and a bitter thing to his own conscience: he naturally flies to a covenant of works, called the law, but alas! he finds the law to be the strength of sin; and, though he strives to mortify and root sin out of his heart, he finds daily that he obtains no victories over its power.Reader, was this thy condition? And hast thou been made more than a conqueror, through him that hath loved thee? 0 praise the precious name of thy loving husband, who hath betrothed thee to himself in righteousness for ever!

52.

A WORD TO ZION'S MOURNERS.

The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. ---Ruth ii. 20.

1. POOR sinner, dry thy tears,
Thy Kinsman reigns above;
To him commit thy cares,...

His name is full of love:

He hears the mourner's sad complaints,
And will relieve his mourning Saints.

2. Of kinsmen he's the best,

Unchanging is his love;

He gives the weary rest,

And such his kindness prove:
He opens wide his tender heart,
And thus he does the kinsman's part.

3. When on the cursed tree,

He bore thy pond'rous load,
To set thy spirit free,

He thus the wine-press trod;

And while eternal ages run

He'll ne'er forsake a blood-bought son.

4. Dear Saviour, am I thine,
In love's immortal ties?

And shall I with thee shine,
Yea, in thy image rise?

O spread o'er me thy skirt divine!
And then by faith I'll call thee mine.

5. Dear Saviour, I am thine
In love's immortal ties,

And with thee I shall shine,

Yea, in thy image rise;

Then crowned with thy righteousness,
With all the tribes I'll sing free-grace.

Boaz, in many respects, typifies our Lord Jesus-while we read the book of Ruth, and

mark and admire the footsteps of Providence, we should keep in view the (more to be admired) spiritual beauties, which this Book contains. The kindness of Boaz to Ruth the Moabitess, sets forth, in a lively manner, the love and compassion of the Lord Jesus to his mystic bride, the Church. He assures her of his affection at all times; and though black and defiled in herself, "having no good thing in her flesh," yet, she has a right at all times to consider herself "bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh," and not to live under the least apprehension of any separation. (See ROM. VIII. 35.) Did Boaz receive the black stranger to his embraces, and make her his own by free choice? So Jesus has receiv ed me, and many more, blacker in spiritual defilement than the Ethiopian's skin, to the glory of God:

"This was mercy rich indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need."

53.

A MINISTER's PRAYER BEFORE PREACHING.

Who is sufficient for these things ?---2 Cor. ii. 16.

1. GOD of wisdom, love, and pow'r,
Copious blessings on me show'r ;
Teach me first to pray aright;
Grant the Holy Spirit's might.

2. Help, O Lord! thy waiting saints;
Help us to express our wants;
May our pray'rs, like incense, rise,
Still receiving new supplies.

3. Help me fully to proclaim
All the sweetness of thy name ;
Till, enamour'd with thy love,
Zion's mourners soar above.

4. Lord, unfold thy sacred word;
Teach me how to wield the sword:
Hearts of stone do thou subdue,
Make them feel thy words are true.

5. All our errors, Lord, detect!
Shine upon thine own elect:
Let thy grace, like manna, fall,
Then we'll crown thee Lord of all.

Prayer unto God, is the best introduction to pulpit exercises. That Preacher who depends on his notes, or on the strength of his mental powers, is a stranger to this necessary exercise, which is both a duty and a privilege. When the above was written I had the vast importance of the work on my mind, and at the same time I felt a deep impression of my own weakness; but such have, generally, been the times that God appears to have comforted and supported the weary and heavy-laden of his children. I know in modern times, among many divines, the work of comforting the feeble minded, and, instrumentally, building up Zion, is looked at with indifference; -their work chiefly consists of exhorting the blind to open their eyes! and the dead in sin to arise and perform some good thing for the Almighty! And if a man dares not trifle, thus, in this "trifling age," it is a thousand to one if he escapes their severest invective. But God will try every man's work; and the day shall declare it.