fainteth within you, then ask "if God be for you, who can be against you?" He that spared not His own Son, but freely gave him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?1

Of the things which I have thus spoken this is the sum-that there are doctrines full of comfort, and truths full of peace and joy, set before us in the gospel, the enjoyment of which we should earnestly desire and unceasingly pray for.

And among the rich fruits which are there spread out, that of "assurance," is one of the most comforting and delicious to the child of God. "What (saith an old writer) can come amiss to him that hath the assurance that Jesus shed his blood for him, and God is his reconciled Father through the Son?"

"Hath he lost a friend? His friend lives. Hath he lost an only child? God hath given him his only son. Hath he scarcity of bread? God hath given him the finest of wheat—heavenly manna, the bread of life? Are his comforts taken from Him? The comforter is his which is the Holy Ghost. Doth he meet with storms and tempests of sorrow and trouble? He knows where to put in for harbour. God in Christ is his portion-heaven is his haven!"

Oh, I would to God, the professing church of God, understood and possessed this gift of the Holy

1. Rom viii. 32.

Ghost! It is one of the sweetest fruits of Christ's "banqueting house" we can enjoy upon earth! It is the very foretaste of heaven! "All saints shall enjoy heaven when they leave this earth: but some there are who enjoy heaven here on earth." You may indeed go to heaven without enjoying the fruits of this blessed doctrine. I dare not say otherwise. Many there are who have been disturbed with fears and doubts of their state, who yet, doubtless are Christ's. "Their's is saving faith though not rejoicing faith, even that faith which Christ pronounces to be great faith, which saith " Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only and thy servant shall be healed."

"Blessed are all they that thus believe. It may seem little faith. But little faith goeth to heaven no less than great faith-not indeed so comfortably nor yet so gloriously. So then, he that hath faith, hath a blessing, but he that hath the full assurance of faith is more conscious of and rejoices in the blessing." The days of such are "the days of heaven upon earth." Covet earnestly then O Church of Christ the best gifts Be not content with a day of small things. Press forward in the race. Visit oftimes the "banqueting house" of Jesus. Get strength, and refreshment, and encouragement thence. Behold the tables are spread. All things are prepared. Eat of friends, yea, drink, drink abundantly, O beloved. ·

If you would evermore feel the everlasting arms of Omnipotence round you and hear the voice of Jesus saying "I am thy salvation"-if you would be blessed in your day and generation as witnesses for Jesus in days of blasphemy, and hollow profession: if you would be known as bold, firm, unwavering disciples of Jesus-if you would be holy and spiritual in your feelings, and desires, and life, then seek for large supplies of the strengthening, comforting graces and gifts of "Faith, Hope, and Charity, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God."

6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

7, I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir

not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

It is well remarked by an old writer concerning the figures employed in Holy Writ, that "if they consent to go with us one mile, we must not compel them to go with us twain." The moral of which evidently is, that we are not at liberty to draw out the figures of Holy Scripture beyond due and legitimate bounds. Indeed, they sometimes so delicately shadow forth the truth they are intended to

1. Phil. i. 2.

exhibit, that to touch them, is to disfigure and destroy their use and beauty.

It is manifestly so in these verses, in which Christ in that mysterious union (which marriage typifies) acts the part of a tender and loving husband towards his Church. He sees her feeble and fainting, hears her cry for help, and in a moment is at her side, encircling her with the "everlasting arms," and discovering to her the strongest tokens of His love, having in His "left hand," temporal mercies, and in His " right hand," spiritual strength and consolations.

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The Church is thus assured of her safety and security.

Sustained by His "left hand," and embraced by His "right hand," none can pluck her out of His hands.1

This is true of every age of the Church and concerning every member embraced within its fold. Jesus, the same " yesterday, to-day, and for ever," "giveth power to the faint, and to them who have no might He increases strength."

Happy are the people who can thus make their boast in the Lord!

Reader! if ever your weary soul, cast down and fainting within you, has been stayed on the love and grace of Jesus Christ: if you have found Him a very present help in your time of trouble, if when tempted

1. Jno. x. 28.

He has succoured you: afflicted He has sympathised with you: when sick at heart He has healed your sickness; when weak supported; or fainting, revived you with the cordials of His love and grace, oh! then you have had some experience of the love of Jesus, who like a "good shepherd," both watches over his sheep Himself and charges your companions (who as yet understand not such close dealings of the Lord with the soul) not to suffer a single sound to break in upon the sleep of his timorous disciple, "so He giveth His beloved sleep."

8. The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

In the previous verse the Believer was enjoying the very highest degree of spiritual privilege, calmly and securely reposing under His care, who keepeth His saints and neither sleepeth nor slumbereth.' The Church feared no evil and had rest. But so uncertain are the frames and feelings, even of the most spiritual, that lo! in this very next verse we find the presence of Jesus no longer enjoyed, but only expected. Before, the Church had realised His presence and boasted of it in the presence of the daughters of Jerusalem. Here it is otherwise. He

1. Ps. cxx. 4.