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THE DIARY.

ACCORDING to my constant custom, since the LORD was pleased to call me by His grace, I opened my diary in my little pocket companion, to enquire, What is the word of the LORD recommended to my serious consideration today? For it is a favorite maxim of mine, with the first dawn of day, to seek a morning blessing from the LORD in this way, in one of His sweet promises. The promises of GoD are the present heritage of His people. They are evidently intended to be their support and stay in the house of their pilgrimage. In a little book, which I always keep by me for this purpose, to have recourse to as occasion may require, and which I call my pocket-companion, I have also a diary, containing some refreshing portion of Scripture for every day in the year. And though it cannot be supposed (neither will any one I should hope imagine) that by a selection of this kind a preference is given to one gracious promise to the exclusion of the rest, which in Christ Jesus are all yea and amen; yet, as the mind is not sufficiently capacious, nor sufficiently alive, to exercise itself in the meditation of them all, it should seem to be no unpromising plan of usefulness to have recourse to one or

inore of them in this manner.

I shall be exempt, I trust, from the charge of presumption, if I add, that I have found, at

times, the promise in my diary so strikingly suited to my then circumstances, as if a voice had accompanied it like that of the Apostle to the men of Antioch,-To you is the word of this salvation sent.

The promise for this day I found to be Psalm cxxi. 5. The LORD is thy keeper. Sweet and precious indeed to all His people is this assurance! My mind, as I lay upon my bed, was much exercised in the contemplation of God as a Covenant GOD, in keeping His people. It is He which keeps them in the faith; keeps them in the hour of temptation; keeps them from the power of the enemy; from a thousand unseen, and as many visible evils; from finally falling, and from eternal death. And though He hath no where promised to keep His people from tribulation, or persecution, or the strife and slander of tongues, from sickness, or sorrow, or the like; yet he hath promised, that no weapon formed against them shall prosper; no temptation shall take them, from which He will not make a way for them to escape. He will bruise Satan under their feet shortly. Oh! the blessed privilege of those who have the LORD for their keeper!

MARKET-DAY.

FROM the very great noise which I heard in the street, as I arose from my bed, occasioned by the passing of horses and the tumult of the people, I concluded that somewhat more than

usual occupied the public attention. In looking for the cause from the window of my chamber, which opened into the street, I discovered that it was market-day. Though the hour was so early, and the sun had not far advanced in climbing the heavens; yet the world was risen, and every one eagerly engaged in preparation for the sale of their different commodities.

Ah! thought I, how just is that aphorism of our blessed LORD, The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. If, in the market-days for the soul, (I mean the public festivals and sabbaths of the church) they, whose office it is to bring forth out of God's treasure things new and old to the people, were truly as anxious as those men of the world, what gracious effects might we not hope would follow under the Spirit's blessing!

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The Apostle to the Gentiles desired the church of Corinth to consider him and his faithful companions under this character. Let a man (saith he) so account of us, as of the ministers of CHRIST, and stewards of the mysteries of GOD. A steward is an upper servant in a family; one whose office (according to our LORD's own explanation of the Jewish householder) is to provide for the family, &c. whom his LORD hath made ruler over his household to give them their portion of meat in due season. And were that also properly considered, which the Apostle adds, that it is required in stewards that a man be found faith

ful the solicitude of the earthly market-inan would fall infinitely short of that, which he feels who ministers in heavenly things, in proportion as the object and the end of the latter transcend in importance those of the former. How early would the stewards of CHRIST'S mysteries arise, in order to prepare the feast of fat things, of wine on the lees, and of fat things full of marrow, for the mountain of the LORD's house! How extremely anxious would they be, that no hungry nor thirsty soul of GOD's household should be overlooked or neglected! And conscious, after all their best and most earnest preparations, that there can be no actual enjoyment, no real participation, on the people's part, but from the predisposing grace of the LORD; how ought every steward to bring forth what he has prepared with prayer and supplication, that the LORD himself would direct every heart and influence every mind!

Imagination can hardly form a character more truly valuable, than the man who ministers in holy things; who spends his time, his talents, his gifts, (in short) his all, to this one purpose; who becomes indeed the faithful and wise steward, to feed the babes of CHRIST's household with the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby; and them that are of full age, with strong meat, when by reason of use their spiritual senses are exercised to discern both good and evil; and who, to both, can humbly recommend, like the apostle, the goodness of the food, as being what he himself hath seen

and looked upon, and tasted of the word of life. It must be a refreshing consolation, I can well conceive, in the close of life, to every faithful steward, after that the day's fatigue of the market for spiritual food is over, to be able to take up the same language as the apostle Paul, I have kept back nothing that was profitable; I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of GOD; I have fed the church of GOD, which He hath purchased with His own blood; and now I commend you to GOD and to the word of His grace!

When I came down from my chamber, I found my friend waiting breakfast for me; for the hour was by this time past eight: and, as his custom was, he proposed inviting as many of the family as felt disposed, to attend our ́morning prayers. The mistress of the house, with one servant only, accepted the offer. And after my companion had read a portion of Gon's word, he followed it up with prayer.

When the mistress and the servant had withdrawn, we sat down to breakfast; my friend having first implored the usual blessing on our food.

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THE GRACE.

"BOUNTIFUL Father of mercies, who art supplying the daily wants of the millions which are looking up to Thee from all parts of the "universe; we desire grace to praise Thee for "this seasonable and suitable portion of food,

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