for his, "in that day when he shall make up his jewels." * In patience, then, possess your souls. And And may "the GOD of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."+

*Malachi, iii. 17.

† Hebrews, xiii. 20, 21.

SERMON XIX.

PROMISE OF STRENGTH AND PEACE.

PSALM XXIX. 11.

The Lord will give strength unto his People the Lord will bless his people with Peace. THE Bible abounds with "exceeding great and precious promises;" and it is one part of a Minister's duty to make a right application of them. He must try to give the comfort which they contain to those for whom it is intended; and to prevent others from taking it to themselves, and thus from " wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction." To this end he is required not only to show the meaning of any particular promise on which he may choose to discourse, but also clearly to point out the persons to whom the promise is given, and to whom therefore the comfort contained in it belongs. These are the objects which I shall have in view, while I discourse on the promise in the text: "The Lord will give strength unto his People, the

Lord will bless his people with peace." I shall accordingly show,

I. What is the Value of the blessings here promised.

II. Who are the Lord's people to whom these blessings belong.

I. The blessings here promised are two, Strength and Peace.-Let us consider them separately. "The Lord will give Strength unto his people." To estimate the value of this blessing, we must understand the need which the Lord's People have of it; with how many powerful enemies they have to contend; and what utter weakness they have in themselves.

The Lord's People have to contend,

1st. With the Powers of darkness. They wrestle not "against flesh and blood," that is, against those only, but "against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Their" adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour* ;" and if he failed not to assault the Lord himself when on earth, much less will he fail to assault his people, over whom he is so much more likely to prevail. These indeed are the chief objects of his attack. Over the rest * Ephes. vi. 12. .1 Pet. v. 8.

of mankind, who are "the children of disobedience," "taken captive by him at his will," he rules with absolute dominion. But the Lord's people are, as it were, rebels against the government of Satan. They have escaped from his tyranny, and are setting his power at defiance. Against them, therefore, his utmost fury, malice, and subtlety are directed.

2. They have to contend with the World. The world is a continual snare to the people of God. In every view it is an enemy greatly to be dreaded. Its smiles and frowns, its promises and threatenings, are equally dangerous to their peace and safety. It draws them from the path of duty by flattering prospects of pleasure, of wealth, of honour, of ease or power. It strives to shake their firmness by the dread of poverty, shame, or persecution. If it fail of drawing them into compliance with its own evil maxims and practices, it regards and treats them as enemies: it represents them as hypocrites and deceivers; loads them with reproachful names; and holds them up as the objects of ridicule and scorn.

3. They have to contend with their own natural depravity, and with remaining sin in their hearts. This, while it proves their

Ephes. ii. 2.-2 Tim. ii. 26.

sorest enemy, shows the utter weakness they have in themselves. Assaulted at once by the world, and the devil, they have at the same time a traitor within, who secretly plots their ruin. By grace indeed they have received a new principle of spiritual life; but still the carnal principle is not entirely cast out. It is broken, but not destroyed. It does not reign as it once did: but it gives way unwillingly, and still struggles for the mastery. "The flesh lusteth against the spirit." Still they "find another law in their members warring against the law in their mind * :" so that "when they would do good, evil is present with them."

Such is the need which they have of the promised blessing. And hence we may estimate its value. Surrounded as they are by dangerous enemies, assaulted from without, and from within, having no strength in themselves, what precious words are these to the people of God: "The Lord will give Strength unto them." He will make them "stronger than their enemies," and will not suffer their foes to prevail against them. He will" grant they may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh." Satan may" desire to have * Gal. v. 17. - Romans, vii. 23.