after sin. It is his own work. All your efforts, abstractedly considered, are vain. It must be Jesus putting forth his own power in the soul, as sin and hell's mighty Conqueror.

Are impious thoughts your temptation? Do you mourn, and yet not seem to mourn, day by day, under an almost constant succession of evil and rebellious thoughts against the Majesty of heaven, under which you are constantly in the apprehension that they will some day break forth in the most horrid blasphemies against a holy, blessed, and sacred Trinity? Is an oath ready at every trifling circumstance of mortification? A chill comes over the frame-a trembling takes possession of you, scarcely knowing whether you have given utterance to the fearful expressions which have been bubbling up within. Ah! He knoweth how to deliver you, and to preserve your lips from affording utterance to language, rather than to express which, you would that they should be closed in unbroken silence.

Are the questioning of the being of a God, and scruples about an eternal state of existence, your temptation? At frequent intervals does the adversary of souls suggest to the unbelief of the heart that there is no God, or that, if there be a God, he does not stoop to regard puny mortals, and could not possibly interest himself in their future welfare? That there is not-there cannot be a future state of eternal existence? that it is contrary to the nature of things? and because your poor, narrow, finite capacity cannot comprehend it, that therefore it does not exist? Are these your frequent reasonings, after perhaps a knowledge of the Lord for ten, twenty, thirty, forty years? And do they so repeatedly break in as to rob you of your comfort, disturb your peace, and interrupt your communion? He knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and so to subvert the scepticism of your mind by a knowledge of his truth, and to fill your mouth with arguments, as to put the adversary to flight, and to establish you in a more thorough knowledge of Satan's craft, and the eternal truth of God's most holy word. With some of us, the frequent questioning of an eternal state of being, is as sharp a trial and temptation as ever, and under it we groan with deepest anguish. The language of the heart is, with Paul, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are, of all men, most miserable." “What advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." By his infernal insinuations, infused, as they are, in such a subtile way, the arch deceiver will, as it were, dash from the hand of the believer the cup of consolation as he raises it to his lips; causing him to drink instead a draught of gall and bitterness, which fills his whole soul with anguish; robs him of every particle of comfort; and sends him mourning to and fro, solitary and alone. To be robbed of his hope-the hope that has stood by him during many years of trial-in a moment to be deprived of that glorious prospect beyond time, which is his chief solace in time, is no trifling matter. His distress none can describe, nor the nature of his sorrow can any comprehend, but those who have been called to wade through these deep waters. Yet, even this shall be overruled for good by the wonder-working power of Him who "knoweth how to deliver the godly out

of temptations." Instrumentally, it will lead him into a deeper investigation of the ground-work of his hope; to a closer walking with God, and a more thorough inquiry into truth; he will be seeking more ardently after the inward witnessing, and doubt-assuaging power of the Holy Ghost; he will be less satisfied with the mere letter of Scripture, and less disposed to take everything for granted. No "lo here, or lo there," will suffice a soul in this trying experience; he must have the powerful voice of a powerful God speaking into his soul, before he can be content. Listening to this again and again, he will be the better qualified to meet his antagonist, in whatever way he may make his approach; so that, the more he is worried with the temptation, the more ardent will be his wrestling; the more the Lord speaks, the firmer will be his establishment; and, by degrees, the temptation will lose its strength and influence.

Do the cross-workings of Providence constitute your exercise or temptation? Do you seem to be thwarted in every undertaking? Does disappointment meet you at every turn? and have you, in consequence, no sense of surrounding mercies, and are you deeply exercised with the inward workings of ingratitude and rebellion? You feel, at times, upon the point of taking the advice of Job's wife, to "curse God and die :" and this fills you with bondage and fear. He knoweth how to deliver. Having brought down your soul with labour

"Blasted your schemes and laid you low "—

he can turn again his hand; bring you into a sweet contentment with a small portion; and so overpower your heart with a sense of his goodness, as to cause you to feel as the poor old woman did, when she said, over her dry crust, "All this, and Christ too!" Instead of seeing no mercy, you will see nothing but mercy; instead of no cause for gratitude, abundant source of thanksgiving; and when, in the midst of all your self-will and rebellion, the sweet gentle voice of Jesus is heard, inquiring, "Hast thou lacked anything?" with a bursting heart, a confused countenance, yet with sweet brokenness of spirit, your reply will be, "Nothing, nothing, nothing, Lord!"

