those who look unto God shall treme distress. But we are greatly ignorant of the human heart, if we have not learnt that under all these compliances, men may be wholly self-sufficient and at enmity against God. Wenaturally feel as if we were inde 1. A despair of obtaining re-pendent of God, and we are unlief in any other way. We are willing to acknowledge him to naturally more opposed to God be Lord over us. Hence men never look unto God in their distresses until they despair of obtaining relief in any other way. 2. Looking unto God in distress implies a simple dependence upon him for relief. It is easy for us to imagine we have a spirit of dependence upon God, when we are at ease and feel no need of his favor. But when we are severely distressed; when we are overwhelmed in sorrow and are unable to help ourselves; when we look to our fellow creatures and find that they are miserable comforters; when we are involv ed in such darkness, that we cannot see the least ray of light; then we commonly sink into dis couragement and despair. But if we truly depended upon God we should ever be equally supported and equally joyful. If we be distressed, when appearances are unfavorable, we do not truly than we ever can be to any other being. For "the carnal mind is enmity against God. It is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be." Hence we choose to depend on the meanest creature for what we need, rather than on the Supreme Creator. Persons, who are crossed and disappointed in their worldJy schemes, often seek relief from their troubles by intoxication, or by associating with sinful companions, or by other vicious means of forgating sorrow.When sinners are convicted of their guilt and danger, when they see hell naked before them, and destruction without a covering, they often declare that they are willing to perform the most laborious services, and to make the greatest sacrifices that they may escape the wrath to come. But yet they are unwilling to submit to the easy conditions of rely upon God. So long as we the gospel, and take the water of see favorable appearances on life freely. The same disposi- which we depend; so long as we tion is manifested by mankind see some way of obtaining the in all their conduct. They will good that is desired, God is not contrive every means and make the foundation of our dependevery exertion to help them-ence. When we truly look un selves iudependently of God. to God we withdraw our eyes It is easy indeed to comply with the customary forms of looking to God in our troubles. We can ask the prayers of others. We can call the ministers of Christ to pray with us; and we can call upon God ourselves in ex from every other object. Our affections are then wholly withdrawn from ourselves, and from all creatures and appearances, and looking unto God with a single eye, we rely wholly upon his perfections for what we desire. Without such an entire depend- | lief in their distresses. "I will ence upon God, whatever we bear the indignation of the Lord, may profess or imagine, our eyes because I have sinned; until he are fixed on some other object. They are not raised to God. Looking unto God in our distresses implies a simple and firm dependence upon him for relief. 3. It implies a submission of our distresses into his hands. They, who look to God in distress, will fully declare their circumstances and plead for relief by all the arguments they can use. When this is done, they have nothing more to say.Without such a submission of our distresses into the hands of God, we do not look to him for relief. We keep our troubles in our own hands. We choose to carry our own burdens, and refuse to cast them upon the Lord. When a patient looks to a physician for a cure, he does not presume to gve the physician directions; but to submit without reserve to the regimen and medicine which the physician prescribes. When a citizen looks to a court of justice for a redress of his grievances, he states and pleads his cause, and submits it without any condition to the decision of the judges. When any one in distress looks to God for relief, he submits his troubles, without any reserve, into the hands of God and patiently and cheerfully waits the issue. The aged Eli, in view of the awful judgments, which were threatened his family, immediately looked unto God; but he loooked unto Him, with perfect submission, saying " It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." The prophet Micah expresses the feelings of such persons as depend upon God for re plead my cause and execute judgment for me". The Saviour in view of his approaching sufferings, prayed, saying, "Father if thou be willing, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but thine be done." With the same spirit do all. who look unto God for relief, submit all their distresses into his hands. Hence, 4. This implies an unconditional submission of themselves into the hands of God. While creatures are unwilling that God should dispose of themselves forever as he pleases, they always refuse to look to him. They are afraid of his determinations. They make conditions and reservations. While this is done, instead of looking to God for relief, they are opposing him in their hearts and increasing their distresses. While they oppose God he will afford them no re lief. Relief under the Divine government is impossible without a spirit of resignation to his holy will. None can look to God for reliefuntil they resign themselves without any condition to his holy and sovereign disposal. In David's troubles during the re bellion of Absalom, he relied upon God for relief. His reliance was attended with perfect submission. For David said " If God thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do to me, as seemeth good to him." An unconditional submission of themselves into the hands of God is always experienced by such persons as look unto him for relief in their distresses. It is now, To be proved that they who are distressed, will obtain relief by looking unto God. 1. They who look unto God are prepared to receive relief. Many in their distresses flee from God. They murmur under their sufferings, or fall into sullen despondency. They harden themselves in sorrow and refuse to be comforted. While they refuse to look unto God they increase their distresses, and fit themselves for destruction.-They provoke God to anger, and must remain as "the troubled sea, which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." When Pharaoh was visited with judgments, he hardened his heart and refused to look unto God. As he continued to strive with his Maker, his distresses increased until he was destroyed. The Israelites in the wilderness murmured against God in their distresses and perished under his mighty hand. So long as persons are of a stubborn spirit, they must bear their own sorrows. But when they humble themselves and go unto God, they are prepared to enjoy his supporting and comforting presence. When they pour out their hearts before him, they are relieved. Light rises in darkness, and joy springs from sorrow. God dwells "with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." God delights to relieve the distressed as soon as they are prepared to receive relief. 