knew that God's word is not bound by the rules of human criticism; and that metaphors should not be carried too far. It is wise to know when to drop them. The assurance addresses itself to a common feeling in our nature-It is hope of success that induces men to labour. Who, if he knew it, would exert himself in vain ? To a Jew such an address would be peculiarly suited; as on his obedience, prosperity was invariably to attend. With regard to the Christian, the promise cannot be taken without some distinction. In his temporal enterprizes he is not authorised to look for his success in all he does. His plans and wishes may often fail; but welfare requires this; and all things work together for good to them that love God: while success is sure to attend him in his spiritual affairs. There he cannot labour in vain. He prays, and he shall prosper in it; "for he that seeketh findeth." He fights, and he shall prosper in it; for "his enemies shall be found liars unto him, and he shall tread upon their high places." He sows, and he shall prosper; for "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy"—AND WHAT

SOEVER HE DOETH SHALL PROSPER.

AUGUST 29." For thou hast a little strength."-Rev. iii. 8.

THIS is the language of Christ to the Church of Philadelphia. It is obviously spoken in a way of commendation and encouragement. Though they were distinguished by no great attainments, there was something in them really good and spiritual; and therefore he would not deprive them of the privileges they enjoyed, but would even enlarge them: "I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it-for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and not denied my name." It is thus he comes down like rain on the mown grass. It is thus he verifies the prediction, bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory."

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It would be an abuse of this passage were we, in consequence of it, to become remiss in duty, and, as the Scripture says, "to settle upon our lees." It shows a low aim, and is even an unfavourable proof of a man's sincerity, when he only seeks to be satisfied of the existence of his religion and of his eternal safety. We ought to be anxious, not only to have life, but to have it more abundantly. We should be concerned for the honour of God, and our usefulness to men. By the weakness of our grace we lose much in a way of evidence and comfort. We are commanded to grow in grace;" and are assured that God "giveth more grace." Indeed the prin ciple naturally urges the progress, and they who have tasted that the Lord is gracious will desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby.

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But the declaration does afford " strong consolation." And such consolation the Apostle tells us is necessary, not only to them that are fleeing, but "to them that have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before them." It is no easy thing when persons are pressed down by a sense of their vileness and imperfections to keep them from fearing that they have no part nor lot in the matter, and that their hearts are not right in the sight of God. They are prone

to judge of the truth of their grace by the degree of it; and lose the comfort derivable from what they have, in thinking of what they have not. Comparing themselves with saints of great eminence, and dwindling into nothing before them, they forget that in the household of faith there are various ages and statures; and that those who are not "fullgrown men" may be "little children." The fold of the heavenly Shepherd contains not only sheep but lambs, and he gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom.

The weakness of our grace should therefore humble us, but not drive us to despair; and while we lament that we have not more, we should be thankful that we have any. Though the mixture is lamentable, the Lord will not reject the ore for the dross adhering to it; and will in due time separate the one from the other. As soon as it is sown we say, This is a field of wheat. The blade is not the full corn in the ear, but it will become so-" Four months and then cometh harvest." If it be but the dawn with us at present, the dawn, though less than the day, is better than the night,) and proves that the sun is rising, and at hand; and what shall stop his course, or turn him aside? And “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

What a lovely Being have we before us! He is fairer than the children of men! Let us give him all the confidence of our hearts.) (Let us admire, and praise, and recommend him.

And let us be concerned to imitate him. Hence it is said, "Be ye followers of God as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also loved us." Is he forgiving, and meek, and condescending, and tender, and compassionate? As the professors of his Name let the same mind also be in us: and let us remember, that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. If we resemble him we shall not despise the day of small things. In our social state as a church we shall not exact perfection, and if we have not all the satisfaction we could desire, we shall lean to the side of canAdour, and receive one another as Christ receives us. If we are strong we shall bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves. We shall give up things in which we could conscientiously indulge ourselves, lest we offend the consciences of our weaker brethren. We shall not press young beginners with high and difficult doctrines, but patiently wait till experience prepares for the admission of them. He taught his disciples as they were able to bear it. Milk is for babes: who could think of giving them not only strong meat, but the bones of controversy, which, if they happen to have a little flesh upon them, or marrow in them, are beyond their use. If a brother also be overtaken in a fault, let us restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering ourselves, lest we also be tempted, and thinking of him who took our infirmi ties and bore our sicknesses. Let us always have a word in season for the weary. Let us comfort the feebleminded. Let us make straight paths for our feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Blessed Jesus! Beholding as in a glass thy glory, may we be changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

AUGUST 30." He shall sit and rule upon his throne."-Zech. vi. 13.

A THRONE is literally the seat of a king, and therefore the emblem of royalty. Solomon's throne was made of ivory and gold; it was six steps high; and had the same number of lions on each side of it; so "that there was none like it in any kingdom." But a greater than Solomon is here. And a greater than angels-" Of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire: but unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." In the year that Uzziah died, says the Prophet," I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and his train filled the temple"-And the Evangelist makes no scruple to add, "These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory and spake of him."

Yet however sublime and unrivalled, it is his throne. He has dearly earned it; and he sees in it the travail of his soul-Because his soul was made an offering for sin, he sees his seed, and prolongs his days, and the pleasure of the Lord prospers in his hand-Because he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, God hath highly exaited him, and given him a name above every name. But it is his, not only by Divine ordination, but by the suffrage of his people. They are all made willing in the day of his power. They all acknowledge with shame and sorrow, O Lord, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us:" but they can all avow, "Henceforth by thee only will we make mention of thy name”

"Jesus is worthy to receive

Honour and power divine;

And blessings more than we can give,

Be, Lord, for ever thine."

