and swell within us, let but his voice be heard, and straightway there will be "a great calm."-" Give me a man (says one of the Fathers of the Church) that is angry-furious-passionate-and with a few words from God, I will render him as meek and quiet as a lamb."-And what may these powerful words be?-Surely some such as the following." This is thankworthy" (worthy the acceptance and reward of God himself, my brethren, for so has he been pleased to declare)," this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.-For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffetted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently; but if when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps; who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, re

1 Mark iv. 39.

viled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously '." If we would render the violent, gentle as the lamb, shall any thing but the example, and the spirit of the Lamb accomplish it?

"He foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away."--This was another effect produced by the evil spirit on the poor man's son: and it is one which we can parallel both on the right hand and on the left of us.-On the right hand and on the left, can we not see many weeping, and like Rachel, refusing to be comforted?-Can we not see many who indulge in sorrow, as if it were a virtue, not a weakness, and make their grief a luxury?-Again, how many bruised spirits are there, crushed as it would seem and broken, who go about asking, "Who will show us any good?"-Whose senses are perverted so that they can no longer taste and see

how gracious the Lord is because the sweet has become bitter to them, and all their light is darkness.-These too are cases, perhaps, still more difficult than the former-how shall we deal with them?-Not with any words of man's wisdom, if we would deal with them effectually. Not by the application of arguments of any secondary authoritybut by listening at once to the voice of him who cries, "Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls'."-Surely God who comforteth those who are cast down, will never refuse the aid of his healing Spirit "to those who are in any trouble," if asked in the name of him who was himself "a man of sorrow" was himself"tempted like as we are."

But once more-(for we must hasten through this division of our subject)they brought the young man to Christ,

1 Matt. xi. 28, 29.

as

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straightway the spirit tare him, and he fell on the ground, and wallowed." And his father spake unto the disciples that they should heal him; and they could not. And what power, less than that of Christ himself, shall heal him who has returned to wallow in the uncleanness of sin, from which the blood of Christ had once washed him?-Who shall deliver him from this body of death, save He who hath promised his spirit to all who call upon him faithfully-a grace sufficient, in spite of their weakness, to raise them "from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness."

"All things" then "are possible to him that believeth."--The irregularities of the temper the sorrows of the heart-the sinful lusts and appetites of the fleshmay all be moderated, and brought into subjection by those who have faith-and who apply in faith, the provisions and principles of the Gospel to their own condition and circumstances.-Is there any one among us, who does not feel inclined to exclaim, Lord, I believe; help thou

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mine unbelief?"-Is there any one who would not hasten to avow his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to pray that that faith may be increased?

Perhaps there is no individual in the whole Christian community, who cannot enter into the feelings expressed in the words of the text.-A very little reflection is sufficient to explain to us the value of the privileges and immunities which the Gospel is capable of conveying to those who will receive it.--These incline us, and further-the evidence in its favour warrants us, in exclaiming, "Lord, I believe."-But, though the understanding be convinced, and the heart, perhaps, inclined to coincide, there are still impediments to be overcome, and our faith is not so effectual for good to us, as it might be, and ought to be.-The temper is not always as equable as we could wish -our hearts will sometimes sink within us, and the flesh so lusteth against the spirit, that we cannot always do the things that we would.-And then we cry to God with all the sincerity, and with