then, that God's people are not exempt from trouble, the common lot of man, even when they are employed upon their Master's business. Their privilege is, that in their trouble, they have "a very present help" which does not belong to others. On this occasion even the elements change their nature, rather than the disciples should be left comfortless. They see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship; and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship; and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

The

Now this may be taken in a further sense. disciples willingly received their Lord; and immediately their object was attained. Many things which are difficult, nay, impossible to ourselves, become easy when we are relieved by his aid and strengthened by his strength. With him all things are possible. Sorrows are cheered, and trials lightened by his presence. But it is still more,

that when he draws nigh, the soul is enabled to resist passion, to overcome sin, to gain the victory over Satan.

This is an experiment which is often tried. Multitudes have resolved to break off their evil habits; convinced that such habits are misery here, and destruction hereafter. But their better resolutions have always fallen through; they have yielded to temptation, and gone on from bad to worse. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots ?" No: the sinner is under

Satan's power : "led captive by him at his will:" corrupt nature makes him an easy prey. What then shall we do? The resource, the only resource, is to seek for one who is stronger than Satan, and profit by his assistance. And that ONE is Christ. He came into the world "to destroy the works of the devil." He himself did conquer him, and he will enable his followers to conquer him. (Luke xi. 21.) "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all the armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils."

Here then the case is like that of the disciples. They received Jesus into the ship, and the wind ceased. And so let the man who is under the dominion of sin, receive Christ into his heart, and he shall be enabled to overcome the tempests which rage within his bosom, and by which he may have been long tossed, like the troubled sea. Let the proud and haughty man commit himself to him who was "meek and lowly in heart;" his pride shall cease; he shall be clothed with humility, and learn what it is to "esteem others better than himself." Let the impure and sensual do the same; and they shall be enabled to mortify those affections and lusts, which "war against the soul." "Sin shall have no more dominion over them." So it was with the Corinthian converts; we know what they had been as St. Paul reminds them, "Such were some of you :" that is, they had lived in the indulgence of all those evils to which

corrupt nature is inclined. "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." " Ye have received him into your heart, with whom Satan cannot dwell, and over whose disciples Satan cannot prevail. He "delivers you from the body of this death," and you are not "brought into captivity to the law of sin which is in your

members." 3

It may not, perhaps, be with every one, as it was with the apostles, whose ship was immediately at the land for which they were bound. This is not often granted. The contest may be long, and slow, and painful. But only let the contest be continued, and the end is certain. There is no corruption which may not be overcome by a steady contemplation of the cross of Christ, and the representation which it exhibits of holiness and mercy. Take your sin to that, and crucify it there.

Those who, like the apostles, have attached themselves to Christ Jesus as their Lord, find in this history fresh reason to approve their choice. He is theirs, who has alike the will and the power to protect and comfort them. He may suffer the tempest to arise, and the storm to alarm them for a while; but it is not without a purpose. He will not permit it to overwhelm or injure them. That takes place, which is beautifully described by the Psalmist : "He commandeth, and raiseth the

21 Cor. vi. 11. 3 See Rom. vii. 22—25, and viii. 1—14.

stormy wind. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet so he bringeth them unto their desired haven."4

LECTURE XXXII.

FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST DECLARED TO BE THE WORK REQUIRED OF GOD.

JOHN vi. 22-29.

22. The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

23. (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks ;)

24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25. And when they had found him on the other side of

4 Psalm cvii. 25-30.

the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26. Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Had these persons sought Jesus, and taken even greater pains to find him, and join his company, because they perceived by his miracles that he was "come from God," and "had the words of eternal life;" they would have done what was wise and prudent and praiseworthy. But he had reason to know, that they were more anxious about provision for the body than the soul, and that the uppermost desire in their minds was the desire of being miraculously supported by him. There was another support which he would give, which would avail when the body needed it no longer. There was another support which they would want, when nothing else could profit them. This he exhorts them to labour, to work for, and they should not labour for it in vain. He was at hand who should give it them, and God the Father had set his seal to his power. Him hath God the Father sealed. We seal the deed, which we accredit as our own, and by which we mean to stand. God had set his seal to Jesus as his Son, by the Scriptures which

1 Εργαζεσθαι, the same word which is used in the succeeding

verse.