Is self-destruction your temptation? Under dark feelings; doubts of a future state; despair of light ever breaking in upon your dubious way; a multitude of perverse and conflicting circumstances, is the secret whisper frequently suggested, "You had better know the worst of it; a few moments, and all will be over; after all, there may be no future state; and, if there be, there is no hope of happiness for you, either in this world or in that which is to come. Or, it may be the tempter is suggesting, "God will pardon you this sin; he sees that you are nearly worn out with anxiety and care; your nerves are shaken; you border upon distraction; and for what is done in a moment of frenzy, surely so merciful a God will not hold you accountable." Ah! poor exercised brother, whoever you are, God knoweth how to deliver your tempted soul, and he can and will buffet that lying adversary, that daring foe; so ready, as he is, with his crafty insinuations. Oh! that the Lord may keep you from listening to, and

parleying with, him. It is this that increases the snare-'tis this that strengthens the temptation-this is the mode by which he brings into a kind of half-compliance, and from which the good Lord alone can rescue. We lose sight of Jesus, and we are taking part with Satan, when adverse circumstances and disappointed feelings lead us on to rebellious conclusions. Jesus-Jesus only is your refuge, poor soul, under these excited feelings. Into your heart may he put the cry for deliverance. Whatever may be the nature of your trial ; however painful the peculiar circumstances in which you are placed, the Lord knows all about it; and, more than this, he has appointed all-yea, the very path in which you are walking, and the precise trial with which you are at this moment exercised: it is neither lighter nor heavier than he appointed; nor did it come one moment sooner, nor shall it last one moment longer, than he, from all eternity, designed. All is well, dear brother, even if, with poor old Job, you are seated on a dunghil; or, with a rebellious Jonah, at the bottom of the mountains. The Lord mercifully break in upon your poor weatherbeaten soul. Your present "Woe is me, for I am undone," will, ere long, be exchanged for, "Come hither, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul." You may deny it; ay, in the unbelief of your heart you may go so far as to say, it is a lie; and then, perhaps, be tried with the belief that you have sinned against the Holy Ghost, by lying against your own conscience, and the light which he has implanted. Some of us know this path, and have found what anguish of spirit and bondage of soul have arisen, from giving utterance to the unbelief of the heart. It is bad enough when felt; but it is worse, and brings more guilt, when spoken.

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Are unlawful associations or alliances your temptation? Do you seem intrigued? Do you feel as if you had committed yourself? And, though the voice of conscience says, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; "Ye cannot serve Christ and Belial;" "Be not unequally yoked :" yet does the tempter suggest, "You have gone too far; you have engaged yourself; you cannot draw back." And already have trouble and anguish taken possession of your breast? You feel in a strait betwixt two-in a state of painful indecision-little rest night or day; no sweet access at the throne; no pouring out your soul before God. Your once oft-repeated expression, "Here I am, Lord, do with me as seemeth thee good," is stifled with the intruding question-the fleshly interrogation, "Ah! but how can I give it up? May it not work better than I apprehend? May it not be to my advantage? And, if it should be a trial, will it not be one that will bring me to his feet?" Ah! poor soul, God that knoweth how to deliver, help you, for you cannot help yourself. If this be your reasoning, give it up-give it up. The Lord, in mercy, bring you to this conclusion. Is it fellowship with a church which promises much spiritual advantage; sweet Christian intercourse? Be careful; if there be the hinderances in the mind previously hinted at, your connexion with that church or people will be a snare, rather than

