away. I felt happy. I felt the joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. I found Jesus indeed sweet to my soul." That was a time of wondrous love, When Christ my Lord was passing by; And brought his great salvation nigh. JULY 8. "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." 2 SAM. xii. 23. T HE gardener sometimes plucks his choicest flowers while they are yet in the bud. Death deals so with the sons of men. The lovely infant whose prattles are our sweetest music and whose smiles are the light of our dwelling, and in whom we anticipate many years of comfort, sickens and dies. The parental heart is pierced in its tenderest place. The fondest affections are crushed. The fairest hopes perish beneath the blight. None can tell the bitterness of this sorrow, except they who have felt it. Blessed be God, there is a remedy in his Word for every woe, so that his saints may hope in him. We have abundant intimations that those who die in infancy depart to be with Christ, which is far better. Of such is the kingdom of heaven. They are sheltered from all the sins and dangers of the world-they are safe and happy for ever in the bosom of God. This was David's belief; and he anticipated the day when he should meet his departed child in glory. May every reader of these lines who has been called to weep over the remains of children taken away be comforted by these truths! Methinks I see a thousand charms "I take these little lambs," says he, Death may the bands of life unloose, JULY 9. "Thy mother Eunice." 2 TIM. i. 5. MOTHER, whose children all bore the fruits of early piety, on being asked what the secret of her influence was, answered thus;-"While my children were infants on my lap, as I washed them, I raised my heart to God that he would wash them in that blood which cleanseth from all sin. As I dressed them in the moring, I asked my Heavenly Father to clothe them with the robe of Christ's righteousness. As I provided them with food, I prayed that God would feed their souls with the bread of heaven, and give them to drink of the water of life. When I have prepared them for the house of God I have prayed that their bodies might be fit temples for the Holy Ghost to live in. When they left me for the week-day school, I followed their infant footsteps with prayer, that their path through life might be like that of the just, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. And as I put them to bed, the silent breathing of my soul has been, that their Hea venly Father would take them to his embrace, and fold thom in his paternal arms." Would that all who sustain the maternal relation were such mothers as this! It would turn to their own advantage and joy, their children's welfare, and the world's good. Father of all! before thy throne, Grateful but anxious parents bow, And yield the boon they ask thee now. 'Tis for the treasures of thy grace. JULY 10. "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty. ZEPH. iii. 17. EHOVAH is the Lord of all worlds, but the God only of his saints. He is their God by purpose by covenant-by promise-by performance-and by actual possession and enjoyment. He has chosen them, and therefore they have chosen him. As their God he dwells in their midst. He is the centre of all their knowledge, trust, and devotion. He sees all their state. He sustains them under all their burdens. He defends them from all their enemies. He comforts them in all their trouble. He fills them with life and joy. All praise to his Mighty Name. May we ever extol his great power, by which he works our deliverance. We need a Mighty God. May his everlasting arms be underneath us, and may we hope continually in him! Whate'er the mighty Lord decrees The settled purpose of his heart How happy, then, are they to whom Whom he, from all the world besides, JULY 11. "Return unto thy rest, O my soul." PSAL. cxvi. 7. OD is the soul's true rest. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe has the following beautiful language in one of her works, on the perfect satisfaction of the Christian in the rest which he has found in the Most High :-"The traveller in a foreign land, who knows that he has a happy home with wealth and friends, is invisibly buoyed up by this thought, so that his mind plays like a child with every flower and tree-shadow, and none with so frank a gaiety joins the social circle. But suppose he should hear that his home, and wealth, and friends were gone, would he enjoy the way-side flower and the tree-shadow? So is it with him whose heart has passed from its rest in earthly things to rest wholly in God. His home and portion are from hence-life is only a journey. His enjoyment of the way-side flowers becomes like that of a child. His mind is so steady and assured in God, so clear of care, that it enjoys the smallest trifle with a relish which a divided heart cannot know. The picture, the tree, the flower, the cloud, the rock and stream, the social circle, are all full of a fresh and hearty present pleasure, which sometimes may seem like worldly-mindedness to those who know not its source. world sometimes comes to such a man, in the shape of success, riches, and honour; and he receives and enjoys it with a frank and child-like joy. Again it goes from him and he rejoices still, The for his joy no man taketh from him. For when the soul has fully surrendered itself to God, expectation, which before was always baffled and driven about like a dove bewildered in a storm, now soars calm and clear, and finds rest in his bosom. From thence she looks forth in the time of windy tempest, waiting till the rain be over and gone, and the time for singing birds be come. Eternal source of joys divine, To thee my soul aspires; If I can say, "The Lord is mine," JULY 12. "Lord, let it alone this year also." LUKE xiii. 8. OME years ago," said the late Mr. Jay, of Bath, on one occasion, "I had in my garden a tree that never bore. One day, I was going down with my axe in my hand to fellit; my wife met me in the pathway, and pled for it, saying, 'Why the spring is now very near; stay, and see whether there may not be some change; and if not, you can deal with it accordingly.' As I never repented following her advice, I yielded to it now; and what was the consequence? In a few weeks that tree was covered with blossoms, and it was bending in a few weeks more with fruit. Ah, said I, this should teach me; I will learn a lesson from hence not to cut down too soon; that is, not to consider persons incorrigible or abandoned too soon; so as to give up hope, and the use of means and of prayer in their behalf." God's long-suffering towards us is a matter for constant thankfulness and praise. We have been very unfruit |