Jesus (the King and Governor of his church), for the supporting of Christ’s kingdom against all oppositions of Satan’s kingdom and his instruments.  Being ordained of God to such a station (Rom. xiii. 1), we entreat you, bear not the sword in vain, as ver. 4; but approve yourselves a terror of and punishment to evil-doers, and a praise to them that do well (1 Peter ii. 14); ever remembering that ye judge not for men, but for the Lord (2 Chron. xix. 6); and, as his promise is, so our prayer shall be for you, without ceasing, that he would be with you in the judgment, as he that can and will direct, assist, and reward you.  Follow the example of the upright Job (chap. xxix. 16):  Be a father to the poor; to these poor afflicted persons, in pitiful and painful endeavors to help them; and the cause that seems to be so dark, as you know not how to determine it, do your utmost, in the use of all regular means, to search it out.

“There is comfort in considering that the Lord Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, hath already overcome the Devil.  Christ, that blessed seed of the woman, hath given this cursed old serpent called the Devil and Satan a mortal and incurable bruise on the head (Gen. iii. 15).  He was too much for him in a single conflict (Matt. iv.).  He opposed his power and kingdom in the possessed.  He suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him (Mark i. 34).  He completed his victory by his death on the cross, and destroyed his dominion (Heb. ii. 14), that through death he might destroy death, and him that had the powers of death, that is the Devil; and by and after his resurrection made show openly unto the world, that he had spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them (Col. ii. 15).  Hence, if we are by faith united to him, his victory is an earnest and prelibation of our conquest at last.  All Satan’s strugglings now are but those of a conquered enemy.  It is no small comfort to consider, that Job’s exercise of patience had its beginning from the Devil; but we have seen the end to be from the Lord (James v. 11).  That we also may find by experience the same blessed issue of our present distresses by Satan’s malice, let us repent of every sin that hath been committed, and labor to practise every duty which hath been neglected.  Then we shall assuredly and speedily find that the kingly power of our Lord and Saviour shall be magnified, in delivering his poor sheep and lambs out of the jaws and paws of the roaring lion.”

[Illustration:  Eng’d at J. Andrews’s by R. Babson.

WILLIAM STOUGHTON.]