FOURTH DAY.

IT

is a wonderful thought, that we are in this busy world pursuing the daily avocations of life, and yet called upon amidst all the cares, the toil, and bustle around us to follow Christ! How is this to be accomplished? Can we go to the mart of business, that everlasting din of voices, that Babel of sounds, where the gold and the silver seem to be the charms of this stirring, practical age, and find men there who are able to cast one thought towards the stern realities which lie beyond the perishing dross of earth? Among the eager multitudes congregated there do we ever expect to meet the Christian?

Yes; for if he truly follow his Master, he will follow Him into the highways and byeways of life. The love of Christ which is in his soul, shutting up its numerous avenues from the mouldering rust of things corruptible, will lead his spirit,

in its communing with its Saviour, beyond the present scenes of turmoil and strife, to a peace which the world cannot give nor take away.

True it is, in all this, the disciple of Jesus has been compelled to "deny himself,” and “take up his cross;" and what are the real principles of his profession but this? It has been said that all the active and vigorous principles of Christianity are also self-denying principles. That God's holy Word, that prohibits "filthiness of the flesh and the spirit," enjoins also "perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." And the same Word which forbids us to do evil, at the same time prescribes the learning to do well!

To hold sound doctrine is not all therefore that a disciple of Christ ought to do; he will seek also to follow Christ-fearlessly-boldly, through evil report and through good report. When the venerable Mr. Wilkinson had reached nearly the close of his life, he said to a relative who

came to visit him, and who attempted to cheer him by referring to his Christian character, "Ah, you cannot see my heart. It has always been my endeavour, not only to abstain from evil, but from all appearance of evil; but I would be jealous of my own heart. The heart is deceitful above all things. Well, I must do as I have done many times before under such feelings, cast myself entirely upon the mercy of God. God be mer

ciful to me a sinner'-the vilest of sinners and, after all I have received, a most ungrateful sinner! I shall never get beyond that prayer."

And are not

we followers of such believers, in so far

as they followed Christ?

How shall I follow Him I serve?
How shall I copy Him I love?
Nor from those blessed footsteps swerve,
Which lead me to His seat above?

"O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."-HABAKKUK iii. 2.

"THE life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.-GALATIANS ii. 20.

LORD, Thou hast made us for Thyself, and ever
Thy presence should within my heart be known,
Could I but prosper in the poor endeavour
I feebly make, to keep it for Thine own.

Lord, I beseech Thee, calm its wild emotion,
From earth's delusive idols set it free,
And fill my holy thoughts with meek devotion,

The restless heart that fain would rest on Thee!

FIFTH DAY.

THE

THE world must be conquered! and not the world only, but the love of the world! How then can the love of

the world and the love of Christ, both dwell in the heart at the same time? Surely, never! But let it be granted that the natural propensity of the human heart to love and to delight itself in the things of the world, is to be overcome by a love that is mightier still; then comes the question, and a very grave one it is, whether the world will ever be overcome by the acts of self-indulgence in which multitudes revel? No! for the service of the world has already robbed us of so much of Christ, that if we take not care it will strip us of everything. Oh! what attention and prayerful watchfulness is necessary here! If we lose our love of pleasures of living will

Christ the true

have vanished with our love!

If our