Let us....fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.-Heb. iv. 1.

WHEN the sea is tempestuous, did we only stand safe upon the shore, it were enough to behold the woful shipwrecks of others, with that horror and commiseration which such a spectacle deserves ; but when we are tossed in the same tempest, and see some split against rocks, and others swallowed up of quicksands, unto which naturally the stream strongly carries us also, truly then our pity and detestation of their dangers, our horror and consternation of their ruin, are not sufficient, without great care and diligence, for our own security and preservation.

Therefore, O Christians, look to yourselves! The glorified saints in heaven see the dangers they have escaped, with praise; and the dangers others fall into, with pity; but thou, O Christian, art not yet got to shore. Still thou sailest upon the same sea, wherein most do perish; even the raging sea of corruption, which is yet made more raging by the storms of temptation and if thou seest many that are bound heavenward make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, it is not enough for thee to slight their dangers, or to censure and pity their miscarriages; but fear thou also, lest the same corruptions and temptations overwhelm and drown thee in the same perdition. This is the apostle's caution, Corinthians x. 12, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed, lest he fall;" and in Romans xi. 20, "Thou standest by faith; be not high-minded, but fear."

HOPKINS.

Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.-1 Cor. x. 12.

ST. CHRYSOSTOM serves himself and us with an ordinary comparison,-a tiler is upon the top of the house, but he looks to his footing, he is afraid of falling. A righteous man is in a high place in God's favour, but he may lose that place. Who is higher than Adam, higher than the angels? But whither fell they? Make not thou then thy assurance of standing out of their arguments, who say it is impossible for the righteous to fall, and that the sins of the righteous are no sins in the sight of God; but build thy assurance upon the testimony of a good conscience,* that thou usest all diligence and holy industry that thou mayest continue in God's favour, and fearest to lose it; for he that hath no fear of losing, hath no care of keeping.

DONNE.

Of course, in subordination to the mercy and grace of God.-ED.

Gird up the loins of your mind; be sober.-1 Pet. i. 13.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights

burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.-Luke xii. 35, 36.

GATHER up your affections, that they hang not down to hinder you in your race, and so in your hopes of obtaining ; and do not only gather them up, but tie them up, that they fall not down again; or if they do, be sure to gird them straiter than before. Thus be still as men prepared for a journey, tending to another place. This is not our home, nor the place of our rest; therefore our loins must be still girt up, our affections kept from training and dragging down upon

the earth.

Men who are altogether earthly and profane are so far from girding up the loins of their mind, that they set them wholly downwards. The very highest