If, with Paul at Ephesus, "after the manner of men," we fight with beasts, (1 Cor. xv. 32,) all this is to render the world more inhospitable, to make us loathe the husks of it, that Christ the bread of life may be more fed upon. Why is sin suffered to dwell in us, make us groan, and distress us? To make it more hateful to us, to put us out of conceit with ourselves, and our own righteousness, and to endear Christ's atonement and righteousness to our souls, that all our comfort should spring from him. Why is Satan suffered to harass and perplex us? That, as Christ's sheep, we may keep close to our Shepherd; or like frighted children, when surly dogs bark at them, fear keeps them near their father's protection, and within the bounds of his habitation; so we find the comforts of living near our Saviour. Have we a weak, disordered body?

Here

is our comfort, "We faint not, for though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day," 2 Cor. iv. 16. Thus our loving Lord comforts us by faith, and causes us to rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and to glory in tribulations, "knowing that tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost," Rom. v. 3-5.

JULY 11.-We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.-Rom. viii. 28.

Here a sensible sinner would naturally be ready to make one exception, and say, "How can sin, which I know, and feel, to be the very worst of all evils, work for any good?" But the Holy Ghost hath not excepted even this. Will any say, Then let us do evil that good may come? St. Paul makes a terrible application to such, "Whose damnation is just," Rom. iii. 8. Therefore, this cannot be the language of a be

liever, for his salvation is sure, "he that believes shall be saved." Such, and only such, most assuredly know, that all things work together for good. They love God, and this love inspires them with hatred to sin. But they are yet sinners, both by original sin and actual transgression; nevertheless, through the all-wise, overruling power of a gracious covenant God, even the worst of evils, sin, shall work for his glory and their good. Is the art of a chemist able to extract the most salutary medicine from noxious and poisonous ingredients? and cannot the infinitely wise Jehovah, who, at the beginning, spoke chaos and confusion into beauty and order, and darkness into light, make evil to work for good? He hath done it. He will do it. Can we think of that world of sin and evil, which was produced by the fall of man, and not know the still greater good, which it has been made to work for man, by Jesus Christ? If man had not sinned, the glorious attributes of Jehovah had not been so eminently displayed. As this is true of a world of sin in general, so also of every sin in particular. Sin is natural to men. To make it work for good, is the supernatural power of God. Sin should never have entered into the world, nor continue in God's people, were it not to magnify his grace and advance his glory. Judas delivers Christ to death for gain; the Jews for envy; Pilate for fear. The devil provokes each through enmity. God makes all work for the spiritual good and eternal salvation of his people. Peter's fall shall be made to work for his humility and self-diffidence, and to strengthen his brethren.

"Sin (saith St. Austin) first wrought sorrow; and now, godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of, to the death of sin; so the daughter destroys the mother." "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Rom. xi. 33. "What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid," Rom. vi. 1, 2.

JULY 12.-Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.-Rom. viii. 26.

How reviving to the soul, how encouraging to the mind of a disciple, to hear the experience of his brethren and companions in the faith of Jesus! To this end, the blessed Spirit hath caused the saints of old to leave on record his dealings of love with their souls. Thus is the word of God most valuable for our instruction, edification, and comfort. Let no follower of the Lamb think he is singular, in feeling an insupportable pressure of infirmities. No; the children of God in all ages knew and felt the same. Whether prophets or apostles, none were perfectly free from inward distresses, temptations, fears, dejections, &c. All which arise from our still possessing a fallen nature, which subjects us to these sensations and feelings. They are our burdens. We cannot but feel them, and groan under them. O sad and dreadful fall, which has so terribly maimed and bruised the royal offspring of God! Though we are King's sons, yet, like Mephibosheth, we are lame in our hands and feet. Our infirmi ties daily preach to us our fall. Shortly, we shall be perfectly freed from all. This is our glorious hope.

But, alas! how oft does present distress deject us, infirmities bow down our soul, faith grow languid, love decline, hope seem at the last gasp, just as if giving up the ghost! And indeed, all would end in gloomy dejection and melancholy despair, if the Lord was entirely to forsake his new creation. But that never can be, while the Father loves, the Lamb pleads, and the Spirit hath power to help. Therefore, when the Spirit sees the souls of his charge pressed above measure in themselves, and ready to sink under their burdens, he reaches forth a tender hand of assistance, helps against infirmities by enabling the soul to look to the adorable Jesus, to an everlasting covenant, to precious promises, to a reconciled God, and puts this sweet cry in the heart, Abba, Father. Then confidence revives, hope

springs afresh, love is excited, the power of prayer breaks forth in the heart, and ascends in sweet fervour from the soul. Whatever flesh and blood may allege to the contrary, infirmities are made profitable to the soul; or St. Paul never would have declared, "Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities." Why? is there any good in them, for which they should be desired? No; but "that the power of Christ may rest upon us," 2 Cor. xii. 9. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit," Eph. iv. 30.

JULY 13.-The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.-Deut. xxx. 6.

Even Moses, who delivered the fiery law of wrath and terror, preaches like a son of consolation. In this chapter we have a precious enumeration of new-covenant blessings and evangelical promises, all settled in the eternal councils, between Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit; all founded in infinite wisdom, everlasting love, and immutable faithfulness; therefore sure to all the seed, "who are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world." Such is the solid foundation of gospel faith and hope. The happy heirs of which, the Lord their God sets a special mark upon. Hereby he owns them as his peculiar ones. This is also an evidence to them of their special relation to him. As the Father loved his people before time, and gave them to Jesus to be redeemed in the fulness of time, so also, at the set time, the Spirit performs his office-be circumcises their hearts. This power belongeth to God only. Paul calls this "the circumcision made without hands,' Col. ii. 11. Outward circumcision was a painful operation to the flesh. By it was signified the cutting off all carnal hope and legal confidence in the flesh; and it was a sign and seal of new-covenant blessings by

Jesus. The circumcision of the heart brings the enjoy ment of hope, peace, and joy in him, and longing expectationof the full enjoyment of him in glory.

When the callousness or hardness of the heart is cut off, then it gladly hears and receives the love of God, its crucified Saviour. This love, known and believed, begets love to God in each circumcised heart. And though there is all comfort in love, yet there is a pain ful sensation attends loving souls. They mourn at feeling the sins and corruptions of their natures, are pained at the sight of them, filled with shame for and detestation against them. Oh, how do they strive and cry to Jesus for victory over them! To "love the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul," is our one desire on earth; that we may be wholly devoted to him in love, who bought us with his blood. Is this thy blessed state? Hear, and rejoice, what the Spirit declares of all such, and what they confess. "Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people, saved of the Lord?" Deut. xxxiii. 29. "We are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh," Phil. iii. 3.

JULY 14.—But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God.-Heb. x. 12.

The cross of Christ is the christian's glory; yet the small share that Jesus hath in his affections is his shame. Really, disciples do not love their Saviour as they ought. Why? because they are slow of heart to believe his love to them, and his sufferings for them. How little are our hearts in meditation upon the labours of love, toils of sorrow, and agonies of soul, which Christ in our nature sustained for us! If a friendly arm is reached forth, and snatches a mortal from the jaws of approaching death, Oh, how does it call forth