being, a new heart, a new life; all things are become new-and in all this they are of God-" Born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

How encouraging was it to announce their victory" and ye have overcome them." They had not only resisted and withstood, but had vanquished. How was this? Were their foes all slain? Had they taken off the helmet and sheathed the sword? Had they left the field, and were they now returning home with songs of triumph? Do not Christians find the spiritual life a warfare to the last? And as long as they continue here, are they not armed? Are they not engaged? And yet John speaks as if the warfare were achieved. The reason is, because it is partially accomplished. They have fought and gained many a battle; and have said, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped me." And the remainder of the conquest is sure. Now where there is certainty, the future is spoken of in Scripture as if it were past. Thus Isaiah, ages before the incarnation of the Messiah, said, "Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given!" Well, therefore, may the believer say, "Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory :" "Yea, in all these things we are more than conquerors."

How wise was it to remind them of the cause of their success"Because_greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." It was not owing to themselves-they were not greateryea, they were nothing to their enemies. But if they were nothing to their enemies, their enemies were nothing to their Friend and Keeper. The chief of them, the prince of this world, the god of this world, is nothing to the Lord of all, who is for them, and nigh unto them, and in them, in all that they call upon him for-If the one is mighty, the other is Almighty. He is therefore not only greater, but infinitely greater: and not only greater in himself, but greater in his agency-greater in his residence-greater in his subjects. He produces in them principles more powerful than any of the principles which their enemies would maintain, though they have the advantage of an earlier being, and derive aid from every thing around us. How else would they ever have obtained possession of the heart? "When a strong man, armed, keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." And how else could they retain the possession, when every effort will be made by the mortified foe to recover his former sway? But truth is stronger than error: grace is above nature; and the Spirit of the living God, that dwelleth in his people, can easily subdue the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

Let this regulate your gratitude. You have seen many fall, who once seemed much more likely to stand in the evil day than yourselves—but here you are: and though, from the time you commenced your religious course, you have been constantly opposed by all the powers of darkness, your heart has not turned back, neither have your steps declined from his ways. To whose name are you to give glory? You have often said, "I shall one day perish :" and you would have perished long ago, had you been left to yourself-But here is the secret-"Ye are of God, little children, and have over

come them because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

The same truth that accounts for your standing as to the past, will show what you have to rely upon as to the future. If the one demands your praise, the other justifies your confidence. When you look forward, you feel your need of strong consolation; and there is enough to inspire it. Renounce self-dependence; but be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Look to his grace for your all-sufficiency; and you shall never be confounded. Every thing else may, yea, must give way-But " he that is born of God, overcometh the world." "Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace." "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet, shortly."

JANUARY 28.-"And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand."-Rev. viii. 3, 4.

THE ablest expositors consider this angel as the Lord Jesus. There were two altars attached to the Jewish temple. But the altar here spoken of was not the altar of burnt-offering which stood in the inner court, but the altar which stood in the holy of holies, called the golden altar; and at which, the high priest, after he had sacrificed the victim, and sprinkled the blood, burnt incense, while the people were praying without. The censer was a small chafing-dish, filled with burning coals, upon which the high priest threw the rich perfume, whose fragrance then ascended in a cloud of odour, of a sweet smell, to God, who sat above upon the mercy-seat, between the cherubim. This was typical of the High Priest of our profession, who, having put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, entered into the holy place, not with the blood of bulls and of goats, but with his own blood; not to burn incense, but to make intercession for his people, while they are praying in this lower world. Four things are observable.

First, his people are saints. So they are called, not only here, but throughout the Scripture. The term is not confined to a few official and extraordinary characters. We affix the title to the immediate disciples of the Lord Jesus; and say, Saint Matthew and Saint John: but the Apostle inscribes several of his Epistles "to the Saints that are in Christ Jesus"-that is, the whole body of the Church. The name is therefore applicable to all real Christians. They are called to be Saints; called unto holiness; and holiness is not only the design, but the tendency of all their principles and privileges when properly understood. They are not saints by nature, but are made so by grace. And how does grace accomplish this work? It makes them saints, not by imputed holiness-there is no such phrase in the Bible, nor in the vocabulary of common sense. Nor by imputed by righteousness-this makes them righteous, and justifies them before God. But they are made holy by the operation of the Spirit of grace and truth. In consequence of which, there is a renovation of their nature, and a consecration of all they are, and all they have, to the service and glory of God.

Secondly, the saints are all men of prayer. "The prayer of all saints"-not of some, but of all. They are the generation of them that seek him. For this shall every one that is godly call upon him. The Spirit of grace is always the spirit of supplication; and praying is as essential to the divine life, as breathing to the natural. Vain therefore is every pretension to religion, without a devotional temper. The wicked restrain prayer before God. The hypocrite will not always call upon him. The formalist, who does not decline it, cries, What a weariness it is to serve him! How is it with us? Do we live without God? Do we only pray when urged by fear or affliction? Do we feel the duty a drudgery rather than a privilege? All saints pray, in the temple, in the family, alone, habitually, as long as they live: and find it good to draw near to God.

