BUT one Thing is needful. And Mary hath chofen that good Part, which shall not be taken away f.om her, Luke x. 42.

The one Thing needful is to live for GOD. That which regards only the Life of the Body, and the prefent World, is not abfolutely neceffary, fince it is, on the contrary, neceffary for us to wean ourselves from them both, and fometimes even to facrifice the former. Nothing is necessary but what is either eternal, or leads to Eternity.- Martha's Employment is good, but that of Mary's better; becaufe fhe begins here below, that which the is to do in Heaver. Deliver us, O LORD, from those Neceffities which proceed only from Concupifcence, and likewife from every Thing which ftifles the Spirit of Prayer, withdraws us from the Prefence of Gop, and hinders us from following That which alone is truly necessary.

What then is all befide

For which the World contend?

After their Happiness

I can no longer rove,

The Baits of Luft, the Boafts of Pride, I need no more, who all poffefs

That in a Moment end ;

In JESU's heart-felt Love.

LL that will live godly in Chrift Jefus, shall suffer Perfecution, 2 Tim. iii. 12.

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When the Air is heated by the scorching Beams of the Sun, the Wind paffeth through it, and brings it into a cool Temper again : Thefe fpiritual Winds cool the Soul. Chriftians are fometimes fcalding hot in the Purfuit of the World, or perhaps of fome Sin, God ftirs up thefe Winds, and cools that Heat; fome fharp Wind of Diftrefs, of Confcience, fome Guft of Temptation, fome piercing Blaft of Trouble abates thofe feverish Heats, removes that Eagernefs, which was before in the Soul, after Things that cannot profit: That Wind which blew in Paul's Face, cool'd the Zeal for Perfecution which was in his Heart, As. ix. 1, 3, 4.

IN whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge,

Col. i. 3.

It is then in Jefus Chrift, that divine Fountain, that we must draw true Wisdom: It is of his Fulness that we must receive. He can neither be deceived nor deceive, nor be ignorant of any Thing. Chrift is a large Book; whoever knows how to ftudy this Book well, in the Word of God, will know every Thing which he ought to know. Humility opens it, Faith reads, and Love understands and learns.

Let us never never reft

'Till the Promife is fulfill'd, Till we are of Thee poffeft, Wafh'd, and fanctify'd, and feal'd,

"Till we all, in Love renew'd,

Find the Pearl that Adam loft, Temples of the Living Gop, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft,

BUT UT I would not have you to be ignorant, Brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye forrow not, even as others which have no Hope, 1 Thef. iv. 13.

Death is no other than Reft and Sleep to those who have lived a Life of Faith upon the Son of GOD, and who, when they come to die, are not found in the Death of Sin. It is a wonderful Effect of Faith and Hope, to make that, which is most terrible to Nature, the most desirable and neceffary› Thing to it, which is Sleep. Let Heathens be overwhelmed with Sorrow; let them despair under the Neceffity of parting with this Life, because they know no other; but let Chriftians look upon Death with Joy, as the End of all Il their Toils and Miseries, and as a Paffage to a blessed and eternal Life.

If Death my Friend and me divide,
Thou doft not, Lord,mySorrow chide,
Or frown my Tears to fee:
Reftrain'd from paffionate Excefs,
Thou bidft me mourn in calm Distress
For them that reft in Thee.
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I feel a ftrong immortal Hope,
Which bears my mournful Spirit up

Beneath its Mountain-Load; [Pain,
Redeem'd from Death, and Grief, and
I foon fhall find my Friend again

Within the Arms of God.

BUT he that doeth Truth, cometh to the Light, that his Deeds may be made manifeft, that they are wrought in God, John iii. 21.

True Christians are the Children of the Light, and the Difciples of Truth, and it is their loy continually to walk by the most pure Light of the Gofpel, and to regulate their Actions by the most substantial Truths of Christianity.He who feeks GoD alone, and is refolved to do nothing but according to his Spirit, is very far from having any Apprehenfion, that he shall know the Law of GOD too well, and difcover too much of the Holiness of his Ways. Those who seek the Glory and Applause of the World come to the Light thereof, and expose their Actions thereto : Those who, in performing good Works, love only the Grace of God, which is the Principle, his Will which is the Rule, and his Glory which is the End of them, are likewife defirous to have them examined by his Light, that they may praise him for what is found good in them, that they may condemn what is bad in them, and that they may improve and compleat whatever is defective and imperfect.

We cannot fee without thy Light,
Without thy Light we would not fee,

We have no Wisdom, Help, orMight,
But, Lord, our Eyes are unto Thee.