These images excite in us the feelings of disgust and aversion; and they are used, not only to show the loathsomeness of such a return to evil, and the degraded condition of these unhappy persons in the sight of God, and of all pure and happy spirits; but also to remind us, that as the instinct of these inferior creatures impels them to what is congenial to their nature, so "the old man 291 in us is ever liable to break out again in its evil tendencies, unless we are continually watchful to keep it under, and bring it into subjection.2

The restraints against evil which are only outward are of little real avail. King Joash3 did that which was right all the days of Jehoiada the priest; but when the restraint and awe of that faithful servant of God was removed, he broke out into the most grievous crimes. What we want is

an inward principle of holiness; and we should continually pray that the evil nature in us may not only be restrained, but rooted out; that the old man be not only weakened in us, but so buried that the new man may be raised up in us.4

And we cannot too often reflect, that by any return to the pollutions of the world, a man assimilates himself to those inferior creatures whose habits are so revolting to the commonest feelings of our own nature. Nothing can be useless, which may serve by God's blessing to deepen and strengthen in our hearts the conviction of the moral loathsomeness of vice.

Eph. iv. 22.

21 Cor. ix. 27.

32 Chron. xxiv.

See the Office for the Public Baptism of Infants.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise; which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."-Prov. vi. 6-8. -See also Matt. xxv. 26; Luke xiv. 25-33; xvi. 1-12.

A LITTLE insect is here brought forward to reprove our sloth and thoughtlessness. We are desired to consider her wise foresight, and her voluntary labour. Knowing that a time must come when she will vainly seek her usual food on the surface of the ground, she "provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." She does not suffer the food to perish which in the winter she will rejoice that she had stored up against that pinching season; nor does she waste the time on the right employment of which her comfort will then so greatly depend. Her toil and perseverance are prompted only by that natural instinct, which suggests to her, that in the season of dearth she shall need the store which she lays up in the season

of plenty. She "has no guide, overseer, or ruler.” With skilful and patient labour she adds, day by day, to her heap; and wants no continual exhortation of others to stir her up to her duty and employment.

2

How different is this diligence from the conduct of thoughtless man, who knows that a day is coming when he shall need an interest in his Redeemer's sufferings, and a treasure laid up in heaven; and yet takes no pains to secure the one, nor to provide the other! In things which relate only to this present life, we too often see the most astonishing want of foresight; and how for lack of exertion and painstaking, men let slip the most important advantages. The wise king has brought before us the picture of a sluggard turning on his bed, as a door turneth on its hinges; and when he should rouse himself to useful labour, still calling out for more indulgence in sleep. Perhaps too many of us have at times given way to this disgraceful sluggishness; and the time of prayer or other duties has been shortened, because the time of sleep has been improperly prolonged. It is not easy to say in how great a degree health of mind, as well as health of body, depends upon early rising. Unless some quiet time for devotion and study is secured before the turmoil of worldly affairs is begun, the soul will certainly languish, and it will walk far less happily in the light of the Lord, than if its prayer had been indeed directed to God early in the morning, and its eyes had then looked up unto the hills from whence its help cometh.3

Useful work of some kind or other, amounting 1 Matt. vi. 20. 2 Prov. xxiv. 33, and xxvi. 14.

3 Ps. v. 3, and cxxi. 1.

in reality to such labour or occupation as requires diligence and self-denial, is the duty of all, whether rich or poor; and the poor have one great advantage in this respect over the rich, inasmuch as they have less temptation to that idleness and pride which so often go along with fulness of bread.' Many, however, are active and painstaking in the affairs of this life, who are asleep about their souls, and still put off the discharge of their duties. They take no pains to provide the oil without which the lamp will be useless; and though God sends His ministers to rouse them to a sense of their true interest, His overseers to guide them and watch over them, they think only of the present life. Too late they will find that spiritual poverty surely follows spiritual sloth. Their "poverty will come as one that travelleth, and their want as an armed man. Their souls will be destitute of "the true riches," in that day when the greatest earthly profits or success will be vain and useless.

3

Lord, give me grace that I may be wise in time; and learn even from the ant the lesson of foresight and diligence, for which Thou sendest me to her. In life let me prepare for death; and in time, for eternity.

'Ezek. xvi. 49.

2 Matt. xxv. 1.
4 Luke xvi. 11.

3 Prov. vi. 11.

XIX. THE MARRIAGE UNION.

"The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church."-Eph. v. 23-32.-See also Isa, liv. 5; Rev. xix. 7, 9.

As a royal bride is the emblem of the Church of Christ, so the marriage-union is the type of the mysterious relation between Him and His people.