I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you: Fear ye not.—Hag. 2:4, 5. When the Lord calls his people to great work, or grievous sufferings, he animates them with strong consolations; for as their day is, their strength shall be. This passage shines bright, as it manifests the most comforting views and clearest discoveries of covenant-grace and love to saints of old, engaged in a very arduous work of Jehovah. "Whatever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we might have hope."—Rom. 15:4. Our hope is established and strengthened through patience and comfort of the scriptures; and as they encourage our hope, they also forbid our fears; as if salvation was precarious and uncertain, as though the foundation of hope rested upon conditions we fulfil to secure it. Blessed be God faith hath a surer anchor-hold, even the word, the covenant, the oath of Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit. The knowledge of this, under all the discouraging views of nature and sense, lifts the believer above himself, and makes him triumph in the everlasting, unchangeable love and sovereign grace of the glorious trinity. So children of God in every age feed upon one and the same bread of life, Jesus. He is the Logos, the word, with whom the Father covenanted for sinners. According to this, the love of the Father is towards us, even while we are in our natural state, in Egyptian bondage; yea the love of the Lord of hosts is the cause of our deliverance from it, and conversion to his blessed self; so also his Spirit remaineth with us. By his sweet agency and power our blind eyes are enlightened to see the glory and suitableness of Jesus, our deaf ears opened to hear the loving voice of this dear charmer, and an understanding heart is given us to disclaim all other hope, and to know and choose Jesus, believe in and love him as our only precious Saviour. What blessed confidence is this! We are exhorted to "hold it fast." "FEAR YE NOT," saith the Lord, "I am ever with you." Fear and distrust are most unreasonable; pride and selfglorying most abominable; sin and disobedience most hateful; love, humility, and gratitude, most powerfully operate upon such highly-favored hearts. Hence faith in a covenant God, and his loving declarations, ever excite the most generous expressions from the heart. "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me! Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living."— Psalm 116:8, 9, 12.

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