And do we suppose that that wicked spirit can forget his nature or cease to employ his arts to deceive? The weapons may be changed, but the warfare remains. There are some in these days who will tell us that the devil is an imaginary being, that there is really no devil;-and when malice, hatred, and revenge disappear from among men, when there is no division, no falsehood, no wrong, no shedding of blood, I will believe them. But this is a stratagem also of his own to put men off their guard, while he directs his more dangerous and insidious attacks by all "the fleshly lusts which war against the soul." Let us ask ourselves how it stands here. Is present gain or heavenly treasure the thing we seek? A livelihood in this world, or "the bread that came down from Heaven ?" In short, what is still the common pursuit with men, from the cradle to the grave? Is it to do the will of God now, and to hold spiritual communion with the saints, and to share their glory in the world to come? or is it to live as well and as comfortably as they can, in security and without fear, on earth? What is the liberty we so much seek and praise? Is it the liberty of doing only what we like? or is it freedom from sin that we might serve God, which would be liberty indeed? If the former, then we may be assured that we are in the broad way that leadeth to destruction; if the latter, then let us fear neither want nor privation, God will increase our store if we use it right, for "to him that hath, more shall be given." God also knoweth what we need, and will give it us; for, "Seek ye

first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Only let us praise God for having knit together His elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of His Son, and pray for grace so to follow His blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which He hath prepared for them that unfeignedly love Him, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, three blessed Persons and one only God, be ascribed honour and glory, dominion and power, now and for ever. Amen.

SERMON XII.

The Christian Ministry.

JOB XXXii. 6-10.

"And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding. Great men are not always wise : neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion."

S Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, stood before Job and his three friends, so standeth the minister before the congregation. He stood before them, though the youngest and because there was a spirit in him, and the inspiration of the Almighty gave him understanding, he scrupled not to speak before his betters, nor to give his opinion before those who were older than himself. He rebuked Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, for their uncharitable spirit; his zeal was kindled against them on account of their unwise answers, because they knew not how to declare the righteousness of God: and he reproved even Job himself, for that, though perfect as a man and upright in his ways, he humbled

not himself under his sufferings, but sought wherewithal to justify himself rather than his Maker. His zeal being inflamed, therefore, upon observing this, and the spirit within him constraining him to speak, he preached unto Job and his three friends the power, the justice, and the wisdom of God in the wonders of His mercy. "Touching the Almighty," saith he, "we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power, in judgment, and in plenty of justice: He will not afflict." And let us mark well the end of this edifying story; -we read that afterwards, upon Elihu's preaching and the effect it had no doubt upon his hearers, the Lord Himself condescended to argue with Job; to declare unto him His own power and greatness, and man's utter insufficiency and weakness; and that Job, having already professed his faith in God, a Redeemer, and the resurrection, now also being convinced and understanding his own meanness and utter weakness in sin when weighed in the balances with his Maker, with humility and sincerity confessed his ignorance, and declared his dependence upon God for all knowledge; and, having also learned to know God, he learned to abhor himself, and repented in dust and ashes. "Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I know that Thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee. Who is he that uttereth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understand not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech Thee, and I will speak: I will demand of

Thee, and declare Thou unto me. I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee: wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." And upon this "the Lord finally accepted Job;" and "the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning."

The history of the Book of Job is well worth the attention of the pious Christian, to be studied, and understood in all its parts. For the Book of Job, as well as other Scriptures, was written for our admonition and instruction: and from no example that is recorded in the whole Bible do we learn more surely than from this of holy Job, that whoso is built up through faith unto righteousness, stedfastly believing the promises of God, faithfully using or patiently enduring whatever his lot may be in this world, and knowing, that all those dispensations, which are sometimes called fortune, are from God, who ordereth all things for the good of those that love Him, is neither hardened by prosperity nor broken by adversity, but by the preaching of the Word, and other means of the Holy Spirit, is brought to a right understanding of himself and humbleth himself before his God, and repenteth in dust and ashes,—we know, I say, that such an one God will most assuredly accept in Christ, and the Lord will indeed bless the end of that man more than his beginning.

But the inference I shall take occasion now to draw from the consideration of this part of Job's history is, that it is of God's infinite wisdom and