Lord took her "away as he saw good'. It is while men sleep, that is, while they are idle, that the enemy comes and sows tares among the wheat 3. Had David, "at the time when kings go forth to battle "," gone forth instead of sending Joab, to fight the battles of the Lord, he had most likely not fallen into the sins of adultery and murder. Had Samson continued to war against the Philistines, and not yielded himself up to Delilah, his strength had not gone from him, the Philistines had not taken him, his eyes had not been put out, he had not been bound with fetters of brass, he had not ground “in the prison house '."

Therefore, let us shun idleness, as that which giveth place to the devil, instead of resisting his wiles. Let us "seek peace and ensue it," by quietly, each one of us in our vocations, going forth to our daily labours, studying to do good unto all men, "living righteously, soberly, and godly, in this present world." And may God "make us perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

SERMON VIII.

OF TRUST IN THE LORD, AND DISTRUST IN SELF.

"Without God's special grace, the best of us sin in every action; without the guidance of his Fatherly Providence, we sin extremely against every Divine Commandment."-Thomas Jackson.

"Would'st have a friend, would'st know what friend is best,

Have God thy friend, who passeth all the rest.”—Quoth Tusser.

"Then only we walk in the presence of God, when by faith we behold Him present, when we speak to Him in frequent and holy prayers, when we beg aid from Him in all our needs, and ask counsel of Him in all our doubts, and before Him bewail our sins, and tremble at his presence."-Jer. Taylor, iii. 228.

"The promises of salvation are made to those who, renouncing all confidence in the world and themselves, "trust" in God alone for it. For this reason the Psalmist so often begins his prayer with a declaration of his "faith," which is to the soul in affliction, what an anchor is to a ship in distress."-Bp. Horne on Psalm 1xxi. 1.

"What man is he that boasts of fleshly might,

And vain assurance of mortality,

Which all so soon as it doth come to fight
Against spiritual foes, yields by and by,
Or from the fielde most cowardly doth fly!

Ne let the man ascribe it to his skill,
That thorough grace hath gained victory :
If any strength we have, it is to ill;

But all the good is God's, both power and eke will.”

Fairie Queene.

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori!

Prov. iii. 5, 6.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

AN old and well known divine thus commences his rule and exercise of Holy Living. 66 It is necessary that every man should consider, that since God hath given him an excellent nature, wisdom and choice, an understanding soul, and an immortal spirit, having made him lord over the beasts, and but a little lower than the angels;-He hath also appointed for him a work and a service great enough to employ those abilities, and hath also designed him to a state of life after this, to which he can only arrive by that service and obedience. And therefore as every man is wholly God's own portion by the title of creation, so all our labours and care, all our powers and faculties, must be wholly employed in the service of God, and even all the days of our life;