sins have withholden good things from you." Instead of saying, Never hath any one suffered as I have done, you will say, Never hath any one sinned as I have done, you will reckon it a mercy that you are not now in torments, and therefore you will be content.

For a third rule, be thankful; apt, willing, eager to give thanks unto the Giver of all good things. Look therefore at the bright side of your condition. Some things in it are grievous, and these you have richly deserved. But in some things surely you have met with favour. And who has deserved these? Not you. Are you not born in a country, the only one in the world, where the law has made certain provision that no one need perish for mere want? Have not the poor here more help in their poverty, and the wealthy more security in their wealth, the sick more aid of medicine, the ignorant more opportunity of instruction? Is not the gospel here more purely, more freely, more fully preached? And does not your own conscience testify that both in these things,

and in many others known only to yourselves, God has been gracious to you, forbearing when you have most provoked his wrath, and striving with you by his grace when you have most resisted it? Be thankful that you now live to hear his word. Be thankful that you have still hope to make your peace with Him through Christ. Be thankful, Be thankful, and you cannot fail to be content.

Lastly, seek earnestly for a lively hope, for a sober assurance of faith, for a joyful conviction that your sins are forgiven, your forehead sealed for mercy, your name written in the book of life. There is an assurance which is no better than pride and presumption. There is an assurance also which is tempered with humility, and which yields not rash confidence but calm contentment. Such was St. Paul's feeling when he wrote thus to the Corinthians, "We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Cor. 5. 1.) Such was the persuasion which he

exhorts the Hebrews (10. 22.) to cherish, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." What matter the hardships of our journey, if we have a house prepared for us at the end; if we have a friend there waiting to receive us kindly, and that friend be Christ the Son of God? Labour then to be thus assured that Christ is your Saviour, that God is your God, that heaven is your home, prepared through his love for you. Doubt not, but believe. Presume not, but yet believe. Believe humbly, but believe firmly. Believe that you shall not perish everlastingly, believe that you shall inherit a crown of endless glory.

Thus will you best learn with the apostle, in whatsoever state you are, therewith to be content; content in respect of this world's goods, but not in respect of grace. Only in God's good gifts of holiness must you never be contented. Never think yourselves holy enough, humble enough, thankful enough, but pray ever, and crave, and strive, and hunger, and thirst, after righteousness.

SERMON V.

CHRISTIAN REJOICING.

PHILIPP. 4. 4.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

I HAVE lately, from this same chapter, preached to you on the duty of Christian contentment. I then endeavoured to shew you in what sense you might say with St. Paul, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (ver. 11.) But besides contentment, the apostle here teaches us the lesson of Christian joy. He teaches us, he teaches all of us, as a Christian privilege, "Rejoice in the Lord alway." This joy is somewhat more than contentTo be content is not to murmur. But to rejoice is more than not to murmur, it is to be right glad. To be content is not to wish for a better lot. But to re

ment.

joice, is to be persuaded that we have already got the best we could expect. To rejoice, is to be of good cheer, to be in good spirits, to be happy; and in all we say and do, to express that we are happy.

And can this be the duty, this the character of true Christians? Can this be fit behaviour for the disciples of one, who was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief?" (Isaiah 53. 3.) Are they not rather, so at least the worldly wise would ask, are not Christians a sad and serious race? do they not, we may ask properly ourselves, weep ever for the heinousness of sin, and mourn for the abundance of it in the world? Undoubtedly a true Christian is serious. Undoubtedly he is often sad. Often is he ready to say with the Psalm"Mine eyes gush out with water, because men keep not thy laws." (Psalm 119. 136.) Often is he concerned for his own manifold transgressions; often sorry after that godly sort, which worketh in him “repentance to salvation not to be repented of." (2 Cor. 7. 10.) And therefore has he no part in what the world counts

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