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MARCH 1.

The Morning-Star.

"I am the morning-star."-Rev. xxii. 16.

LOOK up, my soul, to the heavens, and contemplate numberless stars, marshalled in bright array. Survey the celestial orbs on early morn, and mark the brightest on the broad canopy. It is an image of Jesus, who says, "I am the morning-star."

Jesus is a star.-As such, he is conspicuous-as conspicuous as yon towering mountain rising out of the plain, and stretching its snowy summit to the clouds; and withal so bright and beautiful that every eye may see him and admire him. He is lifted up on the cross for our sins, and in the preaching of the everlasting gospel for our salvation, so conspicuously that every eye may be attracted by his brightness, and every heart warmed by his love. He is also bright and beautiful. The long and dreary night of ignorance, and superstition, and error, is enlivened by his soft and pleasant radiance. Oh, what an impenetrable veil of darkness covers those regions where this Star has not shed his light! Has he yet arisen in my heart? He also affords direction. The traveller through the desert, and the mariner on the ocean, are guided to the most distant countries by the stars of heaven. The remotest regions of the globe are visited under their safe direction; so Jesus, the brightest star in the heavens, guides every Christian traveller in safety over this stormy ocean of life to the land of rest.

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Jesus is the morning-star.-As such he ushered in the first day of our world. "All things were made by him." "By him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth." He ushered in the gospel-day. "I am the light of the world." "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up." What a glorious day when the Sun of Righteousness arose on our dark world, to attract every eye with his splendour, and inflame every heart with his love! He ushers in conversion-day. "John bare witness of that light, that all men through him might believe." Each one believing should be able to say, "One thing I know, whereas I was blind, now I see." "He separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me." He will usher in millennial day. Then "the light of the sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven days." Then not one dark spot shall be found on our earth, nor one dark mind among the children of men; for all shall rejoice in his light. Oh that all were to labour, and contribute, and pray to hasten the dawn of millennial day! He will usher in eternal day. "And the city shall have no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." Omy soul, rejoice in the light of this morning-star, and strive to reflect it on a dark world, that others may be guided to eternal day!

MARCH 2.

Happiness of Obedience.

"But he said, Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."-Luke, xi. 28.

HERE we have the word of God- -our duty regarding it -and the happiness of attending to it.

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HAPPINESS OF OBEDIENCE.

The word of God.-It makes known our disease. It tells us that sin is the cause of all our woe; that its guilt is great, and binds us over to the wrath of God; that its loathsomeness is such that we are altogether as an unclean thing; and that its wages are death and hell. How dreadful, then, is my disease, and how can I be cured? It makes known our remedy. It tells us of Christ, that he is Godman: man, that he might die for us; and God, that his death might be abundantly efficacious. It tells us of his love, which melts our hearts, and which acts on us as the loadstone acts on the steel, and draws us to himself. It tells us of his work. His obedience unto death is the ground of our peace and acceptance with God. It makes known our cure. We are saved by faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God. This cure is simple and effective. It exactly meets our case, and we are fully warranted to believe by invitations, commands, and expostulations.

Our duty regarding it.-"Hear the word of God, and keep it." We should hear with attention, and keep it in remembrance. It is God that speaks; and shall we hear man, and refuse or neglect to hear God? Shall we keep in remembrance the sayings of men, and forget the word of God? We should hear it with faith, and keep it in the heart. Unless we hear with faith, and retain the word deep in our hearts, there is no profit. Unless we meditate on the truth, and digest it, we cannot expect it to influence our thoughts, our feelings, and our conduct. We should hear it with self-application, and keep it as a rule. God speaks to us as if we were the only persons in the world needing salvation; and we must take the word home, and render sincere, cheerful, and constant obedience.

The happiness of attending to it.-This happiness will be great. Great is the happiness of a mother who has a son good, great, and useful; but greater still is the happi

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ness of the Christian. Believing obedience will connect us with Christ, and secure far higher honour than the noblest consanguinity. Mary had no saving blessing merely because she was the mother of Christ; but if we keep his word, we shall be happy in our minds, happy during life, happy in our prospects, and happy for ever. Amazing honour! Amazing bliss! Only one could be the mother. of Christ, but all may be blessed and happy through him. O my soul, wilt thou not hear his word, and keep it? "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

MARCH 3.

Lobe to Jesus.

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."-1 Peter, i. 8.

HERE we see the object-the nature the origin-and the effect of love.

The object of love is Christ. "Whom having not seen, ye love." He is the noblest object that can engage human affection. How worthy is he of my warmest love! He is God in my nature, having a compassionate eye that never turned away from a scene of suffering, an almighty arm to bring me salvation, and a sympathetic heart to feel for me in all my woes. He is my great teacher about sin and salvation, about immortality and heaven. By his sufferings unto death, he hath made a perfect atonement; and the blessed gospel brings it within my reach. He has promised pardon, peace, and eternal life to all them that love him. And what though the eyes of my flesh have not been permitted to behold him? mine ears have heard of him! He is worthy of my love, and shall I not love him?

The nature of this love.-I shall love him with all my heart. His eye pierces its darkest recesses; therefore lip

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love, mere pretence or profession, will never do. I shall love him as I love no one else. No object on earth, however valuable, shall ever rival him in my affections. Had I a thousand hearts, O my Saviour, they are thine. I shall love him for ever. No difficulties, no trials, shall ever lessen my regards. I shall love him when the dark cloud of adversity gathers around me. I shall love him when the sunshine of prosperity gilds my path. The spark of divine love enkindled in me, may he fan into a flame, until it burn before his throne!

The origin of love.—It is "believing." The eye of faith pierces through the dark shadows of time and death, and makes heavenly objects appear near and distinct. O my soul, dost thou believe on the Son of God? Can I say of this presently unseen Saviour, whom faith beholds, "He is mine?" "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

The effect of love." Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." I was once in poverty, but now I am rich; I was once bound, but now I am free; I was once a slave, but now I am a citizen. Unspeakable joy! begun in conversion, felt on earth, perfected in heaven. How full of glory then! The unseen Saviour shall be seen face to face. He shall attract every eye with his brightness, and inflame every heart with his love. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

MARCH 4.

The House of the Lord.

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." -Psalm cxxii. 1.

HERE we have the house of the Lord-the duty of attendance of inviting others—and the gladness excited.

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