desire him, and to repair to him. This is telling us plain enough. that

"None but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good."

That there is salvation in none other; that in him all fulness dwells. that he is all, and in all.

Here is a rule for ministers to go by. If they would conform to the mind and method of God himself-and none teaches like himevery one that hears and learns of them will be guided to Christ and will hear nothing but the call, "Behold the Lamb of God.' This is not the case with all preachers. If we were to hear and learn of some, they would lead us far enough from him; we should be conducted to Epictetus, or Moses, or referred to our poor and wretched selves for righteousness and strength, instead of being left looking only unto Jesus, and crying, Lord, save, or I perish.

Finally, here is a test by which we may judge of our spiritua state. If we are a people of no understanding, he that made us will not have mercy on us, and he that formed us will show us no favour. Am I then taught of God? Have I heard and learned of the Father? How shall I answer this question, so essential to my peace and comfort? How do I stand with regard to Christ? Have I forsaken the world, and do my thoughts and desires reach out after him? Is it the prevailing concern of my heart to win Christ? to be found in him? to know the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and to be made conformable to his death? Am I coming to him as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious? This, this is the test— Every one that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto him; and every one that cometh unto him hath heard and earned of the Father.

SEPTEMBER 25.-" And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus."-Matt. xiv. 12.

WHILE YOU sympathize with them in their loss, and applaud their conduct on the occasion, you are perhaps ready to envy them the privilege they enjoyed. "Ah! happy disciples, to be able to repair to Jesus, and tell him your grief." But you may do the same. He has said, Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. And therefore though he is no longer on earth corporeally, he is here spiritually. Though you cannot see him, you can approach him, and find him a very present help in trouble. Yea, you have the advantage of those who lived in the days of his flesh. He was not then in every place, but,

"Where'er we seek him he is found,
And every place is holy ground.”

They often had to go to a distance. Martha and Mary had to call in a servant, and send to him beyond Jordan, saying, "Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick." But you can instantly fall upon your knees, and cry, Lord, I am oppressed, undertake for me;" and prayer will reach him in a noment, in the twinkling of an eye -- Before they call I will answer. and while they call 1 will hear."

Realise therefore the privilege; and remember that the best thing you can do with your trouble is to take it to him. This is sanctioned by the highest authority: "Is any afflicted? Let hin pray It is recommended by experience:

"What various hindrances we meet

In coming to a mercy-seat:

Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,
But wishes to be often there.”

Of all the millions that have tried it, there is not one but will say,
"Wait on
"It is good for me to draw nigh to God:" and also add,
the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart;
wait, I say, on the Lord."

There is nothing like the influence of the exercise, in calming the ruffled mind, healing the broken spirit, and preserving us from all the unhallowed feelings to which we are liable in the hour of distress.

To whom can we be so encouraged to go as unto him? Others are often wanting in kindness. Their patience is soon exhausted. By our continual coming we weary them. They may be in a selfish or pettish frame. They may be too busy to attend to our complaint. It may be deemed beneath their notice when they deign to regard us-What airs they give themselves-what difficulties they urge-what delays they require-how they love to make us feel our dependence--and how sure are they to remind us of our faults. But he upbraideth not. He despises not the prayer of the destitute. He He is full of condescension and longsuffering. His heart is the dwelling-place of pity. He presses us to make free with him-" Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

If men were kind, they are often powerless. If their ear is open to hear, their hand is shortened that it cannot save. They may weep when we weep, and weep most of all that their resources cannot aid their affections. But nothing is too hard for the Lord. As to the trouble you take to him, he can explain it, and show you wherefore he contendeth with you. He can support you under it. He can deliver you from it. He can turn it into a blessing. He can enable you to say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." Therefore go and tell Jesus. It is not in all cases and in all respects improper to unbosom yourselves to a fellow-creature, and especially a fellow-Christian; some solace and relief may be obained: but, says Cowper

"Were half the breath thus vainly spent,

To heaven in supplication sent,

The cheerful cry would oft'ner be,

'Hear what the Lord hath done for me.'”

Have you, like these disciples, been to the grave, and left you no and comfort in the dust? Go and tell him who wept himself at the grave of Lazarus, and who can be better to you than ten suns. Have you received intelligence that alarms or distresses you? Do as Hezekiah did-He went and spread the letter before the Lord. Have you a heart's bitterness, known only to yourself, and which you feel not at liber y to divulge to any earthly connexion? There

He enjoins you la

is nothing tut you may communicate to him.
every thing to make known your requests unto him.

Are you a backslider, and after knowing the evil of sin, and tasting that the Lord is gracious, have you turned again to folly? Have you said, I have loved idols, and after them will I go? "Oh turn. turn again. "Take with you words, and turn unto the Lord." You will find him where, and what he was--the change has been only in you

"

"Behold, great God, we come to thee,

Though blushes veil our face;
Constrain'd our last retreat to seek

In thy much injur'd grace."

And O thou sinner, just awakened to look into thy conditio ; and pressed with a sense of thy guilt, and depravity, and danger, art asking, "What must I do ?" Go thou to him. Wait for nothing to recommend thee. He looks for nothing. Throw thyself at his footstool Say, "Lord, mine is a pressing case; I must obtain re lief, or be undone for ever. Other refuge have I none. In thee is my help- Leave not my soul destitute." And he will not, he cannot reject thee; for he has said--HIM THAT COMETH UNTO ME, I WILL

IN NO WISE CAST OUT.

SEPTEMBER 26.-" He hath given all things into his hand."-John 11. 35. Love is always generous. It delights to heap favours upon its object; and never thinks it has done enough. But what munificence is here! "The Father loveth the Son, and HATH GIVEN ALL

THINGS INTO HIS HAND!"

