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duty. And how does it add to the pressure of the burden, and the bitterness of the cup, when God asks, "What dost thou here, Elijah?" and conscience cries, "Hast thou not procured this unto thyself?" Let no man, therefore, suffer as a murderer, as a thief, or as a busy-body in other men's matters. We complain of the world: and there are many unavoidable evils in life; but there is a large multitude entirely of our own producing, and God is no otherwise accessary to them, than as he has, in the nature of things and the course of providence, established a connexion between folly and misery.

He shews his humility: "I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant." This temper is not natural to us; but grace brings us down, and keeps us from thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. And we cannot have too much of this self-abasing disposition; it will keep us from exercising ourselves in great matters, and in things too high for us; it will keep us from murmuring under our trials; it will teach us, in whatever state we are, therewith to be content; and it will dispose us in every thing to give thanks for only in proportion as we are humble, can we be thankful.

Jacob, therefore, acknowledges the kindness of God towards him. More than twenty years before, he had crossed the same river where he now was. At that time he had no inheritance; no, not so much as to set his foot on. He was going forth, a poor pilgrim, in search of subsistence; and all that he ever stipulated for, was bread to eat, and raiment to put on; and a return to his father's house in peace. From this condition he had been raised to affluence; and his family and his flock had equally multiplied. Therefore, says he, "For with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands" alluding to the division which he had just made of

his household and his substance. We should do well often to review life; and to mark the changes which have taken place in our stations and circumstances. Have not many attained conditions, which would once have appeared the most improbable? Yet the Lord has made windows in heaven-and such things have been. Yet he has brought the blind by a way that they knew not; and made darkness light before them. Those born in the lap of ease, and whose course has been always even, cannot enter into the feelings of those who have found themselves advanced, without any designs formed by their friends, or expectations indulged by themselves. But how sad will it be, if they want the disposition of Jacob; and, forgetting that the blessing of the Lord maketh rich, sacrifice to their own net.

Observe his petition: "Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children." Here nature speaks; and we are allowed to feel, and even to desire the cup may pass from us, with submission to the will of God. How much was there here to awaken anxiety and dread! not only his own death, but the destruction of each of his wives-and each a mother too-and of his children also-and of the mother with the children; or, as it is in the margin, the mother upon the children-So it would have been. On the approach of the executioner, she would have thrown herself upon them, to cover and defend them; and in vain would he have endeavoured to pull her away: she would have been slaughtered upon their bodies.

Finally, his argument: "And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude." He had mentioned this before-Thou saidst, I will deal well with thee: and now he repeats it.

It was a sweet morsel, and he rolls it under his tongue. It was a breast of consolation, and he sucks till he is satisfied. It shows us that promises do not supersede prayer. If God has engaged to do a thing, it will indeed be accomplished, but in his own way; and he has ordained the means, as well as the end. The promises furnish us both with matter and encou ragement when we pray: and we cannot do better than to repeat them, and to plead them with God. This, says an old writer, is suing God upon his own bond. "Remember thy word unto thy servant, on which thou hast caused me to hope."

FEB. 5.-" That, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." 1 Thess. v. 10.

How well does the Apostle call the Redeemer "our life." There are three modes of expression by which our relation to him under this character is held forth: and they all furnish matter for the most important meditation. We are said to live by Him-" He that loveth me, even he, shall live by me." We are said to live to Him-"They that live, should not live unto themselves, but unto Him that died for them, and rose again." And we are said to live with Him"That, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

To judge of this state, we must consider where he lives; and how he lives; and what he is and how far he is able, by his presence, to bless us, and make us happy. For though our happiness, with such a nature as ours, must be social, it is not a privilege to live with every one. With some, it would be a misery to dwell even here; and to have our "portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers ;" and to be with "the devil and his angels;" this will be a dreadful

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part of hell hereafter. But O, to unite with those who will be all loveliness; to embrace, without any fear of separation, those who were endeared to us on earth; to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God; to join the innumerable company of angels! But, above all, to live with Jesus! To be with him, where he is, to behold his glory! To walk with him in white! To reign with him! For ever and ever!This is far better.

The season for enjoying it is, "whether we wake," i.e. live; or "whether we sleep," i.e. die. It takes in, therefore, time and eternity: our living with him in earth and in heaven; in the communions of grace, and the fellowships of glory. These are inseparably connected, and are essentially one, and the same condition with regard to him; but they differ in degree, as the bud and the flower, the dawn and the day, the child and the man differ. His people live with him now, but not as they will live with him hereafter. Now he is invisible-then they will see him as he is. Now their intercourse with him is mediate, and often interrupted-then it will be immediate, and free from any annoyance. Now they are with him in the wilderness-then they will be with him in the land flowing with milk and honey. Now they groan, being burdened with infirmities, and cares, and troubles-then they will be presented faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy. Yet, whether they wake or sleep, they live together with him.

And does not this more than indicate his divinity? How else can they live with him now? He is no more here, as to his bodily presence-for the heavens have received him. Yet, where two or three are gathered together in his Name, he is in the midst of them. Yet he said, Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Yet, says the Apostle, We live with him even while we wake! Yet, at the same time, others live with him when

they sleep-The dead are with him above, while the living are with him below! How? unless he pervades all periods, and occupies all places? How? unless he can say, "Do not I fill heaven and earth?” It is obvious the Apostle viewed him as omnipresent; and could say, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth I desire besides Thee."

Here is your happiness, Christians; it is your union with Christ. This prepares you for all seasons, and all conditions. Do you think of life? This is sometimes discouraging; especially when you contemplate the prospect in a moment of gloom. But why should you be dismayed? If you wake, you will live together with him. If your continuance here be prolonged, you will not be alone; He will always be within call, and within reach. He will render every duty practicable, and every trial supportable, and every event profitable. And therefore, whatever be your circumstances, you may boldly say, "Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."-Do you think of death? This is often distressing, and there is much in it to dismay-if viewed separate from Him. But if you sleep, you will live together with him. Death, that severs every other bond, cannot touch the ligatures that unite you to him. As you leave others, you approach nearer to him: you get more perfectly into his presence-you are for ever with the Lord.

Voltaire more than once says, in his Letters to Madame Duffand, "I hate life, and yet I am afraid to die." A Christian fears neither of these. He is willing to abide: and he is ready to go. Life is his. Death is his. Whether we wake or sleep, we shall live together with him.

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