brightness, and asks the impressive question "who created all these?" The inference alone were comforting; for the God who lighted those lamps of glory, can surely fill our souls with the light of His grace; the mighty God who upholdeth those shining worlds "with the word of His power," can surely, surely uphold the fainting Christian in the path of life: but it is beautifully added, "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strengt h ."

But are we cast down because we have brought ourselves into circumstances of great trial and distress? Alas! this ought to abase us; but there is the greater need immediately to seek the help and comfort which the Lord is so ready to impart; and therefore we should feel encouraged instantly to seek his gracious assistance in the humble but strong confidence of faith and hope. And to encourage us to this,

He has mercifully caused His tender kindness to his servant Jehoshaphat to be recorded.

The king of Judah had been blessed by God in every way, and on every side; yet, in an evil hour this favoured servant of God courted the society, and sought the friendship of the man that had most insulted his Divine benefactor. One evil step rapidly leads to another. He united himself with Ahab and his people, and went up with them to war against Syria; the consequence of this ungrateful conduct began then to be felt. He was brought into the most imminent danger of losing his life; and doubtless his sin in "helping the ungodly and loving them that hated the Lord," then flashed upon his conscience: but when he " cried," "the Lord helped him, and God moved" his enemies "to depart from him." Surely this incident ought to encourage us under any painful

circumstances to apply to the Lord with hope; "for" the Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth; He also will hear their cry, and will save them."

Hitherto, dearest, we have been meditating upon the encouragement afforded us, to hope in the Lord, and to believe in his love to us; but have we ever considered hope, even a strong and a bright hope, in the light of a positive duty, a clear command, of as much force, and coming with the same authority as all those precepts to which we bow with implicit submission and obedience? And why is this? Because the Lord who created the soul, knows the power of hope; how it braces and animates every power and every affection; how it nerves the soul for conflict, and strengthens it in the hour of battle, how it overleaps mountains of diffi

culty, and forgets the present in its animated and joyful anticipation of the future. There is no feeling in the human soul more powerful in its actings, more supporting in its influence, than HOPE. It gives confidence and strength to the warrior rushing to the fiery engagement; it gives patience to the man of deep research, who under its influence toils contentedly through apparently inextricable mazes; it braves all the terrors of the ocean; it cheers the gloomy dungeon; and,—but it were vain to attempt to follow its effects; it pervades all classes; prompts to every enterprise; is essential to every success. And can it then be supposed, that in the most deadly and continued conflict,-in the most astonishing enterprise,-in the most difficult research-and across the most tempestuous and dangerous ocean, its presence can be dispensed with? The Lord who knows the soul has judged otherwise, and has therefore made it his positive command, that we,

"rejoice in hope." He has made it one of the most important parts of that armour in which we are to fight and conquer. He has made it the anchor, which is to keep the soul surely and steadfastly fixed to the throne of God, on which the Lord our Saviour is sitting, having all power in heaven and earth, to give strength and grace to his people, according to their respective wants and necessities. But is this our idea of hope? Is it not usually considered a blessed privilege, which some favoured believers alone enjoy? When they hear of the bright and the strong hope, which by anticipation enters heaven; which lays hold of the glorious crown of life; which rejoices in the love of God the Father, and in the perfect work of God the Son; do not many sincere and excellent Christians feel that this state of mind must be indeed most happy and blessed; but that it would be presumption in them to make so sure of such glorious blessings, while there remains