JANUARY VII.

"For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure."-PHIL ii. 13.

No ground, then, for boasting of our own performances! The excellency of the power, and the glory of all good accomplished, belong solely to Him, "from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed." Has He set us free from "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience"; and made it our heart's desire that the Holy Spirit should ever henceforth work in us, both to will and to do? Then will His operation in our souls be as leaven, silently and secretly diffusing itself, till the whole be leavened.

First, the will must be wrought upon: we must be "renewed in the spirit of our mind." That being changed, the life and conduct will exhibit the power of the renewal. Observe, the fact, that it is God that worketh in us, is here made the motive for our diligent exertion. Is it not also our best encouragement not to be weary in well-doing; since, if we have Omnipotence engaged on our behalf, who can hinder, who can harm?

JANUARY VIII.

"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."-LUKE ix. 23.

THE disciple is not above his Master. "The sufferings of Christ" preceded "the glory that should follow : and thus must it be with ourselves, if we are His. Many stop short, when they read the words at the entrance to the way of life,"Let him deny himself." But there is no evading it, if we would go forward. Self, in every form, however specious, must be denied and cast away-self-indulgence, self-will, self-love, self-righteousFor these must be substituted-the reproach of Christ,

ness.

the will of Christ, the love of Christ, the righteousness of Christ. Self must not even be insidiously cherished, under the specious form of outward mortification. It is no part of Christ's service, to make or devise crosses for ourselves. It is quite possible to do this, and yet decline to take up the cross which He has prepared for us, or laid upon us. This is it, which we are called to "take up," and that daily, voluntarily, not by compulsion, each "his own cross," and bear it meekly, following Him. By His cross and passion, He has purchased for us the Crown; and just so far as we glory in the cross of Christ, shall we be strengthened to bear the cross for Christ, till we follow on, to share the glory of the crown.

JANUARY IX.

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."-PSALM lvii. 7.

As in nature, so in grace, an unstable disposition can only cause disappointment and misery. "He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven of the wind and tossed." The man whose heart is not fixed on Christ Jesus, the Rock of Ages, will be the victim of every blast of temptation, and wave of trial, and wind of doctrine. Is, then, my heart fixed? and if so, on what? This is all-important; since it is His own saying, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also;" and the only treasure that can profit or endure, is "treasure in Heaven." Let this, then, be the one fixed object of my life,—to do the will of God, and glorify Him upon earth: let all else be made and kept subservient to this. Here is the secret of happiness as well as safety and in so doing, instead of going mourning all my days, in doubt and dissatisfaction myself, and making my religion. appear gloomy to others, I shall sing in the ways of the Lord, and give praise to His holy name; first making melody in my heart, and then with "my tongue, the glory of my frame."

JANUARY X.

"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple."PSALM XXVii. 4.

WHAT is the "one thing" which I pre-eminently desire? Is it the one thing, not only most desirable, but absolutely needful? And if I desire it of the Lord, am I truly seeking after it? Am I diligent in the use of all appointed means for securing it; or content with words and forms? Is not the desire of many hearts to be far away from "the house of the Lord"? and is not every hour spent there a weariness to them? Surely then the dwelling there for ever would be unbearable. But the child of God not only desires and loves His ordinances here below. Being adopted into His family, he desires to dwell in His household for ever. In this life he is, as it were, in one of the lower rooms, delighting to serve, if it be but as a doorkeeper; daily training for higher services above. Death, in this view, is but the transfer to that nobler station in the family of God. beauty of the Lord," of which bright glimpses are seen by faith's enquiring eye in His temple here, shall then be fully enjoyed, yea, shared-"We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."

"The

JANUARY XI.

"He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them."-PSALM cxlv. 19.

THOSE that fear God have the assurance that He will hear and fulfil their desires; because, under the teaching of His Spirit, they "ask according to His will." Jesus, too, the Son of His love, is engaged on their side, and pleads for them. All the

cries of His people are heard, listened to, remembered. Not one is forgotten before God-the cry of distress-the cry for deliverance the cry, with tears shed for the sins or sorrows of others" the inward breathing of a sigh"-all are heard; and as a consequence, "He will save them." This is their great desire-salvation. He will save them both from the guilt and power of sin, and from the dangers that beset them round. Even when their bodies suffer, their souls are safe; and none can pluck them out of their heavenly Father's hand. What then is your chief desire, your daily cry, your happy confidence? Do they all turn to Him, the opening of whose hand can suffice to satisfy the desire of every living thing?

JANUARY XII.

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go."—ISA. xlviii. 17.

THE Lord our Redeemer, who ransomed us with His blood, the Holy One of Israel, is God even our own God, who is exercising His prerogative on our behalf. He "teacheth" us, for we are ignorant, by His own Spirit, "to profit," by His word, and by His dealings; to make a right use of all His mercies, and to learn heavenly lessons from His rod. "He leadeth us by the way that we should go"-perhaps not the way we would have chosen for ourselves, yet the right way-"the way that we should go." Since we know not the way, "for it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps," and are ever so prone to start aside from it, He vouchsafes to lead us. Shall we not then willingly, thankfully learn of such a Teacher, follow such a Leader? Shall we not rejoice in the thought, that He who redeemed us with His blood, will guide us with His counsel? Shall we not daily listen for His voice, saying, "This is the way; walk in it"?

JANUARY XIII.

"O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."-ISAIAH xlviii. 18.

How tenderly does God here express His desire for His people's happiness, and point out its source! How true that "in the way of righteousness is peace;" and that "the work of righteousness shall be peace; and its effect quietness and assurance for ever." The peace of God is likened to a mighty river, deep, broad, and unruffled, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, and by the Holy Spirit's power, pouring its refreshing waters into the hearts of those who hearken to His commands as well as His promises. As they listen, there it flows on, fresh and full; at times, it may be, seemingly checked and impeded, but anon found again in its own channel, watering their souls, causing the fruits of the Spirit to spring up, and blessing all around with the fragrance and shadow of the trees of righteousness. "Great peace," truly, "have they that love God's law, and nothing shall offend, (i.e. stumble) them," till their peace and righteousness are both perfected in the paradise of God

above.

JANUARY XIV.

"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." PHIL. iii. 13, 14.

CAN we each adopt St. Paul's words as our own? or, instead of forgetting, are we not too often casting longing, lingering looks behind, perhaps to past pleasures and renounced indulgences; in danger, like Lot's wife, of having our feet Zionward, with hearts turning back towards the City of Destruction? Or, if not so, are we deploring, in undue bitterness of spirit, the loss of loved