Distracting thoughts and cares remove,
And fix my heart and hopes above;
With food divine may I be fed,
And satisfied with living bread.
Thus, Lord, thy waiting servant bless,
And crown thy gospel with success.

AUG. 28. "A garden inclosed." SOL. SONG. iv. 12.

T

HE language is descriptive of the church. We see here distinction. The garden is distinguished-separated from the field or waste ground without. So the church is distinguished by the grace of God from the mass of unrenewed mankind. We see here culture. A garden is prepared and planted. Everywhere it exhibits the marks of cultivation. So the church is prepared and cultivated by a Divine hand. The soil is tilled by the Word and the Spirit of God. It is planted with plants of the Lord's right-hand planting. It exhibits within all its bounds the evidences of skill and care. We see here beauty. In the garden, nature is clothed in her gayest robes. The flowers mingle their ten thousand exquisite colours. In the church, blossom the beauties of holiness. Here is the verdure of the trees of righteousness. The highest forms of moral loveliness adorn this sacred inclosure. We see here utility. The garden is for the service of man. It proves of the greatest use. So the church is useful. It is the richest blessing in the world. It accomplishes the most noble and sublime results. Eternity alone will reveal its worth. We see here pleasure. The owner of a garden takes delight in it, derives pleasure as he walks through it and beholds its growth and beauty. So the church affords joy to the noblest intelligences of

We

the universe. Angels gaze on it with admiration.
God delights in the products of his grace.
see here safety. A garden is inclosed, and thus
protected from the inroads of beasts and evil men.
The church is protected, by all the purposes,
promises, and perfections of God-by the redemp-
tion of Christ Jesus-and by the efficacious oper-
ations of the Holy Ghost.

We are a garden wall'd around,
Chosen and made peculiar ground;
A little spot enclosed by grace
Out of the world's wide wilderness.

AUG. 29. "Man that is born of a woman is of few days." JOB xiv. 1.

M

ANY are the metaphors employed in the Bible to teach us the brevity of human life. It is a flower-a shadow-a post-a shuttle-an eagle in flight-a swift ship-a flood-a apan-a vapour-a dream-a watch of the night. And human life is brief. How brief when contrasted with the duration of God! How brief when contrasted with the past age of the world! How brief when viewed in connection with the great duties we are appointed to fulfil! How brief when regarded in the light of the approaching eternity! How important it is that we should correctly estimate its duration! How different the estimate of God, from the computation of man! How much must be deducted from the longest life, for repose and recreation, and sleep! How little is left for the great business of salvation! Let us remember then, my friend, the necessity of doing at once what we have to do. Is thy soul safe? Are thy sins forgiven? Art thou in a state

of peace with God? Art thou ready to die? Remember, that there is a long-long eternity to follow this short season of time; and that that eternity will take its character and complexion from this time. That which you sow, you will reap through all the ages.

To Jesus, sinner, fly,

Swift as the morning light,

Lest life's young golden beams should die
In sudden endless night.

AUG. 30. "Unto them that are defiled and unbeliev ing is nothing pure." TIT. i. 15.

44

Nungodly heart," says an old divine, "sucks

holiest en joyments. Even the grace of God is abused to their own perdition. They taint every thing they touch. Their best services are 'abomination to the Lord.' Their prayers are turned into sin. The Word of God is to them the savour of death. The sacraments are poison and damnation. Christ is a stumbling stone. Their table snares them. Their prosperity destroys them. Whatever we possess, till Christ be ours, cannot be enjoyed profitably: the guilt of the person must be removed before the comfort of the gift can be enjoyed. Out of Christ, all comforts are but like a funeral banquet; or the prison provisions of him who is fed against his execution. The same promise which purifies a saint, by being perverted, pollutes a sinner. The same breath which warms one, cools the other; the one being near, the other far from, Him that breathes. O, sinner! till thou art saved by grace, thou art only a wanton under grace!" Make me, O Lord, pure in thought and

feeling and life; so that whatever I pursue, or endure, or possess, or enjoy, it may promote my sanctification!

Finish, Lord, thy new creation;
Pure, unspotted, may I be;
Let me feel my whole salvation
Perfectly secured by thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven I take my place;
Till I cast my crown before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

AUG. 31. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ROM. viii. 28.

HEN the Rev. Bernard Gilpin was on his way from the north of England to London, to be tried before the Popish Divines, he one day fell down, and broke his leg. This accident put a stop, for some time, to his journey. The person who had him in charge, took occasion, from this circumstance, to retort upon him an observation which he was frequently in the habit of making, "That nothing happens to the people of God but what is intended for their good;" ask. ing him, "whether he thought his broken leg was 80 ?" He answered meekly, "I make no question but it is." And so it proved; for before he was able to travel, Queen Mary died. Being thus providentially preserved from probable death, he returned to Houghton through crowds of people, who expressed the utmost joy, and blessed God for his deliverance. All praise, O God, to thy gracious and over-ruling providence! Here may leave all my sorrows and cares-all my losses

and trials—all my successes and joys. All things are regulated by power-wisdom-rectitude and love; and must issue in my present and everlasting good.

Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

SEPTEMBER 1.

"I will be as the dew unto Israel."

Hos. xiv. 5.

S the dew descends from above on the grass and herbs, so the Divine blessing descends on the souls of men. All grace is from heaven. This is the uniform teaching of Scripture-theonly rational theory of holiness-the only solution of facts. The descent of the dew is gentle. So grace falls on the heart. It does not come with ru mour and tumult; but in quiet might. The vi sion of God to Elijah is its illustration: the Lord was not in the strong wind that rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire; but in the still small voice. Grace is only heard in its results. The descent of the dew is sometimes plentiful. Especially is this the case in Eastern lands. So grace often comes down on churches and individual Christians in abundant showers. May the Lord often visit my soul with these "showers of blessings." The descent of the dew results in verdure, beauty, and fruitfulness. All nature revives under its influence. The grass and corn spring up with rapidity; the flowers reach perfection and disclose their beauty; and there is the promise of richness and