otherwise, most assuredly. Is it some worldly enterprise? Abandon it, however weak-minded it may make you appear, as Satan says, in the estimation of others. If you enter into it, you will have no peace, but be compelled to retrace your steps in sorrow. Is it partnership in trade? The best partner you can have, is a Friend that "sticketh closer than a brother," who knows all your weaknesses, and can bear with all your infirmities a thousand times better than you and your intended partner will bear with each other. Give him up, friend, give him up ; for if there be not the sweet assurance again and again, "I am with thee, fear not," you will bitterly regret the step you are tempted to take. Is it a husband or a wife, you are exercised about? The intimacy, perhaps, has been formed; mutual consent, probably, given, and yet a multitude of fears intrude themselves. Beloved, may you be kept on your watch-tower, and be "thoroughly persuaded in your own mind." Know well the mind of God on the subject. Do not fear giving offence by going so often to the throne; tell your fears to the Lord; in words express your misgivings. Yea, ask in plain language, "Lord, is this man or this woman for me; chosen by thee as thine own free gift, as suitable for me?" Speak freely, if you would hereafter have words with which to remind the Lord of his approbation. Rest assured that "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope," will be a very requisite plea in the hour of trial; for your path will not all be one of unclouded sunshine. And if, respecting the spiritual state of the object you have in view, you are not thoroughly satisfied; if you are not at a point about their being a son or daughter of the Lord God Almighty, but you are indulging the thought that they will be brought to a knowledge of the truth, that they are not enemies to religion; that they now attend the means, and express themselves in gratifying terms; it is dangerous ground, reader, and, therefore, we dwell on these practical matters plainly and at length. These every-day circumstances have been forcibly presented to the mind at the moment of writing; hence we give them insertion, well assured they have their practical bearing upon some one or other of our readers, though utterly unknown. The Lord graciously direct them into the channel for which he intended them.

Is an inclination to go back into the world your temptation? God knoweth how to deliver you. Your rest is broken there. No satisfaction can it afford you. Past seasons of spiritual enjoyment, forgotten as they now are by you, have taken the sweetness out of every carnal delight; and, with all your darkness and apparent indifference to God and the things of God, you dare not deny but you feel a restlessness and dissatisfaction in the contemplation of again pursuing those things which once afforded you the utmost delight. Who effected the change? And is not the same Lord as able now to work another change in your feelings, and to cause you to take renewed delight in those dear subjects which, in your apprehension, have lost their sweetness? Ay, to be sure he is. And you will find that this season of darkness, these gloomy fears, and the temptation to abandon your hope, will, in the end, work for your good. The light, when it breaks in, will be more

acceptable when contrasted with your previous darkness; your hope more steadfast and dear to your heart; and your temptations to give all up, will show forth the loving-kindness and faithfulness of Him who will not give up you. Does the envy of another's portion constitute your temptation, and ever and anon is your mind filled with disquietude on account thereof? God knoweth how to deliver you; and, by a discovery of the various intricate circumstances in which, probably, the very subject of your envy is placed, could, in a moment, reveal to you how far your position exceeded his in point of comfort and satisfaction. Think on the old adage, "One half of the world knoweth not how the other half lives." Were we better acquainted with the various vicissitudes and trying circumstances through which others are called to pass, we should take shame to ourselves and confusion of face, in the estimation of our own privileges. Again, is affluence or the aspiring after riches, your temptation? God knows how to deliver you. Perhaps it will be by giving you your heart's desire, and bringing leanness into your soul. You have not the veriest idea of the snares to which you would be exposed, in the situation to which you aspire. The envy of others still higher than yourself, fashionable society, worldly conformity, would bring such dearth into your soul, and so rob your once peaceful mind of its enjoyment, that, though rolling in your carriage, or occupying the most splendid mansion, you would almost envy the beggar that swept the pathway o'er which you trod. Depend on it, that was a good prayer of Asaph's, "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me with food convenient for me." And has not his gracious Majesty done so to the present moment? You, whose temptation is the indulgence of unbelief, and the outbursts of ungrateful sayings, in the fear of poverty-why, suppose you were to be divested of all you now possess; imagine that every shilling was to be taken from you; and, after all your persevering efforts, you came, in the eye of the world, to nought; can you be deprived of your God? Can they divest you of your hope, your heart's treasure? Is not that in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal? In all your afflictions, is he not afflicted? And if you must go down into all the humblings of poverty, will not Jesus go there with you ? A good man was in quest of a house not long since; one of the party being attracted by a window-bill, said, Oh, that will not do, it is merely a stable to let." "And that is as good as his Master had," said a third. Uncouth as may seem the remark, ponder over it, reader. Oh, the wretched pride of our hearts! If the extreme be suggested to you, take it in all its bearings. That was a memorable expression of Job, divested, as he was, of all, for which he was once so notorious-" Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Beloved, think where we are got to. Consider how many years the dear Lord hath supplied us. Think on the many deliverances he has wrought for us, the many fears from which he has delivered us, and the many hopes which he has established in our hearts. Consider how far onward we are in the wilderness; and,