I will be with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

Such is the language of the bleffed Jefus, the Son of God; and fuch his meaning in the words of the Text: which I fhall now proceed to confider in a general point of view, as addreffed to every Chriftian, when threatened or afflicted with the Troubles of Life. They fuggeft Reflections-which the circumstances of human nature but too frequently require. They invite to a sOURCE OF COMFORT,-to a "LIVING FOUNTAIN" inexhauftible, for which the "weary and heavy-laden" faint, in the Defart of Affliction. In the widely-fcattered family of the human race, a greater number of this defcription exifts, than their thoughtless and unfeeling fellow-mortals may imagine. "The Poor shall never cease out of the land." The crowded City, and the thinlypeopled Hamlet, furnish proofs of their exiftence, and often, too often witness their Variety of Wretchednefs.

But Wretchednefs is confined not to the abodes of the Poor. It enters, like Death, the Manfions of the Rich, and the Palaces of the Great. The Cottager and the King

*

are alike fubject to its power: the ignorant and the wife equally feel its painful poignancy.-Nay, are not often the most fupreme in ftation, the most fupreme in Mifery; and are not thofe minds which are moft endued with Genius, the most tenderly alive to Affliction or Misfortune?— Softened and refined by their peculiar purfuits, the fhaft of Sorrow caufes a more bitter pang; for its "iron enters more deeply into their Soul.

Such being the case of human nature in every State or Condition, thofe great Truths of Religion, which are calculated "to bind up the broken-hearted," cannot be enforced too earnestly, or too often.-This was the opinion of one-eminent, but unfortunate one who felt himself the efficacy of those Truths, in the last and most trying moments of his existence.- "Preach," faid he (to a confidential minifter) " preach,

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my dear Friend! in season, out of season, the great and confolatory Truths of the Gofpel; and imprefs them with unwearied Zeal, in this fhort Day of your Ministration.” *It is, perhaps, unneceffary to apply this fentiment to the afflicted royal Family of France.

+ Dr. Dodd.

Thefe

These are Truths which are never "out of feafon;" for, to all of us, Life is a scene of Uncertainty, and many-to fome of us -are its Sorrows. And though most of you, I hope, are at this moment-free from Wretchedness; yet, to suppose that all are of this happy description, would be fuppofing, I fear, what is not true.-However, if but ONE among you, feel himself caft out of the number of the Happy,that one to blefs with Comfort and Confolation, by means of this Discourse, will be to increase my own Felicity. "Let not your Heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe alfo in Chrift."

Omitting those arguments which prove the Usefulness of Afflictions, I fhall confine myself to the more pleafing task of pointing out to you—the only certain Remedy against them. This is-FAITH IN CHRIST.

Yet I mean not that dead, that barren Faith, which has erroneously been reprefented as fuperfeding Virtue or Holiness of Life: but that Faith-that sublime Principle I mean, which, being firmly rooted in Jefus Chrift, is the Tree that produces every virtue that can adorn and ennoble

the human character; and that exalts it to a refemblance of the Divine: that makes it (in an humble degree) "perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect."

"This, we know is impoffible. And therefore fill it will remain for us to be (what St. Paul truly fays we are)" juftified by Faith, through Jefus Chrift our Lord;"

-a Faith, that has its "fruit unto Holinefs, and its end everlasting life:" that will make us "ufe the vale of Mifery as a well," and " go on our way rejoicing:" that will caufe Light to fpring up in the darkest gloom of life.

Such a Faith,-or rather the Divine Object of it, will be an anchor to our Souls, both fure and ftedfast. In the midst of a Sea of Troubles, he will fay, "be not afraid; for I am with thee,thy Redeemer, mighty to fave.”—He will interpofe his arm, that we may not perish, and bid the ftorm be ftill.

Read his holy Word, the Gospel of Inspiration; and be you in whatever affliction you may,-if you read with a true chriftian fpirit, you fhall be comforted. Sources of Confolation fhall

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be

be opened unto you, refreshing as fprings of water to the hunted hart; or as fummer rain to the dry ground.

But remember, as "the word preached was once unprofitable to the Jews, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it ;" fo will the Word read be unprofitable to you, unless you are warmed with this chriftian Principle. Therefore, when you meditate on the holy Word, and feel not the temperate fervours of Chriftian Faith, fay to your Almighty Redeemer, in the language and spirit of his difciples, "LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH!". Then fhall thofe comforts, and more than thofe comforts

be yours, which the pious Pfalmift derived from a fimilar employment; "In God's Word will I rejoice, fays he ;in the Lord's Word will I comfort me.' In all his troubles and afflictions, this was his confolation: and ought it to be less so to you, who have, befides the treasure he poffeffed, the invaluable Records of Redemption? What Sorrows afflict you, for which you cannot there find a balm ?-Do the Sorrows