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of the desert of eternal death, is your prayer, "Do not condemn me?" And is the plea you urge derived only from the atonement of Jesus Christ? Whither can a sinner flee but to him? And what can he plead with availing efficacy but his "obedience unto death, even the death of the cross?"

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And when oppressed with grief; when the waves and billows of the Almighty pass over you, and you are ready to sink in despondency, is your sentiment"Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee; yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments and do you pray, "Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me? The petition is of no light importance, and the spirit which it implies is of unspeakable worth. You are not likely to know the design of affliction unless you earnestly desire to know it; and it is less probable that the end will be answered, unless you are seriously concerned that it may be answered.

But what if the design of affliction should be frustrated? Its tendency is to awaken to reflection, to abase in penitence, and to bring the soul to God; but what if nothing of this is known in your experience? In other words, how alarming is your situation, if, after all that you endure, you remain impenitent, unconverted, unsanctified! It is a grievous thing to suffer, and not to be benefited by suffering: it presents a melancholy case, to pass through scenes of adversity, and to be no better for them: yet this, alas! is no uncommon case, and the issue must be dreadful. Lay the subject to heart : it demands the closest application. If any of you continue unhumbled and unholy under the discipline of the Almighty, and against the voice of his Son, you will ere long have to make a dismal exchange of worlds: you will

pass from trials here, to bitter anguish hereafter; and will sink from the sorrows of time, into the unutterable torments of eternity. May God, of his infinite mercy, prevent this wretched result! Το this end, may He apply his own word, and promote in each heart his own work! Amen..

SERMON XI.

DIVINE CONSOLATION.

ISAIAH lxvi. 13.

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

IT

was given in charge to the Prophets; "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem:" and the Apostles ascribe praise to "the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." Christian ministers feel the obligation of the duty; and may the Holy Spirit, "the Comforter," assist with his influence, and sanction with his blessing!

The context relates to the enlargement of the church by the accession of gentile converts. At the tenth verse, the friends of Zion are described as those that "love her," and that "mourn for her;" intimating, that cordial affection for the church must ever be attended with sympathy in her cares and sorrows. But the friends of Zion are called to dismiss their grief, to assume the aspect of pleasure, and to adopt the language of praise, for the most happy revival was at hand: "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad

with her all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her; that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the Lord"-here is the promise that warrants the consolation of mourners in Zion-" Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream."

"Peace" is prosperity, a word expressive of the highest good; and this should descend to the church, not in scanty supplies, but "like a river," in large `effusion, with durable increase, and producing the most fertilizing effects. "The glory of the Gentiles" may intend the most honourable and renowned of the nations; and with them, their wealth, their power, their influence, all combined for God, and consecrated to the service of his church. And is not the fulfilment of this promise evident in our day? Our eyes behold it, and our hearts rejoice! All ranks concur in the help of Zion: princes, kings, and emperors, become the patrons of her cause: we see them devoting their time, applying their talents, and employing their property in the circulation of the holy Scriptures, and in the diffusion of the glorious Gospel. Truly the Lord is extending to Zion" the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream;" and we are persuaded the time is not distant when the blessed Redeemer "shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts: yea, all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him."

But it is intimated, that this large increase of the church by the conversion of heathen nations shall not diminish the privileges of her former children, but the reverse-" Then shall ye suck; ye shall be borné upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees," Yes; the more the church is multiplied, the greater is the happiness of individual members: they shall be nourished with more tender care, and soothed with most affectionate interest.

The text follows, and certainly we are justified in its application to religious characters in all ages:"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." Observe, the CONSOLATION promised-the MANNER of its gift-and the MEANS of its enjoy

ment.

I. The CONSOLATION promised: "I will comfort you."

It is the character of Divine promises that they apply to real cases: they meet the condition and circumstances of man. Are we ignorant? The promise is, "I will instruct thee." Are we weak? "I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee." Are we in danger? "I will deliver thee." Are we disconsolate?" I will comfort you."

The discouragements of life are many, trials are various: the fears to which we are subject, and the sins which easily beset us, who can number? These all impair our comfort, and have a natural tendency to sink us in despondency. But the mercy is unspeakably great that we are not left in this state: the Gospel provides a cordial, and the salvation of the Gospel administers consolation.

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