66

given why you should not be careful: It is a heathenish thing; the poor heathen gentiles, who know nothing about God being their Father, nothing about the Lord Jesus, nothing about the glory of heaven: they may be filled with these earthly things, and think about nothing more than what they shall eat and drink; but should a child of God, an heir of heaven rise no higher than food and drink? And then, too, it is so unbelieving; your heavenly Father knows you have need of such things: now, what would you think if when you had plenty of food in your house, and plenty of love in your heart, your little child was to look sad, and say, "I am afraid my father will not give me my breakfast, or my dinner this morning, or my supper this evening." Why, you silly child," we might answer, "did your father ever fail to do it?"-"No, but I am afraid; I do not think he loves me; I do not think he is able; I do not think he is willing." How foolish such a child would be! And God is your heavenly Father: why the very name should take away your anxiety. You know a father's heart. He, too, is not like earthly parents, who may not be able to help their dear children, who may be away from them, or, who may possibly, sad as it is to think of, be unkind. God is always near, as the 139th Psalm tells us, "about our bed and about our path," and he knows every want, and is able and willing to supply it. The burden should not rest on your shoulder; God will take the burden. Even with a master and his servants, while the master has plenty, and the servants serve faithfully, the master takes good care they shall have food; he has a pleasure in doing it; the servants are not afraid of starving. Do you then serve God faithfully, and he will take care to supply you with food. Have confidence in his love. But if you have one doubt left, I will remind you of a fact which ought to put away every fear. You know we are sinners; we deserve to lose the title of sons; God's justice must punish sin. What, then, did our heavenly Father do? why, he gave his own well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, for us; Jesus bore our punishment. After that can you find it in your heart to doubt God's love? if he gave his own Son, is there anything he will not give you? Will you not then obey the God of love, and be careful for nothing? Do not say, on the other hand, "I have no reason for care; I have strength to work; I have money in the savings' bank-I belong to the club-I have kind friends." No, no, these things should not be your trust; these may fail; look to something better-to the love of your heavenly Father, who promises to take care of you. What is then to be your first thought? "But seek ye the kingdom of God;" notice that little word "but:" the

first

Bible is not like other books, no word in the Bible stands for nothing; this little "but" shows you cannot do both things; you cannot seek God, and be full of anxious wearing care. You cannot say your prayers of a morning, when you are all hurry to get to your work; you cannot get good at church, when you are thinking how you should provide for your families all the time. What is this kingdom of God and his righteousness? the noblest things imaginable. There is a kingdom of God here. It has a dark side, and a bright side; the dark side is taking up our cross, bearing reproach, laughter, and trials; but the bright side is pardon for sin, peace with God, the hope of his glory, his Spirit dwelling in us. This kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Then, there is the kingdom of God hereafter; all the troubles and sorrows are then over; Christ gives his worst things first; not like the world which gives all its best things first, but hides a hook under the bait, to drag the soul to destruction. Hereafter all the blossoms of grace will have budded into glory. Oh, if we could see what that glory will be! We shall reign with Christ; we shall be kings and priests unto God; love will be made perfect, and hope lost in enjoyment. One blessing Jesus singles out, it is "the righteousness of God;" it will be such a glorious thing to be made righteous and holy like God; to have no will but God's will, full of love and mercy and goodness, and bearing all his holy image. Now, see what glorious things are set before you, instead of your low grovelling cares. Seek them then; it is not said, Take thought for them; God would not have his dear children unduly anxious even about their souls. But seek; seek every day, every hour; seek with all your heart; seek with diligence; seek with patience; and note well the words, "seek first:" do not make religion the last thing; make religion the first thing. Do not you feel how this word tells you that you have been wrong? Seek it first for yourselves; first for your children; seek it first in your youth; the first thing every morning. There are so many reasons why you should: all will go wrong if you do not; nothing will prosper if you do not; death will be terrible if you do not; judgment will be dreadful if you do not. God has promised so many blessings if you thus seek; all needful blessings are promised to you. All these things shall be added to you; cast into the bargain as a thing of little value, as people sometimes give you some little thing over, which you did not expect. "All these things," the words come over three times; the carnal mind says these are all, "If I can have what I like to eat, what I like to drink, and such clothing as I like, I am

satisfied;" but God counts them a little thing, and promises them all to his children; seek heavenly blessings, then you are sure to have earthly blessings too. "Godliness has promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come," 1 Tim. iv. 8. One of our kings said to an ambassador, 66 If you seek my interest, and the interest of my kingdom, I will take good care of yours." Let us seek the interest of our great King, his will, his honour, and his glory, and he will take good care of us and ours. We are sure, too, of gaining God's kingdom if we seek it; for he could not promise to add the other blessings unless he had given this first.

