first time." In his flight and dreariness, the vision at Bethel was a privilege beyond all Jacob's expectation and thought. Driven from home, and travelling alone; having no guide to direct him, no defender to protect him, no associate to soothe his mind by communion; a forlorn youth, ruminating on his sad condition, and conflicting with those fears which attend uncertain events-he lights on a certain place, and tarries there all night, because the sun was set. The darkness was his curtains, the ground his bed, and a stone his pillow. There he falls asleep, and sees and hears what encouraged him to the last moment of life. But said he in the morning, "Surely God is in this place, and I knew it not." This ignorance and surprise serve to represent the apprehensions of many of the people of God: they seem to think they shall be found deserted in such situations and difficulties. But he is better than their fears; he surpasses even their hopes. He is there, and no sooner do they call, than he answers, "Here I am." Yea, he is not only with them really, but peculiarly in the day of trouble. "As one whom his mother comforteth," says he, "so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." The anxious, tender mother regards all her offspring: but she is most concerned for the poor, weakly, sickly child. The knee, the bosom is for him for him is the prepared delicacy, and the noiseless room, and the breathless step, and the frequent watching and leaning over the bed of languishing, and the entreated reception of the offensive draught, accompanied with the sincere assurance, "Ah, my darling child, how gladly would I take it for thee." And thus is it with his afflicted people. They have their special privileges. As their day, so their strength is; and as the sufferings of Christ abound in them, the consolation also aboundeth by Christ and thousands can testify that they have had clearer discoveries, richer communications, and tenderer supports under their trials than they ever experienced in seasons of ease and prosperity. What want we more? "God," says the church," is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble: therefore will not we fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." No creature can be a substitute for him; but he is more than a substitute for every creature; and his presence peoples and fertilizes and gladdens the gloomiest desert: "I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and there will I speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence; and the valley of Achor for a door of hope and she shall sing there."-The lamp cannot supply the place of the sun; but you have no reason to complain, if you can say, with Mrs. Rowe, "Thou dost but take the lamp away "To bless me with unclouded day." If we faint in the day of adversity, it is by losing sight of him whose grace is always sufficient for us. We resemble Peter. "Come," said our Saviour: "And when he was come down out of the ship, he walked upon the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, Lord, save me." Ah, said Jesus, you should have looked not at the waves but at me. Am not I here? Within sight? Within reach? "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him; and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" How sublime is the exclamation of Doddridge; but it is founded in reason and truth-make it, Christian, whatever threatens, your own "If thou my Jesus still art nigh, Lastly, Consider that you are not to endure them always. "For there is an end, and thy expectation shall not be cut off." That end is certain. Sisera's mother anxiously waited at the window for the arrival of her son, but he never came. The warrior has confidently reckoned upon a victory, which he never obtained; and the mariner has been ready to hail a desired haven, which he never reached. "We looked," said the disappointed Jews, "for light, and behold darkness; for peace, and behold trouble." But, O Christian, there is hope in thy end-a hope that cannot make ashamed. Thy release from sorrow is as sure as the purpose, the promise, the covenant, the oath of God can render it.-That end is near. "Yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry." If your cross be heavy, you have not to cannot be long. will go the way be much less. carry it far. If life be short, trouble A few months; a few weeks; a few days more; and all will be peace, all will be quietness, all will be assurance for ever. The sacred writers love to diminish the period. In one place they tell us, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." In another, that these "light afflictions are but for a moment. In a third, that for a small moment we are forsaken." So, and no more is it in the estimation of faith, and compared with eternity.—That end is blessed and glorious. No power of description or thought can do it justice. It will bring a full development of all the trying dispensations through which you have passed. You shall no longer walk by faith, but by sight. You shall see that his work is perfect, and his ways judgYou shall see how the most adverse providences were essential to your welfare; and not only feeling satisfied, but filled with wonder and gratitude, you will be able to say, ment. "Amidst my list of blessings infinite, "Stands this the foremost, that my heart has bled, What was Canaan to the Jews, after all the bondage of Egypt, and the travels and privations of the desert; what was that land flowing with milk and honey, that rest which the Lord their God gave them, compared with the rest that remains for the people of God-that better, that heavenly country! What a complete, what an eternal discharge! Of all your sufferings, nothing will remain but the |