till he blesses it. befall us in our new abode. Here our children may be about us; or here we may weep, because they are not. Here we may find a house of mourning, for the desire of our eyes, or the guide of our youth. Here we may enjoy health, or be made to possess months of vanity, and have wearisome nights appointed unto us. Here we may live many years, or our sun may go down at noon-Let it, then, be our concern, that the place may be the House of God while we live, and the Gate of Heaven when we die.

And we know not what may

David was a poet; and was accustomed to indulge his pious genius on any particular occurrence. Here are the lines he composed on the present occasion-"I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O Lord, my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave; thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger en-· dureth but a moment; in his favour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.'

All we notice here, is, that previously to his occupying this fine mansion, he had been suffering under a dangerous disease. Kings are as mortal as their subjects, and exposed to the same evils of life. And what would a house of cedar be to one who carried into it a body full of pain? But God had recovered him speedily; and while renewed health enabled him to enjoy the blessings of Providence, Divine Grace taught him to value life, as a privilege for religious purpose; prolonging his opportunities, to glorify God, and serve his genera tion according to His will.

Nothing is more interesting than little casual

insights into the history, and, above all, the experience of good and great men. And in this ode we see the workings of David's mind-before, and-under, and-after the affliction.

Before the affliction: "And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong"-He had not said this in words; but his views, and feelings, and actions, were all vocal with God. And do we not here see the danger of indulgence? How little can we bear without self-security, without presumption, without losing the heart of a stranger! Hence the necessity of a change, and the advantage of those trials that cry to our hearts, "Arise, and depart hence, for this is not your rest."

Under the affliction: "Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. I cried to thee, O Lord: and unto the Lord I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper." Cain, in his distress, goes to building. Saul sends for music. Few turn to Him that smiteth them. But prayer is the design, the sanctification, the resource, of affliction-Is any afflicted, let him pray.

After the affliction: "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." He has done it

"His hand has loos'd my bonds of pain,
"And bound me with his love."

Therefore I will serve him with my best powers, and for ever

And his practice corresponded with his profession. No sooner had he taken possession of his new

palace, than "the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the Ark of God dwelleth within curtains." And then it was that he availed himself of a pious and ardent frame of mind, to swear unto the Lord, and vow unto the mighty God of Jacob. "Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." How different the disposition of the selfish Jews, on their return from Babylon! "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?" And what gained they? Them that honour me, says God, I will honour. "Ye looked for much, and, lo! it came to little; and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it. Why saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house."

MAY 3.-" To reveal his Son in me." Gal. i. 16.

To reveal, is to lay open something which, though in existence before, was yet unknown. The knowledge of the Son of God is necessary to all the use we can make of him. And we may observe a four-fold revelation of him. The text only speaks of one of these: but they are all true; and they

are all profitable.

There is a revelation of the Saviour to us. This is found in the Scripture, which therefore we often call emphatically "revelation." It discovers many things; but he is the principal subject: and we are persuaded nothing has found a place in it, but

This revelation early

has some relation to him. began. It dawned in Paradise, and the light continued to shine more and more unto the perfect day. All the Jewish ordinances and sacrifices prefigured him. Of him, Moses, in the Law and the Prophets, did write: and the testimony of Jesus was the Spirit of Prophecy. He came personally as a preacher, and he was his own subject. He unbosomed himself to his disciples, as far as they were able to bear it; and promised them a fuller manifestation. This was done when the Holy Spirit taught them all things; and brought all things to their remembrance that he had said unto them; and inspired them, to communicate the information to others-that all may read and understand their knowledge in the mystery of Christ.

There is a revelation of the Saviour in us. This is more than the former. Many who have access to the Scriptures, will perish; and all their knowledge will only prove the savour of death unto death. There is, however, as to information, nothing in the internal revelation that is not in the external. It is not, therefore, a new revelation in itself: for the truths themselves are as old as the Creation; but it is new as to our perception and experience. If a man, born blind, were to receive his sight, he would not see a new sun, but it would be new to him. Even in a land of vision, we may be called out of darkness into his marvellous light; because the eyes of our understanding may be opened. We heard of these things before, but now, in God's light, we see them. see them. This illumination shews us, not only their reality, but their excellency; and, with their glory, fixes, and replenishes, and sways the soul. Be not satisfied with any thing short of this. Distinguish between a Christian in name, and a Christian indeed. Do not place your religion on any thing without you, Have you the witness in yourselves? Is Christ

revealed in you? Have you such a sight of him, by faith, as to see that he is fairer than the children of men? as to feel him infinitely endeared? as to count all things but loss, for the excellency of his knowledge? This is what he himself means, when he said, "He that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, hath everlasting life."

There is a revelation of him by us. It is our destiny, our duty, our privilege, to make him known. This is done by our being the subjects of his Agency; as the work displays the attributes of the author, and the streams proclaim the quality of the fountain. We should discover him by our resemblance, as his followers; and by our testimony, as his witnesses. We can speak upon other subjects-why not upon this? Who has not opportunities to extol him among children, servants, friends, neighbours? What do seeking souls want, but to see Jesus? Or doubting ones, but to be assured of his love? Have we been freely healed by him? Let us tell the diseased and dying of the Physician. Let us zealously aid every institution that aims to shew forth his praise. Pray that his glory may be revealed, and that all flesh may see the salvation of our God.

There is also a revelation of him with us. The world knoweth us not: it knew him not. We are now hid, and he is hid; and both are to be displayed at the same time. The day of the manifestation of the sons of God is also the revelation of Jesus Christ. And when he, who is our life, shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory. Them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. They suffered with him, and they shall be glorified together.

We wish to be distinguished. We want something exclusive-half the relish and value is gone, if others share with us. But his benevolence, his condescension, are such that he cannot be satisfied unless we partake with him: "I appoint unto