a perpetual hatred against true believers, so that we have to say at evening: "Would God it were morning; and at morning, Would God it were evening." They have no other perpetual hatred. The manner: "We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." The world care no more for ill-treating a Christian than the butcher does when he lays hold of a sheep for the slaughter. The drunkards make a song of us. Such was the cry of believers of old. The same cry has been heard amid the snowy heights of Piedmont: and, in later days, amid the green hills and valleys of Scotland. And we are miserably deceived if we flatter ourselves that the same cry will not be heard again. Is the devil changed? Does he love Christ and his dear people any better? Is the worldly heart changed? Does it hate God and God's people any less than it did? Ah! no. I have a deep conviction that, if God only withdraw his restraining grace, the flood-gates of persecution will soon break loose again; and many of you, left unconverted under our ministry, will turn out bloody persecutorsyou will yet avenge yourselves for the sermons that have pricked your hearts.

2. The apostle names seven forms in which trouble comes. Two of them relate to the troubles that are common to man, and five to those that are more peculiar to the children of God.

(1.) Tribulation and distress: "Man that is born of a woman is of a few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." God's children are not freed from distresses: sickness, poverty, loss of friends. Jesus said to them: "In the world ye shall have tribulation." "Whom Ilove I rebuke and chasten." Now, Satan tries to take advantage of these times of tribulation, to separate the soul from the love of Christ; he tempts the believer to despise the chastening of the Lord; to plunge into business, or among worldly friends, or to follow worldly means of soothing sorrow. Again he tries to make the soul faint under them; repine and murmur, and charge God foolishly; not believe his love and wisdom in the furnace. In these ways Satan tries to separate from the love of Christ. A time of tribulation is a time of danger.

(2.) Persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword-all these are' the weapons Satan stirs up against God's children. The history of the Church in all ages has been a history of persecution. No sooner does a soul begin to show concern for religion; no sooner does that soul cleave to Jesus, than the world talk, to the grief of those whom God hath wounded. What bitter words are hurled against that soul! In all ages this has been true: "They wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy." Those that eat the bread of God have often been driven from their quiet meal; those who are clothed with Christ have often had to part with worldly clothing, and have been exposed to famine, nakedness,

peril, and sword-the last extremity. Cain murdered Abel. They killed the Prince of Life; and so all his creatures ever since have been exposed to the same. Do not say, The times are changed, and these are not the days of toleration. Christ is not changed, Satan is not changed, and, when it suits his turn, he will use the same weapons.

III. All these cannot separate us.

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

us.

How are we more than conquerors?

1. We conquer even before the battle is done. In all other battles we do not know how the victory is to turn until the battle is won. In the battle of Waterloo, it was long thought that the French had gained; and Napoleon sent several despatches to Paris, declaring that he had won. But in the fight with the world, Satan, and the flesh, we know how the victory is to turn already. Christ has engaged to carry us through. He will guard us against the darts of the law, by hiding us in his blood. He defends us from the power of sin by his Holy Spirit, put within He will keep us, in the secret of his presence, from the strife of tongues. The thicker the battle, the closer will he keep to us; so that we can sing already: "I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord." We know that we shall overcome. Though the world were a million times more enraged; though the fires of persecution were again to be kindled; though my heart were a million times more wicked; though all the temptations of hell were let loose upon me; I know I shall overcome through him that loved me. When Paul and Silas sang in the low dungeon, they were more than conquerors. When Paul sang, spite of his thorn, "I will glory in my infirmities," he was more than a conqueror.

2. We gain by our conflict. Often a victory is a loss. So it was in that battle in Israel, after the dark night in Gibeah. All Israel mourned, for a tribe was nearly cut off out of Israel; and so, in most victories, the song of triumph is mingled with the sobbings of the widow and orphan. Not so in the good fight of faith. We are more than conquerors. We gain by our enemies. (1.) We cling closer to Christ. Every wave of trouble for Christ's sake lifts the soul higher upon the Rock. Every arrow of bitterness shot after the believer makes him hide more in the clefts of Jesus. Be content, dear friend, to bear these troubles, which make you cling closer to your Beloved. (2.) They shake us loose from sin. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own. If the world smiled and fawned upon you, you would lie on its lap. But when it frowns, then Jesus is our all. (3.) Great is your reward in heaven. We gain a brighter crown. Be not afraid; nothing shall ever separate you from the love of Christ.

O that I could know that you were all in Christ's love-that the arms of Jesus were infolding you; then I would know that all the hatred of men, and all the policy of hell, would never prevail against you! "If God be for you, who can be against you?" If God has chosen you, called you, washed you, justified you, then he will glorify you. O yield to his loving hands, you that are not far from the kingdom of God! Let him wash you, for then he will carry you to glory. Amen.

Dundee, Oct. 30, 1841.-(Action Sermon.)

SERMON LXXV.

MAN THAT IS BORN OF A WOMAN.

"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." -Job xiv., 1, 2.

THREE things are taught us in these words.