Now, I hope, when you are anxious, you will sometimes think of this text. I will give you two short lessons from it. 1st. Have faith in God. I have some hope you will learn this lesson, for you are poor and there is a text for the poor, James ii. 5; "The poor of this world rich in faith." See, by God's grace your worst things may be your best, your poverty may make you rich in faith. 2nd. My second lesson is, act now on God's word; do not delay. "How long halt ye between two opinions? behold, now is the accepted time; seek ye the Lord while he may be found." Now! now! seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Jesus is waiting to be gracious; flee to him at once, call earnestly on his name, read his word, attend his house, go to his table, be happy in his love, and you shall be more free from care than if you had all the wealth of the world at your command. Rev. E. Bickersteth.

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, INSTITUTED 1799.

SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS TO MARCH 31, 1841. Annual circulation of publications, including

the issues of its Foreign Societies, about.

24,000,000

Monthly

ditto

2,000,000

Languages in which the Society has published
Total circulation of publications in forty-two

86

years, about

337,000,000

New publications issued during the past year

159

Publications on the Catalogue, about

2,650

Total receipts in the year, including sales £58,966 12s. 6d.

Total grants in the year

Total amount of subscriptions, donations, and auxiliary contributions

£7,817 11s. 10d.

Appropriated beyond the receipts from subscriptions, donations, collections, and auxiliary contributions.

£5,662 15s. 2d.

£2,154 16s. 8d.

It will be seen, that not only the whole of the subscriptions, donations, and contributions is applied to the gratuitous circulation of the Society's publications at home and abroad, without any deduction or charge whatever; but that the grants exceed the whole of such contributions for the past year by £2,154 16s. 8d. The benevolent income is insufficient to meet the demands on the Institution.

After this statement, the Committee indulge the hope that increased support will be rendered to the Society.

1. By annual subscriptions to its funds of 10s. 6d. and upwards, which will enable subscribers to purchase the Society's publications, to any amount, at reduced prices.

2. By obtaining the subscriptions of friends who are interested in the diffusion of religious truth in our own country and in foreign lands. The Society's Collecting and Christmas Present Cards may also be usefully employed by young people.

3. By occasional collections, after a statement of the Society's operations from the 'pulpit; one half of such collections, if requested, may be received back in the publications of the Society.

Catalogues of the Publications of the Society, together with Hints on the Formation and Regulation of Auxiliaries and Associations," and Collecting and Christmas Cards, may be obtained, gratis, on application at the Depository, 56, Paternoster Row, and 65, St. Paul's Churchyard.

FOLLOWING THE LORD FULLY.

WE must, in a course of obedience to God's will, and service, and honour, follow him universally, without dividing; uprightly, without dissembling; cheerfully, without disputing; and constantly, without declining: and this is following him fully.

Henry.

OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS:UPON THE SIGHT OF A LOADED CART.

Ir is a very strong expression, wherein God bemoans himself of the sins of Israel, "I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves." An empty cart runs lightly away, but if it be soundly laden, it goes sadly, sets hard, groans under the weight, and makes deep impressions; the wheels creak, and the axletree bends, and all the frame of it is put unto the utmost stress. He that is omnipotent can bear anything but too much sin; his justice will not let hismercy be overstrained. No marvel if a guilty soul say, "Mine iniquity is greater than I can bear," when the infinite God complains of the weight of men's sins. But, let not vain men think that God complains out of the want of power, but out of the abundance of mercy. He cannot be the worse for our sins; we are. It grieves him to be over provoked to our punishment. Then doth He account the cart to crack, yea to break, when he is urged to break forth into just vengeance. O Saviour! the sins of the whole world lay upon thee; thou sweatest blood under the load; what would become of me, if I should bear but one sheaf of that load? every ear, yea every grain of that ear were enough to press down my soul to the nethermost hell.

I Do not more wonder at any man's art, than at his who' TRACT MAG., THIRD SERIES, NO. 92, AUG., 1841.

I