wheat. And what happened to Job and Peter, having been written in God's word, has afforded comfort and caution to many a saint in every age; and thus Satan's enmity against them has been overruled for good to numberless individuals among the Lord's chosen. It is possible that some here present may have been exposed to the fiery darts of the Wicked one, or even entangled in the net of the destroyer. Those fiery darts alarmed you; taught you your own weakness; made you to feel the importance of having" the shield of faith," to "quench" them, and drove you to your knees for Divine help and protection. That was good for your soul. There is no posture more suitable or beneficial to the Christian, than to be upon his knees, holding forth" the shield of faith."-But I may be speaking to some, over whom the enemy may have gained a temporary advantage. You have yielded to his suggestions; you have been enticed into his snare. the LORD has not left you in his hand. He that prayed for Peter, has made intercession for you; and you have been enabled to " remember from whence you have fallen," to repent, and anew to cast yourself at the foot of the Cross. Sin has thus become more hateful to you: you have learned to distrust yourself more than you did before: Jesus is rendered more precious to your penitent and humbled heart; and you are influenced both by the sense of His love and pity, and the remembrance of your own

But

"enter into

weakness and falls-to " watch and pray," and "walk circumspectly," that you never again temptation." Thus, in the wonderful dealings of GOD with His people, the very emnity of Satan, and his success in tempting them to sin, are made instrumental to their progress in the way of holiness! Many a tempted and fallen believer has had occasion to say with the Prophet Micah (vii. 8), "Rejoice "not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall "arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a "light unto me."-And as the malice of Satan is thus overruled for good to the Child of GOD, so the designs and violence of wicked men give occasion for the practice and the increase of the graces of the Christian character. Thus, the straits to which Elijah was brought, through the enmity of Ahab and Jezebel, put his faith in the providence and promise of GOD to the test; and "the trial of his faith, being much "more precious than of gold that perisheth, will be "found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the ap"pearing of JESUS CHRIST."-The perverseness and provocation of the Israelites in the desert, drew forth the generous intercession and exhibited the meekness of Moses; and the pride of Nebuchadnezzar, and the envy of the Princes of Babylon, served to display the holy fortitude, and to confirm the faith and devotedness, of the three Hebrew worthies, who were cast into the fiery furnace; and of Daniel, in the lions' den. In like manner, David's graces were called into daily

exercise by the relentless persecution of Saul; and Stephen's countenance shone with Angel-brightness, while his enemies were gnashing their teeth with rage; and his dying lips breathed forth the very spirit of Christian pity and forgiveness in this blest prayer, "LORD lay not this sin to their charge," while their murderous hands were inflicting a cruel death. The ungodly, notwithstanding all their subtlety and all their enmity, are used by GoD, as the Gibeonites were by the Israelites, in doing such services for His Church and people, as may help forward the Christian's spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise. Their opposition prevents the believer from forming that friendship with the world, which is "enmity with GOD:" (James iv. 4.) GoD permits the world to hate His people, that they may not love the world. He allows them to be despised, reviled, and persecuted, that the graces of the SPIRIT may be tried and strengthened, and made manifest to God's glory and His people's good.

But further, Life is ours. It is given and prolonged for the profit of the believer himself, and of those who are round about him. The LORD could, if He pleased, translate His people from earth to Heaven immediately after they are " translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His dear "SON." He could make the day of their conversion the day of their entrance into Paradise, as in the instance of the penitent malefactor. But GoD acts

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otherwise, in most cases.

The life of the believer is

lengthened, that there may be time and opportunity for him to know more of his own unworthiness and weakness, to see more of the freeness and fulness of the Salvation by CHRIST JESUS, and to experience more of the mercy and love of GOD in his soul. And besides, life is ours, both to suffer and to do the will of our FATHER. The longer and the heavier our afflictions, when endured with Christian patience, the greater our happiness in eternity. "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us

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a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." And the works of faith and labours of love which a true Christian is enabled to perform, will be all graciously rewarded in the day of the LORD. Every day of life upon earth affords occasion for saying or doing something which may tend to God's glory, and man's good; and every such word and deed is recorded in Heaven; and will be remembered and recompensed (not because there is any merit on our part, but because there is abundant grace on GOD'S part) in the Great Day. This life is ours-to be improved and employed in laying up treasure in Heaven. The longer the Christian lives, the richer should he become in faith, and patience, and every good word and work; and the more he has of these spiritual riches now, the higher and the greater will be his glory hereafter.

Again: Death is ours. There is nothing in death

but what shall be for the believer's advantage. CHRIST has taken away the sting from this serpent; and you may look at it with pleasure, and embrace it with safety. "We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened" with many an imperfection and many a woe; but death touches our fetters, and they fall off; and then the redeemed spirit leaves the gloom and grief of her earthly prison, and goes forth into all the light, and liberty, and blessedness of the Sons of GOD. Death puts an end to the conflict between flesh and spirit, sin and holiness, faith and unbelief, hope and fear, joy and sorrow: it takes away the sword of the Christian warrior, and puts him in possession of the crown: it unbuckles the armour of the day of battle, and brings him into the rest that remaineth for the people of GOD.

3. All EVENTS are the believer's.-" Things present" are his. Every event that happens, is for his benefit. It is his privilege to look upon poverty or abundance, sickness or health, sorrow or joy, the season of trial or the hour of deliverance; and to say, with respect to every circumstance, "This is a blessing; it is mine-it is appointed and bestowed upon me by my FATHER'S wisdom and love, and He has told me that it shall work for my eternal welfare."

And "things to come" are his also. are his also. We know not what is before us; what changes, or afflictions, or difficulties, or persecutions, or sufferings, future days,