probable we should have been led astray-yea, it is certain we should have been led astray, had we conjectured under the influence of the spirit of the world. For what do they study? What do merchants, princes, statesmen, study? What do the sons of science and learning study? What are the acquirements, by proficiency in which, men are distinguished among their fellow-creatures, and left on the pinnacle of fame?-But what do angels desire to look into? The arts of trade? the secrets of government? the researches of philosophy? the mysteries of nature? No. But the salvation of sinners; the grace of God; the sufferings and glory of Christ-"Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."

Now this fact is announced, not for our amusement, but profit. It shows us what is the necessary condition of all creatures, however high in the scale of being. It is a state of dependence, deficiency, and progressive improvement. Some imagine, as soon as we enter heaven we shall reach an ultimatum beyond which there will be no additions to our knowledge or enjoyment. Such a stagnation of existence, devoid of prospect, energy, and excitement, would be far from desirable, if it were possible-but it is not possible. The future life is called "that which is perfect ;" and it is perfect, compared with the present: but it is not absolutely so. There is only one Being who is absolutely perfect, whose duration is not lengthened by time, and whose knowledge is not increased by discovery. Nothing is past or future with Him. His understanding is infinite. But angels are creatures, and therefore finite in their faculties as well as we. He chargeth his angels with folly. There are many things of which they are ignorant. Our Lord assures us they know not the day of judgment. The book in the Revelations, whatever were the mysteries it contained, was closed to angels as well as men for no one in heaven as well as in the earth was able to open the book and to look therein, till it was unsealed by the Lord of all. Angels know much now of which they were formerly unconscious, and fresh springs of knowledge and enjoyment are continually opening to them, and calling for a new song of wonder and of praise.

Does it not also show us the vastness of the Gospel? A very inferior master may teach the ignorant; but the honour is to be able to instruct the wise and learned. We should think very highly of one who could have improved Handel in music, and Milton in poetry, and Newton in philosophy. But angels are the flower of the creation; they are always spoken of in Scripture as proverbial for their knowledge; they are the first beings in the universe for intelligence; and are as much above men in their powers as the heavens are higher than the earth. If to these principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known by the church the manifold wisdom

of God; if the Gospel can teach them—if it can enlighten and enlarge their views-if it draws forth their wonder and astonishment; how well may it be called "the deep things of God;" "the wisdom of God in a mystery!" If after having been employed in the works of God, and the administrations of his providence, from the beginning; if after all the scenes which have passed under their review for so many ages; if after seeing dispensation succeeding dispensation, in the Patriarchal, the Jewish, and the Christian economies; if after seeing the fulness of time, and the divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost; if after all this they were still, as Peter asserts, diligently exploring the Gospel, how does it aggrandize the system! This is the system which some suppose may be readily reduced into a form of words drawn up by a fallible man! This is the system whose bounds some imagine they can easily reach, and whose depths they can perfectly fathom! But were they angels, they would exclaim, "O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

We learn also the excellency as well as the vastness, the value as well as the immensity of the Gospel. Would such beings as these trifle? Does not their attention prove that the subject is worthy of all acceptation? Why do they study it, but because it is "the Gospel of our salvation;" but because it is "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God;" but because, in redeeming Jacob, he has glorified himself in Israel; but because they find displayed in this scheme more of all his perfections than is to be seen in all his other works? We cannot justly infer the worth of a thing from the attention paid to it by men. They may be compelled by authority, biassed by interest, governed by vanity, or led astray by novelty. Even great men have had their follies. Nothing has been brought forward so absurd as not to have attracted to it some names of distinction. And we have always proof enough that to be learned and knowing is not always to be wise. But no objection can lie against the inference we here draw-If angels desire to look into these things, the things deserve to be looked into.

And therefore let us learn what is our duty with regard to them. Is it not to be thankful that we are favoured with the dispensation of them? Blessed are our eyes for they see, and our ears for they hear. Is it not to study them ourselves? We are deeply, we are infinitely concerned in them. The being to whom they relate is our Saviour. His history is the record of our eternal redemption. He became poor; he died for us. Let us therefore turn aside from the little, the vain, the vexing, the debasing, the defiling things of the world, and contemplate the great mystery of godliness. Let us never be weary in reading, in hearing of it. And let us not rest in a speculative acquaintance with it; but taste that the Lord is gracious; and walk in the truth.-Is it not to own them and confess them and glory in them before men? I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ-angels are my companions. Is it not to pray that the knowledge of them may be extended, and that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God together?

JANUARY."Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjain.n away; all these things are against me."-Gen. xlii. 36.

THIS was a very sorrowful conclusion; but no part of it was founded in truth. "Joseph is not"-yes he is-and not only alivebut riding in the second chariot of Egypt. "And Simeon is not”—yes he is and only detained for a while as an hostage for the return of his brethren. "And ye will take Benjamin away," yes-but not to be destroyed-but to prove a deliverer-and to bring every thing to a favourable issue. Let the lad go-and no evil shall befall him-and supplies for thyself and family will soon be brought and the wagons shall accompany them, sent by Joseph, to carry thee and thy household down into Goshen-where he will nourish thee-and after the storms of the morning and afternoon of life, thou shalt enjoy a calm and clear evening and rejoice in the development of a series of dispensations beyond all that thou couldest ask or think. And what say you now, Jacob? "I have spoken once, but I will proceed no further. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee: wherefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. So foolish was I, and ignorant. I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Just and true are all thy ways, O thou King of saints!-He hath done all things well."

