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thy faith fail not." Jesus knows the Christian's danger. He is Satan's conqueror, and watches his every movement. Often the believer would be like a bird taken in the snare of the fowler, or a fish caught in an evil net, were Jesus not to watch and pray for him. Prayer is a powerful weapon, and, in the hands of Jesus, is always successful. He knows the moment of danger, and intercedes timeously. He knows the power of the enemy, and conscious of his own power, he intercedes successfully. Shall Jesus watch and pray for us, and shall we not watch and pray for ourselves? He prays that our faith fail not. Fixed upon the Rock, it may be assaulted and shaken; but upheld by Jesus, it cannot fail. Mark, reader, where thy stability lies! It is not in thyself, but in the great Intercessor.

The Christian's duty after recovery.-The Christian is not only tempted, but he often falls, and does great injury to himself and the cause of religion. Thus was it with Peter, but he recovered again. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter. It was a look of reproach for his forgetfulness and his fall. It was a look of affection which brought him to his recollection, and melted his heart. From the cross and from the gospel, Jesus gives us the same look of love; and when recovered from sin, we must strengthen the brethren, by warning them against evil, encouraging them in good, and confirming them in their attachment.

AUGUST 18.

Imperishable Food.

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."-John, vi. 27.

HERE we have the provision made the effort requiredthe gift bestowed—and the authority of the giver.

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The provision made. "That meat which endureth unto everlasting life." Food is as necessary for the soul as for the body; and unless it were provided for us, there could be no possibility of salvation. It has been provided at a great expense. Christ, by his sufferings and death, endured the fire of divine wrath, and procured this food for the soul; and in him there is enough for each one, and enough for all. It is lasting and imperishable. He who once partakes, hungers no more. He who believes and accepts Christ and his great salvation, shall have supplies unto everlasting life.

The effort required.-"Labour." Sometimes faith is difficult. It is so when there is no right conviction of sin. Cain tried to serve God as an innocent man, and could not. They that are whole and self-righteous, also try, and fail. It is so when there is a propensity to work. Why should we try to do something to be saved, when we ought to believe that all is done already by Christ? It is so when we stumble at its simplicity. How many like Naaman turn away in a rage, because they are not required to do some great thing! O my soul, wilt thou not believe in Christ, and be saved?

The gift bestowed." Everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you." Everlasting life is a gift. It cannot be merited, or bought, or got in exchange. It is given to all in the offer of the gospel, and actually conferred freely on all that believe. It is to the believer a present gift. He does not need to wait a year or till death for it, but Jesus gives it whenever we believe; he gives the foretaste and hope of it now, and the consummation of it hereafter. It is a certain gift: "Shall give unto you." Once enjoyed, it cannot be forfeited, reversed, or lost. All believers are as sure of heaven as if they were in it.

The authority of the giver.-"For him hath God the Father sealed." He was sealed to the office of Mediator

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at his birth, at his baptism, and on the mount of transfiguration. He was sealed by miracles. Their number, their usefulness, and their publicity, infallibly established the divinity of Christ's mission. He was sealed by his exaltation. His resurrection, ascension, investiture with power to rule and power to judge, prove that he has power to save and give eternal life. Who, then, would prefer the food that perisheth, to everlasting life?

AUGUST 19.

Support in Distress.

"My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."-Psalm lxxiii. 26.

HERE is the Christian distressed-the Christian supported -and the Christian enriched.

The Christian distressed." My flesh and my heart faileth." My distresses have taken hold of my body and my heart. I am weighed down with a sense of my sin and guilt. Duties neglected, sin committed, and time misimproved, overwhelm my heart. Whatever may distress me, sin, which God hates, and which God punishes, ought to distress me most. But trials and afflictions also distress me. It may be I have lost my worldly substance, I have lost my health, I am grieved by the misconduct or death of dear friends; above all, death is approaching; it is certain, it is near; I die daily, and my heart faileth. Sickness oppresses me, disease weakens me, faintness overcomes me, and death threatens me.

The Christian supported." God is the strength of my heart." He cheers me by his gracious presence. If I am in the furnace, I am not alone there; and because he is with me, I fear no evil. If I am not able to walk in the light of the sun, the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness

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break in on my soul. When I look to myself, I am ready to sink; but when I look to my God, his strong arm bears me up. I am supported by his promises: "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." I feel that I am upon the rock Christ. The storms of affliction and the waves of death shall not overwhelm me. My heart is fixed, and full of courage. I am comforted as well as supported. God's word nourishes and sustains my soul. The sympathy of Jesus, whose compassionate eye was never turned away from a scene of suffering, gives me strong consolation; and the blessed hope of the better land makes me pant for the enjoyment.

The Christian enriched.-" My portion for ever." My wealth is great, though unseen to the world. God is the portion of my soul. He hath said to me, "I am the Lord thy God." I have taken him at his word, I have claimed him as my own; verily, he is "my Lord and my God." And what a portion! Earthly objects could not satisfy me; for possessions increased, enlarge ambition. Alexander was not satisfied with the throne of the world; our first parents were not satisfied with Paradise; and Satan and his compeers were not satisfied with heaven; but I am satisfied with God in Christ. He fills up the whole void of my soul. He is my portion, and unlike earthly enjoyments, which are but of short duration, he is my portion for ever.

AUGUST 20.

A Great Sight.

"Behold your God."-Isa. xl. 9.

THINK of the Person referred to-the relation in which he stands to us and our duty regarding him.

The Person referred to is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is often called God, both in the Old and New Testaments.

In the context, the prophet informs us of his harbinger, who was to prepare the way of Jehovah, and make straight in the desert a highway for our God; and his coming was to be good tidings to Zion, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah. He is come a divine person. "The Word was

God;" "This is the true God;" "God over all;" "God with us." He is come to earth, otherwise we could not behold him. Many saw him with the bodily eye, but we may see him with the eye of faith. He is come in our nature, and not in the nature of angels, that he may feel for us in all our woes, and that we may claim him as a brother. He is come to save. "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day a Saviour." Happy day, when Christ became a babe in Bethlehem! "Let us now go and see this thing which is come to pass."

The relation in which he stands to us.- "Your God." He is yours in covenant: "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles." From all eternity, Jesus agreed to die for us, that he might see his seed, and have the pleasure of the Lord prospering in his hand. He is yours in the gift of the Father: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." In the offer of the gospel, Christ is thus freely presented for our acceptance. He is yours in possession by faith. The eye of faith looks at his bleeding hands and pierced side; the heart of faith is touched by his love, and out of its abundance breathes the claim, "My Lord and my God;" and the hand of faith lays hold of the pearl of great price, and says, "He is mine." Oh, how will that heart melt with fear, and quail with anguish, which neglects to claim him as its portion!

Our duty regarding him.-"Behold." -"Behold." Behold, and admire him who felt for the diseased and destitute, and