Him who is one day to award the crown! That the contest is maintained under the immediate view of the Captain of our salvation, who will hereafter himself bear witness to our fidelity, and proclaim and recompense it before assembled worlds!

Thirdly, a source of great consolation.

The psalmist mentions it as a circumstance peculiarly delightful, that God was with him; and he frequently speaks of the comfort and support which he derived from this consideration. The apostle would doubtless, in the same way, dwell with holy delight upon the assurance of their Master, that he would be with them, even unto the end of the world.+ What thought could be more cheering, even under the severest storms of persecution, and the darkest night of earthly sorrows, than that, in the midst of all, the Saviour, in whose name they taught, and for whose cause they suffered, was ever present, and that to bless them! And have not we the same promise, even unto the end of the world! Cannot the faithful man, even now, repose upon the assurance, that with him also is the presence of that gracious Redeemer?

* Ps. xxiii. 4.

+ Matt. xxviii. 20.

And is not this the pledge of every blessing which can contribute either to his present or his eternal good? Let him, by the eye of faith, contemplate, as Stephen was permitted to do with his bodily eyes, the reality of that divine favour and protection; let him look upon his Saviour as watching over his troubles, and standing in the attitude of preparation, to afford him his invincible aid; and what a solace does he possess, amidst all the changes and chances of this mortal life! Is he under temptation? Behold One who can succour the tempted!* Is he under the influence of mental depression? Here is the Physician of the soul! † Is he terrified at earthly reproach? He can turn to Him who has endured the cross, despising the shame. Does he find that, after all his progress, he is still harassed by an evil nature, and that his hopes are often clouded by painful apprehensions? Let him look to Jesus, and he will find One who is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. He has no need to go up to heaven to bring down the Redeemer; no need to seek Him in the tomb;

*Heb. ii. 18.
↑ Heb. xii. 2.

+ Matt. ix. 12.

§ Heb. vii. 25.

He is ever present with them that fear Him ; and there is no trial to which the Christian can be exposed, which may not be surmounted by the consoling recollection, Thou art with me.

Neither should we omit the satisfaction derived by the true Christian, from the consciousness that, however many his failings, God knows his integrity. The world may condemn him, and not without reason; he may bitterly condemn himself: but if, like Peter, he can say, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee !* If he can, in attestation of his sincerity, appeal to Him who searcheth the heart, with what comfort can he rely upon the persuasion, that he shall not be judged according to the appearance, but according to the real quality and character of his mind. It would have been natural for a spectator to doubt the sincerity of one, who had recently, and even with oaths and curses, denied his Master: but Christ doubted it not: it was expressly because he knew all things, that the warm-hearted, but erring disciple, when addressed by the reiterated question, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" could answer again and again, Lord, *John xxi. 17.

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thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee!

(2.) We stated that a deep sense of this scriptural truth of the universal presence of God, is important also to the opposite class: to those who are unacquainted with Christ as their Saviour; to the wicked and the impenitent.

A vague and general admission of the doctrine is of little moment. We speak here of a serious and realizing sense of it. For want of this just impression, the hypocrite deceives himself with the delusive hope, that the specious appearance by which he imposes upon others, and perhaps also upon himself, will answer a like purpose with his Maker. It is for want of this just impression, that wickedness abounds. Where is the profligate who, when acting in direct violation of the law of God, would not be terrified at the discovery how perfectly he is under the inspection of

And how sa

that great and terrible Being? lutary would be the apprehension thus excited! How would he tremble at the consequences of appearing in judgment before Him to whom every thought is exposed, and who is marking every deed, for the express purpose of righteous

retribution! True there are many hardened in their vices, many beyond the reach of argument and capable, as it should seem, of bidding defiance to the God who made them! But is there one who could survey what is at this moment immediately, although invisibly, around him,* and not recoil at the sight? Is there one who could behold the countenance of the Almighty flashing indignation upon the daring offender, and not shrink as into the very dust before Him? Take the boldest transgressor who ever blasphemed the name of his Creator, and spurned at the offers of his grace; take him in the full course of his abandoned career, while good men stand appalled and even bad men are amazed at his wickedness; let him be rioting in all the malignant passions of that spirit of evil, who worketh in the children of disobedience; † yet if you could give him to see for one moment in what a condition he is, with an avenging God by his side, and the vials of His wrath ready to be poured upon his devoted head; yes, even this shameless transgressor would here, in the land of the living, call upon the rocks and mountains, to bury him for ever from the sight of that tre+ Eph. ii. 2.

* Ps. cxxxix. 3.

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