religious course has commenced before! And may we all, should we come to the end of it, be better Christians than we are now! Should we die during its progress, may it be our portion (through the merits of our Redeemer) to be for ever blessed in that glorious life, in which time shall no longer be computed, and of which ages shall never bring us nearer to the end! Grant this, Ọ merciful Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

SERMON XV.

TRIBULATION IN THE WORLD.

JOHN xvi. 33.

In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world?

It was to his twelve Apostles that our blessed Saviour more immediately addressed these words; and in their case the prediction that in the world they should have tribulation was indeed most fully verified; yet they suffered cheerfully in their master's cause, and through faith in Him, and by the continual support of the Comforter, whom He sent to their aid, they shared in the glorious victory which He, by His own strength, had won.

But not to them alone did the words apply;

ness

where is the man to whom it is not said, "In the world thou shalt have tribulation?" Oh how greatly do they mistake, who expect to find a resting place on earth! Life is from first to last a pilgrimage, and there is no home for any of us on this side the grave! How strange would it have been, had any of the Israelites, in their wanderings through the dreary and barren wilderness, been so pleased with the desolate regions through which they passed, as to say, "it is good for us to be here, let us build houses wherein to dwell!" Is it not more strange that man, journeying through this "howling wilderof the world, should so set his heart upon it, as to wish to fix his tent here, forgetful of the Heavenly Canaan that lies beyond? Could he have every thing according to his desire, a tranquil mind to enjoy it, and an eternal security in the possession of it, the case would be different; there might be some excuse for his being contented with his present condition, and for his not aspiring after higher things than this earth can produce. But viewing human life, not as we may dress it up in the false colours of our own imagination, but as it really is, fruitful in troubles and disappointments, destitute of every thing which could of itself impart solid satisfaction for the soul, having no hold even on

such goods as it is capable of possessing, itself every moment insecure, hastening on towards death, the certain conclusion of its brief and ever changing state, how can we be so in love with it, as to seek for nothing better. I cannot express to you the feeling that I entertain concerning the utter insignificance of the highest earthly enjoyments and advantages, for their own sake, and of the folly of those who bestow their affections upon them. They are not worthy a moment's consideration, regarded as to their intrinsic value; nothing is worthy of serious thought, but how we may please God, and save our souls. And in real truth, my brethren, that condition of life is best, which most persuasively convinces us of this; that condition, which opens our eyes to the nothingness of the world, and shakes to its very foundation our confidence in earthly happiness.

It is on this account that affliction is so invariably represented in the Scriptures as a blessing; a true lesson, however hard to learn. Certainly it is not a blessing in any worldly sense; but if it draws us nearer to God, if it turns us from any sinful course, if it weans us from earthly affections, if it forces us to see how vain it is to seek for satisfaction in the pleasures and enjoyments of this present state, if it helps

us on our way towards eternal life, is it not a dispensation of goodness and of mercy? True, all the dispensations of Divine Providence, are merciful, and "all things shall work together for good to them that love God; " earthly prosperity, rightly received and used, will become the means of spiritual improvement to those on whom it is bestowed. But prosperity is more liable to be misused than adversity; there is greater temptation, there is more danger in it. When we are pleased with our state, we are too apt to look no further; the world seems to be enough for us, we want no more, we feel no need of God or Heaven. But when trouble and distress come upon us, when we know not whither to fly for comfort upon earth, then, if we have any wisdom, we are disposed to betake ourselves to the only source of consolation, and to devote to God the hearts which before went after their idols. So found David, when suffering under the severest visitations; "It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes; ""before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now have I kept thy word." And if so holy and pious a man as David, (though he once greatly fell,) found affliction to be necessary for his improvement, can we doubt that it is good for us? And if it was sent in mercy to him, who