How far does this universality reach? If we compare the assertion with other passages of Scripture, especially with the words of our Saviour after his resurrection," All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth;" and with the words of Paul, "He ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things:" we shall see that it cannot be taken too extensively.

It takes in all in nature. To him, as we learn from the application of the Apostle, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, David refers when he says, "Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas." Accordingly in the days of his flesh all creatures confessed and obeyed his power. He made summer and winter. The day his, the night also is his. The silver and the gold are his, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. The world is his, and the fulness thereof He is unworthy the name of a Christian who does not acknowledge his rights and agency in all the scenes of creation around him; walk with him in the bounties of the field; and the beauties of the garden; see him in the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys; and hear him in the voice of every bird, and the breeze of every wind.

It takes in all in Providence. in our world is under his rule.

All that is devised and carried on The government is upon his shoul

der. There is not a being to be found but is either his servant or his slave; who does not obey him voluntarily or by constraint. He doth according to his own will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand. He changes the times and the seasons. He removeth and setteth up kings. While they deal proudly, he is above them. While they follow their own passions they fulfil his designs. When they move in the ine of his purpose they are resistless; and when they turn from it, and attempt to go forward, he has a hook for their nose, and a bridle for their jaws. The wrath of man praises him, and the remainder of wrath he restrains-like the owner of the mill, who admits the water as long as the grinding requires, and then drops the hatch. In all our temporal concerns he decides our successes or disappoint

ments.

"If light attends the course I run,
'T is he provides the rays;
And 't is his hand that veils my sun,
When darkness clouds my days."

Sickness and health, the changes of life, the time, place, and manner of our death, are all regulated by him who "careth for us.”

It includes all in grace. The resources of the natural and providential worlds are his, to enable him to accomplish the work of grace. He could not make all things work together for the good of his people, unless they were put under him, and subjected to his control. But they are. He has power given him over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given him. He is made head over all things to the Church. Hence all his ways towards them are mercy and truth. He is also king in Zion. Every thing there is committed to his authority. He is the only Lord of conscience. He has the appointment of his own ordinances. He has given prophets, apostles, pastors, evangelists, teachers. All the influences of the Spirit are dispensed by him, and from him. Pardon and peace, righteousness and strength are in him-in him all fulness dwells. Therefore to him shall men come; to him shall the gathering of the people be.

"I ap

It includes all in glory. At death he comes and receives the souls of his people to himself, that where he is there they may be also. At the last day he raises their bodies, confesses them before his Father and the holy angels, and ushers them into the joy of their Lord. That better world he viewed as his own, even here, and disposed of every thing in it as the owner and governor. point unto you," said he to his disciples, "a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed me. ""This day," said he to the dying thief, "thou shalt be with me in Paradise." The righteous Judge, says the Apostle, shall give me the crown of righteousness: and all the re wards bestowed upon the churches in Asia were conferred by him -“The Father hath given all things into his hand."

Therefore let his adversaries tremble. They may make war with the Lamb; but the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. Escape is impossible. Resistance is vain-but submission is not.

And therefore if the Father has given all things into his hand, let us do the same. He is worthy of the surrender, and our interest VOL. II.

15

requires it. Let us give ourselves into his hand; and let us do this three ways or for three purposes-First, to be saved. Secondly, to be employed. And Thirdly, to be governed by him.

Then we may be joyful in him; and rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, exulting in the thought that he who is infi nitely dear to us is so exalted, and that he on whom we entirely depend is so mighty. Then we shall have nothing to fear, but every thing to expect. Our welfare is involved in his advanceinent and because he lives we shall live also. We are the followers, the friends, the children, the bride, the members of him who is higher than the highest-HE IS LORD OF All.

SEPTEMBER 27.-" We would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mor tality might be swallowed up of life."-2 Cor. v. 4.

HERE we see that it was not death they desired, but the result of it. They wished to resemble those who will he found alive at the last day, who will not sleep, but be changed. n to be privileged like Enoch and Elias, who went to heaven without dissolution, and were glorified soul and body together. They longed to be clothed, without being found naked-to be clothed upon-that this corruptible might put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality-that their mortality, instead of being lodged in the grave and devoured by worms, might be swallowed up of life, as the rivulet is swallowed up of the river, and the outline is swallowed up of the finished picture, and the dawn is swallowed up of the day, and the child of the man. That is, they wished, if it were possible and allowable, to reach their completeness gently and insensibly, without such a disruption and tearing to pieces as death. Three things may be remarked from hence.

First. The primitive Christians were not, as we sometimes imagine, peculiar beings, and strangers to many of our feelings. They were men of like passions with us, and encompassed with infirmities. They had nature in them as well as grace. They were holy, but human spiritual, but not divine.

Secondly. A dislike of death is no proof of the want of religion. The forerunners and the accompaniments, "the pains, the groans, the dying strife," may sometimes deeply affect a pious mind. No man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it. No creature can like its own dissolution. We see this in the animals; though they have no dread of futurity, they yet struggle or life. The fear of death is as naturally inherent in us as hunge, thirst, and sleep; and only requires to be governed. Adam had it in the state of innocency, otherwise the words, "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," would have been no threatening. Our Saviour, though his humanity was sinless, feared it, and prayed to him who was ble to save him from death with strong cryings and tears, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. We may covet a thing, and not like the mode in which it is to be obtained. The husband and the father longs to see and embrace his family on the American shore, yet shrinks back at the thought of the Atlantic which he has to cross. A man is confined with a diseased mem