Thou hast declared that thou hast no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he would turn unto thee and live. And it is throughout all thy word thy gracious declaration, that when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Blessed, for ever blessed, be thy name, that this sound of mercy has been published upon earth. O make me truly thankful that, amidst all my offences, I can betake myself to this refuge of hope; and grant that that blessed word, in which this intimation is made, may be my meditation by day and by night.

But it is not by such declarations alone, that thou, O Lord, hast condescended to comfort and support thine erring creatures; for thou, who didst send thy beloved Son to take upon him this our human nature, didst also ordain, that his path of life should be full of sorrow,-that the fury of the wicked should be poured upon his head,—and that, at last, he should expire amidst cruel mockings, as the representative of the human race.

Draw near, O my soul, and behold this great

sight. Behold the beloved Son of God,-who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth,-yet stretched in agony on the accursed tree! Behold him, as the obedient servant of God, offering up his life as our Redeemer, and presenting unto his Father that sacrifice of perfect submission to the Divine will, and of an entire fulfilment of all the Divine commandments, which no other partaker of our nature has ever been able to offer for himself.

Grant, O heavenly Father, that I may always bear about with me the dying of the Lord Jesus; and that I may ever regard it in those instructive and impressive lights in which it was meant to be viewed.

Enable me to perceive, in this great event, the demerit of sin; and while I behold him who did no sin, yet undergoing, when made a sin-offering for us, such great sorrows, may I see in these an awful warning of the fate which awaits those who shall be finally impenitent. Yes, O Lord, if thy beloved Son was thus afflicted and humbled, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear in the day when thou arisest to take vengeance on their iniquities? and how dreadful must be the final portion of those who

not only resist all thy warnings, but who contemn this great salvation. May this consideration have

its proper effect upon my heart, and, ever looking to thy chastening hand in the cross of my Redeemer, may it be my constant endeavour to avoid all iniquity, and to root out from my heart every disobedient thought.

In the cross of Christ enable me also to see the vanity of all earthly things; and when the beloved Son of God is perceived thus made subject to all human sorrows, may I learn to set my affections on something greater and better than any prosperity which this life has to offer me.

Enable me also, from the same consideration, to bear with resignation whatever sorrows or disappointments it may be thy will to ordain for me in the humble sphere in which I am appointed to move. Like the obedient Son of God, may I readily devote myself to every duty by which I can either do good to mankind, fulfil the will of my heavenly Father, or show my perfect trust in the wisdom of his dispensations.

Finally, O heavenly Father, grant that I may duly appreciate that great manifestation of thy love

to men which has been made by the crucifixion of thy Son. May I therefore throw myself with perfect trust on thy sovereign grace, and ever be convinced that thou, who sparedst not thine own Son, but didst give him up to death for us all, wilt with him also freely give us all good things.

Under these impressions I now go forth to the duties of this day. O assist me with thy counsel, and direct me by thy grace. Defend me from danger,-comfort me in difficulty,-lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil,-and enable me, in all things, to acquit myself as becomes one who has not only been created by thy power, but redeemed by thy mercy.

Hear, in heaven thy dwelling-place, these my prayers, and answer me in love, for my Redeemer's sake. Amen.

EVENING PRAYER FOR THURSDAY.

PSALM XC. 2.

From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.

LORD, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God. How awful, O my God, is the contemplation of

green earth

sprung

from

thine eternity! Before this the abyss,—before the sun had begun his course in heaven, or the moon and stars shed their beauty on the night, before any thing that lives or vegetates upon this lower world had been called into existence, thou wast, and thine uncreated intelligence foresaw all the things that were to arise. Even before those greater worlds, which people with their brightness the regions of space, had been called from non-exist