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has no part nor lot in the everlasting covenant! | truth in our behalf-we look to the all-sufficient Ah! but what enemy can intermeddle with the merits and all-prevailing intercession of our Medipeace of him for whom Jesus died, for whom ator-we look to the gospel promises confirmed Jesus is interceding in heaven? As from the to us with an oath for ever-and we are ‘filled foot of the cross he looks to his crucified Re- with peace in believing.' No one may estimate deemer, and thence lifts his eye of faith to mount the value of that peace save they to whom it is Zion, this is the triumphal song he takes up, 'O given! It is a perpetual feast; it is the joy and death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy sunshine of the soul; it passeth all understandvictory? Thanks be unto God who hath given me ing; the world cannot give it nor take it away; the victory through my Lord Jesus Christ.' My it is heaven upon earth begun. Without this soul, enter not thou into the secrets of those who thousands of silver and gold cannot buy content live and die without the consolations of the gos--all the honours of time piled on the head canpel of the grace of God.

'O may the grave become to me
The bed of peaceful rest,

Whence I shall gladly rise at length,

And mingle with the blest!
Cheered by this hope, with patient mind
I'll wait heaven's high decree,
Till the appointed period come,

When death shall set me free.'

FOURTEENTH DAY.-EVENING.

not charm disquietude away: with this, in the worst privations of penury, in the face of the world's scorn and the proud man's contumely, on the wasting bed of disease, amid the weariness and pain of dissolution, the believer is happy With a reconciled Father in heaven, with a interceding Redeemer, with a witnessing Spirit with an approving conscience, what has he t fear-who can intermeddle with his joy?

Now, satan is ever ready with all his arts t obstruct us in the acquisition of such a blessin as this, because it is utterly subversive of h kingdom. He fills us with doubts and fears

And the God of peace shall bruise satan under he tries to disturb us with hard thoughts of Go your feet shortly,' Rom. xvi. 20.

ONE of the most beautiful titles of Jesus in the scriptures is the Prince of peace.' And well may he be so styled. At his birth the herald angels sang,Peace on earth, good-will to men ;' his ministers are ambassadors of peace; his gospel is a message of peace;' he makes peace through the blood of his cross;' himself is the 'peace' of the believer.

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and miserable forebodings of guilt-he tempts at times into dejection, and despondency, a despair. But our consolation is, that throu Christ Jesus, though he be our enemy, he is conquered enemy. He cannot hurt us if we a here stedfastly to our Saviour, and fail not implore the constant supply of his grace to dir and strengthen us in the evil hour. Faith a prayer are the weapons of proof which he can

Let us consider the way in which this blessing stand. is secured, and of what value it is.

Naturally we are enemies to God, fearing him, hating him—and, as enemies, he cannot suffer us to live in quiet, 'There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.' But there is reconciliation with God through his Son! By grace he draws us nigh to him in the name of Jesus; he shows us the suitableness of the gospel salvation to our case as guilty and polluted sinners, and enables us with our whole heart to accept it;and then he enters into a covenant with us, saying, I will be no more wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee;'-being justified by faith we have peace with God. And to peace with God succeeds peace of conscience. Who shall lay any thing to our charge? The demands of the law are satisfied in our stead-and the Judge is wellpleased. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again. We look to divine mercy leagued with divine

And yet strive as we may, we must expect in this life to be complete victors: till death call us hence, will he be bruised utte under our feet. As long as we carry about w us a body of sin in an evil world, we have wage a keen and continual warfare with great enemy of souls; and the calm we do e is but an armed truce' maintained with sword in our hands. Ah! but there is not to hurt or destroy in all that holy moun whither death leads the weary pilgrim of f the arrows of the tempter cannot reach there. O that I had wings like a dove then would I flee away and be at rest.'

