and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin. "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away."

1 Is. xliv, 6, 22. 2 Jer. xxxi, 34. 52 Chron. vii, 14.

3 Deut. iv, 9. 4 Jer. vi, 16. 6 Hos. xiv, 4.

ILLUSTRATION. The fall of Peter.

"Jesus went forth from Jerusalem, with his disciples, into the Mount of Olives. And he saith unto them; 'All ye shall be offended because of me this night.' But Peter said unto him, 'Although all shall be offended; yet will not I.' And Jesus saith unto him, 'Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.' But Peter spake the more vehemently; 'If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.'

"And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and Judas also knew the place, and having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons, and led Jesus away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled who sought false witness against him, to put him to death.

"But Peter followed Jesus afar off into the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. And a damsel came unto him, saying, 'Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied before them all, saying, 'I know not what thou sayest.' And when he was gone out into the porch,

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another saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.' And again he denied with an oath, 'I do not know the man.' And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to him, 'Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.' Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, 'I know not the man.' And immediately the cock crew.

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5" And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter, and he remembered the word of Jesus, who said unto him, 'Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice.' And he went out, and when he thought thereon, he wept bitterly."

1 John xviii, 1. 2 Mark xiv, 26, 27, 29-32. 4 Matt. xxvi, 57, 59, 58, 69-74. 5 Luke xxii, 61. 7 Mark xiv, 72. 8 Matt. xxvi, 75.

3 John xviii, 2, 3.

Chastisement to be expected.

6 Matt. xxvi, 75.

"Happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, thou art chastened of the Lord, that thou shouldst not be condemned with the world.

"Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and Scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way?

Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee. Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.

"Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee; and thy sins have withholden good things from thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.'

1 Job v, 17. 2 Is. xvii, 10. 31 Cor. xi, 32. 5 Jer. ii, 17, 19. 6 Deut. viii, 5. 7 Jer. v, 25.

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4 Heb. xii, 5-7.

8 Deut. viii, 6.

Exhortation to watchfulness, &c.

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"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. 4 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.

6Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now Amen."

and ever.

1 Prov. xvi, 18.

21 Cor. x, 12. 51 Sam. xii, 24.

3 Rev. iii, 2, 3. 4 Matt. xxvi, 41.

6 Jude i, 24, 25.

Chapter Third.

THE CHRISTIAN CONFIDENT.

The blessedness of trust in God.

1" BLESSED is that man that maketh the Lord his trust. 2 For the Lord God is a sun and shield the Lord will give grace and glory; 3 and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. The fear of man bringeth a snare : but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence and his children shall have a place of refuge. For the name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

1 Ps. xl, 4. 2 Ps. lxxxiv, 11. 31 Pet. ii, 6. 4 Prov. xxix, 25. 5 Prov. xiv, 26. 6 Prov. xviii, 10. 71 John v, 14, 15.

ILLUSTRATION.

Paul shipwrecked.

"It was determined that Paul, and certain other prisoners, should sail into Italy. And the centurion found a ship, and he put them therein. And when they had sailed slowly many days, they came unto a place called 'The fair havens.' Now when much time was spent, and sailing was dangerous, Paul admonished

them and said; Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading, and ship, but also of our lives.'-Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. But not long after there arose against them a tempestuous wind, and neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on them, and all hope that they should be saved was then taken away.

"But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, 'Sirs, I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying: Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar, and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must

be cast upon a certain island.'

"And when the fourteenth night was come, as they were driven up and down, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country. Then fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying; 'This is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat; for this is for your health :