that is done from pure regard-while we despise the splendid service that aims at the performer's own advantage.-Yet, though there was force in Satan's reasoning-first, nothing could be more vile and false than his application of it to Job. And therefore God permitted him to be tried, that his rectitude might be found unto praise, and glory, and honour. Satan said, "Put forth thine hand now, and totich all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." Then says God, Behold, all he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. But he bears well the destruction of the whole.-Then said Satan, "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath, will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life." And he is now covered with sore boils, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot. But in all this he sinneth not, nor charges God foolishly-and instead of cursing him to his face, he exclaims-"Blessed be the Name of the Lord!"

And, secondly, we must distinguish between unprincipled selfishness, and excitements to gratitude and encouragement. The supreme reason, as well as the grand rule of obedience, is the will of God. And the language of the Christian is, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the providence of God will often afford him opportunities to evince that the Divine glory is better to him than his secular advantage. But it cannot be wrong to think of the promises; and be animated in our difficulties by the view of what the Scripture has proposed to our hope. Thus Moses is not censured for having respect unto the recompence of the reward. And Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross and despised the shame.

And, thirdly, though we ought not to serve God for gain as the motive, we cannot serve God for

nought as to the result. He is a good master; and while his work is honourable and glorious, he deals well with his servants; and in keeping his commandments there is great reward. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

DEC. 2.-" And she said, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Matt. xv. 27,

To

To Him, said the dying Jacob, shall the gathering of the people be. To Him, said the evangelical Isaiah, shall men come. He is the centre of all attraction, because he is the only source of relief. whom, in all our ignorance, should wo go, but to him who has the words of eternal life? To whom, in all our guilt and weakness; but to him in whom we have righteousness and strength? To whom, in all our dangers and misery; but to him who is the hope of Israel-the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble? And, blessed be his Name, he is not only mighty to save, but has been pleased to assure us"Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out."

-But he may try the confidence-He has bound himself not to disappoint. We have here an application made to him by a woman of Canaan, who cried to him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David: my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." But observe the discouragements she meets with-First, his silence-" He answered her not a word." Secondly, the address of his disciples. is not certain that they pleaded for her relief at all: but if they did, it was in a spirit we cannot admire ;

It

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betraying impatience, and a wish to get rid of her importunity "His disciples came and besought him, saying, Lord, send her away; for she crieth after us." Then here is, thirdly, a kind of exclusion, which seems to place her beyond the reach of his commission, if not his pity-"He said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." All this not driving her away; he, fourthly, speaks as if he would add insult to rejection-"Is a dog to be treated like one of the family?-It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs""And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Let us consider this, as the language of a sinner, applying for mercy, in the prayer of faith.

First. He allows the truth of God's word, however it may reflect upon him-"Truth, Lord." He had, in effect, called the woman a dog; and nothing could have been more reproachful. We see this in the question of Hazael; and the offer of Abishai, with regard to Shimei-Among the Jews, too, a dog, was an animal unclean, and forbidden in sacrifice: and God's utmost abhorrence of a victim was pressed by cutting off a dog's neck-Yet she says, Truth, Lord”—I acquiesce in the censure.-A sinner is called every thing that is vile in the Scripture— a fool; a madman; a rebel; a traitor-unworthy of the least of all God's mercies-and deserving that his wrath should come upon him-And, Lord, says he, it is all true. And thou art justified when thou speakest, and clear when thou judgest.

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"Should sudden vengeance seize my breath,
"I must pronounce Thee just, in death;
"And should my soul be sent to hell,

"The righteous law approves it well."

Here, others stand out-but the convinced sinner is brought to add his amen, not only to the truth of God's word in general, but the truth of it with regard

to his own personal guilt, depravity, and condemnation. And till we are brought to this, the Gospel can have nothing to do with us. 'It is a remedy: but a remedy is for the sick, and not for the healthful. The way to attain relief and comfort, is not to deny, conceal, or extenuate our sins; but to confess them in all their heinousness; and, in dealing with God, to stand where his word places us.

Secondly. He draws encouragement from seeming repulse-"Yet, Lord." This is an exercise of spiritual understanding: but the absolute importance of the case makes the man alive to every opening of hope; and he is now under the influence of the Spirit, that is teaching him to be wise unto salvation. Thus, darkness is made light, and crooked things straight. Thus he rises above difficulties, which would otherwise be insuperable. He distinguishes between appearances and reality.

"I

know that, behind a frowning providence, he hides a smiling face." Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. If he wounds, it is to heal. I hope I am his, because I am thus. As long as he tries me, he is not saying, Let him alone. He would not thus prune the tree, if he had sentenced it to be cut down. I see what once I did not; and the discovery is painful-but if he was minded to kill me, he would not have shewed me such things as these. That be far from Him, to trifle with my misery. In vain the Enemy says, But thy sins are so numerous and aggravated-They are: but this is the very reason why I should apply for mercyPardon mine iniquity; for it is great

"Yet, save a trembling sinner, Lord,

"Whose hope, still hov'ring round thy word,
"Would light on some sweet promise there,
"Some sure defence against despair."

Thirdly.

He prizes the least communication

from the Saviour "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat

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of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table”and this is all I crave. The very same sentiment is put into the mouth of the Prodigal-There is bread enough in my father's house, and I perish with hunger he never thought of the fatted calf; or the best robe, or of the ring on his hand, or the shoes on his feet-Oh! let me return to thy dear abode, and I shall not covet the chief room, or the highest seat-Make me as one of thine hired servants. Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ. David wished to be a door-keeper in the house of his God. The least grace is infinitely precious. It is connected with salvation; and makes us the heirs of promise. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven.

Fourthly. He perceives the affluence and allsufficiency of the Lord Jesus. Though what I implore is much for me to receive, it is nothing for thee to give. It is no more than a crumb from a king's table-What is this to the viands on the board, and the resources of his wealth!-What I implore, thou wilt not miss-and I shall not rob thy children of their portion and plenty.

Come, therefore, to him, remembering that he is Lord of all; that he is not only rich, but that his riches are unsearchable; that he has not only fulfilled the law, but magnified it, and made it honourable that his righteousness is the righteousness of God, by faith-that his blood cleanseth from all sinthat in him all fulness dwells.

He

And he will give you, not a dog's place, and a dog's portion; but he will put you among the children. He will seat you at his own table. will say, Eat, O friends, and drink; yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. Was it not so here? Was he not charmed, instead of being displeased, with her earnest and continued application? Does he not commend her for not taking a denial; and for urging him, apparently, against his will? "O woman! great