Reflect on the privileges of the true servants of God, &c.

Pray that you may enjoy them, &c.

AUG. 31. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. Prov. vi. 6, 7, 8.

We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end; that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb. vi. 11, 12.

MEDITATION.

Industry, I perceive from Scripture, and the neighbourhood around, is both pleasing to God and beneficial to man. Man is entirely a dependent creature, living either by his own industry, or else by the industry of others. The ground, if not cultivated by the laborious husbandman, would soon be infested with weeds, and not abounding with luxuriant crops, as it is at present; and the surface of this fruitful globe, in a few years, would resemble a barren wilderness. Praiseworthy, then, is the industrious person, and highly

reprehensible must be the slothful one. To which class do I belong? Am I doing my duty, as far as I can, in that state of life to which I have been called? Am I providing for my family, and bringing them up in the fear of the Lord, and in as respectable a manner as becomes my situation in life? Have I been blessed with plenty of this world's goods? If I have, am I making a good use of them, knowing that they are only lent? Have I been liberal to the poor, and charitable to the distressed, contributing as much as I can conveniently spare to every laudable and good institution. And above all, am I using my utmost might to obtain the one thing needful? Am I labouring for food for my soul as well as for my body? God (I see) sends plenty of both; the Bible abounds with food for the former, the fields with food for the latter. God is truly the author of all goodness. Let me then make a good use of all God's blessings. Let me do all the good that I can whilst I am here; and if I have not been providing hitherto for eternity as I ought to have been, let me begin now in earnest to provide; let me begin from this time to imitate the industrious ant; not merely by providing in summer for winter, but by providing in time for eternity. Let me begin now to "lay up treasure in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”

The fields are now quite full of store,

By God our Father lent;

To make man love Him more and more,
For those things he has sent.

To imitate the fields around,

And bring forth fruit I must:
Fruit that will ripen and abound,
When I am in the dust.

SEPTEMBER.

SEPT. 1. If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people for all the earth is mine and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. Exodus xix. 5, 6.

:

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 1 Peter iii. 8, 9.

Meditate on the obedience due to God, and the acts of kindness due to your neighbour.

Pray for obedience to God's commands, and for grace to fulfil all the sociable duties of society.

SEPT. 2. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Prov.

xv. 3.

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. John i. 48. Meditate on God's all-seeing eye.

Pray for chastity, holiness, &c.

SEPT. 3. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. Psalm ci. 7.

Lic not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

9, 10:

Col. iii.

Reflect on the Psalmist's determination to banish from his household all liars and deceitful per

sons.

Pray to be kept from the company of such.

SEPT. 4. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Prov. iii. 9, 10.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly