kingdom, and was crowned, first over Judah, and then over all Israel. But after distinguishing him. self as a warrior, and a ruler, he was compelled by the rebellion of Absalom to leave his palace and his capital, and ascend, weeping and barefooted, the Mount of Olives, where his son and his Lord, the Messiah, ages after, agonized and triumphed. Then we find him re-established in more power and authority than ever, and reigning in safety, peace, and honour-and at last we find him anxious to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, amassing an abundance of materials, and sparing no expense; so that he could say, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." From this glance at his life, we see that it was very eventful and singularly diversified. But in every period, and in every relation, and in every scene, he displayed principles and dispositions which rendered him not only civilly, but morally and religiously useful. In youth; in manhood; in obscurity; in splendour; in adversity; in prosperity; by his wealth, by his power; by his authority; by his wisdom; by his inspiration as a prophet; by his genius as a poet and a musician: in all his resources he constantly served his generation.

But he also served his own generation. Not indeed exclusively; for he has served every generation since. He is serving the present age. Christians now living, bless God for his writings. Who has not found in them a treasury of experience? a flame at which he has often lighted his torch? a harp that has often driven away his evil spirit? There are some who not only serve their own generation, but levy a tax of admiration and gratitude upon every future one. Such were the Reformers. Such were Luther,

and Calvin, and Knox, and others. And nothing can be more unjust than to censure these men who did so much, because they did no more; or diminish their fame by reproaching them with a few faults, which were rather the errors of the times than of the men. Such were those patriots who resisted unto blood, striving against sin, and procured for us the invaluable blessings of civil and religious freedom. Such were the translators who gave us the original Scriptures in English. Such have been the writers who have defended the truth of the Gospel, and furnished materials for private and domestic devotion. How useful is Watts, even now, by his Psalms and Hymns, in which millions bless God; and by his songs for children, which out of the mouths of babes and sucklings perfect praise! No man indeed knows how any good he does may be perpetuated and enlarged.

But if we cannot serve other generations, let us serve our own. Some strain too much after distant objects, and overlook what is immediately before them. Some leave large sums when they die-they had better be their own executors, and see and enjoy the application of their own liberality. They had better convince the world that they act from choice; for at death they can retain nothing, but must part with all they possess. The endowments bequeathed by many of our good forefathers have operated rather injuriously than otherwise; retaining the support of error in some places of worship, and relaxing the zeal and generosity of congregations in others; for people have an amazing keenness in perceiving when their assistance is not wanting, and some will do nothing themselves while they have any one to lean on. The cause of the poor and the cause of God

will be hereafter committed to others; they are now intrusted to us; let nothing draw us off from present duty.

He also served his own generation by the will of God. Nothing comes by chance in our affairs. The Lord determines the bounds of our habitations, appoints us our stations and offices, and assigns us our talents and opportunities. How obviously was it his pleasure that David should be what and where he was! It was all without his design or thought. And therefore when Saul's courtiers reproached him that he was a restless ambitious youth, who, dissatisfied with a private condition, sought to work himself into notice and eminence; he could appeal and say, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child." Others, too, without any purpose on their own part, or the part of their friends, have been laid hold of by the hand of Providence, and conducted forward so as to exemplify the promise, "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight."

But it was not only by God's providential will that David served his own generation, but also by his revealed will. This he made the rule of his conduct. "Lead me," said he, "in thy truth, and guide me, for thou art the God of my salvation, on thee do I wait all the day"-like a servant, to receive and obey the orders of his master. We must not follow our own fancies, or do that which is most agreeable

to our feelings; but what God requires of us. For this purpose we must repair to his holy oracles, and ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" A woman is not to usurp authority over the man, and to teach in the church because she thinks her talent lies that way. A person is not to assume the office of the magistrate under a notion that he could discharge it better than he who now fills it. If a village preacher on the Sabbath leaves his own family without control and without instruction, he may be serv ing his own generation, but not according to the will of God. God enjoins us to abide in our own callings. If we step aside from them, we may be useful; but the effect is often equivocal; the good is more than counterbalanced by the evil arising from the violation of order, and God asks, Who hath required this at your hand?

Let this example induce our imitation. We all have it in our power to be useful; and let us see to it, that we decline not doing what we can, because we cannot do what we would. Let us immediately and earnestly call into action whatever influence we possess to serve our own generation by the will of God. They are all our brethren. Our generation serves us. None of us liveth to himself. All the endowments conferred upon us look beyond ourselves; and as good stewards, we are to minister the manifold grace of God. It is as much our privilege as our duty. It enthrones us in the esteem of our fellowcreatures, and with such sacrifices God is well pleased. When a Christian comes to die, he must be humble in looking back upon his imperfections; but he will have reason to be thankful, if by the grace of God he hopes that he has not wholly lived in vain. I,

said the learned Dr. Donne to his friends when dying, I repent of all my life, but the part of it I have spent in communion with God, and doing good to men.

AUGUST 23.-MORNING.

"Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it."

HERE is a twofold admonition.

Ps. xxxvii. 34.

First. "Wait on the Lord." "I hope to do so.” But are you sure of this? Is there any thing in your religious exercises that really deserves the name of waiting on God? For persons may read without attention, and hear without faith, and sing without praise, and pray without desire. They may draw nigh to him with the mouth, and honour him with the lip, while the heart is far from him. But God is a Spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.-"I hope I do thus wait on him." But do you thus wait on him sufficiently? In the sanctuary? In the family? In the closet? In all your concerns-like David who said, On thee do I wait all the day, Lord!

Secondly. "And keep his way." This is beautifully connected with the former. Wait-and work. Wait-and walk. Get grace-and exercise it. Persevere in the use of means, if present comfort be withholden. Neither give up the course in which you are engaged-nor turn aside-nor stand stillnor look back-nor seem to come short; though su periors frown-and companions reproach--and ini