He remains quietly in his place: he suffers the friend

whom he loves to expire. Lazarus is buried, and lies four days in the grave. All. hope is at an end. Jesus suffers Mary and Martha to weep and mourn, although he loves them also, and does not once visit them. He even almost confuses their faith for Lazarus is dead, although he had said, 'The sickness is not unto death.' At length he comes, but too late; and now stands and weeps with them, although he might have helped them. < Ah, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died,' says Mary, and falls weeping and almost heart-broken at his feet; and no weeping, not even he himself.

one can refrain from All at once he ex

claims Lazarus, come forth!' and the dead man again comes to life, after he had been dead four days. For Christ's word and promise must be fulfilled, what ever happens and Abraham went by no means to too great lengths, in hoping, after receiving the Divine promise, where nothing was to be hoped for.

'Let me go.' If many of those who belong to Christ, who surrender themselves to him with heart and hand, are to be sirnamed Jacob and Israel, as we read in Isaiah xliv., they will have to pass through a similar conflict to that described.

'Let him go,' says the world and sin, at first, to the heart which is desirous of resigning itself to Jesus; as if we should fare better in the service of sin, than in following Jesus. It may violently and variously incite and tempt us to withdraw our hearts from Jesus, and no longer strive against it, but submit ourselves to it. The world advises us to let Jesus go, and whispers, 'Why wilt

thou renounce the company and amusements thou hast hitherto enjoyed, and trouble and shorten thy days? Consider what others will say to it. Who can live in such a manner? It is not even necessary; and if it were, it is still time enough. It seeks to gain only a particle of our hearts, because all the rest easily follows. If Jesus himself was obliged to endure such temptations, as when it was said, 'All this will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me!' we must also be satisfied to bear them, and show ourselves as good soldiers of Christ.

Satan also says,' Let him go,' even as he deceitfully promised Jesus himself the whole world, if he would let God go, and serve the prince of this world. As long as he is able, he takes away the word from the heart of man. When he can no longer succeed in this, and the individual begins to think with all earnestness of his salvation, he then tries to depict godliness as much too difficult; the heart of Jesus as full of wrath and displeasure; and to persuade him that it is now too late, and that it will not avail, whatever trouble he may give himself; he is either too great a sinner, or is much too small a one in his own eyes. "Trouble not the master,' therefore; what will it avail? pacify thyself as well as thou art able, and let the serious thought of Jesus and thy salvation go. And he may even go so far as to quote what the despisers say in Mal. iii. 14, 'It is vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?'

Yea, even as Jesus once said to his disciples, Will ye

also go away?' and here said to Jacob, Let me go ?? he also informs us, that if we will follow him, we must deny ourselves, and take up our cross; that the path is narrow on which he leads us, and that we must not expect continued enjoyment, but also sensible sufferings. If he often lets us pray a long time before he comes to our aid, or conceals himself anew, when we supposed we had really found him, and when we cannot perceive by his guidance that he loves us, cares for us, will do all things well, but seems, on the contrary, to be opposed to us, as in the case of Jacob-he then, as it were, says to us 'Let me go.'

In such a situation, the Christian has a fine opportunity of giving a proof of his estimation of Jesus, and of his earnestness in seeking salvation, of showing what is the object of his desire and choice, what he clings to, and what he is willing to offer up. Job went so far in this as to declare, that he would rather die than part with his integrity. Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac, the dearest and the best he had in the world. The Apostles, and many thousands of other Christians, did not shun bonds and imprisonment-nay, even every torture, and the most horrible death, to win Christ.

The Savior is not only able, but frequently really: gives his people such an insight into his heart, so full of love, grace, and truth, that, like Jacob, they clearly perceive that they may ask in his name what they will, in the certainty that he will grant it them; and, in a certain sense, must do so, for his faithfulness and his truth's sake.

Their hearts become so enlarged, that they feel the

entire emphasis of the passage,' He that spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up for us all-how shall he not with him also freely give us all things!' Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.' Jacob's heart expanded so much at the words, 'Let me go,' that he answered, 'I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.' But more of this another time. At present I only add:

If you are desirous of becoming true and sincere Christians, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye believe in God-believe also in Jesus Christ. If sometimes your path is strange, incomprehensible, and painful, you have no reason to fear. Be not dismayed, when you can accomplish nothing more by your own strength; for Christ makes you weak, only that his strength may be perfected in your weakness. But, whether courageous or fearful, do not forsake Jesus. 'Faithful is he who hath called you, who also will do it.' Amen.

SERMON IV.

GENESIS XXXII. 26.

And he said, I will not let thee go unless thou bless me.

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WE read, in 2 Kings xiii. 14, that Elisha, that great and remarkable prophet, at length fell sick, and drew near his end. Joash, the king of Israel, came and visited him and when he saw how dangerous his illness was, the king wept, and exclaimed, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!' Thou art near death, who wast more to Israel than a whole army, and often delivered it out of its distresses! What a loss! especially at a time when the Syrians were pressing Israel sorely.

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The sick prophet had pleasing news from the Lord for the sorrowing king, which he communicated to him in a symbolical manner. He told him to open a window, and shoot out of it. The king shot, and the prophet said, This is an arrow of the Lord's deliverance from Syria.' He then told the king to take other arrows, and smite upon the ground with them; which was again intended as a pre-intimation of successful occurrences; as Joash might have inferred from the first sign. But he smote only thrice, and then ceased. The man of God was then wroth with him, and said, 'Thou shouldst have smitten five or six times; then