serpents, and you shall be alone, in solitude, amidst the multitudes of the damned, for in hell there is no endearing intercourse nor friendship; there, hate and selfishness bear sway, and each one is too much engrossed with his own pain and suffering to sympathize with another. And the duration of this misery is called ETERNITY.

With this truth one would suppose we could make rocks leap from their everlasting beds, and hills tremble. But your hearts do not tremble. Alas! they are harder than the stony rock.

Fasts are also observed in the kingdom of God; bodily and spiritual fasts, of various kinds, painful and joyous.

The most joyous are celebrated in the spring-time of the new life, at the beginning of conversion, after the first assurance of divine grace, after the first manifestation of love from the heavenly bridegroom, when God calleth the young child out of Egypt. Then it is not needful to urge us to self-denial. All this is done at once and without solicitation. How does the man fly as with wings from the scenes of pleasure and dissipation of an infatuated world; how can he "fill his belly with the husks that the swine do eat," (Luke xv. 16.) after he has drunk of the wine of the "goodly land," and partaken of the "milk and honey" with which it flows? (Deut. iii. 25. Exod. iii. 8.) How can he take pleasure in the sounds which control the dance, or in the song of the voluptuary, after he has heard the harp of David struck by his kingly hand? How can theatrical representations and the tricks of the juggler afford gratification to any one, after he has seen heaven with all its glory opened

before him? and how can he any longer recline upon the couch of ease and of revelry, when he has beheld Him whom his soul loveth suspended on the accursed tree, bleeding and crowned with thorns? Away, thenaway quickly with the shadow of your pitiful delights, and with the tinsel of your vanities. This is our day of fast.

It is often a subject of debate and inquiry, whether certain pleasures or enjoyments are compatible with Christianity or not. Let us cease to ask such questions, and become Christians, then shall we know what is consistent and what is not, and how far one that is born again, an heir of God and his kingdom, may proceed in such things.

There is yet another fast in a state of grace, and one of a more painful description, when the soul is led, not from the field of the world to the green pastures of the Lamb, but from the latter into the wilderness, and this is a very bitter reverse. We were ah! how unspeakably happy, in the bosom of Jesus. Such sweet sensations and emotions, such tender delights and pleasures, such touching and affecting apprehensions of the grace and nearness of our Saviour, pervaded and filled our souls, that we earnestly desired, from this blessed foretaste of heavenly joys, to pass at once into their full fruition in paradise.

The south wind blew upon our garden, and the spices thereof flowed out; (Cant. iv. 16.) the grapes of Canaan refreshed our lips, and the pleasurable sensations of love distilled like the dew of the early dawn upon our soul. O, how abundantly were we satisfied the sorrows of this world were utterly forgotten. But, before we were aware, a fast was ap

pointed, and the bridegroom was taken from us. (Matt. ix. 15.) The fountains of milk and honey were dried up, and the soul, deprived of her refreshment, sat motionless, with her harp unstrung, upon the glowing sand, thirsting for the dew of heaven. to fall upon the parched ground.

These are the fast-days of the child of God in the wilderness. Happy is he whose comforts are derived from Christ and his word, and not from feelings and emotions. "Bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure," (Isaiah xxxiii. 16.) If he has not sensible perception, he has, at least, faith; and if he is destitute of feeling, yet the ground of his confidence is secure. He shelters himself beneath the rock of the sure promise of his God, and he knows that though the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, yet God's kindness shall not depart from him, neither shall the covenant of his peace be removed. (Isa. liv. 10.)

And this fast in the wilderness, when it is of God's appointment, is good and wholesome. The same love which dispenses our food to-day, leaves us to-morrow to suffer hunger, and keep a day of fasting and abstiWhat more do we need, if only to the hand of grace we look for guidance? Let it lead us as it will.

nence.

III.

THE TEMPTATIONS.

JESUS went into the wilderness to fast, but yet more than this was designed in the purpose of God. What says the evangelist? "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” These are fearful words. The Holy Ghost leads the Son of God into the presence of the devil, and for what purpose? In plain and unequivocal words it is written, that he might be tempted of the devil. How remarkable. But this dark and wondrous event speaks comfort to you, O ye heirs of the kingdom. It would encourage your hearts, ye troubled souls. It is recorded for your instruction.

Let none among you suppose that he who goeth about as a roaring lion is free and unrestrained, and can fall upon you when he will; that he can launch his darts according to his pleasure; and lay his snares unperceived by the captain of the hosts of the Lord, (Jos. v. 14.)

Far otherwise. Our leader has him ever in his sight, and holds him firmly bound by his strong word. Even Satan himself has found what the Preacher

declares, that "the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong." (Eccles. ix. 11.) In vain does he attack any respecting whom Jesus has said to him, "touch not mine anointed." A wall of fire encircles such an one by that word of his Master; a protecting wall over which the fiery darts of the wicked one can find no passage. (Zech. ii. 5.) But every assault of Satan is by the express permission of the Lord Jesus, (Job i. 11, 12,) and consequently for the spiritual good of the believer; and the line is pointed out by the kingly sceptre, with minute exactness, how far he may go, and no farther. What power, then, doth the wicked one possess? He is led forth and made a show of openly, and Immanuel triumphs over him in himself. (Col. ii. 15. marginal reading.) Henceforth he is among those principalities in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, which must bow to the sceptre of Jesus. (Eph. i. 21; Phil. ii. 10.) The Lord employs him as he did a Nebuchadnezzar, a Korah, and other outcasts, as a rod in his hand, for the good of his people; and when he has made a sufficient use of this terrible scourge, he will break it in pieces -he will lay hold of the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and satan, and shut up and seal him in the bottomless pit. (Rev. xx. 2, 3.)

Rejoice then, ye little flock of God, that the devil is under the direction and control of the Good Shepherd, and is made use of only for your benefit.

As often as the fiery darts of the wicked one hiss around you, remember, beloved, that it is the Lord, even the Spirit, who has led you into the wilderness, who has placed you in the conflict, and who is himself your strength and shield.

All the temptations of the children of God are