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but of grace. Again, our answer is, to say with the word of God, that we are all deserving of condemna, tion and wrath. Ephes. ii. 3. And that if, on the one hand, God “sheweth mercy to whom he will,” on the other," he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that he should return from his ways and live.” Ezek. xxviii. 23. It is, perhaps, difficult, and even impossible, for man to reconcile these apparently conflicting statements : on the one hand, that there is an election, a choosing on the part of God; and on the other, that "he willeth not the death of a sinner.” It is

a for God to reconcile them, and for us to receive them, without disputing; “O man, who art thou that repliest against God ?"

The pious Hezekiah succeeding, as he did, such an impious father, teaches us a second lesson. We learn from it that there is no situation, however unfavorable, in which the grace of God cannot reach a sinner: therefore we should never despair of the conversion of any indivia dual. Doubtless, circumstances favorable to piety, are a blessing ; but it is not these circumstances which effect conversion; on the other hand, unfavorable circumstances are a misfortune ; yet they do not prevent the grace of God from acting. Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was brought up in the midst of a complete system of idolatry ; from whence, then, did he receive his piety ? From that God who gives it to whom he sees fit to give it. Let us then supplicate that good and powerful God to bestow the same grace on those multitudes who are so circumstanced, that we know not how they could attain to faith, unless it were the gift of Him who is able to bless his own word, even where there is every thing that seems calculated to render it ineffectual.

The Scripture delineates the character of Hezekiah in a few words, when it tells us, that “he trusted in

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the Lord God of Israel.” This prevailing feature in Hezekiah's character is that which has particularly struck us in reading the history of his reign, and has in a great measure engaged us to make that portion of Scripture the subject of our meditations. It is a feature which ought to predominate in the character of every Christian, and to which it is necessary frequently to direct the attention of those who desire really to be found in Christ, at that great day when they only that “have the Son shall have life.” Observe, in support of what we advance, that this is a feature by which the people of God are frequently characterized in Scripture. One of the prophets, in speaking of that spiritual people who were to succeed Israel after the flesh, thus describes them : " I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.” Zep. iii. 12. When the apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, describes the elect, he represents them as those who “ have trusted in Christ." Eph. i. 12. In like manner, in the epistle to the Hebrews, speaking of Christ, he says: “Whose house are ye, if ye hold fast your confidence and rejoicing in hope

, firm unto the end." iii. 6. Such, then, is the general feature which distinguishes the children of God: “they trust in the Lord,” and put no confidence in themselves. “ We are the true circumcision,” says St. Paul, writing to the Philippians, “who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.” iii. 3.

In examining, with reference to his trust in God, that part of Hezekiah’s life which is related in the present and following chapters, we shall consider-First, the nature of his trust, and, in general, of a Scriptural trust ; Secondly, the effects of that trust; Thirdly, the success of it ; and, lastly, the trials to which it was exposed.

THE NATURE OF HEZEKIAH'S TRUST.

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First, we say the nature of Hezekiah's trust: He trusted in the Lord God of Israel." Remark the expression: "the Lord God of Israel." Why did he trust in the Lord? Because he was the God of his fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and of Jacob. He trusted in the Lord on account of the promises which he had made to them and to their posterity. In like manner, that which distinguishes a Christian's trust from every other, is, that it is founded on the promises of God in Christ Jesus. We are told that the "Lord Jesus Christ is our hope," 1Tim. i. 1; that "Christ in us is the hope of glory," Col. i. 27; that "the promise of eternal life is in Christ Jesus," 2 Tim. i. 1; and St. Paul declares, that out of Christ there is no hope that deserves the name; he says of those that are without Christ, that they are "without God and without hope in the world." Eph. ii. 12.

"As, however, man would be miserable unless he had some dawn of hope, the unregenerate who believe not in the promises of God's word, create a kind of hope for themselves and say, "surely we must trust in God; what would become of us if we did not put our confidence in him?".

But the unregenerate, whose hope is not based upon the promises, have but a vague and uncertain hope: a hope that may lull them into a carnal security, but cannot give them true peace. Therefore our Lord, after saying to his disciples:-"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you,” adds, "not as the world giveth give I unto you; let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid," which teaches us that the peace of the world leaves the heart troubled and full of fear.

And what peace can there be when the judge

has not said peace, nor pronounced the criminal acquitted. Let the world shew us its votaries who can die in peace, and say, that death has lost its sting. But we can 'confidently invite them to come and behold the dying believer, who, resting on the promises of mercy in Christ, departs with the languge of Simeon, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Luke iii. 23.

Compare but the countenances of two individuals, one of whom płaces his trust in Christ, while the other rests in his own works, or in an undefined hope of mercy, and judge of the difference. In the humble but peaceful countenance of the former you shall read the fulfilment of that promise, “ Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” Jer. xvii. 7. While through the false security of the other, you shall read in his anxious look the execution of that sentence : “ Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm. Jer.xvii. 5.

But Hezekiah put not merely a part of his trust, but his whole trusts in the Lord. - " He clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him." We have here another characteristic of genuine trust; it should rest entirely upon the Lord, and neither depart from him, nor depend on any other object. The Christian should fix his eyes continually on Jesus, without ever turning them away, to look for consolation. In this respect, my brethren, our trust is too often defective. We trust in the Lord indeed, but we do not count purely and simply upon his promises; we would also trust in ourselves, resting on our feelings, the degree of joy we experience, our strength, or our good resolutions. Hence it is that our trust being mixed, no longer affords us a solid support. As it resembles the image of Nebuchadnezzar, the feet of which were

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"part of iron and part of clay," it is never firm, or at least it is often shaken. Never shall we know what a full confidence is, until we have altogether ceased to trust in ourselves, and learned to rest with our whole heart upon the Lord.

But perhaps you will say, I have neither joy, nor love, nor zeal for the glory of God; I feel my heart as hard as a stone; how then will you have me trust? Such a case is grievous, indeed: but, notwithstanding, there is a remedy, if you really mourn over it. "Hope against hope," as Abraham did, and give glory to God, by believing that he who made the promises is faithful, and is able to accomplish them. There are in Christ Jesus exceeding great and precious promises, whereby we have "all things that pertain to life and godliness." 2 Pet. i. 3, 4. If the Lord tarry, learn to wait for him; and soon shall you be able to say with David, "I waited patiently for the Lord; he brought me up also out of án horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." Psalm xl. 2. Know that your joy, your zeal, your love, must be the fruits of a believing dependance upon God, but are not the cause and foundation of it. If, hitherto, you have been deprived of these fruits of faith, does it not arise from your faith having never been strong, and from your having sought the fruits before you had the faith from which they grow? Besides, what will become of you, if you trust not as you are ? You have not joy, you say; will you obtain it by giving up hope? You have not love; will you secure it by ceasing to regard God as a father, and to believe that he loves you? "We love him, because he first loved us." Your heart is hard; will it be softened if you shut it up against hope, and keep at a distance from Christ in fear and sadness? When you find in yourself neither joy, nor

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