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Copy Daniel, whom the den of lions could not affright-who would not so much as cloak his fidelity to the Lord. Be followers of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who smiled at the burning fiery furnace-enduring, "as seeing Him who is invisible." Imitate St. Paul, who "conferred not with flesh and blood, and counted all things but dung, so that he might win Christ, and be found in Him." Above all, strive to remember Him who "endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God ;" and who has said, "To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with Me on My throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

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LECTURE IX.

NEHEMIAH'S JOY IN SERVING GOD.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."-NEH. viii. 10.

"THIS is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." So sang the sweet singer of Israel when he beheld the Christian Sabbath-the Lord's day, yet a great way off. He that does not this day rejoice, knows nothing of true joy. If the ordinary day of rest be radiant with gladness, how much more the day when Jesus rose-the mother of Christian Sabbaths!* He knows nothing of genuine Christianity who does not know it as the well-spring of happiness. For what is the gospel? It is the revelation of God's plan for making man happy again. This accomplished in us, it has accomplished its design-this * Preached on Easter Sunday.

frustrated in us, its purpose has been defeated. Away, then, with the lie and the libel which Satan has forged and the world has fostered that the service of Christ is a service of gloom and sadness. It has its own sorrows, but it has its own joys; it has disquietudes peculiar to itself, but it has a peace all its own; and its peace passeth all understanding, and its joy is "unspeakable, and full of glory." It is of this joy Nehemiah spake in the words to which you have hearkened; and so appropriate are they to the high festival which we are keeping, that I have seen no reason to deviate from this stated course of instruction on account of the day. The spirit of the subject on which we are to enlarge, is in beautiful harmony with the spirit of the season. May the "oil of joy" be shed abundantly on such as are true of heart whilst we dwell on our blessed theme!

The following are the circumstances which gave rise to the sentiment. The wall of Jerusalem was speedily finished, for the people had a mind to work. Upon its completion, Israel were gathered together out of all their cities, and a joyful assembly was held. As a part of the solemnities of the occasion, the disused and almost forgotten law of God was brought forth; and Ezra, the scribe, was commissioned, in company with sundry of the priests and Levites, to read and expound it in

the hearing of the congregated multitude, who all stood up when he opened the book. In order that he might be seen and heard of the people, he was set aloft on a platform, or pulpit of wood—as our translators render the original word. (An interesting circumstance, because presenting the first instance recorded in Scripture of the use of what resembled our modern pulpit, or place for expounding the word of God.) The effect of the solemn rehearsal and exposition of the Divine law—accompanied as it was by the power of the Holy Ghostupon the vast assemblage, was overwhelming. Like those of whom you have been hearing this evening, when Peter preached, "they were pricked in their heart." So overpowered were they by a sense of the holiness and spirituality of the law on the one hand, and consequently, of the depth of their depravity and guilt on the other hand, that numbers of the people wept bitterly. Then it was that Nehemiah interposed; for he saw that this spirit of sadness was not only out of harmony with the occasion, but was fitted to weaken their hands and make their knees wax feeble. He therefore reminded them, that mourning was not in keeping with the solemnity; for they were gathered together, not to keep a fast, but a feast unto the Lord; not to recall past miseries, but to exult in present mercies; not to brood over their own iniquities,

but to magnify the abounding grace of God towards them, and the good hand of God upon them. He addressed them, therefore, in these animating words, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep." Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto the Lord: neither be ye sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." His own history supplies a living commentary upon the sentiment. In his cheerfulness under all his trials; in the serenity with which he confronted the adversaries of God and his people; in the elastic energy with which he grappled with and surmounted all his difficulties; and in the spirit of praise which he so continually breathed-in all these things we may trace the secret power of his joy in God. This lightened his burdens-beguiled his toils-soothed his woes. It was a hidden fountain-" a well of water springing up into everlasting life." It was the joy of which Christ spake, when he said, "your joy no man taketh from you."

There is joy-even the joy of the Lord-in the service of God. That joy is the strength of His servants in doing His will. These are the topics which the words of Nehemiah present; and on these I purpose to dwell, with especial reference to those

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