is the rescue of a whole nation from civil bondage compared with the deliverance of one soul from the power of darkness, and translating it into the kingdom. of God's dear Son? Can a trifle throw heaven into

ecstasy? Yet there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. The work, therefore, is its own motive; its success is its own recompence. And so the Apostle deemed it"If a man err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." Fourthly. To fail in it is no disgrace. Yea, failure here is infinitely more honourable than success in any other enterprise. But wise and good efforts are never in vain. they are useless as to the direct object, they do good collaterally. If they relieve not the beneficiary, they bless the benefactor. His prayers and endeavours return not void into his own bosom. We are a sweet savour of Christ, not only in them that are saved, but in them also that perish. The promise is not made to success-for this does not belong to us; but to exertion-" Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

If

But while we endeavour to bring others to Jesus, let us see to it that we have come to him ourselves. It is awful to think of being the instruments of h grace, while we are not the subjects

"Great King of grace! my heart subcue;

I would be led in triumph too:

A willing captive to my Lord;

And sing the victories of his word."

SEPTEMBER 27.—EVENING.

"We would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." 2 Cor. v. 4.

HERE we see that it was not death they desired, but the result of it. They wish to resemble those who will be found alive at the last day, who will not sleep, but be changed; or to be privileged like Enoch and Elias, who went to heaven without dissolution, and were glorified soul and body together. They longed to be clothed, without being found nakedto be clothed upon-that this corruptible might put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality-that their mortality, instead of being lodged in the grave and devoured of worms, might be swallowed up of life; as the rivulet is swallowed up of the river, and the outline is swallowed up of the finished picture, and the dawn is swallowed up of the day, and the child of the man. That is, they wished, if it were possible and allowable, to reach their completeness gently and insensibly, without such a disruption and tearing to pieces as death. Three things may be remarked from hence.

First. The primitive Christians were not, as we sometimes imagine, peculiar beings, and strangers to many of our feelings. They were men of like passions with us, and encompassed with infirmities. They had nature in them as well as grace. They were holy, but human: spiritual, but not divine.

Secondly. A dislike of death is no proof of the want of religion. The forerunners and the accompani ments, "the pains, the groans, the dying strife," may

sometimes deeply affect a pious mind. No man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it. No creature can like its own dissolution. We see this in the animals: though they have no dread of futurity, they yet struggle for life. The fear of death is as naturally inherent in us as hunger, thirst, and sleep; and only requires to be governed. Adam had it in the state of innocency; otherwise the words, "in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," would have been no threatening. Our Saviour, though his humanity was sinless, feared it, and prayed to him who was able to save him from death with strong cryings and tears, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done. We may covet a thing, and not like the mode in which it is to be obtained. The husband and the father longs to see and embrace his family on the American shore, yet shrinks back at the thought of the Atlantic which he has to cross. A man is confined with a diseased member, and his recovery depends upon the removal of it: now what he longs for is not the amputation, but the cure; and no one questions whether he wishes to be well because he shudders at the operation.

Yet, thirdly, since dying is the way, and the only way, to life everlasting, we should endeavour to rise as much as possible above the dread of it. And faith can accomplish what is impossible to flesh and blood. Let us view the subject under all the softenings given it in the Scriptures. Let us remember that Jesus has taken away the sting of death, though the stroke remains; and that the stroke itself will not only be harmless, but beneficial, infinitely beneficial-To die is gain.

Keep your eye not on what lies immediately before you, but on the glory and blessedness beyond. If the passage be trying, it opens into a wealthy place -and it is short and safe-and you will not be alone in it. He has said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Therefore thank God and take courage, and sing

"While he affords his aid,

I cannot yield to fear;

Though I should walk through death's dark shade,
My Shepherd's with me there."

SEPTEMBER 28.-MORNING.

"The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter !" LAM. iv. 2.

SUCH is the difference between the judgment of God, and the spirit of the world, concerning the precious sons of Zion. In the estimation of God, (and his judgment is always according to truth,) they are comparable to gold, yea, fine gold. And they are so for their rareness, and their purity, and their value, and their durability, and for their bearing the severest probation; and, instead of being injured by the trial, deriving improvement, and lustre, and usefulness, from it.

But as that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God, so that which is approved and csmmended of God, is undervalued and despised by men. The world therefore knoweth them not. It knew him not. Their Lord and Saviour was

despised and rejected by them. And they, as his followers, are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter. Natural men judge only from sense and outward appearances; and Christians are often poor and afflicted. They see the outside of the tabernacle: and this is covered with goats' skins and badgers' skins, dyed red; but they never enter the holy place, nor approach Him who sitteth between the cherubims. They are sensual, not having the Spirit; and spiritual things are spiritually discerned. They do not feel their need of the blessings which constitute the happiness and glory of the children of God; and, therefore, prize not the possessors of them. Yea, the carnal mind is enmity against God; and causes them to dislike every thing that bears his im pression and likeness.

Yet even these despisers shall behold, and wonder, and perish. When the delusions of time shall give place to the unveiled realities of eternity, they will be compelled to exclaim, We fools counted their lives. madness, and their end to be without honour. How are they numbered with the saints, and their lot is among the children of God! Yea, even now there are moments, when, if we could witness the workings of conviction, we should hear many a Balaam admiring, and praying, How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob and thy tabernacles, O Israel! Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his !

Christians should not be uneasy and impatient under the mistakes and reproaches of their adversaries. It is a light thing to be judged of man's judgment. He that judgeth them is the Lord.