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Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God....Phil. iv. 6.

ALL anxious cares which torture and distress the mind arise from unbelief; they are contrary to our profession, dishonorable to our God, and hurtful to the peace and comfort of our souls. Therefore they are forbid by the gospel of grace, in love to the children of God. But, believer, thou hast not so learned Christ as to pass away a life of careless indolence and thoughtless inactivity. No; vigilance, industry, and fervency of spirit, is a suitable frame ever to be found in. Not slothful in business, but fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord. Careful and diligent in the use of all means in thy power, both to procure the subsistence and welfare of thy body, as well as to keep up the liveliness and vigour of thy soul. Careful and diligent, yet without care that hath disquietude and distress. As to the things of this life, it is sufficient to answer all thy anxiety, and silence thy every fear and doubt; "your heavenly Father (saith Jesus) knoweth you have need of them." He feeds the birds. Will he suffer his babes to starve? Thou shalt have all things needful for life and godliness. If such a sinner as I may speak of himself, under worldly losses and disappointments I have thought, "Well, though I have not what I expected, I can very well go to heaven without it." This consideration, thanks to my dear Saviour, hath often brought a heaven of contentment to my soul, in a world of disappointment.

As to spiritual blessings, "He that spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up a sacrifice for our sins; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." The Father that hath "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus," will hand them out to us by his holy Spirit in number, weight, and measure, just as his wisdom sees best; and it is our wisdom to be content and thankful. Here is encouragement for faith and prayer.

And canst thou look within, without, around, above, and see no cause for thanksgiving and praise, O christian? Are not what thou hast in hand, and what thou hast in hope, the free-gifts of the grace of thy God? Call to mind his mercies to excite gratitude; reflect on his promises to quicken in prayer. Under all thy trials, distresses, sorrows, fears, doubts, and difficulties, here is sweet encouragement for thy soul; speak them out freely: make thy requests. familiarly unto God. And what shall be the happy consequences? Hear and rejoice, thou shalt have more abundantly than either thou canst think of or ask for."....Eph. iii. 20.

Christ ever lives to intercede

Before his Father's face:

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Content, my soul, thy cause he'll plead
Nor doubt thy Father's grace.

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in thy weakness....2 Cor. xii. 9.

SPIRITUAL Conflicts with the enemy of souls are the lot of all God's children. Holy Paul was under deep and afflicting distress of soul. Satan the adversary assaulted him very powerfully. He groaned under it; he frequently besought Jesus that this grievous and painful messenger of satan might be made to depart from him, and that his conflict might be at an end. O, what distressing exercises God's children undergo from the enemy! The hearts of such only know the bitterness thereof. But is the captain of their salvation regardless of them? Is he deaf to their prayers when they call on him? No: he ever hears, he always answers in love. But did the Lord grant his dear servant's request? No; then the design of love would not have been answered. Paul was in danger of being "exalted above measure." This was to be prevented. He was " to glory in infirmities." This was to be effected. Satan's design was for his evil. Jesus makes it work for good. But that he might not faint in the combat, this comfortable answer is given, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Let it suffice, my love and favor is ever towards you; my almighty strength is engaged to preserve you. Though you are weakness itself to withstand such an enemy, yet my almighty strength shall uphold you; in this you shall conquer.

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Here is the strongest assurance for the confidence of faith, and the most solid ground for the rejoicing of hope. The grace and love of Jesus opposed to the malice and hatred of satan; the strength of Jehovah triumphing in, and made illustriously glorious through saints' weakness. O, what an ever-loving, all-sufficient, omnipotent Lord is Jehovah Jesus! The Lord whom thou servest, believer, knows thy every distress and conflict of soul. He will strengthen thee in, support thee under, and bring thee safe through and out of all thy exercises and troubles. Thou shalt lose nothing in the furnace but the dross of nature's pride and corruption, and the vanity of selfglorying, self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness. God by his Spirit will teach thee to profit in humility and self-diffidence, and to glory in and exalt the Lord Jesus more and more. Sweet and encouraging is that promise to God's church and people in general: strong and comforting as God's declaration to Paul, in particular: "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."....Isa. xli. 10.

I can do all things, or can bear
All sufferings if my Lord be there:
Sweet pleasures mingle with the pains,
While his left hand my head sustains.

But if the Lord be once withdrawn,
And we attempt the work alone:
When new temptations spring and rise,
We find how great our weakness is.

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment....John vii. 24.

By acting contrary to this advice of our prophet, the children of God often distress their poor hearts. Perhaps in no one instance more than this. "My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipt," said the Psalmist. Why? What was the case? Alas! alas! he had been looking at the outward appearance of the wicked. How happy, gay, and joyful they seemed! So that corrupt nature and carnal reason had erected a tribunal in opposition to faith and truth. "Verily," says he, "I have cleansed my heart in vain," &c. But he was soon undeceived and brought to "judge righteous judgment," from the records of truth in the sanctuary of his God.... Psalm lxxiii. Professors of old had a severe check (Mal. iii.) for thus judging. "Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord: ye have said it is vain to serve God," &c. "You call the proud," that is, the self-righteous, but disobedient persons, whom I resist and abhor, "happy." Christian, beware of judging of men. Be cautious of determining of matters by appearances. They are very deceitful. Judge of no man's state by appearances: evil actions we may condemn; good actions we should applaud. But to judge and determine the eternal state of any by appearances, we have no authority. It was a judicious speech of St. Austin, "If I see a wicked man die, shall I say he is gone to hell? I dare not. say he is gone to heaven? I cannot."

