all some favourite object in view, no matter what, and you are bent upon obtaining it. But, are you sure that it is agreeable to the will of God? Has nothing ever suggested to your mind, that you are desiring an unlawful enjoyment? Men in general are apt to imagine that every thing is lawful, which does not imply a direct breach of any particular commandment; and indeed they may, in some cases, be right; but, the Apostle tells us there are many things, which are lawful, but not expedient ;* and if we, with the full bent of our minds, resolve to obtain those, which are inexpedient, we shall certainly be spending our time for that which profiteth not, and which, it is probable that God has, in his mercy, put out of our reach. If we have a just sense of the providential dispensations of the Lord, and consider that he has caused all things to work together for good to those that love him, we shall not undertake any affair, without asking his direction respecting the lawfulness of it, and his blessing respecting the issue. If we proceed in a contrary method, and lay down plans for ourselves, without following the leadings of Providence, we shall certainly fall into diffi culties; and hence indeed it is, that Christians are so often entangled and confounded in thei

1 Cor. vi. xii.

ways; for they fancy they are following the will of the Lord, when, in truth, self-will is the idol of their hearts. You may ask-how may it be known, in things apparently good, whether we are following the Lord's will, or our own? The case is not difficult. You have the word of God to instruct you in your duty, and though you have but a little light at first, yet, if you pray for more, it shall be granted. Follow the light you have, and you shall not go astray. Though you may not walk so fast, nor so confidently as those, whose light is clearer; yet, remember that God requireth according to what a man hath, not according to what he hath not. The day star must first dawn, then arise, and afterwards at

tain its full splendour. "But Satan," you say, "will cast a mist before our eyes, and prevent us from seeing the truth." Then pray, and watch the guidance of providence. Every thing in this world is created for a particular purpose, and, I doubt not, made subservient to the grand plan of Redemption. If you should, peradventure, deviate from the right way, and set your face toward that, which is not good, God will rectify your mistake, and turn you back into the road that you have forsaken. Something or other, which will at the time perhaps appear of little consequence, will be given,

66

as a kind intimation from the Lord, that you are in the wrong way, and, if attended to, be a timely preservation from greater evil. When the beast that Balaam rode turned aside into the field, it should have led him to inquire, Why is this check? Why, if I am going to deliver a message from the Lord, and have undertaken my journey at his express command, am I thus prevented from proceeding? Such an inquiry was natural, and the admonition should have excited his gratitude rather than his indignation. Many such warnings have we all received. Who cannot remember the time, when his wishes have been disappointed, and who, that reflects upon God's dealings with his creatures, does not observe the means he uses to keep them submissive and happy? Were a man never to eat or drink, but when urged to it by hunger or thirst, many of the diseases that prey upon our constitutions would be unknown. When men feel that satiety which intimates to them, that they have had enough, they should stop, and rest assured that it will be best for them so to do. Perhaps no bad consequence would immediately follow from greater indulgence; but then they would act contrary to a known law, and a given rule, and subject themselves to evils by an act of folly imputable to themselves

alone. There is, in all cases, a positive law that we are not to touch that, which is evil, nor, in any instance, to deviate from the known will of God. Happy are they, who wait upon the Lord, and believe his word. He will guide, preserve, and evermore defend them.

It is a melancholy fact, that the greater part of those, who will assent to the foregoing observations as just, are not careful to observe the warnings of God, and thereupon to amend their ways. A present gratification has so many charms to captivate the senses, that we will not admit the idea of future pain being the consequence. We will follow the imaginations of our own hearts, and desire this, that, or the other, though doubtful as to its tendency, because we will not set ourselves seriously to inquire how far we are acting agreeably to the will of God, lest a bitter ingredient should thereby be mingled with our cup of pleasure. But, God, who is rich in mercy, and willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live, causes us to eat the fruit of our own ways. He makes our table to become a snare, and that which should have been for our welfare to become an occasion of falling. He suffers us to become embarrassed and distressed by the things of our own choosing, and frequently lets us meet with hurt

k k

and damage, as a chastisement for our folly and presumption in forsaking his ways. Had Balaam attended to the first admonition, he would have escaped the evil, that afterwards befel him; but, as he rejected it, it was necessary, that he should undergo a severer punishment. "The ass thrust herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall." We are apt to complain of the miseries of this life, and to suspect that God is unjust; but, indeed, we bring all our miseries on ourselves, and ought to admire his goodness for annexing a present punishment to sin, that we may learn righteousness, and escape a more terrible punishment in a future world. Consider the evils you have suffered, and are now suffering. Is the trial severe ? Does it very nearly affect you? Be assured you need it. Nothing short of what you undergo could break the force of self-will, and make you dissatisfied with worldly enjoyment, Lord! what wilt thou have me to do?" should be the constant language of your heart. Fill it is, regard it as a mercy, that God repeats his corrections, however severe and distressing they may be.

But, there are some, upon whom even severe afflictions make no impression. Persons of this description prepare for themselves punishment of the most awful kind. Balaam, as the history