2. God promises to relieve all, who look unto him in their distresses. The psalmist says " Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." "The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him.He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord Jesus Christ says" Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." James says-" Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you." And by Peter it is said, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you." Many such declarations and promises are made in the holy scriptures. When any persons comply with the conditions, on which these promises are made, they will be fulfilled. For it is impossible for God to lie. All, therefore, will obtain relief, if they will look unto God in their distresses. 3. All who ever looked unto God in their distresses, have obtained relief. - When Jacob was distressed, through fear of his malicious and enraged brother, he looked unto God. He spent the whole night in prayer. And God blessed him and prevented the evils he feared by softening Esau's heart. When the children of Israel, under their severe sufferings in Egypt, looked unto God, he sent deliverance by Moses. During their tedious journeys through the wilderness, whenever they looked unto God he relieved their distresses. After they were settled in their promised land, though they provoked God with their counsel, *and were brought low for their iniquity, yet he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry. He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. The psalmist has recorded many instances, in which God afforded him relief under his troubles. He says" I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles." Again he says-" The sorrows of death compassed me, and the - pains of hell gat hold upon me : I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. I was brought low and he helped me. Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling." When Christ was on earth many looked unto him when distressed with the heaviest burdens, and were relieved. When three thousand in the day of Pentecost were distressed in view of their guilt and danger, they obtained relief by looking unto God.The power, and truth, and grace of God are unchangeable. "He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." They who trust in his name, will soon find his grace sufficient for them, and his strength made perfect in their *weakness. None can be more distressed than such persons as have obtained relief by looking unto God. And however any may now be distressed, by looking unto Him, they will obtain relief. DIDYMUS. T On preaching the Gospel. HE Gospel is stated by St. Paul, to be " the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." In other words, it is a dispensation in which the power of God is strikingly manifested by the manner in which the salvation of man is effected. The object of the Gospel is the recovery of man from the state of guilt and misery into which he had sunk by the fall, and his restoration to the Divine favor and to eternal happiness. The means by which this great change is effected are made known by the Gospel. Properly speaking, Christ, who, by his death, takes away the guilt of man, and the Holy Spirit, who, by his operation, sanctifies the heart, are the grand agents in accomplishing this work. The Gospel only makes known their agency, and is used by them as an instrument of effecting their great design.They require, therefore, faith in the Gospel, and they employ that faith as the medium by which they operate in changing the condition of man. And hence the Gospel is said to be the means of salvation. The Gospel evidently supposes man to be in a state of sin and guilt, under the just displeasure of God, and liable to eternal condemnation. It supposes him further to be incapable of extricating himself from this state, by the exertion of any powers which he possesses in himself; and it implies that there is no other law or dispensation given by God by which man could be saved; every law of God being too pure and holy to be sufficiently kept by the weakness of man. In this state of the uller ruin of man, we are informed by a revelation from God, that he has been pleased, in compassion to his creatures, to appoint a Savfour for them. He has sent his own Son to take upon him our nature, and to make atonement for our sins. He has likewise sent his Holy Spirit from above to testify this Saviour, and to communicate the benefits of his salvation to the souls of men. Through this Saviour men are to be restored to the Divine favor, and to be made partakers hereafter of the blessed kingdom | of heaven. In the mean time, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, they are to be fitted and prepared for that holy state, by the renewal of their nature, by the sanctification of their souls, by the mortifying of the body of sin, by their growth in grace and in a conformity to the Divine image. pel who represent man in a different state from that which the Scripture supposes. If ministers do not speak of him as fallen and corrupt, as naturally under the power of sin, and therefore subject to the just displeasure of a holy God; this is to give such a view of man as would render the Gospel unnecessary. If allowing the corrupt state of the human race, they assert that there is power in man to restore himself by his own exertions, without referring him to the Divine power and grace, they do not preach the Gospel, because thus the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit are rendered useless. If exalting the merit of any righteous acts which man can perform, they suppose them capable of counterbalancing his transgressions, and rendering him acceptable in the sight of God, they do not preach the Gospel; for thus they make the cross of Christ of none effect. If they represent Christ only as a pattern and example to mankind, and not as making atonement for sin by his blood; or as being only a man, instead of the Son of God come down from heaven to redeem us, they do not preach the Gospel: for great is the mystery of godliness; that is, of the Gospel; "God was manifest in the flesh." If they fail in pointing out, that the great end of Christ's coming in the flesh was to purchase to himself a holy people, who, being made partakers of a divinė nature, and delivered from the corruptions of the world, should Such is the brief outline of the Gospel. To preach the Gospel is to make it known to men in a full and perfect manner, and also to enforce and apply the several branches of it to the conscience. From this outline, then, we may form some judgment of the true method of preaching the Gospel. A more distinct view of the subject, however, may be obtained by considering be zealous of good works, they what it is not to preach the Gos- do not preach the Gospel; their pel. preaching is at variance with the Those do not preach the Gos-main design for which that Gos |