Morning-The great Prophet, Evening-Danger of refusing him that speaketh, Heb. xii. 25. Morning-Sudden appearance in the temple, Morning-God glorified in mercy and judgment, Evening-The Spirit testifying of Christ, Morning-Prayer for divine light, Evening -The word hid in the heart, Morning-Treasure of wisdom and knowledge, Evening-Encouragement to ask wisdom of God, Morning-God reproving that sinners may give ear, Prov. i. 23. Twenty-second Morning-The serpent cursed, 126 127 Twenty-third Evening Christ's voluntary mission, Twenty-fourth Morning-The man of sorrows despised and re- ... Morning-The cross the Christian's glory, Morning Saints in covenant with God by sacrifice, Ps. 1. 5. Twenty-seventh Morning-Without shedding of blood no remission of sin, Evening-Cleansing and atoning blood, Twenty-eighth Morning-God will by no means clear the guilty, Exod. xxxiv. 7. 155 Evening -Christ bearing the iniquities of his people,Isa. liii. 6. Morning-Drawing near with a true heart, Evening-The blessed trust, Morning-Travail of the Saviour's soul, Morning-The King of Zion, Evening Christ's kingdom not of this world, Morning-The Lord, judge, lawgiver, and king, Ps. ii. 6. Morning-The sceptre of righteousness, Morning-Divine teaching sought in prayer, Ps. lxxxvi. 11. H. Cooke, D.D., LL.D., Belfast N. Morren, A.M., Greenock........ John Barr, D.D., Port-Glasgow...... James Morgan, A.M., Belfast..... William Dunn, A.M., Cardross... J. M. M'Culloch, D.D., Kelso,..... Robert Jeffrey, Girthon,....... 29 February 11. THE CHRISTIAN'S DAILY COMPANION. FIRST DAY.-MORNING. JANUARY. The doctrine of creation, in the proper sense of the term, depends upon the testimony of inspiration for its proof. Evidences of design so In the beginning God created the heavens and copiously exhibited throughout all the depart the earth,' Gen. i. 1. THE work of creation, implying the production of all things out of nothing, constitutes an amazing operation of the power of God. And as the universe arose at his command, its continued duration is absolutely dependent upon his will. Nothing in heaven or on earth is independent or self-existent; for this constitutes the incommunicable excellence of him who alone hath immortality, who dwelleth in light which is inaccessible to mortal eye, and full of glory. As to man he is of yesterday, and knows nothing. Tracing back the annals of time, we arrive at no very extended era at the foundation of the proudest monarchies, and the most venerated institutions. Within a circle, somewhat more enlarged, we embrace the origin of the globe itself, and of the surrounding heavens; when the sun began to roll his earliest circuit, and the moon to measure forth her appointed revolutions. Beyond this, and within a range, however, comparatively great, still finite, we reach the era when the angelic hosts were called into existence. But the years of the right hand of the Most High who can number? He inhabiteth eternity and its praises. Uncreated, unlimited, and independent, as there shall never arrive a period in the exhaustless flow of the cycles of futurity when he shall cease to be; neither was there ever a period, in all the remote tracts of past duration, when he began to exist. 'I am the First, and I the Last; ments of the universe, unquestionably proclaim to every reflective mind the existence of God. But it was long a question, with some of the most eminent philosophers of antiquity, whether matter was not essentially eternal; and whether God ought not to be viewed rather as the contriver of the universe out of elements already existing, than in the strict and proper signification of the term, its Creator, or absolute Author. To the devout student of revelation there is no longer any darkness resting upon this subject ; for through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God; so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.' The design of this great work was to display the glory of its adorable Author; and how fully it was fitted to secure this end, we may even yet understand, notwithstanding the extent to which it has been marred by the influence of sin. The wisdom, the power, and the majesty of God, every where appear in the astonishing magnificence and sublimity of those vast and harmonious arrangements which constitute what have been called the laws of the material universe. goodness, liberality, and benevolence, together with the all-comprehending and ceaseless assiduity of his providence, shine forth not less conspicuously in connection with the organization, the preservation, and the enjoyments common to the endless variety of the tribes of animate creatures which people the earth, the air, and the sea. It has been justly observed, that though pain and suffering are incident to the creation, it cannot A His be said, that there is to be found any where an displayed; when mortal shall put on immortality, arrangement, or an object, having no beneficial and corruption incorruption, and death shall be use, and whose sole and ultimate end is to pro- swallowed up of victory; and the saints of God duce misery. Whence then has evil been derived, set free, shall rise and reign in the kingdom of wherefore has it been permitted to enter? This is the Father for ever and ever. a mystery which the scriptures explain in the most explicit manner. 