have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.-xii. 35-40.

I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.— John ix. 4.

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.-Romans xii. 11.

To have all that practical mechanism in business, which precludes irregularity and ensures efficiency; and yet to diffuse throughout the transactions of every day such a spirituality of mind as proves that we are not merely chief wheels in a machine, but conscientious agents for life and for eternity—is a combination of qualities constituting the highest rank in the service of God on earth. Many possess one of these qualities, without much of the other :-spirituality, without a talent for business; or a talent for business, without deep spirituality; motive, without system; or, system without exalted purity of motive. He who would every day make this his motto, "Serving the Lord," must covet earnestly both these gifts.

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.-xiii. 11, 12.

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it re

C

maineth, that both they that have wives be as though

they had none;

And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.-1 Cor. vii. 29-31.

See, then, that ye walk circumspectly; not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Ephesians v. 15, 16.

"Circumspectly"—that is, with a careful survey of― 1. All the obligations of the Christian character;-2. All the dangers incident to our course, especially in perilous times; and, 3. All the helps which the blessed Spirit of Christ holds forth to us, while we use the appointed means of grace; namely, reading and meditating on Scripture, prayer, and taking counsel with experienced servants of God.

Circumspection such as this shews the truly wise man. For who but has experienced great evils from what seemed to be but a small mistake? We cannot, then, be too cautious. "Not as fools"-who soon tire of watchfulness, deeming it over-scrupulosity; saying, "It is a little matter -why give it so much thought ?"

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which ye received of us.

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us :

for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither

should he eat.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Now them that are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing. 2 Thessalonians iii. 6-13.

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.-1 Timothy v. 5.

The feeblest and most weary of God's family, wielding the strongest spiritual weapons!-thus filling up sad, lonely, sleepless hours with joys and triumphs less known before; interrupted, as they were, or abated, by caring for the things of the world, to please another. Extreme old age, thus sanctified, is cheerful. (See Luke ii. 36-38.)

But exhort-one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.-Hebrews iii. 13.

Sin deceives, not only by its insinuating approaches, and by its temporary gratifications; but, most of all, by its power to lull the heart with promises of future amendment and forgiveness, grounded not in faith, but in presumption. As soon as the sinner has hushed up his compunctions with, "To-morrow," that moment his heart becomes hardened for "To-day." And what shall soften it To-morrow? How can he doubt, but that it will become harder and harder, by every day's procrastination? Of how much more value to him is one To-day, than a thousand such To-morrows, with which he is always deluding himself!

Go to now, ye that say, To-day, or to-morrow, we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain;

row.

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morFor what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.-James iv. 13-15.

Eagerness and Anxiety are, as it were, the two feelers of the mind, reaching out into time future: Eagerness, darting forward and apprehending some imagined good; Anxiety, sensitively forecasting many evils, some of which never come. Eagerness is the raging fever of youth; Anxiety, the low fever of later years. Both these dispositions, though in different ways, dishonour God, and disturb our peace. When very eager about a matter, we should suspect all is not right: when very anxious, we may be equally sure something is wrong. A placid, cheerful and regular activity can only proceed from a hearty disposition to do and suffer the whole will of God, during all the time of our pilgrimage. "Thy will be done!" expresses the thing best.

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.-1 Peter iv. 7.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.-2 Peter iii. 8.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!→→→ Revelation i. 8.-xxii. 20.

TEMPER.

AND he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son ; and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.-Genesis xliii. 29-31.

We have here a remarkable exemplification of the rapid and powerful movements of human TEMPER. Three perfectly distinct emotions, yet all of them becoming his situation, were at work in the heart of Joseph. Nature