all those troubles he cares for us, and guides them all for our eternal good. If we have foith in his love, we shall be able to cast all our care upon him. Hezekiah took the threatening letter of Sennacherib into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. So should we do with ell our anxieties, great and small. "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prnycr and supplication with thanksgivina let your requests be made_ known unto Gori.'' If we do this, if we lay not only° the great anxieties which come occasionally, but also the little daily trials of common life, before the Lord, then the peace of God shall keep our hearts and thoughts. "He careth for us." The thought is full of deep sweetness and strong consolalion. Only let us take it into our hearts, nnd we shall be able to roll away from ourselves the burden of anxieties and to cast it upon God. III. 'l'o WATCHFULNESS. 1. T!,e need/or it. We may cast all our care upon him; yet we must watch and pray. "Tliis is the Scripture logic," says Leighton. "It is he that worketb in you to will and to do. Then, would you possibly think, I need not work at all, or, if I do, it may be very easily and securely? No; therefore, says the apostle, 'work out your own salvation;' yea, and do it with fear and trembling. ·work you in humble obedience to his command, and in dependence on him who worketh all in you." We are bidden to cast our anxieties upon God for the very reason that we may have time and freedom of thought to care for our souls. There is need of watchfulness and of-that temperance without which we cannot be watchful, for we have an adversary, an enemy, who seeks our ruin. That adversary is restless in his insatiable malice. He goeth to and fro in the earth; he walketh about. There is no corner of the earth, no human being safe from bis assaults; not even the remote wilderness, not even the incarnate Son of God. He walketh about, impatient, eager, full of rage and bitter hatred, like a lion roaring from the pangs of unsatisfied hunger. The holy Lord Jesus Christ thirsted for the salvation of souls; this horrible lion hungers for their death and endless misery. He is always seeking whom he may devour. Therefore the Christian must be ever on the watch; temptations come when we least expect them. He must be strictly temperate; excess in meat and drink, self-indulgence in any form, prevent him from watching, and expose him to the wiles of the enemy. 2. Encouragements/or it. (1) The strength of faith. We are bidden to resist this roaring lion, tp withstand him in all his fury. He is strong; but this is the victory that overcometb, even our faith. Faith is strong, because it lays hold upon God, and finds in him almighty strength. "Faith," says Leighton, "sets the stronger Lion of the tribe of Judah against this ronring lion of the bottomless pit; that delivering Lion against this devour- ing lion." Faith gives steadfastness, solid firmness, for it sets our feet upon the Rock, nnd that Rock is Christ. "They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever." (2) The thought of community in suffering. "There hath no temptation taken us, but such as is common to man." We must not suppose, as we are apt to do, that we are of all men the most sorely tried. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered being tempted. He endured for us that great agony of tempta- tion in the wilderness. All our brethren in the failb are tempted too, and tried by various forms of suffering. Let us, seeing that we are encompassed about with a great cloud of witnesses, follow the faith of the saints and martyrs of the Lord ; but, above all, let us look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, learning of him to endure the cross and to be faithful unto death. LESSONS. 1. Self-confidence and presumption are among the great dangers of youth. Let the young learn to reverence the aged. 2. Humility is one of the most precious of Christian graces. Let us learn it of Christ the Lord, and practise it in our intercourse with men. 3. Humility must be woven into the white robe of righteousness. Let us wrap it closely round us. 4. God resisteth the proud. Herod Agrippa was eateu of worms because he gave not God the glory. Let us hate pride and crush it out. 5. The humble will be trustful. Let us remember always that God carcth for us, and always strive to cast our caro upon him. G. Yet be watchful, for the devil is ever !It work. "Resist him, stcndfast in faith."
Vers. 10-14-.-Conclusion of the Epistle. I. ENcounAGEMENT. 1. Tlie ground of confidence. St. Peter has finished his work of exhortation. He bids his readers look to God. -Human teachers can only deliver their mP.ssage; it is God himself who giveth 216 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [on. v.1-14,