are cast down altogether. Some, again, are realizing the same character of experience, because their position in life is so different from that of others; they suffer so much from privation and poverty, that they cannot so easily receive the assurance of their relationship to Him who holds in His hands the balances of justice and goodness. Others are afflicted and depressed on account of the difference in present experience from what it was in the past; they were once prosperous, but now they look on adversity at almost every step, the change is great and mysterious, and they are weary and almost worn down. We have, however, before us the effort to supply you with the antidote; we would desire to teach you to feel that "there is balm in Gilead, and the great Physician there." We do not doubt your trials, we would relieve them, while we are sure that

trials can never be designed nor permitted to destroy God's children, but are only to prove, and purify, and establish; they are ever held in the Father's hands, are ever the subjects of the Father's promises, and are kept by the Father's grace.

"Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head."

CHAPTER I.

Troubled with your Doubts.

66

Verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."-JESUS.

"Be still, my heart, those anxious cares
To thee are burdens, thorns, and snares;
They cast dishonour on thy Lord,
And contradict His sacred word."

OW delightful to have a

strong faith!

What a sure

source of happiness! What a treasure for all times of

necessity! What support

for all our weakness! What a relief in distress! Many of God's chosen seem to find a sore conflict, because of their many fears. Every cloud seems to threaten a storm, and every storm seems to threaten destruction; every enemy seems too strong for them, every trial too heavy. On the sea of life, they are like Peter going towards his Lord on the waters of Gennesaret; they are going in a right direction, but they are so alarmed by the force of the storm, that they forget His power to save, and they seem to be sinking. But as it was then, so it is now; the same voice utters the same words, the same question is to be heard, "Oh thou of little faith, wherefore dost thou doubt ?" Ah! say you, "I do not doubt Him; I know He is all love, all mercy, all compassion; I know He saveth to the uttermost; I know He will not cast one out that goes to Him:

but I doubt myself; I am so sinful, so unworthy, so prone to do that which I ought not, and to leave undone that which I ought to do; I am so far from being what I know I ought to be." Yes! all this is quite true; and if you did not know it and feel it too, the peace or the comfort you might then realize would be false. Because you know it and feel it, we pronounce the comforts and the provisions of the gospel to be for you. Jesus came, "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." The balm is for wounded spirits; the provision of help is for those who feel their own unaided weakness. Yes! you receive these truths generally, and for application to others, but then your case appears different. So it may. It is better known to you, and this it is which makes its difference appear to you so great. But “ But "why are ye so fearful ?"