Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

when they think of a world's pollution, misery,
and woe.
Hard must be the heart that cannot
feel when such themes as these are brought before
it. Make me, O God, increasingly sorrowful af-
ter this sort. Let the condition of
my fellow-men
be more than ever the subject of my intercessions
at thy throne. And grant me grace daily to la-
bour for their conversion to thyself, and their
restoration to happiness!

Arise, my tenderest thoughts, arise,
To torrents melt my streaming eyes;
And thou, my heart, with anguish feel
Those ills which none but God can heal.

AUG. 19. "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?" PROV. xxiv. 11, 12.

OME time ago, a lady who had been remark

Sable for her thoughtlessness and disregard of

The

religion, requested a professedly pious lady to accompany her that day to visit another lady, who was also a member of a Christian church. visit was paid. The afternoon passed away. Various matters were the subjects of conversation; but the all-important subject of religion was not introduced at all. Both professors were probably afraid it would be wearisome and offensive to their worldly companion. In the evening, as the ladies returned home, the one who had proposed the visit remarked that she had lost the afternoon, as nothing would have induced her to leave her home

that day but the expectation of hearing something about religion; and, she added, "I can come to no other conclusion, than that there is nothing in religion, or that my acquaintances do not possess it, for if they did they would speak to me about my soul." She said, that for several days she had been greatly alarmed about her character and condition; but had concluded that afternoon, that if religion was not worth talking about, it was not worth thinking of. "Never," said the professor, who afterwards mentioned the circumstance to a friend, "never shall I forget that look of despair and reproach. I felt that I had murdered a soul by my neglect." Great God make me more faithful with the souls of men, that I may not be guilty of their blood! With an affectionate and everactive fidelity, help me to unite earnest and believing prayer for their salvation!

Saved myself by Jesus' blood,

I would now draw nigh to God:
Many round me blindly stray;
Moved with pity, I would pray-
Pray that they who now are blind
Soon the way of truth may find.

AUG. 20. "And Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom." "GEN. xiii. 12.

(T is a sad thing when professors of religion tempted by possesssions and pleasures, and the smiles of the world, pitch their tent toward Sodom. Yet, how often is it done. How often do men, in the choice of a residence, in the pursuit of trade, in the habits and customs of domestic life, in the settlement of their children, in the investment of their property, and in various

other ways, pitch their tents toward Sodom! Such a course will, sooner or later, end in disaster and ruin. Lot had occasion, again and again, bitterly to mourn the step he had taken. When he saw the wickedness of Sodom, and the influence it had upon his wife and children-when he beheld the ascending flames of the burning cities, and found himself cast out as a wanderer from his home→→ when, in moments of sober reflection, he mourned over the strange iniquities of which he was, afterwards, guilty, he counted that a dark day in his life when he "pitched his tent toward Sodom." Reader! be warned by the case of Lot. Take care that, in the choice of your pursuits, in the fixing of your abode, in the selection of your friends, in the education of your children, in all the affairs of life, you do not pitch your tent toward Sodom! Seek wisdom from above, in connexion with all your movements; and do all things in submission to the Divine will!

44

Through all the dangerous path of life,
O God, our footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

O spread thy covering wings around!
Till all our wanderings cease;
And at our Father's loved abode
Our souls arrive in peace.

AUG. 21. "Our justification." Rom. iv. 25.

OUR J

UR justification consists in the pardon of sin. And this flows from the righteous. ness of Christ's satisfaction imputed to us. For guilt is nothing else but our obligation to punishment; and, therefore, pardon, being the removal of guilt, must needs remove our obligation to pun

ishment. But no man can be justly obliged to that punishment, which he hath already satisfactorily undergone. And, therefore, Christ having satisfactorily undergone the whole punishment that was due to us, and God graciously accounting his satisfaction as ours, it follows that we lie under no obligation to punishment; and are, therefore, by the righteousness of Christ's satisfaction, pardoned and justified, ransomed and delivered from bearing the penalty of the law. In justification, there is the imputation of the active righteousness and obedience of Christ, whereby we obtain a right and title, and are accepted unto everlasting life. He hath fulfilled all righteousness for us, and we are accepted in the Beloved. The law saith, 'Do this and live;' and God accounts Christ's doing it as ours. And therefore believers have as just a claim to life, as Adam could have had, had he never transgressed. Justification is a gracious act of God, whereby through the righteousness of Christ's satisfaction imputed, He freely remits to the believing sinner the guilt and punishment of his sins; and through the righteousness of Christ's perfect obedience imputed, he accounts him righteous, and accepts him into love and favour and into eternal life. This is justification, which is the very sum and pith of the whole gospel."-Hopkins.

Christ took the dying traitor's place,

And suffered in his stead;

For man (O miracle of grace!)

For man the Saviour bled.

AUG. 22. "The Lord's portion is his people." DEUT. xxxii. 9.

T

HEY are his portion by election. He has chosen them out of the world. Before time began he and had thoughts of love concerning them; predestinated them into the adoption of children by Christ Jesus to himself. They are his portion by the redemption of the Lord Jesus. His precious blood was the ransom-price paid for them. The church of God has been purchased with this blood, and is now peculiarly Divine property. They are his portion by the effectual calling of the Holy Spi rit. They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that they should shew forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his mar vellous light. They are his portion by the possession of peculiar privileges. They possess the spirit of adoption. They have access to the Father. They enjoy peace through believing. Christ is formed within them the hope of glory. They have a title to heaven; and presently will be fully prepared to dwell there for ever. Such is the honour God hath put upon his saints. We are thus reminded of their security. We are led too, to ask the question, "What evidence do I possess that I constitute any part of this Divine portion ?"

To them the privilege is given

To be the sons and heirs of heaven:
Sons of the God who reigns on high,
And heirs of joys beyond the sky.

« FöregåendeFortsätt »