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cally, "Thou makest darkness, and it is night, wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth."

But the subjects of Divine grace cannot rest satisfied without God. We see this in Job: "0 that I knew where I might find him-Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive him. On the left hand where he doth work, but I cannot behold him; he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him." This anxiety and restlessness to find him, results from three things. Love-that longs to be near the object of attachment, and cannot endure separation. CONVICTION-which tells him of God's infinite importance to his case, and of his own entire dependence upon him. I am sick, says he, and he is my only physician: I am a traveller, and he is my only guide. I have nothing; he possesses all things. EXPERIENCE-he has tasted that the Lord is gracious, and the relish of the enjoyment adds to the sense of want; for that which indulges the appetite, provokes it also. Hence, though the believer does not desire more than God, he desires more of him.

Well-this restlessness is a token for good. Henry says, "A Christian is always on the perch, or on the wing; he is always reposing in God, or in flight after him; and the latter is as good an evidence of religion as the former-for delight is not only a part of complacency and affection, but also fear, complaint, desire-fear of losing the object-complaint of our enjoying so little of itdesire of attaining and feeling more."

Therefore be of good comfort, and if you ask, where you are to look for him-Look for him in Christ, where he is reconciling the world to himself. In him he is well pleased. Look after him, in the promises: there you will find him, pledged in every readiness of power and compassion. Look after him in his ordinances: where two or three

are gathered together, there is He in the midst of them. And not only look for him in the temple, but in the closet: pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Look after him in thy former experiences. Call to remembrance thy song in the night.

"Did ever trouble yet befal,

"And he refuse to hear thy call?"

Can all your former views and feelings be a delusion? "Could you joy his saints to meet?

"Choose the ways you once abhorr'd ?"

Would he have shown you such things as these, and also have accepted an offering at your hands, if he had been minded to kill you?

And when you have found him whom you are looking after, fall at his feet, and ingenuously confess your unworthiness in causing him to withdraw from you. Complain not of him; justify him: but condemn yourselves. And instead of thinking he has dealt hardly with you, wonder that he has not cast you off for ever, and be thankful that he has been found of you again. Again you have morning; again you have spring: but the rising and shining of the sun has made it. "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." Cleave to him with purpose of heart. Resolve rather to die, than again grieve his Holy Spirit.

"Till thou hast brought me to thy home,
"Where doubts and fears can never come;
"Thy countenance let me often see,
"And often thou shalt hear from me."

MAY 9.-" So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God." Dan. vi. 23.

His case at first seemed very hard to flesh and blood; but we here see the end of the Lord. All was so overruled, that Daniel had no reason to repent of his conduct, or lament the result of it. It is true, the God he served continually, did not preserve him from the den of lions; but he delivered him out of it. He could have made a way for his escape; but the prevention of the trial would not have been half so impressive and useful as the issue. What a night did he pass there! What hours were they of prayer and praise! of peace and joy! What reflections did he make upon the power and goodness of his God-while the hungry lions (and they had been prepared to devour) looked on, and snuffed his flesh, but felt an invisible Restrainer, who said, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophet no harm. How would he resolve to confide in him, and confess him, and serve him, in future! How would the multitude be impressed! Those who doubted would be convinced. The timid would be emboldened. Many proselytes would be made to the religion of Daniel-while the king said, "I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

How much, therefore, did his stedfastness conduce to the glory of God, and the advancement of his cause! Christians never honour God more than in the fires. When they suffer like themselves; when they are witnesses for God; when

they shew that his service is too dear to be forsaken; and that they are willing to follow him to prison, or to death: and that the religion they more than profess, enables them to glory in tribulation alsothen, men see that there is a reality in it-a vital -a blessed reality: and that the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour.

But the result equally terminated in Daniel's own honour and welfare. When taken up, how would every eye be drawn towards him! How breathless would be their gaze! How would every tongue extol him! With what shoutings would they follow him home-When they met him, how ready would every man be to say, There is the man who would rather enter a den of hungry lions, than violate his conscience, or sin against his God! What influence would be attached to his character! what weight to his advice and counsel !—A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. His reputation is perfected. His attainder is revoked. He is restored-he is promoted by his Sovereign to a higher station.

And who would not have done what Darius did! He who had been faithful to his God, was more likely to be faithful to his king. This is, indeed, one of the ways in which godliness naturally conduces to a man's present advantage. It gains him confidence; and this is the lever of elevation. Constantius, the father of Constantine the Great, while as yet this prince was a Heathen, wished to know the character of those about him. He, therefore, called together before him all the chiefs in his suite, and ordered them to offer sacrifices to his gods, on pain of being deprived of all their honours and functions. The trial was severe. Many sunk under it. They could not give up every thing that was dear and valuable. But some were inflexible. They had bought the truth, and they would not sell it for any price. Whatever they suffered,

they were resolved to have a conscience void of offence. What happened? Those who basely complied, he drove from his presence; while those who nobly refused, he entrusted with the care of his person, and placed them in the most important offices -saying, On these men I can depend-I prize them more than all my treasures. And we know who hath said, Them that honour me I will honour; but they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

MAY 10.-" And the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you." Ex. xiii. 18, 19.

HERE are two circumstances not to be overlooked, because God has deemed them worthy of record.

The first is not easily understood from the present version. It is said, They went up out of Egypt harnessed. The word harness, when the Bible was translated, signified not the furniture of a horse, but of a soldier-or armour; and this is the first sense the term bears in Johnson's dictionary: and to check the presumption of a warrior, it was once said, "Let not him that putteth on the harness boast himself like him that putteth it off." The translators therefore meant to say, that they went out armed. Yet this is not at all probable. Such a jealous tyrant as Pharoah would, by his spies, have prevented the Israelites from manufacturing, or purchasing, or hoarding up, weapons. We find in after-times, when the Philistines held the Jews in subjection, they would not allow a smith to live

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