They have one faith, one Lord, one baptism- nor his promise can ever fail. However hard they have the same hopes, and the same pro- and obdurate our hearts are, the word of the mises and privileges-they are devoted to the Lord is as 'fire, and as the hammer that breaketh same cause, and subjects of the same gracious the rock in pieces;' and we are melted and subgovernment-fellow-pilgrims are they in the dued before it. However haughty we be in our journey of life, and heirs together of one heaven. rebellion, the grace of Jesus is irresistible; it casts How blessed a thing it is for such as are down every imagination, every high thought that brethren to dwell together in unity! Ah, but exalteth itself against him; it constrains us to acsatan hates that unity! He rules by their strife knowledge him as absolute Lord, and with our and divisions—and therefore he ceases not day whole soul, and body, and spirit to become his nor night to foment them. And, alas! he has willing subjects. Now the way in which we are but too well succeeded. On which ever side we thus brought and kept under the complete obeturn, the eye cannot fail to witness and deplore dience of the gospel, is by having implanted within his triumphs. See how the poor church is torn, us, as a living, vital affection, the love of Jesus. and rent, and bleeding with a thousand wounds; Grace subdues us, and love holds us captive. O! see the professed followers of the Prince of peace there is no principle which exercises such sway hating each other, slandering each other, per- over the heart as this! It has led men to resecuting each other-the worldling's scoff, the nounce riches, and reputation, and honour as laughing-stock of the infidel! dross for Christ's sake; it has led men to abandon all the endearments of home and kindred, and to go out to the land of the stranger and the savage to preach Christ; it has led men to brave the dungeon gloom, and the rack, and the wheel, and the stake for the testimony of Christ;' it constrains men still by a sweet violence to dedicate every faculty and every possession, all they have, and all they can do to the service of Christ. 'None but Christ, none but Christ,' is ever the cry of fervent faith: I charge ye, daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my Beloved, that ye tell him I am sick of love,'

And yet the book of prophecy declares that all these sad breaches shall assuredly be healed. The kingdom of satan shall totter and fall: the God of peace shall bruise satan shortly under the feet of his Son. The day is coming when the mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills righteousness;' the day is coming when the soldiers of the cross shall league to gether with lines unrent and confederate banner' against the common foe, and gather from the north, and the south, and the east, and the west, and go forth to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Great God, in That we may form some estimate of its influthy great mercy let it come speedily! I will ence on the frame and tenor of a man's characpray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall pros-ter, see how changed he is since he yielded himper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee.'

*

FIFTEENTH DAY.-MORNING.

self to the love of his Saviour.'

Once the sanctuary was a weariness to him, now it is his joy and song, for Jesus is there. Once the sabbath was in his eye the dullest day in all the week; now he longs till it come round again, for it reminds him of the triumphs of Jesus. Once his prayers were barren and heartless; now his choicest moments are spent at the footstool of the throne, because he pleads with his God in the

And bringing into captivity every thought to the name of Jesus. Once he preferred all other books obedience of Christ,' 2 Cor. x. 5.

OUR greatest sorrow here as Christians arises
from the body of sin we carry about with us-
from the working of yet unsubdued corruption
within us.
'The flesh lusteth against the spirit,
and the spirit against the flesh, so that the good
we would we do not, and the evil which we
would not, that we do'-'even when we mean
to do good, evil is present with us.'

But the power of Christ as King is pledged to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of his gospel-and neither his power

to the bible; now he meditates in it day and night, and the oftener he reads, he likes it the better, because it testifies of Jesus. Once he talked about any thing and every thing but religion; now it is his pleasantest theme, for he cannot cease speaking of Jesus. Once he chose his companions out of the gay, and the foolish, and the frivolous; now his communion is with the household of faith, for on each member of it he delights to trace the image of Jesus. And let us not suppose that the change he has thus undergone is a partial and a temporary change. 'If

