of encouragement to persevere in the paths of truth and holiness. What thanks are due to the loving Spirit for this wholesome advice! How much concerned should we be daily to improve it! Look to yourselves; see your danger, your vileness, your weakness. Look up to Jesus for safety and strength. Blessed be the God we serve! he is not unrighteous to forget our works of faith, patience of hope, and labour of love. We enjoy his reward in our work, though not for our work. No. Let Jesus have all that glory. Still, the more work, the more sufferings for his sake, so much the more reward; of just debt to him, of righteous grace to us. Oh, how apt are we to pine and grieve at the loss of a little shining dust! Should not the loss of light, liberty, love, peace, and joy in Jesus, infinitely more affect us? Would we avoid sorrowful complaints of loss? Are we solicitous to rejoice in present gain, and in hope of a future full reward? "Therefore, my brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. xv. 58. MARCH 20.-Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. - Jer. xv. 16. MARCH scattered, and starving upon leads them to green pastures there they feed, and lie down reace and salvation. And th and improves every joy, ever in called by thy name, O L appy, when minister or dis ad godly sincerity, to mak called me!" Thou, Jehov umies of angels and archan host, thou hast condescended thy grace, thy salvation t I hear thy voice, I know th thee, my heart thinks of thee I find a hungering and th moting but thy blessed sel when I offend thee, only Musence are enjoyed, and them no more. This is hea the word of truth, increases ject of faith. So the soul a of sense, the intrusions of world, and the baits of Sat the word of Christ dwells ri those, in whose hearts Chr hast thou an appetite to fee it? Is it health and no thou art blessed with the m A poor sailor was lately almost naked. The first-h where to make a purchase what was dearest to his dence of a christian! "Le you richly," Col. iii. 16. That is a sweet petition in the service of the church of England: "Grant, O Lord, that we may not only hear, read, mark, and learn, but inwardly digest the holy scriptures." So soon as the Lord hath fulfilled this prayer upon any poor sinner, then Christ is the hope of his soul, he esteems the scriptures as his daily food, the doctrines of grace are the joy and rejoicing of his heart, and he will love and attend such prophets of the Lord, who have also "found God's words and have eaten them." Glory to our loving Shepherd! he finds his sheep MARCH 21.-Ye are Ch 1 Cor. iii. 23. St. Paul ransacks heave tarving upon the barren mountains, he reen pastures of gospel grace and love; and lie down, beside the still waters of tion. And this heightens every comfort, every joy, even an inward testimony, "I hy name, O Lord God of hosts." How minister or disciple is able, in simplicity cerity, to make this appeal, "Thou hast Thou, Jehovah, who rulest over the ls and archangels, and all the heavenly condescended to make known thy name, salvation to me, even wretched me. ce, I know thy voice, I feel desires after thinks of thee with pleasure and delight, gering and thirsting within me, which my blessed self can satisfy; I am grieved thee, only happy when thy love and enjoyed, and am concerned that I enjoy - This is heaven below. Feeding upon ruth, increases desires after Jesus the obSo the soul also becomes dead to the life ntrusions of sin, the allurements of the e baits of Satan. Happy those in whom arist dwells richly, in all wisdom! Happy se hearts Christ dwells by faith! O soul, -ppetite to feed upon the Bible, and digest ealth and nourishment to thee? Then. ed with the most exquisitely delicate taste. r was lately cast away, lost his all, was - The first-half crown he got, he inquired e a purchase of what, think you? Oh, arest to his heart--a bible. Blessed eviristian! "Let the word of Christ dwell in Col. iii. 16. .-Ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. . nsacks heaven and earth, time and eternity, to make up the christian's rich catalogue of mercies. But, as though the utmost stretch of thought of men, or angels, might omit some part of the believer's treasure; and lest any thing should be found wanting, for support and comfort, to any needy soul, he twice repeats, "All things are yours." Believer, wouldst thou know thy title? wouldst thou inquire, Whence is it the Lord should consign such innumerable blessings, such infinitely rich mercies to us? Whereas one thing we know, we feel daily, we are sinners to this very hour. And will not this prevent the right to possession, and the freedom of enjoyment? No: justice and wisdom conspire to take away this, and every objection. The medium of communication is such, that neither reason, law, nor equity can gainsay. Dwell on this