perish. They forgot the hand that had dried up the sea; and said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? But he gave them bread from heaven, and for forty years they did eat angels' food. What an abundance was necessary for such a multitude. And what a display of divine power was here witnessed!Nor less was it a proof of divine mercy. Had he dealt with them after their desert, fire would have come down from heaven, instead of food: but as the mother silences the fretful angry child by giving it not the rod, but the breast, so did his gentleness indulge them. Hence, when they despised the manna as light food, it might have been suspended, and they might have been left to learn the worth of it by the want: but day after day, year after year, it continued to attend them, and ceased not till the day after they had taken possession of their inheritance, and they had eaten of the old corn of the land.

At length it did cease; and wisely too. What was necessary before became needless now: and what want had endeared, abundance would have despised. This teaches us not to look for extraordinary supplies, when relief is to be had in an ordinary way. He who sustained Israel, is as almighty as ever; but we must plow, and sow, and gather into barns. He who fed Elijah by ravens, commands us to labour, working with our own hand the thing that is good. If a man neglects the means of subsistence, he is not trusting Providence, but tempting it; and is likely to be reminded by something more than Scripture, that if any man will not work, neither shall he eat. Even in miraculous achievements, what human agency could do, was not done supernaturally. When Peter was in prison, the angel of the Lord opened the door and broke off his fettersfor this Peter could not have done; but he did not take him up in his arms, and carry him out; but said unto him, "follow me." Miracles were never

needlessly employed; and had they been common, they would have ceased to be marvellous: the exceptions would have become a general rule; and the whole system of Nature and Providence have been deranged.

The manna was typical. "I am," said Jesus," that bread of life." As the manna came down from heaven and preserved the Israelites from famine; “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And the Saviour surpasses the emblem. The manna was for the body; he saves the soul. The manna could not preserve from death always; but they who partake of him, live for ever. The manna was confined to one people; he gave his flesh for the life of the world. He, therefore, is the true bread.

And shall this cease? Far from it. You shall live by him, as well as with him, for ever.

Yet there will be a great difference between your present and your future experience. Many things now necessary will then be done away. Conjecture, opinion, reasoning, will give place to knowledge. Now we walk by faith, then we shall walk by sight. Now we are saved by hope; then hope will cease in fruition. Love will continue for ever; but charity and mercy can have no object, no exercise there. We shall be still praising him; but prayer, and preaching, and baptism, and the Lord's supper, will have no place. We can dispense with the channels, when we are at the fountain-head; and with the types, when we have the reality. We are now glad when they say unto us, "Let us go into the house of the Lord;" but says John, "I saw no temple there; but the glory of God and of the Lamb were the light thereof." When that which is perfect is come, that which is in part will be done away; and the fare of the wilderness will be superseded by the produce of Canaan.

JAN. 4.-"As thy days, so shall thy strength be."
Deut. xxxiii. 25.

DR. Doddridge was one day walking much depressed,
his very heart desolate within him. But, says he,
passing a cottage door open, I happened at that
moment to hear a child reading, "As thy days, so shall
thy strength be." The effect on my mind was inde-
scribable. It was like life from the dead. Much is
often done by a word: and many can say, with Watts,
"And when my spirit takes her fill
"At some good word of thine,

"Not warriors, who divide the spoil,
"Have joys compared with mine."

And what does this word say to us ?" As thy days, so shall thy strength be." There is strength bodily. The continuance of this is a mercy. How soon, how easily may it be crushed or reduced, so that we may be made to possess months of vanity; and endure wearisome nights; and feel every exertion a difficulty, and every duty a burden. But there is strength spiritual. This is very distinguishable from the former, and often found separate from it. The Lord does not always give his people a giant's arm, or an iron sinew; but His strength is made perfect in weakness. This is the strength here spoken of; and for two purposes his people will find it necessary: service and suffering.

Every Christian has a course of duty common to him as a man; which is, to provide for his outward wants, and the support of his family. And this is done by labour, in which he is required not to be slothful. But there is a series of duties pertaining more immediately to him in his religious character; to believe, to pray, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present evil world. The discharge of this high calling is sometimes expressed by a race, which he is to run with patience. Sometimes, also, by the life

of a soldier. A soldier must not be effeminate, but endure hardness and fatigue. Even his preparations and exercises are often trying-how much more his actual services! And the Christian's enemies possess every thing that can render them formidable--and so fights he, not as one that beateth the air.

Suffering is commonly connected with service in the divine life. It was so invariably in the beginning of the Gospel. Then it was deemed impossible for any one to live godly in Christ Jesus and not suffer persecution. Therefore, no sooner was Paul converted, than he was told how great things he had to suffer. As real religion is always the same, some degree of the same opposition may be always looked for; and the hatred of the world will be shewn as far as they have liberty to express it, and are not restrained by law, or the usages of civilized life. But when the Christian has rest from such trials as these, God can subserve their purpose, by personal and relative afflictions, which are often severer than even the endurings of a martyr. They are called chastenings and rebukes, which he is neither to despise, or faint under. They have been the experience of all his children from age to age. They are not wantonly inflicted; but there is a needs be for them, of which their Heavenly Father is the unerring judge; and who-as far as their education and welfare will allow— will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Now the prospect of all this, when he looks forward into life, is enough to awaken the Christian's anxiety; and nothing can effectually encourage him but the discovery of strength equal to his exigencies. And this he finds not in himself. The natural man has no sensibility of his weakness, because he is not earnestly engaged in those applications which require spiritual strength. But the Christian is. He knows that he is as destitute of strength as he is of righteousness. He feels himself entirely insufficient for

all the duties and trials of the divine life. And the consciousness, instead of diminishing, grows with the experience of every day.

And he need not be afraid of this. Rather let him cherish it; for when he is weak, then is he strong. What he wants is provided and ensured by the promise of a God who cannot lie. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." And as we have heard, so have we seen in the city of our God. His veracity has been attested by all his people, not one failing. And what says our own experience? "Year after year I have been travelling in an enemy's country, and carrying with me an evil heart, prone to depart from the living God. I have often said, I shall one day perish. But where am I this morning?-Following hard after God, his right hand upholding me. My prayers have not been always lively and delightful; but I have looked again towards his holy temple; and through many a benighted hour I have waited for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning. I have had no might of my own, and have been often faint; but he giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might, he increaseth strength. This is my testimony to the praise of the glory of his grace, and at the beginning of another year, I thank God, and take courage.

JAN. 5.—“ And they cast their crowns before the throne."

Rev. iv. 10.

RELIGION distinguishes and elevates. The possessors of it begin to rise on earth; but their dignity is perfected and displayed in heaven.