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children, as well as young men.

But while there is in religion an infancy which is natural and lovely; there is also another which is unlooked-for and offensive-it is the effect of relapse. It is not of the beginning of the Divine life, but of an after period, the Apostle speaks, when reproving the Hebrews he says, "Ye are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong drink." We must not despise the day of small things. The Saviour himself does not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax-but he is concerned to bring forth judgment unto victory. And while the feebleminded are to be comforted, the slothful are to be stimulated; and all are to be kept from "settling upon their lees."

Every thing shews how necessary it is to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Your dangers require it-These are to be found in all the relations, offices, conditions, and circumstances of life. Your passions are not wholly mortifiedThere is the sin that yet dwelleth in you-The world lieth in wickedness, and you are passing through itYour adversary, the Devil, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. How much depends upon one instance of falling! And did not Abraham equivocate? and Moses speak unadvisedly? and Peter deny his Lord? And what says all this? Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

-Your duties require it. You have a family; and with your house you are to serve the Lord. You have a calling; and in this you are to abide with God. You have the exercises of devotion, in which you are to worship God in Spirit and in truth. You have to walk by faith, and not by sight. You are to have your conversation in heaven, while every thing conspires to keep you down to earth.

You are not Your usefulness requires it. to live to yourselves, but to him that died for you and rose again. You are to look not on your own

things, but also on the things of others. You are to walk in wisdom towards them that are without, and endeavour to win souls. You are to do good, as you have opportunity, unto all men, especially unto those that are of the household of faith.

-Your trials require it. Who but must reckon upon these in a vale of tears? And if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. To glorify God in the fires, and to recommend religion by its supports and comforts, when every thing else fails-demands no small share of grace.

Your consolations require it. Consolations are not only delightful, but they are even of practical importance in religion. They enlarge the heart, and enliven zeal, and embolden courage, and wean from the world-And you read of a peace that passeth all understanding! and a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory! Yet what do some of you know of these? More grace would bring more evidenceand raise you more above your fears and depressions-If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

Death requires it. Other events may, but this must occur. It is a melancholy day to those that have no God; and a very serious one to those who have. To think of it-to meet it-with triumph -or even with confidence-will not this call for more grace than you now possess? And what is the language of all these demands? Despond? Nobut be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Without Him you can do nothing: but through his strengthening of you, you can do all things.

Rest not, therefore, in any present attainment. Like Paul, forget the things that are behind, and reach forth unto those that are before. It is to be lamented that we are easily dissatisfied where we ought to be content; and content where we ought to be dissatisfied. In temporal matters we should have our conversation without covetousness, 3 M

VOL. I.

and be content with such things as we have: but here, alas! we are avariciously anxious. And though three feet are enough for us in the cradle, and seven in the grave, nothing will hardly satisfy us between.-But in spiritual things, with what trifling acquisitions are we contented! Yet here it is even our duty to be covetous, to be ambitious! And as before us lies an infinite fulness, and we are not straitened in our resources, let us not be straitened in our desires and expectations; but ask, and receive, that our joy may be full.

JUNE 20.-" Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy Name." Ps. Ixi. 5.

So then, they that fear God have an heritage. All of them have not an heritage in the world: and they need not be ashamed to own it. They have the honour of conformity to their Lord and Saviour, who had not where to lay his head. And though they have nothing, they yet possess all things-"I know thy poverty; but thou art rich." Indeed, even as to temporal good, they are above others. He blesses their bread and their water; and bread and water, with the favour of God, are dainties. And a little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked. It is not only sweeter, but safer, and will go further. For it is true, as Philip Henry often told his family, the grace of God will make a little go a great way. This we have often seen; and should have been amazed how some individuals, with their very slender means, could make a decent appearance, and pay their way, and have a trifle to give to him that needeth-did we not know that the secret of the Lord was upon their tabernacle.

Godliness, also, with contentment, is great gain. Contentment is a kind of self-sufficiency. It does not allow us to want what Providence denies. And who, whatever be his affluence, can be more than content? A man is satisfied with much less in a

journey, than he has at home. Now regeneration makes a man a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth: and then reason, as well as faith, says to him,

"Turn, pilgrim, turn; thy cares forego;

"All earth-born cares are wrong: "Man wants but little here below; "Nor wants that little long."

But as to spiritual good, they may well say, The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. For the Lord is the portion of their inheritance, and of their cup. His testimonies are their heritage for ever; and they find them the rejoicing of their hearts. All the exceeding great and precious promises are theirs. And theirs is the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them. Compared with this, what was the heritage of a Jew in Canaan? of Adam in Paradise? What is the heritage of a crowned worldling? of an angel in glory? Yet this is as true as it is wonderful "This is the heritage of the servants of God; and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

-For this heritage is not obtained by force, nor by purchase, nor by desert; but by bounty and grace-It is "given.

And we may know that we possess it. David speaks without any hesitation-Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy Name.

O that I could read my title clear. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion. I long to be able to praise thee as the health of my countenance, and my God. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. And show me a token for good.

Above all, as-whatever they may doubt or fear, blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled; enable meif I cannot say with confidence, Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy Name; enable me to pray, with supreme desire, "Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance." And,

"In the world of endless ruin,
"Let it never, Lord, be said,
"Here's a soul that perish'd, suing
"For the boasted Saviour's aid."

JUNE 21.-" Neither give place to the Devil."

Eph. iv. 27.

IF this admonition be connected with the words immediately preceding-" Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath;" the Apostle intimates that sinful passion arises from the influence of the Devil; and that when it prevails, we give up ourselves to his power. And can there be a truer specimen of hell, than a man in a state of fury and revenge?

But there is nothing in the case that requires us to confine the address to the repulsion of wrath. The truth is, that Satan has access to us, and in various ways is always endeavouring to encroach upon us; and it must be our object to repel him. The image is familiar and striking. If an enemy was trying to enter your field, your garden, or your house, you would withstand him: for you would see, that as you

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