is engraven. He, though still assaulted with manifold tempta- tions, is enabled to withstand them all. At the very moment of the assault, he says, with Joseph, " How shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God ? " And throughout the whole course of his life he experiences, on the whole, the truth of that promise, " God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear itc." If he be tried with the most formidable persecutions, he does not, like the stony-ground hearers, presently desist from follow- ing the Lord, but takes up his cross manfully, and makes up his mind to suffer the loss even of life itself, rather than dis- honour and deny his Lord. Be his trials ever so numerous, he says concerning them, " None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto me :" "I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die, for the Lord's sake." Perhaps one of the greatest stumbling-blocks which lie in the way of the sincere, is the fall of many who once appeared to run well. These, in their fall, sweep away, as it were with their tail, many, very many, of the stars of heaven d. But those who truly love God's law are fixed as the sun in the firmament e. They know that the truth and excellence of religion does not depend on those who profess it: and therefore, whatever be the conduct of others, he determines, through God's assistance, to hold it fast even to the end. Thus does he surmount the obstacles which sin and Satan place in his way; and is finally " made more than a conqueror through Him that loved him."]
Address —
1. To those who possess not this character —
[It is indeed a great thing to love God's law. Let not any imagine, that a general approbation of it is that which will either satisfy God, or bring peace into the soul. We love it not aright, if we do not love it universally, in every thing that it requires, and supremely, above all that the world can give or take away. Nor let any one who does not thus love it, expect peace to his soul ; for God has said that there is no peace unto him f : nor can he have stability, seeing that he is in darkness even until now g. You must inquire for the good old way, and walk there- in, if ever you would taste this inestimable blessing11 ]
2. To those who, whilst they profess to have attained this character, enjoy not the blessings con- nected with it —
[God's word is true ; nor shall any who trust in it be
1 1 Cor. x. 13. A Rev. xii. 4. e Ps. lxxii. 5.
f Isai. Ivii. 20, 21. e \ John ii. 10, 11. h Jer. vi. 16.