'By one man's disobedience sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death hath come upon all men in that all have sinned.' FIRST DAY.-EVENING. 'It is good for me to draw near to God,' Ps. lxxiii. 28. THE benefits of religion are incalculably great and precious. It constitutes the safety, the blessedness, and the ornament of our nature, to cherish its spirit, to taste of its joys, and to follow its counsels. Of all religious duties, 'to draw near to God' is the most sacred; and whenever it is rightly engaged in, it cannot fail to be accompanied with benefits which will enable the sincere worshipper to join in the auspicious acknowledgment of David, it is good for me to draw near to God.' It is eminently a spiritual duty; and consists in realizing with more than usual solemnity and awe the divine presence ; resting with vigorous faith and confidence in the divine word; in feeling and confessing our deep unworthiness and guilt before him who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; in laying hold of the righteousness of Christ, and confiding in his all-prevailing intercession and infinite merits; in exercising the privilege of transacting with God in prayer, and praise, and other religious duties; and in drawing from his excellencies and perfections motives for love, for hope, and for joy in God. in But the visible creation forms as it were only a platform for the exhibition of a still more glorious work, the work of redemption. In it the perfections of God as the Saviour, as well as the Creator of man, are revealed. The purest justice blends with the richest mercy; and the holiness of the lawgiver is seen in unison with the tender compassion of our Father in heaven. The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.' At first man was made to be as it were the priest of the glorious temple of creation; and with rational soul, articulate speech, and spiritual service, the duty belonged to him of celebrating the worship and praise of the great Author and Governor of all things. But what, alas, has man become, and what does he continue to be, until washed from his sin in the blood of Jesus, and renewed in the spirit of his mind after the image of him who created him? He is an apostate from the kingdom of righteousness, an alien from God, a slave of sin and Satan, and the devoted victim of condemnation and death. And how wonderful the interposition of sovereign grace; whether we regard the state in which it finds us, or the rank and the honour to which it designs to raise us. The work of God, in reconciling a guilty world to himself, not imputing to men their When compared with any of the other pretrespasses, stands forth to every reflective mind vailing employments of life, what an enhancement who devoutly regards it under an aspect as pecu- is conferred upon that which is here commended liarly divine, as the astonishing operation by which to our adoption, whether we consider its nahe formed all things out of nothing. To educe ture or effects. There is a social principle in from a state of moral evil, such as this world pre-human nature, and rightly exercised it may be sents, those glorious results which the gospel con- productive of much good; but how often does templates, to convert rebels into sons; to give them the victory over sin, and Satan, and death; to advance them to the enjoyment of a glorious immortality, and to set them at his own right hand in heavenly places, manifests an infinitude of love and mercy, of unparalleled grandeur, such as no created mind could have conceived, until it was actually revealed. When the heavens and the earth were made, the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted aloud for joy; but what higher and intenser acclamations of delight and praise shall distinguish that day, when all the glory of the work of redemption shall stand man employ it to evil. What baneful lessons may be learned in the society which is most congenial to the ungodly mind; and how injurious are the effects produced by an indiscriminate mixture with the world. But wisdom, grace, and holiness, the blessing which addeth no sorrow, the joy unspeakable and full of glory, and which maketh not ashamed, form the portion of those who habituate themselves to wait upon God, and who seek his face in spirit and in truth. Like Moses on descending from the mount, who bore upon his countenance and his person the indication of that glorious presence in