any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old | ing them down to death is lifted off, and they have things are passed away, behold all things are be- found Jesus, and through Jesus, peace with their come new.' He has new hopes and new fears, Father in heaven, and a heritage in their Father's new duties and new pursuits, new desires and house! There are none so happy, none in all the new aversions, new joys and new sorrows. The world so happy as they. They are beautified same things which he did before he does now in with salvation; the high praises of God are in a new way, and with new motives; even his very their mouth; they sing aloud upon their beds; diligence in the business of life receives now a even though sorrowful they are always rejoicing. new direction, and springs from new motives. Their path is as the shining light, which shineth 'To me to live is Christ;' he takes up the words ever brighter and brighter: their life is associated of Paul as emphatically expressive of the dedica- with the sweetest and softest imagery, smiling tion of his whole soul to the Lord: 'I am cruci- skies and green pastures, and quiet waters. And fied with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, hear how David speaks of them in the verse but Christ liveth in me.' which is prefixed to his evening's meditation, 'Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.'

'Children of Zion' is one of the scripture titles of believers: their 'King' is the Lord Jesus Christ. And well indeed may they rejoice in him,-ever as they look on him in faith,—in whatever light they contemplate him.

dren of men,—the chiefest among ten thousand.

Do we know any thing of this 'captivity to the obedience of Jesus?' We call ourselves by his name. In avouching him to be our Lord are we rendering him the unqualified homage of the heart and the life? Is he 'in us,' and are his laws our songs in the house of our pilgrimage? O Lord God, thou knowest. Blessed Jesus, I Let them rejoice in his person. He is the desire to be thine-thine now-thine wholly-image of the invisible God,-fairer than the chilthine for ever. Do thou help me to watch against every disloyal thought and deed. Teach me to order my steps in thy word, and let not any sin have dominion over me. Alas! even when I am most diligent in self-examination, there is much evil within which I cannot feel nor see as I ought! Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.'

FIFTEENTH DAY.-EVENING.

Let them rejoice in his love. Many waters could not quench, nor floods drown it; it is the burden henceforth through eternity of the hosannahs of paradise.

Let them rejoice in the righteousness which he has wrought out for his people. It has magnified the law and made it honourable; it acquits and absolves from the condemnation of sin; it furnishes a right to the tree of life.

Let them rejoice in his salvation. It is rich, and free, and full,-suited to all,-ready for all, -offered to all.

Specially let them rejoice in his omnipotent and eternal sway. O there is no single conceivable

'Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King,' element of decay or dissolution in human empires

Psal. cxlix. 2.

In the eye of the men of the world religion is continually associated with moroseness and gloom. They chase it away from their social circles as the enemy of their peace; melancholy they regard as merely another name for it. And yet never could there be an idler nor more slanderous deceit. The mariner rejoices when his little bark is rescued from the sucking whirlpools of ocean; the captive exults when he exchanges the dungeon gloom for the sweet light of the sun, and the fetter for freedom; the weary exile leaps with joy when he is restored again to the old faces and the pleasant home of his youth. But these are all faint and feeble emblems of the blessedness of penitent sinners, when after many dark days and nights of tears, the light of gospel truth breaks in on their souls, and the weight of wrath which was weigh

which has any place in the government of Jesus! Death wrests the sceptre from the best and bravest on an earthly throne: but the mediator King is alive for evermore, and holds the keys of hell and of death. The rebel may usurp the rights of his prince here, and the traitor may plot and betray; but the subjects of the King of Zion count his testimonies their songs,' and none that is unfaithful or covetous hath any inheritance with him. The impotence of an earthly monarch may make him a prey to tumult and sedition, or his ignorance may tempt the crafty to ensnare him into destruction, or neglect of his office may beget ominous complaints and murmurings among his people, or his tyranny may arm them up against him to hurl him headlong from his throne. Ah! but our Lord knoweth all things, and his wisdom is infinite,—his arm breaks in pieces the enemy,

In this character, I cannot help connecting him with that beautiful type of old, Jacob's ladder, hanging midway in the sky, and clustering with bright spirits! Down that pathway it is that the angels come when they are commissioned to minister to the heirs of salvation-and up it again they mount, to tell of another and another poor sinner repenting, and believing, and saved, and to make heaven's arches ring with the news! Along that pathway it is that every redeemed soul, since time began, has climbed to paradise; along it it is that every single prayer of faith has ever reached the throne; ay, and down it alone come every grace and blessing from the tabernacle on high which cheer and sustain men on the earth.