point; look up to the Spirit of truth, to establish faith, strengthen hope, increase love, and promote joy. "Ye are Christ's," by special gift; his dear purchase, and his precious reward. We have all in him, by rich love, peculiar grace, free gift, and precious promises. Precious faith is the blessed evidence of interest and proprietorship in this blessed inventory. But how came faith? From hearing the word of God. From whom came the word? By the Spirit of truth, who also gives faith. Why is the Spirit given? Because Jesus is glorified. Wherefore came Jesus, to seek and save the lost? The Father loved us, and gave his Son for us. Why did the Father love us? It was the good pleasure of his will, according to which he chose us, in Christ Jesus, before the foundation of the world; predestinated us to the adoption of children, and blessed us with all spiritual blessings in him, Eph. i. 3-5. Hence, O believer, how clear thy title! how certain thy possession! "Christ is God's," God's beloved Son; so art thou in him. Christ's is God's gift for thee, God's gift to thee, and thou art given to him. Thou enjoyest all in him, and receivest all from him. Canst thou ever want food for faith, a source of love, a fountain of holiness, or a All marriages are, or ought love between the contracting ingredient to produce happin There this is wanting, true c When a person of noble birt is a woman in poor circum debt, we justly conclude, he and affection. And surely, 20st endearing obligations t can never call to mind her f Der present affluent circumst inflame her with the most ar band. This is somewhat th is church. Pure love, in Bridegroom, caused him to Mimself, in loving kindness state, and despicable cond her from eternity, and oper In time of conversion, one "I have espoused you to 2. Canst thou, O believer, C of poverty and distress; o writs issued from the law executed; liable every mo ation? What have we done, or what get an interest in Christ, or procure a heavenly treasures? Verily, we have forfeit, but nothing to deserve them. be humbled; consider this, and be joyll things are of God, who hath reconmself by Jesus Christ," 2 Cor. v. 18. blessed privileges, by walking worthy 1. i. 10. - Thy Maker is thine husband. Isa. es are, or ought to be, founded in mutual ne contracting parties. This is the chief roduce happiness in the conjugal state. wanting, true comfort cannot be enjoyed. a of noble birth, and great fortune, marn poor circumstances, and involved in conclude, he chose her out of pure love And surely, such a one is under the g obligations to love and chastity. She to mind her former indigent state, and Huent circumstances, but it must tend to th the most ardent affection to her huss somewhat the case between Christ and Pure love, in the heart of the heavenly caused him to betroth his church unto ving kindness. Though in the most abject picable condition, yet he secretly loved mity, and openly espouses every member, nversion, one by one. So saith St. Paul, used you to one husband, Christ," 2 Cor. O believer, call to mind thy natural state d distress; over head and ears in debt; from the law, which justice might have ble every moment to be cast into prison, ! 1 ! of encouragement to persevere in the paths of truth and holiness. What thanks are due to the loving Spirit for this wholesome advice! How much concerned should we be daily to improve it! Look to yourselves; see your danger, your vileness, your weakness. Look up to Jesus for safety and strength. Blessed be the God we serve! he is not unrighteous to forget our works of faith, patience of hope, and labour of love. We enjoy his reward in our work, though not for our work. No. Let Jesus have all that glory. Still, the more work, the more sufferings for his sake, so much the more reward; of just debt to him, of righteous grace to us. Oh, how apt are we to pine and grieve at the loss of a little shining dust! Should not the loss of light, liberty, love, peace, and joy in Jesus, infinitely more affect us? Would we avoid sorrowful complaints of loss? Are we solicitous to rejoice in present gain, and in hope of a future full reward? "Therefore, my brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. xv. 58. MARCH 20.-Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Jer. xv. 16. That is a sweet petition in the service of the church of England: "Grant, O Lord, that we may not only hear, read, mark, and learn, but inwardly digest the holy scriptures." So soon as the Lord hath fulfilled this prayer upon any poor sinner, then Christ is the hope of his soul, he esteems the scriptures as his daily fof his food, the doctrines of grace are the joy and rejoicing of his heart, and he will love and attend such prophets of the Lord, who have also "found God's words and have eaten them." Glory to our loving Shepherd! he finds his sheep |