Help us to watch unto prayer. Instead of confiding in our own arm, may we make thee our refuge and our fortress. In all times of temptation, wilt thou deliver us. Uphold us by the right hand of thy righteousness. Enable us to war a good warfare. May we, without presumption, look forward to the rewards of the faithful; and impelled by the glorious hope set before us," may we, through grace, overcome every foe, and at last be invested with the privileges and honors which are promised to all thy children, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

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MEDITATION III.

THE RISEN SAVIOR.

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. John 20: 14.

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Her

We may say of Mary weeping at the sepulchre, behold how she loved him! She came to find her Savior's lifeless body and to weep over it; but even that is gone. heart is broken. In the anguish of despair, she exclaims, They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him." Mary little thought how near to her stood that very Master, whose death she mourned. He was there to console and to cheer her. No sooner had the supposed gardener uttered the word, "Mary," with all the benign emphasis of expression with which he was wont to address her, than she recognized his well known voice, and flew to embrace his feet. Thus does the weeping believer, or the heart-broken penitent often find, when all seems darkness and despair, that Jesus is near, and about to reveal himself to their troubled souls. He loves to find us weeping. It

is a state indicative of our penitence, and expressive of our desire for his consoling grace. It is in the vale of humility that our Lord seems to abide. There he would have us seek him. It is when, like Mary, we are weeping in the garden, at the cross, or around the tomb, that Jesus draws near, to speak a comforting word to our souls. O, let us welcome afflictions, if they do but bring us near to him! It is heaven, to behold his countenance and to hear his voice. When, borne down with the burden of sorrow, we go to some lonely spot to give vent, in prayer, to these sorrows, sweet is the surprise to our souls, to find there him, of whom it is said, “He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows."

Prayer.

It makes af

How comforting, O Lord, is thy presence! flictions light and easy to be borne. Nay, it enables us even to "glory in tribulations." But when thou withdrawest thy presence—when, by our sins, we create a distance between thee and our souls, how heavy are our spirits! Nothing then can impart comfort or satisfaction. To a heart that has once felt thy love, it is not in the power of sublunary objects to afford substantial bliss. But, O Lord, though our sins have separated between thee and us, yet when we return with weeping, thou art ever ready to meet us, and to "restore to us, the joy of thy salvation." Thou dost even hasten to embrace us, and to bestow upon us anew the tokens of thy love. Thou lookest tenderly upon thy penitent children. When they seek thee sorrowing, thou art always Thy voice seems to say, "be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee." Blessed be thy name, gracious Savior, that now thou art risen; and hast given us the assurance that thou wilt be with thy people, not only in their solitude, but where "two or three of them are gathered together in thy name." O, may our souls ever live beneath the light of thy countenance!. When we lose sight of thee, our Lord, may we go weeping till we find thee. Let our hearts never

near.

be at rest when thou art absent. Let it not be in the power of any creature to separate us from thy love. Reign supreme in our affections, and reign there forever. Amen.

MEDITATION IV.

FRUITS OF HOLINESS.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15: 8.

God's glory is the great end of salvation. The whole plan tends to illustrate the wisdom, power, goodness, justice and mercy of God. Christians are specimens of the divine workmanship. If the change which grace has wrought in them, be not strikingly manifest, God is dishonored and the gospel despised. After all that God the Father has done in sending his Son, and Christ the Son has done in dying for us, if we, who profess to be redeemed, do not exhibit unequivocal evidence of the power and reality of religion, our conduct must draw contempt upon the whole scheme of mercy. But if, on the contrary, all men are obliged to confess the power of God in our conversion, and the purity of the gospel in our lives, we then glorify him "who is the author and the finisher of our faith." The more exuberant and healthful the fruits, the more excellent is the tree! If after we have borne only "fruit unto death," we begin to show the "fruit which is unto holiness," men will be obliged to acknowledge in us the grace of God. Our light will then so shine, that others may be led also to glorify our Father. Then we may boldly announce ourselves the disciples of Jesus, and fear no charge of hypocrisy or inconsistency. It will be

evident that we have been with Jesus, and that we bear somewhat of his image. Our usefulness will be extended-our hope become confirmed—and our zeal burn with a steady and increasing flame. God will then acknowledge us as his, and will at last receive us with the welcome, "Well done, good and faithful servants."

Prayer.

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May the

Grant, O merciful God, unto thy servants, the grace of thy Holy Spirit to enable us to live to thy glory. same power which brought us out of darkness into thy marvellous light," assist us to walk in the light as thou art in the light." The eyes of the world, we know, are fixed upon us; yea we are watched by angels, by devils and men. Our spiritual enemies stand ready to triumph in our downfall. Every artifice of Satan is employed to accomplish it. Wicked men would gladly find in our conduct an argument against thy cause. But, O Lord, "hold thou us up, and we are safe." Our trust is in thy grace alone. We have no ability to secure or to advance our own spiritual interests. To thee we cling as to "the strength of our heart." Never for one moment forsake us. We mourn that our life has been thus far so poor a testimony to the power of thy gospel. We are humbled in the dust at the recollection of our sins. O, how often have we dishonored thee! But, heavenly Father, let us now "cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." Let us henceforth exhibit the fruits of holiness. Yea, let us bear "much fruit." May we be enabled to gain one victory after another, until every sin shall be overcome, and every gospel grace shall adorn our souls. O make us “holy as thou art holy." All this we entreat for Jesus' sake. Amen.

MEDITATION V.

RISEN WITH CHRIST.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col. 3: 1.

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Risen with Christ!

י.

What can be the meaning of the How are Christians risen with Christ?

sacred penman? It is evident that the language is highly figurative. "Ye are risen with him," says the apostle in the 12th verse of the preceding chapter, "through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." Our faith, then-wrought in us by the power of God-disconnects our souls in a sense from "things seen," and introduces us to things not seen. We leave behind us as motives, and as principal means of enjoyment, the things of earth, and we walk by the light of things celestial. This is our resurrection, whereby we are likened to our glorious Lord, who, assuming a spiritual body, came forth from the darkness of the grave. Having thus risen with Christ, we must of course direct our vision to him, and to the scenes with which he is surrounded. We must" seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." Our deepest interest should be concentrated on heaven. There dwells he whom our soul loveth-our Father-Redeemer and Sanctifier. There is the congregation of angels and the spirits of the just made perfect; all sinless and dwelling in a region that is pure. Why then should we be enamoured of earth? Why fear to cross death's dark vale?