―he hears the sighing of the needy, and pleads | merits, and mediation of our Redeemer. These the widow's cause,-in truth he judges the na- are his own words, and they cannot be miscontions, and his folk with equity. A rival may strued, I am the way, and the truth, and the start up against an earthly monarch and dispute life-no man cometh to the Father but by me.' his title and defy his power, or the fatigues of And who can fail to rejoice in Jesus as the medium government may wear him down, or disease may of intercourse between God and men-as the waste him, or old age may leave him helpless and means of communication between earth and defenceless to the invader. But who of the sons heaven? of the mighty can once be likened unto the King of heaven; nothing is too vast for his superintendence, or too minute for his concern; his eye never sleeps, nor is his right hand ever weary; with him a thousand years are as one day, and one day as a thousand years. Well then it becomes all the children of Zion to be joyful in their King. For the present blessings he dispenses let them praise him; let them praise him for the future hopes he inspires. What more effective barrier could there be to despondency from within or from without than this, that Jesus reigneth! The crowd may rage; but he it is that stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves and the tumult of the people! Rulers may take counsel together and unite their lawless power against his church: he shall break them with a rod of iron, he shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. And why should any be troubled in heart who have touched the golden sceptre which he has stretched out, and avouched Jesus to be their King. Rejoice rather in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice: cry out, and shout thou inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

To avoid wandering in the dark, we are all very ready to inquire our way when the shades of night are descending on the earth. O how much need there is of far more anxious inquiry that we may not be lost in the everlasting night which lies beyond the grave?

Here I am a pilgrim travelling towards eternity. Now, the bible declares that to a happy eternity, there is but one way. And what is that one? Jesus Christ, and the truth as it is in Jesus. There are many ways to hell-a thousand different tracks-and troops of travellers may be found in each gaily and giddily dancing or lazily toiling along. To heaven, however, the single solitary way is through the blood, and

It is called the 'new' way: the former one, through the perfect obedience of Eden, has been shut up utterly since the fall, and shall continue shut for ever. It is called also the 'good old' way: the blood of the Lamb by which it is consecrated was slain from the foundation of the world. It is a plain way: the way-faring man, though a fool, cannot err therein. It is a safe way: no faithful pilgrim has ever been hurt or lost who trode it. It is a pleasant way: the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy on their heads. Ay, and blessed be God, it is a free way: there is no angel with flaming sword standing at its portal -the poorest and meanest may enter it without money and without price. Now, it is surely a momentous question, 'How is this way to be known?' The answer is simple. The Lord, the Lord alone, teacheth it. And how does he teach it? By bestowing on us his Holy Spirit. That Spirit is emphatically the Teacher.' It is he who clears away every prejudice, every obstructing cloud, and guides us into the truth. It is he who opens up the word, and inspires us with a relish for it, and every day helps us to discover in it something new. It is he who takes of the things of Christ, and shows them to us in power, and conforms our hearts and lives unto his image. Without him we can neither know the Lord's will, nor walk in his statutes, nor fear his name: without Him we can do nothing. And how is this great gift of God to be brought down from

heaven? O we rejoice to believe that it is pro- | and however they may escape on earth, deriding mised to the fervent prayer of faith! Come, then, the threats of the law, the condemnation that and let us cry together at the footstool of the awaits them is as sure as God's truth is sure. throne of grace, Teach me thy ways, O Lord- And on whom is he to take vengeance? unite my heart to fear thy name.' Come and them that know not God, and that obey not the let us plead with God in the name of Him whom gospel.' Some, indeed, on the earth have but slenhe loveth and heareth always, 'For Christ's der means of attaining to the true knowledge of sake, lift on us the light of thy countenance their Creator: to many the glad tidings of salvation take not thy Holy Spirit from us.' And with have never come. With all such the just Judge prayer let us join firm and resolute purpose of will deal justly. They that have sinned without heart. I will meditate, O Lord, in thy fear, law shall be punished without law-and they that and follow on to know thy ways-I will delight have sinned in the law shall be judged by the myself in thy statutes-I will not forget thy law.' The persons referred to here are such as word-O Lord, I will walk in thy truth.' are wilfully ignorant-such as are impenitent and disobedient in the midst of much long-suffering and many, many, gracious invitations and precious privileges. To them 'much has been given,' and 'much will be required' at their hand.

