in himself no strength, either to withstand one temptation, or to overcome one enemy. Under such circumstances, he would soon faint and be weary, but that God has engaged to support him in every trial, and make him conqueror over every enemy. But when he knows, that " his strength shall be according to his day ;" that there shall be " no temptation without a way to escape ;" and that every conflict shall produce an abundant increase of grace and peace ; he is willing to engage his enemies, under a full assurance, that, while God is for him, he need not regard any that are against him. He has already found the blessedness of serving God : he knows, by his own experience, that God " never is a wilderness unto his people;" that he is a gracious master, who richly repays them for what- ever they may do or suffer in his cause. Having therefore experienced this, he looks forward with confidence : having obtained grace in past trials, he expects assuredly, that it shall be given him in future difficulties : having tasted how gracious the Lord is, he expects to receive yet richer communications of peace and joy : he looks upon every thing he receives as an earnest of something future.
In addition to spiritual blessings which he hopes to receive in this life, he has A prospect of eternal blessings in the life to come : his increasing conformity to the Divine image is a door of hope, that he shall one day be " holy as God is holy :" his increasing happiness gives him a lively assurance, that he shall ere long be free from every care, and be happy as the angels that are around the throne : so also the sweet communion which he enjoys with God in secret, those discoveries of his glory, and those communications of his love, are as earnests, that he shall one day see God face to face, and " drink of the rivers of pleasure which are at his right hand, for evermore." Now this contains somewhat of the Christian's experience, when first he comes to God through Christ : he is led on at first by present comforts ; and, as he proceeds, his prospects open ; so that in an assured expectation of grace sufficient for him, and of a crown of glory at the end, he " goes on, con- quering and to conquer."]
We will now conclude with an address —
1. To those who may now be enjoying their first love —
[The prophet observes, that the time of espousals is a time of lovea: and in the letter to the Church of Ephesus, mention is made of a first love; by which is meant, that peculiar earnestness and delight in Divine things which are often to be observed in young converts. Now it may be, that some of you
a Jer, ii. 2.