to deprive you of it ; and great his triumph if he succeed. Above all things, be careful that you " cast not away your confidence, but hold fast the rejoicing of your hope firm unto the endf." If at any time you begin to be distracted with doubts and fears, instantly check yourselves as David did ; " Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me ? hope thou in Godg."
Though you are to " work out your own salvation with fear and trembling11," you must " not run as uncertainly, or fight as one that beateth the air1:" you must remember who is engaged for your support; and that " he is faithful who hath promised"." It is true, " you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God you may receive the promise1:" but " if you hope for that you see not, such a hope implies, that you will with patience wait for itm." St. James proposes to you the examples of the hus- bandman : " Behold," says he, " the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient: stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" ;" and then shall your confidence be richly rewarded0. " Gird up then the loins of your mind ; be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that shall be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christp." This is the way, the sure way, to conquer. " Be steadfast, im- movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord ; knowing assuredly, that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lordq."
Lastly, let that which is your defence, be also your ornament. There is not a more ornamental part of the soldier's armour, than the helmet. Nor is there any thing that more adorns the Christian, than a lively, steadfast, and consistent hope. In the exercise of hope, he stands, as it were, on the top of Pisgah,
' Heb. iii. 6, 14. e Ps. xlii. 11. h Phil. ii. 13.
> 1 Cor. ix. 26. k Heb. x. 23. > Heb. x. 36.
m Rom. viii. 25. n Jam. v. 7, 8. ° Heb. x. 35.
P 1 Pet. i. 13. il Cor. xv. 58.