Shall I

How awful were the falls of David and Peter! To what dreadful lengths of cruel persecutions against Christ, his truth, and members, did Paul run! Yet how did the rich grace of our God triumph in their repentance and salvation! Therefore, believer, even as to thine own eternal state, judge not from present sense and appearance, though all things seem against thee. Oppose not thy frames and feelings to God's truth, love, grace, promises, and oath in Christ Jesus. And they all point....to whom? Even to sinners, lost and perishing sinners. Whatever else thou hast lost, a sense of sin is with thee. True, sayest thou, and a dreadful sense it is. I also know the same; I have a fellowship with thee in the same sorrowful truth. But still, "this is a faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation at all times, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Is there a doubt in thine heart, a fear in thy mind, a sin upon thy conscience, but he is able to relieve and cleanse thee from? "Be not faithless, but believing," saith thy Lord....John xx. 27.

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Not diff'rent food or diff'rent dress, When weaker christians we despise, Compose the kingdom of our Lord; We do the gospel mighty wrong, But peace and joy and righteousness, For God, the gracious and the wise, Faith and obedience to his word. Receives the feeble with the strong.

And the children struggled together within her: and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord....Gen. xxv. 22.

VERY uncommon and extraordinary was the case of Rebekah: inward commotion and strong contention, between the fruit of her body, alarmed her greatly: each threatening death to the other, and herself also. Happy her conduct. In this distress she seeks satisfaction from the Lord. A noble instance of faith and familiarity with the God of Israel. This also was written for our learning: a very just and striking emblem is this of the christian. As verily as Jacob and Esau were in the womb of Rebekah, so is the christain the subject of two contending parties, the old and new man, flesh and Spirit. The life of each is opposite to the other; each is striving for the mastery over the other. Here is the daily conflict of disciples.

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How does the poor groaning, burdened sinner act? Like himself, a believer on Jesus. With Rebekah, he goes to his cOUNSELLOR, be enquires of the Lord Jesus. Is he like Paul in conflict of soul crying out, "O wretched man that I am?" Yea, like Rebekah, is he sometimes weary of his life, because of the daughters of Heth, the numerous progeny of corrupt lusts of the flesh! Here is an evidence of his spiritual life: this is a full proof of the strugglings of a sanctified soul. Though the poor heart may cry out, 'I a saint, I a member of the Holy Jesus, I a child of God! O, surely it cannot be. If so, why am I thus?' Know, O soul, that it pleased the Father that all fulness of grace should dwell in Jesus. He suffered thy fall into this state that he might raise thee by Jesus; and he is.pleased to leave thy sinful nature vile and corrupt as he found it, until it shall be "sown a vile body." Thou art like Rebekah groaning and waiting to be delivered. Suffice it, that thou live by faith in Jesus; "wait in hope for the adoption, namely, the redemption of our body." ....Rom..viii. 23. Know thou art called in love, daily to "put off the old man with his deeds....to mortify the flesh with its affections and lusts." But yet always to reckon thyself after Christ, in thy new state, possessed of perfect righteousness and true holiness. Ever accepted IN HIM, God's beloved Son; thy beloved head, surety, and Saviour: IN HIM ever acceptable to thy God. Thus the Lord thy God ever delights in thee, and rejoiceth over thee; sees no spot of sin, but adorned with perfect beauty. Such are the glorious views of faith, in opposition to all sense and feeling. So, shortly shalt thou be presented to the Father by Jesus, perfectly holy and without blemish,

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not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing."....Eph. v. 27.

We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens....2 Cor. v. 1.

It is the grand device of that arch-deceiver, satan, to represent the religion of Jesus as tending to melancholy, gloom, and sadness; but daily experience proves the reverse; for under a sense of a crazy, disordered body, from views of its approaching dissolution, with thoughts of its being shortly committed to the silent grave, who can put on an air of composure, joy, and delight, except the christian? Who such cause for continual felicity, as he who KNOWS his lease is well nigh expired of his present house, that shortly it is to be pulled down; but yet, through the kindness and love of his heavenly Father, a free grant of his eternal inheritance is given him, "of a house not made with hands?" What comfort must it yield to him to KNOW the nature of the purchase, the certainty of its being obtained, the price fully paid, the deeds signed and sealed, the conveyance legally made, his trustee, Jesus, actually being in possession; yea and "the earnest of his inheritance in his heart, by the Holy Ghost given 'unto him :" O, the inexpressible joy of this knowledge! All this we assuredly know by faith. Come, my brother mortal, is thy house like mine, ruined, crazy, and just ready to fall? O, let us daily be looking by faith, from Pisgah's top to the promised inheritance. Let us daily consider our approaching dissolution, that our hearts may more and more love and live with our dear Saviour, who has told us, "I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again to receive you to myself: where I am, there shall you be also."....John xiv. 2, 3.

Vain and trifling is all this perishing world has to offer, compared with the glory which shall shortly be revealed in us; yea, not to be set in competition with the grace that is Now upon us. And what can deprive such an heir of his inheritance? Shall sin? No; that is fully atoned by the blood of Jesus. Shall the world? No; he hath victory over that, by the faith of Jesus. Shall satan? No; the "God of peace will bruise satan under his feet shortly."....Rom. xvi. 20. Shall the corruptions of his nature and the workings of unbelief? These may distress and make him groan; may deject with doubts; but shall not disinherit. For unbelief also is included in that precious promise, "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are under grace."....Rom. vi. 14. And all such are" kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."

There is a house not made with hands,

Eternal, and on high,
And here my spirit waiting stands
Till God shall bid it fly.

Shortly this prison of my clay

Must be dissolv'd and fall;
Then, O my soul, with joy obey
Thy heav'nly Father's call.

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