The parallel helps us here--'returning' is parallel with 'confidence.' This confidence is to be exercised especially in relation to one's own path in life and the outward trials and difficulties which we meet, but its sphere extends far beyond these. It is a disposition of mind which covers all things. The attitude of trust, the sense of dependence, the assurance of God's help and love are in all life the secrets of peace and power. Am I sinful? then trust. Am I bewildered and ignorant? then trust. Am I anxious and harassed? then trust. Note the thought, that we come back to God by simple confidence, not by preparing ourselves, not by our expiation, but only by trusting in Him. Of course the temptations to the opposite attitude are many and great. Note, too, that every want of confidence is a departure from God. We go away from Him not only by open sin, not only by denial of Him, but by forget-fulness, by want of faith. The _ground_ of this confidence is laid in our knowledge of Him, especially in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. The _exercise_ of this confidence is treated as voluntary. Every man is responsible for his faith. The _elements_ of this confidence are, as regards ourselves, our sense of want in all its various aspects; and, as regards Him, our assurance of His love, of His nearness to help. II. Confiding nearness to God brings quiet rest. 'Rest' and 'being quiet' are treated here partly as consequences of faith, partly as duties which we are bound to strive to achieve. 1. See how confidence in God stills and quiets the soul. The very exercise of communion with Him brings peace and rest, inasmuch as all things are then possessed which we can desire. There is a still fruition which nothing can equal and nothing destroy. Trust in God brings rest from our own evil consciences. It brings rest from our own plans and purposes. Trust gives insight into the meaning of all this else unintelligible world. It brings the calming and subduing of desires, which in their eagerness torture, in their fruition trouble, and in their disappointment madden. It brings the gathering in of ourselves from all the disturbing diffusion of ourselves through earthly trifles. 2. Notice what this rest is not. It does not mean the absence of causes of disturbance. It does not mean the abnegation of forethought. It does not mean an indolent passiveness. 3. Notice the duty of being thus quiet and resting. How much we fail in this respect. We have faith, but there seems some obstruction which stops it from flowing refreshingly through our lives. We are bound to seek for its increased continuity and power in our hearts and lives. III. Confidence and rest in God bring safety and strength. That is true in the lowest sense of 'saved,' and not less true in the highest. The condition of all our salvation from temporal as well as spiritual evils lies thus in the same thing--that we trust God.