17. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Ps. xxvii. 14.

1. The required service.-2. The needed spirit.— 3. The all-sufficient encouragement.

Wait on the Lord, ye trembling saints,
And keep your courage up;

He'll raise your spirit when it faints,
And far exceed your hope.

18. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. x. 13.

1. God suffers his people to be tempted.-2. He sets limits to their temptations.-3. He provides for their deliverance from them.-4. In all this he exhibits his faithfulness.

Still nigh me, oh my Saviour, stand,

And guard in fierce temptation's hour;
Support by thine almighty hand;

Show forth in me thy saving power;
Still be thine arm my sure defence,
Nor earth nor hell shall pluck me thence.

19. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. vii. 1.

1. God has given us a great variety of promises. 2. Confidence in the promises is favourable to the cultivation of holiness.

Oh teach us, as we trust, to grow

In holiness and love,

That we may long to see and know
Thy glorious face above.

20. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke xi. 13.

1. An answerable argument.-2. An encouraging assurance.

If earthly parents hear

Their children when they cry;

If they, with love sincere,

Their varied wants supply

Much more wilt thou thy love display,
And answer when thy children pray.

21. That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Job xxxiv. 32.

1. The prayer of a docile mind.-2. The promise of a penitent heart.

Oh shine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.

22. I will go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish. Esther iv. 16.

1. A fearful uncertainty.-2. The only alternative.-3. Adventurous energy.

Perhaps he will admit my plea,
Perhaps will hear my prayer;
But, if I perish, I will pray,
And perish only there.

23. God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luke xviii. 13.

1. The petitioner, sensible of his guilt, necessity, and dependence.-2. The petition, addressed to the right source, in the right manner.

There is forgiveness, Lord, with thee;
Thy nature is benign;

Thy pardoning mercy I implore,
For mercy, Lord, is thine.

24. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Isa. xl. 31.

1. As we advance in the divine life, we need constant accessions of strength.-2. This necessity is supplied through a diligent exercise of our faculties and affections in the service of God.

Mere human power shall fast decay,
And youthful vigour cease;

But they who wait upon the Lord
In strength shall still increase.

25. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James v. 16.

1. The character of the successful petitioner.2. The character of the successful petition.

Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls thee near;
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer prayer.

26. Lead me in the way everlasting. Ps. cxxxix. 24.

1. There is a way everlasting.-2. We have need to be led in that way.-3. God alone can lead us. Search me, O God, and know my heart; With every idol bid me part;

Conduct me, lest I go astray,

And lead me in thy perfect way.

27. He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. Mal. iii. 3.

1. His object is to remove all impurities from our souls.-2. He watches the process, to see that we receive no harm.-3. He discontinues the trial, when he sees his own image fully reflected by our clarified natures.

In the furnace Christ may prove thee,

Thence to bring thee forth more bright,
But can never cease to love thee;

Thou art precious in his sight:

Christ is with thee

Christ, thine everlasting light.

28. Happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. Job v. 17.

1. Because it is deserved.-2. Because it is administered in love.-3. Because it is salutary in its effects.

If, to prevent his wandering steps,

He feels the chastening rod,

The gentle stroke shall bring him back
To his forgiving God.

29. God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. v. 9.

1. What we deserve, we escape.-2. What we have forfeited, we obtain.

'Twas mercy fill'd the throne,
And wrath stood silent by,

When Christ was sent with pardons down
To rebels doom'd to die.

30. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matt. v. 4.

1. The character that is commended.-2. The blessing that is promised.

Blest are the men of broken heart,

Who mourn for sin with inward smart;
The blood of Christ divinely flows,

A healing balm for all their woes.

JULY.

1. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

Matt. xii. 20.

1. The truly humble and contrite are often very feeble.-2. With such the Saviour deals tenderly, strengthening slender faith, and rekindling nearly extinct piety, until grace gets the victory over corruption.

He'll never quench the smoking flax,
But raise it to a flame;

The bruised reed he never breaks,

Nor scorns the meanest name.