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He approves of them. They may be spoken against and despised, but God looks on them with complacency; his eye beams love upon them, and Jesus pleads their cause: "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." He will reward them. They shall be known and recognized in the great day, when all nations shall stand before the great Judge. They shall receive his commendation, "Well done!" while the wicked shall receive his frown, "Depart from me, I know you not."

JUNE 25.

Christ the Vine.

"I am the vine."-John, xv. 5.

WHEREIN does Christ resemble the vine ?-wherein does Christ excel the vine and wherein does Christ differ from the vine?

Wherein does Christ resemble the vine ?—He resembles it in its great fertility. There are many grapes on one bunch, many bunches on one branch, and many branches on one tree. So Christ has a numerous seed. At first his disciples in Jerusalem were only one hundred and twenty; but three thousand were converted in one day, and soon there were many ten thousands; and now they are in every kingdom of the world, while in heaven there is a multitude which no man can number. He resembles it in its refreshing influence. Melchizedec refreshed Abraham and his men with bread and wine when they returned from the battle of the kings; so Christ refreshes his followers with his ordinances, and cheers them with his presence. He resembles it in its medicinal properties. Timothy was to use a little wine for his stomach's sake, and his frequent infirmities. So Christ is the physician of the soul, and cures all its diseases. He resembles it in its fine shade. The vine-tree is a shadow from the heat, and Christ protects

us from the heat of God's anger, and the storm of God's judgments. "I sat down under his shadow with great delight." Wherein does Christ excel the vine ?-He is ever green, while the vine flourishes only in its season. The vine reposes in winter, but there is no winter with Christ. "He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." The vine bears no fruit in this land without artificial heat; but the frozen north, and the genial south, are equally fitted to bring forth fruit to Christ. The vine bears only one kind of fruit, but Christ bears a great variety of fruit. Faith, love, peace, hope, joy, and every grace, grow from him. The vine-tree, in a few years, withers and dies, and requires to be replaced; but seasons and years have no decaying influence on Christ. His church, like himself, shall "blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit." O my soul, wilt thou not prefer him above thy chief joy!

Wherein does Christ differ from the vine ?-If the fruit of the vine be taken too often or too largely, it will be sure to injure; but we cannot have too much of Christ, nor can we be injured by the fruits of his death. The fruit of the vine can only benefit the body; but Christ chiefly benefits the soul, and fills it with the joy and peace of believing. The fruit of the vine is often a doubtful and dangerous remedy for disease; but the blood of Christ is a sure remedy, and can cleanse the soul from all sins. The fruit of the vine is often beyond the reach of the poor; but Christ is nigh to the poor, and to them his gospel is preached.

JUNE 26.

The Branches of the Vine.

"Ye are the branches."-John, xv. 5.

CHRIST calls himself a vine, and his followers the branches; intimating the close union which subsists between him and

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them. The branches united to the vine demand our attention.

They are ingrafted.-Originally they are sprung from another stock-namely, Adam; but the great husbandman, by his word and spirit, convinces them of sin, separates them from the world, and joins them to Christ by a living faith. Their connection with Christ is spiritual, real, and intimate. By the agency of the Divine Spirit, through the instrumentality of the divine word, they embrace Christ as he is freely offered to them in the gospel, and thus they are joined to the Lord, and become his children.

They are dependent on the vine.-The branch must abide on the tree, otherwise it cannot exist, it cannot receive nourishment, it cannot make progress in growth, and it cannot bear fruit. In like manner the believer is dependent on Christ. He draws from him his spiritual existence, his peace, and his hope, and his advancement in the divine life. So necessary is his close connection with the Saviour, that without it he can bear no fruit, and bring none to perfection; he can discharge no duty aright, neither can he continue in patient well-doing.

They are useful.-They bring glory to God. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. They illustrate the power of divine grace, in overcoming their evil propensities, in exhibiting their likeness to God, and whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. And they benefit others as well as themselves. As a branch is worthless unless its fruit bring enjoyment or subsistence, so visible connection with Christ ought to make us live, that others may be benefited by our example and our efforts. Our obedience to the requirements of Christ, should teach others to obey; our humility should teach others to be humble; our diligence and zeal should teach others activity; and our light should so shine before men, that they may be induced to glorify God.

THE BRANCHES OF THE VINE.

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They are one tree.-Many members, yet one body; many parts, yet one whole; and many branches, yet one tree. For ye are all one in Christ Jesus." With him we have one interest, one feeling, one desire, and one destiny. They are united to each other, as well as to Christ. Though belonging to different denominations, they love each other. They know that there is only one heaven, only one way to it; they have entered on this way, and therefore they love each other, and fall not out by the way. Though scattered over the whole world, their rays of light centre in Christ; they hope to be united in one family in heaven, and sing together one lofty song, and admire together their one Saviour.

JUNE 27.

The Bitter Waters Sweetened.

"And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet."-Exod. xv. 25.

HERE we have a trial by the way-a remedy providedand the remedy successful.

A trial by the way. In their journeyings, the Israelites came to Marah, but they could not drink of the waters, for they were bitter, and they murmured against Moses. Thus unexpected troubles came. Our sins cause them, and they are necessary to keep us humble. "We must, through much tribulation, enter the kingdom." Troubles often arise from the very thing on which we had set our hearts, and from which we had anticipated enjoyment. Water was greatly needed by the weary travellers; Marah looked well, but, when tasted, its waters were bitter, and unfit for use. Like the mirage in the desert, they were pleasant to the eye, but the anticipated enjoyment proved a delusion. Troubles often make us fret and complain. This is sinful, and only adds trouble to trouble. We may

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mourn, but we must not murmur.

must not complain.

We may pray, but we

A remedy provided.-"The Lord shewed him a tree." The remedy was not of man, but of God. God made the tree, and discovered to Moses its medicinal properties, as an antidote to the bitter waters. In like manner he has provided a Saviour, and revealed him in the gospel. How great is the love of God, and how rich is his mercy, to interpose on our behalf, at the very time required! The remedy had to be made use of, and applied to the waters, in order to sweeten them. In like manner we must make use of Christ, and appropriate him to ourselves for salvation. The remedy was made known in answer to prayer. "He cried unto the Lord." In all our troubles we must cry unto God, and he will deliver us. "Is any afflicted? let him pray." When all human resources fail, God can and will help us.

The remedy successful." The waters were made sweet." The remedy applied, and used as directed, gives present relief and present happiness. In every case, it extracts the poison and the bitterness as soon as used. God sends his word; we believe it, and are healed. God gives his Son; we accept of him, and are saved. It gives relief for the future, as well as for the present. Whatever trials and difficulties assail the believer, Jesus removes the sting, and extracts the poison; or, if he should not remove it, he will give grace and strength to bear it. Let us trust the future to Christ, for he will not forsake us. It secures eternal sweets. The believer has the certainty of heaven. It is purchased for him, and promised to him; and there all evil will be absent, for ever absent; and all good present, for ever present. "I give unto them eternal life. and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand."