"then am I strong." (2 Cor. xii. 10.) None of us, per- haps, have the least idea how much we might fall if placed suddenly under the influence of strong tempta- tion. Happy is he who never forgets the words, " Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall ; " and, remembering our Lord's disciples, prays daily : " Hold Thou me up and then I shall be safe."
We learn, lasth^, from this passage, that Christ is the true source of peace. We read that our Lord winds up all His discourse with these soothing words: " These things have I spoken unto you, that ye might have peace." The end and scope of His parting address, He would have us know, is to draw us nearer to Himself as the only fountain of comfort. He does not tell us that we shall have no trouble in the world. He holds out no promise of freedom from tribulation while we are in the body. But He bids us rest in the thought that He has fought our battle and won a victory for us. Though tried, and troubled, and vexed with things here below, we shall not be destroyed. " Be of good cheer," is His parting charge : " Be of good cheer ; I have overcome the world."
Let us lean back our souls on these comfortable words, and take courage. The storms of trial and perse- cution may sometimes beat heavily on us ; but let them only drive us closer to Christ. The sorrows, and losses, and crosses, and disappointments of our life may often make us feel sorely cast down ; but let them only make us tighten our hold on Christ. Armed with this very promise let us, under every cross, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Let us often say to our souls, '* Why art thou cast down, and why art thou dis- quieted ? " And let us often say to our gracious Mas-