not discouraged. Remember, it is better to have chosen affliction with the people of God, than iniquity with the people of this world. Take all your complaints to the throne of grace. Lay your troubles before him who is afflicted in all your affliction, who careth for you. You know how you sometimes open your heart to some dear friend, in whom you put confidence, and tell all your trials, and describe all your fears. Do this in your prayers. Go to Jesus in the same way.

He

loves to hear from his people. It is their blessed privilege,-Nay! his mercy has made it their duty-to pour out their complaints before him, to tell of all their griefs. Do

this then.

What is it you want? Is it strength in the faith? Then pray like the apostles, Lord, increase our faith. Is it more hope? Then pray, Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Is it more love? Then pray, Pour into our hearts this most excellent gift of love. Pray without doubt or fear. Lift up holy hands without doubting. For whatsoever things ye ask, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Never doubt this.

Since you have chosen the service of God, with its sorrows, before the ways of sin and its pleasures; believe also that God hath chosen you to the enjoyment of pleasures at his right hand for evermore.

SERMON IX.

SELF-EXAMINATION.

PSALM V. 4.

COMMUNE WITH YOUR OWN HEART.

WHEN we remember the persons to whom David addressed the text and the three verses connected with it, his character will appear in a very amiable point of view.

Like all men of eminent station, adorned by eminent piety, David had many and bitter enemies; men who envied him for his greatness, and hated him for his piety. To these enemies the text is addressed.

In addition to more dangerous proofs of their ill-will, they had vented the malice of their hearts in cruel and false reports to his disadvantage.

But it was neither the duty nor the habit of David to return railing for railing, and cursing for cursing. He reproves them, indeed, for their malignant and unprovoked hostility to him; but it is the language of mournful expostulation, indicating the con

scious dignity of innocence, and a kind concern for their souls. O, ye sons of men, (not children of God,) O, ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself; the Lord will hear me when I call upon him: Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still; offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

As if he would say, Why will you make 'a mock of my religion, and deride my 'confidence in my God? Why do you 'calumniate me as a hypocrite or a fanatic, ' and endeavour to make good your accu'sations by base insinuations and lying reports? But, whatever you may say to the contrary, God hath chosen me, and he accepts my service. Beware how you curse 'whom God hath not cursed! It is a most dangerous sin to persecute the Lord's people.

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• Retire awhile from the confusion and ex'citement of the world, and then examine 'your hearts. Ask yourselves your reasons for this bitterness against me: find out 'what your motives are for these hard speeches, and be still; speak no more so proudly and maliciously. And having repented of this your wickedness, serve the Lord with me. Offer the sacrifice of righ'teousness; and, instead of persecuting his

servants, seek his pardoning love, and put your trust in the Lord.'

If

Certainly this is all very lovely. heaping coals of fire upon the head of an enemy be the way to soften his heart, David here took a very striking method of making the experiment. Fire will melt the hardest metals, and love will soften the hardest hearts. A soft answer turneth away wrath, we may see every day, and it is our own fault if we cannot see it oftener than we do.

But when to gentleness of manners there is added kindness of intention, that disposition must be stubborn indeed which is not overwhelmed; that enmity unusually deep which is not disarmed.

When David said to his enemies, Commune with your own heart, he seemed to refer them to their better judgment, when their temper was unruffled and their passions not excited. He seems to say, Ask yourselves;

is it right, is it just, is it generous, to hate ' and persecute me, who never did (nor ever 'wished) you ill? Surely you have some 'sense of what is kind and honourable: I refer you to that sense. Pass sentence on your own feelings, and confess your error; 'not to me, but to God; not for my sake, but for your own. It is hard for you to 'kick against the pricks. In endeavouring to hurt me you will most certainly hurt yourselves. Oh, then, repent of this your wickedness, and before it be too late, turn

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' unto the Lord your God, and he will have mercy upon you, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.'

But, as it would be both uncharitable and untrue to suppose that a congregation like the present were actuated by any such feelings against the people of God, in order to make the text available for your edification, we must give the words a less direct application.

Without supposing any of you under the influence of a hateful, persecuting spirit against true godliness, (which God forbid!) it may yet suitably, and I hope profitably, be said to every one of you, Commune with your own heart.

Would time permit, the exhortation might easily be addressed to each distinct class of the congregation. To the rich and to the poor, to the old and to the young, to the sorrowful and to the merry-hearted, to the ungodly and to the righteous, an appeal might be made, suited expressly to their various states and conditions; and each of them might separately be shewn the reason why, and the manner in which they should commune with their own heart.

But so elaborate an application of the text is clearly, at this time, out of the question. I must beg of you, therefore, to make the application to yourselves, individually, while I endeavour to make a more general division of the subject.