landlord has a right to his rent, you ought to pay your fair share of the taxes, and charity is a virtue that no Christian should live without exercising.

You are visited too, at times, no doubt, with afflictions, losses, vexations, disappointments, and bereavements; but if you enjoy the advantages that others enjoy, is it hard that you should endure the afflictions that others endure? Earthly trouble is not easily borne without heavenly assistance; but if we could discern invisible things, every true believer would see the hand of his heavenly Father weighing out to him, even to the scruple, the joys and sorrows that he requires, and cannot do without.

Among your visitors do you reckon profitable and religious publications? and if so, do you derive any advantage from them? Does their tone suit you, their science instruct you, their information interest you, their morality do you good, and their piety draw you to the consideration of heavenly things? If not, there must be something wrong in them or in you. But, lastly, have you been visited with His presence, compared with whom earthly things are as dust and dross? Has "the day-spring from on high" Luke j. 78, visited you? and can it be said by you and your household, "The Lord of hosts hath visited his flock," verily, "God hath visited his people?"

PERHAPS YOU WILL THINK

OF IT.

WHILE eating my mid-day meal, a sudden feeling of thankfulness came upon me as I called to mind the unceasing regularity with which my wants were supplied. In the frozen climes of the north, the half-famished Indian had, doubtless, wandered far for food; in the sultry regions of the east, the Arab must have roamed over spacious tracts in quest of water, while bread had constantly been given me, and water had been sure. It was a customary thing to have a table spread before me, but it was an unusual thing for me to feel truly thankful. Do you ever pass days, weeks, and months, without feeling your heart glow with gratitude for your daily food? What if the Father of mercies were to send a constant famine, wherein there should never be sufficient earing and harvest again for ever? He might do

this; the very thought is enough to make us value our bits and drops. Perhaps you will think of it.

It was during one of the last cold, misty, and miserable days, that I was far from my home without my great coat. I mounted a coach to ride home, with the rain and sharp wind full in my teeth, so that I absolutely shivered with cold. A hundred times have I put on my great coat without any grateful emotion for the comfort of clothes, and perhaps you have done the same thing. What if the Giver of all good should, in his providence, cut off every means of supplying ourselves with clothing, by destroying the flocks and blighting vegetation! The thought is enough to make us bless God, with the liveliest ardour, for our raiment. Perhaps you will think of it.

It may be that you were out in the open air the severest day of the frost. It was intensely cold, and seemed to freeze, not only one's breath, but almost one's very thoughts. Few days are more pleasant to those who have health and spirits, and who can move about with alacrity, than a fine frosty day; but for all that, when night comes on, and the tea-kettle begins to sing, it is doubly pleasant to draw near a cheerful, spiritstirring fire. I found it so, and gratefully rejoiced in the delightful glow that spread throughout my frame. How many times have I warmed

myself at the cheerful hearth without thankfulness! Has this been the case with you? What if the great Governor of the universe should command the supply of coal to fail, so that fuel should never again be abundant for ever! The thought almost makes me quake with cold, and should render us more thankful for the blessing of fire. Perhaps you will think of it.

The other day I looked at my Bible as it lay on the sideboard, and thought to myself how much I neglected it. What is a chapter or two in the morning and another at night, said I! why, if I looked upon it as the gift of God, given to warn me from evil, to console me in trouble, to direct me in difficulty, and to guide me to glory, I should prize it as a treasure, and commune with it continually as with a friend. Do you ever neglect your Bible? What a punishment it would be to us both, if an angel were sent down from heaven to close the leaves of the Bible for ever from our view! The thought is enough to make us value

the Bible. Perhaps you will think of it.

My thoughts sadly wandered yesterday morning as I sat in the house of the Most High, while the minister was preaching his sermon. Do your thoughts ever wander under the sound of the gospel? What, if the messenger of the Most High were sent down to close God's house, and to seal up

the mouth of his faithful ministers for ever! This is a solemn thought, is it not? enough to make us anxiously attentive to every word spoken by a faithful minister. Perhaps you will think of it.

A short time ago, I kneeled down, in a hurried manner, to offer up my morning praises and petitions at a throne of grace, and, after a few words, hastily rose to pursue some worldly object which absorbed my attention; but my conscience smote me, and told me that I had offered an affront to the Lord of heaven. Do you ever hurry over your prayers? What, if the high and holy One should issue forth his unchangeable mandate, "There shall no more prayer and supplication find favour at the mercy-seat henceforth for ever.” What an overwhelming thought! how precious it seems to make a throne of grace! Perhaps you will think of it.

How rare a circumstance it is for us to realize, even for a moment, in our thoughts, that eternal state of glory to which all true Christians are hastening. Not an hour ago I had a delightful anticipation of the heavenly Jerusalem. The city with the golden gates, the innumerable multitude that no man can number, the saints with their crowns of gold were all before me, as well as the Lamb that was slain, seated on his eternal throne; the golden harps resounded with celestial harmony,