the unsubdued corruptions of my own heart. Innumerable enemies war against my soul, and how weak and irresolute am I! There is hope. Jesus is the Saviour of all them that believe. To him my earnest and importunate cry must be directed,Lord, save me, or I perish! There is no amount of sin which his grace cannot pardon; there is no extremity, from which his power cannot deliver. Many, sinful as I am, have resorted to him, and have found him a present help in trouble. I, too, will appeal to his mercy, and if I perish, it shall be at his feet suing for pardon. But no, I cannot perish there. His eye will pity, his arm will bring salvation. Lord, I plead thy gracious promise; I confidently run to thee for relief.

IV.

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Psalm lvi. 3.

There are many just causes of fear. My flesh trembles under the inflictions of agonizing pain, and shrinks back from the crushing stroke of death. Satan is a subtle enemy, and if I meet him in my own strength, he may tempt me to my ruin, or quiet me with a deluding hope. The corruptions of my heart are still powerful, and have I no reason to fear that they may yet gain the mastery? God is a holy God, who cannot look upon sin, and should I not stand in awe of him? In a word, I am running in a race, where the prize is eternal life; my own strength is utterly inadequate, and a thousand enemies stand prepared, at every step, to prevent my

success. And may I not fear, lest a promise being left me of entering into rest, I should come short of it? If I think I stand, I should nevertheless take heed lest I fall. Yet amidst all my fears and perplexities, there is one unfailing Friend to whom I may resort. I will trust in him. Is he not more powerful than all that can be against me? Can he not restrain Satan, subdue the lusts of my heart, give me fortitude in suffering, disarm death, reconcile my offended Judge, divest eternity of its terrors; and is not this all that I can desire? Dear Saviour, under the shadow of thy wing will I rejoice; thy grace shall be sufficient for me, and I will seek that perfect love that casteth out fear.

V.

"I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John xiv. 6.

Who is it that can claim so high a prerogative? It is the Son of God, the well-beloved of the Father, the Word made flesh that dwelt among us! When the world was in rebellion against its God, and all amicable intercourse between them had ceased, then didst thou interpose as a Mediator, and so becamest the Way of peace and reconciliation. When the minds of men were clouded with error, and were groping in the dark, thou wast revealed as the Truth, and didst instruct the ignorant in all things pertaining to godliness. When the world was under the

curse of the Almighty, and the sentence of death was pronounced on every soul of man, thou didst come to open the doors of our prison, and to bring a reprieve for the condemned. Surely, blessed Jesus, thou art the only Way in which I can walk safely; thou art the only Truth, by which I can be unerringly guided; and thou art the only Life of my soul, through whom I can come to the enjoyment of an endless life. The ways of sinners lead down to the chambers of death, and rejecting as they do the truth, and flattering themselves with their own devices, they shall never see life; but the wrath of God abideth upon them. May not my soul participate in their delusion, but embrace Jesus as the true way of life, and look to him to accomplish in me all that is wanting.