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FEB. 6.-" And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them." Luke xxiv. 13–15.

THE name of the one, was Cleopas; of the other, we are ignorant. We are also unacquainted with the design of this journey-But it betrayed the imperfection of these disciples. For is it not astonishing, that they could leave Jerusalem before they had ascertained an event so interesting as his resurrection; especially as he had more than once assured them, that he should rise again the third day; and certain women, early at the sepulchre, had reported that the body was missing, and that they were informed by a vision of angels, that he was alive; and, also, some from among themselves had gone to the grave, and found it even as they had said-yet they walk off into the country in the midst of all this perplexity! Such is our impatience! Such is our fear! Such is our despondency !-But he that believeth maketh not haste.

Yet, a drop is water, and a spark is fire: and a little grace is grace, and perfectly distinguishable from mere Nature. And we have here, not only infirmity, but excellency. Their minds cleave unto him still; and they can talk about nothing elseand he joins them. Let me not pass over this without remark.

It shews the Saviour's kindness and tenderness. He does not despise the day of small things, nor cast off those who have a little strength. I know not what kind of person he had. But if he had not bodily beauty; in his mind, he was fairer than the children of men. I am sure of his temper-I can look into his heart, and see that it is made of love :

"A bruised reed will he not break; and the smoking flax will he not quench; but will bring forth judgment unto victory."

It shews me the truth of the promise. "Where”— let it be where it will; in the temple, the private dwelling, the field, the road: "where two or three"if there are no more; for, as he is not confined to place, so neither to number-"are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them."

I also learn, that the way to have him for our companion, is to make him our theme. No theme ought to be so dear-no theme can be so excellent-so profitable.

Let worldly minds pursue the things of the world. But let Christians abundantly utter the memory of his great goodness; and mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord. And then he will be present-He is there.

"We'll talk of all he did and said,
"And suffer'd for us here below;
"The path he mark'd for us to tread,
"And what he is doing for us now.

"Thus, as the moments pass away,
"We'll love, and wonder, and adore;
"And hasten on the glorious day,
"When we shall meet to part no more."

FEB. 7.-" Take up thy bed, and walk." John v. 8.

WE are too prone to overlook the circumstantial and incidental instruction of the Sacred writersforgetful that every word of God is pure; and that whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning. Let us not lose any of this hid treasure, for want of observing, and applying what

we read.

Our Saviour met with this man at the pool of Bethesda; but no sooner had he pronounced the word of healing, than he orders him to take up his bed, and walk. He has always reasons for his conduct, though they are not always perceptible. But I think we can see four reasons for this command.

First, it was to evince the perfection of the cure. His walking, indeed, would prove this, but his taking up his bed, and being able to carry that in which he had been carried, would display it still more, as it shewed his strength as well as health. We often refer to miracles; and they are the witness of the Spirit. But the question is, were they true? Never could any thing have been more remote from imposition, than the miracles recorded in the Gospel. Examine them. They were many-they were public-they were performed before witnesses interested in their detection, had they been false. The circumstances, too, were always corroborative. Does he raise the dead? The young man was carrying to his burial, attended with much people. Lazarus was in his grave, and had been dead four days. Does he recover the infirm and the diseased? The man, whose eyes he opened, was born blind. And this paralytic had been afflicted thirty-eight years; and in a moment he was made whole, and was seen by all going home with his bed upon his shoulders.

Secondly, it was to teach him to be careful, and to waste nothing. The bed probably was not very valuable, but he was not to throw it away. In correspondence with this, after the miracle of the loaves and fishes, even then, when he had shown with what ease he could multiply resources, and support his creatures, he said, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." Christians should avoid closeness and meanness, lest their good be evil spoken of; but there is another extreme they should be anxious to avoid: it is profusion-yea, negligence and carelessness. They ought not to

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love money; but they should know the use and worth of it; and remember that they are responsible for all they have. How needy are many; and how ready would they be to call down the blessing of Heaven upon you for a few mites; for the remnants of your wardrobe; for the refuse of your garden; for the crumbs that fall from your table! Be examples of economy yourselves. Teach your children to be prodigal of nothing. You would dismiss a servant that purloined; keep no one that wastes. How unfrugal often are the poor! How few of them seem to know how to make the most of any of their pittances! Let them be instructed personally and by tracts.

Thirdly, as a memento of his deliverance and duty. When at home, and looking on this bed, he would say "Ah! there I lay, a poor enfeebled creature; and said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord, remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall: my soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled within me. This I call to mind, therefore have I hope." It is a sad charge against Israel, that they soon forgat His works, and the wonders that he had shewn them. We are prone to the same evil; and need every assistance to aid recollection. Joseph and Moses made the very names of their children remembrances. Samuel set up a stone, and called it Ebenezer. Some have set apart particular days. Some have kept diaries

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Fourthly, to try his obedience. Carrying his bed was a servile work; and it was now the Sabbath, on which day no burden was to be borne. He seemed therefore to oppose the law of Moses; and accordingly the Pharisees were offended, and murmured.

But works of necessity and mercy were always proper; and the Sabbath was made for man; and the Son of Man was Lord even of the Sabbath-day. And it is pleasing to find that the man's mind was informed, as well as his body cured; and to hear him reasoning with the objectors as he does. "He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk." How fine, how instructive is this?-We are not to judge the Lord's commands, but to follow them.-His orders may be trying, and in obeying them we may give offence: but we need not mind the revilings of men, while we can plead his authority. It is our deliverer, our benefactor, who enjoins; and what has He said unto us? He that died for us, and saved us from the wrath to come; what will He have me to do? He that made me whole, the same says unto me, "If ye love me, keep my commandments.

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FEB. 8.-" And he was there in the prison."

Gen. xxxix. 20.

- BUT he was not there criminally; but under an imputation, as false as it was infamous. How little can we judge of character from outward condition! At one time, the best people in the country were to be found at the stake, or in prison. But it is the cause, and not the cross, that makes the martyr. Let us see, that, like Daniel, we are accused only in the law of our God: and resemble Paul, who suffered as an evil doer, even unto bonds, but was not one. Let us beware of drawing upon ourselves deserved reproach or persecution, by imprudent or immoral conduct: "For what glory is it, if, when ye are buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently?"

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