tual enemies, the angels who fell from their original glory, and they are ever acting out their desperate opposition to the work of religion. Our "adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour." But none of these things need alarm the individual who is determined to press on. The knowledge of the power and temptation of our spiritual adversaries is given that we may be watchful and always dependent upon God; and in firm and continued resistance to the evils which are by them constantly presented to the mind. The spirits of darkness have no prevailing power against the soul, save that which wilful sin may give them. If we resist them, they will flee from us; and if we will strive, and pray, and labour, we may take courage from the declaration, "they that be for us are greater than they that be against us."

With what unparalleled dignity and with what unspeakable consolations is the work of religion invested. When Nehemiah went forth from the court of the king of Persia, not only had he the approbation of the king, but the captain of the host, and the horsemen of the king to accompany, support, protect, and honour him. Is there an individual among you determined to escape from hell and lay hold on eternal life? Is there an individual here who through evil and through good, is determined to fight the good fight; to keep the faith and finish the course in the perseverance of the Gospel? I know that you have foes. I know that the devil and all the spirits of darkness are in array against you. I know that unseen and mysterious enemies beset you ; and their battle is dire and terrible and ceaseless: and I know that were you left alone, sink in the

conflict you inevitably must. But I also know, that as in your work, if you faithfully begin, and with full dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, carry it on, I know that not only have you the approbation of the King, but the forces of the King to attend you, to support, to protect, and honour you. Your eyes, covered with the film of mortality, may not see, they cannot see the celestial auxiliaries; and like the servant of Elisha, when pressed by your spiritual foes you may be disposed to ask, alas! alas! my master, what shall we do? Let faith but supply the place of vision. Could your eyes, by miracle, be opened as were his, you too would behold, round about, chariots of fire and horses of fire. And is this agency of God's ministering spirits less real, because it is to us invisible? No, no. What a miracle of love is this appointed agency of God's pure messengers! How should it encourage us in the struggle to know that the heart is thus shielded in the day of the spiritual battle! How should it animate in the fight, to know that such auxiliaries are near! How aggravated the cowardice when with angels on our side we turn our backs even on the fiercest battle; and how ten-fold more severe the condemnation when we wilfully yield the victory to hell's dark host.

SERMON XIX.

THE GREAT WORK OF RELIGION.

NEHEMIAH vi. 3.

In carrying on the great work of religion, if there is opposition, there is also aid. In illustrating the propositions which I have been discussing, I have used the fruitful and interesting history of Nehemiah, and have endeavoured to classify the aids, as well as the previously considered opposition, by the circumstances of that history. In my last discourse I considered the holy angels as engaged in the aid of this great work. I come now to take up another point, and I purpose here to embrace the largest class of subjects which can come within the scope of pulpit instruction; I mean all the dispensations of God's providence, without exception. Let me, however, lead you for a moment to the point of illustration. I have stated to you that in aid of his great undertaking, Nehemiah had, 1, the king's approbation; 2, the king's forces. I then remarked, that he had the king's resources-" Moreover, I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given

me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over, till I come into Judah; and a letter unto Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me."

Now, in applying this subject to the aids which can be taken advantage of, if the question is asked, what are the aids to the great work of religion, I answer, all the resources of the great God on earth; the whole full treasury of his providential dispensations. One single passage of Scripture may be said to embody the whole amount of my proposition-" All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," which, as applied to my present subject, means exactly this: There is nothing in all the dealings and dispensations of God with men, but what is intended, by the great God himself, to be auxiliary to this great work. It will be my purpose, as far as feeble abilities çan do it, to carry out this sublime idea into particulars minute and tangible.

The individual who engages in the great work of religion, draws his supplies from the exhaustless treasures of God. Thus God provides him with a foundation on which to build; here he must begin; a broad and deep foundation must be laid for the superstructure which he desires to rear, or it will inevitably fall. The wise man is he who built his house on a rock-" And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;

* Nehemiah ii. 7, 8. † Romans viii. 28.

and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock."* The sinner, anxious to accomplish the great work of salvation, might toil and labour for ever, and bring nothing profitable to pass, so long as he is destitute of a good foundation. This God furnishes him"Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."+-" Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." This is "the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner." But even with a foundation man naturally is destitute, both of the will and the ability to work. From the exhaustless treasures of God both are furnished-" Work out your salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."-"My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."¶ But even when the will and the ability to work are given by the power of the grace of God, foes rise up on every side. But in the armoury of God, ready for the use of the individual really awakened, are to be found a full and adequate supply. But all this does not meet the full purpose of the proposition, that all the dispensations of God are intended to furnish aid in the great work of religion. When the expression is used—"All things work together for good," there is nothing excluded. It were impossible, my brethren, even to enumerate all the particulars which might be collected under this division; the events

* St. Matthew vii. 25. † 1 Corinthians iii. 11. § Luke xx. 17. Philippians ii. 12, 13.

+ 1 Peter ii. 6.

¶ 2 Corinthians xii. 9.