OCTOBER 1.-"Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light."

Amos v. 18.

How

WE may apply this to the day of death. often do men, when in trouble and disappointment, express a wish, that God would now take away their life from them, supposing that it is better for them to die than to live! We cannot, indeed, be always sure of the sincerity of their desire; and they may not be sure of it themselves. Under the pressure of present feeling, they may imagine that death would be welcome; when, perhaps, if it actually appeared, they would decline his aid. And if they would not, they ought. For their fleeing from trouble, is as if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

Let me, then, beg these sons of sorrow to inquire -whether the event they long for will be a real remedy for their complaints. Are they sure that death will be annihilation?-perfectly sure that there is nothing beyond the grave?-Can they prove that there is no future state? and that in this state there is no misery-but happiness only? Judas hanged himself. And what then? He went to his own place. This was far worse than his former condition, even under all the horrors of remorse.

If the Scripture be true, all are not happy at death. Yea, none are then happy without a title to heaven, and a meetness for it. And have you this title? Where is it? What is it? "He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Have you this meetness? What is it? Do you love holiness? Without this, could you be happy in a holy place in a holy state? in holy company? in holy engagements? in holy enjoyments? Is the Redeemer precious to your

souls? and do you delight in him? Without this, could you be happy, to be for ever in his presence, and hearing for ever his praise? Could a man, without a ear or taste for music, be happy, by being removed into a world of melody and harmony? Need you be told, that happiness does not arise from the excellency of the object, but from its adaptation to our disposition? That nothing can make us happy, but what relieves our wants? fulfils our desires? and satisfies our hope? Without holiness, therefore, no man can see the Lord.

How absurd, then, is it to wish to leave this world for another, before you are sure the exchange will be for your advantage!-For your advantage it cannot be, if you die unpardoned and unrenewed. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. But out of Him, you are out of the city of refuge, and the avenger of blood is upon you. Out of Him, you are out of the Ark, and in the midst of the Deluge. No; the day of your death is not better than the day of your birth-Whatever your privations, and losses, and distresses, here may be, they are only the beginnings of sorrow; and all you suffer from them is only as a drop to the ocean, compared with the damnation of hell.-And, once gone from time, there is no return. As the tree falleth, so it lies.

Instead, therefore, of wishing this only and allimportant season ended, you should be thankful that it is prolonged, if it be continued, even in a vale of tears; and account, that the longsuffering of God is your salvation: for he is not willing that any should perish.

Remember, also, that these disappointments and sorrows, which make you so impatient, may prove the greatest blessing; and the valley of Achor be given you for a door of hope. For God does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. He renders earth desolate, to induce you to seek a better country. He strikes away every He strikes away every human prop,

and puts failure and vexation into every worldly scheme, that you may turn from idols to the Supreme Good

"What should I wait or wish for, then,

"From creatures-earth and dust?
"They make our expectations vain,
"And disappoint our trust.

"Now I forbid my carnal hope,
"My fond desires recall;
"I give my mortal interest up,
"And make my God my all."

Away, then, with every thought of the rope or the river. Say, "I will arise, and go unto my Father" -He is in sight, waiting to receive thee graciously, and to love thee freely. Repair to the Throne of the Heavenly Grace-You cannot spread your sorrows there in vain. If tempted to despair, try his word. No one ever trusted, and was confounded. Cry, "Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me." "Come," says the Reliever of every burden-"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."

The Athenian said, "I should have been lost, if I had not been lost." What made the Prodigal think of home, but want? Where did Manasseh find his father's God, but in affliction? We often feel for those who have been reduced; and say, they have seen better days-But if in their prosperity they forgot God that made them, and lightly esteemed the Rock of their salvation; and in their adversity have thrown themselves into his armsthese, these are the best days they ever saw;_and they will draw forth their praise for ever. This, my suffering friend, may be your case-and will be, if you seek unto God, and unto God commit your cause. He can, he will turn the shadow of death into the morning-and you shall join the multitude who are saying, IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I have

OCT. 2.-"I will hear what God the Lord will speak." Psalm lxxxv. 8.

AND surely if He speaks, in whatever way he expresses himself, it becomes us to hear; and to hear immediately. Let us not therefore "be unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." There are four cases in which we should adopt this resolution.

First. I will hear what God the Lord will speak, as to doctrinal truth. If error were harmless, we should not be commanded to "buy the truth, and sell it not:" to "prove all things, and to hold fast that which is good." It is of unspeakable importance to have proper sentiments on all religious subjects. But concerning all these subjects, different opinions prevail; and it is certain that all these opinions cannot be true. Hence persons are often perplexed, especially at the beginning of the Christian life. And what in this case are we to do? One cries, Lo! here is Christ; and another, Lo! there. Be it so. We are not left without witness. It would be sad and dangerous had we no rule to go by; no standard to which we could appeal. But we have such an advantage. And in And in things of moment it is plain and obvious. And it is accessible-it is in our possession-it is the_testimony of God, recorded in the Scriptures. I will therefore make no system of divinity, drawn up by fallible creatures like myself, my oracle; but enter at once the temple of Revelation, and inquire there. I will call no man master upon earth-one is my master, even Christ; and all besides are only brethren. I need not ask what Arminius, or Calvin, speaks-they themselves are to be judged out of this Book; and what they deliver is no further binding upon me, than as they can say, "Thus saith the Lord." "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because

there is no light in them." "I will hear what God the Lord will speak." In this Inspired Volume I have the judgment of God himself upon every subject with which it is necessary for me to be acquainted. And I will go to it; not with a previous bias, but open to conviction: not to dictate, but to learn. I will not be influenced to embrace a doctrine, because it is easy of comprehension; or to reject it, because it is mysterious-It is infinitely reasonable to believe whatever God speaks: and my only conconcern is to ascertain what he has spoken.

Secondly. I will hear what God the Lord will speak, as to my movements in life. How ignorant and short-sighted are we! How liable to mistake! How incapable of distinguishing between appearances and realities; and of deciding what will be good or evil for us! Surely we have erred and suffered enough already, to convince us that "the way of man is not in himself." How much depends on one wrong step, as it regards our comfort, usefulness, and reputation! Even when the iniquity is pardoned, the natural consequences may be long left to operate. They often cannot be remedied; and so repentance is quartered upon the offender all his days. How frequently has this been exemplified in irreligious marriages; and changes of residence and business, through fancy, pride, or avarice; or even good, but mistaken motives! A Christian, therefore, should take every step of importance-and what step may not be important?-feeling a responsibility that makes him tremble; and an anxiety that urges him to seek counsel from above-" I will hear what God the Lord will speak”—and regulate my marches by the cloud. But while I wait upon God, I must also wait for him and integrity and uprightness are to preserve me while I do so. For He tells me, that if a man sets up idols in his heart, and comes to inquire of him; he will answer him, but "according to his idols." And this is donc, not only by a penal