February 7

we not expect from the God of all comfort? But not only does the honour of his goodness incline him to succour those who rely on him, but also the honour of his truth. For has he not said, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble? He filleth the hungry with good things; but the rich he hath sent empty away?"

Therefore you need not be afraid to know the evil of your spiritual condition; since suitable relief of every kind is provided—And we see what is indeed the most enviable state and frame of mind you can be in. The best evidence of prosperity in the divine life is not great knowledge and ecstasy; but lowliness of mind. "He that abaseth himself shall be exalted." "A man's pride shall bring him low; but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." "With the lowly is wisdom." "With him also is affluence and might"—"when I am weak then am I strong."

And let it comfort us that our resource is not future only, but immediate. We cannot doubt of our being strong in heaven. There our powers will be fully equal to every demand upon them. There we shall be able to serve him day and night in his temple, feeling no languor, and requiring no repose. But we are strong not only after weakness, but in it—"when I am weak, then am I strong." "As thy day so shall thy strength be." "I will water it every moment."

Thus, out of weakness I am made strong. "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."

FEBRUARY 7.—"Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you."—I These, i.e. 11.

In order as it is said, in the foregoing verse, to "see their face, and perfect that which was lacking in their faith." But two remarks arise from the words.

The first is of a doctrinal character, and regards a leading article of the faith once delivered to the saints—"Our Lord Jesus" is here addressed in prayer, as well as "God himself and our Father," and even with him. This cannot be confounded with the practice of the Romish Church in praying to the Virgin Mary, and a multitude of patron saints. Such prayers have no authority from the Scriptures; and the persons to whom they are addressed, being mere creatures only, can have no knowledge of the wants and feelings of thousands that may address them at the same time. But the manner in which the Saviour speaks of himself, before he left the earth, shows the reasonableness of our addressing him: "Lo," said he, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." "Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them." "He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." He therefore, though unseen, is accessible; omnipresent; knows all things; is able and engaged to manage all our concerns: and because he lives, we shall live also. Hence the first Christians are described, as "calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus." Hence Stephen, when dying, and full of the Holy Ghost, invoked him. And Paul, not only in the text, but in various other places, is chargeable with

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the same idolatry, as it certainly must be deemed, without conceding his divinity. Indeed he begins all his Epistles with this salutation and benediction: "Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." In once instance, he has even reversed the order before us, and in his supplication, places the Saviour before the Father: "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." And if we pass from the Church below to the Church above, where, though their prayers are ended, they are still praising; how are their praises expressed? "I behold, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." Is this adoration confined to the saints? "I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying, with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Is there no exception? "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever." Be not therefore faithless, but believing; in all your dependence and hope; and exclaim, with Thomas, "My Lord and my God!"

The second remark is of a practical nature: "Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you." Does not the example of Paul and his brethren in this case teach us, that we ought to consider our visits and journeys as under the influence of a special Providence? We are not to confine religion to extraordinary occasions; but to acknowledge God in all our ways; and in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make our requests known unto him. We are to love the Sabbath, and remember to keep it holy: but we must serve God every day, and be in the fear of the Lord all the day long. We are to repair to the sanctuary, and to enter the closet: but we must abide with God in our calling; and whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, do all to the glory of God. Paul speaks of "a prosperous journey by the will of God;" and John enjoins his friends to bring "the brethren on their journey after a godly sort."

And what is the truth of the case? "The way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." "A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps." Have we a journey or a visit in prospect? We must ask the permission, and implore the blessing of Him in whom we live and move and have our being. He can stop our breath; or lay us on a bed of languishing. If we achieve our undertaking, he can subvert the design of it, or mar all our satisfaction in it. How much often depends upon a single excursion! It may terminate in a friendship