dence; there is no waste, no unnecessary outlay, there is just so much bestowed, as you actually require, and no more. But, remember that all the consolations of God are yours, when you need them, as certainly as that they shall not be yours, before you need them. They are all "yea and amen in Christ Jesus," purchased for you by him, given to you through him, and laid up for you in him. As surely as that "in the world ye shall have tribulation," St. John xvi, 33, so certainly in that tribulation you shall have comfort, from Him who hath said to you, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Ibid. As surely as that a day of trouble awaits you, so certainly in that trouble, shall you have peace, from Him who hath said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." As surely as he has promised you an inheritance, so certainly will he keep it for you, and you for it. As surely as that your eyes shall be closed in darkness, that you shall lie down in the grave, that your heart and your flesh shall fail you, so unquestionably shall God be the "strength of your heart, and your portion for ever."

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SERMON V.

ACQUAINTANCE WITH GOD.

JOB XXII, 21. (Part.)

66 ACQUAINT THYSELF NOW WITH GOD."

THAT the advice given in these words was sound and judicious, no one who believes in the existence of a God, will venture to deny. If there be a God, and if that God is the Being, who regulates every thing which can affect us now, and who arbitrates our portion throughout eternity, then, most assuredly, it is of the very first importance, that we should be acquainted rightly, intimately, savingly acquainted, with this great, and good, and wonderful Being.

Perhaps, however, an objection, which must be met and answered, may arise in the minds of some, even before the subject is entered upon, that this is a strange topic to select for the consideration of professed believers. Acquaint

ance with God!-are we not all acquainted with God? are we not at rest to-day from our labors, because this is God's Sabbath? Are we not assembled here, because this is God's house? Are we not now disposed to listen to the voice of the preacher, simply because he is proclaiming God's Word? and shall we be told to acquaint ourselves with God, when we thus demonstrate that we already both know and obey him? In the first ages of Christianity, such an argument would doubtless have been unanswerable; when all the world was in utter ignorance, or in avowed hostility to the God of the Bible, you would not have ventured to have risked all which you must have risked by hallowing God's Sabbath, and attending his temple, and listening to his Word, unless you had indeed been among the number of those who were willing to "count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord;" Philip. iii, 8; in other words, unless you had been truly and vitally acquainted with God. At the present day, however, things are far otherwise: you may do all that I have enumerated; nay, you may do a great deal more than I shall or can enumerate, and yet be vir

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tually as ignorant of the God of the Christian, as far from the saving knowledge of Him, as the poor Indian, who "sees Him in clouds, and hears Him in the winds."

May then God himself be present with us this morning, by the promised power of his eternal Spirit, while we endeavor, with the light of his revealed Word, to point out to you two considerations, connected with this important subject viz.,

I. The means; and

II. The season, for attaining to a true, a Scriptural, and a saving acquaintance with the triune Jehovah.

In considering the means, I shall chiefly confine myself to the two great and prominent means revealed to us in Scripture, viz., through Christ, by the Spirit; only briefly alluding to the other more subordinate methods of forming this acquaintance.

The first means, then, of obtaining this knowledge, is through the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, we would ask those among you who might feel disposed to acquiesce in the objection, with which this discourse commenced, viz., that

you were already acquainted with God, are you acquainted with him thus? Do you know God as in Christ Jesus, "reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them?" And do you so know him—not historically and generally, as all, at least in some degree, know him who are born and educated in a Christian country, but experimentally and individually, as none can know him, unless taught by the influence of his own good Spirit; as reconciling you to himself, and not imputing your trespasses unto you; as accepting, pardoning, and loving you, for the sake of his dear Son? If you can answer in the affirmative, then, blessed be God, you have indeed entered upon an acquaintance with the great Jehovah, which time shall not interrupt, nor eternity itself destroy; you who are already thus taught, and thus acquainted, will assuredly bear with me, while I endeavor to lead others to the still waters, and the green pastures, where you have found refreshment and repose; for while you need this instruction least, you will probably be among the number of those, who will tolerate it, and love it most.

I proceed, however, to address myself more