as food, are absolutely needful. A similar regard, according to the Jewish Talmud, was manifested at the ancient captivity:-God mercifully prolonged the time, so that the people were removed not in the winter but in the summer. It seems to me to be in view of the very scene to which our Lord's direction applies; to the very wants which it makes the subject of faith, that He teaches by parables, "That men ought always to pray, and not to faint:" and makes the startling inquiry"Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" The direction was to be obeyed, amidst the highest regard for immortal blessings, and the most self-denying efforts to extend eternal salvation. The prayer was for apostles and disciples occupied in spreading the gospel to every creature. But what shall we say with regard to the comforts of our mortal life? Did our Savior, when "he went in and out among us," call us to faith, only in view of the absolute necessaries of life? Or, did he most kindly regard the refreshment, and comfort of our feeble and wearied frames? Here we have only to read John 13. It is not a mere lesson of humility and kindness to one another, that we learn in that remarkable account: for it would not be that lesson to us, if it were not first an instance of His regard to the proper refreshment and comfort of his disciples. It was not more as a teacher than as as a compassionate friend, that "he rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself, and began to wash his disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded." His kindness is the more affecting while we remember, that himself was not indifferent to that eastern hospitality. "Thou gavest me," said he once to his host, แ no water for my feet, but this woman hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head." - The ancient like the modern sandal of the eastern world, is but a sole, bound to the bottom of the foot, leaving it entirely exposed to the heat and dust; and it is the comfort and relief of washing after the fatigues of the day which our Lord regards, for himself and for his disciples. Surely then, he is touched with our least infirmities, and calls to faith when we lack even the comforts of our frail and feeble condition. But the most affecting instance of his regard to our infirmities, respects the wants and cares which belong to our domestic relations. Food, raiment, fuel, house and home, and comforts, are needful to every one; but their need is more intensely felt in view of those who depend upon us for support: and that we might be won most tenderly to cast our domestic cares on him, we have the most touching incident of his earthly history. I refer to the provision he made, while hanging on the cross, for his mother's declining age:saying to his mother as she stood beside the disciple whom he loved; "Woman, behold thy Son!" and to the disciple, "Behold thy mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home, to be fed and clothed, and lodged, and sheltered, and comforted, and nursed, until she should be gathered to her fathers. Surely, then, we make no mistake while we consider the occasions of earth the infirmities of our feeble nature as our opportunity for faith and while we extend the privilege of coming boldly to the throne of grace, to every "time of need." Surely, the earthly opportunity for faith is not confined to extreme necessities, but extends to all that is required to make this life comfortable and agreeable. The advancement of our modern civilization, increasing as it does our wants, carries us not beyond the scope of faith. For all that is truly useful and for all that is truly comfortable and agreeable to ourselves or others, we are permitted to draw nigh to God in the name of our great and prepared Intercessor. He who brought, so carefully and so kindly, his ancient people into "a good land; a land of brooks, of water, of fountains and depths, that sprung out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey:" exposed them, no doubt, to say, "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth: " yet gave them, thus, the best opportunity to remember and bless and trust the Lord their God. And when the arts of life shall at length overspread the earth, and make it like the garden of God, it shall be but the fulfilment of the prayer: "Let the people praise thee, O God, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our own God, shall bless us." And now, while those arts advance, adding new wants, and bringing new supplies, we, indeed, are exposed to say, ower and the might of my hand, can get or have "My gotten me these things." But we are furnished with new and growing opportunities to trust and hope in God. And here, amidst the merry lesson of the fields and groves, we may endeavor to rescue for the purposes of faith, the seasons of relief as well as of necessity - the wider range of prosperity, as well as the narrower limits of adversity. The Scriptures do indeed commend adversity our darkness and sorrow, as the opportunity of faith but they do not commend it at the expense of prosperity-do not give to necessity and distress a more blessed design, than to relief and enjoyment: do not despoil the greater proportion of our lifetime of its religious use; but call us, amidst prosperity, to joyful trust. They do not require us to be insensible to the cheerful scenes of earth, nor to consider ourselves as uncalled to faith and hope in God, except amidst darkness and the storm. On the other hand, they give the finest examples of joyful faith in the midst of returning and abiding mercies. So it was with David, when the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul. "I will love thee, O Lord, my Strength. The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress and my Deliverer: my God, my Strength in whom I will trust my Buckler, and the Horn of my salvation, and my high Tower." What faith, too, in consequence of merciful relief, is expressed; Psalm 116. "I love the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." Thus also it was with Jacob amidst the blessings of his lot; with Daniel amidst the splendors of the Persian court. St. Paul, too, amidst his abounding, no less than amidst his abasement, learned to say, "I can do all things through Christ strengthening me." And thus may it be amidst all the blessings, as well as all the afflictions, of our earthly lot. The blessings of life its cheerful scenes overspreading, as they do, its far greater portions; giving this life, when enjoyed aright, great means of happiness, are not alien to faith, but were ordered for its nurture, by the same kind hand that chastises us in necessities and gloom. Light as well as darkness - joy as well as sorrow deliverance as well as difficulty, afford the opportunity for faith — to say in joyful covenant: "Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live."We need not cherish gloomy views of earth, as the only means of faith, but freely rejoice in its mercies, in all its cheerful scenes, assured that they need not separate us from God. It was not the believer, but one of the most marked unbelievers of our times, who is said to have exclaimed, amidst a profusion of outward blessings, "there is nothing but misery in this world, I think." It was a saint,† who found the opportunity for faith amidst remarkable sufferings, who was wont to exclaim of pleasant occurrences, amidst the complaints of others: "It was very pleasant; I enjoyed it. I enjoy everything." It was the patriarch Israel whose dying piety glowed in the light of the * |