I will deliver thee:" "When thou passest through the waters. I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Here is another argument of faith-His people eye his goodness, as well as his power; and know that he will appear for them, and save them-in his own way, and in his own time.

The third, is a future state." But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." What! would they refuse, even if death was the consequence? Yes. But this shews undeniably, that they did not consider death as annihilation. They would not have acted thus, had they believed that there was nothing beyond the grave. Had they perished in the furnace, their martyrdom could not have been their duty-it would have been the sacrifice of fools-their end would have been madness.

This is the very case argued by the Apostle, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable :" "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?" God does not require us to sacrifice our being and happiness for ever, to his pleasure -It is not his pleasure; it cannot be his pleasure. By the law of our nature, and the authority of his Word, we are even commanded to seek our welfare, and to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness-and therefore to be willing to give these up, would be disobedience, and contempt. But the language was wise and noble, when they knew, that though they fell in the conflict, they should yet be more than conquerors;

and that, if they lost a dying, they would obtain an immortal life.

It is absurd to suppose the Jews of old had no knowledge of a future state. Search the Scriptures, says the Saviour, for in them ye think ye have eternal life. Abraham, and his fellow-heirs of the same promise, said such things as declared plainly that they sought a country, even a heavenly. David said, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego acted upon this belief; and must have acted upon it. They endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. And what was Nebuchadnezzar, compared with the Almighty? What was this furnace, compared with the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death? What could they gain by complying, compared with what they would for ever lose? And what could they lose by refusing, compared with what they would for ever gain-We reckon, said they, that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.

And our faith must regard the future; or we shall be often perplexed and vanquished. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. This believed, and realized, explains all; harmonizes all; indemnifies all; glorifies all. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

MAY 18.-" Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias."

Matt. xvii. 4.

"Not knowing," we are assured, by the Holy Ghost; "not knowing what he said.' For had the motion been complied with, how could our Saviour have suffered and died? And if Peter had continued there, how could he have attended to his wife and children? Besides, he was mistaken, as to the nature and design of the Dispensation; which was only for a confirmation of their faith, by making them witnessess of his glory, and to afford them a glimpse or taste of the heavenly blessedness-The full fruition is for another world. If ever we think of building tabernacles here, we shall soon hear a voice, saying, "Arise, and depart hence, for this is not your rest."

But though he did not know what he said, he knew why he said it. Two things caused his bliss. First, the communion of saints. And here were not only John and James, but Moses and Elias; and these were not shining statues-but they spake― and spake of the Saviour's decease. What a subject! What speakers! How delightful must such intercourse have been!-But the second, was the presence of Jesus. And surely it cannot be a question, why it is good to be, where He is. With him, we are safe; and no where else. He is the source of all light and knowledge. He is the fountain of honour and excellency. He is the Consolation of Israel. He is all and in all.

But where is he with his people ?-we do not mean as to his essential presence-this is universal; but as to his special and gracious. He is with them in the closet. There he manifests himself to them, as he does not in the world. There they enjoy

an intimacy, a freedom, an unrestrained intercourse with him, such as other company will not allow. Could these beams and rafters-said a good man, pointing to an unceiled roof, speak; they would testify what hours of enjoyment I have had here, in communion with Him. Of the closet, therefore, they can say, It is good for us to be here.

He is with them in his Temple. Where would you look for a man, but in his own house? And the Sanctuary is the place where the Lord's honour dwelleth. In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. And have they not found the promise true? Have they not seen his power and glory in the Sanctuary ? Of his House, therefore, they can say, It is good for us to be here.

-He is with them at his Table. His Cross is every thing to a Christian; and here before our eyes Jesus Christ is evidently set forth crucified among us. What a sublime duty, what an exalted privilege, is the Commemoration of his Death! His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed! Who has not peculiarly found him in this exercise the Tree of Life? Who has not said, I sat down under his shadow with delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste? It is good for us to be here.

He is with them in the furnace. There the Three Hebrew Children found him. The flames only consumed their bands, and set them free; and they were seen walking in the midst of the firewith the Son of God! I will be with thee, says He, in trouble. And if this be fulfilled-and it must be fulfilled-they will have reason to say, however deep the distress-Lord, it is good for us to be here.

He is with them in the vale of death. How much will they need him then! Then all other friends and helpers leave them. Then heart and flesh will fail them-What shall we do, they have often. said; what shall we do without him then? But they

will not be without him. He knows their frame; and his grace is sufficient for them: and his strength shall be perfect in their weakness-Yea, though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he is with them; his rod and his staff they comfort them and then they have cause to say, Lord, it is good for us to be here.

How much more will they be justified in saying this in heaven! There he is with them immediately. There they will see him as he is. There, before the presence of his glory, they will possess fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore.

But none will be translated thither in person, whose hearts are not sent off first. None will have their residence in heaven hereafter, who have not their conversation in heaven here. None will be with the Lord for ever, but those that find it their happiness for the Lord to be with them now.

MAY 19.-" He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded." John xiii. 4, 5.

THAT he designed this to be exemplary, is obvious, from his own declaration after the action had been performed. "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."