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"Our journey is a thorny maze,
"But we march upward still;
"Forget these troubles of the way,
"And reach at Zion's hill.

"See the kind angels at the gates
"Inviting us to come :

"There Jesus, the fore-runner, waits
"To welcome travellers home.

"There on a green and flowery mount
"Our weary souls shall sit,
"And with transporting joys recount
"The labours of our feet."

FEB. 22.-" Ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water."

Ex. xxiii. 25.

Our

OUR chief concern should be to secure those blessings which will supply the soul, and endure for ever. He only is truly blessed who is blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Saviour therefore says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness"-yet he does not scruple to say, "And all these things shall be added unto you." Temporal benefits are not beneath the attention of our kind Father. He knoweth that we have need of these things before we ask him. He knoweth our frame; and he knoweth our fears. And not only under the Law, but under the Gospel, godliness is profitable unto all things; and has promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come.

The promise before us extends to all the temporal support of his people: but there is wisdom in the language. In another place, it is also said, "Thy bread shall be given thee, and thy water shall be sure." Is not the specification designed to check not only anxiety, but ambition and avarice? Does it not say, "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them

not." "Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have."

Nothing can do us good without the blessing of God; but his blessing commands what it announces: and what He blesses, is blessed. Hence a little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. It is more efficient. It goes further: as Philip Henry was wont to say to his family, "My dear children, the grace of God will make a little go a great way." It is surprising to see with what a slender income many Christians keep up a decent appearance, and owe no man any thing, and even give to him that needeth. The thing is, "The secret of the Lord is upon their tabernacle."-But while he blesses the habitation of the just, his curse is in the house of the wicked. And then nothing prospers; and they seem a wonder to themselves and others: they get much and gain nothing. it was with the selfish and illiberal Jews when they came back from Babylon, and built their own ceiled houses, while the House of God lay waste. Had they minded His affairs, he would have minded theirs; and have proved that we cannot serve God for nought. But now, says God, "Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes."

So

It is also more satisfying. For the state of the mind conduces to the relish of every outward comfort; and in the Christian this state of mind is grateful, and peaceful, and cheerful, arising from a hope of reconciliation with God. His frown would darken a thousand suns. But every thing smiles when He smiles. "How sweet our daily comforts prove, "When they are season'd with his love."

And we see the dear medium through which they come as covenant blessings:

"He sunk beneath our heavy woes,
"To raise us to his throne;

"There's not a gift his hand bestows,
"But cost his heart a groan."

The wicked feast without fear; but there is reason enough why they should fear. Neglecting His service, they are strangers to his blessing. Left to themselves, every advantage and indulgence operating upon their depravity, contributes to their guilt and misery. Their table becomes a snare before them; and that which should have proved for their welfare, becomes a trap. The prosperity of fools destroys them. Now consider this, ye that forget God-and without delay, seek to be numbered with the seed which the Lord hath blessed.

FEB. 23.-"Let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James v. 20.

AND can we convert the sinner from the error of his way? Yes-or the language would be futile. But how can we do this? Not meritoriously-this would invade the office and glory of the Lord Jesus: for He only delivers us from the wrath to come: He only saves his people from their sins. Not efficiently

-this would invade the work and honour of the Holy Spirit for we are saved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. There is therefore only one way in which we can convert a sinner; and that is instrumentally. But this does not detract from divine agency: there is no inconsistency between agency and instrumentality. A pen is nothing without a hand to use it. An instrument always supposes and requires an agent.

But is the converse of this proposition true? Does an agent always require an instrument? It is so with us; but not with a Being whose will is efficiency; and who said, Let there be light, and there was light. Yet what God is not compelled to do from weakness, he chooses to do from wisdom. He therefore works by means. We know of nothing that he does immediately. He fans us by the breeze, and warms us by the sun, and refreshes us by sleep, and sustains us by food. And as it is in nature, so it is in grace. Among the Corinthians God gave the increase, but Paul planted and Apollos watered. Their faith came not from them; but Paul and Apollos were ministers by whom they believed. We mean not, however, by this reference, to confine this work to ministers. James alluded not only or chiefly to them; but to Christians at large. All may be useful here; and in a thousand ways exert themselves to accomplish this blessed and glorious design.

For he who effects it is the greatest of all benefactors-for "He saves a soul from death, and hides a multitude of sins!" And what is every other achievement compared with this? Nothing, less than nothing, and vanity. So will all those judge who walk by faith; and believe the testimony of God concerning-The value of a soul! The dreadfulness of eternal death! And the absolute necessity of forgiveness, in order to the man's escape from the damnation of hell!

The work, therefore, is its own reward. Spurious beneficence always wishes to excite notice; and the man, in some way or other, aims (or he will do nothing) to make it conducive to his own interest. But true charity seeketh not its own, but the welfare of the object; and if that end be answered, the benefactor is satisfied. James knew this; and mentions nothing else, by way of motive-but the thing itself. He does not tell his brethren, that if

they convert a sinner they shall be applauded here, or recompensed at the resurrection of the justIt is true that they will derive honour and advantage from their usefulness. They that water, shall be watered also. The sinners they save will pray for them; and, if they die first, when they fail, will receive them into everlasting habitations; and in the day of the Lord Jesus they will be their joy and crown. But this is the effect, and not the principle, of their zeal. It is enough if they succeed-enough if they can save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins.

And the prospect of success in such a case, however limited, should be sufficient to animate. Some may be privileged to bless numbers. But James speaks of "the sinner," and "a soul." This agrees with the language of our Lord, who tells us, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth." This brings the encouragement home to all. All cannot be Luthers, to reform countries; or Whitfields, to preach to thousands; or Careys, to translate the Scriptures into other tongues. But can we do nothing? Surely some one soul is thrown in our way to whom we may be useful-a child-a servant-a relative-a neighbour.

James would have us think of this; and think much of it. "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." And who does not know this? Yea, were we to judge from their practice, we should be ready to ask, Who does know it? What is the knowledge that answers no end? It is not enough to believe we must remember, and reflect: we must follow out our convictions. This fine sentiment must be present to the mind-at all times-and in all conditions when we are alone and when we are in company-when we pray and when we speak-when

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