night my soul shall be required of me, shall I go to heaven or to hell? O Lord God, thou knowest; my hope is in thee.

die? Am I prepared for the judgment? If this | The eyes of all wait upon him—and he gives them their meat in due season. He opens his liberal hand, and satisfies the desire of every living thing. Specially he is the Shepherd of his people, and they never want. All the circumstances of their lot most graciously and wisely he orders: yea, he makes their very troubles work together for their good.

SEVENTEENTH DAY-MORNING.

'And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ
whom thou hast sent,' John xvii. 3.

Of all attainments, the first and the highest is
the knowledge of God. Without this all other
knowledge is worthless-not the less worthless
utterly, that the proud and the learned boast of
it. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might,
let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let
him that glorieth glory in this that he under-
standeth and knoweth the Lord.' But how can
weak blind nature attain unto such understand-
ing? Never, never by its own strength.
poor heathen lived in darkness, and in darkness
died.

The

Now, it is indeed possible that to some measure of such knowledge as this-to some such knowledge of God as my Creator and Preserver, I might rise by my own native energies. In the book of nature the blindest may trace him: in providence his love and bounty are daily felt by all. Ah! but the grand question is, How may God, as a just God and righteous, deal mercifully with sinners? I know that he hath made me, and that he upholds me-but how can I know him as a Saviour-how can I be brought to know him, and to confide in him as at once vindicating his law and extending forgiveness to a guilty world? This knowledge unaided nature never in all time could have reached. It is derived solely from revelation; it comes exclusively With all his toiling, with all his painful through Jesus Christ whom God hath sent. Out incessant searchings, his natural eye could not of Christ God is either looked upon as an inpenetrate the thick mists-thick as midnight- exorable Judge, taking sure vengeance on every that hung between him and the throne of heaven. transgressor, or more falsely still, as a vacillating He was as a prisoner groping wearily round and Judge, exercising his pity at the expense of his round his dungeon wall, but incapable of catch-truth and to the confusion of his government. It ing anything more than a dim and scattered is only in the gospel of his Son that his Godhead glimpse of day. Yea, the more he thought of is fully exhibited to the world: no where else God—as himself sadly confessed-the darker, than in the gospel can we know God as a Father, the more incomprehensible, God appeared. Ah! a reconciled Father-just, yet justifying the unbut thanks be unto Jesus Christ that the Al- godly-with all his attributes united, and harmighty is now clearly revealed in his word to monised, and glorified in the salvation of men. man. The simplest child in a Christian landHe who commanded the light to shine out of knows more of him than the wisest wits of old Greece or Rome!

darkness,' says Paul, hath shined in our hearts
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ.'
• All things
are delivered unto me of my Father,' said Jesus
himself, ‘and no man knoweth the Son but the
Father, and he to whom the Father will reveal
him.'

Come and let us meditate on God in the gospel: would that we felt aright what a privilege it is to be able to look up to heaven, and say, 'Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer!' I have been taught in the bible to know God as the Creator of all things. The heavens de- This knowledge of God, revealed in the face clare his glory, and the firmament showeth his of his Son, is called by John 'eternal life'—and handywork-by his wisdom he founded the well may it be so. It is the way to eternal life earth, and settled the mountains, and strength--I am the way, and the truth, and the life; ened the fountains of the deep. The gods of no man cometh to the Father but by me.' It is the heathen are idols: He alone is from everlast- the earnest of eternal life- We all with open ing to everlasting-the only living and true God. I have been taught in the bible to know God as the Preserver of all things. He sits at the helm of the universe which he made, and directs it at his will. No one can stay his hand from working or say unto him, What doest thou?

face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.' The full fruition of it hereafter constitutes the essential glory of heaven-‘Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we