Thirdly, many imperfections attend their services. Hence we read of "much incense offered with the prayers of all saints." In this book mention is often made of the worship of angels, but we do not read of a mediator for them; nor of incense being presented with their devotion. Nor was this the case with the services of Adam and Eve in Paradise. But we are fallen creatures. We are vile, what shall we answer him? We pollute every thing we touch. Our Sabbaths would condemn us, as well as our week-days, were we to be tried by them. Our good works deserve rejection, rather than reward. Our repenting needs repentance; and our weeping, tears. When we have done all, we are unprofitable servants; and the innumerable sins of our holy things constrain us to cry, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified." Can this be prayer? Is this worshipping him who is a Spirit, in spirit and in truth? What wandering of thought! What distraction of mind! What coldness of affection! What a want of fervency and faith!-How can I offer this to the only wise and Holy God? If I see so much that is defective and defiled in my services, and am so dissatisfied with them -how must they be viewed and regarded by him who charges his angels with folly ? in whose sight the very heavens are not clean? who sees more depravity in our duties than we see in our sins!-But,

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Fourthly, there is hope in Israel concerning this thing; and relief is to be found in the Mediator between God and man. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascending up before God out of the angel's hand." We inquire not whether his intercession be vocal-we are not informed whether the high priest said any thing when he officiated at the golden altar. But we know that his intercession is real; and founded on his suf fering and death, which were an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling savour. Hence, his blood speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. It cries not for revenge, but pardon. "Be merciful to their unrighteousness-I have borne their grief, and carried their sorrow. I have magnified the law; and redeemed them from the curse-Keep, through thine own Name, those whom thou hast given me. Sanctify them through thy truth. Let them be with me where I am, to behold my glory." These are his pleadings for us, who is infinitely worthy. And we are assured of the result -The Father heareth him always.

This same shall comfort us. VOL. I.

He is the consolation of Israel. If 7

any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. If we love him, we shall not, we cannot abuse this encouragement: but let it give us boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Let us unite hope with humility; and rejoicing in Christ Jesus, with having no confidence in the flesh. And when we think of passing through the valley of the shadow of death, to enter the immediate presence of the Eternal, let us say, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of his righteousness only."

JANUARY 29.-"He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."-Psalm cv. 14, 15.

He did this to the patriarchs. He did it when they were but few in number, yea very few, and strangers in the land: and when they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people and so seemed to invite hostility and injury from the powerful and unprincipled. He did it sometimes in dreams and visions, and sometimes in words and deeds: as we see in the rebuke of Pharaoh with regard to Abraham when in Egypt; and of Abimelech with regard to Isaac in Gerar. Also when by the destruction of the Shechemites Jacob's sons had rendered him odious to all the surrounding clans: yet, when he journeyed, "the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after them." "He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."

Here we see that God's servants are dearer to him than kings. The world knoweth them not. They are often poor and afflicted. And therefore those who judge after outward appearance make little account of them. "The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!" Yet of such the world is not worthy. In their state and character they are more excellent than their neighbours, wherever they may be placed, or however they may be endowed. To them the Lord looks; in them he takes pleasure. "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life."

We learn also that his servants are never without a divine Guardian. When first they flee to him for refuge, he encourages them as David did Ahimelech escaped from the fury of Saul: "Abide thou with me; fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard." They may sometimes lose dependances; they may feel helpless and friendless; they may be hated and opposed: but there is no enchantment against Jacob; no weapon that is formed against them shall prosper. Are they travellers? The Lord is their keeper, the Lord is their shade upon their right hand. He shall preserve them from all evil. Are they useful? They are immortal till their work is done. Have they reached the days of privation, and infirmity, and depression?

He will not cast them off in the time of old age; but will bear and carry them even to gray hairs. He will never leave them nor forsake them

"Though I should walk through death's dark shade,

My Shepherd's with me there!"

Once more. All creatures are under the Lord's control; and when he does not renew them, he can restrain. The noblest agency of God is his spiritual agency: and nothing can be more delightful than to contemplate his gracious dominion over the souls of men; opening their understandings, enthroning himself in their hearts, changing their views and feelings, and making them new creatures. Are we the subjects of this agency? But distinguishable from this, there is another agency of God, and which we may call providential. Solomon alludes to it when he says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." The husbandman can forin a new channel for the water, and the stream shall flow as freely as before, and retain the same qualities. Esau left home armed, and resolved to kill Jacob; but the Lord softened, though he did not sanctify his heart, so that when he met him he fell upon his neck and kissed him: for when a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. The spirit of Cyrus, though a heathen, was stirred up to favour Israel, and to let go the Lord's captives, not only without ransom, but even enriched for their journey. At the three festivals of the Jews all the males were to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem. Thus the country seemed drained of its defence; and surrounded as the people were with enemies ready to seize every advantage against them, they might be tempted to say, "What will become, in our absence, of our fields, and vineyards, and houses, and wives, and children ?" But says God, who has all hearts as well as all events at his disposal, "I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders; neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year."

If I have any thing to do with my fellow creatures, let me commit my way unto the Lord. Let me follow my convictions wherever they lead me. If I am reviled, let me not revile again, but commit myself to Him that judgeth righteously. Who is he that will harm us if we are followers of that which is good? If God be for us, who can be against us?

JANUARY 30.-"Moreover He called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him. The king sent and loosed him: even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance."-Psalm cv. 16-21.

GOD promised the Patriarchs much more than he performed for them here. The relation into which he entered with them necessarily involved a future state; yet he was far from disregarding them in this life. The former words show us how he preserved them in danger: when they were very few, and strangers in the land of Canaan: "When they went from one nation to another,