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us and merited wrath. He died that we might never die, and he lives that we also may live an endless life. What a mighty Saviour is this! By one strong arm he brings us salvation, and by another he plucks us as brands from the burning.

Our appointment thereunto.-Our appointment, not to wrath, but to salvation, is ancient in its date: "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." It is free and unmerited: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace." It is irrevocable. The plans of men are changed, and their appointments recalled; but God's never: "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good." It is productive of good fruits. There will be a ready belief of the truth, and a ready reception of Jesus revealed in it: there will be a relish for gospel ordinances, a shunning of evil, and earnest efforts to do good.

AUGUST 28.

The Soul Required.

"This night thy soul shall be required of thee."-Luke, xii. 20.

THINK of man's soul. "Thy soul." Its nature is spiritual. It is a living, thinking, invisible substance, capable of holding intercourse with God and with heaven. Its movements are swift as the lightning, and so mysterious as to elude our knowledge. "Ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels." It is sinful. Once it was pure; but now the plague-spot of sin covers every soul. The testimony of Scripture, the misery of the world, and the reign of death over infants and over all, establish the fact that man has sinned, and

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that his soul is polluted. It is immortal. "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." The appearance of Moses and Elias on the mount of transfiguration, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, and the resurrection of Christ, prove the immortality of the soul. Yes, reader, thou carriest about with thee an immortal spirit. Thou mayest sin away thy time, but thou canst not sin away thy immortality.

Think of man's soul required.-"Thy soul shall be required." Every man is accountable for the salvation or loss of his soul. This accountability is evident, because salvation is provided. In Christ's death, God is seen to be a just God and a Saviour, and that death procured salvation for the lost and perishing. To save sinners, even the chief, Christ came, and suffered, and died. Salvation is freely offered. Reader, "to you is the word of this salvation sent;" and if you disregard it, or neglect it, nothing else can save thee: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" Thou hast the power of accepting or rejecting: "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." "Choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Unless thou art a consenting party to the salvation of Christ, the whole world will unite in thy just condemnation. Man's soul required this night. soul shall be required of thee." certain and irresistible. Scripture it, and our own experience proves it. Death may be very near, and very sudden: "There is but a step between me and death;" and if my soul is not yet saved in Christ, there is but a step between me and hell. If unprepared for death now, all may be lost. The rich fool was laying his plans for ease and enjoyment, without ever thinking of doing good with his wealth, or that he was only a steward of it for the good of others; and in a moment the summons is put into his hand, when the devil takes his

"This night thy Death is absolutely proves it, facts prove

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soul, the worms take his body, and his friends take his property.

AUGUST 29.

Life together with Christ.

"Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."-1 Thess. v. 10.

HERE we have a great fact-the important design of it— and no difference between the living and the dead.

The great fact." Who died for us." The person who died was "God manifest in flesh." He was man, that he might be able to die; and God, that his death might possess infinite worth. His character was spotless; hence he did not need to die for himself. He died to save, and he is the only Saviour. His death was voluntary, yet it was violent, shameful, and accursed. It was the darkest transaction on earth, and yet it was appointed of heaven. Its history is wonderful, but its mystery is a thousand times more so. It was an atonement for guilty men. such, his death is the new and only way to heaven; it brings men into this way, and it keeps them in it till they sing in the heavenly temple, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." O death of deaths, thou art the life of my soul !

As

The important design.-"That we should live together with him." Jesus died that we might live a new and spiritual life. His death is the seed that enters the heart, which germinates and produces new life there. Hence, the new views, the new feelings, the new desires, and the new aspirations of the Christian. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." By the word believed, and the Spirit sought and obtained, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live." He died that we might live together. All who live belong to one family and one flock, and should love one another, as Christ hath loved

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them. "We are all one in Christ Jesus." Oh that the time were come, when even the wicked shall be constrained to exclaim: "Behold these Christians, how they love one another!" He died that we might live with him. He is in heaven interceding and reigning; and where he is, all his children will soon be. To be with Christ is heaven; to be ever with the Lord is pleasure for evermore.

There shall be no difference between the living and the dead. Those who are alive when Christ comes, shall have no advantage over those who are sleeping in the dust. The sleep of the dead in the grave may seem long to us, but it is short to those who inhabit eternity. The sleep of six thousand years will seem to the spirits of the just but a few moments. It is the sleep of a night, but joy cometh in the morning. The body is under the watchful care of Christ; its awakening is sure, and its glorification and happiness will be as great as theirs who are alive at Christ's coming, and who shall be changed in a moment.

AUGUST 30.

The Hope of Israel.

"O the Hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night."-Jer. xiv. 8.

HERE we have the church's troubles-the church's refuge -and the church's complaint.

The church's troubles." In time of trouble." The church's troubles are caused by her sins. Neglect of duty, misimprovement of privileges, spiritual deadness, and backsliding to the world, are enough to make God withdraw the sunshine of his favour; and enough to make the rod speak, and the fire burn. The church's troubles consist of desolating judgments; as the sword, the famine, the

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pestilence, the loss of members without a corresponding increase, the entrance of strife where peace should reign, and the triumphing of the wicked. Such troubles call for deep humiliation, searching inquiry, and earnest prayer.

The church's refuge.-"The Hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof." A covenant God is the church's hope. The church believes in God as in Christ, and the first-born child of faith is "hope." She believes in his faithful promises, and renounces every other hope; and placing her hope anew in God, as her God, she exults in the prospect of heaven's joys, and will not be disappointed. God is also her Saviour. He saves her from all her sins, and their consequences; he removes the dark clouds of judgment; he restrains or destroys the wicked for her sake; and will, in due time, be the plague of that death which thins her ranks. What a hope! what a Saviour! O my soul, wilt thou place the joys of earth for a moment in the balance with the joys of blessed hope?

The church's complaint.—God is a stranger here, and his presence is scarcely felt; hence the lukewarmness of Christians, the prevalence of worldliness, the little difference discernible between the church and the world, the boldness of sinners, and the small number of conversions through the preaching of the gospel. "O Lord, our iniquities testify against us; our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee." What is the reason of this? Why such a complaint? If God's presence is not realized and sought, how can we expect to enjoy it? If we walk not in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, how can we expect his full beams to shine upon us? If we prize not our privileges, how can we expect them to be continued? And if we restrain prayer, how can we expect a large blessing?