"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations." 2 Peter ii. 9.

THIS is a living comfort in the saddest seasons; the Lord knows both our sorrows and the cause of them. He follows us, though we have cared so little for him; and comforts us though we have grieved him. It is the duty of all who live "godly" to look out and prepare for temptations, (or troubles) seeing they are a part of their legacy John xvi. 33 and the way to heaven lies through them: Rev. vii. 14. The Lord knows the godly wherever they may be, and though there may be but one in five cities, that one shall not be forgotten: 2 Pet. ii. 6, 7. Observe,

1st. The character given of those who look for deliverance, the godly. "the godly." A godly man, having obtained grace from God, makes it his business to glorify God; by worshipping him, and imitating him: Ps. xii. 1: Titus ii. 12. Only be careful to serve God, and never doubt of his serving you. The people of God are frequently so hedged about with troubles, that they can see no prospect of deliverance. But,

2d. The Lord knoweth how to deliver; even when short-sighted man can see no way, He sees many ways: Isa. lv. 8, 9. Infinite wisdom can never be at a loss for a way to deliver the godly. But remember it is God's work to deliver the godly; and he knoweth how. Can you, then, for a moment doubt of his willingness? Name a single instance, if you can, in which he either wanted the will or the way. Throughout the whole course of your life, do you ever recollect having one trouble from which he did not deliver you? Not one. Then why doubt now? Is the arm of the Lord shortened that he cannot save? or his ear become heavy that he cannot hear? Isa. lix. 1. Mercy's fountain is not dried up, though the God of mercy may appear to be silent: Matt. xv. 23. Every other port may be closed against you; but the port of heaven is always open; and you may venture to run in there with your half-wrecked bark; and lie in perfect safety: Job viii. 20, 21. Fear not while you have breath to pray; for the Lord knoweth how to deliver you. The Lord may chide bitterly, and strike heavily, while he loves you dearly: Heb. xii. 6,

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Isa. xlix. 15.

CHRISTIAN, is thy heart pained within thee on account of its own wickedness? That is a godly sorrow which the wicked are strangers to; but is one of the greatest afflictions of the righteous. The troubles of the believer in Christ are frequently like poor Job's messengers, one treading upon the heels of another. This may be now thy case; and thou mayest be tempted to believe the Lord hath forgotten thee. Away with your fears; and behold the tender regard that God has for his people! He seems to consider his glory reflected upon, if, in their trouble, they should only think that he has forgotten them. Do but hear him! • Can a woman, one of the tender sex, a mother, "forget her sucking child?" Look at that smiling babe hanging at the breast of its tender mother! See how she loves it! how delighted with it, it is part of herself; she loves it, she suffered for it; can she forget it? Will she lend a deaf ear to its infant cries, and refuse to administer to its wants? Is it possible? Yea, it is possible. A woman may be so heavily afflicted as to "forget her sucking child." There have been such monsters, in the shape of women, as to have no compassion on their little offspring. Therefore, the Father of mercies says, "yea, they may forget." But to remove all the surmises of human nature, immediately adds, "yet will I not forget thee." A woman may forget that she is a mother, yet God will never forget that he is a Father: 2 Cor. vi. 18. So that, while you are in trouble, you may expect God will support you under it; and, when he sees it will be for your good, deliver you from it. Ps. lxxi. 20.

Be not over anxious to get rid of your present trouble; for a deliverance from one trouble only makes room for another Matt. vi. 34. A man carried by the grace of God will ride easily over a rough road. Afflictions, like medicines, are few of them sweet, but all of them good: Ps. cxix. 71. In time of peace we are armor go rusty, but in war we keep it tender infant part of its mother ? It is members of Christ's body: Eph. v. 30.

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"In all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that hath loved us." Rom. viii. 37.

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WILL any poor forlorn soul say, My Lord hath forsaken me; and I shall sink in my trouble? True, thou mayest deserve it; but the Lord deals not with thee after that sort; though thou art a sinner, a backsliding sinner, a hell-deserving sinner, the very chief of sinners, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: 1 Tim. i. 15. And still, his name is JESUS. And, " in all these things"-What things? Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword; in all these things we are more than conquerors; for though troubled, yea, killed, we are sure of victory. This may appear a strange way; but it is God's way: Ps. cxlv. 14: and must, therefore, be a good way. We conquer, though we die; yea, we more than conquer; for we triumph. Our Captain brings all his men out of the field, without losing any thing that is valuable: 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. Gold is refined in the furnace of fire; Christian, in the furnace of affliction : 1 Pet. i. 7. Many have conquered in the flames, in the dungeon, on the rack, and under the axe. Surely then, you have no cause to fear: Isa. li. 17. If victory over your sufferings depended upon yourself, you would have too much cause to fear; but that is not the case; for we are assured we are conquerors only "through him who hath loved us." Mark that! It is in the strength of Christ, and through Christ, that we are more than a match for all that troubles and opposes us; he having overcome for us: John xvi. 33. We cannot live without suffering, but it is our privilege to live above it; "through him who hath loved us." Never measure your troubles by the pain they cause, but by the end they accomplish: Heb. xii. 11. Reason not with unbelief; give credence to the word of your Saviour; he has been with you in past troubles; and has engaged not to leave you in this: Ps. xlii. 11. Deliverance will assuredly come when needful: Job. vi. 19.

