hath borne seven, and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive; he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich; he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

This is followed by a confident declaration, that the Lord Jehovah will never fail to maintain the cause of his people, and mightily to put down the opposition of his enemies-He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness: for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them.

The whole is closed with a prediction which, in its largest sense, relates to the Messiah's reign upon earth, when every knee shall bow to the Lord's Anointed, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father—The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; He

shall give strength unto his King, and exalt the horn of his Anointed.

It is not to be imagined, that a woman, in Hannah's circumstances, could pour forth an address of so sublime a description, without the aid of supernatural influence. It was doubtless the Holy Spirit of God that exalted her conceptions, enlarged her views, and dictated her expressions, on this memorable occasion. We read the pious ef fusions of her heart, with wonder and delight. And while we do so, it becomes us to recollect, that this portion of sacred writ is come down to us for the purpose of animating our devotions, and exciting us to a grateful acknowledgment of the Lord's mercies. May this twofold important purpose be extensively answered among us! And under an encouraging hope that the public exercises of this day may contribute something towards such an end, I proceed to draw two general inferences from what has been now advanced.

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First-It may be inferred from the ceding relation, that our allotted trials and troubles are not intended to detain us from

the ordinances of the Lord's house.

We all like sheep have gone astray from the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, who would fain restore us to his fold, and number us again with the thousands of his flock. Every difficulty we encounter, every disappointment we experience, and every pain we feel, are but so many messengers commissioned to pursue and lead us back to the green pastures we have forsaken. When afflictions do their proper work, they put an end to our wanderings, and reinstate us in the house of our Father: but, when they drive us further from his doors, they then defeat the divine intention, and render our circumstances most truly deplorable. Had the distresses of Hannah detained her from the public service at Shiloh; had she shut herself up at home, either through anguish of spirit, or sourness of temper, or from a perverse opinion of her total unfitness to appear in the sanctuary-of how inestimable a blessing would she have been deprived!

Our condescending Lord hath expressly engaged to shew himself everywhere present in the assemblies of his saints; not only in order to receive the homage of his people,

but for the special purpose of giving free audience to the sons and daughters of affliction and sorrow. In a single assembly of this description, who can tell how vast a variety of difficult cases are presented to the great Head of the church; or who can declare the gracious notice with which he honours them? These transactions pass in so secret a manner, that no man knows how his nearest fellow-worshipper's thoughts are employed; what supplications he is breathing out, or what consolations he is drinking in. We see one another's faces, but can penetrate no further.

Every man, however, on such occasions, brings with him a painful sense of some sinful infirmity, some secret discouragement, some pressing want, or some severe distress. And every one has full permission to present his particular circumstances, and to spread them out at large, before the eye of his compassionate Lord. This is one of those gracious designs for which the sabbath was instituted; and, doubtless, on these sacred days many thousand distressing cases are brought before the Judge of all the earth, dictated by many an aching heart, and pre

sented by many a trembling hand. Hannah found present relief by waiting upon God. She went up to Shiloh beneath the pressure of extraordinary discouragements; but there her perplexing state obtained all the compassionate regard that almighty love could shew it. She visited the house of God overwhelmed with the deepest dejection of spirit; but she retired from it with an air of holy rejoicing, and arrayed in the garments of salvation and praise. Remember then, my brethren, when your comforts run low, and your troubles abound; remember at such times, in an especial manner, to carry all your complaints into the presence chamber of Him, who is almighty to saveand may you never fail to find sweet welcome there!

Secondly-We may infer from the experience of this amiable mourner, that nothing less than the favour of God can truly satisfy the soul. Though all the world should agree to approve and befriend us; yet, without the cheering smile of our heavenly Father, all would be found insufficient to secure our felicity. In such circum