18. Have mercy upon me, O God.

Ps. li. 1.

1. Mercy is the only plea of the penitent.-2. God

is its only source.

Have mercy, Lord, on me,

As thou wert ever kind;

Let me, oppressed with loads of guilt,
Thy wonted pardon find.

19. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? Ps. cxvi. 12.

1. A sense of extensive obligation.-2. An apprehension of inability to meet it.

The debt of love to Jesus due

I own, but I can ne'er repay;
And while its vast amount I view,
Augment it still from day to day.

20. I have set the Lord always before me. Ps. xvi. 8.

1. As the subject of most profitable study.-2. As the object of supreme affection.-3. As the Being whom I would ever consult.-4. As the Being whom I would studiously please.-As my standard of moral excellence.

My Friend art thou where'er I go,
The object of my love,

My kind Protector here below,
And my reward above.

21. Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. Jude 23.

1. The sinner's perilous condition.-2. The Christian's responsible work.

Wilt thou despise eternal fate,

Urged on by sin's delusive dreams?
Madly attempt the infernal gate,
And force thy passage to the flames?

22. If any man serve me, let him follow me. John xii. 26.

1. A service unaccompanied by an open profession, is in many respects objectionable.-2. A public and decided manifestation of our attachment to Christ is attended with many advantages.

Jesus, I my cross have taken,

All to leave, and follow thee;
Naked, poor, despised, forsaken,

Thou from hence my all shalt be.

23. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

John xvii. 15.

1. Evil is pernicious and powerful.-2. Christians are in great danger from it.-3. They are incompetent to protect themselves.-4. God only can keep them.

They who on the Lord rely,

Safely dwell, though danger's nigh;
Wide his sheltering wings are spread
O'er each faithful servant's head.

24. Cast me not away from thy presence. Ps. li. 11.

1. It would be painful to me.-2. It would be fatal to me.

Thou lovely Chief of all my joys,
Thou Sovereign of my heart,
How could I bear to hear thy voice
Pronounce the sound, "Depart!"

25. We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor. i. 23, 24.

1. There have always been objections to the doctrine of the cross.-2. These objections constitute no valid reason why that doctrine should not be preached.-3. There are reasons, of the most powerful kind, why the doctrine should be preached.

Oh the sweet wonders of that cross,

Where God the Saviour loved and died!
Its noblest life my spirit draws

From his dear wounds and bleeding side.

26. I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Ps. lxxi. 16. 1. When conscience accuses.-2. When justice indicts.-3. When guilt alarms.

When I am filled with sore distress,
Convicted of my sin,

I'll plead thy perfect righteousness,
And mention none but thine.

27. Mercy and truth are met together. Ps. lxxxv. 10.

1. What is mercy?-2. What is truth?-3. These elements of the Divine character are happily combined in the plan of salvation.

Mercy and truth on earth are met,

Since Christ the Lord came down from heaven; By his atonement so complete,

Justice is pleased, and peace is given.

28. The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. Eph. iii. 19.

1. It is incomprehensible that Christ should love such a creature as man.-2. It is incomprehensible that his love should prompt him to make such sacrifices.

His love, what mortal thought can reach!
What mortal tongue display!
Imagination's utmost stretch
In wonder dies away.

29. We would see Jesus. John xii. 21.

1. For his personal character is supremely lovely. -2. For he is the manifestation of the Godhead.3. For he is the object of our purest and most permanent affection.

A glimpse, a single glimpse of thee
Would more delight my soul,
Than this vain world, with all its joys,
Could I possess the whole.

30. Because I live, ye shall live also. John xiv. 19.

1. Our dependence upon Christ.-2. Our security in Christ.

Our souls shall draw their heavenly breath
While Jesus finds supplies;

Nor shall our graces sink in death,

For Jesus never dies.

31. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Isa. i. 18.

1. God requires nothing of us but that which is perfectly reasonable.-2. He condescends to show us the reasonableness of his requirements.

If he in thunder speak,
Earth trembles at his nod;
But milder accents here proclaim
The condescending God.

SEPTEMBER.

1. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. John xiv. 27.

1. When Christ died, he left to his disciples a valuable legacy.-2. This legacy is very different from all those things which the men of this world bequeath to their children, when they die.

I call that legacy my own
Which Jesus did bequeath;

'T was purchased with a dying groan,
And ratified in death.