the Lord it shall be seen''. And it is remarkable that the poor illiterate fishermen, who followed our Lord, wei'e even ordered not to think beforehand what they should say, when summoned before their rulers, but to expect that the Holy Ghost should suggest to them at the moment what they ought to speak ■■; and though their example does not justify a want of foresight and premeditation in us, yet the promise made to them warrants us to look to God as a help, a present, " a very present help in the time of trouble^;" and to expect his intei'position then, when " the storm " would otherwise overwhelm us.]
3. A sufficient help —
[However "needy and distressed" we be, God is able to support and deliver us. Though we be as " worms, yet will he enable us to thresh the mountains'." And though earth and hell conspire against us, yet will he make us " more than con- querors." Our weakness is no ground of discouragement: for " his strength shall be perfected in our weakness"." He has undertaken for us, and he will perform his engagements : and, sooner than not make us triumph over our enemies, he would cause " the very stars in their courses to fight for us^," or the earth to open and swallow up our adversaries. Never has a child of God yet failed for want of his effectual aid ; nor shall any one to all eternity : sooner shall heaven and earth pass away than " one of his little ones shall perish y."]
From this subject we may clearly see,
L The true nature of experimental reWgiorv —
[The acknowledging of these things to be true does not constitute real piety : it is the experience of them in the soul that is the foundation, and indeed the very essence, of vital godliness. Our blessed Lord has said, *' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest ^ :" and this comprehends all the whole work of God's grace upon the soul. To be heavy-laden with a sense of sin; to seek rest in Christ ; and to be brought by the Lord Jesus to an entire rest in God as our Father and our Friend ; this, I say, is true religion : and the experience of this on earth will lead assuredly to the everlasting experience of it in heaven^ ]
2. The true nature of practical religion —
["A form of godliness" may easily exist " without any of its power." Then only do we serve the Lord Jesus aright, when we are conformed to the image of Christ, and have
I Gen. xxii. 14. ^ Matt. x. 19, 20. » Ps. xlvi. 1.
' Isai. xli. 14, 15. Deut. xxxiii. 25. " 2 Cor. xii. 9.
3^ Judg. v. 20. y Matt, xviii. 14. ^ Matt. xi. 28.
" Rev. i. 5, G. VOL. VII. R R