For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matt. xii. 37.

THE general turn of a man's discourse will clearly discover the bent of his mind; for "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Other outward marks may be imitated; but not to of fend in tongue, to be free from detraction and boasting, to speak the truth in love, to "let no corrupt communication (nothing contrary to peace or holiness) proceed out of the mouth; this is the finger of God. Here the Hypocrite and Formalist always fail. Let us earnestly pray for grace to bridle the tongue. "O Lord, set a watch before my mouth, keep the door of my lips," that I may never bring a reproach upon my profession, by speaking proud, false, foolish, or censorious words.

The tongue, that most unruly pow'r,
Requires a strong restraint;
We must be watchful ev'ry hour,
And pray, but never faint.

Lord, can a feeble helpless worm
Perform a task so hard!

Thy grace must all the work perforın,
And give the free reward.

Loose them and bring them unto me; and if any say aught unto you, ye shall say the Lord hath need of them, and straightway he will send them. Matt. xxi. 2, 3. The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. Judges xv. 14.

THUS the Spirit of the Lord makes us free from all spiritual bonds; for "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," 2 Cor. iii. 17. Though I was torn from Christ by the enemy; yet as a robber he gets no right to me. Christ does not give up for this reason his right, which he has to me on so many accounts; and as soon as I am willing by his grace to give up myself to him, and desire to be delivered from the power of Satan, he vindicates and saves me as his property; I am his, Satan looses his hold, and nothing in the world can withhold me from him. All the fetters must fall off.

What tho' the hosts of Death and Hell
All arm'd against me stood,
Terrors no more shall shake my soul!
My refuge is my God.

Arise, O Lord, fulfil thy grace,
While I thy glory sing;

My God hath broke the serpent's teeth,
And death has lost his sting.

Salvation to the Lord belongs,
His arm alone can save;
Blessings attend thy people here,
And reach beyond the grave.

Make you a new heart and a new spirit. Ezek. xviii. 31.
See also 2 Cor. v. 17, 18.-21.

MANY are converted, but not entirely to Christ and from their own righteousness, so as to be truly sensible of their abominuble wickedness, and earnestly to flee to Christ for a reconciliation and righteousness; and therefore they never seek to Jesus to make the new heart and new spirit, but continue on in their mere outward moral state, year after year. O Lord, let me daily receive a word from thee, to nourish and strengthen my soul, so as to be renewed daily by it more and

more.

O for a heart to love my God;

A heart from sin set free;

A heart that always feels the blood
So freely shed for me!

A heart resign'd, submissive, meek,
My dear Redeemer's throne;
Where only Christ is heard to speak;
Where Jesus reigns alone,

A lowly and believing heart,
Abhorring self and sin;

A constant heart which nought can part
From Christ, who dwells within.

A child-like heart, that cries for food,
And pines for love divine;
An upright heart, by grace renew'd;
A copy, Lord, of thine.

Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. Luke x. 41. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Prov. iv. 23.

As the virtue of a strong spirituous liquor evaporates by degrees in a vial which is not closely stopped, in like manner the life and power of the spirit insensibly vanishes away, if the heart is not kept with all diligence. Of the former, remains only water; of the latter, nothing but the form of religion, or perhaps some false principles and errors crept in. Therefore many must be tried and sifted, that they may know, like Hezekiah, what is in their hearts (2 Chron. xxxii 31.); consequently, what more needful than to take heed to our own spirits, and to keep close to the written word; for as the latter times draw nearer, the more plausible will errors and seducements appear, both on your right hand and on your left. Beware of being drawn off from the truth, either by the worldly prudence of half-hearted professors, or by pretences to merit in the self-righteous Pharisee.

O Lord, permit me not to be
A stranger to myself and thee;
Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove,
Forgetful of my highest love.

Call me away from flesh and sense,
One sov'reign word can draw me thence;

I would obey the voice divine,

And all inferior things resign.

Be earth, with all her scenes, withdrawn ;
Let noise and vanity be gone,

In secret silence of the mind,
My Heav'n, and there my God I find,

He

My soul thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land. Psalm cxliii. 6. Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. xxii. 17. If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John vii. 37, 38.

WHEN thou art dry and barren, examine thyself closely what may be the cause; ask pardon for all known offences, and take care to amend them. And though thou shouldst not find any thing particular, yet humble thyself deeply before the Lord; but at the same time, remember that thou art accepted, beloved, justified, and blessed in Christ; and in this disposition quietly wait the returns of some new drops of living water and grace; but be also sure afterwards to cherish and make a right use of them. Thus thou shalt be like a watered garden. Isa. lviii. 11.

For thee I thirst, O Lord, I mourn ;
When will thy smiling face return!

Shall all my joy on earth remove,
And God for ever hide his love?

ANSWER.

No! ye that pant for living streams,
And pine away and die;
Here you may quench your raging thirst
With springs that never dry.

Rivers of love and mercy here
In a rich ocean join ;
Salvation in abundance flows,
Like floods of milk and wine.