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review of our past lives, and see if there have been no unkind words on our part that we can recall; no unkind deeds for which we can atone? We ought, unquestionably, to live in peace with God, and in charity with all mankind; and if we think aright of the amazing grace of the Redeemer, in pardoning our manifold offences, we shall be desirous to obey his merciful exhortation, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you," Matt. v. 44; bearing in mind the affectionate ejaculation, "Be kindly affectioned one to another."

SUBMISSION.

I REMEMBER hearing of a dear lover of books, who had his library burned down to the ground. When his friends expressed their surprise that he should bear his loss with so much calmness, his reply was, "I must have learned but little from my books, if it has not taught me to endure the loss of them."

I remember hearing of another who had reason to expect that his dying brother would leave him a large fortune: "Your brother is dead," said the executor, "but he has not left you a single sixpence of his property." "If God had not known that I could do better without it than with it," was the reply, "I should have had it every penny. It might have given me many enjoyments on earth, but it would surely have hampered me on my way to heaven: I thank my heavenly Father for ridding me of the burden."

I remember, also, hearing of a third, who, when told that his enemies had taken away his oxen, his asses, and his camels; that fire had fallen

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from heaven and consumed his sheep; that his servants had been slain with the edge of the sword; and that a great wind had blown down a house on the heads of his children, and killed them, -replied, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Now what is the use of hearing about such instances of submission to the will of God, if they leave us as impatient under troubles, and as repining under losses, as they find us? These things should be as medicine to our minds, oil to our joints, and marrow to our bones. Oh for the spirit of some who have gone before us, who have borne affliction without murmuring, taken joyfully the spoiling of their goods, endured meekly and patiently the bitterness of persecution, even to death, and accounted all things but loss in comparison with the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ!

REST.

"I HAVE had no rest now," said an aged and afflicted servant of God, "for nine days. I have had no rest," said she, "night or day; and I long for rest; yea, I long to enter into that rest which remaineth for the people of God.”

As I knew that her mouth was usually filled with praises, for she was one of those cheerful Christians who are always singing of mercy, I could not but enter deeply into her affliction; and this led me to ponder afterwards on the blessing of rest.

If we valued our common mercies more than we do, we should love God better than we do, and the grace of our Redeemer would be more abundantly acknowledged in our lives and conversation. If the value of food is taught us by our feeling the want of it, and the value of clothing increased by our not being able to procure it, how grateful are we for food and raiment! If the air which we breathe, and the water that we drink, become tainted, how grateful are we for fresh air, and

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pure water! As it is with other mercies, so is it with the blessing of rest. When labouring under anxiety of mind, or pain of body, we vainly strive in the night season to slumber : when we watch in disquietude, and water our couch with our tears, oh, how earnestly we desire to partake of rest!

I remember that a man died, in the days of my youth, who had the character of being a very wicked man several of his neighbours attended him during his sickness, until, at last, there were few who dared to remain by his bedside. The cottage in which he dwelt stood on a lonely common; and the wretched man used to start up in bed at night, and point in a hurried manner to different parts of his room, where he said the wicked one was waiting for him. Many fearful nights were passed in this manner, without his closing his eyes in slumber. After his death, I heard those who attended him talking together of his terrors they described his afflictions as being very heavy; but what impressed my mind more than anything else which they said was, that “the miserable man could never get any rest."

What would not that wretched being have given for one hour of the peaceful slumber that we so commonly enjoy! If we enjoy the blessing of rest and peace through the hours of darkness, and have never offered up thanks and praises in an

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