they required drawing on-" And as they followed, they were afraid." The fear, we conceive, was not only or principally on his behalf, but on their own"If he is apprehended and put to death, how shall we escape? What will become of us?" As yet they were not sufficiently mortified to the world, and willing to deny themselves. They preferred a whole skin to a scar. It was not till the Holy Ghost was given that they were able to rejoice and glory in tribulation. But, as their knowledge, and faith, and hope increased, none of these things moved them, neither counted they their lives dear. It was enough that Christ was magnified in their body, whether by life or by death.

Do we not here see how worthy the Scriptures are of our confidence? How honestly they report facts! The writer of this Gospel was himself one of those who appeared to so little advantage on this occasion, compared with their Lord and Master. Yet he makes no scruple to tell us all their fears and faults, regardless of consequences. Truth was his only concern; and his very manner commends it to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

AUGUST 18.-MORNING.

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord." Ps. v. 3.

AUTHORS have found the morning the best time

for study and composition.

called the friend of the muses.

Hence it has been

It would be easy to

prove that it is equally a friend to the graces and

the duties.

It is the finest season for reflection and

devotion. David found it so; and therefore resolves: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord." What voice? The voice of praise; and the voice of prayer: the one excited by looking back; the other, by looking forward.

How much is there in the morning to call forth the voice of thanksgiving! Let us think of the season we have just passed through. How many

houseless creatures this night have had no place where to lay their head! How many victims of accident and disease have been full of tossing to and fro, until the dawning of the day; their beds have not comforted them, nor their couch eased their complaint! How many have been deprived of repose while attending their neighbours, friends, and relations, in sickness and sorrow! How many, since the last setting sun, have entered an awful eternity! How many, this night, have been cut off in their sins! Many have been terrified, robbed, injured, murdered, by wicked and unreasonable men! How many have been consumed by fire, or drowned with water! How many, this night, have been engaged in works of darkness; and who, if any knew them, would be in the terrors of the shadow of death! How many have risen this morning to pass the day in anguish! How many to suffer want! How many, who have all things richly to enjoy, have risen only to live another day without God in the world! They lie down and rise up like the beasts that perish: God is not in all their thoughts. And is it otherwise with us? What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards us? Bless the Lord, O my soul; and, all that is within me, bless his holy

Name. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name together.

And with how many of these merciful nights have we been favoured! Hence, perhaps, we have been so little affected with the goodness of God in them. How strange! that what increases the greatness of our obligation, should diminish the sense of it! Yet it is by the interruption, the suspension, the want of our comforts, we are made to learn the value of them. Let us guard against this perverseness of ingratitude. Let us remember, that if our mercies are common, they must be numerous; and if numerous, they multiply the claims to our praise.

And shall our gratitude evaporate in a mere morning acknowledgment? Shall we not, by the mercies of God, dedicate ourselves to his service; and be in his fear all the day long?

And when we think of the day before us, how much is there to awaken concern! And what is our concern without the attention of God? He shall therefore in the morning hear, not only the voice of praise, but the voice of prayer.

Who is to guide me through the day upon which I have entered? How much depends upon one mistake in my movements! And how easily may I go astray! The way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. "Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee."

Who is to guard me through the day? And I am much more exposed when awake than when asleep.

My soul is more exposed-more exposed to sin-and sin is the greatest evil. And what am I, to resist a corrupt heart, a wicked world, and all the powers of darkness? "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. Be thou my arm every morning; my salvation also in the time of trouble."

Who is to help me through the day? I have many duties to discharge. I am to live soberly, righteously, and godly. I am to walk in wisdom towards those that are without: I am to speak the truth in love: I am to adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour in all things. "Lord, without thee, I can do nothing. Let thy grace be sufficient for me; and thy strength made perfect in weakness."

Who is to give me success in the business of the day? I know I ought not to be idle; but to be dili gently and prudently employed in my lawful calling. Means are mine; but how much more is necessary than my wisdom and anxiety! "The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich; and he addeth no sorrow with it." "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for me to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."

Who is to prepare me for the events of the day? And I know not what the day may bring forth. Perhaps I may receive the most unwelcome inteligence. Perhaps I may sustain losses in property. Perhaps I may meet with mortifications from my fellow-creatures; and be tried with disappointments in friends. My child may this day fall sick. The desire of mine eyes may be taken away with a stroke.

There may be but a step between me and death. It is wonderful we live a day through. "May I know how to be abased, or how to abound. If in the world I have tribulation, in the Saviour may I have peace. So teach me to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom-That, whether I live, I may live unto the Lord; or, whether I die, I may die unto the Lord: so that, living and dying, I may be the Lord's.".

AUGUST 18.-EVENING.

"Which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus." HEB. vi. 19, 20.

IN the preceding words the Apostle speaks of the Christian's hope. He likens it to an anchor; and commends it as sure and steadfast. But the anchor to secure the vessel has a place of holding: so has this hope. Yet mark the resemblance and the difference between them; for every image applied to spiritual purposes teacheth both by comparison and disparity. The anchor searches after something invisible: it does not rest in the water, but searches the bottomand this hope regards something beyond our sight. The anchor is cast downward-but this hope ascends. The anchor grasps the ground-but this hope seizes something in heaven. What is it? It is Jesus"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus."

He is called, expressly called, "our hope," and "the hope set before us." Every thing, as perishing sinners, we need, is to be found in him, and only in him for "it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell" and we are blessed "with