evidence both of Scripture and experience that we cannot succeed ! How much better would it be to trust in that " mighty One, on whom help is laidq!" Learn, brethren, before it be too late, that " without Christ you can do nothing :" that " all your fresh springs are in him1:" and "of him must your fruit be found3 :" "in him alone shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory1." If you will not " be strong in him" you will continue " without strength :" but if once you truly " know him, you shall be strong, and do exploits"."
We would next claim the attention of the timid. It is but too common for the Lord's people to be in- dulging needless fears, like David, when he said, " I shall one day perish by the hands of SaulV But surely such deserve the rebuke which our Lord gave to Peter, " O thou of little faith, wherefore dost thou doubt y ?" If thou doubtest the Lord's willingness to save thee, say, wherefore did he die for thee, even for the chief of sinners 1 If thou callest in question his power, what is there in thy case that can baffle Omnipotence ? If thou art discouraged on account of thy own weakness, know that the weaker thou art in thyself, the stronger thou shalt be in him2; and that " he will perfect his own strength in thy weak- nessa." If thou fearest on account of the strength and number of thine enemies, he meets thy fears with this salutary admonition ; " Say ye not, A confede- racy, a confederacy ; but sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread b." Only trust in him ; and though weak, he will strengthen theec ; though faint, he will re- vive theed; though wounded, he will heal theee; though captive, he will liberate theef ; though slain, he will raise thee up again, and give thee the victory
9 Ps. lxxxix. 19. r Ps. lxxxvii. 7. s Hos. xiv. 8.
1 Isai. xlv. 25. u Dan. xi. 32. x 1 Sam. xxvii. 1.
v Matt. xiv. 31. z 2 Cor. xii. 10. a 2 Cor. xii. 9.
b Isai. viii. 12, 13. c Isai. xxvi. 6. d Isai. xl. 29 — 31. e Exod. xv. 26. Isai. xxxiii. 23. f Isai. xiv. 2. and xlix. 24, 25.