the guilt and power of sin. And its efficacy is unlimited: it is open "to every one that believeth." Faith believes it, accepts it, applies it, rests upon it, and rejoices in it. Unbelief is the great hindrance to its blessings. Have we felt its power? Are our lives proving us not ashamed of it? Are we, as we have opportunity, making it known, to the Jew and to the Gentile?

JULY I.

"O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee; my soul thirsteth for Thee; my flesh longeth for Thee, in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary."-Ps. lxiii. 1, 2. THESE are the words of one far off, in the wilderness of Judea, from God's house, and the ordinances he had often enjoyed. Note his circumstances, and his conduct; for every child of God is liable to similar experience. 1st. He was "in a dry and thirsty land," a wilderness-such at best is this life to the Christian, compared with His Home. Often too, he finds his soul parched and barren; no fruits of righteousness appear; all seems desolate and there "is no water;" he is unrefreshed by the streams of grace, and is ready to faint. If such be thy case, consider 2nd. The Psalmist's conduct. His soul longs and thirsts for God, knowing that in Him alone can he find true refreshment. He cries out therefore, "O God, Thou art my God-my covenant God; early will I seek Thee, fervently, without delay, till I find Thee." Past manifestations of His power and glory in the sanctuary, encourage and stir him up to greater earnestness in seeking their renewal; and he shall not fail at length to enjoy it.

JULY II.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven; where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."-MATT. vi. 19, 20.

THERE is allusion here to Eastern wealth, which consists much in

gorgeous dresses, with gold and silver ornaments, apt in time to be destroyed by moth and rust. Our earthly treasure may consist of riches, beauty, lands, friends, flattering opinion of others; all alike corruptible and perishing. Here is therefore the needful caution against making them our treasure; and the injunction to seek, and to lay up for ourselves, in their stead, treasure in heaven, which can never fail us. The Christian, whose affections are set on things above, and who counts all else but loss, if he may but win that choicest treasure, "the Pearl of great price," has "an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Be it then our aim to have an interest, title, inheritance there; and all will be well.

JULY III.

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."MATT. vi. 21.

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THAT on which the heart is fixed, is a man's treasure. A man who has great treasure will be continually thinking and speaking of it; how he may secure it, and how make the most of it. And if it be a "treasure laid up" for him, to come into his own possession at some future time, he will be often looking forward to that time, and it will meanwhile influence his course of actions. Let our treasure then be in heaven; where unsearchable riches are laid up for all the people of God. Why are not our hearts oftener found there also? Because, tho' we believe, we do not realize what great things God has prepared for them that love Him. Here also is a test by which to try ourselves. Whither is my heart most frequently wandering? Where is it most stedfastly fixed? on the things of earth, or on the joys of heaven? on self or on Christ? Because my heart is sure to be where my treasure is; and if my heart be set upon earth, earth is my treasure.

JULY IV.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."-MATT. vii. 7, 8.

▲ THREE-FOLD cord of promise is here given by Jesus Himself, which shall not be quickly broken; a link between the suppliant beggar on earth, and his God in heaven. The words imply want, loss, earnest desire-want of mercy, therefore "ask;" loss of God's favor, therefore "seek;" an earnestness that will take no denial, therefore "knock" at Mercy's door, till admission be granted. And to each a separate promise is attached; "ask, and it shall it given you"-not as the reward of asking-the beggar does not claim a bounty for the merit of asking-but "it shall be given:" "seek, and ye shall find." They who seek not cannot expect to find; but they who do, sincerely, in the right way, and while the Lord may be found, now, shall not be disappointed. "Knock," and cease not if the answer seem delayed: unworthy though you be, the gates of heaven shall be surely opened to all believers.

JULY V.

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him."-LUKE xi. 13.

Ir earthly parents, with all the imperfections, infirmities, and corruptions of man's fallen nature, know how to give good and suitable gifts to their children, not disregarding or mocking their requests; how much more readily shall our heavenly Father, the Creator and Preserver of all, and the Father especially of those who are His children by faith in Christ Jesus, give the Holy Spirit to those whom He has Himself taught to ask for it. This explains the variation of words in St. Matthew's parallel passage; "good things to them that ask Him;" for God's best

gift is the Holy Spirit, the Author of all good, who will reveal to us "the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ." This He is willing to give to all who are willing to ask it; no qualification being required but want and desire, as shewn by fervent asking.

JULY VI.

"I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed; and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him, against that day."-2 TIM. i. 12.

OBSERVE here the Christian's boldness; "I am not ashamed;" I do not shrink from suffering for the gospel; it is not a reproach, but a glory to me. Next, the grounds of that boldness; "I know whom I have believed"-I have an object of faith, distinct and assured-I am not driven about like a wave of the sea-I know that He whom I have believed is no mere creature of the imagination, but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Lord of life and gloryin Him is my trust-of myself utterly weak and helpless, I am yet "persuaded," the conviction is thoroughly inwrought into my soul, that "He is able," as God over all, "to keep" safe amidst all enemies, ghostly and bodily, "that which I have committed unto Him;" my soul and body, my temporal and eternal interests. He will keep me, in life, in death, and till "that day," to which I look forward, "the day of the Lord," the day of glory, after the night of Time. Surely the Christian's portion is a blessed one. Is it your's? Is it mine?

JULY VII.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice."PHIL. iv. 4.

If we look within, and seek the ground of joy in ourselves, seldom indeed shall we rejoice, and soon will the light of our joy be put out. It is at best an uncertain, and often a deceitful spring to turn to. "In the Lord," and in Him alone, can true joy be found. And whatever our varying circumstances, since

He is unchangeable, our joy in Him should not vary. In times of sorrow, let us rejoice in Him as our very present Help; in perplexity, as our Guide; in danger, as our Shield; in happiness, as our Sun: yea, at all times, let us rejoice and be glad in Him, praising Him as our All in All. If we are disposed to go mourning all the day long, why is it? Is it not from our own mistake, in looking inward or around, when we ought to be looking upward only? Let us covet the spirit of holy joy ourselves, and seek to show to others what a joyful thing it is to be indeed "in the Lord," and so prepared to "rejoice evermore."

JULY VIII.

"Let your moderation be known unto all men; the Lord is at hand."-PHIL. iv. 5.

THE christian's graces are to be allowed to shine as a lamp, seen by all, and winning all by its quiet, cheerful rays to glorify God. He is neither to bury the grace given him, nor to make a boastful display of it for his own glory; but to "let it shine," and "be known," that all the glory may be given to God, and not to him. The grace here specified and urged, is "moderation." The original implies gentleness, forbearance, meekness under injuries, yielding rather than resisting and standing up for a man's rights. A very different spirit this, from that which finds favor with the world. But there is a reason-"The Lord is at hand' therefore, be moderate in your anger, your grief, your fears, your anxieties, your pleasures, your pursuits. He is near, to help, to relieve, to direct, to plead your cause with them that rise up against you. Fix your minds then less on any thing present, than on that which will be the consummation of all your hopes, and the end of all your trials, keeping ever in mind, that "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.'

JULY IX.

"I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of His holy hill. I laid me down and slept, I awaked, for the Lord sustained me."-Ps. iii. 4, 5.

WHEN dangers threaten, it is good to call to mind our past