This subject is truly interesting, and exactly suitable to the state of an afflicted Church, or an individual Believer; and it is the general privilege of all the children of the most high, if it suits them, for the Scriptures are designed to furnish the children of God unto every good word and work; to furnish them with matter for faith, hope, prayer, humiliation, and encouragement in God. This is the design of every precious doctrine and promise, which at once opens to our wondering view, the very heart of the God of all grace; the glorious person of God our Saviour; his covenant transactions with the Father, his acting for and on the behalf of his Church, his wonderful incarnation, his meritorious holy life of obedience, his sufferings and death, whereby he removed the guilt of his dear people; his sacred burial, his most triumphant resurrection from the dead, his glorious ascension, his appearing in heaven as the advocate of his people, and as their ever prevalent intercessor. This is the glorious foundation, hope, and comfort of those whose hearts are under the influences of his Spirit, who are driven from every other refuge, and are enabled to believe to the present salvation of the Soul. This faith, which is the work of God on the hearts of his people, evidences their election of God, their complete redemption from the ruins of the fall, and that the work is genuine; it is the earnest God has given them, and all their present peace and joy is according to the strength or weakness of this grace. This makes Christ precious, the Word sweet, and the Saints dear. This creates in their hearts a most earnest desire to live to the glory of God—this renders them the butt of the Devil’s malice, the hypocrite’s envy, and the world’s scorn. These, in connexion with the old Man of Sin, which the Believer daily groans under, renders his road very rough; often exposes him to the deepest trouble and heart-felt grief. His own daily infirmities, his own constitutional sin, creates him much wretchedness, and the enemies of the Cross are daily watching for his halting, longing for his fall, envying his comforts, and contriving his overthrow. But though he is safe in the unchangeable love of God, as it respects his soul, yet he is still exposed to the malice of man, the temptations of Satan, and the shafts of calumny. If a fault can be justly found, Oh! the triumphs of the Philistines! And if not, perhaps they will try to make one, that they may bring the cause of Christ into contempt. The combined enemies of God are the same combined foes of the people of God, for, as by virtue of the union subsisting between the Lord Jesus and his people, they have a mutual interest; his cause is theirs, his friends are theirs, and his enemies are theirs: as they bear his image, possess his favour, cleave to his person, love his name, esteem his word, feel his power, trust his faithfulness, and follow