alone that the tree can be known," and that we can ascertain with comfort to ourselves, that " the root of the matter is found in us^"]
3. Those in whom there is evidently some good thing —
[Rejoice, and give glory to " God, who hath begun a good work in you." But do not rest satisfied with any attain- ments. Have you reason to hope that you are " as new-born babes ?" then " desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." Whereinsoever you have hitherto done well, seek to " abound more and more :" and let it be your daily endeavour so to " grow up into Christ in all things as your living Head," that you may " come to a perfect man," even to " the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."]
f Job xix. 28.
1 Kings xvii. 15, 16. ^nd she went and did according to the saying of Elijah : and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal ivasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, lohich he spake by Elijah.
MUCH as temporal calamities are to be dreaded and deprecated, there are occasions whereon a pious man may desire, and even pray for, the infliction of them upon his fellow-creatures. As St. Paul " deli- vered an offender unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus," so we may wish for some divine interposition to arrest sinners in their course, and to bring them to a sense of their guilt and danger. It was in this view that Elijah prayed for a famine that should correct and reclaim the whole nation of Israel : and, when he had obtained from God an assurance that the judgment should be inflicted upon them, and never be reversed but in answer to his prayers, he boldly warned Ahab of the impending calamity, advertising him for what end it would be sent, and how it was to be improved for the nation's