people. Emmanuel, "God with us;" this is his name; how full of confolation! with us in his own proper perfon. The government is still upon his fhoulders. "He will not give his glory to another." He does not rule by proxy. His real pre

He

needs no "vicar" on the earth. fence is with his people. He is fulfilling his own gracious promife, "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world."

The fact of being engaged in an important enterprize, and a consciousness that great results will follow a certain course of conduct, nerves up the foul to action, and enables it to do and fuffer. When the boatmen knew who it was that faid unto them, "Fear not," knowing, too, that the fate of nations depended upon their conduct, they were infpired with energy and courage, and determined to fink or fwim with Cæfar. But behold a greater than Cæfar is here.

Jefus, the Almighty Conqueror, fays to his people,"Fear not, for I am with you.' In the furious tempeft that sometimes meets them in the path of duty, when their hearts quail and all appears to be loft, His glorious prefence shines amid the darkness. "Fear not," he exclaims, "you carry Jefus." The church, emboldened at the fight, difmifs their fears, receive a new infpiration, and in the ftrength of a living faith refpond, "Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed out of its place, and the mountains be caft into the depths of the fea, for the Lord

of Hofts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.'

"Fear not, you carry Jefus." Thou defponding one, fear not. Does not Chrift dwell in thy heart by faith? Is not "Chrift in you," the life of faith-the life of love-" the hope of glory?" Is he not working in you both to will and to do? Then be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Fear not, He is thy fhield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Of Cyrus it is faid, that he knew his foldiers every one by name. But by the Captain of your falvation, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Unbelief dims the eye fo that it cannot fee Jesus. Faith opens it, and the glorious prefence of the Saviour is revealed. Where the king is, there also is the court; and where the Saviour is, there also is his court. His attendants are all there. Power-majefty-riches and glory, encircle his throne. Stormy winds, lightning and thunder, are ministers of his that do his pleasure.

God is with his people. He is their covenant God. Hence all his attributes are employed for their good. He cares for them. "As a father pitieth his children, so he pities them that fear him. He has purchased them by his own blood." They are his " peculiar treafure ;" "the lot of his inheritance." Therefore no weapon that is formed against them can profper. To banifh diftruft for ever from their hearts, he pledges himself never to leave them, never to forfake them.

When thou paffeft through the waters I will be with thee, And through the rivers they shall not overflow thee;

When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned,

Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee,

For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Ifrael,
THY SAVIOUR.

"I will truft in thee."-Ps. lvi. 3. "According to your Faith be it unto you."-MATT. ix. 29.

VENTURING BY FAITH.

Behold the flames in all their fury roll,
Raging and fpreading, fpurning all control;
Upward they shoot in many a gleaming fpire,
And then rush downward in a flood of fire.

!

With fiercer heat the burning columns glow,
And foon the building totters to and fro.
But whence that scream that rings upon our ears?
In the high cafement, see, a child appears
With outstretched arms imploring for relief-
The crackling timbers only mock his grief.
"O Father, fave!" in piteous tones he cries,
At length his father hears him and replies,
"Fly to my arms, my fon, without delay-
Fly ere the flames devour their helpless prey."
Death haftes behind, Hope beckons from before;
He ventures freely and his danger's o'er.

"THE foul of an awakened finner," fays Dr. Coke, "before he ventures on Christ for salvation, may be compared to a person who is in some of the upper ftories of his house when he learns that it has taken fire, and that all its nether parts are fo far involved in flame as to cut off his retreat." The engraving fhows a young perfon who has been roused from his midnight flumbers by the raging flames which burst into the place where he was repofing, or perhaps he was awakened by the voice of fome friend, who raised a warning cry from without. The child, thoroughly awakened, fees that if he stays where he is, he will perish in the flames; he hears the voice of his fatherhe flies to the window-he fees the outstretched arms-he is invited to leap or caft himself from the burning house; the attempt seems perilous indeed, but having faith in the word of his father, he takes the perilous leap-he ventures all-he falls into the hands of his father unharmed; he is faved from death.