al w. fro pla WO for cop anc Go in is invisible, taste that the Lord is gracious, crucify the old man with his deeds, walk with God in friendship and peace, and set their affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Beloved, if we are the children of God, our privileges are great, but our trials will be great too. Our joys will be peculiarly sweet, but our sorrows will be proportionably bitter. If we enjoy the friendship of God, we must endure the hatred of the world. If we walk with Jesus in love, we shall be tempted and harassed by Satan. If we have confidence in God's word, we shall be exercised with ten thousand fears. If we have the assurance of faith, we shall be plagued with many gloomy doubts. If our hearts are renewed by grace, we shall be distressed with their hardness and indifference. If we have the spirit of prayer, we shall groan because we know not how to pray, or what to pray for. If we are at peace with God, we shall have a constant conflict in our own bosoms: the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. If we are strong in the Lord, we shall feel that we are not sufficient to think anything of ourselves, but that God must work in us both to will and to do of "We his good pleasure. If we hate sin, we shall "How strange is the course that a Christian must steer His fairest pretensions must wholly be waiv'd, Nor can he expect to be perfectly sav'd, When all this is done, and his heart is assur'd Of the total remission of sins; When his pardon is sign'd, and his peace is procur'd, From that moment his conflict begins." is invisible, taste that the Lord is gracious, crucify the old man with his deeds, walk with God in friendship and peace, and set their affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Beloved, if we are the children of God, our privileges are great, but our trials will be great too. Our joys will be peculiarly sweet, but our sorrows will be proportionably bitter. If we enjoy the friendship of God, we must endure the hatred of the world. If we walk with Jesus in love, we shall be tempted and harassed by Satan. If we have confidence in God's word, we shall be exercised with ten thousand fears. If we have the assurance of faith, we shall be plagued with many gloomy doubts. If our hearts are renewed by grace, we shall be distressed with their hardness and indifference. If we have the spirit of prayer, we shall groan because we know not how to pray, or what to pray for. If we are at peace with God, we shall have a constant conflict in our own bosoms: the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. If we are strong in the Lord, we shall feel that we are not sufficient to think anything of ourselves, but that God must work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. If we hate sin, we shall feel it working in us, disturbing and distressing us, and often causing us to exclaim, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?" Our lives will be a paradox, and we shall understand the apostle when he says, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." "How strange is the course that a Christian must steer How perplex'd is the path he must tread; The hope of his happiness rises from fear, His fairest pretensions must wholly be waiv'd, Till he finds himself utterly lost. When all this is done, and his heart is assur'd Of the total remission of sins; When his pardon is sign'd, and his peace is procur'd, From that moment his conflict begins." THE CHRISTIAN'S DAILY PRAYER. "O Lord, remember me, and visit me."-JER. XV. 15. HE prophet was in great trouble. Life was almost a burden. Yet the Lord had promised to show him special favour. He had promised to be with him, and that it should be well ́ with his remnant. But the promises which support us do not always cheer us. We have always more wealth in our possession than we turn to account. But he falls upon his knees, he looks up to his God. Oh, what a relief is prayer! We never value it as we do in deep affliction, when the heart must find vent or burst. He cries, "O Lord, thou knowest my sincerity and deep suffering." He had sincerely sought the people's good, and done the Lord's will. But sincerity often exposes to suffering, but while it does so it soothes the spirit." Lord," he says, "remember, and visit me." How beautifully simple! How expressive! How suited to us! Let us look at this prayer, and make it our own. It is a time of trouble. Most are (38) |