MEDITATION XLIII.

PLEASING GOD.

But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb. 11: 6.

The more we confide in God, the more do we honor him. Nothing in the conduct of the disciples met with a more frequent rebuke from the Savior, than their unbelief. God - would have us believe what he says, and confidently expect the fulfilment of his promises. But alas, we are tempted, at times, to doubt even some of the fundamental truths of religion. These relics of scepticism are connected with our remaining depravity. In the sight of Jehovah, such thoughts are as guilty as they are offensive. We are to "believe that God is." Can a doubt enter the mind on this point? Where can we look-to what object in the entire universe which rebukes not the sceptical thought? It is "in him that we live and move;" we should therefore, in approaching him as suppliants, regard him as nigh; as in us and around us. We should also remember and believe that "he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." How precious this promise! But we must remember the condition," diligently." It is not a cold and formal service that he will recompense. It is not a careless or infrequent application that he will approve. No: we must with agonizing earnestness seek after God. We must give "all diligence" in the work, and bring all our powers to bear upon it. We must do it in faith; assured that God will reward us with success. Then will he "lift upon us the light of his countenance." He will "give us the Holy

Spirit." He will make us "heirs of God," and "jointheirs with Christ." He will make "crooked things straight, and rough places plain." O then, let us henceforth come to our Father with a believing heart. Let us come in the spirit of adoption. Let us throw ourselves upon his mercy, and seek, in the name of Jesus, those things which we need, and which he has promised to all his confiding children.

Prayer.

O God, "before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world; even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Thy existence is declared in every object in nature, and confirmed in every event of providence. "Thou art over all, and through all, and in us all." Enable us to come to thee in a humble, believing frame of mind. May we believe not only that "thou art; but that thou art a rewarder of them that diligently seek thee." Encouraged by this precious promise, we come in the name of Jesus, to implore thy forgiveness and favor. Unworthy and guilty as we are, thou wilt not reject us, if we come through the merits of our great atoning high priest. But O Lord to obtain thy blessing, we must seek thee “diligently." No sluggish efforts will avail. "The effectual and fervent prayer" must be offered. O give us this spirit of prayer. Let us pour it forth, mingled with humility, penitence, and faith. May we plead with an earnestness and importunity proportionate to our necessities. Then let us have the rich reward. The reward we crave is, that we may know thee more and serve thee better that we may be perfected in thy love-that we may be transformed into the image of Christ-that we may have grace to take up our cross daily and follow him-that we may love thy church-live to thy glory-labor for thy kingdom-that we may "live unto the Lord and die unto the Lord." These things constitute the reward for which we plead. O grant them unto us, as free, rich, unmerited mercies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MEDITATION XLIV.

CONVERSATION.

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. Phil. 1: 27.

Christ

How persuasive and powerful would be the influence of Christians, did their conduct and conversation always comport with the gospel! Each member of the church would be a "living epistle, known and read of all men." would no longer be "wounded in the house of his friends." Christians would reflect the image of their Lord. The eyes of the world would be riveted upon them; and men would be compelled to acknowledge that "they had been with Jesus," and that "they loved one another." To a vain and wicked world, this would be powerful preaching. Nothing arms the conscience of sinners with such power, as a holy example. Theoretically the wicked know the gospel to be pure. But how would they feel its obligations, were all its professors habitually to exemplify it! Then, the line between "those who serve God and those who serve him not," would be broad and visible. Conscience would then do her office with tenfold power. No building up in sin on the faults of professors could then be practiced. God would be glorified, and the world, we might hope, would be speedily converted. With such motives to a godly life, how is it that we have so often furnished an occasion for the enemy to blaspheme? O let us weep over our past conformity to the world. Let a broad line of distinc

tion be seen henceforth between our conduct and that of the wicked. Let us be guided and governed by the princi

ples of the gospel. What it approves, let us pursue. What it condemns let us avoid. Let us keep close to the counsels of our blessed Master; and let " the same mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus."

Prayer.

Blessed be thy name, O God, that thou hast given us a perfect rule of moral conduct. Thy law "is holy, and just, and good." "In keeping it there is great reward." How pure also is thy gospel! It is but a more complete development of the law, with additional motives to obedience, drawn from the tender mercy and dying love of Jesus thy Sou. But O how far short do we come of fulfilling the precepts of the law or the gospel! We profess to be entirely governed by them; but alas the selfish heart suggesteth a thousand base and unworthy motives. Still do we 66 delight in thy law after the inward man." We would fain be governed by its precepts both in feeling and conduct. Inscribe it upon our hearts with thine own hand, that we may not depart from thee. How glorious also is thy gospel! O, our blessed Redeemer, thou hast taught us how to live. Thy own lovely example is before us. But how often hath our conduct been in contrast with thine! How unworthily of our high vocation have we walked! But now grant us thy grace that we may order our conversation according to thy gospel. Make us to let our light shine before men. We pray that we may exemplify thy gospel so strikingly, that others may be led to embrace it; that the Father may be glorified, and thy blessed cause advanced. Thus may we and every other professed follower of the cross live and act; that the world may see how trausforming and glorious. is thy grace—until all shall come to the knowledge of the truth, and every knee bow to thy universal sceptre. Amen.

MEDITATION XLV.

THE NATIVITY-CHRISTMAS.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matt. 1: 21.

We have here the annunciation, not only of the Savior's birth, but of the great end for which he is born. What heart can contemplate this event and not be overwhelmed with a sense of the divine goodness! "Unto us this child is born; unto us this son is given." The angel of the Lord is sent to proclaim his advent. All heaven is moved at this interposition of the divine mercy. Christ Jesus comes in a weak and lowly form. He condescends to be "born of a woman—to be made under the law, to redeem them that are under the law, that they may receive the adoption of sons." If Jesus had not been born, there had been no hope of forgiveness." There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." Without this Savior, how dark and terrifying would have been our prospects! Satan would have triumphed over the destruction of our entire race. The grave would have closed over us, until the "resurrection of damnation." Every earthly prospect would have been covered with gloom. Adore then, O my soul, the prince of life, who, for thy salvation, thus humbled himself to the form of a servant! His very name is precious. It is "Jesus." Is there not in this name something attractive? Speaks it not of salvation? Oye, who feel sin to be a burden-who daily groan over its polluting load-remember "Jesus." That name ensures salvation from sin. O remember, the blood that pardons, also purifies. If thou art borne down under sin's oppressive weight," look