he well knows that there must be a season between sowing and reaping, and that the various influences of nature, the rough and the smooth, the pleasing and frowning, all operate and combine to produce the final result; therefore he waiteth. "Behold" says James, "the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient."

Now it is very trying to flesh and blood to wait for God thus, especially under some circumstances. But let us even remember that we have no claim upon God. Think how long we kept Him waiting for us, how long He stood knocking at the door of our hearts, week after week, and month after month, before we rose up and opened unto Him.

Then it becomes us to exercise full confidence in God, and to feel assured that He will fulfil His promises; that His delays will be advantageous; and that His time is the best time, therefore it is said, "Blessed are all they that wait for Him." They are blessed, for they are preserved from more painful reflections others feel who disobey Him and who charge Him foolishly and unkindly before He explains Himself; and they are preserved from those sinful and improper expedients to extricate themselves from present difficulties and to obtain relief. This Abraham did, and so said of Sarah, "She is my sister." So with regard to the artifice of Rebekah respecting Jacob. Had they let God alone, so to speak, to bring about His purposes in His own time and way, how many stripes and how many storms they would have escaped! By nothing can we honour God more than by confiding in Him. "Them that honour me I will honour."

He brought

III. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER HIS SUCCESS. "He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my inouth, even praise unto our God."

It includes attention. "He inclined unto me." He was not indifferent even while He was delaying. God says, "I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn Thou me, and I shall be turned, for Thou art the Lord my God . . . therefore my bowels are troubled for him. I will surely have mercy upon him." O yes, God views you. He knows all your walking through the wilderness, and you may say with the Psalmist, "Thou hast con

On

sidered my trouble; Thou hast known my soul in adversities.” Job complains that he could find neither comment nor commentator with regard to the dispensation of Providence under which he was. 66 Behold," says he "I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him. the left hand where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him. He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him. But He can see me, He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold."

It includes audience. Man may hear his fellow man put up a petition, and may disregard it; and instead of listening to his complaint, may turn a deaf ear to his request; but hearing, in the words before us, means attention, with the desire to answer. God renders the exercise beneficial to us; it solemnises the mind, and has a sanctifying effect upon the heart, so that we feel impressed while in the presence of God by a sense of His perfections and His glory.

But in answer, He brings seasonable supplies and relief. When Joshua prayed that the day might be longer, that he might finish the victory he had commenced, the sun stood still. And when Daniel sought the Lord his God, He heard and saved him in the lion's den. When the three Hebrew children prayed to the Lord in the burning fiery furnace, He interposed on their behalf. And when Elias prayed that there might be rain, not only did the prayer do him goed, as all religious exercises will, but the prayer was answered, and the heavens gave rain upon the earth.

It includes deliverance. "He brought me up out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay." What a release! What a change, so unlikely and unlooked for! a change so great that he could hardly realise it. He would feel somewhat like the Jews when God turned their captivity, they were like men that dreamed; as we may suppose Jacob felt when rescued from the hand of Esau; as Paul felt when rescued from the lion Nero, and many others recorded in the Scriptures: so may we suppose David felt, the Divine interposition was so manifest in all, "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay," according to the promise, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." It includes safety. "He hath set my feet upon a rock," they were in the mire before, but they are now upon the rock of ages, and the Christian can say—

"He has fixed my standing more secure,

Than 'twas before I fell."

Adam fell, but this Man continueth ever, therefore they that belong to Him are safe and secure. "My sheep," says He, "hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." David says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid." Yes, says the believer, "I know His promises, they are exceeding great and precious; I know that He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; and I know that His almighty arm is raised for my defence, and that I am kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." Therefore his heart is established, trusting in the Lord.

Then it includes progression. "He hath established my goings." He has not placed me here in order to stand still, but to walk in His ways; not that I should be like a monument, but like a traveller; that my conduct should be distinguished from lying down in carnal repose; that going on my way I may grow stronger and stronger.

It includes, also, gratitude and joy. "He hath put a new song into my mouth, even praise unto our God." He hath furnished me with fresh matter and motive for praise, and therefore He shall have it. Not only will I praise the Lord at times, but His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

IV. We have to notice also the USEFULNESS OF THE DISPENSATION, for, says he, "many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."

Here you see how it was to be beneficial, by being known. "They shall see it;" that is, they shall be acquainted with it by the eye, or the ear, or by reading. Nothing can influence us unless it be known. The subjects of Divine grace will seize opportunities to speak to others, and say with David, "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul."

Observe the nature of the benefit. "Many shall see it and fear." What was there in the dispensation to awaken fear? Why, was it not to show them that everything here is precarious? That while here we may be raised up, or cast down? But this is not the leading thought. The word in the original does not mean dread, but reverence combined with love. It is the reverence and respect which an inferior has towards a superior. It is also accompanied with trust. Such who possess

it trust in the Lord, and are delivered from slavish fear of

Him.

Observe the number referred to. "Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." How many since then have heard and seen it from the Scriptures, from Christian conversation! And all shall see it in due time, for "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

We conclude with two remarks. First, what God does for His people is always designed to have an influence upon others, and never terminates in ourselves.

Then, secondly, if the experience of others be so profitable, curely our own ought not to be less so. If we look back to those who have gone before us in former ages and feel induced to confide in God, how much more should we be by a review of the way in which He has led us, and in His making all paths mercy and truth, and be led to say with David, "Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice."

9

IL

THE HEART'S SECRETS.

(Preached on Sunday Evening, January 21st, 1844)

The heart knoweth his own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.-PROVERBS XIV. 10.

"ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works"; and in giving us the revelations of His will God "hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence." The Proverbs contain many brief and sententious sayings, which embody much Evangelical truth. Who but "the God of all grace" speaks to us in this when He says, "Turn you at My reproof. Behold, I will pour out My spirit unto you; I will make known My words unto you"? Who but Wisdom-not wisdom personified, but Wisdom Incarnatespeaks to us here: "I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me"? "Blessed is the Man that heareth Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of my door. For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord; but he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate Me love death"? We are to take the Bible as a whole, and bring together its various parts to explain and supply each other; and then we may say, as the Apostle did in another case, "If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling"? Revelation is designed, not only to form our creed, but to direct our conduct; not only to form our principles, but to regulate our lives. I wish, therefore, some professors of religion were obliged every morning in the week to "read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" some of these proverbs, so that their good might not