which he had stood, they will It is also good to draw near to God, as your Preserver; to celebrate his goodness every morning, and his faithfulness every night. He is the strength of our lives, and the length of our days; he compasseth our path and our lying down, and is acquainted with all our ways. The Lord reigneth, let the earth be glad, and the carry with them unto the duties, the labours, and the trials of life, a sacred influence which will at once dignify their characters, and strengthen, and comfort their minds. For whether it be to temper the gaiety of youth with discretion, to abate the pride and presumption of a fleeting prosperity, to check the repining murmurs of a state of distress, to soothe the sorrows of bereavement and desola-multitude of the isles rejoice.' What contenttion, or to cheer the bed of affliction and of death; how good is it to draw near to God. ment, security, gratitude, and resignation, would it not inspire, to cast all our care upon God, and to acknowledge the righteousness, the faithfulness, and the mercy with which he governs all his creatures, and makes all things work together for his own glory and the best interests of those who love him. It is good to draw near to God as your Redeemer; to supplicate the aids of his grace, to treasure up the promises and consolations of his faithfulness and loving-kindness, to meditate upon all the excellence of his character, all the riches of his grace, and all the glory of his kingdom. But farther, as a sacred duty, how appropriate and just is the acknowledgment, here made, in regard to drawing near to God. There is a conscious enjoyment in following the dictates of truth and righteousness; and in acting in unison with the principles of an enlightened conscience; whilst, on the other hand, there is a sense of bitterness and self-reproach attendant on the neglect of known duties, and the violation of sacred and acknowledged obligations. We cannot, and we ought not, indeed, to draw near to God, to minister to a selfrighteous and self-complacent spirit. We need forgiveness, even for our best duties; and our devotional services, no less than our ordinary actions, can only find acceptance with an infinitely holy God through the merits of the Saviour. At the same time, 'to draw near to God' with a sincere and humble desire to serve him acceptably, through Jesus Christ, cannot fail to be accompanied with comfort and joy; for it shows to the extent that we are enabled to do so, that our hearts are impressed by divine grace, that we are alive to a sense of our spiritual duty, and that we have become reconciled to God through the blood of the cross. A knowledge of this should dictate the earnest and habitual prayer that God would quicken us by the Holy Spirit to love and serve him; that he would draw us, by the cords of love, into a state of closer and more spiritual communion, and that he would increase in us that faith without which it is impossible to please God. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 2 It is good to draw near to God as your Creator; to realize your dependence upon him, to reverence his high and glorious perfections, and to stir up your minds to gratitude, adoration, and thanksgiving, towards him, as the supreme source of all being, and of all blessing. How delightful to be able to see God in all his works, and to find incentives to praise him in the glory of the heavens, and in all the fullness of the world.' The inspired psalmist exhibits, in many interesting passages, how the pious mind may hold converse with God, through the medium of his works, and offer up the tribute of an intelligent praise in behalf of universal nature, to its Creator and its King. In fine, it is good to draw near to God as your Judge; to examine yourselves by his holy word, to implore, in the spirit of unfeigned penitence, the forgiveness of sin, and an interest in his grace; to beseech the sacred guidance of his wisdom and the powerful efficacy of his Spirit amidst the snares and temptations of life; and to devote yourselves, both soul, and body, and spirit, to his holy and blessed service. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.' SECOND DAY.-MORNING. Tim. iii. 16. How endlessly diversified, and even opposite, have been the views and sentiments of those reputed the wisest men by the world, upon subjects of the highest and most sacred importance. What a labyrinth the history of the schools and sects which from time to time have risen, flourished, and then passed into oblivion. We need not wonder, although a mind perplexed and bewildered with the endless mass of incongruous tenets which have been promulgated, should almost sink into despair about the possibility of ever finding truth. But the gracious Author of our being, he who gave man understanding, has mercifully interposed to remedy this great and sore evil, and has placed |