There is another truth which very naturally gests itself in connection with such reflection these. All they who have found peace with G Christ delight to live in peace with one ano brotherly communion is one of the tests of discipleship. And why should not all be together in heart and spirit as well as in

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They have one faith, one Lord, one baptism- nor his promise can ever fail. However hard they have the same hopes, and the same pro- and obdurate our hearts are, the word of the mises and privileges-they are devoted to the Lord is as 'fire, and as the hammer that breaketh same cause, and subjects of the same gracious the rock in pieces;' and we are melted and subgovernment-fellow-pilgrims are they in the dued before it. However haughty we be in our journey of life, and heirs together of one heaven. rebellion, the grace of Jesus is irresistible; it casts How blessed a thing it is for such as are down every imagination, every high thought that brethren to dwell together in unity! Ah, but exalteth itself against him; it constrains us to acsatan hates that unity! He rules by their strife knowledge him as absolute Lord, and with our and divisions—and therefore he ceases not day whole soul, and body, and spirit to become his nor night to foment them. And, alas! he has willing subjects. Now the way in which we are but too well succeeded. On which ever side we thus brought and kept under the complete obeturn, the eye cannot fail to witness and deplore dience of the gospel, is by having implanted within his triumphs. See how the poor church is torn, us, as a living, vital affection, the love of Jesus. and rent, and bleeding with a thousand wounds; Grace subdues us, and love holds us captive. O! see the professed followers of the Prince of peace there is no principle which exercises such sway hating each other, slandering each other, per- over the heart as this! It has led men to resecuting each other-the worldling's scoff, the nounce riches, and reputation, and honour as laughing-stock of the infidel! dross for Christ's sake; it has led men to abandon all the endearments of home and kindred, and to go out to the land of the stranger and the savage to preach Christ; it has led men to brave the dungeon gloom, and the rack, and the wheel, and the stake for the testimony of Christ; it constrains men still by a sweet violence to dedicate every faculty and every possession, all they have, and all they can do to the service of Christ. 'None but Christ, none but Christ,' is ever the cry of fervent faith: 'I charge ye, daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my Beloved, that ye tell him I am sick of love,'

And yet the book of prophecy declares that all these sad breaches shall assuredly be healed. The kingdom of satan shall totter and fall: the God of peace shall bruise satan shortly under the feet of his Son. The day is coming when the mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills righteousness;' the day is coming when the soldiers of the cross shall league together with lines unrent and confederate banner' against the common foe, and gather from the north, and the south, and the east, and the west, and go forth to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Great God, in That we may form some estimate of its influthy great mercy let it come speedily! I will ence on the frame and tenor of a man's characpray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall pros-ter, see how changed he is since he yielded himper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, self to the love of his Saviour.' and prosperity within thy palaces. brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee.'

FIFTEENTH DAY.-MORNING.

For my

Once the sanctuary was a weariness to him, now it is his joy and song, for Jesus is there. Once the sabbath was in his eye the dullest day in all the week; now he longs till it come round again, for it reminds him of the triumphs of Jesus. Once his prayers were barren and heartless; now his choicest moments are spent at the footstool of the throne, because he pleads with his God in the

And bringing into captivity every thought to the name of Jesus. Once he preferred all other books obedience of Christ,' 2 Cor. x. 5.

within us.

to the bible; now he meditates in it day and OUR greatest sorrow here as Christians arises night, and the oftener he reads, he likes it the from the body of sin we carry about with us- better, because it testifies of Jesus. Once he from the working of yet unsubdued corruption talked about any thing, and every thing but reThe flesh lusteth against the spirit, ligion; now it is his pleasantest theme, for he and the spirit against the flesh, so that the good cannot cease speaking of Jesus. Once he chose we would we do not, and the evil which we his companions out of the gay, and the foolish, would not, that we do'-'even when we mean and the frivolous; now his communion is with to do good, evil is present with us.' the household of faith, for on each member of it he delights to trace the image of Jesus. And let us not suppose that the change he has thus undergone is a partial and a temporary change. 'If

