Keep much alive this expectation. Let nothing shake its confidence. Let nothing obscure the object, or the ground of it. It can do wonders; and will produce a thousand advantages in proportion as it is realized.

I repair to the believer who is fully exemplifying it; and I find him dead to the world, and "all that earth calls good and great." And what is the cause? "An expected end." He has looked within the veil, and seen the glory that excelleth. The sun has rendered invisible the glow-worms-and the stars too.

I find him satisfied with an inferior condition in life, and though denied many indulgences with which the children of this generation abound. And what is the reason? "An expected end." They are at home, says he, but I am not.

"Their hope and portion lies below,

""Tis all the happiness they know."

But I am a stranger and a pilgrim. I am at an inn; it yields me but few entertainments, or even accommodations-so much the better. It might otherwise tempt and detain me; but now it urges me on. And what makes him so cheerful in his trials? "An expected end."

And this hope, says he, I have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast: and "I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed." This expected end, also, says he, animates me in all the difficulties attending a course of obedience. If hope actuates to such exertions, hardships, and sacrifices, the sons of learning, fame, and wealth; should I ever be cold, or discouraged, with the certainty before me of an eternity, an infinity of all good? -This too, says he, composes me in the prospect, and reconciles me to the approach of death. În itself

it is far from pleasant, but it is the right way to a city of habitation: a departure to be with Christ, which is far better. He also can make the exit as gentle, as the issue is glorious. However this may be,

""Tis there for ever I shall dwell,
"With Jesus in the realms of day;
"Then I shall bid these fears farewell,
"And He will wipe my tears away.
"Jesus, on thee our hopes depend,
"To lead us on to thine abode ;
“Assured our home will make amends
"For all our toil upon the road."

JAN. 17.-" The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ." Gal. iii. 24.

WHAT law? Three kinds of law were given to the Jews. It is not necessary to exclude either, though the last is principally intended.

The judicial. This regarded their policy as a nation; regulated their conduct towards each other; and determined their civil crimes and penalties-Even this led to Christ; especially the right of redemption, which lay with the nearest of kin. So did also the provision of the cities of refuge-and happy, happy they who have fled for relief to him that was prefigured by them.

The ceremonial. This prescribed their worship, and enjoined a multitude of services and sacrifices which were all shadows of good things to come, but the body was Christ. It would be endless to particularize. The tabernacle, the mercy-seat, the altar, the table of shew-bread, the paschal lamb-all these led to him, and derived their importance from the relation. And hence those who deny their typical use have always spoken depreciatingly of them. The Jews were in the infancy of the Church; and these ceremonies were like pictures placed over the child's

lessons: or the whole economy may be considered as a star to the travellers in search of the Consolation of Israel, going before them till it stood over where the young child was-and then disappearing.

The moral. This was of universal and perpetual obligation; being founded not on any positive appointment or authority; but in the nature of man; and the relations subsisting between him and God, and between him and his fellow-creatures. The substance of it is, to love God supremely, and our neighbour as ourselves. Is this unreasonable? Can God himself dispense with it? Can he require less?

Now this leads us to Christ, first, by convincing us of sin for by the law is the knowledge of sin. It is owing to men's ignorance of this law that they think so well of themselves. Did they know that it ranks all omissions of duty in the number of sins; that it extends to the state of the heart, as well as of the life; and to our motives and principles as well as our actions; self-abased and despairing, they would cry out, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified."

Secondly, by shewing us our danger. This results from transgression: for the curse enters with all sin"cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." If you were in a room where there was a dead lion; you need not be afraid. But if while you were walking by, he should come to life, and rise upon his feet, and glare his eyeballs, and begin to roar;-as he revived, you would die with fear. So it was with Paul-"I was alive," says he, "without the law; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died."

Thirdly, by gendering despair of life by it. Here again the Apostle tells us, that his death to the law was also by it. "I through the law am dead unto the law, that I might live unto God." Thus the extremity of the danger makes us call out for a deliverer. Famine lectured back the Prodigal to his father's

house; and disease drives the patient to apply to a physician, which he would otherwise neglect, and submit to a remedy which he would otherwise reject.-"The law is our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ."

The law, therefore, is good if it be used lawfully, and ministers ought to preach it.-Some pass under a greater law work than others; but let none question the genuineness of the relief they have obtained, because they have not experienced much terror and distress. This terror and distress are but in the order of means; and the design of them is answered if we are brought to Christ, and acquiesce in his salvation.

Every one, therefore, that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto him, and can find encouragement no where else.-And him that cometh unto me, says the Saviour, I will in no wise cast out.

JAN. 18.-" I had not thought to see thy face; and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed."

Gen. xlviii. 11.

THIS was the language of the dying Jacob, when Joseph presented to him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

We behold in it his piety. He owns God in his indulgences-He has shewn me. Our comforts are sanctified and rendered doubly sweet when we receive them all from his hand. Let others live without God with them in the world; I would acknowledge him in all my ways. Let them ascribe their successes and enjoyments to chance, or to the power of their friends, or to their own diligence and skill; I would give him the glory that is due only to his Name; and remember that whatever be the medium of my comfort, he is the source; that whatever be the instrument, he is the

author-"The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Observe, also, his surprize: his expectation was more than exceeded. We remember the sad relation of his loss of Joseph, and the garment dipped in blood, by which his grief was deluded, though not relieved. "And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him: Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him." For many years he never dreamed of his survival: but added, "Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and will ye take Benjamin away? All these things are against me." In In process of time, however, all this gloomy conclusion was contradicted: "And they told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived and Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die." By and by this was fulfilled, "and Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me dic, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive."

Something, however, was still wanting. Joseph had sons; and these would be peculiarly endeared to Jacob. At length he embraces them, as well as the father-"I had not thought to see thy face; and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed."

Is this the only instance in which God has not