We scheme-we labour-we strain every faculty of mind and body-we do not in every thing "by prayer and supplication make known our requests unto God;" and we fail in peace, if not in success, and no wonder, for thus we rest in ourselves and not in God: would that a sounder mind were in us, and that the Apostle's teaching were not in vain! We might still, in every transaction, use ample diligence; but prayer being mingled with every undertaking, we should engage only in what is well pleasing unto God, and having God for our witness in every transaction, we should know how to use success with moderation, or to endure disappointment in a like spirit.

Has such a spirit been in us, or does conscience as a faithful and true witness suggest that it has been far otherwise? that we have been unduly elated or depressed, as the varying shadows of earthly change have past over us that our moderation has not been known

in these things? Suffer the word of exhortation, drawn from the manifest teaching of the Apostle, to point to you the remedy for this evil. It is to be found in faith and prayer. Faith in the coming of your Lord to judgment -Prayer, by which in every thing your requests are to be made known unto God. In proportion as you habitually feel the smallness of the interval which separates you from the great judge of all the earth, you will weigh the trifles of time, in a juster balance, against the realities of eternity. In proportion as you connect yourself with God by prayer, and supplication in every thing, you will find that nothing will triumph in the heart, which tends to separate you from God; you will find that, if thus you have " your conversation in Heaven," the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.

M

SERMON VII.

ISAIAH ix. part of 6th verse.

"HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED- -THE PRINCE OF PEACE."

THESE are, as you will bear in mind, the concluding words of that verse, wherein the Prophet looking forward to the period when He, in whom all prophecy was to centre, should appear, describes the Saviour of the world.

On every portion of that verse we might dwell at length, and find in each expression the evidence of the Holy Spirit's guidance, leading the Prophet into all truth as regarded the subject of his sublime prediction; and leaving us without excuse, if we fail to have

faith in him to whom such wonderful witness

was given.

For shall not his name be justly called "Wonderful!" who being the first born before all creation, yet thus was born of a pure virgin into the world; to whom the heavens opened, and a voice was heard proclaiming "this is my beloved Son ;"* who, wonderful in the spirit and power of God, rebuked even the wind and seas, and they obeyed him; who having power to lay down his life, and power to take it up again, did from the grave and gate of death ascend, in the presence of the gazing multitude of Galilee, to the throne of his majesty on high; "to come again in like manner, as they saw him go into heaven."+

And who so worthy to be called " Counsellor" as He, who was with God in his everlasting purposes of wisdom; with whom the Almighty is represented as taking counsel, in mysterious unity, when he said "Let us make

*Matt. iii. 17. † Acts i. 11.

man in our image;"* who in concert with Almighty God formed the gracious plan of our redemption; into whose hands, because of his excellent wisdom, all judgment is consigned"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son :"+ who is, at this day, the Counsellor of every enlightened follower of his word, opening their eyes that they "may behold wondrous things out of his law;" and so unto the end will remain for them "that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

And of whom shall we say that he is “the mighty God," if not of Him, who at the first created, and unto this hour sustains the mighty fabric of the universe, visible and invisible; to whom all the attributes of the very-that is, the true God are ascribed: who is omnipresent because "where two or three are gathered to

* Gen. i. 26.

+ John v. 22.

Psalm cxix. 18.

Heb. vii, 25.