But the power of Christ as King is pledged to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of his gospel-and neither his power

any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old | ing them down to death is lifted off, and they have things are passed away, behold all things are be- found Jesus, and through Jesus, peace with their come new.' He has new hopes and new fears, Father in heaven, and a heritage in their Father's new duties and new pursuits, new desires and house! There are none so happy, none in all the new aversions, new joys and new sorrows. The world so happy as they. They are beautified same things which he did before he does now in with salvation; the high praises of God are in a new way, and with new motives; even his very their mouth; they sing aloud upon their beds; diligence in the business of life receives now a even though sorrowful they are always rejoicing. new direction, and springs from new motives. Their path is as the shining light, which shineth "To me to live is Christ;' he takes up the words ever brighter and brighter: their life is associated of Paul as emphatically expressive of the dedica- with the sweetest and softest imagery, smiling tion of his whole soul to the Lord: 'I am cruci- skies and green pastures, and quiet waters. And fied with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, hear how David speaks of them in the verse but Christ liveth in me.' which is prefixed to his evening's meditation, 'Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King."'

'Children of Zion' is one of the scripture titles of believers: their 'King' is the Lord Jesus Christ. And well indeed may they rejoice in him,-ever as they look on him in faith,—in whatever light they contemplate him.

Let them rejoice in his person. He is the

dren of men,—the chiefest among ten thousand.

Do we know any thing of this 'captivity to the obedience of Jesus?' We call ourselves by his name. In avouching him to be our Lord are we rendering him the unqualified homage of the heart and the life? Is he 'in us,' and are his laws our songs in the house of our pilgrimage?. O Lord God, thou knowest. Blessed Jesus, I desire to be thine-thine now-thine wholly-image of the invisible God,-fairer than the chilthine for ever. Do thou help me to watch against every disloyal thought and deed. Teach me to order my steps in thy word, and let not any sin have dominion over me. Alas! even when I am most diligent in self-examination, there is much evil within which I cannot feel nor see as I ought! Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.'

FIFTEENTH DAY.-EVENING.

Let them rejoice in his love. Many waters could not quench, nor floods drown it; it is the burden henceforth through eternity of the hosannahs of paradise.

Let them rejoice in the righteousness which he has wrought out for his people. It has magnified the law and made it honourable; it acquits and absolves from the condemnation of sin; it furnishes a right to the tree of life.

Let them rejoice in his salvation. It is rich, and free, and full,-suited to all,-ready for all, -offered to all.

Specially let them rejoice in his omnipotent and eternal sway. O there is no single conceivable

'Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King,' element of decay or dissolution in human empires

Psal. cxlix. 2.

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which has any place in the government of Jesus! IN the eye of the men of the world religion is Death wrests the sceptre from the best and bravest continually associated with moroseness and gloom. on an earthly throne: but the mediator King is They chase it away from their social circles as alive for evermore, and holds the keys of hell and the enemy of their peace; melancholy they regard of death. The rebel may usurp the rights of his as merely another name for it. And yet never prince here, and the traitor may plot and betray; could there be an idler nor more slanderous deceit. but the subjects of the King of Zion count his The mariner rejoices when his little bark is rescued testimonies their songs,' and none that is unfrom the sucking whirlpools of ocean; the cap- faithful or covetous hath any inheritance with tive exults when he exchanges the dungeon gloom him. The impotence of an earthly monarch may for the sweet light of the sun, and the fetter for make him a prey to tumult and sedition, or his freedom; the weary exile leaps with joy when he ignorance may tempt the crafty to ensnare him is restored again to the old faces and the pleasant into destruction, or neglect of his office may beget home of his youth. But these are all faint and ominous complaints and murmurings among his feeble emblems of the blessedness of penitent people, or his tyranny may arm them up against sinners, when after many dark days and nights him to hurl him headlong from his throne. Ah! of tears, the light of gospel truth breaks in on their but our Lord knoweth all things, and his wisdom souls, and the weight of wrath which was weigh-is infinite,—his arm breaks in pieces the enemy,

