and virtue are not always in the fashion: to fix the rule of life therefore by the public approbation or dislike is to make the standard of morality uncertain and variable. According to this doctrine the christian life would be the work of mere caprice, and there would be a fashion in morals as well as in dress. In such critical cases, when truth is to be defended, or integrity to be held fast against the current of popular opinion, the feeble-minded are apt to make shipwreck of the faith. The feeble-minded man rests not on himself; he has nothing within to support him, he thinks and acts and lives by the opinions of others; and by this criminal complaisance to the public voice loses his all, his immortal soul. In opposition to such characters he that is strong in the Lord performs his duty through bad report as well as through good. He will not be carried to and fro by every blast of vain doctrine. His standard of moral conduct is not the fashion of the world, but his own conscience well informed by the Word of God. He remembers the words of his Master, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed." "Though all men forsake thee, yet will not I." The same strength inspired by waiting on God, makes him superior to worldly

difficulties and dangers. The insincere professor of religion shrinks from the scene of trial and suffering. When any thing great is to be done, there is a lion in the way. pusillanimity the cause of

He betrays by his truth and of God. He purchases to himself an infamous ease at the expense of character and conscience, and every thing great and good. Very different is the character of him who is strong in the Lord. When he is assured he is in the right path, he sees no obstacles in the way. Nothing is difficult to a determined mind. Through the divine aid, resolution is omnipotent. To the unwearied efforts of persevering courage, art and nature have yielded; and there is a ladder by which the heavens may be scaled. Through Christ strengthening him, the man of God can do all things. No appearance of difficulty, no form of danger, no face of death terrifies him from doing his duty. "None of these things move me," saith an Apostle, "neither account I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy. What mean you to weep and to break my heart? For I am willing not to be bound only, but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus."

This was not the vain boast of men who were brave when the day of battle was distant, and

who in the midst of tranquillity talked of despising danger. It was the language of one who acted what he spoke. To the confirmation of it, we can adduce a cloud of witnesses, an host of martyrs, multitudes of all nations, and ages, and conditions, for whom the flames of the tormentor were kindled to no purpose; against whom the sword of persecution was drawn in vain: who held fast their integrity, though they knew death to be the consequence, and followed their Redeemer in a path that was marked with blood. Among these martyrs, doubtless there were many who naturally were as feeble and flexible and timorous as any of us are: but when they were inspired with this hidden strength, and were supported by the everlasting arms, the timorous waxed valiant, and the feeble became strong in the Lord. Further, to wait upon God in the duties of devotion has in itself a natural tendency to establish and strengthen the soul. It promoteth that humility which is our greatest security, and restrains that pride which goeth before a fall. It also leads us to exert our best endeavours, and put forth all our own strength, that we incur not the guilt of affronting God, by asking his help without them. The nature of the blessed God strengthens this encouragement.

The everlasting God, saith his Prophet, fainteth not, neither is weary. His power is vast and unbounded his understanding is infinite and unsearchable. Therefore he can never be perplexed with any difficulties, but must know, in every possible case, how to deliver the godly out of their temptations. To the faint, and them that have no strength of their own, he giveth power, how low soever they may be brought, even to the very brink of despair. Consider also his promises and his covenant: promises exceeding great and precious, and administering to us the strongest consolations. His covenant is ordered in all things and sure. He hath given us his own Son, and with him all things. Treasures inexhaustible of grace and strength are lodged in his hands, out of whose fulness we may receive every needful supply. He hath instituted his sacramental supper, to direct our thoughts to the seal of that covenant. It is a solemn attestation of the grace of the gospel, and all its blessings on God's part. On ours it expresses our desire of his help, and our devotedness to his service. I hope and trust this reasoning is confirmed by the experience of many here present, of many who have found and still find their strength renewed by the exercises of devotion,

whom God has wonderfully supported under worldly trials and afflictions, carried them through difficulties seemingly insurmountable. And they have his faithful promise, that this shall still and always be the case while they sincerely, fervently, and humbly wait upon him. Let such therefore come to his altar with a firm faith in the divine promises, ratified and sealed with the blood of Christ. Let them come boldly to the Throne of Grace, in the name of a faithful, compassionate High Priest, that they may obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need. In the participation of the Lord's Supper indeed, the devout communicant with peculiar solemnity waits upon the Lord. Then it is that he enters upon the closest examination of his conduct, and binds his conscience by the strictest obligations. Then is his mind raised to the highest contempt of this world, and the warmest aspirations after that which is to come. We may therefore be confident to assert that the neglect or careless performance of this duty is one of the chief causes that has reduced to so diminutive a size the religion of the present day. But the duty of the text is the duty of every day. No exhortation can be more important, none more conducive, if duly practised, to strengthen the