SEPTEMBER 5

"I will strengthen them in the Lord." Zech. 10:12.

This is the very assurance our hearts want, as we think of ourselves and survey the duties and trials of the Christian life. And we cannot too confidently rely on the accomplishment of it, for it comes from the lips of faithfulness and truth. But we may err as to the manner in which it is to be fulfilled, and therefore our expectation is to be regulated and qualified accordingly.

Let me observe, then; that the fulfillment of the promise, as long as we are here, will not exempt us from all ground of complaint. It will help us in our work, but not cause us to cease from our labor. It secures us assistance in our conflict, but the war lasts for life. However strong our faith, and firm our hope, and long-suffering unto all Joyfulness our patience, we shall still be sensible, and the more sensible too, of resistance, deficiency, defilement; and still acknowledge that when we would do good, evil is present with us, and groan, "0 wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

This impartation of strength will also be seasonable, and proportioned to the exigencies of our condition. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." What we are to look for is, not grace for imaginary purposes, but for real ; not grace for future difficulties, but present; or as the apostle has it, grace to "help in time of need." It does not therefore follow that what is formidable in the prospect, may be so in the event. You may fear death while living, and rejoice in it at last. "Is this," said Dr. Goodwin, "Is this dying? Is this the enemy that dismayed me so long, now appearing so harmless, and even pleasant'?"

These supplies of strength are to be sought after, and expected in God's own way ; that is, in the use of the means which he has ordained. So his word deals with our hope. " Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.'' "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, and waiting at the posts of my doors." He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary ; and they shall walk, and not faint."

And have I not found it so ? In the day when I cried, has he not answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul? Have I not kneeled down with a contracted, and risen up with an enlarged heart? When I have read his 'word, hath lie not thereby quickened me? Have I not found him in his palaces, for a refuge? Has lie not sent me help from the sanctuary, and strengthened me out of lion?

How foolish, then, to avoid religious exercises when I am not in a proper and spiritual and lively frame. The means of grace are surely then the most necessary ; as fire is the most needful when we are cold, and excitement when we are most dull.

It is only a part of the truth, that we are to pray with the Spirit; we are also to pray for it. Witness the language of the Saviour: "If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Witness the example of the church : "Awake, 0 north wind; and come, thou south ; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out."

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