In this character, I cannot help connecting him with that beautiful type of old, Jacob's ladder, hanging midway in the sky, and clustering with bright spirits! Down that pathway it is that the angels come when they are commissioned to minister to the heirs of salvation-and up it again they mount, to tell of another and another poor sinner repenting, and believing, and saved, and to make heaven's arches ring with the news! Along that pathway it is that every redeemed soul, since time began, has climbed to paradise; along it it is that every single prayer of faith has ever reached the throne; ay, and down it alone come every grace and blessing from the tabernacle on high which cheer and sustain men on the earth.

-he hears the sighing of the needy, and pleads | merits, and mediation of our Redeemer. These the widow's cause,-in truth he judges the na- are his own words, and they cannot be miscontions, and his folk with equity. A rival may strued, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the start up against an earthly monarch and dispute life-no man cometh to the Father but by me.' his title and defy his power, or the fatigues of And who can fail to rejoice in Jesus as the medium government may wear him down, or disease may of intercourse between God and men-as the waste him, or old age may leave him helpless and means of communication between earth and defenceless to the invader. But who of the sons heaven? of the mighty can once be likened unto the King of heaven; nothing is too vast for his superintendence, or too minute for his concern; his eye never sleeps, nor is his right hand ever weary; with him a thousand years are as one day, and one day as a thousand years. Well then it becomes all the children of Zion to be joyful in their King. For the present blessings he dispenses let them praise him; let them praise him for the future hopes he inspires. What more effective barrier could there be to despondency from within or from without than this, that Jesus reigneth! The crowd may rage; but he it is that stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves and the tumult of the people! Rulers may take counsel together and unite their lawless power against his church: he shall break them with a rod of iron, he shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. And why should any be troubled in heart who have touched the golden sceptre which he has stretched out, and avouched Jesus to be their King. Rejoice rather in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice: cry out, and shout thou inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

SIXTEENTH DAY.-MORNING.

Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name,

It is called the 'new' way: the former one, through the perfect obedience of Eden, has been shut up utterly since the fall, and shall continue shut for ever. It is called also the 'good old' way: the blood of the Lamb by which it is consecrated was slain from the foundation of the world. It is a plain way: the way-faring man, though a fool, cannot err therein. It is a safe way: no faithful pilgrim has ever been hurt or lost who trode it. It is a pleasant way: the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy on their heads. Ay, and blessed be God, it is a free way: there is no angel with flaming sword standing at its portal -the poorest and meanest may enter it without money and without price. Now, it is surely a momentous question, "How is this way to be To avoid wandering in the dark, we are all very known?' The answer is simple. The Lord, the ready to inquire our way when the shades of Lord alone, teacheth it. And how does he teach night are descending on the earth. O how much it? By bestowing on us his Holy Spirit. That need there is of far more anxious inquiry that|Spirit is emphatically the Teacher' It is he who we may not be lost in the everlasting night which clears away every prejudice, every obstructing lies beyond the grave? cloud, and guides us into the truth. It is he who opens up the word, and inspires us with a relish for it, and every day helps us to discover in it something new. It is he who takes of the things of Christ, and shows them to us in power, and conforms our hearts and lives unto his image. Without him we can neither know the Lord's will, nor walk in his statutes, nor fear his name: without Him we can do nothing. And how is this great gift of God to be brought down from

Psal. lxxxvi. 11.

