comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him."

The vine is renowned for its fertility. One single vine, planted by the Empress Lavinia, yielded one hundred and eight gallons of wine in one year-Many grapes grow on one cluster, many clusters on one branch, and many branches on one tree. How many have been saved by the Lord Jesus! In him all fulness dwells. In him we are blessed with all spiritual blessings. What clusters were brought from Eschol, to shew Israel the goodliness and fruitfulness of Canaan! And what specimens of heaven; what earnests of the inheritance; what firstfruits of the Spirit, do faith and hope bring believers from him, even while they are in the Wilderness!

The nature of the produce of the vine is delightful and profitable. The fruit is sweet to the taste. The juice it yields cheers and makes glad the heart of man -Give wine to those that be of heavy hearts. It was sometimes used medicinally. The good Samaritan poured oil and wine into the wounds of the bleeding traveller. And he brings us health, and cure, and comfort, and delight, and more than angels' food: for "Never did angels taste, above, Redeeming grace and dying love."

The vine also yields shade; and it was valued for this purpose in the East. Hence we so often read in the Scripture of sitting under the vine and the fig tree. They had walks and bowers made of these; and while the fruit refreshed them, the shelter screened them from the sun. And he is a shadow from the heat; and rescues us from the evil of every annoyance to which we are exposed. I sat, says the Church, under his

shadow with delight, and his fruit was sweet to my

taste.

The image, therefore, is pleasing and striking, and aids us in our conception of him, and communion with him. Yet it teaches us as much by contrast as by comparison. A vine is not always green. It does not always bear. It never bears twelve manner of fruits. It does not endure for ever-But all this is

true of him.

The fruit of the vine, if taken too largely, will injure the partaker; but there is no danger here-while we are forbidden to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. The produce of the vine is only for the body, and for time; but his benefits are for the soul, and eternity. Many cannot obtain the advantages of the vine; but none, however poor and mean, are excluded from the participations of Christ. The image, therefore, is but a humble one; and falls far short of his glory. So does every thing that is employed to shew forth his worth, his glory, or his grace.

"Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars,
Nor heaven, his full resemblance bears:

His beauties we can never trace
Till we behold him face to face."

JUNE 1.-EVENING.

"Ye are the branches." JOHN XV. 5.

FOR whatever He is, they have a relation corresponding with it. Thus, if he is the king, they are the subjects. If he is the shepherd, they are the sheep. If he is the head, they are the members. Therefore

having said to his disciples, I am the vine, he addsYe are the branches.

The

This reminds us of their union with him. vine and the branches are connected. The latter are even parts of the former; and it would be absurd for a person to say, I did not hurt the vine; I only injured the branches. Why persecutest thou me? said the Saviour to Saul, who was only persecuting his followers. He that touches them, touches the apple of his eye. And, as he is sensible of their wrongs, so he feels every kindness shewn them; and says, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me.

This gives them a character of likeness. The branches are the very same kind of wood as the vine; and the very same sap pervades them both. And they that are joined to the Lord are of one spirit. The same mind is in them which was also in Christ Jesus.

"The righteous

This shews their dependence. shall flourish as a branch;" but the branch does not bear the tree, but the tree the branch. Whatever likeness there may be, in all things he has the preëmi He is our life and strength. Abide, says he, in me as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me for without me ye can do nothing.

nence.

This proclaims their usefulness. The branches are the beauty and excellency of the vine; and by these, its vigour and fertility are displayed. He is glorified in his people. He makes them to blossom and yield fruit. He diffuses his goodness through their prayers and lives. In him is their fruit found, as to its source and support-but they bear it-they are the branches

-they are filled with all the fruits of righteousness, which are, by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Let me learn one thing from all this. Let me accustom myself to derive spiritual reflections from all the material objects around me. A taste for natural scenery is pleasing and good in itself. But let me not approach it, as a creature, only to enjoy; or a philosopher, only to admire-but as a Christian also, to improve. Let sense be a handmaid to faith. Let that which is seen and temporal, raise me to that which is unseen and eternal.

JUNE 2.-MORNING.

"Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort." PSALM lxxi. 3.

ON what particular occasion this psalm was composed it would not be easy to determine. Neither is it necessary; or perhaps even desirable. It is sufficient to see that David was in much affliction, but well knew that God was his refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore to him he turns with this pathetic language; "Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually re

sort."

It is well to take advantage of our present feelings and circumstances to aid us in our communion with God. Many have supposed that David was now suffering from the rebellion of his son Absalom. If there be truth in the notion, it is not difficult to imagine the scene. Behold him greyheaded; the fire of youth that had heroically encountered the lion, and

T

the bear, and the Philistine, damped by the chilness of age; his chief counsellor betraying him; the hearts of the people stolen from him; his army inadequate to his defence; himself forced from his palace; flceing from place to place an exile in his own country; and full of uncertainty as to the issue-at such a time how natural, and suitable, and satisfying, must it have been to realize God as his hiding-place, resting-place, dwelling-place-the strength and the home of his heart!

What so pitiable as a homeless wretch? A Christian can never be in this condition. There is nothing for which we should be more thankful than domestic peace and comfort: and there are some whose abode abounds with every attraction and delight. But how different is the state of others! They have been stripped of "lover and friend:" those with whom they "took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in company," are no more: their means of hospitality and enjoyment are reduced to straits and privation; or they feel some heart's bitterness known only to themselves, and which they are not at liberty to divulge-Thus "thorns are in their tabernacle," and they are ready to cry, "O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away and be at rest." But you need not flee from your condition; rest may be found in it-in the bosom of your God and Saviour. And the less happiness you have in the creature, the more you should repair to his allsufficiency. Your distresses are designed to urge you to him; and if they have this effect, it will be good for you that you have been afflicted. Thus fine wea ther leads us abroad, and we sometimes take long walks: but clouds and storms hasten us homeward.