the spirit of him on whose bosom he leaned. It would be well if all who are engaged in the sacred office were distinguished by more of "the meekness and gentleness of Jesus Christ." Instead of insulting and menacing, it would be better for love's sake to entreat, and endeavour to win. Indeed there is no gaining the heart any other way. It cannot be forced-but it may be won-and "he that winneth souls is wise." This was the original method-" We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children; so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us."

Thirdly, the effect of his usefulness. Many of them were his converts. He had begotten them through the Gospel: and he regarded them as his spiritual progeny; the most important and interesting of all offspring. Such children are indeed a heritage of the Lord-Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them: he shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with the enemy in the gate.

Fourthly, the character they were to display. He would have them resemble the qualities of little children. He would have them receive the kingdom of God like little children, who implicitly confide in their Father's declarations. He would have them, like little children, to depend on their father's care to provide for them; and be free from all anxiety and fear. In malice he would have them children retaining no resentments, and if angry easily pacified. He would have them free from pride and disdain; condescending to men of low estate: not ambitious and worldly-minded.

"The

Whatever we may think of these things, we know how they are regarded by the Judge of all. disciples came unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." From this Divine decision it is first obvious-that these attributes are not natural to us, but the effect of conversion; we become such. And secondly-that the change producing them is indispensably necessary to our hope; for except we be converted, and become as little children, we shall not enter the kingdom of heaven-We are without title and without preparation, and, as the same authority tells us in another passage, i. we cannot see the kingdom of God."

The conformity, however, is not to be universal. You are not to "be children in understanding," but "full-grown men." You are to be "no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." Little children are fond of trifles, and will cry and fight for toys-But, says the Apostle, it shall not be so among you-"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."

AUGUST 22.-MORNING.

"The word of Christ." Col. iii. 16.

So the Scriptures are called-because he is the author and because he is the subject of their con

tents. They are not only derived from the inspiration of his Spirit, but they are full of his person, and character, and sufferings, and glory. There is nothing perhaps, admitted into them but has some relation to him. We cannot, in many instances, trace this connexion at present: but we shall see more of it when, in the Church, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven fold, as the light of seven days. And, perhaps, to explore it perfectly will be a part of the blessedness and employment of heaven. But when our Lord urged his hearers to search the Scriptures, he said, "They are they that testify of me." And, going to Emmaus with the two disciples, "he expounded unto them, in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself.”

We may divide the Scriptures into six parts.

There is the historical part. He is the substance of this. In Adam, we see him the head and representative of his people. In Noah, as the restorer of a new world. In Isaac, as a victim laid on the altar. In Joseph, as a sufferer and a saviour. In Moses, as a lawgiver. In Aaron, as a high priest. In Joshua, as a leader and commander. In Solomon, as the prince of peace. In Jonah, as buried, and rising from the grave.

There is the ceremonial part. Of this, he is the substance. He is the body of all its shadows, the reality of all its types. He is the rock, whose streams followed the Israel of God. He is the manna, the true bread that came down from heaven. In the City of Refuge, we behold him as our security from avenging justice. And in every bleeding sacrifice, as the atonement of our sins.

There is the prophetical part. Here he is all in all. "To him gave all the prophets witness." "The testi mony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

There is the promissory part—And how large and glorious a portion of it is filled with exceeding great and precious promises! What blessing can we need that is not furnished under the pledge of a God that cannot lie? "But all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us."

There is the practical part. To be a Christian, is to live, not to ourselves, but to him that died for us, and rose again. Of good works, his example is the rule; his love is the motive; his Spirit is the author. He is the altar on which all our sacrifices are to be offered. Prayer is asking in his name. Morals are from him. We are to love our wives, even as he loved the Church, and gave himself for it.

There is the doctrinal part. And what is the great mystery of godliness? "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Every doctrine of the Gospel, as treated by the inspired authors, leads to him. If we are justified, it is by his righteousness. If we are sanctified, it is by his Spirit. If the glory of God shines forth, it is in the face of Jesus Christ. Providence is all power given unto him in heaven and in earth. The whole of Christianity is called the "The truth as it is in Jesus."

Take him out of the Bible, and you take the sun out of our world; and the soul out of the body.

It is this that so powerfully endears the Sacred Volume to every real Christian. It is the word of

One he supremely loves; and of one he feels to be infinitely necessary to all his comfort, and all his hope. Of him he can never read, or hear, enough.

O my soul! let this word of Christ dwell in thee richly in all wisdom. Never forget the admonition of kindness, as well as of authority: "Bind it continually upon thine heart, and tie it about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."

AUGUST 22.-EVENING.

"David served his own generation by the will of God."

ACTS xiii. 36.

EXAMPLE has a thousand advantages over every other mode of tuition. Hence God-for none teacheth like him-has filled his word, not by documents and dissertations, but facts; and, spreading before us the lives and actions of men, commands us not to be slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

We have here a noble testimony concerning David. In his early days he was in obscurity, being the son of a plain yeoman, in the village of Bethlehem, and employed in the humble occupation of a shepherd. But he was soon called to expose himself in the field of battle, and obtained for his countrymen an easy victory, by killing the wonder and terror of the age. After this-for as he rose he suffered-we find him in exile, under the persecutions of Saul, wandering and hiding himself in wildernesses for his safety, and hunted like a partridge upon the mountains. At length, through much tribulation, he entered his