ones.

The consequence is, that in the end, they lose both. Earthly possessions come to an end; and they have not secured an inheritance in the heavens. Whereas the wise course is here pointed out. Let the first object of your anxious, persevering search be, "the Kingdom of God"; to have it set up in your souls, to advance it in the world, and by union with Christ to be joint-heirs in His Kingdom of glory. Seek also "His righteousness"; that of faith, for your justification, and that which the Holy Spirit alone can produce in you, for your sanctification. You shall not be losers; for whilst you "make His service your delight," Elijah's God will feed and clothe you, and body and soul shall be preserved unto life eternal.

AUGUST XIII.

"Herein do I exercise myself; to have always a conscience void of offence, toward God and toward men.' -ACTS xxiv. 16.

THE soldier's discipline is strict; the training of the athlete laborious and severe; but the christian is called to an exercise, nay, gives himself up to it, more self-denying and constant than either. To be without reproach amongst men is an honor, and requires much circumspection. Yet many are void of offence, and highly esteemed even among them, who would soon forfeit their esteem if they knew the state of the heart. What an exercise then is this, to have our conscience aquit us of offence inward or outward, toward men! But this is not all. The christian soldier has a far higher aim. If his conscience aquit him as to his fellow-creatures, what says it, when his works, words, and thoughts "toward God" are in question? Oh, how often, when men are praising some religious duty, does conscience condemn his best services, as "filthy rags"? And then to aim at this, not on special days and occasions only; but always, from beginning to end of every thing, and throughout life! This is an exercise! How can it be attained, but by constant application of that blood, which "purges even the conscience from dead works"; and that Spirit's aid, who can "cleanse thoughts of the heart"? Are we pursuing this object as steadily and perseveringly as did St. Paul?

AUGUST XIV.

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For 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. 14, 15. IGNORANCE of the morrow's events, or even of its coming to us at all, may well lead us to a diligent improvement of the present, and check all rash calculations on the future. Our plans should indeed be laid out with prudent forethought, to avoid needless waste of time in hesitating how to act. The caution is against thinking and speaking with presumptuous confidence of what we shall do, where we shall go, and how we shall prosper, even so short a time in advance of the present moment as "the morrow"; and this, because that life of which we boast so much, is, as to its continuance here, only like "a vapour, appearing for a little time," constantly changing, and quickly vanishing, so that we see it no more. Are our plans such as we can expect a blessing on? and are they made with this proviso, "If the Lord will"?

AUGUST XV.

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him; that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."-1 JOHN v. 14, 15. THIS gives boldness to the Christian's prayer. He studies to know the will of God, and to frame his petitions according to that will. Thus he asks perhaps for sanctification; and he is encouraged by the assurance, "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." Nor less as to the manner than the matter, of his prayers, does he seek to ask according to God's will. By the Spirit he has access to the Father, through the Son: and in the name of Jesus therefore he offers up his petitions. Confident that they are heard, he knows that in due time he shall have

them; not perhaps in the way he asked; but certainly in the best way. He seeks, alike in the prayer and in its answer, to have God's will done, and that his own will may ever be one with God's will.

AUGUST XVI.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”—Rev. xx. 12.

AND such a sight as this must we see; not as John did, in a vision, but as a solemn reality, in which we ourselves take part. Surely it were well oftener to look onward to it. Who are the

parties concerned? "The dead." Death is not then an end of man's existence. There is a link of immense moment between his state here and hereafter. "The dead, small and great," without any of earth's distinctions, shall together "stand before God," without the possibility of one being hidden. And then "books will be opened"-records of the life of each—the books too of God's written Law, given them for their guide and directory. Each shall then give account of himself before God. Things long ago done and forgotten will be brought to light; and "according to their works" all will be judged. By those works must all be condemned. Is there then no hope? There is the Lamb's "Book of Life"; and all whose names are found written therein will be able to plead a Saviour's blood and work, as freeing them from all condemnation. Are we “in Him," and so, safe for that day?

AUGUST XVII.

"Enter not into judgment with Thy servant: for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified."-PSALM cxliii. 2.

GOD's most faithful servants will ever be the most humble. The more they study to know and do His will, the deeper

sense they have of their sinfulness and short-comings. Others seem to have no fears about standing before God in judgment: but the true child of God, as he looks at himself, cries, "Enter not into judgment with Thy servant-deal not with me after my deserts, or I must be condemned-I feel and acknowledge the guilt even of my best services; for however approved and admired by men, in Thy holy, heart searching sight shall no man living be justified." Nothing of our own will avail. To those who feel this, what a word is that which the Gospel gives; "A man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ"; condemned in ourselves, we may yet be acquitted in Him; and being one with Him, God the Father can be at once just, and the Justifier of all believers.

AUGUST XVIII.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."-ROM. iii. 23, 24.

THERE is no difference in the way in which men are justified, "for all have sinned," have gone astray from the right path, and so 66 come short of the glory of God"-of that glory, to promote which should have been their high and constant aim; or, of that glory which could be the reward only of perfect obedience. How then can man be just with God? That which they could not obtain of themselves, is offered to them freely. Yes; "by His grace" and unmerited mercy, sinners may be treated as if righteous. How is this? Can it be done in strict accordance with God's holiness and justice? Yes; "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." He hath redeemed us with His own blood. He gave Himself to ransom us from sin and its consequences. The price is paid; deliverance is proclaimed. Have we accepted it; and are we proving our acceptance of it, by our willing obedience to Him, who thus "purifies unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works"?

AUGUST XIX.

“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."-1 PETER iii. 4.

WHY is so much thought bestowed upon the adorning of the body, which only man sees, while the hidden man of the heart," on which the eye of God is fixed, is so often neglected? Outward ornaments must perish; the fairest form must soon fade, and turn to dust; all that human eyes now love to gaze upon must vanish away. But there is an inward part, a "hidden man," that cannot perish. It will live for ever, either clothed in the garments of righteousness, and beautified with salvation, or enveloped in the polluted garments of sin, and cast into the lake of fire. Seek then to have it adorned now with the incorruptibility of a "meek and quiet spirit;" that ornament which, instead of being tarnished by time, will shine brighter and brighter. God sets a high value on it. It is a divine gem. It shone in the Lord Jesus. Wouldest thou wear it also? Learn of Him to be clothed with humility; for He is, as He declares of Himself, "meek and lowly in heart."

AUGUST XX.

"And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."-Is. xxxii. 2.

To whom can these words apply, but to the Lord Jesus? He is to the sinner just what these things are to the Eastern traveller. Does the desolating wind of eternal death sweep over the plain; and dost thou see the tempest of divine wrath overtaking thee? Art thou looking for a shelter whither thou canst flee from it? Hasten to this hiding place, this covert: stay not in all the plain;