October 24

spoken; and not only is his honour, but our own profit, concerned in our believing it.—It is the only way to solid comfort in such a world as this. Surely if ye will not believe ye shall not be established. But thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon thee, because he trusteth in thee.—It was predictive: “Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island”—not a continent, but an island, and a—certain island—and we must be cast upon it, that is, wrecked there; the vessel will be destroyed, though the passengers will be preserved. Why does he mention and particularize all this? To be a sign; that when the fact should have taken place, all might be persuaded that Paul spoke from divine authority. This is the design of all prophecy; it is not to amuse and perplex us in the previous study, but to confirm our faith by the event; as our Saviour more than once remarked, “These things I have said unto you before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass ye may believe.”

The prediction was soon followed by the accomplishment: “And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.”—And how was Paul viewed then? When he first came on deck they probably considered him an enthusiast, if not an impostor; and if they did not revile him they pitied his weakness, that he should expose himself to so many hardships and dangers for the sake of one Jesus who had been crucified, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. But the storm convinced them that Paul had good reason for his attachment and confidence. While they were filled with confusion and horror, he knew whom he believed, and was not ashamed of his hope. They called every man upon his god, but none of them could hear or save their suppliants. But Paul’s master could save to the uttermost: and he not only delivered his servant, but the entire crew for his sake—So he can bring our adversaries to our feet, and make them know that he has loved us—So that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth—For their rock is not as our Rock, our enemies themselves being judges.

OCTOBER 24.—“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”—Mark 9:24.

How many subjects are there, concerning which a Christian is frequently compelled to express himself in these words—“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

This is the case sometimes even with regard to the being of a God. It may seem almost impossible that we should feel any doubt with regard to a truth so obvious and undeniable as the Divine existence. Many would probably deem a discourse against atheism altogether unworthy of their attention. They would observe that Moses, in the book of Genesis, does not attempt to prove a Deity, but takes it for granted; and that only a fool would say in his heart, there is none. Yet who has never, in any instance or degree, been affected by this folly? And who, while he acknowledges that no truth can be so unansweredly proved, does not feel that no fact is so confounding? Who has not been dazzled into a momentary blind-

ness by the very splendour of the light? We own that there are difficulties in Christianity, but what right has a Deist to be scandalized with these mysteries? As Christians, we admit nothing so mysterious as what he admits along with us—

“A God allowed, all other wonders cease.”

And who can reflect on a Being who is self-existent, who never had a beginning, with whom nothing is past and nothing is future, who is no wiser now than at the creation, who knows all things actual and all things possible, who is everywhere at the same time, governing all worlds, and organizing the minutest insects—and never be urged to exclaim, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief?”

This is the case sometimes with regard to the truth of revelation. Here again some may be ready to wonder. “The truth of revelation! Can a good man ever question this? Is it not the charter of his privileges? the very basis of all his hopes? And if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” This they feel; and therefore every apprehension, however partial, however far from settling into a conviction, so alarms them. Bunyan says, that all through life a thought would occasionally rush into his mind, “perhaps the Scripture is a falsehood:” and nothing, he says, can describe the shock, the momentary impression gave to his feelings. Many now living have felt the same. The most powerful objections to the Gospel are not always those that are circulated in coffeehouses, and handed about in sceptical pamphlets. Many insult rather than argue; and contemn while they oppose. They do not enter far enough, nor grapple earnestly enough, to feel those difficulties which serious minds meet with who must study the subject, and are all alive to the importance of it. There is not one of these but has often exclaimed, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

This is the case too with regard to Providence. Here the doctrine is admitted and resisted: received in theory, and denied in practice. I believe that in the management of my concerns, God does all things, and that he does all things well. I can easily reason myself into this satisfactory conclusion, for it is only to allow that he is wise, and righteous, and good; and therefore that he must always do right. Yet I seem to be often arraigning him, or wishing to direct him. Hence I am so unwilling to submit. Hence I am so prone to repine and murmur. Hence I am so full of anxiousnesses and foreboding. Hence I am so little able to cast all my care upon him, knowing that he careth for me—“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

This is the case, too, with regard to the promises. Here again “what unbelieving believers are we!” I see these promises in the Scriptures, like the stars in the heavens. They are exceeding great and precious. They suit all my wants, and are fully sufficient to relieve them. I love them exceedingly. I long to claim and appropriate them as my heritage for ever, and to feel them the rejoicing of my heart. Yet when I read, though the God of truth says it, and he cannot deny himself—“Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out. I will be with thee in trouble. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass, and as thy days, so shall thy strength be”—I am often as if he had said nothing! “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”