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joy unspeakable and full of glory. Many instances might be adduced to prove that God over-rules all the events of the world (evil as well as good) for his own glory. If the whole human race were to combine against thee, nay, if it were possible for all hell and earth to combine against thee, be at peace, my Christian brother, God has only to speak to overwhelm every foe.

III. WHILE WE DO AND SUFFER THE WILL OF GOD, WE MUST LOOK FORWARD ΤΟ THAT PERIOD, WHEN WE SHALL INHERIT THE POSSESSION WHICH IS IN STORE FOR US-EVER

LASTING FELICITY! The Apostle exhorts the Hebrews to be followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. In Jesus Christ we not only find perfect peace, but a perfect example; no patience could be compared to his, he exercised not only faith in an eminent degree, but patience also.

Christ is exalted in his power and sympathy, to give us patience, as well as every other good gift; yes, my suffering brother, and you, my afflicted sister, he sympathises with you in the midst of your calamities. There are various degrees in this Christian patience,—the first is,

11 Peter i. 6-8.

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that which, in faith, views the hand of God in the midst of calamities, and submits with resignation; thus Aaron viewed the loss of his two sons. Another degree of patience comprises gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving, in the midst of our calamities; Job, in the midst of his losses, exclaimed "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord;" yet Job afterwards exhibited much impatience :—the third degree comprises triumphant joy in the midst of calamities, viewing them, primarily, in faith, as rich blessings from heaven. My brethren," says the Apostle James, "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." — Faith calculates upon the importance and value of the glory of God, and that the afflictive dispensation is necessary to bring about this result. It reminds the believer his time is short, and his light affliction, which is for a moment, shall work for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The apostle Paul declared, that he rejoiced in hope of the glory of God; and added not only so, but we glory in

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1 James i. 2--4.

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tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." A prophet of old calculated upon the loss of all things, and yet says, we have waited for him, we will be glad, and rejoice in his salvation."2 May God bless us, my brethren, with this degree of patience, that we, ourselves, may glorify God, and that others may also glorify him in The text, "in patience possess ye your souls," intimates, that there is no self-possession without patience, and without this self-possession a man only multiplies his sufferings; he is, as the Psalmist says, like a wild bull in a net." where self-possession is not, there

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is no self-government. In such a case, a man is quite blind, and becomes the butt of Satan himself; you often see such a one, beginning wrong, and then plunging deeper and deeper in error.

Let us take into consideration patience in public as well as private calamities. I will not here allude to late transactions, lest it should be considered that I meddle with politics,-but patience reminds us, in the midst of public

1 Rom. v. 3, 4, 5.

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2 Isaiah xxv. 9.

calamities, that God rules; and a man who patiently endures these calamities, will triumph more for his country than her armies and navies; he will take his king, his country, its government, to a throne of grace.

Again let us learn to distinguish between patience and apathy; patience does not deprive us of feeling,-apathy implies an extreme want of sensibility; but patience in the midst of the deepest sensibility, enables the sufferer to bear up under the weight of his affliction: patience, my brethren, has triumphed on the rack, it has grown and strengthened mightily amidst the flames; it has enabled the weakest, even women, to laugh at the combined rage of devils and men. When the God of patience reigns, why should you and I despair? Those who have suffered and triumphed before us, were as weak as you and I are, and patience made them more than conquerors through him who hath loved them and given himself for them.

December, 22, 1822.

SERMON XXVII.

ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

But the Lord shall endure for ever he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.— PSALM IX. 7, 8.

A PERUSAL of the Bible will convince us that there never was but one religion. We shall discover, from the beginning of Genesis to the last chapter in Revelation, that there was but one salvation: and that all nations have worshipped God in the same manner; there may have been, and was a difference among them, of light and knowledge; but they worshipped the same God, trusted in the same Saviour, looked forward to the same judgment, and to the same final consummation of all things in the glory of God, and the destruction of his enemies. In the sixth verse of this Psalm, the enemies of God are addressed "O thou enemy,

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