380 pOnGIVENESS 0,P SIN. have been enjoyed, and yet I have not attained rest, and so gives over its waiting on God, it will at length utter- ly fail and come short of the grace aimed at. " Thou hast labored and hast not fainted" brings the reward. Rev. 2 : 3. 2. Perseverance in waiting is assuredly prevalent : and this renders it a necessary part of the duty itself. If we continue to wait for the vision of peace, it will come, it will not tarry, but answer our expectation of it. Never soul perished that abode in this duty to the end. The joys of heaven may sometimes come before settled consolation in this life ; God sometimes gives in the full harvest without sending the first-fruits afore- hand, but spiritual and eternal peace and rest is the in- fallible end of permanent waiting on God. This is the duty that the Psalmist declares himself to be engaged in, on the encouraging discovery which was made him of forgiveness in God. " There is for- giveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared : I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope." And this is what in a similar state is re- quired of us. This is the great direction which was given us in the example and practice of the Psalmist, as to our duty and deportment in the condition de- scribed. This was the way whereby he rose out of his, depths and escaped out of his entanglements. And is any reader in these depths Let him hence draw directions in duty. 1. Encourage your soul unto waiting on God. Do new fears arise, do old alarms continue I say unto your soul, "Yet wait on God; why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me I hope in
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