The inference here so groundlessly drawn is not peculiar to Jacob. Nothing is more common than to hear the subjects of Divine grace exclaim, All these things are against me," when yet "all the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth;" and "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Whence does it proceed? Sometimes they judge under a morbid physical influence. We are not only fearfully, but wonderfully made; and there are many things which would hardly appear credible were they not confirmed by frequent experience. How will a change of weather, or a redundancy or increase of some secretion, or fluid, affect not only our feelings, but our views! How tenderly are some to be pitied! How much they constantly suffer from corporeal causes! They see every thing through an injured medium; and there is no persuading them often but that the discolourations of the glass are the hues of the objects themselves.

They often err from a deficiency of knowledge with regard to the subject itself. It is not easy to determine what is against us or for

us.

"Who knoweth what is good for a man in this life?" Can we always distinguish between appearances and realities? between the beginning and the end of things? Do we perfectly know ourselves? Or what effects untried things will have upon our minds or our condition? We go forward into futurity with our present views and feelings, not refleeting that other events will produce other views and feelings, and that by circumstances we may become a kind of new creatures, which, could they be presented to us in prospect, would occasion more than our wonder. This was the case with Hazael: he abhorred in imagination what he became in reality, by a transition from a private to a public station. What miseries did Lot entail upon himself in choosing the vale of Sodom,

because it was well watered as the garden of the Lord! On the other hand, Ruth was early deprived of her husband, and reduced to the lowliness of a gleaner, but met with Boaz in the field, and became the ancestor of the Messiah. A man wished to sail in a particular ship, and to his extreme disappointment, found, when he reached the port, that the vessel had just sailed-the next day it was wrecked! and his anguish was turned into joy.

We draw the conclusion also, because we are carnal, and walk as men. We regard our ease and indulgence more than our spiritual advantage. If the hedging up of our way with thorns prevents us from going astray, if the sickness of the body secures the health of the soul, if the loss of a creature brings us to God, surely we cannot say these things are against us. They are greatly for us; and we should acknowledge this, if we were wise unto salvation, and had our conversation in heaven.

We also err by judging prematurely. "He that believeth maketh not haste." If a man engaged to accomplish a great work in ten years, would it be right to decide concerning it at the end of ten days, or ten weeks? God did not pronounce judgment upon his own Creation till it was done: "God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good." The end will not only crown all, but explain all; and produce not only satisfaction, but praise. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come. And the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. And blessed are all they that wait for him. In the mean while, there is a substitute for the explanations of heaven. It is, in the absence of sight, to walk by faith. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. But by believing we enter into rest, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Under the influence of this faith, let us look at his promises; let us think of his perfections; let us review his wonders of oldabove all, let us keep near the cross. All our discouragements and perplexities originate in our departure from this. God forbid we should glory in any thing else. It not only opens the kingdom of heaven to all believers, but it is the key to unlock the dispensations of providence. If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things. God of love! Thou shalt have all the future confidence of our hearts

"Our cares, we give ye to the wind,

And shake you off like dust;
Well may we trust our all with Him,
With whom our souls we trust."

JANUARY 5.-"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is."-Mark xiii. 33.

It is the language of Jesus, to whom it behooves us always to say, with Samuel, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." The Christian welcomes his voice, not only in his promises, but in his commands; and not only when he encourages and comforts, but when he reproves and admonishes.

Here he tells us to take heed. We may consider the caution, first,

as to the manner in which it is to be exercised-"Watch and pray.” Watchfulness is wakefulness in opposition to sleep; attentiveness in opposition to neglect; and perceptiveness in opposition to stupidity. To watchfulness is added prayer. Vigilance will not do alone. We must not only be active, but humble. We must not only use means, but depend upon the influence that is necessary to render them effectual; and seek it of Him who never said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me, in vain.

Secondly, as to the season for which it is to be a preparation, and by which it is to be enforced: "for ye know not when the time is." Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time of duty is. Who can tell, when he leaves his home for a journey, or only for a day, what opportunities, before he returns, may arise to relieve the distressed, to comfort the feeble-minded, to oppose error, or to rebuke vice: opportunities which may never return, and should never be neglected? David therefore said, "On Thee do I wait all the day;" for he knew not what the great Master had for him to do. Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time of danger is. If we consider the enemy of our souls, the world in which we live, and the sin that dwelleth in us, we may safely conclude that we are never far from temptation. Joseph, in the court of Pharaoh, learned to swear by the life of Pharaoh. Moses, the meekest man upon earth, under irritation, spake unadvisedly with his lips. Even in old age, Solomon's heart, by outlandish women, was drawn away from God. Peter, immediately after the most solemn warnings and professions, denied his Lord with oaths and curses. Barnabas was carried away with the dissimulation of the Jews. Paul was likely to be exalted above measure, by the abundance of his revelations. We are sure to be in danger, whenever we deem ourselves secure: for pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Blessed is the man that feareth alway. Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time of trouble is. To this we are born and therefore we cannot think our trials strange things. Who can tell what a day may bring forth? An accident, a disease, a loss in our circumstances, a family bereavement may befall us, without warning-"For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of inen snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them." And what if it finds us unprepared? Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time of death is. The day of trouble may come, the day of death will come: and it is the most solemn and important of all days. For death is not the termination of our being, but only a change of the mode of it, or a transition from a mortal to an immortal state. Then the dust returns to the dust whence it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it; and is disposed of according to our character here; for after death the judgment. The time of our dissolution is not a secret with God; and we are sure that it cannot be far off; but each of us must say, with Isaac, "I know not the day of my death." It may be in the evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning. What then is the language of wisdom? Be ye therefore ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!