them that labour among you, and are over you in the Lord"—that is, own them with respect; and verbally and practically treat them as their office requires. Thus God claims his people. He owns them in the dispensations of his providence, and in the agency of his grace. He signalizes them in life. He does it often more peculiarly in death: so that his saints are joyful in glory, and shout aloud upon their beds; and induce their very enemies to exclaim, Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! But, above all, they shall be mine, saith the Lord, in that day, when I make up my jewels. He will confess them before the assembled earth and heavens; and place them nearer the Throne than angels.

Of what importance, then, is the love of God! And how carefully should we enquire, whether it be shed abroad in our hearts! If any man love him, the same is known of him-But no other. Nothing can be a substitute for this affection. Without it, our knowledge, our gifts, our faith itself, are vain. If we have any thing like devotion, it is formality. If we have peace, it is delusion. If we have safety, it is a refuge of lies. And though we may go to the very door of heaven, and knock, and say, Lord, Lord, open unto us-he will profess, "I never knew you-Depart."

"Let me love Thee more and more

"If I love at all, I pray :

"If I have not lov'd before,

Help me to begin to-day."

OCT. 29.-" In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee." Psalm lxxxvi. 7.

THIS was the language of David. David was a king, and a saint. He was pre-eminently great and good

Yet neither does his rank or his godliness exempt him from trouble. But it is well to see what such a man does when trouble cometh upon him. And here we have his resolution: "In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee."

he could do; and it For, first. Prayer is The will of God is

This was the wisest thing is the best thing we can do. enjoined upon us in trouble. our rule-And who can be ignorant of his command? Who has not read, "Is any afflicted? Let him pray."

Secondly. Prayer is the design of trouble. He does not afflict willingly, or grieve the children of men. He has an end, worthy his wisdom and his goodness, to answer by every trial. It is to bring us to himself-and to bring us nearer to himself. It is to quicken us to pray more frequently, more earnestly "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face-In their affliction they will seek me early."

Thirdly. Prayer is the evidence that trouble is sanctified. It is a great thing not to lose a trial. It is never neutral in its effect. It always injures, or improves. It is worse than nothing when it sends us to the creature, either in a way of accusation or relief. But when we turn to Him that smiteth us; and acknowledge that his judgments are right; and cast ourselves at his feet, resolved, if we perish, there to die-we need not say, with Job, "I am afraid of all my sorrows;" but confess, with David, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted."

Fourthly. Prayer is the solace of trouble. There is some relief in tears, and therefore Nature is provided with them. It eases and soothes the bursting heart, to pour our grief into the ear of a friend; who having rejoiced when we rejoiced, will weep when we weep. But oh how good is it to draw near to God! How delightful is it, like Job, to pour out our tears unto him: and resemble the child that

sobs himself asleep in his mother's arms, and on his mother's breast! "A glorious high throne from the beginning," says the Church, "has been the place of our sanctuary." A temple that no evil enters; an asylum that no enemy invades-There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary are at rest.

Fifthly. Prayer is the medium of our deliverance from trouble. For this release, we are allowed to be concerned. But we must seek it from God. And in doing this, we have not only his power to encourage us--and nothing is too hard for him: He can turn the shadow of death into the morningbut his goodness and love; and like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Yea, more: we have his faithfulness and truth; that we shall not seek him in vain. He has engaged to appear to our joy; not indeed in our time and way, but in his own. He has bound himself; and put the bond into our hand: and we can produce it; and plead it; and be surer of the fulfilment, than we are of the continuance of heaven and earth-For heaven and earth shall pass away, but his word shall not pass. And here it is"Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him."

OCT. 30.-" Messiah the Prince."

Ост.

Dan. ix. 25.

THIS is not the only character of the Messiah. But we must connect it with every representation we

have of him; that his glory may not be injured by his condescension; nor his authority diminished by his kindness. Is he exalted at the right hand of God? It is, to be "a Prince," as well as "a Saviour." Is he a Priest? He is "a Priest upon his throne."

How is this Prince designated?

He is "the Prince of the kings of the earth." They often think little of him; and, imagining themselves their own, say, Who is lord over us? But wherein they deal proudly, he is above them. They are all raised by his power; they are all controulable by his will; they are all subservient to his designs; they are all amenable to his tribunal. Hence his avowal "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth." Hence the admonition-"Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

He is "the Prince of Peace." He came to mediate between heaven and earth: and we are reconciled unto God by the death of his Son. Men talk of making their peace with God. If our tears, or works, or alms, could have availed for this purpose, the world would never have witnessed the sufferings of Christ. But he made peace by the blood of his Cross. One died for all-And he was more than all. The value of his sacrifice was infinite: and every end that could have been answered by the destruction of a world of sinners, has been equally and better answered by the death of the Saviour.-Nothing will effectually satisfy an awakened conscience, but what satisfied the justice of God. Yet, surely this will suffice! When, therefore, it is apprehended and applied by faith, we enter into rest; and feel a peace within which passeth all understanding. By his grace, too, he reconciles us to our duty, and to our con

dition. He frees us from those anxieties and fears which an idolatrous regard to creatures excites; and enables us to be careful for nothing, by casting all our care upon him, who careth for us. Also, by subduing our pride and selfishness, by which alone come contentions; and inspiring us with love, the bond of perfectness; we live in harmony with our fellow-creatures. Yea, we are in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field are at peace with us.

He is "the Prince of Life." Other princes, however powerful, are mortal: and this is a reason why we should not put our trust in them-Their breath goeth forth, they return to their dust; in that very day their thoughts perish. But Jesus liveth for ever: and because he lives, his people live also. Other princes, while they are living themselves, cannot impart life to others-though, alas! they often take it away; and sacrifice thousands of their subjects to their own lusts. But Jesus had not only life in himself, but came that we might have life; and have it more abundantly. He procured, and he communicates, and sustains a life superior to that of Adam in Paradise, and of angels in glory. This is the promise that God hath promised us, even eternal life. And this life is in his Son. He therefore that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son hath not life.

He has other designations; and all come short of his praise. But these are sufficient to shew how safe and how happy all they are who have become his subjects. It was a fine compliment that Hiram paid Solomon, when he said, "Surely because the Lord loved Israel, therefore made he thee king over them." How much more has God shewn his goodness to his people, in setting this King upon his holy hill of Zion! Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them make their boast in the Lord; and in his righteousness be exalted.