The word of the Lord abideth forever; His covenant is sure; His love is unchangeable; and His promises are immutable. Draw nigh unto him in the full assurance of faith; and your night of trouble will be turned into joyous day: Ps. xxx. 5.

"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence.." Ps. xci 3.

CHRISTIAN, never forget that your carnal reason is a home-bred foe, a domestic enemy, that constantly opposes the truths of your God, with, How can these things be? and disputes your Lord's command, with, Hath the Lord required this? and wants them all explained according to the rules of carnal conception. Often has this foe caused your hands to hang down when they ought to have been lifted up in prayer: 1 Tim. ii. 8. Discard it; treat it as an enemy to your soul's comfort, and your Lord's glory. The antidote is faith in the Redeemer.

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A believer in Christ is always safe; because he is kept by Christ: John xvii. 12. Many are the snares which are laid for you, and into which you would unwarily fall, and which would prove fatal to you, but for kind deliverer. Dangers are often nearest to us, when we are the least apprehensive of them; and, like the poor bird, are ignorant of the "snare of the fowler." And it is all owing to a kind, a gracious, and a watchful Providence, that our natural life has been spared: Job xxxiii. 24-26. Our spiritual life also has been preserved by divine grace; in the hour of temptation we have been "delivered from the snare of the fowler:" Col. iii. 3. Why should you be alarmed, on account of prevailing sickness? you have hitherto been kept "from the noisome pestilence" which has carried off so many thousands, yea, millions, of our fellow mortals, in different parts of the earth; and the promise shall hold good; "Surely he shall deliver thee:" Jer. xxxiii. 6. Our souls too have been delivered "from the noisome pestilence," sin" Ps. ciii. 3. Death may ride in triumph, and disease rage all around; yet, "surely he shall deliver thee." Every arrow that Death hurls has its commission; the Egyptians may have death in every house, and the Assyrian army be all cut off in one night; still, Israel is safe: Ps. lxviii. 20. God often affiicts our bodies, that we might the better know what is in our hearts. Hard weather will try our health, but sickness tries our grace: 1 Pet. i. 6, 7. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart; wait, I say, on the LORD: Ps. xxvii. 14.

"The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." James v. 15.

THIS, poor afflicted soul, is thy happiness below, thy heaven upon earth, to have access to the Father of consolations in all thy afflictions. When God, and Christ, and heaven are within, it matters but little what is without. Here we have the duty of an afflicted child sweetly connected with the Father's gracious assurance. Observe,

1st, It is not a faint, cold, formal, and indifferent prayer, that is here spoken of; but "the prayer of faith :" not only on the part of the person praying, but also on the part of those prayed for. Faithful prayer is powerful and prevailing prayer: Exod. xxxii. 9-14. The prayer of faith "shall save the sick :" that is, if God sees it will be for the good of the sick, and he has any thing farther for them to do in this world; and if not, faith and prayer will not prevail; neither would a humble believer desire that it should be otherwise, than just as Father would have it: Job xiii. 15. Sin is the cause of sickness; we ought, therefore, to pray for the removal of sin, rather than for the removal of our own, or others' sickness: Ps. xli. 4.

2d. See also the success that attends the faithful "The Lord shall raise him up." So that, you prayer; perceive, it is the LORD's work to raise up as well as to pull down: Ps. cvii. 25. And well it is for us, that it is the Lord's work; for He is infinite in wisdom; and can, therefore, make no mistake; and His love is boundless, consequently he cannot be unkind: Rom. viii. 32. He will never permit sickness to come upon any of his children, till He sees it needful for them. Are you sick?If so, Father knows it; and is watching over you; He knows how long you have been sick; and how much you can bear; and will raise you up, "when He sees you have been sick long enough. Let the Lord's will be your will; and judge not of His love to you by your love to him. Sickness should never trouble you; but should always humble you: Lam. iii. 19, 20. not sick by chance: Job v. 6. You may be tempted sorely, and have darkness over your soul, owing to your bodily afflictions; and this will grieve you worst of all; but remember, Father knows you are but dust.

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