Now it is not necessary that we should resemble him in the very circumstances of the action; but only in the spirit of it. In Popish countries, the ceremony of washing the feet of another, is often performed by persons not very lowly in heart -sometimes by a cardinal-yea, and the Pope himself. But the design is to enforce the humility of brotherly love; and to teach us that no service is to be deemed too mean for Christians to perform, when Providence brings it in their way, and the condition of a fellow-creature requires it. We may profess to do this in the abstract, but refuse to afford the actual assistance called for, in particular instances, because the office is too mortifying to the pride of our feelings or manners. But this is not to love without dissimulation. This is to love in word, and in tongue; but not in deed, and in truth. Many have lost all credit here, by their unfeeling, distant, and disdainful conduct towards their inferiors, when they had the finest opportunities to evince their condescension, if they had any.

It would be well, if all who name the Name of Christ would attend to the admonition of his Apostle "In honour, preferring one another-Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate." Job was the greatest man in the East; yet he could say, "If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me; what then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb ?" And with regard to those sufferers generally overlooked by greatness, yea, and by mediocrity too; and those instances of humbler kindness, which splendid beneficence never thinks of; he could make this affecting appeal: "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; or have eaten my morsel myself alone,

and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; (for from my youth he was brought up with me as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb ;) if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate; then let mine arm fall from my shoulderblade, and mine arm be broken from the bone."

A great man seldom wants more help than he can purchase or procure. Though he has wasted his substance, and reduced himself so as to deserve starvation; his utmost extremity is superfluous subsistence, compared with the suffering of a worthy character, who is neglected because originally indigent. But the industrious poor should be the objects of our attention, whose distress is brought upon them, not by vice, extravagance, and speculation, but by the providence of God; and whose condition sinks them below observation; so that, in the midst of their trouble, none careth for them.

Services small in their nature, are greatly esteemed by those who are commonly neglected. And in those offices you perform for them, you serve the Lord Christ. They cannot recompense you; but He will graciously say, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me."

Let me, then, hear his blessed invitation-Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Let the same mind be in me, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

MAY 20.-" Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. ix. 15.

THIS gratitude, no doubt, must be due, infinitely due. But, to excite and increase our thankfulness, it is desirable to know, not only that the Son of God has been given for us, but to us; and that he is now actually our own. There are some who are satisfied here. They can say, This is my beloved, and this is my friend: the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. But this is not the case with all. Some are asking, with all the anxiousness the importance of the subject requires, Is this unspeakable gift, for which eternity will be too short to praise God, mine? In answer to which, allow

me to ask,

Do you approve of the design for which he was given? He came into the world to save sinners, in a way equally gracious and holy. Do you acquiesce in a purpose which involves the destruction of self and sin?

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Have you received him? In the Word and means of grace he is presented to us. We read of some who have received Christ Jesus the Lord; and as many as received him were privileged to become the sons of God. Has this act been yours? When Laban saw Abraham's servant laden with presents, he said, "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord"-Did you ever give Christ such an invitation? Zacchæus made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully"-Did you ever give him such a welcome? And are you willing to receive him wholly? For is Christ divided? Can you receive him as your prophet, and not as your king? as your priest, and not as your example? Can you enjoy him in his sacrifice, and refuse him in his service? Can you entertain him in spiritual privileges, and cast him out in spiritual duties.

you given yourselves to him? I do not

say, your substance only, or your time only-You may subscribe to religious institutions, and attend the means of grace-and keep back the main thing. But have you given him yourselves? The Corinthians gave their ownselves unto the Lord-Can you remember such a surrender? An evening, perhaps when, like Isaac, in the field you said, "Lord, I am thine, save me." The close of a Sabbath, perhaps when, in your closet, you read, and wept, and kneeled-and then rose, and wept, and kneeled again, and said—" O Lord, other lords beside thee have had dominion over me-henceforth by thee only will I make mention of thy Name.” Do you supremely prize him? To them that believe, he is precious. Paul longed to depart, to be with-James? Isaiah? Moses? No-but to be with Jesus. You have some who are dear to you on earth-you have more in heaven. Perhaps you have a child there; lovely here, but a cherub there: perhaps you have a mother there, whose knees were the altar on which you laid your little hands to pray: perhaps you have there the dear minister who turned your feet into the path of peace-But, thinking of Him, can you say, "Whom have in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth I desire beside thee?"-Answer these inquiries, and claim this unspeakable gift as your own for ever.

But here is another question: What use should the possessor make of this Gift? If you are Christians, though you were once darkness, you are now light in the Lord, and must walk as children of light. And much of your wisdom must appear in knowing what a prize you have in your hand.Make use of him then, in all your duties. Meditation is a duty-Let him enrich, and enliven, and sweeten it. Prayer is a duty-do it always in his Name.-Make use of him in all your wants. You want cleansing-use him as the fountain open

for sin and uncleanness. You want safety-flee to him as your refuge. You want food-and his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed -feed on it.-Make use of him in all your afflictions. Are you bereaved? are you poor? Rely upon him, in whom you possess all things. You know that your Redeemer liveth.

-We have one question more-What can we think of those who disregard this unspeakable gift? What can we think of their ingenuousness-in contemning such infinite goodness and mercy? Of their danger?-How can they escape if they neglect so great salvation? Of their misery?-What can a wretch do without him in death, and at the judgment-day? It is awful to think that the Saviour may become the destroyer. The greatest blessing may prove the greatest curse.

MAY 21.-"That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." Phil. ii. 16.

THIS is mentioned as an argument, to enforce the duties he had just recommended: "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life." And surely we are to know them that labour among us; and to esteem them very highly in love for their works' sake; and to co-operate with them; and to be zealously concerned to promote their usefulness and comfort. There is a peculiar relation between the minister and the people of his charge-and, as a