water is sure. Spiritual wants are satisfied; and he waxes stronger and stronger. His presence provides sweet converse and communion. Our fellowship is with the Father. Our hearts burn within us as he talks with us by the way. His presence will be perpetual. God and his saints

never part companionship. He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." All through life he is at the side of the pilgrim; when the last hour comes he will accompany him through the dark valley, and conduct him safely home. May I ever feel the support and preciousness of the presence of my God!

'Tia Jesus the first and the last,

Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We'll praise him for all that is past,

And trust him for all that's to come.

JAN. 10. "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." ECCLES. i. 2.

T

HE Emperor Severus, who had been raised from obscurity to rule the Roman world, exclaimed one day in the hearing of his friends, "I have been all things, and it amounts to nothing." Philip the the Third of Spain, when drawing near to death, desired as his last act to see and bless his children. When they were brought to him, he said, "I have sent for you, that you may learn the vanity of crowns and tiaras, and begin to pare for eternity." When Sir Philp Sidney was approaching his end, he took leave of his friends, saying, "Behold in me the end of the world, and all its vanities." Sir John Mason said to those who were standing round his bed, "I have seen the most remarkable things in foreign parts, and

pre

been present at most state transactions for thirty years together; and have learned this, after so many years, experience, that seriousness is the greatest wisdom-temperance the best physicand a good conscience the best estate. All things forsake me now but my God, my duty, and my prayers." Help me, O Lord, to form a correct estimate of this world and all its possessions, pursuits, honours, and pleasures! Daily, may I hold it with a loose hand, and live for eternity!

Lord from this world call off my love,

Set my affections right;

Bid me aspire to joys above,

And walk no more by sight.

JAN. 11. "God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." PSAL. xlv. 7.

ELIEVERS are 'fellows," or associates of

Christ. He is not ashamed to call them his friends and brethren. They are one with him in his election. They have a fellowship with him in his sufferings. They share his perfect righteousness. They possess his spirit and graces. They enjoy the dignity of his exalted honours. And one day they shall enter into his joy. Thus in all things they are one with him; yet he has been anointed above them all. In election he is above them, for they are chosen in him. His sufferings were more intense than theirs, no sorrow can be likened to his. They enjoy his righteousness by imputation, and are justified through faith. their graces they derive from him. His honours are higher than theirs. And throughout eternity it will be their highest happiness to cast at his

All

tow.

feet the crowns of glory he has promised to besWhat privileges are theirs, who are the "fellows" of Immanuel! May I be numbered among them now and for ever!

Let me among thy saints be found,
Whene'er the archangel's trump shall sound,
To see thy smiling face;

Then loudest of the crowd I'll sing,
While heaven's resounding mansions ring
With shouts of sovereign grace.

JAN. 12. "Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." 2 COR. v. 4.

AVATER has the following allegory illustra

tive of the Christian's triumph over death. "It happened one day that death met a good man; 'Welcome, thou messenger of immortality!' said the good man. 'What! said death, dost thou not fear me?' 'No,' said the christian; he that is not afraid of himself, needs not be afraid of thee!' Dost thou not fear the diseases that go before me, and the cold sweats that drop from my finger ends?' 'No,' said the good man, "dis. eases and cold sweats announce nothing but thee.' In an instant Death breathed upon him, and Death and he disappeared together; a grave had opened beneath their feet, and in it lay something. I wept, but suddenly heavenly voices drew my eyes on high. I saw the Christian in the clouds. He was still smiling, as when Death met him, an gels had welcomed his approach, and he shone as one of them. I looked in the grave, and saw what it was that lay there; nothing was there but the garment the Christian had laid aside."

Lord, I commit my soul to thee!
Accept the sacred trust:
Receive this nobler part of me,
And watch my sleeping dust.

Till that illustrious morning come,
When all thy saints shall rise,
And, clothed in full immortal bloom,
Attend thee to the skies.

JAN. 13. "Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." PHIL. i. 6. ELIGION is not simply a notion or a sentiment, but a thorough transformation. It is a "work." Truly does Paul call it "good." All its operations and effects, on ourselves and others, and all the blessings it secures are of the best kind. Its seat is the heart. The first and chief sphere of its influence is within. No outward performances no words or works are of any avail unless the heart be changed. The fountain is cleansed, that the streams may be pure. The leaven is hid in the meal and works outward till the whole is leavened. The author of this work is God himself. He begins and completes it. He uses human instruments; but the plan the progress-the consummation are his own. Though now incomplete it shall be finished. His electing love-the covenant of his grace-the indwelling of the Holy Spirit-the promises of the Divine Word and the faithfulness of the Divine Character all are pledges of the glorious fulfilment. Frames and feelings may change; enemies may assault, and our souls sink within us-still this "work" proceeds. What grace begins must end in glory. The last stone shall be placed on the

temple, with shoutings of "Grace, grace," unto

it.

Thou, Lord, wilt carry on,
And perfectly perform,
The work thou hast begun

In me, a sinful worm;

'Midst all my fears, and sin, and woe,
Thy Spirit will not let me go.

JAN. 14. "A word in season." ISA. 1. 4.

NE day as Felix Neff was walking in a street

On the city of Lausanne, he saw, at a distance,

He

a man whom he took for one of his friends.
ran up behind him, tapped him on the shoulder
before looking in his face, and asked him, “What
is the state of your soul, my friend ?" The stran-
ger turned; Neff perceived his error, apologized,
and went his way. About three or four years af-
terwards, a person came to Neff, and accosted him,
saying he was indebted to him for his inestima-
ble kindness. Neff did not recognise the man,
and begged he would explain. The stranger re-
plied, "Have you forgotten an unknown person,
whose shoulder you touched in a street of Lau-
sanne, asking him, 'How do you find your soul?'
It was I; your question led me to serious reflec-
tion, and now I find it is well with my soul."
Never may I miss an apportunity to speak a word
for the good of men's souls. A single sentence
may prove to be an arrow sharpened and guided
home by the Divine Spirit. Who can tell what
blessed results would follow the entire consecra-
tion of the gift of speech to the salvation of sin-
ners and the glory of God!

Of their Master's honour jealous,
Let thy people plead thy cause;