to provide it, but also to do for you greater things

than this.

Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Is it not much better to hunger and fast in the name of God, than to possess abundance in the name of the devil?

Your fast-days will cease when they shall have worked out that for which, in the purpose of God, they were designed.

Be not dismayed, you are walking in the wilderness, in order that you may see the truth and glory of the Lord, which are beheld better in the dry and thirsty land than in the rich and fertile fields.

There are some among us who derive from their profession of religion ignominy and shame, and know but little joy and comfort. It would be strange if Satan did not present himself, and endeavour to persuade you to suspect the whole of your religion, or to seek that joy which you cannot find in God, in the world, and the things thereof.

My brethren, it is the devil who gives you such counsel, and who would move you in a manner inconsistent with the religion of Jesus, to change into bread the stones of your suffering and sorrow.

We should, I think, prefer, if needs be, to pass the time of our sojourning here in the wilderness with Jesus, to suffer with him, and then participate in his glory; and should cheerfully leave those poisoned viands which the devil delights to prepare for us, to those who shall burn and howl for ever with the prince of darkness in the lake of fire.

"The Lord rebuke thee," be our cry, whenever we perceive this serpent crawling near our feet.

Thanks be to God, ever since the true Michael contended with Satan, and cast him to the ground, his power over us has been destroyed. (Jude 9; Col. ii. 15.)

In his buffeting he may attack us with hand and foot, so that we may totter and fall, but we shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth us with his hand. (Psalm xxxvii. 24.)

Should the roaring lion prowl around our tents, seeking whom he may devour; (1 Pet. v. 8.) the Prince of Peace, the Captain of our Salvation, holds him by the power of his might, and assigns him the limits beyond which he cannot pass.

Let us hide ourselves only in the wounds of Christ. (Exod. xxxiii. 22.) In this strong tower we are safe, and may well rejoice. (Prov. xviii. 10.)

VIII.

THE WEAPONS AND THE VICTORY OF CHRIST.

THE weapons with which our Lord achieved the victory, were the Word of God" It is written”—and Satan was overcome, his purpose was frustrated.

The Bible is the arsenal of the heroes of God, the spiritual armoury, whose walls are thickly studded with shields and coats of mail, and rich with swords and glittering spears. Whoever has triumphed in the spiritual conflict, equipped himself here. Hence were taken the sling-stones, which felled the Goliaths to the ground.

He that has access to this spiritual armoury is powerful in the camp.

Of these weapons Satan is afraid, and it has been his unremitting endeavour, either to despoil or conceal the word of God, or to destroy its effects.

To what expedients has not this cunning sophist resorted; what has he not brought forward and industriously circulated, to throw suspicion on the word or render it ambiguous, and thus to rob men of the pure unadulterated Scriptures of truth!

What false assertions has he not made under the high-sounding title of exposition, to impugn the

authenticity and genuineness of the Bible! There is not a single book in the Scriptures, the authority of which this malicious fiend has not attempted to shake, not a miracle which he has not stamped as a fable, not a promise which he has not endeavoured to weaken and nullify.

And he is still always employed, either through his instruments and servants, false prophets, professors, and others; or in his own person, by his immediate influence-ever is he doing his utmost to bring into question the purity of the word of God; for this word is his stumbling-block. But spurn him with abhorrence, turn your back upon him whenever he opens his accursed mouth, for he is a murderer of souls, and has been so from the beginning, a liar, and the father of lies. (John viii. 44.)

But in what way, you ask, can the word of God afford such important service in the hour of temptation? I will inform you.

Whenever the devil would lead us astray, his first and chief concern is to confuse our ideas. That which is perverted he sets before us as right, that which is human as divine, and evil he calls good, and good evil. Truth he represents as falsehood, and falsehood as truth. And when he has so deceived and dazzled us, we become subservient to his will, perhaps, when we think that we are doing what is right.

But these villanous spells and deceptions can profit him little, when we rest in faith on the word of God, which then secures us from deception and misapprehension. For it declares to us most distinctly what is right and wrong, true and false; what, under

all circumstances we should do, or think, or say, in accordance with the will of God. Examples will illustrate my meaning.

Satan would mar the labour of a preacher of the Gospel, and weaken its effect. He sets about his design with subtlety. He suggests to him that he should preach a little more smoothly, that he should not make the way so narrow, nor the gate so strait-and thus he may gain the friendship of the whole congregation. Yes, and many whom he has now only made refractory, he may then easily win to the truth.

When once this pleasing commencement has been made, the wicked one knows well how to back his counsels.

Does the preacher now take this matter into consideration, and has he no other shield than his own. good thoughts, then is he soon ensnared. The propositions of the devil appear most reasonable and good, for Satan is wiser than he.

But let him rest by faith on the word of God, and believingly reply," It is written," Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life.' (Matt. vii. 14.)"It is written," Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.' (Gal. i. 8.) What can the devil do now? This confidence in the word of God, this faith, is to him as the fire of artillery, which he cannot sustain-it compels him to retreat.

Take another example. Satan would have you believe, that the religion of Jesus is not the only way of salvation. And how does he go to work? With consummate skill. He carries you in spirit to a high