humble and obedient people; that so, at length, when we open our eyes in eternity, we may see Him, and all our redeemed brethren, "face to face," and know Him and them in glory," even as also we are

known!"

SERMON XX.

(PREACHED AT HATFIELD, 14 JANUARY, 1838.)

A PROMISE FOR THE NEW YEAR.

DEUTERONOMY XXXiii. 25.

As thy days, so shall thy strength be.

"WE walk by faith," saith St. Paul: and such should be the desire of every Child of GOD, while his days are prolonged in this world of care and sorrow. The Christian pilgrim, who is bidding farewell to the departed year, and entering upon the threshold of such another portion of his existence, ought especially to exercise faith in the power, the providence, and the promises of his GOD. His last steps in the old, and his first steps in the new year, should be peculiarly those of faith. Moses, in his dying moments, was anxious to impress the blessedness of walking by faith, upon the tribes of his beloved Israel. As the Prophet of GOD, he spake unto them the Words of GOD; and comforted the tribe of Ashur with his parting benediction, and assurance, that “As thy days, so shall thy strength be." To the believing and faithful disciples of the LORD JESUS, these encouraging words are spiritually applicable. The promises of Scripture belong to the Children of GOD.

Israel after the flesh, is a type

of Israel after the spirit. The promises of the LORD respecting temporal things, we, as believers in Jesus, are warranted to apply to our own spiritual direction and consolation. Thus much we deduce from the words of St. Peter, addressed to all who had "obtained like precious faith" with him; saying, "Unto us are given exceeding great and precious promises." The promises to which this refers, are those of the Old Testament; and these, he says, are given to believers in CHRIST JESUS. We would, therefore, now draw a line from that blessed volume of grace and mercy, and enter upon the dangers and depressions, the duties and difficulties, the trials and troubles, the wants and woes of the dawning year, with the short but solacing motto, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."

Christians! the days of the new year will bring, with the returning light, new and arduous duties to be fulfilled. The faith, the prayer, the watchfulness, the exertions of other years, will not suffice for this upon which you and I are now entering. We must seek a stronger and a firmer faith. The state of all around us calls for the practice of this, the especial duty of a Christian. Whatever prospect of durability and certainty vain men are wont to hold up to our view, respecting the governments, and states, and possessions, and riches of the world, in the years that are past-is indeed clouded by the wildness and wickedness of the

present generation. The rough hand of a godless and democratic phrensy has been, and still is, raised against "the Powers that be," which "are ordained of God," and owe not their being nor their authority to the multitude; and, whether we survey the links of social order that bind man to man, as now about to be hewn asunder-or whether we contemplate the bulwarks of Truth and Christianity, raised by Divine Providence in the Religious Establishment of this land, as about to be overthrown-the eye of reason grows bewildered, the calculations of human prudence fail, and the awful scene presents but this distinct, this seasonable admonition, "Cease ye from man, whose "breath is in his nostrils. Come, My people, enter thou "into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: "hide thyself, as it were for a little moment, until "the indignation be overpast:" (Isa. ii. 22. xxvi. 20.) To trust in the arm of the LORD, for exemption from the ills that godless men, led on by the Devil and their own lusts, would perpetrate-and to depend upon His providential interference, for the protection of all that is most valuable to us, as members of a civilized community and candidates for a blessed immortality-is a duty rendered still more necessary by the progress of events in each year's course of rash experiment and unprincipled clamour. The eye of faith must now be uplifted, not merely for the things of eternity, but for those of time: we must walk by faith in God's promises, and trust in His grace. This is

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difficult. We persuade ourselves to trust our eternal interests in the hands of GOD OUR SAVIOUR; but which of us can say, with the Prophet, "Although the fig"tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the 'vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields "shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from "the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; "yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the "GOD of my salvation:" (Hab. iii. 17, 18.)—Yet it is this the LORD requires from His people. He calls upon you and me to depend upon Him for our daily bread, as well as for the Heavenly crown. In the days of this opening year, events may occur to each of us, which may speak loudly the call to this duty. Carry, then, the precious assurance of the text upon your memory and upon your heart. GOD here promises strength according to your day. The constant practice of lively faith in Him, as the GOD OF PROVIDENCE, is specially requisite. Christian brethren, plead this promise before the Throne of Grace, and you shall find, that He who claims your firm trust and confidence, will strengthen and increase your faith.

The promise of the text is eminently precious, when we contemplate the snares that may beset us in this new stage of our pilgrimage. Brethren, it cannot be denied, that the Christian is now exposed to difficulties, which in former years were unknown. The Great Enemy has changed his mode