ought ever to be just, because he is an example to his subjects and if he swerve in trifles they will become dissolute. If I cannot make all my people just in the small things, I can at least show them that it is possible to be so." As Christians we should endeavour to lead in all things honest lives; not simply that we may be examples to others, but because honesty in itself is right. In the smallest matters, as well as in the most important, we should observe it for its own sake. It is to be lamented that many professors of religion are in this respect no better than others; some, alas! are scarcely so upright and fair as their more worldly neighbours. Reader! let it be your aim to "provide things honest in the sight of all men." So may your conduct ever prove Whilst all your neighbours clearly trace JULY 24. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand." ROM. xiii. 12. T This life HIS is indeed night-time with us. partakes of all the ignorance-discomfortand danger of the night. But the day is dawning in the horizon. Its early streaks are already on the sky. Its light is suffusing the heavens. Presently it will burst upon us in all its splendour. "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; and the nearer we approach to the full enjoyment of blessedness, the more may we feel the attractions of Him whom our soul loveth. Many years ago I read in the Arabian Nights' of a mountain of loadstone. Ships at a great distance felt its influence. At first their approach to it was scarcely perceptible. There was a declining from their course hardly to be noticed, and it excited little apprehension. But the attraction gra dually became stronger, until the vessel was irresistibly impelled onwards with increased velocity. At last it drew all the nails and iron work to itself, and so the ship fell to pieces. The path of the just is as the shining light.' When first the believer feels the love of Christ, it is like a mustard seed; but it increases, and he is constrained by its influence to press more earnestly after the full enjoyment. At last the spirit can no more be kept at a distance from Him whom it loves. It flies to his embrace, and the body is dissolved." Welcome, sweet hour of full discharge, That sets our longing souls at large; Unbinds our chains, breaks up our cell, And gives us with our God to dwell. JULY 25. "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience." 2 COR. i. 12. REQUENTLY this may be the only present satisfaction we enjoy for sacrifices made and labours performed in the cause of God. We may see no fruit as the result of our efforts. Let us be thankful under such circumstances that grace has been given us to do our duty, and leaving with God its issues, let us enjoy the testimony of an approving conscience. There is an incident in the history of George Whitfield which, while it shows the principle on which that good man laboured, may encourage and comfort us at times when our efforts to benefit our fellow-men are disregarded by them. He and a pious companion were much annoyed one night, at a public house, by a set of gamblers in the room adjoining that in which they slept. Their noisy clamour and horrid blasphemy so excited Whitfield's abhorrence and pious sympathy that he could not rest. At last he said, "I will go in to them and reprove their wickedness." His companion remonstrated in vain. He went; but his words of reproof fell apparently powerless upon them. Returning, he laid himself down to sleep. His companion asked him rather abruptly, "What have you gained by it ?" "A soft pillow," he patiently replied, and soon fell asleep. Thrice happy they, who born from heaven, Devote their days to human good, And spend them in God's fear. ACTS JULY 26. "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee," χχίν. 25. His self with a party of his friends when a courier arrived from Athens and presented him with despatches, accompanying the presentation with these words :-"My lord, the person who writes you these letters, conjures you to read them immediately, being serious affairs. Archias laughingly replied, "serious affairs to-morrow." delay was fatal to himself and his friends. Affairs were indeed serious the next day, throughout Thebes. But Archias was not permitted to see their issue. That night, while he and his guests were feasting at the banquet-table, they were slain together. Thus it is with multitudes. They put serious thoughts and powerful convictions from them till the morrow; and either they do not live to see the morrow, or if they do live to see it, they find themselves as indisposed as ever to attend to their salvation. They eat, drink, and are merry. They buy, sell, and get gain. They marry, and are given in marriage. They hoard up riches, and secure fame. All these things they do; but " rious affairs" are neglected. Reader! are you putting off the consideration of serious matters ? Receive a word of counsel. If you have done so To-day if ye will hear hitherto, do so no longer. se the Lord's voice, harden not your hearts. Now is the day of salvation. Hasten, O sinner, to be wise, And stay not for the morrow's sun; O hasten, mercy to implore, And stay not for the morrow's sun; JULY 27. "But my God shall supply all your need." PHIL. iv. 19. HARNOCK very truly observes that, "a good man shall have what he needs, not always what he thinks he needs. Providence intends the supply of our necessities, not of our desires; he will satisfy our wants, but not our wantonness. When a thing is not needful, a man cannot properly be said to want it; when it is needful, a good man shall not be without it. What is not bestowed upon us, may not be so beautiful at that time wherein we desire it; for 'everything is beautiful in its season.' He that did not want God's kindness to renew him, shall never want God's kindness to supply him; his hand shall not be wanting to give, when his heart hath been so large in working. Others live that have an interest only in common providence; but good men have providence cabineted in a promise, and assured to them by a deed of covenant conveyance. He was a provider before, he hath made himself now your debtor. You might pray for his providential care before with a common faith, now with a more especial expostulation; for, in his promise, he hath given a good man the key of the chest of his providence, because it is the promise of this life, and that which is to come;' of this life, not to our desires, but necessities; of the life to come, to both, wherein they shall have whatsoever they can want, and whatsoever they can desire." Fear him, ye saints! and you will then Have nothing else to fear; Make you his service your delight, Your wants shall be his care. JULY 28. "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." REV. xiii. 8. 44 T HE Lamb slain," represents both the character and the work of Jesus Christ. As a lamb he was innocent. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. In him was no sin. As a lamb he was patient. He submitted without a murmur to all the taunts and persecutions of his enemies. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he open |