Here I am a pilgrim travelling towards eternity. Now, the bible declares that to a happy eternity, there is but one way. And what is that one? Jesus Christ, and the truth as it is in Jesus. There are many ways to hell-a thousand different tracks and troops of travellers may be found in each gaily and giddily dancing or lazily toiling along. To heaven, however, the single solitary way is through the blood, and

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heaven? O we rejoice to believe that it is pro- | and however they may escape on earth, deriding mised to the fervent prayer of faith! Come, then, the threats of the law, the condemnation that and let us cry together at the footstool of the throne of grace, 'Teach me thy ways, O Lordunite my heart to fear thy name.' Come and let us plead with God in the name of Him whom he loveth and heareth always, For Christ's sake, lift on us the light of thy countenance take not thy Holy Spirit from us.' And with prayer let us join firm and resolute purpose of heart. 'I will meditate, O Lord, in thy fear, and follow on to know thy ways-I will delight myself in thy statutes-I will not forget thy word-O Lord, I will walk in thy truth.'

SIXTEENTH Day.—Evening.

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,' 2 Thess. i. 7, 8.

the scene.

THE day of judgment will be a great and terrible day. And there is no doubt that its terrors must be enhanced by the outward sublimity of The trumpet will peal-the dead will gather from the sea, and the grave, and hell at the sound-the Judge will descend in the air with his chariot of flame, and its wheels as fire myriads of angels will wheel their glittering hosts around him as he descends-on a great white throne erected will he sit with the beam of justice in his hand, and the assembled universe at his feet!'

awaits them is as sure as God's truth is sure. And on whom is he to take vengeance? 'On them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel.' Some, indeed, on the earth have but slender means of attaining to the true knowledge of their Creator: to many the glad tidings of salvation have never come. With all such the just Judge will deal justly. They that have sinned without law shall be punished without law-and they that have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.' The persons referred to here are such as are wilfully ignorant-such as are impenitent and disobedient in the midst of much long-suffering and many, many, gracious invitations and precious privileges. To them 'much has been given,' and 'much will be required' at their hand.

of evidence to condemn the sinner at the bar of the And let no one think that there can be any lack Lord when he is revealed in glory. Lack of evinitions, sabbath after sabbath, for years, he disredence! The messengers of Christ whose admogarded, shall testify against him; the blessed example, and advices, and prayers, and tears of the godly around his dwelling-place, shall testify against him; the godless companion who lured, or laughed, or jibed him into sin, shall testify against him, unvailing mutual shame and secret abominations; the Holy Spirit of God shall testify against him, telling of vexings, and grievings, and idle strivings, of grace resisted, of remonstrances stifled, of invitations spurned! His own heart, his own conscience will convict him: self-convicted, self-condemned, he will blench from the tribunal, and try to hide in dens and caves from the wrath of the avenger.

All this must constitute an august spectacle. And yet I believe that the chief terrors of the God only knows when the day of vengeance last day will not be outward but spiritual terrors. shall come. He has not revealed the date of Far more intensely than by all that is around it to any; no good purpose would have been him will the poor sinner be awed by the conscious-served by the revelation. But this we know asness of guilt within, by the burning conviction suredly that as men die so they shall be judged. that surely, surely, his iniquity will find him out. Amid the countless thousands around the throne, each soul shall stand apart-in fearful solitariness—because according to what each has thought, and said, and done, will the issues of the great day to it be rendered. O! that is a solemn admonition in the word, enforced by a most weighty argument, 'let every man prove his own workfor every man shall bear his own burden!'

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire. For what purpose? To take vengeance.' Ah! how little do wicked men dream of retribution be་་ ་ do not believe, but they shall see

To every man the day of his death may be
regarded as just the day of judgment. When
once the dark valley is trodden, the fate of his
eternity is sealed; beyond it the blood of the
everlasting covenant is powerless to save. Ah!
with what burning earnestness might the cast-
away spirit cry in hell—if it could cry in hope,
'Lord, try me yet again.' As the tree falleth so
shall it lie.'
lie.' He that is unjust shall be unjust
still, and he that is filthy shall be filthy still, and
he that is righteous shall be righteous still, and
he that is holy shall be holy still. O then how
doth it become me every day to practise secret
and searching self-examination! Am I ready to

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