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"This is the way, walk ye in it." If the voice of thy teacher should be disregarded; if the whisperings of conscience should be suppressed; if the voice from the grave, or the chamber of death, should be unheard, let the word of Christ arrest thy attention; for his heart is love, and his word is life.

OCTOBER 29.

The Devoted Minister.

"Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."-1 Cor. x. 33.

HERE we have a noble object in view-the means used to obtain it and self-interest disclaimed.

The noble object in view.-"The profit of many that they may be saved." Salvation is profitable in its deliverances. It delivers from the guilt of sin, however great, and weighty, and crushing. It delivers from the pollution of sin, however loathsome and humiliating. It delivers from the dominion of sin, however rampant and enslaving; and it delivers from the consequences of sin, however dreadful and overwhelming. Salvation is profitable in its positive. blessings. It confers pardon of sin, peace of conscience, a new heart, the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and a blessed hope. Salvation is profitable in its anticipations. These are, heaven for the soul, repose for the body, a joyful resurrection, acquittal in the judgment, and eternal blessedness. The salvation of many! How noble is the object, how grand is the end, for which ministers long, and labour, and wrestle!

The means used to obtain it.-"Even as I please all in all." The word "men" is a supplement, and the word "all" includes God as well as men. He pleased God in seeking the salvation of men; for all that he did, he did it "to the glory of God." He pleased Jews and Gentiles,

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because wherever he went he preached salvation-to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles-admitting them to equal privileges. He pleased the church, because he did not labour at Jerusalem or in Judea, but departed far thence unto the Gentiles. He only, however, pleased men in things lawful. When Peter dissembled about circumcision, he "withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." When the Jewish zealots treated him unjustly, he availed himself of his privilege as a Roman citizen, and appealed unto Cæsar.

Self-interest disclaimed." Not seeking mine own profit." He did not enrich himself with the wealth of others. He taught them that it was their duty and privilege to support him as a minister of Christ: "Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel." But he was willing to forego even this right, if he might only save their souls. "I ask not yours, but you." He did not court human applause; but encountered opposition, reproach, imprisonment, and death, that he might save souls. He did not consult his own ease, or dignity, or respectability; but counted all worldly advantages loss for Christ.

OCTOBER 30.

The Oldest Man.

"And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty and nine years and he died."-Gen. v. 27.

LET us contemplate the man Methuselah-his long lifeand his death at last.

The man Methuselah.—He was the eighth from Adam. Between them six generations intervened. His name was significant, and probably prophetic. It means, "At his death the breaking out." Shortly after his death, but the

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same year that he died, the great flood came, and swept the wicked world away. His father was Enoch, a godly man, and the only prophet of whom we read before the flood. He seems to have been the greatest and best among the antediluvians; hence his great and extraordinary reward. Doubtless he instructed his son in religion, and Methuselah would instruct Lamech, and Lamech would instruct Noah, who 66 was a just man, and perfect in his generations; and Noah walked with God."

His long life.-"Nine hundred and sixty and nine years." He lived contemporary with Adam more than two hundred years, and altogether nearly one thousand years. Probably human life was thus protracted, that the human race, descended from one pair, might more quickly people the world; or, probably, there was no written language before the flood, and the life of man was prolonged, that knowledge might more readily and certainly go from generation to generation. If Adam taught Cain and Abel. to offer sacrifices, he would in like manner teach their descendants; so that probably Methuselah had his knowledge of religion from Adam. He lived six hundred years with his grandson Noah; so that Methuselah was the connecting-link of knowledge and religion between Adam and Noah. He lived longer than any other man. Length of days was given to him, probably to reward his devoted. obedience to his father Enoch; for God promises long life to obedient children. Long life might also be given to him that he might witness for God among the ungodly, and prepare himself for a better world.

His death at last. "And he died." Like ours, it was the fruit of sin. Death passed upon him, as it shall pass upon all; for that all have sinned. It was the separation of soul and body till the resurrection. He was released from great and coming evils. He died shortly before the flood, and made his escape from affliction and sorrow, from

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His death is an intimation and evidence of our own. So certain is death, that the oldest must die at last; so near, that there is often but a step between us and death; and so important, that it leads to heaven or to hell. O my soul, rejoice that death has been conquered by Christ, and expect the victory through him!

OCTOBER 31.

The Second Coming of Christ.

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."-Rev. i. 7.

HERE we have Christ coming in glory-Christ the object of universal attraction-and how he shall be regarded.

Christ coming in glory.-"Behold, he cometh with clouds." His coming is future. The time of it is fixed, but wisely concealed from us, that we may be always ready for it. It shall be sudden and unexpected; therefore we should live so as not to be taken by surprise. It is certain. Just as sure as he has come once, so surely shall he come again; and though many shall not desire it, yet it is irresistible. He only delays it, because he is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." It shall be with majesty and great glory. Bright clouds shall be his chariot, and his retinue shall be thousands of angels. His dignity, his character, and glory shall inspire all with reverence, and prostrate the whole human family at his feet.

Christ the object of universal attraction.-"Every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him." This supposes that he will come visibly in glorified human Comparatively few saw him when he was on earth; but all shall see him now, and see him glorified and

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surrounded with clouds of splendour. It supposes an universal resurrection. When he comes, the last trumpet shall resound through creation, and awake the slumbering dust. He who stood by the grave of Lazarus, and said, "Lazarus, come forth," shall utter a voice which every sleeper in the dust shall hear; when men of all ages, all countries, all ranks, and all characters, shall stand before him in one vast convocation. Then " every eye shall see him." Then his murderers, and those that pierced him by their unbelief, though they shall desire to hide themselves from his glory, shall see him. What a glorious sight to some! what an overwhelming sight to others!

How he shall be regarded.—Some shall desire and expect him with delight, because their eternal happiness shall then be consummated; others shall regard his coming with terror and dismay. When he shall come, the world will be awfully degenerate and wicked, and shall utter a wail of despair, premonitory of their doom. His coming will bring all their sins to their remembrance, and fill them with consternation at the wrath about to come. How vain their idolatrous prayer! "O rocks, O mountains, cover us from the face of the Judge, from the wrath of the Lamb! How different will be the feelings and language of John, and all the followers of Christ! "Even so, Amen." They shall hail his approach, they shall acquiesce in all his decisions, they shall share in all his triumphs, and ascend with him in a cloud of splendour to the mansions of eternal day.