say, "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he has smitten, and he will bind us up." God will set a mark upon him, as he did upon Caleb: "But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it." Num. xiv. 24. Man is the helper of man; and God has often blessed the solitary faith of one man, far beyond expectation, in his endeavor to maintain his honor and service.

Let us, then, in every trouble,-whether temporal or spiritual, remember where our true help lies. Let us turn to Him who has revealed himself to us as "the God of all comfort." Let us put our whole trust in Him who has said, "I am the Lord that healeth thee." Exod. xv. 26.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO SEEK AFTER GOD.

And I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engageth his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.-JER. XXX. 21.

[1796.]

THESE words are understood, by some, to apply to Christ as Governor and Mediator: but they will also hold good with respect to the Church. A thousand texts might be brought forward to show that this is the mind of God with respect to every man whom he inclines to do this; i. e. to engage his heart to approach unto God.

From these words, I shall call your attention to the following propositions :

I. THAT IT IS MAN'S GRAND privilege that he can APPROACH UNTO GOD.

II. THAT HE HAS FROM SCRIPTURE A SPECIAL WARRANT TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD.

III. THAT GOD ENGAGES FOR THE SUCCESS OF THAT

MAN WHO THUS SEEKS TO APPROACH UNTO HIM.

I. IT IS MAN'S GRAND PRIVILEGE THAT HE CAN APPROACH UNTO GOD. We often hear it made a subject of conversation, afterwards, when persons have been admitted to intercourse with the great and noble. But how few speak of the great privilege of drawing nigh to God! for the carnality of man's nature disposes him, like Adam, to fly from God. He is afraid to approach God; he feels his unsuitableness: he can better understand what, was said to Moses, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground," than this. The idea of drawing near to God, of having a new and consecrated way of approach to God, seems something strange. There is no need to try and convince a man of the great privilege of being introduced to some great personage. Only give him an opportunity of this kind, and he will tell every-body of the honor conferred upon him. But when we tell men that God offers them his favor, and the light of his countenance, they only turn a deaf ear to it. The truth is, we all labor in the fire till the Son of God opens the deaf ears, and gives sight to the blind eyes. This is conversion; this is regeneration. The coming to God by faith, is a sinner's taking hold of his word; which is the immediate operation of his Holy Spirit.

II. MAN HAS FROM SCRIPTURE A SPECIAL WARRANT TO DO THIS.

"I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach

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unto me." This generally takes place after a long course of affliction and humiliation. "Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased I have done these things unto thee." Verse 15. It is a blessed effect of chastisement when it leads a man to say, I will engage my heart to seek unto God: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." It is the heart the Lord inquires after. The man was before "like a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke:" but God now sees a disposition to return. There is a refining process going on. The promises which sick men make in their own strength, are all forgotten in returning health. Let the rebel be turned off from the stocks, and he will show himself worse than before. But when God puts a man under a process of recovery, it shall prove effectual. "For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord." Verse 17. Thus it was with David; he was taught to say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted!" So Hezekiah: "By these things men live." There is a refining process. The medicine may put to pain, but if it effects a cure, if it teaches us what sin is, if it leads to dependence on God--then it is God saying, "I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me." I will send affliction, and conviction; and I will pour out my Spirit: there shall be “a spirit of grace and supplication."

Ask yourself, What has affliction done for me? Did I engage my heart to seek God in it? Where are the effects? What has become of my impressions under trouble? God has sent his word first, and then he has sent his providence to seal and stamp it. This is not to lead man to sink into sullen despair, or plunge into dissipation to make him forget affliction; but that he

should be taught, effectually, that his whole help and deliverance is to be found in God; that he should be brought nigh to God: which leads me to consider the encouragement afforded, namely,

III. THAT GOD ENGAGES FOR THE SUCCESS OF THAT

MAN WHO HEARTILY SEEKS TO APPROACH UNTO HIM.

"For who is this that engageth his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord." Who is this?

This is a

new and a strange character in the world! Who is this? Is there such a man, who seriously engages his heart-who prays earnestly-who proposes determinately that the Lord shall be his portion? God says, I will undertake for his success! So when king Josiah, having found the book of the law, rent his clothes from a fear of the Divine wrath, and sent to inquire of Huldah the prophetess, she returned answer to the messengers, "As for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard: Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord." 2 Chron. xxxiv. 26, 27. You see, therefore, brethren, that if a man in that day, or in any other day, be disposed to return to God in true humiliation of heart, God engages for his success: "He shall approach unto me, saith the Lord."

There is a most unaccountable disposition in fallen man to hide himself from himself; but he cannot hide himself from God. If he will not prepare his heart to seek God, he shall be given up to strong delusions. If

But, on the

he will be deceived, he shall be deceived. other hand, if a man has faith, only as a grain of mustard seed, let him be encouraged. God has promised, "I will cause him to draw near:" I will cause the dew to descend upon this single grain: I will nourish and cherish it I will cause the sun to shine upon it: I will water it with the rain of heaven.

By way of improving this subject, I would address myself,

1st. To young people. I know, from the word of God, what is the first object of man. It is not that to which your heart and mine attaches itself by nature. It is no perishing thing; it is not a thing of a moment --something that will bring repentance on a death-bed; but here it is in the text,-"I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me:" I will put into his heart a taste for divine things; a disposition to seek after them; I will teach him. That is good for a man which is good for his soul; and that which is not good for his soul shall be torn from him, with bitterness. When did the prodigal begin to prosper? when he said, "Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me?" when he took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living? No! "When he came to himself." When he said, "I will arise and go unto my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son!" Prosperity will begin with you from that moment in which you begin to engage your heart to approach unto God.

2ndly. Let me say to those in affliction,--One cannot but pity and sympathize with such. But if, by af fliction, they are taught the true nature of their privileges, they will be ready to say with Luther, "Lord, cut, strike, burn; if I may but live!" or, with St. Paul, "If