188 OF SPIRITUAL MINDÈDNËSS. men are ready to quake, when they see all things about them filled with dread and terror, and all help far away, it is, I say, their duty andwisdom to abstract and take off their thoughts from all outward and pre= sent appearances, and to fix them on the presence of God. This will greatly change the scene of things in their minds; and they will find that strength, and power, and wisdom, are on their side alone ; all that appears against them, being but vanity, folly and weakness. So when the servant of Elisha saw the place where they were, compassed with an host, both horses and chariots, that came to take them,, he cried out for fear, Alas, my master, how shall we do 1 But upon the praying of the prophet, the Lord opening the eyes of the young man,-to see the heavenly guard that hehad sent to him, the mountain being full of horses and chariots offire round about Elisha, his fear and trouble departed, 2 Kings vi. 15-17. And when, in the like extremity, God opens the eye of faith to behold his glorious presence, we shall no more be afraid of the dread of men. Herein did the holy martyrs triumph of old, and even despised their bloodypersecutors. Our Saviour himself made it thegroundof his support - ment on the like occasion, John, xvi. 32. Behold, saith he to Lis disciples, his only friends, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered every one to his own, and leave me alone, and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.' Can we but possess our soul with the apprehension, that when we are left alone in our trials and dangers, from any countenance of friends, or help of men, yet that indeed we are not alone, because the Father is with us, it will
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