e Master said to him: "O thou of
little faith! Wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matt. xiv. 31.) He had
God's eternal word, which was sure footing, and better than either
marble, granite or iron; but the moment he took his eyes off Christ
down he went. Those who look around cannot see how unstable and
dishonoring is their walk. We want to look straight at the "Author
and Finisher of our faith."

When I was a boy I could only make a straight track in the snow, by
keeping my eyes fixed upon a tree or some object before me. The
moment I took my eye off the mark set in front of me, I walked
crooked. It is only when we look fixedly on Christ that we find
perfect peace. After He rose from the dead He showed His disciples
His hands and His feet. (Luke xxiv. 40.) That was the ground of their
peace. If you want to scatter your doubts, look at the blood; and if
you want to increase your doubts, look at yourself. You will get
doubts enough for years by being occupied with yourself for a few
days.

Then again: look at what He is, and at what He has done; not at what
you are, and what you have done. That is the way to get peace and
rest.

Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring the emancipation of
three millions of slaves. On a certain day their chains were to fall
off, and they were to be free. The proclamation was put up on the
trees and fences wherever the Northern Army marched. A good many
slaves could not read: but others read the proclamation, and most of
them believed it; and on a certain day a glad shout went up, "We are
free!" Some did not believe it, and stayed with their old masters;
but it did not alter the fact that they were free. Christ, the
Captain of our salvation, has proclaimed freedom to all who have
faith in Him. Let us take Him at His word. Their feelings would not
have made the slaves free. The power must come from the outside.
Looking at ourselves will not make us free, but it is looking to
Christ with the eye of faith.

Bishop Ryle has strikingly said: "Faith is the root, and Assurance
the flower." Doubtless you can never have the flower without the
root; but it is no less certain you may have the root, and not the
flower.

"Faith is that poor trembling woman who came behind Jesus in the
press, and touched the hem of His garment. (Mark v. 27.) Assurance is
Stephen standing calmly in the midst of his murderers, and saying, 'I
see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand
o