by drought : but still he waits for the latter rain, without which the corn can never come to maturity. There may be many alternations of hope and fear : but he commits the mat- ter to the Lord, and waits the destined time, in expectation that God will give him to see, in an abundant increase, the fruit of his labours. So the Christian must wait upon his God : many things he will meet with to try his faith and patience : but he must commit them all to the Lord, not doubting but that God will give him " strength according to his day," and cause " all events to work together for his good." As the husbandman knows that a few months will bring the appointed harvest; so the Christian knows, that his Lord is quickly coming, and " will not tarry beyond the ap- pointed time : " and for that time he must wait ; fully assured, that the harvest which he shall then reap, will amply repay all his cares and all his toil.
This then, Christian, is the pattern you are to follow : you must be " stedfast, and immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; and then you are assured, that your la- bour shall not be in vain in the Lord."]
Learn then from hence,
1. How to estimate your true character —
[The Apostle addresses those whom he is exhorting by the endearing name of " Brethren:" for they are all children of one common Father, even of God himself. Now, where- insoever they differ from each other, they all agree in this : the true child of God is engaged in a work, which demands, and in which he puts forth, all his energies. In it he is occu- pied throughout the year. He consults not the clouds, to know whether he shall plough and sow his ground : he knows that the work must be done, and he engages in it in a humble dependence on his God : and he looks to the future judg- ment, as the period when all his labours shall be compensated, and his hopes fulfilled. Now, I would ask. Would every one that sees you, know you by these marks ? The husbandman, without intending to attract notice, discovers, to all, his views, his occupations, his desires. Are yours also in like manner apparent to all who behold your life and conversation ? Doubt- less your daily calls of duty are not so visible to every ob- server : but upon the whole, the great scope and end of your life is not a whit less visible to all who are round about you. Here then you may easily ascertain your own character. If eternity be not ever in your view ; if all you do, have not a re- ference to it ; if you be not willing both to do and suffer every thing that may conduce to yovu' future welfare ; and if you be not " looking. for, and hasting vmto, the coming of the day of Clirist," as to the period for the completion of all your wishes,
you