Faith is our amen to God's testimony, especially as it concerns the record that he hath given to us eternal life, and that this life is in his Son. It brings us into his views and designs: and by enabling us to adopt them it makes them our own acts and deeds-and hence we are considered as doing what he himself does: "The children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and appoint them one head, and they shall come up out of the land."

Many, if they ascend a throne, can hardly be said to sit and rule there. They are soon hurled from it by violence, or drop from it by weakness. And if they continue awhile in it, they have little pleasure or repose: they are filled with cares and fears, and cannot do the things that they would. The sovereign of a hundred and twenty-seven provinces labours hard till the going down of the sun to save his prime minister, but in spite of him Daniel is thrown into the lion's den. What a wretch is Ahab, who, though King of Israel, is sick, and can neither eat or drink, because he cannot get a few feet of garden ground from a faithful subject whose principle he ought to have admired-But Jesus "shall sit and rule upon his throne." This intimates successful government, established

dominion, continued possession, full enjoyment. The King of Zion will never be deposed; will never die. Nothing can impede him; nothing shall perplex him; nothing shall induce him to change his proceedings-His enemies shall be made his footstool. He has enemies; but he rules in the midst of his enemies. It comports with his plan to suffer them to continue and to oppose him for a time; but he has them in derision, and can more easily destroy them than a giant can dash in pieces with a rod of iron a potter's vessel. He will display his wisdom and power in correcting their designs; he will make all their efforts to subserve his own purposes-The wrath of man shall praise him; and the remainder of wrath will he restrain.

For though his spiritual empire at present be limited, yet let two things be remembered-First, his real dominion is universal. He is not only the King of saints, but the King of kings, and the King of nations. All creatures are his servants, from a worm to an archangel. Not only are the treasures of grace his, but the elements of nature, and all the dispensations of Providence. He has power given him over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given him. He is head over all things to the Church. And this was necessary; for unless all things were put under him how could he make them all work together for the good of his people. Yet this is the case; and it will be a noble part of our future employment and pleasure to trace the correspondences, and to acknowledge that all his ways have been mercy and truth.

Secondly, though at present his spiritual kingdom be limited, and the subjects who obey him from the heart be comparatively few, it will not be so always, nor will it be so long. He shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. "Yea all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him."

Let the prospect and the assurance enliven our exertions and encourage our hope-" Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King."

AUGUST 31.

.--" And he shall be a priest upon his throne."-Zech. vi. 13. IN the Jewish economy, kings were not priests, nor priests kings. The offices were always separated. God divided them between two tribes and two families: the diadem was given to Juda, and the censer to Levi; the one belonged to the house of David, the other to the house of Aaron. And so evil and dangerous was it to unite them, that when Jehoash dared to burn incense his hand withered, and he was taken out of the temple a spectacle of Divine displeasure. But Jesus is anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows; he combines these functions and dignities; and is “a Priest upon his throne."

Something of this kind had indeed occurred before the Law, in the case of Melchisedec. He was priest of the Most High God; and he was also king of righteousness, and king of Salem, which is, king of peace. Hence the Apostle considers this wonderful character as a greater type of the Messiah than any of the Aaron

ical order-because he was not only to officiate as a priest, but to rule as a king.

Now let us look after the fact; and we shall see that he never appeared in one of these offices without exemplifying the other. Jo we view him when he was more peculiarly the priest? That is, in the days of his flesh, when his whole life seemed a sacrifice, and he died upon the cross? But do we here see the priest only? Does not the king also appear? Did not the wise men from the East come to worship him as born King of the Jews? Did not the winds, and waves, and diseases, and devils, yield him subjection? And when he poured out his soul unto death, did not the sun, and the earth, and the rocks, and the graves adore him? Did he not by a look turn the heart of Peter? Did he not promise the dying thief a #place in Paradise with himself? And did he not rise the Lord both of the dead and living? Or do we view him when he seems more peculiarly the king? That is, after he was received up into heaven, and was crowned with glory and honour, and had a name given him above every name? But do we here see the king only? Does not the priest also appear? Did not John see him "clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle?" Did he not see Jesus "in the midst of the throne as a lamb that had been slain ?" Did he not hear the songs of the blessed, saying, "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood?" Do not his ministers preach him as crucified? Does not his own supper show forth his death? Yea, says the Apostle, if he were on earth he would not be a priest. There he performed the sacrificial part of the office: but he performs the intercessory and benedictory above, where he ever liveth to make intercession for us, and commands the blessing even life for evermore-Thus he is a Priest upon his throne.

Whence, O my soul! see the nature of our condition since the fall. How necessitous is it; and how various as well as numerous enslaved are our wants. We are ignorant and need enlightening; and need redemption; guilty and need pardon; unholy and need renovation; lost and need all the salvation of the cross and the throne.

-And what a multiplicity of excellences and influences do I behold in the Lord Jesus! "Thou art fairer than the children of men."

SEPTEMBER.

SEPTEMBER 1." And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."-Luke iv. 16.

To a man of reflection, feeling, and piety, it will always be interesting and impressive to come to the place where he had been brought up. How many events will revive, and rush over his mind. It will be well if he be not afflicted with instances of early depravity, and be made to possess the iniquities of his youth. He must be grateful—“ Here I was sustained in infancy, and preserved in childhood." Here" the length of my days" made the outgoings