be directly made-to lift up their heads, for their redemption draweth nigh,

Whether this be the case or not, it must be remembered, that the coming of the Lord from heaven is the event, which alone gives its character of importance to the act of dying; and that every one may be properly called to exercise a watchful preparation for that event, whether or not he may have to wait for a season, like the holy men who have died ever since the death of Abel. (Heb. xi. 39, 40.) It is the surfeiting and intemperance, and worldly affections, whether of pleasure or pain, indulged during this life, which will decide the condemnation of a soul, and prevent its sins from being blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts iii. 19) and it is the spiritual life, which makes the calling and election sure, and which produces the watchfulness for that glorious coming of the Lord from heaven. What therefore Jesus said to a particular class or generation of his disciples, he says to all" Watch: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

QUESTION.

Do I habitually consider the consequences that will result to my soul, at the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? And does this make me watchful in preparing for that glorious event

VII. HEADS FOR PRAYER.

1. Pray for a right understanding of the doctrines concerning the Second Coming of the Lord, and for humility in examining them.

2. Pray for a self-denying spirit of watchfulness in preparing for that day; and a spirit of wisdom in observing the "signs of the times," with reference to our Lord's special tokens.

VIII. THE PRAYER.

:

(1) O merciful God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy Son's name, graciously answer my supplications; and for Jesus Christ's sake, give me a spirit of understanding and humility, in receiving the revelation of thy purposes, concerning the glorious appearing of our blessed Saviour once again upon earth. (2) Fill me with a deep conviction of the certainty of His coming again and bestow upon me a spirit of self-denial, and of watchful diligence in getting ready ; so that I may be accounted worthy to escape all the fearful trials attending his coming, and to stand before the Son of Man. And grant me, I beseech thee, a spirit of wisdom, in judging of those things which may occur in my generation; so that I may take advantage of every token which thy good providence shall afford in order to quicken thy people in looking for, and hasting unto, the coming of the glorious day of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Our Father, &c.

"Whom shall he teach knowledge; and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must b upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." Isaiah xxviii. 9, 10.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor." Luke iv. 18.

"To the poor the Gospel is preached." Luke vii. 22.

LONDON:

JAMES NISBET AND CO., BERNERS STREET;

WINCHESTER:

JACOB AND JOHNSON.

2

To persons who may be disposed to circulate

The Cottager's Guide to the New Testament.

Those who have had the benefit of a cultivated education are often little aware how much information is necessary to a proper understanding of some of the things most commonly alluded to in the Scriptures. Having acquired information themselves, and finding others in their own class of society equally informed, they gradually assume that all classes are acquainted wtih that which they know so familiarly. Those, however, who have had much intercourse with the lower classes of society, continually discover that want of acquaintance with the commonest things hinders the reception of the instruction which so many are willing to give. Most of the authors of the various excellent commentaries on the Scriptures, have taken for granted that a great deal more preparatory knowledge is possessed by their readers than the lower classes of society have acquired: and they have thus rendered their works comparatively of little value in the cottage. In the Cottager's Guide to the New Testament," it is intended to explain everything as it occurs in the Scriptures without supposing any preparatory information; and to employ only such words and phrases as seem most suited to the capacities of the class of persons for whose benefit the work is undertaken.

The Harmony of the Gospels is arranged according to the plan of the Rev. EDWARD GRESSWELL; and as, to avoid all controversial difficulties, it was necessary to follow one guide upon all critical points of arrangement that are considered doubtful by the learned, these are explained according to the view taken in his valuable Dissertation upon the principles and arrangement of a harmony of the Gospels."

The numbers of "The Cottager's Guide to the New Testament," will contain about sixteen pages each, and will be published once a month, until the whole is completed. They will be sold for two-pence each, or one shilling and nine-pence a dozen, or fourteen shillings a hundred.

VOLS. I. to IV. contain the first Eighty-one numbers; and may be had of all the Booksellers, price 3s. 6d. each, neatly bound in cloth

ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTY-SECOND

PORTION.

The Prophecy upon the Mount continued.-Discourse, No. 29. Parable, No. 27.

PLACE.-Mount of Olives.

TIME.-Wednesday in Passion week: three days before His death.-YEAR 30.

I. BEGINNING PRAYER.

MAY GOD, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, give me the HOLY SPIRIT, that I may understand this portion of his Holy Word, and profit by it. AMEN.

II. THE SCRIPTURES.

Read St. Matthew's Gospel, chap. xxiv. ver. 45 to chap. xxv. verse 13.

III. THE MEANINGS;

[There is no word used in this portion, the meaning of which seems difficult to understand.]

IV. THE EXPLANATION.

At the end of the last portion we find our Lord specially declaring, that the solemn warnings he was giving were not limited to his Apostles or his ministers only, but were meant for all christians. He proceeded however to add a particular warning, applicable to his ministers alone. If so great watchfulness was needed by all christians, what (he asked) ought to be the care and attention of Christ's ministers; who were appointed to take charge of the rest of his family,

VOL. V.

X