have been favoured. We have a tolerable degree of health, we have bread to eat, raiment to wear, and an habitation in which to dwell. We have the use of our reason, and the enjoyment of our senses. How many have become insane, or deaf, or blind, or have lost their limbs, but none of these things have happened to us. In spirituals, we have been kept from gross sins, from falling into dangerous errors, and from apostatising from the faith. We have been blessed with the peace of God, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost-we have been usefully employed for God's glory, and the good of our fellow-men-we have been kept in connection with the Lord's people, enjoying their sympathy and love. We are now on the rock of ages, we have now all the provisions of grace, and we enjoy fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. To us belong all the promises of the covenant, all the privileges of the sanctuary, and all the prospects of glory. We are the sons of God, the brethren of Christ, and the temples of the Holy Ghost. On earth we are training for heaven, and in time we are being schooled for eternity. With providence for our friend, and the Holy Spirit for our guide, we are going to take possession of the promised land. Verily then, we may well say, " God hath dealt graciously with me."

NOW LET US DIRECT OUR ATTENTION TO THE

FUTURE. The future is provided for as well

as the present. Yes, all we shall need in the future is provided. The covenant is ordered in all things, and sure. Our supplies are before us, and when we need them, we shall meet with them. Support is promised us. So that let what will happen, however heavy our cross, however weak we feel, however daring our foes, we shall be supported, and shall at last be found more than conquerors through him that hath loved us.

Satisfaction may be anticipated, for with David we may look forward and say, "I shall behold thy face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness." Yes, when our graces are perfected, when our sanctification is complete, when we arrive at our Father's house, we shall be perfectly and eternally satisfied. So that before we were brought into the world, since we have been in this vale of tears, and in reference to every future step and stage of our journey. we may gratefully say, "God hath dealt graciously with me.'

Let us then review the past with gratitude and praise, for God hath dealt well with us according to his word. As we remember all the way the Lord our God hath led us in the wilderness, we see reasons for thanksgiving and songs of praise. Let us improve the present with industrious care. How much of life is already spent. How few may the days or months of our future pilgrimage be. But this is our comfort, he that hath

past, will deal He will not fail

dealt so well with us in the well with us in the future. us nor forsake us, until he hath performed his word, and fulfilled in us all the good pleasure of his goodness. He hath dealt graciously with us, and therefore we ought to witness for him, to the praise of the glory of his grace. We should speak of his great goodness to encourage others, especially the young of the flock; assuring them, not only from his word, but from our own personal experience, that he will deal graciously with them. We should also from the past, draw reasons for more devotedness to him, and bis service. O for grace to render again, according to that which the Lord hath done for us. And now, O thou good and gracious God, as thou hast dealt graciously with thy poor servant, accept his humble tribute of thanks, and witness his hearty and entire surrender of himself anew to thee, to be thy servant, to do and to suffer thy will, in order that he may glorify thee on earth, and at length through thy free and sovereign grace, ariv e safe in glory, to live with thee, and praise thy glorious name for ever!

Jesus! on thee our hope depends,
To lead us on to thine abode;
Assured our home will make amends
For all our toil while on the road.

BETROTHING.

We stand in a fourfold relation to God by nature. We are his creatures, and he is our Creator; we are his servants, and he is our Master: we are his subjects, and he is our Sovereign; we are his prisoners, and he is our Judge. But in the exercise of his free and sovereign grace, he has determined to take us into another and better relation, and therefore he has said, "I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord." Hosea ii. 19, 20, THE RELATIONSHIP. I will betroth thee." To betroth is to engage to marry, and it often took place a considerable time before the marriage. The bridegroom, is the Lord Jesus Christ, and the bride, is his beloved Church; and every individual believer is interested in the honour, and is entitled to take all the comfort of it to himself. The Lord proposes to take us into the closest union with himself. No union is so close as the marriage union. The husband and the wife become one flesh. The man that loveth

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his wife loveth himself. But as if our union with the Lord Jesus was even closer and stronger, we are said to be members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. So close is the union, that whatever afflicts us, affects him. So identified is Christ with his people, that their sins, sufferings, and responsibili ties, are represented as his. He atones for the first, sympathises with us in the second, and meets and answers for the third. This union is the dearest. It originates in love, pure love. And as a man is required to leave his father and mother, and be joined unto his wife; so Jesus leaves all for his people, and cleaves to his people. His love to them is wonderful. They are most precious in his sight. He would sooner part with his life, than part with them. In all their afflictions, he is afflicted; and in all their joys, he rejoices. His wealth, his-honours, and his happiness, he confers on his bride; and thus all things are hers, she is Christ's, and Christ is God's. It is the most honourable union. It reflects the highest honour on the Saviour, and it confers the greatest honour on his people. Hence he says, "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee." And referring to the future he adds, "I will make thee an eternal excellency, the joy of many generations." bride of Jesus, shares in all his honour, dignity, and glory; and therefore he pro

The