1. The beauty of man: "He cometh forth like a flower."Verse 2. There is something beautiful about man. He was made at first in the image of God; and though sin has blighted and defaced that image, yet there are the traces of God's workmanship to be seen in man still. His body is fearfully and wonderfully made; and the soul, though wholly averse from God by nature, is yet a lost piece of silver. 2. He is short-lived: "Of few days he cometh forth like a flower." When Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was, although he was one hundred and thirty years old, he said: "Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been,"-few, compared with the life of other men. Some of the patriarchs lived nine hundred years; Methuselah nine hundred and sixty-nine. How few are our days compared with this! few, compared to eternity-few, when we think of the work to be done. 3. Full of trouble. If his few days were all full of joy, it would not be so sad a case, but they are full of trouble; and those that are most anxious for worldly pleasure generally have deepest troubles. Troubles of the body, and of the mind, and of the estate, come upon the back of one another like wave upon wave.

We have had solemn experience of these truths within these few days. There have been five solemn deaths, all connected with our parish, and, taken together, they form a practical commentary on these words. 1. Two children died, both lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death not far divided. They were full of promise, and their fond relatives looked forward to their being

a joy and comfort to them. They came forth like a flower, and were cut down. 2. A young man in his prime. He had reached the vigor of manhood, and thought to see many good days in the land of the living; but God changed his countenance, and he has passed away. 3. Another was the blooming mother of eight blooming children, beloved and admired by all around her, with all this world could give to make her happy; but the cry came at midnight. She came forth like a flower, and was cut down. 4. The last was an aged man, called upon, after long forbearance, to give in his account. How solemn the lesson! The child-the young man the mother-the hoary head-are all laid low this day! "Man that is born of a woman is of few days."

1. Learn the need of immediate conversion. Some of you are angry that I speak so much of conversion; but, ah! when I stand beside these open graves, I am ashamed of myself for speaking so little. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." " Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out."

Children, seek conversion now, for little children die. These new-made graves are less than yours would be. Young men, seek conversion now, for young men die-they are cut down in their prime. Mothers, do not say you will seek conversion afterwards, when your family are grown, and you have more leisure; seek it now, for mothers die. Old men, do not say this is nothing to you. Others may die, but you must die; and therefore the lesson comes doubly home to you: Seek conversion now.

2. Learn the folly of living in pleasure. There is no net by which the devil catches more souls than the silken one of worldly pleasure. It is common for worldly people to take it for granted that there is no harm in these things. Children are fond of games; young people delight in dances, and songs, and laughter; coarser spirits love the glass, and the glee, and the coarse debauch; more polished circles love the ball, and the concert, and the play; and old withered dames, and swearing captains, tottering on the brink of eternity, could hardly sleep at night without their hand at whist. Where is the harm? Sit down upon yon grave, and ask the dead. Are you not Christless; unpardoned; unholy; on the road to hell. Are your days not numbered? May you not be cut down this night? Where would you be if you were hurried away from the dance, or the play, or the card-table, to the presence of your Judge? "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?" "She that liveth in

pleasure is dead while she liveth." conversion.

This is the time for seeking

Ah! I

Are we to have no pleasure, then? Yes, in Christ-holy pleasures, such as are at God's right hand for evermore. have tasted all the pleasures of time, and they are not worth one drop of Christ's sweet love.

3. Learn to seek one another's souls. Ah! there is no place for teaching ministers how to speak like the death-bed. I often feel that I have never preached at all, when I look upon the faces of the dying! O pray for me, that I may go out and in among you more faithfully; that I may speak more boldly, and not fear your anger or reproaches! You will not be angry with me when you are dead. You will not say I preached too plainly then.

Brethren in the eldership! Come and help me in this. You see our people are dying; hundreds are now in eternity who were once under your care and mine.

Dear teachers! Teach the children plainly, for children die. Do not mind their impatience and waywardness. Remember they are dying children-Death's mark is on them, The forester puts a mark round the trees that are to be cut down. Every child has got Death's mark.

Parents! Seek your children's souls from infancy. Pray for them before they are born. Travail in birth with them till Christ be formed in them. Do not say they are too young, and cannot understand. God can teach babes.

O if you neglect this, will you not regret it when the green sod lies on their breast?

4. Learn how unable you are to bear the wrath of God. In the time of health and strength, it is common for men to boast against God. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men: therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain. They can sin with a high hand. But when they are brought to the brink of the grave by fever or wasting consumption; when they need some one to turn them on their bed, or to hold up their fainting head, or to feed them with a spoon like a child; then we see that a sinner is nothing in the hands of an angry God. And O what will it be in eternity, when he falls into the hands of the living God! Perhaps he doubted whether there was a God; but all of a sudden he sees there is a God. He thought there was no Christ-in a moment he meets his holy eye. He thought there was no hell, and laughed at those who believed it— in a moment he is tossing among its fiery waves; and now he feels it must be eternal. After a thousand years it is but beginning, and no nearer an end. The soul will sink into insupportable gloom; it will wish to die, and not be able. "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction?" O brethren, flee from the wrath to come! You cannot