clings to her knee. We are too fond of taking our complaints to men

"Were half the breath, thus vainly spent,
"To Heav'n in supplication sent;
"Our cheerful cry would oft'ner be-
"Hear what the Lord hath done for me."

If I weep, says Job, "mine eye poureth out tears unto God:" and if I speak, "I will say unto God”—

But what does he say? "Do not condemn me.” Now there was no real ground for this fear. Job could say, I know that my Redeemer liveth; and there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Their sins, once pardoned, if sought for, shall never be found. And their afflictions, however distressing, have nothing penal in them; they are only like the fire to the gold, and pruning to the vine, and medicine to the patient, and correction to the child. We are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

But the language implies, that he knew God could charge him with guilt enough to condemn him, if he should deal with him after his desert. And every child of God feels this. In reviewing even the most innocent periods of his life, and the devoutest services in which he was ever engaged, he exclaims, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified."

It shews us also, that a child of God is prone to fear the displeasure of God in his afflictions. The people of the world, as we see in the case of the Barbarians, with regard to Paul's viper; and the caution of our Lord, with regard to the men on whom the Tower of Siloam fell; deem their fellow-creatures sinners, because they suffer such things. And though we are much more disposed to judge others by this erroneous rule than ourselves; there is something in calamity, says Madame de Stael, that tends to

make all minds superstitious. We would rather say, that tends to revive the remembrance of a moral providence, and the belief of a connexion between sin and punishment. And this is more the case when afflictions are sudden, and unlooked for, and great, and repeated, or have any thing that looks peculiar in them. And even good minds have not been able always to resist such impressions and conclusions. Gideon said, "If the Lord be with us, why then is all this evil befallen us?" And the pious widow of Zarephath, upon the loss of her child," said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son ?” The Poet tells us, and very truly, "Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face"-But he does hide it. The frown is visible enough-sense can see this; but the smile can only be apprehended by faith --and whose faith is always in exercise?

We may also remark, that gracious souls deprecate nothing so much as censure from God-Therefore they say unto God, "Do not condemn me. To any thing else I bow. But I cannot bear exclusion from thee. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth I desire besides thee. Thy lovingkindness is better than life. In thy presence all my happiness is placed. Use the rod of a father; but let me not feel the sentence of the judge. Correct me; but do not abandon me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit

from me."

Yes, nothing can relieve the gloom of a follower of God, but the light of his countenance-Nothing can make melody in his troubled conscience, but the sound, Go in peace; thy sins be forgiven thee. O seek such an assurance of Divine favour before the evil days come, wherein you will say, we have no pleasure in them! If trouble-and man is born to it as the sparks fly upward: if trouble-and you

are not for a moment secure-should fall upon you before you have a good hope, through grace, that God is pacified towards you; your condition will be the most pitiable. You must either stupify the mind with the Devil's opiates, or faint in the day of adversity.

And let those who have it, preserve and cherish this sense of Divine favour and acceptance. Beware of grieving the Holy Spirit of God. Beware, not only of sin; but of the world. Beware of sloth and sleep. Christian slept, and lost his roll out of his bosom. And while Saul slept, he was deprived of his spear and his cruse. When trouble comes, you should not have to seek what, above all things, you want-immediately to use. Without his smiles, even in prosperity, your comforts will not cheer you-but in adversity, without his approbation, how heavily will every stroke fall! and how deeply will every wound be felt!

Let me know always that he is near that justifieth me; that all is well with my soul and for eternity; that he will support me under my burden; that though he afflicts me, he loves me-and afflicts me because he loves me. And I will sing

"Trials must and will befall:

"But, with humble faith to see
"Love inscrib'd upon them all,
"This is happiness to me."

DEC. 15.-" The Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them." Rev. vii. 17.

THE Lamb―This is an application given the Lord Jesus, for two reasons-The one alluding to his personal qualities; such as purity, innocency, gentleness, meekness, patience-for he was led as a lamb to the slaughter. The other, in reference to the design of his death. Abel offered to God a firstling

of the flock. Familiar with the use of such a victim, Isaac asked, "Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Under the Law, a lamb was offered every morning and every evening; and on the Sabbathday, two were offered in the morning, and two in the evening. There was also the Paschal-lamb, whose blood was sprinkled, and whose flesh was eaten, at the deliverance of the Jews from the Destroying Angels. And "Christ, our passover," says Paul, "is sacrificed for us." And John cried, "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!" And it is worthy of our observation, that the name is applied to him, not only in his abasement, but in his exaltation; and that, no less than twentyeight times, is he called the Lamb, in this Book of the Revelation!

- His glory is much spoken of in the Scripture, but never in stronger language than here-"The Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne"-a station of dignity, dominion, government, full supremacy. Surely, if the Sacred Writers intended to intimate, that he was a mere creature only, they have expressed themselves in a manner very unguarded and ensnaring.-Well; there he is-not only near the Throne, but in it-and in the midst of it; in spite of all opposition-Let his enemies tremble, and bewail. They may make war with the Lamb; but the Lamb will overcome them: for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. But let his followers boldly profess him-Why should they be ashamed of a leader that is in the midst of the Throne? And why do they not rejoice in his salvation? Surely they must, if they love him-for love always exults in the prosperity of its object. Surely every feeling of their heart must prompt the desire―

"Let him be crown'd with majesty,
"That bow'd his head to death;
"And be his honours sounded high,
"By all things that have breath."

Well; there he is, in the possession of all power in heaven and in earth-able to save them; to preserve them; to make all things work together for their good.

And as is his greatness, so is his condescension and kindness. The Lamb that is in the midst of the Throne "shall feed them." The imagery is pastoral. His people are held forth as sheep; and he performs the office of a shepherd. His concern with them begins here. He seeks after them when lost; and brings them to his fold; and furnishes them with supplies. They can rely on the extensiveness of his care, and the continuance of it; and may individually say, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want

'Though I should walk through Death's dark shade,

My Shepherd's with me there.""

Nor is this all. When they shall come out of great tribulation; and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb-when they shall be before the Throne, and serve Him day and night in his Temple-then-even then, he shall feed them-not, as now, by ministers and ordinances; but immediately-not, as now, in the wilderness; but in the heavenly Canaan-not, as now, surrounded with enemies; but where all shall be quietness and assurance for ever.-The Lamb shall feed them. He shall be the dispenser, and the source of their happiness. It will flow from his presence and communications-Therefore, Paul desired to depart, to be with Christ, which was far better-" He that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat: FOR the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living