he only that can desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.-DR. MORI

SON.

The dread and dislike of death, do by no means prove that a person is not a child of God. Even a strong believer may be afraid to die. We are not, in general, fond of handling a serpent, or a viper, even though its sting is drawn, and though we know it to be so.-MARTIN.

This mortal life decays apace,

How soon the bubble's broke!
Adam, and all his num'rous race,
Are vanity and smoke.

I'm but a sojourner below,

As all my fathers were:
May I be well prepar❜d to go

When I the summons hear.

But if my life be spared awhile,

Before my last remove,

Thy praise shall be my bus'ness still,

And I'll declare thy love.-DR. WATTS.

PSALM xli. 3.-The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

God has promised his people that he will

strengthen them, and make them easy under their bodily pains and sicknesses. He has not promised that they shall never be sick, nor that they shall not lie long languishing, nor that their sickness shall not be unto death; but he hath promised to enable them to bear their affliction with patience, and cheerfully to wait the issue: the soul shall, by his grace, be made to dwell at ease, when the body lies in pain.-M. HENRY.

AMBROSE SERLE has a comforting remark: "If we cannot think of Christ, through the power of disease, oh what a happiness is it to be assured, that Christ thinks constantly and effectually of us. He maketh all our bed in our sickness; that is, he turns the whole frame of our condition in it for our best advantage."

PSALM xli. 4.-I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

When we are under the rod, we must thus recommend ourselves to the tender mercy of our God: Lord, heal my soul: pardoning

mercy heals it; renewing grace heals it: and this spiritual healing we should be more earnest for, than for bodily health.-M. HENRY.

Stamp thine own image on my soul;

Lift from the dust mine head:

Lord, thou hast wounded-make me whole;

Hast slain-now raise the dead.

MONTGOMERY.

PSALM xlvi. 1.-God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

They who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, in love and obedience to, and dependance on him, may make the power, wisdom, truth, and love of God their refuge and strength; and in every urgent danger and trouble they will find him a ready and present help.-THOMAS SCOTT.

"Come," would Luther say to Melancthon, a wise man, but more timorous than himself, when prospects looked dark and distressing, at the beginning of the reformation, "Come, let us sing the forty-sixth psalm, and let earth and hell do their worst."—JAY.

God is the refuge of his saints,

When storms of dark distress invade ;
Ere we can offer our complaints,

Behold him present with his aid.

DR. WATTS.

PSALM xlvi. 10.-Be still, and know that I am God.

He is God: this we should consider, and not lift up a rebellious hand, or suffer a disloyal thought to rise in our minds against him. And, indeed, nothing would contribute more to reconcile us to the providence of God, in any of the evils that befall us, than just apprehensions of his authority. A child will take that correction from his father, and a servant from his master, which he would not bear from another; the reason is, they have a right to correct, which a stranger has not. And this is the case of Christians, as the apostle intimates, arguing from the relation between God and us: "We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and

live?" Heb. xii. 9. No earthly fathers, or masters, have that authority over us which God has. This we should consider, and endeavour to bring our minds under the impression and influence of his sovereignty; and, when he smites, kiss the rod, and adore the hand that holds it.-BENJAMIN BENNET.

God of my life, look gently down,
Behold the pains I feel;

But I am dumb before thy throne,
Nor dare dispute thy will.

DR. WATTS.

PSALM 1. 15.-Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Till the day of trouble comes, such a promise is like the city of refuge to an Israelite, who, not having slain a man, was in no danger of the avenger of blood. He had a privilege near him, of which he knew not the use and value, because he was not in the case for which it was provided. But some can say, I not only believe this promise upon