[We cannot but see how prone we are, as a nation, to rest on human alliances, and human efforts. Would to God we could correct this fatal error, and trust more entirely in the great disposer of all events !
As individuals at least, we may, and must, correct it. If we would have the blessing of God, and not his curse, we must renounce all creature-confidence, and trust in him alone". If we would do this, our happiness would be complete0 ]
2. Let us especially rely on Christ as the healer of our souls —
[He is " the healer of the nations0," " Jehovah, who healeth usq :" there is no physician besides him; nor any balm, but his blood. We may use whatever means we will, either to pacify the conscience, or to purify the heart ; but we shall find that they can " not heal us, nor cure us of our wound." But Christ is all-sufficient : he can in one moment purge us by his blood, and renovate us by his Spirit. To him then let us look with humble, uniform, unshaken affiance.]
n Jer. xvii. 5 — 8. See David's example, Ps. lx. 11. and cxxi. 1,2. 0 Ps. xci. 1 — 7, 9, 10. p Rev. xxii. 2. i Exod. xv. 26.
Hos. v. 15. / zvill go and return to my place, till they acknow- ledge their offence, and seek my face : in their affliction they will seek me early.
MEN,, when they become Christians, do not lose any of their natural feelings, but they experience many sensations both of pleasure and pain, which are altogether new, and peculiar to themselves : when God lifts up the light of his countenance upon them, they possess the sublimest happiness of which our nature is capable, "a joy with which the stranger intermeddleth not :" so also, when God withdraws the light of his countenance from them, they are made to feel the most exquisite sorrow, with which no temporal affliction, no bodily anguish, can be com- pared. This is the sorest chastisement which can be inflicted on a godly and ingenuous soul : yet sore as it is, the wickedness of our hearts too often makes