preserve it, though he knew not any visible means, or even if the sacrifice had been permitted, his hope extended beyond the grave; for, as St. Paul adds-" He ac"counted that God was able to raise him 66 up even from the dead."

This is the obvious meaning of that religious hope, recommended in the text, it not only implies a belief and trust in the Almighty power and goodness, but it also expresses our hope, that upon us that power will be exercised, and that we are in some measure deserving of that goodness. For, though we are taught to believe, and actually find from daily expe rience, that the mercies of God are ever beyond our deserts, yet we are not to presume, that without some endeavours after righteousness, we shall be entitled to particular acts of favour; that hope which is founded on the mercy of God alone, without any. exertion of ourselves to de

serve it, begins in presumption, and must naturally end in disappointment.

A striking example of the consequence of such ill-grounded hope appears in the History of David, a man, in the general tenor of his life, holy and righteous, and after God's own heart; yet, in one instance in which he had sinned against the Lord, in taking to himself the wife of Uriah, whom he had caused to be slain, he seemed to hope that the Almighty would not only pardon his offence, but even suffer him to enjoy the fruits of his wickedness, that his very iniquity should prosper; for when the Lord in his anger against David struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne unto him, and it was very sick, David besought God for the child, and fasted, and lay all night upon the earth, and would not be raised up, nor eat bread; so strong was his hope, that he flattered himself the Lord would spare

the first fruit of his sin; but his disappointment proved his presumption, in supposing that God would in any manner countenance his guilt, granting prosperity to the very act by which he had forfeited all claim to mercy.

This example of David's also affords a fine lesson to mankind, of humble resignation to the will of God, when calamities are once come upon us; to make our supplications and prayers, to pour forth our sighs and tears, while the clouds of afflic tion are hovering over us, and before the determination of Providence is known; not when misfortunes are actually fallen upon us, to utter idle sorrows and fruitless lamentations for the evils that are hopeless and past all remedy. all remedy. While the child was alive, he fasted and wept, "for who can "tell," said he, "whether God will be "gracious to me, that the child may live! "but now he is dead, wherefore should I

"fast? can I bring him back again! I "shall go to him, but he shall not return

to me.' This last expression seems very strongly to intimate his idea of a future state, his hope of a life to come, where those who have parted in sorrow shall meet again in joy.

But the perfection of true Christian hope is not the bare prospect of release from worldly afflictions, but a wellgrounded confidence in the persuasion that they will be rewarded hereafter. This is that hope," that travels on with us, nor "quits us when we die." It is like the glimmering taper to the benighted traveller that lights him on his way, the more dark and gloomy the night appears, the brighter does its influence shine. In many situations of distress, and comfortless as they appear to by-standers, hope casts her almost invisible gleam to the afflicted soul, and cheers it with a ray of comfort,

unknown and unfelt by all but the heart that is immediately interested and relieved.

This proves how uncertain our judg ments are of the feelings of other people-how often, when we suppose the righteous forsaken, and innocent overwhelmed with calamity, the Almighty Power, in whom they confide, the God of Jacob in whom is their trust, inspires them with that hope of seeing better days, that enables them to struggle through their present difficulties, intolerable as they appear, and even affords them more real satisfaction and quiet happiness than the guilty ever possess in all their vain pursuits of ambition, wealth, or pleasure.

What but this blessing could have given a moment's consolation to one in the deplorable situation of Job!-a man, who from a state of unbounded affluence, com